Are You A Tim Holtz Distress Ink Fan? Check out these markers!!

Looking for a little Distress fun?  As in Tim Holtz Distress Markers?
The best price I have seen for these is at Oh My Crafts!  On sale here for $99.00; then use the SAVE20 coupon code & receive 20% off, plus FREE SHIPPING -for a grand total of $79.99. {Delivery in late March.}

Tim Holtz Distress Markers are water-based inks for coloring, journaling, stamping and more. The dual tip markers are ideal for many coloring techniques.

Distress Markers are available to match the Distress palette of 36 color and White Picket Fence.

Canister contains 37 markers, 1 of each color

• Acid free, non-toxic
• Available in Distress 37 color palette
• Available open stock or in canister set
• Use brush tip for coloring, stamping and shading

Note: Individual markers are on sale for $3.25 each (regular price $3.49); these are available "late February"  -so any day now. :)

"Mr. Holz" gives a great demonstration using these fabulous markers at the CHA 2012.  Noell Hyman of Paper Clipping 4 U (YouTube Channel) caught an exclusive early morning demo before opening, and there are no other interfering sounds in the background -really easy to hear!  Tim shows how they blend well very well, do not fade, and yet will not "smear" and actually resist when distress ink is added on top of the marker ink.  There is a special white marker, Picket Fence, which is on opaque marker.  On dark paper -it goes on invisible and dries seconds later to white.  You can go over your already colored images to add the frosty look too.  He mentioned that this marker can be used on all colors as well.  The video is about 10 minutes, but it was so fun to watch all that color, and how easy it was, that I just could not stop watching!  Now go and take a look -you will be inspired!

~Shelly

A Collage-Collective Blog

Gotta give a shout-out to Three Muses  blog for their place where others can exhibit their creations as well. {Self description: We are three friends who have NEVER met, yet share a good sense of humor, and a common interest in art in all its forms.  We are Ann from the UK, Marie from Western Australia, and Bev from Indiana in the US.}

Digital collages are definitely in my future!  I am working on sooner, rather than later.  Step one:  Load Photoshop onto computer: Check.

One Contributor, Ann of Taluula's, really entertained me & made me smile today.  Take a look: 

Love the bit about never telling lies... 

Who doesn't love Johnny Depp? (I actually got side-tracked by this one...)

The Queen, keeping up with fashion.

And some tattered wings, must get a lot of use...  Sorry, I was distracted, forgot to warn you about the non-PG thing.

While we are on the subject of wings, this next image is not actually a collage per se.  Although, it has an aged look to it, some teeny tiny, very useful I am sure, wings to look at.  And, it does have a bit in common with the above collage of Ann's.  I am sure you will enjoy it too.

Brendan Fraser, looking very fast

Another blog favorite of mine who also completes the 3 Muses challenges is Tania: Wild @ Heart.

 This one is titled, "She's a Handful" 

Another in a series of alphabet cards.  Isn't he handsome?

This one reminds me so much of the poem books I loved as a child!

Tania whips up fun images for Freebie Fridays too!  Here is her latest: 

and a previous offering~

So much inspiration, what's one to do? Utterly enjoy, that's what!

Good to see you!

~Shelly

A Gloriously Exuberant Ending!

You know this guy?  If you do not, his name is Peanut.  Full name: Peanut Patches Jet-Fighter.  You can learn more about his name origination here.  

 Last night, he gave me quite a fright!  Peanut made me feel sick to my stomach -for the whole 20 minutes that he was lost!! Although, I do not think he knew that he was lost! As far as he was concerned, he was on a walk by himself -and quite enjoying it too.  It was kinda rainy, I know, unusual for the Seattle area.  Go figure.  I had just parked the car, waiting for my son D and his friend L to finish up their indoor rock climbing.  The dogs were with me, so the 3 of us got out of the car for a bit  for fresh air.


So, what happened?  Peanut disappeared! I saw Peanut go through a sparse, tall hedge, but did not think anything of it. I was looking toward the door to see if the boys had come out yet, and then I turned around and saw where Staxie was, and just thought that Peanut was behind the small bush too, as she is always right with him. Could not find Peanut anywhere! I called him, and called him -knowing that he probably couldn't hear me -his hearing is playing tricks on him these days. Near panic set in, as I got the pen light from the glove box. The boys, by now waiting in the car, got back out to help me look. Ugh, having looked in the obvious places, I had to go into the creepy dark bushes on the side of the building, calling out to him. Creepy, like dead  bodies could be back there.... {shiver} Wasn't too bad, the creepy bit just lead to the back parking lot. Not there. Sent D along the drive that took us in there, just in case Peanut had jammed that way. Then I started off in the direction through the bushes where I last saw him head. So, 2 parking lots over, I realized that I needed to call L's mom, and tell her that she may need to come and pick the boys up, as I might be there until 1:00 in the morning.... She agreed to head down immediately -I suggested that she wait 15 minutes... and, as I was talking to her, I saw a little movement of white, by a white van, -in front of the black tire. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? Were the rain spots on my glasses creating a wavy shadow? Nope!! Joy of joys!!!! It was Peanut!!! -Not really sure why I was so excited to see him. I was shaking, I was so relieved! Stinker. O.K, that is my story. I would make him wear a bell, but  that might interfere with what he actually could hear. Like me calling him. 

  Here he is trying to get out of trouble by helping me show you a sneak peek of fabric.  When the weather warms up, I'll be using it to cover a really comfy chair that I got for free!  {He really should be drooling -I gave him a gazillions treats trying to get him to look at the camera! Guess he got burned out from modeling when he was in that calendar a few years ago.}
Good to see you,
~Shelly

Gorgeous Creature

Parent-volunteer Sport-Team-Photographers will always hold a place in my heart! We are so very lucky that our son's team has one of the best ever talented, devoted, creative photographers! He always manages to get those up-in-the-air shots.  Our tournament games this last weekend involved quite a bit of snow, which kept things interesting.  Mr. Photographer sometimes adds in a few non-soccer pics for variety.  He captured this gorgeous bird-of-prey during the tournament. Fabulous.

   

Here's another great non-sport shot heading home from a summer tournament.

I think this is Mt. Saint Helens?  Makes for a beautiful background.

 ~Shelly

Featured Wedding Inspiration

Just found out today that our cousin's wedding was featured on The Wedding Day blog; post dated January 10, 2012.  Such a romantic 
setting on this beautiful grass covered field. 

 The Wedding Day blog is a site that has free wedding websites and gives inspiration to couples planning their big day.

 Isn't this gorgeous?  Love, love the J & J monogram, back to back.  Their names are Jason and Juanita -so sweet.  Yummy textures!

What?  More romantic shots?  I have to get in my quota of sighs for the day.  Come on -do it with me... S - i - g - h..., doesn't that feel better?

 Sweet banners & chalkboard hearts - getting any DIY ideas?

 And, what use is any romantic wedding without a bit of silliness mixed in? 


Want to see more?  Just head on over to The Wedding Day (a South African based site) for the whole story -how they met and all.  You may just get a peek of some handsome groomsmen as well ;-)


And, if you feel like seeing what kind of trouble you can get into, check out their DIY section, like any good blogger would!

Here's some DIY flowers to temp you...

See you soon,
~Shelly

Anyone Lost?

Address & Directions are Fake

Is it difficult to get to your house?  Have a lot of numbered streets?  That's what it is like for us -after living here for 11 years, I still get a bit mixed up!  Yes, I know, we are living in the age of a GPS in every car... almost.

When we used to need a babysitter, I wanted him/her to be prepared!  If there was an emergency -how would he/she know the info for 911 to get here? Sometimes Rescuers can use a clue in a confusing maze.  For example:  house color, 2-story, on the left, 2nd from the corner, etc.  We have all heard about a child who has run outside to wave the emergency vehicles to the correct house quickly.


So, those few (ha!) years ago, I decided to frame directions to our home.  If someone is lost, or in an emergency, all we had to do was grab the frame off the wall, right next to the phone -and read out the address.  Easy Peasy.  Gives me piece of mind.  At the time, I thought it would be too much information to add our cell numbers to frame, so I wrote them down just inside the cupboard door.  But now, I think they could be added at the bottom -away from the home phone and that would work really well.  And -how about adding your names too?  Bet that kind of info can fly right out of your head in an emergency. 

When a lost guest calls, sometimes I still grab this little frame for reference.  Guess what, teens are even less clued in than I am -pretty sure they use it too, when I am not looking.  We actually keep it hung up behind the computer screen -it doesn't really match  our decor, but we know where it is.

I am happy to report, everyone is safe & sound.  I have only ever handed this to my husband or kids for them to help someone trying to find our home. :)

Do not follow, you will get lost!

FYI:
To print this out, I used cardstock, and "bold" print setting.  The frame is 5x5, and the font size is 12p, Times New Roman.


Stay safe! 


~Shelly

Almost Back to "Normal"

Hey there.  This place is almost back where it was, a nice & cozy familiarity.  Not what I was going for, but that's alright -I will get there.  I would like something lighter, in a 3-column style.  An arrangement that is so much fun, that it sometimes writes itself.  You know, when you fall asleep thinking about an idea or project you want to post?  Then you just wake up -and hey! -there it is.  Now that would be cool.  You could just wake up, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy your latest post. :) Fantasy, I know -but a good one!  Happy New Year, everyone.

~Shelly