Nancy Wethington

Health & Happiness in the New Year . . .

On the Graphic 45 blog today . . .

you can see an amazing perpetual calendar by the creative team of Jack & Cat Curio.  OMG run over there and see all the nooks and crannies they decorated.

You can also see this:

For the past two years I've made my niece Katie a junque journal calendar.

So  much fun to create.

The cover is heavy chipboard decorated with

G45's Curtain Call

+

Petaloo flowers.

Then the pages are stitched in using a simple kettle stitch.

I made up calendar pages and glued those into the stitched pages.

For those of you who do bookbinding, there are

3 signatures

each signature having a total of 3 folded pages.

The calendar pages are then glued in on only 1/2 of the calendar page 

and that creates even more pages.

As you can see from the photos above,

I used lots of other G45 papers to decorate appropriate months

and used Graphic 45 Staple Envelopes to create more pockets to stuff with goodies

with stampings added throughout the book.

Check out this amazing prize that Graphic 45 is giving away on the Graphic 45 blog and Facebook page this week! It's a Tropical Travelogue 12x12 paper pad, Stickers, Alphabet Stickers, Chipboard Die-Cuts and 6 gorgeous packs of Petaloo flowers! Just leave a blog and Facebook comment for your chance to win! And be sure to venture on over to the Petaloo blog today where you'll see some outstanding crafts that combine Graphic 45 and Petaloo Products! Leave a comment on the Petaloo blog and Facebook page for your chance to win an awesome prize package as well! So many chances to win! 

Graphic 45 Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/Graphic45

Petaloo Blog:

http://www.petaloo.typepad.com/

Petaloo Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Petaloo-International/151065654933780

Class supply list for Wednesday, December 28 . . .

So excited to share this calendar book with you.  I designed it for the Petaloo - Graphic 45 blog swap. Yes, a swap, not a hop.  So you can see some fabulous work by my Team Members by just clicking on this link:

http://g45papers.typepad.com

as well as amazing designs by the Petaloo Design Team by clicking here:

http://petaloo.typepad.com/blog/

But I digress . . . as usual.

Class will begin at 10:30 am and last until 4:30 pm.  Althought we will bind the book together, you will pick from a wide array of Graphic 45 Curtain Call papers along with a myriad of ephemera, ribbon and what-nots to decorate your book any way you want.  Here's a list of supplies you will need:

• Basics to include cutter, scissors (you may be cutting out tiny things!), bone folder, paper piercer or awl
• Needle with a large eye such as a crewel or needlepoint needle
• Ruler and pencil
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink (or similar)
• Sponge brush (small size will work fine)
• Ranger craft mat
• Strong adhesives.  I recommend Beacon 3-in-1 as well as Scor-tape
• Mini-stapler
• Ephemera you may want to add to your book.  Note: I will have lots of things for you to add to each month of your calendar book.  You may want to BYO goodies including rubber stamps and ink . . .  anything that reminds you of holidays and special celebrations.
• Your lunch: We have a fridge and microwave for your use.

See you Wednesday

@

For Keeps Sake Scrapbook

4530 Lemay Ferry Road - St. Louis MO 63129

(314) 487-8131

Have you noticed . . .

Graphic 45 and Petaloo have teamed up for a super fun blog swap from December 26-30th! Join us for a spectacular week of inspiration and prizes!

The Graphic 45 and Petaloo design teams will be creating the most glorious calendars that combine our elegant crafting products just in time for the new year! Plus there are chances to win an amazing Graphic 45 and Petaloo prize pack! This is going to be enormously fun!

Join Graphic 45 and Petaloo for this stupendous week of blog swap bliss!

Busy, busy . . .

Hope everyone's holiday lived up to your wishes.  For me, it's a transitional week.  Not quite as busy as the weeks before Christmas but busy enough.

Just a couple of reminders for this time between Christmas and the New Year.  

 

Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge continues for one more week. So if you're enjoying some vacation days or slow-down time, there's still time to join in on the Tim Holtz Themed Tag Challenge.

 

Wednesday, December 28 I will be teaching the Graphic 45 calendar journal book at For Keeps Sake. Please check back tomorrow for a list of *bring-alongs*.  Class will begin at 10:30 am and last until 4:30 pm.  BYO lunch so save some of those delicious leftovers!  For Keeps Sake has a fridge and microwave you may use.  Last time I checked, there was one more spot left.  To sign up, call For Keeps Sake @ 314-487-8131.  

Merry Christmas . . .

He's on his way . . .

Mmmmmm . . .

My sis-in-law Bonnie made this delicious brussel sprout recipe at Thanksgiving.  If you like brussel sprouts you will love the taste of this gratin.  I'm going to make it over the holidays for Bill and me . . . maybe just me!

You can find the recipe here:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/brussels-sprouts-gratin-recipe/index.html

Gotta love Starbucks . . .

A Handmade Christmas . . .

Just this past Sunday, Nancy N and Timi treated the For Keeps Sake staff to a traditional Christmas get together in Kimmswick.  We love going to The Blue Owl for lunch.  It's homey and warm and delicious.  Not only that, their levee high apple pie made it on this year's list of Oprah's favorite things.  We knew about this Kimmswick landmark long before Oprah ; )

While at the Blue Owl, we enjoy lunch, then dessert (a must have!) and then exchange Christmas gifts. We all agreed that our gift exchange is one of our all-time favorite Christmas gifts.  It's because we all love the same stuff.  Some of the gifts are handmade, some store bought but all chosen with love and meaning for each of us.

Gathering them all up and unwrapping again when we get home is like another exchange all over again.

Take a look . . . 

Amy decorated this adorable box, each one personalized with our initial

and then

it opens to display this tiny Christmas seen:

It now sits on my counter right next to the candy jar.

Did you notice that Snicker lasted between photo shots?

 

This beautiful little bird from Missy

that was all wrapped up in this beautiful packaging

along with a black wrought iron *N*.

The bag will go in one of my books.

 

Sue gave us this beautiful candle.  The inside looks like Mercury glass.

 

Nancy N gave us each our initial decorated by her daughter Michelle.

Way to go Michelle!

It's a perfect backdrop for some of my snow angels.

After Christmas, I'll take the holiday decoration off and hang the initial on the wall.

 

Timi gave me this adorable *Let It Snow* light.

It is on the kitchen counter, lighting the way for more of my snowmen.

Mary's homemade treats are always a favorite

(and now you know why that Snicker bar was left uneaten.)

After displaying all these wonderful gifts on bookshelves and tables

I started looking around the house at more handmade Christmas

and get a bit nostalgic.

 

This is part of a banner we made with Sue last year

using Graphic 45's Christmas Past papers.

I took my banner apart and nuzzled it into the greenery on the banister.

 

This little guy was stitched years ago.

 

How many of you remember Jean's?  

It was the most wonderful counted cross stitch store in Imperial.

Nothing like it since.

 

Then there's my tole painting period.

I was very lucky to have three of the most wonderful teachers.

And it all started at Maud's Tole Shop.

Remember?

Renee, I know you have both of these painted Santa's!

The Christmas angel above holds a baby.  

Anytime I see a Christmas figure holding a baby I have to have it.

At this time, 27 years ago, we found out our baby boy was ready for adoption.

It was a crazy time.  I had just a few days to get his room ready

before we were to go to court on

December 28.

I can't think of that day without being forever grateful for such a special gift.

It really is the most wonderful time of the year!