Happy World Card Making Day!

I actually participated!! I know one other person who is also celebrating it today. I have only 2 friends who make cards. Every year I think about participating in some way, but never do it. I actually took pictures the same day! Yes - I really need to work on my photography - and lighting. I enjoy making Halloween  cards so I decided to make some for my friends' kids. My niece and nephew are adults now. Oh - they still get cards, just not with glittered ghosts! I ran the die cuts ghost through the Xyron for adhesive for the glitter. Glitter paper dulls my cricut blades.

The second card was a Faux Layering Challenge from Stamp TV, using a single layer card. I had to find my eclipse tape to make a mask. I had almost forgotten how to make a mask. First I die cut the circle out of scrap paper. Stamp TV has a video for making a mask. Then I made the mask for the grass. You stamp on the Eclipse Tape, then cut around the stamped image. I only cut out the grass part of the image for the green. It was fun!  This why it's a good idea to make a list of techniques. That's also on my list to do. I used distress inks and the blending tool to color the sky and grass.

Tip of the Day

When you use eclipse or another masking medium - keep the mask with the rubber stamp. The tape is reusable. It will be here when you want to mask the next time.

Roundup September

Faneuil Hall in Boston

I can't believe it's October! The first quarter at school ends next week.

What reading/learning did I do this month? (books, blogs, magazines, ebooks, podcasts, classes, etc.)
I didn't read an actual book! I listened to An Object of Beauty by,  Steve Martin on a playaway. Two of the  podcasts I listen to Paper Clipping Roundtable, and the Digi Show have really been really interesting and entertaining.  I will never be a Digital Scrapbooker. and I still get a lot from the podcast. I also took tee Kickstart class from Online card classes. If  you are a card maker -it's my favorite site for classes. Tons of content and the instructors have different styles.

What entertainment did I watch/listen to this month? (movies, tv shows, plays, music, concerts, etc.)
Im excited my favorite TV show are back for a new season. My top three at the moment are Castle, Modern Family, and The Big Bang Theory. Yes I need to laugh at the end of the day. I'm still recording the Chew everyday.

What were my accomplishments this month?
I'm not sure it was an accomplishment but I went to Boston to attend a training for work. School Districts hardly ever send their employees anywhere father than 100 miles - so it was exciting. I went with a colleague/friend who was adventurous and wanted to eat at local restaurants and take the T.

What were my disappointments this month?
My ankle is still sore - well sore again! I realized the shoes I had worn all over Boston made both ankles sore! Now I'm wearing boring shoes that offer a lot of support. Let's be clear, I wear Birkenstocks all summer - colorful one's! My house is still for sale - no offers.


How did I do on my goals for the month? 
I actually had 5 blog posts in September. My goal was 6- so close! I finished a Disney scrapbook that a  friend "hired" me to make. It took a year - although I  made most of the pages this summer. It was stressful. I'm not sure if I would do it again. And the Disney papers she bought - I'm not sure who designed them but it couldn't have been a scrapbooker!

I'm off and crawling

I tried to make this card using scraps a couple of months ago - if the ice cream cones weren't a clue! It just wasn't working. So after taking the Kickstart class, I thought I would try to finish the card. I am slowly learning to mix patterns. I couldn't figure out what sentiment to use and where to place it one the card.  I thought about some of the techniques the instructors, Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner, used in the class. I embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder, like Jennifer. I always worry about embossing after the card is almost done. I took the risk and it worked out. I used the white gel pen around the card stock circles - Kristina's technique. Although this card is busy, it makes me smile. I even put string through the buttons. It's the little touches that help finish the card. This is the 5th blog post for September! So my goals for October - craft during the week, reorganize clear stamps and thin dies, and more purging!

Tip of the Day
When needing some inspiration - revisit past classes. I watched videos from another class I took from online card classes - Clean and Simple Cards. Now I have several ideas for Christmas gifts.


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How's that working for you?

I'm in a new class from Online Card Classes, Kickstart. Their classes offer a lot of content. This one has 2 videos each class. This one is my favorite so far. It's about kick starting your creativity which has included tips about organizing your ideas and inspiration and our space. After the interactive class, classes are available as self paced classes. I've been rethinking my organization - again! What is working - my storage/organization of wood mount and cling mount stamps, 8 1/2 by 11 card stock, and ink pads. My clear stamps are organized but it's not working. When I arranged them in clear CD cases I took them off the plastic. So - what do I do now? I'm also thinking about how my space is arranged. It's time for some rearranging!

 I bought this shelf at a local stamp stores garage sale. I like looking at some of my favorite stamps, and it helps inspire me when I'm in a rut.

Tip of the Day

Most rules are universal - we all have heard - if you haven't worn a price if clothing in a year get rid of it! I think for craft supplies it's longer. But what about the stamps, embellishments, and paper you have never used - not once after a year? To quote one of the only 'N Sync song I know, " Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye"!!!

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My Big Idea

I recently participated in the Big Idea Festival at Big Picture Classes. By participate I should clarify, I read the big idea of the day and watched the video. The first day Stacey Julien talked about making and sending cards. She used elements from a certain company. I realized I needed to revisit something I did a while back - write a note to a student once a week. The card did not have to be elaborate. I decided to make 4 bar cards, which are are smaller than A2. Why - 4 bar - well my mom had envelopes left over and of course I said I could use them! I used stamps I bought at a Garage sale. Now I did I link the card to the class - well no. Procrastination -1 - Edie 0! This was a free class which is a good way to get introduced to some different crafters.

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10 Things September

10 Things I forget about school over the summer




The later I leave for the work in the morning, the amount of school buses on the road seem to quadruple.

Students reading skills decline over the summer when they don't read.

My listening skills decline over the summer when I'm not listening to someone for 30 minutes.

The energy 5 year old children have is insane!

The first week of school is harder on Kindergarten parents than the kindergartner.

Walking in the hall is a skill.

Five year olds can still twirl, cartwheel and hop to a destination.

NO ONE likes the first day of school.

Former students will come back to school with their own children.

Former students will be employed at school.

Kids under 7 have enthusiasm for life that is boundless.

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Location:10 things

Round up August

I picked 5 questions to answer for August.

What reading/learning did I do this month? (books, blogs, magazines, ebooks, podcasts, classes, etc.) 

First - a story about my podcasts. I was making copies at the administrative center. I had my iPod on and was listening to the Paper Clipping Roundtable. The superintendent (BIG BOSS) asked what I was listening to. I told him I was listening to a podcast about scrapbooking.  He said that would be as boring as watching paint dry!!!! Then  he said  I needed a hobby - like golf! GOLF more exciting than listening to Noell and Izzy - AHHHHH! I did not say anything that would have gotten me fired! Now if you love golf that's great - but I have tried it. My father loved golf - so yes I had to take some group golf lessons one summer. It's not for me.

I also read the book Whitewater Walking Club. A nice easy read. I finally went to my local library and checked out a playaway. Its an audio recording of a  book in it's own device. You supply your own head phones.  It's helping me with the lovely low impact stationary bike!

What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?

Went to visit a friend  I've  known  since first grade. I had a great time - shopping, eating, and lots of talking. She owns her own business, sew baby. I told new I wanted a sewing machine. She suggested one which was less expensive than the one I had investigated. I ordered it yesterday!


What special or unusual purchases did I make?

I went to the Rubber stamp convention and I did my part to help the economy. The best part for me is watching the demonstrations and talking to the presenters at the booth. They show you those little tips and tricks that you do not translate well in a magazine or blogpost. During my visit to my friend we went shopping, I bought 2 coats! I can spend hundreds of dollars on crafts but I have to force myself to buy clothes. I also bought clothes to start the school year.

My friend had some Containers for cricut cartridges. I found a similar one at Michael's - it's their brand Recollections.  Now to transfer all the cartridges to the containers. My not so fun purchase was a new hot water heater.

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?

I'm still working on strengthening ankle.  I  started using  the program My fitness pal to track my eating and exercise. It is a little time consuming at first to enter all your foods, but then it gets easier. My menu doesn't change that much.


Anything else noteworthy to include?
School started!  I was ready to go back to work.  The school year started out well.

Today's Tip
Cricut cartridge books - tear out the foreign language pages. It saves space. I've started tearing them out when I use the cartridge. Make sure you check both sides. I almost ripped out a page I needed! I read this somewhere but have no idea where I lifted it from.

Hopefully I will have more blogposts than a round up and 10 on the 10th for September.  My goal is 6! Five to go!!!