Ironcraft challenge #17

In honor of the Royal Wedding, this week's challenge was to create a handmade wedding gift.

When I go to weddings, I always buy something off the registry so I almost didn't do the challenge. But, I decided I could keep whatever I made, so off to the web I went.
After ditching several ideas, I decided on an envelope book and used THIS tutorial . The only thing I did differently was to substitute a place mat for the cover because I didn't have any scrapbook paper large enough to make it...the envelopes I had were 6x8.

finished envelope recipe book:






since I was keeping it, I hand wrote the labels instead printing them out.



After making it, I thought of how you could make a gift card holder the same way and made this:


IC challenge #17....Check!

Mosaic Monday

Here is a birdbath I made back in 2002...

I gave it to my in-laws who had wanted one for their front yard. I really love how this one turned out.




I took these photos when we visited at Christmas and I didn't have time to clean the basin out. There is a sun in the middle...just hard to see it clearly.


I had forgotten how lovely this one turned out.....

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

John 11:25-26

Friday Flashback!

Oh my goodness how I used to LOVE Saturday mornings.

gotta love the oldies but goodies....

Remember this one?

ready for a break...

The kids are both ready for a break from school.....and by the looks of it Matt needs knee pads!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful Christian, husband, father, friend, hugger, handyman, provider, high stuff reacher, wine bottle opener, electrical gadget fixer, appliance installer and repairman, Christmas light put up and take down person, grill, short order cook, joke teller, mentor, good advice giver, trying to make a better life for his family... man.

I know I didn't cover it all....but this gives you a good idea of how lucky I am.

Thank you Lord for putting Dean in my path and giving me the sense to open my heart to him.

Happy Birthday Dean....I love you.

Ironcraft #15

This week's ironcraft challenge was to create art using peeps.

I groaned when I read that.....I wouldn't eat a peep if it jumped in my mouth so the thought of working with them kinda grossed me out.

I decided that I would buy just ONE pack of peeps and do something little just to say I completed the challenge. With that in mind, I decided I simply could NOT proceed without tasting one again. So, off to the store I went. I bought my pack of peeps and 1 peep dipped in chocolate (everything is better with chocolate, right?)
I got in my car and ate the peep. I could barely choke it down. Apparently, some things are NOT better with chocolate!

I get home and start thinking of something little to make.....but then once I started thinking of ideas, my brain simply would NOT shut up.

I thought about peeps and the round table, 1 eyed, one eared flying purple peeple eaters and about voo doo doll peeps....and frankenpeeps and Harry Peeper peeps and even a "peeping" peep. I thought about 3 little peeps and the big bad wolf and little red riding hood and the big bad peep, and Mary Peepins, and the Village Peeple .

And, and,and...the list can go on and on and on...in other words, I had TONS of ideas.

I could have done some great dioramas if I'd had the time but between work, family and massive clean up thanks to a BAD KITTY named Leo, I had just enough free time to do a few things. (BTW, anyone want a free cat?)

So instead, I made peeps on the cob....

which Matt taste tested for me....and prefers not to do again.


and then I made Princess and the Peep...



and a slightly sticky peep pincushion...


I considered myself done.

But then, I though....Okay, Val, those aren't really ART, right? I decided to use the rest of the pack and do something a bit more creative.....so I decided to use the fairy house I made for last year's YOE challenge and incorporate the peeps into it.

so what do we have here? A peep fairy inviting some friends to something?


a peep PARTY perhaps?


are those fairy peeps dancing around a maypole?



are those topeeparies I see?

why, YES! That must be the frog king, making a grand entrance with the royal peep fairy family!

And look! A fairy ring, complete with frog servant ready to light up the festivities when night falls!


and over looking to keep them all safe from unwanted visitors, is the fairy steed.

Yes, fairy lore states that Corgis are the fairy's steed! Although his saddle mark is not visible in this photo, he has a lovely one.

I'm sure he feels quite regal today.


Who would have known I would have had such fun?