AYM/1

I've been remiss in posting the "Y" & "Z" pages. There were so many of us who did not get them finished---and that includes me. I'll post my layouts that I did on my scrapbook retreat at Kinderhook with my friends sometime next week.
Here's what I have so far:

Making Yo-yos.

Yo-yos are an old quilting technique. A few years ago, I bought an old quilt that was falling apart. Right away, I knew I could use the old yo-yos on my scrapbook pages. Remembering my quilting days of the 1980's, I taught the technique to a group of friends on one of our scrapbook retreats.

1. Start with any size circle of fabric. Something thin like cotton is best. Whatever size you choose---just know that your little yo-yo will be half that. For example, it you have a 4 inch circle, you get a 2 inch yo-yo. If you start with a  2 inch circle, you get a 1 inch yo-yo.

Draw any size circle on the wrong side of the fabric and cut out. You do not have to be exact. Nothing about this technique has to be exact.

2. Thread a needle with any color thread (it won't show) and knot it. Start a simple running stitch about a quarter of an inch from the edge. Again, it doesn't have to be exact. A running stitch is a simple up and down motion. It looks like this:  ___   ___   ___   ___

Pull the thread as you go along. The fabric will start to curl. You do not have to pull it tight just yet.

3. When you meet the knot, then draw up the thread. It will look like this---a little pouch.

Knot it off. I usually run it through the gathered part a couple of times before knotting it. Do not cut the thread yet.

4. With the thread still attached, go ahead and flatten it out. You might have to pull some of the fabric to shape it.

 5. Voila!---finished. You can cut it, or if you plan to add any other embellishments, now's the time before you cut your thread.

6. Using your threaded needle that you did not cut off, sew on buttons, ribbons or anything else you want. The gathered part is the top of the yo-yo. With one 4" piece of fabric, you can get one 2 inch yo-yo or four 1 inch yo-yos. These can be adhered to your scrapbook page with glue dots.

When Mindy was a baby in 1984. I made these for her socks with lace, ribbons, buttons, little bells and bows. They were so cute. I wish I had taken a picture back then.


But, when I took apart that old quilt, I had so many yo-yos, I came up with this idea in 2010:

You have to look really close. The whitefish one is a yo-yo and to the lower left of that is another. I sewed buttons on to them and sewed them on to some glittery snowflake ornaments. This was a little tree that had handmade ornaments that I made that year.

I'd like to thank Jeanne for being my hand model.

No animals were harmed in the making of this tutorial.

AYM/1

The January assignment for A Year of Memories---All About the Numbers---was to scrapbook 12 defining moments of 2012.

 Pam scrapbooked the circle of life---including births, weddings, and deaths.

 Janet did 12 new things and events for 2012.

 Karolyn listed her 12  Perfect memories. She used strips of paper on her grid.

Karolyn and I had the same idea of doing a grid. I stitched between my rows.

A few people did not get their layouts done yet. I'll post them when they do. Their assignment for February is to use the #2

AYM/3

 Linda made this little Valentine treat for each of us---it's filled with M&M's. Very cute.

 Jennifer did Coffee and Dishes for her "C" and "D." 

 Kathy's title is "Country French Decorating" about a Southern Living show house she visited.

 Linda went with "Camping" and "Dalai Lama" about her group of friends when they were in their 30's.

"Cute Couple" and "Decorator" are the titles I went with this month.

Due to the bad weather in the Nashville area, we had a small turnout today. Some were without power. I hope by the time they see this they will be back in business. Well, I guess they will be or they won't see this!

TSRCC

 The challenge this month was to share a craft, tip or technique.

 Mary enclosed a cd of wedding pictures on her page.

 Mary showed how you can make a layout with a wallet size photo.

 Mary's layout showing how you can use an altered cd on a scrapbook layout.

 Mary altered this cd with alcohol inks. She also used  butterfly stickers on homemade paper that she cut out and mounted on the cd.

 Jan used an ink resist technique to create this layout about her church.

 Barbie showed how you can display your "inchies" as home decor.

 Barbie also used "inches" on this layout.

Linda used a Jennifer Maguire technique with assorted papers. She stamped, embossed and inked assorted papers. She punched out the circles to highlight an embellishment.

This was our last meeting at the store as it closes at the end of the month. Mary has agreed to take over the organizational duties of this club. She has arranged for the meeting to be moved to Olive Garden. She will be in touch with the new challenge and the details of the next meeting.

AYM/3 Update

I asked Jennifer to send me a better picture of her layout. She sent it along with her finished "B" page:

I like the punched border that unifies both pages. I can't wait to hear her journaling for her "B" page at our next meeting.

AYM/3

My third A Year of Memories group is off to a good start for 2013. They will be doing the ABC album this year. We missed a few of you and will post your layouts later this month.

 I'm sorry that Jennifer's layout came out blurry. I've requested another picture and will exchange it if I get one. She only had her "A" this time---"Awesome Aunt."

"Ashley" and "Bogey" by  Linda N.

"Appleby"---her maiden name and "Branson" by Linda S.

My layout---yes, I'm doing another ABC album this year. I love the random nature of them. 

"Always Prepared" and "Bocce---1942 and 2012." I love to be able to cross old photos with new.

"Adirondack chairs" and "Books" by Kathy.