Written in the Stars

As with all the Cinema Saturday Challenges it really gets me thinking about the movie and how I want to represent it in my creative work.  A Knight's Tale is meant to be about "changing your stars" but can stars really be changed?   Two men can be given the same opportunities but each of them may achieve different goals depending on the desires of their hearts.  William became a Knight because of the heart in which he played his stars. There is a point in the movie while the men are falling asleep in their tent and William is telling them that Jocelyn has stolen his heart.  His friend, Roland (the big guy), says "Without your heart you cannot win." It was this tiny sentence that inspired me to create my own sentiment.  "Luck may be written in the stars, but victory is realized with your heart."  I don't have  much of a talent for writing so it may not be as poetic as Shakespeare or Chaucer but it was exactly what I wanted to say.

The rest of the card was worked around my quote and Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch (It was exactly what I needed, Thanks Karen!)

 I decided on greens and neutrals that were present in many of the cosutmes. Remember Roland describing Williams outfit for the ball to Jocelyn's Maid?  Green, trimmed with lighter green, and embellished with wood toggles? That's why I had to add the wood button.  It represents William's more humble beginnings. I've got the hearts and stars working together along with the four leaf clover in the center for luck.  I also added gold stitching around the main panel and I added linen thread wrapped around the brown scallop circle for something a little different.

Anyhow thanks so much for stopping by and I hope I didn't bore you too much with my written ramblings.  Have a wonderful week (what's left of it).

PS. My favourite character in this movie was actually Geoffrey Chaucer well played by actor Paul Bettany.

Boys will be Boys

Here's a boy themed boxed card set that I was working on last week.  I made them for a girlfriend of mine who has kids around the same age as mine.  Her birthday is coming up so I wanted to make just a little something and thought kids birthday cards would be a great thing to have around the house.  With two kids in school the birthday parties sometimes become daunting so it's nice to have a set of cards on hand and one less thing to worry about.  I'm in the midst of making a girls set for her as well.  I'll show all of you that set on the weekend.

Anyhow for the majority of these cards I didn't use SU! It's paper I've been meaning to cut into for a while now and finally found some inspiration.  If you have this adorable dp collections, Bayou Blue, Baja Breeze, Ridinghood Red, More Mustard and Old Olive, are all SU! colours that go really well with it.

I hope your week is going wonderfully!  Right now I am enjoying my Terrific Tuesday with my 2 year old to keep me company.

Birthday Boy

Paper:  Old Olive, More Mustard

Ink:  Bayou Blue (on the BOY chipboard)

Accessories:  Billboard Decorative Strip (Letters), chipboard (Boy), scallop border punch

Happy Birthday Boats

Paper:  Old Olive, Blue Bayou, Baja Breeze

Ink:  Whisper White

Accessories:  White embossing powder, 3/4" circle punch (wave), 1 3/8" circle punch (boats)

Stamps: Favourite Teddy Bear (retired)

Happy Birthday Trains

Paper: Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Baja Breeze

Ink:  Blue Bayou

Accessories:  Large colour rounder bunch, Sewing Machine

Stamps: Favourite Teddy Bear (retired)

Enjoy the Ride Shaker Card

Paper:  Blue Bayou, Whisper White, Acetate

Ink:  Black, Blue Bayou

Accessories: Micro Beads, Foam tape, dimensionals

Stamps:  Everyday Flexible Phrases, NSU (Enjoy the Ride)

Dino-Mite and Birthday Blast

Paper: Blue Bayou, Baja Breeze, and More Mustard

Valentine's Mojo

I'm amazed at the number of challenges I've been able to complete this week since the kids are back to their usual routine.  It was wonderful having them all tucked into bed by 7:30 last night!  That being said I think we are all ready for the weekend.  The kids are very tired.

Here's my card that I made for two challenges.  Mojo Monday sketch and Crazy 4 Challenges to use polka-dots.  Being inspired by this card by Mercy Kerin, I pulled out my Night and Day dp and decided to make a black and white card with a touch of Melon Mambo for Valentine's Day.

The scallop circle was made using my circle scissors and small corner rounder punch.  Not an easy task with black paper.  It could have been a bit bigger but I wasn't willing to start over again.  I decided to use a bit of gray cs to lighten it up a little bit. I was very happy with the ribbon as it was my first time trying this technique.  The pink heart was inked with Melon Mambo and then with versamark so that it could be clear embossed, cut and mounted with dimensionals.  The sentiment was a bit trickier because I didn't have a valentines stamp that fit the spot so I used the alternative "Thankful Thoughts" stamp from the Grateful Greetings stamp set to fill the space.

Paper:  White, Whisper White, Basic Black, Going Grey, Night and Dark dp,

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Versamark

Accessories:  Bling, scallop edge punch, circle scissors, small corner rounder punch, Melon Mambo ribbon

Stamps:  Simply Said, Grateful Greetings

Cinema Saturday Dark vs. Light

I have a confession to make.  I have only read the book once (in grade school because I had to) and I've only watched the movie once.  The reason for my lack of emersion has always been due to the very apparent struggle between dark and light, good vs. evil.  Don't laugh, but this children's book actually caused me a lot of anxiety while I was reading it.  It seemed to take forever to get to a part in the book where there was some kind of hope (in the form of Aslan).  At the time I was reading it, I believe I was 10,  I didn't catch the religious aspects or even the source of my anxiety.  What I did know was that Narnia was not a place that I wanted to escape to but to escape from.

Thankfully this Walt Disney movie version came along. The cinematography is breathtaking and they did such a great job of portraying the visual aspects of dark vs. light. Also being nearly 20 years older and watching this I was able to identify the emotions I was feeling. Apprehension is a whole lot easier to deal with during a 2 hour movie than the hours it took me to read the book as a child.

Anyhow, there's the background now here's my card.  I knew I had to interpret the contrast of dark and light.  So I sponged black ink on a 3.5 x 5 piece of acetate.  Stamped the "darkest moments" sentiment from the Hard to Say stamp set with White craft ink and clear embossed to prevent smudging.  Make sure not to overheat your acetate...it will warp.

The acetate was attached to the top of the card base using Vellum tape. Using my favourite Delight in Life stamp set (retired) I made a bright and cheerful scene on the card base and did the same in the inside adding glitter to the flower centers and the rest of the sentiment.

It is friends, faith and family that give us hope in our darkest moments isn't it?  Without them we are alone as Edmund  discovered during his journey in Narnia.

Paper:  Whisper White, Acetate

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Taken with Teal (although it came out more Bayou Blue),  Crushed Curry, Whisper White Craft, Basic Black

Accessories:  Dazzling Diamonds, clear emboss powder, sponge.

Stamp sets:  Hard to Say, Delight in Life

Wrapping Up EBTKS

Everything But The Kitchen Sink's latest challenge is to use wrapping paper.  Shouldn't be hard to do considering all the Christmas paper we probably have laying around after the holidays right?  But then....I don't know about you but I'm kind of tired of my Christmas cards.  And the only wrapping paper I had laying around was this piece of orange paisley paper from the Fall Purdy's Chocolates boxes.  Paisley isn't quite my style but it all came together well enough.  I do like the colour combo and the scallop punch (my last remnants from my play date with Maureen).

Like I said this isn't my best work or my style but I'm just happy that I managed to find time to play along with EBTKS.  Their challenges are based on things around our house like TP and tooth picks.  The awesome design team forces you to think outside the box. You have until January 8th for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate.  So check it out and join in the FUN

Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Pumpkin pie, Baroque Burgundy, wrapping paper

Ink:  Baroque Burgundy, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punch, Baroque Burgundy grosgrain and button, large corner rounder.

Stamp set: Priceless

It's Just that Easy!!!

I thought I'd start the New Year off by trying something new:  watercolour painting.  I had this in mind for my boys' room since the new Stampin' Up! catalogue came out.  The Storybook Specialty paper has been stored in my closet since September but I have been too afraid to actually paint it.  I took the plunge and was surprised at how quick and easy it really was.  And I don't think they turned out half bad considering I've never done any major painting of any kind before.  The one on the left I did after the kids went to bed so I was much more relaxed.  The one on the right was done while the boys were playing in the background and my daughter was watching and talking with me the whole time...I think you can tell that it was more of a rush job and if I had been a bit more relaxed I would have chosen some better colour placement but overall I think it still works.  I may redo that last one since I have another of the same picture.

Each picture took me about an hour to create with my watercolour pencils and Aqua Painter.  I've done a little bit of watercolouring with water and paint brush small stamped projects because I didn't want to spend $23 on the Painters but I must say it goes a lot quicker with the Aqua Painter!  It's very hassle free with a steady source of water.

Anyhow,  just wanted to share my first pieces of painted art to show you how easy it is and encourage you to give it a try.  My daughter wants a couple of her own so I may have a couple more to share with you.  Hoping you are all have a very wonderful week.

Early Birthday Present

Happy New Years!!  My first post of 2010!  There is no guarantee that this year will be any better (or worse) than the last but at least we can have faith that we've grown wiser from lessons learned and blessing given in 2009.

Here's the project that I was working on over the holidays.  It's a birthday present for my husband's aunt who seems to really appreciate the work that I put into my pieces.  I wanted to make her something cheerful and useful and I thought that 3 x 3 gift cards would be great!  She likes to give friends and family little tokens of thought and appreciation so these little cards might come in handy for her.

The SU! colours used are Bayou Blue, Real Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, and Kraft.  I also got around to using up some of my Vanilla hodgepodge hardware and build-a-brads.  The embellishments probably make these cards on the more expensive side but if I have it and it fits with the project what's the point of holding on to it?   Anyhow I made 10 cards in all and a few were repeats. My favourites are the cherries and the ones with cross-stitching. (You can click on the pictures to get a better look)

Anyhow I hope she likes them as I much as I appreciate her.  Hope all is well with you in your neck of the woods.  In my home we are getting ready for the first day back to our pre-Christmas routine.  School, spelling tests, music lessons, dance lessons but thankfully no swimming lessons.  4 days at the pool for me was just a little much.  Instead we'll fit in a family swimming night once a week.  Sounds like a better use of all of our time.  I don't know about the rest of you moms and teachers but I could have used another week.  I know this sounds strange but I would love to have Winter break as opposed to Summer break as I would love to hibernate in the middle of winter when there's less day light time.