tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-275365542024-03-23T10:53:48.357-07:00A Few Words in the WindA writer at her keyboard throwing out words at randomCarolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-19976236514262719172015-02-04T19:16:00.001-08:002015-02-04T19:16:51.825-08:00No longer here....In case you've stumbled across this blog that I have no idea to delete, I just thought I would let you know that it has moved:<br />
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I'm now blogging at my website:<br />
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<a href="http://www.carolyneaarsen.com/">www.carolyneaarsen.com</a></h2>
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Please go over there to find out the latest about my books. For a chance to win a signed book, sign up for my newsletter. I promise I won't give your name out to anyone else or spam you. So check out:</div>
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<a href="http://www.carolyneaarsen.com/">www.carolyneaarsen.com</a></h2>
Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-68564463973043859352012-06-20T17:40:00.004-07:002012-06-20T17:40:38.351-07:00Anniversary cards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Had a couple of anniversaries to celebrate so I made two cards - one for each. Apologies to my cousin and my sister-in-law if they are both reading this and are appalled that I didn't make them an individual card. My creativity can only stretch so far! </span>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-87104227593697250642012-05-25T12:48:00.004-07:002012-05-25T12:48:49.113-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Papertrey Blog Hop</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my very first kick at the Blog Hop can. I loved the colours we were given to work with and I loved the inspiration photo. I want these dishes!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I was also a bit intimidated by what the other people already made but thought, hey, someone has to come up the middle. I don't reach for black very often when I'm making a card. Always in the back of my mind is Archie Bunker's wife, Edith screeching out, "Black is for funerals". But I had fun with it which is kind of the point of card-making. Furrowed brows and expressions of anger do not belong in a card room. Usually. Until I drop my Memento black ink cube on my already stamped Mat Stack and have to cut and stamp all over again. Thankfully the garbage is within tossing distance and with one flick of my decisive wrist, said corrupted Mat Stack was destined for the garbage heap. Except we live out on the intersection of No and Where, so in our case - the burning barrel.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long story short - here's the card. Hope you enjoy. And I still want those dishes!</span></div>
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<br />Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-13832986727046207422012-05-22T12:26:00.002-07:002012-05-22T12:26:35.429-07:00Thank you Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to make a thank you card, but I wanted to make it small. This was a bit of a challenge because I'm from the school - One is Good, Two is Better, Three is best of all. And if I can get Four, I'm in heaven. But with a small card I had limited space to pile the accent pieces on. I pulled out some of my smaller dies and stamps - these are from Poppy Stamps and I've been itching to use them. I bought the tendril die to use on Poppy Stamps window box that goes with their Window Frame and the shutters that belong to the window frame. They also have two doors that I've been holding off on. With me one thing kind of leads to another and suddenly my credit card is crying for mercy. Anyhow, this was kind of fun to do. And fun to use dies that I'd been itching to use since I got them.</span>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-76349607877460680062012-05-05T18:21:00.001-07:002012-05-05T18:21:36.787-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean, why not? I'm done writing for the day and I need to fill the creative well and stay away from the cream puffs that are calling out to me from the freezer. They're all the way downstairs, but they have this persistent whiny voice - eat me, eat me. So I figured I'd stay up here and make yet another butterfly card and hope the cream puffs go to sleep. I know I've done butterflies but I love this set and I love the font of the sentiments. I wanted to make a card for a special someone and since I am severely colour challenged, I figured I would do yet another take on the colour challenge. I managed to weasel the Kraft into the sentiment, but I really think these colours would have worked better with leaves and grass, but that's just me. Anyhow, here it is. </span></div>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-71129408910308803392012-05-03T07:17:00.002-07:002012-05-03T07:17:32.127-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two challenges in one</span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm tackling two challenges in one go with this card. Jury is still out for me whether or not I succeeded in taking other concepts and making them mine. I was a bit stuck using the colours for the first challenge. I used Fine Linen but it just didn't speak to me. Now mind you, it's paper, so of course it doesn't talk. It's the whole lack of lips thing I think. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I thought, Carolyne, don't be such an oldest child stickler for the rules and toss that Fine Linen out the window. But the window was closed and I can't throw out paper larger than one inch square, so I just put Fine Linen back in my paper file, pulled out my Vintage Cream and went with it. Then there was the whole adventure with Hawaiian Shores. I cut butterflies, flowers, leaves out of that colour, and again, couldn't get it to come together.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead I pulled out a button, shut my mind off to the whole Nichole Heady rule of three (though I did follow that one with the other colours so I felt justified in breaking it for HS) and put one measly HS button on the tag. Anyhow, here it is. Color Challenge Mojo Monday.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Card Doctors II</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was having trouble with a card and posted that yesterday. Thankfully I got some really good advice from Leah and that was to change the orientation of the card. I did that and then I also tried to apply some of Nichole Heady's advice of the Rule of Three from the last Make It Monday video. I think this card is better. I like it better anyway. I balanced the sentiment label and pushed it closer to the flowers, made the leaves smaller and added another smaller flower to create some balance. I put the Canyon Clay buttons (made out of paper because I don't have those buttons yet) on the flowers to bring three versions of the colour onto the card and spread the leaves out as well. I think it works much better. Still not completely there, but I'm happier. What do you think? Just in case you didn't see it, here's the first version.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-1951801203923161952012-05-01T08:31:00.002-07:002012-05-01T08:31:39.716-07:00Calling all Card Doctors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made this card last week and I tried to step out of my comfort zone by choosing colours I normally don't. I knew I wanted to do something with my Beautiful Blooms stamp and die and of course every flower needs leaves. Anyhow, I pulled all these elements together, die cut and stamped them. Put them together and though,Yuck. It doesn't work for me. It looks bottom heavy. Trouble is I still like the elements and I like the colours I picked. I'm just not sure how to change it to make it look more balanced. I'm looking for some advice if anyone is willing to share their expertise.</span></div>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-14354990367793814442012-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:002012-04-05T07:03:35.022-07:00Make it Monday - card #2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwv9b2U6hpblBrZdCkkzopF2gIQlHuRN-wa4p3rLBkZZlgIK3nnunCUZh9eyH-d_-_quc-60MI_Jhhw3qc23ivCNL6BW2kjJMLhJ8VkajkH6suMxYDwTxvi5uUuG4bRRZQj0Q/s1600/DSCF0759.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwv9b2U6hpblBrZdCkkzopF2gIQlHuRN-wa4p3rLBkZZlgIK3nnunCUZh9eyH-d_-_quc-60MI_Jhhw3qc23ivCNL6BW2kjJMLhJ8VkajkH6suMxYDwTxvi5uUuG4bRRZQj0Q/s320/DSCF0759.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726917539240221426" /></a><br />The last card I did for the Make it Monday had a spring theme. This time around I went for fall colours. I prefer to think of it as a nostalgic looking back at a time before winter. And, somehow, whenever I pick colours, I tend to go for these ones anyhow. I love browns and oranges and greens and shades thereof. Anyhow, hope you enjoy.Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-15542161650815909132012-04-02T09:46:00.004-07:002012-04-02T09:52:13.383-07:00Make it Monday - Papertrey Ink<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ1k2xEJWnP7HcNf22vNCGj0uJ6w_nmr-6wdYupUKAxlneXgyr8JiDXab1bMhrzeHNq87-6Y8HZAt-tUdLRn2K30DW9xZW1RaXose5SScOTjYMUboJnYnyotf5tB35w_Q1gtP/s1600/DSCF0758.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ1k2xEJWnP7HcNf22vNCGj0uJ6w_nmr-6wdYupUKAxlneXgyr8JiDXab1bMhrzeHNq87-6Y8HZAt-tUdLRn2K30DW9xZW1RaXose5SScOTjYMUboJnYnyotf5tB35w_Q1gtP/s320/DSCF0758.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726846117501416754" /></a><br />My take on Generational Stamping, the new Make it Monday challenge by Papertrey Ink. Was fun to try something different.Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-49844552288948954702012-03-17T07:07:00.002-07:002012-03-17T07:13:49.397-07:00Just for fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRWDCUrVhcKYguJn6PKZJi65wLuC44RAG1dVDLNe8pWtaTp0K-YfyEQhBRdLI7U3-DarhSvBd1cY9sj8SO-ko7hrhe4zFzJNnCKzAHjWQsOAXIBuX8Yv5HHeku2ooR3XugXhx/s1600/IMG_2800.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRWDCUrVhcKYguJn6PKZJi65wLuC44RAG1dVDLNe8pWtaTp0K-YfyEQhBRdLI7U3-DarhSvBd1cY9sj8SO-ko7hrhe4zFzJNnCKzAHjWQsOAXIBuX8Yv5HHeku2ooR3XugXhx/s320/IMG_2800.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720868934487332114" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Made a few cards to go with some books I gave away in a contest. These were fun to make. I had to keep them simple because I was on a time crunch - which seems to be my life the last little while. I am actually quite happy with these, mostly because I have been coveting Fancy Flourishes by PTI for awhile now to use as a background stamp, but I have been trying to hold back on my crafting spending, trying to use what I already have. So when I took a closer look at Turning a New Leaf set, I noticed that one of the stamps, if I stamped it off, would work perfectly as a background flourish. And it matched the leaf I die cut from the same set.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Stuff used - Rustic cream card stock for base, Spring moss for leaves and stamped with spring moss, Blueberry Sky felt, cut with a Flower Fusion die, Harvest Gold stamped with Summer Sunrise and cut using a Spellbinders die (sorry, can't remember which one but I love it). The sentiment is from the 2011 Anniversary set. Thanks for stopping by.</span></div>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-17485338145489036212012-03-01T07:08:00.003-08:002012-03-01T07:16:00.465-08:00creativity<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN6hkRkgl3btkSIFc3RTLyZ7xmE_pFfRYZVyMI5N-S6h2chh6tjkn0sLuvVl3MYh0Pynuo2TjIhhnDHIk35kcP0V2H-L2cGJhWu90rf8avrDVOnDsyrplUIYc215Xzf_Z6sQg/s1600/IMG_2637.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN6hkRkgl3btkSIFc3RTLyZ7xmE_pFfRYZVyMI5N-S6h2chh6tjkn0sLuvVl3MYh0Pynuo2TjIhhnDHIk35kcP0V2H-L2cGJhWu90rf8avrDVOnDsyrplUIYc215Xzf_Z6sQg/s320/IMG_2637.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714947437859727602" /></a><br />If you check my website, you will notice that I do other things beside write. I sew. Knit. Embroider and, more recently make scrapbooks and cards. All my life I've been doing one type of craft or another. When I was young, I would knit sweaters and make up stories. I would sew and dream up heroes for the romance I wanted to write someday. It was all so much fun. So pleasant and inspiring.<div><br /></div><div>And then , so many years after that, I started writing. At first, it seemed to be just another hobby but when I sold my first book and then my second and third and fourth, it became much more than that. It became a vocation. And soon I started writing more and more and craft less and less. To date, I have 37 published books behind me. That represents a lot of time sitting at the computer and working. When our youngest son moved out of the house, writing became my entire focus and my passion. I would spend every day at the computer and sometimes, even the evenings. The sewing machine gathered dust. The knitting got shoved into a cupboard. I didn't have time for this fooling around. I was a writer and writing consumed all my time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, a couple of years ago, as I was fiddling with a story line, I felt it. A general malaise. Disinterest. Reluctance to get going. I just didn't 'feel' like writing. Now, as a professional, I know that I can't work just based on 'feelings'. But I also know that there has to be some spark, some ember that glows in the background that makes me want to tell the stories. I wasn't sure what was going on and kept whining to my writing partner that I just didn't want to write. I had scads of time to do it. Whole days yawned ahead of me that I could spend, sitting at the computer. But I didn't want to be there. Trouble was, I didn't know where else I wanted to be. I got nervous about my lack of enthusiasm for crafting the stories I used to love so much.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Then our church held a fundraiser for our youth to go and work on an orphanage in Honduras. They were going to have an auction and I was asked if I could donate something. But other than my books, what? I started rooting through my cupboard and found a bunch of dolls that I had bought at one time, still boxed up. At one time I'd had dreams of clothing these poor, naked things, but my writing took over my life. So I pulled them out, hauled out the numerous scraps of material I'd had sitting around from years of sewing. Most of them were too small for anything else except doll clothes.</div><div><br /></div><div>While I sorted and fingered material and laid out the fun colours and patterns on the floor of my office, the ever present deadlines taunted me, telling me. I didn't have time for this fooling around. I had to get back to work. But I knew work would just mean staring at a computer screen and sighing. So I stayed where I was, sorting lace and buttons and trim, memories of the joy this work gave me seeping into the day. And as I did, I made a decision. In spite of the reality of having a book to finish and another set of galleys to check over, I was going to find time to make some clothes for a doll and donate them to the auction. I would work in the evening, that was all.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I did. But as I cut and pinned and sewed and snipped, an interesting thing started happening. The story I just couldn't get excited about, the characters I couldn't care about, started slipping around the edges of my brain. They started talking. The ideas started flitting around. My mind started playing with story lines. It was as if my mind played as my hands did. And slowly, slowly, the embers started glowing again. I was excited to get back to the computer to put down the ideas that came to me as I sewed.</div><div><br /></div><div>The picture you see here is of a set of clothes and doll that I am donating to yet another auction. And while I was sewing these clothes, I was working on another series of books I want to do. I was letting the characters play around in my head as I worked. It was fun. And this week, I'm back at the computer. Back at work.</div><div><br /></div><div>But since making those doll clothes, I've learned to give myself some craft time as well. Some time to fill the creative well I had been drawing from far too deeply for far too long. I've let colours and paper and fabric and textures back into my life and I'm having fun doing other things beside writing. It was an important lesson to me.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>As for the doll? She and her clothes sold for a goodly amount of money. Multi purpose crafting.</div>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-39488519377215007132012-02-29T07:12:00.003-08:002012-02-29T07:16:50.919-08:00how I roll<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6ZzH9OZ1I_FzvtlXesdunAYVeePPRua_ug7g0MeFpScHFpIwHzhCD37DclO9Hkhy4x9Sw7RG-SqL44NiPEy4gbWMk7X-_cuZ56rtflyR5OuDk_xWsWCJ3lVlIBcNNrCXNMho/s1600/IMG_2651.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6ZzH9OZ1I_FzvtlXesdunAYVeePPRua_ug7g0MeFpScHFpIwHzhCD37DclO9Hkhy4x9Sw7RG-SqL44NiPEy4gbWMk7X-_cuZ56rtflyR5OuDk_xWsWCJ3lVlIBcNNrCXNMho/s320/IMG_2651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714576823249972674" /></a><br />I'm starting a new series of books and this time around I'm figuring out all three characters in the series at once. It's been fun - scribbling and thinking and moving things around. Thought I would give you a bit of an insight in how I start a book. This is Stage One. The fun stage. The stage when everything can get dumped on the paper without editing or second thoughts. This is when I'm usually singing and smiling and my world is well.<div><br /></div><div>Today I start Stage Two. This usually includes at least one phone call to my writing buddy to whine and complain about How Hard This Is!!! She just listens, then tells me to get back to work. Which I do. So today, the smiles will fade and the work will carry on. </div>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-58312555194859315322012-02-14T19:56:00.001-08:002012-02-14T20:01:06.249-08:00PTI challenge #2<div>My next offering in the PTI challenge.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYsOaZhewZuf8Xf-qr6bIblmFKVDL60dsK105nyps7xi0dXip8TueIVGKkYQJf3JNZ8LD7V3UMMh9r-_Jcwq7NsMXBKB-3ZkgDWiahpWygfyD_YUivRMUoU77kWPiy0d-7vL_/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYsOaZhewZuf8Xf-qr6bIblmFKVDL60dsK105nyps7xi0dXip8TueIVGKkYQJf3JNZ8LD7V3UMMh9r-_Jcwq7NsMXBKB-3ZkgDWiahpWygfyD_YUivRMUoU77kWPiy0d-7vL_/s320/IMG_2633.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709206765136247410" /></a>And the inside of the above card:<div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDnrVcAcjxqiDU4VDgaJTNnABJ_HyCUcss_7666w1EhkQ5ORSyN0hWza4G1KgUPDpZ6YAT0Dlr-qisIvuUSXsi5c0lz7sUTkgTFTMYCp4YxP0ezVmDrR7IYDcUXsKobzu8zv9/s320/IMG_2634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709206771675696050" /><br /><br />I made a huge mistake with this one. I was having so much fun working on the inside that by the time I was done and had the inside pasted in, I realized, I hadn't stamped anything or done anything with the front of the card. Usually that's my entire focus! So I had to fiddle a bit to get that right and I have to confess, the front is not my best work. But it was fun to do and I learned something in the meantime.</div>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-75415951617399689462012-02-14T18:12:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:22:01.510-08:00PTI - Shaking all over<div><br /></div><div>I've stepped outside my comfort zone for this PTI challenge and made an interactive card. I've always wanted to try this, and this challenge was my chance to, well, challenge myself.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuqkv17B4HJdvQpJPpFvDAKN5giyaLiS2jCYLR28mbRDJbDoW0iZqawUpISFLUBHPB_hZmo8kRyp5p1q160AiCIv-6UnKyu2JE0dNRFZMWGcSTlcybLbXIn4zMVUNOhXCpmdL/s1600/IMG_2623.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuqkv17B4HJdvQpJPpFvDAKN5giyaLiS2jCYLR28mbRDJbDoW0iZqawUpISFLUBHPB_hZmo8kRyp5p1q160AiCIv-6UnKyu2JE0dNRFZMWGcSTlcybLbXIn4zMVUNOhXCpmdL/s320/IMG_2623.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709180463478582722" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddVkdkVEGdY6A6gpYY0ecuhPUyA2TWoa3ZZkk7UueWPNrdJ6IH-exjZEnSn5E3Zyby0CQZjYw6EWylDiMXnQDB-bY2IXMyRCjyrClZDUQce9Z5eQF_cQ-tcgPpnGLBa_KOUVE/s1600/IMG_2624.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddVkdkVEGdY6A6gpYY0ecuhPUyA2TWoa3ZZkk7UueWPNrdJ6IH-exjZEnSn5E3Zyby0CQZjYw6EWylDiMXnQDB-bY2IXMyRCjyrClZDUQce9Z5eQF_cQ-tcgPpnGLBa_KOUVE/s320/IMG_2624.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709180492019044002" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQx0Tx5mx-ym0DsutZ5vPqgExrFPIDKkBhzSwzuCdQFK-Y3LKIjmu1zVeJ6_fnUbY8w0Cfg03s_6Qb98x4x1LXlQ-xmNUalzx62fYBgZivHJoyMRoxBIvn2acGAWVO2wA5Sbc/s1600/IMG_2626.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQx0Tx5mx-ym0DsutZ5vPqgExrFPIDKkBhzSwzuCdQFK-Y3LKIjmu1zVeJ6_fnUbY8w0Cfg03s_6Qb98x4x1LXlQ-xmNUalzx62fYBgZivHJoyMRoxBIvn2acGAWVO2wA5Sbc/s320/IMG_2626.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709180509135503058" /></a><br />I used Heart Prints and Turning a New Leaf for the background, and Heart Prints for the waterfall part. It was fun.<br /><div><br /></div>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-9697418341297949462012-02-10T12:44:00.001-08:002012-02-10T12:51:10.064-08:00PTI newest challenge<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO7eKU-VMKwbXBsacpTX54h7YhheFJeaogneJYuhBnkzXKEh46-UUr5aklp1z7CMGBXoHdbpC67obDgQtqcNPxob-eaaw7-T0oZjxDjCEgQsFyC8nA9YNh4C-pdu40PgMwbv5/s320/6a00d8341c64e753ef0168e70cbd16970c-450wi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707612186686828578" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIvj4sEPc2wjGfGxNsrhSn8MI0IVa2LbOomOYz16_USTTTC1dQJAziQUV8jlcAkLe7k8f7wm3dXVVgXIzLkHfo9YrlIuBPhkzFoeyWqIrY8YEvMZ6Lb3WZrhadZvH3-7DXksv/s1600/IMG_2622.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIvj4sEPc2wjGfGxNsrhSn8MI0IVa2LbOomOYz16_USTTTC1dQJAziQUV8jlcAkLe7k8f7wm3dXVVgXIzLkHfo9YrlIuBPhkzFoeyWqIrY8YEvMZ6Lb3WZrhadZvH3-7DXksv/s400/IMG_2622.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707611153151174770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I put this card together for another PTI challenge and because I wanted to make a card for a very sweet girl. The only thing not PTI on this card is the background paper and the ink for the pink flowers. The first image is the sketch from Nichole Heady's Blog which I used as my inspiration. I changed things up a bit, but that's what inspiration is for, right? A starting point. Thanks for stopping.</span>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-47968481745605631022012-02-06T18:39:00.000-08:002012-02-06T18:42:38.493-08:00One more PTI challenge card<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlj3pZtOMD1kJSmj71iOWBRWTJ8Y2GGalUkHVam8p5hg6gmAWwy34lAmh3eEoh3V2hZqBFJ4SdFtxK85BagyxlqNfNJeISlG1x-XwKC525AwUgZxD2qSLPkHd8F6uB5lU4dJF/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlj3pZtOMD1kJSmj71iOWBRWTJ8Y2GGalUkHVam8p5hg6gmAWwy34lAmh3eEoh3V2hZqBFJ4SdFtxK85BagyxlqNfNJeISlG1x-XwKC525AwUgZxD2qSLPkHd8F6uB5lU4dJF/s400/IMG_2615.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706218305785276706" /></a>This is my last card I made for this challenge. And now, back to my regular job. This was a lot of fun and I hope to participate in a few more challenges. I used all PTI products for this card except for the plain ordinary pencil crayons I used to colour the image.Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-89161106638307107702012-02-06T14:50:00.000-08:002012-02-06T14:50:00.370-08:00PTI freebie challenge<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQ0M8ZXXOoN7mR766Xu4YkHuTNAnrCY7Hz1JtAFF_E-5EyDFKgoX-VFq9BbUB4eAuW7y8VSvqhleb9eXESSFmKAVhPi8bGhpb8Rc5793DWoLesU_ONX95h9K0h82igtgZ69z3/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQ0M8ZXXOoN7mR766Xu4YkHuTNAnrCY7Hz1JtAFF_E-5EyDFKgoX-VFq9BbUB4eAuW7y8VSvqhleb9eXESSFmKAVhPi8bGhpb8Rc5793DWoLesU_ONX95h9K0h82igtgZ69z3/s400/IMG_2614.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706128327272127170" /></a>Another card for the challenge. All PTI products this time. Such fun.Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-6729261623504786092012-02-06T13:32:00.001-08:002012-02-06T13:34:06.722-08:00PTI Challenge #2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvmk0wctpG51J9jKMX6vQV1rT-Kt42qTt4lwBpD_8QpHCK6len2mv9Jvvzy7aN4qC4NeVlXLkPRc-bZ7sZbgSFxE6402BIAF9MIZyF-2pSV2RFtKigwaVI-kYsy9drROvC9KK/s1600/IMG_2616.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvmk0wctpG51J9jKMX6vQV1rT-Kt42qTt4lwBpD_8QpHCK6len2mv9Jvvzy7aN4qC4NeVlXLkPRc-bZ7sZbgSFxE6402BIAF9MIZyF-2pSV2RFtKigwaVI-kYsy9drROvC9KK/s400/IMG_2616.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706139025227796530" /></a>All PTI - all the time.Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-16148782026873097812012-02-06T12:41:00.001-08:002012-02-06T12:49:19.880-08:00PTI 5th Anniversary challenge - Image Freebie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUliIcrnf2FmCVOl0bpxrrBgqeAC2Y64ddqT9xIPSURTo2Ca8nnKUV17j1eU4IgAO10E704w5OttkPPJwSZutY4BLCp3_ncJVKqClm2AU216mHurmRzu8zmZXCZoeIAy02fcd/s1600/IMG_2613.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUliIcrnf2FmCVOl0bpxrrBgqeAC2Y64ddqT9xIPSURTo2Ca8nnKUV17j1eU4IgAO10E704w5OttkPPJwSZutY4BLCp3_ncJVKqClm2AU216mHurmRzu8zmZXCZoeIAy02fcd/s400/IMG_2613.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706126042571498626" /></a>This is a card I made for the PTI 5th anniversary challenge using the images Nichole Heady put up on her blog. This is also my very first challenge! The paper and die cuts are PTI - the patterned paper is from Echo Park - Country drive, the doily is just a plain doily you can buy to put under cakes, the ribbon I picked up at Michaels. This was a fun challenge and I really want to say thanks to the PTI design team for all the work they put into making our crafting so much fun.Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-41833177513651400852011-09-29T12:11:00.000-07:002011-09-29T12:16:50.887-07:00trying to stay currentOkay, it's been ages since I last posted here. A friend of mine stopped by here (hey Sandra) and mentioned that I haven't put anything up here. Truthfully, I keep forgetting about this place I've parked some of my words in the wind. Right now the wind is blowing leaves off the trees with a vengeance which really bugs me because I broke my camera and I can't take fall pictures. The leaves are a glorious splash of color right now. Like I said in my Facebook page, All Nature Sings. Right now I've got a book out called The Cowboy's Lady. It's part of a continuity I did with a few other authors. So that's been fun. My first book in the Home to Hartley Creek series, Rancher's Return, came out beginning of this month and hopefully should still be available . The second book called Daddy Lessons is out in March. I was in the Toronto offices of Harlequin and got to see the mockup of the cover. As usual, Gorgeous. The people at Harlequin Love Inspired do a great, great job of the covers. The third book of the series, Healing the Doctor's Heart, comes out in June and I'm currently working on the fourth book in the series. I hope you can persevere and find them all. For now, I have to get back to work. Take care all.Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-37225684318516465402010-10-02T14:26:00.001-07:002010-10-02T14:33:14.866-07:00Fall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4qVpkI0fP2faBn0jJTZAWjmTKEszDPThHGuWirxOl0eGb7reqFDdWjciZQWuCvxd1RR2x_mVpUiX6T4zLVz4jK5pSX54i_GANKYNkGC4uIQTMgkVL1G2zJ97JCBkLizVCxaC/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4qVpkI0fP2faBn0jJTZAWjmTKEszDPThHGuWirxOl0eGb7reqFDdWjciZQWuCvxd1RR2x_mVpUiX6T4zLVz4jK5pSX54i_GANKYNkGC4uIQTMgkVL1G2zJ97JCBkLizVCxaC/s320/IMG_0141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523563720746130210" /></a><br />Fall is here and with it comes the beautiful colors. It’s like nature is singing. I love the changing of the seasons and the moods each one brings. When fall comes, I want to start baking again, making soup and taking care of my family. What kind of things do you find yourself doing in the fall that you don’t otherwise do?Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-42699256141138835712009-03-02T10:19:00.000-08:002009-03-02T10:22:54.251-08:00finallyKeeping up to all the things I should be doing to promote myself is hard work! And it requires consistency, something I seem to be allergic to. I figure sitting down to the computer every day to write is doing pretty good already. Anyhow, thought I would try to keep up this blog a bit more regularly just to keep my name out in this particular corner of cyberspace.<br /><br />And now, back to my regularly scheduled writing.Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-10829597171879058412007-09-19T16:26:00.001-07:002008-05-01T13:52:10.919-07:00A moving experienceqI've moved my blog to a new space on the web - my home page. I spend more time on my web page than I do on this blog, so if you want to read my meandering musings, check out my website, find out what's new with my writing - Plus you can enter to win a cool canuck canoe complete with cleansers.<br /><br /><a href="http//www.carolyneaarsen.com/">Click here to go to website</a>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27536554.post-71795294799451512492007-06-29T16:13:00.000-07:002007-06-30T15:44:33.619-07:00All the Tea in ChinaNi hao. I am writing this post from a hotel in Beijing with a newly acquired and deep admiration for Jack Bauer. I don't know how he does it. I was up for 23 hours, travelling, and for most of that time the biggest decision I had to make was chicken or pork when the steward on the plane asked me my meal preference. And in spite of that very low key mind power, by the time I hit 22 hours, I was fading and fading fast. However our hosts recommended that we try, as quickly as posible, to jump into local time so I dogged my way through conversation, got a few third and fourth spurts of energy and then drifted down again. I fell into bed thinking I would sleep for hours - 6 hours later - wide awake. So today will be another long day, but today we go to the Great Wall of China and a few other sights. I'm counting on the stimulation of being in this new and exciting place to keep me going, but most of all I'm figuring the shopping. Jack has his 'save civilization scenarios to keep him on his game, I'm going to count on bargaining to keep me up and going. For further bulletins, check out my own blog <a href="http//carolyneaarsen.blogspot.com/">A Few Words in the Wind</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3avgJhMJNDVNqC9Bvo3RovNzuyWtV0iCSbwSZJPnf89YwakOyVS3tXaq99kWebPJ491yVto26T0rZzyWmQxNkWtjxlGrgD7kQs_NRJV1ptQrkS37Sa76r3BxTbdq7JNBxgXCc/s1600-h/tn_Beijing+317.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3avgJhMJNDVNqC9Bvo3RovNzuyWtV0iCSbwSZJPnf89YwakOyVS3tXaq99kWebPJ491yVto26T0rZzyWmQxNkWtjxlGrgD7kQs_NRJV1ptQrkS37Sa76r3BxTbdq7JNBxgXCc/s320/tn_Beijing+317.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081619428007541410" /></a>Carolyne Aarsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02788222162591820297noreply@blogger.com5