A little prayer..........

This is a little prayer or verse I've been using over the last few weeks that has really helped me. You'll probably have to click on it to enlarge it enough to read it. I think it is from St. John the Baptist de la Salle. Maybe someone else out there could use it as well.

I really am still among the living!

I know, I know....more than a week since I posted. But here's a little valentine from me to you. This was cut from a Sizzix Bigz die sold by AC Moore called Scallop Card. It's really big and holds all sorts of possibilities for layers and folds. I did two layers on this one using SU Bella Rose paper which was sponged with Red Riding Hood Red ink on the edges. Then I took a manila tag, covered it with more Bella Rose and some grosgrain ribbon. The letters are Tim Holtz grungeboard and after stamping with RRHR and Certainly Celery I glued them on and topped them off with Tim Holtz Distress Stickles in Peeled Paint and Worn Lipstick. I LOVE these Stickles. They're not as glittery looking when dry but have kind of a dull sparkle. Kewl! My daughter gave me the whole set for my birthday!!! Did everyone get what they wanted from Santa? I got an ATG gun, 3 sets of Nesties, a punch, three sets of stamps (two from Papertrey), as well as other non stamping gifts. Santa was good. For those of you who have been asking, my brother has a collapsed lung and pneumonia. He just can't gain any ground. He's coming up on six weeks in ICU and we're really going nowhere. He's so weak. Thanks for your prayers and kind thoughts.

Let's Move On......

Maybe you are still into Christmas but I am just soooo past this holiday season it isn't funny. With my brother still gravely ill, I could care less. The news on that front is so bad I don't even want to discuss it. So in that spirit, I have done a little Valentine number here. CS is SU Red Riding Hood Red and DP is SU Bella Rose. This combo is such a nice fresh look I think. The punched border is Martha Stewart and the big brad is one of those bridal brads from Michael's I talked about a few posts back. The sentiment stamp is from SU All Holidays and the bunny stamp has no markings on it, so sorry. I used the SU scalloped square punch behind the sentiment and the ribbon is from Elements from JoAnn's I think. I love it because the checks are so tiny. I hope you all have a very blessed and peace-filled Christmas!

Virtual Stamp Club

With the new catalogue issue on January 18 getting closer and closer I was wondering if I could interest any one in joining my virtual stamp club. You will get a free copy of the catalog for joining. All you need to do is spend $25 a month before shipping and handling for six months. You acquire some nice supplies that won't strain your pocketbook and one of those six months you get to be the hostess and win free stamps and products. If you are interested, drop me an email at primitiveseasons@comcast.net for more information. I just need two or three more people to get started. It's a lot of fun and a great way to build your "stash!" Give it a try!

Shaker Gift Box

For those of you who have the SU Sizzix Big Shot, this is just the coolest thing! I found this Sizzix die called Shaker Box at a local craft store. It is one of the Bigz dies meaning that the die is approx 6 x 13". You have to have the special elongated cutting pads to use this on your machine. The box itself is one piece. When you cut it out, the score lines are shown and all you have to do is fold and add some sticky tape to hold it together. If you use a double sided paper like this K&Co. Christmas Cheer, it looks just as nice on the inside as the outside. The only complaint I have, and you can see it on the open box, is that when folded this paper shows the white core a little. A pet peeve of mine! I found that six Hershey nuggets fit nice in the box but you could also use M&M's, kisses, small candies, a piece of jewelry, paper tags, etc. I am sure you can come up with lots of things that would go. The finished size of the box is 3 x 3 x 5/8" deep. You use a 2.5" square of acetate to cover the opening in the lid. Then you can add a stamped sentiment as I did on the inside or outside of the box. I used Punches Three embossed in gold on watercolor paper and cut it out with the scalloped square punch from SU. I then closed the lid and tied with some Michael's glitzy ribbon. Quite a nice presentation for a co-worker, friend, family member, stocking stuffer, etc. And think of all the occasions you could use this box for....Valentine Day, Halloween treats, Christmas, Easter, etc. The die makes the box making so quick and easy!

If you don't have a Big Shot machine, contact me for a special price on one if you order before Christmas. I have to tell you, it will revolutionize your papercrafting. There are just soooo many neat things to do with this machine and so many nifty dies out now. It's a solid machine and will last a looooong time! Enjoy!

Christmas Night in the Swamp

I'm not totally thrilled with this card. It didn't turn out as I expected. The star is too stark. Anyway, I brayered on SU Not Quite Navy, , Brocade Blue and Bordering Blue on Whisper White CS. I used a MS star punch as a mask while I did the brayering. Then I stamped the grasses from SU Inspired by Nature, added some lines with the Versamark pen, added Heat and Stick, heated with the heat gun and then Diamond Dust glitter. Used the small and medium punch with a sentiment in Not Quite Navy from Verve Visual Winter Wonder. Lastly, I added some Crystal Stickles.

My brother had a bad weekend but finally had his feeding tube inserted in the stomach yesterday. He was pretty good today, wanting to go home. Little does he know a rehab facility for acute stroke lies between him and home. He has a long way to go and is so beaten back by everything that has happened. I pray for some forward progress and a merciful solution to all of this mess. Thanks to all for your prayers and encouragement.

Cream/White/Gold Elegance

A quick post and card today then I'm off to the hospital, day 19, and things are not going well. But about the card.....I used both cream and white on this card and the gold. It is SU Very Vanilla background then the DCWV gold metallic embossed with the CB snowflakes folder. I then cut the CB large snowflake out and put in on with a big dimensional and this really cool brad in the center (more about those in a sec). Added a few accents of Gold Stickles on the big snowflake. Then I touched up the gold background with some Liquid Pearl accents and added some Michaels $1 spool ribbon in a creamy white. Also shown here is a picture of the package of 40, YES 40!!! brads I found in the Michael's Bridal dept. You just never know. Only $3.99 and with my coupon even less. Run and get yourself some! Hope everyone has a good day. It's 22 degrees here. Brrrrr!

FINALLY!

My brother had a pretty good day yesterday and I had started dinner in the crockpot before I left in the morning so I had a little time. I am dedicating this card to you, my readers, who have been hanging in there for the last two weeks. I had a terrible time with this card....it was like I was out of practice but I got this set from Our Daily Bread Designs for my birthday and was dying to use it. It's stamped on watercolor paper and I used SU Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, and Bashful Blue as well as a touch of SU designer paper. The border is a MS punch. I also used Perfect Pearls. These colors are very restful and peaceful. I guess that's what I'm craving now. John's speech is getting better but we still have trouble understanding. No progress with the left side at all and they still haven't implanted the feeding tube in the stomach. He's had some belly pain off and on and they are watching that. He's very discouraged, tired of this whole deal, wants to go home. But he will need further therapy at a stroke rehab first, something he hasn't been told yet. Please continue your prayers and kind thoughts. They are such a comfort.

Blogging Award

My wonderful friend Diane at http://www.nelliesnest.blogspot.com/ gave me a Helpful Blogger Award and some very kind words on her blog regarding my family situation. Thanks my friend!

We are getting conflicting reports from the doctors about how much of his abilities my brother will recover. His speech isn't too bad and he's actually quite funny and sweet. Stroke takes away your inhibitions and emotions you never displayed before come out. Physical therapists are working with him and he was moved from the coronary ICU to the regular ICU but like a baby, he still has his days and nights mixed up!

I long to get back to posting something, anything, but just can't find the time or energy. All my toys are sitting idle and I got some new things for my birthday. They will have to wait a little longer and I hope my readers will stick with me a little longer. I appreciate your concern and prayers more than I can say.

Update

Not too much good news to report. My brother's speech is not very good and he is very tired, not able to sleep well. No wonder! They are trying to get the central line out of his neck so they put one in the arm yesterday. Speech was worse, left side still paralyzed, very weak. It was a hard day. He says he wants to give up. It is the most terrible feeling to stand there and be totally helpless and unable to do anything for him. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers. I will stay in touch.

Update

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Today they took the breathing tube out of my brother and he can speak. His speech is very slurred but he knows his name, he knew me, he told me he didn't feel good, said the word "headache" and asked for his daughter. He has absolutely no memory of what has happened....the heart attack, the surgery, nothing. I went over and over it as he seemed so puzzled, like he couldn't believe it, but he was much calmer when I left. He is paralyzed on the left side but the nurses are hopeful he will get all of it back with therapy. His lungs are congested and they are working on that and he had dialysis today and yesterday. This is the best birthday present anyone could have given me! I will try to get back to posting after the holiday but right now I must be with him. He's still not out of the woods but this is the first positive sign we have had.

Family News

Very sad news for me tonight. My brother has had a serious stroke. He had a large blood clot in the brain that they found on CAT scan. He is waking up more and more so that they will be able to access just what damage there is. He apparently has limited motion on the left side but we won't know until they remove the ventilator, maybe tomorrow, if he can speak or not. As a sad twist of fate, his poor heart is doing beautifully. The pump is out and it's functioning on its own. Thank you all for your prayers.

Glitz, Glamour and Sparkle

These cards were all made with Outlines Rubber Stamp #H228. Just by stamping on different colors of cs, cutting out layers and building each star, you can get so many different looks. I added Stickles to all of them and different embellishments to the fronts of each card. Be sure to click for a closer view.

I cut out all of these while sitting in the hospital waiting room since Thursday at 2 a.m. My brother was rushed in with a serious coronary. He's been on dialysis for 3 years and a heavy smoker for life. He was in terrible shape. The next day he had quadruple coronary bypass at 8 and was taken back to the operating room that evening to stop some bleeding. Now he's not moving his left arm and they are worried about a stroke. They will remove his balloon pump which is beating for the heart today and try to get him for a CAT scan of the brain. So f ar he hasn't even woke up sufficiently to know if he even knows us. I don't usually talk about personal stuff on the blog. I like it to be about papercrafting but I am asking for just a quick prayer from any of my readers. His name is John. They have only given him a 50-50 chance of making it. I sure would appreciate it. Thank you all.

Sweet Card

Another really simple card done on Real Red cs and the DP is K&Co. Christmas Cheer. Sort of reminds me of an old calico print! The borders are done on Very Vanilla with a MS scalloped lace punch. The snowflake is the Cuttlebug Combo Die Snowflake cut from cream colored wool felt! I carefully applied Zip Dry Glue with it's nice pointy tip to all the little snowflake points and glued it down. Then for the finale I added Crystal Stickles on the snowflake. Click to enlarge to get a good look at the Stickles. Kind of an old fashioned card I think!

Another New Die

Today I received another backordered die from Stampin' Up! called the scalloped envelope die. Now I know you're thinking that this box doesn't look anything like an envelope. The box is made from four of the die cuts and the scalloped edge is folded to the outside (that would be the envelope flap ordinarily). It's filled with Hershey nuggets which didn't show in the picture and I used the Martha Stewart fence punch for the border and To You and Yours and Punches Three for the two stamped images. The box was done in SU Not Quite Navy. When completed the box measures approx. 3.5" square and 2.25" high. You can also leave the flaps up for a taller box or tie ribbon around. I just wanted to the use MS punch because I think it's so cute and appropriate for many seasons.

Top Note Snowman

OK, first off I can't take credit for this idea. I first saw it on Stampin by the Sea's blog but she gave no directions. So I did my own thing and I'll be glad to tell you how I did it.

Supplies: SU cardstock Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Really Rust and Summer Sun. SU Top Note Die, one inch square punch, 1/2 and 3/4 circle punches, star punch. Versamark, Heat and Stick powder, SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter, adhesive, Basic Grey ink.

1. Cut one Top Note die from Whisper White and another from Basic Black. Trim the top of the Basic Black straight across but follow the curve of the corners and trim straight down the sides. The top of the hat should be approx. 3" top to bottom, so you are trimming off the bottom of the black top note die.

2. Glue the black top and the white bottom together then cut a 1" by 4" black strip for the brim and adhere to the top and bottom.

3. Eyes are done with the 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches. The whites are sponged on the edges with Basic Grey ink. Glue down the eyes approx. 1 1/2" from the bottom point of the white Top Note.

4. Punch a star from Really Rust and trim off one point, straight off. Sponge edge with Basic Grey and adhere to face.

5. Cut a 1" square from Real Red for the hat buckle. Then you can do one of two things. Cut a smaller square from the center or use a small black square to make it appear the center is cut out. Glue this down on the hat brim.

6. For embellishment you can use any flower die or a snowflake die. I used a Cuttlebug flower, a 1/2" punched center from Summer Sun and freehanded two leaves. All these were sponged on the edge with Basic Grey. It just gives them definition.

7. Finale! Sponge Versamark, then Heat and Stick powder wherever you want the glitter to be. Heat, then apply glitter. It's kind of a hit and miss thing but I think you could control it better if you sponged on the versamark. I just used the pad.

You can then use your snowman on a cardfront as I have or on the top of a tin or box, as a tree ornament, etc. So many ways to use this. I thought after I took the picture that I should rosy his cheeks with some Real Red, very lightly.

Enjoy! If you have any questions, just let me know. WOW! I guess I just did my first tutorial!!!

Finally......my Top Note Die!

I ordered it late, then it was backordered but it's finally here. Stampin' Up! hit a gold mine when they designed this die. It's wonderful and can be used for so many things......bag toppers (folded in half), labels, journaling, cards, scrapbooks, frames, etc. I just did this simple card to try it out. Background is SU Chocolate Chip cs, Dp is SU Ski Slope and I used two SU oval punches for the sentiment which is from Verve Visual's Winter Wonder set. The snowflake is the Cuttlebug Combo Die. I diecut this from a thin coaster I had, stamped it with Versamark, then dipped it face down in SU Heat and Stick powder, heated it, then in SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I popped it up on a dimensional and there you have it. I sure hope when the new catalogue comes out in January, SU comes up with some more wonderful dies like this one. I'm off to play!

Triangle Fold

I had to try this triangle or tea bag fold that has been floating around the blogosphere lately. There are so many beautiful samples on SCS so check them out. This background is SU Chocolate Chip and the folded thing itself is from SU Ski Slope and is one piece of paper, both sides are used. The scalloped circle behind it is from my Nesties. The sentiment mounted on the Large Punched Oval is from SU Upsy Daisy. This is not a hard fold to do. It took me a bit to figure out how to get it together. It only uses 8 two inch squares. Directions can be found on SCS. Give it a try. It looks wonderful in Christmas colors too.

Snowman Soup

This was hard to photograph because the plastic bag was giving off some shine. These were fun to make and went together very quickly and are not expensive to do. I used cardstock from the scrapbasket. Stamp is an old one by Inkadinkadoo. I colored the image just a little and added stickles for some bling. The Snowman Soup poem is on the back side of the topper. Inside the bag is a packet of cocoa mix, Hershey Kisses, marshmallows and a candy cane. Directions for these can be found on http://chicnscratch.typepad.com/stampinacademy/2008/11/snowman-soup.html . Thanks Angie! There are several ways to do this . I wanted to use the Top Note die from SU but unfortunately it is not arriving here until tomorrow and I was in the mood for these today. Such a nice stocking stuffer, or gift for the lady at the bank or the hairdresser or a neighbor who does favors for you. Make yourself a dozen!

Inchies!

Hi there! Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I finally had time to sit down and test out my new "inchie" stamps from Inkadinkadoo. This is the Winter Wonderland set, or three stamps from the set which has 23 stamps in it, most of them just one inch square. The cs is SU Very Vanilla and the dark green is Garden Green. Images were stamped in Garden Green and I embellished with a metal snowflake with a metallic red brad in the center. These little stamps are going to be lots of fun and they come in lots of different themes. They're only $10 a set which I think is a good deal especially if you get to use a coupon. I bought mine on ebay but they should be in the stores soon. Enjoy!