Okienurse's Paper and Ink Therapy

WOYWW #141

2012-02-15T00:46:00.005-06:00

Wednesday again! Oh my! I look forward to WOYWW but wish we could slow time down just a little bit! I have been busy in my room but I am going to stop a while and pick up and put away it is so messy and crowded up right now! I looked around and realized even the cats were having issues as to where they could lay their poor tired heads today! WOYWW is a group of people from around the world that share a little bit of their world every Wednesday. Visit Julia's blog Stamping Ground and check it out!

This is my messy desk today. I am currently sorting stamps and putting them back on the right rings and in the right boxes. IF I had done that all along I would be showing you the mess of paints I have to find some way to store for easier access. They are scattered on the floor at my feet and I almost squished one open earlier tonight so... I have bottles and bottles in a rack but recently had to purchase a higher quality/pigmented paint for a class I am taking online. Any suggestions on how to store 4-8oz tubes rather then the 2 oz bottles in my old paint rack?

I just finished this 6"x6" Winter Themed wall hanging for a swap on OWSE and will be mailing it off tomorrow to its rightful owner. I enjoy swapping and exchanging tags, bags, cards, ATC's etc cause I always learn something with every swap I get involved in.

Okay that's it for me today because I want to get out and look around the other blogs and see what I can snoop into. I didn't make it to half the bloggers last week but hopefully I will get to more this week. It has grown to so many participants(AwEsOmE!!) that it is almost impossible to see everyone in a day or two and my dear rear gets tired just sitting on the computer!

Don't forget the blog candy I have out there for grabs! Once again every comment on every post counts as a chance in the drawing and it is open to only followers so please make sure you are a follower so your comment will count towards the drawing. This is really fun so far for me and I am enjoying reading everyones posts each week. I am up to 3 gifts so far and everyone is eligible cause I will ship overseas too!

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T04:01:00.009-06:00

Thought that I would share the finished Valentines box/bucket that I made for a Valentines party last Saturday. I had a lot of fun going to Leslies and cropping with a bunch of old friends and a few new ones. I worked on a chipboard book to give my sister for her birthday next month(its okay to talk about it cause I don't think she even knows I have a blog...shes not a computer type) and just visited and had a good time.

Here is an upclose picture of the finished bucket that I made. I think it turned out really nice and fit the occasion well. I bought a metal bucket that had a clear plastic top at Hobby Lobby and inked it with red pepper alcohol ink and used last years Martha Stewart Valentines paper pad for the flowers and the cutouts on the side. The heart borders were part of a couple of years ago Valentines papers.

I used the tattered florals and tattered leaves Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies to cut out the flowers and then used a crimper and a stylus to get them to go into the shapes that I wanted them to go. I used big brads for the centers.

The rectangles (looked like rectangular stamps)and circles (1" Stampin UP circle punch)are cut out of a couple different sheets of the Martha Stewart papers and Mod Podged them to the sides of the bucket. The decorative edge strip had an adhesive on it but I also used the Mod Podge to make sure it stayed where I put it. I used different widths and types of ribbon on the bucket bail to finish of the project.

Here is a picture of me with my bucket at the Valentines Party. I had fun making it and the Valentines I shared!
UPDATE: I decided to enter this into Sarah's Mojo Monday Challenge which luckily was about hearts and heart strings. Go check out her blog it is awesome!
I hope everyone has a great day and a fun time with the Valentine in their life!

WOYWW #140 and a blog candy reminder

2012-02-08T00:17:00.006-06:00

Happy Wednesday!!! Welcome to WOYWW #140! Let me say that this week went faster then the weeks in the past and I haven't idea why it feels like it has flown. I managed to make it around to all the desks last week by Friday night and I have enjoyed reading all the comments made on my blog posts! WOYWW had a lot of new faces last week and it was fun to visit with old and new friends. Are you wondering what all this talk about "visiting" is all about? The you need to check out Stamping Ground the home of Julia...Queen of Blog Hopping!

Okay my desk this week...is a colorful mess. I am using Mod Podge on both projects and thought I would just do them together to keep the glue mess at a minimum. I promise I try to keep the glue in the bottle or on the project but I woke up this morning with a blob stuck in my hair and had to soak it out!

The bucket is my Valentine 'box' for the party next Sunday. I posted the see my Valentines I made a couple weeks ago on WOYWW #138 but if you missed them our would like to see them again...they are so awesome... you can click on the link and it will take you there.

The second project is my Inspiration Jar that I am making. I am using the Stained Glass technique and Mod Podging tissue paper cut out with the Tattered Florals die to a tall glass jar with a lid. I am going to print up a bunch of positive and inspirational bits of paper and stuff the jar with them so that I can pull one out when I am in need of a little bit of inspiration! I borrowed this idea from blog that made a stained glass candle holder that was absolutely gorgeous when lit. The tore the tissue in to various bits but I like the floral die cut idea! I may try it out as a candle holder too!
After I get them finished I will upload a picture so you can see them finished.

Wanted to remind everyone about the blog candy again this week and to say thank you for such an awesome response. I have had such a favorable response that I have decided to increase the number of possible winners of prizes. I think I will have one Grand Prize and a couple lessor prizes that I will be giving away. Once again it is open to only followers so please make sure you are a follower so your comment will count towards the drawing. If you comment on every blog post I make you will get an additional ticket thrown in the hat for every comment. It is going to be a fun! Everyone is eligible cause I will ship overseas too!

Okay I am done for today. I have a cup of hot tea...herbal cause it is 12:46 am here and I will be going to bed soon after reading a few early posts. Have a great week.

Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue Chunky ATC

2012-02-04T00:18:00.002-06:00

When I made the chunky ATC for the class at WLS this month I couldn't find reference anywhere as to what the official size was for a chunky atc so I made it small and it pretty much is 3"x2"x4" where a regular cardstock ATC is 2 1/2"x 3 1/2". Close cause I was using a 2"x4" to make it with. The first chunky ATC I made was 6"x2"x4" and I really liked that size better but I didn't want to overwhelm the people attending the class so I cut down the size a bit. This chunky ATC is made with the Graphic 45 papers from the Tropical Travelogue group that I have used before. See the post for the Tim Holtz Vintage Valise minibook I made last month.

The wood block was first painted with a turquoise blue color and then I used papers from Graphic 45 to cover each side of the block and embellishing when I it all covered. Here on the first side I covered the block with a piece from the Paradise Postage page and then cut out the Island Jewel face from the Tropical Travelogue page and glued it to a piece of cardstock and then again cut around the relief and finished by popping it up on dimensional foam dots to give it some 3D aspect! Her hair adornment is a pop cap that I cut a 1" circle out of the Garden Isle paper and glued in the crimped cap. I glittered the flower with Stickles and let dry then I filled the cavity in with Glossy Accents and let it dry. The banner at the bottom is cut out of Very Vanilla card stock using the Tim Holtz decorative strip tattered banner die. I then too the words off the page where I cut the girl out.

Side 2: This narrow side is covered with a strip of Island Jewel paper and then a single piece of flourishing cut from brown cardstock using the Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Mini flourish die then individual stamps from the Paradise Postage sheet were popped up on the side.

Side 3: This wide side was covered in the small leaf pattern of the Rainforest paper and then I cut out the picture of the girl and the journal page from the Seaside Holiday Paper. I glued the girl directly on some card stock to mat it then to the Rainforest paper. The journal sheet I cut the wording on the top off and matted it to cardstock and popped it up over the other piece that I had glued to the block. Embellishment is writing ports of call on the paper and then gluing a pen nib from Ideology to the page! I also made a bottle cap embellishment like on side 1 to adorn this side also.

Side 4: This side is covered with a strip of Garden Isle and then pieces were cut from the Exotic Destinations page and positioned on this side. I embellished it with a flourish like above and a Paradise Postage Stamp. I used a sprocket and spinner from the Tim Holtz Ideology line to act as a compass on this side. The little note in a bottle is hanging from the drawer pull on the top of the block. I drilled a hole in the top for the drawer pull and tied some died seam binding and eyelash yarn to the knob for emphasis. I glued 'feet' made of wooden bits to the bottom of the block to dress it up. The ball chain and muse token are part of the Tim Holtz line and the ship and key were just something I had lying around in my stash!

I really enjoyed making this ATC and I can guarantee I will be making another one sometime in the near future. Hope you like it! Don't forget to comment and become a follower for a chance at winning the blog candy this month. I will take comments from all posts and toss them in a hat at the end of the month and if you are a follower you might just win!

WOYWW#139 and Blog Candy Giveaway

2012-02-01T01:21:00.015-06:00

UPDATE: I must of been half asleep when I posted this last night! I repeated the paragraph below in its draft form and got rid of the opening paragraph. Oh well old and tired minds are not reliable! I have corrected this now and won't worry about it any longer...What was the original opening paragraph? Haven't a clue!

I just went over 100 followers on the Okienurse blog so I have decided to offer some blog candy up to all my followers! To be part of the drawing you have to be a follower and leave comments. I will put everyone's name who leaves a blog comment each week in a hat and draw. So if you comment every week you will have 4 chances to win in the drawing. I don't like jumping through hoops so I am not going to make you do so either! If you aren't a follower and want to be please join us but don't do so just so you can get the candy! OH! What is the candy?...not for sure yet. Might be a product of some sort or might be something I have made...might be both. I will be posting that soon. Drawing ends on February 28 and I will announce a winner on February 29. How cool is that...leap year! I will ship overseas so everyone can have a chance to win! Good luck!

Hmmm....lets see! What's on my workdesk today? As you can see it is a mess! I have had a very busy weekend. I made a couple chunky ATC's and a tag for a challenge on the creativeblock-stampersanonymous a Yahoo group. I think I am going to use that tag and these two for a class next week at Whole Lotta Scrap.

I decided to get a little girly and made this tag using the Sewing Room dies and the Stampers Anonymous stamp set Haberdashery. I thought it looked a little girly anyway!

I didn't stamp a sentiment on this tag because it could be used for male or female, birthday or any other occasion. I will take a box of sentiments and let everyone choose what they would like to use. I need to get a light box and learn how to photoshop pictures because this tag is black and white but you wouldn't know it from this photo!!!

This is the tag from two posts ago that I am planning on using in the class. It has stamps from 3 different stamp sets and lots of fun things! I really think it turned out well.

Anyway these are the 3 tags for the next class on February 9! Come join in the fun!

If you are interested in visiting desks all over the world to see what is on them then go over to Julia's blog and learn about how you two can snoop around desks legally!

Chunky ATC for Class at Whole Lotta Scrap

2012-01-31T03:04:00.023-06:00

I thought I would share a second post for today and show off a chunky ATC I made for a class at Whole Lotta Scrap here in Norman, OK. I keep trying to find something to tickle the interest of the folks I teach but it seems that the only thing they are really interested in are tags.

This chunky ATC is made with a piece of 2"x4" lumber that was left over from a project here in the house. I had my son-in-law cut the lumber into 6" and 3 3/4" pieces so I could make different sizes. I haven't found a standardized sizing on chunky ATC's but every one seems to be using these cut lengths. The whole idea of the class is to show off what you can do using a piece of wood, a little paint, paper from a Tim Holtz paper pad, and the Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers dies.

I am going to do a 180 around the block calling this the face of the block. On this side I used the Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers dies mini flourish, mini flowers, and leaves from the Mini twig and leaf set.

Side two has a butterfly made with the mini butterfly mover and shapers set.

Side three is made using the Mini bird cage and bird set!

Side four is the mini lock and key set.

I used Delta Ceramcoat paint to paint the wood block then picked papers out of the Tim Holtz Paper stash Vintage Shabby. Dies as listed above, Distress ink Vintage Photo, Broken Glass. The seam binding was colored with broken glass reinker and tied with Lion Brand Eyelash Fibers. Crochet Ribbon, jewelry findings, bling and Dew Drops etc from my stash. I have long ago taken these items out of original packaging and I can't remember the manufacturer!

Finished tag

2012-01-31T01:49:00.006-06:00

I thought that I ought to post a picture of the finished tag from last weeks WOYWW post. I made this tag for a swap on creativeblock-stampersanonymous · Stampers Anonymous a Yahoo group and had a lot of fun making it. I think I will use it for one of my tags in my monthly tag class at Whole Lotta Scrap in Norman, OK. WLS also has a Facebook page you can {Like} to keep up to date and what's up in the store.

Anyway back to the tag...

The tag challenge was to use your favorite Stampers Anon stamps...Now that is like asking me to choose my favorite child...I just can't do it. I used a manila tag and the stamp sets Urban Tapestry, Urban Chic, and Shabby French to stamp this tag. I love the blues in the Distress ink pad so I stamped the tag iwth the creative stamp from UT in Vintage Photo then distressed with Broken China, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans. The branch, butterfly, and rosette are TH dies. I used Silver Stickles and White Opal Liquid Pearls to make the flourish. The flowers, seam binding, and crocheted lace is from my stash. The floral 'buds' were made by cutting up a couple flowers and gluing them down the way I wanted them. I added Shabby Shutters stickles to the base.

Hope you like the tag!

WOYWW #138

2012-01-24T23:26:00.011-06:00

I know I say this every week but...Where has this week gone! I haven't been especially busy but it has flown past none the less. I am joining WOYWW #138 at Julia's blog...Stamping Ground. What is WOYWW? All I can say is it is a lot of fun and you get to meet a lot of fun people who invite you into their homes to snoop around on their desks.This is what my desk looks like tonight. I am working on some tags for a swap at creativeblock-stampersanonymous a Yahoo group. If you like making tags and using neat stamps you might be interested in joining the group and checking out the on going tag swap. As you can see I have my stamps and inks out and I am trying to decide where to go from here. I have an idea to put a flower/rosette/rose/or bird on the tag...hmmmm...might put all of them on there!

I just finished my Valentines for a swap at my local scrapbook store next month. Aren't they cute! They took almost as much time as making a big tag though! I have to finish a box to receive the Valentines that others are making for me. Any ideas? I thought that I might alter a photo box that has a lid so that I can use it after the Valentines Day party.

Okay I am finishing this off and heading over to Julia's and WOYWW to make the rounds of a few of the other blogs before I head to bed (it is only 12:20am here!) Hope you have a great Wednesday. I have to go grocery shopping, to my local scrapbook store and run several other errands also! Ugh! Busy day.

Life Book 2012

2012-01-22T05:36:00.005-06:00

I promised to share the finished journal page that I was making for my online art journaling class called Life Book 2012! The class is a little more then just an art class it is a class to celebrate me and who I am and my journey in life through my artistic endeavors. There is so much more then just making an art journal and an art class and I love the positive aspects that Tam and the others have built into the course. I feel it is an art therapy course helping me get in touch with who I am through art. A healing course. If you would like to join the class or just check out what I am talking about go to Life Book 2012 and see what it has to offer! It is a year long course so it isn't too late to join!

This class I learned how to sketch a 3/4 face and paint and highlight it. The words are meant to represent the positive qualities I possess. Tam said that we are all goddesses and these are our superpowers. Hope you like my page. I do!

WOYWW #137

2012-01-17T05:55:00.011-06:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! Hope that your week went well and you got everything accomplished that you wanted to get done! I didn't cause the week went way too fast but...there is always another day to get it done! I didn't make it around to all the blogs last week and I apologize for that but life beckoned and I answered the call!

I have been busy at my desk and as you can see from the picture it is something a little different for me. I have never been able to draw a straight line and was asked opt out of art when I tried to take it in school. I have stewed on this for almost two weeks and tonight took the plunge and started working on the January project for my Life Book 2012 course I am taking on line. This is the first-ever face that I have drawn! I still can't draw a straight line but was feeling good about this as I had just finished putting a coat of gesso on it and got the camera to take a picture. I think from the photo she looked a little more cross-eyed so I went in and redid the right eye and I like it better now. The color of the eyes look a different color now but.. I hope it is just the effects of the paper being wet and the angle I took the picture!
I feel pretty good about it all things told. What do you think?

If you aren't a WOYWW and you are wondering what I am talking about go visit Stamping Ground, and Julia will tell you all about it. I am off to find a cup of tea and visit other the other blogs/desks from around the world.

My Vintage Valentine Wall Hanging!

2012-01-17T05:26:00.003-06:00

Sorry about the quality of this photograph but it didn't seem to matter if I took it outside or inside I just couldn't get the thing to focus well because of its size! I am calling this my Vintage Valentine Wall Hanging for obvious reasons. The top picture is of my husband Chuck, wasn't my DH then!, just after we met back in 1974 and we went for a ride on his motorcycle...very James Deanian if you ask me. The second picture is of my sweetie taken recently. We have been married 37 years this next April 5th and I couldn't think of anything that says love, happiness, or caring for Valentines then this.

The panels are 6"x 6" black mat board covered with papers from FancyPants 'Love' line for this Valentines day. I used Tim Holtz edge die cuts top and bottom covered with Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint to give it a 'ruffled' look. I also used the cupid and heart movers and shapers dies, the lettering is all from a strip die. The photo mats are all dies from Stampin' Up! as is the banner punch. The white, blue, red card stock are from Stampin' Up!. If you are curious as to specific product used you can email me for details. I think I will teach this in a class on the 31 January at Whole Lotta Scrap if you would like to make one! I also just read the weekly challenge at Simon Says Stamp and I am going to enter this into this weeks challenge contest. Click on the link and check it out you might want to enter it too!

WOYWW #136 and Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge and Studio L3 Grungy Monday Entries

2012-01-11T00:59:00.012-06:00

Busy, busy week around here. I still don't have the Christmas decorations down but that's okay all things told cause I didn't get them up till after the middle of last month anyway!

My craft room seem to keep deteriorating and getting worse each day! Here is a broader view and you will see what I mean! Look at the leaning tower of totes and crates in front of the paper rack, the stuff piling up on the chair, cutting cart, and floor!! The desk is actually pretty organized considering I managed to get tags made and a mini book done using the vintage valise die and Graphic 45 papers this week.

I received a package from Neil this week of laser cuts, card kits, and glitter that I plan to put to good use soon! Thank you Neil!

The tags I made are for Valentines day and I used some of the Tim Holtz Christmas tag techniques to make them.

The first is the acetate and alcohol ink tag technique done on day 5 of the 12 Tags of Christmas using the Love Struck Stamp set. It is simple but I think it came out rather cute! Since joining WOYWW and with the support of my daughter and husband I have been broadening my horizons and I even made the hangy down baubles on the top of the tag!! I am proud of myself cause I was never an artistic type so this is a milestone for me! I think I will enter this in the Studio L3 Grungy Monday 12 Tags of Christmas review! Simon Says Stamp is offering a $25 gift certificate to the winner of this weeks challenge! I am also entering this into the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog challenge this week for Red Letter day! Simon Says Stamp is giving a $50 gift certificate for the winner of this challenge!

Tag 2 is also a take off from tag 5 where I used clear packing tape to pick up the image of the cupids and hearts and backed it with silver foil but didn't use a fragment or facet because I wanted to keep it larger size and mounted it on cardstock. Is there a term for that technique? I dyed the seam binding with the barn door reinker and used a mini-mister to spray the reinker mixed with water on the flower. Topped that with Smooch spray! Sparkly!

Tag 3 is a simple grunge tag I distressed with Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, and stamped in Barn Door using the Love Struck Stamp set again. I used the muse token and the burlap embellishment from tag 2. I love the roll on embellies from Michael's and put two rows on the bottom of this tag!

I think I will end this before it gets any longer and I hope everyone gets a chance to stop by WOYWW at Julia's blog, Stamping Ground to check out the desks of the other WOYWW'ers. Join in cause it is a lot of fun visiting desks around the world and snooping to see what others have on them! Have a great week!

Tim Holtz Vintage Valise Mini-book

2012-01-10T04:11:00.005-06:00

A few months ago I bought the Tim Holtz Vintage Valise die and had all sorts of ideas of what I wanted to to with it but just couldn't seem to get around to making it up till now...Anyone else out there have this problem of buying a product then not using it for awhile? In my case I see something I want to make and buy the stuff to make it and it ends up sitting for sometimes a good long time. In this case I have cut several of the valise out for people who have asked me to do so but I didn't have the Mojo it takes to think up an idea to go to work on. Well that's now history I am glad to say and here is a picture of the outside of the finished product! I will be teaching a class the end of this month at Whole Lotta Scrap and you can sign up with Leslie to see the inside!+|;-) I promise I will show the inside after get it photographed! It had to be turned in so they could write up the info for the class and I just didn't 'get it done!'

Materials:
Core'dinations Distress Cardstock
Graphic 45 Topical Travelogue papers
Tropical Travelogue Chipboard 1
Tim Holtz Dies, Vintage Valise, Tattered Leaves, Tattered Pine Cone, Movers and shapers mini-flourish
Ideology Ring Binder
Ek Success Fern Punch
Distress ink pads and ink refills
Distress Stickles and Liquid Pearls
Flowers dyed with ink from ink refills
Buttons
Raffia

WOYWW #135

2012-01-04T19:33:00.008-06:00

Welcome to WOYWW #135 and my messy desk!!! OMG! I feel like such a pig but...that is my life. I can't seem to find anything anymore if I don't keep it out in front of me. I will eventually get tired of the mess and get it cleaned up but for now it is my life. To see other peoples messy desks (or neat desks) all of them very creative visit Julia Dunnits Stamping Ground blog! Join us it is fun but I have to put a disclaimer here and let you know it is very addictive.
I have a couple pictures of my desk to share today. The first one is what it looked like when I went into take a picture of it last night. It was definitely messy but I really got into 'straightening' it up and taking goodies out of bags and this second picture shows where I left it in the wee hours of the morning forgetting to post or anything else. Oh to have the memory I once had...sob...
It actually looks a lot worse but I cropped it out to show off all the stash there! Love new goodies! You know I really do use all this stash but here lately I haven't been remembering to take pictures and I have given away stuff that I will never get pics of now!

I posted this on my FaceBook page yesterday and today I am still as excited to be able to do this course with the other awesome women and Tam Laporte!! Yay!! If you are interested in growing and learning about yourself Life Book 2012 is worth consideration. It is 365 days of fun!
{{{Squeeelll!!!}}} I am so excited I just joined a special course online!!! I have been a member of Willowing and Artist Friends for a while now and when they announced they were going to have a special course called Life Book 2012 I didn't think I would be able to afford it but...I am going to take the course!!!! {{{insert happy dance here}}} The course is a celebration of me and life. I will be learning techniques to help me make an art journal and understand my life through art. Keep alert as I will post stuff here from time to time!!

Okay I have to get off here and get busy...too much to do right now but tomorrow morning I plan on getting up and getting around to some of the blogs I like visiting on WOYWW! Hope everyone is doing great and surviving the holidays. I guess Friday is Epiphany and things will truly wind to a close. Take care! {{{hugs}}}

Stamp Man Challenge

2012-01-03T04:17:00.006-06:00

I ran across a new to me blog tonight while I was surfing around the web! It is called The Stamp Man Challenge Blog and they host a challenge every two weeks. Looks interesting and I thought that I would start today! The challenge this time is to show off your favorite piece of work from 2011...Oh my I am having problems there cause I have several things I have done that I love and a lot more then I want to admit that I haven't photographed before giving them away!

I think what I am going to share is the button house that I recycled. I was given this old house with drawers but it wasn't such a prize at the time. Here is a picture of what I was given...
Pink and cutesy isn't my style so I took it in the craft room thinking I would hide it in the closet but I ran into a paper stack from Tim Holtz and knew right away what I wanted to do!!

Here is a picture of the finished house! Interesting change huh! If you would like to see some other views of the house go to my original post last June. The drawers hold buttons or other smallish findings and it is just a fun thing!

Check out The Stamp Man Challenge Blog and see what others are up to and enter the challenge!

WOYWW #134

2011-12-28T00:01:00.006-06:00

WOW it has been a busy week this past week. I can truthfully say I am glad that Christmas is over and all I have to do now is enjoy the decorations until I am tired of them and want to take them down. I usually leave them up until after the second weekend in January so I have time!

I very blessed this week because I have been very lucky this week with winning things. I won a package from Ranger Ink because I made a comment on some ornaments they were sharing with us. I don't know when it will come but I am excited cause it contains reinkers, stamp pad felt, etc. Here is a pic from their blog! and I won a pack of Whitewash cardstock from Core'dinations because of a comment and last but not least I left a comment on Neils blog a few weeks ago and my name was drawn as a secondary winner...Yay!! I am clueless as to what the prize is but it doesn't matter I am a happy camper! I love leaving comments and try to visit each of the blogs on WOYWW each week and comment, some would argue I am long winded which I can be but how will people/businesses know how you feel if you don't leave a comment?

Okay back to my desk and you won't believe what a mess it is! I haven't been in there in two days and it seems to have grown and propagated to the point it will takes me a couple hours to get it straightened around. What a mess!!! I am almost ashamed to show you the picture...
On the lower right corner of my desk are some bead boxes that I used to make baubles for my tags. My new punches my daughter got me for Christmas are there too. On the left side is a prize I won from OWSE for submitting a minibook for a challenge. I love surprizes and that was a roll of terrifically tacky tape, a package of flowers, and a paper pack! Like I said it will take a good hour to get that desk cleared off!!

Wonder what all this talk regarding desks and WOYWW is all about? You need to go to Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, and check out WOYWW and come play with us. It is a lot of fun visiting other peoples workspaces around the world without ever leaving home!

I am scheduling this so I hope it works because I have never scheduled a post before. Anyway...Hope everyone has a good week and Happy New Years!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T04:51:00.004-06:00

It is Christmas eve and the house it quiet the fur babies and Poppa all tucked up snug in their beds. The stocking are filled and the presents all wrapped, pies are baked and Christmas is here at last! I want to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday and the most prosperous of New Years! We are planning on spending a quiet day with Heather and Michael and enjoying a delicious Christmas dinner later today.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule!, Solstice, or Snowman Day as we are celebrating here this year! Enjoy your time with loved ones and friends both near and far!

Sentimental Sundays Blog Party!

2011-12-23T15:57:00.002-06:00

Sentimental Sundays is having NEW YEAR's PARTY done blog hop style!!!! They will be giving away gifts and sharing lots of ideas and fun. Want to get in on the fun just click on the link and go to their blog and Check it out!

WOYWW #133

2011-12-21T02:28:00.003-06:00

Happy Holidays to everyone! I was going to go take a picture of my desk but decided against it today because I have a project on it that I am making as a Christmas gift and since all my kids and family read the blog I don't want to give up the surprise. This year my daughter and I decided that a homemade gift giving was the way to go and unfortunately I procrastinated a little longer then I should have. Anyway in lieu of a desk I will show you some of the other stuff I have been up to this week! If you are new to my blog then you are probably asking yourself what the hell I am talking about. Take at look at Julia's blog Stamping Ground and she will explain it all!

First picture I want to share is a picture of my new Christmas tree this year. I have been decorating a 7-1/2 foot tree for years but this year with health issues etc. I decided to downgrade a bit to a 5 foot tree and fewer ornaments. I have about 400 lights on the tree and I have no idea how many ornaments. All of them (except for a few) are snowmen except for the plain jane red, green, and gold balls!
Don't you just love Snowmen? I have a few in various sizes so I set a few of the stuffed ones about under the tree too! I was asked by my husband to stand by the tree and since he was so nice to take the pictures for me I couldn't refuse!

Not to be outdone the tree topper is also a snowman we have had for umpteen million years. See the pictures of the children toward the lower left of the tree? Those are my no longer babies Heather (32 years old) and Chad (35). I love hanging those each year...memories. Remember that old Barbara Striesand song from the 1970's, The Way We Were?
Memories
Light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were

I just love that song... I guess if you are going to become a blathering sentimental fool this is the time of year to do it!

Not to be forgotten I carried my Snowman theme to outside the house this year too! Here is a full front picture. My daughter came over and climbed the ladder to put the icicle lights on the guttering around the front step and the first tree. I didn't string lights all across the front cause I have a new roof and we didn't want to climb anyway!

I also have been busy baking and making yummy goodies. I have made fruit cakes, fudge, cookies etc. Here is a picture of the chocolate chip cookies I made a couple days ago. One has mint chocolate chips in them and the other has mini M+M's.

One last picture then I am going to find a cup of tea and surf around the web for an hour or so before I go to bed. It is only 2:20am here so I still have plenty of time for a quick look around!

This picture is of my granddaughter Teresa aka big sistah! and Hannah. Aren't they darlings. Teresa gets to go meet the jolly old troublemaker himself today. Can't wait to see those pictures.
Okay as I promised. I am off for a look see! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

WOYWW #132

2011-12-14T00:33:00.012-06:00

I just got home from going to Weight Watchers and WalMart...what a nightmare! Not the Weight Watcher I really enjoyed that meeting...I got rid of another 3# making a grand total of 15.6# for me. I joined WW with my sister about 2 months ago cause she asked me to and even if I am not losing weight like she is it is still coming off! After the meeting we went out to eat at a local eatery and then home. Walmart is an entirely different story! OMG!

This is what my desk looks like right now! The post lady came today bearing gifts from a far! I have a box from Oh My Crafts, a big envelope from a Splitcoast Stampers swap group (card tops), and a smaller box from an All Things Tim swap group. Oh my goodness such pretty cards and tags in those boxes but since they aren't my works I am hesitant to share them without asking permission of everyone that made them. I will share what is in the two other boxes though! If you would like to see tags etc I made this week check my previous posts.

The big narrow box is from Tuire here on WOYWW! Tuire made my daughter and I PIF gifts and sent them to us this month. I am ashamed to say that I still haven't finished mine yet but I still have a month to go so don't give up hope if I owe you one.
There were two books in the box but I gave the second one to my daughter and she took it home before I got a picture of it. Isn't this a gorgeous book? It has pages or journaling, keeping records etc., pages with vintage photos, and stamps etc. I love it Tuire thank you! See the cat with the beautiful eyes and butterfly that is in the picture above sitting perched on a stamp pad? Tuire made that for another swap and I got lucky that time too! I keep it sitting on my desk cause it makes me feel calm!

The big box is some stash from Oh My Crafts! It is one of my favorite online stores for buying products you need and can't live without.
Everything in this box I need...my life is dependent on it!! That's my story anyway and I am sticking to it! I actually do need the inks (I got alcohol inks and 15 reinkers for the pads), the Noel die, the cut and dry ink pad felt and more tools etc. Can't do ink and paper crafts without it. I also won a couple of their 12 days of Christmas prizes this week on days 11(Bazzill cardstock) and 12(Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Frame 8 Dies!) Yahoo! More stuff will be coming! I enjoyed the 12 days of Christmas contest cause each day that number of persons were chosen to win a prize ie 11 on the 11th day.

Anyway that is what is on my desk tonight. Check out Julia's blog, Stamping Ground for the reason for this post!! I am going to go make the round and see what everyone else is doing these last two weeks before Christmas. I should probably get busy getting cards out and last minute makes done but...they will wait!

12 Tags of Christmas Tag 4

2011-12-12T17:48:00.007-06:00

YAY!! Tag 4 is finished! This was a lot of fun to make and I learned a lot of new techniques I can use in my tag/card making journeys! I made a tag a few weeks back that is similar to this tag, of a snowman using same dies and colors but I added a touch of red. I like them both! For some reason unbeknownst to me my glossy accents picked up a brownish tint to the 25 which isn't bad but...you can hardly see the music behind the gloss.

Here is the tag that Tim Holtz made:

I love snowmen so this is one of my favorite tags! I am still working on the rest of the 12 Tags of Christmas and Tim Holtz posted the tag 12 last night...I am sad but at least I still have the others to make...then I might start on last years!

UPDATE: When I posted Tim Holtz tag I noticed I hadn't gussied up my hat so I went back and did it...here is an upclose of the hat! The feather is compliments of my grandbird Nyasa...

More tomorrow!

12 Tags of Christmas Tags 2 and 3

2011-12-11T15:57:00.006-06:00

I have completed another couple tags for the 12 Tags of Christmas I have been following on the Tim Holtz blog. Each year he does such awesome tags and every year I say I am going to make all 12 of the tags but never get started. I am started now and having a blast doing them! I think I am on a roll here! I am hoping to get a few more tags turned out today so that I will be all caught up by the 15 December and I can focus just on Christmas gifts! My daughter and I decided that if you are giving a gift this year it has to be homemade and I have very little completed! Oh well, it is the thought that counts!

Day 2 tag was a lot of fun to work on but I wanted to pull my hair out cause I had trouble finding canvas much less self stick canvas anywhere in my town. I had a piece of canvas card stock so I used that to cut my out deer. My tag was changed up a little more today and I added the stars to the base of the card rather then the brads because I don't own the distress mallet and I liked the stars better! I don't have The lighting is pretty dark tonight (DUH! night time!!) so if I can get a better picture tomorrow I will swap it out!

Here is Tim's Tag 2...isn't it gorgeous!

My tag 3 was a little more of a challenge then what I thought it was going to be but...I persevered and I think it turned out okay. I put a little bling and some fake holly on it rather then cutting out leaves etc. I like it.

Tim's Tag 3...very nice!

Hope you are enjoying the 12 Tags of Christmas as much as I am. I will post more tags soon!

12 Tags of Christmas Tag 1

2011-12-11T05:50:00.009-06:00

I have been following along with the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas that started on his blog December 1st! Sir Tim is definitely a very talented artist and I am really enjoying see what he makes each day and trying to use the techniques he is teaching. I will definitely be sad when it ends tomorrow night!!

Here is my version of tag 1 of the 12 Tags of Christmas!

I think I am getting the hang of the pinecone die now cause they are starting to look more like pinecones and less like roses! I used a glitter card stock rather then glitter to make the Noel and I really think that glittering the old fashioned way is better gives the script more depth.

To be fair I thought I should also upload Tim Holtz tag each day so you can see what the master created! This is his first tag that he made this year! Isn't is gorgeous?

More to follow...there are 12 tags!

WOYWW #131

2011-12-07T00:20:00.006-06:00

Welcome to Wednesday and this weeks version of WOYWW...what's that you say? Well in my humble opinion it is one of the best days of the week for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is the blog posting of what's on your work desk to share with everyone around the world...literally! Check out Julia's website Stamping Ground and join us for a passport free trip around the world to check out what other crafter's and artists are doing!

This is my desk after my third attempt to do the alcohol ink technique Tim Holtz used on his Day 5 tag a couple days ago! OMG! This is harder then what I thought it was going to be for such an easy sounding technique. The third attempt all most had it but it didn't suit me too well so I wiped the ink off the tag with alcohol and after I get this posted and I am going to do it again...last time cause it will be perfect...or not!
I just won't be as picky this time. Have you been following along with the 12 Tags of Christmas that Tim has been doing on his blog? The green holly tag is for day 6 that I need to finish because I didn't have the folder he used for his and I improvised. As soon as I get a chance I will post my tag each day with a link to his tag you you can see what I did compared to his.

Another project I have had going on this week was making card fronts for a swap on Splitcoast Stampers. It was a lot of fun making the card fronts and I will be getting back a similar count from other cardmakers in the group. In total I made 16 of each card front and I kept 3 of each kind to use for Christmas cards this year. Every year I send out a lot of cards, about a hundred, to family and friends so having the extras from this swap will come in handy! Unfortunately I have problems parting with the little pieces of art from my friends and have to hustle to make more to send out!

Well that's it for me. I am going to go get a cup of tea and a cookie and take a leisurely look around the other blogs today. Hope everyone has a good week and is getting all their holiday baking and tree trimming done! I have the tree up but not enough lights on it to suit me so I haven't decorated it yet. Maybe tomorrow...

Santa ATC

2011-12-04T12:45:00.003-06:00

Thought that I would share a simple ATC that I made for a swap on creativeblock-stampersanonymous, a Yahoo group I belong to. I love Stampers Anonymous stamps because I love red rubber stamps more then the clear stamps and SA has red rubber cling mount and the foam backed cling stamps. I have bought a lot of the Tim Holtz(TH)line of stamps from them and this ATC was made using one of them.
I love the old vintage Santa from the TH stamp set called Holiday Collections and the green pine bough and calender are from Mini Holidays. I used gathered twigs ink to stamp the image then distress around the sides in the same ink. The pine sprigs are stamped in Pine Needles and then I made little flowers out of some red, white,and green beads to adorn the top of the ATC. The ATC was made from Very Vanilla cardstock from Stampin'Up! using the TH ATC die. Real Red ribbon from Stampin'Up! was used on the left side. The calendar is held on with a mini paper clip.
I like this ATC so I think I will enter it in the ATC challenge on ATC's With Attitude! this week.

WOYWW #130

2011-11-30T04:09:00.002-06:00

This week has been busy in more ways then one around the hacienda! The cabinet men came and finished installing the cabinets in the laundry room and put the cornice moulding around the kitchen cabinets. Today the rain gutter company came to finish up the new guttering we had installed on the house. I have tried to do as much as possible in my craft room and managed to get some Christmas tags made that you can view in the previous two posts if you would like to see them. Thought I would get a jump on Tim Holtz and make my 12 tags of Christmas then see if I could follow along with his tag making extravaganza starting this Thursday at midnight. I also have been busy making card front for a swap on Splitcoast Stampers that have to be mailed out tomorrow. I will post those tomorrow or Thursday.

My desk this week is a mess! I need to stop and straighten up a bit before I start another project because there are bits and pieces of paper, embellies, and other stuff lying about. My table behind my chair has been piled higher and deeper this week and I can't find a stamp set I know I had just yesterday. Guess I will make an effort to straighten tomorrow when I get back from the post office....grrrrr....I just want to play not work. Anyway on to my desk here it is in all its messiness. At the front of the desk is my desk is my Tim Holtz/StampersAnonymous Christmas stamp binder and stamps. I am going to make ATC's tomorrow and was looking at the stamps after finishing my card tops. Behind the binder is the three sets of 16 card tops that I made for the swap. I love these swaps cause you never know what you will be getting back and I get so many ideas and have so much fun with the challenges. I did and up close shot this weekend to cover all the debris I mentioned above.

If you would like to know what all this is about check our Julia's blog Stamping Ground where we gather each week in our journey around the world to check on one another's desks. Called snooping by some it is great fun to share projects and lives of other artists.

Hope everyone has a great week! I am going to put the tree up tomorrow (after I straighten up a bit!) and then try to do some blog hopping on WOYWW!

More tags!

2011-11-29T11:38:00.003-06:00

Ready for a few more tags today? I am having so much fun in my craft room that it is starting to look like a tornado has blown threw it and scattered all my treasures to the four corners of the world! I don't know about you but I love having everything right at my finger tips and I also don't know how to put it up once I have finished using it especially when I am in a creative mood so everything just gets tossed here and there so I can just reach out and grab it. Anyway on to the tags...

This first tag is made using the Tim Holtz (TH) Tag die then embossed with the Snowflake Flurries texture fade. I used the Seasonal distress ink iced spruce and denim jeans. The red layer is the festive berries in on a strip of paper I embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder called Sheet music. The snowman from his Retro Holiday stamp set was stamped on Stampin'Up!(SU) Night of Navy card stock and white embossing powder was used. I cut out the snowman and pop dotted him on the top of the red layer. Snow flakes are made with the Winter Wonderland die from TH and Whisper White cardstock from SU! The bling is SU!

This tag is made from an ATC I had left over from a swap in December. I love the old vintage Santa from the TH stamp set called Holiday Collections and the green pine bough and calender are from Mini Holidays. I used gathered twigs ink to stamp the image then distress around the sides in the same ink. The ATC is made using the TH atc die, TH tag die was used for the tag and then it was embossed with a Sizzix folder. The tag is distressed with iced spruce and pine needles distress ink. I used some beads I had left from another project and crystal glaze to adhere them to the atc and a snowflake brad! Red and white ribbon and Real Red satin ribbon is from SU!

Lots of different dies and folders were used on this tag. Dies used were tag die, Vintage Cabinet Card, movers and shapers townscape, TH Christmas background and Sizzix music embossing folder. The Santa stamp is from the TH Holiday Wishes and was stamped in Basic Black from SU! and colored with Real Red on the hat! I used the Winter seasonal ink pads for coloring the various components.

I am off to the room of stash to play some more! I am having so much fun!

Tags!

2011-11-28T20:42:00.005-06:00

I spent the Thanksgiving weekend doing some tags, card fronts, ATC's and having a good time playing by myself...Can't get in trouble that way. My husband came home from China on Saturday and it was just so comforting having him home again I think my Mojo went wild with excitement.

The first tag I made used the Winter Wonder and Snow Flurries edge die from Tim Holtz. The hat is cut out of the die and trimmed to fit. The snowman was coated with first white crackle paint then the rock candy crackle paint and allowed to dry. I used the new seasonal Distress Ink pads from Ranger ink to make most of the tags this weekend. This color is evergreen bough a beautiful blue green ink! The ticket is from TH ticket stamps and the red on the ticket is festive berries and I covered the 25 with Christmas Red Stickles. The fibers are from Lion Brand.

A second tag I made was cased from Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas 2010...day 12. I used the Carved ornaments, Movers and shapers, Joy, and Tattered Pinecone dies to make this tag. The ornament was colored with festive berries and then covered with rock candy crackle paint. The tag is from the season stash stack of papers and I used Graphic 45 paper to make the pinecones and greenery.

The third and last tag for today is made using the Tim Holtz lamp post and holly die, Christmas Backgrounds and Borders texture fade, Winter seasonal inks, golden honey distress stickles, and the ticket stamp. I really like the way that the distress stickles seem to make the light glow!!

That's it for today! More tomorrow....

WOYWW #129

2011-11-23T04:11:00.014-06:00

It has been an interesting week with Chuck gone to China and trying to get everything done that I need to get done by Thursday...finally gave in and realized that I had to be completely nuts to set such unrealistic goals for myself.

My desk is a mess...part of the goal setting for the week. I keep lists but it seems I keep getting side tracked and things keep piling up on the desk. On the right you can see a canvas I have created for a class at WLS next month. Here is a closer look at it!

This is made with Graphic 45 papers and a 12x12in canvas. I glued a piece of holly paper to the canvas then cut out the Santa and other paper bits from Graphic 45 paper. The Holly under the bow is using the Tim Holtz die and Stampin Up! card stock. I love glitter so I used Stickles to brighten it all up!

The tag towards the back in the middle is for another class in December and I am thinking about using it in a swap I signed up for.

I had started a second tag for that swap but I love the blue green color of evergreen bough in the Seasonal Distress inks from Ranger. The second tag has a red ornament but it just doesn't spark my follow through today. I love this Tim Holtz snowman die called Winter Wonder Bigz die from Sizzix paired with the Snow Flurries edge die! I used glitter on this piece too cause it seemed not as snowy without it! I am entering it in the Simon Says Stamp and Show...some tickets challenge this week!

I completed a candy tin also this week for gift giving and another class.
I used Little Yellow Bicycle papers and the Tim Holtz/Sizzix die called Tattered Pine Cone to make the flower and the pine cones! It took a little work to get the hang of making pine cones and after watching the video by the man himself I realized I could make the roses and the pine cones for this project.

A little different view of the flower and pine cones on the band that holds the box together!

Okay that's it for my book writing today. I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Drop by Julias Stamping Ground and check out WOYWW and do like I am doing grabbing a cup and snooping through the other blogs. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

WOYWW #128

2011-11-16T04:10:00.005-06:00

UPDATE! I have so much ribbon I am almost embarassed by the comments left but I collect them when I can get them cheap and this way keeps them safe! I bought small curtian rods from IKEA that slide right through the center of the rolls and viola! instant organization!

Happy Wednesday! Today is the day that all bloggers at WOYWW look forward to with such anticipation and enthusiasm...what's that you say? It is a group of artist/crafters that get together and share there desks and projects. To find out more go see Julia at Stamping Ground! My desk is covered with stuff that I am digging out to use on a project I am planning on making tomorrow. I am using some Little Yellow Bicycle papers and a tin box with a window to make a candy box to give to a teacher, friend, or even the postman.

I spent the past couple days organizing my craftroom a little more to make things more accessible and handier to use. Having been gone on vacation for so long I guess my mind forgot where I hid stuff and I couldn't find half of what I wanted! I went to look for an embossing folder and couldn't find the one I was looking for and spent the next 5 hours finding all my dies, embossing folders, and letterpress plates.

I decided to put them in a plastic box with dividers for types and I even wrote the name of each folder on the folder...not too OCD! The dies I organized into place bins under the low table that sits behind my desk chair. Don't look at all the crud accumulated on top of the table...thats what happens when I start moving stuff around!!

I will leave you with a picture of an ATC that I made for a swap this week. The challenge was to use red and green...I did, barn door red and pine needles. The ATC seemed to be way to dark to me so I stickled the moon in and put some frost on the trees to lighten it up a bit! Hope everyone has a great week!

The Craft Barn

2011-11-13T12:38:00.004-06:00

I ran across this blog candy advert while searching the web for a product that I 'need' to purchase to make my Christmas cards. Thought I would share it and get into the drawing for all the goodies that The Craft Barn is giving away. All sorts of fun "products such as Tim Holtz, Sizzix, Cuttlebug, Impression Obsession, Cosmic Shimmer, Dreamweaver DVD, some wooden goodies to alter, gilding flakes, tissue tape, embossing folders, dies, inks, paints, embellishments etc. etc. etc....." Now that makes me totally happy! Lots of awesome goodness here!
Hurry over and join the fun at The Craft Barn Blog!

KnitPicks.com win your wishlist contest!

2011-11-12T13:17:00.004-06:00

KnitPicks is having a contest till November 16, 2011 that any serious knitter should look into. You have a chance of winning $50 off your wishlist by sending it to a friend and posting it on your blog. Click on the knitpick link to the right and check it out!

WOYWW #127

2011-11-09T01:26:00.011-06:00

Wednesday again? I know I say this a lot but it seems like yesterday was Wednesday and now here it is again!! I look forward to Wednesdays and What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday where artist and crafters from around the world join together to snoop around one anothers desks and meet and greet friends from their travels about. If you would like to know more about WOYWW check out Julia Dunnit's blog Stamping Ground and come join us in the fun!

This week I would like to share some tags I made for a class that I taught tonight at a local scrap book store here in Norman. I usually teach one tag class a month cause I love to teach, love to create these tags, and love to share that love with others who are like minded. The theme of the tags was Thanksgiving and I created 3 tags for the class using techniques from the Compendium of Curiosities by Tim Holtz.

This tag I call Give Thanks. I love the new seasonal distress inks and used them on these three tags because of their warm fall tones.
Materials:
Tim Holtz (TH): Tag die
Branch Tree die
Thankful Background and borders texture fades
TH Distress Inks:
Seasonal Inks: Seedless Preserves, Gathered Twigs, and Ripe Persimmon. Walnut Stain and
Vintage Photo
TH Distress Stains: Bundled Sage and Dried Marigold
TH Distress Stickles
Rock candy
Martha Stewart Leaf Punch
Stampin’Up! (SU):
Pumpkin Pie card stock
Soft Suede card stock
Very Vanilla
SU stamp set Give Thanks
SU Label punch
Various ribbon remnants

The second tag is called Happy Thanksgiving!
Materials:
Tim Holtz (TH):
Tag Die
ATC Die
Thankful Background and borders texture fades
TH Distress Inks:
Seasonal Inks: Seedless Preserves, Gathered Twigs,
and Ripe Persimmon.
Walnut Stain
Vintage Photo
TH Card stock:Seasonal Stash Paper stack
TH Ideology: Token and Tiny Pin
Stampin’Up! (SU): Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon
SU stamp set Day of Gratitude
Mulberry Paper Roses
Mulberry Paper leaves
Dew Drops

This tag is called Gratitude and it was definitely the hardest of the three! I loved using the new Distress Embossing Powder while making it.
Materials:
Tim Holtz (TH): Tag Die
TH stamp set Falling leaves
TH Distress Stain Old linen
TH Distress Inks:
Seasonal Inks: Seedless Preserves, Gathered Twigs, and Ripe Persimmon. Walnut Stain and
Vintage Photo
TH Card stock: Seasonal Stash Paper stack
TH Distress Embossing Powder: Spice Marmalade, Walnut Stain, and Peeled Paint
TH Ideology:Tiny Pin and Charm tag
Versamark Ink Pad
Stampin’Up! (SU): Old olive striped ribbon and Old Olive Cardstock
SU stamp set Day of Gratitude
SU Label Punch
Paper Flowers, button, and dragonfly
EK Success leaf punch

Several people asked me to post pictures of my trip to Spain but I haven't had time to do it yet on the blog. I do have pictures posted on my Facebook site if you would like to visit there it is www.facebook.com/vdoswell. There are a lot of pics to view.
Well thats it for me I am off to visit the kitchen for a cup of tea before I start visiting the blogs of the other WOYWWer's. Come join us...it's a lot of fun.

Twilight Tag

2011-11-08T00:30:00.006-06:00

I don't know about you but I am a big Twilight fan and have read or listened to all four of the books (I don't consider Midnight Sun or Bree Tanners part of the series) multiple times. It angers me that someone let Midnight Sun out before it was published but Stephanie Meyers says that she is convinced that Edward deserves to have his story told and has left us with a promise to finish it. Bree Tanner is interesting but not an integral part of the series to me. The Twilight series is such a story of love conquering all that it gives me a sense of hope and renewal every time I read it or watch one of the movies. I have tickets for the second night of the Breaking Dawn part 1 showing this month and I can hardly wait for it to come cause it is Edward and Bella's wedding! Hooray!!

Here is the finished tag I promised that I would show you from the last WOYWW post.
I bought a set of stamps from ArtfulInkables called Fictionally Inspired several years ago that had a lot of words that relate to the Twilight books...all the characters names, statements about vampires, wolves etc. The second ArtfulInkables set is called Into the Moonlight. I haven't been able to find out what happened to the ArtfulInkables people or store but nothing has been on their blog or in the store since November of 2010 so it is like it just doesn't exist anymore.

Any way it is a simple tag with just names, words, etc pertinent to the books. Hope you like it.

Materials used:
Artful Inkables stamps: Fictionally Inspired
Tim Holtz Tag Die
Distress inks black soot, fired brick
Stampin'Up! (SU) cardstock, whisper white, basic black, old olive, always artichoke
SU Dazzling Details
SU cherry cobbler seam binding
DCWV Immortal Love Stack
Mulberry Roses
EK Success leaf punch

This is the 200th post on this blog. I am going to have to think of something to do to celebrate. Keep tuned...maybe some blog candy would be a good deal!

WOYWW??

2011-11-02T05:58:00.004-05:00

I has been more then a few weeks since I last was able to participate in WOYWW and it has been missed I can tell you. Not that I didn't have great fun on my vacation in Spain but there is nothing like traveling around the world from the comfort of my computer chair! If you would like see what I am talking about you need to visit with the Queen of Snoop, Julia Dunnitt, at Stamping Ground and join in the fun.

I haven't been able to do much crafting/art and wasn't able to do any while I was gone so I have been in the craft room at my workdesk several hours a day since we got home last week. Today I am working on finishing up some tags that are for a swap. The fourth movie of the Twilight series is due to come out on Nov. 18 and this tag is to do with Twilight. I will post more on it later!

I am looking forward to visiting the blogs this week and hope to catch up on who is doing what and visit with friends far away. Hope everyone has a creative week!

bird cage tag

2011-10-21T16:54:00.007-05:00

Wanted to share some pictures of a tag that I made for the bird cage swap at Frankie's last month. I hadn't heard from the person that my tag went to that she had received it but decided she must have gotten it or I would have heard otherwise.
I used the Tim Holtz (TH) tag die to cut the tag then embossed it with a TH folder after using the wrinkle free distress technique to color it. The birdcage and bird are cut using the bird cage die and colored with the silver Adirondack® Metallics Acrylic Paint Dabber. Bird is colored with fired brick distress ink.
the floral ribbon is colored with Broken China Distress Stain and a silver dew drop placed in the center before gluing it to the birdcage. The sentiment is from TH and stamped on cardstock and embossed with clear embossing powder then cut using a Stampin Up! punch. There is glass glitter "bird seed" in the little bottle.
I embellished the tag hole with Fun Fur and added a Word Stick, a key and a fob I made from a bead. The mulberry roses were tipped with Broken China Distress Stain.

Hope to be home next week from Spain and get settled in a bit so I can start playing in my craft room again by Thursday or Friday! I have enjoyed all the travels but since the first of September until now is a long time without all my toys to play with. Looking forward to creating lots of fun things that I have running around in my head. More later!

WOYWW and Chris's challenge on the Christmas Card Club

2011-10-12T16:03:00.006-05:00

Thought I would share a couple cards with the WOYWW this week for the Christmas Club Challenges. The fortnight before last Chris challenged us to do whatever we wanted to so I made a card using Stampin' Up! products. I love the classic colors and Christmas trees and I used the products from last year that are not available this year! I have decided I have to start using the stash that I have accumulating in the studio!

This fortnight Claire wanted some embossing with blue and silver and hopefully I can sneak this card in and make it count for the challenge. I love this little snowman globe and used a little silver glitter before covering the whole globe with glossy accents.

Thought I would share a couple more pictures this week from Mallorca. Love the food and the way it is displayed ie:
ensaimadas:

cafe con leche...coffee with milk:

My husband, Chuck, in front of the pastry shop in Palma

Anyway thats it for today. I still have about 10 days here in Spain and will try to post again when I have internet access. If you would like to check at WOYWW or the Christmas Card Club click on the links on the side bar and any of us will share with you what it is all about. Have a great week!

WOYWW

2011-10-05T02:23:00.013-05:00

I have internet access today and thought that I would post WOYWW this week. I don't have a desk to show you because I am in Spain enjoying a holiday while my husband attends The European Severe Storms Conference in Palma de Mallorca. If you haven't had the chance to go to Mallorca, Spain I strongly encourage you to do so. I know that very few of my friends in the USA have even heard of Palma but it is a vacation spot for a lot of the European Community. The people here are so friendly and there is so much to do and see on this island in the Mediterranean Ocean!

I thought I would share a couple pictures of the sights I have seen since arriving here and maybe a picture of a toilet paper roll book I made the night before coming overseas.

First picture is of the Castello Bellver. Unfortunately it was night and none of the ones of unlighted outside turned out very well.

This castle is one of the first European round castles. This is a view of the interior of the castle. They had a 'mixer' at the castle for the conference participants and had a group of traditional dancers come and entertain! I was really impressed with the musical skills of the young man who played the drums and the flute like instrument at the same time!!
I went to visit the Catedral o la Seu yesterday and took a lot of pictures of it and the Palau de l'Almudaina which is the residence of the medieval monarchs of Mallorca. Now days they have a much nicer mansion outside the city!
The cathedral:
The palace:

Last pictures are the photo book I made using a toilet paper roll core. I covered the cardboard with Christmas papers and made sliding 'pages' of card stock that I also covered with the same family of Christmas paper. The tabs are made using the Tim Holtz die and the sentiment was a TH stamp!

If you would like to find out about WOYWW and what it is all about check out Stamping Ground the home of Julia Dunnit the Queen of all that is WOYWW!

A White on White Christmas Card

2011-09-30T15:26:00.004-05:00

I am sitting in the airport lounge in Atlanta, Georgia waiting for my flight to Barcelona to call with over two hours to wait I decided it was a good time to post a picture I took yesterday of another card for the Christmas Card Club. If you email me or one of the other members listed on my side bar and we can tell you how you too can have fun making Christmas cards all year and stay on top of the homemade Christmas!! We start over in January for next year so there is still time to come play with us.
This card was due earlier in the month (I am still playing catch up) and this challenge hostess was Margaret who wanted everyone to do an all white card with a little sparkle. Here is my card.

It was a little harder to do then what I originally thought it would be and photographing it was a nightmare. The flash would change the diamond Stickles to a greenish blue color and it I used crystal Stickles it turned gold etc etc. If I didn't use flash it came out yellowish and I couldn't fix that with Photoshop! I still think it is a nice card. What do you think?

Materials list:

Whisper White Card stock from Stampin'Up!(SU!)
SU! tinsel ribbon
SU! whisper white seam binding
SU! Going Gray ink pad
Tim Holtz Winter Wonder die and Snow Flurries Texture Fade
Tim Holtz Merry Christmas STamp
Stickles
Pearl embellies

Halloween ATC and ATC Challenges entry

2011-09-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

I was web surfing the other day and came across a couple challenges that I felt really motivated by and today I want to share another project I made for a swap and the ATC Challenges Blog challenge

Yesterday I posted a Christmas card and today I am posting an ATC that is for Halloween. I am having a blast in my own little world and bouncing around between holidays, birthdays and getting gifts ready to take overseas when I go to Spain!

This challenge was an ATC for What Little Boys are made of or Anything Goes. I thought that is ATC fit the bill for something a little boy would like and enjoy.
I thought a little boy would like it cause it is creepy enough with the spider dangle and the big eyed owl but not to scarey that it would keep him up at night! Fun!

Materials list:
Tim Holtz ATC die
Tim Holtz Seasonal Paper Stack
Distress inks and stains: Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Black Soot
Stamp'Up! Very Vanilla card stock
SU corner punch
Lion Brand Fun Fibers
Satin 1/4" ribbon
fun spider charm

Playing catch up and A House Mouse Challenge Card!

2011-09-26T21:45:00.003-05:00

I have been spending a lot of time in my craft room since I came home from Virginia last week. I really missed being around all my stuff and in my comfortable space making cards and doing my thing. I have been pretty productive and have surprised myself in how many things I have made. Today I want to share a card I made for the Christmas Card Club I am part of. Every two weeks someone in the club will name a challenge and everyone gets busy and makes a card to meet the challenge. If you would like more info about the club (we do Christmas cards year round) and how to join check out the side bar and contact any of us to get more information or to join us in the fun!

I am starting to get caught up and this challenge was actually due about a month ago. On this week the challenge was called by Sylvie to make a card with mistletoe on it! I remembered this House Mouse Clear Christmas Stamp set that has one stamp that has mistletoe on it and viola here is my card.

Materials list:

House Mouse & Friends Clear Christmas Stamps
Merry Christmas Stamp from Tim Holtz
Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle
Card stock: Stampin'Up! Real Red, Garden Green, Very Vanilla
Paper: Echo Park Merry Christmas
Stickles: Christmas Red
Memento ink: Black\
Distress ink: Vintage Photo
Copics
Red Gems and pearls from the stash drawer

Bewitching Ride

2011-09-25T15:00:00.001-05:00

I have been spending a lot of time in my craft room this weekend and I have a few things I would like to share with you. I don't want to overwhelm with you a long post and lots of pics so will limit it today to a couple of pictures of a tag I made for a swap on {{creativeblock-stampersanonymous}} blog a Yahoo group. I couldn't make up my mind which way I wanted the witch to face and fly so I did some of each. My DH was curious about the 'furry stuff' on the tag top but just couldn't get why I added it to the tags. Told him I thought it was cute and he said, "that's what counts then!" See why I love the dude!

I used several different techniques on this tag and I may use it in a class next month but I am not quite sure yet. I masked the moon on the tag then covered it and distress inked around the tag. I like the moon color better on the top tag because it is a brighter yellow. The bottom of the tag has an image embossed with a Tim Holtz texture fade. I think pretty much all the products used on these tags are from Tim Holtz, Ideology, and Ranger ink with a few exceptions. Check out the materials list at the bottom for a list of products used.

Materials list:

Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies: Tag Die, and Bewitching Hour
Tim Holtz Texture Fades: Cobwebs and Poison
Tim Holtz/StampersAnonymous stamps: Happy Halloween
Ranger Distress Inks: black soot, scattered straw, mustard seed, vintage photo
Ranger Distress Stickles: Rock Candy
Tim Holtz Grunge Board
Card Stock: Stampin'Up! Very Vanilla, Basic Black, More Mustard
Stampin' Up! More Mustard Grogain ribbon
Lion Brand Fancy Fur

52 Weeks of Mail

2011-09-24T21:23:00.006-05:00

Do you like receiving personal, hand-written cards and letters?

Do you find it difficult to stay in touch with people because of your busy life?

The Etsy Greeting Team has come up with a fabulous way to keep in touch with your friends and loved ones in an intentional way....with 52 Weeks of Mail:
52 Weeks of Mail is designed to encourage people to commit to sending at LEAST one card or letter a week, for the next year! 52 Weeks of Mail starts on October 9th, 2011 and goes through October 7th, 2012. We are asking that you commit to doing this, and sticking with it!

Please feel free to blog about this, Tweet about it, post it on Facebook, and just spread the word as far as you can! We have a Facebook page, and we are trying to get 1000 likes by the end of September. Please help us reach this goal by letting your friends know about 52 Weeks of Mail.

If you are looking for some beautiful handmade cards to send, please visit Etsy and check out the abundance of offerings from the EtsyGreetingsTeam!

I can remember when I was younger I used to wait for the postman to come and I would run to the mail box in hopes that someone cared enough to send me a letter or a card. I know now days that we tend to email or text message and I hear a lot more from people I know and care about but I still like to get mail in my mailbox. I am committing to one card a week for the next 52 weeks. Send me your address at okienurse@gmail.com and I will send you a card sometime in the next 52 weeks if you would like to get mail in your mailbox that is fun and not a bill or advertisement!

A crafty post

2011-09-20T21:07:00.005-05:00

Happy WOYWW #120...It has been a busy week for me trying to get caught up around the house since coming home from Virginia. I don't have a whole lot of time before we leave for Spain and we will be gone a month and there is so much to be done. Being busy definitely makes time seem to go faster. If you would like to find out more about what WOYWW is check out Stamping Ground and Julia the Queen of Snoop to fill you in!

I am a member of several online groups of crafty individuals who share a joint like of of art. I don't limit myself to just one style and love grunge, shabby chic, artsy fartsy...technical term, and cutesy stuff. Heck I do whatever rocks my boat at that point in time. The reason I bring this up is I got into a 'conversation' with an artist friend today about the type of art I do and the art my daughter and some of her friends do...my daughter has a degree in fiber arts and painting from the University of Oklahoma and knitted a wall hanging as a project in one of her classes, they called it art!...I digress. Anyway this friend tells me that what I do is not really art but crafts. Hmmmm...I wasn't really happy with her when she told me that my ATC, art journals, chipboard books, canvas/paper craft decor etc were not in the strictest sense considered art. I tried to point out that I am sure the surrealists, impressionists etc were told they weren't artist either cause everything doesn't look real. Long story short (cause there was a lot more to it!!) we decided to agree to disagree. What do you think? Do we do art or crafts?

I finally got to spend some time doing some fun things and getting inky after what seemed like weeks away from it. Okay here is what you have been waiting for... a picture of my desk this week.
I am working on a tag for a swap at the{creative-block StampersAnonymous} group on Yahoo. I am using embossing folders and die cuts in addition to stamps and ink to create a Halloween theme.

I finished a fall ATC this past week for another swap on the same group and thought I would share it with you also. It was suppose to be fall colors and I used an emboss resist and then stamped a tree and embossed it. Lots of fun techniques went into making it.

My materials list:
Tim Holtz ATC Die
Tim Holtz Stamps, Falling leaves, tickets, Winter Scene tree
Distress Ink Pads, Walnut Stain, Fired Brick, Faded Jeans, Antique Photo
Distress Stickles Frayed Burlap and Rock Candy
Distress Embossing powder, Walnut Stain
Ideology tiny paper clips
Yarn fibers and leaf and flower brads
Martha Stewart bird punch
Stampin Up! very vanilla and Not Quite Navy card stock

WOYWW #119 Couple more of the Grandaughters and a call for some help!

2011-09-17T15:59:00.014-05:00

I couldn't not participate in the WOYWW this week even if I am halfway through to the next week. So Happy Saturday everyone! I didn't get home from Virginia until late Thursday and spent Friday recovering from the trip. If you wonder what it is that I am not wanting to miss then check out What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia Dunnit's blog Stamping Ground!

Thought I would share a couple more pictures of the favorite granddaughters! (We only have two so I am not showing favoritism here!)
I love this picture of Teresa mowing the yard with Dada! Such a big help!

Grandpa holding his newest granddaughter!
Teresa didn't want to share the chair with Momma!
Chad found out the Hannah Banana loves the noise of the vacuum cleaner to the point it makes her stop crying and go to sleep...now what's that all about? Is that a calculating grin as to how to utilize the vacuum to his advantage?
Last hug and a goodbye from Teresa as Gamma and Grandpa leave to go home!

Okay here is the reason for my cry for help! Since I am coming really close to 200 blog posts this year I thought that I might share some of the stash in my craft room and was looking for some ideas on what I could share. I want to be able to share with all my friends and readers here in the states and world wide so it can't weigh a ton because shipping is really costly. Any thoughts or ideas? Leave me a comment and let me know.

I promise to start posting some more crafty goodness tomorrow but I have enjoyed sharing the pics the past couple weeks and letting you get to know me and my family. They are the reason for my life!

Memories of 4/19/1995 and 9/11/01

2011-09-11T22:25:00.002-05:00

I normally don't write on this blog about my feeling or family events but this week seems to be causing a change in how I am utilizing the blog. I have read several blogs that have put out their thoughts about what they were doing on 9//11/01 and how they handled it and these past 10 years. I was angry then and I think I am still angry about it today.

I can remember how I felt in the early 1990's when traveling about in the UK we had heard that the train station on the Brighton line had a bomber! I was very glib saying that it would never happen in the US! I was soon made aware of how glib the comment had been when Ruby Ridge occurred in Idaho in 1992, then Waco in 1993, followed by the first World Trade center car bombing also in 1993. The next 10 years would show me that things could and would definitely get worse in my world.

It just seemed that the world was in a spin and that all that I had known and was comfortable with in the past had just changed in puffs of smoke. I lived in Oklahoma and we are very 'country' where I live...I didn't lock cars or doors cause no one would harm me or mine. I owned a gun but it wasn't be cause of fear in humans doing me wrong but because it was something we did 'just in case a snake or wild critter came around!' In 1995, April 19, I was a nurse in the ICU when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City, OK was bombed, that was less than 20 miles from where I live in Norman, and brought home that terrorism had most definitely come to my corner of the world. I was called to come to work and some of us got the unit ready to take in patients and some of us went to the bombing site to stabilize and ship patients. After about a half hour we were ready for an influx of patients but when none came we realized the death toll would be high, 168 died due to terrorism that day (19 were small children.) The nurses and doctors returning that day were so quiet that everyone was afraid to ask what they had done and seen. It came my turn to visit the site and the sights and sounds and smells may be burned into my brain forever and I still can't talk about it.

On May 3, 1999 my second brush with a major disaster occurred when we had a major tornado out break that killed 40 people in central Oklahoma that day, some as close as 7 miles from me. There were more then 60 tornadoes that day and more than 50 people died in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Tennessee that day. I worked ER and wished I could have been anywhere else. The injured people started rolling in and we worked for hours to get them stabilized and transported to hospitals that could handle them when we couldn't. I had worked all day and then through out the night until relief staff could come in. Once again I don't think I will ever be able to forget what happened that day and night. I held hands and cried right along with my patients when they found out their loved ones hadn't been as fortunate as they were and laughed and cheered when families were reunited.

When 9/11/01 occurred I was devastated I thought that the world had taken leave of its senses and gone even crazier! Today we have been watching the reruns of footage from that day and I hope no one ever forgets the craziness that is in the world! My heart is heavy for the families that 10 years later still hope that their love ones will come home cause nothing was ever found to prove that they died. Almost 3,000 people died in the attacks. I cry when I think of the first responders going through a plethora of problems now with their medical issues that the government and insurance companies refuse to believe came from their inhaling all dust and debris from those buildings. The non-dead victims that walk in a personal hell for the rest of their lives cause they watched friends and family die in the attacks. The children that never got to know their Mothers and Fathers due to some zealot deciding to 'show the US' they had issues with our government.

I can prepare for weather but I can't prepare for the sickness that is inherent in the religious zealots of the world. I hear some of the right wing Republicans in the USA talking their craziness in this pre-election year and I wonder if they can hear their own voices and what they are saying? They don't sound much different then the Bin Laden and zealots that caused all the deaths with the 4/29/1995 bombing or the 9/11/01 plane crashes. I am tired of hearing the politicians asking for my vote also asking me to pray to get this or that done in my state and country. I don't want religion to play into my government because I have seen what happens when governments and individuals that are run by religion are put into power and I don't want any part of that. I resent my freedoms being taken away by those people and the US Homeland Security so they can protect me from what THEY perceive as being harmful to me. I resent the loss of innocence that all the children have had to give up. Hell, I resent having to give up my own innocence in the face of all this craziness!

WOYWW #118 and Hannah

2011-09-06T23:08:00.008-05:00

I don't have a desk to share with your or any finished projects...because I forgot to schedule the posts before I left so I don't have anything crafty to share with you today. I do miss my desk and I do miss my art but I am happy to say that I am not at home this week but in Virginia Beach, Virginia where my new granddaughter was born this past Saturday morning. Chuck and I left home in Oklahoma on Thursday and traveled almost 1,400 miles to arrive about 3 hours before the baby was born. I posted some pics on the previous post of the birthing and thought that I would add a few more from today!

This is me with Hannah!Hannah was born 3 weeks premature but she is one of the most alert babies I have been around and has spent a good deal of time just lying around checking things out. Hannah reminds me of a doll I had when I was a girl.

This is Mom and Dad with Hannah:

Grandpa with Dad and baby:

Not to be left out since she wouldn't pose in these pictures are a couple pics of big sister Teresa!
Teresa trying to get rice to stay on a fork:

Teresa figuring out how to operate Granddad's camera!

I hope to be able to visit a few desks this week and look forward to seeing what everyone is doing. If you wonder what this is all about and would like to see whats on desks all around the world go visit with Julia the Queen Bee of Snoop at Stamping Ground.

My new Grandaughter

2011-09-04T23:09:00.007-05:00

We are currently at my son Chad's house in Virginia Beach, Virginia for the birthing of my granddaughter. We left Oklahoma on Thursday morning and traveled east stopping over night east of Memphis, Tennessee. When we got up on Friday our son called to let us know that our daughter-in-law, Candice, seemed to be in pre-labor and was dilated to 6-7 and was 90% effaced but wasn't having any real contractions at that point. We had updates phoned to us and finally was told that she was headed to the hospital when we were still about 250 miles away. My husband I were pretty much sure that we would be too late to actually be there for the birth. As luck would have it Candice held on and we arrived in Virginia Beach about two hours before the actual birth. When Candice didn't seem to be making much progress the doctor started her on a Pitocin drip that didn't do much good so they ruptured the water and it was less then twenty minutes later our granddaughter was born!

Here is the first picture take of Hannah Elizabeth Doswell! Hannah weighed 5lb. 13 oz, 19.5 inches long.

Hannah and Momma!

The Doswell Family!
Chad, Candice, big sister Teresa, and Hannah!

Hannah and Momma came home from the hospital late tonight and no one felt like taking pictures so will get some tomorrow and post them later. Hannah and Momma are doing well. Hannah has lost about 6oz weight but is learning to nurse and is winning hearts! Teresa loves her baby sister and couldn't keep her hands off her wanting to love on her!

CCC Kerry's challenge

2011-08-31T04:48:00.004-05:00

The challenge for this card...which was due the end of July!, is by Kerry who wanted everyone to use a robin, holly, and an optional mailbox on the card. I think I got it covered!! I really have fun playing along with the challenges but it seems that I have good intentions to get them done but allow myself to be distracted!

My distraction this week is that I will be leaving Thursday to go to Virginia to help take care of my 30 month old granddaughter while her Momma and Daddy go to the hospital to bring her new sister home. My son called to day and said that the doctor told them that she wouldn't make it to her next doctors appointment on 6 September because she ready to pop!! We had planned on going out the 10 September but this works out better for us because we will be there about 2 weeks and then we will come home and get ready to go to Spain for just over 3 weeks! YAY!

I am so looking forward to the cooler weather because it has been over a 100 deg F, 39C, most every day since last June! Someone asked about my electric bill the other day since we have to run air conditioning constantly and it has cost about $130 a week or >$550 a month.

Hope everyone has a good week and I will try to log online every chance I get.

Materials:

Graphic 45 Christmas Past paper.
Red card stock
Tim Holtz bird and branch dies, UTEE, Age Linen for distress
Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangle
Stampin UP! Label punch, Riding Hood Red card stock and ink, Always Artichoke seam binding,
Flourishes Stamps, mailbox
Copic Markers for coloring.

WOYWW #117

2011-08-31T04:28:00.002-05:00

WoW! Wednesday again! I know that sounds old and trite but...I don't know where this week has gone. I went to Tulsa, OK with my sister for a wedding shower for my nephew and ended up staying all night and I have yet to get into my schedule again! Curious what WOYWW and Wednesdays are all about? Click on the link to Miss Julia's blog, Stamping Ground and she will tell you all about it!

My desk is cluttered as I am working on a card for the Christmas Card Club that I was invited to join.

I have fallen behind and I am now trying to catch up but...looks like I will be leaving for Virginia early Thursday to help my son and daughter-in-law when their second child comes. My husband and I are planning on driving out so it may not be possible for me to visit very many blogs but I promise to try!

I will post a picture of the finished card later. Have a great week!

Christmas Card Club

2011-08-30T04:53:00.007-05:00

I am about 3-4 weeks behind in the Christmas Card Club due to other pressing issues around here. I decided today to make a big effort to get caught up because in a little over a month I will be going to Spain and I don't want to get any further behind! I got one card done before getting sidetracked looking for a stamp that I want to use on the next challenge. I really have to get more focused but with the FM and ME that is a challenge in itself!!

This card is inspired by Sally's challenge...Santa Claus is Coming to Town (use Father Christmas Image or animal dressed as Father Christmas)

I used Graphic 45 Christmas Past card stock from 2 years ago...yes I hoard a lot!! I made the card with Pear Pizazz from Stampin'Up! and layered the Graphic 45 paper on top as a mat for the Santa image that I cut out of the opposite side of the layer paper! The ribbon is SU. I finished it off with a little sparkly red bling from my stash of stuffs. It is an easy peazy card and I am happy with the way it turned out. (I am not so happy with the picture cause it looks so blurry and dark to me.)

Check back tomorrow and hopefully I will have found the stamp I was looking for or I will have found another one that will work just as well. If you are interested in playing along with the group and getting a head start on your cards this year just contact one of us, names and links are on the side bar, and we will tell you how to get started.

Amy Duff Papertrails Leaver 500 post giveaway

2011-08-29T16:52:00.002-05:00

I surfed into a blog today that has an awesome candy giveaway. Amy Duff is celebrating 500 blog posts on her blog. Amy blogs about her art creations, home situations, and being the mother of an autistic daughter. I read through several posts and I decided to share the site and add her to my Google reader! I think she has a lot of good ideas and thoughts to share. Check her out!

Traveling Time

2011-08-24T02:19:00.004-05:00

Decided to enter this tag into a couple of challenges this week. DragonsDream Tag It On and Simon Says has Travel as their themes this week. I think that this tag fits that catagory!

The stamp set is from Tim Holtz but it was one of the clear acrylic ones from Micheal's that I bought before I got smart and started buying online. Now the store where I shop has started carrying Tim Holtz products.

WOYWW #116

2011-08-24T00:01:00.007-05:00

I just got back from a design team meeting at the store where I do my classes and it looks like there is going to be some fun things happening the next few months with the holidays and changes going on. We had the opportunity to look at some of the new products that are rolling in from CHA and got the skinny on when we can expect some things to show up at the store. It has been and interesting week around here first dashing this way then that. I have managed to get a couple of blog posts in around the goings on to show off some of the things I have been doing and creating.

A picture of what my desk looks like today. It is in a messy state but it sort of lives there most days. I spotted up the pristine looks of my cutting mat by accidentally dumping some acetone on it and it immediately lifted some of the markings and the vinyl from the top. You can't see it in this photo so I don't know why I am telling you...guess as a warning to be careful with acetone around the cutting mats. As you can see in addition to crafting I have continued to take stamps off their wood mounts and those stamp cases have stamps that need the glue applied. I did about another 10 sets but they are already in the cabinet. I decided to reorganize the stamps according the the Stampin'Up! categories or Nature, Occasions, Elements, Holidays, etc. I think it will make it easier to find what I want. I plan on putting a list of stamps accessible to the shelf so you will know what section to find what set in.

Here is a picture of the goodies I picked up at the store tonight. We all decided which products we were going to showcase for our projects and I won out getting to do a Christmas Canvas with the Graphic 45 Christmas stamps and papers. Yay!
Last picture...here are the last two tags I made for the tag class the beginning of the month. I thought I had posted them on WOYWW #114 but it was only the leaf tag! Everyone who took the class enjoyed making them.
WOYWW is a fun time of the week for me going and snooping around other peoples desks and seeing what it up in their corner of the world. It is a small world on WOYWW cause we go all over the world from the comfort of our desk chairs. No visa required!! If you are interesting in following along or joining in the fun go to Julia's blog, Stamping Ground and check it out.

Bingo!

2011-08-23T05:34:00.003-05:00

This is the last card for the class this Thursday night. The Texture trades, Playing games was used in the making of the three cards. The first card is called Admit One, second card is Who you are, and the third is simply Bingo. Remember getting a game box for Christmas and when all the covers for the bingo game went missing we would steal buttons from Momma's button box to cover the numbers!

There are still a couple spots left in the class. If you are interested in taking the class contact Whole Lotta Scrap at 310-3400 to reserve your seat. There will be 3 cards/tags made in the class. Class is from 6-8:30pm August 25. Class fee is $22 and you will receive the embossing folders and supplies to make the tags. Equipment you will need to bring a paper cutter, scissors, glue/tape runner, craft mat, and if you have them your distress ink pads. Hope you see you there!

Materials:

Kraft Card blank
Tim Holtz Texture Trades Playing Games, Bingo Texture Fade
Retro Grunge Paper Stack
Tim Holtz Ideology Bingo pieces
Buttons, paper flowers
EK Success leaf punch
Distress inks, walnut stain, vintage photo, fired brick, scattered straw, black soot
Bakers twine

Amy's 1000 sheets of paper giveaway

2011-08-22T17:08:00.003-05:00

Was surfing around the blogs today and ran across Amy's A Thousand Sheets of Paper blog and she has an awesome give away. Amy is celebrating her blogversary and she has a mega candy give away of stamps and otherm goodies and giveaways. Go check her blog out!

Who you are! card

2011-08-21T16:08:00.005-05:00

I was trying to photograph a picture to put on the blog when my number two helper...Princessa Stormy jumped into the picture! I thought it was just too cute to cut so I will post it so all can see the torment I put up with...isn't she posing so cute! The kitty girls know I love them and I love taking their pictures so they have learned to pose for me!

Here is a picture of the card: I am calling it my Who you are! card. I love the masking and coloring on this card. I used Tim Holtz Retro paper on a kraft card blank. I attempted to mask each ray and color it with the distress ink to match the paper. The sun rays have all ways appealed to me symbolizing the fact that you the limits of what you can be, hence the sentiment on the card.

Materials:

Kraft Card blank
Tim Holtz Texture Trades Playing Games
Retro Grunge Paper Stack
Tim Holtz Purely Random Stamp set
Distress inks, walnut stain, vintage photo, fired brick, bundled sage, scattered straw
Bakers twine

A love-ly canvas

2011-08-19T03:54:00.009-05:00

I have been making canvas's recently and everyone that has seen them has been after me to get a class together and teach them how to make the canvas's too. Finally I got it together and we are having THE class at WLS on Saturday.

The basis for this project is a 12"x12" stretched canvas by Canvas Corp. but there are all sorts out there that you can use. This one is just plain canvas that hasn't been gessoed but I like the stiffness of the gesso so I mixed some gel medium and gesso together and painted the canvas front and the back of the paper and stuck the paper on the canvas. The printed paper is by Creative Imaginations Iron Orchid Designs and after sticking it on the canvas I put a couple coats of the watered down gel/gesso mixture on top wiping the corners off with a wet wipe before it got to dry so the designs would show through. The picture mats are made with the Vintage Cabinet Card die and a contrasting mat cut around it. The flourish on the top of the mat is from the Urban Chic stamp set from Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz line. I distressed around the canvas frame and the mats with Vintage Photo Distress ink after applying a layer of tissue tape to the outer edge of the frame.

The love die and Mini Baroque die were used to make the love emblem. I cut a pink and a white emblem then used the love die to cut out the oval in the white and glued it on top of the pink. I distressed around the emblem with Vintage Photo Distress ink and added the pink half beads and the flourish.

After the canvas was completely dry I took some crepe ribbon and glued it to the upper left corner bunching it up as I went. I used Mulberry roses and 'Color Me Crazy' daisies to create the floral arrangement. The centers of the small daisies are decorated with plastic half beads like Dew Drops. The leaves are cut with the Mover's and Shaper's mini leaf die.

I used the mini-bird cage and bird die to make the cage hanging from the branch on the right upper side of the canvas. The birds flying around are cut from the Martha Stewart bird punch.

I took a swivel clasp and suspended it below the lock faceplate using a brad. On the circle loop end I added a word stick and on the swivel clasp side I put the key and a bead fob that I made from some beads in my stash. I used Distress Stickles, Rock Candy, to give some sparkle to the flowers on the paper around the edges because without it the flowers just faded into the paper. I used Accent Glaze on the bird in the upper right hand corner to make it stand out a little.

Product list:
Tim Holtz dies used: Vintage Cabinet Card and Tattered leaves.
Movers & Shapers mini leaf and branch, mini bird cage, mini baroque die, love die
Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Ink Pad Vintage Photo
Tim Holtz Ideaology: lock and key, swivel clasp, word sticks
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Urban Chic
Rock Candy Distress Stickles
Tim Holtz/Tissue tape
Creative Imaginations paper Iron Orchid Designs
Martha Stewart Bird punch
Gesso
Gel Medium

Fun mail that came this week!

2011-08-17T03:40:00.008-05:00

I just wanted to share some things that came in the mail this past week and post a thank you in addition to the emails I sent...or will be sending as soon as I post this.
I was part of a journal page swap last month on Yahoo. The group is called Creative-Block-StampersAnonymous that is a group promotes stamping using Stampers Anonymous stamps. I received back the pages that 12 other people created and the hostess of the swap created book covers for us.

Second parcel! Part of the swap was a stamp given to us by the owners of SA and it came this week also!! It is one of the new Christmas stamps that came out in the last CHA in Chicago last month. I just Love it!

The third thing I received was some ProMarker ultra-fine point nibs that Di from Pixie's Crafty Workshop sent me all the way from England. Di had a blog candy event to celebrate her 200 blog post and was so kind and generous she couldn't limit herself to 2 or 3 she sent everyone who entered a package of the nibs. Thank you Di you are awesome!

The fourth piece of happy mail came to me all the way from Australia! (Oh my I get around and don't even leave the house!) Susan from Stamp On Me sent me an awesome personalized bookmark. Isn't it gorgeous! I love it!
Just want to say thank you to everyone for being so awesome and such great friends. I think it is amazing that we can share so much and be so supportive of each other because of this great invention called the internet!

WOYWW #115

2011-08-17T00:20:00.008-05:00

This is my desk this week. Thought I would share a wider view and then an up close for you to get a peak of what I am working on. I had a couple people ask me if I ever used any of my ribbon cause they can see the shine from the outer wrap on the spools hanging on the wall. Those are the new/extra spools I bought when they were on sale.(I am a huge bargain hunter and why buy one when two will be a better deal! Anyone relate?) When I had the idea to use curtain rods to organize the ribbon I had so many ribbons spools and there wasn't enough space for all of them so I decided to hang the full ones and keep the partially used ones in a box under the desk. As you can see I am starting to break into some of them now.
My desk is really trashed out towards the end of a project because I never seem to be able to stop long enough to get things put up. I like having everything close at hand and being able to just reach out and grab when I needed something. I had also hoped that it would help me to put things back but...no dice.
I have been working on a 12"x12" canvas using mostly Tim Holtz products for a class I was asked to do at WLS. I am not a floral type person and it has been a real struggle for me to step out of my comfort zone and try to do what I call 'girly' stuff. I can kind of, sort of, maybe combine a little grunge in with it and get it done but...not my forte! I am currently working on a bead fob to hang on the fob chain on the right.

This week has flown and it seems like I didn't get everything done that I wanted to do but I did get around to all the desks this week!! I really enjoy WOYWW and I am willing to give up a little housework to see what everyone else in cyber world is doing in the arts/crafts world. If you would like to see what I am talking about visit Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, she is the Queen Bee and leads this group in all sorts of fun things!

Okay, I am off to check out the other blogs. I am so addicted and need my fix of WOYWW! Check back tomorrow and I will have a couple finished projects up for you to view.

Admit One Card

2011-08-12T02:08:00.006-05:00

I am going to be doing a tag/card class the last of this month were we will be using the Tim Holtz texture trades called Playing Games to make a tag to put on a card. Here is a card that I finished this weekend that will be one of 3 cards offered in the class. The class kit will include a set of the texture trades in addition to the products to needed to make the card. The paper mat is from the Retro Grunge paper stack on a kraft card blank. The ribbon film has pictures glued to each frame that I cut apart from the Lost and Found stack. Mulberry paper roses finish it up.

If you are interested in taking the class contact Whole Lotta Scrap at 310-3400 to reserve your seat. There will be 3 cards/tags made in the class. Class is from 6-8:30pm August 25. Class fee is $22 and you will receive the embossing folders and supplies to make the tags. Equipment you will need to bring a paper cutter, scissors, glue/tape runner, craft mat, and if you have them your distress ink pads. Hope you see you there!

WOYWW #114

2011-08-10T00:16:00.008-05:00

My desk isn't the neatest place today because I have been working trying to get my tag class together for this next Thursday and for some reason I have procrastinated getting any of my classes done for this month. Don't ask me why cause I have ideas flying through my brain but I can't seem to get them to stick long enough to get done!! Funny thing was I thought that I had the tag class almost completed and found out that I was having a major brain fart and I was no where near done. I even thought the tags were at the store on display but when I went to get the info out of the box to type up the direction sheet they were in the box and not done!! I have CFS/ME and FM and my doctor tells me that this problem with cognitive processes is due to what he calls Fibro Fog... I guess I should be happy it isn't Alzheimer's huh!!! Oh...before I forget this is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday and if you want to check it out head over to the Queen of Snoop, Julia's blog. You never can tell you might want to play along with us.

On the mat on my desk I have one of the tags I am working on finishing for the class. I had to pull out the beading tools to attach a bead charm and a philosophy tag to the fibers at the top. I did an emboss resist using the Tim Holtz Falling Leaves stamp set and used different colors of distress stains. I then cut some leaves using the TH Tattered leaves die and colored card stock that I stamped the leaves on randomly. I put rock candy distress stickles on them to give them some sparkle. I decided that I wanted to try using the leaf stamps with emboss resist because there is so much detail in the veining and stems and I think it worked really well! The define your life is a stamp set from Stampin'Up! that has 28 stamps with various words and definitions on them.

Here is an up close of the charm and philosophy tag. I also like the way the resist shows up in this picture. Do you think the leaves are too sparkly? I will post the other tags in the next day or so. I am going to make myself 'work' tomorrow and get everything done for the rest of the month too!

When I got home Monday evening there was a box sitting on my front step from the UK. Keryn and I have been emailing back and forth and she sent me some of my most favorite things in the whole world...Jaffa Cakes and Typhoo tea! Keryn also sent one of her handmade cards and it is gorgeous and I couldn't get my camera to cooperate and take a good picture! Now I know that you probably think I am nuts about the tea and cakes but the first time I went to London in 1991 I stayed at the Baden-Powell House and they served Typhoo tea. The teas here in the states weren't as black or as strong back then and I am a caffeine addict! The coffee at the BP house was really not too good back then so I drank lots of tea. I am told it is much better now!!! The first jaffa cake was given to me by a young scout at the same place when he decided to share with the crazy American Mum!
Thank you Keryn for sending this pigeon my way! I love the card and plan on framing it. The cakes and tea...another story.

WOYWW #113

2011-08-03T15:58:00.004-05:00

I have spent the past couple of weeks being not as productive as I wish I could be but then that is life in the Doswell house and just getting a meal together or a load of laundry done can be a challenge. Speaking of challenges, I am late on a couple that I subscribe to each week and I have all sorts of ideas that I would like to put to paper but not the energy it takes to complete them. Ah yes...life! I keep telling myself that it will be better tomorrow! Since my desk is rather boring you need to step over to Julia's blog Stamping Ground to see what all the other WOYWWer's are doing this week. WARNING: it is addictive!

Here is a picture of my desk this week. As you can see it is loaded with all sorts of 'stuff' that I have managed to accumulate but not much in the way of productive projects. My daughter is a lead supervisor/manager at a new JoAnn's that has opened here in town this past week. I signed up on JoAnn's a while back for coupons and last week they sent me a 20% off everything including sales items so I went in and loaded up on things I just can't live without. There is a stack of DCWV(die cuts with a view) paper/card stock pads that were on sale at $999 from $19.99 that I applied that coupon to and I saved 70% on each pad. The grand opening is next week so I will probably apply the 50% off coupon to something then. My daughter tells me they are going to have $10 gift cards for the first 100 people who come to the store the first 3 days of the grand opening so I will have to be up and about early those days!! Heather knows me better then that! I am never up and about early!

Here is the only thing that I have made/created since last week. It is another attempt at Steampunk. I stamped the clock and the woman's head then covered it with the accent glaze and after several attempts I doubt I will use the distress ink to stamp with again cause the glaze makes it change colors. I like the card and composition and I think I will use it for a woman's thinking of you/all occasion card!

Thanks everyone for all the kind thoughts regarding the birds last week. I think you may be right about them being ready to leave the next cause I have seen a definite increase in the number of birds around this week. I was so distraught thinking I was a baby bird killer for sure! Anyway I off now. I plan on visiting all sites this week if at all possible. If not it will be my goal for next week. I am such a snoop though it bothers me when I can't see everything!!!

WOYWW #112

2011-07-27T03:33:00.001-05:00

It has been a very busy and eventful week for me so much so that I almost missed out posting on WOYWW! I have been finishing up making 12 of the journal pages I posted a picture of last week and got them mailed off to Mississippi where the swap hostess lives. I have been making 7 ATC's for a swap on OWSE that I participate in each week. I also made a couple cards but I can't show them till I give them to the people I made them for. If you would like to participate in WOYWW visit Julias blog to get the deets. Be warned it is very addictive.

Okay here is what it is all about...here is a picture of my desk that I took today after I finished making the ATC's and had lined them up to dry before I put the info sticker on the back. I have made them all alike again this month because I get really anxious when I think I have to come up with 6 or 12 different things so I tend to do the same thing and not worry.

The theme for this month was green and yellow so I used a yellowish based card stock and embossed it with a Tim Holtz ATC folder. I think they are called texture trades. I then distressed around the edges and on the embossed image I then added some Liquid Pearls, a sentiment, and ribbon. I like the simpler look to ATC's.

The baby birds are gone so I don't have a picture this week. I have to confess that I am the cause they are gone...and I am hoping I am not the cause of their demise. I went to take one last picture on Friday cause I knew it wouldn't be long till they flew the nest and I almost fell. Unfortunately my balance really sucks due to my disorder and when I went to fall I grabbed for the wind chime to the right of the hanging basket to keep from falling and I startled them all. All four flew out of the basket and over the fence and yard. I tried to catch them but when I would get close they would fly off. I am hoping they are okay. I learned a valuable lesson. I told my daughter I loved to watch them grown and now I feel like a baby bird killer. I cried for hours after the incident.

I didn't make it around to everyone's blog last week so I am going to persevere this week and visit everyone. Hope everyone has a great week and I will try to get posted earlier next week.

WOYWW #111

2011-07-20T03:52:00.008-05:00

Happy WOYWW #111 it has been a good week for me I have been busy trying to get my room straightened up some more and finish up some projects I have been doing. I have to be careful not to over do so what might take some of you a day or two may take me weeks. That's okay though cause all I have is time and it eventually gets done. Here is a picture of my workspace that I took today to show you what I have been doing. I decided I needed to reorganize the dies and the scrap paper basket and spent most of the day doing just that. I also reorganized my desk an made some things more accessible and put other things away.
I decided to get rid of one big basket of paper scraps and I had an old crate with hanging file folders in it that I color coded and separated the scraps out. The print scraps I did a holiday folder, female, male, and child folder and if that doesn't work out I will try something else. Any suggestions.
Way too many scraps. I decided to only keep those pieces that were at least 4"x6".

Remember the 6"x 9" Journal pages I am working on for a swap on creativeblock-stampersanonymous a Yahoo group I belong to? I don't have all twelve done yet but will have by the end of the week so I can mail them off!

The front is sprayed with Meadow colorwash masking a journaling area with flowers. I used the stamps from the Tim Holtz Papillion stamp set, Shabby French set. I embossed the butterflies with clear embossing powder and black ink then colored them with Derwent Inktensive pencils. The flower is sprayed with Luminart spray and a button applied. It is distressed with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain. I used some of the Sketches paper tape on the left side.

The back is a little different. I thought being from Oklahoma and western I would do it using the Tim Holtz Wild West stamp set. I also used the Ultimate grunge set, the sentiment was from the Stuff to say set. The sentiment I used the vintage photo to distress the edges and to stamp the grunge stamps, the wild west stamps, and black soot for the sentiment. I finished it off with a little boot charm hung from a page tab. I thought it was cute!

The baby birds are just about grown and from the noise the Mom and Dad were making today I would imagine they will be flying the nest soon. Here is a picture I took yesterday with them all hunkered down in the nest. I am so happy that all four eggs hatched and all 4 birds have made it so far. The next few days will be dangerous for them as they take wing and fly off.

I have a couple bits of good news to share with you that occurred this past week. We had an adjustor out last weekend who said that the hail damage on our roof was pretty extensive and that insurance company will be paying to put a roof on our house. It was pretty beat up so I was glad to hear that. I also heard from the Social Security Disability folks that I have been judged severely disabled at this time and my claim for medical disability has been approved. They are now investigating the non-medical portion of the petition and will make a decision soon. Usually that part is just figuring out how many credits you have paid in, if you are who you say you are, and what they are going to pay you. I am breathing a lot easier tonight because of getting it approved! I have been out of work since last August and things have been pretty tight around here. I had always anticipated working till I was at least 70 because I like being a nurse but I guess burning the candle at both ends took a bigger toll than I realized. I am really doing great right now!

Well I have written a book today and I am going to close it off now and go hop around the other blogs and see what is on everyone's desks... I have been blathering on and I bet you would like to know what it is all about. Check out Julia's blog Stamping Ground and join us as we flash around the world to see what other crafters have on their desks this week!

Christmas Card Club and The Summer of Color

2011-07-17T16:56:00.007-05:00

This is the first time I have participated in the Christmas Card Club and I am putting a picture out to show what I made. The other participants have published their cards to their blogs since July 3 with today being a deadline day and the start of a new fortnight challenge. This is a challenge where a member sets the rules as to what the requirements that fortnight are and this time Pinky decided that everyone should have a bear on their card. If you are interested in seeing this fortnights cards there is a list of everyone's names with links on my side bar that all you have to do is click on a name and it will take you to each of the participants blog! When Keryn told me about the club I thought it sounded like an awesome way to get a head start on getting cards ready for this next Christmas so if you are interested in playing in the club contact anyone on the list and they will tell you how to get started.

I also decided to use this for the Summer of Color entry this week because the color this week is RED! I love traditional Christmas colors and luckily red is one of them. If you would like to know more about the Summer of Color...there are a few more weeks left, come play with us...click on the link on the side bar and go to Twinkle Twinkle and check it out!

Here is the card I made:
Believe it or not I didn't have a single Christmas Bear image...I don't do bears much. Keryn turned me on to the Inger Harding blog where she has free images, stuff you can buy, and awesome things to look at. The image of the girl AND the bear is called "waiting for Santa to come" and the sentiment wreath are two of her free images. Click on the link and check it out!
Other products used include:
Stampin' Up! Card stock Real Red, Whisper White. Ribbon is retired. Ink for distressing is Soft Suede.
BoBunny Christmas papers from 2009. I hoard but eventually use everything I buy.
Ranger Stickles, Candy Cane.
Copics markers

OMC contest!

2011-07-16T12:59:00.007-05:00

UPDATE: I {{{{love}}}} my Skiddy Kitty and I guess the folks at OMC did to cause we were chosen as one of the winners in the contest! Yay! Skiddy you rock!!

I love Oh My Crafts!! OMC carries a lot of great things at reasonable prices and they are having a contest this week to win a gift card and a prize. It is called Love Notes and you or someone is suppose to hold a note and send them a picture. Here is my Love Note to OMC! What do you think?
This is Miss Skiddy Kitty my oldest fur baby and she loves to get into my craft closets to see and smell all the things that she can reach. I think she especially loves anything with adhesives cause I catch her sniffing at the glues a lot! Skiddy has also been known to steal my tape runner! You can just about catch a glimpse of what we think looks like the great state of Texas she has growing on her left flank in that black hair patch.
If you love OMC you should enter the contest before it ends on Sunday!

WOYWW #110

2011-07-12T18:27:00.005-05:00

It has been a busy and crazy week around here. The weather has been very hot all week with the exception of Tuesday when it didn't get over 100 degrees F. and there were some small showers around to cool it off a bit. I read posts that it did to over 100 deg in some parts of the state so it is over 2 weeks at this high heat.

Thought I would start the post off with a picture of the House Finch nest this week. The cuties are getting bigger and it seems like Momma and Dad are always on the go trying to keep them fed. I read that it is only about 3 weeks before they fledge and are gone so I will have to try and get a couple more photos before they go. I hope they stay close to my water/bird bath cause the summer is usually hotter after this time of year and water is short this year. This little fella squawked until he didn't get food then he stopped and looked right at me then went back to squawking again. So fun to watch but I stay away so Momma can take care of them.

Okay the bird visit over with and on to my desk this week. If you wonder what I am going on about and you would like to join in the fun head on over to Ms. Julia's, the originator of the weekly snoop fest. Stamping Ground It is painless and oh so much fun to visit desks all around the world.

My desk is very cluttered and has been very busy as I am trying to get some 6"x 9" journal pages done for a swap I am doing at the CreativeBlock-StampersAnonymous In May I was reading posts when I ran across the call for people to participate in this journal page swap. We are making 12 journal pages (front and back) and then we ship them off to the hostess who is making the front and back covers for our books punching the ring holes and putting rings to bind them. Sounds like an ordinary swap in some ways but it is a whole lot more! It was limited to 12 stampers and we have to use Stampers-Anonymous stamps and in return they will be giving each of us a set of stamps from this falls new releases. Nice huh! I love swaps.

I used color wash to spray the page that I masked the corner with a couple flowers to leave a 'clean' spot to journal in. I then stamped the background stamp in Vintage photo on the front of the page leaving the journaling flowers open. I stamped the butterflies from the same set in Black Soot and embossed them with clear embossing powder. After they dried and cooled of I used Derwent Inktense pencils to color in the butterflies then dabbed at them with a water brush. I ran a strip of the butterfly tissue tape from the Sketchbook tapes down the left side of page. The flower is sprayed with Luminart spray and a old button glued to the center. I think I am done but will give it a day to settle in and see if I need to do more. The back is just going to be simple stamping with more journaling space. I am thinking about using the Wild West stamps and a saying from the Stuff to Say set. Any suggestions?

Summer of Color Brown

2011-07-11T02:07:00.003-05:00

I signed up to do the up to do the Summer of Color Event a few weeks ago and kind of let time and deadlines on a lot of stuff get away from me. I decided that this week I am going to participate and catch up with the others that I didn't get done as soon as I can and if I don't get them caught up I will keep up from now on. What happened is life interferred with getting the first one done then I allowed that to persuade me that I didn't want to turn the second week in because I didn't have the first one done and on and on and on...I am a procrastinator like no other...my reasons even have reasons.

Anyhow...This is a card I made for the Summer of Color Brown week.
The paper is from the BoBunny Timepiece Collection.
Card stock is Soft Suede and Very Vanilla from Stampin'Up!
Ink is Brushed Corduroy Distress ink and Tumbled Glass Distress ink.
Stamps used were: Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Shabby French and Stuff to Say sets.
The ribbon and roses were something I had in my stash. I brushed the roses with some of the Tumbled Glass Distress ink to distress them.

Around the house

2011-07-10T01:56:00.012-05:00

Well today has been a quiet laid back day. Thought I would post a couple of pictures about the tamales and tortillas I made and what is growing in my garden. Lets start there...in a flower pot.

For the last few years we have had some birds that have decided to honor us with raising their broods in the hanging flower pot that is under the highest part of the gable on the patio. I don't have any idea what kind of bird it is just little, brown and has a finch type beak. The dad has some reddish coloring on his chest and neck. Last week I went out and took pictures of the nest so I could show you the 4 little blue eggs. This is an 8" hanging planter so you can see those eggs are tiny!
Today I went to look see what was happening in the nest and this little guy greeted me. There are only 3 birds in the nest so I don't know if the other egg hasn't hatched or just didn't make it! If you have any idea what kind of bird this is let me know. It is so cute!
UPDATE: My friend Jeanette Bider, PhD, biological scientist, carves birds, bird watcher, travels to exotic places to see birds, supplied me with a name for these awesome, industrious, brave little birds. They are House Finch! Here is a picture I picked up on the net of the male and female birds I have been watching outside my window. My male isn't quite a bright red but according to Wiki they vary in colors and hues depending on what they eat. They are vegetarian and eat seeds and fruits and a flock can ruin a fruit tree in a summer. The birds come from Mexico and SA and have been taking over the US over time.

The past couple of days I have been in the process of making Tamales. I sort of used a recipe that I found on the net and altered it to fit what I needed! I think the tamales turned out very tasty and my husband loved them but thought that they might need a little more spice/heat to them. When I served them I covered the tamales with a green chili sauce and served them with refried beans, rice and tortillas that I made. The tortillas turned out kind of funky looking and thick but they tasted pretty good! I think before I do them again I will buy a tortilla press so they are more consistently shaped and of a more even thickness.

Altered Whisky Can

2011-07-07T05:41:00.006-05:00

UPDATE: My DH just told me that I have incorrectly spelled the word Whiskey here. In America Whiskey is spelled with an ey (whiskey) but in Scotland it only has a y (whisky.) Sorry my Scottish friends I didn't mean to blight the work and words. I will change it now!!

I decided to alter another of the whisky cans my husband gave me. Chuck loves single malt scotch and they only place it is made is in Scotland and they ship the bottles in these nifty cans. This is the second can that I have altered this year. The first can be viewed here. I really like the blue and whites in that can and the cutesy little birds. This can is different in that I used distressing and quite a few different techniques then I did in the first one. The first is feminine and this could be for either a man or woman.
I used the Tim Holtz Paper Stack Crowded Attic to cover the can and used Basic Black card stock to make the scalloped edge trim. I stamped some of the labels from the Tim Holtz/StampersAnon travel sets, Air Travel and Travel labels, on Very Vanilla card stock with Black Soot, Fired Brick, and Old Olive and cut them out.

Here is an up close of the details:

I mounted the air ticket on Basic Black card stock and adhered it to the can with Dimensionals from Stampin'Up! The labels I cut out I also popped some of them up on the dimensionals and some are glued directly to the paper. The air plane was cover with Accents Glaze and let dry before popping it up with a glue dot on the brad that holds the ball chain and philosophy tag in place. A mini paper clip 'holds' the ticket together.

WOYWW #109

2011-07-06T00:47:00.015-05:00

It has been an interesting week so far as the weather goes around here. Today I am out running around in the heat getting my errands done when I realized that my air conditioner didn't seem to be cooling off the car very well. I checked my iPhone weather app and here is what I saw! It doesn't look like it is going to be much better the rest of the week either!! I am guessing that my electric bill will be somewhere around $100-$125 per week if not more if this keeps up! I think I will just stay in and play in my craft room!

Welcome WOYWW #109. I have a lot of fun blogging and visiting the blogs of friends that I have made around the world. If you are curious as to what WOYWW is go to visit Julia Dunnit at Stamping Ground and see what I am talking about.

Speaking of craft rooms this is a picture of my desk today. See the big glass if Iced Tea in front of my stamp pads? I bet I will be drinking gallons of the stuff this week to stay cool. Back to the desk, I am persevering in getting my stamps off of wood blocks and making them acrylic block mounted stamps. I have so many stamps that room is becoming and issue with storage of the stamps. I have a friend who is freaking out about me doing this and her number one worry was about the resale value but you know I don't plan on selling them so for me that is a non-issue!
I learned about using Aleene's Tack-It Over and Over from Sue in Oregon, another blogger, to use with the stamps and have been working on completing removing the wood this past week.

I thought I would show you a canvas I finished this week using the paper I had left over from making the Christmas in July tags last week. All the paper on the tags and the Santa came from one sheet of Graphic 45 paper. This canvas was a lot of fun to make and I might have to add it to the class if anyone wants to make it too! I used some of the Candy Cane Stickles, the mini Flourish die from Tim Holtz.

One last picture then I am going to go...I made bread this week and I just thought I would crow about it since it has been bugging me to death that bread has gone up over $3 a loaf here. I made a loaf of bread in the bread machine, then I got a wild hair and while that was making made a loaf of cinnamon raisin and 10 sandwich rolls. I have a mixer that kneads so I don't have to do the hard work. I am just excited I made all this and I probably have enough of all the ingredients to make twice as much more and I paid less than $7 for all the makings. Call me cheap!! I don't care I need to the money to buy more stash!

I'm off now to have a snoop around the other blogs. I need more iced tea and I will be set for a pleasurable time. Everyone take care. Stay cool.

UPDATE! I just realized as I was reading Tuire Flemings post that I hadn't posted a picture of the PIF she sent me. If you look closely in the desk picture at the pen holder in the center back of the desk I have the cat that she made. Here is a pic of the brooch and cat. Thank you Tuire I have received compliments on both of them.

WOYWW #108

2011-06-29T01:07:00.009-05:00

Today is Wednesday and Julia has posted the WOYWW #108 on her blog Stamping Ground where all us crafters/artists gather each week to take a trip around the world from the comfort of our computer chairs. Click on the link and see what we have to offer. A legal snoop! WOW!

My desk has the lasted Options project kit from Pinecone Press that I picked up at the get together Tuesday. It has several different projects you can make using the kit. These kits are a lot of fun cause they contain everything you need to make the project and it is a no brainer cause your Mojo doesn't have to be present for you to create something. Usually I will start with a kit get enthused by it and branch out into something totally different.

Thought you might like to see a different view of the same desk. I really have it easy working from this desk! You can see my new drawers and the awesome bargain paper rack. If you look close there is the Clip It UP where some of my bling, flowers, buttons, and other embellies live. At the bottom of the picture is the new Stampin'Up! cattie that starts July 1 here in the states. Lots of fun new things and awesome stamps in this one.

I had scheduled a post on Sunday to come out today but for some reason it posted yesterday so today it will be my desk again. It has been a busy week crafting, gardening, and living. Besides the tags I made a frame for a favorite picture I took of my husband on a trip to Palma de Mallorca.

With all my spare time and energy I also decided to plaster the wall under the cabinets in the kitchen because I was tired of waiting for it to be done! I don't think it looks too bad!

I love all that I do but sometimes it is hard to get it all to fit in to what I can do. I felt really good the past week and it looks like I have probably done too much as I am having problems getting about tonight. Oh well! Life. I have a doctors appointment in the morning early with a new Rheumatologist who will hopefully know how to handle this darn disorder of mine so I guess I had better hit the hay. I am looking forward to seeing all the blogs tomorrow after I get out of the doctors.

Christmas in July Class

2011-06-26T21:30:00.017-05:00

We are going to do a Christmas in July assortment of classes this next month so all the newbies that want to make their own 'stuff' for Christmas will have plenty of time to do it. I decided I was going to do the 3 Tim Holtz style tags a little different this month and us Graphic 45 paper from last year that has these arched cutouts to make them with. Still used the Tim Holtz techniques but put a different twist on and made them simpler for the newbies.

The first one of father Christmas is my favorite I think. I like the vintage look and tried to keep that with the darker red Distress Stain and grey blue flower to match the grey blue/black color of the writing and in the leaves of his heads flower garland. I adhered a smaller picture from the same sheet of paper to a fragment charm and suspended it with bakers twine from a memo pin. I think the bakers twine and candy strip paper look good together!

This is an up close of the fragment charm tied with twine. It wasn't until I was tying it on that I noticed the candy cane stripe at the top!

The second tag of a vintage Christmas tree is my favorite I think!! I was thinking as I made this one that I think I am going to look in buying some of those bubbly candle lights this year hang red balls, maybe a snow man or two, and make a bunch of Christmas tags to hang on it. I think it would be pretty but I don't know what my family would think! I just won't tell them. I am just going to do it!!

I just love this tree. So simple! I have three or four years of Tim Holtz Christmas tags I can make to put on it. I made 6 from last Christmas and was thinking about doing this while I was making them. Hmmmm....it is an idea!

Tag number three is is definitely a favorite of mine! I know I said each one is a favorite and that is true! I couldn't choose just one that would be like choosing one child over another. don't you love the rich black and cream floral base? The back of this paper sheet was this print.

I added some vintage paper lace I had...don't know where I got it, dyed a flower red to match the red in the girls umbrella. I used glass beads on a glue dot in the center of the flower and then added a half pearl to the center of that. Really vintage feel to it!

Hope you like my Christmas in July tags. Class will be July 14th!

Materials:
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads
Tim Holtz Distress Stains
Adirondak Color Wash
Tim Holtz Stamps
Tim Holtz Ideology findings
Maya Road Mists
Graphic 45 paper

Picture frame

2011-06-25T14:41:00.019-05:00

Well I promised on Wednesday I would post pics of the picture frame and here it is! I think it turned out rather nice and I especially like it with a picture of my sweetie taken on a trip to Spain a few years ago! Chuck and I have visited the Bellver Castle , a circular gothic castle, in Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain several times and every time I go I see something new and interesting. I love the views of the ocean from the top!

In making this frame I used a Creative Imaginations Ribbon Frame covering it with various pieces of 2"x2" paper squares out of the Tim Holtz Paper Stacks. I love that paper because you get it all in one pad, 12"x12", 6"x6", 2"x2", and various other sizes of print paper. Awesome!

After covering the front and back with the paper I distressed around the edges and then highlighted some of the bits of paper with Perfect Pearls that I painted on with a paint brush. After letting it dry for a while I then followed up with several thin coats of Matte ModPodge sealer to protect it and help seal it down! On about the third coat I realized that I had left most of the back rather blah with little color but it was too late now! Before I had started gluing down the paper I cut the top of the frame apart and used Maya Road black spray mist and a glittery grey to cover the inside of the frame and the chipboard piece that holds the picture. After Mod Podging the collage I used a piece of clear acetate to cover the picture and glued it all down centered in the opening. I laced the top of the frame together again using Stampin'Up! seam binding ribbon in Crumb Cake!

I used the Tim Holtz glassine paper and flower die to make the large flower. I ran it through the Big Shot in a Stampin' Up! Embossing folder and added a vintage brad to the center. The red flowers are sprayed with Maya Road Mist and bling added.

I stamped the sentiment from the Stampers Anonymous stamp set Stuff to Say on a journal ticket and distressed around it in Vintage Photo. I guess I should say that all the ink used in this project unless otherwise listed was Ranger Distress Ink Pads. Hope you like the end result of my peak on Wednesday!

Materials Used:
Tim Holtz dies used on making this frame: Mini Branch & Leaf Set, Mini Lock & Key Set, Mini Flourish, Tattered Florals, Elegant Flourishes.
Tim Holtz Paper Stack: Lost and Found, Crowded Attic, Shabby Chic, and Seasonal. Journaling tickets
Tim Holtz findings: philosophy tag, mini pins, trinket pins.
Tim Holtz Distress ink, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo
Stampin'Up! embossing folder, antique brad, crumb cake seam binding.
Maya Road Mist
Creative imaginations frame
Mod Podge from Plaid
Perfect Pearls Powder

WOYWW #107

2011-06-22T12:34:00.004-05:00

WOW!! Wednesday again! Seems like this week has flown past a little faster then the ones that preceded it. I don't think I have been doing anything any different but... I have been busy crafting and cleaning and gardening...you get the idea. Idle hands haven't got a chance in this house cause something will come along and make them busy!

Welcome to my desk this Wednesday! There are a bunch of stamps I have taken off blocks and put in plastic boxes on the left side of the desk, right side has some cards I finished this week, check previous posts if you would like to see them. I also made a wall canvas using Tim Holtz products that you can see here! The center of the the desk is covered with a bunch of stuff I have out to do a picture frame for a class I am thinking about doing. I think I will first spray the white chip board frame with the color wash then make a collage with all the different 2"x 2" squares I can cut apart from the strips. Distress the edges and cover the whole thing over with something that give it a little 'shiny' or 'sparkly' effect. I think I might spray the whole thing over with a Perfect Pearls wash to get that shimmer effect and then bling it up with a couple flowers, some die cuts, a journaling ticket etc. Any ideas to help me out?

WOYWW is a so much fun and so addictive I really look forward to Wednesdays now! Wonder what it is all about? Visit Stamping Ground the home of Julia Dunnitt, the Queen of Snoop, and see what I am talking about. I am going to post this now so I can make a cup and sit and snoop awhile myself. Have a happy Wednesday!

Red, White, and Blue #2

2011-06-21T06:16:00.000-05:00

I have some more cards to share that I made at the crop on Saturday night. I love to get out and go over to the scrapbook store and sit around and work with friends and family! I love being surrounded by all the creativity not to mention all the awesome stuff that decorates the walls and shelves that I can purchase!

I love BoBunny papers! They are always so much fun to use and such high quality that they never fail me in what I am making! These next patriotic cards are matted with papers from the BoBunny 12"x12" and 6"x6" Liberty Paper packs. The card backs are the Stampin'Up! card stock. The card candy is from the Splitcoast Stampers stampers candy swap last year! I do have to brag and say that most of what I used on the cards is candy that I made. I love the instant gratification that making candy gives me and WOW! it is really easy to throw together a card!

Card 5...

Card 6...

Card 7...

Card 8...MIA...my friend I was cropping with whined so long and hard about wanting that particular card what was a friend to do but give it to her. Rhonda is a avid...rabid...fan of my creativity and tells me when I am right on or way off center with what I am doing...almost like another daughter cause that is what my daughter does too. True friends don't lie or fabricate and Rhonda will tell you if she doesn't like it!

Wall Canvas

2011-06-20T18:32:00.008-05:00

I wanted to share another project I finished Saturday! It is a 12"x12" wall canvas I created using Tim Holtz products. This canvas will hold a 5"x7" photograph and think one of my husband and I in sepia tones would look awesome on it!!! The paper background comes from the TH Crowded Attic paper stack. I used the Sketch book tissue tape to go around the outside edges of the frame. Ideology Pen Nibs, Regal Adornments, Memo Pin, Locket keys, Foliage, Philosophy tag, Film Strip Ribbon, Swivel Clasp, and Brads. I used some 2 in wide taffeta ribbon to lay my embellishments on. The picture mat is made of Stampin'Up! cardstock in chocolate chip and soft suede. I punched the corners with a Martha Stewart punch.

No matter how I tried I couldn't get a good picture of the mulberry paper roses and those dark fabric roses. If I got one in focus the color and focus would go out on the other. Here is about as close as I could get it. Aren't they pretty!!

Red, White, and Blue

2011-06-20T02:47:00.008-05:00

I went to a crop last night and spent a pleasurable evening crafting and gabbing with a bunch of my friends. It is always so much fun to get together and share ideas and get input from others on what they are doing and new things to learn.

Last night I couldn't make up my mind on what to make so I took several possible projects and one was to make cards for the 4th of July, Independence Day here in the USA. I had participated in a swap on Splitcoast Stampers last year to make patriotic card candy. I made a total of eight cards last night so thought I would divide them up over two days so I don't overwhelm anyone with them! All the cards blanks are made from Stampin'Up! card stock. The stamped images are from the swap. Bling from my craftroom stash. I think they are Recollections from Michael's. The paper mats are from BoBunny.

The first card I have named Eagle because it is a national bird and an emblem of our freedom!

The second card...America

The third card...Freedom

Fourth card...I love America

More tomorrow...

WOYWW #106

2011-06-15T01:33:00.005-05:00

The weather has not been cooperating with me tonight! We got a severe thunderstorm through here at about 7:30 pm and it knocked power out for over 4 1/2 hours. It started out with a lot of thunder and lightening and then to liven things up a bit we were hit with 55-60 mile per hour winds and hail the size of marbles and a friend measured some at her house that was over 2 1/2 inches in diameter. I haven't heard the official rain total but I would imagine it was at least 1 1/2-2 inches in about an hours time. I ended up cooking supper by candle light and we ate supper at about 10:45!

I had planned on showing some pictures of the flower and vegetable garden tonight but didn't get pictures before the storm and after the storm every plant in the garden had been shredded. My husband had some beautiful corn, beans, squash, and tomato plants but alas no longer! I haven't been able to do any crafting this week but was going to start a project tonight and now without electricity I don't have light to do any work. I took these photos of my craft room using flash so I can show you something of what I am doing. I am so excited that it is starting to come together!

First off here is a picture of my desk this week. You aren't going to believe how little is actually cluttering it up!! Surprise! If you didn't make it to my blog last week I told everyone I had decided to stay in the smaller room but due to space issues I am putting in new storage drawers/shelves etc.
This second picture is of the closet that I put a shelf unit and a couple of the plastic 4 drawer bins in, stacking them so I could have more space for my 'stuff'. I decided to move the paint bottle rack to the closet because I needed the space for my stamp pads that I use more then the paint.
I am not finished with the closet yet as I want to organized some of the things a little different but decided to put stuff in the approximate position it will end up in the end so I can keep shifting stuff around. I have so much 'stuff' that I am seriously thinking about unloading some of it on eBay!

If you have made it this far in the post you are probably wondering what all this is about! WOYWW is the brain child of Miss Julia Dunnitt at Stamping Ground. Every week I travel the globe looking at the desks of other crafters/artists without leaving the comfort of my desk chair. Check it out! Click the link and get ready for a ride of a lifetime. I am off to check out the blogs. Check back later and I promise I will have 'created' something.

Summer of Color Event

2011-06-08T17:10:00.005-05:00

I was blog surfing through some of the blogs I currently subscribe to when I read a post about the blog Twinkle Twinkle and that it was hosting a summer of colorful and creative art challenges. Wow sounds like a whole lot of fun to me so I am going to be joining in. Evidently they will supply the color challenge and it is up to the artist to supply the art. I think I will probably do some cards, some altered objects, ATC's and whatever else I decide to do. I am really looking forward to this!

WOYWW #105

2011-06-08T01:28:00.007-05:00

Hope everyone has had a chance to recover from the wonderful party that was the 2nd Birthday Anniversary of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday last week. I made it around to every blog and really enjoyed reading and snooping around the sites. Blogger wasn't functioning up to par and occasionally I couldn't leave a comment. If you want to find out more about what I am going on about pay a visit to the Queen of Snoops site and meet Julia Dunnitt and join in the fun.

This week has been a very busy week for me. I had a class teaching Tim Holtz style tag making to a group of 8 awesome women. They were all pleasantly surprised that they too could do that grunge and Steampunk stuff. We did three tags total, one using Ranger color wash, one using stains, and one where we made a stamp out of the Elegant Flourish die. I made these tags in April for a class last month but because of 3 deaths in the family/friends didn't get to do it till this month. Everyone had a blast and told me that they were looking forward to next month.

Another thing I have been busy trying to get done is get the house and my craft room/studio reorganized. That isn't an easy task for me with some of my health issues but I have been plugging away pushing the limits to do a little bit each day. I have decided to stay in the small bedroom and reorganize it rather than to transform the larger spare bedroom into a studio. I like this room and get good vibes when I am in there and I think I would rather the bigger room be used for guests. I don't know might change my mind next week but this is what I have done so far. This is my desk this week! Messy much? Yeah a lot! I spent two days putting together this drawer unit, actually 2 units, to store my stuff in. Unfortunately you can hardly see the unit. I got them at IKEA and I think I am going to love it/them.

Another view of the drawer unit. There are a total of 3-3in deep and 3-4in deep drawers in each unit giving me a total of 12 new drawers to store stuff in! I bought these about a year ago and was waiting till I got in my new room and after deciding to stay in this room I spent 2 days off and on putting them together.

Thought that you might like to see what is in the one drawer! It is all my border and corner punches! I actually have 3 drawers full of punches and when I was putting them in the drawers I thought OMG! I am a hoarder but I don't think this qualifies cause I use each and every punch through out the year and God knows it is the tools of my trade. Cross my heart!!

Now this is the big bargain find for my 'new' craft room. My nephews wife (guess that makes her my niece-in-law I think after this she will be just niece!) is a garage sale/thrift shop shopper and a while back she called and then she texted me a pic of a paper rack and wanted to know if I wanted it! Did I want it? Are there cows in Texas? Still a Pope in the Vatican? Long story short I told her "sure if it is reasonable" all the time expecting to pay $25-35 for it. My darling dear niece got this rack for the outrageous price of $6. Awesome huh!

Well I guess that is enough chatter for this week. I hopefully will have things organized and some thing nice to show you next week! I am off to snoop around WOYWW blogs! Have a good week!

Candy Giveaways

2011-06-05T14:41:00.005-05:00

While web surfing today I found some yummy blog candy giveaways that I thought I would
share. Lots of fun stuff!

Vicky's Sticky with Icky blog candy

Mariannes Craftroom

Di's Digi Downloads

OWSE ATC SWAP 5/2011

2011-06-02T01:22:00.009-05:00

I really have been having fun doing the swaps at the Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium! Each month Michele tells us what style/theme the ATC should be that month and we make 5 ATC to share. This month was anything goes and I decided to try using the new Tim Holtz stains and stamps. I really loved the vintage photos in the Lost and Found Paper Stash and used them as a focal point.

Each ATC's background is different depending on how heavy a hand I had with the stain bottle. I like it though. This one is a favorite. See the impishness in his eyes.

The June Theme is Patriotic and it can be any style of art, grunge, cutesy it is the artists choice! Want to play? Go to the OWSE and sign up!

WOYWW #104 and the 2nd Anniversay Partay!!!! Grungy Monday 09

2011-06-01T01:19:00.014-05:00

Happy Anniversary to all the other WOYWWers that participate here at Julia Dunnits blog Stamping Ground! This week we are celebrating the anniversary by PIF-ing...swapping gifts. I only joined about 6-7 months ago but I have had a blast participating in the blog snoop each Wednesday and look forward to seeing every ones desks and projects they have made. Check it out it might be something you would be interested in doing! WARNING: it can be very addictive!!

My desk is an absolute disaster tonight and there is no way I am going to show it off. Truth of the matter is I couldn't get a picture that wasn't fuzzy or crappy looking so I just decided to show off what I have been doing this week instead. I think something might be wrong with my camera...oh no!!

Remember this house that I showed everyone last week that I was going to alter? Well I finally got the blasted thing done yesterday after a lot of futzing around trying this or that out. I am really pleased at how the house turned out!!

This picture was taken with the same camera under normal light and I don't think it does it justice color wise. The papers are all from Tim Holtz paper stashes Lost and Found and Crowded Attic. The dies and some Ideaology used are also Tim Holtz. The rest of the stuff, buttons, flowers, ribbons,etc are from my stash.

Here is an up close of the side of the the house. I used the Sewing Room die on both sides cause I like it and I thought it would look good...don't think I am lazy...just coordinated!

For this fob I used a swivel clasp and a button I had and attached various dangling things to it. Cool huh! Since it had the short little bottle I thought it needed a little something else on that side!

Here is an up close of the drawer fronts. I used some Accent Glaze and gave some of the buttons on the paper dimension and then used it to adhere buttons and pins to the front.

Anyway that is it. What do you think? Let me know what I could have done different or better. What am I going to do with it? I think I am going to use it to hold some of my hand sewing stuff like a box of pins, a tape measure, a few buttons etc.

I am going to go now to Stamping Ground and sign in then fix me something to drink and surf around to the other blogs to see what is on other peoples desks this week. Thanks for dropping by!

I decided after posting this for WOYWW to also use this as my Grungy Monday 09 over at Studio L3. I think it fits the Shabby Chic criteria that the challenge was about and I didn't get it finished until Tuesday! Linda Ledbetter sponsers a weekly challenge to anyone interested in learning to use/do Tim Holtz techniques.

Blog candy giveaway

2011-05-28T21:48:00.004-05:00

Stacy at Scrap with Stacy has some first blogversary candy she wants to give away. Click the link and go check it out!

WOYWW #103

2011-05-25T01:53:00.005-05:00

It is Wednesday again and I am so happy to be home so I can play along on WOYWW. I hadn't realized how addicted I have become to the group until I couldn't play along one week and had to use trip pictures last week to post. If you want to play along visit Stamping Ground the home of Julia Dunnit and blog hop around with the rest of us! It is lots of fun and I will warn you...very addictive!

I came home last Saturday from helping my daughter and her husband bury his mother. Rainey had been ill with all sorts of medical problems not the least of which was abdominal cancer. Rainey turned out to be a dark horse and had a history most of her family didn't know about. Oh nothing bad or horrible just that she was a scrapbooker, did altered art, knitted, crocheted, painted and even took classes to learn how to do some of it. We found notebooks filled with notes she had taken in the classes and drawings that she had made from pictures out of magazines. Rainey loved her cats and we were surprised at finding no less than 6 scrapbooks filled with pictures of them, scrapbooks of trips she had taken over the years, pictures of her son filled a book...and no one knew she knew how to do it. Her house and yard were filled with all sorts of flowers and she loved roses in all forms. I wish I could have known her a little better, we were kindred spirits.

Okay on to my project I started last night! I brought this little house home from Iowa with me because my daughter was going to toss it out. The minute I saw it I knew that I wanted to alter it Tim Holtz style!

Here is a picture of my desk and the house in progress. I am not for sure exactly what it will turn out to be but I think I will use it to store buttons or sewing supplies on the shelf in my craft room.

Hopefully I will get it done by the weekend and I will post a finished picture so come back next week and see it!

WOYWW #102

2011-05-18T01:26:00.003-05:00

Sorry I don't have a picture to show you of my work desk this week but I am not at home in Oklahoma but in Iowa helping my daughter and son-in-law. Micheal's mother passed away last week and I drove up here with my daughter to help them get some things sorted out. Rainy's services were on Saturday and now we are working on getting her house and contents sorted.

Hopefully I will be home by next Wednesday and will be able to post as usual! Everyone have a great week! If you are wondering what I am talking about drop by Julia Dunnits blog, Stamping Ground and check out all the other wonderful desks and have a snoop around at what is going on in blog land.

Thought that I would leave you with a couple pictures I took this past year on a cruise with my daughter. It just doesn't seem right not to post something. We had an awesome week together on the Carnival Ship Ecstasy. This pic was taken in Progresso. Fun place if you ever get the chance to go there!

The smaller ship is the Ecstasy the ship we were on. The larger is the Glory and I have cruised on her also.

Red White and Blue Swap

2011-05-08T02:29:00.008-05:00

Here is a card I made for the Red, White, and Blue swap on Splitcoast Stampers. This wasn't a patriot swap just one using these colors. I decided to use a scrap of paper I had in the bin from Stampin Up! that was off white with red diamonds, clubs, etc. as the base of the card. I then added a strip of Real Red card stock and dark blue ribbon. The King card is made using a tag and the Tim Holtz embossing folder. I then distressed it with denim ink. There is also a challenge, Drunken Stampers Challenge #66 ~ playing cards that I think I will enter this in.

WOYWW #100

2011-05-04T00:42:00.005-05:00

What's on my work desk today? Well had to cover it up cause I have started to work on a swap over at the creativeblock-stampersanonymous Stampers Anonymous blog on Yahoo. The swap is an Artist Choice 6x6 Page Swap where you can make all alike or all different it is up to the artist what they want to make and do. There are 13 people signed up for the swap so there is a lot of creating to be done here. I will post the pages when I get them done.

I have not been doing a lot of creating this week. I have not been feeling real well again so have been taking it easy for the most part. I promise to get in there and do something good to share this next week. I have another blog Okienurse's Fibromyalgia Blog where I have been documenting my health care trials and tribulations on in a rather erratic fashion but I wanted to thank people who have emailed me for sent well wishes to me and have shared their experiences with me. It means a lot when you feel unwell to know that you aren't the only one in this boat. I have never been much of a whiner but this disorder has caused me lots of grief personally, health wise, and now I am unemployed cause I can't hold down a job. Once again thanks for the well wishes.

Okay now you are really wondering what is going on cause I am thanking people and all. Well Ms. Julia Dunnit at Stamping Ground is the cause of it all so much so that some people even call her the Queen of Snoop. WOYWW is group of creative people that get together to share their desks and support one anothers endeavors. Check it out here.

WOYWW #99 April 27, 2011

2011-04-27T00:51:00.008-05:00

What a week this past week has been! I have been busy both with life and with my crafting and now when life comes knocking my first inclination is to head to the studio and lock the darn door!! It hasn't been the happiest of times and I am sure that it could be worse but right now I am in a poor frame of mind to judge...

On to what is on my work desk this week. I have been busy making cards for a swap and as soon as I can find them I will put them in a post for you to see. Some how in cleaning up my desk to move on to the next project I sat them down 'some where safe' and can't remember where I put them!! This is what my desk looks like today. I am working on ATC's for a swap at OutlawWomenScrapbookEmporium. This is an eclectic group of women who do all sorts of paper crafts and altered art...like this group...on Yahoo! Once you belong you can buy products from the Emporium at a reduced price. Check it out.

The ATC's were suppose to be related to spring so I stamped the flowering tree from the Stampin'Up! set Easter Blessings in VersaMark then embossed it with clear embossing powder on Crumb Cake card stock. After the embossing cooled I used painted bleach on the flowers to bleach the color out. Oh yeah! I used the Tim Holtz ATC die to cut the cards out. Nice huh.

The butterflies are cut from Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime paper using a Creative Memories mini butterfly punch! Oval and sentiment from Stampin'Up!

Here is the finished ATC...now don't make fun of me this is only the second one I have ever made and I think I am getting the hang of it but...sometimes small isn't my forte! I like the bleach resist and found that a lot of the card stocks don't necessarily just fade out but take on a different color when bleached so take care if you try it.

Now I bet I have you wondering what I am going on about with the WOYWW stuff. Head over to Julia's place The Stamping Ground and check out all the awesome sites we hop around (as in blog land hop)to each week and snoop into whats on their work desk this week. I am off to check it out. Have a great week!

New Mothers day layout

2011-04-25T02:45:00.014-05:00

I am really getting into the Tim Holtz style grunge tags and altered items but I still have a love of bright colors and cutesy things and I have been trying to do a little of each style each month. This month I combined that love for the bright colors with vintage floral prints and flowers cut with dies to create a sentimental Mother's Day layout for my April layout of the month. I think for someone who doesn't scrapbook I have been good keeping up with my New Years resolution to make at least one 2 page layout a month. Now all I have to do is start putting the pictures with them!!

When I saw this designer print paper by Crate Paper from Emma's Shop Collection called Fabric I thought to myself that it looked like the fabric that my Mom or Grandma would have used to make a shirtdress out of. The mat on the left page is meant to hold a 5"x7" photograph of Mom!

The three mats on the right page are cut to hold 4"x6" photographs.
I love the multiple hues of pink on the cream background and just new that I had to make something out of it. I think that this has enough nostalgia it is perfect for a Mother's day layout.

I really thought making the flowers would be a lot more work then what these turned out to be. I almost didn't try and just opted for the precut/packaged flowers. Don't think I will do that again. I think that with a little more practice I will be able to make them even better then what these turned out!

Materials:
Stampin Up! card stock, whisper white
Bazzil card stock, dark green, pink, hot pink
Designer paper by Crate Paper
Stampin Up! Bigz dies: Flower Daisy's #2, flowers(retired)
Stampin Up! scallop trim border punch
Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
Tim Holtz dies: tattered leaves, elegant flourishes
Stampin Up! stamp Messages for MOM
Stampin UP! Ink pads
Stickles
Brad and Dew Drops

Here Comes the Sun

2011-04-24T21:00:00.000-05:00

Last year I took a class at WLS that was new mini edgy album with a clear acrylic cover. I didn't get the book finished until just last month so thought I would share it with you today. I really think the book is so retro and really cool and far out. The book is decorated with BoBunny’s Flower Child paper collection.

I used Glossy Accents to adhere the flower to the front of the clear cover and on the bling to make sure they were well protected. I have been making a lot of the mini books and giving them away but I just might have to keep this one for myself! I bought several extra sheets of this paper so I could make something else with it! Isn't it cute? Thanks for looking!

WOYWW #98

2011-04-19T23:16:00.005-05:00

It has been a very busy and chaotic week around here this week. I am actually looking forward to Wednesday now cause WOYWW is my anchor to what day it is....not to mention how much fun it is to snoop around everyone desks! Stamping Ground is J. Dunnits blog and where you need to go to check it out!

My work desk is a disaster this week. I have all sorts of stuff left out that I have been using this week and haven't got it all put back where it belongs! I don't think anyone else here does that...or do they? I wouldn't tell...as you can see I staged this and cropped that part out of the picture!!

I wanted to share some things I received this week. I won some blog candy this past week from Charlene! It was some fun ribbon, two stamp sets, some brads, and other stuff. As I was putting the ribbons away in my ribbon bag I thought that I would show off the bag I bought to hold the bits and pieces. It has holes all around the clear walls and you just punch it through and viola! I don't know how they don't get tangled but they don't!

Secondly, I was talking with my daughter about wanting to do a art journal she gave me a big pot of Gesso, a Strathmore Sketch book, and some itty bitty watercolor canvases! Yay! I am off and running now!

I have been fairly productive this week, made 10 cards for a friend to use at church. Made several tags one of which is my first steampunk tag(maybe to cute for a real SP tag), made another tag for the Grungy Monday challenge, another tag for a friend that passed and I put a tribute on my blog, and did some more organizing of stash in my craft room. Still have a lot of organizing I need to today. I sounded like a sailor that had been at sea a year when I opened a cabinet and everything jumped out at me.

On non-paper craft stuff I did a little work out in the yard. I planted the planter around the patio with petunias, sage, begonias, and other stuff. I also planted some tomatoes, peppers, and onions in the garden. Tomorrow I am going to plant some peas, beans, and maybe some corn. I will wait a couple more weeks to plant the okra cause it doesn't like too cold of feet and the 100+degree weather is what it likes best! Payday I will buy more flowers to go in the flower pots and maybe get the swimming pool open so I can get so less stressful water exercise in.

Okay thats it for me I am going to start my tour around the blogs. Take care and have a good week.

Vickie

A tag and a story!

2011-04-18T02:48:00.021-05:00

UPDATE: Freddie Haddad passed from this world April 17, 2011 at 10:40pm.

I met Leslie and Fred about 3 years ago when Leslie opened up her scrapbook store Whole Lotta Scrap on Main Street in Norman, Oklahoma. They are a really awesome couple and you can tell that they genuinely love and care about one another. We have spent birthdays, holidays, and other events with them and they have become part of our family. Leslie has taken to calling me Momma and she is my other daughter by another mother! The beginning of March Fred went to the doctor thinking he had some kind of stomach problems and was given some bad news. Fred had Stage 4 Liver Cancer that had spread throughout his body. It was so sudden it was a shock since Fred hadn't been ill and there hadn't been any other warning signs that it was growing.

Fred is in the hospital tonight and the doctors have told Leslie and the family that Fred most likely won't make it another 48 hours. I went to the hospital to visit with them for a while tonight and say my goodbyes. Fred was asleep...and chances are he won't wake from this sleep tonight. My heart breaks for Leslie. Fred will be missed by many!

I made this tag today thinking I would give it to Leslie and Fred when I went to the hospital today. I think I left it on a table...I can't remember now.

I think the closeup picture of this tag says it all about how Fred enjoyed life to the fullest! He loved and cherished his family and was loyal to his friends. Professionally he was respected by all his colleagues and known to deliver what he promised and took pride in his work.
Fred loved to go to sports events and NHRA races in Ft. Worth. Fred actually took a couple pictures of my husband Chuck at a race in TX before they even met each other last year. He loved going to his land with Leslie's Dad, Claude, and four wheeling and cooking out. Fred loved a good gossip and would come to the store when we had crops and would sit and joke and kid around with the women there about this and that and he got so comfortable just hanging with us we dubbed him and honorary scrapbooker! He liked nothing better then play pranks on some of the women and would enlist Leslie's aide to help him pull it off. Fred would come in and cook hot dogs and hamburgers for us when we had the OU/OSU football bedlam each year, one year smoking out the store. Everyone that knew Fred knew what a hard worker and how sincere a person he was. If you had a problem he had a solution! Freddie was always willing to help carry stuff and would make multiple trips to the cars packing out the too much stuff we packed in and when the women told him they needed lockers to store their stuff in he built them! He was priceless!

Yep, I think Fred Enjoyed the Journey...we enjoyed Fred!

Grungy Monday #3.2 color washes

2011-04-17T04:31:00.005-05:00

After I posted the steampunk tag I went back and read the whole post over at StudioL3 and was going to look at some of the other tags. What I read disqualified the other tag because this is a product specific contest and you had to use the color wash put out by Ranger/Tim Holtz. Lucky for me that after I started making that tag I received a bottle of the Meadow Color wash from GloMom at ATT so now here is the tag I made for this challenge.

I think it turned out pretty cute. Steampunk to cute! I like them both!

Materials used:
Tim Holtz - Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp Sets - Good Thoughts - Reflections
Ink:
Tim Holtz® Distress Stains™ Broken China
Tim Holtz® Adirondack® Color Wash Meadow
Tim Holtz® Distress Ink Pads vintage photo, walnut stain
Tissue Tape—Sketchbook
Hole reinforcers
Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
Leaf punch
Stampin Up Card stock and embossing powder
Mulberry Paper Flowers(?Prima)
Ribbons

Grungy Monday #3 using colorwashes

2011-04-16T21:51:00.005-05:00

This is an interesting challenge for me in that I didn't have any color washes because no place in town sells much in the way of TH products. My local scrapbook store has started carrying stuff because I have asked for it but she hasn't gotten any of the color washes and only 5 colors of the stains in so far. I 'made' a color wash using a faded denim ink and decided to also add Perfect Pearls to it to give it a "little shine." Well maybe a lot as is evidenced by all the sparkle and shine on the tag!! I also decided to pull out the Graphic 45 SteamPunk papers and try a little steampunk style on this project. What do you think? I think it has all the elements of steampunk and it really isn't as bright and sparkly in person. I think I like it.

It is a lot different then anything I have done before but then when I first started grunge I wasn't so for sure I was going to like it. love, Love, LOVE it now!

The girl and round tag is cut from the Steampunk pad and then I glued them onto a square fragment and a round fragment tag with the Glossy Accents.

The cogs are made with the Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers die mini gears using grunge paper and chipboard. I sprayed the gears with the home made color wash. The roses are by Prima and the leaves are a Martha Stewart Punch. The ribbon and fibers are from my stash.

I wasn't from sure I was going to like this but I think it turned out nice!

WOYWW #97

2011-04-13T03:49:00.069-05:00

I have been very busy this week doing various and sundry things but when I went in to take a picture of my desk it looked sadly lacking in someway. I truly have been busy crafting and you will have to scroll back through the posts to see what I have been up to!

This is my desk this morning. Not much to see all things told as I am in the beginnings of a new project for the Grungy Monday Challenge over at StudioL3 where everyone gets together and submits a Grungy project using the challenge bit which this week is color washes. As you can see from the tag on my mat what I was attempting to do may not be working out but I am not giving up on it yet. I took a mini-mister and added the faded denim to it and then added some Perfect Pearls but it looks a little strange to me...
I am attempting my first 'steampunk' style tag and I am not exactly sure what I am doing so keep tuned to see how it turns out.

I bought a notebook to start an art journal in and have been watching posts on you-tube in hopes I can learn what to do. It looks like it could be a lot of fun to make one so I am going to give it a go. Looking at the paper mat on my desk I might keep it to put in my journal! It has lots of possibilities.

If you stumbled on to my site and wonder what I am blabbering on about it is Wednesday and every Wednesday we get together and take a peak at other peoples desks around the world...literally. Anyway if you would like to join in or just get more information go to Stamping Ground where the Queen of this kingdom Julia Dunnit has set up the system. Thanks for stopping by! I am off to take a peek at the other peoples desks.

Week #2 Grungy Monday

2011-04-10T21:01:00.005-05:00

Wow! Week 2 of the Tim Holtz style tags is almost over and and Linda over at StudioL3 will be announcing the next weeks tag soon. I had a lot of fun making this tag this week and I am looking forward to doing another one this week. Woo Hoo where can you have a lot of fun and learn a lot at the same time? Check it out!

In this challenge we were asked to make a stamp using one of the dies then to stamp on the tag using a matte medium. I made my stamp out of the elegant flourishes. Stamped the image multiple times let it dry then distressed over it and stamped over it with the pattern pieces stamp. I think it turned out rather well.

Materials:

Tim Holtz'dies: Sewing room, Tag and book plates, Elegant Flourishes
Ink: Old Paper, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
TH Hanger clips
Grunge Paper

Stampin' Up!
Very Vanilla Cardstock
Stamp: Pattern Pieces

Ribbon and buttons from craft stash

April TH style Tag Class

2011-04-08T02:11:00.003-05:00

Went to WLS tonight for another Tim Holtz style tag class with my peeps! Love to play with those girls they are all such awesome crafters. Everyone might remember this tag from the Week #1 Grungy Monday entry on Monday of last week. I decided to use it in the class so everyone would learn a couple of different techniques from each tag. I love the recycling bit of this tag where I used the packaging from the bird and cage die to make the clear overlay on the tag. The overlay was then embossed with an old Cuddlebug or Sizzix embossing folder. This tag was made using the wrinkle free technique and then embossed.
The second tag is made using Distress Crackle paint in Antique Linen and the cage and bird were cut out of grungeboard. All the flowers are colored with distress inks. Fun and simple! Doesn't the addage tag say it all?

The last tag was a learning experience for all of us. I don't remember how many distress inks I used to build up the background on this tag but it was a bunch then the butterflies were stamped with in Broken China and the rabbit was stamped in the Black Soot and embossed with clear embossing powder. Tried something different with the flower and after inking it with the Dusty Concord I rinsed the flowers in clear water and used a heat tool to dry them quickly. I wanted a worn look not the bright purple color. The Memo pin holds an image cut out of the Seasonal paper stack Easter papers. Cute!

Materials:
Tim Holtz dies: Tag & Bookplates
Caged Bird
SPRING SPRUNG Easter
Tim Holtz Crackle Paint, antique linen
Distress ink pads:
Barn Door
Chipped Sapphire
Rusty Hinge
Wild Honey
Faded Jeans
Dusty Concord
Spiced Marmalade
Broken China
Frayed Burlap
Scattered Straw
Antique Linen
Tea Dye
Vintage Photo
Black Soot
Mustard Seed
Fired Brick
Walnut Stain
Seasonal Paper Stack
Memo Pin
Muse Token
Addage Tickets
Bazzil Brad
Flower Soft
SU clear embossing powder
Various ribbons and laces
dew drops