Field Flowers Hello

This is my seventh card in my Could Ya? Should Ya? Would Ya? Yea! series. 

In this monthly series, I plan to try something out of the norm... i.e. a size of card I rarely use, a technique I've wanted to try (or try again), an unusual fold, a card for a bizarre holiday, etc. I also plan to try a new recipe on these days - not a card recipe, a kitchen recipe.

This month I went old school... well, old school for me. When I first got into stamping, I mostly stamped with colored inks (some 2-step stamping, too) and little or no coloring. I decided to do that again for a change of pace.

I did okay stamping the bigger blossom, but I'm way off on the little one. UGH! I hate that - but I decided to leave it rather than starting all over. I think I heard somewhere that if a card is too perfect it doesn't feel homemade... so this one is definitely homemade.

And don't forget... there's the added feature of this series - try a new recipe. What's for supper? Country Girls Do It Better Crockpot Creamy Chicken Nachos. I hope we like it.

Last month I made Easy Cream Cheese Chicken, which we all three enjoyed.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Stampin' UP Field Flowers stamped with Lawn Fawn Guava, Noble Fir, and Peachy Keen Inks

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Calypso Coral and Garden Green CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle and Simon Says Bold Hello

Embellishments: Jots Pearls and SU Ribbon

Day 2 of Christmas in July with Eyelet Outlet

I shared three Christmas cards yesterday - each one featuring Eyelet Outlet products. I'm back today with three more in this second day of Christmas in July with Eyelet Outlet

Card #1

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Fancy Long Bling

Moose Brads

Pine Tree Brad

Snowflake Sequins

Stamp Set: Sugar Pea Designs Moosing You

Die: My Favorite Things Stitched Mod Rectangle 

and Spellbinders Circle

Card #2

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Candy Cane Brads

Holly Brads

Pinecone Brads

Stamp: Inky Antics Legend of the Candy Cane

Die: My Favorite Things Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle 

Card #3

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Holiday Bling

Merry Christmas Washi Tape

Santa and Mrs.Claus Brads

Wreath Brads

Stamp Set: Dollar Spot

Die: Gina Marie In and Out Stud Dot Square 

and Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Christmas In July with Eyelet Outlet

I love brads! Love love LOVE them! So of course they are one of my favorite things at Eyelet Outlet. But that's not all... there's also Washi Tape, bling, enamel dots and so much more. FUN STUFF!

Today I have three cards to share - three Christmas cards- each one featuring products from Eyelet Outlet.

Card #1

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Holiday Light Brads

Holly Brads

Stamp Set: Sugar Pea Designs Merry Makers

Die: My Favorite Things Stitched Rounded Rectangle 

and Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch

Card #2

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Santa Suit Brads

Sleigh Brads

2 Washi Tape designs

Stamp Set: CC Designs Funny Christmas

Die: My Favorite Things Wonky Stitch Rectangle 

and Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch

Card #3

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Computer/Headphone Brads

Mail Brads

Santa Claus Brad

Stamp Set: Frantic Stamper Sassy Christmas

Die: Taylored Expressions Notebook Border

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Challenge Your Stash with a JULY Flair

The Challenge Your Stash group uses what we have to make a theme-appropriate card and share what we've made on the 28th of each month. Barb is the leader of the group and keeps us very organized. We take turns choosing the theme - this month it was my turn to choose the theme.

These were my instructions to the group: Create a card that includes something that begins with each of at least three of the letters in the word JULY.

I can hardly wait to see what they come up with.

I used all four letters in JULY on my card:

J - Jar

U - Ultramarine (Copic B29)

L - Leaves

Y - Yellow

Wondering where the Ultramarine Copic was used? I colored a piece of white ribbon with it.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Darcie's Heart and Home stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and SU Old Olive Inks and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and Recollections Navy CS and Paper Studio Blue Gingham DP

Die/Punches: MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle Die and SU Circle Punches

Embellishment: Ribbon from an unknown vendor

2020 Travel the World - Week 30

My Travel the World card series is usually posted on Tuesday of each week, but since I have another commitment on my blog tomorrow, I'm posting a day early this week.

I started a Travel the World Series last year. (It should be noted that I did a similar thing in 2018, only it was the 50 states.) For 50 weeks in 2019, I visited a different country (virtually) and shared facts about that country. I then selected one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. Fifty weeks; fifty countries... BUT there are 195 countries in the world so that was just a little over 25% of them. Of course I couldn't stop, so this year I'm continuing with fifty more countries, one per week.

This week's country is...

Georgia

Georgia is a transcontinental country, located partially in Eastern Europe and partially in Southwest Asia. It is generally considered to be part of Europe.

Bounded to the west by the Black Sea, Georgia is bordered to the north and northeast by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan.

The very first Europeans originated from Georgia.

Most areas of the country are mountainous.

The coastline of Georgia is 193 miles long.

Forests cover around 40% of Georgia’s territory.

Forest regions are characterized by wild boars, deer, bears, lynx, wolves, foxes, jackals, hares, and squirrels.

Georgians call their country Sakartvelo. The name consists of two parts: Kartveli, which refers to an inhabitant of the core central Georgian region of Karli-Iberia, and the circumfix sa-o is a usual geographic for indicating the “land where Kartveli live.” It’s not known where the English name of the country came from, though there is a theory that might explain it. St. George is believed to be the patron saint of Georgia, and thus the name might have been coined by Christian reformers in the Middle Ages.

No one speaks the Georgian language except Georgians.

The villages of Bochorna and Ushguli are the highest permanent settlements in Europe at 2,345 and 2,100 meters above sea level, respectively. Both are mountainous regions where summer is short and winter is snowy and breezy.

Georgia has 12 different climate zones, ranging from subtropical to alpine to semi-desert, and has 49 types of soil. This makes Georgia one of the most ecologically diverse countries on Earth. In addition, many of the most exciting animals like leopards, lynxes, and bears reside in the dense forests of the country.

This country has the world’s deepest cave – the Krubera Cave, which is hidden amongst the mountains. The almost vertical Krubera Cave is 7,200 ft. deep and it takes about 27 days for a caver to reach the cave’s bottom.

There’s an old Georgian saying that goes something like “A guest is a gift from God,” so if you’re a stranger in town, you’re sure to be given some divine hospitality. Whether stuffing guests full with a hearty spread of cheesy bread (katchapuri), grilled meats, and stews, or offering their homes so you can rest for the night (to party some more later!), you’ll find a lot of smiling faces, and many, many bottles of wine being opened in your honor till the wee hours of the morning.

Mealtimes are celebrated as they bring people together and there is always plenty of wine and food going around. There is a ‘tamada’ or toastmaster present at every ‘supra’ (traditional Georgian feast). This person is required to entertain, inspire or give thanks. If you find yourself welcomed into a Georgian home remember to raise a glass and say “Gaumarjos!” (“cheers” in Georgian).

In Georgia it is a tradition to eat meat by hand. This is believed to give the dish a special flavor.

Georgia is known for its choral folk music.

The Vidalia onion, which is the sweetest onion in the world, can be grown only in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville, in Georgia.

Because Georgian people are so kind and sociable, they will commonly take hitchhikers to their destinations, and if necessary, will feed them, give them a drink and even a place to spend the night.

I decided to let this Georgia fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Georgia serves as a host to the International Poultry Trade Show annually, which is the largest poultry convention in the world. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Sparkle N Sprinkle Spring Chickens stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black and SU Real Red CS and SU DP

Dies: My Favorite Things Stitched Rounded Rectangle and Taylored Expressions Let's Talk Edger 1

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Enamel Dots

Life Is Fragile. Pray!

I don't often add many words to my Bible Journaling, choosing instead to use images and just a few words to communicate my thoughts. Sometimes I add a written prayer, but rarely do I pour out my heart on my pages. Today's Bible Journaling post is the exception. This week caused me to pause, to seek God in ways I hadn't done in a while. As I did that, the words seemed to flow... so much so that I had to add a tip-in to my entry to make room for all of them.

That makes it even more difficult to share this Bible Journaling entry here on my blog. I hesitated. I questioned whether I should. It felt too personal.

In the end I decided to share it, but not without apprehension.

These words on the tip-in are genuine heart-felt, words of anguish, but not despair. God is Who He said He is. 

This week has been rough.

really. really. rough.

Last Saturday a man I’ve never met entered into his heavenly home. Pastor John Powell stopped to help at the scene of an accident, freeing people from a burning car. Seeing a semi heading right toward them, John heroically shoved another man to safety, even as he himself was unable to get out of the way.

I didn’t know John, but I know his wife. In fact, my husband baptized Katherine when she was a youngster. My heart has ached for Katherine this week, as well as for their four young children. I wept for them as I attended the funeral (virtually) and heard many awesome stories about John.

I viewed the video of the last sermon he preached – from Psalm 72. He spoke with compassion; eloquently and prophetically. He said a day was coming when he would stand before a holy God in judgment saying “Yes, Sir, I’m unclean and deserve justice…” but he also acknowledged that he’d already received justice on Golgotha, as Jesus traded His righteousness for John’s sins. And then, John said, he would hear God say, “Enter into your eternal home, my precious son.”

I drew strength from John’s words – “I pray that as you look into an uncertain future this Psalm calls you to a certain hope and a glorious King, and an eternal steadfast joy.”

Oh God, in these moments I pray that we may all look to the future with that kind of hope. In these moments when it feels like joy has evaporated, may we grasp ahold of the steadfast joy that can be found in Christ alone. Amen.

Stamps Used:

Stampabilities Life Is Fragile

and 

Technique Tuesday Calla Lily

Please join me in praying for Katherine and her children, not just today, but for the weeks and months to come as well.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stay @ Home Update #16

Each Sunday (at 5:00 AM) I'm sharing how the week's 10-minute stay@home organizational challenge went. If you don't have an idea what that means and you're curious, you can learn more in my original Stay @ Home Update blog post - found HERE.

Now here's the disclaimer: Some of these daily stay@home challenges are taking more than 10 minutes, but who's counting, right? 

Here's what I've accomplished this week...

Day 1 - SUN, July 19
The bottom shelf of one of the shelf units in my Play Room was full (and overflowing) with photo albums, projects from my children's elementary school days (as well as some of their yearbooks) and  a few other items. I placed their yearbooks/projects in their boxes of treasures and I organized what was left on the shelf. It's so much neater now. 

Day 2 - MON, July 20
I love this card rack that sits in a corner of my Play Room. I purchased it for $5 years ago - at a thrift store. It holds the cards I've made until I'm ready to mail them. 

I have a similar rack (it's white) at our Associational Office where my husband and I work. I found that rack at a different thrift store a little over a year ago, but had to pay $10 for it, which was still a bargain. I keep cards on it that are free for anyone who comes into the office. I encourage them to take as many as they want. 

The office rack was getting kind of depleted so it was time to replenish it. I went through the cards on the rack in my Play Room today and chose about 130 cards to take to the office. I've now stamped my signature on the back and gathered envelopes to them. I hope they bring joy to someone soon.

Day 3 - TUES, July 21
This assortment of designer papers sits on the shelf beside my 12 x 12" paper pads. I'm not really sure why. I guess I just never really thought about the fact that it was there and should be somewhere else instead. I sorted through the papers today, putting some in my donation box and putting the others away in the my organized drawers of designer paper.

Day 4 - WED, July 22
I currently serve on two design teams - The Project Bin and SumMore Fun. They are FABULOUS companies and I am honored to be on the teams. I like to keep the stamps from these two companies close to my stamping desk rather than on the other side of the room with my other cling/clear stamp storage. 

Today I reorganized my SumMore Fun (Raisin Boat and Victorine Originals) stamps. I didn't think to take a before picture, I'm sorry. They were in a bin in plastic sleeves but not organized in any way. They now have been separated into categories and have labeled dividers.

I also turned the plastic sleeves on their sides (before they were upright, like my other stamp storage). The reason I did that is because I moved them to the second shelf of my Raskog cart. Truthfully my collection had outgrown one bin so I needed to move them to two bins so I couldn't keep them on the shelf where they were. To accommodate the height/clearance of the Raskog cart, they had to be turned to their side. That's okay, it works for me.

Day 5 - THUR, July 23
I have three drawers of goodies labeled Kit Items. I used to be a member of a couple of Card Kit groups and this where I placed various embellishments and things that I would be suitable to add to the card kits. Now that I'm no longer in the groups, I really don't need three drawers of possible kit items.

It's time to take control.

Today I purged this drawer of items, keeping only a few things that will come in handy as giveaways. I'll purge the second drawer tomorrow and the third and final drawer on Saturday. When all is finished, I hope to have one drawer of goodies and two empty drawers for other uses. 

Day 6 - FRI, July 24
I purged the second of those three drawers of "Kit Items" today. I plan to finish with the third drawer tomorrow and it does look like all of the items I will be keeping will fit in a single drawer.

Day 7 - SAT, July 25
Today I finished sorting, purging, and storing the remaining items in my "Kit Items" drawers. This picture is of the third and final drawer of the three.

As I'd hoped when I started with the three drawers, I was able to contain everything I was keeping within just one of the three drawers, albeit, it is the longer drawer (my drawer units have two different lengths of drawers). 



Okay, that's it for this week. Stay tuned to see what I accomplish in the coming week.

Giddy Up with a Birthday Greeting

For today's card I paired one of my favorite Raisin Boat (SumMore Fun) stamps with the paper from the SumMore Fun Chicken Pack Bundle plus a birthday greeting from the Raisin Boat No Loss for Words. Since there was no coloring involved, this card went together very quickly.

Raisin Boat - Giddy Up

Raisin Boat - No Loss for Words

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Sets: Raisin Boat Giddy Up and No Loss for Words stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa Ink

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Early Espresso CS, DP from the SumMore Fun Chicken Pack Bundle and other DP from my scrap file

Dies/Punch: Spellbinders Oval Dies and SU Tab Punch

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Stars

Thank You for Your Kindness

I send a lot of thank you cards - because people so often do nice things for us. My stash was getting a bit low, so I decided it was time to replenish it a bit.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity Let Your Dreams Bloom stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections 110# White and SU Soft Suede CS and DP from my scrap file

Die/Punch: Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch Die and SU Circle Punch

Embellishments: Brads from an unknown vendor