090813 CKC September Kit "You Go, Girl!" Tutorials

This month I had a real favorite among the papers in the Citrus Twist July inspiration kits.

Crate Paper The Pier Collection's  "Heatwave"

It is so bright & summery & looks like a beach full of umbrellas to me!

I had nothing remotely like it in my own stash but thought I could do a fair imitation.

I grabbed my handy hexagon punch & an assortment of bright 6x6 paper for the smaller scale.

Just punch & draw lines from point to point for a cheater, 

or cut from point to point & rearrange the pieces in a pleasing way.

I especially liked how the striped papers looked.

This one happens to be double-sided so I used both sides - fun!

Next up is a paper from the Summertime Paper add-on kit.

See that blazing sun paper under the label?

(The name & maker weren't listed.)

I love how much movement there is in the pattern.

I made sure to alternate the direction of the sun rays to imitate that movement.

Let's add a few geotag accents out of map paper made with a homemade template - cute!

I just punched a circle & cut a point into the hole in the paper for the pattern.

A little tip: punch the center hole BEFORE you trace & cut the pattern - much easier to handle.

Okay! Go make a geotag template - it's trendy - then use your favorite papers to make a trendy custom accent :~D

090113 Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop - September Kits!

Lots of inspiration this month over at CKC from Citrus Twist!

We have FIVE July kits to choose from - the main Sail Away kit plus 

Travel, Adventure PL, Go Girl Embellie & Summertime Paper Add-Ons!

SO many goodies to choose from...and choose I did!

I started with the papers:

Many were chosen as direct imitations. A few more were irresistible when I decided to go all out

with the travel theme, especially that Michigan state paper that I have been hoarding for a long time :~)

Introducing "You Go, Girl!"

I did have the wooden polaroid frames but instead of more itty bitty wood accents I broke out those L-A-R-G-E ones - I may have to stamp them or dye them or something & I hope I find a use for them - plus some fun little clearance Smash flags, Glitz Travel Peekaboos, DIY & Dear Lizzy packs of pretties, washi, flair & enamel dots.

 And I couldn't resist piling up some stamps, a BG 6x6 paper pad, some Hambly transparencies, 

my custom paper forgeries (more on those on the CKC tutorial post on the 8th), 

and a few Breezy Badges from my special scrappy friend in Canada Sherrie.

I also included a little bag of vellum - the main kit had a lot of die cut vellum accents included.

Next I am scouring my unscrapped photos for travel so expect some interesting pages this month!

Now hop on to see what amazing things have turned up from Lynnette's stash!
And DON'T MISS any of the other fabulous forgeries from
this Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Design Team link.

083113 Date Day Saturday

Heading "up north" today to St Ignace to stock up on some smoked whitefish fresh out of the big lake!

Mackinac Bridge

Manley's Fish, St. Ignace, Michigan

Total Green Bay Packers' fan, but we won't hold it against him!

Not when there is sublime smoked fish to be had for a really decent price...

After a stop at a local fudge shop we are on to the SOO Locks, 

the system which links Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes, 

in Saulte Ste. Marie. We hope to return someday for a dinner cruise through the locks.

We were blessed to arrive just as an enormous ore freighter 

was making her way through so we got to see it in action.

This ship takes up almost the entire length of this photograph!

Then we turned around to head back home.

Home to have a little nosh!

Tomorrow we've got to pack all that fish up for the freezer with our new vacuum sealer.

082913 Dewy Misty Morning

Thursday's are my day off & this morning was an exceptionally beautiful one in the garden.

And this afternoon we discovered this little houseguest on the porch...

082413 CKC Challenge #1 Blog Hop!

So glad you are joining us from over at Stacy's to 
take a peek at our August Counterfeit Kit Challenge #1

It's an exciting one: Geocaching Challenge!  

Use the concept of "something hidden" on your project!

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which the participants 

use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other 

navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, 

called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world.

 (If you ask me, it's Hide & Seek for grownups!) 

 I have been working on pages that will eventually go into an album

that is just about me. This page will be included! As soon as I read the

challenge I was thinking of a map-like grid that could be referenced with

a letter & number system. I immediately thought of this Jenni Bowlin 

paper and snuck it onto my design table. (shhhh!) 

And Hey! How come no one makes a geotag PUNCH?

 A closer look...

Lots of fun little bits on here!

You can see the "key" in the top left corner. 

Each location's coordinates plus the year of what is represented.

The baby elephant with the party hat on? 

I was born in Washington DC, so the flap reveals a White House!

The light bulb? 

I grew up in Maryland, hence the little red crab :~)

The flowery heart?

Married my high school sweetheart in sunny Florida.

The two baby elephants are for the births of my daughters, 

represented by little pink hearts.

And today? I am happy, living here in Michigan, 

also known as "The Mitten" (check an atlas & you will see why.)

Now get your hop on to 
 Bridget    http://sobejoss.blogspot.com

All of the links are available at Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog! 

And please let me know what you think of my take on the prompt :~)

081713 Date Day Saturdays, This Week & Last

Today was a wonderful rerun of last weekend in Shipshewana, Indiana.

Last week we rolled into town pretty early...

 Bonus! Gun & Knife Show this weekend - lots of the locals here.

Lots of fabric stores with quilters in mind.

 Gents...

 

...and Ladies - hilarious!

 Dessert, anyone? Is this the craziest meringue pie you have ever seen?

Did they know I was coming?

Or this...love this whole chalkboard trend.

This reminds me of my special friend, Sherrie.

Inspired to add a water feature around the back deck next year!

And what did I bring home?

This week we returned to stock our freezer with beef & chicken,

and the pantry with some delicious canned goods from the heartland.

But first a stop at a Bird & Game Swap Meet, 

which turned out to be more swap meet than bird & game!

 Love this! but I already have a great breadbox...

Any takers?

Yikes!

This little one is sweet.

Caption?

Daddy told me to get my bum off his chair!

 We did get to see some wonderful birds.

She looks ready for Mardi Gras!

I'm afraid these chickens are headed for a nearby restaurant...

So what did I come home with, besides a trunk full of meat?

These make great homemade ice cream sandwiches.

Dessert for Sunday dinner - butterscotch pie...

And a few goodies for little ole me!

The dish towels are from Moda.

I'm thinking I will put them in poster frames.

And the blue shelves are for my happy scrappy place!