Bookmark the Memories

 Hello friends.  Here it is, 10:00 pm- later by the time I actually post this- on a Friday night.  The close of a week, which leaves me to consider, what have I treasured this week? Which memory will imbed itself into my addled brain?  Sad truth is, I don't know.  But I do know which memories I would like to take to the old home with me.

Certainly time spent with family.  I had the fam over for Fourth of July.  We tend to take gatherings like that for granted.  But I know that my 85 year-old grandmother won't be around forever.  Heck, none of us will be.  So I know how important it is to gather together, break bread, and just be with one another.

I would like to be old and able to recall the night my eight year old son set off ALL the fireworks.  I am not talking about sparklers.  No, he didn't even see one this year.  I am talking about the progression from screaming dragons and wild cats, to bottle rockets, to something in a box half the size of him.  He walked forward with that large box cradled in his arms with the grill lighter in one hand, set it down on the plywood, lit the fuse and backed away- just a little... with me urging him to come back just a little further.  And he repeated this until every big box had been lit and every sparkling star had been shot.

I would also like to recall the moment we sat at the table and I taught him to snap beans.  He doesn't like green beans, or any other vegetable for that matter.  But we try.  So I made him put down the electronic games just long enough to snap a pound of beans with me today.  And it seemed like the world found its groove, like things were finally in place.  Surely days were meant for quiet things like snapping beans with your children.

And even more amazing were the two hours I spent speed cleaning with my children this morning.  I will forever wonder how I managed to get them to Windex the windows, clean the cabinet doors, and vacuum the floors all in a single morning.  

Did I mention sewing with my daughter?  We have declared July "Sewing Month".  I helped her make a really cute i-pod holster/carrier.  She even did a little basic applique.  I created a cute wine bag.  When I showed it off to my husband he remarked that it "was nice, but we probably would never use it."  I know.  I thought the same thing.  But it's the process that matters, right?  That's what I tell myself about nearly every project I undertake.

Yes, it has been a good week, despite the sadness of my sister losing a furry family member, and the urgent needs that come with company- family and other wise- to clean house and cook.  There were moments where I lost sight of the happiness that surrounds me.  But here, at the end of the day, at the end of the week, I can see the forest through the trees.

This week has been a difficult one for carving out time to create, but I have managed a couple small projects, and tonight I will share them with you.   Both projects feature images from Stampotique, a small rubber stamp company I discovered several years ago.  I saw a challenge this week, from them, to "Think Outside the Box".  I have attempted just that.  The first is a card that is not square or rectangular.  That is why it is outside of the box for me.  I rarely work odd-shaped cards.

 This has always been one of my favorite images.  I shape-cut the card and then shape cut a panel to adhere.  I used bubble wrap with yellow paint to create some pattern and texture on the panel.  I also swiped a black ink pad across the edges.  I then cut a smaller panel from patterned cardstock, and yet a smaller one from blue.  I used stamps to create texture and to create the sentiment.  I stamped the image on white and colored her with colored pencils and some paint.  I added a ruffled bit of elastic and some inked flowers in the lower left corner.






In the interior, I added a small matted image of her boots.














 This is my actual submission for the Stampotiquechallenge:  SDC57 "Outisde the box"

My second project outside of the box this week was a bookmark.  I just received the latest Sookie Stackhouse novel, and it occurred to me that I could use a really cool bookmark.  (Don't get me started about the book itself- as I am an English Major and former Lit and Comp teacher, I am deeply conflicted over this series.)  So, I grabbed the Stampotique Fairy image that I purchased for my daughter a couple years ago.

One of my more recent lessons has been the importance of persevering, even when I think that the project is a failure in its infancy.  That isn't to say that an ugly duckling always turns into a beautiful swan.  But usually the end product is better than my worst fears in the beginning.  And so it is with this bookmark.  From the inital application of colors I began to doubt myself.  But knowing what my recent experiences with CT's workshops have taught me, I carried on. 

 The fairy's hair consists of punched flowers and her wings have been glitterfied!  The background began with Dylusion ink sprays with rubber stamping on top for some depth.  I also added some rub-ons from Basic Grey and some doodling.  Also, at the bottom, our fairy stands upon a Sizzix toadstool.  I mod podged the whole thing.  That in itself can be tricky.  You should be aware that the Dylusion ink sprays will reactivate when wet. This actually works in my favor, as I like to muddy them up a bit.

 Well Friday has rolled into Saturday.  For those of

 you noticing the time gap- don't worry.  I didn't stroke out, nor did you.  I took a break to watch some television with my hubby.

I still have some tricks up my sleeve, and tomorrow the carriage regains its squash-ish state of being.  So... until next week,
     believe,
                dream,
                       and treasure the little moments.