A New Card Folding Technique

A while ago I saw some really gorgeous patterned card stock from My Mind's Eye and I thought to myself, it's just too pretty to cut up into pieces, and what could I do to use the whole sheet.  I must have spent a half hour or 45 minutes  looking at the different patterns and trying to figure this out.  Finally, the light bulb clicked on (pardon the cliche), and this is what I came up with.  It's really fun to experiment with the different patterns.  If you decide to try it, I'd  love it if you emailed a picture to me. 

Front of card (card closed with flaps folded in).  The finished card measures 6x6.



Start with a 12x12 patterned piece of card stock, best when the pattern looks right side up when you also turn the card stock completely around.  Fold in half in both directions.  Cut and remove the top left portion.  Cut 1/3 rounded slice from the top right portion - on the inside (left).  Stamp a variety of leaves and glue around the cut out.   I used Stampin' Up set 106346 called Gently Falling.



Card with the top flap folded up.  When you stamp a sentiment on the inside flap, be sure to have the top flap closed so that you will have the right placement for when the card is closed up.  Here  I used Autumn Blessings from Rubbermoon.



Inside of card with right flap open.  I used the cut out portion on the inside and glued on a few stamped leaves to finish it off.

 Well, that it, friends.  Hope my directions make sense.  Shoot me an email if you have a question.

Autumn blessings to everyone, Annie

A River to Cross

Yvonne Harris is a new author to me.  I haven’t read a book like this since I was the age of being bright-eyed and believing that there was a good looking, hunk of a man who was both tough on the outside and tender on the inside just waiting to sweep me off my feet, and we would live in sweet wedded bliss ever after. However, if you’re wanting a bit of time to let your mind waltz you away from the ordinary things of life, then this book will take you dancing through a dream-come-true romance.

Set in the Texas frontier of the late 1800’s, Texas Ranger Jake Nelson begins a two-fold secret mission into Mexico to rescue Elizabeth Evans, the daughter of a U.S. Senior Senator from Texas, and to apprehend and bring to justice the rogue general, Manuel Diego. Once Elizabeth is snatched from captivity, Jake, his men, and Elizabeth begin the long run for their lives back to the border at the Rio Grande River. Adding to the difficulty, Elizabeth had never ridden a horse, having only recently moved from city life in Washington D.C. to the frontier town of El Paso. Amid the danger and turmoil encountered along the way, Jake and Elizabeth find that they are extremely attracted to each other - not good.  Romance and attachments are not what either of them wanted in their future.  Elizabeth was recovering from the death of her husband and Jake was still trying to overcome his bitterness at finding his intended fiance with another man.

This book was tagged as Christian Fiction and Historical Fiction. I found little evidence of it being Christian fiction other than a quick reference to prayer here and there. However, I was extremely pleased to find no swearing or immoral behavior. Historical information was a little more plentiful.

All in all, there was a good story line. My disappointment was that the characters and the story were not more fully developed. But with only 275 pages, how deep could it get? Definitely a quick read.

*This book was received free in exchange for my unbiased review through Bethany House Book Reviewers.

Star Book of Christian Symbols

Hey there, handmade book enthusiasts, I need some help!  I've been busy making a star book and have reached the point of adding a cover and tying ribbon.  But guess, what?  I can't think of a name to put on the cover.  All the while I was making the sections, I was racking my brain for a perfect title.  It seems all of my creative juice went into the pages, as my mind keeps coming up blank.  If you have a suggestion or two, I'd sure like to hear them.

I've made several star books, but this is the first one I've done in monochromatic colors for each section.  To add continuity to the sections, I used the format of using the same embossing folder background, Iris Folding, diecuts, and punches.  Also, the symbols are in order so that they portray biblical events in a chronological order according to the Bible.  Just can't tell you how much I loved working on this book.  So . . . why does a book title elude me?  The dimensions are listed at the bottom of this post in case you'd like to make one this size.  To see a larger view, just click on the picture.  Hope you like it.

Numbers 21:8, John 3:14-15

Matthew 3:16-17

Matthew 4:19

Luke 9:22

Matthew 28:18-20

James 1:12, Revelation 2:10 

Inside layer - 4 x 7 1/2; second layer - 4 x 8 1/2; third layer - 4 x 9 1/2; fourth layer - 4 x 11; the black inset between 3rd & 4th layers - 4 x 3. Most star books are made with only 3 layers, but I've been wanting to do this style for a long time.  Finally!

Wishing you a blessed week.  Until next time . . .

Annie