Prayer Journal

I bought a stamp set called "Prayer Journal" from Clear Dollar Stamps (in my website list on the side) before Christmas. I have plans to create some prayer journals to sell online, but it's one of those things I would "get around to doing" but had not until last week. I had started this, but had not finished it. Well, last week I finally got to drive out to Lake Medina, outside of San Antonio, to deliver some Girl Scout cookies to my friend Carol. Carol is a cancer patient, but has defied all odds, by the grace of God, and is still alive one year after being sent home to die. She has had surgery and still has cancer, but takes each day as it comes. She is a joy to have as a friend. She is 75 years young and is a stamper! She's not able to get out to her studio as much now that she is sick, though.

I wanted to take something special to Carol. She is diabetic, and considering we were loading her up with GS cookies, I didn't want to take another sweet. I thought of a plant, but didn't know if that would be just right. Then I remembered the prayer journal set. I had stamped out some crosses, and had covered one journal. The colors are bright and cheerful, reminding me of Carol's personality. I knew I HAD to assemble this and take it to her.

Carol is such a sweetheart that she took us into her studio and blessed ME with a gift of some amazing stamping supplies! Markers and cardstock to add to my collection! I was so surprised and thrilled! THANK YOU CAROL!!!!

I'll be posting more about our visit and the beautiful area where Carol lives on my personal blog, www.chefmama.blogspot.com so be sure to stop by & see a picture of us soon!

A Clean Sweep

Do you love the idea of a Swiffer Sweeper? I especially love the concept of the Wet Mop Swiffer. It seemed like such a good idea to be able to just toss away the little sheets and not have to wring out the mop every few steps. Then reality hit and I realized that buying a box of those little sheets adds up! AND they don't hold up as well as I'd like them to. A friend of mine suggested making a reusable cover and sent me directions.

This is my Mop Cover for mops/brooms such as Swiffer. It just slides on. It has ridges to really scrub the floor. When one side gets dirty, turn it inside out and use the other side! Then toss it in the wash for next time.

I will be selling these for $5 a piece. That's less than a box of disposable covers! These will be available is several different colors. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in trying this out!

Note: I've been asked about the size of this & which type of sweeper it fits. This one fits my standard Swiffer Sweeper, 10" long by 4.5" wide. I can make them to fit any length and width. My mom suggested I make them long edge wrap around a bit like the ends, so I will be adding that to make these fit. They will shrink some when washed because they are 100% cotton, but will fit tight and stretch a bit during use.

Flutterby Butterfly

I absolutely love Clear Dollar Stamps (CDS). The stamps are very reasonably priced and the designs are really cute. If I had a million dollars I'd own all their stamps! I'd also have a huge house with a huge kitchen and a huge craft room! LOL! For now, I have a few of their sets. My latest acquisition is Heart Flutters. I "played" in a weekend color challenge this weekend with CDS at Paper Craft Planet. This is the card I created:
I used another set to create a card for someone who is moving in the next couple of months. I'm hoping she doesn't see this here before I have a chance to send it to her! This card uses a set that I find really funny and fun called, "Sometimes your the bug." I also used an "accessory" set called, "In the Bug." This friend likes pink. Um, yeah, I guess you figured that part out! LOL!
Working on some crochet projects to post. Until then, have a great day!

Nuggets of Pink

I think we'd all like to find nuggets of gold and nuggets of wisdom. Would you settle for some nuggets of chocolate wrapped in pink? I found these adorable stamps specially made for making nugget wrappers. Hershey's nuggets, that is. These stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps are called "You're So Sweet." As you can see, I need a little work getting the stamp lined up with the label (just plain address labels, the 30 to a page type). Last year I stamped out a bunch of hearts and put them on scalloped circles made with a cuttlebug die. This came in very handy for topping this little box of chocolates! This would make a super Valentine's gift.

One Sweet Cookie

I made this card for a challenge on Splitcoaststampers in the Gina K. Designs Forum. The stamps used are called "Have a Cookie" and are available at Gina K. Designs. I had fun coloring these images, then making them "pop up" using dimensional foam stickers. This set is so versatile. I'm hoping to make many more cards using this set. In the picture of the whole card, it is hard to see the dimension of the shapes. I've added a 2nd picture with more detail to show how these look. Sorry the 2nd picture is a bit blurry.

Quacking Up!

This is a Duck of a Different color. Linda B. (hearthcricket on SCS) is hosting a color challenge for Clear Dollar Stamps on Papercraft Planet here: http://www.papercraftplanet.com/grou...or-challenge-7

The colors for the challenge are Pretty in Pink, Apricot appeal and Saraha Sand, plus white, or any similar non-SU colors. AND you must use Clear Dollar Stamps. I have several sets of CD stamps, but they are things like animals, Bible Verses, and even Texas stamps. That was my first challenge. Next, of those colors, I own: Pretty in Pink ink and marker, and Apricot Appeal ink. No paper in any of the colors (but white), NOTHING in Sahara Sand, and not even truly good substitutes from my stash. I did manage to find some that seemed to work so-so.

This set is called "Cute Critters." I colored the beak and feet with pretty in pink, and I used a blender pen and my Apricot ink to color the duck. I sponged apricot around the edges of the oval. I stamped the words, "You Quack Me Up" on the tag using Apricot Appeal, so it is very light & a bit hard to see. I outlined it with a light pink (I managed to put my pretty in pink marker somewhere other than my marker box!).

The closest to Sahara Sand I have is this bit of paper from Christmas cards a few years ago. I think the color was "Camel". I'm thinking since there are camels in the Sahara Desert, then it's gotta count as a close enough match! LOL!

The ribbon was in my drawer from a Target $ spot package. The colors aren't exact, but they sort of go with it. Making Memories pink eyelets (or eyelids as my girls used to call them) came in handy.

I wanted to post some Valentine's ideas, but haven't gone that far yet. I've got a nasty cold or something, so just sat on the couch & colored then made this card today. Gotta get those uploaded!

An Inaugural Tribute---to the Dress!

On Tuesday, on Splitcoast Stampers on the Travelin' Dork Sisters thread, we didn't talk politics. However, I dared to bring up the TRULY hot topic of the day: Michelle Obama's dresses! LOL! It started when my niece posted on her blog that she was totally impressed with "Mrs. President's" choice of dress (the day dress). I had not been home that day so hadn't seen the dress prior to that. I thought the dress itself was pretty, but I didn't quite understand the green gloves and teal shoes. It appears that I am just an old fuddy-duddy who doesn't "get" fashion, and that is not new news! After all, I was in my "hay day" when Laura Ashley & all things floral ruled the fashion world.

So, I issued a challenge to the dork sisters to create a card based on one of Mrs. Obama's dresses. Then another dork shared this link (I hope this works):
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/286305...mode/1107/s/2/ where you can see inaugural gowns from several former first ladies in addition to the current one. I don't think the dorks thought I was serious, but here it is! I have a plan for the evening gown as well.

For the record, I have decided I do like the light yellow/gold with the olive green, but I still don't like teal in the mix. Yeah, I know, fuddy duddy!

I thought the Textile CB plate was PERFECT for the brocade look. I would have preferred to add tiny pearls somewhere since the brocade looked a bit pearly to me on her dress. I didn't have any so it's stickles instead. I don't have the nesties labels, so I made a template & cut my own!

Go ahead & try making a card using an inaugural gown as your inspiration! It's really fun!