Merry Christmas

Hi!
    Just a quick note to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Best Wishes and Blessings to all.

A way to stitch the Sistine Chapel that works for me.  An inexpensive quilting frame from the craft store.  Used a coupon, of course.  Longer dowels added, and the dowels are sanded very smooth.  The bags are to hold the fabric so it doesn't rest on the floor.  I cut the handles, stitched on velcro so the bags come on and off easily and I can get the handles of the bags around the top frame without undoing all the hardware.

Frame with the fabric.  I stitch "in hand" so I only use the frame to hold the weight not to keep the fabric at a certain tension level.   I can pull up a chair and stitch, or pull the top frame off and stitch in the recliner, the frame still holds the weight of the fabric off my hands and off the floor.

Floss needed just for scene 4.  4 cards of colored floss, lots of blended threads.  3 more floss cards for the borders, skin tones and such that are repeated through most of the entire piece.  Then 5 needle holder cards that hold filled needles ready to stitch.  I took scissors and added extra cuts so the card holds twice as many needles as the manufacture provided.

Sistine Chapel. Scene 5

Hi. Finally some reportable progress on this piece. I started in the center with Scene 5. The Creation of Eve is done. Next is Scene 4 the Creation of Adam. I am working on the border. Many more scenes to go. It is a fun piece to work on. Especially since I have been to the Sistine Chapel.

Scene 5, the Creation of Eve

2nd set of 100 cards in 100 days

Hi!
   I have some cards I made to add to my collection.  I have stamped, scrapped or crafted, except for a bit of stitching since June 15th.  I did have a good reason, our oldest son got married, and since neither he nor his lovely bride had lived on their own before, we were helping them set up the apartment and stuff.  Not to mention all the pre-wedding prep.  So, I finally have time to catch up.

John & Sarah and their cake.  The words were done with my Cricut Cake.  The cake was made by a dear friend

Reminds me of when I used to go to the beach growing up

One can never have enough birthday cards to send to friends and loved ones

1st 100 cards in 100 days post

Hi!


Over on the Split Coast Stampers website, MindyKid posted a challenge, to make 100 cards in 100 days.  No specific designs or deadlines.  Just a goal to use what we have, and limit shopping trips if possible.

So I did some work, I just love this idea. I'm doing the old, haven't been used in a very long time Stampin' Up! sets, as a way to get collection of blank cards.

Disclaimer - I am a former SU demo, I started in 1995, I've amazed a huge collection of SU stamps as well as stamps from other companies. I stopped being a demo 7 years ago, and I haven't bought many stamps since then.  I like the idea of getting the old sets out, dusting them off and playing.

So, the sets I am showing are very old, probably no longer available or ridiculously high on E-Bay. I am not posting names, because the sets are just that old.

 Thanks for looking

Brayered background using Kaliedacolor Ink Pads

Misc. cards

Embossed background and a stamped background

Betsy the Beekeeper SU set.  Stamped background

Hi!
Okay, I can't resist a challenge.  A lady posted a question about how to put words in a circle.  So I came up with this.  Turns out I completely got her request wrong, but she liked what I did.  She was looking for words cut stencil style inside a solid circle.  I learned how to do that too, always fun.


I used the words Summer Day 3 times. I welded Summer by itself and then Day by itself.

I used George and Basic Shapes for the letters and the circles. The letters are cut at 1", the circle is 7.5 inches and 6.75 inches.

I picked up the dolphins and anchor from Life's a Beach, because I wanted to have something between the words, but it's not necessary. Sizes are 1 inch or less, adjusted to fit the space.

So what I did was pick the 7.5 circle. Then I put in the words Summer Days and welded them to the big circle. I fiddled with that for quite a while to get them around the circle. Once I got one set done, I copied it 2 more times and worked it around the rest of the circle.


Then I went in and copied the entire piece to another mat layer and took out the two circles. I decided I wanted the words Summer Days in different colors and to over lay them on the welded circle.

Next I added the dolphins and anchors. I adjusted them to fit the space and welded them in.

Make sure everything is grouped together so everything moves as one piece. And SAVE, SAVE, SAVE, save after every two or 3 things you do.

Then I copied the dolphins and anchors to another mat. That way they were sized to fit the adjusted size on the main welded circle and letters.

I noticed that one Summer and one Day is not on the circle, and on the top letters I noticed 2 s's weren't connected. I have eyes that are over 50 and I didn't put my glasses on. I will adjust this later.

Cut from white card stock

Finished, colored with pencils, just a quick

 test piece

A Finish, The Next Piece, and an Update

Hi!
   I finished Native Wolf  Trio kit by Dimensions, 4 or so years ago a lady was giving away some of her stash and sent this to me, I've forgotten her name, but I did thank her back then.  So it's done, our Son will keep it in his room






Now, I'm working on this popular kit, Leonardo.  Not a lot of progress, I put it aside a while ago, and since I'm still not moving around a lot, I've picked this piece up.  It's not a purse project, so it's a good sitting around project.  I also have Frederick the Literate and Maggie the Mess Maker in my stash to work on.

As for the surgery, I'm recovering.  I'm not as mobile as I'd like to be.  It will be 4 weeks this Friday, and I have permission to start standing on my foot and letting it bear my weight.  Note to self, time to seriously get on with losing weight.  I should be able to start walking a bit with the boot and crutches later today and slowly build up strength.  I'm to quit when it hurts.

Other than that, all is well, I've been out and about some, gone to our DD's track meets, church and some shopping which has been nice.  I've even successfully driven a motorized cart at Wal Mart.  That was kind of nice to go where I wanted and not where I was pushed to.  The family has been great about helping and doing, I have no complaints, only thanks.

Today's the Big Day

Hi!
   Well, a lot has happened since my last post.  My Achilles Tendon is not improving, so surgery is set for today.  I am not supposed to put any weight on my foot for several weeks, and after 6 weeks have passed I should be able to wear shoes again.  Yeah!!!  No more boot.

   Stitching progress.  I finished Noah's Sub, it looks very nice.  I am almost done on "The Pledge of Allegiance."  I only have the border to stitch which is a pattern of red, white and blue Syrian Cross or Algerian Eyelet stitches.  Since I will be home for a time recovering, the family set up a frame that works around a wheel chair so I can watch movies and stitch on the Sistine Chapel piece I'm working on. 

   Stamping, Scrap Booking and Cricut.  With some extra time off before the surgery, I was able to rearrange my craft area.  Things I use often were lowered and all the cabinets and cupboards were reorganized and labeled.  This will allow me to get to stuff easier.  My plan is to work on making lots of blank cards for future use.  Getting some layouts done and just using the time to try some new techniques or card styles.

     Since I can't walk or drive I will be housebound, and I'm planning on stitching and crafting as much as I can. 

   My family has been a big help in getting things ready, we know this will be a very interesting recover process.  I have faith and I am assured all will go well.

Be Well.

    That's the happenings so far.