Bits of Paper ~ Bits of Life

I Scream, You Scream . . .

2012-01-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

. . . we all yell for YELLOW!

Okay, whatever . . . . I know that's not how it goes . . . but here are some Yellow Cards:

All stamps by Rosie's Roadshow.

I have more yellow cards . . . I just need to make them . . . stay tuned though . . . .I have other colors that will be posted soon!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Orange You Glad . . .

2012-01-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

you came back, today? Here are the orange cards . . .

All stamps by Rosie's Roadshow. . . layouts very much inspired from the Rosie's Roadshow Gallery.

Wanna guess what the next color is? Yep! YELLOW!

Notice a pattern yet?

Thanks for visiting today!

Use It Up

2012-01-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

I have great crafty stuff. I mean, really super great stuff. . . but I admit, I've been hoarding it all. So, one of my goals for this new year is to use what I have. Really, really use what I have. . . because I have really great stuff (and a lot of it).

Of course, to keep myself from getting completely overwhelmed, I started with baby steps. For instance, I have a bunch of red cards and a bunch of 6x6 paper that would go lovely with the red cards. And I have fabu stamps that are perfect for quick and easy cards. Soooo . . .here are the red cards (and a pink one):

All stamps are by Rosie's Roadshow.

Viola! All red cards used up! Stay tuned for orange . . .

Thanks for stopping by today!

More Snowmen

2012-01-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

This guy is so dapper in his top hat! So dapper that I made two cards.

What I used (Merry Merry)
Snowmen 2 by Rubber Stamp Concepts
Merry Merry stamp by American Art Stamp
Patterned Paper by Memory Box and Cosmo Cricket
Nesties
Copic Markers

What I used:
Patterned Paper by My Little Shoebox
Nesties
Copic Markers
Border Punch
Swiss Dots and Snowflakes Cuttlebug Folders

Does it not look like this guy could be saying, "What do you mean there's a tree on my head?!"

What I used:

Snowmen 2 by Rubber Stamp Concepts

Patterned Paper by Cosmo Cricket

Copic Markers

Nesties

Corner Rounder

Christmas Green Flower Soft

Christmas Red Stickles

Google Eyes (he had to have google eyes!)

Thanks for visiting today!

Penguin Pizza Box

2012-01-21T17:06:00.000-08:00

So, I'm a member of a Stamp Club. It's good for me to be a part of it, especially since I closed the store. I hosted our meeting this month and for the project, I decided to make a pizza box. I also decided to use a super cute penguin stamp by The Cat's Pajamas.

Lo and Behold! I received a newsletter from The Cat's Pajamas, and it turns out that January 20th is Penguin Awareness Day! Imagine that . . . I made a Penguin Pizza Box just in time for Penguin Awareness Day and I didn't even know it was Penguin Awareness Day!

Okay . . .enough blabber . . . here's the Pizza Box (and you can make one, too! Just follow this tutorial)

What I used:

Stamp by The Cat's Pajamas

Patterned Paper by Imaginesce

Nesties

Colored Pencils

Thanks for visiting today!

Rainy Saturday

2012-01-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

Well . . . it's raining. I guess today would be a good day to catch up on my blogging. I was pretty busy stamping during the holidays and never got around to posting the stuff! So . . . here we go:
"Brrr" is right! Today is a cold, rainy day. I'm pretty sure I could never live anywhere where it snows. . .

What I used:
Snowmen 2 from Rubber Stamp Concepts
Patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket
Nesties
Copic Markers
White Gel Pen
Stardust Stickles

Simple . . . but I love the red!
What I used:
Snowmen 2 by Rubber Stamp Concepts
Patterned Paper by Cosmo Cricket
Copic Markers
White Gel Pen
Christmas Green Flower Soft
Nesties
Red Twine
Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Really . . .they aren't green dreadlocks, they're pine boughs.

What I used:
Snowmen 2 by Rubber Stamp Concepts
Patterned Paper by Memory Box
Copic Markers
Christmas Green Flower Soft
Christmas Red Stickles
Pom Pom Trim

Thanks for visiting today . . .

Snowmen

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because I live in California where we don't get any snow. Maybe it's because they are just so cute. Whatever the reason, I just love this snowman!

What I used:

Snowmen 2 by Rubber Stamp Concepts

Patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket and BoBunny

Copic Markers

Stardust Stickles

Nesties

Thanks for stopping by!

Mum's the Word

2011-11-29T15:12:00.001-08:00

Okay . . not really . . .I just made a card using a Mum stamp. I've had Mum Messages for quite some time but never really knew what to do with it.
When all of a sudden, while flipping through the November issue of CardMaker magazine, there it was!
A beautiful card created by Michelle Woerner. And I thought, "Hey! I could do something similar with that Mum stamp set."

So, I modified it and came up with this:
What I used:
Mum Messages by Stampendous
Patterned paper by Memory Box
Embossing Folder by Sizzix
Nesties
Copic Markers

Thanks for visiting today!

Cuppa Cocoa?

2011-11-27T09:15:00.000-08:00

I found this beauty of a stamp at the Carson Convention a few weeks ago . . . there's just something about a cup of cocoa . . .

What I used:

Stamp by Impression Obsession

Copic Markers

Christmas Green Flower Soft

Red Stickles

Startdust Stickles

Glossy Accents

Nesties

Thanks for stopping by today!

Just a Few Things

2011-11-22T08:40:00.000-08:00

This poor blog has been so neglected . . . but I do have a few things to share . . .

Here's a card I made for Stamp Club . . .love the paper by 7 Gypsies! Here are the Make-n-Takes I did in Terry Medaris' booth at the Mesa Rubber Stamp Convention. You can see more pics from the convention HERE.

And finally . . . cute little Snowmen Pins. You can see all the deets about what I used HERE.

Thanks for visiting!

This is Your Life

2011-08-05T08:04:00.001-07:00

I saw this on Facebook . . . it was shared by a friend from a friend. I really like it.

Creative Every Day - Red

2011-08-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Red. The color of love, passion, emotion, high energy, and on a not-so-positive note - anger.

I love the color red . . . the accent wall in our bedroom is red. I want to paint my kitchen a shade of red.

When I saw that Red was the topic for Creative Every Day, I was thrilled! I use red quite often when painting in my journal . . . so I flipped through to see what I might post. Oddly enough, I found two pages where I used red . . . and I recalled the emotions I was feeling when I painted them.

Here's one:

When I was painting this page I was in a grand mood. I had lots of energy that day and remember that I felt as though "I was right where I was supposed to be."

And then . . .there's this page:
Ummmm . . . not in such a happy mood. Something had come up and I had a mix of emotions all at the same time. . . the deeper red signifies anger and frustration, the teal signifies sadness, and the jumbled letters signify confusion.

Even though this page evokes memories of a not so good day, I still love it. And I also recall how much better I felt after I painted it.

I do believe that my visual journal is becoming a perfect place for me to get things off my chest, good or bad . . . and I am enjoying the process more and more.

Thanks for stopping by today! May your day be a good red day!

On My Desk

2011-07-29T15:57:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased the latest issue of Art Journaling magazine (and I'm not supposed to be buying anymore magazines, but couldn't resist the cover of this one) and was flipping through the pages while sitting in the backyard.

I dunno . . . when I came in, I decided to take a few pictures of what's on my desk right at this moment. . . perhaps to look at them and think about what is there, why it's there, and then create a page about it . . .

So, this is what's on my desk:

What's on yours?

A Few Cards

2011-07-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yes! I made a few cards! Yahoo!

For the above card, I used:

Hot Day, Cool Ice Cream by Terry Medaris Art Stamps

Summer Words Cardstock by Imaginisce

Denim Cardstock by Donna Salazar

Xpress-It Cardstock

Copic Markers

For the above card, I used:

Four Pots by Terry Medaris Art Stamps

Sand Embossing Powder

Metallic Prismacolor Pencils

Patterned Cardstock by Cosmo Cricket and Memory Box

Corner Slot Punch

Thanks for stopping by today!

Holding Back

2011-07-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

So, I saw this post on Julie's blog and she asks, "What's holding you back?"

***sigh***

For me, it's words . . . or the ability (confidence?) to actually write words. I have lots of pages painted, but very few have anything written on them.

Julie's next question was, "What are you going to do to break the hold?"

Start writing.

Yes, I did blur the picture on purpose.

Thanks for stopping by today!

So Quiet

2011-07-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Ladies are so quiet this morning. I think Sheila is tired. . . she and Morgan have had a few good days of some very active play and now she needs a little time to recover.

Perhaps I'll be able to do some more painting today . . .

It Needs a Belt

2011-07-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about shoes. I love shoes. The higher the heel and more funky the design, the better. Take this pair, for instance:

5" Heel, 1" Platform, and a super cute buckle around the ankle. Shoes don't get much better than this.

Although, I do love this pair:

4" Wedge Heel, and lots of beads and bling.

Yes . . .shoes. I am always confident when buying shoes.

Clothes, on the other hand . . . not so much. When I go shopping for clothes it usually ends up a totally wasted trip. . . or, "I like this shirt. I'll buy one in every color and at least three in black."

I'm a hard fit. I'm barely 5'2". I have a short torso. Yet, I have really long legs.

If a shirt is too short, I look like I have no torso at all.

If a shirt is too long, I look like I'm 3' tall.

Pants/Jeans? They (almost) always have to be hemmed.

And then, on Monday, July 4th . . . the skies opened up and Angels sang out to me. . . I found Blues and Shoes. A quaint little boutique in Carlsbad. Of course, it was the name of the boutique that caught my attention.

Yes, Dear Husband, we will be going into that shop. . . it has SHOES in the name.

I walk in and the Angels started singing louder. . . they were having a sale . . . buy one pair of shoes and get a second pair 50% off! It's my lucky day!

And, then . . . I met Amanda. She said, "This dress would look so cute on you."

"That is a very cute dress," I replied.

"Would you like me to set up a dressing room for you?"

"Yes, please."

"Okay. What is your name and what size shoe do you wear?" she asks.

"Cathy. I wear a size 6."

I continue to look at shoes while she goes to hang the dress in the dressing room. She comes back and asks if I've ever shopped there before.

"No, I haven't."

"Well, all of us are stylists, so how it works is, you pick out a few things and I'll pick out a few things. The only rule is you have to come out of the dressing room, no matter what."

"Okay."

So, I look at a few things . . . a cute summery blouse, shoes, another cute, casual top, shoes . . . and then I'm ready to try stuff on.

I walk into the dressing room, and now the Angels are having a full blown concert!

Holy Canoli, Batman! That dressing room was lined with at least 18 outfits paired perfectly with shoes AND accessories. Let the trying on begin!

The first outfit was a dress, a cute little sweater vest thing, and SUPER cute shoes. I step out of the dressing room, Amanda looks at me and says, "It needs a belt."

What?? A belt?? With a dress? No way.

She grabs a belt (from a vast array of belts conveniently hanging right outside the dressing room) and hands it to me. The belt made a huge difference. . . but my husband wasn't too keen on the dress.

Next . . . I couldn't even tell you what I tried on next, but to make a long story even longer, I ended up with six pairs of shoes and basically a new wardrobe where EVERYTHING fit, and was completely put together and accessorized.

I kinda felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Not in hooker kind of way, mind you. But that scene where Richard Gere takes her shopping and the three Marys are choosing outfits for her.

With all my new clothes, it's time to clean out the closet. I decided to get rid of (donate) all of my plain black tee's. It was too easy to just grab a plain black tee and a pair of jeans or capri's (which I also have to be VERY mindful where they hit me. Too far below the knee and I look 2" tall). I admit it. . . I was totally in a slump when it came to clothing . . . I'm even willingly to admit that I just might have been a perfect candidate for "What Not to Wear."

But, not anymore . . .thanks to Amanda (and Michelle --- who helped me on my second trip to Blues and Shoes --- more on that later).

Now, I actually look forward to getting dressed in the morning . . . and yes, I will accessorize whether or not I plan on leaving the house. . .

Thanks to a few lessons from Amanda (and Michelle), I have actually been able to put together outfits with stuff that has been hanging in my closet but never worn because I didn't know how to "finish" the look. See?

In the two pictures above, the shirts had been hanging in my closet for a quite some time . . .all they needed was a belt.

The above picture is an outfit that Amanda had picked out. . . . super comfortable, yet cute and totally put together.

The cute floral tank is something that Michelle picked out for me . . . and yes, even though you can't see it, I am wearing a belt.

On a side note . . . the two blouses I picked out for myself did not come home with me . . . .I've decided that I will just let Amanda and Michelle pick everything out for me. . . they are the professionals, after all.

It's A New Day

2011-07-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

Oh, how the stars have aligned for me. I'm still coming across "things" that I need to see, hear, or read. It makes me all happy inside. Life is good. And everyday is a New Day.

So what changed for me? I just started taking better care of myself. . . little things, really. Morning walks, pilates, a lot of stretching, spending more time in my studio and less time on the computer.

I mentioned a book that I bought a few posts back . . . The Art Journal Workshop by Traci Bunkers. I love this book. I don't know if it's the way it's written, or the way the it's formatted, or a combination of it all. I just love it.

One of my favorite things about this book are the Journaling Exercises in Chapter 4. I've skipped around the exercises because they don't need to be done in order. I kinda picked the one that suited me for that day.

Anywhoooooo . . . one of the exercises is about Urban Affirmation Cards. I really, really wanted to make some, because maybe there is somebody out there who "needs" to receive it. After all, with all the "things" I've been seeing, hearing or reading has really grounded me. My hope is that these little cards end up with someone who needs it. So, here they are:

I'll be leaving them in curious places . . . tucked in a book at a bookstore . . . near the cereal at the grocery store . . . wherever I have the urge to leave one.

Thanks for visiting today . . . it IS a New Day and may yours be fabulous!

Circus of Charmed Delights

2011-07-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

I have lots of Charmed Delights. Do you?

Thanks for visiting today. . . may your day be Delightfully Charmed!

This Page . . .

2011-07-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

. . . makes me happy. That's all I have to say.Okay, not really. I love the bright colors. I love all the layers. I love the messiness of it. I love that it just came together.

I have two visual journals that I'm working in . . . turns out that the reason I kept ending up with mud is that one must wait for the paint to dry before adding another layer. Imagine that.

Sooooo . . . while I wait for something to dry in one journal, I work on something in the other journal. This particular page is in my Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook. (The other journal is an old encyclopedia.)

I have lots of pages started . . . and work on them little by little . . . I am becoming brave.
Speaking of which. . . . there is an article in the May/Jun issue of Somerset Studio all about Becoming Brave by Erin Kenepp. It is an excellent article and she has a wonderful blog.

Back to the the page . . . the style is very much inspired by Roben-Marie Smith. And I was able to do it by following the Workshop in . . . wanna guess? . . . Somerset Studio.

Really . . . this has been the best issue of Somerset Studio that I have seen in a long time. . .

Thanks for stopping by! May your day be Happy!

Please Use Gloves

2011-07-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

So, last Saturday, my husband and I decided to go out and take a stroll down Grand Avenue. . . just to get out of the house . . . and I wanted to go to the antique mall to see if they had any cool vintage postcards/pictures. . . maybe hit up the local coffee shop . . . just spend some time together.

I had told him all about The Bloggess and the Metal Chicken and I had discovered that The Bloggess made a greeting card featuring said Chicken. The sentiment inside the card is . . . um . . . well, short and to the point.

So, NOW, "Knock, Knock" has kinda become a joke between me and my friend, Jilly (she's a hoot to hang around with.)

Anywho . . . imagine my surprise when I found a Metal Chicken in that antique mall! Oh my! I was suddenly overtaken with the urge to giggle . . .I just couldn't help myself. . . (mind you, I'm standing in this cubicle all by myself because my husband is over on the other side of the store somewhere. . . ) and then, it happens. I start laughing hysterically, because all I can think about is "Knock, Knock."

For those of you who have never been around me when I laugh hysterically, it goes a little something like this:

heeheehee . . HAHAHA . .. BWAHAHAHAHA . . . snort.

Yes, I snort when I laugh. . . which only makes me laugh harder, but now, I'm bent at the waist laughing silently, holding my stomach because it hurts, and then my eyes start to water, and then, I hafta pee! Great.

Even better . . . in the cubicle across the way, there is a sign that reads, "These premises are under constant camera surveillance."

*sigh* just my luck.

Sooooooo, the very fact that I'm laughing hysterically by myself in this cubicle must have made almost as good as spectacle as when I was laughing about the Ear Card in my driveway.

Anyway . . . here's a picture of the Metal Chicken (which my husband was kind enough to take with his phone so I could send it to Jilly right away):

And, I had to take a picture of the tag, because the note stapled to it was very obviously an after(injury)thought. Apparently, all Metal Chickens have the potential to cause serious injury.

Oh, but wait . . . just when I got over the giggle fit over the Chicken, I found . . .

THIS:

heeheehee . . . here we go again . . .

Creative Every Day - Blue

2011-06-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

I came across this quote by Brian Koslow just when I needed it most. It reads, "If you nurture your mind, body, and spirit, your time will expand. You will gain a new perspective that will allow you to accomplish much more."
I've been taking the time to take better care of myself and it has made a huge difference. I'm back on track with taking my walks, and working out, and I've even worked in my journal everyday.
I've just kinda allowed myself (finally!) to try different techniques and not worry too much (i hate my handwriting, but looky there! it's on this page!) about the outcome. I've read over and over again that it's more about the process than about the finished page. I get that now.
This particular "style" was very much inspired by an Inspiration Wednesday video by Donna Downey.
Thanks for stopping by!

Too Much Time

2011-06-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

I've been spending entirely too much time playing mindless games on Facebook and watching (other people's drama) on TV lately. I was beginning to realize that I was getting nothing done.

The Ladies (our dogs) were starting to get on my nerves. My husband was starting to get on my nerves. I wasn't going on my walks or working out. I wasn't eating properly. I wasn't creating in my studio. I wasn't cleaning *GASP!* (I'm one who actually enjoys cleaning). I wasn't having enjoyable conversations with friends (thank you, Friend, for listening to and putting up my constant verbal vomit over the past few weeks). In short, I wasn't taking care of myself.

I was becoming very cranky.

My sister came down for a visit . . . we always have a lovely time. While she was here, we went to Barnes & Noble. I found a magazine to buy. (by the way, i choose magazines by the pretty pictures inside, not necessarily the what it reads on a cover) We (my sister & I) were back in the "Art Book" section and I was chatting (complaining) about how cranky I've been. And somewhere along the way I said, ". . . because I need something to do."

Holy crap. I just answered my own question. of course, at the time, I didn't realize it. It was actually days later that I remembered saying that.

So back to this post about "seeing, reading, . . .etc" . . . .

After my sister left, I spent some time with my new magazine (May/Jun issue of Somerset Studio) and lo and behold! There were a number of articles that I needed to read. I read all of them twice.

Then, I was reading this blog post and came upon the line "then the cracks started to show"

Holy crap, again! That could be me . . . very soon. . .

So, I stopped.

I took inventory.
I made decisions.
I started slowly.

And, last Sunday, while I was on my walk, I caught myself smiling a little bit . . . for no real reason at all.

House on a Hill

2011-06-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

I wonder if anyone lives in this house. I love this house. I pass it on my walk. Funny . . .I just recently noticed it and have become intrigued by it.

Word Problems

2011-06-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

circa two years ago

Me: I want to start an Art Journal.
Husband: That sounds like a good idea.
Me: So, I will need brushes, paint, a Journal, paper, stamps, ink . . . blah, blah, blah . . .

Good thing I had just about everything needed except the journal. (One of the many perks of owning a stamp store.) So, I ordered the journal . . . actually I ordered three of them. . . and waited anxiously for them to arrive.

They arrived and I couldn't wait to get started! Into my studio I go, sit down at my table surrounded by all the pretty painty things and get right to it.

What I accomplished was mud.

Me: I need books on Art Journaling.
Husband: Okay.

Off to Barnes and Noble I go . . . I found two books. Bought one to start with. Rushed home to delve into all the wonderful lessons knowing in my heart of hearts that I was going to master this Art Journal thing.

Me: This is a great book! Look at these pages! They are so beautiful and textured and inspiring!
Husband: Wow. . .those are nice pages.

Into my studio I go . . .I'm convinced I can do this. Once again, I sit down and furiously throw paint on pages. . . and bits of ephemera . . . and stamps . . . and what I accomplished was more mud.

Me: Forget it. I can't do this. I will never be able to paint like Julie (who was the first person to spark my interest in keeping an Art Journal ---- of course, there have been many other people whose work I've drooled over and secretly wished I could "paint like that.").

circa one year ago

Me: I think I'm going to try that Art Journal thing again. I have "better" paint now. And a new book.
Husband: Go for it.

Into my studio I go . . . more mud. What the hell am I doing wrong??

Me: I need to take a class. I'm going to sign up for one of Julie's online courses. (which, by the way, if you've never taken one of her classes . . . do it. She is an excellent teacher, the videos are fantastic, just everything about her rocks. . . and no, she did not pay me to say that.)
Husband: Sounds good.

I signed up. I watched the videos. I practiced and practiced. I made progress. . . but still wasn't quite there. Shelved it for a while and now I'm back to it. . . with a few lessons under my belt and yet another new book.

So, what does any of this have to do with Word Problems? Don't worry . . . it's a-coming . . .

circa a long ass time ago

I had a great math teacher in college. I was always pretty good at math, especially algebra. . . but word problems totally freaked me out. When we reached that frightening chapter in our book, my teacher said, "The key to word problems is make them into something you can relate to. If you find that the words used in the problem confuse you, change them! Take problem #whatever it was: 'A man wants to buy almonds and pistachios' . . .if you don't like almonds and pistachios, change almonds to chocolate truffles and pistachios to caramels . . .or whatever you DO like."

Genius. That worked for me.

present day

I've picked up my journal again. . . and I've been painting again. . .and I'm actually pleased with the pages I've done so far.

While creating my pages, I found that I was able to get out of my own head (which is a good thing because it was becoming a very icky place to be) and I realized a few things:

1. I don't want to paint like Julie . . . or Dina Wakely . . . or Roben-Marie Smith . . . or anyone else for that matter. I want to be inspired by them, but I want to paint like me.
2. The word "Art" was actually causing a block for me. So, I did what my math teacher suggested . . . I changed "Art" to "Visual". It worked.
3. Over the many years of having that other blog, I always minded my P's and Q's. This one, with the help of my journal will be un-censored. I have a feeling that during this new journal adventure of mine, I'm going to come face to face with some very old demons. The very thought scares the hell out of me. . . but at the same time, I'm looking forward to putting them to rest. . . for good.
4. Like my journal, I am also a Work in Progress.

a few notes: All three books I mentioned are excellent books . . . but, with hindsight always being 20/20, I know now that for ME, I should've a) taken Julie's class first, b) bought "The Art Journal Workshop" book first, and c) the other books after that.

Thanks for stopping by . . . may you have a Happy Day!

Once Upon a Time . . .

2011-06-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

. . . a long time ago, my best friend from high school went away to college. Not across the US, but far enough.

We sent letters and cards and postcards to each other just about every week. The more humorous the card, the better.

Anyway . . . one day, I received a card from her that had blue splotches on it. The caption read, "I did this with my ear and thought you might like to have it."

I remember laughing so hard when I read that. . . .to this day, that card (which, by the way, I still have) pops into my head and it STILL makes me laugh. . .

Fast forward to present day . . .

I was outside (in the front yard) working Sheila and Morgan in obedience. They both have come such a long way and I'm so very proud of them. It was quite warm this morning when I was working them, so I decided no point in getting showered and dressed just to go outside and break a sweat.

Here's the visual for you:

Bed head that I tried to tame by pulling my hair back.
Black Ziggy Marley tank top.
Camoflauge shorts.
Ankle socks and black tennis shoes.

{{If my neighbors weren't already questioning my sanity when we first started training with my high-pitched, annoying "Wow! Yay! Good Girl! You're so smart!," seeing me in the above described fashion nightmare (along with the voice), most certainly validated their thoughts (in their head, anyway.)}}

Back to the story . . . after the Ladies performed beautifully, I was resting in the shade when the "Ear card" popped into my head. . . and guess what? I start laughing . . . out loud . . . hysterically. Even Sheila gave me a look, and I swear she raised her eyebrows.

Couple the aforementioned fashion nightmare and laughing out loud, and well . . . I'm surprised "they" haven't come to take me away yet.

Soooooooooo . . . I decided, ya know, it's about high time I send a card back to my best friend. But wait! A POSTCARD would be so much better! That way, everyone from my mailman to the people who process it at the post office AND Kelly's mailman might get a chuckle out of it.

Straight into my studio I headed still giggling here and there . . . gathered up a few supplies, which was easy because I already had all my paint out . . . and promptly made the perfect postcard . . .

using . . .

my . . .

elbow.

Here's proof:

(what? you try and take a picture of your own elbow. it's not so easy!)

And here's the postcard:

Now then . . .I challenge you to go make a postcard with a random body part (keep it clean!) and send it to a loved one. I promise . . . it'll brighten his or her day.

Testing . . .

2011-06-24T09:10:00.001-07:00

. . . NetworkedBlogs.

Have You Ever Noticed . . .

2011-06-24T08:57:00.001-07:00

. . . the flowers while out on a walk?
. . . the look of love on a stranger's face?
. . . the look of trust in your dog's eyes?
. . . the bird's singing to welcome a new day?

. . . that when you need to see something, or read something, or hear something that it just magically appears?

I have.

Sweet Summertime

2011-06-22T08:39:00.001-07:00

It's my favorite season . . . long days, lots of sun . . . thought I'd make a few cards to celebrate:

Deets:
Stamp by The Cat's Pajamas (Sprinkle the Cat is still one of my very favorites!)
Patterned paper by Imaginisce
Colored with Copic Markers

Deets:

No stamping! The seahorse card was made using Wild Cards and Create a Critter Cricut Cartridges. Brushed a little bit of Shabby Shutters Distress Ink on the "seaweed" and then added some dots with a white Sharpie.

Quite happy with how they turned out . . .

A Night Crafter

2011-05-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

I've always been one to craft at night. Perhaps because, up until a year ago, I always had a "day job." Or perhaps, it was because I enjoy the stillness of night. Or perhaps, it was just when I was most inspired.

I still love the night. I still find that I am most inspired at night. There have been many a time when I've stayed up into the wee hours of the morning working away in my studio.

Me? I just like to make things. And I especially like to make things simply because I can . . . not because I have to. Creating has once again become enjoyable. . .

I have no timelines (except to make swaps for Club) . . . I have no self-imposed expections for perfection because I'm going to teach a class . . . I have no thoughts of whether or not "that sample will promote the sale of that stamp" . . . I create now because I want to . . . because I can . . . that is all.

Here are few things I've recently made:

Lately, I've not been able to stay up until the wee hours. Since Miss Morgan has joined our family, she's been waking me up at some ungodly hour at the butt crack of dawn. What I used to consider the middle of the night, is now my morning.

I'm adjusting to it, but honestly, I cannot wait for the day when she's just a little bit older and will let me sleep in until at least 7:30. . . because then, I will be able to stay up until those wee hours and search for inspiration and get ink and paint on my hands again.

Her Tiara is Crooked

2011-05-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

Puppy school. It is a must. I thought I knew a lot about dogs . . .and how to train them. Turns out, I know nothing.

But, thanks to Miss Shannon at Doggie Tech, Mike and I are being trained quite well! (Yes, you read that correctly. . . we, the humans, are being trained. And on a side note here loaded with my own opinion, if your trainer is actually training the dog . . . find a new trainer.)

Anywho . . . there has been an instance or two, when after working with our Sheila, she's gone up to Morgan and snipped at her just a little bit.

Last week, at school we learned Leadership Heel. Sheila said, "Not so much." After all three humans worked with her, she went over to Morgan and it was more than just a little snip . . . it was just about a full out brawl between the two of them.

Honestly, I'm relieved it happened while we were at Shannon's . . boy, she stepped in right away and corrected Sheila, while I was correcting Morgan. (Altercations are not allowed. . .ever. Period.)

Sooooooooooooo . . .after the girls calmed down (and my heart rate was back to normal), I asked Shannon, "What the hell happened?"

Basically, she explained that since Sheila has been running the household most of her life (which is true) she's not too keen on being told what to do now. . .yet she knows she can't take it out on me or Mike, so she picks on her little sister. In other words, her Tiara is crooked.

On a very positive note, I've been working the ladies diligently in Leadership Heel and there has been no attitude from Sheila. I've reassured her over and over that even though her Tiara is crooked, she will always be our princess.

Who Gets the Deer?

2011-05-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

I went out with my friend and her nephew last night. As we were driving down Lake Wohlford Road we were talking about how rancid the egg ranch smells, and then about skunks and then about a guy that my friend worked with who hit a horse on the way home one night.

Which reminded me of this 911 call that my Daddy heard on the radio. Wwwaaayyyy back when, he actually recorded it from the radio and every time I went to visit my parents we would listen to it and laugh and laugh and laugh . . .

Hope you laugh, too.

**warning -- there are a lot of very colorful words used by the caller. if cursing offends you, don't listen.**

Best Friends

2011-05-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Now I'm playing with editing videos . . .

Adding Stuff

2011-05-06T08:08:00.001-07:00

I had a little bit of time this a.m. to add a few links to some of my favorite places (you can see the list by scrolling down a bit) . . . and a link to my gallery on Flickr. (see? it's over there to the right).

No new projects to share . . .but I do have these pictures:

Our Little Sheila sometimes needs a break from the Puppy, so she'll kick back on the bed.

Miss Morgan enjoys hanging out behind the couch in the afternoon.

These two ladies give me warm fuzzies . . . I just love them to pieces!

Just Busy

2011-04-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

So much energy it takes to work with two dogs . . . especially when one is a puppy. It seems that all I do all day long is follow her around and say, "This way," "Over here," "Let's go." And lots and lots of "Good Girl!"

Yes . . . it is exhausting, but so worth it . . . especially when something like this happens:

It makes my heart all melty.

I Made This

2011-04-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

. . . and I used Watercolor Pencils. That is a medium I rarely use . . . but overall, I'm pretty happy with how this card turned out.

The stamp is by Stampotique. I've had the stamp for a few years now, but this was the first time it has been inked! That is one of my goals . . . to ink up stamps that haven't been used. They all deserve a little bit of love, don't you agree?

Puppy Post-Partum

2011-04-08T07:55:00.001-07:00

It really does exist. I know this because I was suffering from it really bad.

Earlier this week, I was at my wits end. . . and in tears. Let me add here that I'm not one to cry very often. Even my husband was looking at me like I was nuts because HE knows that I'm not one to just burst into tears.

I kept thinking, "What the hell is wrong with me? We've had two dogs before . . . and this never happened."

Then I had an epiphany . . . we (my husband and I) made the mistake of not taking charge right away. We were so worried about how Sheila was going to react to the puppy, that we forgot to let her know that the puppy is welcome here and that she should play with her.

Once I figured all that out and we started to lead the way, things have been pretty much perfect. I love these two fur-kids to pieces and pieces and I'm so glad we decided to have Morgan become part of the family.

Yes . . . life is good.

New Projects?

2011-04-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

No. They're not new . . . but they are fairly recent. Made the above Canvas for a very dear friend of mine. It was a long time coming . . . and really should've been given to her a few years ago. The above book is a project I made for Stamp Club. The pages are made from envelopes. My sister recently got a new puppy, too. I had to make a little book! The pages in this book are also made from envelopes. There are a lot more pages to it, but I just thought I share a few of them here. Glad you stopped by today.

Feeding Time

2011-04-02T17:58:00.001-07:00

Ugh. I hate it. Remember that last post about not being a fan of dog fights and large vet bills? Well, there is a reason for my anxiety.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, it was time to feed Maggie and Sheila. (Maggie was our first dog -- you can read her story here.)
Sheila, being the puppy that she was, finished her breakfast before Maggie finished hers. Sheila decided that she wanted some of Maggie's food. Maggie said no. . . but Sheila kept insisting.
Anyway, Sheila got too close and Maggie let her have it. Full blown fight . . .it was awful. I was able to get there quickly and break up the fight, but not before Sheila had a few injuries (nothing life threatening or too serious, but boo-boos, nonetheless). That moment has stuck with me for more than 8.5 years now.
So . . . feeding time is not something I look forward to. I've had pep talks with myself because I know that if I'm anxious, it will make the dogs anxious.
Our new puppy, Morgan, came from an environment where the other dogs allowed her to eat out of their dishes. Sheila learned from Maggie at a young age that that is not allowed.
See where the issue is?
I called a trainer (we will all be going to school in the very near future) and she provided some great tips to make feeding time less stressful for everyone involved.
Breakfast seems to be okay. But, dinnertime . . . sheesh . . . I'm fine when I set the dishes down, but once Morgan finishes (always before Sheila) and she starts to head to Sheila's dish, I'm right there to correct her, as the trainer suggested.
Last night went well. Tonight went well . . . almost . . .
Tonight, after both girls were done eating, we almost had a scuffle. And neither of them was near where the other is fed. I don't know what the hell happened. I do know that it's making me crazy and has led to tears two nights in a row (not around the dogs, of course -- I don't need to stress them out, too).
My husband stays so calm. . . .I don't know how he does it.
***sigh*** I can't wait for school to start.

Puppies & a Banner

2011-04-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

We recently welcomed a new puppy into our home. So, now we have two dogs (again). I admit, I've forgotten how much work goes into a puppy . . . Both of the ladies are doing quite well and adjusting nicely. Sheila, our 9 year-old Australian Cattle Dog has been absolutely amazing with her new sister, Morgan. A little bit of food agression, but we're working on that. I'm confident that we'll have that under control in no time. It's a must. I'm not a fan of dog fights . . . or large vet bills. So, here a few pics of the pooches:

Many adventures already, and more to come, I'm sure.

On the artsy side of life, I got myself a Cricut Expression a few months ago. I love this machine. And I have lots of ideas and plans swirling about in my head for all sorts of projects. . . especially banners. I love banners. This is the first banner I made using my new Cricut: I know, the picture kinda sucks. I've since changed some settings on the camera, so hopefully future pics will be better. Off to chase a puppy . . .

It's Been a While

2011-03-31T13:28:00.001-07:00

This poor little blog has been seriously neglected. Most likely because I was always too busy posting on the other blog. But I don't have to do that anymore . . .so perhaps this one will get more attention from me now. . . .if I feel like it. I like to make things (like the picture below) and will probably post a few things here and there . . . hence, "Bits of Paper" . . .

. . . and there will probably be posts about life in general . . . hence, "Bits of Life."

If you've visited the "other" blog, just be aware that this is me. The "regular, day-to-day, who I really am" me. I'm not here to promote anything. I don't have to do that anymore. I'm not here to be cheery all the time. . . .although, 98% of the time I am cheery and goofy and overall happy, I am human and I have my not-so-good days, just like you. And you just might hear about it here. . . .again, "Bits of Life."

So, to tie in the two . . . I thought it appropriate to post my Lucky Shamrock (which was featured in the Cricut Chirp Newsletter earlier in March), because I am so lucky. . . . lucky to create in my studio whenever I want because I want to. . . . lucky to have a husband who loves me and has always, always been supportive of me. . . .lucky to have two kids who make me crazy and make me laugh and make me cry and sometimes all three at the same time. . . . lucky to have two grandbabies who I adore with all of my heart . . . lucky to have two fur-kids who just make me smile . . . lucky because I am right where I am supposed to be.

Hold onto your Hats . . .

2009-12-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

. . . Mercury will be in Retrograde from Dec. 26th - Jan. 15th, at which time Mercury appears to be moving backward through the sky.

Chaos will certainly be encountered . . . particularly with computers, travel, and overall communication.

During Mercury Retrograde, it's not a good idea to purchase anything technological, or any major appliances. If you must travel, prepare for delays (i.e., bring a good book to read and a lot of patience). Communication . . .well, be sure to read and re-read that email before pressing the send button! Choose words carefully when speaking on the phone or in person . . . they could very easily be misinterpreted during this time of Retrograde.

Hold on . . .it's not all bad news. There are some tasks that have been anxiously waiting for this time. For instance, anything with the prefix "Re" . . . re-organize, re-read, re-do, re-work, re-connect . . . and, things that have been misplaced will likely turn up.

So, during the three weeks of Retrograde, clean out your closet, your email inbox, re-read your favorite book, re-work that project, or finish up a project previously started. . . most of all . . . relax . . .three weeks goes by fast.

Dear Sir:

2009-08-12T23:44:00.001-07:00

Leave my health care alone.

The Story of Maggie

2008-11-21T22:10:00.000-08:00

Prologue

Somebody tried to get in.

I don't think I'll ever forget how frightening that was. It was the Friday night before Mother's Day, 2001 and I was home alone. It was a nice night, so I left the front door open and the screen locked.

I was in my office, which at the time, was in the back of the house. All of a sudden, I heard the screen door rattle. It sounded as though somebody took hold of the handle and tried to rip the screen door off the hinges.

With my heart pounding, I quietly walked down the hall and stepped into the foyer. No one was there.

I closed and locked the front door, turned on every light and double-checked the locks on both sliding glass doors, the garage door, and the windows. I then sat on the couch and waited for my husband to come home.

When he arrived, he noticed all the lights and asked what happened. I told him and then stated very firmly, "Tomorrow, we're going to go get a dog."

And so begins "The Story of Maggie" . . .

Chapter One - The Search Begins

We left the house fairly early Saturday morning with a list of shelters to visit. First stop was Camp Pendleton. We got there only to find that the shelter was closed.

Next stop, Carlsbad Humane Society. There were lots of dogs there, but none that really appealed to us.

Back towards Oceanside we go to a small shelter that I can't even remember the name of. There was a litter of pretty cute puppies, but I didn't want a puppy. I wanted a dog at least two years old. No luck.

By this time, both of us were getting weary and hungry. There was one more shelter on the list. Rancho Coastal in Encinitas. I called to find out how late they were open and they were going to be closing in an hour.

Off we go . . . at a speed that certainly would have been one enough to get us a ticket if we had been pulled over. But, I was on a mission. I would find my dog and she would be coming home with me. I had already decided that she would be a "she."

We arrived at the shelter (in record time, I think) and went back to the dog kennels. We each went a different way. Some of the dogs were barking and jumping . . . some were just laying down . . .and then, there she was.

Chapter Two - I Found Her

Blue was the name on your information sheet. Named for your one blue eye, I figured. "All American" was the breed, meaning they really didn't know what kind of dog you were, and you were approximately 3 years old (Turned out you were only 2). You were sitting so pretty, so quietly . . . not too close to the kennel door, not too far back.

I walked up closer to the kennel door and said, "Well, hello. You sure are pretty."
You just looked at me with those eyes. I coaxed you to come closer and you were a bit shy. I asked you to stand up so I could see how tall you really were. You were not at all what I had envisioned . . . I thought a nice smallish dog weighing 10 pounds would be perfect. . . you were not-so-smallish weighing in at just over 50 pounds.

I reached over and patted your head and said, "Good girl. Can you sit?" You did just as I asked.

My mind was made up. YOU were coming home with me. I didn't leave your kennel . . .I waited for my husband, soon to be your Papa, to find us. He did . . .and when I said, "She's the one. She's coming home with us," he replied, "Oh. . . she's kind of big."

"She's not that big. Besides, look how pretty she is."
"Don't you think we should at least spend some time with her in one of the play areas?" he asked.
"Okay, you go find someone."
"Don't you want to come with me?" he asked.

I just looked at him. He understood . . .there was no way I was leaving your kennel.

Chapter Three - You Won His Heart

Into the play area we go. You knew you already had my heart. And, I think you knew you needed to win his.

The first thing you did was rest one paw on his knee, and then your head. He pet your head and then you slowly stood up to your full height and looked him in the eyes as if to say, "See? I'm not mean."

That did it. The paperwork was filled out and you were going home with us.

Chapter Four - Welcome Home Maggie

An adventure from the beginning. After we left the shelter with you, we started talking about names. I wanted you to have an "M" name because your human-brother and -sister had "M" names. So, Maggie it was. And you responded quickly to your new name.

We stopped at PetCo on the way home and bought all the items you would need. A harness, a lead, a bed and a blanket, some toys, dishes, food, and cookies (of course!).

When we arrived home, you explored a little bit . . . you were timid, at first. We set up your new bed and showed you where it was, laid down a blanket and showed you where that was. Put your new dishes down and soon you became accustomed and made yourself comfortable.

That first night, I moved your bed into our room and showed you where you would sleep. You curled up and went right to sleep. Sunday morning, Mother's Day, I was awakened by the feeling that someone was staring at me. I opened my eyes, and there you were, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as if to say, "Good morning! Can I go potty now?"

Of course . . . I got you dressed in your new harness and took you outside. You did your job and then in we went for breakfast. I just loved you more and more as each minute passed.

I had the next day off from work, so I was glad to be able to stay home and spend a nice long day with you. In the morning, you walked your Papa to the door to send him off to work. I heard him say, "No Sweetie, I have to go to work. Go lie down with your Mama."

And you did. You jumped up on the bed and curled up next to my stomach. I tried to correct you . . .you weren't supposed to be on the bed, but all you did was snuggle closer. I put my arm around you, and from that day forward, you slept in what became known as "the big bed" always right next to me.

Chapter Five - Time Flies

Father's Day was coming up, and we decided to take you with us to Grandma & Grandpa A's house for a barbecue. You got to meet the rest of the family. Everybody just loved you. You were very polite and let everyone pet you and, yes, you even got some pretty good snacks out of the day. . . and of course, a nap with Papa.
Summer came, and you loved to lay in the sun in your backyard. We had to keep you on a lead for a few months while out back because we had gaping holes in the fence. I was perfectly content sitting out there with you for hours on end.

When the new fence was put up, you were surprised when I said it was okay to go out. You actually waited for me to get you dressed. Finally, I went out and called you . . .and then you realized that you could go out whenever you wanted.

Labor Day was next . . . and another visit to Grandma & Grandpa A's. They had a surprise for you!

Grandpa went to the butcher and asked for the best bone they had. And boy, was it a bone!

You had quite a hey-day chewing on that thing!

Fall approached quickly. By now, you were such a big part of our daily life. We loved having you as part of our family . . .and you loved just being close to us . . .

Our first Thanksgiving . . . I cooked a big dinner for just the three of us. Your human-brother was out of town that year. You got a nice plate of turkey with (almost) all the fixings. And, of course, another nice nap with your Papa . . . you loved a good nap!

Our first Christmas . . .you were so patient with us making you sit still to get this picture.And you were sooooo delighted when you saw your stocking full of new toys! You pretty much "de-squeaked" all of them in record time. . . but it was fun while it lasted.

We rang in the new year with you and I remember thinking that I couldn't believe how fast your first year home with us was flying by.

Chapter Six - A Sister for You

Just before your one year annivesary of coming home, your Papa started talking about getting you a sister. I was a little bit leary about that idea . . . you were used to being the only fur-child.

After much discussion with both you and your Papa, it was decided that it might be time for you to have a sister.

Enter into our home: Little Sheila

You were so curious about that little creature in the "play pen." And sometimes, when Sheila would howl, you'd look at me and I could almost hear you say, "Mama, what were thinking?"

I do know that there were times when you were feeling especially needy. I would just scrub your ears and reassure you that you would always be my girl. Take, for instance, this picture:

You got up on the couch, laid down and stayed there for a good three hours. By the time you got up, my arm was completely numb. . . and I was okay with that. You were, after all, my Sweet Maggie.

After a few weeks of adjusting to having a sister, you took your role of Big Sissy to heart. You groomed her:
and played with her:

She followed you everywhere . . . even to the side of the house where you knew you really shouldn't be. But the blinds were open, and I was in my craft room. Both of you were peering in the door as if to say, "Um, hi! Can you let us in, please?"
Sheila adored you and always looked up to you. Even though she would chew on you and pester you, you were so very patient with her (most of the time). You were a very good Big Sister.

Chapter 7 - Years Continue to Fly By

My Dear Sweet Maggie, it seems like it was yesterday when you came to be a part of our family. Time went by so fast and you matured into a wonderful adult dog. Always minding your manners, always snuggling. Your 9th birthday was approaching and I started to notice how white you were getting around your muzzle and above your eyes.

I'd hold you tighter and hug you longer. You were still energetic and happy, but I noticed you weren't too interested in wrestling so much with Sheila anymore. You preferred to lay in the sun, or nap on the couch.

Chapter 8 - You're Limping?

Five months after your 9th birthday, you woke up one day and I noticed you were limping.

Hmmm . . . that's curious. I waited a few days, and when it didn't improve, I took you to see Dr. Rick. He said you probably sprained your elbow and if it didn't get better in a week or so to bring you back for Xrays.

It didn't get better, so I made an appointment for you. But, the weekend before that appointment, I noticed that you didn't have much of an appetite. I begged you to eat on that Saturday. I even made you your favorite dish of scrambled eggs and rice. You ate some of it, but not much.

I called the doctor first thing Monday morning and asked to bring you in right away because you still weren't eating much and I just knew something was wrong.

Dr. Rick wasn't there that day, but Dr. Graner was able to see you. Xrays and blood work were done. And the Xrays didn't look good. He referred us to California Vet Specialists for an ultrasound. The results didn't look good, so Dr. Krawiec referred us to the hospital in Carlsbad.

Dr. Proulx and Dr. Dhupa were very kind and you really liked Stacie (your nurse who brought you the yummy food). They were a bit perplexed because the Xrays and ultrasound showed a mass, but your bloodwork wasn't really all that bad.

We opted for exploratory surgery to find out what exactly was going on. Your Papa and I had a long talk about it . . . we couldn't not know what was happening. And we had hope that you would be fine because of your bloodwork.
You went in for surgery on Wednesday, November 5, 2008. I kept myself busy by puttering around at the store. When the phone rang, I caught my breath.

"Hello?"
"Is this Maggie's mom?"
"Yes it is." please let her be okay, please let her be okay . . .
"This is Dr. Dhupa. I'm afraid it's not good news. Maggie has acute metastatic . . . (no! no! please, no!) . . . liver, spleen, abdomen . . .I'm very sorry. "

All of a sudden I felt like I was in a tunnel . . .my hearing faded out . . .my eyes blurred. I used to work in clinical research . . .I knew exactly what the words "acute" and "metastatic" meant.

I asked, "I'm understanding you correctly that there is nothing we can do for her?"

"That is correct. I'm so sorry."

I asked Dr. Dhupa to hold on so I could call your Papa. I explained what the doctor had said and we agreed that it would be best to let you cross over the Rainbow Bridge. Neither of us wanted to see you be in pain.

I got back on the line with Dr. Dhupa and asked him to please not wake you up.

He was so kind and said, "Okay. You are doing the right thing. We'll take care of her and all the arrangements for you. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you for trying to help her. Could you please tell her that we love her?"

"I will, but I'm sure she knows that."

"Thank you."

click

I sat down, dumbfounded . . .and cried and cried. What just happened? How could this be? My Sweet Maggie, gone?

I went home and talked to your sister. I explained to her that you weren't going to be coming home. Instead, you were going to be with Grandpa G. in Heaven. I'm not sure she really understood. . . she went to the front door and looked outside and then the back door.

When your Papa came home, he had the blankets you were laying on in the car, along with your harness and lead. He had tears in his eyes. I started crying again. Your sister went to the door to look for you again, after sniffing the blankets.

I called your Auntie Sue, Auntie Nancy, Auntie Shari, Auntie Chrissie and Auntie Patty. Everyone was so very sad. Papa called Grandma and Grandpa A. They cried for you, too.

You were too young and taken from us too soon. But, I will cherish the seven and a half years we did have with you. You will always hold a very special place in our hearts. We will always love you, Sweet Maggie.

Until we meet again . . . .

Epilogue

We are adjusting to life without our Sweet Maggie. For seven and a half years she would send us off to work/school and greet us when we came home. She brought us so much joy, made us laugh, and comforted us when we needed it most. There was something about that girl . . .and she will remain in our hearts forever.