WELCOME!

WELCOME!

Hello everyone! I am thrilled to have you visit with me and I hope you enjoy your stay. I absolutely love company, sharing, and making new friends so I hope you find something here that inspires, motivates, or just pleases you in some way.

Of course, I love to visit and be inspired also. So if I don't already drop in on you, please let me know where I can find you and I'll hop on over to see what you're doing or to just say "hi".

Before you go, I would love it if you'd please leave me a comment letting me know you dropped in! Actually, I'd just love to hear from you -- comments, opinions, or questions you'd like me to answer.

In the meantime, relax and make yourselves at home... you're family here!!!

I'll be seeing you!


Monday, April 30, 2012

A NAPKIN FOLD CARD "WITH A TWIST" SET

Hello and much love to you all!  I hope this weekend found everyone well and having loads of crafting fun!

I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed visiting with some of you; I only wish I could get to all of you faster!!!  LOL!  Unfortunately,it's slow going, but I'm doing the best I can.  There are many of you, so it will take some time but I'm anticipating each visit.

My project today is a napkin-fold "Get Well" card with a bit of a twist.  I've been wanting to do this for some time, and I've finally gotten the time and opportunity.  So, let me present it before I tell you my twist on it:


This is my card open (above) with the sleeve removed that holds it together revealing the message inside.  I wanted this to be the first picture you see, to see if you could guess what the twist is on my card.  If you haven't figured it out..., wait, there's more!  This card also has a matching complimentary item that makes it a set:


So, what's in the little matcing bag?  Well, since it's a get well card, the bag holds some "not feeling so well" remedies, i.e. a personal size package of Kleenex, a pack of hot chocolate, a 2-pack aspirin package, and several tea bags.  How cute is that?!!!

Okay, ready for the spin on my box?  Instead of opening the way most napkin cards do, mine opens into a box!!!  Yes, a box!  Why?  Well to hold the get well remedies, of course!!! And, the fact that it is a get well card set which includes some remedies!!!


How bright and fun would this be by your bedside if you weren't feeling very well?!!!  LOL!!!

Before I leave, I thought you might like to see the card all folded up and tucked into it's sleeve:


I hope you like it!  It certainly was a lot of fun putting together!

Just so you know, I've got a few surprises in store for you, so stay tuned!!!

I'll be seeing you!

Friday, April 27, 2012

FANCY SHOES!

Hello everyone!  Glad to be here, have missed and love you all!!!

Wow, I'm gone for a bit and come back to blog changes!!!  It took me a while to figure out how to get here... lol!!!  But, I made it!

In addition to that, I guess there's a lot of truth in the saying, "...a woman's work is never done".  Being as busy as I've been, my house (hubby and Buster) went neglected, so I have some catching up to do here at home as well.  Gee, I can't believe how much work caught up with me around here... first one thing than another, huh?  Anyway, I'm well and my aunt is well -- and kicking... lol!!!

I see I have a few new followers in my absence, great!!!  Hello, to you and it's wonderful to have you in the family!  I do look forward to getting better acquainted!

I have a really quick and fun project I wanted to share with you today.  Having a small break has made me want to have some fun kick up my heels, and what better way to do that with a cute pair of shoes!  So here's what I did:


Another view:


Aren't these fun!!!  Hope you like em'!!!  Before I leave, last month I'd promised you pictures of my aunt's 90th birthday -- bet you thought I forgot!  Well, they're a month late, but as promised here's my aunt on her 90 years young big b-day:




Now I've gotta get back to the family I have here to do some catching up, then on to house chores, but I'll sneak in a few more visits later!

Hugs to you all, and I'll be seeing you!!!

P.S.  Still some areas on the new blog layout I haven't explored yet so if anyone has run into any difficulty(ies), please let me know.  Also, let me know what you think of the new layout.







Friday, April 20, 2012

A "BLUE ROSE" GIFT TUTORIAL

Hello, everyone!  I'm back with another monthly DT project for  Pam's blog today.

I'm still going through a difficult period right now which isn't allowing me time for crafting and/or blog visiting, but I truly miss you all and I've been fortunate (and blessed) to be able to literally "squeeze" in time to get here for my monthly DT projects, thank God!!!  Please have a bit more patience with me, I promise I'm trying to get back to you as soon as I can!

Unfortunately, due to time restraints, today's project will also be short --but sweet!!!  You'll see what I mean and, judging from past projects like this, I think you'll like it!  I hope so anyway... lol!

This project can be altered to suit a man or woman, and it's soooo easy!  It's a room and/or linen spray (can also be used as a car deodorizer).  These make wonderful gifts -- here's mine:


Once I put together the spray, I poured it into a small plastic spray bottle which I embellished by tying ribbon to the neck of the bottle, adding beads and a rose; for the leaf to the rose I added an oval-shaped crystal gem, and a round gem to the top of the cap cover.  Lastly I added a personalized computer generated label with a blue rose background that I found on the internet to match the blue rose on the bottle.  Maybe this picture will give you a better close-up (or try double clicking on the picture to enlarge it):

Okay, here's the really simple recipe for the spray.  Into a lidded or capped container, add the following ingredients:

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1/2 cup distilled or boiled tap water (allow boiled water to cool)
2-1/2 to 3 tablespoons essential or fragrance oil (or your favorite perfume or cologne)
Optional:  If you like color, before adding your fragrance oils to the liquids, add soap dye or food coloring sparingly

Shake the ingredients until the oils and liquids have all blended well; pour into decorative bottles, embellish bottles if you wish.  Let the spray sit for at least 24 hours before using -- the longer it ages, the stronger the scent becomes!!!  Now, it's ready!!!  Enjoy!!!

P.S.  As with most liquids and oils, the oils can separate -  just shake the mixture before use if this happens.

I called mine "Blue Rose" because I used a rose scented essential oil but added just a hint of lavender too!  It smells delicious!!!  Of course, the rose embellishment and the label background is blue... hence the name!  You'll use your own favorite scents, and don't be afraid to try blending different scents together!

Any questions, please leave me a comment and/or email me at audreyfrel@sbcglobal.net.  Due to my circumstance, it may take me a few to get back to you -- but I will!!!

Hugs and love you all!  I'll be seeing you!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

HAPPY EASTER!!!

I hope your day is filled with many of God's wonderful blessings!

I love you all, miss you, and hope to be with you again very soon!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

"YOU ARE SO COOL" MINI FAN CARD!

Hello, everyone!  After weeks of absence, I'm probably surprising you being here today with my monthly DT project for Sheila's blog.  Well, if you know me at all, you'd know I'd meet an obligation I commit to  -- I wouldn't let you or anyone else depending on me down unless it was totally and absolutely unavoidable.
I'd like to thank all of you who have checked up on me; I appreciate you all so very much -- and thanks for sticking this out with me.  Things nor my position has not changed but I'm well and doing the best I can.  And, although it has been awhile since I've posted and/or commented to you, please trust this is a difficult time for me and very little time is being afforded me.  I don't want to take up a lot of time now explaining because this tutorial is a bit picture heavy but I did want you all to know I love you, miss you and as I've always done, as soon as I can, I'll be around to catch up commenting on your wonderful projects.  I do apologize in advance for any inadvertent mistakes on this tutorial because I'm pretty much rushing through this so if I should miss anything and you have any questions afterward, please do not hesitate to contact/email me at audreyfrel@sbcglobal.net (haven't had much time to check blog comments lately).  I promise I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can; although it may not be immediately, I'm on a time-permitting schedule right now... LOL!
Oh my!!!  I guess I should have been creating an Easter project but I only realized yesterday that this Sunday is Easter Sunday...  I really have lost time!!!  LOL!   Although not Easter related, my project today is a fun-- it's a cute little fan card.  I've seen similar to these on the internet and thought how adorable they were, so I was inspired to try to do a version of these fan cards... it was also a project I could work on while away from home.  I hope you like mine.  I wanted to do a little envie for it but didn't have time, so I'll have to do that later but here are pictures of my fan card opened, closed, and a close-up of the message which is on the ribbon and reads "You Are So Cool!":




To begin constructing my card, I hand-drew a base and base topper to form the fan, then cut them out:


I glued the topper to the base, then traced it twice on a sheet of 8.50" x 11"cardstock; by folding the paper in half, this will enable me to cut all four fan parts for one complete fan:



I also drew a face topper for the fan by cutting another base topper slightly smaller (about 1/8" smaller) than the original and traced it onto a sheet of cardstock four (4) times.  With the paper folded in half once cut this will give me enough fan faces for 2 fans (8 faces).  


Once I cut out all the traced fan parts, I used Luster Rub-Ons to age/antique the fans:


Next I placed the fans together making certain they were even and punched a hole about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the base edge; (although I didn't picture this, I also ran each fan through the Cuttlebug in an embossing folder to give them texture):


 

Now for the fan faces!  I added dots of Liquid Pearls around the edges of each fan face.  Once the paint was dry, I cut out rub-ons and applied them to the center of each face, then glued the a fan face on each fan topper:


Now it was time to put all the parts of my little fan together!  It's not pictured because at the last minute I decided to outline the outer edge of each fan with Stickles to give them depth.  Once the Stickles was dry, I stacked the 4 fans evenly together and added a brad in the hole to keep them together.  Next I spread the fans out as wide as I wanted them to go then carefully turned my fan over to the opposite side.  To keep the fan from spreading open any further than I wanted it to open, I marked each fan with an "X" where I would glue a lenth of ribbon to secure each fan part in place:


 

Next I glued the length of ribbon to each "X" marked, making certain to apply the ribbon to the glued marked areas only!!!  (NOTE:  I did not glue ribon across the entire back of the fan as this would have prevented my fan from closing!!!)  It should look like this:


Now when I close my fan the ribbon will fold behind each fan part and will not be visable from the top of the fan.  Here are pictures of what the side and top angles should look like:



To complete my fan I typed and printed  my message onto the ribbon, attached it to the fan, along with some beads and a paper flower, by gluing them slightly above the brad.  To make certain my fan opened and closed, I avoided getting any glue in and/or around the brad.

This is a long tutorial but making this fan card is fast and easy -- really!!!  I hope you decide to make one.  You can make it in any size or shape you desire, add any message you'd like to the ribbon or even the fan face, and embellish!  If I'd had more time I really would have put more into mine!

If you're interested in my hand-drawn template, email me at the address I've given above and I'll be glad to forward them to you.  When I have a bit more time, I will try to remember to post these templates to my blog along with a proportionately sized envie.

Well, I've got to run again... sorry!  But I'll be back as soon as I can; I really miss you all and hope to be back sooner than later!

I'll be seeing you, hugs, and thanks so much for stopping by!

P.S.  When I come back, I have some pictures I took at my aunt's 90th birthday celebration to share as so many of you were so kind as to ask me to congratulate her.  I'd hoped to already have shared them with you but I just couldn't get away to sneak them in sooner.