{Birthday Journal}

I started making a journal (with a $1 composition notebook from Target) for myself and ended up finishing it for a friend's birthday. I knew I wanted to make her something and this just seemed to fit---NOW the challenge will be getting it to her and ON TIME! I had a friend tell me once that she had "postal-phobia" and I could totally relate. It is such a chore for me to get to the post office---I live really close and everything---I don't know what that is---well, perhaps it's postal phobia---who knows!

OK---back to the card and journal---I embossed the branches from Rustic Branches on Ripe Avocado cardstock with clear powder. I added some Green Tea Leaves paper in Aqua Mist and then added a scallop border in the same paper. I tied some jute around it and added a Ripe Avocado button.

I cut the tea cup out of Rustic Cream paper(using the new teacup die from Papertrey Ink) and stamped the cup and then the little "tea bag". I distressed the edges of the card and papers, and then I stamped the sentiment from Tea for Two Additions.

The journal was actually made first. I stamped the Ripe Avocado cardstock with Versamark using three different stamps. I stamped some Kraft cardstock that I had scalloped and then wrapped it around the binding, attaching it with Scor-tape. I used the Eyelet lace border in brown felt as an accent down the side of the binding, and also cut out the Mat Stack 1 as my background layer for the teapot and cup. I tied three buttons with Rustic Jute twine for some texture and interest. I used only half of the sentiment---My Cup Runneth Over by just making the rest of it while I inked it up.

Here's to hoping I get this to my friend on time---I will probably be more likely to do that if I run it by her house!

I hope you enjoy your day today---it's MISERABLY HOT here in Raleigh---I hope it's cooler where you are!

Birthday Journal (all supplies PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Rustic Branches, Tea for Two, Tea for Two Additions
Paper: Kraft, Ripe Avocado, Rustic Cream cardstock, Green Tea Leaves patterned paper
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark (Tsukineko)
Tools: Tea for Two dies, cuttlebug, Eyelet Lace  border die, Mat Stack 1 die, Embossing Scallop Border punch (Fiskars)
Accessories: Dark Chocolate Felt, Rustic Jute Twine, Vintage buttons in Aqua Mist,
Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado

{with appreciation}

So, instead of finishing my bathroom that I'm re-doing, I stamped today---I just wasn't feeling the spackling and paint today. I DO love Summer! I needed to make a gift for a friend and I had this extra can sitting around, so here's the result.....

The can started out as this Hot Chocolate can from Target. (I love this Archer Farms hot chocolate---it's all natural---no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives--just FYI!)

 I washed the can out and left the paper on it---I covered it in some Cosmo Cricket paper from the Early Bird line. I used one of the pre-printed "elements" for the "for you" tag.

I tied some Aqua Mist ribbon around and added some buttons and Baker's Twine in Pure Poppy.

I put some gift certificates to a favorite Pizza place here in town in the can and then filled it up with some
Lindt truffles.

For the card, I kept it quick and simple--I used more of the Cosmo paper and some Aqua mist cardstock on a Rustic Cream Card base. I used the Tin Types impression plate by Papertrey Ink for the Aqua Mist portion--can you see how the pattern matches the patterned paper? LOVE THAT! I inked up the sides with some Antique Linen Distress Ink. I used some grosgrain riboon in Pure Poppy and tied a bow and then added more buttons and twill. The tag is stamped in black ink using Mixed Messages and cut out with a nestability tag die and trimmed to fit---ala Debbie Olson!

The image is from Round and Round---the Limited Edition (free) set your can receive from PTI if you order 12 stamp sets in a year....I'll not tell you how many I got this year......I added some rhinestones to the dots between the leaves--because it made me happy! What do you have lying around in your pantry that you could re-purpose to make a gift for someone special in your life?

 Thanks for stopping by today~I hope you have a great weekend!
Kathleen

{July 4th Thank You}

Well, I do know that July 4th is long past, but I wanted to share this quick gift I made for a sweet hostess. Our family went to a party to celebrate July 4th. I wanted to get a hostess gift for my dear friend who was throwing the party, but of course I waited until the last minute. I have a bunch of strawberry jam left from making it last summer, so I decided that could be packaged up pretty quickly.

I stamped a coffee bag with the flag and stars image from Vintage Picnic and Star Prints. I then made a quick tag using the same stamp and a sentiment from Signature Greetings and cut it using the Labels Four dies from Spellbinders. (speaking of Spellbinders---did you know they have a HUGE giveaway going on right now? Go to their blog and they'll tell you all about it.I've done this numerous times---it's my turn to win, I just feel it!) :) I used my Baker's Twine for the first time and I love the way it looked with the tag. 

Here's a close up of the tag-- and below is a picture of Joshua
on our way to the party---my camera died as soon as I got there, so this is the only picture of the day that I have. I made a great dessert that I saw on the Tasty Kitchen blog, but didn't get any pictures---oh well---if I make it again, I'll show you---

Well, we went to the beach last week and did some fun things---again, my camera wasn't working, but I took some pictures on Caitlin's camera, so I'll put some up when I get them from her. It was just a bad battery---I had just charged it---I don't understand, but it's working now, so no complaints.

Thanks so much for checking in today---I'm sorry I've been so sporadic lately....life is keeping me very busy! I'll explain in another post---sometime!

Hugs friends~