January PJ Party Challenge #4

Challenge #4 - Make a card using Red, Black, and White. This one wasn't easy for me for some reason, although I like this color combo a lot. I think it was the last one I did and I was sleepy. But I did have fun at the party. It was a first for me to do crafty things and chat at the same time. I just wish the computer had been more cooperative because I'm just now getting this one posted to the blog and I have one more to do. All of the ladies in the Lounge are wonderful and I had a ball playing along with everyone.

Supplies used: AMuse and scrap paper, AMuse Seaweed, AMuse sentiment "smooches", Marvy heart punches, S-U slot punch, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Q-K Lips die cut.

January PJ Party Challenge #2

This challenge was to make a card for your BFF. I picked the Treasure Chest and the Pirate Girl with the sentiment "You're a 24 carrot friend" - I put her on the beach with the treasure on a little dune. Supplies used: Paper by AMuse and a scrap of red for the sentiment. All images from AMuse. Platinum Stickles for the treasure to make it shiny. Colors by Copic. The sky was done with Rosie's Roadshow Cloud Template, sponge dauber, and Versamark Polar Blue pigment ink.

January PJ Party Challenge #1

Celebrity crush? This will give you some idea how old I really am. I've loved this guy since The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was on way back when.

Supplies used:
Petite gingham paper from AMuse
Red scrap paper and printer paper for image
'Just Ducky' sentiment from AMuse
Lips and NCIS from Quickutz

Happy Halloween!

It’s funny how life works out. Sometimes I think maybe I should have been a writer. I’ve found over the years that I love writing, but I’ve never been published. Can I call my blog entries “self-published”? Did you ever wonder whether you have something great inside that’s just waiting to come out? Something that you just can’t quite put your finger on? Maybe my great novel will be about my weight loss journey. That could fill several volumes because I’ve been fighting my weight for what seems like an eternity. But I am so grateful that I found this plan at just the right time! This plan has done wonders for my attitude. I’m losing weight steadily, the plan seems effortless, and the support is endless! I know I’m not alone in my journey.

When the black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may good luck be yours on Halloween! Hope you all have a wonderful, spooky weekend. And don’t forget to change your clocks tonight! Fall back! We get back that hour of sleep that we lost in the spring, so make the most of it. Take a walk, enjoy the beautiful fall weather. If you are near Austin TX a great way to spend the weekend is to attend the Texas Book Festival at the State Capitol. One of my favorite TV chefs, Lidia Bastianich, is here this year and I am hoping to make a trip into town and possibly see her in person.

Have a great week, everyone!

Ready for Rain, Ready for Fall

Today marks the 63rd day of 100+ temperatures this summer. Believe it or not, it's not the record. Only good enough for 3rd place so far, but we may set a new record yet. There were 66 100+ days in 1923, and 69 days in 1925. We did set a record for high temp on this day - 105 degrees in the greater Austin area. As you can see by the pix, we weren't far behind here at home. This is from the indoor/outdoor thermometer in our garage.

An interesting weather fact - there are 32 million acres in Texas that are considered in "exceptional" drought right now. That's more land in Connecticut, New Jersey, Hawaii, Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont combined! Needless to say, we are ready for cooler temperatures and lots of rain.

Amuse Lounge Challenge #7

The new "doctor girl" stamp is one of my faves from the new AMuse release, and she made a "house call" at my door at just the right time. The 11-year-old daughter of one of my coworkers was in an auto accident last weekend and shattered a cervical vertebra. With the medical miracles these days, she underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery but she has a long rehab period ahead of her. Our office staff is pitching in and getting some crafty goodies for her to play with while she heals. I did one card for the office to sign and this one to send her separately.

A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA PJ PARTY

This has been a fun-filled week for me craft-wise. I went to 2 AMUSE-A-PALOOZA classes at Memory Depot making Christmas goodies and had a stampin' good time. Scored some of the new AMuse stamps and have had fun playing in my spare time this past week. Also attended the kick-off party for the new Epic die cut machine by Quickutz. Went to a stamp camp at my bud Tammy's house yesterday and had a blast as usual and after that went back to M-D for another class on an accordion book that fits in an Altoids mint tin. So Cute! The AMuse crew hosted a VSN last night on the AMuse Lounge, but I wasn't able to play until this morning. So glad to see that we have until later today to post entries because I do love my little AMuse stamps! I did make cards for all of the 4 challenges that were announced and I even surprised myself when I made all of these cards from start to finish in about 45 minutes. The challenges were: Favorite food, Favorite game, A card for your best friend, and Favorite movie.

1. Favorite Food - According to the men in my life, if you are a true Texan, that would most likely be Bar-B-Que! I used the BBQer, the Grill, and the new Sun stamps, AMuse notecard and gingham papers, Copics, and Spicas.

2. Favorite Game - I enjoy games! I like board games (Monopoly, etc.), card games (canasta, gin rummy, poker), and sports (just for watching - I haven't played anything strenuous in a LONG time). I also like computer games. For a good while I've been a Free Cell addict. I could while away the hours playing that little game on my PC. Lately, however, I've discovered Mahjong. It's easy and fun and the little tiles are so precious. So for this challenge, I made a Mahjong-themed card. I used the Kokeshi doll and Bamboo stamps for Mahjong tiles, AMuse sentiment, Copics, and Spicas, and an AMuse notecard. I put the Kokeshi doll on PopDots to give her tile a bit of a lift.

3. Card for Best Friend - All Amuse stuff here too, except for the punches. Daisy Bunch stamp, PLP green stripes, petite gingham and green paper. And a brad to attach the tag.

4. Favorite Movie - Since AMUSE-A-PALOOZA was all about Christmas in July, I had to pick "It's a Wonderful Life" as my fave for this challenge. I'm such a Jimmy Stewart fan so it seemed appropriate. After 10+ days of 100 degree heat, I was ready for some winter chill. I used the North Pole house because it reminds me of the Bailey home in the movie, and I added some Liquid Applique for snow on the roof and eaves.

All in all, it's been a fun week. We've also had a break in the heat today (so far it's only 90 degrees outside), so that makes life much more bearable around here. It should also help the electricity bill that's beginning to look like something out of the stimulus package! I hope everyone had a fun week and managed to get in some play time.