Sew Grateful

I got to play today! Aren't those little pig tails cute? Yellow gingham ribbon added just the right touch.

The card was inspired by this super cute collection over at Dannisdoodles. I think I just found a new blog to love. :)

Enjoy your day! Rachel

Supplies
Paper: (Kraft) Stampin' Up!, (Measuring Up, Sew Much More from the Material Girl collection) Cosmo Cricket.
Chipboard: (Ready-Set-Chip from the Material Girl collection) Cosmo Cricket.
Computer Font: Freestyle Script.
Other: (yellow paper flower) Kaiser scrapbook, (scalloped edge scissiors) Provo Craft, yellow gingham ribbon, blue and white buttons.

Caution: Birthday Ahead

I made this card and wanted to tweak it, but couldn't figure out what needed to change.


Lincoln figured it out. Yes, I needed to change the sign. Too large. Should've been a triangle (think: yield). Got it, L. Thanks.

I covered a card with "CAUTION" tape, and my son destroyed it. There's irony in this somewhere.

Supplies
Cardstock: (Basic Gray, Pumkpin Pie, Basic Black) Stampin’ Up!, (Summer Sunrise) Papertrey Ink.
Computer Font: Haettenschweiler.

Adoption: It's About Love

Meet Heather. Heather was one of my first friends when I moved to Oregon. Though we met at church, we became friends through stamping. We've stamped and talked and laughed and commiserated for five years. Still, whenever I need a night of girl therapy, I know I can call Heather. She'll come over. And talk. Or listen. Or both. She's just good like that. :)

Heather and her husband, Reed, are in the process of trying to adopt. They have a beautiful daughter who is five, and they would love to have more children.

Here's an excerpt from an email we received from them:
"...we have been trying to add children to our family for many years with little success. After many attempts to have biological children, we have decided to add to our family through adoption. Our Adoption agency, LDS Family Services, informed us that many adoptions occurred via word of mouth. That is where your thoughts, prayers and actions can help us obtain what we’ve been trying to have for so many years."

If you know someone who is looking to place their precious little one with another family, please direct them to

• The Nelsons' website: http://reedandheather.blogspot.com/.
• Or the LDS Family Services Website: https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/ct/eng/site/pregnant/.
• Or the Nelsons' profile on It’s About Love: https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/24022113/ourMessage.jsf

Here's Heather making cards with her daughter. To say five-year-old Miss A. is already well-seasoned crafter is an understatement.


See...a natural. She also says she'd LOVE to be a big sister.


Dad and daughter.

Thanks for taking time to read through this post. I pray the Nelsons will soon have a beautiful child to welcome into their home!

Yarn Stash Basket

I recently started knitting. No, I haven't blogged any of my projects, nor will I for a while, because I haven't progressed much beyond making yarn worms. Wonky worms, at that.


But look what my sweet mom made to encourage me along! It's a stash basket for my yarn. I'm so silly happy in love with it that I've found half a dozen excuses to tote it around town holding anything but yarn.

To make the basket (pseudo-tote), my mom followed this pattern from The Purl Bee. If you have a minute, a few clicks around The Purl Bee blog or shop site are worth your while. I just feel all sorts of handmade, home-y goodness radiating from my monitor.


Also helping me through the knit, purl blues is this little gem. I tell you, this book's a goldmine! Dear Santa, I hope you're reading. I would love to find this book under my tree. You can find them used on Amazon.com for less than $5. Applique, embroidery, knit, crochet - I'm sold!


More love from my momma. She set me up with the things I'll need when I'm ready to tackle something other than yarn worms.

As for paper crafts, I finally had time to make cards this weekend. Yay! However, I have a handful of other, more personal posts to type up first. Thanks for bearing with me. :)

Thanks, Nancy!

No, I haven't fallen of the edge of the earth. :) Summer brings lots of fun time with family and friends, which I love, but leaves little time for crafting. I'm woefully overdue in posting a proper thank you, though, and couldn't let this pass another day.

First CONGRATULATIONS to Nancy of Nancy's Creative Mess. Nancy recently celebrated her 1000th post! Yes, with three zeros. I haven't reached 100 posts yet; I can't imagine the dedication it takes to reach 1,000.

To celebrate her huge milestone, Nancy hosted a giveaway on her blog. Guess which lucky blogger won the gift certificate to Papertrey Ink. Sweet, huh!



Thanks, Nancy! I paired the gift certificate with one from my husband and got all this crafty goodness. Sorry about the bad lighting. It was night - I was ready to cut into some of the paper and play with the stamps. Had I waited to take a photo in the morning, you would have gotten a "messy desk" photo instead. So at least here everything looks all tidy. Thanks again! Rachel

Make Today A Play Day

I made this a while ago for my super cute kiddo. My boys are my favorite people to craft for. They love anything I make, regardless of how it looks, so there's no stress to impress - I just relax and enjoy creating for them.

I bought several items from this cute monster line by Daisy Bucket Designs to make cards for my boys. Monsters are right up their alley, and I know they'll gladly use any leftover scraps for their own projects.

As for the polka dots, since this critter is just as round as can be, polka dots seemed like the way to go.  This is also my entry for the latest Moxie Fab World Challenge: Finding Inspiration in a Layout.  The featured layout uses various size circles to frame the focal image.  See the connection?  (I hope I made it clear enough - LOL!)

Take care. Hope you do something fun today. :)

Supplies
Cardstock: (Basic Black, Orchid Opulence, Perfect Plum) Stampin' Up!.
Patterned Paper: (Wasabi Dot) Bo Bunny.
Stamp: (Play Day) Daisy Bucket Designs.
Ink: (black) Staz On.
Watercolor crayons: Stampin’ Up!.
Decorative Scissors: Provo Craft.
Punches: (1” and ¾” circles) EK Success.
Other: watercolor paper.

Giveaway Winner

Comment number 3 belongs to Savannah O'Gwynn.

Congratulations, Savannah! I just emailed you, but if for some reason my message doesn't come through, please send over your mailing address and I'll get these shipped off to you.

Thanks to all seven of you for your kind comments.  :)  I'm a frequent (though usually silent) visitor to several of your blogs and had fun browsing around a new blog and a card gallery.  I promise I'll do better to not be a stranger and share the comment love.  Deal?  Good!