When Life Gets Away From You

Crafting has taken on new meaning in the last few months.  I started out to simply make a nice little scrapbook using the OLD family photos.   It hasn't been that easy.  I needed to get with the program and identify all those old photos.  I needed to find photos of some of the ancestors.  Before I could start any of it, I needed to do something else as well.

It seems that I know very little about my family history.  I guess I just went around with my head in the sand for years.  I didn't pay much attention to all the family things.  In fairness to myself, before I beat me up for this lack of knowledge, I'll say that both of my ancestors were not really available when I was young.  My paternal grandfather died long before I was a thought, and my maternal grandfather died when I was three.  I do remember a little of my paternal grandmother, but she died when I was young also.  My maternal grandmother I remember quite well.  All of my great grandparents were out of the picture long before I was around.  My maternal grandmother was an orphan at the age of twelve.

This story is getting longer and longer... and I'm suppose to be talking about crafting.  The point is that my crafting got completely sidetracked by the need to know.  I'm afraid genealogy has stepped in and bitten me badly.   I'm busy trying to find out about all these family members and identify old photos as belonging to some of them.

It's working.  I happened upon a cousin... second cousin once removed... who is an expert in genealogy.  He has been doing this for years and has been a treasure trove of information.  With his help, I'm finding lots of information and am heading back to my original plan soon.  I had to buy a genealogy software program as it is the only way to really keep the information straight.  My original plan has expanded beyond all reason.   It grows each day.

If I could say anything on this post to encourage anyone to start collecting family stories, identifying pictures, or in any other way preserving your family history, I'd be a happy person.   I spent too many years throwing photos in drawers and ignoring that kind of thing.   If nothing else, take your pictures and write with a  photo safe pen on the back of the picture.  Identify the person/persons in the picture.  Tell how they are related.. a date, if possible.  A few clues on some of the pictures really helped.

I'll be back with more... sooner than later, I hope.

Apology

The confession: I'm afraid I've been more than neglectful about this page.

The excuses: Life seems to keep me from doing everything I want to do. The calendar fills up too fast, and I don't seem to get around to the fun of crafting like I wish to do.

The apology: I'm so sorry!

Planning:

I do have a big scrapbook project that I'm trying to get into. It has been a long time in coming, and perhaps I can share here as I get into it.

I've never been one who is compelled to spend time in genealogy research. However, I realize that if I don't get busy and put together some of my family history, it will not be done. I've been trying to find information on some of my ancestors: The standard dates and such, some pictures and other records, and some personal stories. My plan is to use my love of scrapbooking to create an interesting album of my family history. Actually, when I get one made, I'll probably duplicate it for some other family members.

Supplies:

I have a ton of photographs that I've gathered from my mother and other family members.

I invested in a dedicated Epson Perfection V500 photo scanner.

My closet is full of Creative Memories scrapbooks and other accessories that will help me make beautiful albums.

The Promise: I'm excited about doing it and will try to post here to let those interested know how things are coming along.

Stamping Brenda's Crafting Paradise

This week I visited Daughter I-Needa. We were treated to a home tour of Stamping Brenda's new residence. She and her husband just recently settled into their new home, and it didn't take Stamping Brenda long to settle into her new dedicated stamping room.

This room is truly amazing. It seems the perfect place for anyone to truly enjoy their hobby.

Stamping Brenda has been crafting cards for years and truly has a creative gift. She has collected many items through the years to use in her card making, and all that stuff has to go somewhere. At last, it has an organized and beautiful place to be.

Here Stamping Brenda shows off one of her cards to Daughter I-Needa. Just look at the beautiful cabinets... Lots of space to put things!

She has lots of counter space, a worktable in the center, and storage galore!

She has open wall units for storage as well.






What a nice work station... complete with a TV.

Very very nice, Stamping Brenda






You are such a blessed girl!








I-Needa is looking over all the stuff on the table. Just look at the storage.... The closet is full of stamps and stamp sets!!





I'm not sure there is anything that Stamping Brenda doesn't have. Oh.... envy.... such a great room!!

Me? I haven't made a card or done anything since I took on my kitchen remodel. It has completely consumed my life. It is almost done.... and this room of Stamping Brenda's just may give me the incentive I need to get my own few things out and start creating again. One thing for sure is that I'll never have a workroom like this one. I could only dream.


I will admit that at this point, I really don't deserve a place like this. Stamping Brenda does. She so deserves it and will do it justice.

It has also occurred to me that Stamping Brenda just might buy more stuff. I guess that wouldn't be a problem. She certainly does have more storage space and can find anything she needs in an instant.

There is a place for ribbon by the roll, ink pads, punches, papers,... you name it, she has it.

If you've wandered here and are looking at this dream come true room for stamping, you may just feel like organizing something. I know my friend Crafting Ida will probably jump up and run organize her room again. She does that frequently. I've managed to get my supplies (another word for stuff) into one closet. I haven't been crafting cards very long, so haven't managed to buy like this gal.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at this beautiful place. If you are a crafter, you understand.

Ready for the New Year

I have just written on my Humor and Doings site that I'm working on my resolutions for the new year.  I'm examining what is working and what is not.  It is a good time to evaluate and change.  I started this blog with good intentions, but it is one of those things that must be attended to almost daily.  I have so many other things that I both need and want to do, and writing and posting hasn't been as high on my list as it should be if I'm going to keep going.  

I am giving myself permission to vacation from the need to blog.  I appreciate those who have come to visit.  I do intend to be working on my photo albums and scrapbooks.  I have a long list of items that need my attention if they are ever to be completed.  

May all have a blessed new year.

CJ

My House Repair Album

Since my entire October was taken up with the great saga of my home repair, I decided that I must get it into a book for sharing. The home fixing up thing took over my life. It really did.

Thankfully, I did manage to find some humor in the whole event. I took pictures by the tons. My nice Master Carpenter Man grew accustomed to my snapping his picture. He just gave up and ignored me.

I purchased an 8 x 8 traditional album from Creative Memories in chocolate. I thought that nice rich brown would go well with all the pictures of Master Carpenter Man tearing up my house with saws and such. I used white pages and, of course, page protectors.

I started the album with a few pictures of Master Carpenter Man when he was working for my mother. I wanted it clear that I knew what I was getting into when I commissioned him to come make a mess in my house. I was fully aware that there would be issues of what I called 'Tim Droppings'.

I used some paper that I had purchased previously from CM and decorated the page. I even cut a few circles with the circle shape maker and think it adds a bit of interest in the border... almost like pegs in wood.


I printed my own photos for this book, so sized them smaller and also used an editing program to add some comments directly on the picture. When I thought about doing this, I have to admit that I was rather pleased with myself.

Again, I went for the simple look in decorating the pages. A bit of colored cardstock cut in triangles to give a little accent.




I even followed Master Carpenter Man into the attic and managed to bug him there. Like I said, he managed to ignore me most of the time.

I accented this page with some CM paper that I'd saved. Again, I used a triangle on one page and a random cut of paper on the other. I used some orange cardstock and cut holes with CM's Bubble shape maker. Lining the holes up so I could see them, I then used the large Square shape maker. I even saved the little dots left when I punched with the Bubble maker. Using CM's Precision Point Adhesive, I glued the little dots around the square. I rather like the look.

I've had a few friends visit since the dining and living room ceilings have been redone. I've kept this book on my coffee table in the living room. When friends look at it, they have been amazed at exactly how much work went into this whole fixing up process. They have chuckled and seem to have enjoyed looking at the pictures. I've given you just a sampling. There is more... much more.

I've enjoyed them too. I have plans to have Master Carpenter Man return to work on the kitchen. Each time I look at this album, I wonder about that. Oh, there will be more pictures and more pages added to my book.

Christmas Card

My Stampin Up friend, Crafting Ida, rallied us for a get-together to make some new cards. I love it when she does that. She teaches us new techniques and moves us along to newer card crafting heights.



This is one of my favorites from our recent class.
The mistletoe is from SU's A Cardinal Christmas. Of course, I had to order that set as liked the mistletoe very much and will use it for many other things.



I do believe the mistletoe is stamped with 'Old Olive'. Ida kept us busy with the ornament as used embossing for the gold, then glue and glitter for the eye popping color.

I have to confess that as hard as we tried, I do believe we left glitter behind to be spread throughout the home of our lovely hostess. Kids of all ages... even ours... can be deadly with glitter. I'm glad it wasn't at my house. I also remember why I didn't use glitter for my art projects when still teaching fourth grade.

I realize that the public expects full details as to how to make items that are shown on blogs. I'm looking for the stamp set name for the ornament. I'm sure as soon as Ida sees this, she will be e-mailing me. I, of course, will amend my instructions to include that pertinent information. Tah Dah.

Crafting Ida taught us to make a bow. This I'm going to do in another post. I'll need to get out the camera and do a step at a time. It will make more sense. I just wonder why that secret was lost on me before now.

Stuff Going On

I have a confession. I realize that I've not posted for awhile. I can't promise an everyday posting. I admire those who have their daily lives disciplined to include all those important things. I just can't seem to get it all together. Sometimes I rebel.

This past August, I signed up to be an independent Creative Memories consultant. The policy of the company kept me from being too verbal about it. They have guidelines, and posting on blog sites about all of it wasn't permitted at the time. However, the company has revised their guidelines, and I am now able to be more up front on my blog space about what I'm doing.

I've told you before that I'm into scrapbooking. It really is all about preserving memories and telling stories. I plan to be back and let you know what I'm doing.
I will be back with pictures, etc. soon.... Really... I will.

Fan Blade Recycle

I-Needa is a painting madwoman. I'm a little afraid to visit her now as she tends to paint anything standing still and in sight. It makes me fear, as don't want to wake up in the morning with pumpkins or sunflowers painted down my arms. Surely she isn't that bad yet! At some point, she may need an intervention.

I-Needa is obsessive compulsive... sorta. So am I. She comes by it honestly. We don't wade into new territory. No, we plunge in headfirst and go at things with reckless abandon. When that wears off, we are on to new frontiers.

Actually, I'm green with envy on this new endeavor. I've always wanted to get into this painting stuff. I-Needa is fortunate to have Mrs. Paints Beautifully two doors away. Some of the neighbors are getting together frequently to paint. I believe it all started with painting flower pots. For I-Needa, it has grown into a full time passion. (I can't wait to see what I get for Christmas! I'll bet it's a painted something.)

I do think this fan blade is cute. She put it by her front door, and it certainly welcomes in the fall season. It is just a happy little thing, and I know I-Needa is proud of her newest work of art.

The Craft Fairy Visit

This isn't the first time I've mentioned I-Needa's new passion. She is into craft painting... bigtime. Today she sent me an email with pictures of what happened when the Craft Fairy visited. Please note that this stash of fairy loot is spread all over 'my' guestroom bed. I guess I won't be visiting for awhile.

Also note the wonderful spiny thing and guess what it will be holding soon. Alas... I-Needa will have something to organize her paint bottles into. Of course, that will be in 'my' closet. The guestroom closet was taken over for crafts from the very beginning. It assures that no guest can bring many clothes. Just kidding.

I will add that I-Needa has always been a giving person. She really does love sharing things, and I think it is wonderful to see how others share with her as well. One Man's Trash truly is Another Man's Treasure.

In this case the saying should be: One crafters attempt to clean the closet is another crafters delight to receive. Oops.. I forgot this was about the Craft Fairy. To be quite honest here, the generous soul is a friend of Mrs. Paints Beautifully.

In the meantime, I-Needa has blessed me with using her CM shape makers as she is busy painting. We just trade our stuff around . It works for both of us at times.

More Painting

I-Needa is still in full tilt experimenting with painting. She has worked and worked on this and says it still needs something. She thinks she has figured out what she wants to do to 'fix' it, but I think she is doing really well for just starting... or even for just doing.

I think I might be safe in getting her a Christmas gift certificate to Hobby Lobby again this year. I'm sure paint, canvas, and frames are going to be in her future for awhile.

I'Needa's Painting

I'Needa has been up to her nose in paint during her free time. She recently took up learning to paint, and this is her recent piece. She had a good time doing it, and decided to put it in a frame on her wall.

Her neighbor, Mrs. Paints Beautifully, is really having fun with her new artist. It's wonderful to have someone to teach you the shortcuts when you are just getting your feet wet learning a new thing.

I'm certain that I'Needa is going to enjoy working with acrylics and hope she sticks with it and develops her talent. I'm rather envious of the fact that she has a teacher and can do this. They have Saturday get-togethers to paint, and I-Needa is certainly having a great time. I think Mrs. Paints Beautifully is enjoying sharing her talent and helping to pass on her art.

I-Needa Is Painting

Daughter I-Needa has been to Mrs. Paints Beautifully's house to have another painting lesson. She is trying to learn to float paint. Just in case you are wondering.... I know you aren't, but just in case... these are lovely little fluffy sheep and some harvest pumpkins. I-Needa has been having such fun and I have to admit that I'm a tad envious.

I've always wanted to paint. I had a few lessons several years ago, but the instructor was from out of town and ended up not being able to continue classes do to a health problem. I was sad at the time that the lessons were over, and two or three lessons just wasn't enough to really master anything. I'm really happy that I-Needa has someone who can teach her technique, etc.

I'm going to visit I-Needa shortly and have some nice things to haul to her in the way of supplies. I'm sure I'll find a few things to bring home as well. We trade. Lovely, really.

Neck Tie Quilt

Daughter I-Needa decided to send me this picture of the full quilt. This is the quilt Mother made a number of years ago. She searched every garage sale and gathered a sack or two of men's neckties. Then she made all these little squares and sewed them together for a quilt. She said it was really hard as all the ties are cut on the bias and you have to work with that when sewing them together.


She also made shams for the pillows, and sawtooth edging in white. It is a happy looking quilt.

You can click on the photo and get an even closer look at the quilt. Of course, you knew that.

Tea Towel Time

I-Needa was at Mrs. Paints Beautifully's house the other day as they were painting on tea towels. My! This brings back memories.

I'm afraid my towels are now purchased complete with decorations, but I do remember the time when fussing up plain white cloths to use around the kitchen was the 'in thing' to do. You may... or may not... remember all the towels embroidered with names of the days of the week. There were pictures of washing for Monday, ironing for Tuesday, etc. I have no idea where they have gone.

I-Needa said that there is more she is going to paint on her towel, she just didn't have time.

For you quilters, this quilt used as a bedspread was one my mother made years ago. It is all from men's neckties. She said it was a dickens to make as ties are all cut on the bias, which made working with them lots of fun... in a challenge sort of way. The fabrics give a rich look to the quilt, and she received many complements on it as it sat on her antique walnut bed. I-Needa was blessed with it a few years ago.

Just in case you wonder what I'm doing, I'll confess that I'm doing a little of this and that. I have been working with scanning photos, and I'm also trying to clean the guest bedroom closet. I don't think the two are related.

Gift For I-Needa

I wish I could paint like this!!!

I-Needa has a neighbor who has quite an artistic talent. I had the privilege of getting a tour of her home with all the nifty things she has created.

Mrs. Paints Beautifully has taken several of the neighbors under her wings and is helping them learn to paint. I'm sure something like this takes a bit of practice!
School is about to start, and Mrs. Paints Beautifully surprised I-Needa with this lovely little writing desk box all decked out in back to school art.

The top picture is the outside lid of the box. The inside is shown in the bottom picture. I-Needa was thrilled at the lovely surprise, and she will certainly enjoy this painted box.

If you are a quilt person looking at this picture, you might enjoy knowing that the quilt is one my mother made several years ago. It is a very happy quilt.

Think

I-Needa sent me a picture of the letters she painted yesterday which will hang in her elementary classroom. The inspiration came from her high school years seeing a sign with black lettering hanging above the board in her algebra teacher's room. I-Needa reported that the whole class hated that sign.

Now, as a teacher, I-Needa has more of an appreciation for the reasoning behind that sign. She decided the other day to use it in her classroom.

She purchased the letters on 'big time' sale at Michael's and painted them with acrylic paint. The letters are lightweight wood. They are a good size, but not large. Placed on this white place mat, you can have an idea of size. I-Needa used a stylus to place the dots on the letters. I think they are really happy looking and hope her kids will appreciate them and the meaning behind them.

Taking the Red Out

I've torn myself away from playing with layers, and I've started trying to recover some of the old photos. The top photo is one taken of Right Back many many years ago. His grandmother had this photo in an album that wasn't photo safe. There may have been other factors as well that caused the picture to take on a reddish cast. I will admit that the house was a pale pink, but not that pink.



I'd scanned this top photo some time ago with my HP all-in-one. I think it did a pretty good job of scanning, but there wasn't any way for me to really fix the color problem.


I retrieved the original photo from its resting place and scanned it again with the Epson photo scanner.

I clicked on customize when the window popped up, and I clicked for it to adjust color.

I then opened it in Photo Shop Elements and did another automatic color adjustment.

I'm thinking that the second photo would be far nicer in an album, and I feel I have that precious moment back again.

I'm seeing all kinds of possibilities here!

Playing With Photo Shop Elements

I've certainly strayed from card making lately, but I just may have found what I want to do when I grow up. I want to play with graphics!!! Oh, wait! I am grown up, and I am playing with this new toy. I just LOVE learning new things.

Last night I decided that I'd best get into the tutorials that come in Adobe Photo Shop Elements. It certainly beats trying to figure everything out by myself.

I've always wondered how people took photographs and changed their content moving things from one picture to another. After the tutorial.... I knew! It is about making layers.

This photograph was taken in I-Needa's yard close to her front door. I opened that in Photo Shop Elements and used it as a background layer. Not long ago, I-Needa decided to take up painting. Her first project was a mushroom. Her second was this frog. She had sent me photos of each of these items separately.

I opened the mushroom (brought it into Elements) and pulled it on top of the yard photo. Then I erased the background from the mushroom picture with a background eraser. I then had the mushroom showing in her yard. I used a move tool to position the mushroom, and a sizing tool to get it the size I wanted.

I then opened the frog picture into Elements and pulled it on top of the yard photo. Then I erased the background with a little background eraser. Again, using the move and sizing tools, I worked until I was satisfied with the look. Then I used a flatten image command followed by saving the photo.

No! I am not ready yet to take pictures and try to teach Photo Shop Elements. I'm a very very beginner. I have to tell you.... this is fun... way fun... totally cool... I see new things on the horizon.

Working With Photos

Today I purchased and set up this new photo scanner which I purchased from Staples. It is an Epson Perfection V500 Photo scanner. It came with scanner software bundled with Adobe Photo Shop Elements.

Why, oh why, am I getting involved with this? It is something that seems to be growing bigger by the day. It started as a simple desire to copy and repair some of the old family photos so that they could be preserved in either a book or scrapbook form.

I quickly found out that my regular all-in-one HP printer/scanner/copier just wasn't up to the task. Don't get me wrong... I use the dickens out of that piece of equipment. I just found that a dedicated photo scanner would produce a higher quality and do more for the photos.

I'm now at square one learning how to use Adobe Photo Shop Elements. I've messed around before with 'Paint', but this is a much bigger program, and it is going to take some doing on my part to develop some self taught skills.

While I may be a tad in awe of this whole undertaking that I've managed to commit myself to doing, I do think it will be fun. I'm going to be using lots of problem solving skills and exercising my brain but good!

I've spent a good portion of the afternoon just messing around with Photo Shop and reading what I can in the instruction portion of the software. I long for the good old days of a nice written manual that you can hold in your hands and take with you to study. Somehow, I just don't want to run off the fifty some pages on my printer.

I'm going to have to do some serious organizing in my head about how to scan and organize the pictures in the computer so I can find them easily. There will be a lot of pictures.

I've about had it for today, so will try to clear the cobwebs out of my brain and come back for another round tomorrow.

For A Gift Card

Last night I needed to get busy and make a card to use today. I'm headed to a bridal shower this afternoon. I can't believe that I waited until the last minute to start on a card, but I did. I've got to stop that!

I rummaged through my stamps and decided on a stamp from SU's Sassy Stems. I used my Creative Memories cutting system to cut out the oval.

The inks and papers are from SU's Soft Subtle collection. The saying is from SU's 'So Many Sayings' stamps. I punched the saying with SU's Word Windows punch.

With texture from Cuttlebug's polka dot folder and some ribbon that I picked up at Hobby Lobby on 1/2 price sale (LOVE those sales!) I finished the outside of the card.

I must say that I was happy that I-Needa had tried to tell me about making a bow on cards. I'd listened to her last week talking about making bows. I'm a visual, and following it was a bit difficult. However, I'd gotten the idea that you take a nice length of ribbon, cut it in the middle, then put it on and tie it. I used narrow double sided sticky tape to secure the ribbon in place from the edges to the middle. Then I took the ribbon, which has a fine wire on the edges, and simply looped it once and gave it a little twist. I'm thinking that with ribbon with regular edges, I'd have to loop it again. I'm going to have to practice this bow making.

I'd purchased a gift card and needed something to dress it up. I decided to write a little poem about using the gift card, so included it on the inside. I printed it on my printer and cut it to size to fit inside the holder I'd made. (If you want to read the poem, you can click on the picture and enlarge it)

I'd taken the pink sheet and punched the corners with a corner punch from EK Success.

I added a pocket on the left to hold the gift card.