Get It Before the Racoons

My Spring garden is just wonderful this year.  Lots of corn to pick, shuck, and can.

I'm just having to hurry up and get it picked before the racoons get it.  They have already started getting in and helping themselves during the night.  Ooh, that makes me mad!  They are sneeky little varmints. 

Hard work, and a lot of "fresh" fertilizer paid off.   Doesn't this ear look so pretty.

The water is boiling, so I have to go finish cooking up a few ears for dinner tonight.  Pass the butter, please.

Valerie

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day

Honoring those men and women who have sacrificed their lives serving our country.  It is because of them and those serving in uniform today, that we enjoy the freedom we have.

God Bless The U.S.A.

A Broken Foot Won't Keep Me From Crafting

I can't believe this happened to me.  Yep, broke the left foot in two places. No, I don't know when or how this happened.  Six weeks in this boot and stay off of it the doctor says, right!  Doesn't she know I have a garden to tend, canning to do, animals to keep, wine making, fruit to pick, oh this is terribly inconvenient.

The only good part of this is having time to sit and read all the latest crafting magazines from Somerset studios. 

Picked up Memories, Artful Blogging, and Where Women Create.  Yeah!  This should keep me in the right mindset for a while.

There is a wonderful article on Fabric Collages by Nancy Maxwell James in this edition of Memories.  Visit her blog too at http://sugarlumpstudios.blogspot.com/

Blessings to you all,

Valerie

Home Is The Sweetest Type Of Heaven

Count Your Blessings is on the cover of this cute memory verses mini album. The title plate, "Home Is The Sweetest Type Of Heaven is metal and crowned with brown and cream colored mulberry paper flowers.  A vintage button anchors the corner.  An abundance of fibers and ribbons cover the binding ring of this lovely album.

Each page has a pocket containing a tag with a memory verse from the Bible and a journal area on the back.  The back of each tag has been stamped with flowers among the hand drawn journal lines.

The enjoy life page has Prima Lace and room for photos.  Embellished with pearls, a hand-made jeweled stick pin, feather and a note card tucked into a flower border.

The peacock and flowers page has an art deco feel to it.  Plenty of room for photographs here.  Prima lace hold another card for journal or picture space.  I added rhinestones to the chandelier and note card for an added elegant touch.

The fun page has a botanical theme on its pages.  Butterflies, fruit and flowers frame the photo areas.  I embellished this area with a Tim Holtz time piece, an envelop stamped with a time piece, and a paper clip topped with a time piece.  The card on this page fits nicely inside the clear envelop.  A cute bronze eyelet and fibers top the card.

The live your dreams page has a soft vintage feel to it with its cream and mint colored pages.  The card is held in place with a paper clip among the matching color trim anchored by two black roses.

This mini album packs in a lot of photo area and journal space 

I hope you enjoyed seeing this Scripture memory verse mini album.  It will make someone a great gift and is available on my etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/FaithfulCrafter

Have a blessed day.

Valerie

Inspired By P31 Girls

This is one of my recent P31 mini books that I custom made for a client of mine.  She specifically wanted pink as the gift is for a friend of hers that is a cancer survivor.

Although I have made several of these books, I don't think I shared with anyone what inspired me to do so.

Bill and I chaperoned for our church's youth group trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  During that trip, I heard many of the young girls and young boys for that matter referring to P31.  In fact, one of the boys from one camp call a some of girls from another camp group..."A bunch of P31 girls!"

I had to ask around and found out they were talking about.  Apparently, P31 is short for Proverbs 31.  So I did some homework and found that P31 describes The Wife Of Noble Character.   What a great message the scripture provides young ladies.  A role model for the ideal woman.

I use a baroque and sometime ornamental die cuts for the chipboard base.  Card stock covers the chipboard.  All the edges are inked for an aged appearance.  I hand make the flowers and add a hand-crafted jeweled stickpin to adorn the cover.

Lots of fibers and ribbons are used on the binding ring.  I always include a cross charm too.  Pearls are used throughout each page.  On the inside cover, there is a dedication panel for those that what to give these away as gifts. 

Some of these I make as the mood hits me, colors and details are my choice.  Other times, I have had clients ask me for specific colors.  You can find these P31 mini books periodically on my etsy store. 

I just love these little books.

Have a blessed day,

Valerie 



Make It A Wedding Blessing

I really like the idea of wedding wish tree tags.  They are fun for those that attend the wedding reception to write messages on the back of each tag and hang them on a tree.  These little tags make a great keepsake item for the Bride and Groom.  Not sure how long the trend will last, so I jumped in to design a few of my own tags.

First I went traditional and classic style.  These tags can be customized with the bride and groom's name and wedding date.

But, as a woman of faith, and a designer of such objects, it bothered me.  The wish thing.  I designed a few...Best Wishes For The Bride & Groom as well as just stating Best Wishes. 

Didn't feel right as the idea of a wish seemed against what I believe.  So I have changed up the idea to be about Blessings.  Yeah,  Blessings for the Bride & Groom.  And, Wedding Blessings.  Now that's more like it!

Ahh, I feel better already.

Made double-sided table numbers to coordinate with tags. 

Well--onto more crafting.

Have a blessed day,

Valerie