December meanderings

 Welcome!

I’m so glad you stopped by today!

I have started, and stopped, numerous blogs to you. Life has been a crazy roller coaster ride for a while. But, this too shall pass. That’s the adventure in life, isn’t it? Things change. They will change and they do change. And that’s ok.

Posted on Pinterest by Cheezburger

Pardon my lack of formatting today. If I wait until this blog gets ‘pretty’, it will take me another couple of months! At least at the rate I have been functioning.

I write about things that interest me. That might interest you. That made me laugh and I want to share the giggles. Things that are pretty. Or unique. Or just awesome! Things I never knew, that maybe you might like to know too.

Our sweet Nessie has decided to clone herself, starting with enough dog hair to make an exact duplicate. Every other day. Really.

Does she not realize Winter is approaching? She might need to keep all that fur to stay warm?

Oh. 

She has a favorite plushy blanket in practically every room in the house to curl up into.

Guess staying warm with fur is not an issue…

‘Nessie’

And there is a typical example of what my brain is doing these day! Bunny trails galore.

Some people call it ‘Chemo Brain’.

Ok, that works for now, but what was my excuse the last 25 years?!

😁

So let’s get started down a path for today.

I might find bunnies, or Easter eggs or even a dinosaur or two. Who knows? But let’s enjoy the time together, shall we?

Posted on Pinterest by Bored Panda

I love creating unusual, creative and beautiful greeting cards.

Little pieces of art, if you will. They are portable, easily given and a nice way for someone else to remember I am thinking of them. Care about them. 

It releases some of my creative energy that is always buzzing around inside me.

I have a plethora of cards, to say the least.

(Plethora - wonderful word by the way!)

I decided a few months ago if I wanted to continue making cards I needed to de-stash some.

Actually send them off to people! (Radical idea). So, I’ve been doing that.

Fun!

Here are a few samples I have made with micro-waved pressed florals, most from my garden.

My friend S and I are actually glad winter is upon us, so we can stop seeing all these wonderful florals, and feeling irresistible urges to pluck them and press them!

Our stash will definitely carry us through any and all projects til next Spring!

Here are a few more samples:

Using my Micro-Fleur press really preserves the color, and from picking to pressing to pressed it can be less than 2 minutes and you have flowers ready to create with.

No more old telephone book stuffed with dried crumbling flowers!

You can find the Press and accessories online. A bit pricey, but it lasts ‘forever’ and makes a huge difference in the outcome. Too many $? Check out some other brands. S found one at a local Fabric Store for $9.99 that is very similar. Clearance though. Just be sure it is micro-wavable.

I use 1/2 school glue (Elmer’s) and 1/2 water, mix thoroughly. Then 1 ply Kleenex, wax paper and a sponge brush onto a cardstock base. Iron after dry. Let me know if you want more specific directions. 

I have gotten positive responses to my Card Campaign. It works both ways. The receiver gets a note and a bit of unexpected cheer (I hope!), I feel good about myself, and I now have room for more cards I can create! Win, win.

I know the trend is everything is ‘online’. Save trees. Don’t waste paper. But it’s very hard to place an I-phone on your  dresser, or at the dining table, to be reminded that someone cares about you.  They thought about you, made something just for you. Wanted to let you know you are important. These things are why I hope we never as a society lose the personal touch of a card to hold in your hand.

Phone calls are good.

A card in hand is good.

Don’t get me started on texting!

Chemo effects:

- tired

- weird loss of tastes

- bloody nose

- blisters on face

- incredible water weight gain

- hair? What was that?

- dehydration

- bone pain

- die where I stand fatigue

Karen wins:

- naps, whenever I want

- oatmeal is good

- Kleenex with lotion is my friend

- this too is temporary. Kudos to makeup.

- minimize long needless trips

- hats, cute!

- water. Water. Oh yes, and water.

- Claritin - who knew?

- soft sofas and beds

I consider myself The Equalizer at the moment! Stuff gets thrown at me. I cry. I get a bit angry. I find the humor and laugh. I get on with life. So what? Did I think life would remain the same forever? Of course not! When has it ever?

And I write blogs with bunny trails.

Hope to see you again. I’ll try to make it sooner than later for the next one. I enjoy our time.

Sincerely,

Inkspired

Pressed Flowers 101

 Welcome

Today’s adventure with the new Blogger 

apparently will be:

*Why can I NOT get the format to change over to center alignment

instead of

left alignment?

*Why can I NOT assign credits to imported photos?

Well the new adventure didn’t last long as I am ALREADY FRUSTRATED.

Back to blogging-

Let’s make some beautiful things while we enjoy the beginning (no matter how brief)

of Autumn.

All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam app.

I have been pressing flowers from my garden

before the early snows kill them off.

I use a microwave method using

the Microfleur kit.

I just love it!

The Microfleur basic set

It consists of 2 plastic plates, 

2 clips to hold them together,

2 squares of thin cotton fabric

and 2 thick felt pads.

You lay out your flowers similar to above photo.

Make a ‘sandwich’ & pop into your microwave.

First burst: 10-20 seconds

Second burst: 10-20 seconds

A pressed flower design. Photo by Evelyn Ruhnke

I have never had to microwave longer than that.

Take your ‘sandwich’ apart carefully.

I then place the pressed flowers on paper towels 

until I am done with all I am pressing for the day.

🌸🌻🌺

Because you are pressing in such a short time,

the colors are so bright and pretty!

From a set of notecards by VT Pressed Flowers, Etsy

Pressed flower framed art is also unique and beautiful.

Another framed arrangement by Evelyn Ruhnke

Don’t want to get that fancy?

That’s okay!

You can place your flowers between 2 sheets of plastic.

Use the sturdy plastic from the front of toy boxes,

or even from clear sheet protectors.

VERY lightly dab tiny bits of glue on flowers 

and place on 1 piece of plastic with tweezers.

Tip:

It helps if you lay out your design

first, then glue.

🍂 🌾  🥀 🍃 🌼 🍁

Place 2nd piece of plastic on top. You can dab a couple of places on the top of the flowers,

then press 2nd sheet in place.

Finish with some pretty tape all around the edges to hold everything together.

Washi tape works, or ribbon that is 1” wide.

You will have to glue the ribbon folded over the edge equally to make it look nice.

So Super Awesome, Pinterest

Or

Cut your plastic into an oval, circle, etc.

Then use a sharp sewing needle 

with the stitch set on long

and sew all around the edge.

A zigzag stitch looks pretty also.

Add ribbon hanger and place in a window. 

Herbarium Boutique, Etsy 

I have also used copper tape

around the edges of a glass sandwich.

The glass was leftover from smaller frames 

where I did not want to use the glass.

(Notice the simple & clever stand below?)

Another example of flowers 

displayed between panes of glass:

ForgetMeNotNature, Etsy

Let’s not forget stationery!

Found on Pinterest, but no ID.

Possibly My Humble Jumble, Etsy

Making beautiful notecards is so easy with

pressed flowers and leaves

as God through Nature does all the work for you!

Simply take cardstock,

cut and folded to your desired size,

and lay your pressed items 

in a pleasing arrangement.

Dab on glue.

Add glitter glue, paper die cuts, lace,

bits of ribbon- 

anything that pleases you,

trying to stay with flatter objects.

Happy? Glue in place with dabs of glue.

My friend S.N. uses an old cd as her palette,

and squirts a little blob of glue on it.

Then taking a toothpick she picks up

dabs of glue and glues her items.

PatsysPressedFlowers, sold on Etsy.

A gorgeous one-of-a-kind card to send!

Card by Original Garden. She has an Etsy shop.

The last pressed flower/leaf craft

I would like to share with you are

BOOKMARKS!

My Booklandia, Pinterest 

Do you have some old, falling apart books 

stuck in a corner or box somewhere?

This is a lovely way to use a few pages 

from books headed to the recyclers..

Cut pages into bookmark shape.

Back with sturdy cardstock, but nothing too thick.

Glue to pre-cut page. 

Punch a hole at the top.

Lay out your pressed flower design;

sparingly glue in place.

Brush 2-3 light coats of Mod Podge over all.

Let dry 24 hours+ in between coats.

Thread ribbon/yarn tassel through punched hole at top.

Or

Cut clear contact paper into 2 bookmark shapes,

with one being slightly larger.

Peel off backing from the first one,

and place dried flowers on the sticky part.

Carefully place sticky side down of

second slightly larger piece, 

and smooth with a brayer,

rolling pin or smooth sided bottle.

I like to do this on a thinnish shop towel,

 to help protect the pressed flowers.

Trim excess contact paper.

Punch hole in top for tassel if desired.

Brit Morin, Pinterest 

Here are some more ideas to inspire you.

My Humble Jumble, Etsy & Pinterest

Notice the stitched border:

Craft, DIY Decor, Gift, Sew and Party with Tip Junkie, Pinterest 

rose.gold.silver, Etsy and Pinterest

I hope you are able to try out the

Microfleur flower press.

(No paid endorsements, I just really like it!)

If not, get out that old telephone book

and start pressing!

‘Til next time,

inkspired

My Humble Jumble