gettin' punchy

Hello friends.  Did you have a good day?  Today was day 2 of my freedom.  The kiddos went back to school yesterday.  Ahhh.............its amazing how much more I can get done.  Even my brain seems to work on all circuits.  Its not totally the kids' fault.  I'm just easily distracted by them.  I kinda like them.

Anyhow, I did not get any stamping done yesterday or today.  What? You heard me.  I did stamp quite a bit on Tuesday and the last 2 days have been cleaning the house and planning.  I would like to get a stamp class together for next month and I'm trying to think of projects to do and what I might need to order.  That takes me forever!  Give me too many choices and I shut down.  Since I have uninterrupted time right now, I'm trying to forge ahead and make some decisions. 

Tonight I wanted to show you what I made on Tuesday.  Lookee:

Watercolor Trio set.  Old olive, early espresso, tempting turquoise, perfect plum and whisper white cardstock.  Elegant eggplant, tangerine tango, old olive and choc. chip inks.  Large oval punch, curly lable punch, hemp and dimensionals.


I just love seeing a happy little stack of cards!  I actually made 6 and they all went in the mail.  Yay for me!

I wanted to use Tangerine Tango.  I like this color.  I used my blender pen to pick up the color from the ink pad.  I had originally planned on matting the flower image with Tangerine Tango but then discovered, I didn't have that color cardstock.  So I went to the color coach for advice.  This is what it said:

Tempting Turquoise huh?  Well, okay I'll try it.  I like the way it turned out too.  Learn to trust the Color Coach grasshopper.

Then I remembered I needed a birthday card for a sweet friend of mine and her favorite color is purple.  YUCK!!  Don't mean to offend anyone but, purple is so not my color. 

So I whipped one up for her:

Forgot to mention, this is a 4 1/4" square card. 

 

Now, you might be saying, "Beth, how'd you get that groovy detail on the espresso piece?"  Well let me

share that with you.

This is a 1 1/2" strip of cardstock and the Curly Label Punch.  Put the cardstock so that it just touches both sides.  Line it up with the middle and punch.

See?

Now do the same thing.  See how the one side just barely goes past the opening?  Punch again.

Now you're getting it.

One more time.

Got it? 

Its really easy once you get the hang of it.  Try it.  I like trying to find different ways to use what I have.  Makes me feel smart. 

Okay, one more thing I did.  Remember this card?

Remember how I said it needed something?

Well, I gave that little birdie some more friends.  I think it balances out the card better. 

Alrighty then.  Cleaning wiped me out today.  I didn't even get done!  Today was upstairs and tomorrow is downstairs.  Lucky for me, I have a sorta small house.  But Lordy, we can make a mess! 

Thanks for stopping by and keeping me company.

Blessings, b.

my dad

Hey everyone!  Sorry for the absence.  All I have to do is blink and another week has gone by.  I have not done any stamping AT ALL.  I miss it. 

School is starting next week for the kiddos and we've been getting ready.  Band camp is in full swing, 16 got her driver's permit, got a new lunchbox and backpack for Grace, planted more veggies (I'm determined to grow something), visited with in-laws, swam, read, hung out, played games, etc............

I do have something to show you though.  And I'm feeling a tad philosophical today so you've been forwarned. 

My dad had a birthday a few weeks ago.  He turned 70.  This is a big deal for us. 

Me and dad around 1973.  Groovy glasses huh?

I made him a very simple scrapbook about our trip to Iowa.   My dad is an architect.  So he is very graphically tuned in, so to speak.  Making him this book was a little daunting.  Was it balanced?  Is everything cut straight?  Does it flow?  Are the colors right?  Etc.......

I finally got over myself and decided he would love it no matter what.  I hoped.........

I used a 6 x 6 post bound album from SU!  I kept the colors to Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Whisper White and Basic Black.   I know, the ribbon here is Choc. Chip but, work with me here.

I used the curly label stamp from Vintage Labels, which was a Saleabration set.  The ink is Soft Suede and I used a black journaler for all the writing.  There is alot of sponging throughout.

Cover page. I just printed out a U.S. map and showed my path.  Actually my path was a little more complex.  I took 8 planes in all.   Is there a straight flight anymore? 

I took these pics inside the page protectors so they might look a little hazy.  But its all good when you're holding it in your hands. 

I kept the same layout for each page.  Just changed up the cardstock formation.

I think if you click on the pic it will show larger.

I forgot to tell you, I used Watercolor Trio for each page.

yeah, I have become a little claustrophobic in my old age and used my dad's valium for the plane rides.  Awesome stuff!

It was very easy to put together and he did love it. 


Now, I have a story to tell.  My mentality on most things is to handle it, and then let someone know about it...........after the fact.  I have thought about this for a long time, whether or not to let the world wide web know my story. 

Sounds like a big ol' honking secret huh?  Um.....no.  With all the other crud I let you all know about, why have second thoughts now?  I guess because, its not just my story.  Its my dad's story.  So I'll just share from my point of view.

I figured that even though 95% of you that read this blog, don't know me from Adam, you might get a little something from this.  And if not, well..................



My dad and I have always had a somewhat rocky relationship.  He wouldn't admit to this though.  From the time I was 18 we would go months without speaking to each other.  I would go even longer than that in speaking to my brother.  Real close family dynamics here huh?  Can you say, dysfunctional?  It does explain why I try to keep my little family so close together.  We talk, we laugh, we hug, we pray, we hang out.  I love you's are said daily. 

My dad was always very active.  Camping, backpacking, hiking, working, building, etc.....  A few years ago he got this nagging cough.  Then his shoulder was giving him problems and he was tired and weak all the time.  He had a hard time walking the dogs. 

A little over a year ago, after about a million doctor visits and a muscle biopsy later, my dad was diagnosed with ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease.   You might have the read the book or seen the movie, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.  I haven't seen the movie but the book gives a pretty good account of what this disease is.  Basically, all your voluntary muscles quit working, moving your arms and legs, moving your head, speaking, swallowing, and eventually breathing, all stop.  The kicker is, your brain stays very alert, trapped in your dying body.  Its absolutely horrible.  Life expectancy after diagnosis is 2-5 years.

Needless to say, we've become a whole lot closer in a short amount of time.  Becoming closer has also brought about alot of family drama.  I really don't like drama.  I can't watch soap operas.  Why do I love the Bachelorette so much?  Go figure. 

I don't tell you all this to have you feel sorry for me, or my dad.   The point of my little story here is this, and I've said it before:

Life is too short.  Be in the moment.  Don't wait until someone gets a fatal disease to become close.  Tell the people you love, that you love them.  If you're feeling guilty, or regretful,  tell them you're sorry.  Surround yourself with good people.  Do good things.  Be kind, even when you don't feel like it.  Be understanding.  Be willing to do what needs to be done. 

My dad would say he is lucky that he has this time to get things in order.  He has time to say goodbye.  We have time to get closer.  We have time to right some wrongs. 

I would guess that if you're (still) reading this blog that you are a scrapper or card maker.  Send that person a handmade card.  Scrap those everyday moments.  The December Daily or a Week in the Life are perfect examples of this.  The day to day.  The stuff that doesn't seem so wonderful now but will maybe give you or your loved ones a smile or a memory later.  Your story is important.


Morrie Schwartz's favorite quote was, "Love each other or perish."

I would say, "Love makes the world go 'round, baby." 


Okay, I'd better go before I chicken out and decide to just delete this whole post.  I don't mean to be a heavy or bring you down.  I hope that this story would lift you up.  Life is so much more than how big your paycheck is, or how new your car is, or how big a house you have.  I hope you're inspired to love and record your life.

Thanks for stopping by and putting up with my story.  If you have a story to tell, I would love to hear it.   Or have questions about how to record your everyday, just let me know. 

Blessings, b.

Stampamajig love

Howdy!

I hope you had a nice holiday.  The hubs had yesterday off so, you guessed it, we worked.   We are getting ready to pour concrete on the side of the house and the footing for the retaining wall.  So we've (meaning, the kiddos) have been digging and digging. 

Anyhow, today I tried to catch up on things. 

So no new stamping today.  But I never showed you the make 'n' take I had for the yard sale. 

Watercolor Trio set.  Crumb cake and very vanilla cardstock.  Soft suede ink.  Newsprint DSP, large oval punch, vanilla taffeta ribbon, scallop border punch and a sponge. 

I wanted something that used new goodies but that was also super simple to make.  I stamped the leafy image twice without reinking. 

I love this new Newsprint DSP!  I've been wanting something like it for a long time.  I've tried using old books but the problem is, they aren't wide enough.  This stuff is great though!  I can make it whatever size I want. 

Here is the story behind this little tag. 

I have Watercolor Trio in the Clear Mount option.  The stamps are much cheaper that way.  BUT, this set has words.   I like my words to be straight.  I LOVE my Stampamajig.  We are BFF's.  So I've been sure to buy stamps that are mostly words, in wood mount.  That way I can make a Stampamajig template and keep it in the box ready for me. 

So instead of using the Stampamajig for this, I thought I could just wing it.  Yeah, I don't wing it very well apparently.  I didn't want to stress out my customers either.  So, I decided to stamp it and punch it.  Much easier.  Looks good too. 


Alrighty then.  I can't leave you without a few pics from the 4th of July and our illegal fireworks. 

Grace got her nails all ready for the occasion.  Toes too.

It got kinda chilly outside.  Grace even put on her Spongbob pjs for the event. 

The snakes were so fun!  Of course the big kids thought they (and me) were lame but, whatever!  They were much smaller than I remember, but I guess most things do as grown ups.  They kept some to play with yesterday too.  Good times, good times. 

Then we set off some fountains.  I think we had about 10 and even though they all had different names and different shapes they almost all looked alike. 

Grace sat upstairs and watched with ear plugs in.  Thats my party girl!  I have to say though that the older 2 were also extremely careful around them.  Making sure they were completely out before putting them in the bucket of water and running for the hills as soon as they were lit. 

Okie dokie, thats it for tonight.  I have a couple of big projects that I would like to have done by next Tuesday.  hahahahahahahahahahahahahah.................ha.   I crack myself up!  Its good to have goals right? 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Blessings, b.

butterflies and a bullet

Hey there!

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday.  We have been garage cleaning fools.  We took out the trailer to get ready for camping and the hubs decided it was a good time to clean out the garage.  UGH!!

He didn't have to work this weekend.  He is one of those guys that can't sit down for very long.  Mainly because he'll fall asleep.  So he always wants to be doing something.  Its odd because, I'm very good at sitting down for long periods of time.  Reading, stamping, watching a movie.............. I like it.  My backside can prove it.

Anyway, we got lots of stuff done.  I'll tell you more about it tomorrow.........along with a garden update.  I know you're dying for an update ;)

Anyhow, there are goodie bags in my future.  I wanted to make a cute little tag to go on the goodie bags.  I also wanted to use some of my new goodies.  How many times can I say goodie?  Goodie, goodie, goooooodie..........

So I went to the Stamping 411 site for a little inspiration.  My tag doesn't exactly match their sketch but it helped get me started at least.  They are very helpful over there.

Watercolor Trio, Inspired by Nature and Flight of the Butterfly.  Whisper white, pumpkin pie, crumb cake and bashful blue cardstock.  Old olive, more mustard, tangerine tango, bashful blue, black Stazon and sahara sand inks.  Lattice embossing folder, Clearlits scallop rectangle die, 1/8" circle and 1/2" circle punches, corner rounder and dimensionals.

Finished size is 2 3/4 x 6.   I know, I've been using Inspired by Nature and Flight of the Butterfly alot lately.  Just be thankful there is no Lovely as a Tree on there too.  I think I'm in a rut. 

Now look at the new goodies I used on here. 

See that cute pumpkin pie scalloped rectangle?  That is the new Clearlits Scallop Rectangle die.  Its clear!  You can see through it!  See:

Its so awesome!  Its especially helpful if you want to cut out a certain part of your DSP or a picture or a sentiment or .................whatever you desire.

This little cutie measures out 2 1/16" x 1 9/16".  Perfect size for adding a little tag. 

Now for the other new goodie I used.  See the pattern on the Top Note die?  That is the new Lattice embossing folder.  So fun!  I think it ends up looking like wicker or fabric.  Pretty groovy huh? 

I also used my 1/8" punch to punch a hole in my bashful blue and then used my 1/2" circle punch to punch that out.  Hole reinforcer! 

The butterflies are stamped using the rock 'n' roll technique.  Just ink your stamp in a light color ink and then rock the edges in a darker ink.  Here I used More Mustard and Tangerine Tango. 

You can look here to see how I did the clouds.  Clouds are easy!  Clouds are fun!  Clouds are for everyone!  er.........sorry

I'll be making up a few more tag ideas and see which I like better.  I have a few more days before I'll give out the goodie bags. 

Now, look what came to live at our house

                                                

THE MAGIC BULLET!! 

The kids have been asking for one ever since it came out on tv.  They love making smoothies and have gone through 2 blenders.  So we saw this at Costco, and I had a coupon, and it came home. 

I gotta say, this thing is pretty awesome!  The mess is half of a regular blender, in that you blend your drink in your cup!  And its pretty quick too.  I just hope it lasts.

Alrighty then, this old broad is TIRED!!  The hubs is just like the Energizer Bunny when he gets an idea in his head.  Needless to say, the garage is cleaned out and we're ready for a yard sale. 

Thanks for stopping by.  You rock!

Blessings, b.

pink shaving cream?

Hidey-Ho! 
The girls and I brainstormed today on making a gift box.  15 is going to an all day birthday party tomorrow.  We got the birthday girl some candy, nail polish and an itunes gift card.  So we needed a beautiful box to put it all in.

Let me just first say, the only contribution I had was, cutting the paper and the idea of glitter.  The rest she thought of on her own.  Well, okay, I made the card to go with.

Watercolor Trio and an old retired set (on the card).  Rose red and whisper white cardstock.  Rose red classic and craft ink.  Polka Dot embossing folder (wart maker), white taffeta ribbon, clear chunky glitter (retiring), scallop edge punch, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, dazzling diamonds glitter, shaving cream and dimensionals. 

Groovy huh?  I haven't used the shaving cream technique in years.  Its amazing what kids remember!  Do you remember how to do it?  Well let us show you.  15 got all the materials together and I gave the little one the camera and said, "GO FOR IT!"

Since we were going to do a full sheet of whsiper white cardstock, I suggested she use a cookie sheet.  So fill your plate (or cookie sheet) with some cheapy shaving cream and spread it out.  You can see our can in the background there, along with a few dirty dishes. 

Then drop reinker on top.  I didn't have Rose Red reinker in classic ink so we used craft ink.  Worked like a charm!

Now usually I would use a popsicle stick but she can't be bothered with things like that.  Anyway, swirl the ink around.  But don't mix it too much.

Then place your cardstock on top.  Smooshing it down a little.

Then lift it off.  You can see where it didn't touch down in all the spots.  Thats okay.  It just has more character that way. 

I see the paper towel didn't make the scene yet.  Normally you would place your paper on a paper towel. 

Ahh.....here is the paper towel. Using the flat edge of a knife or a popsicle stick (she actually ate a popsicle so she could use the stick. The things we do for our art.) and scrape off the shaving cream.

When you scrape off the shaving cream, the swirled ink stays behind.  Cool eh?

In the meantime, I started on the box.

I thought the candy was the biggest thing to go in there.  I was wrong, it was the gift card.  Huge gift card, why?  It still all fit though.

Anyhow, I measured the candy.  2 1/2 x 5 1/2.  I added a 1/2" so the base would be 3 x 6. 

Now heres the tricky part;  I wanted the sides of the bottom to be 1 1/2" tall.  So I added 1 1/2" to each side.  I ended up with a 6 x 9 base. 

Understand? 

Then I made the top.  I added 1/16" to the base dimensions.  But then I only added 1" sides.  You always want your lid to be shorter than the base.

Okay, you don't have to do it that way.  But I do it that way. 

Does this make sense?  Same idea as the cupcake box.  Just shorter and rectangular. 

After I made the lid in the Rose Red color, I decided it was too much Rose Red and so remade the lid using the shaving cream paper.

We decided a belly band would be nicer than ribbon to hold the box closed.   I used the rose red cardstock and the scallop edge punch.  Then I used the polka dot embossing folder (the wart maker) to add a little more texture. 

This is some misc. chipboard letter "b" (the birthday girl's name starts with a b.)  I had that she covered in the Rose Red craft ink, dried with the heat gun and then applied the Tombow Multi Glue and then the clear chunky glitter.  I wanted to use the pink chunky glitter, but hey, its not my project.  I did add some dazzling diamonds so it would fill up any bare spots. 

I used the birthday sentiment from Watercolor Trio for the tag.

Nifty huh?  We liked it alot. 

Look at that gargantuan gift card! 

So I had leftover shaving cream paper and decided we needed a little card to go in the box too.

This came out as 3 x 2 1/2.  I used the scallop edge punch again on the bottom.  This is an ancient sentiment that I stamped in Black Stazon.  Same ribbon treatment. 

After I was done I realized I should have run the whisper white cardstock through the wart maker but I didn't think about it until I was done.

So there ya go.  I think it came out really cute.  I'm sure her friend will love it. 

It was fun crafting with the girlies too.  Since it wasn't my project, I just did as I was told........kinda.  Its funny too how, 15 was always the grumbler when it came to my stamping.  I used to feel guilty that it took time away from her.  That is part of the reason now why I don't really do any workshops.  Just a class now and then.  BUT in the last year or so, I think she has been seeing that its fun.  I may get her to start scrapbooking.  HA!

Alrighty then.  The hubs has been sick and not sleeping well, which means, I'm not sleeping well.  The boy had his buddies over today to swim and play video games, and I'm just pooped. 

Thanks for stopping by and checking in.

Blessings, b.