Ramblings of a FibreJunky

Broken Pegasus

2012-01-21T19:22:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone. My year is not starting off too well. We're still dealing with legal issues over the incident involving one of my daughters from last April. It looks like it could be months before that is resolved and it is just horribly difficult for all of us. She is being remarkably strong, but even so, sometimes it feels like she's barely hanging on.

We've also been having some issues with our youngest daughter. She's in therapy now and we're going to have her evaluated by a psychiatrist to see if we can figure out exactly what's going on with her, because she isn't talking still. Four months of therapy and we finally had a mini-break through, but not fast enough to keep the school board from coming down on us. We have to go to court for her on 30 Jan.

With everything going on, it's been really hard for me to create. I'm doing okay with anything where I don't have to use my brain a lot, but if I have to make decisions, I'm totally up a creek.

So just to put the cherry on top, I was sitting on the sofa, talking to my older two girls, when I happened to glance in the direction of my Pegasus spinning wheel. I noticed there was a piece of wood on the floor. Let me say that again. There was a piece of MY PEGASUS!! on THE FLOOR!!! I don't know how it happened and nobody is fessing up.
This is what the end of it looks like now. You can see the rest of the piece on the inside there. I've since pulled it out and packaged it up to send to Myles Jakubowski, who now makes Wyatt Wheels. Bill Wyatt trusted Myles. Bill once told me that Myles made a better, more precise wheel than he, himself did. I'd say that's pretty high praise. So I'm trusting Myles to fix my Pegasus that Bill built for me.

It's been nearly three years since Bill Wyatt passed away. He's gone, but his wheels live on. This does help bring me peace.

Thank you, Myles, for keeping Bill's dream alive, and for helping to restore my faith in the world. I'll post another photo once my baby is back up and running.

Be well, everyone.

Little Candle

2011-11-30T23:54:00.003-05:00

I made a quick candle this evening. The coloured area was done with Creative Inspirations Paints. The tutorial for the technique is here on Splitcoa ststampers.Because the stamp was so wide, it took me two shots to show the entire thing. I set it in a nest of crinkle ribbon that I dyed. The stamp is from Unity.

Blocking AJ's Scarf

2011-11-29T23:41:00.004-05:00

I couldn't come up with anything to blog about today. Between chauffeuring the kids all over creation and all the doctor's appointments we have had lately, I haven't had a chance to do any papercrafting. I was talking to my friend, Shelly, about it and she suggested I talk about my favourite drop spindle. That just made me laugh. If you could only see the drop spindle..um..collection...you'd see why. Someday I will blog about them, but that will take multiple pictures and some excavation, since I still haven't located them all.

So I got to thinking. I have everything done on AJ's scarf (the neckwarmer pattern from several blog posts ago) except blocking it and weaving in the ends. Why not block it and show the blocking process. I'm sure there are people who have no idea what I mean by that.

So, here it is. What I've done is take some blocking wires and thread them through the edge stitches most of the way down. The wires are then held in place by straight pins. Normally I'd use T-pins, but heck if I know where those are. They're probably in a box I haven't gotten to yet.
This second photo is of the whole scarf laid out and pinned. It really shows off the lace pattern this way.
AJ, if you happen to read this post, I need to make sure I have your correct address so I can get this in the mail to you before the weather gets too cold.

Thanks for still reading and commenting even though I haven't been the best blogger.

Thanksgiving Dinner

2011-11-28T22:42:00.006-05:00

Thanksgiving was a pretty big deal for us this year. Very often we don't really do anything at all. I have super picky kids, we've never really had room to cook or to eat together - at least not in recent memory - and it just always ends up with me getting angry and my feelings hurt because I'll have spent so much time and energy only to have half of them turn their noses up.

This year, however, Hannah's boyfriend was coming over. Originally he was to be here all day. He's allergic to cats, and we have three of them, so that meant some fairly deep cleaning. Hannah took charge. We all pitched in and the front rooms have never looked better.

Now, keep in mind that the front two rooms have never been fully unpacked. I've been working on them a little at a time since we moved in. I'm putting up a couple "before" pics just so you can get the full impact of what was done.

The first photo was taken in June, right after I put the shelves up and started going through boxes so I could put the books onto the shelves.
This next picture was taken on the 4th of July, about 10 days after the first photo. I can only work about a day or two without taking a lot of time to rest, thanks to fibromyalgia. It really takes a toll if I overdo it. But, I'd made some serious headway. After that, I didn't take any pictures, since it really didn't look much different when I would finish a box or two, plus I started swapping out boxes from other rooms.Enter my MIL coming...we started doing more. Then Dylan, Hannah's boyfriend. Boxes from the flargle (Taylor started calling the room off the kitchen "the flargle" after nobody could figure out what to call it and it stuck) were moved into the front room to make room for our extra table. We brought down the tv from my bedroom and brought the Wii upstairs so the kids and Dylan could play while he was there. It turns out that it's a great place for the Wii, so it may end up living there.

And the front room?? It now looks like this.

I am so thrilled! Yes, it still needs a lot of work, but we actually have room to put up the Christmas tree.

So Dylan could only stay about 2 hours. Hannah went with him and stayed to help to decorate his house. She came back pretty late in the afternoon and we (mostly me, Cody and Meagan) finished fixing dinner. We were able to sit down to a real Thanksgiving Dinner together. Honestly, it was the best meal. No, not everybody ate, or even tried, everything, but we were talking and laughing and having a really good time as a family, and that is truly the most important thing of all.

Cody made the fruit salad, the noodle casserole, and the deviled eggs.

Headache

2011-11-27T23:34:00.000-05:00

Having one of those painful days. Back tomorrow.

Recipe - Quinoa Corn Salad

2011-11-26T19:57:00.004-05:00

This is a recipe we made in my Food Science and Nutrition class. Another team did the actual prep on this one, but I managed to get a picture of it around the time it was half gone. It was so good that people were fighting to take home the leftovers. I got away with a very tiny bit in a ziplock baggie. It's really low-fat, but seriously high on flavour.

Quinoa Corn Salad

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt & pepper, to tast

2 3/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups quinoa
2 ears corn, roasted, kernels cut from cob
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 avocado, ripe, firm, diced
1/4 cup toasted sunflower seeds

Whisk together lime juice, cumin, chili powder, garlic, oil, and salt
& pepper to make dressing.
Boil water, add quinoa, return to boil. Cover & simmer until all
liquid is absorbed - about 15 minutes. Turn off heat, fluff with fork.
Add corn kernels, red pepper, scallions & cilantro. Add dressing & any
additional salt and pepper, as needed.
Stir in avocado, sprinkle with sunflower seeds.

Serves 4 (or several culinary students for tasting)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T21:21:00.001-05:00

Wishing you and yours a most Happy Thanksgiving.

Deer in the Yard

2011-11-23T23:19:00.003-05:00

This morning, we were working on sorting through more boxes when I heard my MIL gasp. I looked outside and saw a deer. And then I saw another deer...and then two more. There was a little family outside, just beyond our back porch. I didn't have time to go grab a camera, particularly because I didn't want to startle any of them, so I took a few pictures with my phone. These are the best three shots I was able to get.They're such beautiful creatures and I love that we are still able to see them "in the wild" instead of having to go to a zoo.

More With Judikins

2011-11-22T22:39:00.004-05:00

More samples from JudiKins. These cards were done with Marvy LePlume Permanent Markers, which are their answer to Copics. What I really liked was Judi's tip of stamping solid images in a very pale ink and then colouring over them, which gives a more water-coloured effect, since you do not see any outlines. Judi uses Marvy Matchables in pale orange.The other thing is that you can use both types of markers together. Oh, and you can colour over the top of Pearl Mica Gloss with them (once it's dry, of course), which really extends your colour palette for Mica Gloss.

Another of my projects from this weekend, not yet made into anything, is this stained glass window technique piece, which was done with Diamond Glaze and dye-based inks.

Day 2 With Judikins

2011-11-21T22:46:00.006-05:00

Hi everyone. This weekend was so much fun. It was exhausting, but all of the pain I feel today is abundantly worth it! I promised you more pictures, though, so here are a few. This first one is a display of some of the sample cards Judikins brought with her. Yes, her name is Judi, but JudiKins is not only the name of her company, it is Judi's childhood nickname.
The wonderful lady in the background is the owner of The Queen's Ink, Ms. Patti Euler.

I mentioned tahat Judi had a little accident with some glitter. She was demonstrating one of her techniques called Glazed Window (the third technique on this pdf), which uses Diamond Glaze and dye-based ink on clear window plastic. This is one of the photos I took of her demonstration, at the point where she spread glitter over the back of the coloured Diamond Glaze.A moment later, when she went to clean up the excess glitter and reclose the jar, the lid slipped and landed in the middle of the wet project. I'm not exactly sure what happened next, as it all happened so quickly, but the next thing we all knew, there was glitter everywhere, including all over Judi! This was the only shot I was able to get while giggling, and most of it was already cleaned up by then.
Apparently I didn't get a photo of my piece done with that technique, but I did take a picture of my first piece from yesterday, which was a painted wreath. We used Diamond Glaze tinted with dye inks on a pallette of shrink plastic to paint our images. It will be a card when it grows up.
The stamp is called Retro Wreath and is, of course, a JudiKins image.

I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend. If you've had any experience with Diamond Glaze or any other similar techniques, let me know. I'd be interested in hearing about it.

Exhausted...

2011-11-20T20:43:00.002-05:00

I'd intended a full post this evening with photos from today's class and demo, but I'm falling asleep on the sofa still, even after eating, resting and caffeine, so I'm going to listen to my body and go to bed. Pics in the morning, including, if it came out, one of Judikins covered in glitter.

Good night everyone.

Day 1 With Judikins

2011-11-19T23:00:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! It was an amazing day today, but boy am I tired!! I had two classes and there was a demo in between that was on mica gloss. I didn't get any pictures during the classes, however I did get a few during the demo...with my phone, so they aren't the greatest. I'll try to get more tomorrow. Maybe Meg will let me take her camera, since it is much lighter than my big SLR.

This first one is of Judikins herself. She is such a sweet lady and so much fun! Most of what she taught I already knew, but I needed to be in public with crafty-type people, and she had a few little details that I hadn't thought of, plus some reminders of just bits and pieces I'd forgotten. She has some fabulous tutorials on her website.
I still have ink all over my hands. I've washed them but they're pretty well stained, because we were using Mica Gloss. Mica Gloss, which Judi is demonstrating in this next photo, is a super cool product. It is a metallic pigment ink in a bottle. It's creamy and totally yummy.
So, more pics tomorrow. I might even remember to take some pictures of the projects being completed around me, if my brain decides it wants to be useful. It could happen. Right??

Fun Tomorrow with Judikins

2011-11-18T21:39:00.002-05:00

I got the newsletter from my LSS, The Queen's Ink. Between us being completely broke all summer and everything else that has been going on, I haven't been in there in forever and a day. But in it was a note that said there were still a few spots left in the classes for this weekend - classes with Rob & Judi, the owners of Judikins. Oh. Really?? I'd noticed those on their (The Queen's Ink's) website, but thought there was no way.

Way.

I get to attend all three classes this weekend! How awesome is that?? And I get to hang out with stampy people, get my hands inky and just plain PLAY!! I'll post pictures tomorrow evening and again on Sunday. I can't wait!!!!!!!

CIDT - It's a Real Card

2011-11-17T22:30:00.000-05:00

Guess what! I'm posting an actual card today! I made it last night for my Creative Inspirations Paints DT blog post...using several challenges that I found while checking out Feline Playful. I will list them all after the photo, along with how the card incorporates each of them.
Since my original goal was to write a post for the CIPaints blog, I started off with paint. I knew I wanted to paint my embellishments, so I thought of flowers. I thought I had some plain white paper flowers. I still think I do, but I sure couldn't find them last night! I found some kind of darkish blue-grey flowers in several sizes and shapes. I can work with those. Then I went looking for challenges to see if anything sparked.

First I found the sketch from Skipping Stones Design. That told me exactly what I was doing with my flowers. I checked through my scraps to see if I had a piece of cardstock that was already cut to the proper size for the card. I had 3 to choose from and I went with purple. I like purple.

While I was checking out sketches, I spotted the Shopping Our Stash challenge. Never been inked? Oh yeah. I have a few of those. So I had to play in that challenge. Plus the post was written by my friend Carla (hi Carla!!) Right off I decided to use the background stamp, Paisley Deco, from Unity Stamps. It was one of the very first stamps I got from Unity...and it had never been inked. I eventually went with a sentiment from Forever Friends (because it matched the flowers and because it went with the Pollycraft Monday Challenge of friends and friendship) that had also gone uninked, so I'm just all kinds of shopping my stash.

Divas By Design said to be monochromatic, so I stayed with purple when stamping that sentiment instead of using black, which had been my original plan. I think it looks better than the black would have, even if it did take me several purples to get the right one!

X-Factor

2011-11-16T21:46:00.007-05:00

Anybody else been watching this? I am so impressed with Rachel Crow. This kid just amazes me. My friend Jenny says "she looks 8 and sounds 30." Well, yeah. That about sums it up.

This is her performance from November 8, 2011.

My Kids

2011-11-15T23:33:00.005-05:00

I haven't posted pictures of the kids recently, so, since I've been doing a lot of talking about them, I thought I'd show you guys just how much they're growing. Besides, tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday for a lot of people...and I have a really hard time being wordless, so I'm doing Talkative Tuesday.

I took three of these photos on Friday night, at the request of the spousal unit, so he could show them to his family in TN. Middle daughter was too busy on the phone with her boyfriend to come downstairs and have her photo taken.

First are the boys, Taylor and Cody. They are now 19 and 21. Both have Asperger's Syndrome, which can make life a little interesting at times.
Cody's shirt says "You read my t-shirt. That's enough social interaction for one day." It's really fitting for him.

Next is 17-year-old Meagan. We usually call her Meg. She has the wryest sense of humour and a very quick and agile mind.
She really makes me laugh.

Hannah, at 15, is our social butterfly. This photo is of her trying on her Color Guard uniform in August. She is often too busy with something or another to hang out with the rest of us peons.
And then there is Holly, my youngest. She will be 13 next month. She's looking forward to being a teenager and really hates being called "the baby." I try really hard not to do that anymore. She's an 8th grader and I'm having a difficult time with this being her final year in middle school. How on earth has the time gone so quickly??
Well, that's my family.
They drive me batty sometimes, but I really do love them dearly.

Fantastic News!!

2011-11-14T22:19:00.004-05:00

I got the best news today!! The lawyer for the state called. The representative from the Navy, who was scheduled to be at the hearing tomorrow, has to be in Pennsylvania tomorrow and cannot make the hearing. As such, she requested the hearing be postponed. Late this afternoon, the judge agreed!! My daughter does not have to testify.

I don't know if she will have to at a later date. I believe it depends on what happens when the Navy finishes their investigation. But for now, she has a reprieve and I am wholeheartedly relieved - as is she.

Blessed be.

More Knitting Progress

2011-11-13T22:26:00.004-05:00

The kids and I spent most of yesterday cleaning and organizing to make things nice for my MIL, but today has been a very laid-back day, so I did a little knitting - except for when I fell asleep on the sofa! I've got nearly 15 inches knit now, though I haven't taken a picture for several inches. I really do like how this is coming out and the pattern is extremely easy to follow. It's charted, which is definitely my preferred method for lace patterns. I hope to finish in the next week or so, which will be speed-knitting for me. We'll see how it goes. I'll have some cards to post in the next couple days, so don't despair. I have not forsaken papercrafting. I've just taken a little break.

Thank you all for your encouragement and support. Each and every one of you has done my heart a world of good. I will, of course, post an update on that subject as soon as I am able.

He Brought Goodies

2011-11-12T22:57:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone. Just wanted to post that the spousal unit and his mom made in a couple hours ago, safe and sound. Of course the kids had to talk her ear off and show her 60 bazillion things around the house. This is the first time they've seen her in 9 years. She can't get over how much they've grown. When she was last with us, it was just before Thanksgiving, and Holly (youngest daughter) was almost 4. Nine years later, it's just before Thanksgiving...and Holly is nearly 13. Holly is now nearly as tall as I am, which makes her several inches taller than my mother-in-law...and I'm only 5'4".

The way cool thing is that, as they were leaving, some other family members insisted that he take home some goodies - four jars of freshly canned apple butter and one jar of blackberry jam. OMG!!!

Heaven in a jar. Thank you guys for the thoughts, prayers and hugs. From all of us.

I'm Breathing - and a little VSN

2011-11-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

I'd like to thank everyone who left comments or who emailed or messaged me privately regarding my post from Wednesday. Today I'm breathing. I'll really just be glad when it's over. Knitting is helping.

VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) has also helped. Today was the Mini for December's Winter Wonderland. There are six challenges. You can find the Master Challenge Thread here, which will give you the details for all six challenges, including mine. You have until 10pm, Monday, November 14, to upload VSN creations to the Splitcoaststa mpers gallery.

Because of everything going on around here, I didn't get a chance to make and photograph for my white-card challenge a card that I was happy with, so I used as a sample a card I made a while back that has always been one of my very favourites.
The spousal unit is in Tennessee tonight. He'll be back tomorrow with his mom. She'll be coming up here to live with us and all our insanity. I am hoping they have a safe and uneventful trip back.

Flared Warmer Progress

2011-11-10T23:29:00.000-05:00

I got the little neck warmer started while I was waiting on the boys up at the college on Tuesday. This is a picture of how far I got during the couple hours I sat there. I'm really happy with how it's turning out so far.

Nerves

2011-11-09T20:02:00.004-05:00

Back in May, I posted that we were dealing with a family emergency, but I didn't come out and say what the emergency was. At least, not publicly. A couple months later, I mentioned that NCIS was involved. My daughter has given her permission for me to go into a little more detail now, because she and I were both subpoenaed last week. There is going to be some sort of hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. I don't want to say too much in case by doing so, I really mess things up, but I will say that the Navy has already officially stated that abuse occurred.

What is upsetting me is that both my daughter and I have been called to testify. The Navy already has her full testimony video taped. They don't need to put her through this.

This is going to be the first time I have seen him since before any of this happened. I'm having a hard time concentrating. I'm nervous. But the thing is, I need to be strong for my daughter, who has been so incredibly brave this entire time. We are not going to let him get away with this. Nobody messes with my little girl.

Addendum: Please comment. I'm still feeling a bit lost and scared. Sometimes I feel angry and strong and other times, I'm barely holding on. I need all the encouragement I can get so I can come back and read it when I'm at my lowest.

Scarf Results

2011-11-08T04:00:00.001-05:00

**11-9-11: ack! I hit save instead of post when I tried to schedule this the other night. Just realized it never went up yesterday. So...here it is**

Just a quick post today with the results of my informal poll. I'll be starting with the flared warmer, which is the reddish one in the photo. Thanks for the input!

The World is a Sadder Place

2011-11-07T20:26:00.002-05:00

Katie Renz, who inspired the amazing Swimming for Katie blog hop just a very few short weeks ago, passed away peacefully this morning. Katie's husband posted this morning here.

I find it hard to think about a world without Katie's beautiful smile. I am so thankful that Kevin has posted so many wonderful photos along with his updates. His strength in the face of this tragedy is an inspiration.

My dear friend, Ashley, has written a lovely post about Katie, along with some information about her sons' upcoming birthdays. I know I'll be sending cards for them. Won't you join us?

Which Scarf to Knit?

2011-11-06T19:24:00.012-05:00

Now that I'm done (finally) knitting the Clapotis, I have two scarves to knit. I'm just having a really hard time deciding on a pattern. I would love it if you guys would weigh in with your opinions.

The first pattern is from Fiddlesticks Knitting, called One-Ball Warmers. There are 4 options with this pattern. Clockwise from the upper left, they are Diamond Warmer, Flared Warmer, Collar Warmer and Leaf Warmer. I currently have both the diamond and flared warmers under consideration.
For one of these warmers I knit, I will be using a beautiful laceweight cashmere yarn. I wish I had more of it. It's really lovely, but I've got barely enough to eke out one warmer, and I have at least two of something to knit.

Another that I was thinking about is the Maluka, by Bea Schmidt Designs and available as a free download on Ravelry. I saw this one knit by remcat (aka Remily Knits). She was kind enough to allow me to post a photo of her completed Maluka. Isn't it beautiful?

So, what do you guys think? Leave me a comment and let me know which one you'd knit first. I'm going to knit both (all 3?) eventually, but I just can't decide where to start. I'm not saying who they're for, but neither of them are for me.

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

2011-11-05T03:00:00.000-04:00

Yeah...about that title. Blame the 17yo. She said the moon needed to be silver, so my black cat appears before an Antique Silver moon.
Because this was a card made for a Creative Inspirations Paints DT post, I took a close-up of the moon to show the shimmer of the paints.
Other than the Antique Silver Creative Inspirations Paint, nearly everything else is Memory Box. The paper is from the Nightfall 6x6 pad, the stamp is called Cat and Moon and the die is the Wrought Iron Fence, which I cut twice and overlapped so that I would have a finial on each end. Once that was done, I glued it onto the card so that it would appear that the cat was walking along the top. The sentiment is from Unity's Hauntingly Sweet, which is currently on sale for $4!!

Have a great day everyone!!

FWF - Unposted Unity

2011-11-04T22:30:00.006-04:00

I wasn't really posting earlier this year, but I'm doing my darnedest to post for NaBloPoMo, do here's a page I made in August. It's been a very difficult year for my family and, as I wrote on the Creative Inspirations Paint blog, I tried to put everything I have been feeling into some art. This page is one I've made that I can look at when I'm feeling particularly down and need a little help remembering that it does get better.See if you can figure out which kits and/or single stamps I used.

Simple Says it Best

2011-11-03T19:00:00.001-04:00

Today is my new day to share Creative Inspirations Paints projects on the CIP blog. To see my full DT blog post, go here.

I CASE'd a card I found while checking out the galleries for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges. When I saw this card by hskelly, I just knew I had to make my own version using Creative Inspirations Paints for the coloured portion to make it all nice and shimmery.I used stamps from two {ippity} sets. The branches are from So This is Love and the sentiment is from The Simple Things. To make the wintery look, I used 7 different paints. In order, from bottom to top, they are Mocha Latte, Silver Frost (just a tiny hint), Winter Frost, Blue Ice, Tanzanite, Sapphire, and Denium. The sentiment was inked in Faded Denim Distress Ink.

See you guys again tomorrow.

More Clapotis

2011-11-02T19:19:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone. I have more pictures of the Clapotis to share. I did do a couple things differently than the pattern, after reading many other comments from other knitters who had completed the pattern, both in blogs and on Ravelry. Unfortunately, I don't recall where I read the advice to Ptbl (purl through the back loop) on the wrong side rows those stitches which were Ktbl (knit through the back loop) on the right side rows. It really does seem to give a neater edge along the dropped stitches.

Also, I took the advice to purl the stitch in between the Ktbls rather than to use what I would consider umpteen bazillion stitch markers. I don't like to use stitch markers unless I have to. Purling those stitches on the right side (and conversly, knitting them on the wrong side), meant that I needed no stitch markers at all. So a big thank you to all knitters who made that suggestion, as well as the knitter with the Ptbl advice. They were immensely helpful.

This first one shows where I've begun to drop a row of stitches. This is part of what helps it wrap so nicely around the body once it's done.This next photo shows two full columns of dropped stitches, as well as the purled column which will be dropped at the appropriate point in the pattern.
And lastly, I finished the actual knitting a little while ago. I need to finish unraveling the dropped stitches, weave in all ends and then wash and block the full piece. Then I can consider it completed.
I started this pattern with the wrong yarn in October 2007. Lace-weight yarn was a singularly bad idea. I don't recall exactly how long I worked on that first version, but it was likely less than 2 months. I've worked on V2.0 ever since.

NaBloPoMo

2011-11-01T10:23:00.006-04:00

Hey everyone. In the interest of reviving not only my blog, but my mojo and my spirit, I've taken on the challenge of NaBloPoMo again this year. That means at least one blog post for each and every day during the month of November. Can I do it? Well, I did it last year. I think I can do it again, but I'm going to need your support.

I know I've been a very sporadic blogger over the past couple months. If you guys want me to blog about the whole sordid mess, just leave it in the comments and I'll tell you all about it. If you want me to talk about something else or if you have any questions or topics you'd like me to discuss, I'm taking suggestions.

Right now, I'm sitting in the student cafe at Anne Arundel Community College, where I spend most Tuesday and Thursday mornings, while my sons are in class. Neither of them drives, so I am their chauffeur. I've got my laptop, a triple venti non-fat caramel macchiato, and my knitting to keep me company.

This picture is from a while back, and I'm actually very close to being finished. The pattern is the Clapotis, a free pattern from Knitty, Fall 2004. If you are a knitter and have not checked out Knitty, you need to do so NOW. This webzine been around and has launched the careers of some pretty amazing designers, including Cookie A.
This is going to be for my mom. I'll post more pictures once it's completed and blocked. In case you wondered, the yarn is some I bought from the Drafting Zone, before my friend Alice passed away. I knit part of this at her bedside while she was in hospice last year. It's mostly been my "away from home" knitting project. We just won't discuss exactly how long that has been. Okay?

October Blast From the Past

2011-10-19T11:00:00.003-04:00

I am so glad to finally be getting to participate in this hop again! Please forgive me if I type a little weird. I had an endoscopy yesterday and the anesthesia really threw me for a big loop. My mom and I both seem to react preety hard to the stuff.

Anyway, got a card. Realized I don't have any Halloween-ish type stamps from TAylored Expressions (yet!), so I improvised. I used Halloween colours and went for slightly sppooky.
I used stamps from Discover Your Wings (the dragonfly and the sentiment) and Luxurious Labels (the little swirl.) I also used the Keeping TAbs die for the first time, which is really bad, since it's the first one I ever bought and I've had it since it was released! Bad Carole!!

Hope you like my card. I had fun putting it together. Enjoy the rest of the hop and have a great day!

Hi Again

2011-10-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone. I know...long time, no blog. It's just been...well...maybe I'll go into it later, but I don't feel like being depressing right now. Besides, I have a card to share. It's my first card for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges on Splitcoaststampers, as well as my most recent Creative Inspirations Paints DT card, which went up on the team blog yesterday.
The challenge was to use bling and pink. I also painted the embossed rays with Rose Quartz Creative Inspirations Paint and I painted the edges of the Spellbinders Spiral Blossoms Two die with Olive Green Creative Inspirations Paint. No stamping and super quick, but I'm really happy with it. I hope it will spread some cheer to someone at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

I hope to be posting more often again. I need to keep my fingers inky! Hope everyone has a great day.

Sorrow

2011-08-30T18:41:00.008-04:00

Have I mentioned lately just how much I think cancer sucks? Well, just in case I haven't said it enough, it really, seriously bites. This past Thursday, cancer claimed another one of my friends and I am horribly sad for his wife, who is a dear friend, and their son, who are left behind.

I made this card last night as my Creative Inspirations Paint DT assignment, using the colours for the Play Date Cafe's Challenge #96 (cream, mint & coral). It was not an easy card for me to make. Ashley and Lee helped me, via Facebook and Skype, because I just could not get it together. The card hurt to make. I don't want him to be gone. My heart breaks for this family.I'm also pissed off, because he was too young (52) and he was a truly good guy. He fought like hell, and it isn't fair and I hate it and I wish I could be in California on Saturday to attend the memorial service. I hope my friend and her son know that I will be there in spirit.

Birthday Wishes for Barry

2011-07-23T21:57:00.007-04:00

A year ago, when my dear friend Alice was in hospice, I made a promise to her that I'd remember her husband's birthday for her. This past week was Barry's birthday, so I made a card for him.

It was my week as a guest DT for the CAS challenge on SCS, and since Barry is a guy, clean and simple was right what I wanted for him. With everything going on, my mojo has been seriously lacking. This card was the first thing I'd made in a month. My girls at All Things Unity came to my rescue, both with ATU#35, to use ribbon (or twine) and a mention of the Unity KOTM sketch challenge. Between those two, and the inspiration from CAS127, I came up with a card that I thought would make Barry smile.

Both the watermelon and sentiment are from the June 2011 KOTM, ...all smiles.

I'm Back: CI Paints Inchies

2011-07-19T01:39:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone. I know I haven't been around much lately. Things have just been really hard the past few months, starting with the huge family emergency in April. I can't really talk about that publicly yet. In part because it is still being investigated by NCIS (yes, really. Those guys.) Secondly, it involves the privacy of one of my daughters. You may read into that what you will.

Secondly, the spousal unit was forced to retire. He is still not working. He was "technically hired", also in April. In fact, the same week as everything else. But any of you who have ever worked with the government and security will know that those wheels grind very, very slowly. VERY. SLOWLY.

He has applied for temporary jobs and I have been looking for a job myself. Neither of us has had any luck. Neither has either of our sons (19 & 21.) Our 2 older daughters have been working (for tips only) as baggers at the commissary - that's how they can get away with "hiring" a 14yo. But I'm truly glad of it. The two of them have been paying for our groceries for the past 6 weeks. This is the worst things have ever been for us and I have felt helpless.

As a result, I've not been creating and I have not been online. How could I be, when this is all I can think about? I don't want to be the world's biggest downer. I don't want everyone to take pity on us. We will get through this. We've gotten some help from some of the most amazing friends. We have a roof over our heads and we have food. Except for our rent, all the bills are paid.

Before anyone asks, yes, as a retiree, he has a pension. It covers the medical/dental insurance fees and most of our regular bills - utilities, the few remaining credit cards we have, doctor copays...even without touching the rest of the bills, just insurance, it would be nearly $470 short of our rent. So we're paying everything else and our landlord is, so far, being as understanding as possible. But it's stressful.

And today, well yesterday, as it is now past midnight, was the anniversary of my friend Alice's passing. I miss her.

Now that I've gone and depressed everyone, how about I just copy over what I wrote for my Creative Inspirations Paints DT post?

Have you ever needed something quick and easy to add to a small gift or to jump start your mojo? Well, I needed a quick pick-me-up for myself, so I made some little inchie magnets for my fridge. I thought it might be fun to use parts of some larger stamps (from Unity's June 2009 KOTM: Perfect in Every Way) instead of using my dedicated inchie stamps, so I only inked up parts of them at a time before stamping. The larger the stamp, the less of it you need to ink. For the cherry, I did ink nearly the entire thing.

Once I had compositions I liked, I painted them with Chocolate, Garnet, Evergreen, and Green Olive Creative Inspirations Paints.
It's pretty easy to see the sparkle and shimmer, although I do wish the photo had been clearer. It was either get the details of the cherry, or get the glimmer of the paint. I went with the sparkle. These little guys make me smile when I see them holding up coupons or the latest grocery receipt.

Thanks for sticking with me. Hope you all have a wonderful week.

EtsyInspired #140 - PeadenScottDesigns

2011-06-04T03:00:00.005-04:00

Good morning! Are you ready to be EtsyInspired?? Today we're visiting with PeadenScottDesigns. This shop specializes in pop-up greeting cards, gift tags and note cards. Some of them are just so amazingly clever! If you're a Mormon, you really need to check out the LDS temple cards. Seriously.

Anyway, I chose these sweet thank you cards as my inspiration. I couldn't resist the umbrella. It gave me a great excuse to pull out one of the Paper Makeup Stamps Moody Girls I've been holding onto for a while. The layout is Pretty Patterns Sketch #11 and the colours are from the Play Date Cafe Challenge #84 (almost forgot to add that in!)
Our sponsor this week is Through the Craftroom Door. One of our winners this week will receive a year's subscription to the online publication. A second winner will be able to choose 2 cards from PeadenScottDesigns.

Since we've gone biweekly with our challenges, you've got until
noon Pacific time on Friday, June 17, 2011
to play along. Check out the rest of the DT and see what they've got to share today.

Angi
Ashley
De
Ellie Augustin - Guest DT!
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

OWH Memorial Day Weekend Hop

2011-05-28T10:00:00.005-04:00

Good morning!! It's time for the Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop for Operation Write Home! You should be coming here from
Sharon's blog.
If not, or if you get lost, head on back to the very beginning.

I've got a Heartfelt Creations card to share based on this card by Mona Pendleton.I thought it would translate beautifully using the Semper Augustus Tulips. The sentiment is from the Dutch Iris Oval precut set and the hummingbird is from the Springtime Medley Collection - the Angel Trumpet Flower, to be specific. The matching die makes it a snap to get a perfect cut every time.

Over the top, I stamped Unity's Worn Music in Vintage PhotoDistress Ink. As usual, when making cards for Operation Write Home, I've used Memory Box cardstock because of it's white reverse side, making it ideal for any writing conditions.

Copics used were YG13, YG23, RV14, RV17 and RV19.

Thanks so much for visiting me today! Next on the hop is the lovely and talented
Joanne!

PS - I almost forgot to mention! The spousal unit officially retired from the Air Force on 1 April after 24 years 4 months and 17 days.
I'm proud of him.

Tulip Love

2011-05-24T04:30:00.006-04:00

Hey guys! It's my day over at Creative Inspirations Paint and I made a card that follows a couple challenges, as well as using several of those wonderful, shimmery paints! I love, love, LOVE things that sparkle and shine, so you know I love these paints - and they are just so super creamy and fabulous to use. If you haven't gotten your hands on any yet - well, what are you waiting for??? The sketch is from Lucy's Lovely Lines. This is a new one for me that I found through the sketch challenge links on Stampin' When I Can. Allison provides such a fabulous service for the community and I truly appreciate the trouble she goes to in helping provide a one-stop-shop for all of the sketch challenges out there.

Second, and I really hope this counts, because Ashley has been after me to play along with this one for a while, Lawn Fawn's Lawnscaping Challenge this week is to use polkadots. I'm not sure if my dots around the sentiment count as polkadots or not.

That's it for me today. Hope you all have a wonderful day. Hug your kids and your friends. They're priceless jewels.

Grateful for Paper Maniac & ATU

2011-05-22T21:04:00.000-04:00

Good morning. This is the card I posted over at Paper Maniac a couple days ago. I made it with All Things Unity challenge #31 in mind, and chose a couple stamps that I'd never used before - but which were also still in stock at Paper Maniac. I probably have a few too many of those, so I love this particular challenge!! It works for both previously unloved stamps *and* brand new goodies! At least, that's how I read it...it doesn't say how long a stamp has to have been in your stash. Right?

So anyway...I've had the set Simple Blessings since it was released, but I'd only used the leaves before. My friend, Nancy, is a member of My Time Made Easy's Pretty Pattern Sketch DT. She suggested I play along with Challenge #10, so I thought the larger leaf swirl would be perfect for the slanted lines in the sketch. And since Paper Mania c is closing (sniffle) several of us are making cards for Patti, the owner. I chose the Grateful for You sentiment because I am truly grateful for the opportunity she gave to me in giving me a place on the design team and I appreciate the faith she showed more than I can ever convey.I used Memory Box cardstock for the base, Crushed Olive Distress Ink and Oval Nestabilities.

EtsyInspired #139 - Paula Art

2011-05-21T03:00:00.006-04:00

Wow. I almost feel like I've forgotten how to write a real blog post! But I think I can, I think I can! It's Saturday, which is EtsyInspired time again. We're biweekly now, so you'll have 2 full weeks to play along!

This week we've got a super cool shop. Paula Art is contemporary, collectible art for your home, using as many recycled, reclaimed and reused items as possible. This makes for some very intriguing pieces! This is not your everyday, run-of-the-mill art. This truly is super cool and downright funky!

I chose to be inspired by the colours in the photo of t hese pipe vases - red, white, grey/black, and kind of a sandy colour. I like the colours and I think they're pretty darned awesome looking.

I went totally CAS to coincide with the SCS CAS DT search, but our sponsor this week, Shery K Designs has some great patterned paper that would work perfectly with the colours I chose, including the Victoria Super Mega Paper Pack, which is only $3!!

Deets:
Stamps: Unity Beach Days & Sun Rays
Ink: SU Real Red, Distress Ink Vintage Linen, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: SU Real Red, GinaK Pure Luxury Base Weight
Etc: Embossing powder - clear & Brushed Corduroy Distress, pop dots

Now it's your turn. For full deets and to link up your project for this week, head on over to the EtsyInspired Blog. You've got until Friday, June 3, at noon, Pacific time. Before you go, though, check out the rest of the EIC team...Ashley & Emily may be a tad late, so if they haven't gotten their posts up when you get there, check them out later today.

Angi
Ashley
De
Ellie Augustin - May Guest DT!
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

Thanks for stopping by and for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Paper Maniac is Going Out of Business

2011-05-20T20:05:00.003-04:00

I am very sad to finally add my post to say that Paper Maniac is closing its doors.

Products are flying off the shelves, so shop soon to get the best selection.

Blast From the Past May Hop

2011-05-18T11:00:00.004-04:00

Hi guys. Long time, no blog. To be perfectly honest, my family has been through hell this past month. But we need a little normalcy, so I'm going to try to get back to blogging and card making. Thank goodness for my dear friend, Ashley (HeartHugs Designs), who pretty much held my hand while I took baby steps in figuring out how to make a card all over again.

Since the theme of this hop is masculine cards and the spousal unit's birthday is coming up next week, I decided to make him a card from all of the kids. I used the birthday sentiment from Pet's Place. I kept it super simple, using Sketch #69 from OWH Stars & Stamps in shades of blue. The dp is Basic Grey Granola.Thanks for stopping by and thank you again for all of your support this past month.

Family Emergency

2011-05-02T21:58:00.002-04:00

Hi all. I just wanted to post and say that I have not dropped off the face of the earth. It's simply that we have had a family emergency and it's been something that has taken nearly all of my energy, both physical and emotional. I am not entirely sure when I will be back to blogging, but I will be back as soon as I am able.

Thank you for your patience, and especially for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

EtsyInspired #136 - Bearly Art

2011-04-23T03:00:00.000-04:00

Hey peeps. Pain is kicking my hind end today (Friday) so this is uber short. Super cool shop with all kinds of neat painted clocks this week. There is truly something for every taste, including my daughter, Hannah's. I cannot show her Bearly Art, because she will beg for the horse clock. I actually like this lemon painted rolling pin holder. It's really cute and would add such a bit of cheer to any kitchen. Some lucky winner will get to choose any in-stock clock just for playing along this week!

Photo will be attached in the morning, when I can get my fingers to behave....

Our sponsor this week is Sassy Cheryl's, a shop with some super cute digi-stamps that are really a lot of fun and would be utterly fabulous for anyone who is a colouring freak. Either Copics or Prismacolors with gamsol would just be marvelous with any of her images and one of our weekly winners will receive a $5 Sassy Cheryl's gift certificate.

So now, you know the drill. For full deets and to link up your project for this week, head on over to the EtsyInspired Blog. You've got until Friday, April 29, at noon, Pacific time. Before you go, though, check out the rest of the EIC team...

Angi - sitting out this week
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Kimme - April Guest Extraordinaire!!
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Luvlee Birthday!!

2011-04-21T14:51:00.004-04:00

Surprise!!! It's a mini-hop to wish a very, very

to my sweet friend, Lee - she of the many amazing smilies!!

When I heard about this, I was excited to take part. Lee has been so supportive of me during the two and a half years that I have known her. Even when I've fallen down on the job, she's been there to help pick me back up and dust me off. So Lee, this one's for you! I hope you have a truly fantastic birthday!!

Of course, since this card is for Lee, it had to have pink and it had to sparkle. It wouldn't be a Lee card without either of those things, would it girls? I may have gone a tad overboard with the stickles, but I just couldn't help myself. (I'll redo the pic once the stickles are dry...and yes, there's a story behind that. Somebody remind me that I really do love my son?)
Here's a list of the rest of the the birthday bloggers...and of course, don't forget to stop by and wish Lee herself a happy birthday!

Allison
Christi
Crafty Math Chick
Joanne
Lori
Lydia
Misti
Nancy
Paula

And one more time, Lee...

Wooly Blast From the Past April Hop

2011-04-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone! I just love Taylored Expressions' Blast from the Past Blog Hops! This month, Sankari's sketch is right up my alley, too! I am such a CAS girl.

When I first saw this stamp set back in December, I knew I had to have it. I learned to knit when I was pregnant with my eldest daughter, who turned 17 on the 7th. Six months later, I started spinning my own yarn. It's where my online nick came from and I still love it! Plus, I think the Knit Wit sheep is just way too cute!I'll keep it short since there are so many blogs to visit. I hope you enjoy the hop!

EtsyInspired #135 - Creatingisfun

2011-04-16T03:00:00.004-04:00

Happy Saturday! I'm starting to feel almost human again, but I'm going to keep it short and sweet. This week our shop belongs to a friend of most of us here at the EtsyInspired Challenge. Creatingisfun is Martha's shop and she sells various buttons and trims, and the occasional hand-created, vintage-inspired project. I particularly love her buttons. I've been dithering between two sets for a few weeks now and can't decide which ones I want. I think I'm going to have to order both - assuming nobody buys them first. As I was writing this post, I was told that there is a 50% off sale that she is continuing through the rest of today (that's Saturday.) The code is FRI50.

When I saw this suede ribbon, I remembered some that I had that was kind of similar...just with an added ruffle on the edge. It's almost the same shade of brown! My whole card started with that ribbon. I needed an extra birthday card that isn't for OWH, but is for a woman with Fuch's Corneal Dystrophy.

Deets:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Fancy Phrases
Ink: Distress Ink Vintage Photo
Cardstock: Memory Box
Etc: suede ruffle ribbon, CB embossing folder

Fuch's is an inherited disorder that both my mother and aunt suffer from. I have a 50% chance of having it, too. So far, they've been unable to tell whether I do or do not, but if I do, then each of my children will have a 50% chance of inheriting it. My aunt has already had one corneal transplant. My mother's is slow-developing, so, although she is the elder sister, she is not in need of a transplant any time soon. My aunt needs her other eye done as soon as her first eye is healed enough.

The woman to whom I am sending this card has other health issues and, because of these, is unable to have a transplant. Her Fuch's is so severe that she must sit in the dark. Because of this, I wanted to add texture to the card, so I thought the embossing folder would be a good idea. This way she can feel the letters. The suede ribbon should also feel nice.

Now it's your turn. For full deets about this week's sponsor, all prize information,and to link up your project, head on over to the EtsyInspired Blog. You've got until Friday, April 22, at noon, Pacific time. Before you go, check out the rest of the EIC team...

Angi
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Kimme - April Guest Extraordinaire!!
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

Thanks for stopping by!

GIU Makeup Day 4ish

2011-04-12T17:45:00.002-04:00

Hey guys. That fibro flare has me good and hard still, but I will finish out last week to give everyone their full opportunities to comment and win.

Today was my first day on the Creative Inspirations Paint blog, and since typing hurts, I'm going to cut/paste most of what I wrote over there.

This past week has been birthday central around my house, so I made a birthday card using a few Unity stamps. I thought I'd try painting directly onto my stamps and stamping with them, since I'd never used my paints that way before. As you can see, it worked out really well! It's definitely a different look, but I think it came out really cool, plus the shimmer is fantastic!

Deets:
Stamps: Unity - retired vine
Unity/Bella Blvd: Bella Trees & Sweet Celebration Birthday
Paint: Creative Inspirations Paints - Emerald, Evergreen
Cardstock: Memory Box, Neenah Classic Crest
Etc: embossing folder Swiss Dots

I especially love the look of the vine stamp down the left side of the card. I'm definitely going to be using this technique more often! I did learn that it works a lot better with a stamp that has more solid areas, rather than just outlines, such as the sentiment, but that did still work. I can hardly wait to try it with multiple colours!

Paper Maniac has all of their Unity stamps on sale for 40% off throughout the month of April. That's a fantastic steal! Great time to pick up one of the new Websters Pages kits or some Melody Ross....

EtsyInspired #134

2011-04-09T03:00:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone. Long, bad week. Fibromyalgia struck with a vengeance and I'm still in some pretty good pain. I think it was the weather change that did it. It happens that way sometimes and about all I can do is wait for it to pass. Look for a couple posts from me in the next day or so.

Today, however, it is time to be EtsyInspired and we've got an extra special shop and an EXTRA special guest!! This week, we're featureing none other than Kim Kesti!! She and Jeri Smith (to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure which one of them is the mother, and which is the daughter!) have a shop called think fast designs where they make and sell darling aprons, gorgeous quilts and several other vintage-inspired items. For EtsyInspired folks, there is a disount coupon this weekend. Just type in "THINKFASTPLEASE" to get 10% off your order! One lucky player is going to win his or her choice of Vintage Pendant Necklaces!! (I like this one...)

When I saw this particular quilt, for some reason, it reminded me of Cosmo Cricket's Nutmeg dp. I think maybe it's the light green and maybe the rotated plaid - which, of course, I ended up not using. Then I saw this new-to-me challenge - Peachy Keen Sketch Challenge #49, and it was just perfect to use for a quilt-inspired card, so I went for it. The sentiment and border dots are from Fancy Phrases by Waltzingmouse Stamps.Our sponsor this week is Nikki Sivils! We are just busting out with awesomeness all over the place this week! Some other lucky player is going to win a Nikki Sivils collection pack, complete with paper and embellies!

Okay now, you know the drill. For full deets and to link up your project for this week, head on over to the EtsyInspired Blog. You've got until Friday, April 15, at noon, Pacific time. Before you go, though, check out the rest of the EIC team...

Angi
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Kim Kesti - Special Guest
Kimme - April Guest Extraordinaire!!
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

Thanks for stopping by!

CASEing Myself for Growing in Unity

2011-04-06T08:00:00.002-04:00

It's day 3 of Growing in Unity and I was a little stumped. Ashley pointed me to the monochromatic challenge at Claudia & Company, and looking at Piali's card reminded me of a couple cards I made way back in April 2009. I'd actually forgotten that I'd originally CASE'd someone else when I made the first two way back then! The link to the original-original (made by LynniePoo) is in my SCS gallery description.

The layout works beautifully with Unity's big background stamps and it also works with the large {ippity} stamps.
The background on this one is Grandma's Apron. The sentiment comes from an older Kit of the Month (September 2008), which is now retired. Both are stamped in Faded Jeans Distress Ink.
For this card, I used {ippity}'s Gurnsey Gingham for the background and Life's Little Moments for the sentiment (both of which I do have in stock - just leave a comment or email me if you'd like either.)

That's two more for my 40 cards in 40 days for Operation Write Home. I hope some of you are joining me, even if it's just for one or two cards. See you again here tomorrow!

ACK!! Just realized I hit save last night rather than publish...so this didn't get put up at 8am like it was supposed to! I'm such a dork!

GIU - Jillibella Soup

2011-04-05T13:58:00.003-04:00

Good morning. It's been busy already today. We had one heck of a thunderstorm at 4:00 this morning. It was loud enough to wake up several of us in the house. The wind was terrible. Then the Dell guy came and replaced the spousal unit's motherboard, soundcard and something else. We're hopeful that this will solve his blue-screen-of-death errors. We do know that 2 of the RAM slots on the old motherboard were bad, so cross fingers and all that.

Today, I've got a quick and easy birthday card, yet again for OWH. This is my go-to sketch, which is from Nina Brackett's first blogiversary. It's so multipurpose and just the easiest thing in the world.
The reason for the odd placement of the present and stars is because I accidentally droped the ink pad onto the card when I went to stamp the present a second time. Of course I already had the background attached to the base.

Oh, and my goofy title for today is because I used Jillibean Soup paper (Yellow Squash) and Sweet Celebration Birthday from Unity's Bella Blvd co-branded stamps.

Have a great day today! I'll be back again tomorrow (much earlier!)

H{ippity} Hoppity Hello, I'm Growing in Unity!

2011-04-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I'm super excited to be hosting Growing in Unity this week!! It's my FIFTH time! I think I'm beginning to make a habit of this!! Of course, this is also H{ippity} Hop day, so I have an {ippity} card to share. It's very CAS, as I'm working on my personal challenge to do 40 cards to send to Operation Write Home.

For anyone who plays along, there is blog candy involved. I'm still working on what all that includes, but so far, I have a set of nesties, at least one {ippity} kit and one from Unity. You have until Easter Sunday to finish up, and they do not all have to be different, so long as there are 40 total and they've been made between Lent and Easter.
I've used OWH's Sketch Challenge #63 for the layout. The sentiment is from the {ippity} set Sweet Thoughts of Spring.

Check out the {ippity} blog for a full list of today's participants.

I'll be posting each day for the rest of this week with more Growing in Unity! Don't forget to leave a comment on each post, as I'll be drawing a name at the end of the week and someone will win some Unity goodness!

Growing in Unity Week

2011-04-03T21:55:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone. Just wanted to let you know that I'll be hosting Growing in Unity starting tomorrow morning, so don't forget to stop by every day this week. My first post will be up at 10am Eastern. See you then!!

EtsyInspired #133 - xs baggage & co.

2011-04-02T03:00:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone. It's gonna be short and sweet from me today as it's been a very stressful week in the Chesser household. Today it's time to be EtsyInspired. Xs baggage & co. is a super cute shop with the most darling little bags. If I didn't already have a case for my ipad, I'd be all over this one.

I'm still working on my 40 card Lenten Challenge, so I used one of the Operation Write Home sketches from Challenge 62. There are 3 this week! There is no stamping at all on my card, either - just a really cute Stickerz from EAD Designs. This adorable little cell phone bag was my inspiration. I couldn't resist the cherries!Our sponsor this week is the Wax Fruit Company. I couldn't make up my mind which of her fabulous digis I wanted to use, because they're all so pretty! I especially love her flowers!

Now it's your turn! For all the prize deets and to link up your project for this week, head on over to the EtsyInspired Blog. You've got until Friday, April 8, at noon, Pacific time. Before you go, though, check out the rest of the EIC team...

Angi
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Kimme - April Guest Extraordinaire!!
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

EtsyInspired #132 - Fresh Metal

2011-03-26T03:00:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Are you ready to be EtsyInspired? It's another week and we've got a fantastic shop for you!! Fresh Metal Jewelry has got the COOLEST flower pieces made out of fabric. I just LOVE them!! She upcycles bits for as many of her pieces as possible, all of which are inspired by vintage necklaces and brooches.

This one is my favourite.

For my card today, I chose to be inspired by all of the floral pieces in the shop. I used Memory Box stamps, cardstock and patterned paper. Oh, and yes, this is another card that will be heading off to Operation Write Home as a part of my 40 cards for Lent.

Our sponsor this week is Amber Ink.
AmberInk was started by a mother and daughter team. Amber lives in the East, Pam lives in the West. Amber is an Emmy nominated children's animator and illustrator, who creates from her Brooklyn, New York studio. Although they do carry some clear stamps, the company runs by the premise that their customers are more brilliant than patient. If you've been a diehard clear or rubber-stamper, they can even help you with the transition to digital. And don't worry about asking a silly question, because as a retired public high school teacher, Pam has already seen it all. Check out the ever-increasing tutorial links, which you can find on the homepage. Hailing from the Hawaiian Islands, the Aloha Spirit is alive and well at AmberInk.com.

Now it's your turn! For all the prize deets and to link up your project for this week, head on over to the EtsyInspired Blog. You've got until Friday, April 1, at noon, Pacific time. Before you go, though, check out the rest of the EIC team...

Angi
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Libby - March Guest DT!!
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

Friends With Flair - March 25

2011-03-25T10:01:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone. I hope you are all having a really good week. The boys have been on Spring Break, so that's been nice. Today and Tuesday, the spousal unit will be taking the civilian form of the language test that he's taken yearly for the military. His results could net him a job, so I'm on pins and needles. It would truly be a wonderful thing for him to have a job offer prior to his final military paycheck on 1 April.

Anyway, it's Friday, so time for another episode of Friends With Flair! For a full list of participants, check out the Unity blog.
For my card today, I used the sketch from CPS#210. The colour combo is from the Play Date Cafe #74. The stamps are from an older kit I don't recall the name of and Simply Said. I get my Unity and Memory Box patterned paper at Paper Maniac.

Have a great weekend. Good luck finding the blinkie!!

Blast From the Past March Hop

2011-03-23T11:00:00.005-04:00

Original title, huh? Yeah, I know. Not so much. Anyway, I'm super glad to be back for real this month!! A big thanks to everyone who left get well wishes last month. They definitely helped.

I'm still working on my 40 card challenge for OWH, so this is another card for that, this time using Discover Your Wings and CreativiTEA. The sketch comes from OWH Stars & Stamps.

Keeping it short, since there are so many places to visit. Have a great day and enjoy the hop!!

H Cubed

2011-03-21T01:20:00.005-04:00

Happy H{ippity} Hop! That's HHH - or H cubed! I'm being a little geeky today. It's Spring break for part of the family this week. The girls won't be on their spring break for another month. I don't know why the college and the county schools are not on the same schedule, but it's a little on the irritating side. Oh well.

Today did not go how it was supposed to have. Neither did my card. I got the colours wrong for the Play Date Cafe's challenge (I used melon instead of yellowish-orange and my pink was off, too) and then my sentiment went slightly cock-eyed even though I used a stamp-a-ma-jig. I guess my hand slipped or something. It's just been one of those days.
It's still kinda cute, and I'm going to remake it with some different paper, particularly since it's the OWH sketch and I'm still working on my 40 cards for Lent challenge and a few of these would work rather well to send to them. I've got a few of the items to win set up - and it includes a set of nesties...just in case anybody is still thinking about working on it.

Head over to the {ippity} blog to check out today's hoppers. Have a good one!!

Bling it On with All Things Unity!

2011-03-20T00:01:00.010-04:00

Hey guys....four days in a row! I'm still not at 100%, but I'm definitely getting there!

All Things Unity has a brand new challenge today!
It's time to
Bling It On!!!

That means gems, rhinestones, glitter, pearls...stickles...use any or all of those! Well, and of course a Unity or {ippity} image!

I went with a sentiment from a past KOTM (September 2008 - "Love. Friendship. Miracles.") The same sentiment is now available on its own, called Almighty God, but it's about twice as large!

Deets:
Stamps: Unity
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Sketch: Mojo Monday 182

Since there were a few entries this past time that did not follow the rules, I thought I'd post them again just to be fully clear.

First of all, have fun!!
Second, please create something new for the challenge.
Please use ONLY Unity or {ippity} stamps on your creations.
Link back to All Things Unity and use our challenge photo (when one is provided).
When uploading to online gallery, please use ATU##. (This week is ATU27)
Please link to your speciﬁc post--not your entire blog.
OPTIONAL - Please display our NEW ATU badge on your sidebar and in your posts. You don't have to, but it'd make us really, really happy if you did!!

Eligibility for MONTHLY prize::
All entries must be linked before 11:59pm EST the Saturday completing our 2 week challenge. You can link as many creations as you want (the more you link/create--the more chances to win). On the ﬁrst of every month, we will post a winner of the prize package.

If you do not follow the above rules and guidelines, your creation will be ineligible and thus deleted.

NEW CHALLENGES are posted at 12:01am EST every 2 weeks on Sunday.

Eligibility for Challenge Blinkie::
One or two players will be featured on the Wednesday following the challenge end. The playersʼ creations, along with a link to their blogs, will be included in this post. These players will get to display this blinkie on their blog.

**NOTE** :: Receiving this blinkie does not mean you won the monthly prize.

There, now that all of that is out of the way, check out what the rest of the team has made - and when you're done, hit All Things Unity to enter your own new Unity or {ippity} creation! To be eligible for Challenge #27 - Bling It On!!, you need to link your creation no later than 11:59 on April 2.

Cathy
Sara
Savannah

EtsyInspired #131 - DollBirdies

2011-03-19T03:00:00.011-04:00

Happy Saturday! Are you ready to be EtsyInspired? I sure am! This week our shop is DollBirdies, a shop with the cutest handsewn totes, pouches, wallets and toys! Not only are they practical, but they range from stylish to whimsical. There is truly something for every taste, plus, I ask you this: who can't use another bag?? I know I am always looking for something to carry my latest project in, since inevitably what I need has something in it already. (No UFO comments from the peanut gallery, okay? I'm working on 'em!)

When I first saw this particular bag, I just loved the pink and brown combination. Then I started thinking too hard about whether or not my flowers matched and got all bogged down in the details. Finally, I had some sense knocked into me (thanks Ashley!) and I went back to my original thoughts of sticking with "flowers, pink and brown." Much better. Yes, I went with a lighter pink, but let's not quibble, shall we?

The sketch is from clean & simple stamping (#132), but if you'll note, it's also a variation on one of my all time favourite sketches, found on Nina B's blog here.
Our sponsor this week is SRM Stickers. SRM Stickers are not your ordinary, plain-old blah stickers. These are super cool! They're widely use by many papercrafters. There's a great blog with posts every weekday where you'll find paper crafting projects using stickers! Bookmark it, follow it, subscribe, or all of the above...you don't want to miss a tutorial, feature, challenge or giveaway!

Now it's your turn! For all the prize deets and to link up your project for this week, head on over to the EtsyInspired Blog. You've got until Friday, March 25, at noon, Pacific time. Before you go, though, check out the rest of the EIC team...

Angi
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Libby - March Guest DT!!
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

FWF - March 18, 2011

2011-03-18T10:00:00.006-04:00

Hey peeps! What's up with no Hip Hop chat yesterday?? Anybody else as bummed as I was? Oh well. Maybe next week?

So today I've got a quick card I made using the CPS sketch for this week (#209). It's my last one for All Things Unity's Birthday/Celebration challenge - which you still have time to enter...you have until tomorrow night, 11:59pm Eastern. Of course, this is also one more card in my own personal challenge of 40 cards in 40 days for Lent. I'll be sending them to Operation Write Home when I'm done.

Deets:
Cardstock - Kraft
Paper: Girls Paperie
Stamps: Unity Encompassed Grace
Ink: Versamark
Etc: Stampendous EP Claret, Mini pop dots

Head on over to the Unity blog to see who all is participating today. You may get lucky if you find that elusive blinkie! Good luck and I'll see you back here tomorrow with a new challenge from EtsyInspired!

H{ippity} Hopping With My Party Hat On

2011-03-14T10:00:00.005-04:00

Well. It's Monday. At least there's an {ippity} Hop to look forward too, right? I think that's the only really good thing about Mondays. I'm really glad I'm participating this week, too. It's been a little while.

This week I'm stepping in for All Things Unity and the birthday/celebration challenge. There are 5 more days to play along - until 11:59pm Eastern on March 19.

My card uses the {ippity} kit Party Hat Wishes, to make a completely different card than the one I did on Friday. Still CAS, but a totally different feel. I think this one has a much more feminine feel, even though the other one had a big, pink bow. I used Twisted Card Sketches #50, which I like a lot for a CAS card.
Check out this morning's {ippity} blog for a full list of hoppers.

OWH Blog Candy Winner

2011-03-12T15:43:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone. I haven't forgotten about the blog candy...I was just having a teensy bit of trouble getting this image saved properly.

#62 is this comment: AllisonG said...

Love your card - purple is my favorite color!

Thank you to everyone. You all left such sweet comments!! I hope you will all join in my charity card challenge. I've set it up to coincide with the days of Lent, so it will end with Easter. OWH is my focus and I hope many more cards are sent to our soldiers.

EtsyInspired Challenge #130 - Artwork by Lori

2011-03-12T03:00:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone! It's time to be EtsyInspired!! This week we're coming to you with a really awesome shop called Artwork by Lori! Lori is a fabulous artist. I mean seriously! This shop has just her paintings and prints. She has TWO other Etsy shops! The Royal Bead has all of her jewelry and hair designs and Hip Heart carries all of her graphic designs. This is a talented chica, and one lucky person will win a print with a value of up to $14 - winner's choice!!

We've got a sponsor this week, too. Charleston Scrapbook Company is providing a $10 gift certificate for one of our winners!

So earlier this week, I realized that it was going to be the 2 year anniversary of my friend, Bill's, death. Bill Wyatt was a wheelwright. I own two spinning wheels that he made, so I thought it would be fitting to honour his memory by spending March 8th spinning. I hadn't chosen a project yet for this week, so it occurred to me that I might have something that would fit in with Artwork by Lori. I have a bit of a fibre stash (hey, they don't call me FibreJunky for nothing!!), so it didn't take me too long to find something appropriate, once I'd taken a good look through the shop.

First I found this lovely print.Then I found this Coopworth/Alpaca blend that had been dyed with madder.

There was 8oz of it. That ended up being more than 4 full bobbins worth of singles, which I spun on my Pegasus wheel, a 30" production wheel made of mesquite. It has my name on it, slightly misspelled, as Bill got it wrong in 2004 (the plaque says "FibreJunkie"). It is signed and numbered on the bottom. It was the 6th Pegasus he made. I'm not sure how many he completed before he passed away, but I was able to work with him for a little while (before he got a real apprentice, Myles Jakubowski, who now continues Bill's work), and I had a hand in several of his wheels, which is a source of great pride for me, even though my part was very, very small. For expedience, I chose to pull out a different wheel for plying. I have several spinning wheels. My Lendrum has a gigantic plying head. I was able to get almost half of the fibre plied onto one of the Lendrum's huge plying bobbins. For any other fibre people who may notice that this doesn't look like a typical Lendrum, yes, it is one of the 25th anniversary walnut wheels. And lastly, I skeined it up. I'll skein up the rest later. I don't know how much yardage I have yet. I haven't measured it, but the first skein is huge. The fibre originally came from Handspun by Stefania last year at the MD Sheep & Wool Festival. I don't know what it wants to be now that it's all grown up into yarn. If anyone has any suggestions, send me a shout-out. Now that I've totally talked your eyes off today, head on over and see what the rest of the team has to share today. You've got until Friday, March 18, at noon Pacific time, to enter your own creation on the EIC blog.

Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Libby - March Guest DT!!
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

Friends with Birthday Flair

2011-03-11T09:00:00.003-05:00

Good morning! I think. Well, actually, let me rephrase. It's morning. I'm up but I'm a little worried about some people on the other side of the world (hi Opal!)

My heart goes out to everyone affected by the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan and elsewhere.

It's time for Friends With Flair and I have another card for All Things Unity's Birthday Challenge. I'm using this week's Hip Hop Sketch Challenge (HHSC48) and the color combo from the Play Date Cafe (PDCC72.)

The stamp set is {ippity} Party Hat Wishes. I have one kit currently in stock.
For Unity stamps, head over to my favourite retailer, Paper Maniac! She has all ribbon on sale (35% off!!) for the month of March.

Check out the Unity blog for a full list of FWF participants.

Lenten Challenge

2011-03-08T20:49:00.007-05:00

Hi everyone. There was a thread on Facebook about what people were giving up for Lent. I had just seen a post from my Aunt Kathleen where she mentioned that she would be donating $5 to charity for each day of Lent when I read a comment from Tenia (one of my fabulous teammates at Paper Maniac) stating that the Deacon at her church said it was allowable to add something. This fit right into Aunt Kathleen's donations, and it sparked an idea in my head.

I have challenged myself to make a card for Operation Write Home for each day of Lent. Oh, and, of course, to actually get them in the mail - since I'm really bad about getting things mailed. Ashley (who is about the most awesome person I know!) is going to join me.

So, what do you guys think? I'm going to open this up to any charity that is requesting cards. Leave me a link at the end of 40 days, with the completed challenge, and I will draw a name and send out a goodie package in thanks. I don't yet know what it will be, but I'll add that info as soon as I figure it out.

Remember, do not add your link *until* the end of Lent! If you wish to send cards as you make them, that's fine, just be sure to take pics! And if you are sending cards to OWH, please keep in mind that for Easter, the deadline is March 18, and for Mother's Day, they need cards by March 31.

All Things Unity Celebrates Birthdays

2011-03-06T00:01:00.007-05:00

Good morning! If you haven't hit the bunny trail and hopped along with OWH yet, I hope that you will! There are a lot of posts to see this weekend - and some amazing projects along the way.

Graphic Courtesy of Lettering Delights

This morning, it's time for All Things Unity Challenge #26 - and we want to see Birthday or Celebration cards (or projects!!) I pulled out two older sets, Sweet Yummy Cupcakes and Birthday Chic, to make this card for my goddaughter's impending birthday.

Deets:
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Euphoria "Cool", Sugared "Delectable", Urban Prarie "Straw"
Ink: Versamark, Versacolor Wild Berries
Embossing Powder: Ranger Clear, Adirondack Eggplant, Stampendous Claret
Challenges: SCS CC311, Sketchy Sunday TG009

Now it's your turn!! Choose YOUR favourite Unity or {ippity} stamp and create something. Link it up to the ATU blog no later than 11:59pm on Saturday, March 19, and you'll be eligible to win this month's prize/and or the challenge blinkie.

Speaking of this month's prize...it's this set of fabulous Jillibean Soup papers and cardstock stickers!! Nice!!
Check out the rest of the team and see what they have to share with you today. We've got a brand new Guest Designer, the amazingly talented Megan Lock joining us as a second guest DT for the month of March!! Please help us make her feel welcome!

Cathy
Megan (March Guest DT)
Sara
Savannah

Here's hoping you have a great day!!

Operation Write Home Bunny Hop

2011-03-05T10:00:00.006-05:00

Quick note - for my EtsyInspired post, please check here. Thanks!!

If you started at the beginning of the Bunny Hop and have made it all the way through 133 other blogs, I thank you greatly for sticking with it! If you've just stumbled upon my blog (or you're a regular reader) and you're curious, or lost, head on back to the beginning at OWH Stars & Stamps. You should be coming here from Angela's blog, Midnight Crafting. If so, then you are definitely in the right spot!!

Important information first - there are a couple deadlines coming up. For Easter cards, it is March 18. For Mother's Day cards, the deadline is March 31. Those dates will be here before you know it, so get those cards in the mail! Our soldiers and their families are counting on all of us.

Have you guys seen the new Saturday Seminar Series? I missed the first one while I was sick, but the second seminar starts in a couple weeks and it looks like it's going to be extremely helpful for any of us who are interested in bettering our card design skills. You can still read the information from the first "lesson" here, and while some of it may seem very basic, I think it's always good to get a fresh perspective.

Okay, I'm done being a blabberpuss. You came to see a card and maybe to think about some blog candy, right? I originally posted this to the Paper Maniac blog just over a week ago, and hadn't posted it here yet. The main image uses Heartfelt Creations stamps, which I coloured with Copic markers. I think it would work for either Easter or Mother's Day.
Yes, I did mention blog candy. I'll be giving away the {ippity} set Sing a New Song to one lucky commenter. I may have an extra Unity Itty Bitty to throw in there as well. I'll take comments until after class on Wednesday (noon, Eastern), after which time I'll let Random.org choose a winner.By the way, I've been very fortunate. I've been an Air Force wife for almost 20 years. My husband enlisted while I was still a senior in high school, and we didn't marry until he had already served for several years. His retirement will be official on 1 April - and, although he has served just over 24 years, because of his specific job he has never been deployed. We are lucky. Incredibly lucky. The children and I know it.

There are those who have not been so fortunate, and I thank each and every one of you for the sacrifices you have made. I also thank those of you who care enough to continue send cards and write letters and to do all that you do for the many families who are affected.

Your next stop on the hop is the OWH Homefront. Thanks again for stopping by my blog!!

EtsyInspired #129 - Desired Things

2011-03-05T03:00:00.005-05:00

Good morning everyone! Are you ready to be EtsyInspired?? This week, we're coming to you from Desired Things, a super cool shop with quirky jewelry and abstract art. I love her paper charms and altered notebooks!! I could get lost in all the beautiful colours...

For my inspiration this week, I chose this beautiful bracelet in greens and blue-greens. It reminds me of leaves and the newness of spring, which I will be very glad to see stick around for a while. After some beautiful weather, it dropped to a high of 38 on Thursday and lows in the 20s this entire past week. EW!

So, with that in mind, I thought I'd make a spring-y card. I pulled out some GinaK stamps and StampTV Sketch Spotlight Challenge #15 and went green.

Deets:
Stamps: GinaK StampTV Kit Autumn Splendor
Cardstock: Prismatics Classic Yellowgreen, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Ink: VersaColor Rainforest
Etc: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, hand-dyed rayon crinkle ribbon

Check out the rest of the DT and then head over to the EtsyInspired blog to link up your own project. Full challenge deets, including information on this week's sponsor, Sparkle Creations, as well as this week's prizes, are on the EIC blog.

Angi
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Libby - March Guest DT!!
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia
EtsyInspired Blog (LINK YOUR PROJECTS HERE!)

FWF - March 4, 2011

2011-03-04T06:13:00.004-05:00

Hey there, party peeps!! Thank you all SOOOOO much for the good wishes the past couple weeks. I am finally starting to feel almost human again. Now watch me overdo it and send myself back to square one, right? Well, I'll try not to do that, but I've got some serious catching up to do, and I'm starting with FWF.

I made a really quick card using Singing Souls and this week's Hip Hop Sketch Challenge (HHSC47).

Deets:
Cardstock: Memory Box Blueberry
Ink: Distress Ink Faded Jeans, Palette Moulin Rouge
Patterned Paper: Webster's Pages & Prima

Head over to the Unity blog for full deets on this week's participants. Good luck at finding the blinkie!

OOOH!! This just in...Paper Maniac now has in stock the three new Cosmo Cricket patterned paper pads, which coordinate with some of the newest Unity Itty Bitties!

EIC #128 - The Hidden Alphabet

2011-02-26T03:00:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone. Still a little down for the count, but working as hard as I can to get back to normal. I don't like scaring my kids like that, and I know my 14yo (Hannah) was terrified to see the EMTs cart me off Wednesday night. The ER doctor says the cartilage attaching my lungs to my sternum is inflamed, which is part of what is making it so painful to breathe. Most likely this is from coughing so hard with the bronchitis. So, nothing major, just a huge inconvenience, and literal pain, and I'm getting less air than I should, since it hurts to take a deep breath.

Anyway, you guys aren't here to read about that. You want to know what's up with the EtsyInspired Challenge this week, right? Right! This week our shop is called The Hidden Alphabet. Have you ever noticed how sometimes certain shapes in our environment look like letters of the alphabet? Well, Laura at The Hidden Alphabet sure has, and she has taken some of the coolest photos of these "hidden" letters and turned them into fabulous art! One of our winners this week will win a personalized LOVE print, like the one shown here.

I had a kind of crazy idea based off the alphabets in this week's shop, so I made myself a zentangle bookmark. I've been reading a lot lately - there's not a lot else one can do when one is stuck on the sofa, and I'm a bookworm anyway - and I can never have too many bookmarks. I think I need a lot more practice with Zentangles, but it was still fun to make!
It's really about 2"x 6", so it'll fit perfectly in a paperback book! Apologies for the photo. My desktop flipped out on me with my CompactFlash card in it, so this pic was taken with my phone so I'd have something to post.

We have another great sponsor this week. Paper & Roses is an Etsy shop filled with romantic paper art. There is a neat prize package for one of our winners...yet another one I wish I could win!! Good luck to all our players this week!

Check out the rest of the DT and then head over to the EtsyInspired blog to link up your own project. Full challenge deets are on the EIC blog.

Angi
Ann Cox - February Guest DT!!
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia
EtsyInspired Blog (LINK YOUR PROJECTS HERE!)

TE Blog Hop - ER Trip

2011-02-24T12:49:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. I had intended to post a project for you here, but my second trip to the ER in a week and a half made all plans go by the wayside. I still hope to have a project up later this evening. In the meantime, please enjoy the rest of the hop.

I'm doing okay. I still have bronchitis with wheezing, and the docs say I have costochondritis, an inflamation of the cartilege where the upper ribs join to the sternum. It kind of hurts when I breathe. I had another breathing treatment in the ambulance, which helped, as well as did the couple hours on O2, so no worries, okay? I'll be fine.

I'll have my project up asap. I'm sorry for throwing a wrench into the hop.

Altering All Things Unity

2011-02-20T00:01:00.012-05:00

Wowie, I did not think I was going to get to post this today! Well, at least not from home, anyway. We lost our electricity at 11:19 this morning (Saturday, as I write). BGE (Baltimore Gas & Electric) had a recording that stated "the vast majority of customers" to have service reestablished by late Sunday evening. Sunday evening!?!?!? YIKES!! Well, we were exceedingly fortunate and ours was restored just before 5pm on Saturday. Whew!I hope everyone is as excited as I am about our newest challenge at All Things Unity! I very, very seldom alter anything. I don't know why I don't. I guess I just get nervous about it, but you know what? I think I was making it a heck of a lot harder than it really is!

In any case, I started out working on a journal for DD#2, Hannah - but she took the innards with her to a sleepover, so I couldn't put it back together for a photograph. I set it aside first thing this morning (after texting her to see what she'd done with it and discovering that yes, she did have it with her), and pulled out my own spiral notebook, which I use as a combination "list of things to do"/notebook/idea-book/journal. I got it out of the dollar bin at Michael's. If I'd thought to do it, I would've gotten a before picture, because it's a pretty big transformation.

I used a combination of Unity/Melody Ross co-branded stamps. This is the front.

And here is the back. Full supply and other challenge deets will be at the end of the post.

Now it's your turn!! Choose YOUR favourite Unity or {ippity} stamp and create something. Link it up to the ATU blog no later than 11:59pm on Saturday, March 5, and you'll be eligible to win this month's prize/and or the challenge blinkie.Remember, the prize for February is a February KOTM straight from Unity !!

Check out what the rest of the fabulous DT has to share!

Ashley (February Guest DT)
Cathy
Lynn
Sara (on hiatus)
Savannah

Card deets:
Stamps: Unity - Brave Girl Boots, All Worth It..., Love Life, Just Be You, She Sprouted Wings, She did it Anyway
Paper: Basic Grey - Sultry, Wisteria, Urban Prarie
Ink: Distress Ink - Pine Needles, Fired Brick, Victorian Velvet, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo; Palette - Moulin Rouge
Spellbinders: Fancy Tags, Heartfelt Creations
Etc: Stickles, Copic Spica, clear embossing powder

Challenges:
Crazy for Challenges: C4C75 - use dies
The Stamp Man #16: Hearts
Res-Q-Challenge #71: RESQ71 - use something that makes you happy. Things I used that make me happy: Unity/Melody Ross stamps, PINK!!!, Basic Grey, Spellbinders dies, Distress Inks, embossing powder, hearts
CRAFT #90: Not a card
PaperCrafting Journey #4: Anything Goes (ooh, a new challenge site for me!)
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #105: Patterns! - the birdcage is stamped onto BG Wisteria and Free Spirit was stamped onto Urban Prarie
...Wee Memories #44: Source of Inspiration - Melody Ross, whom I think is just amazing.
Unity Challenge #1: Hearts!

EtsyInspired #127 - Claylicious

2011-02-19T03:00:00.002-05:00

Good morning everyone! It's time to be EtsyInspired! This week, our fabulous shop is Claylicious, a great shop full of functional and decorative pottery, and just for our amazing players, it's 10% off this week with the code "INSPIRED" at checkout! One winner will even win this darling little inspire owl! I wish it could be me!

Our sponsor this week is Your Next Stamp!

Your Next Stamp offers a unique variety of fun and whimsical rubber stamps for every occasion! Their signature lines include Fhiona and Friends, Heather Collections, Dale Designs and the humorous Franfou Collection. Stamps are produced with top quality rubber, which are then mounted onto cling foam, trimmed and are ready to use with any clear block!

Pretty cool, eh?

Before I get to my card, here are a few of my favourite pieces from Claylicious.
As much as I liked those, as soon as I saw this sweet little plate, I knew I had to use butterflies.

Not only did I have to use butterflies, but I had the absolute perfect stamp! I pulled out my Memory Box Butterfly Twig and Happy Spring stamps, some Memory Box DP, some pretty May Arts ruffly yellow gingham ribbon, and this is what I came up with.
In addition to the items mentioned above, I also used Memory Box cardstock in Dill, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Spellbinders In Spades Borderabilities, yellow Prismatics, SU ribbon (lt. green) and some mystery bling. The sketch is CPS #205 and the colours are from gkdfeb11gs.

Thanks for stopping by today! I always love the feedback I get from everyone. Be sure to check out the rest of the DT, listed below, for some amazing inspiration, then hop on over to Claylicious, find an item or items to be inspired by, and create! For full deets, and to link up your project, visit the EtsyInspired blog!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Thank you all very, very much for your sweet wishes over this past week.

Angi
Ann Cox - February Guest DT!!
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia
EtsyInspired Blog (LINK YOUR PROJECTS HERE!)

Braving FWF

2011-02-18T15:40:00.008-05:00

Hey everyone. I'm sorry I'm so late today. I'm still pretty sick, but I really didn't want to miss a FWF Friday. I had these made in my head yesterday, but couldn't get across to anyone all the stuff I needed in order to make them - or rather, exactly where the supplies were. That's the problem with having no voice and with running out of air when you try to do anything yourself. Oh well. It'll get better.

So, All Things Unity is finishing up the "Use your favourite stamp(s)" challenge. I just love the Brave Girl Boots set, and the boots are my favourite stamp from the set, so I knew I needed to use them. I needed to go easy, due to circumstances, and I had this thought of an ATC. I wanted to do some emboss resist with Distress Inks. It just seemed fitting.
Supplies used:
Distress Inks: Black Soot, Fired Brick, Faded Jeans, Vintage Photo, Tumbled Glass, Bundled Sage, Aged Mahogany, Embossing Ink
Stamps: Unity Brave Girl Boots, Just My Type
Etc: October Afternoon alphabet stickers, Ink blending tool, Taylored Expressions Choice Snow White

EtsyInspired #126 - GlowGirl

2011-02-12T03:00:00.006-05:00

Saturdays are all about being inspired. EtsyInspired, that is!! This week, we're bringing to you a shop that is not only environmentally conscious, but has an owner with an inspirational back-story of her own: GlowGirl! Oh! And she's fairly local to me! How cool is that?

Here is what she has to say:
My inspiration for starting this business was - I'd lost a great 15 yr position that I thought I'd be retiring with...was in a panic realizing that as a 50 yr old, I was going up for jobs against younger and better educated folks than me. The challenge was on! I decided to step out of the corporate world and return to my crafty roots (I had a successful crafts business in the 80's). I bought a sewing machine, learned how to sew...and fell upon some cool upholstery fabrics and starting making grocey/tote bags. Was starting to successfully sell them at craft fairs and told my husband I'd start clipping coupons to help save money...didn't like the store bought ones and designed this for myself, and they quickly became my best selling items! Had a set-back in late 2009, breast cancer, and my etsy store became my sole source of income, and also provided me with some peace of mind as I spent almost a year battling cancer. I missed two holiday seasons of craft shows but etsy was a godsend for me, both emotionally and financially. I'm now fully back on my feet, planning shows for 2011 and getting ready to expand my lines and soar!

In addition to her Etsy Shop, she has a blog and she's on Facebook! While we are concentrating on her GlowGirl shop, I highly recommend checking out her GlowGirlFibers shop as well. I'm particularly enamoured of a woven messenger bag she's got listed.

For my inspiration this week, I chose a coupon organizer holder, made from this lovely floral print. Pink and flowers...what's not to love?
I made my card using StampTV's Sketch Spotlight Challenge STVSKSP12 and the colours from the Play Date Cafe Challenge #68, along with the pretty flowers from the coupon holder.

Now, before I send you off to the rest of the team, there are a couple little details for this week. One winner will win a coupon organizer from GlowGirl - winners choice of mega or regular!!! How cool is that???

Second, we've got an awesome sponsor for this week. It's The Stamping Boutique. I was simply unable to choose a stamp to use from the store - because there were too many that I wanted! Too be honest, I *think* my favourite may be this one, but if you ask me again in another hour, I'm liable to give you a completely different answer! A second winner this week will be able to choose 5 digis from The Stamping Boutique!!

Thanks for stopping by today. I always love the feedback I get from everyone!!! Check out the rest of the DT (below) for some amazing inspiration, then hop on over to GlowGirl, find an item or items to be inspired by, and create! For full deets, and to link up your project, visit the EtsyInspired blog! Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Angi
Ann Cox - February Guest DT!!
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia
EtsyInspired Blog (LINK YOUR PROJECTS HERE!)

FWF - Feb 11 2011

2011-02-11T20:42:00.003-05:00

Hey Peeps. We're still in hack city around here. That's one of the things about some big families - once something starts to make the rounds, it usually goes around a few times before it's all done. No big deal, really, just a minor annoyance in the greater scheme of things. When it causes me to miss Hip Hop, though...that's really pushing it!

For FWF, I have a super CAS card pulling my sentiment from the Unity/Samantha Walker set Swirling Snow and layering it onto some Ji llibean Soup paper. You can pick up both at Paper Maniac. The sketch is Clean & Simple Sunday Challenge #5.
For a full list of this week's participants, check out the Unity blog.

Lucky

2011-02-09T16:41:00.005-05:00

I don't think I say it enough, so I just wanted to put this out there.

I really, really love my kids!!
I think I'm the luckiest mom in the world!

Hack City

2011-02-08T22:03:00.002-05:00

I live in a house full of sick people. Meg brought home a cold about 2 weeks ago. It spread to Cody, who gave it to Taylor. The spousal unit was sick for about 2 days. Somebody gave it to me. The younger two girls have been fine, the lucky ducks!

Taylor and Meg are still a little bit runny/stuffy, but Cody has bronchitis. This is not good for his school attendance. I'm coughing. Neither of us has a voice. There was one day last week when he tried to talk to me through a door and I thought he was Holly! Oops??

We're still squeaking along, trying not to talk any more than we have to, but we sure sound funny when we do!

I had my first quiz for Intermediate Accounting. I got an A. Woohoo!! I have 2 more quizzes and a test to take this week. Cross your fingers for me!

Catch you in a couple days with some new news....

ATU Asks The Serious Question...

2011-02-06T00:01:00.019-05:00

Yes, that's right. All Things Unity wants to know

- What is your favourite Unity Stamp? That's the challenge Savannah posed to the team. We had to figure it out and use our favourite stamp. This was perhaps the most difficult challenge I have ever faced! Pick a favourite? Are you kidding me? This is the stuff of nightmares! Oh, the dreams I had as I suffered, trying to narrow down my options. What was I to do???

Unity has released so many fabulous stamps lately. Some I have yet to use, some I don't yet own...and then there are the {ippity
} kits...how was I to choose??? Inspiration struck with Rachel Bogner's Neglected Unity Challenge. When I first saw the January 2009 KOTM, I immediately fell in love with the peacock. I absolutely went nuts over him! Yes, it is a him. According to the designer who drew him (Lindsay Spencer), he even has a name. In any case, once I saw Petey again, I knew my quest was over and I'd found my all time favourite Unity stamp.

I used this week's Sketch Spotlight from StampTV (STVSKSP11) and colourQchallenge #70 (poppy, coral, blush, vanilla & espresso) to create my card, which decided about half-way through that it wanted to be distressed. I think it was the Tim Holtz Texture Fadez rubbing off on the rest of the card. What can you do but just go with it!
Now it's your turn!! Choose YOUR favourite Unity or {ippity} stamp and create something. Link it up to the ATU blog no later than 11:59pm on Saturday, Feb. 19, and you'll be eligible to win this month's prize/and or the challenge blinkie.

BTW, this month's prize is a doozy!! There is a February KOTM straight from Unity on the line!! Some lucky winner is going to be very, very happy!! Will it be YOU??
Check out the rest of the team and see what awe-inspiring goodies they have to share with you today. We're SUPER thrilled to have the utterly fantabulous Ashley joining us as a second guest DT for the month of February!!

Ashley (February Guest DT)
Cathy
Lynn
Sara (on hiatus)
Savannah

BTW, I still have 8 stamps left to use from Jan '09. I'm not quite sure I'll be able to fully accomplish that one, as 2 of the stamps are New Years' - and one is specific to 2009. I guess maybe I'll have to do a layout!

EtsyInspired #125 - Daisy Petal Designs

2011-02-05T03:00:00.004-05:00

Welcome to another EtsyInspired Saturday! This week we're off to the very lovely shop, Daisy Petal Designs. It's utter heaven, especially if you like fabulous hair accessories! For the little ones in your lives, the owner has a second shop called Little st Blooms. TOOO cute!!

Here are just a few of the gorgeous offerings.

It was this last photo, of the pink and green floral headband, that was my inspiration for this week. I found some paper in my stash that reminded me a lot of the larger flower on this headband and the colours were spot on, so they became the basis for my card. I used two digistamps from our sponsor this week, Shannon's S entiments, and Mojo Monday 176.

Thanks for stopping by today! I love the feedback I get from everyone!!! Check out the rest of the DT (below) for some amazing inspiration! Hop on over to Daisy Petal Designs, find an item or items to be inspired by, and create! For full deets, and to link up your project, visit the EtsyInspired blog! Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Angi
Ann Cox - February Guest DT!!
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia
EtsyInspired Blog (LINK YOUR PROJECTS HERE!)

February's First FWF

2011-02-04T01:41:00.004-05:00

Wow. I think yesterday was the absolute slowest/least attended Hip Hop I've ever seen. I think a lot of peeps are either still traveling back from CHA or just haven't yet recovered from all the excitement and exhaustion, not to mention catching up with the lives they put on hold while they were in LA having fun while the rest of us were wishing we were there, too! I know we will all reap the benefits in the coming months, so I'm working on my patience.

In the mean time, there's a new Hip Hop Sketch Challenge (#43) and since I'm still working on Rachel's unofficial Neglected Unity Challenge, I've used one more stamp from the January '09 KOTM, Love, Etc. The heart stems come from the Sept. '09 KOTM, Go Ahead Wish. I may use it for my next "neglected" kit, particularly as these are the first stamps I've used from it! Three down, 18 to go...
Other than the two mentioned, I'm only entering this one in two other challenges - both Flourishes Timeless Tuesday (#103) and Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge (#40) have asked for a Valentine this week.

I tried Patter Cross's (ex-Unity DT) method of tying ribbons (shown here), just to see if I liked it better than my normal way. I think I will need to give it a few more tries before I make a decision. I had a little bit of a hard time making the bow lie straight, but that may just be because I need more practice. In theory, it should make things much easier, so for now I'm going with user error. In the end, I think the bow came out pretty well.

Head on over to the Unity blog to see who is hopping today. I'm sure the rest of the peeps are not as wordy as I. Good luck at finding the blinkie!

EtsyInspired #124 - TooCuteKawaii

2011-01-29T03:00:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! Ready to be EtsyInspired?? This is our last shop for January and it is a doozy! If you like cute, then you are in for a treat! TooCuteKawaii is where we're headed and OH. MY. GOODNESS!!! Did I say cute? I meant...

holy-cow-that's-freakin-CA-UTE!!!!

Seriously, peeps. Check out these items currently in the shop and tell me I'm wrong.We've got a new sponsor this week - Meljen Designs! Talk about a match made in heaven!! Meljen's Designs digital stamps are utterly darling!!I had a tough time deciding not only which digi-stamp to use, but which item in the shop to use as my inspiration. That is, until inspiration hit with a vengeance! The entire TooCuteKawaii shop was my inspiration, in hand with Meljen's adorable images.
Once again, the photo is courtesy of my daughters. Meg and Hannah chose the location and the styling, using a margarita glass to hang the shrink plastic earrings. All of the images I used can be found on the Meljen's Designs Challenge Blog.

Thanks for stopping by today! I love the feedback I get from everyone!!! Check out the rest of the DT (below) for some amazing inspiration! Hop on over to TooCuteKawaii, find an item or items to be inspired by, and create! For full deets, and to link up your project, visit the EtsyInspired blog! Have a fantstic weekend!!!

Angi
Ashley
De
Emily B.
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Rachel Hope (January Guest DT!)
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia
EtsyInspired Blog (LINK YOUR PROJECTS HERE!)

FWF - Jan 28, 2011

2011-01-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

Morning! Ever have one of those days when you have a card in your head and you can't quite seem to get it to come out right? Yeah...that's the card I've been working on. You'd laugh at me if you'd seen how many times I stamped the main image until I got the green I wanted. I honestly lost count. What finally worked? An old Colorbox cat's eye.

I'm just glad to be stamping and blogging again, after nearly a week's hiatus. Sometimes my back sure makes life difficult!! I'm still using stamps from the January 2009 KOTM, Love, Etc. I still have a few more stamps from this kit that I haven't yet used, but I'm getting a lot closer to using the entire kit. Thanks for the push, Rachel!!

I made an easel card for All Things Unity Challenge #23. You have until Saturday, February 5, to play along. For full challenge deets, check out this post on the ATU blog.

Okay, that's enough from me. Make sure you head over to the Unity blog to see who's participating in FWF today. Back tomorrow with some EtsyInspired fabulosity!

EIC #123 - Nanny's Room

2011-01-22T03:00:00.011-05:00

Welcome back to another EtsyInspired Saturday! This week, we're visiting a gorgeous shop called Nanny's Room. Jeanne Forsyth grew up in Arizona, and her original artwork is inspired by the Southwest. Let me tell you, that artwork is just stunning!! Her use of colour is breathtakingly vibrant.

One player this week will win his or her choice of necklace. Aren't these some gorgeous examples?? Not only that, but just for EIC shoppers, Jeanne is offering 10% off any purchase through January 31! Just use the code "etsy10" at checkout.

I chose this set of 3x4 notecards as my inspiration this week.

Instead of going Southwest, I made little Valentine/lovenotes. From left to right, the stamps are Memory Box (Dandelion Ball Combo), Karen Lockhart (IB Chintz Heart), Taylored Expressions (Kid at Heart), and GinaK (Hopeful Hearts). The photo is courtesy of my daughter, Meagan.
Our sponsor this week is The Twinery, home of gorgeous bakers twine!! Alas, I did not get my twine sample in time to tie my cards similarly to my inspiration photo. A second player this week will win a Trio pack of twine in the winners choice of any 3 colours!! Before you even ask, YES, I'm jealous!!

So go create something, because you know you want to win at least as much as I wish I could!! Remember, you do not have to make a card. You don't even have to papercraft. Just create something inspired by the Modern Bird Etsy shop. Be as creative as you want to be and post a link to your creation on the EIC blog no later than 12 noon Pacific time on January 28, 2011.

Head on over and see what the rest of the DT has to share today. I'll be back tomorrow with a new challenge from All Things Unity!

Ashley
Angi
De
Emily B
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Rachel - January guest DT
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

FWF - Jan. 21

2011-01-21T09:58:00.003-05:00

Hi guys. Another short post from me. Classes started this week, and although things changed greatly from what I'd originally planned, it's been a long week and I'm beat!

All the Friends With Flair deets are on the Unity Blog, along with a full list of participants.

I'm trying to follow along with Rachel's quest to use every stamp from one kit. This one is the January '09 KOTM, Love, Etc. The only one I know for sure that I've used before is the peacock, which I adore. Today I've used the Happy Valentine's Day circle here and another stamp on the All Things Unity blog.
I used Sketch #98 from Card Patterns.

Hope to see everyone tonight on Splitcoaststampers for the VSN mini. It starts at 6pm Eastern!

Stamping with Holly & Hannah

2011-01-19T01:46:00.006-05:00

For Christmas, I picked up the Kid's Holiday Card Kit from Taylored Expressions. On Monday, Holly asked if we could work on some cards. She made her first card for my mom. I helped her only in that I showed her how to mount the stamps onto the handles, how to clean the stamps and how to use clear embossing powder, since she decided at the last minute that she wanted to emboss the entire thing.
The next morning, she made this one for me. All on her own, while I was still in bed. She even embossed the image! The colouring is done with prismacolors.
Yesterday, Hannah decided to get into the act. She made a birthday card for one of her friends. She used Cuppie from the Holiday kit and the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Unity/Samantha Walker kit, Encompassed Grace. She used scraps from some of my projects.

Hannah made 2 more cards this evening with the Kids Valentine Card Kit. I'll share those with you next week.

Taylored Expressions - January Blast From the Past

2011-01-18T11:00:00.006-05:00

Hey everyone! I am so excited about today's blog hop! It is my 8th
Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past hop!! I went back in my blog archives and checked it out. I have an entry for every month, excluding December, when there was no hop, going back to May of last year. This month, the theme is Love.

I used Sankari's sketch and my new CreativiTEA set to make my card. The paper is from Basic Grey's Green at Heart.

Enjoy the hop everyone!!

My card is also for the following challenges:
Ooh La La Creations Challenge #71: Bling it On - bling across the bottom
Pile it On #3: Anything Goes
Basic Grey #35: Dots & Spots - my die-cut strip makes a line of dots and all dp is Basic Grey
Craft Your Days Away #11: Anything Goes
Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #38: hearts - there is one on the end of the tea bag
Really Reasonable Ribbon #16: hearts & ribbon - tea bag has a heart
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #117: With Love
Stamp Something: Anything Goes
Some Odd Girl: Embossing - the die cuts are embossed and both the sentiment and the tea pot are heat embossed
Stampin' B's #93 : Use a die cut - 2 Nestabilities circles and a Taylored Expressions small scalloped border die
Gingersnap Creations GC85: Chestnut Theme Challenge - Hot Beverages (tea)

Tra-la-la H{ippity} Hop

2011-01-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

Hey peeps. Just a quicky for me today. On one of the hops I did recently, I saw a neat bookmark. If it was your blog and you see this, please let me know so I can give proper credit!

I made this using the Week Two colour challenge, red, white & blue, from the {ippity} blog. Today, along with all the hoppin' peeps, the Week Three Challenge has been posted. Be sure to check it out!

This is also for these challenges:
Dare to Be Sassy Thursday #55: Use something in your stash that is over a year old - the red gingham paper is some Creative Memories paper that I've had for over 8 years.
Pile it On #3: Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #16: Heart theme (heart + ribbon) - The sentiment says "song in my heart." I asked and Bonnie said it was okay.

EtsyInspired #122 - Modern Bird

2011-01-15T03:00:00.002-05:00

Good morning! It's time to be EtsyInspired by the neatest shop! Modern Bird handcrafts silver jewelry! Now, I've done a lot of different arts and/or crafts in my time, but metalsmithing has never been one of them. That is something I leave to those who know what they're doing. Laura Flavin knows what she's doing. Her jewelry reflects themes of love, nature, peace and growth.

Here are the three pieces I chose as my inspiration this week. Yes, I couldn't choose just one!

I chose to stamp the flower trio from Our Craft Lounge's Spring Garden in Barn Door Distress Ink to give a watermark look on the card base, but it doesn't show very well in the photo. The colours are from Color Dare #92. The sketch is a new challenge (Sketchy Sundays) from Tiffany Johnson, who used to be an EIC team member! Hi Tiff!!

This week the EtsyInspired Challenge is being sponsored by Kutz. That means one challenge player will win a Silhouette cutout from the Kutz Etsy shop.

Another participant will be winning this super sweet little birdie necklace from Modern Bird, our challenge shop. Doesn't that make you want to play along?
Remember, you do not have to make a card. You don't even have to papercraft. Just create something inspired by the Modern Bird Etsy shop. Be as creative as you want to be and post a link to your creation on the EIC blog no later than 12 noon Pacific time on January 21, 2011.

Head on over and see what the rest of the DT has to share today. You know it'll be awesome!!

Ashley
Angi
De
Emily B
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Rachel - January guest DT
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

P.S. I'll be back into the swing of things (aka blog comments, working on organizing this disaster I call a desk...) this weekend. My back is feeling much improved today. I know better than to overdo it, but I sure am glad to be off the sofa!

My First Flourishes

2011-01-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know this isn't Tuesday, but today is the day Flourishes has set for everyone to upload their projects. The hop lasts from today (Friday) through Monday night at 6pm (Eastern, I think?)

Flourishes 100th Challenge is All About Favourites. I used a few of my favourite things in this card. First off, I used a sketch challenge! This one is Get Sketchy #70. I adore sketch challenges!! I used Kraft cardstock for one of my layers. It's all AJ's fault that I am now addicted to Kraft. I love to use metal dies, so I used two to make the rolled flowers. The patterned paper is Basic Grey, which the flowers are also made out of. The Smooch Spritz went on heavier than I'd intended, so you can't see the two different patterns I used for them, but Basic Grey was my first favourite paper company and Wassail is still one of my very favourite lines. Lastly, I used a stamp from my favourite Flourishes stamp set. Okay, so it's my only Flourishes stamp set...but it will not be the last! Oh! And I used my favourite technique on the sentiment. Heat embossing!
Speaking of this set, Our Gift to You was the one I got from Flourishes for winning the Spellbinders Holiday Hoppin' Blog Hop, so I wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank the lovely people at Flourishes for their generosity.

Enjoy the hop! At last count, there were 40 participants, and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone has made!

Other challenges this card is for are:
ABC Christmas: A for Anything Christmas
Basic Grey #35: Spots & Dots - the rolled rose dp is dotted (from Wassail) and there are holly dots on the dp that shows
Gingersnap Creations: GC#84 - colour challenge: snow, pine & mahogany

FWF Goes 3x3

2011-01-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

Morning! Thank you to all for the kind words about my back. I'm feeling better, courtesy of rest, anti-inflamatories and muscle relaxants. I did get a shot of Toradol on Monday, which helped, though not as much as usual, but then again, I hadn't had anything spasm quite like that before either. It isn't an experience I care to repeat!
Did you guys see all the amazing goodies Unity added to their site yesterday?? ZOMG!! If only it were not the week before classes start back up again. Fortunately, the boys can share books for one class, so that's helping the textbook bill a bit, but mine alone are....you're sitting down, right?

Are you sure you're ready? I mean, I'm only taking two classes.

Getting one book off Amazon, as it's almost half the price (new!) of a used book via the college and the others through the school, my bill will be $489.13.

Did you choke as much as I did?

Okay, back to the more fun world of stamping. In my quest to use stash and unloved stamps (thanks Rachel!!), I pulled out 2 of my first Kits of the Month. This fits in perfectly with OWH's Unused/Unloved Supplies challenge! The little flower pots are from October 2008 and the sentiment is from August '08. Both kits retired last month, but you can still become a KOTM member and get in on the fun - there is a new kit each and every month. Deets are here. I've used other stamps from both kits before, but not either of these.

I took the sketch from Get Sketchy #69, the colours from the Play Date Cafe #64, Meljen's Designs #41 (challenge to make a square or oval card), and mixed them in with ATU's mini card challenge and this is what I came up with.

Hop on over to the Unity blog to see who is participating today. I wonder who's got the blinkie?? I know I'll be on the hunt for it!

See you tomorrow with something new and EtsyInspired! Have a fantastic day!!

A Very Boxy H{ippity} Hop

2011-01-10T02:00:00.002-05:00

Hi. It's me. I'm back. Yup, four days in a row. I'm on a roll, peeps! What's really amazing about that, is I can barely walk. Thank goodness for my kids, who have been extremely helpful in playing step & fetch. I've got an appointment at 10:30, so here's hoping the doc can do something other than say "here, take some more narcotics." No worries. My back does this periodically. I'll be fine in a few more days.

This is my first H{ippity} Hop since December 6th! I am so happy to get back to it!

I made a batch of 3x3 notecards this weekend, with Just Wanted to Say, for All Things Unity, so I wanted to make a little box to hold them in. I used the tutorial on SCS for the measurements. One quick warning - there is a slight goof on there currently. For patterned paper A, you really want that to be 5 1/4". If you go by the measurements she gives in the video, I think, everything works out properly, but if you go by the typed measurements, 5 1/8" will cause headaches and much gnashing of teeth. Trust me on this one.
In keeping with Cute Card Thursday's challenge, Out With the Old, there is not a single thing new used in the creation of this box. Everything came from stash that is at least 6 months old, if not older. By the way, that's one of my resolutions this year - use my stuff. If I'm not using it, I don't need to have it. Right?

Other challenges this little box is for are Flourishes (FTTC99 - flowers) and Let's Ink it Up (anything goes so long as it's rubber, not digi).

That's all from me today. If you haven't been there yet, hop on over to the {ippity} blog and see who's hopping today. The DT will have a new twist on the monthly challenge to go with last week's sketch and don't forget there's a comment prize. It could be hidden on any blog, DT or hopper.

Hope you all have a great day!

Honey, We Shrunk ATU

2011-01-09T00:01:00.004-05:00

Yup, we shrunk All Things Unity this week and made 3x3 - or smaller!! - cards.I went super crazy and made a set of 9 notecards! I just couldn't stop!! All of them use {ippity}'s Just Wanted to Say (available via my {ippity} blog) and I think they're perfect for when you want to add just that little extra touch without going overboard.
I used the same layout and the same basic papers for each card, just varying the ribbons and switching off between 3 sentiments, so that the person who will be receiving the set will have a few options.

We've had a few rule changes for the All Things Unity challenge. They're not really serious changes - more like clarifications.

First of all, have fun!!
Second, please create something new for the challenge.
Please use only Unity or {ippity} stamps on your creations.
Link back to All Things Unity and use our challenge photo (when one is provided).
When uploading to online gallery, please use ATU##. (This week is ATU22)
Please link to your speciﬁc post--not your entire blog.
OPTIONAL - Please display our NEW ATU badge on your sidebar and in your posts. You don't have to, but it'd make us really, really happy if you did!!

Cathy
Lynn
Sara (on hiatus)
Savannah

EtsyInspired #121 - La Pomme

2011-01-08T03:00:00.003-05:00

Sometimes typos can be funny. I tried to make this EtsyInspired #1221. I haven't done the math, but it'll be a lot of weeks before we get that far! I wonder which shop we'll be highlighting and what year it will be...

In any case, our second shop for 2011 is La Pomm e. My, oh my, but there are some gor-gee-ous items in this shop!

I love this lamp - and I'm thinking my mom would, too.

And then there's this fabulous sheet music. Le sigh!But neither of those were my inspiration this week. I used a combination of two items, the children's books and the kitty cup,

to make a kitty bookmark.

Deets:
Stamps: Stamp Fairy Kasi, MFT Well Read WTG
Colour Challenge: InStyle Stamps - purple, silver, white + sparkle
Etc: TE Scalloped Eyelet Border, Silver detail EP

Our sponsor for the week is StampFairy. She is giving away 3 digistamps of the winners choice!! Her stamps are super cute, too! The kitty cat on my bookmark is one of hers.

The prize from La Pommea pack containing vintage music sheets, vintage tin box, and a plush fruits. Sure wish I could win that one!! For full deets, check out the EIC blog.

Hop on over to see what the rest of the DT has to show today. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow for All Things Unity!!

Ashley
Angi
De
Emily B
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Rachel - January guest DT
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

By the way, I did the math. It'll be 21 years, 8 weeks.

New Year, New FWF

2011-01-07T02:00:00.002-05:00

I'm starting off the new year right...with Friends With Flair!! I'm going to make a commitment to post every week this year - all 52 weeks of FWF. Who's with me?

Unity is featuring their Kit of the Month club this week. I've been a member since I first found Unity in 2008. Until this week, I was missing only one kit - which came in the mail yesterday. Believe me, it is a fantastic bargain. Only $26 plus shipping for a full sheet of deeply etched red rubber - and you get a code for 25% purchases through the Unity website *and* a free kit up to $29 retail value, so long as your order reaches $35. You cannot beat that with a stick!!

Today I've used some "unloved" rubber. I've had Tree-mendous Love since it was released, but just hadn't used it yet. This card, using Mojo Monday's sketch #172, seemed like the perfect fit.

Supplies:
Stamps: Unity Tree-mendous Love
Cardstock: GinaK Pure Luxury (black), Neenah Classic Crest (cream)
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934
Ink: Distress Ink Black Soot
Etc: ribbon, chipboard hearts & rhinestones from Caffinated Cropper kit; clear embossing powder, Smooch Spritz Cherry Ice, square Nestabilities

Head on over to the Unity blog for a full list of participating peeps! Someone will be hiding the blinkie...wouldn't it be great to start off the year with some free stamps from Unity?

Back tomorrow with some new EtsyInspired goodness. See you then!

Pics From Our NC Trip

2011-01-03T23:41:00.001-05:00

I thought I'd post a few of the photos from our trip down to my mom's for Christmas.

Here's my step-dad, Jerry, with his stocking. Today is his birthday. Happy birthday, Jerry!!

Taylor couldn't figure out why Santa left shampoo in his stocking.Hannah said she wanted a cowboy hat. We obliged. Sort of. Here she is reading the note that says the pink hat is her token to exchange for a real cowboy hat that actually fits and is in the style and colour of her choosing.Meg with her absolute most favourite gift. Well, that is until she opened her "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock" t-shirt, but that picture seems to have been accidentally deleted, along with those of the boys opening their geeky t-shirts. Taylor's been wearing his almost daily, but he's in bed, so I'll have to get a pic of him in a day or two. Cody, well...when I get a pic of him in his, you will all understand. As it stands, this is the only photo I have from the trip where you can actually see his face.

This shot with four of them is the best photo of Holly. She was wearing a set of my mom's pajamas.
Sometimes my mom is silly. She was posing with some scrubby mitts. Lila, the demon dog, was in her lap, as far away from the kids as she could get and still keep an eye on them.

Lila is actually really, really cute. She's just terrified of everyone other than Mom & Jerry, and sometimes me. It usually takes her a day or two to warm up to me. She does a lot better when the kids aren't around. She can handle it if it's only Hannah, but if it's all 5 kids, she just has no idea what to do with herself. They move too fast and make too much noise and she isn't used to it. She's wormed her way into my heart, though, darn her. With a face like this, how could she not?I'd be amiss if I didn't share the only photo of myself that was taken Christmas morning. The spousal unit pulled a big one on me and, as you can see, it made me cry.
He actually bought me an iPad.

The last photo I want to share is of Hannah and one of Mom's cats, Murphy. Hannah was really missing Jerry's sister, our Aunt Liz. She'd been alone in the kitchen for a while when I went to check on her. This was what I found.I hope you've enjoyed the photos of my family. I'm pretty proud of them all, even when they drive me crazy.

EtsyInspired #120 - Muffa

2011-01-01T03:00:00.012-05:00

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

It's the very first EtsyInspired Challenge of 2011. What a great way to start of the brand new year, and have we got the cutest shop ever for you to check out and be inspired by: MUFFA! I mean, really, how cute are these??

I chose, however, to use this totally darling little gnome as my inspiration.

Ashley made an offhand comment about wishing she had a gnome stamp and I thought "gee, so do I!" Good thing I opened up the package with my newest Lizzie Anne Designs Mix kit - because there was the perfect stamp! I went ahead and used LAD's weekly sketch challenge #156, too, because sketches are fun.

There are two prizes this week. The one I'm coveting is this teensy little goldfish from Muffa. The other comes from this week's sponsor, Dude Time Doodles. They're offering a prize package of their new release. To enter, just create any project inspired by something in the Muffa Etsy shop. It doesn't have to be a paper crafted project! Post your direct link to the EIC blog no later than Noon Pacific time on Friday, January 7. If you post your creation to a public gallery, please use the challenge keyword EIC120.

Hop on over to see what the rest of the DT has to show today. Thanks for stopping by!!

Ashley
Angi
De
Emily B.
Jackie (welcome back!!)
Joy
Kerry
Rachel - January guest DT
Ruby
Savannah
Sherry
Virginia

Last FWF of 2010

2010-12-31T10:00:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year's Eve, party peeps! Welcome to the very last Friends With Flair of the year! Where on earth has this year gone? Has it been as crazy for you as it has been for me? Soooo much has happened this year, it just seems like I've barely blinked and the whole year has flown by. I wonder what's in store for all of us for 2011.

Unity has a special year-end sale going on. Some of the kits will be retiring, so if you're looking for any of the first year Kits-of-the-Month, get them now before they go away for good. I'll be picking up the only one I'm missing. Shh...don't tell The Spousal Unit, okay??
We just got back from a fantastic visit with my mom and step-dad in North Carolina. Jerry's (step-dad) birthday is this coming week, so I thought I'd make him a Unity birthday card. I pulled out the Samantha Walker/Unity co-branded kit Retro Road Trip and came up with this card, using CPS sketch #188, which I rotated.
That's all from me today. Time for you to hit the Unity blog to see who is participating today and to see if you can find the ever elusive blinkie. Someone who leaves a comment on the blog with the blinkie will win 25 Unity stamps.

All Things Unity will be back with a brand new challenge on January 9...and I'll be back tomorrow with my first official EtsyInspired post!!!

My deepest wish for all of you out there in blog land that 2011 will be the best year yet. May it bring you peace and joy.

Friends with Newsy Flair

2010-12-17T05:47:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone!! It's Friday Friends with Flair and I have news! I am super-duper thrilled to be able to share that I am one of 4 new members of the design team for my favourite challenge!!! The official news is posted here on the EtsyInspired blog. Can you say "bouncing off the walls"??

So of course, my FWF project is EtsyInspired, right? I have new Unity/Bella Blvd stamps and this gorgeous necklace from Tzaddi Shop reminded me of one of the Bella Doilies. I pulled the sketch from this week's CAS97 challenge on SCS. It just seemed perfect for the Bella Doilies, so I went with it. I topped off my challenge trio with the Play Date Cafe's Challenge #60, black & white with a splash of yellow.Before I go, there are two things I'd like you to remember. First of all, of course check out the Unity blog for a full list of this week's participating peeps. Find the hidden blinkie, leave a comment, and you could win 25 random Unity stamps! Not bad for a little blurfing, eh?

Second, the All Things Unity challenge blog is in full swing and we'd love to have YOU participate! Full deets on the most recent challenge are here. What are you waiting for?