Just a Bit of Humor

I was looking through my layouts today and found a two page spread I had done based on this poem. I thought I'd share the poem with you in case you want to use it or pass it on. Here it is:

Ode to my Wife, the Cropper

She learned to crop on Monday,
Her shapes were going fine.
She forgot to thaw our dinner,
So we went out to dine...

She added die cuts on Tuesday,
She says they really are a must.
They actually were quite lovely,
But she forgot to dust...

On Wednesday it was stickers,
She says the designs are fun.
What highlights, what shadows, what colors!!
But the laundry wasn't done...

Her journaling was on Thursday,
With Sakura pens, including red.
I guess she really was engrossed,
She never made the bed...

It was more acid-free paper on Friday,
In colors that she adores.
It never bothered her at all,
That crumbs were on the floor...

I found a maid on Saturday,
My week is now complete.
My wife can crop the hours away,
The house will still be neat...

Well, it's already Sunday,
But don't call me a great Pop.
I cursed! @#$, I raved *#@, I ranted!!!
The maid has learned to CROP!!!!!!

Author: Valerie Consolo

I have been making cards like mad. For someone who dislikes making cards, I've sure been as busy as a bee making them! I gave two friends a set of 12 cards each yesterday. Some were water colored while others were made from my scrapping supplies. I think my supplies multiply when I go to sleep at night. Then, as a challenge for a website, I've made, so far, 16 cards with matching envies to send to those serving in the Middle East. I guess they need cards for their family and friends, so we've been asked to make some to donate to the cause. No problem. It's the least I can do for those who are so far from family and friends.

As soon as I move them from the camera to the computer, I'll share them with you.

Here are a couple of layouts to share.

I just loved this photo of DS while we were in Zion National Park. He was such a cutie pie!


The Long Road Travelled

Every once in a while, a good photo happens to be taken! LOL - This is one of the better ones I've had taken lately.


Me @ 60

And, last but not least, is another nature photo - this one of tulips in the wind.


Go With the Flow

Thank you so much for stopping by. I love having visitors! I hope you enjoyed the poem and will return soon!

Have a good one,

Chris

It's a Wonderful Life!

Life is good! The sun is shining and the sky is a lovely azure blue. We had some thunderstorms the past couple of days. It's monsoon season in the desert. Rain is always a welcomed site!

I hurt my knee a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't even walk on it. Since then, it swells and hurts - even with the cortisone shot the doctor gave me in that knee and the meds he's prescribed. I can't sit at the scrap table for any long periods of time. Just having it bent causes pain. It's always swollen, too. Getting old is not fun! So, I park myself in the recliner. Do you know you can scrap while sitting in a recliner? LOL Thank goodness for bed trays to use as a work surface. Also, those small paper trimmers do come in handy!

I've been buying Magnolia stamps left and right. I wish the US dollar had a better exchange rate! *YIKES* I have some photos to post. They look horrible, though. I just don't know what to do about the flash bleaching out the colors. I am using a Canon Rebel XT. I know how to adjust the flash is in the manual somewhere. I haven't found it yet. Because my knee hurts, I can't go outside and stand to take the photos. So, I'm stuck inside trying to do a decent job. You'll have to use your imagination knowing that the actual colors are deeper and richer. I'm using watercolors. It is so very relaxing to paint. The amusement park card was modeled from one I saw at SCS. I think the original artist was Claudia from Germany. She is amazing! I love looking at her designs. I took the concept and applied it to the farm yard card. I am SO NOT A CARD MAKER! I am trying to improve, though.

Here's what I've been up to:


SO CUTE

This is our DDIL. She is just adorable! We are so proud of her! We always wanted a daughter and finally got one - a fab one, too! In the LO below, I cut the flowers and then doubled them up with a pop dot in between. Most of the flowers have been elevated to give some dimension.


Always Be a Free Spirit

This is an old photo of the three of us. The ribbon isn't crooked. The PP was bending backward at that corner for whatever reason. I used BG Periphery everything!


Family

This is the sweet Maine Coon cat that we rescued from the Salt Lake City animal shelter. We drove 600 miles round trip to get this little one - who is NOT so little! If you know anything about Maine Coon cats, it's probably that they are huge! This little one is sooooo sweet. Her name is Precious because that is exactly what she is! I used BG Sultry for this LO.



DS is just over a year in this photo. He refused to keep his clown hat on! I just love this line of PP.


Our Little Baby Faced Clown

This is DH's favorite photo of he and DS. This was taken on our first trip to Oregon. We were so young - we were camping and DH said, "Have you ever been to the Pacific Northwest?" We packed up our campsite, left, and returned home 9 weeks later! We had such a wonderful time. That was the first of about 25 summers in Oregon where we eventually bought a little house on the beach.


A Dad is a Friend Forever

Here are the cards I was talking about. The photo quality is just horrible! I apologize! I need to find what I'm doing wrong!








The little girl is elevated on pop dots to give some dimension. There is also Stickles applied to the cloud tops.


This was an attempt at double stamping. The hay bale is stamped on the card in the foreground with the farm yard in the background. The little girl has been elevated on pop dots to give dimension.





Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. I hope that I've given you some inspiration. I love your comments. Please don't be shy.

Have a good one,

Chris

108° and Rising...

It's too hot - too hot to go out, too hot to swim, just perfect with the a/c on. Even the birds are hot and panting!

I promised you some photos of the Condors we went to see in a nearby canyon. Here are the photos I got for a two page LO.




The Day of the Condor



I've not been able to scrap for over a week because it hurt to bend my knee. It really hurt! I finally went to the doctor and got a cortisone shot in each knee. So, today I was good and able to take photos of things I did during the two weeks before my injury.

Here they are:

This was my way to use my my "x" alphas. Good thing I had lots of zeroes, too! I love taupe, black, and white. Photo is of DS and DDIL.


XOXOXO

The next layout was a challenge. I loved this PP so much, but wanted to find a unique way to use it. I decided to do some cutwork and insert the photo under the cut circles. I'm also trying to use up some "stuff." I have too much "stuff." So, with this LO, I was able to use a whole package of clear page pebbles. Do you remember them? I stuck them on some of the circles to give some dimension, LOL. One package gone 11 to go. *sigh* The photo is of DS and DH where we have our beach house in Oregon.


Together

I found this LO today in a pile of papers. It was from at least two years ago! I decided to use more "stuff" and finish it up while using more of the things I manage to squirrel away. So, today, I added a title, some brads, buttons, nails, and Jolee's Dodger goodies. I managed to use up yet another package of embellies. The LO looks so outdated compared to what I currently do. It's funny how we evolve. DS gave DH a trip to LA and a Dodger game as a Father's Day gift. I love my guys! It looks like such a bad LO, though, LOL.


Father - Son and the Dodgers

I keep ordering more stamps. I hated making cards. It seemed like such a waste of time. Now, I'm able to find some enjoyment in process. I love water coloring the images. I find it quite relaxing.

The first card was sent to DS a bit ago when he was under the weather.


This is a card I sent to a friend who was kind enough to bake a wonderful loaf of wheat bread for DH and me. DH's first thing was to look under it to see if there were bread machine marks, LOL. There weren't! It was perfectly made by hand. Do I have DH spoiled or what?


Thank you for stopping by. I love to see that you've returned to see what's new. I'd love to have some comments to read - don't be shy!

Have a good one,

Chris

Day of the Condor

Yesterday, my sweet husband and I went on a Condor watch. We've seen what we thought were California Condors before, but were never sure. About a year ago, we were at a concert in a nearby canyon when I looked above and so high above the cliffs was this giant bird soaring on the evening thermals. I told my husband that I thought it was a condor, but he said it was probably just an eagle. I told him at that height, those wings were just too big to be an eagle's. I came home and researched only to find that Condors are in this area. Then, last spring, we were at Bryce Canyon National Park. There, again, were about a dozen or so of these huge black birds. This time, it was me who doubted my husband when he said those birds were condors. I told him they were probably turkey vultures, LOL. Well, I was wrong. They were condors.

Yesterday, along with about 25 other watchers armed with cameras, tripods, hats, and enthusiasm, we braved the heat to watch for the birds. We saw some soaring on the air currents. It was nice, but they were really high up. We left and went to a little overlook that we often visit to have a picnic. On the way back, we both saw them - huge, black, airborne, and treed! I was so excited! We were about 50 feet from them at the most. One was perched in an old dead tree. Others were flying overhead. Then, all of a sudden, another condor flew down to rest on another of the branches. I managed to snap a photo just as it came in for a landing! It was soooooooooooooo special! There are plenty of life's miracles and this was one of them - something that few people witness. I think we saw about a dozen yesterday. We'll return later this week in the evening to see if we can catch them again. What a thrill!

I've been scrapping and card making. You've heard me whine about making cards before. It just takes me too long to make a card! It can take me hours just to make one. I feel as if it's a waste of time. LOL I love scrapbooking and I love the results. I want to get better at card making. In order to improve, you have to practice, right? I am so into Magnolia stamps. Those little characters are just adorable. I've been watercoloring them rather than use colored pencils or markers.

Well, enough of that jibberish. Here are some layouts I did this month. There are more, which I'll upload later.

The first LO is of DS. My husband and I were at our beach house on the Oregon Coast when DS flew up to spend some time with us. Here you see him at Portland International Airport. What you can't see is that his hair was blue. His dad and I were so impressed - NOT!!! Imagine waiting at the gate for your sweet son, and this blue haired young man comes into the terminal. Parental Shock!

I do think it was worse one year, while in high school, when he flew to Portland from a trip in Europe to join us. It was two summers after 9-11. People were pretty skitterish. Imagine our surprise when he stepped into the terminal wearing a maroon fez! We wanted to die! I was terrified someone would take a shot at him! He has such dark hair and eyes. His face had a beard and mustache. Oh, he looked so Middle Eastern! I wish i had a photo of him in that fez! Hence, the title - Mr. Personality!


Mr. Personality

The next LO is of that same young man on his sixth birthday. It was prior to his birthday party. He was playing around our pool. He looked so sweet! I loved that outfit! In this LO, I used Heidi Swapp Ghost flowers which I outlined in white to make them stand out. Each flower has a rhinestone brad in the center. The colors found in that PP are gorgeous as is the Prism CS used for the circle.


Bloom Where You are Planted

I got clever on this last layout. I love nature photos and this photo was a perfect match for the colors found in the butterfly PP behind the photo. Well, how did I get clever? The white border on the left is the peel off part left behind after removing the sticker portion. (See LO #1) I looked at that and knew I could use it. I ran it through my Xyron and placed adhesive on the back. I got two gorgeous borders from one strip! The white glittered alphas are Thickers. Aren't they special? You can get the items used from 4 Scrappy Sisters. It's their July Petite Kit. I even had more goodies I didn't use in that kit. It's a great buy!


Spring

If you haven't read the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, please try to find time to read this romance novel. Start with the first book in the trilogy - Twilight. Oh, Edward....*sigh* You know it's bad when you call your husband Edward and ask him to step into the sunlight to see if he sparkles!

One last emotive comment. My husband and I have had such a feeling of loss with the passing of television journalist, Tim Russert. He was such a teddy bear of a man. I was never interested in politics until I started watching his weekly shows. His sense of balance and sweet personality made him so likable. I learned so much from him. State Senator Joe Leiberman referred to Tim as "The Explainer-in-Chief." What a perfect title! I used to think television shows such as "Meet the Press" were for old people. When Mr. Russert began moderating these programs, it became part of our Sunday routine. He will be sorely missed.
Blessings to you, Mr. Russert. We should all live our life with the integrity you displayed in yours.

Thank you for visiting. I am so glad you stopped by. I hope you will return! Have a good one!

Chris

The Heat is On!

Ugh! The air conditioner has been running all week. The dreaded summer is just around the corner! It won't get cool again until early November *sigh.*

Nothing much is new. Our son and daughter-in-law are happy and having fun getting into the Portland (Oregon) frame of mind. They love all the things there is to do there. Vegas, when compared to Portland (or even St. George for that matter) is filled with nothing. Vegas has made it so that kids have nothing to do, and they wonder why kids are getting into trouble. Here, there are so many things for kids and families to do. It is such a joy to be where family activities are important and plentiful!

I've been playing with some new toys. I bought about 30 new stamps to play with! I've made two cards so far. It takes me almost as long to make a card as it does to make a layout. I see a problem in that, LOL!

Here are some of the things I've been working on:



My Joy

For this layout, I wanted to include a few photos to show the action of my two boys on the state at Zion National Park. I tried to make the center strip of photos resemble postage stamps. I chose to use black and white photos so that they wouldn't compete with the colors of the layout. I used Basic Grey's Boxer line for the alpha stickers, element stickers, PPs, buttons, brads, etc. I really love the new lines.



Thank You Card

This is one of my new stamps. I used water colors to color the image and some Stickles for the angle wings. I thought that this was a good way to use up some of the OLD PAPER I just seem to collect and not use.

Here is the last card:



Thank You Card

Once again, I water colored the image. You cannot tell, but there is some depth to the apron. I think the flash washed it out. I just love these little images.

You know, my mom had a huge Hummel collection. Some were the really big ones (over 8 inches). I don't know where they are now, but these little characters just remind me of the Hummels. Each one has a little personality.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will return. How do I get you to leave a comment? LOL

Have a good one,

Chris

What's New in the Blogosphere?

Well, I'm frustrated with computers. I just don't know enough to know what to do when things go wrong. My airport card isn't working on my Mac Book Pro. It went to the shop where they kept it for 10 days only to send it home without replacing the airport card! So, now, my baby is being sent back to Apple for the repair. Oh how I miss our son!

The temperatures have risen. It's been over 100°. Yesterday, we went to the grocery store in the early morning just to beat the heat. I hate summer. It is so much better to spend summer in Utah than it was in Las Vegas even though we had a pool in the back yard. It was just too hot to go outside. The pool felt like a bathtub by July.

I've been busy scrapbooking and making cards. I had a lovely card making class last week. The gals left with some nice cards to use for weddings. I should post them for you to see. I've decided to get some Magnolia stamps for my card making. I think I've ordered about 20 or 25 of them. I can't wait for them to get here! Magnolia stamps are like a stamper's version of Hummels! Each character is adorable and with a personality of its own.

Oh, I got a third LO accepted in the Basic Grey gallery! I was so surprised! I feel so blessed for so many reasons!

Here are some of the LOs I've been working on:

I fell in love with the Basic Grey Archaic line only to fall in love with the Cupcake line! I know the Cupcake line was intended for birthdays, but I had to use it for this clown photo. Bobo the Clown came to DS's fifth birthday. When I saw the papers, I knew what photos to include. What do you think?


Bobo the Clown

This photo is of DS in clown clothes. I thought this LO just looked so happy and cheerful! I used the Fiskar's embossing border punch and love the effect! The "dots" are rub ons. I chose to color the centers to make the LO look more festive. Sometimes, I think of things which surprise myself!


Just Clowin' Around

If you haven't seen the bicycle paper in this line, you are missing something! Again, the minute I saw the bicycles, I knew which photos had to go with the paper! Each year, the schools in Las Vegas have a bicycle rodeo to emphasize bicycle safety. This is DS in 2nd grade. He was focusing so hard! Look at those skinny legs! LOL


Bicycle Rodeo

I also got to play with the new Jenni Bowlin papers. I just love the brown line. I want more! I did a photo of my sweet better half. I added lime green to add some interest and break up the color. I added lots of layering so that I could use all of the papers, LOL.


HE...

The last layout is of DS in fifth grade. I just love, love, love this line of Dream Street papers. It's called Birdie bits. I have more and want to play with them as soon as I can.

Would someone please tell me how to use a border punch around corners? I centered the punch and went from side to side. Then, when I tried to work around the corners, the flowers just wouldn't line up. Messy, messy, messy. It was so frustrating as I kept trying really hard.


A Little Birdie Told Me

I hope each of you had a wonderful Mother's Day. I was given tons of scrapbooking supplies (as if I needed more). I have such wonderful guys!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I'd love it if you left a comment! Oh, anyone need a Fastenator?

XO
Chris

It's May!!!

How was your National Scrapbook Day? I was busy all day helping scrappers work their little tushies off! We had a lot of fun! I've included some photos below of the challenges we did.

Nothing much is new. I did have two layouts accepted into the Basic Grey Gallery. I don't know if I've shared that before. I am sooooooooo excited that they've selected two! I'm still playing with the Archaic line. It was made for this dinosaur freak! I love everything about it! I picked up some Boxer, Sultry, and Sugared to play with as well. After my card making class, I'll get busy playing with those.

I have a lot of LOs to share. I hope you don't mind my sharing them. If my son is reading this, yes, that is your father modeling the bra! It was HIS idea to put on the chain!

Here are the layouts:

The first photo is of a bra we had to alter for a NSD challenge. We had so much fun doing this challenge! Even DH got into it - Literally!!!!


Altered Bra

The next LO was my take on another challenge recipe. I used navy blue as the background color. I just loved the colors on the PP. They are my colors - bright, warm, and happy!


FLY

The next LO was based on a sketch given to our site by Becky Fleck for NSD. The yellow color just looks yucky! It is such a soft yellow. You'd never know it, though! This is DS when he thought it would be cute to crawl into the lower basket of his changing table. LOL Silly goose! Am I a trendsetter? I punched a border along the three photos using the Fiskars Threaded Water Punch. Maybe I've cone up with a new idea!


PEEK-A-BOO!

I wanted to use the new Boxer line. I loved the colors of the PP with this photo. I do NOT like how the green alphas look. They are just lost in the photo while IRL they look fine because they have a glittered surface. This is my dream home. If I could build one just like it, I would in a heartbeat! I think DH would also go along with me on this one. This lovely home is located in the West Hills area of Portland, OR. It is what I've always called, "My Hobbit House." The round windows are clear glass, but segmented like stained glass. Embedded in the cuts is a huge spider web. Everything is just so special about this home. Look at the lines of the roof.


MY DREAM HOME

Thank you so much for stopping by. I am always delighted to have visitors!

Have a good one,

Chris