WORK IN PROGRESS

     Another week has flown by -- January can't fly by fast enough for me and it can take the frigid temperatures and snow with it!  It snowed most of yesterday, but the sun is out today and it's 38 degrees, so a lot of snow is melting.  Last week, we made it to Riverside on Monday to celebrate Irv's birthday and on Wednesday we saw the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", which we both enjoyed.  Hope we can get to another movie this week as there are several good ones playing. 
     I've spent a little time playing with what I'm calling "napkin art".  I've taken a piece of a pretty Valentine themed napkin and glued it to a piece of white chipboard.  After coating it, I antiqued it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and embellished it with a flourish which I've die cut.  It's truly a work in progress and I have more ideas for embellishing it, so hopefully I will post a picture of the finished piece in the future.  Hope you have a good week and enjoy!
                                        

JUST PLAYING AROUND . . .

     What a change -- the Polar Vortex has moved on (thank goodness) and it's 47 degrees today.  Too bad the warm temperature can't hang around, but at least a lot of snow has melted today so our roads out here will be much improved until it snows again.  While watching an exciting U of Iowa basketball game against Ohio (we won!) I decided to play a little with some Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks and Metal Foil.  Actually, I had watched a video yesterday which gave me the idea.  I didn't make anything fancy -- just cut out pieces of the Tattered Flower with my die, inked them, and assembled the pieces.  The petals were easy to shape and maybe I'll use it on a tag or whatever in the future.  It's really very pretty, however my photo doesn't do it justice.  I didn't take the time to set up my little "studio".  Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and hope that you have a good day.  I've got my fingers crossed for good weather for the next week!
                         

    

POLAR VORTEX

      We're in the "deep freeze" today -- it's -8 degrees as I'm writing this short post at 4:20 p.m.  I don't think I remember us having such cold weather before and it's not really the end of it yet, as I think we've got a couple of more cold ones ahead of us.  Needless to say, we're hibernating for a few days.  I have many things I could and should be doing, but Irv found several movies that have never been opened and suggested we open them -- we watched the "Titanic" this afternoon!  We did see it at the movies many years ago, but it was an interesting movie to watch again.  I wonder what we'll watch tomorrow!  No pictures to post today, as I haven't been working on any projects in the last few days -- just trying to organize.  It's hard to be creative when it's so very cold!  Can't wait until it warms up.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ? ? ? 

     Well, I'm happy to see a new year, but wish it wasn't getting off to such a cold and snowy start.  It's been snowing since about
10 a.m. and the high temp of the day is 15 degrees.  I'm not sure when the snow is supposed to stop, but I know the below normal cold temperatures are here for at least a couple of more weeks!  We are grateful to be in a nice warm house, but cabin fever will set in before too much longer.  I really have so much I need and want to do that I really shouldn't mind being home for a while, but I do like to be out and about too.
     This morning we watched the Rose Bowl parade, which was beautiful as usual and then we watched Iowa lose in the Outback Bowl.  Actually, I did have the game on, but was busy trying to make a tag to post today.  It didn't turn out quite the way I envisioned it, but since I was short on time, I decided it would have to be OK -- at least I'm starting off the year by posting on my blog, which I hope to do more often this year. 
     I hope everyone has a wonderful 2014!