Scraps from the Table

My craft desk is crazy right now...but there are lots of pretty pieces that I don't want to

squirrel away just yet.

Once they get shelved...I might never see them again!

I've got two cards that came together...

Simon Says...Keep it Clean and Simple

CASology:Week 69:Brown

BIG YAYYYY for clearing up my desk a little!!! ;)

 

 

 

Hope you get some crafty time in friends~it might just make you smile. ;)

1st Card:

stamp: Sweet 'n Sassy Precious Poppies

paper: DCWV Chickadee Stack,kraft cardstock,Studio Calico Snippets

other: Martha Stewart fringe scissors,Want2Scrap bling,American Crafts twine,Sizzix Texture Fades Woodgrain

2nd Card:

paper: Kraft cardstock,Bazzill,DCWV Chickadee Stack,Fancy Pants Swagger

stamp: Verve Be Okay Plain Jane,Papertrey Ink Happy Trails

die: Papertrey Ink Happy Trails,Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles and Scalloped Ovals

other: Tim Holtz distress tool

ink: Hero Arts Soft Cantaloupe

life IS good

Life IS good.

I believe no one celebrated that louder than Cath Edvalson

on her Moxie Fab site.

Every post brimmed with MORE than just cards and card making supplies.

Cath inspired.

Cath cared.

Cath was present.

She touched upon the truth...the secret...that we cardmaking bloggers do more than just make cards.

 We live in this world, all over the world...experiencing life through our own perceptions.

 

Our cards are more than just cards.

They are extensions of ourselves.

For many of us...they are our voice.

A mini work of art that says 

I. 

was. 

here.

For me, personally, my blog is a ministry and a place where I am more than a wife or mother.

I am a woman with a voice.

Cath recognized this.

I will forever be grateful for her inspiration, courage and huge heart.

I hope she will appear in this capacity again real soon...I want to be a part of any party she is hosting!

Here's to you Cath~you've blessed me immensely!

hugs and kisses,

marlena

Ms. D

I find it no coincidence that Ms. D, who sits behind me at Sunday service, reminds me of my Grandma.

I miss my Grandma so much!

When Ms. D squeezes my hand and tells me how much she missed me last Sunday service (the one of many I've missed lately, I'm afraid)~I really believe she means it.

It's a God thing, you know.

It's a God thing...because she doesn't have memories of me being adorable as a child to soften her heart. ;)

She loves me enough to miss me when I'm not there, and encourage me when I am.

I love that woman.

She deserves a card, don't you think?

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:Anything Goes

stamp: Verve Treasured words

dies: Our Daily Bread Designs Chickadee Die,Ellison tipsy hearts thick cuts
paper: DCWV Chickadee Stack,kraft cardstock
ink: Hero Arts Cup O' Joe

Isn't It Ironic

I made this card for a sweet friend who found out she's moving away soon.

The irony is not lost on me, considering my previous post.

I know, I know.



This is my life.

I've acquired a sense of humor over the years.

;)

I saved this fantastic rounded triangle clothing tag and repurposed it for 

Verve's Tag You're It October Diva Dare.

stamp: Verve Treasured Words

 embellishment: Little Yellow Bicycle Felt Sticker

paper: Carta Bella Hello Again,Bazzill

other: misc tag

Out on a Limb

I don't have a problem going out on a limb with crafting.

It's the only arena where I can truly HANG LOOSE.

For example,

I painted with nail polish in negative die images at the edges of this card for the

Color Media Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

I used bright colors from ColourQ Challenge #211

to create a dimensional, non-traditional colored leaf wreath for 

Make It Monday #137.

 These creative tactics I won't hesitate to try.

To me there is little risk in playing on a card.

However, this is in stark contrast to the way I enjoy friendships.

Go out on a limb, yes, but let my heart follow?

That's another matter entirely.

After all the hellos and goodbyes (with little in-betweens) we've had through my husband's military career~I'm afraid I've gotten a bit leathery in the people department.

Not because others have let me down per se,...but because I've met SO MANY wonderful people that I've had to "let go" physically.

It was heart wrenching.


It IS heart wrenching.

It never gets easy.

My military extended family and I will always share hearts because we've survived tours of change,sacrifice and pain during patriotic service.

We're strung together by those few years we shared at "X","Y", or "Z" and acted as surrogate families during major life events and holidays.

I can't count the number of different faces that changed in the birthday and thanksgiving party pictures in our stacks of physical and digital photos over a span of 20 years.

Only the McDeavitt faces stayed similar~changing slightly with age. ;)

Lately, the hardest thing, has been allowing myself (and my girlies) to freely love the civilian friends that we might live around

for. the. rest. of. our. lives.


 ~now that we are retired and "settled".

 It scares me, crafty people. ;)

However, I trust that God is doing a mighty work in my heart as I follow these civilian friendships to another level of depth that has been a long time coming.

I thank God for His immeasurable wisdom and grace in this new chapter of the Marlena novel....

I pray there will be sweet, sweet fruit!

stamps: Papertrey Ink Might Oak, Sweet 'n Sassy Season of Change

die: Sweet 'n Sassy Season of Change

ink: Papertrey Ink True Black,Memento (Rose Bud,Tangelo,Pear Tart)

media: Nail Polish,Copic marker black

Thank You and Blessed

With the Mighty Oak die out....

I created a thank you card with a stacked felt sticker for the

Ready-Made Embellishment Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

Here's a second card that I purposely created all melancholy-like with a dash of shine.

I've had this coarse Christmas glitter for over TEN years!


A sprinkle of glitter adds a little ray of hope for the

General Craft Supply Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

You don't have to light up the whole card or an entire room, for that matter...to be a blessing.


Many times it's in the darkest moments that we recognize the hand of God and His grace in our lives.


The littlest act of kindness or love can be a blessing, dear friends.



Thank you for stopping by~it blesses me!

First Card

stamp: Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages

 ink: Memento Ink Lilac Posies

paper: My Mind's Eye Everyday Flair,Bazzill

 embellishment: Little Yellow Bicycle Felt Stickers

dies: Papertrey Ink Mighty Oak,Spellbinders Wonky Rectangles

 Second Card

paper: Inner cover of Authentique Renew 6X6,Teresa Collins Everyday Moments,Carta Bella Hello Again,Bazzill

dies: Papertrey Ink (Mighty Oak,Counting My Blessings)