Mermaid or Whale?

I am a Whale and proud of it!!!

I am more beautiful on the inside, than on the outside, but I am cool with that!

Recently, in a large city in Australia,
a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym.
It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.


To Whom It May Concern,

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.)
They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.
They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.
They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia.
Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.
They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans.
They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist.
If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human?
They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex?
Just look at them .... where is IT?
Therefore, they don't have kids either.
Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me:
I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an agewhen media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.
With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.
Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

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26 Uses For Glossy Cardstock

1. You can use it just like any other card stock for creating a card. Just be careful when stamping so it doesn't smear. I like using glossy for just plain stamping once in a while, no tricks, no gimmicks. Bold, bright colors look awesome when stamped on this card stock! The colors come out even brighter on glossy and it makes a card look a little more professionally done.
   
2. I also love layering a piece of glossy card stock onto a piece of colored card stock and then onto our standard white. It really sets off the glossy card stock and adds a look of elegance.
   
3. Glossy card stock is great for backgrounds and the perfect paper for using your brayer! Use your brayer with a multi color pad and run it repeatedly over the glossy paper. You'll end up with a multicolored background. Repeated rolling really blends the colors, unlike with standard cardstock where you end up with definite color stripes.
   
4. Use this paper for the VersaMark resist technique. Stamp image onto glossy cardstock using the VersaMark pad. Then brayer over the image. The Versamark areas will resist the ink and show through. I find, though, that I have to wipe with a Kleenex soon after I brayer or the brayer'd ink will bleed into my versamark'd images. Or you can use your heat gun to dry the Versamark area. When dry, then brayer over it. the Versamark image will stand out beautifully!
   
5. Use the VersaMark resist technique as listed above but this time instead of using your brayer to add color use the colored pencils and color right over the top of the image. I usually do this for a background instead of my main image.
   
6. Here's another fun technique that is off the beatin' path (sort of speak) . . . Try the Soot Stamping Technique using glossy paper. Use the flame off a candle wave the card front over the top . . . Where the black smoke is. Soot will begin to form on the glossy surface. You then take a clean rubber stamp and stamp into the soot. The stamp will remove the soot from the surface (negative soot stamping.) Or you may choose to apply ink over the top of the soot (positive soot stamping.) You will need to seal this when completed with a fixative spray (I use hair spray). Be careful not to touch the soot until after you have sealed it or you'll end up leaving your fingerprints behind. Kick it up a notch and do the Rainbow Soot Technique by using the brayer to first create a background color. Then just follow the same directions as before except this time when you stamp your color
   
7. Another great background is Smudging or the "Twist and Drag" technique. Choose a "solid" style stamp that is simplistic in design such as one that is a squiggle, or confetti, or thick dots. Ink your stamp of choice with a light color of ink. Then twist it (or drag it) onto your glossy cardstock. Repeat a few times to create a one-of-a-kind background. You can then clean your stamp and re-ink with a coordinating color (use your color wheel) and repeat the "twist and drag" or smudging method to create a two-tone pattern. You can also create your own stamp tool for this technique using scraps of rubber from your cut stamps. A really cool pattern is to cut nine long, skinny triangles and place them points together in a circle on your wood block (it will sort of resemble a pinwheel). The pattern this tool creates is awesome. Give it a try!
   
8. Joseph's coat technique. Brayer with a rainbow pad, covering the entire area of your card. Let set for a couple minutes to be sure it is dry. Then emboss your stamped image using the VersaMark pad and clear embossing powder. (Tip: Use bolder stamps to really get the full effects of this technique.) Then ink your brayer with Black or Navy (the darker the better) and cover the entire card again with this new color. Let the overcoat of ink dry, then buff the card with a paper towel to remove excess ink. What happens is that your spectrum color will shine through. Just think of a great landscape card with stars in the sky and trees) WOW!!
   
9. Want a spirited way to use glossy card stock? Try the Batik Technique. Simply stamp your image using Versamark and emboss with clear embossing powder. Let cool. Then gently wad paper into a ball or you could fold it into a small square for a different look. Unfold it and smooth it out. It will have crease marks where the EP has cracked. Place cardstock on a towel and mist with water so the paper is very damp. Next ink your brayer with a rainbow pad and roll across the paper. The image will stay white while the ink will seep into cracks and the rest of the paper will have a batik look.
   
10. The Heated Pearls technique also uses glossy card stock and is fun and easy to do. You just need to turn the glossy card stock to black glossy card stock by using your black pad and a brayer. (Or instead of black select another dark color.) Then you'll need Pearl Ex, white glue (such as Elmers or Aileen Tacky Glue), a stipple brush, and your heat gun. Cut the cardstock into quarters. Put a blob of glue in the middle of a piece. Spread it all over the piece with the stipple brush. Be sure to cover it completely. Sprinkle some Pearl Ex (you can use two complimentary colors of PE) on top of the stippled glue, working the PE into the glue with the stipple brush. When done, put the brush into water, so the glue won't dry up on the brush. Next take your heat gun and start running it over the glue/PE mixture. Watch it bubble up! I have tried this with Red Glossy (made with White Glossy cardstock and my red Staz On pad) and it also works well.
    
11. Crayon Resist is a great way to use Glossy paper to add white highlights to whimsical stamps or those with detailed images. Stamp your design onto glossy card stock. Allow image to dry (if you don't want to wait just use the Staz On pads.) Then use a crayon to mark areas where you want to highlight (the white card stock will show through.) Be sure to apply heavy lines so they will show up well on the finished piece. Then just use your selected inks to apply ink with sponge or brayer. Allow ink to dry. Using a piece of tissue or paper towel, gently rub in small circles over the areas where you applied the crayon. This will remove the ink and create the resist look.
    
12. Glossy card stock is perfect for Dry Embossing. Cut cardstock into a small square and then dry emboss an image (try a Snowflake brass template). Then use your brayer and a LIGHT TOUCH to apply color to your image. I have found it adds depth to apply several colors. For instance, with a snowflake template I use Blue and Amethyst. When you color your dry embossed image this way you will still have an edge of white card stock that will show through.
    
13. Try doing the Alcohol Spray Technique on Glossy Paper. Select a bolder image stamp and ink it up (you may even want to do this using the markers and create a sort of rainbow look on the image or select color variances from the same color family such as green, forest or burgundy, or red). Just be sure the whole surface is covered. Then spray the stamp with the alcohol mister and stamp it on the glossy card stock! When you spray the alcohol it must be a very fine mist and hold the stamp further away from the sprayer. With this technique each time you re-ink, spritz and stamp down will turn out a little different from the time before which provides a very unique look.
    
14. Shaving Cream Technique also uses glossy paper (to provide the best results). This technique for making unique backgrounds for your special cards is a little messy so I recommend wearing thin rubber gloves and working in the kitchen on newspaper. Spread the bottom of a shallow 9 X 12 pan with a layer of shaving cream (the cheap .99 cent stuff). Spread it out with a spatula to about 3/4" thick in the bottom of the pan. Take a couple of coordinating colors of dye re-inkers and put a couple drops in a random pattern all over the shaving cream. Just a couple drops to start with. You can always add a few more drops. Take something such as a marker, pencil or toothpick or a popsicle stick to swirl the shaving cream around until you get the look you want. Depending on what you choose to use you will get different size swirls. This will give a marbling effect on finished product. Now press a piece of white card stock (1/4 sheet is easier to work with) face down into the shaving cream – then scrape off the shaving cream – voila.
    
15. To create fun backgrounds (or foregrounds) for your summer projects try using the Glossy paper for the Bubble Background Technique. Place 3-4 Tablespoons of dish washing soap and a cup of tap water in a large bowl. Add 10-15 drops of desired dye refill ink. Use a whisk to create froth and pour this mixture onto a tray. Using a drinking straw, blow lightly while stirring the mixture so that you form slightly larger bubbles. You do NOT want huge bubbles as you won't be able to fit them on a standard size card front. After bubbles are formed, spritz the top of them with reinker that has been diluted with water and put into a travel-sized pump spray bottle. (This will help make the bubbles more defined.) Then lightly place a sheet of Glossy Card stock onto the bubbles without actually dropping it into the solution. Remove paper and place right side up on paper towels and allow to dry. To speed the process you can use another paper towel to blot dry but DO NOT rub or you will smudge it.
    
16. Salt Backgrounds are perfect for Glossy card stock. Brayer color onto the glossy card stock using any dye ink pad and then mist with water spritzer. Sprinkle on salt. You can use any kind . . .sea salt, table, kosher, Epsom . . . and all will provide a little different look to your finished project. Personal favorite is sea salt, I think it provides the best results. If necessary, spray more water on after you apply the salt. Play around with this to see what look you like best. You must allow this to dry. Speeding up the process with the heat gun will sort of work but air drying gives the best effects. When dry, brush the salt off. The salt will "remove" or lighten the dye ink and you'll have a beautiful one-of-a-kind background for your stamped artwork. NOTE: You can save the salt you scrapped off for shaker cards. It will be "dyed" the color of your ink.
    
17. Kooshball Background on Glossy card stock is just a downright fun technique! It makes a nice speckled background. You just dab the Koosh Ball into the ink pad, then "stamp" it on the glossy card stock however you want. You can keep adding color until you get it the way you like it. Then, just rinse under running water, pat dry with a towel and it's ready for your next color. SIMPLE!
    
18. Marble Technique. Try using plain ol' marbles to make wonderful backgrounds on glossy card stock. The marble technique is so easy that most children do it as toddlers. (Though they usually use little dabs of paint in place of ink.) So, if children can do it at 2, maybe we can do it as adults, right? Put your cardstock in a small box and ink up the marbles, and put them in the box too. Then tip the box from side to side, causing the marbles to roll randomly on the card stock.
    
19. Wax Paper Resist Backgrounds (for a Tie-Dye look). This technique is great for a quick and colorful background. You need glossy card stock, wax paper (just bigger than the paper), and an iron. Crumble up the wax paper and then set between the glossy sides of the glossy paper. Take an iron at medium heat and iron over the paper for between 10 and 30 seconds. When you're done, take one of the glossy sheets and cover with ink. Then use a brayer on a rainbow pad. You can also use a sponge or the ink pad itself, or any other way you can think to put the ink on the paper. The ink brings out some wonderful designs. The different ways that you fold the wax paper bring out wonderful designs. You don't always have to crumble the paper either. Just play with the wax paper and see what beautiful images arise.
    
20. Bleeding Tissue Paper. This is a fun and easy technique for making quick backgrounds for your cards, collages, etc. It involves wetting tissue paper that bleeds its color onto white glossy paper for beautiful backgrounds. Lay your white glossy cardstock face up and spray with water. Randomly tear your tissue in the colors you want and place on wet cardstock. Place another sheet of white glossy cardstock face down on top of the tissue (this way you can make two sheets of background paper at one time). Lay a book or other heavy object on top of these sheets and let sit so the wet paper won't curl. When dry, peel off the tissue and reveal your beautiful background that you can use to stamp on, emboss on, use for layering or whatever you'd like.
    
21. Emboss Resist on Glossy. This is a great way to combine those bolder stamps and glossy paper to yield awesome results. With the VersaMark pad stamp your image on glossy card stock. Sprinkle clear embossing powder over the clear inked stamped image and heat it. You now have a subtle stamped image. Next use your sponges to apply as much (or as little) color as you would like. This will make the stamped image seem to pop right off the card.
    
22. Make your own postcards. Place the card stock in a printer and type your note to a friend. Print it off on the NON-GLOSSY side, lined up in columns so that you can cut the cardstock in fourths and have four postcards. Then stamp on the glossy side.
    
23. Make a stationary holder. Here's a cute idea. Versamark a background design on the glossy - full sheet. (Do the Versamark Resist technique in #5.) Then fold about 2 inches up along a long side (11" side) towards the non-glossy side. Now fold this in half like a book. Open the "book" back up and cut out a little "V" in the center fold where you made the 2" pocket - to make it look professional. Now you have a stationary holder that will hold stamped paper on one side and envelopes on the other. Close with a ribbon (you can punch holes to keep the ribbon secure.)
    
24. Glossy card stock is also great for making die cutting little baskets, boxes and pouches.
    
25. Rubber Cement Resist Technique. Standard Resist: Start with glossy cardstock. Pick out 3 colors of dye ink. Drizzle rubber cement directly on the cardstock (do this in a well-ventilated area). Let dry. Using your brayer, apply your first ink color (start with lightest color). Let dry. Drizzle more rubber cement on your cardstock. Let dry. Use your brayer and apply your second ink color. Let dry. Drizzle one more layer of rubber cement. Let dry. Apply last ink color. Let dry. When completely dried, peel off the rubber cement. This gives the resist look.
    
    Spot Resist: Here's a little different take on the above technique. Brush rubber cement in a scribbling motion onto the center area of a card and allow it to dry. Ink a rubber brayer with a multicolored stamp pad or markers, then roll the brayer over the card several times. Once the ink has dried, remove the rubber cement with a rubber cement pick-up eraser or your fingers. Now you will have a wonderfully colored border with a white brushstroke center . . .a perfect place for a greeting or to place a previously stamped image that has been cut and colored. Doing the technique in this manner can also provide you with spots for leopords or stripes for zebras. Cool!
    
    And here's yet another twist . . . sort of a spin off of the Joseph's Coat technique. First apply color to the glossy card stock with a multicolored inked brayer. Then apply rubber cement as before. Allow to dry and then apply a layer of black ink or another darker color with the brayer. Let the card dry. Remove the rubber cement, and this time the area under the rubber cement will be multicolored with the remainder of the card a solid color. Add a cut-out rubber-stamped image over top. Experiment with your own look!
    
26. Marbled Chalk Background: Put about an inch of water into a pan slightly bigger than your card. With a knife, scrape chalk dust off a few colors onto the surface of the water. Lower the glossy card stock flat onto the surface of the water to pick up the color, immediately lifting the cardstock back out of the water. Allow the cardstock dry flat. You can even press the paper between heavy books to flatten it out.

Cuttlebug - Things to do & Use

Part of my New Years plan is to maake a layout or card or hey, why not both while using a new technique (or one from ages ago) as well as an embellishment that I haven't used for awhile.

I love my bug... I wasnt' going to buy it - had too many other things to do & use... well then i got it for $30 USD and was hooked.. then I had a an AZ friend of mine go shopping and get me every file folder out there (thanks Elaine - she shopped great with my money). I am still re-arranging and setting up - i now know I have to lower it to a different spot as my girls love it too.

Unique techniques with a Cuttlebug
(or a Big Shot or other embossing/die-cut machine)


Link to Provocraft Blog - instructions, gallery, embossing & more

Here's a list on how to stack

Now go see Mel as she has put together an amazing list - techniques, instructions... have fun!!

I would love to see your art!


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I am so thrilled to have completed a layout with my mom, this has been a hard thing for me to do since she left us. Everytimg I tried to do a page, tears would come and i would shut down. well the other day working on the circle journal "mother" topic, it was like a big weight lifted. I said it was cathartic and "whoa" all at the same time, indescriabable really but whatever or however it happen, I am thankful.

I hope you like the layout, Now i can be sure that more will be coming!

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Mother

I am in a fantastic circle Journal swap and loving every minute of it!! (I wasn't going to play this time as I didn't think i would have the time - well after some lovely words from Mel (thanks friend), I decided to make time!)

Here is one of my entries to one of the journals - She had already picked topics and we were to choose 2 of the topics and create 9x9's out of the topics using quotes. As well, i tied the colors & products to a Mission Create challenge, check out all the entries - love the different takes (go check it out)

I have to say this one was incredibly hard for me as All I thought about was my Mom, and the ache I feel everyday she isn't here. I miss her soooooo much, that words just don't suffice. I thought of tons I wanted to write, but wouldn't fit with the instructions given - so I have a page that has tons of journalling and i will put it together later (glad too, as I haven't touched this topic since my mom became my angel, so kind of soothing too me)

For now, i offer you this. Please enjoy!

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100 Things you Love!

An assignment for Text Thursday issued over at Sisterhood of Scrap. "List 100 Things You Love" , once you have them listed why not try to create a scrapbook page as well. Sounds like a pretty good challenge to me - what can you come up with?

10 PEOPLE:
Mom, Dad, Sister, Christina, Shanae, Husband, Neices, Nephews, Sister-in-laws, Brother in laws

16 ACTIVITIES:
Scrapbooking, Cards, Blogging/Blurfing, Wii play, Reading, Taking pictures, Singing & Dancing with my girls, Quadding, Sledding, Hanging at the beach, Travel, Vacationing, entertaining, Watching my kids in sports, Movie Night, Laughing out loud

10 FOODS:
Shrimp, Chocolate, Pasta, BBQ'd food, Cheese, Butter Tarts, Lobster, Fruit, Vegetables, Chips

10 GAMES:
Wii playing, Hide & Seek, Tag, Find Ponies (our special game), Soccer, Volleyball, Skating, Sledding, Green Light - Red Light, Board games w/girls

16 THINGS:
Kids, Seasons, Movies, Crafting, Music, Animals, Decorating, Clothes, Friends, Family, Firepit, Planes, Tea Tree Oil, Cleaning, Mountains, Lakes

10 PLACES:
Home, Turner Valley, Calgary, Mexico, Hawaii, Arizona, Ontario, Jamaica, Minot, Carribean

5 MOVIES:
Lady and the Tramp, Jumanji, Grinch who stole Christmas. Sex & the City, All kids ones (lol)

5 BOOKS:
The Shack, Eat Pray Love, Chicken soup for the Scrapbooker, VC Andrews Series, CTMH Idea Book (lol)

5 DRINKS/BEVERAGES:
Pepsi, Ice Tea, Vodka Paralyzers, Juice, Smoothies

5 ANIMALS:
Horses, Dogs, Cats, Wildlife, Birds

3 COLORS:
ONLY 3!!! ack... Blue, Yellow, Purple Purple, Pink, Blue.

3 SCHOOL SUBJECTS:
Art, Law, Spelling

2 MUSIC ARTISTS/TYPES OF MUSIC:
Rock/Pop< Country

Holy Moly, this was quite a thinking one. I would love to see what you come up with... i have to go finish a journal entry and then perhaps print this off and make my layout (hope the layout comes easier than this...) Your Turn!!

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Some of My “Web” finds this week - go explore

Finding the right color.... love this site http://www.scrapbook.com/color/

15 coolest google earth http://oddee.com/item_96849.aspx

Sculptures made of pencils (sooo incredible) http://www.2leep.com/news/1022/27/

Free Fonts http://www.fontsquirrel.com/

Understanding Paper Finishes http://www.papergoods.com/Library/finishes.shtml

craftbits... little of everything http://www.craftbits.com/


Also, go to my site & everyday this month for a chance to win a Paper Collection. Go to site, click on National Papercrafting month. Enter in your information and everyday they announce a winner http://ldshewchuk.myctmh.com/ you may have to scroll down and read the entry then post your comments - Good Luck!

Soup Recipe challenge.... well over at Sisterhood of Scrap this challenge was issued:

Add the colors blue, purple and green to your card
Then sprinkle with BLING!! (could be glitter, Stickles, sparkly brads...)

Well, my entry is from a Circle journal i just sent off (so love the circle journals!!)






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It's Up to you!! YEEHAW for me!! Giveaway as well

Hi Linda,
We'd like you invite you to our "Sisterhood of Scrap" design team!!! Carla will be sending you a more detailed email shortly!!! Welcome to the sisterhood!!!

YES.... you are reading correctly - i received this just in time (Dec 28th) - as one of my resolutions this year was to work hard on my "storytelling", pump up the creativity!

Well this leads me to one of my first posts for Sisterhood of Scrap!!!! Text Thursday - i am issuing a journalling challenge:
- i want you to record your resolutions
- personal, professional - whatever you want.
- i figure, that not only do we write it down, we put it out there so that we can get the encouragement & guidance from friends & family - what a better way to succeed. Accountability is yours of course, but so much easier when shared with others. You don't have to be a scrapbooker, stamper, card maker, creative person - just be you and put them done - this applies to all!!! for those that do want to get creative, I would be thrilled to see your photo of what you did.

here are Mine:
- 1 pepsi allowed per day (this is a toughie as i am shamefully drinking about 5 or so a day)
- i am going to work at entering contests, submissions, getting my work out there more
- i am going work harder on custom orders
- organizing my scrap area
- setting up the children's play/sleepover/game area
- getting all my year-ends caught up
- starting earlier working on my Children's Christmas Store (http://www.goodtidings4u.com) so in need of masive donations this year
- spend less and stretch that dollar more... after this tough year that past i realize how easy it is to just watch everything you saved up go away when economy is tough - want those bills paid off & money back in the bank
- I will get all my paperwork and office back on track (includes linking all the computers)
- set up my Craft Robo and get it working & use it... (yes, I feel bad - had for a few years and used 2 x)
- get some classes going again for scrapbooking - so miss the adult conversation & laughs
- attend some scrap related gatherings - I have met and continue meeting awesome people
- loose weight & exercise - this is a tough one for me - always on the go and then so exhausted, just need my mindset changed and giver'
- see the positive in everything - i have realized since beginning of last year that i have some pretty amazing friends & family in my life, and then I have some that are too high-maintenance, filled with drama and then talk about me behind my back - this is stopping, i don't need it or WANT it anymore...
- i am going to continue singing, dancing and laughing with my fabulous girls at any given moment and continue not caring who or what others think - i will be the role model i have always wanted to be
- i am blessed with health and will keep that a number one factor in my life & in the lives of those i love & hold dearly.
- i will make time for my family at any given moment.

well, i do hope that i will have a ton of you following along with me and keeping me on the path (between the ditches as we say it!). Keeping me in focus and on task - yep, that's what i need from you!! Now who is with me? i can't wait for your comments, and who knows - you may get a pressie!!
Hugs & Beans - and go Live the Life you LOVE baby!!!

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Holy, Glimmer & Glaze.....

This innovative product will give you that beautiful vibrant color and Glimmer of Glimmer Mist, yet will also offer you the versatility of being a more permanent medium that will stick to any surface.

As if that wasn’t enough! There are some amazing Canadian's ready to share some fabulous tips & techniques.

Check out Tattered Angels & enter for a chance to win a giveaway


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Check out this new blog!

Hands On Photography

check it out and enter in a chance to win a prize from Just Cre8!

It’s easy to enter - all you have to do is blog about our new site and share a link

That’s it – just help spread the word of our cool new Hands On! Photography blog and you can win! Comments will remain open until 11:59pm EST on January 31st, 2010.

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