Visual Designs by Chris

Chris Durnan

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Archives for June 2010

haven’t posted…

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I haven’t psoted much this week because I had a lot going on. My kiddo was in summer camp. And we celebrated my birthday. (Which there is a sale going on in the store) and I have pictures I want to upload to my blog, but my camera/usb cable is having issues. This bugs me big time. Rrrr. Well that’s what I have been.
So I am around and working in the background.  Today I am cutting some memorial stickers for my sister in law (for her step-mom) and freezing some more of this 20 lb box of tomoatoes. So far I have made salsas and today I plan to blanch them, peel and cut them into smaller chunks and freeze for winter stews and chilis. Super easy to do. Also, I have eaten a bunch. Fresh from the “box” haha. $7.00 through bountiful baskets and I thought it was gonna be this box of Roma tomatoes or smaller, but ended up being these big beautiful tomatoes that my kiddo and I have been eating in thick slices with a little sea salt on them. Yum yum. And they are warm from sitting on the counter. So even more yum. Reminds me of sitting in the garden with my Dad in Wisconsin and deciding which one to pick off the vine and munch on. Ahh those memories. I should scrap that one. Definitely. Such a wonderful memory. And tomorrow is Father’s Day. My hubby got his gift early. He wants to get into leather crafting. So we went to the leather craft store and got some stamps and tools etc for Father’s Day. He is very excited and I am excited for him. Secretly tho’ I was thinking…. Maybe I could cut that pattern on my Klik-n-kut? Maybe not cut it but run the embossing blade or something just to make an impression on the leather.. hmm… hmm… well I’ll let him play first. Then I might have to take a stab at it. And I must say the catalog for the leather stuff intrigues me. All the “bling” belts I have and other items. I am finding all the tools to put them together. Ohhhh my fingertips are itching to give it a try…. It’s like the buzzing I get when I am frantically trying to finish a set of files because I want to cut them on my digital cutter. Haha.. It’s an addiction I tell ya’. And addiction!! Well I am off to measure the wall in my craft room. I have an idea  haha. Another idea anyways. We’ll see how it works out.   Hope you have a great weekend!!
Enjoy!
Chris
Over 6 years creating cutter files…. I am still in love with my machines and giddy at a happy cut!!!

ahhh.. livin’ the life

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So lots on the mind today. However, not one solid thought. I have my hands workin’ on a lot of things and I just noticed a June 22nd date for  a new release of a Janet Evanovich book Sizzling Sixteen. I love Grandma Mazur and Stephanie Plum. I read these books from start to finish. And if it is at night sitting on the couch with the light on late at night giggling as I go. Just love them.

 

Another thing I have been waiting for happened this week also… El Charro Café opens. Woohoo! Close to me. I don’t live in the neighborhood of many restaurants and the choices are thin, but this makes me sooo o happy. And just in time for my birthday.

 

Also, I have been working on putting together the newsletter.

 

And working on more files for the QMC. This one is gonna run up to the End of June and I will leave it open as usual for a few extra weeks to get all downloaded. I have a lot in the works. Just hard to get them completed with the little one home from school.

 

And the little one… he is on a roll! Recently changed my wii character. So when I stood on it to a wii fit step aerobics class. I got this warning from the wii game to not hold anything while I was being weighed and it freaked out that I had gained about 100 lbs since my last weigh in. Welll Helllo!! My skinny minny kiddo ran the weight test last time. So when it added the weight he got to watch my mii balloon up on the tv. Which he thought was HILLARIOUS! I told my hubby about it and he laughed sooooo hard.  I was like thanks guys. Thanks so much.

 

So in the thick of planning Father’s Day and thinking I shoulda mailed my Dad’s card earlier. I am always so late. I am just not good with remembering birth days and sending things on time. Ahh tis life.

 

My kiddo had his first detectives class today. He was very cute. He keeps asking questions that are slightly more specific then the last. He says “I AM Detecting Mom!” to cute!

 

Well I am off… Just wanted to say Hi! I am a live and workin’ away on items for everyone.

 

Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!

Chris

LO: Homecoming CD00503

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This is a layout of my youngest who is such a tomboy… but isn’t she beautiful?!  She definitely has a unique fashion sense and a sweet personality.  Dig the Converse!?  I used just the title portion of VDBC #CD00503.  Wish the photo showed it better as it looks really cool up close and personal.  Just silk flowers (& leaves) from a craft store.  I punched a one inch circle from the lime green to back the flower centers to pull it all together.  Used one of the Prima swirls cut apart a lot  (the entire layout only used one).  The center of the flowers are Spare Parts brads from Hobby Lobby (my home away from home these days).  *smile*  I bought one of their ambiance CDs on their clearance rack for $2 and play it in my car.  I really think it has subliminal messaging because I can’t get five miles from the store without being drawn in that direction.  *smile* 

~Angie~
~I am blessed!!~

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

Fw: I love you

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I am not sure this went through the first time, so I am resending.   Rosalie

— On Wed, 6/9/10, R VT <tulip918@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: R VT <tulip918@yahoo.com>
Subject: I love you
To: “creative team Blog” <cdurnan2.ct20104chris@blogger.com>
Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2010, 9:08 AM

I had fun creating this layout.  The idea was originally from a sketch at Let’s Scrap, and a mother’s day Challenge.  Supplies used: CTMH paper
The digital frame is from ScrapNfonts
Misc. buttons and heart brads.
The title is Chris Durnan die cut You set of words
2 peas graphic heart and giggle fonts. 

Rosalie

Slip -n- and a slidin’

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So in the desert when you buy a slippin’ slide you have to find a family member with the best grass to use it on. My son has had this for a while. I was puzzled when it came home with my hubby and realized he had fallen victim to the persuasions of our kiddo. We live in the desert and that means rocks and dirt. We don’t even have a fake patch of grass installed. So it has been in the closet because those with nice grass don’t want it ruined by kiddos runnin’ around on it with tons of sopping water. It can be a pretty penny to repair when a gardener comes. And riding on your belly over rocks is not a good alternative. So a couple weekends ago we went to my Aunt’s house and played. This is my kiddo… (The first two pics are my awesome sisters pics) Anyways… my kiddo looks like he is determined to run!
This is my cutey patootey niece. They are sitting in a shark’s mouth.
And then the shark was coming after me….. I can almost hear him saying dah dah in the shark tone of jaws. AHHHH!!!.. My cute kid, but I am totally biased. no might be about it.
I love this picture succession and will have to figure out how to get it scrapped. It just cracks me up.
well hope you Enjoyed and find a cool place to play in the water somewhere!
Enjoy!
Chris

Layout created with CD00699

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Chris has a wonderful selection of files available to members of her QMC. This file CD00699-Wedding Page is available in the latest membership and was perfect for this page celebrating the Wedding of my eldest daughter.
 
I have added styles and textures to the cutter files to create dimension and interest. My layout has been created in Photoshop CS3.
 
have a great day wherever you are!
 
Thanks for looking, caz

Grandma’s Doily #CD00490

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On this card, I used VDBC file #CD00490, Grandma’s Doily.  I used doily #2.  Along with the doily, I created a paper flower using this tutorial:  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/dimensionalflowers/. 
 
I created my flower using the remaining tan cardstock after cutting the doily.  Kinda hard to see in the photo, but I stamped each flower using Broken China Distress Ink and a scripty stamp then distressed it a little before assembling and added more color after assembling.  I had this blue flower laying on the craft table and it was perfect to add a pop of color.  Added a bit of pearl bling from Hobby Lobby and some pearl pins from Wal-mart..  For the center of the flower, I just cut one of the pins down.  Tip:  Mount the flower with pop dots and it is the perfect place for your pins to stick and hold.  Sheer ribbon to finish it off. 
 
~Angie~
~I am blessed!!~

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

Lake Trip….2010

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We went to the lake. 🙂 It was lots of fun.. Here are some pictures from our adventures. Thank goodness we had fun because the day after we got back we all came down with the stomach flu. Luckily we were home because it was bad bad bad. So here are some pics from our fun!

Here’s my kiddo and my stud hubby in the a.m. We were eating popsicles first thing. It was gonna be hot.
Here is our friends son. We’ll call him “no fear”
And here is their other son. We’ll just call him “happy baby” You’ll see why in a few.
Here are our two kiddos hanging in the water cooling off. You have to do this alot when it’s a 100. So much more fun when Mom buys some ridiculous squirt guns that are called MAx Liquidators. So you can squirt everyone and anyone straight from the lake. But still lots of fun.
There are two folks on this tube “no fear” and Dad. you can see two legs.
Then Dad dropped off and nofear had the tube to himself.
Which I think he was perfectly happy with!
Here’s my hubby and kiddo behind the boat resting on the tube. We couldn’t find the plug for the double tube. So made due with the single. However, we of course found the plugs when we got to camp that evening. of COURSE.
Here is No Fears Mom on the tube. She had a good time with a ride. This water in the face thing is why I ride the tube backwards always. I just sit there and enjoy the lake as it passes by. However, when hubby and I were dating he was being pushy about speeding about the boat. So I took the opportunity of facing away from the boat to moon him before I jumped into the lake. Ahhh fond memories. haha. I love to keep him hoppin’. I wonder if he doesnt slightly worry whenever I get in the tube backwards what I will do this time.
This is me sneaking a peak at my hubby and a picture.
Oh and Here is Happy baby again. Never stops smiling this kid. Even when grumpy he is smiling.
Then when you have men in a boat that outrank the women 5 to 2. Well some testesterone will take over.. So a little.. I can throw you.. no you can’t blah blah.. all right.. let’s go.
here is our friend, (The Dad, we call him coach, as he was the soccer coach for my kiddo)
And in the air here. … oh and well…
going into the water below.
Oh and you guessed it… another Happy baby..
My Aunt and Uncle below. Such a cutey couple below. They were on the lake to. We missed them for a bit and then hung out in the end. And it was my Aunt’s first time in a campground overnight. Wow I have no no idea how she was convinced of this, but she slept in their boat with hubby under the stars. Totally my version of romantic. I am not sure it is entirely hers, but she is a trouper and made it and was even smiling in the morning. woohoo!! to new adventures.
And the three of us… Always such a wonderful time when we are together.
I truly love my life and all of those who are in it.

And now I am off to rest my neck. Seems the stomach flu makes your neck ache when it is being used for a stabilizer in a violent heaving motion. if you get my drift. ::sigh:: but  it was only one day. So now on to another great week. Hope you have great plans for fun stuff to do! Enjoy! Chris

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

Stars, Stripes & Magic… yeah!

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Well June has hit and there is a grab bag… and as usual style for the More Team. We are offering an extra bonus file for the first week in store.

 

Our grab bags are exclusive as a collection to the VDBC store and also only for the month of June.

This theme came up because we were thinking about July and all the stars & stripes celebration, but we thought why not throw in a little “magic” . Fireworks truly are filled with magic for me. Especially now when I see my kiddo watch them and ooooh and ahhh…

 

Here is a sneak peak of some of the files included.  If you would like to read more… Here is the link to the store.

 

Here is our review from the forum from our grab bag winner for June…

BarracudaSue says…

 

“Chris sent me the link and let me tell you…HOLY COW are these ever incredible! THANK YOU, Ginger for picking me to get this…thank you, Chris for the download and the super, super files and thank you Lori and DigiKitty for all your super files, too! MAN is this one ever a GOTTA HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don’t have YOURS yet, get over to the Store and get it. Especially NOW that there is a fabulous bonus file for being an early bird! WOW, these are super fantastic!!!!! THANKS!!!!! I better quit before I give anything away…. ROFLOL”

 

Now can we say. Wooohoo!! That is one heck of a review. And our forum members and supporters. Just ROCK!

 

Grab yours as quick as you can before the 15th when the reveal happens.

 

Here is the link to the store.

 

Enjoy!

Chris

www.visualdesignsbychris.com

 

 

 

Where’s my balance?

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Yesterday afternoon we finally hit the Skate Country after many missed Tuesday afternoons with friends. Can I say I tried the skates. I made one lap and a few up and down the carpeted side. I had to wonder as I stood confidently on the wheels why it was that I lost my balance when I tried to move. I watched another lady scoot by dragging one kid and then skated by me later skating backwards so she could face a child as they learned to skate. So I continued to wonder as I jerked back and forth like a big headed bobble head doll. … What happened to my balance? Well next time we go I think I will try again and see how it goes. My son zoomed by yelling…. MOM we’ll buy you skates so you can practice at the HOUSSSSEEE!!.. Either he was trying to be helpful or he didn’t want to be caught holding my hand as I attempted one lap. One lap my hubby said. Just one! So I can do one lap. I held onto his hand. It wasn’t one of those moments where you hear some music and feel so fluid as I normally do when he and I go dancing. No this was purely a weak attempt at staying up on 8 wheels and not knocking my hubby over or running over another child. Maybe there was some music that totally played to ones sense of skating around the rink with my handsome roller-stud. I didn’t hear it over the rattat of my heart beating in my ears. Maybe if they had played some jerky beated music I would have looked a little better, but alas. I made the lap and hope to do two next time around. I am leary that skates might be wrapped in birthday wrapping in a few weeks. Hmmm…  Either way it was wonderful to get out and enjoy the afternoon of summer break with some friends, my son and hubby. As we departed from the skate session… the announcer says… if you’d like to stay for the next 70-80’s skate you just have to pay at the door. I look up at my hubby and his face is pure disbelief… “they have an 80’s skate? How come we didn’t come for that” ahhh it appears I will be skating my two laps to staying alive with a disco ball next time around.. hahah. My visions of a romantic skate are now filled with the beegees.. ahhh.. ahhh. Ahhh staying aliiiiiiiiveeeeee!!! Haha.

 

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Enjoy!

Chris