Insomnia, Heartburn, and Tim Holtz

What a combination, huh?! Well, when you can't sleep because you have some severe heartburn and you don't have any Rolaids, Pepto, or other anti-acid in the house you have no recourse but to go to Tim Holtz blog and try to follow his instructions to make all these tags. LOL! Honestly though, at 2am I wasn't a very good student. I didn't have most of the stuff he used so I just altered it and did it MY WAY... whatever THAT means. LOL!

This first tag was made following Tim's February Technique Challenge. I did pretty well on this one since I had the grungeboard shapes. I didn't have the crackle paint in the colors he suggested so I just painted the heart and wings with regular acrylic paint. After it dried I added Glimmer Glaze to the heart so now it's all PURDY and SHINY. LOL! For the crown I couldn't find any of my metallic paint so I just rubbed gold Stickles all over it instead. Oh, and Tim instructed me to use wire to "sew" the pieces together...well, that was just too darn hard to do. I dunno if my wire is just thicker than his wire but it was seriously ticking me off so I ditched that idea and got out some green DMC floss...worked like a charm. :)

Tim's March Technique Challenge turned out WAAAYYYY cooler than mine because I didn't have ANY of the stuff he used but I still think mine turned out pretty snazzy. You can't tell from the photo but this tag has got sooo much depth when you look at it. Since I had to go all ghetto and make up my own supply list for this one I used Glimmer Mists, a big foam flower stamp, a rubber mounted sunflower stamp, and a Prima rubon. The basic concept of this technique is that you first stamp in white paint, let dry, than apply glimmer mist. The paint acts like a resist against the glimmer mists and it looks REALLY KEWL. After the mist dries stamp a different stamp with black ink on top of the image. VIOLA! You have just created a really neat effect. I added a little Prima rubon just cause it sounded good at the time - remember, it was 2am! LOL!
I'd love to find the bird and tree stamps that Tim used in his demonstration but I'm sure that it still wouldn't compare to his masterpiece. Go look at his tag...it is so amazingly beautiful. I LOVE IT!

This next tag NO WAY even remotely resembles Tim's creation because (1) I didn't feel like making a Christmas tag, (2) I didn't have most of his supplies, and (3) REMEMBER IT WAS 2 o'clock in the morning!!!! This is my spin on Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas (tag #1). Please don't go to his site look at his tag and tell me that mine looks NOTHING like his...TRUST ME, I know this already! LOL! I was just playing with his techniques and I kind of like how mine turned out. I only have two colors of crackle paint - black & purple. I didn't feel like painting it purple so I went with black. After it was dry and crackled I went over it with white paint then wiped off the excess. I took a little bit of red ink and went around the edges too. Then I stamped the diamonds in the bottom corner with white paint and sprinkled distressing embossing powder over them before grabbing my heat gun and embossing it.

Following Tim's instructions for 12 Tags of Christmas (tag #2) I once again made nothing Christmassy or anything that even resembles Tim's demo but hey, I was having fun and by this time it was probably closer to 3am! Basically, what I did was stamp the diamonds with white paint, embossed them with rainbow sparkle embossing powder (because after searching for over 20 minutes I still couldn't find my clear embossing powder ANYWHERE!), and then here comes the REALLY KEWL part - you take your distress ink pads and rub them on a craft sheet - use lots of different colors to add to the effect, spritz them with water, then take your tag and plop it down in the wet ink. Lift it up, use your heat gun to dry it off, and VIOLA! kewl effect is now transferred to your tag! Then I stamped a Fancy Pants swirl onto the tag and finished it off with a Prima crystal flourish. After taking this photo I added a pretty blue Prima flower to the top right corner and it just really made it look all the better. IMHO


Once again, my next tag no way resembles Tim's tag that he created. I was tired, it was late...err, early and I didn't feel like sprinkling a bunch of stuff on a detailed stamped image so instead I decided to use large diamonds and use different colors of distress embossing powder on each one instead. LOL! If you have NO IDEA what I am talking about, check out Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas (tag #3). I kind of followed his instructions in the beginning. I stamped the diamonds with embossing ink, then sprinkled different colors of distress embossing powder on it before heating it with my heat gun, and then I just kind of went my own way. I inked over the entire tag and it did NOT give me the effect I was going for, but instead of tossing it I decided to just cover it up so I made a little chipboard tag the same way I made the black tag earlier (the 3rd tag image in this post), added a little flower BLING, and stapled some black cording. Definitely not one of my favorites but still kind of interesting.

And here is my final insomia, heartburn, Tim Holtz created tag. LOL! This one was made using Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas (tag #6) technique. This one remotely resembles his tag because I had the same Heidi Swapp mask (which I love to use often). This one was pretty easy. Just apply the mask to the tag, spray glimmer mist and allow to air dry - DO NOT use your heat gun or it will melt the HS mask (ask Jing-Jing, she knows all about this!!! LOL!), then repeat with other colors of glimmer mist, allowing each to dry before proceeding to the next step which is to remove your mask. Then you can ink your craft sheet and swirl your tag in it to pick up some of the ink color. Then spritz a bit of water of the entire tag, let the water droplets sit for about 10 seconds then remove them by dabbing a paper towel over it. Let it dry, distress the edges, add some embellishments, and your done.

Now I need to go get some sleep! LOL! :P

Chantele

Time flies when your having fun

It's been awhile since my last post because my life seems to have been going in fast forward and I haven't had a chance to do anything other then work, eat, and sleep. I had one heck of a weekend. I taught 4 classes at the GASC in Chattanooga, TN and I am completely worn out from all the running around. I am still trying to get caught up on my sleep...I just can't seem to get enough of it. Since we got home I have been going to bed early, around 10pm, and sleeping in late, around 7am. And it's still not enough! I wake up just as exhausted as I was when I laid down.

My boys think I'm the worst mom in the world because I grounded them both for a week for not doing their chores. When I get home from work I expect their chores to be done. The last few days I have come home and not only have they not done their chores but they have even made huge messes and not bothered to clean them up! ARGH!!! So, what's a mad momma to do? Hit them where it hurts the worst. That's right...I took away their Internet for 1 week! Oh, they are so upset with me it's not even funny. Now, ask me if I care. LOL!

Who would have thunk it?

I realize I just started this shin dig of blogging 10 days ago and I have already received an award. Now, how freakn KEWL is that?! Sex Diaries of a mom awarded me with this snazzy little award:

Thank you so much! It means a lot to me to know that someone actually likes my blog enough to send me an award! Now, when can I expect the diamond to actually arrive in the mail? I'm assuming it's the same size as it is on my screen...right? What? What do you mean it's not a REAL diamond? But, it's so pretty and shiny.... {Sigh} Click play on my video to view my Blog Award Acceptance Speech. Yeah, I'm a dork, but hey, how often does one receive an award? This could constitute as my Lifetime Achievement Award. LOL!

Make sure to turn my playlist music off at the bottom of my blog or you wont be able to hear my speech!

Later Taters!
Chantele

Oh, yeah! It's one of THOSE days

I've been trying to start this blog post for 2 days now and for the life of me I can't ever seem to get it going. Sure, I've written several different things but when I go back and re-read them I end up boring myself...that's pretty bad. LOL! I think I have come to the conclusion that I just shouldn't blog if I'm not in a good mood. The words I write don't tend to be as witty when I'm in a crumby one. Yesterday was DEFINITELY one of those days. You ever have a day where you wish you just stayed in bed, pulled the covers over your head, and just laid there staring at the ceiling instead of actually getting up and facing the world? Well, lets just say that my life would have definitely been better if I had obeyed that inner calling to stay in bed rather then experience the day I had yesterday. I think me and Murphy might be related because "if things can go wrong, they will" would have been a good motto for me yesterday. I woke up with a phone call of bad news. I got to work and encountered more bad news from one of our vendors...and then a second vendor gave me even worse news. I couldn't eat my lunch because I cut the roof of my mouth on a chip a couple days ago and it is still so tender that everything that touches it sends pain racing through my head. Oh, I should have just stayed in bed all day.

I shouldn't really complain though because it wasn't all bad, my hubby knew I was having a yucky day so when I rode my motorcycle to meet him after work he took me on this amazingly relaxing scenic ride. We rode along side the lake, we saw deer standing in the fields (thankfully they didn't try to dart in front of us), we even got to see a small plane doing tricks in the air. Now, how KEWL is that? I guess it was some private owners plane and they were just having fun up there in the sky. I was able to put my earplugs in, turn my MP3 on, sit back on my bike, feel the rev of that engine, the warmth of the sun, and simply ride. Oh, it was exactly what I needed after that kind of day! When we got home a few hours later I was completely relaxed and ready to make dinner, watch the news, then go to bed.

I am so fortunate to have a husband that loves me and takes care of me the way Tom does. He turned my bad day into a wonderful ending. What a guy! You know, I think I'll keep him...at least for another day. ;) Check out this layout of Tom & I with a picture of us from "back in the day".

Later Taters!
Chantele

Oh, Good Lord! Here I go again!

I like to consider myself computer "savvy". I mean, I can code html, css, java, etc so I think that means I have at least a step up above the basic knowledge of computers. I only tell you this so you will commiserate with me on my numerous failed attempts to upload a friggn video to You Tube. Can it really be that hard? Why, oh, why won't my video load? We've all seen You Tube. There are literally 100's of thousands of stupid videos that I am sure where not only created by but also uploaded while the user was surely under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. But, alas, here I am, sober, and the inability to upload my video has left me feeling like a total loser! I've followed the instructions, I get to the upload screen, I find my file and press upload and then.....NOTHING HAPPENS!!! I'm pretty sure that my video file is simply just too large but since I am so new at this whole digital video thing the ability to edit my video has completely eluded me. {sigh}

After I typed this initial message I realized that I had failed to utilize the most common "problem solver" known to man....Google! LOL! So, I type in "how to edit a digital video" in my google browser and all these things pop up about Windows Movie Maker. I click on one, then another, than another and finally find a link with a Free Download. Well, before I download I decide to check to see if it is already on my computer and wouldn't you know...it was! Ok, I've had this computer for oh, I don't know, at LEAST two years and this is the first I have ever heard of or seen anything about a friggin Movie Maker. LOL! OMG, talk about feeling like a total LOSER! Well, now that the Forest Gump part of me has eaten that whole box of chocolates that life is supposedly resembled to, I have finally created my video with the help of Google, Windows Movie Maker, and You Tube. Dang! Who would have thought it would have taken me this long...ok, you, in the t-shirt that is nodding your head like you KNEW all along what I needed to do but instead of feeling empathy for my failed attempts you sat there smugly and read about my misery and enjoyed my misfortunes...you, I BANASH from my blog...POOF! No more blog for you! Kind of like the soup Nazi but instead I'm the blog Nazi. LOL!

Here it is: my 1st video ever created and I'm sharing it with y'all first. Turn the music off at the bottom of my blog before starting or you will hear two different songs playing at once. Yes, I'm southern and I REALLY do say that all the time. ;) Ok, so the video had to be edited because it was just too long in length so I just took a few minutes off the front and a few off the end and added some music and a title and end credits. It's me, on my bike riding Deals Gap - 318 curves in 11 miles. Sorry for the glare on my windshield.

And here is one of the scrapbook layouts that I made from this trip. I used the Scrapbook Obsessions July kit to create it. I made it right after we got back from our trip. There were people hiding in the trees taking your picture as you rode by. That's where the pictures of me riding my bike came from. Pretty KEWL huh?

Wow! I have really gotten bitten by this blogging bug. I have tons of stuff to show anyone that is interested in seeing it. If you are reading this blog PLEASE leave me a comment just so I'll know if you find my content lame or not. But then again, if you call me lame, I will have to banish you too! LOL!

Later Taters!
Chantele

Intro to who I am...really

Well, I decided to finally jump on the blog bandwagon. Yeah, yeah...don't everyone clap at once. I'm not really sure who would even want to read my blog so I'm not really sure what direction this blog will take. I plan on sharing photographs and videos of my recent motorcycle trips - I got this REALLY KEWL camcorder on my bike that I turn on and tape bits and pieces (usually the really fun curvy roads) of my rides. I also plan on sharing my scrapbooking projects because it truly is an obsession of mine. (Hehe...good play on words since http://www.scrapbookobsessions.com/ is the company that my mother and I started in 2004 and it is still going strong today. ) I also think this would be a great way to share some photos with distant relatives who keep begging me to send them some pictures and sadly, I never do.

So, I guess since I figured out what I'll post I should actually post something about who I am to get this whole shin dig started. Ok, let's see... my name is Chantele Jacobs. I was born in Germany while my daddy was in the Army. I'm a full blooded American that lives in Middle Tennessee where it doesn't get too cold in the winter and it doesn't get too hot in the summer. Who am I kidding? It gets friggn' hot here. 107F is definitly considered hot! But at least it doesn't stay THAT hot for long though. I do prefer the heat to the cold. I could never live up north where they get tons of snow and it gets real cold.

I have a wonderful husband, Tom. He is my best friend, the love of my life, the father of my children, and the most amazing man you will ever meet. Even after 15 years of marriage he still makes my heart go pitter patter when he kisses me. Now calm down, he's not completely perfect. I do, after all, have days when I just want to bop him upside the head with a frying pan...but not today. LOL!

I am the mother of teenage boys. Oh my goodness. My youngest just turned 13 on Monday so now I can officially say that they are all teenagers. Tanner is 13, Codey is 17, and Brian is 19. God, now after typing that I feel old!

I have two 8 yr old dogs, both were rescued from the local dog pound. Sugar, is a mixed breed of a Shiatsu and a Cocker Spaniel. She is the only other female in the house so she is my baby girl. She even has a pink rhinestone collar. She isn't too sweet though. In fact, everyone that comes to my house is terrified of her because she doesn't like strangers in the house and she is not afraid to let them know it! Rosco Peco is a beagle and the bestest dog in the whole wide world! LOL! Don't get me wrong, I love my Sugar beyond description but EVERYBODY loves Rosco! He is just so darned cute and always wants to play ball - no matter how many times you throw the darn thing he is always bringing it back for more!!!! But, like my husband, he is not perfect either.... he will eat anything and EVERYTHING in sight that even resembles food. This one time he got into a can of used cooking grease that I had sitting next to the trash can for my hubby to take out with him when he took the trash out. Oh, it was nasty. Rosco ate the entire thing and it was all in one of those large Maxwell House metal coffee cans and it was full to the rim! Eww, my stomach just turns thinking about it. He got so sick he would just lay there and literally moan. It was awful. Poor Rosco.

Ok, I've covered my husband, my kids, my dogs...what else should I mention? Oh, I have a motorcycle! How on earth did I forget that?! My hubby has a really pretty baby blue & black Harley Davidson Softtail Custom motorcycle (that I picked out) and I have a maroon Honda Shadow. Yeah, his is bigger and cost more but I'm REALLY short so my choices were kind of limited as to which bikes I could actually sit on and my feet touch the ground. You know, that kind of comes in handy when you come to a stop. Somethings got to keep it from tipping over. LOL! I love my bike. I just learned how to ride in April of 2007. Since that time I have ridden over 20,000 miles! I LOVE riding my motorcycle. Every free moment I have I am spending it out riding but I'm sure that will be evident when I start sharing our riding habits.

Well, I guess that's all I'm typing now. I need to get off my butt and go work out on my Wii. I'm trying to get back that girlish figure of mine. I am trying to get back in shape. Oh, who am I kidding? Round IS a shape too. LOL!

Later taters!

Chantele