Cabin Fever

I've been preoccupied with my little Frankenstein (he's fine, we got the staples out today, the nurse let him keep them) and trying to get ready for a Thanksgiving trip later this week, thus the lack of updates.

But behold, I have found a card filed away that I'd like to share, just because. When I finished this card, it gave me the feeling of being in a log cabin somewhere: plaid wallpaper, wood paneling, most likely from the 50's or 60's, Mom in the kitchen cooking the fish Dad just caught, dusk falling outside, crickets beginning to chirp, fireflies glittering about, kids playing board games on the braided rug, Dad watching, reading a book in his big easy chair, by a lamp.

Or it could just be a card, plain and simple and I have an overactive imagination.


Stamps: CTMH (June SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Twilight, Cocoa, Sunflower
Papers: CTMH Sarsaparilla Reflections Kit

A Rather Blustery Day

Do you remember Winnie the Pooh and that very windy day? Poor Piglet almost got blown away, and while that's not likely to happen to me, this morning was a struggle to get Bio-Comp to school. I pushed the double stroller to school, then held on for dear life on the way home. My arms are a bit sore, to say the least.

But apparently not too sore to sit at the screen and write for a bit.

I made this card last month, but all the swirling leaves today made me think of it. It's a simple card, but those are the ones I like the best. I embossed it with my Cuttlebug. Since I use mostly CTMH white core cardstock, and I didn't want any white to show from the embossing, I misted the cardstock first with my mini mister. I think I did a bit too much misting though, the cardstock did warp a little on the edge. Next time, not so much. You can also emboss it with a sheet of printer paper and not have the white core show through.

Stamps: CTMH Fall Leaves (retired), Say It In Style (May SOTM)

Inks: CTMH Sunflower, Autumn Terracotta

Papers: CTMH Enchanted Reflections Kit

You Had Me In...Staples?

This past Sunday, Loquacious had a bit of an accident at church. "Bit" meaning: fell against his chair in Primary, blood running down his shirt, trip to the ER, two staples in the back of his head. Now, this was the first time one of my boys has needed a trip to the hospital like this. And as a Mom, I was trying to not show any kind of panic least he freak out because I was. So I calmly let Enigineer take him to the ER while the rest of us stayed at church. And in the end, he was only at the ER less than an hour. But that hour I was imagining all kinds of things going wrong, too silly to say out loud. He's okay, but won't let me call him Frankenstein.

So, turning to more pretty things, because staples in your boy's head is not, here is another card I made with this month's stamp. This is a good money holder card, or maybe some kind of look-I-got-you-season tickets card. But I don't seem to have either, so I'm just guessing.


Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM), Chocolate Alphabet Large
Inks: CTMH New England Ivy, Grey Wool
Papers: CTMH Evensong Reflections Kit
I did take pictures of the shirt and staples...I couldn't help myself. It will be a challenge to scrap them, but a challenge to not scrap them. I know some of you understand that.

Once There Was A Snowman

Okay, maybe not right here, right now but at one time I do remember seeing one somewhere. Maybe it's because I've been using the All Decked Out stamp set too much and I see snowmen everywhere. Maybe it's because all the stores have Christmas up already and everything is "all decked out" for the holidays.

My craft groups met this weekend. Last night the Oh Scrap! group made these layouts using that totally addicting well loved stamp set. Of course I could not find any snow pictures of my boys, so I had to really dig deep into the photos to find these gems. Remember when I had to look for fall pictures and found 7 year old photos? These are pictures of me, my sister, and two of our brothers...25 years ago. I suddenly feel old. We are attempting to make a snowman with the meager inches we found in our grandparents backyard. I wonder if they remember this.


Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM)...again
Inks: CTMH Outdoor Denim, Versamark
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit



And just to show that I can use another stamp set, here is one of the cards the Wild Cards group made today.



Stamps: CTMH Do You See What I See (retired long ago), Shining Star
Inks: CTMH Outdoor Denim, Creme Brulee
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit


Before you say it, yes I realize it is still a snowman...but it's a different snowman!

It's Been A Zoo!

Today, instead of staying home and getting things ready for club meetings this weekend, I went to the zoo with Bio-Comps class...and all the other 2nd graders at school. It wasn't too bad, Knock-Out and I just walked around with the small group Bio-Comp was assigned to. We saw all the animals, they fed the ducks, then went to the park for a sack lunch. Knock-Out was just about knocked out by the time we got home.

After getting settled at home again, I got to work on some upcoming workshop items. I might have them all finished up by tonight. In the meantime, here's another card I did with this month's Stamp of the Month. I know those of you up north probably don't think snow all day is a fun thing, but down here it's the stuff of my boys dreams. Just a couple of details about this card. I used my snowflake punch and a transparency for the snowflakes. I painted them with CTMH's Create-a-shade paint and added Sparkles.


Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM), Boutique Alphabet, Chocolate Alphabet Small
Inks: CTMH Desert Sand
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit, Notebook Reflections Kit

Busy Season

It never seems to fail that the week I have my craft clubs meeting, I am busy every day that week. Good thing I'm so organized and efficient...ha! I actually do have all the projects done but my house has suffered for it. And I can't for the life of me remember why I thought it would be a good idea to go with Bio-Comps class to the zoo tomorrow. Didn't I know I would need that day to get laundry done? I certainly don't want my guests wading through piles of the boys clothes. Or the stacks of food storage stuff we got at Costco yesterday.

So before I go start sorting said laundry, here's one of the cards we'll be making in the Wild Cards class Saturday. I copied it with what I had from a card I saw over at Amy Scheffer's Pickled Paper Designs. She is just one of the many talented crafters I stalk, I mean follow.



Stamps: CTMH Wonderful Holiday
Inks: CTMH Outdoor Denim
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit

Chilly...Finally!

Here in Tucson it doesn't get very cold until November. Well, November is well underway and this morning was the first time I had to wear a warm jacket to walk the boys to school. Of course I was rather warm on the way home, but I won't complain.


I made this card a couple of months ago in anticipation of the season. I really like the look of fall leaves and this is about the only way I can get them around here...I have to make them myself. I colored the teddy bear using my favorite Prismacolor pencils and gamsol and of course used my Nestabilites to cut my squares and scallops.



Stamps: CTMH Bears Of The Seasons (retired)
Papers: CTMH Autumn Terracotta, Barn Red, Goldrush, Harvest Reflections Kit (long since retired)

Merry & Bright, Bright, Bright!

I very, very rarely use bright colors in anything I make. I'm not sure why, maybe they remind me of clowns...but that would be another story.

I have seen many Christmas cards made with bright pinks and greens the past couple of years. At first I thought they were horrendous, they just did not have that certain look I'm used to for Christmas cards. But I suppose I give in to peer pressure easily (I mean look, I have a blog now, for crying out loud). So yesterday when I was making up some cards (yes, Kimberly, just because I could), I decided to try these unnatural color combos. I tried it and I liked it, I liked it! At least for this card I liked it, but I'm a little biased. I also used die-cuts (which are on special this month with CTMH) for the flowers and tag.



Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM), Christmas Melodies
Inks: CTMH Gray Wool, Citrus Leaf, Bubblegum
Papers: CTMH White Daisy, Citrus Leaf, Bubblegum


As far as the video I posted a couple of days ago, I apologize if it is stuck in any one's head. Because it sure is stuck in mine. Maybe Bio-Comp and Loquacious requesting to watch it 50 times a day has something to do with it.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Maybe not here in Tucson, but certainly where all my craft stuff is spread around. I've got glitter in places I didn't know existed, but that's the dangers of making Christmas crafts. Right now I have a couple of cards done to show at next weeks Oh Scrap! and Wild Cards meetings. Strangely enough, they don't have any glitter on them at all. But this one was colored with chalks and blending pens, in case you were wondering. Today's card, I like a lot. I think this paper pack is one of my favorites in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book.


Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM), Christmas Melodies
Inks: CTMH Black, Twilight, Creme Brulee
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit
I'm sure with all the time left in the day I'll be back with some more things to show...as long as the cold medicine holds up.

The NyQuil Cloud Is Lifting

Do you ever find something so funny that you can not stop smiling? Have you ever found said "funny thing" while under the influence of cold medicine? I saw this video today and could not stop smiling. Inside, I was laughing so hard tears came to my eyes, but on the outside I only had a goofy grin. I think it had something to do with the lack of sleep today.



I think I find this so funny because I can totally see my four brothers doing this.
Now I think I might take a nap then come back for some cards later.

Nostalgia Comes To Visit

I grew up where the leaves changed colors and fell in Autumn. I really miss that. We had a big tree in the front yard that shed colorful, crunchy leaves every year. I don't think my dad liked it quite as much since he had to rake them all. But I remember walking through them and I liked the sounds they made. Here, I just have the mess of the mesquite trees...and that seems year round. No crunching of leaves under your feet, no gold and orange in the trees, no rustling in the wind.

When my Oh Scrap! group met last month, we made Autumn pages. I had to dig through some old pictures to find anything that would work with them. I had to settle for studio pictures we took as a family...7 years ago! I can't believe how little Bio-Comp was. Engineer has a bit more hair now, he grew back his goatee 5 years ago. And me, I have less hair but more everything else!


Stamps: CTMH Annotations
Inks: CTMH New England Ivy, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim, Chocolate
Papers: CTMH Barn Red, Goldrush, Olive, Colonial White, Outdoor Denim, Chocolate