CHA Orlando

I didn't go to CHA even although I live less than 3 hours from the convention center in Orlando. I bought a Circut Expression instead, reasoning that I would spend at least that much, if not more, at CHA because when it comes to papercrafting, I have NO willpower. And from what I have read on various blogs, I didn't miss too much apart from crowds, disorganization and no parking spaces. Seems like the organizers of this event seriously underestimated the enthusiasm of crafters although I'm wondering if all the pre-registrations didn't give them at least a small clue as to the numbers who were attending...
I did miss out on the chance to meet various stamping people who I only know from the internet but I'm actually not too sad about that either. There is something a little weird about feeling like you know people through their online personalities - especially when those people don't know you back. Like don't we all think we know Daven from SCS? Or Jen Balcer? Or Tim Holtz? (yes I know he wasn't there for the open portion of the event but you get my drift, right?) We've seen their pictures, got to "know" them through forum posts and blogs, but I don't really know any of them and for them to suddenly morph in to real people might be too much for me... and if that makes me weird, I'm okay with that too.
Tell you one thing though - that Basic Grey "Eerie" paper has my name all over it. Halloween anyone?

Gorjuss Girls All In A Row.....

Once again the weekend rushed by in a blur, but I did manage to squeeze in some crafting time, a lot of which was dedicated to trying to master my new Cricut Expression. Maybe it's just me, but there is quite a learning curve to that machine - and my trash can is bearing witness to it. I needed to do some coloring to relax! I'm a big fan of the Gorjuss girl range from Sugar Nellie and I'm hoping they bring out some Halloween or Christmas girls. All the above cards were colored with Copic pens and various papers, (Stampin' Up and Basic Gray) were used on TAC Kraft cardstock.

Is it too early for fall?

Or more specifically, Halloween? There is a real nip in the air here in Florida, in fact the weather man said it would "only reach the high 80's today) so you can see how my mind would turn to fall....
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. And not because of the trick or treating, because growing up in Scotland, there was no trick or treating (we had our own version although I understand things have become more Americanized in recent years)
No, I just love the colors, the papers and the imagery, I guess. I'm drawn to all of them and own more Halloween stamp sets than one person really needs. I fully expect to add to that collection this year, because I have NO willpower.
This card was included in the Cards For Heroes package because, obviously, they need to work ahead of the major holidays so they get shipped out to the troops in plenty of time for them to mail them home. It was so easy to make - some DP (that I didn't look at the maker of before I used it all up), silver ink on the sentiment (Inkadinkadoo, I think) then finished off with MS drippy goo and bat punches.

Chirp, chirp!

No card this weekend......... because I got a Cricut Expression this weekend! I've been eying up an electric die cutter for some time now and couldn't decide which of the multitude was the best for me. I did a ton of online research and decided on the Expression. Only time will tell if it was the right decision, but boy, I hope so! I don't spend that type of money on my little hobby lightly but I had come in to a little windfall which made it feel a little better :)
Of course, I had to try to find a space for it in the stamp room - there went an afternoon of my life I I won't get back! Moved everything around and ended up moving it back again because it didn't fit where I thought it would but I managed to get rid of a big bag of trash that was just taking up room so I suppose it wasn't all for nothing!
Then I spent a fair amount of time surfing around looking for blogs/tutorials/tips on how to make the most of my investment. What about you, my friends? Any of you have a Cricut? I'd love some tips if you'd like to share!

With or without?

Here is another of my Cards For Heroes, taken before I sent the package obviously. Given my new obsession with CAS cards, the question for today is "do you think the card is better with or without the bow?" Because of my embellishment obsession, I initially liked the bow, then I changed my mind and decided against it.
What do you think?
The background was made with a Cuttlebug folder, and the sheep is from one of TAC's Stamps of the Month, colored with Copic markers. The sentiment is from SU and the tiny little heart came from one of the $1 Michaels punches. It didn't show too well in the photograph, but the sheep was mounted on silver mirricard. I love that stuff but it is so expensive I tend to hoard it. Can't think of a better reason to stop hoarding than to share with our heroes!

Anyone seen my mojo?

I think it's still on vacation, because I am so NOT inspired right now, BUT I had to go in to the stamp room this weekend because the pledge I made right here has been nagging away at me. I started off well, then the lead up to the vacation sort of side tracked me, then the actual vacation derailed me totally! Which isn't fair at all when you consider how much these cards are needed so I got over my whiney self and got on with it.
120 cards is a lot of cards! I sort of froze with the responsibility of it all because I wanted them to be great, but I needed them to be simple so I could produce slightly faster than my normal rate of one card per weekend! I do subscribe to the "more is more" theory of card making, so it has been a real challenge for me to simplify. But the internet never lets me down! Thanks to the CAS gallery at SCS and this card from one of my favorite bloggers, I was off and running and all the cards are sealed in their box ready for shipping.
And I've found a new style of card making! I'm kind of liking the CAS style.

Home safe...

........we had a wonderful time! The weather could have been kinder, but hey, no-one ever said Scottish summers were why people live there. I understand they are in the midst of a heatwave now - typical!
I'm glad so many of you enjoyed the YouTube postcards - if you ever have the chance to go to Scotland, you should do it. The people are so friendly, the country is so beautiful and the history is so inspiring, why would you not?
We had friends with us this time around - it was their first visit to Scotland, so I spent more time doing tourist type stuff than I would normally and it was so great to see everything through their eyes. I found a whole new appreciation for things that I normally don't think twice about and places I've been a hundred times before looked brand new to me. Like this place........ drove past it literally hundreds of times, but never took the time to go check it out until now. Wow, what was I thinking?

A Postcard from home

Greetings from Bonnie Scotland

Vacation - all I ever wanted!

See you all when I get back - enjoy!!!

Sugar Bowl Challenge #11

Here's my entry for the Sugar Bowl Challenge. Kathy provided a yummy sketch and then an additional challenge in the form of something which must be incorporated in to your card. This time it was pearls, which I added to the center of my flowers and then along the border. I used one of my Leanne Ellis stamps from Sugar Nellie. The papers are from the Basic Grey Sultry collection, and I also used my MS punch, my CB embossing folder, my Nestie die and my SU corner punch. Phew.... This is why I don't normally list the recipe....

I've had the card done for about a week now, but I'm squeaking in by the skin of my teeth to actually link it before time is up on the challenge because I haven't stopped all weekend. It was all good though - I had company come in to town, a graduation party to attend and I'm still trying to get halfway organized for my upcoming trip.

Barring some extra hours appearing in the day, this will probably be my last post for a while because I will gone for TWO weeks!! And I suspect when I get back, the first order of the day won't be card making (much as I might like it to be) but laundry. You all be good while I'm gone!!