Welcome to our May Blog Hop. Once again, we are clearing out our stashes, using up the "oldies but goodies"!  Enjoy.

Cameron... We are proud

Welcome to the May blog hop. While we are using up our "stashes", no one said the pictures had to be old! The last one is only a week old, the other 2 about 10 months. This framed piece will help to remind us to keep in prayer our nephew Cameron and his service to our nation. What a blessing to have him home for a visit this Memorial Day weekend.

Supplies were definitely from the stash.
Gold star paper - Karen Foster designs     All other paper - no identifier on the individual sheets
Star brads - Creative Imaginations
Burlap star - Little Yellow Bicycle
Script lettering - Miss Elizabeth (oh yeah, old stash!)  Other letters - Cricut, various cartridges


So glad you've joined us. Here's the "hop" list.  I hope that we have inspired you to dig in your stash and scrap away! And you know that I'd love to have you as a follower...

Hop List - May 30 - Final

Practical Scrappers http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com
Christine http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com
Lee-Anne http://lee-annelovethejourney.blogspot.com
Melissa http://theprofoundbrunette.com
Bobbi http://vintagemusedesigns.blogspot.com/
Majken  http://chocoscrapaholic.blogspot.com/
Marcia  http://www.onescrapatatime-bymumsie.blogspot.com/
Suzanna  http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/
Cheryl http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com    YOU ARE HERE

Krissy http://krissyclarkmckee.blogspot.com    Go here next
Wendi R  http://scrappydayinparadise.blogspot.com/
Erin http://girlpaperscissors.blogspot.com
Kelly www.kelsterjean.com
Monica http://scrapinspired.com
Laura http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/
Deborah http://scrappinthelittlethings.blogspot.com/
Wendy C www.stampingrules.com

Smile Big - Its your Birthday

A fun birthday card for kids of all ages!

 All the paper is from my stash scrap bag so I can't identify it.  The Butterfly is from Recollections and the "Smile" sticker from Creative Imaginations.

Super Simi Stitchers!

A very productive day and almost every one was there!  9 more of God's loved ones will be warm. Blessed in service and in knowing these Stichin' Sisters!

Happy National Scrapbook Day

I am so blessed with ladies of all ages who share a love for Christ with me. Time to make a page to salute them.

Practical Scrappers Blog Hop

Welcome to our April Practical Scrappers "Scrapping Our Stash" blog hop! 

I hope you arrived here from :
Majken Pullin:  http://chocoscrapaholic.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Wegener Freet http://patchesandscraps.blogspot.com   you are here now
Laura Cox:  http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/      
is your next stop.  If you didn't start at   Practicalscrappers.blogspot.com  you may want to go back to the beginning... or not. You can just go forward from here and at the end, bounce back up to Practical Scrappers
 
Our challenge this month was simple... use only your stash and it may not have been introduced at the latest "CHA"  (Craft and Hobby Association) convention.  Oh yeah, I have a huge stash and I chose to go waaayyyy back and use some papers I love.  I've been into black and white lately, so here are 3 cards using the same papers but with different looks.

A modern fun card yet still simple with circles, flowers and the greeting.

This card design is close to my heart as my first crafting love is quilting.  That being said, quilts take a long time to complete and cards are MUCH faster and fulfill a need for creative expression quickly. I love hexagons as well and that I am able to use them in both paper crafts and quilting.  A shape very popular in the past and making a resurgence in modern paper crafting, especially with these fun papers.

My final card was inspired by my favorite cardmaker, Christine Meyer and one she has posted on pintrest.
Different backgrounds, different shapes, fun simple cards!

All my cards used the following elements:
Paper:  Recollections,  American Craft
Flowers: Colorbok   the circles and hexagons were self cut from the same Colorbok line.

The base paper (black and white circles) for the first card was by Luxe
Happy Birthday scrip - Creative Imaginations
Happy Birthday cut - Cricut Lyrical Letters
All other letters, buttons, brads, twine were from the stash and had lost their identity long ago ;-)

Enjoy your hop...see you next month. Here's where you go next 
Laura Cox:  http://scrapaddict4life.blogspot.com/      

Hello

Simple patchwork card with a "prize" hello...great for a man.

The story of Christ's redemption is simple, He did it all. 
It is finished.

This completes the story, He is risen.  The cross of nails show despair and hope and are on the front of the card. The beauty of a white filigree cross show the beauty and majesty of all He did for us and is the inside of the card. Kraft, black and white cardstock, stick on jewels and a little twine. 
Crosses are cut from New Testament cartridge/Cricut.

Quilts for the World

We gathered in Burbank for one of our final workdays of the year.  Several of the Simi Stitchin' sisters joined us and we worked for about 3 hours.

These quilts will be going to Lutheran World Relief, Orphan Grain Train and IHP Tanzania Pediatric Hospital.

A combination of our Burbank and Simi Valley workshops. If every one had been available to join us, the group would have doubled.
One of the final tasks of the day is to drape the quilts over the pews in the church - ready for "The Blessing" the next day during worship.

We displayed 157 quilts, having already shipped 37.  The following Monday, 8 more were completed, giving us a total of 202 for the year! To God be the Glory and I thank Him for my wonderful, dedicated sisters in "Stitchin' for Missions".

Go Yaya

Celebrating world Cardmaking Day by creating a card to encourage a young friend.  Love my Cricut!

Not my usual post but this weekend was not my usual one either. My "Stitchin' for Missions" group was asked to sponsor a 7 hour workshop making utility quilts at a Lutheran Womens Missionary League (LWML) convention. Our standard size is 60x80 as for many of our recipients, this is the only quilt they will ever have so we want it big enough for an adult. We were told to expect 70 women throughout the day. I had a crew of 7-10 spaced throughout the day as well.  Many asked me how I set it up, supplies, etc. and I am happy to share as it went well (so why reinvent the wheel?).
Our room was about 24x48.

In the back we set up 2 tables end to end (walkway in between) for 
sewing machines, 2 per table.

Next were 2 sets of 2 tables each (side by side) which we used for 
laying out quilts.

The 3rd "row"  was 1 more sewing machine table (2 machines)  
and our cutting table/hand work area.

4th row was and area for 2 ironing boards  and our supply table

You can see the next area contained our 3 tying tables. In front of 
the table on the right is a "Welcome" table where we had the 
ladies sign in and then they were assignedto one of our "Stitchers" 
to help them get working. The greeter at the table knew who to 
call depending on what they wanted to do. eg Jan handled those 
on sewing machines, Dede, Jennie and June on tying, Tracy - 
the clippers/cutters or she just gave tour and then assigned them.

Behind me (taking the picture) and against a wall was our display.

The right side of the room with the "Welcome" table. You can see 
we used quilts as tableclothes.

Our tying tables were: 1 at normal level (you can sit and tie ), 
1 was raised 3 inches, the other 6 inches. Kudos to the person who
invented the PVC risers.  We had many questions about them.

 You can see our display in front.We added finished quilts to the racks 
and to 2 chairs on either side.  Each time we finished one, it was held 
up and "Number 4 (or whatever) is finished"followed by a cheer.  We 
stored tops and backs, tied together) under the tables so they could 
just grab another one and keep going.  We flipped our back edges 
to the front and pinned for binding while they were there and then 
moved from the table to stitchers at machines. Batting roll is at the 
end of the table.  Other tables had top, batting and backs tied 
together and underneath.

This is our cutting table. I made the decision not to have people 
cutting squares at the workshop. Cutting materials are their for 
trimming only. 

We make a "rag" quilt from t-shirt material (I'll post directions 
later) so we used half the table for them to clip the rag quilts. 
They finished 3 - yeah! Check out Tracy - she's wearing the
aprons we made for this event.

Like many of you, I have ladies who will only do specific
jobs. One only sews blocks/tops, another prefers 
(she is CRAZY) binding, another only ties. The rest are 
multi-functional.  I didn't want anyone waiting to work 
sew I brought quilts at every stage. 

Supply specifics are given for those who asked for detail...
the rest of you can kinda skim through this part.

4 quilts ready to bind

25 ready to tie

1 ready to clip (pix above)

30+ ready to make into tops 

20+ misc color backs 

2 rolls batting (only used 1 as about half of the 25 
ready to tie had batting with them)

Supplies/Tools

3 cutting boards and 9 various rulers

7 sewing machines (and yes, one did break down 
                                 so the spare was good)

2 irons and boards

8 extension cords

Misc. thread - bring lots of neutral, tan or grey... 
                          I had 4 and ran out

15 sewing scissors, 
15 thread clipping (read as too dull to cut fabric) scissors  
                                           30 total, all were used 

5 measuring tapes

3 seam rippers

5 boxes of pins (the large ones 400? each)

5 magnetic pin cushions - 1 between each set 
of machines and extras for floating around - all used

2 rolls masking tape...bring more 

40+ tying needles  One lady chose to just sit and 
                         thread needles - bless her!

Crochet thread

Pens, pencils, misc. marking equipment

Boxes and garbage size bags for packing finished quilts

Lunch bags that we attached to each corner of the tying, 
          cutting and sewing tables for scraps, trash

Box under each tying table for reusable size material scraps

9 of the most wonderful ladies that anyone can ask for as
  partners in ministry - No! you can't buy them or have them!

1 Amazing Sovereign God who answers prayers offered 
   for this event and in all parts of life. He is yours for the 
   asking as there is enough of Him for all of us

1 or more Bibles for all the answers and as guides 
   throughout the day.

We transport most of our goods in enormous rolling 
       suitcases to transport most of our supplies.

We were allowed 2 hours to set up and only needed
45 minutes. We packed for each area. One small suitcase 
with crochet thread and needles. 2 large with ready to tie. 
1 with tools, 1 with backs. Made setting up a snap. 
Also at our planning meeting a week prior, we assigned 
duties so we weren't tripping over each other. 
Jan set up sewing machine area, June,Jennie and Ruth the 
tying tables, Dede display and Welcome table and so on.

Clean up was honestly a little crazy. No plan (me bad!). 
Eventually had a couple take over finished quilts, pack and 
take to display (11 floors away), another did Welcome/Displays. 
Unfortunately the rest kinda got shoved in wherever so much 
sorting being done today (yuck!) but I learned a good lesson - 
"she who sets it up, packs it up as it came out!"

Hope this helps!

To God be all glory for a wonderful turnout!

I can crawl!

A gift for a friend, the picture will be added later! The critters are all cut from various Cricut cartridges.

Pockets of Love

I have a dear friend who has been diagnosed with leukemia. She has taught the Bible to literally thousands of women and through all the challenges in her life, has been a godly example of trusting behavior, humility and faithful service.
We sent out emails, phone calls...everything but Facebook since she is there and asked ladies whose lives have been touched to send her a note to slide into a pocket. Less than 3 weeks later
the quilt is on its way, to be hand delivered by one of her former class members.
The quilting contains several Bible verses 2 Cor 1:6, Psalm 116:5, Proverbs 3:5, Psalm 46. You see the word compassion above. The backing was another gift from God...though purchased, I could not have found fabric that was more appropriate.
An extra blessing was 2 Saturdays that up to 7 ladies, all former students of hers, were able to spend in a "quilting bee", prayer and memories. the time spent was truly a blessing.
This is the finished quilt, filled with the notes. To God be the glory and we give thanks for all the blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ, given to us through Dawn.

Dayton and his doggy

Blessed to be Gram

Our newest addition, Dayton!
Fun in the annual "Greatest Leaf Pile" (though a bit scarce this year!) with Timmy, Lucy and Cooper!

Great thought

"I have been driven many times to my knees
by the overwhelming conviction that
I had nowhere to go.
My own wisdom, and that of all about me,
seemed insufficient for the day."

Abraham Lincoln

I posted this a week ago and now ... I know my wisdom is never sufficient and need to begin each and every day on my knees asking for the Lord's wisdom to guide my day and that, when the crisis hits during the day, realize that He already has it covered in His sovereign power. As far as the quote... "better late than never" and it is a great day when we realize we need to turn to our Lord Jesus Christ for guidance.

Simple Summer Pleasures

Practical Scrappers had a "recipe challenge" where you had to include 12 specific items in your layout. Here's mine...and the grkids are bonus features!

A Baby's Coming Soon!

Room for 4 pictures and journaling on the tulips!
Room for 3 pictures. Random stars are popped up with foam dots.

Lots of fun embellishments on these pages including flowers and gems from Creative Charms.

One Very Prepared Princess

Lucy loves to dress up and when she does, she dons everything that she is fond of at the moment. This often means layers of clothes and jewelry. She does know how to have fun!
Papers are from Luxe, Paper Studio and DCWV. Brads - Making Memories, Buttons - Walmart. Beads are from my stash.
This medallion flower is made using a Fiskars border punch. Paper is folded at about 1/4 inch.
This medallion flower is cut from a Martha Stewart border punch and folded at about 1/2 inch. I found it interesting how much difference the size of the fold makes. I determined the size of the fold by the points on the strip.