15 | June | 2009 | Jodiann's Sky Pie Bytes 2009 June 15 | Digital Scrap Design Tools Powered By Pie

First off, Thank you with lifted hearts for all those who emailed about our AJ. He is holding his own at the vet. His primary vet ( Doctor Rosa) is taking awesome care of him. Yet, he is still not out of the woods. With the discovery of a new drug to try and with him responding slightly to it, we are waiting to see if he keeps getting better and keep extending our timeframe. We are going to have another meeting with his Doctors tomorrow to see if good things continued to happen overnight.

Our AJ

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Secondly, I have seen this elegant new kit from Kim B Mezzaluna which I plan to play with a bit more this week…have you seen it???

Dang! This is good stuff! I haven’t decided whether its upscale asian modern or vintage elegant. Each time I look it over I get a different vibe off it. I see so much versatility to it. My first try was to see how minimal I could go. I am pushing myself to do more with less, lately. As with a short story instead of a novel, every word plays a vital role. More’s a waste.

So I tried this layout with a photo I took at the zoo a few years back.

Now that a few days have passed since I built it, I can really see where my layout lacks chuzpah! Its too subtle. It sometimes takes a few days distance to see if for myself. In golf I am what’s called a “by feel” player. I think its similar to how I build layouts. Instead going by the law of three or other valuable guides, I just wing it and do what feels or looks right at the time! Hedonist! LOL!

Am I telling you, there is no plan…I just pull down my pants and slide on the ice…Yep! Exactly! HOOT! Sometimes it works and sometimes…not so much.

I am not afraid of a little tweeking after the fact.

If I were to tweek this LO now I would add some of the deep, richly layered papers in Mezzaluna I hesitated to use at first because I was afraid the patterns would set me off on an element slapping tangent parade and I would end up with a cluttered layout. Which isn’t bad, but I am trying to learn less is more.

Using the papers now, as a tweek, didn’t send me over the edge and did wonders for the LO.

This draws me in more. It could go richer if I exchanged the photo, for a darker image. I want this one so I will be happy right here.

Oh, right! I was going to show you all the kit previews. Whoo HOO!

Here we go!

If at anytime you feel the urge to purchase this kit, click any preview to go directly to Kim B’s store at DSO…I know you want to already! LOL!

Did I mention,

$6.00 $4.50
Save: 25% off

…if you are reading this the week of June 14th? * wink * As if you need another good reason to shop! * eyeroll *

All that you see that looks like shiny gold…is shiny gold…SO riche!

Looking at this paper preview is where I get the biggest Asian Vibe…. Its just screams Kimono to me, but I warn you I just watched Shogun on DVD 10 days ago. *smile*

Extreme close ups. YUMMY! Now I get a Victorian Christmas coming through.

To buy Mezzaluna

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Changing gears I am starting a new freebie series.

Baja Man

Thinking about all those wondrous vacations we spent when I was a little nipper at the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. My dad was in his element. Driving his blue Ford Stationwagon down the California Coast each summer with the windows rolled down. Fishing in the ocean, setting up a huge tent for his 8 member family and assorted friends. We camped right on the beach. Venders would come by and sell Apple Seed Necklaces, fruit, fresh fish and seafood, sombreros, toilet paper! LOL! There was always a beach store and little cantina too. No highrise hotels, or private pools next to the ocean. This was basic beaching and the coast stretched on for miles and miles!

It was the 1969-1971 and it was not uncommon to have a sand castle ruined by a long-haired streaker. I was one ticked off puppy dog when some hairy man dashed through my masterpiece! LOL! I didn’t see naked ( I was 2 or 3) I saw RUDE! My mom or sisters grabbed me back from the ocean because I was going out there to shake my finger at him up close and personal, but he was already a bobbing head out on the waves by then. Streakers be fast!

I was too young to stay up late and go crabbing by flashlight, but my dad always lead the charge out of the tent with my brothers and sisters clanking buckets behind him. I, of course, howling how unfair life was while my mother slathered on Skin So Soft and rolled me up in a towel so didn’t get sand stuck to me while it soaked in. Sunscreen was just a little zinc oxide on the nose back then. The rest of the body sacrificed to the sun.

I ranted till I feel asleep or the fireworks started. Even then easily distracted! LOL!

Any way this was about Dad. Always happy and smiling in Baja is how I remember him, a child’s take on things yes, but also it was a festive place, with dozens of tents pitched on the beach and music with fireworks at night. Nature provided most of the food and entertainment. It was easy to get by with a big family in Mexico. Easy to be happy there. Being a military man, dad was always neat and tidy. In Baja he let his beard show and the wind blew his combed back hair (Elvis hair) all over. Usually meticulous, he didn’t seem to care to comb it back when we were at the beach.

Inspired by my fairy tale memories of the place I am constructing a kit in my mind based on my happy smiling, scruffy, pokey faced dad in Baja.

Baja Man

Starting at the top, I guess. Here are some cartoon clouds for the always sunny sky.

Sorry Link Disabled.

Okay so there are 12 clouds, a set of plain white with tiny drop shadows were added at the last minute. I was thinking to throw them out, but simple could be just the ticket for someone out there! * smile* So in the snuck!

Happy Freebie Monday Friends! So glad you stopped by!