Cannot Be Unseen

Stop right there!!!!

If you are looking for a religious themed, traditional, staid Christmas card, well then, you've come to the wrong blog.

The Fine Print: Yep, you can never unsee that now.  Stamps by Stampin' Up "Visions of Santa," designer paper by Hot of the Press, and crinkly ribbon by A Muse Studio.

Peace Joy and Love

I made these cards recently. I'm still trying to force myself to make a Christmas card or two (or 24, which is where I am at now).

These two are okay even though not really my style. That greeting is a bear to stamp. It doesn't give a good impression but you can't press too hard or else the edges get fussy.  It pains me to say it but Simon Says Stamps stamps just aren't quality. I suppose they are good for the person who buys stamps and only uses them once or twice (or never, just has them in the stash).

Anyway, there you go: Peace, Joy and Love.  What do you want for a Sunday? Football, Beer, and Nachos?  Yeah... me too.

The Fine Print: Peace Joy Love stamp by Simon Says Stamp "Merry Everything" set, papers by Basic Grey, dove punch by Martha, and paper flower from my stash.

Centre Swing Card

I was perusing the latest Quick Cards magazine and decided to take a whirl at their featured card class which was the centre swing card. Yes, the Brit spelling since the magazine comes from across the pond.

Tucked Closed

First I mocked up the card using the centimeter measurements given. I felt that was too large so then I chopped it up and remeasured it in inches and for a bit more American size.

Standing Upright on Display

After I made it though I couldn't figure out how one was supposed to fold the thing flat for mailing. I fussed it one way and then the other and both looked ridiculous. I figured the point of the card was how it looked standing up on display so decided that there wasn't a way to fold it flat and have it look good.

Lying Flat Open

I mentioned that to my hubby and showed him what I meant. It only took him a moment of fussing with it to determine that the two side flaps tuck underneath the die cut focal point (top photo).  Duh! Now it can look good upon receipt too. I decorated the side flaps on both sides so the card can look good when tucked closed and when swung open.

The Fine Print: Stamp by Lily of the Valley, card template adapted from Quick Cards Card Class Issue 146 Christmas 2015, large circle die by Spellbinders, fancy corner die by Cheery Lynn. This was surprisingly easy to make but no, I'm not going to teach you how to make it.  Buy the magazine and then scale the template down some. 

Seas the Day and the Technique

Once upon a time in a galaxy not that far away, in fact, it was actually this one, I received a card and envelope all in one and declared it the coolest thing ever.  Back in those dark days you had to trace, cut, measure, and score all by hand without the help of machines or tools.

Now that we have machines, tools, and precise measurements already done for us I still declare this card one of the coolest things ever.  I just need to remember to do it more often.

The Fine Print: Pirate boy stamp by Lily of the Valley, greeting by A Muse Artstamps, envelope shape and notch tool courtesy of We R Memory Keepers, designer paper by Pebbles.

Gobble 'til you Wobble

For the longest time hubby and I would have cold pizza and colder beer for Thanksgiving. It was a very low maintenance holiday that made many folks jealous.  We haven't done that for a while as we started going out to places that had decent Thanksgiving dinners (decent meaning they had something other than ham or turkey to eat, because YUCK).

Even though we haven't done that in years people still say "Happy Pizza Day" to us instead of "Happy Turkey Day."  I'm okay with the traditional greeting that you see on the above card that I got from a friend, but this year for the sake of accuracy you can say, "Happy Mama's Beer Chili Day to you!"

The Fine Print: Card by my friend MER, dies from one of those fabulous die companies.

Leaf Bliss

The Fine Print: Stamps and die by Stampin' Up

Fall Tag

I made this little tag card quite a while ago. That leaf stamp is one of my very favorites. I have a bunch of that crinkled brown paper (and some in orange) that I had hoped to use up this fall. I haven't managed to make many fall cards and using a small strip like this certainly isn't going to get me far. Ah well.  It's all good!

The Fine Print: Leaf stamp by Stampin' Up, wee greeting by unknown, other stuff from my stash.

Things are Just Dotty

I just wanted to let you know that I'm still around. I've been busy chasing this guy around to make him take 4 different prescriptions several times a day. He had major surgery on his ears in hopes to clear up his chronic ear infections.

I also worked a full time job, did all my biology homework for the week, rescued the hubby from the side of the road, did lots of adulting, made some cards, ran my big stamp club meeting, did more adulting and purchased a new car. I'm pooped now.

The Fine Print: Cat stamp by Hero Arts, punches by EK Success. 

The Elf

Some people might think it is too early for the Elf on a Shelf. My husband disagrees.

Thanks and good night!  That's all I got for you.

The Fine Print: Beer by Ridgeway Brewing Company who brews the likes of Bad Elf, Very Bad Elf, Seriously Bad Elf, Criminally Bad Elf, Reindeer Droppings, Lump of Coal and Santa's Butt beers.  Card pars 'n stuff by Club Scrap "Random Doorways."

Blah Boat

Fall fell hard here in Southern Arizona and we've been plagued with gray skies, drizzly rain, and parka-wearing temperatures (which usually means under 70 but this time under 60, and actually even under 50!).  So in honor of such a blah day, I give you a blah boat card.

Thus proving that they can't all be winners.

The Fine Print: Papers by Club Scrap, boat and twine by A Muse Studio.

From A to Z

I thought I'd share some of the African wild animal cards that I made one day when I was on a card making tear. They are a lot like the elephant and cheetah ones. You know, sometimes you get a good thing going and you just roll with it.

The Fine Print: Animal stamps by Stampin' Up, card bases and parts from Club Scrap "Navajo."

Wild Cats

My husband always says that when he is in charge of the universe he going to force all colleges who have "wild cats" as a mascot to pick an actual wild cat. You can be the mountain lions, the cougars, the leopards, the lynx, the jaguars, the ocelots, the servals, the cheetahs, the caracals, the mountain cats, the fishing cats, the flat headed cats, the cats named bob, the cats formally known as bob, the jungle cats, the margays, the pumas, the sand cats, the jaguarundis, or the snow leopards, but you have to pick one.  He's quite demanding, that man.

Anyway, these are my wild cats. I thought they were leopards but now I suspect they are cheetahs. Whatever they are you will not be seeing them on a football field or basketball court near you.

The Fine Print: Wild cat stamp by Stampin' Up, card bases and parts from Club Scrap "Navajo."

Merry, Merry Everything

I had Veteran's Day off work which was a pleasant break for the middle of the week. I decided that maybe, just maybe, they weren't going to cancel Christmas this year after all and that maybe, just maybe, I should make a few Christmas cards.

You know I totally have NOT wanted to make Christmas cards so what better way to get you in the mood for it then to use the fugliest paper you can find?  Yeah, I'm not following my own logic either. I pulled out a kit from years ago that I never touched because of the ugly paper and vowed I would make cards with it.

It turned out to not be too bad.  I started off by following the photos of samples they provided. Some I did exactly and others I just used as a jumping off point. I've used up about half the stuff in the kit and am hopeful I can polish off the rest of it soon.  Don't hold your breath though; I'm still not totally convinced about this whole Christmas thing.

The Fine Print: Greeting stamps by Simon Says Stamp, designer paper by Basic Grey, and embellishments either from the kit or from my stash. I really would like some more of those holly leaves. They were so much fun to use. Image using them with non-ugly paper!

Lions, Tigers, and Elephants-Oh my!

This weekend the reason behind my pouty I-don't-wanna, You-can't-make-me, Mom-she's-looking-at-me mood was revealed.  I caught an icky sicky cold and I know just which coworker to blame it on.  Luckily I'm on the mend now, but man, there went my weekend!

Previously I was trying to use up some bits and bobs and made a who slew of cards including these two elly-phants.

The Fine Print: Stamps by Stamin' Up (lovely old wooden ones), card parts 'n stuff by Club Scrap "Navajo."

Let it Shine!

Here are a couple more lighthouses to share with you. I got to wondering if I've ever seen a lighthouse live and in person before. I don't think I have seen a sea before so it was looking doubtful.

Then I remembered that I have been acquainted with a lighthouse. There is one in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Winnebago. I even have photographic evidence of it.

The Fine Print: Club Scrap "Cape Cod" cards. Back to the sea thing... is Sea World a real sea or just a pretend one? I've been to Sea World before so maybe I've seen a sea!  Somehow I think I may have gazed upon the Atlantic Ocean before, but that's like really far away so I'm not sure.

Oh Bouy!

Aren't you seaside lovers excited to hear that I found some more of these Cape Cod cards to share with you.  I think this one is a hoot. The greeting on the inside says "It's your birthday!"

The Fine Print: Just like I said: Cape Cod from Club Scrap. Oh bouy!

Things to Ponder

Do you ever wonder if there is a limit to everyone's personal ability to learn? Do you think there is some arbitrary cut off point that happens that varies from person to person? Perhaps at some point your brain will be like, "No way, bro, that's it, the fount of knowledge is full!" and that will be it. You will never be more knowledgeable or learned than you are at that point.

Or do you wonder if maybe there is a price to pay for new knowledge?  Like maybe my learning about DNA and epigenetics comes at the cost of my forgetting the name of my elementary school and what ingredients go into a PB&J sandwich?

Maybe one day I'll be driving home from work and forget where I live and it will all be because I just learned how to multiply fractions that day.  It boggles the mind!

The Fine Print: I went to E.G. Shaw Elementary School and peanut butter and jelly go into a PB&J and for the love of everything holy do not add butter! What kind of freak does that?! Card stuff from Club Scrap "Random Doorways" to fit my random musings.

HB to Thee

Cards!

I make 'em in my spare time.

Which means none of these were made recently.

But they are still residing in and around my desk, just waiting for some folks to get older so they can be used, so they can have a purpose in life...

The Fine Print: More kit cards from Club Scrap "Tilescapes." By the way, today would be my Dad's birthday if he were still around. I suspect he's already been recycled. I think he wanted to come back as one of his own cats, or a similar lifestyle.

You Can't Make Me!

I don't wanna write a blog post today!  Don't wanna! You can't make me!  Waaah!  I don't wanna do nothing. I just want to throw myself on the floor and pout.

Okay?

The Fine Print: Actually throwing myself on the floor and pouting sounds like a good way to get crippled. And stepped on.  Card made with leftover bits from my iris folding class with a DeNami greeting. I may be suffering from the effects of a wicked poisonous Arizona bug. Or not. But something definitely bit me on my hand three times leaving me with big red and purple welts. Good times!

Turkey Tag

Now that Halloween is done and over we can concentrate on Thanksgiving and all the things we are thankful for.

I'm thankful for this really cool turkey die. It is going to make Thanksgiving cards a snap this year. I'm also thankful that no one is going to force me to eat turkey on Thanksgiving. I'm also thankful that one of my favorite living museums is open on Thanksgiving Day so I can kill two birds (who aren't turkeys) with one stone. I can enjoy myself and I complete a homework assignment.

The Fine Print: Tom the Turkey by Cheery Lyn, stitched leaf dies from Lawn Fawn, and other stuff from my stash.