THE PAPER HANDMAIDEN: Valentine's Day Banner

THE PAPER HANDMAIDEN: Valentine's Day Banner

Valentine's Day Banner

This banner was easy to make using my favorite scraps of fabric left over from another project.  I cut out the hearts and then used fusible fabric to adhere them to muslin also left over from another project.  I was able to use a hole punch to punch holes on both sides of the hearts and pass the ribbon through.  A button and lace was sewn on to each heart.  I then hung it on the wall with two thumb-tacks.    No sewing (except for the buttons was required).

Free Card Stock Images

I thought this was an interesting website for some card stock background images.  Some are royalty free and some are a minimal charge.  Its worth checking out.

http://www.dreamstime.com/abstract-background-design-free-stock-photos-imagefree3894238

Sock Monkey

This is Mike.  We recently had a Brown Bag auction at our home and Mike was the winner of this gigantic sock monkey.  Interestingly enough Mike tells a story about when he was younger and his mother was sick, he stayed with some people who had a sock monkey but he was never allowed to take it home.  Now he has his own sock monkey.    Nice story Mike.  You look so content.

Operation Write Home Card

Here are a few cards I made for OWC. There was a little bit of a creativity block because its been a while, but today was a good card making day.

New Things!!!!

I have seen slide shows on other people's so I thought I'd try it--we took a day trip to Floyd Virginia which is always beautiful. They have a three-floor fabric shop which is in a huge brick building that was once a school. It was a beautiful day with my good hearted husband, Fred.

Some of the items they have there are extremely less than that other fabric store "Joanxxxxxx's" probably because they buy in bulk. Picked up a few more wire rings to make the pine cone wreaths (for an unbelievable $1.29) I was asked to make a Thanksgiving Wreath for someone and it's my first one. Sorry to bore you with another picture of that but---not that sorry not to post it.

I finally learned that if you want to punch something "more expertly" you should stamp it first and then punch--I was always punching and then stamping--wasted a lot of paper that way. I learn a lot from my Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers!!

Christmas Vintage Images-Free Public Domain

Visit The Vintage Moth for use of their vintage art. These would make great card fronts and probably require very little embellishment and from what I understand they are public domain. I love the generosity of public domain! www.thevintagemoth.blogspot.com

Art Image of The Day


There are some nice images to use in your projects from this wedsite, Art Image of the Day.  I like  looking around at the vintage and victorian pieces.

Paper Flower Tree-VBS Panda-Mania

Last week our Church had VBS and the theme was Panda mania.  Apparently Panda-mania is the VBS favorite this summer.  One of the decorating projects was attaching paper flowers to tree limbs.  My favorite.  I was hoping someone would be inspired to get married in the hallway...it just looked so inviting.

My husband was Mr. Zookeeper.  All I had to work with were two small panda iron-ons.  Keepsake Fabrics had one panda fabric.  No patches.  Lots of Monkeys though.  I made the patches by cutting squares around the pandas, stitching them and then sewing them on the sleeves. 

  VBS was a blast, can't seem to get those songs out of my head.

I Want A Greenhouse!

Is it too much to ask for, one's very own greenhouse?  Not a Quonset hut but a greenhouse.  My Mother's day gift was a trip to Blithe Gardens in Bristol, RI with my son, daughter-in-law and grand baby now I want a greenhouse. 

or

I will settle for a New England bamboo forest, just a small one.

Maybe a crab apple tree?

Of course the most beautiful in the Garden,

Grandbaby girl!

Thank You Card

I made this card for a friend who did a very special deed for someone who needed a helping hand.  This kind woman has her own little flower shop so not to use a flower in it would almost be a crime.    Sometimes the simple cards are the most fun to make. 

Happy Birthday Blessings

I received this lovely card from the ladies ministry at my Church.  They send a card to every member on their birthday.  It was a pleasant surprise and such a lovely card too!

Christmas Invitation

All that ladies at church received this invitation to attend the Women's Ministry Fall Event.  I have never made an Advent Wreath and look forward to attending.  I love crafted invitations!

Woman's Craft Fellowship Christmas Card

The women from our chuch met this morning and created several cards.  It was well organized and just a great time of creating together.  This is one of several cards we made.  The stamping was easy and we had a wonderful time.  This stamp is from Stamping Up.

SWAG BUCKS-Modern Day Green Stamps

Check it out, it reminds me of those green stamps people would stick in books and then redeem them at the Green Stamp Store when they had enough stamps to get an item.  I like it, you might like it too.

I love family pictures

I love family pictures because they represent our family history.  This picture is probably 20 years old and the changes in the family dynamics is amazing.  Those little children are grown adults and some adults have gone home to be with the Lord.  Each face represents an untold  story. 

These are my parents and their children and their children's children and their spouses and one aunt and a cousin. 

 There is just something about this picture that makes it precious. 

Ode to the Mustang

You tossed my hair

and made me fly

but the budget got smaller

as time passed by.

I'll miss the way you sped along

"Ode to the Mustang";

it's a very short song.

The Re-purposed Garden

I spent the last few days doing some gardening and we wanted to be very low budget. I made a garden using the rocks we have around the property, and there is plenty of them. We wanted to experiment our first summer here with a small garden to see what will grow, what won't and what could possibly eat our vegetables

This is the old kennel fence we had in Virginia when Jackson's mother had puppies.  I assembled the kennel fences and bought a Garden Gate from Lowe's.  We had chrome kennel fence and a black garden gate, so I spray painted it purple.  Somehow it makes me think of those purple street lights at Disney in Orlando.  We are good to go.

.The old wash bucket is great for planting pansies and herbs.

Using Public Domain Images

Using this image I got from a public domain image library makes a simple yet fun card.  I just embossed the Thinking of You, added a couple of emplishments, punched the corners and wallah!

Simple Stationary

This simple stationary is easy to make and leaves lots of room for writing notes or just a thought.  The stamp is Just A Note and leaves the door open to say whatever is on your heart.  I punched the corners and stamped the corner  envelope and inside the top of the inside.  Simple yet functional!

For Erika

http://polleycrafts.blogspot.com/

Operation Write Home is having a blog hop and I stumbled across a lovely lady named Erika whose husband is being deployed over seas for the third time.  For every comment left on her blog, she is making a card for Operation Write Home...I told her she didn't have to make one for me, that  I would make one for her and send it to OWH. 

I had made this card once before but couldn't resist again when someone gave me that cute little shoe card...

There are some wonderful wives who are making OWH it really touches my heart.

Little Girl's Birthday Apron

Maddie had a Number 2 birthday party on Saturday and I really wanted to make her an apron. There was no pattern, so I went on line and found a site where you make an apron pattern from a cut-out newspaper. Works for me. I used three different patters after studying the apron my daughter in law had made for me.

The pattern is easy to cut.

The fabric embellishments are three different strips sewn together with each one being a little longer than the next. The three-sewn together strips are now one and easily sewn in between the button tw0-folds. The necktie is sewn in between the two fabric folds and the belt is sewn over the top of the apron button and top.

The cupcake pattern was so fun and just the right fabric for a little girls birthday celebration.

Fleece Pajama Bottoms...Homemade

My daughter-in-law does all things well and has a gift of creativity in sewing and much more. She inspired me to try these fleece pajama bottoms because the ones she made me are so comfortable and warm.

I purchased a yard and a half of fleece and was glad to find some fleece that didn't have Strawberry Shortcake or monkeys on them. I took a pair of pajama bottoms, folded them in half and placed them on a four-fold of the fabric. Simply cut around the outline of the folded material and you should have four pieces to sew together. I didn't use elastic on the waist because the fabric stretches and just left a small open V on the front and added a thin belt.

I actually had enough material left to make a scarf and a hat. This was easy and enjoyable. Now is the time to buy fleece and flannel because its on sale.

Shadowbox Photo Composition

One of the Christmas gifts that I made and couldn't post before Christmas is this shadowbox photo composition. It was a lot of fun to make. J&K went to Paris on their honeymoon and this picture of them in front of the Eiffel Tower is great.

I stamped the inside frame with a Stamping Up French writing stamp (of which I have no clue what it says but am sure one of the words is amore). I found the basket, tree, and bench with the love birds at Hobby Lobby. I couldn't believe it when I found the photographer figurine and the basket with the French bread which tied the theme in place. I made a faux cobblestone street for the inside bottom and the rest is history.

Home-made Chair Covers

I have two white chairs which were needing a change. I made chair back coverings and then added the seat covers. The backs of the chairs are longer than the front and left a gap on the sides. To "cover my sins or omission" I made little skits for the sides and applied them. As my husband would say, next project!

Printable Paper Dolls

I love paper dolls! My mother would save the Betsy McCall paper doll page from McCall's magazine and put them in the "rainy day" box.

I found this website which has printable paper dolls that are public domain. As soon as I get some ink cartridges, I am going to print some and put them in my own "rainy day" box.

http://karenswhimsy.com/paper-dolls.shtm

Its Good to be Home!

One of the beauties of being home again, finally, is that you don't have to eat your birthday cake alone. Thank you Mel for bringing over your jewelry kit and making matching earrings to go with the Christmas bracelet you made. Thanks to Taylor and Aubrey for making this great Birthday Card. Thanks Jason for occupying Pop while the ladies chatted.

Hopefully, soon, I can get back to making some cards Operation Write Home. Soon as I find where all the "stuff" is.