Sunday, October 16, 2011

Rockin' with Roxie!

Or Good Things Come in Small Packages!

Ok-I have to confess
when the new Close to My Heart catalog came out
and I saw the Roxie paper
I thought
"Ewwww!"
I didn't like it. At all.
But
I had an idea for some things
I wanted to make for Holly Days
(a local craft show Theresa and I do every year)
and I thought hmmm...let's give it a shot.
I wanted to do the french fry box
from the Art Philosophy
CTMH cartridge.
Fill that
with hand lotion and who knows what all.
Well,
I have the baby Cricut... and I can do a french fry box
but it's not very big.
It's big enough tho
to hold this:
A small box of mints, a lip balm,
and a nail file in a decorative holder!
The glitz and glam with the Bitty Sparkles
dress it up nicely.
Here's the little Roxie's all in a row...

I need ribbon
to match the other Roxie papers
so those are still in progress.
I am making some with the Sophia papers as well.
I think these will go into a little clear cello bag
and be tied with a bow complete
with a gift tag.
Whatchathink?
A nice little something
for all those someone's
that you need a little something for!
Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,

 

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Labor of Love Part Two: The Card...

Here's the finished card...
(the little "slider" oval is from the
Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge--
I just LOVE it!!!)

I've been pondering what to write in it
and while Blogger was uploading
the coffee finally kicked in and my brain started working
I think I will write a little something
to Baby Oliver...
a little about who he's chosen as his mom
and his family (grandparents/Auntie)
and what they will learn
on their adventure(s) together...
Of course, THE StampQueen herself
taught me early on
that there should, under no uncertain terms,
be any NAKED MAIL...
so the enve got decorated, too...


This paper is just too cute and made the whole project
so much easier...

I am about to call my pastor
for an exorcism or something
of my craft room---
the gremlins are still working overtime in there...
after I had put the last piece into the frame--
the bottom with the dinosaurs
(which had to be cut out from almost the middle of the 12x12 page---)
somehow
I managed to lay it down on top of the OPEN
ink pad...
sigh.
Back to the drawing board...

Before I even started on this card
I pulled out the K&Company
packages of pre-folded cards I splurged on
at WM this past week
to work on a Holly Days project.
At $3 for 15--they were steal!
When I opened them, however,
this is what I found...

11 out of 15 cards
were very poorly folded
we're talking 1/2" to 3/4" an inch off/skewed!
They are horrible!
I couldn't even bring myself to open the second package.
So now...
it's either cut and score my own
or wait until Theresa and I
head back to Wilmington
and buy some others.
I did e-mail K&Co.---so far, no reply
but it was Friday late afternoon.
We'll see if they will be like
Fiskers and Sizzix
who are AWESOME
when it comes to standing behind their product
or like
Martha Stewart and Tim Holtz
who could care less...
stay tuned-I'll let you know!
Well,
Holly Days projects are awaiting
so I better get back to it!
Until next time,
happy stamping and scrapping!


Friday, October 14, 2011

A LABOR of love...


A week before we left for the fair
I received an invitation to a baby shower.
I immediately thought scrapbook
and, in my grandiose ways,
thought 12x12.
I searched the internet and found
adorable paper and embellishments
and ordered them.
I quickly realized, however,
that with everything on my to-do list
(two craft shows to prepare for,
two trips and the daily stuff
that needs to be done
a 12x12 just wasn't going to happen.
Thank God for my "stash"!
In my hoarding I had a
I have done several of these
and they are quick and easy
and make a great display on a shelf.
When you get tired of one side
(if that's possible!),
you can turn it around and
have a completely new view!
It was a win-win situation.
Or so I thought!
The spooks and gremlins
must be hovering around all the halloween stuff I have in there
and am in the process of working on
because I was truly cursed yesterday
trying to work on this project!
2 1/2 hours later...
and I had the cover done!
That was all! Gasp!
The shower is Saturday!
I yelled, I fussed, I cried
I was ready to throw all my scrapbooking stuff in the trash
and never touch it again.
It was that bad.
I didn't, though.
I ate some chocolate and kept going.
I was determined it wasn't going to beat me!
By 9 PM ---I was finished!
The camera and computer are both acting up
but here's what the final product looks like...
Here's the cover...it's a boy-and his name is Oliver...
Theresa very graciously cut out the decorative papers

for the background as my Cricut isn't big enough...
(if Santa is listening, I want NEED the Cricut Expression!)
the the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge (p. 13)
came in super handy
the first two inside pages...
The paper is Baby Saurus from Little Yellow Bicycle
the saying on the left-hand side is
Down in the valley, early in the morning
See the baby dinosaurs all in a row.
It continues with

I had to get creative a wee bit here-the photos covered up most of the saying which appears on the paper on the right hand side of the layout. I simply cut decorative strips and covered the saying
on the paper so it wouldn't show!
I "popped up" (of course!)
the baby dinosaurs peeking at the pictures...


my original idea was to put "buttons" (paper punched & embossed)
on all of the rounded out corners of the pages but
it really looked too cluttered and busy when I laid it out so
I used them sparingly
Here's the back cover...it says
My Little dinosaur baby...
the two inside pages...
"Hi" and "Sweet Boy", "Too Cute" and "loved"
which are followed by the front cover!

Here's the front side of the book opened out...
and the back side of the book...

Being a young, new mom
I am not sure how much time she will have
to finish it
so I think as part of the gift
I will offer to take photos
and/or put them into the book for her.

A few things to mention-tricks of the trade if you will:
1) I realized I needed the foam tape I didn't buy at Wal-Mart yesterday and, not wanting to take an hour out to run back and get it, I (thankfully!) remembered that FUN FOAM works just as well! ; )
Just cut it to size and put adhesive on both sides-instant pop dots in a pinch!

2) How I ever functioned without my SCOTCH ATG I will never know! One thing I never ever question buying is "more ammo" (tape!) for it.  As my stepson Tommy says, "You can never have enough ammo!" (former Marine)! Again, mine is SCOTCH-it is easy-peasy to load, never gums up and the refills are reasonably priced even before an ACM or Michaels coupon! I took the label off and decorated it with some bling and put my name on it as well!

3) In my thrifty "use my stash and shop my craft room" mode, I didn't buy ribbon for the buttons-I simply went to my stash of embroidery floss and found the matching color. I store it however on little cardboard --thingys--and the floss has become "kinked" over the years. Enter my FLAT IRON! It works on my hair--why not floss?!  I just ran to the bathroom, grabbed it and plugged it in the craft room. Ran the floss through it once or twice and no more kinks! Not tried it on ribbon---not sure if it would melt it or not...may--and may not--try it, that is!

Now...
If I am brave enough
I need to venture back in there
and clean up
and make a card to go with the book!
Hubby asked what I had to do today and I have a list longer than my arm!
I am feeling completely overwhelmed but,
I will do it the FLYLADY WAY
15 minutes at a time!
Thanks for peeking--
and, until next time,
Happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,
Supplies used:
Papers: Close to My Heart Sweet Leaf & White Daisy; DP papers & embellishments by Little Yellow Bicycle (Baby Saurus)
Button Punch by Marvy Uchida


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

It was a dark and stormy night...

Ok-so I tried all kinds of camera settings-
and, sadly, this is the best I could do for the "spooky" effect
of my stamping efforts!
It is really cute lit at night-trust me!
Before I go any further, here's a well-lit version...

This is how I spent one afternoon on our recent trip.
I used the Close to My Heart
Around the Block stamp set along with the new Wicked
stamp set and one other whose name I cannot recall right now
to create this Creepy Lane/haunted house scene...
I *think* the bats are Inkadinkadoo and I am not sure
who the street light, street sign and gate is by-
but when I saw it at Joann's a week or so ago
I grabbed it and RAN to the checkout! lol!
The street sign says "Creepy Lane"!
And yes, Theresa was impressed that I even cut out
the street light and "lit" it up (she hates hand-cutting!)

This idea, in all fairness, did not originate with me.
I found it last year on Tresa Black's blog
and knew I wanted to try it...fast forward a year...
sigh!
Theresa goes all out with holiday decorations
and I wanted to make it for her-so I did.
This is supposed to be a card but--I just didn't do that part of it!
I used battery operated candles --yes, two-
as one just didn't light up the upper story too well
and then I had to rig this spider-looking thing
to hold the second candle
quite a contraption!
You do NOT want to use real candles here-believe me!
Paper + fire = disaster!
I "tweaked" Tresa's idea by adding an inside layer
to cover the plastic layered windows-
it just gave it a much cleaner look to the inside.
And I decided that the crooked windows gave
it a spookier feel
than stamping them straight...
The vellum at Michael's was all torn or wrinkled
so I resorted to plastic bag colored with Sharpie marker
and then stamped the windows with Staz On.
Of course it wouldn't be complete without
a CUTE BLACK CAT
and lol-I just noticed that I put the OWL
right next to the cat-how cool is that?!
Did not plan that one!
Anyway-it saved my sanity
on our trip to get some (serious!) stamping time in
and Theresa liked it
so it was worth the year-long wait!
Until next time,
happy haunting-er, I mean
stamping and scrapping! ; )
Blessings,


Monday, October 10, 2011

Back in Kansas...

Well, actually, not Kansas...but NC
after a roundabout trip
to get to the VA State Fair.
We had BEAUTIFUL weather
and a hotel with a hot tub!
What a great combination!
Here's a few photos
Momma cow and calf born at the fair...

All American Cowgirls trick riding was a favorite!

A sheep costume contest...

a lot of little "Wilbur's" (and possibly Wiburette's?!)

Quilts...

Cakes...

Hubby had his turkey leg and corn dog
I had a blooming onion
we guessed the weight on the large pumpkins
heard some great music
and had a loooong ride back home!
Stay tuned
for some halloween hauntings...
I snuck in one afternoon of scrapbooking
while we were on the road...
Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!

 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Warning...

Lol!
I *had* the broom sign for several years now
and recently found the "warning" sign at Michael's
I just waited until they put it on sale
to bring it home.
I *knew* hubby would appreciate it!
And attitude?
Boy howdy-
do I have one today!
SOMEONE
is adding links to my blog posts--
no clue who-no clue how-
BUT I DON'T LIKE IT
and when I find out who and how...
it's going to hit the fan!
Thankfully,
thus far, it's not been anything objectionable
but I don't want to advertise for people companies and things
I have absolutely no experience with!
How they have access is beyond me!
Working on it tho...
I welcome any advice and suggestions!

Then...
when I got to work today...
our internet was down.
Phone call to phone company-
bottom line-
they need to send a new box-
won't be here until late Tues. afternoon...
Then I try printing from my computer to our copier...
literally no go.
It keeps telling me to load paper in the bypass--
won't work at all.
Called Xerox.
He can be there as "early as" Tues. AM at 9:30
or as late as Wed AM at 9:30
Did I mention I am leaving
on vacation
before daybreak on Wed.?
I need to have two bulletins DONE
before I go?!
GASP!
I was proud of myself-
I was NICE to everyone
I did not melt down
I did not yell
I did not use wordy-durds (dirty words)
I simply took a deep breath
and did what I could.
We did discover after the fact
it's just my computer not talking to the copier-
so I can print afterall-thank God for flash drives!
That was a HUGE relief!
Now I am working on my to-do list
since I was wide awake at 3:30 AM!
In less than 24 hours we will be headed
to the VA State Fair.
One of our annual fall trips.
I can't wait!
Pumpkins, pigs, cows, goats,
crafts, music, rodeos,
BLOOMING ONION
(I AM eating one-whether the non-existent gall bladder likes it or not!)
and hubby will have a turkey leg
and corn dog slathered in mustard!
Can't say I am looking forward to the 7 hr. car ride...
and no internet access while we are gone
but it will be fun!
So---until my return-
happy stamping and scrapping!
I am taking a few things to work on while we are gone
as there will be a couple of "down days" where hubby will be busy
with other things--and I can create!
So--stay tuned!
Blessings