The Possibilities Are Endless

Even in the midst of all the daily stress, worry, and negativity...young college graduates all around us are pulling themselves up, opening their minds to new ideas and possibilities and doing amazing things!

I created this card for my best friend's daughter.

She graduated from college and like so many other college graduates, is now looking for a job. 

I used the Darice Scroll Flourish Corner Embossing folder, then lightly sanded it.

Hero Arts Everyday Sayings clear stamp was embossed with gold embossing powder.

Inside the card I used  My Mind's Eye ~ Up and Away clear stamp

Where understanding is present, fear is absent

Where fear is absent, love exists

Where loves exists, life persists

Where life persists, the possibilities are endless

 - Daniel Andrew Lockwood 

TTFN

Happy Crafting!

aka The Rebel Blogger

Handmade Gifts For Men

OK, so is it just me, or are the men in our lives really hard to find handmade gifts for?

It's obviously not creating the gift that's the problem, it's the endeavor of thinking/searching for something that we know the male recipient will like.

Be it for a birthday or your anniversary, it don't matter!

I can find hundreds of handmade gift ideas/tutorials for females – mothers, grandmothers, mothers-to-be, teenagers but for the male gender, that's a whole new ballgame!

Just the mere thought of handmade gifts for DH are giving me more grey hairs than I already have!! 

We all want to make something more original than a handmade CD, a jar with cookies, or a grilling apron. It needs to be more personalized...right?

In a previous post here, I said that hubby would rather have something handmade than bought. I love the thought of saving money for umm...maybe more crafting supplies! 

Since Tom drinks coffee(decaf)almost 24/7, this is what I finally came up with for his birthday. 
A paper mug filled with goodies! 


The mug tutorial is from Traci Cornelius ~ here.
Then I created a saucer to add a little more detail. 

The patterned paper is Tim Holtz French Industrial.
Hubby's name was cut out with Cricut Learning Curve via Cricut Craftroom

Tom also loves chocolate, so I wrapped some M&M's and Reese's Piece's with cellophane. The cellophane looks like it has pink in it, but it is actually all gold in color.

Here's his birthday card I created 

The faux tree bark/wood grain was created with my homemade texture paste combined with acrylic paint onto The Crafters Workshop Wood Grain 6x6 template. 

XOXO.... is Hero Arts Everyday Sayings clear stamps putting black enamel flat backs on the O's.

Well, that is it. Till the next time I need to make a handmade gift for the males in my life, then I will do it all over again..search and think and search!

Question....are you ever in the same boat?


TTFN and Happy Crafting!

aka The Rebel Blogger

Once Upon A Time

Another Mother's Day has come and gone without my mother and the bittersweet longing has not become any easier. 

I haven't heard her voice in 8 years. 

We spoke to each other almost everyday. What I wouldn't give to hear her voice, calling me on the phone just to chat.

Like many motherless daughters, I talk to my mom occasionally, just not the way people with living moms do.
I call on her in difficult times and ask her to be with me.

There are still occasions, all these years later, when I think -for just a split second- "I need to tell mom that."

I sometimes think I smell her White Shoulders perfume.

I was truly lucky to have a great mom, she was my best friend.


Mothers who have passed on deserve as much recognition on Mother's Day as those who are living. 

For many of us who have lost our mother, Mother's Day and in the days leading up to it can be difficult.
The bombarding of commercials and the card displays in stores are everywhere and is a glaring reminder of our loss.
To most though, it brings joyful memories of laughter and love.

For me, Mother's Day is still about my mom, and honoring her.
I try to visit her grave site once every couple of months. 
But every Mother's Day since her passing, I like to think I make it an extra special visit and carry along some Spic and Span and water to clean her gravestone.

Also on this Mother's Day I decided to go through some of mom's old photos and create a scrapbook layout of her.

I chose a photo of her holding me. 
She had the date May 1957 written on the back, which made me about 2 months old. 

By the looks of the photo, I was not a happy camper, taking a fit about getting my picture taken back then and still fuss about it today.....I haven't changed!!

I love the soft colors and vintage look of Cosmo Cricket's Evangeline collection.

The flowers were fussy cut and attached with pop dots to add dimension.

The 'corsage' is made of Prima Sugar Bloom Sparkling and Prima Coventry Rose Printery flowers. 

I added a leaf that I painted gold with hubby's can of spray paint. 

A delicate little string thing from my stash was intertwined (for the life of me I can not remember what it is called...it's not ribbon or lace or twine, oh my...my age is showing!!)

Mother's day is a special time to reflect what our mothers have done for us.
I hope we take that time to appreciate the sacrifices of our mothers, not just on Mother's Day but all year long.

TTFN!

Happy Crafting!

aka The Rebel Blogger