How would you like....... some PHOTOS?

{{{ And the crowd goes WiLd }}}

No, the computer isn't fixed, but I did take my camera card and have the photos burned to a disk. Finally something to share!

Just a little peek at what I've been doing while I was away...
Take your time and make it last - who knows how long it will have to tide you over.
~ LOL! ~
First, how about some cards - this is pretty much the sum total of what I made this Summer. Not a very productive one >.<

This first one was from a sketch by... Card Positioning Systems.
Nothing official - I just liked it, so I played. :-)


This one I just put together because I got these fun new envelopes...
(Maya Road)

Loved these papers by K&Company.

I'm so into vintage art lately - had to have this sheet of cut outs by Crafty Secrets (Sew Nice).

Another Crafty Secrets image from the same sheet - this is one of my favorites.


I've also been doing some non-card crafting - made a few of these just for fun (because I love Fall!)

My model was a little reluctant (but cute.)



The place where I work always has these cute bird houses, and I was inspired...
I have a thing for black & white, and collect papers in that color scheme wherever I see them. (Most of these were a gift from my daughter in law though.)

My little Gothic Birdie Village;


...And lastly, but not leastly - I exhumed my paints this month from the catacombs of the storage room. They have been buried there since my youngest was born (18 years ago.)
I just wanted to see if I still knew how to use them.
I'm pretty rusty (not to mention way blind!)...and I need a lot more practice, but I finished anyway...

I probably should have started with something less ambitious - but where's the challenge in that?

That brings us up to date. Ultra busy working now, but hopefully I can squeeze in a project now and then.

Thanks for dropping by!
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I. Give. Up.

I don't understand why I'm having so much opposition in my life at present. It's definitely frustrating.
I used to tackle challenges and keep at them until I conquered, but I just don't have that fight in me any more.

I had a slew of new projects in mind - and I did complete a few - (to be shared as soon as I'm able,) but I finally decided to curtail that dream for now.
I just can't keep up.
(I just got going when I was socked with a lot more hours at work.)

I did, however, unearth the old paints and brushes before the onslaught. I haven't touched those items since my youngest was born - 18 years ago!
I'm a bit rusty (and a lot more blind!) ...but I've managed to remember a few of the old skills and actually finish a piece.

Giving up on the "BIG" idea for now (planned on opening an etsy shop,) but not giving up completely on the ideas. I'm going to try to keep designing some things, and at least do a few proto-types. Come January, work will probably slow down again - if it does, I'll be ready.

Still haven't conquered the photo issue, but I'm working on that too...

Meanwhile, I got this in my email box this week - I think it's a fun idea, and I've always wanted to do one, but I usually think about it too late.

Maybe this year...



(Click on the picture to go to Ali Edward's blog for this fun December Daily Diary.)

...And, because I'm feeling very generous (or guilty?) I'll even share my favorite fudge recipe with you...

It's a modification of my mother's recipe - I altered it a bit because I lacked an ingredient one time, ...and it worked! I've continued to make it this way, because it's a lot harder to ruin than mom's. LOL!

Granny T's Fudge

In a medium sauce pan add:
2 Cups Granulated Sugar
2 Tablespoons Karo Syrup (clear)
2/3 Cup Evaporated Milk

Cook & stir on medium high heat until it comes to a boil, then reduce heat. Continue to cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Then add half of a bag of chocolate chips, (I like semi-sweet,) and stir until they are completely melted.
Remove pan from stove and add:
1 Tablespoon margarine or butter (or, if you are feeling reckless, you can substitute peanut butter)
and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Stir until blended (and slightly cooled.)
Pour into buttered 8x8 pan and let cool.

It's a simple recipe, but it's a family favorite.
(And like I said, you almost have to try to mess it up!)

Sorry for the long absence...
ENJOY!

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Geek Seek

Sorry to keep you hanging again for so long.

I went on a card making binge this weekend to relieve some stress, but I'm having technical problems again. The last of my resident computer geeks moved out this weekend, so I am on my own...

I've fixed this problem before, but the "how to" is stored in my memory (which crashes more often than the computer.)

Anyway, in the meantime, please visit these blogs:

Lilybean's Paperie - One of my favorite places. Melissa Phillips is not only extremely talented, but she has to be one of the nicest people alive. I love reading her posts - I swear it takes my blood pressure down a few notches just reading her sweet words.

Iralamija - By now you should be getting the idea that the Vintage/Shabby Chic style is my favorite. Beatriz Jennings also has a beautiful style - lots of eye-candy here...

And Thinking Inking Debbie Olsen does a lot of work with stamps and Copic Markers, I enjoy looking at her pages because they're often instructional too...

Well, now you know where I hang out when I'm gone - enjoy the show, and I'll keep working on things here.

I've got to figure it out sometime, right?

>.<
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Dog Days...

Summer is starting to wind down, but just the same - the heat is on.
I've been hunkering down inside where I can crank up the AC to a balmy 60 degrees (I wish, ha ha - hubby would have a cow!)
But anyway, getting my groove on and trying to find more ways to be creative - even dug out the water colors! (Wish me luck!)

Here's that card that gave me so much trouble a few weeks ago - don't pat me on the back for this one, it's almost a carbon copy of one I found online somewhere, right down to the color scheme. (I wish I could remember where I found it so I could give credit, but it's been in my folder for a good long time.)

It was fun though, even if I couldn't find my glitter to dress up the butterfly...

Got my work day in this week, now I'll be spending the rest of it doing laundry and cleaning up from last week's camping trip.

Stay cool!
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Mid - life

It's interesting these days - I don't really think of myself as 'old,' (though I do kid about that a lot,) But lately, so many friends, family, etc. seem to be having health crises.

My husband came home the other night with news that yet another of our dear friends is feeling poorly, and in need of our love and prayers.

He requested that I make a card for her, to let her know we are thinking of her.
I found a few ideas online, and created these two with her in mind, (I like to have choices.)

These papers are all S.E.I.


I had another card to add here, but I can't even tell you the problems I've been having with my (#@%&@) computer.

I give up - maybe another day...

Grandma Day

My two older grand daughters are learning to enjoy making cards, and every once in a while, they will ask to come over and "play" with grandma.

We had such a day today. It's always fun to see how excited they get when I pull out the paper and stickers (not to mention, a great way for me to use up excess supplies!)
Today they learned how to die cut and emboss with a Cuttlebug and Quikutz tools.

As you can see, they had a great time, and made special cards for everyone in their family.

Love my Girls!

Info-dumping

...That's what writers call it when you try to stuff too much information into one chapter. (Not considered a good thing.)

But in my case, I'm just going to call it catching up.
I had decided not to use this blog anymore, because I just haven't been that creative for a long while - but keeping it open has its advantages, (namely, all my favorite links are listed here,) so what the heck? If you can take the long periods of silence, so can I.

Projects I've been working on recently:

I made this little album for my daughter's best friend for a graduation gift.
She's been a part of our family for almost as long as my daughter has - so a mere graduation card just didn't seem like enough...


I had the hardest time deciding what to do for her - then it occurred to me that I had all these photos of times that she had spent with our family - and voila! ...the idea was born.





I only hope that she can recognize the heart-felt sentiment that comes with it - she means a lot to us.

Speaking of graduation - Just a couple of grad cards that I made for family members this year (including my youngest.)



...And a little recipe book I made for my daughter to take with her when she goes away to college this fall. I'll fill it with all her favorite recipes from home...

And, a few other cards I made recently, just because I wanted to...



That brings us up to date - I hope that isn't it for the Summer, but it very well could be...

'Till next time :-)
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Happy Spring!

...At least I have to be hopeful - it keeps hopping in and out here.

I had a fun weekend. I went with my daughter in law and her sister to Scrapbook USA in SLC. We've been making a habit of this for a while now, and it's always a fun get-away.
I held the purse strings pretty tight this time, but I did find a few irresistable bargains. As you know, a bargain isn't a bargain unless you actually use the stuff, so I felt duty bound to make something this week...

I found a charming 6x6 pad from SEI, and thought that the papers would make lovely cards for weddings (or mother's day.) Giving it a try here;


Speaking of being absentee for a while... It's been so long since I've made a scrapbook page! I finally did one of my daughter's senior picture, and hubby was so impressed that I had actually done something, that he framed it and hung it on the wall! LOL (Nothing fancy, I know.)


...And while I'm posting pictures - this is just one of those crazy odd things that happen randomly once in a while. Look closely at this towel - can you see anything hidden there?

While I was gathering the laundry, I bent down to pick it up and was stunned to see the image of a girl praying there. So crazy I had to capture it. (Yes, I DO need a life!) ...Just greatful to see me doing some chores, I guess.

LOL, thanks for looking!
Later!
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Another Day, Another Project

My oldest grand daughter had a birthday this week, so granny's been busy creating a card just for her.
It's always so much fun creating for my girls, because they get so excited to have a hand made card (it warms granny's heart.)
Arilie is 8 this year - which is a very important birthday around here - she's getting so grown up these days - we've had that "talk" already; "grandma, please don't buy me any more puffy dresses..." *Sigh* ...a sure sign that the baby days are over...
Anyway, I made this card with some Cosmo "Boyfriend" papers, with the help of one of Lucy's fabulous sketches.

It's Friday, Have a great weekend!
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Hello?

Guess what? I'm still alive... Just being a busy grandma.
I did actually do the Valentine thing, believe it or not - I just never got around to posting them.

Pretty far after the fact, but here they are:


I have more photos, but every time I try to upload them, my computer crashes...

I Am SO Doing This!

I went digging for my Valentine papers yesterday, and spent hours online trying to find ideas for cards for my family, without much luck at all...
This morning, I turned on Good Things Utah while I was puttering around, and lo and behold, they had some of the cutest Valentine ideas!

This is a little treat bag - the patterned paper cut-outs are glued to the front and back of a little paper bag - darling!
(Photo from apage4allseasons blog)



Simple and inexpensive - and I have both of those punches!

Be sure to check out the blog - there are some other fun treat ideas there too!

...And by the way - Happy Groundhog Day!
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This One's For the Girls...

I thought about skipping Valentines this year... For about 2 seconds.
How can I not do something to show my Love for all the Great people in my life?

...Especially my cute little grand-girlies!
They love it when Grandma makes cards for them, and they've already requested one with these roses on.

So, I went right to the new goodies I got in my mail-box last week and went to work...
Getting started early, because - well, you know how I am...

Basic Grey's Sugar Rush papers, Melissa Frances chipboard hearts, Prima mini rose buds.

Sketch World

Lucy's January sketches have been posted, so it's time to share mine here:


This month's sponsor was The Cutting Cafe, and the cute Bingo download was courtesy of them.

Paper is Basic Grey (I reversed the BG doily and used the white side.)

There's a new design team in place at My Sketch World now, so this will be my last sketch for a while.
Lucy has been so great to work with, and I have appreciated the opportunity that she's given me over the years. It's always good to have some fresh blood - and I'm sure great things will be happening there!

Thanks Chica, you're the best!
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Doing a holiday rewind - a Holiday Rewind CROP that is...



Come on over to My Sketch World and play!
Here's my sample for my card challenge - (use an altered photo from your holiday hearth or mantle.)

Happy New Year!!!