Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer...

I'm a HUGE Elton John fan.

As you know, for much of my childhood, we didn't have a TV, and so Casey Kasem was my connection to the world beyond my neighborhood. I LOVED the radio. I still love the radio - and it's on all day while I work.

My brother used to use me as some sort of circus performer when I was little, as a matter of fact, because I knew ALL the words to EVERY Beatles song and could recite them on demand.

I never understood why stupid stuff like chemistry and statistics were not set to music - I might have had a chance at remembering molality and molarity if that had been the case.

But I loved Elton and Billy Joel the most. I got to see them together here in Austin once and they were fantastic.

We also had this - a beautiful little music box with a tiny, twirling dancer in it that I love(d).

I totally thought Elton John had one of these or maybe knew about ours.

It made the "tiny dancer" phrase make complete sense in my warped child brain.

Please note - I also for a brief time thought that all the bands playing the music on the Casey Kasem countdown were actually INSIDE my radio, so my theories at that time left a little to be desired in terms of realism.

But I'm just being honest.

So when I saw the Talented Trio stamp set in the new catalog and this sweet little ballerina, what jumped into my head was the song Tiny Dancer.

What's hilarious about this is that when I Instagrammed my work in progress on this image, Stampin' Up! totally called it:

I'm guessing Chad and I must be about the same age :)

So what I did with her is stamp her on black Canson Mi Teintes pastel paper with Whisper White ink, and then colored her with Luminance Pencils.

There's definitely a technique to these pencils, which I cover in the video. I love them soooooo much. They really remind me of pastels, but without the mess.

Pencils used: 037, 585, 876, 171, 242, 046, 906, 571, 866, 872, 083, 069, 350, 077

Brush used: Royal Crafter's Choice
Reusable DIY Stamp Wipes

Here's a little video of the process - it's the whole thing but I've sped up the coloring so you don't die of boredom.

And remember - if you want this stamp set - order $25 or more in my store in June and you'll get a bonus PDF of this month's class projects, which I never publish online. 

The pencils are so dramatic and, well - LUMINOUS on darker paper. I haven't been able to move to lighter papers because I got so hooked on the greys and blacks when I started working with them.

They are spendy pencils, but the good news is you can purchase them in open stock and try them out if you want. 

I hope you do - I love the heck out of them!

And, for your daily music fix - here's the video of Sir Elton.

Loveyameanitbye.

Sew Crates

So my sister, who is five years older than me, taught me how to read when I was three. I think I was like a toy, and it was fun for her to teach me things like that. But I got an early start with language, thanks to her, and became a voracious reader.

As a consequence, I tended to read whatever she was reading, which meant that I *might* have read some things that weren't age-appropriate, since I was reading them at the same time she was when she was five grades ahead of me.

A few examples include: The Stand (which is still his best I think - he went off the rails in the 90s, IMHO and is starting to come back), Flowers in the Attic and... (one that we sing the movie theme to pretty much every time we see each other)....

Here's the song in case you want the same earworm I have every time I think of this book - it's still my favorite Michael Jackson song:

Only Michael Jackson could make a rat sound that awesome. When you listen to him sang it now, it almost seems autobiographical.

Anyway, when she taught me to read, it wasn't on the classics - it was on Lucky My Lucky Little Puppy, and Harold and the Purple Crayon and whatnot, and so by the time I read Ben in my tender youth, I had never heard the pronunciation of "Socrates" in real life. So when I encountered that character in the book, my pronunciation of it in my head was "Sew Crates." I think I said it out loud at dinner once and my entire family dissolved into hysterical laughter. 

Well this happened to me again just yesterday as I was creating a video for today's project. 

I was using this month's Paper Pumpkin kit to create an ikat design, and - well, I'll just let you watch the video. Click here if you don't see a video player below.  And again sorry for the video quality - I'll be back in my setup soon.

Yeah - not at all how it sounded in my head!! Oh well. Live and learn. Darn you, Steve Jobs!!

Okay so as you saw in that video I have a SUPER exciting idea for you, courtesy of my downline Jen. I have  really not enjoyed using baby wipes on my stamps, for the reasons I explain in the video. So she came up with an idea that I had to try to DIY. 

I normally hate research - but I actually did a LOT of research before I put all these things together - read reviews, etc. and I'm glad I did because I'm LOVING this. So watch the video and the links for what I used are below it.

ZOUNDS - it's amazing!!!

Here are the things I used - click the pictures or the name of the product:

1. Oxo Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser

2.  Medline disposable washcloths

3. Stampin' Mist Stamp Cleaner:

4. Quilting Guides for the MISTI (What I use as a positioner)

Sew their yew gaugh.

Things don't always sound like they look :)

I hope that tip is useful for you!

Loveyameanitbye.

I'll Follow You Until You Love Me...

If you allow yourself enough time, great revelations will sneak up on you and yell BOOOO! 

These products are sneak peeks from the upcoming Holiday Mini - let me know if you need one! :)

Stamps: Googly Ghouls

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive

Paper: Whisper White, Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP

Accessories: Self-adhesive Googly eyes, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, TouchTwin markers: BG3 & BG5

I had just such a moment today. I'm off today and tomorrow so I'm focusing on things that make me happy - walking, stamping, reading. I made this cute little fella after a leisurely food trailer lunch with my sister and brother in law - oh wait - want a picture?

Yes, these are the best tacos in the world.

Anyway, I came home to play with my new Holiday Mini Catalog goodies, and when I had made a card, I went to take a pic and my camera battery was dead.

Insert space-time continuum here. And a little serendipity.

For some strange reason, I decided to listen to something while waiting for my batteries to charge I had previously posted but hadn't heard in a long time, which was this.


I honestly have no idea why I picked this today, but I've always been so drawn to this performance. It's so passionate and perfect. I never saw anything like this in 6th grade, that's for sure. One of the things I love the most though, is that after you get lost in his soulful rendition of the song, (which is pretty less than average when not performed by him) he stands up, and he's just a little boy again. He was completely transformed by the performance, and by his gift.


If you really listen to the words, though, there is a great lesson in there, enhanced by his complete brilliance.


And no - it's not to stalk a celebrity.


It's career advice.


Don't you wish you could go back in time and have someone tell you to follow the things you were most passionate about until they loved you back? Skip all the other stuff and "stalk" what you love? Not let filler jobs or time or space or people get in the way?


I can tell you from personal experience that life is completely different when you do that. Is it hard? Yes. Is it worth it? Is there a word stronger than yes? Insert that word here. 

You should go out right now and find a kid to tell that to if there's not one in your own house. If that fails you, tell a grownup.

Life is too short not to stalk what you love. :) Make it love you back. Follow it until it does.

Loveyameanitbye.

I Have No Professional Training...

I have been pondering crafts this week and various crafty topics.

Then today, I went to the bank to deposit a check from Dell - a result of an accounting mistake on a computer I bought years ago. I'm glad they caught it, because surprise money is never a bad thing, even if it's small.

Anyway, the teller at the the bank started reading my shirt. I had to look down, because I don't really think carefully about the t-shirt I choose before I run out the door at lunch to go to the bank. I usually am pleased if I get it on right side out.

It says: "I have no professional training. I already gave my best. I have no regrets at all."

Do you remember that? Or who said it?

Well, it was this guy.

Yep. William Hung. That's a pic of when he came here to Austin. Yes, I took a half day. :)

 And here he is saying it during his audition on American Idol.

Now that, my friends, is true love. 

He just loved that song, and loved singing, and he clearly didn't define his love for it by what anyone else did or thought - he defined it by singing it to the best of his ability.

After I left the bank, I thought about the things I love versus the things I have professional training for and I tried to find a match. 

I really couldn't. I'm professionally trained in all sorts of things that would bore you right to death if I listed them. 

I would not list "love" next to any of those. 

But I do love the things that I'm a complete bona fide rank amateur at. 

Cooking.

Needle felting.

Remodeling.

Painting.

Organizing colored pencils.

Patting furry creatures.

Walking.

Speaking Pig Latin. 

Tweeting.

Crafting. 

Specifically papercrafting. 

Yeah, I've taken a class or two. But those classes are taught by people like me. People who just love DOING it, and have found some awesome tricks. We didn't go to school for it, or get a license, or have papercrafting insurance or titles.

We just love it. We give our best. We have no regrets at all. :)

I made this card with no training whatsoever. And I have no regrets at all. I already gave my best. 

Stamps: Elementary Elegance (Sale-A-Bration - Free with $50 order), 

Bright Blossoms (Sneak Peek set I got at Leadership)

Ink: Basic Black Paper: Whisper White

Accessories: Framelits, Labels Collection, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, 

Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Watercolor Wonder Crayons

I've been crafting since I was a child, thanks to my mother, and my school, and Brownies and 4H. I'm so excited whenever I see a little girl crafting, and I try to involve myself in things that help girls craft. Especially since I know what a lifelong love and comfort it becomes.

Today, my sister sent me a picture of a purse her sweet little neighbor girl - Chloe - made her out of duct tape. I doubt I ever made anything this spectacular at her age. Or most ages since!

Way to go Chloe! Thanks for keeping the crafty torch burning. I can't wait until you have your own crafty blog. :) I'll read it every day, I promise.

Loveyameanitbye.

Forever Praise We...

You know how people (who don't have/like animals) always tell you that the reason your pets like you is because you feed them? That all of the purring and snuggling and tail wagging is designed to get you to give them some pet chow?

Well of course you know I don't believe THAT. I know they love us.

And I also know that not everything that motivates behavior on this earth is food or shelter or some other primitive need.

I know that some things exist solely to give us joy.

One of the ways I know this is because I heard this on the way home on Christmas Eve.

Now listen to that and then tell me that that gift she has serves some utilitarian purpose. I won't believe you.

That is a gift  meant purely to enhance the joy of humans on earth.

And does it ever.

Joy is good. The sense of lightness and fun we all share for a few weeks at the holidays is really a treasure. I hope you are enjoying it, no matter what you're doing, or where you're doing it.

In addition to the joy, I always think on Christmas of our brave men and women who won't spend this Christmas at home, and their families getting through the holidays without them. Today on the radio, a General said "remember the empty chair."

So in honor of both human joy and the empty chair, here is one of my favorite Christmas songs on my Ipod, but with a very special twist :) Welcome home to the troops headed our way, and God bless all the rest.

(click here if you don't see a video player)

This Christmas I decided my card should be merry and bright! You know by now that I love to make monochromatic, sort of subdued Christmas cards, but I decided to step out a bit this year into something splashier. More joyful.

To make them, I used my Aqua Painter and Poppy Parade, Summer Sun and Tempting Turquoise reinkers and painted stripes around four sides of Naturals White cardstock and punched that out with the ornament punch. I got 20 of these per sheet for a total of 8 sheets of cardstock. Then I cut 1/8" strips of silver glimmer paper. This was a wee bit more than half a sheet total. Then 80 sheets of Whisper White, the stamped greeting from Peaceful Season and the music from Nature's Pace and voila! 160 handmade cards for $19.75 in consumables - or .12 a card!

Add the joy of making handmade cards and what do you get?

Priceless.

I hope your Christmas is joyful. And filled with pie. :)

Loveyameanitbye.

Edelweiss

I remember SO vividly the first time I saw the Sound of Music, (which is great, and I could go on yada yada) that what I loved the MOST was Edelweiss. I don't know why I loved that song more than all the other fantastic music in that movie, but I did, and still do. (Click the link above if you don't see a video player.)

Doesn't that song just make you feel peaceful and happy?

I might have to put the 45th Anniversary edition of the movie on my Christmas list. I don't have a Blu-Ray but the boxed set is a combo Blu Ray/DVD so maybe I could give the Blu-Ray to Kim! :) If that's even what combo means. Honestly, I don't even know. Audio/video/stereo/movie stuff is the one tech area where I'm not a geek and could completely care less. If I can see it and hear it before I fall asleep - I'm fine. I don't need it to come with 3D and aromatherapy and 30 gigahertz of decibels or whatever. But here's what I'm adding to the Blue List.

Every time I make a white flower on a card, I think of that song, even though I've never seen one of those flowers in real life.

Here's a beautiful illustration of one from Wikipedia, in case you haven't either.

I was humming that pretty little tune late on Friday night when I made one of my class projects for yesterday's class. I kept the two cards pretty CAS since we had a more complicated (and adorable) 3D project to make. I will show it to you when the Sizzix blog hop gets rolling because I made the project for that hop - SQUEE!

But speaking of Sizzix, my sweet white flower is just two of the flowers from the Fun Flowers die, curled up with the fat end of my bone folder.

The center of the flower was punched from red glimmer paper with my Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack. 

In the background, trying HARRRRRDDDDDD to steal the show, is the stunning Holly Berry Bouquet designer paper. I wish I had oodles of this paper - I love these roses.

This would make a super Christmas card and it would easily mail flat.

Speaking of those - I haven't designed mine yet. I better get cracking.

Oh - before you go - head over to my Project Reanimate Blog and see what I was up to on TV last week with some fun recycled Christmas ornaments!

Loveyameanitbye.


 

Lord, I Hope This Day is Good....

You know that song by Don Williams - Lord, I Hope This Day is Good?

Here's the song if you've never heard it.You should listen to the whole thing before you read my modified lyrics so that you know how to sing it quietly to yourself. Ready? Okay - here are my lyrics:

Lord, I hope this day is good
I've sneezed more than any one human should
I should be thankful Lord, I know I should,
But Lord I hope this day is good.

Lord, have you forgotten me?
I've taken allergy shots faithfully,
I've got Benadryl on my nightstand,
So Lord, I hope you understand

I don't need cedar and I don't need molds,
Send down the flu bug Lord, send down the colds
But when you're planning just how it will be
Plan a good day for me.

You've been the king since the dawn of time
All I'm asking is a little less crying,
It might be hard for the devil to do
But it would be easy for you!

SERIOUSLY.

Sometimes I wonder why I live here.

Then I drag my sneezy butt over to East Austin to a gourmet milkshake truck food trailer, and I remember.

But still. I could use a break from the mold.

Today is the final day of the Hope You Can Cling To challenges, and I'm hosting the very last one. I decided to make it a sprint to the finish line - no slacking - so my challenge is a Costume Party!

Basically, you have to make a project that is the opposite of your normal style. So if you are a clean & simple stamper, you have to make a foofy card. If you're foofy, you have to go clean & simple.

For my stamping "costume" I went 3D, because I'm so not naturally a 3D project kind of girl.

I made a matchbox die "dresser" with 24 matchboxes and decorated it with some Lost & Found paper, brads and ribbon. I'll be doing a tutorial on this for Splitcoast later.

You still have tons of time to come play - the upload deadline is November 7th at noon central, and there is $7500 worth of prizes on the line - so what are you waiting for?

If you play in my challenge, the keyword for the Splitcoast gallery is HYCCT1131.

Achoo. 

Bless me.

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer...

Is singing loud for all to hear....

It's true. I know because it's from Elf, one of the top three Christmas movies in the history of Christmas. (The other two are Christmas Vacation and the original Die Hard, in case you were wondering).

For many of us, a good chunk of the joy of Christmas is the chance to revel in its lovely and cheery and positive music. I think I sing out loud more at Christmas than any other time of the year, and despite the fact that I can't sing, I sing a LOT. :)

Anyway, I thought I should make a card that was quiet other than the music, so I made a little Christmas ditty with no words, just music.

I took sheet music, hand cut trees out of it and sponged Cool Caribbean around the edges. Then I added stickles on top of that.

Then, inspired by my beloved Mel and by Karla, I came up with this layout.



For the 3D "snow" I used the new Stampin' Up! dotted embossing folder for the Big Shot from the upcoming Occasions Mini. I cannot get enough dots!! For the curved top I just used my circle die after I had already cut the panel for the front of the card. Easy.

Here's a closeup.

I hand cut the little hills at the bottom.

So I hope your heart is singing with holiday goodness, and to make sure it is, here's a video with one of my favorite Christmas songs, and a beautiful and sweet home video from some random family in Utrecht. The animals at the end are precious. If you don't see a video player below, click here to see it.

Talk to you soon. Loveyameanitbye.






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Where Have You Been?

Or, maybe, where have I been?

Remember this song?



I'm just not myself when you're away.. Oh wait - I was away. :) Anyway - it doesn't matter. I'm just not myself when you're away.

So come here. Look at my card. Think Happy Thoughts.

Paper: Kraft, Basic Grey DSP Stamps: Autumn Splendor
Accessories: 1.75" Circle Punch, White Gel Pen, Striped Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch, Rubon

Buy this card on Etsy

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Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Bear..

IT'S MAKE ME LAUGH MONDAY!! I know you thought I forgot, but I didn't! And I really should have posted this before work this morning so that you could make each other laugh all day because MAN - Mondays are hard!!

But, you guys stay up later than I do, so you can giggle at each other's comments until the wee hours if you wanna.

Anyway, what I have been giggling about it what pops into my head every time I play with this amazing flocked paper from the mini catalog... It's fuzzy, which is a word I can't hear without doing this..

Fuzzy Wuzzy
Was a bear
Fuzzy Wuzzy
Had no hair
Fuzzy Wuzzy
Wasn't fuzzy, was he?

BWAAHHHAA - it cracks me up EVERY TIME!! I know - I'm easily amused!!

Anyway, this card is a total case from my friend Marie, whom I adore completely. Her cards are so clean and crisp. So I had to borrow this fuzzy wuzzy one for my craft fair. The flocked paper is amazing and you MUST buy it immediately - it's the Christmas Cocoa DSP. Get it. Now.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Ornament Punch, Top Note Die, Big Shot, Silver Elastic Cord
All Supplies Stampin' Up!

You gotta love something that quick and easy and pretty. Thanks Marie! And then, from my friend Lisa, of PaperGrace. (@papergrace on Twitter). An amazingly sweet woman who has been sooo generous to me, she sent me a complete surprise this week that was so good I almost died.It was two caramel apples from Ethel M. Chocolates. O M G. These are the best caramel apples I've ever had, and trust me, I've had some.

The most perfect caramel apples I've ever had. They both had the most amazing, chewy, buttery caramel in the world. One had peanuts and one had pecans. I actually can't pick which was better. You need to get your paws on these. It's fall, after all. Thanks Lisa - xoxoxoxo. You are too sweet to me.

Finally, for the chills of the week, in case you haven't seen this amazing video - it just disassembles me. Turn your speakers up. God Bless America!
(If you don't see a video player where you're reading, click here.)

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Today, Take a Walk

You have an assignment today.

I'm going to give you some music to listen to while you read what your homework is. If you don't see a music player, click over to the blog. You'll need it.

Today - Take a walk. Through your art. 

I subscribe to hundreds of blogs. Sometimes I have more than a thousand unread posts because I don't have time every day to look through them. But I love em all.

And as I spend more time with each one, I could guess the artist at 20 paces for most of the consistent bloggers. Whether you think you do or not, you have a style. You gravitate towards certain things and you repeat and refine them. And that's a good thing. 

I had a great conversation with a coworker this week about how differently people see you than you see yourself. If you get just the right friend, they may describe you to yourself. You may be surprised. If so, that's very cool. You just met someone new :).

So is the case with your art. Look at it like someone else would for a day or two. This is hard. Harder than it sounds. Get someone to help you. Make them describe your style. Then refine it. This is who you are when you create. Don't change it - intensify it. It's your true talent. 

I think if I took a walk through all my art I'd find little monsters popping out more often than not. Lots of animals. Few people. Quirkiness. Irreverence. Humor. I think I'm a little offbeat.  I like to make fairly clean, defined designs. I like vivid colors. 

But here's the good part. 

That's not what I like to look at. I love ooh-ing and aahing over the shabby chic girls. The vintage and collage artists. The mixed media people. All the things I can't make look good. I love them. I wish I had those skills. But I come home to what I do, and try to make it better.

Now I would never give you an assignment without a prize. 

So here's the deal. You study your art. You leave me a comment on this post by Sunday at 5PM central telling me your objective description of your style.

I will give one of you the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts. :) I won one for the blog header contest, and I had already bought one, so one is for you. Be honest. Be descriptive. Be timely. :)

In my crazy imagined world that I turned to art, I would see people walking down the street with owls for balloons.So I made my world. :)

I used the new Animal Stories set, with Summer Sun, Dusty Durango, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point Blue and Black to create this card for this month's Stampin' Success contest. The greeting is with the new Modern Label punch. Fun, yeah? I'd love to see someone sassing their hiney down the street with floaty owls on strings. I just would.

Hope you have a great Thursday. I can't wait to see what you tell me.

(PS - this version of this song is not the best one. The best one is available on Itunes. It's by Katie Reider. I'm sad to learn that Katie died last year on July 14th. She had the voice of an angel, and this song is a lifetime favorite. RIP Katie. XO, me.)

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This Love is Difficult, but It's Real...

My girl Angela reminded me that Romeo and Juliet is playing at Zilker now. So, before I start, a little music for you to read by. If this video (click over if you don't see it) doesnt stir your soul a little this Friday, you may need to go back to bed..


The two original songs they blended are here...


and here


And I love them both.


Now, I got such a wonderful gift today I can hardly believe it!

My girl Marie, who does the amazing job of military wife & mom, is the creative genius you know at From Combat Boots to Rubber Stamps.

This kind & talented lady sent me these delights this week and if you think you her work is flawless from looking at her blog YOU SHOULD SEE IT UP CLOSE.

Here's a BULLETIN BOARD.
This next one is a card-a-lope. I don't know - that's what I call em. You seal an envelope and cut the top off. Crimp the bottom part and that makes it small enough for the top part to slip over it as a lid. Then you put a card inside. This is absolutely the prettiest one I've ever seen. How sweet is she that everything is blue??Finally - look at this. OMG. Okay - I've never seen anyone put the rhinestone brads in those flower buttons - BRILLIANT!!! Glitter, rhinestones??? This is the card you get when you get to heaven, I'm fairly certain.Absolutely amazing. And she does this in the small hours she has as a temporarily single mom while her DH keeps it the home of the free and the brave.

I'm floored Marie. Thank you so much for sharing your talent and your friendship with me. This is what art does!

I'm convinced stampers are the key to world peace. Stay with me. :)

Now, since it's almost Caturday, I had to share Maddie's "halp" last night when I was trying to box up Sassy Maddie cards.

Yes - by all means, Maddie - eat them.



Hope you're having a great Friday. Thanks for all the votes in the Martha Stewart contest. When the poll closed, I was leading by a few hundred votes, so if that's how they pick - I'm a winner.

But we will see. Thanks for taking the time to vote for me! It means a lot!

XO

Me.




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