Last day before school starts

Tuesday August 31, 2010

Today is the last day of my kid's summer break, and they both are dreading going back to school.  We took a side trip to an outlet mall to get a few last minute school clothes since it was raining.  It was busy so I guess others were thinking like we were.  We went to one of our favorite restaurants for supper so it was a nice day for a quick get away.

I did get a chance to work on this card for the In Style August Sketch Challenge.  This card needed to have an easel.
Since this card has lattice it will also qualify for the Crazy for Challenges C4C52

Digital Stamp: Kimi
Stamp: Rejoice, Impression Obsession
Ink: Close to My Heart Denim
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Mistletoe & Pear
Cardstock: Bazzil & DCWV Spring glitter blue
Nestibilities: Petite small and large ovals
Lace: Wrights
Border Edger: Martha Stewart EK Success Lattice & snowflake border
Ribbon:  Shimmering Crystals Michael's
White snowflakes: Dress It up
Silver snowflake: Glitter Add-Ons Gartner
Rhinestones: Scrapbooking Adhesive Rhinestones
Adhesives: Mono liquid adhesive, tacky tape, 3D-foam
Snowflake brad

Back to work

Monday August 30, 2010

I have changed jobs so today was the first day at my new job.  Since I had several weeks off, I was able to start this blog and work on a few projects.  Today I was sad when I wasn't able to check my sites and work on cards right away.  My son even asked me if I was going to "color" today which didn't happen.  There doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day when you have to need to go to a real job and do things around the house and fit in the time for the projects you want to do.
This evening I was able to sneak in time to check a few of my favorite websites and blogs for some inspiration since I have tomorrow off.  On Jak Heath's site (http://www.jakheath.com) I registered to win some blog candy. She has a wonderful video on her site using the Aquamarkers which I dream of having since her images are wonderful that she does for Mo Manning and Just Inklined as a member of their design teams. 
Now it is off to clean the kitty litter and dream of making cards.

Runaway for adventures

Sunday August 29, 2010

I just love this digital stamp from Pixie Dust "Wink Pretends" since even as an adult I will say to my husband, "Let's runaway."  Then we will discuss an adventure that we would like to go on which usually involves some travel and photography.  Since he was gone for the night to do some astrophotography, I wonder if that's why I chose to use the Verve sentiment of "miss you like crazy".

Digital Stamp: Pixie Dust Wink Pretends
Stamp: Miss you like crazy, Verve, Heartfelt phrases
Clouds: My favorite things Die-namics
Markers: Copics
Blue Chalk on clouds: unknown no name on container
Ink: Memento Tear drop red
Red ribbon
Embossing folder: Tim Holz bark
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: K & Company
White thread
Border edger: Fiskars wave

Challenge Pixie Dust Studio #37 Stitch It Up

I was able to spend time this afternoon to complete a card for the Mojo Monday Sketch.

Stamps: Just Rite 2" Square From Our House Set, Sentiment Studio G clear stamps

Colored Pencils & Gamsol

Ink: Memento Tukedo Black

Embossing folder: Cuttlebug

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses snow globe

Ribbon: Celebrate It Holiday Ribbon Bow-tique

Brads: Making Memories

Nestibilities: Large & Small Classic Squares, Fancy Tags

This evening I was able to work on a card using one of Karen's Doodles using a fishing image to have a masculine one.  She has a challenge using dots which it just happened this patterned paper has.  This will be fitting for several male relatives.

Stamps: Karen's Doodles Fisher Dad, Whimsy Stamps Great Day to Fish

Patterned Paper: Reminisce

Cardstock: Bazzil

Embellishment: Susan Louise Mini's

Corner rounder Tonic

Jute

Ink around embellishment: Memento Dew Drop Dark Cocoa 

Peanut Butter Again and Again

Saturday August 28, 2010

My husband, Jeff, has metastatic renal cell cancer which he has had since 2005 and has gone through several surgeries and cancer treatments.  The treatment he is on now involves taking four pills a day.  I give him a lot of credit since I know he has days when he doesn't feel well due to having nausea, variations between diarrhea and constipation, fatigue, pain and just can't put into words that he doesn't feel good.  Lately, he craves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He has a system on how he makes his sandwich and he prefers HyVee brand crunchy peanut butter with grape jelly.  I made this card for him because is is such a supporter by helping me with my blog and computer issues.  He was actually feeling good today so that he was able to go out observing with a friend so hopefully tomorrow he will have an image of a galaxy.

Stamp: Digital Greeting Farm Harold Bread Jam, "Hand In There" Verve Always on My Mind
Markers: Copics
Blue Chalk: unknown, no name on container
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned Paper: K & Company Eloise
Velvet Ribbon: Michaels Straight & Narrow
Button: unknown
Jute
Nestabilities: Scalloped Large Rectangle
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Challenge Greeting Farm Friday Challenge Mercy Sketch 8/27/10

Now here is my husband making his sandwich.

"I can't believe it:"

Friday August 27, 2010

I was working on this Gothic Angel from the Kenny K's digital stamp collection called "Miss Fortune", and my 14 year old son almost went into shock that I purchased this item and was working on it.  "What are you going to do with that?"  I now know the card will get the attention of the person I send it to since it definately got my son's attention.  For this card, I made it into an easel card so that the bow would actual look like a garter with lace and velvet.  The brad is a velvet which gives it a soft look. 

Patterned paper:  My Mind's Eye Lush
Card stock: Bazzil including the glitter Core'dinations
Embossing folder:  Quik Kuts
Leather strip with metal brads: Wrights from JoAnn fabrics
Stamp:  Digital Kenny K Miss Fortune & "hi there" Verve Fabulous You
Markers: Copics
Brad: Doodlebug, black velvet
Ribbon: Red Velet and Lace from Hobby Lobby
Border punch: EK Success
Adhesives: Tacky Tape, Mono liquid adhesive, foam pop dot

This is the sketch from the Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge Blog
Here is my card

Here is the easel

and a side view of the easel, the hi there is on by pop-dots

Amanda and Omar

Thursday August 26, 2010

I'm running late at getting this written, but I have been working on this card.  It is a digital stamp by Pixie Dust Studio called "Marry Me, Bella".  My daughter is not looking to get married; however, the images resemble her and her boyfriend.  They have been dating for five months and it is cute that each month they celebrate their anniversary so I was telling her about this stamp and that it would be perfect for a six-month card.

Pattern paper: DCVW Spring mat pack
Glitter cardstock: DCVW Spring mat pack solid
Nestabilities: Labels Eight, Petite oval scalloped small
Digital stamp: "True Love" Digi Doodles Love Sentiments
Markers: Copics
Chalk: not labeled kids chalk
Ribbon:
Button: JoAnn Fabrics

Challenge:  Card Pattern Sketch 78

Now here is a picture of the real couple.

Time with kids

Wednesday August 25, 2010

Last night my I was working on a digital stamp of Jack by Greeting Farms.  I asked my daughter for a suggestion for the hair color and explained the color challenge to her so she suggested the orange tipped hair with streaks of orange so I listened to my 17 year old.  My 14 year old son was interested in the conversation and asked to color with me which he hasn't done in years when I had Stampin Up markers instead of the now Copics, but since he actually wanted to spend time with me I was excited.  I thought the worst thing was that I would have to reprint some digital images; however, he actually enjoyed using the Copics and really got into the project.  He did well and was creative, and we had a nice time bonding.  My husband took a picture since I don't think I would be able to get him to pose for me.

Greeting Farm Color Challenge 8/20/2010
Digital Stamp:  Jack
Nestabilities: Petite Oval Large
Black Tie Bazzil Cardstock glitter
Me and My Big Ideas Patterned Paper
Stamp Verse: Verve Love's Flower
Button: Coordinates by LaMode
Jute
Markers: Copics

Where does the time go?

Monday August 23, 2010

I can't believe that summer is coming to an end.  Today I finalized accepting a new job so now I feel like I only have a few days to accomplish a long list of things that I want to get done.  Next week the kids will be back in school, and time feels like it is going too fast. My card displays how I feel today about time.

Stamp:  Digital Mo Manning I dunno
Patterned Paper:  My minds eye
Markers:  Copics
Flowers:  Prima
Rhinestone: Studio 18
Nestabilities:  Classic scalloped oval, large scallop circle
Fiskars punch scallop
Ink: color box mocha

Catch up on cleaning

Sunday August 22, 2010

It has been busy the past few days.  I had a card class on Wednesday night and then was able to get together with girlfriends on Thursday.  Did some school shopping on Friday with the kids and got an oil change.  When to a cousin's housewarming party on Saturday...so today was time to catch up on some house chores and cleaning.  My son was not wanting to cooperate at first, but we managed to clean three dresser drawers and match socks and sort through items that were too small.  We didn't agree on items and it wasn't fun, but we managed.  It was cute that just before supper he (a 14 year old) gave me a hug and apoligized for getting mad about sorting through clothes, it was sweet, and I almost fell over with surprise.  He is really growing up.

Digital stamp: Bugaboo Hide Bodies
Patterned Paper:  DCWV Floral mat stack
Cork
Nestabilities: Large Classic Oval
Markers: Copics
Button:  Coordinates by LaMode
jute
Inside of card

Today is Uncle Jay's birthday, and I will be sending his card out late.  I want to send one of the newest ones from my last class on Wednesday using clear latex designs from "Susan Louise" which I just love.  For more information on these wonderful products contact Penny at (608)206-6987 or email at info@susanlouisearts.com.

The neat effect was adding diamond glaze to the rainbow trout for this card. For more samples of cards go to
http://susanlouisearts.com.  I love taking Penny's classes and excited to find out what she is working on next.

Cheer for Dance

Wednesday August 18, 2010

Dance vs. cheer.  My daughter is on the Varsity Dance Team for her third year and with her birthday coming up in September, I made this card.  I actually can't believe I made it ahead of time since I am usually making the cards for immediate family members the night before their special day.  It is sad with her being a senior that it will be her last year on the team, but I won't miss all the fund raising and fees.  They have decided that they will not be going to Nationals in Florida this year which I said I would go to for her senior year instead they will be going to Minnesota.

Digital Stamp:  Greeting Farm Anya Cheer
Stamps: Hero Arts dots
Chalk: Colorbox Alabaster
Markers: Copics
Computer font: Open Office Ryan BT
Nestabilities:  Circle Classic Large, Scalloped Classic Large
Cardstock: Bazzil
Embossed:  Cuttlebug numbers
Fiskars: scalloped circles
Ribbon:  Amuse dots
Brad: Creative Imagitions

 I rubbed some chalk on the embossing of the numbers and stiched the embossing to cardstock that I stamped with dots.  The last white layer of the nestabilities is of the the bazzil cardstock that is the white with the glitter.

Challenges
Pixie Dust Challenge #36
Greeting Farm Lucky Number Challenge
The Wild Flower Patch Challenge#29 Polka Dots

We thought it died

Tuesday August 17, 2010

My son purchased a new game for the Play Station III the other day, and yesterday he played it after cutting the grass for too many hours that the sound stopped on the system.  As I said before, my husband is wonderful and is a true geek, but he is also meticulous about electronics.  So when at 1am when Trevor told my husband that the sound was no longer present, let's just say, Jeff was not pleased.  Luckily he never yells which is the first thing that I would do instead he gets quiet and tries to fix it.  This morning I took Amanda to register for her senior year and was happy when I came home to find out that the PS III was back in working order.  So after putting away his laundry, Trevor was ready to play some more.  Now you can see why I made him the card I did for finishing the school year.  Today I made him dig it up in his room because I thought it was appropriate to place it here.  The PS III is still alive.

Stamp:  Mo Manning Digital video boy
Cardstock:  Bazzil
Patterned paper:  My Minds Eye
Buttons
Markers: Copic

Finally!!!

Monday August 16, 2010
I have gone to so many different blogs, but finally have created one of my own.  I have a wonderful husband who is such a geek which means he is my computer go-to expert.  He has helped me get started and I will be yelling out for him to show me what to do when I need to load the pictures or have a question.  It is like a whole new door has been opened which is rather scary.  I can show my "creations" to my family and friends, but now others can make comments also so it opens a whole new level of criticism and comments.  It is easier to impress your family who have never seen or heard of these materials than the crafty girls who actually own more than I do (which my husband wouldn't think was possible).  Well, here we go.

Challenge:  Wild Flower Patch Challenge #27
The first card I have to post, is one that I did using a digital stamp from Bugaboo "Back Pain"
Cardstock:  yellow
Patterned paper:  DCWV Floral mat stack
Embossed: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Ribbon:  American Craft
Flower:  Prima
Rhinestone:  Studio 18
Markers:  Copics
Chalk: Colorbox topaz
Border: Fiskars

I used the same stamp, but did a different hair color, but didn't add the edge of chalk around the oval, and the image just doesn't "pop" as much.

And for the inside of the card.

Given that my daughter is going to be 18 years old in about a month and my son is 14, I still remember that pregnancy was not fun.  We visited my nephew on Saturday and my daughter said that I should have another child, but no thanks I would rather just babysit our adorable Greysen.