Biscornu and Book Challenge

Good Morning!!

During the summer I joined a swap-bot biscornu group. So far I have made and swapped two biscornus, while my first one did not turn out so great I was very happy with the second and I have a few photos to share. I stitched on hand-dyed 14ct aida from Enchanted Fabrics and floss from Carries Creation Thread.




Book Challenge Update

So far I have read one book, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", and I am almost finished with a second. I have also edited my list a bit removing a book that I read before the challenge got started--couldn't help myself-- and added Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" and another by Elaine Viets.

What Else am I Stitching

I am ashamed to say that I have too many stitching projects going at once. I need to get them re-organized and put them in a rotation, then force my self to spend at least one solid hour per week on each or I may never have them finished. I have a Bent Creek Snapper, Gazette 94 SAL, Mausiemom SAL, BRD SAL and one Halloween Biscornu in the works. With the kids in school and hubby at work, I should be able to make this work. Just can't let my card making get in the way.

Speaking of card Making

Here are a few finished that I want to share with all of you. The first is a card I made for one of the CSE moderators birthday. It is a matchbook style card with a pocket inside. I got the idea from another card maker, but I can't remember her name or blog. The image is made with a technique called pulling pastels. You cover a piece of card stock with chalk and them stamp the image using a clear type of ink called Versamark. I put a little sparkle in the center of the flowers which is not showing up in the picture. Inside the card pocket I wrote a note and added some floss.


I used the same technique to make this butterfly card for a swap-bot exchange.

That is enough for today. Time for another cup of tea. Don't forget about my giveaway there is still a few days left to enter my PIF, if you are interested leave me a comment in that post.

See ya!

CJ

PIF--Come on, join me!!!

It's about time I posted about the PIF (Pay It Forward). A few months back Pirjo posted that she had a PIF going and was looking for people to join in. Lucky me, I was one of the three selected to participate. Now it is time for me to offer to PIF some of you. I love these type of exchanges, it is always more fun to give than to receive. If you want to participate please see the instructions below and leave a comment on this post no later than 30 September, I will announce names on 1 October. Be sure to leave an e-mail or link to your blog so I can contact you.

Here are the rules:

1. I'll send no less than 5 stitching related items per person within the next 365 days.
2. Items can be DMC, other threads, stitching needles, straight pins, buttons, scissors, ribbons, etc. - a combination of items such as 3 threads, 1 pack of straight pins and 1 pack of stitching needles or just 5 threads.
3. The items must be new and not used.
4. If you win, you must be willing to post this PIF on your blog and do the same for at least 2 people.

This PIF is very simple and easy to do I hope you will join me.

See ya!!

CJ

Book Reading Challenge

I have always enjoyed reading a good book, I especially love to read at night before I go to sleep. Vickie thought it would be fun to do a book challenge and I have joined her challenge. Checkout her blog for the details but do it quick the deadline to sign up is Sept. 15. I am not sure if I can finish 10 books by the end of the year but I am going to try. Here is my list in no particular order:

1) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J. K. Rowling-Finished
2) A Tisket, a Tasket, a Fancy Stolen Casket, Fran Rizer
3) Murder Unleashed, Elaine Viets - Reading
4) Murder with Reservations, Elaine Viets
5) Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone, J. K. Rowling
6) a mercy, Toni Morrison
7) Firefly Beach, Luanne Rice
8) What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, Lysa Terkurst
9) The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown
10) Accessory to Murder, Elaine Viets

That is my list for now.
See ya!!

CJ

It' a Monday Update!!

Hi everyone hope you all are enjoying September. As usual I am running around like a headless chicken as I keep things running smoothly (at least I hope it is "smoothly) around this household. This year we have added soccer to our weekly routine, I am not used to having to keep up with all this after school stuff and this is only for one kid. Don't know what I will do when we all three in sports.

I made it through the second week of school with only one child getting into trouble for hitting, not once but three times--she likes to spread out during the week. I volunteered for Picture day, which kept me at the school until after 1pm on Friday. It was fun I got to meet all the teachers and see the students. I really like my kids new school the principal is just fantastic.

I do have some photos to share with you of cards I made and a great gift I received from Meari for guessing the correct amount she spent on her new stash cabinet. So here goes:

These are six Flower Pot cards I made for an exchange on Card Swap. Each month they have an exchange that requires you make cards in a certain pattern. This was my first time making this type card I really like it and I plan to make more. All you do is pull on the flowers which are attached to blank card for a personal message. Real neat and lots of fun.

This is a simple 3x3 card that I cased from Angie. She is one of Stampin Up's top demonstrators. Her site is full of how-to videos for everything she makes and I try to make all of them. So if you enjoy paper craft and need a little inspiration check out Chic'n Scratch.

This is the great gift I received from Meari. The fabric is hand-dyed by her, I just love it. I am planning to use it on a primitive pattern I have waiting in the wings. The stickers went to my kiddos who are always happy to have stickers and the lovely floss from Carrie's Creation went in my stash.

This week I plan to make more cards and finish a biscornu for a Swap-Bot exchange. Hey if you like to make biscornu's check out this biscornu group, perhaps you will want to join us.

Keep your eyes open for my next update it is a going to be about a PIF that I am very excited about. I just love PIFs.

Happy Labor Day!!

See ya!!

CJ