Bingo!!

This card is the child of the Celebration paper pad I got the other day.  One page had all these cutouts, and the bingo cards were a no-brainer.  My mother is the world's biggest bingo queen, and I HAD to make her a card asap.  (Ma, if you're reading this, sorry for the spoiler!)  I couldn't think of a better way to use those cute little cards.  I used some dimension squares (99 cent store score) to make them pop and the little flags were also cutout from that page.  The ribbon ties on the sides were a last minute addition that I think is genius.  HELLO?  Yeah, I pretty much rule.

Yesterday, Sam got the second part to Elijah's birthday gift, part one was an Obey book, works by Shepherd Fairey; the gallery owner where he works got him this, signed:

Funny part about it is I picture Elijah looking like this when he's a little older, and if he were a skeleton, haha.  Our boy is in his teens now, what a trip!!  Plus he's on the Honor Society, so he's smart too.  Last weekend, Elijah pitched for his team, The Rays, for the first time and his mom said he did real well.  I am SO proud of Elijah!!

Today is gray and rainy again, I sure hope the sun comes out after the morning marine layer evaporates, and gives us some warmth...

XO

Recent Stuff

The two cards pictured at the top were made last night, but this one in red was from Sunday.  I like the top ones very much, but not the red one.  I guess you can't always have great outcomes.  The apple card was a real surprise, because the idea came to me when I saw a rubber stamp of an apple core, but I didn't think it'd translate well enough to a die, but I think it did.  The tree was a total whim, I just started cutting slim triangular branches and it went from there.  I'm happy I got to use some of my stones, as I never get to, really.  I hate how corny they can make a project look, so I'm really careful.  The camera in glitter was from one of my clear stamps.  It didn't really come out the way I wanted it to, and the paper, I think, is just sorta stale.  Whatevs, can't always be right.  It usually surprises me, though, that the cards that I don't always really like are sold first.  Weird. 

So, I went to Jo-Ann yesterday at lunch to get a new Xacto knife (I ended up getting a different brand WITH five blades for $2 something with a 40% off sale) and saw they had a Sizzix Mini in the caged-off sale rack for less than $6!  I didn't have time to wait for a sales person to come and open it up to take a look, but I think I need to go and clean them out, if only for eBay sales.  I need to check and see how their small dies are priced.... anyway, it's worth it to check out all corners of that store, they have so many good deals.  I also got a paper pad called "Celebration" that has lots of birthday themed stuff, that's where the brown paper for "You're The Best" came from, not that it looks birthday-ey. 

It's cold, rainy and gray here in L.A. today... :(  I hate this kind of weather.  I hope it will rain all day, then and be less ugly the rest of the week. 

XO

BellaBella

Anabella came over this weekend on her way to a party... she had on a pretty dress, and her socks looked like maryjane shoes.  Very cute. 

Friday Freakout!

Well, folks, I've begun my love affair with glitter and stamps!  I got one of those Martha Stewart glitter kits with my 40% off coupon, and I was so pleased that it came with rub-on transfers.  I have lots of wood mounted and clear stamps, but those transfers are NICE.  It included six ultra fine glitters in assorted colors, a rubbing stick and four sheets of different sentiments and images.  Score.  I did have to purchase a glue pad and filler on the side, though, but that's for when I want to use glitter on my regular stamps.  I have to say, I wasn't big on the stamping before, and I DETEST those corny cards that have stupid pictures of, like, a little girl rollerblading or something, and then rendered with color pencils.  Can you say "old lady"?  Yeah, but then I went and found some cooler stamps, some with fresh sentiments and cute images, so...  yeah, I'm a die hard die cut shape fiend turned on to stamping, who knew?  I also have to say that Hero Arts (heroarts.com) has some fckn AWESOME stamps.  I must get the bicycle series, and maybe some of the background stuff.  I just need to figure out how to incorporate more stamping into my cards and scrapbook.  (ScrapbooK, singular since I just purchased my first one for my niece)

Well, here's what I did last night.  It was a quiet night, after work Sam went to two art shows and I was in quiet all evening... I have to say, though, I should have gone to the art walk downtown, those are usually fun.  Next year.

You can't really see the brilliance of the glitter in this photo, but it really sparkles.  I like how the glitter kit had useable sentiments like the one on that card for Jennifer who is graduating tomorrow.  So... yeah, I like this card.

Now, that sentiment was from one of my wood mounted stamps.  I HAD to get that one when I saw it, how cute is that???  The only problem is that if you press too hard on the stamp and glue gets on any part other than where it's supposed to be, your mistake is shining in glitter. 

That tag is pretty cute, I think... I just couldn't find the right paper to combine it with for a card.  But, it's also good to have tags like this on deck for when I am ready.  I need to get some "Happy Birthday", "Happy Anneversary" and tags like that together for real emergencies.  Yesterday was Tim's birthday and I didn't have a card for him... I felt SO bad since I'm the damn card lady at work!  I had to factory reset my phone recently, and lost all my phone numbers and appointments on my calendar.  T-Mobile is a jerk I'd like to punch.  Anyway, I am fully proud of those three projects and even though I think the cards are on the simple side, they are pretty good. 

This weekend I will see Anabella on Sunday.  Tonight I'm going to the gym after work, and then will continue on with some more projects I've got sketched.  Tomorrow is all cleaning and I got everything for fettucini alfredo with chicken.  MMMMM.  I'm  hungry for that now, actually. 

xo

F$%k Wednesday

If I had a dollar for every time I felt like slapping somebody, I'd be rich.  I'm super annoyed today, and need some SERIOUS relief.  I'm going to attempt to slither out of this mood and really get into a better one.  Okay...

So, I made another graduation card last night, and here it is:

I think it turned out really great until I scrawled the A+ on there using a half dead red marker (one of my newer ones, wtf??) and ruined it.  I guess it's okay, but I hate it when you think somethings great and then you gotta go and f$%k it up.  UGH.  Whatevs, I know Whitney will like it, and that's what matters here.  The cap and 2011 dies were found at Jo-Ann in the dollar bin when I was out on my lunchtime walk yesterday.  I can't ever resist going in there and checking out the deals.  I have in my bag a Martha Stewart craft collection coupon for 40% off one regularly priced item, and I won't lie, that sucker is burning a hole in it.  I'm going to use it for either a glitter set with glue inkpad, or an embossing heat tool.  The only thing is, with the embossing set, I have to get: the heating gun, powder(s), AND the glue stamp pad.  It's a lot more than just getting the glitter stuff... we'll see.  I also would love to have one of those embossing machines, but I'll wait until my birthday to maybe request a Cricut, finally.  :)  See, I'm already feeling better.  Things I can control -- this is what I'm going to concentrate on today. 

Case conference is today, and we're having California Chicken Cafe: YUM.  I'm also going to see my niece just for a moment soon, and give her a big 'ol kiss and hug.  That'll help. :)  I love that little girl, and seeing her yesterday made my day, so... I can't wait to see her.  She's getting bigger, her cheeks are chubbier and she loves to SMILE!!!  She's so smart, when she was leaned over in her car seat, she righted herself all BY herself!  What an amazing child, only a month old and already trying to sit straight like a lady.  Oh, I can't wait until she can come over and stay with Auntie. :)

Feeling better!  Let's see if I can hold that for the rest of the day....

XO

Sky is the limit

I made this card last night for Nikki, one of our interns who is graduating this weekend.  I had to have Sam teach me how to make a paper airplane, which was funny, but I finally got it!  I seriously didn't GET it, and he told me it's not a girl thing, which I found very funny. :)  Anyways, I think this is an appropriate sentiment for a young lady graduating from USC, about to head out into the world and find her way, don't you?  I do.  Um, I  have two more cards to make, one for Whitney and one for Jennifer.  Then our five graduates will be outta the way and I can get started on Father's Day, isn't that the next cockamamie holiday coming up?  Shoot, I have to say it, I'm overwhelmed sometimes by the amount of freakin'  holidays we're bombarded with!  As a card slanger, I guess I shouldn't be annoyed, as I always sell out on those big card-giving whoppers, but sheesh!  I guess if anyone does deserve a holiday, it IS my Daddy, so I'm all cool with that one. 

It's almost time to go home now, so gotta run. 
xo

Best Weekend EVER

So, Friday night Stephanie texts me asking if I'd like to go and see Prince in concert... HELLO?!  Yeah, so we went, it was at the Forum and that was nice because since the Staples Center came along, things are never held at the Forum anymore.  I guess it is a smaller venue, but it was NICE to be so close.  I know it doesn't look like it from the photo, but I was able to see the little guy and the video monitors helped, too.  He played all his old songs, and when he did Purple Rain, all this purple confetti came bursting out of the sky... it was AWESOME!  Sheila E. stopped by for a few songs, and the place went wild for her.  One of the Pussycat dolls came, and Pervert Prince played "Little Nikki" for her, I loved that!  Prince is a hallmark of a very good time in my young life, and so I think I'm always going to associate him and his music with only good things.  I remember having fun in those days, watching Purple Rain with good friends... watching it now I just can't believe I was allowed to watch it at that age!  Anyway, the show was great, Prince is a true entertainer, a true musician and I gotta give it to him for seriously making that place lose it.  I screamed myself hoarse, and danced all night, it was a great time.  He announced that he'll have something like 13 more shows in L.A. and I fully mean to go to at least one more show... I mean, they're only $25!  I think it's great he honored his fans with an affordable show.  Yeah, the beers were $12, but hey... :)

Here's the cards I made last night:

I got my new scrapbooks etc. magazine in the mail on Friday, and it had a layout with this bottle of soda on it; I had to recreate, and I think it came out pretty good.  I made my shape a little curvier, and the label different, I don't want to be a total biter.  These cards never sell, though... oh well.  I can give it to someone who's having a hard time.

This was also inspired by that layout that inspired the soda bottle.  I used the table cloth paper for obvious reasons, but I worry that the hotdog doesn't pop as much as if I would've used a darker paper.  Oh well, I like how it turned out... I used this paint Sam gave me for the mustard, and I LOVE how it came out.  You can't tell, but it definitely has shine... love it. :)

So, Mother's Day was a completely rest day for me since both mothers in my life (Mom & Neets) were out of town.  Mom went to Santa Barbara and Vegas with Michigan friends, and Neets, Matt and Anabella went to Fresno to visit Matt's parents.  It was her first Mother's Day, I hope she enjoyed it.  I miss my baby girl SO much, I have to get over to the Marina to see her this week for sure. 

That's all for now... gotta run
Xo