WOW...i talked on the phone to a stranger...

ok so I know you are thinking - SO? But I don't talk on the phone. I am not sure what it is - but I will literally have a panic attack. I think the phone held a lot of bad news when I was younger, so my OCD has just attached that feeling to the phone. So tonight Keith was calling Verizon about some crazy mix-up on our bill since I got my blackberry (YES YOU ALL NEED ONE - IT ROCKS!) And he was trying to watch the Tennessee game and then she had to have my permission to talk to him because I am primary owner. So I just kept talking to her - and I did it! I got all our stuff changed on our plans, and all the mix-ups worked out and I didn't FREAK at all! I just talked to her, told her thank you for doing such an awesome job and hung up! She was so nice and that helped. But maybe I can start to talk on the phone??? Now don't everyone call me at once - or I will be completely traumitized! But maybe I can attach a new "feeling" to the phone???

SHIMMERZ!!! BLOG CANDY!

Ok have you seen these new paints? They are SO COOL! I have to get some. http://shimmerzpaints.blogspot.com/2008/10/colors-and-candy.html
Check out the above link and it will take you to the post where you can win some blog candy!!!!!!!! I love bling and this is TOTAL BLING!

EDITED TO ADD: For some reason blogger is not allowing my links to show in my posts. I was unaware because it shows when I am typing. So please if you see this again - email me so I can fix it. Not sure if the shimmerz thing is still going, but copy and paste the above link to find out. SO SORRY!!!

Happy Birthday from Steph!!!

This is the first birthday card I received this year! It is from Steph on Tennessee Stampers. SO CUTE! Coloring is awesome and I love how she ran i through the Cuttlebug afterward! So cute - THANKS STEPH!

Life can be so confusing...

Last night I had dinner with some family members. And the subject of my (and another family members) germ-a-phobia came up. That of course bled into other topics. And eventually a comment was made that my OCD was "just a mental thing I could work through..." WELL YEAH, I know it is mental - but that is like saying if you hold a snake long enough you won't be afraid of snakes anymore. There are people in this world who COMPLETELY agree with that statement. And as much as I wish that was the case it isn't. I think I am beginning to realize that although I wore my "Mask of Normality & Happiness" for so many years, and thinking about how frustrating it was to not be myself - that doesn't matter.

There are people in this world who will TRY to understand me and my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and then there are people who either don't try, or just CANNOT try because of their own beliefs, etc. And so I think - will it be ok to wear that "MASK" around those people - for my sake and theirs? Because all it does is stress me out worrying that they think I am NUTS?!?!? Or is that denying who I really am, and hiding a major part of my life?

We had dinner with friends tonight and it is not something I feel I need to "keep" from them. And I have friends I can text and say "I AM HAVING A PANIC ATTACK - TALK TO ME PLEASE!?!?!?!" And I have those friends who GET that talking on the phone is just a panic attack waiting to happen for me - and the texts are a-ok with them. And then I know I have people/family/friends in my life who think "WHY IN THE WORLD CAN YOU NOT ANSWER YOUR PHONE?"/"WHY IN THE WORLD CAN YOU NOT CALL ME INSTEAD OF TEXTING?"

And so here comes that dilemma again - do I just call and talk on the phone, do I just pick it up and answer and have the panic attack later in private when I CAN take off the "MASK", and not subject anyone else to my "issues".

Just some questions to ponder at 1:30am on a Saturday morning...

SC198 - Sketch Challenge with Unity Stamps...

Sorry for the BORING title - in a hurry! :o)

Unity Stamp Co. October Kit of the Month - thinking about the good times
Distress Vintage Photo Ink, Brilliance Moonlight White
Black CS - unknown; Paisley PP - The Paper Studio, Diamonds - Bo Bunny I think (VERY OLD from my scrap stash)
Nesties to cut the ovals.
Copic Markers to Color the Pumpkins. The pumpkins were masked to stamp several.

This just didn't turn out quite how I wanted. I was very happy with my masking to make the "patch" of pumpkins. And REALLY happy with my coloring with my Copics - although I do not think the photo does them justice. But the overall card didn't turn out very well. But they can't all be masterpieces, right?

Manly Card Challenge by Unity

I pulled out a piece of American Crafts paper that was pretty manly looking. And then I pulled the colors off of that and started stamping with Unity's July KOTM "It's the Little Things". Then after getting the main image stamped and cut out with my nesties, realized that I wanted to go a completely different direction! LOL!

The card is 4" x 4". Uses July's KOTM. Inks: Blue - Palette, Orange & Yellow - Memento, Brown - Walnut Distress Inks. Brown CS (faux ribbon)- DCWV, Red CS - Close to My Heart, White CS - Georgia Pacific. The sentiment actually says "it's the little things..." but I cut out just the three words with my Stampin' Up Word Window Punch. The center image was cut with Oval Nesties and then inked around the edges with walnut distress ink.

To see my hubby's card for today's Unity Hubby Challenge, scroll down to the post below, and leave him some love. :o)

Unity Hubby Challenge

So last Thursday during Unity's Hip Hop - all the Unity Boys made cards. So that developed into a Unity Hubby Challenge. Keith was ALL IN! He had to make his card last night because he has to work tonight, but I got him in ACTION!

He picked out the Monkey Stamp from Unity's UK-197A Wild & Crazy Bunch. (He has a thing for monkies.) He got the monkey stamped and papers picked out before I could even get a picture taken, I got a picture of him waving the monkey around drying it! LOL! But that one didn't make the blog - it was blurry. He sat for a while contemplating what he wanted his card to look like, and then off he went. He used my Copic markers, now he is in love with them - gonna have to lock 'em up! LOL! But after he colored the monkey, he said "Can I doodle on it? Or will they be mad?" I told him to go for it. So the monkey has little patches that he doodled with a black fine pen & white signo. During this whole time he said "I want to come up with my own saying." So he did and printed it out on the computer, then he asked if he could cut an oval, so I showed him the cuttlebug and he was so cute trying to get the sandwich through. LOVE IT! And finally a picture of him with his card (silly man!) And a picture of the outside and inside of his card. Oh I almost forgot, he cut the monkey out (that takes talent!) and then pop-dotted him on the front. OH I LOVE MY MAN! Supplies: Unity Wild & Crazy Bunch, DCWV Cardstock, Copic Markers, White Signo, Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Pop Dots, K & CO. patterned paper.

A little Halloween, and a Little Pink

First of all I have to share the sweetest pic of two of my fur-babies. I "caught" them like this on Sunday morning. How sweet! Missie opened her eyes just as I was taking the picture, but they stayed like that forever. It is so sweet how Missie Moo & Mazie love to sleep together!


The card below is done with Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Making Memories Halloween Stamps, and a Cuttlebug Die/Embossing Folder duo cut out of some crazy paper I found at Hobby Lobby. Eyes are K & Co. gems I found at the Dollar Mart. Sorry for the glare - new camera.


This card is done for the Monday & Tuesday Challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.com The Monday challenge was to try a new technique with the stair step fold. And Tuesday was the Color Challenge (pink, black & White). Papers are Die Cuts with View & Hobby Lobby (zebra). All pieces on card are Chipboard. Stamped with Unity's September KOTM mini giggle grove, and quote in brilliance ink. Ribbon is from Michael's, flowers are prima. Black Jewels are K & Co. Again - sorry for the bad pic, my new camera has that movement correction, and I haven't quite mastered it yet - oops!

ROCK ~ PAPER ~ SCISSORS

Today's card is for the limited supply challenge over at Split Coast Stampers. We were only allowed to use paper, stamps, ink, decorative scissors and a paper trimmer - oh and BLING of course for the "rock"!!! I pulled out my new WISH kit by Unity Stamp Co. & the GIGGLE GROVE kit happens to be in the same envie. So after stamping everything I realized I needed a little greeting and giggle just seemed to fit this silly little card! Cardstock is DCWV, Distress Ink Worn Lipstick by Tim Holtz, & Clear Baubles (sorry they are hard to see - will have to work on that for photos.)

Thanks for looking and have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

Fall Decorations

Today was HIP HOP THURSDAY over at the Unity Stamp Co. Forum at SCS. So I have been chatting and blog hopping all day. So the only thing CREATIVE that got done today were the decorations in the front yard, so thought I would share. Happy Thursday!

Unity Stamp Company Wednesday Challenge on SCS

We had to make ANYTHING but an A2 sized card. So I went for 8" x 4". Just what I felt...Paper Salon Patterned Paper, DCWV Cardstock, Aegean Blue VersaMagic Ink, White Pen for doodles, Unity Stamp Co. Flower & Quote, Nesties to cut circle and quote, & border punch by The Paper Studio. Thanks for letting me share today!

busy busy busy (Breaking Dawn Spoilers ahead!!!)

Well, I have my other blog up and running! And there are pictures on it! WOOHOO! It has been a long day. Keith was up and off to work, his mom in the driveway picking up bread to take to Michael's school, dogs barking, setting the mums in the yard back upright and finally it was all quiet. I was settled in with Breaking Dawn, the last book in the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. I had maybe 100 pages of the book left, which for me is NOTHING. I was so sad, and then my phone rang. It was Keith "Ummmmm, can you come and get me? I hit something and my tire is flat." So off i went - he brought me home, and here i was with no car for the day, errands to run, and nothing to eat. Thank goodness he had brought muffins home from Panera last night. So again, settled back in to read Breaking Dawn, and it felt like it was over in a flash. Edward and Bella - their happy ending. As happy as I was to know the end, I was sad. Because at the end of this book - it said - THE END! NOOOOOOOOOOO! It cannot be over. Bella and Edward, Renesmee, Jacob, Carlisle, the Volturi - they all have more stories to tell. It just cannot be over. And so for once I allow my OCD to take over and convince myself that there will be more books about these wonderful creatures. And hopefully by the time my obsession is a little less, there will be something new. Or I could just go read all 4 books again! LoL!

I have been playing with my digital cutter more. I cut some vinyl and it turned out pretty well. I am hoping to have something cut out for the front door for Fall/Halloween soon. And I will post pics of all the decorations soon. It was raining too hard today to even THINK about photos.

We had friends over for dinner on Saturday afternoon. It was so nice to sit outside and enjoy the patio. We even got to swing and eventually light up the fire pit. It was not as successful as we hoped. Keith's friend, Josh, tried to get that wood burning, but I think because we didn't have a starter log it just wasn't going to happen. But we had a fire for a little while. Keith made burgers, steamed veggies and garlic new potatos. YUM YUM YUM!

Sunday I was EXHAUSTED! I talked about this during my last therapy session. Slowing down - realizing that social activity takes a lot of me. I have to be "normal" for a little while. I can't just let it all hang out with my OCD. I have to kept myself in check. I can't freak out over things that would normally FREAK ME OUT (like shoes in the house - I was so impressed I kept my mouth shut). But "keeping myself in check" means that I am mentally and physically WORN OUT by the time that social activity is over. My anxious mind can now let up a little, but it has new worries to ponder. And then the obsessive cleaning begins again. At this point my hands hurt SO BADLY from cleaning and biting my nails I don't know that they will ever be normal again. OH MY! This isn't to say that I did not enjoy having people over I LOVE IT! But because it was a first for them all to be here, I was on edge. Next time, I will be more at ease.

Also, I must say WOOOOOHOOOOOOO! Our border collie Missie Moo made friends! It was amazing to watch. I mean we did have dog people over here, so they did not freak out with she barked, and they did not try to run. They just stood still and let her do her thing. She growled, she smelled, she brought them the ball to throw. AMAZING! My girl can do it! So see, if we can just run through our OCD tendencies - Missie & I - we'll be just dandy! Missie was so in love, she followed a friend around the house like "Hey don't leave me I am right behind you, hold up!" Too cute! Just bursting with pride, I am!

So little Stealth is at Gateway Tire waiting for them to open in the morning. i will have to run the keys down there to them, but no biggie. But I do have to be up at 4:30am to take Keith to work, so I supposed I ought to TRY to sleep. Not that I do much of that at night, but if I can't sleep I'll go play with my stamps or my cutter!

Welcome to the new blog!

This blog is going to be all my about my art. I'm going to save my old blog for what it was originally intended, to talk about my O.C.D.

This week I decided I was going to take part in as many challenges as I could each week. Yesterday and today I have been focusing on splitcoaststampers.com challenges.

This is the Stipple Background Challenge for yesterday:

This card uses Ancient Page, Palette & Momento Ink pads for the stippling. The flower is a Penny Black Stamp stamped with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The flower is very similar to the one used on Split Coast, but it was an SU set that I do not own, so I thought this was a pretty good substitute.


Below is today's Color Challenge, and I also used the sketch from a challenge last week. Colors for today were: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango & Kiwi Kiss. Again these are SU colors and I do not own their papers, inks or markers. So I went to this handy dandy website: http://www.scraptitude.com/colorcombo and found the colors I would need to use. You will always be able to use this site to find out what the colors for Split Coast Color Challenges I use are, so bookmark it for future reference. :o)

The papers on this card are from a pack by The Paper Studio called Out & About. The DCWV green cardstock was not a close enough match, so I used the momento ink to darken it up a bit. The brown cardstock was by Making Memories and has a pattern on one side. Again, not quite the right shade and was very flat. So I sponged some Brilliance Rust Ink onto the CS to add some more depth. Below is a close up of the stamped image by Unity Stamp Co. called "Sweet ZZZ's"

I colored the image with Copic markers. I used Y28, YG03, YR65, R20 to color the image. I also layered some Ginger Prismacolor Pencil over the YG03 Yellow Green Marker. The bird was a layering of YR65 Atoll and R20 Blush.

I hope you enjoyed these cards today. And I hope to post almost daily with my art. If I use an abbreviation you do not recognize please feel free to ask.

Now go CREATE SOMETHING!

What is all this???

I know some of you are thinking, what is all this stuff about necks and twilight? Well if you have not heard of the AMAZING series of books by Stephanie Meyer, please let me introduce you to Bella & Edward! I don't want to give anything away because these books are just AMAZING! I have Breaking Dawn on the table right now, but don't want to start because then I don't get to "see" Edward and Bella for a while. Well, maybe I will just re-read all of them! LOL! These books were developed for a Young Adult audience, but they are so wonderful. I love them, I have been reading them so quickly, they are just awesome. Now realize that these are SUPERNATURAL in nature, if this might offend you, I wouldn't recommend these books. But even with my devoutly religious mindset I LOVE THEM!

I am off to finish up my housework, then to SCS (Split Coast Stampers) to hip-hop with Unity!