Almost caught up...

I have been trying to play along with a couple of Christmas Card challenges. WHAT? Christmas Cards? Already? But it's only March????

I have been TERRIBLE about sending out Christmas cards for the last few years, and am hoping that this will get my rear in gear. So to speak.

Anyway, the lovely ladies at Jingle Belles and Crafty Hazelnuts have been hosting a weekly challenge to assist us in getting our Christmas cards done before we get to the panic stage on Christmas Eve.

I did really well. The first two weeks, that is. Then I sorta, kinda fell off the Christmas Card Making Wagon. Apparently I was chanting, "one, two, ninety-nine, a hundred" and thinking that the cards would spring right out of my, er, ah, um, ear.



I am proud to announce that I am all caught up with Jingle Belles, and will be caught up with Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Card Challenge this weekend. That is if you let me combine some of the challenges. I don't need that many Christmas cards, so I am saying it's okay. Okay?!?!?!

And here is what I have done so far, along with the applicable challenge:

• CHN - Week 7 - Creature - The little mouse is my creature.
• CHN - Week 11 - Gold - The green piece is matted on gold.

• CHN - Week 2 - Recycle - The snowman is the sample cut out that comes with the die.
• CHN - Week 8 - White Stuff - Okay, so mine isn't "white", but the snowflakes are there.
• JB - Week 3 - Acrylic Paint - I painted the snowman white and then swirled blue on top.
• JB - Week 8 - Sketch - Pretty much it's there.
• JB - Week 11 - Kraft, White and Lt Blue - I cheated and threw in a black sentiment.

• JB - Week 10 - Home for the Holidays - It wasn't Christmas without making cookies.

• JB - Week 9 - Text Me - It's the background paper. Easy-peasy.

WOYWW - Crafty Hazelnut - Jingle Belles Combo

This title doesn't rhyme. Not in the least. Nor does it even sound good together. Oh, well, at least I am posting.

I really should be working on those real work deadlines. You know the "get-paid-with-real-money-work-deadlines", but I can't wanna. I DO wanna post this while I have a few minutes.

So here goes:

WOYWW - Here is the carnage that remains after last Sunday's Christmas card-making extravaganza. It was a self hosted, self attended event at my own little workspace. And I didn't clean up afterwards. But I did make dinner for my family, so they were happy about me not cleaning up. Today, I am not so happy that I fed them and didn't clean. NOW I have to clean and the mojo is longggggg gone.

And here is one of the cards (more will be on display as soon as I can get pictures of them)made out of the above mess:

I made it for Jingle Belles Foliage challenge AND for Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Card square challenge. I am not particularly happy with the image. Or I should say the coloring of the image. The image itself is gorgeous and deserves better than this. But it was an image that was colored a couple of years ago in a Copic's class. Before I had any of those wonderful little markers. And before I knew what to do with them. BUT, I had the image, and I was determined to use it. So here it is.

It is also being used for:

Jingle Belles Challenge #12 - Another Sketchy Holiday
Craft Hazelnut Challenge #9 - Let's Get Sentimental

I am also not happy with the pictures. But at 7am while rushing around trying to convince youngest daughter that I WILL NOT let her stay home, get the dog fed, get middle daughter to eat something, get myself in the shower and get us all out the door, I think they will do just fine. Sometimes DONE is better than DONE WELL. Don't you agree?

I am a Material Girl

I am a Material Girl.

I love fabric.

I have enough to make a wardrobe for myself. A large wardrobe. It would be a very colorful wardrobe, but I could make one with all of the fabric I have. I have an addiction to fabric. I cannot visit the Fabric Hut any more. (Well, not too often anyways.)

I used to make quilts on a regular basis. I haven't made one in years. But I still have a lot of fabric. I had more, but gave a lot away. Okay, I am officially rambling.

The challenge this week at OPUS GLUEI is titled:

MATERIAL GIRL

You are to use fabric in your project. Should be easy enough. But, where to start? What to make?

I have seen these adorable little boxy bags on Etsy, and then saw a couple of tutorials and thought, "I can make one of those."

So, I did. I used this wonderful printed fabric that I have had for several months.

And then I realized that I fogot to add little tabs at either end of the zipper. You know to have something to hold onto when you are trying to zip or un-zip the bag. 

So, I made a second one. And added the tabs. 

And I added a handle. My middle daughter wanted a pen/pencil case. So I made this one for her.

She loves it.

And just for the record, no one got hurt in the scuffle just prior to her taking custody.

~~~~~

Next up, some postcards. I have long wanted to make fabric postcards. I just really didn't know how. But I did have a piece of canvas that I thought might make a good base. (I cut three pieces a little bigger than 4x6.) And I grabbed some of my stash and cut a few strips. And then just started sewing the strips onto the canvas. Not worrying about them being even, or straight or the same size. Just sewed them on. (It's SO not like me.)

I had fun playing with the decorative stitches on my sewing machine. I could have stopped there. But I didn't.

I found some stamps that I thought were sort of Springy. And used Staz-On in Olive Green for the image and Black for the quote.

I stuffed the image piece just a bit.
To create a pillow-ish effect.

And added some lace and ribbon.

I made some mistakes. I didn't pay attention to the ribbon when I was sewing the paper/postcard piece on the backs, and the ribbon got sewn down on the first one. And a little on the second one.

I like them anyway. And if you do, and you'd like to receive one in the mail, let me know by leaving me a comment. And I'll use a random number generator to pick someone next Sunday. (I don't know how it'll mail, but I want to find out.)

~~~~~

I had some scraps, so I made some bookmarks. You know how I love me some bookmarks. LOL And I made them flat. Just like I like them.

I formally invite you to play along with OPUS GLUEI this week, and show us your Material Girl.



Got Followers?



Momo is hosting a special blog link thingy. For bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. It's intended to get you some more blog traffic, and hopefully more followers. How cool is that????

Momo is a very sweet person to do this for us. I just found her blog and am a follower now. AND I plan on heading back over there to make lots of new friends.

This blog link thingy is for you:


-If you have less than 200 followers, link your blog on Momo's blog link thingy!
(Remember if you get new followers, follow them back!)


-If you have more than 200 followers, visit some of the blogs on Momo's blog link thingy and be inspired!!!
(Make sure to write somewhere on your comment "Momo sent me" to win a prize!)

See you around.

Friday Fill-Ins

And...here we go!

1. Why does it have to be such a long work week and such a short weekend.

2. My desire to work is equal to my desire to poke myself in the eye.

3. My favorite breakfast includes dessert (wink, wink).
4.Beyond the Highland Mist was the last book I read until 2 in the morning.

5. I am SO glad that you are my friends.

6. A week full of glue and glitter would make me feel better right now.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing a project I started this morning,  tomorrow my plans include freezing my @$$ off at an early morning soccer game, crafting and dog/babysitting and Sunday, I want to play some more!

More Friday Fill-Ins can be found here.

WOYWW #94

It's time again to show off your workdesk. And all the bits and pieces contained therein. The loverly Julia at Stamping Ground hosts What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Take a picture of your workdesk, post it on your blog and join in the fun. Snoop around other's desks. It's fun.

I didn't think I really had done much crafty-wise this past week, but looking here, I see that I really have. This is the second card I made. The first one was already given to a birthday girl last Saturday. She loves purple. Since I was making her a card, I made two. Cuz you get two card blanks from one piece of card stock, so why not. I just love that little cupcake stamp. It's a Unity stamp, so is the frame. I used my handy exacto to fussy cut around the frame. Inside is the Happy Birthday message.

Next to the card are some new stamps from MY CUTE STAMPS. See the link to the left. They are adorable. Can't wait to get them all inky. You might want to take a look there, they are donating to help the victims of the tsunami in Japan. It's a great cause.

Then there are odd bits of this and that. The fabric is still out. The project will be unveiled this Sunday at OPUS GLUEI. And here on my blog too.

Hope you have a very creative week in all of your adventures.

WELCOME Spring. I'm so happy you're here.

I am a warm weather kinda gal. I was born and raised in California. Most of it in San Diego. 70 degrees is my ideal temperature. If it isn't 70, I want it warmer. Snow is great. To look at in a picture. I've seen it and even touched it. DONE. I don't need anymore. EVER.

I am SO VERY HAPPY that it is Springtime again. Warmer weather. Birds singing. Butterflies fluttering. Me happier.

OPUS GLUEI wants Springtime projects this week. YAY Spring.

These will keep me cheery for a while. Those bright colors are SO ME.

(If you want the manufacturer of any particular embellishment just ask. I'll try my darnedest to figure it out for you.)

I made a banner to replace the Valentine Day one I made. I had a blast making the Hearts, and I had a blast making this one too. My girls really loved the Valentines Day banner, so I am guessing (hoping) that they'll like this one too. It kind of looks like it could be a garland too. Hmmm. I'll let you decide.

 

Friday Fill-Ins

And...here we go!







1. I love to go to on dates with my hubby because we hardly ever get time alone and it's wonderful to fall for him all over again.


2. It's not the quantity, it’s the quality!



3. The last thing I had to eat was a McDonald's Cheeseburger Happy Meal.

4. Justifying my actions is no longer essential.



5. Please take a moment to say a prayer for Megan. Poor kid broke her wrist yesterday playing soccer. A moose from the other team plowed her down.

6. Your charm, good looks, and warped sense of humor have brought you this far.



7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Survivor and Pizza, tomorrow my plans include watching the sunrise at the beach, giving Morgan an enthusiastic send off (she's running the Shamrock 8K), watching Melissa's soccer game and visitng with our great, old friends over dinner and Sunday, I want to RELAX (have you seen the line up for Saturday - LOL)!

New Journal Jitters

Admit it. You get them too. It's that nervousness you feel when you open a new, unmarred journal. It engulfs you. Makes your heartbeat quicken. It's that hesitation to take pen/pencil/marker/paint to it the first time.

There is something so beautiful about a blank book. A promise just waiting to be fulfilled. Dreams that are yet to be dreamed. Creations lurking within each page.

I have been toting a blank journal in my purse for a couple of weeks now. Almost had a coronary when my oldest asked if she could rip a page out of it. GASP!!! For a shopping list! Oh the horror that was.

This is my antagonizer.

Why have I been carrying this wonderful blank book around? Why have I been torturing myself by occasionally flipping through the pristine, promise laden pages?

I don't know.

What is holding me back from USING this wonderful little journal that spoke to me enough to make me possess it?

I don't know.

Do you?

WOYWW #93

Welcome !!!

If you are just seeing WOYWW, and wondering what it is, well, I'll try to explain. It's a peek at many workdesks. The lovely Julia of Stamping Ground hosts What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday.

You take a photo of your workdesk, as-is, and post it for anyone who cares to come around to your blog to take a look-see.

It is a bit intimidating at first. I felt like a big slob. My workdesk is always crowded. Full of "stuff". So I was worried that I would seem untidy, but then I took a peek at other workdesks, and realize that I am, mostly, normal. LOL Go figure. Sure, there are those neat-nick's out there who make us all look bad, but they are few and far between. I just took a picture and posted it without too much thought...

 Now it's gotten to the point, in the few weeks that I have joined in, that I look forward to seeing, not only what is on everyone else's workdesk, but what is on mine as well.

You see, it gives me a different perspective on what I have out.  It allows me to take a different approach to my things. I really kind of like this. It's a step back and a head tilt so to speak.

Anyway, on to MY WOYWW entry for this week:

1.) Zentangle ATC's and an inchie - I finally tried my hand at Zentangle. (Rosemary is to blame.) And must admit that I LOVE it. I am going to keep practicing. My hand wasn't as steady as I would like. Partly because I didn't really know what I was doing. I have done some research and found some very informative sites, so I have more of a clue now.

2.) Fabric and zippers for an upcoming project. It's kind of hush-hush for now. But I'll link to it in the future.

3.) One of the ATC's from last week. You can see all of them HERE. Lots of pictures. They aren't grey blogs anymore. Here's a teaser:

4.) A springtime project I am working on for a challenge blog I co-host with Rosemary.

5.) New (to me) Tim embellies I got this week.

Join in on the fun.

I'd love to see your workdesk.

Get yourself a handful...

This is what you can get when you reach out and grab a handful of what you already have.

The challenge this week on OPUS GLUEI is to reach out and grab what is within reach on your workdesk, then make something with what you have grabbed.

My workdesk is usually creatively cluttered. LOL So, I had a bunch of things within reach. Now the problem of what to make with my wonderful goodies. You know, those little bits or pieces that were intended for a project but didn't make the cut.

I thought about cards, but wasn't feeling it. Then I thought bookmarks, but since I have made about a gazillion in the last few months, I decided against that too. ATC's came to mind and I knew I had a winner. I grabbed that piece of cardstock and decided to make a set of 10.

I cut the cardstock as arranged above. Those little white pieces are the leftovers. I'll make 3 inchies out of the larger piece.

I used some gaffers tape and fabric tape to make the background pieces. I used the same pieces on the outside edges to unify the set. And a photo turn and brad on each one too.

My hubby sent me a romantic email the day I was typing the DYMO tape, so I was inspired to use this saying.

And a silver circle on each one too.

And a bit of DYMO tape on each one also.

Can you believe I had so many different bits lying around?

Even the stamps were in reach on my table.

Since I am playing along in a couple of Christmas card challenges I had some Christmas items, so I made a Christmas ATC.

Not all of them are themed, but, they all have something with wings on them.

They all make me happy.

My middle daughter thought up this one.

She even helped by making the DYMO tape for me.



She loves this quote, and has claimed this ATC as her own.

Think you are up to the challenge this week???

Flashback Friday #9

The very loverly AMY of Tsuruta Designs has honored me with the privledge of picking the Challenge for the 9th edition of Flashback Friday.

Flashback Friday is a creation that was inspired by her desire to see what others had done back in the day. So to speak. She put up a challenge on HER blog, and since then it has grown to a blog of its very own. Complete with sponsors. AND with many lovely participants.

Every week she uses a random generator to pick a winner. It's really the only way to keep her sanity with all of the wonderful submissions. (And the not so wonderful ones too.) But, hey, we all grow and change things up a bit, so it's all good. It's all part of how we got to where we are.


Okay, enough blabbering, my choice for this Flashback Friday is your first "Window in the front" card. (I picked one with a nice technical name. Because I am very exact in everything I do. LOL)

Here's the one I did way back in March of 2009.

There are many things I have learned since then. Like how to take a picture. LOL. You would think that I would have known how to get the light in front of the card instead of blindingly behind it.




You can see my original post for this card HERE. I have since added a watermark to pictures I post here. Most of the time. And take pictures with the light in front of the subjects. LOL

This week the sponsor for Flashback Friday is the loverly Julie Peterson. She is a Stampin' Up Demonstrator and is offering up this prize package:

All you have to do to for a chance to win these wonderful goodies is to head over to FLASHBACK FRIDAY, and show us your first.

WOYWW - March 9

It's time again for one of my favorite weekly events. Yes, it's an event. You get to snoop into other peoples workdesks. You get to see how normal you really are. You get to get inspiration from other peoples projects. It's fun. You should try it. And post a picture of your workdesk for us to snoop around your place too. Go HERE to the lovely Julia's for more info and to post your workdesk this fine Wednesday.

This is what is on my workdesk this morning. I can't show the ATC's just yet. (I've already said too much. LOL) But, I can tell you that they are for the next OPUS GLUEI challenge. You can check back here, or on OPUS GLUEI Sunday afternoon, to see what they look like, and what the challenge is.

I haven't been at my workdesk much this week. All of these were gotten to this point on Sunday. My oldest and youngest daughters have started playing soccer, so our days are QUITE full with work full-time and carting the kids everywhere. We aren't getting home until after 7pm each night. (We leave the house at 7am.)

At the top, center of the picture is my newest set of toys. Paint pens. I have just discovered them. And wonder how it took me this long. I LOVE them. This last set was gotten with a 40% off coupon, making it even sweeter.

If asked what tools are my favorite, you can see them here. My ATG gun, my Honey Bee scissors and my paper piercer. I think I use these on EVERY single project. Love 'em.

Do you have any favorite tools?

WOYWW #92

Hard to believe, but I have been at bookmarks. Still. There is something so satisfying about creating a little work of art AND then being able to use it. I LOVE the look of tags, but I never know what to DO with them. I mean, sure I can display them, but I want to USE things. Just one of my (many) quirks.

Opus Gluei - #93 New Tricks

Show us a new trick. That's what those goofy Poobah's over at OPUS GLUEI want this week. (I can say that because, well I'm one of the goof's. LOL)

You all know that I have ventured into the world of Art Journals. I am not professing to be an artist. I AM professing to enjoy the heck out of what I am doing. I will go further to state that I am out to please only me. If you like or don't like the things I come up with is okay. Heck, even I don't like some of the things I come up with. Generally you won't see them, but, sometimes you will. Cuz I am consistently inconsistent. It's how I am.

Anyway, this week I played with texture. I used the gesso I have to create a couple of pages in a new art journal I bought. It wasn't what I really want (the journal) but I am going to use it anyway. It'll be a laboratory of sorts. I'll experiment here. (I used to say I wanted to be a Mad Scientist when I was younger, so here goes. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!)

I didn't take pictures of the process, but here's a look-see anyway. I had a hard time getting myself to make any mark of any sort in this pristine new journal. (Do you get that way too?) So, I just jumped in and used watercolor crayons to color one of the pages. When that was dry, I just dumped a big glob on there and covered it all up. Oops, I dumped too much gesso, so I covered the page next to it too. What the heck was I thinking?!?! Yep, I just dumped a big glob on there and spread it ALL OVER. Crazy, I know. Then I took the end of the brush handle and doodled designs into the wet gesso. Then came the really hard part.

Waiting.

Waiting for the gesso to dry.

Once dried, I used water colors on the plain white page and acrylics on the watercolor crayon'ed page.

I tried, but wasn't able to get a good close-up of the blue/green page to show the texture. The circles and the zig-zags are the textured doodles. I really didn't like the stark white, so I traced over them with paint pens. There are still teeny, tiny spots of white peeking through. I guess I am okay with that. But I really, really, really like, no LOVE, the next page.

I love the way this page turned out and might have a problem covering it up. LOL But, I will. Eventually.

Isn't this great looking. I love the brush strokes and the grooves made from the brush handle. See the watercolors peeking out from the grooves! I LOVE IT!!!