Busy, Busy, Busy...

I've been busy with projects that I haven't been able to post. My brother and his girlfriend are expecting a baby girl and his girlfriend was induced this morning. We still don't have a baby, but are expecting her anytime now. Since Tammy is confined to the hospital I know, for sure, that she isn't reading my blog so it's safe to post pictures now. These are my first sewing projects other than rag quilts or simple skirts with no zippers or buttons (just elastic in the waist). I'm VERY proud of how the diaper bag and the little accessory bag turned out. I wasn't as worried about the quilt since I've made several of those before.

The other projects I've been working on are still TOP SECRET. I will be able to show those pictures to you, hopefully, as soon as Thursday. Check back for updates!

Feelin' Froggy!

This is a fun card! This was stamped using the 'All Wrapped Up' and 'All Year Cheer II' stamp sets. I stamped the jar and the frog using Jet Black StazOn ink and then watercolored the images using a watercolor pen and the ink refills in Green Galore, Glorious Green, and Tempting Turquoise. The green panel is Green Galore CS that I embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. After it was embossed, I "swiped" my Whisper White craft ink pad across the raised portion to give it a little more depth. The ribbon is a green organdy that I purchased at Hobby Lobby. It's not obvious in the picture, but I glued a "wiggly eye" to the image of the frog. What a cutie-patootie!

I hate to even mention this since it gets my Dad in a tizz when I talk about such things, but my bell pepper and tomato plants are still blooming and are still producing on a regular basis. All of the plants are still loaded with peppers and tomatoes that aren't quite ready for picking. So far, I'm still having to pick about every other day. I've tooted my horn long enough... I'm going to go find something else constructive to do. TTFN!

The Witch Is In...

If you ever happen to see a card in your mailbox that you've already seen on my blog, I just want to apologize now. I have customers and fellow stampers who view my blog and I want to make sure I get my things posted in a timely manner. This should be the last of the halloween items for this year. This card was made using the "Haunting Halloween" set with CS in Basic Black, Perfect Plum, and Pumpkin Pie. The images were stamped on watercolor paper using basic black classic ink. They were then watercolored using Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi, and Going Gray ink refills and a watercolor pen. I added Stickles to the bubbly in the pot and the charms hanging from the cat's cape. The steam and stars are embossed with Irridescent Ice embossing powder over Whisper White craft ink. (Yes... I HAD to have some bling!!) The layout for this card was CASE'd from "nitestamper" at Splitcoast Stampers. The inside of the card reads "...a haunting halloween!"

That's all I have for now. I'm trying to start thinking about my Christmas cards and other crafty projects for Christmas. Hopefully, I'll have lots to share with you VERY soon! TTFN!

Bad Blogger

It seems that I've become very lax with my blogging of late. I must have been so exhausted after the MS150 that I didn't have the energy to write. I really have been working on crafty projects since then, but haven't taken the time for pictures or posts. I made a Christmas ornament that I wanted to share with you tonight, though. The only thing from SU that I used on this ornament is the Dazzling Diamonds glitter and Crystal Effects. The stamp is a Great Impressions stamp that I bought last year to make Christmas cards with. Here I stamped the image on a transparency, using jet black StazOn ink. On the back of the transparency, I used a VersaMark pen and white embossing powder to create the snow (this was set using a heat gun). Next, I colored the image using Sharpie markers. Once the image was completely dry, I cut it out using a Coluzzle template (you should leave a little tab at the top that will extend through the "neck" of the ornament so the image will stay upright). I used a paintbrush to brush a thin coat of Crystal Effects on the back of the image and then added Dazzling Diamonds glitter while it was still wet. I let the Crystal Effects dry, rolled the image up and stuffed it inside the ornament. Once inside, it unrolled and... WAH-LAH... it turned out bee-you-tee-ful. Since this picture was taken, however, I managed to set a box down on top of my ornament, smashing it to smithereens. No worries... I have several more boxes of the clear ornaments and I think they're on sale at Michael's this week, anyway. When I make more of these, I think I'll cut the transparency just a little bit bigger to fill the ornament a little better. Also, I didn't have any fake snow, but once I get some, I'll pour a little in the bottom of the ornament to make it look a little like a snow globe. In that case, I guess you're being cheated since you aren't seeing the COMPLETETLY finished project! TTFN!

Bad Cat, Good Cat

What a traumatic morning... for me AND Wesson! It all started when I sat down at my desk to check e-mails this morning and noticed the reminder from our veterinarian. Ernie (the dog), Smith (cat), and Wesson (cat) were all due for shots. Since they take walk-ins on Saturdays, I decided that today would be just as good as any other day. Appointments don't work too well for me on Monday through Friday because Wesson has to be given a little something to help "relax" him before we head to the vet. The last time I tried this, the sedative had no effect whatsoever on him and he nearly took three people down in the vet's office. I really thought they'd refuse to ever see him again. I called ahead of time to warn them that I was bringing him in and told them that I still had three doses of the sedative left that I had used the last time. They said I could try giving that to him again. I gave him a dose of it, which he takes willingly when it's hidden in a little ball of cheese. I waited 15 minutes, following him around all over the house during that time, waiting to see if he showed any signs of grogginess. Nothing... So I gave him another dose (keep in mind that I've already checked to make sure I'm not going to OD the cat). I follow him around for another 15 minutes and still no signs of getting sleepy. So I gave him another dose (really... it's okay!!). Knowing that I just gave him the last dose in the house, I decided to just load them all up and make the trip to the vet's office. SURELY he'd start getting sleepy on the way over there. Smith and Wesson always share Ernie's crate on the way and then I take the little cat carrier so I can take each one of the cats into the exam room separately. Ernie rides in the front passenger seat. Neither of the cats mind the car ride. Wesson does just fine for the entire trip, except when he's actually in the vet's office. Springfield Veterinary Center was packed when I arrived, so I made sure to tell them how long it had been since I had last administered a dose of acepromazine to Wesson. The wait wasn't too bad, considering how busy they were. I asked to weigh the small cat carrier first so that when I brought Wesson in, we could just weigh him in the crate and then subtract the weight of the carrier. They agreed that it would be best to weigh him while he was confined. I decided to take Wesson in before Smith. I thought Smith might be a refreshing way to end my visit and maybe not leave such a grim memory with the staff at SVC. Wesson was AWFUL, to say the least. From the minute I walked in the front door with him, he started hissing, growling, yowling, and spitting. I warned Dr. Wiseman (Heath) about how bad he would be, but I really don't think he understood just HOW bad it was about to get. Dr. Wiseman removed the top from Wesson's carrier and the slapping began. Going to the vet, for Wesson, is nothing more than a boxing match and he's NOT going to be the one to lose. Lucky for ALL of us, Wesson has been declawed. After several attempts by all three of us (Me, Dr. Wiseman, and Lisa (vet's assistant)), it was finally decided that they would just put a towel over his front end and hold him down while the Dr. gave him his shots. Lisa got the elbow length gloves out and I think they wound up using two towels. Wesson was making the most awful sounds and it was about to bring me to tears (this is my child!!) by the time they got both shots in him. We put the top back on his carrier and I took him back out to the car where he climbed right into Ernie's crate, giving me a goodbye hiss (that's a hiss... NOT a kiss), and Smith climbed in the small carrier. Smith was an angel. He let Dr. Wiseman look in both ears, look at his teeth, feel his tummy, listen to his heartbeat, and took both shots without ever flinching. There was no yowling, howling, growling, hissing, spitting, slapping, or biting. (This is starting to sound like a Dr. Suess book.) I'm fairly certain that we earned the titles of "Worst Behaved Feline Client" and "Best Behaved Feline Client" at Springfield Veterinary Center today. I PROMISE that Wesson does not act like that at home. Oh sure, he has his moments (he's a cat, for goodness sake! Give him a break!), but he's never "out to kill" like that. I'm just glad it's over and that he doesn't have to go back for three years. I'm sure that everyone at SVC is just as glad if not more so. Sorry guys!! Anyway, I came home and made a card for Dr. Wiseman and Lisa. It's a combination "thank you" and "sorry" card. I thought I'd put the picture of Wesson looking sweet and innocent on the front to help erase those bitter memories of this morning. Here it is...

...and here's another picture of Wesson, who is so OBVIOUSLY NOT an evil kitty!!

Secret Goblin

Someone at work started a little "secret goblin" thingy for Halloween. The letter that was left with my gift stated that I had to make two photocopies of the letter and deliver two gifts to two people who hadn't been "tagged" yet within two days. I'm supposed to do this secretly so they won't know who their gift came from. I don't know who I'll be "tagging" tomorrow, but here is what I made. These are popcorn holders and I attached a gift card for a free movie rental from Movie Gallery.


To remove the popcorn and gift card, you simply pull up on the little bow and WAH-LAH!!



Here is the recipe for the popcorn holders: Start with a piece of DSP that measures 7 X 10. Score it at 2 1/4 and 6 3/4 inches. Use sticky strip to adhere the bottom and back of the pocket. I used the crimper to get a finished look on the bottom. I used Creepy Crawly DSP and the Booglie Eyes stamp set to decorate mine, but you can design them any way you like. I added two jumbo eyelets (one on the front and one on the back) to the top center. Run your ribbon through one eyelet from the outside of the pocket to the inside. It will go under your popcorn and come back up on the other side so it can be threaded through the other eyelet from the inside to the outside. Tie the ends in a bow and and WAH-LAH!! You can pull the popcorn out by just pulling up on the bow. Pretty neat, huh? OH... I almost forgot... I added Stickles (glitter glue) to my spider. I can never have too much glitter. It's all about the bling, baby!!

This next picture is one I wanted to throw in just because I think it's cute. This is Smith and he was helping me with a sewing project last weekend. If it isn't obvious, he works in the quality control department.



TTFN!!

The Haunted Corn Maze

I guess I haven't been in the mood to post lately. I've been working on some crafty projects, but can't post pictures because they're gifts that haven't been given. Once they're out of my hands and in the hands of the recipients, I'll post the pictures. Until then... it's TOP SECRET!!

We went to a haunted corn maze in Verona, MO this past weekend and had a screaming good time. I don't know who was more scared - me or the kids. They'd probably all say it was me, but I would have to argue. The corn maze was located on seven acres in the middle of nowhere. There were other activities, as well, including "pumkin chuckin" (see photos of kids with mini pumpkins in the slingshot) and a hay ride. We skipped on the hay ride since it would have been an additional $6 per person. Instead, we used our money wisely and paid someone to scare the pee-waddin' out of us in the middle of a cornfield in Verona, MO. Here is a link to some of the pictures we took.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=nos1qyw.246kvfeg&x=0&y=pa2nh1

I'll try to post more later. I haven't had time, lately, to work on any new cards. I'm hoping to be able to do so by the end of this coming weekend. TTFN!