Friday Fiasco - The Late Version

Today is my good friend's 50th birthday.  Being a self-proclaimed recluse, only big occasions seem to get me out of my house these days.  You would think that with all of that time on my hands I would have had a card prepared before 6:30 pm the night of her birthday dinner...and you would be oh...so...wrong.

Picture this...me in a complete relaxed state watching videos mulling over what new technique I'm going to try on my friend's birthday card.  Picture me choosing this very cool technique from the uber-talented Britta Swiderski.  Picture me reminding myself that things could get dicey BUT IT WILL BE OKAY.  Then picture me sitting down at my craft table to do said technique and basically just losing my shit.  Why?  Because there's a learning curve and no matter how much I prepare myself mentally, I'm never going to be okay with a piece of paper that looks like this...

This is my very unfortunate first attempt.  I decided to give gelatos a try instead of distress ink to change it up a bit.  Rule #1: It is not the best idea to "change it up a bit" when learning something new.  I was frustrated but I pushed on going back to the original instructions.  I ended up with this...

In my opinion, there are a few things that went wrong here.  My color choices were not strong enough.  I really wanted colors similar to the ones used in my first try but I don't have those colors in distress inks.  My friend loves pink and I'm a teal girl - so I was a little stuck (part of the reason I reached for the gelatos first).  I choose to use a yellow spray mist - which really cancelled out the pink and reds I had added from my distress ink stash (spun sugar and worn lipstick).  I'm still not sure what color spray ink to use on a pink project.  My spray mists are uber-saturated and bright.  I thought about throwing in the towel at this point.  But I moved on...

The paper was originally slated to be part of the background of the card.  I had already chosen to use the SHE was a daughter stamp from Unity Stamp Co.  I decided to shift gears and make it the pattern on the dress.  I wasn't so happy with this choice but I REALLY wanted to try and make it work.  Pretty soon I realized there wasn't enough contrast.

So I got out my trusty gelatos and tried to deepen the contrast and even add a little pink and red to the mix.  I wasn't successful in bringing out the pinks and reds - but there was a little more contrast between layers of the dress.  I was somewhat satisfied.  I then moved on to putting the pieces of the card together.  By this time - I had maybe 15 minutes to get everything done so I had to work fast.

And there it is...  the finished card.  Surprisingly, I am really happy with it.  There isn't a strong resemblance to it's original state.  However, I was able to make it work which is really all that matters.  If I had to do it over again - I would stamp the image and color the dress with gelatos.  Unfortunately that wouldn't have been nearly as fun as sweating it out to the finish line (in this case). There were a number of other different errors - the card was too big and I ended up sticking it down and letting it flow over the edges.  I also made a mistake while writing and ended up having to cover the inner part of the card...

Notice the extra portion of the card in brown on the opposite page.  I could not find any envelopes.  I had to put the card in one of those small brown paper bags you get when you buy something small from your LSS.  I stapled it and stamped a birthday balloon on the front.  Done and done.

Anyhoo,  before I head out for the night, I want to leave you with a few things I learned today.

• Being a beginner sometimes means following directions...EXACTLY.  
• It's okay to accept your beginner status when trying new things even if you've been doing some other version of that hobby/craft/activity for years.
• Sometimes you have to accept the mistakes and move on.  Cutting the front of the card down would have been a much bigger mistake than having a 1/4 inch overflow on two sides.  Weigh your options.
• When things go wrong - reinvent.  I could have totally walked away from my orange background - but I pressed on and I think it worked in my favor.  
• As always...it's okay to mess up.  It's okay to lose it sometimes.  It's okay to just say screw it and throw your experiment in the trash or to push on and see where it goes.  Both options have value.  Only you can decide what choice is right.  In this case, I had no time and I'm really glad.  

So there it is...two fiascos, lots of steps, and one finished card.  I'm totally ready to try the technique again - staying closer to my own chosen color palette and see where it leads.  I will post the results here.  I hope everyone is having a great Friday evening or Saturday (wherever you are in the world).  Until then...

Your Mission: Choose to Accept It

I've been home for almost two weeks. I had a very kind friend take care of my beastly kitty while I was away and I've been planning on getting her a gift or even better making something. Handmade is always a good thing. The problem is...I won't get off my keister and do it. It's a pretty simple thing really. Right? BTW: I'm horrible at this kind of thing. I haven't even called to check-in. It's terrible.

So this morning, I collected a large group of stamps. I was thinking more about being creative, having fun, and coming out with a bundle of mixed media cards for my friend wrapped in twine with a bow. Simple. Yes. Unfortunately, simple and I don't seem to be acquainted...at all. Did you notice how many stamps I pulled out? Many of these images are stamps I've never touched OR I've "simply" thrown in the towel after a particularly dastardly craft session. Many of these images have never seen the light of day on any kind of project. It's a shame. To be fair, five of these sets are relatively new - did I just say five? Sheesh! Moving on...

So this is what I'm working with...some might say there are far too many choices. I think it's plenty. I won't be getting up to get more stamps and I have a very loose framework in mind. Make them messy, imperfect, and pretty. I've never done this style before...which makes this mission precarious at best. I'm not sure if it's even my friend's style now that I think about it - but I hope it works out. I plan to use a bunch of my coloring mediums; distress inks, paints, stains, markers etc; inktense pencils; spray mist; watercolor crayons and so on.

I plan to start today by my very efficient visitor (I call him Dad) already has a list of errands to run. He has promised a day spent at home tomorrow. We'll see. So this is my plan or mission. Make 15 cards. Print out a variety of sentiments in pretty fonts, cut them into strips, bag them and put them with the card bundle. I don't usually put sentiments on my cards unless they are part of the set. So I want to give my friend choices. It's the first time I'll be doing it this way. Bundle the cards in teal twine and put in a cute box with a glue stick. Present to friend with apologies for being a gigantic ass and not calling immediately. My mission deadline is Sunday...I'm choosing to accept it. I might make a few changes to stamp images or color mediums but for now I'm pretty happy. Hope you're still having a great day (two posts in one day). Until then...

P.S. I just counted and there are 25 sets of stamps on that table - I've lost my mind.

Baby Shower Thank You Cards

Hello friends!!!  I finally have something crafty to report.  I wanted to share the cards from the June 10 on the 10th post where I tackled the issue of planning and finishing a big project.  I was focused on how to keep things fresh and interesting while getting 50 cards completed.

Now that I'm firmly on the other side of this large crafty commitment, I can breathe a sigh of fresh air and talk about it without turning to blue language or tears.  So without further ado...

As many of you might remember, the momma-to-be was active in the paper decision making and color scheme.  This is an important part of the process.  I definitely felt inspired by the scheme and ended up having more freedom than anticipated in terms of accent colors, design, etc.

This is by far the favored card of the bunch.  My sister (momma-to-be or preggers depending on the day and my mood) loved this card.  She especially loved the paper-pieced shopping bags.  I had planned on doing that on every card - but that flew out the window after the first 10.  I think the Spectrum Noir markers held up well and I like the coloring on this particular card.  The design is a direct copy (or card lift) from the ever-talented Jodi Collins.  You can find her original card here.  I love her style so much.

Next up, is this beauty,

I really loved making this card.  It's another card lift from Jodi Collins.  Find the original here.  I think it's one of my favorites because the amount of layering.  Notice how I've stopped paper piecing at this time and the juiciness of the Spectrum Noir markers is getting the better of me on the leggings.  I'm trying not to sweat those things - even now.

The following card is a simplified version of the one above.  I had grand plans to liven this one up a little more but it didn't happen.  I also planned on paper piecing the bags, another thing that didn't happen.  Insert sigh here.

Next up, is another Jodi Collins inspired card.  Have I said I love her work enough yet?  Find the original here.  I really love what SHE did with the card.  I think my interpretation is really lacking.

Frankly, there is too much pattern going on here.  I never thought I'd utter the words.  There is no where for the eye to rest - a really big problem in design.  I should have considered that more.  Also notice how I've stopped the intricate blending on the images.  This was one of the last designs and my arthritic hand was screaming for mercy.

The next card was inspired by this sketch from Retro Sketches.

Retro Sketches: Original Source

This was my favorite paper.  I didn't have a lot of it and I was just SURE I was going to rock these out.  I thought the heavens were going to open and sing at this finished card.  Guess what?  I hate the end result.  Sometimes life is just like that.  I wanted to tear them up - but a girl's got to get here order done.

And finally last but not least is this little dear...

I almost kept this one.  It was in the height of my blending phase and I was playing with sky colors.  I loved the end result even if the shading around the girl is a little purple for my taste.  This card was inspired by one of the earliest sketches on the Mojo Monday blog.  You can find the original here.  I really love the finished product on this one....

So that's it for now.  I'll be back in a few days with a list of things I learned from this project.  I have big plans with Starbucks and my local book store today.  Going to do some reading and try to resist buying any of the lovely books.  Hope everyone has a great Saturday.  Until then...

"The Nots" (A Very Long Post)

I've been really floored by how wonderful my reading challenge has been going over the last almost seven months.  The quality of the reading has been at times divine and surprisingly pleasing.  I've spent a good deal of time in both fiction and non-fiction with crafty pieces sprinkled through out.  I just finished this book by the wonderful Susannah Conway and started this ditty by Kristin Neff.  I got the second book "recommendation" from Brene' Brown's website.  I noticed it was on her nightstand and wanted to learn a little more about self compassion after reading her fantastic books.  Susannah and Kristin have helped me become familiar with something called "the nots."  "The nots" are those things we repeat to ourselves so much that we give them a corporal shape and form.  They are spoken into existence.  I started thinking about all my "nots" and why I'm having such an effing hard time with being creative right now.  And guess what - there's that eight year old girl staring me in the face.

In second grade, I had the most fantastic teacher.  I loved being in her classroom and she fueled my love for words and books.  Unfortunately - this is also the year I began to tell myself that I didn't have the "art" gene.  I started to notice how other kids were able to draw, color, and create things in a way I believed I never would have imagined.  This is the year "the nots" took over when it came to drawing, painting, cutting, gluing, you name it.   I became the non-artist.

If there is one thing I've learned about creativity - it is the necessity to move forward and learn new things.  Without the challenge, we become stagnant - burnt out.  "The nots" have been keeping me from moving forward and I am afraid they will take everything creative I've cultivated in myself since 2007 and make it disappear.  I can't have that - not now, not ever.  I thought it was time to put those "nots" out in the open and start tackling them one by one.  So here's the short list of my "nots".

• I am NOT an artist.
• I am NOT a painter.
• I am NOT creative.
• I am NOT a writer.
• I am NOT as good/smart/pretty/talented/(put any adjective here) as _____________________.

The last "not" is a big one because if I'm not as good as that person - why in the world am I doing this thing?  This is the thought that brings me to my knees.  I wonder how often "the nots" keep me from moving forward - from my doing my very best.  Who would I be without them?

Patterned Paper: Heidi Swapp, Cosmo Cricket, Studio Calico, Crate Paper: Stamp: Stamping Bella (image), Hero Arts (sentiment); Ink: Ranger Archival Ink, Distress Ink (Spun Sugar); Markers; Ranger Distress Markers; Embossing Powder: Unknown; Vintage Paper: Red Lead Paperworks.

I thought I'd give a quick example.  I know the first picture isn't great but it gives you the overall look.  I made this card for a friend's birthday last week.  I waited until the last minute to do the card due to my massive amounts of panic when it comes to crafting lately.  I used my distress markers in the exact way I had seen on several tutorials.  I chose one of my favorite images.  I stamped it on vintage paper from my LSS.  I took one hour to color this girl and I ended up hating it.   It's growing on me now - but still all I see are the flaws - the "nots."  

• The colors are NOT blended well.
• The papers are NOT matched well.
• Text was NOT a good choice for the stamped image.
• I can NOT make perfect cards.

If you didn't realize it by now - I hate the "nots."  I'm giving the "nots" the finger and trying to remember there is more to this creativity thing.  Why?  I know there is a sweet spot.  I've been there before.  I know because of this...

Patterned Paper: American Crafts, Echo Park; Stamps: Unity Stamps (She Art Girl by Christy Tomlinson); Hero Arts; Markers: Spectrum Noir; Ink: Studio Calico, Ranger Archival; Button: Bella Blvd; Cardstock: Archivers

I made this card five days before the one above.  I made mistakes - which I fixed to the best of my ability.  I played around with color and even sprayed the background when I realized the white was just too bright.  Eight days later...I love it.  I don't feel the "nots," not to say I didn't feel them then.  


There have been plenty of times when things have worked - when I've pushed the limits and come out the other side.  It's scary and hard but it's doable.  I can do this.  I need to start repeating that to myself.  I need to go to the mattresses with these "nots" and kick them in the ass.  I have to fight for my creativity (dramatic, I know)....


So anyhoo - it's a long post.  It's definitely one I needed after reading so much about unraveling and self compassion.  I'm still having a hard time in that chair - but I'll get through it.  I have to.  I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday where the "nots" are few and far between (non-existent even).  Until then...

10 Things on the 10th: Tackling the Big Projects - Updated

It's been quiet here on the blog.  It's that time of the year - the time when I try to recover from a full school year - no matter how much I love it.  The time when I try to reignite my creativity.  It's a tough job - but this year I basically have no choice.  I've offered to make thank you cards for my dear sister's upcoming baby shower extravaganza.  It's one of the variety of craft projects I'm taking on for the big day.  I'm pretty excited.  So I thought I'd put together a little something to show how I'm approaching the job of making 40 cards for my big sis.  I know 40 cards might seem like small potatoes to many of you - however, this girl has never tackled a project quite so large before.  So without further ado...my 10 things on the 10th inspired by the lovely Shimelle Laine...


1.  Choose a color scheme. In this case, mine was chosen for me based on the nursery and shower color schemes.  Yellow and gray were the words plus a touch of blue for my sweet baby nephew!!!


2. Choose a stamped image. In this case, I collaborated with the mommy to be and came up with a great image from My Favorite Things.  My favorite thing about these stamps (no pun intended) is the variety of skin color choices available with an image of this kind.  It's a real plus for me.

My Favorite Things "Baby Bump"

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3. Determine if you want to use the same design for the whole project.  I opted for more than one design since there is only one image.  Color, paper, and design are the only areas for any kind of variety.

4.  Choose the paper. Again I collaborated with preggers and came up with three lines with similar color families and completely different patterns.  I'm a bit of a paper whore (some say enthusiast - I prefer the former), so this was definitely one of my favorite parts of the process.  I chose the following three lines...

Basic Grey "PB&J"

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October Afternoon "Farmhouse"

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My Mind's Eye "Indie Chic: Nutmeg"

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5. Play with coloring options.  Match the colors as closely as possible to the patterns you have chosen.  I just became the proud owner of 72 spectrum noir markers - the basic set. I also recently purchased the full set of distress markers.  I've spent a lot of time on this site learning the fine art of water coloring.  Gotta love YouTube.

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Tim Holtz Distress Markers

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6. Decide if paper piecing is an option. I absolutely love the look but it's a true pain in the ass to make happen.  The question is how much do you value your sanity and/or how much do you like the client.  I'm still on the fence here.  If I do decide to go with paper piecing - it will definitely be with this paper.  I just love it.

Indie Chic Nutmeg History Blooms 12x12 Paper from My Mind's Eye

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7. Decide on a design.  This is a time when I scour my books, magazines, binders, and favorite challenge sites.  I also like to look at card galleries and my favorite blogs for further inspiration.  I am a huge advocate for card lifting.  I save the images on to my smart phone and iPad and keep it close when I'm crafting.  Last but definitely not least, check out the Pinterest boards for more inspiration.

8. Test the image and markers on a variety of mediums, both ink and paper.  Archival and Staz-on inks work best for water coloring.  Memento inks are advised for alcohol based markers.  However I have found sites that recommend Brilliance and Colorbox Pigment Inks.  In the case of alcohol based markers - it is usually helpful to heat set the inks before doing any coloring just to be safe.  If all else fails - try heat embossing your favorite ink.  For the stamping, I'm using special stamping paper from Crafter's Companion specially formulated for alcohol ink markers.

9. Plan, plan, plan.  Make sure you have your designs picked out with the number of cards per design.  Try and know your dimensions to get the most out of your paper. Give yourself a deadline and designate the number of cards to complete daily.  Be sure to stay on track.

10. Relax. Have fun. Take breaks. Be You. Be true to your style. Remember someone chose you based on the quality of your work. Embrace your own style including (no, especially) the imperfections.

I hope this is helpful.  It is my largest project/order to date. I have a smaller order from my father - 15 total.  There are no specific themes so the size of this order allows for changes in stamps, paper, etc. - this kind of project makes me incredibly happy.  I'm a little nervous about the thank you cards.  Honestly, I just want everything to be perfect.  I need to let go of that need and just embrace my own style with all of it's accompanying flaws.  Flaws are what makes us human and beautiful.  Right?  So here it goes...I'm off to get started.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday.  Until then...


Update: Several people asked to see photos of the finished products.  I thought I'd add an in process photo here (below) and link to the final post.  Thanks so much for reading.

Product Love

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I'm in love with Pan Pastels.  I find them to be fabulous in every way.  Despite having already talked about them on this little blog of mine, I thought they deserved a proper Product Love post.  I currently have 13 of these little lovelies.  I don't have all of the cool tools to go along with it - sponges, artist tray, etc.  I'm desperate to have each and every color and accessory.  For me, the amazing part of this product is it's perfect mixture of control and flow.  There are times when I cannot control where the color goes.  And during those times, I want to scream to the heavens.  But then...there are times when things go really well...

Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, Echo Park, Jilly Bean Soup; Stamps: Memory Box, Hero Arts; Button: My Mind's Eye; Other: Dictionary Paper & Black Cardstock

Both of these cards use pan-pastels as the main colorant.  I added some good old-fashioned hairspray as a fixative and got on about my business.  I absolutely love the effect.  This is a perfect example how blending and flow can turn out wonderful and that's a powerful message for a crafty, control-freak like me.  Pardon my lens cap in the photo - sheesh I'm not great with a camera.  These two cards are going to two of my amazing co-workers as thank you cards for all they've done for me in the last few days.  I hope they really like them.  So that's it for today's product love.  If you have any interest in this product - please give it a try.  It's well worth the effort.  I hope everyone has a rocking Monday!  Until then...

Product Love - Stampy Goodness

Tonight I was reintroduced to a hard truth - I can't seem to be involved in two hobbies at one time.  I tried to make a card for the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger - which is just gorgeous.  I couldn't do it.  Everything was pissing me off.  The way things stamped.  The paper I chose.  I hated it all.  So what's a girl that loves cardmaking and scrapbooking to do?  Well...I believe it's time to dedicate a product love post to all things stampy.  I know it's a made up word - but I love it.  Maybe this will be the jump start I need.  I just don't want to give up my scrappy momentum in the process.  So...here it goes.

Stamping Bella Love

Friends United: Source Image

LULU loves POPPIES: Source Image

LULU's MORNING FIX: Source Image

Lulu's TWO PIES: Source Image

So everyone knows I love Stamping Bella and most of their Lulu Collection stamps.  She's just so cute and lends herself to so many ethnicities and races.  It's the thing I love most about Stamping Bella and My Favorite Things.  So imagine my surprise and glee when I learned of Lulu's new collection - Uptown Girls.  Here are four of my favorites.

UPTOWN GIRL MADISON HAS A MARGARITA: Source Image

Uptown Girls CLARISSA and CAMILLE with a CAFE: Source Image

Uptown Girl VICTORIA and JULIETTE'S NIGHT OUT: Source Image

Uptown SUSHI GIRLS LAUREN AND CHELSEA: Source Image

So I figured it out and if I wanted to buy every single one of these stamps it would be approximately $91.  If I added this lovely stamp I've wanted for several months - it would be $98.  Add shipping to those amounts and it's $95 and $103.  You know what - I think it would be totally worth it if it got my cardmaking mojo moving again.  I just want to be able to do two paper crafts at once without feeling like one blows more than hunchback whales.  Is it really that hard?  Yes, for me it is, and that's okay.  The bigger question is...will I buy all of these stamps in a little over five days or wait a little while...only time will tell.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday.  Until then...

Just Get Over it Already - Perfection in Cardmaking

I spent the summer completing a personal challenge on reading.  It went so well I'm extending it to the first quarter of the school year.  My goal is to read 5 books in 8 weeks.  I think it's doable - but we'll have to see.  I also made another challenge over the summer - to make 28 cards for Operation Write Home.  It's a wonderful organization that provides cards to soldiers.  If you're interested - please look at the card guidelines.  They are really important!  I also encourage you to look and see what kind of cards are needed currently here.   Also - I highly encourage and give you permission to NOT FREAK OUT when you read the following words...

"Do your best work! Our heroes are giving up so much for us and they deserve the very best we can create for them. Plus - as hard as it is to think about, it's possible your card may be the final communication between a hero and their loved ones at home...make sure it's the best work you know how to do, that it's on good cardstock that will last well in a scrapbook, and that everything's attached securely and won't fall apart. These cards may be heirlooms - so let's create some really beautiful ones!"

Let's just be clear...  I'm giving you permission because these words brought me to my knees.  I haven't moved since my 5th card and that was a month ago.  I have 23 to go and I HAVE to make this challenge.  So - I'm going to do my best to quiet that damn critic in my head and get to work.  Here's a look at my first five cards.  I keep on asking myself if their heirloom worthy or if they are good enough for someone's final communication with a loved one.  Someone help!  .

There are a few things I'm struggling with - mostly my inability to use thick buttons.  I have absolutely NO problem with the glitter rule.  I just need someone to come over and tell me to chill the eff out.  Maybe it doesn't matter so much what the card looked like - just that it was from a loved one far away.  I'm going to do my best on this challenge - no beating myself up.  You heard it hear ladies and gentleman (otherwise known as Poppi).  I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday.  Until then...

What Does It Really Mean?

I've been thinking a lot about things lately - reading, crafting, life in general.  There's only a few weeks until my new job starts and I'm super excited/nervous/insert any emotion here.  So instead of rambling about only God knows what- I thought I'd tackle my reading pledge.  If anyone has noticed I've changed my book #5 - it was...

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It's a good book...at least the first forty pages.  I just wasn't in the mood - I know I will be - just not now. So I moved on to this...

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I'm loving this book.  I'm on page 200 and starting to realize that AP English might have failed me when it comes to vocabulary or that my memory is the equivalent of a gnat.  Not sure which one applies.  I've  realized I need to buy all my books on the nook so I can look up all the words I don't know - which trust me is plenty.  So - I'm getting close to the halfway point of my reading pledge - and I'm starting to get nervous about meeting my goal.  And then I remembered - this is my goal and it doesn't matter if I meet it only that I commit to reading on a regular basis - that's what matters.  So that's it for now...I have a few cards and pages to share from craft diva day and The Mother Load class at Big Picture Classes.  I'm hoping to get that together on Friday.  

Oh...and I've made another pledge for Labor Day.  I plan to make 28 cards for Operation Write Home  (the number was picked "randomly" from one of those handy Internet number generators).  I won't even tell you what the first number was - either 35 or 43 but that's a whole different story.  I've made 5 cards already so I'm well on my way.  Tomorrow is the last day of my summer job so I'm going to have plenty of time to hit the crafty table and the books.  Woo hoo!  I hope you've had a wonderful Wednesday and stayed cool or warm depending on where you are in the world.  Personally - I feel like I'm living on the friggin' sun right now.  I digress.  Again - have a good one!  Until then...

P.S. Big Picture Classes is holding their Big Idea Festival again for free.  Check it out if you're interested in finding out more about their excellent classes - BTW: I don't get any kick backs.  It's a great chance to get your feet wet and learn first hand the wonderfulness that is online craft classes.

Cards & Other Delightful Nonsense

The last couple of weeks have seen a steady incline in my crafty and personal life - and I'm just tickled teal about it.  There are moments when I feel utterly content and at home in my new and improved place with my crafting mojo visiting on a more regular basis.  So along with this sudden yummy contentedness I'm experiencing - my friends and I have started our summer crafting dates again.  We just had the first one at my house a little over a week ago.  Thank you Dad for helping me get everything ready and presentable.  And...I have some crafty goodness to report.  It feels good to write those words.  So drumroll please...

Both of these cards have stamped images from the outstanding men and women behind Stamping Bella! I love their images.  I colored both with copics and did absolutely no blending - except on the lovely bella's complexion/skin tone which didn't go so well in my opinion.  I wanted to scrap the whole thing, but my friends told me to get a grip and stop being such a perfectionist - so she made it on a card.  The final crafty piece I did hasn't actually been attached to a card yet.  It's oversized.  However, I've been coveting this stamp from Hero Arts for ages - wishing and hoping it would arrive at one of my local scrapbooking stores or Archivers.  Imagine my surprise when I saw it at Michaels in all of it's glory.  So happy to see it.

Love, Love, Love this color combination.  Teal and purple have been rocking my world since last summer to be perfectly honest.  Love it so much.  Speaking of teal and coloring - I bought a whole host of copic markers at a recent convention and am so happy with my color choices.  I did buy one marker that I already have - so it's definitely time to print the chart.  So excited about some new stamps from one of my favorite companies.  I'll be presenting some of those later this week.

Without further ado - on to the delightful nonsense.  I've completely scrapped my list of books to read for the summer.  Now don't get me wrong - I absolutely will be doing everything in my power to finish at LEAST 10 books by Labor Day 2011.  However - I will not be saddling myself with any crappy lists or parameters.  It's just gonna be little old neurotic me deciding what I want to read and when I want to read it.  I'm up to three books now.  I decided a professional book I started in April is definitely being included since it was finished just a few days ago and it's basically a text book and far from what anyone would call an easy read; and frankly I feel completely okay telling the person in charge of this little endeavor to suck it if they don't like it- which is me.  So - here's what I'm reading now and completely enjoying it I might add.

Definitely a fun and easy read - I'm plugging away on it quite nicely.  I'm also really into a crafty book right now which is amazing because of the step by step pictures of this particular artist's art journaling process.  I highly recommend this if you (like me) feel a little like wetting yourself when you try to art journal.  It breaks it down in a way that doesn't scare me straight to my core.  Gotta love that.

I also have a few other books down the line that I will report on as they come up.  I sure hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday (for those celebrating the 4th of July.).  Otherwise - I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.  I'll be reporting on movies and products later this week so look for that.  I have  a goal to post at least three times a week which I believe is doable for me right now.  So here's hoping that happens.  Until then...

A Metaphorical Smack to the Head

I have very little updates on the past almost - good golly - three months in terms of crafts.  My mojo left me and is still struggling to find it's way back. Although, I am happy to report there have been glimpses here and there sort of like a magical creature flitting near your eye or a pesky garden gnome.  So...luckily I do have some card making to report.  However - before I get onto the crafty goodness - I must relay my latest obsession - none other than the talented crew from NCIS on CBS.  Just look at the loveliness...

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My father got me hooked on the show and all it's crazy, quirky goodness.  I would give a list of all the characters I love - but it would be ridiculously long.  The only one that drives me crazy is Director Vance so there you go - the short list.  Sadly - two characters are no longer on the show due to two separate, tragic shootings.  Watch the show to find out!  On a happier note - Mark Harmon has the greatest smile in the world which almost makes me forgive him for being a starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins.  I'm a USC Trojan for life and frankly just writing those blasted words (UCLA Bruins) makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit.  Remember the smile...remember the smile.  I digress...I also love that nut Tony.  Many minutes were spent with my dad asking what in the world is wrong with that guy.  My dad would like to give him a good kicking in the gentles if you know what I mean.  Good times.  I love the show so much I've started watching it's Los Angeles spin-off.  Let's face it - LL is not to bad to look at and it's really a good time - although not as good as the original - at least not yet.  

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On a crafty note - I actually participated in a challenge today in honor of what used to be Humpday Challenge day on this little blog.  The sketch comes from Taylored Expressions and can be found here.  This is my humble interpretation of the sketchy goodness including the most hysterical sentiment in the world.  Let me just warn you that the lighting absolutely blows in these pictures - wish I took better photos - must work on that.

Here's hoping everyone had a rocking Wednesday!  Believe it or not I have a few more cards to present later in the week so look for those.  I hope the rest of the week treats you well.  I for one need to get my butt in gear and whip my bedroom into shape or I need to find Gibbs to give me a good smack on the back of the head.  Here's hoping I get my butt in gear because frankly if Gibbs shows up it means I'm hallucinating and I'm in far more trouble than I've ever realized. :)  Until then...