CPS #264

I decided to work from home today since I won't be able to on Friday due to travel. Thank goodness my boss is flexible, but then again, she took a vacation today so it probably didn't matter either way where I was working today. I'm starting off the week with using a stamp that I bought yesterday, the daffodil one. Suzie's birthday is coming up, so I wanted to be prepared with a birthday card to send to her. Here's my take on CPS #264.
Card Specs:
Embossing powder: Personal Stamp Exchange- Black
Embossing ink: VersaMark
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Charcoal. Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, Broken China. Stampin' Up in So Saffron.
Stamps: Studio G (sentiment), Embossing Arts Co. (flowers)
Punch: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper
Die: Sizzix- Squares, Scalloped #2
Paper: American Crafts- Letterbox
Other: Liquid Pearl in Buttercup, Brown Sharpie Ultra Fine Point marker

Rubber Stamp Yard Sale Finds

Yard sale finds: I went to a yard sale after spin class this morning. The Craigslist listing said that this person would have rubber stamps and craft supplies so of course, I had to pay them a visit. She had many large rubber stamps, but most of them weren't my style. I quickly snatched up the ones that I liked the most. I can't wait to use black embossing powder and color them in with my Aqua Painter.

CPS #263

Yard sale finds: I went to only 1 yard sale today and came out with 2 DVDs- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (each for $1). If they were any more than that, I would have moved on, but the price was right! I only need the first and last movies of the series to have a complete set! The search continues.

Card: I realized this afternoon that I hadn't tackled this week's CPS, so here's my take on it! I had some origami flowers leftover from the classes that I taught on Tuesday, so I didn't want them to go to waste.
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird
Stamps: Studio G (sentiment)
Paper: American Crafts- Abode
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Foliage
Other: Liquid Pearl in Rouge

Song of the day: "Rhythm Nation"- Janet Jackson.

Fall-To Layout #189

Whew, it's hot: This morning started out with me finding the cable remote on the ground this morning with the back and batteries missing, followed by a few moments of panic. Fortunately, I found everything hidden under the couches. Whew.

After scarfing down breakfast, I headed to the gym for the usual Friday morning spin class. As I was walking to the post office box near the gym to drop off an Etsy order, I saw a guy walk by with a leather jacket. Like, seriously? You're kidding me, right? It's wayyy too warm for that kind of gear, but hey, whatever floats your boat, man. I might have to bust out the A/C tonight. The whole concept of "heat rises" is making my second floor like a sauna, making it difficult to sleep at night sometimes, but I've been trying to hold it off as long as I could to save money on my electrical bill.

Fun pictures from today: RJ taking up the love seat and my roses blooming in my garden outside.

Card: This is my take on Fall-To Layout #189. This card was totally easy peasy because I knew exactly what elements I wanted to use...mostly ones that I hadn't used in a while, e.g. the embossing folder and a felt embellishment and another "new" Sizzix die that I bought at a craft yard sale a few weeks ago.

Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Charcoal
Stamps: Studio G
Felt Embellishments: Pebbles Purple Flowers
Marker: Stampin' Up in Rich Razzleberry
Die: Sizzix- Squares, Scalloped #2
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug (Victoria)
Other: Liquid Pearl in White Opal

Using My "New" Sizzix Die

May has been very good to me on at my Etsy shop.  I decided to treat myself to some new crafty supplies from Scrapbooking-Warehouse.com (Colorbox chalk ink pads and reinkers, Hero Arts sentiment stamps, and alphabet stickers).  The money didn't even have a chance to get warm in my PayPal account, ha ha.  

I have finally got around to using my new Sizzix die- Envelope, Manila.  I cut out the envelope for this card and realized that the sides are open instead of perforated or scored.  Is that weird for an envelope?  Stuff would fall out if you wanted to keep something inside!  I don't get it.  I'll have to do a little research to see how to remedy this problem.

Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in French Blue, Charcoal
Paper: American Crafts- Letterbox, Die Cuts with a View- Mango Frost
Stamps: Hero Arts- Cling Classic Fabric Design (background), Stampin' Up- Elementary Elegance (sentiment)
Flower: Basic Grey Bloomers- Sweet Threads collection
Marker: Stampin' Up in Pacific Point
Punch: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Martha Stewart- Classic Butterfly,
Die: Sizzix- Envelope, Manila

Using the Negative

I had a piece of kraft cardstock leftover from when I die cut a flower for this card and I decided to use it for tonight's card.  I cut thin strips of patterned paper and cardstock to cover the negative space and added a fabric flower from Basic Grey.  I used the stamp off technique with the Hero Arts polka dots stamp, which means I inked up the stamp and then stamped it on a scrap piece of paper and then stamped it on the cardstock so the ink left on the stamp left a faded impression.  Then came the sentiment and buttons and the patterned paper at the bottom of the card.  The other stamped elements came at the end when I decided that the middle of the card looked very empty.

Card Specs:
Ink: Stampin' Up in Early Espresso.  Colorbox chalk ink in Chestnut Roan
Stamp: Hero Arts Cling Dots (polka dots), Hero Arts- Everyday Sayings, Inkadinkado- Nature
Paper: American Crafts- Letterbox
Flower: Basic Grey Bloomers- Pyrus collection
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Floral Doily Motifs
Punch: Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment border punch
White Gel Pen: Uni-Ball Signo Broad White Gel Pen
Other: We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy Fancy Floss in Root Beer

Tina the Teacher

One of the items on my 2011 New Year's Resolutions list that I wasn't able to accomplish was to teach a class in origami.  Today, I'm able to cross that off my list...even if it falls under the "better late than never" category.  My friend from graduate school Jessie invited me to teach some of the female students that she works with how to make an origami flower Mother's Day card.  The majority of the students will be presenting these cards to their mothers next Saturday.  While many of them hadn't done origami before, they picked it up quickly and I was happy to see that they channelled their own creativity and figured out on their own what the card layout should be.  I am not one to enjoy public speaking, but the nerves didn't get me this time.  I think the audience and subject matter had something to do with it.  Here are some pictures from the event (more to follow when Jessie sends me the ones that she took).

Jessie, being artsy

I hadn't been in a high school in a long time and I was a little alarmed at how many students had smart phones and how some of the students roaming the hallways were dressed.  Also, how in the world was I able to wake up so early during those years?  I guess the risk of missing the bus was enough to get my butt out of bed.  I'm thankful I'm not in that stage of life anymore, that's for sure.

When I got home, I cranked out two loaves of chocolate zucchini bread and some Etsy orders before zonking out on the couch in the middle of a Law and Order: SVU marathon.  It's going to be tough to go back to the office tomorrow, but at least it's a short work week :)