Thursday, June 12, 2014

Almost summer!

Hello bloggers,
What a lovely spring we have had here in the Columbia Gorge. Lots of wind lately, but that cools things down which is good. Flowers are in abundance and wonderful to see. The local cherries are getting ready to be harvested so a busy time around the valley. School is out for the summer so let the fun begin!

It has been too long since I have last posted so need to do some catch up. So settle in and get comfy. The first group of cards were done at a friend's house.
The green one (inspired by C. Pooler) has a front piece of white cardstock that is textured w/ a  "Diamond" embossing folder; color added using a stencil I think it is by crafter's workshop.
The purple one used a Spellbinders die for the shape; perfect plum card stock by SU; embossing folder by Cuttlebug & unknown flowers. The grass die is from Impression Obsession.
The yellow one is tangerine tango card stock, scallop edge and "Heartfelt Thanks" sentiment from Stampin UP. Flowers and leave by 7 Gypsies. Inspired by Sara Lincoln. Top view is closed and bottom view is the inside opened up.


The next few cards were sent to me by a very nice friend. If you check the trim, it is her very own tatting on one of the cards. She does such lovely work. Thank you so much L. H.

It's the time of year for graduations so I had the opportunity to make one for a relative who completed his college degree. The card is a diamond top folded card. The white card stock has been texturized with an embossing folder. Tassle was made from paper with a brad to hold it on. The bottom shows the inside where I also used an embossing folder (Cuttlebug) on the congrats and then inked it to make it show up a bit better.

This card I have had for a few months as it was one of the first file folder cards I made using the We Are Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board. I do not know the manufacturer of the card stock. The label is from a Spellbinder set of dies.
This card was an example for the class I taught at our local scrapbook store. Sorry it is sideways. It is called the square frame card. I think I saw it on Deb Valder's video. We used double sided card stock. The strip at the bottom is made using a Martha Stewart Cherish edge punch.
This is an anniversary card. The decorated papers are from various different sources. The hearts were cut using a SU heart punch and then texturized with the dot embossing folder. They are lifted up off the card using a "Jacob's ladder" strip.
This double side step turtle card was for my neighbor who loves turtles. I got the picture off the internet; texturized the side & bottom panels, stamped a greeting panel and added turtle buttons from LaMode & JoAnn's and some unknown little shiny beads.



Now for a change in the line up to sewing. For the entertainment of my grandkids during the summer's travels I have made activity notebooks.


For the larger one I took a 3 ring binder and covered it w/ fabric taken from a pair of jeans. The back pocket was put onto the front making 2 pockets there to hold the flannel hankies I made. The front right pocket of the jeans was put on the left side of the inside of the cover making a couple more pockets there. Another pocket was made for the cover outside back to hold activity/ color books. Handles were made by using the long seams on the legs. The smaller one is a smaller notebook done in a similar way. Pencil pockets were added to store pencils, crayons, pens, hand sanitizer, mini frizbies, sticky note, etc. Various activity books were obtained from the dollar store. There is also a bag for mom that holds the games, etc. for that family such as a dice game,  activity/color kit, bouncy balls, balloons for rest stops sani wipes and child ID bands for safety.
The three smaller bags are "ditty" bags for toothbrush, etc. Those are for the kids. The larger one is for mom to put all those items mentioned above and maybe a few more. Hopefully you can see, they are all lined.
Here are the other 3 notebook packages. For the girls, I decorated around their front pockets for a little more "pretty." For the older one I made the handles longer for her to put over her shoulder as I had some long seams left.

I hope you enjoyed my offerings today on what I have been doing the last little while. Maybe there is a technique or idea you would like to try. Go ahead and go for it!

Ephesians 1:3 NIV

[Spiritual Blessings in Christ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
I may have shared this verse with you before, but it is such a wonderful and encouraging verse, it bears repeating. We have so many blessings to be thankful for, even in the midst of challenges. God is taking care of us and is in control. He deserves all the praise & worship we can give Him. May you be blessed by my projects and the words of the scripture.

Wishing you great blessings for the summer!!
Meg