Visual Designs by Chris

Chris Durnan

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THE END!

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A quick kiddo story…

 

Our week has been filled with working on a school project for the districts expo day. This is a big portion of my 1st graders grade for Science and writing. It is about the Seasons. I read to my little boy all the grading curve for this project so I would know it isn’t Mom being a pain and worthy of an eye roll. So we went through it. I thought about the project and broke it down so he could work on it a little at a time and not get worn out because also we have our regular homework.

 

The seasons are broken down with two pages for each one and we are coloring pictures of the season. I gave him full run of my scrapping stickers to use on his project. He has been working steadily on it each day last week and on Sunday he had to work on some of it. Much to his chagrin because his “dad doesn’t even work on Sunday” but he did it and got it done with good humor.

 

Yesterday  I was told by my angel child that on the last page. (the one we weren’t sure what to put on) on the last page the teacher said they could do whatever they want. Do a picture, list their favorite season or leave it blank. So I smiled at my son and said. So what do you want to do. He says in his CEO take charge and Mom won’t argue with me Voice.  “ I am going to right THE END in all caps and I think in RED.” Haha.

I think he is WAY WAY  past done with the project. Haha

 

Love my life

Enjoy!

Chris

Wave Runner using waves from #CD00748 (Swimming in the Lake)

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A simple layout…  Pup pages are 8×8 so it doesn’t leave much room if you have more than one photo.  I cut two waves from #CD00748 (Swimming in the lake) from VDBC in coordinating colors.  Title is cut using Quickutz Maggie.  I used my Accu-cut to cut the wavy rick rack and I used the negative portion of it along the bottom of the layout to sort of frame the photos.  The little bling are nail jewels that are shaped like droplets.  They are not adhesive but I quickly made them so with my little Xyron 150.  White Zig chalk Writer for journalling.

~Angie~ (Missouri)
~I am blessed!!~

Visual Designs by Chris Creative Team Member
http://www.visualdesignsbychris.com
(all images are cut using the Blue Wishblade)

Her favorite spot/Abby using #CD00418

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The title is created using a VDBC file #CD00418 called 2008 Favorites.  The original word was favoriteS but I was easily able to trim off the S.  The “her” and “SPOT” are quickutz fonts.  I punched two different sized circles and sewed them on.  Used various Distress inks to match just the right color to the patterned paper.  Found the little strip of brown border in my scrap drawer.  It was cut with a Fiskars border punch for another project.  Added some ribbon in a visual triangle.  I chose the patterned paper because they both have circular accents to reinforce the theme.  The i of favorite just called for something so I added a patterned mini brad.

~Angie~ (Missouri)
~I am blessed!!~

Visual Designs by Chris Creative Team Member
http://www.visualdesignsbychris.com
(all images are cut using the Blue Wishblade)

Love frame using #CD00810 Hearts

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Chris/VDBC gave away a free file this morning and it included hearts.  I had been wanting to do this frame for my office so it was perfect timing.   I have been learning my Photoshop Elements over the last few weeks also.  The photo is one 4×6 photo that I blended two photos into one.  The ribbon, her name and the flowers are all a part of the printed photo and were free elements within the program.  I added buttons on the outside of the glass to give it a 3D effect.  The frame came with the metal word love on the frame. I added three of the hearts.  The words “this pup!” are cut with Quickutz Olivia font.  Added some bling including a jewel for the dot in the i and the point of the exclamation.  I added glossy accents to the hearts.  So fun!  I have a lot of photos in my office – each of my dogs are included in the family gallery.  *wink*  Just hadn’t gotten Zoey’s done.  This will be a great addition!   Thanks for the file and the kick in the seat to get this done, Chris!

~Angie~ (Missouri)
~I am blessed!!~

Visual Designs by Chris Creative Team Member
http://www.visualdesignsbychris.com
(all images are cut using the Blue Wishblade)

A Group of Hearts for you…

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Today I am offering a file for everyone. It is a group of hearts and patterns. Something fun to play with over the weekend. If my numbers stay up for downloads I will continue to offer the freebies. So if you can send anyone to my blog so the 4shared registers everyone’s downloads then I will figure this into my schedule of file creating. For a while there I got burnt out. So I am willing to try again. And I hope you Enjoy!
I hope to have lots of crafting time this weekend. I have some projects to work on and the weather here is just beautiful. My son put up a boy scouts bird feeder outside the window. I have seen red cardinals, wood peckers and all kinds of different birds. It is beautiful outside my window. However, there are a few birds that I don’t know what they are. I wish I could setup a camera out the window to take pictures. There is a dark screen on the window so theyc an’t see me moving around inside. But I could reach out about 2 ft and touch them if the window was gone. They are that close. You just see a bird and it’s brown, but when you can start to really look at them there are many kinds. Just beautiful.
Well here is the password (iagreetou) for the Freebie which is a terms restricted file. Meaning it falls under my Personal Terms of Use guidelines. Here is the download link. (This download link has met it’s sweet number and has been removed. I am working on another.  For those current QMC members you can find it in the Perks of 2011 folder in the forum under QMC. Thank you!)  Please do not share the file, but send folks to my blog or forum to download. Using the password iagreetou means you digitally accept these terms to download.  File is offered in GSD, MTCvs2, SVG, KNK, WPC, AI, DXF
This weekend I also hope to can. I have some kiwis and pears and cranberries. I, also, am considering entering my cranberry chutney in the local fair in April. I am super nervous about this, but excited about the idea at the same time. I really am enjoying canning, but I like to can in small batches while I am hanging out in the evening with the guys. Hmm… well I am sure you will here more to come.  I looked for some green food coloring at the store to make the kiwi jam really bright green for fun. (Thanks for the idea Rachael!) butttt… All they had was some jell stuff so I need to find out if that is all right. Mostly corn syrup, but that’s what I like about canning I can vear away from the hydrogenated this and that’s… well just planning…
Also, this weekend. Seasons project for the kiddo at school. We are half way through working on it, but the kiddo is none to thrilled about working so much on one project for school. It is a good portion of his grade. So I sat with him and helped him work it out how he should do it. He gave me the sentences he wanted to use and the ideas to fill the top of the pages. One side he is drawing his favorite thing about a season and the other side he wants to cut up magazine pictures of the season and make a collage. I have a feeling he will ask to use my stickles. He has been eyeing the new assortment I got for Christmas with drool. Love my kiddo and his craftiness. J
I hope you have a wonderful and happy weekend!! I am looking forward to mine!
Enjoy!
Chris

First files for the QMC …

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If you are a qmc member for Jan-Mar 2011. You can download these files today from 4shared or the forum. If you are not a member and want to join, you can still jump in HERE.

 

The first files are heart related per the request thread in the forum section.

 

As always… I hope you ….

 

Enjoy!

Chris

 

PS don’t forget to Like my Facebook fan page for notices on my blog posts, sales, and creative teams projects.

 

LO: Snow Dog

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I used a variety of cutting systems to create this layout of our precious Abby.  Difficult photos to scrap.  She passed 19 months ago but seeing the photos still brought an instant sting to the eyes. 
 
Hat:  Cut from Cricut Winter Wonderland cartridge on the Cricut Expression.  I blended a little Tattered Rose ink from Ranger along the edges for a bit of dimension.  I had wanted to use the puffy liquid applique for the fur but I was out of white so I used diamond Stickles.  Added a line of white bling to the hat and a blue jewel to the center of the snowflake.  Popdotted the fur ball on the end of the hat. 
 
Title:  SNOW was cut using Visual Designs by Chris file #CD00386 on my blue Wishblade.  I cut this at only one inch tall but it cut so cleanly!  The file is one word all attached but I just sort of pulled them apart so I could have individual letters, which I popdotted.  “dog” is Quickutz Phoebe font. 
 
Snow papers were just some scraps I had in the drawer.  The white background paper was Keeping Memories Alive from 2000.  LOL
 
Background:  Used Versamark ink to stamp a PSX snowflake stamp.  Then on the ones that had the center showing, I added a small white jewel. 
 
Additional things:  scrap of ribbon (tip:  rather than wrap the entire layout in ribbon, I tied a knot with a smaller piece and then just wrapped about an inch on each end to the back and adhered it down.  Don’t forget to cinge the edges so they don’t ravel.)  A square paperclip with a little jewelry tag cut from a Quickutz die.  Date written this a Navy Zig Writer. 
 
When cutting the hat, it took a few tries to get the width I wanted so I used the extra pieces to create a couple of cards. 
~Angie~ (Missouri)
~I am blessed!!~

Visual Designs by Chris Creative Team Member
http://www.visualdesignsbychris.com

My bb menu and ramblings.

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Bountiful Baskets this week…

My menu for the week. This week I got a mexipack and a regular basket through Bountiful baskets. 

So my thoughts on using it up.

Saturday night we had friends over so we bbq’d.
So dinner was roasted butternut squash, hamburgers, chicken sausages and fruit salad.

(Cooking extra butternut squash for a second dinner)

The Butternut squash

3 from the basket, peeled, seeded, chopped in chunks tossed in olive oil a pinch of sea salt, thyme and half a pinch of nutmeg. Wrapped in tin and thrown on the grill too cook.

Gottaeatallthefruit Fruit Salad with a dollop of coolwhip on top.

BB fruit –

1 package of blueberries,

3 peeled, cored and chopped apples,

2 ripes pears, peeled, cored and chunked,

3 kiwis, peeled and chopped

tossed with a can of crushed pineapple (so the apples wouldn’t brown and the pears wouldn’t. The picture is actually from the next afternoon. The little bit that was left in my kiddos green bowl. and the fruit didn’t brown yeah!)  served with a dollop of cool whip for those who wanted it.  ( The whip cream is not included in the pic because the kiddo wanted to do another picture with whip cream and a blueberry on his tongue. NERD! and he giggled and he giggled after his suggestion because he made me roll my eyes. double nerd!)

Also we grilled the green chiles for on the burgers.

Sunday – leftovers (fruit salad is gone and waiting for the asian pears
to ripen for lunches for the kiddo for this week.) sO in honor
leftovers I will just let us go at it as we must.
After Sunday I just need 4 meals because Wednesday is a leftover day.

So Here are 4 meals that I can make depending on the time and energy I have left that day…
I will bake the chicken one night and bake extra so i can use it for the second night. so depending on the order of meals the first time I cook chicken I will double bake it.

Meal 1 – asparagus roasted and baked chicken (asparagus cleaned up and
tossed in olive oil and sea salt and cooked in the oven on a cookie
sheet) Chicken recipe: just going to bake as simple as possible so we
can have canned cranberry chutney with it and serve the leftover
butternut squash. I could grill but the oven will be hot. and if the
oven is hot. Gluten free pineapple upside down cake
 yummmm….

Meal 2 … chicken (from baked extras cut into chunks) and added to
noodles tossed with olive oil, fresh tomato or tomatillos, parmesan
cheese and maybe grilled onions.. kind of a mix what veggies will work
with noodles and chicken night
Meal 3 … wilted spinach and fish grilled in tin or baked in
parchment paper with some green onions fro mexipack and fresh garlic
from mexi packwith lemon from mexipack

Meal 4 …Cheesy Sausage Zucchini Casserole (swapping in grey squash
for the zucchini and will probably use real cheese not processed depending
on what is on hand)
Or I might do stuffed zucchini. modifying this recipe to use what I
have on hand. and also to make it gluten free. I have a few slices of old udi bread I will throw on the counter chopped up in the a.m. and let it dry out to use later in the day. and possibly instead of spaghetti sauce use some canned tomatoes I canned last summer and blend it smooth and add oregano and spices.

Canning plans…

I love to can. And there is a bag of pears. So I am thinking I should
look for a recipe for these. I find pears very easy to work with
canning. I also have some cranberries left in the freezer that maybe if
I can I could use those up as well. I made cranberry apple relish and
my guys totally loved it. so to make two small batches would be good.

kiddo love… This is the week we are back to the marble jar. Giving
the kiddo the chance to earn extra items and pick up his items. If I
pick them up, I get his marble. if he does, he gets one of mine. So
need to be a bit more dilligent in this. Monday we have off for MLK
day. (My sons comment after learning about Martin Luther King Day and
the reasons and the history… His comment .. ” Well I am glad that is
all figured out because I really like **.” a girl from his class he
thinks is really cool. Me too. I am glad it is figured out to and there were
strong enough folks to stand up for what they believe.

Crafting plans…
I have a few files that are in conversion state and ready for the qmc.
also, I am working on files for the sketch challenge, I cut a possibly
valentines day card for my hubby which needs finished. and I have an
idea for one for my kiddo. so hopefully finish those up.

Home Happiness…. Fly Lady.. I am not an intense fly lady follower.
However I like how the house is broken down. I have taken to telling my
hubby the zones for the week. and I find I work on them a little of the
time. And he does to. Which is just awesome. So this week is the main
bathroom and holiday leftovers. We started on the main bathroom already
on friday. But need to fix a few things and restack the towels for the
kiddo as they end up in ours. as for holiday leftovers. hmm… we are
mostly down. so I have to think through this item. I have been trying
to work on our bedroom a bit each weekend. It seems to get so much
thrown into it. So will continue on with that. Also, the habit for
January is Shine Your Sink. My hubby has been pitching in with that
alot also so I find myself jumping right in with him. if the dishwasher
is full and clean I want it empty so he can help with the shining. This
is working great. We recently repainted our kitchen so we are also
working on putting the trim backup around the windows. I am considering
cutting the vinyl that says. This Kitchen is Seasoned with Love. But
havent sold myself on it. I thought it might add a touch of me to the
space.

Quote I saw that I really liked.. ‎”Most people never run far enough on
their first wind to find out if they’ve got a second. Give your dreams
all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of
you.” – William James

Well for now that is my ramblings. Talk to you soon. Have a fantastic
Monday! and a mahvelous rest of the week!

Enjoy!

Chris

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT SVG 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.

Soooo tired…

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It has been one of the weeks where I feel like I am wading in water. Trying to get everything done, but it all takes to long or there is so much more to go through. Wew.

 

This weekend we have minimal plans so I hope to ride horse, craft some, sit in the Jacuzzi, hang out with the handsome hubby and cutey patootey kiddo, and send out the newsletter for the store. Oh we do have a bowling birthday party. So that should be fun! But if I could get a little sleep in there. That would be nice… soooo nice…

 

Okay and you? Any plans? Sorry so slow on my blog. As happens it gets set aside while I work on other things. I have been jotting down little kiddo stories to post. Soon I hope.

 

Well for the most part I wanted to say. Have a fantastic weekend. Squeeze someone you love in a hug. Ponder nature and how it all continues on in such a beautiful way. And I hope you share lots of smiles and happy moments with a loved one.

 

Enjoy!

Chris

Christmas Thank You Card

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Had a creative morning.  Made six of these thank you notes.  I had my Wishblade and Cricut cutting at the same time.  I created the card from the Joys of the Season cartridge.  Used the card feature and the holly cut at 5″.  Can I say that I think the card feature is my favorite of all of the features!  I combined the card with a title from VIsual Designs by Chris.  #CD00177 is Thanksgiving Titles 2 but I just used the “THANKS” part of the title:  
 
I colored the holly with Copics YG03 and YG63.  Added two lighter and one dark jewel.  I used 2″ and 2 1/2″ circles to create the red around the holly circle.  Cutting the 2″ first and then the 2 1/2″.  The depth of the punches would not allow a perfect circle in a circle but I decided I liked the offset look better anyway.   It looks as if it layers behind but actually lays right on top.  It still needed a little something so I cut a 2 1/2 circle from black diamond dust and backed it from the inside.  This led me to cut the title in black.  Added a sheer green ribbon.  I didn’t recognize the clearance tag so not sure where I got it.  Be sure to burn the edges of the ribbon after tying so they don’t fray.   
 
Here’s a tip:  I cut the title on heavier cardstock and only at 3/4″.  I didn’t want to cut too many times to mangle it – the Wishblade has a tendency to do that on me – so I cut it and then sanded the back of it lightly and it helped to separate the lettering from the background a little more cleanly.
 
~Angie~ (Missouri)
~I am blessed!!~

Visual Designs by Chris Creative Team Member
http://www.visualdesignsbychris.com