I want to stay on top of my videos, so made another card today.  I have to upload another one, so I’m always one video ahead of Rich.  Funny, I’m writing this twelve hours later and I can’t remember what the card looks like.  OK, it finally came to me, after sitting here staring at the computer screen for five minutes.  Yes, I realize I could have walked into my craft room and quickly looked at the card, but that’s not really my style, now is it?

I thought it would be fun to make an inlaid die cut card with three-d flowers and leaves on top.  I thought it came out fine, maybe could have looked better, but I’m probably my worst judge of quality.  I guess that’s just how it goes.

I got a really sweet email from Jane, (the lady that sent the box of goodies.)  I had sent her the thank you card with rainbow colors and stars all around the sentiment.  She was so thrilled with the card, and said she’s putting it on her mantle…She said it was like getting a card from your mentor and went on to say many more wonderful things.  Notes like that really make YouTube worthwhile for me.  I was thrilled that she liked her card, although it was nothing compared to the great box of goodies she sent me.

I had been watching videos for a pop swing card, and really liked it.  OK, I’m not really sure that’s the name of it, but we’ll go with it for now.  I had seen a couple of crafters make it, and they were using metric measurements, and I’m too lazy to do the conversion, so nixed those videos.  I finally found one that I could use, and made it today.  I have to say, it was one of the easiest fun fold cards I’ve ever made.

I also decided to add some embellishments that I die cut..Butterflies..One large one that I used a glitter paper on, and then backed it with vellum.  I really liked the look of it once I added the vellum, and sometimes all it takes is something simple like that, to really add big impact to a card.  I’ve seen other crafters take a simple card and make it stand out, just by using a few sequins or some Wink of Stella.  Unfortunately, Wink of Stella is so hard to show on video.  I’ve watched others try to show it on video, but most have the same issues as I have.  In real life, you can see the glitter, but the lighting we use, almost kills the chances of showing it on video.  I might try shining less lights on cards with Wink of Stella, to see if that would make a difference.  If you have an idea that you’ve seen or heard to help, I’d love to know.

I watched MayMay make a curtain fold card and thought I could do it. Below are all of the dimensions you’ll need to make this card.

I used a 11″ scored at 5 1/2″ tall by 4 1/4″ wide white Recollections heavy weight card stock  for my card base.

You’ll need a piece of double sided card stock that you cut to 11 1/2″ long by 4″ tall. Once it’s cut, you’ll want to put it in your paper trimmer so the right side of your paper is lined up on the 1″ mark to the right of your cutting bar, and your left edge is lined up with the 1″ mark to the left of your cut bar.  This gives you the ability to create two curtain cards with this paper.  You need to score this on the 11 1/2″ length at 1″, 2 1/2″, 3 1/4″ 4 3/4″,        5 3/4″, 7 1/4″, 8″, 9 1/2″, and 10 1/4″. Which of the patterns you prefer to be the primary pattern for the curtain, have it face up and make your first fold (on the widest section of paper) folded down and under, then the next fold is up, the next is down, like a valley and mountain or a zig zag fold.  Once it’s been folded, put wet glue inside the folds on the top and bottom and make sure you use a bone folder so the folds are flat on the top and bottom.

You’ll need two additional patterns of paper that look good with your curtain paper. One piece that is 2″ tall x 4″ wide, and one that is 4″ wide x 5 1/4″ tall. You’ll glue the 2 x 4″ piece on the top of the 4 x 5 1/4″ paper and you’ll glue your curtain directly below the 2 x 4″ piece, so they are butted together. I added a 1/2″ wide ribbon over the spot where the curtain meets the top paper. The ribbon should be 5″ long, and you’ll tape it to the back of the paper and wrap it around the front of the card.  Then tape it to the back on the other side, and add a little glue under the ribbon.  It should be half on the curtain and half on the top paper. I added three buttons that I threaded embroidery thread through and glued down with hot glue in a straight line on the ribbon. I added my sentiment that was from Rubbernecker (www.rubberneckerstamps.com) on a die cut of white paper using a die from Aliexpress, and glued above the ribbon toward the right of the card. I used tape runner to adhere the curtain paper to the top folded card base.
I used a peg stamp on the inside of the card and another called Triple Delicious Flower on the envelopes with Night of Navy ink from Stampin Up. http://www.pegstamps.com.

I need to make a small album for friends who are in the process of building a “retirement” house for themselves.  I thought it would be a nice housewarming gift for them as they’ve been taking photos from the beginning with an empty lot, to now, when they are almost finished building.  I give them a lot of credit, as I wouldn’t have the patience for building a house…We’ve remodeled some rooms, namely our kitchen, and would never do that again.  I always tell people that rather than remodel their kitchen, they should just buy a house with a kitchen they like, as it’s a lot less hassle.  Our kitchen with a remodeled room next to it, took five months….Yes, I said five months.  I didn’t change any plans or add to the project, it was just a big nightmare from beginning to end.  But now we’re off the topic.

I found a really easy flip book album and think that’s what I’ll be using for my album…easy and fast, and the only time consuming portion is decorating it.

I need to make a couple more fun fold cards.  I made one (the video should go live tomorrow), and I forgot how much I love making them, and how easy and cute they are to make.  I think I’m a better card maker when all I have to do is score and fold, rather than come up with an artistic design.  I’ve got a couple of ideas and if those work out, I’ll be posting a lot of videos in the next few weeks to make up for the lack of videos last week…

 

I got a great box of goodies from my friend Jane, as well as a terrific haul of stamp/die/stencil sets.

I bought a bunch of pens from pegstamps.com (Rubber Stamp Tapestry.)

Then from Ebay:

Mama Elephant SC0767 animals and dies

Sizzix Crazy Dogs with dies and an embossing folder
Stampers Anonymous flowers with stencils THMM107
Hero Arts Joy
Hero Arts Colored Layering Goldfish
Ranger Little Birdies MDZ 495498
From Inspired by Stamping:
Stripes
Birthday Greetings
Seaside Sentiments

Then I showed all of the things that Jane sent me, and she was very generous with the goodies she sent. She knows I’m going to share my goodies with my friend Abby, and it’s encouraging me to pass along more of my duplicates and stamps/papers/embellishments.

I spent the day running errands, and got almost nothing accomplished.  I did get my hair cut, so that’s one thing to check off of my to-do list, but otherwise, really didn’t get much done.

We went shopping for new recliners for our sun room.  I spend almost all of my time there (as do the dogs), so it’s important our chairs are comfortable (the dogs don’t sit in them).  We remodeled that room ten or eleven years ago, and the Laz-Boy chairs we bought haven’t held up very well.  It seems like the seat on my chair is tilting to one side.  It’s not really noticeable until you sit in it for long periods of time.  Thus my issue.  I spend a lot of time there, as I respond to all comments in that chair, as well as research projects I’d like to try.  We sat in a bunch of chairs at a big furniture store, but none of them were just right.  (I’m referring to Goldilocks and her problem with the beds she tried out.)  I wish I would have seen a chair that was perfect and also had an alternative to the bar on the side of the chair that you use to recline and pull the foot rest up.  I used to be able to pull the bar, but was bummed when I couldn’t do it today.  I guess I’m destined for electric controls, as the old Laz-Boys had chairs that you simply pushed back, and the foot rest popped up, and you could recline.  I guess they don’t make that type any more, so I’m stuck…I may look into another line of chairs, but we’ve always bought Laz-Boys because of their durability.  If any of you know of another line of recliners that are comfortable, durable, and easy to recline, please let me know.  I’m on a mission to find the perfect one.  This Goldilocks isn’t going to rest until she finds one that’s just right.

February really flew by.  I can’t believe that it’s March 1st tomorrow…  Today I got inspired once my video went live, and so many people wrote notes about how they had missed seeing me, and hoped I was feeling better.  I felt well enough to do a haul video today.  I must shop when I don’t feel well, because the mailman has been delivering me all kinds of fun packages, and you know I love packages.  I had also gotten a nice box of goodies from one of my viewers, and wanted to share that on a video as well.  I have the best viewers, so kind and generous.  I’d mentioned on one video that my friend Cora, who made my new sign, has a twelve year old daughter whose very crafty.  The lady that sent the box, said I could share any repeats with this young crafter.  How wonderfully kind.  I now have a box of items from her gift, as well as any stamps, dies, inks, that I own that might be repeats, and her box is filling more and more every day.

I’m hoping I’ll finish another video before I call it a day.  I saw curtain fun fold cards, and decided I needed to make one, so that’s my next plan.  I also saw several people make a small Easter basket, and I think I’m going to give that a try as well.  The baskets I saw were pretty complicated, but I found the same basket, simplified, and I think I’ll give it a whirl.  Probably not tonight, as I’ve been trying to take all of the new stamp sets and put them into cd cases, and organize them first.  I have a tendency to let those kinds of things pile up, and then I have hours worth of work to put them away.  I much prefer doing a few at a time so I don’t have hours of work ahead of me.  Unfortunately, I have a ton of things to put away.  Drat!  I talk a good game about organizing, but don’t really have good follow through.  Maybe that’s a plan for next year, or the year after, haha.

I wanted to make a thank you card for my friend Jane, for sending me a box of goodies. (I’ll make sure to show you the goodies in my next video.) I used a thank you stamp (in several different languages) from Purple Onion Designs, and placed it in the MISTI to ink it with Versamark ink. I used clear embossing powder and heat set the image, then watercolored with Vivica Color Sheets with paper attached with painters’ tape to a plastic cutting board I bought at the Dollar Tree. I colored over the thank you design with a rainbow order of colors then waited for it to dry and then wiped the letters to make sure any color that might discolor them would be wiped off. I trimmed the image out and made a 1/8″ border, then put it on a turquoise blue background that was 1/8″ wider than my image.
I used a Dylusions small Star stencil and pressed Distress inks into the stencil that was taped to a 5 x 7″ white card base. I used candy apple red, spiced marmalade, salty ocean, twisted citron and wilted violet inks. I used my 1″ chip brushes from Harbor Freight Liquidators to brush the ink into the stencil. I only colored around the edges of the stencil as my thank you design will take up a large portion of the center of the card base. I used tear tape on the back of the thank you design and adhered it to the center of the card and used a Rubbernecker stamp on the inside of the card and a stamp from Peg Stamps called three open stars to stamp inside the card and on the envelope. I used all five distress inks to stamp the card and envelope.

I started to really fret about YouTube last night, so I finished the card I’ve been working on for it seems like forever.  I’ve ripped that card apart and tried at least four-five different techniques (they all looked terrible) and finally found an idea that I liked that worked.  I finished the card and the video, and today Rich has been editing it and we should have a video go live tonight.  I really hope we’re able to get it online and am crossing my fingers that we do.

I have some ideas for future cards, including one that looks like a curtain, as well as some cards using scraps.  I always like finding new and different ways to use scraps, and know all of you do too.  I hope that I’ll feel like making some cards and videos tomorrow and am planning on doing so currently.  I also got a box of goodies from a viewer and want to share those on a video.  I like showing others the nice things that I’ve been given, and hope you like to watch these types of videos, almost like a haul.  Let me know if you’d rather not see them, as I really value your feedback.

Thanks for the kind notes I’ve been getting related to my health.  I can’t ask for better viewers and readers of this blog. You are all so great to me, and I can’t thank you enough for your patience and kindness…

OK, so I really did believe that the drizzle was the root of my issues, but today the sun is shining and I should be feeling so much better.  A few weeks ago, I went to have my annual check-up for my replacement joints (four, in case you were wondering.)  They like to make sure the older ones are still working fine, and since I have a knee that dates back to 1987, and the other 1994, (I know, amazing, isn’t it?)  they like to make sure nothing is amiss.  I had been having some pain in my re-replaced right hip and I was concerned about it, as I’ve never had pain in a replaced joint before.  After the x-ray, they decided that I have bursitis in my right hip.  I guess it’s common to get bursitis after a joint replacement.

The pain has been really bad at times, but when I was at the surgeon’s office, it wasn’t really hurting and hadn’t been for a few days.  I was taking a bunch of steroids at that time, to get my arthritis under control, so the bursitis really wasn’t hurting enough to have an injection.  Also, I am such a baby about injections that I can convince myself that I don’t need one…  I haven’t really felt bad until the weather change, and then, as I said before, I convinced myself it was the weather.

Today the sun is shining and I should feel great.  I woke up early and thought I’d read for a little while and my hip started to hurt so much, I had to take some medications that I really try to avoid.  I went back to bed and woke up at 1PM, not a good sign for the day.  I had tried to finish the card last night, but my hip started to ache so much that I couldn’t sit there any longer.  I guess the moral of my story is, I have no idea when I’ll feel like finishing the card, or another video will go live.  I feel awful, but do have a doctor’s appointment on March 1st, so may consider getting the injection if my hip doesn’t start to feel better by then.  I love the YouTube channel and making videos, but when my body tells me to stop doing something, after thirty-five years with this disease, I’ve learned to listen.  I am sorry though, because I know a lot of people look forward to my videos.  I’ll try to get back on the horse (so to speak), as soon as possible.