Friday, July 28, 2006

Greeting Cards for Week 2




It's the second week of the Greeting Card Challenge at Scrap101. I've completed a few more cards to upload. This has been a lot of fun for me. I've never made greeting cards other than digital in a card program. I enjoyed using some of my tea-bag folded medallions on the cards. On a couple of cards I just used 3 sections of the medallion to create a top and bottom design. I have some more cards but I'm having trouble uploading them. I'll try later this afternoon to upload them.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Quotes

I love quotes. I have a notebook where I keep them. I thought I'd share a few with you this afternoon.

"Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons." Al Hirschfeld

"Sisters are like flowers in bloom, each unique, each beautiful, and sure to make you smile." Unknown

"I would rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special." Shelby, Steel Magnolias

"Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have." Unknown

"Friends are the puzzle pieces that complete life." Unknown

"When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure." Unknown

"Somewhere there's someone who dreams of your smile, and finds in your presence that life is worth while. So when you are lonely, remember it's true, somebody somewhere is thinking of you." K. Blackburn

"I wrote your name in the sky, but the wind blew it away. I wrote your name in the sand, but the waves washed it away. I wrote your name in my heart and forever it will stay." Jessica Blade

"Winter is a etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." Unknown

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Scott Adams

"Every sunrise is a message from God.........Every sunset, God's signature." Arthur Ward

"Happiness is the ability to completely lose yourself in a task or hobby." Unknown

"True love is like a circle; never ending and forever flowing." Mystic Dreamer

"Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God." Unknown

"My greatest fear is that there is no PMS and this is my personality." Unknown

"Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf." Native American Proverb

Well, that's all for this time.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Greeting Cards









In the past when I made Greeting Cards I used a computer program - Printmaster. I joined in a Greeting Card Challenge with the ladies of Scrap101. So I started making some cards using clipart and scrapbook supplies.

I think I'm addicted.........Rich is going to love to hear that!!!!!!!!!!!! I already have so many hobbies.

The first one I did was "Wild Thing". I love to make medallions with teabag folding. This one was white tigers and I used a gold and black button in the center.

I'm off to find some sentiments to put in more cards.

I told you I'm hooked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Create My Keepsake Blog Challenge

1. Tell me why your blog is named what it is........................My blog is named in memory of a special friend of mine, Danny. Danny and I shared a passion for Wolves. Danny died December 26, 2004 from complications of ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease.

2. Tell me one person you admire as a scrapper/artist and why.....................My sister, Bobbie. What I admire about her is her ability to continue growing and meeting the challenges of scrapbooking. Her layouts are changing all the time as she learns new techniques and the availability of new products. In fact for a challenge on Scrap101 I scraplifted one of her layouts.

3. What is one thing you've never tried on a layout or project that you'd like to try................Chipbooard Letters. I have some that I received from a swap and I haven't tried them yet. They intimidate me.................I know I just got to sit down and get started.

4. What is your favorite time of year to scrap and why...........Autumn. I just love all the beautiful colors that God has given us.

5. List 2 other people's scrappy blogs that you enjoy reading and post a link to them..................Bobbie's http://scrapbookbobbie.blogspot.com/ and Tanya's http://princess-tanya-is-in.blogspot.com/

These were fun questions to answer. I'll try doing this more often.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Christmas in July at Create My Keepsake

These ornaments were fun to make. I didn't have any photos to put int he top two.......so I printed out some clipart. The bottom one is Bandit. He loved green M&M's. The bow is one of his that he got in his top-knot after being groomed.
I made the Cooke Tin out of a coffee can. These will be cute for Christmas cookies. Snack box.....These will make cute little boxes for Homemade Candies or Caramel Corn.

Lots of fun this weekend participating in Create My Keepsake's Christmas in July cyber crop. They offered 7 different projects. I was only able to get 3 projects done.........but I plan on doing the rest of them after I go shopping.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Mutt

I ran across this photo of a little Mutt. It reminds me so much of my little friend, Bandit. We got Bandit at a flea mart when he was about 6 weeks old. He was a fluffy little ball of fur in brown and white. He had the cutest little black mask around his eyes..........so naturally we named him Bandit.

Bandit was quite a character..........you see it ended up that we didn't own Bandit - he owned us. He thought store bought dog food should belong to somebody else. He thought he should eat exactly what Rich and I ate...........no special food for him.

It was a crime to think that he might sleep in a dog bed...............his rightful place to sleep at night was on the end of our bed. When Rich was working graveyard............he slept on Rich's pillow and loved to snuggle under the covers. He picked out his favorite place to sleep on the couch...........and heaven forbid if anyone happened to sit there. One time Mom and Dad was visiting us when we lived in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Mom sat on the end of the couch. She asked me why Bandit was staring at her so much. I told her that he felt that was his sleeping spot. Later, when Mom got up to do something..............you guessed it! Bandit jumped up on his spot and slept the rest of the afternoon............occasionally looking at Mom as if to say: This is my spot and don't sit on it again.

Bandit also had his own quilt with his name embroidered on it that my sister, Sandy made for him and a miniature afghan that I had crocheted for him. He owned a personalized collar with matching leash.

Bandit and I would go for a walk............when he got tired he sat down and wouldn't budge. No matter what I tried...........he would just sit there with his big brown eyes and refuse to move. I would have to pick him up and carry him back to the house.

It's been over 10 years since Bandit crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. He's up there watching over us and keeping us safe.

Bandit

Thursday, July 13, 2006

I miss you my dear friend, Danny


I miss you my dear friend, Danny. I miss your smiling eyes, shy sense of humor, funny jokes and stories you would email, little cards you sent that let me know you were thinking of me, picnics in the middle of winter, nature walks, the list goes on and on.

I miss those times when we would just sit and listen to music..........the golden oldies or Native American..........it did'nt matter. Mom told me that the last two weeks of your life you listened to the Native American CD I gave you 24 hours a day. I hope my dear friend that you found comfort in that CD..............I know I always feel close to you when I listen to the CD now.

Yes, I miss you so much. I realize that now you are in no pain from ALS, you are not suffering the horrible nightmares that plagued you since you returned from Vietnam, no more are the feelings you had about being rejected, no longer no being able to speak, sing, dance, and do all the things that you lost from the complications of ALS.

Take care my friend.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Fourth of July


HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

The photo above is one of the Artist Trading Cards that I made for a Fourth of July Swap. It was a lot of fun to make. I used some patriotic patterned paper, patriotic sticker and rubber stamps.
Fourth of July Quotes
None of us who have always been free can understand the terrible fascinating power of the hope of freedom to those who are not free. --Pearl S. Buck
We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are createdequal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rightsinherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, andliberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
~Thomas Jefferson~
There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in itsabuses.If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven doesits rains,shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and thepoor, it would be an unqualified blessing.
~Andrew Jackson~
Fourth of July History
THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

America was born on July 4, 1776!
July 4, 1776 was the birth of our nation, The United States of America.
On this very important day the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Indepndence.
This day was preceeded by a battle between the colonists of our original thirteen colonies and the British contorl over them.
According to Kenneth Davis, there is evidence of this horrible battle from as early as the year 1676.
During this year a man named Nathaniel Bacon created a document that spoke against the British and their unfair taxes.
This document was called the "Declaration of the People." Nathaniel Bacon not only wrote against the
British but also led troops of poor farmers, slaves and free blacks against the British (Davids, 1991).
Dispite this and many other rebellions of the colonists, the British continued to impose these unfair taxes.
In the mid 1700's the colonists were finding it harder to be ruled be King George III, ruler of Britain.
They desided they were not going to put up with these taxes any longer. Many colonists boycotted these taxes.
In response, the British sent troops into the thirteen colonies.
This led to the Boston Massacre in 1765, where British soldiers fired gun shots into a crowd of people that were
through stones and calling them names.
In 1773 another event occured called the Tea Party. The British put a tax on tea sold in the colonies.
Some men, including Samuel Adams, from Boston dressed as Indians, boarded three ships full of tea and dumped in over into
the Massachusetts Bay. Soon after the Tea Party the Revolutionary War began.
The First Continental Congress created a list of complaints against the King, in 1774.
George Washington was in command of the Continental Army and began the fighting against the British.
The Revolutionary War lasted eight years, with black men, white men, and even women who fought for their right to freedom.
During the war the Second Continental Congress began another list of complaints against the King
This list was called the Declaration of Independence, and was first signed by the president of the Seconde Continental Congress,
John Hancock. This was made public Juy 8, 1776 and was celebrated by bells, the firing of guns, candles and firecrackers.
However, the war continued until 1783, and in this year Independence Day was made an offical holiday.
Today we celebrate America's Independence Day the was John Adams felt it should be celebrated. He said it would
"...be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires andilluminations from one end of this continent to the other..."
Personal Opinion
It seems to me that we had the Boston Tea Party to get rid of unfair taxes. Now we are being taxed to death by our own government each year. Isn't it about time that we had another Boston Tea Party and rid ourselves of the unfair taxes of today???????????
Fourth of July Vegetarian Picnic
Mint Tea Punch
Note from Cheri: Fresh mint can make ordinary ice tea special, so you might opt to stop after the first step of the recipe and completely eliminate the extra ingredients. Try this punch for something even more memorable. It's the prefect refreshment for a hot summer afternoon.
8 tea bags8 fresh mint sprigs1 C sugar2 quarts boiling water2 1/2 C pineapple juice1 can (6 oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawedadditional mint springs for garnish
Makes about 3 quarts
Combine tea bags, sugar and mint sprigs. Pour boiling water over tea mixture. Cover and let steep for at least a half hour.
Remove and discard tea bags and mint springs. Transfer to a large pitcher or punch bowl and add pineapple juice, cold water and lemonade concentrate (undiluted). Stir well, serve over ice garnished with mint sprigs.
Deviled Eggs
6 hard boiled eggs2 T mayonnaise3/4 tsp. Dijon mustard1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce*salt & pepper to tastepaprika for garnish
Serves 6 as an appetizer
Cut each egg in half and carefully scoop out the yolk. Mash yolks and remaining ingredients together to make a paste. Wether to make it completely smooth, or leave small lumps is a matter of personal taste, much the same way that some people, myself included, like lumpy mashed potatoes. If you're in the smooth camp, you can make the egg yolk mixture in a food processor.
Once you've finished the egg yolk mixture, it's time to carefully spoon it back into the egg white. For more decorative eggs you can put the egg yolk mixture in a pastry bag and pipe it back into the white. Sprinkle with a little paprika for color and flavor.
*Note: Vegetarians should use vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce or eleiminate this ingredient.
Mexican-Style Chickpea Salad
4 cups cooked chickpeas , or 4 cups drained canned chickpeas (from two 15 oz. cans), rinsed1 med. onion, minced2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed3 jalapeno chiles, seeded and minced2 canned chipotle chiles in sauce, rinsed, seeded and minced (optional)3 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped (optional)4 T extra-virgin olive oil4 T fresh lime juice, or more to taste3 T chopped fresh cilantrosalt and freshly ground black pepper
Makes 8 side-dish servings
Combine all the ingredients and let marinate for 2 hours. Adjust the salt and pepper and the lime juice to taste. Serve slightly cool.
Caprese Sandwich
Caprese is a traditional Italian combination of tomatoes, fresh mozzerella and fresh basil. Serve it on crusty bread or focaccia.
2 crusty bagguettes or 4 large crusty rolls or 4 servings focaccia bread1/4 cup olive oil1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, chifonnade4 ripe fresh tomatoes8 oz. mozzerella cheese, thinly slicedsliced kalamata olives (optional) salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Serves 4
Cut bread in half. Layer sliced tomatoes and sliced cheese and (if desired) olives. Sprinkle basil over sandwiches. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Easy Strawberry or Peach Shortcake Squares
4 C strawberries, hulled and sliced
OR
4 C sliced peaches1/4 C sugarCake 2 C flour1/3 C sugar1 T baking powder1/4 tsp. salt1/2 C butter2/3 C half and half1 egg, beaten
2 C whipped cream (or 1 can Redi-Whip®)
additional sliced strawberries or peaches for garnish
Serves 6
Combine sliced fruit and 1/4 cup sugar, mix well and chill.
Preheat oven to 450° F. Lightly grease an 8 inch square baking pan.
Combine flour, sugar,salt and baking powder. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
Mix half and half and egg and mix well. Add to flour/butter mixture and stir just until moistened. Spread the mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring cake to a wire rack to cool completely.
To assemble:Cut the cake into six squares and cut each square in half horizontilly. Place bottom half of shortcake, cut side up, on plate, top with prepared fruit and dollop of whipped cream, top with second half of cake, cut side down and additional fruit and whipped cream. Repeat for remaining squares.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

Monday, July 03, 2006

Creating Pages 8-Week Contest -- Week One


Week one of Creating Pages 8-week Contest was to use "Bling" - something glittery or shiny - on a layout.

I choose to use Gold Glitter and Gold Star brads on my layout for "Bling".

Rogue River Rooster Crow - June 24, 2006








It's been a while since we have been able to attend the Rogue River Crow in Rogue River, Oregon. This celebration takes place the last Saturday in June every year. It started in 1953. There is a parade, food and craft booths, quilt show, book sale, car show, human rooster crowing contest and the big finale...........rooster crowing contest. The object of the contest is to see how many times you can get your rooster to crow in 30 minutes. They give out prizes and trophies to the winners.

Rich and I started going to the Rooster Crow in 1974. We went every year until Rich started working in Security in 1987 and he always worked Saturdays.

We are so happy that Rich has finally found a job that he works days and has Saturday, Sunday and all holidays off. Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!

We are loving being able to attend events like the Rooster Crow. We are looking forward to many events this summer that our around our home.