You really have to go to this cool make your own monster site yourself, to see the animation too, no way to save the pix. I chose the face because it reminded me of my favorite obscure Trek race.

Tags: wankery, web

I think it's lame to tell you what I was GOING to do, but in this case I am telling, because I was very annoyed that it didn't work! Ugly Betty teamed up with Scrapblog, but I couldn't get it to upload my photos no matter what browser I tried. Here, try it yourself, let me know if it works for you.
Since that didn't work, I'll just caracterize myself:

Tags: wankery, web

As long as Bryan is posting caracatures, I figured I'd make one for him, too.

Tags: wankery, web

Extra time this week,
Thanksgiving alone. That's fine,
Projects will get done.

This week's question asked:
What is it you're thankful for?
"Not having to cook."

Fall is beautiful.
I love the passing seasons.
Soon it will be cold.

Cross Post.

Tags: haiku

Here's a little felt die I whipped up for Bryan, it does roll, but I can't guarantee it's accuracy. I forgot to put something next to it for reference, but the pips are seed beads, if that helps you with the size, and if not, each side square is 1".

Tags: craft, project

Wrote a post about the Art-O-Mat coming to our town. Click here.

Tags: story

Tags: photography

Tags: craft, project, sewing

Tags: wankery, web

Three meats, two beans, that's Five Live Radar! Garlic and onions without having to chop them, marinating, and the crock pot make this recipe less time consuming.



Ingredients:

1 lb chicken breast (about 3 breasts)
1 TBSP garlic powder
2 TBSP cumin
2 TBSP mild chili powder
1 TBSP hot chili powder
3 TBSP cooking oil
1 lb hamburger
1 lb Super Saver "original" Polish sausages (about 5)
1 15.5 oz can black beans
1 15.5 oz can dark red kidney beans
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
2 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with roasted garlic and onions

Instructions:

Two days ahead of serving:

Put garlic, and ONE TBSP of each cumin and mild chili powder, and oil into large zippy bag, make sure spices mix with oil. Poke chicken breasts with fork, add to bag. Smush around until chicken is coated well. Refrigerate overnight, smush the chicken around whenever you pass the fridge.

The night before serving:

Remove chicken from marinate, bake in cake pan for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. (Dispose of bag!) While chicken is baking, fry hamburger, drain. Cut sausage into about 1/2" slices. Fry the sausage for added flavor (optional). When chicken is baked, cut each breast into bite-sized pieces. Put all drained meat into crock pot. Drain and rinse beans. (Rinsing removes some of bean's gassiness--supposedly) Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, hot chili powder, and the other TBSPs of cumin and mild chili powder. Cover crock pot and turn on 'warm' or 'low'. Cook overnight.

More recipes HERE.

Tags: food, recipe

Tags: craft, project

The story of why it's The Best Fall Photo is on my blog.

Tags: photography, story

My Thing today is a new (turns out brand-spankin'-new, as today is their launch date) promotion and marketing tool for blogs. You know me, I always have to try something new! I'm putting it on my blog, as well. We'll see how well it works.

Tags: web, promote

Not like I need a special persona to be wild...but here I am:



Go build your own here.

Tags: web, wankery

Grab the large version to put on your computer's desktop.

Tags: web, photography

November calendar featuring October photos.



Is this what you were trying to do G?

(Yes and No, the one I was trying you could download as a PDF.)

Tags: photography, archives

Here's a photo of my latest project. Story on my blog.

Tags: sewing, craft

A few Peecols I made. Make your own here.

Tags: web

Food Day at work tomorrow.



Recipe HERE.

Tags: food, recipe

On the days that I didn't carry my Curiosity Shop lunch box with my cold lunch, or walk home to eat bacon and tomato sandwiches with my parents, Tuna Mountain Climbers were one of my favorite hot lunches in grade school.



Recipe HERE.

Tags: food, recipe

So after I bought these giant cards a while back, I kept thinking of what I could possibly make with them. Here's the beginning of my list:

BlackJack mask
Queen of hearts 1/2 mask
Book cover
folded 1/2 small notebook cover
skirt if I could crochet
hat? taped
book mark
alt. book
line up poster
garage sale sign
two: small purse
several: tote
ceiling fan decoration
poster
signs for poker run
stepping stone
vase 3 connected
fly swatter
aquarium wallpaper
CD case
CD wallet
box
card holder box
dice box/rolling box
dice boot?
prize
several: lamp shade
archery target
puppet
birthday card-'you're an ace!'
knitting needle holder
one in circle: pencil cup
fan
name tag
photo frame
scrapbook page
luggage tag
coasters
no-see-um poker hat
match up game
family reunion organizer (if only 4 branches in family)
hop scotch markers
giant beads
tree star
embroider on card
bead embroidery
ruler
wallet?
postcard
bracelet
window shade
wallpaper boarder
earrings (cut just the number/suit)
tea tray
paint pallet
doll furniture
joke card trick
sticker book
tissue box holder
cutlery drawer organizer
cake decoration

Tags: craft, game, idea, project

My Thing for the day is a triple decker card house:



OK. How about just a tiny card house:



It might work better if our floors were level. ;p
Well, how about just some nice photos of cards:

Tags: game, photography

A couple web banner to use on Blog Explosion, made with Banner Maker.



And because I can, a sparkly one:



And a button made with the GR Button Maker to put in the sidebar to link to our map.



Feel free use any of these buttons on your site, click here for all my TTOTD buttons, just link from Photobucket.

Tags: web, promote

P.S. Happy Coming Out Day!!

Tags: web, comic

Tags: craft, sewing

Come put your pin in our map! I think that most of the pins will be in the same state, but who knows?

Tags: web, wankery, promote, map

The first in a series.

Tags: craft, sewing

On a trip to a dollar store, I found a cute kid craft kit. With rub-on decals, pieces that pop together, and a propeller that makes it spin when you blow, it was well worth a whole dollar.

Tags: project

Another miniature I painted last weekend was this skeleton warrior.

Tags: miniature, game, painting

So Bryan introduced me to a great program today, Skitch. You can take a photo or a screen grab and draw on it, type on it, goof on it, and then share the 'doctored' photo. Very fun so far in the few minutes I've had to actually play with it.
One of the gamers at Nuke Con put up a website with photos, so here's a couple borrowed and Skitched shots, to prove we were really there.
Click on the photo to go to the page they are from, and respectful thanks for the borrowed pictures.

Me at the 'Artist Jam'



And the youngens getting in their foam swords groove.



And I suppose, just taking a couple photos and messing with them isn't much of a Thing, so for an added bonus, a mini review of one of the games I played. (And also using Skitch!)

The game Vikings comes from the publisher Rio Grande Games, which told me right off the bat that I would probably like it. I've loved Rio Grande and Ravensburger since I got Labyrinth in '91. From watching some other folks play, I see there's little wooden dudes, and board bits, and it appears it doesn't take up the whole table, but yet has lots of cool parts.
When it was finally my turn to play, I learn that it is somewhat random (drawing the doods, and the shuffled stacks), and somewhat strategy (deciding if/when to buy things). The basic premise is to get the most points by making your own set up better, not specifically by messing up the other players, altho there are definitely times when helping yourself messes the others up. It's pretty quick to play, because there are only so many tiles, and it works as a 2 player game, tho our expert teacher said it wasn't quite as exciting with only 2. It looked complicated when watching, but was quick to learn and actually simple while having several things to keep track of. I only played once, but I came in tied for first. Awesome bonus, I tied with a friend that I hadn't seen in about 20 years, and we reconnected at the con.

Again, respectful thanks for the photos, and click on them to go to the web page I Skitched them from.

Tags: game, web, wankery

One of the things I did at the gaming convention was take a miniature painting class. This little dude shows the lessons I learned about layering the paint.

Tags: game, painting, miniature

Tags: craft, game, project

Felt embroidery flower patch on thrift store tiny purse.

Tags: craft, project, sewing

Tags: craft, game, project

Next weekend we are going to a gaming convention!! All I can think about is games. Check out my cool badge from BoardGameGeek!!

Tags: game, web

Third of three in a set of collages. The Wallhanging Collage.

Tags: collage, art, craft, project

Another web test. Click here to see all of my results and try it yourself.
P.S. Three months from today is my birthday!!

Tags: web, wankery

That's "Talk Like A Pirate Penguin Day!"



Art created with Tux Paint, an awesome art program for kids. (I think my friend CC would love this!!)

Tags: comic, pirate, penguin

Tags: comic

Playing around with some watercolor pencils.

Tags: sketch, art, drawing

Braided Bracelet made from wire. With loop and hook closure.

Tags: craft, project

Tags: web, computer, art

Mmmmmm.......



Click here for recipe.

Tags: food, recipe

Would you believe the second in a series?

Tags: collage, art, craft, project

I found a good sketch program I can use my Wacom tablet with: Tablet Draw. Just for fun, I did a similar sketch as the real pencil sketch I did Friday. I like how this program feels, but it appears to only sketch, no airbrush or chalk brushes, but I still like it.

Tags: art, drawing, sketch, computer

A page full of doodles. Remembering how much I love colored pencils.

Tags: art, drawing, sketch

The first in a series of collages.



More on This Thing

Tags: collage, art, craft, project

A few people have asked for the meatloaf cake recipe, and that has prompted me to finish an overhaul project that I've been working on. This is yet another blog of mine, one that I used to keep up regularly, just on food, recipes, and cooking. I've revamped the format to make searching for recipes easier, and deleted a bunch of unnessessary posts. Click here to go check it out.

Tags: web, food, recipe

Make your own here.

Tags: web

My Thing today is creating something new through destruction. Almost 8 years ago, at Holiday Gift Giving time, I got my kids a funky bunk-bed. The metal kind with a folding couch to double sized futon bottom, and twin mattress size top. This saved space replacing their two twin beds, and gave them a cool couch to sit on. I bought the bed with an 'overtime bonus' which meant to me that my personal blood, sweat, and tears went into buying them this gift. The bottom stopped folding into a couch a few years back, and they haven't even shared a room for almost two years now. In switching who's in what room, the huge project that we've been undertaking for the last few weeks, and will continue for a few more, it was decided (by them) that the broken old bed was no longer needed. So to create their new room spaces, and honor their growing-up-too-quickly desires, I took apart a piece of their childhood, and carried it to the trash this weekend. And as I write this now, barely able to see through my tears, I have to remember, 'out with the old, in with the new.'

Tags: project

Yesterday, I took the afternoon to make Bryan's surprise birthday supper: Meatloaf Cake. I'd seen them around the interwebs, and I thought it would be the perfect 'cake' for a diabetic's birthday.



He likes it! Hey Mikey!



More on This Thing

Tags: food, project

Tags: birthday

Celebrate with me!

Tags: web, birthday

Tags: web, dance

Have you ever made a wish list on Amazon or somewhere like that? Forget all about those lists, this is the ultimate wish list! You can 'wish' for anything on any website, and it has a plugin for some browser windows, too, so one click wisting is at my fingertips. Plus, when looking around at others' wists, I found that some folks use their wist to list projects they'd like to do. I may have to make a second wist for all the tutorials! Come wist with me! (as always, my username is seeshells)

Tags: shopping, game, tutorial, zombie, web

I don't watch a lot of reality shows. In general, reality television needs to be a fad that is over! But one of my favorite shows right now is a reality show, but it's so much better than regular reality television. Who Wants to be a Superhero? on Sci Fi, is campy, fun, exciting, adorable, and inspiring. After watching it last night, I fell asleep thinking about what my superhero name, costume, and ablities would be. I was going to make her in Hero Machine, which the kids have been playing with a lot lately, but the SciFi website had something better!


www.becomeasuperhero.com

Tags: web, television

I respectfully pass today.

Tags: pass

I did some putting together this weekend, too. Putting back together, that is. And I even have pictures.
I glued the bathroom counter, and taped the shower curtain for reinforcements.

Tags: project

It's that time again,
New beginnings and friendships,
The first day of school.

My two little boys,
Have finished years of schooling.
Two and four years left.

I still can't believe,
I have two kids in high school.
I am way too young.

Music, drama, art,
I am so proud of my sons.
Soon to be adults.

Tags: haiku, poetry, writing

Coloring is always fun. Click picture to color one of your own.

Tags: web, color

OK, I like Elvis's music as much as the next guy. The next guy that's not camped outside Graceland right now. It occurred to me that there is not 'Day the Music Died' kind of song commemorating Elvis's death, so let me present a song for today.

Thirty Years Ago Today
sung to Sgt Pepper's Lonly Hearts Club Band

It was thirty years ago today,
Fat Elvis could no longer play.
He was long since out of style,
Been playin' Vegas for quite a while.
So let me say something to you,
Something we've all known for years:
Elvis Presley OD'ed on the can.

Yeah, Elvis Presley OD'ed on the can.
It wasn't much of a show.
Elvis Presley OD'ed on the can.
What a crappy way to go!

We'd like you to see Graceland,
It really is quite nice.
You're such a lovely fanbase,
You can afford the price.

Yeah, Elvis Presley OD'ed on the can.
It wasn't much of a show.
Elvis Presley OD'ed on the can.
What a crappy way to go!

Oh, Elvis Presley OD'ed,
Elvis Presley OD'ed,
Elvis Presley OD'ed on the CAN!

Tags: music

Don'cha love all the avitar sites out there? This one is Meez, say seeshells sent you and I'll rack up some coinz!
This is my inner muse and pet penguin getting ready to paint.

Tags: web

On my other blog, I do a meme on Tuesdays. Today, the topic was fun enough to make a Thing as well.

Ten Interesting Websites You'd Like to Share

See Shell's Schemes My projects blog.
FixYa New to me today. A cool site where people can give advice on how to fix things.
Crafster Craftopedia Crafster is an awesome crafty forum, and the craftopedia has tons of info on every craft imaginable.
Post Secret A collection of secrets written on postcards. They are funny, touching, scary, and inspiring.
WikiHow A Wiki Encyclopedia of how to do anything.
Game Table Online You can play cool board games solo or with others online. And they are still giving away free lifetime memberships!
Etsy The online store for selling arts and crafts. I plan to be opening my own shop there soon.
Creative Whack From "A Whack on the Side of the Head" by Roger von Oech, the King of Creative Thinking. Hit refresh for a fresh Whack.
The Cute Project Sometime almost too cute for even me! The most adorable photos of cute animals. When you need an 'Awwwweeee' moment.
Grow-a-Brain A blog full of cool links in fun catagories. A daily must-read.

Tags: web

We watched the movie Zodiac over the weekend. Seeing his cipher reminded me that I had made up a personal cipher when I was a kid. Here is a puzzle made with my very simple cipher, with a prize Thing going to the first person who can solve it! Leave your guess as a comment.

Tags: code, game, puzzle

Tags: craft, project

Thinking and talking with Bryan about his game idea, made me think more about a couple games I had ideas for. Here's one, sorry no fancy pdf.

Rolling for Kindness

Grab two dice, if you don't have any dice handy, you can use this. Roll to see what kind act you will be performing today. Finish the act before you go to bed.

2. Say 'hello' to a stranger.
3. Leave change in the pop or candy machine.
4. Roll again. Smile at that number of people.
5. Strike up a pleasant conversation with a coworker that you normally don't chat with.
6. Pick up trash as you walk.
7. Buy yourself a flower. You need to be kind to yourself, too.
8. Leave some reading material (book/magazine/paper) in a public place.
9. Give a really good tip to your server or cashier.
10. Send a card to someone telling them how much they mean to you.
11. Offer assistance to an older person.
12. Donate something to a shelter.

Tags: game

Funky Zombie Mask. It's supposed to look 'normal' on the one side, but the kids said it was scary on both sides.


More on This Thing

Tags: craft, project

Don't get any funny ideas about me picking the kitchen for the background. It was the only good one.

Tags: comic, art, web

Most of the time, when my Thing is something artsy &/or crafty, I also post something about it on my other blog, See Shell's Schemes. My template designer also made me this awesome button, thanks again, Zoe!

So I have added this button to the sidebar, and gone back through all the posts here, and added this button as a link to those posts that are crafty. I also added one of three phrases with links to specific posts:
Cross Post -- this just means that I've also made the same post on the other blog
More on this Thing -- this means there is more to the story, and you can get the in-depth story
See shell's two cents -- I'll use this when I'm writing about something that Bryan made
There will often be more pictures on the other blog, and usually more photos on flickr, when you click on any photo.

Tags: craft

Now that I have my own pene del diablo (for emergency use only!), I decided it needed it's own case. After all, it will mostly just be in my purse.



I used denim and felt, and I seriously had to hold back from beading it, but since there may be times that Bryan will carry it instead of driving around for two hours trying to buy prepaid long distance phone cards, I didn't want it to be too girly. (You're welcome, Honey.)



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Tags: craft, project, sewing

• 9 medium tomatillo tomatoes
• 4 clove garlic, peeled
• 2 jalapeno chile pepper
• 2 bunches fresh cilantro
• 7 ripe avocados
• Chop cilantro, dice garlic and chile, cut tomatillos into thumb-sized pieces.
• Cut avocados in half, remove pit, and squish flesh out of skin.
• Puree all ingredients in blender, you might have to do it in batches, depending on how big your blender is. If you have a food processor, that would probably work even better, but I've never used one, so I can't say
• For best taste and dipping value, refrigerate for several hours or overnight
• Serve on tacos, or use as dip

Tags: food, project

I'm making more trees, here's a yellow one.



And the back is finished with "Blue Moon" glitter glue.

Tags: craft, project

I am not condoning graffiti, but this was very cute.
It's the same color as the tagging on the buildings on the block.

Tags: photography

Because Zeb said I had to:

Tags: food

Close up:



More on this Thing

Tags: craft, project

A tiny vase of tiny flowers for a friend.



More on this Thing

Tags: craft

Tags: photography

Come check out my new layout and updated sidebar on my other blog, See Shell's Schemes. This is where the Paul Harvey of my artsy/craftsy posts are, and ideas of what I'm working on next. Template by Chic & Sassy Designs.

Tags: web

More on this Thing

Tags: craft, project