Mojo Maybe?

Ok....I'm not convinced that my mojo has found it's way home. But I did manage to squeak out a card this evening (please excuse the less than great picture...it is now 8pm and I have HORRIBLE lighting in my office (maybe I should request a photo box for mother's day!! hehe). I sat and stared at this stamp set, the sketch on SCS, the color challenge and the ways to use it challenge also on SCS for quite a long time before I came up with this idea:

This card is a 5x 5 square. I used Rubbernecker's new Floral Silhouette set and masked off the second flower with scotch tape while I inked the rest using Archival Jet Black. I then removed the tape and colored the flower using SU's Real Red and Old Olive Marker. I placed this panel over the leaf from the same set that was stamped randomly over the long panel. The sentiment was stamped in Real Red and then cut out and embossed using Spellbinders circle nestibilities and adhered using dimensionals.

Supplies: Stamps: Rubbernecker Floral Silhouette Set. Paper: SU's whisper white and basic black. Ink: Archival Jet Black, Real Red (pad and marker) Old olive and summer sun marker. Accessories: Big Shot, Spellbinders nestibilities, stampamajig, dimensionals.

Overall, not too bad. It is a bit out of my comfort zone as it seems a little more "busy" than what I tend to make, but I kind of like it (exploring something new, I guess!)

Did you notice that I uploaded the picture of the card in a larger format? What do you think? Do you like that format better? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by. Tomorrow I start work at the new clinic. Cross your fingers that I don't lock up the computer while trying to chart!! (I'm soooo computer challenged, and this is a complete different charting program than what I am used to at my other job!!). Crossing my fingers that I will get some more stamping done this weekend.

WANTED

Would the person who took my mojo and motivation please return them ASAP?! I need them back to make some cards that are needed for next week.
I have even gone to the desperate measure of cleaning off my desk space to make room for their return.
Thanks. I promise no questions will be asked if they are only returned quickly to my workspace.

ESCAPE!!

Yesterday was DH's (aka the "Toad") 41st birthday. He would have rathered it was his 21st or 31st, hehe. This is is the card that I finally finished today (yeah, I'm a day late, but I'll have my excuse later on in this post for those of you who would like a peek into our weekend!)

This is actually a transparency card. It measures 3 1/2 x 8 1/2. I stamped the "Toad" from Rubbernecker on Gina K's 120# pure luxury paper (I LOVE that paper for coloring!!) and colored it with my Copics. I then put to use my fine motor skills and cut it out (SU's paper snips are WONDERFUL for tight detail cutting). Using my favorite LARGE stencil brush, I used Soft Sky and then Brocade Blue with a freehand template to create my "clouds". *Hint: When using a template, flip the template using both sides so that your clouds do NOT look uniform. Also, begin with your lightest ink then add a darker ink. I attached the Toad (trying to escape his birthday) to the front of the acetate using glue dots. I then opened the card and placed glue dots behind the image and then placed my cloud sheet over that. Inside has the snarky sentiment of "There's no escape!!" hehe Supplies: Stamps: Rubbernecker frog. Paper: Gina K's 120# Pure Luxury, transparency sheet (office depot). Ink: Copic Ciao's, SU's soft sky and brocade blue. Accessories: glue dots

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WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS NO STAMPING. CREATIVITY IS PRESENT IN THEATRICAL FORM ONLY. (HEHE)

Each year our church goes to the church camp for a weekend retreat. The children's program is just awesome. Every year there is a "theme" and the weekend activities emphasize that theme. This year it was Walking with Jesus. Friday night begins the program with the kids learning new songs and getting their "bag" for the weekend and have the introduction to the "theme". Saturday am is "sabbath school" with many different stations for the kids to do crafts or activities and get goodies for their bags. On Saturday afternoon, there is a "hike" (about 2 miles total) to different "stations" that the older kids present a skit then hand out the goodies for the kid's bags. 6th grade is the first year that you are allowed to present a skit. This is my oldest DS's group presenting the Feeding of the 5000. (my son is the one in the blue)

Now, you will notice that there is a "different Jesus in these pictures. The younger kids are divided by age group and this year there were 6 different groups. "Jesus" led his "followers" to each of the skit areas and then had a part in that particular skit. These kids did a great job as the script that "Jesus" had didn't match with their script and they had to do some serious ad libbing!! By the 6th time, they were pros (some of the ad libs: "Jesus" asks if there is a restaurant near by that they can get some take-out. One of the disciples states that there are no pizza places within MILES of where the crowd is! hehe) *side note: the "crowd" was given homemade bread and fishy crackers to snack on and then given a small bag of fishy crackers and a "fish" key chain for their bags.

Here is a group shot. Notice the "disciple" who is in jeans?! Yup...that would be my youngest who is totally bummed that he is not his brother's twin. He hung out with this group all afternoon vs taking the hike to the other stations.

Saturday evening ends with the kids having games and watching a video made of them during the weekend.
Just a small peek into our weekend. I was really proud of the kids for learning their lines and not panicking when things did not as they had thought it would.

Thanks for stopping by!

Double Whammy!!

Ok, I promised you a card in the next post and boy!! Did I deliver!! First up (yes....that means there is a SECOND, hehe) is the card my 8 y/o DS made for his teacher. He did all the coloring (with my SU markers) and asked me to cut it out. He then chose the base paper and requested we use the "machine" to make the swirls. He istructed me to put the image at the bottom "because that is the water and the blue is the sky". I think he did a great job!! (and yes, he knows that the second "b" in baby is backwards....adds to the charm!! wink)

Supplies: Stamps: Rubbernecker. Inks: SU markers, Archival Jet Black. Paper: SU's bashful blue. Accessories: Cuttlebug, swirls embossing folder.

Now for my card. Are you sitting down? I actually managed to combine TWO challenges from SCS!! The layout is SCS 225 and I did the WT215 (using all white paper). Double points for me!!

I was introduced to Dustin Pike from Dawn's blog and I fell in love with his style of drawing (can I just say it is a coloring fanatic's dream?!!). I downloaded this cute brave knight on Gina K' 120# Pure luxury paper and colored him and his pony with my copics. I then carefully cut the image out. I hand drew the "castle" walls and shaded them with copics also. The "black" layer is actually whisper white outlined with the broad tip of my black copic marker and the castle is layered on top of that. I carefully added a very thin line of black on the cutouts (what are those things called? Where the hot oil was dumped between or the archer's shot from? Where is oldest DS when I need him?!!) I then popped the cute~~~sorry, BRAVE knight and his pony on dimensionals. Supplies: Stamps: Digi image from Dustin Pike. Paper: Gina K's 120# pure luxury, whisper white. Ink: Archival Jet black, Copics ciao's (the 72A pack). Accessories: Dimensionals.

Well, DH and oldest son return home from Astro camp tomorrow afternoon. I will have to scramble to get DH's b-day card done before then (as his birthday is SATURDAY!!......have I ever mentioned that I'm also the QUEEN of Procrastination?!!) No wonder I whine soooo much!! I bring the stress on myself! (wink) I think I need to find some GOOD chocolate (the Famous Amos cookies are not cutting it!!) so that I can focus tonight and get another image colored!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

What a Whiner.......

I am!!! Geesh!! I apologize. I would blame it on the lack of chocolate in this house, but that would be whining again. Soooo. I am very lucky that I am able to give support to friends, teachers, family when they need it. I am very lucky that I have an opportunity to work when so many others are losing their jobs. I am lucky that my children care enough to make gifts for their teachers.

And with that, I'm off to clean the disaster that the cook (not pointing any fingers!!) made in the kitchen so that I can sneak in a little stamping when the kiddo goes to sleep!

And!!! I PROMISE that the next post will have a card to share!!

What happened to all my FREE time?

Like all the cards that I've made lately? Geesh. I swear, I'm going to stop telling people that I am looking forward to some ME time. 'Cause "they" (whoever "they" are) just keep filling my time up with other stuff!!

Not to make excuses, but here is a slight example of how my week is going (and sadly~it is only mid Wed morning!!)
Monday: 1) Had to make a meal for a family that the mom just had surgery.
2)Monday pm: Had to take oldest DS to the dentist on a "get him in now" type appointment as he managed to lose only 1/2 a tooth Sunday night and the other half was not coming out (wellll......we really don't know that as he wouldn't let DH try and pull it).
3) Spent the rest of Monday getting things lined up for a per diem job that will be once a week for who knows how long.

Tuesday: 1)Tried to find my college diploma (mind you, the thing has been packed away for close to 20 years!!). Amazingly enough, I DID find it. Updated my resume. Need to get all my paper work together so that I can be a medicare provider for this new job. Fun, fun.
2) Got DS and DH all packed to go to Astro camp for 3 days.

Wednesday: 1) Waited at the school until close to 10am to see DH and DS off to Astro camp.
2) Ran to the store so that I can make supper for TWO families tonight.
3) Need to finish making empanadas
4) Need to go to youngest DS's piano lesson
5) Need to help youngest DS finish the card that he is making for his teacher (she just had her first child) so that we can deliver it with one of the meals.
6) Promised DS that we would go out to eat somewhere special after delivering the meals.
7) FIND TIME FOR ME TO STAMP!!!!

Shhhhh!! Don't tell "them" but I think that I will try to stamp this evening.

Exploring Frustration

Yesterday DH and I decided to hit the local mountains (in the San Bernardino National Forest) since temperatures were suppose to hit the upper 80's. I asked DH to grab the camera so that I could take some pictures. Wellllll, DH did grab the camera, but he grab the camera that I have to have the USB cord to download since the card does not fit in the slots. Fine (well, fine after I expressed my unhappiness about it!) EXCEPT I CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT CORD TO DOWNLOAD!! GRRRRRRR!!!!! I have all these wonderful, artsy pictures of waterfalls, the snow capped mountains.....and until I find the cord, you will not get to enjoy that artistic endeavor. Sigh.
OK. I guess that means I'll have to go back to the tried and true and make a card later today. Check back later and make sure that I did!