Monday's Technique Lovers Challente - Inside Out!

Yeah, baby! I'm back on the challenge bandwagon. I am limiting my Facebook idiotic pointless game time (curse you, Farmville!), and getting back to the things I love and are actually productive.

So today, I give you my submission to the SCS Technique Lovers Inside Out challenge. I love the cards that are as pretty on the inside as the outside, but I never bothered to make one. Hell, I'm usually lucky to get a card made as we are running out the door to yet another birthday dinner, and you can imagine how wonderful those look (rolling eyes).

This card also conforms to the SCS Wicked Challenge which is from Stampin' Up! Demonstrators only. As I said in my last post, that Challenge was to use something you just HAD TO HAVE, but once it arrived, you never touched it. Here it is the Cheep Talk stamp set and the In Color Ribbon.

For some unknown reason, I can't get Blogger to take my uploads, so I give to you the link to my SCS Gallery. Please check it out, and make me feel special

Looky! I finally made something

OK, the "new" work hours are kicking my butt! I guess they are not so new now, since I've been on this shift for a little over 6 months, but I never said I adapted quickly. With homeschooling the kiddos and just trying to keep house, my fun time has been put aside. But tonight, that has changed.

I have finally completed a card, for no reason other than I wanted to make something. Well, okay.... that I'm going to my downline meeting on Sunday, so I thought maybe I better get a little mojo working. Anyway, Ta-Da!!!!!



This card is for SCS March Wicked Challenge Parts A & B

Part A: Use a stamp set you just HAD to have, but haven't used yet.
This is the Kind and Caring Thoughts Hostess set that I pre-ordered way back in the day before the 2009-2010 catty went live. I love this set, but hadn't used it.

Part B: Use a color combo you wouldn't normally use.
That would be Rich Razzleberry (which I do not like), Certainly Celery (love it!), and Barely Banana. Also, some Almost Amethyst ink (ick!). As you can tell, I hate purple.... but this combo I liked. And I made it up all by my self! Now, I'm sure someone else has used it, but I didn't CASE it from anyone, so let me have the credit, 'kay?

The Multi-colored main image was simply done by inking the entire stamp with Almost Amethyst, and using Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive markers to color parts in. I tried coloring in the Amethyst part too, but it was just too light and faded when I did that.

Thanks for looking!

I kinda back! Any body miss me?

Wow things have been crazy around here with the new schedule (now 5 months ago, so maybe the semi-new schedule?) and the holidays. I have had a rather rough time adjusting my habits and sadly have been wasting far too many hours on pointless games via facebook.

I'm so ashamed!!!!!

Anyway, I'm getting my crafty mojo back in gear and hopefully I'll be able to post a little bit more frequently. 1st project - knit fingerless gloves. Stay tuned for more!

Book reviews - Photoshop Elements

I wrote these reviews over a month ago, but somehow I never managed to get them over here. Enjoy.

How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements

		How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements 7: Creating stunning photomontages on a budget by David Asch Edition: Paperback Price: $26.37
A great reference I will come back to again and again, July 9, 2009 I just finished reading through "How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements", and this book will now never leave my desk. I learned a ton of stuff in the first 3 chapters alone. Each technique is shown with step by step screenshots on such things as extracting a subject from the background, explaining all the tricks (keystokes) to really make the Marquee tool really work for you, making fire from nothing, etc etc. Most of the techniques are work arounds for stuff the "real" Photoshop does with a click of the button (or just easier, I haven't dealt with the Real PS for several years). It really isn't for a total Newbie, but it is great for someone familiar with the basics and ready to expand their skills. I believe that this book will be an invaluable tool for my digi scrapbooking.

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			Photoshop Elements 7 Digital Classroom by Aquent Creative Team Edition: Paperback Price: $29.69
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Classroom in a Book is fabulous!, July 16, 2009 I love the Classroom in a Book series, and this particular installment lived up to the standards set by the previous versions. The basis of the Classroom in Book is simply step by step instructions on different aspects of Elements, using images provided to you on the accompanying CD-ROM. Following the instructions is easy and really helps you to become quite proficient in Elements. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn the ins and outs without having to wade through hours of interest tutorials.

Today's the Day!

I'm starting the freezer job today. I'm nervous as can be. :( Just popping in so people know I'm alive.

Tomorrow I should have a couple of reviews on books pertaining to Photoshop Elements, but right now, I'm already running behind for the morning. I truly need to get up when my alarm goes off, and not just shut it off! It was set for 8 am, I got up at 9:45

Book Review - Girl in the Arena

I'm back!!!! Did you miss me?!

Sorry, I've been neglecting the blog in an effort to prepare myself for the shift change. I could go on and on about everything that I now have to schedule out, but I won't. Instead, here is a book review

		Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines Edition: Hardcover Price: $11.55 Availability: Available for Pre-order
Social commentary on our obsession with violence, August 15, 2009 Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) Girl in the Arena follows Lyn, the daughter of 7 Modern Gladiators. The "Glad" society can be compared to the NFL for example, a national sport with it's die hard fans and "groupies". The difference is, a whole culture has sprung up around the Neo-Gladiators, along with rules of conduct for their wives and children. There is even a university where young women can attend and learn to become the perfect "glad wife". When Lyn's 7th father is killed in the arena, his opponent picks up Lyn's dowry bracelet, which he was wearing for luck. By the rules of the association, Lyn is now required to marry Uber, the victor. Lyn's mother, having just lost her 7th gladiator husband, is no longer allowed to marry. Lyn rebels against the rules and regulations, in an attempt to be her own woman and care for her mother and brother. That's the plot in a nutshell. This novel reminded me of a classic that you would be required to read in Lit class. I know I say that in my reviews occasionally, but this is just how I see them. This book is really just a commentary on our culture's obsession with violence by taking a ultra-violent sport and turning it into a cultural event. The social commentary is so oblivious, it really just makes for poor reading. Glads are contracted for "X" amount of battles, their wives are only allowed to marry 7 times, and their children are hounded by the paparazzi. Rabid fans will press their bodies against glads fresh from the arena to get bloodsplatter on their clothing for a memento. I can just see a college prof. asking his class to write an essay of significance of "caging a glad", and how it can be compared to fandom in today's society. The narrative, which is 1st person, seems distant and lacking in feeling. Lyn, the narrator, has a couple of tragedies befall her, but her emotions seem non-existent. Her love for her family is a main point in the novel, but the detachment makes her seem like a shallow, selfish girl. The writing style and flatness actually reminded me of The Handmaiden's Tale.

My Gluebook cover.... and news of a change in my life

Well, I finally got a gluebook started. I simply purchased a super cheap sketch books from Wal-mart, and went wild on the cover. The finished result was this:

I love it! I used some scrapbook paper that I love, a TON of rub ons, some stickers left over from another project, an ATC I made, some grungeboard I had decorated up previously, and viola! Not too shabby. Of course, this really isn't for anyone other than me, so I don't really care what other people think. :) When I put this together, I was in a horrible, near tears, "Why did I ever decide to have children?!", "poor me, I'm so unappreciated" mood. We all have those days, so don't look at me like that! ;) By the end of 20 minutes of glueing, inking, and rubbing on the rub ons... I felt so much calmer and relaxed. Everybody has to have some outlet. :)


Now for the change in my life....

I bid on another job a my place of work. I took the plunge and gave up my cozy, "I know what I'm doing, and I'm damn good at it" office job, and decided to go to the -40 t0 -20 degree freezer, hauling freight on a fork life. Lots of people think I am crazy for doing this, and I honestly am wondering myself, but for 5 1/2 years, my husband and I have been on opposite shifts. He works Mon - Thurs, and I work Fri -Sun. Now that the kids are a little older, and I have a 15 yo son dying to make money to save for a car, I wanted to get on the same days as my husband, not the same shift though! He gets up at 2:30 am, and has to be there by 4 am. I may be crazy, but I'm not that crazy!!! Mornings are sooooo not my thing! So in 2 short weeks, I'll be working 2:30 pm to 12:30 am (which is really my most energized time), Mon - Thurs. JB and I are so excited about have days off together again! Wish me luck (I'm gonna need it... it is cold in there!)