Peeps on my cat

Today is Gizmo's turn. I took Sarah's advice and put Peeps on my cat. I love Peeps. This is just a small sampling of Peeps items I own. Gizmo thinks he is special because he is a purebred Bengal, but he is just as goofy as the rest of my cats. Maybe goofier. Gizmo weights about 18 pounds and he is softer than silk. He tolerates so much from me - and the Peeps prove it. If you know anything about Bengals, you know that they are true clowns and most of them love water. Gizmo is a lot of fun to have around. He and Cheeto are not best friends, but they tolerate each other. Sometimes.

Tomorrow, I will introduce you to Frankie, the little princess. I don't know if she will tolerate stuff on her, but I will try.

Cupcake Kitty

This is Cheeto. He thinks he can sit wherever he darn well pleases, and well, I guess he can. Who can argue with a 10-year-old, purring 20-pound orange ball of fur? Certainly not me. Cheeto is the sweetest cat ever. He still thinks he is small and can fit on your lap and on the desk, but he's not, but he's so adorable it's hard to tell him no. As I was working on my justjohanna projects tonight, he jumped rght up on the table and laid down. Thanks, Cheeto. There is this website I visit every day. It's called, "Stuff On My Cat". People pile on all kinds of crap on their cats and take pictures of them, so I figured why not join he crowd? I received these cupcakes from Julie for my birthday. They were made by an artist on Etsy. They are not real, but made from plaster of paris or something. They look and smell real to me and they are covered with glitter. I swear I smell buttercream! Thanks, Julie! So, Cheeto tolerated a few setups of the cupcakes on his enormous belly and then he took off and tossed the cupcakes on the floor. Now I can get back to my justjohanna projects. See you all tomorrow.

Look at this cool thing!

No, I did not make this.

It is the cutest thing ever. Ok, well maybe not THE cutest - newborn kittens are pretty darn cute, right?

Zip on over to the Cupboard and see what Cat made. This is the cutest board book I've seen in a long time. This project uses that cool grunge board, crackle paint and this gorgeous Basic Grey paper. Cat's done some great detailed instructions, too.

While you're there, stop by the store and check out the specials and new items. She's got a great discount for the month of January, too. It'll save you money!!

New Years Day cards

A few cards to start off the new year. I LOVE the cupcake stamps by justjohanna. This one is called cupcake row. It's so fun to color. I've never seen cupcakes these colors, but I would like to. They look yummy to me. The sentiment is by justjohanna, too. I drew in the lines and then added some priceless jewels. haha! I think the paper is some kind of Christmas paper, but it matched my cupcakes, so what the heck? Again, I used a layout from the December "Cards" magazine. I've been using that all day. It gets my creativity going. This card is 5x5. This card looks better in real life. Here it looks so yellowy-green, but it's not. Say that real fast - it's not. Sounds like it's snot, but it's not. Kind of like when you say fish sticks a bunch of times in a row.... But I digress.... I used my Revolution to cut out the tag and the file folder page. I stamped the I Love Cake background sentiment by justjohanna. The cupcake stamp is one from the $1 bin at Michael's. I colored the cupcake with my Prismas. This card is 5x5. Another layout from "Cards". I used the martini glass and sentiment from justjohanna. Can you tell I love those stamps? It's not only because I'm on the design team, either. I would use them even if I wasn't on her team. They are just so fun to use. Have you checked out the catalog recently? She's always adding new images. And, because you are all my friends, here's something special from me to you - do you want to save 10% on your order? Enter DT4FF10 as the checkout code when you use the online shopping cart. How cool is that? You're welcome. This code is good until 5/31/08. Happy shopping! Oh, and I haven't gotten the sewing machine out yet. I'm so busy and happy making cards, I can't bear to clean up the paper mess and get out the fabric. That's ok. There's always tomorrow. :)

Card catch up

Firstly, (is that a word?), allow me to apologize for the fuzzy scans. I have this new scanner, an EPSON, and it does not like 3D images to scan. My HP did a fantastic job of scanning, but everything has a lifespan, so... This first number is a birthday card for my stash. It's an Art Impressions stamp colored with Prismacolor pencils. I think it took me about 4 hours to color. I usually price my cards according to how long it took me to make it, but I don't know that I can charge enough for this card that someone would pay for it. Would you pay $10 for this card? This card is done with a stamp by Terry Medaris. I love his stamps. I recently made 6 or 7 cards with his stamps and sent them in to Rubber Stamp Madness for their Southwestern card submissions. I love this image because it's so quick to color. I do wish it was a little smaller, though, that way I could put a little more on an A2 card than just the image. Oh well. Yay, I finally got around to stamping a House Mouse image. I've been so busy with everything else that my HM stamps have been put on the back burner. This stamp is another one that is quick to color and make into a card. I now have about 35 HM stamps. I buy them from the HM Stamps guy. He has some great prices on Stampabilities and Penny Black. You should check him out. This last card is made using justjohanna stamps. I just felt like making an anniversary card. I hadn't used my Eiffel tower stamp yet so I thought it would be appropriate for a lovey dovey card. French stuff seems lovey dovey. Croissant. Doesn't that sound sexy? Um, ok. I think I've had enough of the spiced egg nog. I'm off to watch the New Years' festivities on the telly. Happy New Year to everyone! See you in 2008....

Friday Cards

Some cards take a long time, some don't. This first card, the 4x4 thank you card was very quick and easy. I used my new DreamKutz to cut my 12x12 paper into three 4x12 strips and then cut those down to 4x8 strips, folded them in half and voila! Big purple scallop circle punch with Stickles. justjohanna stamped image colored with Prismas. This second card was very quick to make. I first stamped the two images, the sentiment and then the strawberry row (justjohanna images) and then colored the berries with my prismas. Two reds and two greens for the pencils and done. I double-matted the image and then mounted it on red 4.25x5.5 Prism cardstock. I made two of these cards and I think I finished in about 15 minutes. I like that. This card was even quicker to make. Stamp the justjohanna "thanks ever so"on matching cardstock, color with two red pencils and then attach to premade K & Co card. I added some stitching lines and some flowers I got from an old Self-Addressed kit. Done in ten minutes or less. Yet another quick thank you card. The card base is the K & Co premade card from a stack I got at Michael's for around $6. I stamped the espresso sentiment (justjohanna) and colored the letters with a brown prisma pencil. I stamped the mug (justjohanna) onto matching cardstock and then cut it out. I hand drew the steam. Nifty, huh? This last card is another layout I copied from "Cards" magazine. I got out a pack of Self-Addressed papers and went for it. It was easy peasy. I used my new Arabesque frame from justjohanna and the sentiment (jj) positioned inside the frame with my stamp-a-ma-jig. I added jewels around the frame, but I'm not so sure that was a great idea. Hmmm. I colored the frame with my favorite Prismacolor pencil - limepeel. Man, I LOVE that color!! That's it for today. Tomorrow I'm going to put down the paper and pick up some fabric. I've got some awesome projects in the works.

Green and Blue

I got my December Self-Addressed kit and I LOVE the papers in it this month. I love these greens, blues and browns together. Of course I'm in love with my Limepeel Prismacolor pencil, so this green reminds me of that and that's probably why I like these greens. I used Sylvie for the chick on this first card. The card layout was copied from the December "Cards" magazine. I learned this trick from Johanna. Go through the book and tag the pages you like and then systematically go through and copy each card. Match up dotted paper, stripes, etc. where you can or just copy the layout and pick your own papers. This card is 4x4 - my new favorite card size. I colored Sylvie with my Prismacolor pencils - limpeel and peacock blue. This card didn't photograph well at all. It's all the greens and I couldn't get it to get to the right color. I'm having major problems with my new scanner. It doesn't like 3D objects. It focuses on the closest item to the scanner glass and then everything else is blurry. I resorted to taking pictures under the Ott light with my digital camera. If this is the way I have to do it now, I'll have to photograph the cards outdoors in the natural light. This is Gigi and I gave her some glittery bobs on her head. This is the last card I copied from "Cards". This layout is very pleasing to my eye. I love the mix of papers on this card, too. The "indulge your passion" stamp is by justjohanna and I colored it with a brown marker. Gasp! A marker?! Yes, a marker, but it isn't blotchy or streaky, so I hope it passes the Johanna Test. Thanks for looking at my blog today. I'm home all week, so I'll be posting every day this week.

A few to get started

I started making some cards yesterday. Here are a few simple ones I made to get the juices flowing. The bad thing is, my new scanner doesn't seem to scan 3D very well. I noticed it blurs under the buttons, ribbons and brads. That is just not acceptable. I guess I'll have to monkey with the scanner today. Rats.

What a naughty kitty!

Just look at that Priscilla. She is being so naughty! Phillipe was minding his own business swimming in the fish bowl, blowing bubbles when Priscilla snatched him out and ate him up, leaving a fishy skeleton. Naughty, naughty Priscilla. No candy for you.

A few cards to start the weekend

I made these two cards using the justjohanna December sketch. I love the "tis the season" sentiment because I can color the letters. Anything I can color is a good thing. Those are justjohanna reindeer chicklets. Aren't they adorable? I think you should have some. Check out the rest of the chicklets, too. What a great collection you could have! Just type "chicklets" in the search box on the page when you click the links above and you will see there are 4 pages of chicklets! Halloween chicklets, Easter chicklets, bride and groom chicklets, oh my! So many chicklets! (Thanks, Emily!) This second card is made with new stamps by justjohanna. I never would've thought to say "Hard Candy Christmas" but it works. It's a fun thing to say. Try it. See? It's fun. The pieces of candy are all one stamp, but I cut them out and glued them down in the order I wanted. I really suck at embellishments and it used to bother me, but now I just say "whatever" and carry on. I think embellishments can be way over done. This way, I'm showing more of the stamps than the embellishments. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Where did the week go?

Wow, my last post was Monday. This week went by so quickly! I haven't made any more art this week because, well, guess why. Yep, my shoulder again. I has been nearly unbearably painful. Nearly impossible to sleep in bed or sit at the craft table. But, now, NOW I'm feeling better. Not perfect, but better and I'm ready to craft. I took some time off from work and I plan on doing some type of craft every day until January 2 when I go back to work. I bought myself a couple of gifts for my birthday and for Christmas. I got them from Memory Lane in Quakertown, PA. I visit that scrapbook store every time I visit my sister, so I just ordered from them. They are very friendly and accomodating and they have everything you could want in that store. Check out their blog. Here's gift number one: a Clip It Up. I thought it looked like an interesting and useful item to add to my already over-crowded craft table. I got it today and it is awesome! It sits about 26" high. There are two separate tiers. You get 80 clips for the bottom tier and 40 for the top. I plan on using the bottom tier for hanging cards to dry and for keeping my design team assignments handy and organized. I have a bad habit of placing something in a "safe place" and then never finding it until it's two weeks past due. As I find more uses for this thing, I'll keep you posted. I have made cards and taken them to work to sell. I have a photo box that I usually keep the cards in, but wouldn't the bottom tier of this Clip It Up be perfect for cards? Both tiers come with separators that you can label, so that would be just too cute for various card categories, I think. I may end up buying another one. Hear that Sarah? You may be hearing from me again. :) The other item I bought was a DreamKutz. When I bought my Bind-it-All last year, I looked at the DreamKutz, and thought it was a glorified paper cutter. Well, it IS a papercutter, but it is so cool. You put your 8.5x11 paper in, turn the crank and voila! You have perfectly cut paper for an A2 sized card. Sure, you can do that on your regular paper cutter, but I find that I either don't push the paper up next to all edges of the cutter, thereby getting cooked cuts or I don't hold down the plastic shield and the paper either moves or doesn't cut through all the way. I'm sick of that. I am very eager to give this puppy a workout in the next week. Oh, this little number also cuts 12x12 paper, too. Yee haw! Watch for a post every day for the next 10 days. I can't wait to spend some serious time in the craft lounge.

Happy Birthday, Mikey

Saturday was my brother-in-law, Mikey's, birthday. Ok, so he really isn't my brother-in-law, but he is related somehow. I think. Here's how it works. Try to follow along... This is the short version. Trust me.

Pam and I have been friends since 6th grade. I got married (the first time) in 1978. I married Steve. She was in my wedding. She got married (the first time) in 1978. She married David and I was in her wedding. I was a bridesmaid and John was an usher. We walked down the aisle together. John is David's brother. I got divorced 8 years later. Pam and David introduced me to John. John and I get married two years later. Now Pam and I are sisters-in-law. With me so far?

A few years after John and I got married, Pam and David split. Years later, I start working at the same place as Mikey. After a few years, he splits from his wife. Soon after that, I introduce Pam to Mikey. A short time later, they marry. So, Pam is no longer my sister-in-law but her twins are still my nephews because they are David's, too. So I consider her my sister-in-law, but more than that she is my sister.

I always tease Mikey that he is part of the family whether he likes it or not. And that is why I make him birthday cards. Whether he likes it or not.

P.S. I got this image from Jennifer and I am not ashamed to say I copied her coloring. A lot. Well, heck, she did such a great job, I just had to! Thanks for the images, Jennifer. BTW, your card is way better than mine.

Secret Santa Card

Tomorrow is "Secret Santa Day" in our department at work. We've all drawn names and so we exchange/deliver our gifts tomorrow. I'm not quite sure how the secret Santa thing works. Do you put your name on the gift or is it "secret"? I was thinking the secret Santa only meant that the person knew someone was buying you a gift but you didn't know who. Yet. Maybe I'm just a goof.

This is the card I made to go with the gift. It sure didn't scan well here. I used all justjohanna stamps. The outside stamp is the decorated tree and the inside setiment is Michelle's Merry Christmas sentiment. I'm not quite sure about the Peace and Joy brad in the upper left corner, either. Oh well. Not every card can be a masterpiece.

Great News!

If you read my blog, you've read that I've had a frozen shoulder with a lot of pain. Well, yesterday and today, no pain, BUT the shoulder is still frozen. I have been seeing an acupuncturist and he has done wonders with my shoulder. He does the needle thing and some awesome stretching massage. He is also certified in Egoscue, so we work on body positioning and stretching. I just can't believe how well this is working. I see him again tomorrow for more treatments, and I think I need to take him a little treat. If you are unfamiliar with the Egoscue Method, read a little interview here with Pete Egoscue. This really is an amazing form of physical therapy that is pain-free and gentle and IT WORKS! The book is amazing, too. If you have chronic pain, I strongly encourage you to buy the book and seek out a certified Egoscue therapist. I'm tellin' ya, I feel like crafting!!!

Princess for a Day

I was a Princess for a day!

Tomorrow is my birthday and my coworkers surprised me by decorating my cubicle. How fun is that? They decorated it up with pink streamers, white fluffy boas and pink and purple crowns with a "50" in the middle. I even had a tiara what lit up (you can almost see it in all my red hair) and a magic wand. Oh, and I got my favorite kind of birthday cake: white cake with white frosting. YUMMY! I really felt special.

They gave me some really cool gifts, too. I got some beautiful coffee mugs, picture frames, some really pretty kitchen towels and a neato basket that was made out of dried seaweed. If that last thing sounds yucky, it's not. It's gorgeous. The seaweed dried into a leather-like consistency and it is hard. I didn't get a picture of my stuff before I took it all home and put it away. Oh, I also got some very cool flowers. Check them out here:

It is a hand-painted margarita glass. It has peaches on it and then the flowers are put inside the glass. It comes in a neat box that has a recipe for peach margaritas on the bottom. Aren't the flowers gorgeous?

I took the picture next to this year's vacation picture with my sister and brother-in-law. The picture frame and margarita glass just seemed to go together somehow.

Tomorrow is my real birthday and my friends Pam and Judy are taking me up to Temecula to go antique shopping and quilt store shopping. Oh, and we will eat. Yes, we will eat. In the evening, I have plans to either go barhopping in Hillcrest or go see Eek-a-Mouse down at Cane's in San Diego. If it is raining cats and dogs, I'll just stay home and have John rub my feet all night.