Mermaid Mae

As I mentioned before, I have been participating in a contest/challenge on Some Odd World and it's been so fun!  I love/hate the fact that I have to keep my project secret from everyone because I LOVE taking photos of what I'm working on and showing on Instagram.  I have not shared this card with anyone until now...

Round 2 of ODD IDOL challenged us to create a "Friendship" theme project.  So I decided to color in a few images from the "Under The Sea Mae" stamp set.  I made a step card (don't know how to call it), and used the measurements that I found on google.

I colored her in with copic markers and drew/cut/distressed my own "rock" for her to lay on.  The palm tree is a clearance stamp from Michaels that I colored with distress inks.  The clouds were cut out from the Echo Park "Sweet Day" 6x6 pad and the water was paper from the Echo Park "So Happy" 6x6 pad.  The waves on top of the water is also from the stamp set that I inked up with Hero Arts ink and cut out.

I distressed the "sand", (which is just me cutting out of some tan paper), and the shells are also from the stamp set that I colored with copics and added "Frosted Lace" stickles to.

I love this card so much and will wait for a special occasion to give to a friend.  :)

Oh and P.S.  This card helped me get into the top 15 contestants.  The next round of voting will begin this coming Friday so make sure you sign in to Some Odd World and cast your vote!  Every vote counts!!

Couture Smashbook [back To basics]

Since I normally look through magazines when I'm watching tv in bed, and since that's the ONLY time I ever think to cut out pieces of this and that from those magz, I created a very small (because I don't want hubby to feel like I'm about to take over another room with my crafty items - lol), spot for my Couture Smashbook.

Originally I thought I'd be using it to show my #OOTD (as Twitter & Instagram has labelled it) "Outfit Of The Day" photos, but I hardly ever take any of those since I'm never really dressed up.  I am a SAHM and spend LOTs of time at home with toddlers.  There's no need to get pretty for that, right?  lol

Although, I can still add my #ootd pix to the book, but I see it going in another direction.

I went back to my roots and with the help of a Scrapbook Case I got for a really good deal at Michaels, I set myself up with a very compact smashbook bedroom kit.

It contains 2 types of scissors.  The orange is for cutting basic things, the white is for fussy cutting (when I want to cut something in detail or with particular edges).  3 types of washi tape.  2 journal pads by Recollections.  Smash pen.  Glue.  Some of my old alpha stickers.  Speech bubble sticky notes.  And the couture book.  It's very simple and it's keeping with the original smashbook idea... what it was intended for when K&Co first introduced it.  Cut, glue and journal.  Easy.  Some people do do it that way, but I've always made mini layouts out of my smashbooks.

In any case, since I do my "Couture" smashing at night (cuz hubby goes to bed early since he's up before the roosters), while I watch tv or youtube videos, I won't exactly be having very "professional" photos to share.  These were taken from my phone and uploaded to my Instagram.

P.S.  If you wanna stay up to date on my daily life you can always follow me  because I share (mostly) ERRTHANG!  lol.

I hope this post helps you to shake off the intimidation of smashing and just do it!

I Admit ...

... I totally suck at this blogging everyday challenge.  But I am enjoying answering the questions.  I guess it's helping me get to know myself better.  Every year we change, grow, evolve and become different people.  So it's nice to see how my mind works.

It's been so many years since I take any COSMO quizzes, so I'm learning a lot.

Plus you're all probably enjoying the ridiculous answers and laughing "AT" me.  lol



Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill.  

I really thought long and hard about the answer to this, and there's only one thing that came to mind... but it's way too graphic to discuss.  Alls I'll say is that it involves my dad and I, one day after church, in the middle of my father's old Chevy van, rushing to Pathmark for toilet paper.  It's not as perverted as it sounds (dirty minds!), it's actually EXTREMELY embarrassing.  I was almost a teen.




Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less.

I love to laugh and make others laugh.



Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)

I miss being a smaller size.  I had gastric bypass surgery many years ago and it worked.  I lost half my body weight, and I felt so good.  My confidence was through the roof (not cocky).  I was friendlier and more approachable than now.  Now since I'm a bit insecure about my body I keep more to myself and have become something of a "homebody".  I know it comes across as conceited to some people when they are around me at events, but it's honestly just me trying to keep any attention away from myself.

Online I'm different.  I'm loud and friendly and loud.  lol



Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology.  This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

When I first started chatting in Facebook Groups it brought me back to when I chatted with people from all over the world on AOL CHAT ROOMS.  It was fun and funny and a way to spend some time meeting new people who loved doing what I did.  Craft.
Except the way I joked kinda came across rude to some people and stepped on a few toes, which was absolutely not intended to offend anyone.  I have apologized (generally) to people, but I don't think they either believed my apology or accepted it.  They never verbalized it to me, but I can tell.  You can tell.  When certain people NEVER leave comments on your posts or photos.  You can tell.

I don't think any of those people follow my blog, but just incase they do to be nosey (lol), I want to say I'm sorry.  I am human and make mistakes and I've left all that nonsense in the past.

I like to think I'm different now and have grown up.  If people can't forgive and move on then that's their bitterness they've got to deal with everyday of their life.  I wash my hands.

Wow, that got too REAL!  lol.



Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy.


1.  My husband's job hours: we get to hang out during the day and do whatever we want while the sun is still high and while everyone else is still working or in school.

2.  How smart my son is: Giovanni has shocked me completely.  I've been around smart kids, but he's been smart since I can remember (I'm very forgetful which is why I scrapbook), and he just learns things so quickly.  So far he knows his alphabet, the Big A and little a.  He knows what each letter sounds like "M makes the mmm sounds".  He knows how to count to 20.  He knows how to count things.  "1 shoe, 2 shoes".  He knows how to speak in sentences and just basic things like that.  I can go on and on, but I'm only on #2.

3.  Organization: I love cleaning up my craftroom.  I love creating in a clean and organized room.  Which is why every few months I redo everything.  Because new items come in and I find a need to revamp everything.

4.  Instagram: I've met so many cool, sweet and humble people on IG.  I like that they aren't haters (at least the ones I'm friends with) and are truly supportive.  They are helpful when you ask a question and just good-hearted by nature.

You can tell.

5.  "How I Met Your Mother": that show has probably been going on for quite a few years, but it wasn't until last year that hubby and I started to watch it on Netflix.  We still have 2 seasons to watch and haven't gotten to it because we like to download them and watch it as a marathon.  But surely by the end of the Summer we'll be all caught up.

6.  Crepes & Coffee.

7.  Chatting with my 2 hoochies Sharon & Yeya.  I met them via Youtube and then in person.  We've taken a few classes together and have hung out on occasion.  Those are my Go-To girls.  We talk about EVERYTHING!  We chat practically everyday via an app on our phones and share photos, gossip, sales, worries, etc.  We've become really close... I love those B's!!

8. New clothes: I don't shop often for clothes for myself, but when I do I get so giddy.  I guess the "hoard" mentality has spread through every aspect of my life because although I love what I buy and can't wait to sport it, I wait FOREVER to wear it since I'm always waiting for the "perfect" day/time/occasion to do so.  The same can be said about new scrapbook supplies.  Right?

9.  I love SWIMMING:  It's my favorite pass time besides going to the movies and shopping.  I love how fun and refreshing it is.  And Gio loves it too.  Every other day he asks to go to the pool.  We're swimmers.  I also love that I can get a nice tan in the process.  What I don't like is having to expose my legs/thighs.  I always wear shorts.  Until I get in the pool then I take them off so I won't have tan lines.  Weird, but true.

10.  Crafting:  How can I forget my 1 and only REAL hobby?  I love the ability to take paper, a stamp and some glitter and make something pretty.  I love that I can make my own cards and not be subject to purchasing something at Hallmark for $5.99.  I love that I can take a photo today and have it smashed in my book by that evening or the next day with some journaling.  I love that I can be creative and make gifts.  I love that I'm finally learning how not to hoard things and have actually been using my "newer" stuff.



Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like).

[click photos to enlarge]

Rainbow Water-Inking.

Since I was such on a watercoloring "KICK" last week, I decided I would try the same "technique" of "watercoloring", except using inks.

I embossed a lattice background stamp with versamark ink and black powder on Canson watercolor paper then used a water brush to pick up color from these Scrap Happy Ohio ink pads; Wild Cherry, Orange Fizz, Lemon Drop, Sour Apple & Blue Raspberry.

I matted the design on some leftover paper from the Scrap Happy Ohio Easter Kit, and then topped it off with a sentiment from their Valentine Saying Stamp Set.

I love how simple, fun and bright it looks.

Hello Darling.

My husband gave me a project to do last week.  He requested an altered photo frame for his father's mother in PR.  His parents made plans to be there for Mother's Day, which would be the last possible time they see her alive, and it weighed heavy on his heart to send her a photo of our son whom she'd never met.

So I picked up a $1.00 wood frame at Michaels and got to work during the week.

I used My Mind's Eye "Notable" 12x12 paper to cover the frame and distress ink for the edges.

The lamp post is a KaiserCraft wood piece, also distressed.

The word bubble and word are wood veneers by Freckled Fawn & Studio Calico.

The flowers are all by Wild Orchid Crafts.

The fence is a Sizzix diecut, that I painted white and inked a woodgrain background stamp on.

The clouds are felties by Heidi Grace (which you can find at JoAnn),

and the bicycle is a rub-on by Basic Grey.

The photo itself was taken a couple of Sundays ago, after church.

The project took about 2 hours to make and I heard that his grandmother and everyone in PR loved it.

I am so grateful to be able to give her that gift, and I'm very flattered that my husband trusted me to make something he would be proud to send her.

I hope you all have had a blessed Mother's Day and will check back this week for more projects.

Something Different...

I USED to have this "I GIVE UP" stronghold about things that are difficult for me to do.  Watercolor was on that list.

Over the weekend I took the plunge and bought Canson watercolor paper.  The reason I was not having great results with this technique was because I was using low quality paper.  I can't remember the name now, but I think it starts with an R.

I bought a very pretty stamp that was marked down $13 at Michaels because it spoke "MOTHER's DAY" to me when I saw it.  But I knew upon getting it I would have to treat this like no other stamp I have before.  So I did some research and asked around and got to make this card for my MIL.

It's pretty simple as far as the layout of the card, but the coloring itself did take a few minutes to complete.  I used versamark ink, black embossing powder, a heat tool,  Mica powders by Lindy's Stamp Gang with a water brush, a few punches & dies and a Stampin' Up sentiment stamp.

One thing I noticed (and help me out here if you know anything), was that the stamp came with in on it... which is why the sample was orangy.  I cleaned it with wipes, with spray and even with soap and water, and it was still inking red.  I can only assume that it's the result of the rubber.  Is there anything I can do to fix that or should I just contact the company?

Let me know in your comment below and I'll choose one person to create a watercolor card for and send to them.  Probably to receive in June.

Thanks for checking in and I hope you all have a lovely Mother's Day.

7 ATE 9

Since I've been so super busy with Mother's Day prep and other side projects, I haven't been able to keep up with my daily blog challenge.

So I decided to do an all in one.

Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of.

I am deathly "afraid" of hair.  It's a real condition called Trichophobia.  A morbid disgust of hair.  It started when I was in my early teens and grew worse after I got married.  There were times I had to have my husband wash my hair for me because I couldn't bare the feeling and thought of having wet hair run down my back and hide in places where it shouldn't be (if you know what I mean).  

After grossing him out with how much hair loss occurs during each wash, I decided I would have to pay to get it washed.  $5.00 plus tip at The Hair Cuttery.  I was a regular.  Some ladies did a better wash than others, but I always left satisfied that I didn't have to be the one to run my fingers in gross wet hair and have it fall on the floor, or worse, MY BACK.  

When I was younger something (really silly to most people), happened.  I almost choked while eating and it was the result of a very Very VERY long hair that was WAY down my throat.  

DISGUSTING!

Now-a-days, I kneel over the tub, pull the shower head down and wash my hair with a towel in between me and the tub to soak up any spills.  In the beginning this process took more than an hour.  I have now cut that time in half.

But the kicker is that 2 times out of 5 that we each out, there is a hair found in my food.  Has happened so many times that I almost always am ready for it.  Sucks because I get to a restaurant so hungry and suddenly lose my appetite.

I'm also afraid that there would be a terrible accident while my husband drives to/from work.  Or that my boy would come down with something fatal.  Or that someone will come to our house to rob us and we end up in bed at gun-point. Maybe that's why I can't fall asleep easily at night?

Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

1.  Be yourself and don't worry about what people think of you.  

2.  Always forgive.  That person who offended you or hurt you is sleeping well at night while you stay up thinking and worrying about the fight or drama.  The best way to rid yourself of it is to FORGIVE them and move on.  You will free yourself of the mental torture/baggage and live a happier life.  It doesn't mean you're "letting them off the hook", it just means you're letting yourself be happy.

3.  Count it all JOY.  This is taken from one of my favorite bible verses.  James 1:2-3.  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  Yes, even when the trial means having to sit in traffic, or worse, dealing with a slow driver.... lol.  It's something I have to work on daily, so I haven't yet conquered it, but whenever I get frustrated or upset about something I repeat to myself "COUNT IT ALL JOY".

Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)

Since "Thursday" hasn't really happened yet, I'll share with you my favorite moments of this week so far.



1.  Going to the pool with my 2 boys and seeing how independent Gio is in the water.   He loves kicking out on his own and has finally learned to purse his lips while doing it so no water gets in.  

I honestly think he'll be a lifeguard one day.

2.  Visiting mom after her very extended trip up north.  
As you know she went there because my cousin was on her deathbed.  She could not change her flight so ended up being there nearly a month.  

I was happy to see her and she was so happy to see Gio.









3.  Getting back to my SMASHy roots.  

For the Couture Smashbook I'm doing something different than all my other books.  You'll see exactly what it is soon and maybe I'll even have a tiny giveaway here, so stay tuned for that.









4.  OFF WITH THEIR ...

Thanks to my 2 very girly friends Yeya & Sharon, I've been in the mood to let my natural nails grow out.  I normally use gel tips (which can run me $40 each visit and I don't mind paying), but I really like all the pretty polishes out there and the fact that I have to go EVERY week to get a fill for my nails to stay "fresh" was becoming annoying.  I never did it, so I never polished my nails 
because you can see the gap in my nails and it looked redic.  



So I'm happy to say that I have started a new treatment.  It's different and tough because I NEVER polish my nails, and this regimen requires me to do so every 3-4 days.  Tomorrow I'm due for another polish change.

I am excited, however, because I got tons of new girly manicure-type goodies.  Like high end polish remover and so many pretty new polishes.  And even some new tools.  

I'm currently in the works of finding the perfect storage solution for my polishes.  I like the idea of having them displayed.  So when I walk into my bedroom and I see one that stands out to me that day I will get motivated to keep up with my self-manis.  However, I do want to keep a small caboodles for my core kit.  My files, cuticle oils, nail primers, top coats, cuticle cutters, etc.  This way I can just grab a polish and my mini caboodles and sit in bed, watch tv while I do my nails.

I'll keep you updated on how that's going... if you want.



5.  I finally took the plunge and purchased a decent pad of watercolor paper.  In the past I used some crappy brand that warped the paper.  I thought it was my fault.  But over the weekend, I got the paper (because I fell in love with a stamp that was originally priced at $17.99, but was clearanced out for $4.99 at Michaels, and that was PERFECT for a Mother's Day card.)

Anyway, so that stamp looked like it would work best with watercoloring.  So I got some Canson paper and LOVED playing with it.  I'll show you tomorrow what I made.  This was my tester pic.




That's all for now folks.
Come back tomorrow and check out the watercolor Mother's Day card I made my MIL.