We're fast heading toward the end of January but we've been so busy, it feels like we've barely been "home" much in our "home away from HOME",lol! We made a trip downstate to the Lake Arora Christian Camp (south of Orlando) where 2 sets of our Besties are currently serving. We toured the camp, the town, and the Florida Natural Store, freshly picked my own oranges (YUM!), got in a boat tour of Lake Arora, and shared some great meals and fun card games, before heading back up to our own TriState Christian Camp. The car, which previously had a bit of radiator trouble, did just fine once again, getting us safely down and back. We settled back in and had a few fun nights of food and fun games with all sides of our family, since all of them were traveling or had visitors staying with them since before Christmas. There's always something that needs doing, but the usual month of cold for the Florida Panhandle begins at the end of December and runs until the first of February. It was cold (20*F) for a few nights, but then; all of the US was facing cold and snow except LA and San Diego, so we snuggled up and waited it out. Not nearly as cold as it hit January of last year... so far. We had a chance to talk to all the Grandbabies on FaceTime, and let me just say; there is nothing like having your 6yo Grandson play sandcastle cars for you; 4yo Grandson sing songs for 30 mins to you, and your 4yo GrandDaughter on videos showing how she knows all the moves to all the song videos by heart, and watching your almost 18mo old GrandDaughter just making faces, being adorable, and giggling into the screen at you.....totally PRICELESS memories!!! The Kids keep us up to date with new news and this time; Brett took an offer made to him to be the Plant Manager of the Nuclear Facility next to the one he was working at. That makes him one of THE youngest to ever get that position, and it definitely puts him in a good spot for future work. I advocate they choose somewhere WARM, but they love the Northern areas... and all that...snow. Ugh! We're so proud of our Kids and thankful to The LORD.
For the week of this posting, we are spending time in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We've been all over the Eastern US, but never in this area before- we've always passed it by without staying. But this visit is special; we're here with all the other TriState Family for the Christian Camp Leaders Conference. And it's not just about learning more; it's also connecting with others doing the same kind of work for The LORD. It's fun, funny, and downright crazy at times! I'm enjoying myself doing all the pics and videos,
making it seem like "old times" working for the photo shoots. The drive up here from Florida was NOT all that fun; more than halfway up, the truck we were in began having tire problems (turned out it broke several lugnuts off and was swinging back and forth) and after a stop to find a garage to fix it, we rented another vehicle and drove on. Some miles onto the freeway, what turned out to be two cars, were stopped dead (with no brake lights, nor flashing lights), in the middle of the freeway's left lane- with several semitrucks in the right lane beside us. By the time any of us realize the vehicle was stopped- especially our friend driving- it was almost too late. His skill in getting us through the grassy median was nothing short of a true miracle! And later, wondering about that tire and the hour it took to find a place that would fix it, with more time to find a rental... if we had kept on and swerved, that loose front-passenger-sided tire would have flowm off. Yes; GOD does watch over us fools!
We've got a new theme starting with this post: Lyla here, kicking off 2 weeks of the latest
"Out of the Vault" dies from Sizzix! Linda Coughlin, owner of The Funkie Junkie Boutique, is getting out all the orders for these brand new Thinlits Dies by Designer Tim Holtz, and they're going like... well... like Tim Holtz's most-well-loved Bigz-Dies-turned-Thinlits-Dies go: FAST!!
I had a chance to not only play around with one of these cool newbies,
and I paired it up with another set from last year's January releases to make a ringed booklet
with fun elements of pockets, tuck spaces, and some vintage Tim Holtz Adornments.
Join me for a scroll and see how I created this booklet I.m calling "Time for Tea"!
Beginning with some Happy Mail: an order from The Funkie Junkie Boutique
that brought the TH Thinlits party to me!
My choices of paperie that are more like cardstocks- Tim Holtz's brand is a thicker, sturdier
type of paper/cardstock that would stand up on its own for the "pages" of this ringed booklet.
Backdrops are the "new" kind of stacks that have replaced the 12x12 stacks.
Here's a List of LINKS to help you find items like I used for this make:
(Hippity Hop will be used on a later project!)
I needed some kind of base for all of the elements and mixed media I wanted to use,
and it needed to be strong with a way to stay together.
I took a sheet of Backdrops and gave it 2 folds.
I didn't measure for this- I went only by what looked pleasing to my own eye.
Above; 2 different sets of folds on these 2 sheets.
When I was finsihed with all the folds on all 3 sheets, I opened them all back up to
decide where the top part would stay closed on each sheet.
This top part of these 2 sheets (above)
would be the connecting piece to keep each section together into one booklet.
Those cut areas were folded closed again and glued,
as shown by the top sheet.
Opening the new TH Vault Die; Pillow Box and Bag.
I always check to make sure all the pieces are there- this set only has 5 dies.
I have the TH Bigz L Pillow Die (Movers & Shapers) back home in Indiana
and I use it pretty often. But it's also a bit heavy to take your Bigz, Bigz L, and Bigz XL dies
on your travels. These Vault Thinlits are absolutely the answer to that!!
After looking at the Pillow die set, I remembered that I hadn't yet gottem to use
a TH set from LAST January... I had an idea!
I made 3 sets of cuts from the die sets shown above
(only 2 die pieces were used from the older set).
and dug up a few things like: a vintage TH Adornment set that was a gift
from a Bestie who came from Indiana to serve here at TriState last month,
and some die-cut reinforcers I keep in my stash, and my go-to-fave Distress Oxide.
I Distressed each set of cuts with Vintage Photo Oxide,
then used Glossy Accents to put that set together, then moved on to the next set.
Along the way: I scored and folded more pieces, cut and glued together pockets,
and made closures from leftover bits of "windows" from the die cuts
and some hemp string.
The pocket and tuck cards and all other ephemera needed some
"smooshing" in ink and spritzed water, then heat-dried.
While the die cuts were basically all the same; the way each booklet used
those cuts was different- that kept it from being repetitive,
yet creatively fun!
Here's the set of gifted TH Adornments- I did play around with them
before finally deciding how to use eahc piece.
I still have 3 leaves leftover for later use, too!
I was happy to find that I did bring down some of my TH Type Charms!
Spelling out the word TEA after using some Black Soot Crayon around each sticker.
More Distress Crayons colored other IdeaOlogy.
And just for the fun of it: some TH Tissue crumpled onto one die cut
and then Distressed with Oxides in Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso.
My first time using the Field Notes Collage Tissue!
I got out so much to choose from and I actually had to stop myself, lol!!
Here's the booklet: Time for Tea!
The fronts of the booklet.
Each "page" unfolds to tell a story... Enjoy!
Time for Tea is created with a TH clockface, TH Spinners, and older TH Type Charms.
An older TH Key is tied with a ribbon Linda adds in orders for Freebies!
Page 1: Welcome to the School for Young Ladies...
Tea served promptly at 4:00 pm.
Proper manners suiting a Lady's behavior are required.
Lessons are given on the origins of Tea and its consumption.
Long live a Princess...
...or TWO!
Young Ladies who have completed all courses and are ready to graduate to higher educations.
Welcome to the Garden. Tea is served mid-morning.
Hidden pocket with (Flashcards) intentional cards.
The neighbor children are happy to always be invited to play in the gardens
under the watchful eyes of Nanny.
Mr. is a bit gruff, but loves to show off his green thumb abilities and impart his
extensive knowledge of various flowers.
The Mrs is delighted to have guests!
Welcome to the Conservatory; tea served after musical performance
by the Children for their Nanny.
The children extend a formal invitation.
Waiting patiently - at your pleasure, of course!
How cute is this pocket?!
TH File Cards are ready-made to use; just cover or Distress Ink. Or do both!
Frontside of Pillow with Backsides of the Pages
The resulting Pillow Box has plenty of room in it for more than just these 2 teabags!
Having tea and enjoying the view of the Smokies from Gatlinburg, TN's Vista Park Hilton.
That's another wrap for this girl, but there's 2 more weeks of
makes coming from
amazing Design Team!
Be sure to pop in every few days so you don't miss anything!
Until next time...
Stay Safe (Especially in this cold/snowy weather!) &
HAPPY BLOGGING!!
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