A Good Idea???

Hi friends,

I've not posted anything personal in a while as I've been adjusting to a new job.  See, I went to college to be a registered dietitian (RD) and while in school I learned that I did not like clinical dietetics.  There are lots of other things RDs can do, but I'm in a small town in Oklahoma, which doesn't lend itself to these types of jobs.  I was doing some consulting dietetics where I went to nursing homes and hospitals.  It quickly got old, mainly because there was no routine.  I could work 10 hour days five days in a row and the next week only work one day.  All this to say, it just wasn't working for me.  In my mind I had two options.  Go back to school for a PhD or try to get certified and teach at one of the local schools.  The PhD sounds like a lot of work and while I may want to pursue it someday, it's not today.  I started a job three weeks ago doing some reading intervention with special ed kids or kids who may be behind in their reading skills.  I really enjoy it.  I work with K-3rd grade and I really like my 2nd and 3rd graders.  My Kindergartners are entertaining, but very high maintenance.  I have been enjoying this far more than what I was doing before, my husband says I'm nicer, and it seems to be a good fit.  

So what's the good idea?  Well, now that I have a desk that I go to everyday, in the same room, in the same town (unlike when I was consulting), I decided I needed a fun calendar for my desk.  I made this October calendar following the Mojo Monday sketch!  That's not the good idea though.  I've also been eyeing this idea of using this papercrafting we do as a way to memorize Scripture.  I decided that once the month has been completed, I'll cover the month part with one of the Scriptures I'd like to commit to heart and I'll have something that will be useful forever, unlike a calendar which is only good for a period of time.  So that's my good idea and this is the calendar!  

All dp is from Black Market Paper Society (one of my new faves) and the metal flowers are from SU!  I made up the calendar in one of the Mac programs I use frequently!  TFL!

Blog to you soon!

Hey Sweetie

Hello all,

Another one from MFT!  The set is What's Up Cupcake?  I'll admit that I had some trouble with the color choices.  I mean, the pink and brown is always an easy color combo, but I was struggling with the cupcake/icing combo.  One stamp is the the unfrosted cupcakes and another is the frosting.  I just couldn't decide which I liked.  I finally settled for some chocolate frosting.  I embossed the back panel with spots and dots embossing folder, though it doesn't really show up in the pic.  I filled in some of the dots with glitter, which also doesn't show up well in the pic.  The cupcake toppers, the cherries, are tiny push-ins from Scrapworks.  

Hope everything is well in your neck of the woods.  Blog to you soon!

WSC59

This'll be a short post.  I just finished my Weekend Sketch Challenge from Beate's blog!  All supplies are SU: dp Urban Garden, cs River Rock, Kiwi Kiss, stamps Garden Silhouettes, details brad and clip.  Thanks for stoppin' by!

Blog to you soon!!

From Courtney's Closet

I've been eyeing this challenge since I started this stamp-blogging business a couple of months ago.  I've always thought it was a cute idea, but I haven't been brave enough...and I'm not sure why because Libby (the challenge issuer) seems so sweet and Courtney (her little girl) is so cute!  

As soon as I saw that red gingham, I thought, SU Bella Rose--I'm hoping someone else did too!  I was looking for a good butterfly to coordinate, but I didn't have a flourishy one.  So.  After I inked my new MFT Boho Blossoms on Pink Pirouette cs, I cut one of the petals off to make two wings.  I added some MM crystal brads, stitched some antennas, and viola!  A butterfly.  I stamped the image in Rose Red, stamped the overlay image in craft white, and embossed with white embossing powder.  I embossed the red gingham with the Floral Fantasy cuttlebug folder, which the photo picks up on slightly.  The ribbon is from American Crafts and I used a brown marker to make dots to frame it!  This was such fun and I hope to play along again!  

Giraffes

I used to say giraffes had "the same lot in life" as I do.  And, I like giraffes.  They seem friendly enough and when I was in Australia, we fed one.  It was great.  Anyway, I thought this was a cute giraffe and I thought he'd be versatile for kids/baby cards or for a general card.  He is from Prima Marketing.  I colored it with SU markers, blender pen, and copic markers.  I used two star paper clips, a MM mesh star eyelet, and a MM star picture corner.  The blue ribbon with white stitching is from RibbonFX.  

Namaste

I made my first order to MFT and it came in earlier this week.  One of the sets I bought specifically for my mom, the Serenity Now set.  She likes to yoga?  Play yoga?  Go to yoga?  Not sure what verb to use here.  Anyway, she is the reason I stamp and she is the reason I have 99.9% of the stamping supplies I have.  She says she likes to buy the stuff and I like to use...I like buying too!  So.  I thought she needed this set and I will be making her some cards.  She stamps sometimes and she can have the set if she'd like.  So, this is to complete SC195 at SCS.  When I first saw it, I thought, "I can't do that."  Low and behold, I can.  I looked at a few of the examples, got some inspiration, and decided I could.  The dp is from a neat new company called Black Market Paper Society.  Ominous, huh?  Their stuff has a canvas texture and I really like their color combos.  I colored the yoga girl with Prismacolors, OMS, and a stump...can we call it something other than a stump?  That doesn't sound right...it reminds me of an amputee.  Ummm.  Paper pencil?  Okay, paper pencil it is.  I'm open for suggestions if you can think of something else.  The crystal flower is from Prima Marketing and it is really cool--find some in your LSS--definitely worth it!  The ribbon in Heidi Grace.  I think that's the deets.  TFL!!

Blog to you soon!

Heidi Swapp Heart

This is a stamp by Heidi Swapp-my first to own by her.  I thought the detail in the middle of the heart was very pretty and when I bought it I knew I would first emboss it.  You see that little circle by itself on the right side of the heart?  Yeah.  That's not supposed to be there.  My little hole punch leaks holes.  Ha.  One had fallen on the versamarked image and this is what came of it.  I kind of like it.  The paper clip is one from Staples.  If your Staples is like mine, they have a big display of paper clips and you can fill a plastic container with whichever paper clips you desire.  There's hands, feet, thumbs up, guitars (which I think my dad will like), music notes, stars, hearts, paper clips like the one on this card, and more!  The cs is embossed with the floral screen embossing folder.  I used another stamp (that doesn't have a brand) to make the design on the kraft card base.  Oh.  The dp is from a great new company called Black Market Paper Society.  Their paper has a lot of texture to it and I've really enjoyed playing with it!

Secret Pals at School

I started working at one of the local schools a couple of weeks ago.  I teach some of the kids who need a little extra help.  We mainly work on our letters or reading fluency.  I have K-3rd grades.  Anyway, I signed up for secret pals and I left this on my pal's desk yesterday.  I bought the candle at The Dollar Tree, which is my favorite dollar store.  I'm not a huge fan of Dollar General or Family Dollar--because everything isn't a dollar.  It annoys me.  Ha.  Anyway, I covered the label with dp, added some paper punches, a ribbon, and a tag!

Alzheimer's Benefit

For those of you who don't do much blogging, there is a generous designer/artist who is currently raising money for the Alzheimer's Association.  AND, today is World Alzheimer's day.  Cammie is offering an outrageously huge blog candy!  The challenge is to make a card for someone who cares for an Alzheimer's patient.  Immediately, I thought of my best friend from high school, Lindsay.  She has been caring for her grandma full time for about four years.  Just last week I talked to Lindsay and Meemaw (her grandma) has taken a turn for the worse.  She has become increasingly confused and for the first time, has angry fits.  I've spent a few afternoons with Meemaw before things got worse and she was very sweet.  Lindsay has two girls that she cares for (one is six and the other is just over one year) and is always patient with Meemaw.  She's sad that the day may come when she can no longer be her primary care giver, but be her friend as Lindsay will spend the days with her in a nursing home...if it comes to that.  So, Cammie's blog candy is offered in the true spirit of sending a little love for those who love a lot.  My card is for Lindsay, who recently told me she's developed a liking for birds.

If you don't know of someone who cares for an Alzheimer's patient, you can send your card to the caregivers who cared for Cammie's grandma.  Also, all the benefits of Whimsical Autumn set (from Gina K designs) go to the Alzheimer's Association.  

Also, this is my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge!  WSC58.  Am I going to ever get tired of Pocket Silhouettes?  I don't think so.

Thanks for reading!  Blog to you soon (BTYS)!

Gift Tag

Hi friends,

It's been a wild week.  My sister-in-law had a baby (our first niece) last Monday and we drove down to see her.  They live about two and a half hours away and we did the whole trip on Wednesday evening.  We had a business dinner on Thursday and I had another meeting on Tuesday.  I've barely been able to sit down to do any stamping, let alone any blogging.  So.  Here I am, about to start the weekend and I'm going to do lots of stamping.  Hey, I have to make up for this crazy week.  For today, I'm going to share these little Christmas gift tags I made.  

It is one of eight little tags.  The stamps are from SU Year Around Fun II, colored with SU markers, and punched with the 1" punch.  The dp is American Crafts.  I punched a green 1.25" circle and added some fine glitter.  I used one of the SU tag punches, added an eyelet, and tied ribbon through the top.  I think I may need more for the holidays!  Thanks for stopping by!

Blog Award!

Thanks Julanne!  These are fun awards to receive!  It means someone out there enjoys papercrafting as much as you do!  I live in a smallish town and there aren't a lot of people (that I know of) that enjoy it as much as I do.  It's nice to know that they exist in other parts of this world!  Check out her blog, Glitterfreak--what a fun name!  I've been using more and more glitter these days--maybe that's where I got my inspiration.  As for nominating more blogs, I blog stalk a couple of dozen, so it'd be difficult to narrow it down.  Keep the posts coming so I can continue to stalk!!

One Of A Kind

Another card for the day--then I should be done! This stamp is from Sweet & Simple, a retired SU set. The dp is also retired SU. I used black StazOn for the stamp, colored with some copics, and used some tempting turquoise to drag the edges of the cs. The beads came from my bead stash--which I'm hoping to use more of. For whatever reason straight pins are matching my designs and showing up in my cards a lot lately. I haven't been injured, but the possibility exists. I used one of the large Making Memories grommets. I really like MM products and tools. I have some unique ones like the tag curler and the large grommet setter. They're fun.

Of course, this is for Beate's WSC57!

Another SEI

This will be the last SEI Poppy card--I promise. I put all the scraps in the scrap box so they aren't calling my name in my work space! This paper goes very well with Pocket Silhouettes, though I think this stamp set goes well with a lot of things!

The dp is SEI Poppy.  I stamped the leafy stamp from Pocket Silhouettes in rose red on the coordinating cs, also from SEI.  I punched it with the circle punch and then I punched a brown circle scallop for the bottom.  I took my white gel pen and highlighted the leaves a bit.  I paper pierced each part of the scallop in my circle.  I used the scallop border punch on the edge and added dew drops on every other scallop.  I added a little white die cut on the inside of the card.  It's a fun simple card.  Finished size: 4.25" square, with a little extra since the scallop is hanging off the edge.  It will still fit in an A2 envelope. 

I hope y'all had a good weekend!  I should be an aunt (second time over) tomorrow morning!  Yay!!!

Photo Box--Compete!

DH finished the photo box today!  It's a great place to take photos as it concentrates the light right on the object in the box--my cards!  We might be adding a little more light though.  It's a work in progress.  So...my card for today is another from MFT's Monster Squad.  I had so much fun coloring this image.  Also, I won the set from the same place I got the sketch--is that allowed?!?!  

I found these little clothes pins in a random box the other day and I thought I'd throw them in my embellishment stash...looks like they came in handy.  The image was colored with a blender pen and SU ink based markers.  The orange paper clip, green ribbon, and straight pin are from H to the obby Lobby (Hobby Lobby)!  Thanks for looking...until the next post.

Hi friends,

I just got some fun SU pretties to play with, but I've only half completed a card. Since it can't be completed tonight, I'll share this set that I made over the weekend.  It's a very simple design with some dp I found on sale a few weeks ago.  I didn't want to cover it up, so I tried to highlight the paisley.  Black and white is really nice and I've got a couple of other B&W in the line up.  It's the SU set Sincere Salutations.  What a useful set.  DH is working on a photo set up to improve the quality of my pics.  I'm just not satisfied with the my photos, there's a lack of detail, the lighting is off, and I'm starting to wonder if my camera is playing a part in the ordeal.  I've had my camera for a long time and we've had many good times together.  I hate to think it's playing out, so I'm hoping the new set up will be useful.  I'm aiming for it to be completed on the 13th, but that's unlikely.  I suppose we'll see...  

I hope everything is well with you.

Paint Prints

I'm bringing another retired SU set, Paint Prints.  This card was driven by the ribbon.  I found this ribbon that's Baroque Burgandy at one side and gradually changes to More Mustard.  I added stickles on the flowers, sponged around the flowers, and sealed with clear glaze.  The little brad is covered in pink glitter.  It's a sparklie delight!

Sweet Of You and WSC56

What a good weekend.  We had some cool weather and it's obvious we need to be gearing up for fall!  I love the fall--especially after a HOT summer.  

This card is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge.  I used an old retired SU set called Sweet Of You.  I cut the circle topiaries and used dimensionals to add some depth.  I used Stampin' Pastels to color it and I sealed it with clear glaze.  Brown and pink is one of my all time favorite color combos and I had this little scraps of dp to make it work.  The ribbon just happened to be pink and brown.  Ha.  The straight pin has two beads from my bead collection, which I hope to use more of in my cards.  Thanks for looking--it's time to watch some more Dallas Cowboy football--I've been waiting for this!

Trick OR Treat

MFT's Monster Squad is super fun!  I won this in a fun blog candy {here}.  I stitched the web to the spider paper clip.  I wish I knew where I got that spider, but I've had it for years.  It wasn't intended for papercrafting, but I know it was in a school supply aisle.  I stickled the lines on the roof and cut off the chimney ;).  I liked the chimney and it has a lot of possibilities, but it didn't work here.  The dp adds to the spoooooooky-ness of this card.  I added "Frankenstein" stitches around the yellow background, too!  I'm ready to eat some candy--awww, who are we kidding, I've already started and it's almost time to buy another bag.

Just adding on this other card for the SC192 challenge on SCS.  I'm adding it to this post because this is the other image in the set Monster Squad by MFT.  These cutsie "monsters" were such fun to color in.  I'm still working on my Copic stash and still don't have enough to really color an image.  So.  I used my SU blender pen and drug it across the brush end of my SU marker...I used lots 

of different colors.  I punched the hole through the top layer of the card and stamped the sentiment inside.  

SEI Poppies

My LSS has a class and all these goodies were included in last month's kit!  Instead of making SB pages, I decided to go card crazy.  I've been making lots of cards lately--trying to build this blog, perhaps?  At any rate, these cards are a mix of SU stamps, SEI Poppy paper and die cuts, and different ribbons to coordinate.  Some of the paper is metallic in places, so you may see some reflection in the pics.  Let me know if you have any questions!