Cat in the Grass

Summer Card Camp...Week 3

2011-07-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

Another week over at Summer Card Camp...and another set of colors...

I love this palette! It just whispers romance!

I broke out another swapped stamped image from my friend...colored it with my Prismacolor Art Markers...trimmed it out and made it the center piece of the card.

All the papers used are plain cream cardstock with a lovely linen texture...and utilizing a technique video from Penny Black's blog...I made the cardstock match this week's class palette...and my flowers.

I am just in love with the texture of this cardstock...it took to the Distress Inks (aged mahogany, walnut stain, tea dye) like a duck to water!

So inky and oh so much fun!

Summer Card Camp...Week 2

2011-07-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

This week's color scheme for Card Camp...calls for more sunshine and happy summer thoughts!

I immediately thought of the cute stamped image that my friend sent me...and really, what says summer more than Strawberries!

The papers are from Echo Park (yellow), Creative Memories (green) and Scenic Route (plaid) ...and the letters are from American Crafts...I don't know who made the stamp, sorry, I wish I knew...it's just adorable! Like I said, it was sent to me in a swap with a friend...

(If we are lucky, she will pop over here and leave a note in the comments letting us all know who made the stamp....)

Any-whoooo....I colored the image using Prismacolor Art Markers, trimmed her out with an Exacto knife and popped her up!

And finished the card off with a bit of faux-stitching in white with my all time fav pen...Uniball Signo!

I have oodles more scraps to go through...and a bunch of new card sketch ideas (all part of the card camp!)...so I'm off to get creative!

~TTFN!

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm off celebrating, swimming, eating and relaxing with my family...

I hope you are too!

Happy 4th of July!

...And Oodles of Coloring!

2011-07-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of cards I made semi-recently...both with colored images (I am really on a roll here!)

This one was for Jon's birthday...

It is a 5 1/2" square card...I am really liking square cards lately. I used a bunch of scraps from my scrap bucket...making sure they all matched with the little colored text scrap...and the stamp is from Penny Black.

And I'm sure Penny Black has a official name for this little cat...but I like to refer to her as Fat Bonnie (sorry Bonnie...I mean that in the most loving way!)

"Yeah...whatever! It's all fur!"

I stamped the image twice so I could fussy-cut the little paws and pop them up off of the card...and add the kite string under her paws!

I borrowed my friend Trish's stamp for this card...

And even raided her scrap bucket for the papers...

I like the look of having the colored images popped up for dimension...it really makes them stand out...

Well, I better get back to task...I am finishing up a big travel scrapbook for my parents' trip to the British Isles last year...and I want to give it to them when I see them tomorrow for Independence Day...

Image Swap...and Oodles of Coloring!

2011-07-02T13:04:00.000-07:00

Way back in April I did a stamped image swap with my friend Tracy...

I haven't finished coloring in all of the images that she sent me...and only one has made it onto a card...but I'm working on them...

I have organized all of my art markers in a little travel bag. I marked the end of each pen with the color number so they are easy to find. I use Prismacolor markers...and well, the color on the marker label leaves a lot to be desired...as does their numbering system. Copic's really have that head over heels above Prismacoclor..but at this stage in the game (73 markers into it!) I don't want to put the money into switching to Copics...

My color chart and carry case are working pretty good...and I have colored in several of the images from the swap...

I adore these little cuties...I trimmed them out individually thinking they would look good 'popped' off the front of a card...

I am also in the process of trimming out these strawberries...

...and these roses...I think the roses should go on a card with some antique-y text behind them...

I don't know how this card will be put together...but I think I will make something to send to my friend Irene...I just think she would really like this image...

And here is one of the Magnolia girls...I see them all over the card-scape and have been wanting to try one out...

This one will probably make it onto a card fro my sister-in-law Kerry...I think of her every time I look at it...

These are the tiniest little bits-o-sweetness..there were actually five images, but one made it onto an Easter card for my mom...so actually, I guess I have made two cards from the swapped images (but I don't have a picture of that card...sorry!)

Okay...so enough typing...back to coloring!

Hello, Sunshine!

2011-06-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

Well after an odd day of rain on Tuesday...summer is back...again...

I signed up for Summer Card Class, and this week's color palette (the color palette is to the left in the side-bar) and the sudden re-appearance of the sun, led to these cards...

Simple lollipop flowers...

a little foam adhesive...

and a sentiment printed from the computer...

I can't wait to get these little cards in the mail!

Bonnie's New 'Do...

2011-06-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

At least once every year Bonnie goes to the groomer...err, I mean...beauty parlor to get her hair done...

We tried to give Bonnie her summer 'do at home last week...

She has VERY dense fine hair and an undercoat that would keep Jeremiah Johnson warm all winter!

No good...bad mistake...so, with a funny looking semi-shaved hip we took her into the professionals...

Here is her new 'do...

She always comes back from the beauty parlor a bit irritated and grumpy (and smelling like flowers)...but I think she is loving all the attention she is getting...I just can't stop petting her velvety shaved coat!

And I think her cute little bobbed-'do makes her look younger...

Hmmm...maybe I should call up my hairdresser and just give-up on trying to grow my hair long! Short is in!

2011 Veggie Garden...

2011-06-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

I planted my new veggie garden back in the middle of May...and I am pleased to say everything is still alive and thriving...more or less...

Last year we built three raised beds in our side yard...

Bed #1 has been active all winter. I planted artichoke, garlic, onions (yellow and red) and cauliflower last fall. The cauliflower never really looked ripe, it flowered but looked pretty sickly, so we never ate any. I pulled that out this past weekend and made room in the bed for carrots. I harvested the garlic on Saturday and replanted their row with radishes...I love when the seeds sprout! I can't wait!

Here is Bed #1...

My onions bolted...I don't know why...I planted them per the instructions...but they bolted...

Oh well, the flowers are pretty...and the onion bulbs can still be eaten (but not stored)...

My artichokes are pretty measly...I guess I will have to wait for next year...hopefully the chokes will be more robust in 2012...

This is Bed #2...It is planted with squash, pepper, basil and cilantro....and a bunch of watermelons (that are volunteers from last years plant)...

So far the squash is surviving...I sheltered them a bit this year behind a big lemon tree so the wind doesn't whip them around so much...

I am crossing my fingers (and toes) hoping to get some yummy yellow squash and zucchini!

This is a mild jalepeno...I am still holding out for getting some home grown pico de gallo!

And here are the watermelon volunteers...there are about 15 sproutlings...I'm gonna wait and see who looks the strongest and biggest and weed out the rest in a few weeks...

This is bed #3...corn, tomatoes and cucumbers...

I don't know how well the corn will do...I hear it is pretty tough to get sweet cobs with so few plants...but it should be fun to watch it grow...

Ahhh...tomatoes! I planted Sweet 100s and a Roma...and had to weed out (no joke) 30 seedlings that sprouted from last year...and they sprouted all over! In all three beds and the surrounding rocks! Tomatoes love Fairfield!

This is the lemon cucumber...the plant from last year did pretty good...so I have high hopes for this little cutie!

And this is called a Japanese Cucumber...so exciting to see a little cuc-bud!

My raspberry is doing well...but no flowers yet...

And late on Sunday I picked up a yellow bell pepper, green bell pepper, Black Beauty eggplant and a couple of Blue Hubbard squashes to fill in some empty pots in the garden...so many yummy veggies!

And one last picture...the only Dahlia that came back this year...she's lonely, but she's lovely!

Simon Says Card Challenge

2011-06-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Over on the Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog they posted a nice card sketch for this week's challenge...

And I haven't done a challenge in awhile...

And I have been really enjoying making cards...

And I have these really cute stamped images I swapped a couple of month's ago with my friend Tracy...

So...

I thought I would give it a whirl...

I used up some scraps I had laying around (from SEI, Memory Box and who-knows-what-else...), and the image is from a Stampin' Up set...I've had my eye on this, so it was a great surprise to see it in the package I received in the swap! I colored the little darling with Prismacolor Markers...and no matter how many pictures I tried taking, the soft 'blush pink' in the image is showing up neon...it really isn't...bummer!

And adhered her to a doily I made using a Spellbinders die that I received in my gift bag at a retreat I went on last month (I'll post more about that trip later...so much fun!)

And here is the dimensional shot...

I am reserving the right, as the artist, to go back later and add some bling to the card...maybe a pearl accent or two...what do you all think, she feels a bit un-done to me...hmmm, I'll have to stew on it for a while...

The last of the cards...

2011-06-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

I know I have been AWOL lately...but I have been pretty productive (in a crafty sense anyway....who cares if the weeds need to be pulled!)

I spent this past Sunday making a few more cards for Stephen's Project...so I could get them all mailed off this week! The last I read...Bazzill had received over 8,000 cards to help out Stephen...wow! Crafters sure are generous!

I am sending in 35 cards...I wish I could do more!

Here are samples of the last few I made this weekend...(sorry about the pic quality, I used my camera phone)

I love this one...I made a few in maroon too...

I filled the heart with glossy accents...fun!

I think these are my favorites...

...Or maybe these...

I am also including a bunch of cards my friends Jordyn (11) and Mathew (10) made too...

Thanks you two...you both rock!

I have a lot more to share this week...so stay tuned!

More Cards for Stephen's Project...

2011-04-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last week I started making cards for Stephen's project...

This past weekend I had tons of fun making more!

Nothing too fancy here...but lots of fun!

My New Samples Mini Book...

2011-04-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

I put the final touches on my new samples book over the past weekend.

I love making sample books...it's very satisfying to take inventory of all my products and try each and everyone out. The basic purpose of the book is two-fold:

First, I have a list of what I already own (so no more duplicates!).

Secondly, it works great as a guide when I am trying to choose colors for a project.

My book measures 5 1/2 inches square (this is the project that lead to all this strips of paper that finally became my Garden Mini Album).

I added a couple of chipboard covers and spiral bound the book.

I created tabbed sections for each type or brand of products...

And added a sample of the product.

For my mists, I sprayed each one onto a blank Avery address label sheet and used a circle punch to cut out each sample.

For my glitters and flock I used a Zot to adhere the samples. I simply placed a Zot down, sprinkled on the glitter or flock, pressed with my fingers to get good contact and shook off the excess...

After all the glitter and flock samples were placed, I lightly sprayed the page with a sealer so the glitter and flock wouldn't flake off.

In the end the whole process really gave me a good look at what I had "in stock". I had completely forgotten about my Twinklette glitter pens, and since adding them to the sample book, they are more in the front of my mind and I find I reach for them more often now.

Deborah, over at Lily Pad Cards' blog posted a great sample book earlier this week. Her book is housed in a 3-ring binder...which I think is fantastic...so she can add, remove and rearrange her pages.

Although I can't add, remove or rearrange pages without re-binding the whole book...I really loved being able to play around with all sorts of paints, inks, embossing powders, rub-ons, stamps and papers (Basic Grey's Steampunk Debutante) for my cover...

I guess I need to keep my eye open for a binder I can alter!

Cards for Stephen's Project

2011-04-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week on Jennifer Maguire's blog, I saw this link to Bazzill/Creative Escape's blog post about Stephen's Thank You card project...

Basically, as reported in the The Arizona Republic, "Ten-year-old Stephen Goodman, a fifth-grader in Surprise, Arizona, wants to send a thank you card next to military personnel. Not to one platoon, or to just one division, but to every actively deployed service member in the U.S. military."

Stephen has come up with the number 180,000! That is a major undertaking for one little boy, so...

To help him out Bazzill is asking for handmade cards for his project...and for every five you send in, you get entered into a drawing for a pass to this year's Creative Escape weekend...

The drawing and chance to win aside (although it sure is a nice perk) I decided to send some cards in...

I'm shooting for making 20...

So far I have two, it's a start...and really, I just started on Wednesday...

I usually make two of each card I make...not always, but usually...so I made two of these.

And had a very happy mistake in the process...

Basically the mistake all boils down to the fact I'm pretty impatient. My intention here was to have the "Star Spangled Banner" stamped faintly in the background in a medium brown ink...I used TH's Tea Dye Distress ink...and then on top of that I wanted to heat emboss in black "Thank You"...but I didn't wait for the Distress Ink to dry before I poured on the embossing powder...

I have done that so many times, you would think I knew better...

But, lo and behold, I really like the look of it...

I hope I can use this happy mistake again sometime!

Snow...in Fairfield!?!?

2011-04-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

Yep...that's right.

This may not be a "wow" kinda thing to a lot of people, but in Fairfield!?!?

I left my office yesterday and the temp. was 50 degrees...but with in a half hour the storm was right over my house that temp. had dropped to 32 degrees and we got snow!

All this just four days after sitting in the 80 degree sunshine of Sunday and planting my flower garden! Wow!

Palm trees and snow!?!?

This is sooooo gonna be my next mini album project!

Trying My Hand at the Copic Craze...Sort of

2011-04-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

So I have been really intrigued by the current Copic pen craze...

I love watching videos online of artists coloring with them, and seeing the wonderful cards made using them with stamps...

(must check out Nichol Magourik, Jennifer Maguire...and oh so many more!)

But being the frugal girl I am, I decided to try it with the art markers I already had...Prismacolors. These pens are also alcohol based markers, but are made by Standford (the makers of Sharpie pens) and are a bit cheaper (about $4.50/marker)...but mostly, because I already had a set of 24...

Which has expanded (due to great sales at Michaels and Arron Brothers) to about a collection of 50!

Anyway, here are a couple of samples:

Yum...I want a big sundae like this for my birthday this year!

And this is the card I made for these cuties...

(sorry the photo is a bit blurry...I took it with my cellphone, and I'm not real steady when taking pictures with it...)

The paper line I used is Basic Grey's Cupcake line. I think the line is a few years old, but I got a paper pad of it from Michaels a week or so ago...on sale...for $1.99! Can you believe it, the first time I've gotten such a major score from Michaels!

I really like the papers...and was on a roll so I made a couple more birthday cards...

It's funny how you see things differently once they are enlarged on your computer screen...I think I need to remove this present sticker and ink the edges to match the rest of the card...yep, sure do!

And I think I am prefer the faux stitching on the other card to this card's doodling...but live and learn!

And luckily there is still a bunch of this paper left over for more cards!

Garden Harvest Mini Album...take three

2011-04-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

I started my first garden mini album before I even had any veggies harvested...

Never finished it...tossed it out...

I started another mini album for the harvest...

Wasn't happy with it, too complicated...tossed it out...

I started to think I would never get a garden harvest mini album made...

Then a few weeks ago I was trimming up some 8 1/2" X 11" inch cardstock to 5 1/2 inches square for a new sample book (which I will show you later this week...) and ended up with a pile of strips 3 X 11...

Well, I'm a tosser and into the recycle bin they went...and they stared back at me just crying out to be made into something...

I accordion folded them and glued them together into one loooooooong piece....and the Garden Harvest mini album was born (again!)...

So this is take three...

It measures 3" X 2 3/4" and is about 1 3/4 inches thick...

I'm super happy about it...and I had a lot of fun putting it together.

I used some corrugated cardboard for the covers (also rescued from the recycle bin)...

Painted with a light swish of white acrylic paint...fun! The top stamp there is from a pack of embellies from Michaels (I think they were from Making Memories...not sure though), but the bottom stamp is from a package I received in the mail from Malaysia (just in case you are wondering what I received from Malaysia, it was a gorgeous silk hand-embroidered flamenco dancing shawl...yes, I used to Flamenco dance...)

All tied up with some green twill ribbon...

I think in all there were eight strips of paper attached end to end using 7 half strips as hinges...

This is my 'opening page'...most of the papers are from Graphic 45's Domestic Goddess line...but there are lots of other bits and pieces thrown in...

I played with some stamps...and rub-ons (from the dollar bin at Michaels)...and all sorts of things that were hanging around on my desk...

Even these stickers, which I can honestly say I have had for ages...but every time I go to clean out my stash...I just keep hanging on to them...so darn cute, and finally they have a home!

I printed the pictures at 1 3/4 inches square...leaving room between the pictures on the sheet (which was 8 1/2" X 11") so I could cut them out to look like Polaroids...then I took a pen and loosely drew boxes to frame the pictures.

Fun...fun...fun!

And here is the back cover...complete with a photo of me and Jon (aren't we cute...and oh so vintage-y!) looking so happy about our bountiful harvest!

Tulips...my second sign of spring...

2011-04-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

We have had quite a bit of rain here last month...

And I think that may have helped my tulips!

They seem twice as big and twice as bountiful as last year!

I love springtime!

Beautiful...

2011-04-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a random page I made of my beautiful Bonnie!

Bonnie is not the most photogenic cat...in fact, most times she looks downright pissed off that she was disturbed by you taking her picture. What can I say...I love her in all of her crabby little ways. Some day, if I ever figure out YouTube and the video function on my cell phone...I will post a video of her and Elaine interacting...hilarious!...basically, if Elaine sees Bonnie is near by, she throws her self on the floor and plays dead until Bonnie (hissing) passes her by...

But really, Bonnie is the cuddliest cat...I mean, look at that maine of fur!

In this photo, I caught her in a good mood, as she stretched out in a sunny patch at the top of the stairs...I think she was even purring!

This was really a fun layout to build...

I got to use my cool iRock...and Epiphany tool...

And yes, the iRock works ontop of photos...with no damage!

And that bit of lace is vintage...from my friend's grandma's stash...my friend was gonna toss it out, but thought I might find a good use for it...I did!

I cut a circle doily from some Sassafras Lass paper, Mix & Mend/Free Composition, which has these cool faux-fabric and stitching images on it...

...which I actually stitched on...it is sort of hard to tell in the picture, but under the real stitching line is the printed stitching line...maybe it is just more impressive in real life...maybe not...maybe it is just me who is impressed...who knows...

Anyway, more cool scattered iRock gems there too...

I cut the 'label' edge off of the paper...and used a couple as cool borders...

I used my hand held edge distressing tool here...and made a tiny discovery. I inked the edges of the paper with Distress Inks, and then ran the distressing tool over them...since the edges were slightly damp from the ink, they frayed beautifully! Better than I had ever got them to do when they are dry! Just a tip you can file away for later use...

And finally...on my beautiful page, about my beautiful cat with my beautiful edge strips...

I made beautiful tissue paper flowers...based on the ones I spied on Marah Johnson's blog.

I used the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Distressed Flower die and my Cuttlebug...and an old pattern for a man's suit (don't know why I had that?)...

I layered tons of the thin flowers, scrunched up the edges and used a rhinestone brad in the center. And I lightly sprayed them with some homemade mists...and wow! Aren't they beautiful!

L-O-V-E them! Can't wait to make and use more!

More from the 12th...a busy day!

2011-03-31T17:05:00.000-07:00

So, in addition to finishing the Foster Kittens Mini Album at the Scrap Again crop...I also finished some 12X12 layouts...

I know you are probably sooooo tired of seeing the Foster Kitties, but I made a 12X12 layout for my personal album...based on the fantastic Month in Review layouts that Nichol Magourik does...in fact just this week she did a blog post about how she creates her photo collages in Photoshop...

Anyway, onto my version...

I'm trying to be better, not sure why, at listing my supplies...but all I can remember is that the paper is from SEI's Birdie Brunch line...

I picked a bunch of miscellaneous pictures (from the 392! that I took)...I made each picture about 1 1/4" square and printed them all on an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of photo paper.

I made my collage in Adobe InDesign...I have PhotoShop Elements, but I feel more comfortable using InDesign...personal preference, I suppose. (Or maybe it is just that I don't want to have to figure out how to do it in PSE...maybe...)

After I printed out the photo collage, I cut the page so the two top rows of pictures (the first group of fosters we had) were above the page title, and the remaining four rows (the second group of fosters) were below the page title...

So like Nichol Magourik's pages...I'm not ashamed to say I'm a scrap lifter...

Why mess with a great idea?

And here is a close-up...

Of, I'm not sure what...just pictures! LOL! My layout photography could really use some guidance!

Although I do love those two photos (towards the bottom) where where you can see George (grey tabby) start by licking Elaine's ear (tortie) and end with biting her...to funny!

Those pictures may need their own page in the Foster Mini Album...

But wait, I already marked it off of my UFO list!

Page Maps...

2011-03-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

Like I mentioned yesterday, I really like using sketches. Especially if I have a large project...with the layouts sketched out for me, I can focus on the papers and embellishments...(and sometimes finally break out my new tools and try them out!)

And one great source for sketches is Page Maps website...as well as their blog (which hosts cool contests with cool prizes).

This is a layout I finished on the 12th (yes I was very busy that day!)...and am finally getting it posted (just prior to the cut-off for the Page Maps contest...whew!)

Here is the sketch...

And my version...

This picture is of my cat Rooster Cogburn (yep, we are John Wayne fans) and one of the foster kittens, Lizzy...the most photogenic foster kitty we had! The last few weeks of having the foster kitties, as we waited for their new families to come pick them up, Rooster spent most of his day in the room with them...he just loved playing with them and keeping them company...and Lizzy took a real shining to him...aw, kitten love!

This was the first layout I did using my new iRock tool....and I L-O-V-E it!

I love how the scattered rhinestones look in conjunction with the pre-made pearl swirl.

I also used another new favorite tool, from Epiphany Crafts, a little button maker. Now you can make perfectly matched buttons for your projects using patterned paper...so cool!

The papers I used are from K&Company...but I can't remember the line...sorry...they came in a ginormous variety pack I bought at Michael's last year...I think the paper pad was called "The Best of K&Company"...

I love how my tag turned out...I cut strips of coordinating paper from the line and used a variety of edge punches on each...then layered them on top of a manila tag...I inked up the punched edges a bit and then 'fluffed' them up...

Overall...a very pastel purple page...not a color I usually use, but it seemed appropriate for the picture...very sweet!

Busy month...Foster Kitten Mini Finished!

2011-03-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

I have had a busy scrapping/crafting month! Yeah!

I had two consecutive Saturdays full of scrapping...yeah!

A week of EBay scrap selling...yeah!

A consignment scrap sale...yeah!

And a full Saturday of scrap shopping...double yeah!

Whew!

On Saturday the 12th I had a full day of scrapping at Scrap Again (a local monthly crop)...and finally finished my Foster Kitties Mini album (which I started last November - check that off of my UFO list!).

All the pages are 8X8...and I think I really like this size...fun!

There are a lot of pages here...hope it isn't too boring...but I know you will melt at some of the pictures...so here it goes...

Most of the pages were based on either Page Maps or Pencil Lines sketches...a great way to burn through a big project...

I am really happy with quite few of the pages...and some..well, not so much, but in the end the pictures are put into an album and I can sit and enjoy them (and show them off!)...

I hope you enjoyed!

And one more layout...

2011-03-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

I thought yesterday's post was getting too long...

So I broke this layout out into a separate post...

And I love it so much, it really deserves it...

And...I didn't scrap lift!

(Yeah Me!)

Lainey loves Jon soooooooooooooo much! In this picture she is snuggled in his arm looking up at him. She loves to sit there in his arms and watch TV with us in the evenings...she is the snuggliest cat I have ever met!

The journaling is about how she was destined to be a part of our family...and how glad we are that she is...

I did my journaling printed on tags...a trick I learned watching Nichol Magourik....I told you, she is really inspiring my pages these days!

Finished Some Layouts...

2011-03-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

...Layouts I started back in January...

It seems like I had three or four layouts hanging around just waiting for the finishing touches...

And I finally got those completed last weekend...

This first layout is based on this layout by Nichol Magourik...and by based, I mean I copied it exactly...

Of course, with what I had on hand...

I added glossy accents to my title...I love the shiny look!...

And some embellishments that have been hanging around...

And filled it with the picture Christmas Cards (and one really cool handmade card) we received this past year. Finished!

I love Nichol's inspirational work!

Here's another layout based on her January Stamping class at 2Ps...

The pictures are from Christmas Eve, when our nieces came over to play lotto scratchers with us...so fun...I hope we can make this a yearly tradition!

The tip from January's class was using stamps to make your sub-title...

My sub-title is Hurley's numbers from Lost...tee-hee...I thought this was so clever...I even patted myself on the back!

And I got to use this cool toy camera shape I bought from the Silhouette store for $0.50! Woo-hoo!

More Cards...the trend continues!

2011-03-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple more cards....I am REALLY enjoying these!

Its like a little art project that I can finish in a night...and bonus, I'm using up scraps! Yeah!

This is one of the Valentine's Cards I sent out this year...all sighed "your secret admirer"...

But everyone guessed who they were from...next year I'm leaving the return address off of the envelope!

And this is a card I made for my niece's third birthday...

Love that flocked pink tail!

'Til next time...

Another Sketch Layout

2011-03-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

I found this really great sketch website, Pencil Lines, last year when I was in the need for some inspiration...and through their website I found one of my fav blogs to read, Balzer Designs...Julie is so inspirational!

Well, Pencil Lines had a sketch posted on their blog the other day, sketch #227, that really struck me as super cool...so I had to sit down and work out a layout based on it...

Here is the original sketch...

I love the center vertical design, not a design I generally use...

And here is my layout...

I would say that I have been on a 'cat in the sunshine' picture taking kick laltely...but if you know me, you know I am ALWAYS taking pictures of the cats in the sunshine...jealous of them, I'm sure that's my motivation.

The journaling on this layout, by hand again (ugh!), is about how nice the cats have it...food, petting, napping, and such...but specific to the pictures of Elaine, it is a bit about how relieved I am to know that she has a good and safe place to live, given her limitations (which have not stopped her one bit or slowed her down at all!)...

And I just have to say, I am loving using stamps on my layouts...all thanks to some awesome free classes over at 2P's!

I posted a question on their stamping forum about what ink pens stampers recommend for inking up stamps...and one person said they use Crayolas...really?!?! Yes, and they are awesome (better on rubber stamps than on acrylic) and soooooo cheap! I'm loving them!

And one final picture of Lainey (for now, anyway)...I love this look...

"Hey mom, whatcha doin'?"

Page Maps Contest

2011-02-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

I am an ardent follower of Page Maps...and was thrilled to see this contest posted on their blog a few weeks ago...

So of course I had to get my craft on and take a stab at the sketch...

Here is the sketch...

And here is my take on it...

I have really been focusing on journaling more on my layouts...and I seem to really enjoy putting into words the feelings my photos give me...

I took a ga-jillion pictures of the cats this afternoon...just lounging on the stairs in the sun...and it really reminded me to slow down and enjoy the afternoon...so I did...I just sat on the steps with the cats, petted their heads and rubbed their bellies and enjoyed the warm sun filtering in through the hall windows...nice!

I hope you got the chance to slow down and just breath this afternoon...sigh!

More Cards...

2011-02-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

I think my scrapbooking mojo has been replaced by cardmaking mojo...

I finished two more birthday cards this weekend.

One for my niece, whose birthday was yesterday....Happy Birthday Kyrsten!

And this one....for a birthday that is later this month...

The number border and the stack of presents were designed by Kerri Bradford for her "This & That: Christmas" kit...I am loving her kits! And finding that the shapes are really quite versatile...

I am loving having the scrap-room in the house and am super excited that I have a dedicated work space for my Silhouette...

I just can't seem to make anything without my Silhouette these days!

I designed this card a week or so ago...

Using this Silhouette shape, "Mary Mary Quite Contrary"...

But instead of cutting each shape out, I grouped them all together and had the machine cut only the outline...

I love it, and totally want to try making more of these silhouette cards with my Silhouette...ha-ha!

Here's to crafting happy!

They're Ba-ack!

2011-02-14T17:32:00.000-08:00

It's February...

And that means...

My daffodils are starting to bloom!

All over the yard...

Such a nice welcome home after a long day at work!

And the tulips are just breaking ground...

And the Pincushion Flowers are coming back...

And looking lovely!

And this will be the first bloom for my Camellia...

Spring...ah, sigh!

Scraproom...take two!

2011-02-09T17:28:00.000-08:00

Late last year I had to move out of my 400 square foot in-law unit/studio...

Very sad...

And into a spare bedroom in the house...

But it gave me the chance to really organize, re-organize and...organize some more.

I still have a couple little 'projects' to take care of...

But for the most part my room is done.

I moved into a spare bedroom which was painted blue. I love the color, and had always thought I would paint the studio that color...which now I guess I don't need to...

The furniture that was in her before I moved in was all white...and I loved how clean it looked against the blue walls. Conveniently enough, the majority of my scrap furniture is white too...

So the overall color scheme I went with was blue walls, white furniture, black accessories with a bit of blue and orange accessories thrown in. I love how orange looks with the blue.

This is my main work desk...the desktop is from Ikea and I used the Jetmax cubes for the base. There are eight cubes all together; four on each side.

The front cubes have paper, cardstock and some basic tools like my trimmers and scoreboard...all within easy reach.

These side cubes have things I don't use as often such as chipboard, stickers, random stuff (read: junk drawer)...

And this side has my inks, paints, embossing powders and glitter and some more themed papers (like holiday papers)...

Over the desk I hung a small shelf for things I want close like my ink pads, liquid adhesives, tape and the like...and on the wall I hung my distress ink foamies, color swatches, foam tape and heat gun...

And my cute new timer...so I can put dinner in the oven downstairs and sneak away for a bit of crafting...without letting dinner burn!

I tried to leave as much of the tabletop cleared as possible, but still needed a place for miscellaneous embellishments...which I organized in this box (and labeled...I'm a labeling freak!). I also have a small red colander filled with washi tape, wire and baker's twine. I really want to stop by TJ Max and see if I can find a cute orange colander to replace the red one...I'm all about matching in my new space...

And on the other side of the desktop I have my re-finished Making Memories carousel...

I really wish I could find a splat mat that is orange...and an OTTlite that is orange...but I don't think they make them in those colors...a matchy-matchy girl can dream, though!

Under the big window is my Expedit...a total find I got last year. Now I know it is scrappers must-have for storage, but I had no intention of getting one until I drove up to Sacramento Ikea on a whim last year....and just happened to be there on a day when they were on sale for $40!

I love it!

I have my albums here...along with some miscellaneous stuff jammed into the drawers...like old memorabilia from Bay-to-Breakers ( a San Francisco pseudo-marathon...which I walk just for the sights!)...

On top I have some cards displayed...

And an old camera and mini projector....the perfect shade of blue to match my walls...that I have had for years! Pure coincidence!

I'm trying to keep the top of this relatively free from stuff because Rooster likes to sit up there and look out the window...and anything in his way gets knocked to the floor.

To the left of the Expedit I have an old antique rocking chair that I found on the street in San Francisco (when I used to live there) that my mom, dad and brother jointly repaired for me...

And above that I have some shadow boxes with antique sewing things...I love antiques! And I love this old serving tray...my mom and uncle bought it for my grandma for mother's day when they were kids and their family was stationed in London...I think it must be about 50 years old...and beautiful!

To the right of the Expedit I have this planter shelf...it is one of the un-finished projects...

I want to paint it black to match the room...maybe this weekend...

The top shelf holds my letter stickers...I really go through phases of using these, and right now...not turning to them too often...but give it a couple of months, and I'm sure they will be all I can focus on...

The bottom two shelves have Stickles, mists and other fun goodies...

On the wall opposite from the Expedit I have a walk-in closet...but no pictures of the inside yet...it is definately still a work in progress...

But what little wall there is, has a bookcase filled with more goodies...and occasionally a large yellow lab..."Hi'ya Rusty!"

The top has some bits of ribbon and a few knick-knacks...I love that puppy, he totaly stole my heart when I found him at the junk-shop!

...And a shelf of buttons in (mostly) antique mason jars...

And flowers and glitter and sand and other fun things...in more antique (and not-so antique) containers...

And on the last wall I have another work space...

I bought this table at Walmart this past weekend...just a plain simple folding table, not so cute but the price was right, only $35!

And it's perfect for my sewing machine...

And Silhouette machine...which, really!?!?, is black white and orange! Perfect match!

And above this table I hung a couple of shelves to house my mini albums (the ones Rooster kept knocking to the floor) and some more old cameras...

So happy! Such a happy place...

Now I just need to tackle the walk-in closet...sigh!

Making Memories Carousel Makeover...

2011-02-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

My friend bought me a Making Memories carousel when I first moved into our new house...I loved it! And still do...even more now that I gave it a make over a couple of weekends ago...

I painted it black...

And then added chalkboard paint to the cubby sides...

And used chalk to list what was there...(even though it is fairly obvious what is there...come on now, it's just darn cute!)

Love it!

But be forewarned...it took about four coats of black paint and two more coats of chalkboard paint and all weekend to dry! Worth it? I think so!

Focusing on the Small Stuff

2011-02-07T17:18:00.000-08:00

It seems like I have been really focusing on the small stuff lately...cards that is. Small little bits and pieces...using scraps...but still getting crafty, if not also a bit inky and dirty.

Last week I made three cards from some scraps I had been hanging onto that were left over from a mini album I made for a friend's birthday last year.

The paper is all from SEI...I just love the colors and the small scale prints.

All three cards are built on the same basic background...four small squares of patterned paper...

And a few different stamps...

I used Distress Ink pads in Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey and Peeled Paint to "color" in the images....very loosely.

A little highlighting with stickles, "pearl" bling, and black glaze pens....

And some free-hand drawing with a black Micron pen...and I'm pretty pleased!

I love using up scraps!

Organizing and Re-Organizing...

2011-01-25T18:01:00.000-08:00

It seems like a lot of the blogs I follow have been posting about cleaning and organizing their crafting spaces...

Must be a human instinct for the New Year...

Well...I'm human, and and am going full-throttle with the organizing and re-organizing of my craft space...

This past weekend I think I finally solved my Distress Ink foam pad storage issues...yes I had issues...oh, so many issues...

I used to store the tiny pads in a small plastic box, but the pads kept getting each other dirty and I could never remember what foamies went with which ink pads...

Oh what is a crafty girl to do?

First, let me explain that I became addicted to these ink pads about a year or so ago...I have all 36...it's a sickness...

In order to make sure I knew what each color looked like, I made my self a little color chart...

Each page of the chart has a different color on it, inked from dark to light and then stamped with an image (I love this dress stamp, it makes me happy!)...

This way, when I want to match a color from a project...say orange...I can put all the orangey pages next to my patterned paper and see which ink pad matches the best...

Clever...no?

So back to the foamies...the first issue was keeping the pads separate so they don't get each other dirty, the second issue was getting them labeled...

I used small plastic baggies (from the jewelry section at Michaels), labeled each color and slipped a foamie into each baggie.

I punched a small hole in the corner (and used reinforcements)...

Alphabetized them and slipped them onto a large ring...

So easy! The two rings hang together at my desk, and now when I need a foamie I know it's not contaminaed (ewww!) and it's easy to find!

A Weekend Full of Cards

2011-01-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

I had a nice relaxing weekend....just a lot of house cleaning and crafting! My favorite kind of weekend (except for the house cleaning, but it needs to be done!)!

I am really on a card making kick lately and got the chance to sit down on Sunday and put together a few cards...

A birthday card....

I love this little robot shape! I cut it with my Silhouette...

I stickle-glittered his little heart and used enamel accents for his pupils...I love the enamel accents (from Ranger) they almost look like little glassy beads!

I popped the robot off of the card using a little bit of coiled wire...it's super adorable the way he shakes and shimmies!

A Thank You card (much belated...)

The cloud and lanterns are another Silhouette shape...and the cloud stamp, a new Hero Arts favorite!

A New Home card...

More Sillhouette shapes...these houses are super cute! The "Enjoy" embellishment is also from Silhouette, it is one of their print&cut shapes...and it looks like the sun tucked behind the little fabric cloud (I can't remember who makes that, it came in a kit...).

And finally, a card-like Welcome sign for my craft-room door...

The Lucky Kitty, you guessed it, another Silhouette shape, and the Welcome is cut on the Silhouette using CK Ali Edwards font...my go-to font lately! In fact, the ability to cut fonts from my computer was one of the biggest selling point for the Silhouette...

There is space at the bottom of the tag to hang something...I'm thinking three red tassels...but maybe not, that would just be an open invitation to the cats to destroy my Lucky Kitty sign...

I'm such a fan of my Silhouette cutter, and their designs are getting better and better every week! I love how detailed and intricate it can cut, these lanterns are less than an inch and the symbol inside is still soooo detailed! I love it!

Well, in addition to card crafting...I have been laboriously re-organizing the craft room...and am so close to being finished I can taste it. I just need to get another work table (I have my eye on one from Ikea...) and then I will share pictures...I can't wait!

Finishing Projects...of all sorts!

2011-01-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

One of my goals for 2011 is to finish up the projects I started last year...all those that just seemed to loose steam.

I have dutifully made my list...(which I think I make every January.)

I left room at the bottom for anything else I come across that is unfinished...

The first UFO I tackled (over the last week) was to finish the reorganization of my stamps.

Last year I decided to un-mount all my wood stamps, and adhere them to EZ Mount. I stored the newly slimmed down stamps in page protectors in binders...

I got most of that accomplished, but never kept up with it...and when I moved my studio from the in-law unit into the main house this past November...I realized I had scattered stamps everywhere.

The binders I was using where two large zip-around types...but it was always a chore to find the stamp I wanted. Inevitably I would grab the wrong binder...then I would flip through the pages...looking...looking...looking, finally locating, removing the stamp to use, but rarely putting it back ('cause that required getting the binder out again, un-zipping, looking...you get the picture...)

So last Sunday I gathered up all the loose stamps that needed to be put away...threw them in a box and took them into the kitchen to sort through.

I bought ten inexpensive 1 1/2" black binders to store the page protectors in...thinking each binder would be labeled and put on a shelf for easy access...

In the process of getting everything sorted out, I took all the already filled page protectors out of the old binders and stacked them on the kitchen table...

Within seconds Rooster came tromping across the table sending plastic page protectors and stamps shooting everywhere!

As a temporary solution, until I could get the pages into the new binders, I set them in an unused basket that had been slated for the Goodwill...

As I was flipping through the basket of pages, looking for where each stamp belonged, a light bulb went off in my head! The basket was the perfect solution for storage!

It is relatively small, easy to move to my work space, easy to flip through!

I just needed to add some section dividers (cut from 12X12 colored cardstock that I really didn't like too much) with labels to the top. Easy-peasy!

Here are a couple of pictures of how the stamps are stored...

Each page protector has an index on top (plain white copy paper, nothing fancy). The cling mounted and/or clear stamps are sticking to a clear sheet of plastic (report covers I bought at the office supply store), with another plain sheet of white paper behind.

For the red rubber stamps that I unmounted from wood (by zapping them in the microwave for 20 seconds and peeling them off of the wood), I used EZ Mount from Sunday International.

I still have about 10-20 stamps that need to be mounted on the EZ Mount (it's on order...) and for now they are just sticking on the plastic sheets using repositionable double-sided tape.

And here it is the final result...drum-roll please...

Each section is divided and labeled for easy location...

The basket is long enough (room to grow) leaving room at the back for my extra page protectors and plastic sheets...

And a bit of room at the front for a few wood-mounted alphabet sets (that I didn't think would be any easier to use by re-mounting), my stamping pad (actually a cheap mouse pad from the computer store) and my stamp cleaner (hopefully I will actually clean my stamps more regularly now that the cleaner is stored here instead of a drawer in my desk...).

Done with that UFO...moving onto the next!

Happy Birthday Sam!

2011-01-20T17:27:00.000-08:00

Today is Sam I Am's birthday!

Sam is five years old...

He is a very affectionate dog...

With lots of character...

He loves his big brother Rusty...

And loves to chase the sprinklers...

The jury is still out in regards to camping...

He loves to nap...

And nap....

And nap...

We love you Sam, Happy Birthday!

Another Belated Post...

2011-01-14T17:05:00.000-08:00

After four years of anticipating, joyfully reading and dutifully printing the instruction for Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas...

I finally kicked it into gear and incorporated some of his designs/instructions into my 2010 Christmas cards...

With kitten drama (ya, I know your tired of hearing about it), getting a cold and general holiday-time obligations...I didn't actually get these mailed until December 21st...but I got them mailed!

Yep those are the envelopes I made myself back in September...with the homemade envelope glue...which, didn't work very well since my envelopes were stuffed so thick...I ended up using double-sided tape to keep them closed. But at least I got them mailed!

Here is an overall shot of some of the cards...

Each one was a tiny bit different, depending on the color of the card-base I used, the color and design of the embossed metal behind the tags and the twine I used to "tie" them together with. In all I made 6 different tags (4 of each)...and twenty-four cards...

Like I said, they are based on Tim Hioltz's designs, using what I had on hand...

I learned the embossing metal technique at a class I took at Scrapbook Expo in November, taught by Krazy Kreations (a semi-local LSS in Northern California) using Ten Seconds Studios thin colored metal sheets...fun!

You just run the metal sheet through your embossing tool of choice, mine is the Cuttlebug and I used a variety of embossing folders...and then you sand off the layer of color from the metal, which really makes the embossed image POP!

I think this is my favorite one...I love the tag in general,but especially love the little super tiny label holder with the word "Believe"...the label holder and hinge are miniature grungeboard shapes frm Tim Holtz which I painted gold.

This was a fun to make tag...using clear embossing powder as a resist for the blue paint...this is from Tim's 2007 tags...

I like this tag too (what the heck, I like them all!)...although my choice of gold embossing powder (which wasn't really gold at all, but Carnelian) didn't work very well, you can't really see it on the dark inked background.

On this one I used 3 dimensional 'snow' paint (can't remeber who makes it, but I bought it at Michaels) and sprinkled coarse Martha Stewart glitter into it...love it!

I made my own 'grunge/chipboard' for this tag...I simply cut the same reindeer image three times and glued them on top of each other...a nice solution for when you can't find the right chipboard shape (or letter...) in the size you need...

These were all super fun to make...I got really inky and painty making them, and left huge messes on my work table...fun, fun, fun! Now I just have to wait another eleven months for Tim's new set of tags...

Waiting...

Waiting...

Waiting...

Happy Belated New Year...

2011-01-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

Hello there...and welcome to 2011!

I know...its already the 13th!

I've been busy...

But I have been thinking about y'all!

I had such aspirations of blogging more in December, really catching up on posting all the projects and what-nots that I have been up to...

But...

Well, its January 13th now...and I'm moving forward!

I did have a couple things I really wanted to let you know about...good news...

Beaver and Whitey found a forever home in mid-December...

And right before Christmas, Kodiak got adopted as well! Thankfully, we got to hold on to her through the holidays, but she went off to her new home the first week of January...we really miss her!

This is Kody helping with the gingerbread decorating...

And finally (on the kitten front anyway)...Elaine got returned to us in early December. What?!?! Anyway, maybe it was destiny...we are keeping her. She is such a doll and Rooster and Clyde love her...and Jon absolutely adores her! So 2010 ended and we were one big happy family!

That's Kody in the back and Lainey in the front, stretched out...just chill-axing!

Onto 2011...

I saw some great blogs at the end of the year, where people listed their favorite projects from 2010...I wanted to do that too...but so many projects are still unfinished (goal #1 for 2011: Finish those projects!)

But here are my five favorite FINISHED projects from 2010 (in no particular order):

Big Toes Little Toes

I love taking pictures of my feet...don't know why, just do...

Christmas Boxes

Traveling Scarf Mini Album

This one is finished in the technical sense...but I made it with room to expand for all of the scarf's future travels...

Purr-fectly Content

3 Curious Cats

So...there you have it...my five fav projects (check that blog post off my list!)

See y'all soon...(I promise!)

Christmas Boxes...

2010-12-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

Wow! I have had a really hectic fall this year. I just can't seem to stay on top of blog posting...but I have been getting lots of crafting done and adopting out the foster kittens and hosting holidays and I even manged to get some work done at the office too!

So I sat down last night and made myself a little list...a 'things to remember to finish' list...

And on that list was updating my Blog (over the next week or so) of all the fun scrapbooking and mini album things I have been working on.

I always try to make something for my family, friends and co-workers at Christmastime. This year I made these cute little Christmas Boxes.

I made ten all together...but some of them have already been given away...

I cut the boxes using my Silhouette, stamped up the drawers with my fav wood-grain stamp,

Added tiny (hand stained) wooden drawer pulls and feet

And decorated the top with a little 'timholtz-esque' mini tag, poinsettia and raffia...so much fun!

When Jon saw me working on the final touches for these...he asked what they were...

"Just boxes..."

"Oh...are you gonna put anything inside?..."

"Uh, no...I wasn't planning on it..."

"Oh...so it's just a box..."

"Yes..."

"Oh...(long pause)...are there anymore brownies left (as he walks away perplexed)?"

Okay, so then I worried, thought maybe I should fill it with something from the dollar bin at Michael's...but once I started looking at the dollar bin stuff, I didn't see anything that I thought would fit, or that I liked (surprise?!??!)...maybe I should just put a dollar in the box instead of wasting my money at Michael's...

In the end, I left them empty, but I guess I could tell everyone they are filled with good wishes and Christmas cheer...

Either way...Kody really likes them!

By the way, Kody...what are you doing on the dinning-room table? Scat Cat!

"Who? Me? I'm innocent!"

Fabulous Fall Fostering Adventure...

2010-12-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

Well, our kitty fostering adventure is coming to a close. We have only one more adorable spunky loving little gem looking for her forever home...

Looking back on the whole experience...wow...a lot more work and worry than I thought it would be...as well as a lot of fun and laughter!

Our first set of fosters (June Bug, Beaver, Whitey, Grizzly and Bobby Cat) came to us on August 15th and stayed for just a bit over a month.

In that time we had food allergies, antibiotic induced diarrhea and conjunctivitis...but they were so much fun to get to know and to watch their little personalities develop. We kept the group until they all reached two pounds (at least) and were ready for spaying and neutering and being adopted out.

After their surgery they all went back to my foster coordinators house to wait for adoption. Bobby and Griz went pretty quick...June had to wait for two more months before she was adopted and Whitey and Beav are still waiting. It just breaks my heart, and now that they are 6 months old...they are considered less-adoptable...but I know my coordinator (with my help and my co-worker's and friend's help - thanks Kim and Tammy!) will keep them health and happy until they find their forever homes...

Beaver and Whitey

Our second group of fosters came on September 19th...eight total...Figaro, Oreo, Buddy, Kodiak, Lizzy, Jerry, George and Elaine. These little angels...a real handful!

Clockwise from bottom left: Kodiak, Elaine, George, Buddy, Jerry and Lizzy

Within the first couple of days Figaro passed away from Fading Kitten Syndrome...or as I like to refer to it, Hopelessly Helpless in Saving Your Kitten Syndrome...we were heart-broken. He now lays to rest in our yard, peacefully.

Because we weren't sure what, if anything, he had that might be contagious...his sister, Oreo, had to be quarantined from the rest of the kittens for ten days. So off to the bathroom she went. In that time, though, she was forced into getting used to people and handling...she really had no options, I was in her face at least ten times a day making sure she was fed, watered, pampered, petted and played with! So in that time she went from a snarling hissing little ball of feral fur to a loving wonderful playful lap kitten.

Shortly after she was reintroduced back into the rest of the gang, Buddy reached weight and was neutered and adopted out, pretty lickity-split. He is a super cute kitten, a bit on the shy side, but a real looker...

And then came Snickers...another real cutie! And so spunky!

Snickers kept the rest of the gang on their toes!

Around this time I noticed that Elaine's belly seemed really extended. Turns out she had roundworm. No worries, a dose of strongid with a follow-up two weeks later, and she would be good-to-go. Only problem was, the second dose seemed to make her really sick. She lost her appetite, was very lethargic and wouldn't drink.

Into the house she went. Late that night she passed the roundworms, and I felt like that was a good sign...recover should be around the corner. For the next three days we had to force feed and drink her every hour or two. She had no energy, did nothing but sleep (and go to work with me) and her normally soft coat became really dull and shaggy looking. But low-and-behold on the fourth day she started to nibble on some food, drink on her own and walk around a bit. By the end of the week she was reintroduced to her siblings and friends. Whew! What an exhausting worrisome week that was.

Elaine resting on my desk at work...

But whoa...it doesn't end there...

About a week after Elaine's episode...Snickers broke out with ringworm! A tiny little patch right above her eye. IMMEDIATE removal from the rest...she had just made her 2lb. weight and there just so happened to be a spay clinic happening that day...so rush, rush, rush...she was spayed and then quarantined at my foster coordinator's house to wait out the ringworm.

Ringworm is highly contagious, but really not a dangerous thing at all. It is a fungus, very similar to athlete's foot, that just needs a topical medicine (sometimes an internal one too) and a waiting period of about three weeks to clear-up. As soon as Snickers was healed, she was snatched up and adopted...no surprise there with her cute little face and great personality!

Back at our house, all the other kittens got daily baths and their room a good disinfecting...with lots of crossed fingers we went for another two weeks before we were hit again! Sigh!

This time the ringworm hit Oreo...and she was sent to recover at the coordinators house...which was becoming quite full of ringworm kitties. There was definitely an outbreak here in Solano County...we heard from other fosterers and vet offices and the SPCA that ringworm was everywhere this fall!

Later that week, I noticed that Elaine was very wobbly and walked like she had just downed a beer or two. Hmmm...was she getting sick again?

My co-worker and I did a little www research and found out there is a condition called Cerebellar Hyposplasia. It happens when the cerebellar region in the brain doesn't fully develop. The cerebellar is responsible for balance, so when it is under-developed, the kitten walks wobbly. Looking at videos online of other CH kittens (and people) it looks like Elaine has a pretty mild case. There is no cure for the condition and over time she will most likely adjust to it. She is in no pain, that is a relief! She will, although, need to be an indoor only kitten and will probably need a little extra attention to make sure she doesn't get hurt.

She definitely became our special kitten...our real love of this litter!

Five more days...and...Kodiak had a ringworm spot! Sigh. I decided to take her to the vet and see what needed to be done.

Three weeks in confinement, three weeks on oral medicines and fungicidal baths for EVERYONE! Wow, that was fun...have you ever given a bath to six terrified tiny kittens?

At this point, since Kody was alone (in the bathroom...the most use our spare bathroom has ever seen!) I decide to go rescue Oreo and bring her home...comforting for both of them!

At this point all the kittens had reached weight, been spayed and neutered and were ready for adoption (except the sickos)...normally this would have taken place through the foster coordinator, but with her ringworm troubles, I said I would take care of it...

So we advertised...and advertised...and advertised...

And finally got a call! And then another...and then another...and then another...all for Lizzy.

Even though most of the calls were coming in for Lizzy, I managed to get several people to come and meet the other kitties.

The first to be adopted was Lizzy, although her new family could not come to pick her up until after Thanksgiving. Would I be willing to hold her?...duh...of course!

And the first baby to leave the nest was dear Elaine! I couldn't believe it! I thought I would have so much trouble finding a home for her and her special needs...but a lovely couple from Berkeley took one look at her and fell in love!

My heart swelled...and then broke...

The day after Elaine went home, I introduced Oreo to her new family. Oreo was going to be an early Christmas present for a five year old little girl. I explained to the mom that Oreo was still on medicines and should probably stay with me until she was all done (which would be the Sunday after Thanksgiving)...this worked out fine since the family was going to be out of town until then.

Within a couple of hours of meeting Oreo, the mom called back and explained that if she gave a kitten to her youngest daughter, her oldest would be upset...so could she also adopt George?

Of Course!

So the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Lizzy went to her new home in Grass Valley...

And the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Oreo and George went to their new home in Napa.

Just like that...down to two kittens! The house seemed empty...

Less than a week after George and Oreo went home to Napa, the family called back...uh-oh, was something wrong?

No...they were loving the kittens and having a blast! And now Grandma and Grandpa wanted to get in on the fun! So was Jerry still available? Yep...so off to Napa he went (but shhhhh....he will be a surprise for Christmas!)

So now we are down to one...

One adorable...spunky...sweet little bundle of fun...

She is still available....

She is still advertised....

But...

She may already be 'home'....

From laughter to tears....

From frustration to contentment...

From joy to anguish...

We have been through a lot of emotions this fall.

In the end I am glad we did this. It was definitely a learning experience, and I now know more than your average crafter should about the bowels of kittens...

Remember...please spay and neuter your pets!

Just Checking In....

2010-11-18T17:50:00.000-08:00

Overworked....
Overwhelmed....
Overrun.....with kittens, that is....

I have been so busy and scattered the last few weeks....

When did November get here????

Holidays????

Ack!!!!!!

I walked in the door last night after work, and there was my eight-year old beautiful cat Clyde waiting for me by the door. I reached down and gave him a pat on the head and said, "Hello, George..." and went on into the kitchen...

Pause....

"...I mean Hello, Clyde...sorry...."

Fast-forward an hour and I am getting dinner out of the fridge. I turned around and bumped into my wonderful ten-year old lab, Rusty...."oops, I'm sorry Sam, did I step on you?...."

Pause....

"....I mean, Rusty...."

Fast-forward a half hour and now I'm getting all the zoo their dinner and my one and a half-year old kitten Rooster jumps on the counter and I said, "Be patient Clyde, I'm getting your dinner right now..."

Pause....

Sigh....

"...I mean, Rooster..."

Sigh....too much on my mind....

Rooster
Clyde
Bonnie
Rusty
Sam
Lainey
George
Jerry
Kody
Oreo
Lizzy...

and who is that man sitting in the living-room watching TV...

"Hey, you....what's your name?"...

...more stuff

2010-10-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

Here is another project I finished (finally) over the weekend...

This mini album has a funny story behind it...basically it is for pictures of a scarf I made for a friend that my friends and I all take on our vacations...it is the Traveling Scarf.

Each page of the album is a pocket that I cut out using my Silhouette, that way each picture of the scarf on vacation is kept with the postcard my friends sent me.

And then on the next page is the picture of the scarf...this is a picture of me and my friends at Lake Tahoe)

I stapled ribbon to the top of each postcard, so it sticks out of the top of the album...I used the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher for that....totally love that stapler!

I used Tim Holtz book corners (not sure that is the real name for those) on the front and back covers...I love the way they look!

And I gathered up all my travel embellishments for the cover...this was the first time I really used the clear acetate pieces like this...I love the layered look!

All in all I am super happy with the way this came out...and I cut a bunch more pocket pages than there were pictures so I am ready for all our future travels!

Here's to traveling!

Finishing up...

2010-10-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

I had a whole weekend to myself...and had great plans for finishing up all the lingering projects I have hanging around...

I won't bore you with the looooong list, suffice it to say, the list is only slightly shorter now...

But it is shorter!

I put the final touches, i.e. journaling and binding, on my Tahoe Bike Trail mini album...

You may remember little June Bug helping me with this back in August...

Well here are the final results!

I used SEI papers and embellishments from their August Kit Club (sorry the papers are exclusive to club members...and even then, I just checked, and the kit is sold out).

The book is 6" X 8", and it was fun to mount the pictures edge to edge on the pages.

I inked up everything! Patterned paper, pictures and pages! Unfortunately, it got a little messy, and some pages are a bit smudged.

I used some free downloadable travel themed embellishments on the pages...I think they are from Scrapbooks Etc. online...

I also pulled out my bag of bling...and added something to just about every page!

My fav little embellishment is this cute water splat from Cloud 9...I just love it!

And I think I am in love with making paper rosettes! This was my first one and I loved how it turned out...although it took FOREVER to make...I just started using my score board to make them and have cut the time from 30 minutes to about five!

And a quick update on the kitties...everyone (except Lizzy) is getting ready for spay/neuter on Thursday, and then ready for adoption!

All healthy as horses...and eating me out of house and home!

Little Lizzy is still not quite 2lbs, so she won't be available for another couple of weeks...the better for me!

Ain't she sweet!

Frugal Friday: Home Made Transparencies

2010-10-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

I decided to join in the fun of another year doing the Ali Edwards December Daily album…I enjoyed it last year and am really looking forward to this year’s mini album. After looking at Ali’s instructions for getting the foundation of the mini album together I saw that she used a lot of transparencies. I don’t have any of these…so I whipped out the Michael’s coupon and took a trip down to the store. Well for $2 a 12X12 sheet, and I needed about 12 sheets….that was really gonna add up! Not to mention, the selection of transparencies was pretty slim….what is a cheap girl to do?

No question….break out that old box of transparency film I bought about a hundred years ago and get to making my own.

I only had about 5 sheets left in the box, which originally had 50…so you can imagine how long I have had this! I tried two different approaches to making my transparencies.

First, I opened up the program Print Shop on my computer, but MS Word would work just as well, and imported all the Christmas themed images I could find. Truth be told, all the images came with the Print Shop software…and if you can get your hands on it I recommend it…it is really easy to use and comes with oodles of copyright free images!

And then simply printed out the sheets! Too easy!

Secondly, I felt like I wanted some transparencies that just had one overall pattern…so I broke out the Staz-On inks and my Christmas themed stamps. First I cut the 8 1/2” X 11” sheets in half, since this would eventually be the size of my mini album.

I inked up my stamp…

Placed it on the rough side of the transparency…be sure to resist the urge to “wiggle” the stamp at all so that the image doesn’t smudge…and them lift straight up…

I started with my biggest snowflake stamp and then moved down the line to my smallest filling in all of the area.

I played around with a few other stamps and ideas and came up with these transparencies…
So in the end, they aren’t quite like say a good Hambly transparency, but for the price they will work and I had a lot of fun playing around with them!

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: $0 (again, I had everything on hand…but a box of transparencies run about $25 to $35 for a box of 50)
Fun Factor: This was pretty neat!
Time: Varied, but not too long.
Skill Level: Intermediate (a steady hand is a must)

So there it is, Home Made Transparencies! Easy Peasy…and Cheap! Cheap!

Halloween House

2010-10-16T17:59:00.000-07:00

I came across an article in Scrapbooking.com magazine a week ago that had this most adorable Haunted Halloween House mini album by Camille Serra McClelland...so cute!

This is Camille's Halloween House...

I had to try one out for myself...and although not completely finished yet, I am having an absolute blast putting it together!

This is my version...

Camille's album is made of acrylic, and although I read through her instructions for making an acrylic album...I decided to go with chipboard.

I love that the front door opens!

I used Cloud 9 papers for the majority of the album, with a few scraps of this and that thrown in. The fence on the front is painted wood...adds some more dimension...

I added a spooky tree to the front, covered with Black Diamond Stickles.

And an old fashioned lamppost coated with Enamel Accents (a new favorite!) and Platinum Stickles.

All the windows are filled in with transparencies...

And my favorite part...the Vampiress in the top floor window! She was cut on my Silhouette at 2.25inches tall...I L-O-V-E how detailed the Silhouette can cut (when the blade is nice and sharp!)...she is four VERY tiny parts glued together...

I can't believe I had the patience for this!

I still have some more spooky things to add...moss to the front yard, a bat weather-vane and all the pictures and embellishments to the inside pages...I will post more pictures when it is all complete.

This was so fun to make...I have already started making patterns for different houses (my house included) and can't wait to get started embellishing them!

Halloween Hellos!

2010-10-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago I spent three wonderful days crafting at a friends house on the North Coast of California...

I can still hear the fog horn in the back of my mind. Simply a beautiful house...simply a beautiful weekend...

With only one minor set-back...

Hot Chocolate and scrapbooking don't always mix...be forewarned!

Anyway...minus a couple of side-trips and a made dash looking for some Mikes Hard Lemonade, we spent the entire three days crafting! How glorious!

I finished up my "Halloween Hellos" that weekend, and finally got them in the mail earlier this week.

I think they turned out cute, and were super fun (if not a bit messy) to make! (all complete with their own matching envelopes!)

Here are the "Witching you a Spooky Halloween" Cards

These witches legs are a modification of a cut file for my Silhouette. Complete with glittered tights.

I popped up the glitterd spider and added Stickles for his web thread.

And I added Enamel Accents (from Ranger) for the witches boot heels.

And these are my "Happy Howl-o-ween" cards.

And finally..I made a few "Fall" cards...just because this cut file was so neat to glitter!

Well tonight is the big kitten weigh-in again. We had two kitten reach the two pound mark last week...and I think they have all doubled in size this week!

I am still trying to get a good picture of Snickers...so I will check back in a few days with weight updates and new pictures!

Frugal Friday: Mini Album

2010-10-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, for this week I am going to do something different...actually something I didn't think I would do...that is, post a link to someoneelse's tutorial. But the more I contemplated my schedule (hectic) and the more I watched the video (totally cool), I realized I needed to be frugal with my time (if that makes sense) and just let you all see this awesome tutorial.

This crafter, Laura at The Paper Trail, is my new guru for recycled crafting and found object scrapping. She is the queen of frugal!

Her mini album is made from nothing but found objects, recycled bits and baubles (including plastic grocery store bags!) and a bit from her stash!

I watched the video a couple of times, and am completely amazed at how lovely her "Happiness Found" album looks!

I compiled a list of all the found/recycled objects, and can you believe it, there are 14 different things!

Here's the list:
corrugated cardboard
scrap paper
plastic grocery bags
bread tabs
UPC code from FedEx package
old floral arrangement
blue jeans tags
twist-ties
tin can lid
pop can tab
Capri Sun juice pouch
fortune cookie fortunes
library card pockets
concentrated orange juice top

This is the link to the video 'walk-thru' of the mini album

And this is the link to the video about the plastic pages...so awesome!

It inspires me to try something similar...just walk through the house and see what I can find to use in a mini!

Kitty Update

2010-10-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well, this batch of kitties has been a bit of a trial.

We thought we had panleukopenia (a feline version of parvo)...but thankfully it wasn't! Unfortunately, we lost a kitten to "fading kitten syndrome".

...which I think is a completely unreasonable and inaccurate name for the syndrome. Basically, fading kitten is simply that...a kitten that fails to thrive and eventually passes. Well, in reality the name should be changed to "helplessly hopelessly unable to save your kitten syndrome"! It was heart breaking, but thankfully wasn't anything contagious and all the other kittens are doing fine.

In fact, our little Buddy reached his two pound weight goal and was sent off this Tuesday to be neutered and adopted out! He's a real cutey!

And we picked up a new member for the gang...Snickers (sorry, no picture just yet, I don't think she has stood still for more than two seconds since Tuesday!)

The sister to our little lost kitty was quarantined for ten days...which was actually a blessing in disguise for her. She was so shy yet aggressive to handling at the beginning of the quarantine, but by the third day was rolling on her back for belly rubs. She is now one of the friendliest kitties we have. Oreo is just a doll!

And little Lizzy finally made it over a pound! She is currently weighing in at about 1lb. 4oz....and growing!

I will update on Monday (or Tuesday...or Wednesday...given time) everyone's new weight...we have our big weekly weigh-in (real Weight Watcher's style) on Friday evenings...oh, what fun!

And for anyone in the Farifield, California area looking to adopt a post-kitten pre-teen cat...I have the scoop on four very adorable loving hand-raised spayed/neutered vaccinated and well-adjusted cats! Just send me an email!

Beaver...a super sweet cat! (this picture is about a month old...but he is still very handsome!)

June Bug...with Beaver in the background and either Whitey or Grizzly in the foreground...

Remember...spay and neuter your pets!

Frugal Friday: Home Made Holiday Envelopes - Part 2

2010-09-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

This week I am going to show you part two of making your own holiday envelopes, lick & stick glue.

The recipe is pretty simple, gather up your ingredients:

Homemade Holiday Envelopes
Small Paintbrush
White Vinegar
Unflavored Gelatin
Flavored Extract (optional)

In a small saucepan, bring 6 tablespoons of vinegar to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.

Add four packets of unflavored gelatin to the vinegar, and stir until the gelatin is dissolved. The smell is pretty strong and vinegary…do not inhale, in fact I turned on my stove fan to suck up as much of the smell as I could.

Remove the pan from the heat and add a tablespoon of flavored extract, if desired. Mix well.

Determine the overlap of your homemade envelope. If you are using the .pdf I designed, the overlap is approximately ½ inch.

Using a small paint brush, apply a strip of the glue to the top edge of the envelope flap and let dry.

When you are ready to use the envelope, simple lick (or otherwise lightly wet) the glue and seal….simple!

You can store the left-over glue in a small container. When the glue has cooled, it will be thick and semi-firm….to use it again, simple heat the container in a small bowl of warm water. Do not add water to the glue to thin it out.

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: I had a bit of trouble finding the unflavored gelatin, but a box of 32 packets (way more than I needed) was $9. Otherwise, the other ingredients were in my kitchen cabinets.
Time: The cooking part of making the glue only took a couple of minutes. Applying the glue to 23 envelopes…another five minutes.
Skill Level: basic

There you have it, Lick and Stick Glue…easy peasy and cheap cheap!

A New Set of Foster Kitties

2010-09-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

So I had a sad Sunday...I had to say goodbye to my first set of foster kitties...

I had them just about a month, and of course, found myself very attached to them...they are so sweet!

But I also know that the new kitties need me even more...so now it is their turn!

There are eight new fur-babies...and they are so tiny! I haven't weighed them yet, but I don't think they are even a pound...just fluffs of fur!

There is a group of five...two torties, two tabbies...

And a black one (that looks a whole lot like Grizzly from my first set of kitties...except this one has green eyes)

Theses five are being kept separate from the others for the next couple of weeks, just to make sure they are all healthy before everyone is integrated.

There is also a set of two black and white kitties, also being kept separate...

This kitty is going to be a handful! So much energy...and so tiny!

And one lonely little kitty, all by himself...

So far (after a whopping 24 hours with me) they are very timid and un-socialized...but I'm working on that! A few have started purring for me, and one even came up to me of his own free will this afternoon...maybe in a week they will actually start playing with me.

I'll keep you posted...

Frugal Friday: Home Made Holiday Envelopes - Part 1

2010-09-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

Like I said last week…I am really in the mood to start my Halloween projects.

This week I am going to show you part one of making your own holiday envelopes.

This is a link to the .pdf of the envelope I used in this tutorial, but I wasn’t completely happy with it…so I fidgeted on my computer last night and made my own version (.jpg version and .pdf version), which I think works a bit better. And then I went a bit further and converted the image to .gsd, for anyone using a Silhouette die-cutting machine.

First I gathered up a bunch of Halloween and Halloween colored papers and trimmed them all to 81/2” X 11”, so they will print on my desktop printer.

I printed the .pdf of the envelope onto the white side of the papers, or if it was a double-sided paper, onto the lighter side.

I trimmed out all the envelopes…by hand…all 23 of them! Which is why I made a .gsd version for making my Christmas envelopes!

I scored and folded them on the printed score line (light gray).

If you can’t see the score line on the patterned paper, it is fairly obvious where the fold needs to go…simply fold in all the ‘tab’ parts.

I placed a double-sided adhesive, 3M Scotch Brand, on the bottom ‘tab’, lining up the edge of the tape with the paper.

And folded the bottom up adhering it to the two side ‘tabs’. Super simple!

Since I used heavily patterned paper for my envelopes, I added a mailing label on the outside…

And decorated them with some Halloween themed stamps.

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: I used a bunch of papers I had on hand, all were 12X12 cut down to 8 1/2X11…and I kept the scraps to use for the matching cards.

Time: I spent close to two and a half hours….but I got 23 envelopes made.

Skill Level: super basic

There you have it, Homemade Holiday Envelopes…easy peasy and cheap cheap!

And be sure to come back next week and check out the final step for your homemade envelopes…lick & stick glue!

Birthday Layout

2010-09-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

So I went home last night...did a little futzing around in the house, and then headed out to the studio to visit with the kitties and get some scrapping done.

After lounging in the sunny patch with the kitties...

I made a list of all the projects and layouts I have that are hanging around 99.9% complete...

Then started tackling the list.

On top of the list was putting the final faux stitching touches on a layout of my Niece's fifth birthday party...

...check that off the list...

...then I added the final button touches to a layout of my Joshua Tree National Park pictures...

...check that off the list...

...and I finished the title for my Going for a Ride layout...

...check that off the list...

...then I lounged with the kitties some more...

...and went back inside feeling like I actually got a lot done!

Whew!

Lots of crafting...not so much posting...

2010-09-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

Well I have been getting a lot of crafting done lately...especially with the foster kitties in the studio...

Really, I have...

I go out and spend at least an hour or two each evening after work visiting with them and scrapping...

And I have a new scrap-buddy...June Bug!

She is really...helpful. Helpful and stealing small scraps of paper, really helpful in laying on top of my supplies to make sure they don't float away...

....and really helpful with keeping me completely entertained!

I may not be working very fast, but at least I am working!

The project she is helping me with, in the pictures, is a mini album of the pictures I took in Tahoe on the Lake Tahoe bike trail...I am so close to being finished with it...just a bit of journaling left to do...I will post it later this week.

I also made this card a few weeks ago, without June Bugs help, for my niece's 5th birthday. My niece asked for art supplies for her birthday...and who better to ask than crafty aunt-y catinthegrass!

I found the cute little crayon die-cut in the Silhouette store and immediately knew I needed to cut some for her card!

I am finishing up the scrap layout from her party...and used another crayon die-cut on it...I will upload the picture tomorrow!

Here's to being busy!

Frugal Friday: Glittered Embellishments

2010-09-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

I am so very in the mood for Halloween. It is one holiday that just screams for sparkles and bling! And what can I say…I love green and orange!

I have been scouting out all the new glittered Halloween embellishments online and in the stores, like these from Making Memories and Doodlebug Designs…

And wanted to try to make some for myself…so I gathered up the following:

Glitter, flocking powder and glittering tray (although generally, I just use a piece of scratch paper)

My handy 5” Xyron and my Xyron X

An assortment of die-cuts I cut using my Silhouette machine.

Run the die cuts through the Xyron, making sure the side you want to be glittered is face down (in a lot of cases this won’t be an issue, but it is a must to remember if you are glittering letters or stack-able shapes)

Remove the die cut from the release paper

If there are lots of glue ‘webs’ simply remove them. I use my awl to pull them away from the shape.

Then shake the glitter on top of the sticky side…after applying the glitter, I usually tap off the excess and them smoosh the shape back into the glitter to make sure everything is covered.

And finally spray a sealer over the top of the shape, I use Aileen’s Matte Sealer, to ensure the glitter stays where it is needed and doesn’t flake off onto your hands…and counter…and floor…and clothes…and cats…sigh!

I also tried this with some stack-able shapes.

I ran the bottom piece through the Xyron...

And adhered the top piece.

You can see the cut out areas that are left are perfect for glittering.

Apply the glitter…

Keep away from cats…

And remember to spray with the sealer after you glitter…aren’t these fun!

Here is a stack-able howling wolf die cut. First I sprayed my moon with some Glimmer Mist and homemade Shimmer pray…but the sparkle wasn't enough...

So I placed the moon face down in the Xyron…

And added glitter.

As you can see, the Xyron doesn’t always cover the die cuts perfectly. You have two options here…leave as is, which for my moon looked pretty good or go back into the shape with a liquid glue pen and fill in the missing spots. Whatever you do, do not run the glittered shape back through the Xyron…it just doesn’t work, trust me!

I also tried this technique with flocking powder on the body of my sheep die cut, and it worked pretty well…flock is odd though, and I never seem to get really good coverage…but it basically worked. (I flocked the ears using a glue pen, not the Xyron)

And one final trick to try, combine two colors of glitter or glitter and flock on the same shape…just remember to keep the areas not being glittered covered with the release paper.

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: $0...I had everything on hand..and finally I feel better about using all the glitter I bought over a year ago!
Mess Factor: Pretty high! And a word of warning…glue, glitter and kittens do not mix!
Time: I spent a fair amount of time doing this…including the clean-up..about 2 hours to cut and glitter the spiders, the witches feet, the flocked sheep, the howling wolf and the angel phrase.
Skill Level: basic

There you have it, Glittered Embellishments…easy peasy and cheap cheap!

Garden Harvest

2010-08-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

So I have very few illusions left about having a home garden...and I am definitely not going to be opening a veggie stand on the corner anytime soon...

But I did have my first significant harvest on Tuesday...

And I must say it made for the tastiest salad I have ever had!

Also...my watermelon is growing and I am hoping the few really hot days we have had here this week will help her along even more!

Ain't she sweet!

Happy gardening!

A fun Mini...I think it is lost in the mail...

2010-08-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

Last month a friend made me the cutest little mini purse...and I love it! It is purple and green and tiny...and just adorable!

So I wanted to send her a fun mini-album in the mail as a thank you...I mean, who doesn't love to get surprise packages in the mail!

So I used my favorite go-to mini album 'recipe'...from Tracy's Treasures...and included a bunch of fun paper scraps and die-cuts...

I mailed it out at the beginning of August...just mailing it across town...but it never arrived at my friend house, and I am sad...

So...for my friend, I'm sorry...but here are the pictures of the mini I made you...

...I know it isn't the same, but next time I will hand deliver it!

Frugal Friday: Photo Editing without the Software - Part 5

2010-08-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to try tinting my own black and white photos. I have seen it done, and even have the supplies to do it myself…but have never tried. That is, until now.

I don’t know what was stopping me…photo tinting is super easy and a lot of fun!

In photo editing software, tinting a black and white photo is pretty simple, but none-the-less it involves several steps, the use of layers, masks etc…not to mention, the software.

So here are a few easy to apply steps using supplies you have on hand to achieve a similar effect.

Gather up a few black and whites photos, some Distress Inks by Ranger and a handful of cotton swabs. I also had on hand (who knows why) a few Fantastix by Tsukineko…which after playing with them I will say I prefer them to the cotton swabs; their tips stay nice and firm and allow for a lot of control when applying the ink. They are a lot costlier than cotton swabs though, running about $0.75 to $1.00 a piece…so that is something to consider.

Distress Inks are perfect for this process, and will work on most types of photos – home printed or lab printed. For my experiment I am using photos printed at Costco on gloss paper. The Distress Inks are fade resistant water-based dye inks that will remain wet on your photos to allow for blending of colors.

Simply blot a cotton swab onto the felt ink pad.

Apply the color to the photograph. I used a combination of circular motion and dabbing motion.

When blending two colors together, I suggest starting with the lighter color and working towards the darker color.

In this photo I just wanted to add color to Clyde’s eyes, I used Tumbled Glass on the outer edges and then added Broken China to the inner eye.

In this photo I highlighted the straw and Starbucks logo with Peeled Paint...

and then went a little crazy adding a summer blended background in Fired Brick, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade and Wild Honey, and inked the edges with Vintage Photo.

I have been having a very hectic week, what with work and a studio full of foster kitties, I didn’t actually get to scrap my crazy summer drink photo…I have so many fun and funky ideas going through my head I think I will need to make some me time this weekend to get something put together!

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: $0 (again, I had everything on hand…but Distress Ink pads run about $5 a piece)
Fun Factor: Oh my stars…I want to keep playing with this!
Time: Varied, but not too long.
Skill Level: Intermediate (just let go of you inhibitions and get to it!)

So there it is, Fun Photo Tinting! Easy Peasy…and Cheap! Cheap!

Foster Kitties...

2010-08-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Our house became a foster home this weekend to five baby kitties! Four of the kitties are brothers and sister...and then there is an adding little girl kitty we call Bobby, since she looks a bit like a miniature bobcat!

This is Bobby...

I met a member of the Solano Feral Cat Group this past weekend...where else, but at a scrapbooking party!...and she told me the group is always in need of foster homes...

Without hesitation...at all...I said sign me up!

So the following morning I met her at her house and picked up five adorable bundles of purring fun!

How can anyone resist this adorable face?!?!?!

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Frugal Friday: Photo Editing without the Software - Part 4

2010-08-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Almost every pre-teen girl can remember sitting in Junior High classes, daydreaming and doodling on your paper…circles, stars, cross-hatching and hearts…little dots and dashes and just random strokes…

Let’s get back to this and add it to our scrapbooking repertoire…

We will call this adding texture to your photographs…

Gather up some nice pens, in varying widths, if you have them. I use Pigma Micron pens from Sakura in widths from 005 to 08. I also gathered a few other pens to try…a fine point Sharpie, a white Uni-Ball Signo pen, and a set of colored Zig Writers.

Again, we are going to work on photographs that are less-than-perfect.

Let’s start, on a piece of scratch paper, getting the hang of some basics…we will look at three elements, shape, fill and density.

Shape: This can be anything from circles to stars to the outline of a letter…

Fill: This is where the fun begins; fill in your shape to give it some weight using dots, smaller shapes, lines or random squiggles…

Density: Depending on the overall ‘texture’ you want to achieve, your doodles can be closely spaced and very dense or sporadic and light…

Below is a sample photo where you can see how different pens show up on the picture. I was less than happy with the Sharpie results, Sharpies tend to go grey when used on a slick surface…so don’t use one if you want a nice intense black doodle. In general, rollerball and ball point pens do not really work well on the photos, again because of the slick surface.

Now let’s apply our doodling knowledge to our less-than-perfect photos. In this photo, there is an unwanted dog snout…cute dog, but not what I had in mind for the picture….

I simply used a very dense doodle, using a combination of thick pen width (a black Zig Marker) and a finer detail width ( a black Micron 03). Using a combination of cross-hatching, random circles and asterisks, I effectively blocked out the unwanted snout and added a lot of whimsy to the picture.

I repeated these textures, less densely, on two companion pictures.

Doodling on pictures is also a good way of filling unwanted empty space. In this photo, the focus of the picture are the two sets of feet, but there is too much concrete in the background to make the picture pop…so I added some random circles to fill in the empty space.

Continuing on, I had the doodles travel off of the photo and onto the layout background for cohesion.

And finally, here is a quick layout using my sample tulip photos…

Check out this blog post for instructions on making the faux spray paint background...

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:
Cost: $0
Fun Factor: Extremely fun…and a bit relaxing!
Time: All depends on you and what kind of doodling you want
Skill Level: Basic

So there it is, Fun Photo Textures! Easy Peasy…and Cheap! Cheap!

Frugal Friday: Photo Editing without the Software - Part 3

2010-08-06T17:53:00.000-07:00

This week I have a few ideas about making embellishments out of those less than perfect or extra photos that are lying around. Not exactly photo editing, but a lot of photo fun…

So grab a few extra photos and try these ideas out…

In this day and age of scrapbooking most of us have some sort of die cutting machine…whether a manual machine like the Cuttlebug or Big Shots or an electronic cutter like the Cricut or the Silhouette. For this project I am using my Cuttlebug ($80) and my Silhouette ($300) a Tim Holtz Alterations Die ($20), a few punches ($10 -$20) and more of those extra pictures I found when cleaning out my scrap room…

First I gathered some old flower pictures (you can probably tell by now…I have a compulsion when it comes to taking pictures of the flowers in my yard…) and used my Silhouette to cut a title for a layout. Because of the properties of photographs and not wanting to damage the printed image, I placed the photos face down on the cutting mat and made sure the letters to be cut were reversed (backwards) in my machine's software.

I cut each letter out individually…

And adhered them to a 'shadow' of the letter cut from brown cardstock...

Next, I moved onto the Cuttlebug, choosing a flower die from Tim Holtz. For this manual die-cutting machine, since the shape is cut by direct downward pressure and not by a sliding blade, I did not need to turn the photos over.

I used several photos to cut the shapes and assembled them into layered flowers, bending each petal for added dimension and using a brad to hold the flowers together.

Finally, I used a circle hand-punch to make some lollipop flowers with button centers. For these flowers, I inked around the edges.

Here is a quick card I made with the lollipop photo flowers and some photo letters…

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: $0.
Fun Factor: Extremely fun
Time: 5-10 minutes for each embellishment
Skill Level: Basic (just remember to turn your photos over and reverse your image with the electronic cutters)

So there it is, Fun Photo Shapes! Easy Peasy…and Cheap! Cheap!

Quick Update...

2010-08-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

I feel like I haven't posted anything new in a while...except fort he Frugal Fridays...which are fun, but I want to share more...

So here is a quick update...

Camp Scrap is over, and I'm missing it. For the final week...well, life got in the way and very few assignments were finished...but, here is what I did do...

I tried out a cool technique I saw over at Studio Calico...a sort of white wash with paints...I like it! But I think I need to practice a bit more to perfect it...

This was for Friday's sketch assignment...simple layout, but I like the way it turned out...

And this one was for the Thursday Designer idea...I love this one (tooting my own horn here) and am finding that I really like the doodle-look!

I went on vacation to Tahoe...but I didn't take very many pictures...what!?!?! I guess I was having too much fun riding my bike to stop for photo ops! The weather was wonderful, and the bike trails amazing! I did take some pictures of wild flowers and am toying with a mini album idea for those...I have been really into making minis this year!

The garden is coming along swimmingly (not really...but its not dead...) I have a few watermelons that have set...

Ain't she cute!

I have been getting great big pumpkin flowers...

But none have set yet...

And the Lemon Cucumber (yummy) has taken off and set a ton of baby cucs!

I still have to finish installing the drip system...boy is that a whole lot harder than I thought it would be! Maybe I can finish this weekend!

I have been doing a whole lot of crafting over the last couple of weeks...I think I have been in the studio almost every night after work. I have been working on quite a few mini albums...I will post some pictures on Saturday. And I am debating on putting together a little tutorial for one of them...it is a mini album for school pictures...but I am so bad at remembering to take pictures of each step...

Anyway, happy crafting!

Frugal Friday - Photo Editing: Part 2

2010-07-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

I know this week was supposed to be water fun with your pictures…but I ran into a bit of technical difficulties on that front and therefore I am going to slide those fun tips back a couple of weeks.

Remember, these ideas and techniques will permanently alter your photographs. Do not try this on any photos that are one of a kind, without negative or digital back-up or are antique photos. If you would like to use an antique or one-of-a-kind photo, I suggest you scan them and reproduce them, using the reproduction to play with. This probably seems really logical; I just feel better stating it before we start…

So moving on, painting fun!

#1 Photo Tinting
One thing I like to do with my photo editing software is tinting my photographs, my software comes with a tint black, tint sepia, tint purple, tint green and so on…I thought this might be fun to try with paint.

In a small container add a small amount of acrylic paint to water, at about a 1:5 ratio, you want this to be very watery.

Brush the paint over the entire surface of the photograph. The paint will streak some, but just let it dry that way.

When the paint is dry, you can go back into the photograph and carefully remove any paint with a slightly damp towel in areas where you want the subject to stand out more.

This is fun to do on a black and white photo too...here I tinted my picture of Bonnie with pale pink.

#2 Dry Brushing Editing
Another quick and easy technique is to dry brush over the top of unwanted portions of your pictures. In this picture the tulip is the subject and the two cats, who wandered into the frame, are going to be edited out.

I used a small amount of acrylic paint and stippled my dry paint brush into it.

Then lightly brush the paint onto the offending part of the picture is a cross-hatch fashion. Use light brush strokes as you can always build up the amount of paint to get the coverage you want.

And now the cats are edited from the photo...

#3 Finger Painting
Finally, I thought it might be fun to see how finger painted photo corners would look…easy enough to try.

Just dip your finger into the paint and swipe two short (or long, your choice) lines at each corner of the photo…

It also might be fun to try polka-dots or small hearts finger painted on the photo...hmm...I may have to run out to the studio and try that...

Try combining the painting ideas, like I did here to really bring the tulip into focus…fun!

And here is a layout I made with my photo of Bonnie...(sorry the scanner is on the fritz, and the layout got a bit cut-off on the right side...but you get the idea).

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: $0…we all have acrylic paints on hand, and the cheap stuff works just as well for these ideas.
Fun Factor: Pretty fun
Time: 10-15 minutes, depending on drying time
Skill Level: Basic

So there it is, Fun Photo Painting! Easy Peasy…and Cheap! Cheap!

Frugal Friday: Photo Editing without the Expensive Software

2010-07-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

This past week I spent a couple of hours cleaning out my big box-o-photos. I systematically went through and separated out the photos that I will never scrap; pictures that I do still need to scrap and ended up with a nice little pile of photos that were destined for the garbage (don’t panic here, these are extra prints and/or bad pictures).

My little mind began stewing, what can I do with these? And I came up with a few ideas to share with you.

Because there are so many ideas…I am going to break them out over the next several weeks, but this is what you can expect:
Distressing Fun
Water Fun
Doodling Fun
Colorizing Fun
Painting Fun
& Shaping Fun

Think of it like photo editing without the expensive software…and I promise, 99.9% of the supplies needed will already be in your stash of tools!

One word of forewarning, these ideas and techniques will permanently alter your photographs. Do not, I repeat DO NOT try this on any photos that are one of a kind, without negative or digital back-up or are antique photos. If you would like to use an antique or one-of-a-kind photo, I suggest you scan them and reproduce them, using the reproduction to play with. This probably seems really logical; I just feel better stating it before we start…

This week I am going to start off with Distressing Fun!

These are few tried and true techniques that I use quite frequently, both in my editing software and on printed photos. In my software program these are action such as vintage photo, antiqued, old paper, edge burn among others.

Each technique can be done subtly or over-the-top! Your choice, just have fun and experiment!

1st: Distressing Edges
There are a couple of ways to accomplish this technique. The easiest and cheapest way is to use the edge of a scissor blade. Please be careful trying this.

Simply open up the scissor blades and gentle running the photo edge along the blade, in one direction, repeatedly. The more pressure you use the quicker the edge will fray.

But too much pressure may tear the photo…but hey, that’s a neat look all on its own!

There are a few distressing tools on the market; Tim Holtz/Tonic Studios Paper Distresser ($5.50); the Stampin’ Up Cutter Kit (comes with additional tools for $19), the Heidi Swapp Distresser and the Zutter Distrezz-it-All ($40).

The Tonic Studio, Stampin’ Up and Heidi Swapp distressers work in pretty much the same way.

Simply place the photo in the slots and run the internally housed blade along the edge repeatedly. To achieve a more worn look, try running the blade back and forth along the photo edge…

The Distrezz-it-All is a small electric machine that runs a cylindrical blade similar to a pencil sharpener.

The photo is placed in the opening and distressing magic takes place.

2nd: Sanding
I love sanding the edges of my photos. It really gives a neat effect and again, can be done subtly or not so subtly. There are several scrapbooking produced products on the market.

I personally have both the Precision File Set by Basic Grey ($6.99) and Tim Holtz’s Sanding Grip ($5.99). I prefer the sanding grip, but found that a simple piece of sanding paper from the garage works just as fine. There are several grits of sanding paper from super fine (1000) to extra coarse (24), but if you need to purchase it for scrapbooking, just buy the cheap stuff which is usually labeled ‘fine’, ‘medium’ or ‘coarse’.

For sanding, start slowly and run the sandpaper along the edges of the picture.
You will achieve a different look by sanding parallel with the edge

or in a circular motion.

I generally try to round the corners,

but sometimes I leave the corners cross-hatched.

Occasionally I find that with the home printed pictures I will actually accidentally lift off some of the printed image…just go with it…have fun and make it work (or re-print the picture and start over, your call)

3rd: Inking
I generally use Tim Holtz Distress Inks ($5) for inking on my pictures; Distress Inks stays wet a bit longer are transparent and can be quite subtle, depending on the color.

You can ink over the plain edges of your photo, using either the ink pad...

or an ink blending tool ($5), this is similar to an “edge burn” in photo editing software.

Or achieve a very vintage look by inking over the distressed edges

or sanded edges.

If you don’t have any Distress Inks on hand, try using a chalk ink like Clearsnap’s Cat’s Eye Fluid Chalk Ink ($2) or Tsukineko Versamagic Dew Drop ($2.50). The chalk inks are more opaque on the surface of the photo, but the end result is very similar.

If you are thinking that these distressing techniques are too much for your everyday layouts…take a look at the samples below, both layouts have distressed picture edges but the subtlety of the distressing makes them fit right in on the traditional layouts.

Or for something a bit more artsy…here is an over-the-top distressed picture…a layout destined for the wall above my nightstand. (This layout is still a work in progress…)

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:
Cost: Varies…I have all of these items on hand…and I bet most of you have them on hand too, otherwise I tried to list the prices above. But it still beats the cost of editing software ($80 - $700)
Fun Factor: Super…one of my favorite things to do!
Time: Not too long, but there may be a learning curve. I got all of these samples (excluding the layouts) done in about 30 minutes…
Skill Level: Intermediate

So there it is, Fun Photo Distressing! Easy Peasy…and Cheap! Cheap!

And remember to check back next week for Water Fun!

Camp Scrap Week 3....

2010-07-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

So Week 3 of Camp Scrap has come to a close (actually it closed last Wednesday....I'm a bit late posting this)...and everything has been so hectic, I'm falling a bit behind!

Anyway...on to the assignments...

Thursday's Email: Ali Edwards' Digital Layout
I didn't make my layout digital, just plain ole paper and embellies...I like the feel of paper too much to turn digital...love this simple layout, though, and finally got to scrapping these pictures which have been hanging around for a few years...waiting for inspiration (or time???).

Friday's Email: Sketch
Christmas 2009...I used my Silhouette to cut the Christmas tree and jingle bells...love this paper line from Basic Grey, I think it is called Dasher...or maybe Figgy Pudding...can't remember...I really should write these things down...

Saturday's Email (homework on Saturday?!?!?): Sketch
More Christmas 2009...this sketch was a double-play on Friday's sketch. It is one of Fridays pages turned 90 degrees...

I'm still ruminating on Monday's assignment...I think I might try to dig out some old un-scrapped pictures from a few years ago...
Monday's Email: Recipe

In progress...that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Tuesday's Email: Artistic Idea

Wednesday's Email: Journal Prompt ("now & then")
Pictures of our Rooster Cogburn from July 2009 when he came to live with us and July of this year. He has definitely grown in the past year, he's 11 lbs...but still so tiny compared to Bonnie and Clyde!

So that is Week 3 in a nut shell!

I did go back and finish a layout from Week 2 that I had skipped.

Week 2 Wednesday Email: Journal Prompt
The prompt was to scrap a layout of someone you love...that was a hard choice, but in the end Daisy (who I really miss) won out. This is a really old photo that I do not have the negative for, and the scanned image is so bad that I can't make it very big...I played around a bit with doodling on the page, so it would be fun and funky...just like Little Miss Daisy May!

So we are currently in the middle of Week 4...and I am pretty much on track with these projects...all in all, including this weeks assignments, I have five layouts to finish (one from Week 1, two from Week 3 and two from Week 4).

Tonight I plan on diving into my big ole box of pictures to see whats left in need of scrapping...there should be some oldies but goodies in there...

I recently cleaned/organized all my scrap supplies, but have been dreading going through te box of photos...I guess there is no time like the present...just bite the bullet, put on some good old Louis Prima tunes, grab a Venti Iced Americano and get her done!

Maybe I can even take a picture or two and scrap the project....

Or is that just another crazy idea!

Frugal Friday: Foam Mounting Tape

2010-07-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

Pop Dots…what is there to say about Pop Dots…if you love them, then you use them a lot…I mean a whole lot.

I love them.

A lot.

I mean a whole lot!

I used to buy All Night Media’s Pop Dots, but found that I was going through the packages like they were free! I even cut up the ‘left-over’ bits after all the dots were punched out…inevitably, though, I would find I was always out of them. And of course that means a quick trip to Michael’s…which was never for Pop Dots alone…know what I mean…wink-wink!

So, being frugal, I thought there must be a better alternative.

I have since switched from small packages of pops to a ginormous roll of Scotch Mounting Tape; more for the convenience of have large quantities on hand than the price since the roll,$35.99 from Staples, is a bit of an investment.

Curious about the overall cost, I did a little online searching and came up with the following price comparisons (I am guesstimating to the best of my mathematical abilities on the actual square inch of product in these packages…bear with me here):

EK Success 3D Dots: approx. 27 square inches of foam for $1.99/pkg = ~$0.074/square inch

All Night Media Pop Dots: approx. 40.5square inches of foam for $2.79/pkg = ~$0.069/square inch

Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares: approx. 64square inches of foam for $2.99/pkg = ~$0.047/square inch

Scotch Mounting Tape (ginormous roll): 1,026 square inches of foam for $35.99/pkg = $0.035/square inch

Scotch Mounting tape also comes in smaller rolls and they run between $0.056 to $0.087 per square inch…so in their case, the ginormous roll will definitely save you money in the long run.

The cost comparison showed that, the Scotch rolls aside, Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares (from JoAnn’s) is the best value…but I am still sticking with the Scotch ginormous roll, since in addition to the lowest price per square inch, the convenience of always having it on hand is invaluable.

The biggest difference between the package squares and dots is that you will need to cut the foam tape yourself. I use plain-jane everyday kinda scissors for this, and haven’t found that any residue is left behind on the blades. The foam tape cuts cleanly and you can cut a strip as small or as large as you need it. I tend to prefer a complete strip along the edge of my popped pieces, rather than small squares at the corners, as you would have to do with the pre-packed pieces…so for me, that is another benefit.

Here is my roll…after two months of use…you can see the outline of the full roll beneath my roll...

Hardly a dent in it...I think this will last me all year!

And here is a layout I did with the mounting tape…

Here you can see how the small frames at the corner are lifted to different heights depending on the number of mounting tape layers I used...

(Yep...those are homemade dew drops in there...)

Here is another layout, still in progress, where I am building layers with the mounting tape...

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: A ginormous roll of Scotch Mounting Tape cost $35.99 from Staples or about $0.035 per square inch.
Cats Annoyed: 0 (saving money leaves more cash for cat toys and treats!)
Time: Not really an issue here…
Skill Level: Basic

So there it is, bulk mounting tape! Easy Peasy…and Cheap! Cheap!

Week Two of Camp Scrap

2010-07-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

Another week finished at Camp Scrap...having fun, wish you were here...

And, look Mom, look at what I made at camp!

Thursday: "Paint Splatter"-Designer Idea
I'm not sure I am completely happy with the right-hand page...I may need to rework this with larger pictures to balance everything out more...still pondering this...

I journaled this right on top of the picture. I love my new brown Micron pen!

Friday: Sketch Layout

Monday: Layout Recipe
I wish I still had ripe cherries on my trees...I guess I will have to settle for store bought Raniers....yummmmmm

On a side note here...I am loving making my journaling in strips. I get to include handwritten journals, in all their left-handed messiness, but if I make a writo (you know writographical error) I can just jump down a bit and start that line over...and no one is the wiser...

Tuesday: Design with a Pro
Um, this is okay...at least I journaled the story behind the pictures!

The dog again...he ate my homework...again...
Wednesday: Journal Prompt

I do plan on going back and doing both of the missed journal prompt pages (this Wednesday's and last Wednesday's)...but I am stewing over the prompts and deciding what I want to document...

Still having fun, though!

Hope you had a creative week too!

Tomatoes....and the First Dahlia Bed Blossom!

2010-07-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day! (and to my Canadian friends...Happy Belated Canada Day!)

Well, back to the garden we go...

No update on the squashes and cucumbers...I have to wait a bit longer to see if they recover...I hate waiting!

But like I said yesterday, thank goodness I didn't spray my tomatoes!

I planted three types of tomatoes this year, four plants in all.

Two are cherry tomatoes from seed...and both of those plants are doing okay.

(this picture was taken in the beginning of June)

One of cherry tomato plants has flowers, the other...I'm still waiting...

But no tomatoes yet...

Didn't I just say I hate waiting!

I also planted two tomatoes I bought from a plant sale at the local community college...

One is a Cherokee Purple, and it has been flowering for about a month now...no fruit though...

Until I found this last Wednesday!

A tiny baby itty-bitty tomato bud! Yeah!

The other plant I bought is a Sweet Pea Currant Tomato...and wow! It is full of flowers and tiny little tomatoes!

I noticed on Thursday, while surveying the garden damage, some of the sweet peas are starting to turn red!

And just for comparison purposes...here is a fully ripe sweet pea tomato next to my finger!

They are so tiny! The description of the tomato, that convinced me to buy it, said that when the tomatoes are ripe they look like strings of red pearls all over the plant! I can't wait to see them all ripen...

There it is again, the waiting thing!

In the meantime, I guess I'll eat some more radishes!

On to the Dahlia...I planted 12 Dahlia tubers back in April, and they are all growing really nicely...lots of buds forming...

This week, one of them finally opened! So gorgeous!

This is a variety called Lucca Johanna...I love the soft pink with hints of creamy yellow!

No I just have to wait for the rest of the varieties to bloom...

Waiting....

Gardening Disaster!

2010-07-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Well disaster has hit my garden....I'm afraid I have pretty much lost all of my squashes, a few peppers and a couple of cucumbers!

All thanks to this little bugger...who I originally thought was cute enough to take a picture of...well now I am declaring war and every time I see one...plop...into the bucket of soapy water he goes!

Meet the spotted cucumber beetle...he feeds on all culbrit (squashes and squash relatives) leaves...and he burrows into the ground to lay his evil spawn, which feed on the roots!

After some help identifying this pest (thanks Foxy!) and realizing he wasn't a beneficial insect...I bought some earth friendly insecticidal soap. Instructions were pretty easy, just spray the plant leaves, be sure to get the underside of the leaves where the little buggers hang out, and all will be well in your little garden!

Ha!

I faithfully sprayed everything (except the tomatoes, thank goodness!) and knocked all the adult buggers I could find into the soap water to die!...and then disaster stuck...take a look:

Zucchini before spraying....

Zucchini the next day...

The cutest little growing cucumber before spraying....

Dead baby cucumber the next day...

Pretty green watermelon leaves on Wednesday....

Spotted leaves on Thursday....

A Cubanelle Pepper before the disaster....

The pepper plant afterward....

Well, all I can say at this point is I hope they recover, and if not...at least I didn't spray my tomatoes (more on those tomorrow...)

And worst case scenario, we will be eating a lot of radishes this year!

Aren't they cute!

Frugal Friday: Recycled Clothing

2010-07-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

I got to thinking, after last Friday’s post about using clothing on a layout...I remembered seeing someone (somewhere) use a cute denim pocket on their layout…hmmm, something to try.

I got a pair of small boy’s jeans from a friend (they were too worn-out to be donated) and got to imagining…

I wondered if my Cuttlebug and new Alterations flower die would cut the denim…

So I gathered up the Cuttlebug, the die and a good pair of sharp scissors…

First I removed the pockets and then a few other bits and pieces like the belt loops and some orange buttons that were inside the waist band.

Then I cut down the seam of one of the legs, and trimmed that into a smaller piece just big enough to cover the die.

I used my A plate on the bottom, then placed the die (face-up) with the jeans on top and topped the sandwich with another A plate.

I ran the sandwich through the Cuttlebug and it cut through nicely on the first pass.

If you don’t have a Cuttlebug and dies, try just cutting simple shapes from the fabric; fraying the edges might be cute…

Here is a layout I made using my recycled clothing…

Now I just need to go through my closet and find all my coffee stained blouses and worn-out pants…

So was the experiment worth it? Here is the tally:

Cost: I had everything on hand…if you don’t have a Cuttlebug or dies, you could simply trace and cut your shapes.

Cats Annoyed: 1 (Rooster was asleep on the old jeans, and I had to wake him up to use them….sorry, Rooster!)

Time: Fast…just the time it would take to rip apart the parts of the clothes you want to use

Skill Level: Basic

So there it is, recycled clothing! Easy Peasy…and Cheap! Cheap!

Camp Scrap...my Summer Vacation

2010-07-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I finished up week one of Camp Scrap...and, whew, what a week. We received an email every morning with a journal prompt, sketch or designer idea...five days of the week!

Our challenge, use those emails to make a layout each day of the week!

Like I said, whew!

Here are my week one pages (plus two pre-camp assignments)...

Thursday-"Flourishes" Designer Idea

Friday-Sketch

Monday-"Recipe" Sketch

Tuesday-"Quilting" Designer Idea

OOPS! Assignment not done yet...the dog ate my homework, yeah, that's it!
Wednesday-Journal Prompt

Pre-Class Color Assignment

Pre-Class Sketch Idea

Well, week two started today...so I need to run to the studio and get cracking!

Hope your week is crafty!