Thursday, August 31, 2006

A quick card for my SIL

So, I decided not to stamp at all today and spent half of the day in bed reading "The Undomestic Goddess" - Sophie Kinsella. Then I remembered that tomorrow we are headed to Utah and I decided that maybe I should stamp a card for my SIL in California who is pregnant, before I leave -- get it in the mail before I go. So I did.

The colors I used are blush blossom (a rare one for me) and chocolate chip. The background is stamped with canvas on whisper white. The pregnant woman is by Katie & Co. and is a stamp I found in the $1 spot at Michaels. The sentiment is from Swell News - Stampin' Up! I watercolored using a blender pen and the ink pad lid to color in the dresses, shoes and ribbon on the hat. I double layered the ribbon at the top for interest -- it looked too plain with just one layer. It is Dots Dashes and Checks ribbon in chocolate sheer from Michaels. I am pleased with how this turned out. It was my first time using the Katie & Co. stamp.

Then, I am finished and SURPRISE, it is my other SIL's 32nd birthday today and I totally spaced it. So, tonight I am going to stamp a card for her and a notebook because she recently went back to school and who does not like a fancy pants notebook to jot your notes in. So much for a day of rest with no stampin'. When I finish I need to pack our clothes and pack the car and then early tomorrow we are off. Hope you all have a happy and safe labor day weekend!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Because of You - Stampin' Up!

So I decided that since I slacked off yesterday (READ: did the laundry and all the housework I had been neglecting instead of stamping), I would try out the color challenge and get one of my new sets inky! I got this set because I love sets that you can color in, and because the sentiment in it is just too cute!!! The colors I ended up using because I do not have all the new colors yet *shock* were bashful blue (I know, my picture does not look quite like that -- camera messed it up), apricot appeal and cranberry crisp. I also added Old Olive in for the leaves and it worked with this particular color combination. In the card above, faux stitching was done on the cranberry crisp using the white gelly roll pen I have. The apricot appeal is stamped with linen background, tone on tone. I don't know how well you can see it, but I distressed the interior edges of the cranberry crisp square. Then I rolled them back a bit. The image was watercolored with a blender pen and the top of my ink pads. I just got the cranberry crisp ribbon yesterday, so I thought I would use it (not sure if it makes it too much stitching on this card though). The background is stamped tone on tone with the little flower stamp in the set. And, last but not least, the charm is a little thank-you one I got at Michael's in their wedding section for really cheap in a pack of like 20.

In the card on the right, the same colors were used. I changed the ribbon to some old olive thin organdy I had, and the eyelets are also old olive. It is hard to see the paper piercing around the edges of the image, but it is there. The little tag was made by using the new tag corner punch. I love that thing!!! I really like how both of these turned out. Maybe I am just nuts. Ally, a friend on SCS said she did not think these colors went together well, but I think I disagree. What do you think now Ally???

So, the power just went out and is still out. Thank goodness for back up battery. I need to go get dressed and ready and take the kids out so we don't die of sweltering heat -- it is AZ and it is now 3 pm . . . seriously!!!!!!!!!

Monday, August 28, 2006

Tis the Season . . . for Holidays & Relatives

Don't stress out, I was not quite meaning Christmas yet, although I have seen some stampers who are already working on Christmas cards! WOW! Speaking of holidays though, I have to admit I am a bit weirded out by the fact that US Thanksgiving is after Halloween. I know I have lived here for like 5 years plus, but growing up in Canada made me trained to expect it in October before Halloween, and my brain cannot handle that it is after. ANYWAY . . . we are headed to visit relatives next weekend . . . fun fun . . . let the holiday party begin.

I was just messing around with some stamps that I got at JoAnn's for $1 each. I came up with a couple of cards, one for Thanksgiving and one for Halloween . . . I made these late last night so I think my creative juices were running out, but they turned out okay.

The turkey card was watercolored and then I doodled on the edges. Had to try that at least once since it is so "in" right now. I also doodled on the linen stamped strip attached with the brads. The "Thank You" is from Stampin' Up! Much Appreciated. The colors I used were chocolate chip, really rust, confetti cream and more mustard.

The bats card is a turned version of SC86. The colors I used are green galore, lovely lilac and basic black. The Spooktacular Stamp is also from JoAnn's. The background was sponged with lovely lilac after I stamped the bats. All the stitching was done using a template by Lasting Impressions to pierce and then my trusty white Gelly roll pen. I really love halloween and I just love this one. It will be hard to part with...

Creativity Exercise a Day - Journaling - DAY 7

So I don't really do scrapping, and since today's creativity challenge was journaling, I decided since it would be hard to incorporate into a card, I would just do ten minutes of free writing on my dream life. I found this to be very therapeutic and lots of raw emotion just poured out.

My dream life would be one in which I was loved completely for who I am. There would be no negative. There would be no hurt emotions. There would be only love. I would be able to get pregnant when I wanted to. I would be able to spend more time with my kids. I would be a better mommy. I would make the right choices at the right times. I would not carry any emotional baggage. If the mood struck me to stamp, dance, sing, read, eat, crochet – I would just go do that. There would be no bills to pay. There would only be peace in the world. I would be free. I would be closer to my family. I could help my grandma who is struggling with chemotherapy. I would know why some things happen the way they do, and I would have foresight in all I did and said. Good friends would be easy to find, easy to maintain and hard to lose. I would be able to travel. I would take more pictures. I would be me, with no fear of the consequences. I would eat healthy and exercise more frequently. I would focus on making myself be the best I could be. I would continually learn. I would let my friends know I care. I would be more giving. I would love more completely.

Can dreams become reality?

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Potty Training continues . . .

E made it on the potty twice today! Miracles do happen! She got M&M's the first time and a small snow white dolly the second time . . . I am trying to encourage repeat performances . . .

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Impress #206-901-9101

I had the best mommy time this weekend. Wondering what that is? Well, every Saturday I have free mommy time from 12 noon till 3 o'clock-ish. This Saturday I decided to check out a stamp store in Glendale, since it was not too far from me. I drove to the Creative Quest and when I went in the door, I knew this had been what I was looking for. I was looking for a store that had less emphasis on scrapbooking and more emphasis on rubber stamps, paper and cardmaking. I am so excited about this store you would not even believe it. I spent about an hour browsing around and found some new rubber, some flexible microscope slides, and some precut book board. The Impress flower is pretty rad. It is just the flower, not the center pieces. I love it. I also got two sentiments from Penny Black, but I have not used them yet, so look for them in a future post. I am so excited to play with it all. When I was done there, I made a pit stop at Ceretta's Chocolate Factory (like a block away) and bought some delicious chocolates. M was pretty happy about that when I got home . . . he looked pretty frazzled, apparently my kids can be nerve wracking, who would have thought??? What a perfect mommy time. I took less time than I usually do too -- I think I was back just after 2 pm.
Here are a couple cards I created with a stamp from Impress and Sweet Spot (Stampin' Up!), retired set. I love them!!! The colors I used were elegant eggplant, cranberry crisp, garden green and close to cocoa. The eggplant one was the second one I made and has little glittery "bling" jewels added and the funky green stripe ribbon that I scored at Michael's in the $1 ribbon bin and had been waiting for a place to use. I sure do miss Sweet Spot.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Feeling kinda UGH

So, last night a stamped a creation for Rhonna's Creativity Exercise A Day challenges. I did not have an inspiration/idea/sketch book, so I decided to create one. I will do the other parts of the challenges soon, but that was all I could handle last night, I was way too tired. The darker pink is stamped with Print Pattern Background and then a little gem was added to each point connection. The lighter pink was stamped with Mixed Bouquet roses (which p.s. I am obsessed with this set-especially that stamp) and then the leaves were stamped on celery with staz on, cut out and adhered. The roses were then sponged with regal rose ink, and then covered with Crystal effects and a little glitter to make them puffy and shiny. The black dots were my "doodling aspect" and were done with a sharpie. The ribbons are self explanatory. Font is Curlz.

Today I am working on potty training E again. I think we are making progress by making her go bare butt. She had a huge temper tantrum over not wearing a diaper and not wearing big girl pants. She really wanted to wear the big girl pants but I told her not until she pees in the potty. She refuses a diaper at this point, so I think we are getting close. *crosses fingers* I am letting her drink all the invisible Kool-aid she can drink, so maybe, just maybe she will have an "accident" and go on the potty!

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Inkspired by Jesse'smom (Kelly B).


I saw this great card in the gallery on Splitcoaststampers, by Kelly Brandt, where she mixed lumiere with reinkers and the dabbed it on cardstock using plastic wrap. I had done lumiere resist before, where you dab the lumiere on and then brayer color over it, but I had never thought to mix the color right into the lumiere. Her results were gorgeous and so I just had to try. My attempts do not quite compare to hers, but I know this is something I am going to play with some more until I get it just right. I also might have to try a combination of this color mixed lumiere technique and the resist. Thanks for inspiring me with your great idea Kelly, and thanks for the extra tips and advice you PM'ed to me. You're awesome!!!

Bloom - The font on this card was printed from microsoft word. I used just the cranberry crisp reinker and lumiere mix on this background. The stamp is from Tags and More (Stampin' Up!) and the black brads were added for interest. I wanted the black ribbon to make it look sort of like a window and I think it worked.

Golden Friendship - This was my second pool of lumiere, gold encore reinker and lumiere. It looks a little more green in real life. I struggled with the layout for this one, but I think it came together in the end. The flower is from Mixed Bouquet (Stampin' Up!) and the sentiment is from Wonderful Words (Stampin' Up!).

Roses For You - This card was inspired by a sketch challenge. It uses a combination of the cranberry crisp and gold lumiere colors. The roses are from Mixed Bouquet, and the sentiment is from Tiny Talk (Stampin' Up). The tag is on dimensionals, and the ribbon is tied through it. The faux stitching was done last minute with a sharpie, next time I think I would go on a hunt for the black gel pen, but it works.

SERIOUSLY!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14486560/

This is too funny to me. Seriously, if you are old enough to have a penis pump, then you are old enough to realize that admitting that you have one and not claiming it is a bomb is a good idea. Um, three years in prison, or telling your mom that you are a sexual being . . . . seriously, some people are so dumb. Just sayin'.

Rhonna's Creativity Exercise A Day

So, I was reading on Jennie's blog, and came across this other blog by Rhonna Farrer, where for 10 days she is doing challenges. And, although I do not scrapbook -- I was thinking that I could just as easily take her challenges and apply them to my cardmaking. So, since I am already 3 days behind, I am gonna stamp this next week or so, and try some of her creativity exercises and I will post what I came up with . . . (to be continued)

A good stamping day and a moment of weakness

So yesterday I decided to play with chipboard. I also completed the sketch challenge. I thought my results were just okay, but the feedback that I have gained from this card, is astounding. "They like me, they really like me."

The chipboard flower was created following a tutorial by Jenn Balcer on how to cover it. It was simple really. Then I just punched a small circle and a button with mellow moss ribbon just seemed the perfectly logical next step. The layout and the different paper layers came easily. The hardest part for me was figuring out where to put "friend" on the card. Oh, and deciding whether or not to add the primas on the side. They were totally an afterthought and did not quite match perfectly (I am so A.R.) so I could not decide. In the end, I added them, but only after sponging them with mellow moss ink. That way they blended in better. The whole card is done in confetti cream, cranberry crisp, and mellow mellow moss.

The moment of weakness occured this morning after my good stamping day. I decided that I wanted to place a hostess order for SU! even though I have already met my minimums for the quarter. I was trying to wait it out till next quarter, but that is over a month away and I decided that I just needed to get some new stuff before then. So, I did it. I don't really have remorse about it, but I will be really extra good on not buying other treats and such at the store in the next little while to counter balance it. DOH! I am so excited for the new stuff to come to me.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Bugs and Kisses Day

So, my poor "Bugs and Kisses" SU set was being treated cruelly. I got it right after the new catty came out and it has sat on my shelf waiting to be used and I have ignored it. So, I decided to play with it and see what I could come up with. My first inkspiration was to use the worm as gummy worms. I was looking at my bag of grosgrain scraps and the colors just kind of came to me. The colors used are tempting turquoise, regal rose, yo yo yellow, and green galore. The ribbon was done in the perfect bow method, only I used three colors. The black gingham was tied through the original loop. The yellow strips of grosgrain were to replace the paper strip in the original sketch challenge idea, and the black brads at the bottom were just to add interest. Also, stamped tone on tone in the background there are more worms. The only thing this card is missing is a little glitter. I think overstamping the worms with irridescent ice would complete the yummy gummy worms look. Maybe next time.

The second card I did used some chipboard that I picked up at Scrapbooks Etc. in Mesa. The ants going around the circle with "Cute as a Bug" in the middle could be cheeky though because who really likes ants at their picnic and thinks they are "cute." Oh well, I thought it turned out lovely. The chipboard was naked when I got it, so I painted it with a little white acrylic paint and let that dry and then stamped the linen background on it. Then I sponged the edges (at least 5 times, the paint/chipboard kept eating the color and it was going pink). Then stamped the ants on and added the ribbon. For the card, the linen background was stamped in real red on glossy white and then the ants were done in staz on black after the red had dried. The black brads were added to create balance. I think it turned out well and I think I really like this set. Okay, off to sleep, I will upload the creation I did today that everyone likes best in the morning.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Fall Swaps for my up and sidelines

My card turned out okay. I really struggled with it. The colors are summer sun, handsome hunter and pumpkin pie. Oh, and the sunflower itself is stamped on kraft rather than the traditional vanilla or white. The stamp set used here is a Stampin Up! one called "Give Thanks." It was new in this years catalog. The image is colored with water color pencils and a blender pen (yes, I am old school). There is a little bit of crystal effects and glitter on the seed center of the flower, although in hindsight, I think I would just do crystal effects next time. The piercing was an afterthought because it looked too plain to me. The ribbon idea came from the SU mini catty, and the brads were because I did not want to use staples. It is hard to see but the background is stamped tone on tone with Linen background from SU! I think it will do. I hope Marsha likes it. I guess I will know in about a week or so . . .

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Virtual Stamp Night on Splitcoaststampers

For some reason I have not really been as "into" virtual stamp night lately. But, I did do a few of the challenges. I think I would have done more, but I was uninspired. I think part of my stamping block is because there are things I need to get done like my swaps for my upline, and a wedding invite idea for a sideline member, and they are keeping me from just spewing forth creativity. At any rate, I did 6 of the challenges.

The card on the left is called "Stupid Happy in Love." The challenge was to use pink and one neutral. You could use any pinks you wanted to, so I used pink passion, rose red, pretty in pink and pixie pink Stampin' Up! inks. The couple stamp is a Penny Black design. I got it when I was in El Paso. It has been waiting for some love. The hearts in the background are SU "All Through the Year" and the "Happiness" at the bottom is also SU, "Warm Words" I like how this one turned out. I got the layout idea from the sketch challenge on www.splitcoaststampers.com, and then I just added the couple image on top. I also used my white gel pen to do some faux stitching on the hearts, it is really subtle (READ: you can hardly see it) but I think it adds something.
The card on the right is with my new favorite set, SU "Booglie Eyes." I have a passion for Halloween. I just love it. Not sure why, but I do. I had so much fun coloring in these adorable little witches. The orange paper on the side is wet and crumpled, and then sponged a bit to age it. I think it turned out cute. Inside it says "Happy Boo to You." All in all, VSN was great fun for me, and as usual I have some challenges I did not complete, that will inspire me to create more fun cards in the next weeks until the September VSN.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Not computer saavy

Okay, so I am quickly learning how not computer saavy I have become and I am starting to understand somewhat of what my grandparents feel. I have been trying to work out some of the kinks on this site and get the pictures looking snazzy and such, and it is actually lots of work. I am also going to transition my blog to include more of my stamping work, since I can and because more people are having stamping blogs, so why not me?

Anyway, today I wanted to write a bit about the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo that I had the opportunity to attend on the weekend. It was held in Mesa, AZ and was a little smaller scale than I was first expecting, however, I had fun! I got two stamps from starvingartiststamps and got to do a make and take and see some cool demonstrations. A friend of mine suggested Saturday mommy time away from the family, and it is really working for me. From noon to three I got to play at the expo/Michael's/
Scrapbooks Etc. There were some demonstrators from Stampin' Up at the expo. I did their make and take for $1 and it was what inspired me to make this card. I really liked the pop up idea of it. I might have to make this the make and take at a fall stamp workshop.

The background stamp is from www.starvingartistamps.com and the blocks are just filled in with cardstock cut to fit. The eyeballs are just colored in with white gel pen and the white stitching on the black was an afterthought, but I think it works. I really like how this turned out. So you pull the two glued together sides and POP -- up comes the "Happy Boo to You" message! This card was sent to Jody (texasjodylynn) in our monthly swap!

Monday, August 14, 2006

Are we that squeamish???

Here is the article from MSNBC.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14065706/

In spite of all the good things about breastfeeding -- is breast-feeding now TABOO??? I read this article and my first thought was "get over it." I think the cover of this magazine was a very appropriate location for a photo like this one. This cover shows no nipple or anything too gross, and is simply a cute baby eating his lunch. If it had a picture of a baby eating a spoonful of rice cereal no one would care -- so why does this have to be any different? I was offended that so many people were upset by this cover. It is beautiful in its own way and any mother should appreciate it. I breast fed my children and was very discreet about it, but at the same time, I don't feel like it should be something that should be looked down upon. What do you think?

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Potty Training is an Evil EVIL thing

So we are working on potty training E. It is a slow process, but after lots of drinks, popcorn and bribery last night, she finally went pee in the big girl potty. We gave her the Belle doll as promised for her peeing on the potty. Then this afternoon we had another success. We are going to make Dora the explorer cupcakes to celebrate. I am so ready for her to be trained, I mean, she is 3.5 years old and has great bladder control. Just think, when I get her trained, it will be not too long and I will get to train a cute little J. That ought to be a blast since boys are apparently harder to train than girls . . . *sigh*