Poppies and Little Miss Bitty Magic Box

Hi all! Things have calmed down a bit, just a bit from the holiday's and life's dramas! This magic box project has been sitting on my table for some time in pieces but I couldn't get it "there". It needed something else and then it hit me, put Little Miss Bitty in the middle of the flowers! Perfect fit. She is cute as a bug, and she is colored as a lady bug, perfect for the red floral punch poppies. Fred She Said Little Miss Bitty can be found here. And, out new Design Team will be having blog hops and other great new additions so check back often to see what is new!

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I fell in love with the little magic boxes that fall open with a surprise inside. When the lid is taken off the box the side panels fall open and the flowers "dance", and continue to dance with the slightest movement of the air. They are so versatile and my list of box designs to make is getting longer and longer! You will see another soon with quilling that I have just made.

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It is really easy to make and you can see the instructions for the box here, as well as some really beautiful examples. I knew that these boxes would be perfect for floral punch flowers and now with FSS designs! If you make some of these cute magic boxes post a link in the comments below, I'd love to see yours!

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I have had a couple of questions and I will answer them on a new post called "Questions and Answers" that will list all of them and any new ones in one place for easy reference. Well off to create more projects with paper, glue and scissors!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments and project links are always welcome!

Quilled Calender and Note Pad Holder

Hi all, sorry again for not posting, we have been caught up in Hanukkah the last eight days! We had fun and I will post pics later. But for now a short post of one of the Custom Quilling DT projects. A quilled desk calendar and note pad holder. The small calendar and the beautiful metallic jewel tone quilling strips and papers come in the December kit. I have been wanting to make a sticky note pad holder and when I saw the calendar I thought that they would be a good match sitting on a desk.

The note pad can be replaced and fits in the bejeweled quilled coils. You could make any quilled designs to decorate around the calendar to give as a gift or adorn your own desk! That's all for know back later with another "wearable" quilled project.

Shalom,

Sonya

Comments always welcome!

January Quilled Calendar Page

Hi everyone! With all the excitement of the anniversary, snow in Houston and life I haven't yet shown you this months Custom Quilling Newsletter DT projects. You can see the Newsletter here with all the great new products and mine and Sue's awesome quilled wearables, just in time for the holidays!!!

Here is January's Calendar page featuring pansies. The beautiful shimmery jewel tone paper n the Custom Quilling December Kit was perfect for making these floral punch pansies. It uses the Begonia punch and you can make different sizes from the one punch! I added blue vellum accent flowers with blue pearl centers, quilled leaves and vines. Very easy and quick to do and has a large visual impact. Hop on over to Custom Quilling and see the other great projects for December!

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Just a short post for today, I have to go clear up the piles in my craft room before I can create anything else, lol!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcome, post your project links there too!

Knight in Shining Armor

Hi all, it is going to be a short post because it is our 31st wedding anniversary and we are about to go celebrate! Just wanted to show you the card that I made for my husband. I have always said that he was my knight in shining armor. So I found an image online and printed out, outlined it in a Sakura Gelly Roll Silver Star pen to give the armor that "shiny" appearance. Then I cut out parts of the armor from another of the images and popped them up on dimensionals for depth. Lastly I gave the knight a frill for the top of his helmet with quilling curls. I layered the image onto some pewter metallic card stock and again onto black. The "shield" has a flur de lis brad and the small black stripes are quilling strips.

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Here are some close-ups so you can see the shiny armor and dimension and inside of card.

Time to say good-by for now, I have several more posts of finished projects coming this week!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments welcome as always!

Emma the Snow Angel

Hi all, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving enjoying time friends and family! I wanted to share with you one of Fred She Said's newest digi images, Emma the Snow Angel. She is so cute and fun to color! I knew when I saw her that there was going to be some sort of shaker card involved because of the snow aspect. I didn't realize that the image was to big to make the shaker out of my Nesties until after I colored her, I should have resized it and tested it before I colored it. So I just made the shaker out of the sentiment and kept Emma the size she was and matted her on a scalloped Nestie circle.

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There is always someone special who deserves a thank you this time of year so I decided to print out the sentiment "Thanks, you're an angel" to go with Emma. The "snow" in the shaker box is made out of styrofoam ball shavings and clear chunky glitter and you can see how it is made here. I wish it would snow here in Houston, I would love to see my grandkids making snow angels! Hope on over to Fred She Said and see the other new digi image releases. And, if you make a card or project out of Emma the Snow Angel post it in the comments section at the bottom of this post so we can all see and enjoy! I have some quilled projects to post, so check back tomorrow!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments and your cards and projects links always welcome!

Roses and Laurel Branch Quilled Keepsake Wedding Invitation

Hi all, here is the newest Quilled Keepsake Invitation. It is a gift for one of my DH former firefighter co-workers and his bride-to-be. The bride's flowers and colors are: white and yellow roses, chocolate with gold and silver accents. Since the groom is Greek I decided to add a bit of Greece into it with the laurel branches and berries which is symbolic of Greece. The invitation looks crooked in the picture but it isn't the photo was taken at a bit of an angle and when it was cropped to get no background border, it looks bit askew but isn't.

The calla lilies were added for a bit of interest and the gold vellum accent flowers have a sparkly gold crystal for their centers. Brides today have a trend to have a pearl or crystals in the center of the flowers in their bouquets, so I added this as well to the roses. As with each Keepsake Invitation that I create I "sign" it with a double heart and crystal somewhere on the piece. I think that these Keepsake's are my favorite quilling projects to do because for each one I like to make it personal and use their flowers, colors, or something special to the couple or person and/or their heritage. That is all for today, more later!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments welcome and appreciated!

Sparkly Icy Flower Box

Hi all, I'm back, sorry it has been so long. But I have been working on some projects it just takes me a little longer than it used to! Here is one of them, a box with one of Tracey's new digi images, Icey Christmas Flowers. It has several images that can be layered to create a dimensional project.

It was hard to get a good picture of this box because of it's color. The box was painted with a base of silver with a touch of metallic blue, then sponged with pearl white and seemed to wash our or blend in with whatever background I used. Also the glitter which is used to highlight the base image, layered flower and bow doesn't show well. It really is sparkly IRL! *

Ok back to the details. I printed the image sheet out twice, once on white card stock and then another time on vellum. The image is already colored a pretty blue and the flowers are white so all you have to do is cut and layer and embellish is you like. Well I must use glitter! So, I used my gelly roll pens in silver and a matching metallic blue to accent the designs on the base layer. Then I outlined the inside scallop with a glue pen and glittered it. The dots are glittered with clear chunky glitter and the swirls are accented with small silver "pearls". *

I cut out the three flower images, one with the leaves and the other two without, from the vellum images. These flowers were accented with iridescent glitter and the top layer has a crystal center. Then they were layered with pop dots and the petals were offset from the ones below. The base layer image has a light blue scalloped nestie also. *

The box base and lid are lined with the designer paper set that Tracey also offers to compliment these flower images. Then I added a tulle bow with glitter accents. On the center of the bow there is another smaller layered Icey Flower that I printed out again on vellum.*

I really love how the vellum gives the flowers that airy and icy look, and of course the dimensional effect of the layering. These digi images are a breeze to work with and are very versatile! Hop on over to Fred She Said and see all of Tracey's new designs!*

Tomorrow I have a Quilled Keepsake Invitation to show you! Thanks for all your sweet encouraging comments!*

Shalom,*

Sonya

Comments always welcome! If you have any questions email me at the link on the sidebar!

Quilled Peppermint and Gum Drop Treat Box

Hi all! I can post the projects that I had been working on last week now. Here is one of the quilled projects that I made for the Custom Quilling November Newsletter DT. The kit has some wonderful holiday designer papers and a generous pack of red, white, green, gold and silver quilling strips. The red and white strips said "Peppermints" and I quickly made enough to embellish this Sizzix To-Go box. But, it needed something else and gum drops came to mind. The colorful little gum drops were cute as is, but, with a little clear "sugar" glitter they really come to life! The peppermint on the top of the box is wrapped in cellophane for added interest.

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The white lacey border around the box was done with a Martha Stewart border punch and the top had two scallop Nestie circles. Tomorrow I will post another of the projects which is "set". Hop on over to Custom Quilling and check out what else the November kit has and click on the November newsletter to see Sue's awesome poinsettia frame!

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AND, Tracey from Fred She Said has some great new digi images, and a free download to try! When you purchase her new Poinsettia and Pine Bough digi design, $2.oo will go to Samaritan's Purse. Check out her blog and read more and then see all the cute new Emma designs as well in the store here. While there give her a big congrats on reaching 150,000 visits to her blog and a get well to help her recover from the flu!!!

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That's all for now, be back latter!

Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments welcome as always!!!

December Hanukkah Quilled Calendar Page

Hi all! As promised here is another one of the projects, this is one of two designs for the December Calendar page. Since the September Custom Quilling kit was in shades of blue I decided to do the page in blue dreidles and gold gelt for Hanukkah. The dreidles have the four Hebrew letters that are on each side they are made with strips of gold quilling paper. I embossed the metallic gold paper and cut out circles with my die cutter to make the gelt. A very easy and simple design. Next week I will post the alternate December Calendar page design that features poinsettia's. Just a short post for today, and thanks so much for all of your prayers and encouragement for my recovery, I luv ya!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments always welcome!

Emma in Fishbowl

Hi all! Sorry so long between posts, but I am still trying to recover and it is slow with not much energy to do much!!! But, I have been able to work on some of the Custom Quilling DT projects and will share them after the first of the month. And, I have finished one of the projects that I have had on my "want to do" list, and here it is.

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The project is called a "sliceform fishbowl" and you can see the project instructions here. When I first saw this fishbowl I knew that Emma the Mermaid and friends from Fred She Said would be perfect for it! I printed Emma and her friends (found here) out on 8 1/2 X 11 card stock and she fit perfectly in the fishbowl. The only thing that I would change is the weight of the card stock. I printed the bowl patterns onto a medium weight printer cardstock and it was a bit light and as you can see a few of the supports 'bend'. Next time I will print it out on a blue heavier weight solid core card stock so that doesn't happen. But, I had fun making it and I will send it to my daughter away at college. How you say? Well it folds flat and fits in an envelope!

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It is really easy to do and looks so cute with Emma the Mermaid "floating" in the bowl. Also, check out awesome Whirly Flower Cake by my DT sista Carol H. on the Fred She Said's blog here along with a great challenge and a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to the Fred She Said store. You could put any of her ocean friends and embellishments with her to change the scene. I still have some projects that I need to post and will get those out this week. Until then,

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments welcome as always!

Quilled Cornucopia

Hi all! Well the drama never seems to end! I had a new medication prescribed and also the side effects that went with it and ended up in the ER Saturday morning. The side effects were intensified by another medication that I took to counteract them and though I vowed never to set foot in another hospital again, it was serious enough for me to go. After some pain medication, a different nausea medication, fluids and time I was sent home to let the offending medication get out of my system. I still have some lingering nausea and lack of appetite but that is all thankfully. So my projects that I was working on had to be put on hold and I hope to get back to feeling well enough to work on them tomorrow. But, for now I have posted another of the Custom Quilling DT projects for October that I had already done, a quilled cornucopia.

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The beautiful designer paper for the cone and the side pieces as well as the quilling strips come in the October kit. I love to make little gifts for special occasions and the brown embossed paper made me think of a cornucopia. I used my Scalloped Paisley Nesties to make the cornucopia side pieces. The center is a cone that holds your treat or small gift. I added a paper twist handle to make it easier to pick up.

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The quilled design is one of wheat, acorns and an apple with punched fall leaves, sheer ribbon and the cone is edged in a beautiful gold piece of trim. I wanted you to be able to see the DP inside of the cone so I didn't put my cookies in a bag. But, you could put your treats or gift in a cellophane bag and let the tied top spill out of the cornucopia for more interest.

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Well, I am still a bit tired so I am off to bed. Do you have a fall project you would like to share? Post a link to it in the comments section, I'd love to see it!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcome, love to see your projects!

November Quilled Calendar Page

Hi all! Still here! My goal for this week is to not use the walker for longer walks! I did go to Walmart but ended up having to use the motor cart. I was exhausted and hurting more afterward but, I did it!!!! So today I am going to try to straighten up my craft table so I can possibly create another card in the next few days. I still have some projects that I haven't show yet and I want to share with you another project for the Custom Quilling October newsletter. So, here is another calendar page that was made with the CQ October Kit's supplies.

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November's page is in the same 6"X6" matted layout with the removable calendar portion. The beautiful rich jewel tones inspired me to create a grape motif for the autumn harvest theme of November. The grapes are two shades of wine and dark purple with tendrils and punched grape leaves. This page also features a banner with the sentiment of "Give Thanks" with grape accents on the ends.

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There are many possibilities for these calendar page designs, if you are inspired to make a set, link your project in the comments section below and share it, I would love to see it!!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments and project links always welcome, & don't forget about World Card Day Challenge from Fred She Said! enter for a chance to win!

October Quilled Calendar Page

Hi all! I have a project to share that I made for Custom Quilling's October Newsletter. I have been wanting to do a calendar set for some time and with the rich beautiful array of quilling strips and designer papers and card stock in the October kit, now was the perfect time. This is the first of set of quilled and floral punch monthly pages. I have seen many different layouts for these 6" X 6" calendar pages and absolutely love Jerri K's stunning watercolor version seen here. I loved the layout and thought that they would be the perfect place to showcase quilling and floral punch instead. The month is popped up with dimensionals and can be carefully removed and replaced with the current year making your calendar perpetual and can be displayed year after year!

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The texture of the 90lb water color paper gives a nice base for the quilling and the month which the edges are inked in Rose Distressed Ink and 18kt gold leaf pen. Quilled pumpkins in various shapes and sizes are surrounded by vines, tendrils with punched flowers with gold bead centers and oak leaves. The Fall Assortment quilling strips were just right for the indian corn with it's crimped husks. The cattails were made with brown Floral Soft an a few small brown buttons were added for interest. The month was printed on the watercolor paper and was from a free download on Split Coast Stampers forum.

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I will post a calendar page(s) for each month that features quilling with floral punch that can be displayed in a photo easel or a calendar stand made just for this design, which will be shown later. I have several projects that I haven't been able to post because of my hospital stay and will be sharing them this week while I am slowly (too slow for me and I can't sit at my craft table for long!!!!) recovering. If you want to see the rest of the Custom Quilling Newsletter projects that Sue and I made with the awesome October kit click here and click on "newsletter".

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If you are inspired to make your own monthly calendar pages, post a link in the comments below, I'd love to see what you create!!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments, questions and project links are always welcome!!!

World Card Day Fred She Said Challenge!

Hi all! Still here and getting better day by day, but still to slow for me! It takes me about 3 times as long to create a card as I cannot sit at the table for long, but I'm glad to be able to do it at all. The card above is for inspiration and an invitation for you to enter the World Card Making Day Fred She Said Challenge!

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Tracey has a lot of great new digi images to choose from and they all can be colored in many different media; computerized paint programs, Prismacolors, Twinkling H2O's, Copics or whatever else you can come up with! Because the are digi you can layer them, resize them and create unique projects!

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In the card above I used the mum from the fall flowers collection and watercolored it with my Tombow markers. It is a gate fold card and by turn up the right hinge the card will open. The designer papers are an elegant mix of wine colored velvet embossed and a faux snakeskin white, and pink crystal bling! And here's a first for me - NO RIBBON! Hope on over to Fred She Said store and pick a digi image or two and enter the challenge! I'd love to see what you create, you can link to your project hear but you must enter on the Fred She Said site to have a chance at the blog candy!

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Here are the details from Tracey's blog:

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY CHALLENGE

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To celebrate, Fred, She Said Designs is offering a $25 CAD Gift Certificate to the Fred, She Said Store and a $25 USD Gift Certificate to one of Fred's favourite stores for dies, embossing folders, stamping stuff and embellishments - http://www.cropstop.com/
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The challenge starts NOW and closes Monday October 12th midnight EDT. To enter,all you need to do is post a new card on your blog using any Fred, She Said product or freebie! Enter a link to your challenge entry post URL using Mr. Linky below or via an email attachment to Fred's email if you don't have a blog - (please put FSS Challenge Entry and your Name in the subject line) If Mr. Linky is acting up, you may post in the comments of this post, the link to your entry. The winner will be selected Tuesday October 13th by random draw.Please give it a try and don't forget to tell your friends :) .... and Happy Card Making!

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Remember: You may enter your link here to show off your project BUT it does not enter you for the challenge!! To be entered you must go to the CHALLENGE POST on the Fred She Said site and post the link to your project on Mr. Linky.

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And I also would like to say a big hello and congratulations to my paper soul sister Lisa Phillipi as the newest member of the Fred She Said Design Team!!!! And also, a sad good-by to Donna as she is having to leave the DT, we will miss you, but looking forward to your beautiful creations as time allows!

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Hop on over to the Fred She Said site and see all the new digi images and enter the challenge! I can't wait to see!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcome, post your link to your projects here to share and, to have a chance to win, enter on the challenge, post on Fred She Said site!

Give Thanks Pomegranates

Hi all! I'm still here, just not as perky as I would like to be! I am not using the walker around the house but on longer trips I use it as I still tire easily and the pain from the chest tubes is never down for long. But I have been able to put my quilling supplies on a tray and sit/recline on the bed or couch and create. Tomorrow I will show you some of the DT projects made for Custom Quilling. And I working on a card , that I hope to have together today, that shows some of the new digi stamps from Fred She Says!
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But for now, I have a card that was made for a Flourishes challenge and that I was going to post here when I returned home the day of that fated "outpatient" procedure! So, here it is and it is quite timely as I truly do GIVE THANKS to the Lord for bringing me through this time and for His continued Presence during my recovery! I also thank and so very much appreciate all the encouraging notes and emails that you are so sweet to send!
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I stamped and embossed the Flourishes pomegranate image and sentiment in bronze and watercolored it with my Tombow markers. The edges of the DP and the pomegranate image were inked with Tim Holtz's distress inks. I layered the images and panels with a border punch. Topaz crystals were added to the border and the brads for sparkle and a taffeta shimmery bow added to finish off.
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Well the medication is kicking in and time for me to rest a bit before I can get back to creating. If you have created any projects that have been inspired by any you have seen here, leave a comment with a link so that I and all who visit can enjoy them!
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Shalom,
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Sonya
Comments and links to your projects always welcome!

THANK YOU!

Hi all! I want to thank all of you who have sent such sweet get wells and have been praying for my recovery! I am overwhelmed with the love and support of so many who have been such a help and encouragement through this very difficult time.
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I hope the worst is over and every day it is a little better and with a bit of physical therapy I will be back at full speed soon. Every time I get up my walker is with me and I feel like "Edna" off of the movie Vacation! lol! Tomorrow I will try to sit at my craft table and create to take my mind off what is left to heal, I have some DT projects that need to be completed and wasn't expecting to take more than a week off!
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Thanks to all my family and friends that have been taking care of me with visits, prayers, and food! My sister cooked up a lot of great meals, brought the most beautiful heirloom eggplants, fresh milk and other goodies to tempt me to get my appetite back, not only do I but Mason really appreciates it also! I have been up a lot today trying to get my strength back but am exhausted so I will say thank you and bye for now!
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Shalom,
Sonya

UPDATE

I'm Sonya's daughter. I'm coming to post for her to give you a brief update on where she's been.

She went in for a very routine endoscopy on Wednesday morning (9/9/09). Her stomach was punctured and the gases from the procedure leaked into her body. It caused a collapse of both her lungs and gases being trapped in her subcutaneous tissues (a condition called subcutaneous emphysema). Needless to say, she was in terrible pain.

The days following were crucial to make sure she didn't develop sepsis, and that her gut could rest (with the presence of an NG tube) so the puncture could heal without additional surgery, and the air in her tissues would resolve so she can regain lung function. They inserted 2 chest tubes to relieve the pressure on her lungs.

After repeat CT scans and x-rays, it seems as though the puncture was healing on it's own and she was getting better by the day. Yesterday they clamped off her NG tube and took out one chest tube. They should be taking the other tube soon and letting her eat real food. It looks like she'll be there for another day or two. But she's progressing and doing better.

Please continue to pray for her in her recovery and that she should be home soon.

Paige's Card

Hi all! I have been working on several projects trying to get through the backlog on my "to do" list! But I had to stop and make a card for a little girl who was is going through some very rough times from a boating accident. Paige is 13 and while on vacation visiting family her and other family members were hit by a speedboat while kayaking. Paige had to be flown back to the States and unfortunately had to have part of her arm amputated, you can read the story here. The family has asked for cards as she has been inundated with flowers and stuffed animals. Erin who is a member of Fred She Said DT has sent along the request for cards and also is offering a chance at Blog Candy to those who send a card. If you would like to participate the address to send Paige a card can be found on Erin's blog.

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I made my "card" into a wall hanging so she could display it wherever she wants. The verse is one that I chose to encourage Paige during what will be I'm sure a lengthy and trying recovery. Though I can only imagine what little Paige and her family are going through, I am sure that the Lord is able to do the impossible! My prayers for her to seek the Lord through these coming days and months for His Strength and Comfort.

The wall hanging features shades of pink (Paige's favorite color) quilled, fringed, and punched flowers and leaves with beads and crystal accents around her initial "P" and verse. Well back to the "to do" list!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are welcome as always!

Sweet Pea Flourishes

Hi all! Here is a card made for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge FTTC31. In this challenge your image or design had to use no coloring, such as pens, pencils etc.! Tough one. But since I had their beautiful Sweet Pea stamp set I decided to stamp and emboss it in gold then use my sweet pea punch and add some 3D color with lavender pearlescent paper, a little glitter bling, some quilled leaves and tendrils. I layered the image onto Nestie labels and used my Fiskars border punch to dress up the sides. A purple bow and some aurora crystals and I was finished. It is overcast outside and the sparkly nature of the card isn't really showing up.

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You can see the Flourishes button on the sidebar to play along with their other challenges. Another short post, we had the grandkids all weekend and I'm pooped! Thanks for all the encouraging comments!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcome!

Awards!

Hi all! Inna from Inna's Creations , who is a super gifted quiller, has nominated my blog for awards!

Now I am to nominate seven other to pass on the awards to, in no particular order:

1. Lisa Phillipi - Adornments by Lisa

2. Paula Bauer - Gem State Quilling/Give it a Twirl (Blog)

3. Jerri K. Jimenez - A Touch of Grace

4. Tracey "Fred" Miller - Fred She Said Designs

5. Joann Creamer - The Creamer Chronicles

6. Ann Martin - All Things Paper

7. Heidi Bishop - Paper Filigree with a Pedigree

These are women and their blogs who have inspired and encouraged me not only in my paper art but life. I could list more but we would be here a lot longer and I will save them for another time!! Check these out if you haven't already, they are great!

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Now I must confess! I received another nomination a while back, saved the award pic in my file and was with all good intentions going to post and pass it on. But hectic life, nagging illnesses and my sporadic "memory loss" ( in computer terms, ram overload), and days of not getting it done has now left me with not being able to find the email for who nominated me : ( !! I beg forgiveness and really do appreciate the award and am posting it and passing it along with these! I am still looking and know I have saved it away, but if you are the special person who nominated me please have mercy on me and let me know so I can recognize you!!!! Below is the cute award, Circle of Friends!

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Also, according to the rules of the award I must list seven things that you might find interesting:

1. My relationship with Yeshua, my Husband and my family is the most important thing in my life.

2. I am going to be a grandmother again in March!

3. I am of Bohemian ancestry (now Czech Republic), great grandparents immigrated in 1889.

4. I am a Trekkie, and drive my kids crazy watching my DVD's of the shows.

5. My paper crafting room is always a mess!

6. You can call me Ellie Mae because I love dogs and would have as many as I could if my husband would let me!

7. I love to garden but have a black thumb!!!

That is all for now, blogger is acting up. aarrrggh!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments welcome!

Quilled Chanukkia

Hi all! I am back to creating again and can now show you the first of the projects made for Custom Quilling's September Newsletter, a 3D Chanukkia. This is my first attempt at a 3D quilled project. The September Custom Quilling kit comes with a beautiful array of shades of blue quilling strips and even though Chanukka doesn't come until December I thought they would be perfect for this project. I wanted to recreate the ornate designs of some of the stunning silver chanukkia's used during this holiday and added the lighter blue looped decorations and vine.

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The candles are made of wide strips rolled on a skewer and I had wanted to make them where you could add one each night of Hanukkah but I couldn't figure out how to get them to stand up without being glued in!!!! So this one will be put under a glass dome and displayed with our other Hanukkah decorations. I might have to try my hand at a 7 branch Menorah next!

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There are a few more projects that I have made for the newsletter from the September kit's supplies including a cute snow globe that has enough space in it for quilling that will be posted in the next few days. Be sure to stop by Custom Quilling and see the really beautiful quilled topiary created by my DT quilling partner Sue, I love the color combinations in her flowers!

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If you find inspirations from any of the projects that I post please post a link in the comments sections so I and others can see and enjoy! Just another short post for today, I must finish getting ready for Shabbat dinner tonight!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments and questions welcome!

Water Color Book Mark Card

Hi all! Well we are back! For the last two weeks we have been on the run and out of town and getting Rachel back to Stephen F. Austin to finish her last year of nursing school!!!! I am exhausted and glad to be back home! We had a great time and I will share some pics later. The last couple of days I have been trying to get caught up on some design team projects that I should have finished up BEFORE I left! Well they are done now and in a few days I can share them with you. But for now I have a quick card to show you that was in my "done" stash.

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This thank you card has a little gift book mark attached to the front. I stamped and embossed in gold the image and then watercolored it with Tombow markers. I edged it in gold and then mounted it on a Nestie scalloped rectangle which I pierced along the edges. A tassel was added to finish off the bookmark. The bookmark is held on by a small blue binder clip for easy removal. I have had this cute plaid designer paper and though that it fit the color scheme and design. A short post for today, be back later with more on our trips!
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Shalom,
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Sonya
Comments are always welcome and I appreciate and read them all!

Embossed Stargazer Lilies

Hi all, here is a short post while I am visiting family in Pittsburgh, it is the last of the Custom Quilling DT projects from July. This one has a little bit of everything - quilling, floral punch, embossed cut out, Flower Soft. If you have any questions or want more details just leave me a comment or email me at the contact on the sidebar and I will respond when we get back!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcome!

Quilled Flowery Hello

Hi all! Things have been very busy around here, getting my nursing student daughter ready to go back to S.F.A. and a last camping trip before school for her (posting more on this later). Also we will be out of town again this week so I will have a project to scheduled to post while I am gone. The busy schedule and the still constant pain hasn't let me work on many cards and I also have some DT projects in the works, but, I wanted to share one of this months Custom Quilling August Newsletter projects with you before we leave.

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It is a simple but bold card with the eccentric quilled flowers peeking out from under and layered on top of the glittery chipboard HI.

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I have more to post but I must finish packing, we have to be at the airport by 8 a.m. Thanks for all the wonderful comments and I have lots of ideas for cards and projects coming up when I get back later this week.

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments welcome, If you email me I will respond when I get back!

Bring on the Bling!

Hi all! This card was made for Flourishes Fit For Royalty Contest, but, I only found out about it last night and I couldn't get a good enough picture of it before the deadline : ( . I entered it anyway and sent an explanation of why it was late. Maybe it will be considered, if not, that's ok. I had so much work into it I wanted to send it in anyway. The contest was to make a card fit for royalty. The first thing royalty that came to my mind was Faberge eggs! They are so beautiful and intricate and have lots of BLING! So I chose the Lily of the Valley egg and tried my hand at making a card to mimic the look of it.

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It was very hard to get a decent photo of it because of the metallic cardstock that is the base layer of the lilies, the scalloped border and Fleur DE Li's. The lily of the valley flowers on the Faberge' egg are pearls and so I used my four petal punch and cupped it, added a pearl to the center and attached these to a gold gilded quilling strip. On the back side of the flower and strip I added a gold bead to add the gilded jewelry opulence the eggs have.

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The purple metallic cardstock was scored on my ScorPal to look like tufting and I added a rhinestone to the intersections. The gold metallic scallop circle underneath as well as the border has aurora borealis crystals to further bling it up! The gold metallic fleur de lis have pearl accents as well. Shear ribbon finishes it off. Ok, I know I say this every time but it really does look A LOT prettier, shiny and glitzy in real life. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

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I added this picture also, I am not happy with it, but it shows the metallic card stock better and the color is more true.

It was fun and hectic trying to get it done, and I don't know if I will do anything like it again, but it sure has BLING!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments always welcome!

Quilled Monogram

Hi all! Here is another Custom Quilling DT project from the July Newsletter. The quilling strips were pretty lavenders and greens and I had been wanting to try my hand at quilling a monogram and they seemed to be just right for it. I used a Dover clip art book with beautiful ornate alphabets in it and choose one that could be easily done in quilling. The quilling is accented with iridescent seed beeds, click on picture for a close up view. I layered the quilled panel onto a crystal accented pierced Nestability label 2 and then onto a sparkly designer paper. Thanks again for all your sweet comments!! One more project from the July Newsletter tomorrow! Until then,

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcome!

Pink Paisley Quilled Card

Hi all! Today's card is one from the Custom Quilling August Newsletter and there will be no card details today as it is the first one to be offered as a pattern at Custom Quilling!!! The designer paper, rub-ons and quilling strips used on the card come in the August Custom Quilling Kit. Click on the link to "patterns" on the Custom Quilling site and you will see not only the pattern for the card above but another project pattern from Sue, my sister DT member, and an awesome quiller! Her pattern has the prettiest quilled flowers decorating the paper mache' frame that also comes in the kit.

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You get a lot of great card stock, designer paper, the frame, lots of quilling strips and fun rub-ons in the kit to do do many quilling, card and other paper projects! I have had lots of fun creating cards and projects with these kits. In fact I have a hard time paring down the project ideas to only three for the newsletter each month.

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Off to clean up my crafting table so I can finish up some more projects! See y'all tomorrow!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcomed and each one is read and appreciated.

Butterfly Rose Card

Hi all, I went to the GI Dr. and he told me that I have to be on the acid reducer meds for two weeks before the insurance will even consider doing the other test. I am hoping that it will work but I have been on them before, but, maybe this time they will! I had a good day yesterday with the pain not as bad so I was happy to be able to create again! Notice I said nothing about cleaning the house that hasn't been done for a few weeks, priorities, right! lol!

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I had several cards in various stages of completion and finished up this one which is appropriate for my current health trial! The roses are a creamy yellow with the tips of the petals inked in a raspberry and a touch of orange. They also have dew drops on them made with Crystal Effects. All of the roses have them but you can see them the best on the top right rose. The little accent flowers are made from cream pearlescent paper with a textured pearl for the centers. I think this is my favorite little accent flower, but sadly I think EK Sucess has discontinued this punch. For those who want it and can't find it in the stores, email them and tell them you want them to bring it back! I can't find the name for it anywhere but here is the picture of it so you know what it looks like.

The butterfly is one of Fred She Said's new releases, Flutterbies. I printed the flutterbie onto heavy weight vellum and took my embosser ink pen and inked the areas that I wanted to emboss with gold. Then I watercolored it with my tombow markers and added the black accents and glitter. These super cute butterflies come in several sizes and you can adjust them to whatever size you need. There are different transparency files and outlines so you can make background paper, or color and "paint" them in your favorite draw/paint, picture editor program.

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And, Tracey gives GREAT tutorials on how to do that if you are technically challenged such as I! Her latest tutorial is on using distress inks to color and emboss her Lovely Blossom and Butterfly digi set. Tracey isn't just limited to digital art either, she is a very talented painter and her K9 art (pet portraits) is stunning, check out her blog here to see her most recent painting.

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Thanks for the encouraging comments! I have heard that some of you are leaving comments and that they are not showing up. I too have had that experience on other blogs and I can't find the reason why it happens, must be a blogger glitch. If it does happen to you, please use the email contact link on the side bar and email me your comments or questions and I will enter them on the post for you!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Hydrangea Petals Quilled Card

Hi all, I am still having problems with the pain and nausea but thankfully I have an appointment with the GI specialist in the morning! Maybe he will continue with the next test to finally find out why I keep having these problems.

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But on a happier note, the August Custom Quilling Newsletter is out!! You can see the August DT projects using the current kit, and great new products for quilling and paper art. Denise has wonderful quilling supplies and don't miss the new quilling kits! Check out the newsletter to see Sue's awesome quilled heart wall plaque and just to cute quilled cake! I have three new projects also, including a photo album using my brand new pink Bind It All 2. I love it and you will see more projects in the future using it.

Above is one of the projects that I made for last month's newsletter with the July kit. The kit featured hydrangea papers and lovely quilling papers. The designer paper in the kit inspired the quilled hydrangea petal border on the card. The details for this card are listed in the July Custom Quilling newsletter here. That's all for today, another card tomorrow!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments are always welcome, I love hearing from you and y'all are so sweet with your encouragement!

Fred She Said New Release!

Hi all! I have been MIA lately because of a recurring problem with my once removed gallbladder again. The almost constant nausea and pain have not been favorable to be in a creative mode which hasn't made me very happy. I have been to the Dr. and the ER with the problem and now have another Dr. appt. to get a referral for a specialist!!!!! I have done some research on the issue and hopefully will get to the bottom of the problem once and for all!

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But, I have finally finished this card! I used the newly released Little Miss Bitty digi stamp from Fred She Said. She is so cute and there are several versions of her to color and embellish for a project. Cute Little Miss Bitty has these cute flowers to go with her many ensembles! They are quick and easy to color and cut out. I printed her and her flower garden out onto 90lb watercolor paper and watercolored her with my Tombow markers. She is popped up on dimensionals. I accented her and the flowers with a Sakura pen and glitter to make it sparkly! Quilled leaves were added to finish the flower garden border.

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Check out Fred She Said for new digi stamps and a great tutorial by Tracey on making super fun background paper with digi stamps (which is free!!!). Spread the Fred! I will be posting the Custom Quilling DT projects tomorrow and will have another Fred She Said new release coming up! If you make a card with Fred She Said digi stamps or have a quilled project to show off, post a link in the COMMENTS below, I'd love to see them!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments and project links always welcome!

Firefly Glow in the Dark CPS124

Hi all! I must have bugs on the brain because I saw these little fireflies in a Fred She Said flower digi stamp! This blue and green color combo are ones that I have been wanting to play with for a while now. I started with the Whirly Foldy Flowers digi stamps and cut out one petal and center for the bodies of the fireflies. Then I colored them in with my prismacolors and OMS.

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To bling them up they are outlined with a Sakura pen then glitter dots added. The wings are two hearts punched out of green velum, a slit cut to "separate" the wings, glued at the points, folded and a glitter swirl added for sparkle. I wanted these little bugs to really glow so I added glow paint to their bottoms. Now with a little charging in the light they will really glow in the dark like real fireflies! My grandkids are going to love it! Good thing I bought extra glow paint!

The design was from Card Positioning Systems and is for their challenge #124. If you are not familiar with CPS they have a weekly challenge for great card design sketches at their site. If you get stuck for a layout design drop on over and browse through all of the past sketches and look at all the links for the current and past challenges. The DT has examples to get your creativity going. Post a card that you have made from one of their sketches and enter for a chance to win!

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I am working on another card to post for another challenge so, off to clean off my table so I have room to make more cards!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments welcome, tell me how you like the little buggers!

Ladybug Surprise Card

Hi all, another very hot day here in Houston! It is late afternoon now and I just finished another card just in time to get out of my craft room which has west windows! To hot to work in there now! This is a card that I have had on my list to do for a bit. It features a ladybug cut with my circle Nesties and has quilled spots and antennae. The wings open up to reveal a surprise sentiment, "What's Up?". The edges of the ladybug wings are inked and pierced.

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I used one of the designs of Whirly Flowers from Fred She Said and left them white except for the centers. I had to have some bling, so I glittered them a bit along with the leaves. They are really sparky IRL, the picture never seems to show that off. These flowers are so easy and fast to cut out and there are many coloring options.

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Since there was not a suitable place to put a bow because the wings had to open, I added the little bit of ribbon ruffle at the sides of the ladybug. The inside of the card was decorated with red, black and white mats embellished with small ladybugs. A short post for today, have a great Shabbat!

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Shalom,

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Sonya

Comments welcome, I'd love to hear from you!