Oriental Trading Company Brads

I had a $20 off coupon to use with Oriental Trading Company so I thought I'd buy some mini brads. So I did. And they got here. And BOY am I disappointed in myself! I'd already bought these EXACT SAME BRADS before (and I was disappointed in them then, so why did I go out and buy MORE just like the ones I already despised?)!

The OTC brads are VERY cheap (I guess you get what you pay for, huh?). The head is flat and rather wavy around the borders rather than having a prominent "cap" like quality brads have. Here's a photo (the OTC brad with the flat head is in the front, and a Making Memories brad with a nicely-formed cap is in the background):

The photo doesn't look like it's THAT bad, but it really is. And, here's a photograph from their website. The brads in the picture have very nice heads (which is why I bought them to begin with)--but these in the picture are NOTHING like the flimsy brads I got.

Website for the YMCA

Yesterday, the executive director of the YMCA where I used to work e-mailed me and asked me if I would barter with them. They'll buy Adobe Creative Suite 4 for me to use if I'll design and maintain a website for them. You bet I will--even though I don't have a clue HOW to make a website! I'm totally drooling over that software.

The only problem is that they can't order the CS4 until July because they've already bought their alotment of non-profit software. So, in the meantime, they have a spare copy of an older version of Dreamweaver that I can use to work on the website. I asked what version it is so I can buy a how-to book. It's Dreamweaver 8. I guess version 9 is when Adobe "took over" from Macromedia and made it part of CS3. So, version 8 is not THAT old, but still... it's not that new, either!

I checked out Amazon.com for books, and they are still available. I found two that I wanted, but they're $30 each, and I don't want to pay that much for old software when I'll just need to buy another book for CS4 when it arrives!

So, I bought Dreamweaver 8: The Missing Manual (4-1/2 stars) and Dreamweaver 8: Design and Construction (5 stars) from a used bookstore called Auriga Distribution. The first book was $2.71; the second book was $13.85. With shipping, it was $25--MUCH better than $60 for new books. Really, who cares if they're used books? Not me!

Anyway, the ED e-mailed me some examples of YMCA websites he likes and a couple of those he hates. I just hope I can design something cool that he'll like!

I need to get a move-on on learning Photoshop because I know there are some cool buttons and text/graphics I can use on website pages.

Adobe Photoshop CS2 One-on-One

So... I've started trying to learn Photoshop. One of the how-to books that I bought is called Adobe Photoshop CS2 One-on-One by Deke McCelland. I'm learning soooo much!

First lesson was on the Bridge part. I found out that I can add copyright info and keywords and rename all of my photos. Very, very cool. It'll take me hours and hours to update all of my digital photos with all of that info, but it's something I definitely want to do.

I'm sort of dragging my feet through some of this. The next two chapters were on "Highlights, Midtones and Shadows" and then "Correcting Color Balance." I can't see colors very well for Chapter 3, and I didn't understand much of Chapter 2 because the sample photos I got to work with looked just fine to me!

I'm on Lesson 4 now. It's on "Making Selections" which I REALLY needed to learn. I could get the marching ants, but I never knew how to make them go away (Ctrl-D). So far, I've taken a scarecrow and put it into the foreground of a farmhouse photo then blurred the farmhouse to make it look more realistic; next I moved a moon onto a red sky, then added all that to a picture of a road--then I turned the whole picture red for some reason (I wasn't really sure about why I did that part); and finally, I'm adding the picture of a courthouse to a picture of some fireworks. That last part is really cool, however, I'm also supposed to add a gradient to the courthouse so that it's darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, but it has some reddish highlights that simulate it being lit by fireworks.

All of those Lesson 4 projects are GREAT! However, I don't have ANY concept of photographic composition/realism, and I don't know what looks realistic and what doesn't! He said I can skip to the next lesson if the composite photo looks good enough to me. I'm afraid I'm going to miss something essential, though, so I don't want to skip anything!

I'm going to keep plugging away at it; I'm determined to learn how this stinking software works!

Digital Freebies!

Wow! There are some very, very talented digital artists out there. Today, I downloaded several Designs by Rozie freebies from www.digitalscrapcafe.com. The reason I'm in pursuit of freebies is because #1 I don't have alot of money to spend on digital papers and elements and #2 this is a new hobby for me, and I want to make sure it "sticks" before I do spend a bunch of money!!!

I'll make a couple of layouts out of the freebie papers and post them maybe later today.

2009 Biggy Iggy Auction Blog Hits

My posts on the Biggy Iggy Auction have been getting alot of hits from Google searches. I just did a search for "Biggy Iggy Auction", and almost ALL of the entries that pop up on the first page are from my blog or my Flickr. There is one link to the 2007 auction being closed. I wonder how they can advertise it better considering the auction opens in just a few days???

Well... the good news is that people can see a preview of what I'm offering and maybe they'll want to bid on any of it.

Here are links to my other blog entries in case anyone is interested:

The 2009 Biggy Iggy Auction!
2009 Biggy Iggy Auction Items
Birthday Cards for the 2009 Biggy Iggy Auction

Original Pastel of an Italian Greyhound!!!

Oh, YAY, YAY, YAY!!! I just checked out Mary Detwiler's Etsy store again, and guess what I found? Another original pastel of an Italian Greyhound! How great is that??? So, of course, I BOUGHT IT!!! (Brian's gonna kill me!).

I don't think Mary will mind if I post links to her website and her Etsy Store since told me on my last pastel purchase that it was okay.

This time, I'm not sure if the little dog looks like Iggy Pop or Stuart Little--doesn't matter, it's an original piece of artwork, and I HAD to have it!

Here's a photo of the art work:

And, what's really funny is that I have photos of both Iggy Pop and Mylo with tulips:

Photo Layouts!!! They look GREAT!

I'm so pleased! I uploaded my digital scrapbook layouts to the Walmart photo center, and BGR picked them up this morning. They look GREAT!

I had to export them from My Memories Suite to .jpg files. Then I opened them in Picture It! (which I'll continue to do until I figure out how to use Photoshop); shrunk them the tiniest little tad to fit 8" wide and then added a 2" strip of digital paper along the bottom to fill up the 10" length. When I got them, I was pleased to see that the layouts fully spanned the 8" width. I wasn't sure if they'd have a white border around them or not, but they don't (yay!). Next, I trimmed off the 2" strip at the bottom (which I'll use for something else since it's patterned) and added the layouts to my growing 8x8 album!

Organizing my Digital Scrapbooking Accessories...

Hmmm... I've already figured out that I've screwed up a number of papers and embellishments that I've downloaded to use for digital scrapbooking layouts. I'd like to post the layouts on this blog, but I don't know the source of some of them so I won't. Also, I've already "lost" the patterned paper I did of Ozzy. I have no idea where I filed it (and I think it's one I paid for so that makes me a little miffed that I can't find it again).

I just went through my files and created new folders in the My Memories Suite Program Files: Backgrounds/Themes/Downloaded Papers/Source/Artist and Paper Title. That sounds like alot of files to be digging through, but at least I'll know where I got them and who created them. Also, I made matching folders on the embellishments side of things.

Somebody's reading my blog!

Oh JOY! Somebody is actually reading this blog and making comments on it. I know I the counter says I've had over 1,400 hits, but I've only gotten 3 comments so far (and one was from my brother so that doesn't really count) (and half of those hits are because StatCounter often times logs my own visits when it shouldn't).

Thanks, Lori, for reading and commenting. I checked out your blog, and you have some really great layouts!

Polaroid My Memories Suite Review #2

I played around for awhile yesterday in My Memories Suite. There are a few things that are quite annoying with it--the biggest thing is that my keyboard shortcuts won't work (I'm a keyboard person rather than a mouse person).

Second, I can't select multiple objects and do the same function to them all at the same time. For example, I had a layout with three photos on it, and I wanted to add a drop-shadow to them all. I had to individually select the photos and mash the drop-shadow button for each one. It's not a big deal, but that could be better. Plus, I had some alpha letters that were embellishments. I can't select all of them and resize them at the same time so they're the same size--I have to select each one individually and resize them. And, on the same letters, I wanted to rotate them slightly. I made them a group so I could rotate the entire "piece." Unfortunately, I can't do that since they're all grouped together. What a pain!

Also, I can't center text within a shape. For example, I made a shape to use as a journal block/background and then I typed my text on top of it. I wanted to perfectly center the text vertically and horizontally within the box, but I can't do that.

I also wish I could resize objects to a specific size. I need 1/8" brads to be placeholders for the real brads I want to add after I print the page. I know I can resize the object with the arrows, but I want EXACTLY 1/8".

I wish the text could be resized by dragging the corner of the box as Corel Draw does. Instead I have to choose the font size in a dialog box.

And, I wish I could rotate objects as I can in Picture It! which has a little arrow at the top of the box when an object is selected. Instead, I have to poke in a rotation number from -180 to 180.

Also, I don't like that I can't type a font's name and go directly to the font--I have to scroll through all of the fonts to select one. That could definitely be better.

I haven't been able to find a way to work on a 2-page spread either, and that's frustrating; I can only work on a single page at a time. I'd like to be able to see two pages side-by-side so that I can align all the elements that need to match from one page to the next. For example, if I want to make stair-stepping elements that go from left to right, and I've run out of room on the left-hand page; how am I supposed to know exactly how tall to put the first element on the right-hand page (without being able to still see the left hand page...?). (Does any of that make sense?)

Finally, I wish I could distribute the spacing of objects so they're equal distance apart as I can in Corel Draw. I have some letter embellishments I want to use that I can't get the spacing just right. That doesn't sound like a big deal to do it manually, but I shouldn't have to!

I did find out that I can copy .wmf files from the Microsoft clipart gallery into Picture It!; crop the images to size then save them as .pngs, and they can be opened in MMS with transparent backgrounds. I did this on the layout of Ozzy on the shoes. It takes a little bit of manipulating, but it definitely can be done!

More MMS Layouts

So, I made two more layouts this morning in My Memories Suite. Neither is all that great, but I'm still learning how to make presentable stuff.

Iggy Pop's layout is made from the Bohemian Market collection from the My Memories Suite Designer Store. The frame is a freebie from Nicole Young called "Ticket to Love". The gray background on Ozzy's layout is from the Coffee and Cream collection from DSP.

My Memories Suite Layouts

Okay... real scrapbook enthusiasts and graphic designers will probably totally laugh at the My Memories Suite pages that I made of Murray and Ozzy, but here they are anyway.

The quote on Ozzy's page says: "By associating with the cat, one only risks becoming richer. --Sidonie Gabrielle." Murray's either needs some journaling or a page title; not sure which, but that's the good thing about this software: I can just go back to the pages and keep adding or subtracting as I want.

The one of Murray is BGCoffeeCream Swirls and BGCreamySwissText from Digital Scrapbook Place. The Ozzy layout is Cellophane Flowers from the My Memories Design Store.

Polaroid My Memories Suite Review

Oh YAY! My My Memories Suite software arrived on Friday. I read several reviews of the software before I bought it. Most of those reviews started with the users opening the box! That's a little too detailed for me, but I wanted to write a little review of my own.

My sister-inlaw was in town for a visit when the software arrived so I didn't get to do anything with it beyond loading all 5 of the disks. The disks are: the installation disk and the themes of kids & sports, holidays, family times and wedding & travel. I really didn't need the sports and kids since I don't have kids and I don't like sports; however, I was afraid I'd miss out on some papers and embellishments I could use for other layouts so I went ahead and loaded that disk, too.

When I did get to play with the software, I was a little disappointed in it--okay, I was ALOT disppointed in it. The papers and embellishments are so plain and BOR-ING!

This led me to go shopping for some more exciting backgrounds and elements. I recieved a $10 off coupon to use in the Polaroid My Memories Design Shop so I loaded my shopping cart with some nice page kits (the kits range in price from $1.99 to $9.99). It took me two attempts to download the files because the first time, I did "Run" instead of "Save."

Next, I read somewhere that I could also use the freebie files I'd downloaded from some store websites (Digital Scrapbook Place, Designer Digitals, Two Peas in a Pod, etc.) and from people's blogs. I called Tech Support to find out what I needed to do to get those files into My Memories, but they didn't call back until the next day, and by then, I'd figured out how to do it on my own.

After I got the files situated, I started playing with some layouts. I used my "Cellophane Flowers" package that I paid for and a freebie called "Coffee & Cream" to make layouts of Ozzy and Murray (I'll post those later when I figure out how export them to .jpg).

I will say the software is very user-friendly--there are just so many buttons to mash that it's a little overwhelming. Every time I open the program, I find a new feature I hadn't noticed before (it would probably help if I read the user's manual!).

All of the elements and backgrounds can be resized, but I'm not sure if they can be resized to specific sizes (like, say, I want an 1/8" brad--I'm not sure if I can poke in .125" somewhere or not...?). I'll have to play around with it and find out. The reason this would be helpful is that I'm interested in adding traditional 3-D scrapbooking elements (like die cuts, eyelets, brads and buttons). If the digital elements can be resized to specific sizes, then I can use them as placeholders on the layout. Yeah... I'll have to play around with that feature (if there is one).

Next, I need to export the layouts to .jpg and upload them to Walmart's Photo Center. I want to see how well they print out in an 8x10 format (which I'll then trim down to 8x8). Since 8x8 only takes up part of an 8x10 page, I'll fill the white space with some digital patterned papers so I can laser-cut matching letters or die cuts. Ohhh... that's smart.

I also like that there are pre-made photo layouts. All you have to do is drag and drop the photos you want to use into the designated spaces. The software automatically crops the photos to fit in the spaces.

You can mat the photos easily with adjustable-sized mats, and you can use the color picker to match the mat to the papers or embellishments you've used.

Also, you can add drop shadows to the photos and embellishments to give them some dimension. That's a nice feature.

And, finally (for now), you can manipulate the photos such as converting them to black&white or sepia tone or any of several different textures. You can also crop the photos to any size or shape you want.

Overall, it is a great program; I just don't like the simple backgrounds and embellishments that came with the program. I can definitely use them, but I also need to more-spiced-up-stuff, too. I'll write more later as I discover new stuff about the software!

And, I'm really excited to be able to use this software for the scrapbook I'm making for the Biggy Iggy Auction! That will be really, really nice, I think.

Hannah

Our friends, Gerry and Judy, have a little three-pound yorkie. Judy dropped her yesterday and killed her. She was 6 years old. I can't even imagine what they're going through right now.

I made them a sympathy card. I wish I'd taken a picture of it before I mailed it to them because it's a really nice card. I put a big curlique "H" on the front of it with some nice patterned papers.

PhotoShop

So... After I bought the My Memories Suite software, I read several other comments that Adobe PhotoShop is actually the very BEST software "out there" to use for digital scrapbooking. Well... I already have PhotoShop CS2, I just don't have a clue how to use it! Actually, "Learn PhotoShop" has been a New Year's Resolution for the last 2 years, and I just haven't gotten around to it. Last year, I bought the "Wow!" book so I could learn how, but I pretty much think that book sucks because I couldn't understand anything in it (and I AM NOT stupid--I consider myself to be very compter literate, and I don't have any problems understanding other software... Maybe I'm just getting old and out of touch... oh, sigh...).

So... guess what I did? #1. I bought online videos of PhotoShop tutorials for $24 from ScrapGirls. I haven't sat through all of them yet, but I will. So far, I've made it through four of the modules, and I already know more than I ever learned with that "Wow!" book. Then #2. I bought some more PhotoShop how-to books from Amazon.com. I got PhotoShop: One-on-One, PhotoShop: 100 Tips and Tricks (which is an intermediate book for after I finally learn the basics) and Teach Yourself Visually: PhotoShop. I really liked the "Teach Yourself Visually" series when I bought one for crochet.

No, I don't think I need that many books, but I bought them anyway! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to learn new things so maybe this will "stick" since I'm going to be learning by video and by books.

And, actually... I remember in college when I had to know how to use Word so I could type Brian's thesis. I got a how-to book from the library and read the ENTIRE 600 pages before I even sat down at the computer. Maybe I should do that with these books, too, before I even try to get my feet wet? I'll just have to see if they're hands-on type books or not?

Polaroid My Memories Suite Software!

EDIT: See my Polaroid My Memories Suite Reviews here (Review #1) and here (Review #2). The second review is all the things I wish it could do, but doesn't.

Okay! It's not even here and I'm already so excited about it I can't stand it! I ordered Polaroid My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software last week. I can't WAIT for it to get here! It was the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software on toptenreviews.com where they compared it to 14 other software products. I read all of the reviews on that website as well as other reviews on people's blogs and decided I HAD to have it!

It got check marks for pretty much every category reviewed. The only things it didn't get check marks for are: Importing from CD, cell phone and web; multiple page sizes; brushes; download additional graphics at no charge; output: PDF; Supported configurations: Windows 2000

About the only thing I see that it won't do (and I may possibly want) is print to .pdf files. I don't see how it CAN'T since you just print to .pdf just like printing to a printer. It may just print a blank page for all I know, but we'll just have to see about that.

{Wait one stinking minute! I just re-read the review, and pdfs are definitely an option! I'm not sure why it didn't get a check mark for that category? Also... I know it will do 6x6, 8x8, 8-1/2x11 and 12x12 page sizes so I'm not sure why "multiple page sizes" wasn't checked, too?}

Anyhoo, I paid $59.98 for it because I found a $20 discount. You can find that discount here (I'm not sure how long the discount is good, but it's there as of today--04/13/09).

It's supposed to be really awesome because it supports common file types (like .jpg and .png) so you can use the backgrounds and elements with other software. And, I can make all kinds of really cool layouts by just adding my pictures to pre-made templates or by designing my own layouts with their embellishments and backgrounds! How much fun is that?! See I'm stark raving wild about it and I don't even have it yet! I wish it would hurry up and GET HERE ALREADY!

Oh yeah... I don't think I'll ever use these features, but it allows you to add music and recordings to digital pages you copy to CD. I can see using this if we had kids and we got them to sing happy birthday to grandma or grandpa, for example. But the only singing that goes on around here is when the dogs howl at 3:30 in the morning!

You can also download the pages to an iPod which I pretty much think is stupid. That's like trying to view someone's vacation pictures on a digital camera screen (which my parents just had to do when their neighbor returned from a trip to Mexico)! It's just too dang small!

"Cards" Magazine

I got a renewal e-mail from Nik at Northridge Media in which he told me I *HAD* to respond or they would automatically renew my subscription to "Cards" magazine because I was enrolled in their "Platnium Subscription Service" (which really tee'd me off because I DID NOT sign up to be automatically renewed!). However... I really like getting that magazine every month (even though it's really not a magazine, but a 200-page idea book). Anyway, last year when I subscribed, I got 6 free issues of another magazine. I chose "Paper Crafts." Well... they have since changed the name of that one to "Simply Handmade" and while I AM being published in the next issue, I just don't like that magazine.

Anyway, the 6 free issues isn't an online promotion right now so I called the guy up. And asked for the 6 free issues, and he gave them to me! I chose "Scrapbook Trends" this time instead. My other choice was "Beads" which I'm totally not interested in.

Birthday Cards for the 2009 Biggy Iggy Auction

EDIT: The 2009 Biggy Iggy Auction opened May 3, 2009: http://www.biggyiggyauction.com/



I’m having alot of fun making cards to donate for the Biggy Iggy Auction! I hope the organizer isn’t getting sick of me! Actually, I’ve only submitted 4 sets of cards, and that can be one for each week so I don’t think that’s too many. (Plus the handmade scrapbook).


Here is the set of birthday cards I submitted this morning. I used some of the individual elements I’d already made up. I had four birthday elements so I glued them all to kraft-colored cardstock to make them all “match.” Now that I’ve put them on kraft cardstock, I wonder if I should have put them on white instead? Oh well. Too late now.

Even though they’re very simple, I think they're pretty stylish. I hope somebody will bid on them.

Here’s the description:


Set of Four Handmade Birthday Cards

Who doesn’t need birthday cards?! This is a set of simple yet classy birthday cards featuring sweet embellishments such as embossing, vellum, eyelets or brads. One even includes a paper flower and rhinestone! Sentiments are “Celebrate,” “Make a Wish,” “Birthday Wishes,” and “Happy Birthday.” The insides are blank for your special message. All are mounted on 100% recycled kraft-colored cardstock and include cream square-flapped envelopes. Each card measures 4.25 x 5.5 inches. This set is one-of-a-kind (yes, one-of-a-kind! no more will be made like this!)!

Donated by *** for The LaserBeam (http://www.thelaserbeam.etsy.com/)


Opening bid: $10

2009 Biggy Iggy Auction Items

EDIT: The Biggy Iggy Auction opened May 3, 2009: www.biggyiggyauction.com

I already posted the sample pages for the scrapbook, but here they are again, along with the cards that I'm donating:



The first set of cards is made from laser-cut fabric that I adhered to the card with WonderUnder and an iron. They look really nice, though I wish I'd made the cutouts a little bigger. The black and red set says "I♥My Iggy". The last set is a non-iggy set of "thinking of you" cards. They're made from layers of patterned paper, cardstock and ribbon, and I really, really like how they turned out. I even used a page from "The Reader's Digest" on one of them, and that looks really nice.

I'm not sure if they can use any more cards or not, but I'll be more than happy to make more. I'm stamping all of the backs with http://www.thelaserbeam.com./ I just hope somebody bids on these things!

Auction Scrapbook

Patty Woodbury got back to me that the handmade scrapbook is a great idea. I upped the opening bid to $30 or $40 since that's only $3 or $4/page--without the covers! It probably should be $50 instead, but I wonder if anybody would pay that much?

Also, Sharon Yates (Eika's new mom) wrote me an e-mail that she'd love to see an auction item where people can mail in occasional photos to be scrapbooked. That's a good idea, but I don't know how to word it so that it makes sense, and I certainly don't know how to make it into a doable auction item. So... I wrote her back and let her know if she wants scrapbook pages of Sophie and Eika, I can do them for her, and I'll donate the proceeds to IGRF. It's just a thought, and I'll see what she says.

The 2009 Biggy Iggy Auction!

EDIT: The Biggy Iggy Auction opened May 3, 2009: http://www.biggyiggyauction.com/

Alice Espey loved the little "I ♥ My Iggy" notecard I sent to her, and she asked me if I would make some for the Biggy Iggy Auction. It's their big fundraiser for the year. It's an online auction that is a very scaled down version of eBay. It starts May 3 and lasts for the month (EDIT: it's 8 weeks long this time) though items are only listed for a week (so they have different items each week for people to bid on).

I'm more than happy to make some cards to donate! They won't be big money makers, but they might appeal to people who want to participate, but not spend alot of money.

I've also decided to donate a handmade, customized 10-page scrapbook. The winner will e-mail me 10 pictures and I'll put together the scrapbook for him/her. I *think* that's a good idea... maybe... That's something I would LOVE.

I just e-mailed Patty Woodbury (the person in charge of the auction) to see if she thought the scrapbook is a good idea or not.

I've already created sample pages to include with the description if Patty thinks the scrapbook is a good idea. It says "Samples: Pages Will Vary" in the center.



And I think the description will be:

Handmade Scrapbook!

This is a fun way to show off 10 of your favorite iggy photos! This is a 10-page 8x8 album that features handmade covers. Each page is decorated with both digital and traditional scrapbooking embellishments. Pages will vary from those shown in this listing.

Winner provides 10 photos via e-mail (preferred) or snail mail with the name(s) of your iggy(s)

Album will be finished within 3 (?) weeks of the receipt of your photos.

Happy Bidding. Opening bid is $25 (?)

I don't think $25 is too much considering this is a fundraiser!

{LATER...} I changed the opening bid to $35-$40. I realized (duh!) that's less than $4/page (without the handmade covers). I don't think that's too much to ask... is it??? I'm so not sure!

I think the opening bid on my handmade cards should be $12 for a set of 4. That's $3/card. I'm going to make the I ♥ My Iggy cards today and I'm going to make some non-iggy cards to donate as well.

Truman Update

Hmmmm... not sure what's going to happen with Truman, the seizure dog.

On April 1, he had a huge seizure that totally flipped out his foster mom (Kat). Since they are in the process of moving (still--they must be doing it themselves and have all month to do it), she decided it was best if Truman go to another foster home.

As of April 3, Kat had changed her mind and thought a move would be too stressful.

A couple of problems: the home visit that she thought was happening last weekend really isn't happening until April 16. That particular family wants a special needs dog, but they're not even approved yet. And the bad thing for Truman is that there are THREE special needs dogs for these people to choose from if they are approved. Anyway, Kat thought he was going to be a short-term foster and he would immediately be placed with this family...

SO... I said a prayer this morning for the situation to work out for the best for everybody: Kat, Truman and us. First off, 5 dogs is way too many, and I'm afraid of getting an old seizure dog like that in here because I'm afraid he won't ever leave. We'll just see what happens.

Graphics for Truman

Yesterday, I collected some dog graphics in case Truman comes to stay with us. I thought they'd be good for his scrapbook. Here's one of them with Annie's picture in it:

I don't really like that it says "It's All About Me" on it, but oh well, it's cute anyway. I found a couple more that I really like, too.

Unfortunately, I can't credit the artist because these downloaded with just the name of the file: RR Pampered Pet and not the artist's name.

Cheer Me Up Swap

There's a swap on Craftster.org for people who need to be cheered up. Who can't use a little bit of sunshine? I would sign up BUT... he/she put a 1 large, 2 medium, 3 smalls crafting requirement! That's WAY too much for me. Other people "complained" that it was too much, too so next he/she suggested 2 mediums and 2 smalls which I think sounds much better and I posted so. I also posted that I would watch and see what happens before I sign up.

I know one of my mediums would be a set of notecards, but I have no idea what my second medium would be. I think one of my smalls could be a fabric ATC with a sunshine on it. And, again, I have no idea what another small could be???

EDIT: Later... Feast Your Eyes has already changed the requirements to a point system. You have to craft 5 points (large = 3, medium = 2, small = 1). That's much better for me, though I still don't know what I can make! I'm still not going to sign up until I figure that out. Here are the guidelines:

By Time
-Big = 3 or more hours
-Medium = 2 or more hours
-Little = 2 or less hours

By Size
-Big = A shawl, a shirt, a skirt, a set of jewelry with four to five items, a purse
-Medium = one single necklace or bracelet, a scarf
-Small = Earrings, stickers, wallets, pouches, bookmarks

By Price
-Big = $30 or more
-Medium = $10-$30 dollars
-Small = $10 or less

Truman

I got an e-mail yesterday with the subject: Be Careful What You Say, Some Darn Rescue Rep May Remember...

Alice was MIA for several days last month, and I was worried I'd made her mad. When she finally got back to me, she let me know she'd been trying to find a foster home for a seizure dog. I told her that we were a seizure-savvy home, and if she ever had another seizure dog to place in foster care that she should consider us.

Well... the foster home for that dog isn't working out. He's had two seizures (one grand mal) since he's been in foster care, and his foster mom completely freaked out. Plus, they're in the middle of moving so she can't handle the stress of a move plus a seizure dog. So Alice contacted me to see if we can take him.

The good news is that there may be a family that wants him, and they're going through a home visit check-up now. I can only hope and pray that home will take him because there are a couple of issues with him besides the seizures: he's 9 years old and he's a boy. And who wants a 9-year-old, male, seizure dog? He's going to be a tough one to place. Which means he will probably be with us for a long time (and I'll get attached and we'll end up keeping him, dammit!).

But... I said, yes, we'd take him. And asked her how we can get him? Brian's all excited about ME taking care of another one.

I have to wait and see how the home visit turned out with the people who potentially want him.

I told Alice if he comes to us, I'll take some really good pictures and write a résumé for him like we did with Eika.

Oh, yeah: His foster parents changed his name from Truman to Carlo. We'll be calling him Truman--his name for the last nine years! Why in the heck would they change it on him?

Oh yeah #2: he's not on seizure medication, but the first thing I'll do if he comes to us is have him put on phenobarbitol or potassium bromide.