The Nice Girl From the Science Department

So my husband is a geek and because he is a geek he has geek friends. They do things like have official NASA-sanctioned solar viewing glasses made for the fun of it. Oh, and to advertise their solar photography hobby, which is a really geeky hobby in case you didn't know.

Because of this I had not one but two official NASA-sanctioned pairs of solar viewing glasses yesterday during the eclipse. I also have a problematic eye so I was leery of looking at the sun even with NASA's permission. However, thanks to a super enthusiastic coworker I grabbed up my two pairs of solar shades and ventured into the sun yesterday.

My coworker had been trying to drum up interest in his pinhole solar eclipse viewing rig that he put together. And by "put together" I mean plucked off the bulletin board. See, once upon a time the marketing department where I work made round cardboard flyers advertising our business. They were round because our logo is round.  Because of their roundness everyone felt compelled to hang theirs up up jabbing a thumbtack right in the middle and that's makes for the perfect solar eclipse viewer.

I confess to being skeptical of the geekery involved in a pinhole viewing rig so I just had to see how that was going to work.  Well, it was truly impressive, made even more impressive by then slapping on the official NASA goggles and staring at the sun. So much so, that my coworker ran off to round up everyone he could to come look at our pinhole eclipse viewer and stare at the sun with our shades. More and more people came while I was standing around with a piece of cardboard and two pairs of glasses. I was more than happy to share in the awe that is a partial eclipse.

Because our piece of cardboard had the logo on it people were muttering about the official Pima College Solar Eclipse Viewer we had and saying how it was nice it was to have the opportunity to see the eclipse.

I swear there is a pinhole in there.
And I'm holding the logo crooked.

It was a lot of fun even if I did later curse my geeky husband for making me have to stand in the sun for an hour and a half and talk to people. At least I had something cool to talk to them about. You know a lot of people are going to remember and talk about the day they came to college and ended up seeing the solar eclipse. I just hope none of them go prowling the science or astronomy departments looking for me since I'm just not that geeky. Really.

The Fine Print: Official Pima College Solar Eclipse Viewer by Pima College. Stampin' stuff by Stampin' Up. 

Enjoy the Ride. And No Vomiting.

I'm so sad right now. The every-2-hours-while-you-are-awake medicine I was using on my eye has done wonders until today. Now my eye is all twitchy twitch twitch and it makes me sad. Everyone keeps saying that my twitchy eye is stress (that is everyone but the actual eye MD). I wasn't stressed out in the least until my eye started going to town. Even the lousy meeting this morning wasn't bad at all as it actually had good and useful information at it (such a rarity) and I brought doughnuts making me the coolest coworker ever (so cool I got a green corn tamale as a reward).

And to top it all off my shoulder hurts so bad and it is well medicated too. I'm supposed to start physical therapy on it in about 10 days and I can't fathom how much that is going to hurt given how much having the shoulder doctor just look at my shoulder hurt. Okay, he touched it too, but really it was some nothing touching, not like a Vulcan nerve pinch or something. So maybe I am stressed out, not looking forward to someone manipulating my shoulder--someone I have to pay. But I don't really think so because I haven't been thinking about how much more my shoulder is going to hurt because that will make me cry and that's like crying before you even spilled the milk, which now that I think about it is something you aren't supposed to cry over anyway.

Life has so many rules! Don't run with scissors. Don't cry over spilled milk. Don't stab your coworkers..... What a hassle.

But here's a card which means that I found the jump drive all the photos of my cards are on. It wasn't really lost or anything. It just was always in the opposite place I was.  If I were here, it was there. And now we're all here, together.  You and me and the jump drive.

The Fine Print: Stamps by Lawn Fawn. Really fun paper by some company that makes little pads of fun papers.  Yep, I'm chock full of useful information today!   Now, I have a green corn tamale to go eat. Bye!

Summer Lovin'

This is the real cat that came to live with Princess and Mr. PJ. He's a gift from my friend and came complete with instructions to make a fun summer card,which I have duplicated here.

My friend does something that is either incredibly OCD or exceptionally brilliant. You can decide. Any time she runs across an article, a nifty card photo, or directions for a stamp she owns she would clip/copy/print it out and keep it with the stamp.  That's how I got both this stamp and an article about making this style card with it.

I think it is kind of brilliant for those moments when you are stumped, you'll have some ideas at the ready, but I also think it sounds like it might be a bit of a hassle to hold onto all these pieces of paper.

The Fine Print: Stamp by Penny Black, paper flowers by Prima, paper scraps from my stash.

Tropical Bird and Reminiscing

I had a friend...  well, I still have her but we don't do this anymore because we got busy and postage ain't what it used to be.  Anyway, this friend and I would exchange Do-It-Yourself-RAKs using the left over bits and pieces from our respective craft desks.

We would send each other cards bases, layers and enough bits and pieces to make a card.  The idea was to have some leeway with the stuff so most often we sent more than was needed for one card so we could pick and chose.

That was always fun getting to play with limited stuff that you hadn't picked out for yourself.  I was quite tickled to find a couple of these DIY RAKs in my stash to make.  This one was especially fun because the papers were all double sided and either side would have worked with the enclosed card topper.

I corner rounded the card topper and sponged its edges.  I also added my own snippet of ribbon to make this card and discarded a large flourish that was included. And by 'discarded' I  mean I didn't use it not that I tossed it!

The Fine Print: After I made this I realized how much I missed the DIY RAKs we used to exchange.  Unfortunately my friend only scrapbooks now and not very often at that so I can't ask her to revive this practice. If you'd like to exchange DIY RAKs, drop me a private message.

Snippets, Shards, 'n Shreds

Just to prove to y'all that I can indeed make a snippet card that doesn't involve Christmas, which really is my least favorite holiday rather y'all believe me or not, here's my offering for the Snippet Playground this time around.

Spring! Leaves! Greenery! Flowers!  Ain't it lovely? I want to call the whole thing snippets, but I guess technically it isn't.  The card base is from one of stashes of excess card bases (meaning more than fit in the card base bin), the patterned paper is from my drawer of green paper scraps as are the grass and leaves pieces, and even the white layer is the extra from some other project I cut up.

The Fine Print: Tree with Swing stamp by Stampabilities, cloud stamp by Mostly Animals, grass die by A Muse Studio, every thing else from my stash.

Bathing Beauties

For some reason I've made several cards with the same stamp set recently.  It could be that it is because it is on my desk and I'm too lazy to get up and get something else or it could be that I'm obsessed with it.

This card has a ruffled crepe paper banner on it.  Now you know what to do with those left over party streamers.

This one is a CASE job with different colors. I liked the seaside feel to Marisa's card and wanted to capture that for future inspiration.

These two came to be due to the striped paper, which felt like a beach towel to me.  I'm going to do this card in a workshop soon so I made two versions of it.  One has the bathing suit paper pieced and the other is colored. I know not everyone likes to fussy cut, so I'm giving options.

And the paper pieced version:

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio.  Stamps used--Bathing Beauties and Sea Shells. Cardstock used-Sugar, Bermuda, Blueberry, Grass, Shell, and Kraft. Other supplies used--Bermuda crepe paper, silver and lime sequins, toffee twine, circle die, and Fiesta and Everything's Rosy 6x6 patterned paper.

Wednesday Workdesk

It is time to partake in Julia's What's on Your Workdesk blog hop where I'll show you mine even if you don't show me yours.  Here is my workdesk as of this morning:

Picked up like it usually is on Wednesday, but with a few more things piled on it than usual. There is some fishy paper for a swap card, some candle dies to experiment with, sample cards to show off, clothespins to make a thank you gift with, and a zippered pouch of fun new embellishments to play with.

Above is the Saturday desk, which is more exciting. I had just finished making two of those boat cards you see there.  I have daubers, designer paper, the donuts from last week, paper straws, the catalog I copied from, toffee twine, dies, my glasses, and just a random sampling of things.

I thought I'd share my Sunday desk with you as well to show you that creativity happens all weekend (if I'm lucky).  You see a birthday card front and center, many of the same things piled up along the right side of the desk, ribbons, papers, dies, and more random stuff.

New toys from the local scrapbook store. It is Blue Moon Scrapbooking which is an on-line place but their warehouse is in town and you can visit and shop it when they are open.

I broke down and bought three of the new A Muse inks even though I said I wouldn't. I'm not really an ink person, but I did want my A Muse customers to see the new inks combined with the new papers. 

Last, but not least is a card since I'm all about card making.  My friend set me this to show me what she made with her new stamp set. I love it! I love that the ladies have their toes in the waves. I think the water might be a bit nippy though, what do you think?!

The Fine Print: There is a lot of miscellaneous on my desk so if you want to know about something, just ask.  The inks are (clockwise) azul, marigold, and hibiscus. The ladies are from the Bathing Beauties set by A Muse and the waves folder is by Darice (you know I had to get one too!).

I'm a Happy Camper

Since I'm loving the new A Muse Studio catalog, of course I have to play with it some more. I just love this new set called Happy Camper.  In fact, it makes me a happy camper.

I love the retro camper and the fun trees. I'll be able to make lots of fun nature scenes with them.  They do have matching dies but I forgot to order them.  Well, there is always next time!

Just a reminder that today is the last day to join my giveaway on my July 1 post.  All you have to do is check out the new catalog and tell me what tickles your fancy and leave a comment about it.  You have until the end of the month if you want to get in on my drawing for the Hola Amigo stamp set.  For that one you have to place an order of $25 or more (pre-tax and shipping) at my on-line store.

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio.  Stamp sets used--Happy Camper and Silver Lining. Cardstock used--sugar, sky, fern, wasabi petite polka dot.

IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!

Oh Em Gee! It's here! It's here!  The long-awaiting new A Muse Studio catalog is here and it's live and you can shop from it right now.  You can shop my website HERE or HERE or HERE. Yes, those are all the same link but I wanted you to feel like you had some options.

Look! The new catalog!

Yep, I'm checking it out.

Me too!

Have you guys seen the neat cat set?!

I'm so excited and I'm totally clueless what to buy from it first.  Check it out and let me know what you'd buy first and leave me a comment telling me what it is.  It doesn't matter if it is something old or something new; I'd like to hear what interests you.  Everyone who tells me what they'd get in the comments will be entered into a drawing to win the new 6" x 6" designer paper pack called "Fiesta."  You have until July 10 midnight on this blog (whatever time zone it thinks it is) to comment.  That drawing is open to everyone.  For those of you in the US who place an order of $25 or more (before tax and shipping) will get placed into a drawing for the Hola Amigo stamp set.  You have until July 31 to place that order.

The Hola Amigo set is featured above.  It has 13 cling mounted stamps including three shown in my card. Sorry, the mountains aren't a stamp.  I drew them in because the world is naked without mountains.  That's what happens when you live surrounded by them.

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio. Stamps--Hola Amigo (new set); cardstock--Margarita (new color), Hibiscus (new color), and Papaya petite pinstripe; mountains sponged with cocoa ink; and images colored with Copic markers.  Santa Catalina mountains shown in photo swiped from Google images.  That's home.

TWO...

I've enjoyed paper piecing long before I knew it was call that.  I thought it was neat to stamp your image out on plain paper and again on patterned paper, cut out a portion of the patterned image and adhere it to the plain image.  It gives a neat look.

Paper piecing is not for those who hate to fussy cut, especially for smaller images.  But for those of you who are up to the challenge, check out these little ladies below.

You can have a lot of fun giving them all sorts of funky patterns on their bathing suits and caps.  They are a bit fussy to cut out, but the look is worth it in the end.

The Fine Print: Brand new stamps by A Muse Studio "Bathing Beauties" and brand new designer paper "Fiesta" (available July 1).  Bermuda polka dot cardstock, scallop border die, and Everything's Rosy designer paper (lady on the left) old stuff that will be carried over to the new catalog.

Bee Happy

Today is like a bonus day for me because I had forgotten that May had 31 days in it.  I was ready for it to be June but then.... bonus time... we get one more day for May.  And how nice of the bonus day to be on a weekend!

I went to a card workshop today and let me tell you, Honey, we had a great time bee-ing happy.

The Fine Print: Most supplies and products by Close to My Heart except the three dry embossed border folders by Darice, the hexagon embossing folder by Stampin' Up, and the Chalk Time die cut also by Stampin Up.  I hope your bonus day was just as good as mine!

A New Day

I almost failed to recognize that today is a new, which is silly because I know that today is not yesterday so how did I fail to notice it was today?  You following that?  Good, because then you can explain it to me.

I made this summery card on a cold winter day last month.  The stamp I got from the convention from a big pile of wood mounted stamps that were marked half off.  That right there made me decide that I couldn't live another day without this stamp.  I mean, how cute is he?!

The Fine Print: stamp by Great Impressions, designer paper by DCWV, sticker by Recollections, sparkly green paper and gingham ribbon from my stash. Wake me when tomorrow gets here.

Well.... Poop.

This would be my post with pictures of the fabulous new cards I've made recently but I failed to properly plan ahead so I do not have the pictures to share.  No pictures in my life.  Nothing but sadness, darkness, and despair.

And apple pie.

Wait a minute?  Apple pie?

Indeedy peedy, there is apple pie in my fridge.

All is well with the universe.

The Fine Print: Apple pie by Apple Annie's and you can't beat that with a stick. Or I suppose you could if you were queer and depraved.  This card may or may not be a repeat, but you can roll with it can't you? If not, too bad, so sad.  I have apple pie and you don't. Neener, neener, neener. Stamps by A Muse Artstamps and DeNami Designs, border punch by EK Success. Stay tuned for fabulous new cards tomorrow.  Maybe.

What Kind of Dream is This, Anyway?

So school is still two weeks away (11 days, but who's counting?) and I'm already exhausted.  I'm so exhausted I can't even fall asleep properly.

These people know how to sleep

Last night I dreamed that a bunch of us were in a wild west town.  We were walking on the wooden sidewalks and into a building. I swear I could really hear the clomp of our shoes on the wooden floor. I veered off from the main room into a side room and there on the floor was a body wrapped up in a white shroud.  Somehow I knew immediately it was a dead body but still I prodded it with my foot to ascertain it was indeed a dead body.  Then suddenly I wondered if the dead body was going to come back to life.  I turned to the others and asked, "What kind of dream is this, anyway?"

Does this dream have zombies in it?

Because really, I did not have the energy or patience to deal with it if it was going to be a scary dream with zombies in it.

The Fine Print: Camping card stamps by A Muse Artstamps, paper by DCWV.  Zombie cat card stamp by Stampotique, papers by Memory Box, ribbon and orange mist by A Muse Studio.

You Make Me Smile

My small group of crafty friends is meeting tonight.  I thought I would bring us a card to make. My original plan was to do a card from one of the new a|s stamp sets but we can't order them until August 1st so I figure why frustrate everyone with that. It's bad enough I'm counting the hours until I can order some of the other new things; I shouldn't make all my friends be the same way.

I made a card with this A Muse set instead.  My version of this is a clear set, but it is available in the catalog now as a cling set. It is the exact same thing, no difference in size or anything. I used these colors because they are bright and cheerful...  ..and because I discovered I had a completely unopened pack of it.

Now for a story to make you smile.  I once was heading back to the office after a routine doctor's appointment. The traffic was light and I was cruising along in my trusty pick up truck. I was coming up to a red light so I down shifted my manual transmission to slow me down.  There was no one in my lane. The lane next to me had a huge 70's muscle car sitting patiently at the light.  As I got close to the light, it changed and the muscle car started to rumble. I let off my clutch, but... I was going a wee bit too fast for that gear and *>CHIRP<* went my tires.  The dude in the muscle car took that as an invitation to race and just floored it, tires squealing, engine rumbling and tearing out of there like a bat outta hell.  It made me laugh out loud.  Did that guy really think I wanted to race him in my little 4-banger truck?!  What a riot.  Ah well, I got to keep on my journey, while he probably had to stop at a gas station.

And here's a photo of my fabulous new note paper at work.  I have a bunch of it now. We're currently entertaining suggestions on what to do with several rolls of thermal paper that is the wrong size.  My suggestion of a ticker tape parade was shot down vehemently.

The Fine Print: Stamps and supplies by A Muse Studio-stamps "Vintage A Muse," solid paper, Venetian patterned paper, and ribbon "Lido," stamped in Momento and colored with Copics.

WOYWW and a Sneak Peek

Welcome to the weekly crafting desk peep show, also known as What's on Your Workdesk, This week my desk is mildly staged for today's reveal.  I received an anxiously awaited box of goodies in the mail late last night (well, no, the post office delivered it at the regular time I just wasn't home until 15 minutes before bedtime).  Anyway, I tore into it, ogled it, and lay it out so it would make a good photo in the morning.

Can you see what it is? It is a bunch of seasonal stuff from the A Muse Studio holiday catalog. They let us consultants pre-order a select bunch of stuff from the August 1st release. I got fall and Halloween goodies and I can't wait to play with them.  I don't think you can tell that the paper pack on top has chevrons printed on it. Chevrons (AKA zig-zags) are huge right now so they will make a nice addition to many cards, not just holiday ones.

Moving away from the holidays, here is a tropical beachy card that I finally finished up.  I had it on my desk for months and showed it on my desks 2 weeks ago and promised to finish it.  See! I done did it!

I hope you are still reading because I have a request for information.  A friend of mine showed me a card she took a class for. She didn't get to complete the class and now can't get the card together, can't find directions for it, and doesn't know what it is really called.  She calls it a double horizontal water fall card.  The card is landscape with essentially two waterfalls on it.  There are pull strings on each side of the card so when you pull them, the two waterfalls parts like curtains off to the sides.  I told her I'd ask my WOYWW crowd because someone is bound to know what it is called and maybe even know where to find directions for it.

Here's a pop-up card I made at a Stampin' Up workshop last night. I thought it kind of fit in with the tropical theme of the other card I shared. This card looked complicated to make but it turns out that it wasn't. It folds flat for mailing.  Can't beat that with a stick.

Edited to add: here is a link to a picture of a double water fall card, now if only we can find directions for it!

The Fine Print: A Muse Studio holiday catalog and products available August 1 and that can't come soon enough as there are things in there that I must have and can't get until then. Tropic chick card: stamps by DeNami Designs, paper by Paper Salon, wave punch by Fiskars. Pop Up card all the eveythings by Stampin' Up, "Mixed Bunch" stamp set and blossom punch.

Life's a Beach

In keeping with The Best Season on The Whole Planet theme (that's summer in case you missed that), here are some beach inspired cards. I've mentioned before that I've never really been to a beach, but that's a lie.  I've been on the lovely shores of Lake Winnebago, Lake Michigan, Lake Patagonia, and the Erie Canal. Okay, okay, I suppose not very beach-like but I think I would recognize one should one go airborn and blow in my eye or crawl up my shorts, which is where beaches go isn't it?

I've also been to the beach at Elephant Butte Lake. I even waded in up to my knees but I had to stop because there were these huge menancing fish lurking in deeper waters for me. I knew there were direct decendants of Jaws himself with a bit of pirana thrown in for good measure and would have eaten me in a New York minute (which I hear is faster than a New Mexico minute).  My hubby said I was being dramatic, but how would he know?  He is a desert dweller just like me.  When it comes to beaches, this is more what we are used to:

The Fine Print: Beach scene stamp by Copperleaf Creations, pool party stamps by A Muse Studio, wave punch by Fiskars.  I just realized that I've also been to the beach at White Sands, New Mexico. Baby, that thing lives up to its name, lovely unsullied white sand as far as the eye can see.  There doesn't seem to be any water associated with that beach though unless you packed it in yourself.

Eff Off, Summer!

This card says "hello summer" but only because I didn't have an f-- off, summer stamp.  But truly, summer can blow me. I used to love the heat but this year it is kicking my behind.

I made this card based on the sketch from this challenge.  I didn't make for that challenge, I made it for a swap that used that same sketch. I wanted to be bold and exciting like other people often are and turn the sketch sideways, so I did. My original plan had been to cut Vs in the end of the three strips of colored paper so they would kind of look like banners. I came to my senses though and realized there was no way I was going to get nice even V-cuts in all three pieces so I dropped the idea.

The Fine Print: Don't let the whining fool you, I hate cold too, much more than heat. And since I live on the wrong side of tracks from Hell "too cold" for me is anything under 80 degrees. "The Parents" stamp by Eat Cake Graphics, "Hello summer" by TAC, sun stamp by Stampendous, red and yellow design paper by Paper Salon, blue design paper by DCWV, blue on blue baker's twine by Doodlebug Design Inc, navy blue card base (you can't really tell it from the black frame) by A Muse Studio.

Summer Fun

Of course, here in Southern Arizona 'summer fun' is a misnomer.  There ain't much fun about summer. It gets brutally hot and sticky and unless you are a giant corporation sticking it to The Man you can't afford air conditioning in decent amounts (or if you don't have a craft hobby to support).  But, since there are only 6 people left in town here, I can only assume that everyone else is out having lots of fun this summer.

One thing people do that is fun is go to the beach.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  Blindingly beautiful water lapping quietly, sand between your toes and in your shorts, the sun frying warming your skin... heaven.

Why am I blathering on about summer fun you ask? Well, because it is time for the A Muse Studio challenge and the theme is summer fun.  You don't have to use A Muse Studio stamps to join the challenge, but it increases your chances to win a fabulous prize. So make a card showing off your idea of summer fun and join in today!

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio except for the deckle edged scissors by Fiskars. Stamps from the "Life's a Breeze" set, dies used "cloud duo" and "scallop borders (3)," papers used toffee, ocean, bubblegum, sugar, and winter sky (which isn't very summery, but a give a girl a break, would ya?!).

And on the Seventh Day...

...God rested.  Not that I'm God, but I thought I'd try on his shoes for a day.  Guess what? I don't know how to break it to you all, but His feet stink.

Here is a card I made in a previous life.  I mean, before I decided to pretend I was god and give myself the day off.

Actually I didn't rest, instead, I sorted papers all day. I finally decided to sort all my papers by how I look for them.  I used to sort papers by the stack they came in. I found that more often than not I would look in the boxes that held the spring, summer or fall stacks, and that is because I knew exactly what kinds of colors, patterns, and designs I would find in them.  I guess that makes me a seasonal person.  There is a difference between a nice pale spring yellow, a bright summer yellow, and a more orangey fall yellow.  If I wanted something subdued but in a bright tone I'd look in the spring box. If I wanted a more natural, earth tone I'd look in the fall box.  If I wanted something perky I'd look in the summer box.  Now my endless pile of papers is divided up by season. 

The more observant of you will note that I didn't mention winter.  It's there along with Christmas, in a big box on the shelf in the closet.  Somehow that was already all sorted out with the exception of a few sheets I found this afternoon.

And, I have to tell that my cat, the one who is older than dinosaur poop, is smarter that I am.  I sat on the couch along with the cat to sort paper.  As the day wore on, I noticed it was getting hotting and hotter.  The cat took off for the cool spot under the chair.  I suffered through, even checking the air conditioning at one point (set where it should be).  It wasn't until much later when that I got a clue as to what went wrong.  I picked up a pile of paper off the couch, put it on my lap and thought, "This paper is hot, almost like it is heated.  Oh my gawd!"  Lying on the couch is the older-than-dinosaur-poop-cat's electric blanket.  We haven't had to use it in several weeks but it is still there and still plugged in.  At some point I must have sat on the button and turned it on.  No wonder I was hot.

The Fine Print: Ice cream truck by A Muse Artstamps, drippy punch by Martha, paper by DCWV (from the summer box!).  Fast Lane stamp copyrighted by STU (who the heck is that?), papers and round dealie bob by unknown. Anyone notice how my 8-foot stack of paper became an endless stack today?  And for anyone who worries that the cat would burn the house down with his electric blanket, we explained to him about homelessness and how it sucks and taught him to dial 911.  Also, the blanket turns off automatically after 10 hours.