get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday we are creating a memory book.  the book can be composed of anything you wish it to be, simple or elaborate.  you could take a purchased notebook and make a cover for it. or you can make a notebook that you build from various materials.  after completing your memory book, make an entry. and then, over time, write memories as they come to mind; for yourself and for others to enjoy.

photo friday

what's better than a wee bunny under a wee bridge?

photo source

thoughtful thursday

yesterday's whimsical wednesday activity was so delightful i have spent today thinking about it.  this has prompted thinking about whimsical wednesday generally.  i'm pleased to have instituted whimsical wednesday for the whimsey project.  it has become a date i have with myself and/or others once a week doing fun or relaxing activities.  sometimes i have not felt like thinking of something to do.  sometimes i have not felt like actually doing what was thought of.  however, the commitment to the project, thus whimsical wednesday, motivates me to carry on regardless of mood.  after the day's activity has been completed; i have shared with others and they have shared with me, my spirit is lifted.  whimsical wednesday is good for our health!  i am looking forward to many, many more whimsical wednesdays.  hopefully so are you.

whimsical wednesday

what an amazingly full whimsical wednesday.  today we were to share time with someone else doing anything together.  because i am visiting family, i spent all day with them.  in addition to them, completely unplanned, we had visits from friends!  and we also had time to do a craft together.  i like this whimsical wednesday activity (sharing time with others, doing whatever together) so much i do believe we will do it again and again on a regular basis.  it's good for the spirit. 

miscellaneous

wheeee......  spied a license plate from the state of virginia! 

did you see the northern lights last evening or tonight?  weren't they beautiful!

get ready.....

for whimsical wednesday, share yourself with someone(s) else.  do anything you like for as long as possible.  just enjoy the pleasure of company, be it family or friends. 

photo friday

Nothing beats a whimsical tea party!

photo source

thoughtful thursday

this week, while in downtown with mom and dad, i looked around at familiar sights and thought of all that was wonderful about the area.  growing up in a small southern town so many years ago had advantages.  the freedom to be able to roam or travel to a destination alone was special.  downtown was just about my favorite destination.  my bicycle would take me to the public library where i would spend many hours reading whatever caught my attention before checking out a few books to take home.  the drug store across the street from the library featured an old fashioned soda fountain.  but before enjoying a cherry soda, a walk along one side of main street from the library and then along the other side to the drug store was mandatory.  only a few blocks in length, main street bustled with shops and services, the court house square and people.  while slurping the cherry soda through a straw and taking bites of the vanille ice cream at the bottom of the tall, frosty glass with a long handled spoon, one of the newly checked out library books was eagerly read.  then it was back on my bike and home again. 

whimsical wednesday!

it stormed overnight bringing a great many leaves to the earth for today's activity of creating leaf rubbings.   there were so many to choose from it was difficult to decide which to gather.  ultimately five were selected for their sizes and shapes.   instead of making a rubbing of each leaf, a single rubbing was created.  the leaves were arranged to look like they had just fallen in a random pattern on the grass.  (the stems were taped to the table for stability).  a sheet of yellow paper was laid over the leaves.  these were rubbed with a piece of brown sidewalk chalk and, as the chalk moved across the paper, the outline of each leaf magically appeared on the paper.  another sheet of paper, red, was used to create another single arrangement of the leaves.  this time, however, each leaf was held on top of the paper and a copper colored crayon was used to rub around the outside of the leaf.  the effects were what would be called a positive and a negative relief of the leaves.  both rubbings turned out well and these shall be used in a future craft. 

miscellaneous

on the road again.  time in the car allowed me to see lots of license plates.  it amazed that two from alaska were observed within an hour of each other.  many others already checked off the list, such as washington, texas, arizona were also spotted.  it confounds that plates from so far away are right under my nose but the few remaining that are closer geographically aren't anywhere to be found! 

learned a new craft last week that could very well become a whimsical wednesday project.  it would make a great stocking stuffer! 

get ready.....

aren't the fall leaves beautiful?  this whimsical wednesday gather a handful of leaves from different trees and make leaf rubbings.  to make a leaf rubbing, put a piece of paper over a leaf then rub across the leaf with the flat of a crayon.  another way to create a leaf rubbing is to put the leaf on a piece of paper then rub across the leaf with the flat of a crayon.  with both ways to create a leaf rubbing, be sure to color beyond the leaf's outer edge all the way around the leaf.  a leaf over or under the paper will create a different effect so try both.

photo friday

we had a great holiday weekend over columbus day.  jacob and megan fished for the first time.  they each caught two fish out of the farm's lake.  such excitement!  the fish were happy as well.  after being snagged and admired, the fish were returned to the water.

thoughtful thursday

in several diverse locations, i have been observing squirrels preparing for winter. they scamper about, gather all variety of nuts (here it's hickory nuts and acorns), then bury these for cold weather munching.  people need to be like squirrels.  we need to think ahead and be prepared for all the seasons of life.  being prepared helps keep the whimsey in full force.

whimsical wednesday!

hello a week later!  the internet was out here for almost a week.  we pick up where we left off, whimsical wednesday; last week's holiday card making activity.

my card creation was made with postcard sized card stock.  the card was embellished on one side with stamping (ink and pattern in stamp form) and spica glitter pens.  simple yet very effective.  i'm looking forward to sending them to family and friends for christmas 2011.

did you create holiday cards for whimsical wednesday?

get ready.....

this year, make your own christmas cards.  to help get this process started (with october upon us it's not too soon to begin) we will create christmas cards this whimsical wednesday.

tips for card crafting:

1.  card stock can be purchased in packages of various quantities; in colors and white.
* one sheet of card stock folded in half becomes a large card requiring an envelope.
* one sheet of card stock cut in half along the width makes two pieces that, when folded in half, makes two smaller cards requiring envelopes.
* one sheet of card stock cut into quarters becomes four post cards.

my favorite card size and style is the post card.  not only is less paper used but post card postage is cheaper than first class postage.

2. decorate your cards with stickers, markers, stamps/inks, personal messages, anything you desire to use. if you have children, involve them in the process.  each year i look forward to receiving holiday cards that children have helped to craft. these cards have a delightful simplicity that convey the joy of the season unlike any other cards that come my way.

each year my goal is to mail christmas cards the monday after thanksgiving.  not only does this put me in the holiday mood but it's fun to be the first to greet family and friends with a heartfelt merry christmas. i'm already thinking about my holiday card creating for whimsical wednesday!

coming in the comment section of this post will be additional christmas card ideas and tips from a paper crafting expert, my sister!

october!

it's the first day of october!  it really feels like fall once october arrives.  veggie soup bubbling in a huge pot on the stove.  leaves beginning to show brilliant colors. cool morning. hot tea.  HAPPY OCTOBER everyone!