Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Race to the White House and Diversions

It's everywhere. You cannot get away from it. Political commentaries! Talk about mudslinging! If any of these candidates had noses that grew like Pinocchio's when untruths were told, my gosh, they'd be falling all over themselves - doing impressions of elephants or anteaters! I have to say that Utah is 99% quieter than Las Vegas was. The TV ads are sparse and yard signs, trash mail, door fliers, etc., are basically nonexistent. It's sooooooooooooooo nice! It's just sad that when watching these candidates on TV, the political "spin" is an insult to the intelligence! OK, enough of my political diatribe! No one cares what I think, LOL. However, this is my blog and I can voice my opinion, right? I anticipate a political breath of fresh air - a different tact - a more gentle way of interaction.

Enough...

If you are into Nestabilities, have I got something for you! There is a website, Cut@Home, that sells them. If you sign up for their newsletter, each month, you get a 40% off coupon code which is applicable to one item each month. I've been buying the four packs of Nesties and taking the 40% off! When I say four pack, I mean, for example, large rectangles plain, large rectangles scalloped, and the next smaller size of rectangles in plain and scalloped edges. You can use them in your Cuttlebug. Just remember to get the tan mat, too. There are two mats in each package. Your 40% off coupon code may also work for the single sets. I'm not sure, though. I have 3 four packs making 12 complete sets of Nesties. That little coupon code is perfect!

My printer died. We sent it back to HP for repairs. They called and stated that they are returning it to us for burial. I'm thinking a good Irish wake or maybe a New Orleans style tribute is due. That little printer was the little printer that could. It was soooooo good and sooooooo reliable. I loved how my prints always turned out beautifully. Now, I'm lost. I haven't scrapped in a week. I'm in the dumps. I don't even want to scrap. I have a big printer that prints on 12 x 12 papers, but the quality of the photos is stinky compared to the now departed one. I've been spoiled.

Below are the last photos HP printed before he went to Printer Heaven. Out of desperation, I made some cards. Here they are for you to view. Enjoy!

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For this card, I rolled the background image using a stamp wheel. I water colored the little girl, pumpkins, and ground. I added some glitter to the bat's wings and the tummy of the little sweetie. I love these stamps!

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On this card, the gold paper is a bright, clear gold. I added a little piece of sheer ribbon for her hair bow. Again, I used water colors to color the picture.

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The last card looks very, very vivid. I'm not sure, in real life, the colors are this harsh looking, but if I look at each component, the colors are right on.

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Baby Boo


Oh, this was way back when I was young, had good eyes, and thick hair. Time has taken its toll! I liked showing the two photos of DS - one where he was crying, and the next, after he got his bippy! I think he was too hot. LOL I made most of my costume using gold Christmas tree tinsel stitched to the neck, hem, sleeve cuffs. The dress was yellow satin. I also had openings in the back where the elastic for my beautiful wings threaded through. I was a fairy princess with crown and wand. I made a little pair of ears and a hat for DS. He was also wearing yellow fleece jammies. He looked like a fuzzy stuffed animal. He was just two months old. *sigh*

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My Honey


This is my sweetie. We're coming up on our 33 anniversary. I get so sad sometimes. We're getting older. My health isn't what I'd like it to be. DH has longevity in his genes. I know he'll marry after I'm gone. That just makes me soooooo sad. I'm selfish. I don't want to ever share him. OK- back to the LO - I added some gold foil CS to each corner to add a bit of sparkle. The title strips are fabric and attached with little screw brads.

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Sweet Fall Memories


I wasn't sure how this LO was going to turn out. I knew I wanted to step out of my comfort zone by braving orange and blue. I'm not sure I like the result, but it is bright! The leaves in the upper left have a touch of foil in the leaves' veins. It's also hard to see, but I stitched around the inner and outer circumferences of the circle to add some texture and draw the eye to the center. Each year, in the center of town, the Chamber of Commerce (I think) sets up this gorgeous display of pumpkins. It's quite large and in an uncovered covered wagon as well as all around it on the ground. It's there just for photo shoots and visual enjoyment. Of course, it's an annual event to take photos of DH. The title is glittery. It was gold until I colored it with ink so that it wouldn't clash.

Well, I'm going to see if my clothing budget is $150,000 for the next little bit. I need to make sure I can toss in a couple of Manolos and Jimmy Choo's. Oh wait, that's the clothing allowance the RNC provided for the VP candidate - forgetting that is against the RNC's own guidelines to provide a clothing allowance!!!!!!!!!!!!! *grumble* Someday, I should share how I feel, LOL!!!

I've seen women like this before. I had her pegged after the first interview. There are those that walk among us that will walk on us, no matter what it takes, to get where they want to be - even if it means casting your integrity to the wind. "She" is an insult to the female gender - a manipulator (remember the winks). She's found it worked before. Six years, five colleges later, a BS degree, LOL. She can't complete an extemporaneous thought! When she speaks off the script, her thoughts are disjunctive (I think that's the right word - they don't connect). ! If she's given a speech, she can "parrot" that perfectly, but don't dare ask her a question that deviates from the appointed, rehearsed, prepared speech. You know it's coming! She gets this vacuous look and makes a feeble attempt to "snow" whomever is interviewing her. This is not the last of You-Know-Who. She'll never go away. Americans have short memories and will not remember her inability to intellectualize let alone complete a coherent sentence. She's smart enough to learn to talk the talk for the next time around. Sadly, this isn't the kind of smart a leader needs to flaunt. Her intelligence needs to be intrinsic. A piece of advice to Ms. Palin - during those long, dark, Alaskan nights - PICK UP A BOOK AND READ!!!!!

Welcome to the blog to no where, LOL

Have a good one!

Chris

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Let the Voting Begin!

Yikes! Early voting is beginning across the USA. How will this election result? There are less than 20 days to go. It's getting exciting - if you can ignore the negative campaign ads. I think I should have a contest for the most POSITIVE presidential campaign ad! Who knows, maybe I'd start a trend!

My sweet husband and I were out taking photos a couple of weekends ago. You've seen the photo of Cedar Breaks and the snow which I posted right after we went. I thought I'd share a couple of additional photos to help you get into the fall mood!

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Oh, that's not an Autumn photo! It's a Choco Taco! LOL I used to buy these by the box for my husband and son to munch on! They are sooooooooooooooooo good!!! Are you thinking about licking the screen? Don't. It won't work!

Hmmm, back to the photos. Here are a couple to really help you get in the Fall mood:

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Doesn't Mother Nature do a wonderful job! Look at those leaves!

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I took this photo after I made my darling husband drive up and down the highway until I found this tree again. I love the contrast of the flaming leaves against the black lava flow. If I could title this photo, I think I would name it "Determination." How that Aspen grew through that basalt rock just amazes me. Gotta love Mother Nature!

This photo should be entitled, "Follow the Yellow Leafed Road." LOL
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Lastly, here is a LO I did after our photo shoot. The mountain in the background is a volcano cinder cone. The area in which I live is extremely geologically interesting! There are cinder cones, deep canyons, huge fault lines, dinosaur tracks, volcanic flows, and the beautiful, deep red sandstone.

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Thank you for stopping by and thank you for leaving comments on previous posts. It's nice to know who is visiting and if there was something that you liked!

Have a good one and be careful of errant ChocoTacos!

XO

Chris

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Utah's Weather is Wonderful - It Snowed Already!

Sadly, it didn't snow where we are because we're too far south, but it did snow 40 miles north of us! The high today was in the 50s and by Wednesday, we'll be back to the upper 80s again. *sigh* I love Fall and Winter. In the morning, we have the house open. Almost every morning, I hear geese and ducks squawking their little hearts out as they are heading south for the winter. They sound so cool! Our night time owl is back. We hear him in one of our trees at night. I just love it!

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I'm not going to bore you with tedious chat. I don't even know if you read anything I write or not. LOL. It's OK if you don't. I get it. I would love if you left comments though. Everyone loves to get "warm fuzzies," and each comment is a treasure to me.

Here are some layouts I recently did. You don't want to hear the story behind them, do you?

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My Silly Boys


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3 Goofy Boys


The layout below is absolutely beautiful in person. The camera just didn't pick up the lime green and black very well. This is a shot of DDIL who participated in a sidewalk chalk art community activity.
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Freedom of Expression


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Machine Washable Boy


Again, this LO is so beautiful in person. The colors just didn't come up well. I used copper metal alphas and then ran copper floral rub ons up the side. I have given thought to removing the flowers. I'm not sure I like it. We filled our garage three times when moving here from Las Vegas. Hint - before you move, do get rid of almost everything! LOL
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Moving Day


One of the things that we, as a family, did all the time was take day trips. The apple didn't fall far from the tree (well, actually, it did. It fell from the tree and then rolled right out of the orchard). I wanted to make sure that this family activity was not forgotten as time passes. By scrapping a LO about our day trips, someone will remember. The red grid is half of a clear acrylic 12 x 12 sheet by Page Frame Designs. I liked that it added something different to the LO. Then, I used acrylic alphas to carry that through.
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Our Day Trips


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My Guy


I hope that this little girl is smart enough to stay within the boundaries of the National Park! It's hunting season and sweet babies like this are becoming targets.
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Autumn


I'll be posting some cards that I've been working on as well. It takes me as long to make a card as it does a layout! Is that normal, or am I just too pokey?

Thank you so much for stopping by. I love having visitors. The company that runs the map at the bottom of the page clears the maps each year. I was so sad that they cleared mine! I loved watching the little red dots grow!

Blessings to you,

Chris XO

Thursday, October 2, 2008

So Much To Do - So Little Time

When I was teaching, I was ten times busier than I am now. Why, then, now that I'm home all the time, is there not enough time to do all the things I want to get done? Is time just passing by in a faster manner? Am I so old that it just takes me longer? LOL I'm still extremely organized (until I go into my scrap room), but it just seems that I just don't get as much done.

Fall is here. The temps are below 100 and the leaves on the trees are beginning to show signs of yellowing. The trees in the mountains have already begun to show their Fall colors. Fall and Winter are my two favorite seasons. I long for snow. I love the cold temps. I love the colors and scents of Autumn. Woo Hoo! It's October!

I've been a bit busy scrapping. I have a lot to share. I'll try not to bore you with tons of details, LOL. When I do challenges, I always dig into my older stuff first. It gives me a chance to use up things I've thought were too pretty to use, LOL. Do you do that, too?

The first LO is one of my current favorites. I love the colors and the die cut paper.

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He Loves Me


This LO was another opportunity to use some paper I've been hoarding. I am soooooo NOT a purple person! I took the plunge creating this LO.

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Ladybugs are Angels with Freckles


Layout #3 was for a challenge to use five different kinds of PP. I thought it would be fun to get away from the usual strips or blocks. This was taken about 30 minutes from our home. The peaks in the far back are those of Zion National Park.

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Kolob Plateau


Are you hungry? Well, this will drive you to the kitchen! This was also done for a challenge. This wonderful cake box opens up and is perfect for holding something special. I used an extremely dark brown Bazzill CS. I inked the bottom in a darker brown to resemble crust. Then, I used tiny pieces of paper to make the coconut. The bow is made from strips of patterned paper, too! You could make eight of these and have a whole cake to display!

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Not for Human Consumption!


The following images are those of an album I made for my sweet husband. He can put the photos in that he wants. I loved this PP and just thought I could do something special with it. The base is made of brown Bazzill CS to which I added the binding after the LO was done.

For the cover, I did some stitching using floss, added felt flowers, some glitter on a chipboard arrow, flowers, buttons, sticker alphas, and an epoxy butterfly.
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The next two pages are great for DH. He won't have to think too much about the photos. The chipboard alphas are from the new BG line, Ambrosia. On the second page, I used brown rub on alphas and stamped a swirl to which I added bronze metal flowers. I wanted to keep it masculine.
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This set of pages uses more Sass Lass. I just loved to use those borders. I just couldn't cut them and toss them.
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Enjoy the sunshine, but remember sunscreen! I put some of the alphas on pop dots just to give it some dimension. I also stamped the owl on white CS and then colored it to match the page.
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This set of pages turned out so nicely. I loved the colors and the stamps I used.
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I really tried to achieve a variety of styles and colors. I love the woven ribbon technique with my new punch! LOL
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Last, but not least, are the pages in teal.
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My husband loved his album. I loved making it! Think anyone would buy one similar to it? LOL I don't like to make things exactly the same.

OK, I've taken enough of your time. I am so glad that you stopped by to visit. Thank you!

Have a good one!

Chris