Furry Neighbors

We had a furry visitors in the garden today. I caught a glimpse of a chipmunk this morning before I left for spin class and then a baby bunny when I got home.

I went into today's card making session thinking that I'd be tackling this week's Tuesday Trigger, but I went in a totally different direction when I started picking out papers. I was gravitating towards the pale spring green papers and thought that doing a garden/landscape scene would be fun. That way, I could also use some flowers stickers my cousin gave me. I started the card by creating a tone-on-tone background with the border stamp and then paper pieced the "grass" using patterned paper. Distress inks were used on the sun and two hills to make them stand out a little. I also did something a little different with the clouds and sun by cutting up labels that I die cut. Whew, a little pattern overload today!
Card Specs:
Card base: Hero Arts- Folded Cards in Mocha
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird. Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Wild Honey, Peeled Paint.
Stamps: Inkadinkado- Round Frames (sentiment), Fiskars- Border-A-Plenty
Paper: American Crafts- Letterbox (all)
Punch: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 4
Other: Glossy Accents

CPS #222

It's been a (X) good day, (_) bad day. :)

Because the movie theater in Omaha was not within walking distance, I had to scratch my original plan to see X-Men: First Class last Friday when it came out. I, instead, went to see it this morning and it was worth the wait and something that I'd buy on DVD. I thought the special effects were awesome, and I liked how they had some cameo appearances to tie back to existing X-Men movies (I won't spoil the surprise in case any of you out there are still waiting to see the movie). If I had to choose a favorite character from the movie, it'd be Beast. Next up: Green Lantern.

Has anyone been watching the most recent season of The Bachelorette? ::whispers:: I have. I am rooting for JP (the PJ date was adorable...). <3

I scored an Etsy sale today (and 1 pending)...the first one in while. I'm excited to be able to focus more on the shop since I don't have any work travel for a month or two.

Here's my take on CPS #222. I was gravitating towards the American Crafts Abode collection, so I picked the heart and polka dot papers and built the card from there. I also did some tone-on-tone stamping on the polka dot paper to add some visual interest to the yellow panel. Pearls were added at the end for a classy, dimensional touch.
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird, Warm Red, Yellow Ochre
Stamps: K&Company- AB Lotus Floral Stamps, K&Company- AB Lotus Greeting Stamps (sentiment)
Paper: American Crafts- Abode
Punch: Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment border punch
Pearl: Queen & Co.- Sunflower Yellow
White Gel Pen: Inkssentials

Song of the day: "Good Life"- One Republic

Fall-To Layout #144

With the work meeting behind me, the yellow nail polish has made a comeback!

Earlier this evening, I went to a concert that Robyn was playing in. It was really cute to see the children dancing to the music. They got some moves!

Here's my take on Fall-To Layout #144. I was asked to make a good-bye card for a fellow staff person who is leaving at the end of the month. I didn't have any "Best Wishes" stamps that were the size I needed so I created my own using a set of alphabet stamps. I also used some stickers that my cousin gave me from Taiwan. I love how they already come with a pop dot underneath to add a little dimension.
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird
Stamps: American Crafts- Rue (alphabet)
Paper: Die Cuts with a View- Mango Frost
Punch: Fiskars Threading Waters border punch
Brad: Recollections- Silver Circles
Flowers: Prima
White Gel Pen: Inkssentials

Omaha, Day 4, 5, and 6

Ahhh, it's good to be back. Looks like the heat followed me back to DC...or perhaps it never left. Anyway, I think the Annual Meeting was a success. On my way home, I heard many of the members say how they enjoyed the meeting and hearing that feedback definitely makes all the preparation and work during the event well worth the effort. Onward to Seattle next year! Hopefully the weather will be more cooperative. ::fingers crossed::

When I was getting my tag printed for my poster tube, the gentleman at the counter...excuse me, the jerk at the counter (I would have used a stronger word to describe him, but I'll refrain from using any profanity), was totally causing a scene. He was making this HUGE stink about how a fire had prevented him from making his flight on time. The airline counter wouldn't let him board the plane because he was too late and they would not make any exceptions. He would have to get on another flight and of course, the airline wasn't being fast enough with getting his new ticket booked. He was cursing up a storm, and while that sounds bad already, there was a child next to him. What a poor example of how one should act in those types of stressful situations! I wanted to give the lady at the counter a hug because it's obviously not HER fault that the guy missed his flight. He must have left his manners at home or something.

I finally went to the BBQ place near the convention center called The Old Mattress Factory and got a pulled pork sandwich twice for dinner while I was in Omaha. Yum. The restaurant had a lobster tank in the corner where, for $2, you could use the mechanical claw to grab your lobster. I guess if you pick one up, the restaurant would boil it for you.

Omaha, Day 1, 2, and 3

Greetings from Omaha! Let's jump right into stories...(there will be no cardmaking until probably Friday, so the next couple of entries will be more of a journaling of my time in Omaha. Feel free to follow along!)

First off, I'm not one of those chatty people that you sit next to on the plane. I'm one of those types that falls right asleep and then if I wake up, I just pretend that I'm asleep to avoid awkward conversation. And yes, perhaps that sounds anti-social. Anyway, I sat next to a young man, and we had both passed out for the majority of the flight. We both woke up with 30 minutes left in the flight, and he made some comment about how it was cold on the plane. "What brings you to Omaha?" "Work. What about you?" "I'm visiting family. I just graduated, and I'm going off to basic training soon, so I wanted to spend as much time with them as I could." Oh, this is interesting. We ended up talking about basic training and the lack of options in terms of a social life in Omaha. The lesson here is that not all conversations with strangers on planes are awkward.

When I got to the hotel, I wandered outside to find something to eat. I ended up wandering around Omaha and getting some lasagna at an Italian place. I was so sweaty by the time I got back to the hotel. I made a game plan to walk straight into the hotel, trying to avoid any eye contact with anyone so that they would not have to see me in such a gross condition. "HI TINA!" ::waves me over:: Oh great. Thankfully it was a co-worker and not a member. Otherwise, I would have been super embarrassed.

I was in an all-day meeting on Saturday, which was productive, and then today was the official start of the conference. I spent most of the time at the registration desk, a good spot to be when you want to see a lot of the members. The day was not without its embarrassing moments.

• I had a bottle of water at the registration desk. I hear "That's not being very green." We try to encourage people to use water bottles instead of bottles of water. I looked around to see who the voice was referring to. "You, Tina." Oh, heh. Erg.
• At the closing reception, I got caught with my mouth full and my hands foody. "Ohh, you're the guy that I met in New Hampshire. Hi, how are you? I'd shake your hand but..." "That's ok, Tina."
  
• After the closing session, I went to get a drink with a co-worker and then I went up to the Hilton Honors suite to get some snacks. I came back with 2 cookies, a ginger ale, and a bottle of water. I got back in the elevator and sure enough, another member saw me with my hands full of food. He looked like he was going to the gym. I tried to make a joke, "Wow, you're dedicated!" And then we both laughed.

Food report:
I haven't had much of the meat that Omaha is known for, but I'm determined to get some pulled pork at a BBQ place that people have been raving about. The meeting food so far has been good. At yesterday's reception, I had some macaroni and cheese that was good, as well as some risotto. Tonight's reception food was even better: mini cheeseburgers, veggies and hummus, crab ragoon, and pot stickers. Yum! The drink that I had at the end of the day was a James and the Giant Peach martini. I asked the bartender about a cherry limeade drink, but she made a face and told me that it was no good. I appreciated her candor.

Wee Memories Challenge #58

I took the day off of work to get some "new home" stuff taken care of.

• Met with mortgage guy in the morning to sign paperwork. I was very impressed with his wall of handwritten thank you cards he received from clients.
  
• Attended the home inspection, which went well. The inspector had been to some crummy looking houses lately so I'm sure he was relieved to find a place in good condition. Shorter report to write, I guess.
• Received the HOA documents for review that I can review on the plane tomorrow
  

When he got home from work today, Dad announced that tomorrow was going to be his last day at work. Hello, retirement! I hope he wasn't joking around because I already announced the news on Facebook.

Here's my card entry for Wee Memories Challenge #58: Pinterest/Etsy Inspired- "find something on either of them that inspires you and use that inspiration for your creation!" I kinda cheated on this one because I had already started the card before I found something that inspired me. I knew I wanted to have a punched border at the bottom of the card, so that's what I did first. Then I did a search for "black doily" on Pinterest and found this cake with a black doily-looking thing with a pink flower. So I incorporated some black doily-looking things (yay for using a new stamp set) and pink in the card. The card still looked very heavy on the black side so I offset it by adding some faux stitching and white accents on the circles.Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird
Stamps: K&Company- AB Lotus Floral Stamps, Inkadinkado- Round Frames (sentiment, circle)
Paper: Martha Stewart
Punch: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large
Brad: Recollections- Silver Circles
Flowers: Prima
White Gel Pen: Inkssentials

Now for some Real Housewives of NYC. :)

Tuesday Trigger: Classically Modern

Funny conversation at the office...

Co-worker asks, "Tina, how old are you?" "28." ::looks shocked:: "LIES!"

...oook, I guess I'll take that as a compliment?

Same co-worker in the same conversation. "Tina, how long have you been looking for a place?" "Well, the one that I put an offer in was the first and only place that I saw with my realtor." ::looks shocked:: "You're crazy!"

Well, I guess some people could say that, but maybe I just knew exactly what I was looking for, found it, and didn't want the opportunity to pass me by.

Other office news: my abstract was accepted into a national conference. Woot. I'm happy that the conference this year is in DC (last year it was in Denver), so less distance to travel. Double woot. My boss's abstract was accepted too, so it's been a good day for the both of us.

Today's card: here's my take on this week's Tuesday Trigger (Classically Modern). Wow, how pretty! I tried to incorporate the color scheme (blue, white, and a little pink and green) into the card as well as some texture that's seen in the white bedspread. It feels kinda unnatural to me to have a card that's mostly white, but at least that's in line with the trigger photo. I also wanted to use some supplies/techniques that I hadn't used in a while: heat embossing, dry embossing and Prima flowers. Card Specs:
Embossing powder: Stampendous! in white
Embossing ink: VersaMark
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Prussian Blue
Stamps: K&Company- AB Lotus Floral Stamps (large flower), Hero Arts- Thinking of You Messages (sentiment), Fiskars- Petals From Scratch (small flower)
Paper: American Crafts Specialty Paper in Pearl (blue)
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug (Swiss Dots)
Brad: Recollections- Silver Circles
Flowers: Prima
White Gel Pen: Inkssentials