A Postcard Project

Hubs and I traveled to the east side of Michigan this weekend (we live on the west) and spent some time with my parents - whom I haven't really seen since the holidays.  While we were there, I cleaned out a closet in my old bedroom - finding all kinds of things to donate, keep, throw away, and laugh at!

I also came across this box.  Have any idea what could be inside it?

It was filled with... postcards!  You see, my Grandmother got me started collecting postcards at a young age.  She would send me a postcard wherever she went, and collect art postcards for me to keep.  I hadn't forgotten about these postcards by any means, but I hadn't thought about them for a long time.  You know, out of sight out of mind?

My Grandmother passed away when I was 14, shortly after my parents, brother and I moved from the UK to the US.  She sent me and collected for me postcards up until she died, but with less frequency as she and I both got older.

Looking through all of these postcards brings back such lovely memories of her, and of my time growing up in England as well.  Care to look into the postcard box with me?

There are photo postcards from places in England my Grandma visited...

And some beautiful art cards that tell stories...

Check out the year!  I was 2 when this was mailed.

I love these postcards - they are classic tourist.  Classic English tourist at that.  So much fun!

There's an entire set of Beatrix Potter illustrated cards...

I've always liked the Victoria and Muskie postcard.  My Grandma always called me her "pet" as you can see here...

Classic Winnie the Pooh illustrations...

More illustrations.  Both my Mum and I have always loved the Flower Fairies (right).

And these fairytale postcards are lovely, too.

Some of her postcards talked about her trips, some had just a sentence or two asking how I was doing, and some were just blank or said "for your collection" on them.

I brought the postcard box back home with me - and am determining its future.  My initial thought is that I need some kind of archival album for them - some are already fading and yellowing.  Anyone have any recommendations?

And then, since some of them are just too pretty to be shut up in a book, I am trying to decide what else I can do with them?  Nothing that will cause any damage to them, or permanently cover up either side of course.  I am thinking maybe matting and framing some of them?

Any ideas?

The Valentines I Couldn't Show Until Now... part 1

The funny thing about all of this Valentines-y stuff, is that I used to HATE Valentines Day.  Now that I'm married though as silly as the actual concept of Valentines Day may actually be, I find it all quite endearing.  Plus I think it's just one more day to show your loved ones you care.

  I wanted to share with you the Valentines card I made for hubs.  I'll be completely honest here, I'm terrible at hand-making "masculine" cards - and nine times out of ten I actually BUY cards for the men in my life rather than make them (gasp!)  But this year for Valentines Day I had an idea...

Simple on the outside...

  

Party on the inside!  

  

Sensitive, lovely party that is!

The photo on your far left is from Halloween last year... we went trick or treating with some close friends and their kids.  The close up shot is from our wedding anniversary trip to Mackinac Island.  The second photo from your right was taken on my birthday last year.  And the photo on the far right is us at the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk that we participate in each year.

How did you tell your other half that you love them this Valentines Day?

 

Christmas Guest Post Series #2: Scrapbook Style Stocking with Mega•Crafty!

I'm so pleased to bring you the second in a series of four holiday-themed guest posts here at Ready, Set, Craft! Today I'm thrilled to have Meg of  Mega•Crafty guest posting and sharing this great stocking project with us!

Hi there Ready, Set, Craft readers! I'm so happy to be doing a guest post on Joanne's blog. Today I'm personalizing a store bought stocking with my own pictures.

I've printed photos of my new nephew (isn't he cute... couldn't resist a doting aunt moment) onto printable fabric sheets using a regular ink jet printer.

I trimmed the photos with scissors and played around with different layouts until I was happy.  These sheets have iron-on adhesive on the back but I decide to glue them to the stocking with fabric glue because I wasn't sure if the iron would ruin the fuzzy material.

To finish the edge I made a frame by glueing on some ribbon. You could also sew a really nice border or use ric-rac style trim (that would be so cute). Then I embellished the frame with a few more pieces of ribbon.

I found the printable fabric sheets in the sewing isle of the craft store.  The entire project was really quick, it only took about half an hour. And now I'm thinking about all the other projects I could use these for. I bet you could make some really cute reusable shopping bags or even hand bags.

Thanks to Joanne for hosting my project today!

I love this! Isn't Meg's nephew a DOLL?!  Be sure to leave Meg a comment and let her know how much you love her stocking, and then head over to her blog to check out all of her wonderfully crafty projects.  And don't forget to tell her that Joanne at Ready, Set, Craft! sent you over!

Photo Share - Mackinac Island

Dear Poor Neglected Blog...

I could give a hundred reasons why I have been absent so much lately -- I've had family engagements, a long weekend out of town, and my biggest event of the year at work for starters, but I know that you don't care about that.

What we both care about is the fact that not only have I been neglecting you, but I've been neglecting that lovely space in my basement known as the craft room - where hundreds of project ideas are strewn around just dying to be completed -- or even started...

I promise to be better. I promise to try harder. Not for you, but for me, because I need to take artistic time for myself - now matter how busy my schedule gets.

Thank you blog, for understanding.

Love, Joanne

Hubby and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on Mackinac Island, MI this weekend. I just have a point and shoot camera, but I'm hugely interested in photography.

I'm looking forward to getting a digital SLR and enrolling in some classes by the end of the year. Here are some scenic shots from our weekend...

Dance Recital Photos!

Curious as to how the dance recital costumes came out and how darling the little girls looked in them?

Head HERE and enter the password: VisserYMCA

While you're there - check out local West Michigan photographer Elizabeth Krol's site - she has some lovely images!

Let me know what you think!

MSCE April Day 25 - Alison's Wedding

So my photo taking abilities aren't great. Unfortunately I don't yet have an SLR. Well, that's not true, I have a film SLR (remember that stuff, when we got photos developed with negatives??!) but haven't sucked it up and purchased a digital one yet. And while my point and shoot digital is great for what it is, I just can't take great photos with it.

BUT, I try my best. Here are some candid shots from Alison's wedding weekend, my MSCE April for Saturday April 25...


Oh, and in case you were wondering, I was so tired from the big wedding weekend on Sunday (MSCE April Day 26) that the only crafty thing I did was work on Heather's never-ending scarf. Ha! And it's still not done... : )

Cute Photo Display

Per Martha Stewart - her original design for this display was in the February edition of LIVING, but I couldn't find it online to link to it. She used portrait oriented photos, but I had mostly landscape 4x6's floating around so I used the same design length-ways. Worked well to take care of all of those extra prints I had laying around and cover up some bare wall-space in my craft room. Fun!