Warm Fuzzies

Little story here.

A few months ago, I wanted to make something nice for my sister D. She absolutely loves the fun animals and quirky sentiments of Kim Hughes stamps at Cornish Heritage Farms, so I knew I wanted to make her a set using those stamps. I thought she might like a set of little cards to carry in her purse, to have on hand. One thing led to another and I did a set of business card size mini cards. You can see they are very simple, but fun and colorful. I also made a little envelope to put them in and give to her. My thought was she could give them out when she ran into old friends, or as a pick-me-up for someone.

When I was teaching, our school had a promotion where students/teachers could give each other "warm fuzzies". Don't laugh...it sounds goofy, but when you received a really nice little note from a student and on it was stuck one of those little furball people with googlie eyes...it made your day.

So that was where I was going with this. I think she liked it, but I found out a few days after I gave them to her, that she had given them to her daughter who is a Speech Therapist at a large nursing home. A month later, my sister asks me to make another set. I was like, "What did she do with all of them?" And she told me my niece had been leaving them in her patient's room when they needed a pick-me-up, or warm fuzzy, or congrats for a good therapy session. She went on further to say how those little, simple, colorful business cards were making her patient's day and ended being posted on their bulletin boards, shown to their children, etc. She liked them so much she wanted to have another set to keep on hand.

So in the long run, I didn't make these for my sister. I didn't make these for my niece. They were made for people I will probably never meet. People who are thrilled and uplifted by them. And the good Lord orchestrated it all!

Now, I take zero credit in this you know. I was merely an instrument. But I am humbled at the positive effect these are having. God is amazing!

Stamps: Kim Hughes stamps and Paisley backgrounder at CHF

Ink: Momento

Paper: Papertrey white cs

Tools: Copics

Other: Mini envelope, ric-rac ribbon.

May you create something small and let the Master's hand make into something Grand!

Blessings,

Colleen

New Baby - Special Delivery

My niece and her husband finally had their baby boy last week. She's been fighting gallstones during the last few weeks of her pregnancy. Glad she and her little boy are doing fine now.

Loved the colors in this dp...browns, blues, greens and oranges. A quick and easy card with bold color!

My teenager (Sophomore) has to go to school today for 2 hours of orientation, then he starts next week. He's got a fairly tough schedule (Honors Geometry, Honors Chemistry, and German II being the hardest), but he's gotten some wonderful teachers for his classes.

First thing is a trip to the barber's to cut the mop that has grown on his head. No battle here as he's been the one pushing me to get him there!

Anyway... hope your Thursday is peaceful!

Ingredients:

Stamps: Kim Hughes (CHF) Baby Love

Paper: SU, misc dp (it was a scrap!)

Ink: Momento tuxedo black

Tools: Copics, CM square, circle punches

Other: button, floss

Blessings,

Colleen

CHF Summer challenge - week 5

This is the final week for the Summer Design Challenge at Cornish Heritage Farms. This week's challenge was a One Sheet Wonder. Basically, you start with either a 8.5x11 or 12x12 sheet of paper, either randomly stamped or collage style to create a distinctive pattern paper. Then you use every little bit to create! The contest was open to all types of creations. Often crafters will make a set of cards, each slightly different. I (cough) of course had to go a slightly different direction.

So here's all my little beauties! My 11 year daughter (my biggest fan and cheerleader) went crazy when she saw all these! She told me it was some of my finest work! (Remind me to give that girl a raise in her allowance--what a sweetie!)

Now, it's hard to capture all the details in one image, so here are some close-ups of most of the items. (It's also hard not to get a glare from the acetate).

Here are the details:

I stamped a variety of images from the CHF sets: Vintage Butterflies, Inchie Style, Kim Hughes Nature's Silohuettes, Little People Collage, and Double Damask BG all in black stazon ink. Then I went to cutting out pieces and working from there. I used the Double Damask BG to make a box cover for a box of chocolate nuggets. Little People Collage turned into a card. I completely cut out one butterfly and turned it over, using crystal laquer and glitter to add brown and pink sparkle. I combined the glittery butterfly to the rest of the butterflies (Vintage Butterfly) and it also became a card. I then used the Inchie Style set to create 2 distinctive tags and finally a trifold gift card holder. Inks used were Staz-on and Versamark Dazzle. I went digging through all my embellishments including ones from SU, Making Memories, Paper Studio, Prima, and K & Co to name a few. I also used sewing on the tags. I wish you could see this collection in real life.

Thanks for taking a closer look!

It's a Party!

I guess I never posted my Cornish Heritage Farms entry for week 1 of their Summer Design Star Challenge. (It's 5 weeks of themed challenges. You can catch all the details here: http://becreative.cornishheritagefarms.com/?p=808)

Anyway...this card was a labor of LOVE I tell ya! Don't ask me how long it took. Lots of stamping, coloring, paper piecing, stickles, pop dots and bling. Each little party hat was cut out and popped up on each little animal. It was all worth it as I made it for my dearest mother-in-law. When I visited her a couple of weeks ago, I noticed she had gotten large (2'x4') shadow box frames and had framed all the cards I had sent her! She has them proudly hanging in the entry way of her home for all to see! Is she not the biggest sweetheart ever?!! She truly is a second mother to me (and that's saying a lot, as my Mom is so GREAT) . Sometime I'll tell you more about my 2 great Moms!

But...I digress.

So here's the PARTAAY card! I was so happy with this card (and so was Mom K!).

Honestly? I thought this card was a winner. Really! I was kind of bummed it wasn't selected as week 1 winner.

We grow stronger by our attempts at new things, right?

{Me flexing muscles here}

Blessings to you!

Colleen

Let's Celebrate! Week 2 challenge

Umm..I've been busy.

Enough said, hmm?

This one's for you Jen, for inspiring me to post again. Here's my entry for Cornish Heritage Farm's Summer Design Challenge. October Afternoon DP, and MUCH, MUCH paper piecing. A little stickles on the eyelids and hat tops. Momento black ink. Stamps: UR A Hoot, The Landing Pad, and Forest Friendzy (all by Kim Hughes at CHF).

Week 2 challenge was paper piecing. (Let's hope wild and crazy DP counts for something too). There's a $50 prize gift certificate for each week's winner. Cross your fingers for me, ok?