Still not dry...

You probably have a group of scrap friends just like mine. One of us sees seomthing new, she tell us about it (posting on FB, our Group site, etc.)...and the rest of us squeal with delight and pledge to buy it RIGHT NOW off the Internet. I will be the first to admit, I generally lead the charge and am never the voice of reason. Never.

A friend posted a new punch item many weeks ago now, and the ooooo's and ahhhhh's started up right away. Clearly I was coming down with something even then, because I found myself posting "you really don't need that, you can do the same thing with Nesties." I could hardly believe my own eyes. Was that my name next to that post? Had I actually said I didn't need something new? That's just crazy talk.

But alas, 'twas me. And to prove my point, I actually broke out some Nesties and made a card. But then I took it a step further, and then one more. I stamped on acetate, colored with Sharpies, used my Liquid Glass, embossed with a Cutttlebug folder, and even colored over those embossed flakes with a glitter pen. But it still didn't look right...and then I remembered...white craft ink. So I colored this little guy on the back with the ink, and voila:

So here's the catch. I made this card on October 13th. The craft ink is still tacky. I tried a heat gun (but it didn't agree with the acetate.) Seriously...I could still grab some embossing powders and they would work just fine. I literally just touched it again and, yep, still not dry...

As always, thanks for stopping by! Please be sure to leave your blog address for me so I can check out your work as I find time to troll the blog scene!

So much for the grand plan

I was doing well with my weekly posts. I had them set up, ready to run on Thursdays. Then came progress reports, my birthday, Halloween (a big deal in this house!), and Mike's "other hobby" in the Fall. Add an injury (from stupidity), two illnesses, a sick husband, a family dinner, and 4 days home sick from work and you have...no blog updates.

I am upright & awake for the second day in a row, so that's promising. The meds the Doc insisted on giving me seem to be making me worse (or just not working) - should have insisted on my tried and true antibiotic despite her objections. May be heading back there to get the good stuff yet...

I do have a few things to share and will post them soon. For now, I'm busy dealing with 2 of the side effects of this medication - confusion & a swollen tongue. This is important to note because Mike "insists" he marreid me for my benefits & insurance plans. (He's kidding. Mostly.) He gets nothing if I die under suspicious circumstances, I made sure of that. His new theory (or maybe idea)? If I fall down the stairs to my office because I am "confused" and can't yell for help because of a "swollen tongue" he gets it all...because that is not suspicious. It was "medically ordered."

Good thing he's away or I'd really have to watch my back for the next 7 days. ;)

For those of you who are local...

...do you know that a bunch of us get together on a regular basis to stamp, scrap, and generally have a good time? Well, we do!! I am the Organizer for one of the longest-running Scrapbook & Stamping Meetup.com groups on Long Island. We have all ages and ability levels and, of course, lots of different product favorites! We have card classes, layotu classes, techniques classes, and plain, old fashioned "crops" in my "cave."

Interested in making some new crafty friends or seeing what we're about? Join us! There's a free membership option so there's no obligation - hope you'll check us out at:

http://www.meetup.com/stamp-and-scrap

Speaking of having fun with our group, here's another card I made using Judy's stash that same night I posted about last week. CTMH design from Wishes/Originals using all SU! products. What do you think?

I hope you'll check us out if live on Long Island! As always, thanks for stopping by!

Always the rule-breaker ;)

I went to my pal & SU! Demo (excuse me, Supervisor) extraordinaire Judy's house to get inky on World Card Making Day. Of course, I had a hefty bag of tools and basics and card bases...but no paper. I had my CTMH How-To books with me and created this card using SU! products. Yes, I know...so much for a CTMH posting. Those How-To books work with ALL products, not just CTMH's. They're great for using up your stash. Or in this case, Judy's stash.

I did manage to make a couple of cards that night, which is a real feat for me. I have no creativity, I'm a CASEr for sure. Good thing I have those books...

As always, thanks for looking! (Please leave me your blog address so I can check out your work, too!!)

Christmas already?

Tomorrow evening I have a few friends coming over for my last Monthly Holiday Card Workshop of 2010. While I was unable to keep up with my 5 cards at each workshop, I do have way more now than I did this time last year...and the pieces ready to go of all those I didn't get to do. A request was made for 2 cards this month to cover November as well (we make 5 identical cards, so this would be 5 cards of 2 different designs.) I am half way done with the second card, but here is the first:

Here is a better view of the insert:

Supplies: CTMH Mistletoe Creative Basics kit, St. Nick stamp set, Colonial White ribbon, New England Ivy cardstock, New England Ivy ink, Cranberry Marker, Liquid Glass, Texture Tools, Edge Distresser; circle punch, Sizzix Big Shot, SU! Top Note die.

I used Liquid Glass on the berries both on the outisde of the card and on the insert. I'm not very good at getting it perfect, but I thought it needed a little something and this is what I came up with.

I'm considering changing that circle to Cranberry CS...what do you think?

As always, thanks for looking!

As promised...

...here is the folder I made for the cards I posted last week. My SCS Misfit pal Nikki gets the credit for this inspiration - and huge thanks for the directions!

Here it is closed:

and opened:

Supplies: CTMH: Colonial White CS, Whisper White CS, Tulip CS, Liquid Glass, Tulip marker, Creme Brulee marker, Staz-On Jet Black ink pad; Velcro, Sizzix embossing folder, SU! corner punch, pop dot.

I liked the Velcro better than ribbon because the folders stayed shut. No ribbon to come untied or get all wrinkled. Everyone seemed to like them (or at least told me they did, lol!), so I was glad I spent the time & effort making them.

In case you were wondering, I am happy to report everyone in my new building has been really great - helpful, nice, supportive...and it is my pleasure to be with them.

What do you think?

As always, thanks for looking!

Being the "new girl" again

I unexpectedly started this school year in "the other building." The HS I teach in is one "complex" but really is two high schools connected by a central lobby area. For most teachers, there is little interaction with those on the other side during the day. That meant I was leaving behind the building in which I started my teaching career more than a decade ago and not seeing old friends daily. Literally, I could take nothing with me unless I personally owned & paid for 100% of the item. It also meant making friends all over again, getting to know where eveything is, and getting comfortable in my new surroundings. While not new to the HS, I was the new girl in this building all over again.

I set my mind on making a small token gesture for each of the secretaries and a few others. I decided on a few cards (because who doesn't need an "any occassion" card at work from time to time?), and put them in a folder inspired by a gift from my SCS pal Nikki last year.

Here are the cards:

Supplies: CTMH: Perfect Day Level 2 Kit, From Me To You stamp set, Authentic stamp set, Tulip ink, Tulip & Creme Brulee markers, Tulip cardstock, sanding block, Liquid Glass, Staz-On Jet Black; Other: stitches stamp, pop dots, Sizzix embossing folder.

I stamped the flowers on White Daisy with Staz-On, colored the center "dots" with Creme Brulee, the petals in Tulip, and cut out with microtip scissors. Once cut, I covered the centers with a thick layer of Liquid Glass and let it set for many hours. Once dry, I lightly bent the petals up & pop-dotted it onto the card. One the right, I ran Tulip CS through a Sizzix folder (similar to but larger than CB Swiss Dots) and lightly gave it a swipe with my sanding block. I could fit 4 cards with envelopes into the folders I made.

"Where are the folders?" you ask? Ahhh...tune in next week to see them!! Mean, I know. But I need to pace my posts since I'm not getting too much "me" time to create something to post so need to be a little miserly with what I've got! Next Thursday...promise!

As always, thanks for looking!