The Sweet Life With Candy

The Happiness Project and Reorganization of My Blogs

2010-11-01T10:41:00.001-05:00

I have just finished a fabulous book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and have decided to reorganize my blog into separate subjects. At first I was just putting a lot of the things I did during the day into one blog but now I am ready to get more organized because of this book, The Happiness Project.

My first new blog will still be called The Sweet Life with Candy. It will be about my first year of living on Herbalife products and joining the sales team. I want to start on November 1 since all the bad things that happen throughout the year were cleared out of my life by my pumpkin that was sitting on the porch.You know, that's what pumpkins are supposed to do on Halloween, of course!

Today I am going to call Denise and tell her I want to get serious about Herbalife. I had joined a year or two ago under her. She is now working nonstop on her business. I admire and want to emulate what she is doing.

What I like about Herbalife programs are they are not only a great way to make money but a way to have a social life with people who are focused on a positive, healthy life.

So, for now, I just want all my friends to know the The Sweet Life with Candy is about my first year with Herbalife.

If you are interested in my travels the blog is called The Wanderer. I will be setting up an art blog soon but haven't decided what to call it.

Oh! I intend to loose weight so keep an eye out on the blog. I also love the shampoo, conditioner, and vitamins.

See you soon!

Upper Peninsula, Michigan Art Stamp

2010-05-07T08:43:00.000-05:00

I love making stamps! You can use them for so many things.

I made this stamp so I can send post cards to my family. I will use it next for cards to friends to let them know I am in Michigan, camping, writing, doing art and basically having a wonderful time.

When I start to make my scrapbook pages I will use the stamp on at least one page if not more.

Once I leave the UP I will cut the lettering on the bottom off so I can use the scene for borders. I might just tape over the lettering in case I return to the UP.

I came to Michigan with the intention of making stamps and not using them until I return home but, of course, that was not possible!

There is an art show up here in the fall that has five thousand people attend so I will have to have Denise send me some of my supplies for block printing so I can try to sell some of my finished products at the show.

I hope you like the new stamp. You can make these yourself. Just email me if you have any questions on how to do it. The internet is a lot of help these days just type in "how to block print" and a lot of great sites show up.

I am still tweaking the design. I will make the window edges wider, run the line across the top of the words to the edge, and I am thinking about putting a bird in the sky or maybe a sunset.

This stamp is made from a Mars/Staedler bar, Denise sells them. I use them for smaller projects.

I stamped on watercolor paper for texture but it would probably look even better on a smoother paper which I will do and then put some color on it with markers.

There are infinite possibilities with just one stamp, if you make your own! Just do it!

ATC Theme Literary Characters

2010-03-14T17:00:00.000-05:00

For the theme this month I chose Lokai and Bele from the old Star Trek Series, Episode 70 Let This Be Your Last Battlefield(screenplay). I decided to use the new art fad zentangle on my cards. I thought it would work since Lokai and Bele wore black and white and I am using black paper and a white Galaxy Marker. The show is a wonderful commetary on bigotry. The character development is great. Frank Gorshin plays Lokai. In the twelve cards I made there is one that, I feel, depicts the episode perfectly. I am guessing that a Trekie at the club meeting will be able to pick out that card. Let me know who figured it out. If you haven't seen this show you really should check it out. Here are a few of my favorite cards.

Drive to Yuma

2010-03-08T08:56:00.000-06:00

I had to drive 50 miles an hour all the way down! It was raining and windy. Towing the Honda is stressful. You have to have your attention zeroed in on the wheel every second and hold onto the wheel tightly. I can only do this for about 4-5 hours and them I am exhausted for the day. I hope this just means I will get used to it and it will become easier.
It was pouring down rain when I pulled into the Fairgrounds and it took an hour for the people to get their act together. The didn't anticipate so many last minute attendees.
The camper is now parked in a nice cozy little space with electric hookup.
I registered last night so I don't have to be at the opening until 3pm. I am going on a day trip around Yuma.Tell you about it tomorrow.

Little Black Buckets

2010-03-04T08:59:00.000-06:00

I think this little art project came out cute. It was a bit of a challenge because of the curved surface but it just took patience.
I found this nice little bucket at Hobby Lobby. I used a Marvy Uchida white DecoColor(extra fine) Opaque Paint Marker.

1) I turned the bucket upside down and put my website on it.
2) I ran an edge along the bottom and the top and let dry.
3) I turned the bucket upside down again and made squiggles all around the top.
4) I put dots around the squiggles.
5) I turned the bucket right side up and started to paint a straight line around the raised area right under the squiggles. I made another line around the bucket under the other first line.
6) Next, I made up and down lines all around the bucket between the two lines.
7) I took masking tape and made a straight line around the base(see center photo). The tape will be rumpled, you just have to work with it. Use the tape as a guide to draw a straight line around the bucket.
8) I decided to make flowers all around the center of the bucket because I am in Phoenix where the cacti are blooming. I was pleased with the outcome.
9) I put rocks on the bottom of the pail. Just little shapes that vaguely resemble rocks--keeping it fun and easy.
10) Lastly, I put some bugs above the rocks.
This was a cute little thank you gift for my friend, Sandy, whose has been showing me around Phoenix.

Tonto National Monument

2010-02-28T11:02:00.000-06:00

On my wanderings I went to the Tonto National Monument outside of Globe, AZ. The vistas and sights in Arizona are unbelievable. I can't wait to get up every morning to see a new beautiful sunrise, the superstition mountains, or drive to a new place to visit and see the heavenly views.
Here is a picture of me at the ruins. This was a 1/2 mile walk straight up! The trail was switchbacks but I still had to stop about every thirty feet to get up it. Thank heavens they have a lot of signs to read and benches to sit on! It was worth the trip.
Of course, I took a lot of pictures, and I thought this particular one (the ruins wall) would make a great post card or scrapbook page background. Well, that's what I am going to use it for! The lady next door to me makes coasters out of her pictures. I might see if she can show me how she makes her coasters and use this photo.
This photo of the view from the ruins is why it was worth the climb! Can you imagine waking up in the morning. looking out your window and seeing this view? Awesome!
Keep working on your art. The world is full of ideas. All you have to do is wake up in the morning and practice "seeing" the possibilities.

Post Card Art, Acrylic Painting

2010-02-24T14:20:00.000-06:00

It's 65 and sunny here!

I work on art in the afternoon. Here are some things I am working on.
I didn't bring very many supplies with me on this trip so I am limited to one black ink pad, scissors, double sided tape, a few stamps, watercolor paper and my trimmer. I decided I wanted to send some handmade postcards to my family so I stopped by the hardware store and picked up some paint chip cards. I know this is not a new idea but I love to do this so I am doing it again. This time I wanted to do something modern.
1) First I cut my watercolor paper into 4"X6" post cards.
2) I cut off as much of the print as I could on the paint chip cards and saved the leftover cuttings.
3) Next I stamped two post cards with a stamp I brought with me. It has a lot of faces and other things on it in 1" sizes.
4) I cut the stamped out images to fit behind the precut squares in the paint chip cards.
5) I attached the pieces with double sided tape.
6) I cut out a word that related to my trip from a travel newspaper and taped it on.
7) I edged the post card with black Stays On ink. In hindsight, I would have edged all the items with black and added a charm or a twig from outside.

I moved the images and papers around to balance the card and used the Paris part of the stamp to break up the squareness and it needed even more so I put the frame around the Paris stamping.

I'm struggling with transitioning from using oil paint to using acrylics. Ugh! I grew up taking oil painting lessons and painting with my Mom from the age of eight but these acrylics drive me crazy! They dry so fast and I get so involved in the painting I forget to spray the paint a lot or it turns into plastic. I'll get through it but it is a struggle! I hope you like my Indian. He's not done yet but I thought I would put him up so you all knew I was "working"!

I'm working on some zentangles I will post soon. I call them my Eternity People.

Rainy Day Art

2010-02-21T13:24:00.000-06:00

It's raining here so I am painting an acrylic portrait. I am reviewing acrylic painting techniques so I can get serious about selling my artwork. I am focusing on shading and skin tones on this painting.

I went to the swapmeet today. I found a beautiful handmade bracelet made out of silver forks. The lady who made the jewelry was so nice that she invited me up to her house to see how nice the area and weather is. She lives in the White Mountains. I will check it out when I get back to Phoenix.

Most people stay in when it rains so the streets were pretty clear today. It is still strange driving here. The old people drive extra slow and the young people drive the speed limit and everyone is polite so it is hard to tell when to pull out and when not to. It is taking awhile to adjust.

Here's a Phoenix photo to share. This was taken at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum outside of Phoenix.
Well, it's time to get back to my painting!

Arizona Side Trip to the South

2010-02-18T09:19:00.000-06:00

I'm getting my camper repaired in Phoenix. I had to leave the camper overnight so I decided to take a trip to southern Arizona. When I got into Tucson I visited the DeGrazia Art Studio. Here are some of my ideas I got from there.
Above is the entrance to the visiting artist studio. Karen is a mixed media artist. Check out her website at karengodfrey.net.
The flowers on the entry are made of metal and painted. I will print out this picture and use it as a post card and then I will use the card and family photos on a page where I make a post like in the photo around the top of the page. I will add my own hand made, painted flowers to match. I will enlarge and cut out cacti like in the lower right side of the picture. I will overlay the cacti in the lower right side.
With the photo above right I will also use it as a post card. I will use it like it is, sepia tone it, and enhance it on my computer so I have a lot of different post cards of the same photo. This photo is in the chapel of the DeGrazia Studios.

DeGrazia had a great feel for showing action in his paintings but he could also show other feelings such as this priest riding a horse in what I felt was a religious parade. I really felt like I was in the experience with the priest. I will try to convey that feeling on a scrapbook page. Maybe my theme will be my pilgrimage to the DeGrazia Studios. I will use the signature of the DeGrazia studio for the title, I will do a chapel page with the chapel as the main photo. The priest on the horse and the photo below will go on the layout too. Of course, I will add a little journaling, the place, and date.

My goal for the scrapbook page or layout is to convey a sense of calm like you are walking into the real chapel. I will choose the cool calm blue of the sky for the background and I will shrink the back photo of the shrine so it is smaller and in the back of the layout. That way the movement of the other pictures will give a feeling of depth.

Try out these ideas and I will see you all soon!

Side Trip to the Grand Canyon!

2010-02-11T18:16:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of me on my way to Phoenix in search of sun and warmth! I decided to take a side trip to the Grand Canyon. It was cold and snowy but sunny and beautiful for all of 24 hours! The Rangers were telling everyone the weather report of 5-9" of snow coming in so I opted to go on down to Phoenix. It was a 3 hour drive through huge beautiful snowflakes and winding roads. It was beautiful but exhausting.
The weather is a little cooler than usual in Phoenix but beautiful. The forecast is for upper sixties and seventies this week. It's going to be hard to concentrate on my book I am writing for All About Scrapbooking. Wish you were here! Love, Candy

Denise at CHA 2010

2010-01-28T11:45:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of Denise taking photos at CHA. She was having a ball photographing every idea she could see at the Graphic 45 booth.

Zentangle at CHA 2010

2010-01-28T09:05:00.000-06:00

Zentangle is a hot new art form spreading across the country. Find out how to do it from these Suzanne McNeill books by Design Originals! They will be on our All About Scrapbooking online store. Suzanne is always on the cutting edge of new ideas in the craft world. The books will be available after February 1.This is a photo of my second zentangle. It was very relaxing to make and I will soon be making shapes to zentangle and incorporate in my scrapbook pages and canvases.

Social Day with Sandy and a Little Scrapbooking

2010-01-19T09:26:00.000-06:00

Sandy is my new friend in Arizona. She came and picked me up and showed me around Apache Junction. I now know where the shopping, the hospital, and, of course, a scrapbook store is!
The store was twice as big as ours and had an awesome class area. I hope they will still be in business when I come back. The manager said they were having a very hard time of it.

Sandy and I ate lunch at Olive Garden. She is a nurse for the VA and loves it. We had a wonderful time driving around. We ended up at her house where I met her husband who is very nice. We used the Cricut to cut things out. I didn't know how to use a Cricut so she showed me how. Denise is the expert on the Cricut at the store and I am the expert on the Xyron Wishblade so I had never used a Cricut.

This first photo is of the managers camp site where I am staying. They have a small scooter that their young granddaughter rides on for a couple hours a day. She loves the scooter and knows everybody in the park. It's very cute to watch outside my window.

The other picture is of my camper. It is a 1983 Winnebago Warrior. I bought if off EBay a few years ago and I still love it. I plan to come down every year from now on in January and February maybe longer if things go well.

This is the owl I cut out with the Cricut . I made him 10" tall. I don't have my scrapbooking supplies so I don't have a specific theme but I could use him for an outdoor hike, a zoo visit, or a Harry Potter page. If I were using it for a Harry Potter page I would add more of the orange gold colors their illustrations show especially around the eyes. Sandy had some small envelopes pre-made so I used them but it would really look better with larger envelopes or something that looked like a post card. I would also put names on them. If it was a zoo page I would put names of different kinds of owls. For a nature walk I would put owl names and then add at the bottom of the page info about that kind of owl. A Harry Potter page has all kinds of possibilities. If you were at a movie opening or in line to see the movie you could put the names of the friends you went to the movie with on the envelopes. For the Harry Potter page I would add a little brown and maybe use some glitter on him.
Well, that's all for now. I think I will go for a walk.

Amore Valentine ATCs

2010-01-18T10:04:00.000-06:00

These are the cards I took to our January ATC gathering. The backing and heart are left over felt from another project. I like to embroider so I took some left over yarn and stitched it around the edges. I used DMC embroidery floss. I hope you like them. Remember you can also put these on cards and scrapbook pages. Last minute thought! You could also applique them onto a quilt with different words or family member names.

Last Leg of Phoenix Trip was Awesome!

2010-01-17T17:43:00.000-06:00

I started out from Gallup about 9am. It was pretty cold with a light frost on the windows. By the time I had gotten gas it was already warming up! I 40 West was one beautiful view after another. Today I passed a lot of Indian signs advertising their stores and cute teepees and animal sculptures. There were two scenic views I stopped at and they were worth it. One was called Sunset Point. If anyone comes down to visit me we will have to stop for lunch there and the way to the Grand Canyon or Sedona. Flagstaff had snow on the ground and was a joy to drive through. If any of you travel out west I 44 West, I 40 West, and I 17 South are extremely scenic.
I got into the RV park about 5 and have been calling and emailing like crazy. I found someone to store my camper for me for a month or two for $40 a month. I am exciting about that. Most of the professional places wanted to charge $70 and I can't afford that.
The camp ground is clean and nice. I was one of the last campers in the park so I am by the trash bins but I don't mind a bit. I will get to know people faster! It's 60 degrees here right now! Aw, the sweet life!

Gallup New Mexico

2010-01-16T20:36:00.000-06:00

The drive to Gallup was awe inspiring. As I drove along giant mesas appeared, purple mountains came into view, glowing red landscapes jumped out at me. I would drive two hours then stop to get gas and go to the restroom. That way my "driving" muscles would relax. If I don't stop every couple of hours I get hand and back cramps. Well, I am here safe and thought I would just let everybody know. Love Candy

Phoenix Trip Joplin to Amarillo

2010-01-15T21:10:00.000-06:00

I drove all day and am now exhausted so this will be short.
Beautiful classic views all day. Oklahoma teepee picnic area/landscape in Oklahoma with mist all over the dark trees surrounded by golden grasses giving off an orange radiance, an orange Texas sunset with fuschia and pink surrounding the brilliant orb/classic rundown Indian owned motel with a rundown "They Shoot Horses Don't They" atmosphere restaurant down the street that had fabulous sirloin steaks--I could use all this for art inspiration--watercolor landscapes and the motel and restaurant for a short story!
I love traveling and am looking forward to the trip through New Mexico tomorrow.
Adios!

Going Down to Phoenix

2010-01-14T22:48:00.000-06:00

I decided at 5 o'clock today to start my trip to Phoenix. I drove in the dark the whole time and it was great because there is hardly anyone on the roads. On the way down there was a huge, lit up mushroom that had a sign that said Morels.com. I decided to stay in Joplin and get a room the first night out, that way I could charge everything I brought with me. I'm not ready to use all the camper yet. So anyway I went to the mushroom website. You ought to check it out. I learned a lot.
The motel looked a little scary but it was cheap! In the end except for everything being old it was an excellent motel.
That's beautiful sheep across the street. It's morning and I am taking off now.

Scrapbooking Tip Paper Dolls

2009-12-22T08:26:00.000-06:00

Paper Dolls Paper Dolls Paper Dolls Paper Dolls Paper Dolls Paper Dolls Paper Dolls Paper Dolls Paper

I love making paper dolls! Here are a couple of paper dolls I have made in the past. I purchased black velcro and put a 1/2 inch piece of velcro on the back of the dolls. I attach them to a scrapbook page or card--that way a child can play with them or an adult can transfer the doll to another project.

Scrapbooking Tip Tulle

2009-12-17T08:23:00.000-06:00

   Okay, everybody let's talk about tulle. Tulle is a net-like product usually in the ribbon department at craft stores. It is mostly used for filler in wedding bouquets and other flower arrangements. Using it on a scrapbook page is one of it's newest uses and it can look awesome when you use it correctly. You can use it like you do wire mesh. It is usually used as a background.
   Many of you have white around the house from a previous wedding or shower. I would use white for wedding, baby shower, and summer pages. If you have miles of white tulle you could paint it with acrylics. It's messy to paint but is worth the effort.
   I think tulle looks best sewn on either by hand or machine.
   Try these ideas and send me some pictures so I can put them on the blog.

Scrapbooking Tip Bicycle

2009-12-12T07:57:00.000-06:00

I just love my neighborhood! There is always something like this bicycle in the Art District. I love art that makes you think! Not only does it say look at me but look for bikers. As I drive by I often think about what other four letter words could go on that bicycle. What about a scrapbook page? ATC? Card? I could digitally put my grandkids around it or make it look like one of the kids is riding it. One could change it into a paper piecing project! Isn't this just awesome! Check it out at 43rd & Main in KC.

Christmas

2009-12-10T19:47:00.001-06:00

Go to timholtz.typepad.com. He is doing the 12 Tags of Christmas demos.

Scrapbooking Tip Butterfly ATC

2009-12-09T12:37:00.000-06:00

1)I love these butterflies that I buy at Hobby Lobby, 6 for $1.99, and decided to make ATC cards with them.
2)I took them home and gathered supplies that I thought would work in a vintage style and would pertain to my theme "change". I cut ATCs in orange 2 3/8" x 3 1/2". It's important to cut off the extra 1/8" in order to get the butterflies in the sleeves.
3)The middle stamp has dots all over for a textural background. I used an old semi dry black ink pad and stamped all the cards. This gave them texture but the design recedes visually. I let it dry five minutes.
4) While the cards were drying I pulled the butterflies off their wires and tried a of couple colors for background cards to reassure myself that orange cardstock had been the right choice. Orange was the best choice!
5)I used the stamp quote about change with black Versafine ink on top of the dotted background making sure I stamped in a haphazard manner. Next I ran the ink pad around the edges straight up and down and then at an angle on the edges in order to make the cards look vintage. I let them dry a few minutes.
6) While the cards were drying I picked out a stamp for the back where I would put the ATC information(my name, email address, date, and card numbers--1/12 etc.) I also inked the back edges the same as step 5.
7) I made sure I wrote the ATC information at this step.
8) Lastly I hot glued the butterflies on the cards and inserted them in clear ATC sleeves. Tada!

I hope you like the ATC cards. I also use these butterflies on scrapbook pages and cards. The company makes a pastel set that look beautiful for spring and Asian projects.

Scrapbooking Tip Bead Bundles

2009-11-23T08:53:00.000-06:00

   Bead bundles are a great idea for bracelet charms, necklaces, and scrapbook pages.
   1) Collect felt in your favorite colors or to match a project you are working on.
   2) Cut the felt in squares all the same size.
   3) Spray each square one at a time with adhesive spray and stack on top of each other. Let them dry overnight.
   4) Cut them in smaller squares and rectangles with a rotary cutter. Be very careful while doing this--I almost cut off the tip of my finger!
   5) Find a big 3" darning needle and slowly drive the needle through the center of the square.
   6) Find an embroidery needle that will go through small beads.
   7) Take a double strand of embroidery floss and wrap it like a present making sure to take the needle through the center hole.

   8)Sew or glue two beads to the top of the bundle.

   You can leave a tail on the bead so you can tie it onto a bracelet.
   I made some of my beads in only two or three layers so they would be flat enough for an ATC card or a scrapbook page.

My Sweet Life

2009-11-21T09:30:00.000-06:00

   I've lost 5 lbs.! It shows mostly in my clothing. I put on a pair of pants, yesterday, that are usually tight. When I put them on I had to double check to see if they were the pants I thought they were! Awesome!
   I have more energy than I know what to do with. I get up early feeling awesomely positive and continue through the day with a steady flow of energy as long as I have 2 shakes and a healthy colorful meal. I plan my healthy colorful meal around eating with friends and family. The meals are big with a salad and meat and anything else I want. I try not to go too overboard.
   I do want to lose a little weight.  My goal is reachable. I want to lose 1-2 lbs. per week and this is week 3 so I definitely want to lose 2lbs. next week. I am sure it will come off if I start walking regularly. Up until now I have only been going for a walk once a week.
   I am slowly doing more and more because I feel so great. After 3 days on the shakes all my joint pain went away! For the last 4 years every joint in my body has hurt from morning through the night. Even my spine hurt! It was awesome when I realized what was happening.
   A few days after I started I was telling someone about how great I felt and I realized that my acid reflux had gone away! Really, I am not kidding!

Scrapbooking Tip Embellishing Brads and Other Metal Charms

2009-11-20T08:19:00.000-06:00

Brads are an awesome invention aren't they? For many years they were just used to keep papers together but since the advent of the scrapbooking craze brads have become plentiful in many sizes, shapes, and colors. A great way to decorate brads is to use rub-ons on them. I have used this idea on a lot of 7gypsy products. I like to use a rub-on on the back of Flair charms for their name, date of birth, or date of the event.

Scrapbooking Tip Dollar Tree Buy

2009-11-14T07:20:00.000-06:00

My parents and I arrived at All About Scrapbooking twenty minutes early so we decided to go to the Dollar Tree store, my Mom loves these stores. So we wandered the aisles and I came upon this awesome gel sticker that I thought would look really cool on a halloween, desert, or museum scrapbook page. The sticker was solid black and I thought it needed eyes. Purple eyes would have been neat but I didn't have them in my rhinestone storage box. What to do? I had some plain rhinestones just the right size so I glued them on with Ranger 's Glossy Accents. It needed color. I found my Stickles box but did not have purple so I used Ranger's Orange Peel Stickles and applied it to the top of the rhinestones. It turned out awesome as you can see. If you could see it for real you would see it is even more awesome! It's now ready to put on a scrapbook page. I am considering copying the advertising packaging on a more matte surface paper and covering the gel sticker letters with a title or the persons name.

Quotes for Scrapbooking--Think on These Things

2009-11-12T15:06:00.000-06:00

Dew Evaporates

And All the World is Dew

So dear, so fresh, so fleeting.

A haiku on the death of his son by Isa

This haiku has been a guiding light in my life since I was sixteen years old. Life is dear and fleeting so enjoy every precious minute you have on this earth. Let that thought guide you in all that you do and you will become more patient and compassionate with others.

Back Up!

2009-11-11T06:49:00.000-06:00

   Well, I 'm finally back up online. My pc was having trouble connecting. Apple said it was Sprint. Sprint said there was nothing wrong with the wifi card. Michael Green finally got it figured out for me. Bless him!
   We were very stressed here anyway. Denise almost died last week from a miscarriage. She lost a liter of blood and her blood pressure dropped dangerously low. Thank you to the doctors and nurses at St. Luke's Hospital.
   I have to go today but I will be back tomorrow with ideas and photos.

Sweet Life Shakes on Day Two

2009-11-04T12:09:00.000-06:00

   195.6! I'm on my way down with very little effort. For breakfast yesterday I had my favorite shake with peanut butter, banana, and almond extract.
   At lunch I went through McDonald's and had a medium coke and a double cheeseburger--one of my biggest vices. I don't like to eat out alone so I go through the drive thru if I'm out. If I am not out I do pretty good by making myself home made soup. I'm working on this issue.
   Denise had emergency surgery yesterday and it was such a stressful situation that I feel the shakes helped a great deal. Normally, I would have stressed over being thirsty and hungry and not wanting to leave the room but Michael went back to the store and brought us a shake. Therefore, I didn't wait until the emergency was over and pig out at McDonald's. Awesome!
   When we got Denise back to her apartment I drank a Passion Tea from Tazo so the thirst issue was taken care of again. I felt nutritionally happy and it was easy to go home, have a glass of water, and go to bed.
Sorry girls, no scrapbook talk today. I will be over with Denise making sure she is okay.

Sweet Life Herbalife Feeling Energetic & a Few Scrapbook Ideas

2009-11-03T10:15:00.000-06:00

   197.2! I think this is a good start since I didn't drink enough water, ate lunch at Wendy's with Mom and Dad, didn't drink my second shake until 9pm, didn't walk, and took my cell activator pills all at once at 9pm and still lost weight! By the way I wouldn't suggest taking the activator pills all at once. I had nightmares all night and that probably was the reason.
   Just think, I could have lost more weight if I had walked and drank more water. It's okay, though, I may do better today. The great thing is I don't really have to push myself about any of this right now. As long as I drink the protein shakes I am not near as hungry and the weight will come off anyway. I know this because I have been drinking the shakes whenever I am around Denise and I noticed I didn't think about food as much and I felt more energetic. That's why I really signed up!
   I made my protein drink with a drop of almond extract, and a small chocolate bar left over from Halloween and it tasted good. I have to get to the store because I love bananas and strawberries. I just might try them together. I think I will pick up some other extract flavors and Denise has been making a pumpkin pie shake that sounds delicious. I can't remember the ingredients. You could call her and find out how to make it. Call her and or leave a message at All About Scrapbooking or aascrapbooking.com if you want to email her.
   Hey, if any of you are interested in doing it with me email me at clworner@yahoo.com. I need three people to sign up before the end of the month for the powder etc. I would love to have some people to do this with since it is more motivating to have friends support each other. We could also talk about scrapbooking and maybe even work on books together! Also go out to dinner together since there are so many places to dine up north or even down by me on the Plaza.
   About Scrapbooking--I think I had some good ideas last night. I have old silhouettes of the kids from when we went to Disneyworld. I think they would be precious resized for ATCs and Scrapbook pages.
I also found a neat blouse at the thrift store for a dollar that had animals from Africa on them. I am going to cut them up and adhere them to an ATC card, of course, I will add more embellishments like a little natural colored raffia and a charm. I will make a couple extra cards for my scrapbooking stash. My last brilliant idea! ha ha is I have taken cork pieces I bought at the hardware store and stamped them with inchie cat stamps. Next I colored them in with sharpie markers. They are already sticky backed so they are just sitting there waiting for me to make them into refrigerator magnets, note holders, ATCards, and scrapbook pages, of course.
   I have just spent the last twenty minutes trying to remember how to get photos into my blog! When I remember I will put some pictures of the ideas on here. See you later!

Sweet Life News

2009-11-02T09:13:00.000-06:00

   Okay, I have to admit I want to weigh my ideal weight. I think I am a little envious of Denise and so I have decided to start the shake challenge. I 'm only 5'3" tall and should weigh 120 lbs. So that is my goal grow taller and weigh 140 lbs! No, I am just kidding. I would like to get down to 120lbs. My current weight is 198lbs. Now the whole world knows!!!
   I made a chocolate shake with peanut butter this morning. It was delicious. Denise says this particular drink helps her hide the protein powder flavor and I agree. I did learn not to put the peanut butter in first! If you do, it gums up the blades and stays in the bottom. Note to self--put the peanut butter in last!
   I plan to go for a stroll today and have another shake for lunch.
   Dinner will be lentil soup I made for lunch yesterday.
   I also plan to drink a lot of water.

Scrapbooking Tip Thrift Store Finds

2009-10-31T13:18:00.000-05:00

I found these cute purses at the thrift store. I am going to cut them down to fit a scrapbook page. I am going to try to send it through the Xyron sticker machine. If that doesn't work I will use glue and/ or a stapler. These will make darling travel pages!
Happy Halloween!

Scrapbooking Tip Cutting 5" x 7" Mats

2009-10-29T15:46:00.000-05:00

Get out one 12" x 12" sheet of scrapbook paper and your trimmer. Measure 5" from the corner of the page and run the trimmer down 7". Turn the paper and do the same three more times. You will end up with 4 5" x 7" mats and a small square. Try it! It works!

AASB Garage Sale/Pull-Ez Ribbon Storage/Renting Rooms at My House

2009-10-27T12:15:00.000-05:00

     I know you all are starting to clean house for the holidays and everyone will want to see your art studio, if you have it clean, so bring your "antiques" to our AASB Garage Sale by Friday for the Saturday sale! Call and reserve your table now for 10$.
     I am moving into action for one of my sweet life stages. I live alone right now and have two bedrooms empty. I am going to rent them out on Craig's list. That way I will have people around and I can have an income while I go on vacation in January and February. It's a good deal all round since it will keep my house from being empty while I am gone. If anyone knows someone who wants to live down by the Plaza let me know. The rooms will be 485$ a month plus utilities(ave. 100$)with kitchen privileges, a laundry in the kitchen, and off-street parking while I am in Phoenix in January and February. I am within walking distance of the Plaza, Westport, the Nelson, UMKC, the Kemper, Nelson and grocery stores, etc. Great location!
     I got an idea for a scrapbook tip from a customer today. She just bought a ribbon bag from us because she has so much Christmas ribbon that she needed 2 bags. What a great idea to have a Christmas ribbon bag that you can set by your Christmas wrapping station this year and also use for scrapbooking! I'm doing this when I get home.
    Let me know you are reading my blog and how you like it! Candy

Scrapbooking Tips from the 7 Gypsy Ladies

2009-10-25T11:43:00.000-05:00

Thank you 7 Gypsy ladies for this tip!
Lacing ribbon can be a pain so our ladies had us use a ten inch piece of wire wrapped around the ribbon (see insert to the right)and then inserted it like a needle through the holes(see above left). The knot is tied on the back. Voila!

City Diner Rivermarket pumpkins Kiss

2009-10-23T09:24:00.000-05:00

I just had to show everyone these cute pumpkins! I was at the City Diner at the Rivermarket eating breakfast and saw these cuties. For a penny you can vote for the winner. There were five to choose from but I thought these were the best.

Scrapbooking Tips Halloween Project to Hang in Your Window or Around Your Neck

2009-10-22T07:47:00.000-05:00

Halloween is just around the corner. I made this project in just 15 minutes. I used Tim Holtz acrylic squares, the largest one. First I stamped the bird in black Staz On ink on the back of the tile and let it dry a couple of minutes. Next I turned the tile over and used orange alcohol ink from Ranger to cover the whole tile. Let it dry for about 5 minutes. While the tile was drying I decided to use purple alcohol ink on the binder clip. I tested the orange to make sure it was dry and then stamped Happy Halloween and the Poison label on the top of the tile. That gave it a three-dimensional look. All three stamps are from the same set of Tim Holtz stamp sets. We carry all the products at All About Scrapbooking so hurry on in before we run out of supplies.

We have two great classes coming up this weekend. The 7 Gypsies design team will be in to run the classes. It's a great opportunity to ask questions about 7Gypsies products and get to know the ladies.

Scrapbooking Tips A lot of photos for a scene? Use a square punch!

2009-10-19T14:23:00.000-05:00

   Well, the weather is gorgeous and that normally puts me in an awesome mood. However, I don't know why but I am still in a bad mood. I decided that scrapbooking always puts me in a good mood and got all my stuff out and thought of an idea for you guys. Now, I'm in a better mood!
   Around the holidays one takes so many pictures of the same scene that you think you have to leave many of the photos out of your book but that isn't so. Take your extra pieces of pattern papers from your stash and cut your stash and photos into squares with a square or rectangular punch. Place them on your page next to each other alternating pattern paper with the photos. Move them around until you get a page that pleases you. Adhere. Add embellishments and journaling.
   You could also cut out solid paper squares and cut your photos out with a round punch and glue the photo onto the square.
   I'm starting my page now.
   I decided to scrapbook on my porch--what a sweet life!

Scrapbook Tips Rub-ons

2009-10-18T12:13:00.000-05:00

Cut out the rub-on with fine-tipped scissors. My favorite brand, I have four pair, are Cutterbee scissors with the non-stick coating. Put the remaining rub-ons in a plastic bag so they won't dry out.
First timers won't necessarily know this--take off the backing.
You can use the stick provided but I love my Rub-on tool. It has a ball bearing on the end that makes it really easy to get it on the paper. Rub on the image and make sure to peak a couple of times before you lift anything off so you can see how it is doing. The biggest mistake a beginner makes is not peaking underneath before they lift the image off!
If you don't like where you put the image or it is not on to your liking put a piece of transparent tape on it and gently rub it. Don't press too hard or the tape might pull up paper. Don't worry if that happens you can just cover the area with a sticker.
Many people say they don't like rub-ons but they are a wonderful way to make fast and fabulous pages! So don't give up. Take a few minutes and practice on extra paper. In minutes you will love rub-ons!

Scrapbook Tips Who What Where When Why How

2009-10-16T16:20:00.000-05:00

I've been working on several art projects today. One of the projects is, of course, a scrapbook page! I decided I would share a tip that I use every time I think I am done with my page. I use the old journalism tip about making sure you have who, what, where, when, why, and how. You need to look at your page and make sure you have all of these items on your page somewhere.

Who should have the full name. I know it seems redundant but what if this book ends up somewhere fifty years from now in a household that doesn't remember that person and there is just the one page. Don't you want them to know who it is? I do.

What happened in the photo. If you don't tell what was going on people can construct in their minds all kinds of things that did or didn't happen!

Where the photo was taken is very important. In the living room? In what city? What state?On Grandma's old rug? These kinds of details spark old memories. It gives people a feeling of pleasure when the memory is sparked. Many times the mention of a place will start a whole new set of memories and great conversations!

When is, well, you just have to let people know when it was. I can't stand it when people get studio photos and in the dead of winter choose a spring setting. You know what I mean?

Why are you taking the picture? Does Teddy look cute and very surprised when he opens gifts? Did he say a funny comment?

How did the memory come to be? Try to make sure you say something that will trigger a memory. Tell what was happening just before the photo was taken.

Halloween Day of the Dead Groom

2009-10-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

Halloween is just around the corner so I am making some felt plushies I saw in the magazine Cloth Paper Scissors. I thought I would show you all how good they came out. I gave one to my friend Jane. I am making about twenty of them and giving them to family. Let me know if anyone wants to buy one. They are twenty dollars, handmade, and took hours to make so they are a good deal. I am making a bride to go with him next.

Worner family night was fun. We went to Rosedale Barbecue and met at Mike's house. He missed all the fun. Mike is a mailman and had to work way late.

Denise won Dominion. Winning at "the game" is a big deal in our family.

Traci and the girls made chocolate cookies. I hope Katie will be a famous chef someday. She loves to cook and is good at it.

The drab weather is getting me down. I am thinking about leaving early for Phoenix. I am going to check the weather and ruminate a few days and then decide .

2009-10-11T18:20:00.000-05:00

We had our Artist Trading Card club today from 3-5pm. It is the second Sunday of each month. Our theme was "fabric". You don't have to do the theme. We choose a theme for those who are more comfortable with an idea already chosen. I rarely do the theme, however, this month I did use fabric. Pictures of our cards are on the aascrapbooking.com website, if you are interested. We would love to have more people show up. There are about eight of us who are regulars right now. Next months theme is islands--real islands, imaginary islands, literary, etc.

It's Sunday night and I was wondering what most people do then. What do you all do? Scrapbook? Email? Watch movies? Get ready for the coming week? Shop on the internet? I read, work on art projects, sew, and plan the coming week. Comments are welcome.

2009-10-10T13:18:00.000-05:00

The weekend has been going good at All About Scrapbooking. The Creating Keepsakes Convention has brought in a lot of customers. We have been doing demos and serving free shakes and tea so it has been very social around here. Come on in and crop with us, too!

Tabitha had her baby a wee

k ago. She calls Dylan Daniel "peanut" and he looks just like her, right now. He has the most beautiful head of black hair, about an inch off of his head. He weighed in at 8 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21.5 inches long. Congratulations Tabitha. Check out this picture!

As most of you know, I live down in the art district by the Plaza. I keep passing drivers who are going twenty miles an hour and as I pass I expect to see a senior citizen and what do you think I see? Twenty year olds trying to drive and text at the same time. It is becoming such a nuisance down here that someone decorated their car with a message. Check it out

Scrapbook Explosion Box Website/Andy Warhol/ATC

2009-10-08T11:43:00.000-05:00

Hey! I just found a blog that is really good for scrapbookers. It has an explosion box demo with just photos. I like this because sometimes I just want to stare at the project and continue from there. The blog site is lifeaslou.blogsome.com. Check it out.

Jane and I went shopping for cool stuff for our scrapbook and ATC addictions. We drove up to Weston and found a cute little antique shop called Two Squirrels and a Nut. I found a great little music book that I can use for all kinds of crafts. Jane found a couple of talking cards that were hysterical so she is giving one of them to her husband for his 60th birthday.

Jane and I are going to go to the Andy Warhol exhibit at Union Station today. That should give us a really good art boost. Andy ideas would look good on teen scrapbook pages and ATC cards. I am thinking about making a Warholesque canvas that I can make into a bookbag.

Those are my ideas for the day. Let me know if you have any good ideas especially for Any Warholesque art.

Faces in Places: Tree bear

2009-10-07T08:26:00.000-05:00

Faces in Places: Tree bear

A Day at All About Scrapbooking

2009-10-06T23:09:00.000-05:00

Today I watched the store while Denise and Michael were driving back from Phoenix. A lot of our regular customers came by which makes a pleasant day. Kathleen, Jane, and Jenny came by and we all gabbed. I heard that Tabitha has had her baby. I can't wait to hear all about the birth etc.

Denise made it home safe and got the U-Haul unloaded.

It's family night for the Worner family so we all met at Goodcents, ate, and met at Michael's, my sons house. We play a game called Dominion every week that is really fun. This week Michael won the game.

Tessa, one of my three grand daughters, likes to have me give her trivia questions about the globe of the world. She answers four questions and I give her a dolllar. It's fun and she learns a lot.

Scrapbook Synchronicity

2009-10-05T09:06:00.000-05:00

I just have to tell you all about my Saturday at the CKC Phoenix Convention! I was passing out business cards as usual to passersby. I say, "We're All About Scrapbooking from Kansas City," and tell them about our store special. Well, a lady came by, I said my skit and she said, "I'm from Kansas City and my parents live close to your store," and then it started. We felt like friends from the start. I told her about my plans to spend a few winter months in Arizona in order to write a couple of books about scrapbooking and she said she had just done some research for a friend and had the perfect place for me to come and stay. Our conversation continued, we had even more in common, of course, one was scrapbooking, and felt like bosom buddies when we parted. As I talked to more women throughout the day they would give me their card and tell me we could get together when I get in town! I now have eight scrapbooking friends when I get to my new winter digs in Apache Junction, Arizona. When I get the address I will blog it and any scrapbookers who are out my way are welcome to come visit.

Denise will still be at the store running it. We are in the process of video taping Denise doing demos. We intend to put them on our website as pod casts for free. We are also redoing our online store so check it out. Both of us will have a blog you can check out.

I will be at the store all day Tuesday and Denise will be back Wednesday. She and Michael are driving back from Arizona with the U-Haul trailer. They stopped by the Grand Canyon to see it and passed through Sedona, too.

CKC in Kansas City is very soon so stop by at lunch or whenever you get tired at the convention. We love to see you all.

Scrapbook Sweet Life Moment

2009-10-03T08:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we met over six hundred people! I gave out business cards, Denise demonstrated Ranger alcohol inks, and Michael was our cashier. While giving out cards I had what I call a "sweet life moment". I met a wonderful lady named Sandy Knight-McCleary. I had given a card to her--telling her our store was from out of Kansas City. Well, Sandy is originally from Kansas City in the vicinity of All About Scrapbooking! You all probably know by now that I have an old Winnebago Warrior camper and I love to camp. So I told Sandy I was looking for an area of the US to stay in this winter. She had just been looking for an RV park for a friend who is coming down to Phoenix this winter. She suggested Budget RV Park. If I came this winter we could be scrapbooking buddies. So now I am making plans to come back to Phoenix in January and stay until spring!

We have a Skinny Cow booth across the way that draws in anyone who comes to the convention. What luck! They give out free ice cream that is low cal and delicious. If you ever see it while shopping you should try it. People were coming by for seconds!

There is a scrapbook kit subscription service company here. What would you Kansas City scrapbookers think about joining a kit subscription service if we started one? I would appreciate your opinion on this.

I am going to look for new products and ideas for All About Scrapbooking today. Most people who came by the booth volunteer information that we had the newest and best booth. I felt really good about that. I'll be scouting at lunch anyway. You never know what could show up.

We went to Ikea again last night. It's a dangerous place! Denise and I both purchased items for organizing scrapbooking. Let me know if you want to know what we bought.

Off to the sweet life!

2009-10-02T07:32:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody! This is my first post and I am very excited about it! Now I can tell you about new art ideas I get, new products for scrapbooking, and the "sweet life" I am developing for myself.

Denise King, my daughter and All About Scrapbooking partner, Michael Green, her boyfriend and awesome assistant, and I, Candy Worner are in Phoenix, Arizona, today, selling products to crafters at a Creating Keepsakes Convention.

We are working hard and are exhausted each night but still find time to check out the local eateries and shop. There is a giant Ikea here! We spent two hours there when we first got into town and want to go back before we leave. Their items are well priced, and practical. Their furniture is wonderful and very sturdy. I would be careful about buying cooking pans from them though. The pans are pretty cheaply made so you would probably burn food easy. I've been there and done that before! All in all I would say it is a "must visit" store for all us "born to shop" ladies.

As to the "Sweet Life", I bought an Apple laptop computer a couple of weeks ago so I can "talk" to everyone while we are on the road. I found out if you buy your Apple computer from the Apple store you can get free classes on how to use it for FREE! for a YEAR!. I sign up for three classes a week in order to get savvy, fast, so I can blog to you all.

I researched blogging by quizzing everybody I met for a couple weeks, went online and typed in blogging, and found a guy named Andy Wibbles, who had written a book on blogging so I went to Borders and purchased the book. It's was a quick read. I am following what he said to do and here I am blogging!

Eating is entertainment on the road, of course, so we went to lunch at Margaritaville. Michael loved his coconut shrimp. The display was beautiful with large golden shrimp all over the plate. Denise and I ate half sandwiches and cups of soup that were very good. If you ever have a chance to go to a Margaritaville restaurant go because the atmosphere has island based decor and has great music. I loved it!

It's time to get ready for the show. I'll let you know whats going on there.

Candy

This is your first post

2009-10-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

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