Happy Birthday to You!

It dawned on me Yesterday as I realized I had forgotten my Dad's Birthday, (Oct.6) that I've fallen behind on Birthdays.

And I used to be so good!

I have a great book that I found at Melanies Hallmark years ago that lets me put people's b-day, addy's, plus pockets for cards.

Those were the days before I even thought of making a hand made card!

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( btw-if any of you were "Different Strokes" fans Melanie was the common guest in the wheel chair. Her parents named their San Juan Capistrano, CA. hallmark shop after her. I used to see her in the shop from time to time helping out)

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So on to the book.

I'm more of a visual person , and with my passion for Atc's I thought of starting a Birthday ATC book!

I keep all my Atc's in a binder using trading card pages.

I can seperate the pages by tabs with months. I'm going to make up the cards for close friends and family members but would like some from all my Blogging friends too!

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I know I already have a few of your b-day's but to help me out could you please make me a Atc?I'll send you one of mine as well!

ATC's are 2 1/2" X 3 1/2". Same as a base ball card or any other trading card.

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If you would like to send me one...

Please put on the front:

A picture of you and your B-date

On the back:

Your mailing address (legible)

blog (if you have one)

things you like...!

If interested...e-mail @ altered-art@hotmail.com and I'll give you my mailing addy!

Thanks!

A Little Bit of "Spooky" Fun!

~ I'm a 'tad' late in posting for Vanessa's Halloween party as it was a busy weekend!

We had a blast at CA Adventures Halloween party and my costumes turned out great, but I forgot to take pics...I promise on Halloween!

We skipped going to Oak Glen on Saturday since we were all pooped from Friday night and plan on going the first weekend of November. We won't be so rushed then and can relax and have some country bumpkin fun!
Here are some pics of my deco's. I played around with photo shop a bit to make them a little extra spooky!

I can't wait to visit all the other blogs that played along with the party!




I just love this spooky sign! On top is my collection of Wish Bones.
I keep them on hand in the kitchen in case I need a extra wish or two!

I am extremely unhappy with the quality of spider web I found at 3 seperate stores! This was the best I could do. If you know where I can find high quality web for next year, do tell!

It's a Whirlwind Weekend!

~ This weekend is going to be a absolute whirlwind! I've been finishing of swap goodies all week, sending them off.

Now I'm in the throes of decorating the house, almost done!

I've tweaked my costume that I'll be wearing to tonight's event at

Disney's California Halloween Adventure, it's probably my 4th year in a row to go and get's better and better each year! Plus this year I won't have the stroller and Dyllan is potty trained, Yea!

Dyllan is a Jedi, complete with brown robe, belt, brown long sleeved shirt and pants. Oh and a light up light saber.

I thought of matching him as Princess Lei, but funds are low and I wanted to use what I have, so I went with my usual Witch costume but "tweaked" it up a bit! It's green and black striped leggings with black knit leg warmers and my black "Mary Jane" sketchers. The top is a swanky long sleeved black stretchy shirt. No long hooded black velvet robe this year as I made up a fantastic green and black tutu to go with the costume! I'm black shorts underneath. It's gonna be so crazy! I will take lots of pics as I know I will see lots of Amazing costumes! We are meeting up with my friend Buffi who will also be a witch and her little 'mouse'.

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I promise to post pics right away as I need to show you my deco's for Vanessa's Halloween party which starts Sat.!

Speaking of Sat. early we will head off to Los Rios Ranch in Oak Glen, Ca. to pick apples, pumpkins, have lunch and have fun! We've never been there but I've heard so many wonderful things about Oak Glen!

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And then on Sunday, I'm having some friends over for a Halloween craft/scrapbooking party where we will have good eats and scary movies playing in the background!

~ So please check back here later on Saturday to see some FAB pics and have a great weekend!

After the Rain

~ I just wanted to share with you some photo's I took last Sept/29th. I came home from dropping Dyllan off at Pre-School and proceeded to work in the studio a bit.
A sudden roar of thunder made me jump out of my chair in fright and then I rushed to find my umbrella and grabbed the camera for some fun!

~ I Love the rain. The pitter patter, how fresh it smells and how clean and sparkely it makes everything look afterwards.

~ This is one of my most cherished posessions. My $10 curved wooden handle Victoria's Secret Umbrella. I've had it for 15 plus years and love it.

~ In front of our house I have a wild and untamely purple Salvia growing. It seems to be a favorite of a hummingbird couple. I take photo's of them every chance I get!


~ Look at those magnigicent clouds.

~ In the back yard...my Margarita limes... almost ready.

~ A dewey delight from my "Angel Wings" plant.

~ Please go here to see more "Angel Wings"

~ New growth after a hot summer.

~ As of today I have one Artichoke growing. I usually get up to 5 per stalk twice a year. Yum!

~ Ahhh, Plumeria. I will often clip one to my hair with a barette and smell naturally lovely all day.

~ Waiting to feed some birds...



~ A Mothers Day Gift.

~ Garden signs scattered about.

~ One of my favorite pots holding wild Oregano I found growing near the garden gate.

~ ~ My "rock garden" soon to replanted after the spring.

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The lighthouse is magicaly nestled in some winter vine that will turn a fabulous shade of red when the cold snap settles in. I have this print availible for sale Here.

~ The rain has stopped. The little bird is taking a break.

~ Same bird, different angle.

~ Love his tiny feet! I have him for sale here!

~ whoops. He flew a little bit higher!

~ Thanks for looking! I long for rain again. It was very cold and windy here in Southern CA, today then got warm and windy. We are expected to hit another hot spell but I'll keep my fingers crossed for more rain...

Scrapbook Retreat 2008!

~ So here are the long awaited photo's and re-cap from the Scrapbook Retreat I went on at the end of September! It was hosted by Croppin' Away and held at the Breathtaking
La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, CA.!

Please click on any photo for a better view!
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Here's what I packed. My suitcase and trusty pillow. A small cooler with Margarita fixins and my decorated rolling tote that had my Cricut and cartridges.

Everyone that came contributed to our groups goodie bags, and let me tell you, they were stuffed FULL!

~ here's what I brought which may seem like alot but definately pared down from last year which was my first craft retreat.


Teresa's car was packed full of her's , mine and Anne's stuff. Good thing we did not have a fourth person and good thing we did not have to fly!

Having a early Friday lunch with all the girls but one at a pizza place in Palm Desert.

~ all the goodies we gave each other plus some from the retreat organizers!

Friday night out, we had dinner at Hogs breath inn and all wore the mini tiara's I put in the goodie bags. The resteraunt people thought we were part of a bridal shower while back in the crop hall, all the lady's gushed over our tiara's and acted like we were royalty! It made us feel like true craft diva's.

`Here's a overall view of the crop hall. lot's of creative women having a blast!


~ this is my creative station.

~here's the pool by our room and here's are beds that we shared.

~ This was our bungalow. If it were cooler, I'd have gone swimming, but it was so hot, like someone left the oven open, all day , even up till 11pm!

Sunday morning breakfast.

Myself, Jaymie, Teresa and Anne


OMG! I actually scrapped! Been awhile though, as I'm always working on side projects!

I'm in LOVE with Costco's new photo upload process that allows me to upload 30 pics to a 12x16 sheet and it makes my pics diffrent sizes which allows me to 1.- fit them all on one Lay Out and 2.- have a more interesting story to tell!




-group pic in the crop hall.
Kimber, Anne, Jaymie, Teresa, Me , and Kathy.

`made this desk caddy as a demo for a free class for the group, be we never got around to making it. So I gave this to the retreat organizer. The actual caddy is made from one 12x12 sheet of card stock and decorated with scraps. I'll post the tuitorial soon!

~ I also made up all the scrapboxes you see in my shop, minus the stampin decorations.

~ Here's a craft apron I made for myself from a tea towel. I made it by hand as my sewing machine needed cleaning and I could not take it in to be serviced in time before the retreat.

~ On the way home, Teresa, Anne and I stopped off to see the "Worlds Largest Dinosaurs" a treat I look forward to when coming back from any Palms Springs Retreat!

Yes, the eye is really glowing red!

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So that's it! I showed a few out of the 133 photo's that "I" took!

Can't wait till next year!