Celebration Time!

I'm Two!  No, One!  No Two! Oh geesh.

You know, out there in blog land I see all sorts of folks celebrating their first year anniversary since they began their blog....and I think to myself, "that's really cool.  I wonder when I started?"  and then off I go and do something else.  (Some people say I would benefit from medication.)

Welll, the other day I noticed that EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY I began my daily photo project at Shuttercal.  that's where I post a photo every day.  I've now done 365 photos.  Yay.

You are probably wondering what the heck this has to do with anything and furthermore why should you even give a darn, BUT!

Humour me.

AND THEN I decided to find out when I actually started blogging (and the thought stayed with me while I did something with it).

It took me a while.  Note that my blog is called Wishin I knew How To Blog.

Guess what?

On November 29th, it will have been TWO YEARS!!!

Here

is my very first post.

HAH!

Anyhoo,

In honour of this momentous occaision, I am going to have a GIVEAWAY!

And here is the prize:

Do you know what it is?

Work with me here folks!

Come on....

It's a calendar, guys!

I know, that's a really crummy picture.

For 2011. (What, you thought I would give you a 2010 calendar???)

Made by yours truly with my own little hands and some images from Lisa's Altered Art.

And all you have to do to win it is comment on THIS post. 

Tell me what is the ONE most important thing on your to-do list for the coming year.

Since Today is my two-year and the 29th is my one-year, we'll run this until November 30th and I will do a random draw for the winner that very day.  If all goes according to plan and the creek don't rise, I'll announce the winner that day.

November 30th.

That's all you have to do.

Could it be any easier?

Geesh, I'm the one who has done all the work here.

Ummm, on second thought, if you're still reading this post, YOU'VE done a fair bit of work.

So you deserve a break.

Go have a coffee.

AFTER you comment.

Come back tomorrow to find out.

(Did I tell you I was at the zoo today?  What's your first clue?  tee hee)

Sewing Notions

This month at Gingersnap Creations the theme is "Haute Couture"  It's ONLY about my mostest favorite theme!  (except maybe Time.)  And the Spicy supply Challenge is titled ""Sewing Notions".  I would lose some serious sleep to participate in this month's challenges, that is FOR SURE.  Foturnately, I haven't had to, as I've had FOUR DAYS OFF IN A ROW! 

WOO HOO!

That is major creating time.  I'm as happy as....um...a...someone who had just had four whole days to do whatever she wants to.  Could it be any better?

YES, I'm aware I'm rambling again.

Here you go:

 

The background is embossed cardstock, the frame is by Crate Paper. Both the dressmaker stand and the sentiment are by Daisy.  The blue fabric is from For Elsie, and I can't find her anywhere, so who knows...

The sewing notions in the top left?  They're sewing notions.  Except for the scissors.  That's a button.

Gingersnap Creations

Come play with us!

Mother and Child

June has suggested the theme of  "Mother and Child" this week at Dezinaworld.

I've made an ATC:  Nothing particularly fancy, but I really like it. It's a Googled image of a Japanese woodcut from the 19th century.  The flower is cut from the background paper and the red thing at the top left was stuck on my studio floor.  lol  And I did some sewing.  I love sewing on paper, but the machine is soooo heavy.  whine, whine

June's Favourite Season

June at Soartful Challenges has graciously given us this image to work with this week:

It just so happens that her favourite season is Fall and so is mine.

Here is my attempt to celebrate that:

The background photo is one of mine (Hah!  I know the credit for that one!)

When I went to post this, I learned that in a frenzy of photo-editing last night, I deleted it.  So having just spent quite some time finding it (in the recycle bin, bless it's little hard-drive heart), I shan't say any more.  don't want to jinx it. Whew!

Remember, you can click on the picture to make it larger.

**with apologies to William James, the authour of the quote, I've taken the liberty of feminizing it."

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Elizabeth, where are you?

Hey, Elizabeth of Elizabeth Studio, you left me a message, but I can't get hold of you through your profile.

Email me again and we'll sit and have a (virtual) taco together.  You can decide whether you want to be the good girl or the bad girl.

And for the rest of you reading this who aren't Elizabeth,

please pay no attention and go about your daily lives.

Thank you.

Angel

The word this week at Take a Word is "angel"  I've had a hankering to make something with lime green and red lately.  Thus, I give you "Spread Your Wings And Fly":

The paper is from a lovely new line by My Mind's Eye Lost and Found.  The birdcage on the top left is a Glitz stamp. (The other cages are already on the paper.)  She has Maya road wings that I dipped in UTEE.

I stamped and embossed her dress with a Recollections stamp and the butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch.  It's a good thing.  The rest?  Well, it just IS.

You can't NOT make something beautiful with this paper.  You just CAN'T.

Everyone wins!

Got your attention, didn't I?

You won't believe this.  June of Dezinaworld is having a challenge where everyone who enters gets a prize.

Isn't that amazing?  She has fun chalenges each week, but this is like an early Christmas present!  Here is what I've put together.

K, here's the story behind this little creation.  First, we were asked to use one of Dezinaworld's images.  Easy.  I have the coolest Steampunk Collage sheet that I got from her shop.  If you look closely (maybe click on it for help with the old eyes), you'll see that the "frame" is made of gears-THAT is one of hers.  I rubbed it with some metallic paint and embossed it with my cuttlebug and the "dice" folder.

The background paper is Hambly, the hearts, her wings, and the journalling frame are Bisous.  If all of the scrapbook supply stores disappeared tomorrow, and all that was left was Bisous, I'd could manage.  I love their stuff.

I think the puppy is Basic Grey.  I crackled the gentleman's heart, put a little stickles in her hair, crackled the gears on both their hats (also both by Dezinaworld) and added a few other assorted goodies which I can't identify.  Finishing touch? Enamel Accents.

Now. 

 This started off as a birthday card for my daughter's BF.  I made the two individuals on it with an assortment of Internet images.  The bodies are from some very old gaslamp ads, the feet and legs are from Crowabout Studio B. Their arms are by  Freubel-Art.

The man's face is (who else?) Edgar Allan Poe and the woman's face is from a painting by one of my favourite artists, Franz Xavier Winterhalter .

 Whew! 

This post took me longer to do than the card did!

Really.

At any rate, I still don't have a birthday card for my daughter's beau.  Why not?  Cus it's pink.

It can't be pink.  It has to be green, like the colour of his favourite football team.

Green.  Football.  I've got my work cut out for me today.

Dezinaworld

You've her me speak of it before.

You have until December 4th to link up.

Better get movin!

Perfectly Distressed for the Order!

This week at The Order of The Opus Gluei they have asked us to give some thought to Thanksgiving and thankfulness.  Easy to do. Even when I'm whining, my life is pretty much perfect. And then my friend Linda of StudioL3 has posted her 21st Compendium of Curiositites Challenge: Perfect Distress.

So I just started with an idea and one things led to another and well, here is the card I ended up with.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but an opportunity will present itself, no doubt.

And since I was blurfing a lot last night, I'm going to link this up with

New Friend Friday

over at the Girl Creative.  I haven't played along with them for ages.  And now I have.

In fact, I had a lovely time last night celebrating my prize over at

The Order of the Opus Gluei.

But shhh, I have a headache.  *urp*

This is a PS:  the quote isn't actually a quote, it's just something that came to mind when I was stamping the feathers. (just in case someone thinks I'm negligent in not naming the source.)

Friday Fill Ins #199

1. When pigs fly _I'll be at my ideal weight_.

2. _You expect me to work until I'm HOW OLD?_ seriously?!

3. Call me _when you're having your next scrapbook crop_.

4. _Honk_ if you know what I mean.

5. The most entertaining person in my life is _me_ because _I spend a lot of time alone_.

6. _OK, I've done the zip lines twice,_ who's next?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _no calls from work_, tomorrow my plans include _going to the zoo no matter what the weather does_ and Sunday, I want to _work on my UFO's_!

(PS: UFO's are Unfinished Objects. (as in crafty-type stuff))

I won!!!!

the bestest prize EVAH from the wondrous Poobahs over at

http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com/     

I will soon be the proud owner of a

TIM HOLTZ Idea-ology CONFIGURATIONS 6.75" X 8.75" Shadow Box!

I am so excited, I can hardly stand it!

Thank you Grand Poobahs!

I'm so proud of myself!

It's Thursday and I've completed my Art Creations Friday.  Hah!  Yeah, I do have the day off and yeah, my butt has been planted in front of the computer for awhile today, but it's done!  and it was fun.  and I .like it.  Not much more to say, is there?

OK, well, there are a few more things to say.  The pink background paper, woman on the chair and the chair, as well as the farmhouse are by Clementine Designs of Deviant Scraps.

Here is the farmhouse in its original form:

I would love to go there.

The frame comes from Scrapgirls, don't remember the artist.

The boy and girl in the wagon are from http://bearhavenbears.blogspot.com/ and all the other children are from Land of Nod Studio's.

Oh my, I know there is more going on here, but I'm all out of memory.

Thanks for looking.

Haute Couture

The chestnut theme challenge over at Gingersnap Creations is Haute Couture.  How fun is that?  Here is mine:

(There are ribbon ties at the left, it just looked retarded to show them in the scan.)

This oh-so-cool image of the lady is by Barbara Clementine Howell of Deviant Scrap.

I love it. 

This isn't digital, BTW, I just printed out the image, added the words and "sewing" brushes to some old paper I had hanging around, Glossy Accented her shoes and the ribbon on her hat (oh yeah, I coloured the ribbon) and Stickled her overblouse/jacket, whatever it is.  Ribbon, here and there, mount it on some cardstock and we're done.

You should play along with the Gingersnap Creations folks.  It's a lot of fun.  You have until the 28th, so no excuses...

Pink Whisper

When I saw digital whisper's image this week, it took my breath away.

Credit for this masterpiece goes to Michaela Kobyakov of Austria

I played for a little while last night and came up with this LO...

Fun, eh?

Now go say hello to Kimmie and the rest of the Digital Whisper artisans. There is some wondrous art over there.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

My weekend

I went to the farm this weekend. and had a lovely time.  True Story.  A Lovely Time.

The Team was ready to roll.  Beautiful Percherons, MASSIVE!!  One of them brought her fuzzy little baby along, 6 months old and so adorable.

OK, now I'm rarin' to go.  C'mon you guys!

And we're off!  Two lead mares, a baby horse, 7 (yes, 7!) dogs, a bunch of little boys, one reasonably little girl, a middle aged couple (their wagon) a grandma, and her daughter and me and my daughter.  three of us on horseback.  What a motley crew.

Pit stop for a fire and weiner roast.  See the baby horse?  Lots of cuddles from the little ones.

On our way again.

Sassy is wondering when we'll be home.  It was cold.

But she has a coat.  I don't know why she's complaining.

Not much to say about this.

What CAN one say about this?

I'll be taking a break from some of the challenges I love so much this week, my UFO pile is getting too big and I need to make my way through at least SOME of that.

Thanks for looking at my pics, I wish you could have been with us, it was a blast!

ACF 94th Challenge

from this:

to this

Art Creations Friday

Page 54

of Tim Holtz' Compendium of Curiosities teaches us how to do his Industrial Grunge Technique.  You should try it.

Now that I have piqued your interest, go on over to Linda Ledbetter's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge and join in!

(The oven is what I did the challenge on and I poked myself so many times, I had to stop until I stopped bleeding.)

EEHAW!

Friday Fill In #198

1. Sometimes, _I just wish I didn't have to go to work every day_.

2.  I'm not even going to think any more_ about the whole thing.

3. Small _mercies_.

4. _Talking to people who have spent the last 30 years in jail_ is very enlightening.

5. I keep meaning to _say I'm sorry_

6. _No winning lottery tickets _ ...yet.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _driving south_, tomorrow my plans include _a day at the farm_ and Sunday, I want to _drive back home safely in the forecasted snowstorm_!
There are lots more Fill Ins here.

Dezinaworld

June over at Dezinaworld jas a weekly challenge and everyone who takes part is in the running to receive a prize.  Check out the details on her blog.

The other cool thing over there is that if you follow the links on her site, it takes you to some really great digital art, both to purchase, and to admire.  Her design team is very special.

This week the theme she has given us is song/dance/music and you can use any medium you like.

Here is mine:

It's a very simple ATC that I originally made for a swap.  But then I wanted to add some kind of a music-related quote. When my daughter was in the high-school band, the entire bandroom was encircled by various sayings about music, some funny, some eloquent and some irreverent.  OF COURSE I can't remember any of them, but Ido  remember I loved reading them each time I was there.

And that was my inspiration for this ATC.

We're nearing the end (sniff, sniff, tear in my eye)

of Margaret's blessed Dress Up 2010 series.

Are you taking part?  Are you visiting and going gaga over the incredible dresses that the participants are coming up with?  Silly me.  Of course you are.

Margaret has asked us to put on display the wardrobes/closets/containers in which we are gathering our precious collections this month and even though mine is nothing fancy, here it is.

the front:

and the interior:

See?  Nothing special.  But it works for me.

And here is my November dress:

I made this is October, thinking it was November, but it wasn't, so I had to then make an October dress, cus this just wasn't Halloweeney enough and after all, every girl needs something Halloweeney for the assorted "do's" that take place around that fantabulously spooky month.  "Do" was my mother's word.  Isn't it a hoot? "Do what?"

So then I pull this out and look at it and ask myself, "What the heck was I thinking the day I made this, it looks, um, somewhat, er, retarded.

THAT'S because for some bizarre reason, I attatched a cape to it.  (Huh?)  Oh My Gosh.  How embarrassing it would have been if I had shown you that.  WHO wears a cape in November, I ask you?

(Well, who wears a cape anytime?)  So I pulled it off.  And this is what is left.

The paper was embossed, and I cut the sheath pattern free hand (including the dumb cape lol).  The belt is some paper ribbon I have, the buckle is a sticker, on the left shoulder is a bead which attached the now-gone cape, the sleeves are glittered and the leaves are made from a paper bag, glossy accents and more glitter. Gotta love glitter. I added a few pearls at the end.  And then ripped off the cape yesterday.  There is is.  My November cape-less dress.  You can find many more, maybe even some with capes here, all of them perfect for autumn "do's".

Thanks for looking!

Wonderland

Not as in "Alice In", but as in "challenge #24" at

Digital Whisper 

I hate to repeat myself, but Kimmie really does give us the greatest images to work with each week.  Not only are they wonderful quality, but they always inspire those who participate in amazing ways.

The lovely background paper is by Catherine Designs, who sadly, is no longer in business.

The foregournd spray of flowers is by Leslie B, who also is no longer designing digital elements.

It's not my fault though, let's be clear on that.

I thank them both though for sharing their special talants while they did.

Because I'm swamped this week, and for whatever stupid reason, pain is preventing me from sitting at my puter-chair, I'm also submitting this for the weekly fun at The Order of the Opus Gluei.

Their Challenge #77 is to

  "go forth and create a sweet project worthy of ooooh's and aaahhh's"

Are you ooohing and aahing?  No?  Well, make your own then. 

Good grief, must I do EVERYTHING?

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday?

You can see lots more WOYWW

here.

and since I'm almost wordless this morning (for me), I'm in

Wordless Wednesday as well!

I love fall

but have been far too busy with spooky-type stuff to show you any pictures that I took when fall was here.
We have summer again.  And apparently there will be some snow next week.  Let's see, that leaves, um, spring.  Maybe in December.  We say here, if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes.  You may have heard that somewhere else.  It's true here.  Really really true.  It snowed my wedding week.  I got married on July 19.  Or was it the 21st?  I don't remember.  Not that it matters, I'm not married anymore.  Anyways...

New Challenge!

There is a brand new weekly challenge blog called Take A Word.  It's taken off like wildfire!  Each week a new word will be posted and you can create anything you like from it!  This week's word is "Time".  And I've made an ATC:

I've had a hankering to do some real paper work, as opposed to "virtual" aka digital work, so all week that's what I've been doing.  That means this ATC is "touchable".  Just like in the old days. 

tee hee

I hope you've visit Take A Word and maybe even take part!