Taking a break...

Welcome Home...

My first attempt at a little house...

I used one of my birdhouse templates, printed on the back side of a piece of white cardstock. I added pages of text cut from an old book after it was assembled. The doors and windows were stamped on various papers using stamps from Papertrey Ink. I have several others I'm working on and will share them soon.
Hope you are having a wonderful week.
Be back soon.

Butterfly Dreams...

One of my favorite card makers is Dawn McVey, I love visiting her blog for inspiration. Yesterday she posted a beautiful butterfly card and today I spent some time working on a few of my own...

Same concept...3 different cards.

Hope your days are filled with butterfly dreams.

Be back soon.

Wings...

Sharing a couple more ornaments today...

Hope you are having a wonderful day.

Be back soon.

With love...

Something a little different for Valentine's Day.

Finished several of these last night and will be taking them to the gallery on Saturday.

The glitter and glimmer mist don't show at all in these photos, these are actually quite sparkly.

Hope your days are filled with love.

Be back soon.

A quick note and a journal...

It's been a week since I last posted, no excuses, same old thing, busy, busy, busy.
Here are a few of the things on my plate right now...2 scrapbooks to complete for a customer...2 1/2 years worth of photos, 33 layouts done so far, 1 cd label to design for a local musician,
working on 2 new items for the gallery for Valentine's Day and preparing for a Craft Show the first weekend in February. All this and more along with caring for 2 little girls keeps me off of the computer most days.
All of my personal projects have been put on hold but thought I would share a few pages from one of the journals I had been working on...

Here's is the book I used, I picked up several of these a few years ago at Big Lots for less than $1 each. I just knew I could use them someday...

Cover

A few of my favorite pages so far. My plan is for each page to feature something about me, my favorite quotes, things that have impacted my life, memories of childhood and so on. I want to create a keepsake for my grandchildren because I wish I knew more about my grandparents, more than what I can remember and what I was told.

Hopefully it won't be another full week before I post again but you know how it is, life gets hectic.

Have a wonderful day.

Be back soon.

Birds & Butterflies...

I've been meaning to post a few photos of the birds and butterflies I created but kept forgetting to take the photos. Finally snapped a few down at the market last Saturday to share...


I love using the black, cream & red combination in my work. For these, I used a variety of patterned papers along with vintage sheet music and pages from old books.
Yesterday was quite productive, finished a few more cards and worked on a batch of Valentine tags. Hoping to finish the tags today and then I'll begin working on Valentine heart shaped ornaments. Looking forward to sharing them with you soon.
Hope you have a wonderful day.
Be back soon.

Be my Valentine...

I have always been a big fan of homemade Valentine's. I still have one that I made as a child.
Here are a few I made last night to sell at the market...

I just love using vintage images. As if you haven't already figured that out!

Another busy day ahead, a few more cards to make and several other projects, all going at once.

No idle hands here...

Hope your day is delightful and filled with joy.

Be back soon.

The girls...

Emma and Jaelyn keep my busy and on my toes and I wouldn't want it any other way.
A few photos to share...

Coloring...we are using crayons to learn colors.

Reading...they love looking at books.

Chillin'...having a morning snack.
Caring for children is a lot of fun although very tiring. I don't mind because I get such joy from having them here. I never in a million years would have thought this is what I would be doing at this stage in my life. I'm so lucky to share my days with these 2 sweet angels.
Hope your week has started off well.
Be back soon.

Home Tweet Home

I've been working on new items for the Heritage Crafters Gallery...

I've created several birdhouses using vintage music, pages from old books and lots of vintage images. I'm working on several other items, getting ready for Bird Day on January 31st.
The wrought iron stand is another Goodwill find, a real bargain at $1.29. I'm not sure what it is exactly, it has 3 arms, each with one hook. It works great for displaying and also for hanging items to dry. I'm pretty certain it's not for mugs since they normally have at least 4 arms or pegs. If you have any idea what it's original use was, please let me know. It's peaked my curiosity.
Hope your week is going well.
Be back soon.

See you soon brother...

We said farewell to Brandon on Friday...

Emma and Granny
And if we haven't had enough heartache the last year and a half, my youngest brother found out this weekend that he will be going back to Afganistan in June.
All I can do these days is hope and pray...

Thank You Veterans

As my brother prepares to leave tomorrow for Iraq, the men and women of our military have been on my mind a lot lately. I just want to say Thank You for defending our freedom.
Have a great day.
Be back soon.

Recent finds...

I miss the days of yard sales however there are many other places to find bargains during the winter, Goodwill, thrift shops, consignment shops, to mention a few. I try to get out at least once every couple of weeks to do some bargain hunting. Here are a few of the items I purchased during December...

3 books of music and a copper metal frog, $6 for everything.

Found this bowl at Goodwill, not very pretty but definitely functional. I created this arrangement from greens and berries found in the woods behind our house. I was quite surprised to find a large Nandina bush at the very back of our property, it didn't have many berries left thanks to the deer so I got a few extra bunches from a bush at my dad's.

Love this vintage plant stand I found at Goodwill and plan to use it as a display piece at the market. A true bargain for only $3.
We have a new thrift shop, Encore and a consignment shop, From Me to You, here in Madison Heights and both are filled with some great deals. I've just made an appointment to take some of my unused items to the consignment shop later this week, maybe I'll make some money to support my habit.
I worked a little yesterday on paper birdhouses and houses for the market. I'm still in the experimenting stage and having so much fun with these. I promise to share a few photos soon.
Hope you are having a great week.
Be back soon.

Twenty-Ten

Happy first Monday of 2010.

How has your New Year begun?
Our's has begun pretty much the same way 2009 ended, so much to do, so little time most days. I'm sitting here this morning with several lists in front of me, not knowing exactly where to start. Oh well, I'll figure it out. Right now I'm going to give the little ones some breakfast and then we'll play for a while until naptime.
Hope your week is wonderful.
Be back soon.

Happy New Year

Welcome 2010! Hope your New Year's Eve was great.
Image couresy of Clearly Vintage.
Spending today in my workroom. I've got birds, butterflies and photos scattered everywhere, all in various stages, waiting to be completed for the market. Plan on spending tomorrow morning at the market, the afternoon running a few errands and then attending a farewell party for my brother, Brandon, who is being deployed to Iraq (a second time in 3 years), he leaves a week from today.
Looking forward to a productive weekend and even more productive week.
Have a fantastic weekend.
Be back soon.