Pucker Up!

*kiss*kiss*

So good to see you again. Blogger recently asked me if I was around and intended to use my blog anymore. I thought, of course I am still around.... Gee, maybe I'd better inform my readers (all 6 of you) that I am still alive and kicking and employed.

See, Dio told you a story about how at my work they were giving out boxes (a very desirable commodity if you are a cat) and telling you to go home. That wasn't fiction; they truly are doing that. So far they haven't done that to me. And that's good because I'd need more than one box and a dolly and I'd have to get on our elevator which is scary even on good days.  So not only am I still here (Blogger), I am still here (my job). I've said goodbye to a number of coworkers including my boss. Being bossless was scary (almost as scary as that elevator) because my job title says I'm suppose to support someone and if there is no someone... why have me?  Oh! Because I'm cool, that's why!

They stole me a boss from another job site though so it's all good now. She's in charge of all sorts of things I haven't dealt with before so I'm learning all sorts of new stuff, including that being the go-to person for years for answers on what do know about is paying off as I know can ask for info in return and be happily given it.

Me, being supportive.

The Fine Print: Mousie stamp by Stampabilities or whoever was in charge of House Mouse at the time I bought it. Smile from my stash. And if I'm given a box right after I post this.... I'm blaming y'all! 

Apocalypse Preparation

Remember the good old days where if you saved someone's life during a zombie apocalypse (or some other significant disaster) they were all like, "Thank you for saving my life! I appreciate your every little gesture of kindness. I only have this sharpened stick but I will fight loyally by your side!"

Nowadays it is all: What do you mean you don't have gluten free rations?! I only drink water bottled in New Hampshire during the full moon! I follow a strict Paleo diet and sleep on 4000 thread count sheets. None of this will do for me. I cannot believe you have not catered to my every need. I am going to sit here and pout until you fix this gross negligence.

Yep, and that's just one of the many reasons I hate people.

The Fine Print: So true, not all who wander are lost; some of us are just trying to get away from the bullshit.  Mouse by House Mouse, greeting by Stampin' Up, dies by Spellbinders. 

Mousse Munching Mouses

This month my big stamp club's card exchange theme is "oldie goodie." That doesn't come with an explanation so you can interpret that however you like. I picked out one of my older stamps to use for the swap. This is from the days when Stampa Rosa did House Mouse. I picked it up at one of the Co*motion warehouse days.

That probably doesn't mean much to you, but those from Tucson know about how the stamp company Co*motion used to be housed here and they'd have certain days they'd open their warehouse to the public. I think standing around Co*motion talking about the desire to get together is how the big stamp club was born. Just so you know, the big stamp club is old enough to legally drink. It too, is an oldie goodie.

The Fine Print: Well, I kind of gave it away already by telling you it was House Mouse by Stampa Rosa, designer paper by DCWV, ribbon from my stash, colored with Copics, not valid with any other offers. 

On Pins and Needles

The other day I was working the reception desk when someone handed in some found property. I called our campus police right away to report it:

Me: I'm calling in some found property. It's an electronic device of some kind...maybe a phone, maybe a music playing thing... (my knowledge of technology shines through right about now).

Officer: Is it a cell phone or an ipad?

Me: (grabbing a coworker) Is this a cell phone?

Coworker: Yes. It's an I-phone.

Me: Yes. It has three bunnies on it.

Coworker: (busts out laughing) Those aren't bunnies....

Me: Oh I know, they are poopie-chews.

Coworker: (laughing too hard to respond)

Officer: We'll be there shortly to pick it up.

Before the officer could respond, the cell phone's owner showed up in a panic wanting to know where lost and found was and if anyone had turned in a cell phone, so I asked her to describe her cell phone.

Her: It's an I-phone 5 and it has three little bunnies on it...

I feel so vindicated!

The Fine Print: Stamp by Stampa Rosa, designer paper by HOTP and stitched Xs by yours truly (showing off my best sewing skill which is only a little better than my ability to distinguish one electronic from another.). And yeah, I suppose it really is pikichew, not poopie-chew...

Fly and Be Free

I haven't blogged lately because I don't have anything to say--not that that has stopped me before. I also don't have anything of mine to share.  I guess I won't let that stop me either.

I received this fun House Mouse card from a friend of mine. It put a sunny spot in my otherwise dreary day. I guess I'd best get to making cards and mailing things or else pretty soon I won't even have incoming cards to share.

The Fine Print: Card by SW. Love those floral card toppers!

The Little People

Where I work we've had some real winners occupying the position of Head Cheese, and by "winners" of course I mean losers.  We've had the guy who tried to pass off his honorary degree as the real deal and the more recent perv-o-matic.

But the one that really sticks in my mind is the one who came to visit our campus Big Wigs (one of whom I work for).  When Head Cheese got into the office one of the Big Wigs started to introduce us assistants to him, but Head Cheese waived him off and said, "I don't need to meet the little people. I've already met the important people I need to work with."

And that, my friends is a bad attitude to have.

The Fine Print: No, there's not really a point to this story but there is some poetic justice.  See, all us little people are still employed here and respected by the community which are both things Mr. Big Cheese can't claim. House Mouse stamp by whoever is making them these days, kitchen kitsch stickers from  someplace or the other, and other stuff from my stash. I'm just chock full of useful info today!

Workdesk Wednesday with a Question

Howdy, Workdesk Wednesday Folks and Passersby!  Just to prove to y'all that I do indeed know how to make a mess, here it my desk from Monday afternoon.  Monday was a holiday for me so I got to play all afternoon.

I was going to leave it messy for you until Wednesday but I have these evil cats that will throw things on the floor, hide things under the sofa, and break things (like that big glass jar of flowers, they'd love to see that shatter). So here is the real Wednesday desk:

Look! The glass jar of flowers shrank-lol.  I have some things here that I might play with after work this week.  The stamps in a baggie were given to me by a coworker.  I love unexpected presents!  The Brilliance inkpads are from a friend's storage so I was going to see if they had any life left.  The Hello Fall stamp set is all leaves that if you do in light green makes them springlike.

For my question, if you were diagnosed with a terminal illness and given roughly six months to live what would you do in reference to your crafty stash?  Would you keep it as is, leave it to your survivors to sort through?  Would you add to it hoping to beat the odds?  Would you make sure certain items had loving homes?  Would you discreetly start downsizing so your relatives wouldn't know the extent of it? Or something else completely?  Tell me in the comments!

I'll leave you with this sweet House Mouse card I received from a swapping friend.  I love that it is wintery, glittery, and cold looking but the promise of spring is there with the pink and the red berries.

The Fine Print: No, I've not been diagnosed with a terminal illness.  The ink pads and small jar of flowers came from a friend's crafting estate (which has been in storage for awhile).  It was bittersweet looking through her stuff, so many of her stamps I recall her using, sharing with us and enjoying yet it was sad too. She had so many wonderful things! I wondered what she would have done with her stash if she had known she was going to pass away soon.  That got me wondering what anyone would do.

Manly Mouse

EEK! I just realized that I'd better get hopping if I want my manly mouse to be a part of the latest House Mouse and Friends challenge.  As you may have guessed, the theme is masculine.  I made a quick and simple card this time around.

The Fine Print: I'm too out of breath from just looking at this stamp to make some clever and witty statement down here.  Stamp by Stampabilities "Big Foot."

Lost and Found Mice

For those of you wondering how my coloring in odd light turned out, this post give you the answer! 

This week the House Mouse and Friends folks have a challenge called "lost and found."  They want you to use your HM and Friends stamps to depict something you've found, something you've lost, or something that could be lost.  Um..... what?

I mean, I could lose anything and everything at any given time and probably have.  Then I realized that the House Mouses most likely aren't nearly as scattered brained as me and don't lose things as easily.

Here are my House Mice and they can't find the darn lighter to light the candles, probably they lent it to me.  Anyway, they have come up with an ingenious solution. I'm impressed that the one mouse can not only breathe fire, but can breathe glittery fire.  That, my friends, is talent!

 

The Fine Print: My stamp is an older one from back in the Stampa Rosa days and called "Jalepino Peppers," colored with Copics in wonky light, designer paper by Fancy Pants, corner punch by EK Success, flower and brad from my stash and orange and yellow glitter by Stickles.

House Mouse--Anything Goes

Yesterday I had a play date and I started making some oriental themed cards (which are really hard for me for some reason).  As a lark I included my fortune cookie eating House Mouse stamp and this card was born, which is perfect for the Anything Goes challenge over at House Mouse and Friends.

I once received a fortune from a cookie that told me I should consider a career in higher education. That's where I've worked for the last 25 years, so don't discount those fortunes so fast!



The Fine Print: "Happy Fortune" stamp by Stampabilities, designer paper by unknown, sequins by Karen Foster (I think).  The fortune you seek will be found in another cookie.

House Mouse Color Challenge

Over at the House Mouse and Friends blog they are having a color challenge this week.  We are being asked to use amethyst and vanilla and one other color on our creations.  You say, "amethyst" and I immediately think of soft spring flowers, which is rather interesting since I live in the desert and we don't do soft spring flowers.  We do prickly bright flowers, but that's another story for another day.

I chose green as my other color and this card was born.  I don't usually make big square cards but it felt right for this one. I used glitter on the water so there are some sparkles in this card as well as flowers and flourishes. I was quite happy with how it turned out.

The Fine Print: "Flower Raft" House Mouse stamp by Stampabilities, Madera corner flourish by Memory Box, paper flowers by Prima, brad and designer paper from my stash.  Break out your House Mouse or friend stamp and join in on this challenge!  If your brain is like mind and amethyst and vanilla don't mean anything to you, think Purple and Cream.   Yeah, see how much easier that is to remember?!

Hearts of Love

We'll start off with a sad story, but never fear, it has a happy ending.  Our heroine (that'd be me) talked her long suffering hubby into taking her shopping for House Mouse stamps.  Alas! The store did not carry House Mouse stamps so there was much sadness and tears.  But luckily That Guy invented the Interwebs and soon there were House Mouse stamps! And hearts! And there was much rejoicing!

I'm entering this card into the Shopping Our Stash Love themed challenge this week. While the mice and the doily heart are new, the papers and the heart embellishment have been in my stash for an embarrassingly long time.  I'm also entering this with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where the theme is to have a heart.  I not only have a heart I have 7 of them.  That's me, the Princess of Excess.

The Fine Print: "With all My Heart" House Mouse stamp by Stampabilities, small heart doily die by Simon Says Stamp, heart embellishment by K & Co., brown designer paper by Basic Grey, pink dotted paper by Making Memories.

Show Me the LOVE!!!

This week's House Mouse and Friends challenge is all about showing some love.  What with Valentine card making in full-swing this is a very timely challenge.  Also, it is House Mouse, and what is not to love about House Mouse?!

For this challenge I pulled out an old, well-used and well-loved stamp along with some bits of Valentine's goodies I had out on my desk.  I made the glitter hearts glittery.  It was my Spica pen's last gasp, but never fear I have another one ready to go.  I really liked how I found a scrap of cardstock that was the same shade and same amount of glittery-ness as the hearts I colored in so I could make a large glitter heart to embellish my card with.

I thought I'd get fancy with the inside of the card and instead of just putting a die cut greeting in it, I'd use the negative of the greeting instead.  That meant I had to carefully pry out the inside of the "L" and "E" to glue down.  In the end, you can't tell from the photo that you are seeing the back of the card through the greeting, but it in real life it is pretty nifty.

The Fine Print: HM stamp by Stamp Rosa, heart die from Cheery Lynn, flowers by Prima, love die cut A Muse Studio.

House Mouse and Friends - NBUS Challenge

I'm so excited that I just found out what NBUS means!  NBUS = Never Before Used Stuff!  Not that any of us crafters have any of those kinds of things lying around, oh no!!!  But just in case, on some off chance that you do, and it is House Mouse (or friend) themed, the House Mouse folks are hosting a challenge to get you to use it.

That's right, House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge #161 is to ink up that never before used House Mouse Designs stamp and have at it. I just so happened to have bought myself an Easter Mouse right before Christmas and here he is.

During the design phase of this card I knew it was lacking something so I consulted my husband.  He is not in the least bit crafty but often has some good input.  He said the egg needed grass, because it isn't Easter without Easter grass and by jove, he was right.

The Fine Print: "This Egg's for You" House Mouse stamp by Stampabilities, paper from my stash, egg die by Cheery Lynn, grass die by A Muse Studio, Madera Corner die by Memory Box, and pink bling by Queen & Co. And yes, next month I plan to be more timely with this challenge.

Team Crap

The other evening my cough came back with a vengeance... not that ever really went away in the first place.  There I sat coughing and hacking and hacking and coughing.  Not to be outdone the cat decided to blow snot everywhere.  He sneezed and wheezed and made all sorts of disgusting snotty noises.

Hubby came out and shook his head at both of us.  He said between the two of us we made quite the team, so I dubbed us Team Crap.

We are thinking about getting team T-shirts made.  Team Crap has done some wonderful fund raising. So far we've raised enough money to buy a box of tissue.  And not the cheap stuff either!  We're totally styling with the lotion infused tissue.  Team Crap might sign up for a 5K fun run as soon as we find some designated runners.  Certainly you didn't expect us to run in our frail conditions, did you?  Jack thinks we should do a hot dog eating contest but I say only if they are kosher.  One must have standards you know.  And now I totally want a hot dog.

The Fine Print: Jack got the good pink medicine from the doctor. Me I still cough on unmedicated (because they say coughing is good for you). House Mouse stamp by Stampa Rosa, letters by Basic Gray, papers and ribbon from my stash.  Go Team Crap!

Summertime Fun

I don't have many of the House Mouse friends stamps since I'm not overly fond of them.  I guess I'm a purist and would rather stick to the one, the only, the original House Mouse.  But I do have this lovely stamp that my friend sent me and I fell in love with it right away.

I thought of this stamp immediately when I heard about the House Mouse & Friends challenge of "Here Comes the Sun."  I knew I wouldn't make it in time to join but I still wanted to play with this stamp.

I poked through one of my stashes of papers labeled "Summer" and came up with these that I just had to use. I love the card base because it is this patterned blue on the outside and a happy orange on the inside. I realize that the way I made the card doesn't lend itself to you knowing it is orange inside until you open it.

As much as I liked that card, it wasn't as bright and perky as I would like a summertime card to be. Plus I ran across these other lovely papers when looking for the ones above.  And thus this card was born too.

The Fine Print: Papers by DCWV, glitter circle stickers by Sticko, dies by Spellbinders, Happy Hoppers stamp by Stampabilities "Seed Shooter."  It is funny I like this stamp being as I don't like people who spit things, chew, snot gobbers, gum, watermelon seeds... nope, don't like it at all.  In fact, I'm not a real big fan of mouths.  You know, they have so much going against them--teeth that may or may not be brushed well; tongues that may be funny colors, pierced, stinky; spittle with whatever else that may include; and often they are just flapping and flapping with inane chatter coming out of them.  Nope, not a fan.  Love this stamp though.  Can bunnies even spit? I know alpacas can. Or is that llamas?



Mouse! In my... Yarn?

Today is an all around good day. One of the many things that made it a good day is I got a chance to play with my new birthday toys!

Lookie, lookie at that!  Not only did I use some new goodies, but I made a square card and put lots of different patterns on it.  Plus, I got to try out the technique where you use a circular die but keep a piece of your design hanging out over the circle. 

You wanna know what makes a good day even gooder?!  Finding out that the rumors that Hobby Lobby are coming to your town are true!  That is just so excellent.  My husband is going to need a raise in order to keep me in the style I wished to be kept. :-)

The Fine Print: House Mouse stamp by Stampabilities "Close Knit Friendship," patterned papers by Lily Bee Designs, solid cardstock by Bazzill, gemstones by Hero Arts.  Rumor confirmation via the hubby via Inside Tucson Business (.com). Woot!

Got Luck?

Hi. My name is Popsicle and I'm going to jump onto this blog while my mom is being busys. I have a bery scary story to tell you.  My mom wented outside last night and came rushing in reelie fast. She said her feets were cold but I knew it was cuz there was a monster out there. I wented to go peek at the monster out the window but he must have sneeked in the door cuz as soon as I looked, he grabbed my feets and dragged me down! It was so scary! The monster had tentacles and they gotted all over me and I fought and struggled and then I gots away. But the monster threw a spear a me and bullets came out everywhere! Shrapnels! My heart was beeting so fast! And I ran and ran and ran but the grounded turned into quicksand and it was having avalanches everywhere! My mom started yelling and I think the monster got scared by her cuz I got away and hidded under the blankets. I think my mom killeded the monster and cut it into pieces cuz she gotted the vacuum cleaner out even thoughs it was like six hours pasted her bedtime.  Whew.

Later, my big brother Jack came and tolded me that I fell off the cabinet and got tangled in the electric cords and knocked over a big lamp on a pole and it broked and made lots of pieces and then I tried to run up the side of her computer desk but all the papers and boxes came crashing down.  I don't think that's right though. But just in case there is any truth to that rumor, I better hope I'm lucky and my mom still likes me cuz it is a lot of work to find someone to adopt you.  My stomach gets all sick just thinking of it.

The Fine Print: A real lamp was killed in the making of this story. No monsters were harmed. House Mouse stamp by Stampa Rosa, greeting by A Muse Artstamps, window hole punch by Stampin' Up.  Note from the mom-Pappy was so scared that it was hard to be mad at her. She might have used up one of her nine lives on that one.

Sugar and Spice and All Things Mice

HMFMC #114

I thought I'd start the day out with a serving of Cute in the form of my entry to the House Mouse and Friends challenge.  This week's challenge is to create something with the theme "sugar and spice and all things nice" for a special little one in my life. 

I don't have a little one in my life and I wouldn't make a card for a wee one if I did.  Those miniature humans need rags-lots of rags-because one thing you can count on with them is that something will leak out of some hole somewhere!  But getting back to the topic of all things frilly and girly, I made this card.  For those of you who poked around my desk post yesterday, you may notice that this card is a bit jazzed up since you saw it last.  I want to expand my cards with more elements so I added some glitter punched hearts, a couple of flourishes and a fancy pin that I made all by my little lonesome.  I'm rather pleased with the end result.

If you want to check out the House Mouse Monday Challenge, check it out: here. There is a lot of girly, frilly, and sweet artwork this time to appeal to your ultra feminine side.

The Fine Print: Stamp by Stampa Rosa (yep, another of my oldie but goodie), colored with Copic markers, border punch by Martha Stewart, heart punch by Stampin' Up, flourish die cut from Memory Box, papers by unknown.

Welcome to the 143rd WOYWW

WOYWW = What's on Your Workdesk Wednesay--a crazily addictive blog wherein a bunch of zany crafters share their work spaces, warts and all.  You can visit Stamping Ground to meet our wonderful hostess, Julia Dunnit, and see what all the fuss is about.  Here's a fine example below, my desk!

 I went for a wider view this time so you can see more.  Starting on the left is a tall stack of Iris carts that holds frequently used items, or rather what used to be frequently used items.  I suppose one of these days I should reorganize that to make it be more useful.  I use the top two drawers a lot-decorative scissors and my Marvy ink pads & Sticklers.

On top of that is a hodge podge of card bases.  In front of that is a plastic bin of random kits.  They used to be in various baggies but I have a plastic bag eating cat now.  The flowered plastic shoebox is my travel box of supplies.  The box of plastic bins has solid colored cardstock pieces sorted by color.  I access those a lot.

You can see all the different organizational bins on top of my desk.  All sorts of things are in them--cat eye inkpads, Marvy markers, bulky paper flowers, decorative tape, staples, ribbon charms, scrapper's floss, shaped paperclips, my stash of snippets, sponges, water brushes and blender pens, my mini anvil for eyelet setting, my giant double-stick tape tape dispenser.  The purple squirt bottle is to clean stamps and keep cats in control.  There is a desk organizer with scissors, rulers, paper piercers, and the like as well as a built-in tape dispenser.

The black cart to the right of my desk has a basket of ribbons and random projects on top of it.  In it is ribbons, stickers, dimensional stickers, more ribbons, bling and pearls, embossing powder, a tag maker and other more light weight things.  The pile in front of that is my latest Club Scrap boxes with some magazines, catalogs and papers mixed in with my new Stampin' Up purchases and a border punch I used.  Things I'm working on or with often end up right there in a pile.

There is the usual assortment of stuff UNDER my desk.  There is the usual random stuff ON my desk.  One of the side shelves (I call them cutting boards but would slaughter anyone who cut into them) is opened up and has a box of pink and red embellishments on it with a House Mouse Card on top.  I love, love, LOVE those cutting boards that I can pull out for added space and push in when not needed.

On my desk is a project I abandoned for the evening.  I wanted to make a cute card with a fairy stamp from this set of stamps I got free in a magazine a long time ago. You see as far as I got.  There are left over pink papers from my House Mouse card, some circular die cuts, new pom pom ribbon from Stampin' Up, tapestry needles that I just found to repair the burgandy colored strap that's barely peeking into the photo.  In the upper right corner you can see my stack of new stamps that are waiting for me to use them.

That's it for Wednesday's post.  Stay tuned tomorrow when I'll give you an up close and personal look at that HM card and maybe I'll have a fair card for you... and who knows what else!