Friday, August 28, 2020

A joyous reunion ...

Another year has passed with only one blog post.  This post isn't about crafting with paper or fabric, it's about my lovely, beautiful, sweet Mom and precious Dad.  On Christmas Eve, 2009, I lost my Mother. The overwhelming loneliness I felt without her, led me to creating this blog.  I used to share every creative endeavor with her and she was a gracious listener.  No matter how trivial my ideas, she met them with enthusiasm, encouragement and love.  Her encouraging words were the driving force behind my desire to create and her unconditional love helped complete me.  After Mom passed, I turned to Dad, and met a man I barely knew before.  I knew my Dad was hard working, responsible, kind, funny and was loved by his friends, but I didn't know much more than that.  When I called, prior to losing Mom, he would say a few words and then turn the phone over to Mom.  I freely shared my world with Mom and she shared hers (and Dad's) with me.  What I knew of my Dad, was mostly through the eyes of my Mom.  She dearly loved him and I learned why.  Wrapped in a riotous sense of humor was a man who was brimming with kindness, sincerity, gentleness, integrity, intelligence and an unconditional love that fiercely matched my Mother's.   Earlier this month, Dad took up his place by Mom's side. I'll never forget her saying of my Dad, as she was lying in her hospital bed ... "there's my husband of 60 years, he will never leave my side".  I can only imagine the joyous reunion, and to be honest, it's the only thing that helps, as I wade through the tides of grief.  💕


Hummingbirds Photo Above by Chris Jimenez Nature Photo on flickr


Photo by Janice Woodard taken at my parents cottage on the lake in Custer, MI  


Wednesday, July 31, 2019

A Christmas Card Tutorial

Time flies! It's been almost a year since the last time I visited my blog! I've been playing a lot more with paper and a lot less with fabric over the past year!  I still plan to make bears, but it's been over a year since I finished my last bear...time to start a new one!

I was recently asked by a lady from the facebook group "Tim Holtz Addicts" if I could provide a tutorial for a Christmas card that I shared on the site.  Tonight, I did my best (albeit lacks the professionalism of most tutorials), I'm hoping it helps the lady who asked!

The supplies I used were:
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* 90 lb. watercolor paper for the flowers and leaves
* 140 lb. watercolor paper for the background and folded card base
* Tim Holtz Sizzix dies used:  Seasonal Scroll (664216), Tattered Poinsettia (658261), Holiday   Greens (658759) and Skeleton Leaves (663094)
* Recollections Clear Stamp and Die Set: Christmas Words
* Distress Oxide Sprays in various blues and greens
* Distress Spray Stain and Distress Mica Spray/Distress Oxides
* Distress Sprayer with water
* Distress Splatter Brush
* Fondant Steel Ball Tools (they can be purchased on eBay or Amazon)
* Mini Prills for the Stamens (they can be purchased on eBay or Amazon)
* Art Glitter Glue
* Glossy Accents
* Hot Glue
* Nuvo/Tonic Aqua Shimmer Glitter Pen Brush

Here is my photo tutorial ...

















Sorry there are so many photos!  Maybe one day I will learn how to make a short video!
Hugs & Blessings,  Janice 

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

2018 ... you're flying by!

Where is this year going?!  I decided to post today, after what I thought was a couple months, only to find that it has been 9 months since my last post!  It does seem as I age, time flies a lot faster than it did in the past!   This year brought a lot of new paper crafting projects and not so many bear making projects.  I've been making a lot of paper flowers, first by inking or water coloring white mixed media paper and then die cutting and shaping.  I've been making cards and canvases and enjoying the process.  Here are a few of my latest "projects"!  The first two photos show the white watercolor or mixed media paper after I've painted or stained it with ink, then after I have die cut into flowers and shapes.  The other photos are my finished pieces!








I really hope to make another bear soon!
With hugs and many blessings,
Janice