School's Out!

"School's out for summer!

School's out forever!"

Alice Cooper

This year it seems that wherever I turn my head

I see a friend's child or a family member graduating.

So I've been busy crafting cards.

Choosing school colors

and motifs

and investing a little bit of love into each scrap of paper.

Wish I could see them all walk

and hug each parent...

such milestones are to be commemorated!

Seems it's graduation day for a blogging friend too.

We say farewell to our ever-inspiring Song-ography link up.

I refuse to think that we're saying farewell to our hostess and her blog.

Perhaps a brief "au-revoir" as she re-groups.

I'm choosing to believe that her next blog chapter will be even more

inspirational than her first.

It has been so fun to "see" song lyrics through each others' photos ~ 

A practice that I'm sure will continue for those of us devoted to Song-ography!

Joining Kathy one last time!

Look What I Made {2}

I played with glitter

and made some New Years cards.

I've never made anything with glitter before - don't like how messy it is!

But when I was in a store a few months ago, and saw some lovely photo cards which had been decorated with glitter, I knew I had to give it a try!

The idea is simple enough.

Choose a favorite photo, 

outline a few spots you'd like to highlight with a fine point glue pen,

and sprinkle, sprinkle sprinkle!

When the glue dries, 

I used a make up brush to get rid of the excess.

It's wonderful to be inspired by the crafts and art and writings around me!

I enjoy trying new things...I'll be back to play with glitter some more.

I'm thinking swan photos would be be lovely with added sparkles!

Happy New Year

and 

Happy Monday, friends!

Linking up wtih The Good, The Random, The Fun, Macro Monday & Inspire Me Monday

Happy Thanksgiving

Grateful to have four relaxing family days ahead.
Tomorrow I'm with my two guys for a lot of football and not much else.
There will be some eating and napping.
A puppy.
And, perhaps, a nice long walk around my pond.

On Friday we will feast.
There will be more napping. Some games. Perhaps a puzzle.
We'll all be together.
And I'm so very grateful for that!

I haven't started cooking yet. Tomorrow.
Today was finishing up at work.
Some shopping.
And crafting.
Special cards for special folks. Some place cards for Friday's dinner.

Then...after all that...there will be two more days of rest, family, walks and {of course} left overs!

Wishing all who stop by and visit me here a very happy Thanksgiving! Your visits mean the world to me. I hope this year brings us all even closer as we foster our connections, share our hearts and learn from each others journeys.

Linking up with

Little Things Thursdays

and Mama Kat's

Kindness, Chicken Soup & Baseball

First came some kindness. A cute little (almost three year old!) friend of mine brought her mama to meet me for lunch this week. And her mama brought me some sunflowers! Because she knows there are few things that encourage me more than sunflowers! That same day I got a card (and some very generous gifts) from the bride and groom whose wedding invitations I made not too long ago. The gifts blew my mind - wasn't expecting them at all. But I have to say that it was the words on the card that really melted my heart.

"...we had no idea how beautiful, meaningful and timeless everything would be. 

Neither of us thought the small details of our wedding could be so meaningful! 

Thank you for all your time, creativity and help these last several months."

Those words meant so much to me! To know that this young couple has keepsakes from their day that they will cherish, and that will bring back great memories for years to come...well, that's why I love doing what I do!

Next came the chicken soup. Not nearly so encouraging...I had big plans for this weekend! Plans to travel to Pennsylvania, take a class, see my dad and have a special lunch with a friend. Sigh. I have, instead, been sipping chicken soup and sleeping. There has been a lot of sleeping. In between the sipping and sleeping I've been cheering for the Red Sox - which makes me tense, And probably hasn't helped my head or my stomach. But whew! As I type, we've won game four. So one more in St. Louis then we bring these boys home and cheer them on to a pennant. Tonight it was Big Papi that kept them fighting the good fight! He was so inspiring!

Linkin up with

Project 52

Wedding Collection

Remember the Save the Dates and Invitations I made?

Well, this special wedding is this weekend!

The bride wanted burlap, birch and sunflowers as her primary decorative elements.

It was great fun to work with  her ideas!

Last week I finished her programs. 

Little booklets, bound with burlap and held together with some twine.

{my daughter's programs were just like these!}

As a wedding gift, I made her some thank you notes.

I revisited the birch theme by simply embossing the front of each card.

Kept them simple...I really like the way they turned out.

And I added the stamp as a "seal" for the envelopes.

Then...just for fun...I made her a frame!

Burlap mat, a few birch branches and their custom heart.

I think a wedding photo will look great there, don't you?!?

Linking up with

LIttle Things Thursdays and Thursday Favorite Things

{Come and Join in the Six Word Fridays Party HERE tomorrow!!}

Hundreds of Pieces

I do love taking the hundreds of little pieces
and putting them all together to make something lovely.

There are few things, made of paper, twine and burlap, happier than a wedding invitation.

And I've made one hundred for the bride to be! Can't wait to give them to her ... she and her mom have address writing plans this weekend.

{a nice follow up to the Save the Dates, don't you think?!}

Joining Kim for

Little Things Thursdays
and linking up with
Random Hearts

Notes

I'm a fan of the hand written note.

And of snail mail.

So I've been busy editing photos and making cards.
Some with sentiments, some with quotes.

Is there an Etsy shop in my future?

 Linking up with 

Little Things Thursdays

Making Sweet, Simple Cards

We had a few friends over on Saturday night ~ so I fussed just a little with the table, and treated myself to some daffodils.

Before everyone arrived, I took some photos of the daffodils ~ knowing that if I got a picture that I liked, I could make some cards. Today I had 10 3.5" x 5" prints made of my favorite shot. As I've mentioned before, I'm a big fan of using my scraps. My current project has left me with a pile of paper and sticker scraps that I haven't used yet.

So, I sat down with my daffodil prints and my scraps and got to work! First, I cut a piece of card stock to measure 5.5" x 8".

Then I folded it in half so that I'd have a card that evenly bordered the 3.5" x 5" prints that I had made.

Then I chose another piece of paper from my scrap pile and, using double stick adhesive, secured my photo along a clean edged corner. Once in place, I trimmed the mat so that the photo would have a thin frame in a complimentary color.

Once my photo had a mat, I attached it to the card ~ so cheerful, don't you think?

This pretty, home made card cost about thirty cents! Once I have this basic formula, there are lots of ways to add to it ~ to play with it. Word stickers and letter stickers can be added.

Or, just grab different color scraps, and create more blank, photo cards.

If you have ribbon, twine, buttons or other doodads, feel free to add them. You can trim the photo so it's off center, tear the paper mat for a different effect and add some twine ~ endless possibilities!

Cards this size fit into standard "invitation" envelopes (4 3/8" x 5 3/4"), and as I said, envelope included, cost less than a postage stamp! I enjoy giving sets of cards as gifts, sending my own notes and hand made birthday wishes....and using my scraps of paper!

What photos do you have that would make pretty cards?