Sleepless in Seattle - NO! Sleepless in LA - YES!

Our visit to Seattle was short but sweet. I have fallen in love with salted caramels, which are apparently a Seattle specialty. Definitely head over heels and if you have never tasted a salted caramel let me warn you that they are addicting. I made a simple file-folder mini to fill with memories of our trip and although I haven't had time to complete it, the cover is done. You can view the video HERE.

The Purple Cafe was our favorite restaurant but their card is brown.

Go figure? It's Seattle!

We returned home with great anticipation of the delivery of our new, very expensive latex bed. Hate it! I spent Saturday night on the sofa and last night was the husband's turn. The salesman warned us that we would hate it at first. I thought he was being facetious so I didn’t ask him when we would start liking the bed. Can hate turn to love or is that just a bad romance novel plot?

I have said it before, but it deserves repeating. The best thing about blogging and all this YouTubing is making friends. I just received a very special surprise from SuperTinaFey. She viewed the video I had made about the Bird Flu and commented that unlike me, she didn’t own much bird crap. So, I sent her a paltry little RAK of tweety items. Imagine my surprise when I found a package from her in my mailbox. I will now have to rethink my relationship with birds because this tag is gorgeous. SuperTinaFey you rock girlfriend! Many, many thanks.

You can see the Bird Flu video HERE. If you watch it you will be under no obligation to send me a tag, but if you do, it will be greatly appreciated. LOL

Goodbye Cruel World

Ladies and Gentlemen and children of all ages welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth!

This week the Circus is coming to Los Angeles and to commemorate the occasion and for your viewing enjoyment let me introduce the one and only Le Cirque mini album and Circus wagon. (applause)

Whenever anyone mentions the Circus I get a giggle in the pit of my stomach. Unless you suffer from coulrophobia or a hard core animal activist, no matter how old you are, there is something for everyone at the Circus. Popcorn, beautiful ladies atop dancing horses, trapeze artists that fly through the air with the greatest of ease and best of all the tiny car filled with a never ending bevy of clowns. As a child I could never understand how so many men could fit into that tiny car. I mean, I had trouble sitting in the backseat with just my two sisters.

My absolutely favorite circus is not Cirque du Soleil ( a close second) but Lady Circus, an all women troupe out of New York City. The performers are all amazing but my favorite is the glass walker. She is beautiful, talented and best of all, she is my daughter. I quite literally hold my breath every time I see her perform, and although I trust her ability, I always carry extra band aids.

The STAR of this year's Circus!

This was easy peasy to make! A bit of paper, glue, ribbons and charms
and voila, the Circus is in town!! 

I added Glitz Afternoon ephemera to the mini.

Only 14 tags so Dr. Scrapman's treatment is definitely working.
My Tiny Tag Syndrome (TTS) is under control...at least for now.

To see more of my mini watch the movie HERE.

Let's talk Circus. Like it? Hate it?

The top 25 TAGS in history according to Wikipedia

1.      Pet tag, an ID tag worn by pets 

2.      Ear tag, an ID tag worn by farm animals 

3.      Dog tag (military), an ID tag worn by military personnel 

4.      Tag (game), a playground game 

5.      Tag out, a play in baseball 

6.      Tag team, a type of wrestling

7.      A QR code is a mobile phone tag

8.      Tag (metadata), an index term assigned to a piece of information

9.      Tag URI, a unique identifier protocol used in internet technologies

10.   Tag (programming), a method for passing parameters to subroutines

11.   TAG (BBS), a bulletin board software program

12.   HTML tag, a component of the HTML programming language

13.   Knowledge tag, a type of meta-information that captures knowledge about an information resource

14.   Revision tag, a label for a specific revision of a project

15.   Tag system, a deterministic computational model

16.   Tag (LeapFrog), an interactive reading device

17.   Tag question, a grammatical structure that converts a statement to a question

18.   Tag (Hebrew writing), a decoration drawn over some of the letters in Jewish scrolls

19.   Kimball tag, formerly used to identify products to a stock control system

20.   RFID tag, current stock control technology

21.   A label used in electronic article surveillance to prevent shoplifting

22.   Protein tag, a biochemistry method

23.   Skin tag, a small benign tumour

24.   Theoretical and Applied Genetics, a scientific journal

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT TAG FOR ALL OF US

25.    THE ALTERED TAG!!

Made for a private swap with Pinkalicious!

I started with a sewn tag made by the talented Michelle in NZ.

Since I suffer from (SAF) Scrappers Avian Flu,
I decided to make a bird themed tag.

You can learn more about SAF HERE. Do you suffer from SAF?

The winner of the Enchanted Collection is Mariesporrong. Congratulations Marie! 

BEACHES - Not the Movie

When I was growing up in New Jersey my family would regularly head to Asbury Park for weekend jaunts to the beach. I love that even now, some 50 plus years later, I can close my eyes and recall dancing in the waves with my sisters. The air thick with the smell of salt as sticky as the famous taffy and the musical beat of running on the boardwalk awakens memories in me that remind me of the freedom I felt as a child.   And then my older sister Elaine ruined not only my love of the beach, but my entire life, with just a few sentences!!!!!    We were sitting on the sand, under the hot summer sun, when she turned to me and in a very serious voice warned me that at any moment I could die. Fear gripped me tightly and I stopped breathing as she pointed to the water line and continued, “See the horizon? During a Title Wave the water recedes as far as one can see and then one WAVE, as tall as the Empire State Building, will come crashing down on you!" She paused here for a moment and then added rather nonchalantly, "and you'll drown and your body will never be found!" I barely remember what happened next, but it involved lots of tears and to this day a phobic fear of Title Waves and Tsunamis.   Making this mini was a safe way to enjoy the beach. Graphic 45 On the Boardwalk, Mike's $1.50 mini and K&Co. chipboard I obviously have a bad case of Mini Album Madness (MAM), why else would I have the need to make a mini of a fish? I'm embarrassed to say there are only 15 tags but in my defense, I made this before I developed a full blown case of Tiny Tag Syndrome (TTS). That's me in my 1940's bathing suit.

Let's talk fish, phobias and sisters. Have any stories to share? Click HERE to see Beaches the movie, directed by the husband and starring EllenBee.

If you are a Follower here and a Subscriber to my channel on YouTube and you like Bo Bunny Enchanted Collection and you would like me to send you a RAK from the collection (stamps, trinkets, dimensional stickers and the mini edgy album) and you add a comment here and/or on my video and you don't mind long sentences...YOU might win this gorgeous collection.

Leaked - Actual transcript from a strategic meeting held on February 22, 1984 at XXXXX Company Headquarters.

Location – Conference Room

Attendees: John S. CEO/President, Ken T. Consumer Product Manager, Henry H. Agency New Business Development Specialist, Tom B. Marketing Director, Tony S. Creative Director, Bill M. Chief Marketing Officer

John: It is estimated that in the next 20 years the scrapbook industry will top over 2.5 billion dollars annually. Our company is looking to become a leader in this emerging industry. I have brought you gentlemen here today to brainstorm ideas for cashing in on this Paper Phenomena. I know none of you are directly involved with scrapbooking, but you are all experts at creating a need when none exists. These women are smart, so our task is to bombard them with advertising, coupons and free shipping. Henry -

Henry: Our demographics - The average scrapbooker is a college graduate who spends up to 10 hours a week scrapbooking. She spends roughly $50 on scrapbook products each month and we expect that number to increase exponentially.

John: Thank you Henry. The floor is now open. Ideas gentlemen?

(Silence for 1 minute. The sound of coughs, clearing of voices, pencil tapping and the clink of coffee cups.)

Henry: Come on guys, I know you aren’t involved with crafts, but you understand consumer buying trends.

(Silence)

Tom: I was at Home Depot over the weekend…

Ken: Good place to start. What is there at Home Depot that we can copy/adapt and then charge outrageous prices for?

Bill: We could copy some of the small things, like washers, drawer pulls and Hinges?

Tom: We could paint them pink?

Bill: What if this scrapbooking gal is doing a project in red? Or blue? Will they be able to use something pink?

Tom: I thought pink was a universal color for girls.

(Laughter and sound of writing on blackboard)

Henry: Washers, drawer pulls, hinges…

Ken: Keys? Chain? Wire?

John: Tony? You're rather quiet. What’s wrong?

Tony: I don’t think it’s a good idea.

Henry: The store is a smorgasbord for us.

Tony: Really guys, do you actually believe these intelligent ladies will want to add hardware to their favorite photos of …let’s say their deceased grandparent?

Bill: My grandfather had a huge garage filled with all kinds of hardware. I think he would have loved it…to be memorialized with hardware.

(Laughter)

Paul: My grandmother was always crocheting blankets. We could do something that is crocheted?

Ken: My aunt had those crocheted things on her furniture. Dollies…Doilies?

Tom: What about crocheted flowers?

Henry: Yes to flowers, but no to crochet. Too old-fashioned.

John: Yeah, I agree. The basics are that they will NEVER go for junk store stuff. We’re not about to break into this industry with cracked paint and vintage paper products. They are preserving photos so they don’t age. Think modern.

(Sighing)

Tom: I need to place an order at Office Depot…just a thought.

Henry: Office Supplies, good. Forget about hardware. I’m erasing this list. Let’s talk paper clips, staples and file folders

There is much more to the transcript. The meeting lasted several hours and this was just the first 15 minutes. If you‘d like to read more, become a Follower so you don’t miss the next installment. 

 No photo of my grandfather but I have 3 "washers" on this card.

And Tom B., there's no pink!

Mike's stamp from the "old-fashioned" dollar bin.

Have you made anything lately using hardware? If so, please share. 

Card Making for Dummies by Mrs. Hall Marks

I was given an advance copy of the new book CARD MAKING FOR DUMMIES  and couldn't wait to share a chapter with all of you. Using Mrs. Hall Marks easy-to-follow directions, I just made this very fun card. I'm giving away a signed copy of her book to one lucky Follower, so please leave a comment. This book is sure to become a best seller and I know you're going to want to add this to your craft library!

 My take on Mrs. Hall Marks' card!

That's a jelly fish wearing a pointed hat. Very fashionable, don't you think?

I used Kraft Paper, Graphic 45 and two crazy WONDERderful stamps!

Materials needed: white cardstock, trimmer, bone folder*, adhesive, patterned paper, 2 rubber stamps, stamp pad and a nice bottle of wine  

1. Using your paper trimmer cut:
           a. One piece of white cardstock at 5 ½” x 8 ½”
           b. Two pieces of blank colored paper at 5 ¼” x 4”
           c. One piece of patterned paper at 3 ½” x 4 ¾”
           d. One piece of blank colored paper at 2”x 2”
           e. One piece of white cardstock at 1 ½” x 1 ½”

2. Starting with the 5 ½” x 8 ½” white cardstock, fold in half. Using your bone folder, flatten along the center.

3. Once the card is folded, if you find that it is uneven, trim the edges.

4. After completing step 3, if you find it impossible to make even, don’t worry, just repeat steps #1.a., 2 and 3.

5. If, after wasting more than 4 pieces of paper you are beginning to feel overwhelmed, pour yourself a glass of wine. If that doesn't help, head over to Michael's and purchase a package of blank white greeting cards.

6. Time to take a few sips of wine, because you’re going to need some sustenance before we start the next step. 

7. Take out your stamp pad, the sentiment stamp you are going to use for the inside of the card, the tiny stamp for the front of the card, one piece of the 5 ¼” x 4” colored paper and the 1 ½” x 1 ½” white cardstock.

8.   Let’s start with the tiny stamp and white cardstock.

9. Be sure to work on a smooth, flat surface. Liberally ink the stamp.

10. Center the stamp and gently push down. 

11. If the stamped image is blurry or uneven, go back to step #1.e, cut additional white cardstock and then repeat steps #9 and #10 until you get one perfect stamp image.**

12. Congratulations! It's time for another sip of wine.

12. Working with one of the 5 ¼” x 4” blank colored papers and the sentiment stamp, repeat steps #9 and #10. 

13. If the stamped image is blurry or uneven, go back to step #1.b, cut additional colored paper and repeat steps #9 and #10 until you get a perfect stamp.**

14. Congratulations! It’s time for more wine.

15. Glue everything down. Admire your card. Oops – forgot to tell you to wash your hands. If you got ink on your perfectly finished card you have several options. After pouring yourself another glass of wine, you can either start over or go to Hallmark and buy a card!***

* This should not be confused with a leftover turkey bone. 
** Do not get frustrated. Stamping looks easy but what no one will tell you is that it isn’t for sissies! If however you begin to curse and there are young children around, take a breather. Perhaps a few more sips of wine is/are in order. 
*** Make sure you have a designated driver take you. You've had a bit too much wine!

Society of Addictive Scrapbook Syndromes (SASS) ??

1. Exciting News!!!! I am starting a non-profit organization and the mission statement is done – To create a world where men and women can craft to their hearts content without having to distress over developing MOE, or one or more of the related diseases that are currently affecting Scrapbookers Worldwide.   
2. Dr. J. Scrapman has graciously agreed to be on the Board of Directors. I am currently seeking other concerned men and women who are committed to helping us fulfill our mission. I have invited Mr. Tim Holtz, Ms. Teresa Collins, Ms. Jenni Bowlin and of course, Ms. Martha Stewart to sit on our Board of Directors. I am eagerly awaiting their response. 
3. Since I need to pay a fee to legally form a NPO, I have decided to sell my first ever coffee sleeve album. It is a wonderful example of both TTS - Tiny Tag Syndrome - (21 tags in this baby!) and MAM - Mini Album Madness - (Coffee Sleeve, need I say more?). Pictures below and posted video HERE. Please spread the word because the sooner I have the money, the sooner there will be a cure.
4. I have decided to hold a contest to come up with an official name for the organization. Currently, my top choice is Society of Addictive Scrapbook Syndromes or SASS for short. If however you have a better moniker, please enter your suggestion in the comment box below.  Winner will receive a gift certificate to a Treatment Center of choice. (I’m thinking either Michael’s or scrapbook.com)    
5. Updated list of Scrapbook diseases include: Hostivirus, Nestablities Neurapathy, Credit Card Stenosis, Invasive Maybe Someday Disorder and Swapphrenia. Dr. Scrapbook has actual case studies of these related diseases of MOE and will be publishing them on this blog in the near future. 
6. The winner of the courtesy retreat to The Patterned Paper Treatment Center is Kathy ScrapDaze. Sadly, she has decided to take the $25.00 Michael’s Gift Card instead of entering The Patterned Paper Treatment Center. We wish her luck. Kathy, please contact me at peacenpassion@yahoo.com and send me your address.

My First, but not last, Coffee Sleeve Mini Album!!

I only have MAM Stage Two because I have "yet" to make a Paint Stick mini.

I used my Domestic Goddess Paper from Graphic 45 that I had

been hoarding stashing.  

I added a coin envelope on the right because I didn't have another coffee sleeve

and needed someplace to put two tags!

TAGS, TAGS and more TAGS!!! 

Got those flowers for $.30 at Mike's. Perfect price and perfect match!!

To see this Mini in its entirety, watch the video HERE. I am open to any offers so spread the word and let's give this baby a good home. And remember, this NPO is for YOU so let me know if you like the name.