Wednesday, February 27, 2013

It's My Work Desk Again! WOYWW 195

I had lost my mojo this past week with the head cold that started last Wednesday and really nailed me this past Sunday.  I'm better but my mojo must be on vacation.  I have a class to teach this afternoon so spent yesterday cutting paper.  And using my Wizard... And thinking about a project...


You can see my purple Wizard right in the middle of my desk. Scissors and scraps are off to the right.  Hmmm.... the yellow base of a Multi-fold card is to the left along with more paper.  This yellow card will become a sample for a March class if my mojo will come back.  Can it be enticed?  Do I need a large Dr. Pepper soda?  What has worked for you?  I have noticed that my post for the template for this card has been extremely popular (over 600 hits this month) and I haven't taught it for about 3 years. I plan on using Graphic 45 paper so stay tuned... maybe Friday???  Here mojo.... here mojo....  time to come home! Maybe when I check out some desks my mojo will show up... but I don't have much time today... It'll have to wait until tomorrow.

This desk picture is part of a large universal blog hop of work desks.  Check out the Stamping Ground blog owned by Julia after leaving me a little comment and take the opportunity to view desks and projects!  I usually visit about 20 - 30 depending on time.  Grab a cuppa coffee or tea, sit back, and enjoy!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Gammons Gulch

This past Saturday we took a little road trip to Benson, AZ.  I had read about an old wild west town that is a movie set and museum.  My gosh,  it was GREAT!!  Mr. Jay Gammons was a fabulous tour guide and has an amazing history himself!  Anyway, since I haven't gotten any stamping done due to a head cold I thought I'd share a few of the many photos I took at Gammons Gulch.


The old jail was a hoot.  Notice there is NO lock on the door.






This is a wonderful old gas chandelier.  I've seen one similar on the movie Meet Me in Saint Louis starring Judy Garland.


If Mr. Gammons didn't tell us what this was we'd still be in the dark.  Do you know??  I'll tell you at the end of this post...


This is the scene looking out of the jail.  I don't know if it's true or not but I was once told that nooses had to have 13 loops of rope above the actual noose.  Do you know?

And now are you ready to know what that machine is?  It's a honey spinner!  Back "then" the combs were put in the holders then the person would use the crank and spin out the honey.  Very clever!  So if you are traveling through on Benson, AZ on I19 check out this place.  It's 12 miles north of Benson.  They do recommend you call first as there are 4 movies possibly to be filmed there this summer and many weddings and private events to be scheduled. 

I am working on a Multifold card class for the LSS where I teach in Green Valley, AZ.  I have noticed that the template has been very popular this past 2 weeks and has had the most readers. If you played with it I would love to see your "creation".  Who knows, I may want to post a picture of it here!

Friday, February 22, 2013

Updated Bible Cover

I have been unable to do much stamping the last few days... dang head cold.  I am getting lots of sleep, though!  But I did get some new stamps from Eureka Stamps (click on their link in the left sidebar and it's under the Easter theme) and decided they'd be great for a new Bible cover....


I got my black vinyl Bible cover from Daily Windows (click on their link in the left sidebar) and it has a zippered slot to change out decorations.  I just love this... can you tell I'm rather a minimalist??


Here's the verse.  I am a born-again Christian and I profess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.  I try to read His Word daily but this week I didn't do quite so good since, with my head congestion, I've not be comprehending anything I read that great.  But anyway....  I like this!

I hope to have a card to post on Monday.  I did a bit of time on Pinterest and found some cool ideas... Tomorrow we're heading to our dentist in Nogales, Mexico - well, Dean is.  I cancelled my appointment due to the congestion.  We may then take a drive through Patagonia and up through Benson before heading home.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

What's On Your Workdesk #194

I'm not sure I want to show my desk this week.  It is really cluttered as I prep for a class this afternoon.  But, I will and I'll also thank Julia over at the Stamping Ground for this fun international blog tour of desks.  Are you ready??


From left to right.... a pile of the papers I'm using, then the supply list for the class which tells me what papers and sizes I need.  Paper trimmer in the middle to cut those papers.  Next, some scraps then a 2" circle punch.  Above the list is a spool of twine, my stamp towel, and a spray bottle of water.  There's so much up on the shelf and under it... I don't think I could begin to tell you what all is there!  I'll be teaching the Box Corner card at the LSS in Green Valley, AZ.  Here's one if just finished from last Wednesday's class.


I used Crate Paper Farmhouse pattern papers and embellishments. I got them from Memory Works. The ribbon is from my stash....


I decided to do a house theme.  These were actually stickers but I used my Xstatic pad to take the sticky out.  Now, what to do with this...   Any suggestions?  And don't forgot to click on Julia's blog, click HERE, after leaving me a comment!  Thanks!  Now if my mojo would kick it in gear.  Guess I need to pop over to Pinterest...  There's 2 hours gone!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Milk it For All it's Worth

Now, how's that for a title??  Actually it's one of the stamps that is in the Cowlik Birthday set by Stampendous.  This is the last card I made for my 4 samples for my March 13 class at the LSS in Green Valley, AZ.


I used my Chicken Wire Cuttlebug embossing folder on the green BoBunny paper then sanded.  I colored the main image with pastel chalks.  My hubby got a laugh from this card.

Last Wednesday I taught a class at Green Valley Recreation.  The gals got into quite a conversation about different ways to do their Box Corner cards and I just had to take pictures...

















Sandi and Evelyn are on the left and Sherri is on the right.
I just couldn't pass this up.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Love and Hearts

Wednesday I worked on my hubby's Valentine card but didn't get the opportunity to post it until today.  I got inspiration from the La-De-Dab blog.  I used Terracotta and Cornflower Walnut inks, Rhubarb Stalk Momento and Agean Blue VersaMagic inks to coordinate.


I found some scrap card stock that also matches the Cornflower Walnut ink so that was exciting!


I found a small heart stamp and love stamps in my stash but have no idea who made them. I did add 3 black crystals to the lower right of the heart.  Did add just a hint of bling.  This card is a bit outside my box but I do like it!  What do you think?  Oh, and I highly recommend using a clothes pin or clip of some kind when spraying the Walnut inks.  My thumb was quite colored!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Veggie Scraps

As I work on cards I end up with a lot of little scraps.  I bet you do, too.  So, on this card I decided to incorporate some of the scraps in the general design.  This is another card for a March class and I'm still using the Cowlik Birthday set by Stampendous.


I also used the Block Fill technique I learned from my Technique Junkies newsletter and BoBunny papers. I'm getting a kick out of this technique.  I colored the veggies with Copic markers but I didn't try to shade this time.


Here's a little closer look.  Don't you think the veggies really "pop" on the block??  I will definitely be playing with this technique more!

Friday, February 15, 2013

Cows and sheep

My last post I gave you a peek at a card I was working on that was on my work desk.  It is now completed and I'm ready to show it to you...


I like how this turned out but after I took the photo I swiped the edges of the card with a dark brown ink which just made it pop a bit more.  The "Hello" text is from a Hero Arts set and I added 2 black and 1 orange rhinestones for that touch of bling.  How do you like it??


Here's another card for that upcoming March class using the same Cowlik Birthday set by Stampendous.  I did get this idea from the Stampendous website.


Here's a closeup of the cow.  I colored with Copics and made the tractor a John Deere one as that's my hubby's favorite brand (he's a farm equipment service man).  He just loved this card.  I still need to make 2 more samples for that class so I'll be blurfing (blog surfing) for some mojo!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

WOYWW 193 and some sheep....

Another Wednesday.  Are you getting tired of my Wednesday posts? I really enjoy looking at other crafters' desks and projects they either have in the process or completed.  And to see some cool organizational ideas.  And I want to thank Julia Dunnit at the Stamping Ground for this fun international blog hop!  So, are you ready to see my desk??


I'm working again on some cards for samples for a March class.  I'm using a new set I just got by Stampendous called Cowlik Birthday.  You can sorta see the set at the left of my Score-Pal mat.  And there is a stamped image from that set just to the left of my black ink pad under an acrylic block.  There is also my Copic marker book to the far left and a couple pieces of the BoBunny paper I'm using.  There's also some Glue Dots and some foam mounting tape which I have to purchase often.  But I'll show you that stamped image....


We used to farm in northwest Wyoming (70 miles east of Yellowstone Park between Cody and Powell) but we didn't raise animals.... other than cats and a horse.  We raised hay and had a great race horse market all across the U.S. and our hay did feed some Kentucky Derby winners one year, about the year 2001.  But I digress....  I used a technique from the February/March 2013 Technique Junkies newsletter called Block Fill.  I LOVE this!! I do not believe my picture does justice to the image in the least. And I'm not going into details but if you decide to start getting the newsletter just let Pat Huntoon know you heard about TJ from me.

So now that you've read my blog please leave a comment on what you think of my desk (yeah, I know it's a miss) and/or my stamped image (I'll show the complete card shortly) then scroll back up and click on Julia's blog and enjoy the tour!  Grab a cuppa coffee or tea and go international!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Sassy Pearl

Our son's girlfriend started her own fashion blog.  Cassidy is quite the home decorator and has tremendous fashion sense.  I've seen her closet.... it's a converted bedroom in her house and our son made her clothes racks and shelves for all the shoes, purses, clothes, scarves...  wow!  That room amazes me as I think I have 4 pairs of shoes (not counting my flip flops), 3 purses, and 1/2 of a small closet...   LOL!  I would love for you to take a look at her Sassy Pearl.  Who knows, maybe I'll get out of blue jeans and T-shirts some day.....

Monday, February 11, 2013

I'm Double Twisting now...

Finally finished the 3rd card for an upcoming class on Feb. 27.  I've made standard easel and a twisted easel cards but now I have a double twisted easel!  It starts with a piece of 8" square cardstock...


I'm still using the Hero Arts "Going 4 x 4" stamp set as it's definitely masculine and the paper works well for masculine cards!  When folded flat the Happy and Birthday face each other.  I colored the scooter to match the burgundy card stock.  I have NO idea who makes the text stamps but they're pretty nice! I'm sure there's variations of this style card but I find this about the easiest.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

I'm twisting the easel...

I've finished the 2nd of 3 or 4 card samples for an upcoming class at my local scrapbook store in Green Valley, AZ.  I'm still using the Hero Arts stamp set and this time I made a Twisted Easel card.


Here's the card closed.  I don't know who made the text images.


I embossed and pop dotted the little black car to hold the easel back for viewing.  I really like easel cards.  I love that they stand up for viewing.  Have you made any recently?

Friday, February 8, 2013

It's Magic.... Cards, that is!

I taught a private class with Evelyn R. this past Wednesday and we had a blast playing with this technique.  We learned one thing from making these cool cards... you MUST use acetate.  Stiff page protector pages just doesn't work!  But our cards turned out pretty cool and I think she'll make more.


Trying to take pictures of these with the faux acetate is very difficult.  I tried to not get a glare and thought I succeeded until I looked at them after downloading to my computer.  Oh well.  Here the cards are closed.  One pulls up on the ribbon tab to get the following...


The images now appear in color!  I did leave a bit of the images down so that you can see both the color and black & white images.  I made this design about 12 years ago but in prepping for this class I alter the design and made it easier, in my opinion.  How do you like this??

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

WOYWW 192 and a Truck

Another Wednesday and again it's What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!  I'm late today getting my post going but here it is!  And thanks to Julia at the Stamping Ground for organizing this huge tour of blogs to see other crafters' desks and spaces.  You even get to see some cool projects in progress!  So, without further ado, here's my desk:


There is a lot going on. I have stamps off to the left, paper in the center, adhesives at the top, and a pencil right in the middle.  I'm working on some card samples for a class on Feb. 27 at the scrapbook store in Green Valley, AZ.  I'm so far behind and this week is no better.  Today I have a private class with a gal to teach her the Magic Card.  I haven't made this card for a month so, with instructions in hand, we'll have a blast getting it made. I'll post our cards later as I've got my camera packed with the supplies. Now for a card sample in progress...


This truck is from a Hero Arts set  that I use frequently.  But can you guess what that shiny embossed piece is??  Its the seal from a coffee can that I die cut then used the Cuttleblug Diamond Grid embossing folder!  I save every seal like this as they are wonderful to use!!!  I don't know why but I have an easier time making masculine cards than feminine... must be the "tomboy" in me!

So now that you've toured my desk (wait 'til I show you my closet!!) click HERE to go to the Stamping Ground.  Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Monday, February 4, 2013

Bee Mine

I think I have enough Valentines for our family with the completion of these last 2.  I made a purchase at Eureka Rubber stamps (link in left sidebar) of a little bee and a coordinating text image.  I also purchased a couple Easter images but will post pics of projects made with them later.  Anyway, I made some similar cards like these last year and like the design so much I made a couple more....


The card on the left has no embossing on the white.  The card on the right was embossed with a Dotted Swiss design.  The text images on both covers are from The Angel Co.  The heart is a punch.


This is the bee I purchased.  I colored him with a Copic marker then added some bling with the Stardust Clear Gel pen.  (Hmmm.... I haven't used that in a while.)  The black "stitching" was made with a Black Stardust Gel pen.


I just love this image!  I didn't color the bees.  Do you think I should??  Are you ready for Valentine's Day?  Today is my birthday and one of my favorite "gifts" so far is from our granddaughter.  She will be delivering our 2nd great-grand baby the end of August!!!  When I got the cool card in the mail last Thursday (the day of the class of yesterday's post) I went ballistic!!  Bad thing about that... I was driving!!!  I was bouncing off the walls all day!  Hoping for a little cowgirl but I'll be absolutely thrilled even if the child is a cowboy!!  I'm working on scrapbooking the card Christen sent announcing their coming little "roping partner".

And did you enjoy my "quad easel" card in the last post?  I'm thinking of making a baby-themed one for our granddaughter.  I'll have to look at papers and stuff this week.  Hmmm.... yellows and greens will work.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

A Quad-Easel Creation

Last Thursday I took a class (by golly, I was a student!) at my LSS by Lynn, another instructor at the store.  This was an amazing card we made and I could have figured it out on my own but I thought, ah heck, take the class!  We made this ONE card, about a 7" square with multi-layers in about one hour.  Are you ready??  It's truly fascinating!


Here it is closed.  Doesn't quite lay flat and you'd have to use a bubble envelope to mail it.  And probably send a picture of it open so the recipient would know how to open it.


And open... sorta.  I didn't add little brads or crystals to hold the easels open.  I'm still thinking about that.


Side 1.  The silhouette was made using a Cricut cartridge, either Art Philosophy or Heritage. I had trouble taking pictures as we used a high gloss silver metallic paper for some layers and under this little gal. And we decorative punched the corners.  I added a crystal to represent a cameo.


Side 2: Again, a Cricut cartridge was used for the scalloped oval layers.  The stamped image is from The Angel Co.


Side 3: I'm thinking of adding some Stickles to the brad in the middle of the flower... any thoughts about that?



Side 4: Again, Cricut-cut frames.  Stamped image from The Angel Co.  The pattern papers are by Authentique.

You can also stamp on the blue layers under each easel but I decided that's a bit of overkill.  I hope to make more of these and possibly teach this at my senior group next year.