Thirsty Thursday - Attainable Version

Okay, two in one day. BUT, I want to put something up here that is attainable. I know it's good to have dreams, but come on, you know you want to GET some of your dreams every once in a while.

While I know that this isn't romantic, or exotic, I like them. I am looking forward to getting some. I know I said I wasn't going to buy any more, but this is different. This is a consumable. Something that HAS to be replenished. That's my story. I am sticking to it.



These little beauties are new to the scene. They are from an Australian company who has put down some roots here in the USA. They are going to have a booth at CHA and I am in love with these black ones. I have been known to Sharpie the sides of projects in the past. It takes wayyyy to long. These are going to be perfect.

Go HERE and you can get entered into a drawing for a chance to win some.

Good Luck to you.

Thirsty Thursday....

I would love for my living room to look like this.

I would change the wall color to a taupe or sandy brown.

I would have parties, sit and read, enjoy the fireplace and I am sure that there would be toys all over...

Wild Wednesday - Blurf Fav's

A few places I LOVE to spend time I don't have.

Here are a few of the places I am looking forward to visiting regularly...

1. Follow Thomas everyday this year. See where he goes and what the little guy gets into.

2. Gina at

Tyggereye Arts - Wonderful handcarved stamps and loads of other wonderful treats. She is hosting Heart the Art this year. A weekly Art Journal Prompt challenge. I am joining her in this venture and so should you. Go check it out. Go on. I'll be here when you get back...

3. Food Porn Daily - no explanation required. (get a napkin before you go over) Make sure you visit the gallery and sign up for the daily email. Yumm.

4. A Collection A Day - beautiful pictures of different collections the artist has in her home. Both real and drawn collections. She is posting a gorgeous picture of a different collection everyday this year.

Show and Tell

I was a busy gal this past weekend. I managed to finish one project (part of my 2010 Vision - I suppose I will have to suck it up and post a list of all the unfinished projects so you can keep tabs on me. Anyway, back to our currently posted subject...) and get started on another one that I signed up to do. (Finished project is at the bottom of this post.)

I am following Gina's Heart the Art challenge for 2010. I sort of did Emily Falconbridge's 52 Questions last year. I wrote down the questions in my art journal and answered them, but I didn't get artsy. This year I am going to get artsy. Gina has started, and will continue, to offer weekly prompts. Since December/January are REALLY busy for me, I only got to start today.

First off was deciding on a home for my works of art. At first I thought I would use an existing composition book that I have a few gluebook pages in. But when I went to look for it in my crap-room, I saw these Melissa Frances chipboard albums that I got at a scrapbook convention a few years ago and thought it was time I used one. So that was settled.

I made the first page while the paint on the cover was in process of drying/being applied. The first prompt is:

^^^^^^^^

AIM TO: what do you aim to do in 2010?

.

And here is the cover. I will add pages to the book through the year, so I haven't added the required ribbon to the spine. I am viewing it as the icing on the cake when the book/year is finished.

.

.

And here's a little detail of the cover. I used the negative of a Heidi Swapp chipboard letter and filled it with clear seed beads. You can't really tell, but I used a raw Scenic Route chipboard crown that I sprayed with a sort of glimmer misty thingy that I made with SU paint and alcohol.

.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Remember these little books. I finally got the pictures ordered, cut them (I used 12 pictures in each album. I ordered them as 4x6's, so I had to cut them into squares.) and adhered the pictures in each one. Most of the albums have already made it to their new homes. One UFP (un-finished project) down, a gazillion to go...

Finishing the little Halloween album has me really motivated.

Look for more finished projects: COMING SOON!!!!

Menu Monday

Danny is out of town Monday and will be back Friday.

Monday - Chinese Food at Happy Buffet

Tuesday - Melissa Chicken, steamed rice and asparagus

Wednesday - Fish Sticks and Mac-n-Cheese

Thursday - Spaghetti with meatballs and salad

Friday - Albondigas (Mexican meatball soup)

Saturday - Chicken Enchiladas and Salad

Sunday - Roasted Pork Loin, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Green Beans

Opus Gluei Stars and BPS Challenge of ME

I cheated. I did one project for both assignments. Opus Gluei's challenge is to use a STAR shape. Challenge of ME has a different assignement everyday. (It's a four week class.) I made one of the pages with a BIG STAR.

(Journaling reads: What would I do without friends. I need them for my sanity. I have them all over the country. Maybe it's part of the reason I love technology. I talk to Kathy (IL) every afternoon on the way home from work. She it there for me. Never judges. Understands the trials and tribulations with having a teenage daughter. Pluse she has the most adorable laugh. Rosemary (MD) and I are crafty. Somehow we got the bright idea to start a challenge blog. It's fun and creative. We motivate and encourage each other to pursue our creative sides. Lori (No. VA) and her family have been friends with our family forever it seems. Our kids are the same ages and generally get along. And certainly not least, are my web friends. They are there supporting and sharing their lives, crafts and dreams. All of my friends keep me grounded, let me know that I am not crazy and they are just ALL AROUND FUN.)

*

*

*

*

This is a two page layout for a 6x12 album I am making for a Big Picture Scrapbooking class I am taking. I have several layouts to catch up with, but it should go pretty quickly. These are a fun size to work with. I haven't done this size before, but will again. I sort of treated it like a 12x12, just had in my mind that I didn't want to put anything other than the title on the left page. It's a hybrid. It's backward. I made the layout using paper and glue. Then took a picture and added the title and journaling with PSE7. I was rushing to get it posted because I ran out of time. I want to practice writing it out because I want to use my handwriting for this album. It IS about ME after all. I'll try to remember to post again with the final title and handwritten journaling.

*

*

*

Thanks for looking. And thanks for being my friend.

Friday Fill-Ins on Saturday - So sue me

And here we go...

1. There are places that I really want to visit, but have to go to work instead.

2. Since there is no snow, blow those clouds away.

3. Standing in the middle of my life wondering where it will lead.

4. I get to go in to work 2 hours late this morning, oh boy.

5. He went out tiger hunting and never came back. We think he got eaten.

6. There is NOTHING you can do to keep my mind from wandering.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to 7 screaming, jumping, sugar-amped 9/10 years olds running rampant in the house, tomorrow my plans include getting my hair done, taking a nap and cleaning out more of the crap-room and Sunday I want to PLAY in my newly cleaned craft-room!