Journal entries

This is a Round Robin Journal swap I'm in. These are some pics of my pages. I am sending it on for someone else to do and then get mine back too after people have done their work in it. Neat huh?

Altered Puzzle

Isn't this cute?This is the before picture. Another swap! I have to alter a puzzle in some way. This is the original. I decided to paint it green since she likes green and then put a frog on that I scanned and enlarged.





So all painted and dry.



I had to put it back together and then attach my frog.



Then the hard part! I had to cut all the pieces out with a knife edge around all those pieces! Lotsa fun.




Then to put it together AGAIN to show you guys and make sure it worked!



And then tear it up again and send it on its way.

I'm happy with how it turned out and it was a blast to do.

Niagara Falls!

Well, the update! I will try to be brief and give a good overview of the trip.

We left on Sat morning and stopped at African Lion Safari on the way up. Its a park that has a lot of animals and shows and you take your car - yes YOUR car through these wild animals roaming around. Caution signs all around and 2 gates to go through and you have to keep your windows up.

Did I mention that we had no air conditioning? And that it was a gazillion degrees in the car? Yes, some windows were down...

These monkeys are all over the vehicles and wonder why? Despite all the NO FEEDING signs - people were handing food out left and right and then wondering how their car got damage? DUH!





This one was really cute with the baby holding on. Can you see it?





Also, some giraffes and elk. Lots of other animals too.









There were all kinds of birds everywhere and we watched a birds of prey show with eagles and hawks.






This parrot was a riot! Sean was "talking" to it and it was talking back and dancing. So funny!

We also got to see a bunch of elephants walk up the road to the pond to bathe and there were two baby elephants. They were so cute!



Then we went to Niagara Falls and into the room by 5. This was the view from the room.





Awesome eh? It's the new skywheel and it goes most
of the day.

The kids checked out the pool and whirlpool!

We went for a walk to the falls, had dinner and went to Ripleys museum which is so cool. Then the next day to Marineland!
Full of some rides that were great and some whales!




There are also animals there too. This is Sarah and her boyfriend touching the antlers which were all covered in soft velvet right now.




Then they went go karting and I watched! and took some pics. We went to a Canada Day celebration- Happy Canada Day!!
and then supper and fireworks at the falls for Canada Day.
We then went up on the skywheel which was great and saw the full moon rising and the fall lit up. We got to go around 4 times. Cool.




Next was mini golf at 11:00! It's like time stops cause everthing is open so late and kids are everywhere! Mini golf was good and I am the reigning champion!! 2 count them 2 hole in ones and no one else got any! It was a close game tho with only 6 strokes difference from first to last.

The next day we drove home and Sarah went back to her Dads:( . I think they had fun tho and lots of great pics of them!! I have to send them to her now and we did a sketch of the 2 of them that I want to frame too.

We got back here last night and did nothing!! I HAD to catch up on blogs.... What? I HAD to!

I was goin into computer withdrawels. Maybe just reading - not much time for that!

Great weather, good times and lots of laughs. What else could you ask for?

Is it a Book?

This was another challenge in swap-bot. I had to make a book out of something that isnt usually a book , or alter a book into something not a book.

Get that?

I was gonna change up a nursery board book I had and cut and paint on it, but then I decided to make a book out of something that isnt a book.

I used a map! I have tons of maps here and this one is of Ontario from a 1978 National Geographic.





I folded it and cut it and bound it to make a book. Then I decorated and made the cover.




Then I did some inside pages with all views of Ontario. Here's a couple of them.











This is getting sent to California, so hopefully she can get a sense of seasons and what its like here.

Envelope Book

Another swap project. At least it keeps me creating! The challenge was to make a book out of at least 3 envelopes and make it functional - using the envelopes as pockets. At first I was thrown for a loop, and then just started playing. I used 2 different sizes and kept going.






I then punched holes and strung a ribbon through.



Then I kept adding paper. She likes moon, sun and stars and silver, so I used that as inspiration.



This is the middle of the book when it opens up.







These are the inside flaps







And these are the inside of the little envelopes. I found vintage paper with the moon and sun writings on it.

I put some little presents in each pocket and tied it all with a silver cord and it is ready to go! I am pretty happy with this, cause a lot of time, I use something to go by - another picture or a pattern or something I saw somewhere and this I did from scratch! And it works! Pretty cool.

I'll leave you with some more mail art. I just signed up for another one for 10 more! So I should be getting some neat things in my mailbox. Love that!

Monday Musings

Well, I got home last night about 430 WITHOUT Sarah :( It seems weird this year for some reason. She has stayed at her Dads for the summers for the last 10 years and this year seems different. Maybe cause I am at home a lot too now and used to seeing her at 3pm. Also I think because she has a job, so I know I just can't pick up and grab her and go somewhere. Her job seems to be going great! She likes it and she is getting full time hours which I know she will like for the wallet!

This weekend went good. I was at Moms and got a bunch of stuff organized for her auction.We also snuck out and went to the flea market on Sat! That was fun. BUT most of the day we worked! Then we treated ourselves to dinner.

Sunday I left early and spent the day by myself going to thrift stores and flea markets! Poor me....

I had a full car AGAIN. I think I have made a pact with myself that I have to make something with these things to sell. I love the hunt tho! The living room AKA craft room is getting full of stuff again- its a good thing that we have the addition for the TV and couch.

Sean took Sarah's boyfriend Tyler with him to a fishing tournament. This weekend was the opening day of bass. They had a great time and Tyler won the whole thing!! Over 35 people entered and he had the most weight. I guess he was really excited- he had to call Sarah! We couldnt go cause Sarah had to work. I guess they took a pic with his fish, so I will post if OK. The picture up top is a shot I took out on the lake with Sean last month.

Today I put some more stuff on ETSY. Lovin that place! Such a neat way to sell your things and cheap! One thing was this awesome paper. It has glitter on it and is 12x12.




Isn't it cool?

THen on ebay I listed an old pattern book I found. It's from 1908 and really neat with all the old fashions. All patterns were only 10c.



It has over 60 pages of old illustrations.

I'm in a swap in Aug for 30 pictures for a scavenger hunt. We get words and have to take pics with what we think of the word. I went on walk on friday aft at Moms back to the lake and took lots of shots. Here are some..



This one was on moms deck.








OH! I almost forgot. MY mailart got to England! YAY and it is in one piece. It is now posted on www.mailmeart.com. So cool.

Mail Art

I am in a swap that I have to send 6 people mail art. So I looked at their profile and made them all envelopes out of things they like - then I stamped and drew on them. Inside I have a little something that is personalized for them. This swapping thing is so fun!







Tomorrow I am picking up Sarah at school and I am taking her down to her Dads for the summer :( . She likes her job tho and I think it will be good for her. I will see her soon, we are going to Niagara Falls the long weekend -next week! Yay!

So I am taking her out to lunch to celebrate the end of her year and getting such good grades.

Then I am going to my Moms to get things ready for an auction sale she is gonna put stuff into.

See everybody monday!

Book Tuesday

I have been wanting to find this book for awhile and I got it at the library. YAY!
It's called Living out Loud - Activities to fuel a creative life by Keri Smith.





I have been reading her blog for a while and she is in Morocco right now! How cool is that? I want to go there.

Anyways...

The book

She gives lots of ideas for coming up with MORE ideas if you are stuck or need to get more creative and add some LIFE to your life. She illustrates it all through with her quirky style and it is a quick read but still some nice ideas to get GOING.





The ideas? I dont wanna give it away, but a nice read for anyone interested in creativity.

She now has a new book out and I would have to BUY it cause it is called Wreck this Journal. She gives all kinds of prompts for each page and you have to do something to each page. Sounds cool. I havent seen it up here yet tho.

Well, Sarah is done school in 2 days and then 2 exams and then done for this year! I got the next LOST dvd tonight - so guess what we are gonna do?

I think I am gonna try and make some turpentine paper now too, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Flowers....

This is a pic of a flower I have in my front yard. I never noticed it before - it's just growing there wild with all its buddies looking the same with their green pointy hats behind them.

The plant I got from my grandmothers is coming up and I am so glad I got that last year and planted it - it's like a piece of her is here with me.

BOOKS!!

(me standing up)- Hi, My name is Cheryl and I am addicted to Books.

(Everyone) -Hello, Cheryl


-It all started when I was little - trips to the library in school and a whole new world in each book. I grew up around books all my life with my mom always with a novel in her lap to watch during TV commmercials and my Dad always with a magazine or a non fiction book. No wonder I'm addicted!! And I love it. I love the bookstore - spend hours in there! A lot of people dont understand my obsession and its not just books. It's magazines too. I try to limit my magazine buying cause they're so expensive and it adds up. I also love paper and scrapbook things and oriental papers and vintage books and papers and..... ya get the idea!

I am in love with my library right now. I can order any book I want and it is delivered to my local library - here in the middle of nowhere! I also can suggest new books to buy which I did last week and already they have bought 6 of them and I am on the hold lists!! Some of these books are over 50 bucks to buy so I'm lovin it.

Which brings me to my post of today. On Wed I went to town and of course had to hit all the stores and thrift shops. I got some neat stuff but also..... right! books. I then went to the auction sale at 530 and bought some more. So just for fun, I counted them all yesterday and I bought 82 books!

Yes, 82.

Am I insane you ask?

Just a little-HA! No, I bought most of them to resell and some others to cut up for art and yes, some to read.

Someday.

I organized my bookshelves a while ago and put all the book I need to read in one section and there is way too many there. I dont even WANT to count, cause it will depress me. I get books from the library and I read those cause there is a deadline on those. I am STILL reading a novel from last fall. EEK! And its over 900 pages- that would be one reason.

Here is the boxes of books to sell. Some really neat kids books from the 30's - 50's. All in good shape too. Goin to ebay!




I also got this bunch of paper yesterday and was in paper heaven! Handmade, embossed, thick cardstock, glittered, inked, and flocked with velvet!! Can you say gorgeous?







Like, look at that. It looks better in real life- nice red velvet. How am I gonna USE that? I just wanna frame it and look at it!

I'm deciding now if I want to share..... I'll let you know.