I {HEART} My Janome

I bought a $5 sewing machine at a garage sale and took it home. I stared at it in utter confusion. I took a cloth and cleaned it (it was DIRTY). I stared at it some more. I went to the store and bought thread. I stared at it some more. I sold it at a garage sale for $5. The end.
I broke down and bought a Pixie Plus at JoAnn's about 4 months later. I tore it out of it's box and set it up. My husband (yes, my husband!) showed me how to thread it. I sewed. The thread broke. He showed me again how to thread it. I sewed again. The thread jammed. He yet again threaded it for me. I sewed. I don't remember what happened, but I do remember the machine went back in the box. I then read all of the bad reviews on the original Pixe, decided that it must be the machine and returned it. However, I got a small taste of sewing, and I wanted a machine!
We took a little trip to Hancock Fabrics. The lady said, "Don't buy the mini. Buy the next step up. This isn't that good for sewing projects." I said, "I just want to sew on paper, it will be fine." She said, "Paper? You're going to sew on paper? *insert weird rolling eye type movement here* Well, I guess it will be fine for that. But what if you need to fix a zipper or something?" I repeated "I just want to sew on paper. *insert just take my money and quit talking to me look*" and handed her my Visa gift card to pay. It wouldn't work. I thought it was a sign. I was done, no more sewing in my future. My sweet husband pulled out his wallet. He didn't want to hear any whining, I'm pretty sure. I've owned a Janome for 3 months. I love it. I can't stitch straight to save my life, so I use the zig-zag a lot. Oh well. I love it. I've gone through a few spools of thread already. A lot of it is thrown away. That's okay. I'm learning. I love it.
ON TO THE CARD!!!! I use The Daily Dare blog to come up with different challenges to do when I'm stuck. I found a new one called Allsorts Challenge Blog. I tried the sketch. I liked the card. And what do you know, they are having a DT call right now too. Amazing timing, you think?

 

This card uses Basic Grey Mellow pp, stamps from Unity (Sweet Affections), and buttons are SEI.

Who's the Coolest? YOU ARE!

I bought a pack of Basic Grey Lime Rickey awhile ago, but I am pretty sure I never used it (story of my life). I love the fun, vibrant, happy colors, but I am "fun, vibrant and happy challenged." So I challenged myself to use it. I secretly LOVE this card (not much of a secret anymore, I know). And to shock you even more - there is no stamping on it at all. But that's okay, I'm using up my stash! I also made this card for the Basic Grey challenge to make a card with animals. How fun is this bird/chickie/whatever you wanna call it?! LOVE IT!

Completely 100% (okay 99.9% if you count the stitching) Basic Grey Lime Rickey.

HA! How Ironic.

Well, I feel like I need to make a second post today...sorry to make you come back to my blog. hehe However, the Scripture Challenge word that I just finished was... (dum, dum, dum) TEMPTATION. HA! So here's what I came up with.

I used the verses Luke 22:45-46. "When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." I often find myself looking for comfort in other things (i.e. PAPER! hehe) or when the going gets tough, I forget the most important thing -- prayer! I am currently reading a book called Manna, and it's calling us to depend daily on God. Not to fall into the temptation to depend on worldly things. It's really been challenging me to live my life differently.

The paper is from SU, chipboard letters are Sassafrass...I so cannot stitch straight, good thing I was going for the fun, funky look, right?!(ha!)

Okay, that's all for today!

Terrible Temptation!

Today I am going to show you the rest of the bookmarks I made for the kids at church (see yesterday's post if you missed the fun girly ones!)

And here's a close up:

So, I am having an awful time. It's dreadful really. I currently have enough patterned paper to wallpaper my entire house....twice! And I am IN LOVE with the new Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, Jillibean Soup, and Dear Lizzy American Crafts paper lines. So, how in the world do I use up all that old paper so that I can buy the new stuff?! Or, better yet, how am I going to afford all that new paper?! AND if I break down and buy the new stuff (Let's face it. I'm weak. It's gonna happen), where am I going to put it?!

For those of you comedians-who-missed your calling -- no I will not store it at your house. But thanks for the offer. Hehe.

Okay, I'm off. I've got some more staring, drooling, and contemplating...I could donate plasma...sell my husband...quit eating...cancel the cable...How much is a Wii fetching these days on eBay? Yeah, like I said...more contemplating to do. :)