Monday, August 18, 2014

In its time. . .

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11
   
 

CHACB Challenge #14:

Gloria Designs ChallengeThe current challenge at Craft Hoarders Anonymous is a BLOG HOP WITH THE ALTERED PAGES TEAM (their links are below!) Our challenge to you is to BUTTON IT UP!  

Crafters of every stripe are button hoarders! Buttons are pretty, inexpensive, and extremely versatile. If you are a card maker, quilter, layout artist, or anything in between, you probably have a button hoard! Buttons come in many sizes, styles, shapes, and colors, plus they are easy to store...usually in cute containers! Pull out those bins of buttons and use some of them for your challenge project!
 
We will again be selecting favorites and one talented participant will receive a fantastic prize for their work from our fabulous sponsor, *Altered Pages! You have until Sunday, August 31 at midnight PDT to prepare, submit and link up your project to the CHAC Blog. Please visit the blog for complete rules and the prize package.

*Altered Pages
provides all kinds of interesting supplies from stamps, to images and everything in between. They say, "Our job is to supply you with inspiration and the tools to make it happen. We enjoy the creative process of all skill levels and mediums."

All things will be beautiful. . . .in time: His time.

I couldn't resist pairing this scripture from one of my favorite books of the Bible with this precious image. It's a reminder that our God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, is making all things beautiful; as He restores order to His creation. . .beginning in the hearts of those He calls unto eternal life. For the inside of the card, I selected another verse, also a Verve stamp: And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Project description
 

My mom is an expert seamstress. When we we were younger we were always snatching her good fabric scissors to cut paper. We were scolded numerous times. . ."Don't use my goodscissors to cut paper!," she'd say. Fast forward a few decades and mom was in my craft room and picked up a pair of scissors. I told her that she'd better not use my good paper scissors to cut fabric. . .at first she thought I was serious and then she got it and we shared a good laugh! I love my mom!
For this card, I used the lovely images from Altered Pages, along with one of their stamps containing all kinds of sewing themed items (you can only see a corner of the piece which is trimmed with pinking shears. The base layer is card stock from World Win papers and is embossed with a Cuttlebug Anna Griffin Rosa folder and then distressed with white pigment ink. The frame on the image was a result of using wax paper to try and convince the Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles die to cut cleanly. It turned out looking like aged silver, so I left it on the frame over the navy paper. The flobow (is it a flower, or is it a bow?) is from Altered Pages pattern paper, trimmed with pinking shears and tied and topped with two buttons and twine. The lovely scripture is from Verve and sits under two floral pins and atop hem lace and seam binding.

 If you really want to see some really AMAZING projects, follow the links below. . . 

Blessings! jme ~ SDG

 

 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Never forsaken. . .


Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. Hebrews 1:5b
Gift card and upcycled mason jar to hold gift card.
Card opened, bouquet removed from gift jar.

CHACB Challenge #13:

Gloria Designs ChallengeThe current challenge at Craft Hoarders Anonymous is to:  Let's Cycle...Up-Cycle That Is! Being frugal and wisely stewarding resources is what it's all about. Show us how you can up-cycle something using "junk" from your hoard. Most craft hoarders also hoard boxes, tins, packaging, and bits of this and that. Our mantra is, I won't throw it away, I can MAKE something with that!" Now is your chance to use some of those hoarded items! Up-cycle!


We will again be picking favorites and a winner. The favorites will have an opportunity to guest design and the winner will receive a prize for their work from our fabulous sponsor.  You have until Sunday, August 17 at midnight PDT to prepare, submit and link up your project to the CHAC Blog. 

Our sponsor for this challenge is perfectly suited to helping upcycle and repurpose: Canvas Corp. Canvas Corp manufactures and distributes a line of craft, scrapbooking and home decor basics under the brand name Canvas Home Basics. Joining the Canvas Corp umbrella of brands was BagWorks and 7gypsies in 2011 and the newest member of the brand team is Tattered Angels who joined in 2012.


Project Description

I've been wanting to make something like this for a while and this up-cycle challenge, coupled with the beautiful canvas damask fabric and muslin ribbon from Canvas Corp provided the perfect opportunity. See end of post for more close-up photos. 

Never Forsaken. . .
While this scripture fits nicely on a wedding card, doing so takes it out of it's beautiful context, although, in one sense, it is the promise of a husband to his bride. . .it is the promise of Christ to His  church, his "peculiar people.'  Or as commentator Matthew Henry says regarding Hebrews 5:1-6:

 "The design of Christ in giving himself for us, is, that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; and true religion is the strongest bond of friendship. Here are earnest exhortations to several Christian duties, especially contentment. The sin opposed to this grace and duty is covetousness, an over-eager desire for the wealth of this world, with envy of those who have more than ourselves. Having treasures in heaven, we may be content with mean things here. Those who cannot be so, would not be content though God raised their condition. Adam was in paradise, yet not contented; some angels in heaven were not contented; but the apostle Paul, though abased and empty, had learned in every state, in any state, to be content. Christians have reason to be contented with their present lot. This promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises; "I will never, no, never leave thee, no, never forsake thee." In the original there are no less than five negatives put together, to confirm the promise: the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him, in life, at death, and for ever. Men can do nothing against God, and God can make all that men do against his people, to turn to their good."

From the Stash

Paper: 7 Gypsies Collage "Frames" Tissue Paper; Altered Pages old sewing pattern; Wilton cake doily; ivory
Ink: VersaFine Onyx; Ranger Distress Antique Linen
Accessories: Canvas Corp damask canvas and muslin fringe ribbon; Tattered Angels High Impact Metallic Platinum mixed media paint; vintage buttons, twine, gold thread; Our Daily Bread Designs custom tag die; hoarded silver stems cut from home decor.
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 10; Wedding Blessings; Brocade Background.
Please visit the rest of the design team to see some AMAZING projects.

Blessings! jme ~ SDG