Gnomes2Roam

Gnomes2Roam
My Gnomes

Saturday, December 26, 2015

My version of 'Twas the night before Christmas.

It has been raining off and on almost all week. The temperatures have been unseasonably warm and it never did feel like Christmas.

Here it is Boxing Day, Christmas is gone and it still is raining.

I wrote this up as a bit of satire on my present situation.

'Tis the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Silence has settled 'cept the slide of my mouse.
No stockings, no chimney, I don't care
I know that St. Nicholas will never be there.

My children are nestled all snug in their homes,
Where my grand kitties reign and constantly roam.
I have no 'kerchief and Dad lost his cap.
I sit here a pondering tap tap...tap tap.

Now out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I hobbled in pain.
I forgot...should have grabbed that darn old cane.

The moon reflects off the sodden ground,
While I try to fathom, "What IS that sound?"
When what do I see but two cats in a fight,
All teeth and claws, flying fur. What a sight!

Not Dasher nor Dancer! Not Pancer or Vixen!
Not Comet, nor Cupid, nor Donner, or Blitzen.
Unless they were named by some Christmasy mind,
Hissing and spitting their yowls combined.

Shaking my head, I leave the scene
To power down my computer screen.
I checked once more on the warring feline,
Everything seems normal, quiet and fine.

With one leap the tiger lands on the sill
Grinning at me through the glass as cats will.
A flick of his whisker and a twist of his head
Reminds me how I was headed to bed.

But I exclaim, before he dove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night."

Sunday, December 13, 2015

No new Christmas cards

This is the 1st year I have not made Christmas cards to send all my family and friends since hubby retired from the Army way back in 1994. That means for 20 years I have produced any number of cards to send out. One year I even made some for my daughter to use. (that year I made over 150 cards with no two being exactly alike).


Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas
 and a safe and healthy New Year.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Time is flying by even faster.

Thanksgiving was a blast. Son-in-law cooked with a few added tasty tidbits contributed by Ashley and Diane. Yummmmmm!!! Played a few games and decorated onesies for the baby shower.

Finished up my Whole page Christmas.

It looked like this before I added popped images, pearls and paperclips.


It still seems a bit plain. I think I will get out the glitter pen.


5 golden ring paperclips for her to use wherever.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Time is Flying

Here it is already November and I do not have my Christmas cards made. I have handmade my cards since we retired here in '94. Even that 1st Christmas, when we had to live with Mom and Bill, I made them. This year it seems so hard to get started. Hard to get started on anything.

Swap-bot worked as inspiration for a while but lately I have had to push myself to finish some of the swaps I found appealing enough to join.

I did make another "Whole page First Snow" pocket page even though we are highly unlikely to see snow here until January. But ........
This is the layout unadorned.

I ended up removing the "Let it Snow" sign because its metal was digging into the plastic of the pockets. I didn't want them damaged.



I love the snowflake paperclips I made from paper fasteners and paperclips. I just had to add a bit of ultra suede (same smooth finish but thinner than felt) to the backs to keep them from being scratchy. The 1st picture is of the backs before I added the suede. 



The clips add just enough pizzazz to the pockets to keep them interesting. Plus my partner can remove them to use elsewhere.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

New idea and new project.

I put these pics on two of the groups I follow on Facebook and met with some enthusiasm. Guess I am headed in the right direction.

I have begun another pocket Advent Calendar for someone special. I used 3 pocket pages taped together using Terrifically Tacky Tape®. Each of the top 24 pockets holds a 2½ x 3½ envelope folded from silver Origami paper. I will add numbers and decorations to the fronts and post it here later. The bottom 3 pockets will hold my Christmas greeting. (The last thing I will do before sending it off will be to fill the pockets with goodies.)
Wall hanging pocket Advent Calendar.

Detail of the back of the pockets.
I plan to reinforce the "top" edge and add a ribbon through the holes so it can be hung on the wall.
Upper edge must be strong to hold up the weight of the goodies added to the pockets. I think tying on a dowel will do it.
After the season, when all the goodies are gone, The calendar can be folded up and placed in a binder with other Pocket Letters. It could even be reused next year.

Folded in thirds.
Anyone wanting to make one of these please feel free to go right ahead. I would like to see pictures of your end results.


Friday, October 9, 2015

Okay, two things.

I have this upcoming swap for an Advent calendar Pocket Letter. (actually three PLs) Being an eager beaver I have managed to make all three already. Since they are not going to the same person I made the three different. They all started out as ATC sized gold envelopes before I decorated the fronts.






I have been having this idea rumbling around in my head for some time and finally today I did it. My Minion is cute but I think he needs limbs and maybe hair. If I do this again I am going to use denim printed paper and not paper backed denim. (it ends up being too thick) I might even construct goggles for him instead of using printed ones.

Still contemplating this one. Need to let it stew a bit.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Halloween Whole Page PL

I finished it......well......so far. I am having visions of various black cats roaming around and taking naps on shelves. Anyway, here it is;



I added a lot of different types of stickers, a few paperclips, a bit of ribbon and some (NOT WASHI) tape. I hope whoever gets it enjoys it. Instead of messing up the profile by adding things to the pockets I have decided to add a separate packet for them tucked inside the bigger envelope. (The only way to mail this is flat.) See if you can spot all the changes, additions.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Longer and longer between times.

Rare Oddities
This called for a little different approach because of the nature of the graphics. My smaller (3 5/8 x 2 5/8) cards ended up on the right side.
It does seem to be a long time between posts these days. At least I had a good excuse.

While going through my paper stash I found I own 4 Graphics 45® designs. I decided to make a pocket letter from each of them since there was so much paper just sitting there and taking space.

Anyone familiar with Graphics 45 paper knows it is beautiful front and back and often difficult to cut into just because of that. To keep the graphics looking intact I changed my insert size. This lessens the gap side to side and end to end between pockets. For the top three I made my cards 3 5/8 x 2 5/8.
For the rest I made them 3 3/4 x 2 5/8. (the lower 6 pockets of my page are slightly larger lengthwise than the top 3.) This helped it to look more like a picture than a bunch of pockets.

I have decided anything I decorate them with will go on the outside of the pocket with goodies (if any) tucked safely in the back.
By the Sea

Botanical Tea

The Twelve Days of Christmas





Thursday, September 3, 2015

Slowing down

I haven't posted here in a while. I am always busy doing something but never get ahead.

I seem to have had a lot of re-sends lately. That means the 1st swap got lost/stolen/whatever and I had to produce a replacement. It is much harder to do than the 1st go around. I do not have a lot of duplicate stuff so I have to go looking again to fulfill the requirements and I never feel as inspired the 2nd time.

This funk too shall pass.

Looking forward to Fall and all the beautiful colors.

These are from last year.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

A moment of zen

I was told I should "have a moment of zen!" today. I think that was a nice way of saying chill. Either way it made me smile. 

I went on to produce another Pocket Letter. This time we were supposed to use "found" items for the front. I ended up cutting up both of my Minion festooned (had to look that one up) Cheerios boxes to get 9 ATC sized cards. As it was I had to do some creative spicing. For the back I made nine pocket envelopes by cutting down envelopes I inherited from a defunct florist. (You know those envelopes you put your sentiment card in.) This way all the goodies are hidden and the Minion theme screams at you front and back.







I made this one earlier in the week using some gorgeous Graphics 45® paper called Botanical Tea. It was too pretty to mess up with a lot of embellishments so I kept it simple and stuffed the back.







There is a nice little surprise in her birdcage. I hope she loves it as much as I did making it (If not maybe I can persuade her to send it back, probably not.)







Monday, August 10, 2015

A momentary glitch in my thinking


I just happened to look at my blog. A bit beyond my most recent post and discovered I had shown the Botanical Garden PL twice. Blame it on old age, or being proud of how nicely it came out, or whatever. I deleted it and put this in place of it. *Sigh* If only life was as easily rewritten when we make mistakes.


Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Blah day.

Today is just blah. I know part of it is the weather. It seems to be extra dreary lately. Another part is that every time I start something productive I am interrupted. Who knew a retired hubby would be so  high maintenance? Off I go again.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Seems like all I do is Pocket Letters®

Actually they are not what I consider "real" Pocket Letters. They are swaps that utilize the PL format. Still lots of fun and sometimes challenging.


One sent to Germany to a Halloween loving partner. This was almost like making seasonal greeting cards but on a smaller scale. The back was stuffed with stickers, cutouts and the like for her to use.







One sent out for a Christmas in July swap. Each pocket held an ornament/gift tag decorated front and back. The extras I sent her I put in a small envelope within the large one I used to mail this.





 

No amount of coaxing, editing or light changes would get the lavenders and lilacs to photograph true so this picture is not nearly as beautiful as the real thing. Even the purple buttons faded.




I will confess I did a few other things but failed to photograph the results. I am usually wishing I had taken pictures about time the postman picks it up and then I have no opportunity.



Sunday, July 5, 2015

Been Distracted

I have been distracted by a lot of random things in my life lately. I did get some creative things done, just not as many as I would have liked.

This was for a special swap that featured my insight into my partner as well as a peek at myself. It was difficult but fun.

The back was almost as decorative as the front. This is a rare thing with me.

I also was remembering creative things I did some time ago (about 20 years). These were for paper twist dolls. Anyone remember the Paper Twist craze? I wonder if PLs will ever be just a memory.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Finished Project

I finished the Cook Book. It was a lot of fun and not so very hard once I had my plan visualized.
I wanted a charm for the spine but had no "food' related trinkets so I improvised.
I think it looks pretty good and because of the claw it can be removed and used other places.

I also liked how the recipe cards turned out. 2 to each pocket, half are from the paper pad and the others I bought a while back.
The cover was a Tim Holtz® Idea-ology Chronicle Worn Cover I picked up on sale at Hobby Lobby. It sure makes making a book a lot faster and easier. I did add some of Tim Holtz metal corners, also from the Idea-ology line of products. I know from experience they extend the life of the book. I use them on my journals.












When I get this in the mail I will be very happy.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Cook Book

I started a new project today. I am making a cook book for someone. Well not exactly a cook book, more like a place to keep her favorite recipes and tuck spots for notes and small clippings.

I started out with 4 pages made from craft card stock 6 1/4 x 11 7/8. I scored them at 1/4, 8 1/2, 8 5/8.



I also made 4 double pockets from the same card stock 5 1/2 x 9 1/4. I scored those at 1/2, 9 then rotated the sheet 180° to score it at 2 3/4.



I used Paper Studio's Olivia's Sweet Shop and cut 8 papers 6 x 8 to cover the pages and 8 papers 2 1/2 x 8 to cover the pockets  and finally I used some scraps for the flaps, 8 of them 6 x 3. I distressed all the edges with Tim Holtz' Frayed Burlap.



I covered the pockets 1st then straddled them onto the page using the 1/2 inch on each side as a gusset. Then the page cover was added by slipping it down into the pocket and securing it in place. For this project I used Scor-Tape for most of my gluing. I did use Terrifically Tacky Tape for the pocket joins and to add the tuck spots. I will also use it later to secure the pages onto the cover.



I finished off the page with one of the 6 X 3 on each side of the flap.



All I have to do is secure the pages in the cover and add the recipe cards, maybe a few favorite recipes.