Presenting Their Royal Highnesses

The King and Queen
of Hearts

I popped into the post office to send off a package today and to pick up a book of stamps.

The guys at our super podunk post office always laugh at me because I ask for "pretty stamps" and make them haul out the whole drawer full
so I can choose.
(Don't worry, there's NEVER anyone waiting behind me.)

This gorgeous set just knocked me over! I would make a quilt out of this. I would buy this if it was a poster. I would buy it AND frame it. Hey, maybe it IS a poster!

Using images from 18th-century French playing cards as reference, artist Jeanne Greco created the stamp art. I'll be looking her up, let me tell ya. WOW.

(Added later: Ok, yeah, she's way cool. Take a look at her creations. http://www.caffegrecodesign.com/cgd-homepage.html)

What a happy, unexpected spot - smack dab in a day full of errands!

The Magic of Photoshop

I've been cleaning up some old photos with the help of Photoshop.

Pretty simple stuff really, and I love the instant gratification of a quick, finished product.

While rummaging around one day,
we found this tiny 1x1 inch photo of
my husband's mother tucked in a drawer.

As you can see, it was a mess.

I wanted to clean it up and make it bigger
for the family photo album,
but still keep that old and crumbly quality.

I also re-tinted it with a duotone
to match other old photos in the album.

Cute baby, huh?

Free Black Berry Downloads

We spent a sunny morning downloading blackberries 

into our buckets.

Kerplink.
Kerplank.
Kerplunk.
















The real ripe and juicy ones 

are the cutleaf blackberries 

that grow down by the pond.

They are much larger berries 

and almost taste like blueberries. 

The jam they make is heavenly, especially when you pop open 

a jar in Winter.

The thorns however, 

are fearsome to behold.

..and so it was
time for my new,
snazzy, 
eye-popping
garden gloves 

to finally make
their debut.



(Ok, so what is that stretchy thing on the back of gloves for, anyway?) 

I paid my camera guy (kid) his wages in berry-related goodies today - 

a big hit.  

Cobbler. 

Check. 

Jam. 

Check.
Fresh berries 

over vanilla 

ice cream. 

Check.

Paper Pinwheel Prize Production

...and you agreed to make how many of these?

Actually, this first batch was only about fifty -
just enough to keep it fun.

OK, that may be stretchin' a bit for the last ten.


If you've ever hand crafted paper wonderfulness in quantity, you know it can get pretty daunting by say, oh, about 3 a.m. - at which point you've cycled through your entire iPod library and it begins to dawn on you that the last cuppa coffee at 1 a.m. maybe wasn't such a great idea for steady hand/eye coordination.



These are usually made as prizes, but in this incarnation they are name tags for a local scrapbook store's soiree. The attendee names were added later, in calligraphy, and a pin back was attached.

I used more of that yummy Cosmos Cricket Early Bird paper. The local stores may be totally cleaned out of that stuff by now, with all of my recent projects.

I really like it,
lots.

Early to Rise

Although summer doesn't end officially until the autumnal equinox, I always feel that the last day of August is IT.

Our weather here in the Pacific Northwest is usually gorgeous all September, but that yummy feeling of lazy summer is gone as the September Scurry takes hold of us all.

I've been trying to stretch out my summer by getting up extra early and scooting on outside. Somehow, it makes the day feel longer.

(Yep, I'm one of THOSE PEOPLE who can trick themselves into being
on time by setting my clock ten minutes fast.)

Today, I was lucky to catch the morning sun illuminating this pink geranium.

Garden Pixie

Say hello to my new Garden Pixie.

She's a bit shy, as you can tell from her - vavavoom! - outfit.

I'm still waiting for inspiration to strike me with the perfect name for her. Any suggestions?

I made this in a soldering class last night with a couple other ladies. A little tricky to get the hang of at first, but once you get it - very fun. I have been assured that my soldering skills will improve with time. Good to hear. I've got lots more of these babies planned!

There are four layers of glass, all sandwiched together, with a scrolly embellishment at the bottom and
a simple jump ring at the top for dangling purposes.

That's all I could manage in a 3 hour class.

Designer's Diner

Mom's cooking up a storm at the Designer's Diner!
Check out this scrumptious Father's Day flip album made with the YUMMY New Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Collection. Step-by-step tutorial below.

Best Dad Ever

COSMO CRICKETT
EARLY BIRD
FATHER'S DAY
FLIP BOOK

INGREDIENTS;
-5 PIECES OF PATTERENED PAPER
CUT TO 6X6 SQUARES.
-5 TOILET PAPER TUBES
-ASSORTED EMEBELLISHEMENTS
-GIFT CARDS,PAINT CHIPS, TINY ZIPLOCKS, GAME CARDS, COUPONS, TICKETS. ETC.

DIRECTIONS:
1. GATHER 5 TOILET PAPER TUBES
2. SQUASH THEM FLAT
3. IRON THEM FOR A SHARPER EDGE
4. CUT 5 SHEETS PATTERNED PAPER TO 6X6 SQUARES
5. GLUE BOTH SIDES OF TUBE
6. ADHERE PAPER AND CREASE SHARPLY
7. CUT A SLIT ON EACH SIDE
8. FOLD PAPER INSIDE OF TUBE
9. EMBELLISH EACH PAGE FRONT AND BACK
11. TUCK TAGS, CARDS, COUPONS IN SLOTS
12. USING A ZUTTER OR CROPODILE TO PUNCH HOLES
13. BIND WITH 2” ZUTTER WIRE, BOOK RINGS OR HEAVY CORDING.
14. PRESENT TO DAD, ALONG WITH YOUR ETERNAL GRATITUDE.

I gotta say, I love, love, love this new Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Collection. The paper is actually designed with a cookbook theme in mind, but I was so drawn to the colors and patterns that I was sure it could multi-task for Father's Day. It is heavyweight, printed on both sides and is made from mixed sources, recycled wood or fibre from well managed forests. Perfect for this upcycled TP tube project!

The base mini-album goes together very quickly and then the fun part begins - embellishing with all the doodads you can find.

I started the album out with a spot for a family photo and will sprinkle pictures of Dad doing something special with each kid on the rest of the pages. There are journaling boxes on each of page for a special note from each kid, as well as a place for photos.

Gift cards are the exact size to slide into the pockets with a perfect fit. I included a little ziplock with tickets for lawn mowing, fishing trip, car wash and a Costco hot dog, in the first slot. I then added in a Home Depot gift card glued to a paint chip. The Dutch Boy paint chips at Wal-mart fit perfectly and have a little square cutout for a photo.There is a certificate for a favorite meal (made with love), a Starbucks card for a cuppa Joe and an award for the Best Dad Ever.

As a finishing touch, I hung a tiny fishing bobber (found at the hardware store) on the spiral binding.

DIY Bird Feeder

I've enlisted the services of some treasures from the Bermuda Triangle Drawer
in my kitchen, (full of "mystery" pots, pans and parts) to create a new
bird feeder for the yard.

It was TIME!

The extra snow last winter left the old cedar feeder listing to one side. Just one more 3 point landing from a blue jay and the whole thing would be in the pond!

Here is the finished product of my endeavors, along with a tutorial, to inspire you to make one yourself.

Ingredients:
Bits and pieces of junky metal kitchen fodder.
I started off with a fondue holder, so I stuck to a round design. Square pans and lids make great bird feeders too.

1. Pizza pan base.
2. Burner drip pan.
3. Fondue holder.
4. Wok lid.
5. Dollar store decoration.
6. Caulk gun.
7. Pan lid.
8. Pop bottle.
9. Epoxy.

It was very easy to make, thanks to a tube of this super duper Epoxy. The open design and pop bottle insert make it really easy to clean, which is important for the health of your fine feathered friends.

Directions:

Stack things together first as a trial. Arrange all of your bits and pieces 'til you like them.

Remember, gravity counts!

Glue parts from the base up, with Epoxy. It takes 24 hours to fully cure, but you can handle it in a few hours.

Spray paint the whole contraption. Cut pop bottle top and bottom off to create a tube for the seed. (The bird embellished pot lid lifts off for easy refilling) Mount on a pole or add a hook and hang.

Fill with birdseed, then get your camera with zoom ready and go on assignment for the Audubon Society!

Way Cool!

It's been 

pretty warm 

and sunny 

here in the 

Pacific Northwest

this past week. 

That's something 

we're not used to 

in early June. 

So, I hauled out 

the old "finger chopper" 

fan ala fifties 

for a nightime breeze. 

Ours makes a big 

racket that kinda 

lulls you to sleep. 

Nice and cool.