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  • 2006-2007 Cari Kraft. All rights reserved. Please do not use any photos or content from this site without my permission. Remember, what comes around goes around. Thanks.

Fun places to visit

here is a sneaky peek...

the charms that I made for the Diamonds & Pearls charm swap hosted by Miss Amanda. I am forever trying to channel the amazing talents of Sally Jean, I don't know, did I come even close? Maybe early, Diamonds and Pearls charms early Sally Jean when she was just learning and still burning her fingers? I hope the other girls in the swap like them. I used one of my favorite vintage necklace combos; worn pearls and weathered cut crystal glass beads. I especially like the crystal glass beads when that Aurora Borealis rainbow finish is rubbed off and just the clear sparkly bead is left. That tells me that the necklace was a favorite and was worn for many special occasions. This one wasn't in it's original form, so I didn't feel too badly about taking it apart. If I ever find another necklace like that I want to make more charms and maybe put them in the store. Maybe my soldering will be better by then! I will post pictures of the rest of the charms that I received in mail yesterday, I don't want to spoil the anticipation of the other swappers who may not have gotten their boxes yet. You'll just have to be patient, too.


I've also been invited by Miss Artsy-Mama to participate in her Sweet and Sinister blog this season. Last year I was in the swap and my partner was none other than Candace Carpenter! She packs a mean swap package, I'll tell you what! So I need to be planning a project for all those lucky Sweet & Sinister Sinister button biggerbloggers who signed up and swamped Kari's email! If you made it into the group of ghostly bloggers, I look forward to creating a project just for you and showing you how to make it yourself. Halloween is fast becoming my favorite holiday, I'm not sure why, maybe because I don't have all that many decorations that I really enjoy, so I make a few more pieces every year. I'm not sure if it has happened to you but that is exactly how my Christmas decorations got out of control. Adding a little bit every year, but it was so much fun! Anyway, that is what one of many things on my studio table or tables, things get moved around a lot while I work them out in my head, couldn't tell you how many different projects are going on down there right now...it's that crazy! I'll keep you posted! If you are in the Sweet and Sinister Blog group drop me a line, I'd love to hear from you!

Seriously hooked...

on the Game Show Network. My two youngest are anyway. Chain Reaction seems to be their favorite. Followed closely by Wheel of Fortune and Press Your Luck, you remember, "No Whammies, No Whammies, STOP!" They just scream with laughter when the cartoon Whammies do their bit across the screen. Match Game reruns from the 1970's are a little risque...Charles Nelson Reilly and Fannie Flagg work a little blue sometimes. Although they still make me laughWheel of fortune. And the theme music takes me right back to my summer vacations from school, watching game shows on our old black and white tv. My husband fondly remembers from his childhood the tee shirt Fannie Flagg wore once on the show that had a fried egg over each breast. Impressionable young boy, to this day he still loves fried eggs. I should try to make one of those sometime, if you ever see one let me know!  Wouldn't that be hilarious!?! I had to run and get the camera when this was on a recent Wheel of Fortune. It was made even funnier as I looked around the family room and there were children laying about as if they were boneless. Draped across the furniture, hanging over the arm of the leather couch. Remember the Far Side cartoon of the Boneless Chicken Ranch? That was one of my all time favorite ones Gary Larson did. Always makes me laugh!

What was your favorite Far Side?

Amanda said the Diamonds & Pearls Charm Swap finished project will be shipping out today! I can't wait to see it! There were so many amazing artists who signed up, it will be a showstopper, I just know it! I would post pictures of my charms that I contributed but they are being held hostage on my dysfunctional Mac. Dysfunctional meaning possibly the supply source is dead. But maybe not. Could be something else, like a big dust bunny inside or something...keep your fingers crossed that my husband can figure it out and get the "Vintage" machine up and running again.

Have a great day!

If you haven't done it yet...

what are you waiting for? You really need to sign up for Silver Bella if you want to hang out with the coolest artsy chicks in the country. You'll find them teaching your classes and sitting next to you covered in glitter and glue, giggling with giddy excitement. You have to experience it for yourself, you just gotta! I will be there on Friday Pearlsofsilvernight with a table full of goodies just for the Silver Bella girls! I decided not to take the classes this year, I always felt guilty hearing someone want ted to come but it was sold out, so, whoever gets my spot, let me know, okay? Someone has to harrass Kim Kwan while she is teaching in my place! I am so looking forward to seeing all of my Bella buddies again, it has been too long! Teresa went through all the trouble to plan it, the least you could do is come and play! tee hee!

I am typing this from my husband's PC as my poor Apple decided to take a rest for awhile. I am very not familiar with this whole Windows way of doing things and the first day using Photoshop was quite interesting...I think I invented a few new swear words that are actually PG rated since the little ears in this house are really tuned in to catching those things. They aren't so much repeaters as ready and willing to call you on it...just as soon as they can stop giggling in utter surprise! "Oh My Gosh! Did our dear sweet Mother, just rattle off that tirade of obscenities?!?!? Surely she just fell down a flight of stairs or slammed her hand in a drawer! Nothing could set her off like that more than pain and broken bones! What? She can't figure out how to cut and paste something on the computer?!?! Oh, she is going down!"

Needless to say the learning curve has been very wide and bumpy! So bear with me if you will! Plus, because it has been so stinkin' long since I have blogged, Typepad and all the new updates is a little different. If your computer explodes as my blog loads, I really am sorry!

Red/White/Blue is the new Black!

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If you haven't seen her yet, here she is...Lady Liberty in all her feisty-ness! This old gal looks like she has had a hard day looking after all the huddled masses at her feet. I'm sure that you, like me, know exactly how she feels! Summer has just started and already the munchkins are are clawing at my ankles. What to do, what to do? Grab a beverage and take a deep breath, hike up your skirt and wade on in. Put on your best smile and sooner or later you'll be laughing and hugging the other gals right next to you. 

I hope your day is going great and if it isn't take a little advice from Lady Liberty and your day will turn around.

the look of wedding photography...

has forever been changed...for the BETTER!!!


You MUST click here

You must experience the breathtaking beauty of these photos...

It's time to do some...


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Charm Swapping! Miss Amanda over at HodgePodgebyAmanda is hosting what looks to be the makings of quite a fun and pretty charm swap. Since I always miss out on the swap beginnings and end up drooling over the finished photos, Amanda took the time out of her busy day to invite me to join and now, I am inviting you! Stop by her blog and put your name in the hat along with mine and I know we will get the coolest charms back from our charm swapping buddies!

Not much has been happening here, ball games, thunderstorms, rained-out ball games, rescheduled ball games, more thunderstorms, more rained-out ball games, you see the pattern. The weather is set to be stormy from now until next week off and on pretty regular. The sun is shining now but more storms are on the way for tonight. Susie next door and I wanted to sit in the inflatable pools this weekend and finish of the leftover frozen margarita punch from graduation, no fun drinking inside watching it rain outside. Although it can be done, I said it just isn't as fun.


TJ Memorial Window Donation

I haven't done much creatively, still looking for my muse to return, it doesn't seem to be in too much of a hurry, it must be somewhere drinking margaritas in the hot sun. I did finish some projects that I donated to a local golf tournament in memory of a really great guy. If I didn't think so highly of his family, I would have let my muse stay on vacation, but it did pop back in to help me make some things to raise money for their Relay for Life team, so that was a good thing. I need to work on cleaning out my storage shed of blank windows. Start bugging me to do that you guys! Penny, keep asking for your window!

I'm not so sure I am digging the new changes here behind the scenes at Typepad, I don't know if it is my Mac or what, still working out the kinks. Hopefully I won't screw anything up! If anybody can bring down the entire internet it will probably be me!

Have a great day you guys!

I've got the...

Graduation Blues, but I am also glad that it is over. It seems I have been obsessed with it for so long and in the end I still was scrambling to get things done. Too many possibilities available in food and decorating, and don't even think about cleaning early, especially around here! The garage took me a full week to clean out and paint and looked pretty nice when it was all said and done. It was really easy to throw out all the scrap wood I had at the time, now I am starting to regret it, which is always typical. I completely forgot to take pictures of the party until the last few guests were there. Last_few_guests
We had butcher paper rolled out on the tables and markers for guests to doodle and wish the graduate well, Each table had a tall glass cylinder vase filled with a little party sand and a votive candle to illuminated the large photo of Adam through the years that I had printed on a full sheet of vellum and slid inside. White McCoy rectangle planters held batches of snapshots for guests to flip through. I have dutifully saved a box of school papers from each year and so thrilled to find a baggie of Kindergarten Valentines. The handwriting on the back of each was just too cute. Adam commented that one fella still wrote like that! I also found the 3rd grade project he had done where they traced their body on a large sheet of paper, colored it to reflect what they were wearing that day. Nothing says cute like a full sizes cutout of your kid. But what was really exciting was the photo I had found of him standing beside his school desk and his paper person sitting at his desk for the Third Grade Open House. So I pinned the paper cutout on the garage wall, pinned the photo next to it and then made Adam pose for a photo. Doesn't he look thrilled? Adam_and_3rd_grade_self I have to admit the greatest pleasure I got from the party was watching him interact with people, He was not looking forward to talking up folks he hadn't seen since he was a little squirt, but he handled it very well. In the end he was the one telling the Rowdy Girls to keep it down in the garage, which made them giggle even louder, that and the margarita punch that was three feet away from them, I'm not sure, hard to tell. Rowdy_girls
But those girls earned it, they helped me get through the majority of the food prep. They helped me make mints a few weeks earlier. Susie and Deb baked ALL the cupcakes the day before, then we had an assembly line in Susie's kitchen the morning of the party making the hoagie sandwiches. Chris, Deb, Sandy, Penny (not pictured, she passed out way earlier...ha, ha...just kidding) Susie and I put together 66 sandwiches, which turned out to be way too many, but ended up feeding the baseball team, several neighbors the next night when we gathered to finish off the keg and other leftovers and were just fun to hand out to random folks who helped or stopped by later. After the sandwiches, they frosted all the cupcakes and sprinkled them with love, for the graduate. tee hee! Thanks ladies, I owe you all soooooooo much. Remember Margarita punch leftovers are still in my freezer! Kraft_family Mike's brother Mark flew in from Minneapolis to Lincoln and had to drive up thanks to the Berkshire Hathaway folks for taking all the cheap fares into Omaha AND all the hotel rooms in Omaha and the surrounding communities (yes, the Blair hotels were booked solid with way-way-way-out-of-towners and not very friendly ones, I might add, ask teri about her run in with one lady at the breakfast display at the Missouri Valley Days Inn). His sister teri and her daughter Hannah flew into Kansas City from Atlanta (again thanks Mr. Buffet) and had to drive up. So they had extended trips back and they were rewarded with hugs and chores! Hannah and teri got the pleasure of pulling out all the photos for the table displays, yes, Hannah, I agree those pants I was wearing in 1990 were hilarious, I am saving them to wear to your graduation...HA! Adam_diploma That should keep you awake at night! Mark saved the day by taking over the grilling of 40+ pounds of boneless Buffalo chicken strips, of which the guests are still raving over and I have shared the recipe many times with all who ask. Spread the love and pass the Blue Cheese. teri expertly ran the food island so Mike and I could mingle with all our guests and watch Adam enjoy his friends and all who came through. Mike's mom and dad got to just watch the steady stream pass before them and enjoyed visiting with those they knew. My mom and sister stayed off to the side and visited with those that came through, mom's hearing isn't the best and the crowd noises really throw her off, but they found a quiet spot and had fun. It was a great night and was the product of so many wonderful folks pitching in with out even considering it. You all are truly great and my family and I are so lucky to have you in our lives. You helped make this moment all the more special...

Casa Bella Baby!!!!

I am so excited to share with you all the fact that I have been invited to be a Guest Designer for Paper Bella Studio E-Zine by the Fabulous Miss Teresa McFayden! How stinkin' cool is that!?!?! Check out the logo for this month's special ezine...
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how stinkin' cute is that!??!!? If you have no idea what the heck I am talking about, Teresa has gathered up 12 fun projects to do and decorate your house with. You purchase the subscription here at Paper Bella and she emails you with a super secret password to access the Casa Bella site. It's like an online craft magazine that can be super addictive but oh, so fun! Here is a sneaky peak at my project...

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Lot's of sewing but so worth it! I have made two of these in the past, one out of a cream and red toile fabric, and my most favorite of all, one from a red, aged white, and blue bunting fabric for the 4th of July. That was really sharp. But now, I think this new one is my new favorite and I know it will be your favorite, too!

Okay, switching gears here, Little Miss Lasertron has started a blog of her very own, yeah! Now we can follow along as she plans her future wedding and relive all the excitement that we have conveniently forgotten about our own weddings, Things are so much cuter now for weddings and the "rules" have relaxed a bit and I can't wait to see all the sweet and fun things that she comes up with! Stop by and say "hello!"

Graduation is getting closer, the party is just a mere 22 days away...EEEEEEEEEK!!! I hadn't looked today for the official count, gah! Gotta stay on task, gotta stay on task!

Happy Birthday to Mike's brother Mark! He is 45 today!!!! Awww, just a baby! Love you man!

Okay, I have to go and make supper now and get back to the Party TODO list! Good thing the weather is crap-tacular outside, makes me want to stay indoors and putz around!

And now for your...

jewelry wearing pleasure...modV from my very favorite person in all the land, Vallerie D. I wish I could introduce you all personally to this chick, you would instantly fall in love with her as I did. We worked together several years in the photo studio as Mynecklaces2_2 Photo Art Directors to our various clients, she was my supervisor and I made her laugh! Why does a particularly challenging job seem worthwhile when your good friend is by your side, rolling her eyes and shouting, "We have to get how many reshoots done before we can go home!?!?!?"

She always had the modern vintage edge in her jewelry, never afraid to tear a piece apart and restring it with something else vintage from her treasure trove of goodies. And now she is making them for us!!!

We have been working on getting her etsy store up for awhile, I did the banner and the business cards, she gathered all the jewelry components and started putting the puzzle pieces together. She will be adding to her store everyday so stop by often and snag yourself a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Oh, I forgot to mention she is a wicked cool interior decorator with absolutely no fear in painting a piece of brand new furniture to give it a vintage shabby chic makeover, just ask her cutie-pie husband about the armoire the tv is in...brand new from the Furniture Mart! Now it looks vintage and has more character than a grizzled prospector. She has an amazing eye in recognizing the potential in a blah, tired piece of furniture that has already served it's purpose for one or two generations of owners. By putting her modV spin on it, it becomes a whole new piece and always takes my breath away. She has opened my eyes and inspired me to really look at the pieces I come across and imagine the simple beauty that could be coaxed out with a coupled coats of white paint. So much different seeing it in person instead of in a magazine.

Her shooting star is just beginning to start it's journey, I seriously recommend you saddle up and come along for the ride and make sure you have your own modern vintage piece designed by Miss modV herself!

Did you pick up that the V in modV is for Vallerie herself? She is the whole modern vintage package!

I have been working on goodies for my own etsy store so keep an eye out. Look for some photo charms. All you have to do is purchase a custom charm package from me, send me a photo to scan or email a digital version, I create a custom photo charm and send it back to you or on to someone else as a gift. Mother's Day is just around the corner. Val and I have tossed around the idea of incorporating a photo charm into one of her necklaces for a truly unique piece of jewelry. Help me convince her that it is a great idea! I just wish I could find an old b&w photo of my dad and his favorite Ford truck, since he no longer with us, that kind of photo would mean so much to me and to be able to wear it...sigh!


tag! You're it!

Okay, Miss Fancy Pants, Heather in Texas has tagged me, so I better step up. I have been tagged many times before but never realized it until it was too late. Typical of me, always showing up to the party with the dip only to find the chips and the beer already gone. So this time I decided to do it and give you a glimpse into the deepest darkest inner me.

But first, the rules...

- Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
- Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
- Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Okay, here goes...

1. I hate talking about myself, which might have something to do with not ever doing this before. I will talk for hours about someone/something else and listen intently throwing in witty remarks as you relate your stories to me. But when the ball is in my court, eeewwww, no, throw it back, throw it back! Probably comes from growing up on a farm, spending my time with my nose stuck in a book. I would make a great hermit!

2. I have a serious obsession with magazines, addicted is putting it mild. I keep back issues...forever! I have boxes for each month, stored in order in my studio. When trying to get into the mood for an upcoming holiday or season, I pull out the box, find a comfy chair (or in the van waiting for the kids after school, the natural light is perfect to make the photos come to life) and will completely immerse myself in the pages of Country Home, Country Living, Mary Englebreit, Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Weddings, Martha Stewart Kids, Domino, Blueprint, any from the Stampington family, Cottage Living, Cooking Light, Food and Wine, a random Scrapbook magazine here and there, anything that may have caught my eye over the last eight ten years. Seriously, there are stacks all over the house, by my computer, by my bedside. There are three completely filled boxes just for the month of December alone. They inspire me and are different each time I look at them as my eye changes each season with the new trends. They are an invaluable source and I hate to part with them.

3. I will put a movie in the DVD player or vcr in my studio and play it over and over and over and over and over until a week later I decide to pick a different one. I don't ever watch, it is just background noise and since I am in and out of the studio so many times through out the day I never catch all the movie consecutively. Currently in the DVD player...Hot Fuzz... I love British humor and these guys who also did Shaun of the Dead are brilliant. Their newest one, Run Fat Boy Run, is coming out soon in the theaters, I can't wait. Adam get the subtle nuances of the Brits and so we have a common interest there. Mike can take it or leave it.

4. I hate clothes shopping for myself, it is sooooo hard! Long legs, short waist, no boobs, and still carrying baby fat from the baby who is now eight years old (notice any similarities to not getting rid of magazines). It's not every designers dream body, I am telling you. God Bless the Gap! Tees, hoodies, and Long and Lean jeans in Tall. In and out in an hour!

5. I love to cook but hate leftovers, thank goodness for the hungry friends of a teenage son. My specialties are gravy (ruined my husband's figure with that alone), bar-b-que, turkey sandwiches (just ask the high school soccer team, it got so I couldn't make just one, I had to make 24), buffalo wings, desserts of any kind (which we never finish, just ask the neighbors who get goodie bags), banana bread, and many many more. I have recently given up deep fat frying anything, I hate the smell afterwards and the cleanup so we have to go out to eat to get any of that stuff.

6. I have no competitive drive what-so-ever, could care less if I win or lose. I never played sports in school, me and my big mouth cheered from the sidelines and I love watching my kids play sports, I can't stand games of any kind, board, card, outdoor, you name it. Drives my husband crazy because he loves games, thank God for the kids or he'd be so sad. Nobody played games with me as a kid, I was the youngest of four kids, and they were way older than me so I was almost an only child. My mom and I crafted together and that's where it all started. Why waste your time moving game pieces around a board when you could be making something out of the game pieces? I get anxious if I have to sit around and not make something for too long, I don't know why.

7. I own tons of scrapbooking supplies and tools and to this date have only done two layouts. I never had any interest in scrapbooking because I didn't care for the supplies of the early days, I still don't care for stickers. Where is the creativity in that? At least with a rub-on you have to do a little work to get it to transfer. It is the thrill of the technique for me. Maybe that is what happened to what was supposed to be my competitive streak, it some how was warped into mastering a technique and then tweaking it into my own? Anyway, the day I discovered the Foofala store and all it's altered vintage glory, my life changed and so did my art. Everybody say, "Thank you Teresa!" because I know she had the same effect on you! How can you see where you are going if you don't embrace where you have been?

Phew! That was hard! Now I have to pick seven friends and tag them...let's see...I have to tag my gal-pals Jill and Mary Beth (Teresa gets tagged alot, so we'll give her a break), Candace, Tammy_gilley_sign1
Stephanie, Natalea, Jennifer, and Tammy.

And speaking of Tammy, check out her stunning website! Girlfriend has some serious creating going on over there! And a nice shiny new sign to hang at the shows she goes to.