Jingle Bells and Reindeer

Hello again!  I had a wonderful time hosting friends yesterday for an afternoon of fun. We talked, laughed, ate strawberry topped cake (yum!), and of course made a card or two.  It's been chilly here (yep, late July and in the 60s!) so we created a sweet Christmas greeting.  I crocheted roses for everyone from a silver thread ... I love "hooking" this flower pattern and in silver it's especially gorgeous.  Browns and blues added warmth while some shiny silver paper and a dash of glitter on the reindeer made everything sparkle.  A perfect card for the Holidays.

Good night!
 

Is it Christmas yet?

I just can't seem to get enough of the Christmas spirit this year!  I'm digging through all of my supplies looking for anything that celebrates the season.  Finding stamps I haven't used in ages, a jar full of bells (where did they come from?),  sparkly rhinestones and glittery papers.  I know it's weeks away but my family celebrates early so I am already in the mood for warm fires, Christmas carols, wraps and bows.  Here are a couple of festive projects that I hope put you in the Christmas spirit too!

I'm working on a crocheted Christmas tree that I hope turns out as planned.  If it does, I'll be using it soon and will be sure to point it out in my posting.  "50 Pineapple Crochet Motifs" is a fabulous book full of patterns perfect for small projects such as these!  Enjoy your day and thanks for visiting!

Home again ...

It's good to be home.  An extended vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains was heavenly.  What a gorgeous area of our country.   I certainly can see us retiring there someday.  Our days were filled with hikes up the mountains and visits to the local waterfalls.  A trip to the Biltmore House (I made them go) and white-water rafting (they made me go) were both fabulous too.  But ... it's good to be home.

Here's a sweet bird inspired card in shades of green made just for you.  I layered some crocheted flowers and topped them with a felt flower ... all stitched together with embroidery floss.  Papers from my scrap drawer coordinated nicely with the felt, dyed seam binding and velvety leaves.

You may recognize the tag sentiment from an earlier post using Tea Shoppe.  My little bird image is from a set called Papaya Collage.  Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with me ...

Reunions

A wonderful family reunion filled our hours today.  It's always so good to see my brothers again - wishing all of them could have been there.  Cousins I had not spoken to in years ... the miles separate us and each with our lives filled with "busy".  Catching up with dear sweet Aunts that I have such beautiful memories of.  What a blessing to just sit and relax.  I didn't once think about all the things on my "to do" list.  No worries about "got to get groceries" or "there's a pile of laundry at home" or "I need to work on that presentation due Monday".  No ... not today.  Today was spent listening when my Aunt talked about her grown children fondly remembering them at ages 6 and 8.  Today was spent listening to my cousin tell me about fishing and swimming with my brothers years before I was born.  Today was spent hearing about my Dad and being reminded how wonderful he was.  Today was spent counting my blessings.

I have a sweet ballerina card to share with you ... custom made for a dear friend.  I just love this crocheted heart pattern.  It's the perfect size.  A cute crocheted flower with button helps to break up to amount of pink.  One of my paper flowers (this one with a pearl center) works well with velvet leaves and dyed seam binding.  Two stamped and fussy cut frames are part of my shabby layers.  The smaller frame is from Forever Young and the larger frame beneath it all is from Papaya Collage.  I also used the polka dot stamp from Four Frames ... love it!  And super easy to cut with the Decorative Label Punch.

It's been a good day and I hope you enjoyed yours.  Thank you for stopping by and spending some time with me!

Tea Time

My husband turned 50 and we wanted to do something special but stay local.  A trip to the Grand Hotel was perfect.  We were lucky enough to be there for the 125th year anniversary!  There were fireworks, events on the gorgeous front porch of the hotel, and dinner with Michigan governors both past and present!  Our room was wonderful and I adored the happy yellow and green decor.  It's amazing to realize that each room is decorated differently.  The food was incredible - especially the desserts ... I'm sure I gained 5 pounds.  And during some of our meals, the plates came with beautiful paper doilies!  Of course, I tried to be inconspicuous as I slipped them into my lap before they got soiled but the waiter saw me.  Curiosity got the better of him and he had to ask.  To make a long story short, I walked out with a small stack of these beauties and big smile on my face!  And the gardens ... oh, the gardens!  I've been to Mackinac Island a few times when I was a child and I loved visiting again with my family who had never been.  To see it with my children brought back all the lovely memories of walking those same streets with my mom and dad.  The charm of the horse drawn carriages and warm welcoming feel of the island everywhere you go.  What a wonderful place to share and I'd recommend a visit if you are ever in the northern part of Michigan.  I've included a couple photos at the end of this post.

Although we've been very busy this month (my dear daughter celebrated a birthday too and our son spent a week at Boy Scout camp), I did create a few projects for my ETSY and to share with you.

Donna requested a couple beauties for ladies celebrating upcoming birthdays.  I think they're sweet. Pink always needs a crown and I included one of my crocheted roses to compliment the blue bird.  Yep, there's one of my Mackinac Island doilies!

I have fallen in love recently with tea kettles and tea cups.  I just can't seem to get enough!  You'll see two new stamp sets featured on these next ETSY listings.  Here is the stamp set From My Heart.  See the adorable tea kettle?  Tea and papers from Polka Dot Parade make a perfect combination.

Next I pulled out another new favorite - a set called Tea Shoppe.  LOVE the sentiment, don't you?  I layered cut felt and one of my pink crocheted flowers to create a new embellishment.  A few stitches of embroidery floss and a button finished the look.  I think it's sweet.

I'm looking forward to my next trip here ....

I have some bits and bobs laid out on my craft table, sorted by color and various textures ... so I'll be back soon with more to share.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Tags ...

Hello again.  Today was filled with a gathering of crafty friends.  Although we all work on duplicating the sample project, each turns out unique.  Something happens in the process as each of us stamp, cut, layer and assemble.  A bit of us seems to become a part of what we do ... making each project different from the other.  I think that's wonderful, don't you?  We get together once a month and I always enjoy their company ... I do wish all of you could come and join in the fun.

I have a couple delights to share with you today.  What could be happier than blue and yellow?  Yes, that's right ... blue and yellow polka dots!  Layered with a glitter house, button, and a bit of crochet (of course).  

While on vacation in sunny California years ago, my daughter wanted a day trip planned to visit Hollywood.  Never having been there, I admit I was curious to see some of the sights.  By the end of the day we found ourselves walking Rodeo Drive ... then somehow we were in Juicy Couture ... then, as if by magic, there appeared the cutest pair of pajama's in my hands ... exactly my daughter's size.  She was thrilled and so was I.  She got the pajama's and I got the tags!  Without a doubt the most expensive embellishment I have ever used is the tag from those pajama's - see it under the heart!?  I added a crown, a painted pink and glittered frame, a shabby pink crinkly bow along with my own crocheted doily and flower.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Welcome Summer ...

Summer is off to a fast and fun start!  In our first week out of school we've already squeezed in a vacation full of hiking, canoeing, birding, and so much more.  It's wonderful to have the kids home ... it makes for some hectic days but I wouldn't want it any other way.  I'm cherishing every moment because I know it won't last long.  I hope your summer is going great too!

I have some exciting news to share ... you can find my embellished wood houses in the current issue of Simply Handmade Decor Magazine!  I'm over the moon thrilled to be published.  It's a first for me and I feel like I've won a big prize!  This magazine and other Simply Handmade publications are filled with fabulous ideas.  If you want to try this fun project for yourself, there are sets of wood house forms in my ETSY shop.

Here are a couple cards and crocheted projects to share with you today.

The crocheted piece along the bottom of this card is absolutely gorgeous.  It almost hesitated to cover it up but it's just as sweet peeking out from under layers of shabby goodness.  I found the pattern in a book and had to try it. I'm sure you'll see more of these lacy appliqués on future posts.  The papers are from my scrap drawer, the pear is chipboard as is the frame ... painted and distressed.  You'll find our stamp set Four Frames on both of today's cards.

I ADORE our new polka dot printed papers!  Each package of Polka Dot Parade includes 2 sheets of 6 colors ... Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Rich Razzleberry.  I paired Real Red with a simple check above and layered on a stamped frame image, chipboard butterfly, and other shapes including an old sewing machine.  The flower is created from an old sewing pattern from my dear mom - topped with a crocheted flower and bright red button.  The fringe is white and red crepe paper - LOVE IT!

Before I go I want to point out that our new catalog is available and filled with loads of goodies and inspiration.  Check it out - there's a link on the left.  I hope you enjoyed your visit ... thanks for stopping by!

School's out!

I can't tell you how happy I am that school is out for the summer!  While all the activities, performances and celebrations are fabulous and I couldn't be a prouder momma ... I am looking forward to quiet days spent with the kids at home.  We have trips, camps, volleyball, birding, and so much more fun things planned.  Hopefully some hours spent playing with papers and crocheting too.

Here's a little something to share with you - made for a special friend.  I'm having such fun making the crepe paper fringe that you may be seeing it for a while.  The crocheted flower is a new "made-up" pattern that I adore ... then of course I cover it with a stamped postage image.  I don't mind, layering makes the finished product all the more shabby.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits and hope to have more to share soon!

I'm Here For You ...

Hello again!  Another volleyball tournament is behind us and another busy week lies ahead.  This is one mother that's anxious for summer!  Our daughter is graduating 8th grade so our calendar is full with activities planned in the coming weeks.  What a wonderful time for her to celebrate achievements and friendships made as she prepares for the next four years.  High school will bring new relationships and challenges ... I'm so proud and am looking forward to watching her continue to bloom.  Wishing I could be there by her side for every moment but knowing that there is much more for her to discover on her own.  How do you ever let go?

Although I have much to improve upon with my photography skills (hopefully you'll see a difference in the coming posts - it's a new goal of mine), here's a little something new to share with you today.  I made use of some retired background paper and added a stamped image from the Apothecary Art stamp set.  The coordinating Framelits Dies make it even easier to use this beautiful set.

A piece of chipboard painted a soft shade of yellow is the perfect spot to feature my crocheted flower.  I have so many new crocheted bits and pieces to share with you ... all made while enjoying my spectator seat at the volleyball weekends.  This one is embellished with buttons and a "stamped stamp" image (snicker ... "stamped stamp" ... giggle).  My bow is died seam binding dressed up with decorative pins, a tag from Petite Pairs, and a sweet yellow flower.

I hope you enjoyed stopping by today ... I always appreciate the time you spend here with me!

Pink petals

Hello friends and happy February!  Sifting through my papers, which are in desperate need of organization, I happen across a beautiful package of prints sent to me from Kirsty.  She's a wonderful artist, a kind soul, and heads up the Design Team over at The City Crafter.  A print of soft roses leapt into my hands as did a pink paper rose I've squirreled away for I don't know how long.  Too precious to use but yet never getting the admiration it so deserves.  So I decided to put the two together.  Unfortunately my precious rose was waaaay too big for this project ... so, I did what any one of us would - I tore it apart.  Yep, dis-assembled it piece by piece.  Now I have lots of rose petals to play with and I couldn't be happier!

My crocheted rose is nested into a twist of shabby fabric and layered on top of some precious pink petals.  I tucked a velvet leaf or two underneath and embellished it with hand dyed yellow seam binding.  A couple decorative pins peek out from behind the many loops.  The doily was created with Sizzlits Paper Doily Die and brushed with ink.

A simple tag, some string, and a few buttons convey a heartfelt message - one that can serve any occasion but speaks volumes with the love that created this card.

If you have any questions about Sale-A-Bration, just click on the link to the left to learn more.  Ask if you have any questions and thank you for stopping by today!

Autumn days ...

I'm so glad to be back with you today, my friends.  Have you been celebrating the Autumn season?  I do hope so.  The air was cool and crisp the other night which made the bon-fire and hayride (hosted by our school) all the more enjoyable.  Our costumes are nearly complete and ready for all the Halloween festivities this weekend.  Yes, life has been hectic - I admit it was a relief to have a day to relax, unwind, and create in my craft room.

I adore these crocheted roses ... making them and using them!  So delicate and lacy, they are the perfect embellishment for a romantic look.  Using a different hook and yarn, makes this flower just the right size.  I wanted this lovely bloom to be my focal point so I used a "light hand" adding just a touch of color.

The seam binding is dyed to a soft shade of yellow and is tied in shabby loops.  Velvet leaves and decorative pins add warm hues of purple and artichoke.  You can see the greens tucked behind the rose.  My tag sweetly says "hello" with a stamp from Pennant Parade and a crown background from Artistic Etchings.  Lace and buttons complete the look.

The colors were inspired by this gorgeous collection of photos posted at Play Date Cafe.  They are celebrating their 2nd Anniversary this week.  Congratulations ladies - here's to many fabulous years to come!  Be sure to pay them a visit ... there are always wonderful projects on display from the super talented Design Team there.

It was so nice of you to stop by today ... thanks for visiting!

Just playing ...

Stopping in for a moment today to share some fun ideas.  With the temperatures getting cooler, I find comfort in getting out my hooks and yarns.  Something about this time of the year has me yearning for traditional crafts learned from my mother.  She would sew mostly, but took the time to teach me to crochet and knit.  A life long love that I now pass on to my daughter.

I've been playing with organic cottons.  These make wonderful washcloths.  So soft ... I love them!

Another set made in pastel shades which went to my friend Cheryl and of course my daughter has some too.  They are such a sweet addition to the bath.

And roses in vanilla and white.  These are small - about 1.5 inches across.  Duplicates of the rose used on my previous post.  I think a larger rose would look wonderful taking center stage on a project, don't you? (I'll have to give that try.)

Thanks for stopping by ... I enjoy your visits and hope that you do too.