one more week of summer

Another perfect beach day. Followed by some card making and leftover "Fajita Lasagna." It was a good day!

Here's the birthday card I made for my friend's 31st birthday. I tried out the yellow-gray color combo I saw recently in some magazines. I had also seen the color combo on a bathing suit at the beach recently I loved it.

Today I also got news that another friend had her baby boy. So here's her card. I used some round Paper Source I had leftover from my Christmas cards several years ago. I used American Crafts rubons for "baby" and hand drew the swirls. I used a tiny heart stamp and went over those with Perfect Pearls in copper. I copied an idea I saw in a magazine (can't remember where!) and used a journaling stamp for the envelope where I will address it to her family.

Yesterday I finished my June layout. I have been doing 2-page layouts every month this year. I got a little behind. I follow roughly the same format each month. On the left page I use a little calendar and write in what I did. I journal using the same prompts each month. Sometimes I add more narrative journaling on the page somewhere. Here's the left-hand page...

I have had fun with this book. Every few months I pick out 2 sheets of patterened paper for a month. I typically don't buy paper for a specific project. I usually just buy a bunch that I like with no plan in mind. However...it has been so fun each month buying a few special sheets of paper that I love and that coordinate with each other and the month I'm working on. Here's the right-hand page...

My boss did an arts & crafts project with one of her groups at work recently. I loved it. It is a topiary. I have done those years ago with a group of senior citizens. However....these topiaries are different. The "stem" is actually a ball-point pen. You "pull" the pen out of the base (which holds the pen cap) and you can write with it! I decided I might make a few and try and sell them along with my cards at the craft fair in October. Here's my first attempt....

Well...that's all for now. I am procrastinating on working out. I can see the little apartment complex gym from my window as I type. I've been slacking in the exercise department! Also need to do some work for school even though I'm on vacation. Today at the beach with my mom it came to my attention that school starts in a little over a week! I was thinking there was another whole week in there somewhere. AHHH!