Just a Note

It's the last day of October. Yes, October 31st. Where is the year going?

Happy Halloween!

The best part about today, though, is that it's time for the Crafters of Faith blog group to show their creativity. (We do that on the last day of every month.)

This month, Liz is the hostess. Here's her "assignment for us...

The scripture for my challenge is:
"But I, with a song of thanksgiving,w ill sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good, salvation comes from the Lord." Jonah 2:9

I love music and a "song of thanksgiving" surely pleases the Lord. Never does He speak that the songs of our hearts need to be perfectly performed to be a joyful sound to Him. So, think of some ways you can make a joyful sound to the Lord your God. The challenge this month will be to use a musical instrument image, musical score paper, musical  note brads, etc. Whatever you have in your stash that is of the musical nature!

Liz, THANK YOU for giving us a great challenge! 

Truthfully, I don't have many musical stamps/images/etc... since I can't sing (I squawk!), play an instrument, etc. I can play the radio; does that count? So I had to dig deep. I found an old old OLD Stampin' UP stamp set that I haven't used in years: Jazzed Up. Okay, that will do, I guess.

As previously mentioned, not much in the way of musical "anything" in my stash, so I used two of the stamps from the Jazzed Up stamp set to create my own designer paper. I took a lovely (subtle - pink with grungy look) scrap of DP from my scrap file and stamped the images onto it at random.

Since the backside of that soft/subtle designer paper is white, I decided to use it as my card base, too. I actually like the way that worked.

Here's the inside of my card:

Thank you for stopping by my blog for a peek. Let's head over to the other Crafters of Faith blogs to see what they've made. You'll find the links to their blogs in my left sidebar.

Images/Sentiment: Stampin' UP! Jazzed Up
Ink: A Muse Studio Seattle
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Soft Suede
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Basic Grey Pearls and Stampin' UP! Ribbon

Flying By...

It isn't a bird! It isn't a plane! In fact, it isn't even Superman! 

It's Sassy Witch 

(a Sassy Studio digital image)

Sassy Studio Designs is the sponsor of this week's {PIN}Spirational Challenge! THANK YOU, SASSY STUDIO DESIGNS - for providing images for the design team's use, as well as a prize package for a lucky participant of the {PIN}Spirational Challenge!

{PIN}Spirational Challenge

October 29 - November 4

This is the photo to {Pin}Spire us:

For my card, I went with the "flying" idea.

This card is also appropriate for the new Twisted Tuesday Challenge.

Twisted Tuesday Challenge

October 29 - November 11

Theme: Anything Goes

Twist: It's a Free for All - ANYTHING GOES!

Here's the inside of my card:

I hope you'll participate in both the {PIN}Spirational Challenge and the Twisted Tuesday Challenge!

And as always, thank you for stopping by my blog today!

Image: Sassy Studio Sassy Witch
Ink: Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Really Rust
Designer Paper: DCWV Year Round Stack
Embellishments: Buttons and Ribbon from unknown vendors

Lookie! Lookie! Lookie!

I have a lot to show you today, so put on your seatbelt and get ready. ;)


Let's start with the Calendar Girls project.

Barb is the hostess of this month's challenge in the Calendar Girl blog group. She gave us a great challenge. THANK YOU, BARB!

Here is Barb's Challenge (in her words):


Here is the October Challenge--For me a true challenge is to try a new technique. So--that is going to be the challenge I propose to all of us.

Go to this link Technique Lovers Challenge Forum and chose a new technique to you that has a 1 or 0 in the challenge number--like TLC410 or TLC360 or any more current number (as I posed this challenge way back in January........................) The technique you pick should be one you have never tried before--and you can go back as far as you want in the forum in the posted techniques to find one to tackle. Please list the number and name of the technique you tried in your blog post. And--to make the challenge a bit harder--you cannot create a card this month! You need to think outside of the box and try a totally new technique along with a project that is anything but a card............... And--for extra credit--make a creation with a Halloween theme!

So--get your thinking caps on, check out some new techniques that you might want to try and create something other than a card that can be used for Halloween! I think this is a pretty good challenge for this month. Can't wait to see all of your "new" creations on the 28th! Good luck--Barb


After looking a the options of new-to-me techniques, I was drawn to the Heated Ribbon technique. I had never even heard of it before. I actually found it to be quite fun.

Here's my little treat bag:

As most of you have probably noticed, I'm mostly a card-making kind of gal, so this was a stretch for me.

Please take the time to check out the other Calendar Girl blogs and see what they made for Barb's challenge. You'll find the links in my left sidebar.

* * * * * 

ABC Challenges

October 28 - November 3

Theme: What's Old is New Again"

Use one of your very first stamp(s) or stamp set to create a card

I honestly don't remember what my first stamp purchase was, but I used one of my oldest stamp sets for my card...

Stampin' UP! Lovely As a Tree

I apologize for the photo. It's really not doing the card justice. The card base as well as the stamped piece are all on Stampin' UP! Bashful Blue and it just didn't want to photograph well.

The inside is VERY plain!

I hope you'll participate in the ABC Challenges "What's Old Is New Again" Challenge this week!

* * * * *

MelonHeadz Friends

October 28 - November 10

Theme: Costume/Dress Up/Halloween

I used the MelonHeadz Feelin' Witchy Bundle to make my card...

Here's the inside of my card:

I hope  you'll participate in the MelonHeadz Friends Challenge!


Thanks for stopping by my blog today! 

Punch: EK Success
Ribbon: Studio G
Cardstock: from my scrap file

Image: Stampin' UP! Lovely As a Tree
Sentiment: Stampendous Thinking of You
Ink: AMuse Studio French Roast
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Bashful Blue and Early Espresso
Embellishments: Stampin' UP! Chocolate Chip Ribbon and a Button from an unknown vendor

Image & Sentiment: MelonHeadz Feelin' Witchy Bundly
Ink: Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Tangerine Tango
Designer Paper: K & Company Halloween Mat
Embellishments: Martha Stewart Seam Binding and Target Brads

A Peek at My Week

This has been an extremely busy week! I left bright and early Wednesday morning to go on a vision-casting trip. I got home from that on Thursday evening and then went with my husband and son to the city on Friday to get the oil changed in my Private Jet. The guys also took me to Olive Garden to celebrate my birthday a day early. Yum! Saturday was spent in preparation for teaching today. I have had a GREAT week!

THIS WEEK

1. I organized… absolutely nothing.

2. I cooked… very little. Yesterday my husband grilled ham and pork chops, while I cooked baked beans, hashbrowns, and a salad. That’s about it for the week. LOL! I did cook last Sunday, though I don’t remember what it was.

3. I bought… pralines in New Orleans. YUM!

4. I’m enjoying… being home with my guys for a few days before I head off again.

5. I made… some new friends! While I knew the three ladies I traveled with, being cooped up in a vehicle for hours on end bonded us very well!

6. I procrastinated… getting online. YIKES! I haven’t been on Splitcoast in a week. I think I’m having withdrawals! Actually, I tried getting on there last night and was unsuccessful logging in. I hope they haven’t kicked me out.

7. I learned… what it’s like to walk into a prison and hear the doors clang behind you.

It was an incredible experience to go to the prison. We were there to learn from the chaplain and inmates about the Prison to Purpose program that they have. The women in this particular barracks are all in the program and it has turned their lives around. Granted, they are still incarcerated; some of them have life sentences and will be there for as long as they live. But to see the joy on their faces and to worship with them was so amazing.

I will tell you, we walked out of the prison without any difficulty. Then we went in search of a place for lunch. The prison was in the middle of nowhere, so it took a while, but we found a little diner and decided to give it a try. The food was a typical southern Arkansas type of meal – chicken and rice, okra, salad, and cornbread – and it was tasty. We needed a restroom while we were there. It was built for one, so we went one at a time. Two of us got stuck in the bathroom when it was our turn. The door would stick so hard, you couldn’t pull it open and someone had to come to your rescue to let you out. 

While we were eating, a lady came in the restaurant and headed straight for the bathroom. We watched the time and when she didn’t return in a timely fashion, I went to her rescue. Yep! She was stuck inside. I helped her escape.

8. This weekend I’m… trying to catch up on things here at home after being gone most of the week.

9. I’m working on… my final conference preparations of the year. Next Saturday is the day! I will be ready! I will be ready!

10. I’m blessed… that I got to see my daughter while we traveled through her city on our way home from New Orleans. She went to dinner with us – at her favorite restaurant “Salsa’s".

I love you, Brittney!

My 30-Minute Challenge… Okay, this week I’m going to cheat. The only 30-minute challenge I did was this – when we were in the city yesterday, my husband and son sat in the car while I went into Michael’s to look for some Inktense Pencils (and a few other things.) I challenged myself to only spend 30-minutes in there… and I met the challenge. LOL! We don’t live near a craft store – it’s 1 ½ hours to this one and that’s the closest one we have. So I seldom go and when I do go (usually alone), it’s not unusual for me to spend an hour or more in the store. 

By the way, I didn't buy the Inktense Pencils. They had them, but I think I can find a better price online.

My goals for the coming week…

1. To get the conference plans ready! (no options on this!!!)

2. To get a haircut.

3. To write an article for our state newsletter (the deadline is Friday) featuring one of the women in our state. I’ll be writing these “In the Spotlight” articles monthly, featuring a different woman each month.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I’m so glad you did!

3-2-1

It's Monday, time for a new challenge!

ABC Challenges

October 21 - 27

Theme: 3-2-1

3 Shapes

2 Designer Papers

1 Ribbon

Here's my card:

3 Shapes - rectangle (card base and polka dot paper), square (birthday balloons) and the shape that the image is on. Works for me!

Here's the inside of my card:

I hope you'll participate in the ABC Challenges 3-2-1 Challenge this week.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Sentiment: Stampin' UP!
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Pixie Pink
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones and Offray Ribbon

A Peek at My Week

It seems like this week was wild and crazy and way too busy. Do you ever have weeks like that? (I’d like to think I’m not alone.)

This coming week is going to be just as busy, too.

I’m going to be out of state Monday through Thursday, which means I’ll only have a little bit of time to get a whole week worth of work done. But I’m super excited about the trip. I’m going with three other women from our state, including our Executive Director, to a women’s prison in Arkansas and a women’s shelter in Louisiana to see what we can learn about ministering to hurting people.

But I digress from the point of this blog post.

If you’ve been visiting my blog, you know that every Sunday for the past month I’ve had a Peek at My Week post. In it, I tell some things that have been going on in my life during the week and I set three goals for the coming week. Oh, and then there’s that funny little feature that I call My 30-Minute Challenge.

So, let’s get to it…

THIS WEEK

1. I organized… the medicine cabinet. It was getting really out of hand.

2. I cooked… on Wednesday! I know that sounds like a strange statement, but you have to understand, I DON’T COOK ON WEDNESDAYS! So this was weird. Now don’t fret. I didn’t work too hard at it. It was chili in the Crockpot. But I did cook.

3. I bought… a loaf of Amish bread. I was so excited. See, we took the day off on Monday and went to Indiana where we ate at an Amish-style restaurant. They had amazing bread. So I brought a loaf of it to bring home. NOT a good idea. The loaf I brought home wasn’t nearly as good. LOL!

4. I’m enjoying… playing Words with Friends with my husband. Yep! I convinced him to get it on his iphone this week. It’s been fun!

5. I made… a measly 5 cards. I had bigger plans than that, but a short busy week stifled my creativity.

6. I procrastinated… and didn’t get a haircut this week. Oh well!

7. I learned… we have a mouse in our attached garage. EEK! I actually saw “Mickey” when I was getting ready to go to the store. I am NOT happy about this guest. He needs to go!

8. This weekend I’m… in Chicago – the heart of the city. I led a conference in a church downtown on Saturday. Our state convention put me in a Holiday Inn for the night. Look at the cutie that was in the bathroom when I arrived...

9. I’m working on… getting the kinks worked out on my new blog template (that looks almost like my old blog template). If you’ve tried unsuccessfully to leave a comment the past few days, hang in there. We’re trying to get the comment tab fixed.

10. I’m blessed… to have the opportunity to see things through the eyes of my son Brock. He’s such a fun fellow who enjoys life. While we were on our outing Monday, we stopped at the Pumpkin Patch. He had so much fun! Here he is beside the hay turkey:

My 30-Minute Challenge… I had a hard time finding 30 minutes this week, but when I did, I got Brock’s closet updated for fall, which means I put away all of his short-sleeved shirts and got out his long-sleeved shirts. His shelf is all neat and orderly now. It felt so good that I did my closet, too.

My goals for the coming week…

1. I plan to have at least one of my upcoming conference sessions finished and ready to lead by the time next week comes to an end! Two of them would be better, but that’s probably not realistic, since I’ll be gone 4 days next week.

2. I am so excited that my husband has decided to go on a pastor’s trip to the Holy Land early next year. He applied for his renewed passport and for the trip this week. So, one of my goals for next week is to do some research about Israel – what climate he should expect, what he’ll eat, that sort of thing. And what the time difference is between Israel and our home.

3. I am also making a goal to buy at least one Christmas gift this week. I bought one last week (for Brock) and am so excited. I hope to buy at least one gift every week from now until Christmas actually. It just makes the holidays so much fun to spread out the shopping like that.

Okay, that’s it for this week’s Peek at My Week. I’ll look forward to telling you about my travels in next week’s post.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Sending Happy Thoughts

I love a good hunt! No, not the kind that includes guns and animals... but treasure hunts. In our previous home/town, I loved going to yard sales. There were many of them each weekend, and many of them were treasure troves. At that time I had a weekly post to my blog, lovingly referred to as my Treasure Hunt posts. While out at the sales, I would search for unusual, CHEAP items that weren't intended for card-making... but I would figure out a way to use those treasures on cards. Did I mention the items had to be cheap???

Then we moved - it's hard to believe it's been over two years. We love our new home/town. However, the yard sales here are few and far between, and to be quite honest, they aren't very good. I rarely find anything I want to buy at a price I'm willing to pay.

So, I sort of quit doing the Treasure Hunt posts. But I miss them!

Fast forward to the past month. I've been trying to organize/clean my Cubbyhole - where my toys are kept. I still have some treasures that I haven't used... so, at least for this week, I'm re-instating the Treasure Hunt post.

Here's what I found:

Eyelashes

Cost: 25 cents

Now surely there's something I can use those for. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

I see you!

I grabbed some circle punches and got to playing around. I created eyes and even the smile with three sizes of circle punches.

The size of the card base (without the eyeball sticking above) is 3 1/4" X 5 1/2". That way when the eyeball is attached above the base, it still measures the typical 4 1/4" X 5 1/2". I'm not sure why that mattered to me, though... since there is no way this card can be put in an envelope due to the dimension of the eyelashes. Oh well! I think it's cute anyway.

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Sentiment: Stampendous Sending Happy Thoughts
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock: Recollections Black, Staples White, and Stampin' UP! Ballet Blue and Blushing Bride
Treasure: Fiber Craft Eyelashes (intended for doll-making)
Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones