Live from Tormville!

The "Spring" Technique Tuesday Blog Hop

Good Monday Morning! 

If you've been by my blog before, you know that Mondays are my absolute favorite - and NOT, as my kids like to accuse - because they are going off to school. Like I said last week, that's just a bonus. 

Monday's to me are a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning. Very much like spring when everything is blooming and the seasonal attractions begin opening again...which brings me to the subject of this month's blog hop. 

Our guidelines for this hop were to think spring. I know a lot of people when they think of spring thing of soft pastel colors and flowers, but not me. (between you and me, pastels and I don't get along) I think of getting outside and getting out to many of our favorite places. Yesterday we took a hike at the Nature Center, but a couple weeks ago - on April 14th - we headed down to Greenfield Village for opening day. That I put these pictures on a layout already is a testimony to my Project Life project, but that's a story for another day. 

For this layout, since I'm not pastel driven, I went with my yellows and reds, along with my April Showers by Ali Edwards stamp set. This set is fun to use because it has such a great mix of stamps that'll fill all the little needs on a layout - the border, the embellishment, the title. My original plan had been to mix two stamp sets, but once I got started I realized I really didn't need to - this one did it all. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Leave a comment for a chance to be the lucky winner who will win the Fly stamp set. 

Make sure to take the time to be inspired by the rest of the Stamping Techs and see how they interpreted this months' spring challenge!

Tobi

Ashley

Charlene

Linda

Sharyn <---- you are here

Teri

Tanis

Daniela

Kris

Laura

Jaclyn

The winner will be announced on the Technique Tuesday blog on May 3rd. 

Happy Monday!

Organizing my Technique Tuesday stamps

I had a choice to make the other day. Clean the house or ....... something else. 
I chose something else.  I mean, wouldn't you?

I've been wanting to reorganize my Technique Tuesday stamps for awhile now. I love the newer smaller packaging, but all my storage was based on the old 8.5 x 11 packaging.  Time to switch it up!  

Smitten with the new Martha Stuart binders and page protectors at Staples - I picked up a few to begin my organizing. I'm using the 5.5 x 8.5 size protectors. They fit these and my Studio AE sets perfectly. 

I like how the protectors have a safety flap at the top - even the pages with 2 and 4 spots. They keep the stamps from sliding out. 

The four slot pages fit the 2.99 sets perfectly! 

And the two slot pages fit all the rest. Really - I couldn't have wished for a better system - love the ease here. 

I do think I need to pick up one more binder though. I'll probably keep the full sheets in one, the 2 slot sheets in another and the four slots in the third. 

I also picked up a red binder to keep my non-Technique Tuesday stamps separate and I have a few of each style of protector in this one. 

My 'other's' are pretty much Studio Calico and Jenni Bowlin. 

*happy sigh*

Now I really do have to clean. 

Six Word Memoirs * the cure for the winter blues

At any given time when you walk to my computer, you'll see at LEAST a dozen tabs open but more often it's  more than 20.  I keep open challenges I'd like to play, boards I frequent several times a day, articles that I'd like to read when I pour my afternoon coffee and longer blog reads. 

One such tab that I've had open for about a week now was the Cure for the Winter Blues Challenge on the Moxie Fab blog.  

Add that tab to a recent chat that I was inspired by over at JBS Mercantile, and I was soon pulling out my paint, my stamps and my Glossy accents and making a fun new mess all over my desk. 

In the chat with Karen Grunberg, she had mentioned Six Word Memoirs and curious - I wrote it down on my little note pad and looked up what exactly that was when chat was over.  Six Word Memoirs - the challenge of storytelling in just six words!

I think my spine might have tingled. How fun!! 

 

 For the cover of my book, I use a Maya Road Chipboard Tag
and I painted the center white, and the frame I painted with my jenni bowlin Soap Powder
Acrylic Paint Dabber
I then stamped my title letters, again using my stamps from my Stepping Stone add-on
from Studio Calico
onto a piece of Sassafrass patterned paper (pocahantas and me)
the word six was from my American Crafts Remarks Stickers (Shane)
I adhered the stamped letters using my Glossy Accents
And then after applying the six stickers as well - I went over the whole top with my Glossy Accents
And then I went to be and let it dry
My left brained self was really letting my right brain out that night

And again the next morning. 

All photos/items described in this book will be done with six words. My spine just tingled again!

I did this page this afternoon - and boy, was it fun. 

I just happened to be flipping through the book trying to figure out where I'd play next, and this set of words caught my eye. Could it be more perfect?  Even Wendy was impressed - Really, mom? Those words were just right there in the book like that?   They were!   I used white acrylic paint to paint over all but those six words, and then used my .05 Pigma Micron to outline the words, and my .005 to create the scallops. I colored in the scallops with my YR68 Copic. 

The patterned Paper Posies just happened to be fluttering around my desk, leftover from a past project and worked well here. They are happy to finally have a home. 

And this page I created while thinking that you know, it's fine that dinner is late tonight - it just helps us to get adjusted to this weekend time change.  Who needs dinner anyway. 

My kids pretending to be fish at Potter Park Zoo in January. 

Silly kids. 

Fun, right?

I've already got my next picture pulled - guess what I'll be doing this evening! 

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Calvinball points = 9
Calvinblog points = 8
Bonus Points =  2.5

Total = 19.5

For the complete, subject to change at anytime and cheaters welcome Official Unofficial Calvinball rules - check here 

 

February Studio AE Technique Tuesday Blog Hop

Goooooooood Morning!  

Welcome to this month's Studio AE Blog Hop!  

eta: since several of you have asked about the color I added to the border, I thought I'd edit this post and share here.  I stamped my image onto white paper with my black ink pad, cut it out, and then colored in the border with my R27 (red) Copic Ciao so it would match my patterned paper.  Fun, right?  The possibilities are endless! 

This month I had fun. I love how I can use the stamps in this month's set - Studio AE - Favorite Story - to create a title, which is what I did here.  This is a layout I've been meaning to get out of my head and onto paper for awhile now. 

Can you read it?  (it's sometimes easier if you click the photo) It's a little funny moment that we have weekly over here. The boys - most often Mark - will ask me to tell a story, so I'll tell him that a pig fell in the mud, then he'll laugh and say - no! longer! So I'll say a pig named fred fell in the mud - and it goes on and on.  

I journaled this layout with a Pigma Micron .005 - it's my journaling pen of choice. It's probably been over a year since I've used my printer to journal. I prefer the convenience of my pen. 

I also ended up grabbing the arrow from my Studio AE set from August - I'm quite partial to that arrow. 

And as for the photo - something that I finally learned to do within the last year, is to keep a file of random photos of my kids. A file that contains pictures that I like but that don't necessarily go with any event, or pictures that are extra. I use these photos to document these stories that don't have a specific picture to go with them. I thought this picture fit here because he's laughing, which is what he does when he has me tell this story. 

It works. 

Be sure to take some time today or over the weekend to check the blogs of all the talented stampers taking part in today's Blog Hop:

Ali

Julie Campbell
February Studio AE guest

Daniela

Laura

Nichol

Sharyn <------ that's me

Teri

Jaime

As a thank you for all the comments received during the hop on all the blog, as well as those left on the Technique Tuesday blog, we will give away two stamp sets.  

One lucky commenter will win our Fabulous by Ali Edwards stamp set, and another lucky commenter will win our Missing You by Ali Edwards stamp set. 

You don't need to leave a comment on all the blogs to be eligible to win. But the more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win. 

All comments must be made by midnight PST on February 13th. Tune into the Technique Tuesday blog on February 14th to see if you are on the lucky winners. 

Thank you so much for stopping by

Happy Weekend!  

The "Brand New" Technique Tuesday Blog Hop

Hey!  Happy Monday!!! 

Welcome to the "Brand New" Technique Tuesday blog hop. 

Technique Tuesday's Stamping Techs are blog hopping again and this month we're delighted to be sharing some cool projects made with some of the new stamps that Technique Tuesday is debuting this week at the CHA trade show in California. 

For my blog hop, I had a lot of fun playing with the new Dreamy Daisy stamp set. I love daisies! 

The first project I created was a little envelope. I stamped the daisy image onto an old dictionary page and lightly colored it in before adding it to my envie. 

Fun - right? I'll be using that for my February mail something every day goal. 

The next project I got messy with was a little journal. I used some chipboard for my base and started adding fun. This time I stamped the daisy onto white cardstock so the colors would pop just a little bit more than they did on the dictionary page. What I love about getting a new stamp in the mail is seeing how many different moods and styles I can get out of just one image. 

I'm not one hundred percent sure what I'm going to do with this book yet, but it'll come to me. I filled it with a fair amount of pages.  Suggestions are welcome.  *smile*

No idea what I'm going to do with it, and yet - I can't wait to make another. 

Typical me. 

(the polkas were made with green acrylic paint and an old Heidi Swapp mask)

Be sure to check out the blogs of everyone taking part in today's blog hop:

Tanis

Ashley

Charlene

Daniela

Tobi

Laura

Sharyn <------- you are here

Kris

Jaclyn

Teri

We love reading your comments and we will be having some random draws for prizes. From the comments received on all the blogs we will pick one lucky person to win the Flurry stamp set.  We'll pick another lucky commenter to win the Missing You by Ali Edwards stamp set. 

You don't need to comment on all the blogs to be eligible to win, but the more comments you leave - the more chances you'll have! 

Comments must be posted by midnight on February 2nd. The winner will be announced on February 3rd on the Technique Tuesday blog. 

Thanks for stopping!! 

Happy Monday!! 

 

 

December Studio AE from Technique Tuesday Blog Hop

Good morning and welcome to this month's blog hop. Boy, the months sure do zip by, don't they! 

This month we're playing with Techique Tuesday's December Studio AE - It's Okay by Ali Edwards. I love all the word options in this set - they can fit just about any layout, AND - they'd make great cards as well! 

For today's share I decided to pull together some pictures that my friend Stacy took of me when I invited her to come crewing with us this last fall. It's not often that I'm on the other side of the lens. 

For the ups and downs stamp, I stamped it on a non-textured piece of cardstock, trimmed it out and then colored it in with colored pencils. 

I did the same thing with the lifetimes stamp.

I ended up not being happy with how the journaling turned out here - my go-to black journaling pen came out too light on that red, so I retraced all my words, but it was still difficult to read. I then traced it one more time with my silver CM pen, but now it just looks too bulky and harder to read. I will probably end up redoing that portion. If I get it done today before I file it away I'll edit this post and add the updated version to the bottom.  My kids, however, say we have to make cookies today since the snack cupboards are bare and they are anxious to pull out the rolling pins and make Christmas cookies.  *smile*  Sounds like it'll be a day well spent. I reminded them that I *will* be taking time out for this afternoon's tube concert however. 

Nobody from my house ever wants to join me for the holiday tuba concert in the cold. Odd bunch. 

So hey - Happy Saturday, thanks for stopping - and be sure to stop by all the other blogs along the way to see the great fun and variety that can be had with this set!

Ali Edwards

Jen Gallacher 
*our Studio AE Guest for December*

Daniela

Laura

Nichol

Sharyn (that's me)

 Teri

Jaime

As a thank you for all the comments received during the hop on all eight blogs, as well as those left on the Technique Tuesday blog, we will be giving away two stamp sets. 

One lucky commenter will win our Live in the Moment by Ali Edwards stamp set and another lucky commenter will win our Smooch by Ali Edwards stamp set. 

You don't need to leave a comment on all the blogs to be eligible to win, but the more comments you leave the more chances you'll have! All comments must be made by midnight PST on December 13th. 

Tune into the Technique Tuesday blog on December 14th to see if you are one of this month's lucky winners!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Happy Holidays!!

 

 

 

 

Christmas Layout Share

I told my people that today - I'll be creating. I have a list of projects and assignments that I want to finish before I take down the card table - and I want to take the card table down before our holiday company shows up. 

It's like a race. 

I finished this layout just a bit ago. We've seen Santa in many places - at The Henry Ford, at our local library, and this last year we visited him at a local shop in town.  We liked this visit. No lines. and they took the photographs - FOR FREE. We just had to go back the next day to pick them up, and they came with a nice personalized note. 

We're hoping to see him there again in - ack, a couple weeks. 

Time to get busy. 

busy busy busy.....

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Items used

25 Moments by Ali Edwards
Memorandum Collection Journal Cards
KI Memories - Lace Cardstock
FUNdamental Superstars
Corner Maker

 

October Studio AE from Technique Tuesday Blog Hop

*big deep happy sigh* 

I survived the weekend. And I love Mondays. Today is another beautiful fall day here in Michigan - we've had a string of them in a row, and it appears to be holding out for just a few more days. Today I'm determined to irk out some time to get out there and enjoy it! 

Today I'm also happy to welcome you to this month's Studio AE Blog Hop. 

For this layout, I went back a few years and pulled some pictures from 2006. (I won't even pretend that I scrapbook in order)  This was the first year that our now almost 11 year old was brave enough to stick  her hands into the pumpkin's guts. *smile*  All years previous to this one she wouldn't go near them. It's so much more fun carving pumpkins if you're not squeemish about it, don't you think? 

click the layout to see it larger

I used Shimelle's starting point to launch this layout. I love sketches and starting points. 

Studio AE - Give Thanks by Ali Edwards

Perspectives Patterned Paper - Technique Tuesday

Bella Blvd. - Too Cute to Spook

A Date With Ali - Technique Tuesday

InLinkz.com

Make sure to stop by the rest of the blogs in this month's hop for more inspiration and more chances to win! 

Ali

Heidi Van Laar
(Our Studio AE Guest for October)

Daniela

Nichol

Sharyn <---- that's me

Laura

Teri

As a thank you for all the comments received during the hop on all eight blogs, as well as those left on the Technique Tuesday blog, we will give away two stamp sets.

One person will win the Who What Where by Ali Edwards stamp set, and another lucky winner will win the You Always Know by Ali Edwards stamp set.  

You don't need to leave a comment on all the blogs to be eligible to win, but the more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win. 

All comments must be made by midnight PST on October 12th, 2011. Tune into the Technique Tuesday blog on October 13th to see if you are one of the lucky winners. 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Happy Monday!

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Funny of the morning

Mark, our in house 4 yr old, woke up at 7:30 am. He was all - Mom, you didn't say my prayers yet!  So I snuggled up next to him and helped him with his bedtime prayers, and then said, Good Morning!  He was stunned.  It's Morning???!!! 

August is flying

sneak peek created with Technique Tuesday's September Studio AE

More than a few times this month I've glance at the calendar with surprise. As in - what?  It's the 25th already??? But I still have so much to do!

Back to school haircuts
School shopping
get the teenager a driver's license
(he left for work just after 8am this morning - by the way. anxious for him to get home so I can hear how it went)
take the kids to a water park

That's a lot to cram into the last week plus of vacation!

As for today - I have a stew in the crockpot, a load of clothes on the line. a niece who spent the night, a teenager working, two boys who are reading through the huge pile of library books on the couch (our library closes for ten days over the Labor Day holiday, so we stocked up last night), and a dog who might need to be taken to the vet (eye discharge and a paw that looks a bit tender and sore) (I'm thinking she's allergic to something around here).

And the weather looks sketchy. They keep saying no rain - but I'm not sure they looked out the window at those clouds.... 

Taking a break for a Studio AE sneak peek....

 

okay - three peeks.  I'm excited.  :)

These are all using Technique Tuesday's January Studio AE kit. It's fun!  You can see a couple other peeks over here and here.  I'm working on slowly updating my blog and blog links, so I'll create a section of direct links to all the stamping techs real soon.

But today I'm enjoying some alone time.  Hubby took the kids down to The Henry Ford and on some errand running.  They asked if I'd come - and I was tempted (honest) but told the hubby if I can stay home I'll take down the tree.  If it were up to him he'd have the tree down by midnight the night of Christmas.  He told me to stay home.  :) 

The radio is cranked up loud, the dust is flying, the tree is nearly down and I'm about to dust the nativity.  Amazing how much dust flies through here in a month

*hack hack cough cough*