Monet and Me

 

are admiring the St. Patrick's Day card from Nan. She always sends me a St. Patrick's Day card to remind me I'm honorary Irish. She always find the cutest cards, too.

Monet and Me

took some time to admire the thoughtful card sent by Finnbadger from Envelope 100. He sent the card because it reminded him of me, Ink, Calli, and Quill. Embiggen the card and you can see all three cats.

I also joined Lindsay Ostrom's Facebook group working on a January junk journal. I've really been enjoying the group even though I've gone my own way. My journal with a Winter theme is more scrapbooky, scrapbookish...more like a scrapbook than a collaged and painted art journal.

I like the idea that under flaps, you can have room for some personal journaling

While at the annual, family gathering, gifts for the grand-nieces were wrapped in snowman paper. Before the paper was tossed out, I asked if I could have some. At the time, I wasn't sure what I would use it for. As I began working in the journal, it occurred to me that I could punch the snowmen out and use them as page numbers or dates in the journal.

On January 2nd, Lindsay demonstrated how to make paper beads from strips of paper. I stuck a couple of strips of paper as borders on this page and rolled the ends to make the beads.

January 3rd was the Full Wolf Moon. I like the background for the page and the silhouette of the wolf against a full moon. I like the moon dangling from a string. I'm not sure I'm that crazy about the yellow banner.

The cool thing about the junk journal is the pages don't have to be complete. You can always go back and add more or take something out. This idea needs to percolate more

Having worked in a hospital laboratory for 6 years, I'm a firm believer in the full moon. The crazies come out of the woodwork. It's like a virus. Three days coming, three days with you, and three days leaving. It happens at the New Moon, too, which is a full moon we can't see. So the back of the wolf tag the wolf is howling: The crazies are OUUUT

While gathering ephemera for the journal, I went through some school papers the girlies created.  I photocopied this  poem the Young One wrote when she was 6 years old. 

Finnbadger has a beautiful, circle, return address stamp with a cardinal in the center. I fussy cut the cardinal and colored it in. I also colored in the snowman's carrot to make it stand out more. The cardinal poised on the tip of the snowman's nose is asking: Is it July, yet?

The journal prompt for January 5 was Tuck Spot. Lindsay demonstrated making pockets by folding pages in triangles or rectangles. The tag was a gift card to me from The Young One. The snowflake on the front fit the theme and with a little bit of a trim, it fit into the pocket. 

Since I'm not a fan of Winter and tend to hibernate, I saw a craft about making a polar bear bookmark. He fit into the second pocket. On his back, I wrote the instructions for folding pockets. With the white dots, he looks like he's peeking out from his cave. Wake me when Winter is over seemed to be a fitting sentiment for the page.

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1. I finished up the Christmas card list. Good thing the holiday season goes until January 6.

2. Out of the blue I got a phone call from Prissy's daughter. She sends a Christmas card every year, but I haven't heard from her in the 9 years since Prissy passed away. We had a nice chat.

3. Grandmaster E. sent a tin of her Italian cookies.

4. After the Feast of the One Fish (Shrimp Scampi) we watched The Bishop's Wife (1947)

5. We spent a leisurely Christmas Day

How was your week?

Monet and Me

are admiring some of the happy mail that has arrived.

All the way from Scotland, Tiggy sent a beautiful card she printed on her Letterpress printer. It makes me want to go to her Wee Hoosie to learn how to use the printing press.

For those interested in stamps, Royal Mail issued a stamp with the Three Wisemen. Tiggy also added some fun stamps on the front: a Christmas tree with red mittens and a Gothic letter C, her first initial and mine

on the back, a cheery reindeer

Cardinals on the return address stamp was a dead giveaway to the card from blog buddy, Finnbadger from Envelope 100. 

Finnbadger used the Winter Landscapes stamps. Kudos to the post office where you mailed your cards, Finn. A very nice and clear Christmas tree postmark.

I just loved the postcard you sent me of the Nativity scene.

My Christmas pageant is more crowded and I don't have any alligators. To those wondering, Godzilla isn't immolating the scene. He's using his atomic ray to warm the stable.

Robin, another blogger bud, usually makes her own Christmas cards. She said when she showed her designs to her family, they told her the designs were "wildly un-PC or downright offensive". I would have liked to have judged for myself. I do love the card you chose. Just wait until you see what I wrote inside your card! 😹

Thank you all for brightening my mailbox.

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

Christmas Watercolour Baubles: How To Make Your Own Cards

Monet

Looking over my shoulder, Monet and me are admiring the haul of Halloween cards received. This cutie card and fun hand-lettering from my friend, Nan.

Nan used the reflective sun stamp. Can you see the spooky face?

Phillip from Envelope 100 handmade this spectacular envelope from a glossy magazine page (I'm guessing). It took me awhile to figure out how to open the envelope without destroying it completely. Phillip also included the beautiful dragon notecard stating the dragons are appropriate for any season or holiday. I agree.

Phillip used the reflective Halloween stamps. The overhead light changed the purple background of the stamp to a brilliant sunset.

The back of the envelope, 13 stories of Haunted Columbus (Ohio) Homes, reminds me of the fun Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. 

This spooky, Blacklettered card from the one and only Dave, The Mailman, a fellow member of Masscribes.

Dave chose a stamp from the Dungeons and Dragons stamp series

The beautifully lettered gravestone-shaped card

Hist!

and

Hark!

Draw

close

and tremble.

Tis

this

night

that

ghosts assemble

Inside a fun Halloween pop-up

Thank you, Nan, Phillip, and Dave. You brightened my mailbox and made my day.

Monet and Me

are procraftinating. That's doing some sort of a craft instead of what you should be doing like cleaning the studio.

We decided to try to make the little birds from Saturday's happy, little, time waster. The project called for using paper that is decorated on both sides. I had some cardstock, but it was a little too difficult to work with.

I decided to use  some colorful, glossy pages from a garden catalog which would otherwise be relegated to the recycle bin. I trimmed the image so there was no white border and then cute it into strips. 1 inch, 1/2 inch. The length of the strip was about 5 or 6 inches. I didn't measure things. 

 I did try a shorter strip but it wasn't long enough for me to tie into a knot. The magazine paper was fragile so I had to be careful about pulling the knot taut. I got a little ham-fisted and tore the paper.

The birds turned out cute. On some I cut swallowtails and on a couple I just cute the tail into a fringe. I didn't think the Sharpie marker eye showed up well enough. I had some googly eyes, gems, and other embellishments that I thought would work for the eyes.

I have a friend who retired and moved into a new home in Arizona to be closer to her daughter. I thought I would use the birds to make a card for a new home.

T Stands for 2OLOTR: Authentic Women Circle and International Women's Day

The real reason Teague and took a trip to Ogunquit, Maine was to attend the Authentic Women Circle. Teague has belonged to this group for many years. I wasn't a member but have participated in a couple of the events. I taught a Japanese stab binding album for the group many years ago and also participated in the Circle when the group moved to Ogunquit 15 years ago and this weekend was the anniversary. The meeting also fell on International Women's Day so that was celebrated also. The leader asked Teague if I would like to tag along. 

I loved the blue, wooden, fish sculpture that was in our suite. I was tempted to put him in a Fish Relocation Program and bring him home with me.

Saturday morning, March 8 was still cold, but not as windy.

The function room set up for the Circle. There were 12 women in attendance. I was the only new person in this group though I knew the leader as she and Teague are good friends. We have also visited her at her home when we have traveled to Ogunquit. Her daughters also attended the group, I had heard about them when they were little.

The Circle opened with music performed by Teague and her guitar. The format of the group is that each person gets a chance to talk. So I introduced myself as Teague's imaginary friend as so many people said to me "Oh, so you're CJ!"

We had been asked to bring photos of women who had inspired us. We did a show and tell about our women and what they meant to us.

At the other end of the function room, tables were set for luncheon

We had a wonderful view of the ocean

and a delicious, buffet lunch. Pictured are Avocado Caprese Sandwiches which I did not take as I do not like cheese. I was fascinated by the apple swan. There was also a lovely squash and apple soup, salad with chicken, green beans Almondine, and cranberry upside down cake. Water, coffee, and tea were available during the entire Circle.

In the afternoon, we had a half hour craft session where we chose a name from a pot. We could make a card or write a note to the person.

I received this lovely card

filled with wonderful affirmations: You are so loved. You are enough. You are such a gift. You are special.

The afternoon continued with learning some of the history of International Women's Day. 

Gorgeous orchid

Then we were asked to comment on something that was a highlight of the day. I think it was at this point or it might have been earlier, that a woman who had been sitting across from me said she had been in the Japanese Stab Bound Album class and still had her album!

The Circle ended with another song from Teague and the group joined in the chorus.

A shadow box table filled with gifts from the sea

An amazing day ended with  a beautiful 

sunset.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Happy Mail

I'm always tickled around St. Patrick's Day to receive St. Paddy's Day cards. I'm amused to be honorary Irish 

Deb from Learning 2 Just Breathe sent me a delightful card. I loved how she used the Year of the Snake stamp on the envelope. I know things are bigger in Texas, but I have never seen a cancellation mark that large.

Her note included some fun stamps and washi tape. She also pointed out that her littlest granddaughter had applied the shamrock stickers on the front. Didn't she do a great job?

Good friend, Nan, never forgets me on St. Patrick's Day. She sent an adorably twee card. Find Your Luck and Share It. Now, she never forgets to send a card, but she forgot the stamp and the post office delivered it without stamping postage due in red letters all over it. The envelope didn't even get a cancellation mark

though the front and back have a faint orange bar code. Maybe the card was delivered by Leprechauns.

Notecard

 

One of my colleagues at the museum is moving on to other adventures. I wasn't able to attend her Farewell Tea so I made a notecard for her.

Monet and Me

 

inspired by Happy Mail (you'll see it on Wednesday), decided to make some cards. We found some great ideas at 14 DIY Valentine’s Day Cards for your Love It was a fun way to use up scrap paper.

T Stands for Admiring Christmas Cards

Cards showing the Grandniece and Grandnephew from my side of the family and a card with the newest grandniece from Himself's side of the family. Also a lovely card from Master Deborah.

Center: Card from the T Day hosts, Elizabeth and Bleubeard, top: a card from a cousin of Himself's mother. Actually I think the theory of relativity is that the card is from the cousin's daughter. Right: a card from calligraphy buddy, Nan. Bottom: is a calligraphic card from a guild friend. Left but not least is the special card Teague picked out just for me. From the box of cards she purchased when I was with her. 

My calligraphy teacher, Gerry makes her cards every year.

A spectacular, glittery envelope from another instructor, Kathy. I do love being the teachers pet.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.