End of Summer Vacation

Much to my surprise Summer Vacation is over in Arizona. The grand kids will be going back to school on Monday. We have spent the last week doing all the fun things I had planned the beginning of summer break...but some how ran out of time.

We took a road trip all the way in to Mesa to go to the Arizona Museum for Youth to see their Monster Exhibit.

I dug out all the arts and craft projects that I was saving for an "I don't have anything to do" moment...

And finished them all...

They are off for another school year...which isn't nearly as fun as Granny's house.

Way too much fun!

We had way too much fun yesterday afternoon downstairs in the classroom of Mystic Paper

at my Heritage Scrapbooking Workshop. Everybody had a project that they were working on. Mary has some great poems written by her mother-in-law that she is designing layouts around. Ann had been busy since the last workshop creating beautiful heritage pages using her old family photos. Kristy worked on a page with a great color combination using a family picture. Lisa's book has family recipes, photos and marvelous family stories. Sandy assembled a layout for a family picture by layering patterned paper from Basic Gray's Periphery line.

There was a lot of "ooh-ing and ahh-ing" going on around that big design table.

You want to join in the fun...the next Heritage Scrapbooking class is Saturday August 15th. Call Mystic Paper to sign up!

Thank you Kim for the class photo!

Christmas in July

I was surprised how easily the Mystic Paper Christmas in July Design Team
project went together. I'm not sure it was so much the theme, as it was the Basic Gray patterned paper...hey it's no secret, I am a Basic Gray girl!
With names like "Winterberry", "Merry Happy", "Brandy Butter" and "Spruce" how can you not create wonderful Christmas layouts. Basic Gray knew what they were doing when they created the "Wassail" line...this paper would be great for non holiday pages too. I really did have a good time with the Element stickers. I mounted a few of them on chipboard to give the layout some dimension. The journaling was printed on white vellum.I haven't played with that in a while.
The Vellum Glue Dots make it much easier to apply the vellum to layouts. If you are not using vellum because it's to annoying to figure out how to make it stick to you page, try the Vellum Glue Dots... they are great.
Not sure where to find the dots...Mystic has them!
Of course I added"Old Paper" distress ink and some "Star Dust" Sitckels.

My new favorite paper is the "Brandy Butter". This is a lovely shade of yellow with hints of red distressing. The Element Sticker page had some fantastic borders that I layered. The distress ink on this layout was "Tattered Rose".

What to do with the Daisy Ds Picture Hanger?

I wanted something unexpected...but couldn't come up with any ideas. Sometimes you need a little bit of creative help... I scrap-swiped this idea from the Internet. I can't remember were, so thank you to who ever came up with such a fun idea!

With the last little bit of paper and stickers I designed a Christmas card. After all what is Christmas with out Christmas cards?

I'm going to click over to see what Sheri, Lindsey and Yasu designed with their Christmas in July kits...want to come with me...just click!

Another "Oh by the way"...

Wednesday night I had great Heritage Scrapbooking class at Mystic. Lots of information and ideas to get the ladies started with all their old family photos, letters and memorabilia. If you are still wondering what to do with all your family treasures, call Mystic and sign up for the next class. It will be Saturday the 15th of August. Don't you think it's time to get your grandma out of a box and into a Heritage Scrapbook album?

Wedding Cards a bit on the Wild Side

We have a nephew getting married next weekend. A lot of the family is coming here from Up-State New York. They should be in for a shock when they get in to town... July weddings in Arizona are always a "hot' time.
I went looking in my card stash for a wedding card and discovered I was out. Which was a good excuse to break out the glitter, ink pads and vintage photos and play!
This is an image from my collection. A somewhat conservative card, your basic bride and groom, a bit of Star Dust Stickels and ribbon.

I dug in the freezer and pulled out the instant coffee I keep for company to "coffee satin" the background and tag. Rubbed with pink and blue ink pads and dry brushed gesso. Some wrinkled tissue paper, lace and pink braid for a different kind of look.

Suzee Que had shared this wonderful post card on Flickr. She has the most amazing stock of images that she generously posts.

THANK YOU SUZEE QUE!

The red postage stamp was on the front of the post card, along with the bride and groom. Fruit Punch Stickels on the daisies, a bit of lace, pink rhinestones and distress ink. This card is a little on the wild side...

I think we will go with this one for the nephew's wedding.

168 Days till Christmas

It is difficult to even think about Christmas when the temperature here is above 100f and getting hotter every day. But that is just what the Mystic Paper Design Team is doing for their July projects. My first thought when I opened my DT kit and saw all the wonderful Basic Gray pattered paper was Hooray...I haven't had my all time favorite paper in a while.

Then I took a second look...it was the Christmas line "Wassail". Was there some mistake? Did DT Captain Sheri really intend to give me Christmas paper? Seeing the confused look on my face, Kim told me it was for Christmas in July. With a tear in my eye at the very thought that "yes...soon...too soon, it will be that time again"

I pulled the rest of the Christmas goodies out of my bag.

Besides all the wonderful paper there was a page of Basic Gray Elements stickers, they are always a great addition to any layout, a yard of holiday green striped ribbon and some Daisy Ds picture hangers.

So to get me in the holiday mood I have set my Air Conditioning very low, and have Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" from the CD player...I am designing Christmas in July. You would think with this much warning I would start designing my Christmas Cards...naaaa, I'll wait until December!

I wonder what Lindsey, Yasu and Sheri got in their kits?

Oh by the way!

I had a great class last night at Mystic Paper. It was a workshop for Heritage Scrapbooking. Lisa and Ann came with all their treasures and wonderful ideas. They both have photos, ephemera and fantastic stories for the albums that they are working on. Want to join in the fun? I am teaching the Heritage Scrapbooking Class again next week at Mystic on Wednesday the 15th of July from 3:30 to 5:30. This class is full of information to get you started and will prepare you to join Lisa, Ann and I the following Wednesday on July 22nd from 3:30 to 5:30 for the continuing Heritage Scrapbooking workshops. All you have to do is call Mystic Paper and sign up.

Gardening in The Valley of the Sun

I have a had a request by Kim to see the Hope Garden. Which is now the"HOT" Garden. I think we got up to 109f today. The garden is hanging on for dear life in all this heat.

The cantaloupe are just now getting ripe and ready to pick

There are still tomatoes...WONDERFUL TOMATOES on the vines

A few Zucchini...

And some summer squash are still left...

This tomato plant has been nicknamed... Godzilla...it's huge!

The fruits of our labors...really all this is the fruits of my husbands labors. He has nurtured and babied the garden along , all his hard work paid off ...we have had a great harvest!

Happy 4th of July

Hooray for the Red White and Blue!