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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Day 31 : 01-31-12

Day 31 : 01-31-12 by ha! designs
Day 31 : 01-31-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

The bird watches over paradise... 

It's truly amazing how many things are blooming! Today when I walked Clark I probably took over 25 pictures of pretty flowers along the way... I had to choose the stunning bird of paradise as my photo today, it's lines are just fascinating.

Cami had her first rehearsal for Noah's Ark. She is very excited to be in this production. It's pretty special, it's an original ballet with original music. This is the encore performance of the first time it was presented in 2010. This year there is "interest" in it by other production companies and it may be purchased. This meant that they reduced the cast... Cami was so happy that she was cast in it! I went and bought tickets today also so that we would be up front and center! You can check out the promo for this ballet here!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Day 30 : 01-30-12

Day 30 : 01-30-12 by ha! designs
Day 30 : 01-30-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
Let the day begin...

The sunrise was gorgeous this morning. I dropped the girls off at school and then had to stop to capture this stunning start to the day.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Day 29 : 01-29-12

Day 29 : 01-29-12 by ha! designs
Day 29 : 01-29-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
My girl... talkin' 'bout my girl...

This winter has really NOT been a winter! Cami relaxed and worked on homework outside... and then we all got in the jacuzzi... ahhhh... soooo relaxing! It was great! We definitely needed a down day, it's been a very busy January!

Perspective...

It's interesting... How I look at things a little bit differently since I began my Project 365 (plus 1). I have to take a photo a day. It sounds simple and it is... It's just how you start going about your life a little bit differently that changes. I started to notice little things that I might have overlooked before.


Things like shadows...




and details...




and favorite things viewed from another angle...




and every day items that surround me...


It's a fascinating journey and I'm so glad I'm taking it...



Friday, January 27, 2012

Thursday, January 26, 2012

The Princess Card AND...

Oh my... it's been an awfully long time since I've played here... I am BACK! Ahhhh.... home. I definitely have some catching up to do with projects I've made and not posted. Oh well... A step at a time! :)

I have had the most fun the last couple of days working on a card project. I am the lucky aunt of many darling nieces that LOVE princess things. I had to create something that would be good for their birthdays this year! (Of course, I've already missed a couple of the princess nieces birthday's this year and sent them store bought *gasp* cards... I will most likely have to make up for that!)

This is what I came up with:

Princess Crown Card


I can't think of many little girls who wouldn't LOVE getting a card like this! And the kicker is... after they read the pop-up "Happy Birthday" inside and my little personal message they get to WEAR IT LIKE A CROWN!!!! If you have seen any of my other cards you already know of my obsession of making cards that are "2 in 1!"

Day 25 : 01-25-12


OK... Hold me back... Isn't that just adorable?!!! (Mainly because my beautiful and oh so patient daughter is modeling!) I am so excited with how it all turned out! Yippee!

This was a fairly simple project, after figuring out what I was going to do... Now that I have everything like I want, the next ones should go a little faster. 

The Details & Supplies:

Silhouette Cameo (I LOVE this machine!!)
Card Stock - I used two colors
Xyron Sticker Maker
Fiskars Cutting Board & Martha Stewart Scoring Board  (Great Tool!)
Scissors
Turbo Tacky Glue
Gold Pen-touch Marker
Assorted "Jewels"
Tiny Hole Punch
Elastic Cord

I am a relative newbie to the Silhouette Cameo... I have had it long enough to TOTALLY love it however! I have created some of my own designs and I have altered many designs to what I wanted... I have total creative reign! Ahhhh... the power.... :) It truly is amazing!

I used two shape designs for this project:

I opened up the Crown Card shape in the Silhouette software and I resized both elements so that the card shape would completely fill my 12" x 12" paper. I then opened the "Happy Birthday" phrase on a new document. I selected those elements and adjusted the size to what I thought would be perfect for my pop-up element. I copied these and pasted them on to the same document as the crown/card. I did it this way because I plan on making multiples of this card so I will cut out all the elements in two different card stock colors. Then mix and match the pieces for 2 cards. If you want to make one card only then you will need to separate your card elements by colors on separate documents or deselect elements to cut. Now... let that lovely Silhouette Cameo cut out your elements! 

I used my trusty Gold Pen-Touch Marker to outline the filigree part of the crown. Ran it and the phrase (top word piece only) through my Xyron. Of course plain old glue works great here too! Just a little trickier on the tiny script. (Another option is to use the fabulous sticker card stock from the Silhouette store! Sometimes I make my own sticker paper before cutting... It works great!) Place the sticky pieces on their mates. 

Now.... Here's where the Pop-Up element begins! I ADORE pop-up cards and I use lots of different techniques. This time I used the "floating layer technique." This is one of my favorite! (OK... I admit it... They are ALL my favorites!) I love how the floating layers technique makes the design appear to "float" in mid-air! 

Here's how I did it for this card. First you begin by making the supports. Using scraps from the card base colored card stock I cut a piece 4 1/2" x 1". Scored down the length of this 1/4" from each edge. 


I then cut the long strip into 3 @ 1 1/2" lengths. Turned the strips over and scored across the width in half at 3/4". (My photos show these dimensions... I may adjust them to make the supports a little smaller for my subsequent cards.) 


Take each strip and make a small cut up the mid crease of each strip, to separate the hem and create the support "feet." 


Apply glue to one half of the inner face only (not feet) of each support. Close the support and press the two faces together. This completes the support form.


Carefully glue the base of one support EXACTLY over the gutter crease on the card. Glue the other two (one on each side of the center) down in line with the center. This is a small design so the support feet will be touching each other.  


Crease your "Happy Birthday" phrase down the middle. Apply glue ONLY to the central support and carefully join the central crease of the layer to the central crease of the support. 


Apply glue to the other supports... Flatten all three to the left (careful not to let the glue touch the underside of the floating layer yet!) Once all three supports are flattened to the left carefully lower the phrase layer onto the glued supports so that the whole structure lays flat. Make sure the glue adheres and then carefully pull the structure upright. 


Yippee! A POP-UP!!

Here's what the card looks like at this point...

Day 24 : 01-24-12


Now for the fun decorating! Glue all the jewels you like onto the front of the card. Ahhhh.... ssoooo sparrrkkklllyy! 

What about making it a crown?! Use a small hole punch and make a hole on each side of the back piece of the card only. About an inch up from the bottom or so. Thread the elastic cord through, tie a knot... I also punched out a larger circle of matching card stock to glue over the ends of the elastic cord to tidy it up and hopefully make it a little stronger. 



That's all there is to it! Enjoy!

I'd love to hear from you! Please leave a comment...

Day 26 : 01-26-12

Day 26 : 01-26-12 by ha! designs
Day 26 : 01-26-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
It was a lovely warm day today. While walking Clark I noticed that the poppies were already blooming... The orange blossom was so bright and vibrant against the blue sky as it stretched toward the sun.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Day 25 : 01-25-12

Day 25 : 01-25-12 by ha! designs
Day 25 : 01-25-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
I finished up yesterday's card... I made it convertible! A card AND a crown! (smile)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Day 24 : 01-24-12

Day 24 : 01-24-12 by ha! designs
Day 24 : 01-24-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
I was happy to spend a little time in my studio today... The card is still in progress, I have some jewels to add to the crown and finishing touches, then it should be a perfect card for my nieces.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Day 22 : 01-22-12

Day 22 : 01-22-12 by ha! designs
Day 22 : 01-22-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
I love my succulents! I had to take a picture of this beauty in my backyard. The light was perfect!

Today was a lovely lazy day. A day I like to call "Pajama Sunday!" I figured out how to apply my logo as a watermark in my phone prior to uploading today. Yippee!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Day 21 : 01-21-12

Day 21 : 01-21-12 by ha! designs
Day 21 : 01-21-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

The Richard & Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. It's a beautiful building with curved lines accented against the sky. 

It was another audition day!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Day 19 : 01-19-12

Day 19 : 01-19-12 by ha! designs
Day 19 : 01-19-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

I made this soul warming chili for dinner tonight. I served it with homemade bacon cheddar cornbread muffins. Delicious!! The perfect meal for a cool day with leftovers ready for a stormy weekend!

I'll share the recipe soon! :)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Day 18 : 01-18-12

Day 18 : 01-18-12 by ha! designs
Day 18 : 01-18-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
I saw this peeling paint today and wondered if my exterior peeled, what would I find?

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

Day 16 : 01-16-12

Day 16 : 01-16-12 by ha! designs
Day 16 : 01-16-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
The clouds and tree really make the day seem colder than it was. The gloominess in this picture seemed appropriate for today... I discovered my car was egged sometime over the weekend. Extremely annoying!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Day 14 : 01-14-12

Day 14 : 01-14-12 by ha! designs
Day 14 : 01-14-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Cami takes a private with one of her teachers today at the studio. She's preparing for another audition tomorrow. She worked very hard and did a fabulous job. I know she'll do well!

I loved the concentration on her face as she listened to her teacher.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Day 12 : 01-12-12

Day 12 : 01-12-12 by ha! designs
Day 12 : 01-12-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

I had some shopping to do today... Cami's birthday is right around the corner! 

I couldn't resist taking a break from the shopping to take a picture of this lamp post with lights radiating out from it. The brilliant blue sky was a perfect backdrop!

I'd love to go back at night sometime to take a matching picture...

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Day 11 : 01-11-12

Day 11 : 01-11-12 by ha! designs
Day 11 : 01-11-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

It's hard to believe that the trees are starting to bloom in what should be the middle of winter! It really shows how warm it's been this past month. 

It's funny... today was actually a little cooler than it's been in awhile... only reached the low 60's. I needed a little jacket when I went for a walk!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Day 10 : 01-10-12

Day 10 : 01-10-12 by ha! designs
Day 10 : 01-10-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

It was a tough day today. Cami wasn't feeling well and stayed home from school AND her phone wouldn't work. Luckily, she was feeling much better by the afternoon AND I was able to get her phone exchanged for a new one! It all ended up ok.... but stressful along the journey. 

I had fun "sketching" this photo in Photoshop Express on my phone.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Day 9 : 01-09-12

Day 9 : 01-09-12 by ha! designs
Day 9 : 01-09-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

It's really hard to believe that it's January... We've had May weather since before Christmas! Another day in the mid 70's... 

I caught Cami resting outside with Clark for a few minutes after school today. A little break in her busy daily schedule.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Day 8 : 01-08-12

Day 8 : 01-08-12 by ha! designs
Day 8 : 01-08-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Summer intensive auditions begins! Today was the first of auditions for various companies that will last all month long. 

After the audition I helped Cami with her Honors Biology. I had fun relearning Punnett squares and a little genetics. It was so nice to spend a couple hours together figuring it out. She doesn't ask me for help very often anymore. I love that sometimes she still needs me... I'm so proud! She's such a great student! 

UPDATE 01-23-12: Cami was accepted to Joffey Ballet School in New York City!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Day 7 : 01-07-12

Day 7 : 01-07-12 by ha! designs
Day 7 : 01-07-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
The living room has returned to normal. Today we took down all the holiday decorations... I am happy to have the simple living room back, although I always love the beautiful, festive holiday decorations.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Day 6 : 01-06-12

Day 6 : 01-06-12 by ha! designs
Day 6 : 01-06-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
Walter... He's definitely our lucky cat. We found out a couple of weeks ago that he's most likely 10 to 12 years old. Definitely older than we thought he was. Our sweet rescue kitty.

I took this photo as Walter did a little sunbathing in the backyard. It was a beautiful 75 degree day. Lovely!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Day 5 : 01-05-12

Day 5 : 01-05-12 by ha! designs
Day 5 : 01-05-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
Today was an early release day for Cami. We go out to lunch together every couple of weeks. These moments mean so much to me.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Day 4 : 01-04-12

Day 4 : 01-04-12 by ha! designs
Day 4 : 01-04-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.
Today was another beautiful day with temperatures in the 80's! We've had weather like that since Christmas.

Clark got stress colitis when we left him for a few days while we were out of town. Now he's all better and begging to play, as usual!!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Day 3 : 01-03-12

Day 3 : 01-03-12


I took pictures of Cami at the studio today. She needs an arabesque photo for upcoming auditions. (I have a much better one I'll have to post later from a photo shoot we did in late November.)

January is a busy month... It's national audition tour time for ballet/dance summer intensives. There are four companies/schools that she wants to audition for this year. She loves the auditions, loves the master class that she takes at each audition. She LOVED attending American Ballet Theater over the summer. It will be interesting to see if she chooses to go away this summer... She really wants to take summer school so that she'll be ahead for next school year. If she does that she will take the wonderful local summer intensive. We'll have to wait and see what happens!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Day 2 : 01-02-12

Day 2 : 01-02-12

Last day of winter break... We have breakfast as a family at one of my favorite restaurants. 

It was sad to see Leila head back home. It was so nice to have the whole family together for a full week! I love seeing the girls together having fun, giggling, and having movie sleep overs until late at night. Now back to school for Cami and to a regular routine once again. 

Also... Happy Birthday to Harmony!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Day 1 : 01-01-12

Day 1 : 01-01-12

Norm & I have dim sum to start the new year. It was the first year that both our girls weren't home to join us... it was lonely without them. 

Today is the first day of my 2012 Project 365 (plus 1)! A photo and thought(s) about each day of the year. I am VERY excited about having a photo journal! Of course I'll be posting more than just my Project 365 here... After all it's my place for "adventures in life and art!"

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