Little Bee Clusters for Junk Journal

 Relaxing this morning, and make bee themed clusters. 

One of these days I might make a bee themed journal. Maybe

next summer. We have been so busy here! 

John came over yesterday to help move furniture out of the living room. 

Kitchen floor is finished, and now we have to continue it through the living room. 

I keep telling myself it will be wonderful when finished, but this

remodel of the main floor is three months in already, and I'm just tired of it all. 

Kitchen looks wonderful of course now it is full of living room furniture, and we

can barely open the fridge. I have to be happy that I have a beautiful counter, sink, and

my stove is in. At least I can cook again. Going out to eat really gets old. I'm craving

home cooking. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Happy Mail from Kym

 I got happy mail yesterday from my good friend Kym. 

Take a look at these specimen cards. So pretty! 

Great job! Love them. 

She also make me two vintage tags. 

Just darling! Love the little girl with flowers in her hair. Too cute! 

and she made me two rolodex cards. Love the colors, and background

paper! Thanks Kym! 

Kitchen floor is in! So happy that it is finished. Today we are 

heading out to get the trim. Hoping we can move the fridge, stove, table, chairs and

hutch back. Will be wonderful to have a newly remodeled kitchen! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Night of Surprises

 We went to the Brunswick firework show last night. 

Got a great surprise as Sarah, and Jason joined us. How fun!

After watching the fireworks explode I also got

to open up a surprise package from Maryjo. The box also

exploded with lovely crafty goodies that I can use for my junk journals, 

artist trading cards, and other craft projects. So many goodies. 

As I said so many goodies!!!! Lots of images, paper, ephemera, buttons, 

ribbon, lace, tabs, and much more! Big thanks Maryjo! 

Happy 4th! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Paper Pieced Dolls

 My desk is clean! Ready to be a creative mess once again! 

Had a great afternoon with my son John yesterday. 

We did some junking, and stopped to visit a new toy store in Medina. 

I did take pics, and will be posting them to facebook. 

On Friday I spent some time doing a weekend challenge that was posted

On Beverly Crafting FB group. 

These are pieced together abstract dolls. 

I used a stamp for the one on the left to create the head. 

The other two dolls are pieces from Tim Holtz ephemera. 

Calling these my dress form dolls as each one has a dress form. 

This one has a Tim Holz die cut for the body. After

stamping the face it was colored with prisma pencils. 

Body for this one is a playing card. You can see

the 3 of clubs at the bottom right. 

Stamped the dress form after I glued down some different papers. 

Last one used a sticker spool for the body. 

Added a moth for a head piece. The dress form is a printed tag. 

So these were fun to make. I'm going to make a few more. 

Will be fun to use them for tuck spots in my journals. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Rose Cover Ephemera Holder

 This beauty is a ephemera holder that I made for my friend Kathleen. 

She has received it now so I'm safe to post it. 

I just love the pattern paper I used for this project! 

Goes so well with the Tim Holtz pink rose ephemera. 

The spine was covered with lace. 

As we open the book we find a fold out section with large pockets. 

These will hold taller pieces of ephemera. 

I used card stock weight vellum to make the little pockets

on the pages to hold different sized pieces. Art Glitter Glue

used to secure the vellum strips. 

In this photo you can see how the ephemera fits into the pockets. 

I did have a bit of trouble with the glue showing through the vellum

on the darker pattern paper. To cover it up I cut down small strips of

pattern paper and glued it over the edges of the vellum. 

The back page of the holder also flips out to show two

more large pocket pieces. 

I used a piece of ric-rac to edge the piece

of lace that I used on the spine. 

Needless to say Kathleen loved her ephemera holder. 

I have to make one for me, as I really wanted to keep this one! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Tags using Cancelled Postage Stamps

 Did a little online class last night.

Made some tags using cancelled postage stamps.

Used a mix of stamping, and ephemera to decorate the tags. 

Added some lace, and hemp twine to the tops. Coloring

done with Primsa pencils. 

Made three different sizes. 

This is the largest one. The charm at the top I got at Pat Catan's before 

they closed. The cancelled stamps I got from my friend Kathleen.

She sent me a lot of them. Thanks!!!!!

Found the bee cancelled stamp, and I thought it would 

work well with the flowers. 

The tags will be used in my junk journals. 

Will be spending the day cleaning up the mess I made yesterday. 

Still trying to reorganize all my craft stuff. Going to purge and 

get rid of things I don't use anymore. What a job that is!!!!

Spoke to Sarah yesterday. She got her first shot of the Covid vaccine. 

Work arranged it for her, so she didn't have to pay for it. 

Krafty trails

Karen 

Oversized Altered Playing Card

 Well my Browies lost yesterday. We cheered them

on, but in the end they lost by 5 points. It was an awesome season! 

They beat the Pittsburg Steelers two times in a row, so I'm not complaining! 

I did find time to craft yesterday. My friend Kathleen

sent me some oversized playing cards. I thought I'd try to alter

one. I'll either use it for a journaling card, or maybe as a focal point

on a journal cover. Haven't decided yet. Either way it was fun to work on. 

Snowed most of the day. Didn't start to stick till later in the day. Don't

have much, but it is enough to force me to ride the recumbent bike today instead

of taking a daily walk. 

I'll be making chili today. I still have some garden tomatoes in the freezer from 

last season. They make the best chili. 

I really need to clean the house, but I'm thinking I'll just

be crafting today. . 

Bought the wrong cat food for my kitten, and she won't touch the stuff. 

Oh bother! Cats are pretty strange about food changes, so I'm 

sure I'll be heading out to the store to get her brand. 

Krafty trails

Karen 

Altered Butter Cookie Tin

 This is the second tin of cookies my friend Kathleen sent to me in 

my Christmas box. Her challenge was for me to repurpose the tin. 

I forgot to take a before picture, but this was a small butter cookie tin. 

Remember the ones, grandma, and mom used as a sewing kit? That's the one! 

Anyway....I used pattern paper to cover the lid, and side of the tin.

Used a blue theme as I knew part of the blue tin would show. 

Modge Podge was used to adhere the paper to the tin. 

After hubby added the knob for me I embellished the lid

with cheesecloth, a stamped teabag, cancelled postage stamps, flowers, 

and a paper doll by Tim Holtz. 

I also added crochet trim around the top of the lid. 

Edges of pattern paper was inked with vintage photo distress oxide. 

I did add a bit of color to the ladies hat, and belt

with a red, and blue primsa color pencils. Wanted 

to tie the colors of the paper in with the embellishments. 

Had fun with this one. Happy that I have been able 

to use some of the drawer knobs that I got at Michael's a few 

years ago. The drawers to the library filing cabinet I have are stuffed

full, and I really need to work on thinning them out as I have

no more room for new stuff. 

Me, and hubby got to take a long walk yesterday morning. 

It was 36, and sunny. So nice to get out!!!! Later we ordered pizza,

and watched the Browns game. They beat Pittsburg!!!!!! So happy to 

see them go into the playoffs. Currently they are 11-5. Can't wait 

for next week's game! 

Krafty trails

Karen 

Happy New Year...Glad to see you 2021

 Happy 2021 to all.

I think everyone was ready to see if the new year

will bring some much needed relief from the old year. 

While I don't see big changes coming anytime soon, as we

still have an 10:00 pm curfew in effect here in Ohio. Medina County

where I live is still in the red zone, and social distancing is still the new "norm". 

One has to believe things will get better. If there is no believe, and hope what do we have?

I just checked the date on my blog, and I see where I have not posted since mid November. 

Its not that I haven't been busy making things, and have things to share. I just needed

a break from daily blog posts. Plus since we got the new kitten Riot late in August she 

has been taking up every spare moment of my time. She was 4 weeks old when we adopted her. 

She instantly bonded to me, and has accepted me as her new mom. 

Riot likes Skip, and will follow him around the house sometimes, but most of her

waking hours, and sleeping hours are spent with me, or on me. 

This is a photo of a tin of cookies my friend Kathleen sent me

with my Christmas package. Her challenge for me was to use repurpose the tin. 

Well since I love these cookies the first order of business was to eat them all. No

problem at all! LOL

Next order was to cover the tin using pattern paper, and modge podge. 

Added some cheese cloth, and ephemera to complete the front. 

Hubby drilled the hole in the center lid, so I could add a knob. 

Really pleased with how this turned out. Looking forward

to decorating the other tin of cookies she sent me. Those are butter

cookies which I don't like as well, so it may take longer to empty the tin. 

Happy to say I got on the scale this morning, and gained four pound since my

weigh in late in October. That is pretty good for me. With the new year of 

course I'll need to jump back on the old healthier diet trail, and work

on losing the rest of the weight. 

Stay safe out there my crafty readers, as the pandemic is still alive, and has

us in its clutches. My daughter in law Emily tested positive, and is recovering 

at home. It is hitting close to home. 

Krafty trails

Karen 

Vintage Altered Voice Mail Log

While visiting my favorite local paper store Hollo's last

week I found a Voice Mail Log pad. Well priced at 50 cents I knew

I could do something with it. Planning to make some embellishments for 

the junk journals I'm now addicted to. (see yesterday's post).

The lady I found in a magazine, and cut her out.  She was looking a little pale so

I added some color with spun sugar distress ink. 

Phone, and other ephemera were store bought. I think the phone was made by Echo Park. 

Really pleased with how this turned out. I just love paper! Speaking of paper

I've been slowly going through all my paper packs sorting them by

season, and theme. One day I might get finished! Amazing how much paper

found its way into my Stamping Chateau. Wonder how it got there? 

Looking forward to seeing the kids today. Everyone is getting together to celebrate

John's birthday. He made it easy on me as he requested pizza from FATBOB'S. 

Never had pizza from there but I hear its good. He also wanted Oreo ice cream cake so

I put that together for him last night. I'll post pics tomorrow. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

More 8x8 Ephemera Folder Happy Mail

I am still making 8x8 ephemera holders to send out

as happy mail to my crafty friends. 

This one was sent to my friend Kym. 

It's summer so perfect time to do a beach theme holder. 

Inside view. 

Butterfly cover on the next one. I liked the little air mail tag at the 

bottom sort of goes with the butterfly. This one went to Cindy.

Little bird, and flower themed one. This one went to Natalie. 

I'm still making these, and finding they are like potato chips...just can't

eat, or in my case make just one. 

So if you are one of my crafty friends you just might find one in your

mailbox one day. 

Stamping trails

Karen