2020 Stash Party # 59 - WOYWW #604 - Planning for What Comes Next - My 2021 DIY Planner

                     

Welcome to another WOYWW!

Learn More About WOYWW  HERE!

Quote for today: 

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor! 

~Franklin Roosevelt

I was so involved in creating my SIL's planner that I almost forgot to get my own 2021 planner setup. As an expression of gratitude, my sister-in-law gave me a belated Hannukah present, a new HP Envy Pro 6455 All in One Printer!

MY 2021 "BLUSH" PLANNER

I wish I had taken a better picture of this cover.  In real life, the foiled swiss dots just sparkle and shine.  

Stash Reduction

Everything I used to create this planner came from my stash, with the exception of the Discagenda™ Cover, which was a gift from Amazon®!  In 2021, I will resume my "craft diet" and hopefully I will be able to make it through the entire year without making craft purchases. 

My DIY Planner Clips

I was able to print my favorite "Naturally Unbothered" image.  The print quality is quite good.  

The small image on the page was printed on my Epson when my printheads were dying.  Even though the image lacks color, I thought it worked well on the page.

As I go through the year, I plan to use all of the sticker sheets in my stash.  Since I generally stick to the same color families, I should be able to de-stash with ease.  I am hoping that once I learn all the ins and outs of my new "smart" printer, I can once again create and print my own sticker sheets

Thanks So Much For Stopping By!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Stuff I Used:

Simply Gilded Subscription Box: "Clarity" Washi

Simply Gilded Subscription Box:  "Floral Bow"

Design Lovely Studio: Digital Freebies Weekly Kits-Spring Tea Time

Krafted By Kayy - Planner Stickers - African American

My Mind's Eye - Double-sided Journal Cards (retired)

Prima A4 Paper Pad - "Finnabair" (retired)

WOYWW #602 - DIY Planner

Hello, WOYWW Peeps, and other visitors!

Learn More About WOYWW  HERE!

I can't believe how quickly Wednesday rolled around!

Here is my desk as of 12:30 AM!  

Last night I was up until 2AM trying to decide on the elements I wanted to use in my SIL's planner!   She really likes the planner I made for myself and talks about it all the time.  I decided that I would surprise her with one as a Christmas gift.

My SIL is a cancer survivor.  

I thought she would like this dashboard.

I enjoy creating my own planners.  I can customize my forms as well as my dividers.  I don't do a lot of decorating because my planners are very functional.  I use them to plan domestic tasks, my crafting projects, and team obligations.  The great thing about this planner is that my SIL only needs three sections.  Easy peasy!

I combined pieces from different planner kits to develop a theme using her favorite colors.   I am going to give her a sticker holder, pen, washi tape, and some stickers so that she can decorate her pages as she wishes.  I will decorate the January Month-at-a-Glance calendar to give her an idea of how to use the washi tape and other stickers. 

The Hubster and I voted today! Georgia has not seen this kind of international attention since we hosted the 1996 Olympics!  I was a volunteer at the games and I always thought that would always be my best volunteer memory.  But in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, I learned that there are always more moments, more opportunities for Tikkun Olam (Hebrew: תיקון עולם‎, lit. 'repair of the world') a concept in Judaism,  interpreted as an aspiration to behave and act constructively and beneficially.

Have a fabulous week!  Stay prayerful, stay powerful, and stay creative!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

2020 Stash Party #58 - A Split Panel Sympathy Card

 Hello, Crafty Peeps!

We lost a friend!  

We lost a friend to COVID-19.  Yesterday we learned that the fiancé of a friend has passed away.  They were to get married next year!  Every week his fiancée would bring my husband up to speed on the plans for her impending nuptials.  My husband and the groom-to-be would crack jokes about "brides on the edge" and the "posh pitfalls of married life!"   Our shopping trips to Aldi's, where they both worked, will never be the same.

They said they wanted to be married as long as we have been married (52 years.) They wanted to be as much in love as we are (on our good days!)  Now, he is gone!  We don't know what to say to her.  

We can't fathom that kind of loss.  It was only last year, at the urging of our daughter, that we sat down and had our wills drawn up.  The very thought of not being on this earth together is anathema to our souls.  What can we say to someone who has had their dreams ended so brutally and so abruptly?   I don't think I know how to comfort someone who is facing my greatest fear, being without the man you love!  The man who makes your heart sing!  I saw their love,  now I just see her pain, and it is so unfair!

I will repeat what I wrote in an earlier post:

I wish the creation of this card had not been necessary!  I pray that more people become serious about COVID!  It is sad when people who are taking every precaution to protect themselves and their families become the victims of those who believe they have a constitutional right to kill others through their indifference, hatred, and ignorance.

Sleep on, dear friend, and take your rest.

They'll miss you most, who loved you best.

In silence you suffered, with patience, you bore,

Until G-d took you home to suffer no more.

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

What's On Your Work desk Wednesday #601- Sympathy Card

Hello, Crafty Makers!

Welcome to another WOYWW Post!  I was unable to attend the Zoom crafting meet-up on Saturday, but I am sure it was a creative blast! Learn More About WOYWW  HERE!

This Wednesday finds me working on a sympathy card.  In this Covid-driven reality, we find ourselves doing more of these than ever.  

My husband loves to shop at Aldi's.  Over the years, he has developed a great friendship with the manager of our neighborhood Aldi store and also with her fiancé.  Last week, Binyomin expressed concern because he had not seen Kym in the store for over a week. He was worried that she might have contracted COVID.   Yesterday we learned that her fiancé had passed away.  My husband was devastated.  I keep fighting back the tears.  I keep admonishing myself to not ask, "why?"

This beautiful Prima 6"x6" Fairy Rhymes paper has been in my stash since  2012.  The bundle included flowers, buttons, two clear stamps, and other lovely embellishments.  It took a minute for me to finally decide which elements would work best in this project.  The split panel card technique is old school, and has passed from favor, but I am still a huge fan of the style. 

I have made all my design decisions with the sole exception of the arrangement of the flowers!  Maybe, by the time I finish typing this post, that too will be resolved.

Done!

I wish the creation of this card had not been necessary!  I pray that more people become serious about COVID!  It is sad when people who are taking every precaution to protect themselves and their families become the victims of those who believe they have a constitutional right to kill others through their indifference, hatred, and ignorance.

 I Have Only Just A Minute

 by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

I have only just a minute,

Only sixty seconds in it.

Forced upon me, can’t refuse it.

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.

But it’s up to me

to use it.

I must suffer if I lose it.

Give account if I abuse it.

Just a tiny little minute,

but eternity is in it.

Mask up, it only takes a minute!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

(Gracious Queen)

Margaret, 

because you asked:  Chana is the transliterated spelling of my Hebrew name.  The name "Hannah" does not exist in Hebrew. Hannah is the English translation of the Jewish text.

This article written at Harvard by another Chana, says it best!😀

You Can Call Me Chana

By Chana R. Schoenberger

"No one can pronounce my name correctly. Most people think it's "Shana" or "Chayna" or "Shanna." It's not hard, really: just say "Hannah," only with a guttural ch sound, like "Chanukah."

Even fewer people can spell it. So, like any unusual, foreign-sounding name, mine is somewhat of a handicap when leaving phone messages. When reporting, I spend at least half of my time on the phone spelling my name to secretaries.

"Hannah? H-a-n-n-a-h?"

"No, it's C-h-a-n-a. Chana. It's Hebrew," I explain patiently.

"Oh, with a C? Never seen it spelled that way before. That's pretty," the secretary says, obediently copying it down.

...There has never been another Chana in my class (although a Harvard classmate spells it Hanna). This uniqueness made it harder to blend in when I was a preteen and wanted to disappear into a crowd. But now that I'm older and value individuality, I appreciate the merits of not being just another Mary or Susan.

...Because of my name, my religion is one of the first things most people find out about me. 

Having a Biblical name also connects me directly to Judaism. Just as keeping kosher reminds me who I am every time I eat something, my name constantly reminds me and others that I'm Jewish.  One upshot of the difficulty non-Jews have with my name is the comfort I feel around Jews. After a summer of spelling my name, the visit of an Israeli cousin who could spit it out in full guttural glory was soothing. People who say my name right on the first try win my instant approval and trust.

Stash Party #57 2020 - Non-Traditional Colors - Christmas Cards

 Hello, Crafty Peeps!

I have reached the end of my Christmas Card creation journey.  I must now move on to gift tags!  I found an easy way to make trifold cards over at Praire Paper and Ink.  I liked the idea so much, I made three cards using her technique.  I followed her tutorial for my background and used the dies that I had on hand.  I also used the negatives of my die cuts to create canopies for my cards.

The Magic of Christmas

~~~~~~~~

Let It Snow!

I purchased this die set (there are three dies in the package) to create a few split cards.  It was nice to find a design that allowed me to use them in a way that creates almost the same "look" as the split card design but with half the work.

Challenges Entered:

Color My Heart Color Dare: #424 Non-Traditional Colors

Christmas Card Throwdown: Pick A Previous 2020 Challenge: May, Non-Traditional Colors

Sweet Stampin' Challenge:  Let It Snow!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Stuff I Used:

Holly Border Die

A Place To Start - December Challenge - Anything Vintage (2)

 Hello, Crafty Makers!

This is my second project for the December challenge at A Place To Start. The first project was published prematurely.  I decided to create a different iteration of the Vintage card I made for the "Anything Vintage" challenge at my other challenge blog, 613 Avenue Create.

My plan was to create a "Tri-Fold" card using the normal technique.  But, as I was surfing YouTube, I noticed that Prairie Paper and Ink had posted a new video that was a tutorial about an easy technique on how to create tri-fold cards...bingo!  For those of you who have never visited her channel, you should check it out.  I have found great techniques there that have been so helpful when I find myself struggling creatively!

It is so cool that this tri-fold card can stand for display!

I had the most fun creating the background for this card!  I have been using glycerine to help smooth out my inks as I am blending.  It is a great way to smooth out any hard lines.  I started this background by sponging Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide onto my card base.  Next, I sponged on white pigment ink that had been mixed with just a little glycerine.  I sponged on a little more green and smoothed it out with my glycerine/ink sponge.  Once I was satisfied with the color integration, I blended in a little Picked Raspberry around the ornaments and at random places on the base.  The glycerine prevents the Kraft card from pilling and gives the card a velvet-like appearance.

I used Liquid Pearls™ to create little metal holders for my ornaments.  I also used gold Stickels™ to add glitter to my yellow ornament.

 I kept the inside very simple!  I did go back to color the ornaments! 

I had so much fun creating these quick tri-folds, I created two more to send to friends of mine who celebrate Christmas!  This is a great way to use all those border dies that are languishing in your stash!

Challenges Entered:

Christmas Card Throwdown

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Stuff I Used:

Liquid Pearls - Onyx

613 Avenue Create - December 2020 Challenge: Anything Goes with Optional Twist: Anything Vintage

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

Welcome to the final challenge of the year at 613 Avenue Create!  The Optional Twist to our Anything Goes Challenge is Anything Vintage!

Wishing you happy holiday celebrations!

I had an interesting time creating this card!  I knew that I wanted to use the traditional colors of red and green.  I knew that I wanted to use the ornament stamp, and I also knew that I wanted to use kraft paper for both my base and my card face.

As much as I love Kraft paper, I knew that Kraft on Kraft would not be visually interesting.  I decided that I would add color to my layer using Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink and Glycerine. Glycerine is wonderful for smoothing out colors. I added in a touch of Memento "Bamboo Leaves" dye-based ink for contrast in random areas.

I love these ornaments. They remind me of the Christmases of my childhood.  I am going to attempt to recreate this card but I will probably make the ornaments blue and yellow.  I hope it works out.  I need at least three more of these!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Stuff I Used

A Place To Start - December Challenge - Anything Vintage

 Hello, Crafty Makers!

I really like Poinsettia plants.  Last night, it occurred to me that I had not created a single Poinsettial themed card for the holiday season. 

I only own one Poinsettia Die Set and it does not have a matching stamp.  After I die-cut my petals, I realized that the flower would be very boring unless I added in a  bit of contrast.  I was able to accomplish this by simply distressing the edges with Vintage Photo ink.  I also lightly brushed a bit of the ink over the embossed veins of each petal.  I did not use the leaves or stamens that came with the set. Instead, I used the largest petals as leaves and created my flower using the smaller petals.

I played around with a few background plates and stencils for my focal and finally settled on a fun stencil that I have not had a chance to use. 

I first tried using Kraft Card but I did not like how the flower looked against that dark background.  So, I went rummaging through my ink drawer and found an awesome "Curry" ink pad from Color Box

I inked the stencil and then applied a thin layer of matte gel.  I dusted the circle cut with glitter.  I found yellow stamens in my stash and added them to the center of my flower.  Finally, I put a small amount of gold Stickles around the stamens.  I am so glad that I can now put in check in my Poinsettia Card box!

Challenges Entered:

Color My Heart Color Dare: #423-Traditional Christmas Colors

Creative Fingers Challenge #198:  Anything Goes

Cut It Up Challenge #214:  Christmas Challenge

Winter Wonderland:  Anything Goes Christmas Challenge

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Stuff I Used: