New Rubbah!

It definitely has been a day to pass on to yesterday.

My DD drove me to work because my Beatle was in the shop. Needed a headlight, oil change and the door broke last night. I have a new bulb, new oil, and new battery for the key - but I need to take the car to the body shop to fix the door’s broken hinge.  So, I climb over the console with the 6-CD changer to get in and out.  My DD will let me take her car tomorrow morning and she will take my bug to a friend of hers who owns a body shop. Cheaper than VW’s body shop, I’m sure.

At work today the elevator man was out to do routine maintainance.  He cleaned out everything so well his vacuum cleaner blew out.  The cloud of smoke from it set off the fire alarm and everybody in the building had to get out.  Mind you, we have a preschool here, with lots of tots!  The MOPS group was also meeting.  (mothers of preschoolers). And these women come with another batch of kiddos too.  Carl the repairman informed me as soon as he could that he has set the alarm off, so I called to stop the dispatch.  That was successful, thankfully.  Then, off I went to the alarm panel to science it and let everyone outside know it was save to come back inside.  Even after all was well, the fire detector wouldn’t normalize, so the panel wouldn’t go out, which means the elevator could not be put back into service.  I called repair for the fire alarm system.  Fortunately all that got fix before I had to leave. 

Remember that my DD took me to work, so I’m expecting her to come pick me up.  She calls and says my DGD is driving out to get me instead!  I work 30 minutes away down winding roads with no solders and sometimes crazy drivers!  My DGD is not an experienced driver! Obviously it went fine or I would not be posting most likely. But you got to know a grandmother can worry about such a trip.

After picking up my car - still having to crawl in - I had time to kill before picking up DGD.  (DD had an appointment and I was left with chauffeuring the teen.)  Well, A.C. Moore is along the path!  How nice!  I just went in to look around.  Honest.  On my way out I stumbled across a bin - right at the checkout - of $5 stamps.  (I’m saving money by having a friend do the door, right?)  One is a travel-postmark kind of collection, a bonsai tree, a sentiment “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression… –Albert Einstein”, and two ladies with funny sayings.

I made a postcard to send to a friend in South Korea who collects them and she really needs one because she is recovering from a bad accident.  Glossy cs, the tree is embossed in black powder.  I used a number of stamps (2 new and lots of Stampin’ Up! I already have).  The added tags are run through the Xyron so it will stick perfectly when it goes in the mail.  She is into postcards and is the person responsible for showing me Postcrossing.  Because the glossy cs just didn’t feel strong enough I glued certainly celery to the back.

I also worked on two thank you cards, but didn’t finish.

I really need to go to sleep now.

 

Device - My ‘vice of choice

The word prompt for today over at that fabulous site “Her Space: My Space” is device.

A thing made or adapted for a particular purpose especially something mechanical or electrical. Show us a device in your space today.

 

The sewing machine on the left is my beloved Bernina 930.  The one on the right I bought around 4 years ago because I thought I wanted to do machine embroidery.  I did do some embroidery, but haven’t in at least a couple of years.  I just sew.  I am very fortunate to have them in my space! Having them both set up so I can sew on either one, whenever, makes me happy!  They do the thing they are adapted for very well.!

 

Mother’s Day 2008

I had a very pleasant day!  I made it to early church. I mention this because I don’t always get up for the 8:30 service.  I have been working at it lately since I prefer this service over the 11 o’clock service. I walked. So I managed to get 11 minutes of exercise in for the day!  The church gave out strawberries and cake between. Yum! Being Pentecost Sunday the scripture readings were about when the disciples received the Holy Spirit. I’m confused about something and will have to research that topic further. I’m too tired tonight to go into it further.

I drove out to spend the afternoon and evening with a very dear elderly friend - Marsha’s mother.  Our favorite place to dine is the Chinese Buffet.  There is a really nice one in Chesapeake that has a man at a grill who will stir fry what you select on your plate right there for you.  I like going there because I can pick what I want - which pretty much isn’t dead carcass. My craving for shrimp has returned to me and I’ve eaten shrimp now for the last 3 days! I know this is not healthy!

I have the need for a few thank you cards.  One of the chores I did today before allowing myself to stamp was to straighten up my scrap paper bin.  That’s the 12 X 12 plastic case that I drop every usable scrap into.  It was overflowing and wouldn’t close. Beside looking awful I couldn’t really get past the few top papers because if I rummaged too much, more would spill onto the floor.  All neat now, and in layers.  I put them in 4 sections - still within the carrying case. The blues, greens, purples are together. The yellows, reds are next. Then I have the neutrals and the metallic’s.  Finally the patterns.

The colors I ended up using for two thank you cards came from this cleaning up task.  It just so happened that the three colors of scraps together caught my eye.  This combination is not on the SU! color wheel - I checked.  I used guava, purple and red.  The 1st card (not shown) had a darker background than this one. I like this one better.  On the white card I have elegant eggplant, real red and groovy guava.  The tiny blossoms are stamped with Versamark on lovely lilac and punched out with the boho blossoms punch.  The large blossom from the friendship blooms set - red ink, guava cs - is cut out.  I need 4 cards right now, but will probably need 6 or even 8.  I though I should make them all similar and this basic layout and stamp sets work well. On the 1st card I thought the white was too stark (especially since the patterned paper was darker than this one) so I used lilac on the linen BG stamp and stamped the front.(Comments, suggestions welcomed while there is time to change!) {For the record: all images are Stampin’ Up! Remember that although my cared is simple and basic, it is mine and you can’t copy it and call it your own. Thanks for playing fair!}

Oh, btw, I watched a movie Saturday night with my DD.  “Sweeney Todd”.  Boy, is there discussion material in there or what!   

 

Gift Tag and Tag Challenge

Five sets of ‘nickel’ squares 10 each are ready to mail.  The HGTV hostess of these 5 inch squares each month deserves a thank you, so besides the extra fabric squares I’ll send, I wanted to make a little thank you as well.  I decided to make a tag.  I find tags so much fun to make and use lately.  This one is made up of several squares of SU! patterned paper pasted to an artichoke card stock tag, then brushed with golden yellow acrylic paint and wiped down. I hung two little tags because I like danglies.

Sentiment on the rear reads “Your friendship makes my heart happy.”  This is from SU!’s Friendship Blooms set.

 

Still in the mood (or mode) to make tags I ventured over to Tag You’re It! for a bit of inspiration.  And found it.  Week 6 went up Friday and it was a color challenge to use mostly black and gold.

I made two before I stopped to go watch a movie with my DD.  The tag on the left, some of it’s detail is lost in the black, is mostly black and gold with some designer paper that has gold in it.  The black cardstock has gold embossing. My little bird sits atop a scallop punch that has holes knocked out with the eyelet setter from my tool kit.  I used the little bird from Inkadinkado on all my tags today.  The right tag is inspired by the challenge, but also has some green.  the bird and the blossom are gold embossed.  What appears to be black and white stripes is a piece of wide ribbon.  Digging through my patterned paper for something else to go with the theme, I saw the office paper with the “No. 2″ and thought it just the thing, since it was to be my #2 tag for the challenge. I plan to keep and use these tags on scrapbook pages.  Wouldn’t it be nice to journal on the back and slip into a pocket on the page?

 

Remember

  –A photo challenge for HS:MS– To remember our dead may seem strange, but is actually healthy for our mental development. We recall our dead because of our love for them. Are we not enriched by the memories when thoughts of passed loved ones flood our emotions? Remembering our dead allows us to put the past in perspective (remember the good times and lessons taught) so we can move into the inevitable future. It also allows us to recall our own mortality, bringing us closer to our God.                                                                   

The U.S. will celebrate Memorial Day on Monday, May 26^th. For many it is nothing more thought provoking than a holiday away from what ever it is that they labor at – work, school. Actually it was set aside to remember those who died in service to this country. As we have increased our reach in communication, the world is now more easily viewed. Many countries make up our world. There is no law that says I can’t acknowledge the sacrifice given by all who gave their life to defend the good people of the entire world. Not getting political here, but we can remember that God loves us all and I mourn the families who are now parted from someone they miss and cherish.

Funny how this living of life takes us to the oddest places. I would never have thought I’d find myself working next to a cemetery. But here I am and quite blessed to do so! During 4 years of my young adulthood (ages 18 to 22) 5 important people in my life died. My grandfather was the last. I was so mentally unhealthy that I didn’t even go to his funeral. I couldn’t bare it. I wanted to only remember him as he looked when alive. I was still having nightmares about the earthly body of my beloved grandmother rotting in the ground with worms and such. (I have chosen cremation for myself.) And because of being expected to go up to my mother’s casket, I have traumatic memories of her lying there looking lifeless. I also made the grave mistake of taking her hand in mine. So cold! Not right! Never again to hold my hand back!  Although I have attended funerals since, I choose not to walk up and view the body.  I do remember them and pray for comfort for the family and friends around me.

I remember my best friend all through high school (Marsha, age 18), my sweet mother (Dorothy, age 38), my beloved grandparents (Ruby, age 56 & Henry, age 60), my husband (John, age 24). With these memories that I have taken with me, I moved on and lived my life. One day it will be my turn to go to sleep and wait for the day of resurrection where we will all be in the glory of God, forever.

 

Ismaki Challenge #18

It’s “winobella” with a patterned paper dress from Stampin’ Up!

Also, since I used chipboard, this suits the Splitcoast challenge today to use beforementioned item.

I roughed up the edges of the flowers to add dimention.  The sentiment is clear embossed. I tried to balance the blue of the dress by using blue to cover the chipboard. I think when I do something like this again I will put Bella on a lighter BG and mat with the olive green instead.  Too much contrast - she just fades away from her dress!

I found no domes in my space today, so I couldn’t play HS:MS challenge.  This is all I did in the craft department today.  I did, however, cut out 50 five inch squares for the Purple and orange nickel swap going on this month at HGTV boards.  They are now ready to mail off so I can get the same # back, but in all different fabrics.

 

Square

A flat shape with four sides of equal length. Find a square in your space today!

    HS:MS Challenge Today

Yes, I used my camera at the grocery store again!  At least I didn’t prop it up, turn on the self timer and run over to be in it this time. ha ha. I didn’t succumb to the temptation to buy any of these either!

Squares just don’t show up in nature, or that I could find today.  Windows were a possibility but were either inaccessible or weren’t really square.

 

Salt Challenge

This is such a wonderful selection of scriptures, telling us to be content.  He will never forsake us!  The “Salt” challenge is to find inspiration in “Contentment” from the scriptures.  I have selected this Bella stamp to portray a feeling of contentment on my card.

I will re-do the inside by typing it up and printing it on card stock.  My handwriting just isn’t getting it.  But, for now, it shows my intent.  It says: be content for He has said, “I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you”.

The four verses that surround the front are: Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:8; Philippians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 12:10.  I do believe I will be doing a scrap page with this theme soon as well.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I made two more “Party Hats’ blocks for my May project.  I’m starting to receive blocks, and with the several I have already made, I m getting anxious to begin to put a top together.  I really must hold back until my donations arrive so I can do the best possible job of arranging.  I also need to see if it would be best to add strips of sashing, kind of like ‘backing’ in the card making world.

 

Spirals in "My Space"

Winding in a continuous and gradual curve.

Find a spiral in your space today.

You guessed it! This is for “Her space-My Space”.  When I read the theme this morning I was sure I would not be able to participate today.  Then, driving by a park I noticed this tree - looks like a spiral to me.  It got better.  My errands took me to the library.  This is a pic of the sculpture in front of the main library.  It turns.  I waited until most were lined up before taking this shot.  

As I spent time taking these shots I thought how really nice it is to record my space with photos.  Why should I wait until there is an event when there are amazing things on display right now?  Little things, yes, but still rather unique to where I am right now.

Being able to ‘visit’ other places in the world is exciting too.  And that I do through Postcrossing.com.  I just received two lovely cards in the mail this afternoon (the Post Office was one of my errands).  One is from Vechta, Germany.  The other is from Mallorca, Spain.  They are really ‘wow’.  I still haven’t started my scrap pages yet.  I plan to attach the cards to clear pages so neither side is hidden.

A few days ago I picked up some “sugar ‘n cream” cotton yarn to make dish cloths and swiffer pads.  Seems these pads are showing up on blogs everywhere!  Today I find a knitted one on Deb’s blog!  I can’t find the blog where I first got the idea, but here’s another site with scrubbers knitted in!  There are lots of ‘green’ ideas, just got to look for them.

 

Get Well Card from a Challenge Sketch

A very dear and loved friend from church is in the hospital. We were told Sunday morning.  My DD and I will visit her this afternoon.  She has requested someone to bring her a Bible on loan as she didn’t pack hers.  I have a large print Bible and will take it to her.  Since she is a stamper too, we of course have to make a get well card.

This card is made from a sketch I found at Challenge Ismaki.  It’s #17.  The sea horse, after stamping with black Stazon, is watercolored with Stampin’ Up! pencils on watercolor paper.  He is cheery, yes?  the matting behind it is watercolor paper as well.  Whisper white (SU!) behind that with sentiment stamped in always artichoke. 

There is a piece of SU! designer paper on which I sewed a piece of fabric, stings still loose, of course.  Three layers of ribbons, green, white and light blue.  With the white ribbon I attached the buttons (Soft Subtles) and stapled the Hero Arts stamp (artichoke) and added  ’friend’ (Tempting turquoise) on green paper, punched with a circle punch.

More sad news came at my financial services team meeting.  A fellow associate (Anthony) is going in for colon cancer surgery.

Two more people for my prayer list.  I did lift up the daughter of a lady from the HGTV message board who was just diagnosed with leukemia at Sunday School and church worship service.  I should have added her family, I can feel for her family.  A very scary time for them.

While on my beautiful afternoon walk Sunday I spotted some lovely small flowers.  I don’t know what they are.  Their beauty may not show well with the reduced quality of the pic.  A few had a hint of pink around the pedals.  Some buds were pink.  This pic and another turned out well.  I was thinking a print would look pretty as a BG for a card, something sweet or even a sympathy card.  Maybe a BG for a scrapbook page too, much lighter.