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Describe Yourself

I recently took a PR class and part of an assignment was to come up with three words / things / people, etc. to describe yourself - it's harder than you think...  When you're a person who's been involved in the creative industry for years (and years) and have worn many hats it's kind of hard to come up with just three.  I came up with

Martha Stewart (I love to plan parties and make daily life special - but I'm cheap...) meets Honey I Shrunk the Kids (I love shrink plastic!) meets Marlo Thomas (I currently have a little flip in my hair that I've never tried before!).

How about you?  What three words / things describe you?

Check back every Thursday to see what crazy thing I'm sharing - it might be a new craft, a new trend, a new shrink plastic project (I have zillions of ideas!!!) or inexpensive ways to throw a party...

Until next Thursday, the Martha in me is planning a dinner party, the 'Shrunk' part of me is working on an amazing shrink plastic garden idea and Marlo needs to go make sure that flip is just right...

Enjoy your week!
Joan

Visions of Home

The last couple of weeks have been very emotional.  My sister-in-law's dad passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 61. A friend of the family created some amazing floral arrangements made with dried roses for the memorial service.  George was an avid guitar player and taught my fifteen-year-old nephew how to play and he bravely accompanied a photo montage at the service.  My hat is off to you, Justin, for an amazing tribute to your grandfather.  He would be very proud.








 George was a corrections officers and the friend did an amazing job replicating the symbol.  I was so very touched by the number of people who came to pay their respects - they stopped counting attendees at 650.  George was a wonderful man who will be missed by all who knew him.

While I was 'home' for the memorial service I took a little trip around the family farm.  My family's barn is really cool - we've had fun Thanksgiving dinners in there, we used to park our tractor in there and zillions of years ago, cows were fed inside.  Love the country living...(or at least visiting)











 Sunflowers near the barn.

 My 9-year-old nephew came over for a few days and we 'played' all kinds of things.  He LOVES the military and EVERY time he comes for a visit I get to go to the army surplus store!  He was so excited to try out his $8 tent.  He slept in it and I didn't sleep that night because every time he rolled over the plastic rustled.
 

 Brandon did lots of painting and sometimes it wasn't on paper or canvas...

I had some old canvases in my garage and now Brandon LOVES using them.  He created eight different paintings.  He's taking a Picasso style painting class in a couple of weeks and tried his hand at it at my house.

I made sure Brandon signed and dated each painting - a reminder to all of us that when we finish our masterpiece we must sign and date it!

Space Shuttle Astronaut Cake

Commemorate the last space shuttle launch with a cake that's sure to blast off into history!

Space Shuttle Astronaut Cake

What You Need

• Shrink plastic* or recycle clear plastic containers from the grocery store (look for #6 on the bottom of the container)
• Baking sheet
• Baby powder
• Oven or toaster oven
• Scissors
• Hot pad
• Permanent pens
• Aleene’s® Jewel-It™ glue
• Brown cake with mound of white frosting (see photo)

*Aleene’s® Shrink-It™ is available in clear or opake through www.Amazon.com or use #6 plastic (check out to-go and berry containers- check the bottom for the number 6 surrounded by the arrows)

Creating with Shrink Plastic

Welcome to the fun and exciting world of shrink plastic!  Shrink plastic starts out thin and when heated in a household oven, shrinks about 60% to the thickness of a nickel.  Available in clear which starts clear and remains clear when shrunk or opake which starts translucent and shrinks to a pearl-white finish.

To Make Astronaut Shrink Plastic Decorations

1. Place patterns under shrink plastic. Trace using permanent pen.
2. Cut out using household scissors.
3. Preheat oven to 275-300 degrees. Lightly sprinkle baking sheet with baby powder and place plastic pieces on baking sheet. Place in oven. When flat, remove from oven with hot pad and let cool. 
4. Color pieces using photo as a guide. Let dry.
5. Write name on cloud using permanent marker.
6. Glue shuttle support stick to back of shuttle, astronaut support sticks to back of astronauts and glue cloud to back of astronaut’s hands. Let dry.
7. Insert all pieces into cake.

                                                                   

Enlarge patterns to fit on 8-1/2 x 11 paper - trace one astronaut and flip pattern over and trace one more. Trace three support sticks.

 Directions to make the Happy Birthday Susie cake are available at http://stores.lulu.com/craftproductsatyahoodotcom

Web Design

I DID IT!!!

Whoooosh...I just completed a very intense six-week web design class AND I got a 100% on my final!!!

Now, to catch-up on my Craft Chica PR class - I hope there's no a final!