some spring creativity

Well the calendar says spring is here but it sure doesn't feel like it. However, we may actually reach 48* on Saturday! I'm definitely a colder weather person, but this is more than even I want at the end of March. does this mean we're in for a really hot summer?? Yuck!
On a happier note, I have been able to create a few cards using one of my favorite items, Duct tape! Yes, you read right, Duct tape! If you haven't shopped for it lately, run to the store and seek it out. You will be amazed! It comes in just about every pattern and color you can imagine! So, I was shopping for the metallic kind and came across this on clearance (even better!).

It really is a deeper green color than it shows in the picture, perfect for some zip in a card.
We have a new stamp set, Beyond Plaid in the spring catty that pairs with this just perfectly. Here's what I did.

I focused on the yellow/green in the tape with Summer Starfruit ink and card stock. Truly a masculine card.

I paired the yellow/green duct tape with island Indigo and a thin border of Early Espresso. See the chevron pattern in the tape? if you adhere the tape to card stock you can run it through the Big Shot and get this awesome pattern! How cool is that?? I stamped with the spring Catty set By the Tide and the sentiment from Cross My Heart. Pop on a little ribbon in Pool party and you have another man card.

And I saved my favorite for last! Actually, this one is what I wanted the duct tape for in the first place! Have you ever tried to emboss with tin foil only to have it rip because it is so delicate and squash when it is adhered to a card? Metallic duct tape to the rescue! It holds it's shape once embossed and does not rip.

This has to be one of my all time favorite embossing folders, Honeycomb, available in the spring catty. And I discovered if you use the embossing folder with a shim and the DSP, it will help it tear easily, no need to hand cut the hexies! I used a sentiment from Word Play in Whisper White on black, then cut it out using a die from the Apothecary Art Framelits collection. I also used the matching template from the paper piercing set to add a little detail. the brads are from the Glimmer Brads collection. Add a little ribbon to finish it, and you still have a masculine thank you card, even using Rich Razzleberry paper!
So, I challenge you to think outside the box when it comes to duct tape and other household items. You never know where your mind may take you!

Oh the Places You'll go!

I LOVE Dr Seuss!! They are coming out with awesome Dr Seuss fabrics and of course I had to get some. I bought a panel last year (now to find where it is stashed!) and added to the stash this year.

The colors are so cheerful! I need to find a pattern so I can use this for a baby quilt. I just know one of these days I'll be a Gramma and I want to be ready! No, nothing new in that department, but one can always hope!

I'm still here!!

It's been a while since I up dated this blog, life has just gotten in the way. With the holidays long over and life back to normal, I've actually been able to get some things done. Let me recap for you.
I joined the Resolution Guild at Piece by Piece quilt shop once again this year. We only have to submit 5 projects to finish during the year, an easily attainable goal, so I am aiming to finish one project a month. Today I finished assembling the top on my Packers quilt. I've had the fabric picked for this project for about 6 years now, so it was definitely time to get it done. I even have the backing, just need to get the batting. I can quilt it myself so that helps the budget too!

I made some changes to the original pattern as it was very putzy and time consuming, involving lots of little pieces, not really my thing. This will be a great throw to kick off the new season.
I've also been stamping. don't have those photographed yet, and the light isn't too god right now to do it, so that will have to wait. I went back to making one birthday card to send to friends and family through the year. When I did that it helped keep me on track and on time. No sense messing with something that works!
School is going well, I'm keeping caught up. So much information to absorb, I'm sure it was easier when I was younger! I'm working on my new blog/website for my business but it's not ready to go live yet. Everything in it's own time.
I hope you have been busy creating and having fun with it. Life is too short to wait until a better time!

Thankfulness

I've been very busy lately and have not had the time I'd like to spend on my fun hobbies: stamping, quilting and knitting. Being a student with IIN is taking a lot of my time but it is definitely time well spent, I LOVE it! There is so much to learn to become a health coach and make myself healthy so I can work with clients. Our first exam is coming up, yikes.
Work is also very busy with the company asking more and more of us every time we turn around. Sure wish we got paid more along with that! I have 15 permanent schools each month plus I sub where I can. The subbing will probably stop once winter truly gets here and the roads get slippery!
I did something today that really needed to be done, I cleaned my studio! I had things all over after getting ready for a craft fair (we won;t discuss that!) and needed to get them all put away so I could sew. Here's what it looks like now.

Yes, it's still pretty crowded but now I can get my tables set up to work on, and I can get to my sewing machine in the white cabinet. As you can see, I've already started a knitting project while waiting for my fabric to dry. And yes, Zora leaves her rawhides "hidden" in plain sight on my floor!
Speaking of Zora, she is doing well and was ready to cheer the Packers on to a win today.

I did accomplish one huge task in October, I knit my first ever pair of socks! With the yarn I dyed myself no less!! Aren't they gorgeous?!

Several friends and I went to Fontana, WI (near Lake Geneva) for a 4 day craft retreat. We had an awesome time and got lots done. Here Kathy and Linda work on different things; stamping and knitting.

Now it's time to get back to work, finish up my holiday shopping, and ace my test!
Happy Thanksgiving!

one stamp set, several cards

I recently held a holiday card class which featured an old favorite "Lovely As A Tree". This stamp set has been around for what seems like forever but the wonderful thing is there's always something new to make with it! My class featured 4 for $5 using this set and here are the cards we made.

Here the greeting is embossed using Versamark ink then Elegant Eggplant an then embossed with clear powder. Very simple and very elegant.

Stamping with one stamp multiple times to create a forest. Riding Hood Red and Soft Suede work well together.

A glitter frame sets off the simple tree. The bird is from another set and yes, I did not clean my one bird well before stamping on the other side, hence the shadow! Our Champagne glitter Paper is fabulous for this season.

Can't you just picture these snowy trees on a cold December night? Hard to see that they were sprinkled lightly with glitter while the Whisper White craft ink was still wet. The silver glitter paper really adds a pop. Night of Navy and Marina Mist go well together. The final one I made for class is actually mounted on a black background for even more pop.
Simple cards to make, yet ones that will be cherished.
Here are a few sympathy/thinking of you cards I made recently for a dear friend. See anything familiar??

Inked with markers, each tree stands out on it's own.

Making use of  the Pleasant Poppies stamp, this card features a surprise...

...the back is as pretty as the front! I colored the flowers with pastels for a subtle look.

And there you have it, all the stamping I've done recently. I am getting ready for a craft sale in Sheboygan on November 10th, will be sure to share that story as it unfolds.

Socktoberfest!!

What the heck is Socktoberfest, you may be asking. Well, it's the month to knit socks! In my case, my very first pair and I am hoping I finish both!! Slow going on small needles but I am making progress. This is the yarn I dyed in class last month. I love it!! Leighann has been a patient teacher with a new to me cast on and then magic loop technique for the sock itself.

Waiting at 2 am...

...for the ibuprofen to kick in for a backache and sinus headache :-(  Work has started up again, I now have 15 permanent schools each month, plus tons of chances to fill in at open accounts. May as well earn it while it is available and the weather for driving is nice. Sometimes I think working part time is more time consuming than when I worked full time! But I am trying to get organized after a summer of no time constraints.
Last weekend I was able to get a quilt top nearly completed, I just need to sew the assembled strips together. Diving into my batik stash, so much fun "shopping" at home!
I need to get some stamping done this weekend as I am getting ready for holiday cards and then open stamping time for a few hours. have to finalize the details later today at the pizza shop I will be using. Darn, I'll have to have lunch there while I investigate!
As I recently told a friend, my life is crazy busy right now, and I love it! I'm getting into a routine which makes life so much easier, and things are falling into place. Now if only I could sleep!
I'll leave you with a pic of my baby curled up as small as 63# can go on the bed.