Live from Tormville!: Technique Tuesday

May 21, 2013

graduation announcements

For Allan's graduation announcements, I dug through my box of discontinued stamps for my set of Extra Large Underground numbers. I've been BEGGING for another large set of numbers. Help me beg. ;) Large number stamps are a set that I always get lots of use out of.

Several notes....

I often have a piece of chipboard underneath my stamping surface. It provides both a cushion and a place to catch the ink of the overlap.

The inks used on this card are both Jenni Bowlin for Ranger inks - Lemon Drops and Seed Packet. Allan's school colors. But they call them green and gold. They don't know what I know. ha.

The above stamp is Chevron Two Step.

I began by stamping the one chevron nearish (I don't measure) the bottom, and then added the solid chevron both above and below. Clear stamps are such a fantastic invention, don't you think? The ability to see where the stamp is going to land is huge. I wasn't able to do this with the wood mount stamps that I used to make his birth announcements with almost 18 years ago.

Because I don't measure, and because I was kind of winging it, I added the twenty-thirteen (from the set - In a Nutshell) right into the chevron on some cards, and on the bottom of the others. And you know what? I like them both.

The bottom created, I then stamped the 2013 above the chevron...

....about 45 times. I'm a firm believer in the assembly line process (do all the chevrons, then do all the twenty-thirteens, then do all the dates....). It went quick.

The inside invitation portion I printed out on our computer and adhered it in.

Nothing fancy.

Today I will work on his thank-you cards.

Happy Tuesday!
be good.

May 21, 2013 in cards, Stamping, Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (7)

May 01, 2013

deep breath It's May.

layout made using Technique Tuesday's May Studio AE - Heartfelt

Journaling left blank, because I made it for my daughter to journal/put in her book.

And now it's May. I've been a bit apprehensive about May. So much going on, so much to do.

So much, in fact, that I'm beginning the month by taking three days off work solely to clean house and work on some big projects. My husband decided that he'll come home from the airport today rather than go to the office, so he should be home in time to see the living room completely gutted and me rolling up the old icky carpet to throw onto the curb.

I'm determined that he not break my stride. And *bonus!* now he can help me move the china cabinet.

Other than three day of cleaning and projects, I have a goal this month to try my best to not fall too behind. With field trips, working, graduation, etc.... I'm going to have to try real hard. The list is long.

I can do it.

For now I'm enjoying the fresh new start that a new page on the calendar brings.

May 01, 2013 in Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 18, 2013

My momma says...

card made using Technique Tuesday's re-released Irony

....that I was far too quiet yesterday. No blog OR facebook. So unlike me. Sorry. ;)

Stuffs:

Called and made an appointment for Brian to see the JRA doctor, as recommended. (arthritis). The soonest he can get in is the tail end of August. Until then I'll just continue to daily document his aches and pains. Yesterday it was his pelvis area - bad enough that it made his eyes a little leaky during school. But then it stops and off he goes to run and jump around. I also ordered up some Vitamin D drops - we had run out. He'll start those on Friday.
I work again today. Tomorrow there is no school. I debated going up north for the weekend to see the snow, but hearing that they are getting another 10-16 inches during the time that I'd be traveling....I changed my mind.
I'm taking the first three days of May off of work in order to clear out stuff for annual spring clean up. I have plans to gut through the basement, yank out carpet, etc....
Spring clean up is now every other year - and is the first Saturday of May. They begin picking up at 6am.
I ordered a new dishwasher this week, and we'll pick that up on Saturday. We've been without a dishwasher for at least four 1/2 years - but it might be 5 1/2....I'd have to look it up. The kids think it's Christmas.
I went to bed at 8:30 last night. My family was glad. I was CRANKY.
A nice hot shower this morning will do me good.

Happy Thursday!

April 18, 2013 in Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 25, 2013

The Monday of another busy

card made using Technique Tuesday's March Greenhouse Society
I stamped on a page of an old dictionary, then colored with my Copics.
pulled out my sewing machine, added a bit of texture/stitching
more inspiration on the TT blog.

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Catch up and bullets...

This week will be spent trying to get ready for traveling/Easter
and hoping we can get rid of the sick bugs. Greg and Wendy were both down yesterday - headaches/felt carsick. No fevers. No other symptoms, but weak.
This will be our first time leaving our dog since we got her in July of 2011. I hope she does well with the dog sitter she lined up. She gets all pouty when Greg starts working too much overtime.
Greg sold a job last week and took his client out to dinner at the Brazilian Steakhouse. He was asked to install the project during July shutdown - but he already has another project going in then. So he'll put this one in earlier. I jokingly said - so, St. Ignace weekend? I was told to bite my tongue.
He'll be on heavy overtime until the end of July. At least.
I work Mon-Thurs
Don't laugh.
The wedding Saturday was lovely...fun to visit old friends.
Since Greg couldn't make it, I thought I was doing him something nice by bringing home a cigar - I had completely forgotten that he quit smoking them about a month ago.
Went to the gym Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Met my goal for the week. We'll see if I can find any time this week.
Allan changed the battery in his car on Friday with a little coaching from Greg. To change the battery on Al's car, you have to first jack up the car, take off the front drivers side tire.....
George stopped by on Thursday and Friday. Brian wouldn't let him leave on Friday until he played/sang at least ONE song.
Brian gashed his neck yesterday while I was out. The real story is that he was horsing around, fell off his dad's lap and ran his neck along the edge of the desk while falling to the ground. The story they came up with to share at school today involves ninja's and tigers and dark back alleys.
Baseball has been canceled this evening for cold temperatures, which is just as well since it's Mark's last swimming class tonight.
I didn't sign him up for another spring class as we have too many schedule conflicts, so he'll go for a couple weeks in the summer.
I also signed Brian and Mark up for a four day art class this summer. They're pumped. They'd been begging.
Happy Monday!

--------

Calvinball

adding points for 2 cards and blog posts - 32-1/2

March 25, 2013 in Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 10, 2013

March Studio AE Blog Hop from Technique Tuesday

Project Life Week 3

Hello and welcome to another tenth of the month and another Technique Tuesday blog hop. This month's hop puts to work Studio AE's set called This Story. I thought it worked perfectly for a week of Project Life. The spring forward time change, however, did not work perfectly with my photographing layouts/Project Life in the morning routine. I hope to come back with some updated better pictures later today. :)

What I do like is how well the stamps worked for me to make my own journaling cards. I loved that I can create a bold accent and still have plenty of room for journaling. If you know me, you know I love to journal.

The one spot on ths page is intentionally left blank - still have one piece of extra goodness that I'm waiting for that is significant to that week.

It was a good week.

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

Sharyn <------- That's me!

Daniela

Teri

PRIZE!!

We are giving away a $25 gift certificate to TechniqueTuesday.com to one lucky commenter during this month's blog hop. The winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on the 15th on the Technique Tuesday blog. You can win if you don't play!

eta: I apologize for having to turn word verification back on, but I got slammed with computer generated spam this morning while I was out. Darnit.

-------------------------------

Other stuffs:

I know I've been low key lately - my mom is in town, and Mark has some sort of nasty sinus infection. I rushed him to the doctor on Friday when his fever suddenly launched to 104.2. After two nights of no sleep for all the hacking and coughing, I think we both finally managed to get some sleep last night.

Relief.

We'll keep him home this morning to catch up on his rest and to make sure he's on the mend. The fever yo-yo'ed for four days straight.

March 10, 2013 in Project Life, Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (78)

March 01, 2013

March!

Layout made using Technique Tuesday's March Studio AE - This Story

I incorporated the progam's flier into this layout . the border piece being a functional part of the design.

I like saving programs. It makes it easy for me to glance and see that when I was a kid, we sang songs like Away in the Manger and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem at our public school programs. My kids sing songs like Jumping Jack and Peppermint Stick.

February worked out pretty well for me.

Looking back on my list of February goals: bike more than January, visit a gym (signed a contract yesterday), plan a menu, get the taxes done (refund went into the bank yesterday), survived shopping with my daughter, etc..... I did a pretty good job of knocking them all out. Except. I forgot about the sign a kid up for guitar lessons goal. BUT - I'm crying that I'm even since I signed a kid up for soccer and art class, and I didn't even have that on my goal list.

So with February having gone so well, I have high hopes for March as well. For one, I'm hopeful that March brings better layout photographing light.

Here's the plan:

Happening: Brian - Art Class
Happening: Wendy starts volleyball
Happening: Mark - four more weeks of swimming, fingers crossed that no more snow days fall on Mondays.
Goal: Bike more in March than I did in February
Goal: Bring both little boys in for haircuts
Goal: Use my newly purchased gym membership at least 4x a week.
Happening: working - at least 7 confirmed days so far.
Grudgingly Accepting: Reading Month
Happening: Two ortho appointments and one physical
Goal: Find my Laundry Room
Happening: attending a wedding
Goal: Catch up on Project Life
Happening: Kicking some serious butt in Calvinball.
Happening: Husband coming back home from a work trip in Kentucky.
Hope: Take Allan's senior pictures. If it doesn't happen in March, it'll become a goal in April.
Goal: Start calorie counting again
Hope: Pull out sewing machine, and not just for mending, like February.

Should be a good month!

What are your hope and plans?

-----------------

Calvinball Score

Layout - 1
Blogging - 1

Total - 2

March 01, 2013 in Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 28, 2013

a productive snow day

sneak peek of Technique Tuesday's March Studio AE - This Story

We had yet another snow day yesterday. I started out a little sluggish and unmotivated, but a morning conversation with my mom had us challenging each other to focus and get some things done. We reported in on facebook all day. I got LOTS done.

finally pulled the laundry out of the dryer - it had been in there for a record four days.
chased that with several more loads
stew in the crockpot
lot of emails and phone calls - so close to done with the directory project (one more week of card/address collecting)
ordered a new purse
biked. one february goal was to bike more than january
called the gym and made an appointment. for this morning. My worry is that March is going to be like February and I'm going to want/need an escape plan. Our house offers no escapes.
shoveled sh.....lush off the driveway
got the Purple Heart stuff on the porch within minutes of their arrival.
paid bills
pulled out the sewing machine - mended gloves and a well loved quilt
smiled big when I saw our tax return showed up in our bank account. In FEBRUARY. A personal record.
scrapbooked
sketched out a plan of attack for this year's Calvinball match. Starts tomorrow. One point for me for sketching an attack.
Game on.

Happy Thursday!

February 28, 2013 in Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 10, 2013

February Studio AE Blog Hop from Technique Tuesday

What I love about this month's set - Super Fantastic - is that it just so happens to be our six year old's favorite expression! How Super Fantastic is that?

Very!

My journaling (click to see it bigger) is about how that's Mark response to most things. Mark...did you have a good time at swimming? Yes! It was super fantastic!

I embossed the kraft cardstock myself...because I felt it needed just a bit more something.

Be sure to hit up the rest of the blogs in this month's hop:

Kim Garner (our guest for January)

Prize!

We are going to give away a $25 gift certificate to TechniqueTuesday.com someone who comments during this month’s blog hop. The winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on the 15^th on the Technique Tuesday blog.

And...just for fun because I'm working through my multiplying list - a graduation card...made with this month's Studio AE, Grad and Sentiment Tabs.

February 10, 2013 in Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (69)

February 01, 2013

I'm so ready for you, February!

Photos taken yesterday
Layout created yesterday/today - using February's Studio AE - Super Fantastic

I'm ready for February.

January was busy, bustling sick kids, working two jobs, wrapping things up at my dad's house and an assortment of other January doings. January was a lot of treading water.

As for February, I'm excited.

We're completely done at my dad's house (knock on wood) which puts a couple days a week back in my pocket and I can think about establishing some sort of routine.

Happening: I'll be an auntie again!
Happening: Choir concert
Happening: Working. I worked today, and I'm scheduled for several more already.
Goal: Bike more than I did in January. I had to move my bike back to the other side of the kitchen again, but I'm hopeful.
Goal: Visit a gym.
Goal: Get at least one kid signed up for guitar lessons.
Happening: going shopping with my daughter
Goal: survive shopping with my daughter
Happening: Winter Break
Goal: Survive winter break
Hope: Sew something
Hope: organize some cupboards
Goal: Make monthly lists for Feb - June.
Goal: Get taxes done.
Happening: Mark - more swimming lessons
Happening: Wendy - haircut. hopefully. She was sick the day of her originally scheduled appointment
Happening: Lots of data entering.
Goal: Get valentines done with a few days to spare
Goal: delegate more kid's jobs
Goal: plan a menu
Goal: don't hurt my finger again before it completely heals

Should be a good month.

February 01, 2013 in Technique Tuesday | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 10, 2013

January Studio AE Blog Hop from Technique Tuesday

Good Morning!!

I'm not sure how, but it seems we're at the tenth of month again. What that means in my world is....Blog Hop! I like blog hops for several reasons. 1. it's a fun to see everyone add their own style to the same stamp set and 2. It gets me at my desk creating.

One of my favorite way to spin a stamp set? I love cutting/paper piecing. I stamped a pile of hearts onto scrap pieces of patterned paper and spent some good down time trimming them all out. They are easy to cut, add up quickly and provide so much fun and function

A small pile created, I then began pushing them around my layout trying to decide exactly how I wanted to use them.

I love the fun, bright and whimsical.

To see what the others have done with this months stamp set - Be Mine - follow the links below.

Beate Johns <------ January Guest

PRIZE!

We are giving away at $25 gift certificate to TechniqueTuesday.com to one lucky commenter in this month's blog hop. The winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on the 16th on the Technique Tuesday blog.