Had such fun at the ACOT crop this weekend...

Yesterday I was partners with Sarah, a very talented digi designer from 6am-8 am, from 8 am -10 am, I taught my class and this morning my good pal, Pam and I were on shift from 6 am- 8 am.

Then I proofread a paper for my son-in-laws engineering class and gathered my supplies to meet Janet and her darling daughter, Becca, for lunch and Debbie Schuh's class at Whims' in St. Pete. Talk about a great investment. I'll post my pics tomorrow. I am so tired after a full weekend ...will also post the pics of Becky and me scrapping and all the yuummy food E fixed us. Love ya Becky, Janet, Becca and, of course, Debbie!

More tomorrow, I promise!

Chilly but Content!

Here is the latest update on Kristen, Chris and the boys...all are doing very well and one could even say, blooming. The last doctor check up said all is well and the kids are about half way there is not just a little more. I spent a bit of time helping Kristen with her second graders and their writing projects and can I just say, cute kids but a handful! She is so organized and works hard to keep the kids on task and taking responsibility for themselves and their actions or lack there of. Good job, Kristen.






This is my first layout for KnK's beautiful new kit for March. The ribbon in the kit is sheer white so I painted it lightly and used a heating tool to create the crinkles (one piece a bit too successfully, I might add. Don't over heat or get the heating tool too close).

I printed the photo of my Nana and me (age 5) out on a piece of the canvas paper and used my Cutterbug and a big die to cut the frame for the title, then painted it with the same green paint. I added a pearl blender to the paint to get a more shimmery color than the acrylic Studio paint by Ranger.



Lastly, I stamped and inked the paper flowers to match the other elements on the layout. Love these flowers...so many possibilities.




Busy weekend ahead. My reveal goes up this morning at Knkclub.com Yoga from 10:30-noon, pre party at ACOT before the crop, finish cleaning up my workroom, 6-8am shift at the crop tomorrow morning, teaching a cyber class from 8-10 and then Becky over to crop and play. I have a second shift at ACOT tomorrow morning from 6-8 with my pal, Pam Bennett and then off to meet Janet and her darlin' daughter, Becca for lunch and then a class at Whims.

Hope your weekend is a good one!

A collection of some of my favorites

I've been sorting and organizing and trying to put some of my layouts in albums, my altered work displayed on the shelves and decided to take some shots of them before I finished with the clean up in here. So, here ya go





These are just a few of my favorites and thanks so for looking.

Not much new to report....but

Watch this spot (and the altered blog)...lots happening on March 1!

An old chestnut

A lot of times, we get forward/forwards in our emails and we either delete them or glance through them briefly and discard them or sometimes, we pass them on to others who we think might appreciate them.

I always read the ones a friend of mine from the old ckmb days sends as often I feel that she times these perfectly and I always get something out of her gems. I woke this morning with my head stuffed up still and a nagging cough still lingering despite having spent yesterday afternoon dozing in the sunshine on the lanai with a good book and taking in lots of Vitamin C. I opened the forward from Linda M as I always do and found a couple of chestnuts (old, wise accepted sayings) that shone like gems.





This is one I liked the best:

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.. So love
the people who treat you right.. Forget about the
ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a
reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both
hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life
would be easy, they just promised it would be
worth it.




And this one:

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime!
It is never too late to become what you might have been.




So thank you Linda M for the reminders and your forward to me, for thinking of me this morning.

These pictures are ones that my friend, Chuck, and I took at the park near Safety Harbor. It was a lovely and mild day and the sun glistened on the Bay. I posted some of our photos when Linda and Chuck were visiting and thought some of you might enjoy a brief respite and mini vacation to Paradise.





Hope everyone has a great week.

The torso and dinner out at Zante's

Yesterday, while the guys watched the news before we headed out to supper, Janet and I played with some of our news stamps (Studio 490/Wendy Veah's). I'll post our efforts on the altered blog in just a bit. Then, seeing that my torso was a bit revealing on the nethers, Janet proceeded to cover up Clare, as we have dubbed the dressmakers torso until I can make her a suitable attire. Do you love your namesake, Clare?

We took Janet and Bob to an odd and quirky little restaurant here in Tarpon Springs last night. Our dinners were to die for and we had the best escargot for a snack first. No mugger or vampire would have attempted to approach us after wards as we all were redolent with garlic I am sure.

More fun afoot for today. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Stamp Fest 2010

The fun started last night when Janet and Bob arrived from Anna Maria Island for a weekend visit. They hand delivered our next year's Christmas card and a beautiful bouquet of flowers for our dinning room table (pic on tomorrow's blog). This morning, Janet and I headed up to Ruban Rouge to meet up with my pal, Jackie and off we went to Stamp Fest where we all did our best to boost the economy...amazing stuff to be had at this year's Stamp Fest...ooh la la (and if E ever leaves the house long enough, I'll take a pic of all the stamps I just had to have! lol). Janet and I fell in love with the new Darice printable shrinkies an will be playing with the goodies we got from that booth later tonight.

While we were roaming the aisles, a charming woman came up to me and said, I read your blog almost every day...CONNIE! She use to live in Tarpon Springs and was back visiting her dear friend (also pictures on the far right). Connie now lives in Dayton, Ohio and also recognized Janet from my blog actually before she recognized me! This one is for you dear Connie!


We took a flat Clare with us and have lots of pics of her doing things like make n takes and standing in line to check out with her purchases. Here she has just helped us finish off a diet Coke and some fries. Love ya darlin' and miss you madly!



And here we are, the Friday Night Crop Crew in all our glory...minus dear Diane who is still having some serious neck problems. Get better fast Di, we have lots of scrapping to do!




And I finally got to meet the amazing man married to my BFFF, Sophia! Mark and Sonia came up to Stamp Fest to check it out plus he had a boss party to attend later today. Bless their hearts, they brought me my March KNK kit, my pro glider refills, the Harmonie stamp block I so needed and the base for my torso that dear Ga gave me for Christmas this past year...and no! She still has no name...alas and alack! UPDATE: Janet and I have named the torso...CLARE! and wait til you see the picture tomorrow!


We are off in an hour or so to Zante's for dinner so, unitl tomorrow...tata!

KNK Kit for March and upcoming ACOT crop

what a lovely kit our very own Amy W from KNK DT designed for this month...I can hardly wait to play with all these pretties. Great job Amy.

ACOT is having a cyber crop next weekend. Check the site for all the details but I can tell you this much...there are going to be some awesome classes, games, challenges, fast scraps and oh, did I forget to mention chances to win major points and store credits? I'm on from 6-8 on Sat. and my Trifecta Trifold Card class is from 8-10 and then Pam B and I are on together from 6-8 on Sunday. Sat. my pal, Becky and I have a scrapping date here at my house after my card class and will be doing as many of the ACOT challenges as possible.

And, if you don't get enough at the ACOT crop, join us at KnKclub. com March 6 for the Bunny Hop Crop starting at 9 and running until late late afternoon.

Janet and Bob are heading up this way for the weekend after dr. apts. this afternoon. We've got some fun things planned. Sat, Janet and I are heading to an adventure with some of my friends while the guys hit the sponge docks and go on a search for oysters on the half shell. E has some great foods planned and the weather is suppose to be nice which is always a bonus!

TGIF and hope your weekend is jam packed with fun, family and friends.

For the first time in about ten years...

I have tucked my shirt into my jeans (and my size 10 jeans I might add)! When I quit smoking about eleven years ago, I substituted food for cigs and never looked back. Oh, I took off five lbs here and ten lbs there but never enough to make much of a difference. I went from a size 8 when E and I got married almost 15 years ago to a size 16 (I only bought one thing in that size before I called stop).

Because I wanted to get off the high blood pressure meds and others I was being told I'd have to take if I didn't change my lifestyle, I joined Weight Watchers, started biking and walking more and discovered yoga! When I did this I weighed 184. Today, when I stepped on the scale here at the house, I was down to 154...30lbs. Now I need to take off the last four to reach goal.

So, today to celebrate





I tucked my shirt into my jeans!

Sign me beaming in Paradise!

Mardi Gras Part I

I had a pretty perfect day yesterday! I met a new friend, Katherine, for lunch at Grillsmith and, both the food and conversation were delightful. I met Katherine through my friend Jackie (one of the Friday Night Crop Crew at Ruban Rouge Paper Arts Store in Palm Harbor)and we missed you, Jackie, Jean and Di but managed to carry one...we hit one of my favorite stores, Home Goods and, despite all the temptations, we both left empty handed. I did manage to score two fabric covered scrapbook albums for 7.00 each at Tues Morning.

Our friends, Suzie and Justin, picked us up a bit before 6 and we met up with Bob and Becky at Bellini's, a wonderful Italian Restaurant in Dunedin where Mardi Gras was under way! Two of my son's friends work there so we got lots of personal attention. That younger woman kissing on my E is a good friend of Rob's and a delight.





We had steamed mussels for an appetizer, I had the veal saltabocco Bellini and E had the rack of lamb, all of which were so tasty!






There are more pictures if you will kindly scroll down. I did manage to collect a fair amount of beads thanks to E and Rob being so tall and bought a cute Mardi Gras tee shirt. Lessez les bon temps roullez!

Mardi Gras Part II

By the time we finished our lovely dinner, the parade was ready to start. We were a couple of rows back from the street and could see most of the parade. The people in front of me were kind and allowed me through to the front in order to get a couple of pictures. This is our 3rd. year for Mardi Gras in Dunedin and I think the parade get shorter every year. My favorite were the bag pipers who gave a rousing song as they marched the route. Most of the floats are by the Gaspirilla Crews from a previous event here in Tampa that E and I have yet to attend. Maybe next year!




Rob found us in the crowd at the parade and, back at Bellini's met up with his friend, Mindy and another of their friends. I love how festive the girls look.



We met up with our friend, Buddy, right before the parade. After the parade, we headed back to Bellini's, where we had eaten dinner for a last beer before heading home and Buddy was serenaded by an amazing singer, Elaine (sp?)




Dunedin is a small community settled by the Scottish. Suzie and I loved the dancing woman statue in front of the Scottish American hall. All we need are kilts, right?

G45 repurposed

I used several images from last year's Graphic 45 papers to create two vintage tee shirts for myself and this year, these amazing women all lined up on a beach drew me. I had the perfect tiny canvas tote (4 inches x 4 inches plus handles)already dyed a beachy peachy color and needed an image. I cut out the picture, scanned it and printed it on tee shirt transfer paper. After I ironed it onto the tote, I enhanced the color a bit with metallic paint. Thank you G45! I hope the recipient of this little tote loves it too!

More of these little canvas totes can be seen on my altered art blog: http://jules-atoasttoalteredart.blogspot.com.

Thanks for looking!

Valentines Love

Last year, E and I declared no more cards on Valentine's day or expensive gifts but we would try to create a day for us that was filled with doing the things we love to do together.






E started our morning with bacon, eggs and toast and a lovely bouquet of flowers. And then we moved down to the lower lawn for a fire in the fire pit after I ran some errands and dropped off the kids' Love acrylic mini album I had made them. The fire smelled so good and it was so nice to sit and watch the flames.

E watched the Olympics for a bit while I played in my workroom and then he started up the hot tub for a dip for us. We had ordered a lovely classico Italian wine from an import wine shop and took a glass with us.

After the tub, we cooked. Yes, I know...but I did help. For supper we had a new dish called Seafood Aruba with sea scallops, shrimp and lobster. It was excellent but we both agreed it could use a bit of kicking it up...it lacked some fire.








It was fifteen years ago yesterday that E got down on one knee and proposed to me. This day was almost as memorable! Hope you had a good V'day too!

Amazing G45 does it again...

Every time I think G45 can't get any better, they come up with something outrageously wonderful and that pretty much sums up the customer service at ACOt ( and yes, I do design for them but that does not get me special treatment!). I ordered about a dozen sheets of the new G45 lines three days ago and when I got home from cropping at my friend, Becky's, voila! there was my order on my door step. I had already completed 4 and 3/4 of a 5th. layout but I just had to play with these oh so pretty papers. E has always asked why I don't do any heritage pages about his family so this one is for him...his grandpa Arthur and his grandma, Carrie. Hope I did them justice. I printed their picture out onto canvas paper and used the Distress Stickles to highlight grandma Carries dress, bouquet and veil. It is hard to see in this picture but I love how it makes the picture (faded and yellowed) come to life.

Great day here in Paradise and thanks Becky for a great time as always...Stephi, are you sure we can't betroth your little baby girl to be to one of our twins? And Amy, you have a charming and sweet baby girl...can I borrow her when I get an urge to scrap pink? Thanks all.

Second Reveal at KNK Feb. kit

I loved working with this kit. Our Dt member, Deb Hatter, did an outstanding job picking products for this kit. Way to go, Deb!







I am off to Becky's today to crop the day away. It is an overcast and gloomy day but being in the company of fun women is a much needed dose of sunshine! Hope you are having a great weekend.

Book Club at our house

Last night was our turn to host Book Club and, since it was so close to Mardi Gras, one of E an my favorite celebrations, we went with a Creole/Cajun theme for supper. E fixed a wonderful Gumbo over long grained rice and I fixed a side salad to accompany the Gumbo. We bought a King Cake at the grocery and Nancy found the baby. I thought that meant good luck for the year and E thought it meant the finder of the baby hosted the next party.

Unclear about this, I googled King Cake and found this site with lots of interesting information including a recipe by Emeril for making your own King Cake.

http://www.gumbopages.com/food/dessert/king-cake.html






There were ten of us regulars and two lovely guests last night. We were missing our beloved Glo who is still recovering from her foot surgery. You were very missed, Glo.

My new friend, Marcia, (thanks for the intro Glo) was my guest for Book Club and brought this lovely candle. The sand and shells came from Honeymoon Island. Marcia is also a stamper and a crafter and project she was knitting looks so lovely.

These are all talented, witty and warm women in Book Club and I am so pleased to be a member. Thank you all.

We get by with a little help from our friends....

(sing it now) gonna get by with a little help from our friends! Between Chuck and Linda and Jill and Kelly, E and I are set for awhile with our Missouri wines. We can not find them here anywhere and we can't get them imported through the wineries so we count on our friends who do take oh so such good care of us. When we learned last year that my friend, Sandy, and her hubby, Walt, were driving through Mo. wine country, we asked them to bring us back two vignoles and, bless their hearts, they did. Florida wines are made out of anything but grapes (ok...there are 3 aok wineries in the entire state). We're a fruit (not grape) state and those just don't make it for us...kiwi wine, pineapple wine, mango wine...I ask you now? really?

So, thanks to you all who keep and I well supplied with our favorite Missouri wines and bless you!