Over the last two weeks I’ve had the “opportunity” to exercise my creative juices in non-card making ways! We have a very nice outdoor area off of the lower level of our home. There is a seating area and a hot tub. Last year we put up curtains to give us a little protection from the wind in the winter and provide a bit of privacy. Often times the wind will blow the curtains around and in a strong wind they end up twisting and turning. We wanted a way to add weight to the curtains so a couple months ago , my husband, Matt, went shopping for outdoor material to add a bottom edge pocket.
Matt’s mom was a seamstress, not by trade but by talent. She created a variety of works of art over the years. One of my favorites was a set of banners that hung in our church. Her banners hung in the church celebrating many of the observances of the church calendar but of all of those banners the ones I loved the most were the ones that hung on the day Matt and I were married. They were beautiful and truly showed her skill! We still have some of her beautiful works in our home today. In fact we still use the comforters she made for Matt during high school and college as throws. One had Matt’s high school logo on it and the other was a Bowling Green State University comforter. I am envious of the talent she had for creating. Unfortunately she lost her battle with Alzheimer’s Disease at a very young age (in her 60’s) back in 2010. At that time Matt’s dad graciously gave me her faithful sewing machine. Over the years I have used it to create various gifts and home decor and to sew up the random clothing item that needed repair.
Unfortunately, after Matt and I bought the material and I attempted to begin the curtain project and I ran into an issue with the machine. I took it in for repair but the machine was very old and the part that was broken and need to be replaced was no longer available. I was forced to purchase a new machine. As sad as I was to let go of this machine that had made so many beautiful things that came from the loving heart of the woman who gave life to my husband (and I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I shed tears over letting it go), having a well-functioning machine really has breathed new life into my creative desire to sew again!
As soon as I unpacked my new sewing machine from the box (and watched the DVD that came with it- yes, I did! ) I got right to sewing the pocket edge. It took me a little bit of planning and designing to figure out how to create a pocket that we could easily add additional weights to. We didn’t know how many weights we would need to keep the wind from whipping the curtains around so we needed to design something that wouldn’t require us taking the curtain down. I was very happy with our final product! I even sewed tiebacks for the curtains with leftover material.
This past week I’ve sewn more than I did in all of 2017! I replaced broken zippers on two porch swing cushions, created a cover for a wicker love seat cushion for my sister’s porch and finished the week by creating a slip cover for the ottoman and 4 arm rests covers for the two couches in the cottage! ( I am nowhere near the seamstress my mother-in-love was so no judgement on the next set of pictures). It has felt very good to flex these creative muscles! It has even inspired me to add a bit more stitching on my cards! *** My creative gene comes from my own mother who is an exceptionally talented seamstress, knitter, quilter, and needle pointer!
I hope you find a way to express your creativity this week!
When was the last time your received a handmade card? How did it make you feel? Do you love it as much as I do? I want to give that feeling to others. I don’t know a person who doesn’t love getting mail that isn’t a bill, an advertisement, or information from the school. For a person who loves to stamp and make cards, I do not send as many cards as I should. I absolutely LOVE to get them! A card or note from a friend says “I’m thinking of you” and “you matter to me”. Who doesn’t love to feel remembered, thought of, and cared for?
There are two reasons I don’t send the cards. It seems I have a lot of “thinking of you” and “you are a great friend” cards. And while I should send more of those, the ones I need to send I don’t have on hand. Unfortunately, lately I’ve needed sympathy cards! I have a lot of cards but just not the right ones. The second reason is that, even when I have the right card, I often overthink what I want to write in it. Sometimes it keeps me from writing out the card in a timely manner. My hope is that you will join me in committing to send more cards! Join me in this 5 week challenge!
Week 1: Create two Thinking of You cards. Send one to a friend that you have know since you were young. This could be your oldest friend or someone that has come to mind when thinking about the people you’ve know since you were young.
Week 2: Create two Encouragement cards. Send one now to someone who needs a little pick me up. Look around! I’m sure you will quickly find someone who needs a kind word. You don’t have to be best friends with this person to impact his/her life in a positive way.
Week 3: Create two Birthday cards. Send one to someone who has a birthday during this next couple weeks. Try to pick a person to whom you may not ordinarily send a birthday card.
Week 4: Create two Anniversary cards. Send one to a special couple in your life. Write them out, address them, place stamps on them. They will be ready to go. All you have to do is put them in the mail at the right time.
Week 5: Create two Congratulations cards. Send one to someone who should be celebrated for an accomplishment, big or small!
Keep those extra cards handy for occasions that come up! Every time you create a card, make two! Designing the card is usually what takes the most time. Take advantage of all that thinking and planning and make multiples.
There is so much pain in this world. Some is broadcast on the national news. Some is hidden deep down in the depth of our souls. When I get overwhelmed with feeling like there is nothing I can do, I focus on what is in my power to change. Sending out cards to those in your life is one way to impact the your world. Who needs a card right now? Is there a person in your life who needs to know you are praying for them? Has a friend lost a loved one? Did your neighbor get a promotion? Who can your reach out to?
Here are the cards I’m sending:
For this card I used Very Vanilla as the base, a layer and the focal image. The Eastern Palace Specialty DSP (144147 $13.00) as the background layer coordinates perfectly with the Eastern Beauty stamp set (143657 $21.00 usd). I loved the fresh look of the pattern on this piece and the Dapper Denim (141394 $6.50) and Lemon Lime Twist (144086 $6.50) made me think of spring. To create the focal point I used the Eastern Medallions Thinlits (143725 $33.00 usda) die. I stamped “a note for you” from the coordinating Eastern Beauty stamp set. This one is going to a friend I haven’t talked to in a long time! If you have thought of purchasing Dapper Denim and haven’t done it yet, don’t wait. It is going to expire at the end of May.
This one is going to a friend that I just found out is facing some really hard times and doesn’t see a silver lining in sight! I stamped the image from Mediterranean Moments stamp set (Wood-mount 143188 $28.00, clear-mount 143191 $20.00). I colored in the images using the Stampin’ Blends premier alcohol markers (p. 31 or the Occasions Catalog $4.50 per marker or $9.00 per Combo Pack. The sentiment was from Here for You (wood-mount 141541 $25.00, clear-mount 142164 $18.00) This set is also available in French.
I love the way the images pop up off the card because of the dies used on the layer. This card was made with the Eastern Medallions Thinlits (143725 $33.00 usd) and the Eastern Beauty Stamp set (143657 $21.00 usd). I used Very Vanilla for the card base and Fresh Fig as the layer. The images were stamped with Tranquil Tide (144085 $6.50), Lemon Lime Twist (144086 $6.50), and Fresh Fig (144082 $6.50) (These are part of the 2017-19 In Color collection). The images were finished off with the Pearl Basic Jewels ( 144219 $5.00). This card is going to go to one of my friends from Texas that I haven’t talked to in a while. She is a stamper and I know she’ll appreciate the card but even more the sentiment!
Tranquil Tulips is one of my new favorite stamp sets! This set is only available to those who host a gathering. (143757 $10 worth of hostess rewards). I used the eclipse technique to create the frame. Lemon Lime Twist (144086 $6.50) ink was used to create the stems of the tulips. The background of the tulips was stamped in Pink Pirouette (126956 $6.50) while the foreground is stamped in Sweet Sugarplum (141395 $6.50). The inside of the tulips is stamped in Early Espresso (126974 $6.50). This card is going to mailed to a friend of mine from Michigan that lost her mother recently. If you love Sweet Sugarplum like I do, don’t wait to purchase it. It will no longer be available after May.
I hope that you take part in whatever way you feel you can make a difference in this world! Why not send a handmade gift or card to someone who could use a little encouragement!
The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of Christy Woods as a Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator. The use of and content of classes, services or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
