:: Big Bully! ::
Yep, we have a bully in our aquarium! Remember this cute little guy that Jordan named Calvin?
Well, turns out he’s not such a nice guy. We bought a Pistol Shimp/ Watchman Goby pair the other day, and apparently he is not too happy about the presence of the new goby - even though it’s like a fifth of his size. He won’t even let the poor little guys come out of his hole! We checked our fish book, and apparently he is the most aggressive of all gobies, especially towards other gobies. Ya think?? We’re not really sure what we’re going to do. With the size of this tank - 300 gallons, and all of the rocks they can get in, it would be impossible to get either one of them out.
Here’s another new develpement - Phil went and got some small blue crabs last night, and apparently Calvin likes to EAT those too! We sat their and watched him eyeballing them from up on his rock, and then he would swoop down and pick one up with his mouth and try to take itback into his little cavern. We tapped on the tank whenever we saw him doing it, but let me tell you - there are a lot of missing crabs this morning! I guess he sucks them out of the shell - who knows??
We also got this cool little thing yesterday. It’s some sort of anemone. We wanted something with some color.
OK, on to less carnivourous activities… Jordan wanted to play in the craft room this morning, which is why my post is late again today. While she was busy cutting and gluing and taping, I made this cute little tin that I picked up at Target’s dollar spot a few months ago. Yes, this is one of my papers from My Mind’s Eye Front Porch line!! That is one of my little punch out tags too. The ribbon and brad I already had. I’m using it to store some smaller items in the craft room. It’s pretty simple, but I think it’s cute!
Do any of you have one of these new Crop-A-Diles? These things are awesome! It’s a hole punch, and it sets eyelets and snaps in a flash! It punched the hole in this tin like it was a piece of paper! Can’t wait to use this when I start making all of my Christmas gifts!! I will start on those pretty soon too, because next thing you know, it will be here!
OK, next we have the freebie for the day! This is a sampler of three papers. These all have a faint stamped and grunged up look to them.
HERE is the download link. PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS LINK! Leave me some love, and if anyone out there has any advice for our bully goby, we’re open to suggestions! 
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MY FREE DAILY DOWNLOAD SERIES. THIS PARTICULAR DOWNLOAD HAS EXPIRED!
1Sabrina
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 17:19
I am so happy you posted that! I had a Crop-A-Dile in my hand yesterday afternoon and ended up not buying it. I couldn’t decide if I really NEEDED it or if it was somethng really special that I should get. Hmmmmmmmm, guess that means I HAVE to go back to the craft store AGAIN today! : )
Happy Thursday and thanks for the papers!
2AJ
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 17:24
Thanks for the freebie (:
3wt
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 17:50
Thank you so much for the daily freebie. You are so generous.
4Lime
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 17:53
Great texture on the papers. Tfs. I love to get a look in to yours and Jordans day:-) Great little bag.
5Marilyn
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 18:21
I have a Crop-A-Dile…..I think it’s one of the coolest tools I’ve ever purchased…….the only thing is that whenever I have it out to use my family scatters with their mouths clamped shut…..does it really look that much like a tooth-extractor!
Thanks, as always for your generous nature in sharing your freebies! Love the papers!
6Jenn
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 18:38
Thanks so much for the freebie!! I also love seeing pics of the fish in the aquarium etc. I wish I had one. Especially one that big.
7Carla
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 18:48
You are awesome! Love your tin…you are so creative!!!
8Margie
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 19:04
Thanks Traci! Love these muted colors!
9PeggyNC
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 19:21
Hi Traci,
First, place all remaining crabs that you can find into a gobi-safe breeder box inside the tank. Now make a fish trap by cutting a 1-liter soda bottle 1/3 of the way from the top ( rinse it well with water first). Place the least desirable blue crab in the bottom portion of the soda bottle, then flip the top portion around so that the opening is pointing into the lower portion, and nest the two tightly together. Place in the aquarium near where the crabs were originally released (where calvin had hunted them.) He will become trapped inside the bottle when he goes after the crab
Oh, and thank you for the papers!
10Kat
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 20:09
What delightful papers! Love the flowers hiding in the background, beautiful. Thanks again and again and again for all these wonderful freebies!
11Dixie
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 20:33
Thanks so much and good luck with your fish!!
12Laney
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 21:14
That’s a scary little guy! heehehee
love the little tin!!!
yes, soon it’s going to be Christmas again!!!
thanks for the freebie Traci!
13cindiaskew
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 21:26
love the aquarium pixs and stories. my best friend is a BIG target shopper. loves the 75% off sales. you know how she knows when they are? fatwallet.com try it. thanks for the freebie, as always you are the bestest.
14Michaele
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 21:29
Those poor, poor crabs!
What a big bad bully! Hehehehe. Thank you so very much for the new papers…they are lovely!
15Joy
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 21:45
Thank you for the papers they are beautiful.. I love the look..
some day can you take a full on picture of your tank.. i tell my son about it all the time and I have been waiting waiting for you to do a new shot of it since you have gotten things in it.
so … can you share any ideas for Christmas.. I am blank this year… I would love to make something this year.. my family loves that.
16Susan
wrote on 7 September 2006 at 22:56
Thanks, pretty papers! And I love your fish story! It’s a cold, cruel world out there…and in that tank!
Susan
17digicropper
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 0:53
Thanks for the cute papers. I guess you can’t spank a fish?
18Luke's Nana
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 1:04
Thanks for the grungies!!
19valj
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 1:06
Thank you for the papers.As usual you did a great job:)
20JoAnn
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 3:31
I love it! These are great for boy pages! Thank you!
21Nadia
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 3:42
Thanks for the freebie! =)
22Granna Deanna
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 4:42
Of course, I love this. I also have a Crop-a-dile. It punches through CD’s quite easily also. I used it to make CD albums (Hhhmmm, I wonder who designs some of those….?) Thanks!
23Melissa
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 5:48
Thanks for the papers,I love the texture!
24EllaPea
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 7:03
Hi Traci,
I love your adventures in aquariuming…that goby sounds downright mean. You MUST do a fishy themed layout about him/them.
The freebies are great…you all need ALL of her sets. This is coming from someone who has most of them. The best set going though is called For Ella. Everyone needs that one! *grin*
Talk to you soon, girlfriend. I will be up all night long as DD (dear dog) had surgery on Thursday and she is in discomfort. I have to stay up wtih her to make sure she doesn’t scratch or chew herself.
Huggles,
Miss Ella
25Bonnie
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 11:28
thanks for the grunged papers!
26Kathy
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 11:48
Thanks for the papers! Love them! That’s sad about the goby!! Good luck figuring that one out! I used to raise fresh-water fish and they are funny creatures! LOL Love the tin! Very cool idea!
27Nancy
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 14:37
Thank you!
28Kaylea
wrote on 8 September 2006 at 14:44
Thanks for the paper. They are too cute!
Hope he doesn’t eat all of the crabs…
29Jane
wrote on 9 September 2006 at 18:55
Love, love, love the subtle nuainces of these papers. Love the colors, too. Great guy papers!
Thanks.
30tnchick
wrote on 10 September 2006 at 3:33
wanted to share a couple of layouts i’ve made with your kits
http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/22268/cat/500/ppuser/7150
and
http://www.gottapixel.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/20657/cat/500/ppuser/7150
31Cleo
wrote on 10 September 2006 at 4:55
New to scrapbooking, still in the collection stage. Thanks for the freebie. I love your work so much wish I had found your blog sooner.
I especially adore your aquarium tales. Please keep it up I’ll return for sure to hear how you figure out Calvin’s selfish nature…lol.