As you can see by the card this is Briley's 1st Birthday card. Her b.day is Nov.3 and is having her Party tomorrow night. There will be a Halloween theme with apple bob, pinata, weenie roast and costume contest.

NEW books

Thanks Mom and Mark!!!!!!!
I got 2 new books: "Create A Card "and "Quick & Clever Instant Cards". I have only skimmed thru them so far but they have quite a few things that caught my eye.
Mom also sent cards that I have given her over the years...I'll get pics of these later and post some of them.
I was going to post a picture of the Raggedy Ann that I made for Briley's b.day but after I trimmed her hair I went ahead and wrapped it. I didn't even remember until I was fixing dinner and by then it was too late....no way was I going to unwrap it! I'll try to get a picture of it with Briley at the party tomorrow.

This is the insides of the Memory Book that i made for Melanie. When you open the cover you see a picture I cut from a magazine. This reminded me of us when we were "kids". You then pull the ribbon tab to unfold the acordian type pages revealing other childhood memories. The "pockets" are glued on and then have brads added at the corners for extra strength so that the "viewing" of cards won't pull the pocket loose. This was quite a joy to make and a wonderful stroll down "memory lane".

Melanie's card and gift

This is Melanie's card that had a slight preview when I posted Katherine's last week. The centers of the larger flowers are made with glass buttons. The smaller ones are flower shaped plastic buttons. The glass buttons came from my button jar that has been added to from various "contributors". I beleive they were originally from Momma Kate's collection and maybe some of Mom's. The little "baby" buttons on the Happy Birthday and other phrase strips are "leftovers" from the baby shower invitations for Maggi/Caleb's shower.






This is Melanie's gift. It is a "Memory Book". This was made from one of those many AOL free sign up containers that we constantly get in the mail! I covered it front, back and sides with coordinated papers. The insides will be in the next post....since I can only add 5 pics at a time.

This is Katherine's card...her b.day is Wednesday. I have already mailed it. Also a "sneak peek" of Melanie's. Her "big day" is the 25th. I'll be posting the rest of this card along with her gift next week.

I have "finished" my costume and the Raggedy doll for Briley's party. The only thing left is to get yarn for the dolls wig and mine.

I cleaned off my work area and started back on the calendars yesterday.

This is Rob and Lacy's anniversary card...6 years last Sunday.
This is the example of "Bargello". Here you put strips of patterened paper on another piece of paper, then cut into strips crosswise so that the strips are now of all the patterns. Then you place them in secqence, cutting the last few "squares" off and applying to other end, making the "new" pattern. Sounds complicated, but if you actually see it and try it ...It's quite fasinating and FUN!

This is Ryleigh's birthday purse card...her b.day is TODAY. I made her sister, Hannah one similar to this for her a couple of years ago and it was a big hit. Hope Ryleigh likes hers too!! The middle compartment holds kleenex and "owie" bandaids.

weekend progress

The weekend was quite busy and didn't get as much done "craft wise" as I had hoped for.
Had to go to the grocery store on Saturday morning due to the fact that a "new top" was added to our cove friday and was blocked to traffic til that evening. We got home from the store and Luke and Tommie were already here waiting to follow us to Dad's for the BBQ. I rushed around like a "mad woman" getting the perisable stuff put away, the slaw made and everything gathered up to go. We went, had an "okay" time and got home around 7pm.
Sunday we worked in the yard doing some much needed "bed work" and finally getting the last of the old patio cover damaged from the hail storm in March cut up and put into containers to be thrown away. It was time to fix some lunch and have a shower. Then buy some digots, etc on the computer for a while. When I finally got around to the "workshop" it was 4pm. I had mentioned before that I am going to be Raggedy Ann for the costume party....added to that sewing project... it was also decided that Briley's gift will be a Raggedy Ann doll with matching outfit. I got the doll put together and all she needs is her wig. I started her outfit...got the bloomers and started on the apron when...OH NO...the sewing machine decides to "flake out"!!!! It will sew other fabrics but for some reason has decided not to work on the white fabric???? The bloomers were from the same fabric and it worked for part of the apron???? Tony says that since the fabric is from an old sheet from Mother Bess' linen closet that she doesn't want it to be used for Raggedy Ann??!!??
To add to this...Sean called yesterday afternoon asking if I can help with thier costumes. I told him about the machine and he said "they" have one.
I'm going to try the sewing again this afternoon and see what happens...maybe if I try different thread? I already cleaned, changed the needle and moved all the switch controlls around!!!!
Anyway when all is said and done I'll post party pictures. I'm also going to upload more pics of cards that have been delivered.

What was I thinking???!!!

Yes, I forgot another birthday!!!!!! My Uncle Mike's is TODAY!!!!
We will be going out to Dad's land Saturday for BBQ and to help him celebrate.
I will (no doubt) make him a card with the Longhorns as the theme due to his infatuation with them. The TEXAS/OU game is Saturday also.
We finally got MUCH cooler weather and the radio announcer just said that it was "unseasonably cooler" today. I had an idea for my contribution to the BBQ....S'MORES....YUMMMMMMMM!!!

Caleb and Stocking

This is the Christmas stocking that I made for Caleb last year. I made one for Tristen and Sebastian on thier 1st Christmases also....don't know if I have any pics of these or not....it was 9 and 12 years ago! I've also made them for my kids when they were little. Replaced them a couple times as they "outgrew" them and wanted updated styles. Lori's unicorn one had an "accident" and has been "retired". She made a new one last year....cowboy boot...she is very proud of herself....she did a GREAT job!! I'm proud of her too!!!!

New "stuff"

We got an invitation to Briley's 1st Birthday /Halloween party. Costumes are required. Tony says he'll go, but he will not wear a costume. BAH humbug party pooper.
After much thought I have decided to go as Raggedy Ann. I cut out yesterday...now will start putting together this weekend. (A break in the previous schedule.)
I am making apron and bloomers from a white sheet.....extras come in handy for other ideas besides ghosts! I found a large enough "scrap" of random fabric for the dress and some hem lace to use for trim on the apron.
All I need now is white knee highs that I will add red stripes to ...unless I actually find striped for a decent price....and yarn for the wig.
Talked to Mom yesterday and she said that I will have to take pictures! I'll post after the party.
On another subject...sort of...speaking of pictures....I finally got last years Halloween and Christmas pics of Caleb. There is a picture of him with the stocking I made him...I'll post it too.

BUSY busy BUSY

Making a cute pop-up kitty card for Briley's 1st Birthday.
While I was getting all the Halloween and other Birthday cards ready to be mailed I decided that Melanie's needed a little more protection than a regular envelope!
So that got me to thinking.......I would like to add a little something as a gift to go with the card which will require a box rather than an envelope.
My new Paper Crafts Magazine came in the mail yesterday and while thumbing through it for the second time....it came to me. I have the perfect little "box" to use for this project! I've been going over it in my mind all morning and writting down ideas for it.
More later... back to the creations.