Sorry I've been MIA lately

I've been noticing that my 2 favorite purses are falling apart.  They were walmart purses anyway so I kinda expected it but I was hoping it would last a bit longer.  I guess a year is average for a poorly made purse to hold up.   Anyway, I really love these purses and I really wanted to keep using them... they go with everything I wear no matter what... okay a chicken suit would probably look weird with a purse (unless I put bird feed in it) but anyway I looked everywhere to find a tutorial on relining purses and I found a few.  Using all of them I took what I thought would be best with my limited knowledge of sewing and convinced my Hubby that this would be the cheaper way to go than me buying a purse... and the few days of me not having a purse convinced him that he benefits from it too... I can carry both our Ipads to church while pushing the stroller and helping our oldest get her tricycle unstuck when crossing the street a lot faster with a purse than without. (cause the purse carries the bulky items we need & hangs from a handle or my arm keeping my hands free)  also he appreciates the little candies and tissues I happen to always have inside.  Anyway... so I used this tutorial the most: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/39243/its-time-to-do-something-about-the-black-hole

My favorite silver purse

My favorite black purse

the pockets started tearing...

inside of the black one.

I chose to line the black bag with teal and the silver one with a patterned blue fabric.  since neither had any other type of lining besides the silky fabric of the pockets I bought 2 yards of interfacing and scrap fabric from walmart (lol) but it only covers one purse (at least for me it did).

re-lined pocket... it was not easy!

here is one pocket of the black purse re-lined with the teal... I practically had to take the purse apart to sew this back in.  And this was my first attempt at making anything slightly purse like without a pattern.  I'm not finished because my new sewing machine is the bare basic singer machine we found (so I could learn just basics) and it doesn't have much in the way of a tension gauge... my machine keeps jamming no matter what I do, check, etc. so i'm switching back to my old, wobbly, Brother machine that never failed me ever.  At least until I find the manual for my new machine... I know i have it somewhere!  Anyway; I love this color with the black and hopefully I don't end up resorting to hand stitching the whole darn thing back together again.

I've also been working on cleaning up the yard, house, etc and setting more of a cooking schedule for myself now that it's cold out and hot meals sound excellent again.  Saturday I started on some shephards pie until I realized that our mashed potato mix was so old it had dead bugs in it. (barf) so I cooked some macaroni noodles and added some spaghetti sauce and the veges and meat from shephard's pie.  My family loved it.  Monday I made a frozen Lasagna and texas toast garlic bread.  Easy peasy.  Today I'm going to be cooking a squash stew I found on line so i'll post about that after we see how it turns out.  My hubby hates squash so I chose a recipe that had rave reviews from others who don't like squash... we'll see how this goes.  He said he'd try it.

My girls love playing in the leaves every year.

Gwenna helped rake all the leaves so she deserves a brake.

Allison after climbing her way out from under the pile.

This is what we did last Saturday after putting away the pool and before mowing the lawn... my allergies were going haywire but it was worth it.  My monster kids are amazing little people.  the other day I realized how much they've grown & how much they respond to everything around them.  Love these terrors!  Here are some pictures from my yard that I love.  I love all these colors and I think that's part of why this is my fav. time of year.

I also have some cards for you today...

1. I used Washi tape from Downtown tape (yellow stripe and teal chevron); Put them on white card stock and added a white border by cutting around it.  The Crafts Meow stamps (Golden days & Lovely ovals).  Color Box ink, Studio G bakery twine, foam adhesive dots, creative memories pens for the faux stitching around the leaf, and an old brad and gold leaves I had in my stash.  this is for Random Acts of Creativity Sketchbook Saturday challenge #81: http://ipalamountain.blogspot.com/  I uses their sketch.



Card 2



Card 1

2. I used Studio G clear stamps, adhesive dots, paint box by color box ink, creative memories pen (blue), blue polka dot washi tape from Downtown tape.  I used the waltzingmouse sketch I found at random acts of creativity http://ipalamountain.blogspot.com/2012/10/waltzingmouse-sketch-challenge-119.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RandomActsOfCreativity+%28Random+Acts+Of+Creativity%29  and am entering it into the Red Carpet Studio challenge #7 ~Birds: http://redcarpetstudiochallenge.blogspot.com/2012/10/rcs-7-birds.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RedCarpetStudio+%28Red+Carpet+Studio%29
3. I used The Crafts Meow "Fall Blessings" stamps, Color Box "Greenery" ink, Green polka dot & pink flowers Washi tape from Downtown tape, & Memory keepers "Energy" Stamp (light bulbs). This is for Retro Sketches (one of my absolute fav. sites): http://retrosketches.blogspot.com/
4. I used The Crafts Meow "Fall Blessings" stamps, Kaleidacolor ink "Autumn leaves", & Falling leaves card from SVGcuts.com.  This card is for Hiding in my Craft room #67 ~Scraps: http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/ & Little Scrap Pieces~ Fall: http://littlescrappieces.blogspot.com/2012/10/fun-friday-thanksgiving-or-fall-colors.html

Card 3

Card 4

"Happy Fall!"

Card 5

5. I used The Craft's Meow Lovely ovals stamps, tombo markers in pink and green, scrap paper, the tag, Green polka dot & pink flower washi tape are from downtown tape, studio G ribbon, stamps from my MIL.  there's a pocket on the front but I put the tag on the inside so it wouldn't get lost in the pocket.  it's also removable to be used as a mini book mark. This is for DL.ART sympathy challenge: http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2012/10/dlart-thankful-thursday-challenge.html


I'll have more cards for you later... I love a good challenge & there are plenty out there.




In other news:

Scrappin' With Chris & Lou are having a Thanksgiving  giveaway that ends Nov. 17th: http://chrissandlou.blogspot.com/

exciting! :) good luck everyone!


Happy Crafting & thanks for all your comments, pins etc.  they really are a blessing to me. :D