End of week 5?

 WOW, how can it be? I don't believe it. There's no way I have been here this long already.  Then again, I look at my piles and piles of lace purchases, Hmmmm, yeah.

I thought this card was very appropriate.  I feel very welcomed by so many people here.  I wish I could remember who made this adorable owl. I really want to say Unity, but it might also be stamps by Judith.  If you know, please leave a comment for me!!

Oh I LOVE Istanbul

 It's been five weeks here, am I bored?  am I sick of this city?  Ummmm, nope.  I LOVE it. Here's a cute card I made using an embossed card base with some gorgeous turkish lace and a cute embellishment that I got at the last scrapbook show.  They sell them in little six packs, I got the cat themed one.   This was a cute stand alone I thought, so I used it here.

Bring me some Turkish Coffee Please. Teskkur Edidem.

For the DH

 Here's a card for the DH, "you are the one." I would hope after 25 years that he knows that.  He's such a sweety letting me goto Turkiye all summer long. I love him for that. He's just the best.

No drama llama

I think this card is just hilarious. But then again, I think llamas are hilarious.  They are also too cute.  I am using some great floral Turkish lace on this card as well.  No Drama Llama.  At least on vacation this year, I am hoping for no drama.  I will have to admit a couple years ago, a little drama.  How sad is that?

 

Meow

 Happy Monday everyone! I can't believe this is the start of my fifth week in Istanbul!  WOW, just the other day I mentioned something about the cats of Istanbul, well, here's another cat themed card to check out today

There was actually a film made about the cats of Istanbul called Kedi, check it out here: About — Kedi (kedifilm.com)

Guest Designer Gayle

 Here's another fun card made by Gayle at the convention last year.  We had a blast shopping, taking classes, meeting people, and making lots of cards. Here's a cute card that we made for the hotel staff in thanks for their services.

Cats of Istanbul

Here's a cute cat theme card which is just perfect for Istanbul.  I don't know if I have talked about it before but cats live in the city as strays and are often well taken care of by the locals.  Some are even as popular as celebrities!   Here I am using some gorgeous paper that i bought in Istanbul.

 Check this article out on Go Turkiye! All You Need to Know about İstanbul's Friendly Cats - GoTürkiye (goturkiye.com)

End of Week 4

 Well, I don't know why I call this the end of a week, I guess because my last day will actually be on a Saturday morning.  But this marks week 4.  At some point I am hoping to go to Bursa, which is the original capital of the Ottoman Empire. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  There's a wonderful town nearby that is also a world heritage site with many craftsmen that I would like to see.  I hope to go and take lots of photos.

Here's some stunning Turkish lace and a great image from Scrappy Boy stamps.  Java nice day everyone!

Happy Birthday Ms Toney

 

Wishing a very Hapy Birthday to Ms Toney who is the teacher of the 2yr old DHH class that I am a TA for during the school year.  She's such a good teacher.  It's a pleasure to work with her.  I hope she has a very special day.

I'm Yours

Here's a fun shaker card that I made for the DH this summer. It says, "I'm yours"  I hope it puts a smile on his face.  I added some sweet Turkish lace to it.  Oh, shopping for Turkish lace is so much fun. SO MUCH fun.  I look forward to it all year long. I just love looking at the row and row of beautiful lace.

Life Captured

 I made this cute typewriter card for my God-mother. I thought it was just perfect for this trip because it says, "Life captured".  How fun is that?  I really should be documenting these trips with a scrapbook.  One of them, back in 2020, I made a scrapbook "book" that you put together on line as a digi scrapbook and have printed out.  That was a great year but first year of covid, Istanbul was just EMPTY.  quite odd.  I can recall being the only guest in a LOT of places.  Even the Hagia Sophia.  Now you can't get into the Hagia Sophia without a multiple hour wait.

Smile

 One thing I love in Istanbul is the ice cream.  I don't know how to say it's better than USA ice cream, but it is.  It's just lighter, creamier, so much better.  Here's the conundrum, the door to my place is literally RIGHT next to an ice cream place.  RIGHT NEXT IT.  I can't go home without walking to an ice cream place.  And, we're talking about a place with three scoops for like .89  OMG, it's a constant temptation.  CONSTANT.  

Happy Father's Day

 Here's a cute project that I made at this year's scrapbook convention in Irving Texas. It's a cute little BBQ grill that has a little light in it.  You can press the PUSH button and it lights up behind the vellum making it look like a little flame.  Of course on the photo it just looks like a bright light. It's so much cuter in person!

Here's a photo of the grill for the Father's Day Card

Here's the Grill when it's lit up

These cute little light circuits are available from Pear Blossom Press.

Guest Designer Gayle

Here's a beautiful card made by Gayle T of Texas.  We did this card in March during the spring break convention in Irving Texas.  Oh what fun.  I loved these kits from Simple Stories.  They make lovely cards.  We had so much fun together.

 

End of week 3

 Happy Friday everyone!  It's the end of week 3.  wow, feels like I both just got here and like I have always been here.  I am very acclimated and still super excited about well, everything.  The food, the people, the sites, and well, the LACE!!  what fun.  Here's a great Unity card today, so I made this one for the DH, but you all know the sentiment just made me laugh, but far from true when I am sitting in Istanbul!!  Now, if HE was sitting here and I was sitting at home,  that would S&CK. lol.

Life Captured

 Here's a wonderful card using some great stickers and die cuts from Simple Stories.  I found a booth at the last scrapbook show with wonderful card stock stickers, papers, die cuts, and more!!  I bought all kinds of things and sat down and made a ton of wonderful cards for sharing.  I think this one is just perfect theme for now!  Life Captured

at some level that is my blog, but this summer i'll be sharing some great photos of Turkiye on FB, so check it out.

For the DH

Here's a card today for the DH. I hope he is doing well this summer.  I am sure he's loving (well, enjoying at least) the bachelor life for a couple months this summer.  I know I probably bother him with periodic texting but i do just miss him.  Here's a little card to make him smile.

 

Memories

I thought this was a perfect card for my trip. It shows a globe, and it has three sentiments that are perfect for the occasion. "Follow your heart" "go, see, do" and "Memories"

How perfect is that?  I made this card from a combination of products from Simple Stories.

 Hope your summer is going well.  May we all be doing the list of things on this card!

Best Friends

A lot of people's first question when I tell them I am going to Turkiye in the summer, especially when they find out I go alone as opposed to traveling with my husband who has to work, am I from there?  do I know anyone there?  I do have some friends that I have made along the way. I personally have found Turkiye to be fairly friendly.  I do have one friend that i met stateside when I was in college, so we were friends a very long time before I went to see her the first time I went to Turkiye.

My first couple of times I stayed with her in her home.  I mean, you can only invite yourself so many times to stay with someone, esp if you want to be there for two months.  Now I use AirBNB, I have been staying with the same lady that last several summers.  We are good friends at this point.  But I absolutely pay her.  She's super for the price!  if you need a place to stay, lmk I will pass on her info.  Unless you are going in summer, 'cuz i'm there, lol.

 we are hoping to travel together this summer as well. I am hoping to see Bursa and the surrounding area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with her.

Guest Designer Margreet

 Here's a wonderful creation from Margreet.  One of my winners in February.  She made this beautiful card.  Check out her amazing blog here: Just swingin' by to say Happy Birthday to Irene (margreets-scrapcards.blogspot.com)

You light up my life!

 

Here's a cute card I made at the convention with some assorted supplies that I bought from Scrap That! Who sells Simple Stories papers, cards, cut outs, kits,....the bling I won from Eyelet Outlet.  I made this cute card for the DH.  "You light up my life!"  how cute is that?  I hope it gives him a smile today.

Thanks Dear

 well, I count this as day 10 since I arrived so late on day 1, I didn't get to do anything but get to my place of stay from the airport.  Wow, has it already been 10 days.  most people would tell me that they only get 10 (OR LESS) days on their whole vacation.  I tell them, work a job that's as low paying as mine and you will get off all summer....Bwhahahaha  well, i am just partially kidding, I do love my job, esp the summer off part, but esp the cute little kiddos.

Here's a cute card using a Unity Stamp today, don't we all need a big coffee?  well, i must say, coffee is a big deal here, but I don't ever see any BIG coffee size.  I think there is a Starbucks, well, it's Istanbul, so of course there is a Starbucks, but any normal restaurant, you don't see grandee sized coffee.

Thanks to the DH for that awesome christmas gift of a plane ticket that got me here!  WOO HOO.  You are totally the best ever

Faith Illustrated

 Here's a great set of papers from Faith Illustrated that I used to create this card at the Mega Make and Take at the last convention in Irving Texas in March.  I thought this was very applicable now since I am so very greatful to be on vacation in Turkiye.

"Be incredibly thankful for this life. It's a blessing from above."  How perfect is that?!

honey

Here's a little love card for my Honey!  In fairness I rarely call him honey because I have a sister whose name is Honey.  But in this case i think he'll know who I mean.  I am missing you honey! Have a great day. I am using some great pink Turkish lace on this SEI card.  You'll notice in the title I left the word honey uncapitalized on purpose.

Happy Birthday Cousin

 Wishing you a very happy birthday today.  May all your dreams come true this year.  Huge hugs from Turkiye.  Cheers, Holley

Sharing this card from a sweet kit by Simple Stories today.  I love their fun and simple card making kits.

Happy Day!

Now I am really getting excited being in Istanbul.  Today is a Happy Day!  let's have some new adventures everyone.  Is new adventure lace shopping?  it should be, lol!  I can't believe it's a new week here in Istanbul, how I am already here for a week?  Most people only get a week of vacation.  What a blessed person I am.

 

Guest Designer Jan E

Here's a fun card made by Guest Designer Jan E of Texas!  She and I made a set of these card from PhotoPlay when we were at the last convention in Irving Texas.  What fun we had! 

 

YOU....are my person

 Thinking of you DH. Hope you are having a great weekend.  love you dearly.  Hope the rest of you are also having an awesome weekend.  I know I am planning on it here in Istanbul.  There's lots to do here, whatever should I start with, hmmm, perhaps, LACE?

Happy Birthday Dad

 Wishing my Father a very happy birthday today.  I hope the family has some nice plans for him.  Hugs from Turkiye!   Chose this Bark-day card for him as I know he loves dogs.  This cute set comes from Hero arts and of course, had to have some orange lace to go with it!

And let it begin....

 I know it's actually been a day or two, but i actually usually take a day or two of delirium where I have no sleep and I am living on sheer excitement and exhaustion at the same time.  So today is more like the first day where I actually got some sleep and NOW i am really having a FIRST DAY.  WOW.  Happy to be here.