Tuesday'ed out

Yesterday I played with some of the cool effects on my photo program.. Hope you had a good Labor day, whether you labored or played...I labored..

Today was a ceiling(s) of clouds..didn't finish, but the looking up and working over my head finished me off...called it quits and hub is taking me out for dinner, so I don't have to cook ! Can't beat that..with a stick~

Have a super evening..t

Sunday was busy around the shop shack

We played outside:

We were on the 'hunt':
We picked flowers:
After swimming and lunch, we loaded up the stuff hub needed to go Dove Hunting, and Sage's goodies. Then they headed out take her back home and he to go hunting tomorrow, I was left alone...

I went into the studio..with a plan..Halloween was on my brain..and a technique I had read about here. And just as I got started my heat gun went and pooped out..I'd only had it about 8 years..go figure..So, loaded myself up to make an emergency run into town to Michael's. Did I just buy a heat gun? NoOooOOO..ended up bringing home some new pens, a flower punch, a good deal on a sketch book with 2 free Bristol board pads, and some quote stickers.

Had to stop at Starbucks too on the way home..was very disappointed..My Frapp was not very slushy at all it was just cold and very fluid..not what I had my taste buds set for..and low and behold, I was chosen to do a survey..I did that as soon as I got home, so maybe those Starbucks people will listen. I'll let you know if they do~

Back to the studio...I didn't follow all the directions Tim had there on his post..for I have NO Adirondack inks..so I used some dauber's I got at WM awhile back..spritzed the tag with water then inked them up after doing the embossing with the clear..I used a some stamps I picked up on super deep discount last year AFTER Halloween!

But isn't that what it's all about? Doing your own thing with what you have? Who has to follow the directions to a T ? Where are the direction Police?? That's what I love about creating things!!

Here's my little tip: Use one of those 'taste spoons' you get at the ice cream shop, in your embossing powder to control the amounts you need..doesn't make quite the mess as pouring it out over your work...

This is one of my hand cut stamps with the embossing ink on a tag:

Here is the batch I did...


This one is my fav:

I'm glad I got a new heat gun, this one works so good, I even had the paper smokin'~ not good..but didn't hurt anything!

This was a good afternoon.

I have to work tomorrow on some cabs for a client. So you have a good day off and hope you make something fun!

Later gator!

t

Hissy Fits

Have you ever pitched one? I have! Plenty in my life time..but last night was just an art version~
I started to clean off my table which had only a 2x2 space of clean area..and that's 2 INCHES x 2 INCHES..

The more I put away, tossed, stuffed in other places, the more I found things I'd covered over..
Like these cabinet cards.. So I started playing with them~again~


It was fun to have the ideas rolling out of my head ...using things that have not been used lately..

The dictionary was handy, so I took out a page I'd already torn out..it was H's..found this Hoity Toity entry for the above photo, love it~

Then found this word: Hobbledehoy: a youth between boyhood and manhood.

It fit this photo perfectly!

Pulled out some sliver coated findings and added them for some intrest and an altered Cabinet card was born!

These two are small..2x3 or so..then the next one has been sitting around forever..

This poor ol' maid, she was so water damaged..and I just couldn't figgure out how to use her..well last night she was included in my Hissy Art fit...she got a rub on with a quote then a faux beeswax treatment to make that old waterstain look like it belonged there..

See this texture? Love it! rub some ink over it and it just pops out! If you've not tried this effect, what are you waiting for? Permission? well, you have mine, so go for it!

You need some Matte Gel Medium a pallet knife and something to go over..using the pallet knife and spread a nice layer of GM over your project, not too thick, but covering it nicely..let it dry..then using some inks and your finger you make that texture pop out and whole thing looks great! See how easy that was??

This is a long weekend for most of us~ hope yours is a good one..we are exchanging Grand #2 for Grand #1 this afternoon...so I'm sure there will be more studio/play time in the next couple of days!!

Go Play~
t

Sneak peek

Did you know this is what we are going to make in my class at Paper Cowgirl???



I'm offering 3 images and a few other sayings, so you can make it your own, but this is the basic idea!!





In between making play doh cookies with Grace, I wrapped up my swaps, this one is a peek at the Wizard of Oz Swap I'm in:

And you know what I did??? I wrapped up my Witch's Cupboard Swap, and took NO pictures..suppose Tonya, my partner will have to show ya'll what I gave her..my bad...

I'm off today to a Woman's Business Luncheon. I'm hoping to network with other ladies and maybe get my painting biz busier...Sally, a nice lady I'm working for now, goes to them and invited me...I think Sally is going to be a good friend too...

Hope your Thursday is good~

t

Saturday's Adventure

Saturday was cloudy when we walked out of our rooms. It was a nice change from the furnace of the sun the last few days..after breakfast at BJ's we headed out.

We were on a mission, sort of..I'm thankful that Leonard and Sue are good sports and allowed me to have this time! Hub knows my ways, may not always "get" me..but he humors me..
Today's mission was to go to Center Point Texas to meet up with a blogging friend! After riding some good roads we stopped for me to call and 'warn' her of our arrival.





We found the white fence and the pink bicycles..that caught Sue's attention, pink bicycles..she's an artist too, so she undersands our muses..After making our rumbling way up her driveway we found Jan and Frank in front of the garage watching us arrive..

Jan and I have been emailing for awhile now..and she's a teacher at Paper Cowgirl. So, it was fate~ we had to meet sooner or later..and since I was in the area..we made it sooner

She couldn't believe I rode my own. I thought she read my blog..guess not... They welcomed us to their home with true Texas hospitality! Frank is a life long Texan and Jan got here as soon as she could, so we'll forgive her for not understanding my Texas speak sometimes...

We were shown around the studio and their wonderful house. The guys set around the table and talked guy stuff while we did our girl thing...Let me tell you if you ever get the chance to meet this fireball of a woman, you need to take it..and be ready for a full ride~

We all went to Camp Verde for lunch at Jan's suggestion (instance) and have the best sandwich we'd ate this whole trip..As we set there, the rain started..and finished for that moment..We had to get going and parted way too soon, for we were not done talking...so we'll have to pick up where we left off next month at the retreat~


We then traded Moo cards and we were off..Frank suggested a road near that we needed to ride down...

These fellows were along the way:

We stopped to admire their wonderful horns for there were 3 more longhorns and a couple of odd fellows like the one behind...

Bandera was the next stop. Not that far down the road. We made it there..the boys let us shop...and then a big storm was blowing in. We rounded up and headed out. Hoping to miss the storm, but it caught up with us down the road. We had to climb into our rain gear, as we just zipped up the last zipper it hit us..Large- hard- cold -drops... let me tell you, at 50 miles an hour, those things feel like rocks hitting any bare spots you have showing~ We made our way back to Camp Wood. As we pulled in, the bottom fell out. Off and on all night it stormed and Sunday we woke up to it pouring off the roof...We suited up again and after breakfast at BJ's before we headed to Llano our split off place..

We left Leonard and Sue at Llano, rain suits shed and sun shining on our faces. Hub and I enjoyed the dry and made tracks for home. About 2 hours later, we were donning on the rain gear again..and rode in off and on rain until we were about 45 minutes away from home. By the time we made it home, we were dried out from the rain and ready to be home.

So, that was our road trip! Hope you enjoyed it! We did...we are taking another one next month~

later, t

Kangaroos, Water and Harleys

On Friday we headed out for the day. But first we had to have our breakfast at BJ's, she has been voted best breakfast for several years by the "Ride Texas" magazine, that is read by motorcyclers all over the state.

Down one of the 'sister' roads, there is an exotic game ranch. They have Kangas, Giraffes, Zebras, and such..I always want to stop, but we usually just zoom by. Little did I know that hub had plans for a laid back day...yea!

A bit later down the road, there is a low water crossing we always stop at for a bit..This time we shed our boots and put our tootsies in that chilly water, it was wonderful..then we all went over to the tin horns and put them in the running water for a massage...again, we just set there and didn't feel like leaving, so we stayed! We stayed there at least 45 minutes, it was great, no hurry, no worry..All we had planned was going to Junction for lunch.







Guess the feet~

Another spot I've wanted to stop and get a picture of my bike! This is a tiny place between Junction and no where..
We talked to the lady inside, she had been there since 1963!

We ate lunch at Cooper's in Junction and wondered the tiny downtown. Then headed up to Lover's Leap to look over the town. It was burning hot, Sue and I decided we didn't want to go to the Fort that hub had planned. So we chose to voice our opinions at this time...we all decided to head back to Camp Wood and go swimming! So we did..swimming in the river was great...It was a nice day and we did abit of riding, but most of all we were not feeling rushed to make X number of miles or see X number of things..that was a nice change..

Tomorrow: Meeting New people..

Paper Cowgirl is coming along, we are going to get the info packets made this week. We posted some new stuff over there..and I added a photo of the Charm we are making in my class info post! Go Check it Out!!

I worked on some swap stuff yesterday. It was a good day..got most of it finished and now to pop it all in the mail for my partners.

Happy Monday to you!

t

Road ridin' continued...

By being little boys, touching everything and making comments about stuff, they finally got us out of this store, but not before we look on both floors ....

By this time of day it was HOT, we lotion- ed up and climbed on the bikes. Heading out of town our next stop would be in Medina Texas. But the road to take was a doozie for bikes, sports cars and anything that is fast...meaning, lots of curves, twists, hills and turns.

I had started to worry, for last time on this road, I did not do well. I didn't crash or anything like that. I just didn't handle things as I thought I should have..I have a rule, don't touch the white lines or yellow lines. Some days I don't do it at all and other days, I will kiss on of them with the tire..Last time on this road, I rode OVER the yellow...not a good thing..the only thing that save me, is that there was NO traffic at that time. I'd been dead if there was..so that is why I was making my self silly over it.

You know what I did? I prayed..yes, I pray often on my bike. Not just for me or our safety..but for others too..for there is alot of 'head time' on a motorcycle. So, after saying my prayers, my head calmed down and I felt alot calmer. We came upon the switchbacks. And I did them with easy! Pheew.. There is a little place hub likes to stop at and enjoy the view. So we did just that..

We pulled up in Medina at the Apple store, I don't know what the real name of it is..but they have the BEST apple pies! Huge and good and sell them by the slice..After we had our desserts we jumped back on the bikes and headed to Camp Wood. Our home base for the next few days. This is hilly rough country..the roads are great for bikes. But then we came upon some road work...deep loose dirt/gravel...more than once I felt my front tire grab the wrong way. We had about 5 miles of it into Leaky(Lake-y) Texas. Never was I so ready to hit that hard asphalt!

We road a 'sister' road on into Camp Wood and made it there about 6pm Thursday night. A shower was most welcome and dinner was had shortly after. We set outside and watched the stars and talked until we parted for our rooms.

(Sister roads: 335,336,337 are twisty FM roads that they call the "twisted sisters" bikers love these roads!)

Next chapter: Kangaroos, massages and such-oh my!