Visual Designs by Chris

Chris Durnan

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Archives for July 2009

I am now ready for a relaxing weekend…

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So Wow yeah. Adrenaline.. Heart pumping for this easy life and relaxed girl. I came home from the library today.. the library.. my pile of borrowed books to feed my book addiction that I can’t afford to pay for. So I borrow. Turn onto my dirt road and so glad I got there because some JERK of Jerks decide to drive up on me in a big blue truck much like mine. Decides to make a right hand turn just like I am. GRUMBLE GRUMBLE. I just pull over and let him pass. He nearly takes off my rear end as I get a look at his reallllly really mad mug. He is irritated at someone. Well whatever bud. I was in front of you. So get in line to turn. He passes. I pull out onto the dirt again. very slow because the dirt/dust cloud is thick. I look in my rear view and see three police cars come around the corner. two with lights on. HOLY CRUD! I pull over. So I expect to see them whiz by and the first cop jumps out of his car. Gun in hand and moving towards me. Second one is out. My mind is on frozen what the heck? so I have 19 items checked out at the library. I just dropped off ten. It is back to 9 total. 3 of the books are for my hubby even. So only 5 are for me cause one is a movie for the kiddo. The gun cop yells out. “open your door.” I throw it open and put my foot out and I look at the cop in the face and he says “BLUE TRUCK????” the look on his face is of OH CR*P and I take my now jittery shaking left arm and point down the road and say. “He went around me.” All three jump in their vehicles one yells. SORRY MAM! And down the road they go. Well I just sat there because now I am shaking so bad I am thinking. Dang it is a good thing I didn’t grab an expresso at Starbucks on only had a chai tea because seriously I think I would have had a heart attack. I drive slowly down the road and pass where the truck tried to pull into someone’s yard and park. but is now on the ground in cuffs face first in the dirt. Yeah I think I will jsut drive on by at the speed limit and just keep my eyes forward. So effectively I think I shaved a few years off of my beating heart and reminded myself I am not into adrenaline boosts. One thing to run a mile and work out, but to have your heart feel like it is stuck in your throat. My husband saw my face and told me to sit down. Must have been my shaking hands. My rambling straight and excited pitch of my voice as I retold the story. But smokes!! and yes I will return those books before their due officer. Wew!

Have a wonderful weekend and don’t forget to get your cutter file challenges in at the forum. As for me I will be taking it easy and enjoying life and that I am not one of the bad guys because I am definitely not cut out for it.

Enjoy!
Chris.

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And my cutter file freebies are posted in the forum.

Voting on File number 8

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I hope to get the QMC at the forum and at 4shared cleaned up today. So there should be some uploads for over the weekend. I have posted these two as a poll at the forum for file Number 8. Which would you like to have for your collection and the other will go straight to the store.
Here is where you can vote! It closes tomorrow so hurry on over. Which would you like.

This week is my sons last one on summer vacation before he starts school again. So I have been hanging out with him and playing, doing crafts and just enjoying my time with him. It also means I have a few minutes now in the mornings to make a few doc appts and other things I have been putting off. Yucko, but I made the appointments yesterday morning. So they are on my list of to-dos. Tomorrow we plan to head to town and pick up our truck (getting the A/C fixed.. yeah double and triple yeah) get a fresh hair cut for back to school night, buy a backpack and maybe some clothes and get ready to meet the teacher. Hopefully the teacher will give us her supply list and we can get those things this weekend in preparation for Monday. I am so excited for him. He is still slightly nervous, but he makes friends where ever he goes. I have told him more then once it is A-ok to be nervous. I just don’t think I should block his feelings about it but be positive. This Mom thing is learning all the way around for sure. I may know through my life experiences that it will work out. He will have new friends and more, but something he needs to figure out a little on his own to. I am also excited because the school is 15 minutes from my house rather than the pre-ks which was almost an hour away. :)All around double yeahs!!!
I am off to clean for a bit and then upload some new files to the QMC.
Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And my cutter file freebies are kept in the forum.

Fresh Veggies abound…

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My hubby keeps adding to our fresh veggie bowl as I keep working it down by making salsa and other items. He and my son come in in the morning smiling with their shirts rolled up and the haul of veggies rolled into the bottom of them. We grew the white/yellow tomatoes this year. I am not sold on them. They are firmer and good for homemade salsa and also make the salsa look interesting, but I am not sure they will be on the list for next years garden. We are ready to plant a few additional items in the garden so will have to check our desert gardening southwest book. I have say gardening here is nothing like when I grew up in Wisconsin. You have two growing seasons here. You cut back the tomato plants in July because it is hot they just don’t set fruit. Skip the beefsteak tomatoes as they will get heat rotted before they are large enough and go for quick setting veggies. I buy my plants from a local grower or seeds from the native coop seed exchange. The big box stores that offer plants sold nationwide never seem to be cued into our desert growing ecosystem. We try to get something the ground for summer plants by later Feb or the first week of March. Then you get really nice specimens that set before the summer heat. This book is the best. It is all broken down. I don’t have to read it and memorize it. I just open it up once a month. Or rather my hubby does right now. he has become our gardener. I got burned out with many attempts and frustration over the rodents (pack rats) and other items getting what I was watching grow. He is doing phenomenal. He hauls in the veggies regularly and it is wonderful to see his smile. He has become a very happy gardener. I love that. i love to see him happy… and I love a fresh flavorful tomato. And on top of that he is teaching my son a few things about caring for things and the give and take of nature. It is wonderful. Love my hubby. Love my son. Love my life.
Enjoy! -Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And my cutter file “freebies” are kept in the forum.

Monday Morning

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Well we made it through the weekend and got through some of the items on our list, but not all. Our big priority was the hang out time with eachother. That we definitely accomplished. This is my son's last week before he becomes a full fledged school kid. I am so excited for him. He is looking forward to the time with the other kids. It was a short summer, but he'll get more time off throughout the year. Right now I sit in front of the feed store waiting for it to open. It is hot so I am here early.

If you haven't finished your project for chris's cutter file challenge this is your last week so please get it posted in the forum. If you are not sure, email me and I will check the list. Ginger and Sarah have it sooo organized! Thanks ladies.

Have a wonderful day! Enjoy! Chris
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The Growing Cricut Expert in our house…WOW REV it up BINGO!

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So I pulled out my new Cricut Expression yesterday to play with and I was quickly bypassed by my kiddo. I was working from the computer but he prefers to use the buttons on the machine. So I let him doodle. He cut his name and a few other odds and ends. He also cut out little apples and handed them out. And as for the hat…. Well for us… Playing with Die Cutters is like Disneyland!! What a wonderful world! thought you might enjoy the pictures!

1st step Smile at Mom so she will put down the camera and let me play. Oh and he is Sheriff today to. the ever present badge.
2nd step concentrate on what letters we will need to cut our name.
3rd step.. Make sure it is cutting right..

4th step.. YEAH!! a itty bitty apple. Which he gave to Dad because well Apples should be red or green.
Haha! Tons of fun!!
Okay so are you signed up for BINGO?? POWER BINGO?? If so, you better get over and get ready to win or make sure your prepared to be our Biggest Bingo Loser! Because the words are coming fast and I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a winner late tonight or tomorrow a.m.
I am off to look at the list. Lots to do this weekend! Have a wonderful day and weekend!
Enjoy!
Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.comGSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And my cutter file “freebies” are kept in the forum.

Here we go….

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Here we are…. POWER Bingo is under way already this morning. A couple words called and also a challenge posted. Did you get ready and do your treasure hunt? Sooo much fun.

While in the Forum don’t forget to sign up for Tina’s Challenge Make It Your Own. She is offering a super cute file for anyone who wants to work with it.

On to life…
I am kind of in a zoned mood this morning. Not alot of focus. Thinking about making myself a little breakfast and maybe go for a walk for a while. My son has the “Horse-o-poly” game sitting out here on the floor. So I have a feeling this is in my future. He is still sleeping, but when he wakes up it will be his first decision.

My hubby and I were talking last night about things to do this weekend. he was making his to do list. Men and Women definitely tackle their lists differently. He sat down with a piece of paper and lists headings and items below those headings. I read it and think HOLY Smokes! He listed what he wanted to accomplish this summer. We’ll never going to have enough time to get this all done. I was thinking about it after. My lists are limited. I just write what am I gonna accomplish right now this weekend. what has to be done. Those on the More team know that I have to-do lists. That I am constantly putting items on. Most things coming in today go on tomorrows lists if they can. I focus on finishing on what we have to do just this weekend. Not this summer. Thank goodness my hubby has the ability to plan for the rest of the summer. I can plan vacations, but to do lists. hmmmm.. not so much. I mentally note what on that list has to get done this weekend and what we have to do to get it done.. pick up parts… find time.. order we should do them in to get all done and still have some play time. My realization after thinking about it was… We make a good team. Which made me smile. So I am off to peruse his list and pull off it the items I need to accomplish to help us get things done.

One of our items is to clean up our RV for sale. We have this teeny RV which I just love, drives like butter, Only sleeps 4 (for us just 3), has a regular bathroom. Anyways we are putting it on the market in order to rearrange a few things to better suit our needs. So this weekend I need to clean it out. I love this little RV, but it is time to move it on to another family. So hopefully someone will see its potential. It has a few years on it, but hardly any miles. So I am keeping my fingers crossed. :::Mental Note List.. Get tubs for supplies in RV to clean it out::

Well obviously I am rambling, but my brain is coming out of a fog. I am headed for my quick walk an on to some accounting. Maybe that is why my brain is fuzzy. Bookkeeping> ugh. get it done and move on to designing files!! woohoo!!! My always favorite part of the lists.

I hope your day is filled with happy and fun things to do today and your lists aren’t long and if they are filled with lots of fun!

Thanks for listening to my mental ramblings… coherent sometimes and not so much others.

Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And our cutter file “freebies” are kept in the forum. We add to them as we can.

Power Bingo prizes and Chris’s Cutter File challenge coming to an end.

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In an effort to run a quick and mad dash superfast kachow POWER BINGO game. Sign ups end today. Here are some of the file prizes donated and of course a membership to the next or current qmc for the winner. And we have extra files to go to the BIGGEST BINGO LOSER. So you can win on either side of the Bingo Playing Spectrum. All players receive a file for signing up and a coupon good at the VDBC store. And if you are signed up you can participate in the challenges during the game and there is a hint in the 2nd post for what you can think about finding. HERE is where you go to signup! We should have a winner by Saturday if all goes quick enough. So hold your breath, get your mouse ready and your typing fingers stretched and rested for BINGO!

Also, if you are pariticipating in Chris’s Cutter File Challenge. Sunday will be the last day you can get a link and then you have one week to post your photos in the forum. Ginger and Sarah have a really nice little list showing who has asked for the link, who has received and who has posted their submissions. We can’t to see yours and check you off the list so you can participate again next quarter!! All submissions are due by July 20th.

Can’t wait to see it.
Enjoy!
Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And my cutter file “freebies” are kept in the forum.

POWER BINGO!! and ROCK Band Country Woohoo!!

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THE 7th is the signup day for Power BINGO. We have lots of prizes and you have 2 days to sign up and the whole game will be over by the 11th. Winners will be had! And Prizes will be sent out! And you can return back to your summer plans!! Stop on by and sign up and watch carefully for Our July Power Bingo!! It’ll get your Motors Revving!!!

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Well I dont know why but yesterday I decided to take a look through the Rock Band world and see if Country had been included. Apparently lots of controversy and complaints over things like “LEAVE OUR ROCK BAND ALONE” Boohoo Don’t add Country. I find this humorous for some reason. I also play on an older machine a PS2. So I am excited to say Rock Band: Country Track Pack is coming out on July 21st. I am thinking about calling game zone to see if they are getting it in on the 21st or if I should order from Amazon. I like to play Rock Band. I, at times, find it humorous when my 5 year old is walking down the hall singing or yelling in his best rock voice. NO SLEEP TIL BROOKLYN by The Beastie Boys. (Not so funny when he is suppposed to be walking to bed. ) I still own a few of their cds. I have a diverse collection of music. When my Dad was hear to visit we played a little Rock Band. My Dad still giggles about it and comments who funny it was to see his grown daughter whacking on a drum pad and his grandson making up words to keep the pitch right and make extra points. HA! Once we get the country version we will have to get it home and practice up some so when he comes down again he won’t be laughing. I am looking forward to this game.

Here is the set list according to Amazon. One or two I would have left off, but this is a pretty acceptable cross of the music.

The Set List:
Alan Jackson – “Good Time”
Brad Paisley – “Mud on the Tires”
Brooks & Dunn – “Hillbilly Deluxe”
Cross Canadian Ragweed – “Cry Lonely”
Dierks Bentley – “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)”
Dixie Chicks – “Sin Wagon”
Drive-By Truckers – “3 Dimes Down”
Jason Aldean – “She’s Country”
Keith Urban – “I Told You So”
Kenny Chesney – “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”
Kenny Rogers – “The Gambler”
Lucinda Williams – “Can’t Let Go”
Martina McBride – “This One’s For the Girls”
Miranda Lambert – “Gunpowder & Lead”
Montgomery Gentry – “Gone”
Rascal Flatts – “Me and My Gang”
Sara Evans – “Suds In The Bucket”
Shania Twain – “Any Man of Mine”
Tracy Adkins – “Swing”
Steve Earle – “Satellite Radio”
Willie Nelson – “On The Road Again”

Lots of fun! well I am back to catch up on yesterday and my computer Melt Down.
Have a wonderful day! And remember One Man’s Noise is Another Man’s Music.

I must say Today is my Dad’s Birthday. A wonderful Man and large part of my life. Happy Birthday to him!!

Enjoy!
Chris

BTW Here is a URL to No Sleep Til Brookly on You Tube. For those who are included to hear it. My son usually only sings the chorus. The rest of the Rock Band Game he hums to keep it on pitch and win extra points.

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And our cutter file “freebies” are kept in the forum. We add to them as we can.

Border Collie.. meets Rain Puddle

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Much discussion at my front door between a 5 year old and his Border Collie about why she could not come in the house. It rained Thursday night. Poured and Poured. Freckles decide to go out and check out the wet world and play in the morning. This is after she cleaned herself off some. She wants to know why I am holding a camera and not itching her belly. I like the differences in the picture between the straight wood texture and her crazy fur and then of course the BLUE eye staring at the Camera like Come on Come on! Scratch my belly.
**
Saturday we went to some friends. We love to go to Prescott for fourth but needed to stay home this year. So we went over to some friends. There was a little girl there that we know through family friends and associations. She is a cutey. I am hanging inside for a bit with the kids. so they aren’t pulling down curtains, coloring on walls, eating on the table not on the plate on the table. Those kinda things. The little girl apparently is learning that hitting is not so Kosher (according to her Mom). She smacked me on the arm and although I couldn’t imagine there was a mark. Slight tingling because it is the arm I refer to as “the dog arm”. The nerves still aren’t just right in it and it still bugging me. I looked at her with this pure puzzlement… I am thinking an apology now would be best your move. And I didn’t say anything just cocked my head a little and stared at her. My little one says behind her… “Oh you better not do that again. My Mom does NOT like to be hit. You better say your sorry.” And the little girl giggles at me jumps up on my lap “It doesn’t hurt she says. It was just little and is giggling” So we have now figured out her game. To get attention she hits and smiles and giggles. Still nothing out of me. And I am not glaring or anything. Just waiting to see how this plays out. “My son pops up and says “Yeah but my Mom thinks hitting is Rude. I would say I am sorry”. Sorry she says and wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes tight. I squeeze her to. And say “it’s okay, but please don’t hit me again. It is very Rude”. She smiles and gets down. My son just smiles as if to say. SEE I do listen ( I am so proud of him. My Kindergartener in two weeks. Yeah!)… But outloud he says… “CAN I have some strawberry cake now? I had the brownie a long time ago.” Haa! Time Warp Continuum as he still has brownie on his fingers, face and just a teeny piece on the end of his nose. Or is that some of the chocolate strawberry. Who knows. But it was a wonderful time and very mellow and relaxing with friends.
Hope you had a wonderful 4th weekend!
Enjoy!
Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And our cutter file “freebies” are kept in the forum. We add to them as we can.

Congratulations Card

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Hi there, I designed a Congratulations card today using Chris’s Musical Inchies available in the Store. I love these itty bitty files and thought they would look great on the front of a card! Inside the card, says “On Passing Your Music Exams”… cool hey!

This card has been designed in Photoshop. Styles and textures have been applied to give it character. The WordArt has been stamped with a grunge brush, but using the eraser so as to give a realistic stamped effect. I hope you like it, I really enjoyed designing it and Chris’s talent makes it easy to find inspiration in her file collection!

Cheers, caz

Digi-Cutter Files offered in SCUT, GSD, KNK, WPC & AI (SVG) at www.visualdesignsbychris.com