Holiday Season

I absolutely love this time of year! There's a chill in the air, the smell of wood burning and Christmas decorations and music every where you go, I love it! I've been in and out of my craft room these past few months, my crafty mojo comes and goes, when it goes it's gone (on vacation!) but when it's here I'm on a roll (I have to take advantage of it while I can because I never know how long it will last - LOL!) I made a few items for the house I wanted to share. I have not really done any decorating so I'm just starting out. Terry got me an old window which I cleaned up, sanded and hung it on the wall, I love how shabby it looks. There was a little nail in the middle so I added a silver glittered wreath for a Christmas touch. It was bare at the top and needed something so I made a mini banner and added JOY felt letters and buttons.

Inspired by a photo on Pinterest I painted some mason jars and distressed them. The little cake stand was a find at an antique store. Not quite sure where the jars are going to go yet, I'm sure I'll find a spot as I decorate more.

And a few crafty cards and tags......

This was a request by a very sweet lady who wanted a shabby needle holder as a gift for a quilting friend. I never made one before so I winged it.

I made this card set using Papertrey Ink dies.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Annette

The Snake Bark

I can always tell when something isn't right by the sound of our dog's bark. They have the regular dog bark, then they have a different bark when there's a critter close by, especially when the critter is moving very fast (They were barking at a big slimey slug that was about 5" long yesterday, it was the biggest slug I ever saw!) Last Saturday I was already in for the evening, it was around 6pm, and the dogs started barking and the bark turned into the "Snake Bark" so I went outside and looked all around the kennels and didn't see a thing. There was some "droppings" (LOL!) in Kaila's kennel so I got my shovel and rake and picked it up and started walking over to the fence area and as always, looking ahead. I saw something and had to stop and take a second look because I did not want to believe what I was seeing, there was a rattlesnake about 6 feet from where I was standing. It was right in the path where I was going and I am so glad I have learned to look ahead when I walk. I always carry my cell phone with me when I'm outside (for this specific reason) so I called Terry and luckily he was only 5 minutes away. I ran and got a bucket and lid and the snake stick ready so Terry could pick the snake up. I was trying not to freak out and stay calm but the only thing that kept going through my mind is what if I hadn't looked ahead I probably would of stepped on the thing and got bit! That was just too close of a call for me! Terry got the snake (which wasn't moving or rattling but was in strike pose) in a bucket and took it to our friend Doug who lives down the road. Doug ate the other rattlesnake that we took him a few months ago that we caught not far from the same place (ewww - anyone for a snake burger?) but he decided that this was a nice snake and not aggressive so he was going to give it to a friend who keeps snakes. Hey, as long as it is far, far away from here I don't care where it goes! It has been chilly at night for the past week so I'm hoping that was the last of the snakes this year! Oh, we did have a king snake in my garden area a few weeks ago that had gotten tangled up in the berry netting. It was tangled up from the head down about 4" and the netting was so tight around his face that is was all distorted, I thought for sure that it was all cut up and it was dead. I pulled on the netting a bit and the snake pulled back so it was still alive. Terry managed to cut the netting away from the snake with scissors and afterwards I got to pet the snake a bit (while Terry held it's head - I would of never touched it otherwise!) then he let it go and it slowly made it's way under another raised bed, I think we have a snake friend for life as it surely would of died. King snakes are good snakes that you want to have around as they are not aggressive and are supposed to keep the poisoness snakes away. (where was he last week?) Okay, enough talk of snakes for the year! Time for some crafty things! I've been pretty busy in my craft room and have lots to share. I made a simple birthday card using a Sizzix cupcake die cut chenille fabric. I sewed the letters on using my machine.

I used the Papertrey Ink snowman die on this card, cut with canvas that I distressed with paint and ink. Rub-on is Melissa Frances.

I used Papertrey Ink Front and Center die on this pocket. I cut two pices from black felt and handstitched them together then tied fabric strips through the holes.

I LOVE the new Papertrey Ink Pumpkin die and have had lots of fun using it! On this first card I cut the sections from fabric and sewed around each piece, then added the stamped image over the top using foam tape, twine and buttons.

Here are a few more cards made using the pumpkin die.

A couple ornaments using chipboard mitten and snowflake shapes along with painted and glittered grapevine wreaths.

And lastly, a birthday card using Papertrey ink Cupcake die. I created two pockets on the inside for a place to insert money or gift card. The card closes using ribbon attached to both sides and tying into a bow.

Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend! Annette

Hot Summer Days

Hello! Took a bit of a bloggy and crafting break. I had absolutely no crafty mojo first of summer, I think it took a vacation but it finally came back! I worked on some outside projects and messed around in the garden while my craft room collected dust. But the hot summer sun finally brought me inside so I've been in my craft room a lot lately. I've started working on Halloween and Christmas projects and have lots to share. On this first project I cut out a pumpkin from cardstock and covered with fabric, added felt nose, eyes and mouth, stitched up the sides and make a Halloween decoration. Filled it with three tags ucing Crafty Secrets fabric images.

Made a Christmas Decoration using a grapevine wreath. Snowman is Papertrey Ink snowman die cut with felt and hand stitched.

Next I made some gift tag and gift card holder sets using felt. To keep the wording from coming off I stitched them on with my sewing machine.

Tag set using Papertrey Ink mini snowman stamp and die set.

I made a candy corn pocket using a cone shape. I covered with fabric, machine stitched and added a tea stained twill tape hanger. They open at the top to where you could add candy. Who doesn't love candy corn at halloween - yum!

Also made a couple Halloween card sets. Vintage children images are from my stash of Crafty Secrets (love them!) Pocket on the little witch card is a pre-made kraft card turned on it's side to create a pocket. I covered the front with canvas and felt letters.

And lastly, I made another hanging pocket covered with burlap and filled with some handmade pumpkin shaped tags. I machine stiched the cat, moon and wording on the front of the pocket and also around the eyes, nose and mouth on the tags.

That's about it for now. I'm working on more Christmas items that I'll share soon. Hope you have a lovely weekend! Annette :)

The Porch Corner

I love to sit on the corner of the porch and watch the birds. This is my view from the corner, I've got three bird feeders and a birdbath. You can barely see the bird feeder to the left of the bird bath. I just got a new bird feeder and it's only about 6 feet from where I sit, a little Chickadee just happen to land on it while I had my camera. To the left of the porch above on a tree branch I have a great view of a morning dove sitting on her nest. She hasn't moved for 2-3 weeks so her mate must be bringing her food. See her there in the middle of the photo? The nest above my craft room window is also full of babies and we also have a cardinal nest in between two tarps above one of the dog kennels. When I go in the dog kennel in the morning you can hear the babies. They should be leaving any day now as they only nest for under two weeks, they sure grow up fast! I have not been doing much crafting lately but do have a few items that I've been working on over the past few months. First is a Popsicle shaped card covered in felt, buttons, chipboard and glitter. I created a hanging paper pocket using cardstock as the base and covered it with fabric. I also made some matching butterfly tags to tuck inside, which are also covered in fabric. I used a Fan shaped die on this set of tags and covered them with fabric, vintage doily scrap, paper roses covered in glitter, pearl pins and ribbon. I'm headed to Myrtle Beach, SC next week so I was in the mood for a beach themed card. I used some old Creative Imaginations goodies that I had, also some real seashells and a little starfish. My garden is thriving like crazy! I've been picking fresh raspberries every day for about 2 weeks and also going to make some raspberry jam when I get back from my beach trip. My tomatoes are 2-3 feet tall already and I picked my first yellow squash and zuchinni and cooked them for dinner last night. There is nothing like fresh garden veggies, can't wait for the tomatoes to ripen! (I see Blogger.com has changed their blogging format, I think I like the old version much better! All my paragraphs are running together for some reason, oh well it's free so I shouldn't complain - LOL!!) We also had our first Rattlesnake about 3 weeks ago (Hopefully the last!). It was on the other side of the fence getting ready to head onto our property and the dogs started barking at it so it stopped. We got all the dogs put up and my brave Terry went through the woods with his snake stick that Doug made us and a kitty litter bucket to try and catch it. That darn snake slitered through the fence and came onto our side so I just kept my eye on it while Terry came back over. He finally managed to get it in the bucket and put the lid on top. He drove the snake over to our friend Dougs, who is usually the one catches the snakes for us because most of the time Terry is at work when the snakes show up so I call Doug and he comes over and get's the snakes for me. The rattlesnakes usually don't show up until July but with the warm winter we had they are coming out early, I hope and pray that was the last rattlesnake I'll see this year! Wishing all of you a lovely Summer! Annette :)

Craftroom Blues

Just wanted to pop in and say hello! I've been outside working for the past month gardening (got my tomatoes planted!)and doing some landscape work around the house. We are trying to plant a front lawn on an area that is all rocks, clay and weeds so it's alot of work, I'm only 1/3rd of the way done! We have to rake all the rocks, then spread good dirt on top of the bad dirt and then rake out more rocks, then comes the grass seed. The seed that I planted on the front area is starting to come up and it looks so nice but can't kill the weeds until the grass get's established. One of these days we will have a pretty front lawn!

This week I am back at work all week (it's been 4 years!)The boss and his wife are on vacation so I'm filling in for them, then back to work Mondays and Tuesdays starting next week so my crafting time has been cut short lately. I got up extra early today just so I can have some playtime in my craft room, I miss it so much!

I only have one project to share this week but I'm working on more during extra time and should have some new items in the next couple weeks.

Made a little Mother's day wall hanging using a grapevine wreath that I painted. Added a chipboard fence, paper roses, glittered die cut, pearl beads, ribbon and an antique store find of a crochet butterfly.




Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back soon!
Annette

Early sings of Summer

With all the warm weather we have been getting I've been spending a lot of time outside these past 2-3 weeks. There definitely are signs that summer is approaching quickly! I had my first tick on me, - ewwww! Mosquitoes are out, a couple even left their bites on me. I got my first ever Poison Ivy which is on my stomach, arms, neck, back and legs. As much time as I have spend outside these past few years I have never had it before. I think I got it from the dogs who found a patch of it and then I got it from hugging them (I give them lots of hugs!) It showed up as a few little spots then was popping up all over. It wasn't too bad the first day or two but after a few weeks I couldn't stand the sleepless nights from the itching and I finally broke down and went to the doctor yesterday. He gave some Predinisone, which hasn't kicked in yet, sure hope it kicks in soon as the itching is unbearable! I'm one of those people who do not like to go to the doctor and would much rather spend the co-pay and prescription money at Michaels or Hobby Lobby - LOL! I've been looking everywhere on the property for the Poison Ivy and finally after a week I found it right behind the dog kennels, go figure that! Terry has bought some stuff and is going to spray it and hopefully it will die off. I don't ever want to get messed up with Poison Ivy EVER again!
Oh, and to top off the sure signs that summer is almost upon us - our resident 6 foot Black Rat snake made her first appearance yesterday across our front lawn.

There are good things about summer that I like though, the birds, flowers and especially fresh picked tomatoes and veggies from the garden!

I worked on an Easter card using some Papertrey Ink releases from last month. Made a bunny basket and cut slits in the bottom and weaved in some thin pieces of felt to make it look like a woven basket, then added some stamped egg bunnies, a rolled rose and some Easter grass.

Made a little scallop card and pocket using We R Memory Keepers, Papertrey Ink egg die and Sizzix.

Cupcake set with a fabric envelope and matching card and tag. This is the front of the fabric envelope.


I made some fabric and paper pockets and tucked some tags inside.




Also just finished a chipboard album. The base is a chipboard book I picked up about 3-4 years ago, finally decided to do something with it! Most of the papers in the book are Simple Stories which I picked up last year. I added lots of pockets, journal tags and places for photos. This is one project I can check off my to do list!




I've got a new toy to play with, an Embroidery sewing machine!! Will share some projects as soon as I figure out how to use it!

Wishing you a lovely day!
Smiles, Annette