Homemade Gifts are Soooooo Special!

As a single parent of 4, I remember many a time when gift giving was often impossible. So on those occasions I gathered my children and we all sat down to make special homemade gifts for one another and for the rest of the family. The thought that we could not give because we were short on money was often a sad time; however it was so satisfying at that time to know that all of us had the ability to overcome this. As I look back and hopefully in the long run, they’ll [my children] know that homemade is really special because the gift comes from the heart and the look of appreciation in the recipient’s face is priceless!

I encourage all to use their hearts and hands in creating a special gift for a special occasion or for that “just because” occasion!

Below you’ll see a rainbow of happy colors that just kept on growing…framed it…and then gave it away!

I used oil pastels on the wrong paper, so the blending wasn’t as sharp as I’d like…nonetheless…the result was satisfying.

Tonight...I'll blast the radio and listen to smooth oldies~! Good night~

To know me...is to love me.... Oh wait!!! No-no, to know YOU is to LIKE YOU LOTS!!

#1  Since I've been having so much fun with my postcards...a friend I've had since the mid-70's asked where her postcard was. So my response was..."It's in the mail!" However, if you know me...I never do anything on a small scale and her postcard never arrived by mail. So, not only did she get a postcard, but it was showcased in a shadow box and I added real sand from the beach and real sea shells that I covered in Mod Podge ™ ...then I wrote a personal message and hand-delivered it.

Here's how this card took shape...I first took a cotton ball and wiped it over a baby blue stamp pad and dabbed it all over my card to simulate the sky... leaving space for the occasional white sky. I then used a Fairy-tale-type Castle image and stamped it on the card with Gold pigment color. Little by little, I found just the right sea shell and with a bit of Mod Podge ™ , all the natural beauty and colors starting shining through. I made a few calls to family and friends to see who was hitting the beach and ordered a bit of sand. I got the sand in record time...[it's an easy feat during these hot summer months]...then I managed to glue it on the card. I personalized it by writing something personal... "Our friendship is everlasting...Like the sea shells carried throughout time...they too are everlasting! Thanks for your friendship!"

Friendships are everlasting!

Like the sea shells carried throughout time...they too are ever lasting!

#2  I recently had a conversation with a former high school friend, that I didn't know all that well then: [I went to an all girl's high school and he went to an all boy's school]. However, quite recently he found me on Classmates.com and we started chatting. In a recent conversation, he expressed sadness at missing his grand kids and that the only thing he had left of them were pictures that had been removed from the wall by an intruder. As I listened, I knew immediately that I could do something to brighten up that sadness...so I gathered some pictures via his cell phone and I came up with his very own set of pop-up grand kids! Needless to say, he was elated and now they pop-up anywhere he wants them to be! 

Take your pop-up little person to work...have them sit on your keyboard

Or have them frolic on a shelf where you can keep your eye on them!

Or have them just hang watch you at work!

Or sit them on your books!

Or just let them hang anywhere you'd like!

 The trick to these little one's was to embellish the activity they were engaged in and make the memory tantamount to that event! You got it...these were very appreciated and that alone makes me happy!

How to:

Select a few favorite pictures of the subjects as well as other photos that you can add to embellish the originals and print at your local drugstore...the 1 hr. kind...cut them out and and glue onto card stock...add my favorite shiner...Mod Podge ™ and wait to dry. Then add a little kick-stand on the back and presto!!...Your pop-ups are ready to be displayed throughout your home or office or even your car! Although you need to make sure they are never placed in direct sunlight or heat as they will stick together and get ruined!

Enjoy! 

OMG, a silly story to share and then...
The surprises just keep coming!  

Have you ever driven off a curb? It's the funniest thing I've done in a long, long time. I found myself low on gas and stopped at my local gas station. However, on the way out...I missed the exit and went off the curb. You can't imagine what I did next... I sat in my car and laughed out loud! Hahahahahahaha! That happened years ago, but I remember this incident each and every time I go through that same gas station. Within minutes 2 police officers drove by and approached the car and helped me get out of that predicament. They asked if I was in the habit of missing the exit and we all laughed... Don't you just love memories that make you laugh at yourself? I do. On extra tough days, I often look back and remember those times that brought me to tears with laughter. 

And with that I want to share two more beautiful cards that have recently arrived in the mail. I just luv them! The first of these two cards arrived from Karen who was a recipient of one of my cards. It was such a surprise to receive her beautiful card! This lovely artist also sponsors swaps so you should check her out at mailmesomeart.blogspot.com !

From Karen I. in MA

From Nancy S. in Canada

My 9th card from the International Post Card Swap came in from Nancy, in Canada, who designed this very chic card with advice to follow!! 

Although I wrote this a few weeks ago...I thought I would have enough time to add, but didn't. So, forgive...have a laugh on my silly-stories and admire my work. HAHAHAHAHA!
Have a wonderful next few hours! Tonight...I'm blogging