Deadbeat Designs

Googly Eyes

I spent yesterday with a group of attractive and enthusiastic women at Googly Eyes and Craft Supplies in Irving, Texas. It was the first Bodacious Backgrounds class and we managed to fit 15 or so background techniques into 2 hours, filling a reference book of sorts. Everyone seemed to have a great time and things went so smoothly thanks to Meg and her staff. Of course, my mind was all over the place making sure every table had enough supplies and that everyone was keeping up so I completely forgot to take photos. My camera was sitting right next to my giant Sonic cup of tea but did I notice? No! So instead of a picture of people working intently on their projects, here are a couple of things I did with the new Deadbeat Alphabet.

What? There's a new alphabet?

Yes, there is! There are actually two versions... one is a larger upper case only and the other is a little smaller, uppercase, lowercase and numbers, as well as some punctuation. They come unmounted (on cling mount for your acrylic blocks) and untrimmed so you'll have some work to do if you buy them! And as usual, they're not on the website yet but will be soon.

First is an envelope that would probably not make it through the mail thanks to the googly eyes stuck in to the O's. Here are both the larger upper case and smaller upper/lower for the address.

I've got a drawer full of alphabets I've aquired over the last 30 years (crap! I'm old!) from other companies - I was kind of addicted for awhile. But since I make samples for a lot of stores, I can't really use them since most are either discontinued or from companies that no longer exist. So now when I need to add a word to a card or to personalize a sample like the one below, I can claim the alphabet as my own!

Here is the current Bodacious Backgrounds schedule. I may be adding a few stores to the list so stay tuned!

Felicia's Scrapbooks

Sunday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m.

 

Scrapbook 'N' More

Sunday, June 24 at 1:30 p.m.

 

Stamp Antonio

Sunday, July 15 at 1:30 p.m.

Planning Ahead...

Things have been hopping around here lately. Between filling rubber stamp orders, drawing some new images for Lynn's big event in Ft. Lauderdale and getting ready for the upcoming Bodacious Backgrounds classes, I've hardly had time to drink! I mean THINK! (- cuz I'll always have time for a cocktail).

Another time-filling project has been a 2013 stampable desk calendar. That's right - 2013! Of course, all my hard work may be in vain if the Mayans (or any number of crazy cults) are correct and the world ends this year! But I can't worry about that. These come in a CD cases which flip around and make their own stands. Anyway, I'll have more information on these soon... 

Here's one of the samples for the calendar. I masked the top and bottom, leaving just the part I wanted to stamp. Next came the roses, stamped in black and then masked as well. I love using Eclipse Tape to mask but for multiples I usually stamp on a Post-It Note and cut 2 or 3 out at a time. So the roses are masked and then I sponged a little blue and purple and added the Large and Small Spirals. Kind of looks like the roses are floating in water, right? Anyway, once the masks are removed, I colored the roses with colored pencils. It's always better to color after masking since the masks will stick better to uncolored paper. 

We're still working on Lynn's Stamp Lauderdale blog. I'll include the new link when we get it ready if you want to subscribe. You can still see the original version and reserve your spot for the Stamp Lauderdale Retreat in September.

The class next weekend at Googly Eyes is completely full! See y'all on Sunday!

More Dates

Just a quickie to let you know that Stamp Antonio is now on the bodacious list!

Stamp Antonio

Sunday, July 15 at 1:30 p.m.

Also, I'll be teaching at Lynn's Stamp Lauderdale Retreat September 7 - 10! Oh, you haven't heard? Well check out Lynn's brand new blog for the details. We're working on lots of new stamps and there will be 3 different classes plus make and takes... and you know Lynn - party, party, party! She's gone all out and booked a beautiful hotel right on the beach! She has reserved a block of rooms with ocean views - Lynn got a discounted rate of only $119 a night and you can have up to 4 per room so it's a real bargain! But these rooms are saved for a limited time so don't wait too long! Also, check Southwest for cheap airfares. It's going to be great!

On her blog you'll find a link to the hotel so you can book online. Lynn even has a Paypal button for you to pay separately for the classes - she's really coming into the 21st century! You can subscribe to her blog if you want more info or if you just want to see what's going on.

Cuatro de Mayo!

What can I say... I just couldn't wait for Cinco de Mayo.

First of all, if you've been ignoring my blog lately you may not know about Bodacious Backgrounds. I'll be teaching at a few stores and from what I hear, sign ups are going strong! I just talked to Meg at Googly Eyes in Irving and she said that there are only a few spots left! So if you are interested, here are the dates:

Googly Eyes and Craft Supplies

Sunday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m.

 

Felicia's Scrapbooks

Sunday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m.

 

Scrapbook 'N' More

Sunday, June 24 at 1:30 p.m.

And if you HAVE been ignoring my blog lately, good for you! Hope you've been getting stuff done rather than wasting it on the internet!

Since Cinco de Mayo is this Saturday, I thought I'd recycle a couple of cards. Here's Hola...

Her name was Hola, she was a showgirl

With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there....

Easily distracted? Yes! A Fanilow? Not exactly. In fact, I'm regretting putting that song in my head.

Anyway, this is all done with a Kaleidacolor pad, Calypso I think. Or maybe Spectrum. The fringe makes a great rug especially when paired with the Wood Background stamp. And just in case you're wondering if this is a technique I'll be using in Bodacious Backgrounds, the answer is NO. There's no way I'm letting you people loose with my rainbow pads! By the end of class they would all be brown! Besides, this just isn't quite bodacious enough.

She walked up to me and she asked me to dance

I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said Hola

H-O-L-A, Hola. Ho-ho-ho-ho Hola.

Gotta love The Kinks....

Anyway, here's Hola again wearing a sombrero on a slightly more bodacious background with the Fringe and Island Border stamps. Reds, oranges and a little purple dragged around the edges.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Enjoy a margarita or two! Or cinco!

Texas Cards

I know - more Texas cards? Really?

Yes.

Sorry, but if you live in another state, just substitute your state's stamps and make your own dang cards, ok? Bwa-ha-ha!

Everything's embossed in silver and the flag was colored with Copic Markers. Yes, that's tulle ribbon - which is totally too much but there it is.

One more - this one's stamped in black and colored with colored pencils. Here's the perfect card to substitute your Ohio or New Jersey hot air balloon instead of the Texas one.

And finally, here's a short video of a waterfall card. Diane is teaching this at Stamp Salado in May. Anyway, it's a little blurry but I'm not redoing it. Or maybe it's the margarita.

 

Bodacious

Well, summer is just around the corner but rather than spending my time enjoying the air conditioned comfort of my crappy little house, I'll be hitting the road coming to a scrapbook/rubber stamp store near you! Or to be more precise, near me.  I'll be teaching a class of simple techniques and outside-the-box ideas to take your stamping to the next level (I don't know what the next level is but Lynn always uses it in her class descriptions so I thought I would borrow it). We'll be filling a book with pages and pages of background techniques using Deadbeat Designs stamps. And because I'm providing everything you'll need, you can leave your craft luggage at home! I'm only doing this once per store and limiting the number to 20 per class. And because there is no good television during the summer and people wil be starved for entertainment, these classes will fill up quickly! So if you're interested, check with one of the stores listed below and sign up!

Googly Eyes and Craft Supplies

Sunday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m.

 

Felicia's Scrapbooks

Sunday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m.

 

Scrapbook 'N' More

Sunday, June 24 at 1:30 p.m.

 

More stores may be added to the list so stay tuned!

Also, check with Googly Eyes about the 6 Tags of Texas class series. You'll make 2 tags per class starting in May and I think they're doing the Christmas tags as well! Should be a lot of fun!

Enjoy The Shade

Just a couple of quickies today. Still recovering from the giant check I wrote the government. Wonder how they'll misspend it... On the other hand, it was a small price to pay to not have a boss. If you've never tried it, I would totally recommend it - bosses are way overrated!

Anyway, I've been enjoying both sun AND shade lately but with my old, pasty skin, shade is my friend. So today I inked the 'enjoy the shade' from the Silver Lining stamp for the inspiration. The Tree For All Reasons is decked out with three of the greens from Memento. There are a few clouds in the sky but they don't show up too well. Guess I should have used a darker blue. Speaking of.... when the heck are the new Memento pads coming?! I've got the new colors ordered and I want them NOW! Anyway, a little lime green Stickles was added to finish it off.

This is the Leafy Branch stamped over and over in different Memento greens and a little Tuxedo Black. I love the effect.

And finally, do you know about Ted? Well, of course you do. If you're are clever and hip enough to be reading my little blog, surely you are spending your time on the dubya, dubya, dubya in the most productive way, right? Anyway, just in case your life has been Ted-free, you should definitely check it out.... and specifically this video from Susan Cain called The Power of Introverts. It's only 19 minutes long and I have a feeling a lot of you creative souls will relate. Enjoy!

 

 

Bad Blogger

Yes, I know. I've been a bad blogger lately. I wish I could say that I was busy fighting for peace (ha!) or volunteering at a local retirement home or tutoring today's ignorant youth, but no. I guess I've just been a little depressed now that Rick Santorum has dropped out of the presidential race. He was going to be so much fun! Oh well. Someone is bound to do something stupid any day now to raise my spirits.

Meanwhile, I really have been working on a few projects. I'm considering hitting the road again to teach some classes. I've got a really good idea that should make a good one if I can force myself to do it. Anyway, more on this as soon as I iron out some details. Or get into therapy.

I was invited to my cousin's 50th birthday party this weekend. And instead of a tacky e-vite, I got a proper invitation that was sent through the mail! This almost made me want to go but the word "party" was mentioned and that means people and talking and having fun and whatnot so I regretfully declined.

I hate fun.

But I did send this bluebonnet box as a token of my affection.

You may remember when I was obsessed with these a couple of years ago. HERE and HERE and HERE.

The "50" was printed on the computer which made me want my own rubber alphabet. Hmmmmm.

I also made a short video of the box opening. Pretty exciting stuff. Try to contain yourself.

 
Anyway, I'm sure my cousin and her guests will have a great time and I'm sure I will have a great time as well. Just not with them.

Egg Tree

Well, I finally put the finishing touches on my Easter Egg Tree and just in the nick of time!

Yes, that's me. All this work has turned my hair gray but I'll be investing in a bottle of Just For Men hair color as soon as I take all 10,000 eggs down and pack them away. Maybe by July.

Just kidding, of course. This tree is in Germany and created by a couple who clearly do not have cable television or the internet to distract them from their egg duties. 

And it's not as if they are using store-bought, plastic eggs. They drill and drain each one and they are all hand decorated. Crazy!

Here's the link to the website:

http://www.eierbaum-saalfeld.de/?seite=home&lang=eng

Read the history and you'll come across my favorite line:

Attention! There is no parking on the site.

There is only a small private track leading to us.

Please use the public parking at the outdoor bath or in the city. 

Forget the tree - I want to see this outdoor bath!

Stamped Pad

I stamped this pad of paper last week while 'working' at Stamp Salado. They make great gifts and even though we've got 10 or 12 left, I doubt they will last long. Sandy can probably get more if you're interested. Just don't ask me - I am not qualified to handle such intricate transactions.

Anyway, I used Memento Black and colored with colored pencils. For the next one I'll try Versafine ink and color with Tombow markers. I think pens might do better on the edges of the paper. Pencils work fine but you can see a little of the texture of paper edges. Doesn't bother me, but you may be more picky than I am. However, I seriously doubt that.

Oh, and before stamping, be sure and put a rubber band around the pad to keep the sheets tight. Makes a big difference.

Maybe I'll do another one while at Stamp Salado - I'm there today instead of Wednesday this week. I can't wait for all the disappointed looks from people expecting to see Sandy. I think I'll just tell them she called me from jail and asked me to work - pretty sure it was another bar fight.

.

Meanwhile, here's a movie tip. I could easily devote an entire blog to movies but since most are made to appeal to kids and other mouth-breathers, I can't imagine why I would bother. Nevertheless, thanks to Netflix, I watched Inside Job which is a documentary (right there I just lost half of you) about the financial crisis of 2008. It is very well done, makes things fairly easy to understand and is narrated by that hunky Matt Damon, so maybe that will be a selling point to some of you. Anyway, it will make your blood boil but give it a shot anyway. If you can tear yourself away from The Real Housewives of Somewhere.