Saturday, May 22, 2010

The Sunset Test




You Crave an Important Life



Your dream is to life a live a life that leaves a mark.

You'd like to have a mission or journey to complete, even if it takes years.



You want your life to be meaningful, and having a final goal brings you meaning.

You'd like to accomplish something big, if only to inspire others to believe it can be done.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

80s Flashback today...

...courtesy of this blogger today. This was a big part of my childhood in the 1980s and by a strange coincidence, I happened to be looking at some of these videos a week or so ago on Youtube. I remember all of those Geek Orthodox posted, along with a few others I watched, including the following:


That last line has haunted my mind for years now!

While recently watching the "Make a Saturday" (or is it Saturdae?) one I began to wonder how you were supposed to place a grape on top of a banana. Someone even questioned that here.

Are You Rock, Scissors or Paper?




You Are Paper



Crafty and creative, you are able to adapt freely to almost any situation.

People tend to underestimate you, unless they've truly seen what you are capable of.

Deep down, you're always scheming and thinking up new plans. Your mind is constantly active.

You are quite capable of anything you dream of. You can always figure out a way to get what you want.



You can wrap a rock person up in your sheet of trickery.



A scissor person can sneak up and cut you to pieces.



When you fight: No one can anticipate your next move



If someone makes you mad: You'll attack them mercilessly when they're unprepared

Monday, May 17, 2010

Papier-Maché projects

I've on occasion dome some artwork and have found the craft of papier-maché to be fun. It's easy to do when you have lot of newspaper around the house.

One year for Halloween I made ghosts from paper bags. I cut out a ghost face and stuffed the bags with crumpled newspaper before applying the newspaper strips with paste. After about three or four layers of newspaper strips, I painted the ghosts. Every year since I made these I have displaying them on my kitchen window ledge, along with the plastic hanging ghosts and the orange lights.



Just recently I tried the same idea using paper bags covered in papier-maché strips with some faces. Both of these faces were just randomly done, not meant to be anything in particular. I just began pasting strips on an other paper bag and have already come up with something to put on it. I hope to get pictures of that one soon, once I've done it.



I'm not a regular artist, but if I could make enough of these things, perhaps I could sell them. I'd especially love to make more of the ghosts. These would be excellent decorations for any house on Halloween. I also think it would be fun to try making some ghosts with painted-on faces or faces cut out from black foam and glued on. Anyone who sells on Etsy or Zazzle, what do you think? And how are these two sites different?

To do papier-maché, you need paste. It's easy to make your own. Various recipes can be found on the Internet or in craft books. One that I use (from an old activity book I have had for many years):

In a small bowl mix until smooth
1/2 cup of flour
1/4 cup water
Over this mixture pour, 1 cup boiling water
Stir until it takes on a transparent look. Strain it if necessary, and thin it with cold water until it reaches the desired consistency.


FYI, I use one of those plastic bowls with snap-on lids to store the homemade paste in. And it's best to make a new supply of paste than to keep one too long. I've found each supply I've made to be good for at least two days. Also, it's best to tear, not cut, the newspaper to be used for the strips. A bucket to keep the strips in comes in very handy.

Shrek countdown continues


Finally got a copy of "Shrek 2" (I'd already had the original and the third one on DVD), and watched the second one yesterday. It's has been three years since I've sen that one; I borrowed my aunt's copy in 2007 when I awaited the premiere of part three that year. Now I plan to watch "Shrek the Third" later this evening. If not tonight, then one night this week before Friday.

It doesn't seem all that long ago when the first of this film series came out in 2001. I still recall seeing the large standing poster promoting the upcoming film. I did not know much about it when I first saw the poster; nevertheless, it looked like it would a good film and I knew I'd be going to see it once I got the chance. And I did so the afternoon of May 19, 2001, a rare Saturday off from work that year. I later rented it on VHS in 2002, months before I got my DVD player (for Christmas that year). I got the DVD in 2005.

Only four more days till film number 4 is released. Summer film season, here I come!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Shrek Countdown

LIke many who have watched all the "Shrek" films since the franchise began in 2001, I am getting excited about the fourth movie coming out a week from this Friday. I just started re-watching the first three movies in anticipation of the new one. So far I have only watched the first one.