Frustrations!

Well, I'm back in bed again. My knee is in so much pain that I cannot find a position that doesn't hurt! So, I'm in bed with ice on the top and the bottom. I am frustrated more than ever! Since I started some machine physical therapy, above and beyond the pool therapy, both of my knees are not happy campers. That makes me a not-so-happy camper! I can't sit with my knee bent at the scrap table for more than 15 minutes. That's been my scrapping limit for almost two months now. I'm just not making any headway. The doctor doesn't want to replace the knees. I don't want that either, but I'm getting to the point where the pain is eroding my spirits, too. I would be so happy with bearable pain which would allow me to just be able to DO things. I had to vent. It made me feel a bit better - sort of.

I have some LOs to share. I think I'm going to have to go back to scrapping using the bed tray. Bummer!


A Leafy Seadragon

This photo has been hiding on a disk. I finally found it after looking for it for months! This creature looks like seaweed, but has the characteristics of a sea horse. If you look closely, you can see a horse head shape on the left side. That's the critter's head! You can see the ribs in the center as well. It's legs have the "leaves." I wanted to match the PPs with the photo. I chose to place a piece of vellum over the Two Scoops PP to mute the design and not compete with the photo. Then, I tore the vellum away from the photo. I used grungeboard swirls that looked, to me, like a good match with the design on the paper.


Sweet Cheeks

This LO was fun to do. I remember that we went to Spring Mountain Ranch, outside Las Vegas, for a puppet show. DS was so happy to see Elmo and Cookie Monster! LOL The LO isn't crooked. I just took a bad photo. Everything is nice and straight. I added a strip of Prima black bling to the right side. I got to use up some of the rub ons I seem to hoard, LOL.


Cheeky Monkey

This LO has papers that I've been holding until just the right moment. I found this photo of DS taken when he was six and a T-ball "master" - NOT! He'd be digging in the dirt with a found popsicle stick as the ball would roll by just in front of him. Of course, he was oblivious to the fact that he was supposed to actually GET the ball!!! He was a team favorite after pulling stunts like that! *sigh* I also used some rub ons for the borders of a star and arrow. I have a drawer full of rub ons that I just forget to use! It's difficult to see, but I added touches of red, blue, and black glitter to the LO. The monkey in the star has also been glittered.

Thank you for stopping by. I love that you have taken time to stop and visit.

Have a good one,

Chris

The Start of the "Political Olympics"

Well, we're into day three of the Democratic side of the "Political Olympics!" I have to say, as I've gotten older, I've gotten more interested - that is a statement on age, huh? It's interesting to see the events of the "Political Olympics, such as the following: The Choosing of the Running Mate, Defining the Candidate, Who Am I and What Do I Say I'll Stand For, Assessment of the Prospective First Lady (and how she dresses *sigh*), Who is the Most Believable, How to Dispel Rumors, The Pundits' Analyses, and The Acceptance Speech. Who will walk away with the gold, or should I say the red or the blue? How does all of this tie in with scrapbooking? Well, sadly, as I looked at Michelle Obama's dress tonight, I thought about how the four flowers along the front of her dress would make great scrapping embellies! Did I just say that? *blush* Seriously though, I pray that whomever wins will have the guidance of the Lord and the wisdom to hear His whispers.

My friend loved her wedding album! I was so worried that it wouldn't be as nice to her as it was to me. I felt so relieved! I have done a couple of layouts to share. Here they are:


You Quack Me Up!

I used liquid embroidery around the circle and in the center of the brown loops on the left and right. I just wanted the LO to be tender.


FETCH!

I love this photo! DS was so cute with that little toy in his mouth. I remember that the stripes were orange and turquoise and that he crawled with it many, many times, LOL. I think he learned it from our dog, but don't tell DS! LOL I used Core-dinations Cardstock with a yellow core. I got to use up some old papers, too!


Sandbox Baby

This was the last of this line of PP. It was a fun line but, I thought it was going to be impossible at first. Alas, persistence prevailed! I did a little painting along the top and bottom. My little feline, Precious, gave me a little help as she swished her tail along the wet paint spots. Fortunately, they were still damp and I could quickly wipe away the smears. She was just trying to help, right?


In the Swim

I am so on this orange, lime, and turquoise color combination. I keep pulling PPs with those colors somewhere in the design. I guess it's my last summer hurrah! I found this photo of DS and DH in our pool. The turtle had the orange, and the pool water had the blue. Tah Dah - Perfect! It is impossible to see in the photo, but I've used aqua, orange, and lime green Stickles to make the flowers sparkle. You just can't see the glitter. The felt circle is a much prettier color than it shows int he photo. For some reason, outside - the colors bleached out too much. Inside, the colors were dulled. I tried to get a good shot, though.


You are a Part of Me

I absolutely hate this photo of me!!! I had forgotten that it was class picture day. I had my hair up in a twist, the dress makes me look HUGE, my makeup was all wrong, yet, the most important thing - what makes the photo right is - Our DS looks adorable and the sentiment of the photo with his sweet face in the background makes it just right. 50 years from now, when I'm gone, DS will have this memory of the two of us. Isn't that what really matters?

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. I love that you visit. It really makes my day! I don't have DS around to bore with the LOs I do to record events of our family. He gets to see them when he visits the blog. So, to each of you who remember to visit, from my heart, THANK YOU!

Have a good one,

Chris

Thunderstorms are nice!

We've had wonderful thunder and lightning storms the past couple of evenings. No rain, though. Thunder here is so different than it was in Las Vegas. Here, it continues to rumble as the sound waves bounce off all the canyon walls. It just makes the sound roll for a long time.

Yesterday was DS's birthday. I was so sad because he spent it alone. DDIL is teaching this weekend in Los Angeles. It was DS's first birthday all alone. I did manage to send him a huge bunch of cookies from The Cookie Zoo in Las Vegas. I think I sent him seven dozen cookies, a dozen brownie bites, and a dozen cinnamon thingies. He was happy, but it just wasn't the same for me.

I finished my very first acrylic album! I made this wedding album for a friend. I hope she likes it! Here it is, page by page.


Front Cover

The album has a woven ribbon cover. If you look closely on the left, you will see an emblem w/ the letter "C." I found this store at Etsy. www.ThymesSquare.etsy.com - the owner, Michele, does absolutely beautiful work. The alpha is perfectly made and quite stiff. I thought it just made the album more personal!



Page 1 has gorgeous embossed PP in grey and white. Aren't the wedding bands lovely? The paper is shiny. I have a nice little
label for a date.



For page 2, I left the frame open at the top so that a photo may be slipped in from behind. I also added white rub ons and clear rhinestones at the low points of the scalloped edge.



For page 3, I traced the shape of the frame. I added more rhinestones in the low points to match those on the other side. The PP is also shiny and in black, grey, cream, and silver.







Page 6 is a clear page. I have heat embossed the upper right using bridal embossing powder. It looks nasty in the photo, but IRL, it looks really nice.



Page 7 is another difficult page to see. I've used Hambly on the back side.



Page 8 also has heat embossing along the bottom. The heat embossing gives such an interesting texture, too.





This page has another Hambly which shows on both the front and the back. To draw attention away from the edge, I chose to use a line of Stickles along the edge of both sides.







This is what the woven cover looks like. It's the back cover. Notice the little heart eyelets I used to secure the ribbon ties.

I was so nervous making this. I was so worried I'd mess it up! I am thrilled with how my first album turned out! What do you think? Did I do it well? LOL

Have a good one,

Chris

Farewell to July!

I simply cannot believe that July is over! Where did the month go? It's funny, when we were children, time flew by unless we were bored. If we were bored, time just dragged. Now, even if we're not doing anything, time is still flying by! When I was teaching, I would always go back to school the first week of August to get my room ready. I'd spend about a week and a half or so getting my room all dressed up and then was able to stay home for the two weeks before the kids actually returned. That gave me the feeling of having a second vacation, LOL.

I'm still working with my knee issue. I've got a script to go for physical therapy to build the muscles to help hold the joint in place. I've not scrapped for over two weeks, I think! It hurts to keep the knee bent for any period of time. I've been in the recliner with the foot rest up and an ice pack always on the joint. I thought that today, I might try scrapping a little bit. We'll see how it goes. The last thing I want is knee replacement surgery! I don't like to take meds - especially the pain meds - because they just make me so loopy. So, I've been "biting the bullet."

I thought I'd share some recent layouts, though. I just fell in love with this Pink Paislee paper line. I bet you couldn't tell! I've been using them with photos of our DDIL. She is such a sweetheart and a good sport about my scrapping her. I think I even have more paper left from what I got, too! I think I overbought!

The first LO celebrated DDIL's position of Pub Quiz Master! She was asked to be the moderator providing the questions for the participating teams.


The Grand Poobah of Pub Quiz

Here, our sweetie models her new hair cut. Oh, how I wish I had her thick, thick hair! She is just so lovely in every way!


A New "Do"

OK, so I had to throw in one of DS! He will always be my baby. Have you ever read the book, "I'll Love You Forever?" If not, please do. It is a children's picture book that will touch your heart! Again, I used the Pink Paislee along with a strip from BG Archaic. I'm not comfortable with paint, but do use it sparingly. I'm afraid I'll wreck the LO somehow. LOL


You Are My Heart Forever

I just couldn't pass up this delightful tree! I love the color of the Bazzill cardstock. The butterflies are from when I was a child and caught them. I kept them in a little box all these years. While teaching, I ran them through the laminator, LOL. Now, they're part of this LO! How does one spell packrat?

Mother Nature's Wildflowers

Thank you for stopping by. I sure wish I knew who my visitors are. Please leave a comment so I get to know you. I do appreciate your visits. I'd love to have a name/face with where you are from. Be kind to this old bird!

Have a good one,

Chris

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