Mindless Modge-Podge

Happy Easter everyone. Where did this weekend go? For me this weekend reaffirmed a few things...
1. Faith is powerful and can be very moving
2. I really like quilting and making cards
3. I HATE crafts

Now to explain...regarding point #1: I attended Easter Vigil Services at the Cathedral. Not because husband John was singing in the choir and I'm embarrassed to admit not because I particularly wanted to. I attended because three university students were converting to Catholicism. They asked that I attend and in fact at 8 pm (the service didn't start until 8:30 pm) one of the students called and said, "Nancy, what are you doing? I am getting Catholic and you are not here yet." (French, not English is her first language.)

I high-tailed it to church in plenty of time to see her "get Catholic". Even though I found myself yearning for the days of Latin (rather than bits and pieces of the mass in Vietnamese, Spanish, and English - I think the mass should be in Latin so NO one understands it!), I was kind of humbled by the faith that these students exhibited. Getting baptized, receiving first communion, getting confirmed all in one grandiose ceremony...to see these young adults choose this religion, my religion, was very moving. They worked very hard for this - 8 months of weekly classes - it is quite a commitment on several different levels.

I have to admit I like all the pomp and circumstance of high mass, always wonder - what is up with the Bishop taking off and putting on the miter, enjoy the smell of incense, and prefer a choir singing to congregation singing.

Point #2: I like making cards. They have that instant gratification thing going for them and there isn't much storage to them as I give them away as fast as I make them. Each one is unique. I will always love quilts.

Now for the craft comment...YUCK! I promised to make 90 swap pins for a Girl Scouting event. Three sets of thirty. I quickly pawned off one set of 30 to sister Gail. She has her part of the commitment fulfilled already. She made 30 tiny little quilts and hand sewed little brass pins to the backs. I on the other hand am still working on the remaining 60. Thirty of them are actual shortbread Girl Scout cookies which I decided to decoupage. BAD idea - it is taking entirely too much time - front side - let dry - back side - let dry - another coat for the front - let dry....you get the picture! The other 30 are stamped and colored Shrinky Dinks...NOT a fast process either. I just sit there alternating between Modge-Podge and the oven - thinking - I should be making cards! Oh well... as I said it reaffirmed that I HATE CRAFTS! Oh! Then I remembered Gail wanted some May baskets... Those I did complete - thank goodness she needed less than THIRTY!

Now about the cards that I did manage to eek out between assembly line CRAFTING! To engage my mojo (after mind numbing Modge-Podging) I selected a few card challenges. And what a challenge - some of them required the use of PASTELS! (This is a HUGE challenge for me - pastels and me...not BFFs.) The throw down over at The Pink Elephant was to use pastels. And at Flutter By Wednesday - the 'recipe' was to include green, blue, and white in addition to fairies, angels, or butterflies

Topiary Teapot
~Base card - Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock
~Design paper - Basic Grey Archiver's collection
~Assorted ribbons
~Layers of green and pink cardstock
~Image freebie from Erin O'Leary Brown colored in with Copics, watercolor pencils, wings topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, distressed with Tim Holtz Old Paper ink, and a few touches of Stickles










This next card mixes the pastel challenges at TPE and Mo Manning. And Our Creative Corner - encouraged the use of buttons so I put them all together for this cheeky little card. This one also meets the blue, green white requirement at Flutter By Wednesday.

Button Baby
~Base card - white cardstock
~Layer of pale yellow cardstock - stamped with flower image using Versamark for watermark look, edges curved and smudged with Stampabilties Cotton Candy
~Layers of blue, yellow, pink cardstocks
~Image - digital from Mo Manning Baby Fairy Flora, colored with Copics and watercolor pencils, wings 'rainbow colored with random watercolor pencils, topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, Stickles used on her pony tail clips
~Ribbons
~Buttons

Thanks for clicking in.
You can get up close with the cards by clicking on the image.
All good wishes,
Nancy