It's Time to Get Gone

Get Gone as in RETIRE. Unfortunately, the gentleman who this card is going to is kinda' being forced out. As with many of the small cities and towns in Arizona, the economy and job security were severely hit. My dd needed something to remind her co-worker that there is life after working hard for many years. I hope he will be able to put it all behind him in a good way and move on toward the rest of his years.

Dark Green card base, off-white mats and various stamps from all over the place, an EK Success border punch and arrow punch and several inks...and I finally got it together.

Blessings,
Erica

Some White Pigment Ink Craftiness

Sometimes, I  look at the 20 or so containers of dry embossing powder, and wonder, did I really need all the colors? In my on-going, yet almost done, craft purge, I just haven't been able to toss even one of them. But when I do, I am going to keep white for sure, followed by black, of course, a little red & green for Christmas, and then silver & gold for so many things, and copper...it's so elegant, then I must keep pink & blue for babies, and that brown...after all it was tough to find. Ah well, you get the idea.

So here, I did indeed use white. Now that color is a story in itself. One must have the right powder. Don't confuse it with transparent, which shows up white in the jar. Then there is the hunt just the right white pigment ink. My search ended with SU's craft white. The secret to using it is to re-ink the pad often, as in every 3rd use or so (if it has been stored for a while).

I wanted a simply masculine-style birthday card, so I used SU's night of navy as a base and stamped and embossed. My mojo is up & running, and when that happens, I don't make note of what stamps I'm using. I'm also making a supreme effort to keep a tidy new craft room, as it is the first one seen upon entering the house from the garage. One does that often in Arizona. I will answer any requests though.

Blessings,
Erica

StarKitty...just doin' her J.O.B

Well some of us have very important things to do it would seem. My 5 yr. old black cat whom the family adores, (some after professing they were not cat-people), was in our backyard with me a few days ago. While I tended to some potted plants, she was quite busy. Needless to say, I screamed and ran inside. After stalking around in front of the door begging to be let in so she could play with her new "toy," I ran quick to get my cell and took this interesting photo. StarKitty didn't know which end to play with first. Of course, once dispensed to lizard heaven, she was whisked inside and her mouth got washed thoroughly...no she didn't mind.

A more post-worthy card to come tomorrow.

Snack-Time

And Finally...a card

It seemed like a good idea to get my mojo working by starting with a challenge and what better one than Less Is More. Challenge no. 119 has us using card stock colors...not the usual white, kraft or black. It's one layer week too. So, I pulled out SU's certainly celery for the card. I used an old shadow square image I just couldn't throw away, and a stamp set from Inkadinkadoo called Meadow. For the sentiment, I chose one from TPC Studio, called Faith Greetings. I stamped the shadow in Memento desert sand, For the wheat (I think), I used my Memento Bamboo pen on the stems, then carefully inked the shock (I think), with Memento Rich Cocoa. The ink for the sentiment  is the same.

So, I'm back in the saddle again and it sure feels good.

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful beautiful blog moms and you are legion.

Blessings,
Erica

Real Quick...No Comment Necessary

Just want to let you all know that I'm back in the saddle...just a few things to re-arrange here and there and a a couple of those, "Do I really need that anymore?" moments. I'm planning on getting a card made for  challenge #119 at Less Is More by the end of the weekend.

Happy Mother's Day Beautiful American Ladies.

My Patience is Just About Done

So Help Me Lord...give me grace. Quite frankly, I think I'd have been much better off just using Ikea cabinetry...cheapo stuff that it is. But no, big shot Erica just had to have the  real wood, dovetailed draws, shaker style which in the end...and I'm not there yet ended up ridiculously expensive and not without issues. I've done no stamping in three months. It was supposed to be near completion today, but when I went to sit at my countertop, I found it entirely too high. Short person that I am, I adjusted my chair which didn't help one bit. Of course, the installer had left already. So now I have to put forth my case that the standard cabinets thoroughly screwed into my newly painted walls are not going to work for me. I am praying he will understand...when he sees the awkward fit, and will un-install the two offending pieces and cut off at least 2 inches from the bottoms. I am certain it can be done, but he won't be happy about it. I have to point out to him that though he may labor for two to three hours it will then be done. I, on the other hand, plan on laboring at what I love to do best most days for the rest of my life. God grant me grace and mercy to do this for some years to come.

It's been so long since I've blogged and Blogger has changed so much, it seems I have to re-educate myself and that's sad since I am not a fast blog learner.

OK, I feel somewhat better now...but not much.

And I Sold It!

Over at Simply Create Too, it was all about Valentine's Day...I missed out on getting up my post as I was in the agony and ecstacy of moving. Yes, we are moved. We're-located only two miles away, but it still involved packing, hauling, and un-packing. Our new home has a very different layout from our former one and my entire family is pleased with it. We are in a totallly different neighborhood and the grands didn't have to change schools. I think even my little dog likes it better.

My rooms are a bit smaller, but both the future craftroom and my bedroom lend themselves to decorating rather nicely. I am skimping on my bedroom, so I can comfortably afford my craftroom and for the first time in many years will not have a TV in it. It was my dh who wanted it and I confess, I did enjoy it too, but I want the room to be used differently. As for my craftroom, I have both a downside and upside. It will have several custom pieces and so will take up to two months to complete. The upside is it's going to be gorgeous. I just hope I don't have withdrawal symptoms towards the last month. I hope to stave them off by reading, enjoying cooking in my gourmet kitchen (gas at last vs. electric), and washing clothes...yes, you read it right. I have my own washer & dryer in my bedroom suite, while my kids and grands have theirs upstairs. No more waiting my turn on weekends.

I have a fun thing to tell you about this card. The cabinet-maker Bob,  had asked me if he could see some samples of what my craft was prior to us talking about my dream craftroom. This was one of several cards I brought to his shop. When he saw this one, he pounced on it asking if I would sell it. Of course I did and he gave me twice my asking price ($1.00, more on that in another post) telling me that no one understands the care that goes into making things yourself....is he ever telling the truth. In addition to being a cabinet-maker, he was a clock-maker in his "hippie" days. Then his boss came in and he also bought a Valentine's Day card. What fun that was. His boss also asked me to make him 20 all occasion cards, which I of course quickly agreed to reminding him that he could count on my best work once my room was completed. He said it would be his incentive.

So, now you'd probably rather not read about my card, so I'll spare you the deets. Though I won't have any cards to show for awhile, I will be posting some thoughts I have concerning all manner of things. I can't promise the eloquence that I have the pleasure of enjoying on the many blogs I read, but you will get honesty and a laugh now and then.

Thanks for sticking around.
Blessings,
Erica