Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Topstitch - MANLY

I've used my Window Charms more in the last week than in the last year! I guess I re-discovered them!! You know how things like to hide in the bottom of the drawer!

I love the definitions - a new set called "State of Mind". It includes Giddy, Love, Happiness, Beautiful, Favorite, Joyful, and Twitterpated (and Kindness). ;-)

I've been SO lazy! Santa brought me the entire 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls. Kristen and I watched them together when she was in high school - we thought we WERE the Gilmore Girls!!! The year Kristen went off to BU, was the year Rory went to Yale. I couldn't watch! It was just too much for me - I was struggling with the separation. But, as you know, I survived - my precious daughter grew up to be an amazing woman. I can watch Gilmore Girls now! My excuse is that I need to keep my knee elevated with ice (right?). LOL

Hugs!


Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Topstitch

I just love this new paper from Close-to-My-Heart! It's called Topstitch and it's very versatile. This card (girly) and another one I made (manly) from the same pack - now that's neat! This card was inspired by one by Teresa Kline found here.

I've been enjoying having my Kristen & her Brian here - Sean, too! Sean is Kristen's best friend and although he lives here, he only comes over when she's in town. We've had wonderful long talks, snacks, games, and late-late nights! When K and B left this morning to visit her father's side of the family in Prescott - I went back to bed! I'm not used to staying up until 2 AM!!! ;-)

Thank goodness I don't have to work this week! I'm still off with the knee - and my progress is remarkable! I've been going to the gym to use the stationary bike and there is definite progress each day. I'm moving better, getting stronger, hurting less. Yea for me!

I hope to post more - I've got lots of Thank You notes to prepare, and hope to get started on the Ya-Ya scrapbook!!!

Hugs!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Veranda Creative Basics - Sneak Peak!

True confessions - I copied shamelessly out of the new Close-to-My-Heart catalog to be released 1/1/10. This is the cutest stamp set - and the paper (Veranda) is beautiful!

I'm getting this post done quickly as it is FINALLY time to go to the airport to pick up my darling daughter and her boyfriend! Yippee!!!

Later alligator!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Update!

Surgery went well - I got home about 3:30 and had a bowl of rice and took a pain pill - - - then straight to bed. I slept a couple of hours, and awoke with a little nausea. I think I'll try to get off that particular pill as soon as possible.

I've been walking all over the house - it isn't any more difficult than it was before the surgery so that's great news! From here, it will just be getting better and better!

Thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes. Oh, and for those who weren't sure what I was having done, it was a torn meniscus and removal of a cyst in my knee. The tear and cyst were worse than the surgeon predicted, but he managed them beautifully. Can you stand a funny story? The anesthesiologist was quizzing me before surgery on what I'd eaten and asked about my current pain. I said "yes" and he asked me to describe it. When I mentioned a headache, he asked if I'm a coffee drinker (which I most certainly am!) and then he ordered caffeine to be added to my IV!!! Now THAT's customer service!!!!

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Another peak at Topstitch!

Oooeeee! What a busy week, huh! This card is one of the 15 I've send for birthdays during December! No-one should be allowed to have a birthday in December. There is too much else to get done. LOL

I love this new Topstitch paper! The piece on the right hand side - with the circles, is from the package. It's for a guy friend of mine - so I needed it to be "not girly" (well, duh). My, I'm very articulate tonight. I haven't even had any drugs (yet)!!!

Tomorrow is my surgery. I'm excited, ready, happy to have it here finally. I am NOT worried, NOT afraid, NOT expecting anything but a perfect and speedy recovery! Gosh - tonight SHOULD have been Yoga night - and I want to get back to it already!!!!!

(ok, breathe deeply, let out the tension with your exhale).

Namaste.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Sneak Peaks! Topstitch and Felicity

The lovely bird is available as part of the Close-to-My-Heart Felicity special, just for National Papercrafting Month - and for these cards, I paired it with a new paper pack (available 1/1/10) called Topstitch (the diagonal stripe). I couldn't decide between the blush and crystal blue, which do you like better?

This weekend was very productive! It's amazing all of the things you think about needing to prepare when you might not be as mobile as you would like to be! LOL In addition, Kristen and Brian are coming next Sunday (less than a week now!!) and it's Brian's first time here - so I'm working on a good first impression. I found a couple of hours in the craft room because I wanted to plan ahead projects and place everything I'll need close to the work table. Minimize the getting up and down aspect.

Well - off to work! Have a wonderful week - don't wear yourselves out with the preparations too much!

Hugs.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Cheery Cactus


Driving to see friends on Saturday - I had to circle the block and come back to take a photo of this house - - - their "Cheery Cactus" was just so stinkin' cute!!!

Hope it brings a smile for you, too!

Namaste.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Waltzingmouse Star

Today I had a few minutes to play on things that didn't have to be mailed "yesterday" or wrapped "tomorrow" - it was refreshing! I've missed my craft room! I have had these gorgeous Waltzingmouse stamps for a month without having time to play with them - they are just gorgeous - amazing to use and easy to align - the set has everything you could want to finish them off in a variety of ways! I bought the Spellbinders Star Nestie to use to cut them - although they would be simple to cut by hand. The embossing is a nice touch . . .

I put up my Christmas tree today - not the ornaments (except those that were scattered throughout the house already) but one of these stars made it onto the tree! I wish I had another day to just play - the weekend was too short.

Happy Monday - dear friends!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Help? Cake in a cup . . .

Ummm. This isn't exactly what I was hoping for! It did make me laugh out loud, though!!! I found a recipe for making "cake in a cup" and last year I had scooped up some wonderful large cappucino cups on sale so I thought, "sure! With a little gift certificate - a very fun gift!". The first trial run (because we have to try chocolate cake, don't we?) resulted in a dry-as-a-bone hunk that was unedible. My second try was much better, but not an "oh-my-gosh" kind of yummy. I thought I'd try it with a whole egg (the recipe called for egg white) and a few more chocolate chips and this was the result! It's so amazing I just had to share it with you!

Do you have a really yummy cake in a cup recipe? I mean, oooey-gooey and with each spoonful you make little moaning noises? Would you share??

Happy Saturday!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Hello - I'm still here!

I don't have any art to post - it's been a very busy weekend and I've spent lots of time in the craft room, but everything has been about getting the Christmas cards ready to put in the mail. I forgot how long it takes to write a note in 100 cards, and address them and all that! So, I've made nothing new at all!

I didn't want to you be worried about me - my surgery isn't scheduled until 12/23 so between now and then I'll be very busy laying in supplies (like groceries and things for Christmas) and getting as much as possible DONE before I'll need to be still (and scrapbook!) :D


I did take a break today to go see The Blind Side with my friends. What a great movie! I loved Sandra Bullock - she was amazing. I want to grow up to be like her someday!

Have a wonderful week!
Hugs.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Card Kit - Celebrate Everything!

Gosh! I must be the last person to actually OPEN my Close to My Heart Celebrate Everything card kit! It's so much FUN! I actually needed a whole bunch of birthday cards (12) for December and so during the Open Stamping day I worked on making the kit! I "altered" them just a tiny bit from the plan to make them better for birthdays. Here were a couple of my favorites!

I'm finding it hard to believe it's Tuesday evening already. I feel a little like a ship without a rudder - no Yoga on Tuesday nights to let me know how fast the week is progressing. No Yoga on Friday night (and hence, no green curry treat). I'm so pathetic. Well, surgery is scheduled now - I should be walking again the next day! I know things will work out the way they are supposed to; I am very loved.

Namaste.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Open Stamping Sunday - Glitter Ornaments!

Last Christmas I saw this tutorial at Amy Rysavy's blog Prairie Paper & Ink and decided to give it a try! It was too late in the season to share this with my Open Stamping friends, and I wanted to hold them for a year to see if the glitter stayed put! It did! So, we're going to use Close to My Heart re-inkers and Prisma glitter to make these gorgeous ornaments for our technique tomorrow! It's easy and fast, their favorite type!

I actually cleaned out my garage yesterday! Wowie- it sure looks better. In honor of the clean garage, Keiko had a bath, too! (Keiko's the car). I pulled the boxes of Christmas decorations into the house to unpack and re-dressed the front porch. I strung the lights along the back fence (I face a lake - so the lights are very pretty reflecting off the water). I enjoyed beautiful music all day when I wasn't outside. It was a perfect day - I'm SO glad I took the day off!!!

Hugs!

Friday, November 27, 2009

More cards from my friends . . .


I'm still posting the beautiful cards I received from my friends . . . aren't these pretty!?! Sheri colored her cornucopia while Pam used the ghosting technique! Pretty cool, both of them!

I slept so good last night (could it be the 9 pounds of turkey I ate? - just kidding!). But I'm awake now and have a full "to-do" list. I'm hoping to unpack the Christmas treasures and decorate the house. Anyone else already loaded their Christmas music into the CD player???

Yippee!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Christmas Tags!

Inspired by the fabulous Lisa Stenz (here) I sat down to make some Christmas tags! These were so much fun! I failed to photograph the backside of them - but I used the open circle design and the tiny "to" and "from" stamps so the tags can be properly addressed! I decided that a dozen was a nice number to give to someone - so I set about making a box to hold a dozen tags. That turned out easier than I thought it would be - guess all that practice with chocolate nuggets is paying off! ;-)

Yesterday was quiet at work so I was glad to leave when the time came (I'd much rather be busy!). I went straight to my church where one of the young men was being presented with his Eagle Scout award. What a beautiful ceremony they created for him! I've been to others and his was the most inspiring I've ever seen. It's always interesting to realize who in the group is also an Eagle Scout - men I've known for years, but never knew this little bit about them! I enjoyed it tremendously - even if I was up to my elbows in making and serving the punch. By the way - that punch was delicious! Here's the recipe I'd been handed to use:

1 can limeade (thawed but not diluted)
1/2 can lemonade (thawed but not diluted)
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups water
2 liters of Gingerale (Wait! I may have put 4 liters in the bowls - no wonder we ran out so quickly! Is the big plastic bottle 1 liter or 2 liters? I guess I thought they were 1 liter and used 2 for each bowl! YIKES!)

The good news is that there was JUST the right amount of punch for the group (about 1/4 of a bowl left over) and everyone loved it!

Umm. Sharli here, still being silly!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Thanks for the Thanksgiving Cards!


I honestly can't say whether it was the whining and pleading, or that I was down on one knee (my good one) begging, but Jone gave me TWO beautiful Thanksgiving cards this year!!! Yippee!!!! The first one uses the puddle-pad technique and the second one she used Flower Soft to make the leaves look like perfect little miniatures! Breath-taking.

I begged and pleaded at work today, too, and got Friday off. I don't have any special plans, and I'll be carrying the cell phone and pager everywhere, but I wanted to spend the weekend sans pantyhose, if you know what I mean! LOL

Do you usually get up before dawn to stand in lines and get the best deals on Friday?


Is it Turkey yet?

Monday, November 23, 2009

Shaving Cream technique - re-gifted


My dear friend Jacqueline sent this gorgeous card done with the shaving cream technique that I taught during open stamping this year. She absolutely excelled at this technique - it was made for her! My own designs often come out looking like "mud" but not hers! Look at the delicate intricacies of color! Thank you, Jacqueline, for this beautiful card, and for your sweet friendship!

I finally found a "small" turkey! Wow, who knew it would be so hard? I have a perfect little 9 lb. bird - they call it "petite"! Isn't that cute? I love turkey - but for just me, it's a bit much to cook a 17 pound bird! I'm afraid it would freezer burn before I could make it into soup, enchiladas, etc. etc. LOL

So, now I'm getting hungrier by the minute! What are your plans for the Thanksgiving feast?

Hugs!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Belated birthday - it's so hard at this time of year!

Having a December birthday - I know first hand how difficult it is for everyone to keep up with birthdays this time of year. There is so much ELSE on our minds!!! I have a dear friend at church, like an older brother to me, and he's on my list to receive cards. As I was working on the birthday card for another friend on the 24th, I looked at his name on the list and had that sinking feeling in my stomach - I forgot his birthday! Oh No! So, time for this cute elephant to try to remember! Everything is Close-to-My-Heart. Easy, quick card - too bad the "Game On" papers are retired. Update! Game On isn't retired! I don't know where I got that silly idea! Whew.

So, it's the end of the weekend so soon. Bummer. I'll let the fact that it's a short week keep me going! I did enjoy an hour of beautiful yard work this afternoon - the weather here is perfect and it's actually a JOY to work in the yard this time of year.

Hugs!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Another card "remake"


When I posted the card on the bottom, I had very few comments . . . and the more I thought about it, the more I thought it could be improved. The card on top is the "remake". I used the scraps of Stamping Up paper but rubbed over the "taupe" pattern with a lime chalk cat-eye. Then I stamped my holly leaf on the backside and cut them out. With the change from red/brown pattern to green, I needed to update the ribbon also - so I used the last of my stash of hand-dyed silk ribbon (this ribbon is so soft!). The overall dimension is 5 x 5 inches.

It's been a busy Saturday here . . . I've been running errands (well, hobbling through them). I've spent a bit of time in the craft room (so wonderful!) and had an interesting 1st (for me) - I was trying to get some bright red paint into a small plastic lid so I could dip the end of the paintbrush into it and make little "holly berry" dots on some tags I was making . . . when I some how let go of the bottle of paint! I caught it with my lap, legs, hands. DEEP, RICH RED PAINT! I'm about to go pull my jeans out of the washer to see if they have to go through again . . . I'm counting my blessings that it didn't fall on my new wood floor. I would have just cried. So, as we remember all that we are thankful for - let's add "catching the red paint!" to that list! LOL

Hugs!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Count Your Blessings!

When I count MY blessings, I count YOU!

This card is for all of my dear friends, whether they be at church, home, work, or cyberspace. I have been very blessed with your friendship and support and I don't take the time often enough to let you know how much you mean to me.

I have received the most beautiful Thanksgiving cards this year - I'll start posting them very soon - but as you know, I'm up to my eyeballs in making my Christmas cards, and just couldn't do both! I hope you'll accept this visual card and know that I cherish your gifts of time and talent!

The details: CTMH November word puzzle for the wheat and saying stamps (Cocoa ink). PTI dot basics stamped on glossy cardstock with Versa Mark and sponged over with CTMH Brown Bag ink. The numbered craft paper is something I picked up at Mad Scrapper last weekend - it's by Jillibean Soup.

Namaste.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

New Office - Weekly Planner Page

Another weekly planner page to get me "caught up"! I had a little fun with this one - the photo just said to me "neutral, black, white, and a tiny dot of red". The new office address is CP84C. (my company is weird about office numbers!). So, this is my new little home-away-from-home. It's actually very comfy. The weather is great, it's quiet (usually) and I have plenty of light. I can reach my door to close it if there is a phone call where I will be disturbing my neighbors . . . all in all, it's a great office!

I must say how much I appreciate your input on my last page! I'll post a revision as soon as I get it done! (tee, hee!) I will journal more of the story, and I loved Jane's input to do that on vellum or maybe even transparency, so I can still see the beautiful paper beneath. Yep. We'll give it the old college try!

Today was VERY productive even though I spent all day sitting on my you-know-what because my knee hurts too much to walk! ;-0 I was busy all day long with projects - the time just FLEW by! I'm off to bed now (early day tomorrow). Hope your week is wonderful and you're looking forward to the holiday coming up - I know I am!

Hugs!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Harvest Steak Fry - Weekly Planner


There's nothing like a photo to show you where there is a B-I-G open space in your layout, huh!? I love this paper so much that I was thrilled to not cover up all the "interesting parts". What do you suggest I add to it??

This was a photo from the big dinner at my church mid-October. I'm w-a-a-y behind in my weekly planner pages (no kidding - like a month behind) but I've got little post-it notes on the page with the idea, and the photos are all taken and saved. There were 126 (I believe) people at this dinner and it was, as usual, perfect weather. I guess I need to tell more of the story perhaps? Or, should I put some embellishments in the upper part of the left-hand side . . . Help me out here . . . !

OK, now for the sad news. It's Tuesday night and I'm not at Yoga. My knee is still sore. : (

Namaste.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Congratulations on the New Job!

Happy Friday! I made this card for a friend who was just promoted at work! He liked it! I think it's pretty self-explanatory, except that I enjoyed learning that some of the Boom-di-Ada papers coordinate nicely with the Emporium set. I also realized that I had stamps that went with these patterns. Not sure how I missed seeing that before! That's why I still need to look at my stamps when I am beginning a project. The circles are pop-dotted to different levels, and the card has more twilight blue paper designing the inside where there is a "congratulations" message.

Friday - FINALLY. This week has seemed long to me. I did go to Yoga tonight but my practice was not strong. :-( My knee is bothering me today.
We're covered in clouds - might get some rain - so I'm sure that is the cause. I need to just keep trying.

Namaste.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

An Award! (I feel so LOVED)


This award is bestowed onto blogs that are exceedingly charming. These bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Yes, that's what Jamie said! Truly! I'm am in heaven!

Thank you so much Jamie - I am honored by your award. A year ago I didn't really know what a "blog" was and now I have discovered a wide-world of people who I love - I mean that! People I love because we have so much in common - and we care about each other and the artistic strugglings of each day (is strugglings not a real word? spell-check isn't convinced.).

I want to share, too - I'm listing 5 of my blogging friends who fit the description and that I don't believe have this award already (oops! if I'm wrong ;-)

1. Leslie at PandaScrapper
2. Deb at Paper, Ink, Scissors, & Stamps
3. Carla at CarlaCreates
4. Cibele at FlowerFoot
5. Terrie at My Life in Real Time

Hugs!



Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Retirement card

Racking my brain, trying to come up with a Retirement card that didn't look like a sympathy card . . . I came across this image (in my card pile) and said, YES! This is it! FREE as a bird! A dear co-worker retired this week - I bet his face hurt all day today after the ear-to-ear grins he wore all day yesterday! I used green leafy paper on the inside to try to play-down the pinks. The bird is on pop-dots, so the card has some dimension.

Hump day already?! Last night was Yoga - and I felt so strong! I'm loving this "strong" feeling!!! It's rather addictive (like scrapping, or blogging!)

Have a great day tomorrow - the weekend is on the way now.
Namaste.



Monday, November 9, 2009

Bethlehem (again)

This card is "revisited" because I chose different design papers to sew behind the focal image from the ones on my prototype (here). I do love this card - it's different (for me). I learned a LOT about using my sewing machine (for example, it is possible to put the bobbin in backwards - but it doesn't work right that way). I also scaled it down to a 4 1/2 x 5 3/4" card. The prototype was a 5 x 7. This is the "ghosting" technique - where you clear emboss your image, then ink over it (creating the Desert Sand shading) then you lift off the clear embossing by using a piece of scrap paper and a hot iron. Naturally - of the 17 cards made yesterday, I picked up the one to photograph that still has shiny! (It's my fate)

I had a very busy evening - 3 thank you cards (all re-makes) and 2 congratulations cards (both new) and sorting a big Close-to-My-Heart order (which always feels like CHRISTMAS!) and oh-my-gosh it's almost 9 PM already! Yikes! I've still got to do a few chores before bed, so I'll wish you good-night!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Christmas Card #3 (or is it #4)?

This will probably be my 4th Christmas card design for this year - I just need 15 more cards (I hope) to finish out my list. That will be 105 total. This one was pretty easy - and I think the simplicity makes it pretty stunning. I'm a sucker for the traditional colors - but the addition of Cocoa in this instead of green really appeals to me. Have you ever realized how many different colors of "red" buttons there are? I had a pile I was sorting through looking for the right colors . . . what a variety!

It was a good weekend, but like others who've mentioned it in their blogs this weekend, I'm tired. I'm not sure if I'm fighting off an infection, or just getting old! Probably the latter.

Going to bed early. Have a great week!

Hugs!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

A get well card . . .

My darling daughter has been fighting a cold for about a week now, and I wish with all my heart I could be in Boston to take her a bowl of chicken soup! This card will have to do for now.

It was inspired by Heather Nichols with this post of Christmas cards! I really love her style! The papers are all Close-to-My-Heart, the Chicken Soup image is from Cats Pajamas and the writing on the craft cardstock is from Papertrey Ink.

Friday was a great day - I got a lot of work done, made it to Yoga class, and finally had my "special reward" for making Yoga-goal of getting green curry from Swadees for dinner! YUMMMMMMM. The owners were so happy to see me - well, it has been over a month with the knee issues and all. Have a wonderful weekend!

Namaste.


Thursday, November 5, 2009

An award!

Oh My Goodness! Jane at ScossieJane thought I should have this award! I've been enjoying seeing everyone's answers to the questions - and will give it my best shot!

The Rules are:
1. You can only use ONE word!!!
2. Pass this along to 5 of your favorite bloggers!
3. Alert them that you have given them this award!
4. HAVE FUN!!!
******************


Here goes -

1. Where is your cell phone? table
2. Your hair? red
3. Your mother? missed
4. Your father? also
5. Your favorite food? Thai
6. Your dream last night? work
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? WorldPeace
9. What room are you in? den
10. Your hobby? Scrapbooking
11. Your fear? illness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? craftroom
14. Something that you aren't? negative
15. Muffins? warm
16. Wish list item? fence
17. Where did you grow up? USAF-all over
18. Last thing you did? dishes
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pets? missed
22. Friends? blessings
23. Your life? Happy
24. Your mood? quiet
25. Missing someone? Kristen
26. Vehicle? Keiko
27. Something you're not wearing? perfume
28. Your favorite store? Nordstroms
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When was the last time you laughed? SecondsAgo
31. Last time you cried? weeks
32. Your best friend? Kristen
33. One place that I go over and over? Yoga
34. Facebook? Occasionally
35. Favorite place to eat? Out ;-)

I'm supposed to give this to 5 bloggers but I think instead I will leave it open and you can play if you're interested! Thanks again to Jane for honoring me!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

My 2nd Christmas card design . . .

I wish that the basket of cards I posted earlier this week were all I need - but in truth, they are only about half of the cards I will make this year! This design is only for my MOST discriminating friends! I was limited to just 8 of these. I was inspired for this card by Beate Johns (linked from my first attempt here) and, as usual, changed it to work with the stamps that I have! I was excited to finally use the Glimmer Mists that I bought this summer in Payson, AZ. I used both the New England green one and the Scarlet. The trick? I cut the shape in the nestabilities, and left the paper in the nestie and sprayed it with the Glimmer mist. The edge of the nestie creates the white border (also the part that would be lower if embossed). The stamps are Close-to-My-Heart but the paper - (oh, that paper!) is a flocked paper from SU. Isn't is just yummy??? I've already posted the 3rd card version that I'll send this year (here). I plan to make about 30 of that one although I've settled on different papers for it, too. I have a few (3) left over from last year, and there are the 4 Hanukkah cards . . . I may only need 3 or 4 more to complete the list! :-)

Hump day! My filing cabinet was delivered at 10 AM this morning - and I had meetings from 10:30 on so there was no un-packing for me today! I'm hoping to unpack and get settled in my new space tomorrow afternoon. I had a great day - productive meetings, and I "babysat" the phones and front desk in a department while the nurses went to a much deserved lunch out with the boss. The visitors during that time period were so sweet and kind - understanding that I couldn't really answer their questions but that the nurses would get back to them within the hour! As always - I'm so proud to work with such consumate professionals - even during times of great stress!

Wash your hands. (My latest mantra)


Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Hanukkah cards


I have several friends who are Jewish - and each year I try to make a Hanukkah card for them! I really fell in love with this stamp from Stampin'Up ("Let there be light!") that I purchased from my favorite Stampin' Up Consultant, Deb Neerman, and the other stamps on this card are all Close-to-My-Heart ones. I was generous with the Stickles - this card really glitters and glows in real life! Hanukkah is early this year - December 12th - so I moved this project up in the schedule of things!

Work was physically hard today! We moved our offices. Yes, there is a crew to lift the heavy stuff - but there is all that packing and, naturally, they stacked 12 boxes that belonged to another person in the department in my office (right where the file cabinet was supposed to go - no file cabinet in sight) and my boxes were scattered thither and yon! So, I got a bit of a work-out finding things and moving them again into the correct location. The good news??? I went to Yoga tonight and we did AWESOME stretching and I feel so-o-o-o much better. I will certainly sleep good tonight.

Namaste.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Sympathy card #2 (repaired)

Ok. True confessions here. This is the card that had the "glue accident". Have you found a good way to adhere what I will call "fuzzy paper"? I had these snips of mulberry paper left-over from the Harvest Steak Fry at church - I used the paper to wrap around some "holy candles" - the ones you buy at the grocery store (I get the clear ones) - these are a great starter for centerpieces for this type of church event and I've used mine for at least 5 years now! The paper is translucent enough to let the light shine through beautifully! When I use lighter color papers, I stamp images on them and that's even prettier! Anyway - I digress.

So - I couldn't get the mulberry paper to stick to the card! I finally lifted it up a bit and squirted some of the "best glue on earth" (liquid glass) underneath only I forgot that if it squeezed through the paper, it would look shiny??!! It did. Can you tell where it showed through? Oh, come on. Look closely.

Aren't pearls wonderful?

Work today? It was wonderful! Today was new employee orientation. I don't know if the new employees love it as much as I do - but meeting all of these interesting new people and sharing a bit about my amazing organization - well, I just love doing it! It makes me happy.

Hugs!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Here's my Excuse!

It's been many days since I posted - but not because I haven't been crafty - I've been in PRODUCTION mode! I completed 50 of one design for my Christmas cards this year! I love them - but I admit, I'm tired of them. LOL

I love Halloween and All Saints. This has been a weekend full of blessings, to be sure! The sweet children tip-toeing up to the door - needing encouragement from their parents to actually knock! Their delighted faces and adorable "Happy Hallerween" (really!) and those costumes! (Deep sigh!) It makes me feel like all is still right with the world.

All Saints today was wonderful because there were people that I've missed and was so happy to greet again! The service was beautiful - our choir master is just amazing. The music just takes me away to another place - I can pray deeply - meditatively - with these ethereal voices.

I hope your weekend was full of wonder!
Hugs.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Key to My Heart stamps - Sympathy Card

I've had to make not one, but two sympathy cards this week. How sad! This one is for a guy at work who just lost his Father. I'm hoping the Twilight and gray colors will make it less girly. It seems elegant to me. The second card was so pretty until I had a "glue accident". I'll see if I can get it repaired or remade and post it tomorrow.

I did get to Yoga last night and it was very good for me! I felt strong - and while a little bit tentative, I was not afraid. It feels good to be back!

Happy Hump Day!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Card from Friends!



I am very blessed to receive wonderful-fun Halloween cards from my friends - they all know that I don't usually send out Halloween cards - I'm in m-a-j-o-r production mode already for my 100+ Christmas cards! These are just adorable, huh! I wish you could see Jone's in person - because it sparkles and you know how the camera doesn't capture that essence.

It was a great Monday - we're expecting a "cold snap" (don't laugh) it will be getting down into the 40's by the end of the week! YIKES! We don't really know what to do with 40's (since no-one here owns a coat!).

I'm going to Yoga tomorrow - I'm very positive and happy about that - so I probably won't be able to post tomorrow. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Namaste.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Open Stamping Treats

Don't just love these little pumpkin pie jack-o-lanterns? So cute you could just gobble them up? I must confess - they are very tasty! I was inspired by Bakerella! Check out this blog (if you dare!!) I just had to make them today - while I'd have people to help me eat them (other wise, I'm in danger of eating them all myself and that would be B-A-D, very, very bad!)

We had 7 today for Open Stamping - it was very fun! This group is not only good friends, but they are growing so much in their artistic talents - it isn't unusual at all for them to be teaching me new tricks! What a treat!?!

Speaking of treats - I "borrowed" this idea from Annette Green, My Creative Journey.
These little darlings were so easy that I pulled together 10 of them in less than an hour! The hard part was sizing them as I had different stamps to work with than Annette used.
Well, the tables are put away, the kitchen is clean and the dishwasher running, the garbage has been put to the curb - I've tidied up the nursery - and probably need to begin to think about bedtime. Speaking of - I slept 9 hours last night without interruption. I have high hopes for the steroid injection now - it looks like it's working and I will have my life back.

Ready for Monday!
Hugs!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Tree Pose

I'm just bursting with good news this morning - I slept all night - I saw the ortho surgeon yesterday and he thought we should try an injection of steroids into the joint. It seems to be working!!! Thank God!

This is just another weekly planner page - very self explanatory!
Happy Friday!!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Technique Page for Sunday's Open Stamping

I think the past two months I've deviated from the standard technique page that my friends can add to their albums - so this month I decided to get back on track! Our technique is "cracked glass" and the technique was taught to me by Heather Nichols at Pine is here. Sorry about the glare on the "glass" - I took the photograph at night (i.e. flash)!

I can't believe it's Wednesday night already. This week has just flown by - and I have so much to get done before the weekend! Saturday is our big church fellowship (steak fry) and I'm in charge of setting up and decorating the tables. Sunday is Open Stamping at my house (always fun - but also takes some planning). I'd better get off the computer and get something done!

Hugs!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Oregon State

Another weekly planner page - this one from a few weeks ago when my friends and I took Keri up to school in Oregon! The reason this page is on a twilight background is that it's the first page in the 3rd volume of my planner for 2009. I adhered it right to the inside of the front cover!

Another great day at work - I love that there is so much interesting to do and I don't even notice how late it's getting on most days . . . I am so blessed!

Have a great Wednesday tomorrow!
Namaste.

Monday, October 19, 2009

What's a Farfar?

Farfar is a Danish word for "Father's Father" - and this handsome man is my daughter's Farfar. If you read my post from yesterday - you know I recently visited them. Telling you the story in one post, then posting the scrapbook page later is a trick I play to get you to read more posts (just kidding!)!!!

This is one of the weekly planner pages that I've been doing this year. My book is amazing! I had to split it into three volumes (maybe if I'd left off the dimensional elements? - nah!) The other day my DD was asking what date we went to the Chihuly exhibit in Phoenix together - and I started to say "I don't know" but then I remembered that I DO know - it's in my planner! It was so awesome to open to that week and remember her visit and the beautiful glass exhibit.

The layout is self-explanatory - except that I (the last person on earth) discovered lace! I found some awesome natural fiber lace in the clearance bin and put it to good use! ;-)

Namaste.

Sharli

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Shaving Cream technique

This is an old-ish card that I recently spruced up with one more layer of matting and used as a sympathy card. The shaving cream technique is the highlight of this one, for sure! It is one of the few where I've done the technique on cardstock rather than glossy paper. I like how the technique works on cardstock . . . there is a subtle difference in the way the paper soaks up the ink.

I enjoyed a visit to my daughter's "Farfar" yesterday. "Farfar" means "father's father" in Danish - he is so much fun, so full of life and has such a good heart! 89 years young. He and his wife live in Prescott. He immigrated to the US from Denmark in 1954 with a wife and 3 small children. Can you imagine going so far away from the life you knew? New places, new language, new people. At one point in our conversation yesterday he pondered what changes his new great-grandson (born just a few months ago to my niece) will experience during his lifetime. As we looked backward in amazement at all that has happened these past 89 years we know that there is no limit to the possibilities.

I'm so thankful that I got to spend the time with Aage and Jeanne.
Namaste.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Boss's Day

Tomorrow is "Boss's Day" and I work for someone who is a nurse, although the only time of year she actually holds a shot in her hand is during vaccine season (i.e. NOW!). Most of the time she is an Administrator. And a very good one at that! I'm proud to work for her - and inspired by her example. (and I said all that with no belief that she knows about my blog, tee, hee!)

Ok, for the details - I LOVED the card that Julia posted here a week or so ago - and knew I NEEDED that stamp to create just the perfect card for Beth. So, I ordered it and was really, really lucky because it came tonight! I made this card to go with my gift (silly things - she doesn't need anything!). I'm happy with the card! It uses some of the last few scraps I have of the Close-to-My-Heart Key to My Heart special from last year. That is such pretty paper! The stamps are by Cats Pajamas (I bought the whole set about "get well" - figure I'll need it this year!).

I had the most wonderful experience last night - about once a year I'm scheduled to teach a safety class for the Spanish speaking employees at one of our campuses. This department is just amazing - they work so hard, as a real TEAM, and are so respectful of each other . . . they were attentive, had a good sense of humor, and appreciated that I was there "trying". It was one of the most rewarding hours spent. I just wanted to brag on them a moment! :-) Thanks for listening!


Monday, October 12, 2009

Can you have enough "thank you" cards?

Being an Episcopalian my vote is "no" you can never have enough Thank You cards! There is always someone to thank for their kindness! Most of the time a simple word is enough - but sometimes it just requires a card. I know YOU all understand ;-)

This card was completely inspired by a note I received from Keri O'Neal! Keri is the DD that the Ya-Ya Scrapbook Sisterhood moved up to Oregon last month. She was kind enough to thank me for the vacation of my lifetime (or for helping her move). Her card (I should have taken a photo of it!) was very similar but she had a brown background paper with the fleur-de-lis design. I like both of them, but I didn't have any of the brown paper so my card is blue. The cool thing that Keri did with this was to stamp the flower image on the inside of the paper envelope . . . the stamp must have been loaded with ink because the flower showed through to the front! What a pretty way to decorate the envelope!

Long work day - lots to do and more coming my way! I'm buried in end-of-year reports - working against a deadline, in fact, when my DD calls me because her boyfriend just cut himself on broken glass (long story - don't ask!). We decide nothing in a 5 minute call - I tear myself away to meet with my boss and (I learn later . . .) she takes him to the ED. Happy ending! He'll recover. WHEW!

And that, my friends, was only Monday!