Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Crafting

Glue Book Gorgeous!

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Inside cover of my holiday glue book and first page. Plus, at left, my first envelope glue book cover. Book club paper from Michaels I had to have, up top, plus  Tim Holtz holiday stickers to use. Let the pasting begin!

There is a new obsession in my life. Glue books! What are those you might ask?

Pretty simple. You glue stuff into books.

You can make them from papers, old print books, expired planners, composition books, a mail envelope, sketchbooks. It’s endless. I started down this rabbit hole after making my own watercolor journal with sewed signatures from a class with artist Laly Mille. In the meantime, I decided I needed to collect holiday magazine images to help when I write my Christmas books. In case that is in July. To put me in a festive mood when it’s scorching outside.

So, one day on YouTube, I stumbled across the Nicole Relax.Cut.Glue. channel. Imagine my surprise to learn she is in Oregon too! Not only is she fun to listen to, but she does beautiful work. Now, I’m a rookie gluer (is that even a word? paster?), but back in 1998 I started my personal journal in an oversized lined book I bought at J.K. Gill. (Still use it) Does anybody remember that stationery store?

I’d pasted several full-page magazine pages in it, featuring a quirky New York bookstore and a Calvin Klein ad. And fortune cookie slips. A drawing of Puss N’ Boots. You know, the usual. Once again, ahead of my time.

Then the two ideas merged.

I could make a Christmas glue book! Turns out folks have been doing this for ages, and I’m late to the party, but I’m all in. I loved the green spiral sketchbook from Michael’s that Nicole used in one video, so I got it on sale, then purchased the glitter glue she uses. (I tried the glue sticks, but I managed to attach myself to everything in my office, so I prefer the liquid glue with the applicator.) And I bought a cake frosting spreader, also from Michael’s, because our Dollar Tree did not have the one she uses.

Next, I was so inspired I MADE a glue book cover out of a 9 x 6-inch mailing envelope based on her tutorial. (See below.) Because heaven knows I have a not so miniature Office Depot in my home office closet. (I love the smell of Post-its in the morning!) Next on my project, I will be cutting paper and using a rubber band to secure the sheets, as she demonstrates.

The deep dark secret that goes along with this new passion is I have WAY TOO MANY magazines, old holiday cards, and pretty calendar pictures in my house. Being a writer and photographer, EVERYTHING gives me an idea or sparks a story. But now, I have a way to put them into themed books and hopefully STOP collecting more scraps. Take the best of the best.

Which reinforces one of my 2025 intentions, since I jettisoned New Year’s resolutions years ago.

Intention number two is: use it up.

That applies to everything from craft paper to postage stamps to freezer food to napkins to chocolate.

Writing about chocolate, there’s a lot of chaos in the world right now, especially in the United States. To those of us on the West Coast, the devastating fires in Los Angeles are affecting many things, including moving adoptable pets to our shelters to relieve the burden on those in California. Organizations did the same thing when the August 8, 2023, Lahaina fires devastated Maui and took so many lives. And the recent California fires affected the Maui Humane Society again when their normal flights of animals to the mainland had to be temporarily curtailed while incoming pets from California were moved north and east.

Plus, huge blessings and thanks to all the firefighters and amazing pilots continuing to battle the fires today. Our contingent of Oregon firefighters is still down there.  A firefighter story is on my future books to write list, has been for a while.  

We are all connected in so many ways. I remind myself to focus on what I can control, be kind to others, and take it one day at a time. Like I did in Army basic training. That’s why rest and relaxation are a real thing in the military. You have to come off the line at some point and take care of yourself.

Glue books are working for me right now. It’s very relaxing.

And walking on my treadmill. And writing.

I started my next book, Forbidden Warrior in the Moonstruck Makeovers series, on New Year’s Eve Day. Seems I can’t go more than thirty days without writing or I get super cranky.

Writing and glue books.

Saving sanity one day at a time!

Find something that works for you.

To the glue books!

No Sew Glue Book/ Journal Tutorial

 

Happy May Day!

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Blooms for you!

Sun. Finally. I’ve been cooped up in the house for the last month with four unruly teenagers. Not humans, but book manuscripts. Making progress, but these kids are driving me nuts. So sunshine is a very good excuse to grab the camera and wander around my neighborhood after lunch. Instead of taking a nap. That hard job falls to Spec Ops Cat. He excels at it, trust me.

I’d noticed the rhododendrons blooming down the street and wanted to get a picture of the PINK blossoms. So pretty. There are some gorgeous red ones on another sunny corner, but they are almost bloomed out. Sun spots matter. 

Then what I thought was candytuft turns out to be something else, which I have no idea what it is, but it’s beautiful.

Very pretty. Something or other.

While I continue to slog through the technical side of indie publishing, wanted to let you all know I am still at it, giving it my best, and whining. Er, writing. A lot. That means I get rewarded with chocolate, so I’ve created my own fat monster. I’ve had to resort to giving myself a sticker on my calendar every time I complete another chapter. Fun stickers. Now I’m hoarding stickers.

The sticker fetish coincides with my new hoarding, er, hobby habit; stamping. I started with Anna Griffin card kits and it’s a slippery slope to Crafters Companion dies and stamps. Yesterday I almost grabbed a plastic wrapped magazine out of woman’s hands in Barnes and Noble because I thought she had the British stamping magazine I was stalking.

Lucky for her, she did not have the edition I wanted. My military background aside, I watch a ton of pro football. I’ve seen tackling moves. Consider that a warning to the stamping gals cruising the magazines at my Barnes and Noble. Just saying.  

When I did find the coveted issue on the stands, I practically yelled in glee. The holy grail. Swan stamps and dies. They GIVE you cling stamps with the magazine. There should be a law against that, really. Monday I actually went on eBay to purchase two back issues I had to have. No judgments. Stop me before I stamp again!

But stamping is a great stress reliever from dealing with said teenagers. I even get to switch chairs in the office. Purple for writing, pink for crafting.

There is nothing like coloring in the lines of the stamp and then using water and a paint brush to turn them into watercolors. If you use permanent black ink and watercolor pencils. Only a few of the thousand needed accessories. Including a baby toothbrush to clean my stamps with baby shampoo and water. Scrubbing the ink off the stamps calms me down too. Simple pleasures. That whole cleaning and scrubbing calm does not apply to the rest of my house. Not the same thing.     

So I wanted to show you my first effort at making stamped cards. Since no guts, no glory, I started with probably the largest and most intricate stamp I own for my first project. Also, the first time using a rocker block too. Did a couple of test stamps that came out great, and then on to the watercolor cards. No fear!

Three cards. One for Mom, and the others for friends dealing with health challenges.

I’m a rookie stamper. I admit it. So all I can do is improve, right? And I bought some glitter ink. Because of the teenagers! That’s my tale and I’m sticking to it. It helps me relax. Fun colors and it’s cheaper than therapy. I think.

Got the crazies? What’s your craft therapy?

Happy May Day! 

And the promised pink blossoms. In today’s sunshine. The bees were very busy on these blooms, but I couldn’t get a bee butt picture. They move. The quest continues!

  

Trying To Get Organized?

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by Kimberly A. Cook

At the end of each year my friend Carol and I say, “Next year we’re getting organized.” We’ve been saying that for more than thirty years now. I don’t think it’s taken. Not for lack of trying mind you. It comes down to stuff and paper. No matter how I try, eventually one day I’m overwhelmed. Today could be that day.

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Spec Ops Cat got a new kitty cave bed last weekend. He loves it. Temporarily put it on the chair. Now it’s permanent. I could use a Kim cave myself.

 

It’s a constant battle. Stuff I can rotate and control to some degree; I purge clothes and books on a regular basis. Kitchen items and towels are a little harder. But paper really takes the cake.

One of the hazards of being a writer is clipping newspaper articles, hoarding books, keeping travel handouts and collecting office supplies. When you have a Scrat brain, every handout, business card and coupon can spark an idea.

Going digital hasn’t helped. The number of bookmark folders on my Samsung tablet alone are mind boggling. So I keep trying.

Add to the mix my Mom’s recent move and all kinds of interesting stuff ended up in my house to process. Of course, that has forced me to get rid of the leftover garage sale items to Goodwill so Subie can actually open her doors inside the garage.

Now, truth be told, if I hadn’t dragged home the wooden park bench from my Mom’s backyard that needs refinishing, the garage would have been okay. Kinda. But once I sand it, scrub it and paint it pink, it will make a fabulous addition to the fairy rock garden this summer. My name is Kim and I’m a project-aholic.

But paper. Yuck. Almost finished sorting the receipts for taxes. Now that is a land speed record for me to have that done in January. Go me.

But, it’s raining and dark outside. A new box of jewelry goodies I ordered has been open for two weeks and I haven’t been able to play with it yet. Its siren song is calling me across the office. Then I have a bunch of Hallmark holiday movies still clogging my DVR.

Plus those Christmas cookies never got baked and the ingredients are still waiting on the kitchen counter. Playing with jewelry parts, watching a movie and eating fresh baked cookies. Forget the paperwork for today.

I’m sure I’ll need to follow Spec Ops Cat’s lead and take a nap too.

Tomorrow I’m going to get organized! How about you?

 

Baubles And Bangles And Hope

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by Kimberly A. Cook                   (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Last Friday I set off on an adventure to my favorite Bead Show in Portland. Given all that had happened in the nation, I felt odd to be trekking off for a fun afternoon. Rode the MAX light rail line down to the Convention Center; not only is it fast, but the people watching is fabulous. The slogan “Keep Portland Weird” really does apply here.

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You can totally see why I pounced on these beads. Magnifique!

 

Since I was born in Portland, that explains a lot about me too. A quick trip and suddenly I’m in gem heaven. The show comes twice a year and the last time I had sixty minutes tops to shop.

Friday I had time to wander at will. On my fourth booth, jackpot! Found beads I could not live without and snapped them up. The scavengers who had been there at the opening two hours earlier had depleted the pink bead stock, but I still scooped up my pretties.

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Only the corner of one booth. Next time I need to take a Sherpa with me.

 

The show has increased to almost fifty percent rocks and minerals in addition to jewelry. Found some fabulous geode and amethyst specimens to drag home except for the prices, but I could take pictures. Purple really is my color.

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Geodes for sale. Just like mine, except for the ones I broke and need to glue back together. 

 

So with my bag of bead booty, continued on my route to check out every single booth. Collected more must haves along the way to add to my collection. My name is Kim and I’m a bead hoarder. Figure it’s still cheaper than a bass boat!

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This REALLY wanted to come home with me, but my bank account said no. Spoil sport.

 

After three hours of pure joy, it was time to jump back on MAX with the evening commuters and head back to my car. It’s so much fun whizzing by the stuck freeway traffic on MAX and not being the one stuck for a change.

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Necklace pendants from Nepal. Maybe next time I need two Sherpas and an 18-wheeler to take home my treasures.

 

When I got home I checked out my take. Seed bead necklaces from Guatemala, necklace pendants from Nepal, beads from China, silver from Italy, almost amethyst from the fairy caves. I’d seen gemstones from Afghanistan, beads from South Africa, nesting dolls from Russia and the Larimar stones I love from the Caribbean.

It all made me smile. The vendors who attended from up and down the West Coast with their wares all came together to help people like me make pretty things. That once again proves we can do things together for a greater good. Even if we start with one bead.

Sitting on my computer is a business card I was given at Kohls in December 2013. It was part of an ad campaign by the store, but the clerk couldn’t know when she handed it to me how much it would mean. My father had passed away during the night. We were headed home after seeing him for the last time and I stopped to pay my bill. I was exhausted, grief stricken, numb and not too happy to wait in line.

That little card made me remember all the people who had been so kind to us throughout the ordeal. At one of the worst moments in my life I got a business card that said #SHOWKINDNESS.

Seems like a really good place to start to move forward in this country. So simple we can all do it. Some pretty beads might help too. The power of the good Force is strong. Hope lives.

Who’s been kind to you lately? Pass on kindness. You never know what a difference it might make in someone’s day.

P.S. Thank you to all my readers. You make my day.

P.P.S.S. For my fellow beadaholics, the www.gemfaire.com might come to your town. Don’t miss it!

Can You Say Bead Bonanza?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                 (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Returned from a girl’s four day road trip to Las Vegas last Saturday. While my poor little creative brain is still on total sensory overload trying to process everything I saw and experienced, I wanted to share a few pictures of my view of Las Vegas.

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Most folks go to Las Vegas to gamble and see shows, but I prefer seeing exhibits, lights and animals. We took in the Elvis Exhibit from Graceland, the M&M’s Store, and the white tigers at The Mirage.

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One amazing thing which caught my eye was above my head in the Golden Nugget Casino in downtown Las Vegas. Having a bead addiction, I about lost it when I spotted this chandelier. These three pictures don’t do it justice, but I had a wonderful time getting closer to try and determine the crystal and bead patterns with my zoom lens.

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With so many things to see, hear and experience in “Sin City,” you know I found the biggest piece of bling I could find on a ceiling. Now if I can just figure out how to make one of my own. I’m sure Spec Ops Cat would love to play with these beads!

I will share more of my fun Vegas finds with you next week, so stay tuned. Or in my case, what happens in Vegas ends up on WordPress!

 

Sorting, Winter Projects And Too Many T-Shirts?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Spent part of Halloween weekend sorting my clothes closet for trash and treasure. Found some of both. What started this adventure was tight jeans. Some fit, some don’t, so I did the grand jean try-on rodeo. Once that was done, then I sorted shoes, sweaters, workout pants and things snowballed.

Bead treasures to sort. Bring on the rains. Okay, not all the rain in one day.
Bead treasures to sort. Bring on the rains. Okay, not all the rain in one day.

One of the excesses I came across were t-shirts. How many does one person need? Add the fact I only wear them for yard work or gardening and I have way too many. Some oldies but goodies I’ve worn so much they’re rags, so those might become a pillow. Or not.

It was a trip down memory lane looking at the different sayings, symbols and jokes on the shirts. Not parting with the Harley t-shirts. Not yet. I used to buy these shirts travelling, but I’ve moved on to refrigerator magnets and now even those are out of hand. I have to rotate the stock on the frig.

My reward for all of this sorting and cleaning was to escape into my office/craft room and play with my latest bead and yarn purchases. Turns out I hadn’t sorted the last batch of goodies from the July bead show. Finished that since the bead show is here again this month. Bead therapy, that‘s what I call it.

Geode tragedy. Special glue and determination will get me through. And leftover Halloween candy.
Geode tragedy. Special glue and determination will get me through. And leftover Halloween candy.

I also girded myself to assess the casualty from my thunderegg trip. I’d bought my largest geode pair yet at the Richardson Rock Ranch. I fell in love with it.

Unfortunately, I was carrying several bags when unpacking and of the two small bags slipped and hit the floor. The geode missed the carpet and landed on the kitchen floor. Argh! One half broke apart, a tiny ding in the other.

The special rock glue is here now and it’s time to try and figure out this puzzle project. Not today, but this winter. Plenty of time for indoor craft projects now that the dark and stormy nights have arrived.

Got winter projects? Too many t-shirts? Sort away all!

Spec Ops Cat kept trying to find a quiet spot to sleep while IO was sorting, cleaning and vacuuming. The indignity of it all.
Spec Ops Cat kept trying to find a quiet spot to sleep while I was sorting, cleaning and vacuuming. You can tell from his expression he’s not happy about the indignity of it all.