Eclectic Archivist

Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Birthday Arizona, Happy Tuesday

2012-02-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

I had planned to post a vintage Valentine's Day and a souvenir Arizona postcard in honor of...Valentine's Day and Arizona's Centennial which both are on February 14th, to celebrate the days occasions. Instead I'm going to share the Valentine card my Tucson sister made and sent to me. It combined both celebrations...

For those of you not familiar with the Arizona State flag there is a copper color star in the center of the flag...for Valentine's Day TS replaced it with a heart...very clever!

Distres Ink, Goodwill and Collections

2012-02-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

My obsession with Tim Holtz Distress Ink started out simply enough...
I remember my first color... Old Paper.

I was working on a Heritage Album and needed to give the pages an aged look. Then I got braver and added two more Distress Inks, Tattered Rose and Frayed Burlap ...once you have three of something it becomes a COLLECTION!

Gradually I was adding more and more inks to my COLLECTION. When I started teaching the Heirloom Tag Class it gave me the licenses to really add to the COLLECTION.

Not only had I become a Distress Ink HOARDER, but how was I going to store all these ink pad? I needed easy access because I ink everything and I needed them organized because from the side and bottom they all look the same! Looking for just the right container became an ongoing search.

Until the day I spotted the perfect storage container across the aisles at Goodwill!

There is sat just waiting for me to grab it...an index card file drawer. I grabbed it up and walked quickly to the check out...IT WAS MINE!

I printed out labels and adhered them to the sides of the ink pads....

And organized the inks by colors in to the two drawers...with plenty of room to add many more!

The file drawer sits next to my work table...I pull out a drawer and can find the exact color I need. A nice neat COLLECTION!

I think it's time for Tim to come out with some new colors!

Here comes another one!

2012-01-18T19:11:00.000-08:00

Here we are two and a half weeks into the New Year and it's already time for another holiday... we have 27 days until VALENTINE'S DAY. True, it's not as big a deal as Christmas...but one that needs your attention anyway. Cards, candy, flowers, and decorations.

In honor of VALENTINE'S DAY I created three tags to teach at Scrapbook Barn. I have never gone for the traditional red and white color scheme...these tags are a bit on the wild side.

I like the vintage look of the Frances Brundage harlequin children images. The background of the tag is a collage created of different rubber stamps.

I have wanted to design a tag using a cup cake for a while now. Valentines Day was the perfect occasion. I asked my friend Wendy, and her husband Bill, owners of Leaky Shed Studios if they would create a chipboard die cut of a cup cake that could be covered with festive patterned paper and embellishments. I used the Ranger Liquid Pearls in White Opal to frost the top of the cup cake and finished if off with a large red heart rhinestone.

THANK YOU WENDY AND BILL!

The background of this Cupid tag was done using a Sizzix Embossing Folder and a mixture of

Perfect Pearls and Distress ink re-inker...very shimmery. The Cupid was embellished with Stickles and hot pink rhinestones.

Let's face it...LIFE IS ONE DARN HOLIDAY AFTER ANOTHER!

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

Tinsel Hanging on the Christmas Tree

2011-12-15T18:18:00.000-08:00

We got a great new embellishment in at Scrapbook Barn, It's a tinted tape by Vintage Street Market. The tinted tape is a easy way to add a fun layer to you scrapbook layout, card or ATC.

I designed a layout using the "linen" look tape. It has the appearance of an age Scotch tape that you may find in a vintage family photo album:

I used a few retro looking patterned papers and a 1950's Christmas photo edged with the tinted tape.

The text border was made by pressing the linen tinted tape onto vintage book paper, and gently peeling it back up, lifting the book paper onto the tape.

Check out all the tinsel hanging on the tree...do they even make that anymore?

Christmas Tags, Tim Holtz and Toy Envy

2011-12-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Tim Holtz started his 12 tags of Christmas this week. He is creating and sharing some

wonderful treasures over at his blog.

While Tim is just getting started on his tags, I have been teaching my tags the last few weeks at

Scrapbook Barn. Tim will be making 12 tags (hence the name "12 tags of Christmas")

I designed and have been teaching 3 tags.

Tim has always been an over achiever...but I do envy all those wonderful

toys he has to create with.

These tags are fun to design, they can be used to decorate a tree or a grape vine wreath,

tie them onto a ribbon to create a banner, add one to a package or a gift bag, trade in a “tag swap”,

mail a tag instead of a Christmas Card

or you can design these tags for yourself... just collect and enjoy them.

I will be teaching 2 more tag classes at Scrapbook Barn,

December 5th, 5-6:30 pm and December 6th, 1:30-3 pm.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T15:23:00.000-08:00

Hand Dyed

2011-11-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

I have been playing with color washes, dyes and ink...

and what a great time I have been having creating "HAND DYED" Crinkle Seam Binding...

Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and a vintage Rose

As you can see from the photo I was even able to teach them how to line up all in a row...

I placed these colorful bundles in the Boutique at Scrapbook Barn, and they sold out fast...I "cooked" up another batch and the last time I looked there were only a few left.

It's time to make more...my nail tech is going to love me!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

Holiday Spirit

2011-10-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

It's almost Halloween...ghost and goblins and things that go bump in the night, candy over load, trick or treaters and the really scary part there are 54 days between Halloween and Christmas...and they threw Thanksgiving in the middle! Yes, it is the most wonderful time of the year!

And speaking of Christmas...I designed this Christmas album using Kaiser Craft's Beyond the pages Georgina wooden album...

Great patterned paper and yards of festive ribbon...

Lace and distress ink...

Rhinestones...

and Stickles.

Kinda gets you in to the holiday spirit doesn't it?

Yes this fun album is for sale at my Etsy store.

Decorating for the Holiday

2011-10-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

I just checked the date of the last time I blogged...it's been way too long! I wonder what I have been doing? Oh RIGHT...prepping for classes. I have found a whole new respect for teachers.

Have you gotten your Halloween decorations up yet? "THEY" ( yes, that THEY) say that Halloween is the second most decorated holiday in the country. Decorating creates the mood for the holiday...lets face it, we will come up with any excuse to break out the glue and scissors and create something festive.

In honor of the holiday I've designed some "spooky" Halloween tags:

Gotta love all the different colors of Tim Holtz distress ink...they are so much fun to create with.

Birthday Tags

2011-09-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

Instead of sending a card for a Birthday Greeting how about a Birthday TAG! Or if you choose to stick with tradition, you can tie a Birthday TAG onto the gift. Yes I've been playing with TAGS again...this time for Birthdays

I found the black and white photograph at an antique store of a 1950's Birthday party with kids holding balloons. With a bit of photo editing I added an "old photo" frame. The manila shipping tag was covered with colorful birthday balloon tissue paper...I embellished it with a big glitter balloon and a few gold stars.

This "Birthday Fairy" image is one that Suzee Que shared on a Flickr group I belong to...thanks Suzee Que! The blue Fairy Wings are for sale at my Etsy store.

A designer from Switzerland (I think it was Switzerland...I can't remember how I found it!) had a tag on her blog using this great technique of applying a bit of glue to one side of the tag and laying a page from an old book on top of the glue, when the glue dries you mist it with water and remove the old page. I embellished the tag with die cut flowers, a reduced image of a vintage birthday post cart and a lot of distress ink.

I've been creating!

2011-09-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

I have been hiding out in my "wizard's room" playing with distress ink, vintage images and glue.

It's the time of year that I have family and friends birthdays, one after another for the next 3 1/2 months. Once I get the creativity going I don't dare stop for fear of loosing the "mojo".

When it comes to cards for "guys" I get a total design block...for some reason it's just harder to come up with ideas for the men in my life.

I was pretty happy with the San Francisco card for my DS, could I get that lucky again for my DB?

YUP...I pulled together some "ice cream" ephemera to go along with this old photo of my uncle,as a young boy, licking ice cream off a dasher that had just come out of a hand crank ice cream freezer. The wording in red reads "RESERVED for personal use only".

San Francisco, Birthday Cards and incense...

2011-08-31T19:13:00.000-07:00

"I've been high...I've been low...I've been yes and I've been oh hell no...I've been rock 'n' roll and disco...Won't you save me San Francisco?"

Yes I'm singing it out loud...you might want to put your hands over your ears.

I love this song by Train...beside being such a fun song, it' reminds me of what a fantastic place San Francisco is to visit.

I have been trying to come up with an idea for a birthday card for my DS...who lives in SF, and here is where all these rambling thoughts come together...

A vintage San Francisco image birthday card.

The image was printed on a transparency and burned around the edges with incense. I layered patterned paper, printed transparency, tissue tape, distress ink, some cool braid.

So San Francisco did save me...because as we all know it's tough to come up with guy cards.

Baby Tags

2011-08-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with TAGS again...this time it's all about the BABY.

This cute baby boy image is from a vintage woman's magazine cover. Bits of lace, blue checked patterned paper, some Stickles (blinging up the bath water), distress ink and a blue butterfly charm

For a baby girl it's all about the PINK ... vintage baby girl card image, ribbon, Stickles, pink patterned paper, a doilie, distress ink and a pink ribbon flower.

I put the cap on the Stickles for this antique looking tag... vintage baby photo and buggy ad, ecru lace, distress ink, tissue tape, and 3 three old buttons from a button box.

Grand Opening!

2011-08-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

It's time to make if official...

For the last 2 months I have been working on creating a Etsy store ( I know... you were wondering where I had been.)

I have the shop stocked with cards, mini albums, fairy wings, shadow box and other fancy stuff.

One of the items is a Santa Claus album...

you did know that it's 131 days until Christmas didn't you?

Click on the Etsy shop button to see some more treasures.

Happiness is an empty cardboard box

2011-08-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Kitty Kitty Kitty Kitty Kitty...

Kitty Kitty Kitty Cat...

Kitty Kitty Kitty Kitty Cat...

Kitty Kitty Kitty...Has anybody seen my Cat?

In my spare time...

2011-08-07T22:29:00.000-07:00

Last Christmas season I gave my darling daughter a banner I had made for a design team project...you remember the one. I designed it using the
Cavallini & Co. vintage postcard wrap.

She liked it so much she still has it up. In June I decided it was time to make her a new banner she could keep up all year. My plan was to do this in my spare time...which I don't have.

DD has black and white accents in her home, I started collecting black and white patterned paper, embellishments and a bit of bling.
Sweet Wendy over at Leaky Shed Studio had given me some of their chip board die cut banner letters to spell out: H O M E. The letters have holes at the top to run a ribbon through to created the banner. I covered the letters with the black and white patterned paper, leaving the holes covered. I placed them on chip board die cut pennant shapes that I had my DD cover in the back and white patterned paper ( The only was to get this done was to make it a team effort). I had great plans to layer each pennant and letter with tons of embellishments... in my spare time.

In the end I kept the embellishments simple...doilies, silk flowers, ribbon, gems and Stickles.

I don't plan on going in to the banner making business, but it was fun to work on a different kind of project with and for my DD.

Sprinkles, Facebook and Salty Sweet

2011-07-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

I have been hearing about Sprinkles cupcakes for a few years. Our local Sprinkles is about 30 minutes away in the posh part of Scottsdale...not my usual stomping grounds.

But last week I had my first...and my second!

My daughter, my grand kids and I were driving on the 101 north. I was driving, the g-kids were in the back and my daughter was on her phone checking Facebook. She made the announcement that if we went to Sprinkles and said the secret word..."Salty Sweet" we could get a free cupcake. I was curious why the word was Salty Sweet...because that was the kind of free cupcake they were giving way. Okay how close were we to Sprinkles? The next exit...it was meant to be...today would be the day for my very first Sprinkles cupcake...but Salty Sweet just didn't sound too great, I was going to have a Red Velvet even if I had to pay for it. We got off the freeway exit, a few turns later we were in front of Sprinkles. We walked in and waited our turn... eying the display case for the kind of cupcake we were going to order...along with our free ones. When it was our turn we all whispered "Salty Sweet", he smiled and thanked us for whispering...they had just finished frosting the cupcakes. He boxed up the ones we ordered and in a separate box placed our free "Salty Sweet". We thanked him, and got back out on the road.

When we got home we did a taste test...the Red Velvet was great, but the Salty Sweet was wonderful...the Salty Sweet was CARMEL!

It's nice to know I can still be pleasantly surprised

Say something nice...

2011-07-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

My mom recently turned 80...she would be okay with me telling you her age. For her birthday she sent out a letter reminding all of her kids, grand kids and great grand kids that she was turning 80. She told us we didn't need to throw her a party, but she did ask all of us to make her a homemade birthday card...the kind we use to make in kindergarten...folded piece of paper, crayons, stick figures, she wanted us to write something nice about her, something we would tell someone about her or something we had done with her...we were not to obsess about the card.

Of course we all obsessed about making the card, some of us got done early, some of us are still working on the cards. That's okay, mom likes to celebrate her birthday all month long.

She has been enjoying all the cards made by her kids, grand kids and great grand kids. Some extend family and friends had heard about the letter and wanted to get in on the fun too.

Why am I telling you all this? One of my siblings asked me if I was going to blog the card I made for mom...I hadn't plan on it...but then again "things" to blog are few and far between. I usually make her a red, white and blue patriotic looking card for her birthday ( see the 4th of July post), but this year I designed a card "that says something nice...something I would tell someone about her."

The front of the card reads: "I color outside the lines...with my left hand". The inside reads "Thank you Mom for teaching me everything I know about being creative" ( And yes...that's me sitting in the chair" )

Happy 80th Birthday!

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

Ever get the feeling you are be ignored?

2011-07-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

You would think if a cat sat down...posed herself to create a perfect photo opportunity, she would at least work with the photographer. The back ground was great...lighting okay and the subject was gorgeous...I ran to get my camera, got it on the right settings...I sat down to be at her level, you know all the amateur photo tricks...and she moves.

We loose the poise...has boredom or apathy set in?

She got up and walked to the other end of the table...is this a "I could care less" poise?

No this is Cat-atude...as in "go away, I was just yanking your chain, I have no intention of poising for your camera...don't you know when you are being ignored?"

HOT PINK with ZEBRA STRIPES

2011-06-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

Did you know that HOT PINK with a ZEBRA print is the "in" thing right now?

I had no clue!

I needed to make a card for my neighbor's daughter...I asked her mom what kind of things she liked..."HOT PINK with ZEBRA print." So I went off looking for something HOT PINK with ZEBRA print. The first few places I looked I had zero luck. Then I found the mother load. I found HOT PINK with ZEBRA, patterned paper, 1 1/2 inch ribbon and some flower embellishments...so many choices! I decided using all three would be overkill. I selected one and headed off to play.

I printed off a cool vintage image, added some polka dot ribbon (I didn't want to over do the HOT PINK with ZEBRA print), some fairy wings...If you are going to be using HOT PINK with ZEBRA stripes you have to do a over the top card...and that always calls for Fairy Wings!

I added a bit of Stickle and of course Hot Pink Zebra stripe flower embellishments...

With a large hot pink rhinestone in the center of the flower. (trust me, in real life the flower is HOT PINK)

I was having so much fun playing, I made a few extra. My Tucson Sister took one to give to her youngest daughter that just passed her cosmetology boards...Way to go Maddie!!!

house plants and blogs

2011-06-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

I have 2 house plants in my house. They are both Pothos...very hardy plants. One is 31 years old...I remember this because I bought it as a 2inch plant when we moved into our house 31 years ago. Over the years I have had to transplant it a few times because it has become root bound...in fact on more than one occasion all that there was in the pot were roots...no soil. The other Pothos in newer...my Tucson sister gave it to me last year. It is in a vintage Haeger ceramic pot that we found in a thrift store. Both plants sit next to my kitchen sink so I will remember to water them...I don't.

So what do house plants and blogs have in common...both need to have an owner that will remember to nurture and tend to them...I don't.

It doesn't help that I updated Windows a few weeks ago and now I can't get Blogspot to work the way it's suppose too...I 'm not sure who to be more annoyed with...Microsoft or Blogspot...maybe both. Anybody else having a problem or is just me?

I'm going to go water my plants...

Ooooh Chocolate!

2011-05-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist this Hot Pink and Chocolate Brown patterned paper with the "Milk Chocolate" labels. I added a creamy yellow doily and some brown sequin trim...a few green ribbon roses along with a vintage Cadbury Chocolate ad, with a lovely young girl, to create this yummy card.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

Birthday, Wedding and a Shower

2011-05-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

It's "tag" time again...

This Birthday tag is a bit on the Shabby Chic side...using patterned paper, a vintage image, ribbon and rhinestones.
This Tim Holtz "Sewing Room" die cut was fun to play with. This tag was designed with a Wedding Shower in mind. A dress form with the beginning of a bridal gown

After the Shower comes the wedding, this bride and groom were "Just Married"

I'm teaching these tags next week at Scrapbook Barn. Tuesday the 10th 5:00 to 6:30pm and Wednesday the 11th 10:30 to 12noon.

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Victorian Scarps, butterfly wings and Stickles...

2011-04-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

I had planned to use flower Victorian Scrap (die cut) images in my tag class. I printed off a collage sheet of the flowers, cut them out with finger nail scissors to get in all the little nooks and crannies and tried to come up with a design idea. In the end I went a whole other way with the tags. Which left me the Victorian flower scraps to use in making cards. The Victorian Scarps are resting on this young girl wearing a bonnet, along with a punched tissue paper flower with a beaded center, purple Stickles, butterfly wings and a few paper flowers in her bonnet.

Decorative or Useful

2011-04-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

At Scrapbook Barn we have be playing with canvas. We each received a Donna Downey canvas apron, butterfly and flower iron-ons plus some canvas flowers. We painted the canvas flowers and apron using Claudine Hellmuth Studio paints...created fabric flowers, added ruffles and ribbon...each apron showed off the different style of the designer. My apron was displayed in the store on this lovely dress form.

Having been a floral designer in a previous life I went wild with the flowers...

I kept adding more and more. You can never have too many flowers!

I have been asked how I plan to wash the apron... I don't cook, so it will never need to be washed.

Somethings are decorative, somethings are useful and somethings are both.

Spring has Sprung!

2011-04-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and Easter is not too far off...in honor of the season I have been working on some new tags ( and you were wondering what had been keeping me away from bloggin') This Spring tag is created with Tim Holtz's Caged Bird die cut, and Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime collection. I placed the "blue bird" outside her gold embossed cage...Hey, it's Spring...nobody should be inside!

I used an embossing folder to create the leaf pattern for this tag. The little girl hatching out of the egg is from a vintage postcard.

I had used these chicks on my last years Easter card. The are so cute they are making another appearance.

I know you are saying to yourself..."these tags are so fun, I wonder if they are a class?"

Yes, the tags are a class! They will be taught Thursday April 7th 10:00am to 11:30am and again Tuesday April 12th 5:00pm to 6:30pm at Scrapbook Barn...give them a call to sign up!

3 Gypsies on Portobello Road

2011-03-20T17:09:00.001-07:00

A few years ago...now that I think about it MORE than a few years ago, mom and I flew over to London...met up with mom's sister Mary for a grand adventure. When we returned, I had all kinds of plans for a fantastic scrapbook of the trip. Of course life got in the way...the trip... photos, journal and all the trip ephemera are still sitting in a box, waiting for me to find the time to create the fantastic scrapbook.
You can imagine my excitement when the new 7 Gypsies Lillie paper came out and I was asked if I wanted to create a design using "Adventure and Elen" paper, the paper tape and a 7 Gypsies Shadow Box tray.

Finally I would have a chance to get a bit of the London trip archived. I sanded the edges of the tray to give it a well traveled look...the outside of the tray and the sides of the little ledges inside of the tray were covered with all three of the paper tapes. The Shadow Box tray has a brass handle with "7 Gypsies" stamped on it...I covered the 7 over with a large 3...because after all there were three of us on this adventure.

While we were in London we took the Eurostar through the Chunnel for a day trip to Paris. Of course we visited the Eiffell Tower.

Back in London we did all the touristy things...the British Museum, Harrods, Westminster Abby and the Tower of London with it's huge black ravens.

I had never heard of London's Portobello Road... Aunt Mary had found us this adventure.

It is the home of the Portobello Market. On Saturday the street is full of people exploring the antique stores, sidewalk flower shops, pubs and wonderful bakeries.

The ideas for the scrapbook are still sitting in the box with the photos and travel journal...but I'm glad a little bit of it is seeing the light of day after all this time.

Going GREEN!

2011-03-08T19:13:00.000-08:00

I have been creating Heirloom Tags again, this time they are all GREEN.
St Patrick's Day is on the 17th of March...I'm sure it's not too early to decorate your house from top to bottom in GREEN.
I will be teaching these festive tags at Scrapbook Barn this Thursday March 10th 10:00 am to 11:30 am and again Tuesday March 15th 5:30pm to 7:00pm.

We will be playing with GREEN distress ink, lace, Stickles, gold embossing powder, vintage images (Thanks to Suzee Que at Flickr and Karen at Graphics Fairy for sharing) GREEN butterflys and glittered shamrocks.

Could it be any easier to go GREEN?

Now for something really different

2011-02-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

This is what you get when you combine Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante patterned paper, some copper Stickles, a few layered Tim Holtz Gadget Gears...

Wild Honey Distress ink, Kaisercraft Turquoise Acrylic Paint and Shadowbox frame, and a handful of amber rhinestones...

It was fun to design...but I don' think it will go with the decor in the living room!

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

Thank you Graphics Fairy for sharing this fun image!

Exchanging Valentines

2011-02-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

When we were kids my mom taught us how to make home made valentines. She would bring out the glue and scissors, lacey doilies, Dennison brand stickers...the kind you had to lick the back to make them sticky, gold Dresden scraps and old magazines to cut out pictures.

My sisters and I are still making home made (now we call it handcrafted) Valentines to exchange with each other and to send to mom.

My Flagstaff sister made this lacey one...
and the one with the embossed mulberry paper hearts and the lady bug was made by my Tucson Sister.

As you can see we each have our own unique styles...I'll post mine tomorrow.

Cow Girl Up!

2011-02-07T18:46:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to design a "Cow Girl" card for a while, I just couldn't find an image that I liked. This Cow Girl image is from Graphics Fairy...Karen shares such wonderful images.
I tea dyed the lace on the bottom of the card and frayed the edged. The flowers are made from a organza ribbon with cool frayed edges...but they weren't quite the right color...I sprayed them with diluted Bundled Sage re-inker.

Here comes the Bride

2011-02-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

I have been designing cards again...
The image for this bridal shower card is from Suezz Que...I love the cloche veil...very big in the 1920's and 30's. I used Star Dust Stickles to add a bit of bling .
The paper is Basic Gray Wisteria, inked with Crushed Olive Distress Ink...one of my new favorites. I also used the Crushed Olive ink to stamp on the background.
The flowers are cut from organza lace...they were too white so I spritzed them with some diluted Crushed Olive re-inker and added rhinestones in the center.

It's good to be the Queen

2011-01-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

I would apologize for not blogging for so long...but I have just checked out some of my friends blogs...they haven't blogged in six months...so I figure I'm ahead of the game!

I have been busy creating, making and teaching classes. I have had a chance to make a card or two.

This card is made using the Teresa Collins BeBe Girl patterned paper and some "royal images".
The bottom of the card reads..."Upon viewing her calender for the week she went ahead and pre-medicated"

Hearts, Glitter and Lace

2011-01-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

While everyone was busy working on Christmas decorations and cards...I was creating Valentines Tags so I could get ahead of the holidays. I displayed the tags at the "Christmas" Heirloom Tags class. I used 8 inch tags so there is a lot of room to create on...The McCall image is from Suzee Que...the combination of black, red and white are "in" colors for Valentines.

This little vintage cherub with glitter paper flourish and Prima flower is more of a juxtaposition Valentine.

I really like this plaid heart with a few poises tucked in a beaded lime green ribbon...aqua and hot pink are a great color combination for Valentines Day.

I will be teaching tag classes at Scrapbook Barn this Thursday and again on Wednesday the 19th.

The next "tag" holiday...St. Patrick's Day!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T18:39:00.001-08:00

"There are better things ahead than any we leave behind"

C.S. Lewis

Compliments of the Season

2010-12-25T12:15:00.000-08:00

Best wishes for a

Happy Christmas

and a magnificent

New Year

The most wonderful time of the year?!?!

2010-12-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

Ti's the season for being extremely busy...and NO I'm not ready! And YES I have been busy, decorating for Christmas...which didn't get done, making divinity, shipping packages, making and sending cards, decorating the tree, wrapping gifts and shopping for stocking stuffers, working at Scrapbook Barn, free lancing as holiday help at the flower shop and teaching classes. I haven't had a day off in weeks. I have promised myself I will start earlier next year.

I have been teaching an Heirloom Tag Class at Scrapbook Barn...these are the tags for Christmas...

The angel tag is a re-mix of a Christmas card I made a few years ago...

The lady on this tag reminds me of a Poinsettia...

Of course I had to get some Tim Holtz onto the tags...the red glitter paper reindeer is from his die cuts...

All the tags are made using distress ink.

Bee's Backdoor

2010-12-05T16:37:00.000-08:00

We have come to the last pages of the Bee Hive album... do I hear a sigh of relief out there? This book went together fast...I just took forever to blog.

I still think the honey combs are fun embellishments.

I am adding the back of the album to this post... I knew you couldn't wait for one more post.

I like to make the back of the album as fancy as the front of the album so I used a patterned paper with lots of embellishments. Maybe some where in all this faux stitching and lace is the bee's backdoor.

Ruffles, Doilies and Polka Dots

2010-11-28T15:25:00.000-08:00

This Maya Road mini album had quite a few pages to cover. Luckily the Sassafras Lass patterned paper gave me plenty of options.

The "stripe" paper had all the elements found in the paper line, lace, stitching, embroidery, doilies and sewing patterned tissue paper.

This sewing patterned tissue paper ruffle was on the bottom strip of the paper...the bar code was on the reverse side. The "ruffle" made the perfect embellishment.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T15:39:00.000-08:00

Patterned Paper, Bilng and Wild Honey...

2010-11-21T16:43:00.000-08:00

This Sassafras Lass paper is too fun...with the fabric, stitching, buttons, lace and embroidery embellishments on the patterned paper...I didn't need to add much else to complete the pages of the Bee Hive album
These covered honey comb shapes were an easy addition to the page.

A bit of bling and "Wild Honey" distress ink to dress it all up.

Honey Comb

2010-11-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

This honey comb chip board shape was the back page of the mini album. I popped out the hexagon shape embellishment and used them through out the album. I sprayed the honey comb chipboard with Maya Mist...a glimmer mist by Maya Road. It was layered on top of a Sassafras Lass patterned paper.
The "bee" was part of the album too. It is covered with the patterned paper that looked like an embroidered running stitch. For the bee's wings, I cut a heart shape out of the patterned paper.

Amber colored rhinestone bling finish off the"honey" look.

This page of the mini album is Sassafras Lass patterned paper. It is covered with embellishments, embroidery, lace, stitching and sewing pattern tissue paper.

Coming to the "Cool" part

2010-11-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

The second pages are were the "cool" begins. This Sassafras Lass patterned paper comes with it's own embellishments.
The button, lace, stitching, ticket, embroidery and all the layered bits and pieces are the patterned paper.

I love adding embellishments to my projects...the only thing better than adding them is when the embellishments come already "built in" to the patterned paper!

The blue cross stitching on the honey comb is patterned paper too. The amber rhinestones...no, their not part of the paper.

Tea Stained Muslin

2010-10-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

This Sassafras Lass Mix and Mend paper was so cool to work with... the paper looks like tea satined muslin. I used some Wild Honey distress ink around the edges...can you tell this has become my new favorite distress in color?

The opposite page is covered with patterned paper from the same line...it has the look of white lace over a rich honey yellow background.

The honey comb shapes were part of the Maya Roads chipboard album...I covered these with some of the patterned paper that looked like straight stitch embroidery and sewing pattern tissue paper.

Queen Bee

2010-10-21T18:41:00.001-07:00

A bee hive fit for a Queen Bee!

The front page of the Maya Road Bee Hive book was covered with the Sassafras Lass patterned paper...and I distressed the edges with "Wild Honey" Distress Ink.I cut out the arched opening to show the inside of the hive. The hexagon shaped honey comb shapes were part of the book...these were covered with some of the patterned paper, distressed and blinged with Kaiser craft rhinestones.

The Prima flower looks like a piece of jewelry, with the pearl center and glittered edges. This album was held together with ball and chain that came in the package. I wasn't sure how that was going to work...most of the albums I have designed come with book rings. The ball and chain worked surprisingly well. I embellished with some ribbon...

and in a kind of juxtaposition, I used one of 7 Gypsies charms...with a BEE!

Bees and Embroidery

2010-10-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

We carry some wonderful Maya Road mini albums at Scrapbook Barn...made from wood, canvas chipboard in different shapes and sizes. I was given this Bee Hive album to design. The first page of the chipboard album has a arched opening and a "bee"...(if you squint you might be able to see them in the photo) the back of the book has a honey comb design.The challenge was to find a great paper worthy of such a fun album. Sassafras Lass has a patterned paper line called "Mix and Mend" that looks like embellished vintage embroidered tea towels, note paper, doily's , little blue hearts and yellow roses.

This is a GREAT paper...worthy of a FUN album!

New Class

2010-10-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

I have put together another class to teach at Scrapbook Barn. I will be teaching a "Heirloom Tag" class. These are vintage style tags to add to you holiday heirlooms. The first offering will be Halloween tags. The classes will be held October 13th 10:30 to 12 noon and 5pm to 6:30 pm and October 27th 10:30 to 12 noon and 5:30pm to 7pm.
In the class you will learn how to use distress ink, stamps, glitter glue, die cuts and vintage images.

When you are finished you will have three tags that can be used to decorate a tree or a grape vine wreath, tie them on a ribbon to create a banner , add one to a package or a gift bag or traded in a "tag swap."

Call Scrapbook Barn to reserve your seat...hope to see you in class!

Exhausting Work

2010-10-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

I have been creating!

In case you haven't heard Scrapbook Barn now has a Boutique. Just as you walk in the door there is a display of wonderful one of a kind projects designed by local crafters and artist. I brought in some of my cards and a couple of mini album to sell.

Which brings me back to...I'VE BEEN CREATING! I locked myself in my wizards room and pulled out a few of my "someday" projects to add to the boutique.

Remember the "head" for my shopping trip to Savers a while back?

It was transformed into this wild woman...

A rhinestone and glittered scrapbookers treasure chest to store supplies, sewing notions, old photos or a stash of chocolate.

Ooh-la-la...a girly girl pink and green mini album.

And of course a few more cards.

Who would have thought all this designing could be so exhausting!?!

Cemeteries, Antelope and Flowers

2010-09-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

Okay...the votes are in...apparently you're not ready to see another mini album...I knew I was pushing the whole mini album thing. I will wait until you aren't paying attention and slip it in to a post.

How about photos? Earlier this month DH and I made a very fast trip to
Apache Creek, New Mexico...it is a tiny dot on a map. One of the few things in Apache Creek is an old country cemetery. According to Wikipedia the cemetery dates from the 1900s through 1960's...which is incorrect information. There are graves from the 1800s...and the purpose of the trip was to bury DH's uncle. The cemetery is still in use...it is one of those old country cemeteries where the family digs the grave...and buries the family member.

And that story gets us to this post...while the men folk were taking care of the grave, I walked around the cemetery taking pictures...remember, I do genealogy and family history and find old cemeteries fascinating. While taking photos of the family headstones, I also took some "texture" photos...just some pics that have interesting texture...you know "artsy" stuff.
You might be able to make out the old fence amongst the tree trunks...the fences

are around some old graves, and the trees have grown around them. There is sage green moss and lichen growing on the old post...

I love all the textures on this photo...the weathered fence post, the rusted wire and nails and the lichen.

On the way back we found a heard of Antelope that really didn't want to have their picture taken.

We saw 150 miles of yellow flowers...the problem was finding a place to pull of the road to take a picture...

OOPS!

2010-09-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

I don't know what happened to last week...some how it just zipped by me. Blog posting didn't even enter in to my "things to do" list.

We have come to the back page of the Kaisercraft "Tab" album...yes it got all jazzed up too.
The tab circle and the image come for the 7 Gypsies ephemera packet.

The name of the patterned paper from the Kaisercraft "LUSH" line is called "Cherry Blossom". All the pieces have been inked with Wild Honey distress ink.

Scrapbook Barn had me design a really cool album last week...it's themed around Bees and embroidery...anybody interested in seeing it?

Just Because

2010-09-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

The Kaisercraft "Lush" patterned paper for the forth pages is called "Maple"...I 'm not sure why...it has flowers and birds on it. But it's a cool design no matter what they call it. The reverse side of the paper has borders/stripes...which I used a strip of to run vertically on one of the pages.
I'm just guessing...but I think the 7 Gypsies ephemera might be a "tarot" card. I bling-ed it up and layered it over another piece of ephemera from the same package.

The Tim Holtz clock hands were added to the tab of the book..."just because".

Gypsy Girl

2010-08-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

The Kaisercraft "Lush" patterned paper on the third pages is not as WILD as the other ones I have used in the book...which of course called for a lot more embellishments! The decorative photo corners are transparent overlays from Tattered Angels...called "Glimmer Glass". These photo corners are from their "Regal" line.The Gypsy Girl (notice the suitcase she is carrying...you think she is running away from home, off on a big adventure?) is layered on top of some patterned paper and another piece of ephemera from 7 Gypsies.

Prima flowers are adhered near the page tab...and the clock was found in a corner of the Scrapbook Barn embellishment drawer.

Then again...maybe the Gypsy Girl is just going to the Laundromat.

Map, Key and Rhinestones

2010-08-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

The second pages I kept a bit simpler...
The pages are covered with patterned paper from the Kaisercraft "Lush" line with a border and a line of black rhinestones layered vertically along the edge of one side.

I used a map, from the 7 Gypsies Ephemera pack...trimmed with a bit of musical note rub-ons and a key.

My DH asked me if there was a meaning behind the map, key and musical notes on the pages..."No, it's just cool stuff." I guess you have to love playing with paper to "get it".

Ribbon, bows and corrugated chipboard

2010-08-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

Are you still there?

Sorry for the long "station break"...DH and I went up to Las Vegas for a few days. Definitely NOT a vacation...it was for business. Came back to work, class and more work.

The first pages of the WILD book are covered with the Kaisercraft LUSH patterned paper. I left one side of the book for photos or journaling...the other side I embellished the heck out of it.

7 Gypsies ephemera, corrugated chipboard, ribbon with a crystal headed pin, a bit of bling and a turquoise flower from Webster's Pages "Bloomers" collection

The circle tabs were both punched out from some of the 7 Gypsies ephemera...and of course everything got inked with the Tim Holtz "Wild Honey" distress ink.

Thanks for waiting for me!

Going a bit WILD

2010-08-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

This album was so fun to design...with the stunning patterned paper, the great ephemera,colorful ribbon and a drawer full of embellishments, it came together very quickly.
Every corner and edge was inked with Tim Holtz "Wild Honey" distress ink

I used a circle punch on the 7 Gypsies Ephemera to cut out the "tab" part of the album...

The book rings were embellished with pink, aqua, gold and black ribbon, with a tag and key added in...

In the center I layered some corrugated cardboard, "gypsy" ephemera hot pink velvet flowers with a pearl head pin and a token.

It is a bit on the WILD side!

OH NO...NOT ANOTHER ALBUM!!!!

2010-08-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

YES... another album...and this one is REALLY cool. I used a Kaisercraft Beyond the Page is a "tab"album...
The Kaiser patterned paper I selected is from their "LUSH" line...very yummy paper...and it's double sided. You are digging the colors already aren't you?

It gets even better...7 Gypsies Ephemera!

With all those amazing goodies...NOW are you interested in seeing "another"album?

There is a dragon in my garden!

2010-08-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons...
for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Back Porch

2010-08-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

From the back porch of the house you can see the beautiful English garden. We can take a stroll through the day lilies, lupin and prim roses out to the gazebo...you can't see the garden? Close your eyes and use your imagination...now can see it?

At Scrapbook Barn we have sold out of this Kaisercraft Beyond the Page house book. BUT... we are getting some more in soon. This book would be great made up with the Graphic 45 Alice in Wonderland Halloween paper...a haunted Alice house...with Alice, the white rabbit and the Mad Hatter looking out the front windows...now I've got you using your imagination!

Wish

2010-07-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

Now we come to the sun room...or maybe the conservatory part of the Kaisercraft Beyond the Page house.

With fancy lattic work, scrolls and layered flowers...
and one more bird cage.
Follow me and we will take a look at the "back porch"...

Happiness

2010-07-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Don't you think everyone should have a huge birdcage hanging from the tower room of their house?
There wouldn't be much room for anything else...except maybe a picture.

This birdcage has been "blinged" with black Stickles and black Bazzill Basics jewels.

The "happiness" room in the house is a bit more understated...

a few layered Prima paper flowers with a single black jewel in the center.

"Remembering"

2010-07-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the "open house"...
These first pages of the Kaisercraft Beyond the Page house are designed with more of the bird cage and chandelier patterned paper...

and a blue patterned paper with white poka-dots.

The tower window is trimmed with black braid and silver gray lace.

Paper, Ribbon and Bling...

2010-07-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

The finished house...and all without a contractors license!
Kaisercraft patterned paper is double sided...this black harlequin pattern that I used on the roof of the house is the reverse of the paper with the large birdcages.
Ribbon and lace...in brown, black, and turquoise, are tied to the book rings.
The bling are black Bazzill Basic adhesive jewels...and a few rub-ons from the Scrapbook Barn embellishment drawer.
Black braid was used to frame the windows, while blue patterned paper inside the windows has both birdcages and chandeliers.

Want to see the inside of the house?

Come on in...

Beyond the Page

2010-07-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

At work we have the Kasiercraft "Beyond the Page" line of wooden products. They consist of items for around the house as well as mini albums. The mini albums have unique shapes, sizes and designs, made to embellish anywhere your creativity takes you.
This week at Scrapbook Barn my creativity "built" a house.

I designed the house mini album with the Kaisercraft "Le Chateau" line of patterned paper...and of course a lot of lace, ribbon, flowers and bling!
Stay tune for the unveiling...

Stars, Stripes and Sparkles

2010-07-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

Botanical Garden

2010-06-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the rain we had this pass winter and spring, the flower garden has done quite well this year. The lilies are beautiful...

Amaryllis

Calla Lily

Rain Lily

New Baby, Thrift Stores and Eegees

2010-06-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

Tucson sister became a Granny on Friday morning. Her #2 daughter had a beautiful baby girl. My daughter decided we needed to drive down to Tucson Saturday morning and see the new baby. We loaded up the grand kids and headed south. Years ago...many years ago I could have navigated us right to the hospital...we ended up taking the scenic route through down town Tucson and past U of A. We all got to hold "sweet baby girl"...and had a nice visit with the new mom and dad...and the rest of the family that had taken over the hospital room.
We kidnapped Tucson Sister and went off to find lunch and to make a couple of fast stops at the local thrift stores.
TS and I spotted this bride and groom about the same time at one of the stores. She said "weren't you looking for wedding cake toppers a while back...what were you going to do with them?" Yes...I was looking for bride and grooms...and I did have a great plan for them...I just couldn't remember what it was at the moment...but for a $1.98 I'll buy it...and hopefully I will remember what the great plan was later. So many ideas...so little time!
At the next stop I found this 1930's children's, book back in a corner of the shop.
The book was not in great shape, but the graphics were wonderful...
I'm not sure what I will do with it yet. But, again...the price was low...plus 10% off!
We dropped Tucson Sister off back at the hospital, and headed back home...
Making a pit stop at a old Tucson favorite...EEGEES!

Fini

2010-06-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

Alas...all books must come to an end... and this is the last page of the Secret Garden Flower Book.

Hidden among the flowers

2010-06-01T18:39:00.001-07:00

The butterflies on this page came from the Websters Pages "Life's Portrait" patterned paper "Light the Way". It has a garden trellis look.
I liked the little butterflies clustered together at the bottom of the page

The tag is hidden in among the flowers and smaller journaling tag.

The "Life's Portrait" frame was cut from the "Love Yourself" patterned paper.

I had completed these pages...and a few days later found the clock in the bottom of the embellishment drawer...it was the perfect finishing touch.

Sparkling Chandelier

2010-05-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

There is a drawer full of cool embellishments for the staff designers to use at Scrapbook Barn...and this is where I went looking for some "cool stuff" to add to the Secret Garden book.
This black clock face worked well on this page... it's the pull tab at the top of the journaling card.

Notice the sparkle on the chandelier...pretty cool hu!

Butterfly, Bird Cage and Bling

2010-05-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you can tell by now I did a lot of cutting out of the different images on the Websters Pages "Life's Portrait" patterned paper. The green flower on this page was a piece of Webster's Pages ribbon...they call it "Bloomers"
This time the hidden tag is on a corner...

Soft yellow velvet ribbon... amethyst rhinestones and pearls...

and of course a lot of Stickles!

Hidden Tags...Rhinestones and Lace...

2010-05-19T20:01:00.001-07:00

Turning the page of the Secret Garden book...
the center of the blue flower is one of the 4x4 Webster's Pages "Life's Portrait" jounaling cards...
the hidden tag is on the pink flower.

A bit of lace, a few Prima flower, green rhinestones...and a lot of "Lemon Ice" Stickles.

The Secret is...

2010-05-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

These are the first pages of the "Secret Garden" flower book...with some of the lovely Websters Pages patterned paper. I embellished with black Prima flowers and blue rhinestone centers.
The SECRET part of the book... it's interactive! When you pull up on the flower, a tag slides out. The Websters Pages journaling cards were 4x4 and 2x4...the smaller size worked well for the hidden journaling tag.

The "pockets" for the tags are coin envelopes...covered with a journaling card...and the envelope is adhered to the book.

Secret Garden

2010-05-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Most of the art I have designed for the last few months has been done at work. Scrapbook Barn doesn't have a Design Team...the staff are the designers. I know...it's a tough job. A recent project I had, was to use a Creative Imagination flower shape chipboard book. I selected some Websters Pages "Life's Portrait" patterned paper and journaling cards...and a whole lot of BLING!

What's so SECRET about this "Secret Garden" chipboard book? Come closer and I will whisper it in your ear...

Flowers, Thrift Store and Mother's Day

2010-05-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last three day's designing flowers at a local florist for Mother's Day...
11 hours Thursday...
12 hours Friday...
and today...only 9 1/2 hours.
I know you are asking..."didn't she tell us way back in January that she was getting out of the floral business?" You're right... I did...I'm now what is officially called "holiday help". So I pull out the tool bag...sharpen my knife...and design.

I did finally come up with a glimmer of an idea for a Mother's Day card.
Scrapbook Barn got the new line of "October Afternoon" double sided patterned paper. It's called "Thrift Shop". The designs look like something you would find on a visit to a secondhand store. I used "Needs Paint" and "Complete Set" The vintage look went well with the old advertisement for aprons that I found on Flickr. I used the new Tim Holtz "Bundled Sage" distress ink...
some Ric-Rac and ruffled ribbon and some Prima flowers.

Have a wonder for Mother's Day!

BUSY...BUSY...BUSY

2010-04-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I have annoyed many friends and family members lately...they say they check my blog every day to see if I have posted something new and wonderful..only to find the same thing as the day before. I'm not trying to disappoint them...but I just don't have that exciting of a life to blog about!For the most part, when I blog about the garden, flowers or the cat...it is a sure bet I can't come up with anything more interesting. Please refer back to the posts about how busy I have been...you think I make this stuff up?!?! I haven't had time for exciting or interesting. This past weekend I taught back to back classes at Scrapbook Barn...the Heritage Workshop and a new class, Beginning Scrapbooking...these classes don't just plan themselves! These I want to make interesting and exciting. To make it more of an adventure...my wonderful Canon printer stopped printing the color "BLACK"...I didn't know printers did that! As far as making Mother's Day cards...I don't have a glimmer of an idea...I may have to go buy some. And speaking of Mother's Day...and we were...I've been asked to design at a Flower shop for the holiday. Like I said...BUSY!

Oh by the way...When you order flowers for your mom for Mother's Day...don't order them on the internet...please call a local florist !

She who must be obeyed

2010-04-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

No I'm not lost...just a busy couple of weeks. It will probably be that way until June. I checked my calender for May...I think I have one day open all month.

Yes you have seen this cat before on this blog...she is usually curled up asleep on a chair. Like most cats, she is very active in the evening. This has become her latest "thing". She insists on getting a drink out of the bathroom sink.
She doesn't jump up on the counter...she reaches up and meows for you to pick her up and put her on the counter...

She spends a while just looking at the water...

Then she gets her drink...

When she get the paw into the sink, you know she is really getting into the whole thing. Now if I could just get her to shut the water off when she's done!

Road Trip

2010-04-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

With all the Winter and Spring rain we have had this year, the Arizona Desert wildflowers are in full bloom. While Mom was down from Flagstaff for a couple of days we decided a look at the wildflowers was a good excuse for a road trip.
Lupin was in bloom...

along with Desert Marigold...

this one was occupied...

Mom said this purple one is called "Owl's Eye Clover"...and Mom knows her wildflowers.

The orange flowers are Globemallow.

While really not a wildflower...the hot pink color of the flowers on this Cactus were spectacular.

Just in time...

2010-04-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Easter cards were made and in the mail...it came down to the last possible moment, but I got it done. I didn't make as many cards this year...because I started them so late.
I used the Karen Foster Easter paper...if you saw the paper you know how cool it was. The image of the girl in the Easter Bonnet is from Suzee Que (Flickr) and I think the chicks are from Dover.

I got a phone call earlier in the week asking me if I could come and help design at a flower shop for the Easter holiday...so I have been playing with flowers.

Have a wonderful Easter!

Easter Spirit

2010-03-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

I had decided not to set out Easter decorations or make Easter cards this year...I wasn't being the spring version of Scrooge...I have just been really busy with work, and planning scrapbook classes. But while the grand kids were here for spring break, I had them help me set out the brown, blue, white and tan hen's eggs in the terrariums...that's it...Easter decorating DONE!
Until I found this lavender nest with three eggs wrapped in "vintage" paper. It was on sale and too cute to pass up...the nest was added to the holiday decorations...Easter decorating finished!

Then I found these cute chicks, covered with yellow flowers...I picked them up and put them down three times...they too were on sale...and cute.

All this decorating had put me in the holiday spirit, and in the mood to create Easter cards.

There are nine days until Easter...do you think I'm starting too late?

Spring Break Adventure

2010-03-20T17:04:00.001-07:00

With only a few days left of Spring Break...I took the grand kids on an adventure to the park. The first stop was the huge "climbing" boulders...to see who was bravest.

Of course every adventure has to have some wild animals...I think this bird was just trying to get warm...
Some of the trees were just starting to sprout...check out the dark clouds...looks like it might rain.

Good thing we brought a sack of bread to feed the ducks...

it looks like they haven't eaten in hours!

What is that hiding in the reeds?

A duck preening his self, after his morning snack.

A photo op at the waterfall...

and here comes the rain...

nice weather for ducks!

Oh by the way...
Last Friday I taught my first Heritage Scrapbooking Class for Scrapbook Barn. The ladies were wonderful...good class participation, great comments and questions. This Friday is the Heritage Scrapbooking Workshop 4:30 to 6:30...bring a Heritage project and join us...you can sign up by calling Scrapbook Barn.

Going Green!

2010-03-17T08:10:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Birthdays, Tucson and Easter Cards

2010-03-13T12:03:00.000-08:00

For my birthday, Tucson Sister gave me this children's book with wonderful graphics. She found it in one of her favorite out of the way thrift stores.
There isn't a front cover...so I have no clue when or who published it...or what the title of the book is...

The paper is kind of a thick newsprint...and measures 13x9 1/2 . Yellowed from age...

but the colors of the images are still vibrant.

At the bottom of each page is a "mini" story, describing what is going on in the image...the book might have been meant for a child in grade school.

The clothes the kids and the teacher are wearing look like it might be "fashion" from the 1920's 0r 1930's...so I'm guessing that the book was published about that time.

I thought it was a pretty cool birthday gift...I may have to take a road trip to Tucson and have TS take me shopping at all the "neat junque" stores.

Oh by the way....

Have you started your Easter cards yet? That's okay...I haven't either!

It was a dark and stormy day...

2010-03-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

Arizona has been in a drought for so many years we had forgotten what rain was...we have been making up for it in 2010.
The Valley of the Sun gets about 2 1/2 inches of rain in a "dry" year and about 5 inches of rain in a "rainy" year. Since January 1st (66 days) we have received about 4 1/2 inches. So while this may not be a big deal to somebody in Seattle...it's a really big deal here...good for the garden, the farmers, ranchers and the desert...the desert should be full of wildflowers this Spring.
And, it was a great opportunity for me to play with the options on my camera!

First of the Season...

2010-03-03T18:23:00.001-08:00

Spring comes early to the Valley of the Sun and the garden is loving all this rain we have been getting lately. This is the first Iris of the season...hopefully there will be many more for us to enjoy.
These Violas, planted in the Fall, are spreading out and filling the flower pot...

I call it my Phoenix Suns garden...get it...purple and orange... the "Suns"...

A Short Busy Month

2010-02-28T17:59:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, I know I haven't blogged in over a week...and I have heard the complaints! For a short month February was very busy. I did some holiday designing for a local flower shop. Valentines is such a big flower holiday, shops call in "holiday help". I had never worked with the other designers...but we all knew some of the same people...so that was fun. As soon as Valentines was over I brought out the box marked "tax stuff"...must get all that organized...not fun.
Mom stopped by and spent the night on her way back from Tucson to Flagstaff...and all that snow! The grand kids spent the night...that's always an adventure. And Tucson Sister (and my niece) came up for an afternoon.
The exciting part of the whole month was starting my new job at Scrapbook Barn.

All the ladies there have been great help breaking in the "newbie"...
Each day has been different from the other...which makes it fun and interesting. I started just after CHA, so I get to see...and put out, all the wonderful new scrapbook products...I want it all!
I will start teaching my Heritage Scrapbooking Class in March. The first class will be Friday the 12th of March 4:30 to 6:30. This is the class with all the information you need to get your ancestors out of the shoe box and into a Heritage Album. You can call Scrapbook Barn to sign up. Friday the 26th of March 4:30 to 6:30 is the Heritage Scrapbook Workshop. Bring the project you are working on ...learn a technique, and receive some coaching to help move your project along.
March is already looking like it will be another busy month.

One last Valentine

2010-02-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

The flowers on the table are still fresh...there is a few chocolates left in the heart shape candy box...so it's not too late for one last Valentine.
My mom had asked if I would make a card using this photo of her sister Mary, as a child, sitting in a bushel basket. Mom thought it would make a great Valentine. I had already started working on the "bird" card, but I told her I would give it a try.
So this year I sent out two Valentines...some received the Victorian Bird Valentine ...and some received Aunt Mary sitting in a bushel basket...with the text..."I love you a bushel and a peck...a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck".
Aunt Mary, who lives in Texas, called to thank me for the Valentine...and to tell me she was honored to be on one of my cards.
THANK YOU AUNT MARY for sharing the picture with me!

Be My Valentine

2010-02-14T07:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!

The Valentine card I sent out this year was made using this fun image that heyjupiter21 shared at Flickr. The bird was too fun to pass up! He is backed with part of a pink paper doily and some pink vellum that has been deckle trimmed. Once again I used the magic pen and Stickels to highlight and outline the bird and his rider. The heart in the middle of the daisy is a red glitter-y brad.

Another One!

2010-02-12T20:02:00.000-08:00

Every year for Valentines, my sisters and I exchange handcrafted cards. It is always fun to see what creative cards we can come up with...we all have different design styles. Last post was the card from Flagstaff Sister...Today I received this Valentine from my Tucson Sister. The colors are very festive!
Thank you TS!

First Valentine

2010-02-10T18:47:00.000-08:00

I got my first Valentine card in the mail today. This is from my Flagstaff Sister. It's kinda hard to see from the photo...there are red heart watermarks on the red background...

Pretty cool hun... Thank you FS!

Ch-Ch-Ch-CHANGES

2010-02-06T17:01:00.000-08:00

The news stations reported this week that 20,000 people lost their jobs in January...I was one of the 20,000. I received a phone call from my boss at the flower shop where I design on the 3rd of January...he said he was closing the shop. That was it...a flower shop that had been in operation for 52 years was dead. Which meant I had to go looking for a job! Over the last year and a half I have seen other florist in the area lock their doors and walk away. Whether it's the economy, grocery stores, or the Internet , the floral industry is dying a slow death. There are a lot of designers looking for a job and I had joined their ranks. I sat down at the computer and punched up my resume, made copies and headed out to find a job I knew probably didn't exist.
As long as I was making a change what did I really want to do?
On the first of February I started at The Scrapbook Barn...not only do I get to work there...I get to teach too...and that's what I really want to do!

P.S. Please support your local florist! Stop looking on the internet...pick up the phone and call them!

January Birthdays

2010-01-31T14:51:00.000-08:00

I have a few family birthdays in the month of January. The card I sent out started with this image Suzee Que shared on Flickr.
The background patterned paper in this card is so old I have no idea which company it comes from...the edges were rubbed with an aqua color ink pad...
a flourish stamp in black was used on 2 corners.
7 Gypsies made the aqua patterned paper behind the image. The edges were highlighted with "Black Soot" distress ink. I cut around the image of the princess...and embellished her with the magic pen...princess's need a lot of bling!

The card is embellished with 3 flowers...two Prima flowers layered...highlighted with magic pen and a 7 Gypsies brad in the center. I gathered butterscotch color lace with a thread and needle to create a flower...the center is a "Pearl" from Kaiser Scrapbook. The bottom flower is cut from lace. So Happy Birthday to all those January birthdays out there.

Let's see...Valentines Day is 2 weeks away...so you know what kind of cards I will be making next!

Winter Garden

2010-01-27T15:08:00.000-08:00

Even in the central desert of Arizona gardens tend to freeze in the winter. Some plants will make it through with no problem...but if you want a winter vegetable garden...you have to protect it from the frost. This winter my DH put together a "green house".
He selected an area of the backyard that would get the most direct sun during the day. DH fashioned a frame made out of PVC pipe, taped together (not glued, this way it can be taken apart) 2 large pieces of heavy gage plastic are clamped in place.

When the sun is out, and it is nice and warm...we open the green house to let the sunshine, rain and the bees into the garden...hey bees are a good thing...how do you think all the vegetables and flowers get pollinated?!? On the nights the weather forecast is close to freezing...we pull the plastic back over the greenhouse and clamp it down.

The whole project worked out great! This was our first attempt at broccoli... it taste wonderful!

There is no comparison to the tomatoes you get at the grocery store and the ones you grown in a garden...these are full of flavor!

This little guy zipps around the back year "beeping" at us...he sat still long enough for me to get a picture.

Another Oh By the Way...

If you are looking for some excitement this Friday the 29th of January, I will be teaching my Heritage Scrapbook Workshop 4:30 to 6:30 at Mystic Paper...give them a call to sign up!

#3...Ooooo CHOCOLATE!

2010-01-20T17:35:00.000-08:00

After covering the 8 tags of LOVE with the K&Company embossed paper...Cut and Paste Chocolate Lovers...I had the decadent chocolate desserts remaining. What was I going to do with those? Now if it had been the actual desserts there would be no question...I firmly believe life is short...eat dessert first! But when they are about one inch square, and made of paper...I had to come up with another idea...a card...how about a collage...yea, that's the ticket...a chocolate collage card! I started with the Pink Pasilee "Love Potion" tiny white hearts patterned paper...then added a layer of the reverse side, red with the lacy print. The edges were distressed with "Tattered Rose" ink. I played around with the placement of the chocolate images until I found the right "look"...the dessert dishes were embellished with the MAGIC PEN. I used one of the Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Cut...Pink Pasilee green glitter brad...the red flower is cut from Mystic Paper lace.

That's my 3 design team projects...now for the big question...which is your favorite...dark chocolate OR milk chocolate?