Sorry for the *racy* title. A girl's got to entertain herself somehow when Mother Nature holds her hostage for nearly a week... Apparently, we're supposed to get more snow today (Sunday), and even more accumulation on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday, I took a few steps out on the street in front of my house, just to get some fresh air. Naturally, my feet slipped completely out from under me and I fell flat on my fanny. In the middle of the street. There weren't any neighbors in sight, but if they were peering out their windows just then and their reactions were anything like mine would be, they were busting their collective guts and had tears streaming from their eyes. What can I say? I'm immature and fairly easy to please... People falling = funny!
Anyhoodle, back to the aforementioned mermaid. Did you see that cute little blinkie to the left of your screen? The one that refers to me as a GUEST STARLET for Your Next Stamps?1 Well, with that prestigious title comes some sweet stamps and a few challenges. In fact, YNS hosts challenges every week, which you can find on the YNS Challenge Blog. There are some nifty prizes involved, too, for those of you who like to get stuff for free. Which definitely describes me. Here's the gist of it: every week, one random challenge participant receives $10 in YNS Stamp Bucks, while another creation is selected as the Top Pick with a prize of $5 in YNS Stamp Bucks *and* an exclusive Top Pick blinkie.2
This week's challenge is... PRETTY PLEATS! When I first saw the challenge, I saw the two 'P's in the title and misinterpreted it as "paper pleating." It's actually any kind of pleating. But for whatever reason, I thought I had to paper pleat. I must confess, it's been a while since I've paper pleated and I think maybe I've done it only once before. So, smart me just starts scoring a strip of paper paper every 1/4", like so:
Um, no. This is not right, as I found out once I started folding it. What you need to do is start at an edge and do, say, a 1/2" score, then do a score at 3/4", and the next one at 1 1/4", and so on, so that you're alternating 1/2" and 1/4" scores down the length of your strip. This will allow you to achieve a nice accordian fold. I may have mentioned before that I'm ever so slightly lazy, thus I didn't feel like doing all that scoring once again. Instead, I convinced myself that the extra score line in my pleats would add visual interest and a little wabi-sabi3 to my project.4
Man, I feel like I've been typing forever. I think I'm just going to shut my yap and show you the card. Here it is:
There's that wabi-sabi! And isn't this just the happiest little mermaid you've ever seen? I love her. She's from the Happy Days Mermaid set and is just so adorable! Even Truman and Sean commented that she was cute, which is practically unheard of. They usually just humor me if I show them something, and toss me a bone like "That's nice..." This fishy gal was colored with Copics and then glammed up with Aqua Stickles. I wish you could see the cute-cute patterned paper from Doodlebug; it's got the sweetest little happy faced sea-creatures.
Now, at long last, I'm going to give you a glimpse of what you've really been sticking around for...
Va-va-voom!
Footnotes:
1 - Who'da thunk I'd FINALLY be considered a STARLET at the age of 41? I guess I'm a late bloomer. But, as I tell my boys, much better to be a late bloomer than to peak early. Who wants to reach his or her zenith in high school? How depressing would that be? So 'Glory Days.' (<-- the Bruce Springsteen song. I'd add a footnote here, but it's just too weird even for me to footnote a footnote.) Sadly, teenagers don't really seem to get that particular piece of wisdom. *sigh*
2 - We stampy types do love our blog flair, don't we? Like the waitstaff at Chotchkie's, I think blogs should be required to wear at least 15 pieces of flair...
3 - Wabi sabi is a Japanese philosophy I embrace (when it suits me). According to wabi sabi expert, Richard Powell, "[wabi sabi] nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect." If you're interested in learning more about wabi sabi, but don't want to read a whole book on the subject, might I suggest the excellent 6th episode from season 7 of King of the Hill ("The Son Also Roses"). No, I'm not kidding. If you're a member of Netflix you can watch it instantly. *Love* my Netflix!
4 - Does this sound like a rationalization? Well, I'm okay with that. Speaking of philosophy, as I did in the previous footnote, I also embrace the observation made by Jeff Goldblum (as Michael) in the movie The Big Chill: "Don't knock rationalization. Where would we be without it? I don't know anyone who'd get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They're more important than sex. Have you ever gone a week without a rationalization?" Word, brother. By the way, you can also watch The Big Chill instantly on Netflix. Just sayin'.
Supplies used - Stamps: Happy Days Mermaid by Your Next Stamp; Paper: Summer Sunrise & Aqua Mist (PTI), Solar White (Neenah), Doodlebug Designs - Sealife, October Afternoon - Go Fly A Kite; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Adirondack Earthtones Butterscotch; Accessories: Lemon Divine Twine from The Cat's Pajamas, Copic markers, Aqua & Pink Distress Stickles, Cuttlebug Circles embossing folder, Nestabilities - circles & pinking circles, sewing machine, foam mounting tape, button, pinking shears, dimensionals, Score-It, bone folder.
Thank you for the quick lesson in wabi sabi. You actually turned my glass from half empty to half full. (and quoting Jeff Goldblum from "The Big Chill" added a smile as well)
Posted by: Kathy D | February 06, 2011 at 07:10 AM
My girls just walked up behind me and said, "That card is so pretty!" 'nuf said. Seal of approval from Anna and Caroline.
Big Chill... one of my most favorite movies ever. :)
Posted by: Christina Fischer | February 06, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Your card is darling 'sweet Carole' LOL I had to say it!!! Love the post too, I'm still in stitches here laughing...I can't get enough of your foot notes!! Love it! Thanks for being so great!
Hugs
Karen
Posted by: Karen | February 06, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Wow, a fun card to look at. Your mermaid is adorable, love the many details and pleats, awesome work.
Posted by: Rose Kerry | February 06, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Totally cute!!
Posted by: Jessie/knightrone | February 06, 2011 at 07:16 PM
Carole, I just dont know how to stop laughing at you!!!! LMAO! I was THRILLED to know that I am not the only evil one when it comes to laughing HARD at people who fall... it REALLY IS funny.... SO glad I'm not the only meanie in the world!!! ;) Now you and your wabi sabi, and the too lazy to pleat again... I gotta tell ya, I have tried to do that pleating thing and math and I are like fire and water... the math being the water... LOL I LOVE the extra texture your extra scores have and I LOVE the "vintage" score tool you have also... I SO want mine back, stupid score pal and math ...again! UGH! LOL
Posted by: kellijo | February 07, 2011 at 12:11 AM
ahhh...so that is how you get that womanly figure...fill your bra with clam shells?! Nice...
Why the heck are you making us work to read your posts....geeze...you see less footnotes in Shakespeare ;) (I hope you are laughing and laughing some more!)
Love your card...the dimensional bra is just WOW!
Posted by: Carolyn King | February 08, 2011 at 01:04 PM
Carolyn, really cute card!! Kudos to you, hon!
Posted by: Sharon J. Jones | February 14, 2011 at 10:02 PM
Appreciate this post. Will try it out.
Posted by: pandora profits | November 22, 2013 at 04:08 PM