The Vintage Vignette

A Few New Pieces.

2011-09-21T17:06:00.001-07:00

Julianna Collection Finally Complete!

2011-08-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

2011-05-17T22:26:00.001-07:00

My Julianna Collection is slowly but surely coming together. So far I have 5 pieces completed and will be adding an additional frame and altered canvas to the finished bunch.

This is the first project I have been able to use these Martha Stewart butterfly punches on and they are now my new favorite punch! The butterflies turn out so intricate and delicate yet they are sturdy enough (using a good quality cardstock) to handle the wear and tear of a finished project. I highly recommend you check out the entire line of butterfly punches that she has created. They come in a variety of sizes, borders, corners and the like.

Check them out at your favorite craft store or MarthaStewartCrafts.com I was able to find them at Michaels as well.

Tapestry Collection Finally Finished!

2011-04-30T23:14:00.000-07:00

FINALLY finished this collection! It has taken me forever to complete because I have so many projects going all at once. This consists of an altered notepad, an altered wood frame from Michaels, an altered paper mache box an altered pair of salt and pepper shakers and a glass tile necklace featuring vintage brass and all made from a single piece of paper that reminded me of the beautiful tapestry baggage carried by Victorian women on long sea voyages.

Awesome Thrift Store Find!

2011-04-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

Adorable Teapot Box and Matching Cup.

2011-04-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE this project from Julianna of ILuvVintagescrap She did an amazing job using paper from the new DCWV paper pad named "Tradewinds". I was able to snag the last pad of this paper at my local Joann's as my fellow scrappers from all over have been eagerly snapping up all the new pads from DCWV such as the Tradewinds, Tattered Time, Royal Garden, and The Lemon Flower stacks.

DCWV really scored when they created these winning paper stacks and I am now starting to see all the gorgeous projects being made with them. Very inspiring indeed. Check out Julianna's project and be sure to take note of the links she provides if you are interested in purchasing the template used to create this gorgeous project.

*Please remember to pause the music at the bottom of the page before enjoying the video.

Vintage Inspired Chain Bookmark.

2011-03-31T05:32:00.001-07:00

I just love chain style bookmarks and this one is my new favorite. I am reading several books at once and needed several bookmarks that would not slip out like the receipts and scraps of paper lying around that I have been using.

This was so simple to make. I used a locket style pendant from Michaels, glass pearls and brass bead caps and findings along with 2 leaf charms and Voila! I love it because all you have to do when you finish reading is lay it down the crease of the page and close the book. Then you have a beautiful dangle at both ends of the book.

Altered Journal For Box.

2011-03-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

It seems like I've been working on this project forever but it is getting close to being finished now. I am adding the finishing touches to the journal that will go inside the box now. I found myself searching all over town last weekend in search of the perfect ribbon to attach the coordinating bookmark with and I finally found it.

The journal will go inside the box with a few other journaling goodies like a matching pen and sweets. I received the beautiful Victorian box feet in the mail the other day and am super excited to get those on and see how it looks. Thanks for following the progress of this very special project for my mother.

2011-03-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

I've been a box making fool these last few weeks. Here are a few others that are currently in progress. The first one is for my mom who loved the prize one I did for the Superbowl. I plan to create a matching gratitude journal to keep inside the box. The second box will hold a set of matching greeting cards and envelopes and it will go to my lovely mother-in-law.

The first one showcases one of the Flowersoft display globes that are used to display just about anything you like on cards and other projects. The second one has a built in frame so a photo can be slipped in from the top.

Victorian Box.

2011-02-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Finally a new project! I've been so busy lately and have neglected my poor little blog for so long. I have never stopped creating but just have not had the time to drag out the camera and film a video. Anyhow I hope you enjoy this little project and sorry the video is so short but my camera battery was not cooperating with me in the least...lol

*Please remember to pause the music at the very bottom of the screen before watching the video.

Awesome Deals On Saturday.

2011-01-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

Boy did I hit the jackpot at my local Michael's on Saturday. They were having huge price cuts on most items in the store. Take a peek at my video to see the great deals that I came across.

*Please pause music below before starting the video.

2010-12-31T17:32:00.000-08:00

So how's that for a little break from the blogospere! I'm still here but have been swamped and a bit overwhelmed by everyday life..lol I have continued to create and will have a few projects to share with you all in the coming days and weeks so keep checking back with me. In the meantime enjoy this beautiful vintage image and go create something beautiful!

This Is Not Your Grannie's Pressure Cooker!

2010-11-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

I have always liked to consider myself to be somewhat of a gourmet cook -*looks down at manicure smugly*- but the one thing I have always shied away from is pressure cooking. The thought of that stove top monster blowing sky high in my kitchen has always prevented me from giving it a try. The anticipation of making one wrong move and KABOOM is more than I can handle. Heck, I even cringe at the anticipation of the tin popping when you peel the roll off of the refrigerated biscuits!

Well just the other evening things changed for me. As I sat watching t.v. with wet nails and was just too lazy to change the channel an infomercial for the new Living Well With Montel Williams Pressure Cooker came on. I had flipped passed this one before while channel surfing but this time I watched and WOW! was I impressed. This little baby was not only safe but it cooked foods extremely fast.

So to make a long story short I'll be giving this baby a try soon! I did some research and found that it was being sold on QVC for a lot cheaper than the infomercial price so I'll be ordering from there on Black Friday for the best deal. Check out the infomercial below if you'd like to see why I was so impressed.

*Please pause the music below before watching.

Wild Orchid Crafts.

2010-10-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

Lately it seems that paper flowers-or mulberry flowers to be exact-are my thing. They are so delicate and beautiful and really soften the look of all my vintage art projects. Just one flower added to a project can add a very soft and feminine look to the whole piece. For a time I was using silk flowers but they just seemed to look hard and a bit out of place to me. Maybe its that they have that ugly nylon backing as leaves that just never lays right...who knows.

I was first introduced to Mulberry paper flowers by Prima Marketing. They carry some amazingly beautiful flowers made from a variety of materials but WOWZA are they expensive! I set out to find a similar type of flower somewhere else and it seemed that all the stores wanted to carry were the Prima ones...boo.

While watching videos on Youtube I found a gal who ordered some very pretty flowers from Crafta.com and I placed and order. The flowers were amazing and just as nice as Prima for a far more reasonable price.

Then last week I saw several other videos with flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. I placed and order with them and WOW!! These flowers are superior to any others I have seen available! The detail is amazing and the colors are gorgeous. Take a peek at at the video below as I share my them with you.

*Pause music below before starting video.

Faux Cloisonne Paper Frame Technique.

2010-10-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

I recently ordered some beautiful Cloisonne beads from Ebay that got my creative juices going. As I was examining each bead it occurred to me that this same technique could be easily duplicated on paper! I dug through my stash and came up with some inexpensive paper frames from the dollar store.

The technique is fast and extremely easy and I was able to create something almost identical to my inspiration bead. This technique can be applied to almost anything and I will be trying all kinds of new surfaces. Take a look at the video below to see this easy technique for yourself.

*Please Remember To Pause The Music Below Before Starting Video.

Great New Class!

2010-09-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

This is an awesome opportunity to learn a new skill and to make something beautiful at the same time! Nataliebramasole is offering a class on Mixed Media Workshops that will teach you how to create her beautiful and one of a kind bookcards! I have seen her bookcards on Youtube and believe me when I say there is nothing else like them out there. She uses beautiful embellishments placed with intricate detail and the results are just stunning.

She mentions in the video that she is offering the class to show how to make them because shipping from Belgium to America is so expensive and has been a barrier for some who would like to have had one of her bookcards. You can sign up for the class directly from the "Mixed Media" link above if you are interested. Also, check out the video below for more information and visit her Youtube channel to see an awesome assortment of her bookcard creations.

*Please remember to pause music below before watching video.

A Few Projects and A Bit Of Shopping.

2010-09-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

A Post Worth Repeating!

2010-09-04T23:11:00.001-07:00

You have seen them everywhere. You will find them at office supply stores, scrapbook parties and most recently in craft stores. They are tag guns and although they can add a lot of really cool things to your cards, layouts, and paper crafts; they can also add years of heartache and illness to your life if not used correctly.

Tag guns or paper taggers as they are more commonly known to the craft world are used to attach and affix any number of items to a surface using flexible plastic "T" tags that penetrate and catch the surface of whatever you are attaching it to. The tags are widely available in a variety of colors.

The use of these fun tag guns will come at a high price for many if they are not used properly. This is because a tag gun needle stick is no different than a hypodermic needle stick! Now that I have your attention let me explain why this can be so extremely dangerous. When you accidentally prick your finger with a tag gun (which is guaranteed to happen at some time or another) you expose the needle tip to bio hazardous material, namely your blood. The pricked area usually stops bleeding after a quick second but the danger is by no means over. It is when you then share your tag gun with others that the real danger presents itself.

For instance, you are at a scrapbook party and you bring your tag gun along. You accidentally stick your finger and set it down. Someone else picks it up and uses it and sticks themselves. Yet another person uses it and does the same thing! Finally you go to use it again and stick yourself once more. You have now been exposed to the possible blood borne pathogens of the two others that just used your gun!

Blood borne pathogens can include such things as hepatitis, MRSA, HIV and AIDS! Remember, tag gun needle sticks are no different than hypodermic needle sticks. You may think that cleaning the gun with alcohol or bleach after each person would remedy the problem but you would be wrong. Tag guns have a 3 part mechanism that does not allow for them to be cleaned at all three points (the inside of the needle barrel) with a simple household cleaner. Although you can purchase specialty cleaners ; most people are not aware that they will need one when sharing their gun and they inadvertently put themselves and others at risk.

So how can you enjoy the use of a tagging gun in your arts and crafts while remaining safe at the same time? The best practice would be to never share your gun with another person. Make sure that everyone present respects your decision not to share your gun as well. The other option would be to purchase one of the specialty cleaners designed specifically for the cleaning of tag gun needles and mechanisms.

This post was very important to me as I was recently stuck by one of these guns. Later that night I began to think about it and decided to do a bit of research. I was floored by what I found and therefore wanted to share my findings with you. I have since been to the Dr. and everything has turned out fine but WOW what a scare. I urge you all to be safe, be alert, and be educated about the potential risks of using these tag guns. They can be wonderful tools for your arts and crafts when used safely and correctly.

Stick Pins and Hatpins.

2010-08-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

*Please pause music below before watching.

A Beautiful Mess!

2010-08-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

My hubby and I have been the messiest and laziest we have ever been in our lives but we have a great exscuse, I promise! Take a peek at the video below and you'll understand why. :)

*Please remember to pause music down below first.

Welcome Laura!

2010-08-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Laura and thank you for the lovely comments about The Vintage Vignette! I very much appreciate reader feedback and I was glad to gather the info about the mini album closure technique for you.

However, I can't take credit for the technique because I learned it from the fabulous "Weezie" from Youtube. I deviated from her technique just a wee bit by using a hitch fastener instead of a button and looped and knotted my hair tie from the inside back cover first.

Looped and knotted band inserted from the inside back cover through to the back cover. (photo above).

View of the hair band from the back cover (photo above).

View of the cover with the hair band pulled from the back cover and

wrapped around the hitch fastener on the front cover.

So that you have a choice of both techniques check out Weezie's tutorial below. I hope this helps you to finish out your first mini in grand style!

*Please remember to pause the music below before watching the video.

A Victorian Journal.

2010-08-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

I've found myself in desperate need of some serious stress relief so I have been spending more time than usual in my craft room. You can tell by my projects how I am feeling. The more intricate and detailed the project, the more stressed out I really am...lol!

My craft room is a place for me to escape from everything and I'm sure I'm not the alone in this. As soon as I open the door to it and step one foot inside, everyone who is inevitably trailing behind me is banished to the other side of the door. My pug dog who snorts and chews her nails is given the 'ol' heave ho! My cat who insists on laying across all papers and projects in progress is ushered out to the hallway immediately and even my well intentioned hubby is relegated to very brief visits while I am inside.

As I create I listen to old radio programs on my computer. Currently I am listening to all the old Dragnet episodes. When my my mother calls she teases me and wants to know what kind of 36 year old listens to Dragnet! I reply with "Its my space and my rules!" With that said here is another project just completed during my last stint of "Me Time" in my craft room.

*Please pause music below before watching the video.

2010 CHA Summer Release Tour - Prima Marketing.

2010-07-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Yes! It's that time of year again! It's the Craft and Hobby Association-or CHA as its more commonly called- Summer release trade show in Rosemont Illinois. This is where all of the great companies and industustry leaders in the art and crafting world gather to show off the new products they will be releasing. Vendors fly in from all over the country and the world for that matter to display their new product lines.

One of the companies that I am always interested to see there is Prima Marketing. They are the makers of those gorgeous paper flowers and beautiful art and scrapbooking papers that you see in many artist's creations.

Scott, from BlueMoonScrapbooking.com an industry leader in scrapbooking and art supplies visited the Prima Marketing booth at this summer's session of CHA. Take a peek at his video to see some of the new products slated to hit the stores soon.

*Please pause music below before watching the video.

One Happy Camper!

2010-07-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

Yay! For the first time in a very long time I am floored by the quality of an online purchase. Please watch the video below where I tell you all about it and then visit the links below to check them out for yourself.

Crafta.com
32NorthSupplies.etsy.com

A Few Finished Projects.

2010-07-24T01:24:00.000-07:00

I finally found some time to complete a few vintage projects that I've been working on. I've had these ideas floating around in my head for sometime so it was nice to finally get them completed so that I can move right along to the next project obsession that is no doubt lurking around the corner...lol :)

*Please pause the music at the bottom of the page before watching the video.

Need A Laugh?

2010-07-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

*Pause music below before watching.

A New Addition.

2010-07-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

Please meet the newest member of my family...her name is "Boy, Boy". A little weird I know since she is a girl but I'll explain that in a minute. If you remember my post back in August you will remember that I lost my precious Shayla Mae to a terrible accident that took her life. If you wish you can read the story here. I was devastated when it happened because she was my kitty of 13 years. It will be a year next month since she has been gone and I have been wanting another kitty but just could not bring myself to get another as it was too painful to think about.

Then a few weeks ago my mother called and said that a "stray" had shown up at their door. I could tell by the tone in her voice what was coming next. She was going to want me to take this cat. I wasn't willing to take on another pet until I was over the loss of my Shayla. Reluctantly I decided to take a look at this cat. It turned out that she was the sweetest little thing and her personality and temperament was identical to that of my precious Shayla Mae. I couldn't resist and I took her home a few weeks ago. She has made me so happy and I am reminded of my Shayla everyday because of her.

As I said in the beginning her name is "Boy, Boy". This is because for the short time she was with my parents they thought she was a boy and they had begun calling her that. She was already used to the name so I decided to keep it. If you are not a pet lover then this post may be hard to understand. I love my pets with all my heart and now I am finally able to move on from the loss of my Shayla and remember her always in my heart while giving my love to someone new.

I was recently criticized for loving my beloved pets like children and to that I say "how sad for you". "How sad that your heart is closed and or not able to know the love that God created in the heart of man for his animals." The scriptures are filled with accounts of faithful men of old who showed love and concern for their creatures. I am grateful that I am able to feel this love as not all people can. I am grateful that he created these sweet little beings simply for our enjoyment as an expression of his benevolent love for mankind and for that I am thankful.

Vintage Inspired Lace.

2010-07-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Lace, Lace, and more Lace! I just love it and can't get enough of it. I recently purchased a beautiful lace bundle from a gal over on Youtube and when it arrived my tongue almost fell out...lol. Each piece was so beautiful and vintage that I couldn't wait to get started on using them. Take a peek below and please remember to pause the music below first.

Heartbreaking.

2010-07-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in life the terrible misfortunes of others makes us screech to a halt in our own lives and slam on the brakes of the trivial stuff that we waste our precious time and energy on. This happened to me just yesterday when I learned of a terrible situation that one of our fellow Youtubers and Scrap sisters was experiencing.

Claudia or 66msclaudia as her Youtube channel name is called, had the tragic experience of suddenly and unexpectedly losing her husband in death last week. She is the stay at home mother of 6 children and her husband was the sole provider for the family. You can imagine how devastated she and her children are. I am amazed at her courage to persevere and try her best to take care of things despite her own pain. Claudia is in the process of selling off all of her art and scrapbooking supplies to raise money to take care of things.

She is selling a variety of scrapbook and mixed media art supplies in great condition that you may be able to make use of but more importantly you may be able to help her and her family in their time of need with your purchases. She has asked her Youtube family and fellow scrappers to get the word out and if you are unable to purchase please let your friends know or post on your blog if possible. This woman is amazing and strong and I only hope we can offer her comfort and assistance in her time of need.

Please visit her Youtube Channel at the link above to see her items for sale and listen as she explains the situation in her own words.

Putting Them To Use.

2010-07-06T17:50:00.001-07:00

So I finally found a neat project to use the gorgeous satin ribbon flowers from my last post below. I created a 6x6 mini album that showcased their beauty much to my delight. I started with a 6x12 piece of card stock and scored it using my Martha Stewart Scoreboard to make a book shape.

Then i used my BELOVED Mariposa paper stack! I had been avoiding cutting into this gorgeous paper long enough so I just went for it. I decorated the cover using the ribbon flowers, Prima Marketing Say it in pearls and a few sprigs of pretty feathers. The cover and all pages were trimmed in gold Paint Dabber.

Below I used a Tim Holtz Hitch Fastener and an elastic hair band for the closure. I love this technique especially for bulky minis because it keeps everything all together and in place.

The inside cover was lined with glittered and gold card stock from the coordinating Mariposa Card stock Stack.

This was a paper bag album so every other page opened up on the end for the addition of tags, trinkets or additional photos.

I had initially planned for this page to be the front cover but after gluing everything in place I realized that I had adhered it to the back cover....bah! It made for a beautiful back cover anyhow.

Using the original stand from my dear friend NatalieBramasole as a template I traced onto card stock and cut and folded it to make a coordinating chipboard stand to hold the mini. It too was covered in the gold and glittered paper from the Mariposa Stack.

I am more than pleased with the way it turned out and it is now ready for some personalizing and embellishment and that is truly the fun part!

"Whatta You Do?"

2010-06-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you are the happy recipient of bags and bags of satin ribbon scraps? That was the very question I found myself asking when at work we were accumulating bags of pretty satin ribbon cuttings daily.

I happen to work for Planetgiftbaskets.com which my twin sister owns. Because we make and ship out gorgeous gift baskets all over the world on a daily basis, these ribbon scraps tend to pile up in all different colors and styles. This is because after assembling and wrapping a gift basket we trim it out in a personalized satin ribbon before shipping.

I find myself looking at these trimmings and wondering what in the world I could do with them since it would be such a shame to throw them all away. Then I came across this awesome Youtube video by Paperdrama showing how to make these very vintage inspired satin ribbon roses! After watching the video I was off and running with making these gorgeous embellishments. I love the way these turned out and I am going to use them in so many ways. Check out the video for yourself and give this fun technique a try.

*Please pause music at bottom before watching the video.

More Creative Inspiration For You.

2010-06-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Please Use These In Your Art Only. No duplication for use in CD's or collage sheets for sale.

Zutter Distrezz It All Product Review.

2010-06-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

So it looks like I have found a new toy that I have managed to fall in love with! It is the new ultra-cool distressing tool from Zutter called The Distrezz It All. This handy little distresser is from the same Zutter that makes the awesome Bind-It-All.

I have to admit I was a little wary of this product when I first began to see others using it in their Youtube videos because frankly it looked a little dangerous to me. The open design of the feed channel coupled with the high speed of the exposed blade concerned me a bit. I decided to hang back for a bit before buying to see if there would be any complaints about lopped off fingertips and what not...lol I finally conceded and ordered mine and it arrived only a few days later. Incidentally, I did find a safety disclaimer on the site since ordering mine. You can read it here.

The machine itself was a lot smaller than anticipated so that in and of itself made it seem a bit safer to maneuver. I found that although the blade is exposed it would be very difficult to lop off a finger unless you deliberately tried to stick your finger into the channel! After deciding that it was indeed a safe tool I tried it out on different thicknesses of paper and materials and WOW! I love this thing!

It made 3 or 4 simple sheets of card stock so distressed on the edges that it appeared to be many more pieces of paper. It worked on paper, card stock, cardboard and chipboard. It can be used handheld or tabletop whichever you prefer. My final conclusion is that I just love this new tool! For some reason it has not seemed to catch on at my local craft stores enough for them to begin carrying it so I had to shop around to several online stores to find the best price and it cost me around $38.00 which was not bad considering all that it does. So my recommendation would be to give this handy little dandy a try. Check out all of the technique videos on Youtube as well. You will find loads of ideas for using this tool there.

*Please remember to pause the music at the bottom of page before watching the video.

Easy Peasy Vintage Flower Technique.

2010-06-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to ever have too many paper flowers for your art and crafting needs? I think not. This is why I was so excited to come across this really cool technique for making vintage inspired paper flowers than not only rival the expensive Prima Marketing brand but in my opinion they happen to look even better than them.

The video is by Julles and her Youtube Channel is Jannavilles. She has several techniques for making these and other gorgeous Prima lookalikes but these "Peony" style ones happen to be my favorite. After watching the videos please be sure to visit her Youtube channel on the link above so that you can enjoy her many other techniques.

*Please remember to pause the music at the end of the page before playing the video.

I Won A Prize....YAY!

2010-05-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Gals, I was so excited to learn that I won a prize from the National Scrapbooking Day Challenge over on Katherine's web community called Life On The Scrap Beach. The challenge was to suggest a themed technique for a page that was a little bit more involved than normally. Katherine herself would be challenged to complete the chosen challenge as part of a "Revenge" process for all of the difficult challenges she has issued the group this year.

The suggestion that I gave was for her to complete and album layout using only one color for the entire project! This monochromatic layout could consist of all the hues and shades of that one color only.

Anyhow, my challenge was chosen and I won a beautiful prize. Enjoy the video below where I show off all the wonderful pieces I received in this cool kit.

*Please Remember To Pause Music Below Before Enjoying The Video.

One Year Already?

2010-05-03T06:20:00.001-07:00

So here I sit this fine morning sipping my ambition also known as a cup of coffee when I happen to look over at the calender and realize that today is May 3! What's so special about May 3? Well, today is the one year anniversary of The Vintage Vignette! I can't believe it has gone so fast. I decided to do some checking and found that my Google ranking is at a 3 as well and that's not too shabby! That means that Google has graced my little blog with a number that means that folks really do like my blog (Sally Field moment) and that they feel it is informative enough to qualify me for a page ranking and that's pretty darn cool.

I have had so much fun meeting all of you over this last year and have made some really great friends through the comments and exchange of ideas for projects. I've had a blast visiting your blogs and following what you all have been up to a well. The blogosphere is such a wonderfully happy place and somewhere that I retire to at the end of each busy day for a bit of relaxation and catching up with friends.

Someone asked me why I have never changed the blog template when there is so much new stuff out there to choose from and my answer is simple. It is just that I am a weenie when it comes to change of most kinds. To me, there is something comforting in having something that you enjoy that never changes and that is why I have kept the template as is for so long. In other words, I just like it that's all.

I know that most bloggers are very generous by holding giveaways and contests in celebration of their one year anniversary but to be honest folks I'm just plain broke right now...lol No contests here cause I'm flat busted! I managed to spend X amount of dollars this month on craft and art goodies and am now suffering the consequences...hehe!

So instead of a giveaway I will offer you two free vintage images for you to use in your art. A gorgeous Victorian gal and a piece of vintage sheet music for your enjoyment.

Thank you so very much to all of you for your visits, comments, and inspiration over this past year. I look forward to another great year with you all and sharing our love of all things vintage until we "can't stands it no more!" Much love to you all. :)

Happy Earth Day.

2010-04-22T08:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Earth Day To Everyone! Earth Day is the day when we should just stop for one moment and reflect about the natural beauty that surrounds us every day. You know, the things that are there everyday but often go unnoticed because of our busy schedules and daily obligations. For many people it could be appreciation for the mountains or a favorite garden flower.

For me it is birds. Yes, I am an official card carrying BIRD NERD and have been for many years! I have the professional binoculars, all the field guides and bird journals. I read the birders magazines and even have Cd's that identify the calls of the different species. I have the long range camera and even a birding clock that sounds off a different bird call every hour. Yes, I am a bird nerd and loving it.

The very sight of them sends a warm feeling of peace and contentment around my heart. So in celebration of Earth day I thought I would share a few photos of the birds that visit my backyard bird oasis on a daily basis.

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

BLACK PHOEBE

AMERICAN RAVEN
CEDAR WAXWINGS

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD

HOUSEFINCH

EUROPEAN STARLING

How will you celebrate today?

Vintage Stationary And A Little Mel Torme' For Ya.

2010-04-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

Aaah, the lost art of letter writing you say? Yes. You know that archaic way of communication that existed long before email, text messaging, instant messaging, web cams and virtual phones. Letter writing was regarded as an art form way back when. One could expect the average letter to contain hand printed correspondence written on beautiful paper and embellished with whatever the sender fancied such as sweet perfume, dried flowers or a tucked away treat of some kind. Give this lost art a personal revival by simply right clicking the image and printing out your own vintage stationary.

On another note I just came across this cool photo of a very, very, very young Mel Torme'! This was a first for me as I have never seen a photo of him under the age of 40! He couldn't have been more than 2o here! Mel Torme' has always been one of my favorites. He was one of those great singers with a cool style that was all his own and could not be duplicated by another. As a matter of fact he was known as "The Velvet Fog" for his smooth as silk croonings and snazzy stylings. Yet another one of the greats that will live on in our memories forever.

Free Images For Use In Your Art.

2010-04-11T12:26:00.001-07:00

The above is a gorgeous vintage collage sheet courtesy of Flikr. They may not be used for any commercial purposes whatsoever such as for use on image Cd's or collage sheets for sale. I love the soft pinks throughout and the way the photos stand out so vividly even if the elderly woman at the bottom looks a little scary....

I thought this vintage woman was so beautiful. Look at her porcelain skin and soft features. I guess sepia tones can really bring out the beauty of a person. Please enjoy.

Vintage Satin Lollipop Flowers.

2010-04-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

My oh my, were these fun to make! After stumbling across Arlene's video tutorial at Mybutterflykisses12 on Youtube I knew I just had to give these a try! They are made from scraps of satin fabric that you can find in the remnant bins at any fabric store. The technique requires you to burn the edges of the circles that have been cut from the satin to form the lollipop shape. There are so many ways to use these in your artwork. I made several to adorn albums and even a few to wear as brooches and hair clips...I just love them! Check out Arlene's video below to see the exact technique that will have you on your way to creating some of these babies yourself.

Altered Composition Notebook.

2010-03-30T09:34:00.001-07:00

Here is yet another altered Mead Composition Notebook. These are so fun and absorbing to make. For this one I used another image from my collection of Lunagirl Vintage Image CD's. I just loved the spunky pose of this gal. I painted the spine and then covered it with K and Company paper from the Mckenna Collection. I matted the photo and used my Martha Stewart punch to trim out the border in cute little flowers and added a pearl to each flower center.

Then I went crazy with the silk flowers! I initially intended to add a few at the corners as an accent and ended up just adding one after another until I was satisfied. I added a few silk leaves and a satin ribbon (which you can barely see underneath all the flowers...hehe) to the spine.

Here is a closeup of the Martha Stewart Pansy punched photo mat. The closure is made of a plastic vintage button looped through a paper clip on the inside of the book. The back of the notebook has an elastic hair band looped the same way on the back cover allowing it to be pulled forward and secured around the button. For a complete tutorial on this technique see Weezie's Youtube Video on the link.

I cut the chipboard swirl using my Cricut Expression and an empty cereal box of all things. The cricut cuts cereal, cracker and other chipboard boxes excellently and they can be added to any project. I only wish that it would cut the really thick chipboard but the poor machine would probably blow up if I tried it! Anyhow, this will be a gift for a friend and I hope she loves receiving it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Girls Night Out.

2010-03-23T10:10:00.001-07:00

Last night our city hosted a local "girls night out" sponsored by all the local shops and little boutiques in our area. It was a great time. The shops chartered stretch limousines to drive everyone around from street to street to visit each shop at no expense to the patrons! My sister, 8 year old niece and I shopped to our hearts content. Below is my sister and niece entering our stretch limo.
All of the boutiques put their best foot forward and offered great merchandise at reduced prices as well as a myriad of wine, food and drink for each customer to enjoy as they browsed the store. My sister and niece pose in a shop window for me as I take their photo.

This little boutique had the most outrageous hats and clothing that I just couldn't resist getting dolled up for a photo. The leopard print jacket was faux-fur and floor length! How fabulous was that!

This boutique had a "Red Carpet" entrance to make you feel like a true VIP! All of the employees were dressed in glitter and glam outfits with sequins and jewels from head to toe. My sister and niece pose for a paparazzi photo on the red carpet below.

My niece asked to have her picture taken with one of the glittery dressed employees of the shop who graciously accepted.

By the end of the night we were all three exhausted! Goodies in hand we headed to the closest possible restaurant for a late dinner. In this photo my sister is just about on her last leg with exhaustion from our shopathon!

My niece and I enjoying a little hug and cuddle time as we decide that we are officially pooped out for the evening.

Although I managed not to spend very much money, I did walk away from our fun filled evening with some gorgeous beaded trim to use in my projects and a beautiful pair of glamorous earrings.

It was great fun and I look forward to doing it again next year.

Bling It On!

2010-03-17T07:14:00.001-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I made two very large mistakes. Number one: Thinking that I would have the willpower to just browse around the vintage jewelry and bead shop without needing to buy anything. Number two: Asking my husband to come along with me. Now, of the two mistakes the latter was the most dastardly! Not only did I NOT simply browse the shop, I had the store owner help me load bins and bins of broken jewelry onto the table for me. I then-like a scurvied pirate in search of treasures-proceeded to sort meticulously through each and every piece. On a sort of treasure hunt if you will!

At first my husband was very patient and thought the whole process was interesting but after the first hour it was all downhill. I dug with a fervor trying to stay two steps ahead of his annoyance while also trying not to crack up laughing. Anyhow, I did manage to find some very nice pieces to use in my mini albums and collages despite the conditions....lessons learned.

Changes! Changes!

2010-03-13T11:05:00.001-08:00

I was just not liking the way the finished journal cover was appearing so I made a few changes. I ripped off the extra leaves and added more flowers. I removed the extra peacock feather and added seed beads around the image using sticky tape. I like this version much better. :)

Handmade Journal Cover.

2010-03-11T01:04:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! I know I've been hit and miss the last few weeks but I just can't seem to get caught up! I am so behind on projects needing to be finished that it has my head spinning. Several of these projects are requiring much more time than I had anticipated with a few of them being given as gifts over the next few weeks.

I did however, finally finish the above journal cover that will be going to a very close friend for her 5 year wedding anniversary next month. She wanted a vintage feel and that was right up my alley. I used a gorgeous vintage image from my LUNAGIRL CD collection and a sheet of the Classic K boxed paper collection from K and Company for the background.

I created the flower embellishments by taking a sheet of aqua blue card stock and glimmer misting it with a pretty blue and then wetting and wrinkling it several times. I did the same thing with a darker shade of handmade paper and trimmed all the layers with stickles. The centers are rhinestone cluster brads from Oriental Trading Company. The cover will go over a coordinating backing attached with binding rings and filled with lined journal paper. I am seriously relieved that it is done and on to the next project as we speak.

Having Fun With Project Overload!

2010-02-25T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hello Vintage Vignetters! It has been a while since I have posted because I have been very busy finishing projects that I want to share with all of you. Although mixed media art pieces are more my genre, I have recently picked back up on my love for scrabooking as well. I have been dabbling in creating vintage mini albums in particular and as a matter of fact I would love to share with you the latest one created for my February swap partner over on Life On The Scrap Beach. If you get a chance why not pop over and check out this cool site for yourself. Anyway, let me know what you think!!

*Remember to pause the music at the bottom of the page below.

A Busy Little Bee, Is Me!

2010-02-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

It seems to me like it has been forever since my last post! Not really though. I have been very busy revamping my craft room by organizing and destashing. I was able to make some good progress in the last week and have finally finished up everything today. Take a peek and let me know what you think. Also, please stay tuned for some really cool items coming up next week from our friends at B'sueboutiques.com!

*Remember To Pause Music Below.

An Adorable Surprise.

2010-02-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

As you all know mini scrapbook albums have become my latest obsession. I love making them and I love receiving them even more. It is so rewarding to make something special for someone else that you have barely just met...I can't explain it but it is a wonderful experience indeed.

Just recently I joined a mini scrapbook swapping group called Life On The Scrap Beach hosted by Kathryn and it has been loads of fun. The January swap partners had been assigned just as I had joined so I missed out on that particular swap but the video below shows the most adorable mini created by Laura from Following The Paper trail for her swap partner's little son Mateo. His reaction from receiving this special gift was just priceless and I wanted to share it with all of you.

*Please Pause The Music Below.

K and Company Vintage Papers For Natalie.

2010-02-01T20:37:00.000-08:00

My Michaels was having an awesome sale on just about everything it seemed on my last visit. While standing in line to check out it was just like being at a party. Carts were piled high with goodies as ladies shared their treasures with others in line whom they had never even met.

At one point several people who had just finished their transactions began passing their remaining coupons down the line of those waiting to check out! Laughter and good times...who knew standing in line could be so much fun! I think the post office and the DMV could learn a few things from Michaels don't you think? Anyhow, here are a few of the cool deals I managed to scare up on this fun trip to my husband's most hated store. :)

So sorry about the end of the video where the lighting gets really bad but it was late and I was too tired to re-do it...hope you can get the general idea though. :)

*Scroll To Very Bottom To Pause Music.

Upcycled Tape Reels and A Free Vintage Image.

2010-01-26T22:40:00.000-08:00

We all get a kick out making something from nothing don't we? I know I do! Especially when it means I can keep it from ending up in a landfill somewhere. Take a peek at my video below to see how you might do the same with that next empty roll of tape you have laying around.

*Please remember to pause the music below before starting the video.

And another free vintage image for you. Isn't this gorgeous! I plan to use this for as a journal page on the vintage mini I am currently working on. Enjoy.

Click the image to enlarge and save to your computer. For use in your art only please. No collage sheets or image CD's....tsk,tsk...LOL :)

My Vintage Image Resources.

2010-01-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

Doverpublications.com -Browse around the site to check all categories.

Flikr.com - You'll need to sign up for account access in order to join the group. I belong to the one that says "Collage Images (not for posting art)".

Lunagirl.com- Image CD's for sale.

Oriental Trading Company Haul!

2010-01-12T11:36:00.000-08:00

My goodies from Oriental Trading Company finally arrived! I was so impressed with the quality of everything in my order. It just boggles my mind as to how they can sell this stuff at such ridiculously low prices. You can check them out at the link above or request to order a catalog as well. Also here is the link for the Cropadile kit that I received from HSN as well. Happy watching.

*Please pause the music below before watching the video.

I Can't Wait!

2010-01-09T23:10:00.000-08:00

Have you heard the news! I am so excited about the new Tattered Angels product coming on the market soon. If you are a fan of Glimmer Mist then you will be an even bigger fan of the new Glimmer Glaze! This newer version of glimmer mist is going to work for so many projects where the original version had problems sticking. Take a peak at the video below to learn more about what it does and how it works. It will be making its debut at CHA this month and there is already a lot of buzz about it so be sure to check it out once it hits the stores!

*Remember to pause the music below first.

Mini Meads.

2010-01-07T22:30:00.001-08:00

You know how it goes. You head out to Wal-Mart for a pack of toilet tissue and some bread and the next thing you know you are browsing the ENTIRE store going from aisle to aisle in search of something yummy or fun that you never intended to buy.

I was doing just that the other day at "Ye Old Wally" when I ran across the most adorable and tiniest (a little over 3x4 inches) of Mead Composition Notebooks! I have made covered notebooks in the past but never had I seen this cute little purse size book!

The ideas began to fly through this crafter's head like a slide show! Of course there were only three left on the shelf so I began hastily digging through the top shelf and found several more. Notebooks in hand I went home and set to making this little cutie with ideas for the rest of them dancing through my head for the rest of the night.

A Most Wonderful Gift.

2010-01-04T16:19:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I said that I would share a most wonderful gift from a very special friend on the other side of the world. Natalie is an artist who makes the most beautiful bookcards, cards, minis and many other creations from her home in Belgium. Below is the bookcard that she created especially for me.

It is a beautiful vintage cream color with ornate gold accents. It also displays one of my most favorite scriptures Mathew 28:19,20. She made it with a little door that swings open complete with hinges and all to display the second half of the verse. She even made a beautiful gold stand for me to display it with. I was so touched to receive such a beautiful piece of artwork from someone so special that I just had to share it with all of you.

If you would like to see more of her gorgeous bookcards, please visit her Youtube Channel where she demonstrates how to make these and many other wonderful pieces. You can also visit Her Blog as well for more inspiring projects.

Friendship.

2010-01-03T23:45:00.001-08:00

Isn't it wonderful to meet new friends? You know that special friend that you just seem to connect with even though you have just met? I have recently had the privilege of meeting a very special gal who lives all the way on the other side of the world in Belgium but it seems like we have known each other forever after only a few weeks.

Please stop by tomorrow as I share with you a very special gift that she was so kind enough to make for me and in the meantime go hug your cherished friends. :)

Finally My Very Own Beeswax Tutorial.

2009-12-25T20:21:00.000-08:00

As much as I love to work with beeswax I just never have gotten around to making a tutorial that shows how I like to use it best. Finally, I took the time and created the following tutorials that will show you step by step, how to make a beautiful wall hanging out of the simplest of supplies. I hope you will forgive the constant sound of the heat gun in the video but it was a very cold morning and I had a bit of trouble keeping the wax hot enough to work without it. The completed tutorial does take a little while to wacth but I hope you will find it enjoyable.

*As always, remember to pause the music below before watching the videos and enlarge the screen for closer viewing if you wish.

The Finished Piece

Corner Bookmark Bling!

2009-12-20T21:54:00.001-08:00

Just recently I have discovered a most wonderful place just around the corner from my home (who knew!). It is The Goodwill Bookstore.

Apparently this little treasure has been tucked away in my grocery store shopping center and has gone unnoticed by me until now. Anyway, since discovering this awesome place -hardcover books old and new are only $1.99 and softcover books .99 cents-I have been reading up a storm!

With multiple books being read at once, I have been getting very tired of grabbing scraps of paper, receipts, and even...ahem...squares of toilet paper while reading on the potty (you know you do that too!) to mark my place in whatever book I am reading.

With this in mind I decided that I wanted a very pretty bookmark to hold my place but I hate the standard kind that always falls to the ground the second you open the book. Then I found this great tutorial on Youtube that shows you how to make a corner bookmark and so I made the one below for myself. Check out the tutorial and then go make yourself something pretty.

*Remember to pause the music at the bottom before watching the video...enjoy!

Don't You Dare!

2009-12-18T06:43:00.000-08:00

"That's Right! You just try it...Go ahead, I dare you....wake me up and you just see what happens!"

This is exactly how I have been feeling this entire week that seems like it has stretched into being 3 weeks long! I know that this time of year can get a bit hectic and hard to complete our every day tasks but WOW do I feel like I have been hit by a mack truck. I knew I was exhausted when the image above caught my eye and instead of savoring the romance of it; I felt like I could just scream at the insensitive dude for waking her up!

Kids!

2009-12-11T06:16:00.000-08:00

Kids are something else. Tell me, how are you supposed to discipline children when they are so stinking cute after they get in trouble for something? Below is a letter of apology I received from my 7 year old niece who was sent to her room for snatching a bottle of chocolate sauce right out of my hand to get a better look as her mother and I were discussing its contents.

After sitting in her room for about 2o minutes she emerged with this heartfelt and hilarious letter of apology written of her own volition! It was so hard to keep a straight face as she asked me to read it aloud and accept her apology. Lots of hugs and kisses later; we all had a good laugh.

And all this from the same child who recently wrote a note to her teacher on the back of her unfinished homework that her mother had no idea about..."I couldn't finish my homework because my mom took me shopping". !

Today Is The Auction!!

2009-12-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

Update!! Today is the auction for Benson and Claire and we hope you find the time to stop over at A Place To Bloom to view the many great items donated by fellow artists and craftspeople. The auction will run from today 12/10 through Saturday 12/12 so if you can, please stop by and take a peak before it ends on Saturday. It has been so great to learn about this amazing family and participate in the auction as well. I am sure that it has been a great experience for all involved. If you have not already, please take the time to read about Benson and Claire below and then hop on over to The Auction and take a peak!

Many times in life the suffering of others becomes overwhelming and possibly too devastating to think about for any length of time. We tend to look the other way because it is just too painful to ponder over. We feel helpless because of the limitations of our own abilities to help. But then, every once in awhile the opportunity to help someone in great need presents itself right in front of our face and we just know in our heart that immediate action is required. And then we rejoice in the fact that here is an opportunity where we CAN help and make a difference is such a simple and joyful way! That opportunity came about for me today while blog hopping when I cam across the story of these two beautiful children in need.

"Benson and Claire were born with a rare genetic disease in which their liver produces too much oxalate--called primary hyperoxaluria. Claire's condition has progressed much faster than Benson's. She has been on dialysis since she was 3 months old and is on dialysis 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. She is now on the waiting list to receive a combined kidney / liver transplant. It is expected Benson will eventually need similar transplants. visit www.cotaforbensonandclaires.com for more information about COTA and Benson and Claire's medical journey.

Understandably, they are in great need of financial assistance for their continuing care. I understand personally the financial impact transplantation care can require.

The reason this story touched my heart so much is the fact that my own father has been awaiting a kidney transplant for several years himself. He has been strong and courageous in doing his part to stay healthy and has become very disciplined in his routine. He must dialyze every 3 hours through the peritoneal cavity at home to remove deadly toxins from his body until a transplant comes. He does this at home every 3 hours of the day and gets a short rest through the night. He has remained active and has really made this taxing routine a way of life. He goes on trips and works on many home building projects and has lots of hobbies.

Because I could relate to what these children were going through, I was so thrilled when I learned that A Place To Bloom would be holding a silent auction on December 10th to raise funds for the continuing care of these great kids! The silent auction will feature many items from fellow artists, bloggers and others who have been moved to donate as well. I will be donating the recently made Chiyogami pendant that I posted about several days ago.

If you can, I urge you to stop by A Place To Bloom for further information on how you too can help, participate or simply leave encouraging comments for the family of these two bright children. Also, another way you can help is to post Benson and Claire's blog banner on your blog or website to help get the word out. The banner is a direct link over to the family's personal website where they provide frequent updates on how the kids are doing, the things they are up to and the daily chuckles they provide for their family. I know for a fact that posting this banner makes a difference because after all, that is exactly how I came across the story of these wonderful children myself!

Paper Rose Tutorial.

2009-12-02T23:59:00.000-08:00

I found a really neat and easy technique for making paper roses on Youtube the other night. The tutorial required a bit of folding and cutting through several thick layers of paper to get the 8 petaled flower shape that would ultimately create the rose in three layers. Because I am not the most patient of folks; I was convinced there had to be and easier way or at least a way to shorten some of the steps.

Then it dawned on me that I could just use an 8 petaled paper flower punch! I grabbed my Whale Punch from EK Success and punched out three flowers. Then I just followed the technique in the video picking up right after she had cut out the 3 flower shapes by hand. My flowers turned out a little less intricate but I loved them all the same. Click on the photo above to enlarge and see the 3 flowers I made up close. I used them for several handmade cards. I have also posted the tutorial below in case you are interested in making your own beautiful paper roses.

*As always, be sure to pause the music below before enjoying the video.

Glass Tile Pendant Panache.

2009-12-01T19:12:00.001-08:00

I have been having a blast creating these glass tile pendants for about a week now. I purchased the white glass wafers from Etsy.com where they are readily available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These ones are actually quite large and are about the size of a silver dollar.

Each wafer has a slight magnifying effect which beautifully enlarges whatever image you are using to create with. You can use a variety of materials to create these such as paper, fabric, and transfers.

For the blue one I used a gorgeous piece of Japanese Chiyogami Paper that I have been wanting to do something special with.

The white one was created using a scrap of handmade paper with a black backing that partially shows through giving a unique and interesting look.

The delicate rose one is probably my favorite of all and was made with a colorful rose graphic taken from an old Victorian calender. I love how feminine this one looks and I think it would make the perfect gift for the Victorian art lover.

The process involved in creating the pendants is just a tad bit involved as perfectly sizing your image can be a challenge. Once your image has been sized a liquid resin solution is applied directly to the glass and is pressed onto whatever image is being used.

Next, several layers of the resin are added to the back of the sealed pendant. In between the first and second layer of the back is when the pendant bail has to be perfectly centered so as not to give a lop-sided appearance. The final step is to completely seal the back with more resin to make it water resistant. They have been a lot of fun to create and I plan to make many more and will also put a few up for sale.

1920's Vintage Cabinet Card.

2009-11-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this vintage freebie. It is a 1920's vintage cabinet card. Many of these have been colorized for art purposes but it is nice to come across one that still has the original coloring and patina. I plan to use this for a 5x7 canvas collage. I'd love to see what you do with it. Email it to me!

*Free to use in your Art only, not for Sale on a Collage Sheet or image CD.

E6000 Whew!

2009-11-27T08:09:00.001-08:00

Can anyone recommend another industrial strength art adhesive other than E6000? Working with this stuff has got to be somewhat toxic don't you think? The fumes are highly noxious and I suspect maybe even a little dangerous. I am working on some commissioned glass tile pendant pieces and need an industrial strength adhesive with a little more bite. Diamond glaze has been my resin adhesive of choice as of late but with large glass tiles this is not a good option. Let me hear your thoughts.

Paper Flowers.

2009-11-25T09:15:00.001-08:00

Remember those crepe paper flowers you used to make in school? I had forgotten all about them until I stumbled across a wonderful artist on Youtube. Her name is Natalie Bramasole and she resides in Belgium where she creates the most beautiful art books and pieces. In this particular tutorial she showed how to make these beautiful paper flowers to add to your cards and art projects. I immediately set to work and created some fun pieces to add to the stack of cards I have been trying to finish and send out.

In the tutorial she shows you how to color your finished flower with Glimmer Mist and Perfect Pearls mica powder which is what I did with this gorgeous sea blue flower. After drying the glimmer mist with a heat gun the flowers become crispy and very manageable. You can then shape the petals in whatever fashion you wish to.

Here is an unsprayed white flower I decided to leave white to go with the toille paper behind it.

A brown sepia colored flower to add to a card featuring vintage sheet music. The pearl in the center is a bit large but hey, you use what you have right?

Here is some glimmer paper I created using two sheets of coordinating card stock to go with the blue flower. I wet the sheets of card stock, wrung them out and dried them with the heat gun. Next I added a misting of glimmer mist and then dried that with a heat gun. The photo does not do justice to the true sparkle and shine that the paper really has in person.

Please be sure to watch Natalie's video tutorial below and then stop by her neat blog for a visit. She has many other video tutorials that I am sure any art lover will find inspiring.

*Don't forget to pause the music below before enjoying the video.

Cats And Keyboards?

2009-11-24T14:26:00.000-08:00

What is it about Cats and Keyboards? They love nothing more than to stretch out right across your desk and smush the keyboard of your computer. Maybe it is because they like to see the asterisk or the letter M dance across the screen in a never ending fashion until they are promptly whisked aside. Whatever the reason I am convinced that they are aware of the precise moment you begin to read something important. They wait for just the right moment to pounce onto your desk and then PLOP! There they are laying right across the keys.

My little Spanky Doodle has gotten quite good at this little routine and I have given up the fight and I fly my white flag. Nowadays I consider his interruptions as a hint to take a break and enjoy some kitty and me time.

Annoying as it may be, I try and remember how fortunate I am to have such a loving little kitty as my Spanky. He is so affectionate and I owe it to the fact that I nurtured him just as a mother cat would from the age of 5 weeks old. I would cradle him on my chest and simulate a mother's licking routine by rubbing my chin across his face and head. To this day he jumps up on my chest, curls up and ALWAYS throws his little arms around my neck to be loved by his momma.

This horrendous photo (of me) was taken yesterday after I threw my back out as I lay somewhat helpless on the couch. My little Spanky immediately jumped up and threw his arms around me and lovingly comforted his ailing momma. Aaaah to be loved.

Don't Throw Away That Box!!

2009-11-22T08:56:00.000-08:00

That's right, I have developed quite the reputation for saying "Don't throw that away...I can make something out of it!" After sharing this delicious peppermint bark with my husband I knew I wanted to make something special out of this cute little box.

Sadly, my Grandfather passed away last year at the age of 84 and as the first year anniversary of his death is approaching I knew I wanted to do something special for his wife whom he married later in life but loved so dearly. This peppermint bark box was the perfect size for the gift I wanted to give her.

Using my favorite medium of beeswax, I covered the entire box and added an image into the still hot wax. After adding a few coats of wax I stamped into the edges all around with an acryllic stamp and then added and embellishment and rub-ons to personalize the box.

Next, I printed out a lovely poem of remembrance and adhered it to the inside of the box and placed a layer of vellum over top of it. To read the poem enlarge the photo.

Then I took some gold shimmer card stock, trimmed it to size and added it to the base. Next, I added a gold locket I found at LuckyFeather.com which sells wonderful charm jewelry that you can personalize with a photo. They also have a great "photo shrinker" tool which allows you to shrink any photo to fit the size of jewelry piece that you have purchased.

I then added a sprig of paper flowers with a velvet ribbon tied at the base and sprinkled a few extra loose flowers into the box. I think she will really enjoy wearing this little keepsake of the man she shared her life with in her later years. I liked the fact that the necklace also has a privacy panel that fits loosely or securely (whichever is preferred) over the photo depending on h0w the recipient would like for it to be viewed.

I miss my Grandfather, I know we all do in my family but I hope this heartfelt little gift brings some comfort to the wonderful woman that he loved so dearly.

I'm In Love!!!

2009-11-20T05:53:00.001-08:00

That's right! I am in love with my new bread machine! I have been looking for weeks to find the best bread machine on the market. After doing lots of research and reading tons of reviews for every machine imaginable, I decided to buy the Zojirushi BBCC-X20 Home Bakery System and hope for the best. Wow, did I make a great choice! This thing is wonderful! Better than any bread machine I have ever owned. Just 3 hours after opening the box my husband and I were enjoying fresh baked olive, onion and herb bread!

It was so incredibly easy to use. I love the fact that it has a digital display that is easily navigated. There are lots of options to choose from when deciding what kind of bread to make but to make sure you are not overwhelmed they include a DVD as well as a manual and an idea cookbook.

Most of the other bread machines I had considered before purchasing this one made these funny looking tall loaves instead of the traditional long loaves you would expect a loaf of bread to look like. This machine turned out a beautiful and normal looking long loaf that I considered superior to the less expensive bread machines. It does however take up a bit more counter space than I expected but I thought it was an easy trade off.

Another advantage it has over other machines is that it has dual kneading blades. Most of the other machines I considered only had a single blade and when reading their reviews everyone complained of the same problem of under kneaded and lop sided finished loaves!

So with the cold weather of winter approaching I highly recommend the Zojirushi bread machine if you would like to have fresh baked bread that does not take all day long to make and that will spare your wrists and your nerves! It is also good to know that it is also the machine preferred by professional bakers. It may cost a bit more than the standard store bought machine but with all that it does, how sturdy it is and the perfect bread it turns out; I think it well worth the price.

Finally Some Projects!

2009-11-17T23:42:00.000-08:00

It sure seems like forever since I have been able to get down to the business of creating something. Life gets busy and things just tend to get pushed to the back burner at times. I've been busy working a few more hours a week than usual and have found myself too exhausted to get into the mood to create.

Finally this week I have found my mojo to create a few pieces just for me! I even created a few pieces to give as gifts as well. I have always wanted to try the simple technique used to create a domino pendant. I used an image from my Flikr pool that was applied with a touch of Mod Podge. Next I added a layer of Diamond Glaze and edged it out in copper foil. Finally I added a few flourishes using a Stazon permanent ink pad to prevent smudging. I topped it off with a few coordinating beads and a satin ribbon.

Here are a few hair accessories made to go in my hair. The hair sticks were made using an extra pair of chopsticks from my last Chinese take out order! These were fun to make and even more fun to wear tucked into a bun or french roll. The hair fork was created using the same scrap booking paper adhered to a raw brass base with a little Mod Podge and bling.

Finally here are some itsy bitsy pendants made using recycled vintage jewelry pieces. The bases were mini cabochons I found on Etsy.com but the center focal pieces were made from broken pieces of vintage jewelry from other pieces. I simply glued them into the centers using a little bit of Diamond Glaze. They are no bigger than a nickel but they are so dainty and feminine and now I am looking for the perfect chains to go with each one.

I have so many other projects to start as well as others waiting to be finished that I just need to buckle down and find the time, energy and mojo to finish!

Sooo Cold!!

2009-11-12T23:49:00.001-08:00

Can you say FA-REEEZING? The hubby and I decided to throw on our coats and head up the mountain to Big Bear Lake here in California. We live just at the foothills of the awesome San Bernardino National Forest so the drive was relatively short for us. The temps at our house were in the comfortable 70's but when we got up the mountain they were in the low 50's!

We were sooo cold. I managed to stuff all of my hair (and man do I have a ton of it!) up under my hat and that warmed me up a bit. My husband had only grabbed a light hoodie jacket on the way out the door since we had planned on bumming around all day long. Boy was he sorry once we got up the mountain.

We enjoyed a great lunch at Boo Bears Den where the food was delicious and extremely affordable. After lunch we drove all around town checking out the shops and antique stores. We pulled over at the lake and checked out the ducks as they fiendishly dabbled in the shallows for something to eat with butts bobbing on the surface.

It was nice to get away and just spend the day together with nowhere to HAVE to go and nothing to HAVE to do. Don't we all deserve to do that once in awhile?

2009-11-07T21:01:00.001-08:00

I've been a just a wee bit out of the loop the last week or so. You may have noticed my posts' becoming fewer and fewer and even a little dull. No, I am not tiring of my little bloggy...it just so happens that my computer...CRASHED!!! If you have ever had the misfortune of this experience then you know what a horrible and inconveniencing drag it can be.

Things, however, are looking up as my smart, handsome, intelligent and sexy husband also happens to know how to switch out the bad stuff in my computer for the good. Now that it is all bandaged and fixed up I can get back down to the business of blogging and creating. Yay!

Look Out Marlon Brando...You're Next!

2009-10-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this technique while cruising Youtube for art inspiration and this technique just amazed me. You could really use any photo for this but a repeated image photo like the one used in the video really seems to make a statement.

I happen to love photos (and film) featuring a young Marlon Brando. Not that I am opposed to the work of his later years but it just seems to me that the huge body of work he did before "The Godfather" (which I refuse to watch because of the violence) goes under appreciated. Marlon took a huge amount of studio head shots during his career and I can't wait to get my hands on a few of them to try out this technique on.

There is an antique mall that I love to spend time in that has an entire section dedicated to nicely arranged and well preserved, classic film, head shots. They are all taken on glossy 8x10's and are just perfect for this project. The video is a little over six minutes but well worth waiting to see how she arrives at the finished piece. Enjoy.

Be Afraid!....Be Very Afraid...Then Get Out That Credit Card!

2009-10-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

The wonderful world of Etsy can be a fabulous resource for the mixed media artist to fulfill their commissioned art needs. However, sometimes it is nice to find other resources that rely on a bit more of a stable business premise. This is especially true when purchasing large orders of supplies to fulfill commissioned art pieces where a single checkout procedure would make far more sense. This is especially true when you have projects that must be completed and delivered under a pre-designated time frame.

Recently I stumbled across an awesome supplier called Ornamentea! They specialize in just about everything for the mixed media artist be it collage, Steampunk, or bits and baubles. The only area that they seem to be a bit lacking in is the vintage ephemera department but one can always go to Flikr or one of the other copyright-free vintage image resources out there for that.

I recently purchased several of the filigree items and cabochons for personal imagery jewelry pieces and WOW! was I impressed with the quality! Even the raw brass pieces needed only minor polishing before beginning to work with them. They had a variety of cabochons, cameo settings and bases as well as that darn 10oz bottle of Diamond Glaze that I have been searching all over the world for!

They also had a variety of other resin setting agents but I have always preferred the Diamond Glaze as it is far less toxic than some of the other resin products on the market and should I someday decide to have children I certainly wouldn't want them to be born with a third eye or something simply because I used copious amounts of toxic resin products in my artwork...LOL.

Bead Caps! Can I just tell you about the HUGE variety of bead caps I found there! You know how much I love creating vintage inspired hatpins...I was doing a happy dance all the way to the check out page after finding these babies. They have everything from raw brass to sterling silver findings in this category. Especially when you are making vintage reproduction hatpins do you need authentically aged looking hardware such as these.

This place was also a STEAMPUNK artist's dream! If Steampunk is your specialty then you will be thrilled to find that you can purchase your components in bulk! For a set price you will get everything you could possibly need to create collaged canvases, mixed media jewelry and everything in between. For all that you get I found the prices to be extremely reasonable.

And if all that wasn't enough, Ornamentea also features an external blog separate from their official website that features tutorials, ideas and tips from like minded mixed media artists to gain inspiration from. Remember, the prices are reasonable, the shipping fast and the overall experience much better than shopping Etsy for supplies from individual vendors. Be sure to check them out and give me some feedback about your experience with this awesome company.

* Post Script.

After re-reading this post I realized that I may have given the impression that Etsy.com is not a good place to shop for mixed media supplies and I now realize how that impression could ruffle a few feathers. This was certainly NOT the impression I was wanting to give.

Etsy is a wonderful place to acquire needed supplies indeed...heck, I even have my own Etsy shop! What I was trying to say in my own inarticulate fashion was that those looking to buy a variety of supplies all at once might likely prefer shopping at this new supplier.

Unfortunately with Etsy if you find 10 different supplies from 10 different vendors you will be required to make a separate checkout transaction with each vendor for thier individual store's products and that can be a time consuming hassle if you are on a time crunch.

Also, if you find that you have an issue with your purchase after receiving it then customer resolution is dependant upon your conversations with a single person's interpretation rather than a customer service department with predesignated policies and procedures. In the past these two issues have caused me a bit more stress and effort than I have wanted to deal with when purchasing larger quantities of supplies.

2009-10-23T06:52:00.001-07:00

Hey! Didn't I used to create art and post it here on this blog? I have the faintest memory of doing just that sometime ago....LOL!

OK, now it is time for me to quit clowning around and finally get some projects done so stay tuned for some really cool things that I have got coming up soon.

In the meantime I will do as my Dad always used to say and

Quit -a- yackin and get -a- crackin!

My Heart Just Ached...

2009-10-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

It was called Ladies In Lavender and it was a story that I don't think I will ever be able to forget. My heart still aches for its prominent character, Ursula. I watched this movie recently and was moved to tears by many of the heart wrenching moments of the film. It stars two absolute legends of English film, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench who happens to be my favorite female actress of all time.

The story takes place in Cornwall England in the pre-war era of the English sea coast. I will not go into all of the details of the film but I will give a brief overview so consider this your spoiler alert! if you wish not to hear the details.

Janet (Maggie Smith) and Ursula (Judi Dench) are two aged sisters living on the sea coast of picturesque Cornwall, England. Janet's husband was killed in the first war many years before and Ursula was never able to marry for one reason or another. One morning after a fierce storm a young man washes up on the shore after falling overboard his ship sailing to America. The sisters take him in and nurse him back to health where they learn that he is Polish and speaks almost no English.

Ladies in Lavender. (2004) Photos

Ladies in Lavender. (2004) Photos

This was the part of the film that just had me blubbering in tears. It took me a while to catch on but I began to realize what was happening. Ursula who was never married and has now grown old begins to awaken to feelings of love and romance that she has never experienced before, for this young man. You can imagine how carefully and sensitively this had to be portrayed in the film so as not to give an unsavory impression. It was beautifully presented and my heart just ached for poor Ursula who had begun to experience love for the first time in her life although it would never come to be as it only exists in her mind and heart. The young man has no idea of her developing feelings but Janet soon catches on and tries to reason with her very emotional sister to no avail.

Ladies in Lavender. (2004) Photos

Not only is the film a moving portrayal of unrequited love and raw human emotion but it is also a cinematographic pleasure to watch. Every scene is filled with coastal beauty as well as the indoor scenes that are filled with beautiful antiques, vintage millinery, teapots, china and cottage adornments. I ended up watching the film a second time just to savor the clothing and accoutrement's of the era that are very visible in the film.

Ladies in Lavender. (2004) Photos

The film is also filled with beautiful and emotion stirring scores and violin pieces which will bring you to tears from the shear beauty of them all by themselves! In the film Andrea (the young man) is an amazing violinist and this ties in wonderfully with the overall feeling of the movie.

Ladies in Lavender. (2004) Photos

So there you have it, ladies! The next time you are in the video store and need a good chick flick to help you get out those bottled up tears, be sure to look for this wonderful piece of movie mastery called Ladies In Lavender.

1940's Glamour Girl.

2009-10-12T22:36:00.001-07:00

Isn't this the coolest painting! She is a 1940's Glamour Girl. I found her in my Flikr Collage Pool of images. It was designated as free to use in your art so go ahead and make something fabulous with it. :)

I Dare You!

2009-10-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

I just found this adorable video tutorial from Rosebonbon Creations on how to make a very nicely done "Wedding Jar" to give as a decoration or keepsake. There are so many things you could do with one of these cuties. How about giving one as a wedding gift with a photo of the real bride and groom inside? What about for a 50th wedding anniversary? This nicely done tutorial sent my mind reeling with ideas for creating a very special gift. Now, what about the dare part? I dare you to watch this entire video from start to finish without tapping your foot to the music once! Can you do it?...I sure couldn't!

2009-10-03T22:40:00.001-07:00

Aren't these the most adorable soaps you have ever seen? I found these at The Feathered Nest Blog Shop. I have been following this neat blog written by a gal named Dawn for awhile but only just realized she also has a blogshop with some really great items for sale.

These adorable soaps would look so beautiful nestled into a nest from the craft store and placed near the sink of a guest bath wouldn't they! They come in several colors too. She also sells a speckled cream egg that looks very much like the eggs laid by my little nuthatch birdies each year in my backyard bird boxes. Do be sure to check out her Blog as well as her blogshop on your next blog hop.

A Blue Beauty.

2009-10-01T00:06:00.000-07:00

Bird Photos from: Flikr.com.

For as long as I can remember I have always loved birds. You can imagine how excited I was then when my hubby and I purchased our home on a bird sanctuary in southern California. Our home is surrounded by several large park areas and three serene lakes that are stocked with fish, turtles, ducks and American Coots. We also get loads of visiting birds such as Canadian geese, grebes, cormorants, and egrets. Although most of the birds that frequent the lakes are migratory, many of them are year round residents. Mixed in with the flocks of wild ducks you will find a handful of tame ducks and geese that call our community home all throughout the year.

Several times a week I grab my binoculars in the early morning hours and head out to my favorite part of the lake where I love to watch the egrets and blue herons fish. They sit there patiently for long periods of time until they are swiftly able to spear a fish. They toss it straight into the air and catch it with their beaks and swallow it down whole. It is really something to see!

The Great Blue Heron has been the most shy of all the birds by far. As soon as they spot you approaching at a distance they usually take flight and fly away to one of the other lakes on the property. It has been hard to examine them closely even through binoculars for this reason. So you can imagine my delight this morning when on my morning stroll when I came across this giant flight feather from a Great Blue Heron! The picture does not do it justice. The color is so icy blue and the detail is just amazing. The next time you visit your neighborhood park or wetland you will want to be sure to scan the shores for one of these most amazing of creatures.

.My Photo.

I WON! I WON! I WON! And I Never WIN Ever!!!

2009-09-27T08:12:00.001-07:00

I was so excited to get a message this morning from Amy over at Mod Podge Rocks, letting me know that I won one of the cool starter pack prizes she offered as part of her very first giveaway! I have been wanting to try all the different types of mod podge available for some time now.

This cool kit comes with 5 different bottles of Mod Podge that can be used to decoupage a variety of surfaces such as fabric, paper and wood. I am so thrilled and can't wait to start trying new projects with it. Did I mention that I never win AAAAAAANNNNNYTHING! So this was a nice and refreshing surprise. Thank you so much Amy! :)

Vintage Playing Cards.

2009-09-26T05:57:00.001-07:00

I found this neat set of vintage playing cards in my flikr ephemera pool and was so excited

to share them with you. I think they would make lovely covers to a set of mini

books to give as gifts or to keep on a coffee table

holding mini pictures of whatever. I love how

the sepia tone of them

has just a hint

of pink.

Making Sense Of It All.

2009-09-24T08:36:00.003-07:00

For months now I have been hearing about this whole John & Kate thing. I must admit that I had no clue as to who these two people were until they hit the front pages of the news stands and appeared in little snippets on the evening news. Because the t.v. shows that I watch tend to be documentaries, news magazines and classic films I only recently found out about the scandal involving the extramarital affairs of the husband John. Learning that the couple had 8 small children shed some light on the situation for me. The stresses that must bring were obvious.

So the other night as I am flipping through the channels I see the promo for the John & Kate show that was just starting and decided to watch it for the first time. As I sat there and watched I could not believe what I was seeing! The adorable kids were amazing and smart but what disturbed me greatly about this program was the way the wife, Kate, treated her husband! As I sat there in amazement I watched several more episodes. This woman was downright horrible with a capital H to him! You could hear the disdain and disgust for him in her voice every time she spoke to him or of him. What was even more disturbing was the way he would cower down when publicly (and on national television no less) humiliated by his wife. I couldn't believe that Kate would act this way for the whole world to see and I wondered how much worse she treated him when the cameras were not rolling!

Now don't get me wrong. I later learned that he had an affair and that is unacceptable and a deal breaker in my opinion but I suspect that the problems started much earlier in the marriage and long before the affair.

This got me to thinking about men in general and how different they are from women from the start. Stroking the ego of a man is not something enjoyed by most women in general but oddly enough, it seems to be just as necessary as our need to have our man tell us we look beautiful or that we are great wives and mothers. The bottom line in my opinion is that a man needs to know that he is making his woman happy in order to "Feel" like a man. Believe it or not, they crave our approval and nothing makes them prouder than to feel like they did something for us that made us beam. Granted, some men are just rotten to the core but for the most part the average, well rounded man proudly seeks out opportunities to gain his wife's approval and respect.

I am quite sure that throughout this marriage, John realized how much his wife despised mostly everything about him and therefore he looked elsewhere for approval. He was totally wrong for going outside the marriage instead of seeking ways to improve his own but the inevitable path that this marriage would take seemed unavoidable. However, the fact that these kinds of relationships and marriages do exist got me to thinking about some wise words that I once heard. They were from an older, grey haired, gentleman who was speaking to a group of women and giving advice on how to have a long and successful marriage. He and his wife had been happily married for many, many years and so he was well qualified to give such advice.

With wisdom and authority he addressed the young women and said that "the key to a happy marriage is to treat each other with respect. Husbands should not disregard their wives opinions and should highly regard them with dignity and respect. On the other hand, wives should never try to dominate their husbands and force them into submission on any matter. (And here is the part that really stuck with me). Because if a woman tries to dominate her husband and treats him with disdain and disgust....he won't like her...and more importantly....he won't like himself!

As I finished watching John & Kate those words of wisdom came back to me and I realized that I was seeing that situation playing out right in front of me. It really made me sad for the children who were no doubt paying close attention to the interactions of their parents and quite possibly learning all the wrong examples and behaviours for an unhappy and unsuccessful marriage. How sad.

How Do You Spell Relief?

2009-09-22T06:31:00.001-07:00

FALL!

That's how I spell relief. Today is the first day of fall and I can't say good riddance to summer fast enough! The hot temperatures here in southern California are just about gone with the exception of this final week where we will see temps above 105 degrees in places.

It's time to throw an extra blankie on the bed and unpack your sweaters and boots. So sit back, relax and enjoy the change of the season.

I know I will!

The Old Grey Mare...And All That Sort Of Rot.

2009-09-20T22:31:00.001-07:00

Boy oh boy have I been feeling my age this past week! "The 'ol' grey mare just ain't what she used to be. At 36 I wonder how in the world it is possible to be feeling so darn old these days. My back hurts, my energy is low and my stomach feels like a bubbling cauldron of acid every single night!

This should come as no surprise to me as I distinctly remember my mother always heading off to bed with a roll of tums in one hand and an aspirin in the other. Just the other day I mentioned to her how I have begun to have stomach acid problems and she said that her problems started in her 30's as well. Oh No, I said. You see I love my peppers and onions and the very thought of giving them up in my cooking sends shivers up my spine.

I love ethnic foods. Jamaican, Indian, Thai you name it and I will try it. So giving up my peppers, onions and spicy foods just "ain't" gonna happen anytime soon. Along with my misbehaving stomach is my disobedient back. Just the other day it decided to spasm and lock up so bad that I couldn't even get up off the couch! What's that all about? I feel like I need a walker or something.

My sister has always laughed at me and said that I am an old lady at heart. Mainly because I love all things old and vintage...heck, I even love elderly people. I am usually the person sitting in the corner with the elderly grandma or grandpa at gatherings asking question after question about their life and experiences.

This is why it came as no surprise to me the other day while complaining to my sister about all my aches and pains that she said something so hilariously funny and true. After listing all my recent ailments I explained that I wanted to purchase a Craftmatic adjustable bed because they are supposed to be good for back and indigestion problems. She looked at me and without batting and eye she said "If you get that bed....then the transformation will be complete." I guess I truly am old at heart!

Shaker Cards.

2009-09-13T16:15:00.001-07:00

What is it about moving parts on a greeting card that just seems to capture our attention much more than a regular old card? Is it the sound, the motion, the fun? It could be all of the above but for me it is the interactive nature of the card that makes it much more special. Shaker Cards are the perfect example of an interactive style greeting card.

There are many other styles that might catch the eye such as pop up cards, or cards that play music but shaker cards play on the child-like qualities that have been within us from birth. What person never played with a rattle as a baby, or rattled the box of a gift just before opening it as a child? I think that must be why the "shaker" noise appeals to us so much as adults. It gives us an opportunity to look back and remember the simple toys of our first years.

I have always wanted to try my hand at making one of these fun cards but just never got around to it. They always seemed to be a little more involved than my schedule would allow at the time. Then I found the most wonderful shaker card tutorial from Kristin over at Leading A Craftastic Life!

Her blog is so fun and informative and always has some kind of fabulous giveaway going on or special offer at her adorable Craftastic Boutique. One thing I really like about her blog is that it is updated frequently so there is always something new and exciting to see. When she posted this tutorial on shaker cards I was surprised by how incredibly simple they were to make.

Want to try your hand at making a shaker card? Watch the above tutorial and see how easy it can be to make one of these fun cards. Then be sure to stop over for a visit to Kristin's blog the next time you go blog hopping and try some of the many other interesting projects and techniques posted for your enjoyment and have fun shaking!

In Memory Of Our Many Friends.

2009-09-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Wise king Solomon said it best when he said in the book of Ecclesiastes 8:9

"All this I have seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt".

Bearing this thought in mind and with painful reflection, it is simply heartbreaking to see the injury that one human being can cause to another. Please hug your family, friends and neighbors in memory of all the friends, family and loved ones lost on this terrible and tragic day in history.

-Cindy Shea

Tortilla Smackdown 2009!

2009-09-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

Today proved to be a victorious day for me indeed! You see many years ago when I was first married and was an eager newlywed, I decided that I would surprise my husband with a batch of freshly made, homemade tortillas. He is of Spanish decent and was quite used to the delicious hand rolled tortillas made by his mother for many years.

Although I was newly married I had already considered myself a pretty advanced cook prior to marriage. Living on my own I had enjoyed preparing gourmet dishes for not only myself but also for friends and even the older couple who lived in the apartment just above me. They were my taste testers for many of my cooking adventures. In fact, the husband would often peek his head out the door and call down the stairs to my window when he smelled something cooking and ask what they would be "sampling" this time?

So here I was newly married, an advanced cook and full of all the eagerness to please of a new wife. I set about making the tortillas from scratch. It turned out to be a lot more work than I expected. I couldn't get the texture just right and the flavor was a whole other story that I won't go into!

Tortillas finished and artfully arranged on a platter, my husband comes through the door from a hard day's work. "I made you a surprise", I said. He spotted the tortillas and flashed a bright smile as he eagerly reached for one. "Wait!", I shouted. "Before you taste these I know that you know how hard I worked on them but I want your honest to goodness opinion on them". "I want you to tell me if they are as good as your mom's and don't lie! "I promise, I won't be hurt if you tell me the truth!" With fear and trepidation he took that first bite. I could tell by the effort it took to force down that first bite that the news wasn't good. I can still see the look of fear come across his face as he struggled to answer the question.

Finally he got the courage and said "Well, yeah, I guess they are as good....no, no, I mean they ARE as good....but they do have a different...er, um... a different quality...no, not quality but..... By that point I had already burst into tears of humiliation and embarrassment and found myself running up the stairs to the comfort of a locked bedroom door to bawl my eyes out!

Of course he was hot on my heals trying to console me by taking it all back. Suddenly they were THE BEST tortillas he had ever eaten and he tried to prove it by painfully eating one after another. (Poor guy!) *laughing hysterically as I write this* And so that is how the great tortilla debacle ended with me never attempting to make them again.

So here it is, ten years later and this afternoon I attempted to beat the beast one last time. I gathered all of my weaponry which consisted of all my supplies and a new and authentic recipe. This time I followed each step meticulously and added a few tricks learned by my more experienced palette. Halfway in, everything had gone smoothly and I felt good that these were going to come out fabulous! They rolled out just right, they cooked up even better! Finally I tasted one and they were Delicious. I was so proud. Once again I artfully arranged them on a decorative serving piece and lay in wait for my husband to return from work. The excitement was almost more than I could stand as I eagerly awaited my redemption.

When he walked through the door and saw that plate of tortillas you should have seen the expression wash across his face! It was a look of sheer terror as flashbacks danced across his memory I am sure. "Look honey", I said. "I made you a surprise!"...pretending not to recall the previous trauma of tortilla-gate.

Then came the moment of truth. I handed him one and he slowly took a bite. As he chewed, a smirk of approval came over his face and I knew that I had done good. "These really ARE good...I mean these are good!", he said. I knew he was sincere when he ate several more and this time he slathered a bit of butter over each piece as he had always done when eating his mothers tortillas. When I asked him if they were as good as his mothers, he looked at me with a smile and with a bit of loyalty to his mother in his voice, he said " I think you guys are neck and neck now." Hey, that was good enough for me. :)

A Crafty Danger!

2009-09-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

Mod Podge Rocks!

2009-09-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Do you Mod Podge? Ok what about Royal Coat? If you know what either one of these things are then you probably know all out Amy from Mod Podge Rocks! Amy is the creator of Mod Podge Rocks and she is absolutely awesome. She creates some of the most amazing pieces using -you guessed it- Mod Podge.

Amy is a 32 year old creative genius who hales from Seattle but is now residing in Atlanta, Georgia. She is not only an expert in the use of standard Mod Podge but many of her projects feature some of the newer forms such as fabric Mod Podge, hard coat Mod Podge and many others.

Her blog, Mod Podge Rocks contains so much great information and projects all using this versatile medium. Her left hand side bar is chock full of projects to try and she has kindly organized them into easily locatable categories.

One of my favorite tabs to check out frequently is her decoupaged furniture section. She has made some gorgeous pieces that would have the likes of Martha Stewart and Crate and Barrel taking notes. She has created awesome dressers, tables, desks...you name it, she has probably made it and made it fabulous!

When I first stumbled upon her blog (quite by accident) I was trying to get to another site and as I reached to re-type the correct address my eye caught just the title of her blog. Hmmm, I said to myself and began to read and WOW was I hooked! She is so knowledgeable and informative about decoupage that I thought for sure that she must work for Plaid Enterprises who is the creator of Mod Podge. I was amazed upon further reading that she does not work for the company but she just really loves to decoupage and she has been kind enough to share her projects with the world.

I urge you to check out Mod Podge Rocks on your next blog hopping adventure because I know you will come away feeling inspired to create something with Mod Podge. You will find contests, tutorials, tips, and before and after photos of the many projects she has undertaken and completed. One visit to this blog and I just know you will be in your car and on your way to your nearest craft store for some Mod Podge chanting "Mod Podge Rocks" all the way there!

*You will also find her badge permanently in my sidebar so that you can go straight to her blog after visiting mine the next time you are here. I encourage you to also bookmark the site or follow it via your reader so that you don't miss out on any of her frequently updated projects!

Did You Know?

2009-09-04T01:23:00.001-07:00

Did you know that most of the photo images that appear along with my blog posts' can be downloaded and used however you would like in your artwork? I make it a point to include images that are copyright free and available for use in your different art mediums at your discretion. If you see something you would like to use simply click on the image and you will get a larger version of it that you can then save to your computer. Absolutely NONE of the images, however should be used to create digital collage sheets or CD images for sale under any circumstances. I try to use mostly vintage images but you will find the occasional picture that seems off the wall or a little out of place. They will usually tell a story or illustrate a similar experience or emotion.

I do ask however, that you do NOT use any of my personal photos or vintage family photos in your artwork or for any other reason. I appreciate your respect and understanding in this matter. They are easily identifiable as I usually discuss family photos that accompany my blog posts' in detail. I would really have to hate to begin watermarking my personal photos like so many others have to do on their blogs but until I see a problem I will just stick to the age old honor system. I am always on the hunt for collage sheets to post as well like this neat bird's egg sheet. Feel free to create something wonderful with it.

Trailer Park Barbie?

2009-09-01T07:58:00.001-07:00

You know Barbie is turning 50 this year! How's that for a Vintage Vignette! 50 is actually quite young in my book, however, I don't think she has aged very well. It must be the cigarettes. I suppose with Ken in and out of the slammer it is probably hard to stay motivated to get "pretty" each and every day. She can still play a mean hand of poker though!

Disclaimer: Let it be said that I have nothing against trailer parks at all! This was simply the title I chose to go with the photo for the gals participating in Tacky Tuesday. I thought it would be an appropriately tacky title. Don't you? ;)

My Visit To Erwin D. Mented DDS.

2009-08-29T01:37:00.001-07:00

Aaaaaah! Visiting the dentist is always such a thrilling experience isn't it? I had the unfortunate displeasure of visiting the dentist this afternoon to have some prep work done for a crown that I need to have done. Now don't get me wrong. I do know how important keeping up on your dental work is and that is why I force myself to go but why is it always just so much of a hassle?

Today the dental office was swarming with overactive and bored children in the waiting room. I could almost feel the buzz of hyperactivity when I opened the door. I felt badly for them as they waited there for who knows how long to have who knows what done. When I got to the back there were even more kids running around! This time they were the very small children of the dental assistant who was working on my teeth. At one point her precocious little 5 year old stuck her head out from a booth and proceeded to inform me that "my daddy doesn't lie but my mommy does!" I almost swallowed the drill bit from laughing so hard!

At one point during the work my dentist was actually trying to watch the t.v. on the wall in front of us and I was just about to have a hissy fit when she realized that I saw what was going on. Then as she was rinsing my tooth with that little squirty thing someone called to her and she turned just enough to squirt my entire face with a running stream of water! By that point I was ready to slap everyone!

The only consolation that I received was the fact that the head dentist was such a "hottie"! Only then was I willing to put up with just a little bit more of the shenanigans going on around me if it meant that I could "Ogle" him from across the room. What!....it wasn't me....it was the laughing gas ;)

Happy Greetings.

2009-08-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love it when someone takes the time to send you a greeting through the mail? In this day and age with emails, text messages, and Instant messaging it is so easy to lose sight of the thrill of a good old fashioned greeting happily delivered by your neighborhood postman. I get such a thrill (second only to the thrill of the squeal of the UPS truck!) when beneath the stack of bills, advertisements and junk mail, I find a greeting card size envelope lovingly addressed and decorated especially for me. It just makes you feel special when you know that someone took the time to make a handmade card perfectly tailored just for you and your particular situation.

Oddly enough it means even more to me when I know that the sender has braved the perils of their local Walmart or other store to find the perfect card just to send to little 'ol' me. You know what a feat it is to try and find a good card at any of these stores. You mosey up and down the aisles, flipping through cards and going something like this: "No, not that one. Nope, that one neither. Oh, that's cute..oh its for a boy. What about this one? Ha! that's funny but she might be offended. Hmmm....which one?" So there you go again up and down the aisle and around the corner like a race car circling the track yet again.

Whatever way you choose to send a greeting to a friend, family member, teacher or neighbor make it special by handwriting a quick thought or sentiment and personalizing the envelope as little or as much as you like. You never know, by doing so you might just be the one bright spot that made a difference in your recipient's day.

A Comforting and Heartfelt Gift.

2009-08-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know Pam over at Planet Gift Baskets has become a great friend not only to me but also to the followers of The Vintage Vignette. She has graciously donated prizes to some of our challenges in the past and has also offered our readers a never expiring 10% discount on all their products. (To take advantage of this discount see the Planet Gift Baskets badge in the sidebar).

I was very touched when after reading about the loss of my dear sweet kitty Shayla, I received the most beautiful and touching "Pet Loss" gift basket from her. It was unbelievably comforting to know that someone took the time to design a gift for those grieving the loss of a pet. I was so touched. I had never seen anything like a pet loss basket at any of the other sites I have visited when searching for a condolence gift basket.

This beautiful ensemble came with soothing tea, angle figurine, and a wonderful little teapot to enjoy the comforting drink in. I think what touched me the most was that this gift came with a wonderful companion greeting card celebrating the life of my pet as well as a sweet little keepsake locket to wear around my neck or on a key chain. And if that wasn't enough, the locket opened up and had the tiniest little scroll inside that said "Shayla will be truly missed". I couldn't believe how thoughtfully sincere this gift was.

When I talked with Pam later in the day to thank her for such a personalized condolence gift, she expressed to me that there is a wonderful selection of condolence gifts at Planet Gift Baskets that celebrate not only the lives of our loved ones but also of our beloved pets. There are also many books, plaques and keepsake boxes that she offers for individual purchase. I cannot express how incredibly comforted I was to receive this gift and to Pam I say, thank you. I am truly touched.

Stages Of Sadness.

2009-08-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to do very much these last few days since my precious Kitty passed away. I have found myself not only devastated and sad but angry and withdrawn as well. I know that she was just a cat but she meant so much more to me than that. As I am sure many couples without children will tell you that our pets ARE our children and she was certainly just that for me for many years.

I managed to really make things worse however, when in my grief I proceeded to attack my husband verbally for his carelessness in exiting the garage and taking her away from me. It was childish I know but the anger welling within me finally escaped my lips no matter how hard I had tried to keep it together. We have since worked things out through talking and tears and I am glad to say that we are on the mend.

I have poured myself into journaling in my written journal. I will reserve my art journal for a future time when looking at photos of my kitty is a little less painful. In the meantime making entries in my written journal has been very helpful. I write in the mornings, at night and all through the day sometimes making four or five entries at a time. It makes me appreciate what a blessing it truly is to be a woman and to be able to freely express myself in this way. I doubt there are many men out there who would allow themselves such freedom of expression during trying times so that they might envelop themselves in the comfort of their own written words.

A Terribly Tragic Day.

2009-08-15T17:42:00.000-07:00

Today was a terrible and tragic day for me. My beloved cat Shayla passed away. Shayla was with me for the past 13 years of my life. She was my constant companion when I was single and struggling to make ends meet living in a one bedroom apartment and just barely scraping by. She was the smiling face that greeted me at the door when I returned from work to an empty apartment. She was 13 years old and quite the spunky old lady. As a matter of fact I used to call her "My old lady Kitty". She would meow loudly in delight every time I touched her or rubbed her with my foot. That' right, she loved a good massage with my foot and she'd come running as soon as I motioned my foot her way.

This afternoon my husband accidentally backed over her with my car as he was exiting the garage to wash my car. She liked to hang out in the garage and lay out on the concrete floor. It wasn't unusual to find her stretched out and relaxing in the afternoons. My husband had no idea that she had decided to sit under the car this afternoon and so he was unaware of what happened until he got out of the car to wash it. He came and got me and I immediately burst into tears and hurriedly tried to pick her up to get her to the vet when I realized that it would be no use. I sat down next to her and stroked her fur and told her I loved her until she eventually took her last breath. I have cried inconsolably for the better part of the day and I am sure I will continue to cry for some time.

I decided to take her into the vet's office to have her cremated so that I can keep a part of her with me always. She was so special and she meant so much to me so if you can, give your doggy or kitty and extra hug and kiss for me tonight in remembrance of my dear, sweet, little Shayla Mae.

Just A Quick Post.

2009-08-14T00:47:00.001-07:00

This is just a quick post to share with you a photo of my maternal grandparents that I just found in a stack of pictures that my mother gave to me. My grandmother (my mom's mother) is the beautiful gal first on the left...Just look at that smile! She is holding my grandfather's hand in the photo. My grandfather was a hilarious man that always kept me in stitches. We wrote letters back and forth to each other until the very week that he passed away just last December at the age of 85. He lived in another state but we kept in touch as cherished pen pals. My grandmother passed away when I was a pre-teen but I still remember everything about her and what a wonderful woman she truly was. The elderly woman seated at the end of the table is my great grandmother or "Granny" as we used to call her. The other three pretty gals are my great aunts Rosie, Helen, and Bessie, my grandmothers sisters.

I consider this such a wonderful photo not just because it represents so much of my family's history but also because it highlights a slice of what everyday life was like back in the 1940's. Look in the background and you will see working waitresses and families dining together (even if just the tops of their heads). This photo is such a beautiful and simple reminder of how fast life passes us by and that we should take the time to gather with our loved ones regularly and enjoy them to the full before we arrive at a time in life where we are no longer able to do so.

Welcome Blog Party Ladies and Gents!

2009-08-12T00:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome Feathered Friends Blog Party Gals! I have posted 3 times in a row about these sweet hummingbirds so if you are a regular reader of The Vintage Vignette please bare with me as I discuss them once again (for the last time, I promise!) for the Feathered Friends blog party! Please stop over at The Shabby Chic Cottage as well to see what other birdie treasures the ladies are posting.

It all started when I hung up 7 new feeders in my backyard. Within hours my backyard was swarming with hummingbirds! I'm talking about 15 to 20 at a time! As I sat out there with them each day in the mornings and evenings they had gotten quite used to me. One day I decided to take one of the feeders in my hands and sit in the chair to see what they would do. They began flying over to me, landing right in my hand and feeding! I have been doing it twice a day ever since. They have become so accustomed to me that I can stand right next to them like I did to take these pictures. Quite an amazing experience indeed.

So Sorry But I Can't Help It!

2009-08-10T16:49:00.001-07:00

So OK! I know, I know! Enough with the garden and the hummingbirds already! But the truth be told, I just can't help myself. I have been enjoying the garden and the hummingbirds every day. The First thing I do in the morning now is stumble down the stairs and make a pot of coffee and then head out to the garden to watch the hummingbirds.

The coolness of the early morning and the stillness of the air all combine to soothe my soul. As soon as I sit in my rocking chair the birds begin to gather in anticipation of nectar for the hummers and peanut butter and raisins for the various goldfinches, orioles and sparrows that are eagerly waiting in the wings *pardon the pun*.

My roses are also in full bloom and I can't get them cut fast enough. I give thanks each morning for David Austin of David Austin English roses for creating such beautiful hybrids that cannot be rivaled by any other breeder.

My garden isn't like those you might find in a magazine nor does it have any particular design but is pleases me greatly simply because it is mine and the creation of my hard work and hands. Please enjoy yet another garden tour.