In Pots

Really curious as to what this is sprouting in the pot. There were several in the fern room.

Ring Binder Journal

 Just getting started on my ring binder journal...cover done. Haven't started on any pages yet but have 3 inserts done. I'm so busy having fun!!!

 Front....old CD cover

 Back

 Front

Back 

and front of old bill envelope

and back of envelope.

Flowers in February ?

........not in Michigan unless you visit a conservatory like the Anna Scripps Conservatory on Belle Isle. Beautiful color and warm humid temperatures are much appreciated when it is 17 degrees outside......my favorite place to visit in the winter.

 Begonias, Orchids, Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, and more in full bloom!

A Winter Drive

 The best view of Detroit is from Belle Isle

 Greeters.....and they were everywhere

 Oh, the fountain.....makes me think of summer.

 The casino

 Bridges

 Conservatory

 The red bridge

 Waiting 

Leaving......bridge back to the city

It was so cold the day that I drove around the island that most of these photos that I took were from my car. There is so much construction going on and I was unable to drive all the way around the island as it was detoured. I heard on the radio this morning about the high water levels and what they are doing to contend with the flooding. They said out of 20 picnic structures only 8 are able to be used due to water levels. I did see a huge construction area around the Carlion where I think there is going to be the new flower garden. I noticed last year that that area was under water so I wonder what they will do to rectify that before the garden is planted. There were huge earth movers and other heavy equipment in use. It is a shame that over a month in the summer the park is turned into a circus (Grand Prix). Every year they keep adding more concrete staging areas for the race. Ruins a beautiful island.

Collage

Collage: A piece of art created by combining photos, clippings or small objects on to a surface.
I did this large collage from scraps and I am cutting them into tages and journaling cards. Very colorful, I think and lots of fun to make.

Having Fun in my Craft Room

 You may have wondered where I've been the last few weeks. I have been spending time on my other hobby....journal making. I have made a total of 6 journals or journal covers. The book above is the biggest measuring 11"x 81/2". It has 3 signatures with room for a forth. I made it this big so I can stuff it full of embellishments and other nice things...so that it can be "pleasing to the eye"
A signature, by the way, is made of pages which are positioned in a book. They can be printed, folded and bound into a finished book.

Front inside cover with the first signature. This paper is by Blue Fern Studios a favorite of mine.

Middle signature

 Altered book...this is a regular book waiting for all the pages (the ones left in) to be embellished. Haven't started on this yet other than removing pages and marking where pages will be folded into pockets.

 These 3 covers are made from a mailing envelopes folded in half with decoupage napkins. The first two are empty right now but the 3rd has it's cover done and one signature inside

 There are so many beautiful papers available that I can't resist buying more or downloading digital papers. The paper that I used in this book is from Medieval Mirage by Artymay. I love it.

 This is a ring journal......just the pages in it right now.The paper that I'll be using in this book is Dragonfly Dreams by Artymays

 My shelf holding all my scrapbooks and journals.

Ephemera

 Ephemera is similar to embellishments except it is usually items of collectible memorabilia.This is a whole stack that I made..... waiting to be sewn (yes, I bought a new sewing machine) around the edges.

 This ephemera is used in scrapbooks and journals as decoration.