With a Sad Heart ....

In April of this year, I mentioned on my blog post that my dear brother-in-law, Robert, had developed rapid growth melanoma cancer. It is with a sad heart that I let you know that Robert lost his battle last Sunday evening, July 13. We are so going to miss his bright smile, generous and giving spirit plus his big booming voice. It has been a struggle this week to do much of anything but we know Robert would want us to go on so I am making an effort to at least get back to normal.

Robert had always been very supportive of my scrapbooking and even made sure on gift giving occasions to purchase expensive scrapbook magazine subscriptions or special tools I wanted to aid me in my scrappy efforts. He always wanted to see what I had been working on and was very complimentary of my work. That is really saying something about Robert since even being a single guy he took the time to support and enjoy the efforts of his extended family.

I wanted to post one of his favorite layouts I did recently that he really liked since not only did he love the photos of his grand-niece Bianca but he even noticed that I had altered the American Crafts Pink Thickers I used for the title "Precious". I had used a pen cap and indented the foam thickers with dots and then filled the dots with a white sharpie pen ink. Robert thought that was a stroke of genious. Plus he was intrigued that I had used a tiny hole punch in the scalloped border along the bottom edge. He was such a great guy and really went out of his way to make others feel special.

Dear Robert, know that you were loved and appreciated for everything you brought to our lives.

Ever Sit Around and Wonder?

The other day a few scrap friends of mine were wondering just what types of materials the cuttlebug and various dies would cut through. Since I was restless last night, I decided to hunt down various materials I had lying around do my own experiment to find the anwer to that question.

Here are my results : If you use the regular size (thick) Sizzix/Ellison dies it cuts through everything listed below "like butter", clean edges on all of it:

Thick chipboard 1/8"
Thin Chipboard - like shirt box thickness
Transparencies Acetate - like those clear report covers
ACRYLIC - yes, 1/8" acrylic --- no problems at all !!
Thick felt with the adhesive backing
Thin felt with NO adhesive backing
Glitter Cardstock Paper -- like Doodlebug Sugar Coated paper or DCWV Glitter stack
Craft Foam - Kids colored project foam sheets
DCWV pre-colored chipboard sheets
Mulberry Paper - I know...old hat but I had some in my stash and wanted to try it :)

Pics below of some of the thicker stuff t show you how nice and clean the cuts were.



I have various dies -- sizzix thick, sizzlets, quick kutz, cuttlebug, etc. All the thin dies could only cut things as thick as cardstock...nothing thicker than that.Here is pic of my results to prove the experiment. Gosh I feel like I am in School again doing a science project :)

This weekend I want to play with some new Glimmer mist colors I bought and the new Glimmer Screens from Tattered Angels. What have you experimented with lately?

Gosh....Finally time to Wind Down !!

It has been a wild and crazy busy time of year around here!

4th of July we woke up early and went to march in the 4th of July Parade in our neighborhood. Loads of cute photos of all the kids decked out in their 4th of July gear.



Bianca won for "Most Enthusiastic Parade Girl"....she walked the whole route waving TWO FLAGS and singing at the top of her lungs....just too cute!!



Fireworks .... at our friends house!



Have you ever seen such a PATRIOTIC DOG ?!?!



I made a nifty necklace on sea glass to wear for 4th of July.....check it out. A pearly wax you melt and then can stamp before it cools off.