First Signs of Spring

My good intentions of practicing my photography skills have already been pushed aside.  Not for the lack of desire.  But for the lack of time to figure out the photo editing portion. 

But yesterday, I noticed the first signs of spring are starting to bloom. And it was just too perfect of a day not to take advantage of the gorgeous weather, the bright blue sky and the blooming plum trees in our yard.

This little guy kept turning his butt to the camera every time I pushed the shutter.  Maybe he was trying to tell me something?!

I would really like to figure out how to add layered textures to my pictures. I think it would help cover the lack of skill I have with my point and shoot photography. 

Maybe I should just focus on getting the actual editing down to a reasonable time, without my cheat sheets first!  

'Till then...............I hope you have a wonderful, bloomin' day!

In the Pink

Today my computer decided to FINALLY recognize my camera cards!! YEAH! 

Of course, it is now throwing little snits in other areas.  But I'm just going to ignore those for the time being and get this card posted before the stupid thing decides it is going to cut me off of blogging!!

I know I'm always making excuses for my poor photography skills.  Obviously, I need to increase the practice in that area.  But! In my defense on this photo, may I just remind you that my computer REFUSED to download my pictures yesterday?  Therefore, I was  unable to see if I needed to have a repeat photo session.  I did.  But the card has been given to the birthday gal already.  There are no "do overs".  So, we must all do with what we have!!

Yes, I used the dreaded pink on this!! For those of you new to my blog, pink is NOT a color a I gravitate too!  It is just a TAD too girly for me! haha!  Once again, I pulled out the Bugaboo digi's for my fun, somewhat snarky card.  After resizing and printing out on GP 110# (my printer REFUSES to accept my preferred Pure Luxury), I colored the image with copics.  I matted the image on a piece of SU pink ( I have NO idea which pink this is...perhaps Pixie Pink?  Regal Rose?).I used the scallop punch from SU to trim the bottom portion and sponged all the edges with Pixie Pink.  The dp is from S-E-I's Black Orchid. The paper obviously has some embossing on it, as it glaringly shows! Again, that was layered on the pink and adhered to a Pure Luxury 5 1/2" square base.

The sentiment comes with the image and was again re sized and printed out on the GP paper.  I used the classic and scalloped oval dies from Spellbinders to frame it.  Sponging was done on the scalloped edges with Pixie Pink.

I actually decorated the inside too!!  Those pictures were in no shape or form presentable! I edged the bottom with another strip of the dp on the pink.  I then used my computer in a matching font (as close as I could find) to print out May your bank account be overflowing on your birthday!  This was also cut out with the classic and scalloped ovals.  I had even colored some self adhesive gems pink and used them above and below the sentiment.  Too cute.  You'll have to take my word on that!

My desk is already cleaned up and ready to start the next project!  Now, if I could only say the same about my kitchen! snort! 

'Till then.....................make some creative time in your weekend!

p.s.....like the wonderful white highlighting?  OMG......tried to fix it.....it's still there.  I'm leaving it.  Time to walk away before I do something I may regret!

My Love/Hate Relationship

I'm in a Love/Hate relationship. 

I find that I'm somewhat (ok, possibly overly) needy of my time in this relationship.  I find myself  feeling I have to connect several times a day. 

Maybe that is a sign that I need to step back and just let things flow in a more natural way.

But yet, I find myself incredibly frustrated with certain aspects of this relationship.  Communication tends to break down frequently, causing angry thoughts on my part.  Justified?  I'm not sure.  In truth, the lack of communication is probably my fault.

Yes, once again, me and my computer are on the outs.  While I can post my frustrated thoughts here, my computer refuses to acknowledge that it recognizes various cameras/cards that it recognized two days ago.  Of course, this happens after said computer decided to upgrade itself yesterday.

So.  You will all have to wait to see the latest card creation. Brace yourselves~~~I even used the dreaded PINK on it!  I'm calling in to my "relationship" expert this afternoon.  Yep.  Time for the big guns.

I'm going to have the Toad download a new spyware program. 

It's time for my computer to commit to this relationship.  In all aspects.  Including one of the most important~DOWNLOADING MY PICTURES!!!

I'm going to go prepare myself for the confrontation now.  Till then..................

A WOYWW Tour

Eeeeeaaaakkk! It's Wednesday already and that means that Ms. Julia Dunnit is hosting another WOYWW. 

Can I just say that looking at crafting areas is almost as addicting as crafting itself?!  It took me a few days, but I managed to look at all the links last week.  I love seeing what others are working on, and their crafting spaces too!  I won't guarantee that I will make everyone's desk each week, but I'll give it my best!

I have gotten into the (?) good habit of trying to clean up the aftermath of the disasters that are created after  finishing up my projects before I move onto the next one.  Believe it or not, I even completed some more of the "mass production" school staff birthday cards after my last post on Monday, that are needed for this month.  And I cleaned up my area so that is it fairly presentable.  So I thought that I would share some pics of what my space looks like since I don't have anything in progress today.

My crafting area is in the spare bedroom.  It was to be the Toad's "man cave".  But somehow, I, uhhh, kind of took over (I have offered to clear out a space by the window for him to put a table so that he can work on his models while I create.  So far, all I've gotten is glares and mutterings about "this was MY space" as he leaves the room.)  It is not TOTALLY my space as it does have some "junk" that I/we have just not dealt with since moving in (uhhh....about 10 years ago!), but for the most part, yeah.  It's my area! LOL!



The first picture is from the angle of me standing in the doorway, looking to my right, which is where my desk is.  The wooden unit was a gift from the Toad several years ago (shhhhh.....don't tell anyone, but he really does spoil me by buying "stuff" that makes my space easier to create in!  He likes to complain, but in reality, he is my biggest fan! ).  The unit houses most of my SU inks and markers from days gone by.  I really should move my Distress inks to this as I use them more, but I'm just too lazy! Different pens, pencils, my tape dispenser, rulers and such are kept in the Pampered Chef tool caddy. My copics are kept on my desk with my color chart.

 The far left pile of paper is a mix of recipes I've printed off and the list of staff members birthdays.   The other pile is the "Here Mom" pile.  Which covers my Bamboo tablet. 



Next is looking straight forward from the door.  The shelves hold family books and alterable items.  The b/w folders hold my unmounted stamps.  The chest above it holds various embellishments.  The shelf below has some metal pails that hold different glues, paint brushes, large sponges and such. 

The little rocking chair belonged to the Toad as a child.
And of course, there is the "junk pile".  Stuff that needs to be dealt with that I just stack neatly and try to ignore.

Next is the wall behind my desk.  I store my ribbons and more embellishments in the clear containers.  The black storage containers hold my Sizzix dies and embossing folders. My Big Shot and Cuttlebug are also kept here. The metal containers hold small sponge daubers, my alcohol inks, some crackle paints and glue dots/dimensionals. The baskets hold envies, electronic cords, tools that are not used as much as well as miscellaneous embellishment and alterable items.  The big green storage unit holds scrapbooking supplies from days gone by! You can see a peek of the wrapping paper container (and not seen~ rolls of wrapping paper) that is kept behind the door. I store SU In Colors and my Distress Inks in these ink cubbies. Obviously, my punches are stored here too.  Projects that I haven't given away yet are displayed on the top. Peeking behind them is another embellshment holder that keeps buttons, brads, and eyelets organized.

The sliding door closet is to the right of my desk. Obviously, this is only half of it! LOL! This is where I store all my SU sets as well as my papers (kept in Cropper Hopper paper storage units).  The containers on the floor would be all my photos and memorabilia.  Storing them this way, makes them easy to grab and load in the truck during fire season!  And of course there is the "junk"  that again, I try to ignore!

The paper shredder (with my Three Faces of Suzi that still needs to be hung up!) sits on top of clear storage drawers that hold my small tubes of acrylic paints.

This last shot is under my desk.  The black storage container holds all my SU paper scraps in vanilla folders, sorted by color.  The Cropper Hopper paper holder is filled with papers that I'm using for works in progress.  Behind that is another file storage unit that holds paper scraps from various companies, sorted by color.  The black bag holds frequently used tools, such as my stampamajig, my acrylic blocks and cropadile. 

The house file and printer is also kept there.  

So! That is my space! Not as lavish as some, but it works for me!  Someday I'll get motivated and give the walls some color, but that chore is not high on the "improvement" list! LOL!

Thanks for dropping by again today!  I'll try to have a more "exciting" desk next week!

'Till then...................

Learning to Pause

Well, it would appear that Monday is half over!! I spent my morning forcing unwilling children out of bed and to school after a busy weekend.  Wore out the dog (temporarily) with an hour long walk, started on the mounds of laundry that procreated while in the Toad's and oldest kiddo's duffel bags for a weekend retreat.  Maybe I should just start a blog on the prolific life that laundry has.....

Oh yeah.  And I almost, kind of sort of, ruined a project that I have been working on all weekend. 



Sigh.  I'm just going to chalk this one up to the ever needed practice and skill building that I so obviously need with metal. 

While cruising on SCS on Saturday I followed the inspiration challenge link to Uncommon Goods.  I was immediately inspired by these hummingbird feeders and went to work on my own metal version.

I was over all pleased with this  project until the blotch that is now the sentiment area came to be.  Initially, I traced around a Heidi Swapp mask onto a piece of TenSecond Studios Peacock metal for the flowers.  I then found a couple of pictures of hummingbirds online and modified the drawings to fit my needs.  After embossing, refining, embossing and finalizing all the metal work, I filled the puffed out areas on the back of the sheet with light weight Spackle. 

I think this is when I "ruined" my piece. 

After letting the Spackle dry (while on my walk with the pooch), I lightly sanded the Spackle to decrease any weird bumps I might get when I adhered the final piece.  Either I brushed off a large chunk of Spackle onto my craft mat or had unwittingly left a chunk there from my application and didn't realize it.  I then carefully applied Hummungo tape onto the back and carefully adhered the metal to a 9 x 12" flat canvas.

 THEN....THEN it happened 

When I flipped over my piece, there was a slight area that was scratched with a little blob of Spackle.  So I carefully scrapped the Spackle off.  Not too bad of a scratch.  But some of the Spackle was still present.  So I took a damp corner of my clean up rag and wiped the Spackle off.  Leaving a rather larger "spot" where the color was removed.  ACCCCKKKK!! I couldn't have removed the color better if I had deliberately tried!

OKAAAAYYYY.  I decided not to panic and sand the rest of the embossed areas, hoping that the "spot" wouldn't be so obvious.

Nope.  It became even MORE obvious. 

I considered cutting out and embossing more flowers and adhering it to the area, but I felt that the extra flowers would mess up my design flow (whatever THAT is).  I spent far too long online looking for "hummingbird quotes" to fit that area.  I tried cutting out a metal frame to stamp a sentiment on.  But the area became too crowded. 

Finally, I grabbed my wire brush tool and removed the color from the area and stamped the sentiment from Tim Holtz's Just Thoughts with Black StazOn. 

Still not completely thrilled with the result and may still work on a more dimensional type frame for the sentiment. Of course, now that frame would have to be even bigger to cover up the area that I brushed.

Do you ever feel like you are in a Three Stooges movie with trying to fix a tiny mistake and making a HUGE mess of the whole deal?!

No?.....oh.  Maybe it's just me. 

There are those in blog land who don't share their creative mistakes.  But I will.  for a couple of reasons:

 If I didn't share my mistakes, I would rarely post. And who knows, maybe we'll both learn something from my mistakes.  Hopefully, you'll learn quicker than me!

I've read that being creative is to make mistakes.  ART comes in knowing which ones to keep. See above.

I'm going to walk away from this for a while.  Maybe it will grow more on me.....

Till then..............have some fun. Take a risk and make some mistakes.  Maybe you'll make some ART!

Simple Thoughts

Happy Weekend Peoples!  I'm still trying to get back into the groove of things after CHA.  It is amazing how life continues to move on without "mom" when she takes a day or so away, but how quickly she is expected to get back into the groove of reality!!

Played around some yesterday and this morning with one of the new molds that were just released from TenSecond Studios.  I also tried my first attempt at writing on metal.

Let's just say, that I cannot write in a straight line to save my life.  Kiss me a gonner if I'm ever asked to do so!!

I also learned a few important things on this project. 

1)  Always make sure that the surface you are working with the metal on is fairly smooth.  In other words, don't be lazy and use your dinged up glass table top instead of your acrylic mat.  The table top dings may add extra "texture" to your piece. 

Or maybe that is just "home made" character!

2)  When one pieces the Humungo Sticky tape only the back of the metal, one should NEVER then try to smooth out the metal.  The Tape will act as a cushion, giving a edge that is not wanted, right down the middle of your image.

3)  One should also make sure that all the bumps and such are removed from the metal BEFORE one adheres it to the front of a card.  The camera doesn't lie.

And after all that jibber jabber, here is the piece.



The base is a 5 1/2" square piece of SU's Chocolate Chip.  Very Vanilla is the next layer with the edges rounded.  The metal is Dark Chocolate that was traced from a decorative chip board piece that I had originally thought to cover with the metal for another project.  I used the new Kabuka mold for the flower. I used one of my decorative wheels for my border and flattened the inside to make a frame. After sanding all the raised edges,  I filled in the flat areas of the flower with Glossy Accents and sprinkled with Doodle Bug glitter. 

To be perfectly honest, all the bumps and grooves rather annoy me.  I'm thinking this one may get filed in Folder 13. 

I'm now off to clean up the mess from this so that the youngest kiddo and I can start his California History project.  It would seem there is NO room on this desk for the kid to work. 

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  I've got the other side of this mold staring at me as I type and the wheels are turning.....'Till then..........................remember that exploring something new might not render the results you were hoping for, but there is always a lesson to be learned from it!

Just a Mess...............

edited to add:  I am a total dork.  Seriously, I never looked at my post after I wrote it up and never realized that I forgot to post the picture!!  A couple of comments finally clued me in to the fact!! DOI!

Sooo, here is the long awaited picture! LOL

..................that is all that is on my desk for WOYWW87.  I still haven't cleaned up the mess from last week as I was finishing up my my frame up until the time I needed to pack for CHA.  In the meantime, youngest kiddo has done the beginning research for a paper on California history and there is my googled map directions to the LA convention center.

Gloves would be from being thrown on the desk after this morning's walk with the dog.  The invitation is for a newly married couple's open house that I need to RSVP too.

No fun projects in the works.  Sigh.

 Can someone explain to me how it is that I did all the laundry before leaving on Friday and upon my return on Sunday, there is MOUNDS of the stuff?  Not to mention the disaster area aka the kitchen (ok.  I will take some responsibility for SOME of that mess.  I actually made homemade roasted tomato soup on Monday for dinner. Then I got hit with the "I need help with my homework" wall.  Still need to finish cleaning up that mess)

So, I'm off to get some cleaning done.  And to do some visiting of other desks.  I like snooping into spaces and see what others have in the works, not to mention, I like looking at the work spaces!

Till then....................