Card "Cock-a-doodle-doo" Challenge

Well I was in the mood for art last night, but had nothing on my plate that needed attention so I sat at the computer. Got to chatting with my cousin, who was also in the mood for art, but needed a push. So we challenged each other.

She told me to use my new cheesecloth background stamp, from Stampin Up, the colors purple and green.
I said I was in a chicken' mood, so would see if I could pull it all together.

Challenges are great fun and they really do keep the creativity going. That is one reason I do love the Altered books, you get a theme and you are expected to come up with something, sometimes it is hard, sometimes it is fairly easy, but it is fun to stretch your mind a bit.

I don't make greeting cards much anymore unless I need one at the moment. It was fun to just do a simple card.

Here is what I came up with.

Sweetest Sense of Happiness

Well, well, well! I have certainly been having some fun playing since Christmas. I have had a lot of fun using up some things I have had laying around and my goal for the new year is to do more of that! I think I might have said the same thing last year ; ) But I believe I have been pretty good about doing so. That is not to say, I haven't bought some new things, because we artists can't resist new toys ; )

I have even been considering the idea of trying to sell some of my collage work? Not sure about this yet. My confidence level is wavering. Also not sure how to go about it?
Will keep thinking on it, while I try to make a few things that might be desirable.

Also in the new year, I hope to jump back into some routine exercise, even if it isn't lifting. My darn shoulder is still giving me troubles.

I look forward to 2006! Mandy is doing terrific in school this year and I am so pleased we have invested in the Sylvan Learning center for her. What a difference we see.

Anyway I just finished another fun Altered Book Spread in that friendship themed book.

I took my inspiration from Claudine Hellmuth's style in her new book. I got the book for X-mas from my mom. (thanks Mom) It is filled with a fresh new style and techniques. I found this phrase in a mini calendar with daily quotes and it was perfect for the theme.

"Friends find the sweetest sense of

happiness comes from simply being together."

Play with Friends

I played around with an Altered book spread today and I just finished it. I just couldn't quit till it was finished. When an artist is in the groove, there is no stopping them ; )

This is for a local RR and the theme for the book is Friendship.
I really had a lot of fun with this spread, I used some new Basic Grey papers I just got.
They are fabulously aged and have the most lusciously yummy colors. I also used my Scribble figure stamp. I have been using it a lot lately. It is so versatile.
The black phrase on the left page says:

Friendship
is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.

Aristotle

Not sure this is Wendy's style so I hope she will like it!

Star of Wonder...

Had some fun in my art studio today. No daycare today. I created a few ATC's for the Dec. Challenge and mulled around the Friendship theme for an altered book I will need to get working on.

I have eaten entirely too much this past 2 days and tomorrow it is back on track before I cause some major damage.

I got some really fun stuff this year. Several chicken figures for the house. A new toaster, and new hand mixer. Lots of candles and incense. A Rubber stamp background, some label tape, and collage embellishments. A fun collage book.
Lots of Love from my family and appreciation for all of my blessings.

I often wonder how I got so darn lucky!
Following my Lucky Stars, I guess ; )

Merry Christmas to all.

And Happy Holidays to everyone else.

Well it is Christmas eve day ; ) I just wrapped the last of the gifts to the kids. I had been working on Rosary's for each of them. The project took a while as the center medallion had to have several coats of varnish over the Mary image. Also I broke one of the crosses after I had already stained and varnished it twice. UGH! Start over on that one!

We had a few years where these Rosary's were exchanged and given in abundance, through my husbands family. But my kids never received one. I have always intended to make them some.
This was the year. Actually it is nice that I waited because they will appreciate them more now that they are older.

The varnishing is the hardest part I think, I was able to string the nuts and beads on them all in one day.

I am just lounging around today, not feeling 100%, but so much better than earlier in the week when I had a terrible headache.
I think I will make some peanut brittle today, and we are having lasagne for supper.
Then we will go out for our Christmas pie and when we get home, Santa will have come ; )
Open gifts and tumble in to bed.
We will be going to my brothers tomorrow morning for brunch. Should be a nice relaxing holiday.

Here are pictures of the rosary's.

The final countdown

Well it is the week before Christmas. Are you ready? I am completely ready, feeling relaxed and enjoying the season.

I made my gingerbread men yesterday, and today I will ice them. I will do a bit of baking this week also. Not too much. All gifts are wrapped and ready, just waiting for Santa now.

I have a bit of a scratchy throat today, it began on the weekend. Hopefully I can doctor myself up before Christmas day ; )

We will begin working on the daycare children's gift to momma's today, that should be fun.

I had a bit of fun in the art room this weekend, but for some reason, I wasn't overly happy with my creations.
I will share a few ATC's I worked on for a challenge to use anything related to the holiday that you don't normally have around other times of the year. Not necessarily to make holiday cards, but to get creative with it.

New Beginnings

I have begun another new adventure. I have so missed an old e-group I belonged to since it sort of shriveled up and died.

I have started a new yahoo group for mn. crafters of all kinds.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mn_craft_n_chat/

I hope to gather stampers, scrappers, mixed media artists, quilters, altered book artists, beaders, knitters, metal enthusiasts, woodworkers... All together in one fabulous place.
I wonder how it will go over. I myself am on several groups that are individualized, but sometimes I wish I could meet more people in my immediate area.
This should be a fun challenge.
I have only had the group open for one day and already it is showing potential.

No time for artwork today, I picked up my new bifocal glasses. Should be interesting!
I hope I don't have trouble adjusting, but imagine I will.
You may not see much artwork from me for a while, at least until I adjust. I don't want to make myself sick to my stomach.
Wish me luck!

I've Fallen

Well I made it through my second day with the new baby, she is precious! She is adjusting well.
I am coming along on the X-mas project I am making for the kids.
I want to get some baking done, but now with the new baby that seems impossible during the day and evenings I am not much in the mood. In the past I have let the daycare kids get involved, but I don't think it will work this year.
Went looking at chairs for dining again tonight. I am pretty much set on what I want. There are 2 that I am trying to decide between.

I was able to create a few cards tonight for my on-line group challenge.
I will share my favorite.

Going Home

Well I returned to an old Yahoo group I had belonged to. In fact it was the first group I was ever on.
"MN Stampers" and "MN ras"
One of the members there said it was like going home to have me back.
What a nice thing to say. It will be nice to visit with some old friends.

I started a new baby in Daycare today and she is just darling. We didn't have too bad of a day.
She didn't sleep a lot, but she didn't cry a lot either.

No real art for me to day, I piddled a bit but that's it.
I did make a cute ATC last night for the Dec. Challenge on my Yahoo group.
The challenge is to use holiday wrap, napkins or any other holiday item that you don't normally have around other times of the year.

I used wrapping paper and a black and white image. I like black and white on patterned paper.

Madame Zetticorkinelli discovered...

I have been pulling these altered book spreads together for longer than I should have. I got caught up in a storyline and am way past due on my mailing date. This book was due out on the 3rd. But I guess it is OK since I don't have another book to work in as of yet.

I really did have fun creating a little story behind this book theme of Sir Zetticorkey and his travel logs of Zettidaddaa ; )

So with nothing else to say on the subject, I will just let you look for yourselves ; )

Kids will be Kids

Why is it that a parent must be a constant nag? Oldest son has had a school project to do, where he must interview a professional of his choosing and follow them on the job for 4 hours.
Well he chooses a bankruptcy trustee. He then waits till the last min. to work on this and set things up. So project is due on Friday and he has yet to set up the interview. He has been playing phone tag with the guy. I know these people are busy and it is son's fault for waiting till the last min. but gosh I hate these type of assignments. I totally feel like we are imposing on somebody. Hopefully he can set something up tomorrow. I always feel like these assignments are to torture me. I hate having to monitor and make sure they get done. Perhaps I am going about things wrong? HMMM if anyone has suggestions for me, as to how I can make my child be more conscientious, let me know.

Well enough of that. I had a daycare child throw up on my new carpet today! UGH. I knew it was going to happen, I should have known I would freak. Frantically I scrubbed to clean it up and I think the stain is gone. Poor little thing, momma is out of town, and by the time daddy arrived she had a fever. So I finally decided it is time to move the daycare to the lower level. Now the lower family room is the daycare area. It feels nice to have my upstairs living area back to myself. It is just a pain to go up and down the stairs all the time.

Well here are a few more cards for your viewing pleasure.

Such is winter in MN.

Well the snow continues to come down in fine dustings every day and the roads are still glare ice.
The dustings are irratating as they aren't really enough to shovel, but you don't want to leave it to pile up either. Just a pain in the patootie ; ) Such is winter in MN. Went out for a few errands and to pick daughter up from Sylvan and there were 3 cars off the road on the interstate. YIKES, better slow down!

Got more x-mas projects in the works tonight, staying track!

Couple cards to share then off to bed for me.

Addressing and checking twice

It is so darn cold here today! Brrr, the dogs can't even make back into the house before their poor little feet freeze up.
The house smells so good today. YUMMY! I put the turkey bones from Thanksgiving on to boil for a nice pot of soup for supper. Home made bread in the bread machine. OOOO that will make hubby feel so good after a cold day of delivering mail.

I got a few more gifts in order today and am feeling so organized this year.

All the Christmas cards are made and I began the addressing and signing of them all today.
I will share a few here and there before I mail them out.

No errands to run tonight and I will get to do some art for an Altered book RR tonight while hubby watches football.
Winter is wonderful for art time!

I like RED

With the Christmas season in full swing I get to enjoy my favorite color in abundance.
I just finished an altered book spread that I worked on over the weekend. The theme was to create a spread based on your favorite color and then on your sign in tag, tell why you like it.

I like RED
because it reminds me of

our mighty flag

country barns

red gingham table clothes

crisp juicy apples

passionate kisses

card games with friends

but most of all

it is so very ZETTI!

I had a lot of fun with this book and the theme. I also got a bunch of X-mas cards done yesterday (I have 49 done so far) only about 11 to go! It has been a very productive weekend.

Here is the book I worked on.

Miracles do happen!

Well the holiday concert is next week and my Darling Daughter had nothing to wear.
Shall we say she is not the girly type and the fact that they require a dress or a skirt is not sitting well with her. So off we go to the mall, she is moping and whining about having to wear a dress the whole time. I am begging her to just cooperate, so she at least will get something she approves of. I think we managed the task nicely! Mandy got to choose the skirt, I coordinated the rest.

Miracles do happen!

We found a long black velvet crinkled looking skirt, and nice plain red blouse and a cute little jacket thing that ties just below the bust. It seems to be the style now, where the jackets are short and blouses are left untucked hanging below the jacket.
The thought of this is strange to me as I was brought up that to look crisp and pulled together, you must tuck in your shirt ; )
So she came home fairly happy and I was happy that everything was on sale!
We only paid $37.00 for the 3 pieces. What a bargain!

No art time again last night, so more sharing of my X-mas cards.