Another Test...

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Just because...

I was at Michael's yesterday looking for the last few ingredients for a project I want to do for Stephen & Dianna's Christmas present, when I saw this cute panda.
I immediately thought of my son and put it in my cart. I couldn't just give him the panda, so with the help of my stamping guru and friend Alison, we came up with this Asian style card.

I just can't get enough of these tests...

My Brain is Orange

Of all the brain types, yours is the quickest. You are usually thinking a mile a minute, and you could be thinking about anything at all. Your thoughts are often scattered and random - but they're also a lot of fun! You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about esoteric subjects, the meaning of life, and pop culture.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Just wanted to see how it would look...

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know it's been several days without a post that was a product of my creativity - but I've got a great excuse - really!

Anyway - here is another version of a criss-cross pocket card. I used two pieces of card stock & folded them the long way. It's a little too fat to fit in a standard number ten envelope, but I really didn't intend this one for anyone in particular. I'm thinking I will do a mini-portfolio of the cards and crafts that I've created to date so I can carry it around and show people who don't have a computer and compulsively blurf this site on a daily basis.

I scanned this image instead of doing my normal photographic method (mainly because my crafting area is a complete disaster area and I'm not entirely sure where my beloved digital camera is hiding - guess I'll have to break out the pitchfork soon to excavate). Anyway, the VersaMark shows up much better on the scanned image. The bands going around the pocket are the strips I cut off the triangular pieces that were then attached to the opposite color's flap. In other words "I used the whole buffalo" (not sure why, but that is a favorite saying of mine lately).

Soooo, are you still waiting for my "great excuse"?

Well, here's the deal, most of what I've been working on lately are Christmas presents and I just can't post the photos and ruin everyone's surprise, now can I?

Take a short quiz and find out what kind of pie you are...

I Am Are Apple Pie

You're the perfect combo of comforting and traditional Those who like you crave security

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Now I'm left wondering if I'm a la mode or not ?!?!

Hmmm...what should I be when I grow up???

My Learning Style: Competent and Cooperative

I have a great head for facts and figures. I can remember and use any fact you've read. I Should Study: Dentistry Education Environmental Science Finance Nursing Nutrition Science Medicine Law

What Should You Study?

I am Mother Teresa

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

So my friend Alison did this test, so of course, I felt compelled to do the same....

Birthday card

Another pocket birthday card. This one gets to be attached to a stuffed animal, so I used the beloved Cropodile and a couple of eyelets to give me a spot to attach the ribbon.

I wish VersaMark would show up on photographs {the pull out card has stars stamped on it like the silver on on the tab}.

September 19

By the way, in case you didn't know...

Today is "Talk Like a Pirate Day"


aarrrggghhh

Poppin' Pastels

Along the same lines as the Pulled Pastels, except use the VersaMark inked image first, then "pop" the chalk with the fingertip spongy things {sorry for the technical terms}


Tip on getting a flat & pretty knot: be sure to keep the ribbon from twisting when you are tying it.

Pulled Pastels Technique

We used chalk on a black piece of CS & then inked up the wheel with VersaMark & drug it across the CS. The VersaMark pulls the chalk off. This picture really doesn't do it justice, but it is really a neat effect.

Oh, yeah, here's some altered ribbon - it started out as white & black - but after a little brush marker therapy, it matches the color scheme of the orange CS. {one word of advice: make sure to give the ribbon time to dry or you will wind up with what my son called "Cheetos fingers"}

Festive Thanksgiving Card

Technique = Color blocking

Got to use the Cropodile (I LOOOVE that thing!)

I'm not a huge fan of ribbon {gasp} but using it with the little buckle really appeals to me.

Inside sentiment: "at this time of counting blessings, you always come to mind."

I flubbed up the inside greeting and stamped it the wrong direction - oh well, cover in card stock and "make it work"

He Liked It!

But I'm not supposed to tell anyone we know... so, do me a favor... don't tell him I told you - - after all, what he doesn't know won't hurt us. {If you are wondering what I'm ranting about please refer to my earlier post about stamp club.}

Anyway, we had a blast and it was great to create some cool cards and a cute little "thank you" bag for some treats.

Stamp Club

I've always enjoyed crafting, but there is something about getting a roomful of people together and learning new techniques that is just so....exhilarating.

Tonight is our SU club and it's my turn to be hostess (yay me!)

PLUS...............{pause for dramatic effect}..............tonight I will have a guest with me...............{are you filled with anticipation yet, or do you just have the urge to slap me?!?}.............this evening I will be joined by my son, Josh.

I wasn't sure that he would be interested, so I sent him this link http://www.stampinkub.com/about/ This kid does fabulous work and then doesn't just photograph the end result, he stages the picture to enhance the cards. Josh seemed somewhat interested, but then, I broke out the catty. I'm thinking we have a new convert. The stamps he is interested in are marked with yellow sticky notes, mine are in pink. I'll let you know how things turn out...

The Gratitude Dance

So I haven't quite figured out how to do imbed the You Tube thing yet - so I've just linked to Alison's site for this one. Joyful Creativity: The Gratitude Dance#links#links#links


Later....
One quick lesson and voila...

A Wonderful Retreat Location

http://www.serenityonthelake.com/

This is such a lovely place to hold a retreat. It is nestled in a quiet neighborhood on the lake. I've been there a couple times with our ladies group from church. The house was built specifically to accommodate church groups on retreat. Recently they have suffered from the effects of competition from another larger facility in the area, so they are opening the house to other types of groups (like scrap book enthusiasts, garden clubs, book club, etc). There are six large bedrooms and, if my memory serves me correctly, the place can sleep 20 people.
Wouldn't it be awesome to have a crafting retreat?!? Each lady could bring supplies for everyone to complete a project and we could share our tips and tricks. Something like a stamping pajama party - we could craft until we were tired, nap, eat and craft some more. Sounds like a little slice of heaven to me. What do you think?

My stamping friend's birthday

Okay, so here's the thing...my highly creative stamping friend Alison (of http://joyfulcreativity.blogspot.com/ fame) is having another birthday this Saturday. Since I'm going out of town tomorrow for a couple of days, I had to give her the handcrafted birthday card I created for her early.

I searched and searched to find something different & distinctive since she has been stamping for soooo long and I wanted to do something nice (to showcase my budding card making skills). I decided upon a pocket card. Since I didn't have and super sticky tape, I decided to break out the beloved Cropodile and a couple eyelet to keep the pocket from falling apart.

Both of us are on Split Coast Stampers email list for the weekly tutorial - to my horror, the technique they selected to highlight - you guessed it - the pocket card. I'm not good at hiding my feelings (hence I never EVER play poker), so when she pulled up the weekly tutorial - I almost fell out of my chair. My mind immediately kicked into gear - "how can I make it special??!!? I know - she loves motion cards - I'll add a pinwheel spinner for the pull out section" After all, I'd been just drooling to make one after I found instructions at http://spazzgirldaily.blogspot.com/search/label/tutorial






This is my first attempt at the spinner & I guess I was in too much of a hurry, because I must confess, I did not read and follow all instructions. I tinkered and tinkered - thought I'd destroyed it once, and kept on tinkering to the point that I thought I was going to be late for work. I added the yellow strips because the unruly spinner kept falling out. (you see, I don't own the word window punch - yet - so I had to cut the slot by hand with the trusty Exacto knife and the slot was just a touch too big). Anyway, my pretty card is really a "stop motion" card because I missed the step about leaving enough room in the back for the spinner to spin.


At first she didn't realize that it was for her, we are always sharing our latest creations to each other. When she opened up the little insert card (no you don't get to see the inside greeting - it's not your birthday - it's Alison's) she got so excited that she was going to get to keep this one.

Being the friend that I am - I took my cue from her published birthday wish list (see the aforementioned blog site if you are still looking for gift ideas for the occasion) and decided her gift would be in the form of money to purchase stamping supplies.

So, on Saturday, remember to sing Miss Alison a hearty rendition of "Happy Birthday"

StatGal out...

Friendship Card

My son returned home yesterday from this summer with his dad in scenic (and very hot) New Mexico, just barely in time to start school tomorrow. Being the wonderful son that he is, of course he brought back gifts - I got a lovely pair of tiger eye and silver earings (what can I say, the kid has taste!)

Life just keeps getting better and better!

This year I've gone from working with primarily men to almost entirely women. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate men (I'm married to one - - one of the best) - I adore my husband and love our boys, but there is something very nurturing to me about spending time with my girlfriends - even if it is in the workplace. I have two part-time jobs where I get to go and use my "mad skills" (as my son would call them). In the office, I get to show my spreadsheet prowess and at CJ Banks I get to vent my OCD tendencies by attempting to keep the store looking neat and inviting.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say, is I am thankful for all my wonderful and talented girlfriends!

More Thank You cards

A friend of mine needed a "Thank You" card...I have a compulsion to craft on a daily basis. Your basic win-win situation here.

Purse

Cigar box style wooden box covered with SU paper.
I removed all the hardware first so I wouldn't have to trim the cardstock around it.




I'm going to try fabic on the next one. (Stay tuned)

Counted Cross Stitch on Plastic Canvas

From a kit - wish I could take credit for the design - I can and will accept credit for being able to count and read the instructions. Now I just need to figure out how to mount it for hanging.