Washi Tape Cards

If you haven’t heard, washi tape is becoming extremely popular in the crafting world, and I can totally see why!  It is perfect for jazzing up a card or layout, and is easy to reposition if you change your mind (which I do-a lot!)

I have been using it more and more on my cards lately, and my stash has been growing nicely.  🙂

SO, here are a few washi tape cards for your viewing pleasure:

Tape: Target; Letters: October Afternoon; Embellishment: Dear Lizzy

This was a simple card to make, but I really like how it turned out!

Supplies: Tape: Target; Buttons: MME

This one didn’t turn out as good, but was super quick and easy, and will work as a thank you card in a pinch.  🙂

A Book Review-Chasing the Sun

Here is my first book review for Bethany House.  I did receive a copy of the book for free, but received no other compensation.  I posted this review on amazon.com and christianbook.com as well.  I really enjoyed reviewing this book, and am looking forward to the next one!  🙂

Review:

Chasing the Sun is set in Civil War times, and focuses on Hannah-a young lady in her twenties raising her younger half brother and sister on a ranch in Texas. The ranch was given to her father for being loyal to the Confederacy, and was taken from a family that had decided to fight for the north.

Throughout the book, Hannah endures very difficult trials-an unwanted suitor, warring bands of Indians, the death of loved ones, and the rigors of running a ranch-all while being faced with the return of one of the original owners of the ranch.

This book provides plenty of adventure, a good “bad” guy, and decent historical background from the times. It also has a strong Christian values message of encouraging prayer in tough times which I felt was very good. I enjoyed the well-developed relationships between Hannah and her siblings, and also Hannah’s relationships with the hired hands and eventually even the Indians.

The biggest downside to the book though, was the romance between Hannah and William. It seemed very contrived. I couldn’t picture a girl sobbing over bad news thinking at the same time-if someone hadn’t just walked into the room, I might have kissed that strange man I just met. It was almost as if the book was written, and then the love story was thrown in here or there to make it a “romance.” The main characters really didn’t even spend enough time around each other to get to know one another, and yet they could fall in love? Also, the romance seemed very modern for the times-not as proper as one would be in the 1800s, and even though it was said a few times “well, we are in Texas, and we don’t need to be as proper”, I still felt there should have been more decorum for the time period.

In short-if you are looking for a good adventure/historical book with a Christian theme, this is a good one-time read. If you are looking for a good romance book-this isn’t it.

So, there you have it-my first review.  Hope you found it helpful!  🙂

Playing Catch Up

SO, I finally have a new camera!  Nope, never found the old one.  I told my daughter if she ever finds it, it’s hers (as I was planning on giving it to her when I eventually upgraded anyway.)

And, now that I have upgraded, I am wondering why I didn’t do it sooner!  I got a GREAT deal on a new camera (who knew they had come down so much in price in the last 5 years?) and the camera has more than twice the power of my old one.  Yay for better pictures!  🙂

I have gone back and updated my crummy pictures from the last few posts, in case anyone would care to go back and look at them, you will actually be able to SEE the cards now.  🙂

In other news, I won one of the contests for National Scrapbooking Day at Echo Park for my Father’s Day card and won a TON of Echo Park Hello Summer goodies (thank you Echo Park!!!!!)  Here is the link that shows my winning card on their site: http://www.echoparkpaperblog.com/echo-park-paper/2012/05/nsd-winners-circle.html

I also just received my guest designer kits from For the Luv of Art, and am looking forward to digging into all the goodies and pumping out some projects in June and July!

AND, I just started something fun-reviewing books for Bethany House, so I will be posting some reviews here as well!

Finally, I can’t let you go without something crafty, so here is a birthday card I made recently:

Supplies: Journaling Card: Becky Higgins; Letters: Heidi Swapp; Mask, Veneer Asterisk, and Mists(Sunshine, Pretty Pink, Pony): Studio Calico; Tape: Target, American Crafts

A little more messy than my average card, but it was fun to play.  🙂

Another Smooches Challenge

Today’s card is based off of a Sparks challenge from Paper Smooches:

For this challenge, I was immediately inspired to use this gorgeous new paper from Echo Park:

Such a happy paper, and I wanted to capitalize on that, so I pulled all of my Paper Smooches that had smiley faces-Spring Fling, Hot Concoctions, and Wake Up- and stamped them onto the clouds, suns, and swirls.  I also added a solid circle stamp from Spring Fling throughout the pattern.

As you can tell by my picture, my camera has NOT been found.  My son has hid it well.  I have actually been making a lot of projects lately that I haven’t been posting, because the pictures would all just be so crummy, but as this challenge is due today-here is my card.  🙂

***UPDATED WITH NEW PHOTO****

 

Supplies: Paper and Stickers: Echo Park; Twine: The Twinery; Stamps: Paper Smooches; Washi Tape: Target, American Crafts

I did order a new camera, and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.  Once it comes, I will be back to posting more regularly-with better pictures too!  🙂

For the Luv of Art NSD Challenges

So, I am still without a camera, so bear with me on my Photobooth pictures!  Hopefully you will at least get the idea-these cards actually turned out great (in person and not backwards!)

Use chevrons:

Supplies: Paper: MME; Wood Veneer and Mists: Studio Calico; Banners: Heidi Swapp; Tape: Amy Tangerine

***UPDATED WITH NEW PHOTO***

Use Tape:

 

Supplies: Stamp: Paper Smooches; Tape: Queen & Company; Target, Dear Lizzy, Tim Holtz; Letters: October Afternoon; Button: MME