Scrapbooking, Geocaching & our dog, Britt

This project combines two of my favorite activities, scrapbooking and geocaching.  This scrapbook page highlights some of the adventures of our four legged geocaching team member, Britt.

Many members of our family are involved in a game called Geocaching.  Geocaching is a world wide outdoor treasure hunting game using a GPS unit.  The  coordinates are posted on the internet, usually at geocaching.com.  The GPS is used for navigating to the coordinates where the participant then tries to locate the hidden geocache.  It's a really fun activity.  Geocaches are often hidden at a beautiful view point or some other point of interest. Our hunts often lead us to interesting places, historic sites or famous buildings we would otherwise be unaware of. Some geocaches require a hike to reach the cache location.  We often geocache in a family group along with all our dogs.  Our dogs love it. It's the perfect hobby to combine with camping.  We call it geocamping. It's a lot of fun.

Geocaches are often containers filled with trinkets and small inexpensive items for trading.  Cachers are free to trade their own small item for one inside the geocache container. Trading is optional.  Each geocache contains it's own log for the cacher to sign.  The log is then returned to the cache container.  The found cache can also be logged at geocaching.com.

Britt has been geocaching with the family for several years.  She loves it.  She lives for camping & geocaching.  She has her own geocache named, 'Britt's Dog Day Afternoon," hidden in a very dog friendly area of Port Orchard, Wa.

Ammo cans are often used as geocaching containers.  Others, called Nano caches, are  really tiny and sometimes hard to spot.

Dog parks are a favorite place for geocachers to hide caches. 

For anyone looking for further information about Geocaching, please visit the geocaching.com website.  You won't be sorry.


Thanks for stopping by.


I submitted my geohound scrapbook page to the following challenges.

Top Tip Tuesday's -- Challenge #81--It's all about Circles

Divas By Design -- Challenge #44 -- Anything Goes

Scrap Fit Blog -- Workout #72 --Color Inspiration

One Stop Craft Challenge #192 -- Olympics or Sports

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal -- Summertime

The Pink Elephant Challenge --TPE 158 -- Summer

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

For Don, my soul mate & the love of my life. 

We'll be married seventeen wonderful years in April.

He treats me like everyday is Valentine's Day.

A handmade bottle bib & our favorite wine, 'Hoodsport Rhubarb Wine.'

 I love this bottle bib.  The idea & instructions came from Helen Croft at the 'Scrap a Little' blog.

A fan folded flower & leaves.  A totally fun project.

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day.

I entered this card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks-- 'Love is in the Air' Challenge

DYSU Blog -- Challenge #58  -- 'Love"

Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge -- 'With All my Heart.......'

Lexi's Creations -- Challenge #58

PaperPlay -- Challenge #12  -- 'Love Letters'

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays -- Red, White & Pink Challenge

Totally Gorjuss -- Lurve Challenge

A Clown Doll using the Kusudama folding method..........

I made this origami sitting clown doll for my sister's birthday in place of a card. 

It was really a fun project.  I think it turned out cute.

He's made using the Kududama method of folding. 

I used two complimentary pattered papers for the arms, legs, hat & body. I used solid red paper for the collar & a small piece of solid yellow for the hair.  There are little pom poms for the hat, hands & feet.  The only other needed supplies are glue, a needle & thread, a couple of toothpicks and a pipecleaner.

 The head is a wooden bead.

At the bottom of this page is a link to a wonderful tutorial for making this doll.

I submitted my clown doll to the following challenges:

Pile It On -- CHALLENGE #19 -- Funny Bone

Charisma Cardz Challenge -- No cards allowed.

PaperPlay Challenges -- Show us your Style

Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog -- Anything goes

The Shabby Tea Room -- 'Ruffled Up'

Divas by design -- Our first challenge Anything goes!

One Stop Craft Challenge -- Birthdays

Here is a link to a YouTube video that is a great tutorial for making this clown doll.  I made a couple of minor changes when I made my doll but for the most part followed the tutorial.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

In memory of Terri.........

My closest friend of 20 years passed away unexpectedly in August of 2009.  I miss her terribly & think of her daily. 

 This scrapbook page is in memory of all the fun we had over many, many years while we were raising our kids together.  

We had gone to the Renaissance Faire the weekend before her passing.

I miss you, Terri.

I've submitted Terri's page to the following challenges.

Allsorts Challenge Blog -- Make your own flowers

Paper Play Challenges -- Let's get sentimental

One Stop Craft Challenge -- Spring Flowers

Totally Gorjuss -- Black & one other color

Crafty Cats Weekly Challenge -- friendship

Paper Romance - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by.

3-D Origami Fairy

I made this 3-D origami fairy for my step-daughter, Jessica.  She collects fairies and I thought this would be something unique for her.

Jessica's favorite color is purple.

To see my oriental origami dolls & for a link to a great tutorial, please visit HERE.

My 3-D Origami dolls........

I wanted to find something different & fun to make for my brother & sister-in-law for their birthdays. Something special.  My sister-in-law is a beautiful Japanese lady.  They have decorated their lovely apartment with an oriental flavor.  I wanted to find something that would fit in with their style and taste.

These wonderful origami paper dolls perfectly fit the bill.  This is known as the kusudama folding technique.

A Happy Birthday wish for John.

A Happy Birthday wish for Kiyomi.

I submitted my project to this weeks Paper Romance Challenge, 'Anything Goes.'

To see my origami fairy, please visit HERE.

Here is a video tutorial showing how to make similar dolls.

Another fun side step card..........

I love this little penguin digital stamp.  I think it's adorable.  I colored them with watercolor pencils & used a blenderpen. 

I submitted this card to the following challenges.  Thanks for all the great challenges.  Happy Holidays.

All Sorts Challenge Blog - Free and Easy - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew Challenge - Anything Goes

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #133 = Merry Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday - christmas

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge 72 - use NON-TRADITIONAL Christmas colours

A sidestep Christmas card.........

This is such a fun card.  Everyone I have ever sent one to has raved about it.  And.................it's really, really simple to make.

 Love it.

This card was submitted to the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'H' is for hat

Penny's Paper Craft Challenge Blog #44 - 'Merry Christmas'

Freshly Brewed 2 Week long Challenge 27 - 'Merry Christmas'

4 Crafty Chicks - 'Snowmen'

Creative Belli Challenge #106 - Christmas Embellishments/Papers

Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge 72 - use NON-TRADITIONAL Christmas colours

Digital Tuesday Challenge - Challenge #89 Sparkling Christmas (plus digi)

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge--Show Us Some Snow!

For anyone interested, there is a great tutorial for making a side step card at Creating Cards with Andrea.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas to all.

A trifold Christmas card. A super fun cards to make.

I think the trifold card is truly one of my favorite cards to make.  I have a rediculous passion for paper and love having the opportunity to use such a variety of designer paper on one card.  These cards are attractive, unique & fun to make.  The ovals were cut using my Sizzix Big Shot with Spellbinders Nestabilities.

I love card challenges and this card was submitted to the following challenges.

Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'H' is for hat

Crafty Cats Weekly Challenge #63 - Your Choice

4 Crafty Chicks - 'Snowmen'

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog #44 - 'Merry Christmas'

Freshly Brewed 2 Week long Challenge 27  - 'Merry Christmas'

Creative Belli Challenge #106 - Christmas Embellishments/Papers
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Challenge #89 Sparkling Christmas (plus digi)

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge--Show Us Some Snow!

For anyone interested, there is a great tutorial with instructions for making these fun cards offered by Splitcoaststampers.

Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Holidays.

Christmas cards and flowers...............

I totally love challenges. They inspire me to try new things. They encourage me to use and combine colors I might not consider trying. I love to see what others have done while participating in the same challenge or how they interpreted the same sketch. Sometimes the results surprise me. Sometimes the results are even amazing. Most of all, challenges are fun.

My new passion is paper flowers.  That's what I have been doing for the past several evenings. I love creating them.  The possibilities are endless.

I decided earlier this evening I really need to get to work on my Christmas cards.  I have several done but will need a few more.  I started visiting my favorite blogs looking for challnges I could have fun with while creating my Christmas cards.  I also wanted to be able to use my flowers.  I was really pleased to find several.  There were several 'Anything Goes' challenges this week.  Those are always fun.

Here is my first creationusing my flowers while making a Christmas card.

The bird is a digi stamp colored with watercolor pencils blended with a aqua-painter. The flowers are torn paper flowers.  You can use paper or cardstock to make them.  I love 'em.

I'd like to thank Gabi at 'Such a Pretty Mess' for the fantastic and easy to follow tutorial for these great flowers.  I love her blog. 

I submitted this card to several great blogs. 

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round -- Card size other than the norm.  Must have gold, silver, crystal or pearl.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge -- Use purple & Silver.

Totally Gorjuss Challenge -- Christmas

Paper Romance -- Handmade flowers

Alphabet Challenge Blog -- 'V' is for vintage.

Charisma Cardz Challenge #38 -- Anything Goes

Crazy for Challenges -- Bling

AiFactory -- Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs -- challenge #61-- Anything Goes

Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog -- Make your own flowers

Tellen's Place Designs -- Bling!!

Delightful Challenges -- Make it Sparkle

Happy Christmas card making.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Birthday, 'with love'..........

I made this card 'with love' for my dear Uncle Allen's birthday.  He's a sweet & wonderful man in his 90s. I love him & his beautiful wife, Aunt Judy, very much.

 This little guy & his balloons were colored with watercolor pencils with the help of an aqua-painter.

I submitted this card to the following challenges.

Pile it up--Cute & Charming.

Spoon Full of Sugar -- Spots & Stripes

Allsorts Challenge #71 -- Plain & Simple

Charisma Cardz Challenge #38 -- Anything Goes

AiFactory -- Challenge & Digital Blog -- Challenge #49 -- Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs -- Challenge #61 -- Anything Goes.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

'Exploding box with a twist' graduation card

Ryan

Class of 2010.  South Kitsap High School.

I wanted to make a very special card for Ryan's Graduation.  I chose an exploding box because adding pictures and momentos turns them into a very special keepsake.  They're time consuming, but I love them.

I used one of the name cards from Ryan's announcements to personalize the lid of his box.

I cut up a couple of graduation announcements and used the pieces to create his personalized box.  Above is a picture of the inside of the box lid.  This piece has all the ceremony information that was cut from an announcement.

This is the box with the lid off but not allowed to explode. 

All the pictures in the box relate to his senior year. Pictures include his 18th. birthday, homecoming, the senior prom, senior portraits, spirit day, he and his best friend camping and more.

The school crest, motto and mascot, (the wolf), were all cut from his announcements.

I did most of the work on this box while he and his beautiful girlfriend were at the senior prom.  It took several hours but I was very pleased with the results.  It was worth the time.  This is a very special box for a very special boy. 

I love you lots, Ryan.  I'm proud of you.