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September 23, 2013

Monday Musings - Christmas is coming!

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the latest in my Monday Musings series (all others can be found here). Today's post is the first in the series which is craft related and you'll see why soon :) I read somewhere last week that there is now less than 100 days until Christmas, *gasp*! I've just checked the calendar and yes, there are just 13 weeks to go, though I refuse to get panicky over how many days there are left, so I'm not counting those!

I have, finally, made a start on my cards for this year's festive season. Whew! The first card I created is another white on white card (see some others here). It just so happens that this card also fits in with this week's challenge over at one of my favorite blogs, Hiding in My Craft Room, #116 - LOL, so I'm entering the card there.


The card is a 5.5" square base, to which I've added Lots Of Layers. I used two of the Spellbinders labels dies, though I can't remember which they are. The lace border is from Sunrise Crafts and so is the embossing folder. The baubles and the bow have been hand embossed using the Christmas board for the Ultimate Pro system from Crafter's Companion. All the layers have been put together using silicon glue.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs,
Em

September 12, 2013

Decoupage and lace

Hi everyone,

It's been quite awhile since I have created a decoupage card, or an easel card. So this morning I've combined them both to create a 5.5" square standard easel. I also used my favorite lace edging die to add some texture and I'm really pleased with the way the card looks. It proves that lace doesn't have to be white :)



Hugs,
Em

September 11, 2013

Twelve years on

Hi everyone,

Today's post is dedicated to all the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Each of them is pictured below in a very poignant photo, which I saw yesterday on the Seal of Honor Facebook page. Please note that the website named at the bottom of the image no longer works.


Like every defining moment in history, those of us who are old enough to remember will do so always. Where we were, what we were doing, who we were with; the utter disbelief at what we were seeing.

I had just called in to a bar that I'd recently stopped working in, I'd called in to catch up with former colleagues and we were laughing and joking. The next moment, the kitchen staff came running out and yelled to the bartender to put the tv on. We all turned towards it and the room fell silent as the second aircraft hit the towers. The silence was punctuated with gasps and expletives.

Then, almost as one, we all stood up and put our arms around each other for support. Time seemed to stand still as we witnessed the first tower fall. By now, everyone in that room, along with millions witnessing the events around the world, began weeping and praying. For the lost, for those countless thousands of emergency workers who were battling to help, for America and yes, for the world we knew.

As I write this scheduled post, the years have melted away. I can see the desperate, tragic scenes without closing my eyes. I can remember the events as if they were yesterday, not twelve years ago.

The world changed forever on September 11, 2001. I, and countless millions more, will NEVER forget. 9/11/01 happened years before I personally connected with America, before I became an adopted American, but it perhaps signaled the beginning of the very special connection for me and the country I love.

These words might be sung by Lee Greenwood, but they are true for me too... "I'm proud to be American, because at least I know I'm free".


Hugs,
Em

September 10, 2013

ATCs

Hi everyone,

Just a quick post today. In keeping with my recent miniature theme, I've today created the Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) below. They are the first such cards I've created in YEARS, and are ready for next month's swap for the ATC Swaps group at Card Making World.


Hugs,
Em

September 5, 2013

More white on white

Hi everyone,

Today I'm sharing what is possibly my last white on white card for a little while. With fall fast approaching, I'm thinking the colors of the season will feature in some designs in the next week or so.


Hugs,
Em

September 4, 2013

More lovely lace

Hi everyone,

Following on from yesterday's post, I've today created another similar card, using the same main elements and dies. The only changes from yesterday is the addition of a little glitter in the lace, which unfortunately hasn't come out on the photo. I've also added some punched butterflies to the side, using a Martha Stewart punch.



I LOVE the new lace die and will be using it on a lot of my cards.

Hugs,
Em

September 3, 2013

Lace butterfly white on white

Hi everyone,

Here's the card that I created this morning, my first since the middle of July! I love the simple elegance of white on white cards and I'm really pleased with the way this one looks. I hope you like it too!


The lace edges have been created using the Cottage Cutz Elites - Fancy Floral Lace Border. The embossed panel behind the butterfly was created using the Cuttlebug Dawny folder, both purchased from Sunrise Crafts. They only arrived in the mail this morning and I couldn't wait to play with them!

The other dies used were scalloped rectangles, I think from Spellbinders, and the butterfly was a freebie I got with a magazine earlier this year.

The sentiment has been added using a gold peel off and the gems are small self adhesive clear ones. I've added the lace border and butterfly using a tape runner and the other panels have all been layered with foam dimensionals.

I have started working on another white on white card, which I'll complete and share with y'all tomorrow.

Hugs

September 2, 2013

Monday Musings - A little bit of everything

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the first Monday Musings post in about six weeks! If you're new to my site, you can read all other posts in the series here. Because of the break caused by my summer vacation, today's Musings are a little bit of everything.

For those in the US, today is Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, but for me and my family, today, September 2, has so much more meaning. Today marks the thirty seventh anniversary of my beloved Granddad's passing. I know my guardian angel is always with me, and that is some comfort, not only to me, but my Gram too. The pic below was taken of them just a few months before he passed.


Since I got back on Thursday afternoon, I feel like I've not stopped! What with catching up with mail, phone calls, laundry and other chores. Whew! I HAVE found time to start thinking about work again and I'll be back in the studio in the morning, after an appointment with my optometrist. I CAN'T wait to get in there and play with some new stamps I got while I was with my sister. Yay :)

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see what I've created.

Hugs,
Em