Gifts, presents, etc....

Its seems like this month its been one party after another.

I've had to make a lot  of gifts or presents, whatever you prefer to call them.

This is the way I have been feeling lately.

But, of course,  I do it to myself. 

I generally make some or all the gifts that we distribute throughout the year. 

I try to personalize each and every one to fit the receiver.  

.......anddddd sometimes I (almost) bite off more than I can chew, but I pull out of my 

hat at the last minute and I satisfied with the end result.....

Now the wrapping is another issue......

Deets:

Supplies are:

Stamps from Viva Las Vegastamps!  

Surprised lady #8856 

All I can find..... sentiment #5890

Brown ink for stamping

Actual old news prints

Pink, Peach, Blue, Yellow polka dot, Kraft cardstock

White ribbon

Dew drops

Miracle tape

I first stamped the lady image on each of the peach, pink, blue and yellow polka dot card stocks separately.

The I fussy cut out the peach one of the whole image.

Then I cut out different pieces to add on top of the main peach layer.

Blue do-rag, pink sleeves, yellow vest and then adhered them with miracle tape.

The rest of the layering is pretty explanatory from the picture. 

Made a tag and crossed out wrapping paper and inserted the word "newspaper" 

Glued on the dew drops and I think it a pretty cute card.

Until later, gift givers, .....Gotta split......TFL!!!!!

Halloween potion.....

It's almost that time of year again.

I {heart} Halloween.

I always end up at a dress-up party somewhere, so as you can guess

 I go all out and make all of our costumes.

This was me and the hubs last year. 

I'm a huge fan of the Wizard of OZ.  

This is my rendition of what the Wicked Witch of the East would have looked like....

before she was a foundation for a house. 

My flying monkey looks like he would rather be in his cage....

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Complete with broom with built in seat and 

can't forget that dayum house

that decided use me as a runway.

My daughter as herself.....Bwhahahahahahahahaha.

Just kidding.....she wanted to be a Creepy Doll.

She's such as actress.

She and I try to stay in character the whole time we are in wardrobe. 

This is my first Halloween card for the year. 

I may give this one to the hubs and tell him its LOVE POTION....

Bwahahahahahahahahah!!!

Here are the deets:

 Kraft card stock for the base.

Lime green layer.

Torn layer of a news print paper...inked around the edges. 

Dude! Cricut cart for the water splat.

Pasteurs Death Potion stamp # 18898

Green Dew drops

small tag.

Here's a close up of this beauty....

I stamped it once with brown ink and cut out the label and then

 I stamped it a second time using blue ink.

I wanted it to look like an antique blue bottle. 

Layered the label and then used a white gel pen to give it a few highlights. 

Sharpie on the tag.

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

Memories.......

We are only here on this big ball of mud for a short time....

so enjoy!!!!!

I hope my page reflects that sentiment and makes you want to go out and 

MAKE A MEMORY!!!

Harlee (my 13 yrs. old daughter) and I had a girls day, back in May of this year.

We went to lunch at a local Deli and then we perused all the local shops and 

then we decided to visit the local cemetery.  

There are some really old tombstones there and she and I both love looking at them.

Even at 13, she said its a very calming experience...... 

I {heart} that girl!!!!!

On the journal page above (in my new Clairefontaine journal)

 I used several items listed below....

Rubber stamps from Viva Las Vegastamps!

Film strip #18921 (which I stamped on velum using Black staz-on)

Tree background #18902

Kromecoat cardstock

Clock hand 

Retro flower punch

 (dragonfly wings, tear drops and decor along side sentiment)

Inked background using a mister bottle with some ink dabbed onto wet surface.

Inked around pic and tree background with sponge and ink.

Miracle tape to adhere pieces to journal page.

Love how this turned out!!!!

Hard to tell from the pic, but Harlee is posing next to a tombstone that's carved to look like a tree trunk. It has a beautiful poem inscribed on it and she fell in love with this one. 

I have learned that most symbols on headstones are not just beautiful, or that the person liked that particular thing.  There are certain meanings behind those symbols.

 Here are a few:

Ivy - Friendship

Angel - Spirituality

Scroll - Symbol of life and time

Urn - Old age (morning if draped)

Lamb - Innocence

Well, a tree trunk represents "The beauty of LIFE"

I think I have found the tombstone for me when that inevitable day

happens and I'm taken from the standing up position.

Don't get me wrong...... I plan on going KICKIN' AN' A SCRATCHIN'

But when I do ...... I want that as a symbol of my life.

As artists don't we find beauty in the most unusual objects...

Bwahahahahahahaha!!!

FYI: I have some hidden meanings in my journal page....

film strip (take many many pics of your loved ones)

Dragonfly (power of life)

Tears (for those that have left too soon)

Blue (sad to see them go)

Clock hand (time doesn't stand still)

Hope you enjoyed your short journey of my 

somewhat cluttered mind. 

Until later, beauty seekers........Gotta split (for now)...........TFL!!!!

Travel log.....2012.

We boldly go where no man.........

awwww heck.....

we go where most people have already visited many times before us,

but we have fun exploring anyway. 

This is my introduction to my new travel journal.  One of the perks of being a Design Team member of Viva Las Vegastamps!!!!

These are the stamps and supplies that I used to create the cover:

Sky diving Pig #4582 

Bone #16839

Mountain range #6926

Astonished frog #7225

Treasure chest #6164

Goatee head #2278

Wavy ribbon for the water waves

DSP behind the cover

Cardboard for the sand

shell, shovel and bucket stickers
Crab and star fish paper punches
stick-on gems and pearls
hand-cut clouds

You can win this unadorned beauty (pictured below) 
to create yourself a journal of your liking.

Just comment on the VLVS blog HERE

Viva Las Vegastamps! and Clairefontaine are hosting a contest this month--comment on all the Clairefontaine posts throughout the month to get a chance at a free journal and a $15 coupon to the VLVS! online store! Great prize!! Good luck!! Remember, you can't win if you don't enter!!!

If you can't make a trek to the actual store (which is on my bucket list) then you can 

travel on over via the website and check it out. 

Just click you heels 3 times while saying "I LUV RUBBAH" and 

then click on this link. 

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

$$$ store crafting....

Yep,  I shop for crafts every place I go.  

The Dollar store is no exception.

I created this for a challenge on the Dollar Store Crafts blog. 

You have to incorporate some school supplies into the project. 

So, what do these items have in common????

...and yes all of these items were purchased at our local Dollar Store.

Something that is beautiful!!!!

I love making home decor out of the most ordinary objects. 

It really looks way more stunning in real life.

Doesn't it look like something that can be bought at a high end home decor store.

It really only took me minutes to put this together. 

As soon as I saw the items I knew what I was going to make. 

I simply stuck the thumb tacks in very close together to cover the styrofoam balls and then I inserted a piece of the floral wire for a stem. I used a small amount of glue on the spot where I was inserting the wire.  Would a small section around the stems and arranged it to my liking.    DONE!!!

Until later, crafting genius'......Gotta split......TFL!!!!!!