Little Notebook with Tags

 This is a free printable by Gi Kerr. 

She has freebie Fridays, and always has some

great printables to use in junk journals. 

Back tag has a pocket to hold

the smaller tag and mini notebook. 

I added some paper and used a pamphlet stitch to secure the

pages. 

I also found some vintage fibers in my stash to use on the tags. 

This was bought way back when Archivers was still open in Fairlawn. 

Take a look at the lower corner. Yup my new kitty Riot had to help

me while I was working, and put some nice little holes in the packaging. 

She has very sharp little teeth! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Fall Pumpkin Pancakes

 I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for my daughter yesterday, and

I had just enough pumpkin puree left to make a batch

of pumpkin spice pancakes. 

Found the recipe on the internet, and have been wanting to try them. 

As you can see I entered the recipe in my Fall journal. 

They are made using rolls oats instead of flour. 

With lots of Fall spices! 

Eggs, and unsweet almond milk for the wet ingredients. 

Everything was added to my nutri bullet blender to mix the batter. 

Love this blender by the way. Mixes things with no clumps or lumps. 

Time to fry! 

All done, and at the table ready to eat. 

Recipe says it yields 6, but I had more. They

must have made pretty large pancakes to only get 6. 

Even hubby said he liked them. Which is a big compliment! 

Pumpkin Pancakes trails

Karen 

Trekking Through Autumn Pin Earned for 2020

 I earned my Trekking through Autumn pin. 

This is the first one I got from the Medina County Park District. 

Last year since it was the first time taking this challenge I earned a backpack. 

Each year after you earn a different pin. 

Glad I finished the 9 hikes required early as yesterday while

hiking with hubby I tripped over a tree root and hit the ground. 

I got banged up pretty good, and I'm sore today, but

thankfully nothing broken. 

Aching all the way

Karen 

Slow Stitch Christmas Square

 This is a 6x6 fabric square. The technique used is called 

slow stitch. 

Slow stitch is just stitches you use to hold the fabric pieces

to a foundation piece. I used a white piece of felt for the base. 

Used different colored embroidery floss. The idea as I understand it is

to have the stitches show. Unlike a crazy quilt the stitches

can be sloppy. 

I added some buttons after the piece was stitched. Also used

some natural cheese cloth, and lace. 

The flower in the center I cut from the center of a embroidered doily. 

So what am I going to do with it? Made it for a swap of course. 

Some people frame the finished pieces, or use them in junk journals. 

The swap didn't have a theme, but I wanted to make a Christmas one seeing

how "tis the season"! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Christmas ATC is a Doll

 Well it has been awhile since I played with any

of the Julie Nutting doll stamps. 

Joined a Christmas artist trading card swap that

required the use of the dolls. This is what I whipped up. 

The doll is popped up over the base with foam strips. 

Used some Wink of Stella on the berries, hat, skirt, and background. 

Doll is colored with Prisma pencils. 

Pretty happy with how it came out. 

The weather here has been awesome since middle of last week. 

In the 70's on most of the days. Have been able to

walk in the morning, and in the evening. 

Of course it won't last, but I'm enjoying it while I can. 

Haven't been crafting much as the kitten keeps me pretty busy. 

She is my little shadow. 

I'm debating on putting up the tree or not. 

Too early to put it up as I wait till the day after Thanksgiving. 

The neighbors on our street have been going crazy with Christmas

displays. Too early, but I guess they wanted to take advantage of the 

warm temps to put them up. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Happy Halloween 2020, and Weight Loss Reflections

 

So this has been a bad year to be sure. 

Saying it has been bad doesn't even cover it. 

We decided not to pass out candy for Halloween. Well

I decided. Told hubby flat out no. Just don't think it is a safe

idea this year. I did dress up as a witch on Friday to visit my friend Betty. 

I also got hubby to take a this pic of me and Riot. 

Since I lost 30 pounds over the summer I was able to 

once again fit into my witches costume. Oh happy day! 

Still have some more to lose. Well 39 more pounds to be exact. 

I'm saying this even though at this very moment I'm eating a piece of 

Halloween candy. And it is alright! Before I always tried to cut everything bad

out of my diet, but I've found through many diets that it isn't a good way to go. 

You have to allow yourself little pleasures here, and there because if you don't

you start binge eating. At least that is how I am. 

Went to the doctor last week, and my weight is at 188. 

I'm going to say I reached my goal weight when I'm at 149.

Why 149? Well I've been called, and labeled obese all my adult life. 

I really don't like that dirty 5 letter word. When I reach 149 I will be

labeled over weight, and I can live with that. 

I put a spell on you

Karen 

October Junk Journal made by Kathleen

 I received this wonderful October journal from my crafty friend

Kathleen. We started swapping monthly journals in September. 

I'll post a few of the pages from the journal. 

Love the fold outs she always adds. Who doesn't like to flip through things? 

Center pages. 

Lots of pockets to hold ephemera. 

Speaking of ephemera I love the vintage ones she added to this journal. 

Back pages. 

Big thanks Kathleen! 

Love this one. Well I love all the things you make. Can't

wait to receive November's journal. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

China Blue Teacup from Kathleen

 

My friend Kathleen felt bad that I didn't get to have 

my 60th birthday tea party. Due to the virus I just felt

it wouldn't be a good idea to have people over. 

She sent me this lovely teacup and saucer for my birthday. 

Thanks Kathleen! Love it. So pretty, and in my favorite color blue! 

Big thanks Kathleen! 

I'll be back tomorrow with the October Journal she made me. 

Time for Tea!

Karen 

First Slimline Cards

 Went to stamp with my crafty friend Betty yesterday afternoon. 

Tried making a few slimline cards. I've seen people posting them

on pintrest, and you tube videos. Thought they looked interesting. 

This first card was made using a Tim Holtz Halloween stencil, with 

different colors of distress oxide ink. 

The little spider is a rub on, and the Happy Halloween at the bottom is a piece

of chipboard ephemera. Thanks Betty for letting me use that on my card. 

Next card I made for Thanksgiving. 

I first did the stenciling with antique linen ink. Then used a dandelion stencil with fossilized amber, 

and peeled paint ink over the first stencil. 

Thankful was run through my die cutting machine with cardstock, and fun foam. 

I layered the cardstock word over the foam one then glued it to the card. 

Love the raised look! 

Last one I made is a birthday card. 

Again I used two different stencils with distress oxide inks. 

So I had fun making the slimline cards. Right now I have dies in my

cart from cozyscrapbook to use for making slimline cards. 

Don't judge me! Yes I'm getting more craft stuff! LOL

Stamping trails

Karen 

Celebrating my 60th a few day early with the Family

 The kids came over on Sunday, and we celebrated 

my 60th birthday a few days early. 

This is the cake Sarah got for me. Came from a place in Strongsville called

Nothing Bunt Cakes. They make the best bunt cakes. This

one is double chocolate chip with cream cheese icing. YUM. 

Love the Fall cake topper. 

Sarah also got me "60" candles to blow out. 

She said 60 candles would be to much to put on the cake. LOL 

After a spaghetti and meatball dinner we all went

hiking at Princess Ledges right here in Brunswick.  Sarah is 

pointing to the sign that reads End of Trail. 

Emily acting like a cat on a log. Too cute. 

Sarah and Jason. 

Hubby on a log leading across to the ledges. 

Emily, me, and Sarah standing under the ledges. 

We collected lots of fall leaves. I've been drying them out and modge podging them. 

More on that later. 

Sarah holding Riot. 

Emily holding a very sleepy Riot. The kids played

with her pretty hard, and wore her out. 

So we had a lovely day. Great spending time with the kids. 

The weather was beautiful. Most likely it will be the last 80 degree 

day of the year. 

Happy Birthday trails to me

Karen 

Haunted House Napkin Card

 I got to do some crafting with my friend Betty on Thursday. 

Made this cute Halloween card. The haunted house was made using a paper

napkin. Got a pack of them at Marc's for .50 cents. 

Larger pumpkin in the lower left made with one of Betty's stamps. 

Happy Halloween is washi tape. 

Back of the house is a piece of Tim Holtz Halloween wallpaper. 

The kids are coming over tomorrow, so I'm making meatballs today

to put in the spaghetti we are having for dinner tomorrow. 

It has been so beautiful these past few days. I don't want September to end! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Lake Medina

 

We have been walking at different Medina parks to complete the Trekking

through Autumn challenge. We visited Lake Medina a few days ago. 

They have an upper trail, and a lower trail. The lower trail is by the creek, and has lots of trees, and

flowers. The upper trail is around Lake Medina. Much bigger than Lake Brunswick, and the water is so 

clear! 

The sun was just sparking over the water. 

We saw people in a row boat, and lots of people walking

around the lake. Across the lake are many beautiful houses. Hate to have to pay the 

property taxes on those! 

This is the flight of steps leading up to the upper trail. 

Park district stone below the steps. 

The hike was a little over 2 miles. Very nice to walk. We started at the Route 18 side and 

walked to Route 3. 

I'm sure we will visit there again. 

Hiking trails

Karen 

Stitched Cards from my friend Kym

 My friend Kym stitched me some beautiful cards for my birthday! 

Just love her work. 

and she made me this beautiful stitched pocket letter in blue! 

My favorite color. 

Thanks so much Kym! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Cute Baby Pic of my friend Kathleen

 

My friend Kathleen, and I have been swapping things to use for 

our junk journals. This week she surprised me with black and white photos

of her as a child, as well as some of her family. How sweet! Love them!

While at Hobby Lobby last week I found this Sizzix die set

on clearance. Couldn't pass it up. Tried it out yesterday using

a baby photo of my friend. Used cream cardstock for the base to

give the card a vintage look. 

I think it turned out pretty awesome. Love that you can make

the camera into a shaker. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Halloween Journal

 

Halloween is just around the corner so I had to make a Halloween journal. 

Base for this is a piece of heavy weight textured dark gray card stock I found at Hollo's. 

Let's take a look inside if you dare! 

The dots on this paper are velvet. So cool. 

Had to add some black cats on the side pocket.

For the inside cover I used a velum envelope with a spider on it. 

Added some washi tape along the bottom of if. 

See Happy Halloween on the side? That is from a Halloween Peanuts

coloring book that belonged to the kids. I used some of the pages for the journal. 

Really love this page! I used a sheet of onion skin paper with a spider web

embossing folder. Then I lightly inked the raised edges of the web with black soot.  

Added a spider sticker to the center. 

This is the center of the journal. Used a black business size envelope with 

a window. Another great find at Hollo's. 

More Peanut coloring pages. 

Had to have a ghost in the journal.

Made a paperclip folder with pockets.

Inside view of the folder holding some Halloween ephemera. 

Got some spooky paper napkins at Marc's so I applied

one to a page. All the inside pages are stationary paper, and pattern paper.

That's all for now. I'm back to crafting. 

Stamping trails

Karen