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!

Lattes by the Inch

Guess what I got in the mail yesterday?!!! Yup!! New Rubbah!! (insert happy dance here_____)

I really liked some of the new sets and backgrounds that were released from Rubbernecker last week and had to break my "no shopping" ban and get a few!!

Now, originally, I had planned on doing the Clean and Simple Challenge on SCS, but somehow my Real Red marker decided to jump in the act and messed that idea up!! Oh well!! The challenge inspired this creation, which I like pretty well!

Some small details that are NOT showing up in the photo: The chocolate chip panel was scored with my Scor-Pal and I put the inchies in the middle of the raised borders. The center latte (you know, the "rebel" red one) is popped up with dimensionals. Everything else is pretty self explanatory! Inside I have hand-written "Thanks a Latte".

Another easy-peasy one!! Thanks for taking a peek!! I already have some ideas for the other goodies that came, so come back soon!! Supplies: Stamps: Coffee & Tea inchies from Rubbernecker. Paper: SU's Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip. Inks: SU's Chocolate Chip and Real Red Marker. Accessories: Stampamajig, dimensionals, Scor-Pal

Journey to Jerusalem

This weekend our church put on a "Broadway-style" musical titled "Alone at the Alter". The musical starts with Abraham and Issac at the alter that Abraham was suppose to sacrafice his son on. It then moves to the highlights of Jesus' last days.

I was asked to direct the painting of the backdrop. The set was built last Sunday afternoon. We began the painting on Monday. It was completed on Wednesday. There is NO WAY that I could have completed this project on my own. There were many volunteers who were willing to listen to my "suggestions" (or bossing as it probably was!) as to how to paint the details. So I will take the responsibility of the mistakes too!! (and I will point the BIG one that I made that DH noticed right away in the first draft of pics that did NOT get fixed due to lack of time). When looking at these picture, keep in mind that I have a cheapo-point and shoot digital camera. And that I am the worst at editing my photos in my whateverprogram that I have. BUT!! I wanted to give you an idea of the set.

This is a 3D creation. It is actually framed and covered with huge sheets of cardboard. Here is the overall view (I think you can click on the picture to enlarge...no guarentees!)

And some close up shots starting with the right side of the scene and then moving to the middle and left side.
Some little details that are hard to see in the photos: the "beams" sticking out of the two houses are actual small beams.
The doors have 3D handles and hinges that do not really show up from a distance (but look great up close! hehe)

And here is my BIG mistake. Now in all honesty, most people would not notice this. But there will be a few who do. Notice the shading on the window on the "rocked" house? IT'S ON THE STINKIN' WRONG SIDE!! No one to blame but yours truely for that one!! I was doing the shadowing on the right side of the stage and even mentioned to everyone that we needed to change the shading to the other side once we got past the center house. GUESS WHO DID IT WRONG?!!! Ahhhh, geesh!! I literally had nightmares about this stupid window!! But to change it would have been more of a nightmare. We had run out of the "base" color paint to put over my mistake and that left the option of me having to put some Kilz (primer) over the window to cover the dark shadowing. No big deal, except that would have meant another trip to Home Depot or the paint store and we were running out of time. So, here is our story: The person who lives in this house put their large oil lamp on that side causing the shadows to be on the "wrong" side!! BWHAHHAAAThe stones over the archway have shading too, but again, my photography skills are sorely lacking!!

Most of my "mural" paintings have been for household rooms or smaller public areas. I learned that it is REALLY hard to get little details to show up from the back of a church!! But, we are hoping to use this set again for VBS or other smaller venues and then the small details can be appreciated more (of course, I just might have to fix that window before it gets used again!!)

I want to acknowledge all of those who helped in this painting endeavor. As I said prior, there is absolutely no way I could have gotten this job done by myself. Jen and Tres Hoffer (set designers), Jennifer Gorton, Stephanie Church, Laural Haglund, Caroline Kim, Rhonda and Rob Wilson and

Collette Carr~~if I missed anyone, please know that your efforts are not forgotten, just my brain is mush!!

Fastest Heat Gun on the West Coast

(insert accent with a drawl here_______)

Wellll pawdners!! Needed to round up a quick "thinkin' of ya'll" card to go along with the grub I was fixin' for a family that just lost their loved ones. Since I was gettin' short on time, I decided to play it smart and CASE myself from this previous card that I made a while back with a little changin' of the layout to one I found on the Clean and Simple blog. Now, not to be pattin' myself on the back too much, but I think that this is one for the record books as far as being a quick draw. I kinda had the general idear in my noggin' so that helped. I knew I was wantin' to use the Faux Bleach technique and have a couple of favorite sets for that particular technique. Here's what came out of the showdown between me and that onery critter Lack of Time:

First off, got myself a Very Vanilla base goin'. Then cut and used my CB Swiss Dots on the Close to Cocoa strip and added that purdy scallop border usin' my Scallop punch. Usin' my favorite tool, the stampamajig, I decided the placement of my tulips and stamped them usin' Versamark ink then clear embossed and blasted it with my heat gun. Grabbed my trusty extra large stipple brushes and worked some Antique Linen and Vintage Photo distress inks around the image. I then got out the hot iron and placed my image on my Craft sheet. Topped 'er with a scrap piece of paper and ironed until the embossin' powder melted onto the paper. Matted the image over some vanilla and chocolate chip cardstock and added the ribbon to the side strip. I decided against a sentiment on the front (wellllll......to be honest, I just plum ran out of time to add that little detail!! But I shur put a HANDWRITTEN thought on the inside!!) All in all, I figure it took less than 20 min from start to finish (which, for me, is SOMETHIN' worth braggin' about!!) Supplies: Stamps: SU's Terrific Tulips (retired). Paper: SU's Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip. Inks: Ranger's Distress inks in Antique Linen and Vintage Photo. Accessories: Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots embossing folder, Ribbon from Target, stipple brush, Clear Embossing powder, heat gun, SU scallop punch and my trusty ol' iron.

Wellll, thanks for stoppin' by. I shur do appreciate it!! (and I promise no accents on the next post!! hehe)

Working on Broadway

AHHHH!! Lights, camera, ACTION!!

Hehe.....actually all of that is kind of true. I'm helping put together the backdrop set for a "Broadway" style musical that our church is putting on for Easter this weekend. Spent all day with a wonderful work crew painting. The last of the details will be (crossing all fingers and toes) finished on Wednesday (tomorrow is that paying job thing that I have to do every once in a while!). Stay tuned and I'll post the "trailer" pictures!!

Rolling Thanks

Do you ever get it in your head that you can't do a challenge days after it is posted because no one will look at it or comment? I find myself in that position quite often and it is just PLAIN AND SIMPLY DUMB on my part!! HELLLOO!!! The goal of the challenges is to get you (me!!)creating!!

One of my current favorite challenges is the Clean and Simple challenge on Mondays on SCS. This week was a sketch and I really liked it, but never had a chance to do it on Monday.

My DH is the liaison for our little private church school and the city basketball league. He requested that I make some SIMPLE thank you cards for all of the parents who helped coach the different levels of basketball this season, this sketch just popped into my head! With 13 to make, this was an easy sketch to mass produce:

EASY PEASY!! I stamped the "thanks" in Chocolate chip then did the generation stamping of the basketball from right to left. I used the stampamajig (my FAVORITE tool!) to line up the rolling basketballs. I then stamped another basketball image and punched it out and put it on dimensionals right by the "thanks". Can't get much more simple than this!! Supplies: Paper: SU's Whisper white. Inks: Chocolate chip and pumpkin pie. Stamps: SU's Just Basketball and Much Appreciated. Accessories: stampamajig, dimensionals.

My challenge to you today is to create SOMETHING!! Whether it be for a challenge (current or past) or just for yourself~~keep those creative juices flowing!! I'd love to see what you did, so link back here and I will take a peek over the weekend!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Later gators!!

Finding Inspiration in Reading

My youngest son just finished reading the book Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney.

Once done, he asked me if we could make him a diary (excuse me~~it's a JOURNAL!). He wanted to use my Bind it All (sniff, sniff, makes a mother proud!) versus just altering an already made journal book. So we got out SU's Small Board Basics and went digging through my paper stash. Now my DS (age 8) is very particular when it comes to his crafting. He gets an idea in his head and that is how it is going to be (unlike his older brother who just kinda shrugs and says "whatever"). He wanted a greenish paper and lettering. So I dig out all my greens. NOPE. Didn't like those. I even told him we could do the ink pad direct to the paper to give it more "texture" like the book. He finally found some double sided paper that he liked, giving instructions on which was to be on the outside, and which would be on the inside. We measured, cut and he rounded all the corners. He also wanted "lined" paper on the inside (like the book) vs unlined (and we had to have just about the same thickness as the original book). Luckily, I had just bought a package of lined paper for his older brother to do his homework on, so I got out my handy-dandy Bind it All book and figured out what size to cut the paper. DP is now glued to the chipboard covers and the inside pages are ready to go.

Then, lucky for me, I decided to do a test run on the holes on some scrap paper before I started to punch. WHEW!! Don't know if there is a misprint in my book or what. But the holes went OFF the cover. Tried it a couple of times on the scrap. Nope. Wasn't going to work. So I played around and figured out that when I move the board for the continuous punching, I just needed to move it one hole vs the two that the book suggested. No big deal, but I will ALWAYS check now first on scrap paper to make sure everything lines up as it is suppose too vs punching on my actual project first!! Then the kiddo went through all my O wires deciding what color looked best to him for the binding. Then it was time for the "embellishments" on the cover. My kiddo decides he wants to use stickers so we dig out all my stickers from a past stint of scrap booking. We line everything up and this is the result

(photo taken just out of the shower getting ready for school) Now, before you think that I'm a terrible mother who has given her kid some complex about his height, let me assure you that he came up with this title!! My kiddo IS short for his age (genetics are not on his side to be tall!) and he informed me that "it's true, you know!!

So far he has only made one entry (informing anyone reading that this is a JOURNAL not a diary!) but he was soooo excited to make this book. I hope he will continue to write in it. Who knows? Maybe it will be basis for a whole new series of kid's books one day! Supplies: SU's Small board basics, Zutter Bind it All, O-wires. Paper from My Mind's Eye. Stickers (?!)