Color Chef Challenge #15

When I saw Kelly Jo's latest color challenge I was so inspired. Not only by the colors, but also by the inspiration piece.



I wanted to follow the design of the inspiration piece as well as the colors. I embossed the white flourish and the butterflies. This was a fun one, I'm glad I had the time today to play along!

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: Bubblegum cs, yellow from stash

Ink: Versamark

Stamps: Key to My Heart, Butterfly Wings

Other: white embossing powder

Two Cards

I'm not sure why I'm even posting these cards as they are really kinda plain. This first is for my Grandmother's 89th birthday this weekend. She doesn't like the colors pink, green, brown and probably red. She pretty much only likes blue, but I just had to use this ribbon and I went with a simple black and white color scheme. Next time I use this ribbon I'm adding some color with it!!

This card I made just goofing around. This is the first time I've actually used the lace stamp set. I pull it out all the time, but it never seems to make it to the finished product.

Okay off to eat some chocolate!

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: black cs and white cs from stash, flowers from Unforgettable B&T

Ink: Black, Garden Green

Stamps: Fringed Phrases, Gracious Greetings, Lovely Lace

Other: ribbon (Hobby Lobby) colonial white brads

Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge #33

Sparkle of Sparkle's Creations has a great idea--she is challenging us to make a card a week and then when Christmas rolls around, you'll have all your cards done! It's brilliant really, except that my lazy self has not been playing along...

This week the challenge is to use strips of paper on your card. I really wish I could get the whole paper weaving thing down, so in the spirit of practice practice practice, here's my card.

As you can tell my wEaViNg Is WoNkY. But, with a couple of screaming kids in the tub last night, and a hubby who was trying his best to control the situation so his hormonal wife could veg at the scrap table, I think it turned out ok.

Now go check out Sparkle's card, cuz it's fantastic!

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: B & T from Evensong Creative Basics, colonial white cs

Ink: Cranberry and New England Ivy

Stamps: Christmas Melodies

Other: ribbon (Hobby Lobby) foam squares and glue dots

Obama is not good for my health care...

As he makes my blood pressure go UP!


He just said "if premiums go up (from insurance) then that's money that is not going into wages."

Newsflash!! If taxes go up...then that's money that is not going into wages!

UGH!!!

Last Jewelry Inspiration Challenge!

Stacey's Stamping Stage is getting a blog makeover and along with it she's going to be introducing a fun new challenge. So this will be the last Jewelry Inspiration Challenge. Sniff. I'm a bit sad--I love her showcasing the fascinating jewelry--but I am sure her new challenge will be just as creative and fun!

I also decided to use the Mojo Monday #96 Sketch to complete this card.

The colors felt a bit nautical to me, so I pulled out my New Horizons stamp set and starting working. When it came time to attach a bow, I called up my dad to teach me to tie a nautical knot.

What do you think, Dad? Did I get it right?

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: cranberry cs, desert sand B&T, indian corn blue B&T, colonial white cs

Ink: desert sand

Stamps: New Horizons

Other: twine (stash) foam squares, edge distressor, glue dots-what a lifesaver those are!

Oh the things we will do to keep OUR money...

Remember a while back when I told you we put cows on our land to keep our agricultural tax exemption. Oh and just so we're clear, exemption does not mean free from. The proper word should be discount.


Well as I mentioned in that earlier post we had gone through a few options, one of which was to cut grass for hay. Now it was going to be a little time consuming so D knew a guy at work who said he would lease the land from us to cut hay, thus giving us the ag exemption. Sweet right? No. He kept having issues that prevented him from doing it and before long, the year had passed without us having done anything 'agricultural' on the land. The tax man cometh. In the form of a certified letter.


Our next lesser evil option was to put cattle out there. D owns a few cows that are currently residing on his parent's land. I was gifted a cow from my inlaws several Christmases ago. So we decided to move three extremely old not-going-to-jump-the-fence cows from their herd to our land. Brilliant plan as we were only out the fencing required to span the width of the land to keep the cows on the pond-side not on the house pad-side of the property. Are you all just waiting on the edge of your chairs with this interesting story? I know I am.


Here's where it gets a little more fun. We were denied ag exemption for last year since the appraiser didn't see any ag stuff going on. So we had to send in an appeal. The letter we received said we had 30 days from the date of the letter to turn in the appeal. The letter was dated May 15th. D turned in our form on June 8th.


When he went in to turn in the paper, the woman told him the deadline for appeals had passed. He showed her the letter and she said 'oh' and took our appeal. No surprise here, we then get another letter that says we are denied ag exemption and to appeal we must go before the Board for a hearing Monday (July 20th) at 9am. Oh but first, we have to go in early to show 'just cause' as to why we were late filing our appeal.


Fortunately, D had off and didn't have to take a vacation day to defend our ag exemption.


First he met with the appraiser, Phillip. {Names have not been changed since there are no innocents to protect.} D had to show him the letter we got with the due date for the appeal on it. "Oh" says Phillip. "I didn't know we sent you that." You think, Phillip, that you could look through your freakin' files and note that you sent us a letter with a due date, and that we turned in our paperwork well before that due date so that my husband wouldn't have to get to your office at the butt crack of dawn and could stay at home in bed with me on his ONE DAY OFF, huh!?!?! Oh I guess that is asking a bit much of a bureaucrat. I mean what with all the trips out to our land to measure which side of the fence the cow patties are on, how ever would you have the time to look through the files right?

Phillip then tells D all he can give him exemption on is one third of the land. Why? D asks. The cows are currently fenced on over half of the land. Then D has to show Phillip where the fence is on a photo Phillip took. Oh says Phillip. Then all I can give you is exemption on one half of the land. Sigh. D says 'why only half if I rotate my stock from one half to the other.' Phillip says 'well you have to show proof that you are doing that.' Oh we know, Phillip, we know--you are going to need proof.

Okay. So then D gets to sit in the office and wait until his 9am appointment with the appeals board. Fortunately there are some real people, even a couple of cattlemen, on this board. D gets our exemption/discount without any problems. Oh except all we have to do is turn in the receipt for that hay lease.

I am so peeved that he had to spend even two minutes of his free time doing this, let alone several hours. Why is our government so entitled to our money? Our founding fathers would be more than appalled at our country today.

Read the book "The Five Thousand Year Leap" by Skousen. Absolutely enlightening. I think it should be required reading in American History classes. It was written almost 30 years ago. Spot on for today, because our founding fathers really were quite clairvoyant when it came to seeing where we were headed.

We've been busy! {and July CTMH WS}

It seems I hardly have time to blog. {Notice I didn't say 'hardly have time to sit for hours surfing other blogs.'} This past week I did my July CTMH workshop. My BFF (who always hosts at her house) demonstrated how to make beaded keychains and we did the layouts and card.

Here's the LIVE on stage layouts I did. They are really a departure from what I usually do for a workshop. I took my You Rock and Dancing Dreams sets in case they wanted to scrap pictures of a concert or ballet recital. I think most of the girls were pleased with it. Oh and I totally scammed the pictures off the internet since I took very few myself and none at the actual show.

I decided to use my popcorn card from Kelly Jo's challenge because it's been a while since we've used the Liquid Applique. And I am so glad I did. We had two new people there and they both loved it!

Yesterday I went to a bridal shower for that couple that eloped. It was so sweet. Ahh they are so young. But they've been dating for seven years, so this is no spur of the moment thing. Such a cute couple.

Saturday night I also made a simple card--not sure why I didn't go to bed. Sleep, who needs it?

I guess I do! Today I slept for almost two hours due to just sheer exhaustion. D has been in POC working with my dad and brother at a fishing tournament and I never get anything accoplished when he's gone day and night. Yeah he's back now!

My in-laws are coming and bringing my nieces to visit tomorrow, not sure I'll get any scrapping done. But then things should slow down and I can get back to making some cards.

Sorry for the random drive by post! Talk to you later...

Blessed be!

It's raining!!!!

Pierced Ears!

My lovely Little d is now sporting pink sparkling earrings! We were headed to the mall today to see a balloon exhibit (fun creations made entirely of balloons) so I casually asked this morning if she might want to get her ears pierced.

She's talked about it before, but today was the day. She did so good! And I think it helped that the woman at the Piercing Pagoda had a four year old daughter also. She could totally relate to Little d.

Such a fun day!!

Antique car birthday card...

I dug around in the clearance stamps at Hobby Lobby and found this antique car. I thought it was kinda neat, but I'm not as thrilled with the card. I think if I wouldn't have watercolored the car I would like it better.

Okay that's all I got.


Details:
Paper: patterns (The Paper Studio) cream cs and black cs (stash)
Ink: brown Stazon, cocoa (CTMH) black (CTMH)
Stamps: Happy Birthday (CTMH), antique car (Stampabilities)
Other: antique copper brads (CTMH) edge distressor (CTMH) kraft photo corners (3L) watercolor pencils and water pen (CTMH)

Did you fax John the Baptist your certification yet?

Now I've never tried to obtain a passport because I like hanging out in a country that's free from intestinal parasites. But I hear from a reliable source (okay so she's a drama queen, whatever) that it's a big ol' headache.


And yet, apparently still easier than getting your child baptized in the Catholic church.


It's been awhile since I've sat through Catechism, so I am a little rusty on Canon Law. {No that is not law written to guide your use of an SLR.} Here's a breakdown of my basic religious philosophy. If you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and you ask him to come into your life, you are going to heaven. Simple as that really. Now that's not Catholic philosophy which reads more like "earn your heaven by doing good deeds." It is born again Christian philosophy, but it is laid out pretty basically in the Nicene Creed which a Catholic says at every mass. Ahem.


Now on the whole baptism thing. I have no idea. Most faiths (as I understand it) baptize adults, or at least people old enough to decide for themselves they want to be baptized. Catholics baptize the young, the younger the better. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's supposed to wash away sin or original sin or something. I know I know--I should study this (believe me I'll have the chance.) Anyway, the parents and godparents make the professions of faith for the infant (i.e. rejecting Satan and all his works). Then when the child is older, junior high or high school age, they make the sacrament of Confirmation, basically saying the same things their parents and godparents said for them many years ago. Okay. So that brings us to the present.


I don't agree with all the tenets of the Catholic church. (I am pro-life, but I don't pray to anyone but God. Oh and the whole confession thing with a priest--no, I'll take it up directly with the Big Man Upstairs, thankyouverymuch.) So the main reason I chose to have my kids baptized in the church, was for traditions sake. I know--excommunicate me--but I don't feel in my heart that God will send an infant to Hell (or Purgatory) who is not baptized. By the way I don't believe in Purgatory either. I'm not a very good Catholic am I?

Okay wait, now we are up to the present. I recently overheard a cousin (yes another one--I have 37 first cousins and 5 first step-cousins) speaking about getting the certificate of the godmother for the priest to baptize her kids. I've been checking around--well I've had my people checking around--here's the scoop. If you are a parent, you need to take a class to be certified, be married in the church, or not living in sin. If you are a godparent you need the same thing, except that only one godparent has to be Catholic. I think. In fact, only one godparent needs be present at the actual baptism. The other can be a 'stand in'. A stand in can have any questionable character whatsoever. Make sense?

Even more inviting: your certification only lasts for a limited time as determined by whichever parish you are using. One year in some cases, three years in others. Make sense?

But at one location you only need to contact them and they can fax a copy of your certificate even if it has expired...without you having to take the class again. Make sense?

I think, and I'm not a hundred percent on this, that I will need the following to have my second child baptized:

• my marriage license
• my baptismal certificate
• my husband's baptismal certificate
• my certification of taking the class
• my husband's certification of taking the class
• the godmother's certification of taking the class
• the godfather's certification of taking the class
• maybe their marriage licenses also--I'm just pulling that one outta my butt.

Here's why I think this is re-donkulous. Back in Bible days I don't think John the Baptist required anything of you to be dunked in the river but your willingness to repent. Am I right? I am certain that there was no certification or faxing of paperwork.

I'll leave you with another list titled Things That Are Easier to Do Than Baptize Your Child in the Catholic Church (from my personal experience):

• get (and keep) a license to sell alcohol in the state of Texas
• become certified to use the Texas Lotto machine
• get waited on at the Social Security office
• get an actual BINGO
• talk your husband into letting you name the children
• and finally, get married in the Catholic Church...no wait, that's about equal.

Smile you're on Mojo Monday!

What I am about to confess may get me thrown out of the card making community. I made this card for someone in particular as a pick me up, but...I just love it too much. I don't want to give it away. Now that's not the deep dark confession. Here's the deep dark confession: While I love this person, and think she is the cat's meow, she's not a cardmaker, so...I am afraid she just won't appreciate it enough. I know I am EVIL!

See, here's the deal. I spent the better part of an hour coordinating paper, ink and not one, but TWO polka-dotted ribbons for this card. I stamped, Cuttlebugged, sanded and measured. I enlisted the help of a four year old to tie the bow. I just want someone to open this card and squeal, like any rational cardmaker would do! Not just smile and say oooh bright colors. And move on.

Okay--I hope you all realize that I am speaking in jest, trying to elicit a cheap laugh...or am I???

Mwah haha ha!

Details (all CTMH unless noted)

Paper: Citrus Leaf cs, Bubblegum cs, Holiday Red cs

Ink: Citrus Leaf, Bubblegum (1st and 2nd generation), Holiday Red

Stamps: Extreme Happiness, Happiness (huh that's funny)

Other: Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Cuttlebug embossing folder, sanding block, pink floss, glue dots, foam squares

PS I tried something new, I tried linking the sketch picture back to the Mojo Monday Blog. But I linked it here too in case that didn't work. Thanks for stopping by!

JCI #45

Well it appears that Stacey has been to my house snooping through my patterned paper stash! This week's colors also matched a piece of paper I had perfectly, so I used it.

Especially since CTMH doesn't really have any colors close to the inspiration colors. This paper also had a bright green in it, but I just trimmed that off. Doesn't it kind of look like a swan?

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

(ETA: the link and a grammer correction!--uhg! If only I could get it right the first time!)

Details:

Paper: purple from stash, pattern (DaisyD)

Ink: Vineyard Berry (CTMH)

Stamps: Happy Birthday (CTMH)

Other: buttons, embroidery thread (stash)

Our Cows {lovingly called ground-beef, ground-chuck and ground-round}

And when I say lovingly, I mean not lovingly at all. But I think you'll agree with me after my little story today.

So I had a bit of a busy day yesterday. By busy I mean No Time To Scrap. I went to a baby shower, and then my cousin (who is expecting in November) asked me to 'help' her find a maternity swim suit at Target so I tagged along. I don't get to spend much uninterrupted time with her so I was thrilled that we got a little time to shop.

After that I came home and vegged (played on Farmtown), loaded the dishwasher, and whatever until D decided he was going to take the girls to check on the cows. And rather than stay at home, I decided to tag along with them. So Little d and I grabbed our cameras, we slathered on sunscreen, packed some snacks and water and headed out.

When we got there, D unloaded a tub of "molasses" and Little m stood in the back of the truck. Doesn't it look like she's summoning the cattle. "Come to me cows."

Here they come. Dead cows running!

I don't know if you can see in the picture, but those are "cubes" which cows love. They look like giant rabbit pellets.

Our little budding photographer.

Notice how tame these cows are as D feeds them some cubes. These cows are old people, virtually on their last legs. Even more so after yesterday's incident, but I am getting ahead of myself...

Little d checking out the pond.

Kiddos and cows in sweet harmony. Ahhh. A lovely summer day. Put the lens cap back on.

Now this is where one of the shits headbutts Little m. That's right. One of those dried up hussies actually took two steps forward and headbutted Little m in the chest onto the ground. D and I flew over and the cow ran away and Little m was crying and very upset because all she wanted to do was touch one. In fact she had already touched one on the nose. Little m is fine, she didn't even get the wind knocked out of her, but I am super pissed. I am mad at myself for not being closer and for trusting the cows to be more tame than that. And I am mad at the cow for picking on someone so much smaller than herself!

Originally Little d and I named the cows Beauty, Rosa and Princess. I've changed the names to reflect their standing in my world. Can you blame me?

Memories of my Bible (and art class)

Before I show you my card for the Traveler's Inspiration Challenge #2, I want to tell you a little story. When I was a little girl I used to stay at my Memaw's house alot. She always had stuff for me to do and she was always quite content to spend the whole day entertaining me. Hours on end of reading to me, singing songs, baking...you name it, she would spend time doing it with me.

Mostly she read from the Bible. My favorite Bible was the Children's Bible.

I was absolutely riveted. Not just to the stories that she made come alive, but also the detailed pictures. I was always enthralled with the buildings, the clothes, and the jars. Don't ask me why I was so fascinated with the pottery.

As a high school senior I took beginner's art on a whim. (I was already enrolled in band, debate, psychology, and sociology. I was looking for an easy elective. Hey I was a senior.) Anyway one of our assignments was to draw a cityscape. And time, any place--real or not. I immediately dug out my Children's Bible and drew my rendition of old time Jerusalem. I loved that project more that you can imagine. What is so funny is just last weekend in POC I dug out my old artwork and saw that drawing. I should have taken a picture of it. Well--next time I will.

When I saw the Traveling Challenge this week I didn't see an adobe, I saw an ancient Bible village!

I pulled out my Bethlehem stamp set and made a Christmas card.

I layered the buildings to give it dimension.

This project was a joy to work on. And I got to pull out my Children's Bible again and reminisce.

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: colonial while cs, desert sand cs

Ink: desert sand

Stamps: Bethlehem

Other: colored pencils (EK Success)