Card of the Week

I'm prepping for the onslaught of April birthdays that are fast approaching.  The next four will all have to be kid focused as four of the five grandkids have birthdays in April or early May.

Here was my inspiration from CAS(E) This Sketch:

And here is my version:

I was trying for a "guy" card.  I think it will work.  Happy carding.

Card Day

I got two cards made yesterday.  How fun is that.

Participating in the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge again.

Here is the inspiration:

And here are my interpretations:

I really enjoyed this sketch.  I even tried to do a version with paint graduated from light to dark, but it just didn't turn out how I envisioned it, which isn't all that unusual.

Happy Snow Day.

Another Card

Another day...another card.

Here was the inspiration:

Here's my interpretation:

Hope you are staying warm were ever you are.  Bit brisk here in Michigan for the week-end.

Card of the Day

I got a card made yesterday...which is pretty amazing since I'm taking care of my two grandson's and BW is healing from the fall and clavicle surgery.

Found the card inspiration over at CAS(E) this Sketch.  Here was the inspiration:

And here is my interpretation:

So happy to be carding and sharing again.  It's been a while.

Happy February!

Welcome February.

Tasks done today:

1.  Got the chalkboard updated.

2.  Took down the final Christmas decorations from the front porch and door and actually put it all away.

3.  Got the Valentine mantle done.

Next...Laundry.  F.U.N.

Latest Projects

Life has been a little too hectic lately, but I managed to squeeze in a whole day of projects last week.  Here's what I made:

New Mantel Garland

I've been into keeping lights on my mantel all year long and to keep it from looking too Christmassy, I've been making garland for the season.  In February, I did a red heart garland and for Spring I've done this daisy garland.

Here it is drying

I bought the wood flowers at Joann's and painted them pale yellow.  I then added adhesive aqua gems.    I attached the flowers using my glue gun to green floral wire.  (I used some of the small hearts left over from February's garland as the backing for the flowers making it much easier to stick to the wire.) I made two of them and gave one to Cait as a little Easter present.

Here is the finished mantel:

I think I need to update my mantel afghan to something a little less...PINK.


I also made all the grandkids their Easter cards.  I think they turned out so cute:

And finally got two of the April Birthday cards made and sent:

For my SIL Karen:

And from my brother Bob:

This is my first time using an old photo.  Hope he likes it.

Happy April!

Card of the Month

I've been making a few cards lately.  I finished 5 birthday cards on Friday evening to celebrate all the February birthdays, but I didn't use any sketches for my inspiration.  Today though, I made two cards using this weeks CAS(E) this Sketch for inspiration.

Here is the sketch:

Here are my cards:

Version 1

Version 2

Best news on the card front is that I purchased a new printer.  It is awesome.  I've been struggling for so long with the old one and this one does so much and so easily.  I am back to being able to print my card sentiments on the inside before I make the rest of the card.  Yeah!!  It's an Epson WF-3640 if anyone is in the market for a new printer.  Got it at a good price from Office Max thanks to the help of Tyler.  Super knowledgeable.

Card of the Month

I'm not finding the time to make cards very often.  It makes me sad…but it's just the way things are for now.

I did manage to get one made to celebrate Caity's Birthday.  I did use the CAS(E) this Sketch #95 for my inspiration:

But…I'm so late in posting about it that I can't share on their site.  Oh well, it still turned out rather cute.

Not my best photo, but I was rushed.

Off to finally put up my fall mantel.  (It's about time.)

Holiday Mantel…First Look

I've been an absent blogger for about a month now.  I can only blame getting ready for 40 people at Thanksgiving for so long, before I have to own up to my own lack of focus or laziness.  Not sure which, maybe a little of both.

I just finished up with a little project for my mantel.  I saw it in a magazine somewhere and just fell in love with it, so I made my own version.

It's basically an blanket or shawl for your mantel.  In the magazine, they actually used an plaid blanket with fringe, that they cut up to fit.  I wasn't going to waste a whole blanket.  I went to Joann's and found this plaid flannel, bought two yards and cut my own 3 inch fringe.

It just makes me so happy.

When I get it all done, I'll post the finished version.  Still making the final decoration which should be ready tomorrow.

As for the tree…the new house has lower ceilings so I'm learning to adjust to a much smaller tree, but I clearly have too many ornaments and I just can't resist hanging all my favorites.

I'm not sure if it's a Charlie Brown tree or not.  I'll have to take another photo in the daytime, so I don't have to adjust the saturation as much….but it does look like one of those old timey photos from my childhood.

More cheer to come.  Promise.

My Latest Project

I actually got to do a project this week.  Felt great to do something creative.

Here is the finished project:

I used three Ikea frames to make the art work above the bed, which is just three pieces of fabric.  Pretty cool huh.

On the verge of listing my house.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Christmas Mantel

I posted my fall mantel a few weeks ago, so I thought I better post my Christmas mantel, especially since I'm about to start the annual de-Christmasing process.

All of my children and grandchildren have their own stockings, so "my cup runneth over" so to speak.  (If you know what movie used this line to perfection...I will reward you in some way.)

Here is my tree with the creche built by my father.  The tree base actually sits on top of the creche (manger).  It is a very special memory for me.

Due to my current unemployment status, I opted to make as many gifts as I could.  This included 11 infinity scarves.

This photo basically sucks, but it gives you the hint of what I created.

I also made this peppermint chocolate bark for Rick.  The recipe was in the December edition of Food Network magazine and it's meant to mimic the Williams Sonoma version.  It was fun to make and he said it was delicious.

And finally...this is my favorite Christmas photo.  Uncle Mike and Luke chillin' on Christmas morning. He was pleased as punch to have Uncle Mike all to himself.

Time to start de-Christmasing.

Welcome to My World

Why is it that whenever I'm in a fabric store, I think all the salespeople can tell that I don't know what I'm doing.  I start out the whole process a bit intimidated and then you add the whole yards thing and I'm a mess.  Where else do you talk in "yards"??  Yards are what we all have behind our houses.

I told the woman I wanted 6 yards, but fortunately before she cut it, I realized that was way too much.  I actually only needed 2 yards, but the difference between 6 and 2 seemed like too big of an error, so I told her 3 yards instead.  Seriously...this was my logic.  Three yards sounded better than two.  And since I had two fabrics, I stood there and ordered three yards of the second material too.

I am ridiculous and in desperate need of some help.

This Cardmaking Thing

I started making my own cards, about 5 or 6 years ago.  It was just an idea I had one Valentine's Day.  I wanted to make cards for all my kids and for my honey.

It's been building ever since.  I haven't bought a card in all that time.  Although, to be honest, I have spent a little on card making supplies.

It turns out, that my wonderful Aunt Sandy, who lives in Austin...also makes her own cards.  I've decided in must be genetic or something.  My grandmother (Sandy's and my dad's mom) was quite a crafter, in addition to being a marvelous baker.

As I have reached a certain age, of which we won't discuss...I feel a connection to my dad's side of the family that cannot be explained.  Just felt, lived and breathed.

Here is the beautiful card that Sandy sent for Thanksgiving.

She inspires me, she's part of me.  She is family.

Fall Mantel

I wanted to share my finished Fall Mantel before it gets replaced by the Christmas version.

I added a few little things this year to help fill it up.  A couple of them were from the Target discount section.  You know, that little area right when you walk in with all the $1, $2 & $3 goodies.  (Try and tell me you don't love that little section.)

This is a close up of the left side.  The pumpkin on the end is a new addition to my Mod Podged pumpkins.  I got this pumpkin at Joann's for 70% off and applied layers of elegant tissue paper.  The little lantern next to it was one of my Target specials.  I think it was $1.99.  The picture next to that was purchased last year at Arts & Apples.  I have a thing for doors and windows.  The pitcher is one of my collection given to me by my dear sister.

Here is the right side close up.  I added more wheat to my tall square vase this year. Next are the three Mod Podged pumpkins from last year.  The simple wreath and star are from Target and finally another pitcher from my collection.

That's it.  Now on to the Christmas mantel.

Hope your Thanksgiving was warm and wonderful.

Halloween 2012

It's time for our annual Halloween at Krissy's.  This year her family is dressing up as the characters from Adventure Time.  I think it's on Nick.  Or maybe it's Cartoon Network.   I don't really "get" the show, but it's a favorite of Ryan and Austin.

Here are the characters:

Ryan is the middle character with the white ears.  Aus is the dog like character.  I'm guessing Krissy is the Princess thing and Jay is the King guy.  Breslyn is the purple blob thing.

Please note that the purple thing has a star on it's forehead.  My task was to make the star for Breslyn's costume.  Here is the finished result.

Maybe tonight I'll remember all the character's names.

Happy Halloween everyone and I hope all the children on the East Coast can find a way to enjoy the day.

Welcome FALL

I completed a little fall project this week-end.  I'm so glad I was able to get something DONE.

I made a decoration for my front door to welcome FALL.

Here's how it turned out:

I'd love to show you my whole front porch fall decorations, but this is as far as I got.  Unfortunately, I have to wait until pay-day to get my mums and pumpkins.

I got the idea for this from another blog.  I swear I pinned it on Pinterest, but now I can't find it.  I would love to give credit to the originator, so if any of my regular readers recall seeing this somewhere, please let me know in the comments.

I can tell you that the original was far better than mine and she had the ribbons going over the top of the door and securing somehow on the other side.  It was a very cool look, but I couldn't figure out how adhere the ribbons to the door without putting holes in the door.  I came up with the idea to hang the ribbon from a wooden bar instead.

I very happy with how it turned out and both the girls noticed it right away when the stopped over.

So...Happy Fall

July Garden Update

Despite the overwhelming heat we've had recently (which fortunately broke on Sunday), my container garden is growing into a small forest of deep green.  I was able to harvest (and eat) the first of the grape tomatoes yesterday with more on the way.

The garden started here:

It now looks like this:

I have my first strawberry peeping out.  Now I just have to keep Joey away from it.  Turns out the dog loves strawberries and tomatoes. (Turns out he loves anything that I drop while cooking...except garlic and onion.  He sniffs and walks away from those two.)

And here's my first yellow pear tomato getting ready to be picked.

And an early girl, just about right.

And this is my summer project.  I've had this table for years and it's slowly turned pinkish from years in the sun.  This year it needed to be sanded, cleaned and re-painted before I was going to let it out on the deck.  It's taken a few weeks, but I finally got it done.  I then went up to Pottery Barn and found the perfect umbrella (on sale...yeah).  I'm so happy with how it turned out. And along with my deck rugs from Lowe's, I now feel like I have another room on my tiny little house.

Off to make something with leftover pork tenderloin.  Maybe I'll do that hash again.

Good Intentions

I've been "Pinning" all sorts of Spring and Easter wreaths, with every intention of making one.  But by the time I checked out all the goodies at Michael's and Joann's, I kind of gave up.

Trying to figure out all the supplies I would need (I am not a regular wreath maker) and add that to the high probability that it wouldn't turn out how I envisioned it, I opted for a pre-made wreath that was 40% off at Joann's.

Lame...absolutely.  Done...yep!

Card of the Week

Here's my card for the CPC Card Challenge this week.  This is one of the cards I made for the February Birthday Brunch.

This is the CPS Sketch:

And here is my interpretation.

I opted to turn the design horizontally...for no particular reason.  Just because.

Have a great week.

100 Days of School Project

This is something new from my days as a school mom, but they now do projects and events to mark 100 days at school.  Ryan's celebration was yesterday and he needed to do a project with 100 of something on it or in it.  Kristen thought of buttons (of which, I have a ton) and I came up with the hat idea.

Here is Ryan's project:

And here is Ryan wearing said project.

I used the sticky dots to adhere the buttons to the hat, so it was very easy peasy project.

Congrats on your 100 days.  (He also head to dress up like he was 100 years old.  I sure hope they took a picture.)