Teaching Schedule
Monday, July 30, 2007
Started the A Muse Addicts Group
Sunday, July 29, 2007
How to leave comments on blogs...
This post is mainly for my customers. Many of you have asked me how you can leave me comments (especially without creating an account) ... here's how.
- Click on the bottom of any post you want to comment, where it says "X Comments" (X is the number of comments).
- You will see this screen:
- If you have an account, that will be shown. If you don't have one, you will see "Other" and "Anonymous". Pick OTHER (not anonymous unless you don't want me to know who you are.
- In the Other field, there is a place to put your name. It is optional but you can just put your first name, if you want.
Thanks so very much!
Technique Club on Friday
We did 3 techniques as all of my technique clubs do: 3 cards and 3 technique cards (with the directions) for their technique scrapbooks!
One of the cards was the same card as I did for the previous club. It's this one... demonstrating the ability to do emboss with the Classic Ink Pads (rather than craft). I always try to do a different card for each group of stampers for the sole reason that I don't want to show something I've done already - it keeps me busy and learning... but this card is so pretty (IMHO). I had to do it again.
Next, the technique was again Faux Tearing, like the last club but I redid the card to be more elegant (my new stamps came in!). This one uses the new En Francais Background... similar to the old French Script BG but not hardly the same. Oh, I finally broke out the heartfelt thanks set. I think I've used this once in two years... not a fav but works here.
Stamps: all SU!
CS: all SU!: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Very Vanilla
Inks: Rose Red, Markers: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Garden Green
Accessories: Regal Rose Grosgrain ribbon
I learned the third technique from Ms. Jeanne Streiff. It's called Faux Tiles. Isn't her card amazing? I loved it. I was going to CASE it completely but I was already using those colors for the first technique. So, I modified her card a bit with my own color combo. and stamps. What do you think? I think I pulled it off. I really like this card. Really. And again, not really my "style".
Stamps: All SU! Baroque Motifs
CS: Whisper White, Bayou Blue, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Soft Sky
Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain. (love this!); dimensionals; SU! Scallop Punch; 1 3/8" circle Punch; Sponge; paper scorer
ETA: I forgot to mention that this card is 4.25 x 4.25 square. The faux tile looks so much better (again IMHO) when done in a square pattern.
Let me know if you like this one (the choc. chip) one... I do like it.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Playing tag and spreading some joy?
So, now, I've been toying with this new idea... what if we all out here in cyberland play bumper cards???? Okay, so no, not exactly the way I described above but instead... what if we played tag (that seems to be such a game among bloggers) but instead of just tagging, we actually PAY IT FORWARD and try to brighten someone's day? Would that be one step in the right direction towards world peace? :)
You've all probably seen the Rockin' Blogger Award thing and that pretty much clinched the idea for me to start this. I thought well if that was such a hit and spread like wildfire all because a girl somewhere wanted to start something and see how far it went, I could try to do something but make it spread happiness and joy. Do you think I can do it? PLEASE help me...
Okay, the rules are simple:
1) Send ONE card to someone you know within 7 days! (family, friends, associates, cyber people, etc.) ANYONE!!! Doesn't matter who... just do it. Can you imagine the smile on their face when they open their mailbox and see a card from you?
2) Tag (yes, I know, but this is the only way to spread this) 5 people you know to do the same thing (Tag means tag them to send their own cards to their own people).
3) Proudly display this on your blog to spread a little sunshine and pass it on.
If you get tagged again (we can all hope, can't we), send another card! You don't even have to mail... put one on your husband's dashboard of his car, your coworkers desk, your neighbor's doorstep, and so on and so forth.
Sappy... why yes. WANNA JOIN ME? PLEASE? We can all use a little bit of happiness in the world, can't we?
Okay, so I'm going to start this and I'm going to do 17 people (started with 5, couldn't stop!) I admire and that are "big" names to get this thing off the ground... (I hope they don't laugh at me!).
1. Jenn Balcer (of course)
2. Beate
3. Julie Eberson (aka JulieHrr)
4. Debbie Olson
5. Nicole Heady
6. Cambria
7. Taylor VanBruggen
8. Sharon Harnist
9. Gina K
10. Jody Morrow
11. Emilymomto3boys
12. Valerie Stangle
13. Britta Ward
14. Trudee
15. Amy Westerman
16. Alison Fillo
17. Crazy Stamp Chick
Okay, ready? Set? Go!
So, THIS is what I look like.
And doesn't her daughter look JUST like her. Well, and Mike, too. Fun, fun... Thanks Jenn.
Friday, July 27, 2007
WOHOO... what a day!
Yes, there are good things about rain: don't have to water the grass; don't have to MOW the grass (LOL... too wet to mow - at least that's what DH keeps saying!); There are BAD things about rain: TWO SMALL BOYS INSIDE FOR TWO MONTHS, Flooding, MOSQUITOS
Okay, anyway... sidetracked...
So, I had a FABULOUS day. I went down to San Antonio today and spent the afternoon with Jenn! OMG... she's so fun! I knew that already but we have never just hung out. It had been 2 years since I last saw her (can you believe that?). Well, I did have a baby in between that time!
We had lunch, then we hit Stampantonio (I'm disappointed, I must say). And then I visited the Mothership... and you thought you had a lot of stuff! ;). But after seeing Jenn's AWESOME stamp room and it is such a bright, cheery, happy place, I came home, ate dinner and went shopping to get yet more storage/organizational stuff. Geez, thanks Jenn. Now, my stamp room is a disaster and I'm stuck trying to figure out how to put it all back together again... did I mention I have a class tomorrow night? Yikes... luckily not in that room BUT it would be nice if I could find all the stuff for the class, wouldn't it?
Back to Jenn... I'm so blessed to be able to call her my friend. Thanks Jenn for a fantabulous day and for bringing sunshine to my rainy day!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Rain, rain, rain...
Is it raining where you are?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Another Baroque Pomegranate card
But yet, this set and those colors have a hold of me. Maybe it's that they speak to the desire to make elegant looking stuff part of me. It's the middle of July and already the back to school stuff is out. Today, I got my holiday mini in the mail. So, maybe my mind is already on to the Fall and the holidays as far as colors and themes go. Isn't it funny how it can be 95 degrees outside, wearing shorts, drinking ice cold (I would say sippin' Ice Tea but bleck, don't like that stuff) Diet Coke weather and everyone's gearing up for the holidays? I guess we all are a season ahead.
Last night, I held my first ever new catalog open house come buy some retired sets workshop at my house. I invited everyone to bring their retired sets and try to get rid of them and get some good deals on others. For the new catalog part, we made one card using yes, the Baroque Motifs set. The colors were similar to the previous card I posted over the weekend but still has a different feel to the card. I think.
Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock, Always Artichoke, Gold
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock, Versamark
Accessories: Gold embossing powder, heat gun, dimensionals
I couldn't bring myself to put a sentiment on it. The only one that spoke to me was Merry Christmas and it's JUST TOO EARLY for that :).
Wanna help keep Splitcoast alive?
Well, there is a FAN club, of which, I am a proud member!! The membership into this club does HAVE its privileges. As a member you get access to the Fan Club gallery, where the best of the best artists have created such wonderful treasures.
Join today - they have something special in store for members! Here is more info!
Something special is happening today and only club members will have access!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
A Muse full card swap
Uh, so, even though Amuseapalooza is over, I signed up for not one, but TWO more A Muse swaps. This time crazystampchick, aka Michelle, started these. AND she wouldn't just stop at one swap... no, then 2 and finally 3! I did have some restraint and stopped at 2! Isn't that good of me? :)
So, on to the cards already....
Card 1:
Stamps: A Muse
Card stock: SU! Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, WW
Ink:
Accessories: Celery SU! Grosgrain, baby diaper pin, Rectangle Giga Scallop punch, Dimensionals
Card 2:
Stamps: A Muse, Paper Trey Borders
Card stock: SU! Taken with teal, WW, polka dot from Target
Ink: Palette Noir, Markers
Accessories: Stickles, SU! Grosgrain, Scallop circle punch
Teal, can you believe it? You can't see the stickles but they are on there. That little present is from my trip to Stamp Salado last week for my birthday!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Hope for a cure Breast Cancer ATC Swap
Here's an excerpt from her original post:
Every August, I host a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society to raise money for reseach and awareness for breast cancer through Longaberger's Horizon of Hope (HOH) campaign. All of the Horizon of Hope baskets that are donated from this fundraiser are given directly to recently diagnosed patients in Omaha's local oncology unit. Last year, my group donated 26 baskets. This year, I thought it would be sweet to put a little card of encouragement in each basket. And the ATCs are the perfect size since the HOH baskets are small too.So, here is the ATC I made for the swap using the retired SU! sets Hope is and Hope.
Stamps: Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: SU! Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Palette Noir, SU! Pixie Pink
Ribbon: May Arts
Thanks Karen for spreading a little sunshine.
NEW A MUSE stuff is UP!!!
Hostess club from Friday
First, the box... it's a regular ol' 2, 4, 6, 8 box. It's in the new SU! In Color Soft Sky (isn't it pretty). We wheeled it with the SU! Petals jumbo wheel in Bashful Blue. We put a window on it (although mine isn't centered! DOH!) with the tag punch and acetate.
Next, we did the Faux Tearing technique. What a simple technique. The present is from the new set, Year After Year. It has dazzling diamonds on it (see Jenn, I do use glitter!). The card stock is Apricot Appeal, Lavender Lace, and Whisper White.
Now, this set is SO not be but it is so elegant and beautiful and I REALLY like it. I guess sometimes even if it's not your style, you can really love it. Baroque Motifs is the set. And let's talk about Purely Pomegranate again for a sec... LOVE IT... LOVE IT... LOVE IT. I bought one pack of card stock.to try it out and now I need more! The technique is embossing in color with the Classic Ink Pads. Card stock is Purely Pomegranate, River Rock, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla.
ETA - The pomegranate square thingy is embossed. It's very beautiful in RL. (well, I think so!).
What do you think about these cards?
And if you're in my new technique club that starts this Friday... you may or may not see these cards/techniques! :)
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Holy Batgirl...
ETA: Okay, so after a couple of emails, I figured I better edit this post... no, unfortunately it's not a color combiner book. I only made those original ones and they are all gone. This is a post-it note holder, that can be refilled. The post-it notes are this color green too... this is why I picked green galore ;). So, sorry Batgirl.... I wish I did have more of those color books... maybe I'll get around to making some more someday!
Well, I haven't mailed off your blog candy yet, but it scheduled to leave my house tomorrow! Sorry for the delay. I packaged up some of this and some that so I hope you like it. But most importantly, I hope you like GREEN. No, no... not the money kind of Green. This kind:
Stamps: all A Muse
Ink: SU! Green Galore
Paper: SU! Green Galore, WW, and that white semi-gloss chipboard CS I bought at a paper supply store
Accessories: Giga scallop punch, Mega circle punch, Rubicoil, Lime Stickles, May Arts Ribbon
Thanks for the SU! birthday presents!
Okay, I know my b'day was last week but I'm still in the 3 week celebration period! I sure do have a lot of cutting to do! Not complaining... of course.
Happy, happy, joy, joy....
Friday, July 20, 2007
Crazy Stamp Chick...
Do you know her? Her name is Michelle. She was in the AMUSEAPALOOZA contest with me. And you know what this crazy stampin' chick has done???
She has voted me as a Rockin' Girl Blogger. Can you freakin' believe that? Okay, let's analyze shall we? (you all knew this was coming.... when don't I over analyze something! :P
Rockin' = have no idea
Girl = yep, I qualify
Blogger = one who blogs... okay, yes, I qualify there.
2 out of 3 ain't so bad ;).
SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU Michelle. It's such an "ego" builder.
And now the tag part... ugh, does anyone like to do this part? I always feel like I am leaving someone out. I hate that.
So, I'm ONLY going to tag one... AND I'm certain she's been tagged before and I'm also certain she doesn't play these games very much. But I feel it is my duty to tag her.
Jenn, my dear, sweet fabulous friend. You are now a "rockin' girl blogger". But we all already knew that.
Did I ever tell you this story?
*Here's the exact post I had on Splitcoast:
Just wanted to share this really weird thing... I still can't believe this.
A week ago Saturday (May 19th), I mailed out 15 invitations for my son's
birthday party. Here is what the invitation looks like. They were all in clear envelopes. The clear envelope had a white paper that had the addressee name and return address on it and the card. The card had a piece of white printer paper with all the details glued on the inside.
We invited a couple of our neighbors but I emailed one of them on Monday (the 21st) just to make sure she got it. She lives 5 or so houses down so mail takes 1 day to get to her. Nope, nothing yet. Nothing Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. Finally, on Friday she gets it.
Here's the weird part... she got the white paper with her address on it. AND just the white printer paper from the inside of the card. It was clearly ripped off the card and stuck in the envelope and mailed to her.
HOW BIZARRE IS THAT? Someone at the post office or somewhere STOLE my card? WHY would they do that? And why not just take the whole thing? VERY STRANGE.
My friend was thinking to file a complaint with the post office. We'll see if that does anything. It's not the first time her mail has been tampered with.
Isn't that just weird???
Okay, thanks for listening... just had to share.
Here is the original thread if you want to see what happened to others.
Has anything weird happened to you with the mail or the clear envelopes? I actually stopped mailing them (still use them for hand delivery) because of this.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
POLL - opened again...
More retired sets added...
Thanks!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Mod Podge vs. Me
I made a bunch of color combiner books with my new Bind-it-All. I made these for some dear friends of mine. What's a color combiner book, you ask? Well, it's a little bound flip book that you can match up different colors to see if they go together. This is made with all the SU! 48 colors, some of the neutrals, and the new 2008 In Colors. Jenn made me a rubicoil version when I signed under her a couple of years ago. I use that thing almost daily. Well, that's because I'm COLOR Challenged... I can never pick colors that go together - except purples :).
Things I learned:
- I HATE MOD PODGE. I knew this going in but still tried it and failed miserably. And then left the project for a couple of weeks because I was disgusted.
- I DON'T like making covers. Part of this is the mod podge thing but then I switched to mono glue (not tape) and it, too, was sticky and yucky. So, basically I scrapped (as in TRASHED) all of those covers - YUCK.
- Use simple, nice, semi-glossy white chipboard for the covers. Then stamp whatever on them... and only have to decorate one side. I have a TON of this cardstock that I got at a Paper Supply store a couple of years ago. It's very nice.
- Bind-it-all is very easy to use.
CS: White covers from paper supply; Pink Polka dot paper from Making Memories (thanks Evalyn - this is from your scraps!), Inside cardstock all SU!
Ink: SU! Pink Passion
Ribbon: May Arts Hot Pink Grosgrain
One project down.... a zillion more to go. :)
WINNER!
Janam Din ki badhai! or Janam Din ki shubkamnaayein! |
Know where I got that from? Here. There is a whole list of different languages saying Happy Birthday. Gotta love the internet!
Okay, on to the winner... Random.org picked:
Melanie (aka Batgirl)!
Congrats, Melanie! Please email me your address and I'll get your winnings to you.
Again, thanks everyone for playing!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
POLL - help me decide....
And guess, what? I've been working on the HOLIDAYS! Yeah, you heard me. Not "my" Christmas stuff... just getting some stuff for others off my plate.
Last year, my mom asked me to do some cards for her to send to our families. Well, she had some requirements... not religious, not cutesie, etc. So, I figure the same rules apply this year. And basically I wanted a reason to buy the Thomas Kinkade stuff from Cornish Heritage Farms. Have you seen that stuff? Oh my!
So, here are my two cards:
Handsome Hunter/Purely Pomegranate with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter all over it:
Night of Navy/Purely Pomegranate (no glitter):
I think the end result WILL have glitter all over it. It just adds something nice. So, visual the navy one with glitter on it.
Okay, so the POLL thing... There is a poll on the right side (over there ===> ) for you to vote until tomorrow night, which you like better.
Let's talk about my birthday so far...
My birthday has ALWAYS been a great day. I usually celebrate for 3 weeks: the week before, the week during and the week after. So many family and friends to celebrate with. Why have only one big party and not many little parties ;)? Anyway, having kids and young ones for that matter give an extra special fun aspect to birthdays. I'll say one thing... you can't really plan much with small kids.
My 1 year-old is such a happy camper and so laid back. He doesn't even cry if he hasn't napped. He refuels with food and he's good to go. Well, at about 1:30 last night, I heard THAT cry over the monitor. You know, the one that you know it will be a long night. It lasted for a split second and then it was gone. Until 2:30am. Then he was really bad off. REALLY HIGH TEMPERATURE and only wanted Mommy to hold him. So, from 2:30am to 5:30am, he slept on my head. Literally. One stupid thing I do, is not move to get comfortable because I don't want to wake him up. So, 5:30 he wakes up my DH. Gave him Motrin and we all slept for a bit longer. The fever broke. YAY! Then 30 mins later my 5 year old woke up. Hmmm. Uh, Happy birthday mom!
Besides that... My DH planned a road trip for us today. He took me to Salado (about an hour from our house), Texas so that I could go to Stamp Salado (they carry A Muse stamps there ... and did I mention no one in Austin does). We had lunch there too. Yummy. I remember going to that quaint little town when I was in high school. So much fun. AND STAMP SALADO is awesome. HOW DO they stay in business in a small town? I don't know.
I met Mark (who works there) of Deadbeat Designs. He is very cool and his stamps are awesome. I picked up a couple of his designs. I also got some new A Muse stamps. They didn't have the ones I was looking for but I did get some. Veronica, look very closely at the picture... see anything you like? It's from Mark at Deadbeat Designs. Hook 'em!
Anyway, here's my loot from today's trip. I have to thank my dear husband for such a GREAT birthday (he also bought me a bunch of SU! new catalog stuff that's not here yet!). The boys were good given the circumstances. Anyway, YAY! Stamp Stuff! Always on my wish list! :)
Jenn is FABULOUS!
She made this for my purple stamp room. Do you remember this post on her blog? She talks all about the creation of it there. I SIMPLY LOVE IT. Thank you so much Jenn. I wouldn't be doing this without you. And now, every time I look up and see it on my wall, I'll think of you!
Don't I just have the coolest upline ever? :) Oh, she sent me some "business stuff" too and a really PRETTY birthday card. I just love you, Jenn! THANK YOU!
Monday, July 16, 2007
BIRTHDAY CANDY!
Let's celebrate!
Candy will include some chipboard coasters, ribbon, scallop punch outs, bella images, and some other stuff I can find! (Gimme a break... it's 1 AM!).
Leave a comment on this thread saying "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" in all the languages you know!
ETA #2: Deadline for entry Midnight July 17th, Central Time; winner will be picked randomly from entries
ETA: Compiled List (this is quite fun to me, if only I could pronounce them!):
- Hewbrew - Yom Huledet Same'ach!
- Spanish - Feliz Cumpleanos
- Texan - "Happy Birthday, Y'all"
- French - Bonne fete!
- Finnish - Hyvää syntymäpäivää!
- Swedish - Grattis på födelsedagen!
- Estonian Language -Palju onne sunnipaevaks!
- 3 year-old - haaaappy birfday !
- Bulldog - WOOF! WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!
- High German - Alles gute zum Geburtstag
- Latin - fortuna dies natalis
- American Sign Language - picture me signing "happy birthday" to you (LOL!)
- 2 year-old - Hoppy Birfday!!
- Holland - Hartelijk gefeliciteerd
- French - Bon anniversaire
- Portungues: feliz anniversario!
- Korean: Seng-il Chook-ha Ham-ni-da
- German: Zum Geburstag Viel Gluck!
- Longhornese: Hook 'em Horns for yer birtday **** I especially love this one ;)
- Klingon: Quchjaj qoSlIj! **** HA!
- Russian: S dniom razhdjenia! or Pazdravliayu s dniom razhdjenia!
- Chinese: Sun Yat Fai Lok!
- Japanese: Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu!
- Pig Latin: appyhay irthdaybay
- Chinese: Sheng Ri Kwai Le!
- Korean: Sang il chuk ha hap ni da!
- Greek: Eytyxismena Genethlia
- Canadian: Happy birthday, eh?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Stampin' Up! Retired Sets for sale
Anyway, I've cleaned OUT (not to be confused with cleaned UP - LOL) my stamp room. I've pulled all the retired Stampin' Up! sets that I want to get rid of.
Please let me know if you're interested. Prices do not include shipping. They are all mounted except the Expressive Flexible Phrases, which is New, Unmounted. All come from a smoke-free house. Let me know if you are interested! Thanks so much.
| Set | Retail Price | | Status |
1 | A Light Heart | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
2 | All the Best | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
3 | AYC 2 | $29.95 | $24.00 | |
4 | AYC 3 | $29.95 | $24.00 | |
5 | Baby Firsts | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
6 | Balmy Breezes | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
7 | Birthday Beauty | $14.95 | $12.00 | Sold |
8 | Blooming with Happiness | $10.00 | $8.00 | |
9 | By Design | $14.95 | $12.00 | |
10 | Cheesecloth BG | $16.95 | $14.00 | |
11 | Classic Pickups | $22.95 | $18.00 | Sold |
12 | Computer Quips | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
13 | Dots & Daisies BG | $16.95 | $14.00 | Sold |
14 | Eclectic BG | $16.95 | $14.00 | |
15 | Elegant Greetings | $26.95 | $22.00 | |
16 | Ephemera BG | $16.95 | $14.00 | |
17 | Expressive Flexible Phrases | $39.95 | $32.00 | |
18 | First in Fashion | $16.95 | $14.00 | Sold |
19 | French Script BG | $16.95 | $14.00 | |
20 | Fun Filled | $16.95 | $14.00 | |
21 | Girlfriends | $21.95 | $18.00 | Sold |
22 | Going Out in Style | $19.95 | $16.00 | Sold |
23 | | $29.95 | $24.00 | |
24 | | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
25 | I Love Soccer | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
26 | Living Large | $22.95 | $18.00 | |
27 | Loving Hearts | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
28 | Quick Thinking | $12.95 | $10.00 | |
29 | Reason to smile | $10.00 | $8.00 | |
30 | Ruff Day | $17.95 | $14.00 | |
31 | | $28.95 | $23.00 | Sold |
32 | Simple Circles | $17.95 | $14.00 | |
33 | Simple shapes | $22.95 | $18.00 | |
34 | Stampin' Fun for Everyone | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
35 | Stipple Rose | $12.95 | $10.00 | |
36 | Sweet Talk | $9.95 | $8.00 | |
37 | The world over | $10.00 | $8.00 | |
38 | Tidy Alphabet | $26.95 | $22.00 | |
39 | Tidy Numbers | $16.95 | $14.00 | Sold |
40 | Time with You | $22.95 | $18.00 | |
41 | Totally Cool | $19.95 | $16.00 | Sold |
42 | Trim the Tree | $19.95 | $16.00 | |
43 | Vogue Verses | $19.95 | $16.00 | Sold |
44 | | $26.95 | $22.00 | |
45 | Whimsical Alphabet Upper | $26.95 | $22.00 | |
46 | Winged Things | $21.95 | $18.00 | |