Cindy's Country Crate Organizer

Hey there folks!

I know I have said this before, and I will say it again... 
I so love this time of year!!

The abundance of fresh from the garden fruits and vegetables is truly a blessing.

Tom and I eat fresh garden goodies almost on a daily basis, savoring every tasteful awesomeness bite! 

We can't grow our own garden because of so many trees resulting in lots and lots of shade on our property. 
But the local Amish farm markets are everywhere and we take full advantage!

Here are just some of our rewards from the bountiful harvest:

#1 ~ grilled corn on the cob soaked in real butter.
#2 ~ fried peppers on Italian or French bread, sometimes adding a fresh egg from our neighbor's chickens, making it a pepper and egg sandwich! 
#3 ~ sliced tomatoes on toasted, buttered bread.
#4 ~ cubed cucumbers mixed with sour cream & fresh ground black pepper.
#5 ~ fresh picked green beans, fried in olive oil till they are a crispy golden color!

Shall I go on? 
Okay, you talked me into it!

#6 ~ mouth watering watermelon slices.
#7 ~ the sweetness of a juicy honey dew and 
#8 ~ cantaloupe, both topped with a dollop of whipped cream. 

Oh, I can't forget my homemade,
#9 ~ moist zucchini bread and zucchini brownies.
#10 ~ scrumptious blueberry pies!   

Have I made you hungry for some garden fresh goodies? 
I sure hope so!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, with all that in mind...
How appropriate is that my craft table organizer is made with the FARMHOUSE Paper Pad by Crate Paper!

I designed and created this for a friend as a thank you gift.

To make the paper lace trim around the top of each box, I used Martha Stewart's Doily Lace Edger Punch. 

The metal stamped brads on the corners of the base are from Graphic 45.

The entire organizer base is made of two pieces of 10 3/4 in. by 4 1/4 in. medium weight chipboard and glued together.

I added a crocheted doily from my stash and finished it with a chipboard letter S {for Sharon!} that I heat embossed {twice} with Tim Holtz Mustard Seed Distress Embossing Powder.

The small box base measures 3 1/2 in. square and the sides are 1 3/4 in. tall.

The middle box base is also 3 1/2 in. square, the sides are 3 1/2 in. tall.

The tall box base measures 3 1/2 in. by 2 1/2 in.
The sides are 5 1/4 in. tall.

I had so much fun designing and creating this organizer, I think I will design a different style and make one for my own craft table!



Well, apple season is next.
I can not wait to pick some wild, juicy apples for homemade apple pie with my mom's pie crust recipe, apple crisp and applesauce.



Don't forget to take some time to create your life!

Have a fantabulous weekend!
TTFN!
aka The Rebel Blogger

Three Quick and Simple Bookmarks!

Hello there and welcome!

Well, it's that time of year when summer vacation is already over and it's back to school time again.
Whew...in the blink of an eye, time flew right by us! 

My niece Kim had made a special request for a handmade bookmark and that my creations will be in exchange for a cute little Hall pitcher she found at a flea market.

{She knows I love anything made by Hall and Shenango China}

I created these three different bookmarks for her that I would like to share with you.


The first is made from medium weight chipboard. 
The quote is an oldie but goodie!

The second...a corner bookmark. 

Kim's favorite!

My favorite...a magnetic bookmark!

These bookmarks can be quite quick and simple to create. 
Add your own customized details and embellishments and there you go...a nice little back to school gift for your child, your child's classmates and your child's new teacher!




And finally....a little bit of humor!

Till next time...happy crafting!

TTFN!
aka The Rebel Blogger

Staying Present In Times Of Waiting ~ My Journey With Cancer

What, another non crafting post...yes, The Rebel Blogger is at it again!


I am living with cancer.
It can not be seen, but non-the-less, still lurking in the shadows.
I will not succumb to it's claws without a damn good fight.

The ever present fatigue hides in the shadows also. 
I will not succumb to it's claws either.

My experience with cancer has meant I don't take anything, least of all life itself, for granted.
I appreciate and treasure every single day because I know how precious life is.
I no longer greet each day with careless acceptance.

It has changed my routines, and relationships.
It has caused a financial impact.
It has changed my physical appearance.
Cancer has been a life-changing experience on many levels.

But...
I know I would be a completely different person if not for the cancer.
I have achieved a certain 'calm wisdom'.
I am able to see things in a 'different view'.
My entire perspective has changed and I am thinking my life in new ways.

For the past year, it has been a waiting game.
Wait for the results of this test and that test, wait to see if the cancer grows...wait, wait, wait!
I do not like to wait. Who does?
I think it is a waste of time.
It is an annoyance, a negative, something to be avoided.

As I look back from the very beginning of my journey, I have experienced a 'seasons' of waiting.
Each time I waited for additional results, my mind and body prepared for the next shock, the next bad news.
This did not lead to hopeful waiting.
It only lead to feelings of anxiety.

Sometimes we allow ourselves the luxury of waiting to watch the sunset so we can soak in the beauty.
Or to the joyful waiting-for nine miraculous months-while a child forms in the womb.

I tend to forget that waiting can be a thing of beauty. A gift. Even a blessing.

In Sue Monk Kidd's book, When the Heart Waits, she describes the gifts that can come to us in waiting:

The fullness of one’s soul evolves slowly. We’re asked to go within to gestate the newness God is trying to form; we’re asked to collaborate with grace. That doesn’t mean that grace isn’t a gift. Nor does it mean that the deliberate process of waiting produces grace. But waiting does provide the time and space necessary for grace to happen. Spirit needs a container to pour itself into. Grace needs an arena in which to incarnate. Waiting can be such a place, if we allow it.

As I continue to wait in anticipation, I have felt that great work taking place within my own container and I have now provided the arena in my soul for grace!

I have learned to stay present in the ever constant times of waiting!
I am surviving!



x's & o's 
aka The Rebel Blogger

A Little Bit Of Thanks Die Cut Swing Card

Hello There!
Hope your weekend is going well.

It was a pleasantly warm and sunny Saturday here in Western PA.
The birds were singing their pleasing song. 
The flowers soaked up the sun's bright rays.
The occasional delicate butterfly fluttered here and there looking for sweet nectar.
How I love this time of year!

Which brings me to share this card I created for a friend, thanking her for the temporary use of her Big Kick!

The patterned paper has been in my stash for a few years, it is a collection called Best Occasions from Colorbok.

I used Spellbinders Shapez Frame 3 for the die cut swing.
The little orange flowers and leaves are Memory Box Fabulous Phlox dies.

I also incorporated a pink Prima Sugar Blooms flower and two white paper flowers from the Paper Studio.

The sentiment is from Stampin Up Quick and Cute Set {retired}.

The butterfly is a cheap dollar rubber stamp from Micheals, doesn't have a name on it.
I stamped it with Ranger Watermark resist ink then heat embossed with Hero Arts gold embossing powder. After that I colored it with Distress Markers and finished the butterfly with Glossy Accents for added dimension.

You might ask yourself...where did Cindy get the inspiration for this card? 
Watch the awesome YT tutorial from Norma at Splitcoaststampers and you shall see! 



Have an awesome week!

TTFN!

Happy Crafting!
x's & o's

aka The Rebel Blogger