WELCOME To Year 2014!

                                 The end of 2013 has come, just when I got used to the odd number. Thankfully, I'm pretty situated into using the 20 prefix. But that actually took the better part of the first decade before I stopped using the old number 19. I'm so situated, in fact, that a paper I'd dated and signed was returned to me for correction of the right century where my birth date was entered. So here we go into another year- but this one's a year I am definitely looking forward to! The ChiefHubby & I will celebrate our 30th Anniversary on July 14th...in 2014! Bahamas are waiting for us with a total of 10 booked to go....and we're planning all the stuff we did when we were younger; jetski, riding (horses...like, WHAT ELSE??), swimming, skiing, and coral-reefing. A new thing we haven't done is parasail. THAT oughtta be vewwwy interwesting, to be sure!
              But, it's not just the cruise I can look forward to...but rather the continuing JOURNEY of LIFE itself. After all the illness that struck at 39, I can finally say that I can not only handle what life hit me with, but also feel as if it BLESSED me in the long run afterward. I feel like I have more to look forward to than ever before. Not that I didn't, mind you. But when you get hit with one thing after another, sooner or later; you break. It's how you handle that breakdown, and WHO you ask to help you handle it. JESUS has been there every step of the way- even when I kicked, screamed, and protested....allllll the way. HE stayed near me and helped me keep seeing a little light whenever the tunnel seemed to get too dark for me to see the way. HE never let go of my hand, and HE even sent me a ton of WONDERFUL people for me to be humbly honored to call FAMILY. As this year moves on, like all of them, it will likely move on faster than I want it to. My goal will be to just make the most of each day- even if it seems nothing at all happened. Just being ALIVE is a GIFT. A precious gift that is not meant to be taken for granted. Let's be thankful for the little things, be generous with all the big things, and learn to let the unimportant things go where they belong: into the past.

                          HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
                       ~2014~

         Every year, our group of peeps - the bunch of Besties we do so many things with, share so much of our time with, and that we love so dearly that we are proud to call them FAMILY- gather together on New Year's Eve to ring in the new year, and take a group shot that is always the first photo of that year. So here it is: 2014.....

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Wishing you, and yours, a very Merry CHRISTmas!

May the blessings of The newborn KING bring the comfort

of His tender mercy, infinite love and gracious forgiveness

He offers freely to all who will turn to seek His face, and accept the wonders He promises to us -not just in this earthly life- but in the Eternal Life to come! Amen!

With Love,

The Larimore Family;

~David, Lyla, Brian, Brett& Holli~

~BudderCup, Baxter, HunniPi, Shax & Moose~



2012 Family Photo Books

                   I made these mini scrapbooks last year for our annual fam photo shoot I love doing! I am a creature of the 'same place every year' shots, and while I get tons of rolling eyes (making me think of calling 911 since they all seem to be having some kind of...seizure...??), the fam tends to go along with me on it. So Since our family began growing, I added two more sets of whatever I am making so each of our boys' girls would have their own also. I am hoping to make a different each year. 'HOPING' is the key word here.
                   These are 2012 books.... and posted below the photo, You will find videos so you can see each of the pages on each book.

More PHotograPHy PHun...My PHamily...

                        My fave photo subjects are probably the people in my life. Closest would be my ChiefHubby and our kids, of course. Throughout the years I've had 'the camera bug' bite going on since, ohhhhhh.....probably when I was seeing my Grandpa Raymer with his camera or movie camera out. And years later, I'd see a homemade setup he came up with for his title-making. It was awesome to see that it closely resembled my own that I came up with! Great minds DO think alike!! ;)

                         I claim to be 'officially retired' now from all the photo work I used to do for our kids' schools, Bands, etc, and also from a group we joined in 2000? based in Birmingham, Bama called Carpenters For Christ that is a missions where a few hundred or so take a week during the early summer to build churches ; yes, with hammer, nails, and lots os sweat. I do still take and post shots for church most of the time. But I encourage everyone to join in on that and help post info of whatever group they are in doing whatever they are doing!

                         Of the many cams and video equipment I have, the Canon is my fave. I have a RebelXT which I love for the 'old way' of doing photos (the only "right way" but with digital added) and the newer little cam that does all my big cam does plus takes pretty good quality video the Rebel doesn't do at all. My cell phone is....myeh. And while the iPad makes working for church photos easy-as-storebought-pie, the quality sucks. But I end up using it alot more since it uploads during services so others can enjoy as it happens without interfering with the soundbooth/video feed. 

                         So, here are a few of my faves...just some within reach.

 

2013 SelPHie Shots...Photo Phun!

                 This past fall, I had some phun with my photography...selfies! One day while the kids were still in their teens, I had some (actually a couple of years) down time and opened up my laptop going through alot of pics taken of our family...our Wedding Day, birth of older FFCaptSon, birth of younger PurdueNuclearHonorsEngineeringSon, lots of pics of my ChiefHubby as he moved up the ranks of firefighting classes& training, family trips, holidays, etc. (You get the picture...hahaha!) When I noticed that other than the 'mandatory' family shots on timered-cam....this Mom was rarely seen in a any  photos simply because we MOMS are the usual ones taking the photo. 

                  And then came along 'selfies'... or should we dubbed that, more appropriately; 'selphies' with the correct ph as in PHotograPHer?? 

                  Whatever. In any case, I was never one to want to be on camera, because I was more comfortable behind one. Unless we're talking STAGE, here: I could be up on a stage in front of a live audience and feel quite at home there! Having said that, a few years ago, I decided it was high time I took some photos of myself, lest our children, while looking at pics long after I am passed on, think : "There's none of MOM in these!", whilst they will surely remember me as Mother, Maid, Sweeper-runner, and carrier of the loaded dustingcloth. Enough chit-chat as I have tons to do before the CHRISTmas holiday gets here. It's already Dec.19, and while I do have the tree out& lit....it is missing the ornaments. My cards have not yet even been made. YIKES! Late Lyla is REALLY late this year! So without further ado...

                  Photog phun this past phall...(Crop, align, and touchup on these was a must where flubs were evident in the, oh..say... 100 oddpics I had to take to get these how I wanted. And, you'd die laughing as I did on the ones that got me TRYING& FAILING to get up on that phallen tree!!) The first set taken at GVFD station, and the middle & last sets were taken at Roller's private camping place during one of our many churchbuds camping outings all over Indiana together...

Tags of Another Kind- The Giving Kind!

       

             These tags are something I've been making for the past three years. Two from previous years are shown in upper right corner of the photo. I simply start with a good, stiff cardstock ;double-sided not only works well, stands up to time better, and is easier to work with, but it also gives you a writing side of the tag with no extra work on your part. I like to do a lot of tearing of papers- usually in my fave Americana Primitive colors -and do some gluing, and then roll over them with a fave stamp-roller. But you can cut shapes to glue (such as the star on the ragged colored, stamped with BIBLE verse "As for me and my house; we will serve The LORD.")  In this year's tag, I'm continuing from last year and using my fave Stampin'Up Jumbo Roller with "Red, White, & Blue" Jumbo Stamp (which I don't think is available any longer, sorry). Finally, either run them through my Big Shot with a tag die, or use a hand-punch for the desired shaped tag. Bits of ribbon, torn cloth, jute rope, binder twine, etc for the ends, and hemp string or other thinner string for tying to packages or gift.  I usually write the person's name onto the back so they can hang the tag for keeping. I can make up 80 to 100 of these in one afternoon, and they last me quite some time into the new year. 

              Making my own tags is a way to stay "Green" as well! Using up those papers you don't really like the design of, but the paper itself still has a good use left for it. And don't forget your scrapbin too!

DECEMBER TAG- 12 Tags of 2013

         December brings with it, the last Tag for 2013. I was somewhat...relieved??...as it actually looked pretty simple. This relief came as a result of too many things yet to get done before CHRISTmas Day gets here. For the first time since I've been doing paper cards for CHRISTmas, I am really late with them. Since our wedding in 1984, I was giddy over sending our first CHRISTmas cards out! Now, however...being a bit older and WISER...I almost dread it! Not the actual giving & getting of them- but just the work getting them finished and out. I make my own with several photos of how our year went. A twist on the usual- and rather boring- CHRISTmas Letter. So getting that Tag done was first in line since it was going to be my "Ornament" for our exchange in the Ladies Circle group of our church. It's always fun to see what everyone else makes... or buys if they're not so 'crafty'. This Tag didn't look too hard at all. Ahhhh...that word...."LOOK".

          After looking into the instructions on the new technique Tim was showing, I knew right away I was going to need to modify my tag a bit from his. I didn't have the special plastic he has, nor the tissue material he used. But I did have the grungepaper and inks, etc...basically the rest of it all. So in place of the tissue, my heart went right to the main idea- CHRIST. I used an old Bible that I salvaged for just 25cents, and copied JESUS' birth story from The Book of Luke. (Matthew is better, but I actually used those pages on another project before I started copying pages as I kept wanting my same fave verses over and over.) Using paper copy holds up better for gluing to grungepaper than the regular Bible pages which tear easily and make gluing difficult. I used Glossy Accents to adhere the copied Scripture and then cut petals using TH's Alterations die Tattered Florals. No, I don't have the Poinsetta die, as I would never use it...until this tag came up, anyway. But I was able to cut the floral shapes more into pointy-looking poinsetta leaves and then color as he did his petals. So that was the only major change from his tag done to my own. 

       One could argue this tag is "too simple" but I think that just makes it stand out all the more lovelier! Simplistic & very pretty! I added a pair of miniture skates to the Tag I kept for my own collection, and for the one given into the Ornament Exchange, I added a few Ideaology pearls to the ribbon- which I chose to use an old crochet-like lace. Gave it a kind of old-fashioned but elegant feel. I think the December Tag may be at the top of my "Fave List" of tags. 

         The backside of the tag- which I usually also decorate- became a nice place to add a photo. Perhaps I will add our traditional  all-humans&furries-in-front-of-the-tree shot. But for now, shown, is a summer photo (taken on the beaches of Emerald Coast, Florida). I used the Tim Holtz Alterations FAMILY Movers&Shapers die, then tucked a tied ribbon in between the two front and back tags for holding the photo. 

      While time is so short these days with so much to do (making gifts for others is usually what takes up much of my time) plus lots of baking and this year, I tried making my black raspberry pickings into jam. It turned out VERY NICELY, and I can't believe it took me so long to try it. I often say that the area we live in is "the Black Raspberry Capitol of the World" as they are so abundant and if you cannot find me at home in June and July...along the roads covered in purplish-pulp is where you will probably find me. I usually stash away into my freezer 5 to 10 gallons of them each year. Before that is Morel mushroom season- another thing we are well known for out here. ;)
         I also got the idea of a cushioning for the jars of jam gifts: crocheted hotpads for warm plates of toast to sit on. I used Jute binder twine- easily found in most stores, esp in farm supply stores. Those were difficult to do with the spun twine, but the result is a really neat and usable pad! Definitely can be great used in all our campers during joint trips we take together throughout the summers!

    I plan to add more things I've done before 2014 blows in. But until then- 

Have yourself a MERRY little CHRISTmas...now. :D 

Find the Fun of Making a Compass

                                                                  

      Here it is, mid-November, and we had to deal with severe storms and tornados...LOTS of tornados. The Chiefhubby and I were driving home from Wabash in the middle of this. It was a visit to a funeral home, so it wasn't like we could put it off due to weather, or whatever. But it sure made the trip...well...vewy interwesting to say the least. Nothing like feeling the car lift up on you and seeing signs mown down by sideways rain& wind. The Chief being the Firefighter he is- was both cautious, and excited. Go figure. This girl likes staying on the ground. Preferably in a safe shelter. The funnel cloud I THOUGHT I saw was indeed likely very real. Too real for this girl- even with her Gurl Panties on.

       That said, November should be a month where we are 'stuck' inside and have more time to play "Crafts". Seems just when I got that time, I got hit with the first Flu Bug of the 2013-14 season. After three weeks of doing just 'catchup' and sleeping. (Mostly sleeping but whoz keepin' track here??) I did get a chance to finally go into the Craft Room for more than just dusting or sweeping it. And this was the result...

NOVEMBER TAG: 12 Tags of 2013

           November has blown in, and T!m Holtz has posted the November Tag. He was a bit late, but that kinda made me feel nice to think that I'm not the only person who's ever late with anything. (Ok...so I am late ALL the time. And....???) Anyway.... I usually just fall into TOTAL LOVE with just about every Tag he has posted. I guess by mentioning that, you can guess that I wasn't exactly falling all over this month's technique. Frankly, I felt like I was pushed out on a ledge when it came to the October glitter- even as it was Distress Glitter. But then T!m chose to do CHALK for the November Tag! YIKES!!!

When I think of chalk, well, all I think of is that screechy feeling I get of chicken-claw-scraping on raw blackboard.

    All that being said....if you're STILL with me thus far after that rather...er...scraping remark....(shuddering)...

I'll get down to business here about my take on his chalk-technique.

    This particular technique had to be THE hardest I've ever had to TRY to master! And, I will fully admit, I have NOT mastered, but rather-sort-of-maybe-kinda-just 'floated along' with it. By the time I did SEVERAL mistakes- AND- THERE WERE MANY.(Mistakes of which I did NOT 'embrace' as T!m lovingly suggests we do with our flub-ups...nope- I uncerimoniously tossed them into the trash bucket; and trust me here on this one that my trash bucket is a charming silver metal feed bucket to compliment my Craft Room's 'old' decor....the bucket is MUCHO cuter than the TOTAL FLUBS I first did with this tag.) We're talking ALOT of time out of one afternoon which turned into all evening too. Just trying to get that powder to heat up juuuuust enough to make a Matte Finish on the embossing powder takes alooot more practice than it looks. That said. I finally resorted to the only thing I could figure out to help me FINALLY get ANY chalk at ALL to stand out on that paper. (Even if you have all the right items, it STILL depends on the right finish of matte with the emboss to make the chalk stick inside the bumps produced by the flat matte finish.) And since I was making THREE MORE of this Tag- let me tell you that I had QUITE A BIT of practice doing this technique moooooore than enough, thankyouverymuch.

        Long typed story short- I used WHITE emboss powder to help my chalk show up alot better. So was that 'cheating'? On this particular technique....YES. On the other hand, much like life itself; we all have our particular talents. Only a few crafy things have I come across that I reeeeeeallllly struggled with- painting is one of those. This chalk thing would be another.

I DO LOVE, however, the starkness of the white-on-black! It reminds me of a Tag I did on my own idea of "Just Me & My Camera" in the Spring of 2012 using paper & scissors.

(I've included pics below.)
    The rest of T!m's November Tag is mmmeh...okay I guess. I was half-hearted over the LEAF on it just because we are doing the last of the fierce battles of LEAF WAR 2013. So I chose to make my own take on this month's Tag to be about family traveling home for Thanksgiving. We have Brett&Holli (married on Aug 10th this year) coming home as a family, as well as Brian staying all night for the Holiday, so that means TWO NEW GRANDPUPPYs coming as well as Shax Grandkitty joining our HunniPi pup and BudderCup kitty. A full house of BLESSINGS we are VERY THANKFUL for !!! And we pray for our kids as they grow their own family to add each year- MORE BLESSINGS ! We wish the same for YOUR family also: GOD's merciful forgiveness & kindness in His infinite LOVE for us ALL !  

 

OCTOBER TAG- 12 Tags of 2013 by Lyla Larimore

      My blog is now up & running, although I will probably need tweaks here and there....basically, it looks like I want it to look. So for my first Tag that's a product of my own work to post, it is fitting that it happens to be for my own birthday which falls in October on the 18th. While that was my inspiration for making four more for other 'Fellow Pumpkins' in our group of close friends (better known as 'The Chickstas' as we call ourselves- which I'll explain at some point on this blog) whose birthdays also fall (hehe) in the month of October.

       T!m Holtz's tag was a technique showing off the Distress Glitter. And here is where he and I part ways on the Crafty Road....I absolutely detest glitter. Ok, that sounds kinda strange coming from a girl. But ever since I was little, I see glitter as being an ugly-cheapo-cheesey kind of....what's the word we used to use before "bling" came along...??....."glitzy"...??? So, there ya go. While I will admit to the draw that the Distress Glitter COLOR did for my eyes, I am still put off by it. I will also admit that looking through his technique, I was drawn in by the fact that it can be SHADED or played down by using Distress Inks (which I'm crazy over!) around the edges. That said, it makes me ....just a TINY BIT....wanna give it a try. So next time I am near any of it on my next shopping excursion - provided they have some neutral shades of color stocked of it - I will give the Distress Glitter a fair try. Until then, you will not find even one grain of glitter in my home. ICKEY-POOEY! (shuddering)

         So, I did the next-closest technique to the glitter-thing; embossing powder. Other than that, I stayed true to the rest of his techniques used in the October Tag. Seeing that I love playing with numbers (that's the closest you will get me to saying I like any part of the Honors Math my kids are gifted at), I decided to make my cut elements and background stamps pertain to the numbers found on a calendar or in time. That's kind of a hoot when you think about "Lyla and TIME" in the same sentence. I am ALWAYS LATE- almost to a point of OCD with it. I'll hopefully be late for my own funeral and eulogy. Oh well.

OCTOBER TAG 12 Tags of 2013 by Tim Holtz

      The October Tag from Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013 marks my very first blog post! From this point on, I may post his next to my own, but that remains to be seen as to how I will go about this. And how often I will add a post to my blog. Generally- whenever I make something is when I will post. And more than likely- those items will vary from papercrafting to my photography work. And as I get this blog running, I'll add more decor and ways to mainstream so it can all be easily borrowed for ideas if others wish to. Here's what I am all about: as long as GOD provides a way for me to share it, then it will be so shared. And what is the fun of having a talent in anything if it can't be shared with others so that GOD will get all the glory for giving us those talents. Esp in my photography- the subject of the photo is the most important part be it people, animals, or the world around us.