Re-Do and New-Do

I couldn't rest until I re-did the little seahorse from yesterday. I can futz over the smallest details for so long. Hunched over my crowded workspace; using tweezers and my +3 reading glasses. Still, I managed to leave a bottom edge of paper unsnipped. Often I don't really see a boo-b00 until I've photoed it and look at it on my computer.

Then, just as a bonus for me, I made a quick ATC for the cruise, using stamps from the Character Constructions, going with a black/white scheme. Can you see that I brushed white Perfect Pearl over the moon face? Click on the pic for a close-up. Do you see it now? Ugh, I need to go take Advil for my aching shoulders. Oh, yeah, I'm having fun.

Deep Breath

I have decided to send a stamped piece to The Stampers' Sampler magazine. Entries due no later than Sept. 15th, so I'm feeling like I have another week to get my entry ready. I'm taking a deep breath, because I've never submitted something for publication. What if they send me a big fat REJECTED letter?! Well, let's not start with a negative attitude. The little mermaid is a remake of something I did some time ago after I bought the mermaid and coral reef stamps from Alpha Stamps. I really liked it, so decided to redo it specially for the magazine.

This little guy is my first time using new stamps from Catherine Moore's Character Constructions "She Sells Seashells" series. I've loved Catherine's stamps for a long time; finally decided to purchase several. So, I'm not sure I LOVE this little seahorse guy. Thinking the colors aren't perfectly harmonious. Gheez...it's just a bit of paper. Not going to the Louvre. Still. Deep Breath.

Back from Visit to CA...Now I Can Rest

I made a quick trip to Santa Cruz, CA to visit with my long time best friends. Here is my high school partner in crime, Susie, overlooking Monterey Bay. We always walk along the cliff just a few blocks from her home. My great-grandmother lived in this neighborhood for many years. Isn't Susie beautiful? She will always have a piece of my heart.

Here I am, not nearly as photogenic as Susie. I was perpetually squinting, feeling a bit exasperated with the whole posing-for-photos-thing, with the sun in my eyes and too many people around. That is Capitola Village in the background. This is my hometown where I lived between ages of 5 and 20. It was a lovely evening, getting near 7 pm, and a bit chilly. I took off my jacket to "pose"...enough with the posing!

I stayed with my friend Ellen, who is in the final stages of moving her household to Oregon. Yeah! She will be a 4 hour drive instead of an airplane ride away. (You do all know that air travel is not much fun these days.) She has been very busy packing, and has accomplished so much. I was able to help her with the dreaded dining room china cabinet plus the always full of too much stuff kitchen. Not much of a contribution, really, considering she is moving a household where she has lived for 23 years. Still, help is help. On Sunday between rounds of packing we took a craft break. I had cut out 4 of these little horses, using a template from Ann Wood .

I brought along my essential Tim Holtz Distress ink blending tool and a pad of Distress Ink, plus various stamps and doo-dads. Ellen's horses are the top ones in each photo. I think my favorite of all is Ellen's "map" pony with the German Dresden mane, but her polka dot pony is really cute, too. So betwixt the drudgery we had a little fun. And, no, I did not pose or take a single other photo during my visit.

Zentangle

I heard about Zentangle a couple weeks back...somewhere during a web surf. I skipped over to youtube.com to look for a "how-to" video, and I found PJ Hornberger . Well, I was smitten with her. That is her delightful art work above, and I really want you to meet her, too. I found her blog (thanks to the all mighty Google), sent her an email to which she quickly responded. She is a TX gal, so I had to introduce her to Laura, over at the Rhinestone Armadillo. OK, back to Zentangle.

I'm sure you artsy gals know all about it. It isn't a new thing because it's really doodling, but it has this new name, Zentangle, because it starts with a tangle and creates a Zen like calm when you do it (says the fine print). There is a lot going on here at SeaHorse Ranch, much of it involves writing large checks, and the whole thing is just a bit overwhelming to this quiet-living rural woman. Therefore, this morning, when I'm alone and the house is quiet, I got out a sheet of my dad's old note paper and a uni-ball pen from my husband's stash and started. My first Zentangle. At first I found myself being careful to not go outside the lines, but PJ's words kept me from OCDing. Ah, a Zen moment.

City of Industry

Lots of "industry" going on at Seahorse Ranch today. Prep for painting exterior of the house; shoveling up, transporting, and spreading lots of composted horse manure; baking of cookies; riding Buffy; a bit of crafting. What, you don't think I did all that myself, do you? Me, I'm the one riding, baking and crafting. Besides the cookies, which were distributed to the work crews, this is my output for today. Not all of it began and ended today. A number of the elements have been shifting around on my work table waiting for proper placement. Most of these will go into the ATC box for the cruise. I will send the DREAM card to Josef at Dragon Slayers. He has to dream big in order to carry on...and he does. For now, the City of Industry is shutting down for dinner.

ATC Rally

I had an ATC rally today to bang out another few to swap on my upcoming cruise. My creative process is in a groove: I poke around some blogs for inspiration, I peruse my supplies, maybe I order a thing or 2 online, I lay out a couple rough ideas, and go to bed. The next day, or when I can next get back upstairs I mull over what is spread out on my table, tell myself there must be MORE elements, sift through supplies for the MORE, plug in the glue gun and begin. And today I even got out the sewing machine.

Because the cruise is in early October, I'm thinking Halloween and fall themes will be popular. Yet it is finally summer so I'm not ready to give myself over to it completely. I'm wanting to do more crepe paper ruffles, and I have an idea....

All or Nothing?

I just upload the free app from Sephora on my Ipad. There are several videos on how-to apply make-up that I started to watch. As a feature of this app, it activates the Ipad camera, so there it is...a full face camera shot above the video. Whoa. I wasn't ready to see myself in my natural glory! So I decided that maybe I should make a little effort each morning. Here I am bare faced.

Here I am with a swish of Bare Mineral powder, a dab of Nar's Orgasm powder blush, Revlon eyebrow pencil and Burt's Bees Watermelon Shimmer lip gloss. Maybe 1 minute to apply and my usual minimum for going anywhere. Except I don't put on the Bare Mineral powder. It does do a good job of evening out skin tone, but irritates my skin a bit. I'm trying a good moisturizer underneath to see if that helps...'cause I'm thinking I need the the powder's effect.

Here I am with a "smokey eye" and full on lipstick and mascara and a little Water Wax in the hair. Whoa, looks a little Norma Desmond scary. So, what's it gonna be, girl friend? All or nothing?

The Circus is Leaving Town

Here is my Circus Caravan, preparing to depart on the way to Alpha Stamps Swap central. Sometimes I'm a little sad when it's time to pack up my swap items. I suppose I'm just anxious that my offering will bring smiles to the recipient. These were made with chipboard pennets from Alpha Stamps, along with AS circus collage sheets, bits and bobs from my stash, and sprocket gears for the wheels.

Ah, yes, the wheels. THOSE gave me a bit of a challenge, because each of these chipboard "cars" has to stand up. Originally it was suggested to use wooden spools (thread spools) for the wheels, but I couldn't get those to stick to the thin board. The sprocket gears did work, using several foam dots to affix...but it took my entire stash of gears...12 in all. Friends, I am cheap when it comes to my paper crafting, and I didn't want to spend $7 or so, plus shipping and/or gasoline, but buy more. What is my point? Oh, yeah. This red "car" was supposed to ship out with the two high-flying ladies, but when the spools failed me, I substituted the "Arabian Nights" which was hoping to stay at Seahorse Ranch. Schedules must be met; so start your engines.

Flourless, Simple Peanut Butter Cookies

I realise that unless you're in the Pacific Northwest you may not be able to bear turning on your oven. But, in the cool of the morning, light it up and make these: Easy Breezy. I added Toll House chocolate chips. Recipe makes about 1 dozen cookies but can easily be doubled. Mix together in this order 1 C peanut butter, 1/2 C white sugar, 1/2 C brown sugar, 1 beaten egg, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp baking soda. Add 1/2 C or so choc chips if desired. That's right. No flour or butter needed. Scoop out about a tablespoon of batter for each cookie; roll into a ball; place on greased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart (they spread but I fit 12 on a large cookie sheet); criss-cross with tines of fork; bake 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Done.

More Circus and The Sea Hag

This is my latest car for my Alpha Stamps Circus Caravan swap. I wanna tell you...I owe everything to glue: hot, fabric, Elmer's, foam dots.

Isn't this dome fabulous? My sister made it for my birthday. She calls the mermaid a "sea hag", but I think she's lovely. Her crown is encrusted with perfect, tiny shells. On the backside is a small abalone shell. That red coral thingy is from Michael's...sure looks like coral. I love domes and, or course, the sea. Thanks, Sissy.