I bought a couple of different patriotic themed napkin sets at the Dollar Tree (of course), and separated the layers so I only use the top layer. I covered them with glossy Mod Podge with a paint brush (on a silicone mat) and waited for them to dry. Once dry, I cut the napkins in quarters and then using a glue stick, adhered it to a 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ pre made white card that I bought at Michaels in a set of 50. Trim the napkin to fit the card. I used real red ink from Stampin’ Up and found a line of stars stamp from a set called “Let Freedom Ring” from Papertrey Ink and stamped the card and envelope with the stars. I had a stamp set from Stampin’ Up that’s retired called “Courage” and stamped the sentiment from that set inside the card. I am making a patriotic card once a month on video to send to our troops overseas. Our local group that sends boxes to the troops is called “Project Support our Troops.” They send 60-70 boxes of candy, coffee, tea, cookies, treats, as well as cards to our service men and women on active duty overseas. Their address is

Project Support Our Troops
c/o Laurie’s Embroidery
283 North Street Plaza
Meadville PA 16335

They appreciate cards for the troops as well as cards that our troops can send home to their families and friends. Please make sure that the cards you send don’t have any glittery or sparkly things on them as they are a safety hazard. I hope some of you will join me to send cards to the people who are there for all of us.

Today was my niece’s bridal shower.  I gave her the recipe box before the shower and maybe it was the wrong time as she was had a lot going on.  I think I had too high of expectations for how she would react to it and the card I made for her.  I should have let her open the box with her other gifts but I had so many things for her to open, I didn’t want to miss seeing her reaction.

They have an unusual custom for bridal showers in Youngstown,  and I’m nor sure if they do this elsewhere.  The bridesmaids open the gifts and cards then hand them to the bride who holds them up and thanks the gift giver for their present.   I’ve always seen the bride open the gift and card and then thank the gift giver, but it’s not done that way in Youngstown.  Anyway, she seemed to like her gifts but as I said, I think my own expectations were the problem.  I guess when you put so much time into a project, you want the receiver to be really happy with it.  I wouldn’t say she was overly thrilled but she was really happy with the family recipe book she requested.  She asked for a book that had recipes in her grandmother’s handwriting (her grandmother passed away when she was only three, so she wanted a keepsake.)  I bought the book and cards based on our niece’s choice and had her aunt’s, mother, grandmother on her mother’s side, and her new mother-in-law, write as many recipes as they wanted.  The book was full of recipes and I made sure I found ones in her grandmother and grandfather’s writing.  It was the only gift that she opened that she cried about and that really made me happy.  She’s always been important to Rich and I as she’s not only his only niece, but also his goddaughter.  We wanted to make sure her gifts made her happy and have always tried to make sure she would not be disappointed with whatever gifts we got her.  So although she loved the recipe book, the box seemed to be kind of a letdown. I guess we’ll know when we get the thank you note.  Time will tell.

I went to some garage sales today and found a lot of great crafty things.  I’ve never seen a haul video of garage sale items, but think it would be a pretty fun idea.  I like finding things that I can repurpose into storage or gifts, and especially love it when I find something that I didn’t know existed.  Today I found some dye sticks that look like oil pastels, and  are made to be used on fabric.  Genius!  I think I’m going to buy some cheap white sneakers and use the dye sticks on them.  I also might use alcohol markers on them to make them look tie dyed, I’m just not sure.  The bottom line is for seventy-five cents I have something new and different and something I can definitely use to make something fun.

I also found a sheet of  tiles that are  small square glass tiles in a bunch of different colors.  I’m sure I can do something interesting with them, I’m just not sure what.  I might make coasters our of them or I don’t know, the sky is the limit.  I just love the possibility of it.

I found a fun wreath that was covered with felt and had felt flowers glued onto it.  Although it was dated looking, I thought I could definitely do something to make it current and cute.  It was a good day of bargain shopping and I’m really excited to think of all of the things I can make.

Here is the set of note cards for inside the portfolio I made in the previous video.  The set was made using premade cards that I bought from Michaels in a set of fifty.  There are several different patterns of black with off-white backgrounds on the cards so I chose four patterns to work with.  I used a 2 1/2″ circle punch and a 3″ scalloped circle punch both from EK Success.  First,  I stamped the Newfoundland dog onto off-white card stock with Onyx Black Versafine ink then used Ranger Clear Embossing Powder on the stamped image.  I used a heat gun to set the powder.  I have a speckle stamp from Hero Arts that I stamped with Onyx Black Versafine ink and used on the circle before applying it to the scallop.  I then punched  the dogs with the 2 1/2″ circle punch  and punched the 3″ scallop circles out of black cardstock.  I used a tape runner to attach the circle to the scallop circle and added foam tape to the back of the scallop circle to apply it to the note card.  I used washi tape on the envelopes that matched the cards.

I wanted to make a set of stationary for friends who have a Newfoundland puppy.  I bought the template from Green Sneakers and will put a link to it below.  The paper I used is from Stampin’ Up and the speckle stamp is from Hero Arts.  I used a 2 1/2″ circle punch and a 3″ scallop punch for the black paper.  The black and off white papers were scraps.  The ribbon is also a scrap.  I used Art Glitter Glue and really like how thin it is and yet, really works well.  I’m going to buy a bigger bottle to use with the fine tip applicator so I know if it works for me.  So far I haven’t found a fine tip applicator that has been effective.  I’m also planning a video on wet glues and hopefully, a fine tip applicator (depending on if I find one I can use.)  I used tear tape on the edge of the pocket and behind the papers I lined the portfolio with.
Here’s the link to the portfolio box template from Green Sneakers.  It is $9.99
http://www.greensneakers.com/Portfolio-Box-Template.html

This Saturday is the bridal shower for our niece.  I’ve been talking about it for so long, you’re probably sick of it by now.  I made her card today.  I have been thinking about the card for months and made the template for it at least a month ago.  It’s a bridal gown.  I cut it out of a 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ white card and then attached two different types of white material to it.  I finished the card and was really happy with it.  I stood up to go into another room and knocked over a glass of iced tea that was sitting on my desk.  I’m sure you know where the tea went.  Of course it covered my card and ruined it.  I mean ruined it.  So I started over.  I didn’t even cry.  What would be the point?  I’m kind of glad I did, because in the second round, I made layers of the skirt so it looked like Cinderella’s gown and covered the back with material as well.  It looks much nicer and I think Jennifer will really think it’s different from every other card she gets.  I’m really proud of it as well as the recipe box.  I think Jennifer is going to love her gifts and can’t wait for her to see them.  I’m excited about seeing our friends who have the newfoundland puppy as well to give them their presents.  It should be a great day.  I’m looking forward to it.

I wonder if you will think I’ve lost my mind.  I started with the portfolio and dog note cards for our friends with the Newfoundland puppy.  Then I did another folder and apparently that wasn’t enough, so I made a third folder.  They are all different and each have a different type of note card or stationary featuring the dog stamp.  But three?  Really, what was I thinking?  I should have maybe stopped at two.  But the third one was really cool and didn’t require any template, so I thought, what the heck?  Give it a shot.

In the midst of making all of the dog folders, I found time to make the patriotic themed card to send overseas to our troops serving in the military there.  Locally we have a group that sends boxes to them and I thought it would be nice if I made a card a month on video to get people thinking about sending cards to our service people.  They can send them to any USO or group like ours that sends packages to service people.  I think it’s only right that we put some attention on the people who are giving so much for all of us.  I’m hoping others will join me in this project.

Every once in a while, I wish I could sew, with a sewing machine.  In seventh grade, I took Home Ec and we learned how to sew. We needed to create a sewing project and I chose a tablecloth and napkins with a Christmas theme.  You’re probably saying, how hard could that be?  Keeping in mind that my physical limitations came much later (23).  I think I was afraid of running over a finger with the needle, I’m not sure what my issue was.  I never finished the tablecloth.  Ok, I didn’t make the napkins either.  I ended up getting an incomplete in Home Ec and even that didn’t bother me.  Years later, my Home Ec teacher came into one of the bank branches I managed and told one of the employees that she was really glad I found something I was good at, because she had real concerns for me in school.  That was a little embarrassing, I have to admit.

We have a double size chaise lounge for outside that I can’t get out of because the cushion is too low to the ground.  I started thinking about making new cushions with thicker foam in them which lead to me wishing I could sew.  Luckily I have my buddy Cora, who sews like a dream.  I asked her if she would make them for me and she readily agreed.   She’s the greatest.  I bought the material and may actually be able to use the chaise once I get thicker foam inside.  I’m crossing my fingers that this will work, either that, or put something under the feet to make it taller.  I’m still contemplating it.

When I was a kid, until I got married, Memorial Day was always a project for my father and me.  We planted flowers at his grandparents’ graves and both of my grandfathers’ graves.  My dad was a guy who never did anything halfway.  We took a gallon of water (because two of the cemeteries didn’t provide water), buckets and clothes to wash the graves, peat moss and potting soil to fertilize the soil, as well as Miracle Gro to help the plants along.  There were three cemeteries and about seventy miles of driving involved.  I loved spending time with my dad and didn’t question why my sister didn’t participate.  I think he knew I would go along with whatever he wanted and I never seemed to have other plans to prohibit me from participating.

I’m sure I would have continued to (as dad called it) “do the graves,” even after I was married, but got diagnosed with arthritis two weeks later.  When my dad died in 1994, Rich and I started “doing the graves” because my mother wasn’t physically up for the challenge, and she’s now gone as well.

So today we’re “doing the graves” and I’m thinking about all of the times I’ve done them with both my father and Rich.  I don’t know about other people, but for me, I “do the graves” to honor not only the memory of my parents and grandparents, but also to make sure the tradition did not die with my father.  For me, “Memorial Day,” is a day I remember my dad and always spending that day with him.

I hope every one that reads this has a great Memorial Day and that your memories of those that have passed are every bit as wonderful as mine.

I started working on my Memorial Day card that’s not really specifically for Memorial Day. It’s the first card I’ve done on video to send overseas to the troops.  I found some great flag napkins at the Dollar Tree (of course!) and decided to start the  card by using Mod Podge on the napkins.  I used Mod Podge in my DIY washi tape video on tissue paper.  It makes it a lot easier to work with and gives it a really interesting texture.  Of course you have to separate the layers so you only use one on the card.  This technique doesn’t work well if you don’t.  Trust me, I’ve made that mistake.  I’m not sure exactly what I’m doing once it dries, but I’m sure an idea will come to me.

I also went to some garage sales today and met a woman who works with people with physical limitations so I gave her the information about my website.  She asked if I would ever consider teaching a class and of course I was thrilled anyone would ask.  I told her to go through my videos and find a project she’d like me to turn into a class, and I’d be happy to do it.  She was so excited and so was I.  It should be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to doing it.