Visual Designs by Chris

Chris Durnan

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Milestone Blockheads :-)

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Welcome to the Card A Day Blog Visitors. I have a cool card I found in the gallery at VDBC. This is by Kelly. Kelly has created some phenomenal crafts with my files and this card is no exception.

The theme on Card A Day Blog is Milestone Birthdays. Well in my little ones life every year so far has been a milestone as we watch him develop and learn new things and become so much of his own person. (We tend to equate Milestones with an older set of Age 40-50-60. Yikes. I don’t even want to think about my 40 next year. It’s gonna be fun!! ) And for us these little blocks that kill our feet along the way as we step on them have come in every size and make. He even entered his own display in the fair! Pretty cool. Enough bragging. I know I apologize.

This is my Mr. Blockyhead file. Which Kelly added her own take to for her nephew.

This is the outside of the card…

This is the inside of the card.

Thank you Kelly!!!! for all you do and sharing it with us in the gallery!!! Beautiful Work and Fun Work as always.  (You can find Kelly on my facebook VDBC page if you want to ask her any questions about her project.)

If you want to make your own “Blockhead” card or display. the file can be found here. 

The sad thing is I know when my son says it is time to find a new home for these little pieces of foot torture… I will know that he is reallllly growing up and moving on. I will be proud of him, but I am sure I will wish for those misfortunate steps in the dark of ouch!

Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris

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My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

Rambling thoughts of creatitivity….

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I saw this image on the “Science Alert” page for facebook. They had shared it from this page. ScienceIllustrated.com.au


This is the description of what it is… and the creator. Thank you to M. Hausser for such inspiration. 

Computer simulated pyramidal cells in the hippocampus. These cells are thought to be involved in spatial memory and other cognitive functions. Image: M. Hausser/ UCL/ Wellcome Images.

And of course… I had no idea this was cells in the hippocampus. I found the whole thing very interesting althought I couldn’t wrap my mind it all. But then as my mind rambles….

I began to look at it and think. wow… it looks like those color drawings where you color the page and then color black over it and then scratch it out. And wow the strands look like fibers for scrapbooking or crocheting yarn and then the colors. wow. such awesome color combinations. This is a swatch I came up with.

But it isn’t even close to what I wanted it to be for this color combination. 

So that is my rambling mind on a Friday morning. Before I head to volunteer at the school. Wow. My brain loves to craft and now I know what the cells of a hippocampus are. wooohoo!! I can wow my son with my knowledge and I place mark the page here on my blog because he will tell me I made it all up without proof. And his budding 8 year old Science mind needs proof of everything and detailed information.  haha. love him! Our goal as parents has always been to answer every Why with something. My husband is the “best” at this and if he can’t come up with the actual “Why” it’s research time. Love that man!
Have a wonderful day everyone! and weekend! Enjoy!
Chris

To get quick fun updates of things going on, you can join my facebook page.

My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

#CD00934 from August grab bag

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I used the Fall leaves from Visual Designs by Chris (File #CD00934 which is a part of the August grab bag).  I stamped the leaves with a scripty word stamp using a dark brown ink.  The sponged the edges with some tea dye ink from Tim Holtz.  Pop dotted the leaves and added a little bling from Michael’s.  Layed some other die cut leaves that I had in my Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving bin.   Used a Bazzill sewing template and crochet thread to create the blowing of the leaves.  A McGill punch for the tab.  Handwrote the title “Thanksgiving 2011” with a micron pen.  Patterned paper is Paper Studio.  Added a little ummmpphh with layering a Tim Holtz die cut.  I had created the little note cards and had everyone write what they were thankful for. 

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

Card using CD00750

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I created this card as a thank you for some friend’s who let us use their Lake house for vacation a few weeks ago.  The cutter file was perfect (#CD00750 from Visual Designs by Chris).  Pretty simple, just added jute rope for a rustic look. 

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

Grab Bag Creations!!

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Here are some file creations coming in that were made with the fall grab bag.

Which you can pick up here and make your own.

 

Thank you to Karen and Caz for sharing with us!!

 

Enjoy!

Chris

Recipe: Corn and Tomato Salad

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My corn and tomato salad I bring to every gathering I can. I am posting for Tuesday and everyone who has asked me for it and I always say… ahh. I’ll have to write it down… I love it’s freshness. I am willing to cut corn off the cub for the ultimate freshness. I original came by this from the Sunset Magazine. Years and years ago… However over time I have just made it my own and don’t use a recipe. This one below is very similar to how I do it. I hope you enjoy!
Chris
First this is how I would tell you to make it.
Grab about four cobs of corn, a box of tomatoes, one red of white onion of small size,
Olive oil, red wine vinegar, get the feta cheese that has basil (why buy both), some red wine vinegar
Cut the corn off the cob without it flying everywhere.
Put the olive oil about tablespoon and the onion cut up into small pieces in a frying pan.
Let it slowly cook til its shiny and cooked through.
Keep an eye on it and keep stirring cause burnt is gross. While you’re paying attention to it. Quarter the cherry tomatoes. Because cherry tomatoes have to much skin. So more like quartering is better then half.
Then when the onion is cooked throw in the corn and let it slowly cook also stirring while you finish the tomatoes.
Once the corn is cooked through but not overcooked then throw it in the bowl with the quartered tomatoes. Toss it all together. Now do about 5-10 shakes of the red wine vinegar and toss. Then let it sit for a bit and throw the feta cheese with the basil in it on top and toss. You don’t want to put it on while its to hot or it melts. Put it in a clear or white bowl to serve because the colors really pop and the “frozen corn” sounds like a good idea, but just ruins the freshness.
And then below is a recipe similar to my thoughts about. Haha. in that I guessed at the measurements. 
I was told that “the chew” made one not to long ago that reminded folks of my salad I bring all the time. The benefits of bringing a yummy side dish is that I get to eat it because I know it’s gluten free. Woohoo.
Corn tomato salad
Ingredients:

1/2 Cup red/white onion, chopped
I containerd cherry/grape tomatoes, halved/quartered
1 Tablespoon olive oil
4 Cups fresh corn on the cob, about 4 ears
a pinch of fresh basil (or get the feta cheese with it)
2 Tablespoons sherry/red wine vinegar
 feta cheese on top afterwards. ( just get the kind with the basil and sun dried tomato in it)
How to make:
– Over medium heat, stir onions in olive oil (5-7 min) until limp
Serve within 4 hours. Let it sit at room temperature. And serve that way.
Although I have served out of the fridge the next day.  Who can pass it up.
*******

I just found the original recipe from Sunset on my food pinterest board of course. sheesh. here it is..
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/corn-tomato-salad-10000000600559/

*****

Got any bbq side dish recipes. We always have the meat, but coming up with easy side  wears me out.
Enjoy!
Chris

Fixin the tie

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My son  is dressing for the job fair today. He really wants one of the school positions and to be on student council next year. He came out with this outfit to wear and Dad is helping him with his tie. Although Mom redid it.  Haha. I am bringing extra clothes and waiting til the job fair ends so he can change and hit the playground. He is nervous and excited this morning and hopeful. I am proud. Very proud. Love my life.

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My son  is dressing for the job fair today. He really wants one of the school positions and to be on student council next year. He came out with this outfit to wear and Dad is helping him with his tie. Although Mom redid it.  Haha. I am bringing extra clothes and waiting til the job fair ends so he can change and hit the playground. He is nervous and excited this morning and hopeful. I am proud. Very proud. Love my life.

https://www.visualdesignsbychris.com/521/