My little Crafty World

Add your blog to the Universal Craft Blog Directory

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a way you can add your crafty blog to a list to make a Universal Craft Blog Directory. Just follow the directions on the highlighted post and the list will continue to grow. I've added my blog, now it's your turn.

Until my next post,
Diane

To appologize or to not appologize, that is the question

2012-01-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

At the end of last year, I made a post about trying to blog more and that I had gotten sucked into the black hole of genealogy. A friend of mine mentioned I should read the post "Blogging without Obligation". I did, and now feel a bit more comfortable about my absences.

Since my blog isn't for professional reasons, I'm not a designer for any companies or make any money with my crafting. I do think that having a blog keeps me focused on producing "stuff", since I don't want long absences from posts. I am grateful for those that have officially followed my blog and realize that they sort of expect me to display my new creations. But now you officially know that if there is an absence I'll try not to go on about how I feel guilty or will blog simply to blog.

Until my next post,
Diane

Celebrate Birthday Card

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a birthday card I made using materials from Hot Off The Press. The glimmery/shimmery hats and word are their Dazzles that I've used before. The papers are also from HOTP.

To maximize the number of cards I made with this kit I made them all in the A2 style. For this one I rounded the corners for an added little touch and didn't apply the papers to the edge of the card base.

Until my next post,
Diane

Simply Handmade card

2011-12-31T07:00:00.004-05:00

Here's a card I made for my sister-in-law for her birthday. I can't remember who made the paper but I know the stamps are all by Hero Arts.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Bloggerversary to me!

2011-12-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today marks my 3rd anniversary in the world of blogging. I haven't been keeping up very well this year. I got bitten by the genealogy bug so next year one of my resolutions is to spend a bit more time with the living than with the dead!

I didn't make an ATC for the entire year. I'm not promising I'll make them for 2012 but I do have some ideas to incorporate some family photos and mementos into my craft projects so I can do crafting and genealogy at the same time!

My craft resolutions are to use my Silhouette more and also to use my camera more.

Here's wishing you all a safe and prosperous 2012!

Until my next post,

Diane

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

I actually made more than just these cards for Christmas but in a rush to mail them I forgot to photograph them so these were the ones I hadn't sealed when I remembered to post them on the blog. These were made from a kits by WeR Memory Keepers.

Until my next post,
Diane

Best Wishes Card

2011-12-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a card I made for some good friends that are celebrating an anniversary. Like the birthday card I posted about the other day it is made with products from Hot Off the Press. All the hearts are backed with paper then cut out. This card used a design by Boxer Scrapbooks, they sell lots of Hot off the Press items.

Until my next post,

Diane

Cycles Birthday Card

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a birthday card I made for a nephew of mine. He's beyond riding a tricycle now and still has some other forms of riding to look forward to as he gets older. The stamps are all by Hero Arts. I saw the technique of using the embroidery floss as tassels on another card so I can't claim it as my own.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Birthday card

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a card I made for my niece. It uses papers and Dazzles by Hot off the Press. Dazzles are intricate laser cut stickers that have both an inner part and an outer part. This one uses the out part. The Dazzles appear delicate but are actually pretty sturdy. There is paper behind all but two of the balloons and ribbons. If you don't like dealing with sticky things that sometimes have a mind of your own you might want to stay away. But if you like beautiful embellishments that can become the focal point of your card and have patience then get some.

Until my next post,
Diane

Blast off Birthday Card

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a card I made for a nephew of mine that is having a birthday. I used the Rocket Age collection of paper and embellishments by October Afternoon.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Thanksgiving 2011 - Happy Fall!

2011-11-24T07:00:00.011-05:00

If memory serves me the inspiration for the layout of these cards was from the Mojo Monday Blog. I use their layouts along with others when I can't seem to find my mojo (which is quite often).

I forgot who made this paper collection but I just loved it and knew I'd be making cards with it.

Save some room for pie!

Until my next post,
Diane

Out My Window

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

The fall colors are about at their peak here. Overall our fall has been warm but we've had a few days where we turned on the heat. Here's a view out my window of my craft, computer, genealogy room.

Until my next post,
Diane

Cupcake Birthday Card

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a card I made with supplies by Hot Off The Press. I took a class at the Great American Scrapbook Convention in Chantilly, VA this summer and one class was about using the Dazzles by HOTP. We adapted their kit which included making things other than cards and learned the techniques to make over 20 cards. I think I still have more supplies left so you'll be seeing cards like this for a while. This one has man type colors so it is enroute to a guy in my family, hope he likes it and has a great birthday.

Until my next post,
Diane

Best Wishes Card

2011-11-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a card I made for some friends that are celebrating a wedding anniversary. I made this card at a class, I think it was by SEI. Apologies if I am in error. It was a good value for the number of cards we made and the papers, stickers an embellishments go together well.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Day card

2011-11-08T07:00:00.003-05:00

Here's a birthday card I made for my sister using paper from Echo Park. Not much to say on this one, it is pretty straight forward.

Until my next post,
Diane

To love a person card

2011-11-04T07:00:00.004-04:00

Here's a card I made for my brothers anniversary. The bird image is a silhouette print and cut. The paper lace is also a silhouette cut image. The paper is from Creating Keepsakes, I got is last year at a convention for signing up in advance for a certain number of classes. It was a welcome surprise since it was unexpected.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's the second batch of cards I made for my family for Halloween this year. This was a combination of cards made from kits by WeR memory keepers and Basic Grey. The one on the bottom left was my own "design". I used some small Halloween stamps and made a clear embossed background on the black paper. After that I latered som patterned paper and then some reflective stickers, that's why it didn't photograph too well. The one on the bottom right I made at last years stamp show at the make and take party.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Halloween first batch

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's the first batch of card I made for my family for Halloween this year. These were all made using card kits from either WeR Memory Keepers or Basic Grey. Both sets were quite intricate but with the right tools easy enough to make. I'd recommend a small glue pen for the tiny parts. It looks like a pen but instead of writing with ink you actually write with liquid glue that dries pretty quick.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Birthday Banner Card

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a card I made for a niece that is having a birthday. I have this stamp set by Hero Arts and made a mini banner by stamping this image on four different colored papers. After that I just added a piece of thick thread and then glued the pieces down as if it were a banner hung on the wall.

Until my next post,
Diane

Giddy - up card

2011-10-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

Here's a card I made in a class using images printed on acetate. The stamp on this card is a mega background by Impression Obsession. The inside sentiment says: "As a little girl, you probably dreamed of having a horse...May all of your dreams come true today and always!"

Until my next post,
Diane

Queen for a Day card

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's another card made using the Boxer Scrapbooks layout. I used stamps by Crafty Secrets and some extra coordinating papers. My accents are a white pen and Fiskars border punch.

Until my next post,
Diane

Thinking Of You Card

2011-10-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a card I made for a relative that just underwent knee replacement surgery. So far all looks good. I hope the rehab goes well. She's looking forward to more activity and less pain.I made this card at a scrapbook convention. The class was taught by SEI. The class included a mini stamp set and a inkpad or two. They have some great techniques to use little stamps and make something big.

Until my next post,
Diane

Thinking of You card

2011-09-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a card I made for a relative that has recently finished up radiation treatment. So far all looks good so I wanted to let her know I was thinking of her. This card uses Echo Park paper and an image I stamped by Hero Arts. The tag is from.... I can't remember I think I got it in a discount area at JoAnns.

Until my next post,
Diane

My "new" craft/computer/genealogy room

2011-09-09T07:00:00.116-04:00

Before Hurricane Irene paid us a visit a few weeks ago hubby and I tended to a few tasks like cleaning the yard of potential projectiles, getting gas for the generator, filling propane tanks and reviewing our disaster checklists. One of my tasks as the photographer of the family was to review photos I'd taken 8 years ago when Hurricane Isabel (another hurricane with an "I") wrecked havoc in the local area. I discovered that I needed to take some photos of new "stuff" as a memory jogger in case we had to file an insurance claim. Since I took photos of my new area I thought I'd share them with my internet friends.

Here's the FROG (family room over garage) or bonus room eight years ago. Like I said in my post a few months ago, I had a lot of "stuff". I consolidated some, sold some and will give some away.

As you can see this room was basically storage. Tucked into the right corner was hubby's computer space. Looks like we removed his laptop probably to take it with us when we evacuated. Our area was voluntary evacuations eight years ago and we might not have bugged out if we hadn't has a tornado take out a huge tree the two months before the hurricane hit. That spooked us so we left the area.

Flash forward 8 years and here's my new craft/computer/genealogy room.

This room is over the garage and is a few steps lower than the upstairs.

There's two staircases, one from a guest bedroom and one

directly from the kitchen.

There are twin dormers giving light from the north.

In between I've got two Ikea drawer cabinets and a multi purpose bookcase.

On the right side of the table is a matching multipurpose storage bookcase.

I got three of the same tables, the one that I use for crafting is a glass top

the other two are birch.

I bought matching mini shelves that hook onto the desk.

This way I can slide my printer and Silhouette digital

cutter under and still have storage on the desk.

As you can see I've still got a bunch of "stuff" to get rid of. The room also needs painting but we'll get to that later. I was thinking of removing the ceiling fan and having two light bars. I changed my mind early in the remodeling process. We had a few hot days early in the spring so I knew I'd need a fan since the twin windows right next to my computer face west. We replaced the old fan with a 52" five blade fan. Halogen lights are about as hot as incandescent and LED is too expensive so I'm using daylight CFL bulbs to get good light and keep it cool.

New lighting -- a ceiling fan and light bar.

When I get rid of more stuff maybe I can add a love seat or big chair so I can have an area to read.

Hope you enjoyed my show and tell.

Until my next post,

Diane

Forgotten Technique card

2011-09-04T07:00:00.006-04:00

I can't remember who I got this technique from. I made this card a while back and never wrote any notes on the back of the card like I do now. I'm using is as an anniversary card for my niece and hope she likes it.I know I used Ranger inks and a white pen to outline some of the flowers. I also outlined some of the swirls with a glitter pen.

Until my next post,

A fluffy little gift from the kitty card

2011-08-31T07:00:00.006-04:00

Another card made with paper scraps using the layout I learned by Boxer Scrapbooks. I used a stamp by Inkadinkado. My accents are a white outline pen, a border punch by EK Success and a peel off on the outside borders.

Until my next post,
Diane

We were lucky...Hurricane Irene the musical version

2011-08-28T13:31:00.001-04:00

There were some deaths from this storm but hubby and I were among the lucky ones. We had some flickering now and then but didn't lose power or trees. Our back year is pretty soggy and will be for another couple of days. We were able to get the front yard cleaned up and hubby took two loads of debris to the local transfer station where they'll make mulch of it. We get our mulch there and may possibly be buying back our own lawn waste in a few months.

Here's my four song titles to describe Hurricane Irene. No need to look the lyrics since most of them don't really apply to a hurricane but the titles do.

1) The waiting is the hardest part (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
2) Tomorrow (from the musical Annie)
3) Goodnight, Irene (Huddie Ledbetter/John Lomax)
4) I can see clearly now (Johnny Nash)

Dance for yourself card

2011-08-19T07:00:00.004-04:00

Here's a card I made using Echo Park paper. I used an EK Success border punch on the blue border under the orange paper. The stamp is designed by Tim Holtz by Stampers Anonymous.

Until my next post,
Diane

Thanks card

2011-08-11T07:00:00.012-04:00

To regular followers my absence from blogging may have been noticed. I was posting at least twice a week last year and sometimes every other day. The black hole of genealogy caught me and sometimes I creep out and make a post here.

I have been crafting but it's for stuff in the future like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've got the first two holidays covered and made a big dent in the third. The family birthdays and anniversaries are slow this time of year so my cards have slacked off.

This card I sent to a relative of my husbands. When I was visiting his family last month I got with my mother-in-law and scanned a ton of family memorabilia she had for both sides of my husbands family. I noticed an envelope that had some great memories that were told by ancestors long gone and saw the return address. I asked her if she knew this man and was he still alive (he's close to 90 so you never know). She said yes so I copied that info down and called him the other day.

After establishing our relationship on the family tree I asked him if he could provide any more information. He's going to send me some info and I'm going to do the same as I've assembled a lot of information for the family tree.

This card is a thanks to he and his wife for taking time out to talk to a perfect stranger. It's a thanks for what he told me and also what he's going to send. I can't wait for it to arrive. The card itself is from a kit by WeR Memory Keepers, they make great kits as I've commented on in the past.

Until my next post,
Diane

Have your art and eat it too!

2011-08-01T07:00:00.016-04:00

Judith G. Klausner is a food artist. I'm not talking about ice sculptures. Her art work is unconventional to say the least. Her work 2D work includes faux fabric art and designer wallpaper while her 3D sculptures use a variety of materials. She can create with incredible detail beautiful cameos on the inside of Oreo cookies. Check her out, it's worth a look.

Until my next post,
Diane

Simple Moments card

2011-07-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

I made this card for a good friend of mine. I used Echo Park paper and Cuttlebug embossed butterflies. The stamped image is from Cloud 9. She is forever 29 just like me!

Until my next post,
Diane

Plastic art?

2011-07-24T07:00:00.023-04:00

Have you heard of sea glass? It is glass from ordinary man made objects like bottles, glasses and such that has been tumbled by the waves of the sea to take the sharp edges out of it and appears like a gem of sorts.

What about sea plastic? Unlike glass which can weather and deteriorate with time plastic lasts much longer and retains much of it's original shape and colors. What do you do with the plastic stuff you find along a beach? Here's a great article on some folks that are making art out of found plastic items from beaches. If you'd like to see some examples look here.

Until my next post,
Diane

Get Well Soon card

2011-07-20T07:00:00.006-04:00

Here's a card I made for a family member that recently underwent surgery. I used items from a Paper Wishes kit that focused on their Dazzles. Dazzles started off as metallic (silver or gold) die cut stickers that almost look like embossing. They are quite intricate and a bit time consuming to apply given the design. A transfer sheet helps you apply words so they don't get crooked and also to use the inside of certain designs.

Until my next post,
Diane

The future of art

2011-07-16T07:00:00.022-04:00

When my niece said she was majoring in Art back in the 90's (back before I retired and found my interest in art) I thought to myself "what is this girl doing". I thought unless she was a talent like Picasso or Dali she'd never make a living. She switched her major from art to elementary education and taught "regular" classes for a few years. Then a position as an art teacher opened and flash forward to today she is an elementary art teacher. I take a look at her web site from time to time and feel comfortable that the young ones, in her area at least, are getting a good foundation to release their creative energies. I like the use of a variety of materials, incorporating some 3D work like sculpture and their use of colors.

Until my next post,
Diane

Are we there yet card

2011-07-12T07:00:00.006-04:00

If this layout looks familiar to you then you must be a regular viewer of my blog. This is another travel card using a Sheetload template with the American Crafts kit. The stamp on this card is from Cloud 9 designs. I also used a Spellbinder template to cut out the blue scalloped square.

This card is for my niece and her family taking a trip to Disneyworld. Here's hoping for sunny but not too hot temperatures and short lines.

Until my next post,
Diane

Dream Big card

2011-07-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is another card I made in a class by Technique Tuesday. We used some of their chipboard accents that we colored with the direct to paper technique. The colors and brads definitely make it a masculine card. After the class was over we still had some supplies left over so it was a good value.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy 4th of July! 2011

2011-07-04T07:00:00.008-04:00

Here's a set of cards I made using a WeR Memory Keepers card kit. I added a bit of glitter pen to most of them. The one on the bottom left I modified since it was supposed to be a thanks for the party type card. I used Studio G stamps to make it a generic 4th of July card. Like the other card kits by WeR Memory Keepers this was a very nice kit all parts fit well and even better since I got it on sale!

Until my next post,
Diane

This is the good stuff, enjoy card

2011-06-30T07:00:00.007-04:00

Here's I card I made using some print and cut images with my Silhouette. Using your Silhouette you select the image(s) you want to print. Make sure you print the registration marks too. Now that the images are printed you insert that paper into the Silhouette and the digital cutter finds the edges of the images and cuts them out. Is that cool or what?!? This card is for the son of a close friend. He's too young to have grown up with these type of cars but appreciates them nonetheless.

Until my next post,
Diane

You Are Here card

2011-06-26T07:00:00.008-04:00

Some of my family members are traveling this summer. My sister-in-law and her family are making a big trip overseas to Italy for two weeks. Just in case they don't know where they are when they land this card will tell them...you are here.

I made this card by using an American Crafts page kit but cut the paper using a Sheetload pattern. Sheetload stopped offering free desings in Dec 2009 but I downloaded all the templates and decided it was time to use one again.

Until my next post,
Diane

Power Tools Rule card

2011-06-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's another guy type birthday card. I can't remember the manufacturer but there was a set of coordinating paper and embellishments. I used Fiskars scissors to get a saw type cut on the edge of the blue paper and a few brads as an embellishment.

Until my next post,
Diane

Just Thinking About You Card

2011-06-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's I card I made with a WeR Memory Keepers Kit. Even though it has flower elements I thought the colors would work for a guy birthday card. As I've previously mentioned their card kits are made very well so don't hesitate to make a purchase if you see one.

Until my next post,
Diane

Congrats card

2011-06-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

My nephew is graduating high school so I made this card for him. I attended a class at a convention last year and when I made this card I set it aside for him. It is from Boxer Scrapbooks.

Until my next post,
Diane

What an eye...

2011-06-12T07:00:00.024-04:00

I recently got an email announcing a live event by Kelby Training spotlighting a day with Jay Maisel. I wasn't sure what it was about and I didn't watch it. I'm lucky though because I have a subscription to Kelby Training so I was able to watch it after the fact.

In one of the sessions Jay tells Scott Kelby that of a slide show of about 360 images only 3 where changed. By changed he means cropped. They continue to talk about getting picture right in the camera and limiting the editing or cropping after the fact. Scott has a had time with this and later in this session Scott says "Jay I don't know if you realize it but I use a program called Adobe Photoshop and Jay responds "I've heard of it".

Check out some of Jay's work at http://www.jaymaisel.com/recent-work/

Until my next post,
Diane

So Happy For You Two card

2011-06-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe a year has gone by since hubby and I attended a wedding for Victoria and Chris. The not so newlyweds are doing well. I made this card using a kit from WeR Memory Keepers. I think their kits give very professional results. The score lines on the cards are perfect the embellishments and coordinating papers make for some great cards. Best of all I got all of these kits on sale!

Until my next post,
Diane

You're only a kid once card - another version

2011-06-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

I have used this phrase on another card but this one uses the image that came with the mini stamp set by Inkadinkado. The design is... you guessed by Boxer Scrapbooks that I learned at a make and take.
I used some left over papers and then added my accents of Sakura gel pens, corner punches and a peel off.

Until my next post,
Diane

Wishes card

2011-06-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a card I made in a class by Technique Tuesday. They have a bunch of really small stamps that you can use to make borders or repetitive patterns. We used a bit of stickles but it is still a masculine card. The accent is ribbon that we distressed a bit and then stamped on it.

Until my next post,
Diane

Home Improvement Card

2011-05-30T07:10:00.003-04:00

Like many American's I've got a relative (or friend) deployed in the desert. Along with a care package of snacks and things to give to the kids over there I sent him this card. Why send a Home Improvement card to a guy deployed? Well for one I don't have a lot of "guy" cards hanging around and I wanted to send this to him sooner than later. Also, I figure he'll have a lot of honey-do projects when he comes back after his tour.

Until my next post,
Diane

My First Zentangles

2011-05-27T07:00:00.033-04:00

This year at Art and Soul I took a class on beginning Zentangle with Suzanne McNeill. Along with being a CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) she is the owner of Design Originals a craft book publishing company. Take a look at her apron and you can get an idea of her ability to make Zentangles.

We stared with a small one (the one on the upper left and made five patterns. After that we did a bit of shading (I need to work on mine in the future). Then we tried white gel pen on black paper, luckily no shading is necessary).

After lunch, we all chose a stencil and used both a .01 and a .05 Micron Pen and learned a few more patterns. I improvised in the top part of my pumpkin stencil with what I filled in on the stem and leaf. I also did a bit of highlighting with the white pen.

Our last exercise was to decorate the outer edge of the very small stamped image in the center. I got a bit out of control and was accused of being an over achiever.

My two tips for doing Zentangles are 1) use your reading glasses if you have them. By the end of the day my eyes were very tired. 2) work in an area with good lighting. The convention center lighting was also a contributing factor to my tired eyes.

All in all a very enjoyable class, Suzanne's personality is suited to teaching this type of class. We left with a great journal to do more tangles in. We also got two Micron pens, a white gel pen and a bunch of handouts from Suzanne to use in future exercises.

WARNING: Zentangles can be addictive. Look for more by me in the future. Don't say you never got got the word.

Until my next post,

Diane

Art and Soul 2011 Project teaser

2011-05-23T07:00:00.034-04:00

This year for the Hampton Art and Soul I took all three classes with Ingrid Dijkers. This was her first time teaching at Art and Soul and I hope she comes back. Her work has a great whimsical quality to it but still on the edge. As a matter of fact the first class I took with her was called An Instructional Guide for Going over the Edge.

Before I go into more detail let me first say that there is no way you'll accomplish an entire journal in a one day class of hers BUT don't let that dissuade you at all.

The first class was filled with loads of tutorials on her techniques for painting and all the different ways she has to make a boring rectangular journal page into something very special. She uses all sorts of templates and we traced them so we could have them for later use. We also got a great explanation of how to jazz up the edges of papers by sewing yarns, beads or buttons on the edge. Some of the sewing is with thread but some with wire.

Our kits included the covers in the form of a binder for day one and three or wood for day two. We also got loads of journal prompts and a nice selection of the same imagery she used in her three journals.

I got more done on day two which was called Through the Rabbit Hole. All my pages (front and back) have been painted and I've applied Ingrid's double-sided imagery to three pages.

I concur with a classmate that said she didn't feel that bad about not finishing because we didn't have complicated stitching to try to remember after the fact and it is easy to add pages because of the three ring binding concept.

The last day was the Octopus's Garden a Steampunk inspired journal. Again all my pages are prepared front and back and one image applied - the Bunny Man. I also cut my binder down to size.

I encourage you to take a class with Ingrid your journal pages will never look the same again.

Until my next post,
Diane

Calendar Card

2011-05-19T07:00:00.006-04:00

Here's another card I made with the Technique Junkies Waxed Cuttlebug technique. This one is a bit different since I didn't stamp on it before I ironed the embossed waxed paper. I used stamps from Inque for the outside and Fiskars for the inside. The inside says "Happy Birthday" "may all your wishes come true".

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Anniversary Card

2011-05-15T07:00:00.009-04:00

This was a pretty easy technique and looks more involved than it was. This technique is called Waxed Cuttlebug resist and it was from their April 2008 issue. Basically you emboss a piece of wax paper. Stamp your words or images on glossy cardstock. Now iron the wax paper (don't forget to put a piece of scratch paper on top of the wax paper) on to the glossy cardstock. You might not see much but the next step will reveal your background. I used a brayer and a multi colored ink pad. You'll see a bit of the background coming though. After you have the color to your liking, rub off the excess and you'll reveal the resisted Cuttlebug design.

Until my next post,
Diane

Hugs and Kisses Card

2011-05-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Yet another card I made using the versatile template that I learned from Boxer Scrapbooks at a make and take. It uses coordinating papers a white gel pen and silver peel offs that are colored in with a Sakura gel pen.

Until my next post,
Diane

Simply the Best...Ever card

2011-05-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

Sometimes when I've attended classes you don't get to finish everything in the allotted time period. Some classes are actually built that way. I've been in some where you work on 4-5 cards and then get materials to complete 2-3 more on your own (with instructions or at least pictures) at a later date. This card is one of those. I took a class last year sponsored by Technique Tuesday. This is one of the cards I made later. The background is actually a really small stamp repeated. I took a couple of classes with them and liked them all. Most of their stamps are pretty small but with repeated stamping you can create great background paper of your own.....why do I still buy printed paper then?!?!

I made this card for Mother's Day and hopefully my mother-in-law will have a great day.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Birthday card

2011-05-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

This card has a few different elements to tell you about. It is based on the Sep/Oct 08 Designer Tiles design by Technique Junkies. I used stamps by 7 Gypsies and the paper is by Echo Park. This is a great design for extra paper you have hanging around.

Until my next post,
Diane

Art and Soul 2010 Day Four - Last day

2011-05-01T07:00:00.005-04:00

Today is my last day for Art & Soul. There are classes tomorrow but nothing caught my fancy so I finish a day before it is officially over. I'm taking a class by Sandra Batholomew called Zentangle 101. Here's the description: Learn the basics of Zentangle - a relaxing form of meditation that uses pattern-making to focus your mind. No drawing experience necessary (Really!) Zentangle can be used for meditation, for art journaling, to learn to draw ... it is a great confidence booster too. There is no way to “mess up”!
In this workshop youʼll learn lots of tangles, or patterns, and get some great ideas on how to incorporate Zentangle into your other artwork.

This will be a great class for my last day. The supply list was minimal and it will be a nice way to wind down after four days of creativity.

Until my next post,
Diane

Art and Soul 2011 Day Three

2011-04-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Today is the last class I have with Ingrid. This class is called An Octopus’s Garden - A SteamPunk Influenced Journal. I've been exploring a bit with the Steampunk style so I'm excited about this class. Here's the description: This class will focus on SteamPunk imagery and elements that can be easily incorporated into our journals for a uniquely different and often quirky result. Sometimes outright strange effects develop that we are sure to revel in. Of course we'll include our favorite SteamPunk creature, the Octopus (just because we like them). Ingrid's book "An Octopus's Garden" will be available for viewing with examples of how to add a SteamPunk feel to our journals with just our regular journaling supplies, SteamPunk and Octopus imagery, items we probably already have on hand and discarded box board.

Tomorrow is a bit different so stay tuned for that class.

Until my next post,
Diane

Art and Soul 2011 Day Two

2011-04-29T07:00:00.007-04:00

Day two of Art & Soul for this year and once again I'm taking a class with Ingrid. This class is called Thru the Rabbit Hole. Here's the class description “Through the Rabbit-Hole”, a delightful tunnel book, will take us through the Rabbit-Hole using the beloved Tenniel drawings as seen in the original Alice books. These images will be incorporated into our own books in such a way that small bits of each page will be visible from the front or back, giving the book dimension and interest. Each turn of a page exposing more of the journey. Wooden covers will be provided to make a sturdy book sure to hold up to many adventures.

Looking forward to another day of creating.

Until my next post,
Diane

Art and Soul 2011 Day One - Ingrid's Book

2011-04-28T19:04:00.001-04:00

Mine doesn't look like this. My cover is "naked". I'll post mine when done...but be patient it will take some time. You know that if you follow my blog, I'm not the quickest person in the world to get my projects done.

Diane

Art and Soul 2011 Day One

2011-04-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

Once again I'm taking classes at Art & Soul in Hampton. It is so hard to resist because I live so close. This year it will be a bit different though. Sadly, Maria the gal that ran the on-site store isn't here. Her commitments to family and two stores in the Portland, Oregon area where too much to create a store for 5 days here. We will all miss the great variety of items she had and her great personality.

I'm taking three classes with an instructor new to Art & Soul, Ingrid Dijkers. Today the class is called Instructional Guide for going Over the Edge and we'll be using recycled cereal weight boxes to make a mini book. Here's the class description: We’ll work on getting those pages to "pop" (no one likes dull flat pages) and make the edges of those pages sizzle (gilding on steroids). This class will help us break away from the traditional rectangular shaped page. We’ll explore ways of developing and making other shapes for pages giving our books more dimension and interest. The importance of the often neglected edges of pages will also be emphasized and worked with. Ingrid’s book "An Instructional Guide for Going Over the Edge" will be available for viewing many examples. It displays a plethora of possibilities using materials we all probably already have on hand.

It looks like a lot of fun. I'll post photos when I'm finished.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Spring

2011-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

This year instead of making Easter specific cards I focused on Spring. The one on the top left uses a stamp by Impression Obsession. There is an outline and a fill stamp. They make a few of these in floral designs so you can get some depth in your stamping. The outside of this image is a Cuttlebug folder. The one on the top right uses the same stamp and another by Impression Obsession. I used that sentiment for all the cards either on the inside or outside. The bottom left also uses an Impression Obsession stamp. I used a few different inks on it and then added a bit of felt ribbon. The bottom right is my take on the Technique Junkies Embellished Circles Tutorial from the Apr/May 2001 newsletter. I just didn't do the embellishing. Sometimes those things don't go through the mail well and I was pressed for time.

All four of these use the same technique mentioned above. I used stamps from Martha Stewart (bottom right above photo, top left and right this photo) and Cloud Nine (bottom left and right entirely this photo and accents on the other ones).

Hope you have a Happy Spring too!

Until my next post,
Diane

Live Laugh Love Together card

2011-04-18T07:00:00.008-04:00

Here's a card I made for my niece for her anniversary. It is very simple and basic but I think she'll like it without the extra fluff. I used American Traditional Designs textured cardstock and an embossing folder. After that use some fine sand paper or a sanding block to reveal the white core of the paper. I added a Sakura glitter pen on the hearts and then matted it with some metallic paper.

Until my next post,
Diane

Have you heard the news card

2011-04-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's another of the acetate cards made in a class I took last year. The stamp is one of the mega backgrounds by Impression Obsession. They've got over 70 of these great big background stamps. They also make a special curved acrylic block with a handle to assist in stamping and IT WORKS!

Until my next post,
Diane

Thinking of You Card

2011-04-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's another card I made in a Technique Tuesday class. Hubby and I just learned a friend was diagnosed with cancer. Here's hoping she does well with her treatment.

Until my next post,
Diane

Thinking of You Card

2011-04-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

A niece of mine had an appendectomy...like many it wasn't planned. Here's a card I made for her at a class by Boxer Scrapbooks. It is made sort of like a file folder so the white part on the right side extends beyond the front of the card.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Birthday card

2011-04-01T07:00:00.003-04:00

Here's a card I started making at a class last year and then finished at home. The earth tones work great for a guy card. The class was hosted by Technique Tuesday and they supplied items to make most of the cards. This one had the design items but I used my own "Happy Birthday" and "Celebrate" stamps to finish it. You can't see the Celebrate portion because it is inside one of the folds. This is one of those cards that looks hard to do but it is really easy. Splitcoast stampers calls their version a Tri-Shutter card and I'm pretty sure Technique Junkies has one but I can't remember their name. I used Inque and Fiskars stamps for my words.

Until my next post,
Diane

If you find it in your heart card

2011-03-28T19:00:00.008-04:00

Here's a card I made using paper by WeR Memory Keepers. I used a Fiskars punch on the borders of the background and blue accent paper. The sentiment came as a free download by PaperCrafts magazine. I put it in the Silhouette as a .jpg and then added a trace around the edge so I could cut it out with the machine. I then added an offset and cut it out again and adhered it to the white paper for a bit of definition.

Until my next post,
Diane

No Matter the Season card

2011-03-25T07:00:00.006-04:00

Here's a card I made using products from the Merry January kit by WeR Memory Keepers. It works for January, February AND March!

Until my next post,
Diane

Can you hear me now?

2011-03-21T07:00:00.016-04:00

Believe it or not this is a cell phone. It is the very first phone I ever had. Why I've had it this long I don't know. Hubby bought it for me around 1991 or so. I saw it as a very frivolous thing at first but boy have times changed. This phone was called a bag phone. It would plug into a cigarette lighter receptacle for car power but also had a B-I-G and heavy battery that you could use if you wanted to be mobile. The reason I'm posting this is because it was part of the "stuff" that was in the bonus room that we are slowly going through as I create my craft palace. I dropped the cell phone off at the local consumer household chemical and computer recycling day. These events are free and are a great way to safely dispose of unwanted chemicals and electronics. I also brought about 50 VCR tapes that I had recorded things on, a bunch of cell phone accessories that I can't donate, an old computer monitor (the huge CRT style) and a broken stereo receiver.

Check your your local area and you too can get rid of "stuff".

Untily my next post,
Diane

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

My family isn't Irish so I only made a few cards for my husband's family to celebrate the wearing of the green.

I used the Cuttlebug celtic knot embossing folder as the background for all four of these cards. The one on the lower left is just plain green cardstock embossed. On the others I inked the folder then embossed. I also used my Silhouette for the two that say "kiss me!". I didn't design either one just downloaded from a free site (can't remember which one but there are plenty to choose from). I also got the clipart images for free. If you google "free clipart" you'll be amazed at the number of free choices.

Until my next post,
Diane

Hip Hip Hooray Card

2011-03-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a card I made for a guy birthday using a card kit by WeR Memory Keepers. The papers, embellishments and chipboard was all of very good quality. The instructions were easy to follow and there was no waste. Hope he likes it.

Until my next post,
Diane

Just Because Card

2011-03-11T07:00:00.003-05:00

One of my fellow stamper friends recently had surgery. I follow her blog and have been emailing her on and off for a few years and finally actually talked to her the other day. This card is to wish her well during her rehab and hope she is in the fast lane on the road to recovery.

I made this card in a class using Technique Tuesday stamps and inks. They make some very small stamps but have great ideas to make big things from small things like the little border stamps. When you put them together it looks great...at least I think so.

Until my next post,
Diane

To the Handyman in my life card

2011-03-08T07:00:00.013-05:00

Here's another of the acetate cards I made last year in a class by The Paper Cut. THIS IS NOT A PICTURE OF ME! We used Impression Obsession stamps for almost all of the cards. The inside says "Happy Birthday to the guy that fixes all of my cracks".

Until my next post,
Diane

I've been evicted...from my former craft/computer room.

2011-03-05T07:00:00.005-05:00

Hubby and I have been talking about this for a L-O-N-G time. Back in the old days we shared a computer. Then he got his own and set up shop in a very small section of our bonus room or the room over the garage.

The rest of that room had "stuff". Most of it was a collection of mine featuring Star Wars and Star Trek collectibles. I was doing a pretty good job of selling it little by little but it was a very slow process. Since we had the space it became the area to put things that we didn't want in the "public" portion of the house so it basically looked neat and tidy and the rest of the "stuff" was hidden away.

Since the focus of my free time had changed to crafting I wanted more space. Hubby wanted more too. He was also looking forward to a closet to store his "stuff", mostly consisting of motorcycle garb, helmets and parts he's trying to sell. It is a win-win for both of us. I'll eventually have more room than I'll know what to do with. I'll also have more light in my computer area but hopefully it won't be too hot in the summer as I'm gaining west facing windows. He gets more room and more light too. His portion of the bonus room was in an area without direct light.

We decided to start the switch even though the bonus room isn't totally cleaned out. We hope to have a buyer for a bunch of it but if not I'll go through it and keep a small portion and give some to Toys for Tots and more to other charitable groups.

Here's the last views of my old abode.

Storage for inks in the center drawers and misc stuff on left and right. Unmounted stamps on the tall bookcase on the right.

Ancient computer work area that we've moved since the mid 80's. Still functional but weighs a ton.

Another view of computer area and the north facing window.

Very big closet and work table.

You were wondering what was inside the closet...lots of "stuff".

More stuff!

Happy Card

2011-03-03T07:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a card I made for an anniversary. The materials are from the Merry January collection in a kit by WeR Memory Keepers. I thought it was a great idea to leave off the "birthday" or "anniversary" and just have the card say Happy with the definition. It makes it more versatile in my opinion.

Until my next post,
Diane

Hello Dear Friend Card

2011-02-28T07:00:00.003-05:00

Here's another card I made using the kit by WeR Memory Keepers. This card is for one of the gals I've swapped with. It's her birthday and I thought I'd send a card. All the items in this kit are from the Merry January collection which happens to work for February too!

Until my next post,
Diane

Thinking of You Card

2011-02-24T07:00:00.007-05:00

A friend of mine recently had out patient surgery and I wanted to let her know that I was "thinking of her". Hope she is on the road to recovery soon. I made this card using stamps from Rubber Cottage at a Stamp Scrap Art Show convention in Hampton, VA last year.

Until my next post,
Diane

Not "THAT" fork in the road

2011-02-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

I used to love to watch the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. One skit was where he'd play this daytime film emcee called Art Fern. He'd tell you about a business and then go over to an easel and show this "map" that almost looked like a plate of spaghetti and describe how to navigate the Southern California highway system and then say you need to take the fork in the road. Of course there was an actual fork on the "map" and it always got a laugh from the crowds. On the video I'm linking to it begins at about 6 minutes 58 seconds.

Anyway, I've come to a fork in the road sort of. I haven't made ANY ATC's this year. I'm still paper crafting but trying to complete all my family birthday, anniversary and holiday cards early. Then I won't be in a panic when I've got a week to do it. I'm also building a stash of cards to send when I do get back to swapping ATC's.

I'm also compiling all the family records, photos and memorabilia. I bought Legacy late last year and imported my Mom's side of the family from a cousin. I also found out a cousin on my Dad's side had a lot done on Ancestry.com so I've been cutting and pasting that info into Legacy. Lastly, a cousin on my husbands side had a lot of that family done so I copied that in too. Now I'm going through the family records, photos and memorabilia and scanning flat items and photographing bulky ones to enter into this database. Some of the neat small bulky ones I'll put into shadow boxes so I can see them on a regular basis rather than keep hidden in a box.

I'm sure I'll begin ATC creation again but I've no timeline yet. I'll still make posts but instead of every other day it might be every 4-5 days.

Until my next post,
Diane

Another Mini Album

2011-02-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's another project I failed to post. This was another mini-album I made at the Aug 2010 Creating Keepsakes convention in Virginia Beach. This class was called Making Ordinary Extrodinary taught by SEI. I liked all the classed I took with them. Their instruction were VERY easy to follow since like all but one of the classes you DON'T have enough time to finish the project(s) in class. This class used regular old envelopes as the pages of the albums. We used eyelets to secure the area where the rings would go so it is pretty sturdy. Some of the envelopes were sealed closed and others left open with decorated flaps so you can hide some goodies.

If you have a Creating Keepsakes convention coming to your local area check them out even if you don't do traditional scrapbooking like me. You'll likely find there are other classes to make cards and mini books.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T07:00:00.011-05:00

Here's a sample of the cards I made for Valentine's Day. I used paper from WeR Memory Keepers and some cut outs I made or downloaded with my Silhouette. On some I used a Fiskars corner punch, bling or brads. It is difficult to see with the scan but I added a red Sakura glaze pen to certain portions of the cards to highlight the heart the bunny is holding or the dots on the diagonal stripes.

Until my next post,
Diane

Bottoms Up Birthday card

2011-02-10T07:00:00.008-05:00

Here's a card I made in a class last year taught by The Paper Cut. The focus of the class was using images printed on acetate along with Impression Obsession mega background stamps. The inside of this card says: "to another year older. Have a GREAT day. Happy Birthday". After taking this class I've got a bunch of ideas for making cards using my photographs.

Until my next post,
Diane

It started with Hallmark

2011-02-09T07:00:00.018-05:00

In this case I'm not referring to a Hallmark greeting card. I'm referring to the little datebooks I'd get as a teen all the way into my forties where I'd write down all the important family events to remind me when to send a card. These little books were my handheld computer of the day.

About 10 years or so ago I went out and bought a Palm device that would import my MS Outlook calender and contacts and then I'd know where to go and when. I'd also have the handy dandy birthday and anniversary list.

My cell phone was pretty dumb back then and I didn't text so I carried two devices. Then came wi-fi all over the place and free in many locations. My Palm was getting a bit outdated so hubby got me an iTouch so now I could surf the internet, check and send email and still keep track of the birthdays and anniversaries.

I still carried two things though, the phone and the iTouch. Phones were getting very smart now but I didn't want to pay for the convenience of a data plan and besides I really wanted an iPhone and Verizon didn't carry it so I was going to hold out.

Last month I got an email from Verizon that we were eligible for a new phone. Yeah, I hated the one I had and hubby did too. If you didn't go through a cumbersome process to lock the phone you'd easily butt dial someone or make a mistake and inadvertently access the internet. I called Verizon to block us from doing it because this phone was such a nuisance; we did it by accident a couple of times.

Shortly after the first email I got another saying Verizon was getting the iPhone 4. I got one even tough they are on the 3G network and surf and talk are disabled unless you are wi-fi. I've had iPhone envy for a few years and now finally I can carry one device, talk, surf, check and send email, take pretty decent photos and videos AND still check the birthday and anniversary list. That way I can go home and make and send an old fashioned hand-made, snail mail sent card for that special someone on their special day.

I like technology but I'm still a bit old school at the roots.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Birthday to You card

2011-02-08T07:00:00.009-05:00

Here's an all blue card. It's hard to tell but the gingham portion on the bottom of the card is exposed so the card front actually stops right around the bow. The sentiment and the design element are actually patterned chipboard. Inside another sentiment says "celebrate and eat cake".

Until my next post,
Diane

Birthday definition card

2011-02-05T07:00:00.005-05:00

Here's a masculine type birthday card. The stamps are all by Seaside Stampin Ink.

Until my next post,
Diane

A mini album I forgot to post

2011-02-02T07:00:00.013-05:00

Late last summer I went to a Creaking Keepsakes convention in Virginia Beach. It was a late add-on since there was some flooding in Nashville earlier in the year and that convention had been cancelled. I thought it might be a bit too much scrapbooking and not enough card making & mini-book making but I was wrong. There were a lot of classes and of course the vendor area was loaded with great products. Most of the classes include too much to complete in the allotted time. If this really bothers you then be advised. Even though you rarely get to finish your project(s) in the time allowed the instructions you get are very good so you can complete them later without ease. I took this class using acrylic pages and black and white papers by Awesome Albums and we DID get to finish which was great. The class wasn't that challenging but it did give me ideas how to use acrylic since I hadn't had that much experience with it. I think it is great that acrylic albums or ATC's can be double sided BUT you need to prepare for that. You need to look at both sides of your paper if it is double sided and know that it is going to show unless you put something on top of it.

Here's the album I made. All of them were a bit unique since our mixture of papers, buttons and colored flowers were a bit different and you could swap with a neighbor if you didn't like your stuff.

Here's the other side of the album

Try using acrylic in your next project, I think you'll like it. Loads of companies make precut albums in various sizes and templates.

Until my next post,

Diane

A cool Photoshop Plug-In

2011-01-27T07:00:00.038-05:00

I read a LOT of blogs from fellow crafters, sometimes too many. When I find something that gives me the Ahaa moment I realize it is worth the time I spend. A fellow paper crafter had a post about this cool Photoshop plug-in called Kaleidoscope. I wasn't able to get it to work with the 64 bit version of Photoshop CS4 but it does work just fine with the 32 bit version.

So what can you do with a few ordinary photos? Here's one of a daffodil.

Here's the same photo with the effect where it looks like I took an aerial shot of a field of flowers.

Here's a photo of the Wright Brothers monument in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Here's the same photo with the effect but I used different settings than I did with the flower.

Finally, here's a photo of my kitty BC who by the way is doing very well. If you remember (and even if you don't) he was VERY sick around the Christmas holidays in 2009. He was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease and is on prescription food and 1/2 tablet of Prednisone every three days. His last blood test in October was good and hopefully his next one in April will be the same.

Here's the first version of Kaleidoscope but it is a bit creepy with all those heads.

I did the effect again and came up with something a bit different that you'd never guess started out as a cat.

If you have Photoshop or Photoshop elements give it a try. Warning it is a bit addictive.

Until my next post,
Diane

Gatefold Album

2011-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

This was a really easy project to put together and I got it on sale so that made it all the better! This is a Deja Views Fall Gatefold Album from the Sharon Ann Timeless collection. It came on a 12x24 piece of double sided cardstock. The pieces were perforated so you just punch them out and then assemble.

There are two signatures that I sewed with waxed linen thread and then added the ribbon for look.

All the coordinating embellishments came on the cardstock too so you know it was going to work together.

Until my next post,
Diane

The original steampunk artist?

2011-01-21T07:00:00.002-05:00

This January 2011 issue of the Smithsonian magazine has a great article about an artist I'd never heard of. Giuseppe Arcimboldo was a portrait painter but when you see how he portrayed his subjects you'd think he was the first steampunk artist ever.

Until my next post,
Diane

Happy Birthday Edgar

2011-01-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today is the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allen Poe. I haven't read that much of his work...it's on my list of classics but I just haven't gotten to it yet.

I was reading the newspapers my neighbor saved for me when hubby and I were out of town skiing and visiting family when I saw this one from Bizarro. It is timely for the anniversay of the great writer and since I'm a big fan of A. A. Milne's series it was a perfect match.

Until my next post,

Diane

Simplicity Card

2011-01-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a Technique Junkie designed Pinwheel card that I made for a recent swap. I used mostly patterned paper except for the hot pink portion in the pinwheel which was embossed. I used a simple punch in the corner and then added a sentiment stamp by Hero Arts.

Until my next post,
Diane

Thanks! card

2011-01-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

I sent this card as a thank you for Christmas gifts received. I sent is over two weeks ago so I'm timely with my thanks just not with my posts. The background paper is by K&Co. The stamp is by Impression Obsession. I colored it with Marvy watercolor markers to get the different colors on the flower and petal and outline.

Until my next post,
Diane

You're only a kid once card

2011-01-13T07:00:00.003-05:00

Here's a card I made for a birthday using the simple layout from Boxer Scrapbooks that I learned at a show last year. I've made a bunch of cards using this layout since it is so versitile. The paper is from various sources, the stamp is by Inkadinkado. It is a two part stamp, the inside says "but you can be young a lifetime". I used decorative scissors on the edges of the brown paper and a few accent stripes of gold with a peel-off.

Until my next post,
Diane

Wow...card

2011-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's the last card (for now) using the Anne Taintor playing cards. Like the others I used the Faux Marble Technique from the Technique Junkies Oct/Nov 09 newsletter. For this one I used Ranger Distress Inks in Crushed Olive and some swirls that I cut with my Silhouette

Until my next post,
Diane

Embrace Life card

2011-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Back in mid October I attended another Stamp Scrap Art Tour convention in Hampton. I have been taking classes there and this year I took two with Sarah from the Paper Cut. This class used images printed in black and white or color on printable acetate. This acetate can go through either an ink jet or laser printer. We stamped the cards with a lot of different background stamps by Impression Obsession. They have about 75 of these huge bachground stamps. They make a special acrylic handle to use these big stamps since sometimes you don't get a good impression. It really works, I bought a show special the next day with three background stamps and the handle.

Until my next post,
Diane

Rainy Day Photoshop Action

2011-01-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

One great thing about Photoshop is that you can change the look and feel of your photos. In this case the day I went to visit Tuckahoe Plantation it was overcast but certainly NOT raining. But through the magic of photoshop and free actions that you can download from this site (and others) is that you can change the weather.

Here's what it really looked like:

Here's what it looks like with a bit of faux rain drops on the lens:

How about a bit of condensation too:

Have fun making a rainy day.

Until my next post,
Diane

Magic Kindom -- and a special tour

2011-01-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

Magic Kindom -- and a special tour

Some folks think the Magic Kingdom is the best of the Disney theme parks. I tend to agree. I think it is the castle in the middle with all the magic it brings. If you are a baby boomer, you grew up watching Walt Disney on TV and saw the unveiling of Disneyland and then the plans he had for Disneyworld. Hubby and I went to the Magic Kingdom twice for this vacation. The first time we went on the "other" very cold day in central Fla. I'm not kidding we set a record for that day for low temperature of 32. It isn't cold compared to other sections of the country but 32 in Florida is COLD! We got to the park early and it wasn't very crowded, probably because the day before it was cold and folks were waiting a bit for it to warm up. When the park opened we headed immediately to Tomorrowland and had the very first car on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. It is a ride and a game where you try to destroy the evil Emperor Zurg. From there we had a two minute wait to get on Space Mountain and then headed over to Fantasyland to ride the Winnie the Pooh ride. This ride is always crowded so I wanted to go since we've never waited before for it. This was the warm up for our lunch rendezvous with Tigger, Pooh, Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore.

Our second visit was the last day of our stay. By then it was warming up and would get into the 70's. I had scheduled us for the Keys to the Kingdom tour. We began at 9:30 and finished up about 3:30. We had special radio frequency earpieces to wear so we could hear our guide amongst the crowds. We stared by introducing ourselves and then dove in with a bit of history that is displayed on the windows of the shops on Main Street USA. We went towards Adventureland and got a special Kristin Pass ride and were able to cut in front of everyone for a special tour of the Jungle Cruise. Kristin was our guide and she was making a joke about the Fast Pass, a way for customers to sort of save a place in line if it is too crowded and then come back at a designated time. The Kristen Pass was even better since we had no waiting at all. If you've ridden the Jungle Cruise you know all the guides have this list of the corniest jokes in the world. The Kristin ride eliminated just about all of them and gave us a behind the scenes tour instead of the background of the ride and the "hidden" features.

From there we continued through Adventureland to Frontierland and did a bit of behind the scenes touring. Kristen mentioned a special feature of the Enchanted Tike room and recommened the Dole snack hut near the Jungle Cruise as a great place to get some soft serve pineapple ice cream (hubby and I went back after the tour was over and it was great!) After promising not to take photos or record anything behind the scened we went behind a fence near the railroad crossing in Adventureland to see where some of the floats reside and also viewed the huge holding tank for the water in Splash Mountain. Every night they drain all the water and then find all the things people loose on that ride. From there we went to Liberty Square. Our lunch at the Harbour House was waiting when we arrived. We had a separate eating area and the lunches we ordered at the beginning of the tour were already on tables for us.

After lunch we got a review of some background Kristen had given us on the Haunted Mansion. Again we got a Kristen Pass and entered the ride through the servants quarters near the exit and were instructed to look for "hidden Mickey's and a Donald". I found all but one.

After we gathered our group we exited Liberty Square getting some more background as we walked and then went into a door and down an elevator and entered the tunnels or as they call them in Disney lingo "utilidors" for utility corridors. Since the water table is so high the Magic Kingdom is actually built one story taller than the rest of the surrounding area thus allowing the designers to put utility things out of the view of the public. You don't see garbage being collected. You don't see service trucks or things like that, it is all under you, keeping the magic alive. All the normal things you'd see in a work are are there, forklifts, bulletin boards, safety signs and updates to park happenings so the cast members are all on the same sheet of music. While we were there we saw a short video on how the cast members get their laundry serviced. We left via another elevator and were back to our starting point.

All in all it was a great tour. I don't think it spoiled the magic for me at all but really enhanced my impresssion of the folks that designed this great escape from the daily grind to the most magical place in the world.

Until my next post,

Diane

Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom

2011-01-04T07:00:00.002-05:00

Here's part two of three of the before Christmas trip hubby and I took to Disneyworld. To me no trip to Disney is complete without strolling around Downtown Disney and maybe having a meal or two. Hubby and I ate there the day we arrived (Raglan Road and Irish Pub) and the last night we were there (Wolfgang Puck's). We also headed over there one morning before going out to Epcot. Our hotel (Port Orleans Riverside) was a short shuttle boat ride away, or you could take the bus. On that day I splurged and used one the snack entitlements we had with our meal plan and got a deep fried snickers bar from Cookes of Dublin. Downtown Disney has some great shops with more than Disney memorabilia.

Disney has had this promotion for at least two years where they give you a button so you can tell the world what you are celebrating. Some pins are for 1st Visit or Happy Anniversary. I had a pin for Happy Birthday. I wore it all week and really stretched out the number of times people said "Happy Birthday" to me. Almost all the staff does and so do many other customers. It is a great ice breaker when you are standing in line too. Just about every table service meal presented me with an extra desert or added a special little something to the existing desert. Note the way Wolfgang puck did in with my Key Lime Pie --they wrote it in chocolate.

The first two days of our vacation were quite cold but it was warming up the day we went to Animal Kingdom. We ate a breakfast buffet at the Tusker house in the Africa section of the park. It was better than I thought it would be and we got some one on one with Donald Duck and friends. Hubby found a great place for me to take some photos during the parade and we stayed longer than I thought. All in all a great day!

Until my next post,
Diane

Disney Epcot and Hollywood Studios

2011-01-02T07:00:00.010-05:00

As I mentioned in a post a few days ago, hubby and I went out to Disneyworld before Christmas again. I know I'm a bad blogger for not having posted these immediately but the holidays snuck up on me and so did a cold that I fought off for a week or so. Also, we had that monster east coast storm....so that's why I'm late. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anyway instead of posting a bunch of photos from each park I used this free program called Shape Collage. I first found out about this from another blog I read. It is pretty easy to use. If you want to be able to remove the watermark or use the finished product in Photoshop you will need to purchase either the personal or professional edition.

The first day we arrived it was very cold. We started the day at Epcot because we had lunch reservations at Le Chefs de France. If you look close you can see a little picture of Remi from the Pixar movie Ratatouille. It was so cold and windy that day that after lunch we headed over to Hollywood Studios since it is less exposed to the elements. Besides we had some friends to meet. Before we left I got an email from one of our old neighbors when we were in the USAF. They had gotten my early Christmas card where I mentioned we'd be going to Disney. We finally tracked them down by Mickey's Hat and then rode the Tower of Terror with them. Carol mentioned she thought it was just supposed to be her and her husband but when they arrived she discovered her husband had assembled the entire family together. Great surprise!

Some of the other photos in Epcot are towards the end of the trip when it warmed up so I've got less layers of clothing on.

Until my next post,

Diane

Vintage looking Birthday card

2010-12-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

This card was made using a layout by Sheetload, patterned paper by K&Co and a sentiment by Crafty Secrets. Some jewels complete the piece.

Until my next post,
Diane

Good enough to eat 2010

2010-12-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last year I made a gingerbread house after hubby and I returned from our before Christmas Disneyworld visit. Well we went again and here's the creation I made this year.

I purchased it from the Disney Beach Club resort on the first night we arrived. We had reservations at Raglin Road in Downtown Disney. After having a great meal we took one of the Disney buses to that resort and saw their edible carousel creation and bought a kit for me and one for my neighbor.

Here's the lobby of the Beach Club Resort.

Just in case you are inclined to make one yourself here's your shopping list:

Now maybe you aren't into carousels but you'd really like a little cabin in the woods or a summer cottage. Well how about getting the building plans for this:

This would be the day to use the SUV instead of the Mini Cooper to lug the groceries home to complete this creation:

That's all for today. I'll post some more Disney pictures in the next few days.

Until my next post,

Diane

Happy Blog Anniversary

2010-12-27T07:00:00.011-05:00

Today marks the second anniversary of my blog. I think it helps keep me motivated to make "stuff". I look at the posts I have in the cue and then think I need to make something and scan it so I can show the world... OK maybe not the world but at least a few of you. I hope some folks out there get a little inspiration for their creations.

As I mention on my blog header I'm not into tagging or awards and for those of you looking for it... NO blog candy.

Until my next post,
Diane