Reliquary for the Mother-In-Law

My Mother in Law liked her shrine so much, that she asked if I'd make another for her sister! Which, of course, I did. But when she began talking about the sisters...all THREE of them...of her boyfriend, I quickly told her I had to work on Dirty Dozen projects. Which is true.

Talk about just barely dodging THAT bullet, huh?

To see the Shrine I made for the MIL...check out my Pinterest! For the story, get your rear-ends over to www.splitcoaststampers.com and pony up the 25 bucks for a year of fan club membership! There are templates, tutorials and all sorts of benes for fan club members! I should know...I'be been one for years! Small price to pay for what you get in return! Trust. 

My pinterest is here: http://www.pinterest.com/salome000/my-art/

Back Down to Earth with Bentley

It was supposed to be my FIRST foray into CAS with Freshly Made Sketches in months. And it WOULD have succeeded....had it not been for black thread, Bella herself and an accidental amputation.

Let's face it...CAS and I aren't well-acquainted. There aren't many surfaces that I can resist embellishing (aka 'Junking Up') but knowing that it may just be a genetic impossibility for me to produce a CAS card, I probably should just throw in the towel and be done with it. But I can't. Why? Because of the buttons.

I'll get to that in a bit.

First, let's talk Stamping Bella.

I LOVE her girls. I can't resist them and have quite a few. I got Bentley a few weeks ago and thought I'd color her up real purty and stick her on a white card with no embellishment...just a simple sentiment on vellum.

I stamped her with my trusty Memento, and went to coloring the balloons. The transparency coloring was a thing I hadn't tried, and it took 3 times to get it right. Happy with the look, I went to color the rest of Bentley, when I noticed black smudges on my pristine white paper. In spite of heat setting the ink, it smudged!!! Never mind that this had NEVER EVER happened in the past...I couldn't believe it had let me down when I needed it the most!

I was already having enough problems trying to repair my relationship with my Copics...we had become a little estranged since my joining the Dirty Dozen here at SCS and I promised that I would try harder. And it was going so well...

But, unwilling to chance trying the transparency thing again, I went with plan b and decided to fussy cut.

I'm not sure what Bella has against fussy cutting, but successfully fussy cutting one of her girls, especially, should come with some national award. I already knew I'd have to sacrifice the balloon strings (and had black sewing thread at the ready) but what happened next was totally unprecedented and remains a mystery.

I don't know HOW it happened...my scissors weren't even NEAR her arm, when the next thing I knew, Bentley's balloon string holding arm had been neatly excised just above the elbow.

But being the professional I am, I quickly grabbed my glue and carefully grabbed the separated appendage with my craft tweezers. With the dexterity and skill of a world famous surgeon...well...sigh.

I dropped it.

Panicked, I searched for the sliver of arm I'd colored to no avail. Unwilling to admit defeat, I grabbed a previously stamped image, colored up the arm, and reattached it.

By this time, I really started to feel that I should use the cloud EF but felt it too plain. I embossed another with Pink Pirouette ink brayered onto the folder so the ink would give a subtle, pink shade to emphasize the white clouds. Then, worrying I was starting to clutter it up, I mounted it on Pink Pirouette paper, then on another sheet that I felt just HAD to have score lines drawn around the mat and it just went on and on and on. At the end of the day, I just gave up. THIS is about as CAS as it's going to get with me.

Dang.

But don't think for one second that I plan to quit trying....remember the buttons?

Being an over-achiever is exhausting enough...but throw in a tangible reward...in this case, an FMS blog badge and/or the SCS CAS blog badge...and I become a crazy person.

Those two badges have eluded me for some time, and I'm determined to collect them one day. Maybe not THIS day, but one day.

As it is, I'm okay with Bentley. It's not everyday that one can design a matching prosthesis AND repair a relationship with neglected art mediums. That's why I should never be underestimated. heh heh

Thanks for checking in...I'm off to attempt another CAS card for the FMS tomorrow. You can join in, too! Just drop on by anytime...maybe I'll see you there? MWAAAH!

Why don't you come on over????

I don't know WHY I try the things I try, sometimes.

ESPECIALLY when those 'things' require Flower Soft.

It's no secret that Flower Soft and I are still somewhat estranged...granted, we tried to salvage our friendship after the nasty breakup we had, but we've tried.

I'm the one who called it off after a nasty incident involving Flower Soft and my computer keyboard. When I found it too close for comfort with my electronic ebosser, I knew it was over. But I hoped we could try to at LEAST work together occasionally.

I thought we could...until today.

Once again, I was sliding under the finish line of Impression Obsessions 'gift' challenge. and wanted to submit this snow globe made from a plastic ornament. It was just AWESOME, until I called on my old 'friend' Flower Soft, to give me the gorgeous look of snow.

Well, it gave me 'snow'...EVERYWHERE. On my clothes, in my hair, in my water bottle and in my dinner of hummus and whole wheat pita (no worries...I'm a chubby girl...a little Flower Soft in my diet ain't gonna kill me) AND on the sides of the entire globe.

Needless to say, there's very little I can do at this point to rectify the situation and get a clearer shot. For if there's one thing that Flower Soft loves more than me, it's static cling.

So, I'll enter it anyway and as there's still time to come on over here http://mitrafriant.typepad.com/impression_obsession_news/2014/12/challenge-quick-holiday-gifts.html and join in to win!

If not, then I understand.

Better than your Flower Soft ever will.

Ingredients:

Impression Obsession Winter House Stamp H1745
Impression Obsession Let it Snow Stamp B8145

Savannah Says Merry Christmas

Look...this is simply a 'quickie card' I made as I sit here waiting for Santa to spread joy and cheer to my children!

And maybe touch up a sister's wine glass while he's at it.

I've been dying to play with this stamp since October and am happy to get the chance to abuse it with my lackluster copic skillz. I used stickles on the ornaments, belt and headband (and a touch in HER wine glass...so pay it forward, Claus!) and topped it off with SU! Merry cut in gold mirror board.

This is going to be a short post because my kids are tearing down the house in their excitement and I've got to put a stop to it immediately.

Now...where DID I put that benadryl????

heh heh

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SCS Holiday Sparkle CAS303 Challenge

Before anyone gets excited, no animal was harmed in the making of this gift card/ty note purse holder thingie.

A kid or two, maybe, but never animals.

I don't know about you, but I believe in karma. You know, the whole 'what you do comes back to you' thing. And I also believe that our Lord is the one who created it and set it in motion, simply because He knew we were such numbskulls that He'd NEVER have time to do anything else if He had to smack us on the back of our heads every time we did something wrong. It was much easier to say, "Verily, I say unto thee, I shall have your actions return unto you and kick you in the rear-end and that should act as a reminder to get your act together."

I'm pretty sure that actual verse is in Corinthians or something.

Personally, I think it's a FABULOUS concept! Most of the time. Sure, I don't like when I get some negative served up to remind me I was a donkey's behind and that I need to make it right, but overall, it's great. Except for one thing. And I've had many a discussion with God AND Jesus over my ideas for improvement. Needless to say, they haven't exactly made overall sweeping changes based on my suggestions, but at least they're not putting me on hold or sending me to voice mail immediately, anymore.

That means something, right????

You see, think about how incredibly effective karma would be if, when it was served RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PERSON THAT HAD TO SUFFER IN DEALING WITH THE DONKEY'S BEHIND IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Think about it...a driver cuts you off and acts like a jerk. Under the old karmic plan, that person may have someone else cut THEM off several weeks down the road. Even worse, they may have already forgotten that they'd been a donkey's posterior and think that they're the actual victim in all this.

Under my new and improved plan, we would see instant karma take place, bringing a sense of pleasure to the victim and serve not only retribution to the perpetrator, but it would leave no doubt as to what they've done AND have to suffer the embarrassment of having the rest of us pointing and laughing.

How effective would THAT be??

Needless to say, I believe my Father and Savior are finally taking this idea seriously, and I'm hoping for a trial period.

Because I can tell you that, after suffering for YEARS by stepping on my 8 year old's Legos for years, (usually while rushing through the house to grab a ringing phone or deal with something that needed immediate attention) and winding up on the floor, clutching a foot and howling, it did me a WORLD of good to see this kid step on my stamp a ma jig and, while hopping around yelling, stub his other toe on my door.

Don't look at me like that! I made sure he was fine! And by that, I mean I watched him and asked if he was okay BEFORE bursting into laughter. So, see? I'm not THAT terrible a parent!

But let me assure you that I launched into "AHA! THAT'S what you get when you don't pick up your legos like Mommy tells you! Now you know how mommy and daddy feel when they step on an entire series of Legos just trying to get to the bathroom at night! NOW you know why mommy threatens to throw all your legos away! Now, where is your father? If karma is in the house, he's got some payback coming too!"

By that time, he was over it and staring at me in that way that left no doubt as to what a donkey heinie he thought I was, and he left.

So, you see? This isn't such a bad idea! And as long as it doesn't apply to ME, I can't wait to see the ball get rolling on this!

NOW...to the important stuff! This purse template can be found HERE on SCS http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/fo...103-post1.html I scored it and used rhinestones for sparkle, along with a simple gold chain for a handle. I glued the fur trim onto it, and made the little 3x3 cards with embossed white paper mounted with scotch mounting tape over plain white cardstock, with only the 'Peace' diecut attached with glue dots. Great for gift cards or small notecard set!

I'm entering this in CAS303 Holiday Sparkle challenge, as I'm not ONLY working on my CAS presentations, but it's the only badge I haven't gotten yet and my OCD won't give me a moment's peace until I do. heh heh

Whaaaaa????? It's CHRISTMAS????????

Lots more to this post in a bit, but I NEED to make the challenge deadline! Impression Obsession Challenge CAS Holiday Cards is the FIRST challenge I've made since the last challenge (oddly enough, it was Impression Obsession's as well!) on Oct. 29th. I'll give you all the details, but first, let's go with the important stuff!

I LOVE the Santa Horses stamp from IO! I colored it using my Copics (combos to follow later tonight) and knew from the beginning that I wanted to make it into an ornament. Using a circle die, I cut it out and a larger gold mirror paper circle to back it.

THEN, as I always seem to do, I wondered if it were possible to make it look more like an ornament...you know, like glass...and rounded.

T'hus began my experiment this afternoon that actually worked in my favor...for ONCE. :)

I used 2 layers of mounting tape in the middle, several pieces of single mounting tape around it, and scor tape all around the edges to hold them tight. It's not as rounded as I'd like, but at least I know I can add to that next time. Then, I put a thick coat of glossy accents over the front and VOILA! Not too bad for someone who hasn't held a Copic or made a card for 2 months, huh?

I PROMISE I've got more to add, but need to get this loaded and rush to my hair appointment. I've never had a grey hair in my life....at least not one that any of you will every see. HAH!

Impression Obsession  Santa Horses J7042
Impression Obsession  Pine Branch Die 021-N
Impression Obsession Happy Holidays B8784

Grand Theft Auto....with Squirrels

Uh-Oh. I lost track of time. I couldn't help myself!!! I just wanted to do ONE more entry into Impression Obsession's challenge "Shades of Fall".   

Not that this will matter to my 8-year-old...he knows I read books to him EVERY night. Without fail. Because I'm too scared to fail. That kid can exact revenge like no other. And he's upstairs now...plotting. The last time I pulled this, he insisted on the same Marley the Dog book for 3 weeks i a row. By the end of it, I knew every word and found myself trying to have conversations with adults in which my voice would shift into the different voices I used for the characters. It wasn't pretty. Neither was the intervention.

So...without further ado, here's my watercolor piece for Impression Obsession. Whom I love, but my fear of my kid and dog books far outweigh my need to write more.

Love ya, mean it, MWAAAH!


Impression Obsession
Pumpkin Pair E9419
Cover A Card Clouds CC091 
We Gather Together CL406
Clouds DIE068-A
Wheat DIE085-X
Classic Truck DIE218-I
Squirrel Set DIE213-D
Grass Border DIE060-I