Saturday, March 26, 2011

a spring Tag/bookmark

I made this for my mom, but it does fulfill a challenge at Sir Stampalot for fresh green, yellow and blossom pink.

 2 views: older printed paper brand unknown. Stamp by Stampin' Up, Oval punch by Marvy/Uchida, Butterfly punch by Martha Stewart, card stock scraps,  misc. button, and black tiny strung beads. Liquid pearls in light green

 close-ups of butterfly and flower


Saturday, March 19, 2011

a card or 2 or 3

This is a wonderful sketch from the OWH Stars n Stamps blog, but this particular card is not going to OWH...I'll make more :)

 2 views...Card stock, Stampin' Up and Other, velvet flower and leaf and rhinstone brad-K&Co. Black rhinestone All My Memories, black matte jewel from Joann's, the 2 rolled flowers by me.
Prisma color pencils and blender pencil, Stamps- sentiment: My Sentiments Exactly, little starburst by Block Heads Stamps, Main collage image(Tin Can Mail) by Inkadinkadoo.
 The inch squares and the sentiments are raised up on foam tape.

and another:
 This is a 5.5" square card made with Neenah solar white card stock, Matted with Mrs. Grossman's textured pale yellow card stock, The pink cs is Bazzill and the green is Stampin' Up. the colors aren't exactly as they seem here, but the green and the yellow are pretty close. I used some vintage white lace, and ribbon from Ribbon and Bows Oh My! for my bow. (which is a little darker than the green paper, but not as dark as it looks here). Scalloped border punch by Stampin' Up, Embossing folder-Stylized flowers by Cuttlebug, and 1.5" scalloped circle punch by EK Success (I crumpled this up really well, then snipped it at each scallop about .25" the 4 quarters, I snipped a little further in. I used glue dots, snipped the shank off this great faceted button and used glue dots on that as well) Prismacolor pencils, and Momento tuxedo Black ink. Stamps: sentiment-Stampin' Up, Balloon Donkey by Whiff of Joy (party animals collection) 
(smudges seen are on camera window it turns out, sorry)
 Inside of card, more of the scalloped circles, and starburst stamp by Block Heads Stamps. Sentiment by Stampin' Up


This card Fulfills the following challenges:
OWH Stars n Stamps blog Mid week throw-down: use scallops
Do You Stack Up Challenge blog: use a bow
Sketch Saturday blog: the sketch # 147
Sir Stampalot March Challenge: use fresh greens, yellows and/or blossom pinks
Ning community-CRAFTYMESS...The Candy Bar a challenge set for a card: use at least 5 out of the 7 items listed{white paper or card stock*, Ribbon*(bow), Dry embossing* (cuttlebug), a brad, a rhinestone, flower* (embossed one and one made with a punch and button), Scallops*}
(* denotes items I used)

an apology, a favor and this and that

Hello friends!  I can not thank you enough for being here for me, even though it is silently sometimes.  I can feel those who are thinking of me. and that means the world to me you have no idea!

I am sooo very sorry I have not been posting, and I have not been replying to any comments.  As most of you already know I am going through a really rough patch right now, emotionally.  I have some family issues, actually I have a LOT of family issues, but one in particular is bad.

I have decided I definitely need to cleanse the house (of negative energy etc). I intend to do a complete walk around the outside and then a full walk around each room in the house. I am still so new that I do not know exactly how to do it. I have 2 smudges a sage one and a white sage one...which is better?  Also the word "smudge' gives me an images of me rubbing it on something, but from what little I have been able to glean from books and friends, that is not the case. It seems, it is to lit and let it smoke, and wave the smoke around.  Is there a special way to do it, do I need to have a feather or a shell, and how do I use those?  I have already been working on the chant I will use.  Do I need to wait til the full moon to do this?

Then I need to work on a protection spell for myself, possibly Ron also, though he was not the one threatened.

I have been sleeping very irregularly and also missing doses of my meds which is not good. some it doesn't matter too much but the anti-depressant and anti-anxiety it definitely matters! It seems the times I should be taking them, is the times I find myself sound asleep.  Considering the fact that normally I do not sleep so deeply, I am feeling this is somehow related to the negativity, and is yet another pitfall for me.  I have been having fitful dreams, some scary, some just very bizarre, but many of them have my son in them.  I find my depression is creeping back with a vengeance, I have had some weepy periods and I haven't much ambition.  there is also negativity coming at Ron and I in other forms...finances to be precise. In January we had money in the escrow for the mortgage, now in march they are telling us there there is a large shortage and want us to pay another $500 per month, which we simply can not do. We are going to look into this of course, but nonetheless, it is very troubling.  if that is not enough, a creditor out of the blue, is back, and now threatening with garnishment of Ron's wages.  my WC attorney has twice written them and told them of my case that my willingness to pay them, when I get my settlement. Both times they never replied to him, and months go by before they contact us again.  This time it was with the court papers for garnishment.
Ron says he'll quit his job before he'll let them do that...of course that will just make things worse, but I know how he feels.

The "spare" vehicle that was purchased for both my son and I to use (mostly son) is now acting up, and I am afraid to drive it anywhere. I sooo need to go visit my mom, but she is nearly 2 hours away, and I am very afraid to drive the car there.

So, that is all that is going on with me, in my daily life.  Healthwise I am going for a pelvic US and my mammo on 4/12 (there is supposedly a cyst or something by my right ovary...been there since my last bought with kidney stones-over 2 years)  I am having my semi-regular upper endoscopy done on 4/25 to check if the erosion found in 2004, has not become a full blown ulcer.  I am still looking for a Rheumatologist and have to see them and probably undergo more testing  due to my elevated sed rate and positive ANAs.  Quite frankly I dread going to any of these, as I have a feeling of impending doom, and I already have so many health and physical issues.  My cervical spine and all it's issues has been acting up big time, with making my entire left shoulder and arm  painful yet numb and dead feeling, the other day I dropped a cup.

I have to go BACK to see the 2 quacks the Hospital sent me to once before (for my WC case) both of which are on the other side of the state and very inconvenient, even in their appt times. one is at night, and the other very early in the morning, so Ron has to take the day off.

I do not get it, WC doctors are more aware of the handicapped, so why do they make it so difficult to get in to see them?

Right now I feel like I am just under way too much pressure. I just want to sleep and forget everything.

If you have read this far, thank you. so there is the this and that, and the favor is woven through it.
I'd like to ask for your thoughts, prayers, candles, spells etc for positive things, for protection, for release of negativity around me, for some peace, for some healing, for some signs of good to come. for anything I missed that you can think of.  I also would like to ask for help with how to do my cleansing and protection seeking.

Again I ask all of you for your forgiveness in not answering your comments or posting more these days.  I am working on remeding that.

much love and many blessings to you all,
Susan

Friday, March 18, 2011

Alphabe-Thursday...W

Alphabe-Thursday is today!! YEA!!...join us over at Jenny's Place to learn all about "W"


WONDER

Do you ever wonder about wonder? 
I wonder often about things,
but never about wonder.
Why do dogs smell after getting wet?
Why does Saturn have rings?
I wonder about these and other things. 

Is it true that most geniuses are ADD, 
or most artists are depressed?
How rich were the MINGs?
I wonder about these and other things.
Why is there never justice for the most deserved
and revenge, a dish cold best served?
and what about the 3 Kings?
I wonder about these and other things?

Late at night when my mind is racing,
odd thoughts I lay there facing.
I catch myself wondering
why am I wondering about that now?

Things that do relate pop in and out all the time
should I buy root beer or lemon-lime?
I catch myself wondering
why am I thinking about that now?

What should I do tomorrow,
sometimes not much because of the sorrow.
Why is it so easy for others
to push aside and fall sleep,
all these wonders
that just won't keep?

Are any of my commitments late?
falling behind I just hate.
ooh, I have to wash the hub's favorite hat
what sex is SNL's Pat?
DAMN, I'm trying to sleep...
why am I wondering about that?
~S.Guzy(c) 2011




won·der

[wuhn-der] 
–verb (used without object)
1.
to think or speculate curiously: to wonder about the origin of the solar system.
2.
to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often followed by at ): He wondered at her composure in such a crisis.
3.
to doubt: I wonder if she'll really get here.
–verb (used with object)
4.
to speculate curiously or be curious about; be curious to know: to wonder what happened.
5.
to feel wonder at: I wonder that you went.
–noun
6.
something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration: That building is a wonder. It is a wonder he declined such an offer.
7.
the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising; a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration: He felt wonder at seeing the Grand Canyon.
8.
miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon.

9.
for a wonder, as the reverse of what might be expected; surprisingly: For a wonder, they worked hard all day.

Origin:
before 900;  (noun) Middle English; Old English wundor;  cognate with Dutch wonder, German Wunder, Old Norse undr;  (v.) Middle English wonderen, Old English wundrian,  derivative of the noun


won·der·er, noun
won·der·less, adjective


1.  conjecture, meditate, ponder, question. 5.  marvel. 7.  surprise, astonishment, amazement, bewilderment, awe.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2011.

 
The Fuzzy Wonder, Goat Automaton
As the product description admonishes, "to create more amusement, we suggest that goat be manipulated by persons wearing burlesque costumes." Words to live by. The Fuzzy Wonder Goat [PhoenixMasonry.org]

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Alphabe-Thursday (late)


this week is the letter "V"  come to Jenny's Place to learn stuff about the letter "V"

I have some eye candy for our Female viewers this week (well maybe some males also)
all of these Celebrities have a "V" starting either their first or last name. Did I miss any that are eye candy?

 Val Kilmer...
(loved him in Top Gun, Tombstone, and The Doors, as Jim Morrison)

Rudolph Valentino
Jean-Claude Van Damme
James Van Der Beek
Eddie Van Halen
Michael Vartan
Viggo Mortensen (love him with long hair!!)
Jan-Michael Vincent (give it up girls, who had him hanging in their rooms?)

 Goran Visnjic (there were sexier pics of him, but I just love him here-cute n sexy)

all photos were borrowed from Google!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner...Bunny hop day 2(day 1-no winner, but)

OWH Bunny Hop Day 2 Winner


I used Random.org
which picked #5...see...

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:
 5
12
24
17
15
18
11
21
13
23
10
 1
 3
20
22
 6
 7
19
 9
16
 2
 8
 4
14
Timestamp: 2011-03-08 18:47:05 UTC


Comment #5 belongs to: Christine
 

Her comment:

Christine said...
great tutorial... i guess it pays to be a late hopper - two days of candy... LOL
thanks for sharing and thanks for hopping - hope you had as much fun as me (even tho its taking me forever to make it thru)

March 6, 2011 10:05 PM

Please get your info to me Christine, so I can mail your goodies :)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Bunny hop day 1...not so good
I only had 3 entries that were eligible. I would not do a drawing with less than 5. I noted this in my comments as I continued along the hop. and in comments on SnS and in the Forum I made a entire new thread about my hop posts.  I am just as disappointed as the 3 gals that entered if not more. I politely asked Yolanda to send a mass email to the list of participants, letting them know that my post was now UP at around 3pm Saturday.(it was a total blogger snafu, as it was pre-scheduled to load at 8:45 am Saturday--since I left the house at 6am) I kept getting repeats of the blog hop email. Yet from the comments that I rec'd and the fact that the post only got 3 entries, I am guessing she did not send out said email. I am sooo very sorry for this. The 3 eligible folks are all going to get a little something from me. In way of an apology, and my prize will sit here for my next giveaway or the next OWH blog hop, which ever comes first.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Operation Write Home BUNNY HOP day 2

here we go today with a special fold tutorial

I am #29 on the list of blogs that are hopping. I am not sure if anyone else is doing anything today besides me.

Please keep in mind the deadline for EASTER cards is March 18 and MOTHER'S DAY is March 31 (in the shippers hands) and please check out some of the notes and video's on the Home Front , Hero and OWH websites


OK...today I am sharing what I call a CORRESPONDENCE Card, I call it that because when open it gives you lots of space to write, like stationary.
 Remember the "fortune tellers" we made as kids?
 It is like that, but only made half way
 See how big the writing space is? plus, there is some space on the back also without changing the look of the card when it is folded up.


Here is what you need:
1 sheet 8.5 x 11 card stock, a piece of coordinating printed paper, a stamped image, trimmer, scoring tool, adhesive and scissors.
I did it all on my old trusty Fiskars...I did just recently purchase Martha Stewart's scoring board, but have not tried it yet.

 First you are going to cut the paper at 8.5", so you end up with a square
 On the Fiskars trimmers (all of them) the orange blade is for cutting, and the black is for scoring, Now that I have cut it, I do not need that blade, so I remove it for the time being.
 Now you are going to score it in half  (at 4.25") on both sides of the square

 Then you need to score it diagonally from both sides, point to point
to do this on this type of tool, you line up the points in the groove, you MUST try to hold it steady and precise, or the folding will be off. Some people like using artist's tape, but I have become pretty good at keeping it steady (on good days with my hand, LOL)
 you can see I have the points lined up with the groove on both ends, after scoring the first one, I turn it and do it again.
 Start your folding
 btw, when the scoring is done, you'll see like a star point in the center of the square
 always do your half-square folds first

 when doing the diagonal folds make sure the paper lines up
 Is this starting to look familiar?

 But we do have one more fold to make
 Since this is an 8.5" square, when you fold it in half both ways (square), you'll get 4 squares measuring 4.25"
 Pick one square and line up the end of the fold lines diagonally to the groove on the trimmer (or scoring board) again try to be precise. Score it all the way across.

 Here you can see the score line


 fold it down so it looks like a square, (the inside 2 folds fold inward)
 Now fold this new short score line toward you
 You can know use a bone folder, a credit card or whatever to make the folds crisp
From left to right, the one I just made, I have not used the boner on it yet, the middle one has been boned, and the last is the card that has been made for a while and in with other cards so it is nice and flat now.

Let's take a quick break and look at 2 spring cards I made:
 all items are from Stampin' Up, a lot are retired...both stamp sets (Terrific Tulips and Spring Garden (i think)) The mint Melody Card stock is also retired. Top card, rubber inked and stamped and card spritzed a bit with water. I also used the "step corner punch".
Bottom card, direct to paper stamping and inking, slot punch used twice to make a double opening for me to thread the ribbon making a smooth looking bow.

Ok, ready to continue class?

 Time to add our piece of coordinating printed paper. Put the cutting blade back in your trimmer (no need to remove the scoring blade, just put the cutting blade in front of it) Remember the 4 squares are 4.25", so we need to cut a piece of printed paper 4" x 4"

 Once you have your 4" square, you need to cut that in half diagonally
 Once you have cut it and half a triangle piece now, you need to remove just a bit off the top, or long side, like an 1/8" - 1/4"  I eyeball it.
 once it appears to be straight, go ahead and cut it.

 Lay is down on your front flap, and make sure you are leaving the size of border you want to leave. Then glue it on.
 Now it is time to cut out your stamped image.
Line your image up so it is not going over any of the edges, and it is where you like it.
*note: you really want there to be more of the image at the bottom as that is where it is glued, the rest kind of hangs in the air.
The image I choose actually goes a little against that rule, because of the squirrel's tail but it works out :)

 Now embellish as you wish, just do not put anything real lumpy or it will not close right.
 The squirrel is from Stampin' Up, German scrap from ARTchix studios, the flowers are Primas, the bling is part of a little bird  "Bling it" by Basic Grey
 I also finished the blue one, while I was at it :)
 The purple shapes are foam, and the rhinestone border, was rec'd in a rak, each one is encased in plastic and attached with thread, really cool...I have enough of it left to use on an ATC :)
Love my Prismacolor pencils!  the sentiment says To a very special Daddy on father's day...sentiment is from Raindrop Echo designs, the bear is from Designed to Delight

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and put this card to use for our heroes, as it gives them lots of space to write on!  There is blog candy for one lucky person that leaves a comment between now and 12 noon EST Tuesday. Picture coming up!
Here is the candy:  crafter's dozen (13 of each item listed) flowers, stamped images, stamped bkgds. yards of fiber +, and half yards of ribbon+


These cards also fulfill the challenge at Bugaboo 
The green spring card Fulfills the challenge at Do You Stack Up