Free Advice: Worth Every Penny You Paid

I have friends who often complain about how they didn't get good sleep at night because their cell phone kept going off.  Being the wise and helpful friend that I am I ask them why they don't turn the @$3% thing off?  Their answer always is, "What if there is an emergency?!" And then they profess shock to learn that I don't have an active phone by my head in the night.

To which I reply that I'm not a doctor, mechanic, bail bondsman or plumber so basically I'm useless to call in the middle of night anyway.  They have professionals for that kind of thing.  Leave the rescuing to the professionals and get some good sleep!

That's my wise, friendly, helpful, free advice of the day.

The Fine Print: My doctor's office sent a text at 1:45 am to remind me of my doctor's appointment today and it didn't wake me up in the night because... well, because I don't have a damn cell phone to start with.  I wonder how many people a night they wake up with those shenanigans?!  Hedgehog stamp by Penny Black, greeting by Paper Smooches, circle dies by Spellbinders, punch by Stampin' Up.

Is That a Mouse in Your Pocket?

I picked up several Great Impressions Mouse stamps recently at stamp and craft yard sale. I love that little mouse.  Oddly enough when I got home I couldn't find the two Great Impressions mouse stamps I already owned.  Could it be that I unloaded them at a crafty sale of my own?  Or it could it be that they are mingling in some random drawer somewhere?!  You know which one I'm hoping...

The Fine Print: Mouse stamp by Great Impressions, floral oval die by Spellbinders, fancy ribbon from Paper Mart, and designer paper from my very, very, very, very old stash.

Make Up Monday

Make Up Monday comes along and I find myself thinking deep and important thoughts.  They go like this: Wisteria?

Or Peacock?

Wisteria?

Peacock?

Naw... How about whatever the hell this is?

The Fine Print: Peacock, Wisteria, and What the Hell kits by Club Scrap.  The What the Hell kit is actually Just Dandy with a Spellbinders butterfly thrown in for good measure.  The first card has a Stampin' Up punch and an A Muse butterfly too, so it isn't all Club Scrap exactly.  Not this time.

Ain't Gonna!

I ain't gonna!

 

You can't make me!

 

No way!

 

Oh, okay.

Just this once...

The Fine Print: Everything except the designer paper by A Muse Studio.  I swear that bird was colored in. I guess the photo is over exposed.  Stamps from the "You're too Kind" set.

Random Musings

I have a couple of DeNami cards to share with you today but nothing worthwhile to say.  But never fear! That hasn't stopped me before.

Do you ever wonder why doctor's offices have you fill out about 8 pages of questions before you see them?  It is pretty obvious they don't read them because they turn right around and ask you the same questions in person and then promptly prescribe you something from your "allergic to" list.  I used to suspect it was so you wouldn't notice how late they were running but now I'm starting to question competency.  Not exactly something you want to worry about from your doctor.

Then again, maybe your average Joe/Joan doesn't question competency or legitimacy.  After all, my friend in Texas loves to tell the story of a guy who opened an "office" in a storage unit and offered gynecological exams.  Many women took him up on that before he was exposed as a random perve and not a doctor.

I also was noticing how many medications come with the warning not to take with alcohol. I've decided that this is a big medical conspiracy to get people to stop drinking.  It has nothing to do with side effects.  So drink up!  And beware of strange men offering speculums.

The Fine Print: By the way, I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.  Stamp by DeNami Designs, picot circle die by Spellbinders, washi tape by Cavallini, chocolate dots by A Muse, flowers by Prima, ribbon and papers from my stash.

Pastel Heart

If I were to say that I'm not the biggest fan of pastels, you might think I was lying.  For one thing there is this card.

Then there is the fact that the very first Copic markers I bought were pastels.  In my defense, it was Easter time and none of the Marvy Markers I had were pastel.

I'm really not a big fan of pastels but every once and awhile you just have to embrace them.  But not for long.  You know, in case pastel is contagious.

The Fine Print: Floral heart stamp by PSX, colored by those aforementioned pastel Copics, paper and ribbon from my stash.

April Birthday Cards part I

Today I thought I'd share some of the birthday cards I made for those with April birthdays.  I know 17 people with April birthdays! Is that not just an insane number?  I told my husband I was going to have to unfriend some of these people as it is just too many.

Instead of just unfriending them though, maybe we could just throw them all into a pit and let them duke it out?  Think of the entertainment value! The top 8 or 9 folks could be the winners.  You know, no need to fight to the last person standing.

However, if you are keeping count, ultimately you aren't going to see 17 birthday cards as I did use some cards I've shared for other things for birthdays.  Some of the random cards and challenge cards got used to wish the big HB to folks.

There is also a very large chance that I didn't photograph everything either.  I often don't think about it until I have the envelope sealed shut.

So this ought to keep you entertained for a bit!

The Fine Print: Top card made with recycled bits (how Earth Day of me!), greeting by Heartfelt Creations. Second card Penny Black dog and Spellbinders eyelet square die.  Third card stamps by Eat Cake Graphic, ribbon by A Muse Studio, and Spellbinders Lotus Pendants die.  Last card all products by A Muse Studio.

Workdesk Motivator

I decided to join in at What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday this week due to the lack of any other plan.  However, it is basically the same mess as the last time I joined in, only possibly shuffled around a little bit.

It is pretty much the same because I haven't been able to muster up a care.  There is so much on my desk that is now tardy.  There is a prescription that should have been mailed in 3 weeks ago, birthday cards that are all now late, swap cards that are just a stamp or a die at this point, and then there are random piles that I frequently have to pick up off the floor as the cats enjoy knocking them down.

Just taking these pictures and noticing all the late things on there did motivate me to pluck out the prescription and one of the birthday cards to mail. I brought them to work with me, but I only brought one postage stamp.  Which one will get mailed?  Which one would you vote for?

Here's a pretty spring RAK (Random Act of Kindness) from my friend Helen. I plan to put it on my bulletin board on the wall my desk faces. You can even see the empty spot I made for it.  Yes, that's how unmotivated I have been!

And here is a steam punk owl because I promised to show off my steam punk owl next time I joined WOYWW.  However, I didn't make this card; my friend Sheela did.  My owl images are buried on my desk somewhere.  Maybe someday I'll dig them out and make something myself, but it won't be as cool as this card because nothing beats that funky metallic weave ribbon.

The Fine Print: Steam punk owl stamp by Stampendous.  To help you vote if I should mail the prescription or the birthday card I will give you more info: the birthday in question is April 25 and I still have plenty of the medication available. 

The Cat in the Hat Shat

My friend, Sam I am, 

I will not eat green eggs and ham.

Old chap, so I've been told

that green eggs mean icky mold.

 I will not eat them in my socks.

I will not eat them in box.

 Sam, you crazy fool,

I will not eat them by the pool.

 I do not like them, Sam I am,

I do not like green eggs and ham.

I will not share them with my cat.

I will not eat them in my hat.

Sam! You crazy dude,

I will not eat them in the nude!

The Fine Print: I made this card in a box. I made this card with a fox. Or more like it was three. We did not make it in a tree.  We made it with some stamps of rubber.  It was not hard; we did not blubber. The stamps by Stampin' Up were made.  This card did not leave us with nerves frayed.

Pitty Flowers

My name is Dio and I'll be your guest columnist today becuz mom forgotted it was Makes Up Monday. That's prolly cuz my Gramma came to visit this weekend.  It woz kind of like this:

It woz Gramma's birfdays.  She's like..... older dan me.  They eated fishes to celebrate.  They had to leave the house to do it but we have fishies right here.  They splash me sometimes.  And can you believe that they wented and visited another cat?! They did!  At leasts they didn't invite him home for dinner and drinks and to play with my mousies. They tooked his pickture:

Mom did make one card all weekend wong. It has pitty Tampin' Up flowers on it. And blings.  I like blings.

Well, I gotta go and bite on my brofver now. He's scared of Gramma.  He doesn't know she can do good petting and treats and fings. 'Cept don't let her knit you sweaders.

The Fine Print: Pretty flowers and matching punch by Stampin' Up "petite petals," greeting by A Muse Studio "essential sentiments," dottedness by Provo Craft, blings by Pizazz A'Plenty, stamped in Danube Blue Memento ink.

Happy Easter

Ummmm.... yeah....

that's what I got for you today:

Happy Easter!

The Fine Print: Both projects are blatantly swiped from the A Muse Studio blog so my crafty friends and I could make them.  Then I had to steal A Muse's photo of the treats because mine got mysteriously eaten.  All products from A Muse Studio except the treats which are by Trader Joe's and made with their usual Trader Joe Crack.

E is for Earwax

My bad.  E is for EMBELLISHMENT!

That's what is happening over at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers this time around. I know we're all embellishing fools, so c'mon over and join us in this week's challenge.  There will be snark a'plenty there, but it is not required.  And this time around I get to be a guest designer.  Check it out:

I don't know if my faux postage stamp counts as an embellishment or not, but I have some ribbon, a cat-eye button, twine, flourishes and the best embellishment ever--scoopable cat litter!  Don't worry, it is fresh from the package.

Or is it?

Here's the inside greeting.

The Fine Print: Poop Poste by unknown, kitty and poop stamps by Paper Smooches, ribbon by DeNami, flourish from MFT, label die by Spellbinders and designer paper by unknown. 

Fancy Folded Kit Card

Here is a fancy folded (and die cut) card that I made from a kit. I think you could have sussed that out from the title of this post though, being the intelligent creature that you are.  The image is paper tole or 3D layering depending on your outlook in life.  I added the fancy sticker borders and dots which did not come with the kit even though they were shown on the finished product.  That's just dirty pool.

I was having a hard time deciding what to write in my blog today and that was before someone got upset and ran out the alarmed door.  Now I can't write or hear.

Well, as my one coworker always says: Thank God it's Viernes.

The Fine Print: Viernes is Friday in Spanish in case maybe you thought is was some kind of paper crafting technique you hadn't heard of yet.  I can't even tell who made this kit because.... well, because I can't.  I'd have to kill you.  No, wait.  That's not it.  Because I don't know where I put it.  Jeez! There! I admitted it.

Be a Happy Chick

That being sick for 3 weeks thing really put a crimp in my crafting style.  Easter cards were pretty much abandoned but I still had some I wanted to send out, so I perused some A Muse Studio inspiration and came up with this CASEd card:

The original card lacked the patterned paper, but you know me and patterned paper. I had to get some in there somewhere.  Plus the original had "hello" as the greeting but I wanted people to be happy.  That's my quickie make for the day!  Be happy!

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio. Stamps with matching dies "Color Me Happy;" cardstock used-pistachio, cocoa, and sugar; "Everything's Rosy" patterned paper; and happy die.

Merry Monday # 104

It's time for me to get a head start on Christmas cards again via the Merry Monday challenge blog.  They really make me think of new and different things, and that's good.

As you can see by the graphic, this time we have a color challenge using slate, kraft, white or cream.  It seemed like such and odd color combo that at first I was stumped.  But then I looked over all the wonderful things the design team had to offer and the wheels started turning...

I came up with this card.  All that blank space to the right of the angel needed to be filled in and I tried this and that before settling on this kraft colored ribbon at an angle with a bow.  Then I put some glitter on my angel for a bit of added interest.  I'm rather pleased with how it came out.

The Fine Print: Angel stamp by DeNami Designs, greeting from the "dollar" bin at Michaels, diamond glitter by A Muse Studio, cardstock and ribbon from my stash.

No Sew Quilt Card

The other day I was reading Joyce's Cards by the Sea blog and came across her no sew quilt card. I'm a big fan of quilts and an even bigger fan of not sewing so I had to check it out.  She linked to a tutorial that was easy peasy.  I decided I had to make one for myself.

I did do some modifications. Instead of having my quilted layer be the front of the card, I layered it onto a card.  I also drew some faux stitching around the outer edge.  I ran a pattern tracing wheel over it first so it made little indentations like stitching.  I used a hexagon embossing folder for the quilted look.  In hindsight, maybe I should have flipped the folder over so the quilting would be indented instead of sticking up, but I was still quite pleased with my card, and with the fact that I tried a new technique.

The Fine Print: Greeting stamp by Simon Says Stamp, papers by Stampin' Up, punched with a 1-3/8" EK Success punch, mat square (around greeting) by Spellbinders, hexagon folder by Stampin' Up. Now If I could just figure out a no sew way to hem pants...!

Make Up Monday

Quite awhile ago Taylored Expressions was showing off their tree die and all the wonderful things you could do with it.  There are tree accessories you can buy as well as some background stamps to make a scene.  I decided I needed to be able to make these cards too, got the stuff, and then made this card.  I was immediately not that thrilled with it.  One of these days I need to get these dies and stamps back out and give it another chance.

This is another card made with Taylored Expressions stuff.  I used to get their kit of the month, stamps, matching dies, papers, and embellishments.  They were fun enough but like most kits I only made a few cards and then hoarded the rest of the stuff (fully intending to get around to it again "some day").  This card is CASEd from Jen Shults (one of the TE designers).  I was a bit stumped what do with this kit and when that happens I often CASE a card or two to get motivated.

Here's one last card that I made at Stampin' Up workshop awhile ago.  I was the only one that showed up and had a blast playing.  That front smaller piece is attached to the main card via a Z-fold so the card will actually stand up by itself.

Here's the card completely opened:

The Fine Print: Top two cards made with Taylored Expressions goods, the second card is from their October 2013 Stamp of the Month kit, the bottom card all the stamps are Stampin' Up "By the Tide" set, background made with alcohol inks, coral white embossed onto a transparency for a nifty look.

Snippets on a Sunday

It feels like it has been a long time since I've been out to play at the snippets playground.  It is a great place to go for inspiration for using up those bits and pieces of cardstock and paper we all have lying around.

I made this iris folded apple using up scrap designer paper. My advice on copying this idea is don't do it!  It turns out that about halfway through the design you start to sweat that you may not have enough scraps left to finish.  So don't do it unless you are sure that you have enough to finish because taking these things apart is no fun.  I also used snippets for the fancy corner piece, the stem, and the leaf.

The Fine Print: Apple die by MFT, fancy corner by Provo Craft.  I saw someone use a fancy corner die the other day, decided I needed one, and then remembered that I had this one!  Also, the secret to getting the layer with the folding on it to stay as flat as possible is to coat the back of it with carpet tape.  That stuff won't keep a carpet in place but it will ensure that layer of paper won't pop up.

Merry Monday Snowman

This week over at the Merry Monday challenge blog we are asked to use a snowman on our creation.  Apparently there are some people who haven't had enough snow yet.  I'm not naming names or pointing fingers.  I'm just saying...

I have lots of snowmen to chose from but I decided to go for an old favorite.  I like this tall skinny stamp and it has matching tall skinny greeting for the inside. The card went together very easily. The papers were on top of my Christmas box and I knew immediately what embellishments to use. 

After I put it together I thought I would try my brand new Wink of Stella glitter pen.  I painted the snowman with it and was immediately disappointed.  That isn't very clear clear glitter if you ask me.  My Spica pen is much more clear than this.  Now my snowman looks dirty (but shimmery!)  so he must be an urban snowman plagued by smog.

The Fine Print: Matching inside sentiment reads: Snowmen fall from heaven unassembled.  Stamps by Stampendous, designer paper by DCWV, ribbon by Stampin' Up, faux brad by Candi and of course the Wink of Stella.

Q is for Queen

Indeed, Q is for Queen and I got a promotion from Princess when I was named The Queen of Snark over at the Snarky Sisters blog for my card named Fred who had a fancy fold.  I think that is really neat especially since I was so sick the day I made that card. I couldn't duplicate that card so easily again while well and that makes me laugh.  And laughing makes me cough, but that's another story.

Fred

That isn't the only queenly activity in these parts though, oh no.  This time around the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers has a new alphabet challenge and that is Q is for Queen.  Here is my Queen.

And isn't he a right nice Queen too?!  He has his glittery tutu on, some fahh-bulous eyeshadow and a crown in case you were unaware of his Queenly status.  Remember folks, it isn't the size of the wand; it is the magic in it. Put your snarky crown on and come join us for this fun challenge.  Snark not necessary.

The Fine Print: Fred card stamps by Stampin' Up and Great Impressions; Queen card stamp by Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers, glitter by Stickles, crown brad by unknown.  Stay tuned for the next snarky challenge where I get to be guest designer.  How exciting!

A New Day

I almost failed to recognize that today is a new, which is silly because I know that today is not yesterday so how did I fail to notice it was today?  You following that?  Good, because then you can explain it to me.

I made this summery card on a cold winter day last month.  The stamp I got from the convention from a big pile of wood mounted stamps that were marked half off.  That right there made me decide that I couldn't live another day without this stamp.  I mean, how cute is he?!

The Fine Print: stamp by Great Impressions, designer paper by DCWV, sticker by Recollections, sparkly green paper and gingham ribbon from my stash. Wake me when tomorrow gets here.

Workdesk Wednesday

I haven't played along with Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday in quite awhile but I thought I would today to show you my lovely mess. I haven't been crafting much lately and I think the lack of desk space may be why.

That big pile of cards in the middle of my desk was up in one of the cubby holes but I pulled them down in search of a birthday card.  I have some new purchases on my desk--designer paper, matching dots, and matching washi tape (because a girl can't have too much washi tape).  There are stamps and dies lying about too and some magazines to be put away.

There are even more stamps and dies piled on the other side along with a whole bunch of paper that I don't even know what it all is.  The old SU set I pulled out after seeing some great inspiration on a blog and the new set is out so I could stamp a greeting in that birthday card I pulled out.

I found this cute piggy card on my desk the other day and wondered why I hadn't mailed it off to a deserving soul but when I looked inside it was stamped "Happy Easter" so that would be why it is still around. I made him at a make and take at the convention last month. 

The Fine Print: My new purchases of embellishment dots, paper and matching washi are by Doodlebug and you know you can't live without them. The pig was cut with one of those electronic machines and the background "paper" is really strips of washi tape.