5K Diary - Gearing Up

2/10/13 - Looked into Couch to 5K app that friends have raved about. (OK, maybe not 'raved' per se, but they used and liked it and are regularly running 5Ks now, so it has to be good, right?) Reading the reviews, I discovered some comments regarding difficulty playing downloaded music while using app. Immediately I searched for and downloaded the Pandora app (works out for me since I do not want to add music to my phone anyway, but I really did not want to be out without any) (And honestly, it was not that quickly. First I read the reviews, then did the math of GB usage; I don't want to go over my limit! It seemed to me that at 30 minutes a day 3x per week, I would not be in danger, so I went ahead and installed it)

2/22/13 - Met with Nick (also known as my rheumatologist) for my regular 8-week appt, and ask about running. He said no problem, just start very slowly and get good cushiony shoes.

(If things seem a bit out of order to you, you are right. But I knew I was going to run regardless; asking Nick was just a formality. How fortunate that he was so supportive of the idea)

3/21/13 - Went to Bob's with my multitudes of coupons and Verizon wireless rebate cards (those things just pile up around here, but we really don't buy new phones all that often). Tried on at least one pair from every brand I respect (NOT Sketchers, cuz Princess A had a pair of those and they wore out in 4 months. Did I mention that Princess A ONLY wears sneakers for gym class? What a waste of money those were; I am never buying that brand again.) Had a moment of silence because I did not fall for any Saucony. All my old running shoes were Saucony, but not this time. Today I fell in love with a pair of Nike. I tried very hard not to (hence the trying on of just about every other brand in the store), but the Nikes grabbed me and would not let go. Nearly an hour later, my new sneakers and I were heading to the car. (disclaimer: new sneakers are similar, but not identical to the pic in the link)

(Why is this all taking so long, you ask? Because this is New England in winter; I am not planning to start running before April. Why rush?)
 
3/22/13 - At Curves this morning they were talking about a rumor that it is going to be a cool Spring. Not going to get warmer til mid April. UGH. I do not want to wait that long before I start. Looks like I may be starting in the chill after all.

3/25/13 - Got home late yesterday evening after SONE retreat. (Had to hit the rubber stamp store that was down near there. I figure if I am going to drive for 90 minutes to get to retreat, I am not leaving without a rubber stamp fix.) Oh. My. Goodness. Am I tired. So happy the quartet decided not to rehearse today. 

3/27/13 - Finally feeling somewhat human again after Retreat. Cannot decide, am I that seriously deconditioned from not being able to function for two days, or am I just still over-tired? Gonna chill the rest of this week, and hope to start with the exercise regimen next week. 

3/29/13 - Downloaded Couch to 5K app. I am sure you are wondering why I cannot time myself. But I know that if I focus on my own timing, I will also be focused on every footfall, and every breath and every... well, you get the picture. For $2.99, I can zone out and enjoy my run.

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

Turkeyfly or Butterkey? You Be The Judge

Green With Envy Over Your Recent Make-Over

I spent some time the other day perusing SCS, but I could not find another swap that interested me; Hence another "What Women Want" card was born. 

I knew immediately what stamp set I wanted to use, so off to Tuesday Morning Sketches I went. The sketch(#189) was perfect! 
Oh, but wait, there's a catch. A color scheme is attached. I know I have been out of it for a while, but I do not remember ever seeing that before. Oh well, who says a make-over card has to be pink anyway?! After all, my favorite color is green...

You may notice in the original sketch there is a little swirl around the image, or in the case of this card the sentiment - I know, I know, I said I was not a fan of sentiments, but in this case I made an exception. Anywho, back to the swirl. I do not have anything like that and am too cheap (not to mention lazy) to go out and purchase, especially as I would need not just one, but eight. (I almost always make swap cards in sets of eight. Six to send, two to keep.) To compensate for my lack of funds/desire/energy I used a swirly embossing folder. I think it worked just fine.

After my card was made, I remembered I needed to check Loves Rubberstamps Challenge blog to see if I won anything last week (I didn't). While I was there, I discovered this weeks challenge(#43) is "Shades of Green" so this card will be entered there as well. BONUS!

Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: SU

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing folder

Coloring: N/A

Embellies: Prima - Iced Got Flowers, unknown rhinestone brad

Planting for Thanksgiving

When I read that this month's theme (and by this month I mean March/April) for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is "What's Cooking?", my first though was my little Inky Antics chefs. They have been staying with Linda for a while, but she said she could send them back home again. I was not, however, positive that that was the direction I wanted to go, so I went sketch challenge blurfing for inspiration. 

I browsed at least five different challenge blogs, but it was not until I saw Freshly Made Sketches(#76) that I was inspired. To the stamp room I went and started opening drawers. Suddenly I remembered I had a fruits and vegetables drawer! On top was this lovely set from The Angel Company (now out of business) and I knew right away what I was going to do. 

Embossed lines on the brown card stock evoke planting rows (or that was the plan anyway). My first thought for the designer paper panel was to find something kitchen wallpaperish but the ones I found were too busy; I opted for the muted print instead. The sketch calls for a sentiment, but I did not know what to say. First I tried "Happy Thanksgiving" cuz these are all (intentionally) Thanksgiving veggies, but, no wait, they are seed packets and should have planted long before the holiday. Next I looked at "Thinking of You" cuz I am thinking of you as I plant the veggies for our Thanksgiving dinner, but that seemed too much of a stretch. Truth is I am not a fan of sentiments - what if the sender wanted to say something different with this card? It took a while, but I finally decided upon a plain knotted ribbon instead.

Originally I was planning to make a tomato seed packet, but then I suspected that Jeanette does not like tomatoes, so I went with corn. At least it gave me a little color contrast against the carrot and pumpkin. When the card was all put together, I felt it needed a little something, so the "O" in corn got a little jewel. Livens things up a bit don't you think?

Card Details:

Image: The Angel Company

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing folder

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Basic Grey ribbon, unknown bling

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!

Autumn Leaves in Winter

It has been a long time since I have done a card swap, but I promised myself that I would not sign up until the cards were actually finished. This week I discovered that one of my favorite hostesses had opened a new Forest swap, due in July. Plenty of time, but my goal was to be the first to arrive.

This theme is 'Seasons in the Forest'. I looked through my nature stamps and found the perfect one. I then CASE'd a card from a long ago class at my LSS (What can I say, I was rusty)

Princess A came in as I was finishing to tell me, "You do realize it is not Autumn, right?" Newly minted fourteen-year-olds are ever so helpful

Without further ado, here is my Seasons of the Forest card:

I sent it to the Post Office with Main Squeeze and got confirmation from that it was on its way before I sent a PM to Jeanette to tell her my cards were in the mail, so I needed to sign up for a spot.


Card Details:
Image:Memory Box
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento
Tools: SU Scallop Edge punch
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Ranger Glossy Accents, SU button, SU Baker's Twine, unknown ribbon