And ... another teacher appreciation card

OK, I promise this is the last MFT card for a while!

Today has NOT been a great day.  While mowing the lawn, I tripped over a hose left out and landed in the bushes.  Not only did I rip my pants, but I bruised my backside.  Then ... (as if that wasn't terrible enough) I managed to lock myself out of the house and had to hobble (with my behind hanging out) around to the front of the house where I knew there was a spare key hidden.  And then it started to rain. 

I took it as a sign that God wanted me to stamp and not mow the lawn.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow being better.

Card recipe:
Stamps: MFT: Cowboy
Accessories: MFT dies, copics, CB folder, ribbon,

Another Teacher Appreciation card

Yep, it's another teacher appreciation card.  Still trying to catch the attention of the MFT team (yooo-whooo, pick me, pick ME!) so I (once again) used an MFT stamp and die.

This time I used Jen's deconstructed sketch for my guide.  I altered it a tad since I used more than three loops.  I was in the mood for five.   And, I didn't really sew.  I got about 3/4 around the page and realized that my bobbin had run out (Can we say, "distracted dork?").  Sooo, I just went for the "punched look" as opposed to the "sewed" look.  Oh well.

And guess what ... I will have one MORE for you tomorrow too!  This is what happens when  I am car-less and trapped at home ... I am required to stamp.  I suppose I should THANK the youngest son for stepping on my vente sugar-free vanilla latte, causing it to spray everywhere and forcing me to get the car detailed! 

Have a great day.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: MFT: You Make the Grade, Phrase: Stampendous: Changito, School Days
Paper: This and That
Accessories: copics, MFT: monarch border

My Next Obsession: Solid Lotion

Two weekends ago I went to a quilt convention.  And tucked to one side of all the fabric booths a little table was set up.  The woman there was selling solid lotion.  It smelled amazing and wasn't expensive so I sprung for one.

It's 13 and a 1/2 days later and I've completely used it up.

I think the reason that I like it so much is that because I handle paper and fabric so often that any moisture in my hands is wicked away.  This solid lotion seems to moisturize better than anything that I've ever bought in the stores and well,

I wanted more!!

Sooo, I went on-line, found a recipe and made it today

Here are the ingredients:
LouAnn Coconut oil
Shea Butter
Bees Wax
Vitamin E oil
Essential fragrance oil (I used Vanilla)
Molds (I got mine at Michaels)

The LouAnn oil, vitamin E and fragrance oil are from Whole Foods and the other ingredients are from Bramble Berry, online.  I used 8 ounces of the solid ingredients and 14 drops of the vitamin E and about that of the fragrance oil.

I used a double boiler system to melt all the ingredients and then poured it into my molds (and btw, I DO have a real one, I was a little concerned that I wouldn't get the smell of the lotion out of it so I just jury-rigged one using a cheap pan I bought from Wal-mart).

Since I was winging it, here are a few things I learned today:  Shea butter is finicky and gets grainy when over-heated.  Add it last and remove the pan from the heat AS SOON as it melts in the pan.

Add the Vitamin E while everything is still heating.  If you add it later, it curdles in the mold!

My lotion is a bit toooo melty.  When I make it again (and I will) I think I'll add less Coconut oil (maybe 6 ounces instead) and maybe add 2 extra ounces of bees wax.

Buy more molds than you think you need.  We had three mold pans and that wasn't NEARLY enough.  We ended up putting the extra portions in sippy cups!  Not good!

And last, a little fragrance goes a looooooong way!  I carefully put 14 drops in and my friend added a huge squirt more because she thought it "smelled a bit weak".  By the time we smacked the molds and packed everything up in their little tins, we REEKED of vanilla!

So get out there, be adventurous and make some SOLID lotion!

Creative Card Crew Challenge: Ribbon

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for another challenge from the Creative Card Crew.  This week, we want you to get into your ribbon groove. 

This week we are sponsored by The Paper Shelter and there is a $20 voucher available for the winning card.  I used "Cirque"  which comes as a pre-colored image, a black line version and there was even paper available.  Since I wanted to match her to the card stock I chose to use the black line version.

Ironically, as I was making my card, I nearly forgot to put ribbon on it.  Yikes.  Fortunately I was able to slap some on without upsetting the balance of the card.  We sure would like to see YOUR card this week.  Why don't you hurry over to the Creative Card Crew site and join in the fun.

Supplies:
Stamps: The Paper Shelter, Memory Box phrase
Paper: Authentique
Accessories: copics, nestibilities, MS punch, pearl, sewing machine.

Can you believe that the school year is almost over?!!   Teacher Appreciation week is in two weeks. Yikes, I have GOT to finish Ms. B's quilt!  I wanted to get a jump on making my cards and My Favorite Things is looking for a guest designer for the month of May.  So I thought that I'd proverbially 'kill two birds with one stone."  I made Ms. B's "thanks" card and plan to use this to submit to the contest.  What the heck!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: MFT: You Make the Grade, phrase: Stampendous: Changito School Days
Supplies: Copics, MFT monarch die, button, twine, MFT mini tab die

Pinterest Obsession

I admit it ... I'm obsessed.

I can waste more time on the computer than anyone I know. Between Splitcoast Stampers, Facebook and e-mail, time just slips away. Sadly, there is a NEW site that has grabbed my fancy and it's called Pinterest.

Some of you are probably thinking, why would you waste time on the computer when there are gardens to hoe and trails to hike. You are right of course, BUT, if you have a free moment ... check it out.

Today is P-day (pinterest day) at my house. I made THIS card from a sketch on my page AND I'm making dinner comprised ENTIRELY of pinterest recipes. We're having Grilled Flank Steak, and Green Bean Bundles.

We made Mini Caramel Apple Bits for our playdate yesterday. They were delicious but I have to report that MANY pretzels were destroyed in the making! Apparently, two six year old boys can NOT be gentle!

Tonight's dinner will either be a fantastic meal or a dismal failure! Exciting and unknown. I'll let you know how it goes!

Inky Impressions Challenge 55 "Birthday"

Happy Wednesday!!

Time for another Inky Impressions challenge. This week the challenge is "Birthday." Easy Peasy Pumpkin Cheesy, right?

This week we are sponsored by Nitwit Creations, a digital scrap-booking and card supply source. We were lucky enough to be able to pick out one kit to help make our birthday card. They actually had MANY cool things.

A few nights ago, I couldn't sleep so I got up to craft. I decided to make my card. Here's where I should probably tell you that I've never used digital paper before [grin] So it's about 2 in the morning and I'm trying to get the card stock to feed through the [grrr] printer. Needless to say, I couldn't get it to work. Came to find out that I was shoving it through the front and apparently it's a back feeder, anywho, I had to make due with the shiny printer paper. Sooo I don't love the shininess of the card. But ... I will say that I will try digital paper again. I REALLY like the idea of being able to print more paper when needed. And perhaps crafting at 2 in the morning is NOT the best idea that I've ever had :-)

Why don't you join us this week?!! Upload your card to the Inky Impression site and use the keyword IIC55. This could be YOUR week to be selected as the winner of a free digi, or get a blinkie for being our Top 3 pick.

A Manly Get Well Card

Ken wanted to give a homemade card to his boss who is in the hospital. So he dug through the stash to find a get well soon card and .... came up empty. Oh there are cards in the file, but none that fit his specifications. All the get wells I have are either pink or cutesy. Apparently it's just wrong to give pink mice and little bunnies to manly bosses. Who knew?!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo
Paper: This and That, sewing machine, band-aid button

No card ... just stuff

I just got back from a quilt/fabric convention and I am giddy at the prettiness that I saw. I want to go ... be creative, but I'm leaving to go to Denver in 25 minutes. I'm actually considering opening a small quilting business with a friend and went to price out supplies.

Three things I learned about Quilters/Crafters:

1. There are HUGE amount of us. That place was PACKED.

2. I am JUST as obsessed about pretty fabric as I am about pretty paper. I must have been a hoarder or a magpie in another life. (ooooh shiny)

3. I spent a day with a bunch of people who all called me "young lady" and I liked that!

Anywho, anyone who has business advice for me, send me an e-mail. And in the meantime, I present ....

10 Fun Questions About Me That You Never Knew!

I saw this on a friend's blog and thought ... what a freakin' cool idea (especially since I don't have a picture of something lovely that I created and well ... I needed to post.)

1. Book or movie and why?

Book. Sorry movie fans, but authors spend literally months figuring out things and there is sooo much more detail in the books. Movie directors think, how can I explain this plot and do it in a way that spends the least amount of money. There is, of course, one exception: the second Twilight book (yep, I read 'em ... oh great now you think less of me because I read teen horror) I thought Bella was waaaay too moody and darn near didn't make it through the book. The movie didn't suck ... as much.


2. Real book or e-book?

Hmmm, I have a nook and I DO like being able to immediately get a title but since I forget to plug my nook in frequently, I guess I'd have to say ... both


3. Besides crafting, what's your favorite thing to do when you get some extra time?

Reading. Board games (certainly my husband would accuse me of being addicted to Words with Friends since I've been known to secretly play it on Date Night.)


4. Funniest thing you've done in the last 5 years?

I have to say when we met the new neighbors. And it really wasn't really ME who was funny, more the youngest son. While chit-chatting with total strangers ("Hey, welcome to the neighborhood. Nice to meet you") The youngest comes up and says, "Hey mom, didja know that China rhymes with vagina?" I'm sure that if I were a fly on the wall, the expression on my face would have been hi-larious.


5. How would your best friend describe you?

Creative, occasionally whiny, and not the least bit financially practical but certainly fun to watch try to assemble a toy without reading the directions.


6. Would your choice of party be a catered meal or barbecue out back?

Seriously? Let me think ... a BBQ out back where I do the cooking, cleaning and worrying about weather or a catered meal where I sit on my butt and get served a meal by a hunky man with a cut chest, wearing nothing but an apron? I'm gonna go with catered. OK, maybe not the apron. Now if Toby Keith were coming and playing a set, I probably could be convinced otherwise.


7. Favorite kind of car and why?

I'm sure that Jeremy from Top Gear would be saddened by my response but ... I gotta go with the Ford Shelby GT 500. It's pretty and ooooooh shiny!


8. What's your favorite season and why?

Autumn. Having grown up in Arizona, where there is NEVER cold weather, I love the crispness of Fall. I like crunchy leaves in the yards and scarecrows in peoples entryways and who doesn't like candy?


9. What specific lesson have you learned - Spiritual, educational, occupational?

Hmm, I've learned MANY spiritual lessons about trusting God always but in keeping with the lighthearted tone of this post, I'm going to say, never give the birds and bees talk when neighbors move in.


10. What's one place you can be found at least one time every week?

I wish I could say the Barnes and Noble or a craft store but the more honest answer is the grocery store. I've even had weeks when I can honestly say I've been every DAY! Bleah.

Thanks for stopping by

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #156

I needed more birthday cards. So I strolled through a few blogs to find a sketch that I loved, and found one on the Sweetest Thing blog. Karen has a great sketch challenge on Sundays. Here's this week's sketch

My card is a bit of a hybrid since I didn't want to use those wonky Arch thingees. I have them but find that they don't layer nicely. Oops, there's my obsessive need for perfection showing again. So instead of spending hours staring at (and grumping) about a uneven card, I just used ovals instead.

I love how Stampin Up's "Unfrogettable" set goes perfectly with this Inky Impression stamp.

Don't forget that there is a challenge going on on the Inky Impressions challenge blog . The challenge this week is to create your own embellishment.

Have a great day

Challenges:
Use it Tuesday: Anything Goes
The Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #156

Creative Card Crew Challenge "Kraft"

Happy Tuesday!

Today Creative Card Crew is inviting you to "get Krafty" and make something with your Kraft paper. Today we are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp and you could win a $20 voucher to the store. Yippeee. I don't know if you've ever wandered over, but there are some cool things on the site.

I wanted to use one of the Pure Innocence stamps that I got in the mail a few days ago. I am sooo hopelessly addicted to them, I'm sure that the owner of MFT giggles when she sees my orders and starts planning a vacation to the Bahamas. {Sigh}. Must get a grip!

Why don't you mosey over to the Creative Card Crew site and post your card. We would sure like to see you participate.

Using a SS Kit

I had some free time to play and so I grabbed one of the fabulous kits made by my secret sister. I loved how she included extra images stamped on DP, which allowed me to paper piece the image. I always forget how stinkin' cute Changito is; I haven't used one in a while.

I needed a quick "thanks" card to give my husband's boss. Each year she makes my kids bags stuffed full of great kid stuff. This year is no exception.

Inside this little bag there are games, crafts, hats, and more candy than you can shake a stick at (excellent, JUST what they need!) But thank you soooo very much Nancy. You rock.

Inky Impressions Challenge 53 "April Showers"

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another Inky Impressions challenge. This week the challenge is "April Showers," however you chose to interpret that. Sounds easy, doesn't it? But ... for some reason I struggled with it. I didn't have a stamp that reflected rain, babies or even wedding showers so I finally took the easy out and just went with blue. Rain is blue, right?

It didn't help that I wanted to use my new stamp. This is Nicholas' Firefly Frenzy. Isn't he a cutie. Not really sure what's on his finger tho ... is it a frog, lizard, or alien? Not really sure.

We would LOVE to see your card. Upload it to the Inky Impression site and use the keyword IIC53. This could be YOUR week to be selected as the winner of a free digi, or get a blinkie for being our Top 3 pick.

Challenges Entered:
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

Supplies:
Stamps: All stamps by Inky Impressions
Paper: Authentique
Accessories: copics, ribbon by SU, nestibilities