Thursday, July 23, 2015

Writer's Workshop: Make "last" Last.

4. Write a blog post inspired by the word: last.

At this time last year, we had our family reunion. My husband's side. Lots and lots of people. Our son (my stepson... but that doesn't matter) was there.

He didn't bring his girlfriend... She didn't want to come. We'd never met her. She felt that it was too big of a step. That in her "culture" (she was Vietnamese), it was a huge deal to meet parents. Forget the fact that our son was LIVING with her and HER SON was calling him "Dad" and had even given him a Father's Day card. So... he sat in his chair. For most of the day. His cell phone on his ear. Arguing with her about what he did wrong this time. He was so occupied with her. It was really sad. He said goodbye to us all and told us he loved us. And then he left.

Little did we know.

It was the last time we saw him alive and talking. It was his last good bye.  It was his last, "I love you."

Less than a week later, he swallowed his last cocktail. It was a corrosive. It gave him his last breath on his own.

And less than a week after that horrible day, he took his last breath on a ventilator. We said our last good bye.

RIP - Jr. I know this was one of your proudest moments.
We love you and this of you every day.


Please visit Mama Kat and check out other posts. There were lots of prompts to choose from, and much happier ones, too. I'll post another tomorrow that's more upbeat... but this is where my mind was today. Sorry for the bummer...

Friday, July 17, 2015

Candy Blog Hop






Welcome to the Candy Day Blog Hop!

This Candy Blog Hop will run for 2 days. If you came from Alicia's Blog you are in right spot. But you want to start the fun at Haidee's Blog.
 
We are excited to have you hop with us! Each blogger participating in this hop is featuring a crafty project having to do with "candy". Who doesn't LOVE "candy"? Then we add crafty to it!!! Eckkkkk!
You will find unique ideas that have to do with candy. We hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way. And give you some crafty ideas.

Be sure to leave a comment at each hop to show some Bloggie Love and to qualify to win a PRIZE. (Squeee!!!!) It would bee sweet if you 'follow' too.
$10 gift card. You will able to choose 1 from the 3 stores!!! One winner will win their choice of gift cards.
*WINNER MUST CHECK Haidee's Blog ON MONDAY, JULY 21*
Now onto my project... Here's a little peek...


Even though it's been quite a while since I participated in a hop or posted crafty things... I've been busy doing just that. Most everything I've given away and forgotten to take photos. Brain drain. Ugh. But I thought... "Why not? I love sweet things... Hm... My anniversary is coming up... and I usually procrastinate and make something the day before..." So... Since it's not until October, I did the unthinkable! I did not procrastinate. It is done.

"What's done?" you may ask. Um... I not only did one card. I did two! (So that I can choose which one I like better, as the day gets closer. You know how it is...) And since my husband isn't really all lovey-dovey and romantic and sentimental... I decided to go with corny candy-themed cards.

I designed both of them in Cricut Design Space. Oh how I love this program. Well... I did, until Wednesday night. You know. When they did the "final" update. Ugh.

"Stuff" I did not design or input in any way, shape or form printed through my computer and printer. I played with it for 2 days. I gave up and decided to go "old school" on my printed sentiment (it was supposed to be printed on the card... duh...) and use Word Art. What do you know! It works. Sometimes you just have to go "retro". And thank goodness I remembered how to use it! (Keep your skills up, people!!!)

Notice the Word Art? Yeah... I had to make that work. It was originally supposed to be printed on the card, then the card cut with all these fancy-type edges via the Cricut Explore. Not happening. It was/is frustrating. But I have all the confidence in the world that Cricut is getting it together to get all the bugs out (no pun intended).

Will my husband notice? Eh... If he gets this card... probably not. He doesn't notice the little creative touches. He only notices the "wet" glue. Surprise for him this year... It will be VERY dry! (Kudos to me for getting them done WAY in advance this year!!!)

The finished project (the first one). Craft paper cardstock. LOVE this stuff. I used it for the chocolate bar (both layers), too. I inked with Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink in two different rich brown colors to separate the chocolate layers and Broken China for the blue, to make the Word Art pop. And I gotta do a shout-out for Crop-o-Dile! Still in love with the corner croppers... this one is "angle". (And in case you don't get it... the wrapper was supposed to be "husband"...)
Onto the second card...
 
I was able to flatten (so it prints the image instead of cutting multiple layers) this image ...), add text, then print and cut it. (supposed to be cotton candy. I think it looks like an ice cream cone. My 10yo got all excited... "Cotton Candy!!!!" I'm glad she figured it out.) This one worked out hunky dory.

FYI, the text is done in two blocks and rotated, through Design Space. It's the only way I could get it to do what I wanted. But no matter what... I couldn't seem to get that little "f" to come down "below the line". (If someone knows how... please let me know in the comments, or message me on Facebook, or give me a call or text, if you know me well enough to have my info! I'd really like to learn how to do this, if it's possible!!!)

Again. I love craft paper. I think it looks rather rustic. And I'm a re-type of gal.

I wasn't able to change the colors in the flattening of a subscribed image (way cheaper than purchasing all of Cricut's unlicensed cartridges and/or images). I would've created my own image and uploaded it, but... I haven't quite hopped into that yet except to work with photos in the new software. And so... to offset the pink (because the card is for a man), I again used the blue Broken China of the Distressed Ink collection. Yes... I could've made it cleaner, but I really like that brushed distressed effect. I also added the blue gingham ribbon, just to bring it out a tad more.

We R Memory Keepers strikes again. Yes... a Crop-o-Dile corner-rounder. This time in "stub". I love ticket stubs. And I definitely think cotton candy fits just that. Circus, anyone?


And here, I've popped it up a little. I have no patience for foam dots. They stick to my fingers and are a pain to peel off (from the paper AND my fingers). They don't cover a whole lot of space. And they run out... usually when I only need one or two or three more.

So... I use clear-drying caulking. Love it. And if you've ever looked at some of my other projects, you'll see I use it... a. lot. It's fabulous and streams out like a thick glue, easily controllable, and (the best part) much cheaper than the foam dots. If you are down to your last bit (which I am NEVER, as I keep stocked up on that stuff!), you can simply use a cotton swab or small paint brush to re-distribute your caulking around on your project! Win, WIN!

The finished project is above... but I just wanted you to see how the caulking adds dimension above the ribbon. So sweet!

Still not sure which card I'll give to my hubby, and what I put inside is just for us... But I have a couple of months to think about it and change my mind several times decide. It's anyone's guess at this point.

Now... I'm kinda hungry and in need of something sweet. I'll go grab me a piece of chocolate. Since it's summer, I'm stocked up on frozen Snickers! Yum!

Your Next SWEET stop is Sarah's Blog.  She's got something scrumptious created for you!
Here is a list of the line up. Just in case if you get lost:

Haidee - Created2BUnique
Alicia - Golden Goddess Designs
Lisa (that's me!) - Lisa's Little Bits
Sarah - Crazy About Cards!
Liz - Scrapilicous Life
Miranda - Nana's Scrap Spot
Connie - Connie Can Crop
Barbara - Craftin' with Barbara
Angela - 3 Crazy Monkeys by the Beach
Jessi - My Life In Arts n' Crafts

Remember... Come back to Haidee's Blog on Monday, July 21 to see IF you are the WINNER. Good luck and (blog)hop on!