Our Unknown Future

  None of us know what our futures hold, do we?  One minute your house or loved one is safe, and the next....well, unfortunately, so many have sad, sad accounts they have just experienced.  How can anyone not have fear right now, with everything going on in our world.
  Have you heard of Corrie Ten Boom?  Do a search on her...she lived quite a life.  I just recently finished "The Hiding Place".  Talk about a comforting message she has to share!  Despite all she had gone through, she still managed to have peace and hope.  We all need that peace in our hearts, don't we?  Hence her quote, beautifully captured by ODBD .  It reminds us of WHO is in charge and WHO DOES know what our futures will bring.

   I love this quote; I love that it is from Corrie Ten Boom; and I love that it is so fitting for us, right now, in light of the fears we have. I was motivated by Our Daily Bread's On Assignment Challenge 33, which calls for paper piercing. I did a little of it here and managed not to poke myself. Aren't you proud? :)

 

  If you look at the the black leaves, you will see my minor attempt at this craft.  It's kind of fun, really.  I am new to "serious" stamping, and you might be also.  Serious, meaning, I actually try to stamp an image MORE THAN ONCE (shocker :) ) to get it right. 

  In case you didn't know (I didn't, until one blog was nice enough to mention it-sorry, there are so many nice ones I don't remember who), there is a piercing tool for this technique.  I am pretty sure mine was under $4.  It has a wooden handle, which is easier to hold on to than a needle, I am sure.  I HAVE poked my fingers with the dull, HIND end of a needle before. Sooooooo not fun, as you can imagine (or remember :) ).

   

   I'd like to add that my trendy daughter Mallory was the inspiration for the colors in this card.  The backdrop is her pillow and my card is sitting on her dresser. 

               This is her desk.  See her Hot Pink wall? 

  

   It was her idea to get "French Provincial" furniture which is usually white, and paint it black.  How cool is that?  What is even cooler?  We were able to buy all her furniture pieces for under $100.  We didn't just paint them, we SPRAY painted them, with Rusto-oleum spraypaint (black satin). I read that it could be done.  It can!  Only warning - when buying older stuff...keep it OUTSIDE until you have cleaned it properly.  You should treat any hint of mold with clorox...it's not worth introducing that nastiness to your house. 

Also to share...there is a party going on at Joyful Stampers Inspire Me Fridays.  Check it out!

  Thank you so much for visiting me today and may God bless you and grant you His peace.

Stamp Supplies:

Stamp:ODBD

Other: SU lattice die (cut in half and I used the little pieces left over as leaves); Sizzix Sizzlets Flowers, Branches, Leaves, random button, Bazzil Basics piercing tool (comes in holder...safe to store), Fiskar's Rotary Trimmer with scallop blade

Ink: Versamark, black embossing powder

I Love Gerbera Daisies!

  This project made me fall for gerbera daisies!  I decided to share it when I stumbled on Joyful Stampers' Inspire Me Fridays. I constructed centerpieces and favors for my sister's baby shower awhile ago. I knew I had to go practical, because my sister is practical.

     I found the ribbon first at a local craft store and built upon it.  For a whole month, all I could think about were these gorgeous flowers.  
  As for the construction of the diaper cake, the Diaper Cake Tutorial was helpful.  Basically, you use clear rubber bands (genius!) to secure each diaper into a roll.  Then, you use larger rubber bands to secure them all together (section by section and then combined).  You then use the ribbon to hide the rubber bands.  I shrink wrapped the centerpiece, because I knew this would soon cover my future niece's precious little bottom!

    The favors were made with a Sizzix flower card die.  Here is a closeup of the favor:

     I embossed the yellow copy paper first (sizzix texture plates) and then die cut it with my Big Shot.  Embossing seems to add strength to paper.  I then cut out a transparent layer to lend some support also.  See the little bag that is sandwiched in the middle?  I filled it with some party mints and used a silver twistie tie to secure it. The little white bow hides the tie.

     Since I live almost a continent away from my sister, I couldn't make it to her shower.  Perhaps that is why it was so important for me to do this for her.  Isn't that why many of us craft our hearts out?  It is an extension of our love. 
     Speaking of love,thank you for taking the time to visit!