Try not to fall out of your chair or anything...

But I'm pretty cheap...I mean really cheap...so, investing about a billion dollars into a marker set that I am likely to never figure out how to use? ain't gonna happen....so since I've started stamping, I mean really stamping, not just buying lots of stamps, I've been searching for a decent marker set to color images...I love you Crayola, but you're just not working for me...I tried a few different "art" marker sets...everything seems to "bleed over" if you know where I'm coming from...then I found these babies...Martha's (you know which Martha) Art and Craft marker set is perfect and with a certain 40% off coupon the price is definitely right at about $20...I use them with my blending pen from CTMH...I think I'm going to have to get a few more of the blending pens because they are a super cool tool also....

I did not use the markers on this card however....



Holy Crap! I'm having a stampgasm!! Unity Stamp Company...
do I need to say anything else?
I kept looking at these stamps and loving the designs, but I just didn't get it...the whole hybrid wood/acrylic/rubber thing...I kept thinking, huh?...I admit it I'm pretty slow...but in case you are too, here's the deal...They have rubber stamps that stick to your acrylic blocks (but are removable), then they have wood mounted stamps (different sets from the rubber mounted ones) that slide into their really cool handles (there's a video tutorial), they also have a kit club, and they are as we speak breaking kits down so you can also buy singles. The quality of these stamps is amazing...and their prices are very reasonable...I'm going to be spending a lot of time shopping there... Did I mention they were having a sale today? They are! 25% off your whole order (handles not included)!! Use code SEPT931.

For this card I used the "Owl always love you" stamp set by Unity
Bazzil Cardstock
Pattern Paper by Memory Box (this paper is beautiful by the way)
clear acetate (that's why you can see my reflection below)



I purchased these two books from Amazon last week, and they are full of fabulous ideas and inspiration...



I am in total need of an overhaul here...
Enjoy your day!!

IT'S A PROJECT!! "I've Been Around Photo Wreath"

I tried to think of a cuter name...truly I did...and I'm certainly not trying to imply that I have been around that much...okay maybe I have been known to give my husband sex for stamps...don't judge me ...I won't sell myself out for just anything though...just don't dangle a Starbuck's Mocha Frappacino in front of me and expect me to keep my clothes on for very long...

Now that I've given you a revolting visual you're likely to be reeling from for most of the day....let me tell you how to make this really cute hanging photo wreath...The holidays are rapidly approaching you know...and we have 5 less shopping days this year....

1. Acquire, purchase or steal 3, 6 inch round wreath forms. You can also use wreaths already decorated and rip all the old crap off them. I got these naked at Goodwill for .25 each...yep, I know. I used some ripped up muslin (another cheap thrift store find) to string the wreaths together. You could also use ribbon, but tie them together before step two, I know what I'm talking about here, ok?

2. I used rusty screen that I bought at Red Lead as a back for the wreath's. You can probably find some at your hardware store or back them with something else. I attached the screen with hot glue, and burnt my fingers several times and used a lot of swear words. Yes, I know there's a low temp variety, but I prefer self inflicting pain and using swear words. It makes me appreciate the final project that much more.

Here are some visual aids

3. I flipped the wreaths over so they would have depth. I added some lace around the inside for character. I like depth and character.

4. Cover 3 chipboard circles with some cute patterned paper, I used Cosmo Cricket Little Boys. I also sanded the edges and added some paint to give them kind of a distressed look. I then adhered my photos to the circles. I printed them out in sepia tone so they would kind of match the wreaths.

Some more visual aids

E. I mean 5. whatever...I attached the photo/chipboard circles to the center of the wreaths, added buttons everywhere I could think of because there are never enough buttons and then called it done.

I know a lot of people/blog Goddesses/ etc do video tutorials, honestly if I did that it would be like 6 hours long and I'd have to censor out all the swear words and screaming at my kids every 15 minutes. If I ever figure out how to do all that it would probably be more like a feature film.

Thanks for stopping by!

take care!

I have a teenager...

Six days ago, Britain turned 13

He wanted to "have some friends come with him to lasertag"

apparently it's no longer cool to have a "birthday party"

we had a lot of fun...actually Brit came in first twice...

I'm not sure if that's a good thing...

I would not be dissuaded...even though it was a "not a party" party, there would be cake...even if it was mini cupcakes

and there would also be singing...although this part lasted all of 3 minutes...which was the amount of time it took 7 boys to scarf 24 cupcakes and scream "Happy Birthday to you" with their mouths full, before running back into the next match...thank God nobody puked...they took another 5 minute break...

and managed to scarf

4 pizzas

3 dozen hot wings

and 4 pitches of soda

and still nobody puked...

amazing....

I made a couple cards today...I've been playing with my stamps...

This one I used the "Family Tree" stencil by The Crafters Workshop

I mixed up some Tim Holz alcohol inks and dabbed away onto a transparency

then hand sewed the transparency with embroidery floss to white cardstock

the "Thank you" stamp is one of those $1 stamps from Mike's by Studio G

This one I used pattern paper by Memory Makers Fresh Anthology collection and the Stamp is CTMH

Thanks so much for stopping by...who knows I might post again before the month is over...LOL

We have Genetically Enhanced Hamsters....

I know she looks cute...

but she almost ate our hamsters....we have another dog...but she's just not into hamsters

We had two new additions to our family over the summer in the form of hamsters. Two little funny, furry friends that I'm sure our dogs feel were only brought here to torture them. Which I guess in a way makes sense...I mean...it's probably like puting a pint of Haagen Daaz chocolate peanut butter in front of me and saying "No matter what you can't eat it".... Which reminds me of my sister... who has like 5 cats that are outdoor cats and experienced hunters...BUT...she likes to watch the birds from her kitchen window so she has like 10 bird feeders hanging from her trees out out there....so when I go there the cats are always bringing half eaten bird parts to the door...and I'm always like "WHAT are you THINKING???" and she always kind of looks at me like " Oh..." but guess what? there are still cats, bird feeders and half eaten bird parts with feathers stuck to them....

but I'm waaaay off track....

Anyway....

Friday night:

Britain: "Mom, did you leave the hamster door open?"

Me: "Nooooo....wh-...oh no, no, no, no ...you're kidding, right?"

Britain: "um...the door is open and they're gone"

Me:"WHADDYA MEAN GONE? they have to be somewhere in your room...um where are the dogs.....?"

Britain:"Duchess keeps trying to get in the back of my closet..."

about a half hour later after we disassemble britain's entire closet...we use the back of it for storage, we recover Splinter (that's Landon's hamster) looking a little worse for wear his fur sticking straight up...

Britain: "Where's Gerbil?" (that's Britain's hamsters name)

We look at each other, we look at Duchess who has, at this point rolled over on her back and is making her "guilty" face....

"Hamster Murderer!" I say

"Duchess you ate Gerbil?!?" Britain yells

Me: "Well, maybe she didn't eat him....maybe he's hiding somewhere..."

Britain: "I hope that it was at least a quick death"

Saturday still no sign of Gerbil...we have mourned his demise...and have somehow managed to move on....

Sunday night....Duchess starts barking and scratching at our display case...I look at Rob..."you think?"

He shrugs.."I don't know let's move it and see"....

I get down on the floor and out comes a little furry nose, sniffing around..."I don't believe it..." I say...."He's Alive!

Somehow, they managed to open the door, (because no one is my house is admitting to leaving it open) survived what had to be the equivalent of jumping off the Empire State Building and being attacked by Godzilla (Duchess)...and they are back all snug and happy in their cages......as if nothing ever happened....

I think they're Super Hamsters....

They're much luckier than the birds who live at my sister's....

Does this look familiar?

Yes, you're right, it's a Christi Snow original...and in case you're wondering, yes she is just as amazing in real life...AND...let me just say I have no idea where that woman gets her energy...AND I know you're already jealous, but prepare to be even more so...Kat let me hold her!! She has the biggest bluest eyes you've ever seen, and she can work cute like nobody's business...Chrisit bestowed this cutest ever bookmark on me at our lunch on Tuesday with about 5 books from my Goodreads "to read" list...So incredibly thoughtful...Thanks again Christi!! ....

I think just being around creativity must help because I'm making stuff again...ok not my deck of me cards...I'm so behind there that I don't even know where to start...but I made a layout and a couple cards...

I'm starting to feel a groove again....I have to work this weekend so I won't get much blogging done...but thanks for stopping by!

And the Award Goes to....

Well, me of course...that is for World's biggest Summer Blog Slacker...

but isn't that what you're supposed to do in the summer?

Kids are back in school, and I'm hoping to sit down and get some creating done...I feel all itchy, but everytime I sit down to create lately it seems like I end up cleaning and organizing my scrap space and then it's time to go somewhere or do something else...I did actually get my sketch done for the OhScrap newsletter pick issue #6....here's a hint ..it's all about my favorite books...oh and did I mention my beloved husband recently crashed our hard drive on our PC?...grrrr it's been a nightmare...thanks goodness I have my laptop...and I have been a total reading machine this summer..I would love it if you joined me over at Goodreads it's a really cool way to discover books you might never have known about and discuss books you love...and I've been walking...almost every day (not on the evenings I work, I'm just not that enterprising)

So...here's something fun and interesting...I got this email directing me to this site

Year of Creativity which is where I found my new business card

They also have a chain of blogs with everything from creative photography to YouTube videos...Fun...but have some time on your hands..it's easy to get carried away...

And that's really all I have to say...so I leave you with a picture of the boys...oh so excited to embark on a new school year...

oh and you'll never guess who I'm going to lunch with tomorrow....The one and only Christi who moved up here in July...and I will get to meet the equally famous Kat...I can't wait!!