Vote for Me an' I'll Set Ya Free!

Not really ... I'm jess feelin' the Election Day vibe. Don't even tell me you didn't vote today ...

So, yuppers, it's me ... I'm back ... for today, anyway ... with another paper bag album to show y'all. This is what I do with myself these days:

This ^ is the cover ... duh:


This ^ spread is pages two and three;


This ^ spread is pages four and five;


This ^ spread is pages six and seven:


This ^ spread is pages eight and nine; and,


This ^ spread is pages ten and eleven.

This album is currently up for bid on eBay. There's also more (larger and not-so-distorted), photos on my listing ... if you'd care to check it out, you can clicky HERE ... and a new window will open ... not an old window; a new window.

Since I decided to actually make some money rather than just spend it, I've been horrible about card making ... and bloggin'. I have every intention of returning to full-time blogging and card making when I begin to enjoy the effects of my micro-economic recovery plan, or "M-ERP" for short. Provided that actually happens ...

But I want you to know I miss ALL of you horribly ... and I miss spending hours and hours visiting your blogs and seeing all of your amazin' paper creations. Let's face it: you guys rock!

In other news, Sheila asked me to go with her to a funeral parlor and look at urns.

"Yucko," I answered, "Why?"

"Well, the DH and I want to have all this stuff resolved now so that the kids won't have to worry about it later on down the road," she responded.

So, off we go to Palms West Funeral Home ... to pick out funeral urns. Big fun ... and totally my idea of the perfect day!

"Well, which one do you like?" Sheila asked.

"Ummm ..." I stammered.

"How 'bout this one?"

"Ummmm ..."

"You're no help," she sputtered.

"Ummmmmm ..."

"Never mind," she said, "I'll take the blue one. You know I always look good in blue."

Seriously. No, REALLY. Cross my heart and hope to ... ummmmm ...

~Hugs,

Is Not Bloggin' the New Black?!?

Hey, there you are! I hope you're enjoying "Sylvia Plath Day." I know I am ... and I plan on stickin' my head in the oven just as soon as I finish this post! Seriously ...

ONward H-C-Ms:

So, once again I'm posting a paper bag album I have listed on eBay. If you'd like to see the listing, for more pix of this project ... or my kewl auction template, click HERE.

Okay, so obviously, that ^ is the cover ...


And this ^ spread is pages 2 and 3 ...


^ Pages 4 and 5 ...


^Pages 6 and 7 ...


^ Pages 8 and 9, and ...


^ And, finally, pages 10 and 11.

Being that the holidays are upon us, I have hundreds of cards to create ... not to mention gifts and paper bag albums. A girl's gotta have $$ for the holidays, right?!?

Ummm, none of which is going to leave me a lot of time for bloggin'. Sooooo, unfortunately, I'll be posting infrequently at best for awhile. But I see I'm not alone here ... many of you have either emailed me, commented, or posted on your own blogs that, for at least the time being, bloggin' has to take a backseat to other obligations. And no one has to tell me how much time photographing, editing, uploading, posting, and return-comment-blurfin' takes! WoWzA, who knew?!?

Which raises the question: is NOT bloggin' the new craftin' trend?!?

Okay, for all you Sheila-junkies, here's a true ditty:

I stopped by Sheila's this weekend for a sec ... and basically watched her run up and down stairs, out to the garage, and back and forth to her laundry room.

"Is this a bad time, Kiddo?" I asked.

"Oh, no, just hang for a few minutes while I run this load of laundry upstairs."

About halfway up the stairs, her phone rang.

So, here comes Sheila runnin' back down the stairs to answer the phone.

The man on the other end of phone said to her, "Hi, Mrs. L.; we're calling people in your area today and would like to know if you would help us by participating in a brief survey."

Without missing a beat, she told them, "Sorry. I'm BUSY, survey your own briefs!"

Seriously ... outta the mouths of blondes! I'm definitely gonna be using that one too ...

~Hugs,

Something New, Part Two ...

Hey! Is it just me, but have you noticed that poetry is my strong suit? Nah, me neither ...


So happy Monday all and one! Did you know? Today is "National Brandied Fruit Day" ... kinda like a liquid fruit-cake ... with a built-in buzz. Ipso facto, MUCH better than a fruit-cake!

Since I don't have a card project to show you, I thought I'd show you this paper bag album I created. This ^ is, obviously, the cover ...


This ^ spread is pages 2 and 3 ...

This ^ spread is pages 4 and 5 ...



This ^ spread is pages 6 and 7 ...



This ^ spread is pages 8 and 9, and ...



This ^ spread is pages 10 and 11.

There's lots more to see (like the back cover and the album inserts), of this album on eBay. If you'd like to take a look, clicky HERE. And if you'd like to bid on it, I promise not to try to stop you!

I have out-of-state house guests this week, so I'm not sure how much creatin' or postin' I'll be getting to, but I'll do my best, okeedokee?!? Plus I promised on my eBay listing that I'd reveal the super-secret-surprise "treat" contents of the three paper bag album pockets on my blog. 'Course, NOT doing so could constitute the "trick" part of "trick or treat," but ...

Soooooooooo, this weekend the DH and I drove up to St. Lucie County to visit some friends we haven't seen in for-evuh.

As we were about to leave Palm Beach County, we saw a large sign that read, "LAST CHANCE FOR $3.25 GAS!!"

We still had more than a quarter of a tank left, but figured we'd take advantage of this opportunity to fill-up the tank.

As the DH was getting his change from the attendant, he asked, "So, how much IS gas in St. Lucie County?"

The attendant replied, "$3.10 ..."

Seriously.

~Hugs,

And Now, Something Different for Your Viewing {DiS}Pleasure:

Hey, there you are! And best wishes for a glorious "National Peanut Day!" Now, I could say, "is that a peanut, or are you just glad to see me," but I've decided to take the high road today. Just don't get used to it ...

ONward H-C-M's:

So today, just to shake things up, I thought I'd share something different with you. Before I started bloggin', I used to create these vintage-inspired paper bag albums on a pretty regular basis. Once made, I'd fill 'em with vintage ephemera and list them on eBay. And, apparently, I still do as this album is listed on eBay, too! If you'd like to see it on eBay, click HERE. Or, you can stay right here and see most of it!

As always, you can clicky on the photos to see a larger image.



This spread ^ is pages two and three of the album;

This spread ^ is pages four and five;



This spread ^ is pages six and seven;


This spread ^ is pages eight and nine;



And this spread ^ is pages ten and eleven!

Soooooooo, this past Saturday Sheila asked me to help her take her litter of golden-retriever puppies to the veterinary clinic for inoculations and worming.

As the look-alike pups squirmed over and under one another in their box, I wondered how the vet would be able to tell the treated pups from the rest. As soon as the Doctor turned on the water faucet and wet his fingers, I knew that he intended to moisten each pup's head when he had finished.

After the last pup was treated, Sheila leaned towards me and whispered, "Gosh, I never realized they had to be baptized!"

Seriously.

Hey, anyone want an adorable golden-retriever puppy? They've got all their shots, are wormed, and baptised!

~Hugs,


PS: Only a few hours ... alright, I lied, more than a few hours ... left to vote for your favorite card on Y.ou K.now Y.ou R.ock's "Background Muzak" challenge. G'on over and show some love to some of our fellow stampers ... you'll be glad you *did!

*I think.

Have a Nice Trip? See Ya Next Fall ...

This card is my very first Fall card making project and was created for absolutely no reason other than the fact that I wanted to ink up this humongous rocker stamp from Art Gone Wild.

I stamped my image on Stamper's Select card stock, then colored it with Prismacolor pencils, blending with Gamsol. I added a teensy-tiny bit of yellow Stickles glue onto some of the leaves, then mounted the image on card stock that had been run through the Cuttlebug in the "Distressed Stripes" A2 embossing folder.

I used a Heidi Swapp distressing tool to rough up the edges of the embossed card stock, then mounted three metal leaf brads on a strip of the same card stock and adhered it to the left-hand side of the card.

Finally, I added some grosgrain ribbon to the right-hand side of the card, allowing it to hang off the edge ... 'cuz I'm wild and crazy ... and then adhered my matted focal image.

So, please allow me to be the first person to wish you a happy "More Herbs, Less Salt Day." It's funny, but I recall having a similar conversation with my Dad when I was in high school ... and then I was grounded for four years.

~cHEeRS,

• Card Stock: Bazzill Basic; Papertrey Ink
• Stamp: "Fall Frame" Rocker by Art Gone Wild (I cut off the frame part)
• Ink: Staz-On "Timber Brown" by Tsukineko
• Color Medium: Prismacolor "Premier" Pencils by Sanford
• Accessories: Leaf Brads, HOTP; Grosgrain Ribbon; Stickles Glue by Ranger
• Tools: Cuttlebug Die-Cut Machine; "Distressed Stripes" Embossing Folder by Provo Craft; Heidi Swapp Distressing Tool

PS: I seem to be in some kind of weird stamp-purgin' mode 'cuz I can't stop listing 'em for sale in my eBay store. I've also listed a kewl Stampers Anonymous catalog and a rare Zettiology catalog. And magazine back issues, including Stamp It!, and Somerset Studio. Check 'em out and see if you can find a treasure ... the price is right, that's for sure! And if you don't find something you LURVE today, there's always tomorrow! And I haven't even started on the unmounteds!

O, Joy. A Joyful Card Opening Technique ...

Does anyone have any idea why this card is called a "Joy Fold" card? I mean, it was fun and all, but fell w-a-y short of being a "joy." Successfully completed childbirth is a "joy." This was more like a "not unpleasant" card fold ...

You can find the joyous directions for this card on Splitcoast Stampers. Click HERE for all the joyful deets.

The top photo shows a full frontal; oh, joy!

This ^ is the partially-open-joyful-view.

There are a variety of different ways you can create the closure for this joyful card; I used BasicGrey magnetic closure snaps. The round silver object you see on the left is one piece of the said magnetic snap closure set.

TIP: To easily match up your magnetic snaps, attach one to your card stock in the desired position. Attach the second magnet to the first, and mark the back of the second magnet with chalk or a charcoal pencil, then close. The chalk or charcoal will leave a faint mark on the exact position where the second magnet should be adhered.

FUN FACT: Snappin' this card closed IS a joy! The fun is only achieved by using magnetic snaps, though ...



Joyous semi-interior view ^.




Joyous full interior view ^. The round silver disc you see on the right is the other piece of the magnetic snap closure set.

I created my "Joy Fold" card using "Blue Bayou" card stock from Stampin' Up!; the DP is from Daisy D.

My sentiment was stamped with Brilliance ink and cut with a die from Spellbinder's "Ribbon Tags" collection, then threaded with grosgrain ribbon and mounted on dimensionals.

Oh Joy.

Hey, quick question: Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Isn't it just stale bread to begin with? Food for thought ...

Anyway ... thanks so much for spending part of your busy day with me!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: "Blue Bayou" by Stampin' Up!
• Designer Paper: Daisy D's Paper Company
• Stamp: "Simple Little Things" by Papertrey Ink
• Ink: "Graphite Black" Brilliance by Tsukineko
• Accessories: Magnetic Closure Snaps by BasicGrey; Grosgrain Ribbon; Derwent Charcoal Pencil
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Ribbon Tag Die by Spellbinder's; Scrap Fusion PA; Black Dimensionals
  

PS: I've added more stamps, stamping magazines, and kewl stamp catalogs to my eBay store inventory. Most auctions are starting at just .99 with low shipping; click HERE to go to my store and see if you can find a treasure or three. Now THIS is joy!

You Can Tuna Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish ...

Today's musically-inclined card project was created for the Caardvark's "Name that Tuna" blog challenge. Obviously, the theme is "music" ... I only mention that in case you're lookin' for the fish.

My background paper is a page from a vintage sheet music book, "Lemoine Etudes Enfantines." I don't know the year that this was published, but the price on the book when new was .60, so I'll take a guess and say ... 1938. Anyone else want to venture a guess?

Onward-Hoarding-Card-Makers:

Using the DTP technique, I inked up a large scrap of white card stock with Distress ink, then stamped my sentiment using Brilliance ink. I cut the sentiment apart, mounted 'em on card stock, and adhered them to my card.

I stamped the sheet music stamp using the same ink then slipped it into a metal-edged tag. I mounted the tag on a scrap of black card stock, glued down my 'piano,' then glued down the whole shebang over grosgrain ribbon.

Finally, I added some Daisy D's metal photo corners, clipped the shanks off the cute little "note" buttons, and glued 'em down on opposing corners. Finis!

I have the funniest story to share with you:

Last night, my friend Sheila asked me to run down to Big Lots with her.

As she was checking out, it so happened that the box of Tampax she wanted had no price. I cringed when the cashier got on the intercom and announced, "Price check on register five. Tampax; Supersize."

Now that was bad enough, but the guy looking for the price apparently mistook "Tampax" for "thumbtacks." 'Cuz, in a serious tone, his voice boomed back over the intercom, "Do you want the kind you push in with your thumb or the kind you pound in with a hammer?"

Seriously.

Hugs,

• Card Stock: Bazzill Basics; Papertrey Ink
• Stamps: Sentiment by Stampers Anonymous; Sheet Music by Stampington
• Ink: "Old Paper" Distress Ink by Ranger; Brilliance "Graphite Black" by Tsukineko
• Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon, Unknown; Musical Note and Piano Buttons, Unknown; Metal Photo Corners by Daisy D's
• Tools: Tag Maker by Making Memories; Dimensionals; Glue Dots; Scrap Fusion PA; The Ultimate by Api
  

Take Time to Enjoy Your Day, 'Cuz No One Can Do it for You ...

Hey, today is National Cherry Popsicle Day ... wanna know how cool this is ?!? Frozen!

I kill me ...

Hey, paper hoarders, today's card project was created just for the heck of it using DP from Making Memories, and a large chipboard button.

I covered the aforesaid large chipboard button with turquoise card stock, stamped a swirly border, tied on some natural jute twine embellished with wooden beads, and adhered the whole shebang to my card base.

I stamped my sentiment on a scrap of DP, cut it out using a small oval die, sponged on fluid chalk ink, then mounted it to the card base using a metal hinge. For fun, you can stamp a secret message or fun image under there ... or add a sticker, a charm, or whatever! I'd show you what I put under there, but it's a secret ...

Finally, I die cut a turquoise star using a Cuttlebug die, and finis!

Thanks so much for swingin' by! And be sure to recycle your cherry Popsicle stick for a future project. Then go stick out your tongue in front of a mirror ... kewl!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Cut Card Stock; DCWV
• Designer Paper: Making Memories
• Stamps: Sentiment by Cornish Heritage Farms; Swirls by Hero Arts
• Ink: Staz-On by Tsukineko; Colorbox by Clearsnap
• Accessories: Chipboard Button; Natural Jute Twine; Wooden Beads; Metal Hinge; Brads
• Tools: Die Cut Machine; Cuttlebug Star Die; Black Dimensionals; Scrap Fusion PA

A (Windy and Rainy) Week in My Life ...

Happy "Kiss and Make-Up" day! Prolly would be best to kiss before applying the make-up but, whatever ...

Today's card project was created for no good reason ... except that I really wanted to use this new paper collection.

I created this card using a die-cut and designer paper from Cosmo Cricket's "Get Happy" collection. And, woWza, what a bright and colorful collection it is! In fact, this collection pushes me right to the edge of my "bright and colorful" limit.

I stamped my stars on matching DP with Distress ink, added some photo turns with brads, and six silver stars. Thanks, Mel, you're a star!

I stamped my itty-bitty sentiment on a scrap of "Get Happy" paper and created a small metal-edge tag using my Tag Maker.

Finally, I cut a length of ball chain, looped it, and attached it to my card front with super-strong adhesive.

Easy-peasy and ready to serve in just 15 Minutes!

Thanks for dropping by; I hope you have a great day. Go ahead, kiss and apply make-up to someone you love today!

~Hugs (and Kisses),

• Card Stock: Bazzill
• Designer Paper and Die Cut: "Get Happy" Collection from Cosmo Cricket
• Stamps: Stampin' Up!
• Ink: " Faded Jeans" Distress Ink from Ranger Industries
• Accessories: Silver Photo Turns; Brads; Silver Stars; Ball Chain;
• Tools: Tag Maker by Making Memories; "The Ultimate" Glue; Scrap Fusion PA

PS: In response to a couple of emails I recently received; yes, all my cards are available for purchase, including this one. Please contact me for prices and availability, okeedokee?!? Thanks!

Fly Away, L'il Swallow or Bird of Paradise: That's an Ostrich Egg!

Just kiddin' ... and allow me to be the first to wish you a v-e-r-y happy Cartoon Day! Lemme know what cartoon's ya'll are watching, okeedokee? I'm lookin' to widen my horizons ...

Hey, did you know that today is also "National Sponge Cake Day?" Seriously. I don't make this stuff up. In honor of the day, I'll be heading out to PublixWhereShoppingIsAPleasure for some fresh-baked sponge cake. Even if you don't enjoy this yummy treat for dessert, it's lots o'fun to play with. Just don't use it to clean your counters ... I learned that the hard way!

ONward, Hoarding Card Makers! Today's card was created using DP from BasicGrey's "Periphery" collection, a couple of my favorite old stamps, and some grosgrain ribbon. Easy-peasy-sponge-cake-squeezy!

I stamped the mesh image on Vintage Cream card stock using "Peeled Paint" Distress ink, and stamped the egg images (they're doubled-up for dimension), using "Faded Jeans" Distress ink.

I layered some patterned paper, tied on some ribbons, punched out some photo corners, added a frame hanger, and ... finis!

Thanks so much for stopping by; enjoy your weekend ... and your sponge cake!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Papertrey Ink
• Designer Paper: "Periphery" Collection, BasicGrey
• Stamps: "Mesh" by Stampers Anonymous; "Egg" by Oxford Impressions
• Ink: Distress Inks by Ranger; Colorbox Fluid Ink by Clearsnap
• Accessories: Gold Frame Hanger; Brad; Grosgrain Ribbon;
• Tools: Die Cut Machine; Nestabilities Dies; Brad; Scrap Fusion PA by Ivy Scraps; Dimensional Foamies by Scotch; Photo Corner Punch by Stampin' Up!

A "Tag,You're It" Guest Designer Gig

Hey, stampers, it's "Be an Angel Day!" Today's the day to be up in the air and always harping about something. Now go buy yourself some heavenly new stamps.

Onward. I can't tell you how excited I was when the loverly Anne and Sam invited me to be this week's guest designer for the "Tag You're It" challenge! Well, I could tell you how excited I was, but my post's are already too long ... and boring ... and I am tryin' to be a Angel today, so I won't go into all the that.

For my stint as Guest Designer, I chose "Punch Art" for my theme. But you prolly guessed that already, didn't you Miss Smarty Pants ...

Using daisy punches, I created three marigold-ish-like flowers, created stamens using a sun punch, then created leaves using an oak leaf punch. I mounted the flowers on my heavily distressed shipping tag using super-duper-icky-sticky glue.

Here's a close-up for those of you who are hearing impaired:


I stamped my sentiment on Bazzill card stock and mounted it on my tag using dimensionals. Finally, I tied on lots of funky fibers in fall colors ... say that five times fast!

Making these punch art flowers is so much fun and so easy ... no, really! I wouldn't lie to you, don't forget, I'm an Angel ... today, anyway!

Oh. Today, my niece called and told me she is putting together a CD of 70's rock groups for her BFF. She asked me if I could help and name a couple of them.

"Yes!" I said.
"Who?" she asked.
"There you go," I answered.

~Hugs!

• Card Stock: Bazzill
• Stamp: Papertrey Ink
• Ink: Staz-On by Tsukineko, Fluid Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
• Accessories: Fibers, Personal Collection, Various Manufacturers
• Tools: Die Cut Machine; Large Classic Oval Die by Spellbinder's; Daisy Punch by McGill, Small Daisy Punch, Unknown, Sun Punch by Cuttin' Edge, Leaf Punch, Unknown; Stylus' by Fiskars; The Ultimate Craft Glue by Api; Black Dimensionals, Unknown
  

Don't Forget to Wipe Your Feet ... A "Tag, You're It" Challenge Entry

Happy National Radio Day, boys and girls!

My photos are not the best and I apologize. My excuse is the crummy weather we here in So Florida are currently 'enjoying.' Between tornado, flood, tropical storm, monsoon, and hurricane warnings, it's either the lack of natural light or the lack of electricity that's to blame for my yucky photographs. Sorry 'bout that, kids!

Today's project was created for Anne and Sam's "Tag, You're It" blog challenge. This week's theme is Christmas ... I know you didn't see that comin'!

I covered my chipboard tag with DP from Cosmo Cricket's "Wanted" collection, then sponged the edges with fluid chalk ink. Next, I created a wreath using card stock and a pine bough paper punch. I added some ribbon and some "holly berries" to the wreath, and used a copper brad to create my "door knob."

I stamped my sentiment on red card stock and cut it out using a scallop-edge rectangular die. I created a hinge from matching card stock to attach my "door mat" to my "door."

Easy-peasy and ready to serve in just ..... ohhhhh, let's say, 30 minutes!

One quick, cute, topical joke to share:

At the Olympic Games, a girl bumps into a man carrying an eight-foot-long metal stick.
"Excuse me," says the girl to the man, "Are you a pole vaulter?"
"No," says the man, "I'm German, but how did you know my name is Walter?"

Hey, thanks for dropping by today!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: DCWV; Bazzill
• Chipboard Tag
• Designer Paper: Cosmo Cricket, "Wanted" Collection
• Stamp: Papertrey Ink
• Ink: Brilliance by Tsukineko; Colorbox Fluid Chalk
• Accessories: Antique Copper Brad; 1/8" Satin Ribbon
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilities Die; Pine Bough Punch; Mini-Hole Punch; "The Ultimate" Glue; Mini-Glue Dots

Life Delights in Life; I Delight in Chocolate ...

Today's card project was created using beeee-you-tea-full card stock from Stampin' Up! that Mel-a-Licious sent me ... ummm, and the hardware too! Isn't Mel delicious!?!

I stamped my images on Vintage Cream card stock with dark brown fluid chalk ink, then heat embossed with clear powder. The focal image was die cut and matted on a scallop edge mat. I used the uber-kewl "Threading Water" border punch to create a l'il mat for my chocolate brown ribbon, then tied on a silver heart charm. My CTMH sentiment, available HERE, was framed in Stampin' Up hardware.

And that's it! Can you believe that I managed to create a post in less than five paragraphs?!? That's becuz today is "Potato Day" and I'm doin' some very intricate potato-stampin' ... tuber continued!

~Hugs,

• Card Stock: Bazzill Basic; Papertrey Ink; Stampin' Up!
• Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up!
• Stamps: PSX; Close to My Heart
• Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink; Versamark
• Other: Clear Embossing Powder
• Accessories: Metal Frame Holder; Brads; Jump Rings; Heart Charm; Grosgrain Ribbon
• Tools: Die-Cut Machine; Nestabilities Dies; Heat Gun; Border Punch by Fiskars]
  

PS: Due to the current weather conditions here in So Florida, I will likely lose power ... and my Internet connection. The only real question is when and for how long!

I have several blog posts pre-scheduled for this week, but if you email me with a question, or leave me a comment and don't hear back from me, that will be the reason why. I'll respond to all comments and questions just as soon as possible. Thanks!