Non-winning contest submissions

Well, I didn't win the TAC contests... boo. But, I'll keep trying! Already made a submission to send in for this month.

Here are the two submissions from last month.

This first one is a rework of a project I did during Online Seminar:

I love it.. and am kind of bummed out that my pic of Nate is gone... ah well.

This was my submission for totally glam. It took me a long time and I thought it rocked!

I keep analyzing my work.. I think maybe it is TOO involved. I will submit my next items and be a little simpler. Who knows, maybe I'll win one day. Until then, my next order will come out of my pocket dang it :P

In other news, Nate's birthday party is tomorrow. 6 people are unable to come.. which sucks, but we'll still have a good time. I made 2 gfcf-soy, corn free cakes with choc and vanilla icing tonight. They're really not as bad as they sound. We'll also have hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, fruit... basic stuff. Should be fun!

Scrapbooking and more scrapbooking.. hurrah!

I've kinda been in a rut this week. I've had a hard time sitting down and creating anything, particularly cards and since I've been putting off all the scrapbooking I need to do, I pulled those out! In the past 2 weeks I've done 6 pages which is GREAT for me!

*Warning- Real Life Rant!* Emotionally, I've been on a roller coaster. I guess sometimes it is harder than others to accept what is going on in your life and instead of conquering it, you feel conquered by it. But, I keep going. I think I've had quite a few obstacles in life to overcome or sometimes just work around and this is no exception. I just want Nate to be a healthy happy kid.

Plus, he's been so daddy-centric, it makes it hard for me sometimes.

Okay, enough of that, and on to the scrapbook pages!

These pics are from when Nate was having a lot of ear infections and other problems but he was still such a cute valentine! Paper is from Marcella by K. Lettering from Cricut Zooballoo cartridge.

This is from Nate's 3rd visit to a kid gym, Romp and Roll. We'll probably re-enroll him in the Winter. Paper is from Nana's Kids (DCWV), images from retired TAC SOTM Stand Tall.

This is from the first snow fall of 08. Nate was sick and not happy about being bundled up and bombarded with cold stuff! Retired SU DP, used my coluzzle. Chipboard pieces from a pack by colorbok.

This was a piece I did to journal our beginning of the journey into the Autism Spectrum. PDD is on the spectrum. Paper is perfect (puzzle piece is the universal symbol for Autism) and by American Crafts, as are the chipboard pieces. Letters by Maya Road and painted with MM paints. Journaled on Just a Note (TAC) image.

Last, but not least, is a page of Nate not noticing a caterpillar while day dreamin on his play gym! I incorporated the caterpillar into the title. Paper by Scenic Route and colorbok. Chipboard pieces by colorbok. Alphabet set by Rusty Pickle.

I did another layout of Nate's first haircut but haven't taken pics yet. I'll post that and some cards later this week. Nate's 2nd birthday is on the 20th, so we're having the party on the 19th. Should be fun... or crazy.. or both :) Have a great weekend!

I'm goin Green baby!

Well after 3 weeks of Toyota not being able to find out car, our 08 Prius is in! We sold our Acura MDX to get it...I will miss it but not the 16 mpg! It's a hybrid, it's silver, it's 48 mpg and it's cool! Sam is driving to Wheeling, WV which is 7 hrs away! tomorrow to get it. This is the closest we could get the car from. Crazy huh?! More and more dealerships are unable to get them AND they're jacking up the prices. We got ours for the normal MSRP though a dealership here promised the same car, two months later, for $2000 more. Yay for price gauging!!

Anyway, back to the creative stuff! I've been in a little bit of a rut. I'm just kinda moody and grouchy as it is and tired, which means when Nate goes to bed, I don't get to create! I did get a couple of cards done this week though.

This is Nate's sideways birthday card. Grr.. I have NO IDEA why blogger keeps turning my photos around. Help anyone?! Anyway, I used Nursery Bash stamp set from CTMH along with their paper. Ink is Palette Burnt Umber and I colored it using prisma markers and H2O pencils.

Next is a card I made for the Case It challenge over at PW. I cased Stampin Meg's card. I used Lillyanna paper, my nestabilities for the scallop and my marvy punch for the circle. The stamp set is the new TAC set build a flower. So versatile, I love it! If you only get one of the new TAC stamp sets, this could be the one! Ribbon is from Target. Ink is Palette Noir and Ballet Blue, and Versamagic Pixie Pink and Aloe Vera. I love using chalk ink on bold stamps. They turn out gorgeous!

Well, I better get to bed early. It's going to be a long day tomorrow and Nate has been very daddy-centric. Oh boy!

Me... an Artist!?!

I think that alot.. can I really be an artist?! I suppose I am. Even if I can't draw, I have an eye for color combos, sketches, and design. I'm working on this coloring thing too!


I've been participating a lot at PW again which is great! I love completing the sketches and other challenges!


I also got my new rubbah in from the new TAC catty! I am loving celebration time, butterfly bits, just dream and the new paper. FABULOSO!


My newest experiments have been with more altered arts type stamps and alcohol inks. I used both tonight in a couple of projects.

The Keytag in the top says Happy Birthday as my DH Sam turns 35 tomorrow on the 4th. He loves this ship collage so I had to use it. I created a background with alcohol inks and embossed the ship. I used distressing ink on the cs, then stamped the map (a clearance find today!) with stazon on a transparency. I flipped it over and used alcohol ink to color in the oceans and mountain ranges. The Key is chipboard from Basic Gray colored with a pewter painters marker. I am digging the paint markers- so much easier than cleaning a brush everytime, lol!

Next is a matching tile. I used alcohol ink on the background and then stamped the map using stazon. Stazon isn't as bold on the alcohol ink. Then, I stamped the ship in black archivall ink. I actually tried to emboss first but learned that it doesn't work :) I edged it with my painter's marker.

Finally is this card- it says "It's just been one of those days" which is has lol. It's my first attempt at a masterboard using old TAC GWP stamps. I then used my cuttlebug to emboss the cream panel and used Palette nude ink over it. I watercolored my girl (BTW- DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT STAMP SET THIS IS?! I got the image in a TACBAG), added the prima flower, and the chipboard element once again from basic grey.

Well, that's it for now. I am still waiting on our Prius to come in. Grr... looks to be a pretty sedate 4th of July. Since we're gluten/casein/soy/corn free there won't be any cake for Sam :(

Happy 4th all!