Dear John Letter to Michaels

Thanks, but no thanks, Michaels.

Dear Michaels,

We've had a long relationship, you and I.  However, it is time for it to end.  It will be a new year with new beginnings, and a new Hobby Lobby if the gods love me so it is time to call it quits, you and me.

Michaels, let me explain it to you this way: it's not me, it's you.

Your selection is boring and repetitive.  Your rewards are ridiculously small and have such a limited time to use them.  Yet, dispite these shortcomings, I kept coming back to you.  However, today I've thrown in the towel.  I'm absolutely sick of your "bait and switch" advertising.  Your email promised me 50% off all Recollections stickers, paper packs, adhesives and other delights.  The signs hung throughout yiour store promised me the same thing. 

I browsed the display of Recollections jewels, adorned with signs promising me 50% off all Recollections stickers.  I browsed the display of Recollections paper packs, having to reach through a field of signs promising me 50% off all paper packs.  I made my selections and went to the register.

Every goddamn thing was full price.

WTF, Michaels?!

"You have to read the fine print," both the sales clerk and the store manager I demanded to see to told me.

"You shouldn't put sale signs all over displays of items that don't qualify for the sale" was my reply.

It's over, Michaels.  You've bent me over like your bitch once too many times.  Oh, and yes, you should read the fine print.... which isn't on the email period or the on-line ad until you click to "biggify" the item in question.  Well, Michaels, read my fine print.  It is at the bottom of every blog post I make.

The Fine Print: Michaels, fuck off.  Not more money from me.  Card stamps by Simon Says Stamp, Serenade papers and black letters by Basic Grey, border punch by Martha.

Birds of a Feather

I continued my trek of playing with a little of this and a little of that. This time I pulled out the equally old Birds of a Feather set.  I remembered not being happy with the colors and wondered at the pieces I'd left behind from when I'd played with it before. Then I realized that the kit would have arrived in late September so probably I thought the colors were to springlike for the time of the year.

Back then I pulled out the stamps and some of the darker pieces and did a lot of stamping in browns and other fall colors.  I definitely left the pink and green bits behind. So what is the first thing I did this time?  I pulled some brown out of my stash and made this card above!

Then I made this card, which while I didn't add brown paper to it, I didn't use the green that came with it either.  I think another reason I abandoned these cards is because they were tri-folds. I'm usually at a loss at what to do with tri-fold cards.  The top one I cut off the third section.  However, I kept the birthday card one intact and stamped some stuff on the inside.

Then finally I actually used the green that came with the pink, but not quite on both panels.  I didn't take a photo of the inside panel because it is just more of what you can see here--green stamped with green foliage.  I have some more of the pink cards bases (and green panels!) and random papers from this kit so we'll see what I make with them or if I move on to something else.

The Fine Print: Get Well Card-base and printed die but by Club Scrap, embossing folder by Sizzix, ribbon from Michaels, and flowers from Prima. Birthday Card-base and printed die cut by Club Scrap, heart paper by A Muse Studio, feather from stash, inside stamps by Tim Holtz. Thank You Card-base, all papers, printed die cut, and stamps by Club Scrap, flower brad from stash, ink by Memento.

This 'n That

Yesterday was a hodge podge of cardmaking.  I made some of this and some of that.  The Fed Ex guy came by early to drop off Club Scrap's December goodness. I was looking forward to this kit. Yes, I always check out the sneak peaks and previews!

I still have those never ending Serenade bits on my desk and I tackled some of them.

Then I pulled out a really old Club Scrap kit called Apothecary. When I got it I made several cards with the stamps but pretty much ignored the card kit part with the cards, layers, and embellishment die cuts.  I tried to make some cards out of it but found it just as hard to come up with ideas for it as I did years ago when the kit was new.

I think those pre-printed pieces are still odd all these years later.  I may end up just making random cards with the cards and their layers and pitching the die cuts.  We'll see.  I also made the world's suckiest card.  I didn't photograph it for you though.  Sorry! I didn't think of it before it hit the trash.  I showed it to hubby and he said it was unfortunate and beyond help.  I already knew that.  It happens--into every crafting life some suck happens.

The Fine Print: Top two cards most everything by Club Scrap "Big City" kit, ink by Memento, and circle punch by EK Success.  Next two cards stamps by Simon Says Stamp, papers by Basic Grey "Serenade," black & white twine by Doodlebug, natural twine by May Arts, and circle punch by EK Success.  Bottom card all stuff by Club Scrap "Apothecary" from 2009.

Music to My Ears

The real name of the Simon Says kit that I refer to as "Serenade" is really called Music to My Ears, which I guess fits right in with the serenade papers.  Well, depending on who is serenading... I know some people that it would sound more like cats in heat than music to my ears.

I think this kit breeds when I go to bed at night because every morning I swear there are just as many papers left as when I first started.  It just keeps going and going, which is kind of fun, but I am running out of ideas.

The set of stamps also has this greeting stamp that says "What a Beautiful Day."  I really like that stamp. It has lots of potential.

Hmmm... it seems that these papers makes me think of banners, since every one of these cards have them. Or maybe I just want to show off my new found talent for cutting out nice even points.

The Fine Print: Greetings, stamped heart and music notes from Simon Says Stamps "Music to my Ears" set, birds on a wire punch by Martha Stewart, natural twine from May Arts, heart die from A Muse Studio, boat stamps from Stampin' Up, black and white twine from Doodlebug, button and pattern papers from Basic Grey "Serenade."

Serenade

I got tired of playing with the Equestrian kit so here are some things made with the November Simon Says Stamp kit.  The papers are called Serenade so my brain keeps referring to it as the Serenade kit, but really it has another name.  You couldn't guess it by the cards I have to share today though.

The kit came with a nice stash of 6x6 patterned papers, some great cardstock, a set of clear stamps, some black and white twine, some buttons, a coaster, and some vintage encyclopedia pages. The Simon Says kits always have something interesting in them that I would never use if it hadn't been thrust upon me.  This time it was the coaster.  I know a lot of stampers use them.  Some even talk of their big score as they swipe a whole passel of them from a restaurant or bar, but I've never been that big into them and certainly never used one before. 

I absolutely adored a sample card using the coaster that they shared on their enclosed idea sheet so I copied it as best I could.  I figured they used a die to cut the heart shape into the coaster.  I ran that sucker through my Big Shot over and over but never cut get it to cut all the way through, so I pulled out my Exacto knife to finish off the job.

I swapped out the wooden button they used on their sample card (enclosed in the kit) and used a faux button instead because I felt this card was weighty enough with the coaster.  What is a faux button you ask?  It is 5-7 circle punched pieces of cardstock glued together with holes punched into it and the edges sponged for depth.  It is a little trick I learned at my stamp club.

Did you like that trick?  It is a great way to get lightweight buttons and to get them in colors that match your cardstock (because it is your cardstock).  Here is another trick for you and this one involves the vintage encyclopedia page I got in the kit.  Those vintage pages aren't so hard to come by.  Find yourself a library book sale or even a decent thrift store.  You can find "vintage" encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other interesting books galore and the price is usually right.  I have several vintage reference books from our local library book sales but my best find was a book written in Chinese and it cost me all of 50-cents.

The Fine Print: Stamps by Simon Says Stamp "Music to my Ears" set, papers by Basic Grey "Serenade," cardstock by Bazzil except for the kraft, and twine by Doodlebug.

More of the Same

Today is that day that people ask you about.  You know what I'm talking about.  During the past two or three weeks everyone you interact with feels compelled to ask you the same question, "Are you ready for Christmas?"

Let me be the first to respond, "What in the holy hell does that question even mean?"

Perhaps I'm not up on the latest Christmas protocol as I have no idea exactly what it is I am to do to prepare for this day.  Stockpile canned goods?  Prepare a hurricane kit?  Get a tattoo?  Hoard crossword puzzles?  Load my weapons and sharpen knives? WHAT?!

If I was supposed to do any of that, then no, I went into today woefully unprepared.  Well except for the loaded weapons and sharp knives part.  However, it appears that I'm surviving just fine.  See, the Palmer tradition is to treat December 25th just like any other day off.  No fuss, no muss.  There isn't anything to "get ready" for.  Try it sometime and see if it doesn't put the cheer into your holidays.  And if that doesn't work, apply liberal amounts of alcohol.

Anyway, another day off means more cards made with my Club Scrap Equestrian kit.

The Fine Print: Remember it is okay to not like your family and not have a pleasant time interacting with them this holiday season, despite what societial norms tells you.  You know who you are and you know who they are and don't feel bad if it ain't all Norman Rockwell and unicorns with rainbows flying out their butt.  I hope you find some happiness in this day and I hope you find some tomorrow and the day after that and every other day as well.   Yeah, what the heck, Happy Jesus' Birthday to you too!

Just Horsing Around

I thought I'd show off some more from the Equestrian kit since I've made so many cards from it.  I have to admit that I am getting a little bored with it now though. I see why I only tend to make a few cards from each kit and move on to something else.  It seems I get easily....

...look! A shiny thing!

Some of these are straight out of the Greetings to Go suggestion sheets they send along.  Some of them are me getting creative with the stuff.

The Fine Print: Most everything from Club Scrap "Esquestrian" kit, November 2012, except twine by May Arts, and star nail heads by unknown, inks by Memento, and Embossing Powder by Copper Leaf.  Look! I actually heat embossed something and I didn't burn my hand (like I did last weekend) or get frustrated... maybe I'm getting the hang of that thing yet!

Giddy'Up

This past week I've been working the heck of some of the stamping kits I have lying around.  The boxes and bags they come in are starting to take over my living room.  I tend rip open a new kit right away and make a card or two and then put the rest away for later.  Apparently, later has come!

The card above is made from a Club Scrap kit.  Once I made that card I was inspired to make the one below. I've decided that is a really fun stamp!

I went over to a friend's house to play and used her embossing folder to make this card.  She liked it so much she made one of her.  We've both improving our technique of sponging ink onto embossed images. It takes a bit of practice.

Then I put this card together.  My friend was so impressed with me and how I made the background but I had to confess that it was a pre-printed piece, but my, doesn't it look impressive?

One thing I am learning to do is create cards without spreading out all over the place.  I have to keep everything tucked away close by and I'm not used to that.  Here's one of the reasons why.

The Fine Print: Most of the pieces and parts by Club Scrap, Equestrian kit (November 2012) except for black photo corners from Michael's, Damask Cuttlebug embossing folder, fancy brad by unknown, and inks by Memento.

Autumn Paper Bag Book

I made this paper bag book awhile ago, before this deep dark winter thing set in.  I just never got around to sharing it with you earlier since I didn't name the photos anything useful.

The Fine Print: It is a lot of random stuff from random places. It was a fun book to make.  Not so much to photograph. 

Winter Wonderland

I made some winter themed 3x3 gift cards and matching envelopes the other day for a swap.  It actually feels like winter around here and that makes it easier to make winter themed things. 

One thing I like about the 3x3s is that you can use little scraps of this and that to make them so it is a good way to use up the little piles of left overs that pile up on your desk.

And here's an extreme close up photo of one of my crafting assistants, Dio.

The Fine Print: Penguin stamp from Annie's Attic kit, reindeer sticker from Jolee's, ice skater by Stampin' Up.

Bits of Randomness

Yesterday I mentioned that I had indeed made cards recently, just hadn't photographed them.  Those cards came from a kit from Annie's Attic and were all Christmas themed.  The kit came with bits of randomness to make 8 cards.  I hadn't yet made all 8, so I sat down last night to finish them off. 

Above is one of the cards, however, in hind sight this looks more like a winter birthday card than a Christmas card.  Now if I could only think of someone besides Jesus with a winter birthday I'd be all set.

I inked the edges on this one.  How come when other people ink card edges it looks artsy and fabulous but when I do it, it looks like someone probably should have washed their hands before touching the paper?  This kit had such interesting patterns of paper that they insisted went together, so I just went for it.  It might be a bit too much randomness for me.

Here is another one with some die cuts.  One of the first cards I made they suggested doodling on the design on the pattern paper.  My first thought was, "Why mess with the design that is already there?"  Then I did it and it really made the design pop, so I tried it again here and liked it a second time. I may have to remember that trick for the future.  Sometimes you can teach this old dawg a new trick!

The Fine Print: All the stuff from a 2-year old Annie's Attic cardmaking kit (c'mon, you know you can't rush this stuff).

Winter Wonderland

My Dear Readers, whatever will you do with me?  I just realized that I lied to you yesterday.  I would say "lied like a rug" but I don't actually know what that means.  In my house the rugs are always moving about and making lumps for you to trip over and as far as I know I haven't tripped anyone lately.  Just lied.

I said that I hadn't made any cards last week to share with you, but the reality is I have!  I mean, I have made cards not that I can share them with you.  I can't share them with you because I didn't take pictures of them and I already sent them anyway in the post.  I just wanted to clear the air there.  And set the record straight that I'm not having a crafting dry spell.  This card was from a recent workshop and utilizes one of those foamie shapes you see at the craft stores.  I know a lot of people collect them as opposed to actually using them so it is good to see those in use.  Or is that just me that collects?  dang!

The Fine Print: I got no credit for this as I have no idea.  Just roll with it.

Christmas Presents!

I guess I truly haven't made anything new to share lately.  I've been addressing Christmas cards in between finding stuff that the kittens swiped off my desk.  I did make this card this past week though.  I'm going to hold onto it as a good idea for future cards.

The front it rather basic and to the point.  The important part is the inside though.  That's were the action is at!

Ta da!  This would make a fun birthday pop up card too!  Boy I can't wait to finish these holiday cards so I can go back to my regularly scheduled card making.  Now if only those kittens would return that book of stamps they took....

The Fine Print: All the everythings except ribbon scraps by Stampin' Up.

Resist Technique

Recently a friend sent me a card made with the resist technique.  That technique has you heat embossing in clear ink and clear powder (or white) then sponging ink over the top of the image.  The embossed image resists the ink so you can buff it off.  Your paper gets the color you sponged and your image pops out.  Here is the card she sent me:

I was inspired by that to create this.  Okay, I confess that I was also inspired by a Club Scrap sample card but I thought to myself, "If the other Judy can do that technique, I know this Judy can too!"

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The Fine Print: Upper card by Judy Thomas, used without permission, but she sent it to me so she should know that I might use it for a nefarious purpose.  Bottom card by me, papers, brads, and cut out by Club Scrap "wild flowers" kit, botanical flowers by A Muse Studio, scrip stamp by Tin Can Mail.

Autumn Moon

I made this card awhile ago in honor of all things fall.  There are a couple of well-watered trees in my neighborhood that were imported from back east.  That is noteworthy because that means the leaves turn colors and fall off.  Native trees can't be bothered with such nonsense.

The yellowish half circle in the background made me think of an autumn moon on a slightly cloudy but crisp, clean night. I miss those fall evenings crunching through the leaves and watching summer come to an end.  In my mind I miss them that is.  In my lungs, that's another story, as dried out leaves and cooler weather always pestered my asthma.

The Fine Print: All the everythings by Club Scrap, except for the fibers from my stash.

Like Ice

I was feeling cold today, so today was a good day to make a card like this.  I have a huge amount of blue paper in my Christmas pile.  I really need to come up with some good blue cards for the holidays, or like my husband says, "You need to make some Jewish Christmas cards."  Yep, politically and religiously correct; that's my man.

The snowflake stickers on this card came from a kit. I got wise and searched my stash for more Christmas card kits and found this one.  It featured sparkle, shimmer, and shine.  It had iridescent papers, glitter stickers, and shimmer papers.  They had some neat ideas for cards and I made a few.  They had some silly ideas for cards that I ignored.  I'm not sure if I can share those cards wth you or not as the shine doesn't scan well.  I might try taking pictures.  That's a venture for another day.

The Fine Print: Penguin stamp by Art Impressions.

Making Spirits Bright

I was asked to come up with some card ideas for the A Muse Studio Making Spirits Bright set since apparently I'm not the only one who is struggling to make cards this year.  Well, right off the bat I had an idea:

Okay, I confess, it wasn't my idea but I did have the card to share.  We made this beaut of a card at the workshop I went to this past Saturday.  This card is larger than an A2 card; the front measures 5" x 6".  I think this is a sweet idea for using up those spare scraps of paper.  Also kraft is a cool holiday color.

This is the card I made. My original plan was to use all A Muse products on the card but then I decided that the background had to be embossed.  I don't have any of the a|s embossing plates so I substituted for a Cuttlebug one.  I rather like how it came out.

The Fine Print: The best way to make your spirits bright is to add spirits, the alcoholic kind not the otherworldly kind.  Santa stamp, candy cane striped paper, and red ribbon by A Muse Studio.  Embossing folder by Provo Craft/Cuttlebug, colored with Copics.  I suspect the gray ribbon is Stampin' Up seam binding ribbon but I'm not totally sure.