Punctuations

 
This is my creation for my partner in a Punctuation Swap on the AmuseMe Yahoo Group. For Mother's Day, I received a Pazzle Inspiration cutting machine. And I have been having a blast learning how to use it!

Important Information: Revising Copyright Laws

This was recently posted on Claudine Hellmuth's blog. This copyright revision effects all of us! It is "The Orphan Works Act of 2008".

http://claudinehellmuth.blogspot.com/

Paris Box

 
Here is the look that was achieved with the crackle paint distressed look. I rather like the look!

Can You Believe It?

 
I have never collaged onto a box! The local tobacco store had these awesome wooden cigar boxes that were screaming "alter me!", so I picked up 5 of them for $3.00.
Being that this is my first experience with this format, I have learned quickly the do's and don'ts of collage. While I sanded the boxes to get the sealer off, evidently it wasn't enough. I had painted the box with Ranger Crackle Paint. The look was awesome. BUT when I picked up the box (after it dried for 48 hours) some of the paint crackled off onto my fingers. At first I was disappointed, but then looked at it in a different light. It brought a more distressed look than anything I could have planned! I applied a sealer over it, and now the sides have the appearance of chipped cracked paint.
Another lesson I learned was what glue to use to apply the images. I used Art Glitter Institute clear glue. Well, when you apply the sealer over the top, the glue can release. Back to the Golden Gel Adhesive. Since this is one of my favorite adhesives, I should have known better. But live and learn, LOL.
The Eiffel Tower is dimensional. I layered 3 images together to give it some "oomph".
Well, four more boxes to go! And each its own adventure! I think a Fairy Box will be next!

The image is stamped on acetate with Black Stazon. Then double sided tape applied to the reverse side. Prism glitter was applied to the tape. Have you ever tried to adhere anything with glitter on it? I couldn't find any adhesive that would work that didn't show through on the reverse side. Hence, the brads.

I really like the color combination on this ATC.

I needed a quick friendly birthday card for a friend. Pardon the glitter on the scanner bed! LOL

The Apple of My Eye

I can't believe that my grand-daughter is 3 1/2 years old already. She is such a cutie, even if I do say so myself.
She will be a princess one day, Batgirl the next, and then a Mommy tending to her baby. Her imagination never stops!
There have been many times where I sit in amazement with her. Yes, she has the temper of a 3 year old, but then again, there are times when she acts so much more grown up.
I just wanted to share my little bit of heaven.

Shoe ATC

This is a quick ATC I did for a small swap. The background is stamped in bleach and red glitter on the shoes.

This is from an on-line class from a small group that I belong to. It is called the Dahlia fold. Using 8 circles, double sided background paper, and some folding, it creates the flower. I just wish I had a larger rinestone for the center.

Playing around with my embossing folders again. I inked the folder, ran the paper through the Zip-e-mate, and was disappointed with the results. BUT then it hit me! What an awesome look for an ATC! So I added it to the simple birthday card I had made for a dear friend. (The background is embossed with the same folder, it just doesn't show up well in the scan.)

Where has the time gone???

Weren't we just celebrating Christmas a few weeks ago???? Man, it is hard to believe it is March already!

I played around today with my Cuttlebug Embossing folders and created an ATC for a friend. I embossed the scrapbook paper, then sanded it to reveal the white core of the paper. I am rather pleased with how it turned out!

Book Give Away

Catherine Matthews-Scanion is generously giving away her book "Art from the Heart". Read about it here.
http://cmscanlon.blogspot.com/2008/01/giving-away-two-copies.html

Life After the Holidays

Whew! While our trip to San Jose, California was awesome, there is no place like home!
I was leary on taking a 3 year old on a 24 hour train ride from Tacoma to San Jose, but those feelings are now a thing of the past. I couldn't have asked for more. Selene was wonderful. She enjoyed looking out the windows, watching people get on and off the train, and was fascinated by the sliding doors between train cars.

Before we left, like many others that travel with young children, I packed a backpack with assorted items. Gel pens, paper, crayons, coloring book, new McDonald Happy Meal Toys, and a few snacks, one being CocoaPuffs.

We did pack the laptop to watch DVD's, but the battery didn't hold out. And of course, the train car we were in did not have an electrical outlet. But that wasn't a problem at all. There were enough things to keep Selene occupied.

I, myself, was not too keen on the train ride, but with the price of airfare and hubby really wanting to try the rails, we set off on our journey. Low and behold, I really enjoyed it. No traffic to deal with, waiting at the airport for 2 hours before a flight, cramped airline seats, and keeping a small child in a seat the entire way. While the trip through the Siskiyou Mountain Range at night was not impressive, on the return trip it was breathtaking! Best of all, I wasn't driving in it!

We did learn that we do not want to travel in Coach Seats next time. We will be using a sleeping car. They are equipped with electrical plugs, beds, and all meals are included.

Train food is better than airline food I have to say. We ate in the Dining car for 2 meals and found it to be a tad expensive, but not earth shattering. We did carry on some snacks for our return trip. Including a portable cooler bag for sodas.

Now for the holiday. We had taken the trip to San Jose for Selene to spend the holiday with her father and her other grandparents. There was a gathering of the family at Great Grandma's house, so we were introduced to numerous family members. And the warm welcomes just kept on coming. Selene was on her best behavior, using all of her manners. I was amazed at her actions. She was great, and I am so proud of her. Of course, she was spoiled rotten, but that was what the trip was all about, for her family to meet and get to know her.

She wants to know when our next trip to "Calibunga" is. She knows it is far, far away, but wants to go again. We are in the process of planning Disneyland for November of 2009.

We arrived home to rain and winds. But there really is no place like home.