Mixed up selves

I love the unpredictable nature of March. You never know what you are going to get. I wish I could remember March of 2009 in DC but I believe that I was actually in Zambia so I missed it (although for the record I was mixed up about other things instead). Lynn, you will have to keep me posted on how March declares its self this year since it seems that March in Ghana will be, well, hot. (This is just a prediction but I dare global warming/mother nature to prove me wrong!) Last March, Lynn was in study mode and preparing to get her full certification as a social worker. She also reflected on a lost friendships and writes: "It makes you think about how hard (staying friends) is/what an accomplishment staying connected for years is. I think paces of life can be part of the 'cracks' as can distance. It make me glad we are still good friends."

Me too, pal. Me too.

First Tutorial!

This is a post I am so excited to do!!! Here is a card that even Miss Jess hasn't seen yet. She encouraged me to make a tutorial of my own because the style of my cards, and because I have uses so many books and blogs for inspiration to make them. If you would like to try your hand at making a moving card like this one- check out my tutorial. Making a moving card is easier than you might think- when you first open the instructions don't be overwhelemd I had to put in a lot of measurement instructions so it got wordy. Hopefully I can inspire a few people to try making their own version! I did a penguin waddling because of my recent bird obesssion but you could do a moving arm that raises a glass (as in "cheers") or a hand that moves (as in waving "hello!"). Enjoy!

A quilted heart

Its valentines day again. I almost forgot. We are planning a staff conference here in Ghana, which will start on the day of love, and sadly my co-worker and I didn't realize it until someone pointed out that perhaps employees would want to be with their loved ones. Ha! Shows how used to being single I am. Last Valentines Day though I remember well since I arrived back to DC from Zambia on Valentines Day and went directly out with my eharmony adventure of the moment. I was so tired. I distinctly remember thinking over dinner: I wonder if I am making in sense. It was nice to have someone to go out with though. On the back of this card, which got wet in the February weather, Lynn writes of a V-day that included parental visits and basketball playing. Lynn, do you have plans this year? Also, do you remember that you had wondered if you could have made this card in a more traditional quilt pattern? Perhaps this will be good inspiration for future quilt cards. Love to all this holiday!

Tiny little spaces

Jessica's cards in January of last year began a new theme for her. Cut out designs. She wrote "this is a change of pace. I have been playing around with an xacto knife since christmas. Its something I haven't done since High School." I think this gets at what this project has done for both of us- get us in touch with our creative sides. Which we have always had but didn't always make time for. I remember as a child having bins and bins of Crayola markers to draw with. Something comforting about it, and something enriching!

Art Stamps!

A short post with something interesting happening at the post office (if there are any people still checking in with us).  In a few weeks some new stamps will be out.  I know most of us usually buy basic flags or the forever stamps, but really the pretty ones are the same price!  My favorites among the new stamps are those featuring abstract impressionist art, but there are some other fun options as well.  You can see all of them here.  Although, I am going to have to begin using international rate stamps...wonder what those will look like?

Hoo. hoo. who's there?

Lynn wrote last January that a book her mom got purchased for her at the Paper Source inspired this card. It is hard to tell, but the card is long enough to fit in a legal envelope (at some point it became folded, which you can see in the second picture), and inside it has three owls with little pop-up beaks down the middle. I love that somehow the eyes make the owls have personality. She wrote inside that she felt uninspired when it came to writing a catchy tag line although she did brainstorm a few ideas.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling if she made this card this month the tag line would be obvious:

Who's there?

Because, lets honest, I have been rather poor at communicating and didn't manage the promised drive-by hug on my way north from DC (my dad and I passed the Flint area around the time that night becomes morning and I didn't think I should wake her... which I regret in retrospect). But I believe that communication will be easier now that things are beginning to settle. So my response to all those hoos: I am here, pal!

365 days as President

It has been a crazy week. I have sold nearly everything I own, am sleeping on a thermarest, and had my last day at AIR on Friday. Packing is taking longer than I had expected. How did I accumulate this much junk in the last year and a half? Today is my last day in DC. Tomorrow my dad and I will begin the one-way drive to Michigan, and will hopefully stop on the way to give Lynn a drive-by hug.

So, I have been sadly away from a scanning machine so will have to delay posting Lynn's card. (Lynn, has already graciously forgiven me for this by email). Instead, I am going to post an email I sent out to my dear Peace Corps friends Dick and Ed last year after having attended the Inauguration for Obama. Obama has had a rough first year, but it is a nice time to reflect on the excitement that surrounded his arrival to DC. It reads: