What's on My Kitchen Counter

Hello Crafty Friends, I am posting my entry into the current House-Mouse &Friends Monday Challenge. HM&FMC #456 I had thought I was skipping resolutions this year, but I changed my mind when I found out last week that I have osteopenia. Apparently, it can be reversed with exercise and calcium supplements - now I have exercise and some new pills on my resolution list. Several years ago, I won a challenge and received a lovely House Mouse coloring book as the prize. The images are a bit larger which is super fun, and they are pretty easy to cut down. I colored this one with Daniel Smith watercolors and popped it up. The background papers are SU! and Stamperia.  This is also for the WT1088 challenge at Splitcoaststampers.com - exercising or other resolutions.  I am sending this to a friend who has osteopenia too - hopefully we can both keep each other on track in 2026.

Hello crafty friends. Two fabulous pictures inspired this fun Halloween card:  The Inspired By challenge picture for this week and THIS lovely Huda Makeup available on Selfridges which is the inspiration site for this week's Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.com.  I started by water-coloring the pumpkins and lining/doodling on them with a black Micron Pen. Then I added lots of sponging with distress ink, some fun Tim Holtz die cut ghosts, lot of magical Stickles, and an appropriate chipboard phrase (also Tim Holtz).  This is my probably my last Halloween card. Now on to more Winter and Christmas fun. Hugz, Nancy

Hello Crafty Friends. I am sharing a card made for the WT challenge at Splitcoaststampers.com (Map theme) and the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge H MFMC #449 which is Anything Goes (birthday theme optional).  The joyful House Mouse is cut from a House Mouse calendar. I think he looks so cute against the map image (a retired image from DRS Designs) and the fun block embossed panel. The sentiment and inks are Tim Holtz and Dina Wakely.  The world really does need who you were made to me. Hugz, Nancy

Hello friends, Last week felt like a stormy sea of its own with my husband recovering from recent hip replacement surgery and several friends and family members facing life battles - my heart was caught in the waves. Computer issues and lack of sleep didn't help. Mark 4:39-41 reminded me: even when the winds rage, Jesus is in the boat. He speaks peace over the chaos. “Peace, be still.” I needed that reminder. Several lovely Creative Worship Stamps sets were used in the making of this watercolored and inked BAJ page: The Sea (the boat and verse), Scene Silhouettes: Tall Grasses, and Have Courage . This page was stamped, then watercolored with Daniel Smith Watercolors. I finished it off with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed, and Ground Expresso), plus a little bit of Silver Stickles. We have a lot of things going on in life and you time is precious, thank you for spending a little bit with me.  Hugz, Nancy

 My first post as a Guest Designer for Creative Worship Stamps. This watercolor and ink card features one of my favorite CWS sentiments - Big God . I am so grateful He is there in storms and this stamp beautifully underscores His power. The main panel of this card is watercolor paper and was painted with Daniel Smith Watercolors and Liquid Ink (the white highlights in the rain drops). The words were stamped with black ink from Close to My Heart. Hugz, Nancy

Hello Crafty Friends! I love Halle's theme at **Art*Journal*Journey* this month: Botanicals. So many possibilities... I combined the botanical theme with some of the colors in ARTNUDGE#725A and came up with this Bible Art Journal page focusing on 1 Timothy 2:1-2. I also made a patriotic prayer card too. In these verses, Paul tells Timothy (and all of us) to pray for everyone but he especially calls out prayer for kings and leaders. He indicates that this type of prayer could lead us to a tranquil and quite life in all godliness and dignity. I think we can all agree that the world needs much prayer right now and it is an easy step we can take.   I experimented on this journal page. I usually cover any bible journal pages with gesso before painting on them, but I have issues with the gesso gumming up my Micron pens or unevenly taking color. This time I used Daniel Smith Ground Medium in Titanium White (I mixed it with 10 parts water). I loved it and will be using it in the fut...