Merry Christmas from Jon and Joan

Merry Christmas to all our friends this Christmas Day.

May your day be filled with many blessings and 2015 be all that you imagine it to be.

We are so thankful for the many blessings we have had this year.  Praise God!!!

 

Christmas Ornaments

Mazelee Rose

I have made 24 of these 2 inch round bottle cap Christmas Ornaments of our family.  I wish I was able to hang them all together for you to see, as they really turned out nice.

First, I took everyone's picture at our Fall Harvest get together.  Then I spent a half of day figuring out in photo shop how to cut them into a circle.  (I used to be pretty good at Photoshop, but I have forgotten a lot of what I knew.)  Then I covered the picture with Ice Resin.  I wish the picture showed the beauty of it, as it really made the difference and will protect the picture for years to come. 

 

I am sure you all have been very busy too and to think that next week is Christmas.  Wow.

Would you believe that Jon said to me yesterday that much of my busyness is self induced.

I asked him what he meant, and he said well you could buy Christmas cards, you didn't have to spend all that time on these ornaments or make address books for everyone.  He is so right, but I told him that is what I am all about.  I love doing those things.  Last week, I took a jewelry making class and I hope to learn how to make some classy looking jewelry. My goal is to help my Granddaughter Kelsey, get a little business started that she can do from home as she has 4 small boys and needs to be at home with them.  I think that is a great goal and something to keep me occupied. <smile>  Don't you????  Have a great week and enjoy the reason for the season!!!

 

 

 

Birthday Card

Jon and his twin sister Jan, have a birthday this Saturday.  I made this card for her.  I just have to finish putting Jon's together and will show it to you when I get it done.

I inked the one side of the embossing folder with my brayer.  Then I embossed another piece of card stock and cut it out to lay on top of the center.  Added some Cheery Lynn Butterflies, Impression Obsession leaves and Magnolia swirl.  The stamp was cut out with a Spellbinder die and I added May Arts Silk Ribbon using the Bow Easy bow makers.  If you need any details, just email me.

 

Christmas Ornaments and box

We have a Christmas Party to go to Saturday and we are to take an Ornament for an exchange.
So, of course I have nothing to do so (hee hee)  I decided to make the ornaments and box.
Do you  have We are Memories Box maker?  This is the first time I have used it.  I love it as it is very easy and you can make all sizes of boxes.  I had made the Gingerbread Ornaments earlier and I just revamped them a little bit.

 

I am giving a pair of the ornaments to the person who wins our gift.

Box made with the We Are Memories Box Makers

 

 

Top of Box

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.  As we think back on this year, we truly can shout praises for all the marvelous things that our Lord has blessed us with in 2014. 

The biggest blessing, bar none is that my daughter's family all survived the fire February 2.

At the time, it was a huge disaster, but now that we look back and see all the blessings that has come out of it, we can't begin to thank our Lord enough.

 

I have been cooking all day, I always make the corn bread dressing (some of you might call it stuffing), the home made rolls, a jello salad that my Mom created and this year I fixed a dish of scalloped corn.  Jon doesn't like it and I love it, so this gives me a chance to take it for our Thanksgiving day dinner.  Everything is ready or prepped to finished tomorrow.  Lori does the turkey, pies, mashed potatoes, corn (yes we will have 2 kinds), green beans that I canned for her and perhaps a layered salad.  Oh we sure love our family dinners.

 

I would love to hear what are your family traditions?  Do you eat at noon or later?  Do you stuff your turkey?  Do you call it stuffing or dressing?  Do you brine your turkey?  If so with what?

Come on friends, let me hear from you.

 

Again, I send many best wishes to you and your family.

Hugs,

Joan

 

Birthday Card for Beckon

 

Birthday cards for little boys can really stump me and I have 6 great grandsons and 2 grandsons to make each year.

I try to find out what they are "in to" for the year.  Sometimes that makes it even harder.

But, I love the challenges.  How about you.  Are there any cards that are harder for you to make?

 

My sweet Beckon turned 5 last week.  He is such a wonderful little guy.

He has the sweetest personality and loves everyone.

We attended his birthday party on Saturday to help him celebrate.

Of course, I had to make his card and after checking with his Mama (Kelsey)

she said he is crazy about hunting, guns and that kind of stuff.

I immediately thought of the deer dies I had and thought this card was very fitting for him.

 

 

Preparing for winter

I know I  have been missing, but I assure you I  have not been sitting around twiddling my thumbs.
I am trying to get things ready for winter and also working on birthday cards through March for my family.  Last year I bought their cards while I was gone and believe me, I caught lots of grief for it.
So this year I want to have them all done before I go.  Below are the 3 January birthdays for our grandsons.

I will wrap Hersey Kisses and put inside the box once I get to town.  I wish you could see them in person.   I cut the card part down on the outside at a slant.  I know...it is hard to tell in the picture.

You can see the tutorial at Split Coast Stampers.  There is a video at the bottom of the page.  Just click HERE.  Or you can see several on Pinterest.  They are called Treat Box Card.

This is Bleydn's card.  He loves baseball and was in the all star team this summer.  So I made him a baseball card with his picture on it.  The card opens up at the slant.  As I mentioned, I will add covered Hersey Kisses and his birthday check.

 

This is Daitin's card.  He loves Leggos, so I found this Leggo car/truck online, printed and cut it out twice and then popped it up.  I used Tim Holts tire tread stamp and I guess it is running on one side up in the air. I didn't think about adding two tire treads until I see the picture here.  Bummer!  :(

 

This is Caleb Jimmy's card.  He loves airplanes so I had some paper embellishments in the drawer.  I will also add his picture inside, along with candy and a check.

Boys are the hardest for me and I always try to make a card about things they love.  So thankful for the Internet.

 

New Creations

Last weekend I had a wonderful time attending a Mix Media Class at Art The Edge in the charming village of Newburg, Indiana. Our classroom over looked the beautiful Ohio River where we saw barges, airplanes and gorgeous sunsets. Another best thing was getting to visit with friends!!!
The classes were taught by Ken Oliver who did a great job with all that goes into planning a fun and learning workshop.

On Friday night Ken taught us how to use Ice Resin and we made these beautiful Bezels. Then Saturday we created a very interesting album using all kinds of fun things. We also did another wonderful mix media piece that got left in my friend's Judy car. I will try to remember to show it to you once I get it back. I hope to make some pretty things with all I learned this weekend.

I will make some jewelry with these for gifts.  I am taking a jewelry class

next week, something I have wanted to do for a long time.  I need another hobby, ya know.

 

You can't see it, but the resin is domed.  My great granddaughter, Mazelee loves fairies, so I will be giving this to her for either Christmas or her birthday.

 

My friend Judy had a great idea for me to use this album for my flower pictures.

 

 

Our annual family fall harvest get together

Lori and Philip hosted our annual fall harvest party Sunday evening.  The weather was perfect (in the 70's).  I was in southern Indiana (will tell you more about that tomorrow) so, I wasn't able to help Lori cook.  She spent a ton of time getting ready for the  party and it was perfect.  The food was super delicious, she had everything decorated and even planned a craft for the kids after we ate.  We couldn't have asked for a better time.  What a blessing to have us all together, healthy and loving one another.

Working hard to play!

 

Most of the kids!

 

 

Leaf fight

 



Kara (oldest Granddaughter taking pictures)

 

Kelsey, Todd and Branch (Youngest Great Grandson)

 

Kara and Travis

 

Philip, Lori and Jeffery

 

Nathan

 

In the beautiful Kitchen

Craft at the end of the party!

 

 

 

A wonderful time!

Adam and Even . Notice the serpent in the tree.  Made me cringe just looking at it.

One of the Life Size Dragons.

Jon and I, along with 2 other couples went to Lawrenceburg, Indiana for a few days.  Lawrence  burg is right on the borders of Ohio and Kentucky.  We visited the Creation Museum and I am telling you it was a fantastic experience.  We heard and saw all about the creation and why the book of Genesis is so important.  Many facts that we were unaware of were discovered and questions we have had were answered. 

The Creation Museum (if you can call it a "museum") is a $27 million park (all raised from donations) located in Kentucky just a few miles from Cincinnati. It was founded by Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis. It is devoted to proving that "The Bible is true from Genesis to Revelation!"

The creation story was told with true life wax people that talked and moved.  We spent all day and had the privilege of hearng Ken Ham speak for an hour.  That was one of the best parts of our visit.  He is an awesome speaker. 

  In 2016 the replica of Noah's Ark will open.  It will be the length of 2 football fields.  Lord willing, we anxiously plan to go see it.

If you can possibly go and take your family to the Creation Museum it will certainly be worth the time and money.

I leave at 5:00 AM tomorrow morning for Newburg,
Indiana.  Three of my crafting friends and  I are
going to this quaint southern Indiana Village to take classes with Ken Oliver.  We are over the edge excited and can't wait to learn lots of new things.
Friday night we will learn to make jewelry using the Ice Resin technique and then there are 2 classes on Saturday. 
There will be 100 in attendance and Ken has lots of fun things planned, lots of prizes and great gifts from several suppliers.  I can't wait to tell you all about it next week.

You can read all about it at http://www.kensworldinprogress.com/p/art-at-edge.html
 

Challenge card for next week~~~

You can see a video on how to  make this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZA3O6kp9Js

 

 

Shutter Card

 

 

I have a 5 stamping friends visiting this week, and this is one of the project we learned to do.

A shutter Card.  When you open it appears like a camera shutter.  It closes as you close the gate.

I will write more about this a later as we are getting ready to leave to have lunch at an Amish home.

 

You can make 3 cards this week!

 

Below is what you need to do for this week's challenge

• Use Polka Dots
• Make a Gate Fold Card
• Use a fancy "belly Band" around the card
• Use a product that can be purchased at Joan's Gardens (www.atjoansgardens.com)

 

You will have until Friday October 17th  6:00 AM EST to link your project.

 

A winner will be chosen from a random drawing for week #24 and the winner of the challenge will be announced October 18th
 

 

 

 

And the Winner is~~~

This week's winner was chosen by a random drawing and Judy is the winner. 

   Congratulations Judy!!!

You can see the cards by clicking here!

 

I am sorry more of you could not join us this week for the challenge. But, be sure and check out the two cards that were entered.   Both are beautiful. You can see Judy beautiful vintage card here! Be sure to to leave her a comment. She did a great job with this frame. I got to see it in person this week and it is stunning gorgeous. Thanks again for joining us for this challenge.

 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2

Timestamp: 2014-10-11 12:46:35 UTC

Card for New Challenge

First of all just call me a dingaling......All year I have done the challenges on Monday and the winner was announced on Tuesday.  So this Tuesday I announced the winner. (Priss)  Priss wrote to me to tell me the challenge doesn't end until tomorrow. duh.... So, you still have one more day for that challenge to enter more cards. 

 

I am announcing this challenge today, as I would like to start doing the challenges on Thursday with the winner announced on Friday.  I am not promising there will be one every week, but I will do them as often as possible.

 

 

First, I stenciled a 5x 5 piece of paper using Tim Holtz Honey Comb Stencil. I didn't cover the entire card stock, but left some space on the bottom right corner.  Then I started playing with ink.  I used several colors, spritzing with water and drying in between.  I inked the base card edges in many of the same colors and after it dried I stamped it in several place with Tim' textured stamp.  It is still one of my favorite stamps.  I repeated this on 2 or 3 different pieces of paper, stamped one with some text and on the honeycomb bottom I stamped some music. The lady was cut from Graphic 45 paper, that was inked to make it more vintage.  All the papers were distressed with my Zutter machine.  Cheesecloth was inked and butterflies die cut.  Then I started assembling the card, popping up some of the layers.  The Memory Box Flower was already cut and lying in my drawer, so it was inked and attached with Glue and Seal.  Earth Glitter was added to the lady's hat and also at the base of the flower for texture.

 

Products I used on this card are:

 

Distressed Inks by Tim Holtz - Evergreen Bough, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy

Earth Elements by Art Glitter

Ranger Texture Paint

Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Potting Soil

Tim Holtz Slight Alteration  Stamp - CMS060

Tim's Seasonal Reflection - CMS112

Winter Collage G1830 by Memory Box

Delightful Peony Outline - 98742 - Memory Box

Butterflies - DL113 - Cheery Lynn

 

Below is what you need to do for this week's challenge

• Use a vintage picture. Can be stamped or a picture
• Mix colors of ink together
• Do some stenciling
• Use a product that can be purchased at Joan's Gardens (www.atjoansgardens.com)

 

You will have until Thursday October 9th  6:00 AM EST to link your project.

 

A winner will be chosen from a random drawing for week #24 and the winner of the challenge will be announced October 10th


 

Things that make me happy today!

•  Whisker 5 turned 4 months old.  He has been such a fun puppy (most of the time).He is "almost" trained.  Some days (like yesterday) he was like a "wild" thing".  I thinkhe resented the change from beautiful 80 degree weather to 50 degrees.  (I didn't like it either).
• I have a card ready to post tomorrow and working on 2 more today. 
• Jon is in Michigan helping our daughter and grandson with their building projects. 
•  My outside work is pretty much done.  I thinned out my gardens to about 1/2 of what they were.  It will be so nice next spring.  I ordered 75 tulip bulbs this week, so will need to get those in the ground when they arrive.  I still would like to move a couple of things, but if that doesn't get done I can do it in the spring.

I am getting apples today to make applesauce and then doing some fall cleaning.  I wonder how I ever worked. (don't most retired people say that).

After the applesauce, my canning will be done!  Yipeeeeee!!

This rose is "The Doctor"  It was given to my Mom when my Dad died.

It has bloomed non stop this summer and is almost 6 feet high.  From what I have been told you can't buy them any more.  I moved it from Mom's and cherish every bloom.  Makes me think of her all the time as she so loved it.

And the winner is~~~

This week's winner was chosen by a random drawing and

Priss is the winner.    

Congratulations Priss!!!

 

 Thanks to those of you who joined us for last week's challenge. We had some beautiful cards

made for this challenge.  Be sure to check them out by clicking here!

Priss, please email me at jfricker@fourway.net so I can send you the badge for your web site.

 

 You can see Priss's beautiful quilling card by clicking here!  Be sure to leave her a comment.  She did a great job learning how to do quilling and gives us lots of wonderful information about it.  Great job Priss.

Thanks again for joining us for this challenge.

 

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Here are your random numbers:

5 

Timestamp: 2014-09-30 12:07:25 UTC

Fall Challenge Card

When I was cleaning and organizing my supply cabinet, I found lots of workshop kits that were left over and also die cuts in packages that I had cut.  My goal this year is to use them and see what new design I can come up with using these kits/diecuts.

 

On the bottom picture is what I started with.  This card has nothing new, just things already cut.

I changed the color of everything, from pink to orange, white to green, bright sun flowers to dark sunflowers, lime green to olive and used only what I had already cut or embossed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the colors I started with.

 

Product used on this card:

Tim Holtz - Tattered Florals - 656640

Tiffany Frame - 98401 - Memory Box

 Floral Frenzy Embossing Folder - 401787- Crafters Companion  

Moss Green Distressed Stain 

Spellbinder square die has been discontinued    

All above items can be purchased at Joan's Gardens 

       

You can make 3 cards this week!

 

Below is what you need to do for this week's challenge

• Do a fall theme
• Alter things you already have cut or used
• Use an embossed background
• Use a product that can be purchased at Joan's Gardens (www.atjoansgardens.com)

 

You will have until Friday October 3rd  6:00 AM EST to link your project.

 

A winner will be chosen from a random drawing for week #23 and the winner of the challenge will be announced October 4th

 

 

 

And the winner is~~~~

I will be posting a new challenge just as soon as I have time to sit down at my craft table. Right now we are taking advantage of this gorgeous 70+ degree weather.  We are putting sealer on our porches, I am thinning out most of my flower beds  (I have help with that), we have put cement/sand on all of our brick walks and patio and the list goes on and on.  We  will also be closing up our pond before the leaves starts to fall in buckets.  But, somewhere in there I will make our next challenge card.

You can see all last weeks challenge entries by clicking here!

This week's winner was chosen by a random drawing and

Kitty is the winner.    

Congratulations Kitty!!!

 

 Thanks to those of you who joined us for last week's challenge. We had some beautiful cards

made for this challenge.  Be sure to check them out by clicking here!

 Kitty, please email me at jfricker@fourway.net so I can send you the badge for your web site.

 

 You can see Kitty's pretty card by clicking here!  Be sure to leave Kitty a comment.  She did a great job with all the layers and isn't the vintage image she used a adorable.  Great job Kitty.

Thanks again for joining us for this challenge.

 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

9 

Timestamp: 2014-09-23 13:21:40 UTC

 

Dylans 6th birthday card box

Dylan (my Great-Grandson will be six next week.  He is sure a sweet boy and he loves dinosaurs.  So, I thought it would be fun to make him a dinosaur card box so that they popped out at him when he opened it.  I found all of these free images of dinosaurs on the web, printed them and then cut them out with my swivel knife and glass cutting board.  (I love that thing).  Darlene Pavlick taught me how to use the swivel knife and I like it so much better than using scissors.  I added some grasses from Impression Obsession for interest and the Happy Birthday die is from Cheery Lynn.  The background is a Spellbinder die Labels 23.  The paper is some I have had in my stash and I loved it with the dinosaurs.

You can purchase all these products from Terri at www.atjoansgardens.com

 

 

My card for a new challenge

I have been getting requests for a new challenge, so today (and yesterday) I worked on this card.

I have lots of hours creating this card as it just didn't come together.  I can't tell you how many times I changed the color of the heart.  Then when it dried the color changed and was totally different from what I had planned.  Have you ever had that happen?

 

I first cut out a country looking heart, covered it with gesso, then covered it with gauze.  After it dried, I fan folded it to get it a pleated look.  The paper is an older collection from Heartfelt Creations.  It is actually more olive green than it shows here.  I distressed all the edges to give it a vintage look,  sewed some on the sewing machine, added 1/2 of a dolly.  Oh. I also used a new embossing folder to make the lines.   I hope you like it.  Please let me know what you think.

 

 

 

You can make as many cards this week as you have time to get done.

 

Below is what you need to do for this week's challenge

• Do a vintage theme
• Distress the edges
• Add several layers

 

You will have until Monday September 22 morning 6:00 AM EST to link your project.

 

A winner will be chosen from a random drawing for week #22 and the winner of the challenge will be announced September 23.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I am also entering this card in the http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/2014/09/from-heart.html

FRESH PASTA

I prepared this dish for our supper last night.  I do have to say it was probably one of the best (not counting our family goulash) I have fixed all summer.  And, Jon like it too so that is always good. 
I created this recipe last summer (and fortunately saved it) by combining a couple recipes I saw online.


1/4 cup fresh basil
1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley
2 garlic buds
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (I used herb and garlic)         Salt and pepper   

Run this through a food processor or chop by hand and then add the olive oil.

Then add: 2 large Chopped tomatoes and pulse until everything is combined.Add 1 pound Italian cooked and drained sausage. Cook 1 Pound Angel Hair or regular Spaghetti, drain and add the above mixture.
Once slightly cooled add 1 1/2 cups Romano cheese

Jon asked me to add some meat next time, hamburger or sausage.  So I did.  Personally. I would just soon to have it without it.

Even better the next day.



 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FALL CARD BOX

I have several friends with birthdays this month, so I made this Happy Birthday Fall card box.

Lily and I had started them when she was here, but ran out of time to get them finished.

I just love these boxes, as I think they are fun for someone to open and they are very easy to make.

The pumpkins are 2 does that over lay each other.  I really like them as they are a perfect size.

I have a tutorial on making this box that you can see by clicking here!

Products use below can be purchased from Terri at Joan's Gardens.

 Happy Birthday - B211 - Cheery Lynn

Small Exotic Butterflies #2 -  DL113 - Cheery Lynn

Pumpkins - Elizabeth Craft