Happy Halloween 2020, and Weight Loss Reflections

 

So this has been a bad year to be sure. 

Saying it has been bad doesn't even cover it. 

We decided not to pass out candy for Halloween. Well

I decided. Told hubby flat out no. Just don't think it is a safe

idea this year. I did dress up as a witch on Friday to visit my friend Betty. 

I also got hubby to take a this pic of me and Riot. 

Since I lost 30 pounds over the summer I was able to 

once again fit into my witches costume. Oh happy day! 

Still have some more to lose. Well 39 more pounds to be exact. 

I'm saying this even though at this very moment I'm eating a piece of 

Halloween candy. And it is alright! Before I always tried to cut everything bad

out of my diet, but I've found through many diets that it isn't a good way to go. 

You have to allow yourself little pleasures here, and there because if you don't

you start binge eating. At least that is how I am. 

Went to the doctor last week, and my weight is at 188. 

I'm going to say I reached my goal weight when I'm at 149.

Why 149? Well I've been called, and labeled obese all my adult life. 

I really don't like that dirty 5 letter word. When I reach 149 I will be

labeled over weight, and I can live with that. 

I put a spell on you

Karen 

Frame Art

My friend Kat went on a frame art binge at the beginning

of the year. Which I think was great seeing how she

sent me some of it for my birthday! 

The letters in this one were made using Storybook Cricut cartridge. 

This one has found a home in my craft room. Made with

square punches and create stamp set. Love all the warm blues!

The last one I have to say is my favorite! 

Pumpkins made with different colors of cardstock using 

oval punch. Some of them have been embossed with embossing folders. 

The frame Kat used is perfect. Its nice and rustic looking. Goes

great with the pumpkins. 

Big thanks for all my birthday goodies Kat!

Stamping trails

Karen

start weight 273

current weight 177

goal weight 170

Moving Up

Sorry no artwork today. 

I decided to start moving the stamping studio to 

the upper level of our split level house. 

The steps going in to the lower level have 

just become to much for me. 

I'm combining the sewing room and the stamp room. 

Since I don't have a lot of space I won't be

moving everything. Going to get hubby to 

start helping me this weekend. Will be

moving the things I use the most for now. 

I'll focus on Fall, Winter, and holiday stamps. 

Of course I'll have to move all of the ink, cardstock,

markers, and blendibilites. And I'll have

to have the big shot and all the dies, framlits, thinlits, and

embossing folders. Maybe I'll have to enlist John to help

me also. In the long run with winter around the corner this

will be better for me. 

So we may have a few days of interrupted stamping till 

I have it all moved. I will have a post tomorrow

for Friday Sketch. 

Stamping trails

Karen

start weight 273

current weight 180.4

goal weight 170

Weight Loss Update

With everything going on this past week I forgot to post that I lost another two pounds. Now I am 16 pounds away from my goal weight. YAY!

I really think I can get there! 

Another birthday gift from my friend Lisa. 

Love the little stuffed elephant. See the little one in the front? 

Its a battery operated fan. His little propeller spins. 

My friends know what I need (hot flashes!)

She also got me some nice kitchen towels to match my new grape theme. The grapes have a place in the back for a scrubby pad. 

Thanks for all the wonderful thoughtful gifts Lisa. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Wedding Dress for 5" Doll and Weight Loss Update

Happy Birthday to my friend Lisa. 

Since her daughter Jessica is getting married in October I decided to make her a wedding dress for her 5" baby doll. How perfect is that?

Jessica is getting marred in a cream colored dress so I used ivory fingering yarn to make the baby dress. 

Side view

All the ruffles in this dress just about killed my shoulder, but I'm happy I was able to complete it for my friend in time for her birthday. 

Check out the panties and little booties. How cute! 

I also decorated this kraft box to put the wedding dress in. This was a box that Lisa gave me several years ago with a Christmas gift in it. Looks great decorated like the brides bouquet.

I have to tell you about the side of the box. So I get the box finished with just the top decorated. I show it to Skip and he goes you need something going along the sides of the box as you didn't "transform" it enough.
I had to laugh at that especially when he told me he got the word and idea from watching Chopped with me (foodnetwork show). They always say you didn't transform the basket ingredient enough. LOL
That's it he is banned from watching Chopped!

Hope you have a wonderful day Lisa!

Great news! I lost another 2 pounds. Which means I am only 18 pounds away from my goal weight! YAY!
I'm very happy about that! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Crackers and Double Take

Wanted to post a good snack find. These Special K cracker chips are great!

Only 110 calories per 27 chips. They also come in Honey Barbecue, and Sour Onion. 

Now I did have to do a double take the other day when I was looking at the expiration date. 

Upon first glance I thought this read 3013, and I'm thinking hey if they can preserve chips that long if I eat them maybe I'll get preserved some too. But alas it is actually Nov 30 2013.....or is it? LOL

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday #5

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I was good and stayed on my diet plan. Go me! 

For today's mailable Monday I used Tone on Tone technique. 

Color Pallet: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Base card Vanilla

First I used a stipple brush and Baja Breeze ink. I stippled over the base card leaving some of the vanilla cardstock showing. 

Next I inked the stamp up with Baja Breeze and stamped on the card. 

The layer is 2 1/2 x 2 1/2

The same background stamp was inked with Not Quite Navy and stamped on the layer. Stipple brush used to add more Not Quite Navy ink, and edges were also sponged with same color. This layer was popped on the card.

Bottom panel is 1 inch by 4 1/4. This was stamped with Not Quite Navy ink with Perfectly Penned stamp set. 

This really is two techniques in one, Spotlighting, and Tone on Tone.

Weigh in - lost 2.8
so to date I have taken 32 pounds of pressure off my knees. YAY

Stamping trails

Karen

Quick Update

Sorry I have not posted in a few days. Have not been feeling well. I did visit the doctor yesterday morning. She has started the process to see if our insurance company will cover the gel shots for my right knee. She did give me a different med to help with the inflammation. Hoping it will help.

My son John re-formatted my laptop which was another reason why I have not been on the computer in a few days.

I was going to make turkey for Easter this coming Sunday but didn't get to the store to pick one up. At this point I will need to get a fresh turkey to make or change my mind again and just make a ham. Can't decide.

On the upside I lost 2.6 this week. I forgot to share that on Monday like I normally do. And on the upside again our weather is suppose to get warmer. They are calling for temps in the 40's over the weekend and dare I dream that maybe it will reach the 50's next week.

Stamping trails
Karen

Mailable Monday #3

I brought out the water color wonder crayons for today's Mailable Monday card. 

Started with an acrylic block. (its 3x3) and scribbled it with Pacific Point crayon. 

Next step was to spritz it with just mist bottle filled with water. You don't need a lot of water. 

Then carefully stamp the moist colored block onto white cardstock. Would also work well on watercolor paper but you will get a different look on the watercolor paper. 

Finished card. I used Just Believe stamp set. 

Color Pallet: White, Soft Suede, Night of Navy, and Pacific Point. 

I just added a little bow at the upper corner. I like to use either bakers twine or crochet thread. 

Here is another one I made. I like the background block on this one, but I think I got carried away with the stamping...looks busy to me.

Did my weigh in yesterday. Lost 3.1

YAY guess that bike must be helping me. 

According to everything I've been reading for every pound you lose you take 4 pounds of pressure off your knees. So that is 12 pounds of pressure off. Hopefully I can keep the momentum going.

Stamping trails

Karen

Happy Day!

My MIL Kate is so sweet! She planned to buy me a food processor for Christmas, but she wanted me to pick it out. So yesterday after work I stopped by her house to go shopping. We found this one at Khol's, and she used a 30% off coupon to purchase it. I was going to bring it in the house for her to store away till Christmas but she insisted on giving it to me before that. Tickled pink to get it early! This will be so handy to use all the stuff in the garden. 

After doing some research on them I decided the Cuisinart 12 cup Elite would be perfect in my kitchen. So today I'll be testing it out. It came with a recipe book. What's the first thing I'm going to make you might wonder......to which she replied...hummus. Love hummus but it can be pretty pricey to buy. Next thing I'll be making is salsa. Have everything in the garden to make that. The "boys" may not eat the hummus but they will be beating a path to the kitchen table to eat the salsa. 

Big thanks Katie!!!! Love you!

Lost another .5 this week, so I was able to move over another pearl. Only 28 more to go! I know it doesn't look like much but I think these next 28 pounds are going to keep getting increasing harder for me to lose. Say a prayer for me to keep with it! I need all the encouragement I can get.

Stamping trails

Karen

Just a Quickie

We have been having issues with our internet provider. I wasn't able to update as I normally do. The service just started working again at noon today.

I'm still working on sail boat baby shower favors, plus I joined a swap. I need to make 12 cards. I joined this one as is allowed full size cards to be made with any SU retired stuff. I have tons of retired cardstock and embellishments that I need to use so I thought it would be a good swap to join.

Still having shoulder problems, but I think it is getting better. I'm able to at least get my hair put up in pony tail again. Poor Skip I've made him do that for me all week, and he is over careful as he thinks he'll pull my hair. What a guy.

Well Skip just said the internet went out again so I'm copying what I've wrote and will try to post it again later. What a week!!!!

I didn’t lose enough to move a pearl over this week, but I did lose ½ pound. So as long as I’m not gaining I’ll take it! My friend asked me how I was going to handle it if I lost less than a pound. The answer is to only move pearls as I lose full pounds. 

We just got back from the mall and grocery shopping. So I was able to get in some walking. Still going to hit the treadmill, and I want to make some more tomato soup. 

weigh in - .5 lost 

Stamping trails

Karen 

1st Day of September

Ah with the first day of September my mind starts to think about Halloween. Made this quick no layer card using Jack of all Trades stamp set. I just love using that one. Colors: Celery, Tango, Old Olive, and black. 

I'm working on so many different projects right now, because it is the 1st day of September I also think about Fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Oh I forgot the biggest thing I think about......My birthday. Not counting years anymore but I still like when the birthday rolls around. Just another 29 days. Hubby is putting in a SU order for me, as I told him that is what I really wanted, so that order will be going in today. Now will I open it when it arrives or will I wait till the end of the month......let me think......you know I'm going to open it! 

It was hot yesterday. Reached 93, and for the record to date we have had 26 days of over 90 degree weather. 

I'd like to put in a thank you to my friend Kat. We were chatting yesterday morning and I told her I was going to go hit the grocery store before it got to hot outside, and she asks.....did you do your workout yet? I told her I'd do it when I got back from the store. Now somewhere inside of me I told myself that the workout should come first. So I did 45 on the treadmill, got cleaned up then went to the store. Thanks Kat for making me think about what is more important to me. Friends are always right, and they always have your back!

 

Weigh in - lost 1 pound. Only 29 more to goal! 

 

My world is expanding, but my butt is shrinking!

 

Stamping trails

Karen

Pinterest Case Guy Card

This was such a great guy card that I found on Pinterest that I had to CASE it. Love the way the designer paper was used as books. I used the simply scored tool from SU to make score marks in the paper to make them look like book bindings.

Here you can see a close look at the words used. Lately I've been on a guy making card kick. I never seem to have a good guy card in my stash when I need one so I figured I best get busy and make some.


Speaking of busy.......we washed 3 cars yesterday and waxed one. That was a workout! It was pretty hot outside. I started off with bare feet, but the soles of my feet got pretty hot and to the burning point on the hot driveway so I had to put the shoes back on. After we cooled off rested and had dinner we headed out to the park for a nice long walk. It was nice as John helped with the cars and also went walking with us. Great day!

I have to share with you....after my weigh in yesterday and a 1.2 lost I am exactly 30 pounds away from my personal goal weight. So as a visual I'm using 30 pearls in a clear jar and will move them over to the empty jar as the weigh loss journey continues. I'm feeling confident that I can make it. Seems fitting for me to use pearls in the jar to represent the pounds. I just love pearls!

Stamping trails
Karen 

Bugs!

EWWWW can we say YUCK!!!! I was weeding the garden yesterday and found these slug like things all over my eggplant. GROSS!!!!!!

Of course I had to get Skip on the problem bugs right away. We normally do not use any chemicals in the garden but these things called for it. There were so many of them. Funny that they were only on the eggplants.

Wasn't as busy yesterday as I had planned to be. After working out in the morning then weeding my back decided it had had enough. I think the double workouts on the treadmill caught up to me. So I decided to take the rest of the day slow. I wrapped some birthday presents for my friend Lisa, and did what my friend Connie calls "piddle". Which means I did things but didn't really accomplish much.

Hoping the back will feel better today and I'll be able to get more done. 

Weigh in - Lost 1.3 pounds

Stamping trails
Karen

Last VC Hop of the Season

Welcome to the last VC Rocks Hop of this season. Sorry to see the last hop roll around, but I had fun with the Hops and I hope all the other Rockers did too. You may have arrive at my blog from Barb Furlong blog 
I'm number 15 on this hop. If you'd like to start at the beginning please visit here

 Theme for this hop is Simply Scored, Big Shot, and Punches.

I made a card using circles to create a fun border on a card.

Step one: using 1 inch circle punch and designer paper punch out enough circles for the border you are making. For this card I used 8. If you want to go all the way across a standard A2 card you'll need a few more.

Step two: After the circles are punched take them to the the scoring tool. Score the circles on two sides at 1/4 inch. Fold them and make sure you have a crisp score. I used the larger end of the scoring tool to score designer paper, and vellum. The smaller end of the tool to score cardstock.

Step three: run a line of snail adhesive where you want the border to be. I put mine down the center of a Baja Breeze Top Note die cut.

Step four: place one circle in the center of the line of adhesive. Then working out from the sides continue to place the circles. Make sure you butt them up close together as there shouldn't be any gaps showing the cardstock beneath.

Step five: there will be a bit of an overhang after all the border has been place. Take a pair of scissors and trim this off.

Finish off the card as desired. I added some rhinestones to my finished card. You may also want to do any stamping on the card before the border is glued to the card.

Another tip for the scoring tool. Every once in a while I'll take wax paper and rub it on both ends of the scoring tool. This makes it glide across the cardstock and paper for me.

Next up: The ever talented Mary Campbell

Weigh in - loss 1/2 pound

Stamping trails
Karen 

Snowman Cello Bag

Just a quick little post. We will be making these cute little pee-a-boo snowman cello bag toppers today at Stamp Camp. I got the peek-a-boo frames die last year but have not used them much (shame on me!). They make cute toppers for the cello bags. Added some Dazzling Details to the snowman and stocking.

Inside of the topper. 

Going to be very pretty out today. In the low 70's and the rain has moved on....I think it went to Texas according to my friend Kat. I just had to blow it her way!


Weigh in - lost 3.5 pounds. GO ME!!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen 

What to do with all those Zukes!

So I was reading the paper a few weeks ago. The Cleveland Plain Dealer had a article written by Joe Crea. It was all about what to do with all the Zukes in the garden when your family and friends have had enough of them. There were 50 ideas listed. Some of them really had me rolling around laughing.....here are a few of them:

Use as hand weights
kiddie golf clubs
decompose a few in sealed plastic bags as a science experiment
carve an oversize zuke with a silly face
Put 'em up on Craigslist
And my favorite one: Use as "stamps" for craft projects.

So of course I had to make a zuke stamp just for fun of course. I cut off a slice and used the bottom green side to ink up. Made a pretty star burst background

Stamp set Four Seasons Hostess set, and Tiny Tags for the greeting. Colors Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, and Rich Razzleberry. Pretty silly I know but it was fun.

Joe did have some recipes for the zukes along with the funny ideas. Here are a few of those just in case you have a ton of zucchinis in your garden.

Freeze slices or cubes...Use within three months
coat with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and roast. (I put them in foil packs and throw them on the grill)
Shred into hot chicken broth for a quick pick me up
Ratotouille! (loved that movie by the way)
Include thin slices among pizza toppings
let shreds dissolve in simmering spaghetti sauce (I do this and the family hasn't got a clue!)
Fold squeezed shreds into pancake batter (going to try this one)
Mix chunks into mac and cheese then bake
and the ever popular and a fav of mine Zucchini Bread! Course it is way to hot to be making bread now, but I have bags of zucchini i the freezer for the cooler weather.

Weigh in - lost 1.2 


Stamping trails
Karen 

Happy Father's Day

Happy father's day to all the dads out there. My dad Earl Glen Keith passed away July 2001. Miss him and think of him often. So very hard to lose your parents. My friend Kat made this Father's Day card and sent it to me. I'm going to let the kids sign it and give it to Skip today. Thanks Kat!

Isn't this a fun and pretty birthday card? I received this as a RAK from Jane Starr. She's also on the VC Rocks group. Thanks bunches for the early Birthday card! Hey this is my first birthday card for the year. YAY I get to enjoy this on for a long while!

So tired after yesterday. Knew it was going to be hot so got hubby moving and out the door at 10. Took a two hour bike ride. OMG!!!! It was fun as Brunswick was holding a town wide yard sale, so we stopped in and visited a few of them while we were out riding. I bought a few little things. Course I had to hit the shower soon as I got home. Sweaty!!!!

The kids will be home today and John is picking up grandma Gibson. We will be having a little cookout. Should be fun long as it doesn't rain. They are calling for some rain, but the way it has been going for us here I'm thinking the weathermen are nuts really don't know how to predict the weather:)

Enjoy your Sunday. 

I changed my weigh in day to Sunday.
Amount lost: .5

Stamping trails Karen

Silly Cat

Yesterday evening our cat Burbank fell asleep on top of me. He kept sliding over till the only thing holding him up was my arm. He slept that way so long that my arm started to fall asleep. He woke up when Skip snapped this picture.

Didn't do any crafting except for making some Christmas gifts that I can't post on the blog. Since Skip worked day shift yesterday I drove to the lake and took a nice long walk early about 9 o'clock. Glad I did as it got really hot out later in the day. And I'm sorry to say Marianne (she likes storms also, and needs some rain where she lives) we got tons of rain, thunder and lighting last evening. It was a pretty good storm. Made me feel silly as I spent two hours in the afternoon watering the garden and cleaning off the patio. Shouldn't complain as we really needed the rain.

We are planning to make our first trip of the year to the drive in tonight. Going to see MIB III. I saw the trailer for it at the Avengers looks pretty good.

 Weigh in: 3 pounds lost

 Stamping trails Karen

Still Working with Scraps

OMG it was so hot in the garage the other day, but I decided to get on the treadmill anyway. Check out the temp on the thermometer! Just had to share that with you!

I'm still working from the scrap box. I managed to get 6 projects finished. Still lots more to do with the pieces and parts. How do I let these things get away from me? I guess its a little thing they call life. Something always comes along to take up your time. This card started with the scrap Tangerine Tango that was embossed with a dot Cuttlebug folder. Since I'm working with stamps that never got inked I used Tagtastic. Love that little polar bear riding a tricycle. I stamped the image a second time on vanilla cardstock with Soft Suede ink then cut him out and popped him. Of course I had to have tango party hat for him to wear. I found a little stray piece of Baja Breeze in the box so that got crumbled up in my hand then I split the ply into two pieces and added to the back of the tag. Little button finished off the embellishments. Great guy birthday card. Weigh in day: 1 pound lost Stamping trails Karen