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.

Friday Fragments

I’m trying something new this week, just for fun, and because none of the topics I have thoughts about this week really equal an entire post.  It’s “a whole lot about not much” today.   For more people posting Friday Fragments check out Mrs. 4444’s blog.

• Yesterday, I took down the last of the winter decorations.  Yes, I said the winter decorations, and yes, it’s March 6th.  In my defense, it was my snowman collection and it was still 14 degrees two days ago.    I draw the line at 55 degrees in March, though (which it was yesterday), so down they came.    I’m ready for spring.
• I am anxiously waiting for the time change to happen this weekend.  My kids have been up insanely early this week, and I’m downright tired of it.  Switch the light to the evening already!
• What’s up with canceling “Life on Mars”?   Shows like “The Bachelor” stay, and the real meaty shows go.   I just don’t understand it.
• My wrist seems to unfortunately be back to where it was before my Dr. appointment.  All those needles for nothing.   It looks like I have a phone call to make this morning.  I guess I better clear my calendar.  Fantastic.
• Ever since I posted this post, I have gotten hits all over the place from people searching for Leprechaun traps.   Who knew so many people were looking for ideas.   HI EVERYONE!   We still haven’t made one yet, sorry!
• Last week, I started planning out our meals for the week again.   We use the Grocery Game (and have for about a year), because I’m too lazy to match up the coupons to the circulars and too cheap to pay full price.   We’ve been slacking on the planning front since I got sick last fall, and it feels good to get back to it.   No last minute trips to the store this week and we saved 47%.  Yay us!
• We’re laying the river rock pebble tile this weekend in the half-bath.   Heaven help us.
• And because I haven’t posted a project all week, here’s a quick bit of craftiness for the weekend.   These made an appearance in the Sept./Oct. issue of Today’s Creative Home Arts, and were made with random scraps of whatever products I had laying around.    I thought it fit with the “random scraps from my brain” theme today.    love them.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Until next time…
C.

Leprechaun traps, guitars, and guest blogging.

How’s that for a random blog title?

I spent a half-hour this morning drying a shoebox with a hairdryer.  Now you might think that phrase seems as odd as my post title, but really, it makes perfect sense when you find out Kid 1’s  musical instrument was due today.    Yesterday was rainy, so I tried to wait out the humidity to spray paint the mishmash of shoebox, rubber bands, and broken yardstick a lovely shade of “leftover from painting the shutters-blue”.    Alas, the rain never stopped, so this morning the guitar was coated with spray-gesso in the garage and dried with the hairdryer in the kitchen.    The crafter in me is shaking her head, but the mom in me gets the giggles thinking about the absurdity. 

Kid 2 has a Leprechaun trap due in 2 weeks.    I’m wracking my brain to come up with a way to creatively ensnare a small mythological being.    And I’m wondering what the odds are that it won’t require a last-minute heat styling.

And as for the guest blogging, my post and project is up today at the Helmar Blog!    Here’s a sneak peak of the dimension created with their Liquid Scrap Dots.  Love that glue!     Check out the project and the instructions here.

Have a great weekend!

Until next time…
C.

Home from CHA

I’m exhausted.    It was a great show overall, if a bit slow at first.  I’ll post some photos and my thoughts soon, but today I’m hanging out with my babies.    I missed the little mites.

Oh, and it’s cold here.   Really, really cold here.  Didn’t miss that at all.

Until next time…
C.

When old is new

This is my piece for the Designer Green Gallery at CHA.   The theme for this show is “Going Green”, and this project fits the bill.  The box is a flea market find, and there are 6 other repurposed embellishments as well.  Not to mention the bits and pieces I found so deep in my stash they might as well have been found in the garbage. 

If you will be at the show, check it out in person in the Eco-Lounge (booth 4961).

Only two more days before all my ducks must be neatly aligned.  Suprisingly, I feel pretty calm, which is completely out of character for me before a show.  All the big items are checked off the list, which is nothing short of a miracle.   I’m not mentioning how many little items still do not have that satisfying black line through them, though.

There’s plenty of time, right?

Until next time…
C.

At this time next week…

I will have arrived in Anaheim, finished or not.

That thought gives me a curious feeling in the pit of my stomach.  It’s a strange mixture of relief and full-fledged panic.   It never fails, the week (or two!) immediately before the CHA show I spend scrambling to finish everything on my list and create enough projects to fill my Designer Showcase table.   Usually, I cross off the last item around 4am the morning before my flight leaves.    Who needs sleep anyway!

As of now, I’m still in creation frenzy mode.   For some reason panic stirs my creative juices and I get a flood of wonderful ideas all at once.    Then I scramble like crazy to get them all done.  Right now there are three partially finished projects on my desk alone.   Yes, I finished all my term papers, including my masters thesis the night before they were due.   What can I say, I thrive on deadlines!

Here is one project that will be displayed on my Showcase table next Saturday and Sunday.  This one is completely digital, created in PSE.

If you are headed to CHA, feel free to stop by table #25!

Stay tuned…I’ll be sharing a few more peeks of my table over the next week, and on Monday I’ll be posting my project for the Green Gallery Display.   I can honestly say it is my favorite project ever!

Until next time…
C.

It’s up!

Hi all!

My project on the Helmar blog (see below) is up with instructions.  Check it out!

C.

Eating (sparkly!) Crow

I swore several years ago I was done with glitter.    It never failed.   I’d spend hours (or days.  I’m not known for my speed) perfecting a project, and 2 days later the glitter would be lying in a twinkling pile on the table under the project.   I’d scream choice words in frustration.

Finally, I threw my whole stash in the back of the closet and washed my hands of the stuff.  (Literally!)

As it turns out, all my problems could have been avoided if I’d known about Helmar adhesives.    Their Acid Free Glue is fantastic for keeping the glitter where I put it.   No sparkly puddle!

The entire project will be posted on the Helmar Blog tomorrow (Monday) with complete instructions.   Enjoy the long-term sparkle!

Until next time…
C.

Happy New Year!

And best wishes for everything good in 2009!  We had a wonderful get-together with old friends, as we do every year.    Though we were missing a few people this year, we still had a ball.

I’m hoping for a quieter year for my family, since the past few months have been quite hectic health-wise since September for us and for our extended families.  It sounds kind of silly to say I’m hoping for “nothing” to happen in 2009, but really, it’s the truth.  Plain, boring, old life is fine with me.

By the calendar, it’s a bit late for Christmas, but since my house is still fully decorated, I’m squeaking one last holiday card onto the blog before I move on to the new year.

This card was made with chipboard circles, beads, glitter, stamped phrases, pre-cut felt shapes, and Helmar adhesives (450 Stainless, Acid Free Glue, and Liquid Scrap Dots).  Hope everyone had a great holiday!

Until next time…
C.

Need a Quick and Easy Gift?

Can you hear the clock?   Tick-tock-tick-tock…   It’s the sound of panic as I realize exactly how many days I have left to get my act together.  Yikes!

Tomorrow (the 19th) is the day my project is featured on the Helmar blog for the 12 Days of Christmas feature.   In my endless quest to magically create extra hours to get all my holiday tasks completed, I designed a quick, colorful, touch of personality to a purchased gift.

Here is a sneak peak of the project:

To see the rest of the project, supplies, and  instructions, visit the Helmar USA Design Team blog tomorrow!

Until next time…
C.