Sharing Max with the Head Start Kids

     What a fun day Max and I had with the 55 Head Start kids at the Cooper Library! The kids were great! They listened so politely and got the point of Max's story without any prodding. Max, on the other hand, was quite rude. He kept interrupting me. He is really shy and will talk only to me and only in my ear.

     Max really liked the kids and wanted them to know how scared he was, and how much braver he is now. Maybe he will become brave enough one day to speak to others.

"Max, the Boy Raindrop" Reading

     Max, the boy raindrop, and I have our first public reading next week at the public library here in Cooper, Texas. Some of the kids from school are taking a field trip to the library, and I get to read my new book to them. It will be lots of fun for us all!

     I must say that I have learned a lot in making the real Max pictured here. I've sewn since I was nine-years old. I've made a wedding dress, and jackets, and all kinds of other challenging projects. Max just about got the best of me. But, he is finished at last.

     I did find this great fabric called glitter-knit. I had not seen it before. It looks wet, no? It worked out perfectly for what I had in mind. I did make Max so that he could sit on the edge of a table, desk, podium, etc., and have his feet dangle. I put beans in the bottom of his body and his feet so he can sit nicely. He also has an extra layer of fabric on his back so I can hold him like a puppet when the occasion calls for it.

     Thanks so much for stopping by today. I appreciate the time you spend here.

DCWV August Stack-a-holic Challenge

UPDATE: Thanks to DCWV for featuring my card on their blog!

    So nice of you to stop by my blog today. Love your visits and comments. I had lots of fun making this card for the monthly challenge over at DCWV.

     I used DCWV's Chickadee Mesange Pajaro Stack to make my card. Love the colors and designs in the stack. To make my pennants pop, I shadowed each one with a different color to create a 3D-look.

     I usually make all my own embellishments, but I had these great stickers I won from Pink Paislee's Hey Kid collection. How could I not use them here? The sentiment is also a sticker from the Paper Studio.

     There is still plenty of time if you want to join in all the fun. Below is a copy of the challenge sketch we had to work with, and here's the link to the rules at DCWV: http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-stack-holic-challenge.html

 

Sketch Challenge ODBDSLC211

     Thanks so much for popping in. Today I have a card for the sketch challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs.

     From Our Daily Bread Designs, I used the Fancy Foliage die and the No Words collection to stamp the sentiment.
     The cardstock is from  DCWV's Chickadee Mesange Pajaro Stack.
     I think putting a shadowed-square behind each of the border squares really makes them pop. Adds a 3D look without the bulk of extra layers and foam tape.
     There is still plenty of time if you want to play along with us. You have until Sunday, Aug 17th at 8 p.m. EST to get your card in. Here's the sketch ODBD gave us to work with along with the link to all the details.
http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/odbslc211-sketch-week-2.html

Sponging-or-Stencils Challenge ODBDSLC210

     Today, I have a card for Our Daily Bread Designs Sponging or Stencils challenge. I went with sponging and had lots of fun creating my card.

     I sponged green pigment ink onto a good part of a sheet of white cardstock using a regular sponge from the kitchen. After the pigment dried, I die cut my label with Spellbinder's Labels Twenty Two and die cut two vines using ODBD's Fancy Foliage die. I stamped the sentiment using ODBD's No Words stamps. I love how the sponging turned out! I'll be using this technique again and often. I'm planning on using it in my next children's book too. If you have not tried, I encourage you to give it a try.

     I usually get my challenge cards posted in time for you, my wonderful followers, to play along. But, I've been so busy getting material ready for the writer's workshop I'm teaching that time has gotten away from me. The deadline is a few short hours away. If you are faster than I am, you could still get a card in. Deadline is 8 p.m. Eastern tonight! Check out the details here: http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/odbdslc210-sponging-or-stencils-week-2.html

     As usual, I love having you drop in and look at my cards or read about my writing. Thanks so much.