Exciting Firsts

My husband says I'm weird, and I'm sure he's right, but I got to cross something off my "bucket list" yesterday...proofing galley sheets.  Basically, I got to read a novel before it hits the bookstores.  It is slated for publication in March.  It's called "No Safe Haven" by Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse.  And I got to read it while sitting in their home built by Extreme Makeover Home Edition.  Talk about cool.

I came home to find I had been selected as a Friday Five winner by the Close to My Heart Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog...another first.  That one wasn't on my bucket list, but maybe it should have been.  This week, Heart 2 Heart is challenging us to create something spooky or something with a pumpkin.

This card uses CTMH stamp sets Little Treasures, Seasonal Thoughts and Express Postage.  The paper is from Expedition.  I am having fun with my new sewing machine, and couldn't resist adding a ruffled Creme Brulee ribbon.  I don't think you can really tell from these pictures, but I completely covered the jar image with liquid glass.  It looks very much like the spider and web (hand drawn) are inside a glass jar. 

Hope you all have a safe and spooktacular Halloween!

Until next time,
Becca

Masculine Purple

My nephew's birthday is coming up quickly.  He's in his 20's and very much into tattoos and pop culture.  A card for him can't be flowers, ribbons, or any of my other usual stuff.  Using several techniques, I came up with a purple masculine card.  Yes...I said purple.  This card is entered in the following challenges:

Operation Write Home - Midweek Throwdown: Masculine
Operation Write Home - Keyhole Tutorial
Heart 2 Heart - Embossing (card #2)

I used CTMH Oak Brown cardstock and stamped with Smokey Plum using the Live Inspired and Air Mail stamp sets.  Then, I sanded to create a little white relief so my embossing wouldn't be the only white on the card.  The sentiment is from the Say it in Style stamp set by CTMH. 

I added a couple white rivets to create a triangular pattern among the keyhole picture, the sentiment and the rivets.  I added a little sponging on the edges of the purple paper to give just a touch more depth.

And despite the purple, I think it looks both hip and masculine.

Until next time,
Becca

Sew Happy

Well...I finally did it.  I went to the sewing machine store and discovered my old, unusable (but top of the line in its day) machine was maybe fixable and maybe not.  If not, it was going to be a $50 service charge, if it was, it was about a $250-350 job.  Yeah...not so much.  Instead, I decided to purchase a new machine outright.  It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but it will sew a button hole, straight line and zig zag.  I'm good with that!  Today's card is entered in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch 161
Heart 2 Heart - Embossing

 I used Veranda and Perfect Day paper, the Sip stamp set, and Creme Brulee ribbon all from CTMH. I also used Buttercup embossing powder, but since it was too bright for the Creme Brulee, I sanded it down so a little more white came through.





 The spoon was too long, so I simply folded it in the middle and stuck a button over the top to hide the crease.

I love the contrast of the cool Juniper and Creme Brulee against the vibrant Tulip color.  And I must give credit where it's due.  This was basically stamp lifted from Betsy Veldman's Blog. 

You will likely be seeing a little less of me on my blog.  I will continue to participate in certain card challenges in order to support Operation Write Home, but if I'm going to really pursue writing, I need to  make that a priority. 

Until next time,
Becca

Seasons Change

Fall arrived with a chip on it's shoulder here in Colorado.  After an unseasonably warm September where temperatures stayed in the 80's and even some 90's, the wind blew ferociously one morning as if to exact vengeance for having been held at bay for so long.  Today's card is a celebration of Fall and friendship.  It is part of the following challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch #160
Heart to Heart - Leaves and Trees
OWH Midweek Throwdown - crackled glass technique

The entire card was created using the new "Olivia Workshop" by CTMH with the exception of the New England Ivy cardstock, clear embossing powder, and ribbon (but are all still CTMH supplies.)  To create the leaves, I sponged with small daubers in Spring Leaf, Vineyard Berry, Sorbet, and Cocoa.

The entire sentiment reads:  Seasons Change, but our friendship remains the same.

Until next time,
Becca

Luke 12: 27-31

"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."

Lord, may I grow to understand what it means to seek Your kingdom only, to bring before Your throne prayers reflective of my faith in Your care for the things You know I need, and to not chase after things pagan.

Amen

Birthday Gifts

Today is my birthday, and I decided to count the many gifts I have in my life.  To list them all would take too long, but here are some of the highlights:

• A husband who adores me and I respect more than any other person on this earth
• Two amazing children who have grown into adulthood with their faith in tact
• A son-in-law who loves my beautiful daughter as she deserves to be loved
• Born to a couple who lived their faith every day not just on Sundays
• Parents who are still married after 52 years; In-laws who are still married after 61 years
• Not just siblings I love but sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law I love, too
• A sister who is my best friend and a best friend who is my sister
• Army wives who have adopted me into their loving circle
• A church family in three different states and the many individuals I still call friends despite the geographical distance
• Facebook for helping me keep in closer touch with friends
• Health
• Creativity
• A GOD WHO LOVES ME PERSONALLY...ME!

There are no temporal gifts which can compare to these.  In honor of the last two, it is my great joy to announce I have taken a significant step toward publication of my novel.  Today, I finished the last of the edits, formatted it, and e-mailed it to one of those Army wives I'm so grateful to know who just happens to have contacts with a local publisher where she used to work as an editor's assistant.  This book may never get to your local Christian book store, but at least it's off my laptop and into the big, bad publishing world...even if it is just a baby step.

Happy Birthday to Me!
Becca

For My Friend

A couple days ago, my best friend when I was a little girl lost her precious mother.  If ever there was a woman who could light up a room just by smiling, it was Nancy.  She turned being a "homemaker" into an art, and we all loved her for it.

In keeping with the challenge over at Operation Write Home which is "For the Girls" and to use any of the other weekly challenges, I decided to use the hand stitching challenge.

I did two different types of hand stitching, both were done by paper piercing first in a straight (well, fairly straight line) free hand.  Since the rose is so pretty, I wanted something a little raw to frame it.  At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

To create the background, I white embossed the script on watercolor paper.  After spritzing it with water until the entire piece was wet, I dotted CTMH colors Desert Sand, Cherub Pink and Sorbet all around, swirling them together and making sure to edge in the brown.  I also white embossed the rose (also by CTMH but retired long ago), spritzed it, and used the same colors plus Aspen Green on the leaves.  The background paper is CTMH Desert Sand which I sponged with ink of the same color hitting the edges a little harder than the center.

The pin was a gift from my mother.  I simply added some beads I got in a huge pack at Michaels and poked it through the Cocoa ribbon.

I only secured the center of the watercolored background and let the edges curl.  The rose is mounted on foam tape at the leaves only. 

Beautiful women deserve to be remembered in beautiful ways. 

Until next time,

Becca