Pages

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Me and Gramma T

I've put the finishing touches on this layout that I actually began a few weeks ago. Sometimes I just have to let them percolate for a bit before I get "finished."

I've been playing with linear layers and the visual triangle. The best part about this layout is the way this child looks at his Grandma in that first pic. Its SO obvious how he feels!



Supplies:

Printed Paper: October Afternoon, 7gypsies
Tag: 7gypsies
Letter Stickers: American Crafts
Ribbon: Making Memories
Ink: Papertrey ink
Tape: 7gypsies
Circle Punches: EK Success, Marvy Uchida
Pen: Bic Mark It

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

All About Me

I've been meaning to post these, but haven't really gotten around to it.

These were the layouts I did for my Scrapbooking From The Inside Out Design Team Submission.

Scrapping about myself is a true indulgence...I seriously have so many ideas and pictures of the boys that I would have to have a solid year off scrapping every single day to get through them all.

But I think its so important that we include ourselves in our art...one reason why I submitted to be on the Design Team for SFTIO in the first place.

So...here you go...

35 vs 40:

This one is just about how much difference 5 years can make in a life...it was also my first real experiment with Smooch Mists...so much fun!


Brave:

I've been experimenting with flowers on layouts. Since I scrap mostly boy pages, there isn't a high calling for any of the handmade flower techniques that I'm seeing all over. For a mother of boys, there is no better place to put flowers than on layouts about myself!



Made for This:

Another flower experiment. Mostly loved using a really different mix of colors on this. I was also experimenting with the 6 x 12 size...I really like this size when I don't feel as though I have enough to fill a 12 x 12.



True North:

Another experiment with misting...this time with Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash and a mask. OH...and this is the first use I made of my new large format printer...I see a LOT of 12 by 12 printing in my future!


Have a BEAUTIFUL DAY!

Peace, ya'll!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Monday Muse

As we approach the 4th of July, our Nation's Day of Independence, I started to think about what it means to be a patriot.

I found this:

pa•tri•ot
[pey-tree-uh t, -ot or, especially Brit., pa-tree-uh t] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her countryand its interests with devotion.
2. a person who regards himself or herself as a defender, esp. ofindividual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.

Its a good definition. Very factual, but perhaps lacking in the spirit and soul of what patriotism is all about.

Its the LETTER of the law, without the SPIRIT of the law.

Photo by Jane M Sawyer courtesy of http://morguefile.com

So, here is the muse today...What does it mean to be a patriot?

How would you express that in your art?

Who are some patriots that you admire?

How can you show them in your art?

Have a fabulous Monday!

Peace, ya'll!!!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Five Question Friday - with VIDEOS!

I don't know that I have ever been so happy to see a Friday...

That means its time for FIVE QUESTION FRIDAY

So, here we go!

1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument? Several in fact, but none of them all that well...flute, bass guitar and piano. I also sing...and did so professionally for a number of years.

2. What is your pet peeve while driving? no turn signals...its rude and dangerous and just plain old ticks me off.

3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services? Housekeeper. If I had a housekeeper, I wouldn't need spa services so much cuz I would be way less stressed.

4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance? ummmm....well...there are a LOT of these for me. I'm very musically motivated...its my thing. So...the one that can take me back to a moment in a heartbeat, tho is Heaven by Warrant. Its a way-back-there song and it makes me remember being turned around and around in front of Disneyland by a boy I loved. Sweet memory!



5. What song best represents your life right now?

Its probably Free To Be Me by Francesca Battistelli. I can't embed the video, but you can take a listen HERE.

I think that part the describes my life the most is the part that says:

Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and You tell me
That I've got all You seek
And it’s easy to believe
Even though
I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

Peace, ya'll!!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Happy Birthday, Kathy!!!


This is my friend Kathy.

She turned 40 yesterday.

I sent her some flowers and called her, but,you know, its just not the same as putting a Big Old HAPPY BIRTHDAY up her on the blog.

So...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATHY!!! (a day late)

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Monday Muse

I’ve long been a fan of the cupcake…Its like a little piece of Heaven.

You can have a little cupcake treat and not blow the whole day.

You can do all sorts of wonderful things with a cupcake that you just can’t do with other deserts.

My cupcake love led me some time ago to a little site called Crumbs and Doilies.

They are a cupcake bakery in London…oh, how I wish I were across the pond!

Anyway, they do this magical thing with gradient colors of icing and different kinds of sprinkles. In fact, they are the sole inspiration for my sprinkle fettish.

These Beauties were posted awhile back on their blog and I simply fell in love with the colors.

When they get them all in the boxes like this, they look like some gorgeous painting or quilt, don’t they?

Wanna close up?


Serious goodness…

Gradient color.

Tiny art pieces all combined together to make one great art piece.

Slight variations from section to section to make things just a little bit different with a severely constrained color scheme.

Monochromatic design.

I so love the silver heart and the silver star...silver on a cupcake!!  WHOOHOO!

And…well…cupcake love…

All of these things could come from this muse.

So…what do you think?

What would you do with this?

Peace, ya’ll!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

musings that stick to the roof of your mind

Disclaimer... these are NOT my musings. This is a viral e-mail that I totally ripped off from Kai. So here you go... musings that stick to the roof of your mind:

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history when you die. (You see that Kathy? Teri? Somebody???)

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're dead wrong.

3. I totally regret all those times I didn't want to take a nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm character on the keyboard.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they reported how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you
just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after BluRay? I sure don't want to have to restart my collection...again...for the fifth (or sixth?) time!

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save the changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate it when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I'll know not to answer when they call. This is not entirely true. But I sure do have a lot of numbers in there for people who never seem to call me...

18. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it. Like Grease...HELLO!

19. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

20. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

21. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

22. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars close up to prevent some jerk from cutting in. - Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

23. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

24. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

25. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'll bet everyone can find and whack the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1½ seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

26. My check the oil light has been on for three months now and nothing's happened. I'm starting to think that my car is just an attention whore.

27. I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the match?

28. Sometimes I pretend not to remember details about people because having a good memory apparently equates to creepiness.

29. My GPS says "Estimated Arrival Time." I see "Time to Beat."

30. Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

31. My keyboard needs a removable crumb tray like my toaster.

32. What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

33. I wish it were appropriate to say to a complete stranger, "Excuse me, would you like me to show you how to discipline your child?"

34. I never understood why the Lions and Cowboys always get to play on Thanksgiving. Shouldn't the Patriots play the Redskins, and then steal their stadium afterwords?

35. Double-Stuffed Oreos should just be called Oreos, and regular Oreos should be called Diet Oreos.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Five Question Friday

Its that time of the week that we all celebrate - FRIDAY!!!

Today, as usual, I'm takin' the easy bloggin' entry - FIVE QUESTION FRIDAY

1. What is your favorite thing about summertime? hmmmm...the kids all playing in the street out front, popsicles and ice cream, and barefootin'. Not that I let winter stop me from going bare foot, but its way more comfy in the summer time!

2. What is your ideal retirement location (if money didn't matter)? someplace with a beach and a breeze and a hammock and scrapbook supplies...does such a place exist!?!?! Perhaps an island off the coast of Spain like Ibiza...I wouldn't mind Barcelona or someplace like that, either.

3. Do you live in the same town you grew up in? Not even close. I grew up in Leadville,
Colorado.


And just so you know...you're looking at the majority of the town in this picture...Its grown...there are now two stop lights in town, or...maybe three. But when I lived there, there was only ONE!

4. What nervous habit did you have as a child that you kicked to the curb before becoming an adult? I don't know if I kicked it to the curb before becoming an adult, but its been kicked to the curb by NOW...biting my nails.

5. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while on the job? hmmm....dumping something in my lap..which happens more often than I ever care to admit.

Peace, ya'll!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Fun with Monday Muse

For this muse, the 7 gypsies printer’s tray seems a perfect place to start:





I’d fill it with all sorts of good things, beginning with black and white photos and then add some of these yummy papers from Little Yellow Bicycle’s Clothes Line collection:



I also thought this cute dot paper from Reminisce was a good option:


I’d add one of these wonderful glazed cardstocks – either this one from Hambly Studios:


Or this one from Bazzill:


For embellishments, I would probably start with some vintage book papers like these from Coffee Girl Crafts:


I’d would love to use these handmade buttons from Tess Ann:


Maybe I would use some of these butterfly banner stickers from Jenni Bowlin:


These clear stickers from Pink Paislee’s Queen Be collection:


And I LOVE these letters from K and Company’s Handmade Collection.


How about non-scrappin’ stuff?!?!?!

Well….

I found this amazing belt and belt buckle from AWC Designs . (This design comes in a round shape too…and this shop has a really cool Wonder Woman buckle as well.


I couldn’t put up a muse fun post without one of my favorite glass pendants. How about this black and white design on a yellow background from In Stile.


I also found this amazing pendant from unique dichroic’s shop . (I have a future Monday muse planned that will incorporate this same necklace…serious goodness.)


And then there is this beautiful bag from Notes and Treasures.


Can you tell how much I love etsy?

So…what would you do with this muse?

Peace, ya’ll!!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Monday Muse

I've always loved this aesthetic:


remodeled kitchen eclectic kitchen

A little black and white checker board floor, lots of modern black and white decor and a pop of yellow...

But I found my tidy little aesthetic turned on its ear here:

dominomag modern kids

That black and white floor is still there...but look at that ceiling! AWESOME! (although I would be a bit afraid I'd be giving the baby vertigo or something...

Here is the same aesthetic turned on its ear in another way by Amy Atlas.



Still black, white and yellow, but the checker board is now represented in those candies on the front tray and the cake cubes, and the overall symmetry of the design.

So...today's muse is this...black, white and yellow...what would you do with it!?!?!?!?

Peace, ya'll!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Five Question Friday

Its that time again....time for Five Question Friday.

I found this set of questions rather intriguing....though coming up with answers to a couple is tough...

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship? - Honestly, I have the greatest friends in the world...and I think there are three components to great friendships:

1) Chemestry...yes...friends are like the opposite sex. There is just something about the keepers.

2) Transparency. You have to be willing to be real to get to that really deep level of friendship. That means when its time to be silly, when its time to cry, when its time for your amazing friend to tell you that she is pissed that you showed your new boyfriend her messy upstairs.

3) Laughter...bucket loads of it. My best friends are the ones I laugh with...we have those moments where we just look at one another and can totally crack up about something that may not even be funny.

2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted? - I'm a frugal and careful shopper so this doesn't actually happen to me often...but I do have those moments when I think, "Well...that was a waste of money." I can't think of anything specific right now, so they are obviously not huge things.

3. Have you ever had a prank played on you? - Oh, yes...I was a new receptionist about a hundred years ago and the team I worked with had bets on how long I would last...you see they had driven off like 10 receptionists...one went to lunch and just never came back. One even went to the hospital! So...when I arrived, they took bets to see how long I would last and then they did everything in their power to get me to quit. I worked for that company for 10 years...I don't remember who won the bet. But if you've ever heard of the Jerky Boys and you understand that I was a receptionist, you will get the picture.

4. What is your favorite theme park? - I don't have one...perhaps Disneyland or Raging Waters in CA?

5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth? - Oh, yes, oh, yes, oh yes...Many times...its the most wonderful thing EVER to be included in an experience like that!!! I've been a coach or in the room 4 times for births...ITS AWESOME!!!!

Peace, ya'll!!

Monday, June 07, 2010

WINNER and Monday Muse

Lets get to the important stuff RIGHT away!

Nobody guessed the right answer, although all of your answers are absolutely things I ALSO have toooo much of!

The right answer was BLOGS!

Yes…BLOGS! Can you believe that I follow so many? I tend to hang on to them long after they have ceased to inspire or inform me, hoping that the next post will the be the best post I’ve ever seen…not so. Anyway…I had to cut loose tons…but I’ll be honest…it was mostly because they hadn’t posted anything in a really long time. There were very few I was willing to delete from my reader if they had been posting.

Anyway…so…there were NINE comments (Sarabeth said she didn’t want to get the scrap supplies, only make a guess.)

I asked Jay what his favorite number is. He said: 2

If I number the comments top to bottom excluding Sarabeth, this is our winner:


WOOHOO!!! SO!! I will send you an e-mail to get your addy!

On to some other fun stuff…

Today’s muse is another from the Hostess with the Mostest Blog.


Bed sheets as table décor - as in this Baby Shower party called “Bed Time Story.” Seriously...how stinkin’ inventive and adorable is that!?!!??!

Oh, and the COLORS!! Can you believe how amazing the colors are? So saturated and vibrant! YUM!

This is the second party based on books I’ve featured for a muse.

I’m so inspired by the covers of books. Unlike magazines and other print ads, the message doesn’t get lost behind lots of text…its definitely a picture-is-a-thousand-words aesthetic.

So…what could you do with this muse?

What could you do with orange and turquoise?

How about something totally unexpected?

Link me up!

Peace, ya’ll!

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Saturday Fun: Guess-n-Give Away!

I had no idea I am a hoarder of some things...I don't consider myself beleagered by the need to unnecessarily hang onto things that no longer serve their intended purpose.

But...I discovered that I am hoarding one particular thing long after its usefulness in hopes that some day and some how I might glean inspiration.

I've been avoiding the truth until now, but it had become too painful to ignor. I'm hoarding.

The truth shall set me free!

Honestly, I've been avoiding the truth and the necessary clean up because, well...because its time consuming and I have no patience for chores that are time consuming right this second..

But, I did it anyway!

This is how it worked out:

I got rid of 43.

I cleaned up 2.

I acquired 3.

The net: 157.

Here's the question: Can you guess what I've been hoarding? Any guesses as to what I'm talking about?

I won't give you hints...but I will say that I'll offer this sweet little packet of goodies:



Here's what's in it:

Printed Paper (all double sided):
1 sheet Lilybee Design Lovely: Splendid
1 sheet Crate Paper Cottage Collection: Flight
1 sheet Making Memories Flutter: Word
1 sheet October Afternoon Farm Fresh: Hay Barn
1 sheet October Afternoon Fly a Kite: Strawberry Jam
1 sheet Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety: Bloom
1 sheet Pink Paislee Cupid Collection: Love Potion

Specialty Papers:
1 My Little Shoebox Lil' Critter: Molehill scallop circle die cut
1 Prima Marketing Signs of Spring Bird die cut
1 Basic Grey Doilies laser cut in pink
1 Basic Grey Doilies laser cut in green

Embellishments:
1 Making Memories pill box
1 pkg Studio Calico Blue Doilies Rub-ons
1 pkg Hambly Screen Print Rubon
1 pkg American Crafts By the Yard Thickers in Leaf
1 pkg Prima Marketing Cardstock Stickers in Strawberry

So, leave me a comment with your guess about what I've cleaned up. I'll give the packet to either

a) the right answer

or

b) a randomly chosen entry if more than one person guesses right.


or

c) a randomly chosen entry if everyone's guess is incorrect.

You have until midnight ET on Sunday to give it a whirl.

Leave me a comment and make sure I can track back to you to notify you if you have won my little prize.

Peace, ya'll!

PS: Come on...you thought of SOMETHING when I told you I was cleaning!!

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Fun Little Quiz

Fun quiz that determines personality traits based on color preferences...


You can take the quiz HERE

I think, for the most part, this was pretty accurate:

An exerpt from my profile:

You are 54 % extrovert and 46 % introvert.

Independently of any order of importance :

You are a leader, you know how to organize the groups of persons and give them your energy.

You are also able to have an in-depth thinking, you think before acting, and you know how to communicate your knowledge.

Finally you are dynamic, your actions are only directed by your own will and you know how to lead people. You are intellectual and intelligent, you wonder and you inquire before taking any action and setting your values.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Heard at Our House

Its been awhile since I did one of these, but I thought it would be good to put up some of the most recent musings from my pre-schooler...

Conversing with a 3 yr old is so Wonderland-ish. It starts off well enough “Momma, look at the moon!” But then things get all wonky, “WAIT!! That’s not our moon! That’s Grandma’s moon! It followed us home! It should go back to Grandma’s so we can have our moon back!”


Daddy to Jay: Each State has a special city called a "Capital."
Jay to Daddy: NO!! Its called a LOWERCASE!!!


Telling him Jesus would protect him didn't work. Telling him Daddy and I would protect him didn't work. Telling him that he could dream of anything he chose to didn't work. Putting the LCD star in his room to light it up didn't work. What worked to get rid of the nightmares was to tell him that Aunt Kellie packed up all the monsters in her suitcase and took them back to Colorado to set them free in the woods.


I was awakened at 3:40 am by a small boy at the side of my bed. When I asked him what he was doing out of bed, he said, "I'm jus wooking for some one to give me attention."


From the back seat: "Hey Mom, dis toy is wike David's swing shot when he fought Gowiaff! And Shrek and Grinch kind of wook awike...can I haff a Chhetoh, pwease??"

Mom! I scratched my butt and now my hand is stinky!!! Smell it!!! (uh….no thanks!)

Jayden: Mom! Cookie is pretending to be Quincy. And Quincy is pretending to be a SHARK! Mommy will you rock Quincy to sleep? He wanted to go to Monkey Joes but he can’t. He has to take a nap.
Mommy: Why does Quincy have to take a nap?
Jay: He was bad.
Mommy: What did he do that was bad?
Jayden: Mom! He’s a SHAAAAAARRRRRK!

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Monday Muse on Tuesday

After the long weekend, the irony that this post should appear today (as opposed to last week sometime when it might have been more helpful) is not lost on me!

BUT…I persevere!

Today’s Monday Muse (on Tuesday…it was a holiday! I took the day off!) is a fabulous creation from none other than the amazing talent of Eddie Ross.


If you would specifically like to know how to turn a cabbage into a lovely dip server, please click HERE:

I’m in love with Eddie Ross’ sensibility when it comes to entertaining and decorating…use the old, don’t bother with the new, refurbish, repurpose, reuse. Make thinks simple and less of a burden - on yourself, on the environment, on your family, on your guests. Simple entertaining is a lost art...and being able to do it simply with what you have is a profound act of creativity.

Sadly, I do not have his magnificent Butler’s Pantry of lost treasures.

But I digress…

THIS muse…wow…this muse is about how to make something very ordinary and everyday into something special and extraordinary.

Its about how to use something we have become very familiar with and make it special just by paying attention to it for a change.

I keep thinking about tea…such a simple thing…but it can be made so amazing by a ceremony or a gorgeous teapot or a plate of tiny sandwiches and sweets…

Oh, and the COLOR in this muse! Is there anything more beautiful than the colors that nature just gives us in its every day cycles, it’s going about its own business?

There have to be 15 shades of green here alone! Amazing…

How does this inspire your art or your life?

What simple thing could you turn into a magical ritual? What commonplace thing could be made beautiful by a change in presentation? What colors do you see around you everyday that you could call into action for your art? What needs only you to pay attention to become art?

Happy creating, y’all!

Peace!