The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #17; Stencilmania!...2020, The COVID19 Year

-  UPDATE: Yes, I missed the deadline. But I really needed to make this, so it stays as is. It's not the win that counts; it's the SHARE.    

    August has not been very kind to many I know. It's the way it is in our County- 1,087 COVID19 new cases (although the count is said to be over 1,300 as of today), and quite a load of them have been from church. (It's not 'our' church; it's GOD's church.) Sadly, most of my Besties have already had it, and we were right in the middle of that. At least 3 from church were either hospitalized or needed ER care, while a 4th has died from a heart attack while positive with COVID19.

    This virus sucks. And it doesn't 'end' after it visits, either. While I did not get the virus (we quarantined for the 2 weeks), it definitely has a load of fall-out it leaves in its wake...anger, upset, resentment, bitterness, sadness, time with others lost, lost jobs, lost money, lost opportunities. And simply that feeling that this is all just plain old 'getting OLD'. 

    I believe in the power of prayer, and am keeping on that even more so. I also believe that GOD is still in control- no matter what. But when you live in daily pain and already deal with several huge physical disadvantages; the mere thought of the pain this virus brings can make one seriously fall to their knees and beg for it to pass them by. I grew up with having a lot of chest pains, face flushing, etc, after having had Rheumatic Fever at age 11. I went profoundly deaf at age 16, and had a heart attack at age 39., which ultimately led to early cancer detection that very next year. And then RA onset from trauma of complications from major surgery from that early cancer. And more tests (with tough diagnoses to deal with) in my life than you'd believe when you watch me go boarding, riding, or sailing. The 'fun' is still going; I have THREE 'regular' Doctors I see all the time. To read all the former words, you'd picture me in a wheelchair and not able to get up or even move on my own. It's made worse when others look at you and think "she LOOKS so 'normal'", and it was not uncommon for me- in my late 20s on up) to be standing in line with only Senior Citizens over the age of 60, and have more than one of them  say to me "Dearie, this is the line for MEDICARE PATIENTS. Are you lost?" (LOL!!) to which I reply-for possibly the 10th time- "No Ma'am, I'm in the right line. You see, I am handicapped and I was forced to take Medicare even though my Husband has generous (one of the best in the USA) Insurance coverage for our entire family. I'm just here for the require immune shots for those who have no immune defense,". And then, sweetly but as always, the *gasp!*s and "Ohhhh, you poor thing!" They do mean well, but you'd think I come from Mars. Especially after all I went through in July with the ChiefHubby in the Hospital. Being deaf isn't the worst thing I put up with, but a person who depends on lip-reading isn't going to have much information when it comes out of mask covered faces. (We did find clear masks, though!!) I think the roughest thing about all this is not being deaf. It's the loneliness. A deaf person is already alone. All the time, but most especially in a group or in crowds. The noise that more people together brings doesn't get easier for a deaf person; it gets harder by more confusion of what's going on. And it's much more demanding of energy. Most people don't understand how TIRED you can get from always being 'at attention' when anyone else is talking. I try to catch every bit of it but it's like being "on" with a switch that doesn't turn "off" to allow your body to relax- until everyone else is away from you. Being alone is the most relaxing, but it's also lonely. Oh, yeah; I can text, sure. So, do YOU want to be like a teenager and text every bit you have to say? It's kind of hard to explain things and -as you can see here- it takes up a LOT of SPACE to say just a few things. Not to mention on fingers that only go so fast anymore, now that the RA makes them take longer to unstiffen- especially in the mornings. Not so easy, is it? And THEN...there's the 'old switcharoo': I'm handicapped when it comes to doing anything alone- flying anywhere is out, so is just about anything else done alone. I understand that people worry about me. But the switch happens when I MUST DO something alone- while ChiefHubby was in the hospital and only one person is allowed inside (but noone could communicate with me), when ChiefHubby flew to Haiti for missions for an entire week (I carry an arsenal of now counting 21 Rx meds each day and it was a dangerous place to go to at the time) and I was alone for that week at home, You get the picture. I dream of flying out to LA's coastline for a 5 day trip (a day surfing at the beach, a Dodgers game, hiking Mount Lee and the Hollywoodland area trails, Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Parade- Walk of Stars, etc. And the ultimate; stopping in Carson for a visit to Fire Station 127 and see Squad 51 and Engine 51 & the rest at the LACoFD Fire Museum).  But COVID19 has changed all those plans right now- even if I could do the plan. And COVID19 doesn't care if you're deaf  or already sick with some other disease (heart problems, RA, liver disease, Fibromyalgia, constant fatigue, COPD/Asthma...nope; in fact, COVID19 hunts out those who have things like that going on. Age doesn't seem to matter as much as they thought. And neither does how much healthier you seem to be than most others.  And the fun part? It's nothing new under the sun; diseases like this have been around for ages, and they've killed tons of people. You're born, you live, then you die. EVERYONE does these three things. And, oh yeah- life is not fair. (IKR?!) So while others get the virus, get through it, and are now ok...I still stay in my "bubble". There was The Boy in the Plastic Bubble in the 1970s. Now, I get to be the Older and Less Improved, Deaf Bubble Girl of 2020. The fame...who knew!

     Having said all of the above, you'll understand a bit more of my make for this once-again- too-late Stencilmania! at TFJB Challenge Blog. And why I put it off and off and off, until the past 2 days I worked like a madwoman at a frenzied pace. But it helped with getting this all out of my system. Hey, GOD made Artists, too, ya know. Without any more ado, and any more words...

Part of my inspiration was this copy of Articles of Statehood for Indiana.

I'd picked up this copy while we were at a wedding (for ChiefHubby's 2nd Cousin)

which was held in State House. It was a beautiful wedding

and the Groom serves in the US Military- Air Force.

Since Aunt Nancy was also at this wedding, it was on my mind to use this copy

to represent Indiana on the bottom part of my folio.

To make the folio out of old hanging file folders (of which the ChiefHubby

has an overabundance), you can click HERE for a simple YouTube tutorial.

I followed the same instructions but altered my measurements somewhat.

It's actually fairly easy to make your own folio this way, and

the hanging folders have a toughness that holds very well for Tim Holtz's heavier IdeaOlogy!

Yes, I am a member of Facebook's Tim Holtz Addicts , and yes; I have MORE.

Should I be proud? lol

STENCIL FEATURE (Folio 2)

One ugly little bastard, isn't it. TRUTH.

And yet, I made one myself.

In a CRAFT STUDIO- not a LAB.

Look for it on the top outside of my 'bubble' in the completed photos.

STENCILING FEATURE (Folio 1 before fully done).

RESULTS...

FOLIO 1 (My own)

The photos show how 2020 was NOT a 'bad year'- that's why those TH IdeaOlogy Flashcards

I chose are create/noted, summer/ocean, when/blessed. Those front words tell the situation

while the backs tell the feelings or favorite parts I had.

And that TH Paper Doll set on one tag (on the right side) tell what I still look

forward to- despite the COVID scare I ended up in the middle of (at no one else's fault but

our own of wanting to have 8 of our Besties over while still being mindful of the rules).

I was able to craft, sail my boat, visit the ocean, have all my Kids and Grands together,

see one Neice get married, heal from last year's surgeries and get the body back in better

weight/muscle shape, and spend a LOT of time with the ChiefHubby that was

originally scheduled to be almost all overtime for his work year.

Best of all: the ChiefHubby is ALIVE AND WELL!! And he just happened to have this trouble with blood clots in a year where he had TIME (with total pay) OFF which never happens!

COVID19 was both a curse AND a blessing for us here in this house.

It made the choice of retirement easier for him as well. He'll end

his career at the very top of the heap (79th out of 3,000 with the most years- 

31 since the factory is 31 years old) and his plans have been BLESSED.

The very-soon-to-happen event? Finally getting up to stay with the younger Kids

and being able to have an entire MONTH with getting to know Baby Jamie!

I see our older 2 Grandbabies 2x a week and really ENJOY the heck out of those

short, wonderful hours! But my heart always aches at the start and at the end- I wish we

had ALL of them together. But I sure would NOT change how far away our kids all are from us,

because they are making their own way and we are so stinking, freaking PROUD of that!!

We look VERY forward to the time when the kids are all old enough to take trips with

Memaw and Papaw- and come stay with us in Florida for a week-long break in the winters!!!

Yes- all at once or separately- this granny is gonna soak it up and SPOIL the crap out of them!!

Plenty of extra journaling space.

Maybe to write out the pros and cons of being deaf??

(Yes, there ARE pros. It's easier to ignore things... and people...and.... lol)!!

COVID19 isn't the only problem we have in our country right now...

Notice how I put the USA torn apart, and yes, it's in the DNC & GOP colors.

But noone seems to notice anymore that those colors are also the same that are supposed

to bind us together as a nation (under GOD) indivisible- our US FLAG.

The world is colored for Days of Elijah; "...the fields are white as the world!"

I love how Tim's Distress Embossing Powder sticks but you can scratch off what you want, too.

The purpose was to show the sad division of the black/white...ALL people bleed RED.

And there's The Professor. Let's hope he was the one who was playing around in the lab

and came up with this COVID19...which is right above the 'bubble' that shows "me"

struggling to keep going and going. I don't need a mask when I am at my 'bubble' home, so I didn't put one on her. Notice how I leaned her a bit to look like she's plodding along

as if she might give out any second. (Well, duh; she's TIRED of saying it over and over.)

I used TH Tissue Tape to put the TH Heartbeat die cut together as if it's 'holding the beat together'.

The little library wording cut on "time" is pretty interesting:

1. A particular period or part of duration,

2. An OPPORTUNITY. (Yep- that's what it says!)

3. Duration of one's life.

4. Age; period.

5. Repetition.

6. State of things at a particular period.

7. The present life.

8. Measure of sounds; tone.

1. To ADJUST TO THE OCCASSION. (Uh-huh- Biiig adjustment.)

2. To regulate as to time.

3. To ascertain the time or rate of.

STENCIL FEATURE 1 (Folio 1)

STENCIL FEATURE 2 (Folio 1)

FOLIO 2 (For Aunt Nancy)

An Eileen Hull Pocket Notebook die cut book for Folio 2- to be used for journaling.

These Tim Holtz Vellum Scenes fit the purpose here perfectly;

Aunt Nancy moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for her working career, and retired to a home

along the Wabash River in Indiana.

Over the years, we made many visits to Aunt Nancy and stayed in her home, joining 

her for Reds games at Riverfront Stadium! Nope- never vs DODGERS tickets. *sigh*

We do share a great rivalry still- Aunt Nancy is firm on her Cincy Reds to this day,

and they always seem to be one of the toughest teams for LA when October comes. *grrr!*

Tim Holtz Paper Dolls stand in for a very young Aunt Nancy Alice and (older Sister) Aunt Ruth Ann.

Tim Holtz's Paper Dolls stand in for 

Aunt Nancy and Aunt Ruth Ann perhaps High School and post High School.

Deer Creek Crickets of Deer Creek, Indiana.

I really HAD to add this Tim Holtz Paperie (Found Relatives) photo to Aunt Nancy's folio 

since it looks a shockingly near-real-life-close to a photo of the siblings when they

were younger! In the real-life photo, (it was either the ChiefHubby's Dad or his 

Uncle Terry) the youngest (at that time) had blonde hair just like this!

STENCIL FEATURE 1 (Folio 2)

STENCIL FEATURE 2 (Folio 2)

I lied. There were more words. *grinning*

Thanks once again for checking in and don't forget to take a peek at

The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog

for the next Challenge.

You can join in anytime and have a chance to win a $25 GC from

our SPONSOR; The Funkie Junkie Boutique

(I also really wanted to enter this into the Mini Album Makers Challenge

but that is TBA since the August Challenge has not yet posted.)

Till next time;

Be SAFE, wear the MASK, wash the HANDS,

keep SMILING (in ur heart, as well as on ur face),

and...

HAPPY BLOGGING!!!

Another 2-fer: The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #11 Oh, Man! and Memory Album Makers Challenge MAY... "The Professor's Travel Log"

 

     May is nearly over already and the first traveling "summer" holiday is this weekend (I leave to join all the Besties at our reserved park - the entire park just for us 8 campers/RVs - for camping as soon as I post this). All I can say is: I am glad May is almost over...what a month! It's been 4 weeks without a washer that spins out, so we've had our share of living like 'back in the old wringer-washer days' and my biceps thank Amana for that. Home Depot finally was able to deliver the ordered washer on Wednesday. And yesterday, after all the yard work was caught up (including a FOURTH stint up on top of the roof for cleaning out the tree buds and messes from my gutters Grrr!) the trees, grass, and finally planted flowers are all growing beautifully...I took down the water-skiing rope that was strung across my back decks that helped drain the excess water from all the washed items. After taking the Maytag (our fourth one in less than 20 years!) outside, we were able to see all the wear and tear this one went through. I have no idea why they wear out for us so fast, but dealing with bedding not washed weekly as usual; I cannot understand HOW a family of more than 4 can get by on one washer and have it last longer than 10 years. Our first washer had been purchased from an Air Force Reserve family who was relocating from Grissom AFB. It was a 30 yr old washer, paired up with a 2 month old dryer. A bargain price was agreed on and that washer lasted us 3 more years- it couldn't pump all the way up the wall hookup after we moved out here to a much newer home and away from it's lower apartment basement hookup that was nearer to the floor. But the point is: it was 33 years old before it bit the dust! One answer may lay in the fact that the bottom pieces of this latest Maytag were PLASTIC. No kidding. Plastic that melted away from the friction. Ummmm… Pardon me, MALE designers... but even we 'silly minded female homemakers' can tell you that sweepers, washers, and dryers just cannot stand up to the pace of family use if they are made of PLASTIC. For Pete's sake...… Rant over.

        On another GOOD note; it's very good to be ALIVE. Just the daily news of the COvid19 and everyone trying to get into some sort of "new normal" is enough to make me look for the good and beautiful in life. Two Momma birds have chosen our front porch light and the back deck shelving to make their homes for laying eggs that have, so far, hatched two furry-feathered, but half-naked babies. Both Mommas have decided to let me look at the babies, but stay on their nests at night while I take the pup out for her business-making. The photos I've gotten just take my breath away! And life itself- with the three Grandbabies all happily growing- is nothing short of WONDERFUL!!! So let's let the bad fall away and concentrate of the GOOD... 

Yes; GOD is SO GOOD!!

Ok, let's get down to the nitty gritty here; the reason for the post. The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge "Oh, Man!"

comes just at the time when my ChiefHubby returns to work (party time here, ppl!! LOL!!), so it wasn't too hard to think of "something more masculine". Traveling, camping, and generally any kind of future plans all fall to the category of "masculine" in this household. I just go along with it all and try to keep up, since there are gives and takes in any marriage and in my opinion- that's just a "give it up to him" area. I just show up. And take whatever needs with me that I want to work on as we travel. It all works out very well... for us, anyway. What better person to show "masculine" in anything... than that beloved PROFESSOR?! Back when I was making the most recent book (which missed TFJB Challenge #10 Sew Sweet, but posted for the Memory Album Makers MAY - CLICK HERE to see it), I already had a thought for another book in my head. So when cutting out the covers for that last book, I chose some of the same for the cover of this- Tim Holtz's Memoranda.

As you scroll down the photos, hopefully, you'll be able to see how I formed all of it. Less chatter and more of the matter!

                                                                      So let's get to it!

Again- I'm using Eileen Hull's Pocket Notebook Die for this book.

If you're new to book/album making...this die is a PERFECT starter for anyone!

So easy to figure out and use! Not to mention VERY versatile!

Guess I've got quite a few "traveling" stamps!

And the TH paperie items just kept adding to my table as I crafted. Lol!

These two papers made up the covers and spine.

After cutting simple sets of signatures (groups of folded paper make each "signature"

 that are added together to the spine to make a full book), 

I chose stamps that matched each section to that mode of travel, 

using Ranger Black Archival Ink- which is permanent.

I used quite a few techniques- my favorite is Tim's "ghosting".

And in the middle of the week of making the book- I came upon another color

with a clearance price on it!- for the water and sky travel.

Here's a time-saver...stamping two different pages at once.

And most of the time, I can get them to match up- without even trying!

And sometimes; NOT. But remember to embrace BOTH!

I wanted to try lots of different ideas on each section...

...to give fun, little "surprises" on each turn of a page.

Then, my ArtMuse just wouldn't stop there: we had to add TH's Texture Fade Set- Travel;

which matched right up with his Stamp Sets!

Making a pocket of my own- thinking on TH's Pocket Die...

...and then actually getting the die out just to make a HALF die cut 

which made another side to the one I hand-cut.

Adding in some extras for pockets.

Then TH Distress Oxide Inking everything with my fave go-to; Vintage Photo.

I decided I wanted to make a little 'folder' for the plain school paper, so I went to my

computer to print out a few do-dads to use...

...and cut out the folder's shapes with the TH Thinlit Die- States.

The cover and spine came after the pages, strangely enough, but they were already

cut and stacked for assembly long before anything else.

For making 5 holes from the 3-holes-each-die-cut-pages...I layered them together.

But I found that by cutting the middle sheet down to just two holes, the overlapping

not only worked out well, but it also ended up the same paper thickness all the way across the spine.

I'm going to use this trick in the future!

Getting out that first-ever-TH-thinlit that I still ADORE !!

And getting some love on rust going!

Lastly...the masculine man himself: The PROFESSOR!!

Making sure it's all properly distressed and ready to put together...

...with some hemp string!

I even TH (very early ones) Alcohol Inked some mechanical pencils!

Now that's a new idea for me!! They match perfectly with this 'aged' travel log!

And HERE'S the RESULTS...

The one on the left was made to another Bestie- Susan Marks. She'll be camping along with us, and

I'm hoping to get a photo of her and her Husband with this Travel Log and post it down near the bottom- along with a photo of the TH Paper Dolls I chose for their last page. (The ones I chose for mine are the "Driver Boys".)

I'm not only entering this make into The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge "Oh, Man!"

(in which $25 Gift Certificate is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique )

But, also entering it into Memory Album Makers Challenge - May, 

where Eileen Hull's dies are not just spotlighting during this month,

but Eileen is also giving away a $35 GC for her Etsy Shop!

In fact, stop in to the site to check out Eileen Hull's Tiny Book and Box in a tutorial on MAM.

THANKS! to all those who come in and view my crafts, and join along

with the craziness here. It's such a wonderful thing to share together; 

this thing called "life", and CRAFTERS are the BEST PEOPLE to share it with!!

Until next time...

Stay Safe, (Try Your Best To) Stay Connected, Stay Home (Until Bans Are Lifted)

and

HAPPY BLOGGING!!