First Spinner Card

The idea for this card started festering in my head about a week ago. I've been mulling it over in my head trying to figure out how I wanted to do it. I'd been in a grumpy mood and vented to my boss. Then I felt guilty about venting so I apologized and told him I'd come back to work the next day with an attitude adjustment. Him, being the smart aleck he is, asked me, "Is there some sort of adjustment knob for that? 'Cause if so I need to find mine too." And this card is the result of that comment.



Today I found a tutorial on the spinner card over on Angie's blog. If you want to make your own...you can click HERE and view her video tutorial. Basically there is a channel cut in the front of the card and the image (in this case the 'knob') will roll inside the channel. If you view Angie's tutorial you can see why they call it a "spinner" card.

For the 'knob' I used word art in Word and put it into a circular shape.

Jane

Paper Finds

I was at the scrapbook show last weekend and spent about a third of my money at a booth that had precut cards. Yes...I can cut them myself...but not this professionally. And they will make easy cards!

Here's a couple of the packages I bought.



I particularly like the circle cards. I have some images from CTMH that I think will go really well on these and will make SUPER quick girlfriend type cards.

Today I also finished my son's quilt (tied it). My finger is sore from doing all that poking through the fabric. I guess I can see where a thimble might come in handy! :-)

Tomorrow I am planning on going out and buying fabric for my next quilt (a baby quilt), and I'm planning on helping my niece design her wedding announcements. I bought stuff to make cookies this weekend...we'll see if I get around to that or not! LOL. It seems like there is always more stuff to do than there is time to do it in.

Jane

"John Deere" Riley

This image is one I received in the Riley swap.





Last weekend I picked up a few more of the Copic markers for coloring. The way they work, you really need to have about three shades of each color for the shading to be correct. For example, in this image I used 3 shades of brown on the hat and you'll notice you can't tell. There are no lines or anything. But on other areas in the image you can tell that it is two colors or that the colors don't quite blend as well. Those are colors where I don't have the correct markers. There are only about a zillion shades and unfortunately I don't have a zillion dollars! But I do like how (when done correctly) it looks like the image was printed...not colored by an amateur (that'd be me!)

Have a great Friday!

Jane

I don't wanna go!

I don't wanna go to work today! I'm tired and grumpy. Unfortunately I need to go.

What happened to my younger days where I had no qualms about calling in sick when I wasn't really sick? Where I didn't care if I used up my vacation time? Where playing 'hookey' as a 'mental health day' was a viable reason to place that phone call? Now I feel guilty. I can't lie. And people are depending on me. I guess the upside is that I feel needed. Appreciated??? Not really. But needed, yes. As part of a team I have to play my part for the sake of the team.

In many ways, it's come down to my sense of loyalty. I am intensely loyal to my immediate team of coworkers. I am frustrated by the company I work for and feel that they (the big picture) don't appreciate our group or what we do.

I feel like there is no room for growth and that frustrates me. I've let management know that I'm interested. But there is no room. I've even suggested levels within a position. So, if there is no room for growth...where is my incentive to perform? And why the heck don't I just call in sick???

Dang parents of mine...how dare they teach me about responsibility and loyalty! :-) Ok...I'm going to go get my shower and get headed off to another day at work.

Jane

I am SO excited!

I am so excited...my first quilt is essentially finished! I still need to handstitch the final portion closed (about a foot worth) and I plan on tying it off with yarn at the corners of each square. But for all intents and purposes...it is done, done, DONE. (Done at last, done at last...thank GOD I'm DONE AT LAST!) LOL. Wow...how does anyone ever do a queen or king size quilt? Are they insane??? Or they are just much more patient than I am. (If you know me...you know that is entirely possible! LOL!)



The front is all patched 6 inch squares. The back (not shown) is mostly the brown material but has a strip of the camo fabric on either end. Mainly because I had to piece it to make the fabric I had left big enough for the back!


The happy recipient!


Love the look on his face here!



Sorry, no cards made this weekend. Will try and do something today though so I'll have at least one or two cards to share for the week. I'm worried that this is going to be a week from hell at work.

Jane

My Friend is Nutty!

I really like how this card came out. I saw the sketch somewhere but don't remember where. If it looks familiar and you want credit...let me know!

This uses REAL stitching (might as well, since I have the machine out). The little peanut guy was from a grab bag I got from Viva Las Vegas Stamps. I've had the stamp for well over a year and never used it. Because...what exactly DO you use a peanut guy for?



I decided I wanted to make a play on words about "nut" or "nutty". So I decided on using "For my Nutty Friend". Then I went a step further and went online and found a translator that would translate the English to Spanish. So that's what the greeting says.

Here is the peanut guy up close...isn't he cute?



I went to the stamping expo today. It wasn't as good as I'd hoped but about what I expected. Not a whole lot of stamps. And what they did have were mostly wood mounted. So I only bought 3 small stamps. I did buy some more copic markers to add to my stash and some pre-cut cards.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! I am going to TRY and get my quilt top finished this weekend. We'll see if that happens or not!

Jane

I am so easily amused!

This doesn't look like much. But I am so proud of myself.



I know it doesn't look overly exciting. It is just practice...it won't end up "being" any thing. But I'm so happy with it. It has the chain, single and double crochet stitches. I've used up almost a whole skein (what you see left there is it) of yarn practicing.

So glad today is Friday. How is everyone else doing out in cyberland? Any plans for the weekend? We have a rubberstamp convention in town this weekend. I can't afford to buy a whole lot (and don't NEED a whole lot...but since when has THAT been an issue??? :-) ). But I'm looking forward to finding a few treasures.

Jane

Snail Mail

The limited sketch challenge this week at Splitcoast was to use a bug stamp, no more than 4 layers, and no patterned paper. This is the card I created...but then realized I'd used patterned paper! LOL. Duh, Jane, read the directions once in awhile! :-)



Oh well, I still like the card even if it doesn't meet the challenge criteria. That adorable snail is one of the $1 stamps over at Clear Dollar Stamps. I bought him a long time ago but this is the first time I've used him.

Yesterday I got my quilt top about half finished. I guess 72 squares doesn't go very far (sigh). Was hoping that'd be enough for the whole quilt. Guess not! The good news is that I am SO PROUD of myself. What I've done so far looks great for a first time project. My son will be thrilled with it when it is all done.

I also made a new card yesterday. It uses a stamp I've never used before (I got it in a grab bag from Viva Las Vegas Stamps) and my 'greeting' is in Spanish. So if that peaked your interest keep your eyes out for new things to come.

Have a great day!

Jane

Floral Card

If you follow me at all...you know that a floral card is very unusual for me. You'll also know that PURPLE is very unusual for me. So...what do I do? I combine them both into a card! And I love how it turned out! The purple is kind of a plum color. It didn't photograph as well as I'd like it to. I tried adjusting it but then it looked more pink than purple. So I decided to leave it as is.

Without further ado...here's a card for your enjoyment!



Finished size is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4. Stamp is from Stampin' Up. Cardstocks and background papers are from Close to My Heart. The sketch is from a recent week on SplitCoastStampers.

Publishings List

On a yahoo stamping list I'm on we were asked if we'd been published...and if so...what issues. So yesterday I went through and found MOST of the times I've been published. I'm certain there are a few more. But this is a starting point! These are all Stampers' Sampler.

Regular Issue Feb/Mar 2004 Cover and page 46
Regular Issue April/May 2005 Pages 41,43
Regular Issue Apr/May 2006 Pages 45,59

Take Ten Volume 1 Page 82
Take Ten Volume 2 Page 20
Take Ten Summer 2006 Pages 89, 93

Catch Up Issue Volume 10 Page 37

Also accomplished yesterday? I made two cards (will share later this week) and started sewing my quilt. I now have seven rows of eight blocks each row. I will need to make another row or two to get it height/width proportionate (told you I was flying by the seat of my pants here). But so far I'm happy with it for a first attempt. I can tell I definately need more practice. But considering I'm a sewing virgin I'm happy with what I've done so far and my son will love it (and that's all that matters!) When I get the top done I'll share it here.

Have a great Monday. I am headed into work early because I have a dentist appointment this morning that I'm going to have to miss some work for. Monday + Going in Early + Dentist Appointment DOES NOT EQUAL Fun! :-)

I've been busy

But not stamping! I guess since this blog is entitled "Jane's Creative Process" I can put anything craft related on it...right? Well, since it's my blog...I can put anything I want on it! LOL.

I've bought this adorable fabric to start my first quilt. The fabric is flannel and is from Joann's. I haven't even actually started sewing yet...and I'm exhausted!



First I had to wash the fabric, then I had to iron the fabric (this coming from a woman who refused to buy clothes she has to iron), and most recently...I cut a bunch of 6x6 squares out of the two fabrics. 36 of the bug/camo patterned fabric and 36 of the solid brown fabric. I have no idea if that is enough or not (really just playing it by ear here) but when I got too tired to go on...I decided it HAD to be enough. At least for now. I can cut more later if necessary. So that's how far I got on my quilt this weekend.

This has quickly reminded me WHY I LOVE PAPERCRAFTING! You sit down and you can make a card within a few hours (even if you're slow and perfectionistic like me). It is a relatively instant feeling of accomplishment. Then you mail it away and brighten someone else's day. And it didn't cost big bucks either.

The other thing I've been working on this weekend is learning to crochet. I'd figured out the basic chain and the single crochet stitch prior to today. Today I learned the double crochet stitch. I'm liking this stitch. Once again for the same reason...because it's a bigger stitch it looks like you've accomplished a lot more! I am almost through my first skein of "practice" yarn. A friend said she had a simple baby blanket pattern that uses only the stitches I know so far and she's going to get me a pattern. So that will probably be my first real project. I do wish my Mom were alive to see this day. She tried to teach me when I was younger and I just wasn't interested at the time. I am SURE I will never be as good at it as she was. But I'll be happy to be able to do a basic afghan.

Does anyone have any quilting and/or crocheting comments for me? Suggested reading? Good patterns? Tips/Comments? (Other than to tell me I am officially, certifiably insane?)

I hope you have a great weekend. I MIGHT actually do some sewing tomorrow. But right now I'm doubting it. I'm about "new crafted" out. I may go back and make a card so I can feel competent again! LOL.

Jane

Finally a card!

Well, last night I was feeling a little down...so it was time to make a card! This is what I came up with. I like it better in person...for whatever reason the colors didn't photograph very well. The cardstocks are a light olive green, a dark green, and a chocolate brown. The turtle is colored to match.



The stamps are all from Clear Dollar Stamps. If you've never seen their stamps...go check them out! They are clear polymer stamps...cute, CUTE sets (and singles) at a reasonable price.

Have a great day!

Jane

Sorry I've been MIA

Last week was crazy busy and then I went out of town for the weekend. So I haven't made anything crafty lately.

I went out on Friday and bought some quilting supplies and adorable fabric. $80 later I have a new hobby! :-)

We left town on Saturday morning and spent the weekend out of town with my cousins. Had a nice time and the boys had a blast playing with their cousins (they'd never met them before). Sunday we all went out in the desert for a picnic. All the kids piled into the back of the truck along with a couple adults and the rest of the adults piled into the cab. The road we had to go onto only a truck could handle. So I'm not sure if it's being around the left over hay bits in the back of the truck, the activity of hiking, the smoke from the fire, or a combination thereof...but my oldest son had a hard time breathing with his asthma after we got back. Of course I didn't take his nebulizer machine and it would cost $150 as a copay for an ER (and the small town doesn't have an urgent care). So we stayed at home but was up a good portion of the night. He's better today. I was wiped out from lack of sleep. I drove about half the way home and then had to hand it over to dh to drive the rest of the way. I was afraid I'd fall asleep at the wheel. I napped the rest of the way and then climbed straight into bed once I got home.

Here are a few pics from the weekend:


This is my "first cousin once removed" and I. At least I think that's the correct term. We always just called ourselves second cousins. Her mom is my cousin. We grew up together from the time I was about 10 years old.


Here are our kids roasting wienies. My oldest son is in the middle. The boy and girl on either side are my "first cousin's once removed children" (so what does that make them?) I give up...to me they are all cousins! :-)


If you look about half way up you can see a little TINY red shirt. That's how far our kids hiked that day! They were little mountain goats.


This is my first cousin and my youngest son.


See...told you they were all mountain goats that day!

Tomorrow I am going on a field trip with my youngest son. It's to the sewage treatment facility...how exciting! :-0

Have a great day!

Jane

A couple things...

Yesterday I came home from work and found a surprise in my mailbox! A big stamp set from CTMH. It had an address label on it - but I don't recognize the name. I don't know WHY I received the set. If any of my readers is the giver...I'd love to know who sent it!

The second thing I wanted to share is my "practice" piece of sewing. Mind you...these squares were not measured and cut...just eyeballed and cut. And I can see where I placed a pattern going the wrong direction. But regardless...I'm proud of myself. This required that I conquer a fear. And I found it to be a lot of fun! I'm definately going to see where this hobby grows!



I can't wait for payday so I can buy some basic tools, maybe some used magazines on quilting, and some fabric to play with! In the meantime I'll have to amuse myself with blog hopping.

Jane

All Stitched Up!

Well, after a weekend of playing at the sewing machine, I have a couple things to share this week.

First is this card:



There is some real stiching on here and some faux stitching on here...can you tell which is which?

The little "ewe" is from Michael's $1 stamps. Isn't he/she/it adorable? I colored just the face and then used liquid applique on the body so it'd puff up and look like he's covered in a wooly coat.

Hope you like it! I think the blue is a little boring. More than likely (in the future) I'd add some tone on tone stamping or some embossing to it. But I'd already sewed and layered (practicing) before I decided what I was going to do with making the card. So...it's a little plain...but that's ok once in awhile.

Jane

Rejected!

I got an email from High Hopes and I did NOT get the spot on the Design Team that I hoped to get. Major bummer! But I will just have to try again in the future.

Years (yes, truly YEARS) ago I bought a sewing machine. I wanted to learn how to sew well enough to create little preemie shirts to donate to Newborns In Need. I'm guessing this was probably at least 6 years ago. Well, for the most part the machine has set in my closet for all those years. I'd used it once (when a neighbor came over and helped me use it) but I wasn't brave enough to venture out and use it by myself. I'm a true chickenshit when it comes to trying new things. It's bad to be a perfectionist because you are afraid to try new things for fear of doing them wrong. Anyways, yesterday I decided it was time to break out the machine. I grabbed some cardstock and just practiced sewing straight lines. Today I plan on making some cards with the cardstock I sewed. I'm so proud of myself (yes, I am easily amused! LOL.) Just what I need...ANOTHER hobby that will cost me $$. :-)

I've also been teaching myself to crochet. My mom used to do beautiful work and she tried to teach me when I was younger. But I was too young and not that interested. And by the time I was old enough to be interested - she had passed away. (I was 27 when she passed away.) So far I've only learned the chain stitch and the single crochet stitch. But even as I watch my hands do the motions I can almost envision my Mom's hands doing it.

Yesterday we took the boys geocaching. That was interesting. I think it'd be fun to find another family and do a challenge to see how many sites you can each find in x-amount of time.

So...that's my exciting weekend. Hope yours has been enjoyable. I'll try to finish some cards today with my sewed backgrounds so I'll have artwork to share tomorrow.

Jane