Good Clean Fun

SumMore Fun released their Ghost Pack, with two stamp sets, designer papers, card bases, and envelopes last Friday and it was very popular, for good reason. Those two stamp sets are so much fun!!! And did I mention, the price is fantastic, too.

On Saturday, I shared a card made with the Boo Hoo stamp set from the Ghost Pack. If you missed it, you can see that card - HERE. Today's card features the Sheet Happens stamp set as well as designer paper from the Ghost Pack.

I think going through the spin cycle has made the ghost a little dizzy - just look at his face.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set & Designer Paper: SumMore Fun Ghost Pack stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Cardstock: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Bashful Blue

Die: Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch

Embellishments: Eye Brads from an unknown vendor

Altenew Paint-A-Flower #2

I love flower stamps. One of the reasons I like them is because I love to color them... and if you've been around my blog much, you know how much I love to color. 

i. love. to. color.

Not long ago I decided to sign up for the monthly Altenew Paint-a-Flower subscription. After all, Altenew has the most gorgeous flower stamps. Last month I shared the card I made with the first set I received in the subscription. Today's post features the second set I've received: Paint-A-Flower Daffodil.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Altenew Paint-a-Flower Daffodil stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Pumpkin Pie CS and DP from my scrap file

Die/Punch: Simon Says Bold Hello Die and SU Word Window Punch

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Enamel Dots

Stay @ Home Update #21

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.

I've now pretty much gone through everything in my Play Room, purging and organizing as I went. I do have some work to do with my Evernote inventory (adding some additional tags to items, mostly) and will be working on that as well as putting index cards in my stamp storage and attempting to sell the stamp sets and dies that I've purged as I've worked my way through my Play Room these past few months. Instead of documenting those processes in these weekly updates, I am now going to start bringing in some boxes of craft and/or scrapbook items from the garage (one box a day) and sorting through them. Now that I've purged in my Play Room, I feel certain I'll have room to store what I keep from those boxes here in my Play Room, thus eliminating the need to keep items in the garage.

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

Day 1 - SUN, August 23

This box was labeled Scrapbook Items and had been taped closed for a few years. I wasn't sure what I'd find inside so it was kind of like Christmas opening. I did have to wonder why I'd kept some of the things in it (like that blue item in the corner - a zippered bag from the optometrist). I tossed about 3/4 of the items in this box as they held no sentimental/practical purpose at this point. I did find some treasures, though. A couple of cards my son had mailed me years ago and a list my daughter created just for fun when she was a college student - 100 Things That Make Me Smile.

Day 2 - MON, August 24

This box was labeled craft supplies. It had a variety of items in it from fasteners, to magnets, to bling, to craft sticks... and more. I purged most of the items (some to the trash, some to the thrift store donation box). I did keep a wee bit of bling and a tape measure.

Day 3 - TUES, August 25

This is the box of craft supplies that I sorted through today. I ended up purging most of the items in it. I did keep one spool of cord and a travel-themed album.

Day 4 - WED, August 26

This bin of scrapbook items is from my oldest son's high school years. I've saved most of the items, but in a different storage container. I no longer plan to scrapbook - so these items will be handed over to him in the storage box instead. 

Day 5 - THUR, August 27

Today I sorted through this bigger box that contained several little boxes of assorted craft items and other such. I was so excited to find one very special treasure inside.

This bundle of assorted tatting was made by my beloved grandmother. She has been gone over 30 years and I miss her terribly, still to this day. I have many fond memories of times spent with Grandma - she and I were very close. Her one and only hobby was tatting and she was very fast at it. She could really make that shuttle move.

Some of these pieces are longer and some are small tidbits left over from a project. For instance, the pink piece in the bottom right corner is some Grandma made for me (at my request) so I could put it on a dress I made for my daughter when she was just a few months old.

Day 6 - FRI, August 28

For many years (while they were full-time RVers) I made my parents a scrapbook-style calendar to hang on their wall. This is the leftover file box of items, including some photos and embellishments and calendar making supplies. I sorted through the box today, keeping the photos, of course. Most of the other items either went in the trash or in the purge box.

Day 7 - SAT, August 29

One more box of scrapbook items - this one was mostly filled with memorabilia types of things. It took a while to go through it piece by piece, saving what I wanted to save and tossing the rest.

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

Thanks for following this Stay@Home journey with me.

Honest! That's What They Said!

This has been an exciting week! It's been Dare to Get Dirty on SCS - and yes, I've made a few cards, but I'm way behind. It's also the week for a NEW RELEASE at SumMore Fun. Just yesterday, in fact. 

What fun!

The release is for a bundle of goodies called Ghost Pack. Yep, it's a Halloween Bundle. It comes with two stamp sets, six card bases and envelopes, and 12 different pieces of designer paper, some of them suitable for the ever-so-popular Slimline cards.

I'll be sharing a few cards this week, featuring this bundle, but for today's card (my very first one with the Ghost Pack), I simply HAD to use the adorable ghost lineup from the Boo Hoo stamp set. It is too cute!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Raisin Boat Boo Hoo stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Distress Ink (for blending): Ranger Antique Linen

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black, and SU Pumpkin Pie CS

Die/Punch: Gina Marie Wonky Stitched Rectangle Die and SU Banner Punch

Embellishments: Candy Brads from unknown vendors

Comfy, for Sure!

 

My friend Barb started a challenge group quite some time ago and I've been part of the group from the beginning. It's called "Challenge Your Stash" with the idea being we need to use what we have - because let's face it, most of us have plenty of supplies. The group members take turns "hosting" which simply means, we take turns choosing the month's theme.

 

This month it was Maggie's turn to choose and since she loves her cats so much, I'm not surprised by the theme she chose...

I'd like to see a card that has to do with your pet - any kind of pet. If you don't have a pet, make one up! Pretend you have a pet. Or maybe you sometimes take care of someone else's pet. August is all about pets!

Thanks for a great theme, Maggie! I hope you and  the other CYS gals like my card.

I don't have any pets... but my daughter has two dogs and loves ALL dogs, so of course I had to use a dog stamp - Whipper Snapper's Relax to the Max.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Whipper Snapper Relax to the Max stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections 110# White and SU So Saffron CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Mod Rectangle, MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle, Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch, and Spellbinders Arched Swallowtail Pennants

Embellishments: Michael's Satin Ribbon and SU Brads

O Christmas Tree

This is a great week on SCS - it's the week for Dare to Get Dirty. Of course, one must be a fan club member to see the challenges and to participate... but not to see the cards. This card which features the Mid Century Christmas stamp set from The Project Bin is for one of the challenges. I also used the matching die set for some of the elements on my card.

I used a stamp from the same stamp set on the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die: The Project Bin Mid Century Christmas stamped with Lawn Fawn (Sunflower) and Memento (Cottage Ivy, Lady Bug, and Rich Cocoa) Inks

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Early Espresso and Real Red CS

Dies/Punch: Gina Marie Geometric Double Frame Die, Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch Die, and SU Flag Punch

Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones

Hope Your Birthday Is Magical

Little girls like rainbows, unicorns, and birthday celebrations... so why not create a birthday card with unicorns and rainbows, right?

The Unicorns and Rainbow and the Cloud are all brads from Eyelet Outlet. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Sets: Cat's Pajamas Show Me the Magic stamped with Lawn Fawn Sunflower Ink and Sugar Pea Designs Pure Magic stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White CS and other papers from my scrap file

Dies/Punch: EK Success Corner Rounder Punch and MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle Die

Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Brads and Ribbon from an unknown vendor

2020 Travel the World - Week 34

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...

Belarus

Belarus is situated on the east of Europe. It has borders with Ukraine, Poland, Russia, Lithuania and Latvia.

There are few countries in the world that are completely landlocked, and Belarus is one of them. 

Belarus is slightly smaller than the state of Kansas in size.

Belarus is pretty much flat all across its territory, having no natural mountains. 

Approximately 40% of Belarus is covered by forest.

Belarus experiences hot summers and long, cold winters. It often snows heavily from September through early March, and the weather is sometimes very harsh, with strong winds and snowstorms. 

They receive an average of 30" of rain annually. About 70% of the rain comes from April to October. Spring is its driest season.

The largest and oldest forest of Europe with the largest animal in Europe is situated in Belarus. We are talking here about the Bialowieza Forest on the border with Poland and the animal is European Bison.

The most common inhabitants of the Belarusian forests are moose, wild boar, red deer, roe deer, wolf, hare, fox, and squirrels. There are some rare and protected species as well, such as European bison, lynx, badger, and even the brown bear.

There are more than 20,000 rivers in Belarus.

Independence Avenue is the country's longest street. Stretching over 9 miles across the capital, Independence Avenue passes through five different squares including Victory Square and October Square. Throughout history, it has not only grown in length and width but has also had 14 name changes – more than any other street in Minsk.

Belarusians are some of the warmest, friendliest and most hospitable people you will ever meet. Even if they can’t speak your language they will go above and beyond to help you in absolutely any way they can.

Higher education is free in Belarus.

The literacy rate in Belarus is one of the highest in the world at 99%.

Maslenitsa Week (some might call it Pancake Week) is an Eastern Slavic holiday celebrated in Belarus in the last week before Lent. Pancakes are rustled up in every home to be enjoyed with friends and family, as well as being served up at local street festivals. 

The humble potato is a staple of Belarusian cuisine and it’s rare that you’ll sit down to a meal where they’re not featured.

The National Library of the Republic of Belarus, opened in 2006 in Minsk, is one of the largest in the world. With a total building area is ​​112 thousand square meters, books occupy 55 thousand square meters, and this whole structure weighs 115 thousand tons.

Belarusians love a good superstition. A particularly popular one is that you should never whistle in your house or you’ll blow all your money away. They also say that you shouldn’t clean your house once a guest has left until they’ve reached their final destination, or it’s believed that you’re clearing them out of your life for good.

Belarus has the distinction of printing one of the first-ever bibles. This was done in 1517 in Prague.

The Belarusian economy is mainly dependent on the agriculture and manufacturing industries.

Major industries in Belarus include metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, televisions, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, and refrigerators.

 

Agriculturally, Belarus produces potatoes, sugar beets, flax, grain, beef, and milk.

The largest dump truck in the world is produced in Belarus. BelAZ-75710 weighs 360 tons, the height of its wheels is 4 meters, and if someone wants to buy one, it will cost about $10 million!

Athletics, football, gymnastics, skiing, biathlon, ice hockey, tennis, fencing, wrestling, volleyball, handball, swimming, chess, and checkers are among the most popular sports in Belarus.

Minsk, the country's capital, is a green city with more than 844,000 trees.

World War II took the lives of almost 25% of the population of Belarus.

Every city in Belarus has a Lenin street named after Vladimir Lenin – a Russian communist revolutionary, politician and political theorist.

Belarus has a free medical system. Any citizen can go to any physician and receive the necessary treatment free of charge. Cardiology, cardio-surgery, neuro-surgery, and transplantology are all well developed in Belarus.

The bra was invented by a woman from Belarus, though she had moved to the United States.

I decided to let this Belarus fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Black tea and coffee are favorite beverages in Belarus.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: La La Land Coffee Break Marci stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Cinnamon Cider CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies/Punches: MFT Stitched Mod Rectangle Die, Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch Die, and SU Circle Punches

Embellishments: Paper Studio Mini Brads

Bold Sunflower

This is my eighth 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.

For this month's card, I colored around the image with a black marker, removing all white from the front of my card.

Here's the inside of my card:

And don't forget... there's the added feature of this series - try a new recipe. What's for supper? Chicken Breast with Tomatoes and Garlic. I hope we like it.

Last month I made Country Girls Do It Better Crockpot Creamy Chicken Nachos, which we all three enjoyed.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Sparkle N Sprinkle Sunflower and Stampablities You're in My Thoughts stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black and SU Summer Sun CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle and Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch

Embellishments: Brads and Ribbon from unknown vendors

Feed My Sheep

The Bible Art Journaling group on SCS has a monthly theme, chosen by Julie, the leader of the group. She encourages us to journal an entry based on the month's theme. 

This month's theme is Love - or anything from the Gospel of John. Probably the most famous verse in the entire Bible is found in the book of John and it speaks of love, more specifically, God's love for us. John 3:16. But I didn't choose that verse. Instead, I went to the end of the book and journaled one of the lovely interactions between Jesus and Simon Peter.

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17, NLT)

This passage comes after the crucifixion; after Peter had denied Christ three times, as Jesus had said he would. I do not think it is coincidental that Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. And each time that Peter said yes, he did, Jesus gave Peter a job to do - feed (or tend to) My sheep. It seems as if Jesus was letting Peter see that even though he'd denied Christ three times, those were forgiven and Jesus still had a job for him to do. He was not cast away, but was a vital part of the Kingdom work.

The sheep on my page are from the My Favorite Things Animal Farm stamp set. The words are computer generated. The background (blue and green) was created by laying down a thin coat of Master's Touch acrylic paint.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!