Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Paint Dreamer

One day while I was organizing in my craft room I came across some "puff paints" I had bought and used on a T-shirt for Vanessa...some time ago! I started to throw them out when I just as quickly had the thought that Kennedy would enjoy playing with them.

The next time she came over I let her do just that! Here is the layout.

To jump start my creativity I looked at the sketch from Sketch Inspiration provided for Cat's Creations Customers. The left page of this layout out is "loosely" based on this sketch.
Here is a close up of of the left side of the layout.
The design papers I used for this layout are from Fancy Pants "Childish" collection. For the background I used the paper "Recorder". The letters for my title are from the paper "Blocks". I cut out the letters I wanted to use for my title and then matted them with cardstock. For some interest I put chipboard behind the letters to give it some dimension.  As an extra touch I put a large bling on the letter "i". The blue circle with stars is a paper filter embellishment that came with this line. The decorate strip under the title is from the paper "Childish Things Strip". I just love the picture of Kennedy's hands spreading the paint on the paper.
This is the coordinating page. I used some more of the paper filter embellishments. I pleated the filters then added a button with twine. The strip with the word "dreamer" is from the paper "Childish Things Strip". I then added 3 buttons with twine.

I am entering this layout in WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations. Be sure to leave me a comment and have a chance to win a prize. A random commenter will be chosen.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a good one!


Remi Goes Home

Remi went home Saturday. Because her flight was so early the kids spent the night with friends who live close to the airport on Friday.

Thursday Vanessa arranged with me to take the girls riding in the morning before it got hot. Because time was limited I got Clyde ready ahead of time so they would have more time to ride.

Clyde doesn't look to sure about this!

I was really glad that I had weedeated in the round pen the day before as Remi wanted to ride in it. I began to explain to them that the round pen is used to train horses and for teaching people how to ride. Remi retorted with great confidence "We don't have to learn how to ride. We already know how!" Yes, I laughed out loud!

After a couple of trips in the round pen they were ready to venture off somewhere else. They began to spot wildflowers and wanted me to pick them so they could give them to Mommy.
The sunflowers were both the girls favorite!
While waiting for Mommy to show up they wanted to comb Clyde's hair.

After Mommy comes to get them, I go on to work at the office.  It's Thursday so after I leave the office I go across the highway to the scrapbook store. Just as I leave the store for the day Vanessa sends me a message inviting me over for supper. I had already been thinking I would ask the girls to spend the night. Vanessa had also asked the other grandparents over. She set the girls up at their own table to eat.
 After supper and visiting, I take the girls to my house. Remi goes straight to my craft room. I decide to get my water colors out for them to paint with. Kennedy has used them before and loves them. They are actually called Twinkling H2O's by Luminarte. Still water colors but with mica in it giving it a sparkly effect. Remi had used water colors at home but this was her first time at my house. She loved the sparkle. I stamped some images on water color paper and let them paint. It was fun to watch them be so meticulous!
Remi's painting.
Kennedy painting.
Here's Kennedy's painting.
pretty darn good for a 3 and 4 yr old!
 
The next morning, I'm making breakfast  when Remi woke up and came into the kitchen. She motioned for me to pick her up which I did and she laid her head on my shoulder. She hugged my neck while I held her tight! Such precious affection especially when it was my last this trip.  It has been a fast wonderful three weeks. The pains of missing her will be greater this time. Already looking forward to when she comes back!

Have a good one!




Friday, June 21, 2013

Left Overs - Carta Bella "Paris Girl"

Last Saturday I worked at the store.Although we had  several customers shopping that day and several ladies cropping I managed to have a little time to create as well. I needed a "birthday" card and some "thank you" cards. I ended up making 4 cards in all and started a 2 page layout that I finished at home later. You can see the layout here.

The DP is Carta Bella "Paris Girl". These were scraps from a two page layout I made with this line. The sentiment is Hero Arts "Fancy Basics" stamp set. Love these over-sized sentiments. I stamped with Tim Holtz Distressed ink "Picked Raspberry".

The sentiment on this card is from the same stamp set as above.

This last card I made out of the scraps left over from the scraps!
This idea of using scraps is not original to me. I got the idea from Operation Write Home.  I didn't do it exactly like the tutorial but it worked.

I'm hoping to work on a two page layout this weekend using papers from Fancy Pants collection "Childish".

I am entering these cards in "Wow Wednesday" over at Cat's Creations Blog. Leave me a comment, head over to Cat's Blog and leave a comment then visit those who have linked up and leave them comments. Cat's Creations will pick a random commenter for a fabulous prize. The more comments you leave the more chances to win and who doesn't like to win?!

Have a good one!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Full of Giggles

It's not "officially" summer yet by our calendar but the temps say it's summer here in Texas! We are consistently in the low to mid 90's with 30-40 percent humidity. That means I'd rather be inside in the air conditioning which means more crafty time for me!

I created a two page layout using My Mind's Eye (MME) Kate and Co Cambridge Court. For inspiration I used CatNanDo sketch#1303 for the left side of this layout.
As you can see I used multiple photos instead of one.

This is my Lil' Peanut, Miss Kennedy. These pictures were taken last September. There is a cemetery about a mile from my house. On the back side of the cemetery is a little pond with ducks and covered shelter. Kennedy likes to feed the ducks and likes to walk on the stone bench under the shelter. (You can click on the photo to enlarge to see more detail).

For the Right side of the layout I used another CatNanDo sketch#1304.
Here is my page.
We always bring Kaidence with us when we go to the cemetery. She likes to explore with Kennedy and Kennedy likes her companionship! In these photos Kennedy is walking along the wall and in a sunken flower garden that has been neglected. As you can see I've not journaled yet about these pictures but I will. Speaking of journaling, the journal box is a Unity stamp I used on vellum and attached with brads. Every thing else I used on this layout with the exception of the pink and gray cardstock was from MME.

I am entering this project to WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations. Leave me a comment and you might just win a prize. One is given to a random commenter. For more details on how to have more chances to win go to Cat's Creations Blog.

Thanks for taking time to look! Have a good one!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day

Hope the men in your life who are Fathers had a great day celebrating with family. I know I did. Our kids and grandkids came over after church today and spent the day with us. I had my brother and his kids over for dinner tonight. It was a full but fun day.

This card I made for my Dad. I used a wood grain embossing folder and inked with Tim Holtz distress ink Vintage Photo. I first inked it by rubbing the pad over the embossed paper. giving the grain a darker color. Then using my blending tool I inked again covering the paper in between the embossed areas. I am entering this card in Jo's Scrap Shack Fun Friday Challenge #4. This week's challenge is "Anything goes".

The image and sentiment are from the stamp set Horse Frontier from Stampin' Up. Taking a water pen I dipped into Tim Holtz distress ink Mowed Lawn and added green to the grass.

I made this card for Doyle. The paper is Authentique and scraps from another project. The pocket was from one of the papers in that line that I cut out and hand stitched to the dotted paper. The sentiments are from the stamp set "Dad Rocks" by Technique Tuesday.

This card I made for my brother. This paper is also Authentique and scrap from another project. I used another sentiment from the same stamp set as above with the exception of the word "Bro". It is from "You're the Man" by Cardz TV Stamps. I cut the sentiment apart to place on the card the way I wanted it and popped with foam tape.
This card I made using scraps from Blissful Blizzard by Fancy Pants.The sentiment is also from "You're the Man" by Cardz TV Stamps. I used foam tape behind the sentiment.

I'm slipping. I didn't take any family photos this time. Although I did get one of Kashton.
Have a good one.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Birthday Eve

I'm sure you were wondering why I didn't ride on my birthday. Well, because I rode the day before! I wanted to ride at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park on their equestrian trails and usually if I go in the middle of the week I nearly have the park all to myself! It's the busiest on the weekend. I also wanted to take Kaidence. She loves to go with me.
Here she is riding "shotgun".
I  don't pull the horse trailer as much as I used to and with this new truck being longer I still don't have a system for hooking up quickly. I was having more difficulty than usual. After 30 minutes of not successfully getting the truck under the goose-neck, I was so mad that I said "to heck with it"! Well, that isn't "exactly" what I said but you get the idea. To work out some frustration I chose to weedeat around the barn and trailer. I found this little critter. I loved his color! I was very grateful I didn't wack him with the weedeater!
I weedeated until I broke it! By that time I had calmed down and it wasn't terribly late so I decided to try again to hook up the trailer. It took more than once but I finally got it done! I might add that I swallowed my pride and asked God to help me. I talked to Him about that while I was weedeating.

I am so glad I persevered and went to the park. It was a beautiful afternoon and the wildflowers made an already scenic ride more colorful!
See the red along the trail? These are Texas Plume. Very pretty.
Closer look.
There were so many varieties of wildflowers the park was like one big bouquet!
Remember if you click on the photo you can see it larger for viewing more detail.
Some Indian Blankets (red), Horsemint (purple) and others I can't remember what they are.
It makes for such a stark contrast!
Kaidence usually follows behind although at one point she somehow got in front. At first she kept looking back like she was afraid we were going to run over her but she soon regained her confidence and led the way.
I love this part of the trail. It follows alongside a dry creek bed. Very shaded and the trail is very sandy. Nice break from the sun!
We finally found a waterhole and we stop to let Kaidence get a drink and play a minute in the water. I was going to let Clyde drink but he seemed more interested in the tall grass!
last leg of the trail on the way back to the trailer.
All those black straps are from my camera bag and camera. Self portrait with some Texas Plume in the background.
These little beauties are in Clyde's pasture. Hoping to get it mowed soon. I like the flowers but there are lots of weeds too.
This little butterfly was very friendly. I managed to get this photo without a zoom lens!

The kids came over on Sunday. Vanessa dressed the girls in the dresses I bought them for Christmas. This will probably be the last time Remi will wear hers. Kennedy was giving me a hard time about taking a picture of them with their dresses. This is what she gave me first.
I started making faces and saying silly things and got them both giggling.....
with their eyes closed! I should have tried one more time but I didn't.
I got a big smile out of Kashton! He's 3 months!

Have a good one!

Monday, June 10, 2013

Happy Birthday ... to ME!

Things have been pretty full around here! I had a birthday a few days ago. Saturday (June 8th) to be exact. I actually slept in...for me. The first contact I had of the day was a text message from my daughter asking if I'd like to go to breakfast for my birthday. I said sure! It was going to be about an hour before they would go which was fine. I needed to shower and feed Clyde.

When I walked in they were waiting on me. Mom, Keannon, Vanessa, Kashton and 2 excited little girls! They had each bought me a balloon and card.
Kennedy picked this balloon for me.
Remi picked this balloon for me.
Here are my cards! Can you guess who gave me which? The horse is from Kennedy and the princesses from Remi! They didn't sing to me at the restaurant but later that evening when I kept them for a little while. They also had a big watermelon setting on the table! I'm sure we looked a sight. I don't know for the life of me why I didn't take a picture when I got there! Oh well, I did take one with the girls before we left!
My arms are almost not long enough to take a self portrait and hold two girls!

After breakfast I decide to spend the afternoon at the scrapbook store where I received birthday greetings from all who where there attending a class and got gifts from a couple of my scrapping buddies. I was surprised and thrilled! I can always count on them to give me something crafty! After the store closed Cathy asked if I'd like to eat dinner with her. Her hubby was at the races and mine was at work. I said sure! We rarely ever get to do something like that! We decided on Chili's. She snapped a picture as they brought out dessert and sang to me!
It was a pretty good day!
 
Later I had all three grandkids. It was a little bumpy in the beginning as Kashton was awake and wanted to be held while Remi and Kennedy wanted me to play with them! Kashton later ate and went to sleep freeing me to play with the girls!
I finally did get my watermelon! It was really good too!

Until next time....have a good one!