February 15, 2010 8:22 pm / 3 Comments on A WEEKEND OF FUN!
As promised in an earlier post, I stated that I would show the projects from the class that I drove all the way to San Jose (4-1/2 hrs one-way) back on January 29th to take . . . I decided at the last moment (actually that Friday morning) to see if there would be room in the class that evening for 1 more student . . . yahoo – they had room . . . sooooooo I left town right from work (had suitcase and scrapbags in the car) and drove like a bat out of hell to get San Jose before 6 pm (when the class started) . . . made it there by 5:30 pm . . .
So began a fun and intense weekend where I learned all kinds of new techniques and came away with not only a beautiful layout and a treasure box but new friends from all over the country (1 student was from Texas and came just for the class) . . . here is a picture of the layout I created Friday night (that’s the instructor Irene Tan and I) . . .

and here is a picture of the altered box that I created on Saturday (I still have to complete the mini album & 3 trading cards) . . . I am still amazed that this treasure box started out as an “all white” box with a pile of papers, inks & do-
da’s next to it on the table . . .

Now a little about the instructor for both of these projects . . . I have to admit that I had never hear of Irene Tan (aka
Scrapperlicious) . . . I didn’t know that she lives in
Malaysia . . . that she and her husband were here for two weeks only (she was sponsored for The Craft
Supershow & the Winter
CHA show) . . . that she is among other things a member of Tim
Holtz’s design team . . . I only knew that I liked what she had done and was going to be teaching techniques that I have always wanted to learn . . . I had a wonderful time and that the next time she is stateside I hope that she will be in the bay area because I will take a class from her again . . . only one thing though-I will be sure to wear and apron and bring latex gloves – I took a week before all the stains came off my hands!!!!!
Well that’s all for now . . . thanks for stopping by . . . till later . . . hugs & kisses . . .
February 14, 2010 9:38 pm / Leave a comment

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO EVERYONE!!!
February 1, 2010 10:03 pm / 1 Comment on CHRISTMAS IN FEBRUARY?
Christmas in February? . . . Why Not! . . . s000000 I know everything is suppose to be all “hearts and flowers” this month but I work at a little slower pace than the rest of the world . . . soooooooo here is a picture of the layout that I completed in January (which was just yesterday) of a Christmas both in the past and in the present . . . my good friend Christie designed this layout for a class at PSB and when I saw it I knew exactly what pictures would go on it . . . and of course being me I made a few changes from Christie’s original layout . . . like I used cream cardstock for the background instead of the original green and as I seem to be going through a glitz period I added glitter glue all over the place . . .

I titled the page Merry Christmas 1922 because the black and white photos are of my mother-in-law (when she was 23 months old) and of the Christmas tree and presents she received that year . . . back in those days cameras were still a pretty rare item for the average person to own and indoor flash lighting did not come with the cameras so all pictures were taken outside which in itself makes these 2 pictures interesting . . . the color pictures show the gifts and tree decorations that have survived through the years . . . one of the dolls, the rocking chair and 5 ornaments (the ornaments were on our Christmas tree this year) . . . my husband and brother-in-law threw the doll and ornaments in a dumpster as they didn’t think anyone would want something that old – silly men – I of course then had to do a little dumpster diving to retrieve them . . . below is a close up picture of each of the pages . . .

Well that’s all for now . . . on to completing the class projects from this weekend that were taught by the most talented and funny Irene Tan in Cupertino . . . more about this when I do my next posting . . . till then thanks for stopping by . . . hugs and kisses!!!
January 29, 2010 6:38 am / Leave a comment
I can’t believe that I am leaving tomorrow for the bay area (a 4 hour drive – one way) to take an 8-hour scrapbooking class on Saturday in Cupertino . . . and you are asking what could be that spectacular to make someone want to drive 4 hours one-way (might be 5 hours or more depending on how many stops I make and Friday traffic) . . . well here is a picture of the project . . .

Isn’t that a beautiful treasure box (its even more beautiful in person) . . . I promise to tell you all about it (and maybe have photos also) when I get back but right now I have to pack as I am leaving straight from work tomorrow afternoon . . . thanks for stopping by . . . HUGS & KISSES!!!
January 25, 2010 5:22 am / 1 Comment on COMFORT FOOD
For the last week I have been sick with a cold, been a little stressed (more on this at a later date) and have been in need of comfort . . . I don’t just mean a hug or kiss or even quite time along with a good book and a glass of wine . . . no I mean FOOD!!!! . . . you know those special dishes you had as a child that just seemed to make the world seem brighter . . .
Well I decided to make a dish that I find great pleasure in and that is totally (and I mean totally) not good for you . . . this dish is not a childhood favorite as I just discovered it a few years ago when having dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in San Jose (no its not cheesecake) . . . its “Shepherd’s Pie” . . . now I have had other versions (including one that my daughter makes) but they have never come close to the one at the Cheesecake Factory . . . soooooooooo . . . I decided on this rainy day to try and bring some comfort to my husband and myself by trying to make this dish . . . this meant that I went through all my cookbooks (boy I have a lot of these – looks like its time to clean the old bookshelf) . . . I even went on line hoping that somewhere out there is the exact recipe for the Cheesecake Factory’s Shepherd Pie . . . no such luck . . . sooooooo I took a few ingredients from all the recipes I did find interesting and came up with my own version . . . well I am heard to tell you that it turned out pretty great – hey dear hubby even liked it enough to have seconds . . . soooooooo I now have a new recipe to add to my file and one that brings comfort to my husband and myself . . .
BTW . . . what is your number 1 favorite comfort food?????? . . . mine will always be “rice pudding” . . . that’s all for now . . . thanks for stopping by . . .
January 9, 2010 4:47 am / 1 Comment on NEW TOY PICTURES
Here are the pictures of the new toys I got from Santa this year . . . I still do not know why the pictures would not download into my last blog . . . I did nothing different than before except that it is not 3:00 in the morning . . . so maybe my brain is working a little better . . .
Anyhooooooooo . . . decided not to go with a laptop (that’s what my last computer was) and went with a Mac instead of a PC (supposedly can do both on this computer thanks to the Parallels program). . .

And had to have a new printer to go with the computer . . .
I am expecting one more new toy . . . should be delivered in the next couple of weeks . . . an Epson v600 scanner . . . will post pic of it when it arrives . . .
I suppose that great creations will now be expected of me . . . just not right now . . . going to call it an early night . . . sooooooooo thanks for stopping by . . . hugs and kisses!!!!!
January 8, 2010 11:17 am / Leave a comment
Well I must have been a very good girl this past year because Santa was awfully nice to me at Christmas. Among other things he brought me a couple of new toys . . . I have a new computer – an “IMac” and a wide printer – an “Epson 1400″ . . . YAHOO!!!!!
I took pictures of my new toys to share on this blog but I can’t figure out how to get the photos here . . . you see I have used most of my life a PC (okay only the last 20 years more or less) and I could move around on its programs/applications pretty good but this MAC thing is very new and very different to me . . . . guess I am going to have to go to the bookstore and get a book for dummy’s . . . oh bother!!!!!
So thanks for stopping by . . . will be posting pictures of projects I have complete soon (I hope) . . .