If you live in Texas, you've grown accustomed to the word "drought" over the last year or so. Apparently we're in a 10 - 15 year cycle and aren't expecting it to get any better for awhile. I don't know who these experts are and how accurate their predictions may be but judging from my dead front yard, I tend to believe it. I'm not sure but I don't think it has much to do with climate change but who knows... and according to that moron, Rick Santorum, climate change is a myth anyway. And I'm sure he's done a lot of research on the subject. But don't get me started on that nimrod.
Anyway, despite the drought, we've had a pretty good crop of bluebonnets this year. These photos were taken in Temple, Texas which hasn't had much to show in years past. I didn't make it to Brenham/Chappell HIll to see the good stuff so these will have to do.
And here's a paper bag book I did several years ago. You can click on the titles to go to the blog posts describing each page or section. I'm still being a deadbeat so this is sort of like a rerun. However, don't think for a minute that I've been lounging around eating bon bons. Hardly! I've been working out in the yard trying to take advantage of the cool days so that when the temps rise, I'll be happily inside enjoying the view. While eating bon bons. Or more likely, Pretzel M & M's. I wouldn't know a bon bon if it bit me in the butt.
We're expecting rain in Central Texas for the next couple of days so I guess I'll try to work on a few projects that don't require being outside. Like putting away my winter clothes - all three of them.
OK, that took 5 minutes, now what?
Anyway, here are a couple of quickies. I always forget about the Spur Border but I love using it as a frame. It also looks good in corners but here I just used it to give the bluebonnets somewhere to sit.
Lots of masking here. I cut several masks for the Funky Texas so that I could go back over them with HOME. The Funky Texas is in Memento Paris Dusk and the HOME is the same but a second stamping. I think the bow is a little too much but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. I'm not taking it apart to fix it!
Well on to something else. Today is one of those days with no real direction. Nothing specific to do. The kind of day where I can get into trouble shopping on Ebay or Etsy and spending too much money on stuff I don't need.
Maybe I'll just watch an episode of Hoarders instead.
Still recovering from the time change. It doesn't seem like that hour should be that important but it's certainly thrown my schedule for a loop. Or a spiral. So here are some more samples of the Spiral stamps while I have a little energy. Because trust me, a nap is in my future!
First up, I used the Dots stamp to lay down a colorful background in yellow, pink, green and blue. Then the Spirals were added. Overlapped looks best.
Bitch, bitch, bitch. Sometimes it seems like that's all I do! But there are so many stupid things in the world like changing our clocks twice a year or Dancing With The Stars or Rick Santorum. It's hard to keep my mouth shut! This is a happy little bitch card with bright colors and tied up with a pretty ribbon. I just made a row of Spirals, added the Bitch stamp, then went over it with a couple of glitter gel markers. The dots are done with the same gel pens.
This is Egyptian Gold embossing powder on a shiny gold card stock. Be sure and use an anti-static pad to avoid powder sticking where you don't want it.
And finally, it's never too soon to start thinking about Christmas, right? WRONG! It's waaaay too soon so stop it! And if you live in that trashy house down the block, take down your damn lights already! The only reason I'm posting this card is to show the versatility of these stamps. They are also great for stamping your own wrapping paper! These were embossed in gold and the Ornament Top was added. I also drew in the hangers with an almost dried up gold pen.
So that's it for now. I'm either going to crawl back into bed or invest in some Red Bull or one of those energy drinks that I've always been skeptical of. However, the bed looks better and is just in the next room.
First of all, in the category of "No good deed goes unpunished," this is what I get for feeling sorry for a cat on a cold rainy night. His footprints are everywhere! Scissor would never do such a thing and I'm sure he thinks I'm nuts for allowing a homeless cat into the house. Although he spent most of the night inside, warm and dry, where do you suppose he is now? OUTSIDE in the RAIN! He wanted out so out he is, getting his feet good and muddy. Therefore I won't bother cleaning the floor any time soon. Besides, the handle of my Swiffer Wet Jet has broken. Piece of crap.
Does anybody want a cat?
Well, it's not quite spring but it won't be long. I thought I'd break out the new-ish Spiral stamps for a few cards. Here they are in the pastel shades of Mementos. I love how the two sizes work together when layered with different colors. The Wild Hare is colored with Copics.
This time I used a circle punch to make flowers. Or maybe they're lollypops with leaves. I used a stamp positioner to get the Happy Spring pattern in the background. The grass is stamped but the stems and leaves are drawn.
When you were a kid did you have a Spirograph? I have a vague memory of one but I don't know if it was mine or not. Anyway, that's what this reminds me of. I almost never stamp in yellow but I kind of like the effect - it sort of makes your eyes cross.
And finally some bluebonnets. I don't know if the drought will allow for many this year but I did see some along the freeway in Austin a few days ago. While I was sitting in traffic. Come on people! Stop moving to Austin! Find another cool town to live in! Anyway, Marvy Markers for the bluebonnets and Summer Sky Memento for the Spirals.
Well that's it for today. Cold and rainy so I think I'll stay in and work on a project or two. Or crawl in bed and read. Which usually leads to a nap. Or maybe I'll contemplate kitten mittens.....
I don't know about you but Super Tuesday just about wore me out! Not because of any pseudo elections or incredibly lame and irritating candidates or completely redundant media coverage but because I had errands. Nothing special but tiring just the same.
So here's a video I thought you might like. You'll have to go to the BLOG to see it since it won't show up in your email if you subscribe. Almost makes me want a dog.
Happy Texas Independence Day! Although it's not a real holiday. No one takes the day off and it's hardly even mentioned. In fact, I bet most Texans couldn't even tell you why March 2nd is significant. Oh well... most people don't know a lot of things.
For this year's Independence Day project, I made an explosion book. Or is it a card? Or maybe it's something in between that doesn't yet have a name. Whatever.... First up, the cover. I started with a tan piece of card stock and basically stamped a bunch of stuff in a bunch of different colors. It kind of looks like Deadbeat Designs threw up all over it.
Interesting side note.... I haven't thrown up in over 7 years.
OK - not that interesting.
Once I had the whole thing stamped, I used it to cover two pieces of chipboard. This kind of makes it a book, even if it is a book with only one page.
I used the same cover idea for the inside background and stamped the individual scenes on separate pieces. That way, if I screwed any of them up, I wouldn't screw up the whole thing. And trust me... I had to do several of them more than once. The basic concept was to take some of the images within the Texas Images stamp (in the center) and find other stamps that could sort of expand on each image. How convenient that I have several shelves of Texas stamps! Just in case someone didn't get it, I added the arrows. Growing up, I often heard my mom say, "Do I have to draw you a picture?" Turns out that would have really helped but I don't recall ever getting an actual illustration.
Another slightly more interesting side note... Today is also my mom's birthday! She's over 100 years younger than Texas!
Anyway, when I layered them on the background piece, I created a shadow effect with colored pencil around the right and bottom edges of each piece so that they would look like they were floating.
Now here's the thing.... I needed to fold the inside like an explosion card but with all those layers.... that would never have folded well and to mask everything to keep it on one piece of card stock.... well that's just not going to happen.
So I cheated.
I went to my local Kwik Kopy and had a color copy made. Now normally I am completely opposed to mechanically reproducing my images. I think they should be hand stamped and I even mention on my website that I will hunt you down if you mechanically reproduce my images. But here I am breaking my own rule. So if you want to make this book/card, I guess I can't really control how you do it. The point is, I sell rubber stamps, not digi-stamps. Which aren't stamps at all - they're freakin' CLIP ART! What's the point of that?! Ugh - don't get me started....
If you want digi-stamps, just buy a dang coloring book. Same thing.
Here's a video to show it in action. If you get this in your email you'll have to go to the blog or to Youtube to see.
Have a great Texas Independence Day! And if you don't live in Texas and don't care what we're doing down here, well...
