Anything BUT A Card Project #2

This project is a fun one with lots of potential for those who like the IDEA of scrapbooking, but not the time commitment. This is a mini scrapbook in a CD case!
This is what it looks like when it's just opened. The places for the 4x4 photos-6 of them--is below the flap on the right--see the little loop of ribbon? An accordian of card stock folds out to create the space.
Here's what it looks like unfolded. Lots of potential, right? This would make a great gift for a birthday party or to a long-distance girlfriend after some time together. There will be options for customizing the front to whatever occasion you have in mind.

Again, it's not too early to reserve your spot at this class, which is being held Sat., Sept. 15, from 10a-1p. Just leave me a comment that you're coming, and I'll put you on the list!

On the family front, my sister and her crew left at a little after 6am this morning--I stumbled out to the car with sleepies still in my eyes to say goodbye--and my parents are in town until Friday morning. It's quiet here this morning, and I'm loving having the house to myself, even if it means I have mounds of laundry and vacuuming to do.

Anything BUT A Card Project #1

I hope you're as excited as I am about the projects I have for the upcoming Anything BUT A Card class that I'm hosting at my house Saturday, Sept. 15 from 10a-1p!

This is the first project, one I think you'll find as practical as it is beautiful. It's a corkboard message center. It's made with thin cardboard and a corkboard square and decorated with designer paper. It will come with pushpins that we'll alter to coordinate with the background paper. It has strong magnets mounted on the back, so it will stay on your refrigerator securely.

Stay tuned for other projects in coming posts. I''ve come up with 2 versions of one project, and I'll need your opinion on which one you'd like to have.

In the midst of all I was busy with yesterday--trip downtown to the GA Aquarium, lunch at Centennial Olympic Park, making the special birthday dinner for Michael and the family--I noticed that someone brought the mail in. Expecting cards for Michael among the junk mail, I found something addressed to me! I was so tickled when I opened the envelope and found this!
It was made by Amy, another GA stamper who I know only from her blog, Gone Inkognito. Is this not the CUTEST!!! I was amazed at how close to the real thing it appeared to be, and it made me feel so special. Thanks, Amy! I love it!

Off to figure out if we're going to make lunches. We're going on a hike to see a waterfall today at Amicalola Falls. Later!

The Birth of a Teenager

This was the happy day 13 years ago, when our only child, Michael William, entered our lives. 13 hours of labor, 15 min. of pushing. No wonder I look so happy! How young we look. I was 28 and Bob was 30. Yikes...how time flies...

This is Michael and I this evening, after he'd just opened his presents. (Proud Papa is behind the camera.) How can it possibly be that that sweet baby is this same boy? When he was little, there were days when I wished he'd grow up a little faster so that my job would be easier. I stopped wishing that long ago, and now I wish that time would slow down so that I could hold onto him longer.

I know the teen years can be rough, but we're only going to have this experience once. I hope we have many more moments like today.

Visiting Artist in Residence

This is my cutie patutie 8-year-old niece, Mikayla, who is visiting from IL. She loves to make crafts! We've had a quiet afternoon and she's run out of things to do to amuse herself. She shyly walked toward my craft room (which is something she told her mom she'd like to have at her house) and declared that she'd like to make something. Duh! Why didn't I think of that before? So, we sat down and got to work. Here's the result:
I think it's great! Here's how it came to be: I know Mikayla likes to color, and so I chose the retired "Love Matters" set. It has fun line art hearts and the word "friends" that can be colored as well. Then I thought about making a window for the word and so I took my new (and FREE!) 1 3/8" square punch and came in from one side and then from the other to create the rectangle. We traced that on the inside, lined up the image and voila!

Things are going to be busy around here the next day or so. We're going to the aquarium tomorrow in honor of our son's 13th birthday, so I may or may not be able to post.

Thinking Christmas...

I was browsing through Splitcoaststampers the other day, looking for ideas for 3D projects, and I came across this. It intrigued me and there was a link to the website of the gal who'd come up with it, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

This is not hard, but it is time consuming. Cutting 1" x 2" strips of designer paper isn't such a big deal, but folding those strips into a triangle was a commitment! The ball is styrofoam, so the paper pieces are attached using straight pins. I should've taken a picture of my finger after I was done, as it was quite red from all the pushing! Still, I think it's cute, and the supplies are inexpensive. Who knows? Those who host workshops for me in November may receive one of these as a hostess gift!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy weekend--come back Monday, as I'll start to reveal the projects we'll be making at the Anything BUT a Card Workshop, Sept. 15. It's not too early to register by leaving a comment!

You Just Never Know What a Day Can Hold

You know how I wrote this morning that I woke up on the proverbial "wrong side of the bed" and that I was grouchy and tired? Well, I'm singing a much different tune now!
You probably already know what I'm going to share by what you see here, but let me just tell you (imagine me shouting loudly because I'm so excited): I GOT A JOB AT STARBUCKS!!!

This afternoon a phone number I didn't recognize appeared on my cell phone display. I answered, because I also do some freelance work and thought it might be someone calling about something I'd submitted. Instead it was Clay, the manager I'd interviewed with earlier this month, calling. He shared that the gal who had been working the slot that matched my availability (basically "mom hours"--9:30-3:30) had just informed him that she is moving out of state. He called me right away and extended me an offer! I was shocked and pleased, to say the least. My first day will be Sept. 4, the day after Labor Day. I'm ecstatic that I can start work now and not in November, when the other store is scheduled to open.

I keep having to pinch myself to believe it's real! With my family being in town next week, time is going to fly and it'll be time for me to start. My husband's concerned that this may impact my card making and blogging, but I'm going to find a way to make it all work. Thanks for being such cheerleaders. Now to find some collared white and black shirts!

Yeah for Friday!

I woke up tired this morning. Not tired physically, but tired. Tired of thinking. On top of that, I'm grouchy. I don't know if it's because I haven't been able to draw a deep breath for weeks, due to the oppressive heat and humidity, or if I just need a break from the mental gymnastics of life. Well, at least the weekend arrives in 8 hours.

Fellow blogger and card diva Amy Westerman is having a challenge at her blog, Heartfelt Greetings. Until tomorrow midnight (she must know stampers often don't have time to create until after everyone else has gone to bed!), she is having a business card design contest to encourage those of us who make cards and want to market our expertise and products to create a functional tool for that purpose. This was a good exercise for me, as I have had some business cards on hand that I made using an online Avery template, but I didn't like them all that much. What happens when you don't really like your card? You don't hand it out! NOT GOOD.

I knew I wanted something that would detail what I can provide, and that drove the layout. The flap created a place to add some color easily--the whole card is backed with designer paper--and also, I hope, added some intrigue--"what's under here?"

The services I provide are listed (click on the picture to read them), as well as the cogent details of my cell phone number, my email address, and my blog address. I do want to increase this side of my business, as I find great satisfaction in helping people bless those they care for with unique items tailored to the recipient. I designed a bridal shower invitation for my friend/customer whose friend's daughter was getting married. The friend had received some of Carol's handmade cards, and wanted something special like that for this significant occasion. That's what it's all about! It was simple--she had to make 90 of them--and yet elegant.

I have another friend who contracts with me to create card packets, a 3d item, and a paper container to hold goodies. She gives all this to her writers at a corporate retreat. She doesn't have the time to make them herself, but she loved the idea when I pitched it to her. The response from the women has been tremendous, and they know that she values them. Again, communicating value to those we care about is a big part of why I do this. Okay, being reminded of the "why" behind the doing has alleviated my grouchiness.

My parents left here Wednesday to fly to Albuquerque to visit friends (cheaper flight from here), and they return Sunday afternoon. My sister and her family arrive tomorrow evening, hopefully in time for supper. I'll be busy entertaining, but you'll want to check in here next week, because I'll be posting pictures of the projects for the Anything BUT a Card class that I'm hosting Sept. 15.

The heat's supposed to break sometime early next week. Imagine, being excited that it's only going be in the upper 80s! Hope you find some way to enjoy the weekend. I'd love to hear what you'll be up to.