Thursday, April 30, 2009

Need I Say More?


Here's the problem!!

Just wanted to post a little humor in all the pandemic hoopla!

Happy Friday everyone!!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Eye Candy Delivered!

OMGawd!
*GASP*
I just got a package in the mail!

*GASP More!*
It's the kits I ordered from Crop Suey
AND
my first subscription issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors!


Lots of new papers & elements to play with!
Yippppppeeeeee! I'm so excited!
More great ideas from other artists!
Can't wait to have a minute with them all!!!


I'm a lucky duck!!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

"Drink Me?"


This must have been similar to what Alice felt when she drank that potion that made her so HUGE! But I have not stumbled into a world with marching sea birds, crazy tea parties or a rabbit who's so late for his important date!

I have stumbled into the world of ATC's (Artist Trading Cards)!!



And it's all because of my BFF, Rachel, who went to a stamp show the other day here in Denver & became even more intrigued with these little works of art. So, we've decided to start our own swap with our monthly crop group. I blame her for my new obsession! She's such an enabler!

The day before yesterday, I stewed over what I might do for our first theme, "All About Me" until I came up with my "I am the Queen of..." idea. I was really excited about it & did some digital work on the computer with my picture & even found a new technique or two to try. Even though I think most people will start their trading at our May crop, I wanted to either have mine done or at least have the parts to work on for our upcoming crop.

I was even more thrilled that my friend Melissa invited me to scrap at her house yesterday & I would have all day to work on the parts...Anyone who has a preschooler knows that it's virtually impossible to get things done without interruptions! Don't get me wrong, Maggie is a wonderful kiddo & she can play on her own for good periods of time. But yesterday, she was into everything! My only uninterrupted time was while she napped! And then it took forever to get my mojo on!!

Se la vie!
At least I had a wonderful time visiting with Melissa & seeing her lovely home, but we didn't get much done!! The worst part about scrapping with friends is that you talk so much that you don't get much done! The best part about scrapping with friends is that you talk so much that you don't get much done! Tee Hee Hee!

Oh sorry, I kind-of got off subject there! Back to the tiny world of ATC's! This world is truly amazing but surprisingly hard to begin! It's hard to work in such a tiny space & yet be a little more artistic than usual! I managed to get the photo & a few digital elements printed the right size, but it's still hard to think in such a small scale! To fit all the elements that I want on my cards AND have room to write about myself, I wish I did have some of Alice's shrinking potion! Then everything would already be tiny! I can't wait to hear what my other swap-pals have to say about their experiences with these tiny gems!

I'm off to start my day...filled with tiny things & a 7 Gypsies class this afternoon taught by the aforementioned BFF, Rachel Carlson!

It's a gloomy, rainy day today - the PERFECT day to be creative! Hope you find your magic potion today!



Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Early Morning Ramblings...

This could be a long one...My brain seems to want to ramble today!!

I awoke this morning at 4 to my little one crying from a bad dream. So after I settled her back down, I went back to bed & tossed & turned until 5. I just couldn't turn my brain off! Why does that always happen in the early hours?? I was thinking about my sister & her troubles; my parents & how generous they are & how I hate to see them get older; a new ATC swap my BFF Rachel is starting; a few contests & challenges I want to work on; how I need to clean the house & my studio; give Maggie a haircut; get dog food & do laundry...round & round it went! I was also thinking about a disturbing dream I had just before I woke up to Maggie crying.

It was one of those dreams where you can't remember the details, but you remember the "feeling" of the dream. Do you know the kind I'm talking about? What I can remember is that I had been hanging out with my friend Rachel one minute & the next we were arguing about something & we got so irritated that we were no longer friends in the end! *GASP!*

I awoke w/a sense of profound sadness & despair from that dream! I wondered what we could have been so upset about that it would break-up our new friendship. And what ever would I do if that dream were reality! I can't tell you how much her friendship has meant to me over the last 4 months! She has taught me so much & made me grow in my creativity as well as pushed my confidence level up a notch. She is such a wonderful, caring, giving person & I am all the better for knowing her. She is the friend that I have searched for in my adulthood - the one that I have so much in common with that we can each pour our hearts out to each other when needed or even tell the other she's being a giant flake! She's a lot like my sister in that respect! (Of course no one can replace my Kimmy, but Rachel is a close second!) GAWD! I hope we NEVER have a falling out over anything! Ya hear me Rach?!!! My sister had one of those with someone & it really did cut to the bone. It seems now that she's very cautious when making new friends.

Speaking of my sister, Kim. She truely is an amazing lady & I worry about her so much lately as she goes through some stuff at home. I hope she knows how much I respect, admire & love her! In fact, I think I will end there & go call her & tell her that!

Hopefully the day brings more happy feelings & lots of productivity!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Under the Wire!


There's nothing like slipping a project in just under the wire!

For some reason, today I got a bug up my butt to try for a challenge on Moxie Fab World. It would really have been no big deal, if only I had decided to do this challenge say, last week when it was posted! ARGH! But no, I was too busy with other stuff to check it out more! So, today at about 6 pm, I printed my photos & set them aside. Then I went about my usual evening - fix/eat dinner, bath Maggie, do dishes, start laundry, etc. So, when I finally had the time to escape into my room, it was already 9:30pm & I had until midnight MST!!!

Well, I got it in at 12:01, so hopefully I will still qualify! I had a lot of fun working on it! The theme was "A Stitch in Time" & they really wanted us to use stitching as the focal point for the project. Most of the other submissions did cards with flowers & such as the focal point. But I decided to have a little fun with it & did a layout with Maggie & me.

The pix were taken at the park last week & she was cracking us both up! So, the title of my layout is "You Keep Me in Stitches!" with a photo of me surrounded by stitching. It may not be what they are looking for in order to be the winner, but no matter what,
it is wall-worthy in my house!

Off to bed now! I'll clean my room tomorrow!
Nitey-Nite!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Happy Spring!


There's just something about Easter that makes me feel like spring has finally arrived - even if there is snow on the ground, which is very typical of Colorado. Not this year though, it was just rainy & foggy all day. But today, the sun is shining, the leaves on the trees are popping out & the flowers are coming up! I love spring because everything looks so new!

Speaking of new (well new to me anyway), I just discovered a great magazine - Simply Handmade! I picked it up the other day because of it's recent spread on fairy-tale projects (having a daughter leads to an endless supply of princess stuff!) & was pleasantly surprised by ALL of its contents! There are so many wonderful projects in there - from cards, to layouts, to home decor! Even a great section on "green" projects! I think I dog-eared most of the mag!

In addition to all of that, they are having a FANTABULOUS giveaway - either a Sizzix Big Shot or a QuickKutz Silhouette! Which is great, cuz I have been debating about saving my pennies for a Cricut Expression, but after reading a little more about the Silhouette, I am leaning towards that one more! And if I were to win one, I'd have more moo-lah for other fantabulous things!! Like some Graphic 45 papers or WebstersPages collections! Or maybe a search on Etsy for some vintage ephemera to add to my projects! Oh! The possibilities!!! Check out he giveaway here: http://simplyhandmademag.blogspot.com/2009/04/die-cut-machine-giveaway.html


Today, Miss Maggie has her 3 yr checkup! I can't believe she's 3 already! She is so tall that I think her Britax seat will be pitched by the end of summer! She's super funny & so VERY verbal that mommy sometimes feels like screaming just to hear my own voice over hers! But seriously, I love her so very much & I can't wait to hear what the doc thinks of her these days!

After that, I am hoping to hang out with my wonderful sister, maybe craft or watch a movie. But it will all depend on the Mags - I can't remember if she'd due for shots today - sure hope not! If so, she will definitely be in a mood that may require some TLC & maybe a trip to the park for a little distraction before nap!

That's it for now. I hope everyone is enjoying the new season as much as me!
Happy Spring!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Right this way to the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet!

Of course, they don't really call them "AYCE" anymore, just simply a "fixed-price-reload-your-plate deal." You know the ones - sometimes a Sunday brunch with loads of sugary confections, cook-to-order omletts & sliced roast beef. Or maybe it's the lunch buffet at your local pizzaria, Indian or Asian cafe. What about the ones that are under the guise of a Souper Salad joint??? Ya think you're eating healthy, but you always head to the pasta or desserts first! Which ever one you've chosen, your eyes are ALWAYS bigger than your stomach & you walk in with the plan to try everything you see, but never can accomplish such a task!

This entry really isn't about food, but do I believe the "eyes are bigger than my stomach" thing applies to me when I am gathering my materials to host or attend a crop!! Today was going to be a perfect crop day! I had some friends coming over around 10am; about 5 hours of uninterrupted time while Maggie was at preschool & a few more when she got home. It was going to be the day that I finished my dad's birthday mini-album - I only had 8 photos/4pgs left & then start something new, maybe a DT call or a new challenge. So, it should have been easy-peasy to get it done in say, the first 2 hours of the 6-7 hours we planned, right? WRONG!!

IT TOOK THE WHOLE TIME!!! How silly is that!!! Of course, the first hour or two were spent showing recent work, sharing ideas, catching-up, snacking & lots of me getting up & down for supplies to use/share! But, I still had 4-5 others to work, right! I just couldn't get my mojo on!! It took me one hour to do 2 photos!! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love cropping with groups because of all the time spent sharing! But, I am usually very strict with myself when it comes to crop time! When I get those few precious hours without too much responsibility, I have the primal NEED to work! I even HATE to get up & use the restroom or make something to eat!

With all that said, even though I was at my own house, I brought ALL the supplies out that I needed to finish my little project AND start another! I DO THIS ALL THE TIME! Whether I am at home or at a store or another friends house! Why can't I see the forest for the trees? Rather, the trees IN the forest??? I need to have the ability to EDIT what I think I can accomplish & KNOW what I can in the amount of time I have! UGH! It leaves me feeling bummed about not getting my projects done! I can work quick under a deadline, but not under the fun & silliness had during a crop! NUTS! (I really do need to hang out with Rachel more so that I can learn to travel with a toolbox & a shopping bag to these things!)

Hmmmm, now that I've read what I've put down here, maybe I need to edit this a little too, hee hee!! I think I'll end it here! Nighty-night all! I will be dreaming of my next project & all the things I think I need & WILL leave behind at the next crop!!!

PS - I did get the all the photos on the pages of the mini-album & few tidbits written, but it's not done yet! Maybe in another 4-5 hours? ;-)

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

I'm in the Spotlight!

I may not have made the design team at GCD Studios, or won the drawing for my layouts using sewing stitches at WebsterPages, but I am being featured on both sites!

At GCD, I was 1 of 40 women chosen to be spotlighted on their site over the next 3 months! They haven't posted any of the design team or contest winners' work yet, but here's the link to the idea page where I believe things will post eventually...http://www.gcdstudios.com/Ideas.asp

Over on WebsterPages "Inspire Me" site (http://websterspages.ning.com/), my layouts are running in the featured slideshow on the main page (around #30/100) or in the actual "Featured" section in the photos area of the site. http://websterspages.ning.com/photo

This is very exciting to me & I couldn't have done it without the little "pushes" I got from Rachel! She is such a wonderful friend & never stopped encouraging me to try for all these various things. I am so lucky to have her in my life! She's right up there with my mom & my sister as the women that inspire me! Thanks Rach! I love you!


Speaking of Rachel, I gave her her little surprise yesterday before we went thrifting - a cupcake made from clay & other embellishments. She seemed very touched by it! We had such a great day together running in & out of various thrift stores. It was very fun & I am looking forward to doing it again soon!

Later that evening, Rachel & her hubby, Rich, came over for dinner & it was a perfect end to such a great day. I think that the boys got along very well & I hope that we can plan some excursions together soon!

Well, I am off to the park with the Magpie in hopes that she will get tuckered out enough to let me get some work done today!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Eat CAKE!


I am so excited - for a few reasons!!

1) Today, I am hanging out with my BFF, Rachel & we are going thrifting! She is the queen of thrift! I am going to be VERY good & only spend a wee bit since things are very tight these days! I am hoping to find an old metal dust pan to repurpose into a cool photo holder that I saw in Cloth, Paper, Scissor' Studios magazine. Other than that, I'm just along for the ride & her wonderful company!

2) I have made a special surprise for her, but I cant say what it is until I pass it along to her - just in case she logs in this morning! (I'll post photos later!)

And finally,
3) I am hoping to be chosed for one of the GCD slots they are announcing today. Unfortunately, I won't be home to participate in the "Party" all day, but I hope to get a call from them at some point! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

That's it for now...just a little hint for Rach if she's reading:

"Let them eat cake!"
(not really said by Marie Antoinette, but fun nonetheless!)