Pee Pee

Oh my, that didn't come out right. Pee Pee is the initials for Paper Pumpkin. What were you thinking? Anyway, back in January I got a special kit for special people (it came with a helmet and non pointy scissors, oh wait, not that kind of special).

I wasn't convinced about the suggested card design but fuddled forth and made one of them. It was as I suspected--less than exciting, so I put the PP kit and its 7 other card parts aside. I felt bad that I hadn't revisited it, so I pulled it out and made this exciting card.

There is hope now for the other 6 cards and maybe I can even fix up that first card.  You know, in another 7 months or so from now.

The Fine Print: Card base, corrugated paper and die cut word by Pee Pee, butterfly die by Stampin' Up, leafy die by Sizzix, and flowers from my stash.

Fluttering By

Just a quick fly-by "hi" today. It's a busy one.

The Fine Print: Probably by Stampin' Up. Unless it isn't.

Metallics

It turns out that I am not a big fan of playing around with metallic paper. That's too bad because it looks cool. Once I get a hold of it though, it all goes to heck.

These cards came out okay but their was so much teeth gnashing and name calling to get them to happen. Metallic paper ain't for wimps. I'm wimpy.

The Fine Print: Metallic paper from my stash, large butterfly die by Simon Says Stamps (I think), petal embossing folder by SU, leafy vine die by Memory Box, smaller butter by SU. 

Going Postal

I'd like to give a shout out to the postal employee who did not kill the lady in line in front of me. He would have been totally justified if he had. He just smiled and nodded along like a good customer service person should.

It started with her slapping a tracking number down on the counter and demanding to know where her package was. The postal dude politely explained that you can go online and check the tracking number and that way you wouldn't have to come into the post office and wait in line. She was having none of that telling him that she didn't go online or mess around with "any of that nonsense."

Nonplussed, he explained that there was a phone number you could call as well to check the tracking number. She interrupted that spiel to inform that she did indeed call and the package was not received because the person she sent it to told her so. After some serious back and forth we discovered that the phone call she made was not to the PO tracking line but to the person she sent to the package to.

Finally the harried postal worker took the number from her and went into the back. Presumably to look up the number and maybe sneak a sip of gin. He came back to tell her that the package was returned to her because it could not be delivered as addressed. "So, where is it?!" she wanted to know, going on to explain that she was told that it was in Phoenix (where our mail is sorted) on Monday but she still didn't have it back.

The postal dude told her that it was back at her branch postal office, the one that serviced the zip code where she lived. "Yes, so I'm here to pick it up," she patiently explained to him. He equally as patiently explained to her that it wasn't at the branch she was in, but that it was in the one that serviced her zip code. Frustrated she told the man, "But I don't like that branch" and left in a huff.

You just know she considers that poor service. After all, the PO should just magically know which branch she likes best and return the package there, or better yet delivered it to the address she meant, even if that wasn't she wrote on the box.

The Fine Print: I shall raise a drink in toast of that poor man, from one customer service slackey to another. Of course, my drink will only be OJ but the thought will be there. Card supplies by Stampin' Up, which you can have delivered to your house or a postal branch near you.

Hello Sunshine

This is a CASE card from Pinterest. I don't peruse Pinterest much but every once and awhile something catches my eye and I have to try it out. The card I copied was black and white (and yellow) but I went for the in-color, Emerald Envy green since I happened to have the ink, the patterned paper and the cardstock. So matchy matchy!

I did this card at a card making class I conducted. My friends were out of touch with stamping so I wanted them to get a chance to experience the joy of die cutting. We used the negative piece for this card and they took the cut out word home with them.

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

Quick 'n Easy Butterfly Card

I was invited to do a make and take at a craft fair this past weekend. Since the target audience of the craft fair was people looking to buy hand crafted items and not necessarily be crafty themselves I knew I had to do something simple.  I was stumped for ideas but Carol of Our Little Inspirations posted THIS card and so my version was born.

I provided many of the pieces in different colors so folks could have some say in what they made and mix and match as they wanted.  They also had a choice of greetings.

Quite a number of people stopped by and made cards. The work involved was mostly just assembling the card using roller adhesive and glue dots. People did get the chance to roll the white layer (with the butterfly already cut out) through the embossing machine and stamp the greeting.  Many who participated already had some experience with paper crafts.

The Fine Print: Large butterfly die and embossing folder by Provo Craft/Cuttlebug, solid and ornate butterfly dies by Memory Box, greetings and cardstock by A Muse Studio.

Fancy Dancy Butterfly

A friend gave me several fancy dancy butterfly stickers. She said it was because she knew I would use them and not hoard them.  That put some serious pressure on me.

See, I usually refrain from buying these fanciful stickers because I don't think I can make a card that's great enough for their awesomeness and then there is the issue of who is worthy enough to receive such a card. Isn't that ridiculously silly?! I mean the sticker does all the work so I don't have to aspire to great heights and of course I know people worthy enough of this card.

The Fine Print: Fancy Dancy sticker by Recollections, designer paper and card base by DCWV, ribbon also from the same friend.

Inky Butterfly

Well, check this out! I finally actually made a card for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge instead of writing down the current theme and ignoring it for 3 weeks.  This time the theme is I is for Inks. I have this real love of butterfly dies but I can ink one up by stamping one out just as well.  Here's proof:

I even fancied up the inside as well. So that's me finally doing the butterfly challenge. If you make quick like a fox you can join in too but don't dilly dally.

The Fine Print: Stamps "Butterfly Basics" and die "Butterfly Framelets" by Stampin' Up, green and purples inks by Memento, gray inks and heather baker's twine by A Muse Studio.

Pestered Panda

Yesterday I was a flustered panda. See, I got put on phone duty all day and I had to make appointments for the counselors.  Who calls an institution of higher education one week before classes starts and wants appointments with counselors?

The answer is: people who are woefully underprepared to come to college. There were a large amount of students who needed to meet with a counselor to get cleared for this semester due to academic crappiness (we're just calling it what it is) but frankly calling a mere days before classes start doesn't show signs of success. Amazingly the majority of them had appointments previously and just plain failed to show up.  That really smacks of failure.

I also had to put up with a large amount of young adults who were incapable of making a decision. Maybe mommy made all the decisions before now. I'm not sure, but when the switchboard is backed up 6 deep I can't spend 15 minutes with you on the phone trying to decide if you want an appointment in the morning or the afternoon. I lied to a number of them.  "Oh while you were waffling someone took the afternoon appointment. You can have the morning one."

But then I got to go home and make myself a nice stiff drink a large leafy salad and make this lovely card.  It is going to be a birthday card to a friend.  Isn't it lovely? Well, actually it was frustrating too.  See, last year I bought those wonderful butterfly dies but did not buy the companion Watercolor Butterfly stamp set.  I wanted to CASE a really cool card that a friend sent me but lacked all the parts. So after much finagling I came up with this version. The inside is decorated with the greeting and more of the ferns, see:

The Fine Print: Die and fern stamp by Stampin' Up, designer paper by Basic Gray.

Purty Flowers

I said to myself, "Self, you haven't shared that pretty floral butterfly card yet, you should do that. And so I did.

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio.

Sketch Challenge

I thought I'd better put up a post today so y'all know I survived the first of many tortures* by the dentist.  I had a productive weekend in that I actually used up some of the random long time residents on my desk and made a card to fulfill the Crooked Stamper sketch challenge.

I've had this butterfly image tucked into one container or another on my desk for a very long time, possibly years.  I got all fancy dancy one day and tried blending colors on a stamp with misting. I don't think the misting went too well but I really liked how it came out. I've never used it because I never quite knew what to do with it.

Luckily this sketch challenge came along and showed me the light.  Oh yeah, you have to turn it on its side, but it's all good.

The Fine Print: *My dentist keeps saying "We don't like to use the word 'torture'" but a euphemism by any other name still hurts. Butterfly stamp by Penny Black, scallop border die by A Muse Studio, ribbon 'n such from my stash.

Butterflies and Flowers

Sometimes I manage to amaze myself with a card I make.  This one was one of those since I don't tend to do abstract or collage style well.  Of course the secret is that the paper is doing all the work. It is some fun stuff that I have been hoarding for quite awhile.

As an added bonus I can join in with Mrs A's Butterfly and Flower Challenge this time around. Butterflies are such a fun and easy thing to make cards with and they can be used for all sorts of occasions.  Meaning, why don't I use them more often? I don't know.

The Fine Print: Butterfly stamp by The Angel Company (RIP), flourish die by Cheery Lynn, and flower punch by EK Success.  Sorry, don't know who makes that fabulous paper since I've now cut it all up.

Workdesk Wednesday #315

Here we are again at Workdesk Wednesday, not that I have a lot to titillate you with this week but I do have a desk. I got rid of that last little plastic bin up top and put my pencil cup up there instead. I'm still reaching over to the old spot whenever I need a writing utensil. I'm sure one of these days this old dog will learn a new trick.

I have a pretty random assortment of stuff on my desk. From left to right I have a little bowl of brads and pieces, some paper things I want to work on, my pretty pink sparkly princess supply box, that cat proof tape dispenser, my felted covered notebook, red white and blue papers and supplies for Independence Day card making, a pocket letter, some cards, my new A Muse catalog, some card bases, my friend's Big Shot platform (don't ask), and some more papery things.

I haven't played much so I don't have much to share, but I do have other people's things to show off. This really cool bokeh technique card I got in a swap:

And this fancy birthday card/present that my friend sent me. She says it is called a pocket card and is the latest rage. As you can see, it is an ATC pocket page with little cards tucked into each pocket. Since this is for my birthday behind each card are little crafting presents like bling, ribbon, fancy tags, and the like.

The Fine Print: Is this a coincidence that I just emptied out all my ATC sheet protectors or do you think my friend has been spying on me?  Stamps and punches on the bokeh card by Stampin' Up.

How Many Bosses Did She Have?

Today is graduation day for the institution of higher learnin' that I work for and many other schools in town.  That means it tends to be a quiet happy day.  We don't have service hours this evening so that employees can attend the graduation ceremony if they chose.

The only My School graduation I've ever attended is the one I was in when I got my associates degree back in the 80's. Rose Mofford, the governor at the time, was our keynote speakers. She was known for her huge beehive hairdo and go get 'im attitude.  She started off by talking about the value of education and progressed into how education and perseverance gets you ahead. You know, like they all do.

Mis Mofford talked about how you can learn from those you work for and mentioned the number of bosses she had.  She spoke about how she started off her career as a mere secretary and shared the lessons she learned from that job and how they helped her get the next.  That second job she learned a lot from her boss, shared those lessons and how they got her that third position.  Rose learned a lot from that third boss, shared what she learned and explained how that helped her get the next job and so on and so forth.

While her talk started off interesting I started getting fidgety and trying desperately to remember how many bosses Rose Mofford had said she had so I could judge how much longer this speech was going to go on.  It went on and on.

Least this post go on and on I will share with you the lesson I've learned from all my bosses over the years (and I've had quite a number of them): You don't want to be the boss.  That's what I've learned!

The Fine Print: Cards, cardstock, and toppers by Club Scrap "Spring Chorus," dimensional flower stickers by K&Co., butterfly sticker by Sue Walton. 

Butterflies and Lace

Every time Mrs. A hosts a butterfly challenge I check it out and think, "Well, yeah, I can make a card to fit that theme" and then promptly don't.  It's not that I have anything against Mrs. A or butterflies; it is just that time and I aren't good buddies.

This time around, however, I already had the pieces of this card lying around waiting to be put together. I had the card base, the word topper, the hunk of lace and the dimensional sticker all set aside. I knew the card lacked something and once I saw the L is for Lace challenge I knew what was missing was a butterfly!

Since that card was so quick and easy I decided to make another one. I have several cards pieced out that aren't put together because they all lack something.  In the case of this second card the thing it lacked was the lace.  Again, Mrs. A to the rescue!

The Fine Print: The majority of card parts from Club Scrap (yep, still slogging away at old kits) "Spring Chorus" supplemented with dimensional stickers from K and Co.  The hunk of lace was in my desk drawer. I think it fell out of a completely different kit.

Butterfly Birthday

I made this card for an upcoming birthday. I have seen so many fabulous cards made with this stamp set that I knew it was a fail-proof set to use when making a card during a time crunch.  And as I have learned, if you are pressed for time and lacking cards, make two the same:

The Fine Print: Products except for cardstock (stash) and inks (Memento) by Stampin' Up.  Stamps--"Butterfly Basics" with coordinating Butterfly Thinlet dies, and painted petals cotton twine.  Happy Friday the 13th to y'all!

Basically, a Butterfly

Since the Butterfly Thinlet Dies that have been on back order forever finally arrived I decided that I should use them along the stamp set that they correspond with.

If you know your Stampin' Up you'll know that those aren't the new thinlet dies.  Nope, those ones didn't work for my card, but I did use the stamp set in question!  Sometimes what you plan to use isn't what you end up using. I enjoyed putting this delicate looking spring card together.  The photograph makes the pink of the butterfly look a bit garish but in real life it looked real nice.

The Fine Print: Stamps used--Butterfly Basics by Stampin' Up, dies used--Leanna and Chrissy by Simon Says Stamp, designer paper by Basic Gray, and fancy ass ribbon from my stash. 

Vintage Romantic Butterflies

Have you ever seen Pink Paislee's London Market designer paper?  It has sort of a vintage romantic feel to it.  I found some sheets of it whilst poking around my desk and decided that since this is the season of flowers and romance I could easily use it all up.  I sat down and whipped out this card.

While making it I realized it qualified for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge which is to make a card with butterflies on it (natch) along with ribbon.  Now don't be saying you don't see the ribbon--it is right there masquerading as the butterfly's body.  I wanted something more dimensional than paper but not as dimensional as pearls so I used a small piece of ribbon.

Since that came so easily I started on another card.  Seven and half hours later I came up with this one.  I struggled with everything about it and I'm still not that happy with it.  I'm sticking a fork in it and calling it done though.  For this card the ribbon is much more obvious.

And now I don't ever want to see the rest of this paper again.  Pfft!

The Fine Print: Top Card--designer paper by Pink Paislee "London Market," Thank You greeting by Simon Says Stamps "Beautiful Words," butterfly die and pearls by A Muse Studio, vellum, doily and brads from my stash. Bottom Card--designer paper by Pink Paislee "London Market," washi tape by Tim Holtz, heart die by Spellbinders, butterfly dies by Stampin' Up, ribbon, flowers, and brads from my stash.

Butterfly Snippets

I haven't done too well with getting more Valentine's cards made so I decided the least I could do was use up some of these VD themed snippets I have:

I puttered around with them and came up with this simple card.  I had a hard time getting a good shot of this card.  Either the glitter heart or the butterfly's shadow was insisting on being a problem so I finally took it outside and held it into the sun.

I really wanted you to see that the butterfly had a brad for a head.  That way I could enter him into Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge where you were to use a butterfly (of course) and a brad. I know that isn't a very exciting use of a brad, but it is there.

After making the first card I thought that design would make a nice sympathy card so I made this second card.  The papers I used were all snippets so I'm going to trot over to the Snippet Playground for the second week in a row.  Probably the world is going to end or something.

The Fine Print: Designer papers from my stash, butterfly die by PoppyStamps "Theo," love greeting by DeNami and sympathy greeting by Endless Creations. Amount of dent put into my Valentine stash: not a bit.

Sympathetic Saturday

I made these cards a couple of weeks ago and just never got around to sharing them until now.  That's just how it works sometimes.  I will admit I nixed showing them earlier this week because well, it just didn't seem right.

I made this card CASing another a|s consultant's thank you card.  Hers was one layer without the pink but I thought it needed a little something more to it.  I suppose you wouldn't normally associate hot bubblegum pink with a sympathy card, but whoever said I was normal?

This one I made after being inspired by the above card. I really like the wild vine feel of all those sprigs I stamped.  I added in the flowers after making the vines.  I felt it needed a little something extra but didn't want to put little black pearls on it like above, so I just used a black marker to make small black dots.

I liked that card so much so I decided to make a similar one so I could use it as a sample for a|s workshops.  Except for after I made it I ended up sending to someone and I still don't have it as a sample. So stay tuned, you never know when I'll go and make a third version of this card!

The Fine Print: All products except sympathy greetings by A Muse Studio. Non-a|s stamps used-Stampin' Up and Eat Cake Graphics.  Stamps used-Mini Blooms and Big Words. Cardstock used-Sugar, Bubblegum Pink, Ocean Blue and Marigold. Inks Used-Bubblegum Pink, Fern, Marigold (new color!), Ocean, and Memento Black. Other products-Onyx pearls, butterfly trio die, and Copic multiliner pen (for the black dots).