A Paper Carrot for Peter

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I’ve been on a basket theme lately.  There was the basket class, and the basket club, and a few other baskets that I did just for fun.  Here’s one from the class:

  • Teeny Tiny Wishes, Woodgrain and Forest Friends stamp sets
  • Pumpkin Pie, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso and Whisper White card stock
  • Play Date and Ice Cream Parlor (SAB) Designer Series Papers
  • Pumpkin Pie and Early Espresso Classic ink pads; Versamark ink pad
  • 1 1/4, 1 3/8, 1 3/4 inch circle punches; 2 1/2 inch scallop circle punch
  • Crop-a-dile and Pear Pizazz Seam Binding
  • Embossing powder and heat tool; Pearl Jewels; Stampin’ Sponge
  • Big Shot and Petal Cone Bigz die

I’m still on my “carrot” kick, and I’ll confess I had a lot of fun with this project.  I thought the Woodgrain background stamp was perfect for carrot texture.

Looks like I need to find some tangerine Jelly Bellies to put in a cello bag and tuck into the cone.  Actually, I need to bring Jelly Bellies into my house about as much as I need the proverbial hole in my head.  I’m a nibbler, and little candies like Jelly Bellies or Dove Chocolate eggs (Dark Chocolate, please) or little snack size ANYTHINGS are my downfall.  I’ve actually purchased some Easter candy, but it’s well hidden.  I purchased it because when you live on a small island if you see something you want you’d better buy it Now.  Heaven forbid we arrive at Easter and the only things left on Mr. Safeway’s shelves are the yucky kind of jelly beans and Peeps.

Speaking of Peeps…I don’t eat them, my kids don’t eat them, but I generally buy a package for each kid and put them in their baskets just to be silly.  About 5 years ago, I took a group of high-school aged Girl Scouts to camp and at the last minute threw in a couple of boxes of Peeps with the marshmellows for our campfire.  Honestly, you have never seen anything so strange as a roasted Peep – except perhaps for the look on Cheryl’s face when she decided to eat one.  (I have no idea what posessed her to attempt such a thing.)  According to Cheryl, not only are roasted Peeps vile, but they do this kind of foaming thing.  I wouldn’t know.

Honestly…I’d better quit now.  Such a ridiculous story, and I haven’t even gotten to the part about the Roasted-Peep contest at my son’s birthday party.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Down Under

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Today is Carol’s birthday, except of course it’s tomorrow when I’m writing this, but it’s yesterday in Australia.  Thank goodness for Google or I would be entirely lost – I rely on my time widgets to keep me organized.  I’m going to break one of my rules and show you her card.  I don’t think she’s gotten it yet, because I sent it a little late and the Australian Postal Gorillas will likely decide to throw it on the ground and STOMP on it for a few extra days, and oh yeah because I forgot to calculate an extra day because it’s tomorrow there…ok, I’ll stop.

Now, I need to warn you that this card is  made with a lot of retired Stampin’ Up! product.  If it drives you crazy to see retired things that you can’t get, then go look at another post:

Happy Birthday Carol

  • So Happy for You (SAB) and the wheel that coordinated with Carte Postal
  • Pink Pirouette, Old Olive and Whisper White card stock – Current!
  • Pink Pirouette and Rose Red Classic ink pads – Current!
  • Eyelet border punch – Current!
  • Rose Red seam binding – Current!
  • Pearl jewels – Current!
  • Those cute little felt flowers, who knows what they were called, but I bought this batch on the Clearance Rack

The ruffled ribbon is made by laying down a length of Sticky Strip and folding the ribbon into little pleats and sticking it down as you fold.

As difficult as it is to be so far from my daughter, I know she is exactly where she belongs, and she is very happy.  I talk with her face to face as often as we can manage thanks to Skype.  What more could a mother ask?  Happy birthday, sweetie.

A tisket, a tasket

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Try to get away for a little anniversary weekend and what happens?  Captain Stupidhead thinks he’s been abandoned (he wasn’t, my son was here) and hasn’t left me alone for a second today.  He’s like a two-year-old, and if you could see me this very minute you would see his big orange cat-self leaning on the keyboard.   In case I miss that, he gets up every few minutes and sticks his head in my face.  This has the effect of showering me with cat hair, which is oh-so-pleasant. (It’s better than him yawning, because his cat-breath is indescribable.)

Earlier today, when I was putting dishes away, he wrapped himself around my legs and cried like a baby.  I swear he’s saying “UP! UUUUUPPPP!!” in that briefly endearing but quickly annoying way that toddler’s have.  Prior to that, I was trying to take some photos for you:

Square Eastern trimmed basket

This is the “before” basket,  a 2-4-6-8 basket trimmed with retired Designer Series Paper bits and pieces run through the Big Shot with the Tasteful Trim die.  I had a better idea and my plan was to show you the two projects, but I had “help”:

Hmmm...what have we here?

The photo is  blurry because he is in motion, rapidly approaching my “photo shoot”.  This is after a lot of whining and winding around under my feet.  Since I failed to acknowledge him, it became necessary to move in a little closer.

The head-butt

I’m attempting the photo of the second basket, but it’s impossible to get a picture because A) there is a cat in the way and B) he is giving me the “head-butt” treatment so it is impossible to focus the camera.

Action Jackson

I tossed him to the floor but he must have hit the trampoline, because before I could get a photo HE WAS BAAACK.

Say, what's this?
However, I’m experienced in the art of diversion and found some shreddies for him.  They make a great rustling sound, which always gets his attention, and I can get them to wiggle just a bit which means he has to inspect.

Just plain silly

He’s checking the shreddies to see if they’re tasty.  This photo cracks me up, because he looks like a fat orange Easter bunny – sans the ears.

The trimmed Easter basket

  • Flourish stamp set
  • So Saffron and Bashful Blue card stock; retired Designer Series Papers
  • So Saffron Classic ink pad
  • Designer Button and Pretty in Pink 1/8 taffeta ribbon
  • Oval Scallop Frame and Tasteful Trim XL Bigz dies and the Big Shot
  • Eyelet border punch
  • brads (to attach the handle)

THIS is the project I was trying to photograph.  I apologize for the crimped handle, but as you can imagine, I was happy to get this picture as it was.  The Flourish stamp set is one of the single stamps that were available as a Sale-a-bration option, and you can see it better from the side.  You realize, of course, there isn’t a photo of the side.

And yes, Mr. Maui Stamper and I had a lovely weekend on Lanai celebrating our 30th anniversary, which is actually today.  We stayed at the amazing Lodge at Koele, and did whatever we felt like doing.  Apparently next year we will be expected to take a companion with us.  Oh, as if that would ever happen.

 

P.S.  Ha!  Just as I was about to click publish, he leaned over and hit the speakerphone button with his chin.  It’s very childish of me, but I always crack up when he does this as the dial tone is loud and he looks around to see who or what did this annoying thing.  Serves him right.  Knucklehead.

It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s a…carrot??

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Here’s Not Quite Ready For Carrot Time candidate #2:

Petal Cone with butterflies

  • French Script stamp set
  • Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizazz and Always Artichoke card stock
  • Pumpkin Pie Classic ink pad
  • Big Shot, Petal Cone Bigz Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit
  • Scallop Circle punch, gold brad, Always Artichoke Seam Binding

I tried a number of arrangements but finally had to content myself with these carrot-crazed butterflies – they looked better in my head than on paper.  Don’t you hate it when that happens?  It’s always fun to play with all of the butterflies you end up with using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit – each crank of the Big Shot turns out 5 from itty bitty to thunb-sized, and I confess that I love just seeing them heaped up on my desk.

Captain Stupidhead has been especially needy recently.  He was really stressed out by all the noise and disruption that Builder Dan brought indoors, and now that the house is quiet he spends too much time worrying about where I am and what I am doing (and why it does not involve scratching his head).  I was trying to apply some rub-ons yesterday afternoon, and he kept shoving his head against my hand.  He ruined 3 rub-ons that way, pushing them out of alignment while I was trying to rub them in place.  Big Baby.  If he could have his way, I would hold him and brush him and feed him and open/close/open/close the door all day long.  He is seriously mis-informed.

 

Renovation Update

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It’s too dark to take photos, but Builder Dan has been packed up for a week and things are slowly but surely returning to normal.  There are no longer extraneous pieces of furniture in my living room, the Room Formerly Known as Carol’s Room now contains a bed complete with bedding, and my gorgeous stamping space is orderly enough that I can once again create without saying bad words.

A few things are MIA, most importantly my “handmade by Anne Matasci” stamp.  I’m sure it will turn up eventually, but tonight I ordered a new one as I’m not willing to waste any more time searching for the old one.  Of course, since I’ve placed the order, the old one will miraculously appear in front of my face.  Never fails.

My son thinks my stamping room and its beautiful, broad work space are a perfect place for doing homework.  The first night he worked up there he asked if it would be okay, but since then he just disappears and pretends he doesn’t hear me when I come into the room.  He has a desk, mind you, it’s just piled with so much, um, STUFF that he can’t sit there.  So be it.  I can share for now.

I do have a project to share:

Easter Petal Cone with leaves

  • Texture Jumbo Stampin’ Around Wheel
  • Peach Parfait, Old Olive, and Pumpkin Pie card stock
  • Peach Parfait Classic ink pad
  • Big Shot and Petal Cone Bigz die
  • 2 Step XL Bird punch; Boho Blossoms punch
  • Pearl Jewels; Crop-a-dile; Tombo the Wonder Adhesive
  • Old Olive 1/4 inch grosgrain and Linen thread

I made a series of Petal Cones that were supposed to be “carrot-like” but in my opinion they failed to look like any vegetable whatsoever.  I still like the way they turned out, I just don’t think they have any resemblance to carrots!  This one is pretty simple – I rolled the card stock with the wheel, assembled the cone, and attached miles and miles of little green stems and a whole bunch of Pumpkin Pie Blossoms using Tombo (whatever did we do before Tombo??).   The “carrot top” is 8 pieces of grosgrain folded over, with one piece measured double the length and folded twice to make a loop.  I wrapped the whole thing with one more piece of grosgrain and tied a tight knot, then used Linen Thread to attach it to the top of the Petal Cone die.   Somehow it works as most of the grosgrain stands upright, but the pieces closest to the outside of the bunch flop over.  Not a very sophisticated description, is it?

One last thought…because this renovation involved so many rooms in our house, I had to empty closets that hadn’t seen the light of day in a while.  Who knew that I had collected so much memorabilia?  I’ve had the best intentions to scrapbook so many things…trips, milestones, family photos…you know what I’m talking about.  All of those boxes are carefully stacked in the guest room, and beginning next week I will sort through SOMETHING every day.  My goal is to sift through and keep the meaningful mementos, then give myself the freedom to discard the junk.  I’ll keep you posted.

 

 

Little Red Truck

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I’m a little worried that this truck may not make it into the next Idea Book and Catalog:

Masculine Birthday Truck

  • Loads of Love and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Naturals Ivory, Basic Black, Real Red and Going Grey card stock
  • First Edition Designer Series Paper
  • Staz-on Black ink pad
  • Watercolor pencils and the Aquapainter
  • Real Red and Basic Black 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon

This little truck has been around for a long time, and although I know some people think it has outgrown its usefulness (you know who you are!) I still love it.  I like the rounded edges and the slightly chubby look of the fenders, and though I didn’t use them this time I also love the accessory images that come with it.

I’m also pretty crazy about that First Edition DSP.  Yes, I know I could tear up book pages and get the same look, but the paper quality isn’t the same and I’m a book lover and I just can’t bring myself to tear up a perfectly good book.  And no, I don’t have a Kindle…at least not yet.  My husband and son both have one and love them, and I suspect I’ll succumb to the convenience of an e-reader, but for now I really love the tactile experience of a book.

Did you notice I chose the Kangaroo pages, Carol??  Just for you, honey.  But this isn’t your birthday card.

 

Manly cards – collage

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My Frou-Frou-Ribbon card got me started playing with collage, and when I edited out the ribbon and switched up the colors a bit I thought it was a worthy Man-Card:

Manly Time

  • Sense of Time and Charming stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pacific Point and Garden Green card stock
  • Garden Green Patterns Designer Series Paper
  • Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Pacific Point and Garden Green Classic ink pads
  • Square Punch (just about any one will do, I used 1 1/4 inch)
  • Mini Library Clips

I’m not quite certain that a stamp set named “Charming” belongs on a Manly card, but I guess we’ll just have to imagine that the name refers to the Prince.  The images from the Bliss set didn’t have the right look.

Let me tell  you a secret about cutting out that clock face.  I didn’t want to struggle with lining up a die cut, or even with the Circle Scissors Plus, so I just cut it out free hand.  I did a decent but not fabulous job, because I had a plan:  I was going to distress the edges.  It’s a sneaky little trick, but it hides every imperfection and adds texture to boot.

The pennant edge is really simple – just cut your cardstock to the width you want, stamp your sentiment, and use a corner of the square punch to create a perfect little pair of points.

So…masculine colors, no ribbon, rough edges and a pair of easy techniques…surely it’s a Man Card.

A Frou Frou ribbon

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This card didn’t make the Manly card cut – the ribbon was too Frou-Frou:

Blissful Sense of Time collage

  • Sense of Time, Bliss (SAB) and Sincere Salutations stamp sets
  • Naturals White, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizazz and Night of Navy card stock
  • Baja Breeze, Pear Pizazz and Night of Navy Classic ink pads
  • Large oval and Decorative Label punches
  • Baja Breeze seam binding and Sticky Strip
  • Piercing tool, mat and template
  • Stampin’ Sponges

Collage is such fun.  I have to remind myself not to get too fussy with it, but to just let it flow and be happy with the results.  Doesn’t that sound like a good way to live your life?

That ruffled ribbon is VERY easy – just brush the cut edges of the seam binding until you can grab a couple of threads in the middle – I use tweezers – and pull.  When the ribbon is bunched up halfway, turn it around and do the same thing from the other end.  Don’t trim the ends too much – stick those long strings on some sticky strip and then press the ruffled ribbon down and Voila! – it will be fabulous, dahling.

A Majestic Tree

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This tree is my favorite.  I still love the retired set Branch Out and I don’t know if I’ll ever get rid of mine, but the tree from Thoughts and Prayers is really majestic.  I confess to being something of a tree hugger, and though I love all types of trees I am especially fond of trees with a big, umbrella shaped canopy – just like this one:

Manly Thoughts and Prayers

  • Thoughts and Prayers and Thank You Kindly stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy and River Rock card stock
  • Always Artichoke and Not Quite Navy Classic ink pads
  • River Rock Stampin’ Write marker and a Blender Pen
  • Big Shot and Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing folder
  • Jumbo brads in Pewter and Vanilla 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon

This card also uses my VERY favorite color combination – blue and green.  We re-painted a number of rooms in our home as part of The Renovation, and almost every can of paint was blue or green.  As a matter of fact, our bedroom is now River Rock with an accent wall in Not Quite Navy.  Seriously.

This was another card in the Manly Card series, and though I did sneak in a little smidgen of ribbon you’ll notice there’s no sissy bow.  It’s a manly Tie Your Tie sort of knot.  The tree is easy to stamp in two colors if you use an ink pad to color the leaves and then remove excess ink from the branches with a Blender pen and color the trunk and branches with a marker.

I am still putting things away in my fabulous new crafting space, and am discovering that I have kept a lot of STUFF.  Getting rid of things you don’t need any more is a wonderful feeling.  Crafting in this room is a total joy, and sometimes I stop mid-project just to look around me.  It’s pretty sweet.

Keeping it simple for the guys

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When I think of masculine cards, I think simple.  I’m not saying men are simple; rather, they appreciate simplicity.  Perhaps there would be an exception for home theater systems, but when it comes to cards I think we’re safe with a pared down style:

Masculine birthday woodgrain

  • Punch Bunch (Sale-a-bration) and Woodgrain stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso card stock
  • A scrap of Early Espresso Designer Series Paper
  • Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler Classic ink pads
  • Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding
  • Scallop Square punch and Stampin’ Dimensionals

If you look closely, you can see I used the ink pad directly on the Espresso card stock to create a little visual texture.  An embossing folder and the Big Shot would create a stronger contrast, but I was striving for super-simple on this card and I think I found it.  It took longer to cut the paper than it did to put the card together!

Builder Dan pulled up this afternoon and I just about fainted.  I have been putting things back where they belong and cleaning up like a mad woman for the past few days and I told him he couldn’t run his big saw-dusty-saw in my driveway ANY MORE.  He just laughed.  He was stopping by to see how things were looking and to drop off some paperwork.  Truth be told, I missed those three guys yesterday morning – you could set your watch by them.   It’s ok, though – I’ll cope.