Plathora of Florida Pumpkins

Photo's On How To Start the RAK Mini Album Below

More Photo's for the RAK Mini Book Article Today

RAK Book

I ended up with a bunch of 8 1/2 x 11" cardstock due to a store closing down so got a real good deal on it because otherwise I always buy 12" x 12" cardstock to make my mini albums. I've had it a couple of years now so I thought I'd better start thinking of a way to use it! I needed some RAK (Random Act of Kindness) to send to friends so here's what I made. I just cut different colors of cardstock into 3 equal strips crossways and mixed and matched the pages of the book. I used my favorite ink stamps and bits and pieces out of my Smile Jar. Make some of your stamped images 3-D by using bits of scrapbook paper like I did on the little girl sitting in the chair. I also used some stamps to make designs on the solid backgrounds before I embellished that page. Make your own vintage postage stamps from your State by reducing a vintage postcard down to stamp size! I also cut the edges of my pages in an alternate curve or straight cut to make each page easier to turn. It seems like my fingernails are always to long or too short to turn pages for some reason! Make a bunch so you ALWAYS have one to give. Use your favorite page design in all the books but change the order of the pages so each one is one of a kind. I attached the pages at the spine with a needle and waxed thread. Then tie on ribbons or practice pieces of beading to the thread on the outside. I like to make some of the pages personal so I try to always have a "It all began like this" page. There you can write when you first met the individual and then I like to put a postcard page in with their name and address. The back page should always be about the creation of the book: When you made it, what you used, your contact info, etc. I bought the neatest journaling stamp from Teesha Moore and use that to write the details on the back page but you could always type something up on the computer and glue it to the back page. Have fun..make a bunch..and pass it forward! Have a blessed weekend! Kit

Surprise Party!

I just got back from Indiana where my niece, Sarah, planned a double surprise party for her Mom's and Grandmother's Birthdays. It was a big undertaking for a 20 year old but she was determined and I signed up to be her assistant. We started Friday Morning at 8 AM and the party with almost 100 attendees happened Saturday at 5 PM! Sarah made all the cakes and we made all the decorations ourselves. We picked a Polka Dot Theme since we were doing this for two different individuals and EVERYONE likes Polka Dots! Hot Pink, Lime Green and White were the colors because they are happy colors. This was Sarah's Grandmother's first time out of the assisted living facility since she went in from almost passing away in the hospital over a month ago so Sarah wanted it to be a very happy time...and it was! Sarah made and iced 10 polka dots. We had to do all the baking in Sarah's boyfriend's kitchen so it would be a secret. We cooled the cakes on his couch! We told Vicki the party was for Shirley and told Shirley the party was for Vicki since it was between both their real birthdays. We bought glass vases at Dollar Tree and filled them with colored gumballs and tied helium balloons to the top (thank you Cindy and Eric for helping!) and then bought short glass bowls and painted dots on them and put candles in them. I made a huge banner which I forgot to take a picture of. We set up the tables and decorated them. We put disposable camera's on each table. Sarah's Dad (my brother, Rog) took care of getting the fried chicken and all the fixins and the soda pop. We bought hot pink, lime green and white plates and cups and mixed them up. We had a chocolate fountain which I was in charge of (Whoooo Hooooo!) and Sarah's sister-in-law, Courtney, brought fresh pineapple and strawberries and we brought marshmallows for dipping. Her brother, Matt, set up the chairs for us. We got Tiara's and Glam Sunglasses for Vicki and Shirley, but my great nephew, Jack, took Vicki's! And a good time was had by all. Vicki cried so we knew we did GOOD! A party pulled off in 33 hours....Way to go, Neicy Weicy! Love you, Auntie Wantie.

BeWitched Mini Art Quilt Necklace

Here is my latest creation I made for my niece for an early birthday present. When you flip up the flap, there is a beaded BOO! underneath to add a giggle. I am putting together a tutorial to post during Vanessa's Halloween Party on the 16th so please let all your friends know to check back if they would like to see how I make them. Thank you and make it a fabulous day...where ever you might be! Hugs, Kit

Thank you, Patty!

I received this RAAK book in the mail from Patty in Las Vegas and I love it. I wanted to share it with you and show you my favorite pages in it. Thank you, Patty.......it has put a smile on my face, for sure!

Latest Creation...Mini Art Quilt Necklace

I love making little Mini Art Quilts and have figured out a way to display them more often....I WEAR them!

My Guernsey Sis and her Gals

Here is my Guernsey Sis, Annie, and her two daughters, Anika and Elena. Aren't they gorgeous?! We had such fun together and I can't wait to get back to Guernsey to visit again. I think Annie may get back to visit before Christmas as we like to finish up our Christmas shopping together.

Meet Wind Dancer and her Peep!

This is the Nature Spirit Doll I received in a recent swap from Sheila in Louisiana. She has such great detail and little hidden treasures every where in her folds. Sheila also sent a Peep along to keep Wind Dancer company on her trip to which is adorable! Thank you, Sheila!

Another Grandbaby!

Here is our youngest Grand, Ruby, with her Mom and Dad enjoying dinner at Outback!

Meet Bredis

Bredis is the Spirit Goddess of the Coral Reefs and she oversees keeping debris off of the Reefs to keep them alive and growing. She went to live with Robin in Mississippi for a Nature Spirit Doll Swap I joined a couple of months ago. She is made from all recycled items from other projects and one of my hubby's old green oxford shirts! SHHHHHHH! I also made a display box for her to live in.

Honey's......I'm Home!

I have had a whirlwind of life over the past month and don't know what to post first! My Guernsey Sis and her two daughters came for a visit for two weeks and we had such fun. I can't believe how fast the time went and can't wait for them to come back! Then I spent 10 days up in Pensacola with our FIVE Grand babies and I can't even start to tell you how much fun that was! I also met up with a friend I used to work with that I hadn't seen for quite awhile who lives in Destin, FL. She picked me up from the airport and then took me back when I had to head home. Then spent a night and day with our youngest granddaughter and now I am firmly planted back at home until the next adventure arises. I am making a trip up North at the end of this month but can't post about it here yet as it is a surprise birthday party and someone involved might be reading this. Hehehehehe.

I have so many pics to post, I don't know where to start with those either! First I'm going to do the five Grand babies up in Pensacola....Nikki, Noah, Katie, Abby and Josh. I had a "date night" with each one of them ... just the two of us ... and did whatever they wished to do. Josh will be 5 next month and he wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese's and then to Target and Micky D's. Abby will be 7 in December and she wanted to go to the Mellow Mushroom for Pizza and then to Toys R Us. Katie will be 9 this month and she wanted Buffalo Bob's Wings and Chuck E Cheese's. Noah will be 11 in February and he wanted to go to Toys R Us and the Chinese Grand Buffet (Yeah, Noah!!!). Nikki was 12 in May and she wanted to go to Buffalo Bob's Wings and Books A Million (Yeah, Nikki!). They talked the whole time we were gone and I learned more about my Grand babies on those nights than I ever thought I'd know. LOVED IT! We will do that, again. I can't believe how fast they are growing up!

ROAD TRIP!!

One of my best friends lives over towards the West Coast of Florida and I am in the Central East part so we try to meet in the middle for an adventure lunch once a month. This month we decided to try the Stanford Inn just south of Lakeland in the historic town of Bartow. What a delight! Those of you that loved the 1991 film "My Girl" may recognize the Inn as the home of Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis in that movie. I remember thinking "I want to live in that house!" Now I can for a lot less money! The Owners, Tony and Becky, are as interesting and welcoming as their Inn and we immediately felt right at home and needed a food and tea fix. We sure indulged ourselves by ordering Cora's Afternoon Tea as it came with lots of food and endless pots of tea (served either hot or chilled). I especially liked the Orange and Spice Tea while my friend liked the house Strawberry Orange blend. We also enjoyed the Serene Green. Stephanie was our Server and told us we could try them all if we wished. That was refreshing in today's world! Becky also shared one of her easy but most popular recipes with us. Her advice was don't let anyone see you make it so they think you spent a long time in preparing it:

Eggstrodianary Eggs in a Nest
Grease a large muffin pan and fill with chopped frest spinach leaves.

Break an egg over spinach.

Top with a few spoonfuls of salsa.

Top with shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes.

If you are ever in the Central part of Florida from the West Coast to the East Coast you must go there for Tea and a visit. Call ahead for reservations as they were packed when we were there. 863-533-2393. Better yet, make it a long weekend and stay there as the rooms are beautiful with private baths. It is located at 555 East Stanford Street, Bartow, FL 33830 so just google map it from where ever you are. We are definitely putting it on our "Must-Do-Again," list! Good Grief, Ettie! When did we get those chins???

Fabric Necklace and Bracelet I Made for a Friend

It's got a whopping big rectangle beaded fabric bead on it! These are my Tubettes and I made it in her school colors.

Bead Swap Beads

Theses are the beads I received in the swap to create the items below.

What I Did With Mary's Fabric Beads

Here are the beads from Mary in England. I made them into a Florida Scarf Necklace....or Tubettes as I like to call them!

Bead Swap Creations

I am working on projects using the fabric beads I received from the latest Milliande swap I joined. The photo with the black and blue colorway is using the beads I received from Nina in Canada. I used her beads in both the necklace and bracelet. I still need to add the toggle as I am out of crimping beads. The lighter blue necklace is using the vintage fabric beads I received from Patty in Vegas. I didn't use one of hers in the bracelet as the fabric in her beads were vintage and more fragile. I'm pretty tough on bracelets! They both do amazing wire/beading work! I have some more beads that I received from Mary in England, but am still working on those pieces and will post when I finish.

Meet Bette

This is Bodacious but Benevolent Bette I made for a Spirit Doll Swap I joined. When she heard she was going to go live with fabulous Patty in Las Vegas, She demanded tassels and show girl heels. I relented but didn't put the tassels where she wanted them! She demanded designer shades, too. And she wasn't happy with those flabby arms, but they just wouldn't get any smaller so she was stuck with them. She is pretty outrageous, but has a very sweet and Benevolent side and will keep all your troubles in her pocket so lighten your load.

Upcycle!!!

I have been busy repurposing some items around the house. Mostly my hubby's stuff!! SHHHHH! Italian Silk Tie.....Neck Scrunch!!! Old Oxford Shirt....Another Neck Scrunch with vintage button! Batik Shirts.....Tubettes! More to follow.....