Messing with my blog

I'm playing around with different backgrounds for my blog as well as colors. So if you come by and it is completely whacked...I'm likely working on it. Try back later and it should be looking better.

I'm doing my best to create a custom background in Adobe Photoshop. With no training whatsoever it's a challenge.

Happy Thanksgiving...

I am thankful for:

• another Thanksgiving with both of my parents
• my loving husband
• my beautiful children
• our home and the food on our table

Rearrranging and organizing

I haven't been able to be creative since we did some rearranging of furniture through the house. We call it the grand rotation of the crap. We never seem to get rid of any, it just moves to another room of the house.

I had to clean off the desk that went to the family room for the kids to work at...hence, the big pile on my workstation and chair and floor....

The light colored piece in the lower right is an old TV stand that was in DH office for lack of a better place. It should provide me more storage in the long run as soon as I figure out how to utilize it.

Hopefully I can get everything sorted out over the long holiday weekend so I can get back to being creative.

Here's how it looked the last time I organized.

I've been tagged!

My friend Elizabeth tagged me yesterday.

I'm supposed to share 6 quirky things about myself, then tag five other friends.

So here goes:

1. I eat m&m's in the order of which ever color there are the most of until I get an even number of each color then proceed to eat an entire color at once.


2. I love soup and could eat it for every meal.


3. I have a high pain tolerance.


4. I think I look better with glasses than without.


5. I want a tattoo but am afraid of what it will look like in 20 years.


6. I love mini-vans...even if we won the lottery I still drive one...just a REALLY nice one.

Now I tag:
Theresa http://alteredaddict.blogspot.com/
Ingrid http://ingriddijkers.blogspot.com/
Dana http://dana-whatadoll.blogspot.com/
Linda http://theartsook.blogspot.com/
Marci http://marcisenders.typepad.com/

Wish me luck...

I sent off more art to Somerset Memories in hopes of getting published again. This time it's an altered book about my dad and his childhood.

Here's a tiny sneak peek:

Score!

I never would have guessed I'd be going to a garage sale towards the end of November. Luckily it was held INSIDE the house because it's super cold and windy with scattered flurries today.

Everything you see for $9.

I've been wanting a guillotine cutter for ages.

The creative memories cutting templates look interesting as well and I already have the blades that work with it.

So glad I had to go get my yearly "squeeze" this morning or else I'd have missed these great deals!

Starting on our Christmas page

Every year I make a scrapbook page... virtually the only traditional scrapbooking I do...then make color copies to send out as our Christmas greeting.

This year I am struggling with both a design and color scheme.

My first concept was this completely non-traditional color scheme. I love the colors and elements but can't seem to find a design I like.

The second has more traditional Christmas colors but just seems blah and ordinary to me.

I'm also struggling with what photos to use.

I think I just have too many things going right now and need to just focus on one at a time.

Why buy toys?

How much fun can be had with a simple cardboard box?!? Hours when it comes to our girl!

Collections

I grew up in a household that had many collections. Rocks, sea shells, fancy tea cup and saucers sets just to name a few.
Over the years I've gotten rid of most of my "dust catcher" collections and now only collect items that are useful, such as my Fiestaware.
These are our everyday dishes as well as our "fancy" dishes.

I also have a vast fabric stash and scrapbook papers but they fall into the useful collection in my book. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Do you collect anything? I'd love to hear about it or see a picture.

Just playin'

Just felt the need to play a bit today.

Second "beauty"

Here's my second spread for the Beauty theme altered book I'm working in for our current round robin.

UHU glue challenge

My good friend, Elizabeth, in conjunction with UHU glue came up with a fun challenge. Use a sample of UHU glue in an altered art project using a magazine. You can read the full details here.

Since I had a book for a RR I needed to work in I figured I could use it for the challenge. Theme of the book is Beauty. Basically anything you see as beauty in your own mind is game. I've never been on a tropical beach but in my minds eye it would be absolutely beautiful!

Quilt finished...hooray!

With the cold weather settling in, I really was under pressure to get this one done.

She loves it and told me that it's so snuggly warm.

12 days of Christmas swap

Yes, I did say Christmas! I was just grumbling to my husband about the holiday sales and lighting ceremonies that are going on already...call me a hypocrite.

These likely won't hit the mail until Monday. We're due for the first snow of the season tomorrow and I tend to stay home, if possible, on that day...too many fender benders.

It always amazes me that everyone seems to forget how to drive in snow during the scant 5 months that it's generally not falling. DUH!!!! Get a grip people...it's Minnesota!!! Learn how to drive.

Girl + Legos + Barbie=

Second set of Map 4x4's

The red one does have a map background...it's just really hard to see in the photo.

Playtime

I spent a very pleasant afternoon in the craft room with my daughter. Daddy had come home sick so we figured we'd spend some time on a quiet activity while he rested.

I don't really understand art dolls or why people make them but am always willing to experiment. Moonflower child was actually kind of fun to create.

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I also made these 2 Map 4x4's...I still have 2 more to make.

What I really should have been doing today was working on my 12 days of Christmas swap that is due in a couple weeks. I just can't seem to get into making these gifts this year!

Election day

Did you?

Playtime altered book

Since I completed my Just for Fun altered book I had nowhere to play. I started a new book this morning. I'm calling this one my Playtime altered book.

This is the first spread.

I started smack in the middle of the book for a change. I was basically trying out some new supplies I acquired.

I went to an awesome sale a few blocks from here last week and got all of these supplies for $8.50!!! Everything was unopened or nearly newly! The gal ran a rubber stamp business and was moving across the country so she decided to liquidate.

As luck would have it, I didn't have much cash and the kids were along, otherwise I'd have likely way overspent my budget. You just don't come by sale s like that very often!!