Snow Dog Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0sUL0KCIc48

USS Alabama Memorial Park

Well, it took me a couple weeks, but I finally processed and reviewed all the pics I took when I went to Alabama with Russel for his company holiday party.  We drove to Mobile on Sunday, Dec. 4, and spent all day Monday seeing a couple of places.  I had seen the USS Alabama long ago in 1976, but it is now surrounded by a lovely veterans memorial park.  Before it was just the battleship and the USS Drum, a diesel submarine.  So, off we went, into a cloudy misty morning.

First, we stopped to admire a B52D, Stratofortress, one of the old “tall tail” models.  I grew up around B52’s on SAC bases with my Dad in the Air Force.  They were so pretty before they covered over the silver and white with camouflage for use in Vietnam.  The one in the park is called “Calamity Jane” and she made lots of bombing runs.  The planes’ nickname is “BUFF,” for Big Ugly Flying Fortress.  That’s the PC name.  Click on any of the pics for a bigger look.

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Next, we went up onto the Alabama.  With Russel’s knees we couldn’t climb all the way to the bridge or very far down into the ship, but we wandered all over the main deck.

Russel tried his hand with the 10mm machine gun.  They had these all over the ship and they were used mostly to shoot down Kamikaze planes.

Each of these 10mm guns had signs on both sides reminding the gunners to shoot ahead of the diving planes.  According to one of the plaques, they got pretty good at shooting them down.

 

The Alabama had some pretty dam big guns on her.

From the deck we took a picture of the BUFF and the Huey helicopter, back grounded by the Mobile skyline.

These next two pics are a smaller version of the Vietnam Memorial in D.C.  This one has the names of the men and women lost from Alabama in Vietnam. 

The poem on the backside was particularly moving.  Click on it to read it, then back to return.

This was a memorial to war dogs in Vietnam.

I used to have a T-shirt that said this.  “I’d fly 10,000 miles to smoke a camel,” a popular saying after Desert Storm.

Next to the Alabama in the Air Museum was what I wrongly assumed was an SR-71 Blackbird.  One of the guides said that was a common misconception.  This was an A-10, spy plane, made for and flown by the CIA.  Seated only one pilot and flew higher than the SR-71.  Never had US Air Force painted on the side.

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That’s it for Alabama pics.  We backtracked to Florida that afternoon.  I’ll blog those tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) –:¦:- *** ((¸¸.·´*~Kathy~.·´*)****¨¨)) -:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Nov. Creative Images Meeting

We had a good turn out last night, but not everyone brought in an exchange card.  Ten  brought them in, either personally or by proxy, but a couple of ladies had brain cramps and forgot theirs.  I have a fist full of change to give Linda at the next meeting.  Hope she’s having fun in Chicago!  Before I get to photos of exchange cards, we had a lot of business last night.  To give members a heads up, here’s a brief synopsis.  Tange will have more details in the next newsletter.

First, Connie had to resign as president for health reasons, effective immediately.  Hope she recovers soon from her surgery and can join us again.  We’ll miss her. 

Second, Holly has to resign as vice president effective after December party.  She is dealing with her father in law’s declining health.  We’ll miss Holly, too.  I volunteered (I have to quit doing that!) to be interim president until our next election in February.

Third, the Christmas party at Priceless will be our last meeting there.  Bonnie has stayed on her own time for more than a year and needs to move on to other things.  Many thanks to Bonnie. 

Fourth, Oak Run made things so difficult, the January shoebox swap will be held at the Sheriff’s substation on 200 on Sunday, January 8, 2012.  Saturday was not available.

Fifth, due to Michael’s unreasonable charge of $50 to use their meeting room, we’ll be meeting at Hobby Lobby for the February meeting.  Date changed to second Wed. as Mondays are not available.  Fridays was the other option, but we agreed we’d rather meet on a Wed.  

Phew, hope I remembered everything.  I didn’t take any notes!  Next, pictures of our exchange cards.  The theme was “favorite technique.”  I asked everyone what favorite technique they used, but some were ambiguous, sort of “I like them all.” (I wish my blog program would make up its mind on whether to put photos side by side or not.)

First up, Rosie’s swing card using lots of Twinkling H2O’s for shimmer.  Next is Connie’s card, using pretty DSP, punches and die cuts.

On the left is Ella’s friend card using fussy cutting to pop up the butterfly and glitter.  Holly’s friendship card is several techniques.  She inked an embossing folder with green ink for the leaves, then sponged distress ink over the raised areas.

Janet did this hooty owl with DSP, punches, glitter and a cute owl embellishment.

Here’s my rose on shimmer cardstock, embossed and colored with reinkers.  Also uses DSP, layers, fussy cutting and die cut leaves, all favorites of mine.

Here’s Lona’s very rich looking King Tut on acetate with Pearlex powder.   

Pam made this friend card with DSP, embossing folder, layers and many punches. 

  

Theresa made her sympathy card with designer paper, ribbon, punches and stickers.

Tange made this Christmas card by stamping the tree twice and fussy cutting one to pop up.  Her favorite technique is 3-D.

I had the project this month.  I think the little sweet treat turkeys went over well.  I know the candy corn was really popular. You can watch the video on the hard way to make these at Connie Collins’ blog here.  Glue dots?

Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) –:¦:- *** ((¸¸.·´*~Kathy~.·´*)****¨¨)) -:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Mickey Mouse!

Had a marvelous workshop at Janice’s Saturday.  Mickey Mouse was her theme.  Janice always puts on a yummy spread and Saturday was no different.  Theresa did all the cooking for our breakfast party, including muffins, Mickey Mouse waffles, two kinds of quiche, bacon, lots of bacon, ham and sausages.  Did I mention the bacon?  I stuffed myself.  Here’s our gorgeous spread.  Most of us had our Mickey Mouse ears on, too.

 

Here’s the waffles!

Here’s pictures of Janice’s dining room and several of the ladies before we got started.  Mickey Mouse followed us to the dining room, too!

 

Janice loves Christmas season.  Can you tell?

I showed everyone how to make a yoyo with SU’s new Scoring Tool.  Here’s my sample of something to do with yoyos.  Most of the ladies got to take a yoyo home with them.

Sharon won this yoyo Christmas ornament in a drawing.

Everyone also learned this cool origami diamond fold.  They got to make a pattern to take home and make more if they wished.  I learned this technique from Wendy’s blog here.  Scroll down to her August 3, 2011, post for her tutorial.

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For the first make and take, we made this ornament card using the blossom builder punch, the greeting from Merry and Type and the decorative label punch.  We used Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder and shimmery cardstocks.  Most of the ladies chose to use gold ribbon to match their bows instead of the rhinestones.  Should’ve took a picture, they were so pretty.  I learned how to make this from Valita’s blog here.  Scroll down to her Sept. 23, 2011, post for her video tutorial.

 

This card shows the same technique, but using the ornament punch and a 1 3/8” circle punch.  I can also see this with hearts and scalloped circles.  Endless possibilities.

Same video tutorial showed how to make this ornament with the blossom builder punch.

Our second make and take went much faster.  It used the new Snowburst embossing folder, the ribbon lace border punch, two scalloped circle punches and the 1 3/8” circle punch.  Colors are Wild Wasabi and Riding Hood Red and the Holly Berry Bouquet designer paper.  The largest scalloped circle was cut from Glimmer cardstock.

 

Last, but not least, here’s the hostess gift I made for Janice using the Language of Friendship stamp set, the bird builder punch and the boho blossom punch.  I used a magnet sheet on the back so Janice can stick this on her fridge if she wishes.  I can see making more of these in my future.

Thanks Janice for such a great workshop.  Everyone had a great time. 

Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) –:¦:- *** ((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨)) -:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

Cards, Beautiful Cards

Wow, two posts in one day.  I received some lovely birthday cards and wanted to share them before too much time had passed since I got them.  Thanks to all of you.

This first card is from Patty.  That frog looks just thrilled to be another year older, sorta like me.

This came as a BRAK from Becca at Splitcoast.

The waterskiing pyramid card is from my sister.  You open it and it plays “Wipeout” by the Surfaris.  Listen to it here:

Jeannie gave me this pretty green One of a Kind card.  I should be so skinny!

  

Misty, my friend in St. Louis sent me this lovely little card with Boho Blossoms punched out and added.

Pat J. made me this gorgeous water colored card.  She stamped and colored the butterflies twice and fussy cut them to pop them up with dimensionals.  I wanna be Pat when I grow up.

Lucky girl, I yam.  Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) –:¦:- *** ((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨)) -:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)

October Creative Images Meeting

I finally got the time, the list, and ambition all together at the same time to blog the cards from the October 10 meeting..  I apologize for taking so long, but nobody complained.  We had ten exchange cards with our theme of “Tie One On,” but two of my pictures of them didn’t come out.  Oops.  More on that below.  Seven ladies participated in the ATC exchange.  Click on any pic for details and click back to return here.  So, here goes, in no particular order.  First, Therese made this Find the Cure card with printed ribbon.

I wanted them all side by side, but nope.  Just hit and miss.  Ella made this Father’s Day card with three (make that four) ties and Herman took what he learned last time and made this step card.  Colors came out horrible.  Herman’s card is actually yellow and black!

Holly made this craft tag with a 3D flower for extra bling.

Janet drew this tree freehand and fussy cut it before tying a yellow ribbon around it.  Cool! 

Here’s Jeannie’s embossed and ruffled gold birdie.

These next three pics are my origami diamond fold Thanksgiving card.  I learned this technique from Wendy’s blog here.  First pic is closed . . .

. . . open on one side . . .

. . . open on both sides.

One of the pics that didn’t come out was Lona’s card, but I found a pic of a project she taught a long time ago that has same black tie and dinner jacket.  Patty made the best wishes zentangle dress.

The other card I missed a picture of was Tange’s Christmas card made with SU’s Top Note die.  Sorry.

Next is one of the samples from the project Jeannie put together at the last minute to help out an overbooked Melanie.  Jeannie stamped a poem called “What Cancer Cannot Do” and provided everything to either make a lovely card front or bookmark.

Here are pictures of the six out of seven ATC’s exchanged.  Once again, my camera didn’t like Tange.  She did an ATC with a girl in silhouette.  Sorry.   First is Therese’s Magic of Oz.

This is Ella’s hilarious couch couple.  Good thing he has on a tie.

On the left is Holly’s Live in the Moment card and Janet’s mermaid with a wild mop of hair.

On the left is Jeannie’s Lay One on Me ATC and on the right is Patty’s zentangle lady.  Patty is really liking those zentangles!

That’s it for now.  Thanks for stopping by. Comments always welcome.

(-: ¸.·´* .·´*¨¨)) –:¦:- *** ((¸¸.·´*~Kathy.·´*)****¨¨)) -:¦:- ·· ((¸¸.·´* .·´*((¸¸.·.·´ *-:¦:- ... :-)