Panama City Arts and crafts examiner

I got the job. I am in the proccess of doing some little things to move forward. I as so excited to share what I know about crafting! So if you know of a any group in Panama city area let me know. I can write all about them and it is a win win. I get paid for the number of people who read and they get free advertising through the PC Examiner.


I do think I will start with either a new online group since our area is Arts and crafts poor for having classes and a crafter or Artist being able to find information. Or with the local Painting groups. I guess I will see what they want me to write first when I get all the I's dotted and the T's crossed. Please note the Badge at the top of the page. That is one of the new online groups I have been invited to and it is awesome. Still in the creating stage but awesome!

The Joys of summer...

Wonderful writing group on Cafe Mom, I have just joined has journal challenge and it is to be about the joys of summer.  Really got me to thinking about things I love about summer.  Ok, so truth be known the first thing that came to mind was all the snarky things I don't like about summer. The heat index being over a 100 or more. The fact that I live in Florida and the state bird the mosquito  will carry you away if you aren't careful. Yea, this summer I have seen some that were the biggest I have ever seen. Then there is what seems like the endless days of hearing the sounds of video games from the den. Let's not forget the sudden down pours that seem to come just as you need to leave the house so that the 100 degree heat index becomes like walking into a sauna and so if the rain does not get you the humidity will.  Really over all there are so many things that make summer almost seem unbearable. Truth be told there are so many more joys to the wonderful season. You have so many tasty things that only come in summer. Peaches, blueberries, watermelon, tomato's, cucumbers, and beans and pea's by the bushel. I don't know which I love the most the tomato's or the watermelon.  I think overall the watermelon wins out.  With is sweet pink fruit. You can chill them and then sit on the porch and let the juice run were it will and enjoy a slice. My son and I have had fun sitting on the steps eating watermelon talking about really nothing and laughing. I can remember family reunions and dinner on the grounds of the Church.  Nothing is better than good company and a slice of cold watermelon. My son would say the best of summer is the blueberry bushes in our yard. He loves to run out and pick a quart or so and eat on the all day. We also like to pick a popcorn bucket full and put on a good old movie and much away. This weekend is ear marked for blueberries, watermelon and the 3 pirates of the Caribbeans movies.  I have to say I love the beach in the winter when the tourist have gone home and you can enjoy the sound of the water and think or clear your mind. During the summer is a whole different ball park and if you love watching people can be a adventure in it's self. Exploring the tide pools and searching for shells and sharks teeth, and swimming are things that make the day complete. I love how when we come home we are sun kissed and smell like salt air.  The days are long and the time we get to spend with our love ones is sweet as watermelon.  What tops my list is a secret I will share with you. I love the fact we get up slower with no rushing to get anywhere, being able to snuggle under the sheets and a just doze back off if you want. But for me it is the fact I can get up in that quiet time and write or spent time with our new fur baby a four month old tux kitten. She crawls up on my lap then I hold her like you would a baby. Sometimes she sleeps other mornings we listen to the birds and the sounds of the day coming awake in our corner of the world. Even here in the country there is the sounds of traffic as people start their day and morning train in the distance. All seem to move at the summer lazy pace as we wake from sleep and shake off the cobwebs of sleep and head into yet another joyous day of summer.

From Tweetpics of Jerry Bruckheimer. First view of Capt Jack

Drink up me heartys... Yo ho...  Feeling the need to go to WDW... LOL

Send a Teddy Bear Note at WiddlyTinks.com

Digi Stamps what are they and why oh why do you need them??

In my quest to reduce the clutter in my house. With the help and a push from a good friend Robin I have begun a to learn to Digital scrapbook.  Not that I have yet to find a reason for my scrapbooks to outlive let say my son.  Much beyond him I am sure those great grand kids are going to look at them as .... who the heck are those folks. In the journey I have found Digi Stamps.  Oh no here yet again is something for me to collect. They appeal to me on so many levels. They are simply black and white images you can download for free sometimes or purchase at different digital and paper scrapbooking sites on the net. Many artist also are now adding lines of digi stamps of their patterns and work. Such as Cindy Trombley  her site is http://www.paintingonjars.com/.  In a resent newsletter she sent a free digi stamp. Isn't she cute??

With her free and any digi stamp you can pretty much use them as you would a old fashion rubber stamp. The bonus to a digi stamp is you can print them multitude of times, they come out perfect every time. No more worrying about how hard you are pushing or if there was enough ink on the stamp. There are many different papers to try in your printer from card stock to photo papers. I have even had success with a pad of water color paper I bought that was 8 ½ by 11. You can store countless designs without having to find a way to store them and having all that bulk a stack of rubber stamps can create. If you have Photoshop or even Microsoft word these stamps can even be created in layers to make your own design. Now that you have a stamp printed out you can use them much as you would a traditional stamp. Color them with pencils, markers, pastels or even chalk. Add embellishments, cut layer and even add to cards, pages and even print them on printable fabric and vellums. Here is how I used Cindys, I was able to make 4 quick tag like cards to add to my Zentangles I sent out for a swap. I printed all four on the same cardstock saving paper!

Bottom Line the good about digi stamps:


They are often free and when they aren’t they are on the cheaper side. I find them much easier to store on my spare drive (no more boxes and notebooks of lose stamps to store) and hey when you list them alphabetically they are easier to find! I love being able to download them in the comfort of my home and let’s face it most sites even the ones you pay for will allow you to download in the middle of the night when all the stores are closed and you need a image to finish a project. Then there is the plus of being able to select print lets say a 100 and walk away from the printer and do something else while they print. Get your surface ready or even dinner.

There isn’t much to the down side of digi stamps:

Other than if you have problems opening your email and sending a reply. You might find using digi stamps on the challenging side. You are limited to the paper your printer will print on and the cost of the ink for your printer. If you think you will use digi stamps a lot… get a Kodak printer. The black in cart is only 10 dollars and to me it seems like it last forever! If you are into heat embossing you will need to purchase a embossing marker with a very fine tip and trace the image to add embossing powder. There are going to be images that you won’t be able to do this with due to the small nature of the lines of the designs. Digi stamps seem to be either for personal use or commercial use. The commercial use will cost more and each artist usually has a licensing agreement you must adhere to.

Zentangles .... Oh My!

Here are my Zentangles... well my version of a Zentangle.  I think the real deal is more to keep with just shapes not making a shape of a animal or flower or such.  But hey if we all stuck to the rules we would never have any fun or have anything different.  I am in Group D on the yahoo group Art for the creative Mind. It is a wonderful group that was created by Tolegranny and she pushes not only herself I am sure but all of us to dip our toes in waters we would otherwise not have tried.  Zentangles was my water of the month that I would have not tired without a push.  I have found they can be stressful if you let them. But the point is more to allow yourself to relax and doodle.  Once you can do the relax part they are fun.  But as in my floral painting and adding leaves... I found myself adding just one more shape... one more line.  I have to have a border on my tangles, oh don't ask why.  I haven't got a clue. Maybe it is I wanted them to look well framed? I have come to the thought I don't like the heavier lines I made.  Next time going to leave them out I think.

More Digital base pages for the book swap

Page two or was it one.. LOL Keni's before the elements.

Digital art work for base of pages for book swap

Keni's Before emblements were added.  I will post the after shots in a day or so..

My frist class project.... WHOO HOO got a A!!

This is my very first class project for PSE8 and what my Mentor said about it... I am soo happy I did the right thing and looking forward to correcting the photos!!

NICE JOB Sherry! NOT ONLY did you successfully CREATE your OWN template ... you've successfully created SIX clipping masks (that's the "official" name for the process you used when you linked your photos to the little boxes I had you make! I don't call it that in the lesson because it "sounds" complicated and scarry ... when, as you've discovered "masks" are no big deal ... right?)

I can understand what you mean about "busy", but because of your theme...and the movie...all the bricabrac is working for you. I like that you were creative with the template plan in the lesson (adding the side bar on the left).



One thing I'm noticing is that some of the photos look like they got stretched out of proportion. Review page 10, item 5 - esp the note on which control handles to avoid when you are working with photos ... that will help protect your photo's proportions.



YOU GET and A!



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Welcome to our Blog!

I am so new to this just learning how to get around and change things. Oh yea have to change things, I have PSE8 and I am bound and determined to learn how to do all this... Blogs, Elements, Digi scrapbooking. I figure by the time I am gone and my son finds my paper scrapbooks he will die laughing because I used paper! Besides with Digital you don't have to worry about being Acid free and just make sure you have back up copies!! So who are the bears and what are they designing? The bears are Daryl my hubby who is a Electronic Tech by trade but a Wood worker in his soul, he cuts all the wood I paint on and from time to time for the ladies of my local SDP club. Christopher our only child. I have always told him he was like Tigger... Cuz he is the only one! He is growing and the preteens are going to give way to the teens in the near future. But he helps by carrying wood, sorting paint, wrapping and help package to ship and is a all around good kid! He loves the Ladies up in Chattahoochee and has even created a ornament to trade at Mrs. Sandra's Christmas party. So he has creative genes too! Me... Sherry, I am a stay at home Mom. I handle all the orders Daryl gets for cutting wood and drive him into the shop when need be. I am currently working on a Chapter book for Christopher. I belong to several Yahoo groups which I have to say right now my favorite is Art for the creative mind, because it doesn't limit me to painting but lets me spread my wings and test other waters. Keeps my brain working! But a close to my heart is the Brush Bunch group of gals, they are wonderful and painting is a big part of my heart and soul. I am always at peace when painting. So, there you have who we are and what we do in a nut shell. Hope you enjoy our blog!!