Benford Draws a Blank is a children’s book written by Danielle Dufayet, and illustrated by Katia Klein.
Summary: Benford receives a blank canvas as a gift. But the pressure of “getting it right” keeps him from being able to create any art at all. Can he get past his fears and create something wonderful?
My Thoughts: I liked the premise of this book. I have had a creative block like this many times and can relate!
Overall, it was a fun little book, but I felt it got a little creepy when he was being chased in the park by the canvas. It seemed like the canvas was alive or something, and it was taking the concept a bit too far in my opinion-especially for kids trying to read the story.
I don’t know that I can recommend this one, but I do appreciate the sentiment behind the story, and would like to thank Capstone for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you.
I type up a lot of Pinterest Thursday posts. Most are recipes that I find to try-especially those gluten-free/dairy-free ones for my son. Sometimes it’s crafts I find for the kids to do.
But I save a TON of cards to my Pinterest boards too. There are so many inspiring crafters out there doing amazing things!
So, I thought it would be fun to actually try an idea I have saved to my Cards and Tags Pinterest board. What a novel idea. 🙂
For today’s post, I was completely inspired by Sara from Sassy’s Cards and Gifts. I was introduced to her as she was a blog participant in a recent blog hop that I participated in.
After checking out her blog, I found this great video she did creating Emergency Cards. The idea is to make a bunch of cards following a sketch, and then add the sentiments as you need the cards.
She explains everything so well, and even includes some very handy (and free!) printables to go along with the tutorial. You can find the video pinned here. You can also go directly to her blog post here.
Well, I decided I definitely needed to make some!
I grabbed a paper pad I won from an online challenge at Crafty Hazelnut. It is filled with very busy floral patterns that I find tricky to use.
Here are the seven cards I made all together:
I stuck pretty much to the sketch for these. Here are the individual cards:
For the last two, I switched it up a bit.
This one has a bigger border for the card base, and you flip it up to open the card. I also added a small gold heart from Elle’s Studio over a spot where the paper accidentally ripped. Oops!
For my final card, I decided not to make it a fun fold card at all. I just used the sketch to create a regular card:
I love the idea behind these so much. They are easy to create, and now I have a ready-made stash of cards for when I need them! Also, I rarely do fun fold cards, so it was nice to try something new.
And I used up some paper that was probably going to sit in my stash for a while. I already have most of my birthday cards done for this year (which is the theme of the video), but these will be perfect for Thinking of You, Sympathy, and Mother’s Day cards. I am sure I will use them up!
So, a big thanks to Sara for the inspiration, and I am looking forward to her next Emergency Card video coming out in February!
Today I have four simple Thinking of You/Sympathy cards.
I previously made a Christmas card using this design and thought it would be perfect for this type of greeting too!
Here is one individually:
Here are all four together (they are all the same except that I used iridescent vellum for the snowcaps on two of them):
Supplies: Gray Card Stock: American Crafts; Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn; Stamp: Hero Arts; Dies: Lawn Fawn (mountains, stitched rectangle), We R Memory Keepers (circle); Other: Black and White Card Stock
That’s it for now, but I hope you find time to do something fun today, and feel free to join us forthis month’s challenge. You have until February 9th, so there’s plenty of time!
Today I am sharing the Christmas Thank You cards I made.
I had quite a few to make, and knew I wanted to use a new Merry die I picked up around Thanksgiving. I already had my Christmas cards made at that point, but I just couldn’t wait to use it until next Christmas! I added a few sentiment words from Lawn Fawn, some new matte gold card stock (love this stuff!), and I was good to go.
Now, for a background!
I was looking through my Christmas stash, and realized I had some 4×6 journaling cards, but they were all ones I just didn’t know how to use. The leftovers that just end up sitting there. FOREVER.
For me, I always find the ones that have a design around the entire edge with a journaling spot in the center hard to use.
I decided to use a stack of these as my backgrounds, and that led to some very easy, nice cards!
Here are the results (I made two of a couple of them):
I did run out of Christmas journaling cards before I was done making all of the cards I needed. So, I raided my regular stash for a few neutral cards as well:
I also made one more with the same design that doesn’t use a journaling card, as I really wanted to play with the plaid die I got for Christmas!
Supplies: Gold Matte Card Stock: Simon Says Stamp; Journaling Cards: Simple Stories; Studio Calico; Project Life; Stamps: Lawn Fawn; Dies: Waffle Flower (merry), Tim Holtz (plaid); Gold Star Stickers: Elle’s Studio
I love how these turned out, and I used up some of those pesky journaling cards that have been laying around as a bonus! Yay!
I am adding these cards to the following challenges:
Well, just like that the year is over, and today I am sharing the books I read in December.
Just as a reminder, my reading goals for 2022 were: 1. Read 250 books. This includes the books I read to the kids, audiobooks, and anything I read for myself. 279 DONE 2. Read at least two (new to me) classics. 2 DONE 3. Read at least six self-help/education books. 7 DONE
A few formatting notes: 1. I have inserted pictures as well as Amazon links to some of the books I enjoyed most for the month so that it is easier to read more about each book if you are interested. Hopefully, your local library system will carry most of these. 2. If I completed a more detailed review of any of these books, I included a review link after my comments. 3. If a book is not available yet, you will see the publication date in parenthesis after my comments. 4. I have rated each book using a bold numbered star after each comment.
The rating system is as follows: *5-This book was so good, I either bought it, or think it is worth buying. I am pretty picky about the books I buy, so this is as good as it gets! *4-This book was worth reading, but not necessarily worth buying-look for these books at your local library *3-This book was just OK. I wouldn’t need to read it again. *2-Don’t bother *1-There probably won’t be any of these, because if it was THIS bad, I wouldn’t finish it. 🙂
I read a bunch of our favorite Christmas books this month (of course), and I started a new-to-me mystery series, so I have plenty to report!
Here is what I read in December:
1. Grover’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Lee Howard-a fun little kid book *3 2. Cookie’s Christmas Cookies by Lee Howard-fun *3 3. Big Bird’s Tree Trimming Party by Lee Howard–fun *3
9. The Invisible Spy (The Forgotten Five #2) by Lisa McMann-even better than the first one-very good! *4 10. The Plan for the Gingerbread House by Darcy Pattison-OK *3 11. Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr-I read this aloud to the kids (I had previously read this to myself) and it’s a cross between Pippi Longstocking and Heidi-we really liked it *4 12. The Secret Valley by Clyde Robert Bulla-this was a read aloud to the kids for History-short, but good *4 13. Snowman Magic by Katherine Tegen-pretty good *3 14. Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin-good *3 15. Pinkalicious: Merry Pinkmas! by Victoria Kann-OK *3 16. The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas by Laura Murray-a favorite *4 17. A View Most Glorious by Regina Scott-OK, not my favorite *3
18. Once There Was a Christmas Tree by Jerry Smath-I love this one so much-it’s one of my favorites *5 19. Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall-loved it, bought it! *5 20. The Hat by Jan Brett-fun! *4 21. The Gingerbread Cookie Mystery by Judy Katschke-OK-the kids really like this one *3 22. Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard-OK *3 (2/7/2023) 23. Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Bratun-another favorite! *4 24. The Hat by Jan Brett-read this aloud for part of our Christmas School time-we all liked it *4 25. The Attic Christmas by B.G. Hennessey-another favorite! *5 26. The Berenstain Bears and The Joy of Giving by Jan Berenstain-we like this one! *4 27. The North Police Reindeer Games Scott Sonneborn-OK, the kids like it more than me-*3 28. Critical Threat (Extreme Measures #3) by Lynette Eason-OK *3 (1/3/2023) 29. Benford Draws a Blank by Danielle Dufayet-kind of strange *2
30. By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman-a read aloud to the kids for History-we all enjoyed it and were sorry when it ended! *5 31. The Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson-we like this one! *4 32. Hooked on Murder (Crochet Mystery #1) by Betty Hechtman-pretty good *4 33. Yarn to Go (Yarn Retreat Mystery #1) by Betty Hechtman-great start to a series-love a cozy mystery! *4 34. Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall-yep, I bought it and read it again! Wonderful! *5 35. Olive the Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh-a fun Christmas read! *4 36. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston-one of our favorites! *5 37. Silence of the Lamb’s Wool (Yarn Retreat Mystery #2) by Betty Hechtman-I am enjoying this series! *4 38. Wound Up in Murder (Yarn Retreat Mystery #3) by Betty Hechtman-good! *4 39. A Christmas Wish for Corduroy by Don Freeman-always a classic! *4 40. Fisher-Price Little People: Christmas Time Is Here!-OK *3 41. Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaula-OK *3 42. The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert-we like this one *4 43. How to Steal a Dragon’s Sword (How to Train Your Dragon #9) by Cressida Cowell-Hubby and I have been listening to this series on audiobook. It is so good, and I am happy to be re-listening to it! *5 44. Gone with the Wool (Yarn Retreat Mystery #4) by Betty Hechtman-good! *4 45. A Charlie Brown Christmas Pop-Up Edition by Charles M. Schulz-we read this one every year *4 46. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore-good *3 47. A Tangled Yarn (Yarn Retreat Mystery #5) by Betty Hechtman (audiobook)-another good one *4 48. Inherit the Wool (Yarn Retreat Mystery #6) by Betty Hechtman (audiobook)-good *4 49. Moo, Baa, La La La La La! by Sandra Boynton-read to The Little Guy-very cute *4 50. The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! by Mo Willems-read to The Little Guy-funny! *4 51. The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems-read to The Little Guy-cute *4 52. The Pigeon Has to Go to School! by Mo Willems-read to The Little Guy-fun *3 53. A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson-read to The Little Guy-very cute! *4 54. Home is in Between by Mitali Perkins-a good look at living in between two cultures *4 55. If You Want to Knit Some Mittens by Laura Purdie Salas-read to The Little Guy-the pictures are really cute in this one! *4 56. Tiny Perfect Things by M.H. Clark-read to The Little Guy-I liked the art in this one-very unique *3 57. Knot on Your Life (Yarn Retreat Mystery #7) by Betty Hechtman (audiobook)-OK, but they are getting kind of repetitive *3
This month I read 38 books to the kids, and I read/listened to 14 books just for me. I also read 5 picture books to myself for review.
For the year, I have read eighty-four books to the kids and one hundred twenty books just for me. I’ve also read sixty-five picture books to myself for review. That’s a total of 279 books for the year.
So, I met all of my 2022 reading goals, which is great!
I definitely discovered a lot of new authors this year and am excited to dig into more of their books, as well as whatever else I come across.
I will post my 2023 reading goals when I share my January books on the 1st Tuesday in February, but for now, have a great day and happy reading!
My card today was inspired by a crazy mixed media background I made while participating in the Online Card Classes 2022 Holiday Card Workshop.
Here is my card:
Here is a side view so you can see a bit more of the sparkle and shine:
Supplies: Card Stock: Lawn Fawn (green), American Crafts (gray); Vellum: Paper Reflections; Dies: Lawn Fawn; Punch: McGill; Crayons and Stencil: Tim Holtz; Embossing Paste: Wendy Vecchi; Inks: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Frost, Perfect Pearls Mist in Turquoise
Here is how I made it:
First, I used Distress Crayons to create diagonal stripes across my panel.
Then, I applied paste through a stencil on top of the crayon.
I added iridescent spray on top and set it aside to dry.
Once dry, I adhered a few vellum snowflakes to the top, and die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die.
And then, I did nothing.
I had this super busy background (which is totally out of my comfort zone), and I didn’t know what to do with it!
I admit to staring at it for a few weeks, before I realized it would make a nice sky.
I added a leftover mountain die cut, a leftover snow die cut, some trees, and then a little house I trimmed from a border die.
The mountains got vellum snow caps to match the snowflakes, I added a little glitter glue, mounted it on some card stock, and TADA-a nice wintery card-with no stamping!
Well, that’s it from me today.
I hope this card inspires you to join us for this month’s challenge at the Mix It Up Challenge Blog!
Have a great day and I can’t wait to see what you create!
Slow Down, Enjoy, and Create Part 2 