making those cute flower embellishments

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2009/05/embellish-it-senior-challenge.html

Dahlia Flowers

Yesterday I taught our group at the SR Center how to make the Dahlia flower, a great embellishment for decorating cards and scrapbook layouts. These are great because you can make them in different sizes depending on the circle punch you use. It takes 9 circles to complete a flower, but you can use one of the petals for a flower bud.

Road Trip

On Saturday I went along with friends on a road trip to Marietta to visit some neat stamp stores and Archivers. Kay, Vicki, Kristen and I first stopped off at the home of Millie who taught us a neat "friend" project made with punches. Then she led us to two different stamp stores. The first store was my favorite-the owner is a true artist and I would enjoy taking one of her classes. Hopefully we can make another road trip there for that! I am attempting to post one of the neat cards I captured on camera. It uses several stamps in varied sizes to create the layering. I have attempted this on my own using a single stamp and repeating the images, then cutting out portions to layer. I also liked the layering of colored vellum, stamped with a single stamp, then crumpled to make the layers.

Make your own Taco Seasoning (from Creative Homemaking)

6 teaspoons chili powder
5 teaspoons paprika
4 1/2 teaspoons cumin
2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
3 teaspoons onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients together, and mix well. This should be
stored in an airtight container for up to six months.

You can vary this recipe by adding some oregano to the mix. One of the best
things about making your own spice blend is that you get to
change and modify the recipe for your personal tastes. If you
like spicy food, you can add more cayenne pepper. If you don't
like it so spicy, you can leave the cayenne pepper out of the
recipe.

To use this seasoning mix, simply use 3 tablespoons and a cup of
water once you have browned one pound of ground beef. Simply add
the seasoning mix, and water, and allow the water to reduce by
1/2 and you have some tacos that have been seasoned perfectly,
and you did it all yourself without having to buy a commercial
mix.

Common Sense obituary

(this has been around a while but good enough to save)

An Obituary printed in the London Times - Interesting and sadly rather true.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Great Day!

Spent time with friends today working on scrapbook pages and having lunch together at IHOP! Also held Dianne Stogner's precious little grandbaby, Tucker. He seems so tiny compared to Wolfie, now at 15 pounds. Tucker weighed less that 5 pounds at birth but is doing great!

The shamrock and St. Patrick's Day

Did you know…The shamrock was used to represent the Trinity by St. Patrick. By doing this he could show people how the church was connected. St. Patrick used this to symbolize how The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit can be separate but also part of the same entity.

Scrappin' And Yappin' Retreat

On Friday and Saturday I was privileged to take part in a scrapbooking retreat held in Lanett. Amy McDow asked her Dad, David Guinn, if we could use the beautiful lodge, which houses his ministry. I was super impressed with the details of the decorations, the spaciousness of the building itself and the location on Lake West Point. It has comfortable sleeping spaces for l8 people, plenty of bathrooms and showers and a wonderful kitchen with everything! I truly hope that we can be invited back again and more of our scrapping friends will join us next time-they missed a treat! I made a few photos but I am hoping that Amy will post some more photos-mine just don't do justice to the space.

Tressa Black's winning CTMH video

Love to watch Tressa's videos! She makes them so much fun but shares CTMH products so well. Her "Stamp Wow" video won the recent contest by CTMH, Clearly the Best! Check the link below!

Tressa Black's winning CTMH video