My Craft Channel video......

Y'all wish me luck...........
I really hope I get chosen!!!

Until later, well wishers.......Gotta split........TFL!!!

Dedication to my brother!!!!

The picture you see below was taken last April (2010).

This is my brothers and sister and myself.

Pictured from left to right: 

Oldest to youngest.

Pam, Rusty, Myself and Micky.

On August 22, 2011 my brother Micky passed away from an apparent heart attack. 

 He was only 48 yrs. young. He died just hours before his 49th birthday which was Aug. 23rd.  It was very unexpected and we will miss him so much.

I wrote a eulogy and actually had the strength to say it at his funeral service.  

This is what it said:

I just wanted to say a few words about Micky. He was a father, a brother, an uncle and a dear friend to many.

He would give you the shirt off his back even if it was the only shirt he owned.  That was just the kind of person he was.

Two words come to mind when thinking of Micky.....

FREE SPIRIT

He didn't care what people thought of him, he just wanted to live life to the fullest.  He was truly Viva Don's (our mother) son.

Growing up with Micky.....one minute we would be rolling around in the dirt wanting to tear each other apart.  The next we would be hugging each other like no one else in the world existed. 

He never met a stranger. He was always smiling, laughing, joking around, and telling stories.

To quote Micky on the very day of his passing; he told the guys he worked with....

Tomorrow is my 49th birthday. If I die today; I've lived a good life.

We are not here to mourn Micky...but to celebrate his life.

I hope everyone walks away today embracing their inner Micky and enjoy life.

My heart is truly broken.

We will love and miss him very much!!!!!

From the mouths of babes......

I love the saying on this card.  I recently found this clear stamp set that has a few sayings on it from children.  It truly is a very special set that I'm sure to use quite often. 

I created this one for a challenge at Ribbon Carousel (The blog).

It's a sketch challenge and 

you have to use anything that comes off a spool (ribbon, twine, bakers twine, thread, yarn, etc....) on your creation also..... (see my little bit of ribbon and yarn).  

I love how this turned out.......  my mojo has been on vacation lately and now I think its returning.....slowly but surely!!!!

Until later, blog family.............Gotta split........TFL!!!!!

Royal Bleeding Heart Club.....

A rose by any other name would still be a rose nine......Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Hmmmmmm....gottcha wondering about the title and the verse above.  Well, don't these really look like bleeding roses.  Their not really roses at all.  They are actually the number 9 from the Happy Hauntings cartridge (pg. 36....see on bottom).

I was really stuck (no pun intended) with the latest challenge at

 Haunted Design House.  This week its "Queen of the Damned", but anything royal would suffice.  I so see a evil princess/queen having roses like this.

I punched out the leaves with a leaf punch and ran my stylus down the middle to create the spine of the leaf. 

I used crystal effects to emphasize the blood droplets. 

Doesn't that #9 really look like a bleeding rose in the booklet..........well maybe  very artsy bleeding rose...Bwahhahahahaha!!!

I love to look at images in a different way. 

I really stretched this one to resemble the challenge......

But all fair in love and challenges!!!!!!

Until later, fellow members.........Gotta split......TFL!!!!!!!

Warsh day.......

I was sitting here in my office listening to the washing machine running; the laundry room is right next to my office (how convenient...LOL) and was thinking about my new stamp set from SU! named House & Home . 

 I love the retro feel of it.  Yes, I still hang my clothes on a clothes line outside.  Yes, I have a dryer, but I'm old school and I remember the fresh smell of the clothes after they have hung in the sun; and it does save on electricity as well.  After they have been hanging out till they're almost dry I bring them in and fluff them in the dryer for a few minutes.

Also to remove any critters they may have taken up residence..... Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!

Ahhhhhhh......fresh smelling clothes!!!!

Card deets:

I started with an A2 size base of white card stock and then layered on so saffron and then cameo coral cardstock.  The white layer I ran thru my Texture Boutique with one of the embossing folders from Wall Decor set(the partner folders that match the Wall Decor and More Cricut cartridge).  

I stamped the gingham with so saffron and it reminded me of a quilt, ahhhh perfect.

Then I stamped the clothes pins and ironing board (to use as a base) with chocolate chip ink.

Then I stamped the ironing board again with cameo coral and fussy cut the cover to place on top with dimensionals.  The sentiment is from the Loads of Love stamp set....perfect for this....don't ya think???

You can almost smell the freshness just by looking at this card....

Well, the washing machine has stopped and I have to go hang out for a little while!!!!

Until later warsh women.........Gotta hang split .....TFL!!!!!

My Studio......

My studio is my sanctuary..... I love going down there (its in the basement) and spending the day.

My sister calls it the "laboratory" and my hubs calls it the "money pit".....Bwahahahahahahaha!!!

My entire studio measures approx. 12 feet by 34 feet. 

Welcome to my studio!!!!!

I've posted some pics below with a little description of each..... and I'm going to show you......

You don't have to spend a fortune to have a great crafting space.....

This rack was purchased at a local thrift shop...it was originally a free standing magazine rack, the kind you might find at a doctor's office.  I paid $4.00 for it. My 8-1/2" X 11" cardstock fits it in nicely.

 Of course these are from the craft store, but they were both purchased using 40% off coupons.  I have my papers sorted by colors on the rack to the left and the one on the right by theme.

This a closet organizer...... I used to have this in my laundry room holding our laundry supplies. We had our laundry room re-done so I use it now for some of my punches.

This rack I made myself using 1" x 4" pieces of lumber..... a few nails and a little paint and I have the perfect rack to store stamps and more punches. 

Less than $10 to make.

These 2 pieces of peg board were freebies, and I store odds and ends and ribbons for easy access.

On the other end of my studio I have a painting area.  These racks were purchased several years ago from Wal-mart.  They were re-arranging their craft area and I asked the manager if I could have/purchase them.....  He said sure.... I asked how much and he said a quarter each......LOL, REALLY????... That's all I paid.

This sign I found behind my hubs workshop, it was covered in dirt and I was just curious to what it said.... I sprayed it off and saw it was a sign advertising tires (4/49.95).  Tells you how old it really is....LOL

I noticed it had holes in the corner for easy hanging and (the light went off) I knew I had my embellishments in those metal favor tins with the clear plastic tops, but they were in a box and I had to search thru them anytime I wanted to find anything. I grabbed my strip of magnetic tape and adhered a piece to the back of each one and this is the result...... I can see at a glance anything I need.

Until later, studio dwellers.......Gotta split.....TFL!!!!!!

The Great Crepe Capade

What could be better than........

Sweetened cream cheese rolled up in a feathery crepe smothered in a cherry sauce.

I had some left over Rainer Cherries that I was snacking on a few days ago and I didn't want them to go to waste.  So, I made a sauce out of them.  Then I was on a search for something to use it on.

The first thing that came to mind was a crepe.

I got busy in the kitchen.

I always have cream cheese in the fridge so the fillings was the easy part.  Pancakes are one of my specialties around here, just one step beyond that is a crepe.

Turned out pretty fab for something that was created to use a leftover (the cherries).

Yes, it tasted as good as it looked......creamy, sweet, and satisfying.

Crepe recipe:

1 egg

1 cup self rising flour

1-3/4 cup milk

 Heat a small fry pan, brushed with oil while mixing all the above thoroughly.  When well mixed and no lumps, pour a small amount of the mixture into middle of the pan and then twist and turn the pan to coat the bottom evenly.  Cook until slightly browned and then flip to cook the other side. 

You can use any filling you desire and any sauce to accompany it. 

My daughter ate hers with just butter and syrup.....LOL

Until later, sweeties.........Gotta split.......TFL!!!!

the PRICE is right.......

Happy birthday Mr. Price !!!

Today Vincent Price would have been 100 yrs old.  

He looks pretty good for 100, huh???

What more fitting memorial than to be featured on Haunted Design House and it's also HDH's 100th challenge.   The challenge is called Varying Visages of Vincent.

When I read the challenge the first movie that popped in my head was House of Wax....a classic starring Vincent.   He was such a stunning man!!!

(front)

If he was reading the phone book aloud; I would be sitting there with my jaw dropped to the floor in awe.

Looking very similar to VP's jaw in the pic below.  Bwahahahahahaha!!!

I altered the photo from above to make him look like he's melting. Then I added some crystal effects for extra goo.

 

(inside)

I kept it black and white......'cause it just felt right.

Vincent ....nuff said !!!!

There's also a chance for some "blog candy corn"

Melts in your mouth and not in your hand...

Until later, visions of loveliness .........Gotta split.......TFL!!!!!