Interactive Owl Card
I’m so happy! I hung out with my upline this weekend (the demonstrator that I signed up under) and she generously gifted me with two sets of brand new stamps. One was an adorable set of owl themed images called Owl Together Now. Apparently, owls are quite the trend lately. I happily mounted and played with the stamps over the weekend and came up with a cute interactive card idea to share.
This card is a bit more complicated than my usual cards and it includes moving parts, so I prepared a video tutorial for you to watch. As you can see in the two pictures below, the owl on the right slides back and forth, into the arms of the owl on the left. Cute, no? 
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Owl Together Now stamp set, cardstock and ink in baja breeze, chocolate chip, riding hood red, and whisper white, ribbon in chocolate chip, Haiku designer paper, water color pencies, aqua painter pen, stampin’ dimensionals, sewing machine & white thread.
In the video, I explain how to make the slider portion of the card. You can use this idea for all kinds of cards, like a moving animal on a baby card, a snowflake falling to the ground, etc. Interactive cards are an easy way to impress a recipient. Enjoy!
Music: Linus & Lucy, from A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack - Vince Guaraldi
Working the Day After Xmas is Not Fun
So, Hubs and I are both at work today. Yup. Each December 26th, I always ask myself why I picked a retail company to work for. While everyone else gets to relax, sleep in, and spend time with family, I’m at my desk. Shopping online. I love the post Christmas sales. I find that they are much better than black Friday.
This year’s Christmas was kind of… well, weird for Hubs and me. Hubs’ grandpa was in the hospital and he was only allowed to leave for six hours. My family wasn’t done with the remodel of their home, so they didn’t host a celebration. On Christmas day, Hubs, me, and my family went out to eat at one of our favorite Chinese restaurants. Although the meal was tasty, it didn’t feel much like Christmas this year.
Hubs and I set a $25 spending limit on gifts for each each other Christmas. For us, gifts aren’t what the holiday is about, so we like to have fun and force ourselves to be creative. Last year, I made Hubs a Blurb photo book of our entire dating history. He really liked that gift. This year, Hubs gave me a Barack Obama calendar. Very cute. But, we also both broke the $25 gift rule. I got Hubs an electric shaver because he was in desperate need of one. He has owned his old shaver he since high school. And, it was really a gift for me, since I get a clean shaven husband now. Hubs surprised me with a Wacom Bamboo, an electronic pen and tablet that replaces the use of a computer mouse. Since the tablet is pressure sensitive, the Wacom system is great for things like drawing in Illustrator or touching up pictures in Photoshop; it replicates real pen motions better than a mouse. Hubs gave me the Bamboo to encourage my designing. So sweet. I forgive him for breaking the budget.
For today’s card, it’s belated, but I still have a few holiday cards to post, even though the season is almost over. So, don’t be surprised when you see Christmas cards in February.
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Mr Twigster, Many Merry Messages stamp sets, cardstock and ink in bashful blue, tangerine tango, kiwi kiss, whisper white, frosty day designer paper, silver elastic cord, aqua painter pen, stampin’ dimensionals
Cookie Accident at the Sunset House
Boy, am I stinkin’ tired. Hubs and I stayed up until 3am baking and packaging cookies gifts for people at his workplace. The treats came out rather delicious, I must say. We made a batch of Earl Grey shortbread, a recipe given to me by my pastry chef coworker. The cookies came out delicious and buttery, with a hint of tea flavoring. I’ll share the recipe and final outcome of the project on my blog soon.
Hubs and I also had a cookie accident that set off the fire alarm. Oops. You see, my coworker generously converted one of her culinary school recipes (apricot oatmeal cookies) from a huge, mass production batch, into a smaller, home sized batch just for me. However, I think there was a typo during the conversion process, because when I made the oatmeal cookies last night, the recipe called for a mountain of sugar, a full cup of honey, 1/2 cup of vanilla extract, yet only 1/3 cup of flour. After I mixed everything together, I thought it looked a little grainy from all the excess sugar, but I shrugged and scooped the batter onto my Silpat anyway. Once stuck the tray in the oven, the honey and sugar melted and burnt the cookies to a crisp. Smoke filled the ceiling and our fire alarm started shrieking. Hubs rushed to fan the air around the alarm, while I focused on cleaning the blackened mess that was our oven. The kitchen and oven survived, but the cookies, sadly, did not. Our house still smells like burnt honey. Bleah. At least the shortbread recipe came out perfect.
Today, I’m sharing another card that I made with the Love You Much bundle (the designer paper, stamp, and heart shaped punch are all from the bundle). I even hooked up my 1970’s Sears Kenmore sewing machine that my parents handed down to me and I sewed a little border around the card. I’m really into the sewn paper look right now. It’s too bad I only know how to sew paper and not clothes.
Two more days until Christmas, yeah! I only get six holidays off per year, and Christmas is one of them, so I’m excited.
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Love You Much stamp set, cardstock in kraft, riding hood red, pixie pink, very vanilla, ink in chocolate chip, riding hood red, pixie pink, heart punch from Love You Much bundle, Candy Lane designer paper (also included in bundle), sewing machine, stampin’ dimensionals
Happy News
I know Christmas hasn’t passed yet, but I’m already looking forward to Valentine’s Day. Hubs and I don’t actually celebrate Valentine’s Day. We’re too *ahem* cheap to foot the outrageous dinner bills. We usually spend a quiet V-day evening at home. But, the week after, we have a fancy dinner out and call it our Ordinary Day. No need for a special occasion to celebrate our loved ones. So, just for Hubs, I made the card below using a stamp and designer paper from the Love You Much bundle.
On an happy note, I was pulled into my director’s office last week and he told me that he was giving me a promotion. What a surprise! I didn’t expect or deserve this promotion. Nevertheless, I was extremely grateful. Last week I shared that Hubs didn’t get into the MBA program of his choice. I spent a few good days wrestling with this. In all honesty, I didn’t trust that we were being provided for.
I suppose it could’ve been a coincidence that I was granted a promotion a few days after Hubs got rejected from school… Or, it could’ve been God reassuring me that we are being taken care of. It’s difficult to remember that just because our plans don’t turn out the way that I expect, it doesn’t mean that He isn’t working in our lives. Hubs has a great job at one of the few companies that’s actually expecting growth during this recession, and I was granted an unexpected increase. I really couldn’t ask for much more.
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Love You Much stamp set, cardstock in kraft, whisper white, ink in chocolate chip, watercolor pencils, blender pen, chocolate chip ribbon, scallop edge punch, flower layer Sizzix die, sewing machine, stampin’ dimensionals
Snow Swirled
Despite having made tons of holiday cards already, I haven’t mailed a single one out yet. I feel guilty if I mail a card to some people and not others. If I can’t send them all at once, I probably won’t send them at all. And then I’ll be stuck with a pile of cards that I can’t use until next year.
Well, here’s the latest card to add to the pile. Let’s hope I have some free time this weekend to get the rest finished up and in the mailbox!
Oh, and Hubs has an interview today at 11am… if you feel so inclined, please send some prayers and good wishes his way!
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Snow Swirled and Frames with a Flourish stamp sets, cardstock in kraft, whisper white, baja breeze, ink in chocolate chip, versamark pad, gold embossing powder, gems and twine from Michaels
Bummer of a Day
Yesterday was a bummer of a day. Hubs found out that he didn’t get into two MBA programs that he applied to this fall. I understand that it is an extremely competitive year for B-school applicants, especially with the recession and all, but I truly believe that he deserved a spot. I’m his wife, so surely I’m biased. However, I’m not the only one who believes in him; his co-workers, managers, and peers were taken by surprise at the decision.
Somehow Hubs has remained upbeat despite the crappy news. In fact, I’m more crushed than he is. As a Christian, I believe that everything happens for a reason and the Big Man upstairs has a plan for us. At least, I’m supposed to believe this. I want to believe it. I have to believe it. But, I still struggle to believe it.
I asked Hubs how he could be so cheerful with such devastating news. Hubs said he’s able to have a thankful heart in difficult times because he has seen that God has always taken care of him. Each time he has been given bad news, good news was waiting just around the corner. For example, after college, Hubs didn’t get a Microsoft job that he really wanted. Later he found out that he was accepted for a top marketing position, one of only four available spots in the entire country. He survived an icky breakup with a girlfriend. A few months later, we met (and of course, we all know how that story ends ). So, Hubs innately trusts that we will be taken care of. I, on the other hand, have trouble trusting that the Big Man is really, truly looking out for us. At least I married the right person–one who will always humble me and challenge my lack of faith.
On the bright side, I got my new stamp order on Friday. I purchased a few retired stamps that I couldn’t live without, including a background stamp is called Stitched. I like making my own patterned paper out of background stamps because I get to choose the colors I want. The card I made is a “just because” card. Just because I’m thankful that my Hubs is just about the most amazing person I know. I’ve never believed in anyone more than I believe in him.
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Stitched background stamp, Best Yet hostess set, cardstock in basic brown, kraft, pink pirouette, ink in basic brown, chocolate chip ribbon, pink felt and twine from Michaels, flower layer sizzix die, stampin’ dimensionals, button from Walmart
Friday, Sweet Friday
TGIF!
It has been a really long week and I’m truly looking forward to the weekend. Hubs and I are taking a knife class with our friends on Saturday. We’re going to learn how to handle a blade properly (finally). I’ve always wanted to learn how to run my knife through veggies with lightning quick speed like the chefs on the Food Network. I also hope I get some time to craft and finally make another video. Between long hours at work and the busy holiday season, I’ve been falling behind with all the tutorials I’ve wanted to create for you. So many big ideas, so little time!
Mr. Twigster says, have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Mr. Twigster, Polka Dot and Many Merry Messages stamp sets, cardstock in tangerine tango and bashful blue, designer paper in frosty day (from current holiday mini catalog), SU ink in bashful blue, kiwi kiss, close to cocoa, Stazon ink in Timber Brown, craft whisper white, ribbon in kiwi kiss, stampin’ dimensionals, clear snowflake by Heidi Swapp
