Color Challenge & Twine/Hemp/String

All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;

 from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the STRINGS makes you glad.

Psalm 45: 8

Hello and Welcome to our Tuesday Challenge in connection with Cooking with Cricut / Paper CraftingWorld!  Our Challenge this week was to make a project that in some way incorporated the colors in the Inspiration Chart and also included twine, hemp or string. 

I chose to decorate a 3D shape – a letter ‘A’ – as part of a Birthday Gift for my Granddaughter, Avi.  Here is the Before –

Here is the After –

I painted it Brown and then covered the top and sides with a lovely embossed paper by DCWV.  I used several of Melin’s cutting files, using the color inspiration scheme, to decorate the free-standing 3D letter. 

I used:              Oval Flourish Frame

                        PumpkinVine Flourish

                        5Pt. Flower

                        Flowerand Branch

                        Pumpkinsand Leaves

I added Recollections Gems – a bit of lace – punched daisy petals and musical notes – an artificial flower  - a twine bow –

Now – be sure to check out all of the Creative Projects at Cooking with Cricut / Paper Crafting World – Pick up this week’s FREEBIE!  - 

Make a project – Link it and see if you win this week!  I’ll see you on Digi Desserts Fridaze – or on Smorgasbord Saturdays, every other Saturday.  TTFN!!

Texture Challenge: Love is...Autumn Bounty...

1  If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels,                but do not have love, I am only a resounding 

gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of              prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we 

prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was 

a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became 

a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a 

reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. 

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13

Welcome to our Tuesday Challenge in connection with Cooking with Cricut / Paper Crafting World!  Our mission this week – should we decide to accept – was to design something using Texture in some way.  As usual, my mind began spinning as soon as I saw the requirement and I’m excited to show you the outcome!  I also decided to write it up as a Recipe, in case you would like to ‘cook up’ a project like this!  It’s really quite easy to do and you can change/add anything to ‘your taste’ – This is just a Basic Recipe – for this -

Ingredients:

*  1 frame from the Dollar Store – mine is 8 x 10” wood – remove the glass to use for another project

*  1 canvas – mine is 5 x 7” –

*  textured wallpaper scraps or other textured paper for background and inset piece

*  acrylic paints – colors to coordinate with your project color scheme – dry foam brush

*  inks for shading – your colors

*  cardboard – top layer ripped off, sides ripped/distressed – for accent piece and to raise pumpkin

*  various cardstock for cutting .svgs – digis – (also Mulberry paper for leaves - They have a terrific selection of papers and wonderful customer service!)

*   various ribbon, twine, lace, trim elements (vegetable/onion/potato sacks) – whatever you’d like to include

*  ready-made flowers (Recollections/Petaloo/Swirlydoos…your choice)

*  various ribbon for handmade rolled flowers – (circle paper scraps for bases) – for ‘buds’ - and for around digi verse plaque

*  leafy vine punch

*  daisy punch and wallpaper scraps/or your choice of paper for handmade ‘straw flowers’

*  gems/pearls/buttons for flower centers

*  rafia/paper shreds for stuffing Apple Basket

*  glue gun/adhesives for adhering items to project

Directions:

I ‘dry brushed’ dark brown and then copper streaks on the deep rust-stained wood frame.  I then also did the same to the canvas – lightly.  I cut the woven wallpaper scraps to fit the frame and for mounting onto the canvas.

I adhered a piece of cardboard – top layer ripped off, sides ripped/distressed to the right edge of the frame.

I cut the Apple Basket and adhered it to the inset canvas at an angle so as to have the look of apples and flowers spilling from it.  I cut leaves (6-pt.Flowers Set) on my Cricut, cut the spray in half – then adhered them to the side and bottom of frame.  I punched leafy vines (Martha Stewart) from Kraft paper and adhered them on the others.  I also punched/cut some from Mulberry paper and adhered them.  I adhered looped twine and a ruffle of ‘onion bag’ (Yes! from a bag of onions!  You may remember from previous posts that I like to use unusual elements -) to the lower side of the Apple Basket.  I filled the Apple Basket with Kraft paper shreds – then adhered the apples (Apple Basket) to the edge of the basket and a few strewn on the ‘ground’ beyond. 

I cut the Pumpkin Vine, backed it with cream paper and adhered it to the lower left corner – raising it up on pieces of cardboard.  

Using the Daisy Punch (Marvy), I punched 6 each for each flower, inked the edges, dented the center using a stylus on a piece of foam, then glued the layers together, pinching the petals inward.  I finished them with a gem in the center.  I made rolled ribbon flowers with brown, cream and rust/cream ribbon, adding a gem to the centers.  I adhered these and ready-made flowers.  I made ‘buds’ from brown ribbon and added them, too.

I cut leaves (maple and oak) using the Pumpkins 'n' Leaves cutting file and added them intermittently throughout the leafy vines.  I also added a few gems to the vines.

 I printed and cut out the ‘Love is…’ digi (1 Corinthians 13), raised it with a piece of cardboard and adhered it.  I added a knotted and rolled piece of ribbon around 2 sides.

Here are the files I used:

I hope you have a chance to see all of the Creative Texture projects designed this week – then try your hand at it – and link up to CWC/PCW!  We’d love to see them!  Remember that there is a Sale, also, this month -  Here is the Ad:

See you next week!  Remember, also, that we now have DIGI DESSERTS FRIDAZE – each Friday – and SMORGASBORD SATURDAYS!!  Lots of creative options at the CWC/PCW site and here!

Taste of Summer Blog Hop - CWC/PCW

Miss you – CHERRY much!

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see – how good God is.

Blessed are you who run to him.

Psalm 34: 8

Hello and Welcome to our August ‘Taste of Summer Blog Hop’ in connection with www.CookingWithCricut.com  and www.PaperCraftingWorld.com  !  I’m glad you are visiting me today – and hopefully, you’ve arrived from Becky’s blog, Scrap Circus, if you’re going in order.  You can start from the beginning at Melin’s blog, CookingWith Cricut and then follow on through ALL of the creative ideas that our Design Team has come up with for you this weekend!

This hop is all about our favorite "flavors" of summer. Our projects were to include any type of food or drink that is a summertime favorite for us, our family or the recipient of our project.  Mine is for all three aspects -

What could say Summer better than a picnic basket filled with a favorite family treat?  In thinking about what to do, I decided that my most favorite summer treat was the Michigan Cherry Pies that I’d made for years for family back when we grew up and lived in MI.  I learned to make pies from Daddy who learned to make them on the C & O Railroad many years ago.  Since I live far away from my Grandchildren at this time and I can’t bake one for them, I thought that I’d make a ‘virtual’ pie, of sorts, in Easel-card form and I’ll mail it to them!  * smile *

I used a CWC file for the basis of the card – the Basket from the ‘Basket and Flowers’ file.  I am such a ‘repurposer’ that it may be funny to some of you…  Two weeks ago, I used bits of a ‘vegetable mesh bag’ on my project.  This week, I used the kraft-colored lining paper, which is left on the ‘used spindle’ of my AGT gun!!  When I replaced it a few weeks ago, I kept it with the thought that there just might be something I could do with it – and here it is!!  I cut strips of it and weaved them together to make the basket look at bit more ‘realistic.’  I then used Mod Podge to adhere the pieces to the cardstock piece and give it a nice 'finish.' 

I cut a second piece of cardstock, omitting the center hole, and putting inked ‘clouds’ in that space, and then adhered it to the backside of the basket.  Before I adhered that, I added a bit of red and white checked paper, pleated, to look like a bit of tablecloth peeking out from the basket.

I used another CWC file to make a Cherry Tree – the tree from the ‘Partridge and a Pear Tree’ file.  I ink-colored the leaves and then added red gems.  I put a coat of Mod Podge on it also, to strengthen it and preserve and keep the gems from falling off, before I adhered it to the basket.  I printed the sentiment in WORD, cut it to be a banner, inked the edges and adhered it with Pop-Dots for added dimension.

I searched Online for a quote or poem to include and came up with ‘Cherry Time’ by Robert Graves.  I printed this on cardstock and made a little tri-fold booklet for inside the card.  I’ll include the poem at the end of this post.

I used the ‘Pies’ CWC file to ‘bake’ a Cherry Pie for the Prop inside the card.  I lightly inked the edges of the crusts for that fresh-baked look.  I filled the woven top crust with red gems of various sizes.  Although I always bake my pies in 10” glass pie dishes, I cut this pie pan from silver, to look like a tin pie pan.  It is raised up with large Pop-Dot-type adhesives.  MMMmmmm...  I can almost taste my 'famous' Cherry Pies!!  

Yes, it took longer to design and assemble this card than I’d originally thought, but I’m pleased with the result and I hope my Daughter and Grandchildren like it, too.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  I know that Melin and several others have GOODIES offered on their blogs and I’d like to offer FOUR of my Cards to one lucky Commenter today!  I’ll choose someone at random from those who visit and leave a comment -  ;-}  -  So please be sure to leave a way for me to get in touch with you should you win.  I’ll offer your choice of color (we’ll discuss) for FOUR cards using this CWC file:  Decorative Plate Label Cutting File

Now – head on over to Court’s blog, Court’s Craft Corner, and then on to the others.  Have a great day and week ahead!  Let me know if you have questions about anything!  Blessings!

Here's the Poem I included in this card:

 

       CHERRY TIME                                                                        

      by Robert Graves from

         Fairies and Fusiliers

Cherries of the night are riper
Than the cherries pluckt at noon
Gather to your fairy piper
When he pipes his magic tune:
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter
For the eater
Under the moon.
And you’ll be fairies soon.

In the cherry pluckt at night,
With the dew of summer swelling,
There’s a juice of pure delight,
Cool, dark, sweet, divinely smelling.
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter
For the eater
In the moonlight.
And you’ll be fairies quite.

When I sound the fairy call,
Gather here in silent meeting,
Chin to knee on the orchard wall,
Cooled with dew and cherries eating.
Merry, merry,
Take a cherry;
Mine are sounder,
Mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter.
For the eater
When the dews fall.
And you’ll be fairies all.

Welcome to Your New Home!

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,

 in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

Isaiah 32:18

My son, a Marine Captain (USNA ’05), recently returned from his third deployment – the first two to Iraq and this last one to Afghanistan.  He’s now to be stateside for a while.  He has found a townhouse to rent near where he is stationed and has been re-united with his canine friend who was just a pup when they were separated last year.  Dear Friends in another state were kind enough to care for ‘my Granddog’ while my son was away, and they are now happily back together.  Argos is a Belgian Shepherd and I wanted to include him in a card I was designing for my son and him.

I found a photo of a Belgian Shepherd online and transformed it into an .svg file with my SCAL2 program.  I made 2 cuts of it so I could cut the legs and tail further and give it a 3D effect with Pop-Dots. I used Glossy Accents for his eye and nose.

I used a ‘bare tree’ .svg file that I got quite a while ago and then added punched and inked leaves, adding dimension.  I cut the Birdhouse and Flourish(CWV/PCW .svg file.)  I cut a Bluebird .svg that I’ve had for a while, adding ‘flowers’ to the leaf flourish with glitter paint and Glossy Accents for clear dimension. 

I used a piece of ripped paper, ink and a small make-up sponge to make clouds and grass.  A piece of discontinued wallpaper completed the landscape at the front.

I typed the sentiment in WORD, printed it and punched it with an EKSuccess punch, adding a black punched piece to offset it.

I sent it and it arrived to ‘Welcome My Guys’ to their home on their first day there!  Not much I can do from across the continent, but I hope it conveyed a bit of my Enormous Love for them…

What things do you do for someone moving into a new home?  All ideas welcome -  I have other ideas for others in my life who have recently moved, also…  

If you are having trouble finding a specific .svg cut file, let me know and I’ll see what I can do for you – I enjoyed making the dog for this project and I’ve made several other images for other projects.  ;-}

NOTE!!
I've just discovered a great blog to connect with and have linked up to her 'Inspire Me Mondays' -
Stop by there and visit the creativeness shared!     Create with Joy -    ;-}   This week I am #99 !!

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  
 

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!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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!!