Sunday, April 25, 2010

On a Clear Day - You Can See Forever!

Do you remember that song? I never thought about all of the implications found in that title. I always took it at a literal level. Oh how age mellows the mind. Sometimes, we just get caught up in the daily muddle and can't see through the muck! Then, there are days, like today, when the mind is free of muck and the we have the clarity in thought we should have each and every day!

Today is a beautiful day in southern Utah. The air is cool w/ a breeze, the sky a bright blue, the trees are green, and the mesas a lovely rust and cream. It's the time of the year I so love in the desert.

I was so lucky to have been given this award by another blogger I've known for quite some time. Her name is Jamie and her blog is Cute Cards and Crafts by Jamie. When you have time, please check out her blog and look at the amazing things she creates! She's just the sweetest! Her award was such a fun surprise! Thank you, Jamie! XOXO

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Want to see a pretty card? Well, I think it is pretty, LOL. Here's the thing - I forgot to add the tag with the sentiment before I took the photo! DAH! A senior moment struck again! LOL. I tucked it under the white flower at the top right. I colored the image with Copic markers and added some pretty flowers and punched leaves.

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Midsummer Tilda


I just fell in love with the colors of this paper. I loved the preprinted design. The problem is, I had selected a photo which matched the colors and wanted to make the LO masculine. The PP really lent itself to being girly. Here's how I tried to deemphasize the girliness. I added a matching gingham printed PP and stitched it to the background paper. With that, I added machine stitching and a tailored strip across the middle. I pulled in the same papers for the mats behind the photo. Next, I chose flowers that matched but selected colors that weren't feminine. I added two copper zipper pulls. Using my Nesties dies, I cut a piece of brown burlap after I had adhered it to a sturdy piece of cardstock as a backing. To that, I added a piece of matching PP with the title alphas. Lastly, I added dark brown brads around the circle and on the title tag. Photo is of DH on a trip we took to Capitol Reef.

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A Visit to Capitol Reef


I found this psychedelic paper and just had to have it. I know, it is L-O-U-D!!! I thought it would be fun for a LO. Boy, did I have fun!

The first LO is of DS way back when. I wanted to show the energy expended when the ball made contact with the bat. Also, I wanted to show the focus DS had. I wish you could see his little face. He is so determined. I love that whomever took the shot caught his foot in the air, his face, and the bat making contact. What an amazing shot! Now, you may wonder why I have flowers around the perimeter. It's to remind us that on so many occasions, he chose to pick flowers or dig in the grass with an errant popsicle stick as the ball rolled by right in front of him! LOL. Bless his heart. The blue mat has been mounted on white Bazzil CS. I used ribbon that was preprinted with the word "baseball" on it. I made an apostrophe after the title by using a small bat and ball embellishment.

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Wham!


Now, come with me on a trip to the wild side - back to the 60s! It was a wild time, a time of bright colors in tie dyed clothing and daisy painted VW vans! When DS saw this LO, his response was, "Boy, that's LOUD!" LOL That is me, barefooted and in the tree, way back when. It was the 60s and I was into my "flower child" stage! I wouldn't say I was a hippie as I wasn't anti establishment. A flower child wanted peace and love! I think that was more fitting of me. Once again, I used that wild paper. I added lots of flowers reminiscent of the time. I elevated most of the flowers and curled the petals. I had DH find one of the beaded leather straps that I used to wear in my hair and added that to the LO. The title is one of the euphemisms of the day, and I had to have peace and love signs! One of the things I did was make four cuts of each alpha and peace/love signs. Then, I stacked them and glued each layer together. It has a very nice result in that the cut outs look like chipboard because they aren't flat. Give that a try! It's a great look (subtle) and you can save a little $$.

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What a Gas!


I'll be back soon. It's getting to be the time when I get my Visiting Teaching Extension posted. I hope you will come back and check it out if it is something you'll be doing this month. Until then...

Peace out, man!

XO,
Chris

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Feeling Lazy

I need to get into gear! I'm just wanting to hunker down with a good book and not do anything! I know I have things to accomplish today, but, ugh, I don't want to! One of the things I'm going to work on is a Spring centerpiece for our dining room table. Maybe I'll get more enthusiastic after I get going!

I do have some layouts to share. I made these over the past two months (in between coughing and fighting fevers). Here we go:

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I did this LO for a competition. I didn't win, but I was the runner up! LOL I don't do vintage things very often as I am out of my comfort zone when I do. I think I am going to frame this one and hang it in the hall. I utilized lots of layering and lots of details for this one. I surprised myself with this one!

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Two of a Kind


Think they're related? LOL These photos were taken at Fort Stevens State Park on the northern Oregon Coast. They are still so close to one another and enjoy each other so much! They're just the same - only bigger! LOL

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You are My Sunshine


There is machine stitching along the bottom that is hard to see. I also used lots of layering using scraps of paper from my scrap box. I think the only new sheet was the background cardstock. Love those cheeks! I have to admit that this LO was inspired by one I saw in a gallery. I cannot remember the gal's name, but when I saw the photo of her little one, my heart melted. Her design was so much better!

Thanks for stopping by. Hopefully, my craft project will be photo worthy and I'll feel comfortable enough to share it with you.

Have a blessed Easter!

Chris