Monday again...

but happily, this one is still part of the long weekend. It was a busy one for us. We hosted the party for my new Godson's Christening  on Saturday. Luckily the weather held out and the kids got to swim. We ate a ton of food and had a ton of fun. Sunday was my cousin's big annual Memorial Day party in Staten Island. Another fun day - more swimming, more food, and this time, frozen Margaritas. I love that the summer is just ahead - I want it to start now! Going back to reality tomorrow is not going to be easy. Especially since the next two weeks are going to be nuts.

In the midst of all the action I made 2 more cards for the Paper Crafts Go-To-Sketch Challenge #3. I had these in my head and needed to get them on paper:

I've been wanting to use those Martha Stewart dot stickers in the worst way. I've owned them for over a year. At long last, I found a use for them. The background paper is Studio Calico. That cardstock is ancient Making Memories.

I used the Pink Paislee tape again (oh, how I love that stuff!) and the photo tag punch with some old Anna Griffin. The letter stickers are Cosmo Cricket. The lemons on this card are punched from this Jillibean paper:

So that's all I got today. It's gorgeous outside and the pool is heating up nicely in the sun. Might be the day for the official first swim. I'd also like to make some layouts today since it's been ages since I made a layout. And, I need to start thinking about what I'm going to make for the Gallery Idol challenge. Pressure is on!

A bit of exciting news...

I knew it was coming at 6 a.m. this morning but tried to act like I didn't really care. I promised myself I would not get up early and go directly to the computer and check out the Paper Crafts Connection blog as soon as I could. But who am I kidding? My feet hit the floor, got my coffee and bee-lined for my laptop. I showed a bit or restraint when I checked my email first but then clicked right on the bookmark for PCC.
Wahoo!! I made it to the top 20 of Gallery Idol! I get to be included with the other amazing designers, some of whose work I already know and love, and win a sweet prize - yipee - happy day! I submitted around 10 cards but here's the one that made it happen:

Funny thing about this card is that I made it for someone and sent it away. It was one of those fast, heartfelt projects made for a specific person whose style had inspired me. So Paige, thank you once again for your inspiration! Not only does my card have a place of honor on your mantle, it helped me earn a spot in this competition. Thank you! Now, time to begin my project for round one and see how long I can hang in here!

Moving along and trying to come down from the excitement here in the 6 o'clock hour....
I forget where but I just answered a survey that asked 'what kinds of cards do I have the most difficulty making'.  My answer was punny or humorous. While I love to laugh, and make other people laugh, translating that onto paper isn't easy for me. So, this week's Cards Blog challenge being punny cards - I thought I'd give it a whirl. Here's my card:

Used my brand new chair stamp and a mish mosh of supplies: some Basic Grey, some October Afternoon & some Studio Calico. The ink is my new fave: Distress Ink in Broken China.
So now I need to switch gears and go back to my non-papercrafty life.  We've got my nephew's/future Godson's christening tomorrow with a party following at our house. I've done almost nothing to prepare for this important event. After that, it's the giant annual Memorial Day party at my cousin's house in Staten Island. A not-to-be-missed summer kick off.  Can't believe the summer is upon us!
Have a lovely weekend everyone!

The money shot...

is this weeks photo assignment. I was stumped and as usual, left the project til' the very last minute. This assignment is all about product/stock photography. I decided to focus on what I know, as you will see below. Gary (our teacher) told tales of people quitting their day jobs because they are so successful selling stock photography. Hmmm. I've got a long way to go before I get to the job-quitting level but that sure sounds appealing! Here are today's efforts:
Started off with one of my favorite foodstuffs - the Whole Foods Croissant. (a.k.a.: heaven on earth) I couldn't take these photos fast enough. It was lunch time and I was hungry and I really wanted to eat one.

Then I moved on to other beloved subject matter -

I started out this assignment thinking I'd go to Whole Foods and get a bunch of lovely baked goods, since it's way too hot here in the Northeast today to turn on an oven and attempt to make my own. Well, this cupcake cost $5...and that put the kibosh on the baked-good theme. (This cupcake better be outstanding!)
Some more healthy (and economical) options:

Have to say, I really like taking pictures of food. It was fun shopping for stuff by texture and color, as opposed to the boring old 'what's on the list/what do we need for dinner' routine. Whole Foods was a great place to do this.
On the desk today are a few items. Working my keester off on holiday cards - why? Because it's holiday card time in the pub world - at least I'm getting ahead on the holiday craftiness, right?

Really feeling the corrugated this year...

Also in the works...I volunteered to make a scrapbook for the retiring principal of my son's preschool. Got an envelope full of photos with memories jotted on the backs of them. I've never made a book for someone else. Need to come up with a plan & collect all the paper, etc. That's due next Friday so I better get that going on!

I realized this morning it's been ages since I made a layout. It's also been ages since I took pictures of people, like my kids for instance. Artichokes, designer cupcakes and paper crafts are great, but the people...got to get back to taking pictures of people! Fortunately, we've got activities coming up this week and over the holiday weekend that should provide some photo opps.

Ink techniques with Julie...

What and extremely fun Sunday! I got to go into the city for a class with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. I became familiar with her super talent via the Studio Calico message boards. When I found out she was 'local' and teaching a class at the Ink Pad in NYC, I signed up right away. I've always claimed not to be a technique girl - but I've always admired said techniques from afar and wished I knew what to do with these things: 

This was a Distress Inks technique class and boy did I learn a bunch of 'mind-blowing' techniques. Here's the workspace I shared with my awesome table mate Lyria.

Here's what I took home - a sampling of Julie's amazing ink techniques. I wrote descriptions right on the tags and put them on a ring so I can keep them on my desk for future reference.

After the class, I walked over to the Ink Pad with classmates and got some new stamps:

That guy on the far right looks just like that guy painted on the wall of the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park so I had to have him. The store was great - there was so much to look at - there's no way I saw everything. Guess I'll have to go back.

I was really early for the class because there was no traffic and I found a great parking spot on the street right away. I was shocked and somehow even managed to parallel park the SUV. (Off to a good start already!) I decided to take a walk, see if I could spot any famous folks. Not sure if I did or not but found a street craft fair.

Magnolia Bakery - really wanted to pop in here for some baked goods but it was jam packed...

This was in front of a potted plant in front of an apartment building - no pee pee on the plants, please doggies...

These people are very serious about protecting their parking lot:

When I got home and was unpacking my tags, I was dying to try out some of my new found skills. Still feeling the Embellish Color Challenge (green black & kraft + butterflies), I made this:

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A few things going on here: I used the "ink puddle" technique (not sure if that is the official name) to make the splatters. Then the blending tool to mask the butterfly shapes.Then I used the blending tool again to add a little darker color to the edges. I can't wait to play some more with these inks and add to my collection of colors. I get it now - what all the fuss is about with these inks! Thanks Julie!

Cards for a color challenge...

with butterflies, that is. It's the current challenge for Embellish Magazine. I've been wanting to do one of their challenges and I liked the colors on this one: black, green and kraft. I had a surprise surge of creativity last night so I made these:

I realized last night that I rarely scrap with black. Besides Halloween projects or black letter stickers, the color rarely shows up on my pages. I tend to reach for white instead- and I was reaching for it last night but wasn't sure if it was cool to add it in, so I refrained. Anyway, not sure where the creative energy came from since I spent most of yesterday distracted over a work project that followed me home. When I'm distracted it's hard for me to get anything done, let alone be creative.
Now, the pool guy will be arriving any minute to open our pool and I can't wait. Just seeing a large body of water in my backyard, even if it's chemically induced blue, makes me extremely happy. Knowing the whole summer is around the corner and about to be at our disposal is awesome!!

fabulous Friday & I {heart} Core'dinations

a big thanks to Core'dinations today - their blog & design team member Ellen Sosnoski. She spotted my "Smile" card a few weeks back and featured it on their blog today in the their "Fabulous Friday Finds."

I used that amazing wood grain embossed cardstock that was recently released. It's amazing stuff. I knew it was coming in the last Studio Calico kit but I purchased a whole pad of it anyway.

I became of fan of this cardstock when I picked up my first batch at Scrapper's Cove a couple of years ago. Picket Fence, from the Whitewash collection is in my go-to file for cardstock. It's got so much dimension and versatility. The colors are gorgeous.

As if being on their blog isn't good enough, I'm up there with Julie Fei-Fen Balzer, who I gushed about a couple of days ago and whose class I'm taking on Sunday. What an honor.
Thanks so much Core'dinaitons & Ellen!

the card with the berry

Ever try to make something crafty sans creative mojo? That happened to me yesterday. I had an overwhelming  desire to get a card in for the Cards Blog challenge but had no idea what I would do. I knew I had to use berries, and luckily, had some product on hand.

The worst part of this dilemma, is that I waste so much product when this happens. I make stupid mistakes and then get cranky about it. I find myself  repeating the mantra 'it's just paper, it's just paper..." Here's the aftermath:

I'm very messy when I'm working. This time I trashed some Basic Grey stickers, MME Lush chipboard letters, a K & Co lace frame and my most favorite Studio Calico paper ever. (The recipe paper - not sure what it is called but at least enough was salvaged to actually make the final card.)

I made 3 versions of this card (there's #1 in the gabage can - it was awful!) before settling with this one. I do like it, but it just feels like the same card I always do. yawn.

Today I had planned to go the Scrapbook Expo but thinking I can't really justify buying anymore supplies right now. I have so much and next week is Studio Calico reveal week. I know I want one of the add-ons this month. So, I think I'll stay local today, try to hit a few Friday yard sales with the little boy and search for my missing mojo! I know it must be here somewhere...

This week's photo assignment & the crafty weekend ahead...

Took a million shots for my still life assignment this week, but this one is my fave:

Here is the runner up:

love all that color! We had to play with focal legnth. Think I finally did one of these assignments correctly. I always think that then find out otherwise in class. I guess I'll know soon enough!

This weekend will be seriously all about the paper and ink. Starts this Friday with the Scrapbook Expo in Somerset, then my class on Sunday at the Ink Pad in NYC.

The Expo is really just a large shopping experience for me, since I'm not a big taker of classes at these things. CKC is the exception. I can always find a fun class or two there. (This year I will attend Valley Forge after a 2 year hiatus. Paper Crafts Magazine asked me to volunteer some time in their booth in exchange for a class and I said I would. That ought to be fun.) Anywho...the Somerset expo has a good Vendor Faire. I even met Tim Holtz there one year - stood less than a foot away from him while he magically transformed a blank paper tag into a work of art. I'll be happy if this year I can just get my hands on some new American Crafts, Lily Bee and Sassafrass - 2 lines that are not easy to get locally. Sometimes I just like to see the stuff 'in person' before I buy it. Sometimes I discover things I didn't realize were so great. All good fun.

Sunday I will head into the city for a class at the newly discovered Ink Pad.  Doesn't this place look amazing? All that time I worked in the city and didn't even know it was there.

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is teaching it. I've been admiring her work since I discovered her in the Studio Calico gallery a few months back. She's an amazing artist and can work wonders with ink and paint and seemingly whatever other medium she chooses to work in. This class is a distress ink technique class. I desperately need this class! I better finish rounding up my supplies. I always get nervous before a class, afraid I won't be able to keep up. Adding to the nerves is the fact that a lot of the supplies for this class are things I've never ever used before.

After class, and adding to my stamp collection at the Ink Pad, I'm going to head over to this place:

I have been dying to go to Tinsel Trading. I'd love to squeeze in Portrait Bug, MJ Trimming & NY Cake & Baking, but those will have to wait til' my next trip into the city. Now that the nice weather is here, and my kids don't rely on the stroller so much, I'd like to take them in. They love it in the 'big city'. Chris loves to ride the subway (maybe taking him down there on a hot summer day will get him over that!). Marilyn loves taxi cabs. There are museums they need to experience, shows to see & so many things to do there. So lucky to live so close to such an amazing place!

The twisty fabric flowers...

Ever since I got my Studio Calico pennant kit (which I have yet to tackle) I've been dying to make these twisted fabric flowers. The tutorial came with the kit (actually, so did that fabric I used below). Since the current Moxie Fab Challenge is a fabric challenge, I thought it would be a perfect time to bust these out...here are my first two attempts:

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These are really easy to make. I also tried one with some wide ribbon and my SC kit for this month (Granny's Cupboard):

Lots of possibilties for this flower technique!

I was bored the other day. Well, I shouldn't say bored. I didn't feel like doing what I should have been doing so I was trolling the internet and sorting buttons by color (something I swore I would never do!) I sorted them into hot, cool & neutral, clear - that's as 'sorty' as I get. Took a photo of the new button storage just because it just looked nice.

This is definitely one of my happy places! In a few short days, there will be blue water beyond those windows over my desk, as the pool cover comes off on Saturday. Oh happy day! (I swore to myself when I made the pool opening appointment back in March that I was going to be 20lbs lighter by now - but I'll worry about that another day!)

blown away...

Having worked in the world of commercial illustration for a period of time, I am always interested in where the illustrations I see come from, whether in books, magazines or advertisements. I always wonder if it's an illustrator I know or worked with. Yesterday morning was my usual Saturday morning routine of sitting at my daughter's dancing school for 2 hours (aka, magazine catch-up time)  I was reading the June Martha Stewart Living when I came across this and could not believe my eyes. This is the sewing illustration work of Miyuki Sakai and it is amazing!!

The tarts are real, the plates are stitched. She uses a simple machine and her straight stitch. That's all. Isn't is unbelievable? I have never seen anything like this before.
I was so inspired, I tried to make some cards, ala Miyuki Sakai. Had some duds, here were the 2 that made it through:

used the new Studio Calico for these cards..

Not really the same -clearly, I need more practice - sewing in a circle is hard. But I sewed and made stuff, right? I will definitely keep working on this...

Today I should be working on my next photo assignment, a macro photo, but what I really feel like doing is scouting a new landscape photo place. Turns out my photo work from last week didn't make the cut and I'm feeling the need to prove myself. I'd love to go back to Asbury but it's a lovely day here in the Northeast and it  will be filled with people. Can't do tomorrow because I have a full day at work, Tuesday is ICFF day (International Contemporary Furniture Fair). (Which, by the way, conveniently runs at the same time as the National Stationery Show.) Wednesday is my class. Guess I better go somewhere and do something!

More purging and using old stuff..

It's that time again. Purge time. I realized the massive stash of paper that takes up approximately 3 linear feet of  storage cabinet in my family room is unnecessary and rarely touched. Since I started getting monthly kits from Studio Calico, and the monthly supply from Scrapper's Cove, and somewhat regular mailings of publishing swag,  I'm feeling a little inundated with paper. My new motto is 'life is short, make stuff out of the new paper & product!" No more saving the special papers for me. I'm diving right into the good stuff from now on.
Just this week in the mail was the Hambly booty from a random drawing win, the prize from my Moxie Fab win (a sah-weet pile of October Afternoon Thrift Shop, my current fave line) and my Studio Calico kit. I can't wait to dig into all that good stuff. There had to be a trade off. Here's what I purged:

That's about 5" thick.  Just paper. I think of how much all of this paper must have cost, I get a little sick to my stomach. I know a person who purchases all of her patterned paper in 2's. I can not imagine having all of this x2!
Also tried a new thing in the cardstock area, since I know I have cardstock from 05' kicking around in the Cropper Hoppers. I have about 4/5 go-to colors of cardstock that I use all the time and due to my messy way of storing them, I never know where I stand with my supply - so I devised this plan: the "go to" file of cardstock.

For me this means Bazzill kraft, misc cheap-o kraft, Bazzill Powder, Bazzill White & Black, American Crafts Vanilla, Core'dinations Whitewash & a handful of embossed and die cut cardstocks.

If the Cropper Hoppers were on fire, this is the file I'd try to save. It's really all I need and now I can tell I'm out of 2 of the go-to's so I need to order them today!

Back to purging, how timely that the Cards Blog challenge this week was to use product we've had on hand for over a year?  I've had this Anna Griffin for about 2 years, I think. I loved it when I got it, and I still do, but I just never got around to using it. So, here's what I made last night, courtesy of Anna:

It sure made some pretty cards. I have a special place in my heart for Anna, as she is the person who opened my eyes to scrapbooking. I purchased her QVC kit and for my first year of scrapping, I would only use Anna Griffin papers. (Some day I'll post those first layouts - have to work up the nerve)!

Greetings from Asbury Park

My photo class assignment for this week is a landscape . I knew I wanted to photograph something sort of urban or run-down so after school drop-off this morning, I was on my way. Asbury Park has some pretty amazing stuff to take pictures of. I really wanted to take pictures of the Casino before they fix it all up and make it all shiny & new again - which seems to be what is happening to Asbury Park these days. While it's great to now be able to go there and walk around, eat & shop, I will miss the patina of these old buildings and the old 'abandoned boardwalk'. Here are some of my photos from this morning:

If you watched the Soprano's, you've seen this. This place was in Tony's dreams after they killed Big "P".
Here's the inside, in the process of being restored:

Excellent mermaid mural.

Cool birds. (btw...Thank you stranger who was making bird calls to the pigeons - for posing and adding a sense of scale to my photo!)

The exterior of the Casino.
This place below used to have a carousel in it. Hubby says it was recently taken apart and sold.

Here's an E - I just liked the way it looked. I'm assuming it stands for East as it is located on the Eastern side of the intersection I was standing in.

So, my landscape photos are due tomorrow night. I had fun with this assignment and realized in the process, I prefer to take pictures of places and things more than people. Probably not a great thing for a scrapbooker!

Last night I was up late working on 2 pub calls. Why I wait until the last minute to work on these things is beyond me. I thought I'd have time over the weekend but got sidetracked. So last night, at 1 am, I finally finished working on projects and sending in my stuff. Here are some bits and pieces:

This is one ornament from a set of 4 that spell out "Noel"- the sheet music is from vintage funeral home Christmas Carol books I got at a yard sale 2 weeks ago. (I guess funeral homes used to give them out at holiday time wakes?) The little books are like pamphlets but they have really great old graphics. The little boxes came from AC Moore, the letters are MME Lush.

Here's another ornament - this one made from a felt snowflake I got at Target last year.

It's a bad photo so you can't see the glitter on the letters (courtesy of Stickles Rock Candy).
Here's one last card:

I made this one with the packaging from some K & Co. Halloween stickers. Don't know if you've noticed but the cardstock on the K & Co.packaging is really nice. I've been using the little grid pattern from the new Handmade collection all over the place. Every time I discover a piece of it I get happy.

Well, as you noticed, it's all holiday stuff. It's so hard to switch gears and go from Spring to Christmas overnight. Maybe that's why I put it off so long.

Now, I'm off to unpack my Studio Calico kit for May, which arrived yesterday (along with some extra stuff I added to the box before it shipped). I'm dying to tuck into those new supplies!