Just when I thought I got a handle on life, the handle broke.

Les Brown said this while I was listening to Les Brown's Radio Show. He's a powerful motivational speaker. This quote spoke to me because life was going pretty smooth and then BAM! My house is falling apart...the dishwasher overflowed, the AC unit is not cooling the house efficiently (my utility bill is outrageous), two kitchen outlets in the kitchen have no power...I could go on, but I'll stop. I'm sure you get the picture. Granted - none of these things are the end of my world but DANG!!!!. Despite it all, I'm keeping my head up because I believe it when Les Brown said (paraphrasing)...Bad times are not permanent. These things have not come to stay, these have come to pass. Life is like a roller coaster - sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down, but I don't have to be up to look up. Those are some powerful words.

A setback is a setup for a comeback ~William Jolley

Isn't that deep?

I hope you enjoy this long wondrous weekend, because I sure plan to. My plans are to be more productive this weekend and finish up some cards for your viewing pleasure.

Til I craft again or have something witty to say...

Happy Birthday E'beth...Again!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm behind on making E'beth's birthday cards. Well, I've made her 2ND birthday card. Granted it's late...but at least this one is in the same year as her birthday.













This card was inspired by ingenuity of two groovy paper crafting talents. The idea for the glazed cupcake comes from Laurie. I got the sketch for the layout from Jen's Sketch For You To Try. I'm not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought taking a pic of a card couldn't be that difficult. Well, I have made a liar of myself...because I can't take a pic worth a damn. If anybody has tips out there, I'm listening.
If this is your first time visiting, please don't make it your last. I'm so happy you're here.

Til I craft again...

Supplies:
Stamps: Cupcakes (Inkadinkado), Happy Birthday (Hampton Arts)
Card stock: Kraft, White, Dark Brown, Muted Yellow, Red Sparkle
Ink: Jet Black (StazOn), Watermelon (Stampabilities)
Accessories: Color Pencils (Koh-i-noor), (Goo Gone), Watercolor pencils, Water brush, Red ribbon, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Corner Rounder, Oval Template (Fiskars), Red Rhinestone (Paper Studio)

2007 Birthday in 2008

Ever since I started making handmade cards, I refuse to purchase a greeting card. Well, it's a lovely sentiment, if I could actually produce cards on time for whatever occasion. For example, my friend E'beth's birthday has come and gone (it was last Friday) and does she have a birthday card from me? NO! I'm horrible I know. I told E'beth last year that I didn't forget her birthday and I would send it. The card you're about to see is for 2007. I'm sure she thought she would get the 2007 card before her 2008 birthday. What can I say? I don't have a good excuse. Fortunately for me...she's a good friend and she's knows I'm worthless. LOL! I'm going to do better. Give me some credit...at least I keep my word (I didn't forget). In a couple of days, I'm going to make and send her one for 2008. Anyway...on to the card...

I got the layout from the Sketch For You To Try challenge and the colors came from The Cat's Pajamas challenge.

*The accrylic accent says "Happy Birthday" Please forgive the picture quality...I'm a work in progress.

Supplies:
Stamp: Fresh Bloom (Stampendous)
Paper: White CS (Georgia-Pacific), Shades of Blues Cardstock (Hobby Lobby)
Ink: Jet Black (StazOn)
Accessories: Flowers #2 (Sizzix Texturz), Copper Rat Tail Cord (Hobby Lobby), Acrylic Accent (Jo-Ann's), Decorating Chalks (Craf-T Products), Color Pencils (Koh-i-noor), (Goo Gone), Foam Dots, Ribbon (Offray)

World...Alberta; Alberta...World

Be open-minded, but not so open-minded that your brains fall out. ~Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

This is my first entry into the great wide abyss. It's so very exciting to share my passion for paper crafting with you. I know I'm a little fish in a big pond, but I'm tired of staying on the sidelines...I want to play too. So, here I am!

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

I'm going to apologize now for any goof on my part if I don't follow the paper crafting guidebook for blogging. That means I'm not always going to say the right thing - my photos may not be the clearest. I'm not much of a follower - so you'll excuse me if I throw the rule book out of the door. I'm using this platform to share my honest passion for this thing called paper and all the bells and whistles that go with it. If I inspire someone along the way, that would be like a cherry on this thing I like to call a hot fudge sundae. Yummy!

Anyway, moving on to better stuff...

I made a birthday card for the instructor of a workshop that I'm in. She's a real nice lady and I wanted to make something nice for her. So here it is...

Interesting note: I made the 3 dots after the "happy" from a friend's doodling while we were in a meeting. Just punched the paper and added glaze. Easy embellishment. When I showed my friend what happened to her doodles, she was so excited.

Supplies

Paper: Kraft, Red, Pattern (DCWV)

Accessories: Ribbon, Glossy Accents (Inkssentials), Thickers (American Crafts), Marshmallow Wacky Alpha Stickers (Colorbok), Punches, Paper piercer