Grad Time

 

I needed a few graduation cards this week. And as luck would have it, both grads had school colors that were red. 

One card is for a friend at church who recently finished his program to become a deacon. The other is for one of my great nephews who graduated from my alma mater. The Kickin' Mules. LOL!

The Bible tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. I say the same about Wink of Stella clear glitter markers!

It's a good week to spend some time crafting in my cool basement studio!

How are you staying cool this week?

Heat Wave

 

We are experiencing the same heat wave that's sweeping across the country this week. Temps in the 90s, which is pretty hot by Michigan standards. 

I'm enjoying iced lattes now. This recipe comes from Sam's fiancée, Rhiannon. Combine Nescafe instant espresso ( I use 2-3 t.) with a little water in a glass. Stir well, then add ice cubes, milk of choice (I'm using almond milk), and maybe a little sweetened creamer (Starbucks Brown Sugar Oat Milk creamer is very good!).

I am also a firm believer that it's never too hot for coffee.

Coffee on a picnic? Absolutely!

This set combines a few stamps and elements from Catherine Pooler with a sunny embossing folder (Taylored Expressions), a picnic tablecloth (The Greetery) and that fun "coffee" sentiment (Reverse Confetti).

Happy caffeinated summer, friends!

A Big Dill

 

Today we had a reception for a special couple at church. They've been very active in ministry for years, and they are officially retiring and moving up north. WAY up north, all the way to the Upper Peninsula. It takes a special person to embrace a climate where half the year is snow and wintry weather!

This couple also heads up our church's pickle ball, so we will really be in a "pickle" without them.

I was in charge of the Sunday Fellowship food this morning, so I made these food label cards for the table.

And then I made this sign for the table, too.

The card uses Catherine Pooler stamps and dies, paired with a sentiment stamp from my stash.

Thanking God for the special people in our lives today!

PB Daisies

 

This Flower of the Month kit from Penny Black was a must have last month, and I finally got a chance to play with it. Yes, I loved the daisies. But truthfully, it was that lacy border that called my name.

Here's a great tip from Penny Black's Jill Foster. To give frame die cuts like the one above a little more sturdy heft and substance, glue two together.

And here's my tip. If you get a little messy gluing those butterflies, just cover them with a little Wink of Stella.

My sweet yellow daisies are almost ready to bloom. We're expecting a heat wave this weekend, so I'm sure lots of things will be growing rapidly.

Summer Music Smiles

 

Summer music outdoors. Is there anything more lovely?

Our town has begun the weekly Salty Summer Sounds concerts downtown, where people can bring a  camp chair or grab a café table and enjoy a free concert. It's fun.

My dulcimer group has begun meeting outdoors, too. We've been having some gigs and workshops under the gazebo in downtown Chelsea in the afternoons. Passersby often stop to hear us play, and they applaud our efforts.

Yesterday, we combined mountain dulcimers with hammered dulcimers. It was a great sound.

It's such a pretty setting, too.

Do you see that sheet of smiley stickers? I put these on my sheet music to remind myself to smile while I'm playing. Sometimes, we're concentrating so hard on the notes that we're frowning as we're thinking it through. Listeners would rather see us smiling, and it makes it look like we're having fun, which we are.

I'm playing tomorrow evening with my trio called The String Sisters for Chelsea Historic Museum's open house. Should  be fun...smile!

Summer Reading

 

It feels like summer has finally arrived. Officially, it begins this Saturday. Unofficially, it seems to arrive some time after Memorial Day, or whenever the weather finally cooperates.

I start thinking about my summer reading list this time of year. And let me tell you, I have a big stack.

I've been very intentional about my reading this year, fitting it in whenever I can. I'm adding a lot of new-to-me authors and genres, too. Fiction and non-fiction. I've also been cleaning out my own shelves, and adding new titles from thrift shops when I find them.

To motivate myself, I signed up for the summer reading program at the library. They are using the Read Squared program that lets you track your reading, add reviews, and earn prizes.

I'm adding my library reads, and also the titles I'm pulling from my own shelves.

I have an ambitious pile.

Do you have any books to recommend to my pile?

Relaxing on Father's Day

 

I made a Jemma-inspired card for my husband for Father's Day. This dog stamp from Penny Black looks so much like our girl.

I paired it with the ENJOY die cut and Enjoy builder stamp set from Penny Black, then used the Call Me Ray background stamp from Catherine Pooler as the backdrop.

Jemma loves to sleep in the sunshine. And sometimes, I catch my husband napping on the chaise lounge right beside her.

Hope your day is relaxing, too!