July-Jinks - 2018 - #SLS Un-Break my Heart

Another week gone by!  I've been busy working on card making for my Etsy shop and I've tried something different this time.

It is called a pop up box card and it comes flat but opens to reveal things popping out the top.  

I managed to make 10 new cards.

I've also been commissioned to make an album for a friend.  He was the officiate at a wedding recently and he asked me to make an album using the program from the wedding.  It has been an interesting assignment as our tastes are somewhat different.  He is an architect and thinks in terms of lines and exact measurements and elegant simplicity.  I think in terms of free flowing, smile making, layering and the like.  After several consultations I think I've got what he wants and I'm almost finished.  Here's a little example:

Obviously I blurred the pages a bit to keep it private for the wedding couple but I think you can get the idea.  It has been a bit challenging to keep the embellishments to a minimum but I think that it is a good experience for me to get out of my comfort zone. 

Most of the time I am crafting while the baseball game is on TV but I also love to listen to music and have my iTunes playing in the background.  Right now I have it set to play the songs in alphabetical order.  I find that I get a better mix of artists that way.  Sometimes when I have it on shuffle it selects a few artists and keeps going back and forth between them. 

This brings me to the real reason for this post, it is time for Song Lyric Sunday brought to you by Helen Vahdati and her theme this week is "Break."  My pick for this is Un-Break My Heart by Toni Braxton.  She has a commercial out where she talks about her life and the odds of a woman making it to where she is today and they seem astronomical.  Then she states that she has an autistic child and the odds of that happening to someone is like 1 in 56!

I really like this song and I have to say that although I've been able to sing it with meaning a few times, for the most part I've made it this far in my life without having the sadness she speaks of.  Maybe that's because I never had a boyfriend in high school and have only had two real relationships other than my current husband of 34 years.  I was married once before but it only lasted six months and he cheated on me so I was more pissed off than depressed!

Un-Break My Heart

Toni Braxton

Don't leave me in all this pain
Don't leave me out in the rain
Come back and bring back my smile
Come and take these tears away
I need your arms to hold me now
The nights are so unkind
Bring back those nights when I held you beside me

Un-break my heart
Say you'll love me again
Undo this hurt you caused
When you walked out the door
And walked out of my life
Un-cry these tears
I cried so many nights
Un-break my heart
My heart

Take back that sad word goodbye
Bring back the joy to my life
Don't leave me here with these tears
Come and kiss this pain away
I can't forget the day you left
Time is so unkind
And life is so cruel without you here beside me

Un-break my heart
Say you'll love me again
Undo this hurt you caused
When you walked out the door
And walked out of my life
Un-cry these tears
I cried so many nights
Un-break my heart
My heart

Don't leave me in all this pain
Don't leave me out in the rain
Bring back the nights when I held you beside me

Un-break my heart
Say you'll love me again
Undo this hurt you caused
When you walked out the door
And walked out of my life
Un-cry these tears
I cried so many nights
Un-break my
Un-break my heart, oh baby
Come back and say you love me
Un-break my heart, sweet darlin'
Without you I just can't go on
Can't go on

Songwriters: Diane Warren

Un-Break My Heart lyrics © Realsongs

Have a listen:

I love the intensity in her voice.  We have not seen her in concert but it might be one worth going to if she comes around.

Hop on over to Helen's site to see/hear the other Song Lyric Sunday participants.  There's some good stuff over there.

Also, check out my Etsy site if you haven't done so before.  Tell me what you think.  I do make special orders if you have an album you want made :)

Have a great Sunday!

July-Jinks - 2018 #Sketchbook Project Road Trip

So very excited that my Sketchbook is going to be included on the road trip!

If any of you are in those areas, the Library Call Number for my book is 353.17-2, the title is "A Smile 4 U from Janet" and the theme is "People I Wish I Knew."  If it gets requested, I will get a notice.  That would be so exciting I must say!

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you know in those areas!  I think that it would be a great way to spend an afternoon browsing all the different submissions.  There is some really terrific artwork there.  I am looking forward to contributing another one for the next edition.  Wish they would tour it over on this side of the country.  

If you can't get there, the link to my book is here.  I'd love to know what you think.  

July-Jinks - 2018 #SLS Song Lyric Sunday

According to Helen at Words of Life, our theme for this week's Song Lyric Sunday is "Think." 


My offering...Chris Isaak, Think of Tomorrow:

Lyrics

The future looks so bright ahead, the past is far behind
I think of all the things we said, and you are on my mind
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow

Mexico has sunny skies, Hawaii knows no rain
Any place you want sweetheart, I will buy the ring
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow

Anything you want sweetheart, anything you do
Anywhere you go sweetheart, I will follow you
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow

Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow
This car I drive is old and beat, it may not see me through
This car I drive is fine with me, it's headed back to you
Think of tomorrow. Think of tomorrow

Songwriters: Chris Isaak

We saw Chris Isaak last year at the Mountain Winery and he puts on a really good show. 

He was going to be there again this year but we are going to Oregon so we are limiting the number of concerts we see.  Plus, while my husband enjoyed it, this is not the type of music he prefers. 

Today also happens to be my son's 30th birthday so I am "thinking" about when he was born. 

Hard to believe he is 30 this year and I have to stop thinking about him as my "little blonde haired boy" and more like the man he has grown to be.  We are so proud of him. 

I'll leave you with Chris Isaak and suggest that you check out the other Song Lyric Sunday participants!

July-Jinks - 2018 #31SRW Photography Challenge

The prompt today in the #31SRW Photography Challenge by Shelley Quaint is fire.  Since yesterday was 4th of July here in the US, I have a couple of pictures of our "Safe and Sane" fireworks show.

When I was young we used to have fireworks in front of our house all the time.  I wrote about that here.

We are one of only a couple of towns in our area that still allows the safe and sane fireworks.  Most other cities have outlawed them and all the ones that go up in the air are definitely illegal to shoot off.   Our city uses the sale of fireworks as a fundraiser for local children's sports programs and my husband volunteers his time in the booth for the Pony Baseball teams.  On the 4th he brings home our fireworks show and we have some friends who come over from the next town to share them with us.

Fortunately it wasn't too windy.

One of the best ones got started when I was in the house so I only caught the reflection through the window.  It was still impressive.

I love the fireworks setting on my camera that lets me get some of the pretty colors, but it takes a while so I can't do rapid shooting.

And even though they are illegal, some people still manage to find and shoot off the ones high in the sky.  

25 people were arrested for shooting them off.  That's a $1000 fine each!  More money for our city.  

Hope you had a great 4th.  

July-Jinks - 2018 #31SRW Photography Challenge

So today in the 31 day photography challenge Shelley gives us the prompt of Clutter.  While food and clouds gave me a challenge I couldn't overcome, clutter is pure simplicity for me!

It seems like everywhere I look in our house there is clutter.  I know we are not the only ones who feel that way because I hear a lot of talk about people going minimalist and there are a lot of folks my age looking to downsize.

We've slowly been trying to take steps to repurpose some of the things we no longer hold dear.  I've started a collection of things we may use for a garage/yard sale this summer.   

In addition to this batch, there are 2 more plastic containers in my closet and I haven't even gone through MY clothes yet!

How much space we will have when these things are gone remains to be seen.  I have a feeling that no matter what it is still going to look like we have a lot of stuff.  If we are able to sell some things, that would be a bonus.  If not, I'll call the local charity and have them come and pick it all up.  

I don't know if taking all the color out makes it look any less cluttery. 

Some may consider this clutter too, but to me it is artist at work.

I'm making a baby album and when I am deep in the process, things are everywhere. 

In this instance, I think making it black and white makes it look a little bit more organized.  

I did make a bag of crafty items that I know I won't use to give to our friends who are coming over today to watch the safe and sane fireworks we are allowed to shoot off.  She is a teacher and I know that supplies are sometimes hard to come by so win-win for both of us!  How about you?  Got clutter?  Trying to downsize? 

Thanks again to Shelley at Quaint Revival for organizing this little picture program.  Have a happy 4th to all in the USA.  

July-Jinks - 2018 Creative Memories Happy Album

I had wanted to participate in the 31 day photography challenge but day 2 was food and I didn't have any food that was picture worthy (I mean who wants to see the reflection of a pb&j sandwich?) and today is clouds and the only thing I see in our skies is haze from the fires that are burning around our state.  Seriously, the fires are 50 miles away and our cars are still getting covered by ash!

So instead today I'll do what I do and spread some Happy...the Happy Album from Creative Memories that is.  The Happy Album is a new product that I think would be perfect for documenting a summer vacation trip.  It comes with some pre-designed pages so all you have to do is add pictures or trinkets that you pick up along the way.  You can get a travel case and some additional refills and there will be more kits coming next month. 

 

 
Some other ideas that popped into my head that this would be good for are:

documenting high school or college years
documenting the time from the engagement to the wedding
documenting a pregnancy
a monthly planner
documenting a household renovation project

Check out this video:






Happy Album Advisor Guide - US 2018


Isn't that cool?  If you want to order one, you can visit my site here.  While you're there, check out the other products we have to make saving your memories fun and easy.  Let me know if you have any questions. 

July-Jinks 2018 - #31SRW 31 Day Photo Challenge and Escapist Colorist Club

July-Jinks as in "high jinks" or "hijinks" - however you want to say it, I'm on a mission to have some fun this summer.  Of course I'll be sharing as much as I can along the way.

I just found this wonderful 31 day photography challenge by Shelley at Quaint Revival so I'm hopping on.  I may not be able to get them all done because we are going on vacation for a week in the middle of the month but I'm gonna do the best I can.  I also may not make every part of the challenge, but again, I'm trying to have fun this month, not make it a stress factor.  Here is #1:

The prompt is Tower and as I understand the rules, there should be a photo, a silhouette, a reflective silhouette, a black and white and a story to go with it.  I'm not sure I covered all the bases but here is my take on that:

I really loved the waterfall displays that were at Michaels when I worked there.  They went on sale so I figured with my employee discount I couldn't go wrong.  

It sits in my craft room and my husband says he doesn't hear the water falling but I do and it really doesn't matter anyway, just the look of it is soothing to me.  

Next to it sits my rock collection and the little old man and drummer boy, an altar of sorts.  

If you think you might like to do the 31 days of photography, come on along.  

Next is the Escapist Coloring Club for July as hosted by Linda G. Hill.   I think I had a fondness for purple and red for some reason.  I did learn some new techniques from Linda this month so I'm looking forward to putting them to good use.  

I didn't even realize that I was using the same colors until I put them together to take these photos, but on the other hand, I was recently reading about the Red Hat Society, those lovely older ladies who wear purple dresses and red hats so maybe I was subconsciously thinking about that. 

I'm putting these things together today so you don't get so many posts from me in one day.  I certainly don't want to overwhelm you!  Happy Sunday and first day of July folks.