Proof: I Still Craft

You would think that with all this time at home I would craft all the time.
I mean I have an entire room of crap.
But it's funny how when you have time to do it is sometimes when you are the least inspired to do it.
Kinda like when you are at the mall with no money, you find all kinds of things you want to buy.
When you actually have money and need to find that dress for your cousins wedding, you're not able or willing to find a thing.

Since I get emails from people asking me if I am teaching anywhere or advice on their current project, I finally got my butt into the local stamp store to see if they had any use for a pro-paper matcher.
So, I designed these cards and a few more for their classes and store samples.
I remember crafting being so simple but this was a chore when I started.
I was so outta the swing of things.
It was like I forgot how to ink a stamp.
But I think they came out great and Stampology and their customers seem to like them, so it all worked out.
I used new Hero Arts Stamps for all of these samples.
All the patterned paper is by Hot Off The Press, it's the Vintage Roses Collection.

I love this one, that flower is stamped on felt with white StazOn ink.

These were created with the Scor-buddy as well for those embossed backgrounds, love that.

This is probably my favorite of the whole batch.
I used the clear packaging that the stamps come in to make a window that was stamped in white StazOn.
I also made that little paper flower.

And these sunset backgrounds were great for the silhouette stamps.
This one was done with the Copic Airbrush system.

And this one was done with just dye inks and sponges.
The image was first stamped in Versamark and embossed with clear powder for the resist technique.

Well, at least I can say I made something in 2011.
I also have plans to attend this crop in March for MS, Crop For A Cause.
If you would like to sit at my table and do more talking than crafting let me know, the more the merrier.
It's a great cause with great prizes and I would love to fill a whole table.

Goodbye 2010, Glad to See Ya Go

To say that 2010 has been challenging would be an understatement.
It has by far been the worst year of my life.
I guess I just have to have faith in the old saying, "whatever doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger" because I learned a lot this year in all the struggles the year presented.
I'm not a person to air my dirty laundry over the internet at all but I will say that I am a person who puts on a happy face and carries on.
Just gotta keep truckin'.
For me.
For the kid.

So, I'm starting off 2011 as best I can.
I'm attempting to be more positive although I think I make that a resolution and it never seems to stick.
I'm still working for Craft Critique and it keeps me busy.
I'm also looking for a new full time gig that can support me and the kid but it has been more difficult than I ever imagined.
Perusing Craigslist every day is pretty depressing, either I am over qualified, under qualified for a job that I have already done and had for years or they want someone who will run their entire business for $10/hr.
It's extremely hard to keep the faith but I am still keeping my chin up.
And my family has been amazing, helping to keep the heat on and food on the table for me and the kid, I couldn't be more lucky in that regard.

Last year I reflected on what I had learned in 2009, which was also no picnic toward the end but it had it's definite highlights.
I also made a list in 2005 and I completely still agree with that list.
And it makes me chuckle, I was funny in 2005.
So here's this year's list....

What I learned in 2010

1. Great friends should never be underestimated.

My birthday, CHA Winter in Long Beach, CA

2. Bad, upsetting, demeaning, fake friends should be removed from your life immediately and permanently.
3. Losing a family pet is just like losing a member of the family and way harder than I could imagine.

Neo, left us April 2010

4. That kid is way smarter than I ever was in school.

The kid won the school Science Fair and here he is at Regionals

5. That same kid is not the smartest outside the classroom.

6. Girl dogs are way more difficult to train than boy dogs.

7. Getting a puppy to replace an 8 yr old dog seems like a good idea but it's not.

Dita, adopted May 2010

8. I can always count on my sister to try and cheer me up with things go bad.

 

9. Owning a house is really expensive and stressful.

10. A new baby has made my parents baby-obsessed.

The kid and my new niece Lill, September 2010

Little Lill, December 2010

11. Working the Craft and Hobby Show (CHA) for a week is exhausting fun.

The Craft Critique gals, CHA Summer 2010

12. Teenage boys are just as mouthy as teenage girls.

13. Morons are morons, there is no reasoning with them.
14. Lists can never be underestimated.
15. My family is way less judging and more helpful than I anticipated, weird.

Those Mexicans, Thanksgiving 2010

The Irish clan, Christmas 2010

16. Turks and Caicos is one of the most amazing places on the planet.
17. Two big puppies are A LOT of work.

Me with Nasdaq and Dita, November 2010

18. Dating a nice guy is nice.
19. Having someone who knows how to take a photo take your yearly Christmas family snapshot is important.

My little family plus my brother's dog that had to get it the shot, sheesh

20. I'm way tougher than I thought.


So, there it is.
I learned a lot this year and it has not been easy.
But it's life.
And I figure that from where I am now, things can only get better.
So that's what I cling to.
And I am hopeful that 2011 will be my year.