I Am Thankful For You and Spectrum Noir Challenge

A quick post wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I am so very thankful for you.  This little Beatrix Potter Rubber stamp reminded me of how thankful I am to have my group of buddies.  We laugh together, cry together, support one another and create together.  You all make my life so much fun! 

I used my Spectrum Noir pens to color this sweet image.  I'm happy with how it turned out.  So happy in fact, I'm going to enter it to the Spectrum Noir Challenge. Check out what the others are doing here 

And these are the colors I used:

Off I go for now, Happy Thanksgiving!
Hugs
Mary

Hugs,
Mary

What's On My Workdesk? I guess you'll have to check it out!

Well let's see.  There is a soda, and an Ipad with a blog page I'm looking at, and water, a tiny wood stove (electric, no mess) and Graphic 45 A Place In Time Cardstock.  I've been working in the family room, so that my honey and I can share time together while he watches whatever it is that boys watch (sports, music videos, re-runs that we've seen a zillion times before).  Of course right now, he's outside between rain storms blowing off the deck and driveway.  Pine trees have a way of making a mess and my dogs have a way of dragging it inside.  So, what am I working on?  Hop on over to Ms Julia's fantastic blog and see what she's been up too.  Then skip on through the list of all the fabulous desks and be inspired by Julia and the followers.  Check It Out Here

Richard made me a shadow box that has 12 - 4x4 partitions.  I've had it for quite awhile trying to be inspired by a paper line or bits and pieces of papers I have left over.  Like a little squirrel, I've been grabbing seasonal elements to put inside each area.  Well, long story short (sort of short),  Graphic 45 came out with a line called:  A Place In Time and I am now inspired to at least start, and hopefully finish my shadow box.  Without further ado.  Here is.....January

and here is....December

I have to tell you, when my 4 angels were little, we made the Christmas tree.  It hung on our tree for years probably about 30.  Every year a bit or two gets lost.  Well, it will now live in the shadow box and hopefully one of the kids will want the box when I go on to the scrapbook store in the sky! Below is the shadow box.  I think my honey did a fantastic job making it. 

I guess I should get back to it.  I am going to do  October and November next.  Why you ask?  The  horizontal partitions come out.  The bottom has to be built in place.  It's easier for me to get my chubby fingers inside with the shelf above removed....and now you know the rest of the story.   I used the 12x12 sheets to make the cut-outs.  Some pieces are layered...so more than one sheet was needed.  I'll have snippets coming out my ears,,,,they'll make cards for every month.  Not a bad deal is it? 

Wishing everyone a most Happy Thanksgiving.  No matter where you live, we all have something to be thankful for.  I am thankful for each and every one of you! 

Hugs to all,
Mary AKA:  Glitter Grammy

I Love Coloring and Using Bits and Pieces

I must say I am LOVING the alcohol inks.  I think what I love most is the ability to use for both rubber mounted stamps and digi stamps.  Something I couldn't do with my water markers.  I don't want them feeling bad, as I truly love my Tombow markers and they will always be an important part of my craft room.  They now share their space with my Spectrum Noir pens Check the link out for a great video showing how to color..  I'm certainly not yet the colorist I want to be, but I'm learning.... The rubber stamp I used is from Northwoods Rubber Stamps.This company is new to me, however, they've been around for quite some time.  They are worth a look as they have beautiful stamps.  I colored using the colors below: 

I've decided that I'm going to list my colors with the image in a book.  This will make it easier to remember what I've done and I won't have to think each time. 

I cut the image and glued it to a scrap of black that I'd die cut using the Spellbinder scallop die and then taped it to a card base that I dug out of the scrap bin.  I guess I must have used the embossing folder some time ago and it wasn't what I wanted....ah...love using what I save.  With that in mind, I'm going to post it to Di's,  Pixie's Crafty Workshop.  If the weather at the Playground is anything like we're having here, no one will be playing outside today.  We are getting much needed rain!

Happy crafting, see you all soon.

Hugs to all,
Mary
AKA:  Glitter Grammy



 

WOYWW-180 and Pixie's Crafty Workshop

Where in heavens name has this year gone.  November is nearly 1/2 over....I don't even want to think how many days to Christmas....Deep breath taken here.... >3 Exhale!  Ok, so here's what my work desk looks like....

Not so impressive....I'm packed for my Wednesday Class at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique, so this desk looks pretty neat, but what about this one....

Well ya can't always be neat and tidy....Honest I know where everything is.  Well, everything but the die I lost a few weeks back...hmmmmm.  So, As Julia said, I showed you mine, now it's your turn.  Come on, it's freeing, or something like that!  Be sure to link to Julia's blog after you've posted your little creative corner of the world.  Link here.

So beside packing for tomorrow, what else have I done this week.  My friend Carolyn recieved a card from her friend Lori.  They've met through the internet and live 1000 plus miles apart.  Isn't the internet WONDERFUL!  ok, back to it, Lori created a BEAUTIFUL card and after seeing it, several of us wanted to "borrow" her layout...well, borrow is such a nice word, we stole it.  Remember Lori, imitation is the highest form of flattery...right?  Well, here's Lori's card.....Beautiful isn't it?

Thank you for inspiring me.  Lori, if you read this, please comment so everyone will know how you made this.

I was making cards with friends.  This is the first card I made using Lori's layout and some snippets I had in my carry box. 

I like it...oh yes I do!  When I returned home from a day with the girls, my honey told me the neighbor's mom had passed away.  Though I didn't know her, I know she must have been a wonderful woman, as her girls are great ladies.  I used Lori's layout to create a sympathy card.  It was quick to make and today I needed quick but also special.  Here's what I made...

Before leaving to go shopping, I wanted to make a card to show in tomorrow's class.  This card is made using the same pieces I used in the celebration card for my November class, I just moved the pieces around a bit and added two extra  small scraps.  I'm trying to get the group into thinking about how many things can be made the same but different!  Does that make sense?  Does to me.  So, here's what I made...

I've been digging through my snippet box and coming up with all sorts of pieces I'd forgotten I had, some pretty new and some like the one above pretty old, or at least I don't remember buying it.  If you've been here before you know how I love to skip into the playground and skip through the day with all the fantastic ladies there.  Grab your scissors (No running!) , snippets and glue and head on over with me.  Everybody, meet Di.

Sunday was coloring day with Brenda.  I purchased a digi stamp from Saturated Canary.  I think her name is Nutcracker Girl.  So, here she is and this is what I used....

Still learning, but loving the Spectrum Noir pens....I'm not sure what I'm going to put her on, but I'm sure I'll think of something.  Coloring sure brings out the kid in me.  A joy from childhood.  Coloring and playing with paper dolls were my two very favorite past times.  What was yours? 

Ok...bored yet?  I want to show one more thing.  Finally Fall colors are beginning to show themselves.  I was beginning to think they weren't coming this year.  This isn't a tree in my neighborhood, but it was too pretty not to photograph....

 

 

I love Fall....not so much Winter!  So, I shall enjoy it while I can!  On that note, I think I shall check out what the Julia and Di's  gals are doing....Until next time...Hugs to all, Enjoy today and have a creative tomorrow.

 

Hugs,

Mary Mac



 

A QuIck Answer - This Is What I Use

I'm getting many emails about my use of liquid glue.  Most saying they've tried glue and it's messy.  I must say, I agreed with you until Karen introduced me to Glue - Baste It.  It's not actually made for paper but it sure works on paper.  I use it on 98% of my cards and I love it.  The small bottle comes with a needle type dispenser for getting out tiny amounts at a time.  It's a glue that quilters use for temporary basting.  It's washable and washes out of fabric.  Now that might frighten those of you who wash your paper projects, but trust me, it holds well when not washed and is super cost effective.  Another upside....if you get it on you or your cloths (which is usually where I wipe my hands..shame on me!) it washes right out.  I've been using this glue for years and I've never been disappointed.  To clean the needle, I soak it in hot water and use a floss threader with floss attached to run through the needle.  The little bottle you see in the photo has been used for over 3 years.  I just keep refilling it.  The large bottle refills the small one a bit over 3 times.  If you look at my previous post(s) all the cards were made using this glue. 

And now you know the rest of the story!  Off to play I go. 
Hugs to all,
Mary

What's On Your Workdesk 179 and I did it!

Well, here it is.  I'm a day (or 2 late), but I'm here.  I was putting together a card this morning and I had to giggle while applying the glue.  Most of the gals that I crop with use this "punch glue" and at any time during a class or a crop you can here the tapping of the glue applicator against the paper.  I noticed one week, that we all have our little pattern that we like to use.  Mine is dots, some use swirls, and wiggles, but I noticed that we each do the same thing over and over.  So, if you use glue, are you a creature of habit?  So this is the desk and that's my pattern!  Check out Julia's blog here.  And while you're at it....share what your work space looks like.  We'd love to see what you've been up to. 

This is what I've glued:

I recently discovered Northwoods Rubber Stamps.  If you haven't seen them, they are WONERFUL!  I colored this one with Spectrum Noir pens, which by the way I've been working on becoming accredited and guess what....I now am!  Thanks to Jennie and her gentle criticizm and some wonderful videos.  So this is the first one I've done alone and though far from perfect, it's better than a few weeks back.  It's a snippet card and I've used lots of pieces and parts that I had laying around.  So, I'm going to post this on Di's blog, Pixie's Crafty Workshop.  If you've not played with all of us, now's a great time to start.  A great way to use pieces and parts.  So check it out Di's blog here.   

I guess I should close for now.  We're going to a new restaurant that opened a few weeks back.  I don't think sweatsuit is proper atire.  I'd best get ready....

Fun days ahead, field trip tomorrow, play day on Sunday and Monday....I probably should do some housework at some time.  (or not!)

I want to thank everyone who follows me on this journey of joy....please know I do visit your blog pages, though I don't always leave comments.  I love seeing what everyone is doing.  I find it difficult to leave comments when I'm on my Ipad, sitting in a chair with my dog and Baxter gets down right grumpy if I move him over so I can type.  But I do enjoy reading about everything you've been up to!

Have a most wonerful week,
Mary

Exploding Birthday Card

Sarn shared her snippet card, an exploding card.  I was in need of a birthday card for a man, and thought....hey, this would be perfect.  So....Thank you Sarn for the inspiration.  If you want to learn how, check out Sarn's blog page HERE  There's a great tutorial...check it out!

The inside didn't photograph well, but I think you'll get the idea!  Yikes it looks like a crumpled up tissue (ahhhh chew)  ...How'd Sarn get such a nice photo? 

It's late and I'm off to bed...busy day of play tomorrow.  Since this is 100% snippet made, I'll be linking it to Pixie's Crafty Workshop....check out the others who are busy, busy, busy, cutting and pasting. 
This is a short and sweet post....aren't you all glad? 

Hugs to all,
Mary