Altenew Paint-a-Flower #1

A little over a month ago I decided to try a new-to-me subscription... Altenew's Paint-a-Flower. Not long after signing up I received the gorgeous Anemone stamp set and immediately fell in love with it. As sometimes happens, time was a premium and I'm just now making a card with this amazing set. I'm sure I'll be using it again and again.

I've already received the next Paint-a-Flower stamp set (Daffodil) so it will be coming to my blog in August. Stay tuned. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Altenew Anemone stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White and SU Rococo Rose CS and AMuse Studio Polka Dot DP

Dies: MFT Stitched Mod Rectangle and Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch

Embellishments: Recollections Rhinestones

A Sick Chick

I've had so much fun with the SumMore Fun/Raisin Boat Limited Edition Chicken Pack this week. There's just so much to love about those chickens... and apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so because the Chicken Pack has now sold out. If you didn't get one ordered, don't despair. The bundle will not be available again but you can still get the Chicken Coop and Chicken Soup stamp sets. They are just way too cute!

I used the Chicken Soup stamp set to make a quick/easy Get Well card...

I stamped the sentiment first and then put a little post it note over the top of it before stamping the image. That worked so well.

Once I'd stamped the image, I just lifted the post it note off and did some minimal coloring of the image. After that it was just a matter of assembling the card.

But wait! There's more. I also used a sentiment and an image on the inside of my card...

Bawk! How fun is that?

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Raisin Boat Chicken Soup stamped with Memento Rhubarb Stalk and Tuxedo Black Inks and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black and SU Cherry Cobbler CS and DP from my scrap file (I think it's October Afternoon DP)

Die: Gina Marie In and Out Stud Dot Square

Embellishment: Seam Binding from an unknown vendor

2020 Travel the World - Week 29

I started a Travel the World Series last year. (It should be noted that I did a similar thing in 2018, only it was the 50 states.) For 50 weeks in 2019, I visited a different country (virtually) and shared facts about that country. I then selected one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. Fifty weeks; fifty countries... BUT there are 195 countries in the world so that was just a little over 25% of them. Of course I couldn't stop, so this year I'm continuing with fifty more countries, one per week.

This week's country is...

Algeria

Algeria is a country in North Africa bordered on the north by the Mediterranean Sea. It is land bordered by the Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. Algeria shares maritime borders with Italy and Spain.

Algeria is the largest country in Africa and the tenth-largest in the world.

There are 620 miles of coastline in Algeria.

Despite Algeria’s size, not much of the country is inhabited. The Sahara Desert covers 90% of the land and with some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, it is not suitable for occupation. As a result of this, only 12% of the country has human communities. Most of the country's population is on the coast and the northern regions with its Mediterranean type climate.

Algeria recorded its record high temperature in August of 2011. The thermometer topped off at 123.8°F (51°C). 

There are 157 airports in Algeria.

The national animal of Algeria is the Fennec Fox (is the smallest of all the world’s foxes) and their national football team (soccer) is named after the animal: “Les Fennecs”. Football (soccer) is Algeria’s national sport. The fennec is a small desert fox with disproportionately large ears.

Algeria is debt-free, being one of the few countries in the world that can say it owes no other country.

Algeria is the sixth-largest exporter of natural gas and has the 10 largest natural gas reserve in the world. Algeria's significant revenue from its fossil fuels export classifies the country as an upper-middle-income country.

Petrol is less expensive than water in Algeria.

All shopkeepers and officials have a noon break each day. 

Mount Tahat is Algeria’s highest mountain and is 1.9 miles high. 

Due to the hilly nature of the country, cable cars are a popular mode of transport. So much so that there is a government department that covers the planning and maintenance of them.

One of the biggest sand dunes in the world is located in Algeria.

In Algeria, the snack of choice is the date fruit. In fact, Algerian dates are some of the best dates on earth or so they say. Large palm groves are a common feature of desert oasis towns. Not only are these fruits sweet and tasty, but they are also quite nutritional. Packed with a lot of nutrients, including vitamins and dietary fiber, they make for a healthy ingredient in a number of dishes. Visitors are traditionally greeted by being offered dates and milk.

Etzai, the mint tea popular all over North Africa, is the favorite gift. Drinking tea throughout the day is a social norm in Algeria and North Africa. It is so much a part of their culture that there are tea rooms or tea bars where persons go to consume tea. As a result of this, teas especially mint teas make the perfect gift and are the most popular gift in Algeria. Along with dates, teas are offered to guests in an Algerian home. It is considered disrespectful to decline tea when offered.

The national dish of Algeria is Couscous.

Traditionally, people in Algeria leave some food on their plate at the end of the meal. 

Hospitality is important among the Algerian people. Everyone is cordial to strangers and friends alike. In a small gathering, it is polite to greet each person individually, beginning with the elders. Handshakes are common but using your fingers to point at objects or people is considered rude. Never use the left hand separately: when handing someone something, do it with the right hand or both hands.

Close friends and relatives visit each other frequently and don’t have to have an invitation or let each other know first. Others are expected to make advance plans. When visiting someone socially, it is customary to bring the host a small gift.

Algeria has a great variety of beaches, some quite distinct.

There are ten national parks in Algeria.

Unlike in other Islamic countries, women play important roles in Algerian society overall. They are 60% of Algeria’s judges, 60% of the student population and 70% of the country’s lawyers. Finally, women overall make a bigger contribution to the household incomes than men.

Gender roles are clearly defined in Algeria. Fathers handle family finances while mothers take care of the children and the home. Men often meet at coffeehouses to play games like chess, checkers, and dominoes. The women tend to socialize in each others’ homes.

Alcoholic drinks are seldom found in Algeria, largely because of the country’s Islamic orientation. In fact, alcoholic drinks are not sold at all in many of the food establishments – and even if they are available, they are often not listed on the menu.

Marriages in Algeria are traditionally arranged either by parents of the couple or by a professional matchmaker.

I decided to let this Algeria fact be the inspiration for this week's card... Despite its desert landscape for most of its surface, Algeria is a popular destination for bird watchers. It has lots of species of birds, up to 400.

Here is the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps: Sparkle N Sprinkle Wilson and SU Happy Birthday stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black and SU Hello Honey CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Mod Rectangle and Sizzix Circle

Embellishments: Paper Studio Mini Brads

Get Up with the Sun

You've likely noticed that there is a new release at SumMore Fun... I had a blog post on Saturday with the details and you might have seen others posting about it on social media, too. It is such a fun release. The limited edition Chicken Pack bundle has multiple stamps, papers, and even some envelopes and card bases, all packaged together. 

I've used the bundle to make today's card.

I masked the chicken coop and then blended ink onto the background to create the sun/ground. The sentiment and bag of chicken feed are both popped up off of the surface of the card with foam pieces to give it some dimension. 

I added three little Cloud 9 Rain Drops near the overturned bag of chicken feed to give the appearance of spillage.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Raisin Boat Chicken Coop stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Stencil: Craftin Desert Diva Bright Horizon

Ink for Blending: SU Daffodil Delight and Wild Wasabi

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Brown, and SU Wild Wasabi CS and DP from the SumMore Fun Chicken Pack Bundle

Dies: MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle and Rubbernecker Nested Rectangle Stitch

Embellishments: Cloud 9 Rain Drops

Find Safety in the Lord

I enjoy being part of the Bible Art Journaling group on SCS. Julie, the leader is such a kind person, always encouraging the members. Each month she offers an optional theme for us to use in creating a page. Truthfully, some months I make something for the theme and other months I don't, but that's okay. It is indeed optional.

This month's theme is...

Staying Positive, 

Do Not Fear, 

or Overcoming

I looked for some appropriate verses/passages to journal and almost immediately decided to go with Proverbs 18:10.

The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;

the godly run to him and are safe.

Stamp Sets Used:

Our Daily Bread Keep My Lamp Burning

Unity Realize

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stay @ Home Update #15

Each Sunday (at 5:00 AM) I'm sharing how the week's 10-minute stay@home organizational challenge went. If you don't have an idea what that means and you're curious, you can learn more in my original Stay @ Home Update blog post - found HERE.

Now here's the disclaimer: Some of these daily stay@home challenges are taking more than 10 minutes, but who's counting, right? 

Here's what I've accomplished this week...

Day 1 - SUN, July 12
This plastic tub was sitting on an upper shelf in my storage closet. Truthfully, I hadn't even looked in it for quite some time, so I wasn't sure what I'd find when I took it down. Come to find out it was an assortment of kits - some from classes I'd taken at Expos a decade or more ago (those went in the donate pile) and a couple of kits from companies (My Favorite Things and Simon Says) which I put in a more convenient location. That bin is now empty and not taking up shelf space.

Day 2 - MON, July 13
I found two more of the small bins of handmade cards that I needed to go through. Most of them were moved to the Donate box... that box is getting full. I'm going to need to get them ready to mail to Cards for Kindness soon. I might have enough to send a box to Cards for Soldiers as well.

Day 3 - TUES, July 14
I organized the items in these bins and created labels for them today. As is seen in the photo, there's one empty bin. Hmmmm.... I wonder what I'll find to put inside that bin?

Day 4 - WED, July 15
I need to start by saying I didn't spend just 10 minutes on today's project (truthfully most days it's more like 20-30 minutes). Today I spend 4 hours doing this chore. The shelf to the right is deeper than it looks and it was full of boxes and bins of photos. Some were organized - the three photo boxes in the picture as well as the four photo boxes directly behind them. The other items were a mess.

This picture is after today's effort. It may not be the best system, but for now I've organized the photos into files, one for each of our three children, one for our family of five, one for each of our extended families, etc. Sometime in the future I need to figure out what I want to do with the photos - I'm not a scrapbooker, so please don't suggest that. Truthfully, I'm kind of leaning toward more photo boxes with the pictures organized within them. If not that, then I'll need to look into getting photo albums.

Day 5 - THUR, July 16
I don't know if I've ever mentioned it on my blog before, but my Play Room is a wonderful room filled with toys but it also has my books and "study" types of things in it. Now don't fret, they really take up a very minimal part of the space, but they were becoming unsightly and disorganized. Today I tackled this small shelf as well as a shelf twice that size that was filled with Bibles and a few study books (I forgot to take a picture of that shelf). Who needs that many Bibles, right? 

I put several Bibles and some books in my donate pile and moved the books from that small shelf. Now all of my Bibles (except my journaling ones) are on that small shelf. It sits directly behind my "study" desk (not my stamp desk) so they are close at hand when I'm studying.

Day 6 - FRI, July 17
I actually continued where I left off yesterday. I moved books off of the shelf so I could put Bibles there yesterday and today I moved books off of the Library Cart that sits on the other end of my Play Room. It was getting over-run with books. 

I purged the books I no longer wanted to keep - some will go to our Associational Office's Resource Library and some to the donate pile. I moved the books I'm keeping to the book shelf inside my storage closet - you likely remember seeing it before. It's the shelf that has my rolled ribbon storage on top of it.

The top shelf of books are all related to women/ministry and Bible Studies for women. The middle shelf is Ministry Wives books on the left and Leadership Development on the right. The bottom shelf is a variety of books. Yes, I know the box of books on the bottom is unsightly - why not just put those books on the shelf? It is tall enough to accommodate them. However, then I have to practically stand on my head to see what is there. This way I can take the box off the shelf and move it to a more reasonable viewing position. And the shelf is in the closet - so no one  but me sees it.

The shelf that I took my Bibles from now holds the kits that were on this book shelf - Stampin' UP! Paper Pumpkin, Tonic Kits, and a few other ones, too. I've not yet determined how I'll organize them on their new shelf. For now they are in bins to hold them in place.

My Library Cart now has some free space on the top shelf - I'll figure out something to go there, I'm sure. On the left of that shelf are my Embossing Folders. The bottom two shelves of the Library Cart are my Bible Journaling resources and kits. The white basket on the very bottom is the only exception to that. It holds Birthday cards - so I'm ready to mail cards for the SCS Birthday RAK each month.

Day 7 - SAT, July 18
My Unity stamp collection is in six of these pink bins (yes, six) and I seem to be running nearly out of space. Yikes! There are two bins of large sets, one bin of medium size, one of small size, one that has a mixture of sizes and then there is this one that is filled with stamps from Unity Grab Bags and freebies. I decided to change the way I store this bin of individual stamps.

I also own a few Unity KOTM sets and I have them stored in thin plastic cases. I have extras of those cases, which is perfect for these individual stamps. I sorted them into 5 groups - one to get rid of, and then the following: Sentiments, Images, Christmas, Other Holidays. I added the stamps and created an inventory sheet to place in the plastic case with the stamps.

This is the shelf of Unity stamps - the six bins are on the top two shelves. The plastic cases stand on the right side of the third shelf (not all of those cases are full but for now I'm keeping the empty ones on the shelf, too).

The white bins are also currently empty. I'm not sure what I'll use them for. Once I get my Play Room organization completed I'll likely remove any storage pieces not being used.


Okay, that's it for this week. Stay tuned to see what I accomplish in the coming week.

Congrats!

This is such an exciting day - EXCITING!!! There's a new release at SumMore Fun (I hinted at it here on my blog last week with a sneak peek) and it comes in a nice bundle of stamps, papers, and more... all about CHICKENS!!!

But these aren't just any chickens, they are adorable, fun, and even a wee bit spunky! Check out the Chicken Pack bundle - HERE.

Oh my goodness! There are so many possibilities with this bundle. I started by making a Congratulations card for a family welcoming a new baby.

Aren't those chickens cute!?!?!?

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Raisin Boat Chicken Coop stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Accent Opaque 120# White, Recollections Black and SU Daffodil Delight CS and DP from the New Release Bundle at SumMore Fun

Punch: SU Circle

Embellishments: Simple Stories Enamel Dots