Vagabond Giveaway

Check out Drew's fantastic YouTube giveaway.

http:// href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63XbfzX3ASA

Live long & prosper,

Weezie

Long Overdue Post

I really can't believe it's been over a year since I posted to my blog. 2011 was a year with not a lot of Craft Cave time. I had quite a bit of stress and didn't seem able to get my craft mojo working. I retired in November, 2011 and hope to spend more time in the Craft Cave and post to my blog and YouTube regularly.

I "kept my fingers in the pie" with a few tag swaps. Thanks to Velma Griffin who hosts the best monthly swap! Velma's swap is truly an easy swap in which to participate. The guidelines are simple - your tag can be simple or a mini tag kit or a completed tag, but; it must contain a stamped image. The variety of tags swapped is amazing. If you have time only for a simple stamped image on a tag, great. If you want to put a little tag kit together, great. If you want to complete a tag, great. Velma's swap has kept me scrappin' in 2011.

In the early fall and I do mean early fall, Rosanne (Roxycar11) and I decided to swap minis - great idea - I love her work. Each of us have met with time challenges and have kept in touch with regard to the ETA of the finished minis. I'm thankful Rosanne is a patient person. I hope she will find her mini worth the wait. The mini I'm making for Roseanne is in need of a few more tags and front and back covers. I love this exchange because of it's casual nature - stress free. I will be completing the mini, SOON and making a vid for YouTube!

Of course, I couldn't resist the Secret Valentine Swap Tiffy is hosting. So, I'm participating in her swap. I've participated in swaps she has hosted in the past and she does a wonderful job. The guidelines for this swap are very interesting and I'm looking forward to starting.

All is well the the Craft Cave. Looking forward to my 2012 Scrap Happy Year.

Tata for now - Live long & prosper,
Weezie

October, 2010 - TWS Trade Mini for Deanna

It's been ever so long since I have posted to my blog, but; now I'm back. My beautiful mother-in-law lost her battle with ovarian cancer on 9/23/10. I was ever so fortunate to be with her the last weeks of her life. Her husband (who has Alzheimer's) has moved to an assisted living unit. We now have her affairs in order and life is returning to normal.

I missed my scrappin' time ever so much. When I was able to spend time in the Craft Cave, once more, I strangely found that I wasn't able to sit down and bring out any creative mojo. How strange was that? After being away from the Cave for weeks on end, I thought I would be able to jump in and feverishly bring marvelous creative notions to the table. Not so, my scrappin' sistahs! I went to one of my favs, Life on the {Scrap} Beach, just in time to commit to the October mini swap. The theme of the mini - Celebrate Womanhood. That's all it took (woo hoo). I created a mini for Deanna in Colorado Springs. I absolutely loved making this mini. Hope you enjoy!

Live long & prosper,
Weezie

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Not Really MIA

I've not had much time in the Craft Cave and no time to post to my blog. I've taken a leave of absence from my job to care for my mother-in-law and her husband (an Alzheimer's patient) 24/7. Gene and Irene don't have a computer and I can only access the internet when I'm home. I'm only home for short periods on occasion when someone can stay with Irene.

Irene remains the strong beautiful woman she has always been. Our hospice team is absolutely wonderful. Irene tells each and every nurse and aide how much she appreciates their presence at this time in her life. Our last trip out and about was Friday, two weeks ago, and we had manicures and pedicures and "did" lunch. What a fun afternoon that was. We laughed and enjoyed this last adventure.

My goal is to keep Gene and Irene together until her passing. Gene's Alzheimer's produces good days and difficult days; but, I'm able to "keep him on track" enough to stay a part of Irene's life. She is able to be out of bed only for short periods of time; but, is experiencing little pain. The nurses have only administered morphine on three occasions.

Irene often reflects on the magnificient care she received from her oncology team at the Simon Center and the quality time their care has given her. Irene remains one of the most gracious individuals ever.

I'll be back crafting, and making vids as soon as possible. Miss my scrappin' sistahs.
Live long & prosper,
Weezie

Mini Trade Album for Izzabella in the UK

It took me much longer to complete this trade mini than I anticipated. I never intended for this mini to be quite so chunky; but, once I got started it just evolved that way. Wow, I love the finished album. I have thought of a number of ways Izzabella might choose to utilized this mini. I hope she likes it. She was soooo patient when I told her I was going to miss the deadline of May 25. I just can't send out a mini that's not pleasing to me because of a deadline.

My life is just too complicated now for me to have projects that have a time table.
I have a couple of projects on the table that need my attention right away, now that Izzabella's mini is finished.

Velma, your die cuts will be coming, I promise. Tiffany, I will complete the covers/pages and get them to you before July 1.

Live long & prosper,
Weezie

By the way, when you watch the vids, keep in mind I do know the difference between embellish and emboss. My mind was on slow speed. It was ever so late when I made the video.


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Slings & Arrows

The past several days have been lackluster, to say the least. My MIL (battling stage 4 ovarian cancer) had two very difficult days - Thursday and Friday - two doctors appointments, an infusion and an MRI. Ok - so Friday ended. We move to Saturday morning. My computer crashed. All my hardware was ok; but, some of my Windows XP files were corrupt and I couldn't open Windows. I performed the recommended diagnostics, called HP Tech Support (terrible result). My machine was out of waranty and I could choose either $99.95 (one year) or 49.95 (fourteen days) of tech support. If my problem didn't get resolved, they got to keep my money and I was exactly where I started. Upon my protest, the CSR advised I could log in with another PC and chat live. My Darling DIL lent me her itty, bitty laptop and I was off to the races only to find out that the only option left to me was to perform system recovery and loose all my data. Totally unacceptable.
My Dearest Son-in-Law (Tech Support to IUPUI Medical Center, St Vincent Group) to the rescue. A simple call and he advises he would travel to our house, I could purchase Windows 7, another hard drive, he would install all, no data would be lost and all would be well.
Now I have to recover all my "Favorites" - one site at a time.Time consuming; but, possible. I am working on a swap mini for Izzabel in UK and will miss my deadline. Never, never have I missed a deadline before - very troublesome. I hope to be only a few days late with my post of her mini.
We live to fight another day. That which does not kill us only makes us stronger. Platitudes for today. Well TTFN (Tata For Now)
Live long & prosper,
Weezie

Question

So here I sit trying to remember where I saw the tutorial about making designer paper flowers using heart punches. JoAnn's had punches on sale for 30% off. I loaded up. I thought this is my chance to make those lovely flowers. Now I can't find a tutorial anywhere. Does anyone have a clue???

Live long & prosper,
Weezie