Deadbeat Designs

Deeply Distressed

I've spent a lot of time making fun of the whole distressing thing - you know.... how everything you make needs to look like you found it in the street instead of looking shiny and new? But it occurred to me that maybe there's a buck to be made so I've decided to come out with my own line of products to cash in on the ongoing trend. Why should Tim Holtz be the poster boy for distress? I mean sure, he's convinced millions to buy grungeboard even though I've never seen anything done with it that I would admit to making. And most of the Distressed Stickles look like something my cat coughed up but I bet most of you have some on a shelf or in a drawer somewhere, right? But that's what makes Tim such a genius! Well, that and his endless creativity and talent. But back to me... Here are my brand new revolutionary colors:

DEEPLY DISTRESSED

I'm calling the new line DEEPLY DISTRESSED. Initially it will just be stamp pads but once things take off (and how can they not?), I'll expand to a whole host of other products. Clearly the colors are 'to die for' but what really sets these apart from the rest is that they will actually grow mold on your projects so that over time they will change and become even distressier! And yes, I'm working on scratch and sniff versions as well!

Of course, this is just in the design stage at the moment. I'll be pitching my idea to a variety of big name companies - probably not Ranger, however, since they would probably consider it a conflict. Also I'll need a design team to come up with ways to use the new products since I don't really 'do' distress so let me know if you think you are deeply distressed enough!

Happy Whatever

Well, like it or not, the holiday season has begun. So as much as I prefer the old days when people started thinking about it AFTER Thanksgiving, I guess it's just not realistic today. So here is the first in what will probably seem like too many holiday-themed cards. Or 'Christmas' if you prefer. 

My dad, Marvin (Marvin Eugene, whom I was almost named after - thank you mom), got so mad a few years ago when the lady checking him out at Walmart said "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" that he went on his own personal crusade to say "Merry Christmas" to anyone he came in contact with. I reminded him that "Happy Holidays" wasn't exactly an insult and that it simply reflected the policy of the store and if he really had a problem with it, he should stop shopping there but that didn't satisfy him. So because I hadn't suffered enough, I had to mention that saying "Happy Holidays" was a way to embrace people of all cultures and religions which is sort of what America was based on in the first place... at least that's what we learned in history class in 3rd grade. This got more of a reaction out of him and after about ten minutes of his crazy old man diatribe, I pretended to nod off. Anyway, if you are one of those people who only sends religious cards, knock yourself out. I'm sure those receiving them are truly inspired and uplifted especially when they compare them with the secular cards from all their friends who are clearly going to hell. Like the cards you'll see here. Otherwise, have fun and I hope you see something you like! Happy Whatever!

Rearranged

I usually do this blog thing during the day but since I've got a few minutes before The Daily Show and Letterman, I thought I'd crank one out so I don't have to think about it tomorrow. That may work for Scarlet but usually it's best to deal with things as they come... except the dentist. I will definitely think about my teeth tomorrow - or later this week. Maybe. 

Today I worked at Stamp Salado and took these pictures of the new Texas wall. In the old location, there just wasn't enough space to fully showcase all the great Texas themed stamps, papers and embellishments so Sandy and I rearranged things. Of course I made sure that Deadbeat Designs is front and center and now there's room for expansion - which means I need to get moving on some new images! Oh look, there's something else I'll think about tomorrow. Maybe Scarlet had it right after all.

Anyway, back to the issue at hand, if you haven't been to Stamp Salado in awhile, stop in and see the changes. If you don't live close by, sorry. Stop by your own local stamp/scrapbook store and tell them it's time to stock up on Deadbeat Designs!

Happy Halloween

Well, it looks like Scissor is ready for Halloween although since he is a cat, he really couldn't care less. Personally I'm all for the holiday as long as I don't have to dress up or provide candy for the neighborhood delinquents. That's right, my lights will be off so don't come a knockin'!

Meanwhile, I promised a picture of Ped's pumpkin from the Clay Fest, just in case anyone has less of a life than i have and actually cares. It has the kind of eyes that seem to follow you around the room. There is some concern that his girlfriend will not be amused if it remains out past Halloween. She's not a big fan of his shrunken heads either. Girls just don't get it!

Clay Fest

Yesterday I went to the Clay Festival in Gruene (pronounced 'green' not 'groin') with my friend Ped. I was really hoping that everything would be too expensive or not particularly interesting so my hard-earned dollars would stay safely tucked in my pocket but alas, this was not the case. I could have dropped some serious cash if I had serious cash but thanks to a little self-control, I managed to get out pretty cheap. After making 2 passes through all the booths, I chose this ceramic oil can - Tom May is the artist. I had seen them at the art show in Salado a few years ago and a friend had bought one but I was either too poor or too judicious at the time to get one so I was glad to get a second chance. Of all the things I saw, this one had that perfect combination of absurdity and craftsmanship and fits perfectly into my crappy little house.

Meanwhile Ped bought this crazy looking pumpkin but I forgot to take a photo. I'll try to remember and post it later.

And of course, if you ever make it to Gruene, don't forget to stop in to Scrapbook Haus in New Braunfels just down the road. I just delivered a load of Deadbeat Design stamps so her shelves should be full for a while!

This week I'll be working on Christmas samples to send out to the stores but since I like to have a few other projects to distract me from 'work', I bought these two chipboard albums. They are from Heart of Texas Studio and they have a great selection of word albums as well as other shapes and themes. Check out their website and if your local stamp/scrapbook store doesn't carry them, ask them why the heck not!

Buzzin' the Blog

Well, it's after midnight and I really shouldn't have eaten that third chocolate chip cookie but I've spent the last 3 hours making rubber stamps while listening to Kool & The Gang's Greatest Hits (and let me tell you, there are more than you would think) oh, and I may have finished off a Route 44 Cranberry Iced Tea, so between the sugar rush and caffeine and the bad-ass, disco-era tunes, I won't be able to sleep for hours (without the inevitable help of a little tequila in my orange juice). So I figured I would spend the buzz on the blog.

Here are a few of the skeletons from my ridiculous collection and to make them semi-relevant to why I have a blog to begin with, look! there's a card! Yes, I've posted it before but it was the one on top of the pile when I took the picture so there it is. Sure, I could have gone to a lot of trouble coming up with a new card but being a chronic underachiever, I just couldn't make that happen. Besides, my creative energy (and patience) should be saved for the dreaded Christmas samples I'll be working on soon. I'm going to need a lot of cookies, caffeine and 70's disco/funk to get me through that!

Another Unrelated Post

Yes, it's another unrelated post - unrelated to stamping at least. You would think that I don't care at all about selling my stamps and trying to make a buck! Of course that's not true but I'm just not in the stamping frame of mind today. Plus all of my Halloween crap has been done and I'm not even close to being in a Christmas mood.

A week or so ago, Suze posted a picture from one of her frequent shopping sprees of some terra cotta skulls she found at a garden center in New Jersey. I couldn't get them out of my head and finally called to see if they had any left and if they shipped and most importantly, how much poorer was this going to make me. I've been putting off getting an oil leak fixed in my truck and a broken crown replaced in my mouth so I really couldn't justify the expense on something so frivolous. Nevertheless, they DID have some left and they DID ship so my truck and my teeth will have to wait because I ordered 5 of them! Apparently they are exclusive to this particular garden center and they won't be getting any more until next year so if you want some, mark your calendars. I think I may 'need' a few more myself!

Although these are certainly appropriate for Halloween I'm going to keep them out all year long. I have a collection of skeletons which may sound sort of creepy but collections of dolls and Hummel figurines creep me out so to each his own! I'll be posting some pics of my skeletons in the next week or so until I'm forced to deal with Christmas. I know most of the stores have their holiday crap out already and you have probably been programmed to think that you need to get to work on your big important holiday plans but you really can wait awhile. If people would stop buying Christmas crap before Halloween the stores would probably stop putting it out so damn early!

The Dampness Continues

Despite a weather report of 72 and sunny for Saturday, it turned out to be more like 60 and overcast which is why spending even a nanosecond watching your weather man is a waste of time. Nevertheless, it didn't rain so I was able to play in the Love Cures Doubles Tennis Tournament with my friend Ped. It required being ready to play at the ungodly hour of 9:00 a.m. which I planned on blaming for our certain defeat but whether it was our favorable draw or the fact that we were the youngest team there and our bones were less affected by the cold, damp weather, we managed to win first place! This is the trophy that we each took home - sort of looks like me including the over-sized feet. However, I'm a little concerned that the racquet will break off one day and it will look a little obscene. Or am I looking forward to it? - I can't decide.

Then more rain on Sunday which was a great excuse to stay in bed, watch some old movies and get re-addicted to iTunes - a friend bought me an iPod and I've been slowly filling it up with songs from my misspent youth. It's just too easy to spend money from the comfort of your own home!

And today is Columbus Day, another ridiculous holiday, this one based on an accident. Oh and nevermind the Native Americans already living here and the new diseases that Columbus brought over that killed them off. Let's have a parade! Clearly I am in need of a sunny day!

A Tisket A Tasket - An Orange and Purple Casket!

Here is part 2 from the post from earlier this week. I couldn't resist these wooden coffins from the dreaded Michael's so I bought all they had - which was not enough so I had to go to 3 other stores to get more. If you are lucky enough to live in Central Texas you may have to drive awhile to find some because I think I've picked the stores between Temple and Round Rock clean!

Some of them had a little wooden ornament glued on the front but they popped off pretty easily. I then took the latch off and covered them with scraps of Ten Second Studio metal although one or two got covered in scrapbook paper. Then I stamped card stock for the top and stuck it down and filled the casket with cheap candy - I ate all the good stuff - actually, I ate some of the cheap stuff as well!

I think Michael's should carry these all year round. They'd be great for an over the hill birthday for someone with a sense of humor. They'd also be perfect to bury the family hamster or goldfish. I wish I had had one a couple of years ago when my dad cut off his thumb with his table saw. I would have found a rubber thumb or made one out of polymer clay and sent it to him. Unfortunately 'Ol' Nine Fingers' wouldn't have found it as funny as my mom - she is definitely where I get my sick sense of humor!

I'm working on a more elaborate version to send to Cheryl at Ten Seconds Studio and will post it later - if I ever finish it. I'm hoping that by saying that I am doing it that it will actually get done!

Miserably Moist

Remember the good ol' days a few weeks ago when we were all enjoying a delicious heat wave and drought? Aaah, good times.... Lately it's been too damned damp, miserably moist, and seriously soggy. The kind of weather best dealt with while tucked into a comfortable bed. But that's not very realistic even for me. So bear in mind that even as I type this, parts of me are more clammy than others.

Here are a couple of pics of yet another Day of the Dead card. Most of you make cards to send to friends and loved ones but since I have neither, I made several of these to send to stores - not because I'm particularly thoughtful but for the singular purpose of selling more stamps. Yes, I'm a rubber whore, what can I say?

This is another version of the shutter card I posted a month or so ago but slightly different to accommodate the large Day of the Dead stamp on the front. The striped paper is from Bo Bunny - who comes up with these names, a 3 year old? Anyway, I love the colors and it's not so garish as to take away from the wonderful images from Deadbeat Designs!

Also for these lucky stores, I included a lovely coffin filled with candy and decorated with more stamps. I'll post that in a couple of days. Hopefully I will have dried out by then but I'm not holding my breath.