Happy Valentine's Day

Hello

Second post for me today. Please scroll down for my Stamp Catalog ideas.

It’s a beautiful day here, cold but the sun is shinning. Love it! I think I’ve gotten the bugs out of my computer. I wasn’t yesterday but I’m a happy camper today.

I had a simple task yesterday, cut and emboss with my new Spellbinder’s Lacy Circle die. Pull out the die, find a scrap the right size, pull out the Cuttlebug, and plates… You’d think the next step would be to cut and emboss, right. NOT, I lost my die! I never got out of my chair.  Really the Closet is so small I don’t need to and if I do get up I need to move my chair into the door way so I can have a spot to stand. My desk is only 3 1/2’ X 2 ½’. Not a lot of space to misplace something right. I made so much noise moving things in my search Jim asked if I was packing up and moving out. Not a complete waste of time, I did get my desk cleaned and all the odds and ends put away but still no die. Before Jim called the folks in the white coats or I became completely bald from pulling my hair out I gave up. I did some (ugh, dirty word) housework, washed, dried, folded and put away a load of laundry and fixed dinner. When Jim joined me at the dinner table he said 'You've had ‘that thing‘ on your sleeve all day, what is it?'  My Lacy Circle die! Stuck to the sleeve of my sweater! I have had my dies stick to my plates before but never thought the Spellbinder’s adhesive residue was strong enough to keep a die firmly attached to my sweater for over eight hours while I all but ran a marathon.

So here is my card. Finally! I embossed my pink card with a Swirls EF. I used MS Garden Trellis under my ribbon after cutting away the scallop portion. I used EK Success scalloped border punch on my black panel then glued the scallops from the Garden Trellis to the scalloped border. Waste not - want not. Finally I adhered my Lacy Circle and centered my MS Lace Scalloped Heart on it. The flowers and feathers are from my stash are my handcrafted rhinestone swirls. The sentiment is one of many free Digis from Bird at Bird‘s Cards. All the papers were scraps so I’ll be joining the girls in the playground at Di’s Pixie's Crafty Snippets - Challenge Number 4 .  Do visit the playground, you are sure to be inspired by the amazing talent there.   

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Stamp Catalog

I am sooooooo proud of myself. I put on my big girl panties

and cataloged ALL of my rubber and acrylic stamps. It is working so well for me I thought I’d share it with you today.

As my stamp collection grows I can no longer remember where my stamps are and I’m beginning to forget what I have. I've spent an insane amount of time searching the web for a catalog idea that would suite my needs. I came across Patter Cross’s Rolodex idea but once again space was an issue. I’ve adapted her idea and placed my cards in photo albums instead.  

I began with an 8 1/2" X 11" album until I found some wonderful 12" X 12" photo albums, you guessed it in a thrift shop. This resulted in some images being turned the wrong way but hey I can still see them and these albums take up no more space then a matstack. Years ago I bought some card stock in a thrift shop. Both were dreadful stuff, of no use on my cards but perfect for practicing and as it turns out perfect for my stamp catalog.

I stamped each image on a separate card and noted it’s location in the corner in pencil. As most of my stamps are previously loved, more often then not I don’t know the stamp name or what company it was made by so I’ve only noted their location. Do pop over and see all wonderful information Patter has noted about each of her stamps on her Rolodex cards. You may even get a few ideas on how to store your stamps.  Patter's blog is jam packed with wonderful storage and organization ideas.

I am please with my catalogs. Should one of my stamps find a new home or I decide to move it I can simply remove a card or erase and note it’s new location. I have lots of space to add new images as they find their way into my collection.



I hope someone finds this helpful. If nothing else I encourage you to make yourself a stamp catalog ASAP. The longer you wait the longer it will take.
Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Pretty, Pink, Butterflies

Good Morning
Hooray it's stopped snowing!  I hope the weather is being kind to you where ever you are.  Bless him the snowplow guy went around and cleared the driveways.  A little to late for me but just shows to go ya, he is a sweetheart.  It's warmed up so everything is melting now.  Our area wont be affected but there is a fear of flooding.

Our granddaughter Shannalee Mahealani passed away in ‘05. Had she lived she would have been 27 this past Sunday. I miss her, sometimes desperately but I can never be sad when I think of her. The mere thought of her warms my heart. It was a joy and an honor to be her grandmother, she lives on in my heart. Shanna was a bit of a diva from the day she was born. Even as a toddler she loved having a manicure. Not just having her nails painted but a full on manicure and I loved giving them to her. She could make me laugh till I ached. When we were moving in here I plugged in an old rotary dial phone temporarily. Shanna asked if she could use it. Sure she hadn't even seen one before, I asked if she knew how to use a rotary dial phone. She said ’Grandma I’m not blond!’ Which of course made me smile but when she tried to turn the dial toward the zero I laughed so hard I cried.  She said ' Grandma it's stuck.'  I couldn't speak, I had to show her how to dial it properly.  That resulted in her making a face at me. Oh she could make faces, faces that would melt your heart or bring you to tears with laughter.

Even though this card is for her mother Donna’s birthday, I had so many wonderful memories of Shanna running thru my head as I made it. Shanna loved pretty, PINK and butterflies. I think I’ve filled that bill. I love the 3-D butterfly on the top right corner. After gluing the three MS Monarch butterflies together I rubbed it over my versa mark pad then dipped it in holographic EP and heat embossed it. You can find the tutorial on making the 3-D butterfly here.    The flowers were from my stash. I Shimmer Misted it but once again I can't get that to show in my photo.  I used my heat gun to dry the mist, totally forgetting it would melt my ribbon.  Oops in the blink of an eye one tail vanished and a tiny hole appeared on the band.  Not to worry I tucked another tail in there and covered the hole with another butterfly.  The papers were scraps so I am entering it in Di’s Pixie's Crafty Snippets - Challenge Number 4

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

White,White,White

Hey There

Not to worry I haven’t injured the snowplow guy but only because I know they wont let me have sharp objects in jail and I don’t think I could survive without crafting. Actually the man is a sweetheart. He is our park handy man and if he thinks one of us old frats seniors could use a hand he will stop and help. Last year he jumped out of his truck, grabbed my shovel and dug a hole so I could plant a shrub. Somehow, I know he wouldn’t pile the show in the driveway if he could figure out how to avoid it.

I love pure white cards but I’ve never been able to create one before. Today I finally managed to resist the urge to add color somewhere. I began by embossing with a no name EF that came with my Cuttlebug. Next I created a frame with MS Garden Trellis punch and added my bow. I arranged a bouquet of two sprigs of leaves with Sizzlets Leafy branch die and flowers from my stash on a one inch circle then tucked it under the bow. I then added three MS LG Monarch Butterflies and Recollections pearls to the corners, the butterflies and flower centers. Finally I sprayed the entire card with Shimmer Mist Sparkle. This was difficult to photograph, couldn’t get it to show but it really does sparkle IRL.

Becca Feeken of Amazing Paper Grace does magical things with paper, ribbon and Spellbinders.  She also uses punches in ways that boggles my mind.  For my frame I followed Becca's turorial for Perfect Mitered Corner with Punch here.My bow is also a Becca creation she calls a Peg Bow.  You can find that tutorial here.  I’d love to make a bow maker like hers but space is at a premium in the Closet. Instead I’ve pushed my pegs into a few layers of foam board. The bottom layer is wide so I can weigh the whole thing down with my Cuttlebug. I can remove the pegs and fit the pieces into a small space.

My computer has been acting up quite a bit lately. I am no computer whiz kid but I am going to try to figure out what’s going on, hopefully I wont blow it up. If you don’t hear from me you’ll know I did something wrong.
Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Snow

Hi There Dear Blog Friends

I’m running late but its not my fault. My ISP was running like dial up, nearly lost the will to live trying to download my photos.    *AND*   It’s still snowing and showing no signs of stopping. This morning we had freezing rain. Not wanting to let it get to deep I have been diligently shoveling the snow off the driveway and walks every hour or so. Let me tell you if a person could be arrested and locked up for the things they think I would be in jail right now. If that snow plow driver keeps piling the snow in my driveway I may lose all control and actually do to him the things that have been running thru my head. I’m not sure he is doing any good anyway. Cars are still spinning their tires and slipping and sliding out there. Yours truly isn’t venturing out any farther from the house then the mail box and I’m walking there.

My card is a diagonal pocket card. I found scraps just big enough and a bit ribbon to make this card. I hate to see the end of this ribbon, I do love it. The PP is from Colorbok.  It's the first stack I ever purchased and had the most difficult time cutting into.  The pink embossed paper is by Fiskars.  I found it at a yard sale.  Never even know Fiskars once made papers. I edged my papers with MS Cherished Hearts punch. The flower and charm are from my stash.  The stamp is from the $1 bin at Michael's.

I’m entering this card into Di’s Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge then I’m off to shovel the drive way again. I just heard the snow plow go by so say a little pray for the guy that I don’t beat him over the head with the snow shovel, I do so want to.

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Love is in the air

Hi There

I hope the weather is treating you all well. Mother Nature is kicking up a real fuss in our area. The storm has already hit the Seattle area and it is barreling it’s way over the Cascade range toward us. We are expecting as much as a foot of snow tonight and more later in the week. Yikes! Apparently people are going a little crazy trying to stock up at the last minuet. Since I am terrified of driving in those conditions I am always prepared for all eventualities except alternative heating if the power goes out. Fingers crossed that wont happen, the temp is already dropping fast. Burr!!!

My entire card was made from snippets. The background paper is a scrap from an old Martha Stewart Holidays stack.  The hearts were punched from scraps with a Recollections heart punch, the lace from my jar of ribbon bits and pieces. The sentiment is a Studio G $1 stamp and the charm is from my stash. I have glued down that pesky little corner since taking the photo.

Cheap Trick:  Use a post-it note as an extension or handle when punching smaller scraps.  

Okay I'm headed to the playground to enter my card Di’s Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge before the snow gets to deep. :) 
  I plan to hold up in the Closet until this storm passes so if I have power and the internet I will see you all tomorrow.
Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Lovely Trees

Hi There

Hope this finds you all well and keeping warm. Burr it really is cold here today and we expect some of the white stuff soon.

My card today is for Aaron, my son Matt’s best buddy. Currently in the Navy stationed in San Diego Aaron hasn’t been home for some time. Matt will put his motorcycle in the back of his truck and drive the 1160 miles to visit him as often as he can. The boys had a wonderful week riding their bikes in late Nov. Matt headed home only to have his truck break down, 200 miles from home, in the middle of no where, on top of a mountain, in the middle of Oregon, in the middle of the night. Yikes! He had no way home, Mom to the rescue. One day to go get him and another to take him back to retrieve his truck. Just one of the many things that kept me from blogging this winter.

I rarely make 5” X 7” cards but this lovely Hero Arts Classic Evergreen stamp needed the space. I scored the borders of my card, I love how scoring dresses up a simple card. Using post-it notes to keep my borders clean and my homemade stamp-a-ma-jig I stamped my focal trees then stamped off and stamped the trees in the background. I am pleased with the result, a (new to me) technique.

Thank you to those who have left me such sweet comments. Sorry I haven’t been able to reciprocate to many of you. I will as soon as Blogger decides to play nice again.
Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free

Happy Friday the 13th

Hi There

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the new year. I thought after the holidays were over things would settle down around here but I was sadly mistaken. I’ve been rushing around like a chicken with it‘s head cut off. It hasn’t been any fun whatsoever either. Today I got to stay home and actually found some play time.

Friday the 13^th has me thinking of my dear quirky friend Exie. We met as coworkers at a hospital in Calif. and remained friends until she died of Alzheimer’s many years later. Exie firmly believed Friday the 13^th was the luckiest day of the year. So much so that when she was rushed to the hospital needing emergency surgery on the afternoon of Thursday the 12^th she refused to sign the consent forms. She was positive if they operated on the 12^th they would find cancer. In spite of the entire hospital staff trying to convince her otherwise she stubbornly held her ground. She signed those forms at 12:01 AM on the 13^th and was rushed to the operating room at 12:02. Although it was by no means a minor problem it wasn’t cancer. The entire episode served to convince her that Friday the 13^th was indeed the very luckiest day of the year.

So it’s with Exie in mind that I’ve made my card today.

A year or so ago friend asked me to use this image to make a card. It’s a coloring page found here. I resized it and printed it along with the sentiment. I’ve colored it with my Berol pencils and fussy cut it. I used a quickie glue pen and Sparkle EP for the rain in the background.

Have an Amazing Day! 

Blessings
Bernie
Click here to give --- It’s Free