Blog Pages

Friday, September 28, 2007

I DIDN'T FORGET MY BLOG!!!




I can't believe I haven't posted to my blog in six days! Goodness! I have to admit, though, that it's been a busy week!

Believe it or not, I managed to crank out a couple of holiday cards last night and this morning with SU's "Big on Christmas" stamp set. It took me a while to convince myself that I needed this stamp set, and I'm lovin' it! I had a hard time getting a photo of this card that showed the icicles, but I hope you can see them . . . they're above the word "snow." I created the icicles with Crystal Effects, dusted with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. The stamped image was colored with markers, and the snowflakes are from "The Snowflake Spot" stamp set.

The "noel" card was actually the first one I made, and I wasn't sure how the design was going to turn out, but I knew I'd be using Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, and Blue Bayou card stock. BTW, the neutral color is Very Vanilla. It's hard to tell, but I used SU's "Weathered" background stamp on the burgundy card. The edges of the blue layer were distressed with SU's Cutter Kit (love, love, love that distressing tool). I really like this card, but it's a few steps from the look I normally go for. Doesn't it have a nice, warm appeal to it?

I have another "Big on Christmas" card that I made this morning, but I haven't been able to get a good photo just yet. I'll try to do that soon.

In the meantime, have a great weekend and don't forget to play with stamps and ink!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE . . .


Congratulations, Cindy and Brian, who were married last night at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens--beautiful outdoor ceremony! My sister, Renee, and I had the privilege of assisting at the rehearsal dinner on Thursday night and attended the wedding last night. We had a blast and felt that we were among our own family and friends!

Cindy gave me permission to post this card on my blog. For quite some time, I tried to think of what kind of card I wanted to make for them, but I wasn't all that thrilled with anything that came to mind . . . until I was looking at all the sweet photos on their wedding web site--they had SO MANY of them! So, I sniped a few and created a black & white photo collage. And that's when the card design just fell into place. I used a transparency sheet for the actual card. The swirl design (from "Doodle This" stamp set) was stamped and white-embossed on two corners. Aren't they a sweet couple? They're just as sweet in person as they are in pictures, and I wish them all the best!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

I'M HITLER?????

WHAT FAMOUS LEADER ARE YOU?

Hmmm . . . I took this online quiz this morning, and it came back with a picture of Hitler! The irony is that before I took the quiz, I amused myself with the thought that Hitler would be involved in my results! I almost jumped out of my chair when I saw that little moustache! Take the quiz and find out with which famous leader you have something in common.
http://similarminds.com/leader.html

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

WHO WANTS TO PLAY THE NAME GAME?

Play along with me! Just follow the easy instructions:

1. Find your ROCK STAR NAME (first pet & current car): Ty Odyssey
2. Find your GANGSTA NAME (favorite ice cream flavor & favorite cookie): Rocky Road Oatmeal
3. Find your FLY GUY/GIRL NAME (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name): Rand
4. Find your DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color & favorite animal): Blue Dog
5. Find your SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name & city where you were born): Suzette Mocksville
6. Find your STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name & first 2 letters of your first name): Andre
7. Find your SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color & favorite drink): The Pink Cheerwine
8. Find your NASCAR NAME (first names of your grandfathers): Charlie William
9. Find your STRIPPER NAME (favorite perfume & favorite candy): Light Blue Truffle (sounds sweet, huh)
10. Find your WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (mother's & father's middle names): Ann Preston

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

GOOD COUSIN/BAD COUSIN & NEW MUSIC


I spent some time last night adding some new songs to my playlist, but I wasn't really searching for anything in particular. I really like all kinds of music. There are days when I'd probably choose all Fleetwood Mac songs for my playlist. I think we all can remember a particular time in our life that was heavily influenced by music--in our memories. My cousin (Teresa) and I used to ALWAYS listen to Fleetwood Mac whenever we were driving around, cruising, or whatever. There was also a time when it was highly likely that Kenny Rogers and Dottie West blasted from the 8-track, but I couldn't find my favorite song from that time. The title/lyrics are, "I feel sorry for anyone who isn't me tonight." That is a GREAT song!!!! Find it and listen to it if you've never heard it! Chances are, you have just forgotten about it if you're over the age of . . . 30ish. Ha!
In this picture, you see me and Teresa (I'm the tall one with the really cute hair cut) on the first day of school, waving goodbye to our mothers. Who knew that sometime during that school year I'd suffer the consequences of not "following along" and have the living daylights shook out of me by grumpy Ms. Brannon!! That woman scared me badly! I was timid/shy anyway, and I can tell you firsthand that it is dang near impossible to sit rigid in a chair while someone's old and mad hands are using your shoulders to shake the daylights out of your head as it is flung back and forth into next week! I'm glad Ms. Brannon's teaching era was "way back then" because she'd be kicked to the curb today!
Good cousin/bad cousin . . . some of you have met my cousin, Dena, at some of my stamping events. Dena is/was the good cousin. Now, you shouldn't think that Teresa is a bad person--she's not. I call her the bad cousin because she was a little more on the wild side than Dena. Well, a lot more. We spent so much time together, but there were times at school when it was dangerous to be near Teresa because the principals were ALWAYS watching for her to make sure she was still on school grounds--and in class. Seriously! Mr. Suiter probably STILL remembers the number of Teresa's parking space! Teresa lived close to me, and we were together much more often than Dena and I, but there were times when I didn't "hang out" with Teresa because some of her other friends were what I called "really wild!" You couldn't even walk sideways through the halls at school with that group without being under close supervisory scrutiny! Whew! Those were the days! I remember one time during our senior year . . . it was a gorgeous sunny day--not too hot, not too cool--PERFECT! Teresa and I decided that we didn't need to be at school all day because it was just too pretty to be confined by cinder block walls. I think a book report was due that day, too, and we just needed another day to complete (translated to mean "start") the project. Anyway, we went to a couple of classes before we called it a day. Once we left the school, we weren't exactly sure where to go because we lived in a really small town and if your parents didn't see you, you could guarantee that someone you knew would just happen to run into you or see you driving by. So, we chose the only hidden corner of Mocksville where no one would go . . . the little drive at Rich Park by the tennis courts that ended up at the trash dumpsters. Yes, indeed, the "perfectness" of that day that prompted us to just go enjoy it was spent parked in front of those smelly dumpsters! Who cared?!? We rolled the windows down, opened the doors, and propped our feet through the open windows and listened to Kenny and Dottie. I'm sure we must have had conversation and laughter (we always did!), but the music and the mood (can't even remember a smell from the dumpsters!!!!) is what got etched in my memory with the bad cousin that day. At the time, there was a little overshadowing of possibly getting caught, but I'm thankful for that day! How many of us can look back on our life and remember such a perfect day--even if it was just a couple of hours, until time to get home from school? Teresa and I had so many fun times, but I can't look back on our youth and exactly label us as . . . totally reliable. ;-) We kind of went whichever way the wind blew. I think Teresa must have been as ADD as me because we sure got side-tracked . . . a lot! During our junior year, we were on the yearbook staff and were supposed to be out selling ads. We had our priorities in order, alright! We spent most of the time goofing off . . . until we "had" to buckle down and get something sold. We would go to a restaurant and end up eating instead of selling. We'd pull in the parking lot of a manufacturing plant, discuss who would do the talking inside, not come to an agreement, and just leave. Ah, yes. I feel sorry for anyone who wasn't us back then!
So, stay a while and listen to some of my music selections. Maybe you'll find one that speaks to you! ;-)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

A WONDERFUL WORLD

Do you enjoy YouTube videos? My niece, Hollie, shared this one with me, and I thought it was quite interesting. I just added it to the "Internet Places of Interest" section on this blog so we'll all have an easy time finding it. Thanks Hollie!!

Sunday, September 9, 2007

LOOKING FORWARD TO WINTER

If I ever loved Summer more than Winter, I surely don't remember it! Or maybe I just like it less the older I get. All I know is that I'm ready to see snow! Of course, I realize that I may have to stamp the only snow I'll see. And today I did! This little dilly would hold five Hershey's Kisses--if I had any. ;-) To create this project, I used all Stampin' Up! products . . . Vellum and Night of Navy card stock, "Perfect Presentation" stamp set, and the jumbo "Snow" wheel that's in the Holiday Mini Catalog.
EDITED POST: I have replaced the first photo with this one since it's actually a better picture of this project. Now you can see how the Vellum card stock comes up around the sides of the box that holds the candy.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

WANNA BUY AN ALTERABLE PAINT CAN?



I have ten (10) of these cans to sell, and the price is $7. They have a matte white finish that's easy to cover with paper or paint, stamp, etc. The best thing about these cans is that the handle can be easily removed so you can cover the can with paper! The handle slips into (or out of) two small punched holes, so there's nothing to cut around! If you'd like one of these cans, just shoot me an email at randari@hotmail.com, and be sure to put "Paint Can" in the subject line.

ALTERED PAINT CAN


After forcing myself to sit down and pay bills this morning, I needed to do something fun. I bought these really nice paint cans a few months ago, thinking I'd plan a class around them, but that hasn't happened. I decided that this can would be a holiday gift, and wouldn't it hold a lot of goodies??? To decorate it, I used Stampin' Up!'s new "Holiday Harmony" designer paper. The scalloped pocket tag was made with a Sizzix die, but the tag is decorated with cut-out stamped images from Stampin' Up!'s "Perfect Presentation" stamp set. I used the Slit Punch to create the scalloped layer in the center of the tin, and adorned it with gold brads and gold organdy ribbon. This can has a handle--I just forgot to put it back on before I took the picture. ;-)

Friday, September 7, 2007

STAMPIN' IDEAS/INSPIRATION



Did you know that you can find ideas, inspiration, and technique instructions on Stampin' Up!'s web site? You sure can! Visit the web site at http://www.stampinup.com/. On the right side of the window, you'll find several links, one of which is "Project Ideas & Techniques." Once you select that link, you'll find three choices on the left side of the window . . . Stampin' Ideas, Stampin' Supplies, and Stampin' Techniques. While you're visiting Stampin' Up!'s web site, you'll see a link that reads, "About Us." If you select that link, you'll be directed to a page that has other links, including "Media Room." Once you select "Media Room," you'll have several options to view projects that have been featured in national publications. Have fun surfing with Stampin' Up!

Thursday, September 6, 2007

CRISS CROSS, 3D BUTTERFLY & A NEW CD



Right now, I'm listening to Shawn Colvin sing "I Don't Know Why," and it occurred to me that I don't know why I'm addicted to 3D butterflies. When I stamp one, I automatically want to cut it out and give those dainty wings a little bit of life.
As is usually the case, I came in here this morning to clean off my desk. Why does the stamping muse hit me when I'm supposed to be cleaning???? I don't know why! My "Priceless" stamps were already out--I think several stamp sets gathered for a party recently--so I couldn't just clean them and put them away! I decided to create this fun Criss Cross card. This is just the second one I've made, and I still have trouble deciding how to decorate the pocket insert. I wonder why that is!
By the way . . . if you're looking for a great CD, may I recommend "Touched By An Angel The Album?" I stumbled upon this CD at Barnes & Noble last week, and it is awesome--I mean, A-W-E-S-O-M-E! One of my favorite songs on this CD is "You Were Loved" by Wynonna, but I really enjoy all of them! This is one of those CDs that's fun to listen to while you're stamping, cleaning, driving, having a meltdown because you need to turn left to get to the school and the Sheriff's office has blocked left turns and the traffic is HORRENDOUS and you have to go past your destination, make a U-turn, and crawl through the traffic to get BACK to your destination! And Heaven help you if you're tardy! Argh!!!! [breathe in, breathe out]

Monday, September 3, 2007

OCTAGON BOX


What a beaut, huh? Don't be fooled, though . . . this is no small box . . . it's 9" tall and 8" wide! I found this box laying on a clearance shelf a couple of weeks ago. I tried to think of a way to use it or something it would be good for, but nothing came to mind. But it was too cheap to leave behind. As a matter of fact, I bought two of them just in case I made a mess of the first one. ;-) The papers used to decorate the box were also on clearance, and they were part of the ensemble for this project. Yes, I would have survived without this box, and I certainly could have done something more productive with my time today, but it's been fun. And just think . . . I have another one to play with, so who knows when the laundry and cleaning will get done! Who cares? ;-)



HALLOWEEN "TORN WINDOW" CARD

It's not too early to think about Halloween, is it? I mean . . . it's just around the corner, right? I used Stampin' Up!'s "Home Is Where the Haunt Is" stamp set to create this card, and Stampin' Pastels were used to color the background. I can't take full credit for the layout, though. While perusing a magazine at Barnes & Noble last week, I came across a similar card design and thought, "I can do that--and better!"


It's hard to believe that I struggled to justify purchasing this stamp set about two years ago because I have used it a lot! It has, in my humble opinion, a great selection of images, but what I like most is how easily the images lend themselves to creating scenes and I LOVE scenery stamping! Granted, I have a lot to learn about creating scenes, but I'm definitely intrigued!

Now, if you don't particularly care for Halloween, you can at least take a design concept from this card . . . the torn window! Have you ever started stamping on a card and made a boo-boo? (Hee! Hee!) Well, just tear out the part of the card that you don't like and put a perfectly stamped image behind it. No one will have to know what prompted you to create a torn window! ;-)