Last year's cards part 2

Some of last year's Christmas cards

These are from before I had a blog, so wanted to publish. :)

House Mouse & Friends #47 - White on White

Easiest card ever, but who would think this would be a challenge? Well it was to me because I have no white embellishments! No flowers, no ribbon, no nothing! So nothing fancy, but it's still cute because it's House Mouse!

Christmas

My cards are not simple lately. Here's another one I tried with lots of layers. Used Plantin schoolbook, George and Christmas solutions cricut cartridges for this one.

Practice, practice, practice

I love the look of cards made with Design Studio, especially ones with lots of welding and layers. I find these very difficult to do, so lately I've been trying to work on some. This is practice card - I always send my brother something with frogs for his birthday but this one is kind of girly. Need to figure out something other than flowers. But I like the way it came out and it was serendipity the way the background paper worked.

Used many cartridges for this one: Paper Dolls Dress Up, George, Wild Card and opposites attract. I put on a couple of buggy stickers I had and some googly eyes.

Winter Wonderland #8 - Santa

I'm trying to pay attention to the Christmas blogs to get me started on my cards. This week's was to include a santa stamp. The ornament is done with Cricut Christmas solutions and the season's greetings is an inkadinkado clear stamp. The paper is from last year's DCWV Christmas stack.

Sketch Saturday #60 and MCPT July Challenge

Love being able to do two challenges at one time.

And here's the quote of the day from my almost 16 year old son after looking at all my scrapping stuff: "Mom, why does it take so much crap to scrap?". He was the only one who thought that was a funny comment.

Sympathy Cards

So many have left us recently in the celebrity world, but all of a sudden it seems like friends of mine are losing loved ones also. I had two within two days both lose fathers. Both lived long, productive lives thankfully, but it must still be difficult anyway. I've been thinking about how to do sympathy cards; I find them very hard to to. I think this one came out ok. The tree stamp is from Stampin Up, the sentiment is from that great $1 bin at Michaels.

Finally able to craft!

This is why my blog is called the frustrated crafter - because either I have no ideas, no time or when I have time, I get sick. Frustrated I don't craft enough. Well, I don't get sick that often, but I was knocked off my feet this week by one heck of a sinus infection. Today's the first day out of bed and I'm taking the opportunity to stay off my feet and get some cards done. This one is for my sister's birthday. My sister is younger than me and I love when she catches up on the milestones. She also just graduated from cosmetology school so definitely wanted to pun up her 45th birthday with the gray hair thing. I thought this stamp was perfect!

Updates

Wow, I've been gone a while! We went to Las Vegas for the 4th of July weekend. It was tons of fun. We got to stay at the MGM Signature which is a non-gambling hotel. We were on the 38th floor and on 4th of July night we could see at least 2 dozen fireworks shows going on at any given time across the west and north Las Vegas valley.

But I came home and on Monday didn't feel well. Turns out I have an acute sinus infection with an underlying secondary viral infections. I feel horrible! Hopefully my antibiotic and anti-viral will kick in by tomorrow and I can get back to crafting and getting up to date on everyone's blogs. Back to bed for now before my head splits in two (major headache going on).

Hugs...

House Mouse Challenge

It's still Sunday in Phoenix so hopefully I've got this done in time!

Life's a beach thank you card

This card has been in my head for a few days now, so had to work on it today. I can't say that happens many time - having an idea for something before I start. And it was way out of my comfort zone - alot of design studio and layers. Used Life's a beach and George cartridges, cuttlebug, brayering and inking. The sun kind of photographed funny - it has irridescent embossing powder on it and it picked up as a blob of yellow in the photo.

Survived violin recital!

Ok, now maybe I can get back to crafting. But in all honesty it was rather fun, and it was funny to be the only "senior citizen" playing with a bunch of kids under the age of 15. The adults in the audience were rather impressed and amazed I would actually play in a recital! Isn't it funny that we'll send our kids out to do this type of stuff but we hate it? I've read that most adults would rather DIE than have to do public speaking (I considered my fears regarding this recital alot like my original fears about public speaking). I'm here to tell you if you prepare and train you can do it and broaden your comfort zone! :)

Score some blog candy at Going Buggy

Look at what Envys is giving away at her blog! I wouldn't mind winning this one. But more important, she is sooooooo talented; make sure you go through her blog and look at all her wonderful creations.

www.going-buggy.blogspot.com

House Mouse and Friends Challenge # 42 - Neopolitan

Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry - that's the challenge this week! I found this darling saying in the clearance bin at Michael's today and knew right away what I wanted to do with it. I work in IT (information technology), a field that's filled with men. I'm a Project Manager and one of the few gals who are working on a heavy duty project. I decided to make myself and 3 other gals this cute little cubicle picture to remind them they are as good as the guys and most likely even better. I didn't have the exact colors, but I think they are close enough to be considered neopolitan (I hope). This is also my most favorite stamp, I've used it many times. Do you like how I made them all the same except for the color of their purses?

First violin recital

I have my first recital ever after taking violin lessons for 2.5 years (I never even played in a recital when I played for 9 years during school!). I am really nervous and don't want to do it, but I have to get more comfortable playing. I'm playing the first movement of Vivaldi's Violin Concerto in A Minor. It's one I like and very recognizable, so hopefully things go ok. It's in two weeks and I need to practice instead of crafting!! This is one a few invites I made (yes, I'm actually going to invite people, lol). Unfortunately, the violin didn't come out well in the picture, but it's stamped and colored just like a violin. Font is done with Cricut Cursive 101.

Blog awards

I'm always surprised when I open my email and see that people actually leave comments on my blogs. Over the past couple of days I've even been more surprised to see some blog awards. Thanks so much to Kris and Jo for sending me these awards. I'll be linking their websites to the awards when I get them posted over to the side. Thank you!

These awards ask you to leave 7 or 10 honest things about yourself and then to pass them on to 7 other bloggers if you can.

1) I was horribly shy until I was about 27 years old and then made a concerted effort to come out of my shell.

2) I started violin lessons again 2.5 years ago after not playing for 27 years.

3) I taught myself piano when I was 12 but really need lessons.

4) I am married almost 24 years and have an adorable almost 16 year old son.

5) I only have one child because I wasn't put on this earth to have children - I couldn't get pregnant, had a terrible, painful pregnancy and then couldn't give birth - had to have an emergency c-section after the doctors told me during my pregnancy that I shouldn't have a c-section due to grapefruit sized fibroids. Luckily it all worked out, but one was enough for me and I was given an angel.

6) I have lived in AZ for 15 years after growing up on Long Island, NY.

7) I am the oldest of 3 children.

8) I work full time in the insurance industry - I am in Information technology and really don't like it! If I could magically change careers I would be in meteorology - particularly researching tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

9) My husband is a 7th grade earth science teacher. He is doing what he loves and how he loves it, I don't know.

10) I wish I could win powerball just to give 85% of it away to those in need and/or to keep our educational systems where they need to be.

I'll come back and update to pass these forward :)

House Mouse and Friends Monday challenge

When I don't have mojo, I always reach for my house mouse stamps and I can at least seem to churn something out. The challenge this week is red, white and blue. Ice pops just seem to remind me of summer growing up and I have 2 siblings so this stamp seems to fit the bill. The words are from a 4th of July set from the $1 bin at Michaels. Don't you love those $1 stamps? I'm always checking those bins. The paper is from last summer's DCWV summer stack. The shinying stuff on the popsicle is some glossy accents. I tried to give it the illusion of melting.

since they are leaving a little puddle as they munch.

A few pictures from Hawaii

Just a few of the many, many pictures we took in Hawaii. We stayed on the big Island, north of Kona. What a beautiful place.

Brayer Card

This is one I did a while ago and submitted for publication - but alas, it did not get selected. I love it anyway and it's hanging in my office cubicle - I looked at it every day before I went to Hawaii to start chilling!

The theme for the publication was blue and orange - how perfect for a sunset over water. The word aloha was cut using the cricut and the Opposites Attract cartridge.

I'm back with an announcement!

My trip to Hawaii was wonderful. Pictures coming soon. But most excitingly, just before I left, Michelle Zindorf and I finalized plans for her to come to my house in Phoenix so she can teach her brayering workshops! I'm so excited. If you are interested, go to her website. But I can tell you within the first day of her announcement, we filled half the spaces already. I can't wait to meet all the wonderful ladies who are here in Phoenix who will be coming for this exciting endeavor!

www.zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com

Bella

What a nice three day weekend. I cleaned house a little, exercised, sat at the pool and actually crafted a little. This is a simple card for a friend. It's double embossed - first with the cuttlebug and then with irradescent embossing powder. It looks pretty neat in real life.

Cupcake Card

Playing with Hello Kitty cartridge and a Tilda stamp. This is what I came up with. I sure wouldn't mind a giant chocolate cupcake just about now.

It's a beautiful day in Phoenix after all the rain this week. Only (lol) in the high 90's. Well it could easily be over 100. Already spend some time by the pool this morning.

Something new (finally)!

3 day weekends. Aren't they just great? Not only do we get to celebrate something great like giving honor to our folks in the Armed Services, but it's finally time to sleep really late and have the time to do some crafts.

Got the computer back yesterday; thankfully our local Data Doctors got it working again and improved it's performance.

This card is a copy of a beautiful card by Donna Mundinger. She was gracious enough to share her cricut cut file. The entry with info regarding this card is here: www.donnamundinger-popsicletoes.blogspot.com/2009/05/custom-crops-design-team-1st-post-free.html. Donna's creations are beautiful because she pop-dots everything for a 3d look. I've been wanting to scraplift her items for a long time and having the cut file finally made me do it.

I'm not a happy camper

Our computer died this morning - it won't boot up. So it's at Data Doctors being fixed, hopefully. I may go into a rage if they can't save it...my husband hasn't backed up the computer in a long time - pictures, finances, cricut files, you name it, the possibility of these things maybe not being recoverable is just making me sick. This after I bought him a backup system for Christmas that he hasn't used. Even worse - the "doctors" are saying they won't even have it ready for us until next Tuesday! So have almost a week to hear the prognosis. And no computer over the holiday weekend!

Let this be a lesson to everyone: backup your stuff regularly!

Some HM and friends Cards

Work is definitely getting in the way of crafting. I'm so busy that when I get home all I do is veg out. Haven't practiced my violin either!

So today was a beautiful day - forced myself out of bed, went to lo-impact aerobics at 8am and then had the rest of the day to do some things I enjoy including sitting out in the pool, baking cookies and actually getting a couple of cards done.

The lilacs with the bear are enhanced with flowersoft. It looks great in real life - gives some good dimension.

Playing with Hello Kitty

Am I the only one who hates Sundays? I got up early at 7am (which I NEVER do) and already it's 4pm and I've basically just been hanging out. What if I had actually been busy? Would it already be 10pm? I don't know where the weekends go.

So I'm just listening to my favorite country radio station and playing around with Hello Kitty. The cuts are just so darn cute. The larger image the card cut that will be for my niece and the small one is an embellishment I promised to make for a lady at work who loves Hello Kitty.

Here's to the day slowing down a little because I still have a lot to do today including practicing my violin for the first time in 3 weeks (shhh don't tell my violin teacher - my lesson is tomorrow!), doing some work (why do they give us so much you have to work the weekends too?), and just get ready for the upcoming busy week.

ATC up close and Happy Mother's Day!

My picture in yesterday's post, while pretty, just doesn't show all the detail. So just wanted to add a new picture.

By the way, we are having beautiful weather in Phoenix, for those not used to it you'll think me crazy for saying that it so so nice when you see what the temperature is.

It's right around 100 degrees, the sky is as blue as the background paper I used for the ATC, and the pool water is up to 85 degrees. Perfect combination. I just got back from lo-impact aerobics (my first class since before my 15 year old son was born) and about to go hop into the pool. I love it here!!

I hope you are all enjoying your mother's day! Around here everyday is mother's day. My husband and 15yo son are always great. And, they have really grasped the concept that "If mom's not happy, no one is happy" lol.

My first ATC's

I've been wanting to make ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) for a long time, but as usual had no ideas. I always mix up the words crafty and complicated. After going to a stamping store today and seeing samples of a couple of techniques, I put them all together and came up with these.

First I cut up a diet coke can and cut strips from it 3" by 1". Then cut each strip into approx 1" x 1" squares. Didn't really measure because I didn't want them exactly the same.

Then the messy part - I dropped lots of drops of alcohol ink on them and smushed it together with a paper towel til I liked how they looked. Then took them to my cuttlebugged and embossed them with swirls.

Created the scalloped blue backround with accent accentials. I really like the new hide contour feature in design studio. This was a frame cut, but hid the interial contour and got a nice rectangle which I stretched a little. The black swirl is actually from stretch your imagination...this was a tall rectangle with the swirl cut in the center, so I just hid the rectangle contour and just cut the swirl. There's some navy blue ink around the edges.

So the name of this set? Swirls, curls, cans and cubes. Even the name is complicated.

Crossing my fingers I can work it out

The great Michelle Zindoff (check out her blog - I have a link on the right side of my page) will be coming to Phoenix in January to teach her brayering workshops IF I can find someplace to hold those workshops. I'm very excited - if you have seen her artwork you can understand why. I learned my brayering from her tutorials with help from my friend Debbie (taz) long distance.
I have some shop hopping to do tomorrow and thanks again to Carole Beathe I have a good idea regarding to where to go and who to talk to since I'm so new to this world of stamping.
Watch this space for more updates as the year goes on.

Fun with Hello Kitty

I got a new cartridge after I was enabled by Carole Beath and all her beautiful little creations with this one. And I got a deal - only $30 on Ebay. I had about a 1/2 hr tonight and just couldn't wait til try it. Hopefully more to come soon. I didn't think I needed it, but all the little embellies are adorable.

Been very busy with work, and my husband is FINALLY getting over his pneumonia. He's still coughing and his clothes are too big (he thinks he lost about 7 pounds, I think he lost double that). But thankfully he's back to work, and last night he says he has his best night's sleep. Now to get the cough to stop before our vacation in 24 days (who's counting, not me!!)

Pain in the Butt

This is a fun little card I made for a friend's 60th's birthday. It says "What a pain in the butt". And you see a butterfly tattoo, a thong (well I think they literally a pain in the butt), and a boo-boo. The inside says "It's another birthday".

There are other similar ones on the cricut card message board, so I can't take credit for the original idea. :)

House Mouse & Friends Challenge #35 and Sketch Saturday #49

Being able to do one card for two challenges was great again this week! Although it was quite by accident. The HM&F challenge was a Feel better soon challenge and after I put the card together, I thought this stamp definitely fit the challenge. On the inside it says "A mother is "sew" wonderful".

My husband still has pneumonia and I worked a ton of extra hours last week. I'm still exhausted! He had been getting better and then had a relapse that was worse than the first time around. He has to go to Doc tomorrow, so we'll see what he says.

The Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot blog candy!

I've been remiss getting this story on my blog - my husband has pneumonia and I've had to work 10 hour days this week! UGH! But I have to say that the Cuttlebug Challenge folks sent me a c/b embossing folder and some MS jewels just for advertising their scrapbook weekend - which is this weekend! I haven't had a chance to take a picture to post here unfortunately.

Have fun checking out new things on this National scrapbooking weekend! Click their link on the left side of my blog!