The Funkie Junkie Boutique's Inspiration Ave; #10 We Love You, Mom... Mom's Lil' Notebook

   May Day is here as I type, and I'm back up in New York again, spending time with the younger two Grandbabies. The weather hasn't cooperated much with getting outside, but it's supposed to stop raining and warm up some. The ChiefHubby went back home to Indiana and reported in that it's the same weather there. He's hoping to check back into our "patch" after a surprising find of Indiana morel mushrooms- 107 of them to be exact- in only a 5-minute walk last week. I wasn't expecting to find anything yet, since it was still a bit dryer than usual for my finds. The dates were right, but it was too chilly out as well. But I decided to take a "fast 5-minute walk to just be sure". I got as far as the first 3 of those minutes when I spied a nice huge shroom. Always one to follow the adage of "there's always more if there's ONE"...I spied another... and another... and I nearly passed out when I took a good look all around me and found myself in the middle of a MOTHERLODE! That's only happened a hand full of times in my lifetime of shrooming, but when it has happened, it's quite exhilarating! I used to take HunniPi with me all the time, up to one point when she decided the morels were for peeing on. That was her last trip. I mean, thanks for helping find one, PuppiPi, but that's the line drawn for me. (I still miss her dearly.) I tried to get all of them into my arms as I plucked them up, but they were all so big (final measurements came to almost all 4-6 inches with the largest 2 being 7 1/2 inches each), I could only carry a few at a time. I certainly was not expecting to actually find one in the chill of the day, so I had nothing but an extra T-shirt to take off and pile them onto. I texted the ChiefHubby to round up Peanut and Princess (who were spending the afternoon with us) and come back to help me. Once they got within 20 feet of me, they were also finding a bunch themselves that I hadn't gotten to yet. Since we were leaving the next day for NY, there was no way for us to process so many of them, and we were able to share the bounty with some of our neighbors/friends close by, then took 3 prepped bags of them in salt water up to NY.

   

  May Day brings back memories from 1989 when I was working at a factory (as the youngest person there) and my water broke. It being my first baby, I really had no idea what was happening, but everyone was excited- except me. I was more frightened than anything else. I remember the ChiefHubby picking me up- having left work early himself that evening- and holding my hand on the way to the hospital the next city over. "Well, this is it- we're almost at the end," to which he replied "Nope; it's only BEGINNING," and so it was! Brian was born at 4:45am on that next day, Tuesday, May 2nd. He was a full month early- which was part of my fears the night before- at 6 lbs 15 oz & 19 inches long. Others may have kept comparing his tiny stature at birth to their normal-gestation-baby, but Brian caught up quickly. His size didn't have anyone picking on him all through school and by the time he was 17 with a 6 ft 1 inch frame (which is thwarted by the higher-raised measuring stick in the 
photo), he carried that 6 foot stuffed Mickey Mouse over his shoulder. The first kid is always the guinea pig who breaks in the Parents and then later breaks their hearts when he's the first to leave the nest. The nervousness of being a new Mom and new Dad gets worn away by that first baby. Brian was our big 'teddy bear' and was always great with younger kids than himself. Brett actually did the picking on his older brother- which brought a lot of fun with it... and a broken bed frame or two from jumping & tackling between 3 BIG kids: Brian, Brett, and DAD! I/m so very proud of the man Brian has become! He's fought his way and has achieved quite a lot more than most at his age. More than anything; he is Daddy to his 2 precious children who adore him! They had help from Mommy getting a cake and singing "Happy Birthday" to him over last weekend. The younger Grandbabies will have helped me sing "Happy 34th Birthday" to him via Facetime on Tuesday.

   Of course, I'm keeping up with my crafting while I am up here in New York again- even as busy as I am with the Grandbabies! And with both my Sons having had their birthdays within the past 3 weeks of each other (April 14th and May 2nd), it reminds me that I was "Mom" well before I was "Memaw". When my FurryBaby, Hunni Pi, passed a few weeks ago; I caught myself thinking that my "Mom" days were now over. But that's far from true; the real truth is that I will always be a Mom. Once a Mom; always a Mom! Our kids will always need us in some way; whether to advise them, help them in some way, to gather the family together, or just be there for them to know the comfort that we're still here. A Mom's work is never done when it comes to her Children- that love never ends! And since May is also the month for Mother's Day, Linda, owner of The Funkie Junkie Boutique, has a theme just for MOM this next two weeks on Inspiration Ave! We're crafting up a spring storm of inspirational makes based on "We Love You, Mom!", Scroll along with me and see what I came up with...

It began with some Happy Mail from The Funkie Junkie Boutique !

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the brand-new Tim Holtz Rotary 

Eileen Hull's Tiny Book Bigz Die was on clearance, and I got it at a great deal of a price!

These dies sold out quickly, but you'll find others, so

be sure to always check out the Clearance section at TFJB!

My main inside materials came in that Happy Mail:

all the brown wrapper paper!!

It's always great to recycle and reuse as much as possible. :)

I simply measured how wide the book shape was from the die,

and then cut stacks of about 10 layers until it was all cut basically the same shape and size.

Look how clean and easy that new TH Rotary Media Trimmer slices!

And I tried out matboard and other materials- just practicing with it.

All materials cut very nicely and evenly without moving around.

Once I had it all cut, I sewed stacks of 10 sheets together.

I cut the bases from matboard, but also had some thin, ribbed cardboard

that I always save from new pillowcases and sheet sets.

I cut a couple of those out, unsure of which would work best for these books.

Remember that "Let's Get Cozy" paper set from #3 Frozen Winter project?

Well, like I said then: this package of paper isn't just for winter...

that bunny quilting looked perfect for 2 of my books!

Here. I've cut out the outsides and insides of the cover bases.

I also cut buckles and some rounded discs and keys- not sure what all I would use- or not.

I simply started sewing all around the edges, and odd stitches here and there.

I also stopped to sew up several pairs of shorts and pants on the hemlines

for my ChiefHubby. I sewed SO MUCH...

I literally ran out of thread in one day!

All that was left was enough to fill one last bobbin.

I got out an old (Retired) Tim Holtz Bigz Die Sewing Room.

It had cute button and spool shapes.

I got kind of an assembly line going for the books themselves...

...when I decided to ditch the matboard and go with the ribbed cardboard.

To keep your spool flat: cut 2 spools and use only the middle of one.

After adhering the ends, use them to secure the thread,

wind it up the middle of the spool and secure to the other end.

The spool will lay flat on the top of the book.

I decided to glaze the button and one key.

The keys would make a cute bookmark on a ribbon through the spines.

It's time to sew the spines to the stacks.

Yes, I did retrim all the paper stacks. I left all the threads on,

as those would tuck under the covers.

I used a couple of firm clips to help me get those stitches in- as well as a pair of pliers!

Tying a couple of embellishment weights

(charms and IdeaOlogy) then adding the buckle to secure the ribbon.

Most of my ribbons are FREEBIE gifts that come with Happy Mail from TFJB!

Last is gluing all the covers in place and the embellishments.

Here's a list of helpful links for products used:

Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool + 2 Blending Foams

Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents

Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap 7"-Small

Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Black Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap 5"

(Retired) Tim Holtz Alterations Bigz Die Sewing Room (not available)

Eileen Hull Bigz Die Tiny Book (no longer available)

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Vintage Photo

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayons - Set #2

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glaze - Antique Linen

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments Hearts

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Backdrops Volume 4

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Dolls, Portraits

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Quote Chips, Labels

May PRE-ORDER Tonic Tim Holtz Rotary Media Trimmer

Graphic 45 - Let's Get Cozy - 8x8 Pad

Enameled Goldtone Flower Charms, Set of 5

Enameled Goldtone Flower Charms, Set of 5

                                           And these are what I ended up with:

For our older Daughter, Ashley.

For our younger Daughter, Holli.

For my Mother

The Backside of my own- as a Mom, too!

Closeup of stitching.

Closeup of inside bookmark key in my own Notebook,

The pages are crinkly and easily able to be torn out for use as scrap notes.

Backsides of all Notebooks.

Thanks, once again, for joining me for the start of our new theme,

"We Love You, Mom!"

Please, join along as each Design Team Member adds their own project to 

  Inspiration Ave. 

You're sure to find some new and exciting products sampled that will be stocked by

The Funkie Junkie Boutique

and be available for shipping in the coming days!

To all you MOMs out there:

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Until next time...

Happy Blogging!!

The Funkie Junikie Boutique Challenge #9 A Mother's Love... The Little Birdies!

    It's last minute again. But there's always good reasons why I run so late! (LOL) Actually, this time is not exactly a good reason; it's simply that Mother's Day is my very least favorite holiday/day out of the year. Coming from me- the ultimate Mrs. Mommy- that sounds strange, but I do have my reasons for the dislike, and while they're not really interesting enough to go into, suffice to say that I finally came up with an idea that I could not only live with, but it actually made new memories for me and it's one I hope I can keep doing. Not to put my late Mom-in-law down, because someone will read this and end up having a cow. Oh well; we hashed it out years ago, not long after it happened. After I finally became a Mom in 1989 (we'd been married for 5 years by then, remember, so it was a pretty big deal to me), the ChiefHubby and I always tried to make a point of making sure our Mothers heard from us on Mother's Day, or as close to it we could get. And after all the hoopla on that particular visit,  when things quieted down and it was just she and I out on the front porch for a minute. After some funny thing said, I mentioned that this was MY first Mother's Day as well. It came fast- before she could think about it, as she said later; "But you are not MY Mother." I wondered aloud what she meant and she answered that she didn't have to wish me a Happy Mother's Day, because I was not HER Mother. Now, part of me understands that now. But at the time, it hurt... a lot. Years later, we were able to talk that out, but it kind of added to my already-dampened joy of declaring one day out of the year "Mother's Day". Especially when REAL Moms do NOT have 'a day off' like paying jobs. Oh yeah; we don't get paid either. 
So when it came to be MY turn to be a Mother-In-Law, I was determined that I WON'T BE ONE AT ALL. I don't want to be an "In-Law" Mom, because I am just MOM. Of course, I have no intention of taking any place of my Girls' Moms!! In fact, I am so very HAPPY they have Moms- especially that their Moms and Dads are also a second set of parents for our 2 boys as well!! Besides, a girl still needs her Mom now and then, and her Daddy, too...and it'd be really nice to have mine, truth be known. He died 4 years ago today (April 28, 2016), and I miss him every day. He was my Step Father, who was not "Step" to me at all, and had to play the "I'll pay you to keep her" game with my ChiefHubby. Our kids were his Grandkids, and I miss being able to show him my own Grandbabies now. My three older Sisters are dealing with the same- having Grandbabies the same years as me.

    In any case- blood doesn't prove you are FAMILY. To be part of a family takes LOVE. So when A Mother's Love- The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #9 was announced, my thoughts started running this way right off. And that's what led to my memory of that conversation. I am determined that MY DAUGHTERS will know how important they are, & how important this day is to them as Moms, as well as to me: for the gifts of LOVE they have presented me with- first, by loving my Sons, and secondly by birthing such beautiful Grandbabies... and especially; for allowing us to ENJOY those babies!!
The younger Daughter up in Minnesota is having her first Mother's Day with their 6-months-old-that-very-week Baby, and the Older Daughter celebrates her 3rd with 2 Babies. How could you go wrong when you powerwash the house and the very next week find 2 birds with nests on the house's outer lamps?
  

                         I'll cut the chatter and show the matter...

Starting ideas came from the TH Stencil I've wanted for ages...Thanks, Amazon Man!

The oldest Grandson calls our UPS man (& probably all UPS men) "Amazon Man",

so we started saying "The Amazon Man left another package!", lol.

TH Paperie Memoranda is the PERFECT Spring go-to paper!

The Mat Board leftovers from a previous project made good filler for the main Tag's birdhouse.

After I got the idea stuck in my head, it got easier to imagine it taking shape.

I'm missing the TH Stencil Bricks.

Seeing all those bricks being crafted by Tim's new Bricks 3D Embosslit; 

add another "WANT!" to my list. I didn't notice one during my last shopping.

His stencil was the next best thing.

The TH 3D Embosser shown here is Lumber.

I used the Paper Studio Farm Stack again, and that stack is getting slimmer by the month.

I've got the green shades left. 

Here is where I did the sanding on the greyish Farm Stack paper, 

and some branch pieces from the TH Alterations Die Branch Tree (an oldie but goodie!)

 to start "stacking the wood to cover the main Tag's birdhouse, 

and make 'nesting' for the inside.

The Main Tag was planned to be mine, and is 3D and thick,

while the two other Tags would be flat.

I've been warned before not to add 'do-dads' to BOOKMARKS as gifts to my kids.

And believe me; all my kids -and now the Grandkids, too-  LOVE books.

So that's always a safe gift from me.

Stacking the cut and emboss-foldered wood onto the front.

I used Tape Glider to adhere the pieces together- 

but waited to add it to the front AFTER making a matching hole.

Doubling it like this just adds to the effect in details.

I even cut and stacked the thinner sides, since they were visible.

Making the hole again- by just tracing the first.

And using the new Crackle Stencil !!!

Yep, I knew it: I'm a fan!!

Not having any TH Distress Embossing Glaze yet,

I chose another out of my stash for the two Bookmarks- a Glossy White.

So NOW you see why I didn't have the TH Bricks Stencil in the photo above;

it hit me over the head that I DID have some TH Distress Embossing POWDER,

(in Antique Linen- one of my FAVE go-to colors)

and the fact that the stuff does make a really nice bricking...

I couldn't resist.

Er….my MUSE couldn't resist. lol

Heating the now dried TH Distress Embossing Powder.

I did cut a firmer inside set of pieces...from the Amazon Man's boxes.

Here's the laugh of the day: this trash is definitely related with Mother's Day...

I had to order my feminine hygiene items online.

How embarrassing! Yet, fitting in some honorable way, for this.

My first time at using the TH Distress Crayon technique to colorize the TH Paper Dolls.

(Thanks to Paula Cheney for her helpful videos that help Tim out!)

An older Sizzix Strip Die was perfect for the lettering on the Girls' Tags.

And here's another 'RUN-DON'T-WALK-TO-ORDER-THIS-STUFF!'

because that TH Fabric Tape is the bees knees !!!!

It's strong, it's sturdy, and it's tape the way tape should be!!

And since one of the rolls looks like the TH Memoranda Paper... :)

I chose to use this as I would my TH Tissue Tape; fold it in half to itself for my ribbon.

The trick is: pull out just over HALF of the tape cover, clipping off most of it but leaving

just a bit for your fingers to hold onto for pulling.

Then using the rest of your fingers on that same hand- gently lay down the tape to

its other half as you glide the tape protector cover off.

I practiced on one after I opened up the tape and found it to be

EXTREMELY GOOD TAPE!

My RA hands did much better using only half of the tape opened at a time

instead of the whole thing at once.

And then...you know me... I hadda get it personal and up close.

So off to my computer I went for the latest, cutest pics of my 

BEAUTIFUL GRANDBABIES...

and turn them into GrandDolls!

Making the crops, then copying a mirrored set of each

(the 2 older babies were taken together, so I made 2 sets extra since they overlap

a bit in the photo),

and save these for another day- and another thing for their "Time Boxes".

A little fussy cutting, a little Glider Tape...

and some awesome TH Transparent Wings!

And here's the Happy Mother's Day results...

Yes; the GrandDolls do come out of the pocket/birdholes !

They'll get a kick out of it...some day.

I just HAD to add the GrandDolls to my Tag- so they could see how I matched them up.

Does any other Mom/Grandma out there "see" a child as what they will look like or

be like when they are older??

With my own 2 boys, it helped me guide them to what I just knew they could do.

I tried my very best to always follow that 'sight' I had of them- even as babies.

And now; as Memaw, I'm just THERE. 

I'm not Mom to these babies. But I can still help my own kids be the best

Parents they can be. Although...none of them seem to need any of our help

because all four of them are AWESOME PARENTS & my heart bursts with LOVE!

The Backsides.

Actually, the flowers of mine were supposed to be on the front.

Embracing your adhering mistakes means that sometimes the "mistake" knows 

a better look than you did... I LOVE IT!!

(Pardon my PopDots- Little Girly, pull your dress hem down!)

                                          Some closeup pics:

Check out the BRICKS...

And all that yummy TH IdeaOlogy !!

Here's the "LOVE" on the main Tag.

The TH Fabric Tape

More IdeaOlogy!

The "LOVE" on this 'peeling white paint' is so adorable to me.

Oh. Wait...that must be that BABY I am staring at! ;)

Here's the double-sided of Peanut- just to show they are double-sided.

At the very last minute...I decided to add the date of Mother's Day- May 10, 2020

to all the Tags with Black Perm Archival Ink.

Wrapped and ready... for the stack of gifts to go out!!

Right now- our county is on total lockdown.

So when things are better...

I wish to THANK YOU all for the comments and for checking in to my Blog!!

I'm hoping to not be so late ALL the time, but....

the woods are calling me!

But YOU can join in with us next time, at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog

and perhaps win a $25 GC from our Sponsor; The Funkie Junkie Boutique !

If only they'd be as LARGE as past years. But, it's just begun!

I have a lot of time to think while I am out there, and my thoughts go from

missing my Dad- I always took him some when he couldn't go out to find his own-

to the fact that Cass County, Indiana- (home to the Chief and I) is right now 

the WORST in the country with  COvid19.

I've been home since March 1st without going out, and it's weird to say the least.

My heart breaks during this time, and all I can do is KEEP PRAYING,

and KEEP TRUSTING THE LORD.

Until next time...

Stay Safe, Stay HOME, & Stay Connected!

HAPPY BLOGGING!!