Paper Dolls

Amongst all the other things I'm doing, I just signed up for a Paper Doll swap on SplitCoast. This is fun! I'm going to be making 4 dolls but here is the first just so you an take a peak. She stands about 10 inches tall and yes, she is articulated and her dress is removable. I'm pleased with my first attempt.

Unmounting rubber stamps.

If you are a stamper then you know this is a hot topic on the forums right now, especially since SU introduced unmounted stamps and DVD storage cases. I do not have a huge collection of wood mounted stamps but enough to know that they take up a lot of precious room. Soooo, after much research, I took the plunge. There are a few different techniques out there but this is what I have done and so far I am happy with the results. I hope this will inspire you to take the plunge! (I know, a video would be cool but I'm not technically quite there yet.!)
1) Set your wood mounted block wood side down in the microwave and micro on high for 10 seconds.
2) Quickly peel off the stamp and foam together. (A thin metal spatuala works well for this)
3) Peel off the clear image sticker & ahere to the (still sticky) foam.
4) Trim the clear sticker around the foam

5) Apply a thin coat of Aileens Tack It Over & Over to the image & let it dry for 30 minutes.

6) Stamp it once on the back of your hand and you are ready to store the stamp in one of the new SU DVD case and to use on your acrylic block. You will most likely want to use a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig as the SU rubber is not clear. I made case inserts using Publisher. The one on the left is from SU and the one on the right is one I created (with a little help from a stampin' friend:))

Takes up much less room on the shelf....TA-Da!

Miss me?

I know, winter is not over yet but psychologically, once March is here, doesn't it feel like spring must be near?
Just a quick update on what's bin' happening in the Pink Room. I made a few scrap busting cards to send to troops overseas. Found some info on the web where you can make cards and send to troops that they can use since there are not too many Hallmark stores close to a front-line. I left the cards blank inside so that the service person could use them for whatever they needed. This was a fun project and a great way to use up all the scraps I keep. here's a link if you're interested. http://www.operationwritehome.org/

Let's see, what else have I been up to? Oh, re-doing the Pink Room. Cleaning out the stuff that really is just taking up valuable real estate. Since I spend my stamping and scrapping standing up, I have (hubby did) adjusted my table. Found this easy idea on Splitcoast Stampers and look at the difference. It is awesome and so much more comfortable than bending over the table. Here is the before picture
And here is the after.

And yes, I now have more hidden storage height underneath also which was an added bonus.

Okay, in-put needed on marker storage. Lots of chit chat on the forums regarding storing your markers, whether they be SU or Copics. I'm undecided and have quite a lot of choices. What do you think?

Decisons! Decisions! What would you do?

Happy (almost) Spring!

Taking some time..

I will be away from the blog for a while; taking some time to enjoy a quiet winter.

Feel free to leave me comments, as I do get e-mail notification.

What's with the chickens!

Is it me or are there more chicken keepers out there? And what is the correct name for a chicken keeper/tender/protector? Strangest thing but I'm discovering chickens in the most unlikely places.

I spend a lot of time on Maryjane's Farmgirl Forum and of course there are lots of Farmgirls who keep chickens so I'm used to reading about chickens there. And many of my favorite blogs contain a little "chook" somewhere in the mix.

Yesterday I dropped off some clothing alterations and the lady had chickens and gifted me a dozen free range eggs in lovely colors. I have never seen a pale green egg that wasn't dyed! I stop by to visit my friend Bonnie and yep, she has chickens all busy scratching around and digging up grubs. Oh and then my friend Karen calls me the other day and we're just catching up and chatting and I'm "listening between the lines" and yep...she has chickens too!
I would love to have chickens but can only imagine the hard work taking care of poultry of which I know nothing about, but it must be very satisfing to discover eggs nestled in straw just waiting for you. So much more "homey" than grabbing a styrofoam tray off the grocery store shelf and I bet free range eggs from happy chickens taste better than "those other's"
But for now, I will just enjoy the random meetings of chickens & chooks in blogland and just around the corner

Pretty Crochet Find

Look at what I found for a quarter at the rummage sale! Isn't this pretty. It's a pot-holder and when I found it, it looked as if it had been used for it's intended purpose. But, with the magic of a few days soaking in Oxy-Clean (I love that stuff!) it came out clean and bright.
If you use Oxy Clean, I have found that the first soak is for maybe a couple of days, then dump out the discolored water and fill again with fresh and then again rinse after a couple more days. I have found this works every time.
I would love to figure out the pattern for this (I'll keep you posted)

Thr Fruits of my labor

Okay, Suzy Homemaker I am not when it comes to cooking etc but I have really wanted to learn how to can and preserve food. I love to see pictures of people's canning, all those lovely jars lined up. So, my friend Carla showed me Peaches and then I did Tomatoes also this week. The first night's attempt at the toms was a bit disastrous to say the least but I was not to be deterred and managed to get six quarts made up. I think I'm getting the hang of it.
Hm, what next? Maybe Apple pie filling or even Blueberry pie filling......

An English garden on a rainy day.

On the day I arrived in the UK I went to Knightshayes Court in Somerset. What a beautiful place and even more so I think on a rainy day. The house will be for another trip but I did have the opportunity to visit the walled kitchen garden which was fabulous. You go through the archway in the wall and enter into approx 1 acre of rows of vegetables, fruit trees and herb gardens. It was like stepping back into medieval times and was lovely to look all the plants and appreciate the hard work that goes into these gardens. These are just a few pictures I thought to share with you. Enjoy.

Dishes! Dishes! Who will do the dishes!!

Well, with the number of dishcloths I have right now, I guess it might be me. I'm in a swap on Maryjanes Farmgirl forum and am still making the cloths as gifts. I recently came back from the UK and it's really amazing how many rows one can do while crossing the Atlantic especially if you are diverted to Allentown PA to sit in the rain and re-fuel. Hey, seemed like a good time to whip out the knitting needles (wooden of course) and start a few rows. So, these are just a few new ones.

Faux Cable

Furrows

Flag

Cabbage Patch (Multi)

Basket Weave

Lord, I pray that through life's trials that I do not turn away, but turn to you. I pray that I do not look away, but look to you.
Thank-you Lord for your promise to never leave or forsake us.