Almost Time for a New Calendar

When I was a young kid I remember being allowed to stay up late to ring in the new year a couple of times. I think we tended to do our own thing until we were all called to gather in front of the television set to watch the ball drop in New York city.

Since we never lived in the east coast time zone I'm sure we watched a re-broadcast of the big event. I remember the big count down. FIVE......

 FOUR..... THREE..... (everyone is counting along now)  TWO.....  ONE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Everyone on TV would be jumping, yelling, blowing noise makers and smiling. In our house usually my mom would jump and yell and we'd join in, but really it felt so forced and fake. So what? The date changed. Big deal. It changes every day.

I remember one year as a young adult looking forward to the new year, but ultimately I was the same old me, everyone was the same old everyone, and the only thing that was different was the date.

If you think the date changing is a party-worthy event, then certainly enjoy your date changing party. If you'd rather catch a few Zs then enjoy that too. Whichever you prefer, just remember to write "2017" when you write checks.*

The Fine Print: *That's a joke, no one writes checks anymore.... Happy New Year dies by Cheery Lynn, various gold washi tapes from Amazon, star dies by Sweet & Sassy.

Bugging Me

This is a scheduled post because it is the first day of school so I have to be on the front lines listening to all those stupid questions that people who don't work in customer service insist don't exist.  I have the mantra at the ready: this may be the one thousandth time you've been asked this question but it is the first time asking it for the person speaking.  What the heck, it's a living.  And it is fun... in slow down to look at the car wreck kind of way.

Meanwhile, in preparation I got all crazy with dots and made this love bug notecard.  Pink and black together always make me smile.

The Fine Print:  All products by A Muse Studio, My Punny Valentine stamps and matching dies, stitched tag die, Valentine and tuxedo washi tape, blush, grapefruit and onyx polka dot cardstock, and onyx and white baker's twine.  You know what Mister Garrison in South Park says. Feel free to put what he says in the comments.  There is a prize involved if you know it.

Today's Workspace #293

I have to admit that my desk is boringly tidy again today.  I had to pick it up last night because I had loose dies and stamps rolling around, threatening to be lost forever.  Besides I was trying to figure out what to work on next and thought a clean slate would help me decide (it helped me decide I should go to bed).

I have a new desk organizer up top! I ditched the old one with the tape dispenser since apparently tape is very tasty to certain cats. I got these new tape dispensers which so far are proving to be cat-proof.  I like the washi tape one so I can keep my current go-to tapes on my desk.  You can set them up so when you open the dispenser all the tapes have a piece pulled out. I opted not to do that because I plan to swap out tapes fairly often.

Since my desk is dull here is my craft shelf across the room.   Since this is my living room my goal is to replace the plastic bins with... um.... NOT plastic bins.  It is slow going since I have to find things I like and that look good together, plus not plastic is not cheap!  The newer bins hold less but that encourages me to downsize.

Least you think that is all the stamps I own, let me share with you a peek into the hall closet.  That's where the mother lode is.

If you like to check out other people's work desks, work spaces, and on-going projects go visit What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and have a poke about.  Before I leave you, here are a few of things I think I'll be working on over the next week. I still have all the die cuts from last week but I had to tuck them away because those are tasty to cats too.

The Fine Print: Anyone notice the cards on the bulletin broad behind my desk? They range from fall, to H'ween, to Christmas, to New Year's to Valentine's.  I am slowly transitioning new ones up.  The washi tape dispenser is by Scotch tape. It came from Staples.  You need one.  I don't care if you own more than 10 rolls of tape, you need one for your desk, cats or no cats.

Cuppa Tea

I was poking around in my stuff stash because I was sure I had some Valentine's themed washi tape somewhere.  I not only found it, I also found my missing Stampin' Up oval dies and a small stash of 6x6 designer paper--just one sheet each pattern.

I challenged myself to use the wonky patterned ones first, because as scrumptious as Basic Grey paper is they always have to throw a difficult sheet or two into the mix.

I started with this piece because I felt it went with the tape I found.  Plus I had just the die and stamps to go with it.  Since I cut that paper almost in half I had enough to make a second copy of the same card (hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it).

Then I used the scraps from those two pieces to make this final card and use up the rest of that paper.

I had lots of fun doing it and went on to the next wonky pattern, but you'll have to stay tuned for those.  They didn't whip out as easily as these ones.

The Fine Print: Stamps by Simon Says Stamps "Absolutely Delightful," designer paper by Basic Gray "Paper Cottage," dies by Stampin' Up "Ovals" and A Muse Studio "Word Art" (tea cup) and "Medium Scallop Border," mini heart punch by Stampin' Up, pink twine by May Arts, and washi tape "With Love" by unknown.

Dotty Awesomeness

My friend who gave me the dotted washi tape in yesterday's post also gave me this one.  I had to make this card to prove I really do use my washi tape. You know, to justify the couple hundred rolls I own.

The weather is freakishly cold so I felt it was appropriate to break out a snowman for this clean and simple card.  I tried hard to make it not so clean and not so simple but none of that worked out.

The Fine Print: Stamps by Paper Smooches "Swanky Snowdudes" and "Cuteasaurus."  Washi Tape by Doodlebug and card base by DCWV.

Toaster of Love

My hubby bought me a toaster for Christmas.  No, seriously he really did.  Don't you be knocking toasters as they are one of my favorite household appliances.  Anyway, you can see it in the photo below.

It is very versatile as it can change colors to fit the mood.  My friend gave me the washi tape so all in all it was a very merry and crafty Christmas.

The Fine Print: Toaster from Quick Kutz, washi by Doodlebug, greeting by Lawn Fawn "Love 'n Breakfast."

The Time is Now

I don't think I shared this card with you before and it has been languishing away in the pending file since last month.  It's almost one layer and very CAS which makes it a different card than I usually make.  I was really pleased with it though.

The layers of washi tape are to prove I do actually do more than hoard it.  I actually use washi almost every time I send out a card or letter as I "seal" the envelope with several strips of coordinating tape.

The Fine Print:  Stamp by Stampin' Up, dies by Spellbinder (the square was corner rounded), and washi by Doodlebug.  BTW, you want to know how to remember who makes the washi after you take it out of its package?  You write it on the inside of the roll in Sharpie.  You're welcome!

One Layer Butterflies

I love the look of CAS (clean and simple) cards and really marvel at the one layer ones.  I can admire them but once it comes to making them I get twitchy.  I start to shake and sweat.  Only one layer?!  Don't add one of everything?! How can this be?????

Well, as Mrs. A set out to show us with her latest butterfly challenge (one layer only, folks) it can be done! And it can be done without twitches, without sweat, without tears, and without too much difficulty. Then once you get the hang of it, you'll find yourself doing more of it. Or anyway I did.

These cards were born by my desire to 1-play along with the latest butterfly challenge, 2-use washi tape on a card (a shocking idea!), 3-use A Muse Studio products.  These cards are by no means an original idea. There are many cards out there in this vein, but this card does satisfy all three of my requirements so I'm feeling quite full of myself!

The Fine Print: All products except the corner rounder (Fiskars) by A Muse Studio and can be had from their latest catalog. Stamp used-Aren't You Sweet set. Cardstock used-Sugar, Mermaid, and Hibiscus (new color). Sequins used-Bermuda and Lime.  Washi tape used-Silver & Gold assortment, metallic assortment, and tuxedo assortment.