October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month…Have you gone pink yet?

Hi All,

Hard to believe another October is here and almost gone already.   The Supreme Court is back in session (time to watch that grand old movie “First Monday in October” again),  Halloween is looming and we’ve been celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness month all month long!   Not that Breast Cancer isn’t something to be thinking about every month right ladies?   Ah,ah,ah…you guys too should be concerned, for yourselves and for the women in your life.   Monthly breast exams are no longer just a female thing!

Stampin’ Up!  with their wide array of colors, embellishments and stamps that all work “Pink” give you unlimited possibilities to share your support for Breast Cancer Awareness and those affected by the disease in your life.

If you would like a flyer of the following grid and information click for my SCRIBD files here (PDF) or here (Word version)- or this will get you the PDF here  Pink Grid Flyer.  Fellow Demonstrators – Please feel free to share, alter and use as needed though I wouldn’t object to a wee bit of credit or a link to my blog (LOL!).

October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Inspire, Create & Share with Pretty in Pink to Spread Awareness

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Pretty in Pink Products

  1. Cardstock – 8-1/2 x 11 & 12 x 12 pkgs.

  2. Classic Ink Stamp Pad  

  3. Classic Ink Refill

  4. Stampin’ Write Marker

  5. 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon

  6. Craft Ink Refill – use with new uninked Craft Pad (Holiday Mini item)

  7. 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon

  8. 1-1/4” Wide Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

  9. 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon

 10. Simply Adorned Charm – pink the insert

 11. Supernova Fine Stampin’ Glitter (inc. pink)

 12. 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon (white borders)

 13. Décor Element – Manhattan Flower

 14. Simply Sent Sweet Hello Kit – includes pink ribbon rosette flowers to attach to card

 15. Décor Element – Upsy Daisy

 16. Jumbo Stampin’ Around Cartridge (blank) – ink with the classic or craft pink reinker of your choice

 17. Ribbon of Hope – Single Stamp

 18. Décor Element – Faith, Hope, Love & Life

 

Many of these products are also available in other light or “ dark pink” colors: Rose Red, Melon Mambo and the lighter newly returned Pink Pirouette or Blushing Bride!

 

There are more Pretty in Pink Décor items and Stencil images for inking in the new Definitely Decorative Catalog.  More wonderful stamps too in the full catalog.

 

Décor Elements can be broken up into smaller pieces for small projects and applied to mugs, tiles, votive candle holders, plates, laptops, pictures. Many other imaginative uses as well – apply to walls, mirrors, windows, Cars or other large surfaces.

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Tip:  Besides the Ribbon of Hope stamp several other stamp sets are also perfect for inspiring Think Pink projects.  Inspired by Nature’s text stamp Live With Passion is the perfect text for Breast Cancer Projects and is available in several languages.   Just Believes text stamp “Some things have to be believed to be seen” has many applications as well.  Particularly in our search for a cure and our fundraising efforts to bring it to fruition.  Cottage Garden is another terrific stamp with flowers, butterfly and a great text “Love life & it will Love you back”.  All great stamp sets for creating Think Pink Projects.

 

Think Pink – Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp Project and Event ideas:

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/pink-out-afterthoughts.html

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/in-memory-of-geri-hoffman.html

http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2010/10/05/breast-cancer-awareness-tutorial-365/

http://igotstamps.com/?p=2629 – a bouquet that lasts forever

http://fastamper.blogspot.com/2010/06/relay-for-life-update.html – Ribbon of Hope

http://igotstamps.com/?p=2717

http://kimevans.typepad.com/stamping_with_kim/2010/08/catching-up.html – Breast Cancer Awareness Journal

http://www.littlemissscrapalicious.com/2009/10/pals-paper-arts-14.html – Pink Punch Owl

http://www.littlemissscrapalicious.com/2009/07/stampin-out-breast-cancer-fundraiser.html – Going pink scrap page

http://createdbyu.blogspot.com/2010/09/diva-coffee-break-designs-team-color.html

http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2010/10/just-add-ink-38.html

http://kerrids.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/jai-38-challenge

http://southerncaliforniastamper.blogspot.com/2010/10/praying-for-you-anita.html – check out the inked pink ribbon behind the text

http://stampinbythesea.com/goals-exceeded

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/in-memory-of-geri-hoffman.html

http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2045107/entry/a_treat_for_you_blog

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/pink-out-afterthoughts.html – afterthoughts

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/setting-up-for-gilbraltar.html

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/marvelous-magnets.html – magnets

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/bookmarks.html – bookmarks

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/trick-or-treat.html – Fancy Favor boxes – did you know Halloween comes in Pink? 😀

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/five-more-cards-for-run-for-cure.html – cards

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/in-memory-of-geri-hoffman.html 

http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2045107/entry/a_treat_for_you_blog

 

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/pink-out-afterthoughts.html – afterthoughts 

 

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/setting-up-for-gilbraltar.html

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/marvelous-magnets.html – magnets

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/bookmarks.html – bookmarks

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/trick-or-treat.html – Fancy Favor boxes – did you know Halloween comes in Pink? 😀

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/five-more-cards-for-run-for-cure.html – cards

 

 

In addition to the stamping info, here are a few links to resources and information about Breast Cancer and what you can do to help find a cure or find answers to questions for yourself or others you know affected by the disease.  

 

In last years post here there are even more links and general info as well as some stamping links for Ribbon of Hope projects.

Information sources:

 http://breastcancercare.org/

  http://breastcancercare.org/resources.php – List of online resources

http://www.nbcam.org/index.cfm 

Breast Cancer Awareness Image Sources for blogs, letters, emails etc.:

http://webclipart.about.com/od/ribbonclip/l/blbc1.htm

http://www.redhatclipart.com/bca.html

http://photobucket.com/images/breast_cancer_awareness%20ribbon/?&userinit=true&source=header

http://photobucket.com/images/breast_cancer%20awareness%20%20month/?&userinit=true&source=homepage

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And two last notes….

 

During the rest of October, anyone placing an order of $50 or more on my website that includes a product from my Think Pink flyer will be rewarded with free shipping.  I’ll also donate some Think Pink cards to a local Cancer Charity for any sized order placed in my online store.  

 

 I considered writing the whole post in hot pink but decided it was a bit too hard on the eyes even if it would be appropriate for the subject matter.  Hopefully the special deal will reward you for reading through it – LOL!

 

And lastly… here’s a fun video I also shared last year:

 

The smiles and the dancing and the hope are catching…aren’t they!

Hugs and Blessings – Jean

 

Binary delight….10l10l10-10:10

 ETA: This post was supposed to go out this morning at 10:10 but whether it’s the computer or the blog service that can’t tell time it’s still sitting in the queue (appropriate I guess in some weird manner).  Luckily I can tell the date and caught it’s absence.  Fortunately its still 10/10/10 all the way up until midnight!   And adding to the hilarity and loss of hair (I really have to stop pulling it out!) and total computer likelihood when I went to fix and get this posted WordPress ate the post!!   Had to start over from scratch.   ARGHHH….knew I should have written it in binary!

Getting Comfortable With Binary

Hi All,

Just a quickie post to celebrate a fun day.

Something fun (possibly silly) this way comes…Today’s date reads 10/10/10 – now is that a computer programmers dream or what!  Those binary bits in that order won’t recur for another hundred years and even then it will only be the last 2 digits of the year that make that date. 

I had considered writing the post in binary but then realized only the computers of the net or a few programmers would be able to read it!  

Can’t quite decide on the appropriate greeting either, should it be Happy Digital Day or  Bright Binary Day or what…with only on/off, yes/no, 1/0 as the appropriate structure I’m having a hard time getting in the proper constrained spirit.   Yes I know programming has its creative sides but some days it feels as if dealing with computers is like dealing with a two year old!  It knows what it wants and really could care less what I want.  Not mind you that a two year old is known for order or discipline – LOL!

So Happy Digital Binary Day!

Or in binary:

0100100001100001011100000111000001111001001000000

100010001101001011001110110100101110100011000010110

11000010000001000010011010010110111001100001011100

100111100100100000010001000110000101111001

Too bad computers hadn’t been invented in 10/10/1010 (so we could have had the original celebration)  but then neither had indoor plumbing or much of anything else we consider a necessity today.  Funny thing too is that it falls on a Sunday!  Do you thing that means God is a programmer at heart?  Could be – LOL! 

I bet a computer could tell me what day of the week the original fell on if I could only find the right file.  Wouldn’t it be cool if that day was also a Sunday?  Probably depends on the calendar in use at the time. 

If I had the set this would be the perfect day to do a Lots of Bots card with the binary bits stamp image.  Perfect day to watch that Star Trek Next Generation episode about the Binars (culture and language built on binary) as well.  Hmm….now where are my DVD’s……

Whatever you choose to do today to celebrate I hope it’s a wonderful day.   

Hugs and blessings…now go do something digital or turn yourself on and off in true binary fashion! – Jean

Trying to get back in the groove…..scattered Sunday thoughts on Hope and Life and Genesis and of course…Cats!

 

Hi All,

I hope you are having a blessed Sunday.   Southern Oregon…or at least my little corner of it is once again experiencing rain!  Rain, rain and more rain.   Don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining a bit.  It’s mostly a soft and warm(ish) soaking rain – the best kind even if the gutters don’t quite agree!   The trees and garden are in great need of the water.  So many local wells have been going dry that I’ve cut back even more than usual on my watering just in case.  Luckily my wells are deep and there are two of them but just in case….

And who knows, having the ground softened up, just might spur me on to getting some long neglected weeding done.  Uh huh…R.I.G.H.T…..the deer don’t seem too concerned by that prospect.

Started to share this a week or two back and then lost where I put it.   Found it again finally (hiding in plain sight or should that be site since it was sitting in my blog’s drafts file :D).

Trying to get back in the blogging groove but it’s harder than I thought it would be.   After a small stroke a short while ago many things are strange.   I’m pretty much recovered thanks to God’s grace and the prayers of many friends but just a few things are still a bit skewed.  Word skills and energy, and taste sensations being a few of them.  Everything takes so much longer as I try to remember the steps needed to accomplish a task and remembering words, names and so on is tricky at best.  Sat for half an hour today trying to remember my nieces name.  Funny thing is I can remember her phone number just not her name most of the time.   It’s making learning all the new color names and stamp sets and paper names a lot harder than in the past.   Luckily most of the SU things I learned before the stroke are still with me for the most part.  Though Cajun Craze has become Crazy Cajun sometimes.   LOL!  My Louisiana friends might say that was more accurate but I’m not sure a non Southerner can get away with saying that :D! 

 Emotions are a bit off as well.  I realized the other day that I was actually afraid of my blog!   Probably just the work it represents or the fear of getting words wrong, or the backlog of entries waiting to be made or some such thing but as I’m not generally a fearful person it’s just plain weird.   Wicket is the scaredy cat in our house!  No real rhyme or reason….afraid of my refrigerator too!   Though that’s probably just because it really needs cleaning and the task seems daunting! – LOL!   Anybody out there want to get up close and personal with my experiments to find a new strain of mold for medical science? 

From day to day things taste different too.   Sometimes very salty even when there is no salt added to something – like water for instance!  Other times bitter or like cardboard.  Makes cooking interesting let me tell you.   Though some friends seem to think its an improvement since I’ve been adding more spice and heat to my cooking lately.   Have I mentioned that in the past when making chilli I very firmly latched the top of the chilli powder closed then waved it over the pot!   Not anymore.  I’m even using salsa and diced chilli’s these days and lots and lots of pepper.  I just finished off  half a jar of peppercorns that had been in the cupboard for 5 years – that half jar only took 3 weeks!   Still no Cilantro as that still tastes like dirty gym socks smell!  I’ve discovered over the years that Cilantro is one of those love it or hate it spices with little in between.   And most who hate it say the same thing about gym socks.  Funny how that is an archetypal smell.  Started a bit of a debate on the subject at the last Stamp Camp.  I’m afraid we nay sayers were outvoted this time.

Decided this week to take some action on the fear factor and cleared out 1/2 the bad stuff in the frig.  Next week I’ll get to the other half and I’ve been trying to post at least every other day this week to get back in the groove.  They may not all be original work but its a good discipline and hopefully still worth reading.  That was something a friend suggested to me to get me over the hump.   Still there may be weeks ahead with fewer posts.  I hope you know I’ll still be thinking of you.. just might be in need of a rest.

So what does all that have to do with the statement at the top of the post?    Living in hope and fighting the fear seems to be a good thing.   I can live with the tears that come at odd times for no apparent reason but living without hope just isn’t an option.   I do truly believe that hope (and faith) anchors the soul.   Without that I come adrift and lose my bearings.    Though I will add that even when I am without hope I still seem to talk to God…and as any good therapist will tell you talking is always good…when we cease to communicate we lose a grip on life itself.   And thankfully God is always there to listen.

With hope all things seem, if not doable, at least  possible and that as Martha Stewart would say is a very good thing.   Side note:  I’ve always wondered if she picked that up from Genesis…after each act of creation the passage closes with…And God saw that it was good.   Hm…maybe not… since that would seem to put her in the role of God?    Anyway…. possibilities have at their very core the essence of life; and happiness though not guaranteed, seems at least attainable when all the possibilities are there to be explored.    As a pastor friend would say…Thus endeth the lesson….

Under the heading…Charity that doesn’t cost you more than a click…can also find you some fun!

I was clicking to feed shelter cats (and dogs too) at one of  my favorite online charities (www.freekibblecat.com) and came across this very fun video.  IKEA as many Stampers know is the Mecca of Organizing (and oh yeah they sell furniture too) – to set up a Stamp Room at frugalista prices (well with add ins from the $ store and thrift shops too – lol) there is no better place.   Recently an IKEA in England teamed up with a 100 cats to see what furniture a true hedonistic Sybarite would pick.  In the process of filming what was to become the commercial a great deal of hilarity, exploration and of course a bit of testosterone induced territorialism ensued (okay maybe I’m slamming the guys overly much since I suppose estrogen – or its lack – can make a person cranky too :D) .

I loved the comments about the difference between the kittens and the adult cats.   Could it be that kittens souls being more newly minted are more deeply anchored by hope?   Note:  I hope I’m not offending anyone out there by assuming cats have souls…after living with a cat who obviously prayed when in church its hard to argue.  A story for another time…..

May your day and week and year and oh heck your whole life be filled and bounded by joy and of course hope.

Hugs and Sunday Blessings – Jean

Memorial Day: May Yours and Theirs be a Blessed One

Memorial Day...A Time to Remember

Hi All,

Memorial Day…A time to Remember…may it be a day of blessing for you and for those we remember.

The beautiful garden photo is from Debi Rice and on her Operation Write Home blog post she generously gave permission for it to be copied and shared.  You can see her post here.  Don’t you wish your garden had a spot  like this?   And yes Debi made the flag too!

Found this video also on the Operation Write Home Blog Hop and as I listened to the words as well as the music it touched my heart and had the tears flowing. 

I don’t know what you are planning for the day but since I’m homebound today the Flag is out on the front step and I’m busy making cards to send to Operation Write Home as well as completing an inspiring blog hop (see the previous posts for links).   Praying too for those who’ve fallen and those returned from war and recovering.  

After watching a recent Frontline episode on PBS online video viewer here I was reminded that both prayer and action are needed to bring healing to those who’ve experienced the horrors of war.  If you decide to click over I should warn you that this one is quite real, graphic and not painted with rosy pictures of duty and honor but is none the less what War can do to those called to serve and why I pray daily for its end and for healing.

I  still miss hearing stories of World War II from my Dad and Father in law.  Luckily I still remember a few.  My Dad because of a kidney injury in high school football (thank you Dick Nixon – yeah that Dick Nixon) was kept from active service but he was a civilian consultant in Germany shortly after the war ended who worked with forming the new government structures as well as having some input on the Nuremburg trials.  My Father in law was an MP in Nuremburg at the same time.  Talk about a coincidence.  Two men in the same place at the same time half a world away and almost 35 years before their kids would meet and marry.  And both swear they never met.  Hmmm….. Stranger things do happen but my husband and I always got a kick out of this eerie coincidence! 

I’d love to hear some of your stories if you’d care to comment.

Hugs and blessings to you all – Jean

PS:  Also a reminder that today is the last day for the May Scrapbooking Specials from Stampin’ Up!  If you would still like to place an order and receive the free product offered click on this flyer:

make your selections and then place your order in my online stamp store by clicking on the Online Store shopping button at the top of the right hand side bar.  Thanks for your support!

Blog Break Announcement

 

Sandycat is Keeping an Eye on You!

Hi All,

I just wanted to let you know I’ll be taking most of this week off (and maybe a bit more) from blogging.  Sandycat, my darling kitty I’ve shared stories and pictures with you in days past, is very ill and not likely to survive much longer so I’m trying to spend as much time cuddled with her as possible and to make her as comfortable as possible.  She’s still being funny and sweet right up to the end.  As I shared with my newsletter readers a couple of weeks ago….

Boy do I wish I had a working camera or video equipment.  A few nights ago Sandycat spent 10 minutes trying to get comfortable sitting on a tiny plate the size you put a tea cup on! (eta: a kind reader reminded me that’s actually called a saucer – lol!  Thanks Sharon!)  It was hilarious as she tried to balance without tipping the plate.  Trying to get all 4 paws under her inside the little indentation for the tea cup!  The only attraction I can figure out is that the plate was sitting under a lamp that puts out a nice bit of heat from the bulb and it was a chilly, chilly night!  Either that or she just wanted to cheer me up.  She finally gave it up as a bad job – the sitting not the cheering – and jumped down looking just a trifle embarrassed.  Hmmm…might have to post this story on my blog under the heading of crazy cat antics……

*****

 

Sadly life had gone from that to (also from my newsletter)….

 

I’m afraid this listing is just a bit on the short side this week.  Besides increasing seizures of my own my Sandycat has taken a turn for the worse and it’s looking like she won’t be with me much longer so I’ve been trying to spend more time with her as cuddling and sleeping seems to be mostly what she’s up for.  A few weeks ago she started throwing up more than usual but otherwise seemed fine so I figured she had gotten into something and just needed to work it out of her system as has happened in the past and then just in the last week or 10 days she slowly stopped eating.  Her spirits are still basically good though a tad grumpy and she’s able to drink some water but she’s dropped over half of her previous 15 pound weight and is getting weaker and weaker.  After almost 10 years together it’s hard facing the idea of losing her.  More than any of my other furry friends over the years we are something of alter ego’s for each other though some might say she’s picked up some of her craziness from me I of course contend that it’s just the opposite – lol.  She’s also probably one of the smartest and most interesting cats I’ve known.  Very mechanical and interested in people stuff in unusual ways and very expressive. I’m never in doubt about what’s on her mind.  If I can’t read her mind she’s very good at showing or acting out what it is she needs.  She’d have made a fortune on Drew Cary’s show doing charades!  Though a feral cat by birth we’ve been housemates and heartmates since she was 7 weeks old and for a feral she’s quite domesticated.  Unlike most cats she’s mastered the art of compromise – an amazing trait all on its own!  Though Wicket will still be with me, and of the two she’s a wonderful little nurse cat who watches over me very carefully, my heart is already breaking at the idea of loosing my naptime buddy who’s willing to let me be me and who manages to make each day fun and funny.

 

I’m not sure if I’m going to be up to getting a newsletter out this week so there may be a short hiatus.  I’ll try to keep it brief and get back to collecting goodies as I’m able.  Blog posts may be a bit light as well. 

 

Well that’s the “skinny” as they say (yeah I know bad pun…but as I learned on the Cancer Ward  what else is a girl to do if she’s not going to sit and cry)  and I’ll be back sometime soon. 

 

Thanks to all of you who’ve been kind enough to write, email or call.  Your encouragement has meant a lot!

 

Hugs and blessings (and don’t forget to hug the one’s you love) – Jean

P.S.  Though I won’t be blogging for a bit I’ll still be able to help you with any orders or questions you might have or you can place your orders directly through my online Stampin’ Up! store.  Just click on the icon in the upper right corner or send me an email or call and I’ll get it done for you.  Hugs – J.

Thanks for the prayers and caring

Hi All,

My apologies for the lack of organized posts the last little while and the delayed newsletters as well.   I’ve been struggling with some extreme health issues and most recently a death in the family.   My wonderful Mother in Law Dorothy Fitch has joined her husband Don, son Stephen (my husband) and a host of family and friends in Heaven.   Last week, after a several year struggle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Mom began her new journey surrounded by family.   While I’m heartbroken at losing someone who has been both a friend and mother for the better part of the last 34 years it was clearly best for her.  ALS is unbelievably difficult to cope with since it slowly destroy’s all the bodies function and capabilities while leaving the mind totally intact.   I’m greatly saddened that my own health will not allow me to be present 700 miles away at what I’m sure will be a wonderful celebration of a life but I’ll be there in spirit sharing the love and spending time remembering a wonderful soul and a truly great lady.   An artist and artisan herself Mom always encouraged others as well.   A master quilter, painter, and creator of spirit filled banners and other inspirational Church Decor Mom’s greatest art projects were truly her children and grandchildren.   Each individual was cherished and encouraged (okay chastised as needed as well – but that’s what Mom’s are for right?) and given room to grow and find their own creative outlets.   Boys and girls both were taught to cook, sew and appreciate the gifts God had blessed them with.  Best of all Mom loved to play.  I’ve never seen another grownup who actually loved spending time playing and letting that play be directed by the child involved to the largest extent as much as she did.   Whether it was art projects, cooking, make believe, telling stories or just being present no one could have had a more fun Grandma.  

We were friends and members of the same prayer group before I ever met my husband.  And she welcomed a lonely teen away from home struggling with college into her large and loving family.   I might add that I wasn’t the only one so welcomed.  Though raising 6 kids on a limited budget the table could always be stretched and bedding could always be found.  I learned some of the best lessons about hospitality and open handedness/heartedness  from Mom. 

Yes we had our moments as in all relationships (after all I married the first born son :D) but what I’ll remember is the love, the encouragement and her spiritual wisdom and maturity. 

Thank you all for your prayers, notes of concern and most of all patience.  Hopefully life will get back on track soon and I can get back to posting all the fun stuff you’ve come to expect.

Hug the ones you love and may God bless you all – Jean

Belated Happy New Year!

Work in peace. Live in peace. Be with another in peace.

— The Blessing Candles: 58 Mealtime Prayer-Celebrations

Hi All,

A belated Happy New Year to you all!  Now that my internet connection is back up and the partial paralysis I’ve been experiencing is easing off I’m finally able to get back to blogging at least part time and hopefully some creative stamping as well.   

I came across this eCard last year and it still speaks to me today and everyday given the state of our world.  It is my prayer for us all as we begin a new year.

Thank you to all of you who’ve been in touch.   I hope to get back to you each now that email is once again accessible.  Please bear with me as there are several hundred to work my way through.  Your love and prayers have been and are deeply appreciated.

May God bless you all in this new year and gift you with joy, peace and a greater measure of creativity and inspiration to share with those around you.

Hugs and blessings – Jean

Sunday Rambles and new blog alert

Sunday Blessings to you all my friends,

Still struggling to get Fridays “Frugal” post to work.  For some reason between my computer, WordPress and the cats it just doesn’t want to work!!  Sandy managed to erase a good deal of it.  WordPress is playing up with transferring from a Word document and the less said about the tricks my computer is pulling the better!  Anyone have a wireless keyboard looking for a good home?????!!!! 

Oddly enough if all I want to do is type within the post mechanism or surf I’m good.  It’s just the post I want to do that’s driving me crazy.   And well Sandycat can drive a person to craziness all on her little lonesome some days!! ARGHH!   She’s now been banished from the room but I’m betting she finds a way back in soon…after all she does know how to work door handles, deadbolts, light switches and phones so what’s a closed door after that right – LoL!

Okay off the grumps and back to some great news…..I have a fabulous new blogger to tell you about today.  This lady is wickedly talented.  Lynn Pratt’s blog Stamp-n-Design is amazing.  Lots of picture tutorials, fabulous designs and not a stinker in the bunch.   Okay you all know that not every card on a blog is terrific right?  Good usually but not totally aces? Well her’s are!   How she beats the law of averages (that’s average cards to stunning cards ratio – lol) I have no idea.  I’m thinking… deals with you know who…..just kidding…she is an architectural designer after all in her other non stamping life.  So drop whatever you’re doing and check out her site.

So how did I find Lynn and others who’s links I’ve been sharing lately……

As some of you know I recently joined Late Night Stampers after having one of my own designs called out on their blog picks list and boy I have to tell you that the level of inspiration these stampers show is amazing.  If you haven’t taken a look or joined you really ought to consider it.  On the downside your families and pets may never see you off the computer again or away from your stamping desk but the creative jolt just can’t be beat so I say risk it – LoL!

Here’s the link to Late Night Stampers – http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StampinUpLNStampers/

If you don’t have a Yahoo membership (free) you just have to set up a Yahoo account and then add Late Night Stampers to your groups you join.

If you have a Yahoo id already then all you have to do is add LNS and follow their directions for joining.   This group has a positive focus and encourages demo’s to be both creative and to build their business (if that’s what you are looking for the resources are there if you want to stay a hobbiest then the inspiration is also there).   Non demo’s can also join for the inspiration.

Many of the people who’s links I share here on my blog are members and it’s been a pleasure to see and learn from them.  Many are generous enough to share with group members the directions and templates not always shared directly on their blogs.  Takes a bit of getting used to how the system works but someone is always there to help newbies so jump on in.

That’s pretty much it from rainy  and chilly  Southern Oregon on a Sunday afternoon.  I’ll keep plugging away to get Frugal Friday up before next Tuesday! 

And if you are in the area for Thanksgiving add Saturday to your list of things to do that will keep you away from the Mall Madness.   My partner Cheryl and I are sponsoring an Open Studio Day when people are welcome to drop in learn a new trick or two, work on their own projects and of course play with the Big Shot and other cool tools you’re hoping Santa will put under the tree.  We’ll be here from 10-3 for sure and possibly later if there is interest.

Hugs and blessings and take some time to stamp today –  Jean

Sunday’s ramble and pictures from my other crafting life.

Hi All,

I thought you might like to see what I do in my other life when I’m not stamping.  As those of you who’ve read my mini bio on the About page may remember I’m also a spinner and weaver.  As I was organizing my photo files I came across some pictures of various projects over the last few years so thought I would share.   The shawl pictures are from a group wedding gift to a fellow weaver in my guild.   All the members of our Weekly spinning circle contributed some handspun alpaca, llama, camel, yak and a few bits of plain old sheep!  Whatever we had that was of the softest and generally natural colors that would work together.  Then a few bits were dyed blue to add a  hint of color (not to mention match Ruthies lovely eyes)  and yours truly got the honor of weaving them all together on my Rigid Heddle loom. 

Might look complicated but trust me if you can knit then you can learn to warp and weave on one of these looms in an afternoon.  Nothing complicated as long as you can count to 100 or so.  After teaching a few such workshops trust me its doable and easy to create projects up to 10 feet in a day….unless of course you are working with over a dozen different spinners handspun product!   Different tensions, strengths not to mention lengths make for an interesting problem in weaving.   It was at last achieved though and I think the result was lovely if I do say so myself.   A pity you can’t feel the softness and warmth of the fibers.  Drapes like melted butter and silk (now that’s a strange image I’ll admit but the one that came to mind – lol!).    I just realized those are my toes in the background of the first picture!  Don’t think I ever noticed they were there when I looked through the camera lens.  

It occurs to me that the middle picture might make for an interesting card element someday.  I might also add that the fringe looks a bit rough as it’s my practice to leave fringe at the lengths it comes off the loom so the recipient can cut to their preferred length.

*****

This scarf is one I created for my Mother in Law – Hi Mom!  And is silk and Ramie and ribbon all rolled up into one.  Rolling being the operative word.  Did you know that silk and linen and other fine fibers should really be rolled and not folded to protect the fibers and keep your lovely textiles around for years to come?  Yep.  They should.  Silk is a tad more forgiving but linen is very, very important not to fold or if you must to cushion the folds with puffs of paper or other material that prevents sharp creases from forming.  It’s the creases that do the damage as plant based fibers tend to break and crack in the creasing. 

In the closeup you can see some of the metallic thread interspersed throughout the weave.

*****

And lastly is one of the many linen and wool table runners I love to weave.   One of a series I created for a series of Church Lenten Suppers one year to first decorate the tables and then later be auctioned off to participants to raise money for charity.   Rather like some of the scarves I love to knit….these take almost no thought and can be completed in under 5 hours each generally.

Hope you enjoyed this peek into my “other” life.  And yes for those of you wondering I do sell my spinning and weaving work – if you are interested in discussing a project drop me a line.

I’ll leave you today with a rare siting of a phenomenon known in our house as quilted kitty lump. 

Hugs and blessings my friends – Jean

Can’t see me….I’m invisible……and uh… don’t sit on the corner of the bed, okay??

Rats….Somehow Mom’s anti-invisible kitty cloaking vision foiled me again! (Sorry about that Sandy – Love,  Mom)

Sunday’s Rogue Thoughts and Playtime peeks = 100th post

Hi All,

I hope you are all having a blessed Sunday.  It’s been a while since I had a chance to sit down and put a Sunday post together.  Not a whole lot of introspection going on around here these days.   Well occasionally in the middle of a sleepless night.  Or one of those weird peri-menopause nights with the following scenario.  Go to sleep laying on my right side until pain has me turning over on my left.  Once settled on my left side the hot flashes begin!   Roll back over to the right and the hot flashes go away the body gets comfortable once again…until of course the pain starts all over again and so does the spinning!    Anyone else have one sided hot flashes??   Seems pretty weird to me!

*****

Note:  As I was wrapping up this post I clicked over to my blog stats and discovered that this will be my 100th post since I started my blog back on July 18th.  Just a wee bit over 3 months ago.  And on top of that I passed the 10,000 hit count yesterday as well.  Thought I should come back here and insert a thank you to all of you who choose to read, subscribe and follow this blog.   And a thanks to the Creator of us all who inspires and instills in us our own brand of creativity.  I’ll be mulling over a blog candy offering but in the mean time my heartfelt thanks to you all.

*****

Still on the high I wrote about in my last newsletter….(ah ha, yup I’m recycling my writing…those of you who get my newsletter for demo’s might recognize this…) and still creating like mad.  Though I did take one day off when all of a sudden the overload from creative energy gone wild set in and quite literally I had no energy for anything…not even eating.  Fine for me not so fine for their majesties the cats!

Whew! Stamp a Stack and Open Studio Day are behind me and I managed to be there for both!  After weeks of seizures I was getting a tad worried but stamping fever won out!  Yay!  Cheryl and Linda and I had a fun time last Saturday sharing our love of stamping and learning a few new tricks.  Cut lots and lots of Jan Tink’s luminaries (keep going back and forth with various names, votive surrounds, votive covers, votive shields, luminaries, luminarias, etc, etc. whatever the name they are fun).  Now I just have to complete a few of them.  Also went nuts making Christmas trees from the new O Christmas Tree die.  As I told my friends I’m no longer a tree virgin!  The scary die sitting on the table has been used….and it turns out to be very, very easy and very, very addicting!!  I find myself looking around and wondering what else I can cut a Christmas tree out of.  Boy would I love to get an order for someone’s Holiday Banquet so I could make a couple of hundred or so!  Sound nuts?  Nope just fun. Stack the pieces – put some music or a book on tape in the player and enter the construction zone.  I’m down to about 5 minutes per tree for the assembly.  Cutting takes a wee bit longer though not much once the paper is cut.  I’ll have pictures on my blog hopefully next week of just a few. I would suggest that for your first attempt you work in cardstock.  As the stiffer material is a bit easier to handle and manipulate until you learn what you are doing.  

 

Now that Fall has arrived I’m grateful for each warm day that comes down the pike (or through the valley in my case – lol!).  Grateful for the rain too as my poor trees are looking a bit dry as are the lilac bushes.  The trees have finally changed color and are beginning to drop their leaves.  The pine trees too are doing their bit to litter the landscape.  Poor deer are still missing the tall stands of brush that disappeared a few weeks ago thanks to modern machinery and the kindness of friends.  Haven’t sighted the kittens under the deck for a few days so I’m wondering if they’ve moved on.  While they are cute it might be easier to get the house sold if someone doesn’t think they have to buy the kittens as well!  Perfect weather for the pot of soup I put together this afternoon.  Looking at the pot now I’m wondering just how many people I was planning to feed when I started it.  Somehow soups and stews always get away from me.  By the time I add a bit of this and oh yeah that could get used up the original portions always seem to double in size.  Kind of like that old story of stone soup.  Turned out yummy especially when paired with open faced ham sandwiches grilled with mustard and mozzarella under the broiler.  Drove the cats nuts even after I gave them some chopped up ham of their own.  Hmmm….they always seem to think my food is better than theirs!  So like a cat!

 

Here’s the project that kicked off the whole Open Studio Day (click the pics for close up shots).  I put these together while waiting for Linda and Cheryl and continued after they came and went just adding to the pile. 

 These tag/ornament/bookmarks made use of two different Big Shot dies and a few punches.

Both the Petal Card die and SU exclusive Two Tags die were used along with circle punches, Wide Oval Punch, Trio Flower Punch and the Round Tab Punch.

Stamp sets used: Christmas Punch a Level Two Hostess set.  A Cardinal Christmas text stamp.  Snowflake, Flower and Flourish from A Season of Joy.  

Papers are Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Very Vanilla Cardstock.  And a bit of the elastic Silver Cording was used on one and will probably get added to the others as well.

 

 Here’s a closeup of the slider that fits inside the petal card. 

It might be hard to see but I stamped the outside and inside of the petal card with the flourish stamp from Season of Joy using Melon Mambo ink on Melon Mambo Cardstock.  The Round Tab Punch piece had the flower from that same set stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink on the RR cardstock.   The inside slider tag had the flower stamped in Melon Mambo using the stamped off technique then the text over stamped in Rich Razzleberry.  Snowflake is also stamped in Melon Mambo and layered with a Rich Razzleberry Circle Punch piece and then adhered with a dimensional that holds the petals of the card closed in order to create the pocket.

 

Here’s a quick peek related to some items that will be shown next week here on the blog. 

 The tree was cut using Very Vanilla Cardstock and the new O Christmas Tree die featured in the Holiday Mini.  Then each cut piece was run through the Finial Press Impressions Folder and then assembled and spritzed with Shimmer Mist (spray made using the new Shimmer Paints added to alcohol).

The card is a little 3×3 perfect for a gift enclosure or table decoration (could even be a place card if you put a person’s name in place of the Give Thanks stamp from the Holiday Best hostess set.  I created the wreath using three colors of ink (More Mustard, Always Artichoke and Real Red) and the berry stamp from the stamp set Always.  I’ll have more details in next weeks post that will feature this wreath in a number of projects.  With luck I’ll even get some step by step pictures taken to show you how I made the wreath.

Here’s a close up – albeit a blurry one.  Anyone know why when I crop my pictures to get rid of extraneous background the picture gets blurry?  Only happens with my camera shots not the scanner pics.   Unfortunately my scanner is resisting the healing I’ve been trying to effect by laying on of hands and prayer so for now I’m stuck with the camera.

 

 

 

Here’s a grouping of just a few of the trees I created this last week.  I’ll be posting about them in the near future as well. 

I’ve been hearing from some of you that snow is already flying in the Midwest and some parts of the East Coast.  Winter seems to be trying to move in early this year.  For the rest of you get out and enjoy the Autumn colors and leaves and cooler temps and whatever bits of stray sunshine you can find.  Winter will be here all too soon and Daylight Savings time ends next weekend.  For myself it’s time to put the stamps away for a bit and get back into a well ordered round of long walks, prayer, praise and generally dipping back into the life I’ve put on hold for the last week.  Need to take some time to cuddle with the cats as well. 

One other thing I’ve been meaning to mention….

I’ve added a few new buttons to the righthand sidebar of my blog.   One for the Hungersite helps feed the world with just a click.  No contributions required. Though I can highly recommend their Fair Trade store and products.  Most years that’s where I do my Christmas Shopping and every purchase provides more cups of food.  Now with money tight to the point of strangulation I can still feel good about clicking over there daily to make my clicks that sponsors then register and provide food based on the number of clicks received that day.  So please when you stop by and visit don’t forget to click so others can eat.

I’ve also added a button to Mercy Corps International.  A very well respected aid organization that functions worldwide – even in places the US government won’t go.  They have one of, if not the highest percentage of direct funded aid of any NGO (non governmental organization).  They keep their costs as low as possible with mostly volunteer staff and partner with others to match with grants the amounts raised.  They too have ways to help even if money is tight.  So please go and check them out and support them if you can.

And for the four footed felines and pups we all love there is a button that also provides food for clicks as well as some fun trivia and games.  Sign up for their reminder emails and click daily and know that you are providing food for less fortunate animals than your own.

That’s the list and the end of the appeals for your goodness and generosity.  Stampers I’ve discovered have giving hearts and caring souls and I’m blessed to call you all Friend.

Hugs and blessings and God grant you Peace and Joy in his infinite wisdom and mercy to each according to their need.

Joyfully in Him – Jean