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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.