I am truly blessed with a group of friends that have become very close over the last two decades through many avenues, including jobs, friends of friends, playing Bunko together, and crafting.  A small core group of crafting friends have recently started getting together on a Saturday every other month.  The day begins at the crack of dawn…at least it feels like it….and is held out in a country metal barn-like building on a family member’s property, a huge space with 6-8 of us sitting at large tables set up in the center of the room surrounded by standing floor heaters (it can get very cold even in California in February), hanging electrical strips for us to plug in our Ott Lights, hot air dryers, and whatever else we want.  On one side there is a large camp trailer with a fully operating kitchen and bathroom and across the front of the building are tables with a beverage and food area set up to feed us throughout the day.  This is quite the gourmet set up too! We have fresh roasted Starbucks coffee and creamer, Tea, and other noshes like breakfast breads like bagels, Krispy Kreme donuts, fresh berries, home-made sausage rolls, and a delicious breakfast pizza! That is just breakfast!!!

We have each brought a card or project with instructions to share with kits for the other group members.  The theme of this day was Birthdays! Pictures of our finished projects are shown here.  I have listed the name of the designer on each project!  Materials for each project were purchased by the designer.  I apologize that I do not have a complete list of all products in order to give full credit but will say that Queen and Company “Fruit Mix” products were primarily used in Lisa McKim’s Lemon Slice card.  Basic Grey papers were used primarily in Angela Colazzo’s Exploding Box project. Pam Huseman used Close To My Heart products primarily in the single Pink Cupcake card project.  I used Spellbinder’s dies in the three cupcakes card project, and miscellaneous other products and accessories were used in Melody Norton’s and Julie Thomas’ projects.

In case you were wondering, for lunch on this day we had croissant sandwiches, caesar salad, chili cheese dip with Fritos, and chocolate chip cookies! I hope I haven’t left anything out!!! My apologies if I did!

We love these craft days and laugh a lot, listen to great music and make special memories!  There is always something that goes awry or provides a big laugh either in getting ready for or during the day!

I hope you enjoy seeing our projects!  Take care, Hedda!

In July, I found myself watching YouTube videos on how to decorate envelopes to coordinate them with my cards! I loved learning about this and I am sharing a card and envelope made for our daughter. She is a crafter as well and I made this with love! 

I used watercolor paper for both the card and envelope, distress inks, stamps and zig markers! 

Made this sweet little thank you card yesterday! It is a top-folding card. I used the following products:

Bazzill white cardstock (10.25 x 7 inches) folded

K & Company adhesive paper pad “Sweet Nectar” (6.75 x 4.75 inches) plus tag (4 x 1.5 inches) notched

Bazzill blue cardstock (6.25 x 4.25 inches) embossed with Sizzix embossing folder

Lawn Fawn die “Thanks” cut from Bazzill blue cardstock.

Close to My Heart enamel gems (pink)

 

Today I made two cards using my Tim Holtz Bird Crazy and Crazy Things stamps. I used my Distress Inks and Spectrum Noire Markers to color the birds, hats, and accessories. I love this stamp set!

Cardstock

Patterned Paper Packs

Stickers/Embellishments

Left Side of Closet

More Paper Packs

Buttons/Washi Tape/Wood Shapes

Craft Paints/Paper Pads

Clear Stamps

Stickers/Embellishments

Photos/Scrap Paper

Rolling Cart with Class Kit and Adhesives/Specialty Paper

Stamp Pad Storage and Spectrum Noir Markers

Embellishment Station

Stamp/Scrapbooking Station #1

Ribbon Rack (under window)

Ribbon Rack

Stamp/Scrapbooking Station #2

Station #3 (writing/coloring)

Writing/Blogging Computer

Station #1

Station #2

Wall Storage (Ikea)

Magazines/Catalogs/Journals

Idea Books/Photo Albums

Idea Books/Photo Albums

Other

I covered my 2017 art/inspiration journal this morning.  It is a simple spiral sketch pad that I bought a while ago but hadn’t yet used.  I like to journal or blog on lined paper or on my computer but I really liked the idea of including my sketches and inspirations, as well as using a smaller size to carry with me.  It is 5 x 8.5 inches.  The pics are above show the front cover first, then the inside of the front cover, and then the back cover, and the inside of the back cover last.

I used a paper pack from Michael’s from Recollection called Steampunk Botanica.  The paper is heavy and glossy and I really liked it.  I used only three sheets and have a lot of really great scraps left over for other projects.  I also used washi tape that I had on hand.  I’m just beginning to use washi tape as an embellishment.  I didn’t add any bling or metal to the journal because it will probably be bumping around in my bag a lot and I didn’t want to have any excess texture that might fall off or get damaged.  I will post more about this journal once I start using it.

It will be interesting for me to start including my sketches and other things to my journals since I’ve only handwritten or typed in the past…no frills!  I want to really push the edges my creativity now.  I have all this time….LOL

Yes, retirement agrees with me!  I only wish that I also wanted to exercise and eat more nutritiously.  I do WANT to….but I have not really put much effort into it.  Keep a good thought for me ok?

It has been a very interesting transition for me, moving from getting up so early every morning and dashing around to take my meds, getting dressed, grabbing my coffee to go and out the door by 6:20 in order to get to work!  However – as of now, WORK is home, this blog, my writing/blogging/crafting!  It’s time to start my next career!!!

Well I better get started on the day! Have a great day Kittens!

I retired on Friday, December 2nd after working for 40+ years.  Most of it was spent in the medical field (administrative, not clinical).  I spent that time working in hospitals (6 total during my career) .  I had never aspired to this career.  I was going to be famous, you see, as an actress or a singer, or an artist. The first 18 years of my life were devoted to this endeavor and much of my early adult life I still pursued that dream to some degree…but never with the ambition of someone who really and truly wanted it.  I also had a very realistic and pragmatic side that loved having a roof over my head, food to eat and money in the bank.  I needed to work to support myself from the day I no longer lived with my family and there was no college fund or wealthy relative to sponsor me to finish my education.  At 18 I was on my own, working full time, taking courses at the local community collage and I took care of myself.  I’m proud of what I accomplished and I have no regrets.

As time went on I married and raised two wonderful sons who are now 30 and 24 years old;  divorced and remarried,  adding a Bear (my Hubby), another grown son and daughter (30 and 27) to my loving family and we have a total of four delightful grandsons!

 

The first thing they want you to choose when you set up your blog is a THEME!  I find it difficult to do, but I suppose I need to pick something that screams I’M BLOGGING HERE!