Sunday, November 29, 2009

Another One...

Well, it's almost 4:00 p.m. Two more hours to go before the mall closes...Michael's and Jo-Ann's close later. I need black yarn, and brown. I'm learning how to make amigurumi...and I need more yarn. But I don't. I need to practice crocheting. I need to use the craft supplies that I already have.

Here is another card I made, in order to stay busy, to keep the shopping bug at bay...lots of glitter, took me awhile to figure this one. I need something easy to whip out, something that I can give to co-workers. Something that I won't mind if it ends up in the trash at the end of the day. Although, I truly do mind if it does end up in the trash. Because I spent my time on these...they are like little children...I picked out the colors, the ink, the paper I cut, the stamps that I cared for...they are all like small children...only they aren't noisy, I don't worry about where their fingers are...what is going in their mouths.

Okay, maybe they aren't like children. They are like great little attention grabbers that keep me from screaming at the boy who once again has his finger up his nose. Which was just digging around in the front yard looking for mud.

Stamps: Big on Christmas
Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Spica Glitter Pen in Red
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Soft Suede
Accessories: Top Note Die, Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

First Christmas Card of 2009

Oh how I want to go shopping!

I want to run to the mall, buy clothes and makeup, pretzels and a coffee! I want to shop for my family! I want to shop for my friends! I want to walk down the hall swinging bags of fun new stuff. I want to push past other people, all spending money and happy with their family and friends. I want to look at boots and sweaters, search for video games and size tags! I want to shop and shop and shop!

But I can't. I must remain strong in these times, where all the television ads are clawing at my wallet. These times that cause sales to pop into my e-mail and tempt me to spend spend spend. I must remain strong. I must remember my budget. I must remember that I have an ultimate goal.

I must not say "This SUCKS".

In order to remove myself from all of society's temptations, I decided to finally work on some Christmas cards. Okay, really I just made one, in duplicate.


Stamps: Season of Joy
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Old Olive
Ink: Versa Mark, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, and Ruby Red
Accessories: Dimensionals, 1/2" Circle Punch, White Embossing Powder, Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

I must give credit to this card on Splitcoaststampers, it caught my eye as I was looking for inspiration. A true beauty...

For Kathy and Bob

My friend Kathy is stressed. And that is putting it nicely. Not even nicely. That's just the tip of the iceburg for her. She is struggling with family issues, with caring for her parents, with living life...but she manages to put a smile on her face, to help make my bad days shine, and she always is willing to listen.

Or, she pretends to listen and nods at all the right places...

Her husband had a stroke when my little one was out ill. I wasn't able to be there for her the way that she is always there for me. The moment that I returned to work, I ran to her desk and hugged her. Because sometimes, there are no words to convey all that your heart wants to say. Bob is getting better. They hospitalized him and he had numerous strokes while there. Fortunately, there is no permanent damage that the doctors can find. He is slowly coming around to returning to his spitfire self. He has trouble remembering how to do some things, but all in all, he is healing and recovering.

I made this card for them, to let them know that I was thinking and praying for them...

Stamp Set: God's Beauty, Trendy Trees
Paper: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, White Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Still Practicing

Worked on this one...

And made this one...

MDS - My First Attempt

Okay, first off, let me warn you:

I am NOT a scrapbooker. My mom tried to get me started when my daughter was born with pre-made kits, embellishments, all sorts of stuff. But, I never really got it. As time has gone by (ten years +), I have come out of my creative coma and gotten into cardmaking and paper crafting. So, when Stampin' Up! came out with My Digital Studio, I thought "Perfect! Now I can do scrapbook pages that aren't permanent! It's okay to make a mistake!!" And so, when my life finally took a change for the positive, it was the first thing on my list.

Here is my first attempt. Look back, I said "attempt". I will get better.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Online Extravaganza!!

Shhh!!!!!
On Monday (the 23rd!!), SU! is having an online extravaganza! They are going to have massive discounts, up to 50% off on some items! The catch? You have to order online!! So hurry up! Make your wish list and hit up the site Monday! Prices are only good while they last, and I can guarantee that I will be checking the site as soon as the clock strikes 12:01!

Ack!!

Tomorrow is my son's 5th birthday, my baby, my sweet, sweet, little angel. Well, sometimes. Sometimes he is just the funniest, sweetest little person I have ever come across, ever. And then, there are moments where I feel like I see through his gorgeous brown eyes and can see extreme dislike emitting from the pupils, his brow furrowed to no return, and tiny horns protruding from his scalp...usually that's every morning on a weekday.
Today I am hoping to work on my stampin' stuff...I ordered the new My Digital Studio and I am currently downloading it onto my laptop as I type. I can't wait to work with it!! I also ordered the new 3D pop up tree with ornaments (Christmas cards need to be worked on!!), and I ordered two Build-A-Bear dies...absolutely cannot wait to play! Of course, it has to wait until after we get back from our Lowe's Build and Grow class today...hopefully I get a cup of coffee first.
I am also preparing my craft area for new stuff! The new Sale-A-Bration catalog and the Mini Occassions will be out very soon, and I need some room! If you are interested in checking out my list, please contact me at ambercerda at hotmail dot com. I will be selling lots of stamp sets for half price, and some rarely used ink pads, also for half off. I've decided to take on the Craft Ink Pads, I have found that I can create some interesting projects with the craft ink. Please stay posted, there is some more news I cannot wait to share with you!!