Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Our Special Tea!

I've had about 10 strangers going in and out of my house yesterday and today, and it will continue for another couple of days with more strangers entering the mix. We tried to get a quote on our roof a few weeks ago, just to make sure that everything was good and he went into our attic and didn't go any further. He discovered that our attic had a lot of mold in it and that it was serious enough that we had to deal with it as it was a health concern. By the time the mold specialist came one week later, the pictures he took showed that the mold had doubled in density and area in only one week. Yesterday, they started removing the insulation and they are still going at it today. Someone will be here later today to start removing the mold using liquid nitrogen and then the clean up will take place and the new insulation will be installed. THEN the roof guy can do his thing. Savings? What savings? Once this is all fixed, our savings will be completely wiped out. I've applied for a teaching position in the fall because I really need this job. We have to be wise and have some money in reserve in case another emergency comes up and while we've been living on only one salary, we can't do it anymore since my husband's raises are no longer keeping up with cost of living increases.

And so I come down to my studio where I stamp and sew. I close the door on the strangers upstairs and breathe for a couple of minutes. I have planned out my daughters grade 9 grad dress and it is cut and waiting for assembly. I have a bridesmaid dress hanging here that I need to alter down 10" around the top because the girl has lost 40lbs. And I just breathe for a few minutes. Breathing is important on this cold, rainy day. I'm trying not to watch jumbo bags of blackened insulation as they are thrown from upstairs and land on the driveway 15 feet from my studio windows, but the thump as they land makes me jump a little. Then, I take a deep breath and thank God we were able to pay for this without a loan and that my house will be healthy again soon and there will be increased ventilation in the attic so it will never happen again. And I REALLY need this Junior High teaching position...

I thought it would be appropriate today to share with you a little encouragement. I made a little tea bag holder from a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.


I was inspired by the main sentiment from the newly released Tea with Bella set from Heartfelt Creations for my project today. I think it's absolutely perfect for this little appreciation gift. I framed the sentiment using Fancy Tags 2 and I love the vintage elegance it lends to these very hotly coloured papers I've used.


This lovely little sentiment is from Inspire Me Sentiments and is perfect for the spirit of this project. I used the rosebud from Bold Bella Rose and coloured both it and the sentiment on the tea bag holder cover using the thumping technique. I used some hotly coloured markers to coordinate with my papers and some fresh, bright greens for the foliage. (Tombow markers; N57, 173, 195, 755, 847, 925)


From the Splitcoaststampers Tutorial, I chose to make the sleeveless version for which instructions are at the very end of the tutorial. I even found a brightly packaged tea bag for my holder - yay, me!


I do like the brightness of this project and need to listen with my heart for a friend who could use a little encouragement.

And I would encourage you to both leave a comment on my blog because I love hearing from you and to pop on over to the Heartfelt Creations blog to glean some inspiration from the stunning projects there.

stamps; bold bella rose, tea with bella, inspire me sentiments (heartfelt creations)
paper; mango frost (dcwv), yam, white canvas (bazzill)
ink; black soot distress ink (ranger)
accessories; 1/4" white grosgrain (offray), tangerine blast rhinestones (bazzill), fancy tags 2 (spellbinders), border punch (martha stewart), orange rhinestone brad (making memories), tombow markers


crafty creations - get well (is it a stretch?)
freshly brewed challenge - anything but a card
high hopes stamps - create a 3-D item 
paper romance - anything but a card
my mum's craft shop - favourite colours (I adore coral!)
my time to craft - use a die cut
crafts 4 eternity - recipe challenge (flower, ribbon, bling)
fun at fairy knoll - flowers
creative card crew - anything goes
craft your passion - let it all hang out 
paper play - sparkle galore

24 comments:

Joelle said...

Great project! Love the colors and the sentiment! Just beautiful!!

pinky said...

Its a beautiful creation, gorgeous colours. Hope you have the attic sorted soon and good luck with the job application. Thanks for joining us at C4E this week.
Pinky

Lisa Somerville said...

Wonderful Tea Bag holder, lovely colors!

Carla S. said...

Such a pretty little tea bag holder, Loretta! I love the colors! I hope you get the attic fixed up soon. And good luck with your job application!

Glenda said...

I love this. The colors remind me of summer! Great combination and a wonderful tea bag holder!

marsha said...

Gorgeous tea bag creation Loretta, love the summery colors! Sorry you had the problem with mold, but so glad you found it! Good luck with the job application!
Hugs,
Marsha

michele said...

Fabulous Loretta! Thanks for joining us at C4E this week hugs x

Mary Friederichsen said...

Hi Loretta!
Your project is Beautiful! It would make anyone smile and feel uplifted by receiving it!
I understand your feelings right now so well! We had a mold problem in our kitchen several years ago and had to live in a motel for 6 weeks... we meet another couple who had had a flood and been out 6 months! Good things did come out of it, we ended up with a new kitchen. I pray that will be the same for you as well ( maybe not a new kitchen, but that something good will come of it!) I will keep you in my prayers for that job,and that something good is going to happen so you feel like you can breath again! (and I am not making light of that!)
Keep breathing! Hang in there,and trust the Lord with your whole heart and Soul that he will protect you and provide for you. Maybe through this one bridesmaid dress, you will get a whole wedding to sew for. Or maybe by your daughter's grad dress you will receive other orders for dresses. I know that you love the Lord and He is first in your lives. That is all you need to do!

Blessings and Hugs,
And thankyou for sharing with us!

Mary

Tamara Morton said...

Beautiful project using fabbie colours
Thank you for joining us at Craft your passion
hugs
Tamara

Tamara Morton said...

Thank you for joining in our Bingo Challenge at Anything goes

Invitation to our Birthday celebrations.
Tuesday 31st Anything Goes Challenge Blog!
will be 1 year old and to celebrate we are holding a blog hop with candy and prizes to be won. Hope you can come and join us
Hugs
Tamara

Conniecrafter said...

so sorry to hear of all your troubles, glad to hear that you found it before it got worse and like you said you will be in a healthy house once again. Wishing you all the best in getting that teacher position.

Pat said...

Lovely card, super colours and papers. Thanks for sharing with us at MTTC this week.

Pat xx

Unknown said...

whata great idea!! really fab!

Thanks for playing at my mums craft shop this week xx

papertrails leaver said...

Love this tea pocket card you made! It's just so sweet! Thanks for joining us at Crafty Creations!

MiamiKel said...

Stunning tea holder, Loretta! Just beautiful! Love the choice of Coral! Thanks for playing along with us at Fresh Brewed Designs this week!

Heather D. ~ Fresh Brewed Designs said...

What a sweet project! I love the colors. Perfect for strawberry tea!!!

Thanks for playing along this week at Freshly Brewed Challenges Anything but a card challenge.

Heather D.
Fresh Brewed Designs

Linda Anderson said...

What a lovely tea bag holder! Sweet indeed! Thanks for joining us at FBD.

Linda

Lesley said...

Lovely work, great colours! Thanks for taking part in the MTTC challenge xx

cebelica said...

What a great idea. I love it! Thanks for joining us at MMCS challenges this week.

Hugs!

velta said...

Oh My Loretta...you are really going through some tough times...I promise you I am praying for you...of course your creation is perfect....but my main concern is what your are going through with your house...The Good Lord will watch over you and yours and this soon shall pass...Keeping you and yours in my prayers...V

StampingbugKerry said...

This is such a great little tea bag gift folder. So sorry you're going through the troubles with your house. My school has been going through mold issues for several years and a few teachers have become severly ill. The've tried to fix it but in the ancient building, it keeps coming back. Take care of yourself...your lungs and your insides!!!

Kerry

A Consuming Passion said...

Gorgeous little tea bag holder Loretta....stunning colours! Good luck with all the work at home.

TesaB said...

Love, love, love this little tea bag holder! Totally gorgeous!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Loretta! You should stop by Crafty Creations challenges, we have something for you!:)
smiles,Deena

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