Papertrey's Make it Monday Challenge

Yesterday, the rain forced me indoors so I had a go with the Papertrey 'Make It Monday Challenge', which, this week, is to use the Papertrey dies for embossing, rather than just cutting. You can visit Nicole Headey's 'Capture the Moment' blog here for more information.

For this card, I used the large Seeing Stars Collection Die to emboss. I then layered the stars using the medium Star Die to cut the blue Bazzil and the Fiskars Star Punch for the red Bazzil adhering them with foam squares for extra dimension. The numbered stamp comes from Star Prints. I tried to make the embossing pop a bit more by using Fresh Snow, but I think I need more practice with that technique.  For the ticket I used Just the Ticket stamps and coordinating die. Sorry, but I don't know the source of the ribbon or card.

Thank you for looking and have a wonderful Happy Easter day.

What have I done?

I have ripped out a perfectly acceptable (I use the term loosely) carpet in our hall in order to strip, stain and varnish the treads and handrails. I know it will be worth it in the end. It's just managing to save my sanity until the end, that's causing the anxiety.

before

 after

Once I tried stripping with get paint stripper, I knew we needed a faster method; I now have a turbo-charger heat gun that works really well, but it is still taking a lot more time than anticipated. I'll still have to use paint stripper to pull out some of the previous woodstain, but progress will be seen. Eventually.



Before and After

Like thousands of others, I have fallen in love with the 7Gypsies trays. I bought this one from Archiver's on my last trip home to the States and brought it back to decorate. I used a lot of favourite scraps and embellishments I have been squirrelling away over a number of years. However the primary paper was MME and the 7Gyspies Nest sticker sheet. They have a layout example on the back of the box, which I took a lot of my ideas from, but I also took pictures at the store of some of their trays on display. If you want even more inspiration, the Archiver's Website has a huge section dedicated to these great home decor frames here.

Before

After

Papertrey March Blog Hop Challenge

I have never had a chance to participate in the Papertrey Blob Hop, but, by chance, I was able to take a little time to make a card using embroidery floss. Unfortunately, I have not been very 'inventive' with the use of it. However, it did provide an opportunity to play with my new dies and felt. Hopefully, I will have a chance to create projects that fit the bill more fully in the future. Thank you for looking.

For the March Blog Hop we are challenging you to use embroidery floss in a fun and inventive way on your project.  This could include stitching, wrapping it around and tying it like ribbon, braiding, accenting tags, embroidered patterns or anything else you can dream up!  We look forward to seeing your creations!

Details:

Cardstock: White card left over from a Costco kit

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye, Abbey Road, Lucky Me 'Hello World' Lucky Lime Paper

PTI Dies: Heart Prints, Love Lives Here, Take Three

PTI Felt: terracotta tile and Hawaiian Shores

Other: Ribbon, button, blue crystals unknown source, embroidery floss Clark's Anchor cotton floss colour 816 (antique box of floss given to me by my mother-in-law)

Size: 4 x 6

New Puppy

Isn't she the cutest little thing! Our new addition is named Jess and we have had her with us for about 3 weeks now. She's really smart and biddable, quickly picking up the routines of the house. She's 8 months old, with a sweet temperament, but playful too - just what our 2 and 1/2 year Irish Setter needs. 

I'm having to learn how to handle two dogs on the lead and I suspect I'm quite comical marching down the road trying to keep the leads from tangling. To be fair, Paddy knows what is expected of him and usually keeps to the heel, but he's not immune to her distractions! 

Cute! Cute! Cute!

Poem

After our recent sad news, I wanted to share this poem I found on the internet; I thought it was apt and very poignant. You can visit the blog here:


http://needleinahaystackstitchery.blogspot.com/search/label/Fathers


My son called today;
He needed some advice
On how to wire the pick-up
To his trailer.

We chatted about resources,
Who to talk to,
Testing tools and time.

He apologized for calling
During my lunch hour;
He thanked me for helping
Him make a plan of action.

It was a good father-son interaction;
An informative phone call.

In between the lines-
Between the talk-
And the pauses
And the brief silences,
I heard him say:
“Love ya, dad,
Thanks for talking with me,
Guiding me, helping me-
I like it when we solve
Problems together”.

“Thanks for loving my mother,
And providing for us.
Thanks for showing me
How to be a man and knowing
About wiring, pick-ups and trailers”.

I heard all those things today,
In a five minute phone call,
From a town in Idaho,
A thousand miles away.

I’ll be gone someday;
He’ll have sons of his own:
Sons that will look to him for
Guidance,
Leadership,
Example.

In the not too distant future,
He won’t be able to chat with me
On a moment's notice.
All too soon he will have to face
The world without a dad.

He’ll have a problem:
Mechanical, financial,
A simple decision;
And
He’ll think about calling me

Then remember…

He can’t…

I wish I could call my Dad


Gary Eckhardt
© 2010 February
Atascadero

Christmas Fair @ 7:00pm tonight

Today is the day...