Christmas in July

For someone who can't stand to even look down the Christmas aisle at Hobby Lobby this time of year, I surely had a great time getting this class together.  We made three projects:  a card, box with tags, and a mini scrapbook.  The No Peeking stamp set and Be of Good Cheer paper from Stampin Up was used on all of the items.  Many thanks to Demonstrator Debra Simonis for sharing the idea of the card and box with tags.  The scrapbook was made out of toilet paper rolls!  I guess you really can make a scrapbook out of just about anything!  Here is a closer look at all of the pages in the book.

See the little tab at the right?  Those are tags that additional photos or journaling can be written on.

If you would like more information about how to make these fun items, don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Two Pocket Card

While in Minnesota, we had dinner with a friend of Arlin's who snowmobiles with the clan each year.  His wife made a beautiful dinner for us.  We had a great time visiting with Bob and Lois in their lovely home by the lake.  As I looked at the decor in their house, it didn't take me long to figure out that they really like birds.  Knowing that I'd want to make them a thank you card, I knew right away what the theme had to be.  I made this two pocket card for them once we got home using the perfect materials from SU...Cheep Talk stamp set and Good Morning Sunshine designer series paper.  (both retired, but the possibilities for making a similar card are endless)

I started with an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of double sided paper.  

I folded it long ways like a hotdog.  If you work with elementary kids, you know exactly what I mean! Using a bone folder will make your creases nice and neat.  

Fold the paper again in half.  You will now have a piece of paper the size of an A2 card.  

Open the paper to its original size and make a cut as shown from the side of the paper to the middle fold line.

We're going to make a couple of folds.  Bring the top left hand corner down to the middle fold.  

Bring the bottom right hand corner up to about 1 1/2 inches away from the middle fold as shown.

Fold the entire bottom right hand side over the bottom left side of the paper.  

Fold the top right flap of paper under the top left.  

Fold the paper at the top as shown.

Almost finished!  Bring the entire top half of paper and fold over the bottom.

Turn the card around.  

Whew!  I'm glad most of the birds ended right side up.  That was pure luck!  

I'm opening the card back up to show you where you can add sticky tape to keep the flaps glued down.  This card does not open in the center like most cards.

Now that everything is glued down, it's time to decorate the outside.  I added a one inch strip of coordinating paper to the bottom of the card.

I then made the tags which measure 2 1/2 x 5 1/4.  Don't forget the ribbon at the bottom of the card and on the tags, too!  

If you make any two pocket cards, I'd love to see them and get ideas from you!  Let me know if you have any questions!  

P.S.  I used several punches on my card:  corner punch, 1 3/8 circle, and scallop circle.  

Coming Home by Karen Kingsbury

I've read all 22 books by Karen Kingsbury that feature the Baxter Family.  This is the last book about the Baxters, and I'll miss reading about these characters that I've come to know over the years.  Coming Home was a great book that had a central theme...God's faithfulness.  If you've never read any other stories about the Baxter's, you won't be lost by reading this one.  Kingsbury used the first 140 pages to recap their story.  Honestly, that part of the book became monotonous for me, and I read through it in turbo mode.  I tend to like books where the characters live "happily ever after".  Unfortunately for me, that didn't happen in this novel.  Reading this book was like waking up from a really bad dream and being extremely thankful that it wasn't real.  Although this story was very sad, if you are a huge Kingsbury fan, you won't want to miss reading it.

Coming Home is a novel about tremendous victory and unprecedented loss, a story of faith and a forever kind of love, love that will stay with you long after the last page. This stand-alone novel will serve as either a grand introduction or a beautiful conclusion in the saga of the Baxter Family. The Baxters make plans to come together for a summer lakeside reunion, a celebration like they haven’t had in years. But before the big day, the unthinkable happens. As the Baxter Family rallies together, memories come to light in the grief-stricken hours of waiting and praying, memories that bring healing and hope during a time when otherwise darkness might have the final word. In a season that changes all of them, the brilliance of family love overshadows even the valley of heartache as the Baxters draw closer to God and each other. Along the way, secrets are revealed and the truth about the Baxter Family history is finally made known. Ultimately, in this portrait of family love, the Baxters cling to each other and to God’s promise of forever.  (review taken from www.goodreads.com)  

Oma's Cucumber Salad

While on vacation recently at the Hobbie Farm, my sister-in-law Becca showed me her large garden and served some fruits and veggies from it at lunch.  Everything tasted so good!  It almost made me want to start a garden of my own until I remembered the water restrictions that we have and the adorable bunnies that like to eat our grass.  They'd have a feast on a garden.  Whew!  Talked myself out of that just in time.

My grandparents also used to have a beautiful garden.  Here's a simple and delicious salad that Oma made that we still enjoy today.  Here are the ingredients that I use...

1 large peeled cucumber

1/2 of a medium onion

1 c. sour cream

milk

salt and pepper

Slice the cucumber and onion as thin as possible.  Transfer the vegetables to a bowl. 

In a separate bowl, mix sour cream and enough milk to make it thick yet pourable.

Add the sour cream to the veggies and stirl  

Salt and pepper to taste.  Stir

So simple but delicious!  Serve this with grilled chicken and a fresh fruit salad for a light summer meal.

A Scrapbook Page for Dad

One of our monthly projects at stamping club is to make a simple 6x6 scrapbook page for each month of the year.  Each clubber then adds a picture to her page and places the page in a small scrapbook.  At the end of 2012, it will be a nice recap of the year.

For June, we made a Father's Day page.

I had the opportunity to spend several days lately with my dad on a camping trip in Minnesota.  As soon as I get my pictures developed, I'll add one to this page.  It will be a great reminder of the fun time that we shared together on vacation.

Materials Used: (mostly Stampin Up)

Designer Series Paper: Summer Smooches

Cardstock:  Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

Stamps:  Delightful Dozen

Ink:  Early Espresso

Embellishments: Brads

Tools: Punches-stars, oval scallop, oval punch, corner rounder, crop-a-dile

Thanks for visiting my blog.  Make it a great day!

Father's Day Pocket Card

Last night at club, we made this fun Father's Day card.  Want to give Dad some money or a gift card for his special day?  There is a place for that, as well as, a pull out card where you can jot down a note.  The project was easy to put together.  Here are the materials that I used:

Stamp Set:  Lovely as a Tree
Inkpad:  espresso
Markers:  real red, espresso, pumpkin pie, so saffron, and olive green (all SU)
Cardstock:  espresso, pumpkin pie, so saffron, white,
Embellishments: grommet, large button, ribbon, and twine
Tools Used:  Crop a Dile, Big Shot, embossing folder, Labels Collection Framelits

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  Let me know if you have any questions about how to make this card.

Great Summer Reads

Needing something great to read over the summer?  Here is a list of title suggestions from the wonderful librarians in Frisco ISD.  I believe the book Divergent will be one of the first that I tackle.  It was a favorite series of many!

Have any great book suggestions to share?  You can never have too many on the list.  Happy Reading, Everyone!