Wednesday, May 29, 2013

St. Pete Beach

My sister and I went to the beach the other day ~It has been several years since we visited the beach my dad took us to for many years near his home in St. Petersburg, FL.


The domes in St. Pete don't exactly look like they are suffering from mold issues.

The Don Cesar, or the Pink Palace as dad would call it......looms large against the blue sky.
Take a left and drive a few blocks to Pass-a-grille beach which requires a parking fee.


There was a craft show going on....live music.....


This guy jumped into my pic as I was snapping....

We enjoyed a shaved ice.....to cool off......I had Mango....I think my sister ordered banana.....

Paradise Grille is an oasis with ATM, bathrooms and food.....



You can see the umbrellas....peeking out from behind the sand dunes.....

Above you can see the bay to the east......

turning your head to the west....the Gulf of Mexico......

It was a glorious day of sunshine.

We did not stay for the sunset. In these temperatures.....you have to take the sun a little at a time. Even only 3 hours with sunscreen 30 my shoulders were pink.....

Summer has arrived in Florida.....get your tan on!

~Lynda~






Saturday, May 18, 2013

Luggage tags

Bonjour Peeps! Summer is just 3 weeks away and we are already in packing mode here....so I thought I would share a very special craft that I learned years ago from my artsy niece Jana. Luggage tags that are personalized have been around for a while, but this paper jumped off the shelf and into my arms before I knew what hit me! Graphic 45 French Country line was an immediate draw when I spotted the thatched roof....Marie Antoinette's cottages at Versailles came to mind. I selected several sheets of this line of  paper that I thought would be perfect for a scrapbook and 2 sheets of the A La Carte that would make the perfect set of luggage tags.



Gather your supplies: scissors, hole punch(crop-a-dile), laminating pouches and machine(available at Walmart/craft stores), sharpie, paper for tags, gromment and tool for setting, hammer.





Begin by typing address on cardstock and adhere with adhesive. The A-La-Carte tags are really journaling boxes that are 2-sided. Double sided paper works best for laminating.
Once you have laminated the tags, the most difficult part is setting the gromments. These are sometimes found in the sewing section at craft stores because they are really for fabric. This part of the craft is the most difficult.


Above: draw a small circle where you want to place the gromment. The picture does not have the sheet laminated, because I had already finished the tags when I thought about showing you this step......so remember, your tags will be laminated FIRST before you draw the circle. Cut out area with punch. Don't get the hole too large....just big enough so the shank of the gromment fits.


Above: hole punch-after you laminate the paper.......

place the gromment through hole, then see below, place the other fitting ring on top and set it.


The above tool kit came with the package. They may be labeled "gromments" or "fasteners"
Place the gromment in the circle and the tool on top and POUND with the hammer HARD ON CONCRETE , WOOD OR OTHER HARD SURFACE OUTSIDE. Please do not do this in the home or you will leave dings in your floor.
Once you have set the gromment, the final step is easy.....

Embellish with ribbons, foo-foo, string, rope, raffia, thread, or your hearts desire!

This is one side, the other side has all the names and address on them. I chose ribbon that matched the paper. Make some long so you have enough length to tie onto the suitcase and knot several times.



TIE TO YOUR LUGGAGE>>>>several knots actually.......




They look great on the red suitcase eh?



Photo below is a tag made two years ago that survived two trips to Paris, a trip to the Bahamas and Alaska!



These have made great gifts for bridesmaids, friends and family. Last year we made them for the end of the year party and place a tag with just the name on a dollar plastic sand bucket and filled it with goodies. You can even make them, and have the folks write on them with a sharpie after they are laminated........
If you have questions, please feel free to leave me a comment and your email address.

Happy Crafting......Happy Summer! ~Lynda

Linking up with parties below:











TidyMom




By Stephanie Lynn
PJH Designs

Saturday, May 11, 2013

42nd Mayfaire

It was a beautiful day in central FL for Mayfaire around Lake Morton. Approx 175 vendors set up their fine arts booths for a show and tell or ....really more like SELL. This is the 42nd year if I read the article correctly. It happens every Mother's Day Weekend and is a great place to take your mom....if she can walk long distance....

At first it may not look like much, but there is food, art, and plenty of activities for the children. We didn't stop this year for the entertainment, but there are lots of folks to watch....

The above booth was voted by the 3 of us.....the most impressive.



Mark's work is incredible pen and ink, FL keys, Bahama style of artwork that looks as if it should be on a t-shirt....I took this one home for my wall in the newly remodeled bathroom.

This vendor makes Little Wooden Boxes, unique, hand-crafted decorative pieces that would drive a sane person crazy just sitting assembling tedious, small pieces of wood together.

We walked all the way around, picking up a $5 Lemonade on the backside of the lake....it was very warm outside.....


We did observe more than seven swans....a swimming....


The fair is open Sunday as well, so come on down and check it out if you are in the area.


Over to Back and Brew for some ice tea and lunch....yum!

This was a great Mother's Day treat....spending the day with my daughter, and my youngest sister. 

We stopped by Munn Park to take a pic in front of the rose garden....notice the Jewel Kade necklace from my husband, son and daughter-in-love.....
Below is a new scrapbook store, The Scrappin Shack, that is not a shack at all!

Beautiful 1800's bldg. with brick walls and wooden floors. Great prices on scrapbook papers and all the fixin's for a great scrapbook....check out the chalk board calendar for crops and classes....


The travel suitcase scrapbook absolutely looks like a must.....then there is an all night crop next Sat. with a trunk show!

There were also more than SIX geese a laying......

Enjoy your Mother's Day Weekend!

~Lynda~




Sunday, May 5, 2013

Quick Graphics Fairy Pillow

Fast Pillow Formula: 1 place mat on sale at Z Gallery + 1 pkg. fabric iron on fabric sheet + 1 photo from Graphics Fairy (thanks for sharing Karen) =FASTEST PILLOW I HAVE EVER MADE.....

 I purchased 2 place mats on clearance at Zgallery weeks ago. I have been wanting to try the photo transfer, iron on fabric sheets for ink jet printers....



I know there are other brands out there.....I just picked this up really quick at JoAnn's. 3 fabric sheets around $15



I chose the patriotic lady with flag because the place mats were blue and white.....

After printing my graphic, I ironed it on, opened the seam, stuffed the pillow and hand-stitched the seam. DONE. Just that simple. The difficult part was deciding what image to choose.




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Now the porch adirondack chairs are ready for summer....I had to add
a fresh bouquet of sunflowers and red roses....necessary contrasting colors.....


Do come back and visit....I have plans for a world map and Eiffel tower.
I just need to make some pillows, or buy aprons to iron them on.....

Thanks again to the Graphic's Fairy for her marvelous assortment of graphics to choose from....
Check out her site by clicking on the button below:

                                                                         ~Lynda~
                                          P.S.  Please leave me a comment....it will just take a second!
The Graphics Fairy
blue egg brown nest