Happy Halloween!

Well, it's Halloween... where has the year gone?!  It seems like Summer came and went super fast -- since the weather's been nice, I won't really complain.  Tonight we'll check out the neighborhood block party and pass out candy, will we dress up? :)

So, Bella is going to dress as the Black Swan for mall trick or treating tonight with her friend Isla.  I offered to make her a mask since I doubt Neets would be able to find something like that at the stores.  I was a bit worried that it wouldn't come out well, but I was wrong!  I think it looks great:

We went to JoAnn's on Satruday (after a toy shopping spree at TJ Max!) and bought some velvety paper, black feathers and sequins and I had some ribbon at home to work with.  I got the measurements from my sister yesteday morning and last night I banged it out.  Yeah!!!  You can't really see the sequins in the center, but they are sort of clustered over the feather ends, which hides them so it works out.  I was thinking about hot gluing a rhinestone star in the middle or on the side, but I think this way works.  I can't WAIT to see her put it on later!  I just hope it fits... crossing fingers.

I have many cards to make, so I'll try and get a few done this week.  Maybe if I make enough and actually SELL them I can afford that Martha Stewart sewing machine... there's some fire for the hiney. ;)

XO

HBD: Back to the Grind Pt. 1

Happy Birthday plus a bookmark, I think that's pretty legit (what am I, MC Hamma?)  I have been thinking about this card, planning it out in my brains for awhile now.  I had to force myself to sit down and make it, but when I did, things happened thank goodness.  I have been doing other things, and so cards have been pushed to the side.  Now that I have an order to fill, there's no more room for excuses... back to the business. 
I cut a hole in the actual card with my circle cutter since I couldn't control the placement of the circle on my Cricut, and then added some flowered paper behind it to make a window.  The "bookmark" that I made is just a paperclip (obviously) and about ten flower shaped die cuts glued on top of each other.  I had to use hot glue for securing the paper clip so that it can serve it's purpose and not fall apart right away.  We'll see if that works out.  I used glue transfers for the text on front of the card, and wasn't sure if the letters stood out enough, but seeing it in the photo reassures me... kind of. :)

XO

Many Many Moons

Happy Birthday, Grandaddy!  Thomas' grandfather has turned 94 on the 3rd, but we all had lunch to celebrate the Saturday before; we gave him this card.  I think he liked it. :)  I couldn't imagine all the things he must have witnessed, heard, felt since 1917.  Sweetest man ever!

So, the card was a late-nighter, and I think I was working on coffee energy alone.  It was the night before leaving for 9 days, so I think I left everything for the last minute... so not me.  I like to be prepared, but lately I think it's getting away from me!!  I cut the seal awhile ago from the Cricut, and did the letters that night; the "Grandaddy" part is my favorite, I love that font so much.  Anyway, I'm still going with that paper pack (the blue and the gray came from the Colorbok one from Target about a month and a half ago), and I feel it is high time for a new packet, what do you think?  It's hard to justify buying ANY supplies when I haven't sold one single card in I don't know HOW long.  And, I can't even begin to think about making any for selling right now, either.  Christmas is coming up, and I need to get moving on those, like, now.  I had an idea of doing some sort of card for Thanksgiving, as well, but only for the immediate families and close friends.  I couldn't see sending out very many of those.  I went to the Paper Source the other day (didn't buy a THING!) but got many ideas for some stuff. 

It's sunny today, so I hope it sticks... the rain wasn't any fun yesterday, my toes almost fell off, I swear.  I am happy for the sun in my office, for once. :)  I'm actually not upset about Fall/Winter this year.

XO

Hello Again!

It has been a minute since I've posted anything... I guess life happens, and what can you do? :)  The first card, "Bun in the Oven" was made in bulk for my cousin Jazmine, she's having a baby shower in October, so I had to get those out.  I simplified my original design, but also went to town a bit more with the bun, used my Cricut for that part.  I actually drew the oven and cut it out, manually did the oven outline and the inside... that was the most time consuming part.  On my original card, there was another button/star/ribbon embellishment, but I just didn't have the time.  I'm happy with it.

Second card is "Cool Chick".  I've had the opportunity to be up close and personal with some chickens lately, and I have to say, the one I made with my Cricut is WAY less scary.  Chickens move quick, and I just don't trust that... their door opens, and all of a sudden wings are flapping.  Not cool. :)  The card was simple, and fun to make... I used some of the square cards I got in that huge eBay score recently. 

Third card, "Let's Eat" also came about organically; I had eaten Ramen the night before, hence the noodles.  Who'd a thunk it, I'd actually have the means to make a bowl of noodles???  I'm excited to get back to my cards in the not too distant future, maybe get a few more Cricut cartridges, who knows?  I have very little free time these days, and when I do have some, I am usually tired tired tired.  The plan is to get back to one card per week, the one card per night thing just isn't happening anymore.  I can't let my ideas get too stale.  I have one on deck that was so kindly given to me... it involves a few more chickens and a spilled drink.  Not my own idea, but hey, I'll take it any way I can get it. :)

Until next time, don't hold your breath... Mama has thangs to do. ;)

XO

Happy Birthday, Alyssa & Tommy!

This one's for Alyssa, I want her to like it and I know if I were a baby, this would make me smile :)

And, this one's for my baby Tommy.  He's getting so big, and I really wish I were there to see him grow up.  Either way I play it, if I live here I miss out on Tommy & Alyssa.  If I live there, I'd miss Anabella.... can't win.  In a perfect world, I'd have Theresa and the kids move here, but lord knows we can't always have our way!

I'm really glad the weekend is here... it's been super hectic here at work and I'm watching the clock waiting to get the heck outta here and get my weekend started. :)

Yay for Friday even though it's overcast as hell, woohoo!

XO

Oy

Since work has been kicking my backside, I haven't had ANY time or energy for scrapping or cards.  I have my niece Alyssa and nephew Tommy's birthday coming, too.  I will have to get my buns moving on that stuff tonight, hopefully.  I hope to find some stability here at work soon, as we keep losing staff.  It has been interesting, and I've learned a lot here, so I won't complain.  I hope to get a vacation in soon, also... it's been almost six months, so I'm due for one... I'm really thinking about flying somewhere that I don't have to worry about moving around too much, honestly, a week at a spa would be optimal.  I could use some solitary relaxation time... like, immediately.  I'd read read read, eat and decompress.  Then, back to the salt mine to get the old blood pressure back up to it's high status. 

One can dream... and this one dreams a TON.

Hopefully, I'll have some photos tomorrow of all the creativness from tonight... I haven't been sleeping very well lately, either, I feel like I only get two to three solid hours, so I must catch up on that.  In spite of that fact, I feel strangely good... like, my body doesn't NEED all the sleep I've been getting.  I'm such a baby, I'd get pissy if someone woke me up too early on a day off, and be rigid about going to bed at a certain time.  I'm thinking it's time to sort of get used to later hours, I mean, I may need them in coming days, who knows WHAT'll happen. :)  I can't be the person out n' about who is yawning at 9pm, I mean, that's just sad.  I have a good feeling about things in general lately, and if work lets up on me in coming days, I can maybe take some time for little old me to soak in that a bit.

XO

Everyday I'm Hustlin'

(Insert the song by Rick Ross and you get the picture.)  Seriously, though, I have been making page layouts during my nights and weekends so I can get each member of my family a nice scrapbook by Christmas.  I figure any gift I give them will most likely be used up and forgotten; this is something they can keep for a long time, give away, etc.  I have been having the most fun with Anabella's pages... she's just so darn cute.  Here's her third page for Anita & Matt's book:

I used a postage stamp die for the photo mat, how cute is that?!  I also thought I'd better tie in the red with something extra, hence the large 1" dots.  I swear, I had to control myself with this page, I wanted to clutter it until the cows came home.  Here's a close up:

I had lots of fun with this portion of the page; I had to figure out a way to convey a feeling of the whole day so that she could understand it later... I hope it worked.  I should have dropped some water and a bonfire in there, but like I said: clutter.  I can't STAND it in my life, so...
Anyway, I love love LOVE how I did the O's on "Cool", let me show you a close up of that:

I found the shades in my Critter cartridge; they went with a giraffe, and I had to scale them up LOTS.  I used my Xacto knife to cut out the middles, just in case you notice how wonky that looks.  How freakin' cute is my niece?!  I love her, dammit!  She is getting her teeth, yelling all day long, and gets mad when she can't find milk when she sucks on whatever skin she finds available to her mouth.  Pretty cute.  So, I also made a page for my parents book, two really, and I held back there also.  I have to wonder what my pages would look like if I cluttered them up, not holding back?  Maybe I'll try that tonight.  I have two pics of my brothers, one of them super young, and one recent to work on next.  So, here's my parent's pages:

The top pic is from when they first met, I imagine from how young and dopey they look (kidding), and the second is at their wedding...

Those are more recent... the bottom one was when I was a teenager, so they must have been in their middle or late 30's.  I have to wonder how two people could stand each other for so long???  How do they do it?  I get tired of my shoes at the end of the day!  I think they'll like their books, and I plan on keeping the rest of the pages secret from here out... shhhhh! :)

I look forward to Christmas, actually -- I may have lots of b.s. behind me, onto other things.  One can hope.

XO