Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Blog Hopin' With Core and Stampendous!

If there's anything besides cardstock that us Designers enjoy with a full heart, it definitely is a BLOG HOP, and have we got a fabulous match up this week with a well known stamping company... STAMPENDOUS!  Do check it out because you won't be disappointed!


We love Stampendous and their products so make sure you do a few things for us while you are here this week.
1.) Like them on Facebook. AND 2.) Follow them on Pinterest. Oh and if you tweet, 3.) Follow them on Twitter here.
 
Soo, let me just tell you how excited I am to share with you my project!  It's all about Fall and if you already know me a bit, you will surely know how much I adore everything and anything pertaining to this time of the year and the rockin' season of Autumn!  For every holiday/season I like to decorate a Primitive tree that I have sitting in my bay window and for this Fall I decided I needed some extra seasonal embellishing and set out to create some cute vintage inspired pumpkins to add just the right touch to my tree. And for these pumpkins, I've envisioned some kind of chic typography, so how lucky to find the cool Autumn Words collage stamp from Stampendous! to use for this project!  
 
 

To begin, I selected a pumpkin image using the Damask Decor Cricut cartridge and I cut several shapes at both 6" and 7" using Tim Holtz & Ranger Adirondack Collection cardstock in Terra Cotta. After cutting out the pumpkins I then stamped each using the Autumn Words Cling stamp from Stamendous! using Tim Holtz Distress Ink from Ranger in Vintage Photo. I used Cinnamon sticks to create the pumpkin stems, for which I attached to the cardstock with Helmar's Craft & Hobby PVA Glue. Green hemp twine and natural jute were tied around each ornament to create the vines. I also created pumpkin leaves with some burlap. The cut out burlap leaf shapes were glued onto some green Core Essentials cardstock scraps using Fabric Stiffener Liquid from Aleene's. After cutting around each shape when dry, I then also sanded the edges a bit. Some extra burlap leaves were also cut out to be used without the stiffener. These, along with some Petaloo paper flowers were colored with some green Smooch Spritz and added to the pumpkins for added embellishing. To make a hanger for each ornament, I attached a mini clothespin to the back of each pumpkin with some Helmar ZapDots.  Here are some detail pictures to show you that cool typography style and embellishing a little bit better!
 
 
 
 
Now for more great Core'dinations and Stampendous! inspiration, keep on hopin' with the list of today's blogs:
 

Monday, October 1, 2012

Capture Your Grief, 2012

Hello, my beautiful blogland friends!  I know you are no doubt thinking to yourselves, "Do I remember her"?  Afterall, it's been about 2 months since my last post.  I'm not at all happy about that, but I tell you what, life has a way of getting in the way sometimes, and lately I haven't been having much time to do much of anything I'd like to or love to be doing.  I'm actually lucky if I get to sleep somedays it seems.  But, I am back and I am planning to really make this new month of October a top priority on my TO DO list!  I love October immensely... love the season, love the Fall festivals that take place, love the cooler weather, and I love the decorations!  But most of all, I now enjoy that I get to reflect upon a cause near and dear to my life... Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness!

I would like to invite everyone to keep returning here to my blog for the entire month of October.  I am participating in a very special project called, Capture Your Grief 2012,  that is taking place and being hosted by Carly Marie.  This is a project designed to help the healing process for anyone who has endured a loss.  There is no limitations to your grief... you may have been walking on the road of grief for 20+ years, or you may have just stepped onto your path in this grief journey this year... all are welcome to join and explore to the depths of your hearts.  What this project encompasses is a story of your pain... your life through images of your own photography.  Capture Your Grief is a 31 Day Photo Challenge and there is no need for a fancy DSLR camera... any camera or camera phone will do.



In Carly's own words...
"You can join in this project through your own blog or website, your favourite social media website like facebook or twitter or any photo sharing website like pinterest or instagram. This is an opportunity for you to document your grief and your healing for a month and to share it with the world through your own eyes. You can be as creative with your photographs as you please. The event on my facebook page so that everyone can come to one place to share their images! If you can just make sure that the beginning of your photo caption is titled with the day number and subject, for example: “Day 1. Sunrise” If you are joining from twitter or instagram you can use the hash tag #captureyourgrief
I’m not massively concerned with having rules for this project, just make sure you only use your own photographs – don’t take someone else’s off the internet, it’s just not cool! If you only want to take part in a few of the days, that is great! If you want to do the full month – brilliant! The main thing is that this is a healing experience for you, and if we can all raise some awareness at the same time, that is a bonus! If you would rather keep your photos private, you are more than welcome to do that. So breathe this month in and make it just for you. A sweet idea would be to go and print all of your images at the end of the month and place them all into a special album for your memory box.
I have created 31 daily subjects. 1 for each day of the month. Some of the subjects may not entirely relate to you, or you may not feel comfortable with the subject so you are more than welcome to take a photo inspired by your own subject for that day. My subjects are simply a guideline. Below are the subjects with a few extra ideas to spark some inspiration in your heart."

Again, the entire subject list for the month is in the above pictured image.  Click on the image to view the list better. 

So, onto Day One...
Today, for the start of the month I was challenged to take a photo of the sunrise.  "Day 1. Sunrise I thought it would be sweet for us all to capture the beginning of this beautiful project and important month by us all getting up early to photograph the sunrise from wherever we are in the world. I know depending on where you are and what climate you are in that there may not be a sunrise, but if you can still get to a window, snap a photo of the morning! When you share your photo online make sure you write what State/Country you are in and the time of the sunrise {just for fun!}".

On my way to work this morning at 6:55, this was the view from my car.  I pass this scenery every morning.  The sun was not bright, as it usually is not.  Fog seems to be the norm on my morning drive, and this morning there was a little mingling of the morning mist. 

 

October 1st, also happens to be a special day of remembrance in our home as we fondly remember back to 2006 when we welcomed our baby girl Ava Noel, and then sadly kissed her goodbye all in the same day.  It's usually a tough day for me, but I did manage to have a pleasant day all in all.  I thought about her constantly throughout my day, but my spirits were high and I know it's all because my angel was right there with me guiding me through.  I totally felt her presence tonight as I was driving home and the song that always reminds me of her played on the radio. 
 
 
"Remember Me"
Mark Schultz
Remember Me
In a Bible cracked and faded by the years.
Remember Me
In a sanctuary filled with silent prayer

And age to age
And heart to heart,
Bound by grace and peace.
Child of wonder,
Child of God,
I've remembered you,
Remember Me.

Remember Me
When the color of the sunset fills the sky
Remember Me
When you pray and tears of joy fall from your eyes.

And age to age
And heart to heart,
Bound by grace and peace.
Child of wonder
Child of God,
I've remembered you,
Remember Me

Remember Me
When the children leave their Sunday school with smiles
Remember Me
When they're old enough to teach,
Old enough to preach
Old enough to leave.

And age to age
And heart to heart
Bound by grace and peace
Child of wonder,
Child of God,
I've remembered you,
Remember Me.

Age to age
And heart to heart
Child of wonder
Child of God
Remember Me.

She really knew I needed to hear that song today for her Birthday!  My baby would be 6.  So hard to believe!  I love her so much!

Well, I best be on my way, but please remember to come back to visit me all month long.  Tomorrow will be another challenge project photo to share!  :)