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Friday, February 27, 2009

Mini Books Scare Me

I have had absolutely NO creative energy this week - so on the TWO days that I had off I didn't get much done at all. I finally tried to muster up some sort of creative something - and it resulted in the start of a 'scarry' project. You see, I am somehow afraid of mini books - I LOVE them - and love looking at what OTHER people - like my friends Lori and Gloria produce with mini books - but somehow, I miss something in the process. BUT I attempted yesterday - as I 'promised' to share what I had discovered with the Storybook cartridge from Cricut. What FUN. So here is the start of my mini book:

I used this chartreuse cardstock that I got in my TNT kit - and it was SUCH an ugly color that it needed help. So, I distressed the edges with a combination of distress inks. I also got the blue cardstock in my kit, so used that for cutting out the letters. Everything was cut on the Cricut, the shape from the Storybook cartridge and the letters from Don Juan. I ran it through my Xyron and put it all together on chipboard. When I get it all done, I will run it through my Bind-It-All - so stayed tuned for the finished project.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

What a 'Story'!!

So, today I had many things to do - so I knew I would probably not get a chance to create - but I had on my agenda to pick up some things that would make creating more fun. So, around 11:00 this morning I headed out. I went by work first to drop off something for my co-worker - then headed over to Poway. I first stopped at a scrapbook store (not even worth mentioning as I do not like the store) - but they had college papers from my alma mater - the only store in the area to carry anything, so I made myself go. Well, there was a Joann Fabric right next door - so I decided to pop in there and see if they had a Cricut cartridge I was looking for - especially since they had them at $38 - not a bad price. Well, they didn't - so then over to Michael's thinking that if they had them, perhaps they would do a price match - no luck finding the one I wanted there. Then over to Walmart, they didn't have the one I wanted at that store either - they DO price matching, so off to Stamping Details. I just LOVE that store. The displays are so well put together and atop each one there is usually a display board advertising an upcoming class that you just HAVE to take - you know the kind!! Well, I didn't sign up for any classes - yet - mainly because I was only there to pick up the items I had ordered that had finally come in. The 'Love Language' CB set and a fiskars border punch - very cool - when I get something done with these two items, I will be sure and post a picture - but not today! When I was done at the stamp store, I decided to keep looking for the ever evasive cartridge - oh, did I tell you the name? STORYBOOK!! Well, by this time, I was on my way home, so I decided to go by the Joann's Fabric in Escondido - they didn't even carry ANY cartridges, then to the Walmart in San Marcos - are you beginning to see a pattern here? Joann's, Walmart, Joann's, Walmart!! Throw in a Michael's - you get the picture. So, 3 hours later, 3 Joann's, 3 Walmart's and a Michael's and I had my cartridge - in fact, I found it at the last Walmart I went to - NOT on my way home - I had to go a little beyond that AND, it was THE LAST ONE!! So, back home and playing with the cartridge and it is doing exactly what I had hoped! YEAH!! So, now to find some time to actually MAKE something with these die cuts - that will be Thursday!! So, check back and see what I come up with. Until then - enjoy a relaxing cup of your favorite hot beverage!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Card Making Yesterday, Work Today

I had fun yesterday creating cards. I finished up the two cards from the Distress Class I took on Wednesday. I shared one of them with you yesterday and here is the other one.

I am not as thrilled with the way this one turned out - but decided that I should finish it anyway. It needs SOMETHING - like some kind of metal embellishment hanging from ribbon, or something like that. The image was already stamped, and then I colored the background after and that turned out okay too - just okay though.

However, I had A LOT of fun creating these next cards. I am on the WishRak list over at Splitcoast Stampers and had asked for the Top Note die cut from Stampin' Up. Well, my 'wish' was granted and I got an envelope full of these. I had found a couple cards that used this die cut that I really liked, so I 'lifted' the idea and created these cards. In this first card I used 'tattered rose' to distress the edges of the die cut. Then I mounted it on Blush Blossom cs and cut around the edges to mirror the die cut. I mounted this on Wild Wasabi and then on the folded card (river rock). I had a spool of Wild Wasabi striped ribbon, so was able to coordinate.

I had the paper primas from some kit - not sure whether my TNT kit or my card kit from Memories From the Attic but I found they would work perfectly here. Then I took the idea from my friend Lori for coloring the clear crystals and used those as the center in my flowers.

The second card that I created with the Top Note die I just LOVE. There are so many elements to this card that make it fun. (In my opinion). I took Baja Breeze cs for my base, mounting black bazzill on top of that. Then I used a piece of ribbon I got at the $1 bin at Target - great find, but the quality of the ribbon isn't that great! The stitch lines in the ribbon matched the 'broken china' distress ink that I used on the edges of the die cut.

I coudn't decide if I wanted the flowers (from the SU Happy Harmony set) stamped in color or not. I decided to go with this color scheme off stamping to get shadow and depth. Then I sifted through my button box (used to be my great grandmothers - so some old stuff in there!!) and found a few white, and clear-ish buttons that I colored using alcohol inks - THAT was FUN!! Thanks Lori!!
This card I will hoard - until I make a copy of it - I love it.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Distress Class

Yesterday, my friend Lori and I took a 'Distress' class at a local stamp store. I had taken a collage class at this same store, and from the same instructor awhile back, so when the opportunity came up to do this class, Lori and I decided to take it together - which is SO much more fun than taking a class alone. Though we didn't feel we learned anything NEW in the class, we did enjoy the time spent taking it. We were able to finish a few tags and the elements for one of the cards. When I returned home, I finished up one of the cards and I simply LOVE this card.


In the past, I have not been much of a fan of this type of look, but I am quickly learning to love it and look forward to doing more of this type of art.

Here is one of the tags I did during class.

Large bold images like this really work well for this type of art. I did the background first with the distress inks - using a combination of 'tattered rose', 'aged mohagany', 'fired brick', 'dried marigold' and edging with 'pine needles'. I also roughed up the edges with a distressing tool - very cool little tool that I had never seen before let alone used. Once the BG was dry, I over-stamped with the bold image of the tree. I liked it instantly as it feels like a fiery red sunset sky with the tree 'silouetted' against it.





I chose 'broken china', 'faded jeans', 'weathered wood', and 'shabby shutters' for the background. The image is a collage stamp and it wasn't large enough to fill the size of the tag, so I ended up cutting off the tag hole. The image is useful for adding to a card, or even a scrapbook page.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

LONG Day - Long Weekend!!!

It has been a LONG day. Actually - It has been a long WEEKEND!! I have been working some LONG days and tomorrow will be another long day - which means that I won't get much chance to play - with paper OR digital. I do promise that I will get some projects up for you to take a peek at later this week. My TNT meeting is Tuesday evening and I am SO looking forward to it. I have SO much to share, however, we have a limited amount of time and there are so many of us that like to share - so I just might have to post here what I don't have time to show there - so watch for that later this week.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

February 14, a day that we celebrate lovers. When I think back on this special day - I remember one particular Valentine's Day. I thought up clues and hid them around the house. The kids were just young then and it sent them on a savenger hunt of sorts to find the clues - each clue led them to the next clue - but the clue was a riddle that they had to decipher. Eventually the clues led them back to the kitchen where I had a plate of homemade cookies for them. I love doing surprise things like that for my family.
How will you celebrate the loves in your family today? Post a comment - and let me know.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Tweaking the Page

Tweaking the page - an interesting title, yeah? Well, isn't that what we do - we start with a clean slate, a blank sheet of cardstock, an empty canvas and we begin adding to it. We build with the elements we have - those coveted, once forgotten elements that somehow get stored away for 'just the right moment' - which more often than not seems to never happen. Yesterday I launched my new blog, it isn't the first time and it isn't the only blog I have, however, my plans for this one are to build it - to add elements as time goes on. So, with the help of my friends, I added to my blog yesterday - starting with the stark white template and changing it to a nice relaxing 'spa' atmosphere. I took the title and massaged it into what I wanted that would make ME want to come here and stay awhile, and invite my friends to come back and often! It is a work in progress, but hopefully the 'dust of construction' won't keep anyone away for too long.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day - do you celebrate? How do you celebrate? Check back tomorrow to see how I have celebrated this 'lover's holiday'.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Welcome to My Blog

I am glad you came to my part of the world for a visit today. There isn't much here to see right now, but in the days ahead I hope to add pictures of my creative work in my little 'Paper Spa'. I want to thank my friends from TNT that helped me with the tedious task of naming my blog. Lori encouraged me to go for it, saying that if she could do it, I could too. OMG, I didn't think it could be that difficult - but somehow I wanted to incorporate what I do professionally with what I do in my spare moments and that was not easy. You see, I am a massage therapist, so I work with my hands all day long bringing healing to those that need it - then come home to work with them to bring calm at the end of a sometimes very long day. So, when my friend Gloria mentioned 'The Paper Spa' - I just knew that it fit with what I was trying to convey. Then another member of the TNT group - Jacquie - gave me added ideas and it all resulted in this. These ladies are the best and I enjoy getting together with them once a month and exchanging ideas - but we also chat on a regular basis and exchange ideas throughout the month. I have learned so much from them and believe that my paper creativity which began back in the early '90's has taken a giant leap in a new direction. Thanks!