WOYWW

Hello, for rainy Northern California.  It's Workdesk Wednesday again.  Where did last week run off too?  Before I go any farther, here's what my desk looked like as I worked on a birthday card for a friend....

The die should be a hint what the card will look like.  I'll show the card on Friday after I've given it to Michael.  Not a totally exciting desk, my favorite glue is laying on it's side.  I store it this way and it seems that the needle point doesn't dry out nearly as quickly.  The die is from Cheery Lynn Designs and I love it.  The step card is easy peasy using this die...Sadly Cheery Lynn has retired this one. Boo Hoo!

For those who do not know about WOYWW, it's the brain child of Miss Julia.  She gives us all a place to air our sometimes very messy workspace.  But here's the upside, every week our desks are changing, which means that every week we are creating.  We are not just sitting still watching glue dry!  So as our desks show various stages of disarray, we proudly craft on.  Check out WOYWW.  And maybe share your work space with everyone.

Now I need your help.  Last week I saw a card I wanted to CAS, from memory I made this....

I think it's kind of close....I used scraps of white and ran the base and the pieces through embossing folders.  The snowflake is from Memory Box.  The finished card is 5x5.  Does anyone know who made the original one?  I'd like to give credit where credit is do...

Update on the above card....Di solved the mystery...the original card was made by Debby Yates.  Please check out her blog page to see the stunning card she made.  Her card is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!  Thanks Di for solving the mystery.

One more thing.  On Monday in my post I mentioned the Sharpie pens I used to color the tiny lines in the Ho Ho Ho stamp.  I said they were Sharpie Micro Tip.  Well in fact they are Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Markers - 80's Glam.  They came in a set of 24 and the purchase price was $19.99,  I bought them at Office Depot.  I checked and they are available on line also.  Want to see the colors?

I've had them for about a year and all are still working well.

That's it for now.  Happy Crafting.  Happy WOYWW....
Hugs,
Mary Mac
AKA:  Glitter Grammy

Happy Birthday Aaron

When my son Aaron was about 2 years of age, I made him a stuffed Panda.  Mind you this was almost 40 years ago.  This Panda was very loved.  It was also very dirty.  It’s ear had been chewed off, not sure whether it was a dog that did the chewing or a little boy who chewed on stuffed animals, pajama’s  and most things made of fabric.  Speeding through the years, the Panda now sat alone in the corner of Aaron’s bedroom.  Years later the Panda made it into a box in the closet and when Aaron married and moved to Australia, Panda ended up in a box in an outdoor storage shed.  Over the years, the shed leaked water, and the temperature went from cold to warm, to hot , to freezing.  Never during those lost years did my son ask about Panda. 

Speeding ahead to this year’s vacation.  What was a question Aaron asked…what happened to Panda?  I had to tell him the truth, Panda went to Panda heaven.  He was shocked….how could I have been so mean?  Well, maybe that was an exaggeration!  Anyway, he then asked if I’d really made that Panda with my two little hands.  This question arose because he thought  through the years I’d been making homemade pies….well, guess what, Sara Lee made his pies, I just baked them.  Another moment of truth!  Now he even questioned my ability to make a Panda bear!  Truth be known, I don’t sew.  I can spend hours working on a card, but to get out the sewing machine…..not fun for me.  I did however actually make that Panda with my two little hands,  during a class taught by a very talented lady.   Had I been thinking, I would have unstuffed the Panda  washed him and re-filled him.  Too late now!

This is the card I made for Aaron’s Birthday.  Lots of Panda’s.  I also sent him a little something that I hope will find a spot in his heart…..I used the Cheery Lynn  Designs B348 – Step Card #1 die.  My buddy Brenda gifted it to me from Joan’s Garden.  This die is amazing. Not only does it cut the card frame, it also cuts the patterned pieces.   Sadly, because of the cost to produce,  Cheery Lynn Designs is no longer having it manufactured.  When my die was ordered Joan had two remaining…..if you are interested.  Contact Joan at:  Joan’sGardens.  

Well, I’m going to close for now…..lots to do and with the rain, I just want to curl up with a book.  Maybe I can do that later….

Happy Crafting, have a most wonderful week,

Hugs,

Mary Mac

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

Monday Monday.....

My plan for this morning was to walk with our walking group....however, the day began with rain and wind....so, what could I do? I started reading blog pages which always inspires me....and of course it's Monday....which means Mojo Monday Challenge. I hope this fits the bill....

My daughter called yesterday to say she and Linn are engaged. She said the proposal was in the butterfly exhibit at the Chicago Zoo. That was my inspiration for the butterflies on these cards. The wedding will be in June or July of 2012....I'm excited! Linn will make a great son-in-law!

Karen - Paradise Scrapbook Boutique, temped me with the new Prima Marketing DP - the Madeline collection. Mind you, I am easily tempted! The large flower is also Prima, the two smaller are from my stash. The pick is from Little Yellow Bicycle - flower stick pins. The doily is from Cheery Lyn Designs - the French Pastry die.

The butterfly and the leaves are Martha Stewart punches, the ribbon from my stash...which of course was purchased at PSB....Karen has the best ribbon! And the very best prices on the ribbon. The pearls are from Want 2 Scrap.

When I started I'd planned on making two identical cards, but as I was beginning to put glue on the back of the music sheet, I realized those flowers were too pretty to cover and the birthday card was born.....

Sometimes when I have a vision of a finished card, it just doesn't turn out the way I plan, these two cards are exactly as I saw them.

Ok....it's not raining.....should I call the girls? Or........should I head back into my studio to play? I'm sure we can walk later..... :-)

Tomorrow it's Operation Write Home Day....I hope to see everyone then.

Take care....Hugs,

Mary

AKA Glitter Grammy