Sizzlin' Summer Swap

I joined a photography swap with the theme "Sizzlin' Summer". It was left up to the particpants interpretation of "Sizzlin' Summer" and my first thought was the phrase/saying "It's so hot you could fry an egg on the sidewalk". 

Lovely Jewelry Box Swap

I really enjoy decorating those little wooden boxes you can get at craft stores. I made a swap for the group I'm an officer for "Random Bits of Lovely" called the "Lovely Jewelry Box" swap.

I had a good time making this for my partner, Garrent.

I made a multicolored little kawaii candy and wrapped it in saran wrap to give it a wrapped hard candy look. I also painted it blue, and added red/blue bubble ribbon to the bottom. The pattern on the top is card stock. It's all sealed with DecoArt's triple thick glaze. I added a mirror, card stock pattern, and  bow to the inside.

Secret Trinket Box/Hollowed Out Book Swap

This post is for anyone in my "Secret Trinket Box/Hollowed Out Book" swap on swap-bot.

***This is a pretty simple way to hollow out a book. For anyone in the swap, you do not have to follow these instructions if you have a different way or more preferable way.***

Supplies:
Hardback book
mod podge (or glue/water mixture)
large paint brush
pencil
x-acto knife
something heavy (to place on top of book)
ruler/flat edge




1. Open the book about 3 pages in.

2. Mod Podge the outside pages (minus the first 3 pages set aside) with the paint brush.

 

3. Close the book and place a heavy object on top. Let dry for 15-30 minutes.
















4. With a ruler/flat edge trace a 1 inch or so perimeter around the first page (after the 3 or so pages you set aside).

5. Along the perimeter you penciled, use the x-acto knife and slice and slice and slice. As you're slice remove pages along the way. Do this until you've nearly reach the bottom. This took me about 30-45 minutes.













 

6. Mod Podge the inside of the hollowed book, but not the top page of the hollowed area (if you do, when you shut the book while it dries it will stick together. You then won't be able to open it without tearing).

7. Close the book and place a heavy object on top, like in step 2. This is so the book dries tightly and the cover will close properly without popping open. Let dry for 1-2 hours. This step takes longer because the mod podge on the inside is not as exposed to air as the mod podge used in step 1.

8. Once the inside has dried, mod podge the first page of the hollowed out section.

9. Modge podge the first 3 pages (that you set aside) together and then mod podge them to the front cover so the cover is neatly glued to the first three pages. Let dry 15-30 minutes.

10. You're finished! Place a profile surprise inside the hollowed space, package, and send to your partner!

~Join the INTERNATIONAL swap HERE.
~I've also set up a US Version by request. Join HERE.

What personal dream have you totally given up on?

via SoulPancake

Having a phD in psychology, being a singer/ukulele playing/song writer in a kickass band, being a doctor, being 110 lbs, looking good in pencil skirts, living in a big city, being a science nerd, speaking Russian as a second language, being a famous novelist, being a respected paranormal investigator, being super cool, looking good sweaty.

Honestly, I'm still chasing after my band dream. I'm thinking about fusing it with my famous novelist/paranormal investigator dream.

FACT

"...and how I wonder what it says about our country that rich people like to reclaim footwear from the opposite end of the socio-economic spectrum and will willingly shill out $60 for it at Urban Outfitters..."
-The Sassy Curmudgeon

Urban Outfitters is the epitome of the trendy, snobby, gimme gimme gimme crowd now. Not saying I don't like things at Urban Outfitters but I don't try and pass myself off as a poor, recycling, bicycle riding, city going, vegetarian, when I'm really rich, wasteful, gas guzzling, hate walking in this city (it's too damn big), vegetarian except for the chicken.

Urban Outfitter has its own bike shop. Of course.

FYI, Urban Outfitters is owned by a Republican and outsources to China. And sells this T-shirt..in women's size only:

My Top Favorite Sad Movies.

I love sad movies. I always have. I loved "Beaches" as a kid and I still love "Beaches" as an adult. By sad movies, usually I mean one where some dies or has to go away. The best sad movies are the ones based more in reality; the movies that remind you of your humanity. Not break up movies or anything Nicholas Sparks, though I've tried to like movies inspired by his books. I'm not a movie snob but "The Notebook" was really terrible, sadly. The ending is not sad and the only good parts are when the couple is young and broken up. "A Walk to Remember" could have been good but instead it was retarded. The best scene is the end. I love a good voice over, staring out into a sunset, reminiscing about the death of your "soul mate", but those movies are nothing compared to the ones on this list, the- saddest-most-heart-wrenching-reminds-you-of-your-humanity-beautifully-painful movies:

1. Beaches

2. My Girl

3. Steel Magnolias

4. Life as a House

5. P.S. I Love You

6. The Dangerous Lives' of Altar Boys
I couldn't find a respectable video of this movie anywhere!
7. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

8. One Last Thing

9. Patch Adams


and the saddest, most beautiful movie of all time

.10 Reign Over Me-

None of the above movies matter after you see "Reign Over Me". It's the most heart breaking movie I've ever watched. It's based on real events and you have to know that after you've watched it you've just peeked into the life of someone who lost the ones(s) they loved on 9/11. Someone that is real.

Charlie Fineman: Then I go inside the airport and I'm watching. I'm watching on the television... and I... and I... I... I saw it. I saw it and I felt it at the same time. I thought about Geena's birthmark, and I... I felt them burning...