Friday, December 31, 2010

Something NEW at my house...

I knew I wanted some sort of e-reader, but I've been trying to figure out which one.  I've done some research, and I went to look at the various ones out there.  I ended up buying this one - a Literati by Sharper Image.  The price is definitely right - $49 at Best Buy.  That's a smoking deal. 
I downloaded 5 free books - to check it out.  It is longer than a Kindle, weighs the same and it comes with a carrying case.  How could I go wrong?  So I am currently trying it and I am reading "The Secret Agent" by Joseph Conrad written in 1906, I think.  I am enjoying it.  It is very easy to read in the dark because it is back lit.  It's easy to hold.  I am told the battery life is about 7 hours, which is not very long, but I think for $49, it will work just fine.
Merry Christmas to me!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

My Next Class at Paper Vineyard

My next card class at Paper Vineyard Scrapbook Store is set for Saturday, January 22, 2011, and we are making four cards and covering a lunch box.  Price is $25.  The name of the class is "LOL Cards."  Here are the samples...
This is the lunch box we are covering - it measures 5" x 7" (little larger actually) and it turned out so cute.  It really did.
The four cards we will be making using the Crate Paper "Restoration" paper line and the chipboard pieces that match it.
A closer look at two of the cards...
The insides of the cards are also embellished/punched as well.
Check it out.  I would love to see you at my class.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Day 1 - Finally!

All that is left now is Day 1 - Christmas Day - and I did not take any photos that day, but I met my mother-in-law and her husband (Jewell and Dick), for breakfast at Coco's in Sun City.




We had a very nice visit and a nice breakfast, as well. We then went back to their house and exchanged gifts and watched a movie. After that it was time for me to leave and head up to Nicole's house in Surprise, Arizona, to have Christmas dinner with her family.

Nicole's house was busy because there were 5 little ones and a teenager, along with two+ sets of grandparents, several aunts and uncles, parents, and me.  The kids were really fun to watch.  Food was great.  It was a fun time and a long day, so I headed home about 6:30 to relax, get into my jammies, and sit with my little dogs.  I hope you had a great holiday with your loved ones and friends. 

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Day 2 - Almost Done

Day 2 - This is my desk - You don't need to point out that it is a mess.  I can see that.  It looks worse in the photo than I remembered.  Over the last few days, I had been crazy busy working on the books that I showed you a couple of days ago (the gifts) and so I just left my craft table a mess.  So before I could start a new project, I HAD to clean this one up. 
No, this is not the "after" photo.  This is my guest table.  I cleaned it off so my friends could come and scrap/craft.
My friend, Lois, gave me an Ott Lite for Christmas.  They are battery operated, very compact, and put a lot of light on your project.  I really do like it.   Thanks, Lois!
Just one more day to account for...

Monday, December 27, 2010

More of Days 5, 4, and 3

This book was made for Pat - it was for a trip she took with her daughter, Gretchen, to Willcox to see the sand hill cranes.  I used the die cut machine at Paper Vineyard Scrapbook Store to cut out cardboard pages (instead of chipboard), to give it a more rustic look.  I used "Halfway Cafe," an older line by Cosmo Cricket. I liked the fact that the cardstock were given names of western towns - some of them being Arizona towns.
 I think this book has a lot of character, fold down pages/photos.  I love the picture of this fence.

 This is a lady they met win Willcox.
 Meet Gretchen - these flowers are Graphic45 chipboard buttons and flowers layered with punched circles.  I  then used a large eyelet to create a center.  I love these flowers because they give a nice layered effect.  
 More of Gretchen.
 Photos of the local movie theater, historic railroad park, and more.
 The railroad cafe and it's menu ($2.25 for all-you-can-eat fish fry?  Unbelievable!)
 Rolls of barbed wire...
 One of the fold-down pages and more of Gretchen.
I really enjoyed doing this book for Pat. 
She's trying to figure out which trip photos to send me for next year's book.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Days 5, 4, 3

I couldn't show you what I was working on during Days 5-3 (and more) because they were gifts for two of the ladies that I work with at JSH.  Diana sent me pictures of her cruise taken this year, so I quietly saved them and printed them for this book.  
 Diana and Allen.
 Fun times on the ship.
 I used K&Company's "Sea Glass" line - it is one of my favorites.


I really had fun doing this book for Diana.

Friday, December 24, 2010

My Favorite Mini Trees - Day 3

I just want to share with you some of my favorite "mini" trees.  The first one is this mechanical tree.  It dances/sways and sings "Santa Baby" in her very sleezy voice.  You can't see them well, but the tree is wearing pink cowboy boots.  It belongs to my friend, Diana, and I make a plug every year that she leave it to me in her will.
This tree belongs to Sheridan.  She really likes my tree (the one with paper clips on my blog a few days ago), so I bought her this one because it is kind of rustic.  I couldn't give up my other one.
I LOVE this gold tree!  I think as you get older, you start liking the glitter look of silver and gold.  Maybe that's why so many older women wear gold lame'.  It belongs to Susan, who works in my office and everytime I walk by, it gives me a warm feeling.  I just love it.
A closer look.
Have a great day!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Happy Birthday, Nicole!

You've seen her before on my blog, and most pictures do not show her face.  She rarely, and I mean rarely, lets me get a photo of her face.  She starts hiding once she sees me pull out a camera or my cell phone.  Well, guess what?  This lady, the one with her hand up, turns 40 today!
For the past two Septembers, Nicole and I have made a trip to Minnesota to Scrapfest.  When we go, we stay at her parents.  In the guest room where I stay, there is a huge collage of photos of Nicole from her birth to her graduation.  So in anticipation of her 40th birthday, I took photos of "the board."  And... I saved them just for today.
 I absolutely LOVE the bows, Nicole.
 There is no doubt that Kylee is her daughter - this photo could be mistaken for Kylee.
 Here's another grown up picture of Nicole - we were at Junkfest in Minnesota - the same weekend as Scrapfest.  Nicole is digging for treasures, of which she found many.
 More photos of Nicole growing up.
 I really like this next picture because it reminds me of my oldest daughter, Katie.  I have a picture of Katie looking at the Sunday ads when she was about the same age, maybe 2.  Many people have mistaken my daughter, Katie, as being Nicole's daughter.  Maybe there's something to that...

Happy 40th Birthday, Nicole!  I know I will always be older, but now it seems as if you are catchin' up!
Here's to many more great decades!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Days 9 through 6

DAY 6:  Merry Christmas!  Okay, I know it's not Christmas yet, but it was at my house.  My daughters will be out of town on Christmas Day, so we needed to celebrate early.  These are the presents I wrapped on Saturday.  The Christmas tree lights are always on all night on Christmas Eve - that way the tree is ready to go when the first one gets up.  Even though the girls don't live at home anymore, that is still my tradition.
 The stockings are filled and by the tree.
 This is one of the ornaments I made for the tree - it is a photo of Kate when she was in middle school.  I used the container that Tacky Tape comes in - definitely a "green" ornament.
DAY 7:  Katie and Katie exchanged Christmas gifts - at my house.  I finished shopping for Christmas that day, so I can't really show you what I bought and what I worked on craft-wise, but you will see soon enough.  My Kate is happy.
 And Katie, Kate's roommate, is happy.  She got a Vera Bradley lunch box and she is excited to use it.
Day 8:  This picture was taken from the 8th floor of my office building, looking out the window.  It is of the fountain and during the holidays, they put red and green lights in the fountain.  I realize it is hard to see, but it was really pretty.
 These are the cookies made at the cookie exchange.  What a beautiful assortment!  It was a lot of fun and everyone had a good time.
DAY 9:  Meet Brock.  He is 13 months old and the son of a friend.  You can't read his sweatshirt very well, but it says "80% NAUGHTY..."  So cute!  Brock visited the office with his dad, Steve, and gave us a nice break.  He was always on the go - and quite entertaining!
 Steve and Brock...
 The Christmas tree in my office (decorated by Geri with colored paper clips)
Be sure to check out tomorrow' blog.  I am putting up some really old photos.  :)