Maybe Spring Needs a Reminder

I think spring has forgotten it's job.  Maybe it doesn't remember that it's the buffer between winter and summer.  Maybe it doesn't know what it's leading us towards.  In light of the miserable weather about to hit us tomorrow, I thought I'd share some warm weather photos.  :)

This past Christmas we treated ourselves to a trip somewhere warm- Key West!  We arrived on Christmas Day- just in time to avoid the snowstorm that socked the northeast with the first of something like 13 snowstorms in 13 weeks.

We enjoyed (and survived) the ultimate test of a marriage- tandem biking!  See those shorts?!?  I feel like I'm never going to get to wear shorts again!

Look at all the green stuff!!!!  The view is from a old lighthouse that I'm pretty sure had way too many of us tourists standing on to be safe. LOL!

Okay, so these aren't the most amazing shots and I didn't really edit them for magnificence, but would you believe that these almost never happened?  On the pink taxi (yup that puppy was pink) from the airport to the place we were staying I dropped my iPhone AND my camera under the front passenger seat of the taxi!  I always have my phone on vibrate, so the driver never heard my phone "ring" as we called from my DH's phone.  We figured all was lost and about an hour later went for a walk downtown to try to cheer up (after all we were in FLA for vaca- I mean really it's just a phone and camera) and as we were walking we looked up and saw our taxi driver.  We hopped in the taxi, told him the story, gave him some cash to say thanks and hopped out at the next block.  The poor guy never knew what hit him!  We saw lots of pink taxi's all week and lots of the same drivers over and over, but NEVER saw our driver again.  Seriously. Dumb. Luck.  But then again-- we say better to be lucky than good.   I mean look how February of 2009 turned out.  Dumb luck is now being called a "Pink Taxi" in this house- and I've stopped using that purse. :)

Hope the pics and goofy tale brought you a smile.  I'll be back tomorrow with some fun pics of a cheerful (and easy) card.

Stay warm,

Nature Inspired

This week over at Top Tip Tuesday we are hosting a "Nature Inspired" challenge.  Fun theme just in time for spring!  Okay so these colors are more heat-of-summer, but a couple weeks ago we had the most glorious 60 degree weather here in New England and none of us has been able to let go of that glimpse of warmer weather (in spite of the rest snow showers).

I used one of my Penny Black stickers for the main image of this card (here's another version).  I'm not usually one for stickers, but these are so luscious!  They come sans bling, but a little bit of Stickles goes a long way to make this image spark. :)

The card base is Amuse and the rest of the papers are from the scrap pile.  Left this one blank on the inside so it'll be good for any occasion. :)

Head over to TTT and link up your Nature Inspired creation.  If you make something using the polished stone technique that Paula is tuting you are eligible to win a surprise package!!!

I'm hoping this card blooms here:
Cupcake Inspirations- Spring Flowers
Scrapbook Sisters: Card Challenge 28- Anything Goes
Stamping Vacation- No! No!
Crafts and Me- Anything Goes
Delicious Doodles- Floral Fantasy
IncyWincy Designs- Sparkle and Shine
Cupcake Craft Challenge- Flowers for Mum

You all inspire me!

 Amisha's Being Creative series has posed the question "What inspires you?"

I'm sharing pictures from the class I took this week with Nathalie Metivier of Magenta.  Can I tell you that she is an awesome teacher and so funny!!!!  What a totally cool experience!  I won't tell you which (if any) of the pieces you see are mine. :)  I just love seeing the interpretations of lots of folks!

Classes inspire me so much!  Obviously because you are learning something from the teacher, but also 'cause you learn so much from folks who are in the class with you.  I have yet to take a class and not walk away with some cool bit of info on a company, neat technique, tool, time saver, or color combo from someone who also taking the class. :)

I'm very easily inspired (or is it influenced) by seasons too!  Springitis is hitting hard right now and thoughts of soft color, baby animals, flowers, overall newness is all I can think about right now.  Come summer it'll be beachyness and citrusy colors, when fall arrives its my favorite palette of oranges, reds, yellows and harvest themes, and finally when winter rears its head once more its off to the clean lines and crisp colors.

Websites, blogs and -of course- Pinterest makes the world a happy place for me. :)  It's so awesome to see what everyone creates from meals, to home decor, to crafty creativity- A-MAZ-ING!  Sometimes I gotta copy what I've seen, sometimes I see a combo I've gotta try, or a meal I've just gotta make.  

Most of all, my loyal followers and comment writers inspire me!  You are such a great group of people, I can't tell you how much your sweet kindnesses make each day sparkle.  Thanks so much!!!!!  I can only hope to return half the inspiration you all give me!

Hop over to Gorgeous and Fun and link up to join Amisha in spreading inspiration. :)

Button, button, show me a button

Top Tip Tuesday is inviting folks to strut their button stuff!

I made this fun little baby card to use for a gal at work who is expecting a boy, but really the soft colors could work for a little girl too. :)

The card base is from Amuse, the image is from PTI, and the blue paper is scrap left over from a class I took a few weeks ago.  hee-hee!  You know I love my scraps. :)  Hope you join us over at TTT.  If you join us, you could win what's listed below:

Prize 1

Stash Books

Prize 2

Simon Says Stamp $20 GC

Featured Tipper Prize

Pizzazz Aplenty

So head over and check out the challenge and get more info on the prizes!  See you there. :)
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What Counts?

It's week 5 of Amisha's Being Creative linky party already!  Already at the halfway mark.  Huh.  My how time flies. :)

This week Amisha wants to know: What counts as creative time?  Hmmm.  That's a tough one.  I think I count the actual time actively making the creation obviously, but I'm torn about how I should really count "research" and "acquiring".  I mean last Sunday I spent 4 hours making this leather wrap bracelet.  Having signed up for this class with friends ages ago, not knowing that I would have 2 creative deadlines looming and a week long jury obligation.  Ah well, it was good I had this class lined up.  It helped to reboot my creative mojo.

So obviously classes and "in studio" work count, but then I have guilt about this next "thing" I count as creative time.  IS it creative time or creative time sink?  Yes, it is that temptress blog-surfing.  Does it count when I get so much inspiration???  Does it still count when you factor the HOURS AND HOURS I spend hopping from one blog to the next, not actually making anything myself??? 

Well the jury is still out on this one, but stay tuned for more updates. :)  Hey speaking of updates- We're doing pretty well with the no TV thing.  Occasionally we forget to turn the TV off, but I will say usually it's because we're being productive instead of sitting on the sofa and that's why we've forgotten.  As soon as either of us remembers we do shut off the "boob tube".  Should it be called the "high def dipstick" these days?  Hmmm.  Talk amongst yourselves. :)

I'd love if you talked to me about your creative time!  I promise to spend more time catching up with everyone this week!!!!  (I'd say it's a quiet week ahead, but why jinx myself.)

It's no robin, it's a turkey!

I'm finally done with my jury duty obligations.  What an inspiring, exhausting, anxiety inducing, and wonderful bonding experience. 

Since that experience was so intense and exhausting, I haven't created much this past week.  I snapped this pick on Monday morning as I headed out to court.  It seemed a little fallish so I was inspired to share the Thanksgiving card I made for the "Old School Tweet" basket my cousin is putting together for her high school auction.  I know, I know.  A little early to be thinking of fall holidays when we haven't even hit the spring ones yet. LOL!

Fun little card & envie pair.  Hope the combo of all the feathered friends cards brings in the dough at auction. :)

I'd give more deets, but all I know is the image and base are Amuse.  The chrysanthemum paper is PTI and I colored with Copics.  The rest was in the scrap pile!

I hope to share some jewelry I made last weekend in tomorrow's post!  

Hugs to all of you,

Things that Niggle!

My friend Amisha (Gorgeous and Fun) is hosting week four of her "Being Creative" blog party.  This week she wanted to know what are the things that niggle.  Translation- what keeps you from being creative?

That's a mutlipart answer for me.  Sometimes it's simply that sleep overrules creativity.  For me sleep overrules pretty much everything. LOL!  You can only imagine the dread in my house when Spring Ahead rears it's ugly head.  Daylight, schmaylight.  I need sleep!!!  Of course if I spent time outside in the daylight I might have more energy...  ;) 

Most often my niggle is getting crippled with indecision.  Maybe I spent so much time with my "I survived the Depression" grandmother that it rubbed off on me, but I hate to use anything without a plan.  The idea of "wasting" the supplies weighs heavy on me.  I mean you have seen the number of creations that came about from my scrap pile!!  Many of the scraps are ones most of my friends would toss without a second thought.  Can you imagine what I go through thinking that I am about to use something, it may not work, AND I'll have to kiss those materials goodbye 'cause it turned out so yucky my DMIL(who really adores all my creations) wouldn't even like it (Hi Barb!).

Then every once in a while my "I'm turning into a hoarder" complex emerges.  I give myself the creative kick in the pants I need and get to town making something- anything- 'cause what's the point in having these cool toys if I never use them?!?  Speaking of using toys- What's your favorite toy?  What keeps you from using it more?

PS- For those of you wondering how my reduced TV for Lent experiment is going- so far, so good!

Cat Tails

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This yet another card made for the "tweet basket".  More goods from that yummy kit like in this and this are what I used to make this little goodie. :)

 

I've been trying to get better about deets, so here they are:

Ink- memento- rich cocoa

Markers- spica

Paper- crate paper restoration collection

Ribbon and Die cuts- PTI
Stamps- memory box- cat o nine tails

Sorry I haven't been posting much this week.  I got picked for a jury and have been serving this week and will be continuing into next week.  Wow, it really puts your life in perspective.  It's very stressful to have someone's fate in your hands.  That being said, I'd much rather be on a jury than have to be in the situation where I need a jury!

I miss my students and hope they are practicing their reading!  We have a big standardized test coming up and I've had to leave them on their own to get ready these past few days.  Please keep your fingers crossed for my little gang. :)

I've "perched" this card for viewing here:

Moxie Fab World- Tuesday Trigger Image (the colors and flowery shapes of the ppr)

E.A.D.- Color Challenge
The Kraft Journal- Spring Fling
Really Reasonable Ribbon- Use Green
DYSU- Layers

Last Wolfeboro Tablescape

Ahh, here it is.  The last tablescape from my vaca in Wolfeboro NH.  Hopefully you enjoyed this tablescape and this one too.

This is yet another gathering table they had for us at the cottage.  The whole place was decorated with such beautiful shabby-chicness!

Notice what I forgot on this tablescape?  Same as last week- the silverware!!!!  Oh well, the Amish purposefully put a mis-stitch in their quilts as a reminder that no one is perfect.  This tablescape is certainly not as awesome as a handmade quilt, but it was just as fun to create. :)

 

Would you believe all the beautiful flowers in these tablescapes are silk flowers?!?  They are so gorgeous!

The corgi has some serious concerns.  Today is the first day of Lent.  I didn't grow up giving up things for Lent.  About 10 or so years ago, when I was in grad school, a bunch of us decided to support a good friend and we all gave up something for Lent.  I gave up TV.  Wow, huge thing for me to give up.  I am addicted to TV.  I really went through MAJOR withdrawal and ended up having to allow myself to watch a 2 hour video of some sort each day.  Yup that bad.  I know I have a problem and can't quit whenever I want.  Really.  This year though I am revisiting this idea.  In the interest of my marriage, my pets, and my young students, I'm not going totally without TV.  I'm just not there yet.  Baby steps, baby steps.  The TV will be off from 6-8 each night.  Today is day 1.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.  Seriously.  I have something like 1000 movies and TV shows ranked on Netflix.  Who knows, maybe this will help me get more creations completed.  Help me prove to the corgi he has nothing to worry about and I won't be too horrid giving up TV. LOL!

Are you giving anything up for Lent (or for any reason)?  If so, what are you going to go without?  If it's for Lent, do you include Sundays or not? (I'm including Sundays, it's seems like more of a sacrifice that way).  Let me know.  It's always so interesting to hear from all of you!

I've pulled up a chair with this post here:
Between Naps on the Porch- Tablescape Thursday

Birthday Celebrations at TTT

This week at Top Tip Tuesday we are hosting a "Birthday Celebrations" challenge!

I made this little card to go along with a "Old School Tweeting" basket my cousin Bridget is putting up for raffle at her school auction.  Senior class families each put together baskets for auction as a school fundraiser.  The basket is going to be filled with a bunch of bird themed cards.  Too cute!  This is one of the birthday cards.  The basket has a turkey card for Thanksgiving, 2 Christmas cards, a couple blank cards, Easter, and even Mother's Day and Father's Day cards.  Hopefully her basket will rake in some "top seed". LOL!

The scrap basket got a little lighter thanks to the creation of this card and I'm loving the colors.  Hopefully this card is a harbinger of Spring!  Whaddya say?  You ready to break out the birthday greetings and join the fun over at Top Tip Tuesday?  We'd love to have you and we're whipping out some fun prizes, so come on over!

What's you favorite go-to image or combo for a birthday card?  Leave a comment and share your inspiration. :)