Butterfly Wishes

I made this card for the Compendium of Curiosities challenge the Linda at Studio L3 has but I didn’t get it finished before the deadline.  But, that’s okay.  I’ll get started on this weeks challenge a little earlier.  The challenge this week was Distress Stickles.  It wasn’t a difficult or time consuming card to make, but the butterflies I made last night just didn’t work out.  So after our stamping party, I had to start over with the stickles so there was some drying time involved.  Then gluing on the butterfly’s antennae and it just didn’t get finished.

Speaking of the stamping party, we didn’t even stamp this time.  We made a crown; yes, I said a crown.  I haven’t seen these before.  Lynn had a book about the project and we all started with a ring made out of mat board and went from there.  I didn’t think to get a picture of the other’s but here is mine.  It’s still a work in progress.  I made this to put on my piano.  The sheet of music is the actual page torn out of my piano book.  It’s the last recital piece that I did when I was younger.  It even has my teacher’s handwriting on it.  I cut some crooked willow off of my mom’s tree to decorate the crown!  When it’s finished, I’ll get a close up for you and share again.

I love Lynn’s studio!  She has her artwork displayed everywhere.  It’s a very inspiring place!!!  I can’t wait to go again.

That’s it for tonight.  I hope you have a great week!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-ink; Image-Papertrey Ink; Sentiment-Papertrey Ink; Ink-Papertrey Ink Pure Black, Palette Black Noir; Paper-Tim Holtz; Gems-Kaiser Craft; Buttons-Papertrey Ink; Cuttlebug-Papertrey Ink butterfly die; Other from stash-Lace, ribbon.

Challenges:
ABC Challenge--Blue
Crafty Creations--Butterflies
Flutter By Wednesday--1 part sparkle, 2 parts designer paper and 3 parts buttons or gems
Charisma Cardz--Die cuts
Moving Along with Times--glitter
Get Sketchy--sketch
Stampin’ for the Weekend--Anything goes
Sentimental Sunday--Words to inspire

Sew Beautiful and a mini tutorial for faux stitching

The challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is to make a project in Wendy Vecchi’s style.  Wendy makes beautiful art, however, I don’t usually make things in that style.  So I went to her blog to get inspiration and this is what I decided to use for inspiration.  This is my inspiration piece. I hope that my canvas works for a Wendy Vecchi style project.  After looking at the inspiration piece again, I don’t think I got very close.  However, I like it anyway!!!  I didn’t want to make something that I wouldn’t have a use for later.  Anyway, I had on hand some of the the same Maya Road chipboard pieces that Wendy used on her piece.  So I started there with my creative process!  The whole thing came to me yesterday morning when I was trying to get back to sleep.  I had to get up and get a start.  When you paint and Podge, you have a lot of wasted drying time!

I painted a 5x7 canvas pink and Mod Podged crinkled up pattern pieces to the canvas.  I also did the same to a piece of GCD chipboard.  The tag is also GCD chipboard.  Then I watercolored the Tim Holtz stamp in the same colors I was using on the canvas, tore the edges and then distressed them using Old Paper Distress Ink.  I used a faux stitch technique (I’ll talk about that later.) around the outside of the canvas, glued on the watercolored image, and the scalloped chipboard.

I painted the sewing chipboard in various colors to match and topped them with a couple of coats of Sparkle Mod Podge.   The wooden spool is from my sewing box but it had hot pink thread on it.  I took all that thread off and strung on a little bit of thread to match the project.  I added lacy stuff from my sewing box to it as well.  The blue lace is seam binding and I think the other laces are for lingere. 

That’s about it.  Are you having a good weekend.  Linda, Lynn and I are having a stamping party again tomorrow.  It’s at Lynn’s house and she is having us make altered crowns.  I’m gathering up some things to make mine into a music theme.  I can’t wait to get together again.  We always have such creative fun!!!

Oh, I almost forgot about the mini tutorial.  I saw this on the Moxie Fab World blog a while back and hadn’t tried it until now.  It’s the best way ever to make faux stitching.  All you need is some acrylic paint and one of these sewing thingys.  They are used to mark darts on patterns.  This is normal acrylic paint like you would get in a bottle at the craft store.  It’s just in a different kind of tube.  Squirt out a dot of the desired paint.  I used the hot pink so it would show up.  Run the dart thingy through the paint to coat all the way around.  Test it on a scrap to make sure it is going to give the right coverage.  Then, run it on your project.  That simple!!!  Take a look at my canvas again.  It looks like I had some magic sewing machine to put stitching through the wood frame of the canvas.

Have a great Sunday!  I’ll be in the garden.  It’s going to be a nice cool day and the weeds of kinda’ gotten away from me!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Autumn Splendor

I’m definitely in the fall mood.  It’s going to cool down to the low 80s for the weekend but the go right back up to the high 90s for next week.  I’m hoping the cool weather will come to stay very soon!  On that note… another fall card for your viewing pleasure.  I promise, the next card is not in autumn colors!!!

Not much to say tonight.  Things are pretty quiet around here.  My sister’s birthday is this weekend.  I was kind of hoping to go for a ride in the mountains and gather some drift wood but I think she has plans for the morning and lunch and we would have to leave earlier than that.  I hope she can go next weekend.

Have a great Friday everyone!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-watercolor; Image-Artistic Outpost; Sentiment-Tim Holtz tag; Ink-Stazon, Versamagic; Paper-Graphic 45; Buttons-Papertrey Ink; Other from stash-lace.

Challenges:
Rainbow Lady--Paint it
Theme Thursday--Children
Artistic Outpost referral program

A Life Uncommon

The song “A Life Uncommon” by Jewel is the unofficial theme song for Brave Girls camp. That song embodies what Brave Girls stands for and what they are trying to accomplish with the retreats. Each night, before bedtime, we would gather on the red rug and have a sing-a-long starting with “A Life Uncommon” so that we would know it and sing it loud and strong on the very last night! And we did!!! (The lady in the picture is Melody’s sister, Kathy. She is Melody’s partner in Brave Girls Club. She takes care of so much at Brave Girls camp. She makes sure that we are pampered and taken care of. She makes sure that we have nothing to think about but creating art. What a beautiful woman she is.)

I’m telling that story, to lead up to my latest artistic adventure. My canvas says, “learn to believe in a life uncommon.” And with that, I’ll just leave you with Jewel and the lyrics to the song, “A Life Uncommon.”

Don't worry mother
It'll be alright
And don't worry sister
Say your prayers and sleep tight
And it'll be fine
Lover of mine
It'll be just fine

And lend your voices only
To sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength
To that which you wish
To be free from
Fill your lives
With love and bravery
And you shall lead
A life uncommon

I've heard your anguish
I've heard your hearts cry out
We are tired, we are weary
But we aren't worn out
Set down your chains
Until only faith remains
Set down your chains

And lend your voices only
To sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength
To that which you wish
To be free from
Fill your lives
With love and bravery
And we shall lead
A life uncommon

There are plenty of people
Who pray for peace
But if praying were enough
It would've come to be
Let your words enslave no one
And the heavens will hush themselves
To hear our voices ring out clear
With sounds of freedom
Sounds of freedom

Come on you unbelievers
Move out of the way
There is a new army coming
And we are armed with faith
To live, we must give
To live

And lend your voices only
To sounds of freedom
No longer lend our strength
To that which we wish
To be free from
Fill your lives
With love and bravery
And we shall lead
A life uncommon

So shake away the unbelievers, arm yourself with faith, fill your life with love and bravery and LEAD A LIFE UNCOMMON. I’m going to be reminding myself of this often!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Beach Baby

I love Crafty Secrets stamps.  Every single set.  I wish I owned every single set!!!  I love their vintage style and timeless beauty.  Here’s a new (to me) set called Seaside which you can get at McMahon Five Designs.  Isn’t she a cutie!

I haven’t talked about it much on the blog, but I have awoken with a migraine everyday now for almost two weeks.  I think it’s finally gone!  Yay!  This is the longest time that a headache has lasted.  I’ve been taking a lot of prescription pain killers and I really don’t like to use them that much!  I pray that I don’t have another one in the morning!!!

Can you believe the summer is almost over.  One of our local school districts is already back!  Amazing!!!  Well, see ya’ again tomorrow.  I have something really fun to share later tomorrow!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-watercolor; Image-Crafty Secrets Seaside; Ink-Stazon; Paper-DCWV; Cuttlebug-Nestabillities; Other from stash-ribbon, vintage buttons.

Challenges:
Tuesday Taggers-Sea, water, boats
Simon Says--Blue and summer
Color Create--Ivory and duck egg blue/opt shabby chic
Paper Play--Bon voyage
Sketch Saturday-sketch
Secret Crafter-What are little girls made of

Butterfly Tilda

I think this is my favorite Magnolia stamp ever!  I love her and I know that my mother loves her as well.  Since she uses most of my cards, I try to color her up regularly!  I was in the mood to create this weekend…but for some reason, I didn’t want to finish things!  So this is what I did!  I was definitely in a water coloring mood.  I’ve got several cards to put together now.  Tomorrow, I’m just going to make cards!!!  The one in the front middle will be tomorrow's (Wednesday) post for McMahon Five Designs.  I’m not sure what I’ll do with the others.  I just wanted to color them!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-Magnolia; Ink-Memento; Paper-S.E.I.; Pearls-Kaiser Craft; Ribbon-May Arts; Punch-Martha Stewart; Distress Stickles on her wings..

Challenges:
Sir Stampalot--Bring on the bling
The Pink Elephant--Ribbon and sparkle
Flutter By Wednesday--Open
Nutshells--Free choice

More Truth Cards

I thought I would share a couple more truth cards with you today. First up is… Dear Christine-Angels are watching over you right now…beside you…in front of you…behind you…you do not travel alone. This one is a truth for EVERYONE. We all have angels watching over us. (I used a free digi image from Create with TLC. The paper is recycled from a package of embellishments from GCD Studios Melody Ross. The flowers are cut from some GCD Studios Melody Ross paper.)

The next card is one of my favorites and one of the truths that I need to work the most on. Dear Christine-Let the door close. Which I promptly lined out and wrote Not-open it!. Meaning, I need to get out of this house a little more often. Go thrifting, take a drive in the mountains, etc., like I used to all the time! I really had fun making a cute whimsical home. I made the door opened and put lace inside the door as well as in my window. I gave it a roof made of cardboard with part of the top layer peeled off. I applied Mod Podge Shimmer over the whole house. I then added a butterfly weather vane and some “flowers” (tiny buttons) to the outside of the house! I put some birdies and more butterflies in the sky. LOVE IT if I do say so myself!!! Which that’s who I made it for!!!!

Thanks for taking the time to visit me. Have a great week!

Blessings,

Christine

I’m So Proud…

Of myself that is.  I have walked everyday but three for a month now!  I wait until the sun has gone below the horizon because it is the coolest time of my day.  If I got up earlier, I could walk in the morning when it’s cooler, but that’s not worth that! *giggle*

I’d like to take you along for my walk tonight.  Since I wait until sunset to walk, this is my view.  Mind you, it isn’t this pretty every night, but it is a lot of times and I really enjoy it when it is!  This is actually in the southeast sky.  Kind of a sunset reflection!

Some one has done some paintings on the sidewalk.  Now, these aren’t the type of paintings you would think to find in a park.   

 

 

 

 

 

They are tools!

 

 

 

 

 

Even tools to shoe your horse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite things about Boise parks… people plant trees as a memorial to their loved ones.  I waited a little late to go for my walk that day so it was getting dark before I got home.

I hope you have time for a nice walk today!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Pink Saturday, Finally!

I haven’t participated in Pink Saturday in f.o.r.e.v.e.r!!!

So I thought I would start back on my road to Pink Saturday with flowers for you all! Lots of pink flowers. Pink roses. Beautiful pink orchids. And more pink orchids. Pink daisies. Stunning Hydrangea. I hope you enjoyed!

Happy Pink Saturday!!! If you have some pink that you would like to show off, Beverly at How Sweet the Sound is our Hostess!

Blessings,

Christine

All photos are from FTD.

Autumn Millworks

It’s been nice and cool this week, reminding me of Autumn and I can’t wait.  Since I’ve been wanting fall, I thought I’d make a fall card!!!  I created all my own dp with watercolor paints and paper and I watercolored the imae as well.  All of the stamps are Artistic Outpost.

I’ll keep this short and sweet.  I’m having fun with a project today so I’m out’a’here!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Theme Thursday--buildings
Gingersnap Creations Color Challenge--Yellow, orange and red
Lexi’s Creations--Yellow and orange
Daring Cardmakers--Tree-mendous

Where Should you Be?

Right where you are, of course. I’ve been working on this canvas for the last couple of days. There’s a lot of glue this...let it dry, paint this…let it dry, apply this…let it dry. You get the idea. Just to give you a little example… here are the items that I used to make this project.

I painted it, Mod Podged paper to it, Distress Inked it, applied Mod Podge mixed with paint, distressed the edges with paint, Mod Podged it again, applied spackle mixed with paint using a butterfly stencil, applied Distress Crackle paint, Distress Inked the resulting crackle, added the flowers, the stamped and colored sentiment and the buttons. Whew!!! I also added some Glimmer Mist and Sparkle Mod Podge to the flowers and applied distress ink to the sentiment. AND THAT’S IT!!! I really love how it turned out and can’t wait to find a place to hang it. I think I’ll put it in my bathroom so I can see it every morning when I’m brushing my teeth and hair to remind me that I’m right where I should be! Not that I can’t go somewhere else, but for today, I’m right where I should be!

The stamp is a Unity Ippity, the buttons are Papertrey Ink, the DP (that you can’t see anymore in the photo) is October Afternoon and the roses are from my stash that I bought on clearance for 10 cents who knows when!

A lot of the people at Brave Girls Camp made canvases. I wanted to finish my art journal cover (I haven’t shared that yet) so I didn’t get started on my canvas at camp. When I got home, I picked it up a few times, even tried a couple of things but nothing really worked in my head. I learned at BGC that when making art that has a personal meaning to you, if it doesn’t feel right, it’s just not the time for you to deal with that particular emotion or problem. There was a lot of Melody Ross’s art work around the cabin and in the art room. She told us that when she makes art, it’s to workout a problem or to resolve an issue in her life. There is some real meaning behind what I wanted to put on my canvas and I think I need to work some things out in my head before I can do that. However, I have started another Brave Girl canvas for now!

The challenge at Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities challenge is Distress Crackle which is included on this canvas!! I’m so happy that things have settled down in my life now that I can participate in those challenges. I’ve already learned a lot and it’s been so much fun!!!

The weather was the perfect break in the summer today. I woke up and it was so cool outside. Since I get up about noon, it’s always hot outside. But today, I stayed out and played with the pup for a while. Then, it clouded up, thundered, sprinkled and then a cloud burst for about an hour! We had a late spring but it has been a hot one since! It’s going to gradually warm back up to 97 on Monday but I’m ok with that. It’s August you know!

Have a great Thursday! Thursday has always been my favorite day of the week. When I worked, there was only one more day to get through so I could stay up late, do what I wanted because you can always make it through one more day!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Compendium of Curiosities Studio L3--Pg 42, distress crackle
Crazy Amigo--Free theme
Gingersnap Creations Spicy Supply--paint
Simon Says Stamp and Show--Winged things
Crafty Creations--Winged things
Creative Belli--paint
Flutter By Wednesday--Open

Duty of Love

I have another card for you using some beautiful products that you can get from McMahon Five Designs.  This time, a wedding/anniversary card.  I used the Basic Grey Capella paper, Prima delicate beige lace, Prima Say It In Pearls - Swirls and Fimo Gray, KaiserCraft Pearls colored with Copics and the Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Hanging Sign die.  I loved putting this card together; I only wish that I would have used something different to attach the sign to the holder.  Oh well, since I left the sign loose, If I can figure something else out, I’ll just change it!!!

The sign is cut out of grunge paper and I used last Compendium of Curiosities Challenge technique (inking chipboard) on it.  Definitely love that technique.  There are so many possibilities there!!!

We have a much welcome break in our hot summer weather today.  It started yesterday about the time I took my walk.  The wind was blowing pretty hard and the Chloe pup didn’t really like that.  She was very unsettled during the whole walk.  When she’s nervous or excited, she walks in circles.  She took a VERY long walk going in circles the whole time!  But now it’s cloudy, sprinkling and in the 70s.  It’s so nice to have a little break!!!  Ooh, now I just heard some thunder!  I’m really loving today because it’s such a change in the weather we have been having!!!

I hope you are having a good week as well!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-ink; Sentiment-??? (I need to start writing these things down); Ink-Palette, Distress Ink; Paper-Basic Grey; Flowers-handmade; Pearls-KaieserCraft colored with Copics, Prima; Lace-Prima; Punch-Martha Stewart, Marvy; Cuttlebug-Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix; Other from stash-twine.

Challenges:
Cupcake Craft--Lace
The Shabby Tea Room--inspiration photo
Papertake Weekly--Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue (wedding card)

Laugh More

I had so much fun with my little hippy the other day that I thought I would color her up again!!!  This time I made it into a scene!  I colored her in my fave pink!!!  Plus, Moxie Fab World is having a “Signs of Peace” challenge and I couldn't help but submit this for there challenge.

Just a quick post this time.  It’s late and bedtime but I wanted to get this on the blogo!  It was a very creative day today.  Another one of those migraine days where I just try to get creative and forget about the headache!  It once again worked and I no longer have a headache!  Yay!!!

I hope you all have a great week!  Monday is a good day because that means you’re one day closer to the weekend.  Right?  Plus, I have been anxiously awaiting the new vintage challenge at Simon Says Stamps.  I can’t wait to see what they come up with for the first challenge!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-The Greeting Farm; Sentiment-Hero Arts; Ink-Momento; Paper-Basic Grey; Cuttlebug-Papertrey Ink cloud dies.

Challenges:
Flourishes--No embellishments
Cute Card Thursday--whateva
One Stop Craft--Summer fun

Two Mannequins in One

When I saw the Tag Tuesday challenge was to make a tag using the provided Mannequin template (from the guest hostess, Sarah of Vintage Figments), I knew I wanted to combine it with the Compendium of Curiosities challenge hosted by the wonderful Linda of Studio L3.  After I got it made, I decided to use it on one of my Brave Girls Truth Cards.  This one says, “Dear Christine, Pain is often a gift…look for the gifts wrapped up inside it.”  Butterflies have always been a source of strength for me.  When I added the butterfly wings to the mannequin I knew it belonged on this card!  This was a good one for me to do this week because I have had a lot of pain this week.  I had a migraine on Thursday and Friday and am just very, very achy today.  But I’m not complaining, mind you.  It’s part of my life, and I love my life (and my pain killers)!!!

I liked the mannequin template so much that I decided to make a card with it.  I think this mannequin will show up again.  I really love the sewing trend in crafts right now.  I’ll be doing more and more of it!  I even bought a package of mini spools to use as embellies on these cards.  I glued one to the bow on this card.  As usual, this card really does look better in real life!!!

How’s your weekend going so far?  I hope your having some fun.  It cooled down a little; our temps are in the low 90s but it’s on it’s way back up again.  By the end of summer, I’m really ready for some fall weather.  Let’s hope it comes soon.

I’m going to try to get a little better about posting regularly.  It’s been kind of sparatic lately, huh?  I think I’m going to try to put my Brave Girls assignments away for a while and make some more cards and other art!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Truth Card
Medium-mixed (paint, stamping, paper, grunge board, ink); Stamps--S.E.I., Stampabilities, See-D’s, American Crafts, Girl Paperie; Ink-Distress Inks, Paper-GCD Studios Melody Ross; Flowers-; Pearls-Kaiser Kraft colored with Copics; Other from stash-wire.

Maniquen Pattern
Medium-Stamping; Image-Hero Arts; Ink-Distress Ink, S.E.I.; Paper-October Afternoon; Ribbon-May Arts, EK Success; Buttons-Papertrey Ink; Punch-EK Success; Other from stash-wooden spool.

Challenges:
Compendium of Curiosities challenge--Pg 39 Inking Grunge
Tag Tuesday--Mannequin template
Cupcake Craft--distressing
Get Sketchy
Friday Sketchers

Give Peace a Chance

I’ve mostly been working on my Brave Girl truth cards and have been neglecting my Copics.  So a couple of days ago, I just had to do some coloring!!!  I {heart} to color The Greeting Farm images and I ordered this little girl a couple of months ago but hadn’t used her yet.  Isn’t she adorable!!!  Sometimes I just have to let my inner hippy out!!!

Just a quick post today!  I have a doctor’s appointment today and need to jump in the shower and get ready. 

Have a great Thursday!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-The Greeting Farm; Paper-Basic Grey; Cuttlebug-Nestabillities; Other from stash-flowers, orange jewels.

Challenges:
Creative Card Crew--Cute and girly
Simon Says--Sing it baby
Daring Cardmakers--It’s a girl thing
Creative Inspiration--Anything goes

Happy Mouse

If you’ve ever lived in a house that had a mouse problem, you aren’t much of a fan of anything with mice, including House Mouse stamps.  But when Sue (McMahon Five Designs) sent me this House Mouse for Me? image, I thought I would give it a try.  Isn’t she adorable.  She looks so happy to see that tower of presents, just for her!!!  I colored her in a couple of shades of pink and green Copics and added some Kaiser Craft pink mini flowers with some Kaiser Craft pearls (colored with Copics).  Of course, you can get all these in the McMahon Five Designs store!

I hope you’re having a great week so far!  I’ve got a few things in the works—a fun Greeting Farm card that I’ll be back to post in a minute, I have three other images colored that I need to do something with plus some more “Truth” cards to share.  Not a dull moment here on the blogo!!!

Have a great evening!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics; Image-House Mouse (McMahon Five Designs); Sentiment-Papertrey Ink; Paper-Basic Grey; Flowers and Pearls-Kaiser Craft.

Challenges:
Dutch Dare--Anything goes
Sketch Saturday--sketch

Brave Girl Art Room

I thought I would continue talking about the wonderful Brave Girls experience!!! The first morning of camp, I woke up bright and early (7:15, I know, really early for me) to breakfast. Every meal time they played a specific song (I wasn’t familiar with the song so now I can’t remember. I listen to classic rock.) I’ll tell you, when I hear that song now, I actually get hungry!!! Anyway, Kathy made a wonderful yogurt parfait along with a full breakfast for us. All the food at camp was wonderful.

After breakfast, Melody told a beautiful story about her and how she protects her family and her home. She then gave us a list of “truths” to make a journal of sorts using those truths. Then she sent us to the art room. Here is what we saw!!! When the weather warmed up, they opened the garage door to bring some of the outside in!

Setting at each of our work areas was a wonderful package of goodies!!!

Around the edges of the room their were shelves covered with art and craft supplies!!! Notice all that beautiful Glimmer Mist in the first photo. I wish I would have had more time to play with that!!! Melody gave us a tour, some instructions on how to use her Chip Art and turned us loose to journal our truths. I’d like to now share a couple more of my “Truth Cards.” The first one says, “Dear Christine, You can do this. You are powerful. You are amazing. Your are strong.” The second truth card says, “Dear Christine, Take action, it is time…you are not alone on this journey.” I really learned that we are not alone while at Brave Girls camp. Each one of the ladies has found there own special place in my heart. It was an experience that changed each of us and was amazing to share!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed experiencing just a little bit of Brave Girls camp with me.

Blessings,

Christine

Beautiful Weekend

Did you miss me this weekend?  I spent the weekend in Southern Idaho for a family reunion.  We had soooo much fun!!!

On Friday night, we had dinner with my cousin, Connie and her daughters.  Connie is a “long lost” relative, literally.  Over a year ago, when I was driving to Utah for a doctors appointment, I stopped at a middle of no where gas station because I had missed the rest stop.  My mother’s family is from that particular middle of no where and I told the lady behind the counter that my family came from here.  She asked if I new some in Pat so and so (no names to protect the innocent) and I said, that’s my mom.  (I’ve mentioned before that my father passed away when I was 3 months old).  Connie, the lady third from the left, was that lady and is my first cousin.  Her mother is my biological father’s sister.  She moved to Idaho from Southern Utah several years ago and had wondered if she would ever run into a cousin after she moved there.  Amazing, huh.

I’m ashamed to admit, that when I hurry to and fro for my doctor appts, etc., I never stopped to see her again.  So, on this trip, not only did we meet her for dinner on Friday, but she spent Saturday with us and our other uncles and cousins.  We had so much fun and it was like we have known each other all along.  So much fun!!!

I haven’t seen my cousins that live in Missouri since I moved back to Idaho from Nebraska, over 15 years ago.  They have really grown up!!!  The women on each side of the man in the tan tank top, and the man in the red t-shirt are my cousins from Missouri.  The two ladies on the right are my aunts.  I’ve seen my aunts about every year because they come out to visit but I haven’t seen her children in a long time.  The other folks in the photo are in-laws and children.  What a great time we had with them today!!!  It was so great to catch up.  Hopefully we will be able to get together a little more often that every 15 (or so) years!!!

After that long weekend, I’m hot, tired and sun burned so I’m going to stop there.  Besides, I don’t want to bore you with the dozens of photos that I took this weekend.  Just saying, a good time was had by all!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Happy Birthday Buckaroo

Isn’t he just adorable!!!  This is a D’Amour Allure rubber stamp called Lil’ Cowboy and is available at McMahon Five Designs.  The fun Prima burlap flower is from the store as well.  And I colored the little buckaroo Copics.

That’s it for now.  I don’t have much to say tonight because I’m kind of worried about an area about 15 miles away from my home.  There is a large wildfire in an inhabited area near Eagle, Idaho.  I’ve been watching it on the news for about 2-1/2 hours now.  It’s very sad.  They have reported that only 3 homes have been confirmed burned but I think that’s an old estimate.  People are aware that they live in a fire prone area and have green/defensible areas, thank goodness.  They just now said that 2,500 acres have been burned.  The good news is that no one has been hurt or killed.  Say prayers for everyone, will ya’.

Updated later in the evening.  Four homes were damaged, three were a total loss.  There were no injuries.  Several homes were saved by the firefighting efforts.  There was one case where the fire was heading towards a home and the aircraft dropped fire retardant at the property line and those homeowners only lost a couple of fence posts.  Another, there was a barn on fire and the firefighters were clearing a defensible space WHILE the barn was burning so that the home was not damaged.  The fire is pretty much out but the firefighters will remain all night to put out any hot spots so the fire doesn’t restart.  Thanks so much for your concerns and prayers.

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-Copics with a little watercolor; Image-D’Amour Allure from McMahon Five Designs; Sentiment-computer generated; Flowers-Prima; Cuttlebug-Nestabillities; Other from stash-paper, star lace, buttons.

Challenges:
Stamp with Fun-Card for a boy/man
My Time to Craft-Check it out
Friday Sketchers-sketch
Sentimental Sundays-Playful or funny card (with a sentiment)

Now is the Time

While I was working on my plum box this week, I had a lot of other things going on and going through my head.  This was one of them.  I have had this die for awhile but hadn’t had a chance to use it yet so I definitely wanted to give it a try!  Since an uncaged bird is one of the symbols of Brave Girls, I used some of the sentiments from the Melody Ross Brave Girls set from Unity.  Speaking of Melody and Unity, she has designed some other sets that will be unveiled at CHA.  I saw a couple of them on Facebook and I’ll need to save my pennies so I can get them all when they come out!  There is even a set with cowboy boots!  Melody collects cowboy boots; she says they make her brave!

So that’s my card for Monday morning!  Next, I’ll be working on my McMahon Five Designs project for Wednesday but I’ll probably have more to share before then!  After that, I will be working on something that I wasn’t able to finish at Brave Girls Camp.  It will be one of those projects that you work on for a little while and then wait for it to dry, and work on and wait, and work on and wait….  You never know what I’ll be coming up with in the meantime! 

I hope you have a great Monday!  I put a Will Rogers quote on my Facebook today that I thought I would share here:

“If you want to be successful, it is just this simple:
Know what you're doing. Love what you're doing. And believe in what you're doing.”

Blessings,

Christine

Deets:
Medium-acrylic paint, Copics, Distress Inks; Sentiment-Unity; Paper-Tim Holtz; Cuttlebug-Tim Holtz die; Other from stash-buttons, flat back pearls colored with Copics.

Challenges:
Created by Hand--Looking in…looking out and use dies
Design Dollies--Inspiration--Vintage movie (The Bird Man from Alcatraz)
Etsy Inspired--
Scrap the Art-- (colors)