Saturday, November 19, 2016

Giving Thanks - A Card for Auntie Rachel and #dailymarker30day

Thursday Morning Before Work:  Bright and Early Project! I colored the background

Saturday - Worked to get the card done

Pens, Ink, Washi Supplies

Final Card: Giving Thanks for You
As mentioned before, I am following Kathy's #dailymarker30day challenge.

The first photo is from coloring the Hero Arts background stamp on day #17 of the challenge, with Thanksgiving in mind. 

And, today, day 19, I finished the card. The background morphed quite a bit, eh?

I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink to turn it brown.

This card is actually getting sent to my Aunt Rachel.  She sent a beautiful box of my Grandma Marina's treasure to me: a knit sweater that my Grandma made (it fits beautifully), one of my Grandma's crocheted doilies, another recipe of my Grandmothers (to add to my collection), and a lovely letter from my Aunt on how all of these things made their way to me.

What a treasure.  My Grandmother died earlier this year, in January, at the well lived aged of 104.  She was one amazing woman.  I traveled to California  and was able to see a lot of my Campos relatives, including my mother Grace.  The time and celebration spent with everyone will be treasured for many, many years.  We celebrated in Monterey, right on the ocean.  And we did a lot of story telling, many while drinking martini's in my little cottage room. 

Anyway, here are the supplies used for getting this card done!
Ranger Archival Ink - Potting Soil (used for stamped images)
A variety of Copic pens
Micron .03
Precision Pen .05
Doodlebug Designs 'Fall Flurry' Washi Tape
Hero Arts CG679 Graphic Leaves Background Stamp (Found out this was part of a Basic Grey collaborative - there used to be matching patterned papers!)
Paper Smooches Fall Sampler stamps: Leaf, and sentiment
Simon Says Stamp Giving Thanks Steel Craft Die
Bo Bunny Farmers Market journal card (behind the Giving Thanks die image)








Sunday, November 13, 2016

Well Spent Craft Time: Hero Arts Scramble & Kathy's 30 Day Color Challenge

Oh glorious craft time.  I have been stalking Kathy's 30 Day Color Challenge and finally decided to give it a try. I do not color well. When 'stamping' started entering the whole Copic marker blending thing, and water color thing, and then the lettering thing - I was left it the dust.   

But I do appreciate all the beautiful work others do!

So.. while I was searching for inspiration, I remembered my friends at the Hero Arts Flickr site, and paid them a visit.  And low and behold, I landed on a 24 hour scramble!  Ta Da!

There's nothing like a challenge to get me motivated.

Here are the challenges:
Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge
Hero Arts Scramble #144


Here are my photos and steps:

I started by stamping a few images with different color Stazon Inks


I worked on one of the Hero Arts 657780  images. My colored image is on the left, the stamp is in the middle and the die to cut it out with is on the right.  My pens are shown below them.

Close up of my image.  I wasn't worried about going out of the lines because of the die.  See?  I don't color!
My image added to a card I put together. Yes.  Brown. Just felt right.
A little side view to capture the depth, the use of Versmark for the snowflakes, and the glitter tree
I will not tell you how long this took me.  First, I found a good number of my inks and pens were dried out, and I had to dig deep through my supplies - including dusting off ink pads!  Oh. and the stamp/die set?  First time I have used it since buying it - in 2014?  Ha.

  But, since crafting counts as therapy, it was time well spent!

Supply List:
Hero Arts Stamp & Die Cut 657780 (Stamps: reindeer, tree, snowflake; reindeer die)
SU Heat and Stick Powder (so the glitter would stick)
SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter
Card Stock
Versamark
SU Craft White Ink
Stazon Black
Micron .03
Copics Y21, E33, 0
Uniball White Pigment Ink pen
Sharpie - Extra fine point - Red
Glossy Accents
A sequin star

And that is that!

Super Moon Set - And Thoughts.

For some reason I popped out of bed around 4:30 am, went to start my dishes and coffee routine,  and while standing in front of the kitchen window, I saw the moon. There it was.  Just getting ready to set. I wish I could of captured the sight I saw in that perfect moment.  Right above the mountains, but here is what I was able to get.  I grabbed my camera and caught these few shots before it went to bed.  I felt lucky to start my day this way.  You can click on the photos to make them bigger.  I think my lense was fogging up from going from the nice warm house out into the 32 degree cold.






Thoughts on this week: 
The low lights: 
First there was the time change - which really messed me up - even though I am a morning person.  The only thing I can figure is I have this habit of waking around 2 or 3 am, and usually I go back to bed, and wake at 5.  This week? I just stayed up. I was off. Then the election results which truly were a shock.  Like an unexpected death.  This was followed by ugly words of others on social media, protests, fear and violence.  Then? The death of Leonard Cohen and his song Hallelujah played over and over, with the best (and very emotional) version being sung last night on Saturday Night Live (btw the Shrek version plays on repeat in my head).  

It didn't end there.  On Friday morning I contacted a local dealership via their website, even 'chatted' with someone about a car I wanted to test drive.  I never heard a word via the phone or email.  I am guessing I spoke with an autobot of some sort. But crap!  I filled out an inquiry sheet with all my info and sent it!  I feel like I am selling myself my own car with the effort I am taking versus the effort the salesmen are taking.  There are three cars that I 'see' between two dealerships.  Are they making the effort?  Hell no. This really pisses me off. I mean, the cars are in the 20 to 30 thousand range. Come on, put some work into this!  I feel like I just need to show up, ask for the keys, drive the car, and collect the commission myself.

And then.... I tried calling my mother, my birth mother, yesterday.  I called at a decent hour. Ten am.  Her birthday is Monday.  I sent two gifts to her, and I wanted to give her a heads up they were on their way, and personally wish her a happy birthday.  I left a message with her roommate.  I never heard back from her.  I am hoping it's because he forgot.  Not that she is blowing me off. This is that back and forth thing we do.  Its frustrating.  Its heart breaking (what she is enduring in this stage of her cancer).  I try to let it go. I try to be understanding and forgiving.  I do try.

And.... then?  My landlord texted last night.  Nice head's up, eh? Well, 4:30 pm.  He said he was coming over today, Sunday, at 8 am or 9 am to work on the eaves.  First.  Why the eaves?  Why not the electrical issue I reported months ago?  Or the roof that has about 10 or so missing shingles?  No Shit. Eaves.  He is coming today, on Sunday. My 'stay at home' in my jammies day.  Not any of my workdays, Monday through Friday when I am gone 12 hours of the day.  Pisses me off.  Only because I am very protective of my personal time. It's 8:30 am right now.  I am doing my own little protest.  I am still in my jammies and refuse to accommodate the poor planning of others.  

So that was the majority of the Super Moon shift. 

Now for the highlights:
My daughter sent a 'GUESS WHAT' text during the week.  It appears she has more scholarship money than she thought, and her expenses have been reduced dramatically.
Hallelujah. 
Friday was a beautiful, warm, sunny, magnificent day.  I stayed home and worked in the yard.  Hallelujah. 
Saturday?  A little more sunshine and beauty.  A little more yard work and a whole lot of craft time and book time (A Man Called Ove).
Hallelujah.
This morning?  A very sweet love note from my man.  Very sweet!
Hallelujah.
And, an 'I love you' from my son on his way out the door at 7am.
Hallelujah.
And of course, that beautiful moon.  Just sitting there.  On top of the mountain ridge.  Before setting.
Hallelujah.

Sigh... Peace.  Peace to us all.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

PS November Challange - Give Thanks 11-6-2016

November Challenge


Click Here to Visit Paper Smooches 

My Card (Click on Photo to Super Size!)

Today was 'set your clocks back' day.  Not my favorite.  I am a morning person whose internal clock goes off around 5 am, so this morning I was ready to make breakfast at 6am for Jake, yet  had to wait one.more.hour for the new 6am.  He has to leave here at 7am for the ranch, so yes, I still make breakfast for my 17 year old son, and it is on the clock.  Tick.Tock.

However, it's been a great day to get things done.  Like play in the Paper Smooches November Challenge 'Giving Thanks'.  It's been a while, right?  I 'stalk' all sorts of blogs and feeds, but sitting down to play?  Rare. 

So!  Here is what I used and did:

Supplies Used:
Die: Paper Smooches Seasonal Tree (I used the negative for the tree base, backed it with pp and die cut leaves from pp)
Stamp: 'so thankful from the Paper Smooches Fall Sampler
Ink:  SU Craft White
Uniball White Pen - used for faux stitching around card and 'leaf' falling trails
pp:   Doodlebug Designs

Thanks for visiting!

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