Friday, October 10, 2014

The autumn leaves are falling.

Hi bloggers,
The kids are back in school, fall programs have started and plans for the various holidays are being made. Here in the Pacific Northwest we are having a bit of late summer, but predictions are for colder weather to get to us next week. In the meantime, we are enjoying the lovely days and cooler nights in the Columbia Gorge.
 
In this season of the year we are reminded of the harvest of the year and what we are thankful for.

Deuteronomy 30:16 NIV

For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will blessyou in the land you are entering to possess.
In this passage we are also reminded where our good harvests and blessings come from. It is our job to follow the Lord's commands as He has revealed in his Word and through teachings of His son, Jesus. Thanks the Lord for His generous blessings.
 
Since it's been a while since my last post, I have quite a few pictures to share. Grab a cuppa of a favorite brew and take a look.
 
 
 
 The first few pictures are of sewing projects: slippers made from old jeans and flannel pillowcases with jammy pants for my grandkids for Christmas.
 
Sorry this is upside down. The background is textured with an embossing folder, the die cut is from Stampin Up. The labels are from SU punches. The text & flowers are unknown.
 
 
 
My daughter bought me a pad of burlap paper and this card shows one of the cards I made with it. There is a paper backing on the burlap which makes it easy to work with and attach to paper or card stock projects. The envelope was made using the punch board.  It makes a good masculine card.
 
Here is a variation of that burlap card using stamped and embossed feathers from a set from Close to my Heart.
 
This banner project was inspired by Gwen Casteel. She showed on her ustream show a Halloween banner using large tags. I didn't have the tags or chipboard so used cereal and cracker boxes cut into tag shapes with two layers glued together. They are covered with scrapbook paper, washi tape, stickers and letters cut with a Cricut. They are tied together with ribbon or string. At the ends are colored notebook rings to hang.
 
 
These cards were made when a couple friends came over to stamp. The top left card's focal point is from some heavy decorated paper. A flower was die cut and a brad added. The Wheat one was an experiment into the world of watercolor. I used regular artist watercolor paper with distress inks. The sunbeam one on the bottom was various decorated papers. The label in the middle was made with stamp and die from Paper Trey.
 
This card was embossed using SU Elegant Lines embossing folder. The flowers are punched using SU pansy punch. The butterflies are Martha Stewart Monarch butterfly punch.
These projects are what I will be teaching next week at our local scrapbook store, Urban Paper. The two items on top are gift card holders in 2 sizes using the envelope punch board.  The card next to them is using the folded Christmas tree and there is also a gift tag. Always need tags!!
 
Hope you enjoyed having a look at my projects and might have found something to try for yourself. This is the season that keeps crafters busy.  The main thing is to have fun with your projects. Be "arty" as often as you can.
Blessings to you all,
MEg :)