The Outlawz Greetings Challenge: Anything Goes

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

Although I did not know it at the time, this is my final project as a member of The Outlawz Design Team.    The Outlawz was my first ever DT and I thought I would be there regardless; but life is just full of little surprises.   As much as I like to think that all I need do to defeat my illness is be of a "strong will," the fact of the matter is I need to pick my battles....stress is something I can control, by not taking on more than I should and accepting the fact that I have limitations in my life now, that I did not have previously.

I have also come to the realization that there are other matters to which I want to devote my time and the only way to free up time is by cutting back on my crafting hours.   I will miss the ladies at Outlawz!  It was a fun experience, free of drama, and full of encouragement and inspiration!

MY BEST FRIEND - THE HAND FAN

I made this fan for ME!  I have had a hand fan by my side since the onset of menopause, and actually, for a few years before that! One of my favorite oriental fans disappeared (in church of all places).  I left my seat, came back and my fan was gone! SSMH over that one.  I left my FDR fan at my last place of employment.  Since I never wanted to see that place again, I didn't even attempt to retrieve my fan.  I was planning to go to The Little White House in Warm Springs to get another, but then lighting struck and TLWH burned to the ground, so the park was temporarily closed. Finally, I lost a fan I have had since 1995 (sigh) so I decided to make a fan for myself.   We humans do love to attach ourselves to the strangest things!

 Actually, this project gave me an opportunity to use the cool vintage stamps from the Canvas Corps (7 Gypsies) American Vintage Collection.  I also used some of the vintage road signs.  I think my favorite is the Route 66 sign.  Brings back memories of the old TV show!  I love my new fan and all the funky textures!

On the back, I used this opportunity to play with some of my Tattered Angels Sprays and Mists.  I even used two of the Plain Jane Baseboard Mists (Clay and Bittersweet) to stain the handle!  

This has been a quick post!  Thanks for stopping by!
Hugz,
Chana

Everything Will Come Together - OUTLAWZ GREETINGS CHALLENGE - USE 2 OR MORE INCHIES

Hello, Crafty Peeples!

Well, you know you are getting old when you think you've posted a project!   I am here with a quick post of my DT make for The Outlawz Greetings Challenge.    We want you to create a project using 2 or more inchies.   Inchies were all the rage a few years back and it is nice to revisit "old" friends.   I actually plan to try to incorporate inches into some of my future mixed media projects.  It would probably add great depth.

 The Stamp: Whatever The Weather  by Unity Stamp Company (Itty Bitty Stamp Club)

I just added a little drywall tape and stencils for depth and texture.  The drywall tape has gold accents, but that did not translate so well when I took the pictures.. alas!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugz,

Chana

Shopping Our Stash - Hide And Seek

Hello, Crafty Peeples,

The current challenge at SHOPPING OUR STASH:

 Use a Hidden Element or 

a Photo of Someone Playing HIDE AND SEEK

SOAR AND TRUST DOOR HANGER

This project is not about physical travel,  but rather,  about emotional and spiritual journeys. 

Creatively, in 2015,  I plan to SOAR.  My "TRUST" ticket reminds me to trust my passion and my ability to put that passion into my designs. 

The Hide and Seek Theme of the challenge this week is perfect for my design.  

Sometimes my creativity plays "Hide and Seek." 

Bon Voyage will remind me that I can always take flight in a different direction. 

The slide out panel and hot air balloons were made from recycled corrugated cardboard boxes.  

The blue balloon was stamped on cardboard and then again on heat resistant acetate.

I was very pleased with my decoupaged ribbon.  It takes a lot of Mod Podge to achieve just the right stiffness, but I did help it along by adding several coats of fabric stiffener.  

I use Aleene's Stiffen Quik.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will play along with us this week at 

SHOPPING OUR STASH

Challenges Entered: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Inky Backgrounds

Fantastic Tuesday - Use something recycled -  The slide out panel and hot air balloons were constructed using recycle corrugated cardboard boxes.

Party Time Tuesday - Anyting Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes

Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes

Not Just Cards - Always Anything Goes

STAMPlorations - Biweekly Challenge - Sketch

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

THE OUTLAWZ GREETINGS TEAM - NON TRADITIONAL X-MAS COLORS

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

The challenge at the Outlawz Greetings  this week is: Non-Traditional Christmas Colors! 

I am Jewish, so  I created a Chanukah Tag instead.

 Chanukah (which started at sundown on 12/16) 
will end at sundown on December 24th.  We have very few one day observances.

Over 2100 years ago, the Land of Israel was dominated by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) who sought to Hellenize the people of Israel. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G-d.

Hoping to light the Temple's menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks; miraculously, this one-day supply burned for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.

The Greeting on this tag is: Chag (Festival)  Sameach (Joyous) 

To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled.

A special Chanukah prayer Al HaNissim offers praise and thanksgiving to G-d for "delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few... the wicked into the hands of the righteous." It is appropriate to strengthen the hand of the weak by being especially generous with Tzedakah (Charity) at this time.

Menorah lighting was instituted to announce to the entire world that G-d makes miracles for those who stand up for truth and justice. The Chanukah lights can either be candle flames or oil-fueled. The eight candles of the menorah must be arranged in a straight, even line. The candles should burn for at least 30 minutes on weeknights, and up to one-and-a-half hours on Friday (Shabbat) evening.

The shamash - the "attendant" candle that is used to kindle the other lights - 

sits a bit higher or lower than the other candles, on the ninth branch of the menorah. 

Men and women alike are obligated to participate in the menorah lighting

Since oil played a significant role in the Chanukah story, it is traditional to enjoy oily foods on this holiday. Among the most popular are potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiot (deep-fried doughnuts)  It is also customary to play Chanukah dreidel (spinning top) a throwback to the times when the Greek armies of King Antiochus banned the study of Torah. 

When the Syrian authorities were patrolling, 

Jewish children would hide their books and play with their tops to deceive the enemy.

Our Chanukah dreidel games are a salute to these Jewish heroes of yore. 

Drediel is often played with money or Chanukah Gelt. **

~~~~~~

I was so happy with the effect I achieved when I sprayed Perfect Pearls onto the tag. 

It produced that silver shine you see in the recesses of the flowers; 

 the silver may look white on some computers.

And, of course, I had to have Chanukah Gelt.  I made some of them purple-gold.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Yes, my name and Chanukah share the same Hebrew root. So it is pronounced HA NAH.  

Chana = Highly Favored of G-d 

Malkah = Queen

** Excerpted from Colel Chabad, Brooklyn, NY

CHALLENGES ENTERED:

One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays - Anything But A Card

That Craft Place - Anything Goes

The Corrosive Challenge - Anything Goes

Digi Designs Challenge - Any Winter Holiday

Treasured Times Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes

613 AVENUE CREATE - CHALLENGE #103 - USE A SNOWFLAKE

Hello, Crafty Peeples!

Today is the Winter Solstice.  The first day of winter and the shortest day of the year for those of us here in the Northern Hemisphere. This week,  at 613 Avenue Create, our Optional Twist to the Anything Goes Challenge is:  USE A SNOWFLAKE(S) in your design.

For this challenge, I decided to create a tag.  As hard as I tried to avoid the tag looking like a Christmas Gift Tag, my mind kept going in that direction.  Finally, I just conceded....

My diminutive snowflakes are somewhat hidden by my foliage.  

The white of the snowflakes was a little too harsh against the green background. 

I could have toned it down by using a dark distress ink around the edges of the flakes.

I did not, at the time, own a Poinsettia Die.  I have since purchased one, but the small Sizzix Tattered Floral Die works as well.  I used Liquid Pearls to form the stamens.

Challenges Entered:

Dies R Us Challenge - Anything Goes (Must Use Die Cuts)

Die Cut Divas - Snow and Christmas/Holidays (Must Use Die Cuts)

Emerald Faeries Challenge - Christmas Red and Green

One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes (no digis)

Coupon Holder and Shopping List - Final Random Act of Kindness Gift

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

Here is my fifth and final RAK Gift.   

I decided to change up the layout on the inside so that I could make one later for my SIL   Anymahoo,  for this design I put aside my paint, stains and gelatos and used pretty paper.   

Very CAS on this cover!  I wish I could have gotten a close of of the closer.  

I mixed glue, glitter and TH Distress paint and came up with this lavendar pantine. 

 Really cool IRL!

You can almost see color on the closer here.  

The flower in the corner was cut from a piece of scrap wall paper and then mod podged....a lot!

Again, CAS was the order of the day for this project.  

So on the back just another wallpaper flower.

I have to make two more of these and I really like this configuration.  I hope that have more of those

large paper clip at Dollar Tree.  If they don't, I have to make my own.

Thanks, so much, for stopping by!

Hugz,

CHANA MALKAH 

Challenges Entered:

Paper Creator Crafts -  Anything Goes
Try It On Tuesday - Homemade/Handmade Gift

613 Avenue Create Optional Twist - Bags, Tags, Boxes and More - Fabric Covered Cigar Box

Hello, Crafty Peeps

This is my second post for the 613 Avenue Create Challenge.  This project is for the Optional Twist portion of our challenge.

Last year I purchased a bunch of cigar boxes.  I plan to use them to hold stationery sets.
This box is slightly larger than the one I used for the Jewerly box.

Initially, I was going to use paper, but thought this fabric would work better.
I fused batting to the fabric and cut a rough pattern for the shape of the box.

I plan to create a mini album that will fit inside the jewelry box.  The cover of the mini will constructed with the papers used on the inside of the box.

Thanks for stopping by!   Hugz,  Chana Malkah

Challenges Entered (I'll Be Back!)
Scribble and Scraps Challenge - Always Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes

MAKING ENDS MEET - WORLD HEART DAY- 613 Avenue Create Challenge

Good Morning, Crafty Peeples!

This week, I am breaking one of my cardinal rules: "Never write an Epistle on your blog." 

You don't have to read it,  please feel free to skip to the pictures.  

This week, in the Neighborhood, we are celebrating World Heart Day (September 29th).  This is your opportunity to create a project that promotes "Your Favorite Heart Thing."

~~~~~~

MY HEART THING - PAPER

When I first began in Judaism, I thought I would never figure it all out.  Perish the thought!  By the simple act of forgetting to turn on the hallway and bathroom lights before the Yom Tovim began Wednesday, I learned, over the ensuing Three Dark Nights, that I could grope, stumble and stub my toes with some of the best Jews in the world.  I've got this!

I love this time of year on the Jewish calendar.  Everything is so descriptive.  We are in what is called the "Days of Awe."  There are 10 Days of Awe that lead from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur.  It is the best time to figure out what your Heart Thing might be.   One of my Heart Things is I LOVE PAPER and so, it is very appropriate that during these days of Awe, I am reminded that the *Sefer Torah will always be written onto parchment, with a quill pen dipped in ink.  Although we have electronic versions of our text, we cannot use electronics on Shabbos or during Yom Tovim.  You will never see an Orthodox Rabbi standing at the Bimah with an iPad. That's a iJid! (it Just isn't done!)

G-d commands that each King of Israel should write for himself a Torah.  That act of putting pen to paper requires concentration and connection.  The absence of a Delete/Backspace key tends to increase one's desire for accuracy.   The next time you have a chance to observe a child who is just learning to write, you should do so.  Watch the concentration, the determination, the humility, and the sheer exhilaration as each letter is successfully completed.   

The very first Torah Scroll I ever saw was over 100 years old and had been rescued from a village in Poland.  The entire village had been destroyed, it's inhabitants murdered or sent off to concentration camps.  The Torah had been hidden and, as was evident to the allied soldiers, several Jews had lost their lives rather than disclose it's hiding place.   Although the Torah was no longer "kosher" and could not be used for services, for us, it's mere existence was a moving testament. One of  our first acts as newly converted Jews was to purchase letters for a new Sefer Torah.  We were present when those precious letters were formed. We are connected to that Torah and to that Congregation forever. There is subtle power in the written word.  

Moses experienced great awe as he watched the Commandments being written by G-d's own hand. I imagine he experienced humility in equal measure when G-d made him hew the stone and prepare the second set of Commandments for himself after he [Moses] destroyed the first set in anger.

So, for my Heart Thing and this challenge, I created Bookends.  Bookends, because like Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, they hold between them, the Days of Awe, written by hand onto the parchment of our hearts, dipped in the ink of G-d's tender mercies and loving kindnesses... the map to help us journey from where we are to the destination we seek. 

L'Shanah Tovah,

Chana Malkah 

*A Sefer Torah (Hebrew: ספר תורה‎; plural: ספרי תורה Sifrei Torah ; "Book(s) of Torah" or "Torah scroll(s)") is a handwritten copy of the Torah, the holiest book within Judaism. It must meet extremely strict standards of production.

 This is a time of renewal, so I repurposed old Amazon boxes
reinforced by medium chipboard. 

 The bookends are designed to used together or separately!

 Back - Bookend #1 & #2

Front Bookend #2  

Functional with space for pretty! 

Thanks for stopping by!  

Challenges Entered:
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Scrappy Hands - #22 - Beginnings
Crafting At The Weekends - Anything Goes
Hiding In My Craft Room - Any Holiday (Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur)
Treasured Times - Anything Goes
Eclectic Ellapu -  Hearts:  Pink Team September Challenge

Everything Tastes Like Chicken! - Yet Another Brown Paper Bag Creation

Good Morning, Crafty Peeps!

This week at Shopping Our Stash,  we want you to create a design that honors that most  humble of humble yard birds,  The "CHICKEN".  I was stumped, for a while,  because I really don't do whimsy.  I think I found a solution that works for me and for the theme requirement.

Rosh HaShana is fast approaching and I used this challenge as motivation to finally come up with a design for the invitations to my Seder.  Combining "Whimsy' with "Understated Elegance" proved to be rather daunting.

I placed the "Chicken" on the back of the invite and it flows.  Adds a little humor.. I like!

"I don't even want to tell you what this tastes like".

My original idea was to put a doughnut in the center section, but decided that these gummed pads would be a more practical gift.

I knew the crafting gods were smiling on me when I found this wonderful "save the date" paper in my stash!  

The invitation was made using a brown paper lunch bag.

In deference to my Jewish friends, "b'li ayin hara" this is not my acutal seder menu. I would never serve meat and dairy together. G-d forbid!    The items here are for display only.
Video is HERE - You Tube Share Video
For additional Inspiration, Please visit my SOS Teammates 

Leslie
Alica
Deena
Lauren
Donna
Chris
Barb (off this week)

then enter our challenge 

SHOPPING OUR STASH

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!
Hugz,
Chana Malkah

Challenges Entered:
The Kraft Journal -  Anything Goes-must Use Kraft /items that can be purchased at the Outlet
Craft-Dee BowZ - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow
Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes
All Crafts Challenge - Anything But A Card

Crafting From the Heart - Always Anything Goes
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Must include 2 Cute Images or an image featuring 2 Cute Characters 
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Sketch N Stash - Sketch

So Grateful - Dr. Greene's Gift Collection - Part II

Good Morning Crafty Peeps!

The Challenge this week at 613 Avenue Create is:  Anything Goes / With

OPTIONAL TWIST:  Create a Post It Note Holder.  The design team members have created a variety of note holders to inspire those who plan to play the twist this week.

So Grateful - Gift Collection  Part II

(Notepad Holder, Key Chain Tag Mini, Tags, Book Marks)

I still have many pieces to complete.  I thought I would do the "fun" stuff first.
THE BASKET 

   My first attempt at creating my own designer sheet for a project. 
 I am so pleased with the outcome!  I had a ball designing this paper.
NOTE PAD HOLDER w/MINI CLIPBOARD

Thanks to hubby, who built a pad press for me a few years back, I was able to customize and pad my own paper.  The note tray holds two gummed pads.  The mini clipboard is functional and works great for little notes!  It also serves as a cover for the note tray.

KEY CHAIN TAG MINI ALBUM

My Shero

Dr. Tamara Greene, M. D. (Neurology)

This mini album started life as an empty Orbitz Chewing Gum Box.
The front of the tags read: smile, love, hope, etc., the backs of the tags are gold!
BOOKMARKS 

The bookmarks are covered with clear shelf liner to protect against stains.

AND GIFT TAGS

These are tags that the Doc can use for gifts to family and friends!  
Some are embossed and others are stamped.

I have created a box to hold this first group of items. Next, I will tackle the lap desk or the actual stationery sheets, which  are the most laborious, because the stenciling and embossing all have to be done the "old fashion" way....metal stencils, light boxes...you know.  

Tutorials  
Key Chain - Mini Tag Album   
Large Gift Tag
Picnic Basket - Th-INK-ing of You - (Grace Nyewing)

Supplies:

Designer Paper - My Mind's Eye - Pretty Things

Ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon

Brads - Bo Bunny

Metals - Tim Holtz Ideology: Hinge Clips, Word Bands, Word Sticks, Key

Flower - Petaloo - Textured Elements

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugz,

Chana

Challenges Entered:
Crafting At The Weekend:  Always Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door: Always Anything Goes
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge: Always Anything Goes
Treasured Times Rubber Stamps Challenge: Anything Goes
Time 4 Scrap - Anything Goes w/ Fall Colors