More from LA/San Fran

Just had to upload this picture which I should have uploaded yesterday. This is at the Andaz which was our first hotel in LA. It really was a fab hotel - we had complimentary wine on arrival (and each evening - and it was good stuff) and the mini bar was stocked with soft drinks (Coke, Sparkling and Still water, Fruit Juice, Sprite etc) and chocolate, Pringles and nuts, raisins and cranberries which were all complimentary and stocked up each day. In fact you were invited to take them out with you when you went out for the day.

Well, this was on the rooftop with the swimming pool. I just loved lounging on this great big thing which was packed with cushions and shielded from the wind (it was evening when I was up there). Fab views across LA too.

On our last day in San Fran there was an Italian Parade for St Columbus Day. Now don't ask me why we had a Chinese Float but we did - and marching bands. Thought this one was the prettiest.

This is the sexy one. It really was a good Parade, the marching bands were great, the horses were lovely to watch and so well-behaved (apart from the one that stood in front of us and relieved itself - what a lot of liquid!). The whole atmosphere was "carnival" and the children loved it.

Back in LA we went to Universal. Now Chas had not wanted to go there but I finally persuaded him and he loved every minute of it. Here am I with my favourite character, Shrek. I just love him - what was the Princess doing on the photo? Actually she was the sweetest girl.

The Simpson Ride was nowhere near as tame as I had imagined and my hands were hurting when I got off with gripping so hard. It was one of those virtual ones as well. Can really recommend it.

LA and San Francisco

This was where we went on our first day in LA. We went to see La Brea Tar Pits and these are models of mammoths as would have been caught in the tar and unable to get out. it is one of the world's most famous fossil localities. Visitors can learn about LA as it was during the Ice Age. Why not go to the website for the Page Museum and see for yourself. It was fascinating inside the museum and we spent far too much time in there.

Then we got back on the bus and went to The Grove and the Farmer's Market. We loved it there and guess who we saw - Eddie Izzard. He completed the equivalent of 43 marathons in just over seven weeks, covering a minimum of 27 miles a day. Some going eh? Chas went over to congratulate him and, of course, I had to have a photograph taken with him. He raised 200,000 pounds for Sports Relief (there's no pound sterling symbol on this keyboard in America). You might have seen him in Valkyrie with Tom Cruise.

This is the trolley bus that goes around the Grove. It really is a lovely place and I bought a Journal book in Barnes and Nobles - the biggest B & N I had seen. There are some fabulous shops - expensive ones as well and the most delicious clam chowder was served in the Farmers Market.

From LA we flew to San Francisco and stayed in a hotel down at Fisherman's Wharf. It was great down there, so lively, lots of live music, buzzing with people ... and ... of course ... the seals. Couldn't wait to see them and if you look closely to the bottom right of the picture one obliged me by taking a spell in the water - can you see him on his back with his flipper sticking up (is it called a flipper or is it his tail?) We went to see them just before we left to fly back to LA and that day - boy oh boy - did they stink!!!

Whilst in San Fran we also did a sail to Sausilito which is famous for its Mediterranean flair. It was lovely sailing across because we got a great view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. On the way home we stopped at Tiburon and we saw lots of Pelicans there. I was so pleased that we managed to get a picture of them.

We did a day touring the areas we wanted to see - Chinatown - Japantown and Haight Ashbury whilst in San Fran but I won't load up loads of photographs of that day.

On our last day we walked up the biggest hill(s) I have walked up in a long time. Lots of stops for me, walking backwards to try to make it easier and all that kind of thing. What was it I wanted to see? The crookedest street in San Fran. Was it worth it? Yes - and I got to see the Wild Green Parrots that I had missed getting on film on the first day when we went up to Coit Tower.

Hope you enjoy this little view of our holiday.

Card Making in America

Lucky for me my friend in America is a card maker and so she has lots of stamps for me to play around with. She showed me a recipe folder that her friend, Valetta, had made using this Chef stamp so I just had to try making a card with it. I really liked how Valetta had used this stamp.

When we get back home our Andrew and his partner Samantha are coming up for a meal so I thought this would be an ideal card to make to put the menu inside.

There was this cute stamp which I thought I could use with some of the gorgeous paper as a mount for it so here is another one I made. The washi paper is so nice I couldn't resist making the card.

The final one is a sassy looking lady and as Mary has just got this saying stamp and she loves it we had to use it on a card. Somehow I don't think this lady gorges on chocolate do you?

I have missed my blog and will try to post again with some pictures from our holiday another day. I have missed doing my challenges and I notice on Lots to Do the Challenge is "a card - any card" so I am using these three to help me keep up with the challenges a little.

I would have loved to do the RSS challenge as well but Mary does not have any hessian so that one is a 'no no' for the moment.

Touching Base

Well, here I am in America. Had a week in San Francisco (oh those hills played havoc with my feet) and now at our friend's in LA. We are off to Ventura Beach for a couple of days but when we get back I should have chance to load up a couple of pictures.

Hopefully will also get some stamping done but in the meantime pop over to Bladerubber blog and see my Alice in Wonderland entry - it is the fourth one down - a bit hard to see the writing with the background colour. The competition was to do something representing your summer holidays so I chose Llandudno and Happy Valley which is all about Alice. http://www.bladerubberstamps-blog.com/

Would you believe it - it has rained for the last two days - in Sunny California - think we brought it with us from England.

Lots to Do Challenge (Places or Cities)

For my friend Cath - I promise this is absolutely the last for the moment of Nestability pictures. This is one page from a Grungeboard Book which was covered in Basic Grey paper, Gold Dabber around the edges, Grungeboard scrolls painted with Dabbers, and letter "B" with Crackle Paint. The centre is a diecut piece of acetate which has been run through a Cuttlebug folder and then painted on the reverse with Alcohol Inks.

This is my Lots to Do Challenge piece - with apologies for the slightly wonky scan. I love these challenges and this week it was "Places or Cities" - mine is Venice in Italy. I love Venice and have been over a dozen times (bit obsessive or not). The background uses two stamps from Oxford Impressions and the masking technique. The other image is from Elusive Images and is stamped on cardstock, coloured with Twinkling H2o's and then placed on top. The word "Venezia" also comes from the OI plate.

I really must go now and get ready for the show but had to do the challenge last night as I hate to miss them. Why don't you pop over to LTD and join in? Just click on the link and go.

Two More Diecuts

Here are the last two diecut cards I have made for tomorrow's demonstration of how to use the Nestabilities.

The first one is an image I cut and stamped and then watercoloured. Not a stamp I use much but quite a nice one which I will use again - in summer LOL.

A bit on the dull side, but using scrapbook papers again - I really must start to look at what papers I am buying. This needs a bit of bling so must look for something tonight when I get back from my workshop.

The Goose (read bird) That Laid the Golden Egg

Must have been a couple of years ago I saw some birds that Tim Holtz had altered when I was at CHA and I wanted to do one. Contacted Mario and he sent one to my friend Mary's for me to pick up when I went to CHA last January. It has sat proud in my craft room ever since - raw and untouched. Really quite pretty ... but I wanted to alter it.

Last night I could not sleep for pain in my hip so I got up, messed a bit on the computer, did a couple of folds for cards ... and then remembered my bird. I would love to have it finished for when I go back to see Mary so here it is with its first coat of paint on. In my dazed state I painted it Gold (Dabbers) thinking it was Bronze. It looks a bit like The Goose/Bird That Laid the Golden Egg. Bronze next and then something else.

Not sure it will get finished as I have a busy weekend ahead but will try to get as much done as possible between cleaning, baking, packing, demonstrating all day Sunday and going to a class tomorrow.

Meanwhile another two cards for the show - only two more to upload tomorrow and then a rest from diecuts.

I love this Poppy stamp from my friend Cath when she had her business.

Had to do something for Halloween as it is quite topical at the moment.

Am I getting Boring?

I am becoming obsessed with turning out cards for the demonstration on Sunday for Oyster Stamps and wonder if I am in danger of becoming boring. I am using Labels Five and Nine but have also used two of my own which are Labels Three and Four to give a bit of variety. In some cases I have mixed the labels when cutting frames or mounting.

Had a try at mixing and matching some scrapbook papers but not that enthused with what I have done. This one uses one of those Magnolia stamps which I have painted with H2o's again. Think I need to treat myself to some Copics for colouring as they seem to achieve such fabulous results.

This is just a plain one, where I mixed and matched the Label dies. I can't remember who the stamp is by but it is one of my much used photoart stamps. The words are an old PSX stamp, but again, much used.

Got to do a challenge entry now and then get on with some words for my journal that is a gift for my friend.

Just hope that the flu jab I had this morning does not have an adverse effect - the nurse said I could feel ill and my arm could be sore. Help! It's my stamping arm.