A Crafty Craft

What to do with leftover yarn from projects?

These make great little bags for i-pods or an Easter purse for the kids!

I have tons of leftover yarn and going to make a bunch.

The best part is they are super easy to make.  I use a single crochet stitch. Crochet a strip, fold it over, crochet the sides, make a strap and done!  The whole project takes about an hour.

Reuse and Recycle. I find a use for everything!

tv that makes ya go huh?

I don't know why I felt so irked watching tv last night but I did (sigh)!  My list of possible things that made me in a grumpy tv mood.

1. Ellen DeGeneres in a cover girl commercial.  Weird!  It's all wrong.  They should have just put a laughing hyena in the commercial.  Don't get me wrong, nothing against Ellen.  But her, in a makeup commercial doesn't make me want to buy cover girl quite the opposite.  Which leads me to number two.

2. Nurse Jackie on showtime.  I caught the end.  Yup looks just like Ellen and Nurse Jackie's singing forced me to change the channel, quickly!  Not sure I'll watch that again.

3. The crazy chick on the bachelor, Gia.  The one who hooked up with the staff of the show dissing the bachelor.  Women told all last night to bad I didn't watch that either.

4. Old Navy commercials.  Please take the mannequins on a cruise and throw them overboard with no floatie device.

           "Oh, look at my bathing suit only $12.99 at Old Navy."
           "Yes I would love to go swimming."
            "This is a high diving board."
            "Why is the boat leaving.  Oh no!  Big wave.....shop at Old Navy."
             "Even the sharks like Old Navy bathing suits."
             Chomp!

5. There is a new show coming next month to showtime called The Tudors.  I wanted to watch it.  Would have been better than suffering through the above.

Enough about me!  What would you like to rant about today?  Permission to rant away!

The Synopsis- Part 1

My first attempt at synopsis writing has caused me to fail in a most civilized fashion.  If you can call a civilized fashion weeping and then diving into a Hershey's chocolate bar.  Okay, it was one of those 100 calorie packs and no weeping.  I was going for a dramatic entrance!  Did I mention some tag-a-long Girl Scout cookies.  Those were ARE so yummy (I swear I didn't eat the whole box).  Oh yes, synopsis writing.  By now you might know I google everything so it was instinct the google goddess led me to some sites.  Beth Anderson, Chicago crimewriter was very helpful!  It made it seem pretty straight foward.  I'm diving in going with her advice.


               Beth's tips                                                      to do list
Tip #1 Sum up your book in one sentence                               X Did that

Tip#2 Write one sentence describing your beginning                 X Did that

Tip#3 One sentence to sum up the ending                                X Did that

Tip #4 Escalating roadblocks                                                   Need to do

Tip #5 What your mc's want                                                    Need to do

Tip#6 What problem will mc's solve                                        Need to do

Tip#7  Good grammar                                                             DUH!

I hope you get a chance to check out Beth's site.  Darn it she makes sense!  I hope writing up the synopsis doesn't have to make me go back and do a rewrite.  Which leads me to my very own tip.  Hold on to your horses cowgirls!  To think I would give any advice.  Here it is!

Write the synopsis and query FIRST!!!

I am putting my foot down.  Quick, lift your foot so I don't stomp on toes! I am stopping my WIP until I take my own advice! 

This saga will be continued, stay tuned if you dare!

It's a blog PARTY!

The party has begun!

The decorations are up.  Balloons are tied to the chairs.

  Cake is being served!

All you need to do is follow

Elana

and

Shelli

For all the juicy details click on each of their names to find out what the contest is ALL about.

Some hints...query critique...contest (I'm screeching and jumping) You will have to just go and see what the excitement is for yourself!

Trust me when I say they are...

 

i-tunes has just commanded me to play Party in the USA, Miley Cyrus

Of course sung to my own lyrics...

I awaited for my computer to turn on today. Welcome to the land of query critiques, am I gonna fit in.

Finished my story and trying to get that query perfected.  Look to the left and I see a list of agents.  This is all so crazy!  Everybody seems so awesome. My tummy's turning and I'm feeling sick.

To much pressure and I'm nervous.

When I clicked on Elana and Shelli's blog

There is a contest going on, there is a contest going on, there is a contest going on.

So I put my hands up, they are having a contest.  Butterflies fly away. Nodding my head like yeah. Moving my hips like yeah.

My hands up they are having a contest. I'm going to be okay!

Party on Bloggerville!

Who has stock in paper?

Holy crud!  Seriously, do I go through paper!

I mean like heaps of it!

I sent a story here, a story there and a box of paper later!

My friend suggested I save my kids school dittos and use the blank back side of them for printing.

I started saving the piles of work that come home on Friday.  I figure in three weeks time I should have enough paper for printing purposes.

Recycle and Reuse!

Also good for making paper airplanes, spitballs, and tearing to shreds when you are stressed.

How about  putting your paper shredder that collects dust to good use (I know you have one in a corner hidden somewhere on a desk possibly covered by piles of paper).

My use for shredded paper is perfect for using as bedding for...

You heard it from me first when I tell you to take some stock in a paper company!

Bust a Move

Kickin it old school

You know the song and some of the lyrics but do you know ALL of the lyrics? I sure never did. Instead of making up my own lyrics (like I usually do) I called upon the goggle god.

Curious?

Here you go!

This here's a tale for all the fellas
Try to do what those ladies tell us
Get shot down cause you're over zealous
Play hard to get an females get jealous
Ok smartie, go to a party
Girls are stancin the crowd is showin body
A chick walks by you wish you could sex her
But you're standin on the wall like you was Poindexter
Next days function, high class luncheon
Food is served and you're stone cold munchin'
Music comes on, people start to dance
But then you ate so much you nearly split your pants
A girl starts walkin, guys start gawkin'
Sits down next to you and starts talkin'
Says she wanna dance cus she likes the groove
So come on fatso and just bust a move

You're on a mission and you're wishin'
someone could cure you're lonely condition
You're lookin for love in all the wrong places
Not fine girls just ugly faces
From frustration first inclination
Is to become a monk and leave the situation
But every dark tunnel has a lighter hope
So don't hang yourself with a celibate rope
New movie's showin... so you're goin
Could care less about the five you're blowin
Theatre gets dark just to start the show
When you spot a fine woman sittin in the front row
She's dressed in yellow, she says "Hello,
Come sit next to me you fine fellow"
You run over there without a second to loose
And what comes next, hey bust a move

If you want it baby you've got it (repeat)
Just bust a move

In the city ladies look pretty
Guys tell jokes so they can seem witty
Tell a funny joke just to get some play
Then you try to make a move and she says "no way"
Girls a fakin' ... goodness sakin'
They want a man who brings home the bacon
Got no money and you got no car
Then you got no woman and there you are
Some girls are sophistic... materialistic
Looking for a man makes them opportunistic
They're lyin on the beach perpetratin a tan
So that a brother with money can be their man
So on the beach you're strollin'... real high-rollin'
Everything you have is your's and not stolen
A girl runs up with somethin to prove
So don't just stand there, bust a move

(break down)

Your best friend Harry has a brother Larry
In five days from now he's gonna marry
He's hopin you can make it there if you can
'Cause in the ceremony you'll be the best man
You say "neato"... check your libido
And roll to the church in your new tuxedo
The bride walks down just to start the wedding
And there's one more girl you won't be getting
So you start thinkin, then you start blinkin
A bride maid looks and thinks that you're winkin
She thinks you're kinda cute so she winks back
And now you're feelin really fine cus the girl is stacked
Reception's jumpin, bass is pumpin
Look at the girl and your heart starts thumpin
Says she wants to dance to a different groove
Now you know what to do g, bust a move

Now have that karoke moment ;)

Do your pages sway

  Out of habit I always have head phones on and they are attached to my i-pod or computer listening to music.  I didn't realize my song selection affected my writing until I turned my protagonist into a she-wolf!  Seriously, I am so not kidding (It's all good though and it turned out great)!  Crazy as it sounds I also realized that if I am having trouble writing a scene I choose a song that I think could help.  I can go back through each chapter and tell you what song I had playing (Good memory...I think NOT). 

             Here is a small (itty bitty tiny) playlist for Books 1&2

#1 Shakira   She Wolf

    Jason Mraz    I'm Yours

Carolina Liar   Show Me What I'm Looking For

Green Day  21 Guns

Green Day  Wake Me Up When September Ends

Cold Play  The Scientist 

Cold Play    Fix You

Laura Marling    Ghosts

Evanescence    My Immortal

Secondhand Serenade   Your Call

Uncle Kracker    Smile

Blue October   Hate Me

Kate Earl   Melody

Animal Kingdom   Tin Man

Pink Floyd   Wish You Were Here

Linkin Park   Shadow of the Day 

Jamie Foxx   Blame It

Black Eyed Peas   Meet Me Halfway

Anyone else find themselves doing this?  If so, what is the song that most affected your writing.

PS I plan on watching Paranormal Activity this weekend. If you don't hear from me by Tuesday then I have been scared silly!

The Lovely Bones

I had a couch potato weekend.  Relaxing watching movies with friends and family.  I locked my alter ego in the closet and there were no crafty happenings this weekend.  Besides watching the last two episodes of Vampire Diaries (Damon was sooo evil!  I cringed when he pulled out his friends heart, Yikes! I swear I'm not a teenager, lol.) Oh yes, I wanted to say I also watched The Lovely Bones.  Based on a book by Alice Sebold.

I heard mixed reviews but I really liked it!  By the end of the movie I was all emotional and felt horrible for Suise Salmon played by Saoirse Ronan.  I think Saoirse did an amazing job-her narration was almost hypnotic. 

Beautiful imagery!

I'm curious about the book now.  Wow, I watched a movie first before reading the book!

We all want that first sentence hook-check out this one from the book!

"I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

Who would not want to turn the page after that.

                     It was a tough subject to watch but it was done well.  I did send the kids out of the room when I realized what was going to happen.  It made for good conversation about stranger danger before they were bribed with candy to play upstairs....sorry I had to watch it!

                         I would watch this movie again!  Still sobbing about it on this Monday morning.     I can imagine how emotional the book will be.

Anyone read it yet?