Rain or Shine ...

It's been a dismal, drizzly week in northern Minnesota. At least two mornings this week, however, I've walked outside and thought, "Oh good, the weatherman was wrong," only to have what was a beautiful, sunny morning turn grey, cold, and windy by 10 a.m. It was like Mother Nature was teasing me.

Anyway, the rain inspired my card. I kind of mixed it up with the coloring techniques, using colored pencils, a marker, and my blending pen and an ink pad for the shading. I probably overdid it with the shading, but after deciding to leave my chicken white, I kept thinking she needed "more." As you can see, I paper pieced her umbrella. As for the sentiment, I did it on the computer and then cut it out with a rectangular Nestabilities die. Because I didn't want to mat sentiment, I embossed the die and then, using the die as a stencil, added a little Sweet Leaf ink with a sponge dauber. While you can't see it very well, I used a new EK Border punch on the Sweet Leaf cardstock. I think its called Dots and Lines. It cuts out the tiny dots and embosses a line in between the rows of dots. It's kind of cool but because the dots are so small, a bugger to match up. There wasn't much room for embellishments, so I just added a little ribbon tab and declared the card finished.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Cocoa, and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Magic Moments paper packet; Black, Sweet Leaf, and Twilight ink pads; Sweet Leaf marker; Whipper Snapper Designs Springtime Rain Chick; Sweet Leaf Designer Ribbon Rounds; Winter Cozy Mini-Medley Accents; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Dove blending pen; Black My Legacy Writer; EK Success Dots and Lines Edger punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Rectangles set; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

I have no aches and pains to tell you about today. They disappeared during the night. Yea! The car ride should be fine. As Cameron didn't have daycare today, we are kept the boys so he could work a half-day. He'll pick Mathias up at noon, and we'll drop Bjorn off at school on our way out of town. I was happy to have the opportunity to talk to Dustin last night. He's been in Albuquerque on business this week. When he called last night, he said he was standing on the top of a mountain and that the scenery was indescribable. With business complete, they are going to spend the day sightseeing before flying home tonight. No, I'm babbling and have stuff to do, so I'd better sign off.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I have cards that will post tomorrow and Sunday, providing everything works! Enjoy! Later ...

In the Mood

All I knew when I started this card was that I wanted to use Verve stamps to make a red, white, and black card. Once I chose my stamps, the card came together rather effortlessly, which doesn't happen all that often. LOL.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Black cardstock; Black and Tulip ink pads; Tulip marker; Verve Stamps Grateful Elegance and Beautiful You stamp sets; White Opal Liquid Pearls; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder and Nestabilities Classic Circles set; 3M foam mounting tape.

As the day progressed, I had several moments that took my breath away, but not in a good way. Little did I know that it would take 15 hours or so and several hours of sitting at a desk before I would feel the full effects of last night's little tumble. Ouch! How I'll manage six hours in a car tomorrow and then move when it's time to get out is beyond my imagination at this moment. While my mind still thinks this whole episode was pretty funny, my stiff legs and sore back don't agree.

Beyond my aches and pains, it's been a fun evening. Bjorn and Mathias are here, and finally, I beat Mathias at a game of Cootie. He took the loss much better than he did the last time I beat him, which was eons ago.

What are you up to this evening? Now that the boys are in bed, I'm going to see if I can't get a few cards made to autopost while I'm away this weekend. I need to print a map on how to get to my brother and sister-in-law's home in the Twin Cities, too, so Marv can "study" it. At least, he thinks he needs a map ... this time. While it's been years since I've been in a car with him in a large city, I recall some interesting experiences.

In closing, thanks for all your comments on my "Stampers Compensation" post. I'm glad some of you got a chuckle out of it, too. Believe me, you were laughing with me, and I'm one who thinks laughter is the best medicine there is. I'll talk to you tomorrow before we leave. Until then, take care.

Stamper's Compensation?

First, I'm not whining nor am I looking for sympathy. But, I'm injured. Tonight while stamping, I fell out of my chair ... literally. You can laugh. It's OK. I'm not hurt that badly. Evidently, one can't lean too far when sitting in a cheap office chair, because I'll be darned if the thing didn't tip over, leaving me twisted up like a pretzel on a the floor with my head jammed against a bookcase in my tight little corner. The arm of the chair must have jabbed me in the area of my right kidney. It hurts like hell-o. I twisted my knee, too. I'm limping.

I received no sympathy from my not-sweet-tonight husband, who only managed to yell from his recliner, "What the hell-o are you doing?" "You don't have to yell. I'm four feet away. I fell out of my chair," I moaned. "How did you do that? Do you need help?" he asked in an only slightly more civil tone. I replied with a prideful "No!" before managing to untwist myself (it took some doing), stand up, and assess my injuries.

I somehow think had the incident been caught on video, it would be pretty darned funny. It might have been my moment to shine on YouTube. LOL. Now that I've shared my funny story, I'll sign off and go to bed. My fingers are crossed I'll be able to get out of bed come morning! Later ...

Update: It's morning. I'm up. My side is a little sore, but I'm fine. Thanks for all the sweet comments, but seriously, I told the story for the laugh factor. Short of a few paper cuts, my stamp-related injuries have been minimal through the years. Have a great day!

I'm Lovin' My Life ...

... More than I'm lovin' my card. I know why I love my life. Family. Friends. Everything I need. I don't know exactly why I'm not loving my card. I think it has something to do with expectations. In my mind, I visualized this knockout card. I ended up with so-so, which is better, I guess, than yuck. Been there. Done that, too. It keeps me humble. LOL.

OK. Down to business. I was inspired to make this card by a color challenge on Kelly Jo's blog, KJ's Stamp Pad. I don't do a lot of color challenges but thought this one looked like fun. It was, albeit I had to throw a little green into the mix. I just couldn't bring myself to do black stems. What you can't see that's kinda cool in person is the black embossed vase and flowers. The outlining on the bottom pink pieces and tag was an afterthought when I realized that the card didn't look "finished."

Oh, and before I forget, my bling is "Acrylic Gems" from the regular crafts section at Walmart. A little bag of 110 multi-colored (clear, turquoise, gold, blue, red, dark pink, and light pink) gems for $3.48. I bought a bag of itty bitty ones, too - same colors, same price. They aren't adhesive back, but when I'm serious about these little things staying on the card, I usually add a Glue Dot or use Liquid Glass to adhere them anyway. While moneywise I don't know if they were such a great deal, I was attracted to the assortment of colors. Remember, too, I live in the boondocks where my access to bling is limited.

Having most likely worn out my welcome by now with silly banter, here's the list: White Daisy, Black, Watermelon, and Bubblegum cardstock; Black and Topiary ink pads; VersaMark ink pad; Black embossing powder; With Love stamp set; Ribbon and Acrylic Gems from Walmart; Black My Legacy Writer; Cuttlebug w/ Spots & Dots embossing folder; Embossing tool.

It's not even 6 p.m. and I'm already in my ratty, plaid flannel pants and big sloppy sweatshirt. For no particular reason, I'm happy as a clam. My plans for the evening include stamping and watching/listening to see/hear who gets the boot on Idol this week. I have no predictions with the exception of who will win. While I'm definitely not one of the 50-something-year-old groupies who love him, I told Marv Adam Lambert was "the one" the first time I saw him perform when there were still 36 contestants. That's enough jabber. Thanks for stopping by, and until tomorrow, take care!

A Simple Card II

I wish you could see this card in person and/or I wish I were a better photographer. What you can't see in the photo is the rich Twilight textured cardstock or the fact that my stamped image was attached to the card with foam tape - the elements that give the card a little class. My card was inspired by another classy card, this one on the recently discovered Sharing What I Love blog. Check out Susie's other posts, too. The little carts she's posted recently are so cute, the red wagon being my favorite.

Back to my card, I used three shades of green - Garden Green, New England Ivy, and Olive, and that's about all I can think of to say about it. In other words, it was that simple!

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Garden Green, and New England Ivy cardstock; Twilight Textured cardstock; Garden Green, Olive, New England Ivy, and Twilight stamp pads; Treasure Life stamp set; 3M foam mounting tape.

Well, I didn't go into work early today nor did I stay late. I did bring some stuff home with me to do. We'll see how that goes. At least, I won't have a kazillion distractions. Today, I brought a thermal coffee carafe to work so that I could keep my cup full without having to make so many treks to the break room for refills. While it saved some time, I noticed I had to stand up every so often regardless. Simply put, I was not cut out for life in a cubicle. Enough of that, lest you think I'm a whiner. LOL.

Before I do anything in the way of job-related work, I'm going to change my clothes, get something to eat, and park my butt in my corner. I have a cheerful card in mind. Stop back and check it out tomorrow night. In the meanwhile, if you want to read something uplifting, check out Jason's progress on Caring Bridge. The most recent post was written by his mom or dad and brought tears to my eyes. They've been through so much. Enjoy the evening! Later...

Looking Ahead ...

The background for this card was created with July's Stamp of the Month, "You've Got Flair." It's one of those stamp sets that had me initially thinking, "Hmm ..." It's grown on me, however. Now, I'm seeing the possibilities and thinking, "Mmm ..."

For my debut card, I stamped the large paisley image on white cardstock with clear embossing powder and then added some color with inked up round sponges. Sweet Leaf and Crystal Blue were the colors I used. Wanting something long and lean that wouldn't take up too much real estate, I chose a sentiment from the Treasure Life set. As not to overwhelm, I kept the black matting narrow (as in 1/16-inch). The two-layer, punched butterflies are Crystal Blue topped with vellum that I stamped with polka dots to coordinate with the dotted chiffon ribbon. I played around with the ribbon placement due to the fact that there were three butterflies. My decision to place it about one-third of the way from the bottom of the card worked ... I think. Tiny self-stick pearls on the butterfly bodies finished it off.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Crystal Blue, and Black cardstock; Vellum; Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, VersaMark, and White Daisy Pigment ink pads; Clear embossing powder; You've Got Flair July Stamp of the Month, Argyle Backgrounds, and Treasure Life stamp sets; May Arts ribbon; Kaiser Kraft pearl accents; Martha Stewart Butterfly punch; Round sponges; Embossing tool.

Happy Monday! I had quite a day. At 4 p.m., I told my supervisor I was going to stay as long as I could stand it. I clocked out around 6:30, working 9 hours and 51 minutes. With work up to my eyeballs, my 32-hour workweek is not working out, and after this week, I will be resuming a regular 40-hour schedule. This week, I may very well work nearly 40 hours in four days. With the revelation late last week that the 32-hour thing wasn't practical, I was kind of bummed. On the other side of the coin, I recognize that I'm lucky to have a job. I'm not oblivious to what's happening around the country. Tomorrow, I'm going to try to start my long day a little earlier in the morning.

Enough talk about work. How was your day? A good one, I hope. Tomorrow, too! For tonight, I'm off to get something to eat and maybe stamp a little so I have something to show you tomorrow. 'Til then, take care and know that I appreciate you!

Kindness

This is one of those cards that started with an image and then evolved from there. It's my take on this weeks A Sketch for You to Try on the i{heart}2stamp blog.

I colored my image with markers and stamped it on a piece of white textured cardstock. The textured paper wasn't my intention but rather, with the marker ink drying, the closest scrap. Nothing like planning ahead ... LOL. Once I had my stamped image, I started looking for some patterned paper to accent it. Basic Grey's Sultry pad provided some options but was kind of busy, and busy wasn't what I was looking for. I ended up going in the opposite direction. For the accent piece, I stamped Garden Green ink on white cardstock using my Argyle Backgrounds stamp set. Because I didn't want a bold pattern, I stamped it off first on scratch paper.

My biggest dilemma in creating the card was my butterfly accent. I'd used a Bubblegum marker on my stamp. A bright Bubblegum butterfly, however, would not work on this card. The Martha Stewart butterfly punch I have was too small. The Cuttlebug butterfly die I have was too big. I ended up using a stamp. My first attempt involved embossing it in white on vellum and using a sponge to add some Bubblegum ink. For my second butterfly, I stamped it with Bubblegum ink on vellum and then added clear embossing powder. I wasn't happy with either of them and was going to toss them when I discovered the white one looked kind of cool on top of the pink one. Problem solved. The soft look I was looking for had been achieved. Card complete!

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Garden Green cardstock; White Daisy textured cardstock; Vellum; Garden Green and Bubblegum ink pads; Garden Green and Bubblegum markers; Stampin' Up Essence of Love and Close To My Heart Argyle Background and Butterfly Kiss stamp sets; Kaiser Kraft pearls; White and clear embossing powders; Embossing tool; Round sponge; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder.

That was long ... Some cards are like that. I'll keep the rest of it short. Thank you for all of your sweet comments on recent. My sweet husband and I do make for a rather amusing duo, although it's not as bad as it sounds. Bjorn and Mathias are here while their daddy is doing some laundry. We spent the afternoon playing, and we just finished dinner. Cameron popped in between the washer and dryer at the laundromat with Spiderman fishing rods he picked up for the boys, using some gift certificates they'd received for their birthdays. You should have seen their excitement. They were more animated than Grandpa was yesterday with his new rod and reel. LOL. Now, I'm off for some story time and cuddling on the sofa before the little ones go home for the evening. Thanks for stopping by! Later ...

Live Fast ...

... and Stay Pretty. I'm not sure about that sentiment. I live fast, because I don't have a choice. As for staying pretty, that's easier said than done. LOL. I think my shopping adventure put me in "a mood." I'll expound later.

I made this card with stuff that was out on my desk, using the same sketch I used on my last card. I was a holdout when it came to the Daydream paper, and as usual, it turns out I love it.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Black cardstock; Daydream paper packet; Black ink pad; Be Yourself May Stamp of the Month set; Hero Arts paper flower; White Bigger Brads; Black mini brads; 1-13/16 inch circle punch.

Now about the shopping ... It was a quick trip and would have been quicker had Mr. Marv had anything to say about it. At the mall, I parked him on a bench like I said I would and then answered my phone every five minutes with regard to my progress. After I finished at the mall (taking in a whopping two stores), he thought I was done and that it was time to eat. No, I told him, I wanted to go to Gordman's, Old Navy, and Michael's. "What do you want to go there for?" he asked. After grumbling a bit, he accommodated me, trailing behind me while I was in Gordman's and Old Navy and waiting in the car (thank heaven!) while I looked around Michael's.

I managed to replenish my wardrobe somewhat with three pair of capris, four tops, two jacket-type shirts, and three T-shirts. I could write volumes about the current styles. Not too many years ago, it was hard to find something long enough to cover one's midriff. Now, all of the tops look like crap I wore when I was pregnant. As for the colors and prints, either a person looks like an Easter egg or like someone draped in curtain fabric from the 50s. I bought an armload of clothes for kids, too. Much easier.

Michael's was a big disappointment. The one in Grand Forks carries no patterned paper to speak of, nothing in acrylic stamps, and is discontinuing its Cricut and Cuttlebug product lines. I walked out of there with an EK Success border punch that was 40 percent off. Husband was impressed that I'd spent so little, although he couldn't figure out what took me so darned long. LOL.

After we ate, he hit Cabela's (his kind of store) on our way out of town. While he was at Cabela's, I stopped in at a new-to-me quilt shop across the street. Discovering that store was like finding a precious jewel, as I find myself longing to sew again. I think my redecorated den will accommodate my sewing machine, and I'm excited by the prospect.

If you got this far, thanks for listening to my jabber. It really was a pretty good day. I hope yours has been as well. Enjoy the evening! Later ...

Another Sketch Challenge

Here's my card for Weekend Sketch Challenge #78 posted on Sharon Harnist's Paperfections blog. I used a stamp from my Inkadinkado Delicate Branches set and added some Lilac Flower Soft.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Petal cardstock; Paper Garden paper packet; Cocoa and Sweet Leaf ink pads; Inkadinkado Delicate Branches and CTMH Say it in Style stamp sets; Acrylic disks from Michael's; Lilac Flower Soft.

Good morning! After so much sleep yesterday and last night, I was up early this morning. I don't feel great. Just OK. Marv is chomping at the bit to go to Grand Forks today, which is strange. I'm not excited about the prospect. Were the success of our marriage to be measured by our compatibility in a mall, we'd be in serious trouble. Maybe I can park him on a bench and conveniently forget my cell phone, so he can't "track" me every five minutes. LOL. On that note, I'd better go shower and get ready to go. Enjoy Saturday! I'll talk to you later...

A Sketch Challenge

Hello, again! Although I'm still in my jammies, I'm up and stamping! It's a good thing. LOL.

Here's my take on Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #64. It's a fun sketch and perfect for the fun Be Yourself set.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Black cardstock; Daydream paper packet; Black ink pad; Be Yourself May Stamp of the Month set; Offray ribbon from Walmart; Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edger punch; Piercing tool; Stampin' Up Piercing Guide and Mat.

I feel better for having done something, even if it was only to make a card. If wishing makes it so, I'll be perky again tomorrow! Catch you then...

An Oldie but a Goodie ...

This week's Stamp Simply #84 challenge on the No Time to Stamp? blog is "Let's Pipe Up!" Using a sewing term, what Sharon is talking about is a narrow strip of paper that separates two other pieces of paper. While I've never called it piping, I frequently separate papers (especially patterned papers) with a thin strip of coordinating paper, usually in a solid color.

In addition to being inspired by the challenge, I drew inspiration from Sharon's card. In need of a quick gift, I deemed her sketch perfect for a set of six simple monogram cards.

To make the cards a bit more fun, I covered the flaps of the envelopes with matching paper and then made a matching folder to hold them. The folder is the "oldie" I noted in my title. This simple stationary holder has been around for years. It's constructed from an 8-1/2 by 11-inch sheet of cardstock (I used textured paper). If you right click on the photo of the directions (from CTMH's 2000 Extravaganza book), and they are large enough to see.

Materials & Tools (card): Colonial White and Desert Sand cardstock; Silhouette Creative Basics (retired); Black ink pad; JustRite Harmony Classic 1-5/8 inch Circle Stamper w/Damask Borders and Trompe Script Font; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set.

Materials & Tools (stationary holder): Desert Sand Textured cardstock; Colonial White cardstock; Silhouette Creative Basics; Hole punch.

Friends, I think I'm doomed when it comes to Fridays and that the day should be renamed "Feel Bad Friday." Yes, once again, this old bird spent (wasted) the majority of the day in bed with what I believed to be a sinus headache. Still in my pajamas, I feel somewhat better this evening after taking the Sudafed PE Marv went out and got for me. While I didn't have any definite plans for the day, spending the day in bed was not on my list of options, so I'll have to say I'm a little disappointed. I'm grateful, however, that I've never been a person frequently plagued by headaches. They're quite debilitating. Those who suffer from migraines have my sympathy. Tonight, I'm going to do what I can. I've seen some fun sketch challenges I'd like to try, so maybe ... How was your day? A good one, I hope. Signing off, I'd just like to tell you how much I appreciate your visits. You're awesome!

Something Fun ...

After going back to find the link to the cards that inspired me, I almost hate to show it to you. Beth's cards posted by her friend LeAnne on her Wee Inkling blog are just too darned cute. I especially love her tulips created with punches.

Anyhoo, a link on LeAnne's blog led me to this tutorial, and I went from there, putzing around until I got a card I deemed presentable. It certainly took long enough, as I pretty much killed the evening on this one. LOL. I used a favorite stamp set, Cottage Floral, and bright color combination - Sunflower, Cranberry, Dutch Blue, and Topiary. I did change the template a bit by cutting 1/2-inch off the "rim" of the pot. It needed to be shortened up after I opted not to use a border punch.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Brown Bag, Sunflower, and Topiary cardstock; Brown Bag, Sunflower, Cocoa, Topiary, Dutch Blue, and Cranberry ink pads; CTMH Cottage Floral, Spot On Backgrounds, and Happy Birthday and Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics stamp sets; Button from my stash; Natural twill ribbon; Tag punch; Cuttlebug with Distressed Stripes embossing folder; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

Did you have a good day? I hope so. Mine was OK, although I'll have to say I'm glad for the long weekend. Marv and I talked earlier about going over to Grand Forks tomorrow to do some shopping but haven't made any concrete plans. We'll see. For tonight, I'm going to bed. Enjoy Friday! I'll talk to you then.

An All-American Girl

This is Sofia, another cutie from Whipper Snapper Designs. The red, white, and blue thing wasn't my intention but rather what happened once I'd colored my image.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Holiday Red, and Moonstruck cardstock; Martha Stewart Classic Woodland Paper Pad; Black and Moonstruck ink pads; WSD Sofia stamp and Wordsworth Everyday Whimsy stamp set; Red mini brads; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Stampin' Up Word Window punch; Cuttlebug w/Spots and Dots embossing folder; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches; 3M foam mounting tape.

How was your day? Mine was great. The little boys were so sweet this morning. I ended up with a little bonus time with them, too, as my car wouldn't start when it came time to go to work. The battery was dead. Marv accused me of leaving the headlights on, which was not the case. As it turned out, however, I had left the interior lights on. Oops! Me doing dumb things with cars is nothing new. I cannot tell you how many times I've run out of gas, always thinking I had could make just one more trip. Heck, doesn't the "E" on the gas tank stand for "Enough?" It does if you're an optimist. LOL. I got a haircut after work and feel much better. Now, I'm off to do a few things before nodding off for the night. I hope you had a great day, too. Later ...

Tea Time

I've seen some cute tea bag holder cards around the blogosphere lately but, of course, didn't remember where I'd seen any of them them when I wanted to make one. As it wasn't a design I was looking for but rather a template, I did a Google search for "tea bag holder card" and came across this November 2007 post on one of my favorite blogs, Poetic Artistry. Julee's post provided a link to this post on a Split Coast Stampers forum. I had my template.

The only change I made was in adding two more "pages." To make them fit, I took an eighth inch off the width of the paper I used to create the center pages/envelopes. Scoring the same from each end, the spine of the center piece was 1/8-inch narrower and fit inside the outside piece. Following me? As I don't consider myself the best at explaining process, I'm thankful for the photographs which should tell the rest of the story. I paper-pieced the cup and was pleased with the way my little tag turned out. One of these days, I'll set it on the desk of a tea-lover friend at work.

Materials & Tools: Cocoa cardstock; Unforgettable paper packet; Cocoa and Sorbet ink pads; Flourishes Coffee with Friends and Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp sets; Ribbon from Walmart; Ecru cotton crochet thread; Pewter eyelets; 1-inch circle punch; Terrifically Tacky Tape; 3M foam mounting tape.

I got a chuckle out of finding a blog post from 2007. I don't think I knew what a blog was at that time. Additionally, right up until the time when I started mine, I thought they were weird - a bunch of people talking/writing to themselves. Even as I was doing it, I thought it was strange for a long time. Obviously, I got over it, because this is post # 1,025. LOL.

Bjorn and Mathias are staying with us tonight. In fact, Grandpa missed them so much, he went and retrieved them from daycare right after lunch. They helped him with some yard work this afternoon. They also got their Gator out of the shed. It's charging on the patio and should be ready to roll in the morning. After Cameron and I got done with work, we all met for supper at a taco restaurant, and as I write, the boys and Grandpa are downstairs playing George of the Jungle on the Wii. I'm thinking I will probably go to bed at the same time the little guys do tonight. I got up at 5 a.m. this morning after a whopping four hours (or less) sleep. Perky this morning, I got quite a bit done before going to work early. By two p.m., however, I was thinking I could really use a nap, which, of course, I didn't get.

For now, I'm going to go spend some time with my little boys. I've missed them, too. On the rare occasions when we don't see them for a week or so, we notice subtle little changes , which probably isn't unusual when they are at ages when they are learning so fast. I hope your day was a good one. Thanks for stopping by, and take care!

Plant Smiles ...

Hey! Happy Monday! I hope yours was/is a good one!

About my card, I'm sorry to say I can't identify the card that inspired it. I saw it some and believe it was made with a Stampin' Up silhouette-type floral stamp, embossed white on green, and backed with blue. It was the pretty color combination that caught my eye. While this wasn't a difficult card by any means, I'll have to say that it would have been easier to stamp with one stamp instead of several. Better lighting might have helped. My clear embossing ink was definitely clear, and image placement involved a whole lot of guesswork. I think it came out OK. And, every time I emboss, I ask myself why I don't do it more, 'cuz it shure is purty!

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Twilight Textured cardstock; Sweet Leaf and VersaMark ink pads; White embossing powder; Treasure Life stamp set; Embossing tool.

I was very busy at work today, which made for a fast and furious eight hours. Tomorrow promises more of the same. Tonight, I'm busy doing some of the stuff I didn't get done on the weekend. Tomorrow night, the little boys are staying with us, and we're taking them out for supper. Wednesday, I have a much needed hair appointment. I look like a shaggy dog. Between "stuff," I hope to make it into my corner where I'm working on a little project. Don't get too excited though. It's not anything spectacular - just a little more than a regular card. Enjoy the evening, and have a great Tuesday. I'll talk to you again then!

Aspiration

Oddball that I am, I think of the medical term every time I see the word "aspiration." It's not a very pleasant term. And so, I love this stamp set despite it's name.

This is the card my club stampers are making tonight. We're only doing one card, which will give us a chance to take a look at the new catalog. Besides, I did well to come up with one card today. My mojo seems to come in waves, and currently, the tide is out.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Cocoa cardstock; Cocoa, Sorbet, and Bamboo ink pads; Unforgettable paper packet; Cocoa and Sorbet ink pads; Aspiration and Say it in Style stamp sets; Chocolate Bigger Brads; Sponge dauber; Round sponge.

I believe there is something wrong with the clocks today, as the hours have flown by. Actually, I believe I had "aspirations" (as in ambitions) of getting more done in one day than is humanly possible. Perhaps when Friday rolls around this week, I should do my work and save the "do as you please" day for Saturday and/or Sunday! LOL.

Last night, Marv and I discussed the decorating plans I've come up with for my den. I showed him my planned purchases, and he was actually impressed and kind of excited about my ideas. Of course, he had to get a tape measure to reaffirm what I was telling him with regard to how everything would fit. A man thing, I think. We're going to the Twin Cities the first weekend in May, and I'm hoping to go to IKEA. A trip to Archiver's would be fun, too, although it will have to be something I do with my sister-in-law. Me and Marv in a scrapbook store would make for a memorable occasion but not a pleasant one.

No, I'd better go finish getting ready for stamp club. Enjoy your evening!! Talk to you tomorrow.

Ittie Bitties Continued ...

Here are a couple more cards made with the Whipper Snapper Designs Friendship Blooms set. Again, the small images presented layout challenges. What you see are a pair of KISS cards, as in Keep It Simple, Sweetie!

The images on both cards were colored with markers. To create the shading on the watering can on the bottom card, I just went over the area I wanted shaded with the same color marker.

Materials & Tools (top card): White Daisy and Spring Iris cardstock; Black and Spring Iris ink pads; Crystal Blue, Holiday Red, Honey, Garden Green and Spring Iris markers; Whipper Snapper Designs Friendship Blooms and CTMH Say in in Style stamp sets; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder; Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edger punch; Piercing tool; Stampin' Up Piercing Guide and Mat.


Materials & Tools (bottom card): White Daisy, Spring Iris, and Baby Pink cardstock; Black and Spring Iris ink pads; Baby Pink, Amethyst, Spring Iris, Garden Green, Sunny Yellow, and Grey Flannel markers; WSD Friendship Blooms and CTMH Say it in Style and Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Piercing tool.

Luckily, sleeping the day away yesterday didn't keep me from sleeping last night. Although I'm not doing cartwheels today, I'm feeling much better. It's brighter outside today than it's been in recent days, which is nice. For me, a little sunshine is always an instant picker-upper. With a wish for you for a wonderful day, I'm going to sign off and go make something happen. Thank you for stopping by ... Later!

Itty Bitties

Here are a couple of cards made with stamps from this set from Whipper Snapper Designs. I love all of the sweet images. What I didn't realize (but should have) was how small the images would be. While I don't normally consider trimming rubber on cling mount to be an issue, I'll have to admit that the itty bitty images in this set were a challenge. Next time, I'm going to opt for unmounted stamps and use repositionable tape to stick them on my blocks. My thoughts are that images so small most likely would not require a lot of cushion to produce a good image.

Working with images so small, I kept the cards simple. It would be easy for the images to get lost in a sea of patterned paper and "stuff." Oh, imagine the inside of the bunny's ears are pink. Looks like I forgot to color 'em.

Materials & Tools (top card): White Daisy and Spring Iris cardstock; Retired Spring Blossom B&T paper; Black and Spring Iris Ink pads; Whipper Snapper Designs Friendship Blooms and CTMH Say it in Style stamp sets; Silver mini brad; Lilac Mist chiffon ribbon; Cuttlebug w/Argyle embossing folder; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; 3M foam mounting tape.

Materials & Tools (bottom card): White Daisy and Black cardstock; Black ink pad; WSD Friendship Blooms and CTMH Say it in Style stamp sets; Black and white gingham ribbon; Sunflower mini brad; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Black My Legacy Writer; 3M foam mounting tape.

As it turned out, my day was nothing like I'd planned. Shortly after posting this morning, I realized that I had a really sore throat and weird headache at the base of my skull, so I took a couple of aspirin and laid down. And ... I ended up sleeping until almost 5 o'clock! While I'm not thrilled about having "wasted" the day, if I slept six hours on top of a full night's sleep last night, I must have needed it, and I do feel better. I guess tomorrow will be a busy day! No worries. How's your weekend going? I hope it's good. Enjoy tomorrow, and as always, know that I appreciate you!

Simple Saturday

Meet Alexander & Ivan. Aren't they just the cutest little guys? There's nothing I love more than little boys with flower offerings whether it's dandelions, wild clover, or some other weed. Every time Mathias comes into the apartment building these days, he brings me a rock from the landscaping. I've overheard both Grandpa and Daddy tell him to leave the rock outside. "No," Mathias argues. "Gamma likes rocks." I have quite a collection lined up on a ledge in the kitchen. They turn up in other locations, too, such as in my bed. Today, there was a rock in an egg carton in the refrigerator. That must have been intended as a special surprise!

Not much to say about the card other than I love the stamp and color combination I used.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Moonstruck, and Clover Meadow cardstock; Black and Moonstruck ink pads; Whipper Snapper Designs Alexander & Ivan and CTMH Say it in Style and Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets; Making Memories mini brads; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits; Blending stumps; Black My Legacy Writer.

After doing as I pleased for a day, I have to tow the line today. In addition to regular stuff like laundry, I should do some spring cleaning. My kitchen cupboards and drawers are scary as is the utility closet in the kitchen. I think I've mentioned before that my well-intentioned husband puts things where they fit and not necessarily where they belong. Maybe I'll post some diagrams on the doors to help him in the future. LOL. It wouldn't do any good. Because I always get a little tense when I'm cleaning up after him, I'll probably take refuge in my corner periodically to relieve myself of the frustration. In other words, you probably haven't seen the last of me today. For now, thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day whatever you're doing!

Me Again ...

I've had a tin of chipboard birds and branches from Maya Road lying on my desk for a couple of weeks. Regardless of how much I like something, it sometimes takes me a while to figure out what I want to do. Today was the day. I covered the bird with patterned paper and took the easy route with the branch, painting it with acrylic paint. The leaves were punched with a Martha Stewart Five-leaf Branch punch. I gave the leaves some definition with a same-color (Sweet Leaf) marker but only after "finishing" the card and realizing they needed it. The branch, bird, and leaves were all attached to the card with Liquid Glass. The rest, I think, explains itself.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Cocoa, and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Emporium paper packet; Cocoa ink pad; Sweet Leaf marker; Say it in Style stamp set; Antiqued Copper mini brads; Black Bitty brad; Maya Road Fresh Chipboard Birds of a Feather; Martha Stewart Five-leaf Branch punch; Stampin' Up Photo Corner punch; Liquid Glass.

It seems like it's been a long time since I've posted three times in one day. Fun!! As for whether I have more tricks up my sleeve tonight, time will tell. Enjoy your evening!

April Showers ...

No showers today, but no sunshine either. I don't care. At least, I'm not cooped up in a cubicle where I can't see the light of day.

Isn't this the cutest image? That's if you like chickens, of course. The UPS man brought a long-awaited order from Whipper Snapper Designs today. WSD's theme is "Rubber Stamp Images That Make Your Heart Smile." That pretty much sums it up.

The card is my contribution to Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #64. The sentiment is computer-generated.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Cocoa, and Olive cardstock; My Mind's Eye patterned paper; CTMH Emporium paper packet; Whipper Snapper Designs Springtime Rain Chick; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Piercing tool; 3M foam mounting tape.

So far, I've had a great day. I've gotten some stuff done but haven't really pushed myself. Just a fun, kinda lazy day. I think I needed that! I hope you are having a good day, too. Later ...

Good Morning!

Thank you for all of your sweet comments on my last post. I see so many beautiful cards, and many of them are quite ornate. When I try to duplicate them, however, I usually fail miserably. Why? Because they're not me. It's nice to know that my simple style is appreciated.

Speaking of ... I made this card last night. For inspiration, I reached for my Originals Card Confidence Program book. I didn't even have to open it, with the card on its cover being exactly what I wanted.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Petal, Sweet Leaf, and Topiary cardstock; Retired Summer Celebration B&T paper; Petal and Topiary ink pads; I am (Tickled Pink Collection) and For Every Occasion stamp sets; Button from my stash; Paper piercing tool; Stampin' Up Piercing Guide and Mat; Edge Distresser; Paper corrugator.

A ringing telephone at 7:15 put an end to the possibility of sleeping in this morning. It was Cameron, calling to see if I was aware of the Susan Boyle phenomenon. It's not very often that I'm "one up" on my kids with regard to what's going on in the world, but I was this time. In fact, I had thought of sending him the link to the video the day before but deemed he was probably still too young and too cool to appreciate and find inspiration in the story. Obviously, I was wrong, and I'm glad. Back to Susan Boyle, while I don't know how many times I've watch the video, I have yet to watch it without tearing up. I wish the media would feature more stories like hers.

OK. Enough chatter for now. Have a great day. Talk to you later ...

I am ...

... tickled pink about Close To My Heart's "Tickled Pink" promotion for National Scrapbooking Month. Check out the details here. The paper is gorgeous, the die cuts and other accessories fun, and the stamp set? It will be a favorite for years to come.

About my card, I was going to apologize for its simplicity but changed my mind. I love it, and I love the idea that something so pretty can be created so effortlessly.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Black cardstock; Doodlebug Design Black Eyelet paper; Blush and Black ink pads; I Am (from the Tickled Pink Collection) and Gracious Greetings stamp sets; 1/2-inch circle punch.

How was your day? Mine was great. It was a good week. As for the next three days, I'm thrilled by the prospect of being able to move at my own pace. Tonight, I'm going to go clean up my corner. I didn't get it done the other night, and it's quite the sight. Considering all that I have to step over to get into my chair, it might even be considered dangerous at this point. It's a good thing I'm a spry old bird. LOL. With that, I better go get something done. Thanks for stopping by. It's YOU who makes blogging fun! Later ...

You Be the Jury ...

I need to tell you that the medallion on my revision of last night's card is not as bold as it appears in the photograph. In other words, it looks better in person. (Don't they all? LOL.)

Anyway, I tried one of the Damask Tiles last night. No, the card needed something round. I ended up choosing a stamp from CTMH's Inspiration set, stamping it with Chocolate ink on a piece of Amore paper, and "dressed it up" with a Circle Window Charm. The punched leaves were added, because the punch is new and was just sitting there waiting to be used. It's the Martha Stewart Five Leaf Branch punch I finally tracked down on a website.

So, what do ya think? Is this an improvement? Personally, I like it better.

And how, Jeanne asked, did I manage to break my Crop-O-Dile? I don't know. The settings were wrong ... I think. The print directions on the back of the package were so darned small I needed a magnifying glass to see 'em, so me and the Crop-O-Dile never really got along all that well. When it comes to tools, I either catch on right away, or I don't catch on at all. Mechanically challenged, maybe?

It's time to go get ready for my banquet this evening. Tomorrow is my last day of work for the week. Yippee!! With no pending parties or holidays, I'm looking forward to a day I can simply enjoy. I hope yours was a good day. Catch ya later ...

Interesting ...

A while back, I received several yards of 6-inch wide tulle ribbon from my friend, Jeanne. When I thanked her, I told her I'd figure out something interesting to do with it. Before I came up with something original (which might have taken eons ...), I came across this very interesting card on the TAC Savvy Projects Blog. While you can kind of see the tulle on my card in the photo I took, the photographs of the card that inspired me are much better. Both the look and texture of the tulle are interesting and certainly something different.

However .... If I'd had more time this evening, I would have tried to come up with something to replace the flower element on my card. Paper flowers are one of my biggest frustrations. Regardless of how many I accumulate, I never seem to have the "right" one ...

... 20 minutes later ... Card surgery is over, and after some doing, the not-right (or ugly... on this card) flowers and that deeply-rooted Build-A-Brad have been successfully extracted from the card. Unfortunately, my first attempt at reconstruction did not work out quite the way I thought it would, and due to time constraints, what you see is what you get for tonight. I'll show you the new and improved version when (if) I get it done. LOL.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Chocolate cardstock; Blush Textured cardstock; Amore paper packet; Chocolate and Blush ink pads; Impression Obsession Anytime Sentiments stamp set; White tulle ribbon; Paper flowers from CTMH and Hero Arts; Stampin' Up Build-A-Brad; Brass eyelets; Crop-O-Dile.

Did I mention I managed to break my Crop-O-Dile? Eyelets will have to come back into vogue (and most likely, they will) before I replace that thing. I'm relieved that the rest of my day went better than they did in my corner tonight. I got a lot done at my crazy, feast-or-famine job. The day flew by. I anticipate being just as busy for the next couple of days. Next week, I might spend a good part of my time twiddling my thumbs. Such is life in the media communications world. This evening, we had a lovely dinner with Dustin and Miranda. Marv and Miranda had prime rib, and Dusty and I ate pasta. It was yummy. And now, it's off to bed. Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful Wednesday!

A Hopeful Update

In my April 1 post, I shared a photo of the Peeps in a Jar that I made for a benefit and told you a bit of the tragic story behind the benefit. Like always, the comments left were kind and caring, and I can imagine that a prayer or two was offered on this young man's behalf. Just one week ago, things were still looking pretty bleak for him with those acquainted with his family feeling their pain. His doctors had given up and told his family that the vegetative state he was in was permanent. His parents and sister were told by the nurses tending him the little things they were seeing that were giving them small glimmers of hope were nothing more than reflex. Well, the situation has changed. The story is here, and I thought some of you might be interested. The neurologist who treated Jason told his family that he has never witnessed a miracle. I pray that this be his first.

Thank You ...

Tonight's card is my take on Mojo Monday Week 82. Beyond the materials list, I don't think there's much to say about it. I stayed pretty true to the sketch.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Cranberry, and Garden Green cardstock; Let's Get Together paper packet; Cranberry and Garden Green ink pads; Delight in Everything and Say it in Style stamp sets; Stampin' Up clear button; Cranberry Waxy Flax; Martha Stewart Arch Lattice Edger punch.

Did you have a good weekend? I hope so. We certainly did. It was two days of non-stop fun with memories I will cherish for the rest of my days. Here's an example: Yesterday, five-year-old Bjorn climbed into my lap and started singing, "Happy Birthday." "Bjorn, it's not Grandma's birthday," I told him. "I know," he said. "I just wanted to sing it to you because I love you so much." My heart is full. I am so blessed.

I'll have to admit that I'm tired, too. After I clean up my corner, it's off to bed. I hope your week got off to a good start. Mine is going to be busy with lots to do at work, dinner out with Dustin and Miranda tomorrow night, and my bowling banquet on Wednesday evening. Yea, a good night's sleep is definitely in order! LOL. Catch you tomorrow night. In the meanwhile, thanks for stopping by and take care!

Simple Sunday, Too

After things settled down last night, I snuck into my corner long enough to make another very simple card. This might just be my favorite image in the May SOTM Be Yourself set. I love her boots. There isn't much explaining to do with regard to card construction. Paper and ink. That's it.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Black, and Bubblegum cardstock; Black ink pad; Be Yourself May Stamp of the Month set; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder; 3M foam mounted tape.

Yesterday was a great family fun day. Mathias and Marv are officially four and 60, respectively. This morning, a note on the door directed the little boys to follow a trail of letter-coded eggs to their Easter baskets, which were cleverly hidden outside in the bushes. I wonder what the neighbors think when they see the old, disheveled bunny hopping around the grounds in her stocking feet so early in the morning.

Now, we're getting ready to go to my sister and brother-in-law's home for dinner. Mom and most, if not all, of my siblings should be there. More fun. With that, I get going with a wish that yours is a blessed Easter.

Simple Saturday

Good morning! I have a couple of cards to show you. The first one is made with JustRite's new Celebrations Demi Phrases. The Celebrations Demi Phrases fit in the new 2-inch Wood Stamper that comes with a bonus center and 15-point New Times Roman alphabet. The small JustRite alphabets continue to challenge this old granny whose eyes are not as good as they once were and whose fingers seem incredibly large when handling those teeny, tiny letters. Centering and spacing is a challenge, too. I can see that the "D" in "Friend" should have been pushed out 1/32nd of an inch or so. Sigh ... Perhaps a disclaimer on the package such as "Designed to drive perfectionists crazy" would be appropriate. LOL.

I colored the vase and flowers with markers, used mini brads for flower centers, and what you can't see, added Liquid Glass to emulate water in the vase.

Materials & Tools: White and Black cardstock; Daydream paper packet; Black ink pad; Blush, Hollyhock, and Heavenly Blue markers; JustRite 2-inch Wood Stamper and Celebrations Demi Phrases; CTMH Boutique Borders stamp set; Black mini brads; Liquid Glass; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circle set.

For this second card, I used Close To My Heart's very fun "Be Yourself" May Stamp of the Month set. It's a silhouette set, and I love it.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Black cardstock; Daydream paper packet; Be Yourself May Stamp of the Month and Happy Birthday stamp sets; Black mini brads; Sparkles; 1/2-inch square punch; Stampin' Up Word Window punch.

I'm posting between shopping trips. We have guests coming at 4. Thank heavens my husband knows how to cook. I'm feeling better today after a good night's sleep. My cold seems to be moving rapidly from one stage to the next. I'm not coughing today ... just lots of nose-blowing.

No, I'd better run. I sincerely hope your weekend is wonderful. In the event that I don't post again before tomorrow evening, Happy Easter!

Not Very Fun Friday

When I posted last night, I thought I might be on the mend. Not so. I got about two hours of sleep last night due to a cough that has gotten progressively worse throughout the day. I sound like a dying seal. I managed to get my housework done but really need to do some shopping. I guess that will have to wait until first thing tomorrow morning.

The sole card that I eked out earlier was inspired (copied, actually) by this card on the Just Dandy blog. I'm all about bright colors these days, and that silly-looking owl makes me smile regardless of how crappy I feel.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Watermelon, and Cocoa cardstock; Basic Grey Sultry 6x6-inch paper pad; Cocoa ink pad; Honey marker; Wordsworth It's Your Day and Papertrey Ink Polka Dot Basic stamp sets; Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and clear button from Stampin' Up; Cocoa Waxy Flax.

Marv just went to the store and bought me a bottle of NyQuil Cough. I'm hoping it does the trick. I also hope you had a wonderful Friday and are looking forward to Easter weekend. As always, thanks for stopping by! With a little luck, I'll catch you tomorrow.

Bright and Cheerful

Did I say thank you for being the wonderful people you are? Well, thank you again! With regard to my health, I'm OK. It's just a cold that has zapped my energy. It'll go away. The timing isn't great, but hey, since when do we get to pick and choose when we get sick?

As you can see, I can still lift a stamp. My simple card was inspired by this much more ambitious project my friend Jeanne showed recently on her Creative Bliss blog. Aren't the tote, cards, and accessories she made gorgeous? While I love all shades of blue and green together, I think bright blue and green is an especially cheerful combination.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Clover Meadow cardstock; Retired CTMH Summer Celebration B&T paper; Black and Clover Meadow stamp pads; Holiday Red marker; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Whipper Snapper Designs Pansy Floral Arrangement stamp and Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics stamp set; May Arts ribbon; Topiary mini brads; Corner rounder; Sunshine Yellow Fun Flock.

Regardless of the sniffling and sneezing, I've worked the past couple of days, and because I wasn't able to find a sub, I bowled last night. It was the last night of the season. Until further notice, I'm going to work 32 hours a week, so today was my Friday. Yippee!! Cutting back on my hours was voluntary and will afford me the opportunity to catch up on a lot of things and just maybe, start something new.

The next couple of days are going to be busy with birthday party and Easter preparations taking center stage. Tonight, I'm going to do a couple of things and turn in early with hopes of waking up perky tomorrow morning. I hope you are having a good week, and thanks again for all your get well wishes. It means so much. You are the best! Later ...

I Know Where It Went ...

I'm taking the night off, friends. The fatigue on the weekend. The scratchy throat. The lack of mojo. It was all the beginning of a spring cold. Tonight, I feel like I've been run over by a truck and am totally bummed, because I do not have time for such nonsense. On that note, I'm going to go fortify myself with some Vitamin C and go bed. I'll return when I feel better. In the interim, thank you for being the wonderful people you are. Take care.

Mr. Cottontail

Happy Monday! While my day has been OK, I've realized, after a couple of stops in my corner, that my mojo has up and left. Thus, instead of trying to force it, I'll tell you a little bunny tale instead.

In my last post, I mentioned that I only had three white pompoms in my stash, which left me with 22 bunnies with no tails. So, off to Walmart I went last night with checkbook in hand and my fingers crossed. Did it have what I needed? Well, there were bags of sparkly pompoms ... the right size ... but in the most garish colors I've ever seen. There were also big bags of mixed sizes and colors, including white, so there I stand squeezing a bag to move the contents around, counting the white pompoms it contained. My math told me I needed three bags at $3.67 each to provide tails for my bunnies. I passed. When he heard my story, my husband told me I have more sense than he thought I had - a real vote of confidence. LOL. Anyway, wrapping up the story, I grabbed a bag of cotton balls tonight and fashioned tails that make for cute (enough) rabbit butts. And yes, this small town living is great ... unless, that is, you need something as simple as a few white pompoms.

I hope yours was a good day and tomorrow is, too. I'm also hoping my card-making capabilities return so I have something to show you tomorrow night. Talk to you then!