YOU

Coming from a long line of ladies in my family who have enjoyed sewing, and excelled at it, I felt compelled to do some hand stitching on this layout. However, I didn't want the piece to be perfectly symmetrical, so there is some stitching at the top of this page, but not at the bottom. 

This layout was done for my own pleasure. As always, I like to "do something" with the paper......fold, tear, distress, pleat, etc.. For this piece, I cut a slit halfway up the page where I intended the journaling to be and curled both sides open. The journaling is done in calligraphy, which I have been doing for more than thirty-five years. 

The photo was taken by my husband on the occasion of my mother's 90th Birthday Party last summer. The people are our daughter Elizabeth, son Lee, and myself. 

SUPPLIES USED:
     BAZZIL BASICS cardstock
   COLOR BOX Petal Point Fluit Chalk Inkpad,    
          Primary Pastels
     CREATIVE IMAGINATIONS Narratives
          journaling card
      DMC Light Green Emerald floss
      JENNI BOWLIN: Baker's Twine
      K & CO: small green card, feather
      MAKING MEMORIES: Gem Pin Findings
      MARTHA STEWART: Vine Trim Deep Edge
           Punch
           Scallop Three Dot Punch Around the Page
      MAYA ROAD: Heart Trinket Pin
      MY MIND'S EYE: Lost and Found Two
           Collection 7 layered stickers
                  Lost and Found Two   Rosy "Ordinary"        
                        Dream paper                  

                    Lost and Found Two   Rosy 

                         "Everything" Happy paper  

            PRIMA: 

                  Shabby Chic Treasures, bird and 

                       medallion

                  Winter Rose Melon Ice

                  Say It In Crystals

              PROVO CRAFT: Cricut Personal, 

                   Serenade Cartridge

              RANGER/TIM HOLTZ: 

                    Crackle Paint: Picket Fence 

                    Crackle Paint: Tattered Rose

              SCRAP FX: Heart Corners, small

              ZIG 2 Way Glur

              ZIP DRY Paper Glue

Thanks for taking a peek....I appreciate ALL comments! 

What a treat it was to go to San Antonio, Texas  right after Christmas! My husband and I decided that  this would be our  present to each other this year, and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!

Although we have been to The Alamo many times in the past, we couldn't resist another visit. The weather was beautiful at the end of December this year. Every day was sunny and temps were in the 70's! The nights were crisp, cool and clear. 

One of the main attractions in San Antonio is the lovely River Walk as it winds through the heart of one of our favorite U.S. cities. It is a thoroughfare for pedestrians in a romantic setting filled with waterfalls, lush greenery, restaurants, shops, theaters, pubs, art galleries and a new mall.  The River Walk is famous for the barges that are filled with tourists, eager to learn about the history of The San Antonio River and most of the landmarks along the way. 

The Tower of The Americas rises high above the city and can be seen from The River Walk. 

 The river flows one level below the street, creating it's own sanctuary in this bustling city.

There is nothing quite like the River Walk during December. Trees are lit in multicolored lights which reflect on the water, creating a masterpiece for all who gaze upon this little gem in a city filled with wonders. 

Thanks for coming along with us on our little San Antonio get away! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy 2012 to everyone! A new year means a new start and a chance to do things a little differently. I would like to thank all of  my friends who have supported me with your comments here and at scrapbook.com. I wish for you a New Year blessed with good health, prosperity and love. May 2012 bring to all of us an opportunity to blossom and grow in our personal relationships and in our understanding of ourselves and one another. God bless you all in 2012 and beyond.

ADVENTURE

It seems as though we just got through with a very hot summer here in Texas, but I needed to do a LO for my son's album, and haven't finished using the photos from his trip to the Gulf of Mexico, so I dove into this LO with a great deal of pleasure, paint, ink and mists! 

Canvas is always good for masculine pages and I used some of my Maya Road chipboard alphabets as a mask, then traced around the shape of the letters for definition. I frayed the edges for a tattered look.

From my stash I used netting, shells and a Mother of Pearl button.

Products used:

     Advantus / Cropper Hopper / Tim Holtz: 

          Grungeboard Elements, Dots

          Idea-ology Collection, Journaling Tickets

          Idea-ology Collection, Memo Pins

          Mini Mask, Compass

          Vintage Metal Accents

     Color Box: Petal Point Archival Dye Inkpad, 

           Circus

     Creative Imaginations: 

          Oceana Collections paper 

          Oceana Collections clear stamps

     Gotta Mesh: Islander

     Maya Road: Mini Alphabet chipboard set,    

          Caroline

     Mudpuddles: Malibu

     Ranger Ink: Inkssentials Glossy Accents

     Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist: Frozen Lake

Hope this added a little sunshine for you on a cold winter day! 

REMEMBERING

This is a LO that I did using some papers and embellies from my stash that I'm trying to use up. Techniques used are distressing, inking, machine stitching and layering. The photos are of my living room and dining room decorated for Christmas.

BEST FRUITCAKE COOKIES EVER!

I don't know about you, but I really do NOT like fruitcake! I always felt like the individual ingredients would be good if they were prepared a little differently. I've modified a recipe that was given to me in 1993 for fruitcake cookies, and hope you can use this in your collection of Christmas recipes. It only takes about 30 minutes prep time plus cooking time. 

FRUITCAKE COOKIES

In a large bowl, combine a 16 oz. mixture of candied fruit (cherries, citron, pineapple, raisins) that is already chopped with 3 cups of chopped pecans. 

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons milk over this mixture and stir well. 

Combine the following ingredients to make the flour mixture: 

     1 1/2 cup flour

     1 1/2 teaspoon soda

     1/2 teaspoon allspice

     1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

     1/2 teaspoon cloves

Combine half of the flour mixture into the fruit and nuts and stir until mixed well. 

Cream: 

     1/2 cup margarine (one stick)

     2 eggs

Then, add to the creamed mixture:

     1/4 cup whiskey....this is the really GOOD part! 

Combine the creamed mixture with the fruit and nut mixture. 

Last, add the remaining flour mixture and stir until combined. 

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  

Bake at 250 degrees for 25-35 minutes. 

Yield: Approximately 5 dozen cookies 

The most important thig to remember is to share them with the people you love! 

SYMPATHY CARD

One of my family's dearest friends passed away over the weekend. We are all saddened and pray that His light and love will get them through the difficult days to come. My father and this dear man were in first grade together and remained fast friends throughout their lives. I can just picture both of them up in heaven having a grand time being together again! God BLESS them both!