Creatively Outta Control

MARCH 2012 TAG SWAP

2012-02-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! My March 2012 tag swap is now open. If you're interested~ please email me at: creativelyouttacontrol.blogspot.com

TAGS TAGS AND MORE TAGS~ My book is chunky...just like my minis I create

2012-01-30T15:37:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to shared with you what I did with my beautiful tags. The tag book is popping, can I turn the pages easily? NO! But it's fun and still can pull the tags out when I want to use one in a mini album. You'll also see a basket behind one the book pages, those are hung with a silver mega ring. I have so many tags and I love them all. Thank you.... to all of you that keep me going, especially when my mind takes me back to sad and painful memories....but I have a million beautiful Memories too! You guys keep me busy!!! And that's a good thing. Enjoy the pics! Hugs, Velma

This is a great book, it has kraft paper pages, page protectors and also black pocket pages. With the book being so chunky (I still love it) maybe I'll think about taking the black o-wires out to put in a larger one.

My beautiful tags!

There's a ton of kraft pages, I didn't even use all the pages.

I love my swappers tags so much!

I think I'm a "tag collector"

The Valentine Tag here...I made for my Beautiful Mama last year using a Velma Flower on the bottom of the tag.

Here's the black pocket pages I was talking about, great to keep my goodies in so I know who they came from. And also the beautiful cards and notes I receive.

Here's the page protectors I was talking about (above)

Some of the packaging for our swaps are so awesome, maybe we should have a "packaging swap", just kidding, but they are beautiful.

I just posted this pic down at the bottom, opps, I wasn't paying attention!

Is this tag book chunky or what?

Below, here's the duplicate pic

All the tags are just beautiful! Thank you to my swappers...you are what makes my Tag Swap successful! I have more and more tags from a few years ago, I have tags everywhere...just not in my book. I saw a couple of videos where the person hung string/ribbon on her wall, attached each tag with a a piece of ribbon going through the hole, they look awesome hanging. Then on another video I viewed, this person hung all her tags from a chandelier........can you believe that? Does she have to climb up a ladder to pull a tag~ it looked beautiful! Can you believe we have to get ready for the March Tag Swap? Omgosh, it will almost be Spring Time, we're in a new year, where has the time gone? Happy Creating!

JANUARY TAGS HAVE BEEN SHIPPED !!!

2012-01-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to tell you that January's tags have been shipped! Packaged, at the postoffice, shipped off....DONE

As always, these tags are awesome, a couple of surprises inside. If something is wrapped, I call it a "surprise"! You're gonna love the tags! ENJOY!!!

FEBRUARY'S TAG SWAP ~ CLOSED

2012-01-13T20:25:00.000-08:00

FEBRUARY 2012 TAG SWAP NOW OPEN

2012-01-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone, just wanted to tell you that I am now taking sign ups for February's 2010 Tag Swap. If interested, click on "Tag Swap" under my main header~ Email me if you are interested.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

2012-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

We are wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year...good health, love and happiness! Sharing some special moments with you.......................

Steven being goofy in the picture then saying Happy New Year to everyone.

Our baby girl turned "21" years old on December. Happy Birthday Sweetheart...may all your wishes come true!

Merry Christmas Mama

I cry for you everyday~ I miss you

I hope you enjoyed my special moments of Christmas.

2011-11-30T07:05:00.001-08:00

JANUARY 2012 TAG SWAP CLOSED. LOOK FOR FEBRUARY'S!

JANUARY 2012 TAG SWAP

2011-11-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone~ The January 2012 Tag Swap is now OPEN. Please email me if you are interested.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with Family and Friends. A time for being thankful, making beautiful memories with the people we love and being ever so thankful for the simple things in life.

God Bless you and warm hugs, Velma

NOVEMBER SNEAK PEAK!!!

2011-11-06T20:14:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone~ just wanted to show you some sneak peaks of what's coming your way...soon! Lots of beautiful and awesome tags.

There will be NO Swap for December, but on Dec. 1st, I will open the January swap. That gives you the month of December to create your tags...maybe if you get a moment? (yeah right in the middle of all the craziness) so, if you're interested, please send me an email and I will sign you up for January 2012. That was weird just writing the new year 2012. omgosh................

I hope everyone is doing well. Now that the Holidays are upon us it's time for (Didn't we just have Christmas?) wonderful dinners and beautiful desserts, family and friends, Christmas Trees and lights~ I love the lights! shopping shopping shopping! Oh, and more shopping!

My favorite time during December~ my daughter and I usually go out to the Pleasanton Mall, CA~ and can you guess what we do? We shop, shop and shop some more, and then my legs give out and need to rest. That's when we go to the cafe at Nordstrom's and have lunch. I love their onion soup with all that cheese and their yummy dishes.

*HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU*

Warm Hugs, Velma

OCTOBER 2011 TAGS SHIPPED

2011-10-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday to all of you! Just wanted to let you know that your tags have been shipped. Everyone should get them either Monday (CA) and Out of State, by Wednesday. Wait til you see your tags, so get your projects ready for these fabulous creations! Hugs, Velma

SNEAK PEEK ~ OCTOBER 2011 TAG SWAP

2011-10-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

Here's some sneaky peaks of the awesome tags that are coming your way!!! You're gonna love every single one!

A Big Thank You~ to all that have signed up for my November 2011 Tag Swap! As I know you're all very busy with the Holidays upon us.

October Tags

For December: I'm not sure if there will be a December Tag Swap, a really busy time for all of us.......for those of you that want to do a December Swap, keep in mind, there could only be a few of us... send me an email and share your thoughts.

October's Tags

Hugs, Velma

2011-10-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

NOVEMBER 2011 TAG SWAP~ CLOSED

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA

2011-10-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

I honor my Beautiful Mama everyday, but today is very special. Today is her Birthday, she would have been 90 years old. Remembering every single moment with my Mama for all the years I had her in my life. I remember your smiles, our long talks, laughing together and you falling back on the bed or chair with giggles~ just warms my heart. I remember the "I love you's" and our kisses. I remember crying together. Today and everyday, I am missing you terribly. I am blessed, so blessed that you were my Mama. I love you a million times. Happy Birthday to a Beautiful woman...............my Mama.

NOVEMBER 2011 TAG SWAP NOW OPEN

2011-09-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know the November Tag swap is OPEN...and filling up fast. I have 1 spot available. I hope everyone had fun creating their October tags! Just waiting on a few more and then the sorting begins. With the Holidays fast approaching, feel free to do Autumn/Fall, Christmas~ whatever your heart feels like creating.

SEPTEMBER 2011 TAGS HAVE BEEN SHIPPED

2011-09-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

All of the September tags have been shipped! Everyone created such awesome, beautiful tags. You'll be excited and happy when the postman/lady leaves them in your mail box or at your door! I love all the tags I received! I'm going to put them on my mega ring so I have them at hand when I need that special tag to use in my mini books/projects. Thanks to all of you!

OCTOBER 2011~ TAG SWAP~ CLOSED

2011-09-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

Tiny Sneak peek of September's tags coming your way!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REIKO

2011-09-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

Reiko's Yummy Birthday Cake

Having some fun with a little bit of scrapbooking,

Reiko's beautiful daughter.

My card I made for Reiko, pocket and tag

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY COUSIN...I LOVE YOU

2011-08-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Birthday card using a corragated background, some bronze crackle paint (which didn't give me the crackle effect I wanted) a transparency and metals, and of course, flowers...can't forget the flowers! The bottom round locket opens with our picture together.

SEPT. TAG SWAP.....CLOSED

2011-08-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

IMAGE TAG SWAP

2011-07-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER TAG SWAP NOW OPEN.
See the little box under my blog header? Click on Tag Swap for details. This will be easy and fun!

26th Wedding Anniversary Chunky Mini

2011-07-23T10:32:00.001-07:00

Thank You.....

2011-02-08T02:18:00.000-08:00

For all the calls, text messages, comments and emails I received from all you. Your heartfelt words, so much support through the process of my Mother's illness even up to the end. Your prayers, cards, flowers, all the food and an awesome beautiful handmade "dream catcher". I can never thank you enough. Thank you for caring and just being here for me~ words cannot describe. To my special friends ~ I'm thanking you a million times.

I somehow don't feel like myself but I do know what's missing, as when my Beautiful Mother died, a piece of me died with her. If she were here she wouldn't like that very much. And I could hear her words......."You have a family to take care of, they need you, take care of yourself, do some things that make you happy, travel with Steven, go sit down and scrapbook, and clean out that garage and don't forget to turn off the garage light". If she knew how many times I go to my room and laydown crying, she would tell me "get out of that bed and wipe those tears"!

So, slowly I have been walking into my scraproom (which was once my Mother's Room) pick something up and put it right down. Can you tell I can't concentrate? Ok, maybe I can do one unfinished project. Everything I do is for about 5 minutes ~then I have tears and walk out of the room. This is a project that I started before everything happened. So this is the mini I would like to finish or should I say "try" to finish. Just trying to keep busy. Wish me luck. Oh, one more thing.............to all of you...........YOUR THE GREATEST! Warm Hugs, Velma

My Beautiful Mother

2010-12-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

I love you Mom and I miss you. I will carry you in my Heart forever.

Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow, but remember me in every tomorrow.

Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles.

I've only gone to rest a little while.

Although my leaving causes

pain and grief, my going has eased

my hurt and given relief.

Do dry your eyes and remember me

not as I am now, but as I used to be,

because I will remember you all

and look on with a smile.

Understand in your hearts I've only

gone to rest a little while. As long as

I have the love of each of you

I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.

HAPPY HALLOWEENY

2010-10-31T13:31:00.000-07:00

Isn't she just beautiful? I told Mom it was Halloween and she just relaxed while we dressed her up with the mask, hat and jewerly. Then we told her to make funny faces and she did! This day was a really "good day". Thank you God. One of Mom's nurses..............scary !!!! The nursing home was having a party and a lot of the staff came in to say hello. Mom enjoyed all the costumes. We tried to guess who every one was...it was hard~ as some costumes were incredible.

The Director of Nursing came in and put this spider ring on Mom's finger. She

loved it.

Ok...............3 mini's in the making. I have so much stuff out on tables, meaning, in my scraproom, on the diningroom table.........now I'm seeing stuff out on the kitchen table. And my work bench in the garage for painting, wet embossing is a total disaster! Thank goodness I have an awesome husband who doesn't bug me.......by saying, "get that stuff outta here!" He's so patient with me. So, I don't know what to use, as I am getting overwhelmed. Need Halloweeny stuff? Call me.......just kidding!

~MINI'S IN THE MAKING~

See those beautiful tag's?..............Read on.

~ Still working hard on these mini's when I have time~

No ribbons, etc. yet on the binding, I have a long way to go.........even with my burned finger, can't let that stop me from creating!

OMGosh.......look at these awesome "foiled tags" I received from Belinda Akers. She is the sweetest ever! When I viewed alot of mini's on you-tube, her mini just popped out at me. The incredible details were unbelieveable! The minute I saw her foil tags, I knew I had to have some. Being so busy with other stuff, these would have taken more time, plus, I don't own foil tags. She was a sweetheart and worked on my tags and when I received them, I was so happy. I love my tags.............thank you Belinda~ you're the best!!!! I also got alot of ideas from Arlene's mini. Thank you Arlene. I have never really made a Halloweeny Mini before, only a little house mini of my children when they were little.

I wish you could see these foil tags in person. They're shiney...the word is "stunning" when looking at them. It's going to add alot to my mini's.

See the tags in the middle top?.......these are for my Steampunk mini..............Belinda made these too! Her tags, minis, everything~ are just beautiful. Again, "thank you a million times" Belinda. You have helped me out so much!!! And I am honored to receive something you have created! These tags will be the final touch to the 3 mini's~ for my beautiful nieces.

A MUST "BE CAREFUL WARNING"

2010-10-26T15:34:00.001-07:00

So.........I thought I would do what I love most~ making "Velma Flowers", also to distract myself from a lot that is going on. I usually make a lot at one time, so when I need some, I have them ready on-hand.......well I got it on my hand all right !!!!!!!!! I don't really remember what happened except that I felt burning all over my hand and fingers. I had to literally peel layers of HOT MELTED UTEE OFF MY HANDS and my skin was coming with it. The worst part was my wedding ring finger. I have gotten little burns here and there, no big deal...but this was and is awful..............I'm talking PAIN for hours. I never go the doctor, but this night, my daughter insisted we go to the E.R...........OUCH!!! A chemical burn is not good. I took photos of my finger, but decided I'd better not show you. If you saw my finger, you would probably go and V.........., you guys know the word, add the letters omitt in it. I'll give you a hint, do you know what a "blow fish" looks like, with a lot of colors in it? My main concern is infection........(now I can't go have my nails done...HA HA!)

So~ please please be careful, not just when making the flowers, but any techniques we add to our projects. A good recommendation from the E.R. doctor, they told me to wear "safety glasses". I've never thought to do that. UTEE in the eyes? I DON'T THINK SO. I can't even imagine the pain and damage it would do.

So I was going to do some posting since I have neglected my blog, and I end up with this. Again (I keep saying this) I will come back with happier goodies to share. Just a warning to my beautiful friends out there~ to be careful. Hugs, Velma

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

2010-08-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, I know I said I would start posting, but Mom has been in the hospital for 6 days now. As soon as everything is better~ I will share random goodies and a few projects with you. Didn't I already say this...HA! But for now, I leave you with this (sorry~ trying to do this fast)

MARIE from Alohanmabuhay has changed her U-tube channel name and also her blog. Here is her new information~

artofmarie.blogspot.com (new blog)
artofmarie (new u-tube channel)

I hope this helps for those of you who have been looking for her. As always, she will have alot of awesome creations/techniques coming up............. iSN'T SHE AMAZING. What an AWESOME ARTIST she is! Marie, if you're reading this..........I love you a million times!

Big hugs to my family and friend's, Velma

2010-07-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been posting ~ I think it's been over a month! I've been busy.........just a lot going on.

I have some beautiful gifts I have received to share with you (some new and some from a while ago).............and then I will be sharing a couple of small projects.

Hugs to my scrappy artsy friends! Velma

2010-05-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

How lucky am I.................this is my beautiful mini that Stephi (withagrin) created for me! We decided a while back, that we would create a mini book for each other. We would take our time and just have fun with the process. This mini is called...."my mega mini", as it's popping with awesome pages with so many pockets and tags, flowers, so many wonderful embellishments. This mini is certainly a "Masterpiece"...and it's mine!

Thank you so much Stephi, my whole face was lit up with smiles when this arrived in the mail. I spent hours and hours going through every page, every detail, pulling out tags, touching every thing and also wondering how you did certain techniques! It even stayed on my nightstand at night so I could look at it. I truly love this mini and I will cherish this forever..........My Treasure !!! I'm thanking you a million times. Big Hugs to you!
I am sure I rotated each picture before I posted.............I'm sorry they aren't rotated, but you can still see the Beauty of this mini! I don't know which is my favorite page, because they're all so beautiful!

Turned the wrong way...........but it's still so awesome!

I love this transparency! "LIFE IS GOOD"

Opps, and another one upside down, but it's still beautiful! Omgosh! The third time I messed it up. I know I rotated these pics. But I'm not going to change anything ~ I'll mess everything up if I attempt it.

This picture is "priceless". I love looking at photos of my Mother. Thank you Stephi for adding this to my mini.

And yes, we are turned around again...........................................................I guess I'm not a very good blogger...posting pictures today... at least I posted this for the world to see how very blessed I am to have a friend in Stephi.

My Mother's Day Gift...For You Mom

2010-05-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

2010-05-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

To my family and friends

I'm wishing you a "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY" full of love, laughter, quiet moments.. just spending time with your loved ones... doing what makes you happy................and just having some ~ "simple moments" ~ which make for beautiful memories on your special day! With love and hugs to you..................Velma

THANK YOU

2010-05-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you..........for your prayers... your kind and warm ever so caring words. Reading with tears... every word you wrote helped so much. It has helped my heart to be settled. And for my friends who are going through hard times with your loved ones, I have kept you in my prayers. I thank God for all of you, for the beautiful friends that you are and what your friendship means to me. I have shared with my Mother all of your encouraging words. She smiles... with tears, HAPPY TEARS (she tells me to tell you.."thank you"). So I am thanking you "a million times". Big Hugs to you...........my special friends.

Busy with Mom

2010-04-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

I think I shared with alot of you that Mom was in the hospital in March, for 17 days. Now she's back.. again and it keeps happening again and again. Going through the aging process with my Mom is the hardest thing I think I have ever had to do. Especially when everything is "against her" with every illness you can imagine. I remember thinking lastnight; when I was young, I was free and didn't have a care in the world, just doing my own thing, working, partying, then getting married, raising our two children and being so so happy and feeling on top of the world (I never stopped to think, or to prepare myself for what I would do when my Mother got old and had alot of health problems). The years continued to pass, and now... ...here I am. Dealing with Doctor's, nursing homes, all the problems that come with it. And with all of this....loving and caring for my Mom is what she needs, and I do it all............from my heart. Trying to be strong and to keep everything together is hard. Sometimes you don't want to be the "strong" one anymore..........but I tell myself... I can't give up, I have to keep going. When a parent becomes elderly, the roles reverse. They depend on you like they are the child, never wanting you to leave their side, feeding them, brushing their teeth, tucking them in at night..making sure everything is "perfect" for her, giving kisses and then saying prayers. It's hard, it hurts, it's scary, it's frightening and I'm sorry, but sometimes I hate it. I don't hate what I have to do, I hate seeing my Mom suffer. No quality of Life, No Nothing. I feel blessed each time she looks at me and "smiles" as I want to remember those moments, the little things, the simply things.... but those "smiles" are becoming less and less because she's so weak.

I am a strong person when it comes to praying. I ask God for guidance, for patience and I ask for strength ~ but most of all, I ask God to keep my Mom comfortable. And when things don't always turn out the way I'd like, I ask, "why"? There seems to be no answers for me.

To my scrappy/crafting family: I ask for your prayers. Not for healing, because now.........there is no healing for my Mom. I just ask that you keep us in your prayers to get through each day and for strength to handle whatever comes our way. To All of You............you are so very special to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

2010-04-23T08:53:00.001-07:00

I just viewed the "video" that Stephi (withagrin) did on the mini, or should I say "thick book", I created for her. I could see how she was so touched by my gift, and this makes me so so happy and warms my heart.... that's she's happy! You deserve everything Stephi and more! To such a kind, caring and loving friend you have been to me..................One of my dreams is to come and take you and your family out to lunch or dinner, or just sit and talk or do whatever we want! OXNARD HERE I COME!!!

My Special Mini for Stephi (withagrin)

2010-04-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

Stephi and I decided to do a mini swap...........decided last year! We took our time, and boy did I ever take my time. To my "Special Stephi " thank you from the bottom of my heart for "being who you are" ~ I hope you will cherish this forever. Love and Hugs to you my Friend, Love, Velma

Sneaky Peek for Stephi (withagrin)

2010-04-20T18:08:00.001-07:00

My Beautiful Mini

2010-04-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

A huge "THANK YOU" to my friend's that created my beautiful Mini that Bona hosted. You have truly touched my heart. I will treasure each and every page forever. All the details, your artistic talent and your "time". I appreciate each of you................and to my YouTube family~ I appreciate all of you. The gifts I have received throughout 2009 to now, all of your warm and sweet comments~ I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I LOVE my mini.

To My Husband.........

2010-04-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

We met 25 years ago.................you are my "best friend", you are my soul mate and my "forever love". The way you love our children is incredible. I love how you take care of me, I love how you are always there for me through good times and the hard times ~ My life started the day I married you. Thank you for loving me the way you do. Happy Anniversary Babe. I love you.

I love you!

2010-04-15T08:29:00.001-07:00

You-tube

2010-04-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

I DO NOT, AND I MEAN DO NOT... like YOU-TUBE !!! They have changed everything! And since then, I have had so much trouble posting comments to all of you. It's so frustrating, I can't even go in and do the "send message" under the "profile" area. Ugh..................................!

I received my beautiful Mini from Bona, Marie, Stephanie (withagrin), Michelle, Arlene and Ruthie. I wanted to leave more comments and I can't. Tomorrow I will be posting my beautiful mini that Bona was so sweet to host. Thank you Bona and thank you to all my wonderful friends...you mean so much to me! Everything and anything I tried to comment on even the videos of the mini ~ kept telling me "error, try again". So I would hit cancel and do it again and again and the same error thingy would come up.............What's wrong with those people over at U-tube? I hope they have gotten a lot of complaints and will fix it in a timely manner............yeah~ I am impatient!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELICA

2010-04-05T21:43:00.001-07:00

My Timmy dies finally arrived and couldn't wait to use it on Angelica's birthday card. I waited til last minute and made this card in an hour, drying time and all. I think it's the fastest card I have ever made. I searched and searched for my green leaf vine ribbon, but no luck. I had to settle for the gold ribbon, but I liked how it came out. (I have since then found my green ribbon~ it's an older ribbon and was buried in the closet with a ton of other ribbons) Angelica loved her card~ so I was happy! Birthday Card Tag w/insert using the Timmy Birdcage............thank you Roxy & Samantha ~ Your PaperPantry..............

Messed around after breakfast at World Market. Found some hats and started messing around in the store, laughing and giggling, as usual.

Coming up~ special events and beautiful gifts from, wow, December 2009 to now! I'm way late!!! I'll be back..................Oh, and you guys are the best!

HAPPY EASTER

2010-04-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

I am wishing all my family and friend's a wonderful Easter. God Bless all of you. I also want to say, thank you for being a part of my life. All of your warm and caring messages, all of your beautiful gifts you have given me through my crafting journey, or "just because" just warms my heart. I feel so blessed and so special ~ THANK YOU.

A VALENTINE'S TAG WITH UTEE

2010-02-02T04:33:00.000-08:00

Here is another tag using the "Samantha Snowflake" UTEE technique. Tag measures 4x8- gold foil scraps- utee with Coffee and Platinum Stickles (and a pink Stickles)- Prima flowers- "Velma Flower"and Prima leaves. I hope you've tried creating the Samantha Snowflake! Enjoy!

Utee Technique Videos

2010-01-29T20:43:00.000-08:00

UTEE Technique "Samantha Snowflakes"

2010-01-19T18:34:00.000-08:00

This is the Christmas Tag I made for Stephi ~ Withagrin. I know many of you asked me to do a video on it, I've been busy with Life Stuff, so I apologize for it being seriously late! But don't forget, it doesn't have to be "just for Christmas", I will make a tag and post it on my blog, providing it comes out nice. Hope you enjoy my technique!

SOMETHING SO SPECIAL

2009-12-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

Would you like to see something so beautiful.........that you can't take your eyes off of it? OMgosh.......it's a "MASTERPIECE", it's truly a work of "ART". And I have a ton of happy tears, because it was created just for me. What have I done to deserve such a wonderful piece of Art? Head on over to Marie's blog..........THE PRETTY PAPER BOUTIQUE.blogspot.com to see what all the tears are about! Thank you a million times Marie! I am in love, in love with what I call a true 'MASTERPIECE'! And coming from you...it means the world to me. Marie, you have truly touched my heart. Love, Ate Velma

Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T22:45:00.001-08:00

This is for you Rosemary! I'm posting even though I can't get to my pics from your computer. Thank you for my wonderful Christmas gift and goodies and homemade "flan cake". Yummy.....we all need insulin shots for all the yummy stuff we ate this evening! (just kidding)

Rosie: we will find that paper line, even if I need to make an E-bay purchase! Thanks for searching Gelica! We love you.

Ok, so here's to staying healthy so we can make our Berkeley Birthday Road Trip on the 9th in "2010", Omgosh! Save your money baby!

After the Holidays, we all need to get busy and fill our Christmas minis with our beautiful family pictures.

Stephi, you are in my prayers to get better! I'm thinking of you........Warm Hugs to you.

Merry Christmas to all my friends. Stay Healthy and be Safe. Hugs to all of you ~ may God Bless you today and always.

Love, Velma

Busy Busy Busy

2009-12-04T06:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of my sweet friend's that sent me wonderful and caring comments on my Mommy! I will be sure to always tell her what you've said.

I've been busy with her as she went into the hospital a little bit before Thanksgiving. It's incredible to me that I can see the signs, even three weeks before going in. This hospital visit, I had to make a demand to the nursing home~ didn't listen to the doctor's orders of waiting another 24 hours before sending her to the hospital ~ she went immediately. Thank you God, for allowing me to listen to my heart.

Sure enough, my Mom was very ill. So ill, she didn't remember the ambulance, nor the hospital visit. She was in for 5 days (usually it goes past a week). I won't go into details, I'm sure you know how sad it is for a 88 yr. old woman to suffer, especially a loved one.

I want to just say this: I call you guys my "scrapbooking family". I'm serious, this computer thingy has allowed me to make such wonderful friendships. Warm and caring, and just so sweet. Again, thank you for your caring and warm comments.

~~~~~HERE'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCRAPROOM~~~~~

EVEN THOUGH~ you're friend (me) HAS MADE THIS UNBELIEVEABLE, AWFUL, UGLY, MESS WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE THE TOPS OF THE DESK AND TABLES (but I have this little trail for me to walk cause in some areas you can't even see the carpet!) IN MY SCRAPROOM CAUSE I HAVE PROJECTS GOING ON AND CAN'T STOP PULLING PRODUCT OUT AND I SHOULD PUT IT BACK RIGHT AWAY INTO IT'S PLACE BUT I CAN'T CAUSE I LOVE TO MAKE A MESS, GET MY HANDS INTO MY STASH AND DIG AROUND TIL I FIND THE PERFECT THINGY THAT I COME UPON, AND WHEN I'M TIRED AND HAVE BRAIN FREEZE~ I THEN STARE AT THE MESS ~ AND WALK OUT OF THE ROOM. THEN I'M FRUSTRATED CAUSE I KNOW I NEED TO GET THE ROOM CLEANED UP BEFORE I START PULLING STUFF OUT AGAIN.

We have clean and organized crafter's and then you have me! Who can't stick to what's in front of me when working on a project, I feel this need to pull stash out so I don't miss out on anything. But here's the good thing, I can clean it up right away, with everything in it's place (well, kinda)especially if I know someone is coming over.

And in the midst of all this, I have Christmas gifts in the livingroom that are sitting here that need to be wrapped! I do this all the time, I tell myself -as I buy a gift, wrap it! Cause every year they pile up~ then I spend hours and days wrapping. Let's see how many I can get wrapped today.

Hugs to all of you and God Bless you.

BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAY

2009-11-16T17:41:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful, ever so loving, Stephi is doing a BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAY!!!! yEah, and it's going to be a kit! I cannot wait to see who wins! Ok ladies and gents, go over to:

WithaGrin.blogspot.com

Good luck Everyone!

My Beautiful Mother

2009-11-04T08:17:00.001-08:00

Halloween Day..........My Mom was in such a wonderful mood, she felt good, didn't feel so weak and was so happy because my Sister and Brother came to visit. She enjoyed her costume that my sister put together for her! She even smiled for a ton of pictures! Mom, I love you to the Moon and the Stars.

ALCOHOL INKS

2009-11-01T23:38:00.000-08:00

Just want everyone to know, or maybe you already know..............PLEASE DO NOT PUT ALCOHOL INKS INTO SPRAY BOTTLES. It must become "toxic" when it hits the air. The spores get into your lungs and can cause you to become very ill. I heard about it, or read it, possibly on Tim Holtz' blog a while back (I read it somewhere~can't remember) This gal was mixing and making homemade ~ this and that, used her alcohol inks in a spray bottle and started misting. She became very very ill. PLEASE PASS THIS ON............................as I don't want to see anyone become sick because of this. Alot of these products are NOT MEANT TO BE MIXED TOGETHER....................please, just be careful when making your homemade things to add to your scrapbooking minis/layouts, cards~ and whatever else you create. Thanks for listening!

DSC Gypsy Market Kit

2009-10-22T08:48:00.001-07:00

For my September DSC kit, I used my photos from the August Expo. Here, Rosemary and I met Marie, Arlene and Bona. Rosemary saw them first~ she recognized them from their blogs! Alot of smiles and laughter!

On the front cover, I used Marie's technique~ tearing the cardboard to show the coragated areas. I love this idea! Thanks Marie! (A Pretty Paper Boutique). The thick lace piece from the kit I sprayed with Tattered Angels Mist in Olive with a little touch of Copper mist and used it to hold journaling spots and photos.

Lollipop Flowers

2009-10-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! gosh, it's been a while huh? I've been busy with this and that, and moving my scrappy space downstairs. Not thinking it was going to be such a large project, I soon discovered I had misplaced alot of things during this process but did carry around my kit from DSC, September Gyspy Market. Also, I was in the middle of trying to perfect my lollipop flowers. I cut the circles out, burned the edges (I learned from RoxyCar1) ~ put in the flower centers...........but still wasn't happy with them, something was missing!

I finally perfected them ~to my liking~ by watching Hope, from MsScrappaperScissors.blogspot.com ~ she did a tutorial on her lollipop flowers and added "stickles"! I am on a stickles kick now, and that was it! I used my stickles and I love how my flowers turned out! Thank you Hope for your inspiration! Your technique is exactly what I needed! My favorite stickles are the cinnamon and the new Coffee! I also love the copper! Take a look! (ok, my "image" thingy is doing it again..........so we wait, I'm so impatient!) Help! what am I doing wrong, as this isn't the first time this has happened)Mmm, still waiting..............

Harley License Plate Metal Album

2009-09-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

This is an album I made when my husband when to Sturgis,South Dakota. A motorcycle event where thousands and thousands of people get together on their bikes. I hope you enjoy this album, I loved creating it. I love looking through it so I thought I would share it with all of you! I went to a Harley Davidson Dealer and bought two metal license plates, one for the cover and one for the back.

Malta Envelope Album

2009-09-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

Opps, sorry, didn't mean a paperbag album (that's another one of my husband), it's an envelope mini that I cut from and Accu-Cut machine. It measures 4-1/2 X 6-1/2. I kept it pretty simple, not alot of embellishments. I guess I was too excited to get the pictures in the album.

FLOWERS AND STAMP

2009-09-13T06:13:00.001-07:00

Happy Sunday to All of You! I have been getting comments regarding this....Prima Flowers and Mini Book Stamp.

The White Prima Flowers are from "SimonSaysStamp.com"

The mini book stamp is from: "CatsLifePress.com"

I love my stamp! I saw a post on Connie's blog: memories-keeper.blogspot.com from one of her fun shopping spree's, she was so sweet in giving me the website. I have a few stamps from CatsLifePress, but, years ago, when I first started scrapbooking, I wasn't into Minibooks, so I must of scrolled right past the "mini book" stamp. Isn't it cute?

I have to say that I haven't really been doing any scrapbooking. Maybe in a rut? I don't know...........but, I am so excited to receive my first kit from Deux Shabby Chic! That will get my butt in gear! But, I have been trying to work on my girlfriend's mini book for her birthday...which was in August! I keep looking at it, not happy with the results, I sit there and analyze every stinkin little thing. Look at it some more, pull out more stuff, put it away, go back to it...ugh!!! I want it to be special for her. Ok, I will leave you with a little bit of fun, one of my very first, or second, not sure ~ Paper Bag mini I made when my husband went to Malta. Where is Malta you might be thinking? It's in the middle of the Red Sea! One of my husband's many travels! Here's the cover and a few pages. Hope you enjoy it.

Ok, I went into "images", hit "browse" saw my pictures, accidentally hit the wrong button and now I can't click on "images". I can't go back! I swear, my fingers aren't going in the right direction. I think cause I got up at 5:00 am and got right on my laptop. Must be tired still........duh!!! I'm waiting, but not patiently. Mmm, still waiting. Ok, this baby needs to rest (I guess).

Thankful

2009-09-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, I haven't posted in a while! But I wanted to say this ~ I am so so thankful for my family and certain people in my life.

Just kinda going through some "blah" stuff (you know, life stuff), it's amazing how you all calm my heart... when family and friends are with me to help me through these times- the times when I think I can't get through it...but I can get through it because of you guys, giving me a push and pulling me back up! I just want to say............THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend, ~ that you are all safe, and happy ~and together with the people you love.

Flower Technique Video

2009-08-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

U-Tube Video ~ Flowers

2009-08-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I just wanted to let everyone know, I don't do the "video" thingy. So many of you have wanted me to do the "flower technique" and are asking for a video.

All of you have been so sweet in sharing all of your videos ~ techniques, and giving me so much inspiration!

So, I finally completed Part 1 ~ 2 and 3 of my video. Yeah, I did 6 videos to find out that this uploading process is slow and frustrating. With the help of my husband and my close friend, Parts 1 and 3 went up on u-tube. As many of you know, I am having so many problems with all of this. Part 3 is there (that one took the longest to upload) but we can't find it on U-Tube. Stephi suggested to upload it again. So that's what we'll do. Please be patient with me.

I am so disappointed but I won't stop until it's there for all of you to see! I've learned alot from this video thingy (so many mistakes I made) and the U-Tube stuff..............I'M NOT LIKING IT!!!!!!

For the sweet comments I have received which are filtering through my emails, I thank you! Please be patient with me.

If it doesn't work out, my next "post" on my blog will be: Sorry guys, but I threw my digital camera and tri-pod, flowers, embossing powder and heatgun into the pool! JUST KIDDING.

So I leave you now to get to work on Part 3.

FINALLY ~ SANTA CLARA EXPO IS HERE!

2009-08-12T08:58:00.001-07:00

2009-08-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

Rosemary and I set out around 9:30 and headed to Santa Clara. It was that time of year again, EXPO! We missed you Gelica! So strange that you weren't with us! We also bumped into Arlene and Bona ~ GGS girls, I know them from the club and their blogs, meeting them was great!

This year, there didn't seem to be alot of vendors, some regulars were there and some were not! The booths were smaller. But the amount of ladies cropping, they had a house full!(one whole side are where the vendors are set up ~ other side is the "cropping area") I have yet to attend this "crop", they go for two days, early in the morning, to midnight. This would so get me into trouble, you're scrapbooking, you need something, and "wham"! You go a few feet and everything and anything is at your finger tips! I did pretty good with my spending ~ what helped me? I STAYED AWAY FROM THE TATTERED ANGELS booth! Last year, I spend about $350-$400! That's pretty bad! Even with the new products and colors they had at CHA, I still stayed away. Two times, I looked up and there they were. Rosemary said, "come on, let's go in" ~ "not me, I'm not going in"! And I didn't! I almost bought the new Sizzix Epic, handed it to the guy with some "dies" to hold for me. As I walked around, I thought about it, I decided not to buy it as I have had my "BIG SHOT" for along time now and it's works great! So I told him I'd pass, bought the "dies" and left. I wanted more dies, but they are not cheap! It's pretty bad when 5:00 hits and the guy on the loud speaker is telling you to "clear the floor". So there I am, still shopping. They literally mean it! They need to bring in pallets for the vendors and won't do this until the floors are cleared of shoppers. So I'm doing my thing and decide I really need to leave. Once we got into the lobby, there they were again...Arlene and Bona. And so, that's my Expo story. Until next time...............

2009-08-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

2009-08-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

And the "driver"~ to my day at the Expo! Guess what's coming? The next Expo will be at the Sacramento Convention Center! I go to all of them every year. The one in Sac is really nice. Last year, my husband dropped me off. I had two hours to look around and shop....I kept bumping into friends, but I didn't tell them I only had a short amount of time, so I kept trying to get away, that's pretty bad, huh? All I can say is you don't buy big things or alot when your hubby is gonna pick you up! If I saw someone, I would go the other way. So so bad of me. But that's what "EXPO" does to a person!

2009-08-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

2009-08-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Met up with some friends! And met a "Carol Brady" who would not leave me alone! The story is wonderful........her hubby is Mike, so get it? The "Brady Brunch"! She was fun and kept me laughing!

2009-08-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

2009-08-12T07:53:00.001-07:00

Bona, Me, Arlene and Marie! Marie, I found your blog lastnight! You are so talented in all that you create!

2009-08-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

And look who I bumped into! Can you Guess? Check out these "smiles"!

2009-08-12T07:47:00.001-07:00

I'm GREEN!

2009-08-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

Dan ~ The Cricut Man!

Santa Clara Convention ~ Expo

2009-08-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, one of my favorite times of the year, actually, twice a year! The Scrapbooking Expo! If you've never gone, you have to go experience it at least just once! I usually get into trouble, and I mean trouble with all the money I spend on my scrappy goodies. I can go crazy and usually do. This time, I am on a hunt. I recently pulled out my "Big Shot" and dies. The have a big booth filled with all the cutting systems and dies to go with them.............so much fun looking at all they carry!

I think the most fun I have is bumping into friends that I haven't seen in a while, we stop, hug, start talking, hug again, and off we go. I usually loose my friends and go looking around on my own. (they're use to me) Then through the day, I'll meet back up with them, we'll go eat, and go back to looking around and loosing each other again. I find that alot of it is the same, but every once in a while, one booth will have some really cool "findings". Ah ~ wouldn't it be nice to see some of the new releases from CHA. And sometimes they do get things in time for these shows.

HAPPY WEEKEND TO YOU LADIES AND GENTS OUT THERE! I never really show what I buy, but if I come back with something cool, I will share it with you!

My next big event/outting, "ROAD TRIP" ~ is CAMP CROP, Sonora, CA. We go every year, twice a year. Go back to some of my older posts and you'll see the big yellow country house where I stay in my P.J.'s for 4 days, to scrap, eat, nap, go into town, scrap, eat somemore and take another nap. I must gain 10 lbs. on every trip to Sonora! After all, who eats three full meals a day~ NOT ME. These 4 days are so relaxing!

Gotta go and get in bed or I won't be able to get up early. Arlene,Marie and Bona, if you're reading this, I'll look for you to say hello and give hugs! Be safe driving To Expo!

My Altered Book

2009-08-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

2009-08-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

I love this original handwriting here. It's kinda unbelievable after all those years, look who's hands it ends up in. Back in the day, who in the world would ever think to "alter" a book. I started reading alot of the poems in my book ~ truthfully, nothing made sense to me. But I'm sure someone enjoyed this Poem book very much and treasured it! If they knew what we were doing to their personal things, I don't think they would take a liking to that at all. They would call me "nuts"! And look, it must have been a Christmas gift too!

2009-08-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Here I added some tags and a flower, still need to "spice" up this page a bit more.

2009-08-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

On this page, I did a "niche". I took a lot of pages and glued them together, it needed to be nice and thick. Using a very sharp box cutter, I started slowly cutting to create the square window. I painted the inside, then added the owl, mushrooms and the moss along with little Prima flowers. We couldn't use a regular craft knife, as it wasn't doing it's job. I love this page.

2009-08-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

My book is so old, it was almost just shredding/tearing while i worked on it, well, maybe not that old, but maybe this book was handled alot, as it is a Poem Book.

2009-08-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

This is my altered book i did at my girlfriend's class, TheArtLife. I had to finish it at home, still alway adding goodies to it.

2009-08-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Random Things

2009-07-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday to all of you! I was looking at old pictures, posting, just doing my thing here, and this "thingy" popped up. I tried to continue and the "add images" wouldn't work. So, I'll have to stop for now and continue later. This has happened a few times during posting. I let my laptop rest (I guess it needs a nap at times) then come back to it and it'll work.

I'm getting the scrapbooking "don't know what I want to do, staring at product, touching it, flipping through the most beautiful papers" and walking out of my room! I have scrapbookers block ~ HELP! I will cut a piece of paper and literally walk away. Now that's not good! I've also been trying to look for my box of acetate, transparencies (but not my real ones that I run through the printer). A long time ago I ran out of transparencies. I went to staples. When I got home I realized I bought the wrong ones. I bought these because the price was cheap. I kinda wondered why, but bought them away. Then I realized they weren't the right ones. So I put the box away, remembering to return them. I never did. Now I can't find the box. I hope it's the kind that Arlene is making her goodies with. I want to try those two techniques ~ a pocket and some lollipop flowers. Arlene, if you're reading this, I am hooked on your awesome techniques. And thank you for always sharing.

Now can any of you give me just a little or maybe a big kick in my butt to get me going? As I do have a trade for GGS coming up............with no ideas in my head!

My Favorite Piece of Art

2009-07-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

Look What's Around the Corner!

2009-07-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

Has anyone thought about Christmas? It's around the corner! I went on Ali's blog and "BOOM" ~ they're getting ready for another "December Daily"! I had fun doing this. I started out with an acyrlic cover, put all my pages in with tag's, envelopes and embellishments. The point here, to put together the entire book before hand. When December comes, you start with "Day One" and go from there. It's all ready for you!(who wants to even think about Christmas? I have friends that start their shopping in August)

2009-07-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

OPPS ~ Made an Error!

2009-07-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Ok ladies............I apologize, sorry Bona! Arlene, it was your Blog too that I was on lastnight. You are the one with the "Acetate" technique! It was in the mini that you made for your Hubby...........so if you both are reading this, I love your blogs! Sorry for the mix up! That minibook was awesome!

Awesome Work!

2009-07-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday to all of you! Lastnight, I was on some GGS Blogs. I was so amazed and just kept staring!

These GGS ladies are so talented. I have to say I love everything they create. I get really happy when I see something new. A technique that I haven't tried. Today, I will do some inking and distressing on "Acetate". A cool idea from Bona's Blog. Oh, and I need to try and do some journaling tags that Hope has done in her "America" book, they are so beautiful. On Wheezie's mini ~ creating, or trying to do these folding thingys where they open out for journaling or photos. I can't wait to see her finished minibook. I hope I can do it, I don't really measure, I just eye everything. But with this technique, I better use my ruler on my trimmer.

From Wheezie's Blog, I saw at the bottom of her video where I could click onto more videos ~ I viewed a very beautiful minibook on "Laura Ingalls", the history, the pictures and every embellishment complimented this book so well. I would love to know who this person is so I can view her blog, there was no name, except for this: June GGS Part 1 and it goes into Part 2. She used her June GGS kit to create this fabulous mini and so much more. This mini was "thick". Meaning with all the pages and embellishments made for a bigger, thicker minibook ~ which I love. Ok GGS ladies, which one of you created this "Masterpiece"?

If anyone knows who created this book, can you please email me? velmagriff@yahoo.com

Thanks..............and I hope all of you are staying cool. This heating is really getting to me! Mmmm...maybe I should move to Oregon? (haha!)

GIRLS GONE SCRAPPY

2009-07-14T21:46:00.001-07:00

Products Used in this Project

2009-07-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

Maya Road Chipboard Binder Album 4-1/2 X 4-1/2
Lumiere Paints: Olive, Russet, Bronze, Crimson
Gel Medium by: Studio
Prima Transparencies
7-Gypsies: Stickers and Gypsy Market Paper
Flowers: White Prima sprayed with Glimmer Mist, Versamark, Clear Embossing Powder
Metal Charms: Flower, Keys, Heart, Swirly Paper Clip
Beads
Fibers and Ribbon
Tags
Gold Foil Borders and Corners
Round Scalloped Journaling Notes

GGS ~ July 2009 Mini Going to Oaklahoma!

2009-07-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

2009-07-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

2009-07-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

2009-07-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

4 Attempts!!!

2009-06-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, my beautiful friends..............I did "Video #4" today. Yes it was hilarious!
1. You couldn't see my book that well.
2. My book fell apart!
3. I covered up my face
4. When starting to show the pages, I heard the "snap", the minibook binder mechanism opened and the whole mini fell apart!

Do I dare try a video #5? One of them, I couldn't stop laughing, my head was laying on my scrap table when the camera was going!

I CAN'T SEEM TO DO THESE HIGH TECH THINGYS....I KEEP TRYING TO LEARN. BUT I'M FAILING. I'M TRULY BLESSED TO KNOW HOW TO DO MY BLOG..............I'm serious! Oh yeah, and to also put my pics on my computer too!

I DON'T KNOW WHEN, BUT LOOK FOR A VELMA VIDEO, it could be today or tomorrow or never. And remember: the name of it: "velma video #5"

Also, this heat is killing me. I'm so uncomfortable, you're gonna laugh, but I swear, it's too hot to go swimming. Gotta wait for evening time. Have a wonderful Sunday! Hugs to all of you.

ATG DISPENSER

2009-06-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Here's my ATG gun from a long time ago. I took the "guts" out and masked the areas with tape, spray painted it then added a sealer. I let it dry overnight, then added my rub-ons, bling, etc. If you look closely, you can see the original red color that it was. It has really been used! I use this dispenser for everything ~ it's great on ribbon! I had dropped it, cracked a piece off and thought it wouldn't stay closed anymore. It still works great. (oh ~ and to "spruce" it up a bit, to make it look good for this post, I went over it with the same rub-ons) Poor thingy, it needs an over-haul! (it goes everywhere with me)

The very first time I saw one, I told my girlfriends "there is no way I am scrapping with one of those red, ugly, big, bulky thingys"! Well, now I'm hooked. I bought this one because of the 1/4 inch tape. I love my ATG!

2009-06-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Inside of Graduation Mini Book

2009-06-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe this should be called "Graduation Thick Book". I had so many baby pictures of both my children, my work space became overwhelming with all the scrappy goodies staring me in the face. I kept pulling out product... and more product. I had the biggest mess going on. I didn't use half the of the stuff I had pulled out.

Clean up ~ that's a whole other story.(if you go into my blog to some older posts of the holidays, you'll see the mess we made with the Tim Holtz stamps, ink, etc.) But it was worth it because my daughter loved her album.

2009-06-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T07:54:00.001-07:00