atc craftin', etc...

Yes, I am still making ATCs instead of working on my "other" projects.  (Hi Pens!) ATCs are just so easy.  The Simply ArTistiC blog is still pounding away on the Alice in Wonderland theme (and frankly, I am so done with that!)  This week's prompt was based on the part of the Disney animated AIW movie "All in the Golden Afternoon."  Here's my take on it...

Who knew that halloween-y gothic gateway rubber stamp would come in handy in this manner!!!  Finally a reason for the collection! ha!  I got to use up some of my paper flower collection and some seed beads, too.

Card #4 was Gothic Queen.  Again, I used one of my favorite stamps...I re-stamped the bow on her head 2 more times to make the crown.  White pencil, a heart charm, and glitter gel accent the piece nicely, doncha think???

I also worked on a trade with the multi-talented, Elle Bee, who made me an amigurumi reaper (just in time for halloween!)  I've named him Rube, after the lead reaper on the Dead Like Me tv series.

Here's a sneak peek of my piece for her...(full reveal after she receives it!)

Last Sunday I did a little photo shoot with my friend Jenni-Jenni & her family.  Obviously, they're getting ready for a new bebe!  I gave my camera to their darling boy (whom I photographed a few years ago) and he was quite the good little picture taker.

Isn't he the cutest?!

In other news, my recently acquired podiatrist is sending me for an MRI on my foot, since it doesn't seem to be getting better.  (Even after Dr. Steve's treated it, even after using the homeopathic anti-inflam cream.)  Dr. Doug (still) doesn't think my foot is broken as it isn't swollen, and I can still work out on it, but we'll know definitively after next Wednesday.  I'm thinking of bailing on my January marathon.  I'm tired of trying to train through pain.

Oh geez!  Its already after 11 pm.  I gotta get to bed so I can be ready for my weekend!!!  The high school flea market is this Saturday!  LOL!!!  Oh, and I have a run scheduled and more art!

: .)

chucking wood!

tee hee hee ha ha ha giggle giggle snort!!!

I just love the evil laughter!

(I'll try to be back with  'real' post soon!!!)

the hapa haole peace sign

This week's challenge over at Scrapping the Music is "Hand In My Pocket"
 by Alanis Morissette.

I picked the part of the lyrics where Alanis sings:

'cause I've got one hand in my pocket 

And the other one is giving a peace sign...

to highlight in my piece.

Well, modified a bit...
While visiting Hawaii, my friend and I noticed that the Japanese
do the peace sign in practically every photo they have taken.
So, me being me & joking around,
I said I had to do the "hapa haole" peace sign
because I'm half Japanese...
Get it...A one fingered peace sign?!
(half a peace sign?)

LOL!  

Its funny, you should be laughing : .)

Are you laughing?!

oh lookee!!!

my pix, highlighted at the on the TABLE blog : .)

oh man...

daydream

This week's challenge at Scrapping the Music is Daydream as performed by Jason Castro, whom I gather, was a contestant on American Idol.  If you can believe this, I've only watched AI a few time, and only because I was at someone else's house and was forced to watch it. (Hi Aldien!)  I think this song was originally sung by the Lovin' Spoonful.  (I don't really like reality tv, well...except for paranormal stuff.  heh!)

I wasn't feeling very creative this weekend...I've been detoxing again, and all I could think of is when can I eat some meat!  (Thursday, day 11!)  And please, oh please, can I have just one glass of wine?  It was a struggle to come up with anything.  I do like the colors a lot.  I used Michelle Clement's Walnut Ink Tutorial to grunge up the edges and added some spatters. (Or splatters? Or can I say Jackson Pollock technique : .)  There's a bit of velvet on there too.  And the cute picture was taken by my little friend Cady.

 

I've also been brainstorming "eye-deas" for gift bags for my friends for our annual girls trip to Disneyland next month, so I played around with my reaper stamp and made some tags for the bags, lol!  I'll unveil those soon, they're very similar to the ATC in my last post.  We'll be there Halloween weekend, (which is my favorite "holiday" next Christmas and my birthday) and I like to put together some fun stuff for the weekend.  We've got a scavenger hunt planned, search for Hidden Mickeys, dinner at Bleu Bayou, and viewing the new Disney's World of Color, and SHOPPING!!!  I'm so excited!!!  (I looooovvvveeee Disney's marketing! Those Imagineers, they're geniuses!!!)

Other new developments...(the hot) Dr. Steve thinks I have a stress fracture in my right foot.  That wouldn't be a big deal, but I have a half marathon in 2 weeks, and I'm supposed to be in training for Disneyworld Marathon in January.  Here I thought, third time's the charm.  It makes me sick to think that I might have to bail again!!!   I have an appointment with a podiatrist next Monday (That was the earliest appointment, made last week! What a popular guy.  sigh.), so I hope I'll hear good news.  Bad news would be having to be in a boot for 6 weeks.  ai yi yi!!!  At least I haven't booked any flights or travel.  I did buy a 2010 Birnbaum's guide to Disneyworld, maybe I'll sell that on craigslist or something...I know I won't even want to look at it.

Aaaah, sorry for ending on such a downer...I think I'll go to my happy place now : .)

where'd the weekend go?

Its Sunday night.

I'm trying hard to remember what I did this weekend.

I uploaded Pac NW pixs to flickr.

I made Ritz Cracker Chicken.

I cleaned the kitchen floor.

I read some chapters from The Samurai's Garden.   So lovely.

I ran 8 miles.  & it totally sucked.  @ least my R foot feels better than it has been.

I slept in.

I made this ATC with my newest hand carved stamp from this Etsy.

I watched paranormal tv.

I went to the scrapbook store and Michaels.

I worked on a trade.

I made chocolate chip cookies.

I ate Indian fuds.

I spent time with Kath & the Girl, chattin' & craftin'.

Donated blood. 

That's all I accomplished.  No Hood 2 coast blog post, nor no new creative works.  The well has gone dry again...Gotta find something to fill it up???  Any ideas?  Anyone, anyone???

beyond-ce

my good friend kath directed me to this tonite while the girls (me, kath & annie) were chatting and crafting...priceless!!!  I LOVE IT!!!

we are going to be friends

The current challenge at Scrapping the Music is We Are Going to be Friends by the White Stripes.  I was surprised at this song since the only other White Stripes song I know is Icky Thump (or at least I think that's the title) and its completely different, music-wise. (Or I could be confusing bands, not surprising!  LOL!)  I guess the band has a good range...

 

Anyway, I thot that the line in the chorus perfectly fit my initial feelings about Penny (whom I met online at an ATC challenge site) after we exchanged our first email.  We became fast virtual friends!  I love her, even tho' her love of Jim Adkins (the lead singer of Jimmy Eat World) is a bit, shall we say OBSESSIVE!!!  (Just kidding!  HI PENS!!!)  She make smashingly beautiful cakes & cupcakes!  hee!  And she has great taste in reading material.  She likes the paranormal, just like me!  I think our personalities are also very much alike.


Pens, you ROCK!  : .)

OFF with her HEAD!!!

I downloaded my pictures from my little sojourn north, but I'm still not feeling creative enough to write the related text.

I was feeling creative enough, however, to play with paper & glue and make this ATC for the challenge/swap at Simply ArTistiC.  We're still working on the Alice in Wonderland challenge, this time around the theme is the Queen of Hearts.  You can see the gallery here...

I had a long to-do list today, chores, errands.  I've taken the week off from exercise 'cause I've been having this re-occuring pain in both feet and ankles and I don't want to damage anything prior to marathon training.

I popped by the flea market, but didn't find much I needed.  Okay, I bought yet another big, gilt, scrolly framed mirror for $5 (must be the magic dollar amount for the flea market).  I finally figured out what I want to do with my "collection."  If only I wasn't such a procrastinator...heh!

I also spent some time with Aldien.  We ate Sabra hummus (but didn't feel like we were in the Mediterranean or anything, haha!) with pita chips, had some strawberries and chatted, mostly about grieving...

Oh...I forgot to thank Marit for this Dutch blog award!  I've done gone international!!!

Thanks Marit!!!

I'm so happy to call you friend too! 

“The world of blogging is amazing.
Through blogging I made friends
of places I never heard of before.
I experienced kindness and caring.
I hope my blog friends will pass
this award to only three caring
and kind people from anywhere
who touched your heart.”

Do three people even read this blog???  Do I have to be Dutch to pass it on???  LOL!!!  Well, I give it to anyone who reads my blog regularly...Julie that means you!  : .)  And rightbackatcha Marit!!!  <3

Donna is coming over to craft tomorrow...Anyone else???  Anyone?  Anyone? 

H2C - The Movie

I totally forgot about the trailer for the Hood to Coast movie...

If you're interested...This is what I did last weekend!!! 

The movie follows 3 teams that ran the relay in 2008 (not mine, altho'  I did run with the team that year!)

Whoo hoo!  Soooo exciting!!!


Hood To Coast Movie Trailer from HoodToCoastMovie on Vimeo.

I'm baack!!!

From Portland, that is...

Too tired and wacked on Xanax (can't fly without it!) to organize thots and download pixs, so I'm leaving you with this little funny...

I'm sure it comes from somewhere else, but I saw it on MaryAnne Moss's blog : .)

'twas a beautiful day in my neighborhood

I spent a gorgeous morning with my friend Vicki at Coyote Point Park wogging the Bay Vista 5K.  

Aside from the great (sustainable) swag we received for this event, it supports a good cause, Building Peaceful Families. I also ran into (haha!) my x-running buddy Mike, who was manning the hydration booth sponsored by the store he works for.

I met some of Vicki's friends/co-workers and after the race, got to ride an electric bicycle manufactured by the husband of one of the ladies.

I think I look just like I did as a kid.  Some things never change, huh?!  LOL! (This is one of Vicki's shots.)

Vicki and I also strolled around taking some more pictures...

Doesn't paddleboarding look like fun???  I wanna try!!! (I think that's either SF or Oakland in the background.)

We finished up the afternoon shooting some snowy egrets and Canadian geese...

I think the two egrets in the middle look like Danny DeVito's Penguin from Batman Returns!

Sorry for all the bird pixs, it was too irresistible to not take a bazillion photos!

I worked on another card for the challenge/swap @ Simply ArTistiC.  It may look familiar : .)

I got the frame/mirror for $.50 at the flea market on Saturday!

I also started my first contribution to an Alice in Wonderland themed trade with Penny...just a little sneak peek for now!!!  heh, heh, heh!!!

I'm off to the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday to hang with friends and run Hood to Coast with some co-workers, so I'll be offline for a week or so.  I'm runner #11 (legs 11, I think 23 & 35, click on Course Maps under Race Information if you're interested in exactly what that involves.  My 2nd leg is around 2:20 am on Saturday, my last leg is the longest and hardest, uphill, when I'll be tiredest, yikes!!!  

I'll post pixs when I get back!  

Have a gud week!!!

so shine the light on all of your friends...

Its that time of the week again, the current song for the challenge at 

Scrapping the Music is 

The Remedy by Jason Mraz...

Did you know that Jason owns an avocado farm in San Diego County?

(Near my hometown!)

I love how he sings out of the side of his mouth : .)

Go see & listen to the acoustic version of the song at YouTube, 

its just fan-tas-tic!!!

 I took cardboard and painted it with gesso and acrylic paint, 

spritzed it a bit with spray ink for the base.

The sun and the flowers are tagboard, covered with

parts of an old sewing pattern (altho' you can't see that!),

and also sprayed with ink.

The photos form a heart, the idea was on a design site,

of which I can't remember the name.

Thickers and stamped alphas,

Martha's punched butterfly,

and of course, some of the song's lyrics.

Other fun...

 I went to spin class today, the first time in 2 weeks! 

I've been running and hiking, but

not cycling.

It was good!

Things are going well lately!

I've been having a run of good luck,

winning stuff, getting invited to do stuff, completing stuff!

I am quite happy!!! : .)

i found myself in wonderland

so yeah...

I have a huge list of things-to-do & promises (sorry Pens!) to keep
and instead I decided to work on a new challenge/swap,
which is over at simply ArTistiC.  

are you surprised that I'd be interested in an ATC challenge site???  

 hee!!!

my card...

Alice in Wonderland ttv self-portrait.
doncha you love the striped tights?!

I created the card based on the dress worn by Avril Lavigne
in her video for Alice,
as well as the song lyrics.

 card staging inspired by Debee Campos/Ruiz : .)

I love Debee!

ttv stands for Through the Viewfinder, 

specifically through my kodak duaflex camera, 

a gift from the gorgeous Madame Cupcake, 

shot with my coolpix digital.  

I personally like the over-exposed, messy, scratchy, aged,
out of focus, speckly ttv photos best, 

'cause what's the point of all the effort
if you're gonna take a "perfect" picture???!!!  

 LOL!!!

close-up of some of the bits! : .)

my Dad came back thru the bay area on Friday,
which gave me the opportunity to have him finish
a few projects that I had outstanding from his earlier visit...

isn't it a beauty???  Ikea.  gotta love it!!!
I got this b/c I just knew that I would never work in my craft closet upstairs,
so now I have storage in the living room.
I want to hang a curtain to hide my supplies.

we also hit the flea market again this morning
(at 6:30 am, on a SUNDAY no less!  eek!)

Dad & I scored some great goods!!!
Dad got tools!

I got...

awesome hand embroidered pieces for a dollar each!!!

cool shadow box for another dollar!

and a rusty star votive holder...I paid way too much for this,
but couldn't talk the seller down.
I'm happy because
now I don't have to go to San Antonio, TX to get one!!!
hee!
(some rude man told me I was a sucker for paying more than a dollar, what a jerk!)

time to cook dinner for Pops and get things ready for the work week!
I hope y'all had a gud weekend!!!

: .)

'cause there's beauty in the breakdown

this week's song 

for the challenge at Scrapping the Music 

is Frou Frou's  

Let Go

I didn't think I had any connection to the song,
so I wasn't going to do a piece this week.

but apparently I did...

this morning,

I was looking for some thank you cards I made

and I came across a bunch of pictures

taken by my friend Chad.

one photo in particular, 

a hummingbird in flight was my favorite

because hummingbirds remind me of my Mom 

who died in 2003 

and Chad knew this.

Chad gave me a custom 8"X10" print of this photo.

it was soon after that Chad decided that 

I should embrace photography

and gave me my first digital camera.
what a defining moment!

Chad also loved music, 

and was a budding musician.

one of his favorite bands was Frou Frou...

in 2004, Chad decided to take his life.

it was a huge loss of a generous spirit
&
 a brilliant and talented person.

this morning, it was as if he was talking to me.

so here's my piece for the STM challenge...

~ dedicated to Chad ~
 I miss you!

we've no time for later now...
 

that's my signature Linda music lyric background : .)
spray paint splatters,
a technique I learned in
Debee Ruiz's {Inspire Lovely} class last week
a feather I found in my friend  Mary's backyard,
Stamper's Anonymous clock stamp,
dymo'd lyrics,
deco tape,
paper flowers,
a piece of a doily from Sharmaine,
and a copy of
Chad's hummingbird photo.
(and yeah, its obviously my signature layout style {she chuckles})

I credit Estor for suggesting the black & white theme.
thanks Estor! : .)

I broke the #1 rule of hiking...

NO COTTON SOCKS!!!

Or there will be blood.

And there was.

ow.

Bisters, on both heels, big ones  : .(

The hike was nice tho'...8 miles of hills.  eek!

 Can you see the bubbles in my water bottle?!
Coolness!!!

A couple of views from the trail.


I love these red reflections from the sun.

Sometimes I can get macro mode to work!  LOL!

Look closely...What can you see?

Mama deer looking back at me!

I also "volunteered" at the Scrapbook Expo.

It was a pretty good gig,

work for 4 hours and make $36.

The perfect amount of spending $$$.

A budget.  LOL!!!

Here's my haul...

Graphic 45 has the coolest (new) papers for Halloween,
they're called Hallowe'en in Wonderland!
I only got one sheet, I wanted the entire collection, but...
I also got cool buttons,
music note brads,
gel pens,
a Tim Holtz masque,
black paper roses,
and
some skelly and lace trim.
Its all quite neutral,
I have a hard time buying colors...

Shan & I have plans to hit the DeAnza Flea Market tomorrow.
Then I'll be off to Donna's for dinner.
I gotta bake some cookies for her girl!
Also,
Long run, crafting, and deck furniture finishing.

Busy, busy!!
I hope can get everything done!
: .)

Shiny Happy People

Scrapping the Music's challenge song for this week is 

REMs Shiny Happy People : .)

Concurrently, Marit had posted a challenge to create a "skinny" layout, 

something thin & long

maybe 4"X12" or 3"X10"...

I got both challenges, I think! : .)

I would have liked to have planned better & 

  taken more time to develop my piece, 

but my weekend was booked, 

 and a deadline is looming,

so here it is

in all its glory!

 hee!!!

(I got the idea for the happy faces from the X husband...)

I dedicate this to Smiley Julie who loves happy faces!

A Beautiful Meeting

Today at the Renegade Craft Faire
I had the pleasure of meeting one of my
artistic/scrapbooking/entrepreneurial crushes, 

Elsie Flannigan 

of A Beautiful Mess/Red Velvet Art fame!!!

I'm still acutely embarassed about babbling incoherently, 

AND asking for photos, 

AND not asking the questions I really wanted to ask. 

Talk about being STARSTRUCK!!!

Aren't Elsie and her sister, Emma just darling?!  

That made my day!

The next time I'm in the presence of such {holy} cuteness, 

I promise, I will suck in my stomach!
: .)

200 indie art vendors and a massive mob of people,

great energy, so fun!!!

I spent a lot of quarters here today! 

I got the coolest gift for my biking friend, Jack!
I heart running necklace!
Screen print poster! (not this original!!! LOL!)
Face stuff! (I love the anti-aging serum!)

I guess that means pb&j for lunch for the next 2 weeks!

hahahaha!!!

oh, and on a completely unrelated note...I vote no on the pretzel m&m's.
yuck.

Well it's been ten years and a thousand tears...

And look at the mess I'm in...

On Smiley Julie's blog, These are a Few of My Favorite Things, 

this week's scrappy throwdown is 

These Are a Few of My Favorite Bands!!!

Julie has got me hooked on challenges!  sheesh!  hee!

Oh boy!  Its hard to choose one band!  Its hard to choose two!  

But I'm up for the challenge!  

Y'all know that my fav band is Pearl Jam, 

but you might not know 

that my next fav band is Social Distortion!

Mike Ness, love that tattoo'd man!
(At a concert in SF, I saw the band going onstage and I made eye contact with Mike!
whooo!  Made my night! LOL! 
and psst, he was wearing eyeliner!)

I did this awhile ago, and I don't know who took the photos...

they were forwarded to me by my co-worker and concert buddy,

Paul.

This is one of my very favorite layouts!

I hand-cut the Old English Social Distortion title!

(I'm just a little obsessively detail oriented!)

Background paper & stickers by Mara Johnson,

other bkgnd ppr by 7Gypsies,

rub-on grunge lettering (I don't remember by whom),

and rub-on Basic Grey swirlies,

Jolee's Boutique skelly,

Hambly transparency, 

paper roses &

other embellishments from a Paper Pixie kit!

sigh, Mike Ness...

: .)

Soakin' up the Sun!

hiya!

the father is visiting, so I've been baking, cooking, cleaning, laundering, stressing, stressing, stressing, building deck furniture, making multiple trips to Home Depot and Orchard Supply, installing a screen door, deleting my iPhoto library (and paying $55 to restore it, yikes!!!).  this is my first chance to sit down and write a post!

Scrapping the Music's throwdown for the week is Soak up the Sun, by Sheryl Crow.  a positive thinking song by my estimation!  I'm again inspired by the challenge in part b/c this is one of the BFF's favorite songs (hi Karen!) and I have a pix of the 2 of us at the beach...perfect!!!

without further ado, here's my piece...glimmer mist over a purchased stencil (the sun) and my own mats (the seagulls), my photos, alphas & that's it!!!

close-up of the sun...I LOVE GLIMMER MIST!!! have I mentioned that b/4??? hee!!!

I can feel the lifting of my blues...

Rolling into Santa Cruz : .)

Smiley Julie pointed me in the direction of another scrappy throwdown 

at the challenge blog, Scrapping the Music,
where she's on the design team.

Scrapping the Music suggests a song as inspiration and 

you're to create a piece from the music.

This week's challenge song is

Santa Cruz by Eddie Vedder.  

In 2008, Eddie went on a solo tour and
wrote this song on the way to his gig 

at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

He sang it for the crowd, me included!!!  

Awesome!!!  

The concert was one of the best I've ever been to.

I'm playing along 'cause the challenge gives me a reason to document the moment...

The background is the lyrics to the song, 

there's a little glimmer mist, 

some Basic Grey & Heidi Swapp rub-ons, 

Heidi Swapp ghost wings

a treble clef paperclip, and 

images of my ticket and 

the program from the concert. 

(It was a hard call, I have silly pixs from
this year's Santa Cruz 1/2 Marathon
that were dying to be scrapped to this song. 
I guess that gives me more reason to glue bits to paper!)

I need the beach to set me free
I need the wind to make me breathe
I need the water to wash my soul
I need my loved ones to let me go...

Eddie, swoon!!!  I love Eddie!!!