Luv Bug

I made this card over the weekend; I got the idea for the leaves (which I think look more like feathers) from one of my old scrapbooking magazines that I dug out of my box of tricks.  The layout was much nicer in the magazine, but I think mine turned out pretty good.  I'm going to make another one for my best friend, but this time I'll use more colors, and try to do white lettering somehow.  The monochromatic middle was calling to me, but I only had bigger black letters... will have to make a trip to Michael's.  By the way, the Scotch tape runner thingy is pretty cool, but I never imagined that it'd take time to learn how to use, and loading it was a pain in the ass.  But, I do have to say, it's nice to shelf the glue 50% of the time.  Now, the little bees: I'm in LOVE with them!  I really, really, REALLY should have gotten more embellishments last weekend, they were half off and I had coupons.  I got some teddy bears, the bees and pins, and I can live with that.  The thing is, everytime you buy something at Michael's, they give you a 40% off one item coupon good for the next week, so... yeah, it's a circle.  I guess I could have worse vices (as I well know, in my work). 
I've been really enjoying my weekends since I haven't had anything that I HAD to do, or anywhere to be... it's nice to stay at home and clean, organize, do cards, read and watch movies.  This weekend I watched this movie called "Catfish"; it was off the hook.  Crazy, entertaining, but crazy and not in a good way... creepy.  I recommend it.  I'm almost finished with "The Alienist" and have a Theodore Roosevelt bio on deck for next.  Since the book I'm reading now has Teddy in it (as a pretty big character), I'm ready to read more about him... it's a longer read, so I'm going to have to carry that around.  Ugh. 
Since the weather's been so cold, I'm glad that we are at least getting sun... I keep my shades open during the day and my office gets nice and warm.  No complaints here! 

I want Skooby's again!

I want Skooby's again!

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Congrats!

I made this card this weekend for my sister; I got some more ribbon and this little doily (sp?) and cute straight pins at Michael's.  I love their store in Glendale; I had coupons that wouldn't work until today or tomorrow and the cashier gave me one (50% off one item!!) that I used immediately.  That has NEVER happened at my Michael's in Santa Monica.  They are mean there, they actually laughed once when I asked them if they had a mailer I could get coupons out of.  Anyway, that's the card I made last night while watching a scary movie.  I like it. :)

Lotsa Stuff

This card is one that I like especially.  I started with the panels and just went from there.  There are little gold glitter polka dots, but I don't think the camera picked them up very well.  The lady bug doesn't really "go" with the card, but I thought it needed a splash of color and so she gets to stay.  I have lots of these little buttons of turtles, daisys and stuff, but haven't used them much.  Ahh, but today I got a few coupons for Michael's and am planning on doing a little bit of damage.  I will incorporate more buttons to my collection and use them more.  I plan on getting this tape runner:

This type of tool eliminates the use (mostly) of glue, and that is awesome!  See, glue tends to get on the little fingers, dirtying up the nice card that I've spent all that time on and makes me kick the wall.  I think it's around $40, but I have a 40% off coupon for it, and now it'll be mine!  I'm so glad I'm not THAT impulsive and can wait it out.  I'll have gotten the damn thing, and at a better price.  Take THAT Michael's!  I also need more cards & envelopes, neutral, black & white cardstock and some patterned paper.  I think it's time for a new stamp set as well.  If I were smart, I'd just buy the freakin' plotter and be done with it, but I know I'll wait that out, too.  I just can't see spending money, knowing that I can wait a bit and get a better deal down the line.  So, I wait.  Last night, I made a card for my co-worker's grandfather.  She call's him........

... Other Daddy!  He's a sweet, sweet man who is 98 years old!  She loved it, and so I'm happy.  Those flowers are the ones I snagged from Mosckatell's, you should know!  So, this weekend is going to be spent running errands: craft materials, some stuff for my new niece (who will be here in 3-4 weeks!!), and a deeeeeeeep cleaning of my house.  I just don't let two weeks pass before I'm cleaning floors, walls, windows and stuff... it just doesn't feel right.  I am looking for concert tickets for my brother to see the Deftones in July also.  I hope to find him a good deal. 

Three day weekend, so I will definitely post all my work from those days on Tuesday... yaaaaaaaaaay!

:)

Sigh of Relief!!

Well, folks, the baby shower was really nice, and I'm happy to say that everything went off without a hitch.  Mom and I arrived to my aunt's house around 10am and got going with decorating and setting up tables, frosting the cupcakes and getting all last minute details laid out.  Guests began arriving in clumps and we ate straight away: manicotti, it was great.  Once I sat down and ate, things just flowed from there.  My mom got the games going, and we were cracking up! After the games, I had my sister open her gifts; she got so many beautiful things.  Once the teenagers came and were hovering around the champagne punch, things were coming to a close.  We had 80 degree day, and when the sun started to set, and the day got cooler, we decided it was time to clean up.  My sister was so happy and appreciative with the whole thing, it was SO worth all the effort.  I would do it again, and will once she has baby #2.  Let's hope she waits awhile, though!!! 

The only thing left to do is wait for this baby to decide she's ready to come out; I've gotta start practicing looking at blood, since she wants me in the room.  EEEEK!  I'm more nervous than I'm letting on, and if it's as gnarly as they say, I'm in for it.  I think I'm as nervous as she is in all of this!!

This Valentine's Day I became a hairstylist!  I cut Sam's hair, and it looks pretty good, if I do say so myself.  It's kind of a new wave-ish 'do; it's kind of shaved on the sides and tall on top... can't describe, but it looks good!  I wish I could have Vanessa (old roomate, dope hairstylist) see what I did, so she can laugh! Whatever, I think I did good.  I would post a pic here, but I think he wouldn't like that. 

As for work, I'm getting real excited for a possible conference in Washington DC coming up in March.  I saw the proposed budget for it, and it looks like I'm included; we're looking at five days.  I have never been to DC, but it looks like fun.  Too bad it's not closer to NY, I'd make sure to get over there for a night or two to visit old friends and the city that I miss so much.  (L.A., you suck! Why can't you be more friendly, like NY?)  My phone keeps ringing, and I'm getting a little flustered, so I'll end this here.  I hope the rain won't really come until tonight when I'm warm in bed.  Do I smell a sick day coming soon????

:)

I feel the LUV

Oof, if only every card came out like this one... I am so happy with it.  I managed to keep it simple-ish, and not go overboard with the embelllishments (I think).  The silvery string that I tied around the circle should have been gold, but we'll let it pass this time.  I'm really loving the Stampin' Up string that I've been seeing around since Christmastime; it comes in white & red, white & black, etc.... I'm going to have to get some.  The flowers were a 33 cent score from Moskatell's near Skid Row downtown... I think I should go back and clean them out.  Their sales are actually sales, which is nice.  BUT, I digress.  I have tried to make a card that a woman can give to a man, but am failing miserably.  I can't make a masculine Valentine's day card!  Oh well. 

Tonight I'm making the mini cupcakes for my sister's baby shower tomorrow (!!!!), and assembling the manicotti.  I had to mention to my mom that we'll need some vegitarian manicot, and so will need to make some sauce sans meat as well.  Other than that, the salad, the antipasto platter and flower arrangements are the last part of this long haul.  I hope everything works out!  (Crossing fingers and toes) 

Another warm, sunny day; I plan on taking "The Alienist" (by Caleb Carr, what an interesting book, I can't believe I slept on it for so long!!) outside today at lunch and actually not work through lunch.  I really would have stayed home and read all day if I thought of it...

Well, you asked!!

This is a squashed pic of the card I made last night.  I managed to make it while watching Inception (again, what an awesome movie), and I also managed to pay attention to all the movie details!  I hope it wins movie of the year, and not only because Joseph Gordon Levitt is so hot, but because the Asian guy is, as well. :)  No, but really, it was very entertaining, I highly recommend it.  I must run it back to the Red Box machine very soon, otherwise that damn thing is going to rob me again.  I love renting movies for $1, but when you forget to return it for a week, it's annoying.  Anyway, back to the card... I used my glue gun for the little embellishments on the top and mastered the round things that I have had so much trouble with in the past.  I guess it's all about that hot glue.  Tonight, I'll keep going with the V-Day cards so that I can hustle at work and make enough for a down payment on a movie this weekend.  That's a joke, but only sort of... I mean, the damn movies around here charge $14 per ticket and then $5 per soda and $10 for popcorn!  It's highway robbery, and by the end of the day you feel like you've gotten it up the center divider.  Not fun, not for me, even if I'm not paying.  Valentine's Day falls on a Monday this year, so I plan on just making dinner at home, maybe movies during the weekend.  I see V Day as another money-making, cheese ball "holiday" that is mainly for children and new couples... I mean, if you're in a great relationship, every day should be Valentine's Day, don't you think?  If you're in a shitty one, well, who gives a fuck?  I'm in the third category: I don't need a special day and chocolates for an opportunity to say, "I love you".  Further, I don't need those things from somebody else to FEEL loved.  No, all I need is a pat on the back once in awhile and the good sense to be lied to when I ask, "How was dinner?" :)  Don't you dare tell me my enchiladas were anything less than a miracle... I don't wanna have to slap somebody (although, I've been feeling an itch to do so very recently).  Any volunteers?

Have a nice day.

Good Effort, Chowder-Head!

These two cards were made last night especially for my co-worker Cindy.  I guess I work a little better with a direction in mind, with an idea of who the card is for.  I had these little foxes in mind for the birthday card all along, but to do a passable Hello Kitty?  Yeah, well.  I think they worked in the end, and I'm happy with the outcome.  I'm concerned about the appearance of the glue, though... not happy about that.  The "good glue" is super expensive, but I guess it's necessary here.  The flash catches it a bit more, I think. 

So, tonight I have to make some more Valentine's cards and unload them at work... I wish I could just take one day and make cards in my office where I have great light and I'm not half-dead sleepy like I am at the end of the day.  Maybe I will next week.  Now that the intern is doing much more and has the hang of things, I'm finally feeling some slack here.  It got crazy for a minute.  I will be getting one more client on my caseload, but that's IT.  After our new electronic system gets going, things should get even more simple around here.  It's been a tough year, but I'm better under pressure... :)

I'm being...

WATCHED!!!!! Woo-ahh-ahh-ahhhhhhhhh! 

Moving on... I have things to do today, must get moving on the finishing touches of the baby shower that is this Saturday.  Oooooh, and it's Valentine's Day this week, as someone reminded me... I wonder what I'll get!  I plan on making little cards for my co-workers and to my immediate family as well.  Here's what I did last night, and the night before:

happy chinese new year!!

happy chinese new year!!

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Sew Happy Together!

I CASE'd a card from Denise January's site (stampwithsass.blogspot.com), because lately my creativity is tapped... don't you hate it when you hit a wall and get blocked?  I am there... it's very frustrating, because it comes at a time when I feel like doing the most.  So, there you have it, I'm a biter (sorry D!)  Anyway, I've been neck deep in baby shower stuff, so I have tons of pastel colored paper and embellishments, I have to begin my Valentine's cards so I can get everyone covered.  I plan on giving some away at work, and sending some to my friends' homes as well.  This is a card-giving holiday, I need to get a move on.  I hope today continues to stay sunny....

:)

is anybody there??

is anybody there??

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Peace Out

Seen on Vermont Ave. near Franklin Ave. in Silverlake on 1/31/11.