The Devil Won

Now isn't that a title....here's the story.  I've been fighting the urge to purchase the Spectrum Noir pens.  The little devil on my shoulder thinks I REALLY, REALLY need them and the Angel says, Use the pens you have, you know you love them.....(which by the way I love my Tombow pens), however......This is what I made with my Spectrum Noir pens...

The devil won by convincing me that I needed them, more than wanted them and I did have that coupon in my purse.  So, I purchased several sets of 6 only to find out that there were 4 more sets of 24 that I NEEDED too.  Merry Christmas to me, and Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, etc.....

I love to color, I have since I was a child.  I must say,  the devil really didn't have a lot of work to do to talk me into this purchase.  I do hope I spend many hours this winter coloring. 

I do like how vibrant the colors are, there is, for me at least, going to be a learning curve.  I'm used to blending and shading water colors and this is a bit different, but fun.  The rubber stamp is All Night Media and it's an oldie from 1996,  it's name:  Stained Glass Poinsettia #602J.  I'm thinking about doing this again, stamping in gold and heat embossing.  If this becomes more than a thought, I'll share a photo. 

I'm going to head on over to the playground and see if Di is working on the tree house and have a round or two of dodge ball with the others.  It is Sunday, so I shall be very careful not to ruin my Sunday best!  If you have no idea of what I speak, check out Di's Crafty Workshop.  I'm hoping that many more friends come to play.  There's a new tree house being built, the playground is full of silly "children" and a  two lovely chickens.  This week a new "kid" came to play, check out her blog and see what she brought to share.  Welcome Kate. 

I have to tell a short story about a missing stamp.  I spent hours ( and I mean many hours) over the past week fretting while looking for it, and during this process, I did manage to clean up a few areas that were in serious need.  After going through the trash bin, and not locating the stamp and nearly giving up, I went to the stamp drawer to pull out a stamp to color....guess what I found.  You're right, the missing stamp.  Who knew I'd find it in the proper place.  Geez!  Does this tell you I don't often put my toys away!  I'm glad it's returned to the fold! 

Off to play I go.  Busy week ahead.....Saturday is Karen's big anniversary crop and I need to get things ready to play.....With a little luck I may actually finish a project there.  I must admit there will be many wonderful distractions, friends I've not seen in awhile, lots of new items for sale....food and lots of laughing.  Probably more laughing than crafting.  If you want to see her shop, check it out here.  Lots of beautiful items that's for sure. 

I guess this will be the last post in September....where does the time go?  It's just flying by!  I'm hoping to post the photos for my October class...Maybe tomorrow...

Have a crafty week, hugs from me to you...
Mary
AKA: Glitter Grammy

 

Oops... and here is my workdesk...really!

I was trying to plan ahead and if you receive my posts via email, you will realize all my plans didn't go quite right.  Sooooo to actually do what I intended....here's my card: 

I was reading blogs on Tuesday and saw a post from Heidi of Embellished Dreams.  I thought I'd give it a try.  Hey, I'm using ink, glue and glitter.  What could be better.  Check out Heidi's post here.  Heidi used colored glitter, I stamped in color, used my Glue Baste It Glue and transparent glitter.  I wish glitter showed up better in photos, this card is really sparkly and after playing in the glitter, so am I!  This card was super easy to make, however keep in mind, you'll be doing a lot of stamp cleaning if you want to make several.  I will be using this technique at least for sentiments.  The glitter is very delicate looking...I like it, yes I do. 

So, now for my desk, or in this case my counter. 

This close-up isn't showing too much, but I have to tell you, I was getting ready to post this photo and I noticed that laying next to the border punch on the left side of the desk was a list of my passwords.  Though I'd love to share them, I think it best if I don't!  Silly me, so....you don't get to see much of the mess today.  Check out Julia's blog to see what everyone's been up to.  I always get a giggle or three when I bounce from one to another.  I wish I had time to post something on everyone's blog, but know I look at many more than I comment on. 

My cousin Diane has surprised me yet again.  On Monday I received a most treasured gift.  For those who are new to my blog, my mom passed away when I was days old.  My dad was not able to care for my brother and I (alcohol addiction) and we went to live with a foster family, which I will be forever grateful.  Long story short, Diane sent me a letter my mom wrote to her sister.  Other than a signature on a marriage license, this is the first hand written anything I've seen that belonged to my mom.  If anyone is interested, email me and I'll share the letter with you.  It's too lengthy to post here.  Thankfully the envelope was also enclosed...I will share this.  The date on the cancellation is:  July 24, 1936.  This letter is 76 years old.  It was written to my mom (Rea) sister Effie.  It was a sweet account of what was going on in her then single life, in a small town in Wisconsin.  So very precious.  The day my mom wrote this letter, she would not have known that 10 years later, she would have married,  adoped a son, gave birth to a daughter (me) and her life would be finished.  Sad, yet her life goes on through me and my kids and grandkids...I sent the letter to my kids and my youngest son commented, this could have been a letter written in 2012, and said how great that nothing changed in a young girl's life between then and now.  Well, today it would have been an email.  Here's the envelope:

A good reason to send a few snail mail letters...and cards!

Well, lets see, this is definately a snippet card (It wouldn't have been if I hadn't screwed up the first half of the base :-0  so, I'll be checking in with Di and bounce through the playground holding this card high.

And then....there is Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  I wish the glitter would show up better, cause this is a very sparkly card.  This is my new Santa stamp and the sentiment...I'm really loving it.  Check out all the Christmas Ideas here. 

I had to laugh, I've been reading the Stamping For Pleasure blog and I want to enter my card.  I think I have way too much glitter on my glasses.  I didn't think I could enter because I thought maybe Santa was back inked. I read the rules at least 10 times.   I almost asked Sarn what backinking was...Ok, so it's back linking.  Pardon my old tired eyes.  I think I may need a seeing eye chicken to help me in my advancing years!  You know, I think I may have been confused by this once before.  Maybe I need more than a seeing eye chicken.  Geez!  So, Sarn, here's my entry and I'm soo glad I figured it out.  Check out Sarn's blog here. 

I think my little card might just need to be linked at Love to Create Challenge Blog - Anything goes this week.  I'm glad to have found this blog....I need to thank Karen for introducing me.

That's all from me, at least for now.  I'll be posting my October class later this week.  Please note, this will be a class from scratch, so bring your supplies and your creativity, because you'll be doing it all! 

Hugs to all, Happy Crafting and See you soon!
Mary
AKA:  Glitter Grammy



 

Where Does Inspiration Come From?

I'm often asked where I get my ideas?  It might be easier to ask where don't I get them.  I look at many blogs, I read magazines, I look at catalogs.  I visit stores and look at supplies, and I go to crops and see what others are doing, and then, I make it my own.  I've been trying to think of a card for Operation Write Home, one that can be used in more than one way and one that can use snippets that I have laying around.   What you see is what I came up with.  The outside uses Graphic 45 Romantique paper that I've had for quite some time.  I think I must have been planning to use it in a class because I have several sheets and I must also have made something with it, because I have several snippets.  I have enough to make 14 of these cards( 3 per full sheet).   I was gifted a beautiful doily die for my birthday (thank you Brenda), it's Cheery Lynn Designs Nautical Wheeler.  I think the stamp is Stampin Up, it's no longer on the wood piece, so I'm just not sure.  The ribbon was purchased at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. 

For the inside I used a Spellbinder Label #8 and a piece left over from the front of the card (the reverse side).  And I used a Martha Stewart punch for the edge.  Everything was either sponged or swiped with Tim Holtz Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.  I wanted a pretty card to send to Operation Write Home, and one that would be flat so the postage wouldn't be so much.  I like it, I hope it will be one that creates a memory for a soldier's family and friends. 

Now do you want to see the card that inspired me?  I'm sure I'll be asked how I came up with my card from looking at Jackie's card....I'm not sure.  I just know I've been looking at her card for a few weeks and today when I looked at it....I saw my card being born....Thank you Jackie for inspiring me:

I guess you could say, it doesn't matter where inspiration comes from, what is important is where it goes...and this inspiration will be going on to Operation Write Home.  For more information on starting a group in your area, check out the link above.  I hope to see some of you at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique on September 15th.  If you can't make it and you have cards you want to share, drop them off any time during September.  Check with Karen for rules.

I think I'll head on over to Pixie's Crafty Workshop to post my snippet card and to have a look at what others are up to....Until later, and I think it will be awhile before I post again.  I'm going to San Francisco and won't be posting until after I get back. 

Don't forget to enter my Blog-aversary drawing.....you might just win a really nice gift box/bag... check out previous posts for more information.

Until later....

Hugs to all, happy crafting and I hope to bump into you in cyberspace....
Mary AKA: Glitter Grammy

Celebrating Wednesday on Sunday and Sunday on Sunday

Does that make sense?  Ok, On Wednesday I took a photo of my desk, I kissed my honey good bye, he's on a trip to So Cal.  Then I waited for the girls to come to play.  An play we did We played on Wednesday, I worked on the mats on Thursday and did all the wild animal feeding and watering on Thursday...then on Friday Virginia and Cathy and I played again.  Today I'm playing blog catch up and tomorrow, guess what....the girls are coming to play again....I guess when the cat's away, the little mice will play....so, here's what I did this morning: 

I love the Graphic 45 papers, Karen got them in and I think the little goblins started purchasing them immediately...I know this goblin did!  I used a portion of this paper, (which if filled with lots of pieces and parts) to make another project....I was using the back side, which is a starry sky and almost cut this little girl...oops!)  The leaves are Jolee Epoxy stickers that I've had forever...ok, maybe only half of forever!

The inside is more pieces and parts and more epoxy leaves.  I cut the word boo using my BossKut Gazelle.  I think the girls on Di's playground will enjoy this card.  After all, I think everyone is beginning to feel a bit of fall in the air and turning their minds toward Halloween....Check out Pixie's Crafty Workshop if you haven't already!  Shhh....you'll have to wait until tomorrow to check out the playground post for this week...seems I just might get caught trying to slip under the fence.  Is that Mrs. A and Sarn hiding behind that tree?  (ok, for those who haven't been to the playground, you might just think I've lost my mind....Play along and you'll see I haven't!) 

So, now on to the photo from Wednesday...My intentions were so very honorable on Wednesday, I was kissing my honey goodbye and heading to the computer to post on What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday....I was distracted by a shiny object and all of a sudden, it was Sunday,  I apologize to Julia for being so late....This is what my desk looked like on Wednesday morning....

Not too impressive is it....well, here's the counter:

I'm rushing to cut this bat and pumpkins before the girls arrive.  The Design is one I downloaded from Little Scraps of Heaven.  When I assemble him, I'll post the finished bat, but don't hold your breath, I've got lots of projects going right now....

Here's what we'll be cutting today.  Virginia has plans for all these pieces and Kathy and I are part of the prep and cut team....This layout is from Scrapping Bug Designs, which is another on-line source. 

And now, a sneak peek at what's in the bag.  Everything has been purchased, I'm telling you there is at least $60.00 worth of product....There's still time to enter, and some of the girls have entered every day.....The closing for entries is September 1lth, with the drawing on September 12th.  So watch for your name to be drawn.  Check out past posts to see the rules.....Good luck everyone!  I should call this my 3rd Year Guilt Ridden Blog-aversary....I had intentions of giving a gift each year, but then...guess what, it didn't happen, so, I'm combining 3 years into one fantastic give-away.  Most of the items are from Paradise Scrapbook Boutique, my hometown favorite (actually it's in Chico now, but only a short drive away!)  Karen kept the same name, because after all, it's Paradise to shop there!  I love shopping there and when the winner receives the package, she'll (or he'll)  know why!

Sorry...the photo isn't so good, but I think you'll get the idea....

Off to play, my honey comes home tomorrow and I need to get all my playing done so I can clean up my mess, throw a bit of flour on my face and pretend that I've been slaving in the house for days!

Wishing everyone a most creative week!
{{{{Hugs}}}}
Mary AKA:  Glitter Grammy