Roadtrips and Halloween....

Here's a couple of photos from my Sunday roadtrip to Cape Cod. I haven't had time to play with any of my snaps, so these are raw. Top photo, Coast Cuard Beach, middle photo, catching the shadow of the lighthouse as I came down from my climb up Nauset Light, and at the bottom, Cape Cod Light, another lighthouse that got moved back from the encroaching erosion of the cliffs in the 1990s. As you can see it was a GORGEOUS day. Dave, I and Harley spent the afternoon exploring some of the National Seashore before Dave had to go to a work related retirement party for a few hours. Harl and I hung out in the car and I did some reading....should have graded papers but was tired and I am a nasty procrastinator...so guess what was on my agenda last night since they didn't get finished Sunday? Anyhow, why was I so tired? We walked on Coast Guard Beach too which was great and saw LOTS of seals. Then when I climbed the lighthouse at Nauset I saw some pilot whales feeding...too far out to get any photos but very EXCITING. I also saw some gannets/birds diving like bombs into the water. That to me that was exciting and made it all worth it, even though we didn't get home until after 10:30 and I needed to be up at 4:45 for work. Think I need to do a mini-album of my day trip to the Cape!

So one more photo for today, here's another one of my Halloween cards.

I stamped the webs (Stampotique) and then stamped the spiders twice each- once directly on the card for the legs and then once on white paper, which I colored and then cut out and attached over the bodies of the spiders I stamped on the card. The man is RubberMoon, stamped and colored, and the saying is River City Rubberworks. It is one long saying I cut into 3 parts. I stippled black in to distress the card and there you go.  Not too difficult but-rather bizzare and not traditional Halloween but that is OK at this season.

Thanks for visiting.

Off to the Cape

We're off for a day on the Cape since Dave has a work related retirement party this afternoon. I'm hoping to squeeze in a beach walk. I packed a busy bag for while he's at the party- some knitting, grading, my book, the new Craft Stamper Magazine, a travel guide for our February trip...and of course my camera!

Tired though. A friend ended up texting me and asking if I wanted UNH hockey tickets last night, so I said yes and Dave and I got to the game-UNH played BC-they were #1 last year and you could tell. But it was fun to go and a great way to celebrate our anniversary. Never mind what the final score was...

Just a  few quick  autumnal snaps today.

More Halloween Cards and...

And today we go get Dave's new car and tomorrow we get to take it to the Cape. Yahoo!! It is a BUSY weekend but there it is, and it is what it is. I brought home way too many papers to grade but with this trip to the Cape Sunday, maybe I can look at it as grading time.

Maybe...

So here's the cards I said I'd show you.

Today we have 2 different trick or treating witches. This card above started with brown cardstock and a grey spider web I cut from a Cheery Lynn die. I also used a Sizzix die to cut the square of lined paper, and on it I stamped the witch girl (Red Lead). I colored in the eyes of the Jack-o-Lantern with a Spica pen. I also distressed the edges of the square and added the spider (Hero Arts) though I needed to draw in the web string he's hanging from. The saying is from the same Red Lead set as the girl, I just stamped it onto a Nestabilities die cut banner, which I also distressed.  Then I added the orange owl (a die cut from Cottage Cutz), and made its eyes that glow in the dark yellow. Finally, I added some black Viva dimensional dots.

 Here's a close up of the saying.

Now this card is very different, but still it is a trick or treat witch girl  I started with green cardstock and added some torn orange cardstock, and then distressed it all. I also added a pirce of orange paper going vertically down the paper and added my black Viva dimensional dots. While drying, I stamped Nether (Stampotique) on white twice and colored the images. I added Nether and then added a double face, shirt and shoes just to give it some pop-though you can't tell here. And I stamped the kitty (Stampotique) twice-once on the card and once on paper. The tail and 1 back leg are stamped on the card and not on the paper...which ocne again you can't really tell. The hat and trick-or-treat bag are from Hero Arts. The words-good question. The wild thing is an ancient stamp of mine and I stamped it onto a tag I stamped (Artistic Outpost Apothecary set) that was suppose to be used on something else but wasn't. I added the Happy Haunting (Hero Arts) just because it seemed to belong there.

So there you have it, 2 very different witches going out for Candy. Which on would you prefer to ring your doorbell?

Oh yes, and today is my 23rd wedding anniversary.

And it falls on a Saturday just like the day we got married. We had a beautiful fall wedding-very New England country in an old farmhouse resaurant with the prime rib roasting on the fireplace and leaves drifting down on a mostly sunny day.

Hard to believe it has been that long when I can remember it so clearly...

I was 28 then...

And now...

We just won't discuss that right now.

Thanks for the visit.

Enjoy your weekend.

Tired of Halloween Cards?????

A little change from my Hallowen cards...Here's a simple card made with Paper Smooches stamps.

First I made a card with white cardstock. I drew the great big cloud with a black drawing pen. Then I stamped the kites on a seperate piece of white paper, colored them and then cut them out. I added the faces using various Paper Smooches faces, and then I used some pop dots to attach the kites to the card. I drew the strings, stamped and colored tails and then added the saying. All stamps are by Paper Smooches.

10 Things Right Now Friday

It is Friday-once again. I love doing this list...makes you think about where you are at...and it is great to see how life subtley changed over the week. And what a difference a week can make.

1-This week REALLY flew with having last Monday off for Columbus Day and then taking Wednesday off and driving to my mom's after a morning drs appointment.  (I could still use a day off at home, ALONE though. Don't think that will hapen right away though...)
2-The leaves have really changed...and the rain brought some down. And I think we're at change over time, when the weather starts to cool off and I have to put my sandals away for good. That's a sad thing, though getting out the sweaters is good right now....it's like getting a whole bunch of new clothes. But one never knows with Mother Nature. We could go back into the heat. That is fall y'all.

3- Decided not to go to the Cape on Saturday with the weather not looking all that fantastic. I am disappointed, BUT, kind of happy to save the cash. Since Dave has to go to a retirement party on Sunday, we'll probably go down early in the day and try to get a beach walk in. I HOPE!

4- Dave bought a new car, which he needed since his totally died. But his Passat was 11 years old with almost 300,000 miles. Neither of us have ever owned a car with that many miles. Now he is about to become the owner of a new 2012 Jetta TDI.

5-This week we bought tickets to go to Arizona  for my vacation in late February early March. Now I am busy in vacation research and planning-something I LOVE to do. I also had a lightbulb for next summer when Dave and I are planning on going to Glacier National Park. Want to plan to make a big loop and go up to the Canadian Rockies at the same time. Like Lake Louise, Banff and maybe even Jasper National Park.

6- Tomorrow is my 23 wedding anniversary. Been a great 23 years with a couple of tough patches but you get through them and it does make you stronger. And makes your love deeper. Dave is my best friend too, and he was a good friend before he was even my lover-guy too.
7- I feel like I have been in catch up mode all week. I hate when I don't get everything done on the weekend to be ready for the week...I like to have all those catch up, get yourself together organization chores done...I like to feel prepared, not disorganized.
8-One of those things I need to do is to get my fall/winter clothes out of the bags sitting in my bedroom. I especially want to wash my cords because once it gets cool, I will want them. I need to be somewhat prepared...enough to function smoothly.
9-I have a great idea for an altered book I want to start-has a semi-Halloween twist- one I can continue into November if I don't get it finished by the 31st. The theme is weird/being different. That's all I'm saying for now. One other arty idea this week. I am thinking about using a Smash book and making a 2012 travel book...putting all my trips into one book since I seem to have a few on the back burner right now. Usually I make individual trip books, but maybe it is time to try something different...just an idea floating around in my brain...right now.
10- I really need a haircut and my highlight refreshed...can't wait until my appointment on Tuesday.

Rain Rain, Go Away

Back up and off to work. But I've only got 2 days until the weekend! I like that. I've got to write my teaching goals this morning-procrastinator that I am, they are due tomorrow. But at least I know what I am going to write-that is better than last week when I still didn't understand what they wanted. That makes it much easier. And I don't have too much I have to do this morning...well I always have too much to do but nothing that must be done except these goals-ASAP.

And yesterday I had a wonderful trip down to my Mom's. We went out for a nice lunch and I brought her a little chocolate cake-our favorite-and we celebrated her 82cd in style. Glad I went and I think she was glad I came.

Boy, this card photographed nicely...I say that because I think it looks better here than in person. I started with a brown card and added the Basic Grey paper. I also added a die cut frame by Cottage Cutz, which I don't think does anything for the card. It is made on black paper and I outlined it in a white trying to make it stand out a bit. Then I added the Stampotique lady, colored with Copics and dolled up with a bunch of Stickles glitter glue. I stamped with word Monsters on the right edge of the card, but right now I am having a senile moment and can't think who made that stamp...hmmm...the withces in the pumpkin patch is from the Memory Box stamp I showed you a short spell back...all the Halloween sayings , and I punched the pumpkin with a Martha Stewart punch, then colored it with more Copics.

Now if I can think of who made the monsters stamp...I actually think it might be from a Crafty Secrets Hallowen clear set...it is slowly breaking out of the fog in my brain.

Hope you have some sun, all we have is RAIN here in New Hampshire. Our leaves will dropping all over today...

Look at this Lovely Lady

This is my mom back in the 1950's-the style queen, Today she turns 82...wow. Can't believe my mom is that old...she doesn't seem it in a lot of ways but in the last couple of years she did start to look old...I guess she was lucky she made it to 80 before she really looked old and maybe if she put a bit of effort to spruce herself up...but then, at her age, she can do just about whatever she pleases. Shock of white (no longer grey) hair and wrinkles and all that-she used to be the fashionista and then she stopped being that and became my mom. Funny how we all change somehow with time. She's still my mom and I'm happy she's still around...well at least most of the time.

I am off today to go take her out to lunch for her birthday, after a morning drs. appointment.

And I didn't get  up at 5 a.m. either.

*****

So here's another Halloween card. Grey cardstock and black printed paper. I used an embossing folder on glossy paper. I inked the embossing folder with orange ink (Memories) and ran it through my Big Kick. Then I rubbed brown ink (Memories) on the embossed surface. I rounded my corners and attached it. The white is stamped on white and colored with Copics-she's from Rubber Stamps of America. Do they still exist? So many good old companies seem to be disappearing-and then again so many good new ones appear too. I attached her to the card, added a piece of Martha Stewart Halloween paper tape, stamped the saying (Hero Arts) and added some Viva ornage dimensional dots.

That's it for today-

Make it a great day!



Another work week

The new work week begins. Granted, it is a short one, really short for me since I am in today and off tomorrow- have a drs appointment in the morning and then since it is Mom's birthday number 82, I am going to take her to lunch. Think she'll enjoy that, and I enjoy the thought of getting to see her on her birthday.

And then I will be back for the rest of the week...need to write my goals and do about a million other little chores. That's how I feel tonight...it is Monday night as I write this and I feel like I have a million little chores I should do.

Oh yeah, I bought a couple of plane tickets for my Feb. vacation this weekend. Dave and I are going to:

At least, we'll be flying in and out of Phoenix, but no idea yet where we will actually go that week. I don't really need to spend the week in a metropolis...unless there's something there to see. Now I need to do some research and figure out what it is we want to do.

Any suggestions?

And some Halloween card art for this Tuesday-

Here's a spooky looking witch. She's made with a Darcie's embossing folder. I embossed her on dark grey and then inked her in black. The card is made with ornange cardstock and some fuzzy pumpkin paper. Then I die cut a spider web-Cheery Lynn-and add a black plastic spider on that. Then I added my witchy gal, I used some bright green Stickles to make the bubbling and boiling over brew in her cauldron. I used an ancient cloth tag from Making Memories that says Happy Halloween and I used the same Stickles to add the dots.

I will say, I do have a thing about these traditional witches.

What's your favorite Halloween "creature" or item?

Thanks for visiting.



Monday's Cards

It is a SPIDER day. Since card 2 depends on card 1 I will show you both of them.

I decided I wanted to make a few more Halloween cards but was sick of using black, grey and orange. So teal blue was my choice, why not?

I used this great black printed paper (Making Memories) and set it off center. Why not?

I used some sheer brown trim with white polka dots and a piece of the cardstock I had trimmed off when making the card. They were just what the card needed to finish it off. Then I die cut the spider (Sizzix) in brown and attached her. I think she's a scary spider...part of a great set of 3 dies on the Sizzix Outlet. I added some hand drawn eyes and then some white dimensional paint (Ranger) as the web. The boo is cut from a piece of orange cardstock I embossed with a new Tim Holtz Sizzix Halloween die. I actually embossed, cut out the boo, sanded it and rubbed black Memories Ink over the word. Finally, I added 3 Viva black dimensional dots.

Now on this card I used tan cardstock for the background and took the empty sheet with that I die cut the spider from and then stenciled the spider in brown.  I drew on the black scalloped edging and colored it in with black Sharpie . The barette girl is from Stampotique...I thought she looked  just enough the kind of girl to love spiders without being too obvious. So I stamped her twice, once on the card and once on white paper. I cut out her face, her dress and the shoes from the white paper and glue them over the corresponding parts on the stamped card image. I colored in her legs and arms  and darkened her hair on the card image, but she goes all together just well. I colord her outfit with Copics and drew in the little web design on her outfit. Maybe she needs a few more?

Well, maybe not.

Finally I stamped the words-this girl just loves her spiders. The words are from an ancient stamp set that was designed by Elsie Flanigan...what was her stuff called? Looked it up, called Love Elsie by KI Memories. This was from a doggie set.

Anyhow, that is my art for today....

thanks for visiting.

I appreciate you stopping by.

What a weekend

It has been a BEAUTIFUL weekend. We were in the 80's yesterday...went on our last boating trip and didn't even need a jacket...it was gorgeous!!!

Let me show you!

Commorant in flight

Deck chairs on the Cocheco River

Fishing boat in Portsmouth

Wow! How beautiful.

And how about this local tourist cruise boat, the Thomas Leighton?

Portsmouth Lighthouse.

And since yesterday was the 9th? Sign I discovered at the marina.

And we'll have another nice day today...but a bit cooler.

As I said, what a weekend.



Apple Picking

Another beautiful day on tap. My morning walk was fabulous. And it is Boating day! (Then the bad news for Dave, we need to pull the boat and take it home. Another boating season is over here in NH).

Yesterday was a great day. Got apple picking-finally-and it was such a perfect day to go out into an orchard and pick. Plus last night I made an apple pie-YUMMY! Decided it was too nice to work all day so I lounged on the screen porch in the sun and read my vampire/Anne Rice book. Took a nap too. But then as the afternoon shadows lengthened I came in and did a few cleaning chores...feels good to get them done and didn't take too long either. No studio time...but the weekend isn't over yet and actually, it was too nice to be inside.

These apples are BIG and so YUMMY!

And the picking was FANTASTIC!

And I'll share a card too. Simple, simple, simple, but it works.

I used sanded orange cardstock. I stamped the bat (Inkadinkado) directly onto the card. I did darken the bat with a black Sharpie and then used a clear sparkle Sakura gel pen on the swirls. The EEEK (Martha Stewart) is stamped right on the card and I added some black felt trim.

Et c'est voila.

Hope you are having a great weekend too.

A Beautiful Day

Oh it is warming up and is suppose to be- and you can tell will be- a BEAUTIFUL day. I have apple picking on my agenda and some chores around the house. Slept late and took a great walk this morning. Oh yes, just what a long weekend day should be. And last night I went to Costco and Trader Joe's with Katie and spent way too much $$$$-more than the usual-but got myself a electric blanket for the bed-felt great last night on these chilly nights before we turn on the heat, and also picked up this new Martha Stewart Holiday craft book. Some fantastic ideas in there.

Martha is the queen of holiday crafts...although some of her ideas who would go to trouble to do...ok, maybe me...we bought a pumpkin yesterday and may try a little super carving technique...seeing my present technique is about first grade carve a grin and 2 triangular eyes....and she has some other adaptable ideas for all you creative types...

Anyhow, to make this a quick post so I can go enjoy my day, here's another Halloween card...

Using 2 die cuts...a Cheery Lynn circle background and a Memory Box house. Except for the Hero Arts Trick or Treat words, the rest hand drawn in. I started with an orange cardstock base and punched the circle background on printed paper. The house was punched on black. I attached it to an ornage paper base and drew in all the embellishments- bats, pumpkns, curtains. The moon is a small cicle punched on yellow paper. Attach, outline. And there you go. Would trick or treat at this house?

A close up, doors shut. I did cut off some of the closed window shutter and added Spica black gliter pen lines to make the house look "really" haunted and run down.

Here's the house close up with front doors open. Notice the black Viva dots I added too. Forgot to mention those in the above narrative.

Happy Saturday. Enjoy your weekend.

10 Things Right Now Friday

Another Friday has arrived. That means it is time for me to list my 10 things right now.

1- I am TIRED! Last night was late with parent's open house at school.

2- But the good news is that today is a teacher workshop day and then we have a long Columbus Day weekend. Yahoo! Long weekend and less stressful Friday. Who can ask for more?

3- I still want to get apple picking this weekend! (Time for picking apples will be over very very soon).

4- We pull the boat this weekend-and it is suppose to be warm so I look forward to one more cruise for the season. But honestly, I am ready for it to go away for awhile. Not the Hubby though. Think he might actually cry when we pull it out.

5-I finished my 31 Halloween cards!!!!! (And did a few more too!)
6- Katie and I are going on a mini-road-trip after work today. Heading down to Costco and Trader Joe's-2 of my favorite stores. Plus, I need to stock up at home...we're getting pretty decimated. She better not change her mind!
7- I'm hoping the weather holds out so we can do our Cape Cod anniversary trip and get in some beach walking at the National Seashore next weekend. A little scenery change would do me head some good, never mine my soul and my brain and all the rest! I am really excited about that! This weekend they say it will be beautiful! That's exciting.
8- I should also buy some plane tickets for a February vacation to escape winter. Have been starting to look online...Phoenix? New Mexico? Maybe some place else? Been looking at New Mexico and it looks really exotic and different. Like that.
9-Another weekend goal I am thinking about-not having any goals! That and sleeping in! Just take this weekend as it comes, have some fun and relax! I should want to get some little project done but I don't care right now if I get something done or not.
10- It is dark by 7 pm now....oh the days are starting to close in.  And this morning, it is SO COLD. The house is only 61 degrees since we haven't turned up the heat yet. I'm in fleece and flannels...trying to stay cozy and warm. Can't bear to put the heat on yet but man, it would feel good. It is fall, isn't it?

Since my interet is back...let me show you those cards you didn't get to see yesterday.

I am really happy with this card...where the inspiration came from, I don't kno w but to think of it is what makes me pleased with myself. I'm not always good of thinking of stamps that are put away in a different box to combine with other stamps. But I did here! I got this scroll off of eBay quite recently, it is by Postmodern Design which are stamps I collect. And I thought it might work with this witches brew recipe stamp from Stamp Francisco. I started with an orange card, added the spider web which was cut with a Memory Box die. I added some clear glitter to it. Then I added the spider (Martha Stewart) and some glitter to make the hanging web material Then I added the stamped and cut out cauldron (also Martha Stewart) and some bright green Stickles.

So another potion card, this time with lots of stamps from Artistic Outpost and 1 from River City Rubberworks. I just got the Artistic Outpost Apothecary and Halloween stamps last week, and I LOVE the bottle that I colored green. They are such fun sets. To make this card I used green cardstock and green houndstooth paper, added the objects along with some Martha Stewart Halloween trim and some black Viva dots. I also added a line from the Memory Box Halloween saying stamp-the bubble,bubble, toil and trouble... and the tombstone is a wooden embellishment that I painted with Viva iron paint and added some tombstone embellishments like some dates and a star...obviously someone didn't read the instructions on their meds and bottles....

Here's a close up.

This Week is FLYING by

This week is buzzing right by- though today is a long day for me-we have parent's open house tonight so I'll leave at 6:30 a.m. and won't get home until probably 9 p.m. Oh well...not a big complaint...just hope I'm home in time for Project Runway (LOL). Tomorrow the kids are off and it is teacher workday...and we actually have some useful things to do...our school is in the midst of re-accreditation and we have work do (Better today than after school when you're tired from a day with kids)  and we also have to set goals for this year-which I think is more administrative busy work for us but since we have to do it, we at least have time-I HOPE! I need some ideas for goals anyhow...as this is all new and I have no clue what they want from us...I set goals for myself every year as I think most good teachers do but these goal have partticular formats and have to impact the kids...I believe...who knows. I can't even find the goal sheets in my email so someone better point me in the right direction.

Enough said.

Tonight will be and last night was CHILLY...maybe we'll even have our first frost...it is too dark to tell right now.

OK, on to the GOOD stuff. More Halloween cards.

OK, no Halloween cards. My line must have gone down at home as we have no phone or internet right now. It died last night while I was trying to download a photo or 2. I don't have any photos here at work to download SO...........
Let's see when it is back up...
Until later then...

More Halloween Cards

In order to celebrate the fact that I am working on my 31st Halloween card-nearing the end of my goal to make 31 Halloween cards- let me show you a few.

At least one or two.

Here's a simple basic card that I am HAPPY about.  Grey coordinations card stock that is slightly distressed with sandpaper and the edge is trimmed with some deckle scissors.  I then attached a frame by Cottage Cutz. The frame was cut on planbe orange paper but I colored in the top spier with brown Copics.

Then I stamped the 2 jack-o-lanterns from Hero Arts on the same orange paper, but I took a darker orange Copic and did a bit of coloring and outlining to give these pumpkins some depth. I also used a black Spica marker to add a bit of sparkle to the black triangular faces.

I attached them and then stamped the witch's hat (Martha Stewart) in black on paper, cut it out and popped it on the tall pumpkin.

I put some tiny silver Stickle dots along the top of the paper to look kind of like stars. Once dry, I stamped a trick or treat saying on white and cut it out and then glued it down. Finally, I added some black fuzzy trim (What do you call that stuff? Garland?)

As you might be able to see, I am trying out diferent lay outs and designs and techniques on my cards. For this card I stamped the background word saying (Impression Obsessions) with Versamark and black embossed it. Then I punched a giant 3 inch circle on some light yellow speckley paper and using an ochre ink pad I turned it into the moon. I also used another IO backgrounder-the new release with pine trees (I love this stamp and have used it a lot for various things). I wish the trees had stamped darker and more visable on the grey card, but they are there enough.  I stamped the bat (Hero Arts) on white and colored him in. Although it doesn't show here, I used a Sakura glitter pen to outline the black swirls on the wings. Then I cut him out and glue him down on the moon. Finally I added the eeek word (an old Wordsworth mini stamp) and added some black swirly tape- trim. This bat makes me laugh-and I will say I am quite happy with how it looks on the moon.

In fact I am having so much fun making these cards...I may continue after I finish this last card ...or maybe I will make another Halloween project. I have a few ideas there...just don't know what really tickles my fancy.

What tickles yours?



New Blog Header

Notice I switched up my blog header. It was time for something different, a bit less summery but still outdoors. This is from a photo I took last Dec. 31 at Ferry Beach in Scarborough, Maine, just as some clouds came in over the sun.(It was a gorgeous 60 degree day in the middle of winter, and Dave and I and Harley our dog took a road trip that included a fantastic beach walk, a trip to Cabela's, Pizza at our favorite college pizza place Pat's Pizza and finally an evening movie- we saw the remake of True Grit. I will say it was a great way to end 2010.) And back to the photo and blog header.  I really like it; it has a whispy bit and more fallish feel without being too predictable and fall like. Actually, it looks like it was  anice day but not too cold of day or too warm of day. Don't ask me why, but the colors and the whispy clouds just say that. The tree is still so it wasn't too windy. The sky isn't bright blue like it can be on colder or warmer days.  And the little bit of snow, kind of doesn't look like snow but just piles of sand. That is how snow should always be too.

I guess it just is and analyzing it doesn't do much good.

So amazing how some working on my attitude can help put me in a much better place...for now at least. Let's see if it lasts.

Oh course it will. I will it to last.

(They say write it down and make it happen, right?)

So today's card...more Halloween extravaganza.

The coffin and skeleton are from Prickley Pear- I used the Dem Bones stamp set and matching die to cut out the skeleton. The coffin I stamped, colored with Copics and cut out. I lined the door with some leathery looking paper.

The nice knowing you stamp is from a set of words and solid Halloween images by Martha Stewart. The purple paper is some older Basic Grey, and there's some Martha Stewart black/grey paper tape. And finally, a bunch of Viva dots in anthrocite and orange.

I distressed the white die cut skeleton with some brown ink and a stipple brush.

And that is it from this Tuesday morning.

Until my next post...take care.

A new week

Trying to get a new attitude for the new week, Trying not to be so unhappy about work-in my head- it is bringing me down. Letting stress and everyone else's bad attitude give me a bad attitude too. But I am going to take a new attitude. Four days of kids and a work day on Friday. I have parent's night on Thursday but with Friday being a work day that helps- a lot. And then a long weekend. And Mom's birthday is the 12th and  I am thinking abouit taking the day off to go visit her on her birthday, which she would like. And then a night away the following weekend for my anniversary. So there is a lot of good things ahead!

I am going to think those good thoughts and not the let the negative work atmosphere bring me down into the dark depths of melancholy work stress.

ENOUGH SAID!

Anyhow, it was a wet weekend and yesterday I made a bunch more cards and made more donuts (chocolate with chocolate frosting and chocolate jimmies-oh yeah baby!), made chili for tonight's dinner and made nachoes for our dinner before Katie buzzed back to school. The rain made it a weekend you didn't care if you went out or got out of your sweats, and that felt good. Napped and read- am trying an Anne Rice vampire book- The Vampire Armand. Not sure if I will make it through this book, I tried another one, Vittorio, and couldn't really get through it, though I did read not so good reviews about that book, so maybe I need to be more optimistic...so I am half expecting this here too, but I got the book cheap at the Street Fair this past summer in their book tent so I am giving it a shot. Maybe I need to go back to the first book in order to read these.

The Withcing Hour by Anne Rice is one of my favorite scray books...read it twice...but I seem to struggle with her vampire books that so many people love. Like I said, maybe I need book one.

And if I can't get into this, I'll just read something else.

It is that time of year for some Vampire/scary reading, isn't it?
Now for something not to scary but my card for the day:

So my Halloween card for the day. Here we go, a silly fun card for a Monday. And the orange background is bright for another dark morning.

So I stamped with Versamark the dot background (Hero Arts) on orange cardstock, then embossed with black powder. I die cut the oval frame on paper that was grey on one side and white on the other. I used the grey side for the frame and then turned over the center and used orange ink and a brush to dirtess it. I attached the witch (Paper Smooches). I stamped her on white and colored her. She does crack me up! I love the green lips...and purple cheeks. Ha-ha! Then I punched the car (Martha Stewart) and added an eye to her too. Finally I added the saying from the Memory Box stamp I have been using so much lately and added some black Viva dots to the frame.

Thanks for stopping by.

October 2- a cloudy Sunday

Yesterday was a dark and wet day. Good day for a long nap on the couch...which I did after my BIG lunch with my friend Vicky...we went to a local fried seafood place  and I finally had some fried clams AND a big piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream-mmmmm-haven't had pumpkin pie since the holidays last winter and it was SOOOO tasty...oumpkin pie is such a fall taste-it wouldn't be anywhere near as good during the spring or summer. And since it is now fall...with all the rain the leaves are coming down...I don't think the color this year is going to be very fantastic...things seem to be yellow and falling. No spectacular colors yet at least.

This photo is from a couple of weeks ago...a lone pretty leaf...actually I quite like the contrast of the single leaf on the very textural but neutral pavement.

I'm still enjoying this dark weekend...relaxing...but still mildly productive...just what I need right now to recharge my soul and my brain. My only goal is to finish reading my Sookie Stackhouse short story- 100 pages you'd think I'd have been able to finish it over the past week but I didn't. Time to move on to another book so it is time to finish reading.

So been thinking about my February vacation...have any of you ever been to New Mexico? I want to go southwest (since Europe is out of the budget right now...I can fly 2 of us roundtrip to the west for the cost of  1 of us to Europe...at least) and want to go someplace new...another state to cross off the list....but we will see.  I really financially should just sit home...but nah...that sounds so unappealing to me.

So time for some Halloween!!!!!

I'm up to 21 cards....having so much fun playing with my Halloween bin of stamps...I use them only for short period of time each year so when I pull them out it is so much like getting a bunch of ner stamps.

So this is a good warning for the up-coming season. I used a brown card but layered a grey piece of cardstock on the right. I used the same make of cardstock (Coordinations) so they would match and be the same weight. I stamped the spider webs on 3 of the corners (Character Constructions) with black ink. I stamped the dancing skeleton (might be Stamp Francisco...it's a stamp I got in a set on eBay a long time ago) in white Memories pigment ink-love this brand for white ink...I've had this pad for like 10 years and it is still going strong. The 3 spiders are all from Martha Stewart, and are black embossed...The hanging spider I drew in the piece of webbing.  Then I stamped the word (Martha Stewart) in Versamark and I LOVE how it embossed. I started by shaking on just a bit of black embossing powder on the top and then added the red glitter powder on the bottom.I love the 2 color look.

So here's the card I made from the other half of the cardstock I used above (cutting a 12x12 sheet). Anyhow, I started by stamping the owl image (Northwoods) in black in on white paper and colored it with markers. Then I embossed some acetate with Tim Holtz/Sizzix's spider web embossing folder. I cut out the acetate just to the size of the owl image and attached the 2.  Before I attached the image I brushed a bit of black ink on the cardstcok. Once attached, I added the spooky word (Close to the Heart) and then I cut out the saying from a new Memory Box stamp and cut the saying into individual words. I actually stamped the words in white paper which I grungily colored with yellow markers and distressed with a tad of ochre colored ink.  Finally I glued down some back oak leaves-these are from a pack of Martha Stewart confetti I bought a few years back.

So here's the Memory Box stamp I used for the yellow saying on the owl card:

 

These are great phrases I think. I used the spooky forests saying on the card I showed you yesterday with the howling wolf. I just stamped the whole set (since it is a single woodblock stamp) and cut out the sayings I want. Love it.

Thanks for visiting!

And Happy Sunday.

So Glad it is SATURDAY and OCTOBER!

It's a rainy Saturday morning and it felt SOOO good to sleep a bit later. I was exhausted.

I needed this week to be over. Work makes me want to quit and go do something else (Do art...wouldn't that be a GREAT career change?). Not my classes or the kids- they are great, it's all the BUSY work from the upper eschelon of administration.  Maybe it is time to do something else. Teaching is turning into being flat and personality-free-instead of being me we need to be a team...and not that teams are bad...I like teamwork but I hate people who have to run the team just because they're bossy and are on ego trips and think everything they do is right and the best... Makes me want to vomit. OK, I'm frustrated.  Just let me teach! Please.

OK, enough complaining. It is Saturday and not a work day and so I am going to enjoy my day and not think about work. I'm going to meet my friend Vicky for lunch and I am SO looking forward to it. Plus Kate's in and out this weekend and maybe I can get her to go apple picking tomorrow morning with me. And I saw Bridesmaid last night which was pretty funny. Have you seen it? It is definately adult comedy but boy did I laugh-especially in the driving car scene.

So I'm happy with these couple of garden photos I'm showing you. They have a fall feel to them...you know worn and browning fence posts, pink hydranga as the flowers age and change to that color from the blue. Not a spruced up white fence posts and tulips-one that is kind of worn and discolored. October!

YAHOO! September was an incredibly long month.

So now my second Halloween card.

A different feel from yesterday's FUN card, and not a lot of layering.  I started by punching the moon on mottled yellow paper (it is just a circle). Then I black embossed the spooky tree which is an ancient stamp. I do wish the embossing was more even-it is very smooth on the moon and more mottlely on the rough grey cardstock, but then it is a spooky tree and it can look a bit old and imperfect. The howling wolf is stamped in white (Maybe an AMUSE stamp from 2-3 years ago????) and then colored in brown marker with a black nose and eye added and some white pen markings. The words are from a new this season Memory Box stamp with lots of great Halloween sayings. I stamped on white, distressed and colored with yellow ink and then cut it out.

Think this card needs an owl in the tree? I didn't want to over do it...I LOVE simplicity on paper and have a tendency to overdo it at times. No, stop asking myself and forget about the owl.

I do like how the moon is so bright it seems to be glowing as a real moon would do.

Anyhow, enough said. Happy Saturday! May your day be full of artiness!