I KNOW IT'S NOT A BEAR, BUT . . .

My neighbor, whom I've written about before, has been tearing out some fencing at the back of his yard (God knows why--I don't) and, unfortunately, his dumping ground is to the side of my back yard.  When I look out my patio door, this is part of my distant view.  The large garbage can that we no longer use is normally hidden by the side of the house but, for some reason, it's out of place at the moment.  Anyway, I walked by the patio door recently, glanced outside and, for a split second, thought, "Bear!!!!"  LOL!  You see what I saw, right?  When I wanted my husband and son to look at it, I prefaced the discussion with, "I want you to see something, and I know it's not really a bear . . ., " and they immediately started rolling their eyes and getting that "she's-so-crazy-but-we-love-her-anyway" look, but they actually could see what could be mistaken (during a quick peripheral glance)for a standing bear, although a thin one.  As you can tell, I applied a colored pencil filter to the photo so it would actually look better than real life, but the "bear" is still easy to spot (I think).

THE CUTEST EASTER CARD

I can call this the cutest Easter card because the most clever thing about it--which also happens to be the cutest thing--wasn't my idea.  A friend showed me the clever trick of turning the "E" in Easter into a bunny by adding ears and a tail, and don't you just LOVE that?  For my card, I used Stampin' Up!'s Scallop Trim and Scallop Trim Border punches to create the pretty scalloped layer, "Well Scripted" stamp set for the Easter sentiment, Sweet Pea Stitched Felt flower and leaf, "Sending Love" designer paper, corduroy brad, and Kraft, Barely Banana, and Chocolate Chip card stock. 

FUN WITH THE LATTICE DIE

Everyone likes to make cards that are easy, and sometimes that's about all that we have time for.  This is one of those cards!  I used Stampin' Up!'s "Lattice" die and the Big Shot to cut the lattice shape from chipboard. I then used that die-cut piece to emboss the white card stock.  The die was again used to cut the lattice shape from a piece of Very Vanilla card stock, and I used the cut pieces to glue onto the white embossed layer.  Got it?  Easy peasy!  I then glued the white layer onto a layer of Soft Suede card stock, tied the dotted Soft Suede ribbon around the layer, inserted the Flower brad and punched flower (from the Trio Flower punch), and adhered these layers to the front of my Very Vanilla card.  This is one of those cards that you can work on while watching TV or waiting (in the car, doctor's office, etc.).  You can order this die online HERE.  Take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-Bration promotion (which ends with March) by placing a $50 order so you can earn a FREE Sale-a-Bration product!

A NEW GADGET

I don't normally get excited about techie gadgets, but this one was welcomed with love.  It's a USB thing that has enabled me to remotely access my main computer via the laptop that I'm having to use.  What's so cool about it, you ask?  Well . . . it lights up (under the black top and around the thick acrylic base), and the colors keep changing from purple, green, red, and blue.  While my husband was away on business last week (on the campus of Microsoft's headquarters), he purchased this item after learning that my computer's USB had checked out.  It's the coolest thing . . . makes me want to turn out the lights! 

TWO NEW PROJECTS

Finally . . . a project picture!  My camera came back to life today, but the USB port thingies on my main computer are still cold and lifeless, which means I'm still using the laptop.  I'm sure you can tell that my pictures look a little different, and that's because my favorite photo tool isn't on the laptop.  :-(  Stampin' Up! products used on this hat card include the "Sanded" background and "Well Scripted" stamp sets, Stitched Felt Flowers (love these things), dotted Soft Suede ribbon, Scallop and Wide Oval punches, and Soft Suede ink.  Stampin' Up! products used to create the second card include "Vintage Vogue" and "Sanded" stamp sets, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, and Rich Razzleberry ink, dotted Crushed Curry ribbon, and Small Oval punch.  This color combo isn't one that I remember ever using, but it turned out pretty good. 

A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE

While I wait for my husband to get back in town and solve the computer issue with my camera, I thought I'd go ahead and tell you about my new business venture.  Earlier this week, I became a Scentsy consultant, and you can learn more about that HERE.  Nothing has changed with my Stampin' Up! demonstratorship . . . I just really fell in love with Scentsy products and decided to "go for it."  I will soon plan an Open House event where you can come and learn more about the awesome scents and warmers offered by this company.  Six of the warmers are on sale right now--ask me about them!  Better yet, help me get off to a good start by hosting a party!  ;-)

MY JOB AT THE DIME STORE

I have no picture to post because my camera's cradle has mysteriously lost power and, after trying to diagnose the problem, my trackball quit working as well.  I have been reduced to using the laptop since my husband is out of town and doesn't think these issues warrant an emergency flight home.  I know, I know . . . his priorities are out of order.  So Chadrick and I were having an interesting conversation at dinner about my teenage employment in a small town.  Since this blog is also like a journal for me, I'll share a little story with you.  I don't remember ever wanting a job because I was quite content with my allowance, but my daddy strongly suggested that I go to work.  My first job was at Rintz's 5 and 10 (that's cents--not dollars).  It was an old store with old stuff.  I don't mean antiques . . . just old-looking things that had probably been there for ages.  Mrs. Rintz, the owner, had an office upstairs with a glass front so she could watch the store.  Of course, I found areas to "park" where I couldn't be seen, but I always had the feeling that I was being watched--and that she knew I was purposely trying to get in a blind spot.  The best thing about the store was the big Brach's candy counter, although I always dreaded someone would expect me to weigh less than a pound of candy because I wasn't quite sure how to read the scale!  There weren't a lot of shoppers at the dime store (that's what everyone in town called it).  On one boring day, these two mature ladies came in and went to the table where baby stuff was on display.  They were digging around on the table, so I asked if I could help them.  One of them said she couldn't find an "ought."  A what????  I know my face didn't hide the fact that I didn't know if an ought was a color, a style, or maybe slang for "I dropped my dentures and can't find them," and I knew the lady was speaking English.  I was way too shy to ask what in the world an ought was, so I proceeded to dig through the baby stuff on the table, hoping I might unearth an ought and one of those ladies would spot it.  At closing time, I couldn't wait to get home and ask my mother about an ought.  I had that word on my mind all day long--I may have even written it on register tape so I wouldn't forget.  When I asked my mother, she went into cover-your-mouth-try-not-to-wet-your-pants laughter and explained that's what older people say for zero.  [eyes rolling]  On another occasion, a "mature" farmer came in the store (I know he was a farmer because he was wearing overalls), and he went to what I referred to as the hardware section of the store.  I went to see if I could help him, and he was looking for something related to canning.  When I gave him one of my blank stares, he said, "You don't know what that is, do you?"  When I told him that I did not know, he said, "Well, then, I don't guess you can help me, can you?"  I just turned and walked back to the blind spot and, once again, asked myself WHY AM I WORKING HERE and is it time to leave??????  I think one of the worst things about being an employed teenager is that you think you know a lot, you know you're not stupid, and yet I worked from 9 to 5 in a store where I felt like an idiot with an inferiority complex.  To make matters worse, this guy who wasn't quite right (had sustained a head injury in a car accident when he was younger) walked the streets ALL DAY LONG, and his greeting to everyone was, "Hey cat!"  I know that he was partially paralyzed but, when he looked at me, I just felt like I wanted to cover up.  [shudder]  Rumor had it that he sometimes tried to greet the ladies with his hands so, when I'd see him coming my way, I made sure I was ready to knock the crap out of him if I had to.  He'd walk by the store, and I'd think, "Keep on walking, PLEASE!!!!"   At the dime store, I was off each Thursday and used that time (every single Thursday) to go to the belt plant to ask about a job.  My sister worked there and LOVED it, so I thought it must not be too bad.  I'll have to tell you about that job another time.

60th ANNIVERSARY CARD & ENVELOPE

Can you imagine being married for 60 years?  S-i-x-t-y  y-e-a-r-s . . . say it s-l-o-w-l-y.  That is a very long time!  I wonder how many arguments occur in a span of 60 years between a husband and wife.  I wonder how many different names get said under one's breath--and if they're always the same name or if, over the years, the couple began thinking (or speaking) names they never thought they'd utter.  I suppose the happy couple became more and more like one another over the years, which would make getting along easier.  My mother asked me to make a card for a 60th anniversary reception that she and my daddy are going to in a couple of weeks, and this is what I came up with.  I did a little research to see what inventions have occurred during this couple's 60 years together:  credit cards, super glue, hydrogen bomb, oral contraception, non-stick Teflon pan, computers and modems, Liquid Paper, Hula Hoop, pacemaker, Barbie (yes, Barbie!), audio cassette, permanent press fabric, Kevlar, handheld calculator, ATM, food processor, Post-It notes, Valium and, of course, many more inventions of which we all know.  It's kind of fun to imagine how many changes in the world (and life) that this couple has witnessed.  So, there you have a little history to go along with this doily card and envelope.

VINYL WALL DECOR

So . . . I used to have a viney-floral wreath thingie above this doorway and decided that I wanted to put some decorative vinyl instead.  This was a scary big step for me, but I have to admit that I like it.  My husband is afraid that I'm going to put vinyl all over the house, and I can't promise it won't happen.  Ha!  Vinyl is too much fun, plus it's easy to remove should I decide I don't like it. I know this picture isn't very good, but let me know what you think!  The black vinyl that I used was purchased from Stampin' Up!

RAZZLEBERRY FLOWER

I received my brand new Stampin' Up! "Fancy Flower" punch today, and this is what I made with it!  Granted, it's not a perfect flower as my layers slipped around on me, but it's kind of neat!  I sponged the curled edges of the petals with Rich Razzleberry ink and Champagne Mist shimmer paint and then used the 5-Petal Flower punch to create the leaves.  I should have used more layers for my flower, but I was in a hurry.  Maybe next time.  ;-)