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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Domino Pendants

One of my favorite art ning groups I belong to is Roses On My Table.  There are always lots of great things to do and learn on there.  I recently signed up for Zinnia's Domino Mania workshop (check it out here) and I had tons of fun making them.  I made one for my mother and sister-in-law for a Christmas present, but I forgot to take pictures.  I also made one for myself and one for my daughter as a Christmas present.  Below is a picture (not very good) of the one I made for myself.

It's really very pretty in person and I absolutely love the image.
Next is the one I made for my daughter.
I added little confetti stars and moons to the resin as it was drying.  She really loved it.
And next is a photo of the both of them.

I have many more ideas for others that I want to make and I'm going to have my husband drill some wholes in a few so I can make key chains.  They were so much fun and I had a little assembly line of them going...LOL. Check out Zinnia's site for lots of other projects.

Hugs, 




Monday, December 19, 2011

2011 Bloggerette Sorority Christmas Ornament Swap

This year I had the great pleasure of participating in the Bloggerette Sorority Christmas Swap.  Its a wonderful group of lady bloggers and I've met some wonderful ladies belonging to the Sorority.  I received some lovely handmade ornaments from my partner Tammy Grantz  (hope you visit her lovely blog) and I made two for her.  I hope that she likes them.  I was a bit late in getting mine sent to her because in late November I injured my arm and it has laid me up for some time.  It's starting to get better, but it has been hard to get done all the things I had planned to make for Christmas.  This has just shown me that next year I need to be better prepared and make things throughout the year because you just don't know what life will throw at you.  Here are pictures of the two ornaments I made for Tammy.

I had a hard time getting the colors to show up well because of poor lighting in my house.  So I tried to have it behind a little darker background so they would show up.  They didn't show up as much as I would have liked.  The fabric is a really pretty brocade with pink, gold, blue and blue/green in it.  I also used pale pink rosettes and bows and pink trim and pink velor for the loop.  On the bottom I used a pale gold tassle.

You can see the colors a little better in this one but the pink in the fabric doesn't show as much.

This one is my husband's favorite.  I used a glittered snowflake and attached a pretty mauve rose with some Christmas garland behind it and pretty pearl and rhinestone button in the center of the rose.  I added a little glitter to the rose for a little bling.


And these are the lovely ornaments Tammy made me.

I absolutely adore the wreath!!  This was my daughter's favorite too because it is soft.

I also love the snowflake too as I love snowflakes.  This one was my husband's favorite as he love snowflakes also.  They are both beautiful and I love that they are handmade.  

If you want to pop over to the Bloggerette Sorority Site, there is a Linky Party starting up with the swap participants.  Click on the icons in the linky party under the post and it will take you to their blogs to see all the beautiful goodies.  Also, there is information on the blog about how to become a sorority sister.  Thanks Debi at Marionberry Cottage for hosting this wonderful swap.

Hugs and blessings,


Friday, December 9, 2011

Two New Tags, One Animated One Not

I have been having tons of fun with my updated software.  So many things work much better and I am able to do things I wasn't in my other program.  For those out there that love digital media if you don't want to spend a ton of money I recommend PaintShop Pro X4 by Corel.  This is what I have been using.  I have Photoshop Elements 8 and there is so much I cannot do in it that I can in PaintShop.  If you don't mind spending a ton of money then I recomment Adobe CS5 it has all the bells and whistles.  I'm not quite there yet where I can justify spending that kind of money, but I tried it for 30 days and it is AWESOME!  Now back to my PaintShop, which I am totally lovin'.  Here are my two latest tags I've made and I hope you enjoy them.  I'm hoping to be able to do a few tutorials soon.  I'm learning to use all kinds of effects which is really cool.

This one I call Punk Animae Girl.

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This is another Fall one that I did from some of the kits I have compiled over time.

I call her Fall Faery.  Well I must be off to do a little in the studio and then off to bed.  

Happy Creating,


Monday, December 5, 2011

Emo Girl Tag

Well I finally upgraded my photo software and I'm so glad I did.  I'm really enjoy it so far and I have tons and tons to learn.  Here's the first tag with more to come.


If you like the supplies and tube I used you can get the tube here and the kit here.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.

Hugs, 


Friday, December 2, 2011

Pink Saturday

Another Pink Saturday quickly approaches and I was wondering what was I going to post and was having a hard time deciding.  Well last night my husband received his year end bonus (Woot Woot) and so I deposited this morning and then ran and did a quick little bit of Christmas shopping for my daughter at one of her favorite stores and I came upon the perfect thing to post (and I did buy it for my art room).


This is perfect on so many levels for me because one I absolutely love Audrey Hepburn.  Breakfast at Tiffany's is my favorite movie of which this picture of her is from and this is my absolutely favorite saying, so how very befitting!  I love it and can't wait to hang it up in my art studio.  There were several more there, but I thought it best not to spend a bunch of money on myself, after all it is the season of giving.  I'll have to give my hubby a few hints.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.

Hugs,


Thursday, December 1, 2011

Ain't No Substitution

I've been playing with images again today and working with digital media in my paint shop pro.  I have so much to learn yet, but I've learned a lot so far.  Next I am going to learn how to make masks and templates.  I'm thinking I will need to upgrade my software so I can start making my own tubes instead of purchasing.  Although I love the artwork by many of the different artists that I've found on some of my favorite stores like PSP Tubes Emporium and Scraps and the City. The tube in this image is by Very Many at Scraps and the City and I really like it.

I'm still having a few issues with my plugins, but I'm hoping with the upgrade this will work itself out.  Well that's it for now, until the next one ;)

Hugs,

Link to Pink Friday

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

New Recipes To Check Out!

I've added 3 new recipes to my blog Belles Roses - Healthy Eating, just click on the Recipe button above.  The 3 recipes are Chicken Tortilla Soup, Mocha Layer Cake and Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie.  I hope you check them out.  If you make them or tweak the recipe, let me know how you liked it and how you tweaked it.  I'd love to hear from you.

Hugs, LisaKay


Friday, November 18, 2011

Pink Friday and Pink Saturday 11/18/2011

The theme for Pink Saturday is thankfulness and I have much to be thankful for. With the economy the way it is many struggle, as we do to make ends meet, but some have no food to put on the table or a roof over their head.  I have both and I am able to be home with my daughter and I am very, very thankful for that.

On Wednesday my daughter and I ran up to the store to get a few things and on our way out while getting into our truck a lady approached me and I could tell by the way that she looked that she is having a very rough time.  She explained that she needed to get to Terre Haute which is about 70 miles or more from where we were and that she was out of gas and only had $4 dollars and would it be possible or could I spare a little money to help her.  I told her to go over to the gas station right by the store and I would meet her there.  She kept saying thank you as she walked back to her car.  Now my husband and I are having some pretty hard times right now financially and we live on a very fixed income and budget, but I couldn't tell this woman no.  I had her pull up to the pump and I told her I would go in and pay.  I bought her $10 of gas and a drink and headed over to her car.  I think she is living in her car because of what I saw in the back seat.  I told her I'd paid for $10 and gave her the drink and told her to drive safely and that I hope she will make it there safe and sound.  She started to cry and told me over and over thank you.  I told her that she is more than welcome and I hope that some day if I am ever in the same situation some one will help me because we need a little more kindness in the world.

As I got into our truck, my daughter who had been sitting in there watching everything said "Mom are you going to be able to get your gas now?"  I told her I would make due with what I have and I'll just have to be more diligent about where I drive and when to do my errands.  Then my daughter said "Mom, that was really nice of you to do that for her, especially since you gave her half your gas money budget.  I love you mom and I'm really proud that your my mom."  That's when I started to cry.  The fact that my daughter is proud that I'm her mother is the greatest gift she could ever give me.

I truly feel that if our society could just be a little more kind and giving toward each other it truly would be a better place to live.  I can tell my daughter until I'm blue in the face to be a better person, but they are only words; I have to lead by example.  I hope and pray everyone is having a wonderful week and that you have a happy and joyous Thanksgiving next week.

Here is a little digital media signature tag I made for Christmas.  I hope you like it.

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linking with:

Pink Friday
Pink Saturday

Hugs,


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New Tag from Breakfast at Tiffany's

I found this lovely new scrap kit by Sweet Cravings scrap called Breakfast at Tiffany's you can find it here.  She has some really adorable kits.  I bought a few others and can't wait to make some tags with them.  I also used a tube from PSP Emporium here and I am using a design by Anna Liwanag. You need to have a license to use their tubes and I will be adding mine to my image as soon as I receive my license number from them.  As I'm learning to use the different softwares that I have I hope to add some tutorials to my blog.  So without further adieu here is my new tag.

I've also added a navigation bar to my blog and have new blogs solely dedicated to my recipes, canning and other healthy eating tips.  A new blog for my art and a new blog for my art swaps.  I hope you will check each of them out.  I am currently making ornaments for my ornament swap being hosted by the Bloggerette Society.  I hope you will visit them here.



Friday, November 11, 2011

Pink Friday and Pink Saturday

This is my first time participating in Pink Friday and I am really excited to visit everyone's blogs.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday so far.  I have been in a bit of a nostalgic mood lately, probably because I just recently celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary.  My hubby and I had planned to renew our vows on our 10th and celebrate it in my home town in Washington State since my mother couldn't be there for our wedding, but with the economy the way it is we just couldn't swing it.  So instead I am dreaming of the wedding dress I will wear when we do renew our vows.  I hope you like what I am thinking of.











I know that I want to go vintage and pink.  If I can't find exactly what I'm looking for than I will just have to make it myself!

I'm linking to:


Hugs, 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Consumer's Be Aware!!

As of late I have seen a trend at the grocery store, maybe you have too.  In this current economy so many of us have to be very budget aware because some of us have lost jobs, our companies have downsized, we or our spouses have not received pay increases for years and it can be a struggle to make ends meet.  Since we became a single family income we have had to make dollar count and one of those is living on a strict grocery budget.  Yesterday I spent 4 hours going to Kroger, Marsh and Meijer to utilize the sale items so that I could get everything that I would need to feed and take care of my family.  It's not so much that I mind having to spend the time or going to the 3 different stores (they are very close to each other) what makes me angry is noticing that the amount you get has decreased but the price has remained the same or increased.  A good example is when Meijer has Crystal Light buy 2 get 2 free, I stock up.  They are $2.69 per container and have 6 packets, until now.  Now they only contain 5 packets and the price has remained the same.  As a SAHM, not only to I take great care in focusing on healthy food for my family, I also have to pay attention to where my products come from and now I have to deal with this.  So my 4 hours of shopping I managed to save $122 and spent $220 and my pantry is now stocked up again and meat in the freezer for future meals and I didn't use any coupons, only in store deals.

As a consumer I no longer have brand preference or loyalty because I can't afford to, especially when they keep the prices the same or raise them and give you less product.  As a person it seems that we could all pull together to get this economy to turn around instead of fighting one another.  The companies could possibly stay in the black and/or make a profit if they wouldn't continue to stick it to us every time we turn around, such as the example I gave above.  Maybe if we, as consumers, didn't feel we were being cheated we'd have brand loyalty.  It's possible I'm just over  simplifying the situation, I'm no economics major, but just seems like people and business are only concerned about themselves and not really doing anything get the economy out of the crapper.

Here is some very useful information I found on Facebook.  It's worth the read:


With all the food and pet products now coming from China , it is best to make sure you read label at the grocery store and especially Walmart when buying food products.
Many products no longer show where they were made, only give where the distributor is located.
It is important to read the bar code to track it's origin.
How to read Bar Codes .... interesting!
This may be useful to know when grocery shopping, if it's a concern to you.
GREAT WAY TO "BUY USA & CANADA " AND NOT FROM CHINA!!

The whole world is concerned about China-made "black hearted goods".
Can you differentiate which one is made in Taiwan or China ?

If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 690 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN CHINA.
471 is Made in Taiwan . 
This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the
public, therefore we have to RESCUE ourselves.

Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products "MADE IN CHINA ", so they don't show from which country it is made. 

However, you may now refer to the barcode - remember if the first 3 digits are:

690-692 ... then it is MADE IN CHINA
00 - 09 ... USA & CANADA
30 - 37 FRANCE
40 - 44 GERMANY
471 .... Taiwan
49 ... JAPAN
50 ... UK



Sunday, November 6, 2011

Autumn Theme Has Come to Belles Roses

Even though I loved making my Halloween theme, it was time to move on to an Autumn theme before Christmas comes.  I hope that you enjoy the new theme, although I may have to tweak it just a bit.  I'm off now to finish visiting my fellow Pink Saturday bloggers and then off to do a little sewing.  Autumn is my favorite season of them all.  I love all the bright, vibrant colors.  I hope you are enjoying this wonderful season as much as I am.

Hugs,

Give Away at StoneGable

During my visits to the bloggers that join in on the wonderful Pink Saturday fun I came across a blog that is offering the most wonderful give away.  Please go over to StoneGable and check out her Mikasa tablesetting giveaway.  She also gives a wonderful tutorial on how to fold a napkin into a rosette.  Don't miss out!
Hugs, LisaKay


Saturday, November 5, 2011

Pink Saturday

It has been ages and ages since I took part in Pink Saturday and oh how I have missed it.  Life has been very stressful for us this last year, especially with my daughter's paternal grandmother sick with Stage 4 breast cancer.  After a very long battle she passed away in September and is now at peace. For this post I decided to make a tag for Pink Saturday, I hope you enjoy it.




Thursday, November 3, 2011

Fall Tag Finished

I finished my Fall Tag and will hopefully get my background done sometime today.  I have a few other projects I need to finish and photos that need to be taken so I can post them to my blog.  I have several ATCs I need to get finished up and sent off along with my Tags for my tag swap.  So many projects, so little time.  Hope you like the Tag.  I hope to get good enough so I can start making some tutorials.


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Free Mandala Art Course

While going through some of the blogs I love and the art sites I belong to, I became aware of a free Mandala Art Course going on at Willowing.  How exciting!!  I, of course, signed up for it as I have always wanted to learn how to do mandalas.  It is always wonderful when artists offer free courses like these.  Many thanks to Guadalupe, who is also one of the guest teachers for the upcoming year long Lifebook class also offered by Tamara LaPorte the creator of Willowing.  My husband purchased this course for me as my birthday and Christmas present and I am so very thankful that he did that for me.  I'm really excited about it and love all the classes I take on Willowing.  I hope that you will check it out.  Happy Creating.


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Animated Tag


I am so excited as I completed my first animated tag and I'm really happy with it.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.

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Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween Tag

Finally I finished my Halloween Tag.  I'm very new to making these and I have had so many problems with my plugins not working and I am really beyond frustrated with them.  I had hoped to have had this done much sooner, but I guess better late than never...LOL.  So here it is.


Sunday, October 30, 2011

Finished My Background and Halloween Tin Swap

Things have been so hectic as I said earlier, but I did find time to finish my Halloween Tin for the Bliss Angels Halloween Tin Swap.  I felt kind of rushed because of all of the craziness and I had made a little ornament to go inside, but as I was packing it broke, so I started over.  How very frustrating that was.  I hope that my swap partner likes the one I made for her.  Please visit LeMay's lovely blog!!  Here are pictures of my Halloween Tin


And here is LeMay's to me.


I absolutely adore it and she made a lovely domino ornament to hang inside.


I just adore the domino!!

I also found a little time to make a new theme for my blog, which I love.  Oh how I have forgotten what fun it is to create backgrounds and tags!  Next I will be working on a new Halloween Tag.  Have a wonderful Halloween everyone!!




Saturday, October 29, 2011

Oh Where Oh Where Have I Been

I haven't blogged for what seems likes ages.  Things have been crazy with so many things going on.  Family illnesses and a death along with raising orphaned kittens have kept me so super busy.  I have barely had a chance to breath let alone create something.  So today I sat down to play with a new software and made a tag. I know it is a summer theme, but I wanted to play with it before I sit down to do a Halloween one.  I haven't even had time to change my blog theme to a Halloween theme.  Here is my new tag.


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Awesome Give Away at Willowing!

One of the sites I belong to is Willowing and I have learned so much and grown so much with my art thanks to her classes.  In celebration of 5000 members (WOW!) she is having a give away.  Please check out her site and the give away.  I've met lots of wonderful people there and have had such great fun and personal growth through this site.  http://willowing.ning.com/forum/topics/the-big-massive-give-away-is-h


 
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