Getting Ready for NSD

Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,"

 For those that don't know May 4th is National Scrapbooking Day, celebrated every year the first Saturday in May.  This year you notice it is also on Star Wars Day: "May the 4th be with you."  I celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, though while our grandchildren may celebrate the other.  I have been preparing by putting away all my junk journal supplies, and cleaning my desk, so I can now be in scrap mode instead of junk mode.

Below is the finished Julie, Dear Julie April Challenge journal.  It is actually two journals.  The topper or cover to the journal is a stacked journal with a tie.  

And here is my desk after putting all the "junk" away.

I am ready to begin scrapbooking!  Oh, and there is my tea for my ticket to Bleubeard & Elizabeth's T Stands for Tuesday party over at Altered Book Lover.  Get yourself a beverage and come join us.

I can't leave without showing you some cards I made for my Challenge Your Stash Challenge this month at SplitcoastStampers.  My challenge was to use ignored DSP for one or more cards.  I love to follow Crafty Al's Sheetload of Cards sketches, because you get more than one card, and all different.  This sketch was a revisit of August 2020, and she just made it for 3 cards.  This is how mine turned out.

This designer paper series was actually a 6x6 collection, "Memories & More", Flowers for Every Season from Stampin' Up.  I used three sheets of 6x6 and cut according to the directions, then put it together, and each card turns out different.  I used also used a Stampin' Up die and stamp for the sentiments.  This paper has been in my stash for years!  Our motto for our challenge is "hoarders no more".  The object of the challenge is to use up your stash.  BTW that was why I started junk journaling, to use up stash and scraps, but it seems, I am just making more scraps and stash!  What about you?  If you are a paper crafter, how do you cope with your growing collection of products, paper and miscellaneous items?  Do you purge, regularly, or does it just keep growing?  I watched a Craft Organization Summit recently on dealing with all our "stuff".  It did inspire me or re-organize, somewhat.  At least I found some treasures, I forgot I had!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please let me know you were here.  I love reading your comments. See you next time!

T Stands for Second Valentine Post

  23 Search me, O God, and know my heart:

try me, and know my thoughts:
²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24

Hello Readers! As promised last week, I will show you our Valentine meals. Yes, we actually had two special Valentine meals last week. That is good because we always celebrate Valentines Day, not just because it is a special day, but because my husband proposed to me on Valentine's Day exactly 56 years ago.  My husband always remembers this because it is also happens to be the 56th Super Bowl.  So as long as he knows which Super Bowl it is, he knows how many years ago he proposed and how long we have been married.  Yes, he is a football fan!

 The first one was at our favorite Italian restaurant, where we had wonderful lasagna & manicotti.   I already ate some of my meal before remembering to take a photo.

  The second one was a special event we were invited to at a local Senior Living facility where we attended a Sweetheart dinner & movie.  It was the most wonderful food, and my photos won't do it justice!  

Our wonderful salad with the most scrumptious raspberry dressing.

Filet Oscar:  the tenderest filet, with crab meat on top and served with asparagus & hollandaise sauce.

Chocolate Mouse

The tables before we were seated:  The ones who wanted it were served wine.  We declined.

We even had music while we were eating.

We sat in front of the fire with our drinks, my tea, while waiting to be seated.

 The craft I will share this week is the technique by Crafty Al on you tube. She shares a sketch every month for what she calls Sheetload of Cards.  This week I got a head start on my Christmas cards using one of her sketches. 

It takes three sheets of 12x12 patterned paper and three sheets of colored cardstock, as well as white cardstock cut and folded for bases.  This sketch made 9 cards.  I added sentiments and ornaments that I already had on hand.  So with this 9, I now have 17 completed Christmas cards done, including stamped sentiments on the inside and envelopes with a little decoration stamped on the outside. Not bad for February 20th.  So if I go for same amount I needed last year, I only have 47 more to go.   I might need more next year, to.  So it won't hurt to make extra.  I have set a goal of 5 a month, but I am ahead.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hi to the T Gang.  Be sure and visit Bleubeard and Elizabeth at Altered Book Lover.  That is where we all meet up for T Stands for Tuesday.  We just share a drink related post on our blogs, so if you have a blog and share something related to some kind of drink you can link to our party, too. 

Stay warm.

See you next time.