Spin Spin Spin

Princess A has her first ever dance competition this evening; I cannot express how proud I am of her! When I first saw this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (#225), I thought it would be perfect with a ballerina mouse, but my stamp was too small.

Enter the bear. Just the right size, and the pinwheel adds a fun, festive touch.

It took a long time to decide on a sentiment (I do not have that many), but thought the double-double meaning (pinwheels spin, dancers spin) was cute. 

I get a little corny sometimes. 

Card Details:

Image: The Cat's Pajamas

Sentiment: The Cat's Pajamas

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring: Tim Holtz Distress Ink

Tools: N/A

Embellies: Unknown brad

Not a Princess-y Birthday

Princess A turned 17 yesterday! I cannot believe how quickly time goes by. Seems like just last year she was having her Sweet Sixteen...

I was thinking about past cards and realized that most years, her cards are purple, and the past several years the theme has been something in the fairy tale realm (princesses, dragons, wizards, etc). 
Even though she has been telling me for weeks that soon she will be allowed to do magic outside of Hogwarts, this year there is nothing magical about her card.

Well, except for the fact that it is so cute

And it suits the current Lawnscaping Challenge (#124)

Card Details:

Image: Lawn Fawn

Sentiment: Lawn Fawn

Cardstock: Hammermill, Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor, SU

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Archival Jet Black
Coloring: Copic markers, Tim Holtz Distress Ink

Tools: Lawn Cuts dies, Nestabilities

Embellies: Unknown pop dots, unknown Bakers Twine

A Herd of Smooches

Last night I had the opportunity to watch my chorus rehearsal via a private Periscope. Twas very cool, I must say. I was able to go about and do what I had to do, and not miss a minute of the singing. Unlike with Facetime/Skype, the sounds from my driving, or the dogs barking, or talking to Princess A, did not transmit to them and cause disruption. Awesome!

As a thank you to the one who made it all possible, I whipped up this little Smooches card. I could only use one layer for the card, so I stamped many layers of cows.  

The theme and the Paper Smooches stamps were chosen because today starts a new challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog, which I found completely by accident while searching something else.

Serendipity I think.
Or is it kismet?
















Card Details:

Image: Paper Smooches, Stampendous

Sentiment: Paper Smooches

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Memento, Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Homemade masks

Embellies: Unknown ribbon

Sweet Sixteen

Princess A had a birthday yesterday. 

Birthday cake for breakfast! Carrot cake is healthy, isn't it?

 My baby is SIXTEEN!
 






















Her bedroom is a shrine to Ross Lynch (she says it is for the band 'R5' as a whole, but 99.999999999% of the pics are of Ross), she loves designing and programming the lighting for Drama Club, and she takes just about every possible dance class available at the studio (she even teaches a few classes to the younger set). She is funny, smart, goofy, loving, sarcastic, an absolute slob, original, creative... and I just adore her!

Her birthday card is purple again this year. I say again, even though you have no way of knowing as I did not blog it last year; but I realized because I only just now got around to photographing last years card to post on Facebook.

Tuesday Morning Sketches (#288), as is so often the case, was my inspiration. I still have not figured out whether the dragon is lighting the candles on purpose, or just struggling to blow them out.






Card Details:

Image: Newton's Nook, SU

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, unknown

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabillities, SU punches

Embellies: Unknown brads, generic pop-dots

At the End of the Day

Right smack in the middle of summer vacation, we had two young ladies (in addition to my own Princess A) come and stay with us for a week. The littlest went to camp all day and the two oldest who had time and opportunity to do whatever they wanted (day trips, hikes, mini golf, you name it!), decided they really just wanted to hang out and read. 

At the end of a long day of camp and, um, reading, here they all are sitting by the fire, or in the case of Princess A, lying on the hammock.

On the Line

Welcome to my first entry for 52 Photos Project! I became aware of this project originally through my sister, and most recently through my mother who informed me it was fine to jump in any time. So... here I am!

Last weeks prompt is "On the Line". Sure, I am jumping in last minute, but the gallery is still open, so why not?

I have spent the last several days thinking of lines, and looking for lines and just not feeling very creative about lines. Then I thought of Princess A's math class. She is taking Geometry; and what is Geometry, but non-stop LINES!

Here is a sample from tonight's homework:

Ranting Over Others' Reactions to a Tragedy

This article came up through my news feed on Facebook this afternoon. I am appalled at some of the comments: 
One says that there is plenty of research that the majority of peanut allergies are psychological (!!)
Another suggested that instead of banning the foods, allergic people should just avoid places containing the allergen. Umm, school?!?
Yet another who says it is not his problem, and he is tired of having to change his life because of someone else's problem. 

When Princess A was three she ate a cashew. As soon as she swallowed it she started screaming that her tongue hurt, that her throat hurt, that her chest hurt, that her belly hurt, then she started vomiting. Fortunately she missed the Christmas turkey that was just about to be served.
Two months later (Valentine's Day, to be exact), she took a bite of a peanut butter cup handed out at her (supposedly peanut-free) daycare. Again, she immediately started screaming. I had her spit it out, rinsed her mouth out, gave her Benadryl and all was well. Thankfully.
Less than a year after this, we went out to dinner. We told the hostess of her allergy before we even agreed to eat there. Told the server as we were handed our menus, and reiterated the information when we ordered. We were assured everything was safe. Turns out it wasn't, there was a walnut in the oatmeal cookie. Again, screaming in pain, and I could see her lips swell. Her words were slurred as her tongue swelled as well. Benadryl was given, an epi-pen was administered and paramedics were called.
Each of these events occurred before she was 4-1/2 years old, the final two at places that had assured us they were nut free. 
If she so much as taps a peanut/treenut, she will get a rash. I have also known her to cough/wheeze if she gets too close to peanut butter. 
These reactions are neither imagined nor psychosomatic. Do you really believe a three-year-old is that cunning? How could the four-year-old have known there was a walnut in the cookie when the shop who baked them didn't? 

I know another little girl who, at age 2, was served a peanut butter sandwich. And by 'served' I mean it was placed on the table in front of her. The reaction was instantaneous. She did not touch it, she did not bite it, but her face and lips blew up. 

Did you know that reactions can vary? That if you have a mild allergic reaction one time, does not mean you are mildly allergic, it just means you were lucky. Next time can be a whole different story. Allergies also can develop over time. I met a woman just a couple of weeks ago (Princess A and I took her Zentangle class) who said she had a horrible reaction in a Thai restaurant when she has never had one before. The culprit was peanuts.

I find the reaction of 'I should not have to change, it is your problem' absolutely horrifying. We are not talking about someone who does not like mushrooms and insists that no one else eat them either. Nor someone who chooses to eat vegan and expects all to accommodate. This is a matter of Life and Death.
I think all schools, daycare centers, kid gyms, etc. should ban peanuts and treenuts. I do not believe this will lead to the restriction of every food under the sun that has ever caused someone trouble. In fact, the only other allergy I have heard of that can have such a devastating effect just from being inhaled is latex. And I know of a school that did not hesitate to ban latex from the ENTIRE school for that ONE KID.
Most children of elementary school age and younger are not savvy enough to advocate for themselves, nor are the youngest ones able to read a label. Kids also have a tendency to spill things, leave messes and not wash hands, then touch everything. That peanut butter on his desk, or on his hand can spread throughout the entire room. Your kid will survive if he does not eat a peanut butter sandwich. My kid could die if he does. Is your child's immediate gratification more important than my daughters life??

Plus, sometimes it is your problem. Some years ago, Princess A and I flew to FL, to see my sister. I bought tickets with an airline whose policy was that while they were unable to forbid peanuts altogether, they would prepare a peanut free area, six rows in front, behind and across the aisle of an allergic person. The flight attendants made an announcement that "due to an allergy, rows blank through blank would not be served any peanuts and any that they had purchased needed to stay in their bags, or we would have to land in North Carolina and nobody wants that".

But of course we all know that person who insists her kid is allergic to milk, then proceeds to serve him yogurt as part of lunch and ice cream for dessert. Or that other one who says she is allergic to dairy and, when accidentally served cheese topping, just scrapes it off and eats it anyway. Or the one whose kid is allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, and treenuts, but the child does not bring her own snack to the amusement park and the epipen is purposely left (by the parents) in the car. Or yet another one who says he is so deathly allergic to fish that he expects everyone in his apartment complex(!) to no longer prepare fish in their own homes(!), yet does not even own an epipen. (Trust me, he was not allergic)
Please, please, please, do not say there is an allergy if it is only a dislike or disdain or totally grossed-outedness. Just say you find it repellant. Otherwise, you seriously undermine the safety of those with true allergies. I am certain the reason that so many believe that all of this allergy talk is just "hype" or made up is because of stories like those above. Allergies are very real and very dangerous. Those of us whose lives are ruled by them (you have to eat in order to survive) need to be believed and need to be respected.

Finally, never, ever serve an allergen to a guest with an allergy. Ask before preparing food if there are any allergies in the party. Be cognizant of the ingredients you use and warn people of what is not safe. Better yet, don't cook with those troublesome items at all. I am always willing to answer questions as to what exactly Princess A can and cannot eat, and how to prepare something to be absolutely sure it is safe. I also do not mind providing for her (I have baked her personal cupcakes for many a birthday party), but do appreciate if the majority of your menu is safe for her to eat. I know I am obnoxiously judgmental over how people prepare food for my daughter. It is not personal, I am just trying to keep her safe. She wants to be able to participate in the festivities as fully as the other kids do, after all. A trip to the ER is not fun for anyone.

Mini Melinas Twisted Tuesday

The owner of the Twisted Tuesdays Challenge blog (#2TC57)has a little girl who just had a birthday (happened after the challenge posted, but before I posted here). I do not know her name, however, so I will call her Mini Melina. In honor of her birthday, the challenge is to use the color pink (a favorite of Minis); The twist is to show something that is outdoors (Mini loves to play outside).

When I was at the Rubber Stamp Expo this past June, I did a Make -n- Take which involved sponging and spritzing. I really loved the effect, and when SCS published that same technique recently in their weekly tutorial, I wanted to try it again. 

The shades of pink (trust me, there are three) evolve from lightest on the right to darkest on the left. Most of the gallery photos, and even the Make -n- Take that I did, feature silhouettes, but I thought Mini was a bit young for that yet. Many stamps were considered and dismissed, but as soon as I saw this one, I knew it was right.

Happy Birthday Mini!

When I asked Princess A if the first thing that came to mind when she thought of the great outdoors was a unicorn, she hesitated, and in that moment, Main Squeeze pointed out, "well, I have never seen one inside"
















Card Details:

Image: Unknown

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: SU, Memento
Coloring: N/A

Tools: Sponges, Spray bottle

Embellies: Gelly Roll Stardust glitter pen, unknown rhinestones

Happy (Humorous) Birthday, Barb!

I think of myself as a rather entertaining person; I can usually get a good guffaw out of ya at least once in a conversation. But I will admit, coming up with an idea for a humorous birthday card stumped me. Over the course of a few days, whenever it would cross my mind, I put in varying search terms in Google Images to find something funny that I could replicate. Nothing too difficult, as I was going to need to make multiples. 

Finally, FINALLY, I hit pay dirt. A sentiment made one of my stamps jump to the forefront of my mind. It would be complicated, as it would involve much detailed cutting and numerous maskings, but I have plenty of time (cards are not due until October, after all); I decided to go for it. 

This time around, The Deconstructed Sketch (#111) provided inspiration for the layout. 

About five minutes in, it became very clear, that the idea was beyond my abilities to produce once, never mind eight times. A quick search through my birthday drawer and I found another image that would work just fine; and a card was born.

I alternated between punches for the border. At first I had the candles dripping red wax (different punch than shown here), but Princess A stated that it looked more like blood, which had also crossed my mind. Not exactly festive.

I punched icicles, turned them upside down and put them along the top, and she agreed it could pass for flame. All those candles would produce a mighty blaze. 





With the way Barb and Jeanette are always ragging each other, I think this card's message is perfect. 








Card Details:

Image: Hero Arts

Sentiment: American Art Stamps, computer generated

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copic Markers

Tools: Martha Stewart punch, SU punch, Nestabilities, Embossing folder

Embellies: Unknown brad

What Happened to Flopsey?

Some weeks ago, LJ opened a swap for a stamp company I do not own and have no desire to acquire. I checked out Linda's stash, but nothing jumped out at me. She and I discussed it and decided to request LJ host a My Favorite Things swap so I could join it. (Sure, I could have hosted it myself, but I really wanted to join an LJ swap.)

Here we are more than 30 days later, and I have just finished my cards. But, since they are not due for 20 more days, I am actually ON TIME!!!

Back to MFT... What happened to Flopsey?? I went on the site to see if there were any new Flopseys I needed for this swap and there was not a single one! I read a little further only to find out Flopsey was discontinued?! WHAT?!? How could they do that to this bunny that reminds me so very much of Princess A's own special Mel??

[This was Mel on Princess A's first First Day of Fifth Grade (I say first First because she had a second First Day when we moved). He is sitting on the front steps waiting for her to come home from school so he can present her with the gift we made for her while she was away.]






I cannot believe that my six sets of Flopsey are all I am ever going to have of him. I guess Mel will have to live vicariously through the critters of some of my other stamp sets instead...

I found the sketch for this card on Sketch Saturday (#266) after reading Kelly's post about it. I had never heard of this blog before, but it is now bookmarked and I hope to continue to find inspiration there.

  


















Card Details:

Image: MFT, Artful Inkables, Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento, SU

Tools: Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, IO Mega Mount, SU punch

Coloring: Copic markers, Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Unknown dimensionals

Thank You to Yoda

When Princess A was just barely three, she liked to sing into the microphone on my computer and have me play it back for her. I decided to use this opportunity to my advantage and had her sing Happy Birthday to various people and then I would email them the track. One of them was to Laura, but Princess A, being just three did not pronounce Ls or Rs very well. The resulting line was, "Happy Birthday Dear Yoda". Laura has been Yoda ever since.

Fast forward to 2013. Yoda is now on the Management Team of my Chorus; her position being Corresponding Secretary or Communications Manager or something like that. Anyway, she was talking after Contest about needing to send cards, and I jumped in and said, "What kind of cards do you need? I will make them for you".
She said she needed three congratulations and one thank you and that she would need more in a few weeks to send a "love gift" to the chorus and quartet competing in Hawaii. When I got home, I remembered this as she needed multiple thank yous and one of something else, whose theme I could not recall. Oops! What can I say it was a long, busy weekend and I was tired. (But I won some pretty medals )

As soon as I realized that the thank you image was flowers, I decided to make lots (16 to be exact) so I could send them for a swap as well. (Soon after I had signed up for two spots in Barb's Fabulous Flowers swap, the hostess for May/June in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards picked flowers as her theme as well. That is a lot of flowers!) It is hard to tell in the scan, but the center of eight of the falling flowers is a pearl. Without further ado, here are the cards that Yoda will be sending and will also go to the SOTC swap: 

Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up!

Sentiment: (SU)

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: SU

Tools: Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page (Corner)

Coloring: N/A

Embellies: Viva Pearl Pen











On a related note, I posted this to Yoda's Facebook Wall this morning:

 

5K Diary - Week Two

 W2D1: My baby is in the hospital. We spent all day yesterday in the Emergency Room and she was transferred and admitted to a hospital closer to home at 7PM. This morning I did not want to do anything, but then I thought, "what am I going to do, sit home and wallow in my depression? I cannot visit her until this evening, so I may as well get out there." Main Squeeze was on his way to grocery (as no one was able to get there yesterday) so I asked him to bring me to the track. Not ready to start my day alone I guess. Roxy came along for the ride and on the way I said she was wishing she had longer legs. Gemini meanwhile was wishing she had a brain. For some reason everyone this morning chose to go the opposite direction from us, so for every lap I passed them twice. Sometimes I wonder if the running part would go easier if Gemini was not pulling out to the side whenever someone else came along on the track.

W2D2: This week just gets harder and harder to get going. Probably does not help that I forgot to Peas my knee after Curves yesterday. I decided at the last minute to go to the Success Assembly at school, even though Princess A would not be there. One of the teachers asked if I had another kid at the school. She gave me a funny look when I said no, it is just that I have never missed one. Then there is the jogging itself. I cannot imagine next weeks assignment when I feel like I am barely getting through this week. Main Squeeze thinks that it will be fine; each day as I push myself to the end, I am building up strength for the next week when I will have to do more. 

And, yes Tami, your comments did help me to get started and they keep me going every time. April now, too. Thank you both!
BTW, I think the dogs would be very happy if my Knee Peas were to spring a leak  

W2D3: Memories of Day 2 made it even harder to get going this morning; what a lucky surprise that I was not struggling at all! In fact, I missed the first walking cue and ended up jogging for an extra thirty seconds and felt fine! By the time she said to cool down, I was happy to be done, but at the same time I know I could have done another jogging leg (no pun intended). The big question is, was it so easy because I am getting stronger, or because I left Gemini at home? Without the many corrections she requires I was able to focus on an even stride; but then again, how even would that stride have been without days one and two?

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

I have always liked the saying, "In like a Lion, out like a Lamb" when it comes to March. It reminds me that Spring will soon be here. When it is a snowy winter, I love the season, but when just dark and gray and the ground is brown, not so much. 

Way back in elementary school (first grade maybe?) Princess A made a lion face and a lamb face. Around the first of March these are hung; one on the door going in (the lion) and the other going out (lamb). These little guys always make me smile and are one of my absolute favorites of her art projects over the years.

Yesterday was been a mixed bag. Woke up to several inches of snow on the ground, but by school bus time it was sleeting. Changed to rain and freezing rain for a while, then suddenly snowing fast and furiously again. Two hours later what was covering the driveway from that second snowfall was gone. The lion is losing her roar. The lamb is edging her way in. 

I was not sure what to do with this weeks sketch(#190) over at Tuesday Morning Sketches until I saw the challenge this week at Twisted Tuesday Challenges(#46). The sketch could not have been any more perfect!

Therefore, I made two.

Where are the pearls on this first card, you are wondering? Look closely at the flowers behind Riley's and the lamb's ears, and also the one still growing on the left.

The lamb is made wooly with Liquid Applique. I don't think it is physically possible for me to make a sheep and not puff it out with that stuff.

While perusing Facebook last night, I discovered a lucky coincidence; this card also qualifies for the Riley and Company challenge(#0613) this week. Oh happy day!

On the second card, the little rim of 'metal' between the handle and bristles of the paintbrushes is colored with a Gelly Roll Stardust clear glitter pen. The pearls here follow the sketch more closely.



Happy First Day of Spring!    

Card Details:

Image: Riley & Co

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: SU, GP, unknown dp

Ink: Memento

Tools: SU square punch

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Viva Pearl Pen, Liquid Applique, SU buttons, SU bakers twine, Gelly Roll Stardust glitter pen

What This Woman Wants

I have missed stamping and swapping and all the friendships I have made online along the way. As soon as I finished my 'Seasons of the Forest' cards, I went looking for another swap. Barb (another favorite SCS'er) had a new swap, "What Women Want". I read the description and headed into The Refuge. There on my desk was my one and only Pure Innocence stamp from MFT. I had not yet gotten around to putting her away after she had arrived several weeks before, mostly due to the fact that my desk, floor, shelves, etc had been completely buried for many months. Fortunately, last weekend I thoroughly, though admittedly not completely, cleaned the Refuge. Serendipity; It was as though she was waiting for this moment.Too hokey? OK, well, there she was on the desk anyway.

Next I went to Tuesday Morning Sketches(#188) for my plan, as I have long been a fan. (I'm a poet and I did not know it) (I guess I am more tired than I realized, sorry)

This woman loves to watch and listen to Princess A make music. She has played the violin since she was seven and it is a joy to see her on stage, rare though those occasions may be. On Friday and Saturday, March 8th and 9th she was due to participate in the Eastern Regional Middle School Music Festival, invitation by audition only I have to brag, but it has been postponed for a week due to our excessive snow fall on the 8th. Therefore on March 16th, I will be there in the audience excitedly waiting to see her and the rest of the orchestra.

What a woman wants is to see and hear her talented, hard-working and beautiful Princess perform on the violin






Card Details:
Image: MFT
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU, GP
Ink: Memento
Tools: Marvy Corner Rounder punch
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Martha Stewart ribbon, SU button



This post is also being linked to Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog (Week 42) - Anything Goes!

My Million Dollar Check is Gone in the Wind

Just about an hour ago, a large black pickup truck took out our mailbox. (I do not know why I mention it was large and black; Perhaps you know him?) I heard a thump and looked out to see the box flying. The truck did not even slow down. Took another glance and realized the pole is now not even a stump.

Princess A said today was probably the day we got that letter stating we had won $1 million. (Did I mention it is terribly windy outside?).

I told her, "Now you know why I insist you wait for the bus halfway down the driveway rather than at the end." "Oh"

But as with many things there is good news:

I got a new mailbox about 6 months ago and have been waiting for Main Squeeze to install it. That is double-sided good news - good that he had not done it yet, good that it will now get done

Good that it was not Roxy out for her afternoon constitutional that got hit. (Gemini is never off leash in the front cuz she is too foolish)

Good that I was not out collecting the mail from the box at the time

Good that I am not hosting a swap right now, as the mailbox was full. I hope I collected everything, but with this wind, who knows? There certainly was not our winning Million Dollar check, so I have no idea what else was lost

RIP Dear Departed Mailbox. You were a hard worker and a good friend.

I have a line from this song stuck in my head; "I guess nothing can last forever"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFjjO_lhf9c&ob=av3n

My Craft Room Needs a Name

It has been a while since I blogged, and here with the New Year (again), it seems time to get back into it.

My stamp room needs a name. Every other room has a name. Not Susie or Joe, but exciting names like Living Room and Princess A's Bedroom. We do have an itty room with a(n unwatched) TV in it that has come to be referred to as the Den. I tried recently to rechristen it the Office, because Main Squeeze does have a desk and computer in there, but that just does not seem to be going anywhere. Since I stamp everything I make with a red wolf, Den seems appropriate, but we cannot have two Dens. How about Wolf's Den, you ask. Well, not too far away there is a casino, two of 'em actually, but this one in particular has ads for the Wolf Den. I cannot have a craft room with the same name as a smoking, drinking, gambling joint, although I did tell my doctor the other day that in my next life I was going to do all those things as well as drugs and hooking cuz refraining does not seem to have mattered health-wise, but that is another story. You can see how having that same name does not appeal... in this life at least.

I bring this plea to you, my faithful followers, as it has been more than a year now and I am stuck. What shall I name my stamping room?

Thank Ewe

Many moons ago, Main Squeeze, Princess A and I hosted an Open House. At that point we had owned our new home for 10 months, so it was time. Here we are two months later and I still owe some thank you notes. All I can say is we never expected gifts, and the stamp room was in complete disarray (Hence the sporadic blog posts for such a long time) Fortunately Scrappy came to the rescue!

My one goal for this week was to complete a card for the Crafty Hos. After all, I am supposed to be a member of the DT. Now that Princess A is back in school,  and I have had some time, I was able to finally organize the stamp room with my new storage units (I ♥ The Container Store!). It is not quite done, but I can walk across the floor without injuring myself or breaking anything, and I can easily access all of my supplies! As Princess A mentioned the other day upon glancing in, "wow, this room is cleaner than it has been since we moved in!"

This weeks Crafty Ho Challenge is a Sketch Challenge:

Immediately, I thought of the farm as the main image. The rest followed from there. Princess A looked at the card for several moments and stated, "I don't get it".

I really need to find a "Thank Ewe" stamp.











Card Details:
Image: SU
Sentiment: Stamps by Judith
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento, SU
Tools: Crop-a-Dile II Big Bite
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Unknown eyelets, SU dimensionals

Love my Elzys!

Today was my first foray back to stamping in a few weeks. What better way to come back than with a card for "My Favorite Stamp Evah" swap? I had trouble with this one only in that it was so hard to choose a stamp - I don't have one favorite. I sure do adore those Elzybells, though!

Given the chance, Princess A would spend all her time in the swing; alas there is school, and violin lessons, and homework, and practicing, and chores, and... well, you get the idea. But this little Elzy has no such constraints.

The sketch is from Sweet Sketch Wednesday (#47) with one of the elements removed, which seems to be my method lately.

Thanks for sticking with me through my 'radio silence'. I hope to be able to find more time to stamp (among other things) again.







Card Details:
Image: Elzybells Art Stamps
Sentiment: SU
Cardstock: GP, SU, DCWV
Ink: Memento
Tools: Nesties, SU punch
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: paper piecing

Missing Vickie

Every day at 2:30 I have a cup of tea and think about Vickie. Almost since I joined SONE, she and I have been roommates on overnight trips. We both wake up pretty early and enjoy a good cup of tea first thing. She also had the most glorious gardens at her home which she let my mother and I raid before she sold it. We moved at about the same time. Me, to the other side of the state, but she went clear across the country. Now we play Scrabble on Facebook and sometimes use the chat feature, but it is just not the same.

I was thinking of Vickie as I made today's card. Ironically, I was putting the final touches on it at about 2:30. I did not have tea though, cuz it was a crazy 86°F this afternoon and the screens are not in the windows yet (since this is not typical, nor expected to last) so I could not open most of those downstairs.

The layout comes from Tuesday Morning Sketches (#40) tweaked a bit, obviously. I am also entering it into Meljen's Design Challenge (#1) where 'anything goes'!

The bunny is colored with Prismacolor markers to resemble Princess A's own special bunny Mel. The two of them started a blog today called "Bunny Thoughts".

Many people are making Springtime cards that are in full bloom and full of light or bright colors. Around here that is not quite how things look. The trees are still bare, though there are some buds, but mostly they look like sticks. I tried to represent that with the embossing folder and the green tips to the trees. With the crazy temperature out there today, this bunny is probably wishing there was a whole lot more shade. I know I was!

I hope Seattle was more comfortable for its newest resident...






Card Details:
Image: MFT
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento, SU
Tools: SU punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: unknown ribbon

Recycling the Crafty Ho Way

Perhaps you did not know this, but the Hos are an environmentally conscious group. Every once in a while one of them will put a bunch of supplies she no longer needs into a box and mail it to another. That person takes what she wants and adds in her own stuff. And so it goes til eventually the last person on the list sends the box back to the first person. I have participated in this swap a couple of times and have gotten some really great things, as well as cleaned out some extra supplies.

This year Earth Day falls on April 22nd. The Crafty Hos are honoring this day a little early with this weeks challenge, Recycling.

The first recycled element of this card is the background. Princess A, for some unknown reason, does not throw her garbage from lunch away in the school cafeteria. She brings it back home again in her lunchbox. Not too long ago she brought home the piece of waxed paper that had been used to wrap her sandwich. It did not look soiled at all, so into my stamping supplies it went. It was just the thing I needed for wax paper resist.

The next recycled element is the paper bag. Most of the time I bring my own bag to the store, but sometimes I forget and end up with a new paper bag. As soon as the groceries are unpacked it goes on the floor for the kittens to play. It will usually stay there for about a week, then moves out to the breezeway to become the receptacle for paper recycling. This week it got a chunk cut out of it.

The final recycled item is a newspaper. Joy offered a fabulous paper flower tutorial on her blog and made it look SO easy! Thankfully it was.

Oh! I almost forgot! The layout (rather loosely) follows Tuesday Morning Sketches (#39).






Card Details:
Image: SU
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU
Ink: SU
Tools: Iron, Brayer, Nesties
Coloring: N/A
Embellies: generic rhinestone brad