Please join me at my new site... www.visualdesignsbychris.com . This site is no longer active. Offerings are all posted at my new site. Thank you for stopping by! ~Chris visualdesignsbychris.com
Monday, June 30, 2008
Orange Sherbert.... white chocolate lipstick. Temptations.
So I gave up Pepsi on Friday the 20th. I went to docs appt and we had a long discussion about upcoming surgery (more on that later) and Carbonated Drinks. Seems I won't be able to drink them ever again. I was a Pepsi phene. But I came home and drank the last one over ice. It was the last can in the house actually. I enjoyed and was done with it. I thought headaches would come and I wouldn't be able to get up in the morning. It hasn't been so. This is awesome. I am super happy about it. But after the doc visit I went to meet my in-laws at the book store where they had my little one. He was please as punch he got breakfast, a new book, a new toy and grandma was buying him a cookie and a milk when we got there. {rolling eyes} This is what grandparents are for. My son is grinning from ear to ear. My hubby went to take him to the car and what did I do?? I ran up to the counter and grabbbbbbeddd.......
tada...
The latest Janet Evanovich book. Fearless Fourteen. I love the Stephanie Plum character. I love the whole crew actually. Grandma Majur makes me giggle so much I have to get up at night and read on the couch and not in bed because I keep my hubby up.
I read it the next day in completion and will be handing it on to the family. It will get passed with lightening speed around through many hands. I love the family book system. We are all readers.
Anyways it was good book and now I am back to my library books. I pretty much have started library booking it completely with the exception of a few. I have to have space in my house and I read about a book every three days sometimes. This can be a twenty buck a week habit. Wow. Can be alot of dough. So I am a library bookee and my son is loving the trips to the library to see all the books. Sometimes I plop right down on the floor and quietly read him the one he just grabbed if it looks short. He sits in my lap and we just enjoy the moment.
My other purchase that day at the bookstore were two Lindor White Chocolate Truffles. I threw them in my purse. In the little zipper pouch... Do you know where this is heading? This is the pouch I only relegate my lipstick to in case it comes open. Well I found those truffles yesterday. Thank goodness they were in the lipstick pouch. It was quite a goopy mess. But since I am trying to lose 10 lbs in the next couple weeks with a vacation scheduled in there. It probably is a good thing they melted, but lipstick has a hint of white chocolate when I open it. Wew. The world is full of tempations. Just don't leave 'em in your purse in 112 degree weather for a few days they tend to dissolve away.
Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris
PS Challenge Submission came in like crazy this weekend. I will post them in the next couple days. They are all soooooooo awesome!
Friday, June 27, 2008
QMC preview.
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So if you are interested in joining in on the QMC or just can't decide here are few things that might make you want to jump in. Files in the QMC come in SCUT, GSD, AI, KNK & WPC
Here are a few files I am loading to the QMC for July 1st. And I am working on these now because I will be out of town for a week over the 4th.
The first one is California Dreaming. Lots of pieces to this file that you can use on their own or use seperately.
The next one is a saying to adorn any of those pages you have with your friends and family and loved ones. I feel truly blessed more so lately with everyone around me so this file speaks to me. I hope you can use it to.
And the next is a group of star jumbles. Lots of shapes, swirlsof stars. 4th of July is here so great for that. Or your superstar in your life.
Well if that doesn't do it for you there are 17 more possibilities to be added to the QMC. These files will be added to the store after I get back for those interested in just the file.
Thanks for looking and stopping by.
On to life... Does anyone have a list of must haves for the beach? Do you know how long it has been since I have been to the ocean? I am so excited to go. Another thing that will be fun.. I was talking to my son about going to the beach and said we should buy a sandcastle bucket so we can build sandcastles. And he says "MOM but what will it stick together with?" I said "the water". And He says to me with his head cocked to the side.... "Are we taking water to the beach with us??" In my mind I think.. This is going to be soooo much fun. I can't wait to walk the beach in the morning with my hubby and collect seashells and see everything again for the first time through 4 year old eyes. I can't wait!
I am going to see what I can do about getting mobile blogging setup. To post from my phone. I think it would be fun to send some of the images. Anyone do that? is it easy? Well I better run. lots to get together.
Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris
Thursday, June 26, 2008
New Challenge Entries... Last Date for challenge entries etc...
I want to thank everyone for joining in. I also wanted to say is July 1st is the last day I will be sending out the link. I will be going out of town for a few days and before I go I need to cleanup some things. So let anyone you know who'd like to join in July 1st is the last day to receive the link. All submissions are due in by July 7th. Thank you thank you for everyone joining in!
On to life.. So lots going on here in preplanning for our trip to Disneyland. I checked out the website for their daily schedule I can already see some things my little one and hubby will love to do. Probably the Jedi training thing and I think my son would love the Pirates of the Carribean ride. What are your tips and what are your favs? I would love to hear them.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Coupon Code... Create Create Create ....
Have you stopped by the creative teams blog? Wow you Should Angie's new layout. Love it! Visit HERE.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday Finally Friday!!
IHere is a slideshow for the current Challenge. These are the entries I already I have. Awesome awesome!
Thank you for everyones hard work. I can't wait to see the rest. You can see a larger version of the slideshow. HERE.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Enjoy!
Chris
Thursday, June 19, 2008
So we have two submissions for the June 08 Challenge already in. I have sent out the link almost 50 times. And I have to say these are awesome! I will be adding a page to my mainsite to load them all in. If you want to see the ones from last time. Here is the link. Anything goes for this challenge you can scrap anything! Cards, books, atc, altered pieces, Anything you can come up with. Thanks for playing!
So the first one is from Karine. The Skateboarder is from the challenge and one other file as well... Do you see it? Came out great and I love the fun colors.
Then our next entry is from Ginny Using the Apple File for a super cute Get Well Card. Love it.
If you are still interested in participating in the challenge, you can email me for the link. Two requirements for the Challenge. You follow through with a submission and you do not share the files with others or the link. 'Tis it. I have had lots of people say this has pushed them to use their cutter and get them over the hump of not cutting. Hopefully it is fun.
So A BIG THANK YOU! to those who have joined the QMC and participated in the Sale. It made my day to see how many people signed up for the new QMC. I have sketches drawn for files already and am going to start putting them together. The current QMC members need to download download download. Get them all down as quick as you can the end of the month is coming!
On to life and my ramblings....
So last night the men in my life decided they needed to have pizza. I like to have one of my "gluten free" pizzas to, but it takes time and effort to cook and eat. So I hit Trader joes's on the way home and got some munchies. I love Trader Joe's. I have to say their gluten free items are becoming less of selection then my local Fry's. However, I still love to visit there. I bought my hubby a bunch of different red wines. He likes to have a glass in the evening while we sit on the porch and relax. I am a woman with ample frontload, sideload, and backload, but I get along. I know I could stand to lose some load, but when a teeny tiny person (so teeny you can look through their arm and see the food on the shelf on the other side) looks me up and down in trader Joe's and looks in my cart and just looks me up and down again and walks away with her fat free tofu bites with her nose in the air. I gotta just roll my eyes. Give me a break. Life would be so boring if we are all of the same size and measurements. Don't throw your nose at me. Please. Sorry about that I had to vent for a moment.
In my basket of atrocities were dried apple rings which I bought to see what my little one thought. He tried one this morning asked me what they were again. And then tried another. Wrinkled his nose up and said. Are you sure these aren't Horse treats? Great my child thinks I am feeding him horse food. We'll see if he finishes the bag or they sit there for a while. hmm.. if they sit there maybe I will see if the horses like them. haha. Then he really won't trust me when I say. Just try it.. would I feed you dog or horse food? Just try it. We shall see.
So yesterday getting out of the house was a back and forth journey. I keep running back in the house for one more thing. Even got out the front gate and had to come back to get keys to the trailer with all our things in it for moving. My son pipes up from the backseat. MOM Do you think we will ever get to summer camp? I shoulda just said No! I don't think so. But I said Yes of course we will. Mom will get it all together. Didn't matter anyways when I picked him up he was happy to see me, but mad at the teachers because two called in sick and they didn't have enough teachers plus lifeguard per student ratio to go swimming. I am glad they dealt with a bunch of 4-6 year olds in swimsuits mad as could be because they can't go swimming. I so appreciate there attention to my child and the other childrens safety.
I am still rambling... But I haven't posted in a while so I have lots on my mind...
My hubby got me a digital picture frame for my bday. I have been researching them left and right for about 4 months now waiting for the best deal and my hubby decided this one and enough searching. We have this relationship where I look at something for forever and then when I decide to get it my hubby says YES PLEASE GET IT. Tis how I got my craft robo. I researched it for about a year. Started out looking for a Wishblade. When I had the funds saved and had decided to make the plunge my husband was happy to have it here. Then I think he thought I was crazy as my sister and I cut a bunch of the files I had downloaded in preparation. And said look It's a cowboy hat. Look it's a paper purse. Look It's a paper alligator. I have burned in my memory the smile of pure puzzlement as he agreed with me it was cool. But anyways. I love the digital frame. I popped in a card from my camera about a year ago. (I keep the cards because for me it is another form of backup. Computer, Card and Online Backup. I would hate to lose my family pictures.) The slideshow of pictures of a year ago are full of smiles and happiness and some of them tear my heart out. I realize whenever I see a pic of my grandfather that my heart is in my throat and my eyes are "spilling" as my little one calls it. I just miss him so. I miss not sitting with him at family functions. I miss listening to my hubby chat business with him. I have lost many people in life and yet I haven't felt this dull thud like this in my heart when I think about him. He gave me my first job at his business. When we were little and here from Wisconsin he would come in from work and sit down in the middle of the couch so we could crawl all around him, my brother sister and I. On the weekends we would walk out in the mornings, hair all over the place and in our pjs and he would sing.. "Here she is miss america" . He would take us all to 31 flavors. We went to see Annie in a "real theatre" when he visited us in Wisconsin. In fact, he pushed me to continue to date my boyfriend at the time which is now my awesome husband. And the list goes on. Well I just had to get it out a little. I still miss him so. I have scrapped a page for him, but haven't finished it as I would like to show more of him and not so much heart ache. So I will continue to notate all these thoughts I have about him and add a page in the future.
So have you made it this far??? Wow just ful of emotion and ramblings today. I better run. Tomorrow I have some stories about our auction trip this time around and my deals I purchased. (No new horses wew) I just better run now and get the house picked up some since we haven't been here.
Thank you to everyone. Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Moving day
Enjoy!
Chris
Monday, June 16, 2008
It's my Birthday It's My Birthday!!
Enjoy!
Chris
I found this on YouTube and it made me smile but it really made my little one roll on the floor and giggle which was even better because it just made me giggle to see him enjoy it so. He has such an infectious laugh.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Almost Father's Day
If you are here because I ramble and tell crazy stories about my life with a 4 year old, hubby and a heard of animals, then tune in on Monday. We are headed all over this weekend and I plan to spend as much as possible with the awesome men in my life.
For those checking the dates of the sale... Here is some other good news... There are a few sales going on by many designers. So hit mine and then see the other ones to. My Section is HERE
Then there is Jan my closest designer neighbor who is celebrating Father's Day!
And Ileana who is also celebrating her birthday and her daughters I believe.
And with all these great files on sale. Don't forget my section as well.. :-)
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN if you are trying to get to the challenge info...
Okay so now I gotta run to get working n the Father's Day gift!!
Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be responding to emails on Monday probably to spend time with the hubby for Father's Day!
Enjoy!
Chris
PS CHECK OUT THE CREATIVE TEAMS BLOG. They are all Awesome!!! There are new posts from Vicki and Karen and Sussann... Did you see did you see???
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Challenge files almost ready... taking emails.. sore sore sore
I am taking emails for the challenge files. (pretty please put the word Challenge in the subject so your email goes right away to the right folder.) Here are the finished pieces. I am still working on conversions, but will have the file links ready to go hopefully by Friday or Saturday. I will send them out in the order I get the requests. July 7th is the due date for submissions.
I added a page to my main site with the rules and there aren't many. The main one is to use your cutter in some fun way using one of these files and submit by the due date. But if you want more in depth results. Here is the link. (the link is also on the right of my blog)
This time around you can do anything. Scrapbook, alter, atc, cards.... it's yours to do as you wish.
I have gotten a ton of emails about those who couldn't complete last time around. I am not trying to be a pain, but trying to be fair to all of those who did participate. If you didn't complete then you will need to skip this challenge and wait for the next one. However, for this time around, if you send me your finished piece using 2 files from last times offerings, I will send you the link for this one. Hope this makes sense. And I know some of you I have spoken with and we have worked things out. So no worries, but if I haven't heard from you. That is what I have to offer. I want everyone to be able to participate and be creative with their machines.
Don't forget the Sale this weekend! And I have no more files ready for upload so create your shopping list... While you are there consider the QMC. It reopens in July and I am still loading the files in the current one. So I always try to pack them full. I even have a hard time keeping the list of files up to date on my blog but we are almost to thirty files again for $10.00.
On to life...
What a day yesterday. My son and I headed into the new office which is now in the ready to paint stage. We vaccuumed up the drywall dust from sanding and prepared to paint. Have you painted with a 4 year old before? very interesting. I did the accent wall completely. two coats painted to the edges so it would dry enough to be masked off when the other color backs up to it. Then I painted all the other walls and part of the ceiling with one coat. And I am sore. sore. sore. My legs, arms, back, and neck just ache, but we are on our way. Our new office had wood paneling so we ripped that down and redrywalled and put in a french door. It is a cute little mini french door. I love it. It needs to be stained still, but it can wait. Trying to get all the walls painted before the carpet goes in which I was hoping for today and we found out probably won't be until tmorrow at the earliest. I am crossing my fingers that it is tomorrow. Otherwise my office staff is in limbo for a few days because of no office. hmmm.. crossing my fingers very tightly.
Either way painting with a 4 year old is an adventure. Especially since you have an accent wall and don't want to put away the last of the paint in case there is a mishap with paint. Watching where that little roller is going to and making sure it is hitting the right wall and not the brand new wood doors that are gonna be stained wew! I think I got more done when my hubby showed up to do cleanup then the hours before. But I like working with my son. You don't need any background noise because he is a running commentary. Who knew at 4 you could have soooo much to say. I must admit at some points i am done, but at others I love to listen to it. I brought toys (which are now painted) and I handed them out slowly throughout the day so he would different things to play with.
I better get moving and converting for the challenge. Thank you to those who visit my blog and take an interest in my designs and what I do! I really appreciate your support.
Enjoy!
Chris
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tuesday's Terrific Coupon.... Count those blessings..
Today a police office, Eric Hite, was mourned in funeral services here in Tucson. He was killed in the line of duty with a fatal gun wound. The first one in 5 years in Tucson according to the reports. His family was surrounded by approx 3,000 Tucsonans at the services and the procession from the church to the cemetery was lined with people for about 10 miles in 102 degree weather. It did my heart proud to see all of those people take the time out of their day to stand and bow their head in silence as the numerous vehicles filled with people followed him to his last resting place. I listened to the last call for the officer they play over the radios. It was a chilling sound and gave me goose bumps. A tear crossed my face for the finality of such a call and the emotion his family is feeling. I didn't know this man nor do I know many of the men who work in law enforcement or in our militaries, but thank goodness they are there. My prayers go to all of them for their safety. May god bless this man's family and feel the support those in Tucson are trying to show them.
*** On that note, I am going to sign off. Have a wonderful rest of the day and count your blessings for I am sure they are many.
Enjoy!
Chris
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Saturday...
Enjoy your weekend!
Chris
Friday, June 6, 2008
WAD - SCuba files, Native american files, and teaching about money??? any tips??
Update: We have a description winner for "the deeper you go.."
Thank you to everyone who participates in helping me out with a description for the store! My words are stale and old and your new creative words inspire me to do more and more!
He got to spend time swimming with Nana and Boppa, my parents, last night so he chatted about that alll the way home. He got to empty out Boppa's change jar for Disneyland Monies. This little boy is rocking it in the change. We had to start squishing the monies into his piggy bank from the bottom and I already took 100.00 out and put it in my cabinet from visiting Grandpa in Wisconsin from all his change. Trying to figure out how to help him understand the value of the dollar. So if you have any tips let me know. I thought about giving him the same amount of Monopoly money in a little wallet that he has in real dollars and as we shop through Disneyland I can pay for stuff and he can give me hisMonopoly money so he knows how much is left. My hubby thinks I should give him a 5.00 bill. A friend of mine suggested a check register or running tab of how much money is available and subtract from it at each stop so he knows how much he has left, which would show math, and give him a real 5.00 bill to hold onto as well. Well if you have any other creative ideas let me know. I'd love to hear it.
Chris
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Well It's Thursday! Yeah we are almost to the weekend
So did you see Dana's post at the creative teams blog. Not your typical Christmas colors for a layout and I think that is why I love it. If you haven't seen it. Check it out.
On to life....
Chris
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Another WAD for Rock Climbing... More Later...
Make sure to put description in the subject field of the email. Have a wonderful Wednesday! Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
WAD - Earn Free Files with a Description
Here are my first two possibilities. Make sure you indicate to me which one you are writing the description for. If you still aren't clear on what I am saying visit the store and read through a few descriptions of the files there. If this works I will continue on with it in the future.
Here is the second one with How It Cuts included.
Let me see your creative writing abilities.
Next if you are a member of the yahoo group. The Tuesdays Terrific, but Wednesdays Hump Day Woooohooo! Coupon Code will be sent to you. If you are not part of the yahoo group you can join on the right at the link. For those who have been part of the group for a while they know Coupon Codes are my best deals other than the QMC.
And I have to get back to the setup of my home office/Craft room/Cantelope Orange Room.
So more tomorrow. Have a wonderful day!!
Enjoy!
Chris
Monday, June 2, 2008
A new wall.. And cantelope orange paint. :-)
Enjoy!
Chris.
PS I mustnt forget to tell you about my little ones shopping adventures with me today. So this is my mental reminder!