Joshua Jiraffe Designs

Lucy's Challenge...

2009-11-19T20:38:00.004-07:00

I have problems with the html keystrokes for adding a link, site, photo, etc.

I see that Lucy's blog link didn't make it through in my last post, so I'm giving it another go...and keeping my finger's crossed.

So...you can find Lucy's challenge over at Lucy's Cards.

Lucy’s Color Challenge

2009-11-19T08:14:00.021-07:00

Oh well…

I probably inadvertently disqualified myself from Lucy’s first color challenge, which you can find here by not thinking...and adding glitter.

It wasn’t until after I added the glitter that I realized…uh oh.

And this was my second attempt.

[full sun photo]

[same card with no direct sunlight]

I had just finished my first card (below)...when I realized...I had printed the sentiment onto "white" card stock.

Sigh...

Also, you'll notice a big "boo-boo" on the card in the first two photos...I "glittered" the waves and not the sand!

That's what I get for trying to be cute.

Both cards were made using one of my original drawings I made in MS Word. I use the “free form” line drawing tool. I also made the tree trunk free-hand.

I’ve been having fun playing with drawing in MS Word.

Original drawings by joshuajiraffe designs

Both my hubby and my teenager son tell me that I should use Paint, but I haven’t quite figured that one out…yet.

Anyway…I’ve been using some of my original drawings on cards for the upcoming craft bazaar at the University …figuring they might appeal to the young college set.

Thanks for checking in…and thanks, Lucy, for a fun challenge.

My Wyoming…

2009-11-18T00:18:00.002-07:00

My take on…a Wyoming holiday greeting card.

This is actually my depiction of what I see when I look out my front door…snow capped mountains in the distance.

There is a school directly across the street from our house, which somewhat blocks the view but I can still see the snowcaps from my living room window.

When taking my son to school, this is what we see…minus the evergreens and the deer, which are “Dress it up” buttons.

Thanks for peeking…

A few simple things...

2009-11-17T23:31:00.007-07:00

A few simple things I’ve been working on for the craft bazzar.

I love covering these little shaker boxes. I prefer ribbon, but paper works just as well.

I saw the idea a few years ago in “Living” and have made them ever since.

Sometimes I fill them with homemade treats for teacher’s gifts or give them as tree ornaments.

Thought I’d make a few with some non- traditional x-mas colors and a more masculine bent for the craft fair.

I also like to color and decorate the insides with paper and ribbon.

Some of the first cards I ever made where these little gift tags.

I think the little penguins might be old Debbie Mum stickers…I’ve had them for a long time.

I just added ribbon and mittens from a package of “Dress it up” holiday buttons.

Recently, I’ve taken to drawing my own creations in MS Word Art.

This was drawn using the freeform line art in MS Word. I just added some flowers I punched out of cardstock.

Original drawing by joshuajiraffe designs

One day I might like to try and turn these drawings into rubber stamps.

Another card I made using another one of my own freeform creations drawn and colored in Word Art.

Original drawings by joshuajiraffe designs

The penguin and tree are from a package of “Dress it up” buttons.

This last card was made using some MS stamps and more “Dress it up” buttons.

Thanks for stopping by…

A Slow realization...

2009-11-17T23:01:00.006-07:00

Ahem…it’s been a while.

At least I can finally say that our house is (mostly) in order now.

Also, I’ve been posting to my other Blog about our move and adventures westward.

I signed up for a craft show (my first), which is in two weeks.

I need…product, product, product, which I mostly don’t have but have been busy working on.

I’ve also been struggling with something as of late.

I’ve slowly come to the realization that my paper crafting doesn’t really seem to fit with what other paper crafters are doing.

Everyone is moving forward...using the latest products and techniques, while I seem to remain in place.

Maybe it has to do with the long 6-7 months that it's taken to pack up our home, move and get settled in our new house.

So I’ve stayed away, trying to figure out what to do…what I want to do.

I thought of taking on another persona…another blog…but I’ve decided to stick with who I am, at least for the time being.

And to admit…that I do simple.

In fact, I like simple.

Maybe it’s boring.

Maybe it’s plain.

Maybe it’s a throwback to the style that we all started with…simple, plain and unadorned.

But it’s what I do best.

I think.

I’ve found that something chemical happens to me when I participate in a card…color…sketch…challenge.

I’ve even talked it over with the husband…who would prefer to have his fingernails pulled out rather than talk “crafts.”

I recently told him…“somehow I lose myself when trying to create for a challenge. I create with my brain rather than from my heart.”

And…I usually end up not liking what I’ve created.

The husband, definitely not the warm and fuzzy type when it comes to my craft works, listened and offered up this gem…

“It’s simple…forget about what other people are doing and just make the kind of cards you like.”

Hmm…I thought I was doing that.

But upon reflection, I realized the husband...is right.

Whenever I enter a challenge, two things happen…

I forget about what I like and do best, and

I try to become “someone else.”

And I fail miserably at it.

Or maybe it’s more like what a good friend shared recently.

She was bemoaning how she resents things that take time away from her creative pursuits, but then added…”but the honest truth is I like to dream of those things more than actually doing them.”

Hmmm…

Don’t get me wrong.

I love to sit and peruse the latest craft magazines or sit at the computer visiting blog sites offering yummy card goodness.

I ooh.

I aah.

I drool over the latest techniques and products and what the rock star paper crafters are doing and creating and the world they open to the likes of me.

I envision creating cards…like them.

But it’s not me…or at least not me at the moment.

Like my friend, maybe I much prefer the reading and the “dream” of doing those things…rather than the actual doing.

Maybe it’s simply that I am a “hand’s on” visual learner…I need to see, feel, touch and see a technique, otherwise I'm disappointed in how my attempts, or as is more often the case, don't turn out.

Don’t know if that makes sense, but there it is.

I may change one day.

I hope I do.

But until then, I’ll continue to do what…I think…I do best.

Simple.

Thanks for stopping in…

Just for Ewe…

2009-10-15T23:02:00.007-06:00

Another simple card I'll be making more of for the December market bazaar…

I love this Ewe stamp but haven’t played with it in a long while.

I found this sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You , but was too late to play along.

I liked the sketch so much I decided it would be perfect for my very simple little “Thank Ewe” card.

Thanks for stopping in…

These boots...

2009-10-15T22:34:00.007-06:00

Very simple and unadorned set of coasters I made using the enhanced background technique by Jennifer McGuire for the 2Peas Fall Stamp Camp, which you can find on Jennifer’s blog here. Check it out…very cool technique.

I bought some glass coasters years ago from Sally Foster to give to the grandparents…the kind where you put photos in little sleeves on the backside.

I had this extra set that I didn’t want to toss because…well…everything has crafting potential.

I’m getting ready for a craft fair in early December to be held at the University and figure I need items that might appeal to college students, and since we’re in the West, thought I’d use this boot stamp I have.

They’re coasters, so can’t really embellish with bling. But they could also be made into little hanging frames.

Thanks for peeking….

HA Paper Piecing challenge

2009-10-10T14:36:00.004-06:00

I’ve said this before (and I seriously need to alter the situation so I don’t have to repeat it again), but I don’t have many Hero Arts Stamps. In particular, I don’t have many that are conducive to paper piecing.

So I used this one (Five Big Candles), which I really, really like…

I’m not sure if this qualifies as paper piecing, but…

I decided to follow the color scheme on the front of the stamp and stamped each candle onto a different color of cardstock. The flames were all stamped onto yellow cardstock.

I added brads and sprinkles and these little wire thingies I bought at AC Moore when I still lived in Virginia and had all these craft stores available to me…sigh!

I also added a piece of lovely purple and lime polka dot ribbon by Basic Basic that I love, but otherwise, I decided to kept it very simple.

Thanks for stopping by…

Caardvark’s “Take A Bow” Redux

2009-10-09T13:35:00.012-06:00

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE working with ribbon.

I have tons of holiday ribbon that I bought on sale last year back in Virginia, specifically for making holiday tags and cards.

Last year I made several sets of (ribbon wrapped) holiday napkin ring holders that I saw in Martha Stewart's Holiday issue of “Living” and gave them as holiday gifts.

You wrap ribbon around empty round fabric tubes (toilet paper and paper towel tubes, as suggested by MS, are just too flimsy).

I’m making a set of green ruffled napkin holders for an artsy friend, and thought, hmmm…

they might just work as a tree ornament or…

for a holiday gift wine bottle collar!

Close up of the ribbon wine collars…

I also used a section from one of the many ‘Holiday Greetings’ ribbons to create this very simple card…

The little silver Christmas tree is from a set of decorative “cookie cutter buttons” I bought at to make cards for my “cookie baking group” back home.

Decided to carry the ribbon to the inside…

I seem to be missing quite a few of my ribbons. I hope they’re sitting in---as yet---one of the many unpacked boxes and not in someone else’s home!

Caardvarks…I LOVE this challenge!!! Thank You!!! Don’t know how many times you can enter, but I have lots of other ideas….

Thanks for peeking…

MeMe

2009-10-06T23:03:00.002-06:00

My blogging friend, Dawn, of Dawn’s World, sent me the "MeMe Award." The rules are simple…divulge 7 secrets about myself and pass the award on to 7 others. Like some of the others, I don’t really have any secrets, so I will just list 7 (mostly boring) things about me. More importantly, however, I don’t really know 7 other (paper crafting bloggers) well enough to forward to…so I apologize if this award starts to slow down with me.

So here we go…

1. I recently moved from a large metropolis on the East Coast to the small University town of Laramie, Wyoming.

2. Although quite happily (and surprisingly) adjusting to life in small town Laramie, Wyoming, I sometimes miss my friends (and my old home) something fierce.

3. When I was in grade school and High School, I used to keep little books filled with poems, songs, comic strips and pictures that inspired or “spoke” to me, but I didn’t know then that I was actually “scrapbooking.”

4. My mom, who is an excellent seamstress and made all my clothes, tried to teach me to sew…but I refused to learn from her and thus, now have to pay for something that was “free.”

5. Mom also urged me to take a typing class while in H.S., but I always claimed that I was too busy to take the class.

6. I now wish that I had listened to my mom.

7. I blog about our adventure/journey/move from the East Coast to small town Laramie and it really helps with the adjustment.

So…these are the two people I feel comfortable enough naming for this award…

Marije of scraphamster

Andi of Andi’s Perfect Gravy – A City Girl’s Ranch Life

Please stop by their blogs to see all the fun and creative things they come up with.

And thanks to Dawn, for thinking of me…so sweet of her.

Double Challenge (Kitchen Sink & Caardvarks)

2009-10-06T13:09:00.015-06:00

While admiring several cards submitted for Dawn McVey’s recent Raspberry Suite Challenge, I came across Courtney Baker’s site, “One day at a time” and this challenge

where we’re asked to use something from the (junk) mail on our cards or scrapbook pages.

I absolutely love this idea since I “try” to recycle as much as possible.

I was a tad bummed because nothing (or so I thought) workable came in yesterday’s mail and our mailperson doesn’t arrive until after 1:00 PM.

tick…tock…tick…tock…

So…while running around the house doing chores, I came across this….

I immediately saw the possibilities and this is what I came up with…

I'm thinking it might also work for the ‘Take a Bow” challenge over at Caardvarks where we’re challenged “to use ribbon in some wonderful way!”

Two challenges in one...makes me smile!

Card Deets:
Fall Sale Postcard (Chicos)
Fun Dots (Offray Ribbon)
Pumpkin Halloween Ribbon (Michaels)
Fall Plywood Pumpkins by Harvest Crafts (Hobby Lobby)
Raffia

Thanks for looking…

Raspberry Suite Challenge

2009-10-05T17:14:00.003-06:00

Card created for Dawn McVey’s current Raspberry Suite Challenge.

I haven’t been able to participate for quite some time…so I’m glad Dawn had another inspiring challenge.

I had to pull it together very quickly this afternoon since it’s been a hectic week. But when I spied this ‘peppermint figgy pudding’ paper by Basicgrey, I decided to make an xmas card using Papertrey’s “Believe” clear stamps and dark chocolate ink.

Thanks for looking…

I put a spell on you…

2009-09-27T23:00:00.008-06:00

A very simple card created for the current HA’s photo challenge.

I don’t normally like to post photos of my family, but this photo is so old and I’ve always thought it was so cute.

I have Halloween on the brain and the phrase, “I put a spell on you” popped into my head.

I used the HA’s clear designs fanciful swirls alphabet set to create the phrase and Heidi Grace Halloween clear stamps for the inside.

I really enjoyed creating a card with photos will be doing more of it…so thanks Hero Arts for the fun challenge!

Thanks for stopping by…

This is what happens…

2009-09-24T23:44:00.013-06:00

when you’ve been away from crafting for too long.

So…I was all a twitter about this week’s Hero Arts Challenge using photos as the background.

Our photos are still packed in a box somewhere, so I decided I’d use one of the vintage photos I’ve picked-up at estate sales, etc. and saving for special occasions.

I couldn’t find those either, but did happen up an old postcard I thought might work and this is what I did with it…

So, lucky me…I’m creating my card, feeling pretty good about it. I go to pick-up my laptop to write my post and that’s when I realized…I haven’t used any HA stamps!!!!

Ugh!

Silly me! I used rub-ons, which I love, instead. Completely got carried away and forgot.

Don’t know if I can go back and add a stamp or, if I can use a HA stamp…inside.

Does that count?

Anyway…getting back to the card I did create---the writing on the bottom of the card is actually what’s written on the back of the postcard. I copied it before adhering the postcard to the background card stock.

The bats are a stamp by MS, the headstones and the ghost are confetti and the broom is probably from Michaels and something that I’ve had for some time.

Back to the drawing board…Jeez!

BTW: I got the idea to use the vintage photos (and postcards) from some really Fab altered vintage photos cards I saw in the most recent Somerset Studio’s The Art of Paper and Mixed Media.

If you haven’t yet seen this issue, check it out!

Thanks for peeking…

Caardvarks Sketch Challenge #5

2009-09-24T14:17:00.005-06:00

So yesterday I finally jumped in and entered my first challenge in some time.

Today, I figured I’d stay the course and enter another Caarvarks challenge with this sketch designed by Heidi Van Laar...

This sketch said “Christmas” to me. Unfortunately, most of my Christmas ephemera and embellies are patiently waiting (somewhere as yet unbeknownst to me) in a box in the lower level of my new home.

This sketch said “Christmas” to me. Unfortunately, most of my Christmas ephemera and embellies are patiently waiting (somewhere as yet unbeknownst to me) in a box in the lower level of my new home.

So I went with my other most favorite theme…Halloween!

This card isn’t anything like what I started with, but I think we all know how that goes…

Not sure if this meets the specifications of Heidi’s sketch…

The “Boo” is actually the cardboard packaging from a Wilton Cookie cutter. I was going to trace the cookie cutter onto cardstock, cut it out and embellish, when I thought…”Hey. Why not just use the packaging since it’s so colorful?”

I also figured “Boo” could serve a dual purpose…the curved shape and the greeting.

I usually like to finish the inside of my cards, as I did here...

Thanks Caardvarks, and Heidi, for another great challenge…and for helping to get me back on the horse.

Caardvarks Sketch Challenge #4

2009-09-23T23:08:00.017-06:00

[Edited to Add: Not sure if it fits but also submitting to the Papertake Weekly Challenge #24...first time submitting to Papertake.]

It’s been months since I entered any challenges. I’ve mentioned before that we just made a major move from the East Coast to Wyoming and I’m just now starting to surface after a 4 month hiatus.

Anyway, thought I’d try and get back on the proverbial horse and give this sketch challenge a try.

I’m still unpacking, so it’s frustrating trying to craft when things are out of order…but at least I’m crafting!

I find I have a hard time with sketch challenges…not sure why, but I find I get “crafter's block” when trying to interpret a sketch.

But here it is…my attempt at Wednesday’s challenge…

Designer papers are all from a DCWV Safari Kids Stack that I bought back home in Virginia before we moved but never got around to using. The little gems are from Martha Stewart.

I also decorated the inside of the card but can't get my photo to post horizontal, a problem I seem to have quite a bit.

Oh well...

It was night when I made my card, so the colors are off.

Thanks for looking…

Something old---but new to me!

2009-09-23T11:36:00.008-06:00

Saw this cute idea in the pages of the newly hatched GreenCraft magazine from Stampington & Company.

I LOVE this magazine! I can’t wait for the next issue, but until then… there are so many wonderful and creative ideas to (hopefully) keep me occupied until then.

And I just loved the “The Magic of Mini” (pgs. 14 &15) creations by Becky Shander, wherein she used inexpensive peat pots to create tiny gift baskets.

I was so intrigued by her little treat baskets that I went right out to Ace Hardware and bought me a stack of these little pots. 50 for $4.99…what a bargain!

(Just for the record, I also enjoyed the miniature eggs baskets by Angela Harris as well, and will also need to give those a try.)

So…while rummaging around in my current mess of a craft room---since I still have yet to unpack many of my craft boxes from our recent move out West---I spied a package of pink and lime green princess crowns that I bought on sale over a year ago.

Hmmm...

This is what I came up with while I was waiting for my boys to return from bb practice last evening.

I know…very simple…but simple is really what I do.

Great for giving little chocolates!

I have since learned that using peat pots for a variety of crafting treats has been around for some time…case in-point: a Martha Stewart video I found last evening where she made peat pot Easter Baskets back in 2001!

Oh well…

They may be old hat to you all---but they’re new to me…and I plan to have some fun with them!

Thanks for stopping by…

Spoiled (& a crude, quick & dirty holiday tag)…

2009-09-16T11:49:00.010-06:00

I may have posted earlier how I've been spoiled…craft store wise. I had no less than 6 craft and craft/fabric stores (Michaels, AC Moore, The Paper Source, Pearls, G Street Fabrics and Joann Fabrics) within a 5-10 mile radius from my home in Arlington, VA.

Now…I have 3 stores (Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Joann Fabrics) within a 47 to 55 mile radius from my home in Laramie, Wyoming and all… over the mountains in Cheyenne, Wyoming or Fort Collins, Colorado. Remember, I’m a city girl (even though Virginia does have its rolling hills).

So what’s a gal…who isn’t (yet) comfortable cruising along a two-lane highway or alongside Big Mac trucks flying down the Interstate, all at 75 to 80 mph…to do???

Instead of AC Moore, I’ve been cruising the aisles of Ace Hardware and True Value!! And what have I found? Options, baby. Options!

It’s amazing what a gal can do…when a gal has to do what a gal has to do…to get her crafting fix!

A (very) quick and dirty holiday “tag” I pulled together yesterday using some of my Ace Hardware buys, including a 1/18” thin piece of Balsa plywood from Midwest Products.

I got the idea while thinking about the upcoming craft bazaar I signed up for at the University Wyoming (UWYO) in early December. This will be my very first craft fair and I’m wondering…”What the heck was I thinking!!!!” I’m incredibly nervous, yet excited! I have several ideas floating in my head, some past creations and some new ones.

Backside of card, which I know doesn't really fit with the front.

Close-up of the front. I used a page from one of the many books that we were going to donate but that I decided to keep for my crafting purposes. This page is from an old Spanish dictionary. I accidentally stamped on it upside down!

My holiday tag is messy and crude and needs LOTS of tweaking…but it uses my Ace purchases (the Balsa plywood and garden jute) and some really old beads from another era…like almost 20 years ago! I plan to stamp on the wood itself, which I’m sure has been done before, to create an outdoorsy, natural look that I’m hoping might appeal to buyers at the UWYO craft bazaar.

My piece of Balsa wood is approximately 3”x35” and cost $1.65. I figure I can get anywhere from 6 to 8 tags from one piece of wood…plus it’s smooth, which means no need for a whole lot of sanding. Nice!

Thanks for stopping by…

Working my way back…

2009-09-16T11:47:00.000-06:00

It’s been a long three months since my last post from…Arlington, Virginia.

Since then, we’ve packed up and moved cross country to…Laramie, Wyoming.

We arrived in Wyoming mid-August and I’ve been unpacking hundreds of boxes and trying to get 0ur new home in order. It’s coming along…slowly.

We’ve lost square footage and lots of built-ins, but it’s a nice house and…I have my own craft room! My room is in the basement but (a really nice finished basement and) here in Laramie most of the new homes have half the house in what is called…the lower level. And it’s an entire room…whereas in our home back in Arlington, I had only half of our guest bedroom.

I have yet to unpack everything (and I lost storage space…2 dressers that we didn’t move with us) and yesterday afternoon I realized that I’m missing all my x-mas stuff. Yikes! I thought the movers had moved all my stuff into the craft room. So I need to go…box hunting.

There’s so much I’ve missed the past three months---so here’s to working my way back…

Thank you Caardvarks!

2009-06-20T01:12:00.002-06:00

I’d just like to say a big BIG “Thank You!” to Caardvarks for the wonderful opportunity to be a
guest designer, to have fun being creative and for letting me play!

I’ve said it before on this blog and I’ll say it again…Caardvarks…I love you!!

Planes, Trucks and Automobiles…and a Caardvarks Guest Designer!

2009-06-19T23:22:00.012-06:00

Planes, trucks and automobiles have been on my mind lately.

We need to take a plane to Laramie, Wyoming to check out houses.

A large truck will soon be hauling all our belongings cross country.

On August 1, the three of us will get in our car and drive approximately 1,600 miles to our new home.

So when I got the assignment to create a “window” card as a guest designer for the new Caardvarks Challenge, I immediately thought of planes and automobiles. I was a little nervous...not just because this is my first guest designer gig, ever...but also because I haven’t made many window cards. In fact, I wasn’t even really sure what constituted a window card…like…does it have to have an actual opening?

One night when I couldn’t sleep, my thoughts went to…naturally, what else…card crafting. I was actually thinking about ‘change of address’ cards and…we’ll, it all sort of evolved from there.

I know I’m not the first (nor will I be the last) to work the car concept, but I envisioned a car, specifically the back of a car…as it drives down our street and away from our home and friends…taking us to our new adventure.

I decided to base my card on my husband’s Mini Clubman. First, I took this photo of the back of his car.

After downloading the photo into my computer, I printed it and then enlarged it to the size I wanted. I cut out the image and used it as my template. My husband saw me working on the card and advised me… the clubman’s back doors swing open vs. opening upwards. So I changed my layout and I must say, I like it a lot better this way.

I cut and pieced contrasting accent pieces (just like on his car) and the bumper, etc. I wrapped foil around brads to “create” the side view mirrors and more brads and buttons for the tail and break lights. I embossed a piece of cardstock using the Cuttlebug faux leather template to create car seats.

I decided to add some silly characters wearing silly eye patches…to protect the innocent…looking back as the car heads off towards points West...notice the license plate?

Since we don’t yet have an address in Wyoming, I decided to adapt a verse or two from Pure Prairie League’s “Two Lane Highway” since it pretty much describes how torn I’m feeling these days.

I hadn’t intended to decorate the back of the card, which is actually the front of the car, but I guess I got carried away. Note those crazy characters again, this time looking forward to their new adventure!

This is too time consuming to use as an actual change of address card but I do plan to keep the template for use in the future...I had so much fun creating this card!

2009-06-19T23:09:00.006-06:00

I wasn't sure this card actually qualifies as a window card, but I decided to include it anyway.

I came up with this airplane idea during the Caardvarks’ shape challenge and I so wanted to submit this card to that challenge! I held off though…just in case my car concept idea didn’t work. Again, I’m still not sure if this constitutes a “window’ card…but it was fun to make!

I created a template based on an airplane image I found on line by first copying it into a word document and playing around with it by enlarging it to a size I wanted. I enlarged it a second time when printing. I wanted to punch “windows” all along the front, but my punches aren’t long enough and I was only able to punch one window. I’m not good with a craft knife, so decided to create the other “windows” by gluing punched circles to the front of the card. I covered the “windows” with cellophane to create the “glass” part of the window. I’d appreciate any suggestions on how to attach cellophane without it getting all gooey looking from the adhesive.

I used a T-pin to outline the wings and tail and added some little sticky dots, chip board letters and a metal sentiment tag, all from Joann’s.

Thanks for stopping by…

For My Dad...Simple Simple

2009-06-18T20:50:00.005-06:00

I just managed to squeak out another simple Father’s Day card…for my dad this time.

Usually I find really funny (read sarcastic) cards for my dad, who always gets a big chuckle out of what I send his way. Then I turn around and send him one of my creations. This time I had to forego the funny/sarcastic Hallmark card and just send mine, which will be lucky if it gets there in time.

Anyway…very simple simple.

Thanks for peeking…

A bird, a plane…no, it’s Birthday Man!

2009-06-18T17:27:00.016-06:00

Needed to send a birthday card to my younger brother…like today! His birthday is Saturday and he lives 4 states away. Last night I got down to work and just couldn’t focus. Guess I’m feeling too discombobulated these days.

Anyway…this card is the end result of what happened while I was filing some scraps I had left over from my recent card submission as a Caardvarks guest designer (to be published at Midnight on Friday…very nervous!).

The card just sort of evolved after I noticed the sharp angles and empty spaces where I had used a craft punch. I thought, hmm...I wonder?

My brother lives in an apartment building in a large metropolis…and I love skyscrapers, especially at night and even more especially after a freshly fallen snow. So…I went with the flow and this is what happened! There’s absolutely no stamping on this card.

I know it won’t make sense to you all but this is what I typed inside…

"Faster than a lake-front surfer
More powerful than a Maitre d
Able to maneuver around tall buildings in a single taxi…

It’s…Birthday-Man!

Happy Birthday to the man (who lives around) steel!"

Here's a close up of Birthday Man…

Thanks for stopping by…

Edited to Add:

I have this bad habit of making a card, only to realize too late that I don't have an envelope to fit the dimensions of my newest creation. Usually when this happens, I'm in such a hurry to send/give the card to the recipient that I don't have time to make a nice envelope. Today was really no different...except that I had a light bulb moment and wrapped the card in aluminum foil! Get it? Man of steel...aluminum steel (foil)?! So I wrapped black and red card stock around the foil like ribbon and added some cool black buttons for dimension. Looked pretty neat and I know he's gonna love it!

Remember…simple?

2009-06-17T01:50:00.002-06:00

Like a lot of you, I sometimes can tell who made a card by style and color...and I find that I gravitate to certain people’s cards because of a particular style.

Me…I’m still floundering. I feel like I’m all over the map sometimes, and other times feel like I’m stretching myself…to limits that I’m not totally comfortable with. This usually leaves me feeling either dissatisfied with the look of my work or that it looks unpolished and amateurish.

I sometimes find that I long for the days of…simple. Yeah. Remember when cards looked like this…

without all the embellies?

Don’t get me wrong…I love all the embellies and the inks and the tools and the distress kits, etc., etc.

I just wonder sometimes…if maybe…simple is really who I am and that I should stick with simple. I do know that simple can be so much more than this card…and yet, still be simple.

I know that simple doesn’t have to be a plain Jane, but instead, can be elegant and dramatic.

Maybe…I’ve been away from crafting too long and I’m finding it hard to find my mojo.

Then again, maybe it’s really just way too late for me to be awake and things will be clearer in the morning.

Then again…

Quick and simple Father’s Day card…with “feeling”

2009-06-17T01:15:00.003-06:00

My husband asked me to make a card for his dad for Father’s Day. My father-in-law is legally blind (macular degeneration), but fortunately he has special tools on his computer and high-powdered magnifying glasses that he can use to enlarge letters and that allow him to read and write. He can’t see most colors, nor does he have any depth perception. To this day though, he uses his computer to make computer generated cards for his friends and family!

When my husband asked me to make a card, I knew I wanted it to have texture…so dad can “feel” it. So I started out with a piece of Dupioni silk and some iron-on fusible webbing. After attaching the fusible webbing to the fabric, I then stamped the fabric using the Flourishes shirt stamp. I also used the tie stamp from the same set and stamped it onto a piece of ribbon. I attached it all to a piece of card stock I had left over from another project that I had run through the Cuttlebug using the faux leather template. Now dad can “feel” the card...even if he can’t see it very well.

Thanks for stopping by…

How embarrassing…nothing to show

2009-06-12T23:02:00.002-06:00

I’m going to be one of the guest designers next week over at the Caardvarks blog…happy me! Hopefully (if people like what they see of my creations) they might want to stop by for a visit, which is all fine and good…except that I have nothing new to show these past many weeks!!! How embarrassing is that! Who knew that life would be so consumed with all things related to “moving!” Well duh…”I” should have known. At any rate, I should get moving on creating some new things…just in case some visitors pop in. Don’t know if much is going to happen though. We’ll see…

Oh yeah...

2009-06-07T14:07:00.003-06:00

I REALLY miss crafting!!!! Don't know what I'm going to do this summer while packing...unless we have the movers pack us, which is still up in the air. The savings would be great, but if we pack ourselves and something happens to the truck...then we lose out.

And I just KNOW my husband is going to want me to pack up the craft supplies first...if not leave it all behind!...that way I won't be tempted to craft instead of pack!! I just need to keep explaining to him that it is my way of de-stressing, which I'm going to need a lot of during the next two months.

At least I have all the wonderful creations of my blogging friends to admire...

Anxious and disappointed...but how funny is this!

2009-06-07T13:52:00.004-06:00

My time these past two weeks has pretty much exclusively been devoted to finding a rental home in Laramie, Wyoming. It is not going well…at all. We’ve discovered, too late, that the majority of rentals are geared for University and graduate students…not families wanting a single family home.

We’ve already rented our home here in Northern, Virginia and have to be out by August 1. We also have to be in Laramie by early August, so there’s not much room for flexibility on dates. With no place to land in our new home town, we’re starting to panic!

We just missed out on what could have been…the temporary “home”…for us, by a mere few hours. Ironically, the colors in this home are the same color palette that we have in our own home! How funny is that? Although much smaller than our home, we think it would have more than adequately met our needs.

Oh well…sigh…and all that. Back to Craig’s list and the Laramie Boomerang!!!

Take a look at the colors of our two homes…funny, no?!

Looking into our kitchen from the family room...

Looking into their kitchen from the dinning area...

Weird. At least it gave me a good chuckle. Now...back to house hunting.

Thanks for stopping in...

Been way too long…

2009-05-27T23:10:00.011-06:00

since I made any new cards. Life got in the way…pulling our house together to put up for rent, finding a not too expensive moving company to move us to Wyoming and trying to locate a rental house in our new home town…accomplished all but the last. Hoping this will change soon!

So...it feels good to finally be able to get my hands crafting again and decided to start with a card for the current Caardvarks “Shape Up” challenge.

I got the idea during a recent visit to AC Moore when I saw some Jolee flip flop embellies and thought…hmm.

I traced my foot to make a template.

I knew I wanted to use ribbon and flowers.

The back strap “evolved” after I attached the bow and has a button glued to a brad to look a bit like a snap or a clasp...of sorts.

It took a while to find a cute saying but I immediately liked the “happy feet wear flip flops,” which I got off the internet and it gave me the idea to turn it into a gift card holder…for a pedicure!! The rest followed from there.

The stitching was added for a little ump and is open at the top to slip in a little gift card, which I forgot to add before taking photos!

I had a lot of fun making this card.

While searching for cute flip flop sayings, came across this cute idea for offering flip flops to bridesmaids or female guests at a wedding with the following poems…

"All night you've been on your feet,

Dancing to the music's beat,

But don't sit down and admit defeat,

Kick off your heels and enjoy this treat!

Compliments of the Newlyweds"

and

"Bought new shoes to match your dress

and now your feet are sore?

Help yourself to a pair of flip flops

so you can dance some more!!"

Thanks for stopping by…

Under the weather and a few simple cards…

2009-05-14T20:11:00.009-06:00

I haven’t done much this past week. I came down with a cold on Sunday, which has left me fatigued and drained, and I can’t seem to shake the darn thing. If fact, it seems to be getting worse! After working mornings at the pre-school, I don’t have energy left for much else…let alone crafting.

Haven’t been visiting on-line much either…occasionally here and there to pay a return visit or comment on a card. I enjoy seeing everyone’s newest creations…they make me smile and hopeful that this cold passes soon…don’t like being energy-less!

Before I caught this cold, I was busy finishing bar mitzvah invites and creating stationary samples for a friend’s 10 year old daughter.

Thought I would show a few of the samples I gave my friend. Since her daughter is just a young girl, I wanted to keep them simple.

She likes blues...

and greens!

Letters are from the HA Clear Design Bird Branch Alphabet set.

Stationary using the branch stamp from the HA Clear Design Bird Branch Alphabet Set.

Here’s to being full of energy and in the craft room again…soon!

Thanks for stopping by.

A wonderful surprise in the mail…

2009-05-12T14:35:00.008-06:00

A few weeks ago I admired the card shown above by Kathy Rosecrans, which can be found on Kathy's photostream. Something about the saying...the “ttude” of the little owl…and the execution of Kathy’s design captivated my attention. I chatted with Kathy about her card and how much I loved it and she generously offered to send me her “how to” design! It arrived in the mail yesterday...together with the card!!!! Thank you Kathy! Your photo was great...but the real thing is wonderful!

My husband even thought it was cute…and that’s high praise!

Thanks for stopping by...

Thinking of you...all year long

2009-05-11T16:29:00.006-06:00

Card created for last week's "Inspired by" Hero Arts Blog challenge, which was a toughie for me as there are so many people who inspire me. So I kind of felt like I was chasing my tail trying to decide what to do!!! But I loved the seasons artwork by Silvakelly54, which you can see here and decided to let her work inspire me using the Windy Tree.

Inside reads..."Thinking of you all year long. Happy Birthday!"

Had a lot going on last week and didn't have much in the way of craft time so I didn't get to start on this until late Sunday evening...the challenge deadline! It doesn't quite fit how I envisioned it so I hope to tweak it to achieve a more polished and professional look.

Thanks, SilvaKelly54, for the inspiration and to all you other Rock-Star papercrafters who inspire me every single day!!

Love you, mom!

2009-05-08T21:48:00.006-06:00

Been busy finishing the Bar Mitzvah invites for close family friends and haven't had time to do much of anything else these past few days. Now that they're done, had to make a quick and dirty mom's day card to send to my mom today. Alas, it won't get there on time...but at least my mom knows it's "in the mail"!

Thanks for looking...

Success!!!

2009-05-04T21:09:00.006-06:00

I FINALLY managed to get the HTML tag down!

Thanks to all the marvelous ladies over at the Hero Arts discussion thread for all the tech assistance.

Couldn't have done it without you!!

I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it…

2009-05-04T20:53:00.005-06:00

I’ve been invited to be a Guest Designer over at the fabulous Caardvarks site!

I’m up for their June 20th Challenge, together with the fabulous crafty ladies…Gina Cunningham and Kelly Rasmussen!!!

I don’t know what to say, except…Thank You Caardvarks!

I LOVE you!

Someone is going to have to show (well, tell) me how to put a big SMOOCH on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by...

Card for Kevin...

2009-05-03T17:38:00.007-06:00

Crzy4stamps-kathy over at the Hero Arts discussion thread came up with a generous idea to send cards to MonikaReeck’s five year old son, Kevin, who had surgery a few days ago.

Kathy asked us to create a card to send to Kevin, using at least one HA stamp. Great idea Kathy! Here’s my card.

I originally had this idea for this card during the Hero Arts pocket's challenge, but I never got an opportunity to create the card. So I'm glad for the opportunity to finally get this idea on paper... so to speak! Here's a close-up of the first pull out from the pocket...

with both tabs pulled out of the pockets...

Thanks for stopping by…

So Very Happy...Me!

2009-05-03T11:31:00.006-06:00

I'm so thrilled...one of my projects is featured on the Caardvarks Reader's Weekend Celebration, which can be found here...
http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/2009/05/karen-aka-joshua-jiraffe-designs.html

Thank you Caardvarks! Thanks for the opportunity to showcase our work and for all the great inspiration and challenges!

Stamped Baby Onesies…

2009-05-01T20:25:00.006-06:00

A query was raised over at the Hero Arts discussion thread regarding tips for stamping on fabric, and in particular, stamping on onesies. Taylor Vanbruggen had an excellent post on this, which can be found at http://tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/2008/05/baby-onesies.html#links

Last summer after seeing Taylor’s post, I decided to give it a try.

I used some patterned fabrics, like Taylor used in her project. Whenever I work with fabric I always reinforce it first, with iron on fusible web. I stamped on the patterned fabric, cut out the stamped design and then ironed the stamped image onto the onesie…like an appliqué.

Backside of the onesies.

I asked my mom to stitch around the design for reinforcement and she decided to add some French Knots and little cross-stitches.

I'm pretty certain I used StazOn ink, but don’t remember. I can see from my photos that some of the stamping isn’t very sharp or dark.

Thanks for looking…

Covered Shaker Box & Gift Tags

2009-04-30T22:52:00.017-06:00

I love covering these little shaker boxes for the holidays with paper, fabric and ribbon.

I first saw the idea in MS’s Living a few x-mas ago where she used them to make little drummer boxes. I decided to cover one of these little boxes to hold little gift tags using the HA set of four Christmas Circles.

I covered the top of the box with a remnant of home decorating fabric and ribbon.

The bottom side is covered with paper that has been stamped with HA’s Santa’s Reindeer stamp.

The inside is covered with paper. Here's a close up of the inside with the gift tags.

Close up of gift tags.

I would have loved to use the scalloped nestabilities that I just got last week with these tags, but I didn’t realize that I need a special mat to use with my cuttlebug.

Thanks for stopping by...

Santa's Reindeer...

2009-04-30T22:39:00.005-06:00

Second shaker box for the HA 2009catalog win a day submission.

I covered the sides of this box with two different ribbons .
I covered the top with paper and used the Hero Arts Santa's Reindeer stamp and a reindeer head stamp by inkadinkado. I also added a little bling.

Another view of the top of the shaker box.

Thanks for stopping by...

Passion for Crafts - offering some amazing Blog Candy

2009-04-29T06:24:00.007-06:00

Some amazing blog candy is being offered by Debbie over at passionforcrafts until midnight (GMT) through April 30. Debbie is celebrating her blog's one year anniversary. Go check it out ...you won't be disappointed... and leave Debbie a note to wish her happy anniversary!

Another simple tree card

2009-04-28T23:15:00.011-06:00

for the Caardvark's "tree" challenge.

The trees are drawn free-hand. I first attached iron on fusible web to the back of some fabric samples from a home decorating sample book I purchased awhile back from a store that was going out of business.

I drew the tree outlines on the back, cut them out and attached them, with the tree trunk, to cardstock and then added some stitching. The "lawn" is also fabric.

I like the colors of the trees and the overall color combination, but looking at it now it looks... blah....boring. I think I needed to add some add'l buttons or maybe some little flowers...or something...to the trees.

Oh well...thanks for looking!

A very simple cherry blossom tree card…

2009-04-28T09:41:00.005-06:00

is my creation for the "trees" challenge over at Caardvarks.

The stamp is from a set of four clear tree stamps by Flourishes. I used Versa Magic pretty pastel dew drop chalk inks and a paper towel to create the look of the blossoms.

I was inspired by the beauty of our spring here in the D.C. area and as you probably all know, cherry blossoms are big here.

Perhaps it’s knowing that this will be our last spring (for a few years anyway), so I’m noticing just how lovely it is here with all the trees, the azalea bushes and other blossoms, especially since we’re headed to pretty treeless town...

Thanks for stopping by…

Distressed...

2009-04-27T16:40:00.006-06:00

This is another version of the card posted below. I decided to distress it for the HA distress challenge, only to realize…at…the…very…last…moment that I hadn’t used any HA stamps on the card! Glad I caught that…before embarrassing myself deeply and submitting it to the challenge!!!!

I guess I was so intent and enjoying the distressing, that I forgot who and what I was creating it for...

Maybe the HA discussion threads such have a “bloopers thread!”

Thanks for stopping by…

With Deepest Sympathy…finding the right words

2009-04-27T14:54:00.013-06:00

I find sympathy cards difficult to send…it's hard to find the right words to say during a time of sorrow.

Creating a sympathy card is equally difficult…I don’t want it to be bright and cheery nor do I want it to be all dark and gloomy…and it has to be heartfelt.

This past week we needed a sympathy card for a young man who was my son’s age and a school mate. I wanted this card to be special…just like he was known to be. I know Hallmark has tons of cards out there with touching real life sentiments, but I wanted this card to be completely and totally from our hearts and not some mass produced sentiment...written by a group of people sitting around a table somewhere…no matter how poignant or touching.

At the same time, though, I thought…how can I possibly be doing something so trivial as making a card!!! Or…how can I possibly send my trivial creation to a family whose heart is breaking?!

I thought about this long and hard…all the while working on this card...and then it hit me! I was creating from the heart. I had thought about what I wanted to say…how I wanted to say it…and the look of the card, especially since this was for parents of a young boy. I didn’t want it to be too adult or somber...nor too bright and juvenile.

Somehow, I don't remember why...I thought about butterflies and their short but beautiful life span and went looking for butterfly poems and found this, which I absolutely love...even though I’m sure it’s written (or even mass produced) on Hallmark cards everywhere!

Thanks for letting me share…

Blog Candy...from Siri

2009-04-27T07:36:00.001-06:00

Some serious candy is up for the offering over at Siri’s blog, which you can find here…
http://hundoghand.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-candy.html plus she has some wonderful handmade flowers to offer. Visit her blog, leave a message and post a comment on your blog for a chance to win!

Distress…A lady in Hat

2009-04-26T22:30:00.013-06:00

Another card for the Hero Arts Club Blog distress challenge.

The lady with the hat is by Inkadinkado. All other stamps, with the exception of “thinking of you,” are by Hero Arts. The “thinking of you” sentiment is dry embossed (with stylus and metal template) and I have the ladies over at the HA discussion threads to thank for my current success…because I’ve failed before! Thank you ladies, for the tips and suggestions…they helped!

As usual…it’s after midnight here on the East Coast so the colors aren’t perfect.

Gotta learn to make my cards…early!...before the sun goes down.

p.s. Don't look too closely at the punched holes around the scalloped edges...I was going to try and do some french knotting (just learning) and realized...it wasn't going to work.

Thanks for peeking…

This Old Shirt...

2009-04-23T15:43:00.015-06:00

Distress Card created for the Hero Arts Club Blog using a shirt stamp by Flourishes.

I stamped the shirt on a piece of duponi silk fabric after first adhering iron on fusible web. I also tried to emboss it with kaleidoscope (sparkly) embossing powder.

I had a vision for this card...I just wasn’t sure how to achieve it. I initially wanted this to be a masculine companion card to my fantasy dress cards, but the shirt is too pedestrian to carry it off...need something like a tuxedo shirt for that. I did, however, like how it looked on the silk.

Since I didn’t know what to do…or where I was going with this card, I decided to distress the shirt to give it a well worn and traveled look. Don't know if you can see the torn pocket or collar.

I had picked up the Anyone Can Stamp clear design Travel Journal set this week and decided to have a go at it…and the card evolved from there. Not sure, though, that the shirt and sentiments really work together, but...

The speckled looking background paper is actually a sheet of sand paper...how's that for a distressed look! I inked most of the edges (even the shirt) or smudged the papers with either Ranger's tea dye or walnut stain distress inks (or both). The exception is the brown card base, which I actually burnt with a match. My son had asked if he could burn a letter he was writing for an American studies project to give it an aged antique look (funny how we're both working on similarly themed projects!) and I guess I got carried away as I love the (real) burnt paper look and feel.

I decided to carry the travel theme to the inside of the card by using two additional stamps from the clear “Travel Journal” set…I thought they'd make an interesting way to write a message...travel tips, etc. to the recipient of the card.

I decided to add two ‘remember this’ stamped circles...for more writing space.

Hope you enjoy…

And the Winner is…

2009-04-20T19:36:00.004-06:00

[Written first thing this morning but posting delayed due to some sad news...]

Jennifer!

Congratulations…my son pulled your name out of a hat before heading off to school this morning.

Jennifer…who together with her family, is literally in the throes of a HUGE move herself…has a really fun Blog (http://jenslifestampin.blogspot.com/) with lots of great cards, recipes and tips. I’ve enjoyed reading Jennifer’s online journal and plan to return…often…for new inspiration, to view her cards and to learn how they’ve landed in their new hometown.

MUCH thanks to all who have dropped in to say hello, to wish me a happy anniversary and for all the kind and encouraging words regarding our upcoming move.

I was joking about my husband not letting me haul all my craft stuff along to Laramie, but I’ve collected way too much product and really need to purge. So I’m thinking I might have another offering or two of blog candy before we make the big move at the end of July.

Thanks again for playing and I hope to see you around…I’ve enjoyed visiting all your bogs, seeing your cards and reading your online journals. Hope you have a great day!

It’s pouring cats and dogs here and is very chilly again. (I might just have to find me some more wood to burn!)

Thanks for stopping by…

Apology...

2009-04-20T17:10:00.003-06:00

I apologize if anyone might be waiting to hear about the blog candy...I had written a post this morning that I was going to post right after work, but then I heard the news about our neighbor, Will (see below)...

I will post the winner shortly. Thanks for your patience...

For Will...

2009-04-20T17:06:00.005-06:00

Today I am so very sad. I learned this morning that a young neighbor boy (nearly 13 years old) who had been a classmate of my 12 year son passed away in the pre-dawn hours on Sunday morning. I actually saw and heard an ambulance arrive on their street, but hoped and prayed it wasn’t for him. Sadly…it was.

His mother shared so eloquently in their online journal this morning… “It is raining here today. It must be the whole universe crying with us as we write to tell you that Will died yesterday morning.” Yes…indeed we are all crying for Will...and for his family.

Will had been diagnosed in early December with lymphoblastic lymphoma. He had not been feeling well for a few weeks in November but his Doctors thought he had a viral infection and then the flu…it was a shock to everyone when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Will was one of those tremendously nice and likeable kids…always smiling, always polite and with a wonderful outlook on life. He was sweet and gentle and never seemed grumpy. He was an avid baseball player and fan. You just knew he would grow up to be a nice adult and a good person.

It seems impossible that this boy, whom we first met in Kindergarten, is now gone. I cannot even begin to fathom how his mom and dad must feel, because even though we weren’t close friends or neighbors, I feel as if we too have lost a member of our own family. There’s heaviness and emptiness in my heart.

Will was initially in my son’s grade when they started Kindergarten, but we decided to have our son repeat a grade because of dyslexia and as he was nearly a year younger than most of the boys in his class. But we would chat whenever we saw each other at school, at the bus stop or in the neighborhood and his mom and I volunteered for some of the same school functions and always exchanged information on how our kids were doing. I can’t even imagine…

So this post is for Will. In honor and memory of his short lived life, and for his parents and his brother, his aunts and his uncles and his grandparents and his friends, who loved him and will now miss him. I hope his parents find some solace in knowing that their young man touched so many lives and so many of us share a piece (albeit tiny in comparison) of their heartache.

So after school today, I hung on to my young boy for so many extra minutes and told him (again) just how very much I love him, and how very much he means to me.

Thank you for letting me share my sadness…

Blog Candy...thanks

2009-04-19T23:06:00.002-06:00

to everyone who stopped by to say “hi” and win some Blog Candy! I’ll post the winner after I return from work tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks for playing...

Mymessage card (maybe) similar to fantasy card

2009-04-19T22:50:00.009-06:00

So it's late and I couldn't think of any snappy titles. Maybe I'll come up with something better in the morning...

A card I made late this evening for the mymessage challenge over at the Hero Arts Blog. I don’t think it qualifies since I only used one HA stamp {there is no one like you}. I didn’t intend for it to be that way…

I had had so much fun using the dress stamp and some fabric to create a card for the Caardvarks ‘Good Knight Fantasy’ Challenge that I asked my mom to send me remnants of the Duponi silk fabric she used to make my wedding dress. I would like to use this stamp and the silk fabric to make some engagement or wedding (Congratulations!) cards.

I stamped and then tried to emboss on the silk (like my Caardvark submission) but the embossing didn’t really take.

The sentiments and the clock are from one of the Visual Artistry sets by Tim Holtz, which my husband gave me over the weekend. The sweet man walked into Michaels in State College, PA (where he’s a visiting Professor) on our anniversary (since he wasn’t able to be home) and picked out some clear stamp sets he thought I might like. He done good!

Anyway, I guess I got carried away with the Tim Holtz stamps and it wasn’t until I was done that I realized I had only the one little HA stamp, but since I made the card I figured…what the heck, I might as well submit it.

Words/phrases were cut and pasted from these sayings/phrases:

to be all
that is
possible
we must
attempt the
impossible,
to be all
that we
can be,
we must
dream of
being more

and

Live the
Life
You’ve
Imagined.

Thanks for stopping by...

Cozy fire...or...I can’t believe I got this shot!!!

2009-04-15T18:11:00.002-06:00

This is what I’ve had going since mid-afternoon. It’s April 15, and in Northern, Virginia, it’s raining and a chilly 42 degrees. We had some left-over wood sitting on our front porch that I really didn’t want to have to bother moving to the carport…so since the weather is cooperating, thought I would burn the wood. Now it’s all gone. But not before my son got to have one last read sitting in front of the fire!

Tomorrow it will be in the high sixties and 72 on Saturday.

Hope you have a nice evening, wherever you live...

Never done before --- “Blog Candy” offering!

2009-04-15T17:35:00.012-06:00

Because...

Tomorrow...April 16th...is my wedding anniversary. My wonderful husband and I have been married 15 years!

This August, we’re moving from the Washington, D.C. area to Laramie, Wyoming so my husband can fulfill his dream of being a full time Law Professor. With a limited moving allowance, the aforementioned "wonderful" husband has informed me that...I can’t possibly move/take/haul all of my “stuff.”

I have this extra set of clear stamps that I purchased by mistake (already had the set!) and can’t return (lost the receipt!) and since "I can't possibly take it with me" to Laramie…I thought I’d offer it up as candy because...in some cultures, when someone has a celebration "they" bring cake or little gifts to their friends or to the people they work with.

So…to celebrate the 15 years being married to my darling husband and the many more that are yet to come---I’d like to offer this…

Hopefully you can see everything clearly. Here’s what you get (all in a striped green and blue fabric covered "hat box"...

Set of 12 clear “Dog” stamps by Inkadinkado

Ribbon --- Approximately 6 yards from Michaels, AC Moore, or G-Street Fabrics

Buttons (pink, green, brown and doggie themed)
Yellow flower table confetti (from Bride’s Magazine)
Sheet of baby pink stickers --- Mosaic Tile’s Play

If you like what you see…just leave a little post to say “hi” by midnight, EST Sunday, April 19.

I’ve never done anything like this before…and don’t even know if anyone will stop by to visit or participate, but…even if you’re the only visitor and you like what you see…you win!

(I’m going to try and figure out this random integer thingy…otherwise I’ll have my 12 year old son pull a number out of a hat…how’s that for high tech!!)

Thanks for stopping in...

Papertrey Release Party...

2009-04-14T22:17:00.002-06:00

I finally managed to make a Papertrey Ink Release Party! I usually miss them for one reason or another...but not tonight.

Plus, I managed to snag some “product” without getting the “so sorry…temporarily all sold out” message. Now…if I could just manage to make the Blog Hop one of these days…

I Believe…in Caardvark’s Good Knight Fantasy Challenge

2009-04-14T19:45:00.016-06:00

[Edited: Never done before...offering some Blog Candy. See this post http://joshuajiraffe.blogspot.com/2009/04/never-done-before-blog-candy-offering.html to see if you like.]

and this is my interpretation on the challenge...

This card ‘evolved’ as I was working on it. My original thought was to have this garland---a favorite left over from the holidays---continue to wrap around the top of the card…but it would have made the card base too large and the card too bulky looking.

Without the garland, however, it looked like it was missing something…thus the ribbon and bling on the final version above.

I used two stamps by Inkadinkado that I have long admired. I found both on sale at AC Moore this week…for 1/3rd the original price! The large base stamp shows a woman sitting at her desk, writing.

The second stamp, which I love, was stamped on red satin fabric. I first ironed on fusible webbing and then stamped with Stazon ink. I cut the dress out and attached it so that it appears that the woman in the background is working…maybe doing laundry… like Cinderella!!! Don’t know if you can see here so here is a close up…

The ‘shawl” is ribbon, and so are the “pearls.” The flower is from a silk bouquet in my living room.

The Believe stamp is from Papertrey Ink’s Believe clear stamp set and I think it works rather well on this card.

I find that I really like how this card turned out!

Thanks for looking…

Me-ow! My-oh! Mymessage Card …

2009-04-14T10:29:00.009-06:00

I made for the current Hero Arts “mymessage” challenge. Ironically, it was raining last night when I made this card…and it’s still drizzling this morning.

The "window" is stamped using a HA shadow stamp from a boxed set of 4 stamps. The “windowsill ledge” is a folded scrap of cuttlebugged cardstock.

I used a foil top from my favorite Greek yogurt for the silver “cat-tag”. I’ve been hanging onto these foil tops ‘cause I love to recycle and knew that...one-day...I would be able to re-cycle them into my craft!

While rummaging around in my blue embellishment tray, I found these ‘rain dots’ that I had purchased a while back but never used. (I see now that I probably should have placed one or two under the windowsill ledge.)

Close-ups of the ledge...

another view...

I used a combination of letter sets: All Night Media’s DJ Chunky Clear Alphabet Stamps (My oh); Inkadinkado Cattitude clear stamp set (Meow!); and Martha Stewart Halloween Typeface clear stamps (for the - and !).

The “under the weather” sentiment is by A Muse and the cat ‘out on the ledge’ by Judi-Kins.

This was fun!

Thanks for stopping by...

Beyond Paper Challenge

2009-04-12T22:29:00.009-06:00

Been gone for four days and so was rushed this afternoon to try and craft some cards for the Hero Arts Beyond Paper Challenge. I tried to finish my cards before the sun set but I didn’t make it in time…

The windy tree on this card is stamped on muslin that’s been sprayed with Tsukinek Walnut Ink. I’ve been wanting to tea dye muslin for sometime and figured this was the closest I could get to it today. I first ironed fusible webbing to the muslin to give it more body.

This second card is stamped with with muslin that was dyed in berry juice left over from some frozen berries we had for breakfast. I baked it in the microwave to set the color but it’s still not as dark as I would have liked. I fused it to double-sided webbing and stamped it using moonlight white by Brilliance and embossed it…but the embossing doesn’t really show.
I see from my photo that the bow is way too large. It’s frustrating that I somehow miss seeing these things until after…I take the photo.

This card also uses the windy tree stamp and a sentiment from the clear birthday anyone can stamp set on the walnut stained muslin.

I originally planned to make this into a set of tags but didn't have the time so at the last minute decided to turn it into a card…the colors (brown, lavender, lime and dark purple) are much nicer in real life.

While cleaning up earlier today, I emptied a bottle of wine left over from the weekend before and decided to experiment with stamping and embossing on glass…something I’ve never done before.

My stamping is smudged and I had to add a paper label that doesn’t fit snuggly…but it was a fun first attempt!

Thanks for looking...

All Monkey Business...Raspberry Suite Challenge

2009-04-07T17:58:00.007-06:00

Quick card I made for the 3rd Raspberry Suite Challenge at Dawn McVey’s site.
Don’t know if this card qualifies as my PP has an extra color not in the challenge.
Its dusk here…and there was no sun today so my photo isn't true to the colors.

In fact, it was windy and quite chilly and it’s actually snowing in the Mountains of Pennsylvania, where my husband is driving to come home from his teaching gig at Penn State. We leave town tomorrow and I won’t be able to craft or blog, so I was hoping to get in one more card and challenge before we leave…now I have to finish getting us, and the house, ready for our departure.

I’m glad to see I have my priorities straight…craft first, everything else later!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday…whichever you celebrate!

Opps...forgot to include

2009-04-06T15:52:00.006-06:00

this photo of the "Save the Date" card I made for our friends for their son's Bar Mitzvah.

Again, I used a little piece of paper to cover the rest of his name.

Bar Mitzvah Invitation…

2009-04-06T14:43:00.009-06:00

Our best friends’ son will become a Bar Mitzvah this coming June. His mom has asked “moi” to make his Bar Mitzvah invites. What sweet friends! So I’m currently working on the invites and reply cards. Later I'll work with her on the name place cards, the program and any little hostess gift boxes, etc.

Fortunately, it’s a small group of invitees (30 or so) so it’s still fun making the cards. Thought I would show you what she’s decided on and how it evolved….

This is a photo of the invite. There's a little torn piece of paper covering up the rest of our young friend's name.

View of the inside, which I again covered up personal information with some plan cardstock and

on this view I used the silk flowers as a cover up.

The navy cardstock is Deep Blue Sea by The Paper Company and the gray cardstock is by Die Cuts With a View. The field paper is Lux White from the Paper Source. I found the Star of David buttons at G Street Fabrics here in Northern, Virginia but I know they can be found online. Everything was printed on my computer in Microsoft Word.

This was how it all started with this 'save the date card' sample I gave to her and which she chose to use as the invite...only larger.

Thanks for stopping by...

On the road again...

2009-04-05T22:17:00.009-06:00

Decided to give the Hero Arts onelayer challenge another go using this Tim Holtz visual artistry set I've been wanting to try. It's a quick and dirty card since I was supposed to be watching a movie with my two men.

My son wanted to watch Kung Fu Panda, which we've now seen three times. So while he and his dad snuggled together in the big chair...I worked at the kitchen island, which is essentially in the same room, to sneak in some stamping.

It was a bit challenging since all my supplies are upstairs in my craft area and I had to keep running up and down the stairs. But my son wanted some family movie time together and he's pretty sensitive if he feels one of us isn't part of the movie watching experience...so I had to be a bit sneaky. I find it appropriate that my card of this evening is of a masculine nature...being with my men and all.

I'm not good with a craft knife and I really need to get some more HA sentiment stamps since I seem to be using the same ones over and over. Also, my photo isn't the best since I took it real quick thinking I had 3 minutes to post, and then realized...I'm on the East Coast!!!

Thanks for looking...

Don’t it always seem to go…

2009-04-05T12:09:00.003-06:00

that you just don’t…

see what additional tweaking you could have done on a card until after it’s been posted?! Well, maybe not to all you rock-star paper crafters out there, but it always happens to me. Take for instance my most recent post for the one layer challenge at the Hero Arts Club Blog. NOW I can see that the card size is actually too large for my little beach scene…or that I could have added some stitching or ribbon (or something) to my little magazine to give it more dimension, etc. etc.

So…I agree with Joni (or Counting Crows, depending on your age) that…”Don’t it always seem to go, that you just don’t know… “

Happy Sunday…and the beginning of Spring Break for some!

Hero Arts Blog Club - “Onelayer” Challenge

2009-04-04T10:29:00.010-06:00

Card I created for the current Hero Arts Blog Club…onelayer challenge. The genesis for this card was when I found this package of about 20 surf boards in the clearance section at Michaels. Figured I could do something with it and some bikini buttons by Dress it Up that I had at home. But I didn’t think about the challenge until I saw the White Out patterned paper by We R Memory Keepers and it grew from there.

Close up of details.

The hardest part was getting the sandals to have a pleasing appearance and I’m not really happy with the so-called cold drink with straw…bet you didn’t know that’s what it's supposed to be!! So any suggestions you have out there would be welcome.

The sentiment is from a Hero Arts “Anyone Can Stamp” clear birthday set.

I took some additional photos since I decided to try and add some writing to the magazine. I used the friend stamp by Rubber Stampede since I really don’t like my handwriting, but I see I needed a stamp with much smaller lettering.

Another close up of deatails.

I had fun making this card and I hope you enjoy seeing it!

Thanks for stopping…

Ain’t No Sunshine…

2009-04-01T16:59:00.008-06:00

here today, so photos don't really capture the colors. Wanted to submit to the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge (2), but I didn’t get home from work in time to post. I did get to play with an earlier card so I’m not too bummed.

I decided to do some hand stitching…but don’t look too closely.

I realized too late that I hadn’t either sufficiently inked my stamp...or pressed firmly enough into the dark chocolate ink pad. The image is too light for my liking.

I wasn’t intending to submit this card to the current Caardvarks sketch challenge, but when I went over to take a peek at the amazing cards posted on the site, I realized…hey, I think this might fit. Second time this has happened to me this week!

Tomorrow it’s supposed to be sunny but then rain again on Friday. Can’t complain too much however, as there’s snow in Wyoming...where we’ll move this August.

Hope you’ve had a great day!

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge 2 [& Caardvarks sketch Challenge too]

2009-03-31T10:53:00.011-06:00

[Edited to add: Was getting ready to post a second card to the current Caardvarks sketch challenge when I realized that this card might actually fit the sketch challenge...so giving it a go!]

This week’s color challenge from Dawn McVey (My Favorite Things) is based on this color combination from Pottery Barn Teen.

I love these colors but I didn’t realize just how much fun they are to work with together.

The idea for this card started with the little wooden (micro bus) tag and the E-Z giraffe rub-on transfer (British West Indies), both of which I had picked up on a whim. I thought both could work well with the color combo in these papers from My Mind’s Eye Bohemia collection.

I'm having trouble capturing the true colors even with the morning sun...either the celery/moss is too dark or the teal(esque) too light. (I also see that my giraffe's backside is a bit damaged.)

I posted an earlier version of this card yesterday…but felt something was missing...so tweaked it by adding additional Prima (mulberry paper) flowers, ribbon and a sentiment, which is once again from the Hero Arts ‘Anyone Can Stamp!’ clear birthday wishes set. I’m much happier with this version.

I’m really enjoying these color challenges…thank you Dawn!

Thanks for looking…

What...if Anything Have I Learned this Week

2009-03-31T00:08:00.008-06:00

is that it’s better sometimes to not submit to a card challenge. This is a good example.

Last night I made this dual purpose card for both the (second) Raspberry Suite Color and Hero Arts Blog “windows” challenges. I started late at night, which was the first problem. Truth be told, however, the card looks rather cute in real life. In the photo though, it looks…blech.

I was going for a mortar and brick look (to make a window) and it works in real life, but not under the harsh lens of a camera...the so-called mortar looks like really poor workmanship.

So with only fifteen minutes left to post to Mr. Linky, I decided to forego the challenge and wait for the next one and try and tweak this one.

Thanks for popping by...

Another card not submitted...

2009-03-30T21:37:00.003-06:00

Photo of another card I made for the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge, which I chose not to submit yet since I don’t like the buttons. It has since been tweaked but it’s too late to take a good photo…so I’ll wait till the morning light.

Thanks for stopping by…

On a Clear Day...but not today

2009-03-29T22:17:00.011-06:00

This is what we woke up to on Friday morning (but I never got around to posting). It was very dense and hard to see and I thought it was pretty neat and erie looking.

Actually, I wasn’t awake (or quick) enough to grab my camera and take the shots before the fog started to dissipate....oh well.

You can barely see an outline, but usually you can see a house, which is way across...on the other side of the street...from the house behind our house (if that makes sense).
This is what you see on a clear day.

Normally I can see my son’s bus as it comes down the street, but not this morning. He had to walk to the bus in the dense fog.

This is what you would normally see…double yellow lines in the road (just above the chimney).

Hope you have a great day…

Birthday Card inspired by...

2009-03-29T21:44:00.009-06:00

LysaQ’s win over at the Hero Arts Club Blog’s “Spring” Challenge, which you can find at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lysaq/3376683854/in/pool-heroarts/

I just love what Lysa did with her card...it’s no wonder she won!

I happened to be in Michaels the next day and stumbled upon the HA’s “windy tree” stamp LysaQ used on her card and decided it was a must have…with a 40% coupon, of course.

I immediately used the stamp to make this birthday card for a friend.

(I couldn't decide which photo I like better.)
I added these little embossed yellow flowers from this tin of table confetti (a wedding collection from the editors of Bride’s Magazine). The tin is filled with 1 oz. of (or approximately 300-400 or more) flowers...all for only $4.99.

The ribbon and ink is from Papertrey’s “dark chocolate’ collection and the sentiments from a Hero Arts “Anyone Can Stamp!” clear birthday collection.

Thanks Lysa...for the inspiration and

thanks for looking…

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge

2009-03-24T23:35:00.008-06:00

Found this wonderful color challenge over on Dawn McVey’s blog, “My Favorite Things” at http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/these_are_a_few_of_my_fav/rs-color-challenge/. This challenge is based on this photo from Pottery Barn Teen. Love this color scheme.

This challenge gave me an opportunity to use this cute doggie invite stamp by All Night Media. I thought it would make some great girlie invites but I don’t have a daughter...just a boy.
Here’s a photo of a close-up of the doggie with her bling collar.

I had a lot of fun with this challenge and will keep a look out for the next challenge over at...My Favorite Things.

Thanks for looking…

No Stamping on this Baby...

2009-03-23T20:17:00.002-06:00

Another card made from fabric, and this time no stamps…just fabric, paper, ribbon and some embellishments. Finally got around to using some of the fabric I purchased the other week after my first sewing class.

When I spied this fabric, I thought it would make some cute kidde cards. This is my first attempt. It's okay...but think something better could be done with the fabric.

I hadn’t been able to get any good photos that I liked until this morning.

Hope you enjoy…

Spring - Hero Arts Spring Challenge

2009-03-23T18:42:00.007-06:00

Card created for the "Spring" Hero Arts Club Blog Challenge. The background paper was created using a small Hero Arts set called "Kaleidoscope flower." The Sentiment is from Papertrey's Borders & Corners (Circle) set. This first photo was shot in the early morning light, as the rising sun shines through our family room windows.

Don't know if you can see a difference, but this second photo is the one I took late last night (in order to make the deadline) and posted on the HA Flicker group site. I really must learn to create early...so I don't have to take late night shots!

Thanks for looking...

It's 2 - 2 Challenges in 1: Caardvarks Sketch & Hero Arts Spring Challenges

2009-03-22T23:11:00.011-06:00

Card created this evening originally for the "Spring" Hero Arts Club Blog Challenge...and then I checked over at Caardvarks and noticed their HA Sketch Challenge.

I've never entered a sketch challenge before, so I'm not sure if this card quite fits the bill. It seems to have all of the elements...and I've noticed that others seem to change it (the design) up a bit. So...we'll see.

The white strip was created using a small Hero Arts set called "Kaleidoscope flower" and the larger flower is from another flower set by Kathy Davis for Inkadinkado. Sentiment is also by Hero Arts...a clear birthday set.

Thanks for looking...

Happy Spring!

2009-03-20T22:52:00.012-06:00

Yesterday I mentioned that I popped into Michael's to buy some ribbon for a project I was working on with my pre-school class.

Well, this is what they made...

Faux forsythia made with pipe cleaners...to give to their moms in celebration of the first day of Spring!

The "blossoms" are wrapped in these colored coffee like filters we have in the supply room.

As usual...the photos are lousy, but I hope you get the idea.

A few of the children (4's) had some difficulty with the fine motor skill of twisting the yellow pipe cleaner...but they all enjoy keeping a secret and so were all eager to make their blossoms.

They were equally excited today to present their "bouquets" to their moms.

Wishing you a...Happy Spring!

Hero Arts "Spring" Challenge

2009-03-19T07:50:00.005-06:00

Card created for the Hero Arts Blog “Spring” Challenge.

a bit about the card...I stopped in at Michaels yesterday to get some ribbon for a project with my pre-school class and found these packs of sticky notes and stickers.

At 2 for $1.00, I figured…hey! I’m making stationary for a friend’s 10 year old daughter and also bought some pink and yellow notes that I think might come in handy. [I have no idea why this happens to some of my photos...and haven't figured out how to correct it.]

So the branch image is the sticky note and the round bird image is one of the stickers. I just added some background paper, ribbon, gems and some clear stamps by Hero Arts and Inkadinkado. I really have to work on my photo taking.

…and speaking of which, I decided to take a new photo of the ‘critter” card created for the Caardvark Challenge in the morning light, which I think is a bit better.

Thanks for looking…

Caardvark Challenge...Criters

2009-03-18T21:42:00.003-06:00

Card made for the Caardvark Challenge...I think it's called "critters." Base of card is fabric from a cast off of upholstery samples I got at a store going out of business. Colors aren't really great this late at night. Now that I think about it...I hope that a dog qualifies as a "critter" for this challenge!!!

Hope I get this Mr. Linky thing right!

Thanks for looking...

Better late than never...

2009-03-16T22:41:00.010-06:00

Cleaning out my files and came across this old photo…

of a very simple card I made back in December 2007. I really liked this card when I made it and still do.

The torn background paper is handmade from the Paper Source. The row of reindeers is a strip I cut from Joyful Multi Stripes by KJ Memories, Inc. Added brads and ribbon to look like a rein and bells. I like that the handmade background paper looks like it has a moon!

Photo doesn't really do the colors (intensity) justice.

Happy Saint Patty's Day!

What...if Anything Have I Learned this Week

2009-03-16T17:23:00.009-06:00

[Forgot to do this last week]

That I am spoiled…spoiled…spoiled by all the many craft and sewing stores within a few miles from my home and that when we move...

that I will sorely miss…the Paper Source, Michaels, AC Moore, Pearls, Joann and G Street Fabrics, since none of these stores are located closer (if at all) than 50 miles from Laramie, Wyoming.

(That there are, however, two quilt shops, a bead shop and a yarn shop in Laramie…so there is a crafting community…yea!!)

Life is an Adventure…

2009-03-16T05:42:00.005-06:00

We’ve finally made the decision. In August we'll be moving to this place…

Apprehensive...excited…nervous…scared…happy…sad...and wondering, what life in a small town will hold for us Easterners...

because this is where we live now.

I'm looking at it as an...Adventure!

Hero Club Blog Shapes Challenge

2009-03-15T19:55:00.006-06:00

A card I made this evening for the "Shapes" challenge over at the Hero Club Blog. With the exception of the handle, it's made from fabric. I based my card on the little appliqued purse (to the left of the card) I found while wandering the fabric store after my sewing class. I already had the fabrics and emellishements.

Hope you like it!

It's in the bag...

2009-03-12T17:36:00.007-06:00

No card…just a bag. That I made today. I’m taking a beginner’s sewing class with a friend and this is what we made today…a tote bag. Had a make up class so we were there for four hours today. But it was nice to be able to complete the project without having to lug it home and try and remember what we were supposed to do.

It looks a bit like I made it…but since it’s my first sewing project in years, I won’t be too hard on myself. Next week we make pj bottoms.

Bag is reversible… I prefer this side.

While I was at the fabric store, I spied this fabric, which I think will make some cute kiddy cards…although I have yet to use most of the fabrics from my purchase after last week’s class.

I guess I really need to find some craft time.

Thanks for looking…

The Dancers...

2009-03-09T14:25:00.012-06:00

First attempt with the “dancers” fabric piece I purchased last week. I love the deep colors of her dress and of his tux, which probably don't show up as sharp in the photo...and I particularly like her "bracelet."

The base cardstock has a grid like pattern, which reminds me of a dance floor and shows up a bit better on this photo.

The sentiment (from Raindrops on Roses) may be a bit hard to read, so here it is…

“A loving heart
Will always know

The feelings…

Words can’t always show"

(last line finishes inside)

Thanks for stopping by...

A Box of Chocolates!

2009-03-07T23:06:00.008-07:00

It was our turn to host our quarterly wine tasting dinner party this evening (err…last night) and this was one of the hostess gifts given to us. They taste as wonderful as they look.

Though too pretty to eat, we didn’t let that stop us! Didn’t know this Artisan Chocolatier has a shop practically around the corner from where we live...but I do now!

A close up...

and this was dessert...

(which I didn't make). Happy Spring Forward!

For the love of fabric…

2009-03-06T05:57:00.015-07:00

Some new and old fabrics I hope to incorporate into my card creations this next week.

I adore fabric...and l love using it to create cards, among other things. It's all my mom’s fault. My brothers and I had to spend hours waiting for her in the fabric departments, which old department stores (i.e., Carson Pierre Scott and Marshall Fields) had once upon a time. I guess all that hanging around fabrics got to me...as it did my younger brother. He uses swaths of fabrics to decorate, wrap gifts, etc. Thanks, Mom!

I’m taking a sewing class (for beginners) with a friend. Funny: I now have to pay for something that my mom tried to give me for free!

Did a bit of shopping after class. Sigh...no more Deb Strain’s “Lotta Latte” (Modafabrics) that I used in my Kraft card creation the other day. Bummer! I love that design. But I found this piece

(and then cut these out after attaching fusible webbing)...

and this…

Hoping to have time to play with these over the weekend.

Hope you have a great Friday!

”It’s the little things in life that that matter most…”

2009-03-05T07:32:00.008-07:00

This is my card for the "littlethings" challenge over at the Hero (Arts) Club Blog using Hero’s tiny 18th Century Fans.

I added a few ‘blossoms’ from this silk bouquet in my living room

and used the peeled paint and walnut stain distress inks by Ranger. The sentiment is by Inkadinkado.

Wish I could get my photos to reflect the true color of the card. I might try another photo later with the afternoon light and then switch out the photo.

Thanks for looking…

Colors in the morning light...

2009-03-04T06:26:00.004-07:00

Hoping the colors look better in the morning light on this Caardvark Kraft Challenge card I submitted late last night...

plus I added some "foam" to the top cup. I love this fabric and wish I hadn't waited to the last minute to get started on this card. I see a lot of potential for tweaking this card.

Hope you have a great day!

Caardvark Kraft Challenge

2009-03-03T22:00:00.007-07:00

Card I made this evening for Caardvark Kraft Challenge. The colors in this photo are awful! Colors are much better in real life. Hard to tell the base is Kraft cardstock.

Coffee cups…a piece of fabric fused to fabric. ("Lotta Latte!" by Deb Strain, Modafabrics.) The bottom piece is one of those coffee cup holders (from Panera), flipped over and stamped with a Dawn Houser (Inkadinkado) stamp and then sponged. “What’s brewing?” sentiment by A Muse.

Hope you like the card. Maybe I'll take a photo in the daylight...

Thanks for looking

Even though he just doesn’t G/E/T it…

2009-03-03T19:34:00.006-07:00

Speaking of Mr.Gadget/Electronic/Toy Man…

Photo of a birthday “card” G/E/T/man (my hubby) made for me last summer (unfortunately the “t” fell off) with purchases he made from the Paper Source...paper, stamp, ink pad and candles.

Mr. G/E/T man works up the street from the Paper Source. He knows I love that store. He's one of those great gift givers…shows that he really knows me and pays attention. To be honest, he’s much better at it than I am. He picks out great cards too. But of all the cards and gifts, this one literally takes the cake…

Why?...because he doesn’t “get” or understand my card and craft passion. He’s definitely not one of those husbands who build craft rooms or design storage solutions.

He’s generally, mostly indifferent and often bemused (or frightened by my stash of supplies or the mess I’ve created). The most reaction I get is when he steps into my craft area. See: previous post.

In his defense, however, he does ask if I have time to make cards for family and friends, and he will occasionally save and give me what he thinks are little bits of potential treasure…vintage looking clothing tags, interesting or exotic looking food and candy wrappers, etc. Reminds me of when our (now gone) cat used to leave us little “gifts”…just to let us know he cared.

So…knowing that he took the time to pick out paper, purchase a stamp and pull it all together, speaks volumes to me. What more could a girl ask for?

Thanks, G/E/T man…for being you.

Hidden Storage

2009-03-03T18:47:00.019-07:00

Over at the Hero (Arts) Club Blog, Nancy Taylor (this week’s featured blogger) has posed a question (with a giveaway!) for best tips on “hidden storage,” or in other words…so that our SOs don’t know how many supplies we really have!

I love this tip Nancy shared to get the ball rolling…”I hang my big sheets of loose paper over a coat hanger (under a seldom worn dress).” Gotta love that suggestion!

Here was my response, which isn’t really a tip…

“I like to unload my packages (or leave them in the car to wait until) when my husband isn’t at home, otherwise, everything is “hidden” in the open…that way my husband has “no clue what’s new” from “what I had before.”

Whenever my husband steps into my craft area (our guest bedroom) he stops, s-l-o-w-l-y runs his eyes over the entire room…without saying a word, (which of course, drives me crazy) and then shakes his head as he s-l-o-w-l-y retreats. Usually he doesn’t say a word…just shakes his head as he heads out the door, but other times…oh yeah, he’ll “whisper,” as if to himself…”frightening”….or something of that ilk. He has no room to talk…my “Mr. Gadget/Electronic Toy Man.” [Then again, he could be referring to the “state” of the room, which is often…in complete disarray!]”

So thought I would share some before (during the holidays) photos...

and some after (I tided up a bit) photos…

Thanks for stopping by...

Tweaked version of Hero Art's challenge card

2009-03-01T22:17:00.008-07:00

Tweaked version of the card created for the Hero Art's Club "Winaday" challenge. Colors are bland in photo.

Thanks for looking.

Hero Arts Club Blog “Winaday” Challenge

2009-03-01T14:21:00.008-07:00

Card I made for the Hero Arts Club Blog “Winaday” Challenge (and using the blossoms from the silk flower stem I mentioned in yesterday’s post…”What I learned this week”)

We’re supposed to indicate, which of the “Win-a-Day” winners inspired us...but they ALL inspired me.

Got the idea for this card when I spied this “Tokyo” paper (part of the American Crafts’ Metropolitan collection) http://store.scrapbook.com/ac-34345.html on sale at AC Moore the other day and this stamp (by Hero Arts), also on sale for 40% off…what a sweet day!

I LOVE this paper and I like the card…but feel it needs…something. So…I’m heading back to the drawing board…

I see a lot of potential in this paper.

Thanks for stopping by

Trying something new - Redux

2009-03-01T14:06:00.001-07:00

So it didn't work. Let's try again...

http://store.scrapbook.com/ac-34345.html

Trying something new

2009-03-01T14:01:00.001-07:00

Experimenting...

What...if Anything Have I Learned this Week

2009-02-28T12:26:00.019-07:00

On the ‘Morning Joe’ show (on MSNBC) all the talking heads gather together at the end of each show to take a turn in sharing… “What did we learn this morning?”

I’ve decided to take a page from “Morning Joe” and include a "What did I learn this week” section in my blog. So here’s my first...

"What did I learn this Week..."

That I can use silk flowers by the stem…for much less than the cost of the scrap-book and card making flowers that come in fancy tins, packets, etc… on my creations. I’m sure everyone else out there has already figured this one out, but I only just chanced upon it today.

I went to Michaels specifically to get some white MM mini blossoms.

While waiting to pay, I noticed a silk flower stem lying behind the checkout counter that looked to be the exact size and color I needed...at 50% off. I purchased that baby and what-do- you-know…it worked!

Of course, the silk stems don’t have fancy patterns or polka dots, etc., but for the solid colored flowers…it’s a lot cheaper. Just pull the “blossoms” off and store in a small container.

There is the problem, however, of the left-over denuded stem. For those of us who like to recycle and watch what we toss in the trash, this presents an issue [and I am left with a whole lot of flowers!]. Hmm…I sure hope I don’t have to re-think this idea!

Thanks for stopping by...

Busy...

2009-02-27T21:32:00.005-07:00

Been spending all my time working these past two weeks on looking into all things re our (more than potential) new home and town, i.e., house rental or house purchase, schools, etc. etc., but hope to be back soon with some new cards.

Roads with a view...

2009-02-17T22:59:00.012-07:00

where we might live...

So how different can life be...

2009-02-16T22:38:00.010-07:00

in a small, western university town when you get served hot chocolate that looks like this?!

Hot chocolate presented to our son at Coal Creek Coffee. The Barista who whipped this up is headed to the Barista Championship in Portland, Oregon in March. We wish him luck!

Thanks for stopping by...