Giddy Up!

I had this vision in my head of how I wanted this card to turn out. Unfortunately, this was the end result! LOL

No matter what I do, I just can't work it for some reason. I think it is the horseshoes. I wish I had some horseshoe brads...shocking there is something I don't already own! :)

Good news is that my 7 year old DD absolutely loves this card, so it has a loving home!

Stamps: TAC Happy Trails, SU Sanded

Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Accessories: Brads, Hemp, the obnoxious blue embossing powder

Thanks for stopping by!

Boom-Di-Ada!

I LOVE this paper set by CTMH! It was just perfect for these pictures of my little girl, who is a total ham! (In case you could not tell...)

All supplies CTMH except for the vellum, which is SU. Thanks for looking!

I Did It!

I finally made a CAS card! And you know what? I love it! It used to be scary to me, as I felt this need to have the space filled. It was very freeing and I really enjoyed the simplicity of it.

I actually sent this card out to my blog buddies (who are on the RAK list) and pen pals who had birthdays recently. :) I hope they liked it!

Stamps: TAC Bella Fleur, sentiment Stamping Bella
Paper: PTI white, Pixie Pink
Ink: Nick Bantock Lamp Black (Ranger), Copics, Versafine Black
Accessories: Ribbon from Stamping Bella, Stickles

Thanks for visiting!

Pearly Gates

It has been a long time since I have shared a story about my crazy kids. Tonight, as were driving home from the base, my 7 year old daughter asked me a question.

"Mom, when you go to heaven, do they give you a choice on if you want to live another life?"

"Well, some religions believe in reincarnation, but we don't so I would say no. Why are you asking?" I inquire.

"Just wondering. I was hoping I could come back to life as a boy," she states matter-of-factly.

"Why is that?" I ask, thinking perhaps she wants to help fight inequity in the gender gap, or do something her 7 year old mind thinks that only boys can do.

"Just because I want to see the inside of the boys' bathroom."

Looks like the Nobel Prize I hoping she would earn in her next life is out the window.

It's a Challenge!

My Ocean's 11 blog group participates in weekly challenges and it is my opportunity to host!

In honor of my fall off the wagon, please make a card with something you hoard. It can be paper (not that I know about that!), ribbon, a new stamp, buttons... whatever! Just be sure to tell us what it is when you post your creation!

Here is my card:



I found the image appropriate considering my challenge! This is a new stamp I recently purchased that had yet to see ink.

Stamps: G327 from Great Impressions, TAC sentiment
Paper: PTI white, Real Red
Ink: Nick Bantock Lamp Black, Copics (C1, C3, C5, R22, R25, R27, R29, Y13,YR12, YR16, B14, B18, G5, G7, G14, RV23, V06, V09)
Accessories: SU Ribbon, Stickles

Thanks for looking and I hope you get to play along with the challenge! Everyone is welcome to join in!

Off the Wagon

Ok, so you caught me, you insightful girls! I was holding out on you. **sigh** I thought I could distract you with the Obama Sushi.

I will admit it; I was naughty. The craft show pulled me in. The paper...it was calling out to me. I could not help myself; I fell off the wagon. What makes it worse is that the paper here is really expensive! Maybe I have been out of the US for too long, but the majority of it was $1.50 a sheet. Of course, being that I have a sixth sense for paper on sale, I found a vendor who had BasicGrey for 50 cents a sheet.

Funny story on the sale paper, it was advertised at 10 sheets for 580 yen. Of course, not being able to read the sign, I did not realize you had to buy in increments of 10 sheets. So, the lady checking me out told me I had to either put 2 pieces away...or get 8 more. Heh. Seriously?! One guess on the option I chose!

Kuretake is just one of the many vendors who had papercraft stuff. The paper went all the way around, as if to torment me.

Besides a stack of paper, this is what I came home with.

Do you like my make and take?! It was so much fun! A friend and I made it in a class of all Japanese ladies. The instructors were so nice! They actually had a lady who could translate, but in reality we all speak the same language when it comes to scrapbooking!

More to come...

Tokyo Craft and Hobby Show

All I have to say is WOW. 3 days and I could have used another!

The show is encompassing of several crafts, from cooking to welding to sewing, it was there...with a make and take! Some of our favorite vendors were represented, as well as some new ones to me!

Here is a peek at the show:

The cooking section had numerous booths, the most represented was sushi making classes. This was my favorite display...Obama Sushi Rolls! Now that is talent!



The Welding booth...can you image welding make and takes?! Seriously, this would not happen in the US without signing your life away in waivers! (They also had band saw make and takes!)

The Japanese love making artificial food art. Here is a sample of artificial food made out of wool! It looks real, but only moths would enjoy it!

These dogs are made completely out of paper!

This is only a fraction of the ribbon that was in one booth alone...isn't it lovely?

And finally, as if the Mother Ship were calling me home...there was an area just for BLING:

I have concluded that I do not have a problem with my bling addiction, as I have yet to sparkle up my children's toys! Seriously, that is a mini-motorcycle for a child. I know...it is fabulous, isn't it?! :)

Happy Mother's Day!

I know it is early...please, do not fall off your seat! Yes, I realize I am the same person who sent out my St. Patrick's Day cards in late (...very late) April, but I have good reason to post early.

I am getting a weekend away. No kids. No husband. No cooking. No cleaning.

Can it get better? Oh yes, my dear friends, it can.

I am going to the Japan Hobby and Craft Show which is sponsored in part by CHA! And I am going with a bunch of enablers!

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that in Tokyo they have Outback. And TGI Fridays. And I am sure much more of what I miss from home. *sigh* And I get to actually see, touch, and BUY craft goodies all weekend!

So, I leave you not only with my wishes for the Mom's out there to have a Happy Mother's Day, but a card I made my MIL for the big day. And yes, this was actually sent out last week with a little somethin' somethin' from us. (My MIL reads my blog and she is a snoop when it comes to presents!! LOL)

Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful (SU)

Paper: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi DSP

Ink: Nick Bantock Lamp Black (Ranger), Copics (R59, R46, R43, E47, YG67, YG63, Y11)

Accessories: Dryer sheet, Xyron adhesive, Dazzling Diamonds, Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon, Half-backed Pearls

Sympathy

Thanks for all the comments on my son's projects in the post below! You should have seen his face reading them...it was adorable! You girls are the best!

As promised, here is something made by a person who is over 10. :)



I found myself in need of some sympathy cards recently. I don't keep any on hand, which is silly really. I mean, these cards are always needed on a moment's notice, aren't they?

I wanted something simple but elegant, so I pulled out my acetate sheets and some sheer ribbon. What do you think?

Stamps: Close as a Memory (SU)
Paper: Confetti Cream, Perfect Plum, Close to Cocoa, Acetate
Ink: SU Markers to stamp in Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa for sentiment
Accessories: SU sheer ribbon

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! Thanks for dropping by!

Stink Eye

My son comes home with a lot of "crafty" homework assignments. Make a poster for this, make a diorama for that. Heaven for me, probably not as fun for him! Most recently, we had a photography elective for Cub Scouts. The kids had to make a display for a picture, as well as a gift for friend using pictures they took at the meeting.

Being that my son is computer savvy (ok, he is but really his penmanship stinks!) we often use my Cricut to title and embellish his projects! I let him run the letters through the Zyron and he adheres them himself..obviously because often they are crooked! LOL So, as you can expect, his projects always looks spiffy in their own 9 year old boy way! (Let's not even mention how just using a 12" straight cutter can make a world of difference compared to scissors!)

The disadvantage to this bonding is that I often get the raised eyebrow, stink eye, and question as to if he "really" did the project. You know the feeling, don't you? Alas, so many of my friends are not crafters and don't realize with just a few tools (and an open wallet!) you, too, can make your 9 year old appear to be a good cutter!

To make a long story short, he is really happy with how his projects came out and asked me if I would post them on my blog. :) Here they are:

This project filled the gift component of the requirement, as we gave it to his best buddy, who is pictured. We just cut the picture to a 4 x 4, mounted it and it was done! Paper is SU (thanks Gale, the green is from the pack you sent me!).

This is a picture of his pack. He had fun with the corner punch! He opted to keep this one and it is up in his room. All supplies SU.

Thanks for looking! I will post one of my projects this weekend. :)