Sum Sum Summertime

Ah these crazy hazy summertime days. Happy crazy, good crazy peppered with visits and visiting. Crazy with a whole two weeks of precious moments with my grandbabies and family and even grand dawgs. Crazy with my 3 year old granddaughter giving me a peck on the cheek after not seeing her for oh so long and her meowing through our visit (she was a CAT and I enjoyed her feline take on the world through her eyes). I got to hold my brand new grandson for the first time ever. I got time with my daughers and daughter in law too, my heart is full. These sweet memories printing out in my mind as little insta-prints going into a jar where I can take them out one by one in the future and examine them. Lovely time with my Sister who loves me so fiercely and unconditionally that I feel her hug surrounding me always. Meeting new family I never knew existed before - how crazy is this? Its like being given a teeny bit of my family history back. So amazing.

The hazy - all the fires here in British Columbia. It seems not to matter what the weatherman calls the day to be, its all gray and ash. My prayers go out to the people on the frontline of the fires and those who are silently in the back volunteering.

I hope you are having a beautiful summer and I thank you for taking a few moments out to stop in and say hi!

The SLOOOOOWW Days of Summer - FREE Snail Cutting file!

Summer has begun officially - and now I feel it in my heart and soul too.  You know how this is sometimes - this queuing of a particular season in your heart?  I don’t know what throws the switch internally, be it the weather?  Where I happen to be? (I’m visiting at the moment, so looking with fresh eyes?)  Could it be the visit in itself?  (the relaxation of a day’s schedule and ability to be prone to wander at whim?)  Perhaps its the allowing of meals to ‘unfold’ rather than plan everything down to a T.

At any rate, I'm here. 

Another thought, maybe its the fact one can pack everything up into one suitcase (or in my case a nice plastic tub (so much easier to get in and out of fast)   It seems funny to need only what one has brought… what do I need an entire house of 'stuff’ for - or at the very least how grateful for my stuff knowing I have it all, and now should appreciate it too. 

And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays.
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten.

Well, at any rate I’ve had some lovely walks these relaxing June days and enjoyed some sights I’ll share with you over the coming days.

On one of my ramblings here I noticed there are a lot of slugs and snails.  The slugs are quite monstrous beasts when viewed in macro mode of my camera.  I imagine myself towered over by huge versions of them in a good summer children’s story…about how they LOOK all mean and huge but they turn out to be gentle giants!

But the snails, they are adorable to me.  Perhaps they make me think a bit like they have their ‘suitcase’ of all they need upon their back - ready to travel at any time, with all they need right where they are.  How can one not like a snail?

So, I decided to draw a snail.  I did and it turned out fine so the creative side of me carried it even a step further to make a cutting file to share with YOU!

  I cut the body from brown kraft paper and added a couple of tiny gems for the antennae. the “shell” is composed of two cuts - a plain circle, then the spiral cut - so that the circle acts as a backdrop to the spiral.   I popped the shell up using some foam tape and then I embossed both parts of the snail because they are shiny when I see them in nature! 

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Here is a card I made using my Snail file - isn’t it too cute for words?  I used a bit of designer paper for the shell, the possibilities are endless.

Today’s 1 Small Thing is a picture or two of something I observed on my walk the other day:

Background story - I was just beginning my walk when I could hear quite a ruckus from some birds.  They birds sounded strangely like a Catbird - a queer cackling and mewling, almost like a cat or kitten.  At any rate there were a few of them interacting.  looked down and saw a baby but it hopped off in a hurry before I could have my camera out.  I also espied:

This wee snake, trying to hide underneath a shrub.  Was it trying to get away from the birds - thinking it would wind up as “bird spaghetti” or something? 

The birds themselves proved to be very elusive and I had to really hunt to locate a glimpse and finally was rewarded with this picture:

Do YOU know what type of bird this is?  I’d love to know.

PS - In case I don’t get back here soon, HAPPY CANADA DAY weekend!

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Family Challenge - (PICTURE WINDOW) & FREE .silhouette file

Hope my fellow Canadians enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving this past weekend.  Now I’m back on track and so…

Once again my talented family have challenged me to be creative.  Ah, I might complain but I do manage to get it done.  The challenge NINA put out was to create a “WINDOW” card like in the following video tutorial.

I’m a bit of a rebel, for sure for sure, so I created my own cut file for the “window frame” - making this for a birthday greeting. 

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock

Designer Paper - Yearbook Collection by Studio Calico

Gems

Glitter Modge Podge

canvas sheet - dollar store

Sentiment Stick On - Creative Memories

Birthday Pic Window frame .studio file - Barb Derksen

I designed and cut the card face, frame and backing. 

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.studio file for this project

(please credit me and link back when using my files)

(PS pls - PIN-terest me, FB me and Twitter me too!)

for your Cameo, Silhouette or Portrait

 

I glued the canvas behind the window, then put it together on the front of the cardstock base.  I rubbed the sentiment sticker onto the canvas. 

 

I painted the body of the candle shape with glitter Modge Podge and lastly added some bling!

PS - the cut-out birthday candle shape left over from the Birthday window cut is a perfect accent to glue inside the card!

I hope you enjoyed this little show and tell and you will pop right over to Nina’s and Judy’s to see what they created for this challenge too!

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Brilliant Lollipop Themed Card & FREE .studio Cutting file!

I’m just a “sucker” for simple and bright card and I am on a real kick for using vinyl lately so I decided to try out a simple design I had in mind. 

I am the queen of frugal, (because I choose to stay at home and try to live out my dream to create, create and create but it does not make me rich by any means)  When I make it to “real” high end craft stores I can often but drool over some supplies I’d like to have but accept that within my budget its not going to happen.  Out of this is born so many of my greatest ideas and designs. 

One of the wonderful things I felt attracted to in the stores were the Elizabeth Craft Designs Peel off Stickers.  They are fun and wonderful and I totally think they are worth the asking price.  I have bought a few packages when my Mr. came with me and he said I should treat myself. 

They are wonderful to stick and fill with ultra fine glitter or even just paint or ink.  But there are two limitations I found (besides the price for me)  The first thing is they are all sort of the same size - so here’s me who likes to custom tailor almost everything…

and the other thing is there are only so many designs (which are very nice, indeed) but again, I’m a rebel and I like a huuuuuge variety and I like to size it to fit whatever project want to do. 

So… I have been playing around with vinyl! 

Supplies:

Designer Paper - I used a Colorbok Specialty Paper Pack - Bright

Watercolour paper - Arches 140 lb

Vinyl - black

Ribbon - random

 

Lillipop Card

4.25 x 5.5 inch

 

Ok, so I’m telling you right off the bat my card is not warped, my photo of the card is warped… and I’d given the card away in the meantime. But you get the picture (pun intended) 

I designed this simple vinyl cut, and I use a high quality watercolour paper to transfer it onto - 140 lb arches in this case.  I cut the vinyl image, then I “weed” out the bits I don’t need and I use Contact Paper (the clear kind you can line shelves in your kitchen with) to transfer the image to the arches paper.

You must work delicately but you definitely get a pretty fine image!  I save (and have friends save) old credit cards or gift cards that have been used up and use them to smooth my vinyl over the paper.  First I position it over the paper where I think I would like it and then I fix one end down and slooooooowwwwly stick it down to the paper, all the time smooshing it in a straight path with the long side of the credit card.  After you have done it a few times and you gain confidence it becomes easier.

 

 

Once you have the vinyl outline stuck on then you can paint.  Now, once again I must stress that your finished product is only as good as the materials you use - and so in this case, though you will pay a healthy price for both arches paper (though it cuts down into many MANY projects) and a good set of watercolours or watercolour pencils - I believe these are essential.  The colors are so brilliant! 

I like to use an aqua brush, it means you don’t have to constantly rinse brushes out etc.  I simply swipe mine on a rag in between colors. 

I began painting in the middle and worked out, changing colors and blending them together into a little bit of an overlap to achieve a rainbow effect. 

 

 

The finishing touch is a pretty pink bow, a perfect touch for a sweet little girl. 

You might also (which I will be showing in an upcoming tutorial, use fine scissors and trim around your lollipop - turning it into an element which you could then “pop” up with foam tape. I have created this file to be sized for a standard 4.25 x 5.5 card, if you were to make “elements” from this file the vinyl might get pretty tiny to work with.  You may have to experiment.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this project.  I’d love to see what YOU make and feature your project here on my blog

LOLLIPOP .studio FILE

(personal use unless you seek permission from me for any commercial use)

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(personal use only)

Just popping in for a few moments to share this Plushy Blossom with you. I'm learning a few new techniques and this is the result. This blossom did not seem to fit with any particular kit I'm creating at the moment so I thought perhaps you might find some good use for it. I would love to see how you use this - and its BIG, like 6 inches or better big! Just email me lalalime(at)hotmail(dot)com with a thumbnail and I'll be glad to share your layouts here!

Olivia Dorazio's Father's Day Grab Bag
WOO HOO!

It's GRAB BAG time at the Sophia Sarducci Shop - tomorrow, yes, on Father's Day... Why should Dad's have all the fun? Yes, if you have a mere $2 on hand I would HIGHLY encourage you to blow it here. I've included 7 - yes, I SAID SEVEN, seperate items in this Grab Bag, and its OK for Personal, Commercial and Scrap for Hire. I've broken these projects down into both png and PSD layered formats. Pardon me for saying this, but you'd be NUTS not to buy - LOL - it took me HOURS upon hours to make. I know more designers from the store are whipping up some wonderfully incredible GB's with you in mind as well. (Like my GOOD BUDDY Adrianna Lunette aka AmyW for e.g.) Just click HERE to be taken to the Shop!

layout by KIMB
credit: Olivia Dorazio's (yeah, thats me!) Digital Dad Kit
click HERE to purchase!

Wow, NICE layout Kim! I'm loving it. Thanks EVER so GirlFriend! How the HECK did you find time to make this for me, I'll never know... haha, but I am so grateful you did! Kim's email to me read:

"Just finished this one of Nathan- he was sitting behind me listening to music from his PC- and your kit popped in to my head as his shirt sort of matched too - Hope you like it So shouted his name and snapped- LOL" (and Kim added a MUAH at the end *beaming*

And now, I'm off to spend the rest of the weekend basking in our family visit. Things have been just amazing. I can't think of a better gift than getting to spend Father's Day with our Dad (my Father in Law) I promise to fill you all in over the coming weeks. Thanks SO MUCH to all of you who have visited me in the past few weeks and left encouragement!

LUXURIOUS LEATHER KIT

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Happy New Year to all!

I've put together a larger than usual kit for you to enjoy - and its a little off the 'beaten path'...

Miles and I are feeling rested and relaxed after our time away. We spend the holidays with our folks at the coast. Our mom goes all out for us - decorates the house from top to bottom - in almost every single room. There's details down to themed soaps! I will post pics later on sometime but for now just wanted to stop by and say hello - first thing after it turned New Years - after Miles and I had a nice, quiet evening in with special snacks and goodies we whipped up (pics of that coming too!)

I will be coming on full force here over the next few days and look forward to catching up with all of you too.... psssst.... what did SANTA BRING YOU? C'mon, lets all compare. Did you go shopping on Boxing Day? My friend Gina tells me our Boxing Day is not celebrated in the U.S.A... but I know you have something called Black Friday. If you are reading me from another country - do you have some sort of the same thing? I went out boxing day with my Mother in Law and Sister in Law and the best buy was a DVD player for $9.99 - truly! I can't imagine someone making it for that.

Catch you on Tuesday!

BARB'S HANDY TIP #162

What CAN'T your ipod do???

Want to downsize your furniture and still be able to watch a movie (solo) on a large screen? Got an ipod? You HAVE to check this out!

The ICUITI iWear generates a virtual 44" screen viewed at 9 feet distance.

ICUITI