Monday, December 26, 2011

And In the End....

...the Love you take is equal to the Love you make.
Lennon and McCartney
This weeks Created Byhand Challenge theme is "Out With the Old"/Flower dies.
I am tearing apart the studio and getting rid of everything that I can't remember when or why I got it.
The background is  tissue box card.
The die is Spellbinders Dahlia. ( check out Yogi's card on the challenge post- she used the same die)
the Quote words to live by,and flourished heart 
(use this one A LOT) thermal embossed.
Overstamped with ,Love is Patient Love is Kind ,background stamp that gets a lot of use.
Paprika Stickles around the edge- first time for that color I think-now i get to keep it.
What do you need to get rid of?
Leave a comment.

To read what is on my heart please visit Still Waters Refuge.

Thanks for reading, comments and posting your own entries.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

12 Days of Christmas 2011-Day 12

Jane-the tag and wrapping were enough...and still to come was....









This lovely pin.....so festive
Thanks Jane.
A wonder filled 12 days by all! Bless us every one!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Cyberscribes Holiday Exchange 2011

Fun to be a part of this years exchange

Envies














 and enclosures

all are in the mail and I await my returns! Stay tuned!
Rubber Calligraphy by Suzanne Cannon of Quietfire Design.

12 Days of Christmas 2011-Day 11

Linda cleverly wrapped this giftie to reveal...









This edgey ornament. I love the  wax collage .
Thanks Linda!

Friday, December 23, 2011

12 Days of Christmas 2011-Day 10

Hey that's me!
I enjoyed making these charms.At first I thought they would be ornaments, then I found some pin backs with bails and realized they could be worn as pins , necklaces and hung as ornaments.
I covered some heavy chip board in foil, layered some embossed foil cut with Spellbinders  Lacey Square.
The center is Spellbinders Postage Die stamped and embossed with Quietfire flourished star and added some vintage lace. I coated it with Diamond glaze for dimension a reaise look.
The gems are little Stickles dots.
I'm enjoying this exchange this year more than ever.
I don't want it to end!

To read what is on my heart about gifts please visit Still Waters Refuge
Thanks to all Byhand Artists, Suzanne group Mom and God(ess) Bless us every one!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

12 Days of Christmas 2011-Day 8

Sue beautifully wrapped her gift in handmade paper, glitter yarn and a hand lettered tag.











Inside this beautiful and useful BIA book







Thanks Sue!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

12 Days of Christmas 2011-Day 7

This beautiful bag from Beth mysteriously contained....










This fab fiber gift...

Thank you Beth!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Dona Nobis Pacem

This scan shows all the goofs and none of the glitz.
Embrace imperfection!
The theme at Created Byhand is Christmas/Red and Green.
I love poinsettia and holly.

Dona Nobis Pacem thank you Suzanne for this elegant lettering. Maybe stamping it often will help bring it.

The embossing, cutting and stenciling is all Spellbinders Poinsettia Frameability .

Leave me a comment if you want more details and please pray for Peace.
Thanks for looking , comments and posting your own entry in the Challenge

12 Days of Christmas 2011-Day 6

Jean send this deceptively simple package









that opened to a Jacob's Ladder ....


Fun! Thanks Jean!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

12 Days of Christmas 2011-Day 5

Ruth coordinated her tag and wrapping














beautifully hiding.....
this lovely canvas collage.
Thanks Ruth!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

12 Days of Christmas 2011-Day 3

Day  3 giftie beautifully wrapped by Judy















Opened to Reveal......

Thanks Judy for the fun felted necklace!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

12 days of Christmas 2011-Day 2

Day 2 from Carmen arrived in this. Note the Quietfire 12 Days rubber








Opened reveled this lovely accordion book

with tags
Thanks Carmen!
Check back tomorrow for Day 3!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Byhand Artists 12 Days of Christmas Gift Exchange


This gift exchange is a yearly tradition at the Byhand Artists Yahoo group sponsored by Suzanne Cannon of Quietfire Design.
A hostess and 12 participants each make 12 gifts that will fit into an envelope(keeping postage down), each participant picking one day. You mail your gifts off to each person, the hostess gift is opened on your day, so for twelve days you enjoy opening a beautiful creative handmade gift.

Here are mine wrapped and ready to be mailed.
Here is my basket filled with gifts! Ah the joy of Advent-  Expectant waiting!

Day one from Marg....








Opened to reveal

and this...

Thanks Marg!
Be sure to stop by each day as I get to open and enjoy sharing my gifts with y'all!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Following a Star

I think up these themes. Most of the time I am trying to find themes that will highlight the newest Quietfire rubber and get everyone's creativity flowing.
This weeks theme is Light/Star Die Cuts. I finished the card and t here was not a star in sight, or much light.
So I added the stars.
The background is a party napkin I adhered to the cardstock by ironing a piece of plastic wrap between them. Best way I know to glue tissue.

This first photo I like the shadow effect and you can't see the glitter.

Second photo, more glitter, less shadow.

The rubber quote and the holly on the stars is thermal embossed and inked over with the winter seasonal distress.
For dimension I cut out pieces of thin foam and use them as dimensional   adhesive (with the glue of choice) . I mostly use white glue. I"m going to get a bumper sticker that says, "honk if you like wet glue" or maybe "Stick together if you like wet glue".
Lots of stardust pens and the flower centers are Liquid Pearls buttercup.

Some times you follow a star and
sometimes you follow the rules.
Thanks for comments and posting your own entries.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Christmas Miracle- T!ms 12 Tags Day 2!


This is the first time I felt good about using my stains.
I don't even like to say the word s**w and I couldn't resist how well if fits on this spellbinders ribbon tag.
rubber here
anything else you want to know leave me a comment!

Monday, December 5, 2011

It's Begining to Look a Lot Like.....

This weeks Created Byhand Challenge is Dear Santa/ Ornament Die cuts.
I LOVE the New Rubber and who can't use a little humor this time of year?
Short and Sweet-if you need more details, leave me a comment.
I'm a very busy elf this week!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

T!m's 12 Tags of Christmas

Finally got day 1 done on Dec 4. Do the math. See me in Feb for all 12 days!
I used what I had and this is my take on T!m's techniques. Fun.
Rubber by Quietfire.
Leave me a comment if you need more details.

Monday, November 28, 2011

You Gotta Have Heart

Hearts and trees are the first things I remember drawing ; the first things I remember my  children asking me to draw for them.
I just saw my children all together for the first time in 5 years. I never could have dreamed how big my heart could grow, just watching them grow.
This weeks theme at Created Byhand Tuesday Challenge is Family/Heart die cuts.
This Quote -Versafine sepia- themal embossed on the Spellbinders Heart  die cut, reminds me that Christmas is everyday in my heart.
The pattern paper is wrapping paper and the border is Rubber Stamp Tapestry . I swear I am never going to buy another mounted stamp till I see them at my LSS.
The red and green are the new Winter Seasonal Distress Colors. Bravo Ranger! They live on my desk.
I also used the holly from the new Christmas Rubber. (Everyone write to Suzanne- when you order rubber- and tell her we want more design elements!)
Added a bit of Stardust pens for zings- hard to see in this scan. Get some- they are on sale now at Quietfire.
This season I hope you will take time to develop your heart-creativity helps-and lets see some of your creations here in the Challenge- don't be shy.
Free Rubber each week in December for one poster!

Thanks for looking, comments and posting your own entry.
To read what is on my heart, please visit Still Waters Refuge

Monday, November 21, 2011

Clean and Simple

http://www.quietfiredesign.ca/home.php?cat=159
A digital friend on a message board recently asked the meaning of CAS-clean and simple.
This weeks theme for the Created Byhand Tuesday Challenge is Thanks/Square Die Cuts.
This card came together in just a few minutes as soon as I had my hand on the stamp-take a look at it ,it's one of a set of four-one of them will fit everywhere you need it to, and the Spellbinders Lacey Square Die.
The background color- not showing up well here is Iced Spruce from the Winter Seasonal  Distress Inks-a new love- take good care of these pads- no re-inkers!
It was so quick and easy I made a dozen- they are ATC size so could be traded, used as a TY tag on a gift or as a design element on a bigger card.
The stamp is thermal embossed  black and the gold floral images are stamps I found on a recent cleaning spree. They were in the give away pile-So it goes!
 Clean and Simple!

Thanks for your comments and posting your own entry.
To read what is on my heart , Please visit Still Waters Refuge

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Christmas Tag Mingle

 My LSS A Stamp Artist Place had a Christmas Tag exchange and here is my entry. We were to use all products available in the shop and keep to a certain size that we all ignored.
I used last years Spellbinders ornament die to cut the shape and this years layered poinsettia die for the flower. Noel is a Quietfire stamp that comes vertical and horizontal!
Lots of gold, embossing and Twinkling H2O's.
Leave a comment of you need more info and have any Christmas cheer to share!

sorry out of focus!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Leaf Well Enough Alone

It's only Wednesday and here is my entry in this weeks Created Byhand Challenge and the theme is Leaves/Leaf Die Cuts.
Life can come to a halt when you get New Rubber from Quietfire in the mail. then again it may not.
Everything on this card was on my desk-the leaf die cuts, the fall Ranger inks and this seasonal sentiment from the new Rubber. There is something for everyone in this new Christmas Plate that is specially priced for a few more days. If you are local to me I can order it for you. Leave me a comment.
This tag may and may not be done, and here it is and Bloggers, I ask you to do the same.
I might add some white shading, and I have a few more leaves I can add to a ribbon to make a festive tag-maybe-if I make time...
I want to see more of your art play in the Challenge- no excuses- it doesn't have to be your best work and what you are selling on Etsy. Just share with us.
Leave a comment if you have questions about the techniques and anything else you might like to comment on. Thanks.
Watch this space- some free rubber contests coming in December.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Gee, It's good to be Back Home Again

I've been on the road, in the air and living out of a suitcase. Yes, I drew everyday and had some knitting and embroidery... and... there is nothing like getting inky in your own studio, even if you haven't unpacked yet from the fiber fest in October!
Shout out to Yogi for filling in with my Created Byhand Tuesday Challenge duties.
This weeks theme is Postal/ Faux Stamps.
I went all out and bought new dies, and I used the Spellbinders Postage Stamps to shape this card. I'm sorry to say I've been a bit disappointed in my newest Spellbinders dies. This looks more to me like a cog than a stamp. The quote a Quietfire oldey and goody-and the faux postmark is Kaspareks. I love her fiber themed stamps and I wish they came unmounted.
Lots of Distress -did you get the new holiday colors yet?
If you need more info leave me a comment.
I sent lots of postcards while I was gone, and got some to send now that I am back.
Thanks for your comments, posting in the Challenge and all who take the time to send me letters and cards.

Home might just be where the card is!
To read what is on my heart, please visit Still  Waters Refuge

Monday, October 17, 2011

Mixed Mania

This week I could be three places at one time-SAFF, Southern Highland Guild Craft Fair and Nice Threads, with a bit of sleep and eating thrown in when there is time. And I got invited to hang out with Matthew Fox a long time mentor, so there goes prep time.

This weeks Created Byhand Theme is "Witches/Circle die cuts".
I eat candy for the wrappers(if you believe that one I have a nice bridge I can sell you). Hence the moon cut with SpellbindersClassic circle Nesties. The stars are your basic stickers.
Three Witches continues in the Wicked series and I love this Stitch Witch from Kaspareks and if you are in Black Mountain at Nice Threads. We have a great selection of Julie's fiber themed rubber. Please come check them out and I can special order for you-as well as Quietfire rubber.

This week two lucky Created By Hand Challenge participants will each receive one of the stamps from the new Quietfire Wicked set. Names will be randomly chosen and posted with the Sampler!  Happy creating!

The background, bats and trees are cutouts from napkins I saved from a cocktail party. I go to parties for the napkins. Right!
Shout out to Kayla for the swivel craft knife.
I may be MIA for a week or so here, as I am traveling to spend time with my family.
Many Moons ago I overheard a conversation with my daughter and her Dad.
'You better be good', he said, 'Or Mom will turn you into a frog.'
'Mom can't do that,'  she said, 'all she can do is help people'.
I can't wait to see her and her brothers and everyone else I am too far away from.
Thanks for looking, your comments, the candy wrappers you send and for posting your own entries isn the challenge.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Amanda's Tallit

Infold me oh God
In Your holy robe of Light
Woven through Your Grace and Power
Shelter me from fear and night.
That others may come
See and touch Your robe of Light
You who danced with Miriam.
You who leap in Mary's womb.
Come, come and be healed.

Peace, love and blessings in every thread in every stitch.
Shalom to you Amanda.


Thanks Marissa for modeling!