Big Ideas & Doodles

I have been busy over at the Big Idea Festival at Big Picture Class I have completed four more 4x6 cards with the word prompts they give each day.  I have enjoyed digging into God's word to find the perfect verse for my cards/word.

I have also been working with Stephanie over at Homegrown Hospitality in her new doodle class.  I love creating cards and canvases and then filling them with color!  So relaxing.

Thanks for stopping by...........

Williamsburg Layouts

I tried a new way to scrapbook this week.  I used divided page protectors . They are similar to photo albums, but you can custimize the slots with papers, stickers, titles...... 

I found this way of scrapping easy if you have a bunch of pictures from a big trip.  You can get them down and in a book pretty quickly.

It helps to focus on the photos and not worry about all the foo foo stuff. 

 I love linar things so this fit me well.

 I like traveling to historcal places.  I didn't really pay attention in history

class, so I find this stuff really interesting. 

It was also Christmas time and the historical area was decoarted with these beautiful wreaths.

 All of the people in historical clothing played like they were back in the 1700's. 

 It was very imformative.

 You can click on the pictures to see a close up of the pages.

Thanks for stopping by....................

Big Idea Festival

I joined BIG IDEA FESTIVAL over at Big Picture Site. 

 It is a free class that gives you one word a day to meditate on and create a layout.  I decided to create 4x6 cards

with the focus on using Bible verses

and quotes from my devotions.

Day 1 SHARE

Day 2 WONDER

Day 3 LESS

Go visit the site to be inspired by all the great layouts!  Thanks for stopping by............

Christmas Cookies in August

When I asked my son what treat he would like me to bake him he responded, "Those powdery balls we have at Christmas."  I usually don't make Christmas cookies during the year. That way they seem more special when I bake them in December.  But I decided to grant the wish of my son. 
So here is the recipe for 
Butter Pecan Sandies:
1 Cup Butter softened
1 Tbs. Water
5 Tbs. Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Chopped Pecans
Powdered Sugar


Cream butter and sugar. Mix in water and vanilla.  SLOWLY beat in flour and salt.  Add chopped pecans and chill for one hour.  Shape into balls or cresent shapes.  Bake for 12-15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Cool on wire rack and cover in powdered sugar.

Finishing Up

I have been working on this doodle for the past few months.  I finally finished it up this week. 

This is my last layout from our trip to Chicago last year. 

These pictures are from the gardens in front of the

Lincoln Park Zoo.  If you are ever in Chicago

make sure to stop by the FREE zoo and gardens. 

It's a nice respite from the bustling city.

You can take closer look by clicking on the pictures. 

Thanks for stopping by...........

Big Hole in the Ground

Today we went to visit a local Virginia attraction, Luray Caverns  At first I thought it might be just a tourist trap.  It was truly an amazing site to see.

It was dicovered back in 1878, by farmers.  They found a hole in the ground and found the caverns below.

This is a lake only 20 inches deep.  You are looking at a reflection of the ceiling.  Pretty cool, right?

They illuminated the pathway with candles.

I found this sign funny:)

This pond of water is called the Wishing Well.  People throw in coins and make a wish.  Then once a year the area is drained and the money collected.  It is given to local charities.

Named Fried Eggs

Well it turned out to be a HUGE hole in the ground.  I highly recommend checking this place out if you are in the area.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sea Shell Wreath

Over the DECADES we have collected shells from all over the world. We have walked the beaches in Spain, Hawaii, Holland, Caribbean, and Up and Down the East and West Coast, and Gulf of Mexico...... thanks to the US ARMY and to a husband who endulges me in my LOVE to travel!  I have filled jars and bowls with the shells.  But when ever we moved they would go back in the box. 



Supplies: Foam wreath, 1.5 inch ribbon, 22g wire, glue gun and SHELLS!



I saw an idea in Womans Day for a wreath.  I am creating a beach/lighthouse theme in our guest bedroom, so I thought this would be a great addition and I would use up some of those shells I have been hoarding.

This was super easy to create!  Here is how to make it:

Wrap the ribbon around the wreath gluing it down every four rounds.

Yes that it crayon ribbon.  I ran out of the ribbon I bought and was to lazy and cheap to go buy more.

Wrap your wire around the wreath and twist to secure and make a loop to hang.



Hot glue your shells to the wreath.

Add a ribbon and large shell to the back for the pretend hanger.

Thanks for stopping by........

Rag Quilt

For the past few years I have been collecting old jeans in hopes of making a rag quilt.  This is how I made it.

Cut jean material in 7 in squares.

I had enough to make 150 squares.

I only use 70 to make this quilt. 

I made it

 7 squares x 10 squares. 

Cut flannel material in 7 inch squares.

Next I ironed the jean and flannel and put

them wrong sides together.

Lay out your rows so it is pleasing to the eye.



Sew corner to corner on each square.

Sew your squares into rows, flannel sides together.

 I ironed the seems down to make it easier

to sew the rowes together.

Sew your rows together, mathcing seams.

 After it is sewed them together I sewed a 1/2 inche stitch around the endge of the quilt.



With sharp scissors cut slits into ALL seams.



Make sure not to cut into the stitching. 

Cut around the edge of the quilt. 

The edge will look like this.

 Now take your quilt to a laudrymat and wash and dry it.  You could do this at home if you watch the washer and grab all the strings that WILL come out/off in the wash.  Then when it is in the dryer check your lint trap every five minutes or so and clear it out.  Then it will be FINISHED! 



It is super cozy!




Close-up of the edges after you dry it!

I enough material left over to make one more.  Maybe a Christmas present???.........

Thanks for stopping by.