Moments of wonder. See them and remember...

'They' tell me summer is over.
I see lights flashing in school zones
so I'm pretty sure it's true.
How would I know what to anticipate
when the weather never  barely changes here in sunny Florida!
Which is fine by me.
The sunny part, I mean.
The HOT part, I could do with less of.
I am a big 'shvitzer'.
I turn the AC down, my husband turns it up.
Which brings me to my topic in scrap booking today.
I looked at these pictures of my grandchildren in NY and thought
this is what sums up childhood.
The freedom to run through sprinklers.
And that is what I miss about being a child.
Running through sprinklers in a bathing suit!

I have these card stock doilies that were perfect for twine wrapping.
I love twine and this gave me an opportunity to use it.
Here is another layout from a couple of years ago.
How much fun is it to stand under a water fountain!

I used clear embossing powder on the layout's elements to mimic water.

“Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.”
― George R.R. Martin,

Favorite Blog Monday

Today I will introduce to you
a blog that will increase your scrapbooking talents.
This lady does fantastic work.
Her design is always balanced.
Her choice of colors, fresh and clean.
The best part for me:
she posts little tutorials along the way that improve your craft skills.
Her layouts are doable and interesting at the same time.
She is also a skilled photographer,
which makes her layouts even more wonderful.
Hopefully you will take some time to read her posts.
You will find little treasures along the way.
Techniques that look deceivingly complicated.
Explained in a clear pictorial.
So here you are....
MAGGIE HOLMES design
Enjoy!

This week I did a little more Sharpie magic.
It might not be wearable, unless you're 12.
But I think it's fun nonetheless!

Here is another layout using a Sharpie.
Script a word in pencil first on white card stock.
Practice on regular paper first.
Here I filled the word with beads
mimicking the heart which I took off a card.
I added a border and Voila!
(White background card stock always works best)

This is how I feel today...

Have a nice day!

Make every day a good day.

"You can't control the things that happen to you,
but you can control the way you react to them..."
We all feel this way.
Not as easy as it sounds is it?
Or easier than it sounds maybe?
For me it depends on the day.
For me the days that I am driven by a strong sense of purpose are the best days.
That is why I am constantly reading and re-reading
"Man's search for meaning" by Victor Frankl
I would say this book has had a significant impact on me.
This layout came to me with this idea in mind.
The inks and paint was inspired by my dear friend Lou
A constant artistic inspiration for me.

                                                             ink and water dripping...

glimmer mist paper flowers

water

tear

scrunch

fill flowers

"Sometimes when you make the most of what you have, 
it turns out to be a lot more than you ever imagined" - Susan Gayle 

The first mistake of art is to assume that it's serious.” ― Lester Bangs

Is this cute or what!?!
My youngest thinks it's 'nerdy'.
So I went looking for 'cooler' duck tape.
The next one is gonna be super cute and cool!
And hopefully will get the 'thumbs up' from my greatest critic.
Meantime this is my first try.

There are many duck tape patterns.

I remember when there was only silver duck tape!

I found these at Michael's.

I highly recommend you make this project with your kids.
There are enough prints and colors that will surely appeal to their individual taste.
THIS is where I got the idea.
She gives clear easy instructions.
I added the pocket for fun and functionality!
You could do your own thing too.
I want to make a bunch of these...
If you make this, PLEASE send me a picture.
It will make me happy.
And that's a really good reason, I think!

This is how I feel:
At moments of great enthusiasm it seems to me that no one in the world has ever made something this beautiful and important.
::: M.C. Escher :::

Favorite Blog Monday

Today I choose for you a blog that inspires me for several reasons.
The main theme running through is beauty...
This lady has many talents and is very popular in the blogging community.
Probably one of the most 'saved' under favorite blogs.
Knitting, embroidery, quilting, cooking and more...
Beautiful photographs.
I've been following her for a few years  now.
I think you might too!
Check it out: Posie Gets Cozy
ENJOY!

I finished my first sweater.
2 more to go.

Yesterday I decided to try an idea I saw HERE
Many times I pin DIY ideas on Pintrest..
But how many of them do I actually do?
This time I decided to put myself to the 'test'.
Walgreens had these T-shirts for $2.99.
I already had tons of permanent markers.
So I was more than ready.

The one thing I will add to this project is:
After your design dries, you drop a second drop of alcohol to achieve a flower design.
It spreads the ink further apart.
I loved doing this project.
It was easy enough for a kid
And challenging enough for me.
Any one of you ever do this project?
I would love to see your results.

This is how I feel today:
“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.” 
-Oscar Wilde

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!

A small part of scrapbooking for me is communication.

I'm sure many of you will relate.

I wake up in middle of the night.

I'm thinking about how much I appreciate and love this person.

I want to let them know how I feel.

It would be a little awkward to call that someone up and say...

Hey! Was thinking about you last night.

I love you a whole lot.

You are so beautiful.

You make my son so happy.

All of  kids adore you.

My mother adores you.

My grandchildren are crazy about you.

Your friends love you.

Your friend's parents love you.

Your husband's friends love you.

Your boss loves you.

(I'm not making it up. I've been told...)

You have a glorious smile.

The food you make has gained a reputation.

You're smart.

You're kind.

You're fun to be with.

You have beautiful teeth.

(OK, that's just my personal craziness. 

I love beautiful white teeth.)

I think after I say this there probably would be an uncomfortable laugh.

And then I could say,

All right, have a nice day.

She would hang up the phone

and say to her husband

You're mother is so weird!

(in a good way)

Instead of saying all that I just make a layout.

I think that says everything and more.

It says I've been thinking about you.

It's permanent.

It's witness.

It's forever.

The journaling is from the TOMS 2012 catalogue.

It took me all day to think about how to say it just right.

(SIDE NOTE: I asked my youngest teenager what to write.

Her response was

A SPECIAL GIRL...

for a special needs family!)

“There's no way I could pay you back but my plan is to show you that I understand, you are appreciated”
― Tupac Shakur

I don't know who this guy is, but I feel what he said...

Favorite Blog Monday

Memories light the corners of my mind...Misty water colored memories...Of the way we were...
Today I am hooking you up with a really cool blog.
Rarely do I find a blog that compels me to go through each post.
DEAR PHOTOGRAPH is one of those unique blogs.
It's one of a kind.

Taylor Jones, at just 22 years of age, was inspired to start his website Dear Photograph as he flipped through old family photos at his parents' kitchen table. When he came across an image of his brother sitting at that very same table, he lifted it up and snapped a picture of the picture. In a moment, the idea for DearPhotograph.com was born. After taking more photographs, Jones posted them on a website and asked people to submit their own renditions -- but he had no idea how overwhelming of a response he would get. In just six short weeks, millions of people had visited, hundreds had submitted, and Jones had created an internet phenomenon that captured the world's attention.

Here's an old picture that would be interesting to recreate.

My Aunt sent this picture to me.

I have no recollection of where or when this was taken.

Or what I was thinking about at that time.

There are plenty of people from my neighborhood that remember me this way

(though I do remember the outfit!)

This next layout is very dear to me.

I even remember the cloths I wore in this layout.

My mother made the skirt for me.

I always loved fashion.

My pony, perfectly combed, with a matching ribbon.

A necklace.

And of course, sunglasses.

Was I cool or what?!?

I used a page in a book that says Smile - Taking pictures.

For me, this layout represents a moment in time when I could imagine my mother taking this picture...

thinking about how cute her children looked...

Wanting to hold on to that memory...

I love all the paper layering and brads...

Here I was really little.
I chose to use lots of paint and ink.
I was inspired by a mixed media book of layouts.
It was my first try at it and I love the symbolism behind some of the ideas.
There is no right way to do this.
Only your way!

Don't Be Afraid To Try Something New. Be Afraid Not To!

Still working on this...

I am only knitting an hour or two a day, so it;s taking longer than I expected.
Meanwhile, I'm wasting a little time on THIS.

I like to try stuff I've never done before.
This was a really fun little project.
Recycling is what I really love.
Using paper to make these beads are right up my alley.
Once you get the hang of it, it's easy shmeazy!
I have loads of jewelry beads from the 'old' days.
So I took out my stash.

and came up with this...

  Me wearing my new jewelry.

I will be trying this again.
Next time I will be more specific in color and design.
You should try it too.
First look up "Paper Beads" on YOU TUBE.
Be very patient.
Most people talk really slowly.
It's worth watching several videos so you really get the idea down pat.
Then just do it!
Like I did.
Fun!

“If you try and lose then it isn't your fault. But if you don't try and we lose, then it's all your fault.”

Pink makes me happy!

These pictures make me happy.
These kids make me happy.
Pink makes me happy.
Scrapbooking makes me happy.
I just finished this layout and I'm a happy camper.

Favorite Blog Monday

I started this blog as a way of recording my scrapbboking.

In the hope that I could improve and grow in technique and creativity.

This week I bring to you a wonderful scrapper.

She is creative, and what I envy most

she is able to make her ideas doable.

There is alot to learn from her

and she is more than willing to share.

That is the kind of person I like.

Because The More You Share The More You Have!

So check this out, Purple Mailbox.

If you are ready to be adventurous in your art

and you are ready to absorb and learn

THIS  is the girl for you.

Meanwhile...

here's some progress on the sweater I'm making.

I will probably always think about the Olympics when I see this sweater...

And while you're already here visiting

let me direct you to read this.

Let me know your thoughts on that. 

Please!

Just takes a little minute.

Come on!

Always working on something!

I'm excited about this project.
My knitting guru, Pat, gave me this pattern with the yarn and said
Knit Away!
Believe it or not, this is mindless knitting for me.
Whatever is stockinette stitch always is easy.
I am excited to make this 3 times!
By the time Fall settles in New York, I should be done...

So what are you working on this summer?
Not much time left to do the things on your
'summer list of things to do'.
I still have to finish this....

As you can see, I am procrastinating with this one.
Why do I start other projects before I finish the ones I'm working on?
Ahhhhhh, the million dollar question of the human Psyche.....

Gotta put sleeves on this one too...

Maybe I'll Start another project today.
Just kidding!

I do it myself!

You know how at a certain age children recognize their own self?
It starts with "I do it myself, mommy"
"Don't feed me, I do it myself".
and the food lands on the floor.
"Don't dress me, I do it myself"
and the shoes are on the wrong feet.
"Don't tell me the answer, I do it myself"
5 minutes later crying with frustration....
Eventually they grow out of it.
They ask for help.
And slowly they become independent.
You watch them figure it out for themselves
while offering little snippets of advice here and there.
That's how it works for some kids.
Then there are the ones that continue to say
'I do it myself".
Doesn't matter how old they are, they were born independent.
That's my kid!
She's beautiful, bright, capable and has a quick mind. (K"H)
Dangerous combination!
And a challenge for sure.
Being that she is my youngest, I've already experienced
that all ages have their trials and tribulations.
(and this too shall pass...)
But when they finally grow up
their talents, brains and capabilities rule!

And I'm excited to see where she will go with that...
(my little snippet of advice here...)

“If you believe in peace, act peacefully; if you believe in love, acting lovingly; if you believe every which way, then act every which way, that's perfectly valid - but don't go out trying to sell your beliefs to the system. You end up contradicting what you profess to believe in, and you set a bum example. If you want to change the world, change yourself.”
― Tom Robbins