Four Jewels Trip

Death Valley

It  has been a very busy April and May!  Getting ready for a craft fair in Portland and then also getting ready to go on a trip to 4 National Parks in California.  For this post, I will keep it short with just pictures of our trip but tomorrow I want to post pictures of the craft fair that my sisters and I did while I was away.  Just a little thank you for doing the hard work of setting it up and greeting customers.  

Our trip was amazing it was with Road Scholar and there were 34 of us altogether.  The weather was perfect but isn't it always in California! This was our second Road Scholar trip and again there were 6 of us from Maine.  The Petersens and the Elas were traveling together but we met another couple from Bar Harbor, Maine.  The trip was called the 4 Jewels-Sequoia, King's Canyon, Yosemite and Death Valley. We went from 8,800 feet above sea level to 282 feet below sea level in this trip and the hottest too in Death Valley at 112 degrees!  Yikes! 

Sequoias

Grizzly Falls

Our first National Park was Sequoia National Park and it was amazing how big these trees are!  There was actually a tunnel through one of the Sequoias that had fallen down and we walked through it.  We had a tour guide that joined us here and did a portrayal of John Muir at dinner.  He was great.  What would we have done without John Muir?  General Sherman was the biggest Sequoia in the Park. 

General Sherman

Mark and General Lee

After Sequoia we headed to King's Canyon and then onto Yosemite.  There was a fire in the canyon but firefighers were able to get it under control but we did see helicopters bringing in water to put out the fire.  We saw rock climbers on El Capitan and just before we arrived in Yosemite 2 rock climbers fell to their death off El Capitan.  There is a camp in Yosemite which is mostly filled with rock climbers.  Pictures below of Yosemite's waterfalls and the landscape. 

Rock climber in red

Fire in the canyon

Bridal Veil Falls

Another view of Bridal Veil

Yosemite Falls

Walking to Yosemite Falls

We headed to Death Valley after Yosemite and stayed in Lone Pine where a lot of old cowboy movies and television series such as  Rawhide and Bonanza. Recently, movies like Star Wars and Back to Future shot some scenes in the desert. If you ever, get a chance seeing any or all of these Parks is definitely worth it.   

Death Valley

Death Valley

The National Park Travelers

One last picture is a picture of our bus driver.  He was terrific!   Driving on some of these roads and going through the canyons that we did, took some expertise at driving and we all felt safe with him at the wheel.  He was a cool guy also, he came to the US 20 plus years ago from Poland and I loved his accent.

Thank you Frank!

Father's Day Cards Galore!

3 U fold cards for Father's Day

Closer look

My sisters and I are busy making cards and other projects for an upcoming craft fair.  We haven't done one in a long time so we are busy, busy, busy.  I made these U fold cards because the fair is June 9th and 10th and the next weekend is Father's Day (June 17th)! I have seen many of these types of cards on Pinterest and had to make some for myself.  I used the Stampin up Apron bundle along with Marianne Creatables handy man tools.  Love the wood grain paper from Simple stories, it just screams masculinity!

Card in a box BBQ

This is another Father's Day fun card to make!  Card in the box grill for the grillmaster of the house!  Punch art for the hamburger and hot dog on the side and I used Tim Holtz bird cage for the grill underneath the hamburger and hot dog.  The utensils are from SU Apron bundle.

Father's Day Workshirt

For the nautical man

Love this shaker card for the man who loves the sea!  The sailboat is from Die-namics and so is the anchor and porthole.  This was a fun and easy card to make.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out all the cards.  Check back for more items that we will have on display for the fair.

Gardening in May!

This birthday is for a friend who is just getting started in the papercrafting world.  She is a gardener and since her birthday is this week I thought this Stampin up bundle "Grown with Love" was so appropriate for her.  I bought this bundle last fall and just now I am using it and I love it!!  I reminds me of what I need to do soon--buying flowers and planting them for the spring/summer!!  Can't wait! The sentiment on the back of this card reads, "Plant a flower, chase a cloud, watch a sunset, laugh out loud, find some perfect thing to do-- Celebrate just being you!"   Just a little shout out to that little frog in the lower right hand corner--it is a sticker!  Just so cute!

I also have been working on a quilt for my son.  He picked the colors and the design.  I still have a lot to do but I am so thrilled that he asked me to make him something that he will have for a long time because as a friend put it,  "it is made with love". 

Just the beginning-so many more squares/triangles to go!

Yay more color!

Graduation Theme Projects

My sisters and I are going to start making items for a spring craft fair in June that we are going to participate.  We came up with a name for our "little business" called Sisters' Designs.  Because the fair is at the beginning of June, we thought graduation projects would be good to have available to purchase like cards and gift cards/boxes.  Here are a few items that I have been working on for the craft fair.  

Graduation box/lantern

Sentiment on the back

Side view

This was a fun project to make.  It makes a great centerpiece for a graduation party with a tea light inside the box.  It measures about 4 1/2 inches by 7 inches.  I have already made one for a friend's birthday (see previous post) but I think I will make a birthday one also for the fair.  It doesn't take long to make them at all.                                                                                                                    

Pop up gift box

Panda Bear

This is a gift box for a gift card or a small gift like earrings or a necklace.  The instructions for this little box are very easy to follow just click here.  Melissa does a great show showing you how to make this cute pop up gift box. I used Marianne Creatable's panda bear holding a banner that says "You did it!

Petite Card in a Box

Card closed

Sentiment on the back

My last project that I made last week for Graduation theme is a Petite Card in a box with a hot air balloon die that I have and used the Stampin Up DSP that  coordinates great with hot air balloons.  My hot air balloon is from Memory box and it is just one die.  The cloud die is from Sizzix.  

Heading back to my craftroom to start making some more Graduation themed cards and Wedding cards especially since June is a big month for Weddings!

She's a Lady!

So my sister's birthday is next week and I decided to use Graphic 45's Couture collection to make her card.  The sticker in the front from the collection says, "A girl should be two things classy and fabulous," Coco Chanel - and she is both!!  This is a box card and it folds flat for mailing.  I love how the front (scallop front design) just pops out when it is standing. Here is the tutorial for this type of card.                 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/34832597103932708/

View from the top

Back of the card

All that is left is to put it in the mail. I love the high heel die from Marianne Creatables.  It was perfect for finishing off this card. This is definitely a girly girl card!! Happy Birthday Phillis!!

Birthday Balloons!

Let's celebrate & Party On!

How cute is this??  I watched Frenchie's tutorial on this box and decided to make one for a friend's with a birthday next week.  I changed a few things like only using the balloon dies from SU's Balloon Adventure on three of the 4 sides so I had a panel for the sentiment (shown below).  The top comes off so you an fill it with candy or use a tea light for the inside after the candy is gone!  The panels have vellum on the 3 sides.  France Martin (Frenchie)  also does a triangle which is cool too!  I'll have to try that too! The size of this box is a very good size,  6 inches by 4 inches.  A lot of the boxes I have made lately have been small so this was fun to make a bigger project.  It is hard to see in the picture but the base of this box is sage green and you want to use a good weight for your cardstock because 3 of the sides have the balloon die and a lot of the paper is cut out.  Just love how this came out!  I am definitely making some more!!

4th side with sentiment

The best is yet to come

March Birthdays!

For Debbie

For Julie

I have been working on a couple of birthday cards for friends who have birthdays this month.  The first one is with a SU stamp set called Party Pandas, pictured on the left.  This is  a 4-panel twisted pop up card with these cute pandas.  I also had the panda from Marianne Designs and used it inside the card. I got the idea from Pinterest where I saw a similar card--just adorable!  The card on the right is a Card in a box card with Graphic 45 French Country paper collection.  It is so beautiful!! The flowers are from Die-namics.  Pictures below show the card closed up and ready for mailing. Happy Birthday Debbie & Julie!!

Closed

Other side

Front of card closed

I am happy to report that I am back in my craftroom and using my right arm more and more.  It has been 5 weeks since my shoulder surgery and I finally get my sling off  this Friday!! Yay!  Now just have to do my PT exercises and I'll be good as new!  Thank you to friends and family, especially my husband who has been doing the housework and cooking, for your support and well wishes.