WOYWW #178 (a.k.a. #177...again!)

I'm thinking our dear Julia was up at 1:30 a.m. writing *her* WOYWW post! If you've not a clue what I'm rambling on about go check it out at Stamping Ground. :) You'll be so glad you did! Anyways, I'm totally exhausted so, before I get to bed with me, here are my pictures for the lovelies who like to come see:

What's this? A clean desk? How could I? Well, it's because I re-organized! I had commented on someone else's WOYWW post, last week, that maybe her organization wasn't working for her, since she seemed to have plenty of containers but more than enough mess, too. Which made me wonder if I wasn't in a boat of the same color myself. Or hoeing the same row? Well, insert a colloquial saying of your choice here. :) At any rate, it made me re-examine my sitch because it had deteriorated to this:

I had all sorts of new supplies and things I like to use more than the stuff I used most when I set this set-up up awhile back, so it was time to re-do it. I *almost* took a picture for y'all during the transition, when it was really hairy, but I was too excited to get it finished...sorry. :) Anyways, isn't it much tidier? Yes, most of the darling pails are gone, but I don't use the sharpies much(which filled 3 of the pails before) so they got relocated to the cabinet above my desk so if I *need* them they are still handy(though a few are still on the desktop). The scissors are all in one pail now because I don't use them often and I needed their holders for the MS punches that I do use quite a bit, but there they are, see? Right above the upside down stamp pads? Those are my pigment inks from Hobby Lobby. And I love them. They are affordable($1.50 each) and rich in color and well, they stack nicely and seem to last forever! Also, they have a really decent sized raised pad so I can use them for big stamps and edge inking.

And all my new toys and things it seems I've been reaching for most frequently are now at my fingertips! Instead of in my way. :) Wanna know how I got my TH inks off my desk without spending a dime???

I repurposed an old, and I mean ooooold, C.D. rack! Two inks fit in each slot, horizontally, then I skipped one vertically and so on until I just filled it in all the way to the top (or bottom). Granted I ran short for those last 9 or so pads you see on the right but they are mostly neutrals so I figured they could hang out, stacked on the new "shelf" until I either found another old C.D. rack in a thrift shop or decided I liked them there, whichever comes first! Anyways, it had slots along the back for screws so I just screwed it onto my pegboard, through a hole I mean. Cheap and it works great!!! Plus, I turned all my papers, like the 8x8's that were stacked on my desk, on their sides to make them easier to access...I'm hoping I use what I have more!

And, since it would appear the Doctor's instruments are trayed up, all sterilized and ready(I really did have to use my goo gone stuff to wipe down all my scissors from foam tape gunk) to be used, I guess I'll have to have a completed card ready to show off next week, huh? Along with a new mess, of course! :)
Thanks for stopping by and sorry if this post turned out to be rather a long one for someone who is not just supposedly but truly exhausted...where was I going with that? Oh yah, goodnight! And enjoy your snoops, whilst I enjoy my Zzzzzz's. ;)

My first tute!

Tutorial, that is! Go check it out, if you like making paper rosette's or watching my hands make paper rosette's or really love the sound of my voice. And if you want to be able to critique my tute-making skills. : ) Don't worry about not understanding the technical lingo I use...papercutter thing is short for sliding cutting blade, but that's not really important in the grand scheme of things, now is it? Here are also some pictures of two cards I made for my one special requester.(Thank you dear Sis!) They are different than the antiqued ones I have been doing lately, but I really like them...they look very simply beautiful. And I just discovered and removed a nonpareil under my letter "v" on my keyboard, which came off the white chocolate covered pretzels our local Braum's is selling...a-maze-ing! So yummy, highly addictive, in the very best possible way. Anyways, here's the pic's:

So what do y'all think? I've been wondering if I should ink up the edges of the cards, but they look so crisp and clean right now and as they are fairly simple cards the clean edges just look...right? These are the least fussy cards I have made in a long time but I used some new, for me, techniques that make them uniquely beautiful, in my eyes. Hopefully the receivers will think they are beautiful, too. Later this week I plan to put some close-up pic's, of our items, from our Craft Mall booth on here so stay tuned! ; )
And have a great week!

Lacking inspiration...

Actually I don't know if I'm truly lacking inspiration or just experiencing this overjustification effect that I was reading about last night. Since putting several items in a local craft mall my motivation to make new cards and things has taken a pretty sharp nosedive...I go to create and nothing happens. I just sit there looking at my newly organized card-making station and fuss with my scissors and whatnot and nothing comes to me. I can't even think of anyone to make a card for! Much less what it should look like. Look how clean my desk area is! Crafters know a craft room surface should never be that clean unless you haven't had a creativity induced mess making session in forever or you are dead or you are planning to take pics that don't showcase your messiness. Hey, if anyone wants to help me out and request a specific card, for yourself or someone you know that needs a card, please leave a comment and I'll see what I can do. Did I mention the price? Well, it's the best part: FREE!!! I'll even pay for the shipping to get the card to you and I won't sell your address to any but the best online marketers. You know the ones that send the really great catalogs... : ) Heehee...but seriously, it might really stir up my creativity and inspire me, so get your thinking caps on and help a girl out you lovely people!

Most recent creative endeavors...

I've been working on creating some new cards the last few weeks, since I got a new toy and all. It's called the Big Shot and it's by Sizzix. It embosses and using dies it also cuts. So much fun! If anyone reading this has an embossing machine that will take Sizzix embossing folders please let me know...I have a few free embossing folders that I can't really use and I would love to give them away! I used my Cricut to make the bunting and balloons and some of the other embellishments and some were simply handcut.

 When you open this one up the elephant is actually on the inside, you can just see him through a window I cut and put a ruffled ribbon around. The other thing you can't see is that all the dots actually sparkle a bit since they are glitter, as are the 4 larger dots in the corners. This one was way cuter than it photo'd.

(It says Hope Your Anniversary Was Sweet and it was for a dear dear clay artist I know and see those little round thingy's that look like mini candies? She sent me these sticks and I cut those off them and clued them on this card and well, I don't know all the technical terms but they are lotsa fun to use for embellishing!)

This next card seems kinda plain, but its for a boy anyways and I've noticed they don't seem to care much about glitter and all that, though I did outline the leaves on the leafy thingy in a blue glitter and used some foam popouts to make the congrats banner pop...

 I'm not sure this one is completely complete either. Mostly cause I don't know exactly what to use it for. I just got the paper and loved it so I made this card up...I think I'm thinking something along the lines of it you build it they will come...so if I make cards then I will have people to send them to...well, its a work in progress, at any rate. But you should see this paper...its so vintage and I dirtied up the edges and the button border I embossed down the centers.

Well, this next one could be sent to so many dear ladies I know...whenever one door closes I hope one more opens, promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance, I hope you dance. I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, never settle for the path of least resistance...and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance...