Cute Get Well Project

My good buddy has recently organized her craft room and that has sparked her creativity. So she brought along a project to teach a bunch of us. It was really easy and came out so cute. All you have to do it score, die cut, use red line tape and decorate.  Oh, and bring along of section of loo paper (that's TP for those who don't speak Brit).

This card folds fairly flat for mailing depending on how much TP/loo paper you use (and what ply, go for the good stuff!). The project we made had more than the one shown here. I wanted to mail this one off to a friend. She often has to teach classes with her stamp group and I thought she'd love this and it would be easy to do.

The Fine Print: The chillin' illin' penguin is by Stampin' Up, greeting by A Muse Artstamps, fancy die and ovals by Spellbinders. This would make a good "miss you" card or a cheer up card for someone involved in a tear-worthy situation. 

One More

Pinky promise--just one more day of Basic Gray kit cards (ahem... from this kit that is).

This first card reminds me of a friend who recently cut her camping trip short. The family dog was the only one sad about it. She was trying to find the words to describe why they came back early when I reminded her that all the comforts of home are, oddly enough, at home. "That's it!"

I like this long delicate get well card. Someone needs to catch an illness so I can send it to them. Feel free to volunteer!

The Fine Print: Just in case you missed it the first, second or third time, these cards are from a Basic Gray card kit. 

Not Gray Either

Happy Friday, Y'all!

The Fine Print: More BG stuff. 

Basically Not Gray

I thought I'd share a couple more cards from that Basic Gray kit I played with a bit ago. I used to go ga-ga over Basic Gray and couldn't wait to snatch up their card kits as soon as they came out (back in the good old days when we had a scrapbook store in town). Of course, all I ever did with them was hoard them, but I still enjoyed having them around. Now, however, it is time to use them.

I'm really sleepy today. I kept getting woke up by the rain last night. Usually I can sleep through rain but not when it sounds like Niagra Falls is coming down on your house. That's when your body wakes up and says, "Maybe you should build an ark and load the cats two by two." That would leave an odd cat out. That's no good, especially if it was the odd cat. I kinda like him.

The Fine Print: Basic Gray card kit, sorry I don't remember the name of the collection. Does BG even still exist? I've heard rumors...

Let Them Soar!

Let your dreams soar! Unless, of course, your dream is the one where you suddenly realize you are in lecture hall and have to take a test that you didn't study for and it turns out all you are wearing is your underwear.  You probably shouldn't t let that dream soar. You should probably should keep that dream under wraps.

The Fine Print: Parts is parts from a Basic Gray kit.  BTW, for a while there our school had the tagline "Bring your dreams to us!" which of course made us all joke about the lecture hall surprise test in your underwear dream. Also, BTW, I can't say I ever had that dream. 

Directions Please

Can someone tell me which way is up, please? 

The Fine Print: Card kit by Basic Gray

It's All Coming Up Roses

A friend of mine gave me this fugly (as in fantastically ugly) accordion style folder box and said I could use it to sort and store already made greeting cards.  She also suggested I recover the box but I like the weird tacky design on it.

I didn't listen to her about using it to store greeting cards either because I have way, way more than that would hold.  Instead, I used it to sort and store my stash of already made images. Those were all tucked away in a hard to remember box and now they are sorted and front and center.

My goal is to use up all those images by the end of the year. Anything left will go into the waste bin. Most of those images are years old already. In fact, these heat embossed roses that I used are probably a good decade old.  Yeah, it's totally time to either use or lose these images.

The Fine Print: Two images down and 100 more to go! This rose was my grandmother's so I'm not sure who makes it but I think it may have been Stampa Rosa. Hello by DeNami. Sorry I forgot to take a picture of my fugly box. Maybe the next time I use images from it....  

Celebrate

Lookie! I made a vintage looking card with an old Stampin' Up stamp set. This is about the only stamp I use from this set. Sometimes I think I need to break out, go crazy, and try the other stamps but once you have this one, why would you need to fuss with the others?

The Fine Print: Well, I already told you the stamps are from Stampin' Up so why are you reading down here? Are you expecting an important announcement? Well, here's one: It's National Tequila Day! Please celebrate accordingly and don't drink and drive, especially on a contraption like this one.

So Much Wonder

C'mon, just one more! I know you you can do it.... 

Here it is! The last card from that particular Club Scrap kit. I know the wonder in you is you wondering when I'm going to stop already with this kit? It's all done. I promise.

The Fine Print: Bookshelves kit from Club Scrap.

Sympathies

 I always like to follow up my Get Well cards with Sympathy cards in case things took a turn for the worse.  It's always better to be prepared, don't you think? And, if by the case the person isn't feeling better yet it makes them realize that things could be worse. They could be dead!

The Fine Print: Of course death might not be all bad. No taxes and 'perpetual' slumber sounds so good right about now.  More stuff from Club Scrap. I promise you that this kit is almost over with! 

Get Well

For all those you feeling poorly out there, I hope you are on the mend soon. I pick up some antibiotics this evening so I'll be on the mend and dancing in the streets in no time. Or maybe even dancing in the sheets. Ooh la la!

The Fine Print: I'm sorry was that too frivolous and inappropriate? Actually, I'm not the least bit sorry. You'll just have to deal. Stuff by Club Scrap except the embossing folder which is SU.

Conflicted

In the space of less than 72 hours I've been told that I am too serious (I know, right?!) and that I am too frivolous (is that possible?!).

So now I don't know what to do with myself.

The Fine Print: More Club Scrap stuff.  There is no end!

Pointless

There was a time when my brother was driving those 18-wheeler big ass semi trucks. Because he was a new driver he got all the lousy routes like driving through the snow belt in winter and the tiny two lane windy roads to nowhere (nowhere being a Dollar Store in By Gosh, Iowa).

My mother and father used to be quite addicted the the weather channel and would call both him and I with updates on the weather throughout the US.  We learned to think twice before answering the phone because we weren't sure we had time for a 45-minute dissertation on the weather in Podunk, Alabama.

Because that wasn't dramatic enough, my parents then upped their pointless TV watching to include all sorts of random news channels. Their favorites included any sort of highway disaster. The more vehicles involved the higher their stress level went. They'd call up in a frenzy to ask if I'd heard about the 13-car pileup in Texas and ask in a panic if I knew where in the US my brother was because he wasn't answering his phone (because of the weather updates).

Usually I'd say reassuring things like, "I have no idea where he is," or point out obvious things like if he was in New Hampshire 12 hours ago when they called to warn him of light rain showers he probably wasn't in Texas now.

Eventually my brother, an incredibly social animal, figured out that long haul trucking was better suited for loners and quit. So now I never what the weather is like anywhere in the US including where I am now (because I work in an internal office in a cement box) and I never know how many cars ran into each other in Zippetydodah, Montana.

Oh well.  And that's my pointless blog post for today.

The Fine Print: More stuff from Club Scrap. Alternate title for this blog post: Why My Brother Became a Stay-at-Home Son.

Don't Wanna, Can't Make Me

I just can't today.  If you want me, leave a message.

The Fine Print: Relax stamp by some company that's really relaxed, maybe Stampendous. Flip flop topper by Club Scrap. Designer paper by DCWV. Star brad from my stash.

More Global News

No, wait! I'm still not done showing you cards I made with that one kit. Here are a few more with a global feel to them.

The Fine Print: All products by Club Scrap unless otherwise noted.  Top card embossing folder: Paper Salon, bottom card folder: Cuttlebug. 

Global News

I wasn't done showing you cards that I made from the one card kit (like over a week ago). So here are a couple more for you to check out.

The Fine Print: Card bases, card toppers,cardstock, and ribbon from Club Scrap "Bookcases" kit, globe die from Cheery Lynn. BTW, dd you know Cheery Lynn has a blog? Don't look! It's evil. 

Love and Infection

There's something inherently wrong with my brain. No matter how hard I try I cannot call this new stamp set by Stampin' Up by its correct name--Love and Affection.

 So love and infection it shall be! And you know those two sometimes do go hand in hand since loved ones have zero qualms about sharing cooties with you.

For the more squeamish and germaphobe among you it's apparent that I have no choice but to buy another new Stampin' Up set so that I can call it by its correct name. I'm doing this for you, people! Such a sacrifice!

The Fine Print: It's all by Stampin' Up, except the ink which is Memento. No germs were shared in the making of this post. 

Namaste

I hate it when it is too late in the day to start drinking early.

The Fine Print: Designer papers from Close to My Heart, seam binding from my stash. Happy Happy Hour, my friends!

Sending a Smile Your Way

This is a scheduled post because I'm going under the knife today. And by "knife" I mean the drill. I'm finally getting a root canal on my cracked tooth. I've been waiting for my insurance to be reinstated since February. So now it is and there I go.

So while I might be sending a smile your way today, keep in my mind it will be a lopsided mostly numb smile possibly even with some drool. Rest assured I mean well.

The Fine Print: All the everythings by Stampin' Up, "Love and Affection" stamps, "Affectionately Yours" designer paper, and "Floral Affection" embossing folder. Oh, I lied. The glitter glue on the center of the embossed flowers is not SU. It's by some random glitter glue comapany. 

What's in Your Pocket?

In a craft room in a galaxy far, far away and a long, long, long time ago I joined a pocket card swap. However, it was a specific form of pocket we had to make. The hostess gave us all a photocopied page of directions and samples that looked like it came from a magazine or idea book. Every one of us made a card in that design.

I kept the directions because it was an unusual design (in fact, does not show up on Google on pocket card image searches). You see here that the front of the card is folded in on itself to make the pocket. That front flap lifts up so you can stamp or write a brief greeting.  However, I rarely make it because I never know how to fill the pocket.

The swap I made this card for requires that you have something that can be removed from the pocket so I tucked in a gift card.  Well, sort of....

So that's the pocket card I learned way back when I was a newbie stamper. Here it is all these years later and the pocket still stumps me. It is rather like that card in a box as I never know what to put in that either!

The Fine Print: Botanical Blooms stamps and dies, bird punch, and nest stamp (from the "Take Care" set) all by Stampin' Up, light green designer paper by HOTP, circle grid paper by DCWV, and alphabet set from my stash. 

Good Things Are Happening

I recently put all my Stampin' Up dies in one easily accessible place and what a world of difference that has made! I'm constantly thinking of them when making cards. This set in particular has caught my fancy of late.

Isn't it amazing what a smidgen of organization will do for you?!!!?

The Fine Print: Stamp set "You've Got This" and "Botanical Blooms" dies by Stampin' Up, woodgrain embossing folder by Stampin Up, and distress stickles by Ranger. 

Never Judge a Book by Its Movie

Because as any good reader knows the movie will be sorely lacking. They also say never judge a book by its cover art, which is very true. I've been reading a series of political thriller type novels and one of the series had this unfortunate cover of a shirtless man and woman in a clinched embrace that looked like it belonged on a romance novel (gak). It was extra unfortunate because the man looked like Chevy Chase, the comedienne, making it look like it might be a comedy and not the high intrigue it was.

The Fine Print: Card bases, card toppers, and cardstock by Club Scrap. Embossing folder by Paper Salon, Inkwell and Quill dies by Cheery Lynn, and photo corners by Recollections.

A Good Book

I have so many cards to share with you that I don't even know where to start. I went on a card making spree over the long holiday weekend last week. My goal was to finish up some kits. The one kit was called "Bookcases" so guess what theme they had?

The Fine Print: Card bases, cardstock, and card toppers by Club Scrap. Green and burgundy ribbon, image inside bottle cap, epoxy brad, and embossing folder (SU) from my stash. 

Let Them Eat Cake!

Or cake with ice cream. Or cookies. Or cookies with ice cream. Or cake with cookies and ice cream on top! The world is your oyster!  Don't eat the oyster though.  That shit's yucky.

The Fine Print: All the stamps and parts by Stampin' Up except that silver sparkly string which is just yer run o' the mill embroidery floss.

Life in Paradise

Over a year ago I shared this card with you when I made it. During that time it sat around my house and did whatever cards do when they aren't being used. Weep? Pine for better days? Plot my demise?

The other day I pulled it out and jazzed it up a big before sending it on its way.  Sometimes you just need a little time to think about how to improve things. And sometimes it's just that you are a lazy bastard.  Speaking of myself of course...

The Fine Print: Card topper by Graphic 45, brass eyelets by A Muse Studio, Botanical Blooms dies by Stampin' Up, bling from my stash. 

Happy Independence Day!

May you enjoy your day today whether you celebrate America's independence or not.

The Fine Print: Stamp from an oldie but goodie Stampin' Up set, die by Spellbinders, designer paper by HOTP, lady liberty and ribbon from my stash. 

Adventure is Calling

It's been awhile since I've been excited by what is going on with A Muse Studio, so I'm glad that the July collection tickled my fancy.  I was inspired by their workshop ideas to make this card. Adventure is calling! Just break out your crafting goodies and play!

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio. Stamps used: School Supplies and Road Trip (new in July!); cardstock used: Seattle, grid print, mermaid, sage, vanilla, cherry polka dot, and French Roach; dies used: Hello, school supplies matching dies, and the hole reinforcer from the tag dies; other supplies: burnished brass brads.

It's July!

And that means it is time for the latest A Muse Studio monthly collection to go live. I'm excited by the July Collection. They have some great stamp sets this month. I used my favorite one of the bunch--Seashells Remind Us--below.

It has three detailed seashell stamps and 4 different greetings in this wonderful script. I liked it so much I did all sorts of out of the comfort zone things for me. I heat embossed that shell and I used Splash spray and a waterbrush to create that background splotch. It's like I've gone crazy!

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio. Stamps "Seashells Remind Us" with matching dies, Blackberry splash spray (a smidgen dropped onto a craft mat and diluted with water), watercolor paper, and Grape cardstock.

Celebrate Freedom!

And celebrate that is is Friday!

Our department is having a BBQ lunch with potluck sides in honor of Independence Day and because it is Friday which is slow because it is summer school time. There is an international component to our school and it was suggested that we invite some international students so they could partake in a real American tradition.

Except for that we are having Sonoran Dogs, which is a Mexican street dog, and by that I mean a Mexican version of a hot dog, not that we are eating chihuahuas. That's probably not a real American tradition except in this city on this side of town.

The Fine Print: Stamps by Taylored Expressions, designer paper by DCWV, vellum and star eyelets from my stash. Srly, try this Sonoran Dog thing. You'll be glad you did. Start with a traditional Mexican bolillio bun or lacking that one of those fancy thick bakery hot dog buns, add some pinto beans, a regular old hot dog wrapped in a strip of bacon, some diced tomato, some diced onion, mustard, mayo, and jalapeno sauce (or not if you're not from these parts).