A Successful Mid-Atlantic Penturners Gathering, A Huge Haul And Sad Goodbyes

The Penturner and I

are back from our stay at the Massanutten Resort condo we have been privileged to use for the last few years by the generosity of some dear friends. What made it extra special this year, was the fact that the Mid-Atlantic Penturners Gathering at Woodcraft was that same week. We were able to take the short drive down to Richmond and get in on the sessions and fellowship with my husband's penturner buddies.

I sat up a small display of

a few of my pen layouts and pocket cards. I had some very nice comments and was much encouraged by them. The pocket cards are just perfect for inserting a pen for gift giving.

On our way, we made

a "slight" detour to stop at Scrapdoodles in Fredericksburg. I was devastated when earlier in the year I heard that they would be going out of business. I had no idea at the time that I would be able to get back there before they closed. You can imagine how happy I was when the Penmaker said we would swing by that way and run in for one last shopping spree. Oh wow, did we shop. He kept encouraging me to buy and I obeyed. Everything that week was at half price. I picked up several Tim Holtz stamps sets, Pink Pasilee Hope Chest papers, Idea-ology cabinet card frames, Claudine Hellmuth black gesso, Golden light molding paste, alpha stickers and on and on. I just hated walking out of there for the last time, but I must say the bags full of supplies made the bitter pill easier to swallow.

After leaving Fredericksburg,

we decided to run over to Hanover Courthouse and have lunch at a cute little place called Houndstooth Cafe that we use to go to when we had our Civil War book business. They were closed when we got there. Another hungry expectant patron pulled up at the same time, a local, who said it was rather hit and miss on the hours. Judging by the condition, we probably will not be able to enjoy this great little place again. We pulled away remembering happier past experiences at the little cafe. Another sad goodbye.

All in all, we had a

fantastic trip, and as soon as I can get creating again, I'll have something to show you, hopefully made with some of my new goodies!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

You & Me Layout

 

Here it is again...

the most beautiful Pink Paislee Hope Chest collection. Ever since I bought this at Scrapdoodles in Fredericksburg, I've been completely smitten. I pulled my PP box from my stack to pick out my papers and saw what I had left of their Butterfly Garden and Anthology (resist papers) collections. They were a perfect blend, so I used all three.

Most of the flowers are

from Prima (Serenity, the two greys by the photo... LOVE these!) The white roses, pink buds and cherry blossoms are from I Am Roses.

The grey and black

flowers are Prima. The rooster was fussy cut; the die-cut is from the HC Paper Goods topped with a Prima Junkyard Finding nail head. Doilies were cut with Alterations Distressed Doily die. The pink BG border was cut with Martha Stewart's deep-edge punch Floral Vine. I used Prima's Old Road chalk ink on all the paper edges.

The sentiment is a My Mind's

Eye's Heirloom Word Sticker. These borders were punched with MS Scallop Dot. Another Prima canvas flower.

The white butterflies are

from I Am Roses. I added a dab of silver Stickles to the tip of each antenna. More die-cuts from the Paper Goods pack.

The foliage was cut from

Alterations Tattered Pinecone die and MS Branch punch. The photo is of my sweet Adelaide and me... just hanging out together. Nothing like being a grandma!!!!

I'm linking up at:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

William... On The Go

When I bought Pink

Paislee's Hope Chest collection at Scrapdoodles earlier this summer, I had no idea I would get this much wear out of it. This collection has been great for every type of project... including layouts of grandchildren. Which is what I have here today.

I believe this is my

favorite collection so far this year... so versatile.

I mixed in some

Recollections kraft cardstock and a half sheet of an older Pink Paislee collection along with a scrap of one of their plaids. I store my papers according to manufacturers. I find that the colors, for the most part, will blend from collection to collection if I stay within a company. It seems to be easier when choosing patterns... it works for me!

The doily was

cut from Alterations Distressed Doily die. The butterfly is Petaloo.

The bit of notebook paper

was cut from Alterations Torn Notebook die. The flowers are all by Petaloo... the Darjeeling collection... LOVE these!!! The stenciling was done with Golden's molding paste and Prima's checkerboard stencil. The ink is Walnut Stain Distressed.

Idea-ology gears,

a lock charm from an Etsy shop and a Prima Vintage Trinket. The layout is backed with medium weight chipboard so it doesn't buckle.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Cooling Down With City Crafter

July...

that takes some "Cooling Down" time, and I'm joining the girls at City Crafter Challenge Blog this week as Guest Designer and doing just that. Our  hostess, Wendy, is calling for projects using this gorgeous palette of cool colors.

I thought I'd go with a layout...

My "cool" colors

come from the help of Pink Paislee's Hope Chest collection that I bought in Virginia at Scrapdoodles. I wanted to remember that time... the newness of a unfamiliar store, the just released papers I had yet to see, the friendly ladies behind the counter. Just maybe this layout will bring that all back to me as time goes by.

My photo is mounted

on some Prima packaging and the tag is made from another one. The wood button is from Prima. 

The lace is from Surplus City.

The doily is cut with Alterations Distressed Doily die.

I fussy cut the

leaves and roses and popped them up with 3-D foam adhesive. 

I tinted Golden molding

paste with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink and applied it using Crafters Workshop Confetti stencil. Then splattered randomly with Lindy's Stamp Gang T-Bird Turquoise Flat Fabio spray.

The flourish is the piece

here that I hadn't used and has been laying on my desk patiently waiting for a home. It now has one under the I Am Roses flowers.

I also tinted some

cheesecloth with the PFDI and tucked it under the flowers. The bliss stick pin is from my stash. I fussy cut the butterfly from a sheet of Graphic 45 DP.

The zipper is from Prima.

Don't forget to stop by

the City Crafters Blog and check out all the projects the girls have created for you. Then create something beautiful yourself and enter. I'll look for you there.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

the

2nd Anniversary

Can it be?

Our baby boy and his wife have been married for two years already? No... I can hardly believe that, but it's true! So I took some special care and made them this card...

I pulled out my 

Prima Lyric papers that were restocked this week (here), and my KaiserCraft 6.5" Timeless paper pad. Wow, these two went perfect together... don't you think so? The base and mats are Recollections kraft cardstock along with some white textured. All is sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The paper doily is a 4" French Lace... I used half.

The calendar pocket

is by Studio Calico. I circled the date in pencil and glued on an Idea-ology Mini Numeral that I painted with a mix of Tarnished Brass and Vintage Photo Distress Stains. I added another layer of the Timeless paper, then put two regular sized eyelets (bought at Scrapdoodles) in the holes at the top and tied with 1/8" black ribbon. Tucked in two Alterations Mini Tickets cut from the Lyric "Overture" sheet. The pocket is popped up with 3-D foam adhesive. The flowers and leaves are all from I Am Roses.

Lots to do today,

so I'll be off. Have a fantastic Wednesday friends.

I'm linking my card up at:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Happy And Safe At Home

Hi, sweet friends!

The Penmaker and I got back home last evening, safe and happy. I mean that sincerely, as we were listening to the radio on our way, and praying for the dear folk in Oklahoma. My heart goes out to those who no longer have a home to go back to, or worse, their loved ones. We are so very blessed in that everything was as we left it when we pulled into the driveway.

The penturners gathering

was much more than I anticipated. It was great fun, along with being a marvelous learning experience for us. In some ways, it was reminiscent of the Civil War seminars where I sold my books, when I had my business... only pens. 

See that big smile!

I had one too, because as we pulled into the parking area, I noticed a Michaels two doors down.

Here are a few pictures of us someone took when I was unaware.

It's funny, but

I always thought I smiled a lot. I can see now, I really need to improve on that skill.

Our second day

consisted of classes and of course, shopped for more pen supplies.

I think men love 

shopping for their supplies as much as we women do.

All in all, a very

pleasant experience, very worthwhile, and I will certainly go again when the Penmaker plans another trip.

We took that side

trip to Fredericksburg, and visited Scrapdoodles again. Unfortunately, I had bought so much the first time there, I didn't find anything else new I wanted, so I just restocked the papers and eyelets I had used last week. I had I fun time talking with the two ladies that were working that day, and got to show them some of my projects that I had taken along. I LOVE that store... wish it was closer.

We also swung

by Surplus City (see posts here, here and here). It was two years ago that we had visited that store and I really was anxious to return for more lace. This is what I bought along with the papers from Scrapdoodles...

I know there are

a lot of photos here, but I feel very animated and gabby today (probably from the amount of coffee we consumed the last few days).

I'm glad to be back

in my studio today to create and I'm so very happy to have you to talk with... I love you guys! You're the best... can't wait to visit you and see what you've been up to!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Christmas Mini Album Cover

Here is what I ended

up doing with the cover. Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions. I thought the acetate would be great, but was unable to find the right way to pull that off.

 So in the end,

I went to my go to flowers. I cut some leaves with Alterations Mini Holly die and added I Am Roses red/white blossoms and red roses in two styles.

Memories is written

in Idea-ology Ransom Alpha Parts. I didn't think it covered up too much of the fabric.

I tied an Idea-ology

bauble into the twine binding. Believe me, that twine certainly had shortened up from where it started out. I really meant to keep this album thinner than most of mine, but failed miserably. As you can see... quite the chunk!!!

I love this Prima

packaging sticking up at the top... lots of fun elements in this book. 

Happy place!!!

I bought the Idea-ology

Worn Cover at Hobby Lobby last week, so I'll be starting an album with it next... or so I think. I do have three cards to make yet today in between weeding the shade garden and planting lettuce. Busy spring days... but isn't it great to get out in the sunshine! What all do you have going this week?

I'm linking up at:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

The Final Pages

I am happy to say

that I've finally finished my Christmas mini album. Here are the last of the pages...

I did some mixed

media on this one. Used the new Prima mask Poppies and Peonies that I bought at Scrapdoodles last week when we were in Virginia, along with some Golden molding paste. I randomly brushed on a little gesso around the page edges and on the Alterations chipboard Weathered Clock. I backed the clock face with a scrap of DP and brushed on a coat of Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint. I fussy cut the snowflakes from paper in the 6x6 KaiserCraft  Just Believe pad. The lace is from Hobby Lobby and the flowers are a mix of Prima, some topped with their Say It In Crystals. The deer is also Prima that I antiqued with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I did the same process

on the background here as with the previous page. I stamped a scrap of the DP with Jet Black Archival ink and tore a strip from it. Applied Walnut Stain DI to the edges. More Prima finishing touches.

I kept this one

fairly simple with just a bit of the HL lace and a couple Petaloo flowers.

Lots of paper layers

on this one with a larger grouping of Petaloo flowers, leaves, a My Mind's Eye brad and some red crystal sprays from my stash.

You can tell this

is the last page... my ideas were exhausted. I was glad to be done and topped the page off with a two layer Prima flower with a MME brad. Now to finish that cover!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda