Sew Saturday ~ Do. Good Stitches ~ Courage Circle

Here are the first blocks I made for the Courage Circle @ do. good stitches.  It was based off a tutorial from Bonnie Hunter: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/scrappy-trips-around-world.html

Here is the color palette we were given to work with.

This is my first year participating in do.good.stitches   The courage circle makes quilts to give to children that are in the hospital while one (or more) of their parents are deployed.  It's an amazing way to show these children that their nation cares about the sacrifices they are making.

Make Time

It's the 17th of the month, my sistahs!  I know this time of year is busy for all of us, and that is why I am reminding you to do your monthly self-breast exam.  Cancer doesn't take a holiday.  I wish it would.  So, we must make the time to check ourselves.

Since this month is all about squeezing every minute out of our day, I thought I would do a quick one layer card to remind you to squeeze the girlies.

Here is a short video for you showing how this card is made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7vflwd7tAc

Once again, I am the last stop on the blog hop.  If you are starting here or somewhere in the middle of the hop, be sure to go to the top and start at CASual Fridays Stamps.  Visit each blog and leave a comment for your chance to win 1 of 3 $15 gift certificates to the CASual Fridays store!!!

Would you like to join us next month as a stop on the hop?  Email me at sistahoodhop @ outlook .com for more details.  We would LOVE to have you, and you get a chance to win a $15 gift certificate given to one of our blog hop stops each month.  :)

Merry Squeezing Everyone!

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps ---go here next---

Penny Ward
Jeanne Jachna
Lori Kobular
Kelly Griglione
Sandi Pressley
Kimberly Rendino
Ceal Pritchett
Lisa Lahiff

Sue Nagata
Lydia Evans
Nora Noll
Vicki Dutcher
Heather North ----you are here---

Stamps: Calling All Sistahs, Calm & Gentle (CASual Fridays Stamps)

Ink: Cotton Candy (My Favorite Things) Pink to Red Ombre (Hero Arts) Midnight (Catherine Pooler Designs) Soft Suede (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah)
Accessories: Mini Misti

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Heavyweight, Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb, 25 pk

My Sweet Petunia Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool

The Magnet Source Magnets, Neodymium Super Disc 5/8

Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy

Inkadinkado Stamping Mask Paper, 5x7, 12 pk

Hero Arts Ombre Ink Pad, Pink To Red

COPIC Sketch Marker T2, Toner Gray No. 2

Overstock Sale

Did you hear that Ellen Hutson is having an overstock sale?  Items in their overstock category are 40% for 4 days only.  Shop early for best selection.

Today is the last day for US shoppers to order from Catherine Pooler's store for guaranteed Christmas delivery.  She now has her bright white cardstock for sale for individual purchase.  Can I get a whoop whoop? 

Deer One

When the color layering deer from Hero Arts first came out I tried to get it and it was sold out everywhere I looked.  It came back in stock and I was finally able to order one for myself.  Even though this stamp was made for Christmas, I think the regal stag could be used all year long for masculine cards.

To watch this video on youtube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIlDrkuaGqU

Up close detail.  Isn't it amazing?

Come back next week and I will share a stepped up version using the same basic supplies and inks, with a couple of extra things added in to create a winter scene.

Stamps: Color Layering Deer (Hero Arts) Winter Woodland (Wplus9)

Inks: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Soft Suede (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah) Christmas Patterned Paper (???)
Accessories: Birthday Journal Card Dies (SugarPea Designs) Mini Misti

Hero Arts Clear Stamps, Color Layering Deer

Hero Arts Frame Cuts Dies, Color Layering Deer

WPlus9 Design Studio Clear Stamps, Winter Woodland

COPIC Sketch Marker W1, Warm Gray No. 1

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Heavyweight, Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb, 25 pk

My Sweet Petunia Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool

The Magnet Source Magnets, Neodymium Super Disc 5/8

Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy

Sew Saturday ~ Paint Chip Swap ~ Mini Quilt ~ Envelope Quilt

Last week I shared the mini quilt I made for our guild's paint chip swap that almost cost my marriage.  (just kidding... sort of...) When my husband saw the 12th flag quilt on my design wall he turned it upside down in protest.  LOL  Clicky if you missed that post.

The good news is that in exchange for that quilt, I got my own mini quilt.  The paint chip colors I chose were lilac and aqua.  Tina Davis received my paint chips and went to work studying me to come up with a quilt I would love.  She did an amazing job.  When I opened up my quilt I actually cried.

On the front were envelopes blocks in my colors and on the back she used envelope fabric with a label made of lined paper fabric and an envelope flap on top.  How sweet is that?!!!  

This  beauty will be hanging on the wall in my sewing room for years to come.  I cannot tell you how much I love it and how much it means to me.  Thank you once again, Tina, from the bottom of my heart for this special gift!!!

Smitten with Mittens

Last week we had our first snow of the season and I was filming and coloring these adorable mittens as the snow fell outside my dining room table.  Many people moan when the snow starts, but I get excited!  We get the perfect amount here, usually.  It covers everything in a beautiful blanket of white, then melts away in a few hours to a few days, depending on how much we get.

Aren't these mittens sweet?  They are part of a new mini release from Catherine Pooler Designs. It's called Holiday Wrap-Up the stamps, dies and sentiments are made to put the finishing touches on your holiday cards, tags, and notes.  They also make a great gift for any card maker you know because they are not Christmas specific.  They are products you can use all season long, and beyond.

Would you like to see how I made my card?  Check out the video below or watch on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6SkQJkktUk

The sentiment on the inside is exactly what I would write.  I LOVE it!  I finished it off my adding a few snowflakes.

Below is a picture of the Holiday Wrap Up collection.  You can buy the set of 3 stamps and a coordinating die, or you can purchase each item separately.  How cool is that?!

I didn't use the Still Smiling stamp set today, but you can check out my coloring page card I used it on here.

Stamps: Holiday Mittens, Sending Blessings (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: Lost Lagoon, Soft Sky (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz) White (Neenah)
Accessories: Birthday Journal Tag (Sugar Pea Designs) Masking Marker (Molotow)

Molotow Grafx Art Masking Pen, 2mm

Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 6

My Sweet Petunia Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool

Hero Arts Embossing Gun

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Heavyweight, Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb, 25 pk

Tim Holtz, Crinkle Ribbon

Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy

Thermoweb Adhesive Pick-Up Square

Coloring Page Card

For Christmas each year my mom would put a coloring book and a new box of crayons in my stocking.  After all the gifts were opened on Christmas morning, you could find me huddled over that book coloring with my new crayons.  (the big box with the sharpener on the back was the best!)   Today, I still find coloring enjoyable and relaxing.  I love that you can find adult coloring books just about everywhere.  

The card I made today reminded me of them. Wouldn't this make a cute set of card to give to someone that loves to color?  Stamp them out in black and let the recipient color them in and give them to friends & family.  In all honesty I was only going to color a few images near where I placed the sentiment, but once I got started, I just couldn't stop.

You could color this image with your favorite medium, from crayons to colored pencils to markers and beyond.  To watercolor mine, I squeezed the lid of in pad and then picked up the ink with a paint brush dipped in water.

As for the stamps I used?  They are from a new Catherine Pooler Designs release coming out this week, along with a Holiday Gift Guide.  Sweet deal for anyone on your list that loves to stamp, or for you to put on your own wish list for Christmas.  ;) 

While you are there, don't forget to sign up for the Rewards program (pink box on the left side of the screen).  Use this link to get 15% of your first purchase in the Catherine Pooler store. 

Stamps: Good Things, Still Smiling (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: Fiesta Blue, Grass Skirt, Orange Twist, Rockin' Red, Midnight (CPD)
Paper: Gina K
Accessories: Paint Brush, Water

Year End Closeouts

Stampin' Up is having an end of year clearance sale to get ready for new goodies coming to the site in 2017.  Now is the perfect time to pick up something you've had your eye and perhaps get it at discount.  (up to 60% off!!!!!!!!!)  Items are while supplies last, so order early for best selection.

Happy Shopping!

Sew Saturday ~ Mini Quilt Exchange ~ Paint Chip Swap

Our guild does some really fun swaps.  I think we have them once a quarter, but it might even be every other month.  Recently we did a paint chip swap that blew me away.  Those who wanted to participate were asked to bring in paint chips in the 2 colors they wanted for a mini quilt.  We then secretly exchanged the paint chips and made a mini quilt for the person whose colors we received.  

I was born and raised in a small town in Northern California.  My family are big San Francisco 49er fans.  One of my second cousins was a player for the 49ers when I was a little girl.  I married a man who is a die hard fan of the 49ers, even when he wants to throw something at the TV because they are playing so bad.   We moved to another small town about 90 miles south of Seattle, WA.  Almost everyone here is a Seahawks fan, but some are more so than others.  My husband said, "just because we moved here doesn't mean we become one of them".  LOL  Personally, I like the Seahawks colors better than the 49ers, but I just can't give up my "home team".  

All that to say, I drew the paint chips of the biggest Seahawks fan in our guild and she chose, Seahawks green and navy blue.  I could have done anything with those colors and considered choosing a generic pattern, but instead I decided to "go big or go home".  To honor this fan I made my own pattern using our guild logo as inspiration.

I had to work in super secret hiding.  My dear husband would not understand.  I snuck fabric into my sewing room and worked while he was away at work.  ;)

In the picture below you can see her paint chips as well as all remaining Seahawks fabric. I knew I couldn't leave that laying around the house.  LOL

As I stood up at our meeting to give this quilt away it occured to me that Terri might not be a Seahawks fan.  Perhaps it was just a coincidence that she chose these colors.  I broke out into a cold sweat knowing I had put my marriage on the line for this mini quilt...

At first she said she wasn't and then she confessed that she had on Seahawks underwear.  Thankfully she is as big a fan as I was told she was and she loved it.  For the quilting on this one I followed the outline of the 12.  It turned out pretty cute and I would make more for my other Seahawks fan friends, but I think I better stick to neutral territory for awhile.  ;) 

 Next week I'll share the over-the-top amazing quilt I received.  I still get choked up thinking about it.  Can you guess which 2 colors I chose?