For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.
~Alice Freeman Palmer
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Happy St. Pat's Day!
"May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."
I love the image above and use it often when doing something for St. Pat's Day. I recently did a charm swap with a St. Pat's Day theme with my Art Charms Group on Yahoo and used this image along with some of my other favorites. Each charm could be no more than 1.5" long, so I resized the images to 1" and did an image transfer process to create each charm.
Here are the charms I received . . .
Top Row, L-R: Charm by Denise Mitchell, Elaine Paullus, Bella Richey, Bella Richey, Kerri Creasy, and Mary Higby. Bottom Row, L-R: Bev Breisinger, Linda DeWitt, Kathleen Leanna, Donna Butcher, and me.
Another one of the Art Charm swaps I participated in this past month was a "Color" Swap with the theme of Green/and Gold. It was perfect for building a charm bracelet along with the St. Pat's charms.
Here are my charms:
and the charms I received . . .
Top Row, L-R: Charm by Bella Richey, Bev Breisinger, Mary Higby, Donna Butcher, Kathleen Leanna, Kerri Creasy, Kathleen Leanna, and Leanne Olsen. Bottom Row, L-R: Bella Richey, Pam Hartman, Leannne Olsen, Denise Mitchell, Pam Hartman, K. Carroll, Denise Mitchell, and K. Carroll.
Happy New Year!
"A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year."
~Edgar Guest
Merry Christmas!
"One little star on the top of the tree,
Two little presents underneath for me,
Three silver ropes twisted around the tree,
Four colored lights shining prettily,
Five shining balls flowing silvery.
Oh, what a sight for us to see!"
This is one of my favorite Christmas trees. The tree is from a Westrim Crafts kit (out of production). I've always loved it because the tree branches are beaded. If I remember correctly, some ornaments were included in the kit.
This doll was made by the same artist to represent my youngest daughter, Tammy. The tree skirt was made by Ann Simon--the "Raggedy Andy" was painted and decorated by me. I don't remember who made the blue teddy bear, but it was completely handmade and sewn together with the tiniest stitches.
Several of the ornaments were handmade by friends Connie Nanney, Linda Conklin, Vickie Strohm, and Marsha Kensinger. The ornaments, tree skirt, toys, and dolls all represent such wonderful memories.
Merry Christmas!
Happy St. Pat's Day!
For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way . . .
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
~ author unknown
Valentine Memories
Grandma's book of Valentines
Rekindles memory's flame,
Of days when she was just a girl
And life a happy game.
Each lace-edged card a getting bears
From friends of long ago,
Girls in gingham dresses
And that “special” Sunday beau.
It brings a twinkle to her eye,
Dissolving lines of age,
As we sit in the lamplight
And turn each well worn page.
It makes me kind of wonder
If perhaps some distant day,
A grandchild shall sit at my side
And leaf each page this way.
‘Cause I could sit for hours,
There at my grandma's knee,
And listen to the stories
That the Valentines set free.
A book of antique Valentines
That reaches black in time
To tell the tales of yesteryear
In illustrated rhyme.
Rekindles memory's flame,
Of days when she was just a girl
And life a happy game.
Each lace-edged card a getting bears
From friends of long ago,
Girls in gingham dresses
And that “special” Sunday beau.
It brings a twinkle to her eye,
Dissolving lines of age,
As we sit in the lamplight
And turn each well worn page.
It makes me kind of wonder
If perhaps some distant day,
A grandchild shall sit at my side
And leaf each page this way.
‘Cause I could sit for hours,
There at my grandma's knee,
And listen to the stories
That the Valentines set free.
A book of antique Valentines
That reaches black in time
To tell the tales of yesteryear
In illustrated rhyme.
~ Shirley Sallay
Valentine Banner
I made a Valentine banner this past week out of some odds and ends of paper, metal trinkets, and scraps of this and that. I used Tim Holtz On the Edge dies for the banner toppers, the Martha Stewart Scoreboard to make the rosettes, Adirondack Gold Paint Dabber and Martha Stewart gold glitter for the letters, and odds and ends for the rest.
Valentine Tags by Debbie Burks
I love old Valentine's Day art, so thought would share a photo of some goodies I got today at the Persimmon Tree in Ozark, MO. The store is filled with vintage-style Valentine goodies, and I got several things as well as these lovely Valentine tags made by Debbie Burks. I love her things! She had also created some lovely mini "vintage-style" Valentine books that were filled with beautiful images, poetry, trims, etc. Her work is gorgeous and available at the Persimmon Tree.
Debbie
Tim Holtz Configuration Tray for Christmas
I have 3 of the Tim Holtz Configurations Trays. I did one in September filled with shells, sand, photos and other treasures and trinkets commemorating the cruise with Tim (see earlier post if you would like to see it). After doing that, I thought it might be fun to do a Christmas one--and it was!. I found most of the items for this tray digging around in some of my old Christmas stuff, as well as my jewelry stash, and from local flea markets.
A Day of Thanksgiving
"Our Father, fill our hearts, we pray,
With gratitude Thanksgiving Day;
For food and raiment Thou dost give,
That we in comfort here may live."
~ Luther Cross
S-P-O-O-K-Y
Witches flying past on broomsticks,
Black cats leaping here and there,
White-robed spooks on every corner,
Mournful moaning in the air,
Goblins peering out of windows,
Spirit-things that rap and run--
But don’t be scared—it’s just October,
Having one last hour of fun!!
~Mary Jane Carr
from The Holiday Spot
Labor Day . . .
Always Finish
If a task is once begun,
Never leave it till it's done.
Be the labor great or small,
Do it well or not at all.
~ Anonymous
Remembering on this day . . .
~Robert G. Ingersoll
Every artist . . .
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,
and paints his own nature into his pictures.
~Henry Ward Beecher
and paints his own nature into his pictures.
~Henry Ward Beecher
Easter Blessings by Debbie Burks
I was at The Persimmon Tree (209 North Second) in Ozark, MO recently and found these lovely Easter tags by Debbie Burks. I love her work, and look forward to seeing her latest creations each time I go. If you have never visited The Persimmon Tree, you are in for a treat when you do --it is filled with reasonably priced beautiful items -- and a very friendly staff..
Happy Valentine's Day!
O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:
Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only Luve,
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile.
-- Robert Burns
Valentine Goodies
I had a "happy package" when I got home today. It was my order from Chris and Sharon of Red Lead Paper Works in St. Louis and was filled with Valentine goodies! I had ordered some Valentine and Easter collage sheets and some rubber stamps. My stamps were in a separate bag tied with pretty pink bow--how cool is that! Can't wait to play with those Valentines!
Happy New Year!
I am the New Year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.
I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned
about life during the last twelve months.
All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out with more determination.
All the good that you tried for and didn't achieve,
is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.
All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do;
All that you hoped but did not will;
All the faith that you claimed, but did not have . . .
These slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.
I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance
to Him who said, "Behold, I make all things new."
I am the new year.
~ author unknown
Image by Dover Publications
December Design Challenge
Several months ago Tammy Tutterow taught a class at Scrapbook Generation on the "Make From Scratch: Accordion Album."* I loved this class! It was fun, but also a project you could--and would want to make again. So that is how this project was born--I got to thinking about how I loved that little book! Photos are below.
The book cover features a Sizzix frame (this may be discontinued--if you like it, you might find it on eBay) painted white and covered with coarse clear glitter. The Poinsettia-like flower was cut from Sizzix Original Die "Flower Layers #2". I put a coat of Tattered Angels "Be Positive" Glimmer Glam on the flower after it was assembled. The holly leaves were cut free hand and given a coat of Glimmer Glam "Dirty Martini." I love the Glimmer Glam!
On the first page I made a simple corner pocket to hold photos and decorated it with a snowflake, and a flower. I included the poem "Sometime During Christmas" through out the book. For the 2nd page I added an identical corner pocket and used the image the girl and her dog to decorate the pocket. I framed it with red Christmas trim. Holly berries were dotted with Stickles.
Backside view of album. There are six panels to decorate, add photos, poems, or any other items you may want to add.
For the 1st page on this side, I made an envelope to hold small memorabila, pictures, etc. I left the flap on the envelope a little longer so I could do a fancy cut on the edge. On this one, I use the Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Die Snow Flurries. Since the envelope was light blue, I dry brushed a little white paint on the "snowflake" section of the flap. Then covered it with coarse clear glitter. Note: I use Ranger's Glossy Accents as my base for applying glitter. The next page features a pocket for photos, etc. Image of girl is from Dover Publications and I used Stickles on the holly berries to make them stand out.
Tammy's book was designed to hold several photos, and even though I changed this book around I still kept plenty of space for photos. The snowflakes and poinsettia-like flower are Sizzix dies. The silver trim is from some trims I purchased during the holiday season. The particular trim had wire in it, but the wire pulls out, making the trim very easy to work with.
The page on the left has a side pocket for holding things. I used a border punch to cut a snowflake design (with red paper underneath) to keep it from looking so plain. Then I included my favorite snowflake and a rosette as accents. The last page features a girl getting pelted with snowballs. Clear glitter was used to make the snow on her clothes and the snowball to look real. The white flourishes is a rubon.
Close up of Rosette.
Close up of Poinsettia-looking flower
Close-up of envelope using Tim Holtz edge die.
Tammy's album info:
*The Made from Scratch: Accordion Album is now offered exclusively online through Big Picture Classes. If you are interested in making one, click this link to view the class details.
All images are from Dover Publications.
The 12 Days of After Christmas?
The 12 Days after Christmas*
The First day after Christmas
my true love and I had a fight.
And so I chopped the Pear Tree down
and burnt it just for spite.
Then with a single cartridge
I shot that blasted Partridge.
My true love gave to me.
The second day after Christmas
I pulled on the old rubber gloves
and very gently wrung the necks,
of both the Turtle Doves.
My true love gave to me.
The third day after Christmas
my mother caught the croup,
I had to use the Three French Hens,
to make some chicken soup.
The Four Calling Birds
were a big mistake
for their language was obscene.
The Five Golden Rings
were completely fake
they turned my fingers green
My true love gave to me.
The sixth day after Christmas
the Six Laying Hens wouldn't lay,
so I gave the whole darn gaggle,
to the RSPCA.
My true love gave to me.
On the seventh day after Christmas
what a mess I found
All Seven of the Swimming Swans
had gone and bloomin drowned.
My true love gave to me.
The eighth day after Christmas
before they could suspect.
I bundled up the Eight Maids-a-Milking,
Nine ladies Dancing, Ten Lords a-Leaping,
Eleven Pipers Piping and Twelve Drummers Drumming
( well actually, I kept one of the drummers )
and sent them back collect.
My true love gave to me
I wrote my true love,
"We are through, Love."
and I said in so many words,
" Furthermore, your Christmas gifts
were for the birds."
my true love and I had a fight.
And so I chopped the Pear Tree down
and burnt it just for spite.
Then with a single cartridge
I shot that blasted Partridge.
My true love gave to me.
The second day after Christmas
I pulled on the old rubber gloves
and very gently wrung the necks,
of both the Turtle Doves.
My true love gave to me.
The third day after Christmas
my mother caught the croup,
I had to use the Three French Hens,
to make some chicken soup.
The Four Calling Birds
were a big mistake
for their language was obscene.
The Five Golden Rings
were completely fake
they turned my fingers green
My true love gave to me.
The sixth day after Christmas
the Six Laying Hens wouldn't lay,
so I gave the whole darn gaggle,
to the RSPCA.
My true love gave to me.
On the seventh day after Christmas
what a mess I found
All Seven of the Swimming Swans
had gone and bloomin drowned.
My true love gave to me.
The eighth day after Christmas
before they could suspect.
I bundled up the Eight Maids-a-Milking,
Nine ladies Dancing, Ten Lords a-Leaping,
Eleven Pipers Piping and Twelve Drummers Drumming
( well actually, I kept one of the drummers )
and sent them back collect.
My true love gave to me
I wrote my true love,
"We are through, Love."
and I said in so many words,
" Furthermore, your Christmas gifts
were for the birds."
*I don't have an author to give credit to. Here is the link if you are interested in where I found it . . http://www.kraftz.com/christmas-funny-verses.html