Author: Dina

Went to the funeral of a friend today. She died suddenly this past weekend. She had flu-like symptoms, but the cause of her death is still unknown. It was so sad to see her in her casket today. She just didn’t look like Melonie. She leaves behind two children, age 11 (twins). I still can’t wrap my mind around it…she’s gone. Life is short, hug your loved ones, make your mark on the world.

Let me describe my thought process/method of working when it comes to projects like this. I’m very messy & organic. I use what’s around me on the table, I don’t agonize over the perfect accent. If I smudge the ink, oh well. If I lay a card down into wet paint, oh well….the "oops" becomes part of the design. I like how all the cards look when they’re together in the ATC holder…I think they’re more important together than they are separately. I try something and if I like it, I do it again and again.

The pictures I used all came from my webcam…I often snap pics of myself & kids with it. They’re fun and informal…so these ATCs document those pictures and my relationship with my kiddos.

You can click on the little pics below to make ’em bigger…Click HERE to see an album with all the ATC photos.

I’ll post more pics of the ATC project later this afternoon. 🙂

I’ll post all the pics soon. 🙂

Cause I’m still trying to get the ATC project done and frankly I’m giving up diet Coke and I’m too cranky to do more…

12-year old: Mom, we should get one of those fake owls to scare away the pigeons on our roof.

Me: Yeah, we could. But they don’t really work.

12-year old: Why don’t they work?

Me: Well, eventually the pigeons figure out the owl is fake and they lay their eggs on its head.

12-year old: Well, let’s just get a real owl, then.

Got tagged by Welcome Young…so here goes…

1. If you could have $100 worth of scrapbook paper or assorted embellishments, which would you choose? Only $100? heh. I want stamps from Catslifepress.com and three of everything Hambly makes.

2. If you had to choose between stamps or rub-ons, which would you choose? Stamps, baby. I’m rub-on impaired.

3. If you knew how to do both awesome cards & layouts, but could do only one for a year which would you do? Layouts. I’m done with cards.

4. Would you rather own a scrapbooking store or have your own scrapping room at home? Well, my sister owns a scrapbook store and I know how much work it takes…and I admit I do have my own "studio" (i.e. spare room for art-ing). What I wish my studio had, though, is built-in storage, a sealed concrete floor, and a utility sink.

5. What is your current scrapping or cardmaking style? I do whatever I want and don’t worry about rules or other people’s expectations. Is that a style?

I am bad at tagging people, so if you want to do this tag go ahead & then post in the comments and I will come and check it out!

Today I am physically and emotionally exhuasted…was on my way to the art museum this morning and I narrowly escaped a terrible auto accident. The guy behind me in the HOV lane (I was about 3 seconds ahead of him) was t-boned by an SUV. Why the SUV was driving perpendicular to traffic I have no idea. But I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw him t-bone the mustang just behind me. The mustang smashed into the median and then twisted back across all 4 lanes of traffic. The SUV rolled 7 times, all the windows blew out. I saw the whole thing–it was like being in a surreal movie. And I started shaking and crying because it was almost me, it so easily could have been me. 3 seconds ahead. 3 seconds is what saved me.

So to console myself I ate way too many "7 Layer Bar" cookies and a burrito supreme from Taco Bell. Seriously, why am I such a stress eater? Why can’t I think, "Gee, I’m so stressed out! I think I’ll eat a cucumber!!" Aargh. But I am thankful to be alive. Fat & alive.

Below: more fun with spray inks (for last month’s ScrapGal newsletter).

is going on at my house. The kids went trick-or-treating and get seven pounds of candy EACH. That’s 21 pounds of sugary goodness in my house…oh, my. The temptation is seriously too great. Thank goodness not very many people gave out those huge Tootsie Rolls this year, I love those. And it’s a very good thing no one gives out powdered donuts because that would signal the start of the apocalypse. Thyroid disease + powdered donuts + no willpower = a very fat me.

Got my Poppy kits for November…I have some serious crafting to do. Stay tuned.

I’ve loved Annie Lennox since the early 80s when I bought the Eurythmics Touch album and wore it out on the record player (whoooooo’s that girllllll). Her new album, Songs of Mass Destrucion, is out…I downloaded Lost, Smithereens, and Dark Road, but I should of just bought the whole album. Listening to Annie’s music will take you to another place. Put it on, crank it up, close your eyes, and listen.