Friday, August 29, 2014

A Tribute to a Dearly Departed Family Member


Photo: Where my dog at?!?
R.est I.n P.iece  buddy,
I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU










 The following story was written in 2003, when I worked for the News Tribune, when Moose came to live with us.
Moose, A Dog’s Profile
I had never written a dog story before but, since “Moose” is now considered the family dog, it’s time to tell his tale!
The story begins when our sons, Ian and Gordon were young boys. One morning while our younger son Ian, was waiting for the bus to school, a large yellow labrador retriever came up to him. Friendly fellow that Ian is, he quickly made friends with this new four-legged fellow. The bus came and Ian got on after saying goodbye to his new friend. He thought no more about the dog until the next morning when, at the corner, there he was, the same yellow lab. Ian was happy to see his new friend and said goodbye before climbing the bus steps. But, this time the yellow lab decided to go to school with Ian and followed him onto the bus. So, Ian had to lead him back off the bus! After that each morning Ian met the dog which kept him company while waiting for the bus and Ian would make sure that the dog didn’t follow him onto the bus. A short time went by and this four-legged friend began to meet Ian after school at that same bus stop. Ian found out that the dog’s owner lived around the block from our house. Each afternoon Ian brought the dog back to his home. The dog’s name was “Moose” and Ian always said, “ when I grow up, I want a dog just like “Moose” and I’ll name him “Moose.” Years later we all left New York State behind and moved to the sunshine of Florida. In a place that rescues dogs in Daytona Beach, Ian found our current family member “Moose.” “Moose” looks a lot like that dog of Ian’s childhood and he’s a great dog!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Masculine Lighthouse Birthday Card: Published

I just found out that this card has recently been Published in Scrap & Stamp Arts Magazine!
Next month is my husband's birthday. This guy is truly my best friend and partner in this journey called life. Two years ago I was going through a very scary health issue and my husband Sandy was there every minute to help with the decisions, surgery and recuperation. He had to put up with my tears and moods too. I'm fine by the way, but will continue to be monitored by my wonderful doctor at the Mayo in Jacksonville, Florida.

I wanted to make my husband Sandy a very special birthday card.

Supplies:
Cuttlebug
Dreamweaver Stencil - LG665
Stamping Detail -Rubber Mat (not the same as thin mat used for cutting with Spellbinder dies)
Marvy watercolor markers
Stencil brushes
Palette
Cardstock
Scrap paper
Removable tape

Direction for using the heavier larger Dreamweaver Stencils in the Cuttlebug:

1. Place stencil on acrylic plate using removable tape to hold in place. I bought new "B" plate and reserve them just for embossing. A set of 2 were on sale recently at Michaels. My old ones were very warped and might have ruined both my machine and the new stencils.

2. Place paper over the stencil and tape using removable tape.

3. Place Stamping Details rubber mat on top of your paper.

4. Place scrap paper as a shim on top of rubber mat.

5. Sandwich with the other "B" plate.

6.Place on the thick spacer plate.

7. Run through and emboss!

Stencil taped to paper to go through Cuttlebug. Blue tape was used to show, but the tape doesn't release easily!

Layers ready to go through the Cuttlebug

Going through the Cuttlebug

Embossed lighthouse after going through Cuttlebug

Stencil and embossed design

Stencil ready for color to be added
Stenciling in the colors with special stencil brushes and marker colors from the palette 



Stencil and finished lighthouse design

Finished stenciling 


Finished outside of card

Letters cut on my Cricut using my Gypsy and then glued inside the card.





Thursday, August 14, 2014

Fun in the Sun at Flagler Beach, Florida

Photo sketch by Sandy Brooke, Digital Image by Mo's Digital Pencil and card by Carla Brooke
It’s summer and it’s time to hit the beach. Just one and a half hours from Orlando, is the seaside town of Flagler Beach. The town is on an island bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the wetlands of the Interacoast Waterway.These unspoiled beaches are easily accessible located as they are; 68 miles south of Jacksonville, 31 miles south of historic St. Augustine, and 20 miles north of Daytona Beach. Few tourists traveling on I-95 realize the treasure that they are passing up. Nineteen miles of unique red sand beaches, virtually traffic-free, with unlimited access are waiting to be discovered by the discerning traveler. The red coloration of the sand is derived from the coquina formed from seashells.
Photo sketch by Sandy Brooke, Digital Image by Mo's Digital Pencil and card by Carla Brooke
There is an 800-foot pier to tempt fishermen of all ages and skills. Some 46 varieties of fish may be landed from the 25-ft. deep waters that the wharf accesses. There is a bait shop at the foot of the pier where you can rent fishing gear and purchase bait and supplies. Eateries, gift shops and galleries are located along scenic A1A.
For young people who still find it exciting to risk life and limb there is a new skate park located near the beach. This exciting complex was built by the county and is situated at Wadsworth Park. It is on the North side of SR 100 just ½ mile West of the Flagler Beach Bridge.
The Intracoastal Waterway, constructed in 1890 helped to attract fisherman and permanent residents, with its wide, deep-water channel through the wetlands and marshes. Here they discovered plentiful wildlife; including crabs, tarpon, bass, manatees and dolphins. Flying overhead and wading in the shallows are numerous herons and egrets.
The community was originally called Ocean City and the first homes were built in 1913. The beachside community began to grow, with the addition of a general store and the Ocean City Post Office. The beach proved popular with campers, sun worshipers, fishermen and later with surfers. In 1923, the United States Post Office declared “Flagler Beach” its official name. At the Flagler Beach Museum, vintage photographs and artifacts gathered from pioneer families illustrating the area’s history. This museum is located at 207 South Central Avenue, Flagler Beach 32136. The museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Sunday and the First Friday of each month 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. For more information and holiday hours call 386 517-2025.
Although located in one of the fastest growing counties in Florida, Flagler Beach in Flagler County has managed to retain its small town atmosphere. Holidays in this town are usually celebrated with much flair and fanfare. The town celebrated July 4th with a parade in the morning and in the evening a colorful fireworks display over the ocean, just beyond the pier. This exciting presentation was enjoyed from the boardwalk alongside the dunes of the beach.  For information on upcoming events call the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce at 386 437-0106.
Photo sketch by Sandy Brooke, Digital Image by Sassy Cheryl and card by Carla Brooke
Photo sketch by Sandy Brooke, Digital Image by Mo's Digital Pencil and card by Carla Brooke

Nearby in Palm Coast, public-spirited volunteers in partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are constructing the new Florida Agricultural Museum in a desire to educate the public about Florida’s agricultural past and future. The museum promises to be the state’s largest living history museum, to house and display artifacts collected from across Florida.  Here, in the future visitors will view the beginnings of farm technology and large-scale production of agricultural products. The Florida Agricultural Museum is located at 1850 Princess Place Road, Palm Coast, Florida 32137. 
A trip to Flagler County, Florida is fun in the sun and more!

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Memorial Gardens in Ormond Beach, Florida, where the Fairies are!


I am willing to bet you didn't know that fairies live in Florida...my husband and I went on a photo shoot to a local gardens and there they were just hanging about!

The Memorial Gardens, is a lush, tropical rainforest nestled into the heart of the Ormond Beach adjoining the Ormond Beach Art Museum. It features native and exotic plants, water features, and a gazebo. The Gardens contain five ponds that are home to numerous turtles, frogs and fish. Aquatic plants such as water lilies and water lettuces offer food, shade and natural cleansing within the ponds. Plants such as papyrus, bananas, ginger lilies and wild flowers, which flourish near the three ponds that were formed by natural depressions.

Belgian-trained Chicago landscape architect, Henry Stockman designed the gardens in the 1940s, which feature both manicured landscape and natural areas. Many weddings have been held in this magnificent setting. The Gardens are situated on approximately 2.5 acres at the southeast corner of Granada Boulevard between Seton Trail and Halifax Drive.

Actually these lovely fairies are from the My Craft Studio, Midsummer Garden CD. The disc came with the 2nd addition of My Craft Studio Academy Magazine. I put the fairies from My Craft Studio into Craft Artist 2 along with my husbands great photo sketched shots!
Then there was this one tourist, who could not find his way out of the gardens! 
This sweet little fellow is a digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil.








Friday, August 1, 2014

Ocean Walk, Daytona Beach, Florida



 
Recently, my husband Sandy and I went to Ocean Walk in Daytona Beach. He took pictures for my new series of cards and we lunched at Johnny Rocket! Of course I went off my self imposed diet and had a wonderful cheeseburger and sweet potato fries! I also ate some of Sandy's cheese fries (I was bad that day). The waiters did a fun line dance to an old rock tune, that was adorable! They have nickel machines at each table to play rock music from back in the day, but only the ones at the counter work. It was fun. This story is illustrated by those cards, made from the pictures that Sandy took that day and sketched with his camera and I added digital images to. Now, that's fun too!

Ocean Walk Shoppes and Movies boasts something for the whole family to enjoy! From its bold, geometric shapes and electrifying colors, to its picturesque setting next to the historic Bandshell on the Atlantic Ocean, Ocean Walk Shoppes and Movies offer a unique dining, shopping and entertainment experiences in Daytona Beach. You can come to play and stay all day! Ocean Walk Shoppes features a family friendly retail center with recognizable tenants like Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Johnny Rocket's, Sloppy Joe's, Ker's WingHouse, Starbucks, Cold Stone Creamery, Quizno's, Sunglass Hut and Maui Nix Surf Shop.



Ocean Walk is near numerous Daytona Beach hotels and condominiums, which front on to the incredible beach, where you can enjoy a host of amenities and a spectacular entertainment.
 You'll find shops, restaurants and movies just steps away from several upscale Daytona Beach resorts. You can stay at the area's only traffic-free beach and enjoy an array of outdoor activities.
 

Set against balmy breezes and anchored by 23 miles of clean, hard-packed white sand, Daytona Beach is known as the World’s Most Famous Beach. Daytona Beach is internationally known for its racing roots, hosting some of the largest motorsports events in the world including the Daytona 500, as known as the "Great American Race."

Tourists and residents treasure Daytona Beach southern hospitality. The residents and millions of visitors enjoy moderate weather, exceptional recreational activities, an active arts community and, the family-friendly beaches.

The climate in Daytona Beach ideal. The area enjoys mild, year-round temperatures which range from an average of 59.3F (20.6C) in the winter to an average temperature of 78.5F (30.4C) in the summer.

So if you enjoy watching a fast-paced sporting event, a stroll on the beach, or somewhere in between, Daytona Beach can accommodate many different speeds and lifestyles.

Digital images are from Sassy Cheryl and also from Mo's Digital Pencil. Backgrounds are by Sandy Brooke.