"To Sir, With Love"

This was a project I didn't think I'd have time for, but have been wanting to do since getting that Tim Holtz Alterations Die "Writing Desk" last summer! So as soon as I logged off after posting a note onto the Compendium of Curiosities Volume III Challenge #21 page on Linda Ledbetter's blog (called L3 as in 'L to the Third Power' which is really cute since my own name is also 3 Ls...to find the Challenges, look for "CC3C" ), my mind began doing the *clickety-clickety-click* of what I could make with that technique. Of course. Go figure, fellow CraftGurls ! lol  And... since Valentines Day is the day after the deadline,.. and I was hoping to send a couple of cards to my no-longer-living-nearby kids; it seemed TERRIBLE to let this opportunity pass me by. :D  Anyone can join in on this, but you have to have your OWN copy of the book as there is no sharing of the details that are needed to complete each project as it is taught. COOL prizes are sponsored by  The Inspiration Emporium ; Tim Holtz and his (BTS) helper, Mario Rossi; and The Funkie Junkie Boutique .

In fact, I just found out earlier this morning, that I won the Random Drawing Prize from my project entry for CC3C #20 !! YAY!!! So I have a $25 Shopping Spree from The Funkie Junkie Boutique coming !!! More cash for this CraftGurl's stash! That sure made my day after being pretty beat up by all the Dr appts when I only have 15 more to go this month out of 18 total. Yay. *sigh*

So, getting on with this... My studio desk as been as messy as my computer desk this month. I wanted to make two of whatever I ended up with- one for me to keep and one for the ChiefHubby. I've made a kind of tradition out of making him a tag for Valentine's Day the last few years. Back when I did The 12 Tags of 2013, my February Tag was chosen as one of the 12 winners, and I'd given the ChiefHubby his own copy of it that time, but this year, I only made three (two to send to the kid-couples) and kept the third for my own collection. So this was a chance to make something only he and I would have. As always- I did the both sides to these, having some fun with the backsides, which poke a wee bit of fun at each of us in our "Morning Person" and "Night Owl" modes. (Do you really need to guess which one I am??)

 It gave me a little leeway to do something not-so-normal for this very UNsparkly girl. I cut a couple of hearts out with the TH Movers&Shapers die set, used some Spun Sugar Distress Paint, and.....got some Rock Candy Distress Glitter.....all over my studio. And THAT'S why I am NOT such a glittery girl. I think the Chief will be surprised to see me use glitter at all since I am always turning my nose at it. I am a horsey, love-bein-outside, shorts&T, gimme-the-ocean,sand&sun kinda girl. So using glitter was going well outside of my comfort zone. WAY well outside.



BACKSIDES: On the left- my "Night Owl" shows the time I am at my best- at least alive and moving well. And on the right, is the ChiefHubby's usual- he's the "Morning Person" as he leaves for work at 5am every weekday morning for 25 years at SIA. His morning best time usually also holds over for the weekends as well. When it's Sunday, I tend to try to grab for the COFFEE at Church. ;)

 

 

 The photos above show a bit of detailing on the frontsides. It's really hard to get the right lighting for the technique to show up and I was hard put to see it on some of the other projects as well when I checked in last night for the Winners of CC3C #20. There are some AWSOME entries for this Challenge #21 !!! I still need to finish looking back to the Challenges I missed. I am a late finder/starter in this, but have been VERY warmly welcomed by everyone! :D

                 I am also sending this same project in for the Monthly Contest for February on The Inspiration Emporium 's blog, 'Inspiration Journal'. Again, there are some AWESOME prizes for the winners! And, even if you don't choose to enter anything....you'll get a ton of inspiration if you're looking for something to craft, but not sure how to do it. You'll love the tiny stoves made by Lisa Hoel just for an idea-starter! The project photos can lead you to the crafter's blog where you'll find more than enough talent to help you along. 

         Thanks for checking back in, and I hope to see YOUR project on IE, if you want to give it a try!

                                                             Happy Blogging!

FEBRUARY TAG; The 12 Tags of 2015

February is usually thought of as the "Love" month, and I admit to such thinking myself. But I also see February as a c-c-c-cooooold, snowy, wind-blown month also. Living here in Indiana, I can't help but feel the pain of Old Man Winter making his last greatest, chilliest strikes of the year. I also am pretty strict about Valentine's Day being an important celebration of a chance to do something small to say "I love you" to your Sweetheart. AND....it's also the last day I give for having the snowmen, or any other winter decor or lights. I've always put those away no later than Feb. 14th. Or risk more freezing snow?? lol

Tim played his February Tag very well, and I really LOVED the idea of cutting, pasting, pasting, and pasting again. :D  Those are the very basics of crafting! And the thing about ephemera is that you can use store-bought (I absolutely LOVE Tim's choices he has out on the racks), cut some from stash paper (Tim also has already done the work for you in his paper stacks into smaller or larger cuts- which I have almost all the stacks), or even make your own (my fave choice of all). I love using my printer and usually am printing something just about every single day, and so does my ChiefHubby. For this reason, I have two setups going for us. Now that he is retired from GVFD, his actual printing is going to be cut in half; much like mine was when our kids both were graduated from high school. So I actually have much less wear/tear on both setups and they will likely last more than the 1 year each they used to do! So saving more of my own finds online, or scanned, is really nice!

Saving my own files of finds for ephemera allows me to change them into personalized items. It helps cut down on the work if you find something that closely resembles what you're looking for. For instance, I wanted to add photos to the backsides of my tag, but I also wanted to make it look older. So I googled through 'vintage cabinet cards, Indiana' and up came hundreds of images to choose from that people share for free to download. I always keep an original and work from a copy. Then change the copy as I would like it to look, and save it to my files.

 

           Then, when it comes to IdeaOlogy, I try to always have enough to use for each copy of Tag I am making, and in this case, I was wanting to make three tags total, so I would have one for each couple in our family- my ChiefHubby and I, our older son, Brian, & his girl, Ashley and younger son, Brett, & his wife, Holli. But I didn't have any of the Industrial Stickers for the intended Valentine tags. So I turned to my drawers of stashed items and found two 'photo' bottle caps in bronz, a gold laurel wreath with a heart and bow, and some Word Sticks, an 'Observations' Word Band, plus the Arrows Adornments. To make the bottle caps work, I pounded them down with my hammer, then used a few drops of Silver Mix Alcohol Ink onto the caps and also the gold laurel wreath...and presto: perfect items to use in place of the small oval Industrial Stickers!

 

 

    I had to take a little more care during sewing because I couldn't sew right through the metal objects like you can with the Industrial Stickers (made of firmer cardstock items), but it worked quite well. And I was also able to add some of the same edging from Grandma's sheet set to not only give the 'soft' look, but another vivid memory as well handed down to our kids. I chose not to sew any of it onto the front side, but I chose to sew some along the bottom of the photos onto the 'cabinet card' for the backsides of the tags.  I may not be crafty when it comes to making clothing items, (I can do doll clothes, though,) but I really LOVE getting that machine out for PAPER crafting !! ;)



Frontsides: (LtoR) Brett & Holli, Me-n-theChiefHubby, Brian & Ashley

 



Backsides of each: (LtoR) Brett & Holli, all of us for Me-n-theChiefHubby, Brian & Ashley.



         Thanks for all the sweet comments and encouragement from lots of mega-talented folks out there!
I want to wish everyone a wonderfully Happy Valentine's Day! And know that you are LOVED not only by others in this world, but by our Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST ! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll take a look at the next post, made for the COC3 Challenge #21.
                                          Be safe and, as always; Happy Blogging !!

"Me & My Camera" Tag : Compendium of Curiosities Vol.3 Challenge #20

                                 Whew! That last Challenge (19) went by fast, and the 20th came right on its heels. I didn't think I'd get done since I have a few other things still waiting to be done piled up on my desk here. But, where there's a will....  ;)   It didn't take me long to figure out what I would do, because my fave set of stamps is really the set I won from my February Tag: the 12 Tags of 2013- the Camera Blueprints. Below, are a couple of close-up shots so you can see the details of the front. 

     The idea of the foil backing came to me as I was thinking what to use to help make the color of the camera to 'pop' more, and my brain started going through the purpose of the camera. Since I always have at least one camera with me, the thought of the lense acting like a "mirror" of what my eyes see. So foil is a natural type of mirror substance, and easy to craft with as well. It all kind of fell together after that- the MiniClip with Keychain holding a Monocle, Gears & Spinner connected by a Long Fastener stand for the work that I do on photos (both during the time taking them AND the work on computer afterward); the Filmstrip Ribbon with a RubOn of "collector of memories" and the Twine holding Alpha Parts "Seen & Noted" tell  why I take so many photos (photos document life, tell a story, and keep memories alive); a few Chit Chat Stickers outlined with Fired Brick Distress Marker; and lastly, the Clock Key which I cut from my TH Alterations Movers and Shapers Clock Key die. That little piece- which I colored using Silver Mixatives Alcohol Ink -gives the perfect whimsical touch to my tag! I think my ChiefHubby will probably laugh over it, and others who know me will definitely understand how I get 'wound up' once I am doing any photo work. I tend to 'overdo it'. A lot. (And??? Oh well!)

  

And, let's don't forget the BACKSIDE to the Camera Tag. This one called for a simple backside- so I chose one of my new papers I just got last week. I decided to run the paper through my BigShot using the Alterations Bookplates & Tag die (which I use for all my tag-making...let's just admit that it is very, very well used), and then wanted to continue the "Camera Theme" but this time, with places my cams go with me to. The TH Texture Fades- Travel Signs. I then sewed the front and backsides together before adding all my embellies. The white ribbon highlighted my water-coloring.

There is one item on the Challenge Page- the very top item made by Linda Ledbetter, The Hostess of the COC3 Challenges as well as Social Media Coordinator for Inspiration Emporium (here's a link to her blog on The Funkie Junkie Boutique: http://www.thefunkiejunkie.com/default.asp   )which used the World Blueprint stamp and she made her theme from "And I Think To Myself; What a Wonderful World!" which is a lovely song that plays over and over in my head. (Thanks to SOA series end- I don't care for the explicit scenes, bad language, or killing....it's the STORYLINE that I liked and followed! And I cried my eyes out several times.) I fell in love with that song after I was able to get it subtitled so I could hear the words and music. Linda's card is SO ADORABLE!!! And I couldn't let it get away without my own ! I won't be using this in any contest, and Linda is the originator of the idea. But this one's just for ME. I started with one of the new papers like I used for the back of the Camera Tag, and added a cut of frayed real burlap, then a frayed cut of TH Eclectic Elements, saving a thinner piece for the Tag's ribbon at the top. And I went so far as to do another heart and pin it to a tiny cork piece of Indiana with a Mirrored Star in mid-north (Logansport), for where I am. My coloring added 'lights' in Fired Brick Distress Marker- as if you were looking down from outerspace and saw the twinkling of lights. I added a Trinket Pin "Secrets" and a couple of seashell buttons with an IdeaOlogy Bauble Pearl....

if the world is MY oyster, then I am gonna have a PEARL out of my oyster!! ;)

The Compass Piece, Mini Gear, & Spinner (connected by a Long Fastener), ChitChat Stickers outlined with Distress Markers, and regular binder twine tying the Alpha Parts "Wonderful" brought it all together on the front side of the World Tag. Like the Camera Tag, I cut the Tag out, embossed it with the same Travel Signs, sewed a few odd places, and then sewed both sides together. 

 

    THANK YOU for the SWEET comments on my Blog !! They really make my day when I think I was able to bring a smile to another face!        Thanks, as always, for checking in and reading my Long and Wiiiiiiiiiindy posts.  ;)   Happy Blogging, everyone!

The Missed Mish-Mash Crafts of CHRISTmas 2014...

                                                  This is my chance to catch up on missed items I wanted to get posted before we left for Florida this last trip in December. I still have summer items yet to blog and hope to get those posted next.

     I had taken quite a few photos of Older Son Brian and his girl, Ashley, when they took one of our Florida trips with us in April 2014. Since I hadn't done much else with the photos, and I really wanted to try making something nice out of Tim Holtz's Clockworks (and empty clock with a glass front and removable back that allows you to fill with your own items)... I not only made one for my kids, but I was able to get one just like it done for the ChiefHubby and I, too! I shared some of the same photos inside on a die cut from the TH Alterations Stripdie Filmstrip (I have both the smaller Filmstrip/Mini Ticket die and the larger original, but the larger cut fit perfectly in this case) and used Glossy Accents to attach it to the inside all around foremost to the glass front. Then set seashells I found from that trip (and EVERY trip, of course, I am gathering more along the shoreline during our walks) also using GA. If you look closely at the following 2 photos, you can see how I allowed the tiny pics inside to go around clockwise in direction- that's why some look 'upside down'. I thought it was fitting to the theme of it. I added some rope with an anchor charm at the end of it. Ashley is in school through the NAVY, and she is Brian's anchor.   ;)   I tied that rope around both of them and onto an IdeaOlogy Hitch Post. The photo was printed out in triplicate and each was trimmed and edged with Pumice Stone Distress Ink with a Blending Tool. I then pieced each photo in layers, along with a die cut of  TH Alterations Weathered Clock from black with white cored scoreboard to give it a 3-dimensional look. Some lace ribbon, Word Key and boatswheel charm on an IdeaOlogy KeyChain completed the look.  I think they were surprised to open this for CHRISTmas. 

          

                                             

       I did the second Clockworks using the same technique, but added a few different items, and personalized the photos to match the ChiefHubby and myself.

As time got nearer for gift-making for each of my Besties, I actually had half-way finished these earlier in the summer when I was busy picking wild Black Raspberries for about 4 weeks in June. We kept leaving on several trips out of state and out of the US, so my picking times were shorter than usual. Nevertheless, I managed to get 10 gallon bags into the freezer and when December got here, the Chief went out and got 5 bags of sugar, and enough Sure Jell to get 36 pints of jelly and jam put up for everyone. The reason I call it "Indiana2Florida" is because one of my long-time Besties (the one living on the Panhandle) spent time during our April visit to teach me how to can jams and jellies. I'd lugged a couple of bags down to her that were frozen from 2013 picking season, and we had a fun time making jelly...and eating it!

N ext up; the ornaments I made. I used my TH Alterations Movers & Shapers Carved Ornaments die and the coordinating M&S Mini Hearts to cut colors from scoreboard layered using Glossy Accents to give these ornies a heavier feel for tree-hanging.  I made two Auburn University for my Bestie and MawMaw Dixon; PURDUE University for the Younger Nuke Engineer Son and Honors Edu Daughter, as well as the same PURDUE for the ChiefHubby (who attended his Frosh Yr there) and myself. I used blue and gold for the Older FF Capt Son (who loves NotreDame) and NAVY Daughter (those are also same NAVY colors)...and I personalized each with photos from FaceBook pages.



Shown above are the BACK sides of the ornaments.




Shown above are the FRONT SIDES of the ornaments.



Lastly, are a couple of things for the FFCaptSon's girl, Ashley. This was her first CHRISTmas with Brian and our family as they met at the first of 2014. So she needed a stocking and she was the only one I had not crocheted a blanket for. Since she is a NAVY Gurl (and I always have Americana colors on hand since I really LOVE those colors and use them throughout our home), The Red White and Blue was chosen for her stocking, which took my sewing machine just a little time to stitch up and then handsew her name.

Each blanket I crochet, I want to make as unique as possible for that person. I think I picked a dilly of a hard way to make this blanket as I usually draw out my own patterns from left to right and from bottom to top. This blanket was planned to match up with the NAVY's Official Flag both in color and in shape. The gold yarn I chose was alot thicker than the blue yarn, so I ended up going from left to right completely on up-and-down. That made the counting harder, but the overall LOOK was REALLY COOL...



I added in this little stitch-charm that has a USA Flag attached to it. When she needs to wash the blanket, she can detach the Flag charm so it won't get lost or damaged in the washer or dryer.  ;)

   
       Once again; I want to shoutout "THANK YOU!" for all the WONDERFUL comments you have left me on various projects I've posted. It really gives a person that much more inspiration and I am SO HUMBLED AND HONORED to be included as a fellow crafter among so many TALENTED, KIND, and CARING people in this world!
          Thanks -as always- for checking back in for this late, latest post. ;) Happy Blogging!

JANUARY TAG- The 12 Tags of 2015

   Believe it, folks; not only am I headed into my 4th yr doing Tim Holtz's "12 Tags" challenges, but I am getting this first set done and out before the end of the month... while also having done my first of another challenge (COC3 #19 by Linda Ledbetter)!  I guess I am on some kind of a...roll....??? Speaking of which: a roll of TH tissue was one of the only things I didn't have on hand for this Tag. So I got out my plain roll of tissue (you can purchase it in bulk online at most sewing stores), and stamped out my own 'yearly' fashion.

  I made three tags this time, and other than the few odds and ends on each, I stayed with Tim's technique for the front sides, the backgrounds, numbers, chitchat stickers, and the arrow adornments. The backsides were basically done With the same background technique also, except for the Fire Tag. You'll see more detail in the following photos...

   

This 1st tag is basically just for myself- the collection I am making out of all the 12 Tags of each year as I go along. I kept to just about every same thing Tim did- for my front side. For the backside, the background is the same technique, but I added my own touches for my love of my ChiefHubby and the job he's done for 26 years as a Firefighter.

        This tag was made for one of my Besties. She and her Husband were one of the couples who joined us on a cruise in July 2014. She not only shares her horses with me, but she shares her LIFE with me. I love her so dearly! Sandy & Phil will celebrate their 10th Wedding Anniversary on Jan. 29th, so I even include some 'diamonds' on her tag. I also chose to use a couple of the toss-away edges from the Alpha Parts to ofset the numbers & balance the look. I topped it all off with a Cash Key photo of us all on our "Anniversary" Cruise. On the back, I embossed some fireworks, and added another photo of just Phil&Sandy on the ship & an "I Love You" sticker.

 

     That leaves the last tag that will be the entry for my first tag of the new year of Tim Holtz's January Tag: 12 Tags of 2015. While I love the other two tags, this one is for a very special person; My ChiefHubby, David Larimore. It's made to honor him for his 26 years of service on Georgetown Volunteer Fire Dept. Here's the link to my blogpost on that: http://larimore2.blogspot.com/2015/01/all-good-thingsyes-its-time.html    

This tag took the longest time, as you can imagine. I wanted to make sure the details on the firetruck matched 'real life' as much as my TH Old Jalopy Alterations die would allow. I love how I chose to include real canvas, not just for a couple of the numbers, but also for the trim (which was the edge that most people usually toss into the trash), and the hose as well. The 'metal' is actually foil glue-sticked onto reg white cardstock, left to dry overnight, and then die-cut and embossed through the BigShot. Some of the numbers were Alpha Parts done by Tim's January technique, and some were other IdeaOlogy items or from the mish-mash of my stash. On the frontside, I added a small pocketwatch charm that I filled with smaller jewelry Items

in the shape of: firetruck, firehelmet, turnout coat, and the word "HERO", all topped with a Maltese Cross on the outside lid. My ChiefHubby first went out for the GVFD in 1988, but began as a "Boot" (the common name for a rookie FF) in January 1989. He just retired as of Jan. 6th, 2015. After I gave him this tag, he gave it a pretty thorough viewing, then put it up on his bookshelf with all his fave items collected over the years in his walk-thru office. I think he really liked it. :) 

 

  

 The 2 Fire Tags are probably going to be among my very fave of all the ones I've done so far. Not just because I am "Firefighting crazy" (which I wholeheartedly admit to being), but because of who they are about: someone I deeply love and respect! And while he will no longer be an active Firefighter, there are two things that will remain true: 1)that saying is spot on- "The funny thing about Firemen is; they're ALWAYS Firemen," and 2) "You can take the man out of the fire, but you'll NEVER be able to take the FIRE out of the MAN." In this last week, I've watched how hard it has been for him to still hear calls come over his scanner, and NOT jump up and run out the door. Being a FF was not 'a habit'...and it's actually more than just a lifestyle for the Firefighter alone, because it takes his entire family to live it. And, we DID!

I'm gonna miss it, too. :')

Thanks for checking in, and Happy Blogging!!!