Happy Valentines Day

Wishing you 

A Very Happy

Valentines

 Day

Thanksgiving Leftovers

We had Thanksgiving Dinner at my darling daughters house yesterday...there was enough food there to feed an Army. Needless to say we are eating leftovers for the rest of the weekend.

While we were enjoying all our festive meal, we had a visitor at the window. I have posted before about the chickens my DDs raises. Lately some of the "girls" have started peeping through the window to see what is going on inside the house...I guess turnabout is fair play, we watch them too. This hen decided she wanted to inspect the workings of  our Thanksgiving.

In honor of DD chickens, I create  "chicken" cards for her birthday.

DD is also raising a BIG black pig, name Lola. I understand raising the chickens...I have benefited from the "girls" by enjoying their eggs, when they are happy enough  to produce.

 

But the pig...there is no way the grandkids will let us have Lola for Easter dinner!

First Day of School

Many, many years ago when I was a young mother, there came a time in each of my children lives when I sent them off to kindergarten. At the time it was a semi traumatic experience.

They were 5 years old, so of course they at the age where they making me crazy...  naturally I was looking forward to sending them off for half the day, I wouldn't even have to pay a sitter. When their first day of school arrived I admit panicked...my baby is going off in to the big bad world with out me! What if they get scared , what if they get dropped off at the wrong bus stop, what if...? 

One by one over the years I walked my little dears in to the big scarey school, took them to their class room and each one of them took off with a skip and a jump to look for new friends and play with the “educational” toys. Never looking back or giving me a wave good-bye. They were much braver than I was.

Back to School, Home Work and Standardized Test

The kids in Arizona are going back to school...in my opinion it's way too early.

One of the happiest days of my life was the day I didn't have to get my kids ready for the first day of school. One by one they they had graduated.

I didn't have to do back to school shopping for new clothes and notebooks. No more  fill out all the endless form they brought home in their backpacks that first day. No longer did I have to worry about spelling test...history papers that were completed, but some how never got turned in to the teacher.

  

No more asking the question...”have you finished your homework?” An end to calling in absences, missed school buses and standardized test.

They were off on their way to being “grown-ups... and all the mini drama that goes along with being an adult.

Chickens, Birthdays and Ferris Bueller

Remember the quote from Ferris Bueller's Day Off...

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around

 once in a while, you could miss it."

Sure you do...

That is a pretty good description of  my November...it moved pretty fast and I missed most of it.

November does have some birthdays in it of family and friends. My Darling Daughters birthday is the beginning of the month ( I didn't miss that). DD raises chickens in her backyard, they lay beautiful brown, blue and green eggs. In honor of DD's birthday I created a  chicken Birthday Card...

  

 I used Bundled Sage and Antique Linen distress ink, Prima flowers and Tim Holtz tissue tape...

I found the text on Pinterest...it was too funny to pass up.

 

Queen Bee

A bee hive fit for a Queen Bee!

The front page of the Maya Road Bee Hive book was covered with the Sassafras Lass patterned paper...and I distressed the edges with "Wild Honey" Distress Ink.I cut out the arched opening to show the inside of the hive. The hexagon shaped honey comb shapes were part of the book...these were covered with some of the patterned paper, distressed and blinged with Kaiser craft rhinestones.

The Prima flower looks like a piece of jewelry, with the pearl center and glittered edges. This album was held together with ball and chain that came in the package. I wasn't sure how that was going to work...most of the albums I have designed come with book rings. The ball and chain worked surprisingly well. I embellished with some ribbon...

and in a kind of juxtaposition, I used one of 7 Gypsies charms...with a BEE!

Gypsy Girl

The Kaisercraft "Lush" patterned paper on the third pages is not as WILD as the other ones I have used in the book...which of course called for a lot more embellishments! The decorative photo corners are transparent overlays from Tattered Angels...called "Glimmer Glass". These photo corners are from their "Regal" line.The Gypsy Girl (notice the suitcase she is carrying...you think she is running away from home, off on a big adventure?) is layered on top of some patterned paper and another piece of ephemera from 7 Gypsies.

Prima flowers are adhered near the page tab...and the clock was found in a corner of the Scrapbook Barn embellishment drawer.

Then again...maybe the Gypsy Girl is just going to the Laundromat.

Happiness

Don't you think everyone should have a huge birdcage hanging from the tower room of their house?
There wouldn't be much room for anything else...except maybe a picture.

This birdcage has been "blinged" with black Stickles and black Bazzill Basics jewels.

The "happiness" room in the house is a bit more understated...

a few layered Prima paper flowers with a single black jewel in the center.

The Secret is...

These are the first pages of the "Secret Garden" flower book...with some of the lovely Websters Pages patterned paper. I embellished with black Prima flowers and blue rhinestone centers.
The SECRET part of the book... it's interactive! When you pull up on the flower, a tag slides out. The Websters Pages journaling cards were 4x4 and 2x4...the smaller size worked well for the hidden journaling tag.

The "pockets" for the tags are coin envelopes...covered with a journaling card...and the envelope is adhered to the book.

Flowers, Thrift Store and Mother's Day

I have spent the last three day's designing flowers at a local florist for Mother's Day...
11 hours Thursday...
12 hours Friday...
and today...only 9 1/2 hours.
I know you are asking..."didn't she tell us way back in January that she was getting out of the floral business?" You're right... I did...I'm now what is officially called "holiday help". So I pull out the tool bag...sharpen my knife...and design.

I did finally come up with a glimmer of an idea for a Mother's Day card.
Scrapbook Barn got the new line of "October Afternoon" double sided patterned paper. It's called "Thrift Shop". The designs look like something you would find on a visit to a secondhand store. I used "Needs Paint" and "Complete Set" The vintage look went well with the old advertisement for aprons that I found on Flickr. I used the new Tim Holtz "Bundled Sage" distress ink...
some Ric-Rac and ruffled ribbon and some Prima flowers.

Have a wonder for Mother's Day!