Tuesday, January 27, 2009

SCS Weekly Inklings Gable Box

Help, I can't sleep! I thought I'd get up and do something, this seems like the quietest thing I could do right now...

I wanted to share the gable boxes I made the other day using the tutorial from Splitcoaststampers Weekly Inkling.

Another one of those fun, quick and easy projects. I used the Stampin' Around Whimsey Jumbo Wheel to decorate the Stampin' Up! Pale Plum cardstock, scored and cut the cardstock and folded it up. I also used a new Verve Visual set I got in a bundle recently, the X's and O's are from Custer's Last Stamp. The rectangles are Spellbinders Nestabilities and the die cut hearts are a retired Sizzix die that has 4 hearts on it.
I thought it would be fun to make the gable box again, this paper is called Love Notes by Making Memories. Again the Sizzix heart die and the stamp is from Hero Arts.
I'm pretty sure one of the reasons I can't sleep tonight is I'm excited about my kitchen cabinets being finished. The new contractor I hired to finish my kitchen cabinets was over today to get an old cabinet door so he could match the stain. Everything is ready to go, the doors just need to be stained and sealed. Yea!! I'm almost afraid to be excited...
While he was here I had him take more measurements so he could build some of the roll outs that we'd overlooked. He asked if it would be okay with me to extend our deadline to Feburary 6th so he could have everything finished and only make one trip back to my house for installation. I'm good with that. The waiting for this job to be finished has been agony, I'm so glad my kitchen will be complete soon.
Have a great day!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Ever Had One Of Those Days?

What to share with you today... I hope you're not offended but I couldn't resist buying this stamp by Whipper Snapper Designs. I realize I can use or not use the sentiment in the stamp, but sometimes I'd really like to... It's been one of those weeks again I'm afraid. I'm still doing battle over the kitchen cabinets. The lawsuit has been filed, the summons served, the answer received and filed, today I went over to the court office and filed a motion to go to trial. Over kitchen cabinets... I've spent my day doing paper work for when the big day comes and we go before a judge and let her decide if I get any money back on an 8 month old, half done job. I feel prepared and at peace with the choices I've made. I'm taking care of this in a healthy grown up manner. Now I have to wait about 6 weeks before I hear from the court, they'll send a letter with the court date next.

I've been taking kids to doctor's and dentist appointments this week along with stamping. I have some other cute projects to share with you too, but in another post!

Supply List: Stamps - Whipper Snapper Designs, Paper - SU Basic Gray, Basic Black, SU Blush Blossom, Mohawk Satin White, Ink - Versa Fine Onyx Black & Copic markers.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Mojo Monday 70 & TLC 203

I have a few minutes before the kids will be out of school and walking in the door, I had to share my Mojo Monday project that turned into two projects!

I used this weeks sketch from Julee's Mojo Monday blog and had fun with it, then before I went to bed last night I was blog and SCS browsing and saw a Technique Lover's Challenge for a Origami box that I just had to try! The papers I used for these projects a friend brought to me last year, they're called Be Mine and I think they came from the local Dollar Store. The cardstock is Via Vellum Red, it's a bit more orange than Stampin' Up! Real Red. The Love stamp comes from My Sentiments Exactly! One of those I've had a hard time figuring out what to do with, I think I got it this time.
I used Spellbinders Nestabilities dies, long and long scalloped rectangle, Circles, the red Sizzix die with 4 Hearts and a little stitched ribbon from Clear Dollar Stamps.
Gotta go! I discovered another TLC that I have to try now... if the kids will let me. =) Have a wonderful day!

Monday, January 19, 2009

SC211

I thought I'd try Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge 211 one more time with the digital paper I downloaded from Sugarplum Paperie. I also used Spellbinders dies, long rectangles, long scalloped rectangles, and Flower Creations 2. The stamp is made by Paper Inspirations.
I consider myself pattern paper challenged. I like to buy it but then I'm not sure what to do with it once I get it home so this was a fun project for me.

Have a great day!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

More Whipper Snapper Designs and a remake

My first card today is another cute image from Whipper Snapper Designs, the "We make a great pair" is a separate saying by them also.

I used Copic markers to color the images, Spellbinders Nestabilities regular and scalloped rectangles, a hoarded scrap of designer paper called Suits by Masterpiece Studios, Basic Black, Mohawk Satin White, Re entry Red card stock and 3 small eyelets. Simple and quick! My next card is a remake of the one from yesterday, it didn't seem finished to me. Like... maybe it needed more layers. Kelly left a comment and suggested something in that right top corner to give it balance.
I also changed the Pretty In Pink panel to a strip of designer paper and like it. You MUST go check out the designer paper I found! It's digital and they have lots of yummie packages to choose from over at Sugarplum Paperie. I LOVE being able to print my own paper and not have to store it! It's very hard to see in my photo but I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder with hearts on the brown panel of cardstock.

My last card today is the remake with a Sizzix heart to give the sketch balance.
Do you ever come across an image or sketch that you can't stop playing with? Me too... I have one more card using this snowman with the same sketch that is a different color scheme, I was thinking Christmas next year possibly.
Enjoy your day!


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Earmuff Snowman by Whipper Snapper Designs

I was able to complete Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge today! I've been trying to come up with Valentine cards the last few days and I don't feel like I'm getting very far.

I had this cute snowman by Whipper Snapper already colored so I used it for my image and built around it using SC211.

Since this little gal (?) is holding a heart I thought she might make a cute Valentine. I live in Arizona, we don't get snow here very often so I'm not sure if a snowman is appropriate for a Valentine but she was cute and fun to color. Supply List: SU Rose Red, SU Pretty In Pink, SU Creamy Carmel and Mohawk Satin White. Ink - Versafine Onyx Black, Palette Burnt Umber. Stamps - Whipper Snapper Designs Earmuff Snowman, SU Aida Cloth, HeroArts Happy Valentine's Day. Accessories - Sizzix LG Red 4 Hearts die, Nestabilities regular and scalloped rectangles, Cuttlebug embossing folder & Copic markers.
I made this card last week and don't feel like it's finished. It must need more layers! This is also a sketch challenge from awhile back WSC60 from Beate's blog. I think I'd like to try it again with patterned paper in place of the Pretty In Pink panel.
Supply List: Stamps - Whipper Snapper Earmuff Snowman, Happy Valentine's Day, Custer's Last Stamp. Paper - SU Creamy Carmel, Nut Brown, SU Rose Red, SU Pretty In Pink & Mohawk Satin White. Ink - Versafine Onyx Black. Accessories - Cuttlebug embossing folder, Nestabilities regular and scalloped rectangle dies & Copic markers.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Andre Allegator by Whipper Snapper Designs

I've discovered Whippper Snapper Designs recently. Isn't this allegator the cutest? He looks a little love sick to me so I put some hearts above him in case I wanted to use this card as a Valentine.

I used Copic markers for coloring - G82, G24, G40, E34, E30, R29 and my blender pen. I'd like to have gotten some lighter shadow areas but I'll just keep practicing! I kept my card design very simple because Andre is a large image and takes up most of my A6 size card. I thought this Cuttlebug embossing folder might be similar to the texture of his skin in real life. My cardstock colors are Tan, Old Olive, Basic Black, Mohawk Satin White and I used a strip of Black Velvet Ric Rak I got from Clear Dollar Stamps to separate the cardstock colors.

I hope you have a really good day!

Friday, January 9, 2009

The cabinet saga goes on...

Good morning! Sorry I've been missing again, there's lots of drama going on here with my kitchen a.k.a. craft room renovation.
Do you mind if I tell my story and maybe vent a little bit? I'll tell you more about my card under the picture so if you'd like to skip to that part now's the time.
Way back in March of last year I had a water pipe break under my kitchen floor. So many things were happening at once then, my Dad was living with me so I could care for him because he had prostrate cancer. Four days before he died I came out to the kitchen and discovered two inches of water all over the floor. We needed a plumber a.s.a.p. and ended up with a hole in my kitchen floor big enough to put a body in (sorry). I had that hole in the concrete of the kitchen floor for about a month as the plumbers rerouted the water pipes. Friends would drop by and I'd have to tell them to be careful not to fall in. One Sunday afternoon I started doing laundry and water shot out of my kitchen wall... It seemed like the grieving process wasn't enough, I had all this going on too.
As things settled a little and I filed the homeowners insurance claim it seemed like life would get back to the everyday ordinary stuff and I was relieved. The homeowners insurance covered a lot of the damage that the broken pipe had caused. My existing bottom kitchen cabinets were really water logged and I was pleased to discover I could get new ones.
I started looking for a company that could replace my bottom cabinets and match what I already had for the top cabinets. I had a few contractors come out and look and measure, they wanted to sell me everything new and basically didn't listen to what I wanted.
I found a contractor that used to work for the company that had built my existing cabinets and he said he could build the new parts to match. So I hired him with his promise to have my new cabinets installed by the end of May 2008.
You guessed it. I still don't have completed cabinets in my kitchen today, January 2009. It's been a nightmare getting this job done. I live 45 minutes away from the contractor's business so I can't stop by when I'm in the neighborhood because I'm not in the neighborhood very often. I've been on the phone a lot the last 8 months, I've gotten a lot of conflicting stories and not a lot of work done. I've even involved The Registrar of Contractors and filed a claim with them and asked for a citation against his contractors liscense. We will end up in Yuma, Arizona for a hearing at some point. Yuma is 2 hours away from me, but it's also 2 hours and 45 minutes away from my contractor when that day comes.
On December 30, 2008 I filed a lawsuit in civil court against this contractor. I paid a process server to drive the 45 minutes to serve the papers. I'm very pleased with him, he served the papers on New Year's Day.
I got a phone call Tuesday from the contractor's wife (they run the business together). I informed her that I'd hired a new contractor to finish the job in my kitchen. She asked what they could do that would make me happy. So I gave her a list of things that need to be finished and I'd call it even. I forgot to mention that I gave them half of the money for the job as a deposit.
In October of 2008 they did install the shell of my cabinets. No doors or drawer fronts, no roll outs, no lazy susan, a couple of shelves, etc. so I don't feel like I have half of the job done. It's more of a facade that you can't move into.
We talked it all over and she needed to talk to her husband and would call me back later in the day.
Her husband, my contractor called back later in the day and told me my job was finished and that his wife had told him that I'd hired another contractor. He next told me that he didn't have the doors or drawer fronts for my cabinets yet. He wanted to work things out with me and if I'd like to work this out I'd have to back out of my deal with the new contractor or he'd see me in court. I told him that was fine, I'd see him in court and got off the phone.
I'd pretty much closed the deal in my mind that day. New contractor finishes cabinets, proceed in court case with old contractor and try to get back part of my money. End of story, get on with my life.
Yesterday I got a phone call from the new contractor I hired to finish the job. He was in Lake Havasu at a business that's next to my former contractor's business. My former contractor comes into where the new guy is and confronts him about his job with me. Mind you, I did not tell the former contractor who I'd hired to finish the job. The former contractor threw out threats to take the new guy to court. DRAMA! The new contractor did find out some valuable information though. As I suspected the former contractor can't afford to finish the job, they've already spent my money.
So, that's where I've been the last several days. I haven't felt like I've had much to say that was positive.
Thank you for listening, I'm done.
I made this card for my boyfriend to send one of his customers. Rick works for a local pest control company and is fondly known as "the bug man".
I used Lee Bee by Alota Rubberstamps, along with a thank you from Verve Visual and the Montana Tree Bark background stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms, a little velvet rick rack ribbon from Clear Dollar Stamps and 3 eyelets.
The card stock is basic black, SU YoYo Yellow, White and Kraft, for the other cards I switched to Creamy Carmel because it matched my ink better on the sign.
I've been playing with some cute images from Whipper Snapper this morning, I need to make a card out of what I've colored now.
I hope you have a wonderful day! Please say a prayer for mine~

Friday, January 2, 2009

Alota Thank You's

I'm working on some thank you cards today for my boyfriend Rick. He works for a local pest control company, in his travels working he received several Christmas gifts. He mentioned that he needed some thank you cards for his customers and I couldn't resist using some of Alota Rubber Stamps bugs to make the cards from "the bug man". I think this one is a bit feminine for him but it's the first one completed.
You might be able to tell I used my new Copic ABS1 on the pink panel. I splattered Black 100 and Garnet R39 on the cardstock. It was too naked just pink for me.
I used Copic markers to color the images and lightly painted the flower centers with Stickles Ice. This is also my first attempt at Splitcoaststampers SC208.
The kids will be getting home from Grandma & Grandpa's soon so I need to get back to finishing up those other thank you cards!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!

I'm excited to be starting a new year blogging, just a new day is good too! I've been trying to tie up the loose ends from my stamping around here. I have images stamped and some colored and set aside because I needed to finish something else first. I had a couple of these snowmen from Rubberhedgehog colored and Splitcoaststampers had the perfect sketch yesterday to use them on. I love it when that happens! I colored the snowman with Copic markers, the sentiment below him is from the Close To My Heart set Wonderful Holiday. I used my Nesties dies, scalloped and regular rectangles. The Cuttlebugged panel is inked with SU Going Gray classic ink. I was going for the same color/look as the snowman's jacket and I got dirty snow... I think I sold my Encore metalic silver ink in my yard sale, oh well? A scrap of May Arts ribbon and my card was finished. The cardstock colors are SU Real Red, Mohawk Satin White, Basic Black and the Gray is a sample from Kelly Paper in Phoenix when I was there last. I so wish I'd bought a ream of it then!
I've also been playing with my new Spellbinders Wizard machine. I was blog browsing and Andrea Walford has some really cute Christmas tag ideas I had to try. Most of my images were already stamped so I colored them and made tags for next year and who knows maybe a Christmas in July class for 2009.

Supplies: Stamps - CTMH Wonderful Holiday, Papertrey Boxes, Bags & Tags, Papertrey Circles, Rubberhedgehog snowman
Paper - SU Wintergreen designer paper, SU Wrapping paper 2007, SU Dashing designer paper, Neenah Haviland Blue, Mohawk Satin White, SU Certainly Celery, SU Bayou Blue, SU Real Red, Carnival Red, Astrobrights Red
Accessories - Spellbinders dies, SU ribbons.
I've been working on my New Year's resolution the last couple of days. My resolution is to get my kitchen cabinets finished. I haven't talked about it here because there hasn't been anything happening other than a few phone calls, nothing and then more nothing.
I've been working on hiring local company to finish the job. So far we have a proposal and a completion date in writing. It's been 8 long months since I hired The Carpenter's House in Lake Havasu City to replace my water damaged kitchen cabinets. Do I dare get excited?