{Today is the Day}

I'm having all sorts of Camera issues---serious enough that I'll likely send my camera to Canon for a fix---YIKES! I can't get my computer to recognize Caitlin's camera, so I HAVE NO PICTURES! Since I always have pictures on my posts, it may be awhile before I'm able to post again.

Hannah leaves this morning for her amazing adventure! I'll detail it another time---I need to get moving. She flies to Miami this morning and meets her group and then on to training in Costa Rica----praying for an amazing time---so many emotions today---I'm SOOOO excited for her and so sad for me! Please join me in praying for Hannah~details soon!

Kathleen

{Journals}

Here's a quick post with a journal I made for myself. I use journals often---daily, really---for various things. This is one I made for thoughts and such! I wanted this to be bright and cheerful, so I chose papers from Cosmo Cricket's DeLovely line. I bought the papercrafting kit for a scrapbook I made after the wedding----

I added some felt embellishments and buttons to make me happy---it doesn't take much!

I added a Tim Holtz Philosophy tag that says Journey---I thought it fitting with all that is going on in our lives these days...here's a brief rundown---

• Caitlin got married in May
• Caitlin and Carson found out in July that she's expecting a baby---whoohoo! Can you say surprise? Of course, the Lord is not surprised--only us!
• Caitlin finished her last class at NCSU last week (YEA!) and is hoping to have a "real job" soon---until she gets one, they are moving into our home---that will be so fun to have them here---well, I'll think it's fun! I'm sure they hope Caitlin's job comes through really soon!
• Hannah graduated from High School in May
• Hannah deferred her enrollment to Davidson College for a year and  is leaving for 8 months on September 8---you can read more about it at her travel blog. She's taking a gap year and traveling/serving with Thinking Beyond Borders around the world--very cool trip----very far away from mama!
• Joshua is in 4th grade---I can do this---I have done fourth grade three times---once as a 9 year and twice with my girls---4th grade---I can handle.
• David took a new job in July---it's an amazing opportunity for him and he's really enjoying it---but it's in Winston Salem---nearly two hours away, so he's staying there during the week and coming home on the weekends for now--not crazy about this part of the job, but we do what we have to do!
• We are preparing our home for the Real Estate market---oh goody! Do you want to buy a house in North Raleigh? :)
• School starts for me on Monday---yes, I'm going to teach this year---I'd love to have our house on the market today, but it's not ready and we will need some time to fix some things before it's ready to sell. I may as well continue in my job---I do love it, so that makes it easier!
• My parents, who moved here three years ago, don't want to move to Winston Salem, so they are moving back to Austin---do you want a home in Wake Forest? They can help you with that!

SOOOOOOO---I am on a journey---a crazy, wild, wonderful, faith stretching journey---so I have many thoughts and I needed a journal---do you see why I wanted happy colors? I always need reminders of God's rich faithfulness in my life---and this is a place where I will record these things this year---or, I may need a new one next month---I promise if I make one---I'll show it here!
Thanks for reading today---

{National Building Museum Fieldtrip}

On my recent trip to see my sister, we went to the National Building Museum. They have a Lego exhibit right now (Lego Architecture: Towering Ambition) and that was right up Joshua's alley! We hadn't been to this museum before and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I was shocked when I walked in to see how lovely it was. My sister has had occasion to go to a few dinners here and she said it is a stunning place for an event.

When you walk in there is this massive atrium area that is beautifully carpeted and has this fountain in the middle of it. Here's a picture from the 2nd floor where the Lego exhibit was.

Look at the size of these columns---what a beautiful space....I'm thinking wedding reception? Anyone? Gorgeous! 

 One of the greatest things about Washington D.C. is that almost every museum is FREE---we are so blessed to have family there, so we have a place to stay. One of my nephews had a camp this week, so only one of them went with us to the museum. Here is Joshua and his cousin waiting in line to get into the exhibit. Notice the Lego brick behind them---

  Once inside, we were wowed by replicas of famous buildings built only with Legos. I wish all of my pictures had come out---I was stunned by some of the structures---so much work. Some of the smaller versions are available from Lego if your child is insterested in Legos and/or Architecture.

Once in the room, there was a play area where your child could sculpt buildings and place them in the "city" that is being built by every child who comes through---every night they tear it down for the next day's group of imagintive builders. 

 Here's a picture of Nathan building---legos are so fun---no matter the age, you can build and play and create anything you want.

 This is Joshua with his creation and my sweet sister, Shannon. 

 

This picture is of part of the city that was built the day we went. Joshua's structure is there in the midst of it!

That's it for our fieldtrip! Have you ever been to DC? What a great city---soooo much to see and do---for a child of any age. I'm so glad we were able to see this beautiful building and fun exhibit---Thanks Shannon for finding it for us!

Thanks again for the visit! 

{Gifts for my Nephews}

 Joshua and I went to DC to visit my sister and her family for a few days last week and I wanted to take a little something for my nephews. I just don't do stuff like this often enough. The little tins are actually these little coffee tins. (I wish they still had the clear tops, but they don't....they are all red now.) AnYwaY---I knew I needed to use some paper with red in it to coordinate with the lid, so I chose some Lil' Man  & Snorkel paper from Cosmo Cricket.

I used some stamps from It's Official for the focal images, along with Just the Ticket stamps to make these little tickets---Papertrey has a ticket die that cuts several tickets at once. They are perforated so when you tear them, they look like the real thing---love the attention to detail!


I decided to put the boys' initials on their tins. I used the Mat Stack 1 die and my nestabilities dies in Aqua Mist and Kraft cardstock. Then I stamped the boys' initials with Outlines Alphabet and colored it in with a Copic marker.

I do love how they turned out---I filled them with candy that the boys love---Kit Kats for Caleb and Dark Chocolate Dove for Nathan. I hope to do more of this for them in the future---it didn't take me that long and the boys loved them. The details for the tins are below if you are interested---such a great way to recycle something and turn it into a treat for someone you love---Simple, simple! I have much to blog about, but I have been enjoying my summer and not hanging out on the computer very much---I hope to catch you all up on all the changes in our lives---there are LOTS! Seriously---SO, SO MUCH! Thanks so much for reading---I love to have you stop by!
Kathleen

Nephew Tins: all supplies Papertrey Ink unless noted
Stamps: It's Official, Round & Round, Outlines Alphabet, It's the Ticket
Paper: Snorkel, Lil' Man (Cosmo Cricket), Aqua Mist, Kraft, Pure Poppy, Rustic Cream cardstock
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Vintage Cream
AccessoriesTools: /Labels Four dies (Spellbinders), Mat Stack 1, Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

{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~