Bright April

Holy moly, I think spring has finally arrived!! 

I just finished this journal up this morning.  I love the bright colors inside and the beautiful illustration on the cover.  It's a discarded vintage book I've never seen before, but serendipity put it in my hands in a timely manner. 

We've gone a week without snow.  That's a record!  I am getting excited for spring flowers, craft shows, and playing outside.  Finally. 

What are you looking forward to this spring? 

Here are a few more spring-ish journals I've finished lately and will share:

This is an upcycled 1966 book about Iowa and it makes an adorable journal or scrapbook (I think.).  The whole book is included, so you can learn a little bit of Iowa history while you're filling the blank pages. 

I'm thinking about planting some flowers and also about garden journals; they're one of my favorite type of books to make.  Old agriculture textbooks make great garden journals too, as well as old garden books.  Here are a few:

The paper you see on the inside cover here is oil paper, and it is awesome.  I think it looks like a cross between a Monet painting and tye-die.  Love it.  Will definitely be getting some more. 

Big things are in the works here in Papercake world: May is going to be a fun and super-busy month.  I can't wait.  When I know all the details, I will share.  Lots to look forward to! 

Happy April and happy SPRING!

Happy April!

April started out wonderfully: our thermometer showed a high temperature of 88 degrees yesterday! We spent most of it outside, playing, washing vehicles the old-fashioned way, and finished off the day with a nice long bike ride.  It was Jacob's first time riding on the bike trail at Gray's Lake here in Des Moines and he did great.  As for me, it was much more fun to ride with him than to push him up hills and then chase him down hills. 

I was gone all day Saturday at Sycamore Craft Market in Iowa City (had a great time, and thanks to Jody & Jason for creating and hosting this event!) so yesterday I put together our April calendar layout in record time by grabbing a few supplies from my stash and sticking it all together. 

Once again, I used one of Jacob's many paintings for the background.  He's a very prolific "paint artist."  The measuring-tape trim on the bottom is by Webster's Pages, the "play" ticket is Tim Holtz idea-ology, and the "Grow" bingo card is from Jenni Bowlin Studios a couple years back.  I've had the flowers in my collection so long that I have no idea what brand they are.  I stuck it all together and got the page done.  Easy peasy. 

I wanted to include a picture of Jacob and the tulips in the yard, because he was so excited when they bloomed last week.  I can't take any credit for the tulips; they came with our house when we moved here almost five years ago.  The fact that I didn't plant them is probably why they continue to bloom every year. 
We are so enjoying this early spring that we've got.  I wanted our April calendar to be bright and colorful as well, just like the tulips. 
Now we're off on another bike ride.  Enjoy your day!