Gratitude Card

My boy's in scouts, and attended his first scout camp this summer (he wasn't completely thrilled with the experience, but he's never been gone that long...I think he missed the game cube). They started on various merit badges and then had to complete them within 30 days - that means we have to help, eek! His citizenship in the community badge required him to find a charitable organization, and find out how kids could help, and then volunteer eight hours there. There's only one place I would feel comfortable leaving my child for eight hours, and it's not with strangers in a store! I asked The Pet Connection (hope that link works, if not, it's an error on my part) if he could volunteer there for those hours and they said yes. I dropped him off Thursday afternoon, because I would be going that evening for training with Sirius and I could bring him home then. I decided they needed a thank you card, and did this one up for them. I was a few minutes late because at the last minute I decided I needed that ribbon at the bottom. I also decided that I need some dog/cat stamps - I have none, and they would be useful in situations like these!

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An IE8 Rant

If you're tempted by the boasts of quicker internet usage, downloads, etc and you're thinking about using IE8 to surf around the net...don't. My download time is TERRIBLE! Sometimes I can't even get to the page I want. I wish I could go back to IE7 :( My speeds vary, I never know when I'm going to be able to access a page, or surf. Sometimes it's fine, other times we're talking dial up speed, which is extremely irritating since we're paying for a cable connection. Unfortunately, I'm clueless about some of these things, I'm not sure what I can do to make it better. Can I go back to IE7? Anyone know? Anyone have any ideas? Online used to be fun ...

Emma's New Shirt

My girl's shirt is done :) You know, the one I was really frustrated with the other day because I couldn't find the iron on transfer paper I knew I had...found that today, btw (if you could see me, I just did an eye roll!) Anyway, here's the front of her shirt. I didn't do a lot of close ups since I posted the designs previously. I embellished with Glitter too...pink glitter :D. This heart took me the longest, and it was originally to add to the guitar on the back, but it was too much work to just have on the back, so it's on the front too. This is how the back turned out, she's really excited about it. You can't really tell by this pic that the guitar is glittered, so I took a close up, just scroll down a bit more.

I'm really happy with how the glitter guitar turned out. Unfortunately, Emma will be disappointed tomorrow. I washed the shirt like and the glue, along with the glitter, rolled off in the wash - I found this little roll of glue and glitter in the shape of the guitar. The glitter on the front (in the heart) seemed to stay, I have no idea why this one didn't. I checked both the glitter and the glue, and both are washable, and I turned the shirt inside out to help protect it. I'll probably give it another try, and maybe even make some calls to the company and ask what's up with that. Luckily, I took this shot before it hit the washer.

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This is Frustrating...

I spent all afternoon working on something for my oldest daughter. She's learning how to play the guitar and really enjoys it. She wants a guitar shirt, but we haven't been able to find one for under $20, so I decided to make one...last year. I bought the iron on transfer and everything, I just didn't get around to designing it until today. Now we've got the colors we like, the right sizes - we've tested them and everything, but I can't find the iron on transfer paper! I was *so* ready to complete this project, and she's super excited too. She spent most of the day watching me and giving me her approval. I guess tomorrow I'll be making a stop at Hobby Lobby, I should probably print off a coupon tonight. So, instead of posting a finished shirt, which is what I really wanted to do, I decided to share our designs. I used ps brushes, most by Obsidian Dawn. I love her brushes! This will go on the front, over her heart, it's not too big, just a little something.

This will go on the back of her shirt, kind of centered on her shoulders. If you look at the guitar, you can see the heart from the front there too, only without the words. I think that heart is what took me the longest.

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Helping the Animal Shelters, part three

These places do some great work, and this is the last month to help them out by simply voting. Here's a link to last months post that includes the link to my favorite shelter. Take a look around their site a bit, and if you'd like to help them out by voting, there's a link on their site to the pet rescue site that's working with petfinder.com. Right now, The Pet Connection is first in KS, which gets them $1000.00, which they can most definitely use! They're 21st in the nation. If they finish in the top 15 they get some additional money. First place receives $20,000 I think it said. So, are you in school for a summer session? Is there a computer lab? Vote from each computer! How about a visit to the library, there's tons of computers there just waiting for you to vote on. Happy July and Happy Voting!

Something Simple

A friend of mine called in a request, "something simple," she said and gave me the info I needed. So, I tried to keep it simple. I used ps brushes to make the pamper invitation and restrained myself from adding anything by hand, muttering a chant...simple. Then, this morning she requested two additional invitations, but different, and simple and quick. I can do that, I had the perfect stamps in mind. So the first pic is the completely digital card, the second is hand stamped. Both of them were fun to create. Thanks Ashley!

Woo Hoo!

All the cutting for the 12 scrapbook kits is finished! In the next couple days I can concentrate on directions - but it's kind of self explanatory when you can see the example, so it shouldn't be too hard. The only things I didn't cut were simple cuts, like a tree trunk and photo mats. We only have about an hour for this activity, so I tried to do a lot here, so they didn't spend all their time cutting. I cut the title and a few other things directly on xyron backing so they don't have to worry about trying to glue letters to the mat, and then the mats to the papers - those can be tricky things, those letters. Hopefully what they'll get to spend most of their time doing is the fun stuff - stamping and coloring. They can cut out the images they colored there if they have time, or they can do it at home. I've placed everything in 2.5 gallon plastic zip closure bags so it should be nice and camp proof so they can add pictures when they get home! Monday I need to pick up another roll of adhesive and some ink, and I should be good to go as far as supplies go. Yay me!

Another Floral Card

I knew I needed cards this month, so I made four of these, and I think I need at least one more card, but maybe not this one. Something different and new is always fun!

I'm still on my prismacolor kick, so that's what I used to color the flowers. It was a little different from other stamp coloring I've done since the stamp is solid. I designed and cut the loopy mats on my wishblade, and then embossed the edges with my stylus - I haven't done that for a while, and I love the way it looks. Some of these went to teachers, and some to some women at church. Thanks for stopping by!

To Do List

getting done :D Shower - check posting last card creation - not yet Putting 12 two page scrapbook kits together - almost. I'm glad I didn't wait until the last minute. Lots of times I'm the biggest procrastinator on the planet, but I'm getting better with age, I guess the saying that wisdome comes with age may have some truth to it ;) I got all my paper last week while it was on sale. I've managed to cut out a big leafy tree, clouds, and the letters for the title. I need to cut out the mat for the title as well as some tents. Unfortunately, the brown paper I got for that isn't going to work with my wishblade. The texture and thickness of it is throwing it off. I hope Hobby Lobby will let me exchange the ones I haven't used (20) for some that will work better. They usually treat me pretty well, so here's hoping! Once the brown paper is cut, I'll be done with the kits. I'll just need to gather the tools we'll be using and pack it up. I'll be heading to girl's camp on Tuesday, so I still have time. :D Now, onto uploading a new card...I'm getting bored seeing the same picture everytime I log on ;)

Been a Bit

I haven't posted in a few weeks, but I do have good reasons! The kids are home for the summer, and for some strange reason, I don't have as much time...still trying to figure that one out ;) I have been busy with non kid things though! I've got another card to post (hopefully today), I've designed a two page, 12x12 scrapbook layout for my sister who needed something for the camping trip the young women from church are going on (she's the camp leader) Today, I'll be cutting out and putting together kits for the layout - I'm making 12 kits.... I also finished proofreading a rather large quartet of books for a friend of mine. His name is John Walker and the series is called the Retribution Quartet. I have to admit, the books are not necessarily the genre I usually read, but still, he did a good job. If you want to check him out, his blog link is on my blog roll - it's Sanctuary in the Darkness - I hope this leads you to his website...I'll have to check that out! We've also had some really wonderful family occassions to attend, and I wouldn't have had it any other way! So, goals for today: shower (yay!) post new card cut out things for 12 scrapbook kits go to puppy training in the evening Sounds like a pretty easy day, doesn't it? We'll see how it goes!