Mother's Little Helper

Fall Rainbows

It's fall, friends, and it's the 22nd of the month.  Because it's the 22nd of October, in the year 2015 of our Lord, it's also my friend Charla's 50th birthday. That may not mean much to most of you, but she's kind of a big deal in these parts. I'm writing this late on the evening of the 21st, so by the time the majority of you read this, me and mine will be well on our way and/or there in Cambridge, MA, home to Harvard College (which I've learned over the past few months is what one calls undergraduate school at Harvard; Harvard University is the collective title of both the undergraduate and graduate schools. Thus, I totally showed what an ignorant non-Ivy I am when I created Truman's graduation announcements stating he would be "attending Harvard University in the fall." Color me hayseed).

Know what else the 22nd of the month means? It's Your Next Stamp's Feature Day, the day when members of the YNS Design Team shows creations around a given theme, and this month's theme: FALL.  Now, y'all know I'm basically Skittles in human form, meaning I like to create/taste the Rainbow. I tried to do so with my YNS Feature Challenge card using YNS's Rainbow Fun Die Set. My thought was to do so in a way that speaks to the season. Thus I used "earthier" colors, as opposed to the bold brights I typically use. See what I mean?

From this vantage point, it still looks pretty bright, I know. But hear/see me out. Instead of Real Red, I went with Purely Pomegranate. Instead of Daffodil, I chose Summer Sunset. I elected for a dark teal instead of a bold blue.  Rather than Garden Green, I selected Old Olive.  Simply Suede substituted for whatever shade of violet, and my background was an autumnal kraft. The sentiment (from YNS's new Waddles - Sweetie Pie Stamp Set) was heat embossed in Wine embossing powder (which I've had forever from Powder Keg/PK Glitz, but as of now, I can't find retail existence of; too bad, because their stuff is/was awesome). Even the clouds are earthier - being die-cut out of Neenah Ivory card-stock, rather than solar white.

My inspiration was the earth-tone rainbow graphics of the seventies like this one, that I've saved on a dedicated Pinterest board:

Now do you feel me?

If not, it's okay. But you should still check out what my talented DT-mates have put together for you over at the YNS Blog, all of which I guarantee are more traditionally autumnal. Another reason to visit the blog? If you leave a comment regarding what your favorite card is, you'll be eligible from a random pick to win the YNS stamp set of your choice.  And should you win by stating my concept-rock of a card (I'm like Rush or Yes, I'm thinking...) then I'll even send this card to you!  Let me know.  I'm good for it - I swear! 

I'll be back tomorrow for the YNS Sketch & Color Challenge. Peace out, peeps, and thanks for stopping by to visit me. Stay groovy, and steer clear of any 70's-style key parties.  (<-- word to the wise.  If you don't believe me, watch the movie "The Ice Storm."  No good can come from that!)

You Light Up My Life

No, I'm not going to force you to watch a Debbie Boone video. Although here's a fun fact to know and tell: I did perform that song, acapella, with Lori Souza and Patricia Breedlove for the Belle View Elementary School talent show, when we were in the third grade. So there you go!

Let's make this interactive: see if you can figure out what that song has in common with my sample for the current Your Next Stamp Sketch/Color Challenge:

Figure it out?! 

You're so smart. 

I'm thinking this one is going to be part of my 100 Card Challenge for Truman. I honestly can't believe that sweet little baby who was taking his first steps what seems like yesterday is leaving for college in a mere 18 days...

I'm trying to be a big girl and tell myself that this is exactly what's supposed to happen at this stage in his life, that all is right with the world, and I've done my job thus far to get him launched into adulthood. This is good! This is positive! And it's also okay to be a little weepy.

I could go on and on, but I'll spare us both. How about a look at the sketch I used to make my card?

We've already established that you're smart; now, show us how talented you are by participating in YNS's Sketch/Color Challenge #19.  You just might win up to $20 in YNS Bucks or be selected as the Top Pick and get an extra-special badge for your blog. Get all of the details re: how to play on the YNS Blog, as well as more inspiration from YNS's handy-dandy design team members.

Thanks for stopping by to visit me today!  MWAH!

YNS - Perfect Chemistry	YNS - Fast Food Fun Sentiments	YNS - Stitched Rectangle Die Set	YNS - Whatnot Seasons Die Set
YNS - Candy Apple Red Glittered Gumdrops	YNS Sketch Challenge #19	Doodlebug Designs - Day to Day 6x6 pad	Taylored Expressions - Say What Dies
Stampin' Up Card Stock	UltraSmooth Premium White Card Stock	MFT Electric Red Premium Dye Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black
Jody's Foam Boosters	Copic Sketch Markers	MISTI

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Gems Are Truly, Truly Outrageous

Title reference: do you remember the Jem cartoon/dolls from back in the '80s?

She was a little after my Barbie-playing prime, but my oldest niece was very into her, I do recall. When Carter and I went to see "The Minions" last week, there was a trailer for a new, live-action Jem and the Holograms (that was the name of Jem's all-girl band, you know) movie, with Molly Ringwald playing the mom.

Why am I bringing this up? Because I couldn't get that dumb theme song out of my head while I was creating my card for this week's Mojo Monday challenge, #407:

I used the Girl's Best Friend stamp set and coordinating die from Lil' Inker Designs. I was fortunate enough to win a $75 shopping spree to LID by participating in their February Monthly Meet-Up Challenge, and this is part of the lovely loot I ordered. I'm a big fan of Laura Pryor and Lil' Inker Designs -- she's super smart and innovative. If you aren't familiar with LID's products, do yourself a favor and visit the website. I'm forcing myself to use all of my stamps and dies from there at least once before I place another order, but my wishlist is growing, so I need to get after it! The weird part of me that fancies myself a tattoo artist (though I have yet to commit to a tattoo of my own and am not particularly good at drawing) is especially desirous of the Vintage Ink stamp set and coordinating dies...

Anyway -- back to my card. I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but on the sentiment layer I randomly stamped a smaller diamond and star image in Grout Grey ink (MFT Hybrid). I used silver metallic paper from my stash to die cut the large diamonds, and then backed them with white card stock that I brushed with Wink of Stella for extra sparkle. Both diamonds are popped up on Jody Boosters. 

Other card ingredients: patterned paper from Little Yellow Bicycle's Swoon 6"x6" paper pad; black and white card stock; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; black grosgrain ribbon.

Here's a look at this week's sketch:

Head on over to the Mojo Monday Blog for all the details re: how to participate in this week's challenge, and then visit these crafty folks for more inspiration.

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Justin Krieger
• Lori Tecler
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Thanks for stopping by to visit me today -- you're a real gem!

Orange Sherbet and Purple Socks

Ice cream makes everyone happy. Except maybe the lactose-intolerant; I imagine it makes them sad, or even angry.

I wonder if Lactaid, and the like, actually work? Any of you know? Please leave a comment and tell me. I'll report back to the rest of you.

Assuming you are not lactose-intolerant, what's your favorite ice cream flavor?  I love a good coffee ice cream (even more than I love actual coffee, which to be honest with you, I can take or leave most mornings; I don't miss it when I don't have it), and orange sherbet has been a favorite from my earliest memories. I actually worked at a Baskin Robbins, briefly, when I was in high school. I even waited on Donny Osmond, once, who was the first male I ever recall having a crush on. He is teeny-tiny, in real life. Thanks to ice cream, I know these things.

Are you wondering why all the ice cream talk?  Well, it has to do with my YNS Fun Friday card.  See what I mean?

Triple scoop with sprinkles and a cherry on a sugar cone! Well, not for real (it's made of paper, you know). But it looks pretty luscious, thanks to Your Next Stamp's BUILD-A-TREAT die set and STRAWBERRY GUMDROPS.  I used the current YNS Sketch Challenge (#17):

The patterned paper is from Doodlebug Design's Sugar Shoppe 6x6 pad, and the sentiment is from a discontinued YNS stamp set called "Total Sweetness" (I believe). 

Head on over to the YNS Blog to see what half of the design team has put together for this challenge, and for all the info about how you can play along and be eligible to win up to $20 worth of product from the YNS Store.

See you tomorrow when I'll be back with a very patriotic sneak peek from the YNS July Release!

Hello, Is it Me You're Looking For?

No, Lionel Richie, it is not. Though I do wonder if you kept that creepy sculpture from your "Hello" video. Nevermind. I really don't have time for all the different directions this particular tangent could go...

Yep, yep, I'm a busy little bee at the moment, trying to get ready to hit the road for two-weeks. It's once again time for our bi-annual Navarre, FL multi-family getaway, which I've written about in the past (2013, 2011 - here and here, and very briefly in other years probably due to the fact that most condos didn't have wifi then). Despite the fact that I've gained a more than a few extra pounds over the past couple of years that I'm very self-conscious about¹, I'm so looking forward to this vacation. For one thing, I no longer live near all of these wonderful friends, so getting to spend time with them is extra-sweet. Number two: we are staying for TWO -- count 'em TWO! -- weeks this time². And, lastly, it's our last big vacation before Truman leaves the nest, and he's staying for both weeks, which makes his mama happy.

 On to business... it's Your Next Stamp's FUN FRIDAY, which means two challenges for you to choose from.  This week, I decided to take on both challenges with one card...

Ta-da! See for yourself how it meets both YNS Sketch and Color Challenge # 15.

One more thing I want to show you - I die cut YNS's FANCY HELLO DIE six times, then glued the die cuts one on top of the other to give them that wood-cut look that I love. Nice & thick! (<--- Ugh!  Don't say it like that... ;) A little "Regular Show" reference, there, for anyone else who happens to live with a 10 year-old.)

The circle border separating the top of the oval from the bottom oval layer was created using YNS's WHATNOT SEASONS dies. Head on over to the YNS Blog to see how you can play along with us and be eligible to win a YNS Gift Certificate, as well as to see some awesome inspiration from other YNS designers.

Okay, friends. I must go and finish the worst part of going on vacation: packing! Next time I visit with you, I will be miles and miles away.

Footnotes:

1.  I'm telling myself to breathe deep, know that I'm working hard on losing this weight (most of which was put on due to funky medication... grrrr... and maybe stress & age, too, who knows?) (exercise parenthetical: I've started running again), and that my friends aren't going to judge me or think about it for more than a split-second, if they think about it at all. It's MY hang-up and only an issue if I make it one...

2. We're staying two weeks this time to accommodate older children's schedules so that all who want to can come down and hang out. Not every working-adult child could make the same week, so a couple of moms decided to stay for two weeks. That sounded good to a couple more of us, so all but one family are doubling down this time. Most of the dads will have to go back and forth at some point, including ours. 

YNS Fun Friday: Delicious Beer...

I seem to have beverages on the brain when it comes to the most recent Your Next Stamp Fun Friday Challenges. Last time, I made a series of pop bottles. For challenge # 11, I'm serving up brewskis...

As you know, the Fun Friday Challenge lets you choose between doing a sketch and/or a color challenge.  I opted for the sketch challenge, yet again, which looks like so:

I tend to like repetitive images/making patterns, so when I saw the three stars in a row, I went looking through my YNS dies to see which caught my fancy. These sudsy sippers from the Irish Fun Die Set quenched my creative thirst, and it seemed right to use the eponymous sentiment from the Magically Delicious stamp set.

Frosty mugs of beer... they're magically delicious!  (<--- Sing to the tune of the Lucky Charms jingle, then try to get that ear worm out of your head.)

For the circle element dictated by the sketch, I thought a tipsy happy face was appropriate. He has a 'Man in the Moon' quality to him, don't you think?  Like he's looking at a constellation of beers in the stars... Moony was created using the smallest YNS Circles die and a face image from the Create-a-Character set.  I cut the circle out of white card stock then stamped the face in Momento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored it in with Copic markers, as this seemed a lot easier than using a yellow card stock circle and having to paper-piece the eyes and tongue. See that stitched rectangle die cut in Safety Orange that creates the background border? Well, that's an extra early sneak-peek of a die set YNS is releasing next week. Shhh... don't tell I shared it with you ahead of time!

It was such a pleasure to cut these dies using my NEW Vagabond die-cutting machine. I have been fighting with my very temperamental first Vagabond for months now. First, it wouldn't emboss evenly, then it got to where it would only cut on one side of the platform, and finally, it would selectively decide whether it would allow the sandwiches to run through from one side to the other. Lately, every time I wanted to die cut something, I held my breath. It seems like I make dozens of die cuts per card, so that's a lot of breath-holding. Last week, Vagabond 1 went down the poop shoot to the crap swamp (as Carter would say -- he makes his mama proud), so I quickly ordered a replacement from Amazon, as well as a Sizzix magnetic platform, which is LIFE CHANGING. Long live Vagabond 2!

Mosey on over to the YNS Blog to see what my fellow YNS DT members have created to make your Friday more fun, and get info about how you can play along with us in YNS Challenge #11. You might just be the lucky participant who wins up to $20 in free YNS goodies.

Have a great weekend, friends.  Cheers!

Mojo 388: A Stamping Tragedy Narrowly Averted

Oh, friends. It is with a fried brain and a weary soul I greet you this Monday. I was in an accident just prior to writing this. No, not THAT kind of accident. It was... *sigh*... a papercrafting accident. In fact, it was a rookie mistake. I was walking upstairs from my basement lair with my completed Mojo Monday/MFT Color Challenge sample in one hand, and a beverage in the other. And, I tripped. I didn't fall, but you know what happened, right?  MY CARD GOT WET!!!

I finished my journey upstairs, and immediately got mucho sympathy from the husband and Carter. In fact, Sean grabbed the card and started spouting all sorts of ways it could be salvaged (he knew I'd been working on it for a couple of hours). I ended up only having to re-do the tiny sentiment panel, and Sean took it outside to his grilling area to blow it dry with some fancy Big Green Egg-related tool.  Thus, I bring to you this battle-worn-but-hangin'-in-there card:

It's a little lumpy-bumpy from being wet, and you can see a few dings (the ribbon is no longer perfectly straight, there's one jellybean that is a darker purple than the others, and there's a bit of staining on the right side of the Green Room scalloped-edge accent layer), but considering the fact that it was dripping in Margarita just a few momentos before this photo was taken, I feel okay about it. Things could always be worse: I could have been drinking RED wine!

As I said before, I created this card as a sample for Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 388 and as my entry for MFT Color Challenge #16. The parameters of each challenge are like so:

In early February, I was lucky enough to take a long weekend and go visit my dear, wonderful friends Kim (aka The MFT Lady) van der Sanden and Jody (Eagle Eye) Morrow in Florida. We had such an awesome weekend of catching up and making new memories, including an incredible night communing with the giraffes, zebras, et al at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, followed by a day trotting the globe at Epcot. I'd tell you more, but then I'd be breaking the Girlfriend Code, and Kim & Jody would have to kill me. I still have a young child at home, so I kinda have to take that into consideration. One day, I'll write a crafty tell-all and silence all those haters who think those of us who like to make stuff with our hands are dowdy and boring. Little do they know!

Anyway, where was? While in warm and wonderful FLA, I had a chance to take one of Jody's monthly card classes at the My Favorite Things bricks and mortar store, and then go shopping afterward. I shopped to my heart's content, and later informed my husband that Valentine's Day was more than covered! In other words, I. Loaded. Up.  Almost everything (including the adhesive) I used on today's card was purchased at that little piece of heaven on earth.  I'll start a list:

• Die-namics Candy Jar
• Candy Jar Companions
• Swiss Dots Background Stamp
• Die-namics Blueprint 20
• Die-namics Blueprint 22
• Brown Paper Bag Card Stock
• Lemon Chiffon Card Stock
• Lavender Fields Card Stock
• Green Room Card Stock
• Primitive White Card Stock
• Lavender Fields Premium Dye Ink
• Lemon Chiffon Premium Dye Ink
• Gem-Tac Permanent Adhesive

All that leaves is a little bit of twine, some acetate, a couple of brads, and Jody Boosters. 

As far as the how-to's, the most difficult thing was creating the candy jar full of jelly beans.  I die-cut a couple of layers of acetate, and on one of those layers, I started adhering jelly beans in random-ish order.  I topped that layer with the second layer of acetate, then adhered the Brown Paper Bag bottom and lid.  The rest is pretty self-explanatory.

(You can still see a bit of moisture in between the layers of acetate.  Drunken lil' jellybeans!)

Head on over to the Mojo Monday Blog for more information about how you can play in this week's sketch challenge, and also visit these lovely ladies for their (hopefully less traumatic) interpretation of Sketch # 388:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

YNS Fun Friday - Congratulations

It's been a couple of weeks since I've blogged, and it feels like LOTS has happened. First and foremost, I'm so excited to say that we have a contract on a new (to us) home!

Yes, yes, it's true that we just moved this past summer. We've been living in a house on campus, and therein lies the problem: it's on campus, and it belongs to the University, not us! You ladies out there can agree that our nests are important, and if at all possible, we prefer to have one that's our very own.  8 months of living in "the peoples'" house has made me very desirous of one that was more "me" and more private. I found exactly that in a home that was custom built in 1975 and being sold by it's original owners. It's funky (Mike Brady himself could have been the architect), and spacious, and absolutely immaculate.  Plus, it has a gorgeous backyard with park-like views from every window.  Yippee!

We won't be moving in for a couple of months, but that's okay. I like just knowing it's going to be happening soon, and making plans in my head for all the ways we will make it our own. It makes having sold our longtime, beloved home in Claremore much easier to bear.  With all of this in mind, I created my card for this week's Your Next Stamp Fun Friday:

I used Sketch and Color Challenge # 8 (both), which look like this...

As you can see from the sketch, I took it very literally.

I really like the fonts used in YNS's new WHATNOT SENTIMENTS FOUR set, and there are 10 different lines you can add to "Congratulations," which makes it super versatile.  Dies used include YNS's Circles and Piercing Holes die sets. 

One other thing I used: my new MISTI, which arrived in the mail last week. I bought it because it came highly recommended by many people I like and respect, though I wasn't necessarily convinced how handy I'd personally find it. OMG -- I eat those words! See how perfectly centered and evenly inked my sentiments came out?  I'd like to take credit, but I can't. It's all due to my new BFF, MISTI! I've always loved my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, but MISTI blows that tired old thing out of the water.  And just so you know, this is pure enthusiasm on my part -- I have no sort of affiliation or remuneration from MISTI, and I paid the same price for it (her) that everyone else does.

Okily-dokily, folks. You have a wonderful Friday, and be sure to visit the YNS Blog to see how the other participating YNS Designers interpreted Challenge # 8.  While you're there, learn about participating in Challenge #8 and how you could win a gift certificate to the YNS Store.

Thanks for visiting me today! HUGS!

Use Your Stamps with Mojo Monday

Happy Monday, friends!  How are you on this last Monday of September?  Are you in one of those areas that have a long, lovely autumn? (LUCKY! <-- say this like Napoleon Dynamite would) Or are you in a different part of the world, where it still feels like summer or has already rushed into winter?  I'm always amazed to read Laurie Schmidlin's blog when she talks about snow. Laurie lives in Montana, where it was snowing this past May 31st.  Recently, on her Facebook page, she mentioned the first snow this year was on Sept. 11.  Crazy!

 

Here in southeastern Oklahoma, we're still well into the 80s and on a couple of days this week, it's supposed to get into the 90s. Laurie's snow sounds pretty good to me, right about now. I could totally live in an area with lots of rain and snow as I am very indoorsy. I like being stuck at home due to the weather, so long as I'm warm & dry, with a good internet connection and plenty of groceries (read: wine).

Moving right along... For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, I treated myself to new die storage from Stamp-n-Storage.  It arrived last week, and I've been organizing my dies ever since. I had been using various binders and storage systems.  That worked well enough, but I like the idea of having them all in one place with room to grow, so I purchased two of the large, covered wooden die totes with two extra magnetic card bundles.  Now, I have all of my dies together, organized by manufacturer and motif. During the course of this project, I realized how many dies I have that I have yet to use. 

It reminded me of something I'd read on Susan Raihala's blog that she calls the "Use Your Stamps Challenge." (UYSC) To summarize, she suggests the INSANE idea that we use every image of every set we own (use of all sentiments is optional), and that when we finish using a set, we record such usage to acknowledge that set has been used (she writes a little note inside the stamp set storage that says "You did it!"). 

I have to say, this challenge both inspires and frightens me. When I consider all of the stamps I own that have yet to be used, I wonder if starting this challenge would inhibit me from ever purchasing anything new. Anticipating and getting that box of new crafty product in the mail is one of life's greatest pleasures, for a certain type of weirdo (if you're reading this, you're probably the same kind of weirdo. Don't take that as an insult -- own it! :) ).  On the other hand, trying to live by this challenge would necessitate mindfulness regarding the acquisition of new products and determining which products deserve the valuable real estate they take up in our craft spaces. That can't be a bad thing.

Food for thought!

With the UYSC in mind, I created my card for this week's Mojo Monday sketch (#365) using a lovely stamp set from Taylored Expressions called Discover Your Wings:

I love the art-deco-esque butterfly graphic, which I stamped out in MFT Blu Rasperry ink, then stamped over in VersaMark, and then heat embossed with Powder Keg Crystal Embossing Glitter.  After the image was dry, I die cut it with TE's coordinating Discover Your Wings - In Flight die.

This quote by Helen Keller grounds the image and offsets the top embellishment of the sketch (rule of 3s!):

Okay, okay, you're saying. I used a stamp and die set -- what does this have to do with getting all worked up and wordy about the UYSC?  You'll have to come see me tomorrow for the answer to that question, my pretties! Trust me, all will be revealed.

In the meantime, though, ponder what I've given you, and head over to the Mojo Monday blog for information about how to play along in today's Mojo Monday challenge.  Then, to inspire you further, visit these lovely ladies' blogs for their interpretations of today's Tall & Skinny sketch:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Mojo Sketch 365	Taylored Expressions - Discover Your Wings Stamp Set	Taylored Expressions Dies - Discover Your Wings - In Flight	Taylored Expressions - Banner Stacklets 1
MFT Hybrid Ink - Blu Raspberry	MFT Hybrid Ink - Steel Grey	PaperTrey Ink Cardstock	VersaMark
Powder Keg Embossing Powder	Jody's Foam Boosters

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Dream Big

Good Monday Morning, friends! Are you ready for another week? September is quickly coming to a close -- only 8 more days, and we'll be into October. Which means Christmas is around the corner... Good Lord.  This kind of thinking is what makes me want to hop back in bed and pull the covers over my head. Somebody slap me!

Let's start over again, shall we?  Happy Mojo Monday!  Here's the quick and dirty card I threw together using this week's sketch:

I heat embossed the sentiment from MFT's Chalkboard Greetings Too set, using white detail embossing powder on black card stock, then edged that layer with white ink. I decided to pull out the sponges this week and ink stain the edges of my layers after reading this post of Julee's last week. Obviously, I don't do this with a very practiced hand -- Julee's cards look lovely and vintage-y, while mine just looks dirty.  But I'm not going to think that way; comparison is the thief of joy, right?  I just need to work a little harder at it. 

While I was making this card, a burning question came upon me that I would like you to thoughtfully consider. Is ribbon "out"?  Think about it: do many of the cards that you see and like these days utilize ribbon as an embellishment?  I think of ribbon as a classic and timeless embellishment, but then again, I have a ton of it and if I don't use it on my cards, it'll end up cluttering my tomb. Give me your thoughts. I want perspectives other than my own on this issue of great consequence.

Here's a lookie-loo at this week's Mojo Monday sketch:

For instructions regarding how to play along this week, head on over to the Mojo Monday blog, and for more inspiration, visit these lovely ladies to check out their interpretations:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Get back to me on that ribbon question, people.  I'm anxious for your thoughts!

Mojo Sketch 364	MFT Chalkboard Greetings Too	MFT Card Stock	VersaMark	Powder Keg Embossing Powder
Jody's Foam Boosters

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Let's Get this Mojo A-Go-Go!

Y'all are so sweet - all of your comments and emails sent after my most recent post gave me warm fuzzies and did me more good than a year's worth of talk therapy, I swear!  I felt the love as if I were Simba and you were Nala, and we were frolicking on the African Pride Lands. Or something like that... er, yeah...

 

Speaking of feeling the love, I need to send some love to my long-time friend, Lesa, who threw a wonderful alumni meet-and-greet for Sean at her beautiful home in Tulsa.  Check out the fabulous (and SINFULLY delicious - truly the BEST tasting cookies I have ever had in my life.  They literally melt in your mouth) cookies she sent from the event home to the boys and me:

Cute little Southeastern symbols!  And look at this gorgeous flower arrangement she also had Sean bring me:

They still looked (and smelled) lovely on Saturday, so I took them to decorate the President's Box as a couple of dozen fans cheered the Savage Storm on to victory at SOSU's first home football game against Arkansas-Monticello (52-49; it was a squeaker won with a last-second field goal -- phew!).

 

Anyway, such thoughtfulness surely deserves a handcrafted card, don't you think?  I agree.  And, why not combine it with my first-in-a-long-time Mojo Monday sample, now that I'm getting back into my stamping groove?  Good idea, right?  Right!  Here's this week's marvelous Mojo Sketch -- #363 -- as rendered by Julee Tilman, herself:

And here's what I created with said sketch, in Ms. Lesa's honor, utilizing Southeastern-ish colors with a bit of Baja Breeze...

The stamps and dies are from My Favorite Things' Laina Lamb Designs' Geek is Chic collection.  Here's a little hint for you when working with small die cuts of different colors of paper that you want to pair together -- use a tiny strip of extra cardstock to adhere them both to like so:

(At first I was going to make the glasses navy, but then they didn't *pop* enough from the bottom layer of the card, so I switch to Baja Breeze frames...)

To play in this week's challenge, head on over to the MOJO MONDAY BLOG, and/or for further interpretations of this week's sketch and loads of inspiration, visit the fabulous ladies known as the MOJO MAKERS on their blogs:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

I'll be back soon with something I've colored.  I haven't created it yet, but I think I may work on it this afternoon as I'm anxious to see if I still know how to use my Copics properly...

Have a wonderful start to your week, sweet friends!

Mojo 363 Sketch	MFT Geek is Chic Stamp Set	MFT DieNamics Geek Is Chic Glasses	MFT Lemon Drop Hybrid Ink	Nestabilities Pinking Circles
Nestabilities Circles	Doodlebug Designs - Day to Day 6x6 pad	Stampin' Up Card Stock	Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock	Jody's Foam Boosters
Divine Twine

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Taylored Expressions December Spotlight: Showered With Love

Guten tag, liebchen!
(I like a good beer buzz, early in the mornin', and Billy likes to peel the labels from his bottles of Bud...)

I actually have a reason for greeting you in German; the Sheryl Crow lyrics just happend to fit with the most German smiley I could come up with (and appreciate).  Did you watch The Sound of Music Live! last night?  I DVR'd it so I wouldn't have to sit through the commercials (and so I could watch my DVR'd American Horror Story: Coven, which I L-O-V-E!), but my first impression based on nothing: I love my Okla-home girl, Carrie Underwood, but to take on the magnificence that is Julie Andrews' Maria is a recipe for "Meh."  I adore Seth Rogan, but if he remade Citizen Kane, I'd be giving him the same advice. 

Actually, now that I think about it, a Seth Rogan-ized Citizen Kane might be brilliantly hilarious -- ooh, better yet: Danny McBride as Citizen Kane! This needs a visual:

  =

As gorgeous and talented as Carrie Underwood is, she ain't got what it takes to make me believe she can tame the seven unruly Von Trapp children and win the Captain's heart, let alone escape the Nazis. That's merely my personal opinion. No need to pelt me with cyber rocks and garbage. I'll watch it sometime this weekend and let you know if my proclamation still stands. If it doesn't, I will humbly recant.

Another thing I must humbly and regretfully tell you: this is my last month as a member of the Taylored Expressions' Baker's Dozen.  I have loved, loved, loved being on this design team, but as I alluded to in an earlier post, I have a new job on the horizon.

Actually I have two new jobs, but only one of them is full-time, starting in January: I'm going back to where I was before I started this whole bloggy-stampy thing! I'm resuming (?) my job as a college professor at Rogers State University (here in beautiful Claremore, America), in the School of Business and Technology, teaching courses such as Legal Environment of Business (aka Business Law), Professional Ethics, and Business Communications. That doesn't mean I'll be stopping this blog or papercrafting, but it may mean that I'm DT-free until I'm able to discern how/if I'm able to juggle other deadlines.

The good news: I discourage students from coming to my office hours. (That's a joke, but not really: I'm MUCH nicer/funnier/entertaining in class than I am when someone comes to my office, just like many professors I had as an undergrad. I think this makes me seem super-intellectual and intimidating, don't you?) That means I'll have more time for blogging! If anyone passes my office and sees me typing on my computer, it will totally look like I'm working!!! WOOT!  Thus, those of you who come here for the writing are in luck. If you come here for the purty pictures, well, I hope you like stock/borrowed-yet-given-credit photos from elsewhere.  It'll be like a very warped version of Papercraft's Moxie Fab.

 

Other good news: my job at RSU will enable me to get back into my retirement/pension program, and continue on the same fabulous state insurance program that we have now, once my DH retires from the state Senate, which is (THANK HEAVENS!) after this next session. As you know, our profoundly-adorable-smart-funny-kind youngest son, Carter, has cerebral palsy, and having good health insurance is of utmost importance to our family.

So, it's all good, even if I wish it could be a different. Such is life, no? One of the quotes I live by are the words of Wendell Berry: "We live the given life, not the planned." And guess what? It's ALL good. :)

Moving right along, I still have a month left to show you all the awesomeness that is Taylored Expressions, and this particular card comes with a little bit of local history. As I mention frequently, I live in the lovely small town of Claremore, Oklahoma, through which runs the Mother Road of Route 66. Just south of us by a few miles is Catoosa, and Catoosa is home to a Route 66 icon, The Big Blue Whale.

I absolutely ADORE beyond words this awesome beloved beluga. It's a famous Route 66 roadside attraction/homage to true love (a hubby built it for his whale-fancier wife), and though folks are no longer able swim, slide, or dive off of it, take a look at how cool it would have been to do so, back in the day:

Anywhoodle, when I got my hands on the new Petite-a-palooza set, SHOWERED WITH LOVE, I knew I had to make a tribute to this local legend.  Take a look-see:

I love me a whale stamp, especially when it comes with a die for easy-peasy die cutting!

I know you're on the edge of your seats to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen has up their creative sleeves for you, so skeedaddle on over to:

• Carole Burrage
• Charmaine Ikach
• Courtney Kelley
• Jen Shults
• Joan Ervin
• Kerri Michaud
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

PS - the second job I've got going on?  I'll tell you more later, but here's a hint...

 

*showered with love with coordinating dies	*pinking circle stacklets	*medium scallop border	*foam tape - 1/8" thick
*choice snow white cardstock	*memento tuxedo black full pad	*doodlebug 6x6 pad - stars & stripes*doodlebug 6x6 pad - stars & stripes*doodlebug 6x6 pad - stars &	*copic markers
*best glue ever	*precision applicator metal tip	*metal adapter shim

InLinkz.com

Poinsettias {In the Garden}

Howdy-ho, friends! Are those of you in the states gearing up for Thanksgiving? Ready to stuff the turkey and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Gorge yourself as you watch the Godfather marathon on AMC? Drive for four hours today and then turn around tomorrow afternoon and do it again? Me, too! Good times, good times!

 

Before I hit the road for Lake Texoma, though, I thought I'd share one more way to use this month's Taylored Expressions' Stamp of the Month set for November.  The stamp set is called "In the Garden," but I've put a little Christmas spin on the flowers and made them into poinsettias.  Take a look:

And here's a close up of the purty poinsettias:

I can never have too many different ways to package up gift cards, and I like the idea of hanging them on the tree instead of losing them underneath, amidst all of the packages and gift bags. Speaking of gift giving, my personal preference is to wrap gifts, because a wrapped present is decorative while it's under the tree, and it also takes the recipient longer to open, enhancing the anticipation. But when time is of the essence, there's nothing simpler than throwing a present into a gift bag, no? Plus, the reciepient can recycle the gift bag, so there's that. Everything has its pros and cons. Every rose has it's thorn/ Just like every night has it's dawn/ Just like every cowboy sings a sad, sad song...

 

Alright, alright. Clearly, I'm going off on a random tangents because I'm dreading/procrastingating getting ready and hitting the road. Once we're on our way, all will be well and good - it's just the process of packing up and getting moving that makes me want to bang my head against the wall. *sigh*

I hope all of you have a wonderful day tomorrow, and know that despite my moaning and groaning, I'm grateful for each and every one of you that take the time to look at my pictures and read the mundane thoughts that travel from my muddled brain, through my fingertips, and onto your computer screens. You're the best!

 

 

*stamp of the month subscription - united states	*a bushel & a peck	*patio party	*tag pocket
*choice snow white cardstock	*doodlebug 6x6 pad - home for the holidays	*queen & company rhinestones - sunflower	*foam tape - 1/8" thick
*memento tuxedo black full pad	*best glue ever	*precision applicator metal tip	*metal adapter shim

InLinkz.com

Fall Classic

Hello, hello!  How are you doing on this fine fall day?  Me?  I slept in until 9:15 a.m. or so, which is pretty much unheard of in these parts. The opportunity arose because my youngest is spending Fall Break with his cousins and grandparents, my oldest sleeps late whenever possible, and my husband had to go to work. Thus, for several uniterrupted hours, I snoozed all snuggly-wuggly with my darling rescue girlie, Sweet Pea, and my horse of a German Shepherd, Ringo. Then, I got up and did a bit o' stamping while still in my pjs, a cup of coffee nearby and a new-to-me episode of "Best Ink¹" playing in the background. It's the simple things that make life sweet, don't you agree?

I used the current Deconstructed Sketch (#123) and this week's Color Throwdown Challenge (#264 - Night of Navy, Calypso Coral, Silver, and Pool Party) to come up with this little number, featuring Taylored Expressions' October Stamp of the Month, Instant Love:

Here's a close-up look at the distressed retro camera...

Pretty straight-forward stuff, so I'll skip the creationary details. After all, I need to get around -- it's nearly noon and I'm still in my nightshirt. Gotta get ready before the Old Man comes home. Keep your fingers crossed that the expected rain blows in a different direction so that we can hit up Tulsa's Oktoberfest this evening.  Cheers!

 

Footnotes:

1. Have I mentioned that I am currently obsessed with the idea of becoming a tattoo artist? It's true. No, I don't have any tattoos myself (yet). But when you think about it, it's fairly close to stamping. I'll need to work on my drawing skills, but I like the idea of creating permanent, walking art. I'm immersing myself in all sorts of tattoo shows (Best Ink, Ink Master, LA Ink, Tattoo Nightmares, etc.) and books, and I'm starting on a drawing self-study course called You Can Draw in 30 Days. When I mention this to friends and family, they think I'm insane. I tell them I'll remind them they said that when I'm needling my masterpieces on their epidermis.

*stamp of the month subscription - united states	*remember when	*choice snow white cardstock	*foam tape - 1/8" thick
*best glue ever

InLinkz.com

 

Have Yourself a Preppy Little Christmas...

Good Monday morning, friends! Or, as Carter has been calling it, "Like Thursday!" because school lets out for Fall Break after class on Tuesday. 

Mid-October already?  Crazy... Christmas will be here before we know it! Good thing I'm already in the swing of Christmas card making. Check out this pink & green little number I created for this week's Mojo Monday using the new O CHRISTMAS TREE die from Taylored Expressions:

If that doesn't warm the cockles of your Lilly-Pulitzer-lovin' heart, nothing will. I'm always looking for an excuse to use my favorite color combo, and was inspired this time by the ribbon, which comes in the current TE Key Ingredients kit. As I got going, I decided to add the yellow because light pink and/or green rhinestones looked a little flat against the tree. A little hand-stitching seemed called for, too.

Here's this week's Mojo Monday sketch:

It's a particularly versatile one, don't you think? Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for details how to play along, and visit my fellow Mojo designers to see their interpretations of this week's sketch:

• Julee Tilman
• Debbie Carriere
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

In other news, the fam is getting on the Paleo bandwagon. Truman's basketball team is doing CrossFit and the coaches are encouraging this eating program for the players. Seeing as it's the same amount of work to do it for all of us as it is to do it for one of us (in addition to the fact that I need to lose about 30 lbs.), we're all going to be eating like cavemen. Can't say I'm really looking forward to it, but I know I need to make some changes. If any of you have tried this, and have any hints, tips, anecdotes, testimony, etc., I'd love to hear 'em.

Happy Monday/Like Thursday!

*o christmas tree	*label stacklets 6	*banner stacklets 1	*simple tabs
*a glimpse inside	*key ingredients subscription - united states	*choice snow white cardstock	*foam tape - 1/8" thick
*best glue ever	*memento tuxedo black full pad

InLinkz.com