Still Playing With The Powder (And some proof for my friend...)

What's worse than having a sick child?
Having a sick child WHILE you are sick yourself.
What's worse than having a sick child while you are sick yourself?
Having a sick child while you are sick yourself while on SPRING BREAK.
What's worse than having a sick child while you are sick yourself while on SPRING BREAK?
Having a sick child while you are sick yourself while on SPRING BREAK when the weather is absolutely gorgeous and begging for some outdoor time.
Yeah, it's been one of those weeks.
But it could be worse.
I did manage a little play time:

 I once again used embossing powder, distress ink, and background stamps to make some unique background papers.  First, on glossy paper stamp your background stamp with versamark ink then liberally apply powder.  Use embossing tool to heat/set.  When dry, rub distress ink (or anything other than pigment ink. Distress inks give a more subtle color.)  Wipe off excess ink with a rag.  Use second generation stamping to add font. (Second generation stamping means that after you ink up your image, you first stamp on another piece of paper then on your project. It gives a lighter image than "first generation" stamping - stamping directly onto your project.)

 I cut my paper into three pieces and matted on black cardstock, added some die cut flowers and prisma flowers as well as a sentiment.

 Here's another example of home made background and texture paper (or designer paper...you say toe-mae-toe, I say tah-mah-toe...)

Another one of those photos I can't seem to rotate :( 

 I used the same basic technique for creating these die-cut butterflies. It's pretty hard to see int he photo but they are shimmery and have some dimension/texture from the embossing.

Thanks for stopping by!
Marie with a :)

PS I recently overheard a friend telling someone how organized my craft room was. I almost choked on my guacamole.  Here's proof, LeeAnn, that organized I am not:

Reason Number 9,789,647 Why I Love The HH

He goes Dumpster Diving! Okay, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but remember this desk? He brought it home for me years ago when his company was moving buildings and planned to throw it out.

 Well, this weekend he came home with this:

 Yep, his current company was going to throw it out!

 It's U-shaped and a whopping 72" x 94" x72"!

 Lotsa work space!

 When he first saw it, he contemplated how much work it would be to actually clear out enough of the craft room to fit it in. He weighed that against me having the ability to "roll my chair around a large work space" and brought it home anyway. I love that man! ( Previously I had a bunch of piecemeal "furniture" in here. )

 It showcases the punch shelf that my sister Samantha's (Samies Sentiments ) husband built.

 I haven't been using the Big Shot much since I got the CTMH Cricut Cartridge, but now I have room to have both the Cricut and Big shot out in the open :)

 I do love the Tim Holtz dies...

Where I do most of my stamping.

 And what Craft  Room is complete without a music station?  But best of all..

A cleared off table for those brutal Scrabble matches with the HH!

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a :)

To My Doubting Thomases...

"My craft room is totally organized!"  I grinned at my friend and upline, Theda.
"I'll have to see a picture!" She responded.  Translation?  Gotta see it to believe it.  I could hear my sister Samantha chuckling in the background, though she's miles away.
Here's the proof that I'm starting the year out a little more organized in my humble, much loved craft room:

The most amazing aspect of this photo is the fact there are no scraps of paper on the table. It took all of my will power but I tossed anything smaller than 2" that I was saving for "just in case."  Hey, I won't be known as the crazy cat lady in my old(er) age...but perhaps the "crazy paper lady..."
My craft room also serves as a study (when it's clean enough, lol!) and most of my Bible study and Counselor Training books are in the bookcase and skinny "wardrobe."

 My reinkers sit on top of an old dresser.

 My CTMH stamps are stored by size (A-D) and then alphabetically in dollar store crates. This makes it easy to flip through the (cough cough 217 sets) that I have.

 I do have non CTMH stamps as well.

 This desk top holds JUST sentiment stamps!

 This is a taller "fold-n-store" type table from Sam's Club.  I use it as my stamp station and keep a piece of foam out for stamping with my acryllics.  One of my sweet friends gave me the old cassette holders for keeping my most used inks close by.  Another sweet friend gifted me with the metal organizer hanging above the table. Yes, I have some awesome friends!

 Theda showed me how to use shoe organizers for storing many of my embellishments and dies.

 What craft room is complete without speakers?  My sweet husband bought these for me a couple of years ago.  Now I can listen to some of my favorite music or some inspirational Bible messages while crafting. I also keep  a note pad and handmade scripture memory book handy.

 I've seen some stunning storage systems in other bloggers craftrooms.  As for me?  CTMH boxes hold my paper upright for quick flipping through just fine :)

This is the picture-printing-circle-cutting-cricut corner.  See the wall hanging in the background?  About five years ago my family members were the cast of characters in a Christmas Play called "The Richest Family in Town." What sweet memories!  A member of  our church had someone in Haiti create the wall hanging for us.   

Unscripted 30 and an Organized Craft Room!

Last night I decided to attack the Craft Room. Unlike my sister Samantha , I am NOT an organized crafter. (Remember my Where in the world? post?) Though not a fancy "studio" like many of my fellow bloggers have, I was pretty pleased with the results. And it was a very timely organizing, because this morning I got a message from one of my besties saying she had time for coffee...so we spent a few hours in the craft room, having a heart to heart and then making a card. Before she came, I completed a quick version of the Unscripted Challenge.

The inside of this reads "May your day bubble over with fun!"I haven't quite figured out the Picasso Photo program - even though this picture was cropped on the program, it's not showing up as cropped so you will need to click on the photo for details. I soo love the "Life is a Jungle" CTMH stamp set - it is so versatile!This is what my (basement) craft room looks like from the doorway. When I showed Scott how organized it was, he said "Yes, but how long will it last?" Then I showed Alyssa and she said "Better take some pictures!" Like Father Like Daughter? Gotta love 'em.
Computer desk with handmade desk set on top.
Shoe organizers are a trick I learned from my friend Theda.
Shelf where I store my hundreds of instock cards.
Largest punches and lots of embellies.
Old nail sorter of my hubbies makes a great craft room bin!

Large stamp sets hung on wall.


My "way-too-many" stamp stash.
Flowers, buttons and misc.

Thanks for stopping by!

Marie with a :-)

PS I have reached the "over $1K" in card sales since I began selling them in April. Happy Dance :-)

My Wonderful Husband!

One of the things I appreciate about my husband is how quickly he accomplishes the things I like to have done around the house. I had this desk/hutch in our bedroom upstairs, and mentioned to my dh that it would be nice in my craft room. Less than 12 hours later, the transition was complete! Of course, he did get his drafting table back in its stead :-). My craft room is constantly a work in progress...and usually a mess, though I'm trying to get better about putting things away. It's a basement room, and the floor is all torn up ("we need to replace the floor...next year" has been a mantra for quite some time...) but it is one of my favorite places to be.