on wrinkles

I love wrinkles!  I know, I know you just might think I've lost it, but wait a minute...if we live long enough we will have an assortment of them. I remember both my grandmothers.  One, the wrinkles pulled down her face into a permanent frown and while there were many years yet to live, she seemed to always project a sadness I could never quite understand.  My other grandmother was blessed with a porcelain complexion and a softness to rival an infant, fresh from God.  She had a twinkle of mischievous all her days...I loved to stroke her face and smell what was probably Pond's cold cream! Which leads me to my mother.  My mother is a sun lover and it shows on her skin today.  But I adore her leathery look and thankfully no skin cancer. I read her face and remember and dream and photograph it in my mind's eye...for I never want to forget that roadmap of her life for I know my times coming.

Smile girls...you've just exercised 27 muscles to keep those wrinkles at bay...for a bit longer.

My card for the SCS ways to use it challenge was created to honor my mother...it's winging it's way East.  I love you, Mimi!

latte for us

I loved today's technique challenge on SCS.  Use fancy napkins as your background paper.  I've had this stash forever and was delighted to use the latte cups for a card to my friend in the American coffee capitol, SEATTLE.  It's definitely a culture and until I lived there I didn't quite understand how anyone could not like cold coffee that had sat in a mug for the better part of a day. Now it's only espresso for me...a small luxury that brings much joy in my coffee breaks.

I used Technique Tuesday's 'Friends' set for my YOU & ME and those groovy mod stars.  Love this set. This card is mounted on SU black cs and I chose a Fancy Pants grid double-sided paper to place the latte napkin on top.  I peeled the two white layers off and glued it to the Fancy Pants which had been cuttled with the Paisley ef. I cut another top mug, mounted it onto white cs and UTEE'ed finally mounting it on foam squares.  It gives it a nice dimension as well as the texture of the torn napkin.  

I love the way it turned out.  I'll stick a Starbuck's card inside and slip it into the mail this afternoon.  Isn't it wonderful to have traditions with our family and friends that tie us over time to memories?  Sometime those special places are lost...one that just popped into my mind was the Howard Johnsons in the early days of the interstate system...you could pop off the road and get an ice cream cone...seems like they were always in the middle of the road.  Better not get started with my favorite food related memories, but I would love to hear yours'...

guidebook

    I love the Featured Stamper challenge on Sundays at SCS.  It's a great opportunity to see how someone has developed as an artist over time.  I had such fun persuing todays' FS90, Speedystamper and in the end taught myself some new PhotoShop skills.  

I'd been wanting to use this picture of Sam from last summer in a card...

The card base is GP white. I printed my photo on vellum after the picture was altered to sepia in PS6. Perhaps I should have left it the gorgeous color it was...Sam's eyes are so blue and the stunning landscaped behind with the road snaking around...!!! The fun Inkadinkadoo kid's quote was stamped on top of the vellum in VersaColor Black and embossed with clear ep. I used bits from various papers to create the collage. The California license plate and the metal cars on road maps are from Tim Holtz. The green panel which is vintage post cards is the Passport group (Making Memories). I wanted the word CAR to show above the quote and tie the old cars together. UNDERneath the vellum photo, I stamped the word SON and in his hair right where the sonlight is hightlighting is a BIBLE, definitely THE guidebook in our family. I finished off with an epoxied circular pebble that proclaims adventure and I rolled a number wheel on the edges.  

And lastly, I couldn't forget x's and o's on his shoulder.

Please overlook this random assortment of fonts/bolds...I am still a blogging babe and it shows! Happy Sunday, all!

 

Yipee, Skipee!!! I learned something new!

I have to begin by saying I'm not sure about this blogging thing...the way I write and create is a bit like molasses  so I'm going to take the slow road...

But I am so proud of myself...I learned something new today in Photoshop!  I had wanted to make a vertical watermark for the longest time.  Well...though it took awhile, I created an alternative to my standard one.  Check it out on this card I uploaded to SCS yesterday for the Limited Supplies.  Funny thing...I had been unable to use my original watermark for some odd reason...and knowing so little about Photoshop, I couldn't figure out what my problem was!  Well somewhere in that grey matter a lightbulb flashed  'click on the drag' box...amazing it worked... 'all of a sudden'!  So girls, if there is any one left who doesn't know how to do this, I'd be happy to share!!!

Enjoy where you are today.

My header photo is out my kitchen window.  That is beauty berry...sets the berries beginning in August and last through the winter.  I have such a variety of the little birds who feast all through the cold.  My plaque is one of my favorite sentiments..."TODAY IS A GIFT that is why they call it the PRESENT!

on being tagged

Well, it finally happened...I got tagged!  Thanks Vicky!  I certainly enjoyed reading your 7 things, now as for me to reveal more than half a dozen things about myself! No time for paper art, I hope you enjoy my photographic talents with this pic of our wonderful Oregon coast!

1) I am a follower of Jesus. I want others to see HIM when they see me.  I have lots of work to do for that to happen, but every day I strive to love and live for HIM.  It is not about religion, but relationship to me.

2) I recently colored my hair for the first time in my life!  My DS told me he was tired of people asking if I was his grandma...'Can you image that, MOM?'...actually I can as I just had my 55th birthday last week.  But the Lord gives in HIS time and my mothering career was...well, I guess you could say I was a late bloomer!  Now I am faced with trying to keep up that glorious color!!! Read, less stamping money!

3) I didn't want to scrapbook/stamp.  I resisted for over ten years...I knew I would be hopelessly addicted. Now I dream of projects in my dreams...I love everything about it...touching the papers, the stamps, the ink...I know what you're thinking because you all are the same!  I have a corner in our family room that looks pretty sweet...we all hang here, doing computer or whatever...while isn't as spacious as I would want, it works

4)  Reading is another passion for me and I've found I have to work it in to everyday...I love the classics or obscure writings...I like to be absorbed in a book.  My sons and I read to each other.  My eldest college son still loves to be read to...we consider it a high art. And plan what book will be next!

5) I love music of all kinds and have made it a point to be a student of my sons music...yep, even 'SCREAMO, Primordial angst.  I surprise them with tickets to favorite bands and GO with them.  I was gifted a "MOMpod (purple my fav) for Mother's Day.  To say I rock out would be an understatement. Gospel, punk, old shag music, classical, beatnik...Billie Holiday, Pasty Cline...I LOVE it all!!!

6) Cheese is my favorite food.  Much rather have it than sweets.  I have a local market that has a cheese steward...that about says it all.  This week I am eating Goudas.

7) I love quirky, original restaurants.  Small mom and pop shops. 

Places where they know me and my family.

Girls, I could go on and on...but it's time to run to the bread store and co-op classes for my hip DS...no playing for me today...well unless you consider the fields of my mind! Thanks so much for thinking of me, Vicky!

shelter

I strive to be One4Joy daily even though I am not blogging that JOY daily!  But today I had to get in the grove, oops, groove with this card for a double challenge. Thursdays Ways to Use It and the Sketch Challenge from Wednesday over at SCS.  I love to think about the different kinds of friendship...hold that thought, it's time to run a carpool...be back

heart to home

Today's Inspiration Challenge on SCS was one  that touched my heart in many different ways!  I'm missing the physical presence of Sam, even though we text and talk frequently.  I'll drop my card in the mail to him this afternoon along with the monthly payment to the university!  Just to remind him home is where the heart is...

These colors, so popular now, remind me of my home growing up, along with the oranges that were our high school color.  They look edgy and modern, though I look at them and think childhood!  We have a new vintage store in town...it's ultra hip and happening and what's there, avocado, gold and oranges along with mushrooms, owls, those glass clusters of grapes in any color but purple, and teak furniture, pole lamps, and bark cloth.  My DH and I strolled down memory lane there last week.  It's fun seeing the next generation get excited about discovering treasures, the newest antiques...

How about you, are you inspired by the throwback colors?