Home in the City...

Welcome to the Anything but the Holidays Blog Hop!

Thank you for visiting me, Amanda Dickson, here at Home Designs by Amanda.

In this blog hop, Stampin' Up! demonstrators are using new product from the just released 2017 Holiday catalog to share ways of using the products that are not holiday in nature.

There is a long list of participants, so a ton of inspiration is awaiting you!

Just Stop Losing Your Happy...

Today I have a Happy Birthday card for the Remarkable Ink Big Blog Hop...

If you are stopping by today for the hop, welcome! 

If you are a regular follower of Home Designs by Amanda, 

Thank You for your continued viewership!

Today is the April Remarkable Ink Big Blog Hop
and the theme is to use the Retiring 2015-2017 In-Colors.

There are a couple of birthdays coming up in the next couple months that I need cards for... 

so I decided to make some cards for them.

I used the Number of Years photopolymer stamp set for these cards.

While I was working on these cards, I was away from my desk, 

and a family member caused an unintentional misplacement of one of the stamps...

specifically the 'happy' stamp.

So, when I discovered that it was gone, we went looking for it,

and found it in the entry way to another room of the house...

But the story doesn't end there...

That night I left everything where it was on my desk because I wasn't feeling well..

and still needed to work on them.

The next morning my youngest daughter (she's 6) was in the room with me, 

and I said,

"I think I lost my 'happy' again."

She was so cute and said, 

"Would you stop losing your 'happy'!" 

as we found it on the floor near my desk.

I think we both saw the underlying meaning to that statement...

because as I was thinking about the application that could have in our lives,

she asks, "Mommy, are you happy?"

I answered with a nonchalant, "I guess so." 

(I'm not a definitive person when it comes to these types of questions...)

and we moved onto getting some breakfast.

The happy was found and now lets see how the card was made...

Number of Years Stamp Set

Large Number Framelts

Again, the stamp set used is the Number of Years stamp set 

and I also used the coordinating die set,
Large Numbers Framelits Dies.

The card base was 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, scored at 4 1/4 inches.
The white background piece is cut at 3 3/4 x 5 inches.
Numbers and 'flag' are cut out of pieces of white and colored cardstock.

The theme of this month's blog hop
was the retiring 2015-2017 In Colors,

so I used the ones I had...

Mint Macaron

and Tip Top Taupe

Do you easily lose your happy?

Recently, I did a Ladies Bible study on Joy 

and this little episode just reminded me

 of how our happiness is based on what happens to you...

Joy is based on what is in your heart.

Although, we may at times seem to lose our 'happy,'

we can have Joy.

The best base for joy in your heart comes from a relationship with Jesus.

If you want more information about this, 

click the TODAY...

 to see how you can have that relationship and find real joy!

Thank you for stopping by to Create with Me today!

And for joining the blog hop...

check out the list of fellow Stampin' Up Demonstrators below
to get more great card and project inspiration using the retiring in colors.

"And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."

1 John 1:4

Amanda

Fair Progress...

Today's post cover's current work's getting some progress done on them and a small snippet of our outing to the local fair!

I'm 'slowly' getting the HST's squared up and ready to make into blocks for a special quilt. I really need to get more time in on this one...its a generous throw size and the recipient's birthday is in the first part of September! I also have a small birthday present to make for my sister-in-law, she already had her birthday, but we aren't celebrating till Labor Day...so I really need to get working on that one too!

I also have a couple of other new projects going... one non-craft related... I'm starting our first year of home schooling on Monday. Liz is starting in Level 1 of ACE... I choose Level 1 because I believe she is ready to start learning to read...but if we have to take it a little slower at the beginning, it will be fine, since she is only 4 :)  So, I've been starting to review the lessons and setting up a school schedule.

She is also very into wanting to do crafts, aka 'sewing' :) ... so, I thought that a knitting loom would be a good start, even though I had never used one before. We purchased one for her when they were on sale a few weeks ago, but I never got it out. Then today, she received a gift from a co-worker of Chad's... a WHOLE set of looms found at a garage sale! So, we tried them out today...

(The red one was the one we purchased...the other 4 were the gift! It was such a blessing and surprise!)

So, helping her takes some time, but it's cute seeing her working on the crafts!
Both girls are definitely interested in the craft stuff...I can always get little helpers on my table :)

Liz also entered a couple of things in our local fair. Some tomatoes (no ribbon) and a embroidered 'picture' [3rd place... out of three :) but at least she got a ribbon]. She was entered against the adults for her tomatoes because she's only 4...the youth age limit was 5-12...but she did get to enter the Youth under 8 category for her embroidery.

We went up to the fair with my in-laws and had a good time seeing the ribbons we won, the animals... especially the horses, and the girls getting to ride some rides!

I'm looking ahead to fall...my favorite :) So, I decided to join the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop...



So, I need to start working on a block, hope to update the blog for the upcoming season, and need to decorate the house soon! Hope you are having a productive week!

Joining WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced...the button is on the left!

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; 

I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: 

I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

Starting to read through the Psalms for my daily Bible reading... Love the Psalms, especially the ones about singing! Sing a praise to God today!

Red, White, and Blue...

Today is the day I'm one of the hostess' for the Red, White, and Blue blog hop being head-up by Jane over at Jane's Fabrics and Quilts.

I designed my block with a few small basics put together...and it ended up turning out to have a Southwestern flair - at least to me :)

So, here it is...it finish slightly under size...at 12.25, instead of 12.5 even though that is what I entered into the  quilt program as the finished size.

However, it is a free program and it was really helpful in getting templates for the triangle borders. I also learned that the squared off corners on the templates are a necessity for more nicely 'squared-up' triangle sections.

Update: I've had a few people ask about the program I used... and Miss Jane, our Hop Hostess, suggested I add the link. I used Quilt Assistant. It is a relatively quick download [if I remember right :)], but do keep in mind, it is free, so it has a few quirks to work around :)

I love these fabrics together and made two more blocks...

then I took the three blocks, rotated them a little, added a small white border around the outside, and made a table runner/wall hanging... bound in a great red and white striped material.

This is my results of my first design for my first blog hop!

In this, I used a thin, plain white flannel (reminds me of homemade diaper material) that I got at the local Mennonite bulk food store. It made it a wonderful weight for this purpose... and would make a great batting for a summer quilt!

On the back is red and white gingham, also from the bulk store!

Be sure to check out the other ladies hosting today on the blog hop...

July 9th

Home Designs by Amanda - you're here! :)

A Stitch in Time

Karen ~ Briarside Lane

Stitching by the Lake

Moose Stash Quilting

It's been fun trying to design something and see the progression of it into something!

Another Update: In an attempt to get back into the swing of things...I'm going to link up this post to Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday, see my sidebar for their button :)

And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good,

and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

This verse was discussed in Sunday School yesterday...the part about conformed, and that the meaning refers to being squeezed into a mold. We need to watch that we are not conformed - aka squeezed - into the mold that the world would have for us. As a Christian, I need to make sure I am doing what God wants me to do, with all aspects of my life... including my blog. This encouraged me to keep including the Spiritual Reflections sections even if it seems that that section may turn some people off from my blog.

God's Word will not return void (Isa. 55:11)...