Layout of the Week #18- Scrapbooking with Page Pockets

     Greetings, my friends! After our mini-vacation to a state park last week, I had a small pile of park maps and pamphlets sitting on my counter. Instead of moving that pile to my even bigger pile of "things that I intend to get to," I decided to create a layout where I could store them. Hence, our layout of the week is creating pockets on pages.

You'll need to gather:

3-4 pieces of coordinating pattern paper

1 piece of 8 1/2"x 11" card stock

pack of embellishments

journaling card- I used shipping tags

stapler

trimmer

adhesive

 First, you need to decide which piece of pattern paper will be your background, which will be the larger pocket and which will be the smaller pocket. Trim the piece for the larger pocket to 12" across x 9 1/2" high. Place it about 1 1/2" from the top of the background paper and staple both sides along the edges (do not staple the bottom yet).

 Now cut the second pocket piece to 12" across x 6" high. Place this at the bottom of the larger pocket. Staple along the edges and the bottom. The pockets should be about 1/2" from the bottom of the background paper.

If your pattern paper is thin, you'll want to cut a 1/2" strip of pattern paper and place it along the top edge of the pocket. My large pocket is cut from a real map which is pretty thin, so I wanted to reinforce the edge. I used a strip of decorative tape.

 Now you'll cut your 8 1/2" x 11" card stock in half lengthwise. You'll want to trim your pictures to fit. Most of mine were 4"x6" horizontal photos, so I just cut the edges off to be about 4" long.

 Place the strips on the left side of the page. I placed mine at angles with the second strip overlapping the first strip. (I only glued the right edge of the top row of photos so you can pull up the edge to see the photos beneath.) By placing the photo strips on only half the paper, you still have access to the pockets. 

Place your title in the bottom right corner.

Now you can fill the pockets. I placed my journaling on shipping tags and placed them in the smaller pocket with a couple of pamphlets and a postcard. I placed two park maps in the larger pocket. 

This layout gives you the chance to fit a whole lot on just one 12"x12" layout.

Here is another layout where I sewed a pocket to the bottom of the page. I placed my Mother's Day cards in the pocket behind a photo of my boys.

Here is a third example of using a pocket on a page. This pocket is smaller than the above examples, but I still had room to place an extra photo and two journaling tags. This pocket was also sewn on. 

     I showed you 2 different ways to attach pockets to your page, but you could also use double sided tape or another strong adhesive.
     I hope you'll be able to use this technique on one of your layouts. Please leave me a comment if you have an idea for Layout of the Week.
     Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

Delight yourself also in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

This post is linked to Embracing Change, 52 Mantles, Shabby Creek Cottage, and


 

 

Recipe of the Week #22- Spaghetti Sauce

Usually I'm a Prego spaghetti sauce kind of girl. But this week, I thought I'd go with an old family recipe. This is something my Grandma Moritz used to make when we'd come to visit when I was a little girl and we all loved it! As I was making it, I could see my Grandma with her beehive and booties with the nonstick bottoms busy in her kitchen.

Grandma' s Spaghetti Sauce

1 1/2 lbs hamburger
1 onion, diced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tomato sauce
1 can tomato soup
1 envelope spaghetti sauce mix

Mix the 3 cans of soup and sauce mix. Simmer for 1 hour. Stir often.

note: I didn't simmer the sauce for a full hour. I'm not for sure what difference it would have made.

We all enjoyed it- even my son who is very picky with spaghetti sauce! It's a repeat recipe at this house.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 14:15

This post is linked to

Easy Card Idea

     Here's an idea for a card if you need to make a whole lot at one time.
     I had to help make gift card holders for the dads at our church for Father's Day, so I wanted something that would be quick, cheap, and easy (in case you don't read regularly, that's how most of my projects are. I'm always looking for frugal ways to use stuff. I recently told my husband that if we had more money, I may not be quite as creative. He responded with a smile and said, "You're welcome!") .

     All you need is some paper bags- lunch bag size. Print off a poem that will fit on half of the sack.

      Then choose some "manly" paper for the background. For this card, I used an old comic book.

      The flap of the sack needs to be on the inside to act as a pocket to hold the gift card. Then you can print off your sentiment and adhere it to the front of the flap. A little more background paper really finishes it off.

      I used an old map for this set of cards. I love maps and will try and fit them into almost any project. Being such an avid fan of maps, one would think I would be better geographically than I am.:)

      See how the gift cards just fit right in the flap.

      For these cards, I had an old "How-to fix things" encyclopedia from the fifties. I love how the old font and photos give a vintage feel.

                                          

     I whipped up 21 of these puppies while watching Despicable Me with my boys. Quick and easy!
While I was at it, I made an extra one for my dad. It just didn't feel right making a card for other dads, but not for my own dad:)

     This would be great to do for Mother's day- using sheet music, old patterns, or old book pages. They would also be great for Teacher Appreciation going with a school theme. Why stop there? They'd be great for Christmas, birthdays, graduations. . . any time that you're going to give a gift card.

     If you like using paper sacks, you could look at this post for incorporating paper sacks in scrapbooking.

     Thank you for stopping by and God bless.

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

     This post is linked to Brassy Apple, Between Naps on the Porch, Making the World Cuter, and Craft-O-Maniac.

On My Craft Table Now

     Today I've got an update on my monthly album. I'll be honest- I had gotten a little behind on keeping it up to date. It's so much easier if I'll just sit down at the end of the month with my photos and calendar and get this done. Anyway, I'm caught up and this is what it looks like.

Some of the photos are wallet size and some were 4"x6" that I cropped.

 I try to fit as many photos as I can on each layout. This album helps me to take more photos- I grab my camera more often. For the journaling, I just make a list of what we did during the month (for example: March 14-went to the beach, March 23- family birthday party for Dad). Very easy and very quick.

 Because of the envelopes, there's room for extra photos- see the piece of pattern paper sticking out on the left. I also place other things in the envelopes like our church newsletters and invitations or announcements that we've received during the month.

This album is such an easy project. You prepare it ahead of time by using six pieces of pattern paper and alternating them with six 12"x9" envelopes that are cut in half. Once you place them in the album, each layout needs a journaling strip (I used ledger paper that I cut to size) and the month placed on there with stamps or stickers. The background doesn't need to be fancy or busy because it will wind up getting covered with photos. You can bind it all with office rings.

This is a nice style to use with vacation photos as well. All those envelopes have lots of room for travelling mementos.

My family and I just got back from a three day camping trip at the Frio River. My, it is beautiful there! You can see clear down to the bottom of the river! Rivers aren't like that where we live. We fished, swam, and floated the river. We had the best time:)

Thank you for stopping by and God bless.

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3

 This post is linked to At the Picket Fence and Get Outta My Head Please

Thrifty Thursday #21

     This was a mighty slow week around here for second hand shopping! My hubby and I were out and about on Saturday morning for 1 1/2 hours going to yard sales that were advertised in the newspaper. I'll be honest- if we pull up to a sale and see that it's mainly clothes, we keep driving. The sales with tables full of knick-knacks are the ones that lure me.
     We made only one purchase the whole morning and it was at our last stop.

I got all these old suitcases for $10! They are in great shape and the insides are beautiful! I have seen lots of photos of people incorporating these in home decor. Look at the cover of this magazine with old suitcases.

I am running out of room for anything extra in my living room, but I am determined to make space for this stack- my hubby doesn't use his recliner that often. . . Just kidding!

In one of these, I found this tote bag- I don't think it was ever used! It will be the perfect road trip bag:)

     Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

                                    A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh work stirs up strife.
                                                                                                        Proverbs 15:1

This post is linked to Apron Thrift Girl and
 

Layout of the Week #17- Using Paper Bags in Scrapbooking

     It's that time again. . . time to break out your pattern paper and whip up a quick layout! This week we'll be incorporating a paper sack on our page. I used a small paper bag- you can find one like this in the gift bag aisle at Target or you can ask your local gas station attendant if you can have one of those little paper bags they keep on their front counters. Yes, I ask whenever I go in:) I've never been told no, but I may or may not receive strange looks with my request.

 You'll need: 

three pieces of pattern paper

small paper sack

letter stickers for your title

2-3 coordinating embellishments

journaling card

trimmer

adhesive

 Decide which piece of pattern paper will be your back ground piece. Then take another piece of pattern paper and cut it to 6" wide x 12 " tall. Adhere it about an inch from the right edge of the background paper.

 Now, take another piece of pattern paper and cut two 1/4" x 12" strips and place them on either side of the 6" strip. Using the same piece of pattern paper or a coordinating one, tear the upper left corner off of it and adhere it to the upper left corner of the background paper.

 This was my larger piece- all I did was tear off the left upper corner.

 Tip: for my 1/4" strips, I used two of these sticker strips from K and Company. These are handy to have around. Several come in a package and they are self-adhesive. If you don't have any of these, you may think about picking up a set. You can find them at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or any scrapbooking store.

  Next, you need to place your paper sack with the open side to the top. I chose to place my flap side out so I could tuck my photo into the flap. I placed it about 3" from the bottom of the page.

Place your 5"x7" photo so the paper sack is peeking out from behind it. I did slide the bottom of my photo behind the flap of the paper sack. The paper sack will act as a pocket so you can cut a piece of card stock to fit inside it. I placed two more photos on mine.
Then place two embellishments on the bottom right side of the photo.
Put your title near the upper left side of the photo- mine overlapped the photo some. I used the title "Chillin' " because it's a picture of my hubby and boys sitting together at the ice skating rink.
Place your journaling card below the title. I slid part of mine behind the photo.
Ta-da- wasn't that easy?
Here are a couple more examples of layouts incorporating paper sacks.

 On this layout, I placed a lunch bag sideways across the top of the page. Then I hand stamped my journaling on it.

On this one, I used a paper sack as my background. It is a layout about how I love to shop, so I thought doing it on a shopping bag was fitting! 

Thank you for stopping by and God bless.

                                  Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

                                                                                                  Psalm 119:18

     This post is linked to Five Days Five Ways, 52 Mantles,  My Repurposed Life, and Embracing Change

 

Recipe of the Week #21- Oreo Muffins

OREO Muffins

1-3/4 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup cold margarine or butter

1 egg

1 cup milk

16 OREO Cookies, coarsely chopped (about 2 cups)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Beat egg and milk with wire whisk until well blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Gently stir in chopped cookies. Spoon evenly into 12 greased or paper-lined medium muffin cups.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Remove from pan; cool slightly on wire rack. Serve warm.


Note: My older son could live on Oreos; my younger son loves muffins of any kind. If I could figure out how to put veggies in a muffin cup, I think I could get him to eat them!  Needless to say, these were a big hit at my house. 


This recipe came from the Kraft website.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

                                   Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord.
                                                                                                            Jeremiah 17:7

This post is linked to Happy Hour Projects.