What's your word?

I know I've been MIA for awhile, but hopefully I can start back blogging regularly.

I know I post a lot about our women's bible study (withintheword.com), but it really is a big part of my life and so are the ladies.

We are getting ready to start up our semester this week, and we asked all our ladies to choose a word for the year that describes who they are and how it relates to their relationship with God.  Each lady chose totally different words.  I thought I would make them each a tag , with their word, so they could keep it somewhere they could see it daily and it  would bring them closer to the relationship they wish to have with God.

I am enjoying trying my hand mixed media.  It involves stenciling, texture paste, spray paints, and added glitter, gold leaf, flowers and other metal embellishments.

I love playing with the colors than adding things as I go.

For some reason, I'm on a "gold kick" and love the elegance it adds.

Each tag is as unique as each lady.

I have known some of these ladies for years, and I know their struggles along with their triumphs!

So ask yourself, "what is my word?"   If you pray about it, I know God will reveal it to you.

A few craft projects

It's been a while since I've blogged.   In between life and grandkids, it's been busy.

This post will be misc. things I have crafted, and it should catch me up to this point.

I love making cards and sending them to friends and my ladies in bible study. (Withintheword.com)

You never know when a hand-made card is just thing to lift someone's spirits that day.  I know how it makes me feel when someone takes the time and effort to let me know they have thought about me.

As you can see, I love this rose/leopard print and used it to make a "shaker" card with sequins, beads and glitter behind the clear acetate film.

Here's a little mini book I made in class at "My Heart's Fancy", a local art store that is like a candy store to me.  They have so many things to help you create whatever you want and offer classes about 4 times a month.

This album is actually a mini- calendar with each page dedicated to a particular month.  It was so fun to make and easy to put together.

My sister vacationed at a friend's beach home, so I made her a "thank you gift" for the hostess.  Since it was at a beach, I made a beach themed photo book, so they could capture their trip.

Lastly,  yesterday was Valentine's day.  I always make a little gift for my ladies in bible study at the holidays.

There is a blog called "the funkie junkie" and she had made the most beautiful tags for Valentine's day with a tutorial.  So I made 12 tags, each a little different from the other.

Each one had a pink and white striped envelope on the back which held a piece of chocolate, and each lady received a little box of candy.

So that's a few things I've been working on and have so many more projects I want to make.  So many crafts, so little time.  Hope you enjoyed and you're inspired to create something.

Mini stockings

Hello fellow blogging friends.  It's been awhile, I know.   Time passes so fast , and I really don't have a good excuse why I haven't posted.   I have several projects that  I've worked on over the past few months and will do another post showing them.    Hopefully I will be more consistent with posting in the future.

The holidays are approaching way to soon, but with the first snowfall,  I locked myself in the craft room and created.   I saw a wonderful video on "The flying Unicorn" showing how to make large stockings out of canvas.   I knew I would have to make quite a few, so I made miniature versions of the stockings.

I drew out my own pattern on canvas and cut out enough to make 10 stockings.   I stenciled a "damask" pattern with white gesso.  When the gesso dried, I sprayed each one with different glittered sprays.  I then sewed each one, added a cuff and then decorated each one.

I made one for our bible study teacher,(withintheword.com) our "prayer warrior" who is moving to Joplin, and for the ladies in my small group.

I filled each with candy, chocolates, coffee gift card and a coordinating candy cane. ( You know I have to match everything!)

I also made a couple of cards to give with a couple of the gifts.

I  let each of the women pick out their stocking ,based on their favorite color.

I hope each of the ladies know how they have blessed my life and hope they enjoy this small token of our friendship.  Until the next post- be creative and show somebody you care.

"At da Beach"

It seems, in the paper world that is, that the theme is "Beachy", nautical, or at the "Seashore."  I love the beautiful colors of a sandy beach, an aqua ocean, and the peachy sea shells.

Several years ago, we were blessed enough to go to Gulf Shores in Alabama, and then we took our boys back several years later.  There is nothing like the breeze and smell coming off the ocean air or the Gulf.  The sand between your toes has an instant spa-like effect and all your cares seem to melt into the sandy tide.  If I could, I would go back there every year.

When Prima came out with their new line called "Seashore", I had to make some projects.

I decided on some tags.   I had some shell trim that I've had for years, so it went perfectly on the lower border and it adds some movement to the tag.  Fraying some burlap, I kept the scraps and used them in the upper left corner.   I sprayed some shells and flowers, and added some moss and a seahorse.

The second tag has a lot the same elements as the first, but using a starfish and some clear pebbles.

The third tag, I added a small glass vial and added some sand and aqua glitter.

I'm sure I'll be making many more projects with paper line, the colors are so soothing to me.

Next, I used a digital line from "Kitty Scrap Post", called "Es Nautico,"  (Nautical)  (at http://www.zibbet.com/KittysScrapPost/artwork?artworkId=2290822.)   Luisa creates the most beautiful papers and I love that you just pay, download and have immediate access to her designs.  Unlike physical paper pads you buy , with the downloads, you can print as many as you want, forever!

This particular design paper attracted me because of the crab cage.   My brother-in-law ,who lives in Delaware, is an avid "crabber" and his birthday is this week.   I found some resin crab pieces, netting and personalized him a "crab card."

Last, along with the same color scheme, is a necklace that I made for someone very special.  Spellbinders came out with blank metal pieces that you can paint, fill and add whatever you want to the piece.

Our  weekly bible study , Withintheword.com, is on summer break.   We had our last Wednesday study for the semester last week.   We have an amazing teacher, Kathy Patton.  We have been studying Exodus and I have learned so much.   Kathy is on a mission for God and touches so many women.   The gift is such a small token of how much we appreciate her.

I painted the piece, and added a cross charm, rhinestones and some glitter.  I rubbed some gold rub and buff randomly over the metal.  I glued on the clear piece to hold in all the embellishments.  I placed it on a rhinestone chain to make a vintage-like necklace.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe Memorial weekend.  I guess the sand colored carpet between my toes in my craft room will be my beach for the weekend.
Happy crafting,
Cindy

Easter bags

I purchased some raw canvas and burlap bags the other day and thought I would decorate them for Easter.

Each one is a little different from the next.   I received some adorable papers and embellishments from the UK- Tilda.  They had a lot of springtime pieces that I used in the flower arrangements.

I painted in random areas with acrylic paint and a glittered snow texture.  I used antique doilies to anchor the flowers.  Colored lace was added and a banner was stamped with a sentiment.

These were so easy to put together and it was a great way to use a lot of my stash.

Once I started, it was hard to stop.

It's a fun way to give a gift.  You can fill it with candy or some other little gift.

Though bunnies and such are a cute symbol of Easter, the true meaning is the cross.  I have added one to each of my bags.

It is tucked into each flower arrangement.  Christ died for us and when they rolled away the stone, the tomb was empty.   His resurrection gives us the gift of eternal life if we choose to accept him as our Lord and Savior.

May you all have a blessed Easter and I pray you share this wonderful , holy holiday with those you love.  I pray you are able to go to a service to hear God's word and know that he loves each and every one of us.

Blessings and love,
Cindy