WOYWW #518

Wednesday, already?  Seriously. Seems like I just posted and got round to a few of you last week and here it is again. Guess I best get crackin' on those ATCs this week. I'm up for trading with others as I always make mine in sets of 12.

So far I have 6 of them accounted for, so if you'd like to trade please let me know in your comment.

So today's desk shows lots of room to work:

There is a bit of cleaning/ sorting/ pitching that needs to happen. I'm digging into the office all day today as soon as the rain moves in. Want to try and get outside before that happens. The weather is cool and beautiful out there this morning. But first, tea and cookies.

That's it for my desk this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground  for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list. 

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

TEAPOT TUESDAY - 50th Anniversary

Today's teapotter card is off to a couple in New Hampshire celebrating 50 Fabulous years together.

My brain nor my hands want to work in tandem today so I went to Pinterest and found THIS card by Sandy Hancock at Udderly Awesome. Sandy cased hers from Cheryl W. So this version is getting a lot of miles amongst the Pinterest community.

Sandy and I both used Bloomin' Love and Number of years. I used Gold foil rather than the glitter cardstock. I chose the Country Floral 3D embossing folder for my mat. Anniversary is stamped with VersaMark then embossed with Stampendous Detail Gold embossing powder. I cut the banner twice, one from white cardstock and the other from the gold foil then just off-set them. I added a touch of color to the background using a dauber and Teresa Collins Gold Pigment. The foil strip is glued directly to the mat but then I popped up everything else with dimensionals.

The mat is then popped up from the Shimmer White card base with dimensionals.

Other than the WOYWW post tomorrow, I doubt there will be another post until next week. I HAVE to finish getting the office done so I need to step away from the crafting for a couple of days and just dive in. I can do a lot of things.. but just not all at once LOL

Creative Blessings!

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY!

Wow!

As usual, life has been a whirl wind the past three weeks. Bob's gone back to work and I'm diving deep into the studio to get it cleared out/ organized and ready for the grandgirls to have room to play.

In the mean time, I'm still trying to finish the ABC Junk Journal. So far I've deconstructed what the book was originally and am in the process of putting it back together in a new form while incorporating the things from Julie's ABC challenge list. The mini-challenge items I made have vanished from sight. I knew I should never have taken them out of the project bin so I could use it for something else. Ack!  At least I know they are in the office somewhere and will be found this week.

So many things going on I'll be sharing with you in the coming weeks, but for now let's talk about the

MAY MYSTERY MAYHEM JUNK JOUNAL CHALLENGE

yeah, say that three times fast LOL

First... the list:

Cover

Guest Check

Stamping

Use of fabric

Messy Thread

Flat paper clip

Bead dangle

Fancy closure (any type)

Handmade Washi

Tassel (any type)

Playing Card

Stenciling

Junk Mail

Fussy Cut image

Journal space (lined)

Layered Collage

Belly Band

Paper Ribbon ruffle

Top Tuck

Lace Pocket

Pull tab pocket

Paper flowers

Book paper pocket

Postage stamp

Metal

Reciept or ticket

Napkin or tissue

Doily

Signature ties dangle

Pair of pockets

Bling

The challenge theme is flowers and the Mystery Mayhem part comes in to play when we choose our item to work on each day. But how are they chosen is the question. 

Julie's idea is to print out the list, then cut them into strips and toss them into a bowl to be drawn... every day it is a mystery as to what we'll be working on.

But you know I can't do anything that simple. :-P  Have you ever played Pick Up Sticks?

While going through our card game cabinet I found a Stampin' UP! shell case that had popsicle sticks
for a rummy form of game called STICKS and the light bulb went on.

You know me and color. LOL

My first thought was that this would be an excellent way to keep the challenge items as a permanent inspiration item in the studio. We all have those moments when we want to do something but the idea just won't come. Or we look at a page and think 'it needs something'.

Pretty Colors!

The final product

I look forward to utilizing this new creative tool in the studio beyond the May Mystery Mayhem Challenge.

I should have a card tomorrow. I'm trying to get as much done as possible before we get the girls. I've already put 3 blogs on hiatus until September. I may even make the decision to drop two of them completely come the new year. Safe assured... THIS blog isn't going anywhere. You guys are my buds and I have too much fun sharing with you. 

Creative Blessings!

WOYWW #517

My desk as I left it last night around 10:30. I'm in the process of salvaging a journal I started almost 15 years ago when I taught an art journal class at Michaels. Sorry about the glare spot. I wasn't completely awake yet when I took this photo. I wanted to get linked up before I started my day.

Some pretty nasty storms rolled through the southwest portion of Missouri last night. Thankfully, we didn't get any of the high winds, tornadoes or the amount of rain those south and west of us received. They say we are in line for another round this afternoon. Keep those folks in mind, please.

I can not stress enough how important it is to have a plan in place for natural disasters. My husband sat at the dining room table last night while I prepared stuff to take to our protective corner of the basement. I hope he never has to experience an aftermath. My husband is a teddy bear at heart and doesn't like to think or plan for 'negative' things like disasters or death. While I do not dwell on negativity, I do know there are some things we can prepare for. 

On the news last night they kept talking about radar picking up debris. All I could think about was how far into the next county pieces of my office could be found in the event a tornado hit here.

So my question for you is:  Do you have a hard copy list of your studio contents somewhere safe? In the event you had to file an insurance claim, do you have something you can hand your insurance agent and know that everything you own would be replaced? Don't trust yourself to remember in the aftermath. You will be in shock and will not be able to make that list at the time. MAKE YOUR LIST NOW! Please. Be Safe... Be Prepared

Okay, commercial over. For a bit of happy, Bob and I spent 3 days in the city visiting new and favorite flea market/ thrift stores. At our usual favorite I found a steal! Angela has already seen but for the rest of you, if you're a Tim Holtz fan, you may want to check out MONDAY's post. 

That's it for my desk this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground  for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list. 

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY - Tim Holtz Find!

Good morning, friends!

I'm finishing my ABCs of Me book today and tomorrow. But today I have an incredible find to show you. Great items for mixed media, cards, or anything creative.

Y'all know I am a fan of Tim Holtz. The way his mind works just amazes me... and inspires me.

This past weekend, Bob and I took a couple of days and went into the city. This was our last chance for alone time before the girls arrive for the summer. Bob should go back to work this week. We are back to the day-to-day waiting for the call routine. Anyway, we decided to take a couple of days into the city for some thrifting. He wanted to go to a gun show in Seymour on Saturday and I'd found our new gazebo there. So off to the city we went.

One of our favorite places is Red Racks Thrift Store. Red Racks proceeds go to veterans and they have a great selection. Sadly, they've raised their prices on a lot of things. But I have to show you my KILLER FIND!

This binder was inside one of those zippered-plastic bags that sheets come in:

I was able to look down inside the bag, into the top of the binder to get a glimpse of what was in the binder... I saw STAMPERS ANONYMOUS and TIM HOLTZ. But there wasn't a price anywhere. That said, I knew that short of about $30, this binder was coming home with me.  $9 for the entire lot I'm about to show you. (photo heavy) Names/ Prices listed are on Simon Says Stamps. 

Captured Moments - $21.99

Creative Muse - $21.99 (out of stock)

Game of Life - $29.99 (out of stock)

Going Somewhere - $29.99 (out of stock)

Good Thoughts - $21.99

Mini Classics - $29.99

Mini Ornates - $29.99

Stuff to Say - $29.99

Urban Chic - $29.99

GRAND TOTAL RETAIL - $245.91 not counting the binder 

and three of those sets are out of stock!

Next week, I'll have the video up for the ABCs of Me Junk Journal as well as a sneak peek of what our May Challenge is all about!

Creative Blessings!

FRIDAY FREEBIE - Junk Journal Tip #1

I started a new series on my YouTube channel this week.

THURSDAY THREADS - A tip

I haven't had a thread post yet this year and thought I should get them rolling again.

I've brought the crochet hook back out. I have problems crocheting in the evenings because the cats want to help... usually lay in my lap. But I usually go to bed around 9 so I can turn on my fan and just wind down a bit before going to sleep. Tabby is my bed mate. She's a cat and cats play with yarn. To make it possible for me to still work on something, not have to chase the yarn off the bed and to keep her out of it, I've devised a plan.

After rolling the yarn into balls, I put each inside a gallon zip bag then cut a small hole in a bottom corner to feed the yarn through. Cat-hair free, Tabby can't get to the yarn (for the most part) and the ball doesn't roll off the bed away from me. I keep the three of them in my project bag and just rotate them out as needed.

This particular color scheme is to be a lap-gan for Abby's bed here at our house. The girl is all about PINK so I know this is a safe combination. I'm using Red Heart. Fiusha, Soft Pink, White.

The stitch is a simple single crochet, chain one, single crochet. the single crochet is worked in the chain space. I am doing 2 rows of the Fiusha then one each Soft Pink, White then repeat. I was planning a full size afghan for a twin bed but only chained 205 stitches for my base. Will be wide enough to go over her ottomon bed and provide a little extra something if the AC is too chilly for her. 

Silly me, thought I could do this in one month then do Adrian's - in blues - in May so they'd have them when they got here. I'm not even an 8th of the way through Abby's. Hmmm Oh well, if I can finish them up this summer, they'll have them for their next visit. 

What are you working on?

Creative Blessings!