Riff-n-Raff's Ramblings

Mirror Post from Pixel Mischief...my other blog!

2007-10-15T00:10:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!

In between working, designing and preparing the site for our new **HOT TUB!** I have managed to do some scrapping!

Here is the site for our new tub... today Hank and my nephew, Seth, will install the wiring and it will be all ready - it's being delivered Tuesday!

Ok on to the scrapping... My son Brian and our beloved cat, Noodles

Credits:Background from Jack-O'-Backgrounds, Label from Haunted Labels, both by Donna Rafferty @ Plain Digital Wrapper.
Photo Frame by Jessica Bolton. Pinned frames by Katie Pertiet - Designer Digitals. Staples by Katie Hadfield.
Black Flower - Christina Renee Grab Bag. Ribbons from Merry Boo - Holliewood Studios.
Font is Pea Mystie Caps.

Credits:Breakthrough2 template by Helena Jole. Halloween paper and ribbon with bow by Ashalee Wall.
Flat Ribbons and Boo tags from Merry Boo by Holliewood Studios. Photo frame by Katie Pertiet.
Background from Jack-O'-Backgrounds by Donna Rafferty @ Plain Digital Wrapper.
Black & Wtite Bows and Candy Corn Charm from Haunted Fall by Michelle Coleman @ Little Dreamer Designs.

This is my new *favorite* room in the house - so warm & cozy!

Credits: Background is from French Countryside by Shabby Princess & Christina Renee.
Worn book is from Christina Renee Grab Bag.
Fonts are Koch Rivoli, Lucida Bright, and Traveling Typewriter.

This is the garden that is behind the spot where the hot tub is going...

Credits:Background from Halloween Garden - Donna Rafferty @ Plain Digital Wrapper
Pinned frames by Katie Pertiet - Designer Digitals. Spider from Haunted Fall by Michelle Coleman.
Pin by Gina Cabrera - DDE October Idea Notebook. Spider Web from Merry Boo by Holliewood Studios.

Zig Zag Stitch by Lisa Whitney. Font is McBoo Hmk.

My nephew and his son, my grandnephew - both are named Seth. Little Seth just LOVES our tractor - he wants to drive it every time he comes over!

Credits:Background and Cat/Pumpkin/Star confetti from Merry Boo by Holliewood Studios - The Digishoppe.
Pumpkin charm and ribbon from Haunted Fall by Michelle Coleman - Little Dreamer Designs.
Pin that Tag by Elaine Bittencourt - Plain Digital Wrapper.
Vintage Frame by Gina Cabrera. Pocket by Melanie Willmann.
Leaves, Butterfly, Old Book, button from Falloween by Penny Springmann.
Sketchy Alpha by Lauren Reid.

Fonts are XBand Rough and AL Professor.

And for some new scrap goodies...

Here is my newest addition at

Plain Digital Wrapper

- Haunted Labels!

Here is a little Halloween decor made with the labels - just print, cut out, paste on some old bottles and ~ Voila! Spooky looking eh?

I also want to thank everyone who had my oldest son, Henry in their thoughts and prayers last week. The surgery went well and he is feeling much better after a week. He'll be on crutches for a while still, and he has to go through several months of physical therapy, and attend his college classes as well. I am so proud of both my boys!

That's all for now - I am going to make a little something for the

Scripture Challenge

at PDW, and then I have to do some grocery shopping - enjoy your Sunday!

Big Bucks LOL!

2007-08-28T06:43:00.000-04:00

Not sure how they calculate this or what it means, but hey it's kinda cool:

My blog is worth $1,693.62.
How much is your blog worth?

Bits-n-Pieces

2007-08-18T18:02:00.001-04:00

These are couple pages from the Family Cookout at my nephew's house last weekend - we all had a great time! I usually have a hard time scrapping with my own kits, but I managed to add a few bits and pieces - hence the blog title!

This is my nephew's wife and good friend Darcie - isn't she a sweetie!

Credits: Background and tag-tied ribbon cluster by Tracy Ann Robinson - Shabby Chic Peekaboo Papers . Green Ribbon and wrapped frame are by me - Donna Rafferty. (not released yet) Flowers are from my Field of Dreams kit.(lowered saturation). Blue lace (recolored) and Blue Button from French Countryside by Christina Renee & Shabby Princess. Fonts are Pea Alesa and Xband Rough.

This is my nephew and his son - little Seth - he is such a cutie pie!

Credits: Background by Christina Renee, with another by Katie Pertiet color burned on top.Frame, star, bookplate and and ribbon over photo all by Christina Renee. Flowers are from my own Grungy Graphiti Element pack. Staple by Katie Hadfield. Adventure Art from Cottage Arts Destination sampler. Font is Traveling Typewriter.

More camera fun!

2007-08-01T22:28:00.001-04:00

Wedding Photos...and even a Scrap-page!!

2007-07-29T21:21:00.001-04:00

Loving the new camera so far...
Here are a few of the photos I took at my niece, Alissa's wedding yesterday:
(you can click on the images to see them larger)

And I even scrapped a page with my two grand nieces, who were the flower girls - so cute!

Credits :Cotton Candy Kiss Background was a blog freebie from Kristy Ann Designs.
Flower frame brush is from WildflowerStamps by Christina Renee (used in screen mode)Ribbon is from Digital Design Essentials - Summer Blooms Mini Kit.Flower from "Natural Wonders Collection: Flower Sample" digital scrapbooking kit by Jen Ulasiewicz (jensurge)Stamped Alpha by Michelle Coleman. Fonts are CK Cursive and AL Cadence.

Journaling Reads:
A scene of the dressing room only a few moments before their Aunt Alissa’s wedding. Kiana whirls around while her sister Alayna watches. Both so pretty in their beautiful little gowns; their innocence captured forever in my heart.

The wedding was just perfect - we hugged - we danced - we ate and drank.

After the reception we all went to my nephew's house, went swimming, relaxed in the hot tub, and he even lit off some awesome fireworks after dark. So good to hang out with family & friends!

New Arrival

2007-07-21T07:12:00.000-04:00

After more than 10,000 shots with my Canon Digital 300D, I decided it was time for an upgrade. My older camera is in great shape still, it will be my backup. I have been wanting two cameras for vacation and travel, in order to cut down on lens changes, so here it is...on my doorstop yesterday. woHoo!

Canon Digital Rebel XTi (400D)

I'll be playing with this sweetie later today for sure!

Bad Bad Blogger!

2007-07-11T06:47:00.000-04:00

I have been MIA over 3 months this time! But since I have this blog still, I just wanted to pop in and post some of my favorite vacation photos. We drove down with Hank's new boat, & spent 2 weeks at our home in Missouri, and it still wasn't long enough!

Hee He Last time I posted it was April and I was leaving then to fly down there for a week! Guess I have no life except for when I travel LOL! Seriously, working full time does not give me much time or anything interesting to blog about.

We had a wonderful time visiting friends & family. Went fishing, swimming and horseback riding.
We went out in the boat a lot. Our mobile home is only 1/2 mile from the boat ramp. The lake water was very high from all the rain, so the fishing was not all that great. Plus the water tepmerature was 82 degrees! My DH would like to go next year in April when the fishing is a little better.

But here he is with a couple bass he caught:

We had a LOT of visitors to the yard...we saw deer every day! these two fawns finally came out in the open on the last day we were there:

Here are a couple shots of my nephew Andrew at his 1st Birthday party!

And some pictures of the beautiful countryside:

the lake:

More countryside:

Anywhooo, signing off for now, I have lots more photos to post, but that's for another time! Have a wonderful evening!

Bet you thought I was gone forever!

2007-04-07T19:06:00.000-04:00

Nope! Just busy designing but I finally found some time to scrap! We are going on vacation to Missouri next week, so I have been going through photos and getting excited for our trip. We are flying down for this trip and then driving down later for 2 weeks in June/July, and bringing Hank's new boat. He bought a $15,000 Nitro bass boat and trailer (***boys & their toys***). This boat has been his dream for a long time and I am so happy for him! The lake is less than a half mile drive to the boat ramp so we'll be out on the lake a lot! We have friends and relatives down there and it will be so nice to see everyone again.

This is one of my son and my sister Nancy down at the lake in Missouri last year. It was right after Dad passed away so both these LO's make me kind of sad - I still miss him so much. But I feel like his spirit is still with me and as hard as it is to travel back there, I feel as if I am closer to him there. Hard to explain, bit it feels as if it were meant to be.

Background is by Angie Miner - Timeless Beauty Papers.
Riveting Ribbons by Natalie Braxton (love these!)
Several blend modes used on photo layers.

Font is Al Professor.

Journaling Reads:

My sister Nancy does not get to travel much. She was so happy to find tiny shells
on the shores of the lake in Missouri. This is her and Henry. This was such a difficult
time for all of us. April 2006, Dad had just passed away and we were all in a kind of
emotional limbo. The pain of losing my father was very hard on all of us and I don’t
think it really hit Nancy until months later. It was especially hard for her - being
all on her own, Dad was her rock, her safe harbor, her light in the darkness. I know
he will always have a special place in her heart - a heart of gold.

This is just a photo of the windmill in the back yard, but it looked so pretty with the sun on it after a spring storm.

We live and work in Massachusetts, but we bought the property after my Dad passed away last year. I couldn't bear the thought of selling the place. I am so happy that we were able to buy it. I wish it was closer, it's such a long way to travel, but someday I hope we can move there permanently.

Background, Ribbons, Chain, Flower from Treasured Moments by Manuela Zimmermann - manudesigns.com
Grungy frame from Holly McCaig. Pewter Alpha and corner Flourish by Doris Castle.
Dragonfly is from Jen Wilson. Paint Smear is from Kathryn Balint.

Font is Al Professor.

Follow the links...

2007-03-14T23:06:00.000-04:00

to get this freebie:

EDITED: SORRY! No longer available. Please visit www.plaindigitalwrapper.com to see my designs!

LINK

Early Birdy

2007-02-26T21:52:00.000-05:00

Ok So it's NOT March 1st, but I DO have products for sale at Plain Digital Wrapper already! Much faster than I thought LOL!

Here's a preview and a link:

Donna Rafferty Designs

Please let me know what you think!!

My Digital Scrapbook designs will be moving...

2007-02-25T19:05:00.000-05:00

As of March 1st - I'll be selling my designs at Plain Digital Wrapper!

Here is a link to the shop if you want a peek at all the other fabulous designers there:

http://www.plaindigitalwrapper.com/shoppe/home.php

So I'll be busy for the next few days...learning how to get my kits set up and installed in their new home.

Special thanks to Tanya G. for this wonderful opportunity!!

In the meantime, here are a couple pages I did this weekend using fabulous
Artisan Papers by Kathryn Balint!

Groundhog Day Freebie

2007-02-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

Well the little fella did not see his shadow, so spring should be right around the corner!!

EDITED 2-6-2006 The freebie is now available at Distressed Diva...

Link to Freebie

And while you're here, check out my new kit at Distressed Diva. I think this may be my favorite kit yet, and it's only $4.00!

Sweet Child of Mine

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY EVERYONE!

Freebie teaser...

2007-01-27T14:30:00.000-05:00

Hee Hee...this one will be available on Feb 2nd....Groundhog Day!

and a sneak peek at a new kit coming out later this week:

Love to sleep in on Saturdays!

2007-01-27T10:22:00.000-05:00

Although I feel a little guilty since DH is working overtime - but we DO need the money for college bills, and we also like to eat!

I do feel better today...I went out this morning and took these shots:

Equipment:
Canon EOS 300D
Canon 50MM f2.5 Macro lens
Raynox Macroscopic lens model M-250

Sunpack Platinum Plus
7500 Pro Tripod

The Raynox Macroscopic lens is a neat item you can get for $39.95 at B&H PhotoVideo - it clips onto the front of the camera lens and increases the magnification. You can e-mail me if you want more info on it.

OK I am off to take a hot shower, do some stretching and then run errands so I can come back and scrap for a while.

Have a great morning!

~Donna~

friday

2007-01-26T20:26:00.000-05:00

my job has been very stressful the last two days....yesterday my friend at work whom i have worked with for 6+ years gave her notice - she has found a new job. i am happy for her but i will miss her a lot.

when i got home there was a letter from the pastor of my church announcing he is not only resigning from his position as leader of our church, but moving to another town and leaving the ministry all together to become a mental health counselor. again, i wish him the best but will also miss him and his family.

then today at work they gave 5 people a layoff - the company has not been making as much money as forecasted so they are trying to save wherever they can. we are publicly owned by an english company and the stockholders want a return on their investment...5 salaries probably won't get them much.

and my 20 year old son and his girlfriend seem to be having a party downstairs - i think i have counted 7 friends that have come in...plus his little (16) brother
he and his girlfriend are both going back to college on sunday, and i hope the friends all leave then too.

as you can see i am too tired tonight to even reach for the shift key.

i am just thankful for my job, my family and my health - the shoulder is slowly improving, but not without a lot of pain and hard work to keep stretching it.
i guess i need a good night's sleep...kinda crabby...sorry

eta as i finish writing friend #8 has arrived...

Wow...posting 3 days in a row!

2007-01-21T09:56:00.000-05:00

Can ya believe it?
I am finally taking some time to scrap. I have to take a lot of little breaks
to rest my arm - seems like I can get more done in the morning before it gets
sore and tired later in the day. Back to the doctor on Wednesday - I doubt he will
be impressed at how much I can move it, since it hasn't improved in the past 3 weeks.
Thank goodness for Motrin and Aleeve! My primary care physician gave me some Percocet,
but....blah...makes me queasy and dizzy....Eeewww...Some people LIKE to take that stuff?

Ok enough of my whining!

~ Boni ~ I would like to thank you for your comments and constant visits - I tried to find a way to e-mail you and let you know how much I appreciate it but...ACK!...I can't find out how to see where comments come from on this blog.

Credits:
Background by Michelle Coleman - Chelsea's Dream.
Lace is From Grandma's Attic.
Brush is from Gypsy Rose, and stamped alpha all by Michelle Coleman.

Font is Pea Superamy.

Credits:
Background by Michelle Coleman - Chelsea's Dream.

Brad is from Corina Nielson's Skinny Jeans.

Cardboard is from - A Lil Dainty - by Amber Clegg - ScrapArtist.

Tan tag - Linda GB - ScrapArtist - Wintersong.

Blue tag - Michelle Coleman - ScrapArtist - Chelsey's Dream.
Photo border by Teya.

Journaling: The trees in our area are covered with ice and
when the sun shines on the ice it’s breathtaking! I find it
hard to capture the true beauty with my camera. This photo
shows the thousands of tiny lights beyond the branches, but
still does
not begin to capture the entire sight.

Fonts are XBand Rough, Jailbird Jenna, and Pea Steph.

My Sweetie and I

2007-01-20T21:19:00.000-05:00

Credits:
Ribbon Border by Raechel Knight.(recolored)

Background is and other elements - Be Mine kit.
May You tag
Stamped Aida Cloth - Country Carnivale.
Paper flowers are from The Spring Collection - French Gazebo Where the heart grows, Ribbons and Green Vellum frame are from The Spring Collection - Linen Closet

All by Jen Wilson.
Paint Swipe by Diane Rigdon - ScrapArtist - Get Creative.
Font is Pea Catherine.

TFL!
~Donna~

TFL!

Another LO for Raechel Knight's CT

2007-01-19T20:05:00.000-05:00

Here is another page. On this one I used Raechel's Ribbon Frame - it's awesome!

The frame really made this LO come together so quickly!

Credits:
Ribbon Frame by Raechel Knight.
Background is from Snowbunnies paper pack by Corina Nielson.
Heart is by Amy C. - Heartstrong kit.
Winter word art by Miss Mint - Frozen Slush.
Other elements (flowers, fastener, tag) are from Treasured Moments by Manuela Zimmerman.

Fonts are Stamp Act, and Pea Jessica.

TFL!
~Donna~

Ice Ice Baby

2007-01-19T06:12:00.000-05:00

Yea we got some ice! This was Monday night. Getting up the drivway was an adventure!

The second photo in the dark is probably the best indication of how bad it really was...50 feet...uphill...NO visibility in the dark! I walked up first to make sure nothing big was down, and drove on through!

Now it's Friday and it's still an experience to travel up & down the driveway, but at least you can see a bit of what's ahead LOL!

Tommorow Hank will probably cut it down with the chainsaw and I'll help him drag away the remains. Kindling for our campfires this summer!

OK I gotta get ready for work...just wanted to get these posted!

Have a wonderful day...TGIF!
~Donna~

New kits are up at Distressed Diva

2007-01-16T06:45:00.000-05:00

Here are the previews...AND if you buy all 4 you can save almost 40%.

Here's a link to the shoppe:

Distressed Diva

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!!

~Donna~

Healing LO

2007-01-12T21:23:00.000-05:00

There was an article in Ali Edward's newsletter a while back about how she chooses a word every
year to reflect on - this LO is about the word I picked for my own.

I used Raechel Knight's kit ~Fresh Start~ - available at SBB.
The name of the kit seems so appropriate for this LO!

Fonts are Incognitype and Betsystype. If you would like to read the journaling - click on the LO and it should pop up a little bigger.

TFL! ~Donna~

Link to Ali's article: newsletter

First Post of 2007!

2007-01-07T17:11:00.000-05:00

Not much to say except I have been working on some new kits, and right now my shoulder and neck aches a LOT! Going to relax on the couch with a book and my heating pad.

But HEY I SCRAPPED!!!! A little preview of what one of the kits look like - I have 4 new ones coming!

I almost saved this with the date 1-6-2006...EEkk I caught it though!

I also made this page last week.

Credits can be seen

HERE

Where does the time go?

2006-12-30T10:27:00.000-05:00

I am the WORST blogger LOL! Sometimes I wonder why I even bother. Does anyone even read this?

Any whooo, I have been feeling not so good for a few weeks now. It started in early November with a pulling sensation in my right shoulder - I thought I just pulled a muscle and it would be gone in couple days - whatever right?

I was in some pretty serious pain by Thankgiving - all up and down my arm so I finally went to the doctor and he said it was bicipital tendonitis and gave me a cortisone shot in the front of my shoulder - OUCH!! He told me NOT to do any lifting at all with it. The shot helped for a few days but then the pain was worse - I could hardly move my arm at all. So I went back to the doctor and he scheduled me to see an orthopedist. HE said I have what is called a

frozen shoulder

. It could take a long time to heal :( I did get another cortisone shot in the top of my shoulder and have begun stretching excercises to regain some motion since not using my arm was the WRONG thing to do despite the pain.

I am feeling a little better since the second shot and I hope I can do some scrapping this weekend, and work on some new kit designs - but I am slower than ever now! I did this page a few days ago - my sweet little grandniece and her Dad:

Credits:Background, and Zigzag Stitch by Michelle Coleman - from Merry Little Christmas kit.
Gold Edging, Red Tag, flourishes, heart and Star also by Michelle Coleman - Glow kit.
All that glitters background used as photo mat by Nancie Rowe Janitz.
Joy charm and Red fiber by Rose Farver - Birthday Chat Sampler.
Wordart is a freebie by Mindy Terasawa - Designer Digitals.
Font is Artistamp medium.

TFL - and have a great weekend!

Time for some fun!

2006-12-01T22:47:00.000-05:00

There are 12 links for surprise items hidden in my November posts. They will expire on 12-7-2006 or after 100 downloads. They are pretty easy to find - so have some holiday fun!

Thought I should post this here...

2006-11-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

Please meet the members of my new Creative Team!

Here's a link to the welcome thread at DST:
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=20910

They have already started posting the layouts they have made using kits from Distressed Diva at DST, ScrapArtist, Digichick, and even more galleries.

Please congratulate them and leave them lots of comments!