Life in the Scrappy Lane!

Life changes

2010-07-25T21:33:00.003-05:00

I apologize for not posting, but life has interrupted my crafting life. Due to the state of IL not giving schools money, I have lost my teaching job, and unfortunately am not able to find another since the market is now very small with lots of competition. I am still a Stampin Up demo for now, but that too may change if things don't look up. For anyone who drops in, please feel free to browse the older posts, and I hope you can find something you like. And if you like a picture, please at least give me credit if you "borrow" it for another site. Happy crafting.

Grinch Pills Supply list

2009-12-07T21:41:00.002-06:00

All Supplies Stampin Up except for red gems. (I ran out because I made so many for the craft fair!)

Paper:
Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Whisper White, Mellow Moss, Basic Black

Punches and Die:
Boho Blossoms trio punch, scallop edge punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Top Note Sizzix Die

Ink/markers:
Chocolate Chip classic ink pad, Basic Black Stampin Write marker

Accessories:
Red gems/crystal brads, stampin sponge, White Grosgrain Ribbon 1/4", Grinch Poem, and tic tacs boxed candy mints

Grinch pills tutorial, part 3, final installment

2009-12-07T21:29:00.003-06:00

Print the Grinch poem on Whisper White paper and cut out with the top note die. Trim on the perforations all the way around. Set aside. On back panel top note (2nd Wild Wasabi panel) place tic tac box in middle. Punch on either side with a 1/4" (standard size) hole punch. Cut a rectangle of Wild Wasabi of 2" x 4 1/4". Place tic tac box on it's side and trace edge of box on either side with a pencil (mine is darker so you can see). Score your lines where you traced to make the side of the box holder card. Trim off some of the excess paper on the flap on both sides. Glue to the back of the front panel on the edge of the curves. Glue white paper with Grinch poem to the back of the front panel, over the flap. Glue the other flap to the back panel in the same manner. Thread the white grosgrain ribbon through the holes and tie around the tic tac box.

Give the completed project to the Grinch in your life. :)

Grinch face tutorial, part 2

2009-12-07T21:15:00.001-06:00

Punch two 1 3/8" circles from Mellow Moss. trim a bit off the the circle to make a line on one part. Glue the circles on under the hat trim with the lines at an angle (like an angry face). Cut 1/4" wide x 1 1/2" long black rectangles for the eyebrows. Glue them along the slants of the circles. You now have eyebrows! Use red sparkle brads or gems for the eyeball centers.
Punch the mid-sized boho blossom from Wild Wasabi. Cut flower in half across the center at the inverted points. Use a craft sponge or dauber to ink the edges with Chocolate Chip classic ink. Glue nose between the eyes. Using the negative image of the top note cutout (from your Wild Wasabi paper), Make the Grinch's mouth. Center the point over the point of the chin, and trace with a black Stampin Write marker. Only use a bit of the lines on each side of the point. Stop and turn the top note and trace the curve on either side. Make the mouth however you wish (wide smile, narrow, etc.). Freehand draw a curve from the point of the mouth to the tip of the nose, and the "dimple" marks on the edges of the mouth. Your front panel is now finished.

Grinch face Tutorial

2009-12-07T21:01:00.005-06:00

This is my first one, so please bear with me! I can only upload 5 photos at a time, so I will try to keep it short and within 3 posts. I'm new to this blogging stuff and don't know how to get more photos in one post. I'll break it down in parts.

Cut 2 Top Note panels (Stampin Up Sizzix Die) From Wild Wasabi for front and back. Cut Whisper White rectangle 2" x 4 1/2". Punch the long edges with Stampin Up scallop edge punch. Turn and punch sides. Trim as needed (I have not mastered the rounded corner technique!)

Cut a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square from Real Red. Turn it corner to corner and cut diagonally. Tip the triangle to where the point is straight up. Trim extra off bottom of triangle and glue to scalloped hat trim (Whisper White). (I couldn't figure out an easier way to do the triangle!) Punch largest Boho Blossom (from Boho Blossom trio punch) from Whisper White. Fold top of hat down and glue on blossom.

Instructions for Grinch

2009-12-06T13:42:00.001-06:00

Coming soon! I needed some down time after the craft show. Will have it done and posted by the end of the night as long as nothing comes up! Thanks to all for their wonderful comments and to LateNightStampers group on Yahoo for spotlighting him!

What do you do for the Grinch in your life?

2009-12-03T23:26:00.002-06:00

You medicate! LOL. Here's a cute poem that is on the web and at Splitcoaststampers.com about how to cure the grinchiness in your loved ones at this time of year. Here is the card I designed to go with it. Apologies for the poem being cut a bit crooked. It is hard to line up when I can't see through the die!

Grinch Pills

Feeling kinda Grouchy?
Holiday Spirit can’t be found?
Just try these little Grinch Pills
They’re the best medicine around.
Whether eating a whole handful,
or eating one or two,
These tasty little pills
take the Grinch right out of you!

Last of the craft show postings for today.

2009-12-02T22:52:00.002-06:00

The cards with patterned envelopes are gift card holders. The cats are good supervisors. They like to sit and watch to make sure I'm doin a good job. :)

part 5 of craft show stuff

2009-12-02T22:39:00.002-06:00

and more, with more to come

2009-12-02T22:32:00.002-06:00

Yes, I have been busy!

MORE!

2009-12-02T22:25:00.002-06:00

more craft show items

2009-12-02T22:17:00.002-06:00

Here's some more things!

Finally, some new projects

2009-12-02T22:09:00.003-06:00

Ok, I got around to making some projects using ALL Stampin Up products (with the exception of some items I altered). I am doing a craft fair Saturday, and this is what I have. Enjoy!

Changes

2009-11-14T12:55:00.003-06:00

I received comment from a reader wondering where I've been since my last post, long time gone. I am still around. I am still creating. I am not posting at this time because I am a SU demonstrator. Let me explain...

Stampin Up recently changed their demonstrator agreement. Basically, if you are a demo and post items online, they must be ALL Stampin Up product. I do this in my workshops that I hold, because I want to sell product. However, I do not have many workshops, maybe 3 a year at the most. So the creating I do at home for myself and cards to give to others, I mix product lines.

To avoid any penalties from the company during my demonstrator-ship, I will not be posting those works that include other companies products. I will have to admire them in my craft room since they say I can't share with you! If events change, I will begin posting again. I love to share since that's how we all get great ideas!

Long time Gone

2009-09-15T21:09:00.001-05:00

Sorry to anyone who checks in regularly! I have been away from my blog for a while. I am trying to determine if I will be continuing to add new posts. Bear with me!

VOTE FOR BUSTER!

2009-04-10T19:48:00.006-05:00

Follow the link below! Our local online newspaper is having a cutest cat contest. I entered my 5 year old orange striped tabby. He was a stray i rescued as a kitten. He loves eating, napping, sleeping, eating, napping, and sleeping. He also enjoys looking out the window and sleeping. He likes to eat too.

I would appreciate it your time! :) Voting ends April 30th, so I will keep you posted!

telegraph.upickem.net/engine//Welcome.aspx?contestid=5961

The aftermath of card day

2009-03-22T22:30:00.002-05:00

So after card making day is over, and I'm tired. Guess what's left? A HUGE MESS! And yes, I made all that mess. Amazing how much stuff it takes to make cards, huh? That's not even everything I used. I did put stuff away as I went along. I had stuff in the floor and on my other table too, but I didn't want you to think I'm a complete slob! Haha..
I did clean it up, as it will be ready for me to mess up again soon. :)

And some more...

2009-03-22T22:23:00.005-05:00

And yet some more cards! They just keep coming huh? Sorry about the fuzzy pics! I need to re-shoot in daylight and get the sun on them. The monkey birthday isn't finished yet. He's a work in progress. :) Sock Monkey (c) Stampin Up!; Birds Inkadinkadoo/Hello sentiment, stampendous; Bunny Love, Close to My Heart

More cards

2009-03-22T22:21:00.002-05:00

Here's some more cards from today! Animals, Technique Tuesday; piano note background, Morning Star Stamps/Sentiment, Clear Art Stamps

Card Day!

2009-03-22T22:19:00.002-05:00

I made a mess today! I had a creative streak. I have had crafter's block for a while, and just stumped on any ideas for anything! Today...that block was gone! I did mostly "clean and simple" cards. Some of them I am donating to troops to send out for Mother's day. A couple are Easter cards, and one or two might show up in a contest... Zoo Animals, Technique Tuesday; Bird/Life is Sweet, Prima Marketing; Mother's day sentiment, unknown

Quilled Birthday

2009-03-22T22:11:00.001-05:00

Here's a card I made for my aunt's birthday with a quilling pattern I had from a book. I think it turned out ok!

Picasa

2009-03-15T20:19:00.000-05:00

WOW! I just found Picasa through Google to edit photos. AMAZINGLY SIMPLE! I never did get the other photo editing programs because there was so much stuff, and seemed so overwhelming! I got picasa to do watermarks on my card photos, and was playing around with an old photo to get the hang of it. So far, I'm liking it!

Queen for a day!

2009-03-05T20:06:00.002-06:00

I had a thought in my head that was so vivid, I had to follow through! This is the result! And it didn't take me long to put it all together. I liked the result! This was for my friend for her birthday. The cards are mini playing cards, I crinkled them in the paper crimper, distressed all the cards and papers with chalk black ink and Stampin up Basic Black. I used the cuttlebug argyle embossing folder and ran the ink over the raised parts. Attached some ribbons, brads and clear square buttons, and voila!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-12T16:51:00.003-06:00

Here's a valentine's day card for ya. What do you think? :) I thought this card was cute when I saw it on Splitcoaststampers.com, but didn't yet have an occasion to make it for! It was super easy, and fun. I used Patterned paper from a target pack (maybe 1 or 2 years ago?), white rick rack, and flower gem, and some target $1 spot ribbon.

I'm off for four days!

2009-02-12T14:43:00.004-06:00

I have a four day weekend! Life was good to me this week, not bringing me anything stressful (other than some rowdy kids on our Valentine party day). I have a workshop coming up at the end of the month. I got to order some new SU goodies! My hostess wanted to "go green!" and had a bunch of Altoid tins. This is what I came up with. The paper is Parisian Breeze. I used chocolate chip ribbon and ink. The petals are from Pick a Petal (i cut the doodle petal down to the inside line). The button is from Button Latte with linen thread tied through. I used sticky strip on the bottom strip of paper and the paper on the top and inside. Glue dots are holding on the petals, button, and ribbon. Enjoy!

Another card

2009-02-05T18:41:00.003-06:00

Happy February, though the groundhog saw his shadow, and my year is still not going very nicely. Hopefully yours is better! I made this card for a splitcoaststampers.com card sketch last week, but never got around to posting it. So here's what I made. I am trying to use stamp sets that I haven't inked up, and this is one I had to have at the LAST Stampin Up catalog preview (not the newest one!). I love this bunny, and the birdie that is with it. I'm trying to play with my nesties more too...

Hopefully the groundhog was wrong, and just cranky from waking up early wanting to go back in his hole to sleep. I am ready for spring!

Am I on a roll???

2009-01-19T21:50:00.004-06:00

I really hadn't expected to do anymore postings this soon, but I got some more cards made today. I'm like a kid on christmas! I wanna show everyone what I have! The one with the red glitter heart is for a wedding next month. The blue one with the kitty in the washer says, time spent with friends is time well spent. The orange card has a cutout from Hallmark card studio. The owl card is with my new stamps from great impressions stamps. Enjoy!

Long weekend!

2009-01-19T10:49:00.003-06:00

Hey there cyber friends. I have an extended weekend this week. We are off school today for MLK Jr. birthday, we have OFF for the inauguration tomorrow, and I am off Wednesday for doctor appointment. So I will work Thursday and Friday, and have another weekend off. What a rough week! :)
My teacher friends came over yesterday to scrapbook. I got 2 whole cards made between 4 pm and 12:30 Am. We made cupcakes too! Here's what I made. The layout and design is the hardest thing to figure out! I play with design, colors, accessories a lot before I tack anything down. (I learned my lesson!)
The purple kitty card was for my friend's birthday. I made that one a couple weeks ago.
Happy MLK Jr. Day, enjoy the historical inauguration of President Obama tomorrow, and have a great week!

Final set for cat scrapbook!

2009-01-17T03:16:00.003-06:00

Here's the last (which ironically, is the first in progression as you look down)of what I have so far for the furball family album. :) Tell me what you think!

Cat scrapbook

2009-01-17T03:11:00.001-06:00

Here's the next grouping of pics from my 12 x 12 scrapbook of my furball family.

Ok, Not done yet. :)

2009-01-17T03:05:00.003-06:00

So I thought I was going to sleep, since it is now after 3 AM, but I am on a roll! Here's the scrapbook pages I have been working on for our furball family. I am just starting to venture into scrapbooking. Please give any constructive criticism to help me out! Some I really like, and others I feel are missing something. I think they should all be self explanatory, but if you have questions, or want to comment, go for it!!!

Ok, last round for now.

2009-01-17T02:40:00.002-06:00

It's almost 3 AM!!! I think this will be the last upload for now. :) More pics of craft room stuff. The view straight in, looking again at the No boys allowed warning. Underneath the just cleaned out and reorganized drafting table (there was a LOT of crap under there before...stuff I forgot about!). My buttons and flowers in the glass jars lined up in my window sills. That side doesn't get any direct sunlight. So far, they're good (no fading). The one picture on top of the drafting table is of new goodies! Too cute stamps that jumped into my cart all by themselves at the scrapbook store (great impressions stamps), new Stampin up catty, and the new close to my heart catty...

More Pics! Aren't you excited?!?!

2009-01-17T02:28:00.004-06:00

Hey there cyber people! Here's some more pics of my craft room that I keep re-organizing, and clean out. I do more organizing than I do crafting! This is my one dollar auction bargain. I repainted it to match my room after cleaning the dust and dirt off it. It was wobbly, but a couple shims fixed it right up. :) Those were free! Seems the pictures get revered on here when I post, instead of the order I think they are in. The top shelf is the one that has the white 3 drawer box (with bic/sharpie markers, gel pens, and other decorative pens in it, decorative edge scissors, and basket of prismacolor markers. The next shelf has a pink floral photo box, my large set of prismacolor pencils (still unsharpened...anyone want that job?!?!), and my small stampin up sets at the end. The third shelf has my larger boxed Stampin up sets lined up like books. Someone said that you aren't supposed to store them that way in high humidity areas because they will fall off the wood block. However, Stampin up has the background stamps lined up on a shelf like this in the new catty...So, who knows?!?!
The last shelf has the stuff I don't use much on it. I bought a box of leather samples at a yard sale for 2.00 that I still havent done anything with. I have the intent to! Intent without execution doesn't make anything happen.
More pics to come!

Picture mess & Organization Freak

2009-01-17T02:07:00.005-06:00

I LOVE digital cameras and digital photography, but I hate trying to keep them all straight and organized! I have 2 memory cards (plus one for my phone, now that I know how to use it!). I take pictures mostly on one and use the other one to transfer. My laptop is being silly and will no longer read the card when I plug it in. Have to use the camera cord, and that is a pain in the rear.

So anyways...I've been sitting here for maybe an hour getting the new pictures I want to print on the "to print" card, and the new pics I don't want to print, but want to post in the right folders on my computer. I think I'm an organizational freak. Helps me to find them later though. :) Here's some to share!

I took more pics of my craft room since the first postings. I got some new shelves and organizers. The white ones are making memories. I got the wall shelf for Christmas from my teacher friends at school, and I got the desk organizer from my mom. I had the carousel already. The other white carousel is my former Pampered Chef turn about (that doesn't like to turn much anymore!) I took everything out of it, cleaned it as best I could, including taking out the little ball bearing things, and getting the icky off. It spins a bit better now, but for the purpose of my craft room, it's great! (I love their new tool turnabout! It's black, but it spins a LOT better!!!)

The big green bookcase type shelf was an auction bargain. One Dollar! It was dirty, and sorta not flat on either end. I repainted it to match my room, and put some shims at the bottom to keep it steady. I may put some vinyl design thingie on it once I find something I like. :)

I LOVE my Uppercase Living quote (or whatever it is they call them) above my room. No boys allowed! My friends got a giggle out of that too when they saw it. :)

I think I need another post to fit some more detailed pics. :) You have nothing better to do, right???

2009-01-03T17:57:00.003-06:00

Ok, here's the pictures to go with the previous blog. My camera was charged already, but have had some bad things happen in the past couple days to keep me from getting these on here. Nothing serious, but just stress causing circumstances. A sick kitty, my husband loosing his job, financial issues. I'm already ready for 09 to be done.

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T14:38:00.004-06:00

Seems like just yesterday I was thinking how weird it was going to be to say 2000 instead of nineteen ninety (fill in the rest). Now here we are almost 10 years into the new millennium (had to look up the spelling on that one! Just missed the extra "n".) How fast time goes...

Anyways, thought I would share a couple more cards I've made in the WONDERFUL time off I've had (even though I'm trying to get sick again! How does that happen with no kids around to sneeze on me???). At Splitcoaststampers.com they have challenges, layouts, idea starters, etc...a wealth of resources! I noticed one that wanted silver used on a card. So, by chance, I had 2 cards that I've been working on, and finished to submit to the galleries for WT199. One is a present card, no stamping, super quick and easy, blue and silver. I had made one like it for my husband's aunt and uncle who celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. It was easy to make another one. :) The other card is a snowflake using large and small stampin up tag punches, gluing to a background paper, and then trimming to make the snowflake shape. I layered 2 together, and put it on silver background, and it turned out really pretty. I think mostly because of the blue glitter paper, which I ended up WEARING ALL OVER me by the time I was done. I was sparkling too! :)

(I'll have to post the pics in the next post. My camera just died!)

I have another card I made using valentine colors for thank you's but I think I'm going to enter it at CKC convention in April in Collinsville (billed as St. Louis, since no one knows where the heck collinsville is!). So I'll post that one later this year.

Still no snow, we did have 60 degree weather, thunderstorms, and TORNADO WARNINGS. Stupid midwestern weather. The day after it was 60, it was 30 with a wind chill in the teens. I hear the worst is yet to come.

Wising all of you in cyberland a very happy start to 09.

New Year's almost here!

2008-12-29T23:20:00.002-06:00

Holidays are always a busy time, but this year they seem busier than ever! Out of my 8 days off so far, i only had 2 where I did absolutely nothing! And in 2 days, new years eve, and new years day, then the weekend and back to work! UGH! Why does the time off go faster than the work time?

I have gotten some cards made, worked in my craft room, visit with friends and family, so it's not been anything negative. Just BUSY! We had a really nice Christmas. Not sure of New Year's Eve plans yet, but there's still time...

Happy New Year's to everyone in cyber land. Thanks for reading, and see you in 2009! Be safe.

Holidays are Here

2008-12-20T17:24:00.002-06:00

Hello anyone out there reading! The holidays are here since I started my school break after work yesterday afternoon. Two wonderful weeks off! And they will fly by. I have managed to get ALL my Christmas shopping done, and almost ALL of my cards made. The only ones I didn't make this year were for the co-workers in my hall that I don't know so well. My kids & their parents got a photo card of the class with Santa. Last year, I got a few done, and sent those to family and friends, and sent manufactured ones to everyone else. I am quite proud of myself for getting all handmade ones sent out this year! I am going to TRY to start on them earlier next year. So, here's what I came up in addition to the ones in the previous post. Enjoy looking! If I don't get back here in the next week, Merry Christmas to all of you!

Times fun when you're havin flies...

2008-12-08T19:21:00.002-06:00

Or something like that! Haha...I can't believe how busy I've been. The last post was right before fall, and here we are at the beginning of winter. It's already snowed once, and had black ice 2 mornings. That's a great thing when you have to drive 30 miles to work at 8 am. Luckily it's mostly highway, and I haven't had any big trouble yet!
So again, as usual, I'm lacking creativity because of work being really busy the last couple months. And my Christmas cards aren't putting themselves together for me either. I took Saturday and tonight as a break to work on cards for our girls' scrappin club this Saturday. As far as the cards that I'm sending out...they MIGHT make it by Christmas. My break from school doesn't start until the evening of the 19th.
Anyways...Here's what I came up with for my girls' club. I tried to be quick and simple. There's a picture of Bitty Kitty too. Two weeks ago, she got declawed and spayed. She's doing pretty good, but I can tell her paws are still sensitive. She's just so sweet!

Happy Fall!

2008-10-26T18:50:00.004-05:00

My mom came over today for some girl time & to stamp! She used some of my stuff, shared some of her stuff, and I used some stamps I've just gotten, or haven't had the chance to use yet.
It's DEFINATELY fall now. The temps have been cool, and going downhill. It rained 3 days last week. My class is going to the pumpkin farm on Wednesday. Thank goodness it'll be a SHORT trip, as the temps are not going to be very nice. At least they'll get a pumpkin in time for Halloween!

Here's the cards I made tonight. Mom liked my deer card, so she stamped some extras out and is going to copy. I was going for 1 layer cards, and stuck pretty close to it. Sometimes simple is just as good as the fancy stuff. And OF COURSE my stamp room isn't complete without a cat in it. So here's Buster hard at work doing what he does best.

Have a great week and I'll check in soon!

Post World cardmaking day

2008-10-05T12:30:00.002-05:00

My Stampin Up upline and I had a card swap yesterday at her house to celebrate world cardmaking day. (Did you know there was such a beast?!?!) Here's some of the cards we made, with a couple additions/changes that I added today.

This has been a GORGEOUS weekend. I have been in the mood to decorate for fall, and will post pictures of that when I'm done. The sky has been clear blue, with the crisp chill of autumn air in the mornings, and no warmer than 80 in the afternoon. My walnut tree is dropping the nuts like crazy, and I jump every time they hit the roof. Squirrels have been busy gathering them too. There's shells all over my driveway!

More pictures to come soon!

Sympathy Cards

2008-09-30T20:12:00.003-05:00

One of my family's LONG time family friends lost his wife over the weekend. I made him and his kids sympathy cards. They aren't the best, but I felt like they would appreciate something handmade. He and his wife were married 67 years. Can you even imagine? It's so rare now days to stay married for 10...I took off work today for the funeral, and gave them the cards at the dinner. I'm sure once they all get home and settled, they will look at them.

I made my secret sister from splitcoast stampers her birthday card. I'm only posting part of a picture of it, hopefully not giving away the rest of the card. I thought the kitty turned out cute. I colored it with prismacolor pencils and baby oil and blending stumps. I love this coloring method!

I went to my friend's house on Saturday night, and worked on my honeymoon scrapbook. We went in 2006, and I started the book almost a year ago. I'm not good at laying out scrapbook pages, so I'm just layering and sticking...Not creative, but I'm beginning. I'll post some of those pictures eventually.

Thanks for reading!

Where Have I Been?

2008-09-21T00:22:00.002-05:00

In case there's anyone checking in somewhat regularly, you have noticed that no recent posts have been added since the beginning of the month. For one, I'm still exhausted after work, and two, the little ankle biters have already gotten me sick which doesn't help! I did manage to pump out a card, though I'm not really satisfied with how it turned out. It's ok, but not what I wanted. If you like it, thanks. Send your address and I'll mail it to you. :) It's a new Cuttlebug embossing folder colored in Stampin pastels chalks from Stampin Up. (I'm a demo if you didn't know!) The sock monkey is a new set i have had for a couple months, and yet to use. I thought he'd be cute with a pumpkin...

Time for more cards!

2008-09-07T02:19:00.003-05:00

I've not posted in a while! I've been getting my classroom ready, and started back to work a week and a half ago. It's draining with 3 year olds! I came home and ate dinner, and crashed for the night for the first week! I have some good kiddos though, so I'm looking forward to see how far we go!

Anyways...I have some new photos to post of cards I've made. I haven't used my new room as much as I would like. I have tons of ideas, but like I said, I've been way tired at night. The top 2 are Martha Stewart glitter stickers from Wal-Mart. I thought they were pretty, and liked the colors. The cherish one is for my mother-in-law to give to her friends for their anniversary. The single bird one was a thank you for my mom for watching our critters while we were on vacation. The aloha one is for a family friend who is retiring and having a surprise party later this afternoon. On the inside I wrote, aloha (goodbye) work, aloha (HELLO) retirement!
I thought it turned out cute for a quickie! I made another one too, but I can't post it. I'm doing a secret sister thing on SplitCoast Stampers. She would know it was me if I showed it here and she saw it, and it'd ruin the surprise.

For kicks and giggles, I'll put one more picture up. This is my friend Erin and I outside a winery on the Great River Road near Alton, IL. We tasted wine, and both bought a bottle, so we're acting like we're boozing it up on the sidewalk outside. I thought it was pretty funny.

Yard Sale!

2008-08-13T11:45:00.001-05:00

My mom and I are FINALLY having a yard sale! I've begged all summer long, so it's gonna be Saturday. I have a whole room full of stuff, and I'm pricing it really reasonable so it will sell. If you want to come, let me know and I'll give you the info. :)

Home again!

2008-08-11T13:40:00.004-05:00

We just got in from visiting my husband's brother and sister in law and our ONLY 2 nephews in Oregon. We had a nice time, and missed out on the 2 hottest days of summer and a really bad wind storm here at home. They drove us to Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Valley, and WOW was it gorgeous. We hiked up the mountain to the top of the waterfall too! Coming down was much better than going up. :) It was our "end of summer" trip since my hubby had to go back to work today, and I will be going in this week to set up my classroom. I've gotten spoiled having the summer off! I am going to post more card pictures eventually...Just haven't gotten around to it yet! I got my car back today too. It broke down a week and a half ago, and BOY did I miss it. It was our only transportation, as my hubby's truck is broken down too. Welcome home my little sunfire! :)

More Cards

2008-08-02T11:26:00.002-05:00

Here's a closer look at the card I made for my FIL birthday (being guarded by the fierce kitty in the previous post). I worked forever to get a layout I liked, and finally decided to glue everything down. The clown card was a splitcoaststampers.com ways to use your scraps challenge. The balloons I had punched out a while ago, and I cut the clown using my cricut and scrap pieces of already been cut on papers.

They called it the Baby Blintz!

2008-08-02T00:54:00.005-05:00

I know lots of preggo people right now, and none of them wanna know what they are having yet! I made this card for a splitcoaststampers.com challenge. If you haven't been there yet, GO! It is an awesome resource! I'm there way too much! :) For those from SCS coming to visit my puny lil blog, I humbly thank you!
This is called a blintz base card. Origami. There's a tutorial to make it at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360809&highlight=blintz+base+card
and then follow the adobe link in the first post. It's pretty easy to do!
The origami cards are becoming my fast favorites. I like the challenges because you can see so many different perspectives from all these creative people! I'm not as good as some of them, but when I do participate in these challenges, my cards seem to be better than if I try coming up with something on my own.

How organized can I get?

2008-08-02T00:38:00.009-05:00

So for those who have been looking, and messaging me about how insanely organized I appear to be, I thought it'd be funny to post how I organize my small scrap pieces that I cut, but then decide not to use. It's a fishing lure organizer from Wal-Mart! Yes, I took the time to actually do this! Don't worry, I'll be back to work soon. Then I'll be too busy/tired to go back to my hide away!
I worked on a card for my Father In Law's birthday tonight too. It took me FOREVER to get a layout that I liked. Notice I have it guarded by the fiercest kitty ever!

Last round of room pictures!

2008-07-29T10:22:00.004-05:00

This should be the last group for now, unless I decide to change again! Haha...Just other storage items and the rest of the room. I made the Create sign with my Cricut and the Mickey Font. I used the circles from Snow Play SU set for the background stampng. The paper was a Paperbilities pack on clearance for 5 bucks at Wal-Mart. The punches are stored in the bottom 4 drawers of an Iris Christmas Ornament storage cart. The smaller ones have the dividers in the drawers. The top drawers are my SU accessories. The Plastic carts hold my jars of ribbon, extra wood stamps (not SU) Quilling materials, and some other stuff. Back in the corner is hidden my piles I have no room for and projects to work on! (That's why it may look a tad messy. I was working in here late last night!)
I tried to set up the space as "stations" The former kitchen table is the "coloring" station, with most of my markers, pastels, etc. Everything wouldn't fit! The former microwave cart is the "cutting" station with the cuttlebug and cricut, plus accessories for them in the drawer, and shelf under the drawer. In the cabinet part is all my craft books and magazines. The drafting table is my main work area. I tried to keep it more open, so i have room to spread my stuff on it when working. The other table is the inking/accessories table. Honestly, it's just another place to work! :) My mom comes over a lot now, and this is right where she goes! No clock, no TV. Just crafts.
Thanks for looking!

Craft room Storage

2008-07-29T10:08:00.004-05:00

Ok, so apparently I can't load too many pictures at once, so here's how I store some of my things. Eventually, I would like all floor cabinet/drawer storage with table tops. But that's for another year. :) My favorite finds are the black slider boxes from Wal-Mart's school supply section for 50 cents a piece! I put my markers by colors and labeled them. There's one picture of them in a drawer, and one box open. My other favorite find, was my white yard sale shelf. It was only 2 bucks, but it was an ugly mauve, coated with dust and dirt color. I washed it up, hammered the top off to get off this heart routered into a curvy piece of wood, layered white paint on it, added hooks to hang, then decorated with rub-ons from stampin up. I had a small white shelf too from flowers I bought, and it sits perfectly on top to make it more decorative! I had to put rub-ons on it too! It may be a bit much all together, but they'll scrape off if i want to change it!
The table is my coloring station, though not all coloring items would nicely fit. Yes, that's a Longaberger basket with markers in it. (Don't worry, it has a liner!) We got it as a gift for our wedding 2 years ago, and never used it. Now it has a purpose! My oh-so-kind artist brother in law sent me most of the markers. They were his extras. Wasn't that nice?

Nice Place for a Crafty Space!

2008-07-29T09:52:00.004-05:00

I intended to set this up for my crafts/cards, and so far haven't gotten around to it. I took more pictures of my new crafting area today (during the day, with the blinds up!) so it can show off the view, and how nice the room colors blend with the nature outside right now. Also have pictures of my storage solutions for now. It seems like every few months it's changing! :)
A favorite touch is the sage umbrella! I found it on clearance at Hobby Lobby. The flowers in it were on clearance at my husbands work. So with his discount, they cost a whopping 92 cents! Not bad, huh?
This was our carpeted breakfast nook. We never really eat in it, unless we had guests, so it was kinda wasted space. Over a year ago, we had a puppy, and she decided to make the carpet her outside place. We gave her away, I ripped out the carpet and matting, and my father in law had to cut out the baseboard. We installed new baseboard, and Pergo flooring. Most of the items in here I "redesigned" for the space. The apple cloth covered table, was my 1st dining table. (We were given a bigger one, now in the kitchen.) The drafting table and other table were in my living room on either side. My father in law had 3 drafting tables, and gave me this one. I moved all the storage stuff into the new room, and rearranged for about 4 days. I ordered some new SU stuff for storage, found a matching green/brown striped "back to school" area rug at Target, and this is the result! I want to get some shelves (really the Making Memories embellishment center) to store my jars of buttons, flowers and ribbons. They are all in mason jars. Another cheap storage solution! Right now, they're just outta the way. Eventually, they'll be a pretty addition to the wall!

Ahhhh....relief. Not spelled R-O-L-A-I-D-S

2008-07-28T19:05:00.002-05:00

I called my family Doc today to try to get an appointment this week. They, OF COURSE, had "nothing available til next week." I could NOT stand the itchy, miserable, non-sleeping grief any longer! I just sucked it up and went to the ER. I really hated to do it, but I was to the point of wussiness. I just needed the itch (and the spreading) to stop. This is how bad it was. I wore a long sock over my arm to bed last night, to try to keep the irritation down. I looked silly, but, did sleep most of the night.
So, now I'm on steroids and benedryl. I'll pump you up and take a nap when finished! HAHA...

Ugh.

Poison Ivy!

2008-07-27T02:56:00.002-05:00

UGH!!! I was doing yard work a few days ago, and knew there was poison ivy in the tree vines. I tried my very best to stay away from it. I didn't think I touched it, but sure enough, yesterday I blistered all up and down one arm. I woke up at 4:30 yesterday morning because of the itching! I slept on and off today, and again, am still up at 3 AM. It's spreading some, and the blisters are pretty big. It's not going to the hospital worthy, but so very uncomfortable! I have clear caladryl and aveeno hydracortizone cream.
I've NEVER had poison ivy in my 31 years of living, but this year, this is the 2nd time I've gotten it. The first time it was just a little, and I didn't know I got it, or what I had.
So so itchy!

My cute new kitty!

2008-07-25T17:32:00.004-05:00

Since I've first posted, a new little one has been added to our fur baby family! She was rescued from a business parking lot on a rainy day by my husband. She's long haired calico, and cute as a button! We've had her for 2 weeks and we cannot come up with a name for her! We've been calling her Little Bit, but of course, she will get bigger, and the name won't fit.
Here's her Purr-sonality: Very playful and frisky, sassy, not afraid of the other cats who are 4 times her size, affectionate, loving, and has a little rollie pollie tummy. Hopefully, I can figure out posting a picture so she can be seen. My other female kitty is a calico too, and her name is Nutmeg (nutters, meggies, nutty, etc. for short). My other 2 cats are toms, one yellow striped, the other orange striped. They are Morris and Buster.

So what's a good name for the new one? Halloween & Callie have already been thrown out by my husband. :)

My story

2008-03-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

I saw someone else's site through an internet search, and thought I'd give this a try myself. I live in IL, close to St. Louis, MO. I am a preschool teacher, and a Stampin' Up demonstrator. I have been teaching for 10 years in various capacities. I am now working towards my 2nd year in a district to get tenure. I have been a Stampin' Up hobby demo for a year and a half, and starting to gain a customer base to hold more workshops. I have been married for 2 years this May. I have 3 fuzzy "kids" (my cats) and we are trying to have a child. I love to travel, love theme parks and roller coasters, & LOVE to shop. I make cards, and just starting to work on scrapbooking. I will add some pictures of my projects once I'm more familiar with the site here! Thanks for reading.