One crazy night down, one more day to go!

Mom & Dad brought back some awesome shrimp from the gulf, and there is only a small ziploc bag of it left! It was sooooooo good... I just love seafood. Linda's twice-baked potatoes were phenominal once again... I swear she puts crack in those things!!! I am still stuffed!

Here is a project I had done awhile back, but it is really pretty. It's done with a paperbag, Genevieve paper, May Arts ribbon, Jumbo Java VersaMagic & Burnt Umber Palette inks, and SoSplattered, Punctuation and PetalPack stamp sets from TAC.

Christmas [aka holiday stress]

Why does it have to be sooooooooooooo stressful this time of year? I have had an eye-twitch for the past 2-1/2 weeks! WTH? I'm actually still very bah-humbug right now. I didn't get my tree up, Eric & I have spent $760 this month on the babies' vet bills, so no one is getting any gifts from us. I am so sad. So, I have tried to look at it like this: the holiday season shouldn't be about getting to the store at 6am for the 'door-buster' deal... it shouldn't be about cussing someone for cutting in the checkout line... it shouldn't be about spending hundreds of dollars on gifts... it shouldn't be about rushing around from house to house trying to see everyone on ONE specific day of the year.

Shouldn't it be about spending quality time with family & friends?

Perhaps catching up on the happenings from throughout the year? Many of the people we see this time of year have traveled quite far and it is great seeing them! The others we see, live about an hour away or perhaps even in the same town... and we choose NOW to spend time with them? Shouldn't we be spending more time with eachother more than just holiday time? Sometimes it feels like we are just running around like crazy trying to do a jillion other things... things that shouldn't take priority over others. I am sooooooooo guilty of this! I love what I do, my hobbies, my business... but they definitely pale in comparison to my husband, babies, family, & friends.

I didn't even get all my Christmas cards done. And I'm sorta ok with it (just SORTA).

Tomorrow night, will be our annual Seafood-Fest at the Fosters. Let's see, who will be coming over... mom & dad, Bev & Nathan (MIL & BIL), my sister Linda & nephew Patrick, niece Krystal & boyfriend Ira, Uncle Buddy, and Brian, Cheryl, & Brooklyn from across the street. Should be fun!

In closing today, I leave you with a picture of the babies playing in the snow from a couple of weeks ago. I missed the shot of Heidi making snow angels [OMG, it was the cutest thing ever!]. Happy Holidays!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............

Just a real quick post tonight... I'm really tired. Same busy schedule as always [no need to go over THAT again] so just a little fun tonight. The first photo is a sample of some of the tags we did tonight in class... SnowTag and ILoveSnowmen were the stamps sets (both retiring...I'm so sad). We also did a cute acetate tag, but it is really hard to get a decent photo or scan of acetate stuff!

The second photo is one of the cards we did using last month's MerryWords special stamp set, OrnamentalSnowflakes & SimplyChristmas stamp sets, Lavender Sachet & Violette Palette inks, Versamark & Sparkle embossing powder, LoopyEyelets, and the RoundTabPunch.

A little sumpin' sumpin'...

I really should be in my studio finishing up one of the two sets of baby shower invites I'm doing, but I needed a break! I have been busy (still... yeah, I know) and have totally neglected my blog.

[my bad]

Here is a RAK I gave out a couple of weeks ago. It uses the CircleSampler and WithSympathy stamp sets, DCWV white core brown cardstock that was run through the BigShot in a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then sanded, Burnt Sienna Palette ink, and a fatty ribbon (that I can't recall from where it was purchased). I really like it.

I really need to get back to the grindstone. I'm trying to get ready for a trip to Illinois to see Eric's family. I really hate leaving the babies, especially since Heidi just had her main back tooth extracted today. The poor thing. The vet said she did great with everything... she's just whiny right now because she hates being doped up on anethesia. She's napping right now. Thankfully, Uncle Brandon will be here for her.

So, you wanna know what I've been up to? [wink wink]

Look at all of this stuff!!! This is the mock up of the up-coming craft fair on Saturday... the hubby is about to kill me because he can't have his prime viewing area of the t.v....

That is all for now... must get back to work!

Craziness...

Ok, since Laurie [a.k.a. Hagatha] can't wait another day for a post, here it is:

I've been so crazy-busy trying to get everything finished and set up for the HolidayMart on Saturday, that I haven't had time to blog lately. I still need to take some photos of some of the projects so I can post them here and on the PaperWings forum, but alas, no. I've got GardnerStampClub tonight, so I'm not sure when I'll be home, and then I've got to work on some more stuff! Hopefully I can breathe a little bit Saturday after 4pm! Could it be a BudLight weekend? Perhaps a little Bombay Saphire & tonic? hmmmmm......

OMG!!! Poor kitty....

So, my two *angels* (aka Heidi & Thor) trapped a cat in our backyard this evening. All three of them were under the deck and it was totally dark outside and I couldn't see a thing... the racket was horrific!! Somehow (who knows how this worked) I got them into the house, hoping the cat would quickly escape the same way he came through the fence... hello, it is a 6 foot privacy fence... WTH? Anyhoo, the little stink decided to hobble up the deck steps and planted himself there... staring through the sliding door at the dogs, Brandon, and myself. It was hissing and totally pissed off the whole time he was coming up the steps (kinda creepy, like horror movie creepy), so I couldn't see how badly he was hurt. Me, being an animal lover, immediately went to the bathroom to hurl because I am so upset (I know, what a 'girl'). I called a few of our neighbors to see if he belonged to anyone, but he didn't and he didn't have a collar or anything... so, I had to call Animal Control. I felt so bad, but he wouldn't leave and the dogs have to go outside, so I had no choice.

Animal Control Guy (aka Gardner 'Public Safety') shows up... who, by the way, looked about 14 years old... he asks me questions... name, d.o.b., blah blah blah... I ask him if he wants my social security number next! Jeebus. Anyhoo, young puppy proceeds to grab the cat (with gloves) and take him to the van. Well, the cat wanted no part of this horse-hockey and clings to puppy's arm. He is flailing his arm like crazy, the cat flies off, and runs under the neighbors truck and then climbs up in the under-carriage. Young pup took another 10-15 minutes trying to coax the poor cat back to the van (yeah, like I would go along nicely with someone that had just flung me through the air... are you freakin' smokin' crack?!).

I still feel bad and I hope that the kitty is okay and that his family finds him.

Bah humbug?

I'm trying to get into the holiday spirit... but it is so stressful. I don't really even enjoy them anymore because of all of the rushing around, drama, and commercialism... it's damn near depressing sometimes. So, to try to counter-act some o' that, I've been trying to be creative. This is a little wooden ornament frame that we did at this month's class at my house. The ribbon & frame is from JoAnn's... it was a little tough popping the tree off, but I got it! It is covered with the VintageHoliday paper that is no longer available (sorry), Bazzill cardstock, sentiment is from HolidayMagic, and of course there is Stickles!!! This makes a great inexpensive gift, and I bet it would be even cuter in our MerryWishes paper (I'm waiting for my order to get here!!!).

Stamp-a-Stack Saturday!!!

Woo Hoo! Finally a photo. This one is a bit on the boring side perhaps, but lately I've needed a little simplicity in my life! For this card, I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder in my Big Shot directly to the DCWV card base. Then I just ran the Violette Palette Ink pad over to catch the raised areas. I finished it off with a little Bazzill cardstock accent, raffia ribbon, and the sentiment is from TAC's SimplyChristmas set. This is another one of my Stamp-a-Stack cards that we will be doing tomorrow afternoon!! Nothing like finishing up late the night before! I've got to start planning a little better...

I know, I know...

Where the heck have I been? I was doing so well at keeping up and then BOOM! Nothing. Well, I have been busy getting my monthly class materials prepared, as well as everything needed for my Stamp-a-Stack on Saturday. I still have a ton of stuff to do for the holiday mart on December 1st, my 'regular' job, Shriners' activities, etc. Yikes. No wonder everyone gets stressed this time of year... look how busy everyone is! And I don't even have kids! I can't even imagine throwing that one in there, too... dang!

No fun photo today...I haven't scanned anything in awhile, but maybe this weekend.

Lookin' for the weekend....

It was crazy-busy at the office today, so I was glad I could come home and spend some quality time in my studio.

This is one of the cards in my upcoming Stamp-a-Stack on November 17th. Very simple to make, but quite lovely. I must be one of the last ones to get the now retired and no longer available VintageHoliday paper! Jealous? ;) DCWV cardstock and the HolidayMagic stamp set finishes it off nicely.

Flashback...

Every once in awhile you have to re-visit some of the things that you've done. Take this card for example. An oldie, but it has a good concept. The second photo shows the pull-out. I took the retired sample ring of Levelor blinds home one night from the office and did a little heat embossing on them! Yep, this is made with strips of mini-blinds. Even though all of the TAC stamps shown here are retired, I just thought I'd share an interesting concept: you just don't know until you try!

Is it really Monday tomorrow...

Totally uneventful day today. I didn't get to get creative until about 9pm or so... only did one card for my upcoming class. I did manage to take down all the Halloween stuff from outside... I'm sure the neighbors appreciate that!!!

Here's a card a made a while back, but it is still hip! It is made with the soon to be retired Cheers stamp set, UptownGirl paper, pink Bazzill cardstock, a little magenta Stickles, Noir & Claret Palette ink, and a tiny bit of black Scrapper's Floss. I like this stamp because it can be used for any celebration, not just holidays.

OMG! My hairdresser went crazy...

My cousin, Jody, cut my hair tonight... don't worry, she went to school for it and everything, but I think she went a little scissor-happy this evening. I love her to pieces, and I know it takes time to get used to a 'new do'... but holy bejeezus! I'm hoping after I color it and it has a chance to calm down after a few days that I will like it better... right now my hair is a little bit ANGRY. I'm used to long hair, as in past my shoulders. Now, I can barely tuck it behind my ear! yikers.
This is one of the cards I created for my monthly class... it's stamping with bleach. I used the pumpkin from BooBash, sentiment is from Trendy Greetings, and the bookplate is from HipHardware.

Is it Friday yet? [yes, I would like a little cheese w/ my whine...]

I was completely worthless at the office today. I didn't get much done, which totally bites since I need to get stuff done! Well, on to the fun stuff:

Isn't he the cutest? [the card to the left...duh] I'm usually not one for 'cute cute' stuff, but I totally dig this little guy. He is from BooBash, which is retiring in December... I am totally bummed. I love this set. I used Prismacolor pencils and Gamasol on a 3x3 Bazzill card. The sentiment is pop-dotted for a little dimension. This size card is great for gift tags or little 'just a note'-kind-of-things.

TAC has extended their Double Benefits and has a great Merry Wishes special going on. If you are interested, post a comment!

All Hallows' Eve 2007

Just a few pics from tonight... we had quite a few kids come by... and a couple that stayed on the sidewalk or walked across the street instead [insert evil laugh here].

One more night...

I made these two cards w/ a brass stencil and translucent embossing paste. After applying the paste on the second one, I took a stipple brush & 'flicked' out the edges... turned out kinda creepy... me likey! After the paste dried, I brayered over the orange cardstock w/ black ink & quickly wiped it off of the image. Tore a couple of edges, layered it up, a little stamp here (Running Stitches), a little stamp there(Boo Bash), and voila! What do you think? Please leave me a comment!

I love me some Pink & Blue.....

I know... I have been totally slacking on the whole blog-thing. To make up for it, I have posted this lovely non-traditional Christmas color combo for your viewing pleasure. Pink Bazzill, TAC's Lilly Anna paper & eyelet, pink scrapper's floss, Belle Rose & Reflection Blue Palette inks, and TAC's Holiday Magic stamp set. I think a very simple elegant-yet-casual kind of look. I love the fact that it dangles and moves. This may be one of my Christmas cards to send out... I still haven't really started those yet!

Two days to Halloween!!! I have taken Wednesday off from work to do my final decorating & touch-ups (cobwebs, etc.). I can't wait!

Photos from tonight

Here are the cards/ project we did tonight. The top left is Vicki's, bottom left is Judy's, the nugget box is Toni's, and I did the purple snowman. We had a good time (as usual) and the next one is scheduled for November 27th at the Library. I believe Vicki & Jennifer will be teaching us new techniques this time.

What a day....

I am soooooooo ready for Halloween, as you can tell by the cards above that I created for my monthly class.

So, back to my day. They are still re-roofing our office building and today it reeked sooooo bad that I called the boss, and I must have whined enough because he said to take the laptop home to work on my residential projects. I don't know how those roofing guys stand it all day long, day after day. I think my lungs would explode... but then again, I am a bit of a wussy. Although, my male co-worker must be one too, because he was more than happy to work from home, too!

[heee hee, I called Mikey a wussy]

I actually got quite a bit of work done... I think it is because there aren't as many distractions here. You know, like the phone ringing, roofers hammering and dropping crap just above you, and co-workers acting like little brothers. If it gets bad tomorrow, though, I don't know that the boss will give in again.

Anyway, I also uploaded a canvas that I did as a tribute to my grampa. He has been a carpenter forever! I'm going to hang it up in my living room as soon as I figure out where everything should go. I just haven't made myself hang anything up yet (we just finished putting in slate floor & painted the walls). Sometime in the next month is HAS TO HAPPEN!

That's it for now, and I'll leave you with another Halloween card we did last month using bleach:

Finally!

Geez... the uploading is sorta working this evening. It took forever! Anyway, as promised, I posted a little Halloweenie somethin' somethin' to the right. This was the 'All About Me' scrapbook page that I did for seminar in June.

There was a challenge generated on Paper Wings to use ONLY scraps, materials and stamps that were on your worksurface. No adding! So, this was my response to that... four 4x4's (imagine that) using Genevieve paper, Simply Christmas, Tag Tidbits, Holiday Magic, and Be stamp sets, Stickles, and misc. ribbon. Lucky for me I was getting ready to do Christmas cards!

There is a bit of sad news. I just received a preliminary Final Farewell list for the current TAC catalogue. There are many awesome sets that are being retired... a lot of them are ones I already have and will not be able to show in future FunShops. There is also a few of our paper packs that won't be returning either. This means I will have to do some more shopping! I'll try to post the list here if I can download that sheet from the TAC website. Then just go to my TAC website: http://barb.ismyangel.net/ and you can order online or send me an email!

And!!! The Mystery Boxes will be available for purchase beginning November 1st! They're only $50 and you get waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than the purchase price! Last year, the one I purchased for myself had to be worth at least $100-$150 retail. It was awesome! I still have stuff that I haven't used yet (if you saw my room, you would understand!).

Later.

Another boring post...

Well, still not able to upload tonight... WTH? I finally get motivated enough to start this thing and now I can't even share photos (which was the whole point).

I went to Toni's tonight to see if she could help w/ pricing my Holiday Mart items. It's always nice to just sit and chat with someone after a long day at work. Thanks, Toni! I also entered my latest Stamp Club order... I've heard shipping times have been great, so maybe I'll get it by Friday or Monday! It always feels like Christmas when I come home to find a package at my door... even though the contents aren't 'mine', at least I get to see what everyone has ordered.

I get to work outside the office tomorrow, which is always a nice break, and I always seem to get more work done! Then I'll come home to get my shoebox card swap ready.

Sunday -- day of rest?

I am so tired. I reeaaaaaaallllllllllly don't want to go to work tomorrow. And since Blogger is still not letting me upload any photos, this will be my shortest entry [ no applause please ;) ]. Since I failed in my goal to do at least one creative thing a day (today), I will hopefully make up for it tomorrow. Until then, I'm out.

Saturday night and I'm where?

Yep, you guessed it! At home. The hubby is down at the American Royal helping out like the good little Shriner that he is! It's PBR night...no, not Pabst Blue Ribbon, but the Professional Bull Riders. It is a favorite event evidently (but not for me!).

Laurie and I went to the Creating Keepsakes Convention (CKC), popped into Archiver's, then on to an At Home America (AHA) party, and finally to the Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin... and all by 5pm! Yes, we are THAT good. I bought a few things at CKC for my Halloween scrapbook (that has yet to be started), some beautiful velvet papers that I plan on using for the covers of my next mini-albums, something for the babies' (dogs) pages, and some acrylic monogram letters. Got my freebies from Archiver's (I love coupons), ordered yet another pair of candle holders from AHA, but my favorite purchase of the day was at the Maple Leaf Festival... an awesome, grungy, primative-looking witches hat made of fabric, but has 'rust' all over it. It has to be that rusting solution that you can spray on anything and it will rust it... even paper. I can't remember the name, but that stuff is cool.

In case you don't know me, you must realize that Halloween is MY thing. I love it! Totally my favorite time & holiday of the year. Typically, I leave several Halloween decor items sprinkled throughout the house all year round... yes... freakshow. No, I'm not a goth chic (although I can't get a tan to save my life), I don't have black fingernail polish, and Marilyn Manson is just not for me. However, Halloween is the one time of year you can disguise yourself and pretend to be anything you want (or truely are!). It makes me feel like a kid again. I get to let go... maybe not to the point of frolicking, but you know what I'm sayin'.

My Halloween outfit of choice is a witch. I've got a huge cast-iron cauldron from my grandpa (that sucker stays out on the front stoop year round... man is it heavy). I've got rubber bats hanging in the tree, spider egg-sacks hanging from the eaves (thank you Martha Stewart for the instructions), ravens, a vulture or two, skelton hands, creepy black vines, spanish moss, and an 8'-6" tall mummy (made of teak wood, wire, paper mache, and cheesecloth). It sounds a bit trashy, but it really isn't! I love it all, baby! As soon as Blogger will let me upload a photo, I will.

Until then, I hope your Saturday night is far more eventful than mine!

Sarah at the PaperWings forum issued a card sketch challenge and this was my response. I used Bazzill cardstock base, TAC's Amelia paper (see ad in Simple Scrapbooks), The Magic of Christmas & Simply Christmas stamp sets, Jardin Moss, Bordeaux, & Burnt Umber Palette inks, Stickles (antlers, hooves & nose), and a couple of brass snaps. Very elegant layout, but cutting out the reindeer was a real bi-atch!

I just finished typing up instructions for a cute little wooden box that I altered. Have you ever tried to write down instructions for a project you've done? OMG! It takes forever! I had sent this in to TAC for a contest... it was a loser. Oh well.

The hubby is off to the American Royal since the Shriners are helping out down there. Rodeo stuff is just soooooo not me! [I know, you wouldn't guess that from some of the projects I do]

Well, I think I'm off to my studio to try to get creative. I'll probably just end up organizing things a bit, but I have been really trying to come up with at least one little card or project every night... sometimes it is really tough!

Can I make it to the weekend?

Toni @ http://www.stampingdiva.com/ issued a couple of card sketch challenges, so these are the two I created in response. They're 4x4's again, but I am on that kick right now. I used the Mulberry Meadow papers & Bazzill cardstock. The ribbon is May Arts, but it matched perfectly and I have a rather large roll of it (I gotta use it sometime!). The skinny heart was done with Prismacolor pencils & Gamasol.

Thankfully, tomorrow is Friday! Wooo hooo! I am soooooooooo ready for the weekend. What really bites is that Eric (the hubby) has caught a cold and more than likely will be passing the torch to me within a few days. I'll be pumping the vitamin C like crazy for awhile. Love You, Poot! Big KISS! [no, I'm sure he will not be reading this, but I like to say it anyway ;) ]

Anyway, thanks to Toni for issuing the challenge and I can't wait to see what everyone else has done!

Is it Friday yet [insert whining here] ???

I just can't seem to get motivated today. There is plenty to do at the office, but I have been thinking lately of how much I would like to be a 'kept' woman. Of course my idea of 'kept' and others may differ... bottom line is that I would like to be able to stay at home in my studio everyday, all day. I feel so much more accomplished when finishing a project here than at the office. Why is that? I get paid regularly at the office... that should be motivational, ya' think?! Who knows.

I should be getting my Stamp-a-Stack projects together for November... hopefully that will go over well since I'm ordering supplies for them this week. I've never done one, so we shall see how it goes.

I've been working on some of my Holiday Mart items in the evenings when I'm not completely draggin' bass (if you know what I sayin')... some cards (I'm totally hooked on doing 4x4 cards... they are the perfect size), little boxes w/ mini-albums inside, gift card / bracelet boxes, altered photo frames, little altered baskets (I have no idea what to put inside yet), and a few other little items. I need to get some photos taken so I can post them here and on the Paper Wings forum. Until then, here is an older project of mine... and altered wooden letter.

Ok, here we go! First entry…

OMG!! I was without internet & e-mail from Saturday the 13th around 5am (yeah, I was awake then) until 5:30pm or so tonight (Monday the 15th). We had a little storm here and somehow it fried our cable modem. Thor (my red-headed Lab-Shepard mix) woke me up shaking and wanting to bury his head in my pillow…wussy. Heidi (yellow Lab) was content on the floor on her daddy’s side of the bed. It did sound like the thunder was right above us and later I heard what I am assuming was a transformer blow.

[Thank goodness I had internet at work. I never realized how much I used the internet or checked e-email until I couldn’t!]

Saturday we had a full day of activities at the Abdallah Shrine Center. It was Fall Ceremonial, so Mama and I went to the Ladies’ Luncheon at Milburn Country Club…they had awesome entertainment this year! The Tin Lizzie unit put on a bunch of silly skits…you know, for a bunch of manly-men, they sure like to dress up in drag a lot! Definitely one of the best luncheons I had attended. After lunch, there was the Fezzing Ceremony, a short break for cocktails, then dinner and dancing. I was totally bushed! I swear, for being only 36, I felt like an old lady ready for bed! Sunday, I barely got out of my pj’s! Vegged out and watch movies all day. I love days like that.

Uneventful day today (Monday), but that is usually the case.

Creating Keepsakes Convention is Friday and Saturday at the KCI Expo and then Saturday and Sunday is the Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin. My friend, Laurie, and I are going to do the ‘Cannonball Run’ and go to both on Saturday…should be a full day!

I’d better list all of the specials going on at The Angel Company this month! See next entry!