Mirrored Letters . . .

I'm bored . . . it's official. And so rather than do all the things on my to-do list . . . none of which have much appeal or let's face it, they wouldn't be on the list to begin with . . . so I hauled out my April copy of CK and decided to try Jessica's tutorial on mirrored letters.




Credits:
Fonts: AL Scratched & Copperplate Gothic Bold
Papers, Ribbon and Flowers: Katie Pertiet
Staples: SG Eternal Love Kit

stunning . . .

my friend Kelli is an amazing woman with a camera . . . fearless . . defined . . funky. She finally . . . emphasis on finally . . . posted her shots from Ireland. I say finally because she has now returned from Tuscany and, I was STILL dying to see the goods . . . . I'm not above pressuring my friends in time of crisis. Check it out!!!! Ireland 2008 and while you're at it . . . browse this little gem Crigler Weston Photography. Amazing stuff. Amazing photographer.

p.s. See that shot of the red pump!?!?! It's hanging in my black/white/red kitchen. Is that not PERFECT!!

Paula, this is all your fault . . .

I was culinarily bored yesterday and got loose in the kitchen . . . . yes, after years of using my oven as a flower stand, Maria, I finally learned to cook . . . then after Frank's heart attack, I learned to re-cook . . . going the low fat routine. So I tried a new recipe for chicken picata. Can't say it was outstanding but at least it was different and paired with garlic mashed potatoes and marinated green beans, it was pretty darn good. But . . . she says with the emphasis on but . . . dessert was to die for . . . and with forty pounds of butter and nine bags of sugar, it was down right decadent. And yes, we occasionally cheat. Admittedly, Frank is more trustworthy then I in that department . . . . or why he loses weight while I absorb it . . . so almost two hours later, out pops this steaming hot apple crisp overflowing with delicious apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg goodness topped with an incredible brown sugar and oatmeal confection. The only thing that would have been better would have been a dollop of real vanilla ice cream.

Yep, we indulged. Then looking back at the pan, I realized we had enough to feed an army. Now normally, I would have traipsed across the circle to Paula's . . . but she and Dave had the audacity to move. So now what? Not Jim and Nancy . . . I like her too much to stick this under her diabetic little nose. David and Tracey were not home. I thought about taking it to the newbies who now occupy Paula's nest but I didn't think a welcoming dessert should have one portion twice removed. And not Taco and Linda.

I IM-ed Katie in hopes it might induce her to come home but she just told me to stop torturing her and logged off.

So in the fridge it sits . . . still tempting . . . like the Sirens calling to Odysseus. Paula, this is all your fault.

masks are marvelous . . .

You know for someone who resisted shopping on the net for years, I am making up for lost time. Last night I wandered around a favorite haunt: http://www.designerdigitals.com/ and did some major damage. I'm into doodles lately and when I saw some leaves Katie Pertiet had designed that were doodle-like, I was dead. And then I discovered the wonder of them. They could be used as masks!!!!! In other words, I can use any paper in my entire stock to make those leaves, not just the solid green that they came in. Jessica Sprague I bow to you. You have enabled a monster.

Credits:

Paper: Charity Kit by Digital Scrap Spirit

Font: CK ali's hand writing

Grunged Up Alpha by Katie Pertiet

Frame: Filmed Alpha by Katie Pertiet

Leaves: Stamped and stitched Leaves by Katie Pertiet.

more Addison . . .

For Addison's birthday, Frank and I gave him a one person "boat" to play with since he is constantly in the pool. His mom was nice enough to email me some shots she took of him honking around. He is such a neat little kid.


Credits: Paper and frame by O'Scraps Moonrise on Waikikki, Swirls by Fei, Font: Bleeding Cowboy

Happy Birthday Spraground . . .

Today, Jessica's site is officially one year old. Dubbed Spraground by some of the founding users, it has been a warm home and learning places for a lot of us who are fascinated with all things digi. Jessica and her husband Jared have revamped the site and it is amazing. So if you are looking for a really neat place to hang out: JessicaSprague.com. Grow Your Skills.

They have weekly challenges over at Spraground. This week's was to use Jess's PhotoShop Friday lesson: Filling Type with Patterned Paper and the theme was Everyday.



Since Addison is in the pool everyday, I figured this counted.
Credits: Swirl by Jessica Sprague, all other papers and elements by Michelle Coleman

sometimes things just break . . .

like when you reach back to turn on the lamp and it comes apart in your hand . . . or when you go to the dentist for a routine cleaning and they find you broke both a tooth and a filling and three hours later you have four support pins, a medicated filling and a temporary cap . . . or when you walk upstairs and slide across the hard wood floor that is mysteriously puddled with water . . . only to find that it is coming from the attic since the a/c handler's drop pan overflowed . . .

I'm just not sure why these things have to happen in threes and why all in the same day, but I am going to assume that tomorrow will be a better day and this is just a temporary glitch to remind me that generally, life is darn good.

Signed, she, who is hiding under the sheets in case the sky decides to fall tonight.