A Little Something Something

Hey There

What to do you do when your Cuttlebug plates become  warped and distorted to the point you know one more go and it'll surely snap.  Well if you were me you'd fix your wonderful son a nice dinner, say Pretty Please and before you know it you'll have a pile of new plates. 

My son Matt works for a sign supply shop.  They supply all the sign shops in the area with anything from canvas to metal and everything in between.  They often cut supplies to order and Matt, being his mother's son, can never bring himself to toss the bits and pieces that are to small to sell. He stores them in a corner of the shop and when a customer needs just a bit of something he will give it to them.  Good customer relations.

When I got my Cuttlebug it didn't have a C plate.  I gave Matt the dimensions for both C and B plates and he found just what I needed in his little corner.  The C plate is opaque but that has never been an issue for me.  On Thursday I showed Matt my sad B plate.  He measured it and Friday he dropped off FIVE plates.  Bless his heart.    

I've left the protective sheets on four of my new plates as it is rather difficult to photograph a clear plate.  You can see my C plate on the bottom of the pile.  Okay so it doesn't say C or B plate and the corners aren't rounded off like the real thing but they work like a charm.  SO if you happen to live near a sign supply shop or may know someone who works at one you might just ask nicely.  The worst that could happen is they'll say no and you'd be no worst off but you may just get lucky and walk away with a few free plates.

Have an Amazing Day!

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

Happy Birthday Cody

Hey There

It’s another dreary, rainy, blustery day here. It’s been raining nearly none stop all week. I am in serious need of some sunshine.

My grandson Cody turned 16 this week. Gosh it happened so fast, seems just days ago he was a little guy crawling around on my floor, now he is 6’ 2” and still growing. Funny kid, he knows I can’t get over how tall he is so he likes to put his arm around my shoulders, look down at me and smile. I’m 5’7” not exactly short but next to him I feel like a mouse. 

Cody is learning to drive and needless to say he is mad about cars, in particular Ford Mustangs. I printed a Mustang and a seat belt buckle found on a Ford sales site. This is a tri-fold card. I used Labels Three to cut out my window and frame from mirror card. For my background I used strips of card mimicking the colors in the Mustang logo and mounted the car onto it. I used a bit more mirror card and the belt buckle as a closure. On the inside I used black ribbon to form a seat belt. I hope he gets the not so subtle hint. The Celebrate sentiment was die cut from more mirror card using a Cookie Cutter die. The Happy Birthday sentiment was computer generated.

The weather guys say we will see sunny weather on Sunday. One lives in hope. Hope you all have a spectacular weekend and Have an Amazing Day!

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

Snowman

Hi There;
Hope you are enjoying some beautiful spring time weather.  Someone should be, it is spring isn't it.  I have a feeling we are going to go straight from winter weather to summer weather over night, it's happened before.  Thankfully the flowers don't care about the weather and will bloom in spite of it.  My forsythia is covered in buds, can't wait for that riot of yellow.

This sweet snowman stamp is another no name thrift shop find. I love those tiny birds. I stamped him in Stazon then masked him and used my duster and DI to create the clouds. I then colored him with color pencils, his scarf and hat were paper pieced. The stamp has buttons on it but I covered them with a little red button from my stash and those adorable little button brads found at Big Lots along with the little snow flake at the bottom. The large snow flake was cut from mirror card with a Sizzlet die.  All mounted on a snowflake embossed card.

I am entering this in Sandra's 3rd Rudolph Day Challenge.  What's that?  Sandar has challenged us to make at least one Christmas card and or a tag ever 25th of the month.  Why not join in, you'll be glad you did come Dec. and you may even win a little something too. 




Have an Amazing Day!

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

Good Afternoon

Hi There

I don't usually post at this time of day but you’ve all been so sweet and supportive I feel dreadful for not updating on Jim doctor’s appointment. Things have been a little frenzied here and my head it’s quite screwed on tight.

I only won half the battle with Jim’s doctor. He has agreed to taking Jim off the one medication we have felt has been doing him more harm then good but he wants to see how Jim does before considering increasing his dose of prednisone. Jim says he is already feeling better, he isn’t dizzy anymore and I‘ve noticed his memory has improved, some. Some of the other issues may take a bit longer to get out of his system but we feel we may be on the right track. Yesterday he actually felt well enough to go out to lunch and a drive around town. Can’t tell you how long it’s been since we’ve been able to do. Nothing special but it was a lovely afternoon.

Regarding the A2 size cards.  I must admit when Terry asked I needed to look it up. It seems several of you are unfamiliar with that term as well. An A2 size card is 4 ¼” X 5 ½” folded.

My card reader seems to be on the fritz. Until I get it replaced and can upload current photos I thought I’d share a card I made some years ago for my granddaughter Whitney. I don’t remember where I found the tutorial for this card. I do remember I found it confusing and ended up with a LOT of scraps as I had a dickens of a time getting it scored and cut properly. I also remember I took an oath never to try to make another like it. I don't know why but when opened flat every photo came out blue, the first photo shows it's true colors.

Okay what happened to spring?  We had one glorious day of sunshine and a brake from the winds, ONE day and it was gone again.  It is cold, overcast and blustery here.  Even had some snow, not a lot, it didn't last but still it was snow.  Come on spring!

Be Well and Have an Amazing Day!

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

Snippets

Hi There

I do hope you’ve all had a wonderful weekend. Sat was brilliant here. Beautiful weather! My lovely hair dresser Mary gave me a fabulous hair cut. Had a wonderful lunch and a long over to catch up with a former co-worker. A trip to Michael’s with one of the last of my Christmas gift cards and a 15% off everything coupon. Couldn’t ask for more. Sunday was over cast, damp, cold and windy again. Spring is bound to win out soon.

I’ve been told it’s high time I let you all see what the old lady in The Closet looks like so I’ve add a profile photo. Let me tell you Mr. Blogger fought me on tooth and nail. I know I'm no raving beauty but good heavens I didn't expect him to kick up such a fuss. He would not allow me to up load that photo. When I finally won that battle I discovered ALL my followers had vanished, every last one of you, on top of that our Dear Mr. Blogger would not allow me to comment on any one's blog. I guess he's done pouting because all is well now. After all that I'm not sure I like me looking back at me but…

In updating my profile, I realized I never told you all we have a beautiful new great granddaughter. Hiilani was born on Nov. 14 '11. I haven’t asked permission to post her photo but I will and if it’s okay with her parents I’ll post it later.

Terry asked if my cards were A2 size. Yes Terry they usually are. On occasion I will make a larger size but I find them more difficult to do.

My card today is for my little sister, Donna. It is an easel card attached to a white A2 card. I had two little pieces of PP in my scrap file and managed to just fit them together and cut them out with SB Labels Three. The blue card beneath it is made up of two more scraps. The band across the top not only turns my square into a rectangle but hides the uneven edges of the papers beneath it. I traced a butterfly template and cut out three butterflies in three different shades of blue then ran them thru the Cuttlebug in three different EF. I distressed the edges with Broken China DI, then mounted them on to the easel with foam tape between each. I tucked the gold wire antennas into the foam tape and added a few half pearls. The flowers, feathers and pearls are from my stash.

This card was made of odds and end, bits and pieces so I’m sharing at the playground. If you don’t know what I’m talking about head over to the playground here and join the fun.  Di our lovely hostess and the Snippeters would love to have you I'm sure. I hear there are cupcakes and milk to be had and kites to be flown this week.   

Cheap Trick: I have rarely used foam tape because the white  isn’t aesthetically pleasing to me. I saw somewhere there is colored foam tape available but you all know I’m to cheap to buy all those different colors besides space is always a consideration. My solution is to use a marker and color the edges, all but makes it disappear. I adhere the tape to the underside of my project, color with marker then remove the protective cover and adhere it to my project, no inky fingers.

Have an Amazing Day!

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

Congratulations ~ 100th Post Winner

Hi There

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth.  I've had a bit of a bug but I'm feeling just fine today.  I do hope you are all well and enjoying spring like weather.  Spring and Winter are having a battle here.  I am always fascinated by how different the weather can be just a few short miles from one place to the next.  We live very close to the foothills of the Cascades.  In the higher elevations it is snowing gang busters.  It keeps trying to snow and hail here but gentle rains are winning and I am sure before long Spring will win out.   We are still experiencing strong winds and although we are damp here, just a few miles down the road it is very dry and the winds are causing dreadful dust storms.  Visibility has been so poor there was a 20 car pile up on Sat.  There have been several other accidents since then so the powers-that-be have been closing roads off and on since the weekend.  Thankfully no one has been injured.

I can’t believe this is my 100^th post!  I really can't believe you are actually sitting there reading what I have to say.  As promised I have a small candy to celebrate.  Truth be told I don't know how to use Mr. Linky and Random whatever,  I don't have the time or inclination to learn how they work at the moment.  Besides I wanted one of my followers to win, not someone who only stops buy when a candy is offered and I don't think you can stack the deck if you employ those.  Anywho, I've decided to simplify things and go old school.  I put the names for all my lovely followers in a bowl and had my grandson pull out a name. The winner is:

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Carys!

of CarysL Cards

Carys is only 14 years old and although my candy isn't very big I am thrilled to help fill her craft space with a few stamps, ribbons and a little flower punch. 

Congratulations sweetie. If you will send me your snail mail address at berniescraftcloset@gmail.com I’ll get this off to you as soon as possible. 

 

With all the weddings and graduations coming up I’ve made a number of these simple Congratulations cards for the craft fair. Isn’t this a fabulous stamp!  It is another well loved stamp found in a thrift shop. I suspect it is rather old, save for the manufactures name, Rubber Stampede, I could not find any other information about it.     

Cheap Trick:  Although some of the stamps I find in thrift shops are new or clean, most are not, actually some are incredibly dirty.  I give those a good scrub with Dawn dish soap and warm water then let them dry completely, usually over night.  I then use my adhesive eraser to erase the remaining ink then wipe with a baby wipe.  This almost always gets all the ink off the image and gives it a bit of 'tooth' as well.  It even gets off StazOn ink.  I've been doing this for years and can't remember who to give credit to for this great tip.  

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie

Click here to give --- It’s Free

Super Heroes

Hello Dear Friends;

Thank you all for your sweet comments and well wishes, they do mean a great deal. We got Jim’s test results, I’m afraid they didn’t show anything of significance so nothing will be done for him. I do believe his doctor is being far to conservative with his treatments. He has another appointment on the 21^st at which time I plan to speak to the doctor regarding it. I do realize increasing some of his medications can have some unfavorable long term side affects but we all know with end stage emphysema there is no long term in his future. I want him as comfortable as possible in the time he has left. Whatever happens we will just make the best of life as it is.

When I saw these little Valentine trading cards and a box of birthday candles in the discount bin marked 75% off I had to have them. I immediately pictured birthday cards for little boys. What little boy doesn’t love Spider Man or Transformers and since they are lenticular I’m sure they will be fascinated by the changing figures as well. The cards only measure 2 ½” X 1 ½” so I needed a big sentiment, this Studio G $1 stamp fit the bill and I believe goes well with the candle. I’ve made several of these for a craft fair.

Same cards different angle.

Have an Amazing Day!

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

A St. Patrick’s Day Card

Hello!

Thank you all ever so much for your well wishes for Jim. His chest X-rays, CAT scans and lab work went well and most amazingly we did not have to wait more then a few minuets for each.

The blood gas draw was another story. Since Jim’s vision is poor I am the designated driver in this household. Jim has had blood gases drawn before and knew it would be very painful. He was more then a little apprehensive on the way to the hospital and insisted on telling me how to drive. When he screamed (and scared the living day lights out of me) that a car was coming ( the car was actually going the other way) I told him if he wasn’t quiet I was going to gag, blind fold and stuff him in the trunk. Honestly it’s a wonder I don’t drink.

Drawing blood for gases is not only painful but difficult under the best of circumstances. At the hospital a lovely gentleman tried once but was unsuccessful. He said he didn’t feel comfortable trying again so a sweet young lady took over. I could see on Jim’s face that it really was painful but he was being so brave. Apologizing profusely for hurting him she quit after two tries. Jim was very happy to hear the hospital’s policy is to only try three times. ATM we are waiting to hear test results and if the doctor will insist on the blood gases being done.

Poor Jim, to add insult to injury I insisted he use a wheelchair. Not good for his ego but best for him in all other respects except maybe having me as his driver. The first few tests we had a normal size wheelchair which I had no problem driving. Jim finally said ‘rolling is better then strolling‘ sat back and relaxed. He shouldn’t have spoken so soon. At the hospital we had a super size chair for people with wider then normal backsides. The lab was DEEP within the bowels of the hospital. According to Jim, yours truly managed to hit, bang and generally run into and or over everything and anything that didn’t get out of my way going and coming. I don’t need advice when driving a car but I’ve never driven a wheelchair before. Really, he could have given me some warnings, especially about the little old lady with the walker. I do admit to taking the paint off a few doorways but no one was hurt. Okay enough of that, on to my card.

Our dearest friends are Irish giving me an excellent excuse to make a St. Patty‘s Day card. I’m not sure why but I’m not totally pleased with this card. I began with an embossed dark green card and layered on a scrap of olive green paper. I wanted to high light my sentiment with a darker green but found my SB circle dies were either to small or to large so I embossed it with two different sizes at the same time then hand cut at the embossed edge of the larger size. The sentiment was computer generated then cut out with a lacey circle die. The toile ribbon is from Little Black Dress Designs. The shamrock was made by punching three hearts and inking the edges . The Happy St. Patty’s Day sentiment is a Studio G clear $1 stamp, cut out by hand as well. Finished off with ’brads’

Cheap Trick: I make my own ‘brads’. I use a standard office paper punch to punch out little circles then used my embossing tool to shape them. A little pop dot inside helps them to keep their shape on the card.


Have an Amazing Day!

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

Mariposa Sympathy

Good Morning!
What a difference a sunny day can make.  It was a bit nippy and a little breezy but the sun was shinning and the sky crystal clear and the bluest of blue.  I donned my hat and coat and I sat on the back step just letting the sun beat down on me. It was glorious and I do feel so much the better for it.   The weather guys say today is supposed to be a repeat of the same.  Although I'll be spending the better part of the day waiting on Jim as he has his CAT scan and lab work I do plan to find some time to sit in the sun.  I do hope you will all enjoy a lovely sunny day as well.

March is National Craft Month.  Anyone who has followed me for a while wont be surprised to hear I've saved a few of my Christmas gift cards for the March sales.  This weekend every craft shop in town has a sale, the coupons have already been printed and more are arriving in the mail daily.  I'll leave you all to guess what I'll be up to this weekend. :)            


My cards today are quite simple as once again I’ve allowed this lovely paper from DCWV Mariposa matstak do all the work. I simply cut inside the printed frame, inked the white edges, threaded my ribbon thru the frame then added my sentiment behind it all. The paper seemed to lend itself to a sympathy card so I went with it.  I'm loving this matstack so much I think I'll get another. 

These are for an upcoming craft fair. I was not able to get a table at the Come On Spring craft fair as I’d hoped. It is always THE event of the season. They don’t announce a call for vendors, instead it is done by word of mouth. The mouths that promised to let me know DIDN'T.  Althought it's been treated as Top Secret information I have managed to get the name and number of the event coordinator.  Hopefully she’ll have a table for me at Christmas. Although it was the event I’d really hoped to take part in there will be others.

      

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings
Bernie

Click here to give --- It’s Free