Here's hoping this posting finds you've been safe from all the storms- and tornados- that have been tearing through the States these past weeks! While we heard a tornado hit close to our Florida hometown, none (so far) have ripped through here, thankfully. I've been kept busy picking up the branches that keep breaking off of all the trees that surround us out here, and it's kept us from having the time to open the pool- until this past Monday, finally! You'd think I'd have lost weight with all the running back and forth I do. :( Shrooming ended here and went north, as it always does, without anything overly large found. No big "motherlode" this year, but I found a good number of them for both eating right away and freezing so the younger set of kids can have some when they come down next month for all the Family Reunions. The flowers finally were found, purchased, and planted.... around midnight by flashlight by the time I was finishing the job. I cannot leave things undone- it's the bane of my slow existence. I wasn't aware of the Northern Lights showing up all the way down to our backyard; I was so concentrated on the planting/mulching job that I didn't even look up at the stars. So, I was happily surprised to find it was only the first night of two when the Northern Lights could be seen. What a treat to cross off my BucketList: doubly so because it was from my own backyard! The next day was Mother's Day on Sunday, and getting to hear from all my Kids just melts my heart! The older ones brought my fave stuffed crust pizza and Turtles chocolates out after Church, then we ended up taking the older 2 Grandbabies down to the Lake to fish. I was re-baiting my hook when Princess Chloe tapped on my back and swung her pole around to show a good-sized Bluegill on her hook! Just one second later, Peanut lifts his up- with another Bluegill on his line: entirely both done one their own! After 3 for Peanut and 2 for Chloe, they were both hooked, too... on fishing! We went down to look for crawdads below the dam, but they had more interest in hooking more of the baby Large Mouth Bass that grow up in there. This was their first time actually doing their own real fishing and it will take time for the younger 2 Grandbabies to get that old and want to try also. While down there, I got photos from the younger Kids up in New York; they were taking Little Pecan and Princess Rose to the Ice Show in Syracuse. From the look on Jamie's face, I can tell he was having fun! We'll see in a bit how Jude did with it; she's an easy-going baby who loves to laugh. But she's still just little yet! My Grandbabies are all four getting big now: Cole went on his first "big" school trip to the Indy Zoo, and I got a good laugh when they told me "He found out other Moms could go and now I'm gonna hafta go on the next one" since he was calling out his "Rents" for not going, lol!! I pretty much went on every single trip my boys ever took. Brett had to have a breathing machine for most of those years, so it was required. For Brian's class, most of his mate's parents either worked full time or were Teachers that had to stay behind for other classes. I ended up with a LOT of kids and getting to know them on those trips... and sports... and Scouts... and Church.... and being a Mom at home where they could come over anytime. I only miss it when I think of the FUN times- not keeping up physically now that I am getting older!
I'm starting you off with an early idea you can put together for those weddings and anniversary celebrations that will likely come your way in these next weeks. Linda Coughlin, Owner of The Funkie Junkie Boutique set out to challenge her Design Team by asking us to use one of Tim Holtz's new Stencils from Stampers Anonymous to bring out some "STENCIL SENSATIONS"! I've gone a bit further with a few other new TH products and included some cute elements for these two Mini Books from Eileen Hull's newest Bigz Die.
Come join the celebration: do a little dancing along with me to see what I've done...
Firstly, let's talk shop! Namely: shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique! ;)
I scored quite a few items I've wanted for a long time, and also caught a few new ones.
But I actually SAVED a TON of $$ it would cost anywhere else.
So, RUN & get yours while they last! The list is HUUUUUGE!
Here's what I planned on using for STENCIL SENSATION.
Secondly: That handy List of LINKS:
I began by die cutting some basic cardstock for the extra middle layer (for stiffness) in the cover,
as well as for the pages of the book.
I used some TH Memoranda (older stack) Cardstock for the outside of the cover.
Cover cuts: 2 Memoranda Cardstock
1 Basic Cardstock
Inside Pages: 2 Cuts of Basic Cardstock for each Page (Front and Back with Ribbon in middle).
I added some Distress Oxide in Vintage Photo to all the edges and creases of the cardstock cuts.
And used the same DO Vintage Photo with some DO Antique Linen with my TH water Spritzer
onto the Glass Media Mat to smoosh TWO long (rayon or single seam binding) ribbons into.
I crushed up both ribbons and held them into tightly wadded balls with my tweezers
while I heat dried them, so they would both crinkle up and stay that way.
Here, I am forming the Mini Book's cover
by adhering one ribbon with its halfway mark between the BACK(OUTSIDE) LAYER
and the MIDDLE LAYER of the cover. This will be the books enclosure tie.
Next, I adhered one end of the other ribbon in between the MIDDLE LAYER and
the FRONT (INSIDE) LAYER. This will be the ribbon that unfurls with pages glued onto it.
Above, you can see this book will have 2 pages in it.
I wanted to try to make each book a bit different, so one book has 2 pages and the other has 3.
I die cut 2 of the Doilies to use for the outside covers,
and hoped to put in some frame cuts but the frame was just a bit too wide.
I took one extra die cut and made them half-sheet pockets.
TIP: I always use a Sharpie Permanent Marker and color HARD onto
the bottom numbers, then wipe off the excess with a tissue.
This makes it easier for me to store them in order, as well as check off Inventory on Tim's app.
For the very first Stencils (that didn't have these indented numbers), the Permie Maker
stays up at the top with the number from the TH Inventory List.
It was a bit tricky to get the Stencil to fit in where I wanted it, but it was doable since the
design was the same all over it.
I did get a bit antsy and heat-dried the Paste to get it going faster...
...in the meantime, I worked on the flowers for the front of the covers.
After chopping down the original Iris to a smaller version, I came up with a way to add all
the colors Larry and Cathy used for their wedding on Saturday; May 11th.
A little Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide went a long way to brighten up the page!
I inked the edges of each ChitChat Word with DO Antique Linen and pasted it onto each Flower's note.
Here's "Wedding to Anniversary"...
Closeup of the TH Deco Feather Stencil- as used with TH Ranger Transparent Crackle Paste.
Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide helps give it some "pop" without adding too much blue.
The TH Stamp Set, Forgotten Garden, had just the perfect stamp for these Mini Books!
Packaged up with my signature Gift Tags.
A Wedding is the start of a new life and
an Anniversary is the continued celebration of that new life together.
My hope for both these sets of our Family
will enjoy the blessings of many more years to come!
As for YOU, my readers; I send out my heartfelt THANKS!
for scrolling down through these celebrations along with me-
sharing such happy, and creative, events of life!
Remember that the rest of the fabulous TFJB Design Team will be posting their take on
every few days. Pop back in often; you won't want to miss even one!
Stop by The Funkie Junkie Boutique
and check out all the BRAND NEW PRODUCTS... as well as the CLEARANCE!
The HUGE $AVING$ are waiting on you... but not for long!
Until next time...
Stay Safe &
HAPPY BLOGGING!!
