Karen Day Wants To Say.............

"Purple Monkey Dishwasher"

http://karen-day.blogspot.com/

Crackly Good Luck

Can you see my smudge under the shamrock? I had the card all done and it looked flat, so I decided to paint the clover with that new paint from Tim Holtz and when it didn't look crackly enough, I added another layer of paint. And made a mini mess. And it still didn't crackle enough for my tastes.

Layer a piece of printed paper over a plain card. Add a plain chunk of card stock to the middle.Ink all the edges of all your layers too.Make a word or words with your Quikutz, Sizzix or other die cut letters (maybe stickers would look good too). Die cut the shamrock and ink before putting on card (I do a lot backasswards in general.) This was an easy way to use up scraps.

Costco Alert!! Going Fast!!

Bundle packaged for an incredible price! Normally the large one retails for 29.99 and the small one for 11.99-get them both for ONLY 14.99!! They only had pink left at the one I was at but too cute and versatile to pass up. Also the Cropidile packages are back in stock as are the bulk handmade papers. And anyone needing rolling carts with multiple pockets-they are only 29.99 and beat those stupid ones Fiskars had for a while (I gave mine to hubby for his boy scout crap).

Pirates, Dogs and Cheese

For all you pirate fans, Joann's has stickers, papers, card stock and that sort in their dollar section near the checkout. Alas, no stamps to match. But in one of the gossip rags on the other side-Johnny Depp (as butcher not pirate-beggars can't be choosy tho)

Dog is on my last nerve. Last night while trying to finish a project, apparently he didn't like my admonishment to get out from under my feet, so he lifted his leg-on my scrap supplies! Luckily, most of what he sprayed (he is neutered) was metallic or plastic, so I am able to clean it. I spent most of the day doing that. But based on evidence, this is not the first time he has honored me in such a way. Some of the metal things were corroded. He did spray once in the kitchen about a month ago when I didn't fill his bowl fast enough.

Cheese-never found it. I keep smelling something weird but can't trace it. I have to assume at this point dog ate it-wax paper and all. I did come into the kitchen one day and he was on the stove snooping around. I rarely keep any food out for temptation but I did have a pound of butter softening for cookies for hubby. I don't have the butter anymore, either.

Instant Gratification?

I just don't get it. Several days ago, HSN or one of those crack-like shopping networks sent out emails for the newest "have to have" paper crafting tool. It was the steroid supplemented offspring to the Cropidile. This new tool will let you punch in the middle of 12 x 12 pages etc.I can't even find a photo of it as it's so new. ETA-found a photo here The deal was you buy this past weekend or have to wait to buy it locally until March or so. So all these women are posting in blogs and Yahoo groups they ordered it right away and most have already received it.

I just don't get it. Why would anyone buy a tool without testing it first. Why would anyone pay full price plus shipping for a tool they have no clue about. Why can't someone wait a few weeks, and get it locally and support the soon-to-be extinct scrap store or use a coupon at a local big box store? At least helping the local economy. I never pay full price-always waiting for a sale (10% is better than nothing) and when you are plunking down $40 bucks, I would certainly want to test it out (I tested an original Cropidile before purchasing and used my full point cards at the LSS for it). I was still one of the first people to get one and I have probably talked a lot more into one since. But just to get something first and have bragging rights? I just don't get it.

Far too many people are wasting money they don't have; just for a quick high-and that is what a lot of shopping is. We are a consumer driven society with few consequences (bankruptcy hurts more than just the person who files). We are seeing the results of buying without thought in the housing sectors. Too many buy houses they can't afford. The banks are just as guilty for giving the loans-after all, doesn't a sane person know if they make $50 grand a year, they cannot afford a $300 grand house?

Infomercials are the same way-and QVC and HSN are that. Just a little more subtle about it-with their rolling sales numbers of an item-get one now or they are gone forever! Think about your purchases-and maybe walk away from it entirely. I know $40 isn't much in the grand scale-but $40 could be the break point before your lights are off or your kids don't eat tonight. I see it all the time. Buying just for showing off (a house full of electronic crap) or fitting in (new clothes every week instead of washing the ones you have) but living almost on the dole.And I just don't get it.

ETA-now if someone can come up with a way to put an LED light in my Cropidile, so the spot I am punching is lit up better ( I have fluorescent energy savers so the lighting isn't great at times) that might be something I would trade up to.

Hello Tag Card

My ears popped! I can hear again. I still have congestion and some tummy issues but I can hear! I was even able to watch the new episode of Brothers and Sisters from the kitchen and understand the dialogue, which let me make cards (I am making valentines which is beyond weird-I normally would be making backwards so it would be Christmasy ones-well, I did make one of those)

I so like this card. I wasn't sure what I wanted when I started but other than having no blue brads to mimic the paper background flowers, this came out so cute. I traced around a large tag I had after folding my paper in half.

I used scraps for the two layers on the front-one plain and one print. Ink all those edges in distress brown. Punch some flowers and some larger ones to layer in matching colors to the paper tag. Use brads to hold them together. Add your layers to the front, using pop dots on the top layer. Add the completed flowers with pop dots.Cut a small tag and stamp with a greeting and add a brad and attach to the middle. Punch a hole thru both layers on the tag "top" and tie with a scrap of ribbon.

For anyone wondering-I still have not found the cheese.And the dog isn't farting.Curiouser and curiouser.

Flint Smells

I grew up in Flint, MI and with all the factories; yeah, it stunk. It also stunk because you felt kinda stuck here. That's a different stink. So when I was at a LSS recently and came across this Flint Earth Elements Texture from Art Glitter Institute, I had to wonder what it would smell like. It's kinda clayish-moist yet crumbly in texture. Not devastatingly gross but a smell that lingers.I honestly thought it would smell like an armpit. Go check out the other aromas to be had. I bought 6-most of which make me hungry.

Love Movies? See This Video.

100 movies, 100 quotes 100 numbers

Who Moved My Cheese?????

Hubby got home late last night-nothing unusual about that. I am a widow with a living husband. He wanted to go out to eat at 9:30 PM. Um, no. The friggin' games were on (one win and one loss) and my hair is in one huge knot as why comb it if I am too sick to go out (I have very long hair too). So I said I would make some eggs, and hash browns. Not that HE would ever offer to cook (he was initially a cook in the Army during the Vietnam War). So I decided to use some sauteed spinach, sun dried tomatoes and rosemary over the eggs which were on top of half a bagel and Gouda cheese. The cheese has a little mold on it, so I cut it off on top of a towel for later.

I can't find the damned cheese! I have the knife, the towel, the aluminum to wrap it with but no one pound block of smoky Gouda. I don't think the dog got it because the Gouda was sliced with wax paper in between slices. NO remnants of that. Not in the fridge or the drawers or cupboard or garbage. I even checked the laundry as I was washing as I cooked. Who moved my cheese? I need to find it before it turns nasty fuzzy and really reeks. And if the dog did get it?? He will fart on my all night (not much diff than a hubby but more sulfuric-and he will really be constipated too). don't want to go thru the rock deal again with him.

Another scrap laden card. Use a textured base and lightly ink the edges. Find three patterned pieces that look good together and cut into stripes and ink those up too (I did these in grape) Layer across the card with the fold at the top. Punch out some serendipity squares and ink those then layer on the left side with pop dots. Punch a circle, stamp a phrase and pop dot that. Thread some embroidery floss thru a couple of buttons of non matching sizes (I has another but it rolled under the fridge). Pop dot at the bottom right. 5 minute card-change the theme and colors and anything is possible.

BTW-hubby came home early today and said he got his work up to date (liar liar liar) He is sick now. And I am NOT taking care of him. He cant even figure out to go into the kitchen and get some multi symptom cold meds without asking me what to take for this and that and I am sorry, but they don't have pills for men who are too dumb to live. I am not his mom. I take care of myself because no one is here to otherwise. He should treat the situation the same. Or go back to work and let them take care of him as they always do. Sick of it already!

A Little Hello

I tried. I am trying to get better. Once my fever broke the other night, I figured it was all a piece of cake. I finally ate some smashed taters this morning (and the dog stole the whole thing of butter) but I have been regressing all day. Now I barely have a voice and the constant cough is back. My daughter said to go to Florida-fine. Will she watch my dogs? Nope. Will she drive in and cook for her dad? Nope. Will he cook? Nope, the miracle block of fast food is calling his name.(The healthiest place in town closed). Besides, I gave away all my year end cash. I didn't plan on getting sick. The county health department has issued a flu warning AND a Norovirus alert (please, no !)I will have to make an emergency trip to Costco for toidy paper-they sell by the 100 roll packages. I will get two. My only choice is to stay home and secluded. I just have no fresh food in the house.

Here is a card I made a long time ago.I thought I had already put it up but there it was-floating in my review file. I think this stamp is an oldie from Great Impressions . You can order any they have even if its years ago. I am running a list for the day when I am so needing instant gratifications. I stamped it on a plain scrap for the inside making sure the piece was a bit larger than the aperture. All I did for embellishment is use a glitter pen on the edges of the bottles.
Fold a golden card. Punch your hole. Take a lighter piece and punch out a hole a tad bigger. Stamp with a background stamp in a golden or beige ink. Attach to the front. Add a greeting. Place the stamped image behind making sure to line it up nicely.
Use the same background stamp on a matching envie with the same ink.Stamp another jar stamp on the lower corner and if you want, highlight with some glitter here and there. Sometimes simple is better than too much. So no ribbons or metallic add ons.