A Couple Mini-Albums

Anything mini is cute, isn't it? Such a girl thing! Ok, wait. Chocolate. NOT so good in mini. Are you with me girls?

Rarely do I make mini albums even though I think they are simply delightful and charming. LOVE looking at other people's on their blogs! This one was a cute kit from KC & Co. that caught my eye.

This other one, I made myself. It's not very exciting inside, so I really just wanted to show you the mechanics. In a pinch, you can make this easily. Simply layer cardstock at gradient lengths.

Attach a book plate to the last page, then place a large brad or button on the front cover and you can simply slide the book plate to open and close. Oh, and mini skirts...not so much for me anymore. There was a time...long ago and far away...If you still want some Jolee's stickers, scroll down to my Earth Day Giveaway.

Baby Tomatoes!!!!

I'm thrilled! I have baby cherry tomatoes already! Now, you may wonder why I am so ecstatic over a few tomatoes...Well, I used to grow a garden, but since moving here; I have no room. See for yourself.

Mostly hard-scaped yard like everyone around here(water conservation and all). And the border beds are full of bushes and flower--and a few little gnomies(see 'em peeking?).

So, I have two pots with the tomato plants in them. My little treasures. They make me happy. Soon we will plant herbs in the planters on the fence. Isn't D a sweetie for attaching all those to the fence and rigging up irrigation? He is, for sure. So that's my garden folks. Tomatoes and herbs. I can live with that. If you want some Jolee's stickers, scroll down and leave your comment here.

Earth Day Presents For YOU!

Happy Earth Day(belated). I am celebrating by recycling some of my stash. Recently, I had cleaned out my craft space and have tons of these Jolee's stickers. At one time, I got a box of about 200 of them on clearance for 10 bucks.


Anyway, this is just one group of them. I have FOUR packets like this to give away to anyone that wants them. There are about 15-20 pieces in each. Just leave a comment and I will randomly pick 4 people to send them to on April 30th.

Mother's Day Card

Just a little card for mom. I'm still working on the acryllic album for her too(ups and downs with that one!).

And peek inside...MORE flowers that pop up!

I just love that---never tried one before. You'll notice how my 'disappearing' blue glue stick, did not. Oh welllllllllll! I only used it out of desperation because I was leary of it---apparently, justly so. Note to self: Buy more white glue stick.

Hide and Seek

My camera is currently on vacation in New York. D went to see Opening Day at the new Yankee's Stadium. Anyway, since I can't photograph anything new, I am reposting one from my old blog and I'll be back with new goodies next weekend!

This will bore seasoned scrappers, but perhaps will be helpful to newbies. I know when I started a couple years ago; it was a bit of a mystery. Everybody finds their own way eventually. Here's mine.

I was thinking about my process so that I could apply it to mixed media art, that I so desperately admire on others' blogs. I don't know why I am timid and drag my feet to experiment on that!

Anyway, I guess I look at my pictures and pick a few. I already 'see' a story that I want to tell for my family. I know this top photo is what I want to emphasize.Then, sometimes I go to idea books and mags for layout ideas. In this case, I was not able to easily see what would be a good balance for 3 photos.This part takes the longest for me. Probably it takes me half an hour to pick cardstock and patterned papers. Do I want to match the photos? Do I want to go neutrals that go with any photo? What 'feel' do I want? In this case, I wanted the feel of summer but it looked too 'girly' to pull colors from the photos. That's why I chose a neutral brown as my background. Luckily, I had some 'summer' patterned papers that went with the brown.This main photo is the only one I will mat for emphasis and I chose yellow as yellow is in the photo and it helped it pop.I cut up pieces of patterned paper and made an arrangement. Also, I decided to crop the other photos smaller and stick them together as one.Next, I thought the word 'hide' should be partially hidden. Oh, I already knew the title and theme would be 'hide and seek' from my first step of choosing photos. So, I got some memory glass and inked it with alcohol inks. This was the first time doing this and I just love the effect, and it was SO easy!I put black vinyl letters under them.After that, I decided the patterned papers needed to have the edges inked to tone them down a bit and to draw the eye across the pages spread.I finished the title...this took a while, several experiments with letters. I decided 'seek' should have eyes. It looked a bit off-kilter. I added some subdued stamped swirls and I put photo corners on the top left to solidify the two photos together. I tried to use a visual triangle with the yellow patterned paper on the right, the '&" sign and the photo corners in the top left.To really balance this, I added written journaling and stretched it across both pages. Plus I put their names and the date and place on the right. Writing the name of the place is something I just recently began to do. I think this will give more of a 'picture' of our life for those that recieve these scrapbooks one day. I don't spend much time on my journaling, it's just 'off the cuff'. This took about 1 minute. I just put enough to allow the reader to 'fill in' with their own experiences. Personally, I don't like to read long drawn-out explanations, so I don't like to write them either. I know a lot of people agonize on what to write---my mom being one. As I said, the story is already there when I choose my photos. Have a nice day!

Picnic Time!

Ahhh! I love the feel of cloth napkins! Here I've completed a set of mix-and-match placemats and napkins.

Some of you know I've been spring-cleaning my craft space (half of our office----ok, MORE than half! Hee hee!) Along the way, I've unearthed many half-done projects. I plan to complete them or throw them out before I begin new ones! Ok, AND scrap in between. I made these placemats double-sided.

And then an assortment of napkins to coordinate with either side. Don't you love options?!

Here's my tip for making perfect corners on the napkins---for any right-angled item, for that matter. First, I iron about an inch corner of all 4 corners. Make sure it is at right angles to the sides of the napkin.

Next, tuck under the corner and finger press for each corner.

After that, finger-press about a 3/8 inch seam along one side---I recommend doing one at a time.

Fold that over one more time to cover the raw edge and iron flat. Repeat with each side.

Voila! You have a perfect corner. Simply stitch around the entire napkin in whatever stitch you choose.

Now, don't you just want to go on a picnic? We had a BBQ in the back yard with my sunny set!

P.S. I still need your advice here. Thanks!

Hmmm....Somebody Save Me!!!!

Warily, I keep walking past this acryllic album on my desk. It haunts me.

It's been there a couple months...staring at me. Kind of like that 'Geico MONEY'.


Does AA mean 'Acryllics Anonymous'? Maybe there is help for me out there. I admit it, I surrender...I am intimidated by it; I've never done one. I see all your lovely albums and I'm overwhelmed with choices. All of them interesting and good. But how to start!?!? Oh wait, I know, I know!

(chest swelling with pride and false bravado) Phew! I did the first step. I took the commercially-bonded-hi-tech-blue-plasticky-stuff off (yes, that IS one word and spelled perfectly!). I think I sprained my left thumb nail doing it though. Now, seriously people; I need your help. Please send me any of your tips and tricks and links to similar projects on your blogs so I can make some descisions. Thank you so much!! Please hurry, it's still staring at me!!!!!!Ahhhhhhhh!!!!

Just a Quickie!

Here's a quick page that I submitted to Scrapwhispers challenge. Ok, to be honest it took me a LONG time to pick papers to work with the super bright blue and red. Can you believe I took these pictures on Christmas Day?! Yep, we are spoiled down here in 'these parts'. Crazy day here! Got to ruuuuuuun!

Magic and Trepidation

Yesterday, I was in a painty-mixed-media mood. When I first saw this background paper in Somerset Studios; it immediately gave me inspiration. They also included a free collage sheet with the girls that are shown. My idea was complete!

In my imagination, the girls are visiting Paris with their parents. They are filled with wonder at all the sights and hustle and bustle. At the same time, they are intimidated. I hope you enjoy it.
Artist paper by Denise Cuthbertson
Other papers by KC & Co., and American Trade
Collage sheet by Stampington and Co.

Paris Anyone?

Ooh La La! Make your stitching special with stamps! I uncovered these pieces that I had finished last fall and never framed. And now I have!

What is unique is that the Aida is stamped with flourishes first (iron to set ink). It was a borrowed idea and I just love the effect!

I actually have a few more pieces to add to the collection, but frankly, I won't stitch till next fall/winter! Below is my favorite.

Woo Hoo! Spring Is Here!

I just LOVE the sunshine! Don't you? It makes me energetic and happy. Often, I have the blahs in winter and I feel a bit guilty here because I live in Southern California and I am well aware others have a MUCH harsher, darker winter. Years ago, I was stationed in the Mid-West. Believe me, I don't miss the snow and ice! Anyway, I just had to snap some pics in my yard and at a local park this past week and share them with you. Also, I have entered this LO in my first scrap challenge on a new challenge blog at Scrap It Lah . Check it out! If anyone can help me, I have a problem with blogging: I can no longer see my or anyone else's slide shows or other active content...what do I need to do? I know there must be a setting somewhere!

A is for Adventure

Recently, my fiance had the great adventure of flying in an old WWII airplane.

It was particularly exciting for him as he used to be a commercial pilot and flight instructor. D began flying lessons at the age of 16 where he had saved up his own money from working in a grocery store. He proudly earned his first liscence at 17 years old. Unfortunately, due to developing diabetes in his 40's; he could no longer fly commercially and had to change careers.

This unique chance to fly in a rare aircraft was a gift from co-workers and made even more special by the host pilot. He allowed D to fly the plane and participate in a mock dogfight with another war plane. For all of these reasons, I wanted to make something to remember this day:

I thought it would be nice to commemorate his birthday flight by making something to hang on the wall, rather than a traditional scrapbook. I found my inspiration in Shona Cole's altered board books after reading her article in Somerset Workshop. It's actually a mini scrapbook mounted on altered canvas and these are some of the inside pages.

Getting instructions from the ground crew.

Flight check.

Thumbs up. Ok for take off!

.Into the wild blue yonder! All in all, this was a fun and successful project and I'm planning another for my son. To round out the memory; I found this mahogany model and gave it to him for Christmas.