Pile of Potential

Sounds much better than “leftover stuff” doesn’t it?  Those bits of ribbon, papers with chunks cut out of them, spare brads and charms…  All pieces with potential.    I can’t bear to throw them out.

This set of projects was made almost entirely of pieces from my “pile of potential” and is featured at the Helmar USA blog today.    Check it out to see individual photos of each project.   Products used include Stampendous stamps, Clearsnap Chalk Ink, Dream Street papers, and Helmar Adhesives.

Until next time…
C.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Remember that Staples commercial?  One of my favorites.

Just a quickie post before the long holiday weekend!   The 2 big kids went off on the big yellow bus last week, and the weather here has been cooler than normal.  It almost feels like fall already!  Since fall is my favorite time of year, I can’t say I’m disappointed.  I will miss the carefree days of summer, though.  We’ve had a great summer–long vacation, baseball games, pool time…  It is definitely harder to fit in the relaxing moments once school and fall sports are back in full swing, as evidenced by the 9 full hours we spent on various ballfields last Saturday instead of hanging out by the pool.

Can’t say I’ll miss that this Saturday!

The house feels a little empty with the big kids gone all day, and I imagine I’ll feel a bit lonely once the little one starts preschool in a few weeks.  I have been able to spend more time in the Craft Cave during the day, though, instead of squeezing my projects in at night.

I whipped up this mini-composition book as a birthday party favor idea.  I’m not a fan of the “goodie bag”, tending to toss the junky stuff as soon as I can reasonably expect the kids to not miss it, so I’m trying out some ideas as possible alternatives.  I’m thinking this one would be an easy craft to make and take along home.  The bookmark is a barrette clip with a felt flower attached.

Paper is from Paper Trunk, felt flowers and monogram from American Crafts, and I stuck it all together using Helmar Premium Craft Glue, Fray Stoppa, and 450 Glue.

Have a fantastic holiday weekend!
Until next time…
c.

Thoughts from the Summer Show

I had my doubts about the CHA Summer Show in Orlando.  Honestly, I didn’t think it would go well, and when I walked in on Monday during set-up I was a little shocked at the number of booths at the show.  But I was pleasantly surprised!  Most of the booths had steady traffic and several manufacturers I spoke to reported their sales per store seemed higher.

The designer showcase had a fantastic location directly across from the show floor.  We had a wonderful turnout of editors, publishers, and manufacturers tour the showcases.  Thanks to all who stopped by to view my table!

While I didn’t take many photos this time around,  I did manage to catch a few of some products that caught my eye.

My friend Eileen Hull, next to the display of her new line of ScoreBoards dies for Sizzix.  I’m so happy for her, and the dies are wonderful!

New “Grandma’s Christmas Soup” collection from Jillibean Soup.  As a crafter who prefers small to medium patterns (and hasn’t seen many of them in the last few years), this company is one of my new favorites.  And their accessories are great too.

Nunn Designs always has wonderful displays in their booth.  It’s just a beautiful booth to visit, and their metal pieces and collage sheets are downright stunning.

And of course, something from Prima, whose booth is always packed to overflowing with stunning embellishments.  They’ve taken their popular gossamer butterflies and expanded the line to include leaves, birds, and yes, more butterflies.

Of course, there are bugs to be worked out in this new venue.  And the weather, with it’s roasting heat and daily monsoons, wasn’t ideal.  Overall though, I enjoyed the show with it’s slower pace and time to see everything.  I hope CHA can continue to improve and keep the show going.

I’ll add some thoughts from the consumer portion of the show tomorrow.

Until next time…
C.

Almost done!

I’m finished with the last day of the CHA summer show and 2 weeks of family vacation.  One more day left to check out the consumer show tomorrow, then I’m on my way home to sleep in my own bed for the first time in 3 weeks!

I’ll add photos from vacation and the show when I get back!

Until next time…
c.

Perfectly calm

Who would have thought that phrase would be describing me only a week before the summer CHA show.   I’ll admit, I’m usually running around like crazy and spending late night after late night in the craft cave frantically cranking out projects for my showcase table.   But my work for this show is done.

*insert happy Snoopy dance here*

If you will be in Orlando for the show, stop by the Designer Showcase on Wednesday.   The displays will be open for viewing from 12-7, with a designer meet and greet during the last two hours.   My work will be at table #19.

Here’s a quick peek at a card from my display:

Hope to see you in Orlando!  Until then, I think I’ll just kick up my feet and relax!

Until next time…
C.

Creating frenzy

I mentioned last week that I was on a massive creative streak, spending night after night in the craft cave pulling my Designer Showcase table display together.  After late nights and buckets of caffienated beverages I’m almost there.   Two more projects left.  Sleep is overrated, right?   The creative binge is fun, but the aftermath leaves a little to be desired.

Here’s one of the late-night projects made for Helmar Adhesives:

I finally got my gallery up and running this weekend.   To see more projects, click on the “Gallery” tab up top.

In other news, while preparing for our upcoming adventures, I made sure all the memory cards from our cameras are empty and ready to go.  In the process, I found quite a few photos I had forgotten about.  Here’s a little gem from our recent NASCAR race at the Kentucky Speedway.  Kid #1 was super-excited about being able to stay up late and go along.   He was fun to watch.

I’m still lamenting the lack of photos from the NKOTB concert last weekend.   We got a random upgrade to pavilion seats.  Total retro cheesy fun.  Completely different from *coughcoughtoomanyyearsagocoughcough* when I was 13 seeing them the first time.  It was a ball.

Off to head back to the cave.  Those projects aren’t going to make themselves!

Until next time…
C.

Creative Mess

And by mess, I truly mean MESS.   That’s right, all caps.

For the last few weeks I’ve been knee-deep in the craziness that happens when a home-remodeling project coincides with a big deadline.    So there is mess in the construction zone, mess in the craft cave, and a big mess in my brain.

Our new floors are finally installed.  (Hooray!)  We took out all the carpet and 20 yr old parquet flooring on our main floor and replaced it with a stranded bamboo plank.   I love it!    It updates our ’80s house tremendously.    However, everything that used to be in the toy, china, and crystal cabinets (and anything else that was small enough to be carried) now resides in our master bedroom.  Who knows when it will return to its proper home.    What a mess!

I’ve also been working on some projects for Clearsnap, a fabulous company whose products I’ve been using for years.   I had the opportunity to be introduced to them at the winter CHA show, and they are as wonderful as their products.   With all the construction and those wild steroid side effects, I was a manic stamper.  The result?  Utter destruction of the Craft Cave.

I’m not one of those highly efficient people who must return each and every craft supply to its proper home and wipe all traces of the current project from my desk before beginning a new project.   Instead, I toss all craft debris off to the side or onto the most convenient, least cluttered surface, leaving me a progressively smaller workspace in which to create.   At the end of the creative streak, I triumphantly cross off the last project on my list, take a deep satisfied breath, and lift my head.

Then I make a face not unlike that of the kid from “Home Alone”.    What a mess!

As for my brain, well, it’s always a mess.

What I could really use is a magic lamp, a genie, and 3 wishes.   Ahh, all my mess problems solved.

Until next time…
C.

Check out this project

I’m the featured guest blogger today at Helmar Adhesives!   I love working with Helmar, and this is one of my favorite products.  It works wonderfully straight out of the jar, but I added Colorbox Grey Whale Chalk Ink color to create a coordinating background for this plaque.

Learn the technique here!

Have a great weekend!
C.

Totally Random Monday Afternoon

I’m still trying to catch up around here.  It’s amazing that 3 weeks of being sick can mean almost double that in catch-up time.   My “to-do” list is out of control.   Since the last time I made it here:

• I finished a magazine assignment
• “Mount Laundry” is no smaller than when I started washing it.   (How do all these clothes get so dirty this fast, anyway?)
• We went to our hometown for Easter to do some family visiting.
• The kids participated in no less than 3 egg hunts while we were there.   We will still have candy left next Easter.
• I have not yet stooped to secretly stealing my favorites from the kids’ baskets.  My own stash is still being carefully rationed.
• I’m steadily planning our Disney vacation, even though it’s not for months.    I’ll be going non-stop leading up to the departure, so it’s now or never for the planning stage.
• Kid 3 has successfully stayed dry since awakening this morning.
• I’ve been changing diapers for almost 9 years straight.
• Our old dinosaur computer finally gave up while I was sick.   PSA:  automatic backups only work if the old pc transmits the info to the backup hard drive.   Lesson learned.  Pictures were recovered, but emails from the end of Jan. to mid-March are gone.
• Cool file of my work to be seen in stores soon has disappeared because of the aforementioned crash.    Luckly the Clearsnap folks are top-notch, so I think I can get another copy.  I’ll post when I get it again
• No fewer than 3 people ran by my window this morning in the drizzly rain.   Since my Chiari 1 malformation diagnosis in September, I now understand it doesn’t hurt everyone else to run.  But seriously, I can’t understand the pleasure of getting soaking wet while I exercise.
• Rain has broken for a bit, so I’m taking the kids on a walk.  I should have started my 30 Day Shred workout today, but I’m feeling too lazy.   At least I’m getting outside, right?  And I won’t be wet.

Until next time…
C.

Rough week, smooth hands

That pebble tile we started installing last weekend?   We’re still installing it.   Whoever thought of this should be flogged.  (Oh, wait.   That was me.   Halt the flogging.)    This tile is brutal.   The setting has to be meticulous or the lines between the tile sheets will be obvious.   It took us (mostly me, since I’m the possesser of the anal-retentive, obsessive, need for perfection) 16 hours to trim and set the sheets.   Then it has to dry 24 hours and be sealed.    The designated sealer (*waves hello to husband*) used a 1″ sponge brush to seal the rocks since I forgot to mention the great tip I read about using a paint roller to accomplish that task.  (OOPS!)   I’m glad I was at Bunko when that happened.

After the sealing comes the grouting.   Grouting those pebbles is a nightmare that I might reasonably compare to repeatedly poking myself in the eye with a dinner fork.   It’s near impossible to scrape off the extra grout when the heights of the individual pebbles are so random.   So, to get the rocks clean, we needed to:

1. sponge.   *poke*
2. sponge again.  *poke*
3. Let the tile set a bit,  scrub with a wire brush,  Shop-Vac the pieces, then wipe the rocks again.  *poke*
4. wipe off each rock individually to get the last bits of grout from around the edges.  *poke *poke* poke *poke *poke*…

Yesterday, I scoured the internet and discovered the best way to get rid of the last of the grout haze was to polish each rock individually with cheesecloth.  I think the neighbors could probably have heard my maniacal laughter from next door as I realized how the day would be spent.

I collapsed on the couch at 3am, too tired to even walk upstairs, with raw hands and a hole in my sock from the rough grout.   This morning in sleep deprived idiocy, I almost caused two kitchen fires making breakfast and steam-burned my thumb.

But my part in the floor construction is done.  D-O-N-E.  done.    Aside from needing resealed on Sunday, the job is complete.   I have already passed on the tip about the roller, so my reponsibility is finished.   If I wasn’t so exhausted, I’d do a happy dance in the hallway.  Photos will be forthcoming when the floor is finshed.

On a side note, in tribute to the taste of spring Mother Nature both giveth and taketh away this week, here’s a project I made last year that brings a bit of spring indoors.  Full instructions and supplies can be found on the Today’s Creative HomeArts website.

Come back spring!

May your weekend be happy and not filled with tedious home improvement!

Until next time…
C.