The Results are In....

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my card for the OWH birthday bash that the E-Team celebrated this past weekend!! I sincerely hope that along the way, you found inspiration to contribute to OWH.  Making cards to send to OWH is just a little something that we, as papercrafters, can do to say thanks to all the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us!!

                         Aaaaannndddd the winner of the magazine and cute bitty stamp  set is:

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 36

Result:

22

Kim said...

Classy looking card but fairly simple in construction - I love it. Thank you for the tutorial. Kim G

Congratulations Kim!! Please email me at offroadtoad@msn.com, with subject line OWH Prize, and I will let you know how you can collect your prize!!

 

************

On a personal note, I thought I would let you know the results of the Kiddo's 8th grade class elections.  Major bummer.  He didn't win.  But he had a very good attitude about it.  There were 4 boys nominated and two did absolutely nothing to campaign.  His other buddy put up a couple of posters, but did not push the campaign part.  BUT! This buddy ROCKED the speech.  He gave the history of the Pledge of Allegiance.  Which, as Sergeant of Arms, you lead out in.  The Kiddo said he KNEW his little speech was nothing in comparison.  So he learned a lesson that sometimes it is the last impression on the voters that counts more than the effort before. 

I'm very proud of him for putting himself out there and trying.  It's a scary thing to do.  He took a risk and handled the loss with grace.  He even had his buddy, who he lost too, come over and spend the afternoon with him. 

What a Kid!!

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  Lesson learned from the Kiddo:  Take a risk.  It beats wondering "What if?........."  Till next time~~~

Sunshine Pops

Just a reminder:  The Operation Write Home blog candy comments ends TODAY at 8 PM PST.  Details can be found HERE. 

*************

Welcome to another week!! Is it just me, or is this year FLYING by?!! HOLY MOLY! How did we get to the last week of September already?!!

Today I have some baking creativity to share with you.  A few weeks ago, I discovered Bakerella's blog. OH MY!! I immediately went out and bought her newly released book, Cake Pops.  Seriously.  How stinkin' cute are these?!!

I got the bright idea that these might be a good thing for the 4th grade class to sell at our school's upcoming Fall Fair.  Can you imagine the 4th graders walking around with the concession type boxes that you see at games?  "Get 'yer cupcaaaake pops!! Get 'yer cutcaaake pops!!"....hehe.   Better yet, that would mean NO BOOTH TO MAKE!! 

Anyhoos!! I thought that it might be wise to give these cuties a try before the night before the fall fair.  The 4th grade teacher just so happens to be celebrating her birthday today, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give this baking creativity a go!!  Now, I had originally thought to make an apple shape (with cute faces, like the ones shown in the book), but it would seem that someone forgot to get the large white sprinkles for the eyes, the pretzel sticks for the stem and some type of green candy for the leaves.  In my defense, I was deciding what I wanted to do while trying to figure out exactly what supplies I needed.  And I had a couple of other ideas running through my head at the same time.  Things kinda got jumbled with my Mommy Mush Brain Syndrome!!  So, I adapted an idea that I had thought to do with cupcake bites.  And so, my field of sunflowers bloomed.

 

I REALLY need to add a higher end photo editing program to my Christmas wish list!! I kinda like to play with the different editing tools!

For my first time, I think that these turned out pretty darn cute, if  I do say so myself!!  I did learn that my candy coating needs to be thinner next time.  I had some problems with the dipping straight in the coating as mine was too thick.  And, I learned that for the Fall Fair (and making 100+) that the designs will need to be more basic.  Transporting these will be tricky.  I only have 13 to take tomorrow, and the boys can hold them, but I have NO IDEA how I would transport hundreds.  But I am thinking we will have basic, some slightly more detailed and then a few WOW ones.  With an associated price increase in each, of course!

*****************

I also worked on the gift/card.  But that project will have to wait for another day.  It needs the students part of the project to be completed. Hopefully, I'll have that last bit here in a day or two.  I will give you one hint.....Once upon a Time......hehe

Thanks for dropping by again today!! I had fun (even when my sunflowers were falling off their "stems") trying something new.  Remember~~creativity comes in so MANY different forms!! Photography, baking, crafts, stamping, organizing (yes....I think organizing can be a type of creativity!).  The important thing to remember is to make sure you include it somewhere in your day!!

Till next time.................

 



Operation Write Home

Edited to add that while comments are still welcomed, the blog candy comment has already been determined.  The winner can be found HERE.   



Hey Peoples!! Today is a very special day as the E-Team is inviting you to join us on a FABULOUS birthday celebration  ride to benefit Operation Write Home.  This non-profit organization collects UNSIGNED cards that our troops can choose to send home to loved ones.   As we come up on the holiday season, it is even more emotionally difficult for our troops to be away from their families and loved ones.  The E-Team invites you to pull out your stamping supplies and either replicate the cards we have to share or use our tips and tricks to mass produce your own awesome cards to send to our troops overseas!!

Visit all the E-Team blogs to get tricks and ideas for mass producing cards and make sure you comment on each blog for a chance to win some paper crafting goodies!! PLUS:  upload your card to eclectic Paperie Flicker group (tag photos as OWH) by Sunday, October 3, for a chance to win one of two eclectic Paperie box of goodies!!

THE E-TEAM

Broni Holcombe

Daisy Sparks

Latrice Murphy

Linda Duke

Linda Ledbetter

Micki Harper

Starla Nelson (me!)

eclectic Paperie

 has a special coupon code to offer some savings in order to stock up on favorite tools, papers, stamps, and all things paper crafts. Use coupon code OWHCARDS and you will receive 10% off your entire order (min $10 order) at eclectic Paperie. The coupon code is good Saturday, September 25th thru Sunday October 3rd. Yes, the coupon code is good through World Card Making day!

Make sure you leave a comment on my blog for a chance to win these paper craft goodies!

You have until Monday, September 27th, 8:00pm, PST to leave a comment.  I will have RandomKid chose the winner of the above goodies and on Tuesday, September 28th, I will post a winner by 10:00 am, PST

Before I begin my project today, I want to make sure you are aware of some REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES that are very important for the cards that will be sent to our troops (i.e. NO GLITTER).   PLEASE make sure you read these as we want your time and effort to be useful to OWH.  I highly recommend you watch the short video too as it gives a great overview of what OWH does!!  More detailed information can be found on the Operation Write Home Site. 

OK!! Are you ready?  LET'S RIDE!!

When it comes to mass production of cards, I am a QUEEN!  When I send out Christmas cards (yes, there are years when this task does not get done!) I mass produce as I have between 70-100 cards to send out and there is NO WAY I am going to come up with a different card for each family on my list. And there is the other factor of time.  In all honesty, I usually start my Christmas cards in December.  LAAATE December!!  I have NO time to be original!! With that being said, here are a few tips that I've learned over the years to make mass production much easier:

1.  Design.  The design needs to be fairly CAS (clean and simple) yet, pack a "WOW" punch.  Some design elements that I think add a "WOW" factor are:  embossing, shimmer (glimmer mists), clear cards and some sponging. Mass production is not really the time to add 15 layers or tons of embellishments.  Make a statement, don't yell it.

2.  Design Part 2:  Have your design planned out PRIOR to moving onto the assembly portion.  This means that you will have a "mock" up of what the final product will look like.  This can be done with those "oops" papers that we all make (you do make those, right?!!).  Your mock up does not have to be assembled completely.  This is the time to experiment with your layout, embellishments, etc.  Finalize your mock draft before you start assembly.

3.  Think assembly line.  Mass production happens in an assembly line in other areas of life.  Plan your card with the same thought process as to what would be the most productive way to assemble your card.

4.  CLEAN SPACE.  I am a VERY messy creator.  I tend to create by starting with an idea and then continuously pull out other stuff to add to it, embellish it, try it...discard it.  All without cleaning up.  This system works for producing ONE card.  This will not work for mass production!!  In order for the assembly line to work properly, the area must be clean so that you have room to put your little piles of supplies and tools as needed.  After you are done with one assembly line, clean up and lay out your supplies for the next assembly line.

Under the space category, I would add that while the kitchen table provides a larger space to do mass production, keep in mind that your family WILL expect to still be fed during this process and shoving all your bits and pieces to the side runs the risk of someone spilling something and ruining all your supplies.  Clean off your craft desk and pull out the card table if you need more space.  Trust me, it is worth the effort!

5.  Make sure you have all the tools, paper, tape and whatnots that you will need to complete the amount of cards you wish to make at that sitting.  There is nothing more frustrating then being in the middle of a mass production than to find you have run out of tape and need to stop everything to run down to you LSS and hope that they have what you need!!

6.  Realize that mass production does NOT have to be completed in one sitting!! I will plan how many cards I think I can make in my time allotment for the evening.  Usually, it is between 10-20 cards.  Mass production can be tedious.  Spread it out over a couple of evenings that way you don't develop an extreme allergy to the task!

Ok....enough jibber jabber!! Let's get STAMPING!!

Here is the card that I will be mass producing today (why is this photo blurry?!! In my photo editing program it looks fine!! grrrrrrr).  I am planning on making 10 cards of this layout to send to OWH.


To begin with, gather up all your supplies that you will need



Supply list for this card: 

Vanilla (Gina K's pure luxury) and Certainly Celery cardstock

Stamps of choice:  SU's Lovely as a Tree and CHF Vintage text *no longer available and Papertrey's Mixed Messages used here
Acrylic blocks, if using unmounted or clear stamps

Inks: Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Encore Metallic Copper used here

Embossing Powders:  Distress Vintage Photo and SU's Copper used here

Paper Trimmer

Stamp positioner

Corner rounder punch

Spellbinders Nestabilities:  Label 12 and Classic Ovals

Craft Mat

Scor Tape

Scor Pal/Buddy

Ribbon

Scissors

Heat Gun

Begin by cutting your vanilla cardstock to 4.25" x 8.50"

                                    
Round all corners with your corner rounder.  I like to turn my punch upside down so that I make sure the corner angle is in the proper place.

Score your paper at the 4.25" mark.  I LOVE using my Scor Pal (and now my new Scor Buddy for this!! No more crooked cards!)

This will be your 4.25" x 4. 25" base.  Lay it aside for now.  Pull out your favorite die cutting machine and your Spellbinder Nestabilities dies. I am using the 5th die (counting from smallest/center to larger) of the Labels 12 set and the approximate 1 3/8" Classic Oval die.  *If you don't have any of these dies, just use your paper trimmer to make a square that is approximately 3 1/8" x 3 1/8".  You could use a punch to add a different element to the corners or along the edges. Likewise, you could use an oval or circle punch for the ovals on this card.   I am using my Big Shot here, but I have used my Cuttlebug with the Nestabilities and it works just fine!  Pull out all those scraps of Certainly Celery paper (or what ever paper you are using!) and die cut *10 of the label.  Now, I think you are suppose to use the dies with the cut edge up.  I make my sandwich with the cut edge down so that I can see exactly where my die is on my paper.  This way I can make the most of my paper space without waste.

While you have your die cutting machine out, go ahead and die cut the smaller 1" Classic Oval out of your vanilla paper scraps. And die cut the main image square too.  I used the third one from the center (about 2 1/8" x 2 1/8")

You will now have all the basic shaped paper elements of your card.

Now for the fun stamping part!! Now I usually do all my crafting on my Craft Sheet because I can easily wipe off over stamped inks, apply inks to it for the Wrinkle Free Distress technique (a favorite of mine), heat emboss on it or iron on it.  But in trying to keep my ink on the front side of my desired paper only and not everywhere else, I have laid down a piece of scrap paper to absorb the ink.   Begin with your largest Certainly Celery square.  Ink up the background stamp that you want to use with Distress Vintage Photo ink and stamp all *10 squares.  While the ink is still out, sponge along the edges of the square and the large Certainly Celery oval with more of the Vintage Photo ink.  Personally, I LOVE these large sponge daubers for this job!! I have a dauber for each of my individual Distress Ink colors and just label the dauber with a sharpie.

Set aside these elements and pull out your focal image stamp.  Since my image panel has already been die cut, I like to use my stamp positioner to make sure my image is going to end up where I want it, while being somewhat straight.  Yes, I am very capable of still stamping an image crooked even with a stamp positioner!! I tend to get in a hurry and forget to make sure my edges are all nice and tight!

If you've never used a stamp positioner before, take your plastic sheet and butt it up against your "T".  I like to place my "T" facing down towards me.  Just fits my stamping position better.  Ink up your stamp and butt it against the "T", stamping the plastic sheet.  You will place the plastic sheet over you paper, placing the image exactly where you want it.  Butt the "T" against the plastic edge and then remove the plastic sheet.  Re ink your image and butt the stamp against the "T".  Image where you want it!!

For this project, I wanted to add a "WOW" pop with some embossing.  Gather up your embossing tray, embossing buddy and powders *if using Distress Embossing Powder, remember to shake the bottle first to mix the release crystals.

 First wipe your paper with an embossing buddy.  This will keep stray powders from other areas besides the image from sticking! 

 Stamp your image with Distress Ink Vintage Photo. Immediately sprinkle your embossing powder over the wet ink.  Tap off the excess into your embossing tray.  This will make it easier to pour the extra powder back into the bottle.  Set the image aside.  Repeat with the remaining image panels.  *Do not stack the images at this point or you will wipe off the embossing powder.  This is where the clean desk/more room comes into play!

After all the powder has been applied, pull out your heat gun and melt the powder over your Craft sheet.  The Craft Sheet will protect your work area from the high heat and from the embossing powders melting.  If you are using Distress Embossing Powder, the powder will not become shiny, like other embossing powders.  The powder becomes darker when it is embossed. After the image is cool, brush off the release crystals to give the "distressed" embossed look.  While you have the embossing tools out, ink and emboss your sentiment onto the small vanilla oval.

My sentiment is a clear, polymer stamp.  Using a clear acrylic block enables me to see exactly where I want to stamp my image.  Remember:  with clear stamps you do not have to press down as hard as you do with rubber stamps.  The image will squish out and become distorted with too much pressure! Practice on scrap paper if you've never used clear stamps before to get the feel of them.

Finally, the "Putting it all together" portion of our project!!  Gather your scissors, ribbon and tape. I am using Scor Tape (LOVE that fact that it comes in various sizes, I can tear it to size and the backing does not cling to EVERYTHING like the red liner tape!) and Tim Holtz's Tonic scissors (cuts ribbon like butter!).  Cut approximately 4-5" of ribbon and apply tape to the backside.  Wrap the ribbon around the edge of the large square panel. 

Adhere the main image to the background panel.  Adhere that to the card base.  Then adhere the sentiment in the bottom corner.

Use a bone folder to fold along the scored line and WAH-LAH!! The finished cards!!

*I stamped some of the images and sentiments with Encore Metallic Copper ink and embossed using copper embossing powder.  Just playing around with different looks!!

I hope that this little tutorial will encourage you to give some mass production for OWH a try!! I think this is such an awesome way to give back to the men and women who are sacrificing so much so that we can stay home and enjoy our freedoms that we so often take for granted. 

Thanks for dropping by today and don't forget to leave a comment for a chance at the goodies!! AND stop by the other E-Team members for some more inspiration!!

Till then......remember to make some time for creativity in your day!!



Dog Tags for a Mom Who is Dog Tired

Hey People!! Just a quick post tonight as I am TIRED.  This is the last of the 8th grade campaign propaganda for the Sergeant of Arms office that my oldest kiddo is running for.  I made dog tags (yes, the kiddo got a "by" on this one as he was studying for a science test.  Seems to me that tests out rank making paper dog tags!).  Very simple, yet pretty cool, if I do say so myself!



I cut  2"  x 1 1/8" strips of silver metallic paper from DCWV and rounded the corners with my corner rounder.  Grabbed a stack of them and used my Cropadile to punch the center hole.  Wrote Sergeant of Arms on one tag and Kiddos name on the other tag.  Tied some silver cording (retired from SU).  The end.  Easy peasy.

Friday is the elections.  Kiddo has to give a speech, which he is sooo not thrilled about. Keep your fingers crossed for him, please!

I hope to actually have a "grown up" project to share by the weekend!! But, like I said previously, I use the kiddo projects to justify all my "stuff" BHWHAHAAAAA!!

Thank for dropping by again!!  Till the next time......

Still on the Campaign Trail

Hey People!!  Believe it or not, I have not fallen off the face of the earth!! We are still in the thick of the
8th grade campaign trail.  I have spent the last couple of days making more badges~~but this time the inspiration was this Army Sergeant bade that I found on the Internet:

Now, I will be honest here.  I am SICK of making badges.  Especially for knowing that most of these will get thrown away.  But, the kiddo liked this idea so I made a template and came up with this version: 

This one was a tad bit harder to put together than the last badge!! The main badge was cut from chocolate chip paper from the tracing of my paper template.  I then used my Krylon Gold leafing pen along the edges.  About 2/3 of the way through I was running out of the ink and had to force out as much as I could and "brush" the edges.  Not very pretty, but this was when I started chanting "it will probably get thrown away....it will probably get thrown away." I then put the Kiddo to work die cutting 104 of the smallest Spellbinders Nestabilities Star.  And realized that the gold edging on the chocolate chip paper did not match as close as I thought it would to the gold stars.  Started chanting again.



Doesn't he looked thrilled?!  I figure it was good for him to realize how much work goes into this craft of ours!! 

I then made my biggest mistake when cutting out the "stripes" (or what ever they are called.  I know there is a special name for them, but it escapes my noggin' at this time).  I cut out my paper template and got the "GREAT" idea that I would fold my gold paper in half, and cut two stripes out at once.  Wonderful. Except it never occurred to me that one of the stripes would be BACKWARDS.  Which means my stripes do not line up perfectly neat.  It's a good thing I decided against joining the military (I had a good friend try and talk me into joining the military when I finished my schooling for PT.  I would have been an officer.  Great way to see the world. Considered it for about a minute.  Then realized that I don't take orders very well.  Or handle change well.  Or being in situations where I know NO ONE.)  I would have been kicked out before I ever got my bunk made properly!!  So, I just started my chant again~~"it will probably be thrown away.....it will probably be thrown away...."

Last, I stamped the Kiddo's name using Encore Metallic Gold ink.  And discovered the COOLEST tool in the world.  I used this Fiskers Compact Stamp Press to line up all the letters of the Kiddos name ( I used Papertrey's Trajen Monogram set).  PERFECT.  I could line up all the letters on the grid, ink them, then using the grid to line up in the badge area!  Press, and PRESTO!! Perfect image every time!! I will be using this a lot with my unmounted stamps!!

Again, there were 26 of these made.  The Kiddo thought they turned out pretty cool.  Which is all that matters.  And he learned a lesson that it takes work, sometimes a LOT of work,  to go after something you want. 

I'll leave you with one last shot of my good looking Kiddo working on his poster that he made to mimic the badges (only in b/w.....again using the Spellbinders Nestie stars and SU's Headline Alphabet for his name)

And with that, I'm calling it a night.  There is rumblings about making "dog tags" for the last push on the campaign trail before Friday's elections.  Geesh.  I really hope this kiddo wins the office.  If not, it will just be another lesson of life!!

Thanks for dropping by again!!  Remember to make some time for creativity in your day.  Or night. 

Till next time~~

Reality

Reality.  It just amuses me to no end to see the blurbs for some of the "Reality" TV shows.  Seriously?  How have we become so confused as to think that someone can find "real" love while competing against 20 other people for the "true affections" of one person?  How is swapping wives for a month reality?  Or for that matter, how does one become famous for just living in a certain location? 



Ok, I must confess that I have not watched ONE minute of "Reality TV."  We don't have a TV.  Well, we don't have a TV that can be watched as TV.  We have a lovely big screen TV that can play DVDs/Videos (yes, we still have a VCR) or numerous Xbox/Wii games.  But, it isn't hooked up to the required cable to watch TV.  Not that we are opposed to TV.  Just kind of happened that when we got married the TV died right about the time we bought our first home.  A home that required a lot of work removing old wallpaper off the ceilings (seriously) while trying to train for the mountain bike racing that was a HUGE part of our lives at that time.  The TV just wasn't that important.  And once the kiddos came along, it was just so much easier to control the amount of TV watched by how long the video was.  And it just became a habit.  And now reality is, there is not much time for TV once we get home from what ever sport practice or game of the day.  And after dinner.  And homework.  You know, REALITY. 



And this is what Reality has looked like in my home this week:  The Toad dealing with food poisoning (please let it be food poisoning and not some virus that will render all of us hugging the toilet!). Not knowing where my kitchen counters are and having my kids eat cereal for dinner the second night in a row.  Having the laundry overflowing.  And having my oldest kiddo decide that he wants to campaign for a class office.  Which means "could you help me make something to pass out in class, Mom?"



Now, in all honesty, I really don't mind coming up with ideas to help the kiddo.  This is how I justify having all my crafting stuff.  One just never knows when a certain die, designer paper, metal embellishment or stamp set will come in handy for last minute school projects.  So one must ALWAYS be prepared and have a good supply on hand.  And so, my Spellbinder Circle nestabilities and Sizzix Star die came in very handy to create these badges for the Sergeant of Arms campaign.

I started out by pulling out all my grey and similar shades of scrap paper and cutting out the circle frame Spellbinder's Classic Circle Nestabilities. I then used Sizzix's Star #2 die and cut the largest star out of matching paper. The stars were attached using a Zig glue pen. I then hand wrote the "Vote for Sergeant of Arms" around the circle frame. The kiddo's name was then written in the middle of the star.



(it looks pretty cool with the Kiddo's name in the middle.  You will just have to trust me on that one!)

25 of these were made while the youngest asked for help on writing sentences with his spelling words.  And asking how to write his math expression and equations.  And oldest kept asking if he really had to finish writing his paragraphs that weren't due until Monday.  And the dog whining and dropping his ball onto my feet hoping that I'd go outside and kick it for him.  And The Toad lying in bed, hoping to keep his smoothie dinner down. 

REALITY. 

And now, remember to take time from what every REALITY has dished out to you and create something.  Anything. 

Trying to Remember How to Use My Camera

Hey Peoples!! I hope that you are having a fabulous weekend!!  My house has been FULL TO THE BRIM with male testosterone this weekend.  At one point yesterday, I had 5 boys between the ages of 10 and 14, and technically, a 43 year old, but I think he was doing pretty good at channeling his inner 14 year old!!  I'm down to four boys currently, but the testosterone is still running strong!!

Needless to say, I escaped to my little back office and hid!! LOL!! Actually, the boys really aren't that bad. They pretty much entertain themselves with war games on the Xbox or shooting at each other with nerf guns.  I will find those nerf bullets for the next month in all the nooks and crannies of my house, I'm sure! That is, if I just happen to clean in the nooks and crannies versus giving them a glance to make sure there are no obvious cobwebs visible!

While back in my little cave, I started looking at some photos on my computer.  At one point in time, I really enjoyed taking photographs.  I think I need to  put a new, higher end camera on my birthday/Christmas wish list this year.  Along with a higher end photo editing program.  But in the interim, I will have to do with my little point and shoot and the freebie Picassa program that I use to edit.  Actually, it is the oldest kid's point and shoot.  How sad is it that my kids have more electronic toys than I do?! Something is soooo wrong with that scenario!

  I thought that today I would share a few photos taken in early August on a family hike. 

playing around with the basic filtering program on Picassa.  Yep.  I need a higher end editing program!

I'm actually standing on a log in a little stream to get this photo.  I seriously could have stood here all day listening to the water and taking in this view

I don't know why I love photos of the backside of my kids so much.  Maybe because they are unaware of the camera and there is no "posing". 

sigh. 

 I was really hoping for a "Christmas Card" moment here.  Instead I got two other cameras beside me trying to get the same moment.  And only the dog looking straight.  Actually, this is a good example of why I like backside pictures.  No forced poses.  No forced smiles.  No "arewedoneyet" looks.

I really need to consider mini albums of these trips.  Not scrap booking.  Did that.  Kinda.  For a year, when the big lug of a kid in the above photo was between the ages of 2 and 3.  I was obviously behind chronicling his life's journey before I began.  And it would seem that things have not gotten any better in that area. The youngest kiddo has a two page layout in his scrap book.  Siiiiiiigh. But maybe mini albums wouldn't seem so overwhelming. 

Thanks for dropping by again today!  I'm off to concur the dishes from the waffle breakfast this am.  So I can get the kitchen cleaned up just in time for lunch.  I need a kitchen staff with all these boys.  And a MUCH larger refrigerator. 

Enjoy the rest of your day.  Remember to put some type of creativity into your day!!

Remembering......

9/11.  It brings so many memories. 

Friends staying at our house and all of us around the computer (no TV) watching the panic.  The unknown. The Why?

Having a "connection" from California to New York to people that we never met as Morgan Stanley (the brokerage company the Toad works for) was housed in those Twin Towers.  All of a sudden, the "big" things seemed so little in comparison to what families were going through. 

And then.....Life

In all the panic, confusion, anger, fear, there was LIFE.

A new baby girl born while her mother watched the news in the delivery room.  A baby born with no idea of the horror around her.  A baby girl who took her first breath as someone took their last.  LIFE.

And every time I see that little neighbor girl playing and changing before my eyes I see LIFE.

Fasten Your Seat Belts........

.....'cause we are gonna ROCK YOUR CRAFTING WORLD!!!

Are you ready to take a RIDE? An E-TICKET RIDE? It's eclectic and will be THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!! Join me now for a paper-crafting adventure with eclectic Paperie!!

Joining in this endeavor, along with Daisy Sparks, owner of eclectic Paperie, are:

Broni Holcombe

Latrice Murphy

Linda Duke

Linda Ledbetter

Micki Harper

Sherry Cheever

Starla Nelson (me!)

The first stop along your way is the eclectic Paperie Blog, where you’ll find a video introduction of the E-Team Designers (thanks to special agents Samantha and Alayna!)

Your final stops will be the Designers’ blogs to see what they have each posted today. It’s a small glimpse of what to expect from the E-Team including different techniques, different products and different styles.

THE E TEAM

THERE IS NO PLAN B!

LET'S RIDE!!

***********

Hey Peoples!! I'm super psyched to be a member of the E Team!! When Daisy called me this past holiday weekend to ask me to join in this new adventure, there was NO WAY that I could say no!!

Now, being that I jumped onto this ride a tad late, I don't have a new project to share with you. But I did want to share a previous project that I had done using a new artistic medium that I have been exploring recently. METAL. For those of you who have been here before, remember this frame that I altered?

And more specifically this?

This rose embellishment was made from TenSeconds Studio metal that is colored aluminum on one side and silver on the back side. Using alcohol inks I colored the plain aluminum side. I then used T!m Holtz's Tattered Floral die and after debossing the front of the metal with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, I followed this tutorial to put together my rose. The leaves were hand drawn on some scrap plain aluminum metal and again colored using alcohol inks. If you would like a more detailed outline on how I made this, please refer back to the original post which can be found HERE.

eclectic Paperie has a special coupon to celebrate the E-Team debut. With the E-Team sharing their favorite techniques, we'll help a bit in offering some savings in order to stock up on favorite tools, papers, stamps, and all things paper crafts. Use coupon code HAPPYDAY and you will receive 10% off your entire order(min $10 order) at eclectic Paperie. Coupon code good Thursday, Sept 9th thru Sunday Sept 12th

Here are the direct links for product used that can be found on eclectic Paperie:

TenSeconds Studio Metal Sheets
T!m Holtz Alterations Flourishes
T!m Holtz Tattered Florals
Ranger Alcohol Inks (application tools and blending solution can also be found here)
Terrifically Tacky Tape

I have really been enjoying learning how to use metal in different ways on my cards and other projects these past few months. You can expect to see more projects (with planned step by step instructions) in the near future!!

Thanks for joining the E Team today!! I hope you'll get back in line for another go on the ride as this is gonna be ROCKIN' FUN!!

Till then.........

Being 10 is Fabulous!! And other so-so creations

Hey Peoples!!  For those of you who got to celebrate a long holiday weekend, I hope that it was a safe one!!  For me, it was a busy one (so what else is new?!!)

My youngest turned 10.  His big wish was to get a PSP (game system).  His wish came true. And may I just add that I've gotten at least THREE huge hugs and "Thank you so much mom and dad, for my PSP!! It is awesome" and "This was the BEST birthday ever!!"

The goofy kid then decided to use Grandma's decorations and appetizers to make himself a "tough guy".

Then he decided that he had posed decently for enough pictures and started to ham it up, cracking himself up doing so!

Can I just say that this kid really is a crack up and there is nothing better than the sound of him giggling out of control (usually at himself!!)

The Kiddo's great grandpa (aka Big Papa) celebrated his "80 something" (I believe it is actually 83rd) birthday the same weekend.   Here are the two of them opening up Big Papa's gift:

Big Papa wanted a "new teeth fund" so this was the hint as to what the $$ was for!!

Of course, I am "expected" to make all the birthday cards.  Well, after the "wow" card I created for DS (which can be found here), my Mojo decided to start the long weekend and LEFT THE HOUSE.  After waaay to much effort, I once again called in the Toad to help rescue my sad, sad attempts at coming up with another "wow" card.  In all honesty, this one is only so-so. Not even the Toad could help me with the lack of time to come up with something better.  It is what it is:

I cut this one so close to the wire that I didn't even have time to get a decent picture!!  The card base is a piece of Gina K's pure luxury in vanilla.  I first stamped the sentiment from JFF on a piece of scrap paper (wait.  I think it was actually my first, second, maybe my third attempt at creating the WOW) and cut it out to make a mask.  I adhered it to the center of my card with some removable tape and stamped SU's Weathered background using Distress Walnut stain.  I then used my stampamajig to line up the sentiment and stamped in the center with Distress Peeled Paint.  I lightly sponged the "frame" with more Peeled paint and the edges of the card with some Distress Vintage Photo.  Pulled out some of T!m Holtz's hardware and adhered with glossy accents (the brad "arms" are positioned so you can't see them.  Don't like those puppers messing up the inside of my cards!).  All I can say is:  They can't all be winners!! (oi!!!)

*********

Saturday was spent getting the Toad and oldest kiddo ready for the week long History of California trip.  They left on the charted bus EARLY Sunday morning.  They won't be back until late Thursday evening so it is just the younger kiddo and me.  I wish I could say that I'm getting lots of creating done (you know, like the "welcome to our school cards that I STILL haven't started!! major eye rolling here______________), but instead I tackled the older kiddo's bedroom.  And the bathrooms. Sigh.  Sometimes LIFE cannot be put off any longer!!

Thanks for dropping by again today!!  I'll be back later this week with a SURPRISE!! hehe