Wow!

I think the world has slightly passed my by lately.

I started a new job on August 30. I really love it...and I think they like me too! (That last part is sure a nice bonus!) Anyway, I work only 4 days a week but that means really long work days added to a pretty long commute (76 miles to be exact!). But, it's all 4-lane so it's not so bad.

But! I have nearly blogged none! Probably because I haven't been doing much besides work, sleep and drive. Oh, and hang with hubby! You see, the Night Owl (that's me) now sees the sun rise each morning so I have to go to sleep at night which cuts into my craftiness!!

Ok, to be honest, I have made a few things:

1. A fall wreath for my sister's front door - completed! Photos taken, just need to blog!

2. A cute little Christmas tag for my Grandma (with some new distress ink) - Completed. No pictures but do need to show my peeps!

3. Almost 100 years ago (ok, the beginning of August) I made a card pack and cute little bag for a wedding shower present. I took the pictures and I think I even loaded them to photobucket...just need to finish that post. **blogged**

So, I am a list maker and that made me feel good!!

Except, JJs's Grandma Runyon passed away last night. We are sad. Please pray for safe travels as our family comes together. Also pray for my Mother in Law and her siblings and my sweet husband. If you aren't a prayer, well, hug a tree or something.

The Lazy Peacock is having a giveaway

Click here to see her giveaway.

The Lazy Peacock post mostly silver and monogram finds from estate sales and the likes. I really enjoy seeing her findings. I have to admit that I used to almost always pass on silver for sure...partially because I am more of a glass girl and partially from the upkeep (polish, etc). And I always passed up on monogram... come on, you don't find very many "u" out there (from my maiden name).

However, I have found a love for other monograms... I particularly like "s" and "r"...no real reason why! :)

So, a special thank you to The Lazy Peacock for finding my love of letters that don't belong in my monogram and for displaying such great finds!!

Sketch Challenge

I'm the sketch host over at CardMaker again this week. Come on and play, it's pretty easy! You have until midnight on 8/24/2010 to submit your creation using the sketch.

The sketch:

My take:

Come on over and play!!

Black and white with a little extra!

So I just got this stamp: Chandelier (clever name huh!?!) made by Stampabilities... And I must say, I am in LOVE!! Back this spring, I received an email from Archivers telling of their new items and it featured a card made with a similar stamp--- I was hooked! Since there's not an Archiver's near me... yet! I got this one from Hobby Lobby.

This card is for an online crop going on over at CardMaker... check it out!!

I made this card from my future cousin, for a shower present. I hope she likes it! (I will show you the rest of her present soon!)

And A Smooch For YOU!!

Ok, well, it seems that I loaded these picutes backwards... bear with me. Above is an upclose to show you the glimmer from SU's new Smooch spray which is kindof like Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist... except not... See below for my opinion on the two. (Note, that's an 8.5x11 sheet of paper.)

Here' the bottle of Smooch. 0.37 ounces! Check out how much of the container it took to spray that one sheet of paper!! Yikes!! Below, is the pic that was suppose to be first... of the piece of paper in my home made spray box. AKA old box with the flaps cut off.

So, I wanted to compare and contrast Glimmer Mist and Smooch Spray.

**Before you freak out: I am not a Stampin Up demonstrator and I don't work for Tattered Angels. Neither company asked me to use their products; I purchased them myself and decided to give you my "2 cents".

Pros of Glimmer Mist: *Larger container (2 oz) for almost the same money *more color varieties offered *you can get it at the store (at least around here) rather than waiting for it to ship to you

Pros of Smooch Spray: *smaller container seems to keep the product in solution better when in use (as compared with GM) *less globs on your paper

Cons of Glimmer Mist: *nearly impossible to spray without clumps even if you keep the container in constant motion and shook the crap out of it initially

Cons of Smooch Spray: *I think I will go broke purchasing replacement.

And the winner: I must say Smooch Spray does win out over Glimmer Mist. Sorry Tattered Angels, as much as I love you, SU's tiny little container, while stupid expensive in comparison, has my heart because it throws less clogs for a more uniform finish.

Happy Birthday to you, and you, and you and...

Here are some birthday cards that I made this past week. I case'd them from my good friend, Lora. (Sorry it's not a direct link to her card but she's super talented so you shouldn't mind to hang out with her for a bit.)
I ran the "candles" through my BigKick using the Candy Cane Stripes embossing folder. The "flame" is from the wing of Stampin UP's Two-step Bird Extra-Large punch. Then I ran them through my paper crimper. Finally, I used 3-d dots to elevate some of the flames and the sentiment.

And... I have plenty more to make some more birthday cards very soon!! They seriously went together so fast, I think Grandma will get some of these for her bazaar too!!

Oh and! I almost forgot to tell you... It's crop time again at CardMaker. Click here to see all the excitement!! The theme is "Birthday Party!!"

Here's the newest addition to our Home!

My Pretty Mom refinished this for our wedding gift. She and Steve delivered it last weekend. JJ and I couldn't decide where we were going to put it so they couldn't install the shelves (hence the year delay)...

Like Miss Irene, this beauty was nearly black when my Mom rescued her and saved her just for us. JJ and I truly are blessed with wonderful family that love us very much as well as provide for us an example of how wonderful marriage can be. I agree Mom, may God watch over us and help us to remember to keep Him at the center of our marriage and our marriage at the center of our lives.

Just look at that detail!!

We finally made a decision.... this pretty girl resides in my Cavern and holds some of my favorite things... PAPER!!

Psssttt-- looks like I need more doesn't it!?! There are two whole drawers at the bottom that are empty... EMPTY I say. Oh my stars!

~LJ

Vintage Birthdays

I must say, I like this card!

Supplies:

Paper: Life's Journey by K & Company

Stamp: Vintage Labels (2010 Sale-a-bration from Stampin Up)

Ink: Chocolate Chip Stampin Write marker (I went with the marker so I didn't have to mess with goopy Craft ink. Works wonderful!

AND..... the Stamp-a-ma-jig to get "Happy Birthday" perfectly centered inside the vintage label stamp.

Challenges: CardMaker Card Swaps: Use blue, green and brown

Unscripted Sketches #64: Sketch

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Tonight, I did much better job cropping my card pictures than normal. While I was taking a picture of this card, I thought maybe I should show you where I place my cards for the photo shoot lest you think it's a dirty, grimy window sill.

Nope, just a pile of wash boards and a mirror right next to an old lamp. The light is decent here, even at night, so I don't generally have to use the flash! (Don't look too close in the mirror or you will see the hose to my vacuum and the toe of my house shoe... oops.

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Due to my love of auctions and Kwikswap, I can link up with Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures. I got the wash boards at an estate sale and the mirror and lamp from an old guy on Kwik-swap! Thanks for a great party Rhoda!

I just thought I should say...

Look out!! I am feeling kinda creative. I have lots of ideas running around in my head! Should I paper craft or paint mid-century furniture or try to repurpose some antique sewing cabinet drawers???

I can't decide!! I am starting to wish I was a stay-at-home-Wife; bet that won't happen until I retire.

OK, off to create! Please stay tuned!

Sketch Challenge...Vintage Christmas

I am the Sketch hostess this week at CardMaker. They have two challenges each week. Check it out, it's a great site!! I guess I loaded these backwards...oops. Well anyway, above is my card. The background paper (dark red) is a little shiny and was incredibly hard to photograph... it came out looking like cheap plastic in the picture. I inked the edges of the background paper using a used dryer sheet and SU Craft ink; It worked well but was messy!!

I really like this stamp set. It's cute, has a bit of nostalgia to it and gives me a great reason to use my Stamp-a-ma-jig!

Obviously not a graphic design guru here! Actually, I was going to just draw the sketch in Word but after two clicks decided that it wasn't really that big of a deal!

Thanks for stopping by!