Murphy's Law

Interestingly enough....

2012-01-27T10:40:00.001-05:00

these rocks were as they are.

Honestly, we didn't stop long enough

to stack rocks. I'm sure it means something but....

I just love the photo...

Stacked rocks found in the California mountains.

Which seriously isn't that odd in Callifornia

considering..............

Just when I think the mojo returns, it does in spurts

and then along comes life and sucks it

right on out.

I shall find other things to do until it returns.

Continue to pray for my favorite youngest son.

Ironically I wrote a hub about titles

2012-01-25T13:30:00.000-05:00

and then needed a title.

Any of you that scrapbook with me personally know I flail around with titles.

So since I have trouble I feel others may too.

Hopefully, clicking here will give you a few ideas on where to get titles when you're stuck.

One of my personal favorite is mixing up a modern song with heritage photos.

Who knew my gram and aunts could have this kind of fun.

This was a well kept secret.

Till the photos came out. BWAHAHAAHA!

Please click on link, read, vote UP, comment and enjoy!

This is just too perfect for the title.

This ones for the girls. yeah.

Martina McBride

Manic Monday wasn't too manic but it was productive

2012-01-24T10:36:00.001-05:00

in that I wrote a hub about altering a composition

notebook that will help my friends mother

get her photos out of the box and her memories

preserved.

To read more about it, click here and please vote UP.

Thanks for your support!

The blue skies of Arizona.....

2012-01-23T09:32:00.001-05:00

really just blew me away.

I have lots of blue skies in Florida, but for

some reason and maybe its the mountains

that make the skies bluer there.

I love the rustic-ness of it.

And the cactus just march on like soldiers.

They are everywhere.

Had some emotional ups and downs going on.

Which seriously affects the mojo.

Keep the favorite youngest son in your prayers.

He's making me crazy.

I have written a new hub please click here
to be amused about exercising with a purpose without
exercising on purpose.
Thanks for voting UP!

Find the hawk in the photo....

2012-01-20T10:09:00.000-05:00

He's there watching me, watch him.

He's a poser and totally fickle.

I've been doing some spring cleaning

which I really needed to do.

Bashed my nail way below the quick

and its not pretty.

Still have a couple of rooms to go.

3's company

2012-01-19T09:32:00.000-05:00

I had to laugh when I saw this photo.

It's just too darn adorable.

I had forgotten I had misted using my new glimmer mist

Monster Mash,

following up with a couple of others for an accent.

And then placed the paper under my glass to uncurl it.

Sadly I think I need to clean the glass. LOL!!!

Anyway some kraft and basic grey.

Love it.

Another challenge completed.....

2012-01-18T08:22:00.001-05:00

Scrap that tune....

And I couldn't resist with a photo of my

Gram and Aunt Toot partying.

Back in the day.

Girls just wanna have fun!

Says it all.

Kaiser Crafts, Technique Tuesday, Quickutz, Creative Imaginations.

Twas totally maniacal at Moments last night....

2012-01-17T08:54:00.000-05:00

New challenges went up on Sunday

and combine that with Manic Monday and

you get some pages done!

Love Love Love it.

This page is the Pattern Paper challenge, involving dots,

flowers and stripe papers! Love the results....

The Recipe challenge involved paint, 3 flowers, a circle

at least one photo and pop dots.

Totally pleased.

I don't use white cardstock often enough.....

There's a new challenge - Stamping!!

Out of the gate - Stamp a border - which totally

brings the entire page together.

It was a good start and I'll be working on the rest of the

challenges because I'm far from done.

I've been in a funk.......

2012-01-16T08:46:00.001-05:00

and just now recognized. Geez...

However, yesterday was challenges UP day at Moments.

And this is there heritage challenge.

This one is about Special Relationships and one

you may have had with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins,

Grandparents, etc......

As you know, I adored my grandparents and I'm

totally aspiring to be like them with my

grandkidlets.

When I discovered this photo of me and grandpop

well......a page had to be done.
Basic grey - no matter how old rocks, noteworthy, grungeboard and prima!

journaling: Always! Wherever grandpop was in my field of vision, I was in his lap or arms. We just fell in love /weach other from the start. I was attracted by his easy going, laid back attitude. (I also love how he treated my gram). I saw him angry-twice, heard him swear only once. He's been gone 30 years plus and I still cry and miss him so.

Backyard wildlife........

2012-01-14T10:05:00.000-05:00

Greetings from sunny, chilly Florida.

48 degrees at 10 a.m.

That's just wrong!

I'd like to blame the lateness on my

2012-01-13T13:09:00.001-05:00

dentist appointment, but alas, it isn't so.

I couldn't decide on a title.

I know that shocks each and every one of you.

Snort.

Lots of mental gymastics, fights with thickers.

I do NOT like thickers.
They stick to everything except what I want them too.
And they fall off everywhere.

However, got some new Creative Imaginations papers

and finally, a mojo break through.

Yeah!!!

MMMMmm paper.....

2012-01-11T09:19:00.001-05:00

Isn't funny how you can spend all the time in the world

picking out the perfect present

and the kidlets will focus in on and play with

the box or papers.

Priceless.

Cosmo comes through again.

It's how I roll.....

2012-01-10T08:20:00.000-05:00

Love this pix of Annie in her Santa hat.

Driving a sassy car.

I didn't have a lot of Christmas paper.

Shocking I know,

but a stash of Cosmo Cricket was found.

Manic Monday was maniacal!

Sadly I didn't get much done.

Our water heater had the utter audacity to

go on the fritz, so I was "helping."

Read batting cleanup!!

There's nothing like a good western....

2012-01-09T11:45:00.001-05:00

and I do love them.

This is the sketch challenge over at Moments and of course,

I got carried away and did a 2-pager.

Using the collage creator in Picassa (which the sketch was a collage)

it doesn't quite match it in form but function.

I have so many great pix from Arizona, and this

is just Tombstone and Boothill.

Both were amazing.

As I mentioned in the blog account I did when I was out there,

Tombstone wasn't the movie set I thought it to be.

It is a real town that has people that can role play all day long.

What an awful job that is, right?

The bottle caps are from the sarsaparilla soda we

purchased that was a collectors item with the Earps

and Doc Holliday on the bottles. It was yummy!

Oh, and the patterned paper??? Cosmo Cricket - Wanted line.

Snort.

Love notes...

2012-01-06T08:48:00.000-05:00

Nothing more romantic or precious

looking as mother and child.

Sleeping, Snuggling.

And of course, Jill rocked this

Iphone photo. Again.

K&Co, Recollections, Creative Imaginations.

April's lace. (I have an entire satchel full).

Too Cute to Spook....

2012-01-05T08:31:00.002-05:00

The next challenge I was able to tick off my list was about stash

and to use your leftover animals/insects.

I didn't really have any leftover aninmals/critters, however,

since I do have to wait for photos to roll in

from far far away, what better way to use stash/critters than to

incorporate some sparkly cats on a Halloween page.

I took the cue from the cat on Annie's shirt and found

a cat stamp in my stash. Since you can't go wrong

with bling, I glam'd the cats up with some Martha Stewart glitter!

(photo by KevinDuffyphotography)

8x8

It's challenge time at

2012-01-04T10:01:00.000-05:00

Scrappin the Moments.....

which brought the mojo back!!!!

So the first one is use the colors; blue, green, light blue

and a neutral. Well.....my neutral is red.

This may look familiar as I'm doing 8x8's for the kidlet's

album and 12x12 (or whatever for mine)

and I used the title boing!!!!

Again.

Because its perfect.

The journaling challenge was of course about the

New Year 2012 - so 12 intentions, resolutions

or in my case things. No sense setting yourself up for

failure so these are things I can do.....

One little word - love this one too.

GIVE.

How perfect is this.

Hmmmm should've made that word a different color.

It does look better IRL however, so just make it bigger.

Head on over and check them out!!!

There are a bunch more to come so stay-tuned!!!

Have a happy and blessed 2012!!

Jumping on the top 12 bandwagon

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because after all its now 2012!

Secrets is about meeting my mom's birth side of the family

and the feelings that went with it.
Of course it resides in my Roots journal that
has been blown out into 3 albums.

Smug mug is a favorite of mine because of course

its a great pix of me (I really take bad pix)
and that of my fav youngest son.

My grandson who is a hoot and this shot was so

funny and lucky! I miss him and think about
him often.

My DH took me on a wild ride through DC to get

some night shots. It was a lot of fun.

This was soooo special - meeting the family in NYC

and dining at Bobby Flays which was

delicious btw.

But it was a family event that made my heart sing.

My babies whom I lost so close together and miss

more than I thought imaginable.

My brother who somehow didn't make it into many

of my albums. In the process of rectifying that.

Some of the travels DH and I took. We have a

blast of course and the sights are so amazing.

Yosemite was breathtaking.

And taking moody shots at Balboa Park was

so inspiring.

I couldn't wait to get to San Francisco.

And of course have 3M shots of the golden gate bridge

and Alcatraz. It couldn't be helped.

An Old Town never ceases to get old.

I almost feel like an artist hanging there.

I have such a wonderful life!

2011 was an amazing year and I feel so blessed

especially traveling and hanging with DH and family

and I know 2012 is going to rock!

Have a Blessed and Happy New Year!

Christmas Angelz

2011-12-30T09:35:00.000-05:00

I seem to be rolling out one page a day.

I'm okay with that.

I'm not quite happy with this one but its done.

To me there's something off.

I'm sure it'll dawn on me sooner or later

what it is.

I love the photo and Jill takes and makes the coolest ones.

She took the one of Amelia (see below) that I love.

All vintage and girlie.

You seriously can't go wrong with Foo fa la nor CI.

or Recollections - their butterflies rock

8x8.

Bounce Jump Boing!

2011-12-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

Owen seems to enjoy his trampoline. Grammy got lucky on this. As she was surfing through Amazon looking for the perfect present, she was thinking back to their visit with Owen and Annie. Owen has a lot of energy. A LOT. So when Grammy happened upon a trampoline, she thought what a better way to get rid of excess energy when snow days are going on than jumping up and down. The trampoline was looking most excellent so a word in Santa's ear let the bouncing commence. The bonus round is that trampolines come with music now and because it was electronic and digital Grandpop was given credit. Boing.......

My Mind's Eye alphabet soup, thickers, bazzill, quickutz.

This beautiful photo

2011-12-28T09:13:00.001-05:00

tugged on my mojo...

Finally, something broke loose.

My beautiful granddaughter Amelia in her Christmas dress.

Because of the "feel" only 7 gypsy style papers

would do. I have no idea what they are.

Help on that would be appreciated.

And primas. And recollections.

And ripping and tearing and inking.

I'm hopeful there'll be more mojo to come.

Shots from the car window.....

2011-12-21T09:25:00.001-05:00

It became a challenge as we sped on down the

road and through the mountains.

The roads twisted and turned, and had DH

embracing his inner Mario Andretti.

As I admired the moodiness of the weather.

It became a challenge to get some shots

without ever having to stop the car.

Nailed it!

Spurs were a jingling.....

2011-12-20T09:40:00.001-05:00

on the streets of Tombstone.

Yes, the infamous Tombstone Az.

What is it about a duster that's just plain sexy.

And boots and spurs.

Character actor cowboys everywhere.

And didn't they know they were supposed to pose for me?

Big Nose Kate was a real character back in the day.

As well as the mustached woman.

And stages coaches. Swoon.

The Bird Cage Theatre was real too.

I have to admit that I thought Tombstone would be more like

a movie studio set. However, the mostly

original buildings were set a couple streets off

the main drag. Because there is a real Tombstone.
My bad.

One of the Earps.

The stages were of course, tours, and those coaches

are so not comfy. I can't imagine traveling

across country on them.

Doc Holiday - a handsome dude. You wouldn't know

because I wasn't quick enough to get the other side.

Oh look my very own handsome cowboy.

Who checked out every store and shop.

Cowboys getting along 'til the next gunfight.

Which we missed all the gunfights.

Sigh.

Love the sign.

And boothill was farther away than I thought.

Like way from what I consider the edge of town.

Of course the town and graveyard are reputed to be haunted,

and again I saw nary a ghost.

Above is the grave of the fallen OK Corrall gunfighters.

The ephitaphs were a hoot.

Killed, dead, hung.

DOH!

A visit to the Sonora Desert Museum....

2011-12-19T09:26:00.002-05:00

resulted in some fun pictures and experiences.

Here's an adorable hummingbird nesting.

The nest seems like its no bigger than a thimble.

And mamabird darted around gathering the perfect

materials, even eyeing shoe laces and hair.

The hummingbirds are in an enclosed aviary

you are welcome to walk in and enjoy the experience.

They are friendly little posers that swoop and dive

all around you, even at times divebombing

and landing or hovering around you.

It was the coolest thing. One buzzed by my ear, and it seemed like a

bullet whizzing by. (Not that I have a lot of experience with bullets

whizzing by-its the buzz). And of course they were total posers.

And for once I was fast enough to get them.

And then they turned the hawks loose.

And they were beautiful and breathtaking.

Dipping and whirling. I admit I had a

hard time getting the settings so I

have way more outtakes then intakes.

And of course the beautiful sky and vegetation.

A mama cardinal with a worm in her beak.

Mama was in a bird aviary that also encouraged walking

through and getting up close and personal.

A cactus with a smiley face on it.

More breathtaking views.

There was a lot of walking involved.

And animals in habitats as well.

An Ocelot focuses his laser like intent on

something above.

A coyote in his very own habitat, blending in while

napping. I almost missed him.

Mountain lion snoozing.

A lobo watching us watching him.

Again beautiful buildings and sky.

It was a long day with lots to see.

I admit to being very tired. It was a tricky walk.

You go down hill soooooo slowly you have no idea

of the hike back up til you get there.

I thought it was more amazing than a regular zoo.

Riding down the roads of Arizona

2011-12-17T09:47:00.000-05:00

the mountains and the sky take your breath away.

I was all like HONEY - stop right here!

Pull OVER right now.

And honey did. Because he's cool that way.

Even the parking lot and restrooms rock.

I'd like to say that the cool rock structure with windows

was something from the pioneer days, but

alas its not, just a place for the hikers to hang.

Cool looking all the same.

Because up in them thar hills is windier than San Franscisco.

And that was really windy.

Made another new friend, though he was a bit shy.

It was an amazing ride.