Monday, May 31, 2021

Journal Prompt 31 May 2021 ~ Who is Your Hero?

Who is your hero?

Personally, I'm not sure who to pick.  So many brave heroes out there . . . so instead of one hero I think I shall pick a category of heroes.



Book Review ~ Sammy, Where Are You? An Unconventional Memoir . . . Sort Of by Ira Spector



From the back cover of this outrageously funny book:

Author Ira Spector played poker for years with an artificial turkey inseminator, and had after-tennis "prayer meetings" with his pals where they screamed and shouted at each other and solved all the worlds problems in one hour. He was slowly infected with an itch to document the most memorable episodes in the jar of jelly beans that has been his life.
He chronicles his story in seventy-one essays and poems which are frank and at times outrageous. His eventful and unusual romps through six continents and eighty one countries, the diversity of his career and the characters he met are amply described in this rich narrative.
He talks about:
  • Losing his virginity in a whore house in pre-Castro Havana
  • Barely avoiding a mid-air collision when another airplane flew through his four plane formation.
  • An atheist says a Jewish prayer for the dead with his hand on one of the one hundred skulls wall mounted in a Cambodian prison.
  • The very first piece of art work he ever did-a 24' X 6' sand cast mural for a major department store.
This enticing memoir is a journey through the exciting highs and memorable adventures encountered in one hell of a lifetime.


Ira Spector grew up in Brooklyn and is now retired in the San Diego, California area.  He has met some very interesting characters in his life and traveled to many exciting and exotic locations.   I think his life has definitely been like a jar of jelly beans.  Apparently one day, at the ripe old age (his words, not mine . . . LOL) of 78, he decided to publish some of the more memorable moments in his life. I am so glad he did.

Spector has a really enjoyable writing style and I had trouble putting this book down. In fact, there was more than one occasion when I burst out laughing. Since I read late at night, you can imagine how startled Hal was.  If I had to pick a favourite story it would have to be about the adventures of Sammy.  If you want to know what happened to poor ol' Sammy you will have to buy this book.  The story that made me cry the most was about Spector's visit to a Cambodian prison.

Spector is great at bringing his characters to life, making them dimensional and real to the reader.  His stories show insight into the world and the people in it.   If I could think of criticism it would be the fact that Ira himself often remains enigmatic.

The author has won three honorable mention awards for some of the 66 stories in the memoir, two international contests, and had three stories and one poem published in online publications. His poem, A Senior's Tennis Lament, has been printed in Tennis View magazine.

This is a great read.



Saturday, May 29, 2021

Canadian Music ~ Beau Dommage


Beau Dommage was a rock band from Montreal, Quebec, who achieved success in Quebec and France in the 1970s. The group's style included rich vocal harmonies and elements borrowed from folk and country music .  Beau Dommage started in 1972 as an offshoot of the creative association "La Quenouille Bleue". Founders Pierre Huet , Robert Léger and Michel Rivard were joined by Pierre Bertrand, Réal Desrosiers and Marie Michèle Desrosiers (no relation).

The group's first album, Beau Dommage , was released in 1974 and broke sales records at the time. The next year, Where did the wedding go? reached Platinum (as awarded by the CRIA before May 1, 2008, 100,000 units) on its first day of sales. The group met with considerable success on its yearly tours of Europe between 1975 and 1978, and also performed on numerous occasions in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

The group disbanded in 1978 and reunited in 1984 to perform twice and produce a live album. They reunited one last time in 1994 to produce a second self-titled album Beau Dommage and tour Quebec in 1995. They showed up during the 2005 Francofolies in Montreal when many artists decided to honor them. On 19 July 2013, Canada Post issued a 63c undenominated permanent first class commemorative postage stamp depicting the seven members of Beau Dommage. It is sold in booklets of 10, or as part of a souvenir sheet of four alongside Rush , the Guess Who , and the Tragically Hip .



Thursday, May 27, 2021

101 Interesting Facts About Canada ~ Sunny Calgary


Did you know that Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada?  It's true.  According to Current Results, southern Alberta and Saskatchewan form the sun belt of Canada. The swath from Calgary, Alberta to Estevan, Saskatchewan boasts over 2375 hours of bright sunshine a year. 

Calgary, Alberta tops the sunniest places in Canada and receives a respectable 2405 hours and 333 days of sunshine a year. Edmonton is also a strong sun spot with 2299 hours and 321 days of sun a year.



Journal Prompt 27 May 2021 ~ Fly Away!

 What locations would you fly to for your next vacation if money were no object?



Close To My Heart ~ Scrapbooking in Minutes!

Scrapbooking in Minutes!

Looking for a fast way to scrapbook your photos without jeopardizing the aesthetic of your pages? Craft with Heart™ might be just what you need! Receive scrapbooking kits designed to quickly make two beautiful 12″ x 12″ layouts delivered directly to your door! No more excuses—everyone can be a memory keeper!

Scrapbooking In Minutes #closetomyheart #ctmh #craftwithheart #cutabove #scrapbooking #ontheroad

Each kit included in the Craft with Heart™ program is part of our Cut Above® line, which means that all the artwork is pre-designed, including pre-printed base pages and complementary die-cuts and stickers. All you need to bring to the crafting table is a journaling pen, your favorite adhesive, and, of course, your photos!

Scrapbooking In Minutes #closetomyheart #ctmh #craftwithheart #cutabove #scrapbooking

Does this sound too good to be true? Follow along in the video below as we assemble one of the layouts from our May kit!

Cut Above® kits are an excellent balance of convenience, ease, and creativity, making them an ideal option for crafters of all ages and experience levels. While your pages do come pre-designed, you still reap the joy and benefits of creating something yourself and that comes together in just minutes with an easy-to-follow instructional guide (which you don’t have to follow if you don’t want to!).

Let’s take a closer look at the layouts currently available for May through August:

Scrapbooking In Minutes #closetomyheart #ctmh #craftwithheart #cutabove #scrapbooking

The designs for this year’s May layouts are a perfect example of how the intricate, pre-cut pieces come together in mere minutes for effortless crafting! Whether you’re an expert scrapbooker looking for a quick and easy project, or a newer crafter looking for a project more suited to your budding skills, these layouts are an excellent way to stretch your creative muscles!

Scrapbooking In Minutes #closetomyheart #ctmh #craftwithheart #cutabove #scrapbooking #ontheroad

Since there is absolutely no cutting involved, get younger crafters involved! These kits are so easy to work with, putting them together with the kids can turn into a beautiful bonding activity as you reminisce of the adventures had in the pictures you are scrapping.

Scrapbooking In Minutes #closetomyheart #ctmh #craftwithheart #cutabove #scrapbooking

Looking to document your vacation photos? The Craft with Heart™ July layouts offer an ideal backdrop! From snapshots of a weekend getaway to photos of an epic road trip, these layouts are a natural go-to as you document your unforgettable memories!

Scrapbooking In Minutes #closetomyheart #ctmh #craftwithheart #cutabove #scrapbooking #ontheroad

As you wind down your summer adventures, the August kit is just what you need to capture the feel of sunny, fun-filled days. With vibrant colors and eye-catching patterns, these layouts are a perfect way to display your favorite pictures!

There is a Craft with Heart™ scrapbooking subscription option for everyone! You can choose to sign up for a monthly, 4-month, or 12-month subscription. The longer period of time you choose, the better deal you’ll get! With a 12-month subscription, you’ll receive four layout kits, every four months at a 20% discount, AND you also get FREE shipping! To see more details about each subscription option—monthly, 4-month, and 12-month—just click here.

…AND just because we are celebrating all things scrapbooking this month, that does not mean we can’t still remember how much we love cardmaking! We have amazing Craft with Heart™ cardmaking subscription options, too! For more information about the card subscription kits, click here!

Scrapbooking In Minutes #closetomyheart #ctmh #craftwithheart #cutabove #scrapbooking #cardmaking #diycards

No matter the type of crafter you are, a Craft with Heart™ subscription makes preserving memories something that anyone can do. In a matter of minutes, you can have completed layouts for your photos and stories. Click here to sign up today, and your first delivery will arrive before you know it!

Close To My Heart: Create an Entire Album in Less than 2 Hours!

Create an Entire Album in Less than 2 Hours!

Scrapbooking Made Quick #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhyouareenough #youareenough #nsmyouarenough #nationalscrapbookingmonth #nsm #scrapbooking #scrapbook #scrapbookingtechnique

If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and beautiful way to scrapbook your photos, then we’ve got just the thing to make that happen!

A little while back, we shared a speedy scrapbooking technique that we called the 3-2-1 Formula to make 10 6″ x 8″ two-page layouts. Since it’s national scrapbooking month, we decided to pair this speedy scrapbooking method with the exclusive You Are Enough collection and share with you our gorgeous results!

Scrapbooking Made Quick #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhyouareenough #youareenough #nsmyouarenough #nationalscrapbookingmonth #nsm #scrapbooking #scrapbook #scrapbookingtechnique

(Click on the individual images to enlarge.)

Now, let’s revisit the steps to making this album! As the name implies, this is a formulaic project. That means that you will follow a simple formula to cut all of your patterned paper and then assemble your layouts. As you will see, you will continue to have a lot of creative freedom to add your own flair to each of your pages. No two albums will look the same, unless you make them that way intentionally.

Here’s what you’ll need:

*If you are not familiar with Close To My Heart products, all of our cardstock and patterned papers come in a 12″ x 12″ format, and that is what we will be using to make this project.

Step 1: Creating Base Pages. The very first thing we cut are base pages, from the White Daisy cardstock. From 10 sheets, you should be able to get 20 6″ x 8″ pieces.

Step 2: Cutting Patterned Paper. Before measuring and cutting anything, trim all the zip strips from each of the patterned paper sheets. The zip strip is the extra ½” accent paper along the top of each Close To My Heart patterned paper sheet. Cut each of these in half and set them aside. Next, cut the remaining 12″ x 12″ paper in half, to 6″ x 12″. Here’s where the 3-2-1 comes into play. Cut these two half sheets of patterned paper into strips of 3″ x 6″, 2″ x 6″, and 1″ x 6″.

Scrapbooking Made Quick #closetomyheart #ctmh #ctmhyouareenough #youareenough #nsmyouarenough #nationalscrapbookingmonth #nsm #scrapbooking #scrapbook #scrapbookingtechnique

(Half of this example is showing what the pattern is on the back side of this sheet. Each one of our patterned papers has a double-sided coordinating design, for additional creative flexibility.)

Step 3: Creating Photo Mats from Cardstock. For a more polished look, we like to add photo mats behind most, if not all, of our photos. That is what we make with the four sheets of coordinating cardstock.

Cut each cardstock sheet into six 6″ x 4″ rectangles. You should have a total of 24 when you are done. If you’d like to have a few 3″ x 4″ mats, simply cut these in half. Please note that the photos you will be mounting on these mats will have to be trimmed down a ¼” in both height and width to fit.

Step 4: Putting It All Together. You’re going to need a bit of space for this part, so make sure to clear your table or a place on your living room rug or somewhere else you can keep your project safe. Lay out all 20 White Daisy cardstock base pages. Next, distribute the strips of patterned paper and cardstock mats. Each page should get one 4″ x 6″ photo mat, or two 3″ x 4″ mats, and one strip of each size, 3″, 2″, and 1″. If you’d like for the pages that will be facing each other in your album to match, keep that in mind as you distribute your papers. Lastly, decide how you want to attach these pieces to your pages and get to it! Move the components around until you are happy with your pages. Experiment with different arrangements and consider whether you want 3″ x 4″ or 4″ x 6″ photo mats on your layouts, or a combination of both.

Step 5: Embellish! Using coordinating embellishments, add your finishing touches!

If you like our finished album and would like to recreate it using our same papers and embellishments, make sure to get your You Are Enough paperscardstock, and butterfly sequins while you still can! This collection is only available while supplies last and it has been flying off our shelves, fast! If you want to make an album like this using other papers and embellishments, that’s completely okay, too! The beauty of the 3-2-1 technique is that it can be used with any coordinating papers and embellishments you like.

As we begin to wrap up another National Scrapbooking month, we hope you enjoy creating scrapbook pages that you love and that best suit your photos and memories!


From:  https://blog.closetomyheart.com/2021/05/26/create-an-entire-album-in-less-than-2-hours/