She taught me to eat artichokes

"That's how it is with people sometimes. When you least expect it, a common thread -golden, at that- begins to weave together the fabric of friendship."

"She taught me to eat artichokes" by Kay Shanley is a keepsake book about friendship. The quote I used in the collage comes from that book. My collage was created for the challenge on "Mixed Media Monday". Lately I have been reconnecting with old friends, thanks to Facebook. It has been fun seeing what old friends are doing now and catching up. I would love to go back in time and find some more friends that I have lost touch with over the years. It amazes me how fast time flies as I get older. This year is my 20th reunion for high school (holy cow I feel old).

Here's to new friends and old -Cheers!

Oh Christmas Tags!

Christmas time is just around the corner. I can't believe it is already past the middle of November. All of the retail stores are decked out for Christmas. I am ready to put away the fall decor and dig out my Christmas decorations. This year has flown by. The Christmas tags are doing double duty this week. Both Tag You're It & Mixed Media Monday have a Christmas theme. These tags could be used as ornaments to hang on your tree or as gift tags. I have finally got back in the groove of blogging and hope I can keep it up. Thanks to all who stop by. Enjoy!

Altered Book Pages

It has been kind of a crazy week. Lots going on with family and keeping super busy with school and church. Not much time to blog or spend time on Etsy. This weeks Mixed Media Monday challenge is to share something you love to do. I chose to show a few pages from an altered book. I don't consider the pages finished, but still in progress. I love to create layers upon layers when I collage/alter books. The pages here really just have backgrounds completed and still need another layer or two added. I hope to have time to complete them sometime in the near future.

Coffee Queen Trumps All

All hail the COFFEE QUEEN. Oh this was so much fun to create. This altered playing card is for this weeks Theme Thursday Challenge. I started by sanding the card and rubbing some ink on it to give it a distressed feel. I stamped the border with "Coffee Queen". Last I added the vintage photo with the coffee cup. I have given this woman the name "Beverly", she made her debut on this earlier post. http://papercafegirl.blogspot.com/2008/08/silly-tag.html

Buttons

I must confess I am not a seamstress. I took me 30 mins just to find a needle and thread. I ended up finally finding a binder's needle and linen thread. But it worked just the same. This button tag is for the "Tag your'e it" weekly challenge. The challenge was to use a needle and thread. I started with an silver oval tag with scalloped edges. I stamped a damask design and then chose a few buttons to sew onto the tag. I think it has a classy look to it and I like the combination of pink, black and silver.

Fun Fall Tags!

I can't believe it is the first of September. School is well underway and fall is just around the corner. I created these tags and listed them today on my Etsy shop. Fall is my favorite season. I love the changing trees, visting the pumkin patch, and I especially love gourds. Mixed Media Monday's theme is Nature, so I am also posting these tags for this weeks challenge. Enjoy!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I have been searching for some new Christmas rubber stamps. Finally I found one I like. And it was half price today. My goal this weekend is to get some Christmas tags listed in my Etsy shop. These are my first attempts with my new Santa stamp. Many rubber stamps are too "cutesy" for my style, so I have a hard time finding what I like. My style is more shabby, vintage, rustic.

So glad it's Friday and ready for the long weekend. We are traveling to Illinois this weekend. I am going to a wedding shower for my cousin Daniel's fiance and then to a going away party for my cousin Jeremy who is leaving for Afghanistan soon. It will be a busy weekend with family. Also hoping to make time to go to the Arthur, Illinois "Cheese Festival". Happy long weekend to everyone!

Frosty Christmas

I start back to school tomorrow, but I am thinking about Christmas today. Tag you're it is trying to get us motivated for the Christmas season with this weeks challenge. I decided to create a tag with more of a winter theme, but using Christmas colors. Enjoy!