tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7792194211725573482024-03-05T18:19:32.279-05:00A Little InklingVicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-7530508531897774592011-03-17T00:30:00.001-04:002011-03-17T12:56:16.632-04:00#93 WOYWW Better late than never - Mieux vaut tard que jamais!<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm late for WOYWWednesday, but I'm still here. Let's kick it off with a picture that is <i>not</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> my work desk, but my dining room wall. You might have seen this one on a very early blog post</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoogmgbeOjcOvMvPkQPJIkg24LqxIlxiHjvfoWuIsDCei-X7RE7hUYoXOBagvNo2jf5dndc5WUHMmHHeZVtCbbTwvFYHmsTYHH-oXyynnGapymEoaHLxEQiNmVNIpd5Zy3J4tzzVSnyU/s1600/Old+house+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoogmgbeOjcOvMvPkQPJIkg24LqxIlxiHjvfoWuIsDCei-X7RE7hUYoXOBagvNo2jf5dndc5WUHMmHHeZVtCbbTwvFYHmsTYHH-oXyynnGapymEoaHLxEQiNmVNIpd5Zy3J4tzzVSnyU/s400/Old+house+8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All this is part of the home stash. You caught a glimpse of it last week during the paint-o-mania when the kitchen was temporarily ripped apart.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Dave the Painter, </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">another saint, </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">finished his work on Friday at 4 pm and Saint Husband had bridge in there 3 hours later. Is Dave an awesome painter? oh yeah.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the top is an old heater register (see the diagonal keyhole that opened and closed the damper?) At left is a post office box door, a bunch of face plates for door knobs, assorted keys, etc. Bottom right is a sterling silver curvy pendant I made during my silver smithing days in college. Above it and to the right are face plates and keys from French châteaux, early 1800s. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did very little in the studio, but that's ok. Am getting in touch with my French side. My tags are in a coffee can I got in Paris, the photos make me want to be in Paris and my project is dreaming of being in Paris. I'm "homesick" for April in Paris and it's only March. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-wP77LtSpJJmeUArDOUPQAoAM99ps5jKCtvofYDMWd7mmqkUKBfDubFEQa26VGgj2v_DIu63PmZh8etoFOBg-XyQ8w44POCyEexq6VbDOG2ks-KZRY5n5gqYJU-6q7kp3bFDzoPsQyk/s1600/DSC02239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-wP77LtSpJJmeUArDOUPQAoAM99ps5jKCtvofYDMWd7mmqkUKBfDubFEQa26VGgj2v_DIu63PmZh8etoFOBg-XyQ8w44POCyEexq6VbDOG2ks-KZRY5n5gqYJU-6q7kp3bFDzoPsQyk/s400/DSC02239.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKdOWxfKD2MoOdqAoeCNXKAZ_zbq3epp4XMvHuHHOWT6xb97M8bEKH3wxl71mkDt0VAdcCbfnPqmeeEm4We-k0UPpkAQFG9ELGSiyMba-4PjzdpDJKi842CbzJfDiZ1BwsMTrMOZJ3ng/s1600/DSC02238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKdOWxfKD2MoOdqAoeCNXKAZ_zbq3epp4XMvHuHHOWT6xb97M8bEKH3wxl71mkDt0VAdcCbfnPqmeeEm4We-k0UPpkAQFG9ELGSiyMba-4PjzdpDJKi842CbzJfDiZ1BwsMTrMOZJ3ng/s400/DSC02238.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So I found an old skinny cigar box and am doing the outside in distress stain (dusty concord/peeled painted) and perfect pearls. It is a WIP </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">work in progress</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The inside has a Paris theme in alcohol inks an' some other stuff I haven't figured out yet, so that's why you aren't seeing it here yet.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTTOtT7b98pHUHEhh-XGQ18ugdu6IrZDXiz4NFeJekVP98pHnSIXoNuEgVdJZ0J3D3b7n9vEPPfjHI6brANLCjltfXif4lRSAKA_xFiBDCRpZ_pcmgLZs01cLwUqvfkvFLXoruf1IAHE/s1600/DSC02237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTTOtT7b98pHUHEhh-XGQ18ugdu6IrZDXiz4NFeJekVP98pHnSIXoNuEgVdJZ0J3D3b7n9vEPPfjHI6brANLCjltfXif4lRSAKA_xFiBDCRpZ_pcmgLZs01cLwUqvfkvFLXoruf1IAHE/s400/DSC02237.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I'd forgotten how beautiful simple could be. The husband needed a sympathy card, so I used a <a href="http://studio490art.blogspot.com/">Wendy Vecchi</a> stamp from Botanical Art with some cobalt </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(I think. I'm not going down to the studio to check 'cuz I'm too lzay,lozy, lazy to get up)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> perfect pearl powder. Voilà. C'est tout for today. Hugs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">PS tomorrow I'll show you the cool tags my friend <a href="http://ibeenthinkinboutinkin.blogspot.com/">Lori</a> sent me that made me *smile*. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">PPS Go see other desks at <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Julia's Stamping Ground</a>. </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-50503570003575872402011-03-09T11:13:00.000-05:002011-03-09T11:13:14.131-05:00WOYWW #92 (Dis)Organized<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I knew this day was coming - Dave the Painter is here to work on the kitchen and the husband's </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(St. Donald)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> half-bath. In order for me to have a mess in one part of the house, another location has to be *well* organized.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the mess of all things kitchen in the dining room. I won't even dare to show you what's in the living room ;-)</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBjM8B7UA29Xg1nntQWhRgzG8kWZoJ9K6AWwkjqzEUJRLUBcMYLQjMbAaoa1nB7vTr-KRycLQfFPPYdLnEvudn9t6sKWtQQdf_xbrGIIStsdZ56p1hzdz_VySugrRkxAKrcn2Yw89USc/s1600/DSC02234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBjM8B7UA29Xg1nntQWhRgzG8kWZoJ9K6AWwkjqzEUJRLUBcMYLQjMbAaoa1nB7vTr-KRycLQfFPPYdLnEvudn9t6sKWtQQdf_xbrGIIStsdZ56p1hzdz_VySugrRkxAKrcn2Yw89USc/s320/DSC02234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_szF3EXM0n-WME_JylIIDhAGp-VhnRpcyHUjDXGOMhGOfbuNCfw5F052Ydh_-z5WBozd2r5dmUZp1WXprLnKswwhKULa3nCwzX0dITr-nOAGQB2x-lynTyHqhgR3KYRYpFaPqKwPVOX4/s1600/DSC02233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_szF3EXM0n-WME_JylIIDhAGp-VhnRpcyHUjDXGOMhGOfbuNCfw5F052Ydh_-z5WBozd2r5dmUZp1WXprLnKswwhKULa3nCwzX0dITr-nOAGQB2x-lynTyHqhgR3KYRYpFaPqKwPVOX4/s320/DSC02233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So this means that the room of stash got a good straightening over the weekend, something that had been piling up since the holidays. Because I have some many different interests, organization is key to playing. Please don't think I'm sick, sick, sick because of my manic desire to label everything. I think it's just a carry-over of 30 years of filing habits as a teacher!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAHmMfHhQVs6LMxwbZuxHYh3xummZ_dw9Y_nErxPxcVsiVsN3KbPtcCvtxlyvg8aavD2kHiTd2aS8tkGzfivQRhq3SgybMueNju17OPxGtnE4ILplWZQhHMAeoVyHI4BqBL90HuNYVGE/s1600/DSC02231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAHmMfHhQVs6LMxwbZuxHYh3xummZ_dw9Y_nErxPxcVsiVsN3KbPtcCvtxlyvg8aavD2kHiTd2aS8tkGzfivQRhq3SgybMueNju17OPxGtnE4ILplWZQhHMAeoVyHI4BqBL90HuNYVGE/s320/DSC02231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/">Mr. Tim's</a> alcohol inks divided into lights, brights and earthtones, plus some stickles.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyChbhTXz49hO4eJUXLrig4N_mNHov3l1VyEfTFWGlmbnJtPG37NFLBjq4qlaMVz4prJqMNhU_pevGhvak2Ybk8oR-VE-RpY8BoX6XY9rYv5DVpNRZvJ0nLOflg-npFJ3KnYGwVmXK14/s1600/DSC02232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyChbhTXz49hO4eJUXLrig4N_mNHov3l1VyEfTFWGlmbnJtPG37NFLBjq4qlaMVz4prJqMNhU_pevGhvak2Ybk8oR-VE-RpY8BoX6XY9rYv5DVpNRZvJ0nLOflg-npFJ3KnYGwVmXK14/s320/DSC02232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> More Mr. Tim toys: blending tools, distress embossing powders and lots of glitter.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGHKRRKmHY3TDWVGxsNr0QFeySHUXgEODjZBO7f4vd7iZXjwk6KJXfuHvek652weuTMF4A78ImtzCoIf5lLhlpetssZD7yA3hk-lqWiDtCK09DzbDOMXEjLAv-R54vfle2KCUFP2wpOY/s1600/DSC02226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGHKRRKmHY3TDWVGxsNr0QFeySHUXgEODjZBO7f4vd7iZXjwk6KJXfuHvek652weuTMF4A78ImtzCoIf5lLhlpetssZD7yA3hk-lqWiDtCK09DzbDOMXEjLAv-R54vfle2KCUFP2wpOY/s320/DSC02226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">More Tim Holtz goodies: <a href="http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/servlet/StoreFront">Distress stains</a> (DS). Most stash items are out in the open so I can remember to play with them. I'm one of those out of sight, out of mind people, so I *love* to see stash. There is no doubt that I am addicted to color. If you don't have the DS yet, splurge and get them all at once. That way you won't have to keep going back for one or two. Play will start immediately when they are on your desk. (I punched 1 inch circles, glued them to the to of the bottles and then dabbed them with the DS color, nifty, n'est-ce pas?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I plan to spend time in the studio today making backgrounds for cards that I'll create tomorrow and mail on Friday. Organization and planning make me comfortable, whereas chaos gives me a case of the crazies.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of organized, pop on over to <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Miss Julia's Stamping Ground</a> to see what's going on around the world. Her blog friends always brings a smile to my face. Make something good this week - and make a good hearty laugh to go along with it. Hugs,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> PS, If you are a fan of <a href="http://www.stampotique.com/">Stampotique</a>, go visit <a href="http://giniowen.blogspot.com/">Gini</a> at "A little bit of shiny." She is their guest artist this month and does tons of fab things with their stamps. Would that I could have a Stampotique collection like hers and the talent to use it. This is something to which I can aspire. (don't ya love the grammar!) Thanks for visiting this week.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> PSS Did I remember to show you the basket in which I keep my TH Sizzix dies? I'm running out of space and must stop buying stash. *<em>Someone</em>* needs an intervention. rofl</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IX5M8UtKUFIUVORILoLrCGgPsGynYiXPJ_3wwgWiXRDrEve0EN6TXCYcPtK-WmKOghebxCPFrFenyHdVxrQ2PPvCDTWzVlvEOE2kPsCC54n5tTO852wa8QB9pnQkvmvJHKeEAwompgM/s1600/DSC02203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IX5M8UtKUFIUVORILoLrCGgPsGynYiXPJ_3wwgWiXRDrEve0EN6TXCYcPtK-WmKOghebxCPFrFenyHdVxrQ2PPvCDTWzVlvEOE2kPsCC54n5tTO852wa8QB9pnQkvmvJHKeEAwompgM/s320/DSC02203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Th-th-th-that's all folks!</span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-33791942343520120232011-03-02T14:01:00.000-05:002011-03-02T14:01:47.698-05:00#91 WOYWW Back in the swing of things<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yippee it's time for a trip around the world over at </span></span><a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Julia's Stamping Ground</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">. I can't tell you how much this has changed my life, I mean where else can you go to visit, greet and meet so many great artists. Yes, artists. I am of the opinion that anyone who is creative is an artiste because they share their work in a public forum, i.e., chez Julia.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since the husband's return from golfing in South Carolina, I'm more inclined to head down to the studio, room of stash, furnace room, etc. Last weekend I made a reallllly long banner for my niece's birthday. Well I had to, there was a lot to say: Angela*16*Mar.19* It is probably 4 ft long. Here it is</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EUPYRVZbedhyphenhyphenYdB3PP5zjo6LanOcLutGbV7Z0feKc1i7ZZKWzF0UcQhcGTYRgwo5BjxtGTOjIvnDbHVWVzEnnAyH7fBoQTaPuNC4Qi9NtAZUYYTXwi4ub_N7Dpnvv4OaOV65fuex-Cg/s1600/DSC02220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EUPYRVZbedhyphenhyphenYdB3PP5zjo6LanOcLutGbV7Z0feKc1i7ZZKWzF0UcQhcGTYRgwo5BjxtGTOjIvnDbHVWVzEnnAyH7fBoQTaPuNC4Qi9NtAZUYYTXwi4ub_N7Dpnvv4OaOV65fuex-Cg/s640/DSC02220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I think she'll like it, and especially the little bit of cash I tucked inside, too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also played with some alcohol inks. They sure are easy to use and make some uber cool backgrounds for stamping.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQDhVbAMip_TLXq7xsqvavhKFBud6P04dlLmJqJ5w69L5wWPaUjrQJ4Wjr7IkpdJgcMudlMUrEK58kQKL5F0zBUAPq-QxcoUv4NvA3ylihALLo4YVLgC_ElCqBJ43X2pt0Xe_F_w3eGI/s1600/DSC02227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQDhVbAMip_TLXq7xsqvavhKFBud6P04dlLmJqJ5w69L5wWPaUjrQJ4Wjr7IkpdJgcMudlMUrEK58kQKL5F0zBUAPq-QxcoUv4NvA3ylihALLo4YVLgC_ElCqBJ43X2pt0Xe_F_w3eGI/s640/DSC02227.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Here's a card I made. Love those colors for spring. You may be wondering why there is a dental tool in front of the card. Well, it makes it easier for me to take the plastic redline tape off the adhesive than if I used my fingernails! </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM0oUnCuI0H8aSry6jMZgTMWIJCIDpfpvYumtVMO4NWL7kB8X0OZ8ApCcsCckRahyphenhyphend_PaPqHXQPHIfFrQP-FCgqmVaCtllpVFRW2zQ2cK956L-95vo321HeCeejznLNU-sviYEHAXubs/s1600/DSC02229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM0oUnCuI0H8aSry6jMZgTMWIJCIDpfpvYumtVMO4NWL7kB8X0OZ8ApCcsCckRahyphenhyphend_PaPqHXQPHIfFrQP-FCgqmVaCtllpVFRW2zQ2cK956L-95vo321HeCeejznLNU-sviYEHAXubs/s640/DSC02229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've had the tool for eons and can only suggest that you ask your dentist for old or broken ones. I wonder if a local medical supply store might have one? Another tool I love to use is a hemostat for gripping tiny eye screws when using <a href="http://eclecticpaperie.com/timhoidco.html">Tim Holtz's Configurations</a>. My fingers don't fit in those small spaces. I simply </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(haha)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> make a hole with the dental tool, grasp the eye screw with the hemostat and turn. Maybe this little tip will be of help to some of you who are equally as challenged as I am! Now I'm off to the post office to mail the banner.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope you have time to make something creative and fun that will make you smile and laugh. Hugs. </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-60563279335722605662011-02-24T12:10:00.002-05:002011-02-26T14:30:31.652-05:00WOYWW #90 - I'm glad to be back!<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can't believe that it is Wednesday again. And I'm finally back again after a month long drought in the studio. I've been poking about here and there, but with no real direction or inspiration. Kinda strange with all that stash ready to be put to paper and such. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been hibernating more or less with snow and gray skies - but mostly playing with the silly cat who demands lots of attention. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have made a few little goodies for Valentine's day, but nothing like the frenzy of a year ago. Here is a little banner for my sis and her daughters - it's their last name </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">deLuca</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, but I'll give you a close up for the de-tails. As you can tell, I used Tim Holtz's Baroque die for the background and his rosettes for the center. Lots of color that I made myself with Adirondack wild plum reinker and perfect pearls. I like the way it looks with the dusty concord distress ink and purple stickles. It's more of a spring banner than a valentine theme.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN2VNdH8MZkicAAfk8-c5b9JgiK-gj-u6Xka3Vsanf4TpeH_Nvqc7gCSEi5TobBNbbqWVMk7Ns_5EMV57y2lXz-RBGyq3aV6bnl4vYgdauWmLYgTGb3TKLBBFkM-ShWfJfUdIKj0AcUQ/s1600/DSC02214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN2VNdH8MZkicAAfk8-c5b9JgiK-gj-u6Xka3Vsanf4TpeH_Nvqc7gCSEi5TobBNbbqWVMk7Ns_5EMV57y2lXz-RBGyq3aV6bnl4vYgdauWmLYgTGb3TKLBBFkM-ShWfJfUdIKj0AcUQ/s400/DSC02214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I also did a small piece for my nephew's 17th birthday. It is grungeboard with paint dabber, crackle paint, distress ink and various do-dads with alcohol ink, perfect pearls and more. Thank goodness he liked it - you never know with teenage boys. Maybe it was the cash I put in with the plaque?!!!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4Y0-iCvTwChNnZ2vwQqSoa_KOG-rUN0Qaj-HomYaHCzFvQy_VEFBT4UM8zAi-Csr7JJkoTYFWS4X1qAjAwGhwoJTKjeyJqlfC7fF1a7LsjHW1VHy-QsR_k40PlAJrv4ItgzKFLHo5RQ/s1600/DSC02208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4Y0-iCvTwChNnZ2vwQqSoa_KOG-rUN0Qaj-HomYaHCzFvQy_VEFBT4UM8zAi-Csr7JJkoTYFWS4X1qAjAwGhwoJTKjeyJqlfC7fF1a7LsjHW1VHy-QsR_k40PlAJrv4ItgzKFLHo5RQ/s400/DSC02208.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I also did a class on brayered background at the local stamp store - Buffalo Stamps and Stuff. That's the card you see on the right. Talk about a technique! I love the effects you get with it and I'll get around to practicing it more one of these days.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps my creative blockage is from having too many choices of stash to play with - more likely it has to do with mental blockage! I guess I have accomplished a few things in the atelier, and promise to do better in the coming weeks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To joing the world-wide blog hop pop over to <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Julia's</a> and enjoy the fun.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope you have time to creative something fun - even smiles and laughter count! </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-90570632717780782012011-01-25T21:34:00.000-05:002011-01-25T21:34:42.090-05:00Here's what's on my mantel WOYWW #86<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Not much going on here in work desk-land. Ophelia has discovered that it is a fun place to bat pens and pencils and sniff Distress Ink pads. No creativity to see at the desk.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">So I will post what I made in Banner Class. Lovely Mona of Buffalo Stamps and Stuff (BSS, our local stamp store) designed and prepped all the materials for this fab Valentine banner. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAjjBF1hCsYbtctDlY1k31jLuB9xmRCfEP_28dUzRvLLk2a2s-nEt8qbvHnPBEiYydr5jl1dtnqH1zNF6h160GxXYPTB3cKJfmNOdTluxIrGszckVM4KtXHEL7fYO5HqzHMUoIW3mzAk/s1600/DSC02206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAjjBF1hCsYbtctDlY1k31jLuB9xmRCfEP_28dUzRvLLk2a2s-nEt8qbvHnPBEiYydr5jl1dtnqH1zNF6h160GxXYPTB3cKJfmNOdTluxIrGszckVM4KtXHEL7fYO5HqzHMUoIW3mzAk/s640/DSC02206.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Isn't it grand? It was labor intensive, distressing (victorian velvet), folding and gluing, stickling and hole punching, so much fun for those of us in the class. Thanks, Mona.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Here's a close up of some panels. Aren't they luscious?</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibB3yXcYj34vpOw35rSOz01IVsMdZiVmG4qlEPFF_7g4I8KVHgrlmV3iW1t60FJvgR-csiGJI5NfLgYr2G3v-DacDX2pLJwlFRXYj2mwuWMMTjcwCyKZidbwNV1MbPxT2mtoZBmaNL_MA/s1600/DSC02207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibB3yXcYj34vpOw35rSOz01IVsMdZiVmG4qlEPFF_7g4I8KVHgrlmV3iW1t60FJvgR-csiGJI5NfLgYr2G3v-DacDX2pLJwlFRXYj2mwuWMMTjcwCyKZidbwNV1MbPxT2mtoZBmaNL_MA/s640/DSC02207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">I plan to leave it up until I make one for another season or holiday. Hint, hint Mona. lol</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">On Friday our little tag club will meet at BSS and I have to get busy on our challenges from Tim's Compendium of Curiosities, 5 techniques from p. 41-45. I've been putting off doing the tags for quite some time now. I think I will work best under pressure...yeah, right. Seriously, instead of doing one tag for each technique, I'd like to incorporate them into one or two tags. Guess you'll have to come back next week to see what I did.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">In the meantime, enjoy the snoop at other desks at <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Miss Julia's place</a>. Take a look at what they've created, not just the WOYWW posting. Enjoy reflecting on the creativity. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(yes, this picture was taken in one of my guest rooms)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQN14yA65Vnzp4MxqltR8KoVgX2xzdTMTJtq405LCoN-mVP7Z7SVRAQchqtm2qkA7ogiSkaK9QUhJUnwL5c8UI1yved1rvoNC8bUea0oYWL5kzLSlzLOFOtZAuNZysvL-Yrf1EvL0umo/s1600/11-21+Hat+wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQN14yA65Vnzp4MxqltR8KoVgX2xzdTMTJtq405LCoN-mVP7Z7SVRAQchqtm2qkA7ogiSkaK9QUhJUnwL5c8UI1yved1rvoNC8bUea0oYWL5kzLSlzLOFOtZAuNZysvL-Yrf1EvL0umo/s640/11-21+Hat+wall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"></span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-84864718415251511492011-01-19T14:15:00.001-05:002011-01-19T14:15:59.239-05:00Okay, Okay, this is the real WOYWW post<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just a quick peek today at what is good about the stash room/studio/furnace room! You can read my last post for more of what I've been up to (lost mojo, reward offered.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember to stop over to <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Julia's</a> to see what is on creative desks everywhere for WOYWW. I wouldn't miss it for the world. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to focus on the few corners of the room that are organized, since I haven't been creating anything. First are my bins with Tim's Alterations and On the Edge dies. I like how the metal mesh bins stack. Plus there are handles so they can easily be picked up should I ever decide to vacuum / Hoover the floor. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygCXSniorrbjez7laYgnDCn3Tc5Y9f_RAVLiWXJTbvMBTpFGOoAf7sMvpdebE3ci_eTkXuB0LIRy1A9Yh6TjorT40y7XqYibWk4bB7lJcsIojqhinj5kGBQIuaS-NKyypjhyphenhyphenYuUAuKlE/s1600/DSC02203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygCXSniorrbjez7laYgnDCn3Tc5Y9f_RAVLiWXJTbvMBTpFGOoAf7sMvpdebE3ci_eTkXuB0LIRy1A9Yh6TjorT40y7XqYibWk4bB7lJcsIojqhinj5kGBQIuaS-NKyypjhyphenhyphenYuUAuKlE/s320/DSC02203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LfFuLMkReXOUZL0QdLIQtPBiXRFd54L9ec7jHA_yOmapSZe7iFP8rf2i0v5JAfg_7LoWCC6Z4bsEbTfUgb_DwVU1eTy_2MQufXKzPtpnXVgeDYtE5nxUWBmqIPu-GXf9ND6bz86sk3E/s1600/DSC02204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LfFuLMkReXOUZL0QdLIQtPBiXRFd54L9ec7jHA_yOmapSZe7iFP8rf2i0v5JAfg_7LoWCC6Z4bsEbTfUgb_DwVU1eTy_2MQufXKzPtpnXVgeDYtE5nxUWBmqIPu-GXf9ND6bz86sk3E/s320/DSC02204.JPG" width="213" /> </a> </div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Next are my stamp bins arranged by season/holiday topped with my Copics and Prismacolor collection.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally a drawer containing my alcohol inks, reinkers and stickles. I put the bottles in cookie tins and greeting card boxes from days of yore. On top of each <i>AI</i> I have glued a circle left over from a paper punch and put a drop of <i>AI</i> on the paper so I have a general idea of what colors are where. Not sure where I picked up this technique, but I like it and I'm not always knocking those tiny bottle over like dominoes. lol</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK3e7-cB4GVxR3bbuzcLakMsLyGfQWDBzDtneX2jtWMgMhSA4mOFFw0vGXTP9D0ZpRyOZNESuf_tMaAwL9Z3I8NHreOgX5InCl0XxqiEdF3Nd9NIE4pZyt5KHA6ExzXpopqTZKhECYuQ/s1600/DSC02202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK3e7-cB4GVxR3bbuzcLakMsLyGfQWDBzDtneX2jtWMgMhSA4mOFFw0vGXTP9D0ZpRyOZNESuf_tMaAwL9Z3I8NHreOgX5InCl0XxqiEdF3Nd9NIE4pZyt5KHA6ExzXpopqTZKhECYuQ/s320/DSC02202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's it for today, hope you have time to make something fun.</span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-59160333728193855882011-01-17T15:55:00.004-05:002011-01-17T16:22:07.009-05:00Where has my mojo gone? Maybe this is my WOYWW entry<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's been almost a week since I've shared with you. In the meantime, <a href="http://jozartdesigns.blogspot.com/">JoZart</a> has honored me with a couple of awards - Stylish Blogger Award, and My Blog Has Attitude. Many thanks to Jo for her kindness.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, I've been trying like a madwoman to get the graphics installed on the sidebar gadgets with no luck. So I guess I'll just have to brag about them here. lol</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now I have to tell you some things about myself that you might not already know - 8 things. Here goes:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. I have ...danced the samba in the streets of Rio de Janeiro with about 10,000 other people (1998 World Cup Soccer); have been an extra in an Italian film; lived in Italy for a year long, long ago. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(no, not during the Renaissance!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. I love...listening to the blues, or real rock n roll, none of this "new" rock for me! Classics only, please.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. Favorite thing to eat...penne bolognese with carrot cake for dessert.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. Colors...shades of yellow and orange sunsets.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">5. I try...to laugh everyday.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">6. My biggest wish...to be close to all my loved ones, to see them often and for health and happiness to follow them always.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">7. I fear...being alone, all alone, lonely. But I won't let that happen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">8. Amongst the jobs I've had...working in a printer's shop and unloading a truck filled with boxes of paper! I'm not put off by hard work. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now I'd like to pass this along to 4 of my favorite bloggers</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, to <a href="http://ibeenthinkinboutinkin.blogspot.com/">Lori H.</a> whose artistic ability always amazes me - not to mention we share the same quirky sense of humor.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next to <a href="http://whatsnextnancy.blogspot.com/">Nancy C.</a> who is so busy and yet finds time to make a beautiful array of art.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also, to <a href="http://crafts-international.blogspot.com/">Jude</a> whose heart is in the right place all the time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, <a href="http://stampingbyh.blogspot.com/">Helen</a>, who shares my love of Stampotique designs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These women probably don't know the impact their blogs and creativity have had on me, but they have kept me company many a late night and their ideas have inspired me to make something fun.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXpKHSffldlqjv5g7DRvxsjIJVA5A_2yoSfLQ-d_uZ7ckuQJ4SHFiERBaSELmlv2oy_0FlXSwbf-BAcCwH5dVN8TYb_GsDo7VtvVdN78Ulz-0DEFVsZSls9kzao75mWiObAA8Nfr5AcA/s1600/stylish_blogger_award-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXpKHSffldlqjv5g7DRvxsjIJVA5A_2yoSfLQ-d_uZ7ckuQJ4SHFiERBaSELmlv2oy_0FlXSwbf-BAcCwH5dVN8TYb_GsDo7VtvVdN78Ulz-0DEFVsZSls9kzao75mWiObAA8Nfr5AcA/s320/stylish_blogger_award-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0vwRj4wNDBlfB7yMJJCqWARLYNiMtwXJLVc2JBWfrZH9cMYHdnSzjzS4kwUTGa-Xe8IOQNcpz5N_QKjJTNlImVvnIaF4ptc3B0Qx9BCO-_j5ts2AOKillE5wT6FCMLID_esClAKr-FM/s1600/Ive+got+attitude+blog+award.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0vwRj4wNDBlfB7yMJJCqWARLYNiMtwXJLVc2JBWfrZH9cMYHdnSzjzS4kwUTGa-Xe8IOQNcpz5N_QKjJTNlImVvnIaF4ptc3B0Qx9BCO-_j5ts2AOKillE5wT6FCMLID_esClAKr-FM/s320/Ive+got+attitude+blog+award.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Thanks for your inspiration, your personal style and for sharing your attitude.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1QD62U48AxvHSQsYGRqYzrzBZLV-NLjdUUnQtncICkeUlMiND4cp3WyK9TBczBWp7q8nNalUQQ14iUC04p8y4wEznnDDU57FFgT97_ctOrszO25jb7ZPaVulfGOEwTzWRItxWg_wFgE/s1600/DSC02201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1QD62U48AxvHSQsYGRqYzrzBZLV-NLjdUUnQtncICkeUlMiND4cp3WyK9TBczBWp7q8nNalUQQ14iUC04p8y4wEznnDDU57FFgT97_ctOrszO25jb7ZPaVulfGOEwTzWRItxWg_wFgE/s400/DSC02201.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did make something fun over the weekend - a Tim Holtz configuration box for Halloween. I know, it's a bit early, but it's a perfect time of year to put something together to have it ready to go. Sharon, owner of my LSS Buffalo Stamps and Stuff, offered the class on Saturday. We all had such a good time tissue taping, inking, gluing and adding our frightening goodies to the sweet little cubbies. The skull on the right side has a hole in its neck and sits upon a battery operated tea light so the head flickers. The bottle of blood/poison is really cool, too. Just love Tim's papers and all the little details that go into this config. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally I leave you today with a picture of Ophelia dressed to kill. She is such a diva in her 4 foot long red feather boa and loves to carry it around the house in her mouth: down to the basement then back upstairs through the living room then under the bed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It turns out that she is a mouser. Last night she brought my husband a mouse trap, complete with trapped mouse </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(deceased, thank goodness)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, up from the basement! She was highly praised for her bravery and success. Not a bad day in the life of a spoiled only child! What a puss.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFegY4Fn_NBZw-s00d7dJhaz0T1trqtZFg97kkdR8FknTEAufGqxb_1cPfPIS4VVe5BQfFVHezshsciwxV2BPnUtrY2nSNWujGbGqBU33wx-B6KIZUw4QuwEYqEWPsBCeDfKHvz6lhH4/s1600/DSC02197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFegY4Fn_NBZw-s00d7dJhaz0T1trqtZFg97kkdR8FknTEAufGqxb_1cPfPIS4VVe5BQfFVHezshsciwxV2BPnUtrY2nSNWujGbGqBU33wx-B6KIZUw4QuwEYqEWPsBCeDfKHvz6lhH4/s400/DSC02197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope you make something fun today, even if it is "just" a laugh or a smile. To be continued... </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-85325356832042389112011-01-12T12:27:00.000-05:002011-01-12T12:27:13.011-05:00WOYWW I won blog candy!<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday afternoon the postman brought me a wonderful package from my friend Jo in Liverpool, England! I am so excited to have won one of her bitty buckets plus a few jewels and stamps - many thanks, Jo. You must check out her work at <a href="http://jozartdesigns.blogspot.com/">JoZart</a>; she is multi-talented and a sweet soul. Here is the cool bitty bucket that hangs off the edge of my desk to keep scissors, pencils and other bits n' bobs handy.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1oIWlkB5tdU9BfxRnsK6WhdFoxNn8stcGlak9C7GiXZOxTbMbQ4hguboqwmkE8aoJurRcCvHeJTWw6WEXkNC0Hlo8vde65TohSxYbwXif2EmfLzylvwLJ0nAVLxg0ybMP3f986gTToE/s1600/01-12-11a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1oIWlkB5tdU9BfxRnsK6WhdFoxNn8stcGlak9C7GiXZOxTbMbQ4hguboqwmkE8aoJurRcCvHeJTWw6WEXkNC0Hlo8vde65TohSxYbwXif2EmfLzylvwLJ0nAVLxg0ybMP3f986gTToE/s400/01-12-11a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Don't you just love that cool print fabric of people in conversation? And that hot pink liner is so cheerful on today's snowy afternoon. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5aBj1V6L1zwNdXwnbYBMo4k_z9yHR8BeiY9GZwN2HURcnPfcpWtWgW0zwsLDtDqRnth2qigFk2K8EIcDk_fsR8dnu8VIogA78i9XLWtBGVn4nZuDIIk1JMb-u-6alRY1OVEjpEsL-5Y/s1600/01-12-11b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5aBj1V6L1zwNdXwnbYBMo4k_z9yHR8BeiY9GZwN2HURcnPfcpWtWgW0zwsLDtDqRnth2qigFk2K8EIcDk_fsR8dnu8VIogA78i9XLWtBGVn4nZuDIIk1JMb-u-6alRY1OVEjpEsL-5Y/s400/01-12-11b.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you for your kind words of welcome to Ophelia, my Christmas gift from St. Donald. Believe me, I didn't put her under the tree, she did this all by her little self. She has settled in nicely and likes to sit by the window and watch the birds at the feeder as big fluffy snowflakes float by. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's hoping you make something fun today. Hugs!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-35595331531604772932011-01-05T08:01:00.000-05:002011-01-05T08:01:25.945-05:00Wow, two weeks since my last WOYWW<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello and Happy New Year to all on this eleventh day of Christmas! What with Christmas travel out of town for a week and all, I didn't have anything to report. The only crafting that I've done is online shopping for stash stuff. When that arrives I expect to hit the atelier with a full head of steam.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Briefly, the tags and origami gifts for the teens were a <em>huge</em></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> hit. How can I top that for next year? The nephew liked his tag so much that he put it in the family xmas tree. That made me feel special.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The husband, St. Donald, surprised me with a second xmas gift yesterday that I suspect will be on my work desk in the next few days. Meet Ophelia! </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUpWzbgYUK5gJCyyZVsBcD1LhSJ7CVUT71z9-6MXSwoOMHbRF-0dxzQdktnGUXJR1qT2vQu_zdQecSj5H8Ylk01eY_FJFKfOgahBKsHfIO7Mt9bnNXCl0e3zVW98MX7czlCuLOgKGtn4/s1600/ophelia+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUpWzbgYUK5gJCyyZVsBcD1LhSJ7CVUT71z9-6MXSwoOMHbRF-0dxzQdktnGUXJR1qT2vQu_zdQecSj5H8Ylk01eY_FJFKfOgahBKsHfIO7Mt9bnNXCl0e3zVW98MX7czlCuLOgKGtn4/s320/ophelia+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Since he brought this one-year old female home from the shelter yesterday, she hasn't left our sides. She is super curious and extra affectionate. Can't wait to introduce her to the room of stash.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, it's time for you to hop over to <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Julia's Stamping Ground</a> and see the desks of our dear blog friends. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hope you can make something fun even if it's only just a smile! Hugs to all.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-61497326652866083642010-12-21T21:12:00.001-05:002010-12-21T22:08:17.061-05:00Hello WOYWW -ers<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another Wednesday, with Christmas just 3 more wake-ups away! I've put the finishing touches on the Tim tags/gifts for my 5 nieces and 1 nephew. Thought I would post them for you to see tonight. No, the kids aren't going to peek.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nor will their parents. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">After all, teenagers don't read blogs by their crafty auntie. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hop over to <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Julia's Stamping Ground</a> and have a look-see at work desks around the world. There are some very talented and ultra wonderful people with really cool things going on. I highly recommend you turn on the Christmas music and grab a cup of cocoa to enjoy as you hop about the world.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, a very merry Christmas to all. Second, a very happy New Year. May you have health, happiness and enough of what you need.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On with the show and a little bit of tell. Here you see one of the 12 tags of Christmas directed by none other than <a href="http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/">Tim Holtz</a>. After adapting his tag (faith) I origami-ed some money (butterfly) and glued it on the back. Actually, I didn't glue the cash to the back of the tag, just the pipe cleaner body. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBoyt92RNdKqXzLatxxl8tJwu-kIFYRCshysg1UX8W5w6qVxEQdGMJoKIl7sNWFTEmiXg35tne_WaKXbU-o60e9mwb-t1TMrvTqDEAkQchbBR980Zi9tPUHrBFexi8ZkvZ6mC7b11pJo/s1600/DSC02148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBoyt92RNdKqXzLatxxl8tJwu-kIFYRCshysg1UX8W5w6qVxEQdGMJoKIl7sNWFTEmiXg35tne_WaKXbU-o60e9mwb-t1TMrvTqDEAkQchbBR980Zi9tPUHrBFexi8ZkvZ6mC7b11pJo/s400/DSC02148.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Next I used my new <a href="http://www.stampotique.com/">Stampotique</a> stamps with Prismacolor pencils, and cut out the image. I distressed inked the edges and mounted it on distress inked and stamped card stock. I love, love, love the holiday background stamp (stampotique, too.) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Isn't this dear the cutest thing!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffWYWYRYOs0PlzhiaZxiomgaCs9ehDVNVFxEqRAOGtKXTX-gG43FpcuEm0MvXxEeKVMySRKSyxWWXFvKmPzsEeu-Putm6JdfR1ifGfcE0KUTOtWLXWsoLOVN0G-2rh59ySWb0rBMdDe0/s1600/DSC02150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffWYWYRYOs0PlzhiaZxiomgaCs9ehDVNVFxEqRAOGtKXTX-gG43FpcuEm0MvXxEeKVMySRKSyxWWXFvKmPzsEeu-Putm6JdfR1ifGfcE0KUTOtWLXWsoLOVN0G-2rh59ySWb0rBMdDe0/s400/DSC02150.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uX8QLZflt8EUwSLbwS565_nmcoJXrSzE-keNGHZpjw99gz9CxvAH3IK12LFmQ0faJMEAqPqETt9jYne9OsBgDGvMPcQAgCyJoBkZmm_d8bLL8MG0O5lhz8HcQAtcqPGGrWRs9wTpK0U/s1600/DSC02151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uX8QLZflt8EUwSLbwS565_nmcoJXrSzE-keNGHZpjw99gz9CxvAH3IK12LFmQ0faJMEAqPqETt9jYne9OsBgDGvMPcQAgCyJoBkZmm_d8bLL8MG0O5lhz8HcQAtcqPGGrWRs9wTpK0U/s400/DSC02151.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> These are the finished gift packages. Card on top, tag and origami-ed money inside. And to think it took soooooo long to get to this point. <em>For just 6 kids</em>. Nothing for the adults and <span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>gasp!</strong></span> nothing, nothing, nothing <em>yet</em> for St. Donald. Yikes, I better do something quickly as we leave Thursday, </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">yes, in just a few short hours,</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for Indianapolis, IN - </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas at mom's - age 82 and going strong.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I don't know what to get him - he gets what he wants or needs throughout the year and has all the electronics, gadgets, golfballs and golf clubs a man could want. To top it all off, he doesn't <em>believe</em> in gift lists. It couldn't be more maddening! </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">sigh</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Past years' gift for him haven't gone so well, <em>at least</em> 4 returned items; the idea of and A-Z Christmas fell flat. I bought him gifts that started with the letters a-z, for example, ABCE were children's </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>E</strong></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">rasers in the shapes of <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">A-B-C </span></strong></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">clever, right? Wrong. Evidently there were too many packages to open or something. I had fun putting it together, I guess that in itself is a kind of a gift.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I write this I'm kinda feelin' like this guy...</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2Pj3s112mW-14WdYDy7EcQKvsmL2eJeg_typ1zIk3pkJbH5WZG8SlLvl_5BqEiV_i150VRY0tDs-FDosvQYZyUoOyIuL1p-Dfp_981amzYzCjElepum0iUqXElHCcMR__oabt7zdr84/s1600/DSC02153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2Pj3s112mW-14WdYDy7EcQKvsmL2eJeg_typ1zIk3pkJbH5WZG8SlLvl_5BqEiV_i150VRY0tDs-FDosvQYZyUoOyIuL1p-Dfp_981amzYzCjElepum0iUqXElHCcMR__oabt7zdr84/s320/DSC02153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">but then I jest. I choose to wait for more snow to fall and enjoy the Christmas tree and lights on the houses around town. Remember....</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugIAvfnko4RUZ59X9L8ualefC3dU85Op3Nobp0RCg_R4L9YtKJ2tQQ9KIPgbPcrX4vg0kyX8w6x2JpG98YHyENtwxpVXS-LTAHFBJVixYdwGvBB7o3FXMrnIwNV65LcLNwx_nQnD8_XU/s1600/DSC02154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugIAvfnko4RUZ59X9L8ualefC3dU85Op3Nobp0RCg_R4L9YtKJ2tQQ9KIPgbPcrX4vg0kyX8w6x2JpG98YHyENtwxpVXS-LTAHFBJVixYdwGvBB7o3FXMrnIwNV65LcLNwx_nQnD8_XU/s320/DSC02154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be sure to make something fun. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and to all a good-night! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-14853881610632051832010-12-20T23:11:00.001-05:002010-12-21T21:10:36.869-05:00Hey there, hi there, ho there!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">I'll explain this photo at the end of today's post. But I just had to pique your curiosity. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lUY_zZmzZIHkvM8a7ZZg_BPTKjt75IZkJR6QWlVbaW9hyyGJ9_SjLLMD04n4c_rQfOuJYNSPg_qhMwnfUSfHuuxlxi1EKiWvABmKWup6cw2Z7P71K4hERsjuFd-SE07DW6sppo39Sio/s1600/Origami+xmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lUY_zZmzZIHkvM8a7ZZg_BPTKjt75IZkJR6QWlVbaW9hyyGJ9_SjLLMD04n4c_rQfOuJYNSPg_qhMwnfUSfHuuxlxi1EKiWvABmKWup6cw2Z7P71K4hERsjuFd-SE07DW6sppo39Sio/s320/Origami+xmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> The first of the holiday's guests have come and gone. St. Donald and I are dad and mom to 7 international exchange students. Because they are so far away we are lucky that the youngest of the crew, Ghufran </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">age 20</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">, lives in Toronto now. He is in his 3rd year at Ryerson University and is originally from Afghanistan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">There is a long version and a longer version of his saga. In short, he came here when he was 16 for a year of high school and then returned to Afghanistan to his family and to start college. Unfortunately, he and his family received threats and G </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">(Ghufran)</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> wanted very much to return to the States to be safe. A resourceful young man and entrepreneur, G managed to get an invitation to be a counselor at an international youth conference that was held in Washington DC. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">He had done this once prior to leaving the states and found the experience wonderful and enriching, thus he wanted to do it again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> We made arrangements for him to come "home" to Buffalo to spend a week with us in August before he planned to return to Afghanistan. Just before our visit was up, he skipped the Canadian border to seek political refugee status. Can you imagine any 17 year old that you know who might be willing to give up everything and start over in another culture and country? So this is where he went to high school and has lived on his own for the last 4 years. For those doing the math, he'll be 21 in April. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">So that's the short version.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> He came from Toronto to Ft. Erie, Ontatio, Canada by bus on Friday afternoon. The it is always better for either the St. Don or me to go pick him up and go through U.S. Customs with G than for him to go alone. It's always best to have a sponsor in his situation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> So at Customs we do the usual routine, pull up to the booth, turn off the car, hand over our documents and car keys and wait for 2 armed Homeland Security folks to come escort G into the building. A hour and a half and many questions and statements later, we are free to go and on our merry way to Christmas in Orchard Park. Yippee! </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">I'm still in the short version.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> He spent 2 night here in his own bed: friends to see, lunches and dinners with former teachers, bowling, movies and laughter. G left today on the next leg of his journey - off to NYC and then San Diego, California for Christmas, then the reverse again on January 2nd back to Toronto. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">I promise this is the short form!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> Then straight away off he will go to Prague for a 10 day international youth conference. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">Remember I said he was an entrepreneur? </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">He found scholarships, donations and matching funds to cover the $3,000 cost of the trip. This and manage a straight A average in his courses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> Not only am I proud of his accomplishments, I am in awe of his ability to set and reach his goals. <span style="font-size: small;">More proud momma details in another post.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> This </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;">in short</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> is why I haven't done any crafting of late. Now to the explanation of the above photo. Tonight I did manage to do some origami folding of cash-ola, moolah, bucks, dollar bills as gifts for the nieces and nephew. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Arial";"><span style="font-size: small;">a necktie, a heart and butterflies.</span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> I'll tape these to the back of the tags I made a couple weeks back and voilà, gifts will be finished. <span style="font-size: small;">We don't go in for all the rushing, buying, wrapping and spending. There is already enough to do for the holiday food and guests.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial;"> Tomorrow I'll explain my families silly and simple method of gift exchange...it's inexpensive and fun. Until then, make something fun, If you can't craft, then make a smile! </span></div>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-59390998361320813922010-12-15T13:17:00.000-05:002010-12-15T13:17:39.129-05:00WOYWW - go see Julia and her friends<span style="font-size: large;">I forgot to send you over to see <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Julia Dunnit's Stamping Ground</a> to join in the fun blog hop of WOYWW. Enjoy the ride!</span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-87484822262316016182010-12-15T12:34:00.001-05:002010-12-15T17:39:20.352-05:00Wake up - it's WOYWW & tags#6, 7, 10 & 12<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Phew! I've been tagging like a madwoman to complete Tim's 12 tags of christmas and forgot to post what I've done. Has that ever happened to you? Yeah, I thought so. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">So I slept until noon today </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">(fighting another 2 day migraine)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">and thought I'd better march on and get these goodies posted to share with you. This is <em><u>the aftermath</u></em> of the 12 tags of Christmas! Stuff everywhere on the desk and floor, too There is a little clear space on the craft mat for some new projects tomorrow.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkls2GmOrPPHvZkN5r09IYCZiQfcLCPQYo5xldH5mZaBUnAke-RuFb4D6MnFBLCxKN5dMZcAWGYU-1vDVnEarMbCCO5wc6dzBMODQSQbuur0w1civ1EjVaD5NyKREHSguWpQ-UpNTShxE/s1600/12-15+d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkls2GmOrPPHvZkN5r09IYCZiQfcLCPQYo5xldH5mZaBUnAke-RuFb4D6MnFBLCxKN5dMZcAWGYU-1vDVnEarMbCCO5wc6dzBMODQSQbuur0w1civ1EjVaD5NyKREHSguWpQ-UpNTShxE/s400/12-15+d.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> Here' my next love...some sweet holiday stamps from Stampotique. I've ignored them since they arrived, but now they will be the center of my universe. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF2vqabKYIwkYkBz9tLmHY25RZ_vtr8ELNFLP_Rhyphenhyphenov7ztKrQmZw06rDpIViTNn5RMAfwd9kyi6lNkmiwXl9UP_DGsdzAkzYec2faPhT2_uPogErcOJrejt1Tbxk1FvK-eVkQhwUMWhE/s1600/12-15+c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF2vqabKYIwkYkBz9tLmHY25RZ_vtr8ELNFLP_Rhyphenhyphenov7ztKrQmZw06rDpIViTNn5RMAfwd9kyi6lNkmiwXl9UP_DGsdzAkzYec2faPhT2_uPogErcOJrejt1Tbxk1FvK-eVkQhwUMWhE/s400/12-15+c.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> I'm not very good at doing original things, but I'll consider using some of Tim's techniques as a jumping off point to make a little something extra. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYfaIkB_LbNgIa4W9YLF9EPO50yJC_u498I7GJRQHVoh3rsnpuYCPYs9uA1ozwz2BV5_iuX8wUGKu-cyXm0SctfT7P3o4Nnerx2tpPCSTFmw8q5Bqc8GZx5qBbPrNR8WMF1A5Vw7VzYY/s1600/Day+6+-+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYfaIkB_LbNgIa4W9YLF9EPO50yJC_u498I7GJRQHVoh3rsnpuYCPYs9uA1ozwz2BV5_iuX8wUGKu-cyXm0SctfT7P3o4Nnerx2tpPCSTFmw8q5Bqc8GZx5qBbPrNR8WMF1A5Vw7VzYY/s400/Day+6+-+7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> Here are my tags </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">#</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">10 and </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">#</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">12. Improv and -ish were the name of the game since I didn't have the snowman die or the corners for the Joy card. I also failed to read and follow directions for the snowman, pretty typical of my impatience to finish something I think is cool. I continue to work on patience as a virtue!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB58CUhMv_0QdHP2VVTV3pFm_OiPK0uSNbq8DJCvpFn7u1np66QE2b0aQF_ZY7WYXgR2Vnml7u1xGYYMvThb3J7mCtnOiV0Gsp7jJEDKPHUCNCKnNJUk2cptSPcCa4TwvJBmUMAOT5GQQ/s1600/Day+10+-+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB58CUhMv_0QdHP2VVTV3pFm_OiPK0uSNbq8DJCvpFn7u1np66QE2b0aQF_ZY7WYXgR2Vnml7u1xGYYMvThb3J7mCtnOiV0Gsp7jJEDKPHUCNCKnNJUk2cptSPcCa4TwvJBmUMAOT5GQQ/s400/Day+10+-+12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Tags </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">#</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">6 and </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">#</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">7 turned out well. I love the texture fade technique, but that was the easiest part of the poinsettia tag. Pretty labor intensive. But I'd do it again in a heart beat. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A little PS here, I've decided not to do #8 since I don't have any of the materials. I'll try to do an -ish post after the holidays.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Since I was a couple days late and a dollar short I was completing 2 and a half tags per day to catch up. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh yeah, I had that cold thingy that laid me low for several days.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> St. Donald was doing sudoku and watching movies while I played tag. We're compatible like that - each has own interests and we don't mind being alone while being together. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">I shipped off a box of tags to the mother for her Advent card surprises and brought a couple more to Charlie in her new assisted living home. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Yesterday was another lake effect blizzard here, but being the good Buffalonian that I am, I drove to Canada for the monthly appointment chez la coiffeuse. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The hair is now ready for holidays in Indianapolis with the fam.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> Driving was somewhat dangerous, but then loyalty to one's hairdresser is more important, just drive slowly on the most traveled highways. The Queen Elizabeth Way was closed, so I took the scenic route, </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">what I could see of it</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">lol</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">That's about it for today, I do blather on, but at least it's in large print. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">rofl</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> Hope you've had time to make something fun. Warm hugs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-57692774219032799412010-12-10T00:20:00.001-05:002010-12-10T00:21:08.412-05:00Tags for all! and money's nice, too<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've been wondering what to give my teenage nieces and nephew for Christmas that is NOT a plastic gift card. Been there, done that, sooo over it. This is today's <a href="http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/">Tim tag #9</a> and I think I've found the answer. Here's what happened in the atelier today</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG507xqseUsIcf6Ex-CxYtCIwbM6g70-bAcigOmqEdGI6Q2-nHJhshJ6lyr7BcrFOjsL08vE_xVHwWZKrYtpF0ZcaC4zNzkh5tftjDkpzioLTYJKy6_XCEySNy2ta4mqDItMnz4VevY60/s1600/Day+9+tag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG507xqseUsIcf6Ex-CxYtCIwbM6g70-bAcigOmqEdGI6Q2-nHJhshJ6lyr7BcrFOjsL08vE_xVHwWZKrYtpF0ZcaC4zNzkh5tftjDkpzioLTYJKy6_XCEySNy2ta4mqDItMnz4VevY60/s640/Day+9+tag.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Yep, I made a bunch of 'em. Each of the darlin' teens </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(the kids)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> will get one of these babies and on the back I'll tape an origami folded moolah: cold, crispy cash to spend as they wish. I chose a different saying for each of them. Mom gets the "Jul" (pronounce yule) tag</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> since she is of Swedish descent</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(minus $$)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">. There's one for Charlie, and two for me. Naw, just kidding. One for another dear friend, Rachel. I give them to her as I make them, sort of like an irregular advent calendar gift!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did change up some of Tim's directions because I was doing so many...8 in all </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">with one in the trash</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">. I had to have something of an assembly line going. To make it easier to color the tags I used Wild Honey reinker with the heirloom gold perfect pearls spray on the craft mat instead of tapping the distress ink pad (wild honey and brushed corduroy.) This way I could dip the tag, dry it and move on quickly to the next tag. I had a really good rhythm going, too. And that glue gun was such a handy fellow. He'd been sitting in the drawer for over </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">mumble mumble mumble </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">years without ever being touched!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love the honey color, warm & sunny. The kids can have the tag out or hang it up all year instead of being limited to Christmas.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not having any pretty buttons kinda had me bummed, but got me to wondering what to use instead. D'ya know those old coins you've been saving as souvenirs? Well, I found a use for them. They are very cool and vintage to boot. Old French francs </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(well, duh yeah, I was a French teacher)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, Swedish and Norwegian kroner, British pence </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(one of the nieces was born in Basingstoke)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, Spanish pesetas, and a Russian ruble that came from out of nowhere! With a coin on the front then a couple of bucks taped on the back folded like butterflies or somethin' easy but eye-popping, that ought to keep the theme going.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I used grungeboard letters 'cuz I don't have the papercore or Tim's alphabet die. Painted 'em black, didn't sand them, just gave 'em a dollop of glossy accents to shine them up. Perfection was NOT in today's crafting vocabulary. It was not a labor intensive tag, which is why I enjoyed it so much. Another zen experience in the studio. ooooohmmmmm</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Drop me a comment and let me know how you change some of the steps to simplify your art. You know me, I love to learn and share shortcuts to art! Hope you made something fun today.</span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-49209296742607344882010-12-07T23:47:00.000-05:002010-12-07T23:47:44.583-05:00WOYWW and Day 7 Tim tag<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">I must admit to having spent the entire day on the couch with aches, chills and laryngitis. Hence, no tag today. Don't even have energy to deck the tree. No matter, I still managed to find some bins of decorations. So, here are the pics. Top bin is pretend xmas gift boxes for under the tree! lol Some boxes are so pretty that I can't bear to toss them. When they're under the tree it looks like there are lots of goodies! The middle bin is pine boughs for the banister and in the bottom one are the large ornaments I put in antique wash bowls </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">on the hearth</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">. I'll bring them all up from the basement storage room when I have a burst of energy.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e77M3xZ90UusJZyWdTbhpI41C_-FTmmUvMLqJtwtb-ifZQXJFYzyu5FxbdPWF4Rwf8PndG7i1Md6XB_SIC-_Gxn9he8BE_KriFv45fH1aCenMpwE43KsnZvnHUUHYnH-uXO5mWjD3KE/s1600/WOYWW+Dec+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e77M3xZ90UusJZyWdTbhpI41C_-FTmmUvMLqJtwtb-ifZQXJFYzyu5FxbdPWF4Rwf8PndG7i1Md6XB_SIC-_Gxn9he8BE_KriFv45fH1aCenMpwE43KsnZvnHUUHYnH-uXO5mWjD3KE/s640/WOYWW+Dec+8.JPG" width="426" /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"></span></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">On to WOYWW. Hop over to Julia's </span></span><a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">here</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> to see what's on work desks around the world. I've met some of the nicest, most wonderfully talented people from WOYWW! Thank you Julia, for letting us pop by for peeks and making new friends everywhere.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">This is my attempt to get some words together for tomorrow when I tackle Tim's tag Day 7. Having time to think about alternative supplies is a good thing. Rummaging about in forgotten corners is fun and does not require great thought, just simple appreciation for what one </span></span><em><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">does</span></span></em><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> have. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySyrR5aPLP-JRHOAih1iIH0SfhascXLMHEOjhw_JIRWtQC1ppt64mh5hISkpXIWZzIEw815rGvxOG62oOcgb-ML9S0-sqJfv5_Ff3V07qUhGwyDNgGzM0nMUNGxTgZF0CAgXdPrnJ3mw/s1600/tAG+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySyrR5aPLP-JRHOAih1iIH0SfhascXLMHEOjhw_JIRWtQC1ppt64mh5hISkpXIWZzIEw815rGvxOG62oOcgb-ML9S0-sqJfv5_Ff3V07qUhGwyDNgGzM0nMUNGxTgZF0CAgXdPrnJ3mw/s640/tAG+7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">So dear friends, enjoy your trip about the countryside as you visit Julia's faithful followers! Hope you had a chance to make something fun!</span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-7388115501660063482010-12-06T23:28:00.000-05:002010-12-06T23:28:13.671-05:00Taggin as fast as I can...puff..puff..Well folks, just when ya think you've caught up, Tim throws you a big curve ball that knocks you right off your chair in the atelier (studio, in french). Since I did so well yesterday and this morning on Days 4 and 5 plus my banner, I'm calling off work on Day 6 for tonight. I'll just catch you up on my copy-cat tags.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2jhsNwHdaVruf6XSZ-XD9Fg6-FaieoqOivfuWF6FK2_yd4jhScBkN1oHIlcPK1GZBPLu4D_pqD58slQRoCrolnY9vYXZOPs8ISw4yZ9T3gcg5qfEUNSB0lBfzmkvMnSNEJTDkL0KstI/s1600/Day+5+tag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2jhsNwHdaVruf6XSZ-XD9Fg6-FaieoqOivfuWF6FK2_yd4jhScBkN1oHIlcPK1GZBPLu4D_pqD58slQRoCrolnY9vYXZOPs8ISw4yZ9T3gcg5qfEUNSB0lBfzmkvMnSNEJTDkL0KstI/s320/Day+5+tag.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYFvbtLotLgvYYyYzvKlsbPnqNEo1fcYWS142TFzUE0AK7CypZaxfb5BVbJJ9Cd7jjKF-VAypknBvQvjsrWyyyqw0hyCXoz_WnKItvc0NCwmPlcd5LQ-hWa9NNuneZSkkip7u8RBteC4/s1600/Dahy+4+tag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYFvbtLotLgvYYyYzvKlsbPnqNEo1fcYWS142TFzUE0AK7CypZaxfb5BVbJJ9Cd7jjKF-VAypknBvQvjsrWyyyqw0hyCXoz_WnKItvc0NCwmPlcd5LQ-hWa9NNuneZSkkip7u8RBteC4/s320/Dahy+4+tag.JPG" width="320" /> </a> </div><br />
why, you ask, does she make 2 or 3 or even 4 tags per day? Is it so she <strong>a</strong>) can pick the best one for herself; <strong>b</strong>) throw away the worst one; <strong>c</strong>) practice techniques; or <strong>d</strong>) have extras to give away. your guess is as good as mine..... naw, it's e) all of the above. I mentioned a while back that St. Donald and I try to go daily to visit a 90 year old friend in the nursing home. Everyday is not always easy, as some of you may know all too well. But when I can't go, I make an extra tag for Charlie and she adores them! Even posts them on her bulletin board. She is full of life experience that she shares freely. Tomorrow she'll get the blue day 4 Santa.<br />
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On to the banner hanging from the mantle. The size and scale work well and it doesn't look all gawdy like a 1960's aluminum xmas tree (I know, I know, they now cost and arm and a leg.) I'll let you peek for yourself, welcome to the living room. I did finish the holiday banner. Not bad - 13 letters 'Happy Holidays' and it's not too long.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhga-M7cWy4fY8PyZjsulHJ0J7y7ffsDqzIIyBX9YuR9WwLiMPFAE84KnB0B6FxwYpIpc0DT-a_g9dUWrskw7nep9amAFIQjuxF3WQDBzMlNTsZBioTDnYEfm1aCjVZwSMHJpL_xRN-qbs/s1600/Banner+mantle+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhga-M7cWy4fY8PyZjsulHJ0J7y7ffsDqzIIyBX9YuR9WwLiMPFAE84KnB0B6FxwYpIpc0DT-a_g9dUWrskw7nep9amAFIQjuxF3WQDBzMlNTsZBioTDnYEfm1aCjVZwSMHJpL_xRN-qbs/s320/Banner+mantle+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Let me try a different shot. Here's a close up of one panel. Three triangles per panel, one rosette with small circle on one side and large oval on the other, and the glitter paper letter on top! Thanks to Mona (paper queen at BSS) who did all the class prep work: cutting, embossing, punching (this I like to do!), more and more cutting. All I did was glue, tape, glitter me little heart out, wrestle with mini eyelets, tape some more, push ribbons through impossibly small eyelets and tie knots. I'm pretty good at this last one - it was such a relief to get to this point in the project. You're probably tired of my list by now. lol<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDvhCLPmFFefagx7ExYYmUnoVrp7xrOkmHbV44-lCIB7XDUkXVmO-ldpI3eFfBjgYIwObWkDxrEBXm3gr7HJEFJNl2BENoUdIa1sdGKu_icCh9yNq2nLEnfm4WtDvXV78k6FxuBMz9Tc/s1600/Banner+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDvhCLPmFFefagx7ExYYmUnoVrp7xrOkmHbV44-lCIB7XDUkXVmO-ldpI3eFfBjgYIwObWkDxrEBXm3gr7HJEFJNl2BENoUdIa1sdGKu_icCh9yNq2nLEnfm4WtDvXV78k6FxuBMz9Tc/s320/Banner+detail.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVI3cI_pyK0PrylTNnxLMApk9unuX24uay4jxADlx6C2L0ZkTgWdQI4hAnbz2klDLQdzblmIrRYHvF7igIWjDmd8rfWbMWd3z4DOdxiaKqSfdyFY2mdEXFyuUL8GFy6txUqxZ8M958QY/s1600/Banner+mantle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Okay, it's off to bed for moi. Sleepy time, but no bed bugs for me! I hope you had time to glue or cut or staple something creatively fun today!Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-66347823420284449802010-12-05T11:45:00.001-05:002010-12-05T11:45:54.728-05:00Sniff, sniff...No tags today<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I spent yesterday at my lss, Buffal Stamps and Stuff, making a "happy holidays" banner. Whew, who knew there were so many steps to it. I'm such a neophyte that I didn't even think about the complexity in advance, just thought of how wonderful the final result would be!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The wonderful Mona did all the cutout and organization prep work in advance - an enormous undertaking for which we were all most grateful. Paper selection (Bo Bunny, I think), die cuts, ribbons, stickles, glue, glitter (and LOTS of it), and more supplies than I can remember as my head is still spinning from the fun we had. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In any case I took some photos of her work so that I would be able to remember the final steps to finish mine We worked for at least 4 hours and I'll need maybe a few more to complete it. Hence, no Tim tags yesterday or today. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, you will see some of Mona's detailed and beautiful work. It are the piccies with her permission, but I don't feel comfortable sharing her directions without her okey dokey. Sorry about the quality of the photos, but you'll get the idea if you make the pics larger. Here is Mona's finished banner. I think you'll get some of the details if you click on the photo.The glitter on the rosettes behind each letter has a spectacular effect....you'll see.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfUb5RuqP7MaTe5mSipxcIhXztrXLK0mdGQ86UcPhyDf5azyhW9b4sK6ZAa06loPjsxF9xu6kPgFagdXPJTQ6QMnL5acshfMSDtdgNFN2WfOKPqv_CWcVl2ul3I1e0dRvEsqttDdqf_o/s1600/Banner+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfUb5RuqP7MaTe5mSipxcIhXztrXLK0mdGQ86UcPhyDf5azyhW9b4sK6ZAa06loPjsxF9xu6kPgFagdXPJTQ6QMnL5acshfMSDtdgNFN2WfOKPqv_CWcVl2ul3I1e0dRvEsqttDdqf_o/s640/Banner+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a close up of the beginning of the saying - Happy Holidays. Notice the eyelets and the effect of the red distressing ink and the red and gold bling on the letters and rosettes? Designing this was a labor of love that Mona enjoyed. Did I already sing her praises on her creativity and organization? Well, if I did, it still isn't enough to express the gratitude that all six of us in the class felt.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFiyHdj9OEyHRBrhBRsJ1M07Y1BhHtuWbfYVUqicgDt8CyA7hz5-_ialJY513i4DxfEL7aO46pdnrHz0WoYrMQ2Ta270c2VYz14ZJKohJviqhymYrrs7kQ9Jgz9f3fcsk4L-b5vKPjh8/s1600/Banner+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFiyHdj9OEyHRBrhBRsJ1M07Y1BhHtuWbfYVUqicgDt8CyA7hz5-_ialJY513i4DxfEL7aO46pdnrHz0WoYrMQ2Ta270c2VYz14ZJKohJviqhymYrrs7kQ9Jgz9f3fcsk4L-b5vKPjh8/s640/Banner+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For each panel there are seven layers, but here you only see six. See how she used Tim Holtz's tiny attacher to connect the panels. I will need to lay out the panels so they have a slight curve to them before stapling and after that tie the ribbons to hide the staples.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrIg9lrIU3XYPeXbO2cGmbM1vLa_B4V8UUkyA_c3Rzg7M2uG6dLxDGFT9HUAZZURwHiD7oNnh4kmRgvWf0ECMZueX1eTjSIZmJQIeXwqnp_Eq9_XLvE-cIgOsUeAiWbYBmbX_zEuMoJ4/s1600/Banner+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrIg9lrIU3XYPeXbO2cGmbM1vLa_B4V8UUkyA_c3Rzg7M2uG6dLxDGFT9HUAZZURwHiD7oNnh4kmRgvWf0ECMZueX1eTjSIZmJQIeXwqnp_Eq9_XLvE-cIgOsUeAiWbYBmbX_zEuMoJ4/s640/Banner+6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think it is ingenious and has such a impact. Can't wait to hang it on my beautiful 1889 mantle. The mantle was salvaged from a mansion in NYC that was being demolished, can you imagine! When my banner is done I'll post a photo for you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, I thought I'd share another peek at a corner of my house. This is in the Yellow Guest Room - a collection of hat boxes and suitcases. Second from the bottom was my dad's briefcase that he carried for over 40 years as a professors at Butler University in Indianapolis. The green suitcase is one I picked up at an Amish barn sale in Shipshewana Indiana. It is a child's case that would accommodate toys and Amish dolls. Fifty cents, eat your hearts out bargain shoppers. rofl</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3eI-QPcHoajOgR-Ip4JWmJRv3wjoPBvNgBfzGFHsxtkiIsaMX5gaIUp6-p0smXN2KR-P49n8XkCQv38InM3of0ZAEqLL29E-53NAoaZCfygkvNitSgf8tQe_rqcYKoN5jW68DFI6bnY/s1600/11-21+Hat+boxes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3eI-QPcHoajOgR-Ip4JWmJRv3wjoPBvNgBfzGFHsxtkiIsaMX5gaIUp6-p0smXN2KR-P49n8XkCQv38InM3of0ZAEqLL29E-53NAoaZCfygkvNitSgf8tQe_rqcYKoN5jW68DFI6bnY/s400/11-21+Hat+boxes.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, enough blathering for now, I'm off to make sparkly goodness and then move on to Tim's tags. Hope you have a sunny day and that you make something fun! Hugs from beautiful snowy Buffalo, NY.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">PS Niagara Falls didn't get ANY snow during our storm this week. Such is the fickleness of the winds off Lake Erie! </span></span><br />
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</div>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-69492228236629737842010-12-04T00:07:00.000-05:002010-12-04T00:07:23.872-05:00Dec 4 - Tim tags Days 1 - 2 - 3<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Have I ever been busy making tags! Just a quickie post tonight as I have 2 classes in the a.m. at my local stamp store. Each day I've been following along and making Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas. If you check <a href="http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/">here</a> you'll see what Tim's look like and get the details on how to make your own. Mine are somewhat different in that I don't have all the same supplies as Mr. Tim, but that's part of the beauty of doing this...creating something with what you already have in your own stash. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Since a promised a quick note tonight here we go. Tag #1 (I photographed this on an heirloom tablecloth)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWPHGCSl7rCYXsRwReVK2lvP4gVNzCrHjpN0RYeyQR_nKSYNpwmNP0GAR5U-b76MsrLVDvJlOXIPkl-mtW2tbUy3nNWZBjRiV-X23gRmJ78GL9h5HSavXZzhVF45xlb6AIFcN5ur-taA/s1600/Day+1b+tag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWPHGCSl7rCYXsRwReVK2lvP4gVNzCrHjpN0RYeyQR_nKSYNpwmNP0GAR5U-b76MsrLVDvJlOXIPkl-mtW2tbUy3nNWZBjRiV-X23gRmJ78GL9h5HSavXZzhVF45xlb6AIFcN5ur-taA/s320/Day+1b+tag.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Tag #2 (grandma's blue earring on the left)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53EW5Lz7YxDkOzOtQiQDrlse6S2_mYV2X1jQtvPFsTv2BYj4qAN_jPqCtLx2ZgbGx0PKm96e7Q5vgx6n4VR8ifopqxetKwTqjNXv2r4-au3WXi4-VRaGkegLH_aTwyP1Cy9vvgavrANI/s1600/Day+2+tag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53EW5Lz7YxDkOzOtQiQDrlse6S2_mYV2X1jQtvPFsTv2BYj4qAN_jPqCtLx2ZgbGx0PKm96e7Q5vgx6n4VR8ifopqxetKwTqjNXv2r4-au3WXi4-VRaGkegLH_aTwyP1Cy9vvgavrANI/s320/Day+2+tag.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> Tag # 3</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv4dL_FkxWJzdPFVdUxg5BD_7EYxUFMGYMz2djxOnJQHk2iHJMpRwExCyh0beJBceZU1wAlTjBUz_eV4-XsxFFPlki63h8XEItPsR6EhSQgizeGc_ROcGIBfyEPus1XzHMkDVL9TLLlw/s1600/Day+3+tag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv4dL_FkxWJzdPFVdUxg5BD_7EYxUFMGYMz2djxOnJQHk2iHJMpRwExCyh0beJBceZU1wAlTjBUz_eV4-XsxFFPlki63h8XEItPsR6EhSQgizeGc_ROcGIBfyEPus1XzHMkDVL9TLLlw/s320/Day+3+tag.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> One more pic. Our Buffalo weather has been in the national news the past couple of days. Well, we knew the storm was coming, stocked up on food and t.p., and staying off the roads. Here's my favorite tree with snow on it. It's a Harry Lauder's walking stick. Very cool, n'est-ce pas? (you love when I toss in a little français!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxnZOrBmjM-6iksWiDn4liq_MOulbDnibtGhSWvZuMn6wHXB7LCDEd5CjG3LvGj_xw47XYPaIOcYRTD8_VI95He72unDkwCv1jf2JRsO7M3Ih3H-7lvV6_aeO6Th-_pK9xW1OxDcGFsE/s1600/Snow+tree+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxnZOrBmjM-6iksWiDn4liq_MOulbDnibtGhSWvZuMn6wHXB7LCDEd5CjG3LvGj_xw47XYPaIOcYRTD8_VI95He72unDkwCv1jf2JRsO7M3Ih3H-7lvV6_aeO6Th-_pK9xW1OxDcGFsE/s320/Snow+tree+2.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> So long for now. Be back with tag #4 Hope you made something fun today.</span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-86276831563167159222010-12-01T14:50:00.000-05:002010-12-01T14:50:47.524-05:00Dec. 1 Already! WOYWW<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yippee, it's beginning to look a lot like, yep, winter! Today we have snow just as the weatherman predicted, even though he's not always </span></span><em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">this</span></span></em><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> accurate. Thought you'd like to see what the yard looks like before we get to the WOYWW part. I really like snow, slush, the whole shebang. I wonder how beautiful Niagara Falls looks today? Probably pretty spectacular.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMzPAg_bZnX1RlZhC0780nrbXRw98b-NbwOCRGobnD0u7qfdX6Rg9Cpmi3rLJZ2IIcoYGZGSdGOBIPLAWhjBtMFZ4Ft7mujDQ4xq8n0yxd9ECF1UzzA_Hiei5u7PuTr25Mfc5m9N36nA/s1600/12-01-10c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMzPAg_bZnX1RlZhC0780nrbXRw98b-NbwOCRGobnD0u7qfdX6Rg9Cpmi3rLJZ2IIcoYGZGSdGOBIPLAWhjBtMFZ4Ft7mujDQ4xq8n0yxd9ECF1UzzA_Hiei5u7PuTr25Mfc5m9N36nA/s320/12-01-10c.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If the snow hasn't scared you off, take a hop over to <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Julia</a>'s Stamping Ground to see what's on other work desks around the world. That's what I love about woyww, you can stay warm at home with a cup of tea </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(I understand that Europe is having a terrible cold spell)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and visit friends everywhere!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's what I have done the past few days - don't hate me now - my </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(store bought)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> holiday cards are finished and in the mail. Even the ones to Canada, Switzerland, Brazil, Germany and Sweden! The office desk is a wreck. It's where I have the computer, phone and tv. I was up early </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(9 am is early for me)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and anxious to open Sir Tim Holtz's website to see what </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>tag #1 </strong></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">looked like. So very cool, you have to see it and get the 50 step directions <a href="http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/">here</a>!</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've been to the post office and mailed the xmas cards and now have gathered the necessary stash to commence making <span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>tag #1</strong></span>. Here's what my craft desk in the basement looks like (no tv, no computer, no phone, just uninterrupted space! Well, it really is quite messy and full of stash, but whatever, it works for me and I'm sure it works at your place, too.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg745LN_7_4oAqrArcf-1sHO1Rd944DbtmLU9duAc37M4mQIDrn23IkXqH9S3AfeJy8gXNhoSv7POmW13SoxZG8ZfxVgsm_PTTV1vHge3IGTJhx2P77vjMdW3SOHzf1N9bOmWrr9s3e0FQ/s1600/12-01-10b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg745LN_7_4oAqrArcf-1sHO1Rd944DbtmLU9duAc37M4mQIDrn23IkXqH9S3AfeJy8gXNhoSv7POmW13SoxZG8ZfxVgsm_PTTV1vHge3IGTJhx2P77vjMdW3SOHzf1N9bOmWrr9s3e0FQ/s320/12-01-10b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Well, dear folks, off you go on your hop to other WOYWW spots. Enjoy and make something fun. Holiday hugs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-33840859993548309752010-11-24T13:31:00.000-05:002010-11-24T13:31:10.020-05:00WOYWW - I forgot somethingOoops, I forgot to send you over to Julia's at the <a href="http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">Stamping Ground </a>to visit other creative souls' studios. Please leave a comment when you visit. They truly appreciate your visit and value feedback. TaaVicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-34041967557861216872010-11-24T12:02:00.001-05:002010-11-29T10:52:43.574-05:00WOYWW - almost cleanVicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-69229500955592333082010-11-24T11:18:00.001-05:002010-11-24T13:57:17.459-05:00WOYWW - almost clean<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Yesterday was spent cleaning the atelier </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">aka, room of stash, aka furnace room</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">. Stash had flown helter skelter about the room from Monday's flurry of activity. Bits and pieces were found in places that only a mouse could fit. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">lol</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> My craft sheet now has some empty space around the edges. See for yourself.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ADe76wBWZvw98d-5P_jo6rmLwXT_HTAkzrOJfbcdeoKjI9gbQ3sD4BO4dpMWf6xfm8ElhSuou8Sz8TH6HOlKzUS8f2oTGf5JYf2Mue9nUHdU87_xEI2XCcySQ8pJk4URD8Vxyr2-wtc/s1600/DSC02049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ADe76wBWZvw98d-5P_jo6rmLwXT_HTAkzrOJfbcdeoKjI9gbQ3sD4BO4dpMWf6xfm8ElhSuou8Sz8TH6HOlKzUS8f2oTGf5JYf2Mue9nUHdU87_xEI2XCcySQ8pJk4URD8Vxyr2-wtc/s320/DSC02049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Don't get all antsy when you see the holiday cards here. None of them are my own design. They are from classes that I took at Buffalo Stamps and Stuff owned by the kind, generous and funny Sharon. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">some people think we look alike. We do share the same taste in antiques and clothing. Her patience with people (slow workers like me) is admirable. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">She plans the most wonderful variety of classes with a highly talented group of ladies, for whom I am most grateful.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P3z-s0AqIT6_4IRKjtl2e9eXsVgWZDvuKeEBDsux-wp5rgAavEkT_h7XOJOaNAkLbwX5pT6NVVZhSADNJAxzaWFoV-cUcANwbauEsQuaS9ZpR-7wHRBN5iIT25hIuiELKxGV8xH1mf4/s1600/11-21-2010+Sharon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P3z-s0AqIT6_4IRKjtl2e9eXsVgWZDvuKeEBDsux-wp5rgAavEkT_h7XOJOaNAkLbwX5pT6NVVZhSADNJAxzaWFoV-cUcANwbauEsQuaS9ZpR-7wHRBN5iIT25hIuiELKxGV8xH1mf4/s320/11-21-2010+Sharon.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">Back to the cards - I plan to send one to my mom everyday in December - she gets a kick out of it and I enjoy it too. I'll also make one a day for my 90 year old friend Charlie, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">i</span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">t</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> cheers her up as the days pass slowly by in the nursing home</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;">. She is a dear and shares many funny and naughty stories. She worked over 60 </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(yeah 60)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> years in the same school district and retired on her own terms. My kinda gal. </span></span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> As for my desk, I love the Mary Englebreit poster behind all my scissors. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">can you ever have too many scissors? </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I put it on my desk to remind me of the the need to simplify life </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm such a pack rat lol</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and appreciate all that is around us. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Which brings me to Thanksgiving. Tomorrow morning is the Turkey Trot in Buffalo, NY. I'll go with my friend Margaret to serve beer at 9 am at the Convention Center. Can you imagine? Beer at that hour? I'll let you know more after the experience. It's going to be a trip with people in costumes, a second coming of Halloween. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">rofl</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This holiday weekend is a huge celebration in town with all the expats returning to their roots for one long party of food, drink and friends. Wednesday night at the bars, Thursday morning Trot followed by beverages, followed by family dinner which includes more imbibing. Friday and Saturday are hockey games </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Buffalo Sabres</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> and Sunday is Buffalo Bills football. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Almost makes me wish I was young and stupid again to partake in the festivities. rofl Glad I'm not, though</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">St. Donald and I will be joining friends for turkey, good wine and laughter. I'll raise a glass to you all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now to brag some more about The Saint. He just finished printing out our Christmas card labels. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He is much more techno savvy than I am and spent all of yesterday helping a friend set up her new computer.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I'll get to the store bought cards on Friday. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To tell the truth it will take me a couple weeks before they go out, so don't be jealous.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> Okay, I've blathered on long enough, this was supposed to be a short post, but I've got a captive audience if you haven't logged off just yet. Wishing you a good weekend and hope you have time to make something fun.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "Helvetica", sans-serif;"> </span></span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-76260728815597389512010-11-22T21:41:00.000-05:002010-11-22T21:41:27.028-05:00Not to panic .. CCC #23<span style="font-size: large;">Ok, so this is my first official entry to </span><a href="http://studiol3.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Linda</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">'s CC Challenge of Double Distress. Sounds like a panic attack to me. lol As I made this project there were moments of distressing fun, fun distressing and panic when the distressing didn't work. Confused? So was I, all day. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As usual I made it more complicated than it had to be, but that's only because I kept going until I got the look just right. And I used a few more techniques to play catch up with some of the other challenges. Here is the thingy that I made. It's not a tag, it's not a card, it's just a thing. A pretty pinky-red-greeny thing. Are you ready for the pics ... They look totally different when scanned </span><span style="font-size: small;">(the top one with black background)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and photographed </span><span style="font-size: small;">(on the bottom with dark pink paper.) </span><span style="font-size: large;">Anyhow, I thought I'd let you see both. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VP8hANlmfHvPJAkfKdhfTFSIf6XBYpL8vSp1DtQyo0HvykR5RBW9ZAIX5zbqloH0ttTbDOabmrIZ6iqDVRqrQvs-8jhwjaB_bR0yFxy7L4F1iBW5Uy2b-QZ1wqydM1ghfg_2SRaI7a8/s1600/Document.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VP8hANlmfHvPJAkfKdhfTFSIf6XBYpL8vSp1DtQyo0HvykR5RBW9ZAIX5zbqloH0ttTbDOabmrIZ6iqDVRqrQvs-8jhwjaB_bR0yFxy7L4F1iBW5Uy2b-QZ1wqydM1ghfg_2SRaI7a8/s320/Document.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdpI6Gq06WMXGHZL-9Z9WEqC7022JB7GkG1hgKS0x4UGc_WT-DKeLKLrXFevyW4RyJkv5GPoOi6o5lLQV9GizLAOB73YjYFI_x-aKF3rJ1QCfozzj76uFiYEOVPbSdXCzWXMBQZ8MsAY/s1600/11-22-2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdpI6Gq06WMXGHZL-9Z9WEqC7022JB7GkG1hgKS0x4UGc_WT-DKeLKLrXFevyW4RyJkv5GPoOi6o5lLQV9GizLAOB73YjYFI_x-aKF3rJ1QCfozzj76uFiYEOVPbSdXCzWXMBQZ8MsAY/s320/11-22-2010.JPG" width="213" /> </a></div><span style="font-size: large;">The top third of the card is a separate piece of grungepaper glued to the lower portion. </span><span style="font-size: small;">If I had to do it over I'd still make this one first to work out the kinks and make a second one better. Sorta like cooking a good dinner, but since I don't cook, well, it is what it is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The embossed bingo board is colored with crushed olive and aged mahogany distressed inks. The red in the mahogany turned out great, even if I say so myself. The snow flurries from the <em>On the Edge die </em>cut off the bottom portion of the bingo board. So I covered the snow flakes' DI's with snow cap pigment ink. Instead of the ink pad I used the re-inker on a cut & dry foam pad to keep the "real" ink pad from turning green and red. </span><span style="font-size: small;">(hope that makes sense)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Finally I used R</span><span style="font-size: large;">anger's Enchanted Gold embossing powder to give the snowflakes a yellowy-sparkley feel. No jokes from the peanut gallery about yellow snow! rofl</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next I made an extra #25 from the bingo embossing folder and inked it with snow cap pigment ink and black soot DI, then topped it off with Tuxedo vintage glass glitter. It looks totally different, a rich, deep black. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Try it sometime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I turned my attention span </span><span style="font-size: small;">(sometimes very short. lol)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> to the holiday greetings with, let's say it together, <em>more</em> </span><em><span style="font-size: large;">snow cap pigment ink</span></em><span style="font-size: large;">. Love that stuff! Used the blending tool with more aged mahogany, topped it with perfect medium & perfect pearls </span><span style="font-size: small;">interference red</span><span style="font-size: large;">, a quick spritz of water and...the DI ran! Panic again. </span><span style="font-size: small;">forgot to heat set it.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Wash it off, start again, turn off the water works,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> chin up </span><span style="font-size: large;">and keep moving.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> By some magical happenstance the second time gave the effect I wanted - deep rose pearl shimmer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally I used alcohol ink to color the bird, crown </span><span style="font-size: small;">(lemonade)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and heart </span><span style="font-size: small;">(cranberry)</span><span style="font-size: large;">. I just love the alcohol ink pens, they make it so much easier to control the placement of the ink. The leaves and mini fleur are chipped enamel with the Enchanted Gold EP, but that didn't turn out right the first time around. Panic. Success on the second try. Phew. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is all a very long-winded explanation. I probably should have just listed the supplies and said, <em>Here it is. Go at it</em></span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-size: small;">But I didn't, now</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I will </span><span style="font-size: large;">...</span><span style="font-size: small;">DI aged mahogany, crushed olive, black soot; snow cap pigment ink; blending tool and cut & dry foam pads; embossing powder, glass glitter; perfect pearls & perfect medium; grungepaper; on the edge die; bingo embossing folder; and alcohol ink. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope there is something in this post for you that will take the fear out of a mistake in technique. I used to tell my students that we should allow ourselves 25 mistakes per day </span><span style="font-size: small;">(for teenagers this makes lots of sense)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> so we can learn from them and move forward. For me today's panicked moments are finished. Later I'll go make another something fun. Hope you do, too.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span>Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-50425522985067082902010-11-20T21:41:00.000-05:002010-11-20T21:41:08.241-05:00I wish, I wish ...Some of you have asked if this background is my home. Don't I wish! It was one of the choices from blogspot(Travel) when I set up this blog. So, I thought I'd try to tease you with some pics of my guest bedrooms (anyone going to be in the area to visit Niagara Falls or Toronto? lol)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLlCtQip68NCjk9_vRtlNGheG5VYxG7xuKPPmpnAMawiCm-Zzg6Kbz_EM4qM2zoY7tJ8mKMifK74GM-tLEzTNipg0XJImLUZFVgPzweeeO766TG3hK40dBBBAYbNu54BwOK84ii0teKY/s1600/DSC00423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLlCtQip68NCjk9_vRtlNGheG5VYxG7xuKPPmpnAMawiCm-Zzg6Kbz_EM4qM2zoY7tJ8mKMifK74GM-tLEzTNipg0XJImLUZFVgPzweeeO766TG3hK40dBBBAYbNu54BwOK84ii0teKY/s320/DSC00423.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This is the French boudoir. I had to have red walls with the slanted ceilings for a cozy feel. The dresser was mine when I was a kid. East Lake style with oak leaf and acorn carvings for the handles. Believe it or not, the mirror and its little drawer are a separate piece of furniture. They go together rather well, I think. The ceiling isn't tall enough for the mirror so you can glimpse the iron bed in the reflection.<br />
The two chairs are also East Lake, but I bought them at an auction in Shipshewanna (an Amish community in north central Indiana) about 5 years ago. They were in horrible shape, torn covering, horsehair stuffing falling out, etc. My mom (and St. Donald) thought I was stark raving mad about the purchase. Well, of course I knew what they could be -gorgeous! They are comfy and nicely stuffed so one doesn't have to have a concave derrière to sit upon them. lol Oh, yes, the little alabaster night lamp on the left side of the dresser is also from Shipshe. It originated in a Cleveland, OH estate. Got it dirt cheap at the auction. Ya gotta love it! (auctions, bargoons et al.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynwG-HEitGJd7lHlrQrhwM_RYcyCMscWoj_ouCaMQZi2jJcIAgfNU_2glykZu10G7hxUHkrVJaT6CAaRe1n5S65UO4IczPxjWfk7Zj5oDA1RUJPvjlgTdkFrp7h0NiNvEf_DONMMTnEc/s1600/DSC00425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynwG-HEitGJd7lHlrQrhwM_RYcyCMscWoj_ouCaMQZi2jJcIAgfNU_2glykZu10G7hxUHkrVJaT6CAaRe1n5S65UO4IczPxjWfk7Zj5oDA1RUJPvjlgTdkFrp7h0NiNvEf_DONMMTnEc/s320/DSC00425.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This walnut cabinet is from my great-grandma Campisi. She had it in Chicago, then gave it to my grandma. It, too, was in awful condition and I had it redone by my magical antique refinisher. It contains all my little French collectibles-dominoes from the 18th century, faience (painted pottery) from the 19th c., and the Little Prince stuff from the 20th c.. Can you believe we are living the 21st century?? All in all, I am a collector of <em>stuff</em>. Stuff that strikes my fancy and makes me smile or chuckle, okay, it can also make me laugh out loud, too. Tell the truth and shame the devil. (I can't recall where this expression comes from, but it has always stuck with me.)<br />
This lamp is a garage sale trophy-hand-painted Italian, and the goose with the removable neck & head is from a trip to Massachusetts in 1992. The table is made of sewing machine drawers. Yikes, it's true.I like to be surrounds by old, funky stuff that would tell stories if only they could. There now. You have a peak at one of the corners of my world.<br />
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Just want you to know that I am very thankful for you and send you all hugs of Thanksgiving. Until next time, go make something fun.Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-779219421172557348.post-77039927908866474842010-11-19T01:08:00.000-05:002010-11-19T01:08:57.644-05:00It it's not one thing ..."Well y'know, it's always something, if it's not one thin' then it's another." I quote from the character of Roseann Roseannadanna done by Gilda Radner of Saturday Night Live fame (late 70's, early 80's.) Gosh, she was one funny lady. But she's right.<br />
Here I've been griping to myself (since there's nobody else around who cares) that I'd better get moving on several big projects and my creativity has been overpowered by gravity, as in laying around and watching tv. I'm not a tv addict, I swear (yes I am), but I do mark my programs in the tv guide in pink pen when the Sunday paper shows up. rofl. What a dork.rofl again. (can you say <em>gravity</em>) Anyhow, that's the "it's always something part."<br />
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But I do have interruptions in my schedule that I really like. Ya see, St Donald and I go to the nursing home every day to see a ninety year old friend who has no family. It's cool that she tells us stories of her life, like growing up without running water or electricity, and and outhouse out back. She cracks me up with her candor and expressions. The "fairies" as she calls the staff, have now started to call her Charlie, so that's what I use here. More about her another time.<br />
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Three big projects and a pant-load of gravity, just not in the stash and trash room. Okay, so I wanted to do something for the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge as chosen by the lovely Linda, alchohol ink splatter. Go check it out on her blog <a href="http://studiol3.blogspot.com/">Studio L3</a> if you haven't already. And look in your copy of Tim Holtz's book for the directions as I can't divulge the details according to the rules of the game. Here are my attempts, the befores (the one on the left reminds me of a blue dinosaur).....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo70f41BGB2DKLZUQcpEp55dY3HvNJXb0MiFFBea-MvEfFK8mOhJHk9zUvWPodoxadiPdYq5v9M9bxEVutZT4sfriWQ-GTVbNTrApfuhcFyygmEDGATYezfazrURf-uTXxjNo4q87Da0/s1600/Alcohol+ink+base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">And the afters...<img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo70f41BGB2DKLZUQcpEp55dY3HvNJXb0MiFFBea-MvEfFK8mOhJHk9zUvWPodoxadiPdYq5v9M9bxEVutZT4sfriWQ-GTVbNTrApfuhcFyygmEDGATYezfazrURf-uTXxjNo4q87Da0/s320/Alcohol+ink+base.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2BBKSy0gqVjUd01pmavMTXghfdOfAOeWBaOTLNNtqe3BjjdrXVo6dRUmGEbqoYNxT1ILHhbZ4LDdjWkJ7ssmLMRf3psiG3t98TfQ_noiBC56A2C2UL5KDHhb3yLfWt6SFX3MyGT6LGM/s1600/AI+elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2BBKSy0gqVjUd01pmavMTXghfdOfAOeWBaOTLNNtqe3BjjdrXVo6dRUmGEbqoYNxT1ILHhbZ4LDdjWkJ7ssmLMRf3psiG3t98TfQ_noiBC56A2C2UL5KDHhb3yLfWt6SFX3MyGT6LGM/s320/AI+elephant.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>See wha'd I tell ya? Kind cool how I had Tim Holtz's elephant stamp ;-) Almost looks like the dino is getting ready to eat his descendant! The second splats gave me fits about what to do with it. It just didn't <em>speak</em> to me (well duh.) It's always somethin'. Tada (add music here.) A potted flower in the purple sun.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmshVjauZ-lIAPr0iAeFEGEl1kiFFFkQgA-cCrXzBHqGlM6xy_YN8sieeomr98MfauzPSkGNg6ZdPYR_8cnJ-eR8V2vefegTk1XP_-eXOknH98QHOX5K1lA8DxGhcbPVwL5m5kDFdGcY/s1600/AI+serendipity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmshVjauZ-lIAPr0iAeFEGEl1kiFFFkQgA-cCrXzBHqGlM6xy_YN8sieeomr98MfauzPSkGNg6ZdPYR_8cnJ-eR8V2vefegTk1XP_-eXOknH98QHOX5K1lA8DxGhcbPVwL5m5kDFdGcY/s320/AI+serendipity.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>Okay so now this last splat (I'm such an over achiever, 3 tags really? three???) I fell in love with the rivers and tributaries of ink. Again I didn't know what to do, but I was over<em>joy</em>ed (heh heh) at the effect of the ink.Whad'ya think? I've been dying to use the new Tim toys to make the ornament, too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PtYoQ1uUPtVq4ZVp3qTSnvSK5mA757Hz1FkzRgIugoUBKmRmwEZYsGXXGfQk8SgKWsO_dzZNH-MC_863H-yefLVwae5XuqU8fpPvVh9n-Dt5qAaTkV4vR8ELj077MCBKje-I44tUN9s/s1600/AI+Joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PtYoQ1uUPtVq4ZVp3qTSnvSK5mA757Hz1FkzRgIugoUBKmRmwEZYsGXXGfQk8SgKWsO_dzZNH-MC_863H-yefLVwae5XuqU8fpPvVh9n-Dt5qAaTkV4vR8ELj077MCBKje-I44tUN9s/s320/AI+Joy.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>Okay, so now another thing...Today I will go to my LSS (local...well 21 miles is local) and meet with our 'card' club. There are officially 8 of us, me being the newbie. The others are highly experienced and have more patience for detail. So this fall we decided to do 4 techniques per month from Tim's Compendium of Curiosities, and for November we could choose a personal theme. Check your CC on pages 37-40 for the techs. Do ya know how hard it is to come up with a theme with 4 totally different approaches? Here is my attempt for the holidays with.inking grunge and double distress with Adirondack snowcap pigment ink.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZvIDP-R8ItFawhhs3J9qmBsXzBZIUJbd_vzV28JMBbz_Q263IrHk-dHlR_DQoFyNHX4j0cu5VBQIaIFK7E8ixSqxOT9xLA5ZvyPo-ILEfg1Ty5Xe0e86GYTZyiiv73kBJtujTCrS5wE/s1600/Technique+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZvIDP-R8ItFawhhs3J9qmBsXzBZIUJbd_vzV28JMBbz_Q263IrHk-dHlR_DQoFyNHX4j0cu5VBQIaIFK7E8ixSqxOT9xLA5ZvyPo-ILEfg1Ty5Xe0e86GYTZyiiv73kBJtujTCrS5wE/s320/Technique+trees.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br />
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And my third huge project...Thanksgiving cards for the fam in Indiana. I'll probably get to those on Saturday. So there you have it, an not in a nutshell. If it''s not one thin', it's another. But then again, it's always something. Until next time, make something fun even if it's a little somethin' for yourself!Vicki B in OP NYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670345298291890821noreply@blogger.com6