A Short Post and Fun Photos

Dear Husband and I decided to take a road trip yesterday to the Quad Cities to visit family and, of course, Shop and EAT!

It's what you HAVE to do, right?  Ya Gotta Eat is a local TV segment here and it's a cute saying.

So we picked up my daughter Michelle to go to The Iowa Machine Shed for tenderloins, sweet potato fries, and an apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream. YUM!

Michelle gave me the COOLEST gift. She had gotten a ton of beads at Pumpkin Glass that were all different colors....I, didn't know what she had in mind, but she definitely had a plan.

Here's what I got yesterday.....all the little tiny beads are wire wrapped on the silver bracelet...LOVE IT!

Really a fun piece and all the detail it so great. Thanks Mick..."ya know I love ya more than my luggage."  Olympia Dukakis from Steel Magnolias

So, then it was off to visit the girls at Scrapaganza...Kelli and Beth. Their crop is SOLD OUT for this weekend!!! YAY!  Some great deals at the JoAnn's Super Store in Davenport, and up the river to LeClaire.

If you've never been to LeClaire, it's worth the trip. New shops opening all the time and the whole area has been renovated. Vintage Antiques, best Carmel Corn anywhere, Artsy gifts, and my new favorite shop Primitives on the main drag.

Then, of course, you always have to stop by Antique Archaeology home of The American Pickers. Mike and Frank were apparently on the road, or just not open that day, but there are always people taking pictures outside.

On the way home we ran into some dark clouds and a bit of rain..but it cleared off pretty fast and this is what was glowing over the farms and corn fields.

You should have seen my hair after leaning out the window at 65 mph and taking at least 15 pictures!

Not a pretty sight, would have shared but the battery died on the camera. Lucky you.

I'm really getting excited about CHA! Yes, hearing from all kinds of friends I hope to meet up with there. Found out today that I get to be in 2 classes with, and finally meet, the amazing Lynne Forsythe!!!! WHOO! HOO! Can not wait Lynne! We'll be bad together.

So, I wrote this about 3 hours ago, but had some family visitors. What a hoot. My family is sooooo talented. And their sick humor never ceases to amaze even me.

Love you guys!

Everyone!

Truly!

Linda

aka

   Mom & NANA

A "Little" Bit of Fun - UPDATE

UPDATE: For those of you who asked....THIS IS the stamp set the Girls and Girls Rule is in the set. I used the wood mounted stamp so I don't know if they're the same size or not. 

I must admit, I hadn't used Shrink Plastic in years. And back then, it was with the kids and in an oven. 

But I had to try it again for fun. And this time it was so much different.  NOW it's so easy with the Heat It tool from Ranger!!!

Yes, I got a new one..burnt mine up. My own fault. When they say "keep it 2 inches away from the project" especially....METAL, (duh) they mean it.


This stuff REALLY shrinks. I mean big time.

I used Claudine's Gesso on the Plastic first. Then stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink.

Trim and heat. The idea to use a white background came from my brilliant friend Lin Brown of LB Crafts in England. She made her charm bracelet using Fresco Finishes for her background. Check it out for sure!

Anyway, the white gesso makes for a bright charm.  Then I used Distress Inks swiped on the Non-Stick Craft Sheet and a brush to color in.  Also some Tombow markers for added color.

See how much it shrinks! Cool, heh??? (Love ya Lori, you know who your are)

The 2 hole punch or Drill Punch from Tim makes great holes after the shrinking. Cuts like "butta."


 I colored the front of this one with Distress Inks and a brush. I used the ATC stamp from here.

Here's the back of the ATC charm  with Distress Stains swiped randomly across it.  Wild Honey and Vintage Photo blended with a rag...color changes over the white gesso.LOVE THEM!!!!! I used the Cropadile to punch before heating with the larger hole.


So that's it for today. Reading a new Michael Connelly book...actually and old one, on the Sunporch while the neighbor, who apparently has blown out the muffler on his lawn mower rattles the metal plaques on my Studio wall.


 And the construction guys 2 blocks over reroofing the park building blast their music from their truck with only the bass hitting my house....it's like a cacophony of unwanted sound today.

Time for earplugs or my own noise to create a better atmosphere here!

Fireworks would be more welcome. Ha!

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Linda

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

It's here....I can hardly believe it's JULY already!!!!!



Had a GREAT time yesterday with the Watercolor Chicks. Birthday lunch and dessert for Ann, shopping the square, perusing the Antique Store, buying chocolates...sales at Abe's. Life is good.


Where does the time go. Erin was just here with Jeff and I cannot believe how big she's gotten this summer....already she's 60" tall and only 10. She's gonna be tall like her mom and gorgeous. (I'm just sayin'.)

So I took some pix of the garden the other day before the heat takes all the great color out of them. The lilies are just starting to bloom at their best, and the hydrangeas are gorgeous. So I'll bore you with them and get it over with!

The Sunroom is our sanctuary under the now huge Ash tree. It's taken over the whole back yard leaving little sun for the lilies, but hostas and impatients love it.

We spend most of our time at home in the Sunroom....really love it.

This is a Mary Todd lily in the back.

This is Orange Sherbet. One of the first to bloom

Geraniums just starting to come out in the pots by the Sunroom.

This was one of my favorite shots. Love the little blue centers.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday to all my USA friends.

GO USA SOCCER on Saturday. You Ladies Rock!!!!

Linda