Copper Batik Tjaps - Part Two

Some more photos of the copper batik tjaps I got at the auction house today.  Not sure how you use them but I love all the details.

Copper Batiks Tjaps

Today was auction day and I really scored!  There were two big lots of copper batik tjaps. I'm still taking photos of them and getting them ready to sell but I thought I would share.  The detail and designs are amazing.

Cornflake Cards - napkin

I use a photo tent (that I have set up all the time) to take pictures of my cards. Squeak decided I needed some help in making sure the cards were lined up just right. Yes, she jump right in while I was taking pictures.
Judy (one of the members of my card making group - the Cornflakes) made this card using the paper napkin technique.

Still more Clown Cards

I'm still working on using up my stash of clown paper by Sassafras.  I CASE this card from the Paper Crafters magazine - special summer edition. It's simple but it uses up all those little bits I have piling up on my worktable.
Went out early this morning to walk Annie (before 6:00 am) thinking I would not see any of her doggie buddies.  Well, I was so wrong.  There are a new set of Alaskan huskies I call "the boys".  They are four months old and super cute.  The owner doesn't let just any dog play with his babies. He walks them super early every morning so they won't run into anyone else.  Annie so far is the only dog that is allowed to play with them off leash. After playing with the boys, she is so tired we can barely make it home. :)

Squeak watching TV

While I work out in my studio at night, I sometimes play a DVD.  Annie doesn't seem to notice when other dogs are on the screen but Squeaker does.  She sat through most of the movie in her front row seat.  Squeak doesn't have a lot of the natural skills most cats have.  She is a wrecking ball when she walks through any room. Boxes of paper fall over, trays of embellishment knock to the ground as she leaps (unsuccessful) from one spot to another.  I'm not kidding when I've watched her body slam into a cabinet because she thought she could make it. I spend more time in my studio picking up after her.  I've been told it's a Rag Doll trait (mom was a Rag Doll) so another reason she can never be a outdoor cat.

More Clown Cards

I'm still trying to use up my huge stash of Sassafras clown paper.  I also have a tons of embellishments from My Little Shoebox. I decide to combine the two to change up my cards. 
The embellishments have a little hologram in the center  (you can't see in the photo) which didn't fit the clown cards so I covered them up. 

Mr. Purrcy and Squeak

Every morning Mr. Purrcy and Squeak wait for me to get out for the shower.  Makes it a little hard to find room on the bath mat. 

Mini Boston Cream Cake

When I have to go to the  auction house in Santa Cruz I try to stop by Gayle's Bakery in Capitola.  I decided since I wasn't have any luck making a new recipe everyday (the cookbook I picked wasn't working for me) I would pick a new food to try. One of hubby's favorite desserts is a Boston Cream cake so I had to try this mini version.  Two bites and this puppy was gone.  It was very good but if you are a frugal person, you could buy a whole big cake for what three of these little ones cost.  I also picked up some raspberry brownies (to share with the girls at the store) and peach/raspberry muffins.  I was on a sugar high all day.

Clowns and more clowns

I got the idea for this card from Gina K designs "Stamp TV".  Gina does a really good job with her how to videos.  If you're new to stamping, it's a great site to visit. 
Here's the link to the card and how to make it. Tent Top Card

Another Clown Card 2010

I'm still working on making as many cards as I can with this over stock of paper I have. Sure glad that I like it otherwise it would be a very slow process.
Martha Stewart Punch, Sassafras paper.

Creation Destination - Michael Strong

Micheal Strong and Suzie Q will be hosting their first "Creation Destination" weekend retreat on October 15 - 17, 2010 down in Poway CA.  It will be a fun filled weekend and special time for night owl crafters. Here the link to find out more or sign up. Retreat

Mike is Back

Took a class with Michael Strong  tonight at Memories Live On.  It was a great class using some of Michael's new stamp line. What makes Michael's classes fun is that he does more manly cards, (something I have a hard time designing) along with some new techinques. Here are two of the five we did in class.  I think there are openings in the morning class tomorrow.  Always fun when Michael's in town.

Vintage Papers Find Their Home

I haunt auction houses every week looking for cool stuff.  I always keep my eye out for printer's cabinets or vintage file cabinets with lots of drawers.  Sometimes the file cabinets still have their contents (papers, photos etc...) in them.  I usually just do a quick search through them because the dust mites and mold can be overwhelming.  Another artist friend asked for my file cabinet discards so a few months ago I gave her a box of papers. She went through the papers and did an Internet search for the woman's name that kept showing up.  Turns out this woman and her husband have a library in Oxford, Ohio named after them.  The library was thrilled to get things in her handwriting and I'm sure they will go through everything with a fine tooth comb.  Not sure how or why the papers ended up in California but it now has a permanent home in Ohio.

More Clown Cards

Still working on using up my Sassafras paper.  I made these cards for my card kits at Memories Live On.  They sold out of the clown paper already.  I didn't know there were so many clown fans.  Most people I know are afraid of them. The thought of using the Martha Stewart elephant punch came to me a in dream.  Guess I should nap more often. :)

Annie - 7 Months

Since I had my camera out, I decided to take a photo of Annie who is now 7 months old.  It's a little hard to get a close up shot and get her ears in. :)
This is one of her rare moments when she's not chewing on anything.

Bad Girl Annie

No, I do not let Annie sit on the furniture. As I was working on my computer everything got quiet in the house.  If Annie is not sleeping, that means she is up to something.  As I looked around the corner from my office this is what I saw.  I know Annie was trying to get to Squeak who is wishing she could be outside.  It was a photo op to cute to pass up.

Send In The Clowns - Card Kits

With the house quiet and clean, I've been working long hours out in the studio. Now that I have a XXL large work table (will post photos once I get enough of it cleaned off so you can see it) I can spread out even more! It was great working last night and having Annie be able to fit under the table happily chewing on a mom approved toy and Squeak bouncing around the table without getting in my way. 
I have tons of this clown paper left over from a custom invitation project.  I now have to think of how many things can make with the leftovers. This is the first of three cards for my card kits at Memories Live On.

Creative Muse

I still have not taken pictures of the cards I'm making for my two week challenge but I did want to post some cools cards I received from one of my Circle Journal buddies - Toni Armstrong.   It's helps to get the creative mojo going when you get fun cards in the mail. :)

Ground Squirrel Day

There are tons of ground squirrels at the park I take Annie to every morning.  We don't actual see a lot of them, but Annie will make a tennis ball deposit at least once a week.  On a rare occasion the squirrels will push out all the tennis balls that have fallen into the holes.  Always a major score for ball focused dogs.  This morning after a hour of ball throwing and playing with two husky puppies, Annie still wasn't tired enough.  After breakfast she decided to chew on my back up computer under my desk.  The mouse never had a chance. Yes, the bad girl is now outside thinking maybe she should have stayed with her tennis balls.
Today will be what I will call a "ground squirrel" day.  I plan to stay home and get all those housekeeping things done on my to do list as well as get some class samples done. 

Parmesan Crisps - Day Three

I made Parmesan crisps for day three of my cooking challenge.  I've switched to a new cookbook after bombing with the Cook's Illustrated.  Being more a salad person, I picked up "Salad Dressing" by Jessica Strand.  I hope I have better luck with this cookbook.
I think I didn't bake my crisps long enough and added too much butter, so I will try it one more time.
Annie is doing well with her swimming lessons.  She really likes to swim and would stay in the pool all day if I would let her. 

Shepherd's Pie - Day 2

So on day two of my cooking challenge I made Shepherd's Pie.  I couldn't find ground lamb so I made it with hamburger. It was just ok like the ramen recipe.  I'm thinking I need to cook out of another cookbook since Cook's Illustrated skillet recipes book is just not cutting it.  I've never had Shepherd's Pie before but this one was tasteless and not worth the time it took to make it.  Evan requested something with more real veggies (meaning not cook to death) and with a side salad. I picked up a cookbook for salad dressing recipes so I will be making something from that tonight.

Annie's First Swimming Lesson

Took Annie to a friend's house for her first swimming lesson.  She was unsure of what to do for a few minutes but after that she took to swimming like a duck to water.   After she learned were the steps were, she was doing full body leaps into the pool.  When the doggie pool toys came out she was a very happy puppy.

Ramen with Beef, Shiitakes and Spinach

The first recipe I cooked on my two week challenge was  Ramen (not your cup of noddle type) with Beef, Shiitakes and Spinach.  Evan is home for the weekend (doing a mountain of laundry) so she helped review the meal.  Overall it was good but there are some pre-packaged Japanese ramen mixes that are just as good.  I guess if you don't live in an area with a large Asian population it would be hard to find so this recipe would be the next closest thing.  Sorry I can't give you the name of the store mix, it's in Japanese and I only know it by the packaging.  I would have added more Shiitakes mushrooms and baby bok choy instead of the spinach.  It's not a recipe I would try again.

Two Week Challenge

Hubby is leaving in the morning for his annual visit back to what he likes to call "the mother land" Michigan.  While he's gone, I plan to challenge myself and do something new everyday.  One of my favorite movies is Julie/Julia, so along that line, I will try a new recipe everyday for the next two weeks from the Cook's Illustrated cookbook. 
I picked this cookbook because you can make everything using only a skillet.  On top of that I will design a new card everyday too.  That will be the hardest part of my two week challenge.  I haven't been in a very creative mood.  Annie is now at her full German Shepherdness and has the bark/bite to back her up.  She is getting more protective when at home with me and is always at my side.  Wish me luck and check my blog to make sure I'm staying on task. :)

Another Gina K Designs Stamp

Another card for the ladies down at the Senior Center today.  I keep the cards simple so we can get four different cards done in an hour. I picked this Gina K Designs set up at a used rubber stamp flea market last month.  The next flea market will be at Scrapbook Island in August.  Cranberry Hill in Sunnyvale will host their flea in September. If your looking for stamps, Cranberry Hill is the one to check out.

Gina K Designs Stamps - "Owl Always Love You"

Two cards I will be doing for my free card class down at the Yu Ai Kai Senior Center.  I picked up five sets of Gina K Designs stamps at the Memories Live On paper crafters flea market last month for a $1.00 each.  What a deal!!!
 I used colored pencils on the egg card and Copics on the two owl card.

Red Egg and Ginger Party

We went to our first Red Egg and Ginger party on Saturday up in San Francisco.  It was interesting since I haven't attended one before.
Each guest is suppose to take an egg home after the party.  I'm not a picky eater but if I have a choice, I won't eat hard boiled eggs.  When I travel to third world countries, the only source of safe protein is hard boiled eggs.  When I was in Nepal, we had them morning, noon and night.  Food was not one of highlights of the trip.  I still had to take in enough calories to keep my energy levels up while trekking so I ate eggs at every meal and while on the trail.  I've eaten enough to last a life time.
My daughter has no issues with eggs so she took them home, I'm sure to make deviled eggs.

Paul McCartney - concert

The kids got my hubby tickets to the Paul McCartney's concert at AT&T park in San Francisco this past weekend for his birthday. He's a major Beatles fan from way back, so it was a very thoughtful gift.  They even got us a suite at a hotel in the city so we wouldn't have to make the long drive home after the concert.
I know everyone will say how great the concert was but really it wasn't so hot.  Yes, Paul puts on a good show and did nice mix of music but his sound system team did a terrible job.  The music was SO LOUD that you really couldn't hear music. A few times his equipment was not in tune (even Paul said so on stage and made changes) and his band members had to jump away from their microphones several times when they squeaked so loud it hurt.  The fireworks was a nice showy touch to one of his songs.
It was sad to see so many middle aged people (who should know better) so drunk they had to sing along at the top of lungs to every song, even if they didn't know the words - yes I had seven of those idiots behind me.  I guess getting drunk was the only way they could enjoy the show.  Toward the end they started falling down or asleep in their chairs. 
It would have been a more enjoyable show if people like my hubby were there to hear Paul play and sing his songs.