613 Avenue Create

Hi everyone:

The card here was created for Challenge #64 Anything Goes over at one of my favorite challenge blogs. http://avenue613.blogspot.com/2014/03/challenge-64-anything-goesoptional.html.   I chose to do the optional twist this week; which is Birds of a Feather (using birds, feathers, wings, etc.).  Open to each individual's interpretation.

Several weeks ago, I created a similar card.  I loved the paper so much that I decided to use that paper again with different embellishments.

And this is what I came up with.  The first two photos show the card without the feather.  And the second two photos show the completed card with the feather.

 

Entered into this challenge
http://avenue613.blogspot.com/2014/03/challenge-64-anything-goesoptional.html

I like the card with and without the feather.  What do you think?


Until next time
Hugs+Kisses
Renee

Recipe
Michael's 8" off white doily, patterned paper from K & Co. Rhapsody Active Imagination Flat Paper, Prima flower spray - Zephyr, textured card stock in tan & orange, smooth white card stock,  feather, sentiment stamp 

Mark's Finest Papers Challenges

Hi all:

I have a couple of cards to share with you this week.

This card was created for Sketch With a Twist Challenge #91 over at Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Co. The challenge this week was to create a pocket card.  I haven't made any of these in a little while, so it was fun to get back into the swing of things with this technique.

 

Entered into this challenge: http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/sketch-with-a-twist-challenge-91

And this card was created for Simple Salutations Challenge #90; also at Mark's Finest Papers.  The challenge this week was to create an elegant card.  Of course, everyone's definition of what is considered elegant is different.  This week I wanted to play with doilies and animals.  Not what I would normally consider in my realm of elegant; but I reaaaally like how this turned out!

Entered into this challenge: http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/simple-salutations-challenge-90

I'm still working (of course when I have the chance) to get better photos;  that's why I've added so many pics of these projects; to give you a  better view.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek.  Be sure to leave me some bloggy love! I always look forward to hearing from you.

Until later,

Hugs+Kisses

Renee

Recipes

Card 1: MS punch, patterned paper and card stock by S.E.I., bling from ViVAmerica, mulberry flowers

Card 2: Paper doilies, feather, mulberry flowers, textured card stock (white/brown) ColorBok, patterned card stock by ColorBok

MFP Christmas Card Challenge 2014

Hi all:
Just a  quick post as it's late and I'm a tired little crafter....
These two cards were created for the Mark's Finest Papers Christmas Card Challenge of 2014.  Even though technically it's not a challenge.  I've signed up to make two cards per month until just before Christmas of this year so that I'll have gotten the bulk of my list done to send out.

Hopefully the photos are clear enough to see.  I'm still experiencing electronic difficulties.  It's like every camera I own has gone completely wonky on me and I can't figure out what the problem is with any of them! So, I'm using the camera on my phone for now. And hopefully in the future, I can take new pics and replace these with better quality photos.  Here's to keeping my fingers crossed....

http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/2014-christmas-card-challenge 

Thanks for stopping by!

Until later

Nighty-Night!

Hugs+Kisses

Renee

MFP/Friends....

Hi all

I've been MIA from posting much of anything, anywhere... life has been busy and tiring!

The challenge at MFP's Friends of Speedy TV #116 is covered boxes.  You can find the challenge, which runs for another two days at  http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/friends-of-speedy-tv-challenge-116-altered-box-03-17-14.  It was a fun challenge since I love altering things.  More importantly, I love creating from scratch.  So while taking a look around my desk and in my stash, I spotted a box of tissues that I have on hand and decided that I would create  tissue box cover.  Here it is:

I created it out of medium weight chipboard.  The patterned paper is an extra 12x12 sheet that I purchased for another project quite some time ago and have no idea who it's by (although I kind of think that it was from DCWV).  I don't know why I gave it a beach theme, except that I've had these shells in my stash for a long time.  I'm always saving them after my family and I have what we call a "seafood fest."  You know, crabs, oysters, fish, clams, shrimp, mussels, baked potatoes, broccoli and corn on the cob. Yum!  I painted the box with sage green acrylic paint first (which also helped to strengthen the structure of the box.  To finish it off, I added paper flowers and doilies and sealed everything with several coats of ModPodge.  I love how it turned out and I think that I'll be making a few more to scatter throughout the house.  It came together really fast!

What do you think?

Until next time

Hugs+Kisses

Renee

MFP Challenges

Hi all:

I have several cards to share this week.  The first card is being entered into this week's Friends of Speedy TV Challenge #115 http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/friends-of-speedy-tv-challenge-115-spring-colours-03-10-14; using Spring Colours, over at Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Co.

http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/friends-of-speedy-tv-challenge-115-spring-colours-03-10-14

I used a, now discontinued, Rubberneckers image and scrap card stock and patterned paper, along with my Copic and Bic markers.  I added two flowers with a button in the middle and a strip of ribbon to finish it off.

The second card is for the SWAT Challenge; also at Mark's Finest Papers.
The challenge this week is to use this sketch 
with the twist being to add the color green.  I finally used my Stampin' Up! Hello Doily and Perfectly Penned stamps; along with Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzazz ink.  I also added a paper doily that was inked to the inside of the card.  The inside sentiment says "Finally, a day that really is all about you."

http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/sketch-with-a-twist-challenge-89

And lastly, the third card is for the Simple Salutations Challenge at MFP (#88).  This week's challenge is to create a masculine card.  The base of the card is Tuxedo Black card stock by Core'dinations; along with patterned card stock from S.E.I.  The sentiment is from the Fiskars Simple Thoughts/Laughter set.  I then added buttons to complete  the card.

.http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/simple-salutations-challenge-88

Until next time
Hugs+Kisses
Renee

Journal Page (a Throwback)

Hi everyone.
Thanks for coming by to take a peek....

I'm here to share another journal page with you all.  This is one of the very first pages that I ever journaled. 

Flashback....
In 1977, when I was 14 years old, my sister made me read the book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by the great Maya Angelou. Basically, the story is an autobiography and also a piece of literature.  And after I finished reading it, she made me write a short essay on what the story was about and to tell her the answer to the question.  I remember that when I read the book, I was angry, sad, confused, empathetic, and then brave.  I remember that when I answered the question, my sister smiled at me, hugged me, and then walked away.  I never really understood what that part was about, and never asked.  But I did figure that I must've answered the question correctly.  

Anyway, here it is

notice anything about the bird?

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wings

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings

with fearful trill

of the things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill 

for the caged bird

sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze

an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn

and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom. 

Maya Angelou

Sometimes we hold ourselves back from the things that we want. More importantly - need. It's not always someone else, or something else.  It's usually our own fears, our own insecurities, money, sometimes just not enough confidence in ourselves.  Sometimes things happen to us; over and over again and we don't know what to do, or how to handle the situation. I personally go back and forth, fighting with myself over things that I want but don't know how to go for.  Struggling to let go of things that hinder me.  Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.  Most times, I come to realize that "it's just not my time," and I turn it over to God.  He who can move mountains....

Thanks for joining me on my little throwback into my nostalgia.  It brought me to happy tears thinking back into that little piece of sisterly love that she probably doesn't even remember.  But I do.

Hugs+Kisses

Renee

Creation by Song on YouTube Thank You!

Hi everyone:
Just a quick post to let you know that there is a "giftaway" being done over on YouTube by a very gifted crafter.  I happened upon her channel a couple of months ago when I heard her name on another video.  So of course, I looked her up and started watching one video.  Before I knew it, I had watched all of her videos over night! LOL. Now that's what you call CRAFTING and YOUTUBE ADDICTION! Good thing it was the weekened. LOL.  Her name is Song and she is sponsoring this as a big thank you to her subscribers and those that follow her YouTube, Blog, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram for their support.  She has some great videos and tutorials for crafters of all kinds (these are two of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLEozeucqWQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ-w7Mr_qVM).  She'll be choosing two winners for this giveaway; 1) to the person that makes a comment on her thank you video and 2) to the person that does a YouTube video or Blog  response.  Also, she'd like to know what your current favorite paper collection is? And of course you need to subscribe to her channel!

You can find her videos at
http://www.youtube.com/user/creationbysong/videos, so you should stop by and take a peek at what she's been up to.  And you can see the video for this giveaway at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB85a8CaV8Y.

You can also follow her here

Her Blog: http://creationbysong.blogspot.com/
Her Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/songli5732/
Her  Instagram: creationbysong
Her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conghui.li

Bye-Bye for now!
Hugs+Kisses
Renee

Journal Page

Hi all:

I'm back again with another journal page.  This one I completed late one night when I couldn't seem to fall asleep.  I felt anxious and excited.  Except I really had no idea WHY! LOL.  Anyway, I used my water color crayons to create a brightly painted background and stenciled leaves across the entire double page.

it's bright and cheerful!

I love working with my water colors.  In reality, I don't think I'm very good at using them.  But I do have fun making a mess and experimenting.  And to me, that's the name of the crafting game...having FUN!

And when it was completed, I finally got some sleep.  Granted, it wasn't a lot of sleep, considering that I had to get up in less than three hours to go to work. LOL.  But - sleep - all - the - same!

Until next time

Hugs+Kisses

Renee

MFP/Simple Salutations 86

                                          Hi everyone:
I'm back again with a quick post.  As I am trying to play catch up on my favorite challenge blogs (since I had an unexpected snow day...Yayyyyy Me!)

This card was created for the Simple Salutations Challenge over at Mark's Finest  Papers.

Our hostess for this challenge Stephanie Ackerman challenged us to make a clean and simple sympathy card.  And this is what I came up with using a piece of GeorgiaPacific white card stock, EK Success scallop punch, and My Mind's Eye stamps.

 http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/simple-salutations-challenge-86


Until we meet again
Hugs+Kisses
                                          Renee

MFP/SWAT #87

Hi all:

Just a quick post and photo of the latest card made for the challenge over at Mark's Finest Papers Sketch with a Twist.  I've been missing in action from their challenges for a little while.  Of course, there was so much to do, and so little time when it comes to crafting and scrapping that I had to put some of my fun challenge stuff on hold.  Hopefully, I can get back into the swing of things and begin joining in on the challenge blogs that I've missed.

This is the sketch that we were challenged to use and this is the card that I came up with

Products used: Neenah patterned kraft card stock, Details & Accessories brown satin ribbon; 

stamps are by My Mind's Eye "Enlightened"

Until next time

Hugs+Kisses

Renee