Frankie

 I recently made a small army of these little Frankie treat boxes for a craft show. 

They're filled with 5 Oreo Halloween cookies. 

Isn't he so cute?!

Technique Club

 Yes, I've been very poor at keeping up on my blog. I was thinking about it tonight and thought I'd just quickly share a few of the cards I've done as samples for my Technique Club. 

I've been really enjoying building my reference notebook of techniques. 

Failure

 Yes. I've fallen back on keeping up on my blog. ☹️ Thank you to those who have been reading. I'll try and get back on track....but not today. 

National Cinema Day Reminder

Don't forget that this Sunday is National Cinema Day and if you're free, go and grab some of those $4 tickets. I'll be celebrating just a touch early tomorrow. I'm going to the movies with a friend to see Haunted Mansion.

I LOVE going to the movies and should go more often. I always wait to go with someone else, not wanting to go alone. I need to get over that and just go enjoy myself by myself. 

Just get over yourself Tonna!

National Second-hand Wardrobe Day

 Secondhand Wardrobe Day is coming up on August 25th. Since 2017 the day has encouraged deals and savings each year across the United States. You may find steals in secondhand and consignment stores on gently worn clothing for all ages. Secondhand shopping for your clothing offers numerous benefits beginning with the savings, for a fraction of the price of retail, thrifty shoppers can fill their wardrobe while pocketing the savings. This day benefits the Earth as well! Chances are, you have a clothing item (or 10) in your closet that you don’t wear, haven’t worn since the previous solar eclipse and have no plans to wear here or in a parallel universe. Instead of ending up in a landfill to join the 13 million tons of textiles disposed of each year those items can get another go around while freeing up some of your closet space. So why allow the stigma of wearing used clothing beat the scenario of  recycling, reusing, re-purposing. Plus, many local secondhand stores are set up as nonprofits raising additional funds for charitable organizations.  Try it! You may even find the experience fun. Thrifting is a treasure hunt where you never know what you'll find. 

The purchasing of second-hand clothes has been around since the 17th century. During this time, European secondhand merchants were buying and selling vast amounts of stock, bringing in huge amounts of money, making the venture quite profitable. In Venice for instance, courtesans procured clothing, by buying or renting, from such secondhand sources. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the use of pre-worn clothing was an experience familiar to nearly all classes in society. During World Wars I and II the profitable potential of worn clothing increased.

From there, the nature of the second-hand clothing grew in appreciation, and thus, markets for second-hand clothing grew creating an alternative option for clothing that encourages environmentally-conscious choices and a longer lifeline for clothing. In today’s economy, not only have thrift stores become popular among mainstream culture but online thrift shopping has begun. Companies such as ThredUp and Poshmark give people the opportunity to resell their clothes.

My experience with these stores began when I lost quite a lot of weight. I needed a cost effective way to buy my clothes as my weight went down. After doing this I just couldn't bring myself to buy one blouse for the price I could buy a whole outfit at the thrift store. When I tire of them I just redonate them and grab myself a little something at a bargain price. 

Enjoy the day and have fun. You just may find me there looking for a treasure. 

National Cenima Day

This is only the second year for this holiday. National Cinema Day will return this Sunday, August 27, for this second edition, with discounted admissions for all movies at over 3,000 participating theaters and 30,000 screens. Tickets for all tickets, all shows and all formats will be no more than $4. Some great concession discounts will also be offered. 

Last year’s event was held Sept. 3, the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Tickets were $3. and 8.1 million people flocked to theaters. It was the highest-attended day for movies in 2022. It is designed to “celebrate the power of movies to bring us all together” to populate multiplexes during the dog days of summer and a way for studios to sell audiences on their fall lineups. A sneak peek of anticipated autumn releases will play before each screening.

World Honey Bee Day

World Honey Bee Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in August each year and brings a buzzing celebration for beekeepers, honey lovers, and all blooming things.

The day recognizes both the honey bee and the beekeepers who tend the hives as well as encouraging everyone to enjoy and buy locally grown honey. Another important part of the day includes learning about honey bees and providing them with a supportive environment. When we plant wildflowers, orchards, and other flowering plants, we support pollinators such as honey bees. They depend on the nectar of a variety of plants for their survival. But we depend on honeybees for our survival, too! Without their pollinating abilities, many nutritious plants wouldn’t reproduce. As an added bonus their  delicious honey is used in our baking, teas, and confections.

Honey bees do sting, but only if they perceive a threat, such as damage to their hive or being swatted at. What they seek is sweet nectar, so sugary drinks and sweets will attract them when flowers are not blooming yet. So, keep your beverages and sweet things covered. If a honey bee comes close, either hold still or move slowly away. The honey bee will fly along to the next sweet thing as long as it doesn’t feel threatened.

As a young girl I remember that a bee landed on my shoulder under the cover of the ruffled sleeve of my favorite dress. I was very scared and I froze which actually helped the situation and after a bit it flew away. I was not as lucky as an adult. Michael was gone so I was out attempting to mow a lawn for the first time and I stepped on one. Even then it would have been fine but this foolish woman was mowing the lawn in bare feet. Bad idea. 

Here are some cards I've made with a bee theme. This is a past one

And here is a simple little one we will be making in card class next week 

Anyway, enjoy World Honey Bee Day, wear your shoes when mowing a lawn, and don't threaten those bees.  

National Thrif Shop Day

 Today is Thrift Shop Day! This is a great one for me. Thrift stores are my department stores. I love to browse there.

 If you consider yourself a bit of a bargain hunter, you may love them as well. 

This day has been designed to encourage everyone to purchase second-hand items and to visit the thrift stores in their local area and see what treasures you can find!

After all, there is something super satisfying about purchasing something for half the price, isn’t there? You can also use National Thrift Shop Day to revamp your shopping habits, whether this means using coupon codes or using cashback websites. 

There are many benefits associated with shopping in thrift stores. Ultimately, though, you are going to be able to get more for your money, and this is something to celebrate! From clothing to books and furniture; you can find a whole host of treasures. You know what they say: “your trash is someone else’s treasure.” You can find all sorts of cool stuff that people have decided to donate, you never know what you are going to come across!

Before thrift shopping became common, people usually repurposed their clothes. During the eighteenth century, many new ways of using old items were created. If one’s clothing became worn, they’d give it to a younger sibling as a hand-me-down and made into clothes for them. Even after the siblings tired of them, the material would be recycled as furniture stuffing. People also often sold their items if they needed the money. 

By the late nineteenth century, the United States experienced a massive cultural shift. The Industrial Revolution increased the production of clothes and goods, and the pursuit of the American dream led to heightened immigration. Many moved to urban areas and an unfavorable opinion began surrounding clothes that were once owned by a stranger, as it indicated a lower social status. Christian ministries needed funding for their outreach programs and groups like the Salvation Army changed the narrative. In 1897, the Salvation Army launched the “salvage brigade.” Residents would go around the neighborhood asking for used clothes. In return, they’d receive food and lodging. Then, in Boston in 1902, a Methodist minister created Goodwill that hired poor and disabled people to collect goods and make necessary repairs to them. These shops provided immigrants with a place to find clothes. Thrift shops reflected the department stores of the time in the 1920s. Initial impressions began to change after thrift shops stopped being known as “junk shops.” By 1935 there were nearly 100 Goodwill stores nationwide and they were useful during hard times the nation faced during The Great Depression and World War II. People warmed up to the idea of thrift shops as a way to find vintage items and niche goods, and ever since, the thrift shop has steadily shed its negative image.

So there you go. A bit of the history of thrift stores. I use them and love them, but love them or hate them I think they are here to stay. 

I'm even able to sell my cards in one. The Assistance League thrift Shop here in Reno on Vasser Street has a little shop inside called the Senior Sampler. There you can find my cards as well as many other things all made by seniors in the area. Check it out. You may find a treasure either in the thrift shop or the Sampler. 

National Tell a Joke Day

 Tomorrow is National Tell a Joke Day. 

It's a day meant to be filled with smiles and laughter from morning till night and that sounds like a pretty good day to me! 

So....Why did the scarecrow win an award? 

Because he was outstanding in his field. Ha Ha Ha!

I love it when I hear a good joke but I'm hopeless at remembering them. 

I'd love it if you'd all share a joke with me in the comment section. The one I like the best will win a little prize from me. 

Here's one more from me and I'm out. 

What do you call a fish without eyes? 

Fsh. He He He

Play in the Sand Day

Tomorrow is Play in the Sand Day which rolls around on August 11 of every year. It doesn't matter where you play, a river, lake, beach or sand box.  The idea is to play in the sand. Whether you want to build a sandcastle, bury a friend, write in it, or simply wiggle your toes in it, today is the perfect day for it. 

The creator or founder of Play in the Sand Day is unknown. Initially, it was about making artistic sandcastles and soft sculptures out of sand and water, but now it embraces anything you can do in the sand. 

Unfortunately for me the closest I'm going to get to celebrate playing in the sand is to share this picture of one of the cards we made last night in Paper Pumpkin Club. Oh well....

National Book Lovers Day

Tomorrow is National Book Lovers Day. 

I'm keeping it brief today so I'm just popping to share this birthday card that I made for the book lover in my life. 

Oh my gosh!

I forgot to take a picture of it and I already gave it to her. Way to go Tonna. 

If I can get her to send me a picture, I will add it. 

National Sunflower Day

 Today is National Sunflower Day. Sunflowers are said to be a symbol of adoration, loyalty, and longevity and I love them. Their bright yellow color is a sign of happiness, friendship, and intelligence. National Sunflower Day is held each year on the first Saturday in August and reminds us to show our inner sunshine.

These big, beautiful flowers have been around since about 1000 BC. Native Americans used sunflowers as a food source, oil, paint, textile, and during ceremonies. Interestingly, some archaeologists believe sunflowers may have been cultivated before corn. Today, they are still being used as a source of food, as well as for oils, and beauty treatments. The U.S. is a massive producer of sunflowers. It is a major crop in both North and South Dakota. In 2022, North Dakota produced 762 billion pounds of sunflowers! With the average height of a sunflower being five to six feet tall, a sunflower head can grow bigger than a human head. As the weight of the sunflower head becomes heavy, it begins to fall forward causing the petals to fall off. After the petals fall off and the heads freeze, harvest begins on the sunflower. On average, one sunflower can produce up to 2,000 sunflower seeds per head. Wow! I had no idea! During early mornings, sunflowers can be seen in a sort of sleep position with the head slightly bent downwards. However, as the sun begins to shine, they slowly find the bright sun. They tend to face east. August is considered the peak season for seeing blooming sunflowers.

As I said, I love them and here's what happened to me today. I was coming home driving down my street and came upon a yard sale just one block up. So I parked my car at home and walked up to check it out. They were very friendly and had huge beautiful sunflowers growing all along one side of their yard. I admired them and they ended up cutting me some to take with me.....on Sunflower Day!

Here they are. Aren't they so pretty.

I really want to grow some and I'm going to give it a try in the spring. Cross your fingers for me!🤞 

National Watermelon Day

Today is National Watermelon Day. Here's a card I made. 

It's so easy to do. You need only pick the right paper, cut concentric circles, glue them together, cut the results in half and WALLA! you have not one but two slices of watermelon for a card. 

Did you know that this tasty, juicy fruit is 92% water? No wonder it’s so refreshing! i

It's a great way of keeping the body hydrated, which is extremely beneficial for those of us out there who don't like drinking water. The high water content in watermelons means you’re going to get a good dose of water every time that you consume this fruit. I love watermelon so this is great news for me. I wish I could get a good watermelon all year long. It would sure help with my water intake. What’s even better is that a high water content helps you to feel full. Therefore, you can eat watermelon and you won’t feel hungry afterwards. The combination of fiber and water in this fruit means you get a good volume of food without a lot of calories at all. Sadly,  there's also the fact that I can never pick out a good one. I solve that problem by heading to the farmer's market and just asking them to pick me to pick one for me. I got a great one a couple of weeks ago and I'm heading there Saturday to snag another. 

It's said that cultivation began in the Nile Valley as early as the second millennium B.C. Watermelon seeds were even found in King Tut's tomb and on August 3, each year we celebrate this ancient berry in a feast of juicy deliciousness. 

With proper growing conditions, watermelons can grow to enormous sizes. Around the world, competitions award prizes each year for the largest one. The Guinness Book of World Records states that the heaviest watermelon weighed 262 pounds. 

In my research I found several other benefits to eating the fruit. I could go on and on but I have some some of my watermelon left and I'm going to stop and go devour some. 

National Girlfriends Day

Tomorrow is National Girlfriends Day which rolls around every year on August 1. It’s about women supporting women! Romantic partners will come and go. Jobs are won and lost. But no matter what happens, your girls will be there in a crunch. It’s a time to honor homegirls! They’re like sisters but without the growing-up baggage. When times are tough, your girls will let you vent and when you’re done; they will offer up the support you need to get through. A great story of female friendship involves Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. Fitzgerald attributes her big break to Monroe? The singer

 Ells tried to book a gig at the Mocambo in Hollywood in 1955 but the manager turned her away because she didn’t have enough “sex appeal.” Monroe called the manager and said that she would sit in the front row every night if Fitzgerald got the job, which would pull in the press and crowds that the manager craved. Fitzgerald would say later. “After that I never had to play a small jazz club again.”

Here's a picture of some of my "besties" taken a few nights ago during  card making class. 

They're wonderful!

Let's all take a moment tomorrow and let our girlfriends know how much we care about them and if we can get together with them it would be even better. Grab lunch, go to a movie or just have a catching up visit. I'd love to hear some of your favorite girlfriend stories!

National Ice Cream Day

 Today is National Ice Cream Day. We have President Reagan to thank for this yummy celebration. He decreed the day in 1984 describing ice cream as ‘‘a nutritious and wholesome food enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States.’’ In fact, Americans lead the world when it comes to eating this frozen delight.

Here's some history for you...

Thousands of years ago, people in the Persian Empire put snow in a bowl, poured concentrated grape juice over it, and ate it as a treat even when the weather was hot. Their trick? They placed snow in underground chambers known as yakchal where the temperatures kept the snow from melting. The Persians also hiked to the mountain tops by their summer capital to gather snowfall.

The Chinese, under the Tang Dynasty around 697 AD, took to freezing dairy with salt and ice. 

But culinary folks point to Naples, Italy as the birthplace of the first actual ice cream. They give credit to Antonio Latini. He was born in 1642 and created a milk-based sorbet.

In the United States, the Quaker colonists earn the nod for bringing their ice recipes over with them. They opened the first ice cream shops, including shops in New York and other cities during the colonial era.

 So, in a dish or on a cone, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. 

Lucky for me I have a bit in my freezer, cause even though there are deals to be had, I'm just to darn hot to go out and brave the weather to get some. 

I will though share this ice cream card that I made last month. I think it turned out pretty cute!

 

Slurpee Day

 Well everyone, I'm  announcing that tomorrow 7/11 is Slurpee Day. 

Everyone who visits 7/11 tomorrow can treat themselves to a free small Slurpee. 

So grab the kiddos and head over to your nearest 7/11 for a nice cold treat on the house. 

International Skinny DipDay

 Well All, the second Saturday of every July is International Skinny Dip Day. 

That's today and all I can say is....Uh, no. Not a chance. 

National Bikini Day

Today is National Bikini Day

 It marks the anniversary of its invention in 1946. Since its debut in Paris women have been hitting the beaches and pool sides in the revealing two-piece bathing suit. 

It was named after the Bikini Atoll, where the United States conducted atomic tests. By World War II, sunbathers in Europe had cast aside the chaste one-piece bathing costumes for simple two-piece bathing suits. However, nothing prepared the United States for the revealing bikini. The skimpy strips of fabric were seen as less than a women’s unmentionables and American’s sense of decency kept them from accepting the bikini until the 1960s. Today, the bikini comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and fabrics. Designers expanded the style to flatter more body shapes, enticing more women to wear the fashion and throughout the summer, the bikini can be seen on beaches and pools everywhere.

So there's a bit of history about the bikini. Believe it or not, my history once included the bikini. Sadly though, those days are long gone. It's a beautiful day to be wearing a bikini and hitting the pool or the lake so you young girls don your bikinis and enjoy it. 

Coincidently July 5th is also National Hawaii Day which recognizes the 50th state to be granted statehood. Oh to be in Hawaii right now with a body appropriate to be wearing a bikini and enjoying a beautiful Hawaiian beach. Dream on old woman. 

National Kissing Day

 Today in National Kissing Day. 💋 

I'll be able to celebrate this one soon as my granddaughter is coming over for a while and grandbabie kisses 💋 are the best!!

No matter which type of kiss you prefer, Kissing Day is the perfect time of year to celebrate this simple but powerful gesture. From French kissing, a formal kiss on the cheek, to a kiss hello and a kiss goodbye — kissing is an age-old practice with significance that extends far beyond just romance. If we go back in time, we can thank the Romans for the widespread practice of kissing. They described kissing in three forms: the osculum (a friendly peck on the cheek), the basium (a loving kiss on the lips), and the savium (the most passionate of kisses on the mouth). To them when, where, and how you kissed someone was an important indicator of social status.

The term “French kiss” was most likely coined by American and British servicemen in France during World War I who noticed that Gallic women were more open to employing the passionate technique than their American and British counterparts.

Kissing Day itself is not only about kissing your significant other, but to bring people closer in general. The main idea behind it was that so many people to have forgotten the simple pleasures associated with kissing for kissing’s sake, as opposed to kissing as mere social formality. Kissing can be an enjoyable experience in and of itself and is an expression of love.

The art of kissing transcends cultural norms. No matter which country or customs kissing is celebrated as an enjoyable activity. Whether it is an affectionate peck on the cheek, or a deep, passionate kiss shared between lovers, Kissing Day is all about expressing love through kisses. 

Here's some good news. Turns out that kissing is heathy for you and even burns calories. French kissing engages all 34 muscles in the face, whereas a simple pucker kiss only involves two. Who needs the gym when a make-out session will get our hearts racing and our muscles working? Kissing also makes us happy and relieves stress. It serves as a natural relaxer that makes us feel happy and at peace. By stimulating our brain to release feel-good chemicals, kissing makes us feel both calm and excited at the same time. So in other words, it's no wonder I'm overweight and stressed. Just another reason I need to find my new rich boyfriend!

When lips meet and hearts flutter, the world feels like it's spinning in slow motion, and for a moment, nothing else matters.

I would love to make a special card to share today but I simply don't have time so I'll share this valentine card that I had already made. 

Have a great day ladies and accept this big virtual kiss from me. 

 

National Best Friends Day

 

Today is Best Friends Day!

Whether they’re near or far, old or new, best friends help to carry us through our lives. This is a special time to tell them how much we appreciate them. Life wouldn’t be the same without best friends. They’re the ones that can be counted on to be there at a moment’s notice. The ones who love, laugh, support, and cherish – in both good and bad times.

We have our own country to thank for this lighthearted holiday. In 1935, the U.S. Congress gathered to devote a day each year in tribute to close friends. They chose June 8, which is usually a balmy day in all regions of the country—perfect for outdoor activities. Since then, many other countries have adopted the practice. Some even throw festivals to celebrate their chosen family.

Friendships are an indestructible bond that join people together in beautiful ways. Celebrating best friends day is just one way to acknowledge your awesome sidekick and show them how much you love them, so take a moment to think about that one important person who is there by your side no matter what. They are the person you want to go on vacation with, you turn to them when you are having trouble with relationships and you always want to share secrets with. They are the Batman to your Robin, the sugar to your spice, and the sand to your sea! Who is that person for you? Chances are that person that springs to mind first and foremost is most definitely your best friend.

I've texted mine. Now who is yours?