More Makes and a Pretty Drive

I'm on a roll with my papercrafting! Here are some cute little tea light holders I just finished. 

Each is 4-1/2 inches tall, and holds a Keurig coffee pod inside and some Hershey's Kisses. A nice little treat! 

I had saved this tutorial from a gal on YouTube from 3 years ago. I have always remembered how sweet these are and that I wanted to make some!

In between my crafting, I managed to get myself out of the house and take a drive over to the ocean. I live about 20 miles from the actual sandy shores so don't go there as often as you would think.

I found this nice LONG beach south of Seaside, Oregon which is open to the public. What a nice discovery! 

The beach and sand is not too far down from the parking area, so I don't have to walk a half mile to just get to the sand! I love that. I sat and ate my lunch there, and then went for a little walk on the beach. What a gorgeous day it was!

I even discovered a trailhead to a nice long trail that goes up high and you are overlooking the ocean. I hope to hike it with my son one of these days ( very slowly!). 

Here is the sign that was at the beginning of the trailhead.

 

It was very interesting to learn that. I'm so thankful for people who donate lands so the public can enjoy it for many years to come.

I think the trail is several miles and goes through deep forest areas to the south and meets up with Ecola State Park by Canon Beach, Oregon.

Well.....those are my escapades for now dear followers! 

I hope you are receiving these posts in your email. If not, please check in with me now and then. I'm trying to post more often.

Hugs .. .

Marilyn💙💚💛💜

Grapes and Envelopes

What a funny title huh? You'll see why at the end!

I've been doing a little gardening on our nice warm days. We even have had a 92 degree day here!

I received some grape cuttings from a friend in The Dalles, Oregon. These are from mature grapes that he was pruning. Some are white, and some purple. Oh I love the purple ones!

This one was a root ball, so I planted it about a month ago. It's leafing

out wonderfully! I stuck the piece of driftwood I happened to have, in the ground, so my son wouldn't weed eat it to shreds!

Here are the other 2, that were already leafing out in the jars of water. Glad I had those driftwood sticks! My neighbors collect driftwood from the beaches around here and have a pile all along the side of their house. They've told me I'm welcome to take any! He carves the larger pieces with his chainsaw and makes gorgeous bears, seals, turtles, rabbits, and whatever else the piece tells him it wants to be.

I planted them 4 feet apart. Will need to put some tall fenceposts in the ground as they grow taller. 

The rest I gave to my sister in Washougal, WA, and another neighbor here in the park, who has room. I don't have room for many.

The last few days I haven't had much mojo, so have been making kraft colored and neutral colored envelopes for the Kraft cards I make. 

I ran out and was going to buy some, and then said "self, you have TONS of neutral colored papers so why not make some?" So I did. Was fun rummaging through all my pads of papers!

With the leftover papers, after cutting 8x8 inch squares, I made a cute little junk journal. 

Its full of the pretty papers and I added some pages for writing on. I may keep it or sell it. I have a bunch more strips to make something else too.

Waste not, want not, right?

I love the colors, and lined the insides of the ones that had only white inside. Some scrapbook paper is double sided, and some only have a design on one side, and the other side is white.

And on another day, I made a "neverending card". It opens one way, then another, and another, and another! Is for my 6 year old great nephew. I hope he can figure it out!

Front.

Open once in opposite direction.

Open another way.

Final side for signing and writing a message.

Heres a little video of how it works. A friend wanted to see it in action!

Have a great week everyone! I think summer is just around the corner!

Hugs... Marilyn

Countdown!

Only 2 days to go until the celebration of Jesus's birthday. I think I'm just about ready, and I've enjoyed every minute of preparations.

Made my cards, and some "Sasquatch" cards for the shop where I consign my paper crafts.

Made some Hershey Bar pockets for the shop.

Put my Christmas bedspread on my bed and a few decorations in my bedroom.

Finally set up my tree and a few decorations. So pretty. I love the lights at night. So cozy.

Maddie says hi.

She likes to be right in the middle of things! Sits on my table while I create!

Played with Gemini AI on my phone to make some digitals, just for fun.

Drove down the road to see if the little creek has flooded. We've had all those "atmospheric rivers" in the last few weeks. New name for an old weather pattern, HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING, which has been going on here forever! 

Yup it has flooded.

More decorating and a snuggly night watching Christmas movies.

A couple of more cards I made for my neighbors. (Sorry there are 2 of one, and turned sideways!) I'm posting on my phone and it won't let me rotate them or delete the extra one - good old Blogger)

Played with my new toy, the Cricut Joy Xtra cutting machine. I can use it to make stickers! I've wanted this for a couple of years. Will play and learn after Christmas.

I am so grateful to be living close to my son and his fiance. They are coming over here on Christmas Day. We'll have a little feast and open gifts. We are having a "slimmer" Christmas this year, which is as good thing. Being with my son is the best gift of all!

MERRY CHRUSTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD 2026!

Marilyn