Wishing My Life Away...

 I'm not really wishing my life away...just summer...and all that comes with it living in Florida! We have HEAT. We have humidity. We have almost daily thunder storms! I would probably not ever live anywhere else and I love all of the other things about living here-just not summer. If I was honest, I might not like everything about summer in other places either. I grew up in south Florida and spent pretty much all of my summers either at the beach or a lake...and I loved it! But, I was younger and enjoying those things was pretty much all I had to do. And, I truly don't think it was as hot. I could be wrong. Maybe I'm just feeling it more these days but having to actually function in the heat and humidity-not to mention so much of the day in lightening and rain-just fuels my fire against this season.

And so, I think that is why I find myself at the same point every year! As soon as my 4th of July decor is out, I am looking ahead to the next swap. I will admit that I do this for almost every swap but, for some reason, I seem to go way more full steam ahead on for this one! Once the sunflowers are out, can autumn be far behind? Lol And, right now, this is all I have to add to the mix this year.

That is how I found myself perusing Pinterest again this morning. And, the interesting thing about Pinterest is that the minute you search a topic you begin to get more "suggestions" for that very topic. Of course, I was searching "sunflower crafts/decor" and most of what came along my way was just variations of things I've already done. But, since I've been into the "book" decor recently, this one stopped me and I pinned it to my summer folder.

It's reading a bit too 4th of July for me but, I have sunflower napkins and printed sunflower images and, TONS of book club books that I don't mind using for crafting. A few years ago, we purged SO many books. We donated them to the Friends of the Library so they could sell them in the resale store to help fund some of the library projects that need help. And, when I say we purged a lot, I mean a LOT! and still, I have many, many books. Maybe another purge is in order but I will still have my books for crafting.

I really would have loved to have used a napkin because I like the transparency of that when it gets ModPodged on but I don't like those napkins for this so, I went with the printed image. I realized after the fact that I probably could have printed this image on to tissue paper to get the same effect but that thought came to me a bit too late. Lol

I gave the book a coat of off white chalk paint and then ModPodged on some book page pieces to give me some script in the background before adding the image. I also gave the binding edge a coat of brown paint.

I decided that I wanted the binding a bit darker so I gave it a quick coat of my antique wax.

I hit the edges a bit with my walnut distressing ink and then used some of my silk ribbon to wrap the book and tie a small bow. Not sure how I will use it but I will find a way. Lol

And, the pile has grown a bit.

I'm off to finish up a few other things before the rains come again. It is amazing how just a few days of really nice rain can make everything "green up" so quickly after having drought conditions for so long.

I want to share this picture that I think Presley's coach shared of her selection to the All-County Girls' Lacrosse team. I love this picture as well as this kid!

That's it for today. Stay safe and stay tuned.