* SECOND VGB: FROM KATHY MATTHEWS

I'm happy to present my Second VGB (Volunteer Guest Blogger), Kathy Matthews. Kathy is a multi-talented gal from Oregon. She dabbles in writing, plus when you visit her blog, you may see old photos from her family in a Sepia Saturday blog meme, you may cast your eyes on some of her wonderful vintage finds, you may read a book review or two or three, or marvel at her gorgeous photos of the Oregon lakes, mountains, and Pacific Coast!  I've told her a few times that she really should frame and sell some of them...they are that good! 

Yes, Kathy has a fun and interesting blog and she shares my optimist view about life. ☺

So, bloggers & friends....please e-mail me if you have something you'd like to share as one of my VGBs, too. I have no time limit set for this, so there's plenty of room. 

Card making: Resourcing Old Calendars Into Cards

Thank you, Becky, for letting me be a guest on your blog! 

Some time ago, I got the idea to make cards from an old Mary Engelbreit Desk Planner that I had saved for years. Because these cards are made from somebody else's artwork, I didn't feel like it would be very ethical to sell them.  In the beginning, I was going to give the blank cards away and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on them.  After I was finished with them though, I decided to send them out to my friends and family instead. 

These cards are easy, fun, and allow for a lot of creativity.  Kids would enjoy this project also.  I came up with an idea to make a card that has more writing space for those of us who like to write a lot.  What I did was put the greeting card part on top, so when you open up the rest of the card you have a front and back of white writing space.  

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The white part above opens up to an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet for letter writing.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This is how I made them.  I had already cut out pictures from the M.E. Desk Calendar.  I have a pair of pinking shears that are too dull for fabric and I like to use them for cutting the boarders.  I used two premade inexpensive blank cards from the variety store for each card.  The brown one above was a 3"x 5" and the white one was a 5" x 7".  I assembled the cards as I was watching TV, and then went to my kitchen island to spray on the sticky adhesive.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

I have a favorite box that I use, so that the spray doesn't get all over the place. This tacky spray works just great for my purposes.  But you had better be sure when that you lay something down, that is right where you want it.  No re-dos with this stuff.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

I have a stack of old newspaper pamphlets that I use inside the box.  I lay down a new sheet each time that I need to spray the sticky spray on the back of a photo, drawing or piece of paper.  Make sure to coat the backs of the illustrations evenly with the spray, and then place them were you want on your premade cards and smooth them down with your fist.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

I ended up making 19 cards from the calendar that day. Here are a few of them:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

These were not all done yet, I decorated them later, by using paint pens to make the dots on the sides.  

The cards below I made using the same technique, but with my own photos.  They are not quite done yet either, but I wanted to include them in this post. I made a total of 30 cards that day.  

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Here are some cards that I made from my pictures at another time. These are not layered, and are made from pre- manufactured cards featuring my own pictures:

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

So, there you go.  Cut, paste and color, that is all there is to it.  

I hope that you all have a wonderful day, and thank you, Becky, for allowing me to showcase my little cards on your blog today.  

Kathy M.

Well, Thank YOU, Kathy for agreeing to be one of my guests!

Oh, and readers, I can vouch for Kathy's cards. I've received a couple from her and they are just beautiful.....and oh.....*hint*...I just LOVE the card with the old radio on the front! 

Please stop and leave a comment for Kathy. You can also e-mail her directly at: oregongiftsofcomfortandjoy@hotmail.com  

"If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. (But) if you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere." -- Zig Ziglar

Winner of "Sort of a Blog Hop"

Good evening everyone! I apologize for being so late in posting the Winner of my Sort of a Blog Hop, but today was our family Thanksgiving and I was a bit tired when everyone left! Whew! We had a great time and thanks for all the well wishes.

(courtesy: Google)

So, without further adeui, the Winner of either the equally beautiful set of note cards or calendar is..............Becky Dunham of Bloglessinutah!

Congratulations to Becky and a heartfelt thanks to the other fabulous seven bloggers who participated. I truly appreciate your kindness for joining me in my first "Hop."  (And I must add a special note to Miss Sparkle Farkle: Your blog post for this was just awesome! Thanks so much for being your usual creative, crazy, wacky self!) The random-number-drawing-thingy chose number four, Branching Out, which was Becky's post title.

And don't forget, these are very reasonably priced....so buy some for yourself and for Christmas gifts!

To those of you who don't know what Becky won, she will be choosing from the following: A Robert Brault wall calendar for 2012, with beautiful pictures and quotes of his.

Or a set of 12 note cards with the same beautiful pictures and quotes.





Becky, please e-mail me with your mailing address and I'll get your order placed asap! Congrats, again!

I'll end this post as I always do, with a quote, and obviously it's one of my favorite Mr. Brault quotes!

"Looking back you realize that a very special person passed briefly through your life - and it was you. It is not too late to find that person again." -- Robert Brault







A Sort of Blog Hop & Give Away!

This is my first "sort of" Blog-Hop and it's for my friend, Robert Brault. Please join in to have a chance at winning one of the brand new 2012 Calendars or a Set of 12 Note Cards. (And if you don't win here, you can purchase them at very reasonable prices!)

1)  Visit Robert Brault's blog and read some of his fabulous thoughts and quotes. Don't just read the first page, there are months and months of archives....all full of gems!

2) Then add your blog in Mr. Linky,

3) Post something on your blog about Robert, or his quotes, which one(s) you like the best, etc.
   
     ** This is not a typical Blog Hop where people are expected to go around and comment on everyone else's. Just write about one of Robert's sayings/quotes on your own blog, and then add your blog in the Linky, and then you are included in the drawing. **



On November 19th, one lucky winner (chosen by random drawing) will receive either Robert's calendar or one of the note card sets. What a neat gift for just reading some inspirational or humorous quotes that will enrich your lives! This Give-Away is available to everyone no matter where you live!
*Or buy some as Christmas gifts for those special people in your lives.

"Looking back, you realize that a very special person passed briefly through your life -- and that person was you. It is not too late to become that person again. "  -- Robert BraultOn November

* This 'n That on a Tuesday *

Good morning! Happy Belated Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends! I was sure I'd be able to post something yesterday, but time sped by. I hope everyone had a lovely day!

Every year, I look forward to our Thanksgiving in November. There's just something about that time of year: Aromas. Friends. Family. Pretty table settings. No commercialism! Just scrumptious food!

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On October 6th or 7th, I received the Robert Brault calendar and note cards I ordered. They are just as beautiful or even more so than the posted photos. I haven't decided which note card to use first, or who to snail mail it to. I really like the size of the cards, too. They are 5x7, blank inside, and so there is plenty of room for writing. Most note cards are TINY and there's never enough space! So, I can honestly say I LOVE THEM. They are beautiful, inspiring and uplifting. And how cool is it to tell others that I am a Robert Brault Blog Buddy?! And so can you...hop on over and check them out. Both the calendar and note cards would make thoughtful gifts for any occasion.
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I've come to the realization that I cannot keep up with all the delightful blogs I attempt to read and comment on. Therefore in an attempt to keep my sanity, I won't be leaving comments on any blogs, nor do I expect to receive comments from any of my readers. I hope everyone understands and won't be offended. By taking this action, plus my term ending December 31st as president of Saturday Writers, I hope to have the time, energy, and desire to WRITE.

“We're running out of time babe. The dream will come no closer by itself. We got to run after it now..." -- Gaelic Proverb

* I WONDER... ABOUT ROBERT BRAULT *

It's Friday....time for another I Wonder!

 

I am extremely grateful and happy to know Robert Brault. Some of my blog friends also know Robert and his writing genius. If you think you don't know him, you've probably read one of his hundred (or thousand?) quotes, and just didn't realize who the author was. If you Google Mr. Brault, you'll see what I mean.

Not too long ago, he let us in on some BIG news. Northern Sun is publishing a 2012 wall calendar and a set of note cards, with Robert's amazing thoughts and quotes, plus some beautiful photos. Oh my goodness. Can you say, "Christmas Gifts?!"

I've already placed my online order for one calendar and one set of note cards....for now. I'll buy more, as soon as I figure out how many I need!

I Wonder: How many of his 2012 calendars, and note card sets will be purchased online  just today?

Please click on the Northern Sun link and take a look, and maybe place an order!

What would be more fitting than to close with a Robert Brault quote today??

 "I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar." -- Robert Brault

* This 'n That on a Tuesday *

I'm leaving this Thursday for a little vacation in the beautiful state of Georgia, visiting relatives and friends! I'm not dragging my laptop along, mostly because it's not one of the lighter weight models, but also to take a break from blogging. I'll have my Blackberry, though, so I'll still be able to send and receive e-mails. I'll certainly tell y'all about it, and have pictures to post, after I get back!
On my Nostalgic Sunday post, I hadn't located the pretty note card that Patti mailed, so I couldn't include it. WELL, today I found it while going through items on my desk. It's amazing the things you can find when you're not even looking for them. It's like watching little Theodore Cleaver pull all the contents out of his pocket. Anyway....here's the pretty note card. Thanks again, Patti!

I discovered Patti's card while rummaging around files and folders, looking for something else. I also came across some old quotes and jokes from years past that I'd printed to save. Some actually made me laugh out loud, with a genuine laugh, not a chuckle or smile, or a semi-silent, that's cute.

These are supposedly real questions and answers from the old Hollywood Squares game show. (Some might be considered off-color. I hope I won't offend anyone by posting them.)

Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?

A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?

A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.

Q. What are "Do It", "I Can Help" and "I Can't Get Enough"?

A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the apartment next door.

Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?

A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh.

** Also welcome to my newest follower: Working Man. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

I'll "see" y'all when I get back home!

* Nostalgic Sundays *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday.

Thanks to Toby Speed's blog post of May 19th, "Things I miss about the low-tech life", I've begun writing snail mail letters/note cards again. And, it was the inspiration for my Nostalgic Sundays, too.

When I was a young girl, I had lots of pen-pals. I loved writing and receiving letters. How exciting to open the mail box and find envelopes addressed to me. As an adult, I wrote to my mother, sisters, brother, friends, etc. when I lived out of the state or country. Shopping at a stationery store was one of my favorite things. The boxes themselves were lovely, and then all the varieties of beautiful paper: parchment, onion skin, papyrus, vellum....all with matching or coordinating envelopes. Some women love shoes. Some love purses. I love paper!

The note cards above are the three I've received in the past month or so. The one on the left is obviously a beach scene. Ahhhh, beautiful and restful. The one in the middle is Nurse J. Rosebeetle, a wheelchair and a cliff. It came from a box titled: Neglected Murderesses. (isn't that a hoot?!) And finally the one on the right is a handmade card with tissue/parchment paper art. (And Patti, I couldn't find yours at the moment. I apologize. I will blog about it later, ok?!)

So, on this nostalgic Sunday, if you would like to receive a handwritten note from me, just send me an e-mail with your mailing address, and I will be happy to write one! (my e-mail is on my profile page)

P.S. It didn't occur to me until recently that writing letters WAS writing! Especially since I write personal essays and memoir. So, I guess I have been a writer for many years...and didn't even realize it! And....although I did type this blog post and I do type 99% of my writing...I believe I can handle both centuries!

** Also welcome to my newest followers: septembermom and Jo W. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

“I can envision a small cottage somewhere, with a lot of writing paper, and a dog, and a fireplace and maybe enough money to give myself some Irish coffee now and then and entertain my two friends.” --

Lt Richard Van de Geer