prdesigns

2.1.12

2012-02-01T08:28:00.000-06:00

I went to Stamp Camp over the weekend and we got the opportunity to make about 5 different cards and 2 super cute paper craft boxes. Here is one of the ♥ cards. I did not know that they made so many variances for red paper.... this is a bright red!

Need to get some FuN MaiL addressed and out the door.... pretty soon it sounds like the post office will stop Saturday service.... I think that's okay... maybe for delivery, but they might need to have the office open for those who work Mon-Fri and can't get in during the work week.

Here is a recent page from my ART Journal, just a snippet of a page, I love the color. I'm sticking to being 'creative'. This journal has been a fun challenge for me. Messy at times, but fun!

Just wanted to mention that we got the kids passports last week. It only took two weeks!!! Dear Hubby was surprised but I told him, the post office lady said the Fed. Govt puts it out there as 6-8 weeks for delivery but they often get it done quicker, but don't want the public to know, just in case there are problems or it's a busy time of the year and they wouldn't be able to meet a 2 week deadline.... makes sense.

Our snow has all melted! But I'm sure I will see something about our big 3 foot snowfall one year ago today!

Where ever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sun SH!NE...

Huggy Pebmann

2012-01-31T09:55:00.001-06:00

Kind of looks like a teddy bear floating in the air or something?

I was trying to be cute.... I got a new 2012 calendar from Farm & Fleet for $.99 last week.... obviously almost a whole month into the new year, but I'm fine with that, and the price. The calendar is about a teddy bear and each month he is in a different situation. The bear reminds me of mine ♥.... and the month of January he was doing snow angels! I had to get outside quick and snap a picture before our 4" of snow melts again!!! We are at 43 degrees and lots of 'bear' grass is showing, again.

His name is Duepur (I think more like Doopur) .... a mix of the word Purdue. Almost 24 years ago my husband and I met at a company function. The week after we officially met, he flew off to Ohio(?) to watch Purdue basketball play in the final 4 (?) I went to surprise him at the airport with our little mascot and a big I miss you hug!! Bears (yuck, not the Chicago Bears, phooey) have been a big part of my greeting card creating.... my first faux company name was Huggy ..... and I also toyed with Beary Patch Crafts. Stay tuned and see what path Doopur goes down! I've got my camera ready!!!

Let's open our minds wide, so we can let more in.

Balancing Act

2012-01-30T08:36:00.000-06:00

This bird balancing on wire is too cute. Maybe he's walking the wire with no problem and just strutting his feathers!

I think maybe I've showed him before, which means I really need to clean out my archives.... get fresh for the new year and the new SELF. You can often forget what you have if you don't easily see it, or if it's visible you still may look at it not knowing it's really there. This weeks goal: organize and purge my studio and my camera!

I got a notice from my GYNO office that I missed an appointment last year. It's not that I was THAT busy by any means, but I figure over the last 18 years having two kids that I have been in the waiting room of many doctors offices from Tennessee to Wisconsin. I'm so very fortunate to have medical insurance and healthy children, most of these were only wellness checks or annual exams. For each child alone I have been on at least:24 physician visits, 28 dentist visits, 14 orthodontist visits and 8 optometrist visits. I may have been lucky that some appointments were together, one child went through two phases of braces, and that doesn't include the times seeing a specialist or going back to pick up a prescriptions or to get an extra shot, which totals approximately 148 visits.

Now hang on, add to that my doctor visits (I'm not even including pre-natal visits, that's too long ago) I come up with about 100 times walking into some sort of medical office from having mammograms and blood tests to eyeglass and contact adjustments.... for a grand total of 248 (at least!!!) That averages to 13.7 times a year! I have been to the doctor at least once a month for the past 18 years... (no wonder I missed an appointment!)

Adding Texture

2012-01-27T08:59:00.000-06:00

I will finish off my week of posts with a small collage of other things. Two more pages from my ART Journal. Hearts and flowers seem to be an easy theme to work with. If I keep this up, adding texture to the book, it will be twice it's original thickness, is that a real problem?

Right now in my 'studio' I only have 6 bottles of acrylic paint: blue, green, golden yellow, burgandy/red, white and black .... so all the pages have repeat colors smudged over them. I've also been using water color crayons and I found in a drawer some oil pastel crayons from Crayola (I think I had to purchase them one year for the kids art class?) Also on my desk is Mod Podge, Gesso and a water dish.... I'm quickly running out of room. You'll just have to come back and visit my blog to see how I mix my media in the up- coming weeks!

Sunny and blue skies today. Love it!

Year of SELF= S for smile.... :)

Although I have to tell myself it will make me feel better, when I walk the dogs and drive in the car, I turn the corners of my lips up.... to try and feel positive and happy...(I must look like a DORK?) despite the S for sadness I feel....I'm convincing myself or willing it to work!!

heART Journal

2012-01-26T08:48:00.000-06:00

I'm practicing and cre8ting outside my comfort zone.

I've had my ART Journal for almost 2 weeks and I have at least 7 entries of pages of mixed media. Here's the page I did yesterday, sticks to the Valentine Heart theme I've got going on the blog this week.

It's messy, you can draw outside the lines, you can add anything you want if the color fits.... or not .... too new at this, but from a distance, I like how my pages look. But lucky for me, I've gotten great inspiration from Mixed Media Art Blogs... plus this month I'm taking part of visiting Jump Start Summit... a free online series of 30 artists and the way they Jump Start their art.....and they even have step by step video tutorials.... how to smear the ink, how to add a collage papers, craft pieces to incorporate, ideas how to start the layout and ideas that are sure to inspire.

I, personally need that help because I don't feel comfortable doing this type of art.

Year of SELF: L= LIFE

I'm trying to find things around the house to give me texture and dimension since I don't have stencils and different brushes. Here, the light blue is painted added to bubble wrap and stamped down on the paper. After that dried, I ripped out a heart from an old story book and mod podged it down.... then added some acrylic paint, and outlined with a black pen.

Someones car didn't start... battery issues... maybe it's a "good thing" someone else is cre8ting from home!

2012-01-25T08:50:00.001-06:00

Hearts, hearts everywhere, in a line, singled, doubled, big hearts, little hearts, traditional hearts, broken hearts, conversation hearts, hearts made into other things..... all fun ways to describe for paper crafters what interesting things we can do with a simple little shape. Here are some colorful pink, blue and brown hearts (they may look familiar, they are part of COTM.... and the tags I showed the other day used the same pieces, just another way) these are all balancing on a knotted red string looped through two SH!NE-y eyelets. Added a 'few' kisses to the sides by xxxx down the edge to give it some faux stitching.

My window to the world... looking out into the backyard through the kitchen windows, I see little finches swooping down from the trees to get a snack from the bird feeder. They are so fun to watch... and as I type, they catch my eye as they zoom by. Here are two sweet birds Zindorf style. A special card with a congratulatory wish... the sentiment is slightly popped up.

Loss: feeling it again. Ten years ago about this time, every day was a busy day. The weekends were filled with basketball games and dance recitals. There was piano and violin lessons and sports practices. Five years ago... there were volleyball games and hockey games.... and now... there is NONE of that....zilch....the hustle and bustle of activity is very quiet in my house.... it is very noticeable... and I'm a bit(understatement) sad and broken hearted about that loss...with my Year of SELF... I am Learning ways to embrace new and old feelings... and hope I Find these memories created and enriched a happy family!

Peggy

Bee Mine

2012-01-24T13:55:00.000-06:00

A secret smile for Your Best Friend's Closet! ;)

Skip a Beat

2012-01-24T08:25:00.000-06:00

Graduated color.... from pale pink hearts all the way up to beating red hot! This was a fun card to make. The key to anyone's heart. It is a post card front situated on a greeting card, a twofer!

The heart is the center of all vital organs, the red (blood) the passion, the strong emotion of love are all part of this little holiday we call Valentine's Day! A perfect time to send out FuN MaiL ....♥ don't go to Hallmark, give creative greetings a chance..... lots of love, friendship, thinking of you cards available. :0)

Oh, my heart skips a beat

When we walk down the street

I feel a trembling in my knees

And just to know you're mine
Until the end of time

Makes my heart skip a beat ~ Buck Owens

Hearts and Dots

2012-01-23T08:35:00.001-06:00

Oh, a new color combo that really looks adorable for a valentine tag .... light pink, pale blue and brown. I was so happy how these turned out. Felt like I really had a winning combination and layout.

Tags are great on a gift instead of a bow. They are awesome to attach to a full size candy bar and write a bit of inspiration or good fortune on the back, or fun to dangle off the side of some bubbly bottle with a hearty ♥ cheers!

Maybe these are a little busy, but I had fun adding dots and cut outs and circles and hearts and tying it up with a bow! A festive Valentine Gift tag that is going out with February's COTM.

Had about 5" of snow on Friday during rush hour... it was a mess. Thank goodness I don't have to drive in it, but DH did. A normal drive home for him on a good day is 20 minutes, Friday it was 1 hour and 15. We finally got to use our snow 'insurance'. DH (dear hubby) felt our little snow thrower (not blower) had difficulty getting through the end of the driveway with the 3 feet of snow we had last February...and since we were losing a snow shoveler in College Boy and there was talk of having a very severe winter in 2012 (El Nina`), he found a great deal on a pretty nice big blower. I hope I entertained anyone who was looking our way as I was trying to maneuver it around. But we must have got a few inches of rain overnight..... there is bare grass once again that was just 6" all around yesterday.... it says 42 degrees out. Perfect combination for winter colds to sneek in!!!

It's strange but wonderful, but the house is back to 'normal' today.... new high school semester started, college boy is back at it, hubby is off making the bacon.... although bitter sweet.... I can crank up some tunes and dance around the house.... if I want to! :)

Come back again and see what's going on!

Passport Adventure

2012-01-20T08:41:00.000-06:00

More banners! Yesterday I posted about flags and banners, and again.... look! More! I got a few patterned paper stacks (%40 off) from J's. This particular one is a Shabby Chic/Paris version.... thought the colors and style would look great for Valentine greetings! It just needs a sentiment, but it really depends on who gets this card in some FuN MaiL!

***

Not everyone travels out of the country, but if you do, you need a passport. A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth. We got our passports through our local post office. That should be a simple thing to do, right?

My husband has traveled overseas for work and I have had a passport for a few years since we went on vacation in Belize, Mexico. We thought there could be a slight possibility that our kids might get a chance to travel (in the near future), either with us, or through foreign exchange programs in their schools. During this past winter break from school, it was perfect down time to get the passport task done; then we don’t have to pay extra fees for rush services or worry that it wont make it on time for a scheduled (or non scheduled) vacation.

We decided to fill out the paperwork, get the ID pictures taken and stand in line at the post office to the get documents finalized. First, we went to our local Walgreens to get the ID photos taken. A drug store by no means is a professional photo shop, but they do advertise they take ID/passport photos while you wait and they are fairly reasonably priced. It was a family outing to get the kids pictures taken. The photo gal had a few problems in the computer while doing our order, but we finally left with photos in hand, en route to the post office....

If you'd like to hear more.... please email me at prdesigns1@sbcglobal.net and put Passport in the subject line. I'm trying something new! :0)

Spot that SH!NE

2012-01-19T09:03:00.000-06:00

Darn, darn, darn.... gosh darn! Don't you hate it when you have a great thought in mind, but you know you need some back up, and then you can't find what you are looking for? Darn! I know that in the past six months I took some pictures of the actual word SHINE! And now I can't find them. Have you seen it? The word SH!NE? It's used in a lot of advertising.... I've seen it on billboards, the name of a restaurant Shorts Burger & Shine (now I get it... it was short for MoonSHINE- a bar in Iowa City) On the back of a truck I saw Schuine & Company and someone doodled in the dirt :) underneath it. I am going to FIND me some more
SH!NE and post it here!

Cute little flags! Banners and pendants and flags are everywhere in card making. Made some faux buttons on the top... if this were to go out in the mail I don't want it to be too bulky and I get charged extra for postage. The combination of the blue and green give me a 'cool' sensation..... it's brrrrrr out 14 degrees. Oh, it makes me so happy to see my card stand.... my little bristly Flower Frog!

Oh so cute!

It SH!NES :)

Tiny Presents

2012-01-17T09:00:00.001-06:00

I'm always SEARCHING for clever ideas ...(Pinterest is still so inspiring) This gift card holder is even better when it is created with fun and interesting PP (patterned paper) Both tiny presents are cute, but the one on the right (I think) just seems a bit more whimsical. My style. They measure approx. 3" w x 4" h when completed. The top slides off and keeps the gift card secure inside the 'box' part of the gift. Add some scrunchy ribbon to the top (lid part of the gift) and the packaged gift card holder is complete... maybe a fancy tag zipping off the side would be perfect finishing accent! To you -----> from Me It could actually be put in some FuN MaiL.... (don't want to pay extra postage) sans the ribbon... hmmm will have to come up with something for that!

I'm LEARNING something new... thinking outside the 'box' and creating pages of mixed media in my new ART Journal. I did a quick video below in the next post to let you see what it's all about. I don't mind being messy, but I realize in this first week of journaling that my art before has been quite precise, clean and small.... mostly on cards. I'm not ready for big canvas art... but have moved my way up to a 11" x 14" piece of blank paper.... and that is a lot of space to fill up!

Snowy, icy, icky day.... finals for Sissy.... her first time driving in this 'stuff'. Makes for a nervous ma ma.

I am working on my SELF.... it's time to get moving in

ART Journal first Week

2012-01-17T08:16:00.000-06:00

Make your own slideshow with music at Animoto.

Charmed Heart

2012-01-16T08:36:00.000-06:00

wow! Look at that mix of textures! Smooth bejewelled charm, ripped ribbon, fuzzy fiber, wickedly looped wire, punched paper.... part of the front cover to one of my recently completed mini scrapbook albums.

Pinks, reds and purples... must be a book from the heart!!

The flower punch is a new one I got from EK Success.... that was the item I got at J's 2 weeks ago that had a bright orange clearance sticker on it and the cashier rung it up full price.... I had to go back in the store after checking my receipt, realizing the mistake and then waiting in line to get a refund.

Anyhow, it not only is a cute punch, but it creates a strip of the flowers together, like a ribbon. So on this mini, I used it to hide or create the spaces to hold mini tags.

If you are a Green Bay Packer fan, you know that our football season is over. They were certainly fun to watch. Now my Sunday's have been freed up!

We took Bubba to the bus stop yesterday, he got back 'home' to Iowa last night at about 6:45pm. Miss him already! But he is in a great place.... growing up! (like we want him too) MLK(no FuN MaiL...) day, Sissy is off of school.... maybe we'll be back to normal tomorrow.... hope to LEARN a bit more about creating in my ART Journal, oh yes... need to tell my blog about the passport... stay tuned!

White Out

2012-01-13T08:58:00.000-06:00

Ok, so you've heard my comments on past posts. We all knew the day would come, it's winter in the mid-west for goodness sake. We got our first measurable snow fall.... almost 5" here. Other areas around us got up to 8". It looks pretty! And as the scientist say.... you do need snow in the winter time or it does cause problems for the crops in the summer time! Mother nature and her cycle, must continue round and round.

But it's so funny, because earlier in the week it looked like this!!! It's all good! At least it gives us something to talk about! remember when... we didn't have snow until January 12, '12.... all that global warming!

Hot pink & red... sweetheart colors..... trying to use more paper piecing and less doodling this week. Also trying to make flatter cards that can go through the mail without extra postage. I have no problem FINDING my mojo, maybe it's my early morning iced coffee, but I'm not sure where to start my day... there is so much learning to be done! Happy Friday!

Left-Over Scraps

2012-01-12T08:38:00.000-06:00

I've mentioned this before, I like to watch the tv show Hoarders, or Buried Alive. It's like a train wreck. I am fascinated how truly horrible some people live (honestly, it is really really sad and I hope the people get help). And I've heard this too, it makes us(me) want to clean up my little piles of clutter because I don't ever want to become like someone on the show.

Paper crafters lovingly and laughingly admit they hoard supplies... especially pretty paper. We love to buy it, don't want to use it, then it hurts to cut into a 'fresh' piece and then we can't throw away even the tiniest of scraps. We could use them.... someday!

Now, for writing purposes I'm embellishing a bit.... but I always think I can use that 'scrap' paper. I have a seperate bin just for scraps that measure 3" or smaller. Well, I did find a cute card layout I could use my 1"w x 3" h color scraps. Added a bit of twine and a kind sentiment.... easy and simple .... yet colorful card!

We are hearing that we might get 'snow'.... up to 7" possible... yikes! Come back tomorrow and see what happened!

It's All in the Details

2012-01-11T08:40:00.000-06:00

Shopping and Christmas are synonymous don't you think? Woman and shopping..... completely compatible.. Scrappers and paper crafters on a limited budget ... means SMART shopping. All I can say is be careful out there when you shop, look at the sticker prices on the item, on the shelf, watch the cashier ring up the item and by all means check your receipt before leaving the parking lot!

On this post I'm adding a few pictures of some the mini books and notebooks I have. The little details and the fun do-dads make these books fun and whimsical. It's like eye candy for the creative soul. Textures, dimensions & color.

Last week I was at a big box craft store more known for carrying material.. we'll call it J's. I've had 'trouble' there before.... is it computer error, the way the sale's tags hang from the shelves, or is it the checkout registar, human error, or all of the above? This last time I bought a super uber nice paper punch, it had a big orange-ish red sticker blaring on the front CLEARANCE $8.99 .... deal!!! BEFORE I check out, in my mind I have an idea of what my total should be.... in the city this store is located there is not only state tax, but city & county tax added on the receipt! Something was fishy.... the clearance item rang up at full price...$20. She had to re-ring the entire bill, give me a re-fund and start the transaction all over again.

Yesterday I was at M's with Christmas gift card in hand.... and 4 items in the other hand. ONLY 4 items.....total comes to mind.... chatty clerk, beautiful day yadda yadda.... I wasn't sure of my gift card total....rings up 'everything'.... one of my items was on an endcap... did it have the 40% tag on it???? Good prices!!! I walk out of the store... get in the car and she only rung up 3 items. (Yet all 4 were there in the bag) WWYD.... what would you do... walk back in for a $4 item and say "Hey, you under charged me?" Ugh!

Also too, be a good consumer at a fast food restaurant. I know special orders did upset us, multiple orders being paid from one car in the drive thru were often a pain the @ss, silly people say two Big Mac's one they mean one... I worked at McDonald's for almost 5 years...it can be a tough job (insert sarcasm...maybe?) ....within the past year I stopped at a drive thru to get a 'happy meal' ...cheap, right amount of food... I still like McDonalds....3 items in my happy meal....a burger, fries, and a drink... they forgot to put the 'freakin' fries in the little happy meal box. It was an order of 3 items.... and they forgot one.... how hard can that be???? I guess very!!

I'm one little consumer. My items didn't cost that much. But how many people are walking away from the register with in-accurate register receipts. Stay tuned... as I will share a story about our experience getting passports.... employee names and store numbers on the receipt really do mean something!!

ID is PR

2012-01-10T08:35:00.000-06:00

Here is a cute little project I found at Two Paper Divas. The envelope for the card is a standard #10 or the kind that you normally receive bills (ugh) in. With a few folds and a little bit of glue, you make the envelope look like a gift package. The black strip with the circle and heart are a belly band that keep the flap down, and of course they add to the over all look and feel of the cuteness.

Next special card making holiday coming up, of course is Valentine's day. This card was tucked inside the newly vamped envy and it fits perfectly! Love the combo of pink/white/red and black!

The great thing about card giving is that there is at least some sort of holiday each month.... even if you don't believe in the holiday....(do a google search, there are holidays every day... some just not nationally celebrated.... but they are on a calendar.. somewhere) it can be a season or time of the year! Tell me who wouldn't want to get FuN MaiL.... just because (you thought of them?)

The name behind my REAL faux card company. Simple, my initials are PR and I like to design things....so years back I always signed the front or back of all my artwork (like you are told to do in your first basic art class.... accept and acknowledge your work as YOURS) I thought the name had a 'ring' to it, and it sounded professional. Someone once thought it was a Public Relations firm. The high school the kids go to, goes by it's initials.... PR... one parent thought my email paid homage to that (I'm not THAT crazy) Of all the different things I've done over the years.... I've really been happy with my name, my blog name, my creative id!

Define Your Art

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

Despite the fact that I'm thrilled about it, I have to blog about the big elephant in the room (look at those trunks in the above picture, ha ha) ... there is NO snow in my backyard on Jan. 9, 2012.... there has only been a trace, a light dusting.... it is very weird. I can't help but feel this is so unusual. The college boy, who is still home for another 6 days... asked me recently if I remember not having a Christmas or a winter without snow....I can't recall and give you a day and a year.... however, this is very strange here in the mid-west. The "snow" insurance DH bought back in October has really paid off.... hee hee.... he bought a brand new snowblower! Since we were losing one shoveler!

Officially ... winter is until March 21. February 2nd is ground hog day.... what will I be posting about in the next few weeks.... I'm almost scared to think about it!

So excited to show off my card today..... no CASe-ing.... all me! My image.... but when you have two buddies this cute, it's easy right?

I'm trying to work with mixed mediums, getting my creative muscles working in the Jump Start summit... art journals... paint, water color, ink.... I'm outside my comfort zone as an ARTIST. (not shown) In defining a graphic artist for an email recently, I really think I am one....A professional discipline that focuses on visual communication and presentation through typography, visual arts and page layout! I like crisp outlines and defined shape and a clear cut message.

It's a good Monday morning to think of all the possibilities the up coming week will bring. What new things will I LEARN? Can I FIND new ways to express my SELF* in Art, cooking, communication, friendship.... please come back and find out!

Journaling Art

2012-01-06T09:47:00.000-06:00

I'm working a theme here! New Year, new ideas!

I signed up for a few different FREE classes on line. One is Organization for the entire year... all classes give you ideas you may have forgotten about and help you get back or stay on track.

Another FREE class is to help Jump Start Creativity!!! As I've been writing about in my posts this week.... it's amazing what you find by clicking on a link on someone's blog, it's mind boggling (especially if you have the time) where it will take you. Today it's about Journaling..... above are just a few (?) notebooks that I either have made or hoarded over the years. I love my fuzzy ribbon.

Loose art, hmmm.... these are rejects.

If the style looks familiar it is Zindorf . I like to 'get it' on the first try, but sometimes I don't and these bits and pieces approx. 4"H x 5"W didn't quite make it. Would the 'average' eye know? REJECTS.... but now learning a bit about journaling and collage work.... maybe that pile can be incorporated in some other way!

My SMASH book of course is CASed.

It is just a typical black covered notebook I found at Target during school supply sales for $0.40. K &Company has created this notebook for you to SMASH all your ideas in one place.... so it's a glorified notebook or real 'scrap' book. I tabbed off sections and have one area for books, book club etc...one are for ideas from Pinterest, one area for ideas for short stories I want to write, and the last area for just general thoughts or plans for a day.

The book on the right is a pad of paper I rediscovered... thinking I might use as an official ART Journal for 2012....again.... something that has moved with me since my college days.

Inside some of my notebooks, or ART Journals....

I have sketches for cards, actual pictures of cards I made and scanned for future reference, a tiny note book for passwords and user names... and another sketchbook with dimensions of cards. Let me tell you, it is sometimes very hard to find things, knowing I actually put it in a notebook...... somewhere.....

I guess you could call this a scrapbook ART Journal....

Words and pictures and scraps of paper and numbers and doodles.... it was a 21 day project I worked on in 2010. Again, a class I found on line, for FREE! It is a very colorful and happy art book. I found the blank notebook at Goodwill for $0.99.

Extra doodles here in this photo that have been yet to be utilized on a card.

... so many, they measure about 4" deep. That's a lot of drawing and doodling. (*technology, I think it is amazing that not 15 minutes ago... I took these pictures, uploaded them to my computer and then downloaded them on a blog that I am currently writing and getting ready to hit send... for the entire world haha to see)

So in my journey to find new ways to be creative this year.... I may just seek out some of my old ideas and incorporate them with the Jump Start Summit webinar I'm following. Maybe all along.... I have been keeping an ART Journal.....in 15 different places!

I am so excited about learning about ART Journaling... I can't wait to explore all the possibilities.... all Jump Started from some blog posts.

The Conclusion

2012-01-05T11:07:00.000-06:00

(fuzzy bear is a little fuzzy in this picture)

I am very interested in all forms of Art. Above is a book that I designed and created in college. I mentioned to someone that I would post a picture of my 'old' Art journal. Sadly, I need to find a new one to draw and doodle in, my old book is a great memory of my college days, but it is not conducive to what I think MY art journal should be.

I love the fact that when I visit different blogs I learn so much. As I ended my post yesterday, I was talking about how blogging has changed. I started my blog over 5 years ago after our move here to Illinois. I thought it would be a good way to journal the days events, inside and out.

You can link up to blogs when a poster refers you to a site or place they've been. You can find a blog doing a Google search or through Facebook. All you have to do is click on their link (often highlighted in another color, or underlined when you hover your mouse over it) and it takes you automatically to a new place. Once inside that blog, you can link to another site, and so on and so on.... and hours later.... you wonder where the time has gone.

In referencing the post yesterday, I mentioned the Inspired Room.... I thought she had a great article about how blogging has changed. I could relate to so many things she mentioned.... and so many things her commenter's mentioned. I visited blogs for a few reasons: one I had extra time on my hands being a stay at home mom and 2. because I felt I could relate to the writer who just chatted away about their day, their children, their craft project, a recipe, how to organize a closet.... the list is endless (and maybe mindless) to all the different kinds of blogs I used to go to out there.

Then I too saw a shift in blogs, people started giving away prizes (to draw in more readers) , there were little icons that told you who was visiting and where they were coming from, there were visitor counters, there were blog hops and there were conventions for bloggers. html, java script, add a gadget....Terms I sure no one heard of 6 or 7 years ago...I started to feel my (3) little blogs were boring and ho hum (actually more than three if you count the Christmas one.... go to the left column and you can click on the pictures that will take you to my other DIFFERENT than this one, blog) , I needed to FIND exciting things to write about, I needed to have sponsors, I needed more people to comment on what I was doing....some validation that I was interesting.... but you know what.... today it's okay that I have few to none comments to my blog.... less to keep track of. I appreciate that my MIL and Dad & Mom visit to see what is happening in our home. That was the main point of starting my blog. Every once in a while a friend or neighbor finds out a little tid bit of something they never knew and that's cool too.

I try to reference as best I can where I CASe (copy and share {steal} everything). Like I said a few days ago in a post about digital cameras and technology..... I can't even imagine where computers will take us in another 5 years! Blogging is a very interesting communicative tool, hopefully it will be used in a positive way in the future.

Before

and after..... Sissy got her braces off today. Look at that smile, so bright!:)

What About Blogging?

2012-01-04T09:11:00.000-06:00

The above picture is an extreme close up of our New Year's day brunch. Off of Pinterest I found a scrumptious looking dish that used 8 Pillsbury crescent rolls, cheese, 5 scrambled eggs and 8 slices of bacon. Once it's baked you can top it with your choice, I used fresh salsa. It was very delicious!

Simple and to the point card. Cuttlebugged the pop out red with Swiss dots. Added a few score lines above and below the heart to give the card some definition. I really wanted to punch the heart on the bottom of the card, but it really depends on the orientation of the punch.... I never realized that before. Unless you use die cuts where you can place it anywhere on the space.... you may be punch limited!

I started my blog on October 9th 2006. Blogging was farely new. At first (and I still do) think it's a great way to journal your day and practice writing skills. Unless something happens to the World Wide Web, my pictures and stories, my joys and my sorrows are here FOREVER!!!

I recently read a great article (what's a magazine again??) here at the Inspired Room , titled "What I learned about Blogging". Stay with me here, I found the article on FACEBOOK through a cyber friend (that's what I call someone who I never met in person, and most cases I just follow their blog, website etc.... ) This said friend pointed out that the author of the Inspired Room used some of her artwork she copied off Pinterest and didn't give her credit. Here in lies the problem.... it's so easy to COPY or CASe off the internet. Yes, all artists should give credit where credit is due, but when it's copied from a blog to another blog and then to Pinterest, some things get lost in translation......

This is just a tease of my point and what the article said. I will continue this topic on tomorrows post, so as not to bore you to death with a long post. Something to think about until then, why do people blog?

Come on back and visit me again, when I tell you the rest of the story!

It's a Matter of Balance

2012-01-03T08:43:00.000-06:00

Get organized, set goals, shine, de-clutter, get a full-filling job, exercise, find a purpose, eat less, smile more, quit your complaining, find your passion, think of the environment, create, love more, one vote can make a difference, volunteer, discover, pamper yourself, take a class, learn to say no, read..... okay, that list goes on, either it's a New Year's Resolutions or setting goals to start out the new year right. (things I've been told personally or read about in the past New Year day!!) It takes 21 consecutive days to make or 'break' a habit. Just Do it!!

I'm a marketing junkie!! Do you balance what's most important (which one is?) or be true to yourself and do a little bit of everything when the opportunity arises?

I was CASe-ing this cute and simple card above while I was watching Paula Dean add her trademark 'butter' to a recipe that she was making with her gal pal Liza Minnelli..... what a sweet show. I really LOVE the bird.... is he balancing on a 'hot' wire or is he just strutting his colors for all to see?

Today, I'm thinking about how does opportunity find you and give you a chance?

Send out FuN MaiL!

2012-01-02T08:46:00.000-06:00

It is a brand new year!!! Happy New Year everybody. If you are interested, my sidebars on my blog here are full of information. If you'd like a synopsis of 2011, click on the Robinson Replay, it's my Christmas news letter! If you just want to see greeting cards and paper crafts that I make, click on the little lady in yellow, she will take you to my card blog. And if you want to follow along 365 days of pictures (didn't quite make it, but there are a lot of fun pictures) click on the icon with the camera! I found the great way to design 2012 (above) on Pinterest.....

I'm up for pretty much anything and wanted to try the Oreo Cookie Cupcake recipe. Photos of yummy food, how awesome is that? If you are just dying to try this recipe and can't find it when you do a google search, just email me, and I will forward you the recipe. My email can be found at the top of this blog!

Sent out HNY!!! cards this year. Had to be a little different. It's a shy little penguin with a big NEW YEAR wish of joy, peace, love and happiness! Send out FuN MaiL!!!!!

Check back often and see what I'm up to!!!!

Blast from the Past

2011-12-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

I've been writing this blog for a long time! I thought I'd go back to one of my first months of posting and find some cute card I created over 5 years ago. Do you believe?

What an awesome way this computer allows us to record history. How will documenting digital photos and blogs, emails and webs and all the other technology be in another 5 years. Where will I be then???

I recently caught up with a friend from college. Can you find me in this dated picture from 1983???? I thought that there was never a picture taken of her and I together... and she told me, yes! just the one for the yearbook. Good memory. So sad almost 30 years ago.... documenting 'history' was so odd, cheap cameras, expensive film, expensive developing fees... and boxes full of photos that were blurry or heads cut off!

This is my personal daily diary. Thanks for visiting and taking this journey with me.

2011-12-29T08:33:00.000-06:00

Making mini scrapbooks.... these are so much fun and they take time and planning. I love using my leftovers to create a fantastic page with different do-dads to see and interactive pockets to pull whimsy tags from. We'll call this one a shabby chic with lacey ribbon a fabric flower and some pearlized buttons. You can see a bit of corrugated cardboard, a paper rose bud and a flower pick or pin that is holding 3 little tags and an embossed button with what looks to be a butterfly?

Here's a side view A: because I think it's cool picture to take a close up of all the textures. B: always practicing my picture taking. This mini is for sale.... not sure what a reasonable price would be for it. Have any ideas? Please, please leave me a comment... does the comment section work?????? The size is approximately 4-1/2"H x 6-1/2" W... room for little photos, or a journaling book to jot your favorite quotes.

No snow yet! It's the big talk around here.... a December without snow! Yes it's odd, but then the complaints will start flying the first day we get 2". It's global warming.

Supposed to be a 'warm' weekend... perfect for taking down all the outdoor decor and getting on with the new year!

The answer to yesterday's question....the college boy was picked to go on stage with Blue Man Group!

It's in the Bag

2011-12-28T09:19:00.000-06:00

Just a paper bag and some do-dads. I was surfing around and one place I visit often Mish Mash always has super cute 'stuff'. One is these paper bags that are folded and then sewn around three sides. They are perfect for a gift of 2 cards with envelopes, or hot chocolate and a special cookie, or a little notebook and pencil. She has a unique and fun way of putting so many things together and it looks so organized and festive!

Here is a close up version of one, with ribbons and a doily, bows and paper flowers, paper scraps and a button. The vintage type of tag is perfect for writing the sentiment. The present is already wrapped and now is ready to just be 'stuffed'

And here, going all monochromatic is a great way to mix and match all the onesy do-dads you having laying around. I think I'll make more of these and find fun stuff to add to the mix... in a similar color.

500+ people in the audience. 4 members of the Robinson family. 3 Blue Men. 2 audience members get pulled on stage. One person from our family was one of them. Can you guess who got pulled on stage during yesterdays 2 pm performance of Blue Man group in Chicago Illinois??

Supreme Gift

2011-12-27T09:34:00.000-06:00

What is the old saying... it's better to give than to receive?

I was so excited about this little gift box. I truly believe, NOW, that I work so much better under pressure. I up-cycled the gift box. Not a very good view here, but it was like half a cereal box that I just formed and glued Christmas patterned paper around. Then I stuffed the box with some cre8tive greetings!! A twelve variety pack of cards from a Christmas note to a get well card, to a thank you to a Zindorf specialty note.

On the sides of the gift box I made these 'super' cute tags from Laura at Following the paper trail. That girl has some very intering and unique ideas. It's fun to capture her ideas and then make it with what I have on hand. The tags are interactive, so there is the black base, but then there are pockets on both sides that house other smaller tags, and all the cards match with the same themed paper. And then cute ribbon bows 'tie' them all together but also make the box look fluffy on full on top.

And then finally, in the back of the box is this bright and cheery mini scrapbook. Although and of course I love making cards... putting together these mini scrapbooks is ultimate fun.

It is the challenge for me now to create all the different embellishments.. the tabs, the tags, the pockets, the flowers, the clip the ribbon.

So this ultimate supreme gift went to my husbands awesome WORK SPOUSE. Have you heard that term? It could be a Hollywood thing. But my husbands Admin. Assistant sees him more than I do, and feels the stresses of his job ... more than I do!!! So she is his work spouse (without benefits) once I got the idea and thought of this gift, I was like a mad woman on a cre8tive frenzy. I had so many ideas, I was working up a sweat, my work area was getting smaller and smaller and there were more scraps on the floor than in the garbage can. Finished....I stuck it in his car so he wouldn't forget to take it to work.... da, da da......... she took a few days of vacation .... early.... so he wasn't able to give it to her. Boo hoo!! Deep breath. It's the thought..... oh well!

What can I cre8te for you!!

Day After Christmas Day

2011-12-26T09:16:00.001-06:00

I love this Santa card.... I wont be able to give him away unless I make more. I think this is just the cutest cut out card, and it puts a smile on my face and a twinkle in my eye! Embossed his beard and mustache and eyebrows, the swirls give him all the cute curliness. A few pieces and parts are popped out and inked. A little white gel ads some twinkle.

Sometimes you just need a plain thank you card. A way to give thanks that isn't too pretty it takes away from the message. So this is basic plaid Christmas paper with a simple sentiment. Cuddlebugged... or embossed the front of the card stock to make the card more than just basic.

Sending out New Year cards this year. Happy New Year!! The next holiday. I wrote a quick newsletter that highlights our year. Just click on the top picture with the candy can on the leftside of my blog: Robinson Replay if you are interested.

So far, I'm loving our winter, blue skies and sunshine, no snow on the ground. We had a good Christmas, may wait a few days to take things back that didn't fit or work out.

Need to purge a few piles and get ready to start a fresh new year!

Coast on This

2011-12-23T09:15:00.000-06:00

I found a fun way to combine my photo art and my graphic design with a little Mod Podge and some tiles. A few months ago someone pinned (on Pinterest) these adorable coasters and the directions how to make them.

I'm hooked! Simple, unique and beautiful personalized gifts to give. These happen to have pictures of my next door neighbor's breath taking pond. This summer I got on my knees and took colorful pictures from every angle. I've been playing with them in my photo library and thought they would make a perfect gift and I chose and cropped the four most colorful pictures and printed them out. The ink jet printer slightly bled in spots, but it makes the photos look almost watercolor like!

I put felt feet under the four corners so that they wouldn't scratch the table top. What's funny is after I bought my first few tiles for .16c at Home Depot I was cleaning out from behind our basement steps and found boxes of tiles (put there by the original home owners) FREE tiles!

I took an on-line class learning a few techniques in Photo Shop Elements and one of our projects was creating a page that looked like Subway poster art. I scaled that down and used my friend's name and a few words about them to create a fun personalized tile (coaster), printed that out 4-1/4" x 4-1/4" and Mod Podged a few coats and then sealed it off with a spray sealant.

Positive reviews on the coaster tile art!!!! They even 'feel' fun!

Wing and a Wish

2011-12-22T08:27:00.000-06:00

I haven't made a Zindorf card in a while, but I thought when I saw this tutorial come up, that it would be a perfect card for my mother-in-law who celebrated her birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday J!!!

This punched bird from Stampin Up! has become so popular that they even have stamped images of the bird, you'd stamp first and then punch. Cool. I like Zindorf's techniques though, just adding shading below the wing and the belly.

No snow yet. Yes it does seem kind of weird, but I will not complain about it, because I know it will happen, one flake ... two.... then before you know it FEET of snow!

Sissy is officially on Winter break ... so once again my routine will change. Last year at this time we were heading to Florida for our cruise to the Bahamas and Jamaica.

Buy more cards to send as FuN MaiL....

Our little round corner of the World

2011-12-21T08:22:00.000-06:00

I missed a day yesterday blogging... it kind of felt strange, but you know what, it's okay!

Here's my llittle cyber Christmas card to you all. A few pictures out my corner of the world.

Although I feel the excitement and the thrill around this time of year, I also sense the stress to get everything done and have everything magical by Christmas day. To those who can do that with a jolly smile on their face and a caring heart bursting with love, I give them much credit for all they do!

Now get back to that wrapping!

Seeing Red

2011-12-19T08:29:00.000-06:00

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care... see them in the background?

We had a diversified weekend. Friday night the hubster got home from work and we turned right around and went back the same direction to the Sears Center to watch the Chicago Express minor hockey league play. (FREE tickets) I had never heard of them before. They aren't even the minor league for the Blackhawks... minor league for some Ohio team... dollar hot dogs and beer night. Lots of families and young kid hockey teams in groups, loud music and lots of give-a-ways.

We woke to about an inch of wet snow on the ground, easy to shovel and easy to melt. Saturday night we went to a neighbors Christmas party. Their house is decorated beautifully. I'm just amazed. It makes me want to do more around my own house, but then I think... happily that I have less to take down and pack away.

Sunday the Packers weren't being shown locally, we had to listen to them lose on the radio... boo. But we went out to celebrate dear hubby, dear daddy's birthday... a day early!

I've heard people complain that it doesn't seem like Christmas because we don't have any snow. It was wonderful being able to run all the errands and not have to worry about other crazy drivers in the snow!

Beautiful day on Jeff's birthday... sunny and 42 degrees.. wishing him a great day!

The Present

2011-12-16T08:04:00.000-06:00

A great gal and a cyber friend of mine have been writing a blog for a few months. To give you a sneak peak what we do, here is my post re-typed here today, because it is very special to my heart! ♥

Yesterday's the past and tomorrow's the future. Today is a gift - which is why they call it the present

Every day is an amazing day! And I mean every day!

One of my all time favorite Christmas presents wasn’t actually the gift, but how it was presented to me.

Twenty-one years ago my husband and I were newlyweds in our first apartment together. He was actually still trying to impress me. That is one of my love languages. Subtle surprises with a lot of thought behind it. I can’t quite remember all the details behind the actual gift but I must say he put a lot of thought into how he was going to give it to me.

Christmas Eve 1990 we were excited to be sharing our first together as a married couple. I was tired after a day of active people watching at the Mall. That was one thing we loved to do. It was especially fun on Christmas Eve because we were done with our shopping and we just sat and watched all the people scurrying around with crazed looks on their faces in a panic to find last minute gifts, something… anything. After our fun day at the mall and a leisure night, I eventually kissed my husband and said goodnight knowing he had ‘something’ to do.

Just like any kid around Christmas time, the anticipation of what gifts I might be getting was killing me, but I was truly exhausted and fell sound asleep. Christmas morning we woke together. My husband is ever and always the cool one, he has this smirk on his face when he is up to something, but that’s all I know. As we got out of bed I noticed from the hallway in our small apartment that there was an extra bright light shinning. I thought that maybe he upped the tree lights in the living room. He kind of shoved me forward out of our master suite and I peeked around the door frame. He was still pushing me a bit and I became very nervous.

Not only was the tree on and lit, but there was a person standing next to the tree with a spotlight on them! I was surprised and turned around into him screaming and stomping my feet slapping him with my hand… “Oh my God, there is someone standing there!!” With a laughing grin on his face, he turned me around and pushed me forward. In cartoons the characters put the brakes on, I was actually planting my feet into the carpeting and he kept shoving me forward.

Now what’s worse is that I have very poor eyesight, I need help from my contacts and glasses. My glasses prescription isn’t always the best, it relieves me from constant eye fatigue that I might get from wearing my contacts ALL the time. So, the person next to the tree was really fuzzy looking from that distance. He finally dragged me literally kicking and screaming toward the tree where I finally saw that it was a full mannequin dressed in a brand new outfit, my Christmas present from my new husband.

I looked at him and we both fell back laughing really hard. I didn’t stop lovingly slapping him in shock and disbelief.

That dear sweet man had gone out and first of all, found and bought an outfit from head to toe that I had commented on while window shopping. Then he placed many phone calls trying to find a store to rent a full bodied mannequin. He then while I ‘slept’, dressed the mannequin, placed it by the tree, set up a spotlight and got it ready to flip the switch so that before I woke on Christmas morning it was styled and waiting for me!

Like I said at the beginning, every day is an amazing day. With the technology available now, it has become a trend to record special moments in a couple’s life. Recently I have been watching YouTube snippets of marriage proposals. The thought and planning that goes on for some of these events is just mind boggling. It would be amazing if my hubby had been able to record his thoughts and ideas of planning my special present. Here he is walking into a rental shop looking for a body, then bringing it out in pieces and putting it in the trunk of his car. Waiting for me to go to bed and the nervousness he felt putting the clothes on and getting the body together. Then as he nudges me to wake up, camera zooms in on my face and I say “what are you smirking about?” And then the reaction of me hitting him in the chest and squealing and dancing around screaming that someone is in our apartment…. As the camera pans to the lifeless mannequin perfectly posed with an outdoor spotlight shinning on her catty wumpus wig!

It’s a good thing to have a memory and be able to articulate and write the stories down. We might not become a YouTube sensation, but the twinkle in my eye is the light to the camera in my mind as I remember what a sweet and kind man that is in my life, giving me the wonderful gift of his laughter and love!!

Snowball Fight

2011-12-15T08:25:00.000-06:00

I know it's coming... too mild of a December to not think we're going to be hit big time with snow! This snowman is ready for a good old fashioned snowball fight though!

I used the Cuttle bug to emboss the bubble pattern on the background. I think it's a bit too much, but it sure adds dimension to the overall card. I love the bright colors of his hat and scarf... he sure doesn't look like a boring snowman!

You get another look at my card stand, my treasured Flower Frog!

I think it's time to start wrapping some of the Christmas gifts or I'll forget all my hiding spots and then people wont get their gifts. Taking the Pommy to the vet... he's just seeming to be his old cranky self.

It Takes Guts

2011-12-14T08:20:00.000-06:00

Inside the bluesy mini scrapbook I showed you yesterday, are 6 envelopes decorated with pretty snowfall patterned paper. Each envelope is cut so that there is a separate tag inside for journaling or a cute winter photo. (I just make the mini scrapbooks, I don't fill it with photos or journaling, or scraps from an event)

I kept the snowflake theme throughout the book. This is my favorite Martha Stewart punch.

I had fun trying to 'work' the embellishments. That's one thing in mini scrapbook making that I have difficulty with. Since I don't purchase the parts and pieces, it's making the embellishment items look like they are unique and that they belong, have a purpose for enlightenment on the page.

Made lots of mini tags in blues and craft paper brown. Added white ink smudge marks to the edges. It gives this book a slight grunge look, which is a good thing.

Love this patterned paper by Bo-Bunny. It comes in a 6"x6" pack, all with designer coordinating colors, so you really don't have to think, all the pages match. The circle lolly with the 4 snowflakes is actually on a clip that can be removed. I like creating fun beaded charms with all my left over beads, it adds a great dangle. Below the beads are a few more layered tags to give dimension to the front cover. The ribbon is seam binding tape that I learned accepts Glimmer Mist. So, you can make the white ribbon ANY color of the rainbow and more, if you purchase ALL the colors. I just happened to have a blue... that worked out perfectly.

Went to a job interview yesterday. I was not nervous at all. I feel I've been to so many, but it was the first time I was in a group interview. Two managers and 5 potential employees, all in one room. They asked us questions and went around the room waiting for each one of us to give our take on what we would do in a situation. Hmmm, do I feel good about it....? I don't really know what to think.... Stay tuned to see what happens!

Having the Blues

2011-12-13T08:19:00.000-06:00

Using a mish mash of different techniques and styles I created a unique one of a kind Christmas gift for a friend and her two daughters, all things match in hues of blue.

Above are two personalized gift card holders. They are about 2-1/2"H x 4"W. I have a lot of the very large chip board letters laying in my stash so I added some of the patterned paper, roughed the edges and then inked them. Added them to the top of the white inked tag and topped that on the gift card holder. I Glimmer misted the white ribbon so that it would coordinate with the blue color scheme. Topped each letter with the perfect Martha Stewart snowflake punch. The gift card holders close together with velcro.

When I make a mini scrap book after I use directions fro Following the Paper Trail with Laura, I have gotten in the habit of making a matching card from the left over scraps. That way, if I give the mini scrap book as a gift, I don't have to scramble to find a similar card.... one already matches from the scraps. A snowman who has the blues. You've seen this snowman in a recent post.

Front cover view of the 'stacked' mini album. I'll show the guts on another post. I really love how all the elements came out on this mini made with small envelopes. Topped with ribbons and bows, snowflakes an lolly flowers, tulle and beaded charms and a whole lot of inking going on.

So this is really a gift with a mix, but everything matches. Gotta love that! And it's made with a whole lotta loving going on!!!

Reindeer Pause

2011-12-12T08:18:00.000-06:00

I like goofy and whimsical. They are even both fun words to say! These reindeer are pretty cute popping up on their paws to wish someone a Happy Holidays.

Last week I was visiting Archiver's and I really love to slowly walk around and capture the ambiance of the place. I love to look at all the cards, projects and page layouts they have posted above the products. Good marketing tool. The one thing I realized however is that most of my CASe-ing is about 3X the size of the actual stamp. Sometimes I have to do a double take when I see a familiar image. I think wow! that's cute, oh yeah, I've CASed that before.... my is it tiny... I would never be able to draw it so small.

This is just a basic card layout with a framed image and patterned holiday paper. I put some glitter stickles on the stars to give the card a bit of a pop!

Excitement of the holiday is all around. You can feel the stress in the air too. Great Packer win over the weekend! We Skyped Bubba (aka College Boy) he's got finals this week, give him a little supportive prayer. He leaves campus for a whole month Thursday night, same bus to Woodfield Mall. Sissy went to the Winter dance... she dressed at someone elses house, so we don't even know what she looked like. I have a sick Pom Puppy today :( Last minute stocking stuffers shopping....

Frogs & Birds

2011-12-09T08:53:00.001-06:00

Here's a cutie pie bird chirping away a happy holiday song.

He is one of my CASe Study projects of the week. Bright colors are from my new BIC markers. They almost work like Copic markers. If I go over the color multiple times I can get that darker shading and it looks like the objects have more dimension. I got 24 pens for $12 at Sam's Club.

Title Frog... you may wonder what that means. I scored this week while shopping at M's. Oh the excitement I have I'm sure y'all can't quite understand... but for at least 3 years I have been casually looking for the needle circle thingy that is holding the card up in the photo above Flower Frog. It is mainly used for fresh floral designs, putting the stems of the flowers in and submerging this in water.

And for years I have seen card makers using this as a way to display and hold their cards while taking a photo. I thought I'd have to find one on EBay.....and for $3.99 at M's I saw the last one on the hook and grabbed it with giddy excitement. It is to me like a little treasure.... to be LIKE all those other 'cool' crafters. Ta-da!!

Brrrr.... sunny and 16 degrees out.

Small Subway Art

2011-12-08T06:55:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago I took an online Photoshop class and learned to make a grungy piece of word artwork that you might see on a poster in the subway. If you're interested scroll down to find the original poster that I made.... if I followed the instructions, the poster size print would be 16" x 24". I adjusted the size to print at home on an 8-1/2 x 11 and put it in a frame.

I love the look and the technique and tried to figure out another way to use what I learned in the class, and brought it down on a much, much smaller scale... a drink coaster.

Lots of different fonts, sizes and color blocks.... the giftee's name a ton of times and fun things about them, with a little scruffiness on the edges make this 15 cent tile a great personalized gift. Found the original tile coaster idea on Pinterest. After a few coats of Mod Podge I laid my printed copy on top of an almost dried layer and then added multiple more coats of the glue on top to seal the paper on to the tile. Finished off the top with a clear sealant spray and glued felt circles on the bottom to ease any rough-ness.

I actually found lots of extra tiles under our basement stairs.... Free!!! Knock on wood.... no floor tiles or back splashes or shower surrounds have broke in the past 5 years..... so, I can use a few of the extra tiles, for crafting can't I????

Flakey Snowman

2011-12-07T07:11:00.001-06:00

How do you like the new Christmas colors and layout for my blog? It's still a work in progress. I may change things up if I'm feeling 'more' crea8tive

Another day and another punched art snowman. Can't get more simpler than two circles and he looks adorkable! Snow gals would certainly have eyelashes!!!

Just pluggin' along, decorating the house, purchasing Christmas presents, talking to friends near and far, crafting in my cre8tive space, cooking new dishes.... life is good! Stay tuned for any unusual things... I'm due for some excitement, change, balance... winning the lottery? Waiting for opportunity to knock so I can fling open the door!

Color Blocking

2011-12-06T07:13:00.000-06:00

Although it's Christmas time, it doesn't mean that all other holidays or special events stop happening. Every day is someone's birthday, or a couple celebrates their anniversary, or a baby is announced or someone should be thought of ... so I keep cre8ting and continually find new paper crafts for my CASe Studies, so I have plenty of FuN MaiL and whimsical gifts ready. Plus, it's so much fun to cre8te!

The color blocking card above could be any color combination (red & green with a Holiday wreath)... with any stamped image... with any sentiment. I'll probably make more cards with this same layout. This one happens to be a birthday card in purples and grey.

Helped the economy and did a little shopping today, and am pleased to report that in most all stores that gladly took my money, I encountered happy and personable sales people. It was almost like they've all been told to be super nice to 'our customers' because it's their money that supports us and gives them a job. Be happy!!! Well, I noticed... and it really made my day!! Maybe it was the shopping high??? Okay, I'll stay home and clean today!!!

Lookin' Up

2011-12-05T07:29:00.001-06:00

I found this snowy guy again.... so cute from this view. Punch art circles and ovals. I tried to use the snow flake pieces for his arms, but it looked like he had tiny dinasaur hands, and that was a bit funny.... so I just cut out some twig looking shapes.

The snow on Friday melted later in the afternoon. That was okay, but I know it's not the end .. it's just the snowy beginning.

Need to start working for Santa today and be his little shopper's helper.... let's see where should I start.... just push one little button.... send----> so easy!

The Snow was gently Falling

2011-12-02T08:26:00.003-06:00

Here you go, my home Christmas postcard.
It snowed light and fluffy flakes last night
All perfectly laying on the grass.
No need for anymore snow.
How can you beat this perfection?

Who let the Owls out?

2011-12-01T07:49:00.003-06:00

These two cards make me giddy with excitement and happy!

It's not hard to believe but I have not purchased a Hallmark greeting card or ShoeBox greeting or purused the card aisle at Target in probably over 10 years!! But I do peak from a distance and I think my cards hold their own to the mass produced and manufactured card. Oh and yes, I get a view of my competition when my family 'buys' a store card, or I'm celebrating an event and friends from all over the country send me a 'real' card. At times some are so tempted to send me my own card back. (Because they've either purchased a variety pack or gotten some as gifts from me)

My cre8tive greetings are bold and colorful and some have very cute sayings. They have sparkles and baubles and bows. The thing with my cards is that you have to think a bit a head of time of the events that are coming your way... especially if I have to mail them out to another state (or you get a variety pack and have them on hand) ... or like one friend who is kindly purchasing 20 birthday cards, personalized & whimsical greeting cards for those who want to celebrate extraordianary events and remarkable people in their lives.

I think these cards are special. And I have more fun each and every day I learn a new tip or technique to cre8te them. It saddens (yet makes me happy in a way) when I hear that people don't know who to send them to, so they just keep them in a drawer to look at them (hoarding?). The whole point is to send out FuN MaiL!!!

I have almost 1400 posts on this blog, most with at least one cre8tive greeting, and that doesn't even count the cards that don't make it to 'show off' here. That means in the past 5 years I've created a minimum of 1500 cards (that sounds better) and although I pride myself in not mass producing the same card over and over (except for invitations or real estate cards) that's a new piece of artwork each time. Awesome!

Ribbon Award

2011-11-30T07:50:00.000-06:00

Trying to add a new variety to my stash of cards and I found out about Mojo Monday. I was going to try to add the card sketch that inspired me, but I was having errors adding to blogger, so I guess you'll just have to view the finished product. I made about 4 cards in this layout (it looks like a Ribbon award) and I really like the different layers. I think I could make a more masculine card with darker patterned paper colors and maybe just a button or circle or leaf in the corner. I'll showcase more later when blogger lets me.

Yesterday was a quiet yet windy day. Fa la la... to fill the silence I did a little Christmas carol singing as I did my daily stuff. The sun shone for approximately 5 minutes as I put away all the fall decor and slowly brought up some interior holiday decorations. Made special doggie gifts out of fuzzy fleece yesterday too.... all in all a successful day.

More to come, stay tuned!!! Thanks for stopping by!

Spot that

2011-11-29T07:29:00.001-06:00

Either there is some exciting card making going on out there on the WWW that I get to do some fun CASe Study on.... or I'm finding all the right spots to hit to get my mojo going, or yes BOTH! Well, it really does help when you have a few orders... I want to cre8te some new and fun paper crafts to send to my customers. Thanks to those who are supporting my small business!! Love the simplicity of the card above with just a few punched flowers, swirls and colors that all match. There are so many ways to go with just this one layout and then incorporating different colors.

Can you spot Sissy? Her high school football team was on local TV as they won their 6A football state championship this past weekend. The college boy paused the action as the crowd was being panned and found her and took a picture. They all look so happy! (don't enlarge, it's a picture of a picture of a picture, gets blurry)

I was feeling a bit down thinking I needed to go shopping over the past weekend with Black Friday and all the other craziness. It sure was overwhelming all the newspaper ads and TV ads and people all over the internet remarking about their great purchases (or that they were done??).... making me feel guilty! I helped out the economy yesterday by doing a little cyber Monday on-line shopping and I went to M's and found a few things to add to my cre8tive stash. I feel much better.... but I'm thinking I need to visit a few more stores this week, just in case I missed something:)

Wilson's Surprise

2011-11-28T07:19:00.000-06:00

There is a new dog to do and his name is Wilson... he is a labradoodle doodle. One parent was a poodle and the the other parent was a Labradoodle.... thus the doodle doodle part. He's about 8 months old.... his sweet doggie sister was Charlie who passed away this summer. New dog, new card with new adventures!!

Inside I wanted to make the card as fun as the outside and I remembered that pop ups are always fun. The card is for a 1 year old, what does he care... it's for all the parents and aunties to ooh and ahhh over. Need the paw prints to finish off the cuteness.

Yay, vacation is over for everyone else... now vacation for me. I get to go back to normal... cooking and cleaning and cardmaking and quiet. It's nice to have everyone home and back in the nest... but this old bird needs the adventures a new week can bring.

Took the college guy back to the bus stop last night and he went safely on his way. Sissy's highschool football team won the 6A state championship and the hubster has had a pretty quiet week off and now can get back to business!!

Now time for cre8tive fun!

Colorful Friday

2011-11-25T08:29:00.002-06:00

Today I'm showing you one of the finished projects from my Mouse, Paper, Scissors 2 - Give class. It's a shadow box frame. It was a creamy pine wood color at first.... and with a little glimmer mist, and some ink and a few other tricks from the class we come out with beautiful box. Inside we created the pages from Photo Shop and then I took some photos from our family fall photo shoot and learned out to add them to the templates. On top, I created some puffy flowers, tied a ribbon and added a few other surprises to make this cute keepsake!

Here is a close up with all the different textures.

Beautiful sunny day for Colorful Friday.. my take on Black Friday. I don't think I've ever been... shopping that is at 4am.... or this year 12 am. I might have gone out later in the day when the crowds died down.. but never made a date to go find those doorbuster deals. I've not needed or wanted something that bad to

a. get up that early and

b. deal with crazy people at the store
Now the hubby has done it a few years to get a good deal on a tv or some electronic gizmo. I knew neighbors year ago that they loved this day. They planned it all out with stops for early morning coffee and a nice lunch later in the morning. Fun for them .... me, not so much.

Oh, colorful Friday reminds me of a rainbow, and a rainbow reminds me of Kermit the Frog and Rainbow Connection, and that reminds me there is a new Muppet Movie out. Keeping it all in perspective!

Let it S...

2011-11-22T07:29:00.002-06:00

NO! I can't say the word... yet. Cute sentiment on a card with adorkable snowmen but I can not talk about the white fluffy stuff. Not gonna do it. Just keep coming back to view all the cute guys, in all shapes and sizes. Hats and twigs, hearts ♥ and stars. Oh the blog isn't going to become snowmen 24/7... they just might be poppin in a lot, since it 'tis the season.

Had a great day to hang holiday lights outside. Hubby is taking a much need week of vacation and helping me with the Honey Due list. It was even sunny and about 50 degrees hanging garland, wreaths and twinkling lights from the gutters. Perfect day for it!

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life... it goes on. ~ pinterest

Happy Hoolidays!

2011-11-21T07:54:00.003-06:00

Owls are HOT! or I should say they are a HOOT! Everywhere I look from Pinterest to cardblogs to home decorating, cute and whimsical owls are the 'in' bird right now. You can make them fat or skinny, in a tree or huddled in a bunch, and the best part is their googly eyes that can be going every which way!

Don't forget to send out FuN MaiL!!.... it can be related to all the holidays coming up or just to let someone know you are thinking of them. Order from me, where else can you find a unique card for $2.50.... buy a few more, you'll be supporting a small business! ♥

We picked up the college kid from the bus drop of in Woodfield Mall on Friday night. He rode the 3-1/2 one way trip from Iowa City to Schuamburg. It's nice to have him home for 8 days. Our favorite grocery store that has been closed since storms July 25 finally re-opened this week We are excited to buy our favorite food staples, we missed that place. The kids high school football team won their semi-finals game and they were there and watched, this Saturday the school goes to STATE, first time ever. We went to Indiana to have lunch with the hubsters family at an Outback Steakhouse (tasty). It was very nice to see everybody and we could get together before the holiday rush! The Packers WIN!
Yup! a mighty fine weekend!!

Big Ole Heart

2011-11-18T09:28:00.003-06:00

Hello Everyone.... waves the cute snowman.

He is one happy dude!

Don't you think? I got an order for some snowmen cards and I want to create the very best and most cutest snowman cards in the world.... that's what I like to do.

There are so many ways to create them, one circle, two or three, top hat or stocking cap, scarf/no scarf, stick arms with or without mittens, carrot nose, coal for eyes or google eyes, snowflakes falling, more than one snowman, holding bells, with a bird on his hat, with a gift by his side, a great big red heart on his chest... as you can read the possibilities are endless. One thing is for sure.... more snowmen to come!

Sunny and blue skies today 38 and the wind is whipping around. Our major tree on the back patio that got hit by storms this past summer just lost the last of it's leaves. So I was raking them up yesterday. Darn, I should have waited one more day and they would have blown away.

Thank you to those who stop in and check out my blog. I hope that on most days your visit to my blog brings a smile to your face.

Christmas Art

2011-11-17T08:23:00.003-06:00

I thought outside the box, slightly. The subway art layout that I learned on my on-line class called Mouse, Paper, Scissors-Give with Jessica Sprague and Heidi Swapp... allows you to create anything... once you have a few ideas and the time to play around.

My hands are giddy with excitement as I type this, but my head is swimming with confusion. Once I learn how to do something, I get it. The thing is... I don't know enough about PSE (Photo Shop Elements 8... that's the version I have) so, if I were to make a mistake, I don't know how to un-due it. Most people would just play around.... I don't want to make the time to play around to learn something... give me the facts and then let me go.

I tried to save my 8-1/2 x 11 poster with the holiday flair about 6 times and then tried to find it to post on my blog. I really don't need it 6 times... but I don't want to take up space on my computers memory... so I should get rid of at least 5... don't you think??

This is ONE of my major issues about learning something new. At times I'm ready to toss my mouse out the window because I can't get it! And now I'm unsure of myself once I learn this how many new ways I can incorporate the awesomeness, but I can't remember it all. Use it or loose it!! Such a dilemma.

Our house is in a small amount of turmoil. The college boy comes home tomorrow. The teenage girl has an attitude, the mom feels like a maid and the husband has already worked and dealt with board of directors 12+ hours extra this week. At least the sun is Sh!Ning and it's a balmy 25 degrees! Oh Joy.... to the world

Snowmen Melt My Heart

2011-11-16T07:11:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year .... all kinds of snowmen!!!

And the holiday season has officially begun. Thanksgiving next week and then Black Friday and every day after that is chaos, mayhem and craziness.

Just running my normal errands the stores are busier.

More fun cards, crafts and happy opportunities on their way!

Subway Art

2011-11-15T08:46:00.002-06:00

Was playing around and able to up load my subway art from the first Mouse Paper Scissors ~ Give class, working on Photo Shop (I have PSE8) plus lots of other things. This is an on-line class that you take when it's convenient. You have to keep up though, or you'd get blown away by the awesome over achiever students who post their work. Great forum for asking questions when you can't get something to work and great step by step tutorials.

This artwork was conceived being 24" x 36" and to take it to a copyshop to be made into a poster.... but I'm to cheap... and made it for a 8-1/2" x 11" frame I had laying around. It still looks awesome!!!!

Embrace Your Inner Elf

2011-11-15T07:31:00.000-06:00

Oh I just love the 'punny' sentiments. Girly Elf types are in this season, and I'm loving her!

To, too TOO, cute!

As always, honing in on my shading techniques. Got some new Sharpie Markers as my old BIC markers purchased in a school shopping binge 4 years ago are slowly starting to run out. With the hundreds of cards I doodle I am happy to report that the BIC markers I believe 24 for $8 were a great buy! Nothing like those wonderful Copic markers with a 40% off coupon still at $5.99 each....

Taking a new Mouse Paper Scissor class on-line with Heidi Swapp and Jessica Sprague. Working on my Photo Shop skills..... so totally different than my PrintMaster program... but this old dog has to learn some new tricks! I'll post some new work once I figure out the path from PSE8 (that's Photo Shop Elements)

Really, in my nicest tone of voice: Find a beautiful place and get lost! ~pinterest

In the Park

2011-11-14T07:18:00.001-06:00

Simple image. Doing a Case Study on cards, of course. Doodles and a graduated color block, plus stickles adding a little glitter pop.

Beautiful fall weekend. Don't have anything exciting to report. Just living a grateful and thankful life. I'm able to have dinners with my family, I'm able to walk my cute doggies, I'm able to make my house into our home.

Bubba comes home from college this Friday. ♥ Life will change for the week!

Eleven Eleven Eleven

2011-11-11T11:11:00.001-06:00

Over the past few weeks I have done something the sign says. It enables me! And I love it. I think Sissy loves it too. So many ideas, so little time.

Although this furbaby isn't something made on Pinterest, he could be one of the cute doggies added just for the 'awwwww' factor. So we will take more pictures of his fuzziliciousness!

Made the pumpkin cake, once. Fun to try, but don't need to do it again. I'm looking forward to making one with the coke. I really like all the fun recipes. There are some great photographers.
Here's the latest. 100 ornament wreath. Striking and musical(jingle bells) but it needs more hot glue to hold it together. Fun concept.

In the business of being awesome. Make a wish on 11.11.11.

SMASH it!

2011-11-10T07:21:00.000-06:00

There is another new thing out in the paper crafting world.... SMASH books from K&Company.

It's a memory keeping book. What? Another one.... yes!

Smash v. : the act of sticking your cool stuff into this awesome book.

above: I made the title on the computer and glued it on.

Side view: pen holder and page tabs.

When it was Back-to-school shopping time, Target had those Composition Notebooks with the black covers for $0.40 each. I bought 6 of them, knowing I wanted to re-cover them and make them into something other than a plain notebook.

While perusing the aisles at Archivers I came across these cute books that you can smash your ideas into them. How is that any different than all my other notebooks, scrapbooks, idea books etc... no real big difference.... it's just the newest craze starting at $14.00 plus change.

With a little creativity, paper folding and stamping I took the plain ho-hum notebook and started the process for my gift receiver to start the ideas rolling!!!

The view above is a cello bag filled with goodies to attach to the pages once the recipient is in full possession. There are tiny coin envelopes to put ticket stubs or small keepsakes. There are post it notes to emphasize a point on a page. There are corner pages to tuck in photos or corny paper cut outs. I stamped awesome sayings throughout the book and added funky paper clips with ribbon randomly on different pages.

Just SMASH it!

To succeed in life, you need 3 things

A wish bone

A back bone

and a funny bone ~ Reba McEntire

Dollar Wreath

2011-11-09T07:11:00.000-06:00

As you know... one of my hundreds of fav things, or things I love is. . . Pinterest.

There has been posts of these simply adorable wreaths made out of Christmas Tree ornaments. The best part is the original poster said they got the bulbs... at least 100 at the $1 store. So, I of course had to attempt this. Here are my supplies.... not quite 100 ornaments ($8 worth.... small package had 15 each, large package had 7) , glue gun and a simple wire hanger.

I created my shape and started adding the bulbs. Turned on my low temp glue gun and started gluing. I even added a 9 package of jingle bells.

Here is the finished project.

It could use a few more ornaments. Can you believe that?? But for a first run.... I think it turned out great. The test of time... needs more glue in... spots. I heard the bells jingle a bit when the house was quiet. The bulbs were finding gravity! I love a good challenge!

Celebrating Anniversaries

2011-11-08T07:34:00.001-06:00

Needed to stock up on some Anniversary cards and when I found a new to me blog to view this cardmakers yummy goodness... I decided to do a CASe Study on the Ewen Style. Small print patterned paper is something I'm needing to look for MORE of. And if the paper is from a pattern stack.... there is no worries of trying to match the paper.... it's already done for me! Here I mixed paper from different paper lines, but the colors are similar... so I think it works!

Here's a close up of that lollipop flower.... or a layered circle flower.... the edges are inked and distressed... and I'm thinking it's so darn cute. You can see zig zag stitches and a cute punch boarder.... lots of fun going on in a 2" square.... extreme close up!

I feel silly doing it, but when I walk the dogs I purposefully put a smile on my face. Not that I'm grumpy when I walk (well when I think about the cold, wet, windy, winter... I might be frowning) but I'm trying to smile more.... I look so serious all the time. Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn.

Shameless Plug

2011-11-07T08:07:00.001-06:00

Please help a small business grow!!

Emboss it!

2011-11-07T07:23:00.001-06:00

I went to my local SBS.... scrap book store and got %20 off on two new embossing folders. I was there making 3 for $3, but actually this week it was 4 for $4. Making cards for $1 each... just such a fun thing for a card maker.

Here's one of the embossers in action. If you buy products that they demonstrate you get the discount. Everybody loves a deal!! I love that the folder leaves a clean space for you to stamp a sentiment or create embellished areas. The embossed part is in the shape of heart, you can't see it here...maybe next time I will leave the entire image and then ink it to to give this type of card a different effect. I used an actual 3" doily from the candy/cake making area, cut that up and extended the swirly stuff used for this card.

I'm loving these layered circles for flowers. The flatter embellishments seem to mail better. I still like making multi-dimensional flowers, but think it's so cool to manipulate flat paper and make all these pretty 'lil things.

Not only am I thief (I scrap LIFT ideas) but I'm also a liar. I'll tell you my secret. For over 5 years entering blog posts, you got what you got when I posted. If I was typing at 7:22 am or 1:05 pm that's when I was actually typing. But now, crazy as it might sound to any smart bloggers out there, I figured out how to use the Post Options key and I've actually (only this past week) been typing the post a day ahead and letting it post at a pre-scheduled time. I'm actually sleeping when most of the posts actually go 'live' on my blog. There, I feel so much better. Some days I may be (a) live.... but now you'll never know!

Happy Feet

2011-11-04T07:25:00.001-05:00

With all the different issues I've been having with my feet lately, I thought I could post some happy feet good news. Maybe it's the perscriptive drugs, well it is.... but it's amazing to take the first morning steps and not have pins and needles shooting up my heels. I've come to the conclusion that I need to "Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor the Devil say 'oh crap she's up' ! "

And what's been funny is there were a ton of posts on Pinterest about feet and legs recently. All of these are so true...can you relate?
Blanket on?
Too hot
Blanket off?
Too cold
One leg out?
Perfect!

See and that leads me to the next quote because I'm not sure how safe it is to have my leg off the bed... "I never stick my leg off the edge of the bed no matter how hot it is because it would get eaten off!" But for me, the leg that is out often has a little dog tongue licking it to wake me up in the morning! Now that is weird.

Not sure how to end this post. Wasn't really going anywhere with it, so I guess... I have so much to do that I'm going to bed!!!

It's the weekend!!

A Hole Lot of Punching

2011-11-03T07:02:00.000-05:00

A little wonky, but it shows that these cards are truly hand created and crafted. Have I said I love punch art lately? What don't I love about this hobby of mine! I wish I knew a little bit more how to create the fun with my computer and digitize more things, but if I knew it all, there wouldn't be all these new things to learn and then show off on my blog!! Thanks for humoring me!!

I picked up leaves with the lawnmower earlier this week. And yesterday I chopped down and cleared all my perennials that were turning yellow and droopy. I have a few things still to put away from my secret garden, but it looks like it's time to shut the yard down. We heard that we might possibly have even a worse winter than last year! Hopefully the added insurance my dear hubby bought a few weeks ago will keep the snow away. A tease, you'll have to stay tuned to hear more about that.

I'm feeling a bit better now that I'm on steroids. I had some pretty swollen ankles and sore feet ... so I finally went to a doctor. I have plantar faciitous and tendonitious... from my stressful exercise regime? From all the extensive housework I do? Combination of all of that and that I'm another year older and it's getting easier to have aches and pains?

I'm Not Chicken

2011-11-02T07:15:00.000-05:00

I did some cleaning the other day, well I do cleaning every day.... but I was in the chicken coop and I thought Freddie was a good speciman to take a picture of.

I actually have a lot of chickens in my kitchen.... but I think they are tasteful and subtle. Not so overwhelming that you walk in and think... oooh, she likes chickens. When I like something, I like it odd, unique and whimsical. Have you seen my cards?

My head says 'who cares?' but my heart whispers "you do stupid..."

Zindorf Branching Out

2011-11-01T07:28:00.001-05:00

Off to Michelle Zindorfs blog to learn how to make a new card.

She didn't use the SU! Branch Out set, but the best thing about Michelle is that she gives you a great tutorial and you can use any stamps you have. I always feel like I make a professional card every time I follow her tutorials! This is the 2nd card I've made with this set. Fall Beauty

Yes, it's November! I sent out 3 pieces of FuN Mail!! yesterday! What's next?

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T07:06:00.002-05:00

Yay, my computer works. Here is one of the cards I was trying to upload last week. This is paper piecing.... it is where I tare the paper or punch it into the shapes needed. Because I don't buy alot of rubber stamps, I would normally outline the paper instead of stamping it. Here I just inked the edges of the green green grass to give it dimension.

I found a new word. Well it's not really new, but if I Scraplift does it sound better than CASe-ing? They both sound pretty severe.... but when someone has a great idea and it's just too cute to pass up from recreating it..... some card part ideas have to come from somewhere. So, you do a little scraplifting. Love it!!

This is a sunny tree that grows love! That is so totally super cute!!!

And now the week can begin..... fresh and new. Happy Halloween!!!
Water colored Halloween postcard I sent to Bubba in college!

How to fix it?

2011-10-28T07:24:00.001-05:00

It gets frustrating when you are used to doing something and then your tools don't work! Aargh. I said that earlier this week when I had to replace my 2" circle punch. I guess I expected too much out of it, and it didn't want to do what I expected it to.

Now I'm trying to post a new crea8tive greeting digital picture I recently downloaded to the computer and blogger is telling me there is an error in uploading when adding pictures to this post. Hmmm what do I do now???

The above is a google image, and I was able to easily add that? Something that is making me go hmmmm.

But then I am humbled when I read quotes on pinterest that come to me in a timely fashion and mean so much....

Sometimes you just gotta suck it up and remember that there are people who have it worse than you.

HeART Art

2011-10-27T07:08:00.000-05:00

I took bits and pieces from my cards over the past week and combined them all into one. You can tell I'm having a slow week when I can't come up with something new! I'm trying to find the goodness in all things. My heart needs a little exciting art. Working on pumping it all up! Stay tuned♥

Branch Out

2011-10-26T07:16:00.001-05:00

I was the lucky recipient of a SU! stamp set as a gift in the mail from my BFF, and I couldn't wait to try it out. Here's my first card. I was crazy busy being creative the other day and made a ton of cards, finished a mini scrapbook and punched out a few paper flowers .... then BAM I hit the wall and my mojo split.

I am currently desperately trying to find .... something. Stay tuned!

3 for 3

2011-10-25T07:37:00.001-05:00

Last week I got an email from my local scrapbook store... come in and make and take 3 cards for $3. So, I stopped in, they had all the materials cut & scored all in a nice set up and sample cards in the middle of the work table... here was card 1. I love going to card classes because I learn new things, or I remember things I need to use again because they are so simple CASe... and of course as a cardmaker I have all the tools! or... they give you a great deal to purchase products!

Here is my version of the card once I got home. I'm always so worried about using all the background paper sbecause I need to fill the entire card page... but now I realize... I only need to use part of the pattern to add the color and make it pop!

And so sad.... I had to buy a new 2" circle punch because my old one got stuck on thick(?) paper. Oh, it makes me mad when my tools don't work.. and then I have to go buy a new one.... aargh! But yay! Always use a coupon.... at M's for 40% off, that makes me happy!

Today I will be happier than a bird with a french fry ~ pinterest

Heart You

2011-10-24T07:35:00.001-05:00

The ideas are endless! Try different mediums and determine just how they'll work... for a card, a painting, a collage, beading, floral arranging... the creative list goes on. Corugated cardboard with part of it ripped away... oh, that would be perfect as a shape on top of a greeting card... amazing. I love it.

I'm very thankful for having this blog as an outlet to express my feelings and my art. Thank you for stopping by. If you are one to leave me a comment, I appreciate that you take the time for me. If you CASe a card or get an idea on a tip or technique or a laugh from my funny side... I'm glad I could help.

An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail ~ pinterest

Boo from this Crew

2011-10-21T08:05:00.002-05:00

I've got to go the Halloween theme for today's cre8tive greeting card post. (Always in the back of your mind I want to remind you, have you sent any FuN MaiL!! today?) OMG! I love these adorable doodles, I hadn't seen these little guys before and they were quite easy to CASe. I have a 'fall' package of background papers and added some bakers twine before I glued down the simple sentiment that had inked edges.

Skyped (talking on the computer with a video camera) Bubba who has been off at college now for 2 months. Thursday is laundry day. While he was talking to me his roommate was still sleeping in his bunk, I could just see him out of camera range. It's starting to get colder while walking to class. We brought him his winter coat when we went for a visit 2 weeks ago. You know how the mid-west can be during any season, one day it's 55 and sunny and the next snow flurries and high of 31 brrrrrr..... College looks good on Bubba.

It's better to be abosolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring ~ pinterest

As Seconds tick By

2011-10-20T09:01:00.003-05:00

Yes, that's right, too much time on my hands. Time goes by, so slowly...

I made three masculine birthday cards with the same paper, similar looks and design layouts. Not in my cre8tive lab as I type this, but the cool background paper is filled with widgets of time pieces and keys, roman numerals and mechanical parts.... give the cards that manly feel. Always need more male birthday cards, it feels kind of funny giving them a card with pretty posies or a cute butterfly, you know what I mean?

Marriage lets you annoy one special person for the rest of your life ~ pinterest

Think Pink

2011-10-19T14:50:00.002-05:00

Years ago I took a stamp camp class and learned how to make background paper with shaving cream and re-inkers. Going through my stash recently, I found the paper that nicely matched my doodle sketch here of the cute mouse and her pink make-up. (CASed)

I knew who I was this morning but I've changed a few times since then ~ pinterest

Fall Back

2011-10-18T09:02:00.002-05:00

Oh my gosh, I wouldn't know what I'd do if I didn't have cardmaking to fall back to. Like I posted a few weeks ago, there are

so many ideas

and so little time.

I like the blue and brown combo. This is a nice Fall-ish type of card. I found in my stash the 'thinking of you' sticker. Fits perfectly! It is amazing how the paper craft industry is evolving, with the new punches (cute leaf punch seen above) and the yummy paper that I'm too afraid to cut into.

Have you sent out any FuN MaiL recently??

Mistakes are proof you are trying ~ pinterest

It Happens

2011-10-17T09:30:00.001-05:00

If you don't like where you are, then change it

You are not a tree ~ pinterest

Change happens.

Know what's weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change but pretty soon... everythings different ~ Calvin & Hobbes

I simply love this tree of life above. Of course it's CASed. Doodled tree and punched out love circles♥

I can almost see the red barn across the COMEd field through the back kitchen windows. That means a lot of leaves have falling off the trees. A season has changed.

I am amazed in the over 5 years I've been writing this blog, my layout and style are pretty much the same, and those who came after me, not having a clue how to write a blog and didn't know what to say, have changed so much that they have advertisers/sponsors and followers and blog candy give aways and challenges, and YouTube videos and tutorials. I've not changed and I think I'm being left behind in the dust. I need to change! Anyone want to help me?

We sometimes underestimate the influence of little things ~ pinterest

Finally Friday

2011-10-14T09:02:00.001-05:00

Not that I was wishing this week go by, but I'm glad it's the weekend.

Here is a bright sun SH!Ney card with a fun blue bird out on a limb! I love simple doodles! My inner child has fun coloring in the lines! Much kudos go out to those artists and crafters who share their designs and ideas on the internet! This is my version of what I saw.

Sunny today! Forty eight degrees.... the trees are becoming bare, fall is definitely in the air. I am such a lucky lady typing and sharing life in this silly way. Thanks for stopping by!

The truth may hurt for a little while but a lie hurts forever ~ pinterest

Toot! Woot!

2011-10-13T09:01:00.000-05:00

Hey there! I'm here. Just been outside dealing with life. It was 79 yesterday and sunny...all the past week may I add it's been gloriously sunny, and now with much needed relief, it is 58 and the rain has come.

As you can see above, I've been working hard in my cre8tive lab. I don't know how long I'll do this, but it's fun creating a photo montage. Are the pictures too small?

I had a request for some more of these cute punched owls. By punch I mean, each circle, oval and heart is punched out (with a hand held punch or a die that I used to run through the cuttle bug)of card stock or patterned paper and then they are glued to a card front to create the image. Not hard to do, just a lot of punching. I added dimension on some of the punches by inking the edges, and in some cases the entire punch is not glued down so it pops up a bit. The cards with envelopes all fit nicely into (the upper right pictures) a 'card' box! Clever, huh?

I have a few other things in the works, so please stay tuned.

Never get tired of doing little things for others, sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts! - pinterest

A little Scary

2011-10-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

Little behind today. Fall cleaning day. Fluffy got groomed. Catching up from the weekend. I'll post something cre8tive and amusing soon! {wink}

Beautiful Fall Weekend

2011-10-10T09:13:00.001-05:00

We had an opportunity to go visit Bubba at the University of Iowa this past weekend. What a great time to be a college student in a beautiful town!!! There was no big 10 football game (we're still learning the ropes of being college parents), but that was okay, the campus seemed relatively quiet, just like we are!! Explored the campus a bit more and took the college Freshman out for a few meals. Here is our gorgeous view on Sunday morning. Our choice for breakfast.... Hamburg Inn, check it out.... I guess it was/is a hot spot for politicians visiting for the Iowa Caucuses

It's Possible

2011-10-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

Another day with blue skies, I will take it.

I have been making a few things in my cre8tive space, but I can't show them yet. I made the simple love card above a few weeks ago. Just a little love note ♥

Thanks dad for my Coolpix Nikon camera. I've had it almost for a year and still love it!! I was walking in the woods Geocaching with a clip board with my GPS and my cell phone.... yes too many electronic devices, but I was able to point and shoot and get these photos. LOVE it!!!!! The shot above was into the sun and I couldn't quite see the LED screen, but this camera is so good, I knew I had it!

And then I love when a bit of sun shines through and you get this awesome glow highlighting a beautiful and wondrous thing. So amazing! It's like the leaf is pointing up on the path, see the yellow line on the pavement? I guess I could change the photo any way to suit my needs, but this is really the way I took it! Life is SH!Ning!

Nothing is impossible

the word itself says

I'M POSSIBLE ~ Audrey Hepburn

Indian Summer

2011-10-06T09:33:00.001-05:00

Here's a fun maroon card with a watering can filled with happy sunflowers. Any sentiment can be put inside, or it can be left blank for a note card.

It has been an amazingly be-YOU-tiful week here in the mid-west. Warm temperatures in the 70's and bright blue sunny skies. I'm trying to absorb it into my mind, body and soul..... because I can't help but know what lies ahead in the weather department.

I often see yellow wild flowers on my geocaching adventures through the prairie lands of Illinois. This time I saw a bunch of purple flowers, they look like daises. Kind of weird though, plopped in some cattails in the middle of a marshland field. I thought it was very pretty.

Bright light!!! Here is my front door. Those wet cornstalks have for sure dried out by now with the hot sun beating down on them. You can see Fuzzy bear there, sitting all happy, however, he needs a cool pair of shades, he is squinting with so much sun just pouring all over him in his furry coat!

Wag more, bark less ~ pinterest

Seeing Red

2011-10-05T08:48:00.000-05:00

I kept on seeing people pin a similar picture to their boards(that's all foreign words if you: Don't know what Pinterest is and don't know that people pin their interests to their own board or spot to keep wonderful, fabulous ideas to copy, share or just enjoy) obviously I had to take the challenge on and create my own Pumpkin Cake.... So I bought the cake mix, had the pumpkin (for some other lofty idea) and finally decided and clicked on the photo until it took me back to the original post and read the recipe for boxed yellow cake mix and the can of pure pumpkin. Just mix the two ingredients together for two minutes until the powder and pumpkin are one, cook at 350 for 28 minutes and it turned out like this ↓

It's very moist and tasty!! I was going to put a cream cheese and powdered sugar frosting on top, but it really tasted good 'plain'. Because I don't often think outside of the box, I really am glad I found Pinterest and other search engines, I'm having fun being enabled.

I went out again Geocaching yesterday, and searching for some red foliage. Found both this time! What a beautiful fall day. I'll take 120 more please!!!!

You don't have to be crazy to work here... we'll train you. ` pinterest

Couldn't find the Cache

2011-10-04T09:46:00.003-05:00

I think there could almost be 9 layers to the card above, help me, you count them too! It doesn't feel that heavy and then with the dots and flower, I didn't add any extra weighted embellishments.... so, flat enough to get through the mail without seeming too bulky. Which means extra postage. I inked the edges on the lighter cardstock and if you click the picture, I think it will enlarge the photo, I used my sewing machine around the outside of the edge of the furthest background paper.

Although I said yesterday I was going to try and stick to scraps for cardmaking this week, I think it's good in theory, but I made this card over the weekend... and last night's cre8tive card making session was for a 'special' order. Please don't hold me to it.

I went Geocaching yesterday, by myself .... for two reasons.... I wanted to see if I could use the GPS and actually find the Cache, and two I wanted to see what kind of fall photos I could take. It's been a weird year for weather and climate. It got up into the 70's during my hide and seek trek. Although I could not get on track and find the cache(boo hoo) I set out to find, I did get a few photos of my beautiful walk through the woods. I will try and post them to an album on facebook later today. I think these are oak leaves, I liked the fact, like the card above.... the perfect fall colorrs with green, brown, orange and yellow.... no red in these leaves.... I might need to go back out searching for that. Stay tuned.

How strange it is to be anything at all ~ pinterest

Have Faith

2011-10-03T09:48:00.001-05:00

I'm very happy to report that the sun has been shining for the last 3 days, so that makes any day a great day!

A simple vase with flowers on the card I doodled above. Very simple too, with two brads and a little flower. I really like to use my scraps and feel that the extra teeny tiny paper I've been saving, forever, doesn't go to waste. Maybe I will challenge myself to make all cards that I create this week with only scraps... no cutting into even a half of sheet of pretty card stock! This card really could be anything... have faith believe in yourself, have faith things always have a way of working out right, have faith you'll make it through another year (hee hee, that would maybe be too evil)

Can't wait to see what the week holds!

Some people come in your life as blessings

others come in your life as lessons ~ pinterest

Three Words

2011-09-30T09:45:00.002-05:00

Well, as usual, I have more that just three little words to use when I post to my blog. The above card is a CASe from an very talented actual painter/artist friend. Check out her blog, but also check out the painting I CASed here: http://cherylewilson.blogspot.com/2011/09/guitars-from-our-hearts.html

I was inspired (that's three words)

I smooshed scrapbooking ink into white paper, but needed to intensify some color, so I got out my little $.99 bottles of acrylic Folk Art and tried to 'copy' her brush strokes. My picture or card front is 4" W x 5" H... some of her paintings are 24" x 24". I must admit, unless I was under 12, I do not remember ever taking a painting class.

I am intrigued (oh 3 more words)

Some day when I grow up, I will do "original" artwork, that, or until I get sued for copyrights, I love the challenge of a good CASe (copy and ~~steal~~ SHARE everything)

Sun is shining! (three words)

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life, it goes on ~ pinterest

Be-witched

2011-09-29T12:42:00.002-05:00

Eight layers. I thought this was kind of hefty when I completed the doodle added the brads and sentiment. I just love the colors of Halloween cards. But then I get tired of people who say they don't send out Halloween cards. Who cares what the occasion is, send FuN MaiL!! Halloween is the kick off to the holiday season, those are not my words! Off looking for the sun!!

2011-09-28T12:18:00.000-05:00

A bright spot on the middle of my card above, might be the only one we have here in the midwest for a while.... my flash worked well on the card {grin} .... outside that big natural bright spot has been missing for a few days. Looks like we've gotten over 3" of rain so far. I need some sunSHINe!!!

I love making fall cards, pumpkins & leaves, scarecrows and black birds, turkeys and corn husks..... for the first month of fall the bright oranges, yellows and reds are fun.... then after many dark and cold nights....that beautiful fall just turns on ya!!!

I pieced the stripes to the paper to make the back ground, inked the edges on the yellow paper and then I cut out the pumpkin and leave shapes out of other paper and outlined the shapes to make them pop out.

Fun tag above.... just a little bit of fall color around the outside edges and of course through the leaf punch. I eventually put a TO: and From: on the front of this tag.... great to put on some homemade cookies. Check out the glutten free cookie recipe below. Yum!!

Oh Mr. Sun?????

FREE!

2011-09-27T09:33:00.001-05:00

From Gluten that is.....

Yummy cookies I made over the weekend.... you don't have to be Gluten FREE to enjoy these. My family loved them right out of the oven. We brought them to a PACKERS win party!!!

edit: yes, there is NO flour in this recipe

1 cup Peanut Butter

1 cup Brown Sugar

1 egg

1tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Vanilla

Mix

Add 1 cup mini chocolate chips or whatever you would prefer.

Preheat oven at 350. Mix all ingredients. Make balls approximately 1 to 2 inches. Bake for 12 min or until the preferred crispness.

Keep calm, nobody else knows what they're doing either!

~ pinterest

This and That

2011-09-26T09:22:00.003-05:00

I need a small intervention of some sort. As some of you may know, I've been trying to start a faux campaign to send MORE FuN MaiL.... and by what I mean by faux (fake) is, I guess in my little creative mind.... it's not that I'm really doing anything other than saying it... but the 2 boxes in the picture plus the small packages on top is my start to the revolution, of people getting FuN MaiL!

Who doesn't like to get something... just because!??! Everybody wants people to think of them... in bad times and good!! When they are feeling blue or on top of the world!!!

In Bubba's box were actually underwear and sox! hee hee But the first words out of his mouth when we skyped this week was... why did I send the puzzle pieces loose in the box and it wasn't a complete puzzle! Argh!! I'm just tossing fun (well at least fun things I thought) into a care package to my college freshman son... and instead of thanks for getting me 3 NEW boxers, thanks for sending the soxs I requested, thanks for the snacks of pudding, Ramen noodles, tootsie rolls, a rain poncho, Swedish fish, a pencil holder for his desk, some popcorn and a copy of the local sports section....it's "why the puzzle pieces". Isn't life sort of a puzzle? Odds and ends? This and that?

On 'some' of the puzzle pieces I wrote words of inspirations and fun! Smile, give someone a hug, call your mom, be a leader, laugh out loud.....but 'why' only 'some' of the puzzle pieces..... I don't know, maybe the pieces will all fit together in another package of fun mail!!! Stay tuned!

$.16 cents, plus gas, time, effort..... coasters. That is what the picture above cost! I was walking around Home Depot to find things for crafting...The trick is enjoy life, don't wish away your days waiting for better ones ahead.... this might be as good as it gets for me..... Mod Podge gluing napkins on top of 4"x4" bathroom tiles that cost .16c ... and then spraying a coat of finish over the top!

I was also looking for 1" washers to make into pendents, to create a beading dangle to hang off of gifts or mini scrapbooks. Washers were .11c each. That is my kind of deal. If you look close you see that the washer is Mod Podged with paper, and then I looped a little more expensive silver bead or other cheap beads to make the unique dangle! All fun things I saw somewhere else, and just had to give it a try!

Maybe next time I should just send a puzzle and nothing else. Take that!

A little Distracted

2011-09-23T09:04:00.002-05:00

A few more cards that went out this past week in an order. Oh, and they are all Get Well cards. I'm just loving this Martha Stewart butterfly punch. On the top card it's just flat, simple and glued on to the get well card...

On this get well soon card, it's actually 3 punched butterflies to every one you see. To make it dimensional you fold over the bottom two (like a book page) their backside gets glued down, so the wings on the top one pop up.

And this one, I just slightly inked the edges to give it some thing to pop!

Right now, at the very moment I type this, out of the corner of my eye I see something in the yard, it's two squirrels playing tag. They ran across the back patio chasing each other, I could see them out the entire length of the window and then past the back door. All of a sudden they round the corner of the house and run under the patio table, through the huge hostas that have beautiful fall sunshine beaming brightly on them, the leaves move as they run up the huge tree that we lost branches off this past summer. And they literally chase each other in a spiral up the tree. Little fluffy tails peaking out as they go around the trunk. They can hang on facing up the tree, or facing down, amazing! Then one runs down the tree, through the hostas again and together they leaping back and forth as they run over the rock, chasing each other to the back part of the yard. Shhh.... they must be tired.... I see only one now as he creeps back around the corner of the house. What a cute view out my window. Quit leaving those broken open nuts, I keep stepping on them and rolling in the yard!

That reminds me, I need to wash these back windows.