Blessings of the Christmas Season

This has truly been a month of celebrations. The Lord has brought many blessings and surprises into our lives this month.  The first event was a Christmas Ballet Celebration which was produced by the daughter of dear friends from our church.

The next night we drove to Northville for a Christmas concert by David Britton and Jean Watson. You ask "Who is David Britton". Well, he was our son, Daniel's very best friend growing up. David trained as a classical vocalist at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Our granddaughter, Sarah, is a freshman at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. Daniel's son is named Alex and David's son is named Alex. It had been almost thirty years since we had last seen David. We were truly blessed to spend a few moments with him.

Next, we attended the fall drama production of "The Miracle Worker", at Lumen Christi High School here in Jackson. The students did an awesome job with such an emotional story.

Then there was a Christmas party for volunteers of the Henry Ford Allegiance Health Hospital. Our Quilting group comes under the volunteers for their Hospice program. Sunday night there was a Christmas event at our church which we were able to attend.

During all these events, I have been trying to work on my Christmas cards. I still need to do a few more; it feels good to be almost done.

I ended up doing two cards. I used Spellbinders dies to create the front of the card. Punches were used to make the flowers. I spritzed the layers for the flowers with a spray from Tattered Angels before gluing them together.

The second card was done in white and SU's Pool Party card stock and ink. To create my background I embossed my white card. Leaving the card stock attached to the folder, I brayered the Pool Party ink on the top of the folder and ran it through the Big Kick again. I love the icy look of the Pool Party ink and card stock. Instead of using rhinestones, I punched 1/8-inch circles from glitter paper and added them to my card. I achieved the same effect. This made the card more mail friendly.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas Celebration

Christmas is a time to celebrate our faith, our family and our friends. I am part of a group of ladies who love to get together, create cards and to encourage one another. Each December, we get together for our Christmas celebration at the Olive Garden restaurant here in Jackson. After enjoying a delicious dinner, we exchange gift tags and a Christmas card with each other. We bring a Christmas tag for each one and then one Christmas card to be exchanged.

Here are pictures of the Christmas card and gift tags that I made for the event. I love to use the "nine-patch" quilt block for many of my quilting projects. That inspired my Christmas card. Even though I used non traditional colors ( Pool Party and Early Espresso) for my card, I love the result. The pool party color is so cool and icy. I used my 1 1/4--inch punch to create my squares.

The inside greeting was created on my laptop.

For the gift tags, I cut navy blue card stock into circles. Then using a die from Memory Box and the same circle die, I made the accent piece that I glued on top of the first circle. I found the marbled color card stock in my collection which was perfect for that snowy look.
 

Celebrating A Coming Baby

Welcoming a new baby is always an exciting time. I was invited to a baby shower on Thanksgiving Day while the extended family was together. We were celebrating the coming of a little girl in January, 2017. I had just purchased a charm pack (5-inch squares) while in Shipshewana, Indiana that I thought would be perfect for a baby quilt. I was not disappointed. The fabric was so bright and cheerful. It is from Moda called "Brighten Up". I followed a video I saw on the Missouri Star Quilt Company's web site. They called the pattern "The Window Panel Disappearing Nine Patch".

Here is my finished quilt--

I added a label to the back:

And this is my card.  I used the stamp set from Stampin' Up called "Love You Lots". It is a hostess set from the 2016-2017 catalog. I used copic markers to color the image and the "welcome baby" is from the set "Petite Pairs". The size is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 -- inches. I seem to making this size a lot lately.

Triple A's Stamp Club

Saturday was our meeting at Altered Art Addicts. We did the "Pin Wheel" card. We all had a great time. I would say that ladies always have a good time doing and sharing things they love.

Quilt Block Inspiration

As I was preparing for my card class at Altered Art Addicts, this Saturday, October 1, I learned several new things. I had been asked by one of the ladies if we could learn to make the "pinwheel" card. Sure! Not a problem! I had made the card once before and enjoyed doing it. As I began planning for the class, I looked on Pinterest for inspiration. I found many cards. Then I began wondering about the name "pinwheel". I knew that it was not the same as the pinwheel quilt block I had made several times. I found the real name for this quilt block is "Wings of Eagles". It is sometimes called the "Twisted Star" block.

For these two cards, I found doubled sided designer paper in my scrap box that worked perfectly. It is a fun design to work with.

After working on the first two cards, I wondered if I could make a card using one of my favorite quilt blocks -- the nine-patch block. I had also come across  some interesting facts regarding the block. It is probably from the early 19th century. Being an easy block to learn how to sew, it was probably one of the first blocks taught to young girls. 

I made my squares by using a 1 1/4 inch paper punch. I used a square piece of card stock cut at 3 3/4-inches for the base to glue the squares onto. After doing the piecing I ran it through the Big Kick in an embossing folder. It created the perfect design on the quilt block.

Class Challenge

This last card is for the challenge I had sent out for our class on Saturday. The challenge is to play "Tic-Tac- Toe".  I chose to do the diagonal "Yellow, Pink and Purple". I ended up using Flowers, Bling, and Die Cuts from the list as well.

I found the background paper (pink and yellow) in my scrap box. The flowers are made from shades of purple. The leaves were from a die and for the bling I used "Perfect Pearls". The base for the card is "Perfect Plum" card stock (a retired color from Stampin' Up).

A Summer of -----

Summer is almost over. The blog posts got put aside. Not sure why. I guess things just happen sometimes. I also think I just needed a break from my paper crafting. It seems at this time of year my interest turns to another craft that I also love and that is "quilting". It started by making my granddaughter's graduation quilt. Then it turned to placemats, table runners, and quilt tops that will be finished and then donated to the Allegiance Hospice House here in Jackson. In this post I am including a few pictures of a few of the projects.

Here are pictures of two quilt tops I made for the Hospice House. I saw a picture on Pinterest. It really intrigued me. As I studied the picture, I said to myself "I can do this". I made a table runner and fell in love with the pattern. I have searched and searched for the name of the block but have not found it yet. In the third picture down, I outlined the block.

Fabric Boxes

This past week, I made several fabric boxes. Again, I found a pattern on Pinterest. These are so much fun. It is an ideal pattern for all those fun fabrics that seem to never get used.

Added a couple of mug rugs with this box.

July Birthday's

The last two of my grand kids have birthdays this coming weekend. Stephen is going to be 17 on July 2 and Maddie will be eleven on July 4. That will complete the birthdays of my grand kids for this year.

Here is Stephen's card. It is rather simple. Hope he likes it. I expect he will like the piece of paper that is inside better.

I tried several times to do Maddie's card. This is the final card. I kept it very simple. It is a 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" card.

 And------ Here is a picture of the little purse that I made for her. I love the way it turned out. I was able to fussy cut the fabric so that the animals were front and center on both sides. Love the result. I think that the finished size was about 7" x 9". I am looking forward to trying some other sewing/quilting projects in the near future.

Another Birthday

I am not sure where the month has gone. There has been so much going on and so little time to organize my thoughts.

June 25, 2001-- my second granddaughter was born. Her name--Chloe Taylor Beans. I remember seeing her for the first time.

Time marches on and this year she turned 15. This picture was taken last Christmas, 2015. Chloe has since had her hair styled, but I do not have a more recent photo.

While visiting a fabric store in Lansing, I saw this really cute little purse. I thought that it would be something that I could make for my two granddaughters in Kentucky for their birthdays. I looked at the one in the store. I looked at the pattern; I looked at the price tag. It was marked $10.00. I looked at the purse again and thought "I can do that: I don't need a pattern." Well, after three tries, I finally made something that I was happy with. It would have been easier to have bought the pattern but not as challenging. I hope she likes it.

Before I could get her package mailed, I needed to finish her card. It was very simple. I tried to use some of the same colors that was in the purse. I let the designers series paper be the focal image.

Chloe--I love you.

Grandma

My Beautiful Granddaughter

I would like you to meet my oldest granddaughter, Sarah. She lives in Chicago and is headed to Santa Barbara, California, for college in August. We had the privilege of being at her graduation on June 2.

Earlier this year I asked her mother what Sarah would like for a graduation gift. Would she like to have a quilt? The reply--"Yes! She has asked for a quilt like the Chicago flag. She saw a small quilted wall hanging at a local quilt shop. She wants it big enough to wrap up in."

What does the Chicago flag look like? Is this something I can do? Where do I start? Thus my journey began. I searched the internet for inspiration. First, I had to find out what the Chicago flag looked like. Had someone else made a quilt inspired by the flag? Was there a pattern available with instructions on how to make a "Chicago Flag Quilt"? Look at the stars. They have six points, but each point is elongated. So let me share my journey.

The flag--

The result--

The back--

The next thing I needed was a graduation card. Now that I had finished the quilt, could I use the quilt as my inspiration? Of course!

On the inside, I made two pockets that held the notes that Grandpa and I wrote to her.

We were blessed to be in Chicago and watch as Sarah received her diploma from Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights, Illinois. On Friday morning she headed to Camp Timber-lee in East Troy, Wisconsin where she will be working as a counselor for the summer.

Triple Time Stamping Revisited

The second topic for my class last week was "Triple Time Stamping". It had been a long time since I had used this technique. I had seen a sample on Pinterest that I decided to CASE! Oh, this was so much fun.

Here is a link to the card I saw on Pinterest -- .Twisted Triple Time Stamping 

This is a really cool take on an old time favorite. I really enjoyed making my card because I did not have to worry about getting all the layers centered and even. For my card I used SU Pool Party card stock and ink with the stamp set "Everything Eleanor". I used the largest flower stamped with Island Indigo ink and fussy cut for my accent piece. I encourage you to give technique a try.

Second Time Around

I made this first card about three years ago. I never liked it. I always thought that it was missing something. It was never a card that I wanted to send to anyone.

This past week I was working on the topic "Using Layers In Cardmaking" for a class. I created several samples and worked on some handouts showing different ways to use layers. Then I thought of this card. Could I make this same card and make it better by adding some layers?

Here is the result--

I tried to keep the basic layout using the same images in the same colors. I think it worked. By adding texture and a couple more layers, I have a card that I will be proud to send.

SC592 / PP294

I made this card for two challenges that inspire me.

I used all four colors from the color challenge and tried to follow the sketch as closely as possible. The Wisteria Wonder color turned out to look more blue in the photo.The flowers were cut using framelits from the Botanical Blooms set and the circle stamp was from a retired Stampin' Up set called "Simple Friendship". I love making flowers and adding them to the cards I make.

CAS376 -- For A Special Lady

After making and posting an anniversary card on Saturday afternoon, I made another card that evening that was very similar but different. I think it is perfect for today's challenge --  "For A Special Lady". I used a new set of Spellbinder dies that are so lacy and delicate. This is the style of card I love to make -- lacy with flowers.

This picture show the delicate, shaped edge on the front of the card--

This picture shows the piece of card stock I added to the

inside to create the color that is seen from the front--

My card was in "Favorites for the week ending May 15" at Splitcoast Stampers.

Happy Anniversary

This was the weekend for the "Mega Meet" in Novi, Michigan. I always look forward to going and seeing some of the new things on the market. I needed an anniversary card today so I decided to use the new Spellbinder Border dies that I purchased yesterday. This set is beautiful. You may see it often. I especially love the dainty scalloped border outlined with the dots. I used SU Pool Party card stock and ink. The stamps were from a set from "Stamps of Life" that I purchased at the show last year.