Check out my new shoes! I love them. Some of you have caught a glimpse of my other pair of Ed Hardy's, which are just as fancy. This pair has more color, which I love. My grandson asked if I can run faster in them. My response: No, but I look cool! In which he looked at me and smiled. I wonder what that meant? He is 4 and 1/2, he tells everyone. However I did tell him he is now

4 and 3/4 and he thought that was cool!

Another shot!

This is a book I had put together for the girls in the family and some friends girls. I happen to do this to keep myself busy while my husband was having surgery for his cancer. It was good therapy for me to have something to work on. Then be able to use it as gifts. Each of the covers were custom for each child.

This is the first page in the book.

This is one of the pages in the book. I will not show you every page, it has quite a few. I also put blank pages in so that they could draw and add pictures to make it their own. I loved this page.

The girls loved filling in the blanks. I also gave them each stickers and colored pencils to add their own flare to the book.
When I finished the original book, I then took it to the printers and had them print 30 copies of the book. I brought them home and started to make the covers and then bound each one. I loved the way they turned out. The kids really enjoyed them, along with their parents. Some parents did not let their kids use this book unattended (you know who you are) because they did not want any mistakes or scribbles in it. They wanted it for a keepsake. How funny is that? I wish the pictures were better, but I think you get the idea.


On to other business. Tina my dog. She got a haircut. Finally! She looked like a long haired fur ball before. Now she looks like a Yorkie again. See the pink bow? Yeah that lasted all of
3.4 minutes.


Here is a picture of the other dog in the house (kei kei) getting all tough, thinking this was a new dog in the house. Goof ball was barking and smelling up a storm. It was to funny. This happens every time I take Tina in to get her haircut. Kei Kei thinks it is a new dog.

Well that's it for this evening, be back soon.
Go get inky!

The Box is Back

This is gonna be a long post. So go grab a cup of coffee or pop and enjoy. I'll be here waiting. Okay are ya ready. Here is the inside top of the box. This is my a picture of My fathers parents on their wedding day and the other 2 pictures are of my dad. Again I used the 7 gypsies papers. A piece of graphic 45. The oval frame is from K&Co. Flowers-prima.

Same picture, just a little different shading. No sun in Minnesota today. Hard to get a good picture.

Here is the first page on the inside of the box. All pictures are of my dad. Oh so cute. I love the one of him sitting on the stairs. He looks like Spanky from the little rascals show. Those of you old enough know who I am talking about. Just click on the picture to enlarge it. I used the 7 gypsies logo car on the layout, just cuz it looks good with the picture of my dad standing by the car. Added some old snaps at the bottom of the page, that's it. I will not go page by page but I did want to share at least part of the box.

Now on to the new. I tried something new for me. I worked with metal for the first time and this is what I did. Like I said, 1st time. I think I need to read more. Or practice. We will see what the future holds. Just something new.

Speaking of new, look out my backdoor.................Awe.........Babies..ok, they are geese but still.............babies...................Awe.......................

Come on, they are cute when they are all yellow and fluffy. Awe..............................

Okay you guys are tough. How about something else new. Farris had cereal for the first time.

Awe......................that's cute...............right?

Yeah, were still working with that. She just is not liking it a whole lot. But the Dr said she is to small and to active she needs more food.

So that about sums up everything new for now. Except, my father has been in contact with a relative from Norway that he did not know he had and he is very excited about that. My dad just turned 80 in March and never had any brothers or sisters, so finding someone on his fathers side has been very exciting for him. So Lena if your reading this, I am giving you a big Hello from your new family here in the states. Oh heck, how about a hug while I'm at it. Thanks for checking in with Dad, he is loving it.

Well I have kept everyone long enough, so I am off to create, scratch that, I am off to bed to dream of something to create.

Talk to you all soon. Thanks for looking!

About Time

About time I get back to show you the box. This is the top of the box. I used 7 Gypsies paper, Tim Holtz corners, key hole and the book plate is also Tim Holtz's. The flower is grunge paper.

Here is a closer look at the book plate. I put a photo of my dad in it. I think it looks really good in it. I used plastic from the package of book plates for my covering over the picture. (recycle)
Here is the flower. I stamped the flower on the back side, cut it out, turned it over and inked, glimmer misted, then stamped with french writing. I used an old token and stitched on to center.
This is the inside of the box. I have not done anything on the inside yet. I cut the paper and put them in but that is it.

Here are just a few of the pages.

Spring has sprung here in Minnesota. This may be the reason why I have not updated in a while. It has been warmer here and I am seeing things out my front and back yards that make me want to be outside. This is one of the things I spotted out my backyard, it's a Egret, fishing.

Here is a surprise I found in my front yard. Do you see what I see? It's a little baby bunny. Soooooo Cute! Although I have to say this little cute thing scared the living daylights out of me. I was sitting on the front steps with my grand baby Farris and this little cutie rustled around and I had just caught it out of the side of my eye and didn't quite know what it was at first.

Speaking of Farris, she is growing fast. She is rolling over already! She just got this new toy to play with and boy does she like it. She is such a happy baby! She always brings the sunshine out.

Look at me!

Well what do you think, did this long post make up for lost time? I guess I got caught up on a few things and will get back to work. Till then, have a great day.

Should we start with a sneak peek or some fun makers at Michael's?

Sneak Peek!

This is a box, oh I forgot it is a sneak peek, I guess I should not tell you what it is. Okay then, this is something that will be done very soon and I will show you the whole thing, inside and out. I forgot it's a sneak peek, never mind.

On to other business! My sister and I were out last night, we went to Michael's and then my sister (can't take her anywhere) started to MONKEY AROUND! Look at her, just making her MONKEY CALLS and swinging her tail like it was no ones business.

Just MONKEY BUSINESS I'd say.

Check out this face! Does kinda resemble a monkey. Then she had to go and get....................

CATTY on me! How funny is that.


Then she meowed out.
(Mellowed)

Yep, this is what silly sisters do when they go to Michael's.
Now mind you we were not out drinking before this.

Notice to all: No Monkeys or Cats were hurt during this visit, however the serious crafters thought we were nuts!

ATC's

ATC SPOILER ALERT!

Do not look if you do not want to see before tonight!

I have been playing. I have had a fun and messy time. I have been playing around with gesso and distress inks and masks and stamping and grunge paper. What do you get when you use these? This! I used gesso over a sheet of vintage music, I applied it with cheese cloth. Just put it here and there. I let the gesso dry. Well I kind of hurried that by using the heat gun. Then I applied Ranger Distress, Broken China over entire area. After that I put one of Tim Holtz's mini masks on and again used Ranger Distress ink, this time peeled paint. I kind of dabbed around the mask and blended into the area.


I love the texture that the gesso created. Do you see the white spots? This is where I of spritzed water onto the backround with my fingers. I love this look. I really want to play with this for a larger project. I really liked this. But for now, this is for my ATC's.
I then stamped the word butterfly randomly on the page. I outlined the masked image. You could leave it or outline as I did, or leave just as is, it is your choice.

Couple different shots.

Here is the card with the butterflies on it. The butterflies were stamped on grunge paper and the sprayed with glimmer mist (tattered angels). I then used my new favorite toy. The Tim Holtz's Mini Attacher. I love this mini stapler. Did I tell you I love this thing. It goes through so easy. Very easy to hold and use. I love it! I don't know that I like the card as much with the butterflies as I did just plain. But I think that is because I really loved the technique for the backround.

Now on to Baby Watch!
Yep the Easter Bunny came and went and this is what Farris looked like after all the eggs were found and the candy had been taken out of the eggs. Who is she calling? Well the Easter Bunny, of course. She wants her candy that was not in her eggs!

Off to play! Have a great day!

What I did on Monday

This is the reason I had some stand in artist for the weekend. I had some baby shower invites that had to get done. The new mom wanted something different. You know how it is always ducks, bottles and little outfits. So this is what I came up with, she loves them. The mat was stamped with Ranger's Distress Embossing Ink (love that stuff). Just let it dry and it just shades the paper where you have stamped the image. I used the Cricut for the die cut. (new arrival) I had forgotten how many pieces this image had. Hat, shoes, purse, purse flap, pants, shirt, hair and of course the body. Which is not an issue until you have to put those shoes on. You know pregnant women always have swollen feet. Just kidding, but the shoes are small. So I finished these and out the door they went.
On to the next subject, I got this in the mail yesterday! Oh what fun! I have been waiting a while for these. Do you all know what they are?

They are my engraved #5280

Fiskars scissors! Very exciting, I am officially a fisk-a-teer. Now do not mistake that for anything like a mouse-ka-teer that is totally a different thing. Although I would love to be one of those. I love Disney. My wish is someday to go without kids. How fun would that be. I mean don't get me wrong, love kids. But I want to go to everything and not get pushed out of the picture with Mickey cuz they want him to themselves. Sorry got off track there. A Fisk-a-teer is a person who is willing to help others and teach others, and share the love of crafting with others. Yep that's me. Always willing to help and teach.

And of course last but not least, it is baby Farris, sleeping like a baby. Oh that's right she is a baby. I keep including her in my blog because of the comments I get about her. Yeah, I get comments, however the are in my Email box and not in the comment section. What is up with that. It's okay you can comment in the comment section. Just giving you guys a hard time. As long as I know you are reading it don't matter if you comment in the comment section.

Have a Super Day! The sun is shinning here, that makes for a happy day here in Minn-e-so-ta!

Spring?

Ahhhhhhhh Spring, the sunshine, the glimmer of the sun on the pond, a fresh breeze, yes that is spring. So what do you call This? Oh I forgot, you call this Minnesota!
Okay I have 2 new featured artist today. James and Clara. They are my little artist, they love to create the cutest presents for me. So the first is two wooden frames, with great colors. The colors are fabulous. The technique is quite colorful, on top of the paint they opted for some gold glitter. Then Clara finished hers off with some bling. James, however went with a different approach, he went for the painted wood objects. Then to make the frames really pop, add the favorite picture and what do you have? A wonderful work of art!
Now this next piece is just a one of a kind. A heart with Clara's hand stamped in the middle. This one of a kind will be in my heart forever. The colors, who knew pink, purple, orange, and fuchsia would look so good together.
Next, James also used the same technique with a choice of very bold colors. Reds, greens, yellow and his favorite, blue.
James did this fabulous flower pot. The tulip was just the extra color this pot needed. Don't you think? Mothers and Grandmothers all over would love a special little pot like these, for that up and coming holiday. These little artist know all those special holiday tricks.
Clara's take on the same idea, was more color on the pot and less on the plant. Clara chose a pansy for her plant, which coordinated lovely with her pot she had painted. What a great job Clara!

So when thinking of those special moments and gifts. My artist always say, "Make it homemade and they will love it", and they hint sometimes you should ask someone what their favorite color is because you can use it when you color or paint. So thank you to my very special guest artists, James and Clara, I hope you can show us more of your work in the future.