Making Paper Bag Albums

Paper Bag Albums/Scrapbooks

An oldie but a goodie!

Easy to make, inexpensive and tons of fun!

What you'll need:

4 lunch size brown paper bags, or more depending on the size you prefer

All you embellishing goodies for the theme of your book - 

this includes anything and everything

Lay the paper bags on top of each other

reversing each one opposite of the other

and fold in half

Next punch 3-5 holes for your binding area

I like to staple the sides of the folded bottom. 

It gives it a little more stability,

cuts down on the amount of give of the folds.

But it's not necessary.

Try to remember to do this before

covering the page with your background paper.

If you don't, no worries just embellish over the staples

If you want a deeper pocket (let's face it, who doesn't?)

just trim a tiny strip off where the bottom folds up

You'll be left with two pockets,

one shallow and one deep.

The open ends of the bags make a

great place for keepsakes, notes, tags, etc.

Now the fun begins.....

You can cover the brown paper.

Use papers, fabrics or whatever.

There are NO RULES.

Do what ever your heart desires.

Cover the area that you want to cover with glue,

mod podge, etc.

Flip one bag at a time over onto the wrong side of your covering

and press down all over.

You can also measure and cut to fit or do it this way, 

cutting off the extra around the bag -

whichever is most easiest for you.

Turn it over and trim any extra

You can cover two pages at once or each page individually.

I've done it both ways and each is just as easy.
Or if you want some of the brown paper showing
just cover part or even none!

Hold the pages up to the light and

 you can see where you need to punch your holes

through the "covering" papers

You can add anything you'd like - 

layer papers, add trims, found objects...

~ Examples ~

 

beads, buttons...

make pockets/tucks, add images...

and of course, make journaling spots.

In order to bind the pages together, you can use yarn, 

string, raffia, binder rings, strips of fabrics,

anything that will be able to keep the book together.

I stuff these with lots of tags and goodies, but there is always 

room for more. I add a button to the front and back edge 

along with a good length of ribbon. The end of the ribbon on 

the back is permanently fixed to the button. 

Then  bringing the ribbon around the open end of the book

 it can be tied or wound around the button. 

 It will adjust to the volume of the book

as you add to it, while keeping the contents secure.

Examples of ones I've made in the past, 

along with a few pages, to give you ideas...

"A Vintage Garden"

Made pockets, tags, and added fun trims.

''Garden Fairies''

some stories....

even a recipe.

"Spring Is Sprung"

Lots of florals.

I started on a series of vintage 

''Cookbooks" after finding boxes of 

old newspapers, clipped recipes, vintage appliance pamphlets, 

and TONS of old ephemera from my Grandmother 

while cleaning out our old farm.

Vol. 1 ~ "Holiday"

Stuck in lots of tags, old pamphlets,

old recipes....

used the old newspaper as background paper,

embellished with old buttons, rick rack...

even included an attached yarn bookmark

with XO beads on the end.

Lots to go through.

Vol. 2 ~ "Baking"

I used part of my Grandmother's old apron to cover

 the front of this one. I was lucky that I could fit the pocket

on the cover.

Included in the pocket were things

Grandma may have had in there

*note the date on the letter...1917

tons of old recipes, even an 

old order blank from the dairy...

"New Perfection Cook Stove"!

more treasure packed inside.

We have a friend that instead of exchanging gifts

at Christmas, we exchange pictures from that year.

This is one I made quite awhile ago.

A photo Album/Scrapbook for her.

With lots of photos tucked in,

lots of pockets were needed.

An old tea towel came into play...

stamp if you'd like...

farmer handkerchiefs...

can't say no to dried rose petals!

I hope that gave you enough inspiration to try one for yourself.

Just have fun with it!

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Fanciful Fairies and Dazzling Dragons Coloring Pages

Print, color, relax 😊

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Stained Glass Patterns

Stained Glass Patterns by Sayings and Expression

courtesy Dover Publications

Enjoy

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My Christmas Poinsettia is Still Alive! ~ WW

Still alive! 😏

Too Funny!

Mr. Herman has a thank you for Deb Newton! Thanks @dragnflytreasur 😀

 He cracks me up in ''my'' video! check it out ♥

If you’d like a video of some sort- check out my donation page. $27 to the @afspnational @OvernightWalk gets you a video. $57 gets a video and an autograph. $107 gets a Zoom call. https://t.co/VE66cPykw3 pic.twitter.com/BarAag0Gnm

— Dustin Pari (@dustinpari) January 30, 2021

Five Ways to Save Monarch Butterflies

Over the last few decades, populations of these iconic

orange and black Butterflies have declined by over 90 percent.

Like all Butterflies, Monarchs lay their eggs on select plants, called “host plants.” These are the only plants their caterpillars can eat. Milkweed is Monarchs only host plant.  Milkweed is becoming harder for Monarchs to find. Despite being ecologically important and an often ornamental wildflower, most consider milkweed a weed to be eradicated, both in agricultural lands as well as in city and rural landscapes. 

Milkweed was considered an invasive weed when I was growing up. Luckily our cows and sheep would eat it so no herbicides were used. Dad didn't like Butterflies. Butterflies to him meant caterpillars that could eat the crops and attack his vegetable garden. Not so good for a small time farmer trying to make ends meet. He'd go out early in the morning and hand pick the caterpillars off the vegetables and drop them in a coffee can with some gasoline in the bottom. Not a pleasant way to go, but at least he wasn't contaminating the land for which he had a lot of respect for.

Hmmm, maybe that's why I go out early in the morning and handpick the snails off my plants?

As we’ve gotten better at wiping out milkweed, Monarchs have suffered. Even when milkweed isn’t being targeted directly, Monarch habitat in the United States is being gobbled up by development. Monarchs are also being directly killed by pesticides, both as caterpillars and as adult Butterflies in farmlands and backyards.

The loss of any species weakens the ecosystem that all species rely on for survival, including humans. Monarch Butterfly decline is an indicator that there is something wrong in our shared environment and a warning that we could be affected as well. I'm sure we all want our Grandchildren to have a chance at seeing a Monarch Butterfly on a flower.

What Can We Do?

Create a Monarch Habitat – NWF’s Garden for Wildlife program can teach you how to turn any outdoor space into a complete habitat for Monarchs. Just provide food, water, cover and places to raise young.  It all starts with what you plant and you can create a habitat garden in your own yard.

Plant Milkweed

The good news is that planting Milkweed is one of the easiest ways that each of us can make a difference for Monarchs. There are several dozen species of this wildflower, so no matter where you live, there is at least one milkweed species naturally found in your area. 

Easily started from seed planted approx. 1/2'' deep, 

then covered

Milkweed sprouts pretty quickly.

In addition to planting milkweed host plants for Monarch caterpillars it is also important to plant nectar rich plants for adult Monarchs. Adult Monarchs are dependent on nectar plants as a food source during Spring and Summer breeding, Fall migrations, and during overwintering.

Nectar Plants 

Monarch Butterflies are attracted to the nectar from flowers like Lilac, Butterfly Bush, Phlox, Lantana, Zinnia, and Cosmos, to name a few.  Butterflies are also attracted to herbs such as sage, dill, parsley and fennel. Many of these grow easily from seed.

Lilac
Today's newer varieties offer a repeat blooming cycle to satisfy hungry Butterflies.

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)

Butterfly Bush is a full sized bush that tops out at about 8' - 10' tall. It will be covered with Butterflies all Summer long.  It is a hardy easy care shrub, that has fragrant flowers in shades of blues, purple, and white.  At the end of the season you can prune it back to about 2' if desired.

Phlox

Phlox bears beautiful clusters of red, pink, lavender, salmon, or white blooms throughout the summer. Their lovely scent delights our noses as much as their nectar delights hungry butterflies.

  

Lantana

You can attract Monarchs with the prolific Lantana plant. These are usually sold in full bloom which means you have instant nectar for foraging Monarchs. Grow in full sun, it likes well drained soil.

Cosmos

Cosmos are appealing to Monarchs because of their abundant flowers and rich nectar stores. Cosmos are one of the most easiest annuals to grow. Just broadcast seed in early Spring and Mother Nature will take care of the rest. They come in many different colors, are extremely drought and heat tolerant.

Garlic Chives

Garlic Chives have showy white flowers that are a great nectar source for migrating Monarchs.

The more nectar plants and milkweed host plants in your yard increases the odds of many Monarchs heading your way. Creating healthy habitat gardens for Monarchs is vital for their existence. 

Monarchs like to sun themselves to warm up in the morning

Support The Highway Habitat Corridor

Agriculture leaders and highway transportation organizations are working to create a coalition to plant milkweed and nectar plants along Monarch flyways and other important Monarch breeding grounds. Milkweed to lay eggs on is in short supply, according to field observers, and will severely hurt the 3,000 mile Monarch migration. Such an awesome idea! On a good year, approximately 180 - 280 million Monarchs start migrating, mate, lay eggs along the way and their children continue the round trip. Milkweed is needed along the entire route or they will not survive.

Don't Use Pesticides

Monarchs are insects so spraying pesticides will kill them. Make the commitment to avoid spraying pesticides in your yard, especially since there are so many natural ways to control pest these days. Let's not pollute anymore than we have to, if at all.

Photo's from Pacific Grove CA during 

the annual migration of Monarch Butterflies.

My Butterfly Garden - several years old now.

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MISS HUGGING?

After the pandemic - Hugging!

Hugging is healthy.
It helps the body's immune system.
It cures depression. 
It reduces stress.
It's rejuvenating.
It has no unpleasant side effects.  
It is all natural, it contains no chemicals, artificial ingredients, no pesticides, and no preservatives!
Hugging is practically perfect.
There are no parts to break down, no monthly payments, non-taxable,   non-polluting, and of course...
It's fully returnable!
 
And when you have looked at the pictures you will know OR Remember how to do it.

Remember,   "A hug is the one present that's always  

worth giving!"

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5 Ways to Decrease Wear and Tear on Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher is one of those modern conveniences you likely take for granted. It’s easy to load it up, turn it on and forget about it – unless something goes wrong. With many of us staying in more (and eating out less), we’re relying on our household appliances more and more – including our dishwashers.

Because we’re using our appliances more, it’s important to be mindful of the increased wear and tear we’re placing on them. No one wants a full load of dirty dishes and a broken dishwasher to deal with. The typical cost to repair/replace a dishwasher is $100 to $650.

The next time you get ready to run your dishwasher, keep these maintenance tips in mind so it runs efficiently and you can help avoid repair costs.

1. Keep the Filter Clean

You might not know it, but your dishwasher has a small filter that helps trap food particles and keep your dishes clean. When this filter is clogged or dirty, your dishwasher won’t work at its best – and you’ll likely find some small food particles stuck to your dishes after a wash cycle finishes. You should clean your dishwasher’s filter at least once a month. And fortunately, it’s easy to do.

The filter itself is located in the bottom of the dishwasher, below the bottom rack. Simply unscrew it, lift it out and rinse it under your faucet to clean it, then replace it.

2. Use Hot Water

When it comes to cleaning dishes, water temperature matters. It might be tempting to run a cycle using warm water to cut energy costs, but doing so could set you up for problems. Ideally, the water in your dishwasher should be at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you use water below this temperature, your appliance will have to run longer, and you’ll increase the likelihood of detergent residue building up and affecting performance. Both of these things can quickly reduce your washer’s lifespan.

It's also becoming more common to run the kitchen sink until you get hot water before starting the dishwasher. This is because the new Energy Star rated units don’t use more than six gallons of water during a cycle, which can lead to half of the water in the cycle not getting to 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the cycle. This can then lead to dishes not being completely clean or being left with soapy residue.

3. Check the Sprayer Arms and Nozzles

Every dishwasher has wash arms in the bottom that spin and spray water to clean your dishes. To keep your washer performing at its best, check the small nozzles in these arms each month or so for food debris and other clogs that may prevent water from spraying. The nozzles are small, and you can remove any clogs you find easily by using a toothpick.

Before you run a cycle, you should also spin the wash arms to make sure they don’t accidentally hit dishes – especially if you have large items like casserole dishes or pots in the rack.

4. Load it Thoughtfully

You might think it’s best to cram everything you can into your dishwasher, but don’t do it. If you do, you’ll put increased wear on your appliance, and your dishes are less likely to get clean. For optimum performance, make sure your dishwasher is full but not overflowing – you’ll do fewer loads in the long run and your appliance will last longer.

When loading dirty dishes, be sure to scrape off any large pieces of food (like chicken bones) that could cause clogs or damage. These items should go into the trash. Load the dishes with the dirty sides facing toward the center and make sure cups, bowls and pots face downward so the water and detergent can get them clean.

5. Manage Hard Water

Certain areas of the country have water with higher levels of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, in it. This is called hard water, and it can cause buildup in your appliances, including your dishwasher. If you’re not sure if you have hard water, look for a cloudy film on your clean glassware – that’s a dead giveaway. And if you have hard water deposits on your dishes, you have them inside your appliance, too. To manage this, clean your dishwasher monthly with a descaling product like Affresh or Finish, which are easily found in stores or online.

Remembering these simple maintenance tips, your dishwasher should run better and last longer.

😉

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