Still Here

You can still count me among the living. It's been a crazy week. Basically, I have to have the full version of my dissertation to my chair on Sunday night, the final version to my committee by next Wednesday, and then defend it by April 16 in order to graduate in May. I'm trying. I'm not so sure about it working right now. I've added three chapters. I still have two chapters to write. Fortunately, one is pretty short (maybe 12-15 pages?). I designed some recipe cards for my mother for a swap she signed up for, so I even have some crafty stuff to show! I honestly haven't had time to take pictures or upload them in the past week.

I leave for work around 6:30, drop both girls off with brother and sister-in-law (it is a HUGE help for them to take the girls to school for me), work all day, then head to a local university library (not the one where I'm getting my degree - this one is 20 minutes from my house rather than 75 minutes) where I write for 4-5 hours. I've been getting home between 9 and 10. I've been spending weekends (7-8 hours a day) there too. Hopefully it will all be finished soon. I have so many plans for what I want to do after I graduate. Peace and blessings to you.

Bitty Mail

Some time ago, my oldest invaded my 3D stash and decorated a little mailbox (How dare her! I was going to get around to altering that mailbox. It was only down there - what? two years?).

She promptly put it into the living room and directed everyone to send her mail on a regular basis. My mother does a much better job at getting mail to her (mostly daily), but I've put things in there for her as well. I knew it was time to send some mail, so I headed downstairs to make something quickly. I couldn't just scribble on a legal pad, right? This card took me five minutes - LITERALLY. I used scraps on my desk and made them fit into something that would work. Everything on this card is a scrap - even the ribbon which I used to hold the card closed! Um, yes, I did use a cameo coral marker because my earth element markers were already on my desk and I would have had to get up and walk across my room to get my soft subtles. It really looks fine (don't judge me!). I think it turned out just precious! The card measures 2x2 - it really is tiny!

Supplies for this card:
Pretty in pink cardstock, cut 4x2 and scored at 2" (#100459, $5.50)
Chocolate chip cardstock (#102128, $5.50)
Sending Love DSP (#117153, $11.95)
Very vanilla cardstock (101650, $7.50)
Picture This stamp set (Level 1 Hostess; #116928 - W; 118538 - C; FREE)
Chocolate chip stampin' write marker (#100071, $3.25)
Cameo coral stampin' write marker (#100475, $3.25)
Chocolate chip taffeta ribbon (#109065, $6.95)
Sweet Pea felts (#117266, $7.95)
Word window punch (#105090, $15.95)

Scrapbook: Me

I've been busy (trying) to write on my dissertation this week. It's been horrible. For the last two years I have written - literally - hundreds of papers, thousands of pages. And I sit in front of the computer all day and eek out one page? Where is the justice in that?

I haven't been downstairs to create in quite a while and I've run out of pre-scheduled posts. I started looking through my old pictures at some projects I never blogged. This is one. I like it for several reasons - the colors and style are different than I normally do, the pictures are ones I love, and it was a project that I worked hard on and incorporated some time-consuming techniques I don't often have the luxury of completing. Most of all, I love it because it is scrapbooking.

I got into this whole crafting thing for scrapbooking (read the "More About Me" on my sidebar). I adore scrapbooking. Try as I might, I can't get any of my customer to develop a love for it and the only classes I have are card classes. I like cards and they are fun to make, but my heart is in scrapbooking. If I ever finish this dissertation (I'm not holding my breath today), I can't wait to spend time scrapping and teaching my daughters to make their own memory books. Sigh. Until then - keep typing ... keep typing .... (Remember Nemo).

I made this a couple of years ago and several of the materials had been retired even then!
Chocolate chip cardstock
Cranberry crisp stampin' pad (retired)
Afternoon Tea DSP (retired and STILL one of my favorites!)
Silver brads
Non-SU metal clip
Very vanilla cardstock
Pretties kit
Chipboard
Big Shot die cutting machine
Top note die
Chocolate chip taffeta ribbon
Curly label punch
Cutter kit
Sanding blocks
Tab punch
Crop-a-dile
Eyelets

Techniques: sewing, sponging, distressing, sanding

Thanks, Sweet Pea

I needed to make a card for a customer-friend this week. She's moving and I don't envy her a bit. Ugh! I hope she likes it - and I hope it gets there before this posts on my blog later in the week since I know she reads it (Hi!). I used the Mojo Monday 129 sketch for this card. When I first looked at it, I had a lot of trouble conceptualizing that how it should look. Once I sat down and started creating, it just fell together. I love all the layers (I added a couple, I think) and these colors! And guess what? I can make a card without using my Big Shot! (Nevermind that had originally envisioned using an embossing folder.)

Supplies I used to make this card:
Old olive cardstock (#100702, $5.50)
Taken with teal cardstock (#101584, $5.50)
Chocolate chip cardstock (#102128, $5.50)
Sweet Pea DSP (#117161, $24.95)
Chocolate chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (#109051, $7.95)
Trendy Trees stamp set (#113258, $17.95)
Good Neighbors stamp set (#118378 (W) or #119116 (C); FREE with $50 purchase during Sale-a-Bration)
Chocolate chip stampin' pad (#100908, $5.95)
Taken with teal stampin' pad (#103257, $5.95)
Ruby red stampin' write marker (#100075, $3.25)
Old olive stampin' pad (#102277, $5.95)
Ballet blue stampin' pad (#100907, $5.95)

Mail Call at Kids Camp

My baby is growing up. (Sniff, sniff.) Each year our church holds a camp during spring break for 3-5 graders. They are gone four days and three nights. During the second grade year there is a preview opportunity where the kids are able to go for one night. Eliza is a second grader this year and was very excited to have her turn for camp. I would normally sign myself up to go as a sponsor, but I've never had the luxury of having the same spring break as the rest of my family. So ... off I sent my baby to her first overnight camp. I was a little teary and she was completely stoked. One of the ladies in the orchestra with me was a sponsor, so I had an insider who would take extra good care of her. She told me that Eliza had the best time and never held back - she did everything! I'm so glad she was able to go and had an amazing time. It made it easier on me.

One of the things that parents could do was send mail that would be delivered each day after lunch. I got up super early last Friday morning to make this card for Eliza. In honor of my little girl going off to camp, I even decorated the inside - something I rarely do. It came together very quickly and had only a little stamping. I was happiest with the ribbon rouching. I had a couple of "leftover" sketches on my desk and grabbed one to make this card. I believe this is Mojo Monday sketch #120.

Supplies I used for this card:
Big Shot die cutting machine (#113439, $99.95)
Perfect polka dots embossing folder (#117335, $7.95)
Scallop trim border punch (#118402, FREE during Sale-a-Bration with $50 order)
Chocolate chip cardstock (#102128, $5.50)
Pretty in pink cardstock (#100459, $5.50)
Very vanilla cardstock (#101650, $7.50)
Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (#117153, $11.95)
Corner rounder punch (#109047, $6.95)
Sticky strip (#104294, $6.95)
Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (#109056, $7.95)
Sweet Pea stitched felt (#117266, $7.95)
Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set (#111618, $23.95)
Chocolate chip stampin' pad (#100908, $5.95)

Top Note Dresser

I saw one of these top note dressers on someone's blog (I'm so sorry, but I can't remember where I first saw this) and have since seen them on several other blogs. When I planned my Big Shot class for last week, I knew that I would have to reproduce that dresser as a sample. Isn't it just precious?

I used the stiff backing from packages of DSP to make the core of the top and bottom. I then covered that piece with DSP on both sides. I think it's very important to use the correct adhesive on this layering. I used the Tombow and it worked beautifully. I was able to get close to the edge and hold is tight. Nothing short of a tornado (or my three year old!) is separating those layers! As a reminder, with Tombow, a little dab'll do you!

Everything else was easy as pie! I didn't have a template, but the project is self-explanatory and just takes a few cuts. I didn't do a lot of embellishment because I fell in love with the simplicity of the paper. It's one of my favorite patterns and the color is fabulous!

Supplies I used to make this project:
Big Shot die cutting machine (#113439, $99.95)
Top note die (#113463, $21.95)
Tombow multi purpose adhesive (#110755, $3.95)
Sticky strip (#104294, $6.95)
Matchbox die (#114890, $42.95)
Pewter jumbo eyelets (#108432, $9.95)
Elementary Ribbon Originals (#116231, $9.95)
Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper (#113974, $9.95)
Very vanilla cardstock (#101650, $7.50)

Camera drama and a card

Ugh! I can't find the charger to my camera so I haven't been able to dump all the pictures from the card onto my computer. After searching in vain for about two weeks, I finally broke down and bought a new charger - for $45. It didn't fully charge the camera last night (just enough to dump the pictures), but I'm giving it one more shot before I take it back this afternoon. I'm sure that I'll find the charger any day now that I've bought the new one.

Here is one of the cards I made for the Big Shot class I held last week. It turned out very well, I thought. My ladies loved it and they enjoyed the details of the watercoloring technique.

Supplies I used:
Big Shot die cutting machine (#113439, $99.95)
Scallop circle die (#113468, $19.95)
Spring Song (#115074, $15.95 or FREE during Sale-a-Bration with a $50 purchase)
Mellow moss cardstock (#102898, $5.50)
Brocade blue cardstock (#101166, $5.50)
Watercolor paper (#105019, $6.95)
Patterns Pack Designer Series Paper III (#116234, FREE hostess gift)
Cutter Kit (#106958, $16.95)
Corner rounder punch (#109047, $6.95)
Modern label punch (#116630, $15.95)
Mellow moss stamp pad (#102774, $5.95)
Close to cocoa stamp pad (#103139, $5.95)
Soft suede polka-dot grosgrain ribbon (#115612, $9.95)
Silver brads (#104336, $6.95)
Stampin' sponges (#101610, $3.50)
Watercolor pencils (#101879, $19.95)
Blender pens (#102845, $9.95)

If you'd like to purchase the supplies to make this card or set up a private workshop to learn more about watercolor techniques, shop at my Stampin' Up website or contact me for further information.

Quick gift idea

This is another project I've made with my Big Shot in the last week. These are coaster gift sets.

I used the scallop circle die which measures about 4 1/4" in diameter. I felt guilty because they were TOO simple, so I thought a box was needed to complete the gift giving. Unfortunately, the standard pizza box measures 4x4 inches. It was definitely squished in that little box, so I had to do a little experimenting to enlarge the box proportionally to hold the coasters. I cut my paper to 6 1/2" x 12 inches (I know! Only one box per 12x12 sheet. Grrr!) With the short side of the paper at the top of the paper cutter, I scored at 1" and 5 1/2". I flipped the paper to the long side and scored at 1", 5 1/2", 6 1/2", and 11". Cut the flaps (perpendicular to the long side) one inch in (to the first score mark) on both long sides. Fold your paper and crease with your bone folder. Use red sticky tape to secure the four flaps and you have your super easy pizza box! If you have questions, please ask and I'll try to clarify.

I played off the colors in the fabric to create the box. When I first saw the fabric it SCREAMED rich razzleberry, old olive, and more mustard. Isn't it gorgeous together?

The supplies for this project are:
Big Shot die cutting system (#113439, $99.95)
Scallop circle die (#113468, $19.95)
Certainly celery cardstock (#107080, $7.50)
Old olive cardstock (#106544, $7.50)
Rich razzleberry cardstock (#115316, $5.50)
Scatter sunshine jumbo wheel (#107213, $8.50)
Stampin' around jumbo handle (#103661, $5.95)
Old olive jumbo ink cartridge (#103670, $7.50)
Rich razzleberry stampin' pad (#115658, $5.95)
Old olive stampin' pad (#102277, $5.95)
Vintage labels stamp set (#118392 Wood mounted or #119122 Clear mounted, FREE Sale-a-Bration set)
Matchbox messages (#113800, $25.95)
Scallop circle punch (#109043, $15.95)
1" circle punch (#109046, $10.95)
Ticket corner punch (#107214, $6.95)
Hostess Designer Series Paper Pack (#116234, FREE hostess incentive gift - level 1)

Gracie's rag purse and swaps

I have fallen in love with all the things I can do with my Big Shot other than making cards or scrapbook pages. I love all the things I'm finding on other blogs, so I signed up for a swap making fabric items using the Big Shot. This is one of the items I've submitted for the swap. I made a purse for Eliza a couple of weeks ago that she is now using to carry her Bible, Awana's book, and GA stuff. Eva Grace had a fit that she didn't get one immediately. I created her bag and she carried it to church yesterday.

She's my pink girl - anything will work as long as it is "pink and puh-ple" (said with hands on hips and twisting accents on each syllable). I want to make hers a little special by adding buttons. The corduroy buttons are my new faves! Unfortunately, the real red ones just weren't the right color and the pretty in pink ones were definitely not right. So what's a girl to do? Why, make her own, of course! I took the pretty in pink corduroy buttons and sponged them all over with rose red stampin' ink. On top of that, I sponged riding hood red stampin' ink (now retired) concentrating mostly on the edges.

Here is a close up picture so you can see the effect. The combination turned out beautifully shaded.

I used the same fabrics and pattern for my swap entry. I didn't include the buttons on the swaps and I think they look just as cute.

Supplies used for this project:
Big Shot die cutting system (#113439; $99.95)
Scallop square die (#115950; $21.95)
Old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (#109054; $7.95)
Pretty in pink corduroy buttons (#117681; $9.95)
Stampin' sponges (#101610; $3.50)
Rose red stampin' pad (#101778; $5.95)
Riding hood red stampin' pad (retired)

Click the shopping button in the right bar to order these supplies or email me to order. If you are in East Texas, I'm holding a class called I'm a Big Shot on Monday, March 8. There will be lots of samples and you will have the opportunity to make three projects using the Big Shot. Contact me for more information.