You Wanted Woodland Creatures...

ok so maybe it was just MK who wanted woodland creatures...

Speaking of MK, she said she needed a product barfer on the DT, I thought I can do that...I know you may find it hard to believe, but once upon a time I used to be a product barfer stylewise. Somewhere between retail spots I migrated into my current linear, layered style.

since it's been a few years, I started surfing to find inspiration and boy did I...to get back in the groove I decided to 'case' this layout I found at the imaginisce website. I'm pretty sure I used all of the a sides of the papers in the line and a few of the b sides, it's pretty much an exact copy with a few extra creatures thrown in.

what's sad to me is that the imaginisce website didn't give the designer credit...now that's not right...if you know who's work this is please let me know no I can give proper credit.

Happy Friday!

Can I Call You?

I admit this is a little slow moving, but stick with it, I promise it should bring at least a smile to your face or maybe a little laughter to your soul.

A quick post

for a quick layout, I love it when things come together.

I had some journaling in my head for a few weeks thanks to the journaler's junction challenge 'Oh Grow Up'. I just didn't know what picture to use or what layout design would be like.

Then I saw the pub ad challenge for this week and my brain started working

To top it off I read Stephanie Howell's blog and she had an amazing layout(I think almost all of her layouts are amazing) featuring these Cute Buttons. Since it would be a while before I could get my hands on them, I rushed home with a plan B. Paint my own buttons! Then I just needed to find a picture and came across this chalkboard photo and thought perfect.

In my excitement to execute my plan, I forgot to turn on the oven so when I was done with the layout an hour later I came to the kitchen to a cold potato. Oh the price we pay for the sake of art.

here's a close up of the buttons, I know you want one...

The Wiki World

I'm continually fascinated by the wiki world, particularly the wikihows that pop up on my google home screen. Most of the time I don't actually click on the topic, but today I couldn't resist...How to Be Creative.

The author found this interesting video that made me think...



What?!? You mean I don't need every scrapbook supply ever created? This can't be right...then again I have been more productive(although not necessarily creative) in the newly purged room.

How about an altered project to show off this new creativity. We have had these Cosmo photo boxes sitting around the store for some time, I knew they would make something cool, just not sure exactly what so I set out to make a Valentiny project. I could only wish to have enough love notes to fill this box.

Supplies:

Photobox: Cosmo Cricket

Patterned Paper and letters: Pink Paislee

Flowers: Prima

Here's the rest of the article in case you need a jump start...

How to Be Creative

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Can creativity be taught? That’s a question without a simple yes or no answer. Creativity may not be able to be taught directly, but what you can get better at is frequently aligning the circumstances of life which foster the greatest chances for true creative expression. Creativity is not like a lightning strike, but more like something which manifests itself inside those who learn to foster it and create the right conditions for it to prosper.

Steps

1. Ruthlessly limit your selection of tools to only the most vital. The more limited your set of tools is, the more creative the output will be. Having a limited set of vital tools forces creativity and really challenges you to use what you have to produce the desired results. As a byproduct, you’ll get incredibly good with that small set of tools and refine your use of them to a point you can literally do anything you like with them. You’ll be far sharper than someone who merely dabbles with a larger set of tools. Learn how to be resourceful.
   


2. Don’t listen to feedback, keep following your own path. The problem with asking for feedback is invariably the feedback will be given infused with that person’s preconceived notions of what the outcome should be. Others will unconsciously push you in a direction that they see as best. This is done with good intentions; however, it actually hurts your internal creativity. Now this is different than sharing your work--by all means share, but listening to feedback is not a good decision if you want to truly find your own path of creative self-expression. Once you're finished with your creative work, whatever it may be, then you can listen to feedback. Just don't let criticism (even the constructive type) stifle your creativity during the creative process.
   
   
   
   
   • Keep in mind that people will generally display resistance to your idea, because good ideas change the existing dynamic, and people, for the most part, like things the way they are. When you present something that challenges the status quo, many people (friends, relatives, co-workers) will feel threatened.[1]
     
   
   


3. Having a routine is actually not a bad thing. Routines are positive if they reinforce a healthy, creative consciousness and negative if they destroy that. While breaking your routine once in a while to force new ways of thinking is good, what if growing/learning/experiencing new things was built into your routine as a given? The people who get stuck in a monotonous existence and speak negatively about routine have simply not developed a routine that puts them on a path of internal growth. The key is to discover creative rituals that put you in a more creative mindset.
   
   
   
   
   • Many writers not only have a minimum number of words they must write each day, but they also have almost superstitious requirements for the circumstances under which they write. The 18th century German writer Friedrich Schiller, for example, kept rotten apples at his desk and soaked his feet in a tub of ice water while he wrote![2]
     
   
   
   • Don't be afraid to seize control of your environment and make it work for you. Ray Bradbury wrote the book-burning story Fahrenheit 451 by leaving his house and writing in a library. Stephen King insists on utter silence while writing, while Harlan Ellison listens to high-volume classical music.
     
   
   
   • Set aside a block of time each day to foster your creativity. Kick the session off with a creative exercise or ritual that triggers a flexible state of mind. Whether it's meditating, freewriting, listening to a particular song, or rubbing your lucky rock--do whatever gets you "in the zone" and set a daily goal (e.g. one sketch per day, 1000 words a day, an invention or song a day).
     
   
   


4. Let go of perfectionism. Your natural output uninhibited by concern for creating something correct or incorrect will always produce creative results. There are limitless paths to achieve creative success; there are so many shades of gray. Imperfection is human, and sometimes the most creative artists leave mistakes unfixed on purpose. Nature itself is beautifully imperfect. Many try to be so perfect that they scrub away what made their work special in the first place. In a world saturated by overproduced, unnaturally perfect, and clean--the unpolished is the most creative and in many cases most inspirational.
   
   
   
   
   • Work on the "bad" ideas--even if you are only coming up with what you feel are "bad" ideas, you are still being creative, so develop them, and it could turn into a great solution!
     
   
   


5. Ignore trends. If you want to be truly creative, you absolutely must ignore trends. Block them out--pay zero attention to them. Trends are the polar opposite of creativity. In many forms of art (especially music) the masses of artists are following whatever the hot trends set forth are. Then there is the other, smaller group of artists that are pursuing their own path and not really paying attention to external trends in their form of art of choice. There is certainly more money, fame and instant notoriety for following trends, but most of what is popular is hardly creative. If you want to make something truly unique, trends are irrelevant. Looking inside yourself is where you will discover a greater wealth of creativity than available in any hot trend. Here are some more suggestions for insulating yourself from trends:
   
   
   
   
   • Don’t watch TV, don’t listen to the radio, and remove the vapid elements of popular culture from your life. These things aren’t bad for you in moderation, but they are great at normalizing your thoughts with the rest of society, and do not foster true internal creativity. Realize everything that you experience, every piece of content you consume plays a role in shaping your personality, even if at a subconscious level. It is all influence one way or another. You are in many ways a product of your experiences and stimulus. In one sentence, your creative output can be thought of simply as a personal interpretation of external stimulus. The best part about this is you get to control the input.
     
   
   
   • Don’t try and fit into a genre. Actively trying to fit your art or work into a genre is severely limiting and a detriment to its quality, if creativity is desired. Don’t try and write for a genre, don’t try to follow trends within a genre, in fact don’t even consider genre when working. Labeling it in a genre is a necessary evil for people to be able to find your work, and you will probably have to do this--but it shouldn’t be something that crosses your mind when trying to work. Genres, styles and methods don’t matter for creativity and originality.
     
   
   
   • Spend a lot of time alone. You don't have to be anti-social, but many people find their creativity really starts to open up when they are removed from others and able to have quiet focus for their creative work.
     
   
   


6. Ignore the past. Want to be really creative or original? Ignore or forget the past; ignore what the world has created up until this point. Sometimes considering the past will make you place a sort of unconscious time stamp on a style. That’s the antithesis of creativity and originality. Create things from within yourself that don’t draw inspiration from what has come previously or even consider it, and you’ll be on a path to creative output. In a creative state of mind, time doesn't exist--a few hours can feel like seconds, a moment can seem to last for hours, and you're completely immersed in the present.[3] Learn how to live in the moment.
   

The article goes on to list some interesting creativity exercises, I'll have to try at some point.

Happy creating!

Monday Quote

"The only time a woman really succeeds in changing a man is when he is a baby." -Natalie Wood

Speaking of babies, how about a layout with some classic 'baby in the tub' shots. This was for the Pub Ad and Journaler's Junction challenge in Pea Land. The challenge was to use a cliche in your journaling. I came across this when surfing for something to use. I wondered if the origin was simple as it seemed...

The essence of that phrase means to not throw out the good with the bad. But how did that phrase start?In the 1500's, a large metal tub was filled with water that had been drawn/carried and heated, then family bath time began.Bath time started with the man of the house, then the sons and any other men in the house. Then the women and children got their turn in the bath water, and lastly the babies were bathed. (Yes, all in the same water, Yuck).Because baths were only taken once a year, the water was so dirty by the time the babies were bathed, it would have been easy to lose someone in it. Hence the phrase, or saying, 'Don't throw the baby out with the bath water'.

Supplies: Everything is Making Memories except for my fav Rockstar font from QK.

Super Sunday

How did it get to be February? Seriously! January is such a busy month it just flies by. Thankfully I did manage to get the Christmas tree down last weekend, saving me from decorating it for Valentine's Day (aka Thanks for Reminding Me I'm Single Day which would make for an interesting tree no doubt)

Certain members of the fam are jazzed about the Steelers being in the Superbowl today. It's nice to see them excited, as for me I'm ready to move on and see what the future holds for my beloved Broncos.

Here's a new layout I made with the new line from Imaginisce...what's not to love about a line called twitterpated. Really! Check out the tongue action on this niece of mine...I can't tell you how many Christmas photos I have where the tongue is the star, that will surely be a page topic soon. For now we have the present section of the 1st birthday. See the sketch for this layout on the store blog

A couple of cards

It's early Saturday morning and I'm on a mission to get several of the crafty projects I finished recently, posted. I don't know why downloading and cropping the photos has seemed like a monumental task the past week, then again everything seemed a little more difficult this week.

This first card I like to call 'Ode to Inky Button'. I worked a class that the fabulous Angela taught last week on two of my favorite things, Bellas and Copics. She was kind enough to stamp a couple of images of girls I don't have so I could play with them at home. I set out to make an Angela-esque card with Cupcakeabella. While mine is not nearly as cute as hers, I think I worked in most of the Inky Button trademarks. Let's see...Bella? Check!, Ticket edges? Check! Bling? Check! Copic layering? Check! Embossing Folder? Check! Black Ribbon? Check although for true IB style it should be wider. Glassy Accents? Check!




Supplies:
Stamp: Cupcakeabella
Cardstock: Hammermill(White) Prism (Green) Bazzil (Pink)
Bling: Kaiser Craft
Other: Cuttlebug Embossing folders, QK scallop circle

This second card has quickly become one of my all time favorites. I designed it for the January Frenzy at the store, but of course forgot to post it here...or did I post, hmm I guess I should have checked before I started this post. C'est la vie.



Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned Paper: 'tres old' Tres Jolie, MME
Ribbon: AC
Other: QK Thank You Goosebumpz, Tim Holtz ruler --- I love, love, love this ruler... so I went to find a picture of this ruler in case you wanted to run out and get one and you needed a picture and found something even better...because I know how much we all love Tim, how about a demo from Tim himself.



Happy Saturday!

Happiness is...

Jars full of ribbon and pretty vintage shelf to put them on.

I found this cute shelf at Patina(sadly no web presence to link you too) and thought it would be the perfect reward for cleaning out the scraproom and surviving the past couple of busy work weeks. The shiny red paint makes me smile each time I look at it.

Tanner's Resolutions

I know I shared a few of my resolutions for the new year, now I thought it might be fun to share some of Tanner's resolutions (or at least the ones I really hopes he makes from this fun list we found)

1. I will not eat other animals poop. (is there a 12 step program for this, I think Tanner needs one)
2. Since number 1 will be a hard one to break, I will at least not lick my human's face after eating animal poop
3. I will not roll in other animals poop
4. I'll remember that the garbage collector and/or UPS truck is NOT stealing our stuff.
5. I will not roll my toys behind the couch.
6. I must shake the snow and rain out of my fur BEFORE entering the house.
7. I will stop trying to find the few remaining pieces of clean carpet in the house when I am about to throw up.
8. I will not eat any more socks and then redeposit them in the backyard after processing.
9. I will not wake Mommy up by sticking my cold, wet nose up her bottom end.
10. I will not chew crayons or pens, especially not the red ones, or my people will think I am hemorrhaging.
11. When in the car, I will not insist on having the window rolled down when it's raining outside.
12. We do not have a doorbell. I will not bark each time I hear one on TV.
13. I will not eat my Mom's underwear.
14. The sofa is not a face towel. Neither is Mom’s lap.
15. I will not put my paws on the counter or steal any more Christmas roasts.
16. I will not bite the officer's hand when he reaches in for Mom's driver's license and car registration

Monday Quote

When the world changes, the rules change. If you insist on playing today’s games by yesterday’s rules, you’re stuck.

Seth Godin

It's Garage Sale Time!

Today is the big day...I've packed all the crap and hope it moves on to deserving homes. The trick will be not taking home as much from the other sellers as I brought.

If you're a papercrafter in the Denver area, trust me you don't want to miss this sale. I had a sneak peek last night and there are some super bargains! 2.00 stampin up stamp sets---can't beat it. Stop by the store and get ready to shop.

Tough Love

'Real friends are ones that know the worst about you and still like you'

It's time to face the music, my scraproom and Houston's had both reached a point a few weeks ago where neither one of us could really scrap in the area. So we made a plan to help each other plow through the excess.

I've long been a proponent of the the Love and Logic model in working with kids, in training we say it works on kids, dogs, dolphins even husbands, but could it work on friends with out of control scraprooms?

An ounce of empathy...the Scenic Route and Basic Grey is non negotiable and neither one of us would have to part with any products from these companies

Take control with small choices...you can keep two stamps for everyone you put in the sale bin

One sentence intervention: No you don't need two packs of the same paper

and it worked. Both rooms are on their way back to being the clean, organized and inspiring space we want them to be.

I'm thankful for such a good friend.

I'm thankful for a organized space that allowed me to make a this layout in under 45 minutes.

Today is a good day...

To say I was distracted at work today would be an understatement at best...

I streamed the key part of the inauguration and was moved to tears, as I watched it again at home this evening I teared up again.

I believe in this man.
I believe in Hope.
I believe in a better future for the children in my family and those I've served for so long.

And this is why...from Sunday's Parade Magazine

Dear Malia and Sasha,
I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me—about how I'd make my way in the world, become
successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential—schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college—even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.
I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our
country—but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free—that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something. She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better—and that the
unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be. I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much—although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your
patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

I believe it won't be easy
I believe.

Monday Quote

"We must combine the toughness of the serpent with the softness of the dove, a tough mind with a tender heart" Martin Luther King, JR

Those crazy improv kids are at it again...

ooh did you think I abandoned the concept of video thursdays? Nope, just waiting for something really good. I can always count on my Improv friends to bring a smile.

Crash, Bang, Boom

The irony of it all...We are gearing up planning for the next school year and taking a closer look at technology...even though Online is in our name, we are far from maximizing the power of technology. I've spent the past week or so researching and working with colleagues to strategies what we need to help engage students, to make learning authentic, and all the while help teachers do there jobs better, faster, and more efficient. We're exploring the full set of Google Applications and as I welcome each tool into my life I can't help but think Google just may be the 'big brother' cynics/conspiracy theorists are concerned with. Forget the government, I'm sure Google knows more about me and I would like to think 'cares' more about me than the government will ever do and I set it all up purposely with information freely given. And just like a big brother should Google has rewarded me with things that make my life easier. My favorite tool lately has become the Google Reader. I like to think of it as my own personal newspaper. No longer do I have to go to my blog and click on the link to go to yours, and then click on your link to so and so...nope Google does all the work. Just one click and voila you're all right there, along with work blogs and a couple of broncos ones just for fun. I can easily tag and sort and Google even makes recommendations (this is where conspiracy theorists probably get nervous) good recommendations...example after I had all of you loaded Google figured out that I would probably like to read Jennifer Pebbles and Stephanie Howell...of course I would, I just wouldn't want to go to Pea land everyday and search for links. (yes I know I could bookmark, but I've always been bad about that). Have I got you hooked yet, if so check out this great post from the big brothers. No longer will I be intimated by the little orange 'feed' buttons, I know now they really are the muscles that move the Internet and as you know big brothers are pretty much worthless if they don't flex their muscles once and a while. What's really fascinating to me as an educator is how these tools will shape our work, it's an exciting time to be a student...no longer will you have to sit in some dark basement of a library searching through microfilms, the information is all right there in your hand completed with citations to copy and paste, our task now is no longer to give the information, but to help aggregate it to answer the why. I can see some of my colleagues challenged by this, they being ones who got into educating because of the powertrip, to be the ones with all the answers, no longer. We will all be challenged, we will all become better learners and in doing so will hopefully be better humans.

So where's the irony? All of these thoughts were flowing through my head on the drive home and I came home to face yet another set of phonebooks on my doorstep (please make them stop) These books are obsolete already, surely numbers have been changed, businesses closed, etc even before they went to print. So why do we still have them? And at that moment, I felt the full force of life2.0 hit me.

Monday Quote

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.
- Helen Keller

Truthfully, I really long to bitch about being at work in the midst of a mild blizzard, but I came across this quote in a little bit of research this morning and thought it would be a much better way to start the week and it put me in a slightly better mindset to start the week. Hope you are safe and warm.

Happy Monday!

A little bella love

So far so good on my resolution to do something creative everyday. I started this card last night and then poor Tanner threw up his dinner in the middle of my craft room. Cleaning up doggy vomit is just about the funnest thing next to cleaning up what comes out the other end. (oops probably an overshare there). The silver lining was it gave me time to reflect on this card and see it in the light of day when I realized I had it on some pink paper that really didn't match this ribbon. I've been trying to work this ribbon into a project since last week when I uncovered it when organizing my ribbon. Super excited that QK finally came out with a label die, I had to use it right away.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink
Paper: Heidi Grace (On dress)
Colors: Copics
Stamps: Stamping Bella(winobella), CHF(Mona Lisa Sentiments: Cheers)
Ribbon: All My Memories (yep, AMM been in the stash a looooong time)
Other: QK label, Fiskars scallop punch, Glassy Accents

Need more bella inspiration, check out the great work on the bella-riffic Friday blog.

Anyway...

I love...

that I have smart friends who challenge me on so many levels. Who would have thought we would take a journey back to HS English for a journaler's challenge? Thanks to Ducky we all had a review of point of view and tenses. My version, second person future tense. I had to really think about it, I almost chickened out and took an easier route (first person, past tense anyone?) and then I printed these great pics of Sienna and my mom and mom's iPhone. I can only imagine how much technology Sienna will see and as she figured out how to pull up her own photo at 1 yr, I'm going to bet she'll have some solid skills in technology.

and speaking of friends, can I just say how happy I am my friends Jon, Stephen, Serena, Dan and all my other TV friends are back from their winter break and my Tivo is going back to work.

Weekend Wind Down

oh gosh, it's hard to believe two weeks of vacation have flown by and I'm dreading heading back to work tomorrow. I feel like I could use one more week to really be ready and then again maybe not.

I had a great time with the creative ladies last night and I actually completed two layouts, that brings the annual tally for 2009 to 4, probably the only time this year that I'll have a completed a layout for each day. My goal for the year is 3 pages each week and more of course would be great.

Here's the first of the layouts from yesterday, I fell in love with these tights when I saw them in a specialty shop and even though the size should have been right, they were a bit to tight for baby girl and took a little bit of work by Mom to get her into them, after all that work how could I not take at least one picture of her in them. Equally as cute is this yummy paper from October Afternoon. I'm so glad I snagged an 8x8 pad before they flew out the door.the other is for an upcoming journaling challenge so you'll just have to wait for that one...

Happy New Year!

I hope your year is off to a great start...have you made any resolutions? I made just a few hopefully doable. One of them was to be creative in someway everyday...so far so good.

I finished a layout I started at Viv's on Tuesday, it will most likely be the Sunday sketch on the store blog on Sunday. I thought it was about time I posted something here first. I don't know what possessed me to so the diagonal strips...what a pain, never again...well, maybe...I do like the way they turned out. I just need to come up with a shortcut to get the angles correct, I know I have a protractor around here somewhere.


Then I was once again inspired by Becky and decided to take her challenge to create a page about things that make me happy using the scraps laying around. I had this vision of a page made of scalloped circles...sadly, the vision just didn't come together, truly I tried stapling and stitching and it just didn't work. Plan B...a scalloped circle border...much better although scanning and merging didn't do it justice. I'm not sure about the finished page...I think it's a bit ironic that it's about my scrapbook style, but not really my style. What I do appreciate it that it stretched me creatively to finish and that's what this year is all about (at least I hope it will be)
,

Adios!

we interupt this usually crafty blog with breaking news from the sports desk...from the Broncos website

Shanahan, Broncos Part Ways

Denver Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen today relieved Mike Shanahan from his position as Executive Vice President of Football Operations/Head Coach of the National Football League team, effective immediately.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen issued the following statement: "After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos. This is certainly a difficult decision, but one that I feel must be made and which will ultimately be in the best interests of all concerned.”

Bowlen added, “I appreciate the 21 years that Mike Shanahan has given to the organization as an assistant and head coach, and the two Super Bowl wins in that time. His contributions hold a special place in Broncos history.”

Hallalujah! Not that a new coach can work miracles, but hopefully someone can draft a linebacker or two and put together a defense that can um I don't know...tackle someone.

to you and yours...


thanks for sticking with me and this silly blog throughout the year, hope your holidays are everything you dream.

ps. thanks to Becky for the great gift wrap inspiration.

Another great quiz from Ducky

You are straightforward and real, down-to-earth, and have a healthy respect for order and stability. These attributes, complemented by your desire to be surrounded by things of beauty, make you a CURATOR.

Your inward focus, trusting nature, and sharp sense of right and wrong make you INDEPENDENT.

MOMMMMM!?!

...why is there popcorn in the fridge?

ok...so if you read this blog, I'm assuming you know me and know I don't have kiddos. (don't tell Tanner, he might be offended) What you may not know is that I do have imaginary children(by in large are more obedient and slightly cleaner than actual children) that I sometimes have conversations with (yes, I know there's medication for this).

One of these conversations popped into my head as I was setting the final baking project 'white chocolate popcorn' into the fridge to set. What would you do if you opened the door and found two sheets full of popcorn?

Now that's done the holiday baking session is complete...and since Lisa was so kind to ask here's what I made. Email for any of the recipes...

• White Chocolate Toffee Popcorn
• Chex Mix
• Reindeer Chow (an alternate chex mix recipe w/PB and choc. YUM!)
• Blizzard Brittle
• Sugar Cookie Surprises (sugar cookie w/a thin mint tucked in)
• Chocolate Cowboy cookies
• Mega-chocolate chocolate chip cookies
• Oatmeal Raisin cookies
  
• Ooey-Gooey Brownies(you would never believe the recipe came from Cooking Light)
• 7 layer bars
• Kris Kringle cookies (yummy white choc and cherry cookie)
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Ritzies (chocolate covered ritz crackers w. PB)

and yes this was me cutting back...obsessed much, not me :) The first boxes have been delivered and now it's time to pack up the rest and get a few crafty projects done.

Brr...

Mostly Cloudy
-0°
Feels Like: -13°F
Wind: 7mph

What a change from last week...60 and sunny, I was so warm at the Bronco game I had to take my sweater off.

I know I'm not the weather geenie, but having just come in from walking the dog (same dog who tricked me into extra food AND insisted on going out at 4:30 am) I thought these temps needed extra emphasis. Good thing my oven will be working over time today.

Never trust a dog...

Do you ever have those moments when you walk by the food bowl and you wonder did I feed you this morning, kind of scary if you can't remember really... and the dog is no help.

He just looks at me with sad face as if to say 'no stupid, you forgot...just got in the shower and left me here to waste away.'

So with guilt, I fill up the bowl...with a half scoop mind you becuase I want to believe I did feed him, I'm not really a bad mother.

Then I know he's lying...I did feed him (thank god!) How do I know? He's starting to second guess himself...he pauses, doesn't jump right for the food(as he usually does quite vocally when he really is hungry)...I can't believe you fell for the sad eyes trick...then he turns to look at me and I think a little panic hits his little doggie brain...is this a trick? are you going to do something to me?

I should have trusted myself, I know better than to trust a dog. I must have holiday cookies on the brain

Time to face facts...

The clock is ticking down to the big day and it's time to face the fact that time has just about run out for me to go on a major baking run and turn out boxes like these. Time for plan B, picking out just a few, but which ones? and do I really have the energy to face Costco today or wait until tomorrow when it's supposed to be cold and snowy...decisions, decisions...these are the things that take the fun out of the season.

Repeat PSA...Make a Difference in 30 seconds

I'm reposting since the deadline is close and some of you may have missed this the first time around...

Allstate Insurance Company ("Allstate") will make a $15,000 donation to one local charity organization-The winning organization will be determined by online voting. Simply vote by going to www.allstate.com/yourchoicecharity. You can vote once each day between now and December 10, 2008.There are 3 charities to choose from: Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Junior Acheivement, and Facing History and Ourselves. All totally worthy so I won't preach to you on which one, you can email me if you want my humble opinion.Make sure to go down to the bottom of the screen and choose Denver and then your charity.

[Dial2Do from Christyn Holmes] Heading to the Bronco game. Jacket check.

Heading to the Bronco game.
Jacket...check.
Bronco attire...check.
Eggnog latte...check.
Tickets...check.
Light rail money...check.
Sun glasses? Oh crap!

I sent this email using my voice. Listen to it here: http://dial2do.com/162uzfg

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Sent on behalf of Christyn Holmes with http://dial2do.com - Send Text Messages, Emails and more - just phone and talk.

Saturday, Saturday

(I'm not responsible if Elton John's Saturday Night jumps in your head and stays there all day after reading the title, just know I'll probably be in the same pain)


I swear that the weeks leading up to Christmas go faster than any others, and the weekend is sure to fly by too. It's the annual gift frenzy at the store, I am bringing back the bazzil ribbon mini-album. I'm always surprised how many people haven't seen it before, it's one of my favorite mini style. I'll try to post a few pics in the next couple of days, for now you'll just have to trust me that it is super cute or better yet, come to the store today and make one!

I did manage to get a few more cards done last night, these two are in the running for mass production if I decide to go that route or maybe I'll just make tags out of them.

I have always loved this Holly stamp from Magenta, it's one of the few I kept when I moved from Alaska. I think it's one of those that's gorgeous in its simplicity and really lends itself to coloring well.

Stamps: Magenta(Holly) and Papertrey Ink(Merry Christmas)
Ink: Versafine and Papertrey Ink Pure Poppy(hooray my search for the perfect red ink is over)
Color: Prismacolors
Paper: Pure Poppy and Vintage Cream Papertrey Ink (can you tell what arrived at my door this week?)

Surprised it wasn't a bella, have no fear no stamping session would be complete without inking up on of the girls.

I was looking through the galleries of some the other 'bella-rific friday' ladies and say Snowbunny bella done up so cute I had to copy a couple of components. So sorry I forgot to bookmark where to give full credit. I particularly liked the technique of using the white pen for detail, perfect for a wintery card.
Stamps: Snowbunny Bella and Papertrey Ink Merry Christmas
Ink: Memento and Pure Poppy
Colors: Copics
Paper: Bazzil and Papertrey Ink
Accents: Ribbon(Papertrey Ink), Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Heidi Swapp snowflake, bling.

Tomorrow is a big day too...I'm celebrating birthday love at the Broncos Game with Heather. THANKS MK! Can't wait, hopefully the boys will have a good home game lord knows we need it. Bonus it's going to be in the 60s so no super bundling up as I thought we might have to do midweek.

What's on your agenda this weekend?

Monday Blues...

Anyone else have trouble getting back into the weekday grind today? Luckily I didn't have a lot on the agenda so I could ease into the routine slowly.

Did you make time to get crafty this weekend? I did :)

I don't know what it is, but the Bellas have driven me into a stamping craze. I think I've stamped more in the past month than I have in years. I decided that I needed to pace myself and buy one bella on Saturday. They need friends after all...(I wonder if that's what Hef said when he started to add bunnies to the mansion). I think I'm also going to make a rule that I have to ink the most recent bella, before I can buy a new one.

Here are a couple of my recent creations...Stamps:Flowabella
Ink: Versafine
Color Tools: Prismacolor pencils, AC Metallic Pen
Paper: Pink Paislee, Bazzil
Accents: May Arts Ribbon, Nestabilities Rectangles, Bling (note to self, Revolution and Bling are not a good combo)

Stamps: Bookwormabella(isn't she cute) Library Card from October Afternoon
Ink: Versacolor
Colors: Copics and Distress Inks
Paper: Crate Paper, Bazzil
Accents: AC Brads, Making Memories sticker, glossy accents are on her hair, glasses and the worm

This new obsession has had me blopping more and in the process I found this great blog dedicated to my new friends. I made this for this weeks challenge, not sure if I'm confident enough yet to send in...
Stamps: Prezzibella
Ink: Memento(yay! it finally made it's way to the store)
Colors: Copics
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Bazzil
Accents: Bling and glossy accents on the present

Happy Thanksgiving...

I'm on vegetable duty this Thanksgiving...peeling and chopping carrots was the perfect time for reflection of all the things I am thankful for...

• Having so many blessings that between the time I chopped and sat down to blog I can't remember them all
• My family...near, far and extended.
  
• My friends...local, distant/virtual and a few imaginary ones too
  
• I have not one, but two jobs that allow me to have intellectual and creative freedom and make a difference in the lives of others. And for the boss of the one that pays the bills who wonders why I'm still at work on Friday at 3:30
• My spiritual gifts of sarcasm, creativity and the innate ability to cut through BS
• Nephews and a niece that remind me how precious every step of childhood is
• A dog that sits faithfully and quietly be my side when the tears come and greets each day with a contagious energy that gets me going
• My health, such as it is and that it's not worse
• Celebrating this day with the extended family
• For the people who have opened shared this day with my when I didn't have family to celebrate with and for those who continue the tradition of inviting those who have no where else to go

Hey Aspen Grove...

where's your holiday spirit? I know the economy is bad, but must I be greeted by such an obnoxious buzzing sound on entering and exiting? Not only am I treated like a criminal entering the store with a sound, but no hi...can I help you find something? greeting from the associate within five feet of the door, not even when I got down on my knees to see if they had Sienna's size in tights(and not really even the perfect tights) that was displayed no more than 6 inches from the floor.

yes, by all means let the customer crawl on the floor, I'm sure I must have missed that lesson in retail 101.

And lest you, my poor reader, make excuses that it was some teenager working their first job, let me assure you that she was at least as old as me. You, unhappy Gap lady, have something to learn from fellow retailers especially the sweet 'barely more than a teenager' working at Gymboree who went to the back not once but twice to try and locate something for me, greeted other customers, handled a request from another store and even asked said store about my tights even though I told her she didn't need to worry. Now that's a retail star!

all this work and still no tights for Sienna's Christmas outfit...Keep your eyes out for a pair or tights with Scottie dogs preferably red or gray.

Happiness!

A raging headache had me moving slow this am; the silver lining: all of the high school students who crowd my starbucks each morning were safely tucked away in there first period classes by the time I drove on by and I thought to myself when you're already late you might as well be really late, right?

So in I go and order my usual winter drink...caramel macciatio if you must know. Yes to the whip and to extra caramel this am(remember, I have a headache which equals free ticket to anything...)

I patiently wait with the pre-coffee zombies and then I hear the magic words...tall eggnog latte. What? Eggnog lattes are back? this is too good to be true. I look to the board to make sure my brain is not playing tricks and sure enough there it is as plain as day...

So I march myself right back to the counter and order one, cashier barrista looked at me a little funny as if to say your other drink is almost made, you can't change now...I assured her I would find a good home for the macciato, just hand over the eggnog latte and no one will get hurt.

As I savor my special treat my headache is drifting away, it's going to be a good day after all. And since I've decided I'll probably drink both myself, it's going to be a wired one too...hopefully wired will turn into productive.

A Moment of Panic

I don't know about you, but nothing sends me into a panic faster than the thought I have lost my wallet.

I was having a productive day at work until I reached into my purse to grab some money (let it be known that I can't say no to the offer of a Frosty from Wendy's) and no wallet.

Yikes!

Out I rush to the car...maybe it fell out of my purse...it's not in the car!

Can you feel the panic starting to rise?

Then I remembered I rushed in the house after coming home from Shelley and Troy's yesterday(nature calls) so fast that I left my purse in the car...could it be that in those few short hours someone would have taken my wallet? Totally possible...the last time it happened to me was several years ago at the dog park and in less than an hour.

My mind starts to go into auto-pilot...call the bank, call the credit cards. Just one last check of the purse.

Phew...there it is hiding.

I guess it's time to go back to the smaller purse.

Happy Monday!

Friday Funny

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

1. Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

2. Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

3. Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp! But I can 'help' with the mail

4. Rottweiler: Make me.

5. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

6. Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!

7. German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

8. Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

9. Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb!

10. Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

11. Chihuahua : Yo quiero Taco Bulb. Or 'We don't need no stinking light bulb.'

12. Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

13. Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...

14. Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

Bella Ball

I took 'tis the season to be jolly bella' home this week and had more fun than I thought inking her and coloring with prismacolors and copics. I was also super excited that the snowflake embossing folder came in, it's so perfect for holiday cards. I might actually finish making Christmas cards before Valentine's Day for the first time in years. :)


For this one I let AC do the snowflake work, too bad that you can't see all of the glitter and shimmer that's on this card. These ladies will make their way to the store and hopefully work a little retail magic like Glideabella cards did.Lattebella and Prezzibella were starting to feeling left out with all the love their winter friends have received in the past couple of weeks, so I had to ink them and do a little something with them. You can't see in the photo, but the background on this one is an embossed paisley pattern and it looks so much better in person.
Prezzibella needed to get ready for Christmas too, she got a little help from the CHF pindot backgrounder.

PSA...Make a Difference in 30 seconds

Allstate Insurance Company ("Allstate") will make a $15,000 donation to one local charity organization-The winning organization will be determined by online voting. Simply vote by going to www.allstate.com/yourchoicecharity. You can vote once each day between now and December 10, 2008.

There are 3 charities to choose from: Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Junior Acheivement, and Facing History and Ourselves. All totally worthy so I won't preach to you on which one, you can email me if you want my humble opinion.

Make sure to go down to the bottom of the screen and choose Denver and then your charity.

Cheater Post...

Just playing catch up with a couple of layouts that I posted on the SD blog the past couple of weeks. I think they're both cute and worthy of the double play. This first layout is about my recreation of Halloween for the sake of a scrapbook page {don't try and pretend you've never done something like this...}and because no week would be complete without some fussy cutting...a little fun with the owl and other Harvest Moon papers from Pink Paislee.

[Dial2Do from Christyn Holmes] See girls it really does work at

***eta...the cropping crew wanted to see the new tool in action...

See girls it really does work at last. You'll see it on the blog in 5 minutes.

I sent this email using my voice. Listen to it here: http://dial2do.com/l/c4aeda76-bc0b-49d8-8295-5ffa2ff73ad4

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Sent on behalf of Christyn Holmes with http://dial2do.com - Send Text Messages, Emails and more - just phone and talk.

Life Simplified!?! Part one

So, I found about this new great tool at our faculty meeting today called dial2do where I can actually call my blog. Yup call my blog. And I can talk just like I was making a normal phone call and it will transcribe and it will show up here on my happy little blogger space. How cool is that. Imagine. No typing. No texting. I could just dream of an iPhone and use it solely for music and games. Well and to call my blog.

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Sent on behalf of Christyn Holmes with http://dial2do.com - Send Text Messages, Emails and more - just phone and talk.

Life Simplified!?! Part two...

So it does have some drawbacks. Apparently I can only record for so many seconds but still. Now if only it could figure out how to upload my pictures and layouts. It would be a perfect bloggy world. But e-mail is not the only thing it can do. I can text. Yes for our text challenged friends this might be the answer. You can call but it will turn it into a text. Or you can remind yourself things and it will go straight to your Gmail.

ok so I cheated just a bit and rearranged these posts in blogger for readability's sake.

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Sent on behalf of Christyn Holmes with http://dial2do.com - Send Text Messages, Emails and more - just phone and talk.

Life Simplified!?! Part three

One more critical thing. It's free. Yes free. Well you have to call a long distance number but on a cellphone who cares long distance doesn't exist anymore. It's all about the minutes and I have some minutes to burn. Welcome to dial2do. Do I sound like an ad yet?

I sent this email using my voice. Listen to it here: http://dial2do.com/l/16caf7b3-434b-40e9-b0a4-dec085ce72ff

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent on behalf of Christyn Holmes with http://dial2do.com - Send Text Messages, Emails and more - just phone and talk.

Time to dig into the stash

and scrap pile. I did a little bit of organizing my scraproom over the week, along the way I found this great Pink Paislee overlay, I forgot I had bought. I decided to really stretch myself and actually stamp a background using my handy CHF ledger scrapblock.I had it mounted on plain red cardstock then on the way to the scanner I saw the packaging from Sonoma and realized the colors were perfect. Sorry the scan is so wonky, the transparency and buttons just did it in.

Can you handle another Bella card...here's the latest. I organized my scraps and came across some sugared paper and chipboard from Basic Grey, it was the perfect for this bella I colored with H2O pencils.
oops looks like a pearl has gone M.I.A.