Show and Tell

Music & Scripture

They often go together, don't they? I love it when I'm reading my Bible and come across scripture that I know must have inspired a song that has been embedded in my brain from childhood. Like "Great is Thy Faithfulness" — Lamentations 3:21-23. Or "I Know Whom I Have Believed" — 2 Timothy 1:12. Or more recent songs like "Forever" by Chris Tomlin — Psalm 118:1 (among others...).

I have two cards for you today — both using sheet music from my stash and both following this week's Card Patterns sketch 58. You know that every time I see a sketch that incorporates small shapes I think of my collection that I punch from small, odd-shaped pieces of paper before discarding the scraps. It's hard to resist a sketch where I can use some of those!

The first card also fits in with the latest Everything But the Kitchen Sink challenge to use string (or floss or hemp or twine or...).

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The bow is made from three strands of different colored embroidery floss that has been braided. Don't think I'll be doing that very often as it took quite awhile, but I do like the effect. Especially for this soft and gentle card that seems compatible with the idea of being still and listening for God's voice.

AND TELL:  stamp is from Verve (Psalm 46:10); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Spring Moss, Vintage Cream) and Stampin' Up (Pink Pirouette); ink is PTI (Spring Moss); also used lots of items from my stash —sheet music, pre-punched circles from scraps, DMC embroidery floss in pink, green, and yellow, and a gemstone and rub-on that were both from K&Company.

The second card incorporates my current favorite color combination. Love Hawaiian Shores paired with Summer Sunrise and a bright green, especially with some red-orangey pinks mixed in.

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We adopted this verse for our son when he was in high school. It will always make me think of him, so much of the time I spent creating this card was also spent praying for Ian.

AND TELL:  stamps are from Verve (Jeremiah 29:11); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise, Vintage Cream); patterned paper is My Mind's Eye (from the Confetti collection) along with assorted scraps; ink is Stampin' Up (Green Galore) and PTI (Hawaiian Shores); also used pre-punched or die-cut shapes, ribbon from Michaels, and a K&Company flower-shaped gem.

Yesterday I promised a look at my stacks of old choir music.

 
Oh, let me show you another picture where you can get a little peek inside that box.

Yes, I have more than I could possibly use in my lifetime. Or probably in 100 lifetimes. I'd love to give it away. Maybe you'd like some?

Here's the deal, though. I can't afford to mail it all out to all of you. Would you be willing to pay for postage? I'm willing to stuff a U.S. Flat Rate envelope as full as I can get it with an assortment of music, if you're willing to send me $5.00 to cover the mailing cost. I don't want to mess with Pay Pal or anything, so can we just make this an honor system thing? (I have great faith in you and know that I won't be disappointed!) If you would like a big, fat envelope containing an assortment of old, used choir music, leave me a comment. I'll send you an e-mail to get your information and get the envelope in the mail to you. I'll do this until all the music is gone. I have a hard time imagining that there would be enough demand from my blog readers that I would run out, but I do suppose anything is possible. So, it's first come, first served.

Now — be sure to read this, too. Keep in mind that this is used music from a church choir. Because it's used, there are handwritten notes on some of it. Things like "loud" or "unison". Or portions may be circled. Or crossed out. Some people used pencils. Others used ink. Or highlighters. For the most part, these areas are easy to work around if you don't want them to show in your design. Also — keep in mind that it's from a church choir. Because of this most of the music is sacred and will have spiritual references. If that will bother you, you may want to look for music somewhere else. On the other hand, if it seems sacrilegious to you to cut up spiritual music, keep in mind that this music was on its way to the dumpster. You're helping to save the environment and give the music a new life. :)

Hopefully all that is clear. Oh — if you are out of the U.S. and still want some we'll just have to figure out the shipping cost. I'm not opposed to trying to make that work for people overseas.

And, one more thing, since Friday is my blog's first birthday I'll be announcing a little giveaway. Some music will be included with the rest of the items, but probably not as much as you'll get in that stuffed flat-rate shipping envelope. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up on that.

Questions? Just ask. And, thanks so much for stopping by for a visit. And for your sweet comments and encouragement during this first year of blogging. You make it all fun and worthwhile! See you tomorrow! 

  

Come, We That Love the Lord

Here is a card for the current Everything but the Kitchen Sink challenge; this time a sketch inspired by a display in my friend Kelley's stamp room. Great sketch, huh?

 

 

 

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As I was getting ready to post this, you know what I realized? No stamping! I didn't set out to do it that way. It just kinda happened. I guess that since I used the title of the song as the sentiment for the card I completely forgot about my stamps. Weird. But I do like the way it turned out. Uses lots of that doorprize paper from Emma's Paperie. And part of my sizable stash of old church choir music that I lucked into recently.

By the way, I positioned the bird on top of the scalloped circle in a specific way to send a little message. Can you see it? Here's how it reads with punctuation included... "Know God, Sweets."  So that's my message to you today. You can know God, Sweets. Read your Bible. Pray. Seek Him. And He will reveal Himself to you. You will know Him. There's nothing more precious. Come, we that Love the Lord. Let's praise Him for all He's done!  

AND TELL:  cardstock is from Stampin' Up (Confetti White); patterned paper is My Mind's Eye (Confetti collection); Stampin' Up's 1-1/4" circle punch, scallop circle punch, and 2-step bird punch, Papertrey Ink's large scallop border die, a green K&Co. rhinestone, and old sheet music.

Two days ago was a gorgeous Saturday with a high temperature in the 70's and beautiful Carolina blue sky. Today was mostly gray with scattered showers, wind, and a high that I don't think even reached 50. Brrrr.

But the grass is greening up, the trees are blooming, the birds are singing — and not just in my craft room. However, it does seem that I'm hopelessly caught up in a bird phase so I'm afraid you'll be seeing more in the coming days. Then I'll try to get a grip and put them away for awhile. Surely it's time to move on. Or fly on.

Thanks for coming by for a visit today. I so appreciate any time you spend here with me and love reading your comments. Hope to see you again soon!  

Whoo - La - La

This card is quite similar to yesterday's cards. Follows the same sketch. Uses the same colors and some of the same images. It was my original plan — just didn't work out quite like I wanted it to at first. So, it was back to the drawing board. And here it is now...

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Cute, yet slightly more "mature" than yesterday's cards, right? (Sorry for the sort of blurry photo. I'm still having a hard time getting good photos inside my house since the time change...) This time, instead of stamping each segment of the sketch I used a different embossing folder for each. That took a bit of orchestrating, but it is possible (just had to send the card through the Cuttlebug three separate times). Still, I was left with some of those unsightly lines from the edge of the folder — solved by moving the owl down a little further than I planned to and perching him on the sentiment label. I also was wanting the card to be all white with the front embossed — no extra layers — but since that didn't work out too well I cut off and trimmed down the card front, making it the panel that I attached to the turquoise cardstock. I'm liking the extra splash of turquoise now, so all worked out just fine.

AND TELL:  sentiment stamp is from My Favorite Things (Owls and Bluebells); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (white, Pure Poppy) and Stampin' Up (Tempting Turquoise, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa); ink is Stampin' Up (Close to Cocoa); ribbon is PTI (Sweet Blush grosgrain); gemstones are from K&Company; also used Stampin' Up's Modern Label punch, embossing folders from Provo Craft (Flower Border, Distressed Stripes) and Sizzix (Argyle #2, Large) and my new best friend, my Cricut (Storybook and Plantin Schoolbook cartridges). 

Well, today was back to work after that glorious long weekend. But, I was thinking about you. In fact, this morning I tried to take a picture of three of the cutest kids (siblings) walking into the building holding hands. Oh, it was so adorable. I knew you would love it. The five year old boy on the left. The three year old sister on the right. And the two year old brother in the center. I love pictures like that from behind! They were beautifully framed by the doors to the building. It was perfect!  I grabbed my iPhone from my pocket. Couldn't find the camera app. Finally found it. The kids were in the building. I'm following them. Took a picture of the floor. Look up. Sister is no longer holding hands. Not quite as cute but OK. Took the picture. Oops. That wasn't the right button. Instead went back to the main screen. Oh, man. They're almost to the classrooms. Camera up. Another picture of the floor. {sigh} I really need to learn how to use my phone. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you've had a great day! I plan to be back tomorrow. See you then!

Puppy Dots

and an owl.

I wanted to make sure I didn't miss another Everything but the Kitchen Sink challenge. And I wanted to make some Valentines to send to Winter's collection for St. Jude Hospital. (Read about it here. Well, as I was looking for that post I read this one. The St. Jude goal was met so cards are now being sent to Texas Children's Hospital. Isn't the card-making community wonderfully generous?!)

  

 

 

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That's the owl. Here are the pups. Which is your favorite? (You can click on them to make them bigger.) I kind of like the weiner dog. But Fifi the poodle has attitude.

   

Instead of layers of cardstock for each area of the sketch, I stamped different sized polka dots to delineate each section. I decided to stick with the polka dot theme with the embossed strips and the ribbon. Fifi was yipping for polka dot ribbon. :) Had to talk her out of a bow, though. The cards are supposed to be gender neutral. Not sure I accomplished that, but I tried. Sort of. 

All of them are stamped "Happy Valentine's Day" inside — with one exception. That last puppy? His card says, appropriately, "Smile". And those wiggle eyes? I bet they're at least 15 years old. Never know what you'll find in the far reaches of your closet. Well, that's true for my closet anyway.

AND TELL:  stamps are from Papertrey Ink (Background Basics: Hearts, Polka Dot Basics, Blooming Button Bits, Mega Mixed Messages, Everyday Classics, Vintage Picnic Sentiments, Heart Prints); cardstock is PTI (white, Pure Poppy), Stampin' Up (Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Tempting Turquoise), and Creative Memories (Metallic Gold); ink is Stampin' Up (Pretty in Pink, Real Red); also used the Paper Pups, Plantin Schoolbook, and Storybook Cricut Cartridges, Spots & Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon and very old wiggle eyes from Michaels. Oh, and clear Kaiser gemstones.

So, I haven't done cards for a "cause" before. If you have, do you write a message inside or leave them blank? I was thinking of writing something like, "Love from North Carolina". What do you think? Not very personal, but I have a hard enough time writing to people I know, much less those I don't... Especially when there is to be no reference to the recipient being sick or in the hospital. Any thoughts and ideas are welcome! Hopefully just the puppy (and owl) cards will cheer them up. Those wiggle eyes are a little goofy. (And, yep, you guessed it... Fifi refused to have eyes that wiggle. She'd rather have no eyes at all.)

That's it for now. It's Monday night. The regular Monday night company is here. Dinner (Cream of Broccoli Soup and Chicken Sandwiches) is over and cleaned up. She's knitting. Ken has a bad cold and is sniffling in the chair. I'm trying to finish this post up during commercials while we're watching 24. Just when one disaster is averted another arises. Hooked for another season...

Thanks for stopping by today. It's always good to "see" (hear from) you!

hello

Remember me? I'm Janelle. The not-so-good blogger — at least, as of late.

Things are crazy, busy around here. Good crazy. Good busy. Of course, Thanksgiving preparations are underway. Here is the first thing I did to get ready for the holiday.

I know — weird. (Hang on — a card is coming eventually.) But, if you've ever spent time at our house, you know that we never have enough spoons. Where they disappear to, I'm not sure. (Maybe the same place the single socks go?) We were down to five. Five spoons. Even with only two people in the house, that barely gets you through a day. Two bowls of cereal, two bowls of ice cream and you've depleted your supply. Heaven help you if you both want a little yogurt for a snack. So, when we counted up how many people were coming for Thanksgiving (20!) — five spoons was not going to cut it. I found this set at Sam's Club. Twelve placesettings, serving utensils, and 24 (yes — 24!!!) teaspoons. SOLD! It was worth every penny of the $50+ that I paid. The pleasure I get when I open the silverware drawer is indescribable!

Now, here's a card for you.

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This sweet little card (3" square) is for my dear mother-in-law who flew in this afternoon from Florida. So good to see her! She has spent many Thanksgiving weekends with us and we're so happy to have her here again. I didn't take a picture of the card's inside, but it has a slightly smaller white square of cardstock with the bottom edges rounded. In the center is the same wreath in the same color, just stamped off once to make it light enough to be in the background behind our written message.

Almost forgot — this is also for the Everything but the Kitchen Sink challenge, their third (I think) challenge, but their first sketch challenge. This is the first time I've been able to participate so I'm very excited about that! And, isn't that a great sketch?! I can see me coming back to this one from time to time. 

AND TELL:  stamps are from Papertrey Ink (2009 Autumn Tags, Mega Mixed Messages); cardstock is PTI (True Black, New Leaf, Stampers Select White); patterned paper is from Making Memories; ink is PTI (New Leaf, True Black); gemstones are Kaiser (black, purchased through PTI); also used Stampin' Up 1-3/4" circle punch and EK Success 2" scallop circle punch. 

Here's another little story for you. My husband can sweet talk his way into almost anywhere — including through airport security. His niece and her family were flying through Charlotte at about the same time as his mom was arriving. When we got to the airport he batted his eyes asked politely at the ticket counter, and the nice lady gave us gate passes. Believe it or not, they were arriving 4 gates apart within 10 minutes of each other. How perfect was that?

We were able to walk them to their next gate and spend a few minutes just chatting. Such an unexpected blessing!

One more picture. A perk of working in a preschool.

Possibly the cutest turkey I've ever eaten seen.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope to post again tomorrow. See you then!