Bokeh technique

Bokeh is pronounced bo-kay.

It's actually a film technique

that photographers use to blur the

background and bring out an image

in the front.  So pretty and we've

all seen it.  Some genius figured

out how to make it on a card.

When I saw it I just had to try it.

I think it lends itself to a dream

scene which is why I put the

word "dream" on two of them. 

I think they are so beautiful!

Last night I went to pizza hut with the

sign group and met a deaf couple.

Didn't get to talk to them much
but it was a good experience.

Firekeepers casino

Not such a good time was had by

all...some idiot (who will remain

nameless) left her wallet at home.

She had never, ever done that

before.  Ever.  Moron.  Anyway,

the food was good, Cody loaned

me some money to play with-

I used 3.00 and that was enough.

Went to the craft store to get a couple

things since I had my checkbook.

Naturally.  Wrote the check-no

electronics for this store-gave it to 

him and wouldn't you know, he

wanted my drivers license? How 

inconsiderate.  So that didn't happen.

A few other irritating things happened

during the day, but the topper was 

when I decided to eat some 

strawberries and realized I'd left

them at the store.  It could have

been a better day.  On the up side,

I got a bill from the electric/gas co.

saying i didn't owe anything and that

I had a 38.+change credit for next

month.  I guess they settle up in

May when you are on the budget plan.

So I had a little extra money and 

bought some rubber bands to make

bracelets out of.  It's not like I 

don't have tons of them, I just get bored 

using the same colours.  

Isn't this a gorgeous waterwall?

No, we didn't play craps, but I thought

the sign was cool, so I had Pam take

a picture of the two of us in front of it.

Cody having a good stretch after

lunch.

Cody and I won a little here and there,

but it didn't add up to anything, esp.

since I was playing a penny slot.  I

think I won 65 cents at one point.

Pam, on the other hand, won 23.,

took the money and ran.  They both

had 10. credit because every once

in a while the casino sends them a 

"haven't seen you in a while" letter

and adds a little money to their account.

so she used that up, ended up with

23. and I think that was a pretty

good deal.  She was happy. 
Maybe we'll have a do-over sometime.

Found it!

I thought I accidentally threw away

my new lamppost die.  It

was only 10.00 but I couldn't

remember if I got it at Hobby lobby

or JoAnn's.  Now I don't have

to worry about it!  That's what I

get for keeping my desk a mess!

This card did not turn out right

because There were no instructions,

just pictures.  So I decided to try

it and since I am mathmatically

challenged, I kept making the wrong 

sizes.  Finally I decide I could

live with it.  I mean, it IS

hand made after all, so by

virtue of the word handmade,

it isn't perfect...

I guess it's OK.  I  like the composition

of it, but it isn't how the picture showed.

I don't think I will try it again.

I'm going to clean for a friend today. 

I hate it, but he pays me well.  He and

his brother just got back from Florida

so it won't be too messy, but probably

good and dusty.  And I'll have some

money to spend at the casino tomorrow!

 

Triple flip card

As I've said previously, I don't

usually make square cards simply because

they cost more to mail.  This one I couldn't

resist and I'm thrilled with how it turned

out.  The card is supposed to be 

made with a special die, but so what?

Why spend the money for a die when

you can make your own?  It looks

just as good (if not better) than the

one made with the special die.

Note to self: make sure you have enough

of the same paper when starting a 

project.  So the envelope will match

the tan piece in the third picture.  But 

I'm really, really happy with how

it turned out.

Tonight is the last class for level 3.  I 

definitely want/need to take the class

again. I also need to buckle down

and study more.  I am stunned at

how quickly I am forgetting words

if I don't use them much.  The problem

is that I don't have anyone to practice

with.  I am enjoying the new church

I'm attending and learning quite a

bit from watching Pam.  So I'm glad

I decided to give it a try.

I may not post anything on Wed. ,

I'm not sure.  Cody and Pam are

taking me to the casino in Battle Creek

(did I already say this?  If so, sorry)

so I'm looking forward to that.  It's kind

of a birthday/mother's day present to

me and Cody.  I lived in Las Vegas

and never set foot in a casino!

I was only 20.  I played the slot

machines in the grocery store, laundromat

(no kidding!) and other places, but

not the casino.  And who had the money

anyway?  So this will be exciting.

The Chief of the casino came into the

store where John was working years

ago to buy some furniture and tried

to get John to be the IT guy for the

casino but he said no because he

wanted to retire and not keep driving

back and forth to Battle Creek.  It would

have been pretty cool, though!

Baby cherry trees

My cherry tree is prolific

at reproducing so I decided last

year to plant a baby.  Three of them

were kind of in a clump, so I thought

one might choke out the other 

two.  Not so far.   All 

three are flourishing!  I've wanted 

a tree in that corner for a long

time and John said no.  So.... he 

doesn't get a say.  I'm thrilled with

how they are doing so far.  

Next year I will probably remove

the rocks around it.  I didn't

want them to accidentally get

mowed over last year while my

neighbor was mowing my yard with

the rider.  Aren't they cute?!

Now on to the new card fold

I tried this morning.  This is called 

a corner fold.  It is so cute and

came out really well the very first

time!  I'm going to send it to Robin

for her pastor's little granddaughter.

She is either going to or has had, I 

can't remember, a bone marrow transplant.

I'm glad they were able to find a 

donor so quickly.

I had to put something on the corner

to take the picture because it

doesn't want to stay closed.  It wants

to stand up and be seen!  But she can

put it on  her side stand and it won't fold

up.  I saw a challenge for using 

corrugated cardboard on a card so

I decided to get out my  little tool and

give it a try.  Unfortunately it's not

as tight as it used to be so I had

some trouble get a good piece.  This

was the best and it's not straight 

because I can't draw a straight line

with a ruler!  True story.  All in all

I think it is adorable.  the little

bear is popped off the pink piece 

and inside the butterfly is only

attached by the center so it 

"flies" off the page.  I love doing

butterflies like that.  It makes

them look a little more real.

This last picture is of my SIL's lilac bonsai.

She says it's about 20 now.  I wish I

had gotten a better picture of the 

full pot but the sun was so

bright I couldn't tell that I cut off

the bottom.  Doesn't she have the 

cutest faerie garden??

Well, off to get ready for church.

I am liking the new church so far

and learning a lot watching

Pam (my teacher, not DIL)

signing the sermons.

Technology. Big deal.

You would think that with all the technology

available in this day and age that

a coffee maker would be sophisticated

enough to compensate when you put

the cup under it upside down...

but no.  It goes all over everywhere.

Note to self:  make sure the coffee

cup is right side up.

This card is really cool.  You can't tell

easily, but it has a window sheet

where the wheat is.  I wasn't super thrilled 

with the size of the dragonfly, but

I don't have a smaller die and I didn't

want to cut one by hand.  This one 

was already cut anyway.  I really

should have taken time to make a

smaller one.  I still might.  It's just

glue dotted on, so easily removed

and replaced.  I saw another

one on pinterest yesterday, actually

two, that I can't wait to try!  They

are unusual folds and I love trying

different things.  The same fold 

gets boring after a while.  The problem

is that a lot of the unusual card

folds are pretty complicated with

lots of measuring and I'm not

good with numbers.  I didn't find out

until college that I was number

dyslexic.  I never knew there

was such a thing!  It explains 

a lot over the years....

It is supposed to rain today and

maybe even storm!  Of course, I

don't believe it.  The weather men/

women lie.  I could be a weather 

person.  Might snow, might be icy, 

might be sunny.  Your guess is

as good as mine...Especially in

this part of the country where the

weather can change on a dime.

Have a happy Saturday!

New dog!

Not me, two is more than I

can handle!  But Robin got a 

playmate for her dog, Belle.

His name is Noah.

Isn't he cute?!  And he and Belle get

along famously.  Apparently he's making himself

right at home, too.

The question is, will she share her toys?!

And to celebrate the occasion....

This is for a dear friend who has moved

a little bit out of Ft. Wayne.  Her husband

is a doctor and they started the church

here in Fremont.  They came over

quite often to visit John and tell him

about God and I think they are one

of the reasons he was saved.  They'll be back

to the church as often as possible, she

said.  I just want to let her know I'm

thinking of her.  She's really a wonderful

woman and although I don't see her often,

if I need to talk or have a prayer request

she is ALWAYS available!

Oh, and I did manage to get the lawn mowed
yesterday as evidenced by 2/3 of it in
my house, tracked in by the dogs.  Today
after lunch with Dianne, I'm going to
weed whip and pull weeds.  I need to
get some mulch and start making the house
looking a little better on the outside.  Some
new railroad ties would help, too, but
I'm not sure what I would do with
the old ones.