Is this Ladder Stitch .. Stretch Magic .. ?

Well here I went again .. wanted to try doing 'ladder stitch' and create something fun .. but didn't want to use anything expensive to practice on .. so hmmm . let's see .. find some purty beads .. and Stretch Magic .. not sure what size either the beads or the stretch magic is .. but another adventure!

Seemed easy, other than puzzling out how to do the clasps .. added some earrings .. and VOILA!  Still don't know if this is a 'real' ladder stitch or if it's just something I made up .. but it works!! 

Memory Wire - Where Have I Been?

Where in the world have I been?  How come nobody told me that this stuff existed and all the potential for neat and interesting creations?  Thanks once again to April .. Three Sisters Crafts .. and her generous (to a fault, yep .. to a fault) outpouring of support to the local community .. I attended her most recent gala last weekend!  She not only raised beaucoup money toward stomping out Breast Cancer (all donation!!) but she even managed to serve up some make and take adventures to all of the stragglers (that would be me) who popped in.

After seeing the opportunities .. free beads .. free card making .. free entertainment .. free food and yes, FREE COOKIES .. where do you spose I spent the day ;o)

Ok, so bracelet size memory wire .. never tried it .. and PINK beads everywhere .. all sizes from seed beads to some pretty wild, large beads ... and I'm told it couldn't be simpler .. guess what .. it is simple!!  This is my very first bracelet using no rhyme or reason to create .. just stringing along and listening to varied conversations all around me as other ladies played too ;o)

The ease of completing this still astounds me .. even though the wire is brutal tuff stuff it's that way on purpose to maintain the shape .. so once the end loops are done the beads can't escape .. almost looks like a pretty slinky ;o)

 Well .. I couldn't believe how quickly this one went!  C'mon .. ask me if I want to try another project .. LOL .. yep .. I sure did!  How bout I pass on making the card .. and try making the 'other' kind of bracelet using the 'stretchy stuff' .. another project I've never tried! 

 This was fun too!  I think I made it too big and still I"m ok with it because I see the way it's done from start to finish as well as tying it of .. gotta get some of that GS Hypo Cement .. note to self!!

 Now this one was my "all by myself" trial .. using tiny green and blue beads alternating with blue and irridescent teardrop beads .. I love the color combination .. gotta get busy and make some earrings to match!

 Ho Hum .. why stop at the bracelet size .. Hey April .. do you have any of this stuff in ring size?  Yep, of course she does!!  Yeehah!  Soooooooooooooo .. although I don't have the slightest idea how or what possessed me to try a ring .. here it is anyway!  I didn't do a very good job of wire wrapping, and the size of the loop is almost big enough for both thumbs at the same time .. I still had fun attempting this and will have to kind of regroup on size .. or find someone who has extremely large toes or something to test it out for durability.

Close up of ring ~ still haven't tried the necklace/choker size .. but I'm sure I will!


Thanks April for all your generosity - I know the tremendous effort you put into all the adventures you do and can't wait for the next 'play day' .. pencil it in, ok?

Card Making At Beautiful Impressions/Magenta Stamps

A whirlwind trip, I almost missed the plane out of St Louis - seems the elderly shuttle bus driver was running slow .. and after scrambling and checking in, the airline crew said .. well, your baggage might not make the same plane .. my response: I don't care!

LOL ~ get me on that plane! I had signed up for a card making/technique class at Beautiful Impressions in Westbrook CT and was determined to get there! Quick trip directly to the airport, snatch Laurie from her doorstep, and off we went for a class with Nathalie from Magenta (Canada) ..

The first card ~ initially I was so mixed up ~ not used to doublesided paper! After realizing the double sides are to coordinate .. I was still confused but then had to try to put things together straight .. lol .. not happenin' .. along with this card, we made a small insert type mini note too ~ and even with limited village idiot know-how had a ball!

As we assembled this card, we had some of the 'pieces' pre-cut and prestamped (thank goodness) and then came the 'coloring' part. Uh oh .. we didn't have a clue how to use the 'paints' .. kind of like a shimmering watercolor looking palette .. with magical potential! We had a paint brush each .. and our imagination .. now what? Dip the paint brush in clear water .. smoosh around a little bit in the color of choise .. and voila .. when applied to the stamped image it shimmered! Awesome! The 'paint' dried very quickly .. we added in a little bling and on to the next card.
I really liked doing this card .. simple to put together (pre-cut/prestamped) and learned how to color using Prismacolor pencils. I'm still amazed at the results we were able to achieve having never played with these pencils before! Another 'tool' we used were "cat's eye" pigment inks .. the actual stamped image was on a light brown background piece of cardstock .. and we were able to take the "cat's eye" dauber type containers and lightly adjust the background to personal taste .. not damaging the stamped image at all .. ;o)

Once the background was done, the coloring began .. each person had a totally different card in the end and I'm sure none of us could duplicate it if we had to .. unique and very fun to do!

On to the third card .. detailed, layered, and gorgeous when finished .. of course in my humble opinion (LOL)If only I was expert at picture taking - obviously I'm not .. this card is so pretty! Multi-layered using different doublesided coordinating paper, we also used white cardstock stamping an image with kind of a dark red ink for background on one layer, elegant snowflake stickers, and I finished mine off with Stickles on the little angel. None of the cards have any type sentiment on the outside / inside so can be used for any occasion.

All in all I had a great time! Learned how to do different things, enjoyed spending the afternoon 'playing' and would love to take more classes at Beautiful Impressions! The store was so busy that day I didn't even get to shop around much, but did go back a couple days later and get into trouble adventuring! I'm sure Terri (terri@beautiful-impressions.com)has MUCH more detailed information on the products we used and direct access to them as well. Hope to visit again soon ~ and probably spend more money ~sigh ~ such is life ~ LOL

If you're ever in Connecticut .. stop by and browse this store .. plan to spend a good part of the day .. it's jam packed with neat ideas and the best part is having somebody there that actually knows how to do things with all the different gadgets, gizmos, paper, punches, stamps, glitter, nestabilities .. etc. etc. etc .. yeehah!

Memorial Day 2009

In loving memory of my parents, Elizabeth Cole and Douglas William Sangster ~ and their unwavering support of our country in World War II.

As the daughter of WWII veterans, mother of an active duty Air Force NCO currently deployed, and retired veteran myself I can sincerely pay tribute to those that have served in the past, and dedicated their lives to our freedom with the integrity and love of country instilled in so many of us.

I'm sure I"m babbling .. this is a very sentimental topic for me .. and I hope everyone enjoy's their weekend but also remembers as they watch parades to pay tribute to those we have lost, our own loved ones as well as the loved ones of others. This day always reminds me of home, Essex Connecticut, a beautiful little town where I went to (and marched in) many a Memorial Day Parade. The town turns out .. so many folks are remembered and I can picture the cemetery as the locals pay tribute and all the veteran's have American Flags honoring them by their headstones. The view is so pretty looking out over the cove ~

So many to remember .. so much to be thankful for .. and lately so many memories resurfacing. Special remembrances go out to all ancestors of course but over and above ~ Mom and Dad, Mrs. & Mrs. Castanza & Mr. Cook & Cheri on behalf of Laurie Laterra, Chuck Lelko on behalf of Chris and Doug, Mr. Tower on behalf of his son Chuck, Mrs. Jacome on behalf of Donna Seymour, Jason on behalf of Melissa ~ and ever so many others.

With love and many wonderful memories ~

Happy Easter!!

Thank goodness the rain held off and it was not the rainy, icky day predicted! Go figure anyway .. it’s never right when they forecast it so why would it be today? Now if only the thundershowers hold off we’ll be ok. Found all kinds of neat craft stuff in the garage that I forgot I even had .. but still can’t find my car keys .. gotta keep searching.

Thinking of the kids today – we got to see them last year at Easter but this year all of them are in different states! Hopefully they all got to have fun at an Easter Egg Hunt somewhere! Talked to Chris last night and Doug today so I’m a happy camper!

Next project up tonight – try to get contact paper to cut out on the Cricut! ;o)

Off I go ~