Olá Blogland Friends and Family

Now you know how to greet people in Portuguese!

If you have a Flickr photostream you will recognize this opening. Everyday a new greeting in a different language. My fave is OH HAI! that is hello in lolcat speak... hehe

If you are not familiar with that language, you are missing out on some of the most precious pet pictures ever! Go to http://www.icanhascheezburger.com/ and take some tissue as you will laugh till you have tears running down your checks. I promise!

Now for what I really came to talk about. Flickr. I joined Flickr as a way to share photos with my Oregon Country Fair family. I never imagined I would be using it on a daily basis. Just a once a year post of some pics I took so that others could grab them easily.

Oh silly me!

Then Jennifer McGuire came into my life. Most of you reading this know who she is, in fact I would bet all of you reading this do! When I became a fan of hers, she introduced me to the "lovely ladies on Flickr" I believe that to be a direct quote. After about the third or so time she linked to them, I decided to check it out closer.

Just what was this group all about. OMG!!!! Not only did they post pictures of the cards and projects they made but... and this is the biggest BUT of all... they left comments and supported each other.

They were like little mini "I UNDERSTAND" from all over the world!

I had to be a part of this. My heart, my head, even my stomach ached to be part of this network of fellow crafters that not only understood why we do what we do but wanted to encourage others to share and understand too. So many places were limited to just one style of crafting. Some, actually most, were limited to a very "advanced" group. Alot of places I had seen were only welcoming "ARTists". Crafters were ... well lets just leave it at ... unwelcome.

Now I know this is just one group of many on Flickr. In fact, this is the Hero Arts group on Flickr and Hero Arts is a wonderful company on it own. But there is something magical about this particular group. Some little spark that I have not found in any other group.

I was made to feel welcome the very first day and still feel that way every time I go there. I have not once witnessed anyone being anything but encouraged and praised for their work, time and effort.

I am proud to be a "Crafter" and I am so very proud to be part of this Flickr group.

Thank you to my Flickr friends and family. You make my life better, easier and so much more ENJOYable!

See ya round the pool, Linda aka Oz

Winner winner chicken salad..

or something like that... I don't pay enough attention to somethings. What I did pay attention to was the names that said they would like to have the embellishments I made last weekend. And the name pulled out of the hat (well actually a cereal bowl) was.... BLACKDRAGON! whoo hoo!

This is what she won....


and all I need now to make this happen is a address. Congrats Lynx.

till next time! Enjoy, the Oz

my little home

and me are such good buddies. I have managed to get my shrinky dink craft space organized enough that I can work in it anytime day or night. My kitchen is actually set up enough to make a meal. And I don't just mean the microwave is plugged in... although it is.
My bed is so comfy cozy and the morning light shines on my face just enough to wake me.
My bunny likes his new blankie I made for him and my cat loves to cuddle with me at night.
Ya know... life is good.

till next time, ENJOY! the Oz

CLOWN ALERT

I know that some of you are not exactly what you would call a "HUGE" fan of the clowns. So I am letting you know right now... DON'T GO ANY FURTHER INTO THIS POST! THERE WILL BE CLOWNS!

Ok, now for the rest of us... Send In The Clowns!!

These forlorn looking funny guys have been around for awhile. Just hanging out, doing two shows a day and eating popcorn. Waiting for their chance at the Big Top. Well their shot at the center ring is here! Barb at Stamp It Crazy has issued a clown challenge.

I used the Build A Clown set from Basic Grey Cupcake collection. I always felt that these boys were a little "MUCH" for a childrens birthday card. I had that "what were they thinking" look on my face when I first picked them up, but then I fell in love. After all my dark side is not that far under the surface.

I do hope you ENJOY, and sleep well tonite... hehehe
till next time, the Oz

may I buy you a drink?

if I had a nickle for everytime a handsome fellow asked me that question, I would be ... ummm 25 cents richer? LOL The guys in my neighborhood were more likey to say... "hey, get me a beer while you are up".



That brings me to this handsome dude. All decked out in his evening wear, slicked up, bright eyed and ready to PaaR-Ty!

This happens to be a sticker from a Miss Elizabeth collection called "Cats & Vats". I picked it up at the Dollar Store a hundred years ago and stashed it away with the rest of my hoard! Oh if you could see my filing system, shudder! But lucky for me, I do have a couple of brain cells left in the "where did I put that" section of my grey matter.

I am putting this handsome fellow up for the challenge of becoming the most "Victorious Vampire" in Barb's Haunted Design House Vampy Vampyress challenge. Know I now you are saying to yourself, "that Oz has slipped a cog, doesn't she know that Vampyress means female!" Well yes I do know that, but my Vamp and I feel that is a bit sexist on Barb's part. We hatched a plan to crash this little prissy party in protest! We stand before you and declare that we plan to show you that men can put the "VAMP" back in "VAMPIRE"!

So BRING IT ON all you VAMPRISSES! SNAP!

I am feeling a little drained now, I think I will take a nap.

till next time, the Oz

to my Valentine

I hope everyone in blogland is having exactly the kind of Valentine day they dreamed of.

till next time, ENJOY! the Oz

eerie inspiration

Using this photo of the entrance to a corn maze as inspiration, Barb at Haunted Design House challenged us devoted followers to dazzle her with our brilliance. Well she may have not said that but I am sure she really feels that way about us.... or should anyway.
After a shudder or two from examining this marvelous photo, I realized that what truly inspired me the most was the rich luscious colors. I prowled through my patterned paper stash and found this gorgeous rich deep brown that I then sent through a Cuttlebug embossing folder for a little more texture.
After stamping the Hero Arts Scroll Tree on pieces of Papertrey Ink vanilla cream card stock (highly recommend trying some), I tried my best to recreate the warm but vibrant golden oranges of the photograph using several colors of Ranger's Distress Ink.

I have a tradition of sorts when ever I use distress inks. As part of the clean up, I like to use scraps and bits for possible future use. I have a flimsy cutting board that works great as a craft sheet for the inks. So before I wipe off what ever left over ink, I spritz it with water and drag a tag, scrap or what ever bit I have laying around. I usually just set these aside to dry and then use them up later as backgrounds or punch stock. This time I futzed a little more than usual and made up 3 embellishments and a small note card.

If anyone out there in blog land is interested in having these in their home to use on cards or projects, please let me know in your comment and I will let Mr. Random Number Guy pick next Sunday Feb 21st who they go home with.

till next time, ENJOY! the Oz

double duty

I don't often combine challenges but this time they kind of fell in together. Everything But The Kitchen Sink's challenge was to use box tops. Box tops to me just scream KRAFT!! and I love working with kraft. So I knew I wanted to play along with this one.

The current Card Positioning System's sketch #152 was a real puzzle to me.
When I look at it, I see a hour glass shape. This shaped seems to be the top layer of the card. Then I checked out what the DT had made so far and they seem to be wrapping triangles around the sides of the card and having that be the top layer. So curious that I see the opposite.

Soooooo, being me, I decide to go with what I saw first and made a great big X to represent Hugs. I put this as a top layer and added a wee bit of Kisses off to the side.

Since I needed something to make my big ole hour glass shaped X out of... I ripped up a crackerbox and viola.... 2 challenges in one.

till next time, ENJOY! the Oz

sweetheart challenge

Barb and Dale, at Stamp It Crazy, came up with a romantic challenge for February that includes hearts and candles. Ok so the candles stumped me a bit. Hearts and romance I can do but candles...

I thought about picking up a candle at the Dollar store and decorating it, but I didn't get to town this week so that was out.

Then I remembered that I had a chandelier stamp. Dug it out but it is so tiny.

Then one more memory happened... (and that is a big deal at my age) I have a die cut for my Sizzix that is a chandelier... ahhh haa!

I hope this is romantic and candle-riffic enough for you Barb and Dale... cause after all that I forgot the hearts. oops.

till next time, ENJOY! the Oz

U turn

It has been a long time since I had played along with Card Patterns sketch challenge, but I thought I would give it a go again.
I had this card all set in my head using these bright bold colored flowers to go along with the new monthly theme at Hero Arts blog.

I have no idea what happened... don't ask.
yeah, I am with you.. I don't see any big bright bold flowers either... oops U turn!!

I was just working away and this is what happens all the time in my little Shrinky Dink craft room. I tell ya I am not the talented one at all. I am channeling some crafter from another dimension that just takes over and makes whatever she dang well pleases.

I was going to bring in a medium and see if we could exercise the demon but she makes such cool cards. I am kinda afraid of what I would make without her.

Anyway, this is my submission for the Card Patterns sketch #49. Maybe she will be in the mood for bold flowers next time. I wish she would clean up after herself...

till next time, ENJOY! the Oz

fun with purple

this week at Haunted Design House, Barb is making us abuse the color purple. Well maybe she didn't say abuse.. I might have added that in... but she did "suggest" we use tons of it in all shades.


I didn't really get in to tons of it, but I did get to playing around a bit. The first thing I did, which is unusual for me, is pull out purple ribbon. I am a patterned paper girl. When I need inspiration I go for the paper first. Not sure why I grabbed the ribbon but it is way to late in the process now to question my brain waves.



I came up with about six different cards using purple ribbon and trim. A few don't have anything to do with Halloween at all. Interesting turn of events there since I was suppose to be working on my challenge project. But I am way to old and slow to stop the flow ......




This one incorporates some trims that I have picked up here and there. The cord with the spiders has been hanging out at my place for several years now. The sequins trim is not quite as old but close. I also used my spidey embossing folder. Love that one.

This next card fostered a whole line of cards. Once I got started with the legs... well I don't want to give away all my secrets.

It doesn't seem to show up as well as I thought. Dagnabit. The legs are purple and black striped. You will just have to take my word for it.

Funny thing is, the project that I decided to entry into the challenge doesn't have any ribbon on it at all. Things that make you go .... mmmmhhh?

till next time, enjoy the Oz

purple haze

and there it sat,
that purple box.
tied up with chains
and locked with locks,
and labeled
"Kindly Do NOT Touch, it's WAR" my entry for this weeks challenge at Haunted Design House

till next time, enjoy. the Oz