I forgot!!

This has been such a busy week that I totally forgot to post Thursday's StampInsanity challenge. I'm so embarassed! Here it is, better late than never I guess...:)

Check out the challenge details here: http://stampinsanity.com/2010/10/sisc33its-a-spookilicious-halloween/

The base of the broom/bag is just a brown paper lunch bag. I took a ruler and cut long slits into it with my exacto knife. Then I put a small piece of cardboard in bottom to give it some support. I tied it off with a ribbon and large twig I found in my yard. :)

The image is from StampInsanity (of course). I colored it with my PrismaColor pencils and adhered it to a piece of black cardstock and patterened paper I got a few years ago at Walmart.

Easy enough, but I don't think I'll be using this as a template for my Halloween favors. The slits were pretty time consuming. I think I will use this to put the best halloween costume prize in. It's almost a prize in itself with that image!! ;)

Worry Dolls

Many years ago while on a school field trip to the Cincinnati Art Museum I had the chance to get a little something from the gift shop. At my age that was the biggest thrill of the trip. :) So as I looked around I saw the cutest little fabric bag. It had a label that read "Trouble Dolls". Inside the little bag were about 8 tiny little dolls dressed in floss and fabric. I loved them! It was so interesting to me to learn about the Guatemalan tradition of taking a doll and telling it one of your worries and then placing it under your pillow when you lay down for bed. Then in the night the little doll would carry your troubles away. I thought it was just the neatest thing. I kept that little bag of dolls for years. As a matter of fact I think I may still have it packed away somewhere.

So, this year I decided to research and find out if I could make some of my own to give out at our Halloween party as favors. Luckily there was no shortage of sites with instructions and background stories. Here is the blog I found most helpful:

http://craftyteacher.blogspot.com/2007/10/make-your-own-worry-dolls-or-toothpick.html

It was surprisingly easy to make. After making one I think that it would be just as easy to personalize or embellish them even. So, for the next few weeks that is what I will be doing. Wrapping floss around toothpicks. :)

What I also discovered was a great way to link these dolls back to an awesome lesson in the bible.

1 Peter 5:7 says:
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

What a wonderful hope to have! No matter what we are facing, God cares for us and He wants to carry our burdens!

I know these dolls aren't intended to teach biblical principles but I think that this verse fits them perfectly. So hopefully this Halloween I can share with my friends and family a little hope and a lot of love! :)

StampInsanity Thursday Challenge

This week's challenge is "Life Free/Die-Cut". :)

I've been crazy busy this week so I didn't get the opportunity to really experiment with my embossing as the challenge suggests, but I did do a little something unusual to this card. I put a "bite" on it. :) My husband said a buck-toothed vampire must have bit it because the teeth are too close together. I told him that I did not care what he thought and the next time he meets a vampire he can measure his fangs and get back to me.

Image: Halloween Henry - StampInsanity
Coloring: PrismaColor Pencils
Embossing Folder: SU
Ribbon: SU
Paper: Cherry Cobbler & Basic Black - SU


You can find the challenge information here:

http://stampinsanity.com/blog/

Or you can purchase this great little vampire here:

http://stampinsanity.com/store/


Thanks for looking and don't forget to give this week's challenge a try for yourself!

Prayer Request

I don't know this family but I wanted to share their story all the same.

I follow the blog of a wonderful artist named Dustin Pike. Tonight on his blog he posted a link that literally broke my heart. Here is a link to his post:

http://dustinpike.blogspot.com/2010/10/freebie-and-sincere-request.html

This is the link Dustin mentions in his blog about the Payne family:

http://summertimedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/10/easton-kit.html

Here is a link to a newspaper report about the accident. I am only posting it to reassure everyone that this is a genuine story.

http://www.santanvalley.com/news/local/47-three-year-old-jaxon-payne-drowns-in-backyard-pool

The Payne family could use any help you could give. If you can't make a donation you could keep them in your prayers. I absolutely cannot imagine what they are going through right now. To be honest I don't even think I could try. PLEASE say a prayer for this precious family and consider helping them if you can. Dustin is taking donations from a digi stamp set he is offering.

I wouldn't normally post things like this but I couldn't read their story and not do something. Even if it's just spreading the word of their struggle and asking you to join me in lifting them up in prayer.

Thank you.

New Release from StampInsanity...Devil Dolls!!

For this card I drew/cut the flames by hand and then glittered the edges. The bat is a digital image from StampInsanity and I just wrote out "Wicked" with a white gel pen. I colored the image with my PrismaColor pencils. The border on top is a rub-on and the white lines I drew with my gel pen. The Devil Doll image is from StampInsanity.

I really loved working with this image! You could really use her all year round. But, in my case I used her for this week's StampInsanity challenge. You can get all the details, and join in the fun here.

http://stampinsanity.com/blog/

And even better, you can order the Devil Dolls set here:

http://stampinsanity.com/store/

Check them out:

Too cool.

Speaking of "too cool" here are my fellow asylum girls. They have some amazing blogs you are going to want to see!

Margie (DTC)- http://ohbumbleismemargie.blogspot.com/

Jacquie - http://javablustamper.blogspot.com/

Juanita - http://stampintwilghtmom.blogspot.com/

Alison - http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/

Erica - http://www.inkedupandreadytoplay.com/

Jules - http://goodkardma.blogspot.com/

Sugar - http://sugscardsnmore.blogspot.com/

Jane - http://jcocraft.blogspot.com/

Lynx (Blackdragon) - http://lynsblogger.blogspot.com/

Kapree - http://kc-consultant.blogspot.com/

Dawn - http://dawnsrubberroom.blogspot.com/

Susan - http://susanscraftychaos.blogspot.com/

Rosalien - http://rosalien-cardfun.blogspot.com/

Chelsea - http://www.scraptasticvoyage.blogspot.com/

You can also support a great cause and get some super cute images by purchasing "Katie for a Cure" from StampInsanity. You can get all the info here:

http://stampinsanity.com/katie/

So, if you've got a few minutes check out all the great links above. You are definitely going to find some things you like!

Coffee Cup Flower

Remember how I was off making a card to post for world card making day? Well, I finished it that day and I finally got the picture uploaded today. So, at least I tried. :) Here is the card I made:

Stamps: Morning Cup, Birthday Banter & Just My Style (for the border along the bottom) - SU

Paper: Chocolate Chip & Bashful Blue - SU

Ribbon: Walmart

Coloring: SU ink and Aqua Painter

World Card Making Day

I've been seeing people post about this day for a while now but I completely forgot about it! It's funny how there is a holiday for everything now! This one I can appreciate though! So, while I go work on a card to post :), here's a list of other "interesting days you can celebrate in October!

October 2
Change a light day
Phileas Fogg's wager day
Techie's day
World farm animals day

October 6
Mad Hatter day

October 8
Lee's national denim day
National Pierogy day

October 9
National Pro-Life cupcake day
World post day

October 10
National cake decorating day
Clergy appreciation day

October 11
National kick butt day

October 12
International moment of frustration scream day
Free thought day
National face your fears day

October 13
International top spinning day
National bring your teddy bear to work/school day

October 14
Be bald and free day

October 15
Mammography day ** Let's all honor this one!
National grouch day

October 16
Dictionary day

October 18
National chocolate cupcake day

October 19
Evaluate your life day
Pro-Life day of silent solidarity

October 21
Get to know your customers day

October 22
Caps Locks day - I think some people celebrate this every day!!

October 23
Make a difference day

October 24
Mother-in-law day

October 26
Howl at the moon night
Mule day

October 27
Cranky co-workers day

October 28
National chocolates day

October 29
Frankenstein Friday
Internet day

October 30
Checklist day
Create a great funeral day
Haunted refrigerator night
National forgiveness day
International bandanna day
National candy corn day

October 31
Books for treats day
National caramel apple day
National knock-knock jokes day
National magic day
...and of course....
Halloween :)

Now, how many of these are actually celebrated or real, I don't know. I found them on this website: http://www.brownielocks.com/october.html. I just thought it was funny. I guess someone, somewhere is always celebrating something! :)