While Walking My Dogs

Card #2 – Birthday Card – {31 Days of Cards}

Posted on January 2, 2015 by gracieed

Before we get to Card #2, the winner of yesterdays daily giveaway is: Tammy who said, “gorgeous card grace you are truly talented”.

Thank you for those kind words and Congratulations Tammy!

I hope you enjoy your card.

Don’t forget to leave a comment on this post for today’s card. Remember each day you leave a comment, you are entered into the drawing for the Grand Giveaway for all 31 cards. Easy, peasy.

Card #2 – Birthday

I started by assembling all my supplies.

I used a white cardstock (4 1/4″ X 11″) for my base, white cardstock (3.75″ X 5″) and olive green cardstock for the frame (4″ X 5 1/2″). I also cut a piece of vellum for the sentiment (2″ X 3″).

I started by embossing the white background cardstock. Using a flower stamp image, I stamped Versamark fairly randomly over the paper. This can be tricky because the Versamark is pretty invisible. Holding it up to a light helps, but there is a risk of crooked stamping. I then covered the stamped images with white embossing powder and used my heat gun to set the images.

While I had my embossing powder out, I inked the stamp with Versamark, covered the image with white embossing powder and heat set it. It’s helpful to make sure you heat gun is nice and hot before you melt the powder on the vellum. Vellum can curl very easily when heat is applied and this technique helps to reduce the curling.

I set my sentiment aside and started coloring in my background of flowers. I used my Distress markers to color the flowers, then used a foam sponge to ink the background with Antique Linen Distress Ink. One of the great features of Distress ink is you can ink over a colored image and the colors won’t mix.

I inked the edges of the olive green cardstock and glued the vellum to the flowered background. Adhesive tends to show through vellum so I attached a piece of grosgrain ribbon across the top of the vellum sentiment along with three enamel dots.

I glued the flowered background to the olive green frame and then attached that whole piece to my white base.

Here is the finished card.

I always need birthday cards and this is one that could be made in several different colors. This card design could also be adapted to other occasions; just change the sentiment.

Remember to leave a comment below and be entered to win this card today and possibly the Grand Giveaway of all 31 cards on February 1, 2015.

Until tomorrow,

Will you be making birthday cards for us this year?

Posted in 31 Days of Cards, Accountability, Cards, Challenges and Contests, Goals, Homemade, Paper Crafting | Tagged 31 Days of Cards, accountability, Cards, Challenges and Contests, homemade, paper crafting | 17 Comments

Happy New Year, Thank You Card – {31 Days of Cards} & Giveaway

Posted on January 1, 2015 by gracieed

A Happy New Year to all my dear readers. I hope your year is filled with love, fun, creativity and peace.

I thought I’d start off the {31 Days of Cards} series with a Thank You card. As I move into 2015, I’m overwhelmed with how much I have to be thankful for. As I go through the year, I want to start and end my days thinking about all the things I’m grateful for; I really want to make this a habit.

So onto the card. I realized I haven’t explained much about this series so here goes. It’s pretty straightforward.

Every day in January I will post a handmade card.
I will make cards for all occasions.
I will demonstrate different card making techniques.
I will have a daily giveaway for the card I made that day. Winners announced the following day.
I will have a Grand Giveaway for all 31 cards on February 1, 2015.

So how do you enter the Giveaway? Glad you asked. Just leave a comment on each days post. Everyday I will randomly pick a winner from the day’s comments. Additionally each commenter will be entered into the drawing for the Grand Giveaway for all 31 cards. Easy, peasy.

Card #1 – Thank You

I started by assembling all my supplies.

Then, cut out the paper. I used a teal cardstock for my base and white cardstock for the background. Additionally I put white cardstock on the inside because it’s hard to see pen ink on dark colored cardstock.

To highlight the border punch and to provide a place for the sentiment, I backed the front of the card with white cardstock. I also trimmed a 1/2″ off the front flap of the card so the white would peek out.

I used my scallop border punch to create a nice decorative edge. Then, using my adhesive I attached the white card stock to the back of the front flap of the card.

Because I wanted to add some pizzazz to my card, I chose embossing powder for the sentiment and the butterfly. Using embossing powder gives your cards depth and interest. I chose black for the sentiment and glittered black for the butterfly.

I stamped my “Thank You” sentiment with Versamark Ink, poured on the embossing powder then embossed the image with my heat gun. (I didn’t take detail photos of this step, but you can see it in the final shots)

I moved onto cutting out the butterfly. I used my Big Shot Die Cutter for this and a butterfly die from Simon Says Stamp. I used washi tape to secure the die to the front of the card and cut out the piece. This step achieved two things: 1. It punched out a butterfly outline on the front of the card and 2. It gave me a beautiful die-cut delicate butterfly to emboss and then attach to the front of the card.

I used Versamark ink again to ink up the butterfly and then poured glittered black powder and heat set it. The pictures really don’t do it justice – it looks awesome.

I then used my adhesive to just attach the middle section of the butterfly to the white cut out section. Leaving the wings loose gives the card a nice 3 dimensional look. I also added a gemstone.

I finished the card by tying ribbon around the card between the butterfly and the scalloped edge. I wanted to tie a bow, but my bow-tying skills leave a lot to be desired so I just tied a double-knot and trimmed the ends. I also glued down the extra piece of white card stock on the inside.

Here is the finished card.

This was a fun card to start the series off with. Remember to leave a comment below and be entered to win this card today and possibly the Grand Giveaway of all 31 cards on February 1, 2015.

Until tomorrow,

I’m thankful for walks, food, comfy pillows, treats, a happy home, Woody, Ellie, mom and dad.

Posted in 31 Days of Cards, Accountability, Cards, Challenges and Contests, Goals, Homemade, Paper Crafting, Thankfulness | Tagged 31 Days of Cards, accountability, Cards, Challenges and Contests, homemade, paper crafting, thankfulness | 16 Comments

Making time to…

Posted on December 30, 2014 by gracieed

How often do we hear the phrase, “I just don’t have the time” or “I’m too busy to do …”? Or how often to we use those phrases? I know I do and it’s usually attached to an activity that I’m NOT crazy about… like exercising or cleaning the house or [fill in the blank]. All the experts tell us that if something is important or valuable to us, we will MAKE the time. And as we do, we discover that we actually do have the time.

I feel this way about cleaning… the house. I know it’s important and I do value a clean home, but the actual activity – yuck! There are so many other things I’d rather be doing! I know I’m not alone in this arena so I’m going to share how I’m tackling this nemesis in 2015.

I discovered CleanMama a couple of years ago. Becky is a cleaning and homekeeping expert, a wife and mom to three, a business owner, and a former art teacher. Her blog helps you discover new ways to do the mundane tasks of homekeeping and to bring a little more fun into the process. And she does it using a variety of lists! If you’re familiar with my love of lists then you’ll understand why I was drawn to her blog.

Becky (Clean Mama) has developed a cleaning routine that’s pretty popular and used by thousands of people to do a little every day to keep it more manageable and under a 15 minutes every day. She gives away a free monthly cleaning routine calendar sure to help you get your home in order and keep your cleaning routine on task. Here’s January’s calendar + a 31 day Declutter Challenge. Will you join me?

While I’m on the topic of cleaning, I thought I’d share a recipe for an easy Citrus Green Tea Body Scrub. After you’re done scrubbing your house, you can reward yourself with a luxurious bath and fresh, glowing skin. I know I will!

P.S. Here’s a recipe for a general household cleaner from a post I wrote about making household items from scratch. The cleaner works beautifully and smells really good. I use it all the time.

Okay, we’re not crazy about this topic. I hope you’re not adding US to your cleaning schedule.

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, Cleaning, DeCluttering, Goals, Homemade, Lists, Organization, Saving Money | Tagged accountability, Cleaning, decluttering, goals, homemade, lists, Organization, saving money | Leave a comment

Do you have a word for 2015?

Posted on December 29, 2014 by gracieed

Last year my word was ‘complete’. I initially chose it because I found myself suffering from start-itis – starting many projects, but not finishing much. I originally thought of the word ‘finish’, but that had a depressing quality in the sense of coming to the end of something. Like when you ‘finish’ a good book and you don’t want to say goodbye to the characters.

Complete is defined as “having all parts or elements; lacking nothing; whole; entire; full. finished; ended; concluded. thorough; entire; total; undivided, uncompromised, or unmodified. having all the required or customary characteristics, skills, or the like; consummate.” This word had a richer quality and broader application.

I carried the word around in my heart and mind all year and when I found myself slipping into old habits, it would remind me of how I wanted to change. It guided me, taught me and ultimately revealed that my pursuit of ‘finished projects’ was more the idea of finishing well in all areas of my life. Obviously this is a life long challenge and one where I have barely scratched the surface.

I’ve signed up for Ali Edwards’ One Little Word online class. Every month on the 1st, Ali emails a creative prompt to help make your word more visible in your life. You can assemble your monthly pieces in any manner you like. I’m choosing to incorporate them into my Project Life album.

As we move into 2015, consider choosing a word for yourself. I’ve chosen the word ‘ready‘. According to the dictionary, ready means, “completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use. duly equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose. willing. inclined; disposed; apt. prompt or quick in action.” I’m excited and a little terrified by the potential of this word, but I have a whole year to explore and figure out what it means in my life.

I’m ‘ready’ to go for a walk. Did you see how I used mom’s word? I’m also ‘ready’ for a treat. And I’m ‘ready’ for a nap. I think I’m gonna LOVE mom’s word this year.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Paws || Walk On – 12.21 – 1.3

Posted on December 28, 2014 by gracieed

Every now and then when I’m walking dogs, I will just stop, ask them to sit for about 30 seconds and then I will say “walk on”. That is there cue to start walking again. I do this for a couple of reasons: 1. They’re super focused when they’re on the walk and I like to know I can get their attention any time I need it. 2. It’s good to continue to incorporate training into their daily routines. Just as we need to continue to refine our skills, so must dogs.

This always reminds me how important it is for me to pause and reflect on the past week and then think about the next one as I “walk on”.

Paws | Week of 12.21-12.27

• called my Grandpa in England.
• made birthday cards for December/January birthdays.
• almost finished with December Photo-a-day challenge.
• celebrated Ellie’s 9th birthday. Love that girl.
• prepped January Card Series || Cards for 2015.
• sent out Christmas cards.
• watched Santa Buddies, Home Alone, A Nine Dog Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Christmas Vacation.
• spent Christmas eve with Mike’s family. Even had our picture taken with Santa.
• went to Christmas eve service at our church. On the way home we drove by houses decorated with beautiful lights.
• began teaching a friend’s daughter how to sew with her brand new sewing machine.
• went to see The Hobbit on Christmas day with Mike.
• started reading Unbroken.
• walked the dogs everyday. Christmas day was the best. The sky was so blue and the air crisp.
• started Margaret’s scarf.

Walk On | Week of 12.28-1.3

• call my Grandpa in England.
• spend a couple of days with my niece. I’m sure we’ll be crafting like crazy.
• go to a birthday party for a dear friend.
• make more dog beds and collars to sell on Etsy.
• continuing my Photo-a-day challenge.
• prep and post January Card Series || Cards for 2015.
• movie marathon on New Year’s eve with friends.
• give the house a nice deep clean. It’s been sorely neglected these past few weeks.

My favorite quote from the week: “Focus on making yourself better, not on thinking that you are better.” Bohdi Sanders.

Have a wonderful week,

Woody here. Ellie was going to tell you how much she enjoyed her birthday, but as you can see you partied a little too hard. I’m sure she’ll tell you tomorrow.

Posted in Accountability, Books, Cards, Christmas, Christmas movies, Cleaning, Decorating, Dogs, Goals, Homemade, Knitting, Movies, Paper Crafting, Quest46, sewing, TV & Movies, Yarn | Tagged accountability, books, Cards, Christmas, Christmas movies, Cleaning, Decorating, Dogs, Gardening, goals, homemade, knitting, paper crafting, Quest46, sewing, TV & Movies, yarn | 1 Comment

Saturday Snippets | December 27, 2014

Posted on December 27, 2014 by gracieed

Welcome to Saturday Snippets. This is where I share links and odd bits of info from the past week.

1. Check http://www.booksshouldbefree.com for classics in e-book and audio versions. All free.

2. Waterlogue app. Take your photos and turn them into watercolor works of art. Some pictures I turned into watercolors.

3. Just in case you haven’t heard this song yet, here’s a Christmas Light interpretation set to “Let It Go”.

4. Want to know which yarn would work for your project? YarnSub is designed to help knitters and crocheters find substitutes for discontinued or hard-to-obtain yarns.

5. An amazing Ted Talk.

Well that’s all the snippets I have for today. Have a wonderful Saturday,

I can’t wait to see my picture in watercolor.

Posted in Accountability, Books, Christmas, Crochet, Dogs, Education, Goals, Knitting, Paper Crafting, Saturday Snippets, Scrapbooking, Tutorial, Yarn | Tagged accountability, books, Christmas, crochet, Dogs, education, goals, knitting, paper crafting, Saturday Snippets, scrapbooking, Tutorial, yarn | Leave a comment

Merry Christmas, one and all.

Posted on December 25, 2014 by gracieed

Dear Readers –

I wish you all a Joyous Christmas surrounded by family and friends.

We also wish you a very Merry Christmas surrounded by yummy treats — oh and loved ones.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Quest46 – Update #1

Posted on December 24, 2014 by gracieed

It’s been exactly 1 month since my Quest46 started. {If you’re new to my blog, Quest46 is a group of 46 goals I gave myself for the next 365 days (or 357 as of today). You can read about it here.}

Observations after one month:

I love the cumulative affect of working on things every day. I often feel the compulsion ‘to be done’ with things and that’s not possible for most of my Quest46 items. I’m becoming more and more comfortable with progress.
I feel purposeful every day. I need to know that I’m working towards something ever day.
When I started this list, I thought I would struggle coming up with 46 items. This process has had the reverse affect. I’m already well into my Quest47 list.
Having a birthday quite close to Christmas has added an extra challenge with some of my items. Some I’ve moved to next Christmas because I don’t want to rob myself of the joy of this process.
I can’t believe it’s been a month already.
Being aware of these commitments I’ve made is making me mindful of projects that will present themselves in the future. I’m working really hard at learning to say ‘no’ graciously.
My overall progress has been fair, but in 30 days I’ve come face to face with the reality that I need to step up my game. I knew this would be a challenge, it’s a Quest after all, and it’s totally do-able, I just have to be disciplined.

I’ve written the entire list along with current progress.

1. Memorize Psalm 91. Continuing to memorize. Even though I’ve only committed the first verse to memory, I’m amazed at how God uses each recitation to reveal more about who He is.
2. Lose the rest of my weight and increase my fitness. A year ago, I would have been terrified at the idea of eating healthy at Christmas. Now, it’s just the way things have to be and I’m really grateful. I do need to step up my exercise, though.
3. Find and implement new ways to honor Mike daily. Still working on being finished with my ‘work’ by 5pm. Finished reading a book with him and am excited about helping him bring his ideas to life.
4. Make albums for each dog. Will start this in the new year. I found the albums I want to use. Yea!
5. Crochet a Ripple Blanket. Will start in the new year. My dilemma now is what colors to choose. Any thoughts?
6. Plant a vegetable garden. Sometime in spring. A dear friend already started me off with some vegetable seeds and seed pots.
7. Journal 52. Am woefully behind. Christmas projects have really packed a punch (no excuses, just truth). More than likely I’ll start this in the new year and play catchup.
8. Read 24 new books. Have chosen 19 of the 24. Here’s the 15: The God Ask (done), Manage Your Day to Day (done), Handmade Market Place, Lore of Running, Outlander #1, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Yarn to Go, Jock of the Bushveld, Dear Mr. Knightly, How to be the Leader of the Pack, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals, Lady Susan, The Scent of Water: Grace for Every Kind of Broken, White Fang, Unbroken, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, The Go-Getter, The Artist’s Way
9. Make a scarf for Margaret. Here’s the pattern, now just need the wool.
10. Make birthday cards for family and friends. Finished November, now working on December and January.
11. Send two “thinking of you gifts” every month. Gift #1 done, Gift #2 ready to go next week.
12. Complete 6 online classes. First one scheduled for January 14, 2015.
13. Start a 5 year – daily, one-line journal. Started and love it.
14. Learn how to make paper. Next year sometime.
15. Make Christmas stockings. This is one of those Christmas one’s that will be for next year. Don’t worry, the doggies will still get plenty of treats ;-).
16. Learn 12 new recipes. #1 complete. Pumpkin Pie (low carb)
17. Learn how to weave. Next year sometime.
18. Record 12 card making video tutorials. Start this in the new year.
19. Make a smaller soap box and make different scented soaps every month. Need to make a batch soon. We’re officially out. Next week sometime. Mike has requested Cinnamon Spice.
20. Paint Kitchen Cabinets. Looking to do this in June, 2015.
21. Learn how to dye with natural ingredients. Waiting for springtime.
22. Work 52 items off “My Todo’s” Board on Pinterest. Completed 2, but need to step up my game. #1 complete. I made paper beads using old books, bead cores and Utee Ultra Thick Embossing Resin. Blog post to follow. #2 complete. I made dog collars for a friend’s dog.
23. Make mini-albums of dogs for Christmas presents. I’ve changed my mind again. I’m back to the mini-album idea and doing it for next year.
24. Make Mike a Dr. Who Quilt. Starting in March, 2015.
25. Start a fairy garden. Going to wait for spring.
26. Paint patio furniture. Scheduled for July, 2015.
27. Plant a cutting garden. Spring, 2015. Did get a head start on planting a flower with my amaryllis.
28. Make dog biscuit gift bags for Christmas. This will probably become a New Year gift. Don’t think the dogs will mind.
29. Complete all the achievements of the 7 Minute Workout. Still need to start this. Did I mention my exercise discipline is lacking?
30. Beat my time in the Urban Cow Half Marathon. Increasing my walking mileage then beginning running training after the first of the year.
31. Finish Central Park Hoodie. Step 1: Find where I put this project. I’m in the process of doing that. Still looking.
32. Read through the Bible. 1 chapter per day. Starting this on January 1, 2015 with Mike. Until then, I’m reading through the Psalms.
33. Make birds for wall tree. Will start after the first of the year and the Christmas decorations are down.
34. Declutter and decorate Master Bedroom. Waiting for the new year.
35. Make Cloth Art Journal. Scheduled for the beginning of the new year.
36. Learn to knit socks. Found the pattern and the class. Will wait until Central Park Hoodie is finished (31).
37. Work on Project Life every week. Trying to carve out Sunday afternoons for this. Keeping track of journaling throughout the week.
38. Transcribe Da’s tapes. In the new year.
39. Make dog beds. Finished 1 last week. Want to complete 5 this week.
40. Pray for my nieces and nephews. Everyday. I’m really enjoying this.
41. Add a new item every month to Etsy shop to build variety and inventory. Dreaming up what the next item will be. Look for it by the beginning of January.
42. Put together a team for the local SPCA Doggie Dash in June. Will begin in January, 2015.
43. Photo-a-day using the Collect App. Love this app. Here’s November, 2014.
44. Read Pride and Prejudice. Will begin this in the new year.
45. Knit 1 square per week for Knit-a-square. Halfway finished with last week’s square. Will catch up this week. Pictures to come.
46. Be a better blogger and blog-reader. Post consistently. Comment regularly. Work on this everyday.

Until next time,

Don’t worry about not finishing our stockings. We’re just relieved that we’re still getting treats.

Posted in Accountability, Beads, Books, Homemade, Knitting, Quest46 | Tagged accountability, Beads, books, homemade, knitting, Quest46 | 1 Comment

Nine Today

Posted on December 23, 2014 by gracieed

Ellie turns 9 today. In honor of her special day, I thought I would tell you the 9 Reasons I Love Ellie.

1. She loves to eat. She has always LOVED her food, in fact, she doesn’t actually chew, she hoovers. I had to develop a game to get her to wait to eat. Here’s a video:

2. She is incredibly welcoming to other dogs. She loves to play with them and has great patience with them all. She even lets them nap with her on the couch.

3. She’s very inquisitive. She always has to know what I’m doing and believes it’s her job to know what’s going on.

4. She is extremely photogenic and really doesn’t mind having her picture taken. A. Lot.

5. She has the most beautiful brown eyes and biggish ears. When she was a toddler I was a bit worried she would be able to pick up signals from space with the satellite dishes she had for ears.

6. She’s my shadow. My faithful companion.

7. And our home alarm. From her look out spot, she lets me know when anyone is remotely close to the house.

8. She loves to play ball especially with Woody. Actually she loves to catch the ball, play keep-away with Woody, drop the ball and let him bring it to me.

9. She loves to help Mike in the backyard. Especially when he’s digging. She’s great at catching dirt.

We do love her and I’m so glad I stopped by the puppy wing of the SPCA 8 years and 45 weeks ago. Happy Birthday Ellie!!!!

I’m still not sure it was a good idea to bring Ellie home. However, she’s grown on me so she can stay.

Posted in Dogs, Project Life | Tagged Dogs, project life | 1 Comment

While Walking My Dogs

Card #2 – Birthday Card – {31 Days of Cards}

Card #2 – Birthday

Happy New Year, Thank You Card – {31 Days of Cards} & Giveaway

Card #1 – Thank You

Making time to…

Do you have a word for 2015?

Paws || Walk On – 12.21 – 1.3

Saturday Snippets | December 27, 2014

Top 10 posts of 2014

Merry Christmas, one and all.

Quest46 – Update #1

Nine Today

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