Day 9: May-Mother's Day - Homage to Mama

¹³ She is always gathering wool and flax and enjoys making things with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like a ship from a faraway place.  She brings home food from everywhere.
¹⁵ She wakes up early in the morning, cooks food for her family,

¹⁷ She works very hard.  She is strong and able to do all her work.
¹⁸ She works late into the night…

²⁰ She always gives to the poor and helps those who need it.

²¹ She does not worry about her family when it snows. 

She has given them all good, warm clothes.
²² She makes sheets and spreads for the beds, and she wears clothes of fine linen.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom and teaches others to be loving and kind.
²⁷ She oversees the care of her house.  She is never lazy.

Proverbs 31 – selected verses

 Welcome to the Third Annual ’25 Days of Christmas’ in conjunction with My Paper Crafting.com, the blogsite for which I am on the regular Design Team – and loving it!  Here’s a bit of an introduction, history and explanation of what you can expect during this 25 Days of December.  Don’t worry if you’ve missed any of the original posts to this point – You can click on links on Melin’s post to get to posts from previous days.  I am posting on Days 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 18, 20, and 25, corresponding to the days of this month – and possibly some other days in between, depending on how my time goes…

We have almost 30 designers who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to create some spectacular projects to share with you! So pull up a comfy chair and get ready to be inspired! There will be daily projects featuring:

* Cricut Cartridges

*Electronic Die Cutting Files

(Svg type, using Pazzles, Silhouette, Gazelle, Cameo type Machines)

*Digital Stamps with Coloring
(Using Copics, Digital and other coloring mediums)

*Stamping and Inking

*Traditional Dies, Punches and all the other tools we love.

A Little Something For EVERY TYPE of "Paper Crafter"

Format:  Each day the designers were given a “theme” to work with, so each day will be different.  We will also have a daily FREE Cutting File and a daily FREE Digital Stamp-Printable along with some FREE Royalty-Free Vintage Graphics. Today's theme:

Today’s theme is May – Mother’s Day.  I chose to make a 12 x 12 layout as an ‘Homage to Mama.’  She passed away a few years ago and there were a lot of things that she wasn’t, but I dwell on the good things that she taught me and I’ve chosen as many attributes from the famous Proverbs 31 passage that she did possess.   One of several, which she had, was her excellent and inventive sewing abilities.  She taught me when I was in grade school and I have sewn some amazing items through the years.  She loved her gardens and houseplants even to the end when she had very little. 

I incorporated several of Melin’s files in this one page.  I used today’s FREE ‘Lilacs’ Vintage Digital File from MyPaperCrafting as the focal background.  I used the ‘Oval Flourish and Frame cf’.  I used the ‘Dressform2 cf’ and the FREE ‘Dressform and Tag cf’ and the as one of the design elements and the Journaling Tag.

 

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*  My favorite color combination is Lavender and Black and I decided to use it for this layout because of the Lilac digi and memories of Mama.  We had a Lilac bush in the yard where I grew up in MI and many years later I had a huge one in my own yard there.  I’d bring in baskets-full and make bouquets for each room late at night when they were in bloom, so that we all awoke to the smell of Lilacs in the morning.  

*  I put the ‘Lilacs’ digi into my PSE 10 program and changed the Hue/Saturation to make it a light lavender color and then lightened it even more, so that it was pale and ethereal in feeling.   

*  I printed this on white cardstock and then punched around the edge with a MS punch.  The top and bottom edges allowed for a complete set of the punching.  The sides didn’t, so I began at the corners (as I always do), punched with the straight punch on either side and then used the corner punch in the middle, trimming just a bit of the paper to make the design consistent all around. 

*  I adhered this piece to the center of an 8.5 x 11” medium lavender cardstock.  I added a light lavender piece of cardstock to the bottom edge to make the page 12”.  Unfortunately, I realized after I submitted the photos for today’s post that I needed to add a half-inch black border piece to each side of the page, so that it would be 12 x 12”.  Imagine that it’s there.  ;-}  I adhered a piece of patterned ribbon at the seam between the two pieces.

*  I used a MS Punch to make a bottom border element.  The ribbon had a design similar to the border punch and the design on the Journaling Tag.  I love it when things ‘come together’ from what I have here!

*  I cut the Frame from the lavender print cardstock and a shadow of it from silver cardstock for the top right corner.  I will print a small photo of Mama and place it in there.

*  I cut a ‘Dressform’ from silver cardstock and then a ‘Dressform 2’ from the print, adhering them together.  I added 3 flower buttons to the waist and lace around the bottom of the skirt.

*  I cut a sewing machine and 3 spools of thread from the print cardstock, using a file I’ve had for a long time.  I didn’t notate where I got it from back then.  I added thread and a real needle and adhered them.  (I learned to sew on a very old black Singer sewing machine, so I used the ‘older’ model of the 2 files I have.  I now sew on a ‘newer’ model, which is now an ‘older’ model to people of today…!)

*  I cut a Journaling Tag using the FREE cf offered today.  Journaling can be written on the back and it can be inserted in the ‘pocket’ I made for it from Vellum.  I cut a half-circle piece from it using a MS scalloped circle punch.  I adhered the 'heart' from the Dressform to the pocket.

*  I faux-stitched around the edge of the page with a fine black felt pen. 

I enjoyed making this layout this week and ‘remembering the good’…   I hope you enjoyed seeing it.  

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As mentioned above, Melin will be giving away FREE digital die cutting files, digital printables and vintage graphics. Please note: Each day we will have new files. Be sure to stop by each day as they will be free one day only! Please also note, the free files will have a price listed by them, but when you add them to your cart to check out, they will be free during the day they are posted only. These files have been generously donated by PaperCraftingWorld.com. Be sure to take advantage of the great 50% off sale on all downloadable files through December!

Today’s FREE files are –

Here are just some of the prizes we will be sharing with you!

~ Quick Quotes Prize Pack
~ The Twinery: Twine
~ PaperCraftingWorld.com: Gift Certificate
~ Page-Kits.com: Gift Certificate
~ Melinda Beltran: Close To My Heart Stamping Items
~ Miscellaneous Weekly Prizes

We will share details on all of these prizes as the days unfold. 

SO HOW ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO WIN?!!!!
Be a follower of Melin’s My Paper Crafting blog AND leave a comment on any of our daily posts.   That's it, that's all we ask!!! Please only one comment per day.  ALSO join us on our Facebook Page and leave a comment telling us you did and that will be an extra chance to win! Pretty easy!

Thank you for joining us today. Be sure to go back tomorrow for some more great projects and our new FREEBIES!

Black/White-Peridot-Book Pages Theme!

And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the flowers of the field grow. 

They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon

 in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Matthew 6 : 28, 29

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Peridot

Peridot is said to host magical powers and healing properties to protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence, and a wonderful year.  As peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes, in Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.  Today, most of the peridot supply comes from Arizona; other sources are China, Myanmar, and Pakistan.  This gemstone comes in several color variations ranging from yellowish green to brown, but most consumers are attracted to the bright lime greens and olive greens.  Peridot, in smaller sizes, often is used in beaded necklaces and bracelets.

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Welcome to the Weekly Challenge post in connection with www.CookingwithCricut.com  !  It was my turn to choose the Theme for this week’s Challenge.  I thought…  It’s August…  The birth gem for August is Peridot…  I love Black and White…  I love using Book Pages in creative ways…  Thus, the Theme for today’s Challenge is to use a combination of these three elements in some way in a Project!

Then I thought…  My Special Friend has a birthday this month!  So I designed this card with the giving of it to her as my inspiration –

Card Closed

Card Open

I began with an 8.5 x 11 piece of white cardstock and designed the finished card to fit into a 5.25 x 7.25” envelope.  (Recollections card sets)  I cut out portions of the 4 corners to make 2 large flaps (sides) and 2 smaller flaps (top and bottom to which I attached the ½ Doily and trims).  I used the PCW 14 Pt. Doilies .svg file, cutting 2 of them at 5.25” and then cutting each of them in half – one set for the front flaps and one set for the inside sentiments.  I cut semi-circles from a heart-shaped paper doily and adhered them to the flap doilies (they don’t show much…)  Next, I punched 2 pieces of black cardstock trim, one for each flap, for over the paper doily.    I used the ‘negative’ of those punched strips on the inside of those flaps.

Card Open and turned over

Front flap detail - outside

Front flap detail - inside

I cut flowers from book pages using the PCW 5 Pt Flower  .svg file.  I inked the edges and connected the petals with a black brad, attaching them to the front flaps.  (For this project, I actually scanned pages of verses from a book I didn’t want to ruin, then used PSE 10 to make the pages as white as I could, in keeping with the colors of today’s Challenge.  I usually use Old book pages which tend to be ‘yellowed’ and OK for some projects.)

I cut the Peridot and B/W patterned papers to fit on the front flaps and inside center panel.  I used a corner rounder on all pieces.

Center panel - inside

I printed the sentiments on a 3” circle shape in WORD, then cut it out, then cut it in half, one for each inside flap on the doily sections. 

Sentiment - Inside left panel

I used the PCW Dressform .svg file for the inside panel.  I made a skirt overlay from the netting that vegetables/fruits come in at the grocery store!  I have a stash of various colors –

Dressform - closeup

Flowers - closeup

I added ribbon and gems at the waist and a heart-shaped gem in the heart-shaped hole on the bodice.  I decorated the center panel with book-page flowers, tiny (Recollections) flowers and gems.  I adhered the heart, cut from the bodice, to the sentiment page.

When the card is closed, I put a ribbon through the loops of the 2 doilies and tied a bow.  I used an extra piece of the 14 pt. doily (one I’d initially cut in the designing process, but kept for other purposes) to ‘stamp’ the negative design on the envelope. I’m excited to send this card to My Friend soon!

Card Closed

Envelope

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When I chose today’s Theme and began designing this card, I didn’t know that I’d be making a wedding shower gift and wedding gift for her son and new daughter-in-law in basically the same color-scheme!  (There is the additional color of Lavender...)   Here is the Shower gift card I enclosed with the gift -  

Their wedding invitation arrived and I began playing with ideas in my head…and I thought I’d share what I eventually came up with for them – A keepsake of their invitation. 

Wedding gift - Frame

Closeup - upper left

Closeup - lower right

Wedding Gift Card

Wedding Gift Card -closeup

The invitation was a card printed on both sides, so I made a copy of it.  I understood that the bride was to wear a gown of slightly off-white and the attendants would wear black gowns.  Lavender and moss green would be the flower and accent colors.  I put the copied invitation in a black frame and added the  PCW Flourished Corner Bracket on 2 corners, adorned with book-page flowers and tiny (Recollections) flowers and gems.  It was to be an outside wedding in AZ and the photos I’ve seen prove it to have been a Lovely occasion!

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Thanks for popping in to this week’s CWC/PCW Challenge and then here to My blog!  Now – You make something with this week’s Theme and then link your project at CWC.  Happy crafting!  See you next week!  If you see anything on my blog that you have questions about – or anything that you’d like me to re-create for you, please feel free to contact me!  ;-}

Be on the Lookout for information regarding the 'Taste of Summer" Blog Hop on August 18 and 19!!