WAKE UP CALL - NEW MUSIC

I started getting a little tired of hearing some of the songs on my Playlist, so I made a few changes recently. One of my current favorite songs is "Wake Up Call," but it has a dark side. A guy murders his girlfriend's lover . . . and disposes of the body! I saw the video and wasn't too impressed--I'd never promote murder--but I still like something about this song! If it should happen to pop up while you're visiting my blog, just enjoy the music and "tune out" the lyrics. ;-) Now, "Bubbly," on the other hand, is a happy little tune. Another new song on the Playlist is "Everything." I don't even know what this one is about . . . I can't seem to concentrate on the lyrics for listening to the music (ADD kicking in, I guess). Since Chadrick and I spend a lot of time in this room together (his computer is at the other end of the countertop), I hear a LOT of the music he listens to and, while I hardly ever listen to the words, I manage to pick up on a few choice words, if you know what I mean. For instance, there's an interesting song by Afro Man that I really like, but the lyrics REALLY turn vulgur. Why do they have to ruin songs with words that prevent the song from getting air time????? I hope you enjoy the music!

SNOWFLAKE BOX

It's that time of year . . . time to start thinking about the holidays. I don't really mean to skip over Thanksgiving but--truth be told--it's time to prepare for Christmas, particularly if you're planning to make gift items, decorations, etc.

I found the pattern for this little box and thought it might be a good holiday item. It is a good one--and would be a fun one to receive. The problem, for me, is that I don't really like working with patterns . . . I would much prefer to have measurements so that I can work solely with my paper trimmer and avoid having to copy a pattern onto card stock. Your printer might like card stock, but mine would just as soon chew most of it up and spit it out . . . if it didn't get choked on it. ;-) I have to admit, though, that I looked at the pattern, took some measurements, and used my paper trimmer to create this little gem. Between now and December, this might be a workshop or camp/class project!


The first picture (of the top of the box) doesn't really depict just how glittery the punched snowflake is. I used Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder on the punched snowflake, but I used Hologram Highlights Embossing Powder on the snowflakes that are randomly stamped on the outside of the box. Other snowflakes are stamped with Brocade Blue Classic ink on the box, too. In the second picture, you can see that there's a piece of acetate covering the window, which gives the recipient a peek at what's inside.

FYI: RIBBON ORIGINALS - COLOR MATCHES

Have you ever wondered which SU colors coordinate with the Ribbon Originals (p. 191)? Well, wonder no more!

BEACHFRONT: Basic Gray, River Rock, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Whisper White

DISTRICT: Basic Gray, Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

FAIRY TALE: Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Rose Red, So Saffron

JERSEY: Basic Black, Brocade Blue, More Mustard, Real Red, Wild Wasabi

SHERBET: Groovy Guava, Mellow Moss, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

THEATER: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, River Rock, Very Vanilla

ARLENE'S APPLE CIDER'D, HARDWARE'D, Z-FOLDED B-DAY CARD!

Arlene had a birthday this week. Yesterday, as a matter of fact. Her sweet husband ordered a HodgePodge Hardware Kit for her, and I thought she'd appreciate getting a birthday card with some hardware on it. And she did!

Apple Cider designer paper was used to decorate this card, and I used SU's Cutter Kit to distress the edges of the front panel. Card stock colors were Really Rust, River Rock, and Wild Wasabi. Stamp sets used were "A Tree for all Seasons" and "It's Your Birthday."

Shhhh . . . don't tell Arlene that by the time I was finished with this card, I REALLY wanted to keep it! Had to push myself all the way to the mailbox!

SO VERY . . . SORRY

One of my favorite SU Sell-A-Bration stamp sets of all time is from last year . . . "So Very." I "so very" wish that it didn't have to retire at the end of the SAB sales period. I had an opportunity (a need, really) to use it this morning. I found out that a person whom I've done business with a few times lost her home, her business, and three pet poodles to a fire this past Saturday. Fortunately, her family was able to get out of the house. I cannot imagine the magnitude of such loss--it's unfathomable! When I sat down to make a card for this family, the one and only stamp set that would work to convey my message was "So Very." The inside of the card just reads "sorry." What more can one say?

SO MANY STAMPS . . . SO MANY SAYINGS

Have you noticed SU's "So Many Sayings" (level 1 hostess set)? The stamp set comes with three stamps that are full of phrases/sentiments! I have one of the sets that I mounted on the three wood blocks that came with the set, but I have another "So Many Sayings" stamp set that I wanted to mount differently. This time, I cut the phrases apart and mounted them on long, narrow wood blocks that came with a Jenga game that we hardly ever play anymore and it is AWESOME! I no longer have to use a marker to ink the phrase/sentiment that I want--I just reach for the stamp I need, and ink it with an ink pad!

SCALLOPED FLORAL SNOW BLOSSOM

What does this card need???? I wasn't sure what to do with the "flowers" I created this morning, so I put them on the white panel. It was boring, of course, so I added some "doodling." It still wasn't exciting, so I added the red photo corner. I came home this afternoon and thought it still looked boring, so I added the "make a wish" sentiment . . . and then I added the three brads. It still seems to need something, but I'm afraid whatever it needs is something that should have been done before the doodling--maybe even before the flowers were put in place. Argh!

How did I make this card? I began by punching the Snow Blossom on three pieces of card stock (Real Red, River Rock, and Soft Sky). I then centered that punched out portion in the Scallop Circle punch, and added some doodles to the flowers. I used three pieces of Xyron tape (cut to size) on the backside of the flowers, and then sprinkled them with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. A mini glue dot was used to adhere the small buttons to the flower centers. Can you see how sparkly the flowers are?

I like the flowers, but the overall card design doesn't do them justice. I'll have to go back to the drawing board with this one. ;-)

WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?

In the spirit of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to see what kind of monster I am. I took the short quiz, and this is what I got. Fortunately, I play well with vampires!

You Are a Werewolf

You're unpredictable, moody, and downright freaky. You seem sweet and harmless, until you snap. Then you're a total monster. Very few people can predict if you're going to be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde. But for you, all your transformations seem perfectly natural. Your greatest power: Your ability to tap into nature Your greatest weakness: Lack of self control You play well with: Vampires

What Kind of Monster Are You?

HELP WITH "TAKE-AWAYS"

This is so funny!! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZA7Hhc_MnE

ANOTHER LICENSED DRIVER IN THE HOUSE

I knew this day would come, but still I'm not ready for it. Chadrick got his drivers' license today! We were both really dreading the process after the horrible experience at the Lincolnton DMV last week, but the longer drive to the Maiden DMV made a HUGE difference! The word "difference" seems to be quite an understatement because the Maiden office was absolutely NOTHING like that sleazy, depressing, worthless, crappy Lincolnton office! Can you tell that I have an extreme dislike for the Lincolnton DMV? Our experience today was so pleasant--and quick--that Chadrick and I were both in a state of disbelief. The Maiden office was big and clean, there was no waiting in a hot hall, we were treated politely, and Chadrick's driving test was super simple. He was much more at ease in Maiden--unintimidated--and don't we all know what a difference that makes? Now, there's a chance that the person who "helped" us last week in Lincolnton may have taken offense to something I said (not to her, but she overheard), but whatever! I've already cast imaginary spells against her and predict that she'll be a miserable louse for as long as she works in that dreary office. Last Monday, I was reminded of a boss I used to have. He was quite a character and it was hard to believe that he ever worked with the public. He said that whenever he had to visit clients and, basically, take a lot of verbal crap as they complained about the company, he would always be as pleasant as possible and NEVER let them know that they had squashed his last nerve. After he stepped outside, though, and was headed to his car, he would say, "Son of a -----, I hope you die!" I have to admit that I, too, have had to use his phrase a time or twenty, and it's almost as good as a working voodoo doll! This milestone in Chadrick's life had a rocky start, but everything turned out positive today. For that, I'm very grateful! Let's just hope I've told him all he needs to know--and that he's been listening!