Birthday Goodness

Here's the parade of birthday goodness that has flown my way...
Can I say again how lucky I am to have made so many blogging buddies?

This first card is from my dear friend Connie who always gives the best gifts.
And the reason they are always the best is because it reminds you...Hey! Somebody knows you!
I can't tell ya how many times I have gotten something from a family member and thought to myself, "When was the last time you saw me wear leggings??? Never!"
But Connie always sends off things that make ya misty just because....she listens and knows ya.

So not only did she send off the skull card because well, I just love skulls.
But she also sent me the most amazing fabric (yes, I forgot to take a picture) that I love beyond words.
Ask Max how I slung it around my shoulders and twirled like Julie Andrews in the sound of music...I did!
Then came this awesome card from Paula, who isn't having the pleasure of being in the center of this crazy blizzard that is happening right outside my office window, because she is in sunny Florida.

And the best part was the extra sunshine she sent along!
If anyone hears about my winter woes too much, it would be Paula. This card comes from one of my oldest blogging friends.
I think she may have been my first pal in fact.
We are very much alike, although she reads more, isn't as spazzy and eats way better than I ever do...so jealous.
Mimi and I are like seperated at birth sisters, although she would be the good one and me the evil twin.
Well, this card had the kid in awe.
He wanted to know if I could make this.....Ummm..no!
He loved the collage feel, he's more artsy than crafty, and I do too.
But he did whip me up this little number all by himself last week.
He used my Copic Markers (with permission) and diligently worked on this baby for like an hour and a half.
Once it was all done, he decided it needed a skull because mom loves skulls.
But then hated what he drew.
Tried to remove it with the blender, but failed.

Which is why there is a smoodge in the bottom left corner.
I told him, "Love the smoodge, reminds me you tried to make what I love."
This sparkly gem is from Donna down in Austin, Texas.
This year Donna, we have to meet up when I am in Austin!

It is so detailed and look at all that sparkle...love it!
Then this box showed up on my birthday and I was totally surprised.
It's from the Felt Mouse.
And her packaging skills are right up there with Connie's.
Inside was a little light set she made!

With a string of Ikea lights, the batteries and a couple chocolates for good measure.
(sorry for the blurry picture)

If you have never seen her blog, you are really missing out.
And she should be happy to know, I now carry a reusable bag in my purse for trips to the store...you got me going a little green girl!

I love getting things in the mail that don't have an invoice in them!

E.G.S. Weekly Challenge

(Yes, I read that as eggs challenge too!)

Well, Elizabeth, Greta and I have been trying to use up our supplies instead of continuing on our spend spend spend habits, so we came up with the idea to give each other a challenge a week.
Something that will inspire us.
And keep us on somewhat of a budget.
And force us to use what we got!

Last week we each came up with a challenge.
Yes, three challenges in one week!
It wasn't hard for a change because I had off on Friday, but from now on we are alternating turns and only doing one a week.
Too many challenges and one of us will quit pretty fast.
(I'm referring to myself!)

My challenge last week:
Use Holiday themed paper for a Non-Holiday layout.
Everybody buys holiday papers, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day...then it sits and waits for that holiday to roll around again!
Well, no more.
Use up that paper.
Here are a couple of examples to get you motivated!
Mine:

Elizabeth's
Greta's is coming, poor girl has been a sick puppy for about a week now.

So...Join us!
If you are not a scrapper...Try a card.
Ever make a card with Christmas paper that wasn't a Christmas card??
Why not try!
If you play along...let me know, I'd love to see what you do.

Videos

I just wanted to send a shout out to everybody and a huge thanks for checking out the debut video!
I am diligently working on new videos and I wish I had natural Mac skillz but alas I do not, so the production part moves much slower than I expected.
It also took me about 20 minutes to figure out how to actually record on my new camera.
Duh!
But Max is helping me.
Yes, the kid taught me how to use iMovie.
He's way better at it than I am.
Amazing how kids just jump in and do, while I am still searching for the help button and online guides!

And I wanted to respond to some comments:
* Glad everybody liked the cheap cereal box idea, apparently Martha copied the my idea but she covered the whole box.
Fancy!
I'll get to that one of these days...
How dare she steal my idea...BWAHAHAHAHA!
* Josie: By the time the kitchen is what I envisioned, I will have envisioned a totally different theme. Dang that adult ADD!
* Melissa: Weird when you hear how people sound, eh?
Max spent about an hour the first time we recorded asking, "Do I really sound like that?"
"I don't sound like that, do I?"
"Why didn't you tell me I sound like that?"
I wish I had recorded that.
* Lisa: Marry you?? Well Ok, I am still single afterall.
* Debbie: Cheap-o-holics...perfect! We'll meet Wednesdays at 8pm, I'll bring the booze, you bring the smokes!
* Glo: The best restaurants in Chicago, in my opinion, are BYOB. You can spend so much more on food that way! (man, that explains the extra 10 lbs!)
* Sheila: What is it with boys and their cereal? I swear he could live on the stuff.
Is everyone else's sons cereal fiends too?
* Chele: I'll see you Friday chica! And I will be giving everyone a sneak into your Mecca of Goodness one of these days, if you thought I had a lot of crap, you should see Michele's room!!
Oh heck, Greta's.
What am I saying...Elizabeth's!!

Thanks again for all the support!
You'll be seeing {and hearing} me soon!

Organizing Tips - SpazzTv Debut

My birthday was lovely.
I got a new lightsphere for my camera, so all my pictures should be perfect now.
I got some new Cherry-themed juice glasses for my soon to be cherry-themed kitchen.
And I got to spend some quality time with family chowing down some amazing Chinese fare and enjoying the BYOB policy of the restaurant.

I spent a lot of the weekend driving my family nuts with talk about how old I am and dwelling on that fact.
Ridiculous, I know.
But I was in a birthday funk, I guess.
"Look at how OLD I am now and what have I done?"
All anyone could do was nod and tell me countless times, "You're not old!"
I'm sure the funk will dissipate this week, it was just the inital shock that has lead to some self issues.

I also spent a lot of my weekend doing a lot of nothing.
I scrapped a ton on Friday.
And watched some movies.
Then spent some time with the Mac book and put the final touches on my movie.

So, here it is.
The debut of SpazzTv.
Keep in mind that I just learned how to use iMovie.
Oh hell, I just learned how to use a Mac! (I couldn't stop double-clicking for a while)
And the whole thing was shot with the iSight camera, so it's not the best.
But it's ok.
And apparently I have more chins than I thought.

So enjoy!



Future movies will be done with the new camera I got for my birthday, so that should help the quality.
And now that I have worked out a lot of the kinks in home movie making, the next one should be better.
So check back.


Movies currently in production:
* How to use the Bind It All
* More Organizing Tips
* Projects, Projects, Projects
* Copics (if I get back into the swing with them!)
* And I look inside scraprooms...yep, if you are on my calendar scheduled for a visit, the camera is coming and everyone will get a look inside your crafty space, so be prepared!!

And much more, I'm sure.
So stay tuned.

Today in My World

I am totally feeling like this...

Thanks to Noel who sent me this handy mood indicator for my fridge as a nice little birthday gift along with a few other goodies.
Everyone who now enters my apartment can refer to it before approaching me to ensure it is safe.
Max can refer to it to ensure that I won't go bonkers when he trys to give me advice on how to cook dinner.
Very helpful.

But I am seriously feeling exactly like this lady looks.
Just indifferent about everything.
It may be because my "aunt" is scheduled to come to town and I am pretty sure that yotch will make her appearance for my birthday or maybe it's because I am coming to the realization that I am getting closer and closer to 40.
Egads!
Or maybe it's because the windchill here was 25 degrees below today.
Whatever the reason, it is making my loved ones crazy who keep calling with the last minute..."What do you want for your birthday?" question.
"I don't know.....cash?"

I also got some great cherry themed fabric from Maryann, who also sent along this little notebook she made...isn't it cute?!!

One of the things I love about blogging for sure is the cool friends I have made and not only was it super generous of her to send off that fabric but the little book makes it even more special, she's just fab like that.

And this little card came a couple days ago from my buddy Carol.

It is super cute, look at all that bling!

And the "frosting" on the cuppie cake is perfect, liquid pearl? or white ep??

Do tell!

The kids are off school tomorrow, so I have taken off work as well.

I don't normally take the day off for my birthday but it is a Friday and the kids are off anyways so I figured...why not?

What I will be doing??...haven't a clue yet.

But tomorrow I am looking forward to a nice dinner with just my immediate family at one of my favorite spots, just a small group of 12.

I'm sure I'll be back tomorrow...but in case I am not....

Have a super lovely weekend.

Better Photos - Week 3

Well, this is week 3 and when I saw that it was on The Color of Light, I was overjoyed!
I, like many other Canon Digital Rebel XTi owners, many times get my indoor photos with a horrid yellow glow.
It has been driving me insane!
I know how to change the White Balance on my camera and generally go from setting to setting, trying to figure out which one looks the least amount of yellow.
But now I know how to set a Custom White Balance.
Hooray!
I tested it out here, with this week's challenge and the results are clear.
Custom White Balance Rocks!

(click photo to see it larger!)
Now for all you Canon Rebel owners, the way to set it is super easy, I wish I had tried this month's ago.
Go to where you want to take your picture.
Now set your lens to Manual, I know it's scary but it will be ok.
Then take a picture of a piece of white paper.
The white should take up the whole frame.
Then go to Menu.
Then select the 2nd menu, which is the camera with the number 2 next to it.
Then arrow down to the Custom WB area.
Select your picture of the white paper.
Now, you are all set.
Just push the WB button with the down arrow.
Select the white balance all the way to the right, Custom.
You can turn your lens back to Auto where it is nice and safe.
You are all set...fire away.

Hope that made sense.
It was clearer to me after I did it, as opposed to just trying to read my manual.
Why does the manual always seem more confusing?

Hope this helps.
All the info about this week's info, super helpful and printable, is available right HERE.

(hint: even if you are super busy and crazed these days, I know exactly how that can be, I highly suggest downloading these .pdf files and saving them or printing them, so you can come back to the info when life is a lot slower)

Better Photos - Week 2

This week's photo challenge...Shutter speed.
Take a picture of water splashing with a slow shutter.
Then a fast one.
And yes, that is a hamburglar glass, circa 1977.

Randomness

It's Friday again {thank goodness}

* My alarm is set to radio in the morning.
To a station that I hate (the Loop 97.9 for locals).
I have to set it to something I hate or I run the risk of sleeping through a song that I like.

Even if it is a loud, wake-you-up kinda tune (i.e. Rage against the Machine, Nirvana, Foo fighters), I can still sleep through it and usually it becomes the background to my current dream.
Most mornings they play songs I hate and it insantly makes me wake.
I can't get up fast enough to stop Pink Floyd.
This morning, the alarm went off and Don't Stop Believin' by Journey was playing.
I love me some Journey.
I hit the snooze.
Nine minutes later, Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar was on.
I love me some Benatar.
I thought to myself, this is gonna be an awesome day!
I usually get up after that snooze but I thought...hat trick?
Hit the snooze.
Some god-awful Nickelback, Lifehouse, Chris Daughtry (they all sound the same to me) crap comes on.....Nooooooo!
Note to self: When the song is good, don't snooze.

* I've been thinking lately, who really comes up with stamp image ideas?
There's been chatter over on SCS about sentiments in the new SU catalog and lately I've seen many images that just make me think..."who thought to themselves...you know what people want....pigs wearing clothes drinking coffee!"
I love everybody's creations and their designs but sometimes the stamps just make me scratch my head.
Seriously.
Like this, is this a rat opening mail? A possum?
Why would this animal get mail?
Is he raiding a mailbox?
And it's called overwhelming love.
Huh?
How about a moose and beaver on a bike?
What, you didn't know that these 2 animals were best buds?
Me neither.
Then again, I am the girl who made a card with an octopus wearing a crown.
I say to each his own, but I would love to know who think these up, wouldn't you?

* It is going to be ffffffffreezing here this weekend and you woulda thought we never saw weather like this before.
The city is in a panic.
And it gets cold like this every year, usually way more often than it has this year.
And you would think the apocalypse is coming.
I'm going out tomorrow and I probably won't even wear a hat.
I'm a rebel like that.
4 degrees doesn't scare me!
(expect a post about how sick I am next week!)

* There is a bunch of fun going on over HERE this weekend and I here there are prizes involved.

Prizes are good.

* Bought this bikini for a trip to Jamaica in March.
That's what I need the passport for.
I picked the most chillaxed place I could think of, to stay in line with my word of the year.
If I can't chillax there, I can't do it anywhere.
Now I am making a list of books to read, I may be able to chillax a bit but I am a person who may go crazy with nothing to do for 5 days...seriously.
Suggestions welcome.
Nothing too girlie or sappy...Nick Hornby is my favorite author.

* Anyone watch Talladega Nights?
I've watched it 3 times in the last couple weeks.
I know, insane.
But I can't get enough of it.
And I still laugh hard.
This is..."What should I do with my hands?"

Have a great weekend!

Somebody's hubby rocks!!

Last week, Cricket requested one of my little cards I posted for her hubby, apparently he rocks.
But I could have none of that.
I had to make a card all special just for this super rockstar man.
And I love it so much, I almost didn't send it.
Truth.
Every think that?
But it was totally made with rocker hubby in mind and so to Cricket it goes!
{should be there tomorrow!!}
The paper is a gift from Connie, DCWV Rockstar line.
The lady knows me.
I knew this little guy and this paper were a match made in heaven.
The stars are cut from some of the patterned paper and that stamp is from A muse.
He's colored with Copic Markers and the chipboard "u" is from Scenic Route.
I used the Sparkly pen on the words already printed on the paper and it worked like a charm!

Hope the rockstar likes it!

Around the house...

What is the absolute cutoff date to get the Xmas tree put away?
You know...how long before they send out the little truck to haul me away?
March 1st? Feb 1st?

Michele suggested I just try to take off the ornaments over the next couple weeks.
Leave the red beads and then just add hearts.
Valentine bush!
I like the way she thinks.

And it looks like the Love Fest is over.
Blockhead looks really guilty.
Doh!
Gumby just needs a hand to get up.
And so close to the scissors...this coulda been really ugly.

Owl Planner

I finally broke the Bind It All out of the box.
And quickly got to work on a planner for my purse.
Having a calendar is essential in my chaotic life and keeping everything in check as Max's personal assistant.

So here's a look at the new book.
Covers are made from chipboard and covered with Sassafrass Lass papers which are so much prettier in person.
I make all my covers the same way I made them on this book.
And see that owl in the lower right corner?
Well, that is a custom made clear cover!
It is made from a report cover, so it is thicker than acetate and protects the real cover quite nicely.
The rubons are from October Afternoon.
And here is a look at the calendar pages.
Each calendar is mounted on a piece of cardstock.
And the numbers for the dates are printed lightly so that you can write in all your info directly over them!

After the months, there is a section page to seperate the To Do List Section.

In this section are looseleaf pages cut to size for all your lists.
This is good if you are a person who completes a list and then tosses it.
Just rip out a page, no harm to the little book!
(plus, these pages are lined which is a help to those of use who are straight challenged)

After the list section, there is a notes section, which is where I am usually jotting down crazy ideas or info.

The pages in this section are just white cardstock, no lines.
This is helpful when I am sketching out a project or need a place to doodle.

Then at the very back, there is a pocket page for receipts, business cards and junk.
Here's a look from the back cover.
The book measures 5.5" x 5" total.
The inside pages are slightly smaller.
This was my very first time using the Bind It All and I really should've practiced first.

Some of the pages are just a tad off because I was using the wrong guide to line them up.

Duh!

Since then I was pointed to a helpful video, HERE, which really cleared up a lot of problems I was having.

If you want your very own planner, you have two choices....

You can make your own and use my calendar pages if you like, just remember which nice girl gave 'em to ya!
You can download them here -->Calendar Pages

Or you can just go over to my new etsy shop and buy this one HERE.

Yep, I made two!

It's super cheap because it is not perfect, like I said.

And free shipping within the US.

I just want a couple bucks so I can buy more paper.

Simple project, but if you are like me and don't have a guide yet, it may be simpler just to grab this one...Your choice.

EDITED: Planner is now officially sold...Thanks Lori!
Only took 30 minutes. WOW!
But stay tuned to the 'ol shop, more 1/2 finished projects should be posted soon.

Stick 'em Up!

Before the holidays, Max's teacher wanted to do a little project so she requested 2 socks (one white and one colored) and some buttons.
Max knew they were making snowmen and was a little worried about the project.
"This better not be baby!"
He is always a little apprehensive about "art" (I use this term loosely) at his school because the projects always seem to be extremely basic and usually not age appropriate.
The kid's been requesting a little Monet for a year now.

The teacher slipped a disc in her back and missed the whole week before the holidays, so they didn't get to work on their snowmen.
Well, until last Friday.

Apparently, the kids were supposed to fashion the little snowman with a turtleneck sweater outta the colored sock they brought.
Max had other plans.

He was so proud of his little robber.
He told me, "I looked at this part of the sock and knew it looked like a ski mask, so that's where I got the idea."
And apparently all the kids thought it was the coolest and tried to trade with him.
And for some reason he really wanted to give it to her.
I think he has a crush, ever since she sent him a robot card.
But his father begged and pleaded about getting it because he thought it was the coolest and that the rest of the Chicago PD would think so too and Max gave in.

He told me, "I really think he needs a tiny gun but I knew better in school. Aren't you proud mom, I knew better than to make a gun at school!"
"Yes Max, super proud you didn't get expelled today...thanks!"

She's Crafty

sing it with me...
She's crafty she gets around
She's crafty she's always down
She's crafty she's got a gripe
She's crafty and she's just my type

I wanted to get a good picture of my latest crochet project.
But the boy was peeved because he had to help carry 16 loads of laudry to the car.
So I got these shots instead.

I actually like the second blurry one the best, is that weird?

This little baby only took me a week during the holidays and it helped keep my mind of the stress of the occassion.

And had it not been for Connie, I wouldn't even know how to get the yarn started from the skein!

(yes, I am that slow)

But proof that I dabble in many crafts, which just leads to many half done projects.

details: triple crochet, acrylic yarn by lion

POTD- Saturday Jan. 12

I have been trying to take a photo each day but man, the days really speed past, next thing I know it's Monday again.
This was my Saturday.
16 loads!
Yep, we used every towel we own and a couple sets of sheets.
And wore every shirt and sock.
Then headed to the laundromat in formal wear.

Randomness

Thank god it's Friday.
This working 5 days in a row is soooo not cool.

There's not much on the noggin today, except a few lists of things to do.

Well maybe there's just a few things...

* I don't know what is more frustrating...
The fact that the kid has beaten me twice at Monopoly in the past week.
Or that Monopoly doesn't have paper money anymore.
What's the deal with that?
During the second round, of this now credit card game, the kid told me, "I don't think you understand how this game is supposed to be played."
He may be right.

* I see a lot of primarily cardmakers are scrapping these days and I am elated.
Woo Hoo!
So awesome to see such great pages from people whom I have only seen cards from in the past.
If you girls are looking for a super friendly scrap site to hang out at, head on over to Scrap Diner.
They are so nice there, no drama!
And my girl, Greta, is on the DT over there...Woo Hoo!

* I used my Bind It All on a little project and I am working on a proper review.
Details next week.

* I'm getting a passport this weekend.
First time in my life!
And I am excited.
And nervous.
What if my picture looks bad?

* The kid saw someone preparing quail on a cooking show last weekend.
He's requested it for our big Sunday dinner this weekend.
So, I need to figure out how to prepare cornish hens.
That's close enough to quail.
And will serve his purpose of eating "a really cool tiny chicken".
He envisions cartoon-like inhaling...insert tiny chicken pull out skeleton.
It should be interesting.
If anyone knows how to best cook a really cool tiny chicken let me know.

That's about it for today.
I need to prioritize some of these lists before the weekend madness begins.

Happy Weekend!

You Rock!

Yep, you do.

And these cards do too because they were super fast to make and I needed a bunch because I know a lot of people who rock.

I colored the A muse image with the Copic Markers and then used my Sparkly pen to color just his shirt.

Sparkly pants seemed a little much for this cool dude.

I know it is a little hard to see in the picture, but in person it is just sparkly enough.

The paper is from DCWV?

I think.

I got it from Connie.

She let me rummage through her unwants when I visited her over the holidays.

Love friends like that.
And friends who rock.

Love them too.

Happy Birthday Queen Octi!

This image just cracks me up.
I think it may be the eyes.
Or maybe it's just the fact that it is an octopus wearing a crown.
Whatever it is...I just love it.



This is a HUGE birthday shout out to my good friend, Connie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

If anyone deserves a fabulous day, it would be YOU!
I am so lucky to know you and call you my friend.

The stamp is from Sun Spirit Studios (although I don't see it listed anymore) and they are really worth a look-see because they have some cool little embellishments and other wacky stamps to choose from.
Colored with Copics, added Stickles to the crown and the paper is from a million years ago when the dinosaurs did paper crafts.

Better Photos - Week 1

Before the holidays I mentioned that there was a free course coming up if you wanted to learn more about your camera in 2008.

It is on my list of resolutions for the new year.
Well, the first "lesson/challenge" is up and posted over HERE.
It's all about aperature and fstops.
She even explains how to find out what your lens aperature is.
That was the first step for me, I am clueless.
These things with numbers always confuse me, but I think I actually grasped the concept for a change.
Smaller number, less in focus!

Here's my scrapbooking assistant, I call him Mr. Gluey.

Mr. Gluey and I are currently fighting.
He almost completely ruined a whole book over the weekend by spewing suddenly.
Most days he is pretty reliable, we've had a long love affair, but I may be moving on soon enough based on his most recent behaviors.

Feelin' Squirrely?

I am busy trying to make enough birthday cards to cover the next couple months so that I can stay on top of my Birthday Calendar!
And I am making a few cute lovey cards for that dreadful heart holiday next month to send out to a few friends.
Gave me a great excuse to ink up my new A muse stamps.
And use up some scraps...That's right all made from scraps!!

Love the simple design of these cards and the fact that I made them all in 30 minutes flat!
(not counting the coloring time)
All squirrels colored with the Copic markers.
I had to learn how to use them all over again since I haven't cracked them out in about a month!