snow babies

Here's a peek at the newest crop of bottle snow babies. My cousin came for a visit a couple of weeks ago and we made 34 of these guys. We didn't get to the glitter part while she was here, and I just got to that last week. These guys are all boxed up to take to a craft fair in a couple of weeks. It's been years since I did a craft fair, but I'm drowning in crafty goodness that really needs to find new homes. My friend who makes amazing candles is hosting a quick afternoon holiday open house in a couple of weeks. It's the perfect venue to hop back into the fray and it's before mom's surgery. Perfect. Here's the link to last year's edition in case you missed them.

I'm running off this afternoon to an event called Wrap Up Christmas with some of my stamping friends at the scrapbook shop down the hill. It's a wonderful event with lots of inspiration, make and takes, and yummy food. Can't wait. I hope you're having a beautiful Sunday. Thanks for stopping by.

Holiday Inspiration

If you need a little inspiration to jump start your holiday projects, stop by Scrapbook News and Review for our holiday sampler. New classes posted each hour for the next 7 hours along with lots of inspiration, games, and prizes. I'm teaching two classes today.


This is a little peek at my 2:00 class sponsored by Graphic 45 that might help you contain a popular gift.


Here's a peek at my 3:00 class sponsored by Stewart Superior Ink. It would make a wonderful hostess gift over the holidays.

I have to say that I adored working with both of these sponsor's products. I fell in love with Graphic 45 papers at CHA in January. Their double sided papers and punch outs are amazing. I love the vintage feel of these and they go so well with all my vintage embellishments that I treasure hunt for and hoard. The Stewart Superior ink is new to me, but it was love at first stamp. So much shimmery goodness in the colors I played with. These are the folks who make Palette inkpads. Good stuff. I hope you'll have time to stop by to play.

joyful

Supplies: Cardstock: Stampin Up; Stamp: A Stamp in the Hand, Stampin Up; Ink: Tsukineko; Alcohol Ink: Ranger; Leafing Pen: Krylon; Glitter Glue: Ranger; Other: Button, Ribbon.

Here's a little joyful pear ATC to share with you this morning. I used just a part of a larger stamp for this one. The original stamp is huge and has three pears on it. I masked the stamp and used cactus green stazon ink to ink up just the last pear in the trio. I wasn't sure if the green would cover since it was a lighter color, but it worked beautifully. Getting the sentiment in that little tag was tricky, but I just eyeballed it. I know a stamp positioner is easier, but I'm too lazy to mess with it. I'm not sure what alcohol ink colors are in the background. This is one of my clean up bases. What I mean by that is when I'm doing alcohol ink techniques that I use the craft mat for, I clean it up with an ATC base. I keep some glossy cardstock cut to ATC size and when my craft mat needs to be wiped off, I add a little blending solution and wipe it up with a base. I do the same thing with regular cardstock and distress inks. Sometimes I use a tag as my clean up base with distress inks. Just spritz with a little water and wipe it up. I do the twirl and lift thing. Lay down the cardstock, then twist it around in the ink and lift. Repeat until the craft mat is clean. These are some of my favorite backgrounds and I try to always include this in my classes. It seems like the best stuff comes out of my just roll with it and see what happens play sessions. I hope you'll find some time to play in the ink this week.

On a personal note, Mom's having surgery on the 23rd. It's been a very long two years of illness for her, and this is her chance at getting rid of most or all of it. We're feeling very hopeful that this will give her the quality of life she deserves. Thanks for stopping by today.

fashion

Supplies: Cardstock: Stampin Up; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Flowers: Prima; Crystals: Prima; Stamp: Paper Bag Studios; Ink: Ranger.


Supplies: Carstock: Stampin Up; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Ribbon Flower: Offray; Ticket: Advantus; Stamp: Peddlers Pack; Ink: Tsukineko; Embossing Powder: Stampin Up; Gel Pen: Inkssentials; Tools: Paper Piercer, Heat Gun; Other: Tulle, Lace.

These were in a fashion article of the Aug/Sept issue of SNR. I really love how these cards tie into sewing and girly things. There's just something about shoes and gloves that remind me of childhood. Maybe it was those fancy little Easter outfits with matching hats and gloves and new shoes. I know it's almost Christmas, but we had new outfits and shoes for that, too. My mom and my aunt sewed all of our little dresses and we all matched. So much fun.

It seems like there's lots happening around here these days. If you just stopped in for the cards, skip this part, if not then here's the quick rundown.
-My hubby is back home now after spending a week with his family and attending the public memorial service for his mom. By all accounts it was a beautiful celebration of her life.
-My father in law is about to embark on his grand adventure in this new chapter in his life. He'll be here for Christmas after traveling around the country in his new home on wheels.
-My son found his bliss last week as he helped build, paint, and decorate the haunted house put on by the Arts Foundation. Of course the best part was that he got to work in it for 4 nights as the Predator and scare the heck out of all who entered. I can personally attest to how incredibly scary the house was, I was hoarse from screaming after walking through it. The scary clowns sent me over the edge.
-I won a huge pumpkin at the little coffee shop by my parents house when I correctly guessed the weight of 81 pounds. You should have heard that phone call to hubby asking him to pick it up on the way home.
-I taught wood shop last week for 2 days, which was my first full days of teaching this year. It's good to get back in the swing.
-I'm busy working away like an elf for the holiday sampler event at the magazine on Saturday. So many pretty holiday goodies that will be available for all to see. Be sure to stop in on Saturday afternoon and evening to see it all.
-Oh, and I almost forgot about the snow people. My cousin was here for a couple of days for a creative extravaganza. We made 34 new bottle snow people, dozens of stamped dominos, and several button charm bracelets. I'll take some photos to share with you as soon as I'm done with all this elf labor. Here's the link to the snow people we made last year.
-Here's the plan for this week. Hubby's home today and we're installing a new vanity/sink in the bathroom. Taking the kiddo to the dentist on Wednesday to see if the pain in the back of his mouth is wisdom teeth. Going to see the surgeon tomorrow with my mom to find out what they are going to do for her. Teaching a fun distress class on Saturday in Escondido. Oh, and yoga, there's definitely yoga in there. I think I need it! I hope you're having a great week. Thanks for stopping by today.

blog hop with candy

Wonderful Friend Supplies-Cardstock: Stampin Up; Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye; Flower: Making Memories; Gems: Mrs. Grossman's, K & Co; Stamps: Our Craft Lounge; Ink: Ranger; Mask: Advantus; Edge Distresser: Tonic; Other: Linen Thread.
I really enjoyed using OCL cling mount rubber stamps to make this card. First I put a mask down over patterned paper and applied broken china distress ink with a blending tool. I removed the mask and stamped the flowers with the same broken china ink. I love layering inks this way for a subtle look. I stamped the sentiment, the same flowers on the paper flower, and added color to the distressed edges with tea dye distress ink. The flower is folded in half over a loop of linen thread. I like to add a hint of bling to brighten up a distressed card. These gems do the trick.

Welcome to the Scrapbook News and Review/Our Craft Lounge Spotlight Blog Hop. It's a hop to the blogs of SNR staff members who produced art for the Our Craft Lounge article that first appeared in the giant Aug/Sept double issue. Today's your chance to take a peek inside this great digital magazine. Each blog on the hop will give you a look at projects from inside the magazine.

Our Craft Lounge Stamps and Scrapbook News and Review is offering prizes for two very lucky winners. One winner will receive 2 sets of OCL stamps and a 3 month subscription to SNR magazine. The grand prize winner will receive 3 OCL stamp sets and a 6 month subscription to the magazine. Visit the blog of every staff member on the hop, take note of the titles of their featured projects, then drop a note to games@scrapbooknewsandreview.com with the list. Be sure to include your full name, the names of all featured projects, and your email address. Winner will be chosen at random. All entries must be received by 10 pm EST Oct 25, 2009.

Next stop on the hop is Erika's blog . If you're joining us in the middle of the hop, you can find the first blog post at the Scrapbook News and Review Blog. The blog hop will conclude on the Scrapbook News and Review main page where you'll have the chance to read the entire Our Crafts lounge article, and enjoy all of the art and ideas included. Thanks for stopping by today.

Chicken and Dumplings

This is not your grandma's chicken and dumplings, but it's pretty darned good. I can't tell you how many pots of this I made for my mom when she was sick. It seemed to make her happy, so it made me happy. When I found out that my neighbors have H1N1 that has turned to pneumonia, I decided it was time to cook some of this elixir. If you have friends, family, or neighbors with the flu, drop some by. We need to help each other through this flu season. We're going to get our flu shots tomorrow night when I pick hubby up from the airport. He's been visiting his dad this week.

Chicken and Dumplings

Get out a great big soup pot and put a whole chicken in it, without the giblets. If you have chicken parts, that works too. Fill up the pot with water. Add in 1 garlic clove, 1/2 tsp. Emeril's Essence Seasoning, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. or 1 cube chicken bullion, 1/2 tsp. dried minced onion, and bring to a boil. Simmer on the stove for 2 hours. Your house will smell yummy. Take the chicken out of the pot and let it cool enough to handle it. Take all the meat off the bones and put the meat back in the pot. Throw away the skin and bones and garlic if you can find it. Bring back to a boil and here's the tricky part. Cut up a package of flour tortillas into squares about 2" x 2". Put them in the boiling pot, and they will puff up and make yummy dumplings. Whisk together 1/4 c. flour with water and whisk it into the pot. Taste it and add more salt if needed.

My great grandma made amazing chicken and dumplings which involved first catching a chicken from the yard and wringing it's neck. I was pretty horrified by the whole process, but she knew how to make good chicken and dumplings. This version is much easier.

I lost my mojo a few weeks ago. I missed it so much. I need to get ink on my hands. It's good for my soul. I found it, and my spirit is singing. Guess where it was? It was hiding amongst a group of incredibly talented and creative women. To my great surprise I had a nearly full class last night and I agonized about whether or not I could inspire them. They paid good money to learn and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to deliver. Their light and creativity surrounded me and I taught and laughed and learned. Ahh, it's so good to have ink stained fingers. Thank you ladies for all of your creative energy.

I made this tag using my old neglected Tombow Markers. I forgot about those fun little guys. The stamp I used is an oldie, too. It was one of the first used stamps I ever bought and it's made by Rubber Stampede. Here's how I made the tag. First I stamped the apples using a dark red and dark green marker directly on the stamp. Then I colored in the image using lighter colors and a bit of the blending marker. I put the whole thing in embossing folders and embossed it right over the image and words. A bit of distress ink over the embossing makes it pop. That's a piece of vintage measuring tape up there at the top. Stop by 2peas for their free stamp camp classes. Every monday they're posting a new class, and this week is Stamping with Markers by Nichol Magouirk. Thank you for the inspiration, Nichol.

I really want to thank all of you for your support through these last few weeks. It was a rough road, but we all have to travel the difficult roads so we can enjoy the happier times. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

I've been on staff with SNR now for almost a year, but it's been really hard to share it with you since it's by subscription only. Great news, we have a brand new site that's absolutely gorgeous and we're holding an open house this weekend. Stop by between Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EST until 8:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, you'll have complete access Double-header, double issue FREE weekend at Scrapbook News and Review Magazine. Come get a gander at the site, chat on the forum, join in a challenge, play a game or two and the best part of all, see the inside of the magazine for FREE. Don't delay -- register on our site today. You must be a registered user to play.

back home

There really is no place like home to rest, heal, and recharge. I'm glad I could make the trip out to help my inlaws. My mother in law passed on Friday and we had a small gathering at the house on Sunday before I came home Monday night. I don't have any grand insight or wisdom to share yet. I'm still processing it all. I've never been that close to death before it happened. It's not a pretty or peaceful sight. It's messy and intense, sort of like birth. In fact I'd say it's very similar to birth. When it's over everyone breathes a sigh of relief. I don't mean any disrespect by that, I just mean she went through so much we were thankful that her struggle was over and she could move on to the next journey. Thank you all for the kind words and thoughts and prayers. Shared sorrow is a lighter load to bear.

I'm running off to spend some time with my mom to hang out, do girl things, and have lunch. Happier posts and art coming soon. Thanks for stopping by today.

"You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give." -Eleanor Roosevelt

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do." -Eleanor Roosevelt

I've taken great comfort in Eleanor's quotes over the years. No matter what life hands me, it seems she has an appropriate quote to guide me. As I reflect on the life of one of the strongest women I've ever met, I'm comforted by these quotes. We received the very sad news this week that my mother in law is losing her battle with lung cancer. She is resilient and opinionated and we hoped just tough enough to win this fight. The cancer fought dirty, didn't follow the rules, and hit areas we weren't expecting. In the midst of her valiant fight she did an amazing thing. She pulled the family back together. She showed my family love and peace. There's no greater gift.

I'll be away for a couple of weeks staying with them to help out. Thank you for stopping by.