Howled R U?

Sorry, I just couldn't resist the title. 

Close your eyes and say it out loud - you'll get it!

Man am I clever or what?  (giggle)  

Sometimes I even surprise myself with how creative I am.

The stamp set "Nature Silhouettes" was calling me to use it for my son's birthday card. The name of their software company name Howling Moon was my inspiration.

It was difficult to get a good picture that showed the Shimmer frost paint sponged on the moon. This card is impressive in real life. Click on the picture to see a larger image. If you look at your screen sideways, it picks up the shimmer - that's so cool that it can do that!

They've recently released another application program called "Upshot" for macs. Earlier this year they were at a game developers software meeting and found out that a significant number of programmers were using his chipmunk physics program which he released as shareware while he was still in high school. They are currently working on additional upgrades for his chipmunk physics program.

I'm so proud of him, and that he had the courage to go after his dream. Thank you for letting me "howl" a little about his accomplishments.

Happy Birthday Scott!

Now I need SU to make a chipmunk stamp.

What a gorgeous morning!

I've just got to share a couple pictures of my back yard this morning. 

You can click on the pictures to see a close up of the incredible frost.

All Saints Day

One of my volunteer jobs is to decorate our church for the various special services and seasons. I replaced the mums in the entry with bumpy/warty pumpkins and decorated the sancturary with white candles and bows. Today we remembered the 20 saints, that passed away this last year,  by reading their names and lighting a candle in their memory during the tolling of the bell. The larger candle in the back represented our family and friends that had passed away previously.

When I was loading all my decorations into the van, I remembered that I had meant to take a picture (from a distance) showing what the table looked like up in the front of the church. Also of all the white bows, awesome banners, and all the other candles on the pillars and in the windows. It looked like the church was ready for a wedding, which was fitting since that's what the readings of text was about.

Between our Sunday worship services there is an adult discussion class. Today it was about the origins and traditions of Halloween. It was so interesting. 

It helped me decide that next year I'm going to use the following poem to top my Trick-or-Treater's cello bags and of course it will have a pumpkin and smile also stamped over it just like this year's (see pic in previous post):

To 

      be 

a Christian 

is like being a pumpkin.

 God picks you from the patch, 

brings you in, and washes all the 

dirt off of  you. Then He cuts off the 

top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. 

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, 

and greed. Then He carves you a new

smiling face and puts His light inside 

of you to shine for all the world to 

see. From one pumpkin to

another…Shine on!

Isn't that a cool poem?

It reminds me of  Matt. 5:16 which says:  Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 

MDS card for iTouch/iPhone programmer son

This card is inspired by their business name Howling Moon Software. Since I am intrigued with other demos punch art; I thought this was a perfect time to use MDS to do some  punch art. First I did a google search on images of howling wolves to use as a model.

WOW it was harder than I thought it would be using the shadows and layering. No matter what I tried - the wolf on the front reminded me of the singing mouse or reindeer head (that other demos have done) on a frogs body. So I used a different image and "punched" another wolf on the inside of the card.  

We're so proud of our son. Their first program was an iTunes "Staff favorite" and now his second program has made the What's Hot list. To find their game, Twilight Golf in iTunes you need to go to the Apps store, then games. They have a free trial version of this game.

I'd love to hear what you think of my first MDS card.

Sponge Bob Birthday

I have to confess, I don't get the whole Sponge Bob thing, and I'll admit I have not watched the cartoon either. I was told little Brayden runs to the TV and dances when the music for the show comes on.

Well I guess I'm just as guilty. When I found out my cousin was going to make a Sponge Bob birthday cake for my sister's little one; I just HAD TO keep with the theme and make his first birthday card from me - yes it's shamefully true you guessed it - I made a Sponge Bob card.

Paper: Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Basic Black, Green Galore, Brilliant Blue Ink: Basic Black Accessories: Assorted Punches, White Gel Pen

Brayden was allowed to stick his finger in the frosting to sample it.

However his little hands were quicker than his mom's and

he did a little more than just sample some frosting with his finger:

Then he shook his hands and there were samples of frosting and cake on the walls, window, table and floor, and his mommy too!

Our entertainment continued as Brayden's parents tried to clean up the mess. I don't know which is worst wiping up broken eggs or frosting.

Here's the clean "quick-draw mc-birthday boy"

after the washcloth came to the rescue.

Now isn't this commercialism at it's best?

The only thing that would have made this

party better would have been:

Carmel.

Mmm, Ooo-la-la!

Our first cruise

Oh it ended too soon or it didn't end soon enough depending which one of us you ask.

Endless food and endless waves. Mixed with hurried schedules and 100+ degree days.

Some pointers: 

Get those medicine patches to help with motion sickness 

however don't push it and try to read. 

Avoid connecting flights. 

Ask someone to take pictures with you in them.

If it is listed and says you can do something on a tour, 

don't mistakenly think it's included in the price of the tour, 

just bring extra cash with.

I could go on but I'll say one last thing - 

snorkling doesn't work well if your spouse needs glasses. 

I'd like to say a special 

Thank you to my Honey of a Hubby

 for putting up with everything 

including the daily motion sickness. 

Congratulations Scott, Andy, & Tyler

Okay, truth be told when your son quits his job to go solo (or do you call it trio?) to write programs for the iPhone and iTouch; I was concerned because of the economy.  

I made this card for them, and wanted to share it with all of you, how proud we are of him and his friends. Their program is a "Staff Favorite" for the second week of the iTunes app store. You can find the Staff Favorites at the bottom of the iTunes app store page. 

Way to go boys! Congrats!!!

To play the game all you do is pop (by touching) the balls and or wiggle your iPhone/iTouch to get 4 balls to touch and that's how you get points. Very easy concept, but surprisingly challenging. It's a fun game that can even be enjoyed by the young as well as the rest of us. They also have a Mac version and the version for PC's will soon be released.

Happy Birthday Wow

I made this card for my son's birthday. Wow, I am having a hard time believing my baby is now 24 years old. I really need to stop referring to him as my baby, he's probably 8 inches taller than I am (and I'm no shorty).

I really like the crisp contrast of the Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss, with the white accents. I'm always looking for inspiration to make cards that are fast and easy. When I saw this card on my up-up-line's bulletin board, I thought "Ah-ha, I could make that card in less than 10 minutes!" I consider this card a success. 

Stamps: Wow Flowers, Short & Sweet (envelope)

Paper: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White

Ink: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss

Punch: Circles: 1 3/8", 1 1/4", 1", and 1/4"; Word Window, Snow Blossom 

Other: Circle Ice brad

Pick of the Patch

Last fall when I attended Scrapfest at Mall of America in Minneapolis, I noticed a lot of pumpkin pictures being scrap booked. That's when I started thinking about this title and was surprised no one had used it. I had thought of asking my youngest sister to take a picture of their little boy sitting with pumpkins, but I forgot.

The other day I was looking at some of the pictures my sister had taken and there he was sitting among all the pumpkins. I felt like I was being told to follow through with my idea. After seeing his picture, I decided to alter a picture frame that I had bought for half price at Target after Halloween. 

I water-colored  the leaves with my aqua painter, cut them out and mounted them with glue dots; they are from the "Lovely as a Tree" stamp set. The swirls are from the "Priceless" stamp set and are stamped with Stazon ink. The letters are from "Naturally Serif" Sizzix die cuts. The pumpkins were also water-colored; they are from "Autumn Harvest". While the paper was still somewhat damp, I turned the pumpkins over and rubbed on them to stretch the paper and give them a rounded appearance. They are mounted with double thick dimensionals.

We are so thankful for this precious little life that God has blessed our family with. He is the pick of the patch!

Sis is probably right . . .

My little sister jokingly says she's afraid that if I lived closer, she'd have to beat me off her doorstep and she's probably right - they are lucky I live across the state. It's going to be difficult not to spoil this little guy.

Isn't he just precious and so strong too! He's only 7 weeks old in this picture!

On a roll, or should I say roller

Since I had my painting hand warmed up, I also helped my daughter and her hubby do some painting in their new place. However like the saying goes about the shoemaker's family going without shoes; it true that I still need to paint several rooms in my own home, oh well.

Why I haven't posted anything for a while

It's been awhile since my last post and I feel bad that I haven't posted anything all summer, but the truth be told I've been rather busy. Okay for those of you that don't know me and are looking at that precious little vision of peace -  you are wrong and jumping to conclusions. You need to read that info "About Me". I'm an empty-nester. That adorable little face is not my baby, but it IS a picture of what a miracle looks like. I was helping my youngest sister this spring, because she was having trouble with her first pregnancy. She was told to slow down or they would put her on bed rest. It was her final quarter of school and her internship hours were usually around 10 hours a day. That did not leave much time for fixing up and painting to get their house ready to sell. Then there was the all packing, and the move from Duluth to Minneapolis. And finally graduation - yeah! They both have been blessed to get wonderful jobs and are now proud parents of this adorable little boy. 

This spring and summer has been a whirlwind of activities including 4 weddings and 5 showers. So now you know why I 

haven't posted for awhile. I hope you are having an enjoyable 

summer.