The Funkie Junckie Boutique Challenge #11 Tickled Pink / Mini AlbumMakers Challenge June...Strawberry Fields Forever- in a Book!

    Finally JUNE...the reopening of places and businesses is going on, but things are still pretty 'new normal' for me here at home. After making a 1st trip out to a store to shop (the ChiefHubby along with) and pick up things myself for once, turns out that may be just that- one time. Since I'm starting back again with the 2nd immunosuppressant (a type of chemo) weekly, one of my 3 Doctors said to just keep 'laying low' for a while yet. That's not news that had me dancing for joy. I miss being in church physically & miss seeing my friends, but on the other hand, I've been able to see them in smaller groups of us together- camping & fishing. And while being in church & worshipping together can be very uplifting, most people don't realize how ALONE a deaf person is- especially in a crowd. Even my own ChiefHubby forgets now & then how much is being said amongst everyone that just passes me by; reading lips in a crowd of people talking can be just as draining as trying to follow one person talking animatedly. Our Preacher always puts his sermons to text and emails them to those who ask -as well as putting them online for anyone to read- and that helps me more than anything else. So that's why being at home and seeing the service taped and online has actually been more beneficial to me- the service is CLOSED CAPTIONED!! After both Ministers tweaked the entire process, I have been their No.1 Fan over it! Now, don't get me wrong, here...nothing takes the place of being together with the Besties and the people you have come to love as Family. But during the recent months, it has been a HUGE BLESSING for this deaf girl! I can't imagine how tired a person could get always doing ASL. I did try ASL, but reading lips came so easily to me that my then-counselor and doctors chose to help me keep on this route. Hearing aids are no longer any help at all. I have been the entire road since I was 15 years old- including Cleveland Clinic and Nashville. But being deaf is not much of a problem anymore...it's just a by-product of a disease that is the root of the problems. And all those resulting problems are the reason I have to "lay low" during these times. You see, what most don't understand is the fact that I CAN go out, and I am NOT "afraid of COVID-19"; it's what happens if I get it- the pain is going to be just MORE of what I already LIVE WITH DAILY. More to the point also; I won't get to be with any of my 3 precious Grandbabies. All my life, I have believed that GOD has His reasons for everything, even in all the ills and pain. And I will continue to just pray and ask for HIS guidance in this entire matter, and go with whatever He leads.

        THANKS for the listen! 

           Now...let's get down to the reason for this project This is another one of those "had this in mind for awhile now" makes. It all began with thoughts of my Maternal Grandmother, whose middle name I inherited. Isabelle Louise (Dowdy) Raymer did not have it as easy in her adult life as she did in her childhood. She was doted on by her Mother, and was quite the dish, as you can see from her HS photo above. The story shortened is really about strawberries. My earliest memories are of being on "The Farm" with my Grandparents, and while they'd moved several times after 'flipping' each home to extremely nice places (Grandpa Odus Gordon Raymer was a carpenter, machinist, farmer, and antique car restorer/owner...a real life do-it-all-yourself-er), they said they never really had 'loads of money', but both said they always had everything they needed- and most things they wanted as well. My own faith in The LORD came from early lessons via both of them; both at church as well as in seeing their example to others. Grandpa and Grandma Raymer were very generous, helpful, practical, and downright smart, as well as very wise. They'd lost their first child/only son to drowning in their own flooded basement. I believe it was a tragedy that was never far from Grandma's mind- as well as his death being on Grandpa's birthday. He was just 2 months shy of 3 years in 1943. (They did already have my Mother- a newborn, and another daughter 10 years after her). I always believe that was the reason Grandma could cry at the drop of a hat- but she REALLY felt that sad at that moment, and I also believe that is where my own deep feelings come from- as well as shared eye and hair coloring, and that passed on to both my own sons, with Baby Jamie getting the shade of blue we have. I actually spent so many weekends and the days before school with them on the Farm, that it felt more like I lived there. Once they moved into town again, I made just as much time at their house/workshop/gardens during the school year as before. The bonus Grandma always had was Grandpa being talented in carpentry & able to make Grandma's home however she wanted it designed.  I'd heard many times over how Grandma's Mother had "the most beautiful wallpaper" in her kitchen, and how it was a perfect pinkish shade with strawberries all over. Grandma bragged many times on that strawberry kitchen: "Our Postman always told my Mother that she had the prettiest kitchen in Logansport!", even while Grandma herself had the most personalized, beautifully carpentered, professional quality kitchen herself...complete with as close as possible to replica wallpaper as she could find!

When we got married in 1984, the ChiefHubby and I had to fill out gift registries for both bridal showers and the wedding itself, and colors/designs had to be chosen. His favorite color was red and mine was pink- the colors of our wedding. We still have the same fave colors, and I still keep the same theme to the kitchen. You guessed it: strawberries! Blame it on Grandma Raymer!! At that very time, there was a grocery chain that had a set of dishes you could collect and, of course, since they were all strawberries, Grandma and I had fun buying each other parts of the set. So each of us had the full set because she finished hers and ChiefHubby's Mom helped round out ours. I still have my full set and those precious memories while I watched Grandma pass on to Heaven back in 2003 just before her birthday in January. Over the years, Besties and family have added pieces to my kitchen that round out the look and give me more nice memories of each person.

          I had a slightly dysfunctional childhood. I grew up the youngest of 10 kids, but actually have 14 siblings with 1 younger than myself by three years, whom I never got to meet until 1994. Not one of these siblings have both the same Mother and Father as myself. 5 of us are my (biological) Father's. 8 of us are my Dad's with 6 being born to him and 2 of us as Stepchildren. 5 of us are born of my Mother, but only 2 share the same father. My (bio) Father was actually 2 years older than my (maternal) Grandma and Grandpa Raymer. Quite frankly; being deaf is EASY compared to keeping all that straight! LOL!! But; the younger Sister grew up to be a kindred spirit of mine, and we often joke about "Great minds think alike!" because we often think or feel the same way even miles and time apart. She looks so much like our Mother and Grandma Raymer- more than any of us 5- and has many of the same mannerisms ….growing up adopted totally away from any of us. We did figure out that she and I accidentally ended up at the same school together and the Nurse (who was a cousin in our family) saw us playing together on the playground. She was moved to another nearby school, and we never saw each other again until she found our Mother in 1994.

           And....she had a STRAWBERRY KITCHEN. *mic drop*

                                           Now comes the Challenges: The Funkie Junkie's "Tickled Pink" 

                                                 

                                                      and the (anything goes) JUNE Mini Album Makers

         

            

I knew ahead of time that I'd need a bit of space in this book, so I again

chose Eileen Hull's Pocket Notebook die. I just ADORE this die!!

PINK is the requirement for The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #11 "Tickled Pink"

and I had lotsa PINK!

That's when I found out that I could make BOTH books be PERFECT:

Mine would be PINK, and my Sister's would be LAVENDER (with some pink)

which she shares as a favorite color as our Grandma Raymer!!

I started out separating the chosen outside sheets from the ones to go inside.

Then cut the inside choices in half and divided each half to a book.

These papers were all 8 & 1/2 x 11 inches.

Then I started stamping each page with some red-rubber strawberry stamps- 

in TH's Distress Archival Ink, using the Ground Espresso...just for the caffeine lift...lol

I also found enough leftovers in a K&Company stack

to make some nice little additions inside both books that would complement all the pink.

All this put together really had me excited to make these!

Using the only two matching full sheets from the wallpapers stack (above)

I simply folded and cut until I had a 3-in-1 pocket and folder type of piece.

I like playing around with paper just to see what I can come up with,

and some of my best ideas come about in this manner.

Both books' covers/spines were assembled in the same manner as my last post,

but I must have forgotten to take a photo while I did this step.

You can rehash a visual HERE (scroll down to the middle photos) .

Shown here: some tags for the pockets and more of Tim Holtz Stitched Pockets Die cuts-

all sanded for some distress and just a tiny touch of my favorite TH Distress Oxide Ink

Vintage Photo.

I sanded both books' covers and spines, burnishing the edges as well.

Adding in a stack of notebook paper (all my recently posted books have this paper as well),

to the folded pieces and the pink stamped stack; each book was pretty full and I 

was ready to sew the signatures into the covers and work on just the outsides.

I'd saved these during all those loooooong shut in days from the tons of fresh fruit

brought in by my wonderful ChiefHubby.

These labels looked soooo cute!! I sanitizer-wiped them and stuck them to plain white

cardstock, then fussy cut and lightly inked the edges. Instant vintage STRAWBERRY labels!

I even broke out the much hoarded TH Crinkle Ribbon for the perfect touch on the tag pieces.

PUUUULEEEEEEEASE, Tim...manufacture MORE!!!

I texted my Lil Sister earlier this Spring with a pic of the couple on the left

because the wife resembles her.

But it's the kind of dress our Grandma might have worn- in LAVENDER or PINK.

TH Distress Crayons came in on the fun here.

And the set of girls?

They could be either of 2 sets of people...

My Grandma as a girl in the pink and me in the lavender-

 just like the lavender chair I was sitting in for a photo as a baby, 

OR...

myself in the pink with my Little Sister, Debbie, in the lavender.

Again, I got out the TH Alcohol Inks and changed the shades of the mechanical pencils

to match with each book. Alcohol inks can color SO MANY things!!

Here's what came from the story...

A look at a few of the pages...

Grandma & Grandpa were both gifted musically- 

Grandpa played guitar, banjo, and ukulele,

with Grandma playing piano, and she could really get down on the organ

with all it's beats & sounds. But my favorite was seeing her on one of her three accordions.

Packaged up and getting it to my Sister...somehow!

THANK YOU!! for hanging in there during this loooooong and =windy post!

I absolutely love putting my memories into what I make.

The makes that I keep for myself pile up in the box I keep them in will -hopefully- one day

make some great keepsakes for my Kids, Grandbabies, and anyone they share them to.

I do use some of them for display in my Craft Studio as inspiration for more ideas.

Shoutout: THANKS! for the sweet comments,

but especially thank you all for just stopping by!

I really hope it spurs your imagination to use some of your own

fondest memories to create something from paper and paste. :)

Remember to check out the SUPER crafted items that my own will enter alongside with:

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog

(Sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique )

~AND~

The Mini Album Makers Challenge

(which just happens to also be Sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique this month!)

In the meantime...

I'm FINALLY back up in Red Wing to see our youngest Grandbaby- he's a whopping

HUGE 6 months old already! That's one part of the COVID-19 that really had me upset;

we had planned out to be able to see Jamie once each month, and that plan was not to be.

This year certainly turned out...different. And more than slightly challenging. 

Especially when it came to plans.

We spent Saturday, June 6th with the older two Grandbabies, celebrating the oldest- Cole- turning 3 years old on June 7th. But took the actual day of his birthday to drive to Red Wing and see the youngest baby. It was a flip of our plans back in April, when we had spent the day of younger Son's birthday being out in the boonies for the older 2 Grandbabies to play outside during "The Quarn".

I'm sure everyone can relate....EVERYONE.

So, we really ARE in this TOGETHER!

Stay safe during REOPENINGS, & 

HAPPY BLOGGING!!!

Frilly and Funkie Challenge #4; Winter Blues....SNOW DAY!

    Winter Blues….seems like every year; it happens. That time period between New Year's Day in January, and Spring Break in March, is a time when we'd all like to just pull the covers over our heads and hibernate until Spring. I honestly think that's why some Genius thought to put Valentine's Day in there; to lift us up out of those "winter doldrums". Since well back in High School, my Speech and Drama Teacher (who was a fave of mine) took an entire class day to talk to us young teens (16 to 18 yr olds together in an advanced class) about this very subject. It seems that right about this time of year, most of us don't get much sunlight. That can have a huge effect on our bodies, and in turn, on our mental health. Depression is REAL; I know this for a fact, and unfortunately, several diseases also contribute to this depression by messing with the chemicals in our brains, and  Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of those. I had my "onset" of RA after major surgery in 2005, and while I have done a type of "chemo therapy" (weekly shots and immunity-killing tablets) to help keep my "moderately severe" RA in check, since that time....lemme tell ya: it SUCKS. Add to that: getting a bad cold, or a disjointed hip- both of which happened this past week- is like living by dying. That kinda set  the pace for some bad news that came about one of my Besties...
         Cancer. Just the word brings feelings of helplessness and fear that - GOD willing - not everyone will face in their lifetimes. I did. But I was blessed that something else came up and in the process of taking care of that problem, it was caught very early- well before it could even get to a Stage 1. But the complications that came with....Oh. My. LORD. It's sorta funny now when I think of the irony of praying "GOD, please change me in the way you see fit, so I am molded into the person You meant for me to be- more wonderfully and fearfully made!" And, of course, I meant it. Careful whatcha pray for...by the end of the 3rd YEAR after that major surgery, another surgery for complications from the 1st one, RA onset, and dealing with more heart problems. I was 39 when all that piled onto me. I actually begged The Big Guy to please go mold someone ELSE for a bit! But time passes, and we muddle through as best we can. At some point; we look back and see that we made it ok- not 'great'- but we're still here. (HE won't allow more than we can handle- remember?)  
And then; this past winter, one of my group of Besties started having a few noticeable problems. She hoped to put it off till the first of the year- after the Holidays. The rest of us (esp the ones having been through this awful journey) hoped she would rethink that. She didn't have much choice, and,....here
we are: she's finished her surgical part of getting rid of the offending cancer pieces, but the news from pathology was not what we all had hoped for; Stage 4. 

           Now, before you read any further; this is NOT going to be a 'depressing' post. In fact; it's the opposite! And that's where I got my take on this Frilly&Funkie Challenge. I usually get in on uploading my project within those last -literally-seconds of the deadlines. Mostly because of my OCD on perfection. It used to be cleaning house. Oh yeah, I really enjoyed it! Nowadays, I've transferred that OCD to my craft studio and while my home is neat and tidy...if you visit me here; you're on your own with the Dust Bunnies. But, I began this as I was having my own ills, and then meeting up with our Besties; the bomb dropped. And the depression and helpless feelings set in. I know very well- as a deaf person- how it feels like the entire world just keeps spinning as if everything is fine. But it's not 'fine' because my world has stopped cold. And no one notices. So I figured that my Bestie needed to be uplifted with a gift; a gift that has a lot of meaning behind it!
                I first made an extra Tag while doing that last Challenge- Vintage Valentines. I sent it to her upon her release to home after the surgery. But I felt like this "Winter Blues" somehow fit better than just a simple Tag. So, let's check it out...

I have no idea what has come over me this year: I DETEST SNOW; normally.

But Tim came out with so many delicious bits of eye candy...what a fun year it's been!

I had just put all of it away- with a huge *sigh* when this Challenge came up.

Joy! Get it all back out again! lol

I have NEVER done this before- this is my first ever canvas project.

Oh, well, yeah...you'll find one up on my shelf of "inspirations" that is gessoed

and then painted a taupe color. Otherwise- it's completely blank. 

It's on the same shelf with all my years of photo work and represents a 'work in progress'.

It's for me to imagine what could go onto that canvas.

So the gesso job here was pretty easy. lol!

I did both sides with 2 coats for good measure.

Then came the die cutting. And cutting. And cutting.

I think I actually had over 75 cuts of the TH Alterations Layered Snowflake.

I embossed those and also put a few together in layers for some thickness and difference.

I used Glossy Accents to dot glue them down as I layered them all around the canvas INSIDE.

You'll note here that I also did several of the Sizzix Snowflake as well- doing a bit of 

the same layering of the cuts and then layering those onto the canvas.

And then another good coat of gesso...

layering more flakes...

gesso...

flake layer...

gesso...

until I had the look I was satisfied with.

It took awhile, but the effect is WORTH IT!!

The "FRONT" so far...

then it was time to do all the same steps for the BACKSIDE.

Oh my!! LOOK at that texture!!!

Tip: this took 'circles' in both directions (clockwise and counter) in order

for the gesso to get all around inside those dips as the last layer dried and then

I did one final coat to make sure it was all covered.

Then I put it on the fireplace mantel in the Family Room- the dry air from the gas logs

helped dry the entire canvas completely... while I did other things... like hibernated. :0

I really like using TH products almost exclusively, but Picket Fence was 'too white"

and Antique Linen was "too tan", so I dug through my 'other paint' drawer and

found a brand new bottle of this: "Magnolia White"...perfect!

Strangely, I figured out that this step needed to be done AFTER that coat of paint.

You'll see why in a couple more steps.

The "Wint3er BLUES" blew in!

TH Distress Inks: Chipped Sapphire, Faded Blue Jeans, and Salty Ocean.

I thought it best to stick to just a FEW blues. And added some other shades of...

TH Distress Oxides in Iced Spruce and Antique Linen for some dept.

Picket Fence and Antique Linen DID come in handy for highlighting!

I blended, layered, scrubbed, and generally LOVED-TALKED those inks into that canvas!!

I'll admit to also letting out a bucket of tears during this stage.

The frustration of having both our Daughters going through some ills and 

Winter Blues added to my tears over my Bestie's situation.

Here's also where all that stuff in the previous sentence was covered in PRAYERS!!

Which is what I got here: snowflake highlights.

And here's where I added a layer of Ranger Texture Paste onto the lower half of the

canvas to make the 'ground'. After it dried, I repainted over it with more of the same craft paint.

I will also say that while I hate glitter- and the glitter everywhere like sand coming back with you from vacation- I actually added a good sprinkling of TH Distress Glitter in Rock Candy (the only glitter I own!!) … oh dear...in EVERY COLOR LAYER.

Since I wanted my Bestie to see BOTH sides- or choose her side according to how

she's feeling that day... I needed a base for it to stand up.

That good old sturdy matboard came in handy again. I cut one sheet in half and stacked it.

I used an un-favorite paper for a covering- this is just the FIRST layer of covering;

it smooths out the sanded down sides to match as 'one piece' better.

I closed this backing entirely.

Got the ChiefHubby to pick me up some small flathead screws...

… and marked a line that was about one third of the way across.

I knew I'd have extra weight on one side, BUT at the same time, the canvas is

heavier on it's normal "front" (my BACKSIDE).

I'm pretty good at eye-balling this kind of thing. Probably due to sailing a sailboat;

it's all about balance and pull. The line just helped me make sure the bottom of the canvas

was smack in the middle, so no screws would pop out of the wood.

Here; you see the FIRST layer of papering with a SECOND covering that.

I made sure I chose the right GOOD paper for that outer covering.

And then, some inking of the same Distress Chipped Sapphire

(remember to heat all these inks in between)

then a sealing coat of TH Collage Medium.

Last touch- sanding down a few of those TH IdeaOlogy Alpha Parts Snowflakes

and Icicles which then got pasted onto the BACKSIDE with TH Ranger Stickles

in Rock Candy. And another little tracing of it on the top of these!

Before we hit the Final Photos and Closeups...

Check out this AWESOME EFFECT on the TH Alterations Die Winter Wonder!!

I trimmed him down after sending him through on a sandwhich with matboard- twice.

Then, I also die cut some TH Frosted and trimmed it up against the other two.

Sanded that all down and cut some 'arms' that looked like old branches grabbed from 

a pine tree nearby. Then I was thinking "Hmm...how do I adhere all three layers together??

*shrug* I practically own stock in Glossy Accents since I buy it so much, so..."

I stuck the arms in between the two matboard layers, then squished that

TH Frosted onto the top, and the COOLEST EFFECT happened: it looked like

the 'snow' had melted from warmer hands that smoothed and smoothed until

the snow was so packed, it became a glistening icey covering.

I don't know about YOU and what YOU did with YOUR KIDS...

But MINE got the whole snowman deal: sprayed colors and all!

We made Barney and a scary regular dinosaur one year when they were first old

enough to go out for a long period of time. ChiefHubby got home and said

"I think the neighbors are gonna complain about the MONSTERS out there you guys built!"

Hey... go get ur own snow, and play in ur own yard, bud.

Here's a bit closer...

In all- I didn't 'grunge' much on this project. Not much shading on cut pieces so they

look 'fresh'. Some shading on the TH Paper Dolls- of course!

Here's the Final Results:

The BACKSIDE comes first;

it represents the "storm" of a winter snowstorm.

If you've ever driven in what is called a "whiteout", then you'll understand this storm.

The dark clouds darken out the sun so it seems as if daylight is suddenly evening.

Then the snow comes; flurries that are light and pretty. But soon they start coming

down in almost 'chunks' of huge flakes made of both ice and snow.

Now, you're driving much slower because you're following the sideline.

Suddenly; you can't see ANYTHING but blinding snow that looks as if it's both

white AND black- because the snowfall is so thick that all light is blocked out.

NOW...

you're frightened. And terribly so.

And then the morning comes.

School gets canceled from a foot- or more- of snow.

What happens then?

The GOOD TIMES are made from that very same awful, cold, rotten, scary snow.

You wake up to a picture out of Norman Rockwell!

In this project, I put TH Paper Dolls in that would 'match' my Bestie's 3 Sons- the oldest is married, has one little girl holding the pink scarf for the unfinished snowman (she's just a bit older than our Grandson, Cole) and ANOTHER on the way (holding the name of their creation) !

(No, it's a rarity: they're not giving away gender till birth.)

The middle Son is currently a College Boy- same Alma Mater to be as his older Brother.

The youngest will graduate HS this Spring and head off for the Fall Semester to his

Mom and Dad's old Alma Mater.

I chose TWO washi tape borders (non- TH) because used in tandem, they

hold the last part of my message:

While I rest in the fact that I believe The LORD is in control of everything,

I also know that sometimes he allows things to happen that are for HIS Glory 

and our good. Even when it feels otherwise. So I am just going to keep

lifting her up to HIM in prayers, hope, and love.

Because if there is one thing I learned in those 5 long, painful years. it's that

LIVING is a heck of a LOT harder than dying.

It's what we have to go through in order to keep on living that is the tough part.

But, I see GOOD in her future! I hold out that BLESSED HOPE

that she will have many, many more photos to take of the coming years!

That's why that blank filmstrip washi tape was perfect.

And the blue hearts on the side fill the other frames of the filmstrip: always in our hearts,

even when she feels like the entire world has passed her by.

The snowman is like many here that happen, in that the fun of snow itself ends up

in an abandoned snowman who still needs clothes items. This is usually where Mom/Grandma always comes in... we gather what is needed and hand it out to them, unless...

unless the rest of the family who built the guy are all having too much fun

in other snow activities. Then Mom/Grandma feel sorry for the poor chilly guy and

go out and finish making him look respectable enough for her yard.

Here's for many more years of finishing work still left to do!!!

The Closeups:

TH Crinkle Ribbon in same Inks cover the entire outside edges.

Please forgive those hated glue gun strings. I'll be sure to swipe those next time.

TH Decorative Deer...with glue gun strings... *sigh*

If you didn't get here via The Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog 

please head on over to the page and see all the other projects.

I guarantee you'll get a smile out of these if you even remotely like crafts!

If you're inclined to join us; you are WELCOME TO!

The Funkie Junkie Boutique sponsors each Challenge with prizes,

and you'll find lots of great deals on there-

in fact, I was recently able to refill all my ink pads (which is why the

colors are so bright once again) at a fraction of the cost I would normally pay online!

Here's a SHOUTOUT to all who took the time to check out my last project-

FFChallenge #3. While I was happy- and VERY HONORED- to be chosen into

the Top 3 Picks (earning another Badge), the weather and my own ills have

not allowed me to get them out in time for Valentine's Day to our 

younger set of kids up in Red Wing, MN. I hope to rectify that before the weekend arrives.

I am in constant AWE of all the Crafters out there who possess such GENIUS !!

It really humbles me to think of all the things we learn from one another.

And now... back to hibernation. : )

Stay Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!