Visual Designs by Chris

Chris Durnan

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Marinated Roasted Red Peppers

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Well I am addicted. I have started canning. When I can I feel very close to my Grandma that has passed many years ago. We would visit Wisconsin in the summers and spend lots of time with her and my Grandpa. Pulling vegetables from the garden and canning. That distinctive click click of the pressure canner (which I haven't tried yet, but plan to.) is a sound I attribute with my summers. I have an opportunity to get cost effective veggies and fruits through bountiful baskets and plan to use it to the max. So I have 20 lbs of tomatoes waiting for me. I plan to make some salsa and some canned tomatoes with no salt. I am trying hard to can without salt. It is very fulfilling. I will post more pictures as I go. I just did these tonight and they are so pretty I had to share.

For those on my FB page you know, but others … I pretty much have sprained my ankle. But the positive… The kiddo is on break with me so I don't have to drive to school and walk in. And my crafting hands are free to create. I really have to wonder how my ankles can look chunkier then they normally are. I was in a total state of denial until I took my wrap off and wow who stuffed an apple under my skin on my ankle?? But alas not much can keep me down. So I will ice and rest and keep on chugging.

Have a mahvelous day and evening!!! Life is awesome.

Enjoy! Chris

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

List of files for the QMC and the next one

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Hey folks,

First I have loaded the new qmc to the store….

http://www.visualdesignsbychris.com/store/home.php?cat=284

 

You can get it for $9.00 for a few days.

 

Also, while you are there check out the grab bag. I am one of the participants. We are previewing right away because we think there might some things you would like to make for the holidays. Well we know there are! Super cute and check out the bonus file for being by the 8th. One of those ever popular Tiles. Also, a wonderful gift for relatives!

 

 

And if you are a current member for July-Sept you have until October 15th to download all the files listed below. Enjoy!

http://www.visualdesignsbychris.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=116

 

 

CD00733 – #01 – Polynesian Parrots
CD00734 – #02 – Zebra Inchies & Border
CD00737 – #03 – Parrot
CD00738 – #04 – Corners & Such
CD00736 – #05 – Mini Album Sing
CD00739 – #06 – Rocket Cuts
CD00740 – #07 – Never Give Up
CD00741 – #08 – First Snuggles
CD00745 – #09 – Tea Pot Card Front Set
CD00746 – #10 – Tea Party Title and Border
CD00742 – #11 – Ribbon Sided Gift Box
CD00743 – #12 – Meow Who?
CD00744 – #13 – Ho Ho Ho Holy Night
CD00735 – #14 – Rocket Book
CD00747 – #15 – Closed for Cleaning Doorhangers
CD00751 – #16 – Lake Adventures
CD00750 – #17 – Lake Peace
CD00749 – #18 – Lakeside Fun
CD00748 – #19 – Swimming in the Lake
CD00758 – #20 – Color Corner Set
CD00757 – #21 – Color Edge Set
CD00756 – #22 – Beauty is Within
CD00759 – #23 – Haunted House Title and Front Gate
CD00760 – #24 – Card Fronts 760
CD00762 – #25 – Cupcake Wrapper Tea Party
CD00761 – #26 – Cupcake Wrapper Zebra
CD00753 – #27 – Angel Paper Piecing/Stained glass
CD00763 – #28 – Oklahoma
CD00764 – #29 – Michigan

 

 

Another quarter comes to a close and I find it necessary to reiterate that I really appreciate all my QMC members.You support me and I in turn can support my family. Thank you!

Chris

It has been

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One of those months. I have reformatted my PC again. It is unfortunate that I realized after the third format in about 8 weeks that I was reloading the virus every time from my back up drive. Oh joy oh joy! So this means I have been slow on blogging and slow on creativity as I reload the software. However, I have it down to a system and an actual piece of paper that says the order and what to load and drivers etc etc. So basically I am venting because I need to burn off some steam to try and keep working tonight. So thanks for sticking with me. It promises to have a happy October. I just can’t wait for fall. And hope it is an awesome month to catch up.

Enjoy!

Chris

Happy Birthday Gramps

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Many know this is my blog of therapy. As I thought of my Gramps today I was
flipping through some pictures. Often you could catch him glancing at my Nan
with love. And Dance they would and smile they would. And some of the times
the pictures just never quite caught the glance of "CHRISTINE, my love, Put
down the Bloody Camera" in a purely british accent.

With love
Christine.

Oh how I miss him..

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Sunday is my grandfather's birthday. Gramps. A couple years ago he was released from his pain and taken to heaven. I still tear up at the thought of not having him across the table at the holidays. I miss hearing him sing "cheryl crows: all I wanna do is have some fun" he would hum it and sing the words with a british accent. He gave me my first job at his plant in the office. My first truck was from his plant a chevy scottsdale. It hauled butt when you hit the gas and was miserable to steer when I ran out of gas and this happened often for a girl in her school years. It had no radio so my brother and sister and I would sing goofy songs. We used to play golf where he and my Nan lived on the 9th hole. We would go out just at dusk, kick off our shoes and walk around on the green with our bare toes and putt a little with my grandfather showing us how to hold the putter. We spent our summers here from wisconsin and stayed with my grandparents. We rode in the back of the hatchback z280 then seat belts weren't an issue. My grandparents had a matching set. My Gramps was a lot of the "male role model" for us because my Dad lived so far away when my parents parted ways. I just am not sure if I miss him for his part in my life or that he won't be a part of my son's. That his sound advice gave me a rashin of "get yourself together christine" when he wanted to know if I had called my new guy back which is now my hubby. He was so right. That I was told after my baby shower that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the british couple as they had talked to everyone in the room. That the only baby shower my grandfather ever went to was mine and he oooohed and ahhhed over every little outfit with great comedy because he was told that's what you do at a baby shower. He hung through while most of the men had disappeared to play pool. Yes I miss him. Happy birthday Gramps we still miss you lots. And still… All we wanna do is have some fun because you showed us the way. With your dancing, with your smile, your pep, your "in the pink". And from my heart, With love.. Your miss america. Your granddaughter. Christine

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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I made this recipe page with Chris’s Silverware Jumble file. You can find it here. I put a piece of patterned paper (grill utensils) over the base cardstock and then layered the silverware cut over that. The recipe is of my favorite homemade BBQ sauce.

Sussann

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

https://www.visualdesignsbychris.com/3064/

X: And today is the day….

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Today is the day. I have disabled the Quarterly Membership from the store for July-Sept 2010.

If you would like in… Here is the secret link for your last chance to join July – Sept 2010.  (The Oct-Dec special will post soon.)

 

If you are new to my QMC, you can download at 4shared or at the forum. Make sure to download the pdf link from the store for more info.

 

We are at file 27 out of 20. Yes, I like to add a little icing on the cake. My goal is always 29. And I almost have the last few wrapped up.

 

So current members PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE….  jump on in and download the files already loaded. Thank you again as always for supporting me and my family.  

 

#01 – Polynesian Parrots
  #02 – Zebra Inchies & Border
  #03 – Parrot
  #04 – Corners & Such
#05 – Mini Album Sing
#06 – Rocket Cuts
#07 – Never Give Up
#08 – First Snuggles
#09 – Tea Pot Card Front Set
#10 – Tea Party Title and Border
#11 – Ribbon Sided Gift Box
#12 – Meow Who?
#13 – Ho Ho Ho Holy Night
#14 – Rocket Book
#15 – Closed for Cleaning Doorhangers
#16 – Lake Adventures
#17 – Lake Peace
#18 – Lakeside Fun
#19 – Swimming in the Lake
#20 – Color Corner Set
#21 – Color Edge Set
#22 – Beauty is Within
#23 – Haunted House Title and Front Gate
#24 – Card Fronts 760
#25 – Cupcake Wrapper Tea Party
#26 – Cupcake Wrapper Zebra

#27 – Angel Paper Piecing/Stained glass

#28 – Oklahoma … prepping for upload

#29 – Michigan … Prepping for upload.

 

Most members will tell you these aren’t just a word or a shape in a file, but extra layers and additions to the file. I try to pack a value in to the $10.00 for the promised 20 files. If you want to see these files you can view them on my facebook fan page… In this album…

 

 

Enjoy!

Chris

www.visualdesignsbychris.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Visual-Designs-by-Chris/122459284866

 

National Constitution Day!

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“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

 

This is one of those days I use my right to have an opinion. You may not agree, but I am an American so I have rights. Thank you to those who have worked toward that end.

 

Well today. September 17th. Is National Constitution Day. It does not get a lot of play. There isn’t a section at Hallmark. There aren’t many celebrations around the constitution,  but the thing that bothers me the most….

 

April of last year on Earth Day, my son came home from school complaining that he got bad papers for the day because he was forced to spend the day doing his bellwork in the dark. A few days before we had been talking about penmanship and practicing and looking at a paper and deciding yes or no that it was something we could read easily so the teacher could us. Thus having good penmanship. And for light they sat with the doors open. The door is on one side in the shade and the window is on the other in the shade of a tree. For Earth day they frustrated me. I love my son’s school district they are absolutely phenomenal, but doing homework in the dark and sitting in a class where the air has been turned up to compensate for “earth day” is a bunch of BUNK. If you want to celebrate earth day. Get your kids dirty with earth and have them help plant, have them run mad outside for “earth day” but to sit in a classroom in the dark and work on writing and doing bell work. ABSOLUTELY ridiculous.

 

I have read that the schools that gain federal funding are required to teach the constitution and it’s basics. I don’t think it has to be taught on any specific day, but I do believe they are required to teach it.

 

Today my son came home and I asked. So … Did you talk about the Constitution today? He stared at me quizzically. He said. Welllllll… what’s the constitution. And in that lies the answer. ( I am sure he will come out after pondering the question and ask me if it was the one from that National Treasure movie. J)  Luckily we are those annoying over achiever parents that spend time with their kid and do homework, read, flash cards etc to help him embrace school because we do it with him.

 

So maybe you wouldn’t have anyone to send a “Happy Constitution” Hallmark Card to.  (although I am sure Maxine from Hallmark could come up with a ton of good ones) But maybe just reading it to say you had would be reason enough to celebrate. I asked 7 different people today in my route to pickup a few things for the weekend. 6 said they had never read it. Three of those 6 said they might have sometime in school. They were all shocked I asked. I asked folks at the feed store, the dollar store, Michael’s and the grocery store. I have read it. I haven’t memorized it which I don’t intend to, but I have read it. Tonight I plan to find a kid rated version and print it out and for reading. Read it to my kiddo. At the age of 6, the constitution is what Mom & Dad says.  He may not get it now, but when he is my age and realizes a lot about life the constitution will mean something to him.

 

So here are some things that might interest you if you are slightly prone to celebrating a day the promotes our rights as they were written in the Constitution. Because it the highest law and it belongs to all of us as citizens of the United States of America.

 

 

This is the gov’t page…

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/

 

This is the page that has a ton of links that have been compiled.

http://www.usconstitution.net/

 

Tonight and this weekend, I will be enjoying many of my freedoms because of this important document. How many can you Enjoy!

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Enjoy!

Chris

 

 

Beleive in Yourself / Graduation layout using #CD00695

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I was excited when I saw this file from Visual Designs by Chris knowing my daughter was graduating this year.  As usual, I used a VDBC file along with a lot of other things in my studio to create the layout.  I love mixed media!!  The file is #CD00695 the Grad 2010 frame.  Other lettering for the title is chipboard letters for the B and Y, stickers for “in” and  my Quickutz/mini Marisa for the remainder of the words.  Other embellishments include patterned paper, wired ribbon with little stars on it, black bling, star brads, paper flowers with glitter brads and a diploma charm.  Chipboard includes the parenthesis, oval behind the B and the exclamation point.  These were painted with Honey Mustard radiant pearls.  I also dry brushed a little of the radiant pearls on the paper flowers. 
 
Fun layout!

~Angie~
~I am blessed!!~

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