Scrappy Sunday returns...(gonna try very hard to stay on my schedule)

Ok, so we were showing the album I made for my great Niece's sweet 16 party. Continuing on:

That is hubby Ron waving from the kitchen, he and family friend Kathy were the main kitchen workers for the day. (hubby always volunteers for that, I think he is not so very social at times...preferring to be behind the scenes)  The bottom picture is our daughter Amanda, who is the same age as my great niece Jessica, but older by 4 months.  They were very close when younger, then My niece and her family moved waaay up northwest NJ, and then again into the Poconos, so they kind of grew apart.  The title and balloons were cut with someone's cricut at a crop.  This was the first time I saw the cricut in use (other than at memories expo).  Since then I have seen it used numerous times, and have used it myself a few times. I have decided to buy myself the big one, now that it has come out. the three blank balloons, and the 2 bottom balloons on the 2nd page I actually tied string to. :)  You have noticed that this is is older paper, it is. I am trying very hard to use older stuff first.

 This is just a 2 pages lay out of some of Jessica's relatives. The top left picture on 2nd page is her Biological father. The top left picture on first page is my oldest daughter and my SIL(on the right). this paper is home made with leaves and foliage in it.

Jessica's mom had 2 different cakes made. I think one was a yellow cake and the other was devil's food.  the 2 paper piecings, I received in a swap.

this page shows my niece (Jessica's mom) and my X-BIL with his GF, in the top left pic. the bottom left pic, shows Jessica in the center. again, old paper, and I used brads and a jewel flower.

This 2 page L/O is the beginning of several pages showing her opening gifts. the present was a piece of self adhesive chipboard, I bought from a gal, I think it was from Bazzill. I used sharpies on it to match the flowers in the paper. then I used Bazzill flowers and buttons.

I will share more of this album with you next sunday.



Enjoy your weekend :)
Susan

5?Friday--be kind-rewind!

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then c'mon back to link up (tomorrow)! If you don't have a blog (or already wrote a post), but would like to play along, feel free to leave your answers in the comments below!

Questions for Friday, July 30th: (Special thanks to Julianne, Ann (for inspiration), Jill, Bethany, and Tiffany for their question suggestions! We had some great ones roll in last week, thank you!!! If you want to be linked in a future 5QF, head on over here, to my community, and offer up your best question suggestions!)

1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?

2. Do you dream in color?

3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller?

4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be?

5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot?

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1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?  EDITed to add: as a baby/toddler I did have a blue terry cloth stuffed rabbit (it was the only one I was allowed to have--long story about asthma and what things were stuffed with back then) It was eventually thrown out by my mom, due to all the terry being worn off, the eyes were gone, and the nose was faded and one of the ears was badly damaged.

I had several favorites, and NO I do not have any of them...paper doll collection (which now I am kicking myself about not having) Spirograph and Super Spirograph, all my Color-forms,my Drowsy doll...which I have seen recently on someone else's blog with their child...so either it is a vintage one and in great shape, or they still make it.  Legos and Barbies!!  lots of favorites...oh I also had a pretzel factory that I made real pretzels with, and one of those melty pot things for flowers and bugs...forget what it is called.

2. Do you dream in color? Most of the time, yes.

3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller? I was 5' 3 1/4" almost all my adult life, I have found recently that I have lost a 1/2" already. (due to the disk issues in my neck and low back. yes I would love to be a bit taller, maybe 2-3 inches.

4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be? SAM ELLIOT or SEAN CONNERY...no hesitation whatsoever!!

5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot?  I always, ALWAYS return my cart. At the supermarket they have the quarter thing, so you have to. but I do it anyway (with the exception of a torrential downpour, but I am not usually out and about in bad weather) If it was a long food shopping trip, either someone else would be doing it for me, or I'd be in one of those electric carts...and I always grab a cart near my car, instead of taking one from inside, and if I am going into the store for just a few items or less...I grab a cart from the parking lot anyway, and put it inside for them.  kind of like renting VHS tapes...Be kind and rewind!

Find lots of other cool answers at Mama M's and 5 Crooked halos

 

Alphabe-thursday--SUMMER RAINBOW SCHOOL

It is summer and that means ALPHABE-THURSDAY is on Hiatus for the summer, and SUMMER SCHOOL has kicked in with  RAINBOW SUMMER SCHOOL!  This week is RED.

I always thought of RED as strictly a Christmas or Valentine color.

Of course, Being a fan of Vampires and their stories, and especially a fan of TRUBLOOD...that makes me think of RED

ahhhh poor tormented Louie

Of course growing up with an older generation, RED was seen as a color for Ladies who were "loose"

and of course there is the EVER famous RED LIGHT DISTRICT which actually exists in Amsterdam... Of course there are pockets here and there in the US, as I am sure there are in other countries.

I was never big on the color RED, when growing up. for the first time ever I bought a RED dress at Macy's for a wedding...I actually settled on it, as it was my size and in the right price range.  I was AMAZED at how many compliments I got on it, and was told I should wear RED more often, that it is very becoming on me.  Now I find I look at RED items of clothing more often.

There are some movies and songs with the word RED in the title or the lyrics.  Two movies that come to mind are the HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER(my honey Sean Connery)   and THE MAN WITH ONE RED SHOE.  (a young Tom Hanks)

Additionally I find I like to work with RED in any art or craft I work on.  I especially LOVE the color combo of RED, BLACK and WHITE.   Here is some of my art in RED.

                                                    

combo monday muse and Tuesday tips

I went out for the day on Saturday, by myself! HOORAY :)  I got out much later than I wanted to, but I hadn't slept at all the night before and it was BEASTLY hot and Humid.

I was going to an all day crop at a store and are that were both new to me. Ron and I took a "dry-run" the Sunday before. We found the mall it was in without issue, but then I could not figure out where to enter the mall. I asked 2 different people.  They both told me the same thing...go in here (2nd floor entrance to the mall) as it would be better to go in through Macy's, but Macy's was closed (permanently).
As most of you know I have severely bad knees (well one has been replaced but still hurts, the other has NO cartilage left at all)  I also have lumbar spinal stenosis.  Walking is difficult and painful for me, as much as I try to do it any way in short distances. I am also an asthmatic since birth with a long, long list of allergens and extremely poor sinuses...so basically my entire respiratory system is compromised as well.  Luckily I found an elevator, as I had already passed the escalators, and the only other option was stairs a little further down. By the time I had walked from the truck to the elevators I felt like I was going to have a Heart attack...my heart was beating like a machine gun and I couldn't catch my breath.   Luckily, when I arrived in the store the employee there was very nice and told me to use the back door. (the owner had told me this for the crop, but I didn't know I could use it all the time)

Ok, Saturday comes and it s time for the crop, even though I wanted to leave by 10 am, I didn't leave til after 1:30pm. I was heading west on the only road out of beach area heading west, hubby thought for sure I will hit massive traffic as both Rt. #9 and the Parkway heading north were already bumper to bumper at 11 when he and my son went out.  My son took the truck out again by himself, which was the end part of my hold up.  Anyway, LUCKILY, I hit NO traffic, there were cars but, everything was moving either at or above speed limit.

Then I turned onto a back road to take me to rt. #38, and I came upon a Subaru(NC Plates) doing 40 in a 50 mph area, (and most folks do 55-60 on this road to begin with) I followed for a bit, and watched for a large opening (I never take chances with passing) put my signal on and started passing him, he was speeding up!! keeping me over in the other lane, NOW there were cars coming.  What an asshole!! I made sure I had enough room, and slid over right in front of him, it was indeed close and scary!  I could see his wife yelling at him in the mirror, the space between us was growing despite my slowing down from the almost 80 I had been doing in order to get in front of this ass. I realized he was slowing down also.  When I was doing about 57 I hit the cruise control. There were cars behind him, but it appeared that he was going a little faster than his original 40mph.  ASS!

Ok, I drive on without further event and make it to the mall where the crop is.  there is NOT a single HANDICAP parking space available out of an approximate 18.  I call into the store, the owner Bob, said he'd come get my stuff, and I could go park. he was most helpful and understanding, he was also shocked to see that all the handicap spots were taken, he told me he had never seen this before.

I ended up quite a distance to the opening of the store, but at least my truck was in the shade.  It was a long HOT, Humid walk to the store and again, I was waaay out of breath.  Same thing happened when leaving at 11pm...it was still hot and humid, not as bad, but bad enough.


Now, an off shoot of this topic...other people's bathrooms and toilet paper etc....see 5 ? Friday, as toilet paper was discussed.  The store is nice and large and has a large cropping area.   the set up for food etc. is very nice.  The bathroom is roomy, however the toilet paper was 1 ply, 1 very thin ply, and quite frankly garbage, as it ripped at every turn.  (a tip will be following)

The store carries a very limited amount of manufacturers papers etc. which was quite disappointing. Mostly small child and sports related...I am interested in neither of them. (especially sports) This did work out well for my wallet though.

However they had a large supply of beads and jewelry making supplies which was neat to find. 

It was a nice day out and wonderful to be able to have a day out doing something I love.  I am going again on August 21st!!!
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My tip, is probably one most of you already follow. Find out ALL pertinent info when going to a place for the first time...I should have asked ahead of time where to enter the mall.

Carry baby wipes with you for your own bathroom use, AND carry your own roll of TP!!

 Love my Charmin Ultra strong!

Lastly...if you can not park near where you are, make a trip out at least once during your stay to see if you can spot a closer opening, instead of waiting til the end of the day.

5?Friday!!--Semi-material girl

5 Question Friday brought to you by Mama M of 5 crooked Halo's

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them (like, totally, duh!), then c'mon back to link up! If you don't have a blog, feel free to leave your answers in the comments of this post or any post along the way!

Questions for Friday, July 23rd: (Special thanks to Christy [for inspiration], Kelly, Brittany Ciara, Emily, and Sami [for inspiration] for their question suggestions! Wanna be linked in a future 5QF? Just c'mon over here, to my community, and offer up your best question suggestions!)

1. What were your school colors?

2. What's the best compliment you ever received?

3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?

4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else?

5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?

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1. What were your school colors?

My school colors were garnet and gold

2. What's the best compliment you ever received?

"I do not think I knew what love was until you."  early on in our relationship (from hubby)

3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?

expensive...Charmin Ultra strong (we never used to, but now we have decided there are certain things that work and certain things that don't, we won't waste money on things that don't)

4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else?  My sister threw me a surprise party for my 19th birthday, because I had had a 2nd trimester miscarriage 2 weeks before, my first husband helped her a bit.  We (my birth family) threw a surprise 60th Birthday party for my dad.

5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?

well this speaks volumes about my life...my craft supplies...which includes the computer and camera (stamping and scrapbooking, paper crafts etc)

Read more fun answers at 5 Crooked Halo's hosted by Mama M 

a couple of cards last night

Both of these cards are designed for kids--pre-teens, teens what have you...for STARS n STAMPS OWH blog Shippers choice challenge.

They also fulfill some other challenges.

First up is a birthday card for one of our enlist-ed's sons :)

It is not a great picture, I apologize.
The card is a pre-made one with envelope from Color Bok
Kraft C S by SU
Markers: Bic Mark it's (also used to color the kraft shadows of the letter's)
Sizzlet alphabet: Playground
Printed paper; including the the beaver and the ribbon band at top DCWV--GREEN stack
Sentiment image is Digital from Shelly's Images.
The sketch is designed by Shelly's Images for Crafter's Digital Art Center's sketch challenge
Misc: Brown heart brads


Next is a pretty fairy for a girl (daughter, niece etc)

This is also Stars n Stamps Sketch #25
again a card for a kid :)

Pre-made card by DCWV
Home made printed paper
Bic Mark it's
Stickles
Buttons by SU
Digital sentiment by Raindrop Echo designs

this is also a challenge for Crafter's Digital Art Center  the challenge was for Embellishments/Dimension.  As you can see here, I made a 3 tier pyramid image for the card. and of course the buttons are also dimensional.

The challenge is being hosted by FAIRY KNOLL and the Image is by FAIRY KNOLL

5?Friday-- many scars

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then c'mon back to link up! If you don't have a blog but would like to play along, feel free to leave your answers in the comments of this blog, or any blog along the way!

Questions for Friday, July 16th: (Thanks to Cristy, Renee, Emily, Maryanne, and my Belle [from her vlog debut] for your question suggestions! Want to be linked in a future 5QF? C'monover to my community and offer up your best question suggestions!)

1. Do you collect anything?

2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking.

3. Do you have any scars? If so, what's the story behind it (them?)?

4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it's gross or weird?

5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?

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 FIVE QUESTION FRIDAY is brought to you by:  Mama M of 5 crooked halo's

read other's fine answers there also :)

 

1. Do you collect anything?

LMAO!!!  OMG-- does a Bear live in the woods?  first, let me say I legitimately collect THIMBLES from places that OTHER people (and me occasionally) go. I also collect PENGUINS, I especially like porcelain, crystal and snow globes.  NOW for the reason I am laughing-- I am a scrapbooker, a stamper, cardmaker and mixed media artist. bearing that in mind, my family especially the hubster will tell you I collect JUNK, Little scrapes of paper, Crap-as-in-you-can't-spell-SCRAP-without-Crap!  This often causes discord, HOWEVER, with a 14 room house (not counting bathrooms) you would think he'd HELP me (I am disabled) to make one of these rooms into a well organized studio or craft room, and he has been saying for 3 years he'd help me make the 2nd kitchen into my crafty room...but the builder was CRAP and the cabinets are slowly falling off the wall...we already lost one, he salvaged the next one, and he and my son keep promising me that they are going to reattach them all so I get in there, and clean out what is not already empty (from late MIL) and start organizing my stuff in there.  (I also collect surgeries, lol...see below)

2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking.

this one is EASY!!!!  I have had a lifelong crush on SAM ELLIOT, I have many, but only listing 2 others: Harrison Ford, Richard Gere...NO, I can't do it!! so that is 3 living Americans. Here are 3 Dead American's: Rock Hudson, Clark Cable, Paul Newman 3 Foreign Actors: Daniel Day Lewis, Sean Connery, Sean Bean and 3 dead foreign actors: Heath Ledger, Fernando llamas, Desi Arnez  (these last 2 are good looking, but I was finding a very hard time locating a good list...so there may be others that I like better, but I am drawing a blank)

3. Do you have any scars? If so, what's the story behind it (them?)?

LOTS and LOTS of surgical scars, and a few that are non-surgical...the 2 most obvious are my left knee replacement, and my left wrist which was damaged on the job and then ended up with MRSA in the surgical/grafting site...so I ended up losing 3 wrist bones, a handful of ligaments, some muscle, and also have permanent nerve damage. The main suture site was opened a total of 4 times.  Initial ligament graft, first I&D(also removed pins) 2nd I&D (also removed the bones and placed inside as a bracelet around my wrist antibiotic beads)  the removal of the beads and a "look see"  (I have had 17 surgeries so far in my lifetime...I just turned 50)

4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it's gross or weird?  easy... Liver and onions (and bacon and mashed potatoes and creamed corn---a fav. meal)

5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?

  NO, but I have been in Hurricanes.

Tuesday--tips, and later on- tell (a story) & maybe teach

Today's Tip is a good one for EVERYONE, but I am posting it mainly for animal owners.

This year "OFF" came out with these neat little items called a clip-on for mosquito repellent. (which usually works on some of the biting flies also)


Well, my son (recently moved home) used to play paintball, he now plays "Air-soft"...whatever, well I bought him one of these clip-ons for playing. he said "Mom, I appreciate the gesture, but the bright color, and noise will give me away". I asked him to just try it anyway. (especially since I bought 2 refills packets for it also)


He plays on Sundays, so this past Sunday, he took it with him. When he came home I asked him, how it worked out. He said. "it worked great at the safe zone." I asked him what that meant. he said he couldn't wear it while playing as stated above, but he kept it clipped to his backpack, and it kept the "entire safe zone mosquito free all day!! Everyone was like wow, I gotta get one."


So I had an additional thought, mosquito's carry West Nile and other diseases, BUT they also carry heart worms...very dangerous to dogs...and they now also know that cats get heart worms too. Now I do NOT think a tiny dog or a cat could wear one on their collar, but you can certainly attach one to the leash when walking or when tied outside. they keep basically a ten foot radius mosquito free!


Yes some of the newer Flea repellents repel mosquitoes also, but this is just a BONUS!!


so...


When BBQing this summer, in addition to the neat lanterns or the coils, why not give these clips a try...not for each person but strategically placed...for example if you have horseshoes  or boccie..keep one at each end, croquet...one near ever few hoops...getting the idea?  


now for another Tip... 
if you have a SONIC near you, stop in and ask if they got new tables(for outside) cause if they did, they are selling the old ones...one table and 4 chairs for $50.00  these are all metal!! I bought 2, son and hubby went to pick them out, they got one round and one square(I would have preferred both squares but hey for that price, I ain't complaining.  For $100.00 I now have two wonderful tables and seating for 8 that will last basically forever, if every year we sand any rust and spray another coat of paint on them!  

What I especially like (being a big bottomed girl) no arms on the chairs, so I can actually sit comfortably outside now. (I couldn't before as all our old picnic tables and benches are gone, and my booty only fits in one or 2 of our outdoor chairs--which are buried in the barn) all that is outside are a bunch of those plastic chairs...I don 't fit.  Doesn't anyone make any of these plastic chairs a little wider? ugh.   

OK, I'll be adding to this post later with a little story from my past and perhaps a quick teaching of some arty stuff (depends on time, pain and mood, LOL)

Have a smileful day!!

Susan

Alphabe-Thursday, done on Monday

Today's letter is "Y" brought to you by Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday

This is appropriate since everyone has had something to say to me lately...usually negative!

ENJOY!!

have to include this... (turn volume up)

and this:(lower volume)

Today's VERY late "Y" post is brought to you by Alphabe-Thursday (done on mo0nday)

Monday, Muse feels a bit off balance--Rant

I haven't been myself for a few days due to some issues with my youngest daughter, and as always that kind of stress attacks my body  for a few days at least and a few different body parts.   I HATE THAT!!

I am also constantly being reproached to get moving on getting my craft stuff out of the way or thrown out!!

WHY---they are supposedly been working on the 2nd kitchen in the house and making it a craft room for me for YEARS now, and by "they" I mean hubby and son.

Additionally, the son has moved home...with all of his crap (and a lot of it is CRAP...he says the same thing about my craft stuff...but I actually use this stuff, his sits around in boxes, bags or drawers...just like when he lived home originally)  AND he left the fan on for 3 days straight, which over-heated and caused the fire in HIS room, so of course his crap, and himself have now completely filled up any other open space in my downstairs, and some up stairs.  We could ALMOST be on HOARDERS!!  (Bad enough I still have some of the crap from the oldest daughter here and we aren't even speaking)  Did I mention he brought a VERY aggressive male cat and his dog with him also?

THEY all say that they only want me me to throw out some of my crafty CRAP, cause they do not see it getting used....I keep telling them, I need a room, so that all my stuff is in one place, as well as a large flat work area like a big table or a desk...which I have both...I have an OLD large Teacher's desk, it would be soooo perfect.  It is currently out in our half-assed porch covered with junk.

AND, they all seem to get in this "gang" mind set, and gang up on me, when being frustrated with the whole "clutter situation"...it is as if, since I have become disabled I am less of a person, and therefore can be used as the family whipping boy.  I tell you, if I had my WC settlement, I would seriously think about moving out, and letting them deal with this house. After all, we moved in  1986, and hubby worked on the house for about 3 years and then stopped, well now he is too old for this crap, and we ran out of money a long time ago, and without my income, we couldn't even consider having a roofing company come in.  WE have at least all agreed a storage unit or one of those PODS, might help, HOWEVER...they want me to put my crafting stuff in there...yea, so the heat of being outside can thoroughly damage the stuff (dry up the paint and glues etc) some of my son's stuff would go in there also, OH LA-DEE-DA!!

I do NOT disagree that the house is cluttered and that we need to do something, BUT they keep looking to me to be the one to do it, and I can not lift anything over 13 lbs. Certain hand-maneuvers are out, I can only stand so long before my back starts screaming, and anything that is dust covered will throw me into a huge allergy attack--which could also lead to an asthma attack.

ALL of this is a HUGE part of why we are having issues with the youngest daughter, she doesn't want to help because---"None of it is my stuff, why should I have to?"  I would have never given my parents this kind of trouble...ever!  and she specifically brought up my scrapbooking stuff...so FUNNY  as she uses it herself. Yes she has some of her own paper  and albums in her room, but the tools and all are mine.  I would have NEVER not helped my parents. I do not get this generation of kids, the son is ALMOST as bad, but not quite.

**My head and chest have felt funny for days, I have IBS...so you KNOW that is being affected. Of course my true and reliable friend PAIN, has been with me every day also.  I can't sleep, my appetite is off. I just want to punch the living-shit out of someone!!!   Yet, I can not, and it is not who I am really. BUT I WANT TOO, which is scary.  I am still stuck here in this house with no car, so I can not even escape.**

I can not call my mom (who wonders why I do not call) mostly because it takes 10 minutes for her to figure out what your ONE sentence was, she is hard of hearing and it is soo much worse on the phone. Additionally she is a profound worrier, (both my parents were, Mom showed it, dad didn't-thus anxiety guess it is where I get it)  so there is no way I am going to call my 83 yo mom and bitch to her about my crappy family and my crappy life. Only so she can worry herself sick over it for a week.

So I come to you, my bloggy friends, with the hopes that you will read, and some will commiserate, and some might offer some sound advice.

Well,  I had written(Firefox went down and I lost like 3 paragraphs) about skipping my usual blog hops...Alphabe-thursday and 5?Friday and Dear So and So, and I bemoaned again about my own blog and the 2 days that are supposed to be ART interactive with freebies. and the one day I play a game with no recent takers.  This is the revised shortened edition, as I didn't want to retype all that I had typed.

I am just so lost lately.  I am seriously reviewing the need of my blog, when it is not getting the interaction I was looking for....

 

WHILE on the subject of blogs and interaction, WHY if you comment on something that something asks for comments, and you ask them a question in your comment, why do they NOT bother to answer your question??  Is that NOT being rude??  Is it me, am I too old fashioned???

Birthday card for my daughter

I made this card for my daughter's 23rd Birthday;  It also fulfills a challenge for Tuesday Morning Sketches

This is Tues. Morning's sketch #1

ALL images by OWH(Sandy)  Card Stock--Stampin' Up  Shiny Handmade silver and printed paper from my scrap stash   Misc. Ribbon    Prismacolor pencils and blending pencil