Goodbye April...

April is always a very busy month with the hope of winter ending and Spring arriving, lots of family and friends birthdays and this year the Letter Writing Month challenge I joined.
The photo above shows the wonderful amount of snail mail I have received this month. We each were paired with a "blog pal" and the criteria of sending at least one snail mail item to that person. Well, the list included 32 participants and we could also send to any one or all of the list. You know me...I sent to every person on the list at least once. Some of them more than once. And my blog pal several times. I was so lucky as my blog pal sent me lots of wonderful mail. Each so very clever and handmade which is just what I love.
Thank you each and every one for such a fun month of snail mail.
I also took this month and sent mail to some of my friends and blogland friends. I thought it would be the right time to remember so many people who mean so much to my daily living.
I am awaiting one more piece of mail from my blog pal because she gave me a hint that she made me something and I am so excited to see what it is.
So as this is the last day of April we say goodbye and put this very busy month to rest for another year.
When was the last time you handwrote a letter or handmade a card and mailed it to someone?

Winter Hijacked Spring...Again

The rain is so refreshing and clean and clear. I really do like it. However, Winter has hijacked our Spring again. Here it is April 28th and no sunshine again. When I took this picture it was just between hail and snow and a white layer on the ground. Snow level is 4000 feet today and we are 3400 foot elevation. The Sierra's are definitely getting another batch of snow. This rain is so good for our water table. We are on our own well so we are thankful for the rain. It also means we don't have to turn on our drip irrigation system yet.
Welcome refreshing rain.

I was going to post pictures of my clever creative artistic bookmarks I made however I seem to have some little (or big) gremlin who deleted the two pictures I needed. Afterall they were sandwiched in with Mr. Createology's car project photos so I can easily see how a couple of "craft" photos were not needed. LOL

I was going to show you how I use an old catalog for my gluing station. You probably already are doing this or know about this but just in case you aren't using this trick here it is. Get an old catalogue and instead of throwing it out just yet, use the pages for your base to apply glue to your pieces of ephemera. As each page gets messy just turn it over and you have a new clean page to work on.

I recycled some propaganda (so mysterious sounding) mail I had received and cut it into bookmark sized strips. It had some lovely flower photos on one side so I merely embellished around the photos. Some old sheet music, some glittery butterfly stickers, some text and done. The other side I glued my vintage wrapping paper to cover the strip. Some corner punches, a single hole punch and some ribbon finishes and a bookmark ready for mailing and using.

Very simple and kept some junk mail out of the landfill. As for my glue catalogue it takes a long time to fill every page with glue. Once filled you can use it for another art project.

P.S. I couldn't retake the photos because I mailed out all the bookmarks I made.

Do you have a handy tip for gluing paper or such things?

Choker Completed...

This feels so good to have it finished and ready for an event quickly coming up.
I handstitched this choker out of black lace and black grosgrain ribbon. The red rose braid is also handstitched on the black grosgrain. This choker ties with black velvet ribbons. I love how this lace really spreads out around the neck.

Then I made a fabric envelope to keep the choker in. It ties with the same black velvet ribbon as the choker.

I am so pleased with how this project turned out and the fact that it is ready for giving. I made it for a raffle which is coming up in early May. Proceeds not to benefit me but a fraternal organization.

I just know this will look amazing on the lovely lady who's number is drawn.

Scrapbook page or Tag keeper???

So I do not "scrapbook" as in the current terms however I certainly do my version of scrapbooking and always have. From the days of putting photos in an album and then having no text as to who or what is happening in the photos, to the horrible days of putting photos in those icky sticky photo albums which have long since ruined and eaten the photos, to the more current trend of designing and decorating the pages...oh and then maybe put a tiny photo on said page.

What you see here is utilizing scrapbook archival paper in the lovely shades of pink which not only represent girly but also cancer wellness in a generous 12" x 12" size. I needed to make some tags and thought why not make the scrapbook page to house the tags in also. I made six tags and kept the embellishments all fairly flat so the page would not be too bulky. Lots of butterflies, glitter, an angel, some lace, my favorite mary jane shoe stamp, princess ribbons and stickers.

I used another sheet of the scrapbook paper to cut strips and sewed them onto the base sheet. This gave me pockets in which to place the tags. Each tag can be removed to view and then replaced back in the pocket for keeping.

For Colette once again to cheer her in her battle against cancer. Think Pink and Health!!!

Once I started this project I just couldn't stop until I was satisfied with the cheer and smiles I hopefully sent along with it.

This is a part of a bigger project that Sherry at Country Wings is doing and I am so blessed to be a tiny part of it.

Do you have any ideas for Pink mailable items to send to Colette?

Pink Wishes...

In keeping with Colette and wishing her pink and recovery from cancer I made and sent this small charm that can be attached to anything. I like to put one on my scissors just for fun. Some use them on cell phones. Others attach them to their keys. You can imagine the many ways in which you can enjoy one of these.
The pink owl bead is for wisdom.
A pink heart bead for caring.
The butterfly for 10,000 happinesses and new beginnings.
And of course the heart charm that says it all...Made with Love.
Colette please know I am thinking of you and wishing you pink.
Smiles,