THE ARTISTIC AVENUES

Not a 'Food Blog' #2

This is an easy week-night dinner. I wanted to post this cheesy gooey picture on pinterest, but how unfair would that be without the recipie??  

 

HOT SAUSAGE SANDWICHES

    1 Pound ground beef

     3 Italian Sausage links....I perfer hot, but mild is good too!

     1 jar pizza sauce

      16 ounces mozarella cheese ( I add cheddar pieces or velveeta) .

       2 loaves french bread cut lengthwise.

      Remove casings from sausage. Add ground beef to skillet with sausages and crumble with a fork. Brown till no color remains. Drain excess. Add whole jar of pizza sauce. Simmer, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes.

Lay out 2 lengths of foil horizontally and overlapping in the center. I long piece won't wrap all the way around the bread. If you have counter space lay out both loaves of bread, one on each of the prepared foils. Spoon mixture evenly over each split loaf. Sprinkle cheese using half for each loaf. Wrap the sides and ends of the foil around the bread. Bake at 350o for about 35 minutes.   ..... Look at all that gooey cheese.... Yum. Serves 4-6 (2 loaves).

One more idea, since there is just 2 of us at home now I bake one one night and the other the next night. Or I give it to my daughter or we just eat alot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!
We had a nice new years day, we went to see the movie War Horse. It was a good family movie.. Take kleenex.
For Christmas I got a book from my friend Linda in Iowa. It is by Debbie Macomber, called One Simple Act. Linda sent me a note and told me this is one of the best books she had ever read. I agree. Another of the 'get kleenex' books.
Now the Gratitude Journal. Think I will send Linda one too! One thing does lead to another.
2012 has to be a good year!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & MORE!

Ever hear of Bokeh? Bokeh lights, or the' way a lens renders out of focus lights'. How about blurred lights?? Fun making your own, fun photographing your own... These are some of mine from Christmas tree lights around town.

Totally missed here. These could've been car lights..

 

If  you drive around, move the camera at the same time you can get intresting effects. Then you can pretend to be a good photographer!

For the record I used a download from the lucky nine. http://theluckynine.deviantart.com/art/color-bokeh-textures-pack-106393407?q=boost:popular+in:resources/textures+bokeh&qo=76 I am hoping this works for you. There are lots of brushes, textures and art at Deviant art. Take a look!

So this is what you do in photoshop with a Bokeh effect. Pretty cool & not bad for a lady with a patch over one eye!

This is Diana, my daughter and we both wish you the happiest holiday. Remember our Lord and Savior was born this day and give thanks for his supreme gift.

Thanks to all

       Mary S

These were awesome! Down the street from us, so festive. The whole block was decorated.

 

It is looking like Christmas!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

I decided to post a couple of photos of Christmas cards that I made or the especially cute ones at the top were made by Linda Elliott.

 

I probably could make Christmas cards all year!  The Red and Green combo was done in strips of decorative papers with a label with greeting across the middle. I embellished with Spellbinders new Poinsetta die, ribbons and glitter. Easy and nice to use up your paper bits!

 The gold cards are 2 variations using Just Rite Rejoice stamp set, and the larger card features the new scroll background stamp. Both are bordered by the Spellbinder Beaded Oval die. I am addicted to die cuts! I think I mentioned that before.

These little 'jolly guys somehow got stuck inbetween . Both have embellishments made from punched 1" circles. Talk about mindless entertainment. Punch away! The 'string of lights' die is from http://allthatscraps.com/  I also like her balloon dies!

Who says pink and green can't be for Christmas? This was a glittery 4x6 card stack I got from Em for Christmas. In case I missed the point, these are the 'strip' cards too.

 

 

Here we go....... These are just a few that we took to the nursing home Friday.

Just had to do the backs!

 

Thanks for visiting........

Mary S

Not a food blog... but....

 YUMMY!

Potato Soup....

Not big on potato soup, but it was cold and this was sooo good.

The original recpie calls for 1 16 oz. bag of hash browns. Pretty easy and good... BUT this time I had potatoes that needed to be used.. So I peeled either 4 or 5  medium sized ones. I cut them up in about 1/4's.  Put them in a pot of water to boil. About 25 minutes.

NOT a food blog. Remember that.

Won't make you watch me peel potatoes either...

Cut up about 1/2 an onion and fry in butter. yum. Set aside.

Wait for potatoes.  Okay.... drain potatoes. Mash alittle...like, leave some little chunkies. I didn't want baby food or mush. Add 2 Cups of milk.. I added in stages so that it wouldn't get runny. Add a can of cream of celery soup (yeah really), add a 3/4 can chicken broth (more if you like a thin soup.) Last add 3/4 cup of velveeta cheese.  No  I didn't measure, yes, their could be more. Cheddar or the mexi-cheese blend would work too. Oh be brave, use 2 cheeses.... Dont forget the onions, some salt and pepper. Let it cook about 10 minutes.  Stay close and stir often!    

 Crescent rolls from a tube, easy peasy.   Pre-heat your oven and put this in  while  stirring your soup .

 

 

 

 

 

I Keep Putting this off!

Yes I do keep avoiding this post. I have been 'pinning'. Gosh, that opens a whole new world! The Friday Girls have 230 cards ready for the nursing home. Here is just a sample. Linda E brought over 2 extra tables, stickers, cut out pieces for the center step cards, etc;. It was awesome!

Emily brought punches, and I had Spellbinders. Sometimes everyone brings a cutting machine and their dies.  I guess I have it easy, (except for cleaning the house beforehand), as I don't have to transport anything!

This shows even more cards. Of course, we had to recount and rebag after we took the pictures!

 

 

 

 

Who would post this???

This morning I just feel like catching up and maybe, recording life! November has been a month of changes. We moved after nearly 13 years in the same house! Things feel really different.. like, I want to reach for a cup above the coffee pot and its not in that cupboard! Or I want to go straight down the hall to my craft room like I did, but now I have to turn left.  The master closet is big and Al & I have both  gotten lost coming out of there. I won't tell  you where I wound up! Just the craziness of moving!       

 

 

Nice computer room... This is where I am right now...! The furniture is built in so I had to store mine.

This is Gracie... I know the pictures  are slightly blurry, but it is hard to catch a moving dog! She has rolled her food dish around like a skateboard from day one! She puts one foot in the dish and runs with it. Tile is a Must! Oh, and she growls the whole time. She likes to do it while I am on the phone.

                                                                                                                                                        

 Some things never change!

This is so Doug and Shelby can see the house!

 

SPOOKY

 

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU! This is Linda Elliotts sticker card! Easy, easy, just add Spellbinders labels 18 to frame the sticker! Check out the snoopy little mouse!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another card with stickers and the new spider web die from Mariannes creations. This is one of the cards I sent to my grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a quick camera shot of another one that I mailed. This is simply a new die cut, and then glued to orange card.

 

 

 

 

Emilys cute little kitty card. It is a discontinued die cut from Cuttlebugs Disney collection. Add a fleur de lis rectangle die cut and mount on a black card. Voila! An easy card. I forgot to photgraph the big BOO on the inside!

 

 

 

 

One of our Friday girls has difficulty now, making her cards and art. We got together Thursday and gave her a variety of cards, cardstock, stickers, and punched 'goodies', to make her life easier.

Maybe these will give you some inspiration for your own quick cards!

Emily and Diana looking at her new treasures!

 

 

 

Linda E, Emily and Linda F. I think we were waiting for Diana to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Freitas made all of the girls a fused glass candy dish. She made different colors and we got to choose the one we wanted. Looks like Diana was deciding on color in this picture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are 3 cards that Linda F made for Diana. She can just mail, or keep as cool ideas.

 

 

The cat and pumpkins are from Outlines Rubberstamp company.

Who knew??? The next four are ones that I made from Outlines collage stamps. They are one of my favorites.

 

 

 

Once Upon a Springtime

I called a challenge for Peach, Torquise & Green. I am sure it sounded pretty unfair, but I had the Once Upon A Springtime paper by Graphic 45 and I wanted to play!!!

This was my first one, but not for the challenge. Of course I got to use new Spellbinders lacy squares for the little book on the front. It does open.

 

 

 

 

This one was for Emilys birthday.

 

 Of Course, I made an extra for me just in case.... In case of what? I can't give it to any of the Friday girls. So what do we do with all those fabulous cards that we make?

The Friday girls do Christmas and sometimes spring themed cards for a nursing home. We could do more for different organizations. If anyone has a suggestion let me know!

 

 

The Once upon a Springtime paper has the fairies at the top of the page. The fairies are intertwined in theme with the bunnies on the lower half of the page.

 This was my peach plus challenge!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Linda Elliotts challenge card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was really hard to photo correctly.It is Linda F's card and she did the entire top half of the card in acetate. She stamped a pattern on the acetate too. You can barely see it. Nice card!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure and click on the picture you like they will pop up for better viewing!

Inside Emilys card













 

 

 

            

This is the inside of Dianas card challenge. Notice the punched corners!

Sorry Diana, I didn't get the cover of the card photographed. 

 Emilys Peach green and torquoise card. Check out the swinging star! She used a flexible strip of plastic recycled from a Spellbinder cover!!

Time for the Plum Challenge

One more post today. We have family coming soon for a barbeque but I think I have time to show you the plum and green challenge cards. 

 

 

 

 Emilys punched 'plum' trees are so cute!

 

 Below in the inside of Emilys card.

 

                                                                                              









Linda E's Iris card. She used her spellbinders labels twenty. That is a favorite of mine. Isn't this a pretty card?

















                                                                                                 

 

 

 

 

Marys plum and green. Yes, I called this color. Had no idea what to do, but seemed to work out with my little used stamp! And, I used the spellbinders Fluer De Lis rectangle cut for a frame and attached to a purple card.

 

 

I think this came from Amazing paper Grace blog. 



 

Side view image.





















Linda Freitas's Halloween card for the         challenge.      



 

 

  

Creative Challenges!

 

 

This is one of my cards for the "Yellow and Orange" Challenge. I had so much fun doing these that I did nine.

 

They are 4x4. I used the Classic scallop circle, Crown, and Lacy circle Spellbinders. The center for the first card "Celebrate" is a Just Rite Stamp.

 Thank you circle on the second card was done on the computer.

 

 

 

 

  I really was addicted! Worked on them all week .

 

 

 

 

 

Emilys Sunflower card. We both used the flowers for the card centers! Friday girls were making 'flowers' the last couple weeks. Nice to have some made ahead for our projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 Dianas 'Daisies'. Too cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of " Too Cute" , this is Linda Freitas's Shaker card.

The next is the inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Linda Elliotts classic fall card.  Very pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am So far behind posting again!  Are you ready for Blue? This is our ' blue'  Challenge which was before the 'yellow' challenge, I think??? And I have a Plum and Green challenge to post that was before either one!

Allen and I are going to walk our 25 minute trek this morning so I will share with you the blue and maybe I will take my camera on our walk. Maybe..

 

 Emilys Lt. Blue. She used a Judikins Bollieo and a 'mermaid' stamp for her card. She used her Spellbinders labels 10. I almost thought she didn't use a punch this time! She always does. Then I looked again, and there is a corner punch and the little tiny crab!

 

 

Dianas Wolf card. She split the face. It is so cool. The inside was done, but I didn't get a picture of it. She is the one that called the 'Blue" challenge. 

 

 

Linda Freitas 'Pocket card'. There is a tutorial online for this, although I might be wrong on the title.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

I love Linda E's beautiful bird card! I wish the colors were photographed better. The soft blues combined with white. She used a bird sticker as a focal point and added several dies. She used the spellbinder lacey circle behind the circle and the Flourish from Mariannes creatables for the background. Again I am not sure what is behind the bird?

It is too early to call her and ask!

 

 

 

 This is Marys lighthouse. Hopefully perfectly blue and perfect to send along to someone who needs a thought.

 

 

The Order of Things!

The order of things does sound profound doesn't it? Its Monday morning so please don't worry, it isn't very enlighting at all. I was just trying to think of a title to this next post. I am ready to post some of our fabulously creative cards and I realize I don' have all the photos. This is the White on White challenge and these have been a challenge for me to photograph so that you can see the detail.

 

This is Linda Freitas's card. It is simple, but elegant with a textured paper used for the background and the bib. Notice the embossing around the edge of the bib.

Nice for either a boy or a girl.

 

 

This is Diana uniquely folded card. The 'bride' in the center is wearing a veil. The infamous wonderful dryer sheet. The veil and the dress are embellished with jewels!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Elliotts features a lovely embossed background. Look again!! It is about 4 different embossed background strips. There are dots, snowfalkes swirls and a floral. A perfect way to set off the classic heart!

 

Sorry if it looks alittle 'pinky'. I wanted to darken the background so we could see the contrast.

 

 

 

 

 

Whites are not always
WHITE. This is a 'Grungy" white. Yes it is a stack on a variety of whites.

It is supposed to look like a tied love letter.

This is Marys (mine), and I used the Grand calibur and labels 11 for the base and the scalloped oval that is visable. I embellished with a butterfly and antique flowers.

All of use do decorate the insides of our cards. This one has a matching oval with a generic saying.

We do make one card to keep and one card for a drawing. Each one of us gets one card and our own with the challenge. So we decorate to insides so the person who wins it can actually send it to someone else.

 

 

Emilys punched and embossed white on white card. She used the 'around the page' branches from MS.

 

The bird detail in the center is so perfect!

 

Hope this larger format on the cards is not to imposing. I was wanting to expose the detail. 

 

Next challenge is just BLUE. 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Early

I am totally hooked on these little Center Step cards!

So we (Friday Girls) started our Christmas cards early. We used the Spellbinders 2010 ornament dies.                                                          

    Mix theSpellbinder Ornament dies, scallop circles, circles and other nestabilities with the Just Rite stamps. Perfect fit everytime!  

 

I love this wreath and the birds. This is a digital stamp from http://fred-she-said-store.blogspot.com/

Try some of the digital stamps, you will love them!

 

  The butterfly Center Step is done with papers and stickers from Kanban. It is so versatile and so easy!

Soft and Sweet, then Bold and Bright!

    

 

  GRACIE ..she  might be waiting for  Dad  to get home from work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emilys Pink and Brown card. Nice vintage looking card complete with a subtle overlay of netting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda E's Ice Cream Cone. She used a piece from an old light fixture for the texture of the cone! The background is Spellbinders rectangle fluer di lis.

Pretty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                Linda Freitas Pink and Brown "True Friends"card. This is stunning and such nice detail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marys Pink and Brown. I used a couple "Doily" motifs in brown vellum. I added the layered center with the rolled roses and leaf.

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot which week we did which challenge, but this is the Red & Rust. This is probably the hardest challenge for me yet! 

 During this time one of the digital list that I am on had a progressive challenge.

I have alot of rusted elements in my backyard and had photographed them. The vertical stripe is actual rusted metal rods. Think Al had them for welding. Anyway the 2 frames and butterfly are images from Deviant art. They are from 'Metal Momma collection. The 'scrolled' layer is a postcard. All of this was finished off with red or rust cardstock, stamped with a sunflower, ribboned and then layered using the labels four and my Grand Calibur.  I liked it when I finally finished.

                                                                                  



Emilys car, steampunk card!









                                                                                  Dianas Stampscapes cabins. Wish it photographed better.

This really is long and narrow!





 

 

 

Linda Elliotts Red and Rust. I would say that it is what you see, but, it is much more. She made her own background paper. She rusted an original piece of suede paper. Very cool. Another one that the photo just doesn't do it justice!





 

                                                                                 



Linda Freitas pretty Fall  themed card. She handmade her 'rust' background too. She used a medley of alcohol inks. Then embellished with t

the maple leaves and chiffon bow!







The next week is a birthday and a challenge of Plum, Green and Pink. After that we did White on White! And coming up is a Blue challenge. Wow!! I just might catch up pretty soon!

Birthday Lunch for Linda

 

 

 

Suprise!  This is Cupcake. She really is a happy dog. She just has that Cattle dog 'look'. Try Not feeding her when she is hungry.... She has a built in timer and she will stare you down. She is 10 1/2 now so she has glaucoma.  Isn't age a thrill!

 

 

 

 

We had another birthday this week. Speaking of 'age', Linda celebrated another birthday. I can't really get to verbal about the 'age' thing as mine is about to change again next week.  Gets harder and harder to suprise any of us. We pretty much decided to go to a convention next year instead of celebrating birthdays.

She spotted us here. And she is moving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                       Yes, she really has a pink wand and a blue feathered, jeweled tiara. .... Ok Big lots.   She is happy spreading her fairy dust. I can just tell!

 

 

Carl brought Diana. He was just about to leave.

Linda loves little birds and Emily picked our our super fancy birdhouse centerpiece complete with a birdie!

 

 

 

 

Not sure about her talking to the bird??

(Kissing the bird?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Elliott and Linda Freitas. Linda Freitas baked Linda a cake. The picture of Linda with her cake was... well, lets say, the photographer needs more practice. So instead I included a simple piece of cake.

 

I might add Linda made her a gluten free cake. She added apples as filling and a luscious cream cheese frosting.

 

 

See what happens! This is Emily. Never never call her chicken... She knew this would end up here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving right on from lunch, dessert, and presents, we went shopping. Isn't that prettty much required for a group of women?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Friday, another birthday and time together.

This July is 3 years that the Friday girls have been gathering, creating, laughing, eating and sharing a special friendship. Yes life is good.

Un-Birthday Party!

 

 

 

 

 

Zoeie and Cupcake are part of the Friday Girls too.  Gracie was captivated by the sound of a leaking balloon! Too cute.  Later Cupcake got the balloon and popped what was left of it. She was too fast for my camera!

 

 

 

 

The banner said "Happy Birthday Emily" an it is sooo cute. Sorry I didn't get a close up.  Linda E has the Spellbinders pendant die. We made them in various bright colors and edged them in equally bright lace!

 

Yes, Emily is suprised!!

Remember her REAL birthday is in December.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                             

 

 

 

Linda Elliott and Mary . Started the morning

 with baked French toast, bacon and an orange julius.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Emily with card from Linda Freitas                               

Yes, Gracie is a real Friday girl! Em needed help opening her present!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emily standing, and Diana next to Emily, Linda F, and Linda Elliott. I had to bribe her to turn around!

  

Then we made some cards, actually, we cut bases for the 'center step' cards. We have decided that they will be nice for the people at the nursing home for Christmas. The 'Center step' car displays nicely and doesn't fall over like some cards.  Just an idea. So we cut about 30 bases then it was

time to eat! Linda F fixed our (or my) favorite, and Antipasto salad.  Of course there was dessert and ice cream after that......

                                                                                                                    Time for a nap!

Monochromatic Challenge

Of course I can't remember where I left off posting. I have some cards from previous challenges that aren't up yet. Try to work those in with these. Did I mention that we had an "Un-Birthday party" last Friday? I will get to that too! In the meantime, I love playing with Gracie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First the Monochromatic cards.... Mine is the fall color resist. Easy. Inked a background stamp with Versamark, stamped and then embossed in clear. Swiped on the reds and rusty hinge Distress inks, just to blend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emilys in the lavender nature scene using an embossing folder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Lindas Elliotts Golden Angel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really, its Orange!!

  Same day. Soo cute . So its alittle blurry, its a moving dog!

 

 

 

 

 

Starting the Orange and Pink Challenge.

We are doing two cards now and doing an exchange. One for one. I got Linda Freitas's card and it is so cute.

She used the Reverse Wonky Rectangle die behind the owl. Not sure I would have thought of that! Look at the little owl repeated on the bottom.

On the last post Linda E did the center step with the butterfly in the center. This time Linda F featured a side step card.

 

 

Emilys card. She uses punches in nearly everything she does. Notice she used an embossing folder for the background and a Spellbinder label for the card front.

I noticed this time all of us used our stamps!

 

 

 

 

 Just says party doesn't it? This is Linda E's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "For you" card is mine. I just got the Sweet Pea stamp set from Flourishes.com. I used the copic markers and intended to do a close up of the flowers until I saw how many times I actuall went out of the lines! Love the stamp. It is a nice size, and it has a smaller single sweet pea in the set. The background paper I had was perfect too!

 

Just because I am doing the blog, I am going to add a couple extra cards I did this week. I am on a roll, they are orange! The one photo didn't turn out so will add it next time.

 

 

 

 

  Single poppy. Yes, it is bordered by the same orange and pink background.  

Monochromatics next week!

Orange & Pink Challenge

 

  Still playing!!  Gracie loves her squeaky ball!

Today I am going to try to add the previous weeks cards for our color challenges.

Lets start, as promised with Emilys Lime, Torquoise & any third color challenge. Purple is Ems.This is her card of the kitty bordered with two of Martha Stewarts 'around the page' punches. She used only a portion of each punch around the kitty! Then she repeated it behind the bordered 'footprints' square.

                                                                                        

 

 

 Love the Spellbinder Birdcage Die.

 

 This is Linda E's card for the Black & white challenge. Her "splash of color choice is yellow"

 

And her inside finishes it off!

 

 

Another of Linda E's is a pretty "Center Step" card for the lime, black & gray challenge.

 

 

  

 

 

Just realized that I am missing one of Linda F's cards! Oh no, will catch up soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Next one is  Emilys..... This is for the Black & White challenge with that 'splash' of lime! One color seems to lead to  more of that color! Or all of the girls here, sort of , think alike. Two of us with the Black & white challenge used the 'yellow' as our 'splash of color'.

 

Look for the Orange! Next Post!

Having fun!

It was a Gracie night.  She climbs on our bed for a short time, then she goes to her kennel which we leave open.  She came up about 1:00Am. She is sooo cute I can't make her go away!

 

Friday Girls. There are five of us that get together almost  every Friday.  Our latest project or challenge was inspired by the website  http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/ We decided to start with two cards and do our own 'throwdown'  We started with a Black &  White card with a 'splash' of any third color. Then we decided on the same Lime, Black & Gray combination that was in the original color throwndown. Two cards in one week! Took me all week.  This is my Black & White with a touch of lt. yellow. I was determined to use items or stamps that I have NEVER  used before. I used to have a store, not to mention an addiction that is still unchecked. So, I could find 'goodies' unused forever. This is a Cuttlebug folder that was way to big (or so I thought), for anything that I liked.  

It is a $20.00 folder. There is one with a cut out Posie, heart, & on with a frame. These came before spellbinders. They cut and emboss at the same time. They really are pretty. The white card is pretty, but you should see the deep embossing on a piece of watercolor paper! Beautiful. I forgot to mention that I used the Grand Calibur for the card base. Label 11.

The Lime green topiary is an old stamp from Penny Black. The background is the same embossing folder. It was embossed on black glossy paper, sanded and rubbed with the peeling paint Distress inkpad.

So last week I thought ahead and photograped some of the other girl cards. Last week we did a Throwdown of Lime, Torquoise, and a suprise color.  We liked the lime. Black and white are okay anytime.

This is Linda Freitas card..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the this exchange, and from now on we are doing two of the same card. We keep our own card and we put the other in a drawing.  The next card is Linda E's. She used the MS 'around the page punches' and the Bird Die is from Creatables. She  'raised' the wing of the bird which is hard to see here. Then she made the inside of the card to co-ordinate with the outside. Pretty

This is my challenge for the torquise, lime and my suprise is 'hot pink'. I used a Creatable Die for the the background and the 'floor' of the easel card. The flower center stamp is one of the new stamps from the Just Rite stamp set Butterfly Garden.

 I used Spellbinders Lacey circle and label 14.

We have one more Lime & Torquoise card from Emily. I will re-photo that one and add it to next weeks post.

Stay tuned our next challenge is Orange and Pink!

Good Intentions!

 My road is always paved with those ..... I will write on my blog today, then, well, my life isn't THAT earthshattering. Or, now I am soo embarassed that it has been so long it it really hard to do it. Someone might notice!

Do you ever try to find those blogs like yours? You know the ones that haven't been updated from 2010. Mine is just from March. Right?

So as boring as it seems this is what is new (or usual) in my life. Crazy Gracie is still playing like a puppy!Fuzzy too . Trips to Soggy Dog are a must.

Have I traveled this year. I couldn't  write in my blog as I was gone so much. I traveled with the John Grisham book The Last Juror, and Anne Siddons book Sweetwater Creek. Those took me to the south. The Grishams other book took me really south to the Pantanal. You get the drift... I read alot.

Then I bake lots of cookies. I eat it, but don't photograph much. Maybe one side of the cake. Last weekend I made this Lemon Souffle. Everyone liked it. I knew it wasn't mixed right. Well, when the lemon curd is in chunks ... so that is another that didn't get photographed. Just don't tell!

Playing with the dogs (We have two more furry friends),  reading and baking. Oh yes, eating.  We still have our Friday Girls. There are 5-6 of us that gather for card-making, clay, bookmaking or shopping every week. In the next post I will show you our latest obsessions!

Our Arty Week

Our  Friday girls went to Art & Soul at Green Valley Ranch. We went to 'vendor' night, that is where the artists sell some of their handmade items. Art & Soul is an Art retreat,  featuring classes from artists around the country. This is the second time it has been in Nevada. Emily is on the far end. She is doing a make and take with a Fiskars rep. This was  the only Make and take, as this is more for the vendors to display their goods. Not like a rubber stamp convention.

The other two gals are from out of state. In the background are Friday gal Linda E. and Kathy.

Nice shot of the Casino.

 

This belongs to the gal at the other end of the table. It is a beautiful Mary Frances purse. 

Inside we found more lovely art, from books, assemblage, ephemera, even some cupcakes!

 

 

 

 

Thomas Mann had intricately made jewelry. http://www.thomasmann.com/             

I don't  remember the artist who made these etched books. She had a tableful. Exquisite. Wish I could give her credit1

 

These books are  Leighana Lights. I love the pages of the books as much as the books!

Part of Leighanas display. http://lklight.blogspot.com/2009/08/lori-gordon.html

 

 

Thomas Ashman with his assemblage and books. I took a class with Thomas. He taught a book with glass covers. Very cool. Of course I missed that picture.... Okay on the table, you can see the book in the foreground with the old-fashioned girl on the cover.That is one of the glass covers.

His book pages are very nice too!

http://www.blacksheepartist.com/the_homepage

This this is Leslie Venebles booth. There is lots of 'stuff' for the artist so they can assemble their own kind of art. .. Lots of old, fun, hard-to find things!

  There were more booths to look at, but these were a few of my favorites! Hope you enjoy

Nestabilities...

So much fun making cards! Some days we just need to keep it simple. I love the nestabilities and the elegant dies that enhance our cards! Here are some of my little 4x4 notecards layered and glittered. You really can't see much of the glitter in the scans, but it adds alot.

 

 

 

The butterfly is from Outlines rubber stamps and it is actually layered. The Thank you card "birdcage" is one of the Micheals stores $1.00 stamps. Both cards feature the Spellbinders. Standard Circles large and the Classic Scalloped Circles large. It needs a bow1

FYI .Did you know that the term scalloped Circles LARGE means the Scallops are larger, not the circle itself. My Ovals are Petite Scalloped Ovals small, the scallop is smaller. Although the "Petite" oval that matches the Petite Scalloped small is Petite oval large. Wonder how they get the names?

 

I did the "Thank You" and the "Happy Easter" on the computer.    Next is the Lotus. It is called a shapeabilitie pendant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Egg stamps are from Stampington. Cute.  

Gate fold card. The heart (Nestabilities Scalloped hearts) is only attached to the left side of the card. 

 

 

Classic Scalloped Squares Small.  I wish they would make a "petite" scalloped square.

 

       Next time I will feature some of the Label nestabilities ... And the tags.... And the borders....  

MAKING THEM "POP"!

For the last few days I have been playing with Photoshop Actions. I have been trying to organize them. Ok for those of you who don't know what an "action" is, I will try to explain. They are  pre-recorded steps to manipulate a photo. Photoshop works on "layers" and sometimes there will be a dozen or more layers used to create a certain effect. Actions are those "effects" that someone has created for you in a folder. All you need to do is toggle the folder and then hit the 'play' button on the bottom of your action bar. Wow! your action is complete.                                 FIRST PICTURE IS THE (not so hot) ORIGINAL

There are lots of places to find 'free'  actions or you can buy some dynamite sets.

This is Image Effects It is called Historical Fade.

 

Fevels Gothic Glow. Like this one!

 

 

 

 

 

This is even different. It is MW Clean up.... I used the dreamy glow 3 times. Repeat the last part of the action. 

 

Which will make you go absolutely CRAZY when you realize the possibilities! You can use the action, you can add your own enhancements like hue & Saturation, levels, etc:, or you can mix in another "action".-

This one is Nite Fate 33 number 10. Check out Nite Fate at Deviant art. She has some great contact sheets showing her actions. http://night-fate.deviantart.com/ 

 

So if you are tired of the Iowa Cornfield in the winter. Yes, it was very blue and blustery....  lets do a couple more applications.......... You can use very nicely. Show some of those in my next post.

Yellow rose and this is the same Nite Fate 33-10 as the above barn.

Now that remains to be seen if they will be in the right order when I post this with typepad.....

 Nite Fate #33 but this is number 1 in the series.

Pioneer Woman- Colorized  

 

 

The original  rose is yellow.

 

Last for Now is another from the Pioneer Woman. Vintage..

You can sure set a mood with this one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having a good time experimenting and organizing "actions"

Photo Walk #2

Saturday Al and I went halfway across Las Vegas toward Mt. Charleston. It was late so we ate lunch and that was it... time to go home. But my 'snow fever' remained and we went nearly all the way up on Sunday.

Really isn't much snow, and what is there isn't fresh. The first two pictures were taken at about 65MPH! Love my Canon SX 20IS.

 

Nice Lodge with a nice warm fireplace. 

Maybe there was more snow than I thought!

Check the price tag on the fence.

Lots of people tailgating, sledding, building little snowmen. What a great day out for families!

We went late morning. I think I would like to wait for fresh snow, and go really early! Parking is really hard to find.

This is on the way back.

 

 

 

  

 We did stop and take these pictures. These were the last two and I thought they looked like a painting.

Haven't edited any of them yet, just thought I would share.

Photo Walk (second part)

This is one of our favorite stores to shop in.... Love the colors and the collections on display.

 

Love this old dresser...

 

   One of the Photo groups that I am on has challenges weekly. Pretty awesome, as it makes you "think". One of the challenges was color. The department stores are great for finding color! This is Anthropologie. I have found great 'color' possibilities at Micheals too!  

Don't forget extra batteries! 

Photo Walk #1

Photo Shoots are my favorite thing to do. You actually have to go out of your comfort zone (computer, TV, refrigerator), and move around alittle.

The first shoot this week was simply two friends on a walking trail.

The highlight for me was the railroad tracks at the end of the trail. I climbed up and shot some pictures. I was trying to remember if I had ever stood on a railroad track before. Never thought about it!

Love the textures you pick up from the bridge. 

  The rust is really the underside of the bridge. This is a metal bridge in the heart of a big city. No great trees around, no river, no wooden covered beauty. You have to find beauty where you are. Coming from the the pacific northwest, this has been a challenge!

I will settle for rust!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Resolutions.... maybe a few. I tried to do the 365 pics a day last year till we got Gracie, then everday, from then on it was Gracie, Gracie Gracie.

She finally ate the bow.

Maybe this year, I will do the photography again. Starting late, but then, 365 doesn't have to be Jan1st to Jan1st. Right.

 

How about some cards? They sort of look like New Years! Bright and cheery colors in lime, hot pink, black etc:,. Besides it feels good to use some of the 25 sheets each of these 2 papers. What was I thinking? It feels pretty good to have four cards done! Never mind that everyone gets the same design. Obsessive...nah.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

 This is really our family. I created this for another group. I am not sure it is as funky as it could be. But .... I didn't want to cover up the characters. The little guy on the left really is my Dad.

Joe & Emma, with children Sherman, Harry, and Edward. Real people.

Christmas was alway special at their house. Grandma and Mom cooked. We ate Oyster Stew on Christmas eve. And for Christmas was  Turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy.... and the pies... Yum. Are you hungry yet? 

Bet you can't guess who did the dishes?? Yup, another time!

The men went in the living room and Dad and Grandpa feel asleep in side, by side chairs. Edward asleep on a couch.