Sunday Threads

 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8-10

Use Your Words

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune

Without the words

And never stops at all.

And the sweetest in the gale is heard

And sore must be the storm

That could abash that little bird

That kept so many warm

I’ve heard it in the chilliest land

And in the strangest sea

And never in the extremity

It asks a crumb of me.

—Emily Dickinson

Looking for a new idea for a junk journal? How about a hopes and dreams book? Use old file folders, index cards, and scrapbook paper scraps to put together a colorful and special journal and fill it with words of wisdom, encouragement, and joy. You'll want to reference it often.

I use my old typewriter, stamps, ticket stubs, old pattern books, and a flower here and there. These word sticker books make it easy to add your sentiments too. Then get out your markers, colored pencils and gelatos and color away!

This is one of my favorite junk journals with covers made from vintage file dividers

 

My typewriter is covered with stickers - I like it this way. I only have three ribbons left until the poor thing is obsolete. I'm glad I had the foresight back then to buy so many ribbons, they should actually last me for a few years.

 

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch

Dash the Stash and Smash - Sandy Leigh's Stash Dash 2015

Did you shop your stash this week? Skip a big haul, and go right to your crafty cupboards to create and upcycle? I have a new year's resolution to work from my stash of papers, fabrics and tools and limit the crafty shopping this year. It's my Stash Dash 2015 - click here to see my Stash Dash Five Simple Rules.

I have been creating from my current crafty supplies this week--I didn't even buy a skein of floss! Today I'm sharing some pages I've upcycled for art journaling in my Smash book. No gesso required. I didn't particularly like the design the pages came with, but I wanted more writing space and just a little art space, so I grabbed a few index cards, inked the edges and started smashing.

I do love Smash books--but I don't always want to stick with the designs on every page.

I really just pulled scraps from my paper scrap bin, and then I decided to make the index cards a little more fun by inking the edges.

I used a tag punch for some of the index cards and corner punches too--I've had those corner punches since I started scrapbooking 16 years ago! Do you have crafty tools that you love but kind of forget about? Get them out this week!

I've actually been using this Smash book to art journal craft recipes and pattern directions--just a fun way to keep that information. So now these pages are ready for lists, journaling, and a little smashing too. I used my ATG gun a lot today! Yay!

I think distressing your index cards looks kinda cute! If you dashed your stash this week, share in the comments below. I've already heard from several of you how you were thinking the same thing this year, and plan to work from the goodies you already have on hand--there are so many things we forget we have that are awesome supplies and tools. Happy stash dashing!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch

WOYWW 293--Stash Dash Going Strong

Happy What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday! It's the mid-week desker party, and you can take a peek right here at the Stamping Ground.
While our host makes the most beautiful cards and things - you will find a plethera of crafty delights on the worktables of deskers around the planet.

Now, onto my desk. It's really a vintage leaf table I painted white long ago, and stenciled on some ivy. It is constantly covered with pink cutting mats - the one on the right is magnetic, and it comes in handy with its metal ruler to hold things down sometimes. But right now I've got paper scrap out, my Smash book, and I'm making tags from scraps--part of my Stash Dash 2015 pledge to myself. Also, I've finished my first cross-stitched Russian Doll. She's so cute. I'm trying to decide on whether to use her in a banner or a little art quilt as I start on doll number two.

I've also got a fat cat doll standing there--I was thinking about making more of those. And my hubby gave me a mini Altoids tin, which I will upcycle into something!

In the meantime - attention Downton Abbey lovers...did you love the whole scene with the first time they experienced a radio broadcast at Downton? That was cooool...and I loved how they called it the "wireless." We all forget that nobody really said "radio" in 1924...they thought of it as a wireless telegraph at first. I don't know why I'm so fascinated to see how people might have acted the first time they witness someone using a sewing machine, or a typewriter, and now a radio, but I love it! Robert and Carson think it's all a fad that will go away. Cute.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch

Tag Tuesday - Downton Diva

Visit the Tag Tuesday blog here.

Today's theme over at Tag Tuesday is Diva. And being a Downton Abbey lover, and finding this lovely vintage lady in my scrap pad stack, I created my Downton Diva tag. The new season of Downton just started last week, (at least here in the U.S.) it is 1924, and the gorgeous divas of Downton are wearing the most fabulous dresses and perfect hair. I love it. My mother was born in 1926, so I know she would have adored the season. I could easily create a whole series of Downton Diva tags I think! 

The most fun thing about making tags is how they fit into my Stash Dash motto for the year. I'm trying to make almost everything from my stash, and tags are the perfect way to use up scrap papers, embellishments, and upcycle. This tag features a flower diecut from a food package, and then painted and glittered. 

Visit my Stash Dash Five Simple Rules here.

Happy Tuesday!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch

Welcome to Sandy Leigh's Stash Dash 2015

There's Five Simple Rules to Dash Your Stash


What's in your stash? Stacks of paper pads from great sales at Michaels...multiplying spools of ribbons....jars of buttons...piles of fabrics...skeins and skeins of yarns, floss, beads for days, threads and crafting twine and cords. Then there's the tools--die cutters, ATG guns, special glues, mod podge, gesso's, specialty exacto knives, hole punchers, rotary cutters, craft punches, sewing machines, embroidery machines, binding machines...all this and some of us don't even have a whole dedicated craft room! It's no wonder that every time I buy something, I have to reorganize my whole crafty corner. It's not that I don't enjoy my crafty life--I am a regular Mollie Makes. But, this year I'm going to make more out of it, because I'm going to create more and buy less. I call it my 
Stash Dash 2015--my own little plan of five simple rules to upcycle, use it up, make it up, and pretty much go nowhere from here but up! So before I run out and buy a great new thing, I need to make a great new thing. More creativity, less stockpiling.
I mean, I could build one of those tiny houses just for my sewing stuff. So, I'm going to do these things and I'm going to do them all year long.

If you want to do a Stash Dash 2015, raise your crafty hands and repeat these five simple rules after me:

1--I'm going to shop my stash regularly. Be my own merchant! If I used up half my paper or fabric stash, I'd still have enough to pass around at a crop every week!

2--I will use an under-used craft tool at least once a week. Like this thing. My flower loom! I was so excited when I got it. I made a lot of flowers. Then I found a great container to store it in. And now, I haven't used it for at least a year. So this week--I'm making some flowers. They'll be great for tags, bags, and pages.

I love this little loom and don't want to forget how to use it!

We all have those goodies that got tucked away and we need to bring them out again and create with them. I need to use my die cutter weekly, and my stencils!

3--I will learn from my stash. That is, I'll go to the blogs and videos and my stash of crafty magazines where I can get instruction every week with something I already have on hand. And I will learn a new technique with it, simply refresh, or get inspired with a new creative slant on a new project. I have a great knitting book that I need to go back and choose a project from!

I need to quit collecting stamps and use them!

4--I will earn from my stash. Whether I seek out more publishing opportunities, counter space in a friend's shop, craft fairs, or just finishing my crafty book, I will make my stash go to work for me with projects that do more than go to storage. This stuff lives here, so it's going to earn its keep as either art or merchandise!

I put ribbons and price tags on these bubble wand necklaces and they are selling in my booth at an antique mall.

5--I'm going to enjoy more time in the craft room and less time with JoAnn. Or Michaels or Hobby Lobby! I just named my three favorite haunts. And it's true--I really don't spend my money on fancy jewelry, electronics or expensive clothes. For me, it's the craft store. But, if I use my precious weekend time shopping, I don't have the time and energy left to gain momentum on a project. Spending more time in the craft room is the answer! Also, when we get to May and June, my time gets divided into the garden as well. 

I do deserve the occasional splurge, but if I stick to these five simple rules, I'll deserve it. I think another reward will be to join a stamp-of-the-month club or something like that. I won't be out shopping for them all the time, but I'll get something special once a month on my doorstep for a little extra inspiration.

You can see the steam from my tea! How cool.

The sun is splashing across my desk and I've printed out a cute cross-stitch pattern that I downloaded last year from a free website. I love Russian dolls--but I'm not buying anymore. I'm stitching one with floss and aida on hand! I think she will be part of a Valentine banner I'm working on. I'm having hot tea out of my Christmas mug--one last time, I know, it's January--and I'm happy with where the year's going. I think I'll write and draw about it in my Smash book.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Stash Dash

WOYWW 292--Happy Crafter Lazy Blogger

 Moments ago I snapped this mess. It's What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday and when I visit other workdesks, I get to be inspired, laugh, and share. Afterall, it's only sixteen degrees here this morning and all I seem to be fit for is drinking coffee and cross-stitching!

cross-stitching a Russian doll!

I did manage to pick up a package of 100 little bags for two bucks at Wal-Mart to package my earrings for my booth at an antique mall. That's progress. I'm also making ahead several tags for Tag Tuesday. Also progress! Who knows, maybe I'll manage to post something this week! I have started my own little thing. I call it Stash Dash 2015. To me, that means making things from my own stash as much as possible all year long. Will I be able to resist the sales and coupons at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn's? Well, not completely. But, I am going to focus more on using what I have and upcycling and see where we land. So watch for my first Stash Dash post coming soon! I think having a bad cold for the last week has contributed to the laziness. But, I'm getting over it (the cold, not sure about the laziness), and can I just say I couldn't be happier with the first episode of Downton Abbey Season Five!!! So there's a bright spot in this cold, cold January. Happy Wednesday!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch