True colors

Now I could post today about all the drama that has been going on in the last week or so but with Christmas just around the corner I'm not going to. I am simply going to be grateful for what I have and the people who are still in my life that still deserve to be here. I tried again working on my Christmas cards but at this late in the game
I think it's a lost cause. So here is the basic card the only thing missing is the insert piece that has the greeting. I am thinking I will do that in red. Little description of the card. The base is made from a a piece of recollections paper that comes in 8 1/2 by 11 sheets. It is patterned on one side and white on the other.  I cut it length wise and folded it in half. The red, gold and green patterned paper is from Recollections Christmas Botanical paper pad and I cut a 4.25 by 3 section and cut it in half so I had 2 sections of 4.25 by 1.5. You can see I folded the one end of the card down 1.5 inches and and glued the patterned paper to each of the exposed white parts of the brown recollections paper and inked Pine Needles Distress ink. I took some Bazzil card in Kiwi Crush and cut several small strips of it. I punched a scalloped edged to one of the strips. Inked them with the same distress ink. In fact I inked pretty much EVERYTHING in distress ink. The Santa approved logo came from a piece of patterned paper that I had in my stash. I'll look tonight to see if I have the name of it  and add it to this entry. I cut each of them out   I took more Kiwi Crush and cut scalloped circle with my spellbinder die I layered those two pieces together and adhered the 2 together added a pop dot and centered it on the card. I used the Tim Holtz Holly die to cute the holly in the bottom corner of the card and ran the leaves though one of my embossing folders. It is another Timmy product and I think it's part of the damask set I bought. I'm really not sure the name of it. And that's it! That's all I have for today!
More Later
Tae



One exciting week!

I tried to post this on Monday but for some reason my blogger app on my phone will not post and keeps saying it is still publishing. I got an amazing box at my work on Monday! It was from my Secret Santa whom I now know is Jacky !!!!  This is what came to my work I was really speechless and shocked that it was delivered here. I then had to suffer though the whole day of knowing that I had this box here at work and I wasn't allowed to open it until I got home and could open it on camera

 Here is my video!!!.

 

I really am glad that I listened to Gina because it was AMAZING!!!! I know that I appreciated being able to see my partners reactions when she got her package.  The package I sent off was also delivered all the way to Australia! Here is her video of opening it.

This entry is really basic. I know there isn't really much to read but I'm pretty proud of my self learning how to embed video's all by my self. I have a terrible case of the tireds tonight here at work and I'm waiting for lecture to be over so I can start my demonstration after that. Then I can head home!

 

More Later,

Tae

 

Forgetting the paper

Wednesday at work I did a little bit of copic coloring but didn't get that far with it. See look at my amazing coloring skills. LoL! Ok I know they aren't really but it's pretty good for me. As you can see I'm not so good at the blending, choosing colors or even staying in the lines. I'll have to continue to work on those as I practice more. I'm sure I'll improve.... Well actually probably not. I wasn't so good as a child either. So I know the big questions on every one's mind is: What did I do last night? Since I know you are all dying to know. Let me tell you! A whole lot of crafty nothing!! Instead Jack and I had our usual Thursday date night, hitting a local watering hole for a dart tournament. We didn't win but had some fun. It's really hard to always be the adult, the responsible, the designated driver. I'm young!! I want to be able to cut loose sometimes and have a glass of wine or a cocktail. But if I'm driving I won't even have 1 drink that night. It's just not worth it no matter what anyone tries to tell me! There have been enough driving infractions in my household to last 5 lifetimes or more. So I sip on my orange juice and sprite and take mental notes of all the "adults" acting ridiculous and think of ways to bring up their bad behaviors in future conversations. Muahahahaha!

Back tracking to Wednesday night I worked on finishing the cricut cuts for my friend over on MSR then I started working on some Christmas cards. I didn't take any pictures of them yet. I'm not sure that I even like them or will stick with them but I'll keep playing with them. Thursday I brought in the pens and stamps again so that I could try to do a little more practice. Guess what I did the dum dum that I am? I forgot to bring paper. Yep so my pens sat idle all day long. What did I do? Absolutely nothing! Ok so I surfed the web and I chatted over at MSR but that was about it. I even attempted to blog but nothing would come out. So today is Friday once again I'm working but the bright side of today is I remembered the paper!! I have some students coming in at 10am to pick up their graduation packets so that will be some excitement in a few minutes. I will have to pause this blog entry to go instruct them on their next steps of future career. I am really hoping for a miracle today through Monday morning. I'm hoping we get a RUSH of registrations. We need them very badly. Although I like to have this down time where I can do pretty much as I please, as long as I'm here at the school. I know in my heart registrations need to pick up or we may have to close the doors. Yikes! I don't know what I would do.... Going back to a "regular" job would not be something I would want to do. I'll be right back. I have to open the doors to let some of the students in.

 

Whew! I'm back. That was a long winded speech I just gave. I gotta cut back my talking on the next one. With the graduation packets given out now all I have to do is sit here till 430. I have my copics to practice and I also have a audio book. I know what your all thinking, AUDIO BOOK??? My grandma listens to audio books! hee hee hee! I love them. I don't have time to sit and read a book I have way too much other stuff going on and have to be able to multi-task. Can you read and cut out images or make a card while reading? Well I can listen and do those things so it's a win-win situation for me. Right now I'm in the middle of The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson. It's not his usual style of book but a good story all the same. Well I think this will just about wrap up this entry. I'm out of things to blather on about and I'm sure if your still reading this (THANK YOU!!!!) and I'm sure your tired of reading.

More Later

Tae

Just another day in paradise. I'm talking about the real deal

Who else gets to craft at work? I know there are plenty of professional crafters who get to. But I'm talking about this girl! For those of you who don't know I mean me! Although it would be much easier to be able to stay home and work on projects where all of my supplies are. I have to make a living some how and if I'm blessed enough to have a job that allows me to do as I please  during the down time. I call that a win! The hardest part of my job is that is is slow right now. As much as I enjoy the quiet time, it's killing me financially. Being the bread winner of the house it makes for some very creative budgeting when payday is delayed 2 weeks due to a class being post phoned. I hate discussing financial issues and most of the time would rather act as an ostrich and bury my head in the sand to not have to deal with any of if. This time of year is especially hard for me to do that.  I know a lot of people are struggling and I, myself am not exempt from financial hardship that seems to be plaguing EVERYONE. I'm not ready to pack my bags and move into the poor house just yet but some days it feels like we are teetering ever closer to that edge. Everything gets paid it just seems like there is less and less if anything left over. Not to worry though we are tough and will make it though. Today really opened my eyes and has made me choose to look at the holiday season in a whole new light. Thanks to a very sweet and dear friend whose words of encouragement and understanding were just what I needed this afternoon.I'm getting all sense-a-puff right now but don't forget to tell your friends and family what they mean to you. It just might make the difference in their day.

I had decided to bring some images to color into work with me today. I have already given up on coloring them after finishing just one, I just don't have the mojo. Then I was going to start sketching ideas for a local card exchange coming up here in January but I don't have the gumption to that either.  I have two more videos to film, but haven't and filming those at work would be nearly impossible. But good news is I'm ready to film tonight! I even painted my nails all pretty! I have my excuses of why that didn't happen last night just seems like the last couple of days has been a lot of "That didn't happens" Last night was not a waste though I did spend some time being crafty and broke out my cricut and almost completed a project I have been working on for several weeks.

What is that project you ask? Well....One of the gals I met on MSR had her cricut that was stolen. WHO STEALS A CRICUT?!?!?! Well in my opinion someone EVIL!!!! You don't just take a person's craft stuff that's just not right. For those of my fellow crafters you all know how expensive craft supplies are. We all work very hard to build up our stashes and for someone to just come along and take it all away... well I think the person who stole it should be beaten! I know that stealing someones crafting stuff is not a capital offense but but should be! Anyway enough of that rant... So moving on to the very exciting update of what I did last night. I made a TON of Christmas cuts from my Cricut to send. As we were talking about what happened to her cricut she told me she was going to make a Christmas mini and missed her cricut to help with making the embellishments, I offered to send her cuts. I have been slowing making cuts for her over the last few weeks between projects I have been working on and last night I kicked the cricut into high gear and made a crazy amount of cuts. I'm pretty sure I'll need a new blade very soon as well as some more mats. The cuts I made are mostly white so she can ink, spray, stamp or color them to her liking. I have made a few cuts from patterned papers but not many. I will finish them tonight and send them out in the mail tomorrow morning.

Beyond that I'm not sure what the next project is going to be... I have been toying with the idea of doing a pin-up calendar. If I start now I can for sure get all of them done by next year. I figure if I do Decembers now I will have them done and can send them out for gifts next Christmas.... I'll think on that one a bit longer. Like I have said before I have the best of intentions but a lot of times poor follow though. This will be my #1 goal to work on with the coming year is upping my productivity and my follow though. My 2nd goal is to learn how to use blogger better. My blog looks like a child takes care of it I'm sure my friends 6 year old could do a better job with the design than I have. I am clueless how to personalize it or add videos. So if anyone is blogger savvy and would like to take pity on me to help let me know let me know. I don't have money to pay you with but I'll rave about you to my 9 followers here on blogger and my 80ish on Youtube!!! Hee hee hee! Hope you all are having a lovely Holiday season!
More Later
Tae

Nica's Blog that almost killed me!

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,  I crafted.. but I feel like nothing got done... I started rethinking the backs of my calendar and then my stubbornness bubbled up and I couldn't just scrap all the little fire trucks that I had cut and already pieced together and decided to solider on and got them all put together. I got them all done and posted Saturday morning. Here is what the whole calendar page looks like.  I might have... gone a bit over board with the back side of mine. I know that a lot of  people won't see the back side but I wanted it to be special and if someone did look at the back there was something interesting for them to see!

 

So the front as you can see was a lot of cuts from my cricut but as soon as the cuts were done and the pieces assembled the whole front went together pretty fast it was just a matter of making sure all the pieces in the right order I placed the ribbon and then the calendar piece then the banners. I can't tell you how many times I tired to do it in another order. That was the toughest part of the front making sure I laid everything down in the right order.

 

The back turned out to be quite easy more cricut cuts, the patterned paper from the front torn and distressed to look like a banner or what ever and the swap info., all piled onto a blue piece of card stock that I distressed and inked the edges in chipped Sapphire distress ink. So it wasn't the order of how things were put down except for the freedom and the 1776 cuts those obviously had to go on top of the patterned paper piece but just getting all the little parts glued down was the hard part. So although it was quite a bit of work putting those pieces together it was very much worth the work for the ladies who are getting them! I have been seeing videos of all the other calendars coming out and my excitement.


 

I also finished the 2nd swap with Nica which was one that I hosted over at MSR. Come over and join us!! There are monthly swaps and weekly challenges. All the ladies over on the site are so nice and Gina O our Hostess with the mostest is AMAZING!! If you have been reading my blog you know that for the last week or so I have been working on the cards for this Bundle of thanks swap and I have finished not only the 6 and final card but also the box as well!!! I feel so free now although not all the work is done. I still haven't started my Christmas cards and I'm sure there are other projects being neglected as we speak...I guess I'll have to kick my tail into high gear to actually get cards out!






Yay! So I will have to make a trip to the post office very soon to get both the ornament, card and also the box of Thank you cards in the mail to Miss Nica! I already did a video for the card and Ornament swap and some how I do not have a picture of the card so when I get home I will have to take a pic of the card and insert it into this blog post.  For the ornament and card I used a mambi paper stack that I couldn't find a link to. Plus I'm not really into linking things. Hee hee hee! That's the lazy in me coming out! If you want more info on either let me know and I would be happy to answer any questions.

Ok so last but not least I am going to post the finished box and also each of the cards. First up is the 6th card in the series

 

And now the box:

Thanks for stopping by!

More Later
Tae

Nails, cards and more...

Normally I don't go back and read past blogs but boy am I glad I did!!! It sounded more like the drunken ramblings of a crazy person than a proper blog entry! So I have spent my morning editing it. so why did I go back and read it you may ask? Well I wanted to add pics of my nails and flowers from yesterday and I couldn't remember if I had mentioned that Monday night I FINALLY put the huge Ikea 5x5 shelving unit.

Let's back up just a bit. I got this unit for free from a friend who was giving it away! I felt like I got the deal of the century. So I picked it up, brought it home, put it in the garage and there it sat for about 2 weeks waiting for me to get around to putting it together.I had every intention on putting this together and placing it in it's appointed place in my craft room the very night I got it but it was after 7 when I got home and I was tired. There was always one excuse or another of why "I" and by "I" what I really meant to say is why we didn't put it together. I thought for sure it was a two person job but I was wrong. My AMAZING Jack surprised me!!! When I got home from work about 2 and a half weeks ago there it was...all set up and sitting in the hallway waiting to be placed in the craft room.
He knew better than to try and move things around and get it in there without my help. Lord knows what would have happened had he done that! We had to shimmy past it every time we went down the hall to the bathroom, bedroom or craft room. You would think that would have prompted us to get it out of our way fast but alas  it didn't.... we made a date for the Friday after Turkey day to move the shelf into my room. Again the excuses and put offs flowed freely. We seriously had more excuses of why we didn't move it out of the hall, but it boils down to just being lazy on my part. So Monday night I decided enough was enough. I got off work at 4:30. Traffic was a beast so we didn't get home till about 5:15 or so and I announced to a hesitant Jack that tonight was the night the shelf was going in the room.  I cleared the wall free of the bins and other storage stuff I had where the shelf was going in about 10 min. We moved the shelf into place and I spent the next 4 or so hours re-organizing it still doesn't look like much but it's a work in progress.

So last night was pretty relaxed. After I got home from work about 8. Jack and I had dinner we caught up on our backlog of Dexter episodes during which I re-painted my ruined nails.I changed the colors slightly. Made the base coat a pearl white instead of an irradecent and chose a brighter pink with out sparkles so it stood out a little more. I like them better this way than with the original ones that I did yesterday. So I guess ruining them was meant to be other wise I would have just left them painted like that till they started chipping. I didn't get to any video making last night because I was having a party on Skype with some of the ladies that I met on MSR. I stayed up way too late but Gina, Maggie,and Marianna are too much fun! Even with all the giggling, laughing, chatting, singing, sighing. huffing and puffing about the card I was working not looking quite right... I got it done. Yay!! Look at me go! So now all I need to do is complete card 6 and decorate the box. If I keep up this pace I'll be done for New Years just yet!!!

 

Here is the card from last night. I think when I finish the 6th card and I decorate the box I will do a post featuring all the cards & box along with a description of each. Of course it sounds like a good idea now but when it comes time to do it the reality of it might not sound so good and the likelyhood of me doing it is not good. Like I aways say I have the best of intentions just unusally poor follow through. That should be my New Years resolution. Holy Crap!!! It's not even Christmas and I'm thinking New Years! Any way here is the 5th card. Like I said before if you would like material lists or instructions on how to creat the card let me know and I'll list it.

More later

Tae

Rinse and repeat

So Monday was a very quiet uneventful day... Just like all the others.  I feel like those shampoo directions. "Work into a rich  lather and rinse thoroughly and repeat if desired.”… then you do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. That’s what it’s all about!  Although I'm not rich and there is no lather the work part was partially true. I also don't recommend the last part in the shower. You can slip in the we shower and hurt yourself badly. I know from experience, but that is a story for another time.

I did get a chance to work on 1 more of my Thank you cards last night and here it is.  if any of you all would like to know what I used let me know I can start linking or explaining techniques

Today is testing my patience it seems like just as I made the decision to be more positive I keep getting tested. I don't know how many crazy people have to call and ask me the questions that they already know, cutting me off when I try and answer.  The blessing of it all is I can sit at my desk and watch the traffic go by and there is even a couple of trees across the road so I can see some nature. It's windy and trees are dropping leaves like crazy! It's cool since they are all different colors of yellow orange & green.  I think they are... well I'm not sure what they are but I can tell you with 100% certainty they are not birch, maple or dogwood.... which means there are a LOT of other options of trees that change colors and drop their leaves... I will do some research on it and try to remember to get back to you. Not that if even matters what they really are. 

Other exciting news... This weekend crazy drunk lady ran from the police and crashed into one of the bridges which I use for my commute home. It's been closed since Sunday and should reopen some time today but with the city you never know what is really gonna happen. I just don't like it because I drove myself  to work and been here all day by myself and will remain alone here at work until 5 when CPR starts. But because I drove myself and if the bridge remains shut down it will increase my commute time and that I do not like the thought of. I have done enough commuting in my life and don't want to sit in traffic any more time than I have to. Although I'm not sure that anyone really likes to commute. Monday the traffic was TERRIBLE! It took 45 min to get home and it usually only takes about 15. I have my fingers crossed the bridge is open and it only takes me 15 min to get home tonight.

It's been a really tough day for me *giggle* painting my nails has been very taxing for me. Talk about a total cliche'!!!  Receptionist drinking coffee, painting nails and answering the phone.... LOL! but I'm all alone here at the school today. I don't have anyone but the ridiculous people on the phone to talk to. The boss is taking the day off and she deserves it! The stress of running this place ans registrations be low she needs a day off  to do some stuff around the house, laundry for the school, and anything else she wants to do. The highlight of my day was I had an appointment at 1 for registration and she actually followed though and reserved a seat!! We just need like a million more! And we will be able to start the class on time!.
I bought some crafty stuff to work on today but I don't have much gumption just yet I worked on a card for the bundle of thank you's and it's very cute a posted at the end of this entry. I think I'll put some flowers together that I started making last night. I saw a awesome tutorial for tattered hibiscus and have done my own take on them. The blog that I found is awesome her is her link Oh, Scrapulous!! She hasn't updated in quite some time but her work is amazing!!! Here are the ones that I did just a bit differently

Here are my nails. I'm sure all 7 of you following my blog were dying to seen them ;-D. I used my Saloon express and stamped a pink flower and then I stamped a black out like just off set from that to give it a funky look. I need to clean up the edges of them but for me that's a pretty good paint job. I'm terrible at painting nails so I hardly ever do it well that and I am such a impatient person I start touching stuff too soon and ruin the paint job. Just as I have done  I did such a good job of not touching anything until I put the top coat on. Then it all went down hill from there. I miss judged the dry time of the top coat and now they are smeared and yucky looking. So now I'll have to take it all off and start over. It really sucks! I painted them in anticipation of doing videos tonight, but seeing as how I need to repaint them don't know when I'll get to them now. Hopefully in the next couple of days I 'll do the videos

Ok well that's about all I have right now.
More Later,
Tae