French General Project

I love the new line of French General product out by Jolee. I've been collecting a lot of the embellishments, so it was time I made something with it. So here it is, an envelope pocket album.

I used the 12x12 pad of paper and an envelope template (size 3 5/8 x 5 1/8) to trace and cut out 6 envelopes. I only cut out 3 sides of the envelope so that I could have an open pocket.

I like this template because it's translucent which makes it easier to get an image in the right place and  because it has score lines.

Scoring on a mouse pad helps you get a nice crease.

This paper is perfect for an open pocket since the paper is printed on both sides, so you have a lovely pattern showing on the inside.

I then took out some of the FG embellishments and vintage photos and decorated the envelopes.

I found out that a standard 3x5" index card will fit perfectly inside the pocket. I stamped the top of the index card with a little red flourish, just to add a little touch of color.

I then punched 3 holes in each envelope and bound it together with ribbon.

It would be great to write down your favorite recipes on the index cards and give this album to someone special.

This is a really quick and fun project to make.

Happy Memorial Day!

Published in Somerset Studio Gallery

I love seeing that yellow paper when I check the mail. When I came home today, I was pleasantly surprised to find my complimentary issue of Somerset Studio Gallery.

I made the card in the upper right corner, using a Catherine Moore stamp...one of my favorites from her Bird & Bee Paperie collection.

Congrats also to Lisa Super, she has an adorable Mini Holiday Journal in this issue as well!

Tonight I also tried a new recipe: Lemon Pudding Cake. I had some lemons that my sister Diana gave me and wanted to use them up.

It has a light delicate cake on top of a lemon pudding. It's baked in a water bath, and has a souffle-like texture that super easy to make.

It's definitely a keeper, absolutely delicious! Three of us ate the entire dessert in one night (Shhh... :-)

Now, back to watching American Idol. Go team Jessica! And Glee finale tonight!

Williams Sonoma Inc. Sample Sale

This weekend was our company (Pottery Barn is also a part of Williams Sonoma Inc.) sample sale. The company hosts these sample sales 4 times a year. I missed the last two sales, so I was especially looking forward to this one. I thought I'd share some of my finds. Everything on this table I picked up from the sale, including those over sized ornaments hanging from the light.

This is the size of the crowd before they let you in...about 700 hundred people waiting to get in... unfortunately, I was one of the last 10 people to go in due to my high number.

Below is one of my favorite pieces: a large faux clock. It's about 4' in diameter. It's super heavy, so I was thinking of using if for a table top...we'll see!

I'm hoping I can hang this wire bird cage outside, but I'm not sure about hanging something from stucco.

I also picked up a variety of Christmas themed objects.

Below are some fun Halloween costumes I bought (xmas tree, cup cake and jester).

I also picked up a little bowling game, message board, and chicken feed. I'll be bringing that bowling game out at our next family gathering.

More items...one of my favorites is a script printed travel tote. Maryl, you can have the pool table wind up toy to add to your collection, since I know Rocky likes playing pool.

That's about it. Even though my lottery number to get in wasn't great, I still was able to pick up some good finds!

Ruffle Totes

I love ruffles and this week I decided I to make a couple of ruffle totes.

I was inspired by a purse I saw at Magpie in San Jose. It’s an adorable store; you should stop by when you’re in the area. There was an oversized linen ruffle purse there…it was a little too big for my size and a little too expensive. So, I was determined to make one this week. I went to several fabric stores this weekend to find the right linen. Joann’s had the best selection. 

I made the purse without a pattern…I used some of my totes as models. I started by making ruffles.

Then I cut out the main body.

Next, I sewed on the ruffles to the body, added the handles and then added a draw string closure using some black and white stripped ribbon. I’m happy with how it turned out.

As I was shopping for the linen fabric, I came across this remnant piece of blue and white ticking fabric for $8.

I thought the blue and white ticking fabric would be perfect for another tote, so I had to buy it, too.

For some reason, I tend to start with the ruffles first. I ripped 3” strips of fabric.

I sewed a basting stitch down the middle and gathered up the fabric. 

Below is how the ruffles look sewn on the body of the purse.

Next was to sew a top piece to the purse.

The finished ruffle tote…

Two new ruffle purses to add to my collection of totes!

Money Lei for Graduation Ceremony

It’s that time of the year…graduation ceremonies are all around.  My niece’s son, Dylan, will be going to University of Hawaii this Fall. My niece came up with a craft project for my sisters to work on, a money lei.  We love a challenge and this is what we came up with.

We folded up 60 - $1 bills in an accordion fold and just taped the ends together to make a full circle. We separated each dollar bill with a green bead. We strung the beads and dollar bills together using twine.

I really like leaves in the lei when it’s for a guy, it looks more masculine. We hot glued leaves into the beads. Dylan’s school colors are red and white, so we tied some bows around the lei for color. This just might have to be a new graduation tradition. Aloha!

Debrina Pratt Workshop

Today, I hosted a Debrina Pratt Workshop. We made a fabulous tin shadow box project that we all adored! Here's the one I made.  I love the colors and images she uses, they're so precious and magical.

Debrina did a great job; she was very organized, helpful, generous with her tips, tricks, and supplies!

We had a great group of students - 4 out of  my 5 sisters came as well as some of my dear and closest art friends.

 It was so fun to catch up with everyone again.

 Creating art.

 Painting.

 Cutting and pasting.

 Adding crystals and glitter.

 Adding flowers and crepe paper.

 Below is a picture of my work in progress.

Smile girls!

Here are some of the finished projects. Aren't these too cute? The girls lined them up in a row like an Enchanted Train.

And here are the rest of them.

Below is the hostess gift I received from Debrina - I just love it!

Thank you everyone for making this such a special day. I appreciate all the gifts, food and flowers everyone brought. A special thank you to Debrina for teaching another great class! What a Mother's Day treat!

Beautiful flowers from my sisters Diana and Maryl

Happy Mother's Day everyone!