Spinybacked orbweaver spider

Thanks to Dad and Robin (and Lu)
for researching the spider in my front yard.

You can find out more about it here: http://www.floridanature.org/species.asp?species=Gasteracantha_cancriformis

This little spider is tenacious! We've had rain almost everyday
since last week and each time it rains the web gets knocked down.
Well, this little guy(or gal, I don't know) is not going to give up this spot. He can create
this web in less than an hour... I'm serious! I've been keeping my eye on him!

Here are some photos taken today
on my lunch break.

It was getting a little pissed that I was
getting so close.

CREEPY!

This web has been outside our front door for a few days.
Today was the first day I could actually see the spider spinning this web. The web is about 5 feet long. It's huge. So I go to take a look at this spider and I see this strange thing.. kinda looks like
a crab! It's got these orangish/redish spikes on it's back.
YUCK!

Lots of Layouts from Silly challenges on Scrappin_Fun

Create a layout with all the colors of the rainbow on it.



















Create a layout using only BLACK & WHITE.



















Incorporate both circles and arrows into a layout design.














Use a Beatles Lyric on your page.















Use AT LEAST 10 stickers on your layout (not alphas)


















Use brads or eyelets to create a shape.



















Use Buttons














Create a layout using exactly 11 ribbons.














Create a layout that contains no pictures of human beings.

Some recent Layouts

This is Lukas -- crazy Lukas.
I did this layout for a challenge on the
"How much is too Much" blog.
Had to use 15 patterned papers,
10 metals and 5 rub-ons.




Here's Steve and Lukas hugging!
Another layout for a few challenges.
One challenge was to use 2 polka dot papers
and 2 striped papers and the other challenge
was to use ribbon as a frame or in a unique way.
This LO was done for a challenge on the Freestyle blog.
AND for a challenge on the Inkpad...
Freestyle -- use a Silhouette.
Inkpad- Use a punch in a unique way. (used the word punch
to make the flower) 

Look at all those feathers... I could have flown away with that hairdo...
This is one of my Senior pictures from 1988. YUCK 

Jacob's 1st Day at School

Jacob just started school today at Grace Lutheran School. He's in the Pre-3 class along with 12 other classmates. He said "School is Cool". Hope it lasts!

Ain't he cute in his little school uniform?

Such a sweetie!

Blog Challenge - Aug 4th

What 10 (or more) places would you really love to visit? Have you been there before? Share stories if you have!!!

1- Greek Islands -- I've heard wonderful stories about the beaches there.
2- Spain
3- Italy
4- Japan (anywhere)
5- Virgin Islands
6- Hawaii
7- Redwood Forest and Wine country (CA)
8-Paris
9-Grand Canyon
10-Costa Rica
Ok -- so I don' t have just 10 places
11- Bali
12-Brazil
13- Belize
14- Zimbabwe (or anywhere safe in Africa)

Ok I'll stop!

Final Round -- My Amazing Grandma

I decided to do an altered bookz from Junkitz.
It's shaped like a book and made out of some sort
of Wood type product... with an accordian album in the center.

It's about my Grandmama Patterson.
Used lots of Walnut ink, Wild asparagus papers,
machine stitching, cool new technique of mixing
ink refill with crystal glaze (on the word amazing),
photo turns, sanding and tiny bit of fabric (LOL).



So this is the front -- and it ties on the right.







View from the top -- slightly opened




















Opened -- showing journaling on front cover.
Just a few facts about my grandmama.













The whole accordian pulled out.










pages 1&2
Grandmama at 6 years old and 9 years old.







Pages 3 & 4
Grandmama at 17 years old
and my papa and Grandmama together
(19 years old)










Pages 5, 6 and 7

Grandmama with my mother (22 years old)
Grandmama working (25 years old)
Grandmama with my mother, aunt and uncles
(34 years old)











Back cover