Just a little Batty

Super simple Halloween card.
Something about googly eyes that make me laugh.
These were a perfect fit for the stamp and depending on how the card was positioned, the bat had several crazy looks.

Halloween Patterned paper is Karen Foster, I think.
Orange PP is My Mind's Eye.
Stamp by SU!
Black Organza Ribbon.

Rhin-o's Birthday Card

Over the weekend, my nephew turned 15! (same nephew who got the cash in the cool envelope)
Now that's scary...driver's ed, high school, girlfriends...eek!
So glad my little guy is just 11, we have enough problems with 11.

Made this little card for him because we have been calling him Ryn-o since he was a baby, in fact we used to call him Baby Ryn-o, but now that he is like 5'7" it seemed a little silly to continue doing that.
And even though he is a big guy now, I knew he would appreciate a talking Rhino.
He often says to me, "you like making yourself laugh don't ya Monie?" (he's called me that since he was a baby and couldn't make the "S" sound.)
I have a tendency of using the word balls and nuts around him, just to make myself laugh.
And I always tell him..."yep!"

So, I'm sure he will appreciate the little talking Rhino and probably think to himself...I bet she made herself laugh making this one.
Yep! I sure did, I think it is those teeth that really make me laugh.

Card details: Stamp-Zoofari by SU!, PP-Chatterbox, Colored with- Prisma pencils and Gamsol, Scallop Punch by Marvy, card measures 4x4.

Thankful Thursday

I really like Thursdays, always feel like it is close enough to the weekend and just enough more time to finish this week's work.

Made this card for another of the challenges over at splicoast, it was a sketch plus there was another challenge to use bright colors and this one is definitely bright.

Got the big Heidi Swapp Thanks stamp on a recent trip to the Archiver's (I had a coupon).

I was reminded why I don't visit the A as much after a nice 5 minute argument about whether my carstock was Bazzill or not.

Girl, I know my cardstock.
Plus, why would I lie to make it cost me more?

Sheesh.
Some details: Cardstock colors-green galore, passion pink, only orange, white, black, Flower - Prima mini, Stamps- Heidi Swapp Thanks and Little Spots? from SU!, White Embossing Powder from SU!, Punches- SU!

RAKs

Got a lovely card from Michelle the other day, which is really what inspired me to bust out the new Halloween stamps and make my card.
So thanks Michelle, for the card and the kick in the behind!

It's hard to see but the letters on the Batty for You stamp are actually glittery.
She tells me it is embossing powder from her local shop.
Love the colors, purple and orange are my favs for Halloween.

This second card is made by Trish, she sent it to me because I sent her some A muse images for her to work with.

The petals are all oval punches and I know the sentiment is from SU, but not sure about the other stamp on the petals. Sorry it took me so long to get that picture Trish, life seems to get away from me from time to time.

Trick or Treat

Made one card this weekend, last night.
Felt like if I didn't I might lose my groove.
Took only a half hour which was good because it was still quite warm in the crafty room.
I think the heat made me more efficient.

Used my new Halloween stamps from Stampin' Up!
Love that little spider, although I find that the 1 inch circle punch is just slightly too big and that drives me a little batty.
Ha!
Well, it does.
The lil spidey is on the inside of the card through the circle punched window.

I also now know that I am wheel challenge.
I had such a hard time getting that darn thing straight.
I know, I know...Get the guide thingy.
Just don't want to buy a glorified ruler, just don't.
I'm cheap like that.
Tried it with a regular ruler, didn't really work, got ink on the ruler too.
Anyone got a secret method?
Maybe you could share it with the wheely challenged, I am sure I am not the only one.

Oh...Too early for Halloween?

Mad Monday Continues...

Just another Manic Monday....(oh, Elizabeth, I am so gonna kill you!)

So, yes that damn song is still in my head, over and over....
That's my fun day....

Picked up poor Max at Soccer Camp and some children were barfing from the heat...such a lovely way to end a day.
Felt so bad about driving him home in our hot car after he sweated his day away at camp, so we stopped for Slurpees, seemed to make the hot car less of a problem after that.
Glad to see that maybe it is the heat getting to me, and I am not the only one.
And let's face it, there are just some days when you are just off.
Today was one of those days.

Here's a couple cards I made yesterday for one of the Dares over at Splitcoast.
Make two cards, one simple, then add some magic to the second.
These are 4 x 4, figured that they would still fit in a regular envelope, so that's the size they are.
For the card with the added jazz, I used my Stardust pen to add some glitter to the swirls of the Baroque swirls. It is a clear glitter pen but for some reason, mine looks gold.
If you have this pen...Does yours look goldish too?
Then I used the Hero Arts gem stones to the flower and the swirls.
I have a few more challenges I want to take a stab at still and there are a couple more cards I made that I am not totally thrilled with that needed to be saved...
But alas, it is too hot in the back room where all the scrappies are, so that will have to wait for cooler, or at least less humid weather.

It is so humid here....You should see how big my hair is!!

I can see clearly now...

The rain has gone
I can see all the obstacles in my way.

Have no clue who sings that!
Salt-n-Peppa!
You have all set me straight, I just don't know my pop music like I should.
I can recognize a song and maybe know some of the lyrics, but chances are I am saying that it was by Tiffany when it was really Stacy Q.
Plus, I thought Salt-n-Peppa only sang Push it.
And I still don't know what Color Me Badd sings then??

And I am terrible at making decisions.
But the decision has been made.
I am no longer a demo.
Just don't love the SU products like I once did and am so ticked about some of their policies that are looser for some demos and not others and so many problems with their current products would not make me as a consumer buy from them, so I think it makes me incapable of effectively selling their stuff.
Plus, there are so many other things I would buy other than SU, so I will just do that.
And I still need stuff for the new place, so the money will likely go in that direction.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement, made it all much easier.
No regrets.

Now on to the good stuff...
Here is another challenge over at the Dirty Dares.
When I was making this card, I realized that I was out of acetate and transperencies.
Then, I had a genius moment!
You know, a moment when you come up with something so good, you think to yourself...GENIUS!
Well, this was that moment.

Had to use acetate or transperency to complete the challenge and I had the idea for this card, when I realized...I could use a clear envelope, if I cut it!
I thought for a moment that maybe the Staz On might not work as well on the envelope, but it did!
I started squealing with delight in my brilliant scheme.
Made the kid run in to see what all the ruckus was about.
He wasn't impressed, but I was plenty impressed for the both of us.
I even made this card as well....

See!!
The pink petals are actually under the sheet!
If you want to make this type of affect, I definitely advise you use the Hermafix repositionable adhesive when you are originally placing the petals down, so you can place and then check the position and replace as necessary.

Also, when using brads with these pretend acetate sheets, be careful, they tear very easily. On the first card, I put the brad through only the flower, not the clear sheet and glued the clear piece underneath the flower to keep it from slipping on the card.

So, there you have it, when in a crunch and you don't have an acetate sheet, use one of the clear envelopes or packaging (that works too!) and your Staz On, works like a charm!

Totally thought of this myself, hate saying that because someone is gonna say they thought of it, but I swear, thought of this all by my lonesome, never saw this anywhere but my own crazy whacked head! (seems a shame I have to say that, but just feel like I do nowadays)

Shockers of the Day

What?
Never seen a pink monkey before?
This little guy just makes me laugh.
He is actually the only animal I have used from the entire Zoofari set!
Made this for another challenge over at the Dirty Dares.
Coloring this little guy pink made me chuckle.

I like making myself laugh.
Pretty easy with a pink marker and a monkey stamp.

Today is a big day for me.
It is the final day I need to decide about being a Stampin' Up! demo.
Went into pending this month because I am just not working it like I used to.
I've been a demo over two years and in the beginning it was good, but never great. And now I feel like I am at a crossroad and trying to decide whether to put up with the stuff that has ticked me off for the past 6 months any longer, or just throw in the towel?

Hard decisions.
I know many people who have had to make it.
The only thing is my poor downline, don't want to desert those girls.
Really that's probably the only thing that is even making me consider it for a second.

So today may be my official last day with SU.
Could be.

Let's Talk About Brads Baby

Let's talk about brads baby
Let's talk about you and me

Who sang that song originally?
Was that Color Me Badd??
Always loved the double dd in Badd.

Can we seriously talk about the new rhinestone brads from Stampin' Up!©?
Made this card for one of the Dare To Get Dirty Challenges over at Splitcoast and I swear, hand to the bible, I punched the holes for the mini brads first to make sure they would be aligned and I got this!

Those wonky brads all over the place do not make me happy!

And what is even worse is that when I opened my brand new package, I got some with missing gems and some with gems falling out! Like these.
And the reason that I cannot get the damn things to lie straight is because their "stems" are all crooked and crazy, so when you bend them out, they make your brads lay where ever they feel like it.
Called SU! because this was just not right and there was no way I would be selling these to anyone in good conscious.
I was told they are working on improving the brads, they have gotten other complaints.
And they are sending me new ones and I am sending back my defective ones.
But there is no guarantee on the new ones coming that they will be any better.
So in the meantime, I am not selling these to anyone.
I just can't in good faith.

Had this problem when I worked at Archiver's too, told people what not to buy...they don't really appreciate that in retail.
But, I figure, if I am selling it or recommending it, then I better believe in it otherwise I look like either I am a liar or I don't know what I am talking about.
Neither is true.
Don't buy the brads!
Wait til they are new and improved.

Monkey for Monday

Got my new SU! stamp sets last week.
This little monkey instantly caught my eye.
He's from Zoofari.
Looks like he is up to something, doesn't it.
Something about that devilish grin that is a little unsettling.
Also got the new chipboard and I actually used a piece!
Now that is progress in my hoarding problem.
I inked up that little flower with some pigment inks and then in typical spazz fashion, I couldn't wait for it to dry so I tried to finish off the card and...Voila, yellow smudges on my card!
See them?!!
Ugh, I am so impatient when it comes to stuff, I do this all the time.
Luckily it's not black, yellow is less noticeable.

I used orange on the edges of the flower, really added a little something.
And the sentiment is from It's Your Birthday.
Ribbon was purchased years ago (shock!) from Archivers.
Cheeky little monkey was colored with Prismacolor Pencils.

And see the white cardstock?
It's from SU and I was going to just make a white card but the paper was too flimsy to hold the chipboard flower.
Seriously, anybody got the 411 on this problem, is it thinner or is it just me?

Back!

Tantrum over.
Fair police called, complaint filed.
They are still trying to solve my complaint of 2004 about my siblings, so they may not get to my current complaint for a while.

Crisis averted.
Public tantrum avoided...Phew!
That was a close one, seriously.
I am one chica that has a problem keeping her opinions to herself, so I am glad I learned to walk away for a bit, or run off and craft for a bit!

On to good stuff.
I promised good stuff and here some:
Got my new Stamps today and had to use these right away.
I needed coasters, the ones I was using were stolen from the Outback Steakhouse.
Seriously.
I was promoting the Bloomin' Onion in my living room.
And they were starting to make me want one.

So I quickly stamped these, in a variety of colors, to see what I like best.
And what matches my decor....BWAHAHAHAHA...like I have a decor!!
That was a good one.
Nothing in my house matches, not even my dishes.

I sealed one with Matte Finish Modge Podge to see if that was the way to go.
I'm test driving it for the night with a nice cocktail, so I'll let you know if that is the way to go when the testing is completed.

BONUS: I will randomly pick someone who comments on this thread with the way they handle their own personal frustrations with 30 brand new coasters, just waiting to be stamped and hold your very own cocktail!
I will randomly pick on Friday afternoon! Comment now!!!

SU Catalog Review

Alright, I've collected my thoughts about the new catalog and I'm ready to share.

My first impression....Eh!
The past three years, even before I was a demo, I would devour the new catalog like I couldn't get enough. I would flip through the pages over and over, excited by all the sets, samples...I couldn't put it down.
Well, I got my catalog Saturday morning, took it on my Indiana roadtrip and didn't even peak at it again til yesterday.
It didn't grab my attention the way it has in previous years.
Nothing totally fresh.
Nothing so flippin' cool I couldn't wait to tell someone about it.
No set that grabbed my attention and forced me to order it immediately.
Eh!

There are many, many, many sets that look alike.
They are still so behind the times...come on, catch up!
They now offer a 1" circle punch, but not the 1" square?!!
And they offer the flowers now but you have to die them yourself! That came out with Making Memories 5 years ago!! Seriously, catch up!

My wish list is 12 items long.
How sad.
There are way too many cute sets, too much cartoony.
They added Big Flowers (pg 95) and retired Big Blooms...Same set!!
They retired the birthday SS kit from last year and added a new one exactly the same but different colors...stupid!
How come great stamp sets have terrible sentiments with them? Too much "joy" and "cherish", not enough Thank you or thinking about you.

Things that are cool in or about the new catalog:
Layout is so much better! Love the add ons on the bottom of the pages.
Projects are great on the section break pages.
Offering more sport stamps broken out by sport is ingenious.
The Build a Brad kit looks cool, totally on my list.
There are some very versatile wheels this year and that is awesome at that price.
Chipboard is totally cheap and a better variety...nice!

That's about it.
I've been thinking about dropping for a little bit now.
Some of the "rules" and rulebreaking that is tolerated has really rubbed me the wrong way.
So this may be the straw.
We'll see.
Anyone who usually gets a catty from me, I got one for ya, don't worry.
And you can decide what ya like for yourself.

And then you can explain to me what the Build a Flower sets on page 178 are. Are those stickers?? Not very clear in the catalog, I'm confused.

Thursday Blogger Swaps

I think these are the last two swap cards from my Blogger Swap, besides my own. You don't really want to see mine, do ya?
Alright, fine, I'll post it next week...maybe.

The first card is awesome because of the super cool overlapping. I am a total sucker for cards of unusual size or unique folding. Could just be a used bandaid on a piece of cardstock, but if it's 6x8 and opens diagnolly, I love it.
This card was made by Tracy Harp. Her blog is Inky Doodles. She has lots, did I say lots, I mean LOTS of amazing samples on her blog and it is really worth a looksee.
See how this bad boy opens, cool isn't it!
Dang doodle, I meant to measure this card and post dimensions.
I'll edit this post later, if you wanna make one yourself.

The second card was created by Debbie Seyer. Her blog is A Peek into My Stamping Room and it is wonderful.
I have a special place in my heart for Debbie because she sent me my very first RAK card, so in my eyes she is a god.

Hope everyone enjoys the last of the swaps and check out those blogs, they are awesome!

Happy Birthday Mason

I think it is today, is it Greta?
I made this card last week.
Bought the present last week.
Ran out of tape to wrap it up.
So it is sitting on my table...still.
I had such good intentions, always do.
It's the follow thru that I suck at.

I knew I wanted a baseball card for the little slugger but I don't own anything baseball and didn't want to buy anything new, so I thought...Make a baseball yourself.
My first baseball was actually a tennis ball.
Max helped me the second time.
Then I added the name and it just wasn't enough.
So, I made the pennant, but my first "stick" of paper just wasn't right.
Then the lightbulb moment.
A flat toothpick!!

And I had the colors in my head to start, of course. (Go Cubs!)
One day it will actually be in the mail and on its way to little Mason, maybe he'll get his goods by next year.
Seriously, who doesn't have tape?!!!

Oh and btw....I put back many items I thought little Mason would enjoy because somebody thought it wasn't such a good idea, what boy doesn't love silly string? But there is one thing comin' down that I was told, "He's gonna strangle somebody with that thing!" Just a warning....

Birthday Bling

Just a quick birthday card sent out to a fellow blogger.
Used a Michaels $1 stamp, love those, wish we had the newer more fabulous acrylic ones at my stores, but these are good too.
If you click on it, you can see more details, my pictures were dark last weekend and I took them outside! Just more proof of why I need a new camera. (and I am actually getting one...shhhhh)
Colored the image with my fabulous markers.
Added Hero Arts Bling to the flower and the other sentiment from All in a Row on the black strip which is stamped in White Craft Ink.

Blogger Swap Thursday

It's Thursday, so it's time for more swap cards, please see my post from last week, I am a total goofus and label the card wrong! Be sure to check out Ana's GREAT blog at Inkastamp, she has great stuff and is really well worth the click!

The first card is by Robin Desko, from Stamped Reflections. It screams spring and the added Crystal Effects on the boots is the perfect touch! All the faux stitching made my head spin with excitement, I love it.

The second card is by Michelle Laycock. Her blog is called Ink Artist and is full of tons of information, samples and tutorials. It is a must-see in the blog world. So glad this was a birthday card, I was running a little low. Thanks Michelle.

Some images copywrite SU!© 1999-2007

Cry Cry Cry

Stampin' Up! came out with the retired list today.
Every year, the buzz about the list stirs up many many threads over at SCS. Most discussing how many sets you have lost.
180
65
92
These are the kinds of numbers you see.
I never post on these threads because in comparison, 12 doesn't really seems like anything to complain about.
It wouldn't be if I owned more stamps!

I counted all my stamps this morning before I left the house because I knew today was the big day...30 sets total.
That's it.
People would assume that I have only been doing SU! for a couple months if I only own 30 sets and 12 ink pads, but I have been in this thing for 2 years!
Yep!
2 years and only 30 sets.
I try to make good decisions so that I am somewhat working this as a little business and as a single mom working in a big city like this, life is way expensive so I have to pinch the pennies every second.
So 12 sets has me pretty upset today, that's 40% of my total business supplies....And that doesn't even count the 5 more sets that I bought this year from the mini catalogs that I am praying make it into the big catalog, if not I am down to less than 1/2.

Looking forward to new sets coming and couldn't be happier that some of them are leaving, but still not thrilled with having to replace 40%.

Another Bloom for Tuesday

I am loving the Big Blooms stamp set, I can't get enough of the big flowers!
This card really challenged me because I rarely make a card with primary colors like this and after it was all done, I think I will be using these colors more often.

I am finishing up some swap cards for a blogger swap I joined quite a while back. In typical spazz fashion, I made a set for the swap last week and then decided it just wasn't good enough. So I sent out all those cards to other blogger buddies and started over. I like to create my own stress, apparently.
No problem though because I am working at home today due to some new construction at my office, so I have all morning to come up with something fabulous and make 7 of them.

Last week, one thing I did check off my list was getting my pictures developed that have been just hanging out at home for a few months. Because I am still living in the stone age and using film (I just heard the entire cyber universe gasp), I have to make plans to drive quite a ways from my house and get them developed and thus, I tend to wait a while.
Usually I wait so long I can't remember what is even on the film!
I know, I know...Get a digital camera for goodness sake. I will, eventually, when I sell a body organ or win the lottery.
Well, in the stack of pictures I got back were these babies of my little Max at his Ballroom competition back in February. He was in a program at his school similar to the Mad Hot Ballroom or Take the Lead movies and went on to compete for the city championship.
This was the first round of competition and for his school the last as well. They were completely adorable all proper and dressed up and Max can really dance now, so that his a plus that will come in handy for him at many weddings when he is older.
He took the program very seriously and practiced his little heart out, I am so proud of my little guy and you can clearly see his determination in these shots.
And as a plus, he told me it will help him with the ladies...Oh sheesh!

My Latest Pest of an Idea

Had this idea for this card for weeks, maybe a month. Anyone else do that? Have a great idea in your head just waiting to be created and then depending on how long it takes you to actually try and make it, it can start to really bug ya? Or that sketch in your head that you remember clear as day but forget your grocery list?
Maybe that's just me.
Well, here it is, a Vellum Tag Window Card. I have had these tags in my collection for well over a year, don't know what I was saving them for, but I finally found a cool new way to use them.
I stamped my Tag with a Burst into Bloom flower stamp using White Stazon on. Left it alone for a while as I constructed the rest of the card. Usually my impatience smears a great Stazon image but I managed to keep myself busy trying to make a suitable base.
The card is 4.25 x 11, I scored it at 1" and 5.5". I used my Paisley background to stamp the Cool Carribean in the center, kinda hard to see in the photo but it is there and makes a HUGE difference in the design of the card. The corners of the Carribean were punched with the Tag corner, it makes it look like it is tucked into the white without all that work. The white grosgrain ribbon was embellished with my Turquoise marker and a ruler. Love that!
Used my circle punch to make the window in the card.
The inside of the card is where the "magic" happens. Inside is a 4 x 5.25 piece of Cameo Coral. The inside coral should be a bright one so that it can shine through the vellum tag.
I used a photo anchor from the Hodge Podge Hardware (another supply I hoard) to keep the card shut.
In the picture it is hard to see how well the color shines through the vellum, but it really does and there is also a little Hello stamped in the lower right corner on the front of the card with White Craft that is clearly visible in person, but not in this photo.
The inside piece of Coral was also splattered with ink from a reinker to make it just a little more interesting and not as "flat". You can't really see it in the photo but it's there. My trusty 'ol toothbrush helped me with that one and my bathroom sink was covered in Cameo Coral.

I am enjoying my alone time but realized how if I don't have someone to yell at about taking out the garbage, I can't remember it is garbage day! Duh.
I have made a ton of cards and projects, just working away watching what I want on TV or playing my own music and making a huge mess. You gotta make a mess to be creative, right?

Clear Button Tutorial

As promised....

The Clear Button Tricks and Tutorial

As I said the other day with my Squares page of Max, I learned some cool new tricks using Clear Buttons while I was in a blizzard in Michigan a couple weeks ago and this is some of the coolness I learned.

Faux Etched Glass Technique

Supplies

• Clear Buttons
• Sanding Block (not pictured)
• Embossing Buddy
• Versamark
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat Gun
• Tweezers

1. Sand the Clear Button. Be sure to sand in one direction. You can see what a difference sanding alone makes to the button.2. Rub sanded button with embossing buddy.
3. Ink Stamp with Versamark and lay face up. Place sanded side down onto the stamp and press til you see the image.
4. Using your handy tweezers, dip your inked button into the embossing powder.
5. Using those tweezers, heat the embossing powder.
6. Voila!
You can also use colored embossing powder for a different look. On my Max page, I used white embossing powder. Here it is in Gold.
Here is my finished card using my button
Here is a close up look at that button.
The dark colors really make the etched glass look show up well and I love how it adds the perfect touch to this super simple card.
I love the Stampin' Up! Clear Buttons because they are so thick and there is really no fear of melting them before the embossing is complete.
Thanks again to the two talented ladies that demonstrated this cool technique that made me use my buttons.
Finally!

All Supplies Used on the Card are Stampin' Up!: Stamps (Paisley Background, Sincere Salutations, Looks like Spring), Cardstock (Cranberry, Close to Cocoa, Marigold, Cool Carribean, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip), Ink (Versamark, Chocolate Chip), Accessories (Clear Button, Twine, Square Punch, Stipple Brush)