September Fun!

   September is flying by. We've been busy with the changing of the season. My son, Nathaniel, had a birthday which we celebrated at home on the grill. It's hard to believe he's thirty one. I made a card for him that reminded me of all the times we went to the beach in Phippsburg.   He loves the ocean. The boy on the front even looks like he did at that age. Love this Stampin Up stamp. I only have this one stamp from the set. Not sure what the set is called.

  I also used the grass from SU 's Inspired by Nature set. I really think it gives a "beachy" feel to the scene.
 I cut paper with a curved edge to make the clouds using a Baja Breeze ink  from Stampin Up.
  The inside of the card is a new fold that I  had never tried. I found the blog that gives directions from my sister's blog over at Calla Lily Studio Blog. It's pretty easy. I made my fold smaller that hers which is okay.. I kinda wish I had made it larger... Take a look at this blog: New Fold
The blog is in German I think, so use the translator.

New fold inside card

    September is when we decided to work on a project we have been putting off for about a year: railings on our side porch. We needed it for my mom and for my husband's sister, Bette; not to mention we are getting up in age, too. Railings are a good idea for everyone.
   I thought it was going to be quite a chore, but I dug the post holes as Russ drilled into the cement. We were surprised at how relatively easy it was. Yes, we did sweat a bit and had to take a break once in awhile. I am talking about me, of course. I love the results.I will show you a before and after picture and you decide if it really adds something to the entry here.

Before

After

  I think it really highlights the entry and gives us old people a good way to hold on as you go up the stairs. We decided on the vinyl railings 'cause the up keep is easy. We didn't want to have to scrape or stain every two years. It was a little pricey, though. But I think worth it in the long run.
And I am  thinking of this winter when it might be a little slippery and we will need something to hold onto as you are heading downward. We are very happy that another project is done.

    Well, we went to Brimfield, Mass the first of September to check out the vendors that were not there in July. It was a great show of antiques and collectibles. I took a few pictures of some interesting areas. We bought some items which I will show you in my next post. This one is a little long. Enjoy some of the fun we had there.

Too funny

This chair wouldn't fit my decor. Cute, though.

Wanted this: Couldn't afford it.

These would look good on my porch

Wicked Busy Month

  It has been such a busy month that it just flew by. I can't believe we are into September now. Where did the summer go?  I've been working on canning with my husband because our tomatoes and beans are overflowing on the vine. Russ's sister, Bette and her husband, Tom, gave us a great Christmas gift last year: canning must haves... We have been harvesting, peeling, boiling, and smelling great smells from our kitchen. We just finished canning "Dilly Beans". My friend, Elaine, says they are great.. Can't wait to try them. Here are some pics from  "the fruits of our garden"  this year.

Red Pepper Relish

Red Tomatoes

Dilly Beans

Green Tomatoes

   We are really happy with the way our garden worked out this year. However, we have plans on how we are going to improve it next year. We need more space for the zucchini and squash. We are going to try  these plants outside the raised beds. See what happens.

August was a wicked busy month for birthdays. My sister, Andrea, and her daughter, Emma,  were the last birthdays in August that we celebrated. I had fun making cards for them. Here are the two I made : 

  

Andrea's card

   I used Martha Stewart's bird punch in red for Andrea's card. I like the simple clean line with the red color and a little black edge. The stamp is from Hero Arts. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig from Stampin Up to get it in the right place since the stamp is on a wooden block.
   On Emma's card I used MS balloon punch. I added the sentiment to a Spellbinder's label die cut. I wish I had done it in a different color than black now that I look at it. I like the pink and green of the card itself.

Emma's c

   What a busy month .. next year I hope to have cards made ahead.. Of course, I always say that.. Maybe this year it will happen; especially if we get alot of snow this winter.. We'll see...
   I am looking forward to September. Fall is my favorite season.. It's my son, Nathaniel's birthday.. What shall I make for a card.. Ummm......check back and see....Happy Fall!!!