Sorry, no Saturday freebie

Just not feeling well today so not ready to start posting new kit in the works. It is a masculine kit to be called "Let's Go Fishing."

Did sign contract on Magnolia Gardens Scrap today and we are hoping the tech can set me up tomorrow. If she does, I will have to hustle to get stuff loaded as my shop will go live July 1.

In other news, no thaving the muscle spasms I had with last epidural so far, so good.

Learned that one of our nieces has been diagnosed with lymphoma. Not sure which type or how she will be treated.

Husband made his second apple pie and it looks and smells even better than the first. That man can cook! I've been in a mood to bake and last week tried a recipe in the back of my KitchenAid mixer book for sweet roll dough. Did it all as stated and added in some bits of candied orange peel. The dough didn't rise as well as it should have (maybe last of that jar of yeast was too old). But I rolled it out, sprinkled liberally with brown sugar & cinnamon mixture , rolled it up and cut. The rolls expanded width wise but didn't rise more and they were dry as dust! Even heated and slathered with butter, they just weren't good. So disappointing.

Reflux getting worse again so I'll stop for now and hope to get something up tomorrow.


P. S. Claudia - I sent a reply to your comment on your FB page.

Vintage Birds freebie

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all well. Things are opening up around the country which feels like an improvement but we will have to wait and see if this triggers another round of Covid_19. I am so tired of hearing people gripe about having to wear a mask and their "rights." I don't think anyone is enjoying the experience but please, why does anyone right supersede the good of the many? It's such a small thing we can do to help everyone stay safe. My husband and I have been using little cloth masks - the idea being it was more economical to have something washable and reusable. But since we both have breathing difficulties the masks make it more difficult. Plus, I gave up my contact lens long ago and now get my glasses fogged up. Also bought a small amount of disposable masks for rough respiratory days and just ordered a couple face shields while they are still relatively cheap to see if we tolerate those better.

I did get my lumbar epidural on the 19th. First couple of days I has spasms down my spine but that is perhaps because of the position I was in during the procedure. At this point, I think it is fair to say I got maybe 10- 20 % benefit if that. Don't seem to be having problems on left side but the right is pretty painful.

Anyway, I decided to extract some vintage bird illustrations. Thought they might brighten up a page or two and since the original jpeg would be considered public domain, I haven't bothered with a TOU. Hope you can find a use for these.

Link: expired. Available at Magnolia Gardens Scraps after July 1 2020
Until next time, be safe and be creative!

First zip of papers today. Only one preview for both zips.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j36vs7nwf1uomrq/ws_Wine%26Roses_ppr1.zip?dl=0

For ongoing news of the situation here, see below. Most of you will probably prefer to skip the family drama, and I don't blame you. I do need to vent though, and you all have been so supportive. Thank you.

Whenever I experience intense emotions I almost invariabley cry. It's not just sorrow or anger but even intense joy. I so dislike this! So yesterday evening when my brother called, I tried my best to be calm and level when I answered the phone. "Are you upset with me?" he asked. I took a deep breath and told him I certainly was. That it was a lot of built up little things but the last straw had been him insulting me following visit to attorney. What could I mean? I said he'd inferred I was a racist. Of course, he replied he'd never said that. No, he hadn't used the word, "racist" but he might as well have and I told him what he'd said. You see, after the funeral when some of us were talking I'd mentioned an odd dream I'd had in which a black man with dread locks was roaming around my back yard and he took offense. Told me, "I have a black son." Yes, he does, a man he adopted as a baby after fostering him through Catholic Family Services. I asked him if he'd still be offended if I'd said there was a strange white man with a red beard roaming around my backyard, because the word "black" in my comment was just an adjective and nothing more. The point was the man in my dream did not belong in my backyard. Well he doesn't like it, he tells me and he has a right to state what he feels. Sure, I agree, but his tone and expression . . . I told him whether he likes it or not, people are still described as black or white, however inadequate that may be. And those dark skinned people of Afro_American descent I know do not object to being called "black." What they do dislike, I informed him, is when they are referred to, in describing the color of their skin, in food terms - like coffee, cinnamon, chocolate. Personally, if I were not "white" but "black," I wouldn't mind someone describing me as having milk chocolate skin. Chocolate is pretty universally loved. Anyway, I went on to tell him that he had acted judgemental and he doesn't know how I live my life. If he did, he'd know that I personally believe "race" is a social construct to explain obvious differences in appearance - a construct that has done more harm than good. Now, ethnicity, is another matter as it refers to a culture in which one is raised.

And then I proceeded to tell my brother how he keeps changing his mind about things, and had talked me out of having an estate sale. How he said he didn't have time to go through all of Dad's tools but would take them to Florida to sort out, keep some things he wanted, then sell the rest to help with Dad's care. He hasn't sold anything that I know of and I suggested that now that Dad is gone, he won't. He says he is going to use them. He had also taken Mom's pearls and diamond 50th anniversary ring, saying he would get them appraised and sell them but hasn't done so.

Went on to remind him how when we needed to put the house up for sale because of Medicaid application, he and his wife said they were going to clean out the house to help me. But now, he'd said he should be compensated because I'd have had to pay someone to do it. No, my neice and her sorority were going to help me when it came to that. And bear in mind that he and his wife didn't have the expense of a hotel as they stayed at the house during their visits. And wasn't all the loot he'd collected compensation enough? He acted shocked, saying he knows he asked me several times if it was alright that he have thus and so. To some extent yes. I told him, early in the conversation, that I feel he has mistaken my kindness [read that bending over backwards] for weakness and warned that is a bad assumption to make. I also informed him that living out of state, Virginia does not recognize him as executor, only me, letting him know I have ultimate authority. Then, to forestall it coming up later, I informed him that if he is fielding calls about selling the house, and just having me show it, with the thought that he will get a real estate commission, that will not be happening. Oh no, he claimed, saying he thought it would relieve me of some stress. Thom did apologize for hurting me and swore he loves me. I'm ashamed to say, I still have my doubts. I do love my brother but it's mostly based on early, happier memories, not because he's bothered to stay in touch over the years, in fact was resistant to do so for some time. I do however, not love all of his behavior and made the suggestion that he needs to widen his perspective as he seems to be holding a lot of anger and hatred inside. He didn't deny this but says it is not directed towards me. So, I'll go show the house Thursday and as for Thom, I'll pray he learns to release the anger and hatred before it eats him up, and choose love instead.

18 degrees outside & I'm being lazy & thinking

Asking questions on FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/SherScraps4CuWonderlandScraps/
Or you can respond here.
Do any of you art journal?
Do any of you make artist trading cards (ATC)?
What kind of freebies do you like best? ex: daily download kits, quickpages, templates, brushes,clusters, borders, other

And for PSP and users of products other than PhotoShop or Photoshop Elements, a question about brushes.
In PS brushes have an abr suffix. What other programs can use this type of brush? I've been told that PSP uses jbr suffix and that you can often take an abr brush and change the suffix to jbr and it will work in PSP. Is that true? Asking so I know if it is worthwhile making and offering free brushes.

Okay going to go do someting useful now.

Speaking of snow . . . freebie alert

check out Poki's pretty new freebie collection, Let It Snow:
https://pokisproject2.blogspot.com/2018/01/personal-collection-let-it-snow.html

Touch of Color Emerald - freebie

Lots more paperwork for Dad today and refund from rehab center has not arrived. More Dad "business" calls to make tomorrow.

Here are elements for Touch Of Color- Emerald:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0cvs2jdbs1bh0rf/ws_TouchOfEmerald_elements.zip?dl=0

The elements for Touch Of Lavender

Dad fell again today! Actually, he slid out of bed. Tried to sit up on edge of bed to get into wheelchair (on his own, of course) but sat up on wrong side of bed and when he put his feet down, they slid out from under him. No injuries, thank heaven. While I was visiting, the maintenance people came in and put down non-skid strips on floor at each side of bed. Dad now has a tracking device on him too. Other than that, it was an easy visit.

Thank you all for your kind words of hope and support.

Here is the rest of Touch Of Lavender:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6fl9vv0l1s2g5bz/ws_ATouchOfLavender_elements.zip?dl=0

Another day and a freebie

Moving Dad to the nursing home went pretty smoothly all things considered. He was ready to go when we went to pack him up, had breakfasted and taken morning meds. While I settled up downstairs, my husband got most of the packing done. Temps in 90's so not much fun hauling things around but we made it as simple as possible. I found the room a little shabby but doubt dad really noticed. Got stuff put away and dietitian came in to discuss food preferences etc. Made sure she knew he's diabetic and has renal disease so he will get low sodium and low sugar meals. Lunch came in and dad actually enjoyed the ham, cabbage, cornbread etc. That's a plus. He seemed to expect us to stay all day but I just couldn't. I was overheated, dehydrating, and had only eaten cereal at breakfast. Left there about 2 pm, checked mail at his house, mailed bills, and popped into grocery for a couple things on way home. My husband had picked me up some pepperoni bread for late lunch and once I'd eaten and downed a lot of fluids, I took a 6 hour "nap."

When I woke up I learned Dad had called and accused my husband of taking his phone charger, insisting that he either left it on the bed at other facility or had it with him. Would not listen to John when he told him it was in the room somewhere, that I had put everything away when we got there. Then in background he could hear someone (an aide I'm sure) saying, "Here it is!" Dad didn't apologize or anything. this sort of thing happens more and more. He'd also piled a lot of requests on me before I'd left: needed something form pharmacy (ok will take tomorrow), wants to see eye doctor, wants to go to podiatrist, wants to go to barber to get hair (what there is) shampooed and cut. Won't use the beauty shop there. Wants to go by the house - something about some knives he has that I won't know where to find. Told him he couldn't bring them there and no one but me going in the house so why worry about it? Think he still has the idea someone is living there.

Here at home there is so much to catch up on. Lots of cleaning to be done in addition to the basics we have settled for doing during all this chaos. Sugar ants are here for warm weather so there is that to deal with. My own bills to pay. And lots of filing of papers, receipts etc for Dad. Wish I could wrinkle my nose like Samantha the witch and get the house cleaned, other chores done, and be able to relax! Coming up is our granddaughter's birthday, son's 1st wedding anniversary, and grandson's high school graduation. Always something.

Had hoped to give you something different tonight but will have to settle for offering another Touch Of Color pack:

Papers tonight:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dn7snartucvgxim/ws_ATouchOfLavender_papers.zip?dl=0
Elements tomorrow.

Wacky Wednesday freebie

Almost forgot what day it is! Today I'm sharing a vintage trade card. The girl reminds me of Princess Dianna. What do you think?

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/2016%20freebies/Wacky%20Wednesday/diana%20like.jpg

November Goal Set

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/2016%20freebies/goal%20sheets/ws_Nov2016goalset.zip

March 2016 goal pages freebie

Sorry I'm late with these.

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/2016%20freebies/goal%20sheets/ws_March2016GoalPgs.zip
Hope you are keeping up your journaling.

2016 Reading Challenge Freebie

Yesterday, we had a visit from grandchildren, Tyler & Inara, their mother, Rachel, and Tyler's lovely girlfriend, Olivia. It was a late exchange of Christmas gifts and much catching up. Learned that not only is Rachel's father recovering from a stroke, but her mother has another fracture in her spine! Tyler's girlfriend loved the necklace we gave her but didn't know what the Claudaugh symbolizes. When I explained, we were wishing her love, friendship and loyalty, she seemed even more pleased. Tyler was well pleased with his skinny jeans and his Redskin gifts. He was wearing 3 layers of Redskin shirts in preparation for the afternoon's playoff game. (He was sorely disappointed when they lost the game.) Inara was pleased with her books and her Zoomer Zuppy, Pupstar. However, we learned that the interactive electronic puppy has some pretty complicated instructions. The rest of the day passed quickly with hubby watching football and me zoning out with a mild headache. Not surprising with weather going back and forth here.

Not going to be doing anything big in way of kit this month as the month is speeding by. Had hoped to give you a Color touch kit yesterday. Might get that posted later today. The rest of the month will be smaller stuff but I do hope to have something up every day from here on out.

Meanwhile, I zipped my reading challenge (changed those *s to numbers) and the blank report I made for keeping track. Here is an example of the reading report showing where I am so far:

Now you can see why I changed the *s to numbers - much easier to note the category or categories that a book fulfills. And here is the link:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/2016%20freebies/SherryD_2016ReadingChallenge.zip

Remember too that 2015 freebies will be removed from 4shared & dropbox by 1/15 to make room for 2016 zips. Haven't gotten any suggestions about what you might like to see so just playing it by ear. If you do have suggestions for themes, colors, types of scrap stuff you'd like to see, please comment here rather than on 4shared or dropbox as I don't often look for comments there.

And now I've off to do something useful: laundry, dishes, cook beef stew.
Hugs!

Christmas winds down with the old year. Freebies!

2015 is just about over! For many (most)? people tomorrow, New Year's Eve, will mean the last of Christmas. Maybe today you are firming up your plans for New Year's Eve as you munch on leftover cookies and eggnog. I found a couple little things in my TEC folder to fill in today. First, some more overlays:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_overlays_6.zip
And some mistletoe I should have posted earlier. Still, with New Years in sight and the traditional kissing that comes with welcoming in the New Year, you can still use some mistletoe, right?

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_mistletoe%26more.zip
Be sure to gather all the TEC goodies you want before mid-January when they must be gone. Hugs!

Christmas freebies

By now you have surely taken lots of holiday photos. Have you found time to scrap any yet? Perhaps these corners will come in handy:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_corners.zip
And you might want some figures or dolls for your layouts:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC-figures.zip
Do you celebrate in the old way, counting the 12 days of Christmas? I do and consider the last day of the season to be January 6, Epiphany, also called Three Kings Day or Little Christmas. That will be the day I begin taking down Christmas decorations and, because it's such a bummer to take down the tree, my tradition is to set aside a small gift for each of my immediate family members to open that day. Do you have any traditions about removing the holiday decorations or celebrating Epiphany?

A couple more Christmas freebies

I know most people associate the poinsettia and Christmas cactus with Christmas, but I prefer the fragrant, velvety petals of roses. Although I rarely have fresh roses during the holiday, I use silk ones in deep red or creamy white on my wreaths and in other decor. Naturally, I had to give you some Christmas roses too.

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_roses.zip
I also have some pieces I'll call decos:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_decos.zip
Enjoy!

It's still Christmas and there are freebies

There might still be some gifts coming your way or even sitting under your tree to be unwrapped. Here are some for your pages:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_gifts.zip
Of course, you need some toys on those pages too:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_toys.zip

Merry Christmas! and freebies too

I hope that you and your family will have a wonderful Christmas.
Today just some angels to remind us of those present at the first Christmas:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_angels.zip

Christmas Eve 2015 & freebie

The little ones are frantic for Santa to arrive. Perhaps they have even been tracking his progress on radar as offered by local news stations. Be sure in all the hustle and bustle you set aside time to read the Christmas story to them tonight, reminding them that tomorrow we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Perhaps you will go to church in the evening or Midnight Mass (I love that) or maybe like me and others who can't get out much, you will watch the mass on TV. How sweet it is to tuck your little one's into bed to dream of Santa and presents, visits from friends and relatives, goodies and more. You will make last minute touches perfect when the house is quiet and perhaps find a minute to yourself to reflect. And you can collect today's freebies, if you haven't done so already.
What could be more appropriate than Santa today?

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_Santa.zip
And of course the reindeer and sleigh that bring him:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_reindeer%26sleigh.zip

It's Little Christmas Eve! How about a freebie?

Is your tree up and decorated? Here are some for your scrapbooking needs:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_trees.zip
And some stockings to hang:

You should have plenty of elements now if you want to decorate the plain stockings.
Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_stockings.zip

Christmas freebies

Water those poinsettias:

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_poinsettias.zip
and set out some Christmas candy (but watch that the kids don't eat too much):

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57614067/TraditionallyElegantChristmas/ws_TEC_candy.zip