Go Redbirds!

Who would've thought that a girl from a Chicago Cubs family would become such a big St. Louis Cardinals fan? Well that's what happened to me!  You could say that my husband converted me.  He became a fan as a little boy; watching Ozzie Smith turn flips as a shortstop.  

Derrick and I are enjoying another season of post season play!  We are decked out in our Cardinals gear, with our Rally Squirrel, and our sign in the yard that says, "Cardinals Fan Lives Here."  

This year I decided to make a wreath for the front door that also announces to all our neighbors that we are Cards fans!

First, I bought a foam wreath from one of my favorite craft stores.  I used some red yarn to carefully wrap the entire wreath. 

Next, I cut the St. Louis logo out of black and white felt.  In order to make the logo, I printed it out on the printer and pinned it down on the black felt first.  After cutting it out, I then pinned the black felt onto the white felt and cut out a border.  I used the felt that is stiffer so that it could hold up on the front door.  Using a glue gun, I glued the two pieces together.

 This just didn't seem like it was done...it needed something more!

  

 After visiting another craft store, I bought three plain wooden circles and the glove.  After getting the wooden circles home, I painted them white with red laces.  After my new baseballs were ready, I used Modge Podge to seal the paint.   With some more glue from the glue gun, my wreath is complete!

We are so happy to cheer on our Cards!  And now everyone who passes by our house knows where our allegiance lies. :)

Look Who's Here!

I have a mountain of owls that I made for centerpieces for our adoption fundraiser in June, so I decided that one of these cute little owls would be perfect for a new baby card.  I am obviously a big fan of owls, so I have many different stamp sentiments that work very well!  

I've entered this card in Pinspired Challenge #15.  I was inspired by the mint green color in the background of the photo, as well as by the birds.  This color green isn't one that I'm immediately drawn to, but I like it along with gray and I think it is a great contrast to the bright pink owl.
  

For supplies, I used the 'Hoot N Holler' Cricut cartridge for the owl.  I used a Stampabilities stamp (Polka Dot Background) in versa mark ink over the mint green, Lawn Fawn's Chevron Background in the gray stripe at the top, and the  'Look who's here!' sentiment from Hamptson Art (Who Loves You).   

Thanks for stopping by and many blessings to our friends as they welcome their baby girl Lily to their family!

Family is Where Our Story Begins

While visiting my mom last week, my sister Rachel and I decided that we needed a little project to work on. Of course, we were originally inspired to work on this project by our so called 'non-crafty' sister Dana!  She first made a birthday board for our family about a year ago.  It's truly wonderful and inspired Rach and I to do the same. 

After about four visits to Hobby Lobby, a lot of modge podge, bottle caps and patience; my birthday board is complete!

To start this project, I painted a plain wood plaque dark brown and sealed it with some modge podge.  I then covered some cardboard letters with teal scrapbook paper.  If your paper isn't exactly smooth around the edges of chipboard letters, use a nail file to sand down the edges.  I used modge podge again to seal the letters, but also to glue them to the plaque.
  

 In order to attach the bottle caps to the board, I screwed the pins in evenly across the board.  

Using a nail, I nailed holes in each bottle cap.  Then I add jump rings in between each bottle cap.  This was definitely the hardest part of the whole project!  I used needle nose pliers, my fingernails, anything in order to get those jump rings attached to those bottle caps.  It was worth it when I finished, but it was some work! :)

Now for the last part, I used some of my favorite scrapbooking paper and color combinations to cut circles out to cover each bottle cap.  For the months, I used some chevron paper and black letter stickers with the initial of each month.  Then, in order for them to stand out even more, I added glossy accents overtop of the paper to make it shine.  

For the dates of each birthday, I used a Hero Arts stamp set to stamp each one individually.  After stamping them, I used modge podge again to seal the paper.
  

Then, to set the wedding anniversaries apart from the birthdays, I painted some wooden hearts a reddish color and stamped the dates on each heart.  Of course, again, I used modge podge to seal the paint. 

Lastly, I wrote the names of family members on the back of their birthday or anniversary and covered it with modge podge again.
  

 Now my husband and I can easily remember all of our family member's birthdays and anniversaries and look forward to adding more and more bottle caps as our family grows. To be sure that I will be ready to add more dates as more family members are added, I made sure that I have extra supplies and extra circles cut out of matching scrapbook paper!  Hopefully, we'll be adding more bottle caps before we know it. :)

His Masterpiece

 Last weekend, I was surprised by a couple of friends who made me a silly video to show support and encouragement to me...for being me.  It was a nice surprise to have someone take the time away from their busy schedule to tell me what I mean to them.

Fortunately, my husband got me a new Cricut cartridge for Christmas called Mini Books.  For both of these friends, I decided to make a mini book that tells them what they mean to me.  I also was excited to use some new Lawn Fawn stamps that I received for Christmas!  All of the paper I used was from my stash and my embossing powder is from American Crafts (ZING!)

The colors in this project were inspired by the new challenge blog, Pinspired Challenges.  The base of my mini book is gray and purple with accents of light and dark purple, and light and dark teal.  As someone who loves looking for crafty things to do on Pinterest...this challenge was made for me!  Feel free to play along.

Here is the entire book.  The eight pages are accordion folded and glued inside of the envelope.

Lawn Fawn sentiment and chevron stripes

Lawn Fawn heart

Lawn Fawn airplane, clouds, sentiment, and chevron stripes.

Lawn Fawn sentiment.  All ready for be closed up and given to a special friend!

The back of the box has my friend's name on it.  I am excited to give it to her...but first on to the second box for another friend!  

Christmas is Coming

Like many others in the crafting world, I am furiously working on finishing up Christmas presents for friends and family!  I have an ever-expanding list of things to crochet, sew or scrap.  

In the last week, I've been working on a pattern for a crocheted elephant for someone on my list.  After tearing the ears out at least four times, I think I made some that are worthy for this cute elephant.  All of the yarn I used was Vanna's Choice...which just happens to be my choice for most of my crochet projects.  

Here she is!  After the Christmas rush is over, I'm going to have to try and make her a boyfriend complete with overalls. :) 

Next up...finishing a crocheted dinosaur hat for my sweet nephew Charlie! :)

October Card Chain Challenge

Once again, I joined the Card Chain Challenge!  This month, I made a card for Kim in Canada and received a card from Pam in Indiana.  What I absolutely love about this challenge is that our fearless leader gives us some very basic guidelines to follow...like a sketch, or a color combo, or a theme, or always the theme of friendship.  Because the guidelines are so basic, it is always easy to make a card to send off to a fellow crafter!  If you haven't joined up, you must give it a try next month (CCC guidelines).  I've received cards from all over the world...and sent them all over the world.  I love feeling part of something bigger than myself! 

Below is the card that mailed off to Kim.  I recently bought a new set of Lawn Fawn stamps that I had to use.  I also used the color combo that Deb suggested: camel, amethyst, and charcoal.  I really love all of the different tones of gray that seem to be popular right now, so I was excited to try it out for myself.  I also really love the chevron pattern, so I incorporated it into my card too.  The patterned paper is from Recollections 'Bold Basics.' 

Fall is in the Air

As I look outside the big picture window in my family room, I feel blessed to see the beautiful bright colors of the leaves on the tree in my front yard!  Last weekend, I made myself sit down and make some fall cards (fall is my favorite season to make cards in).  I say, 'force myself' not because I hate doing it, but because my busy schedule forces me to ignore my craft table! :(  

I decided to do some paper piecing with some red, orange and yellow paper to make these simple cards.  I am actually one of those strange people who enjoys cutting things out, so this project wasn't too tedious for me.  As my husband and I caught up on some much loved DVR'd tv, I cut out all of my pieces.  

I have, obviously, loved owls for years, so I have a huge collection of owl stamps.  Owls are very easily incorporated into fall paper crafting.  This owl was easy to make unique on each card by cutting different patterned paper out and piecing them together.  

Owl is from Hampton Art, and sentiment is from Hero Arts.  Patterned paper from Recollections 'Bold Basics.'

These paper pieced trees make me happy.  The different colors of the trees during this year is definitely my favorite part of the season.  As I drive through my older neighborhood, I see a variety of color from the trees lining the street.  Just beautiful!

Sentiment and trees from Hampton Art.  Patterned paper from Recollections 'Bold Basics.'

And last, but not least, this adorable squirrel with the acorns.  The squirrel was stamped on craft paper and then a patterned paper was used for his belly and tail.  I love the plaid pattern on the acorn with the sentiment, 'There is no one like you!'  On the inside corner of the card, another plaid acorn is seen for a special touch.

The squirrel and acorns are from Hampton Art, sentiment from Hero Arts.  Patterned paper from Recollections 'Bold Basics.'  

Whenever I work on cards, now-a-days, I always make sure to make multiples of the same or similar kind.  When you don't have a lot of time to craft, it is always good to make sure that you have some extras on hand when you need them in a hurry.  

Happy crafting and happy fall!

Back to the CCC

Now that life is getting somewhat back to normal, I decided to join the Card Chain Challenge for August.  If you haven't ever participated, I highly recommend joining for September.  All you have to do is make a card using one of the challenge guidelines and you get a handmade card in the mail at the end of the month! Below is the card that I made and mailed to Mariette from the Netherlands.  I used a Lawn Fawn stamp from the 'Admit One' set.  

Now I'm off to create for the September CCC! 

It Has Been Awhile!

As I typed in the address of my own blog, I wasn't sure when the last post would be dated!  It has been a long 9 months or so...starting with the unexpected death of my dad in November and ending with my husband resigning from his job and all the fun that comes with moving.  During those months of grieving and then packing, I didn't have any time to do what I love the most...craft!  

Now that we are becoming settled in our new house, I have all of my supplies at my fingertips again!  Below are some of the most recent projects I've been working on at our new zip code. 

A card for a friend, using Stamp n Up and Lawn Fawn stamps.

Our new address cards for friends and family. 

I crocheted 150 of the hearts seen on bookmarks my sister gave as wedding favors.  The stamp says, "Made for each other."

The beginning of an owl purse for my niece.  Can't wait to finish it with a lining and cute strap made just for a special two year old!

I made 10 of these mini journals for my Aunt to give to her friends.  They include different names of God from the Bible.  

And last, just this morning, I made a new name plaque for my sister.  She had one in her classroom last year with her maiden name on it and needed it revised for the new school year!

Hopefully now that we are moved in and settled, I'll have the time to do even more projects and feature them here!

Booties!

My husband and I have been in the process of trying to adopt for over two years now.  You can read about our journey on our adoption blog.  We've recently decided that we need to do some more fundraising.  As my contribution, I am continuing to make and sell knit, crochet, and scrapbooked items.  All of the proceeds of any sales will go towards the "Future Ford Fund" in helping us finance this adoption. 

These crocheted boots were made using a pattern by The Lovely Crow for my niece and future nephew.  These boots come in sizes newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, or 6-12 months.  Just let me know the size you need and colors you desire! Each pair of boots is $20 and all of the money will go towards the "Future Ford Fund," in helping finance our adoption. 

Star of the Show

I began crocheting about a year ago.  It's something that I really enjoy, especially as I watch TV with my husband.  I must admit, I'm not very good with just sitting and watching TV...I have to be doing something, so crocheting and knitting have become my answer.  I think I like crocheting so much because I feel that if I make a mistake, it's easy to tear and try again without worrying about picking up stitches (like in knitting).  

My goal in my last several projects has been to use some of the yarn that's been accumulating, without buying more. I chose to try Chromium Star Blanket pattern to try and use some of my cotton skeins.  About six months ago, I tried to use this pattern and failed, so this time I was determined to figure it out! With a little help from the author's blog, I was able to figure out how to do some of the trickier, new stitches.

Used Lily Sugar n Cream Tangerine with In Motion variegated cotton.

After finishing the crocheting, I went on the hunt to find some flannel to back the blanket with.  I was in luck when I ran into this cute polka dotted fabric at Hancock Fabrics.  I was even happier to learn that my fairly new sewing machine is capable of sewing through the fabric and the crocheted blanket. 

Flannel fabric from Hancock Fabrics

 

I am so pleased with the final product and even have someone is mind to give it to!  Thank you to Laura Lynn Hanks for the beautiful pattern...I plan to make many more in lots of different color combinations!

October Card Chain Challenge

Once again, I'm joining the ladies at Lily Pad Cards for the October Card Chain Challenge.  This month, I've decided to use the theme 'balloons' for my card.  I'm waiting on an order of hot air balloon stamps that I wanted to use for the challenge, but they didn't arrive in time, so I made my own! Both balloons are made with scrap paper and oval punches.  Then some string was added to attach the baskets.  My Lawn Fawn stamp set with 'enjoy the ride' seemed like the perfect sentiment for this fun loving card!

If you'd like to join up with the Card Chain Challenge, simply go over to Lily Pad Cards and sign up...so fun to receive a beautiful handmade card in the mail every month!

Guess Whooo?

For Cricut Cardz Challenge #92, we were to make a Halloween card using an owl from any cartridge.  Obviously I would take on this challenge...you know my love of owls!  While Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays to craft, I do like a lot of the color combinations that work well for this time of year.  For this card, I used bright orange, green and purple!  The owl is cut from the cartridge Hoot 'n' Holler, and the paper is from my stash.  I used the sentiment, "guess whooo?" from a Hampton Arts set (Autumn is in the Air).