world card making day 2010

About this time every year I start thinking about designing my Christmas cards. Yes, while I haven't yet put up my Fall decorations, but I have started to think about my Christmas cards. Last year was a complete, epic FAIL. I cheated and bought a box cards from Papayrus, but I vowed never to do that again.

I mention this because just like scrapbooking has it's day in May, so does the wonderful art of card making.

This Saturday is World Card Making Day. What exactly is World Card Making Day you ask? Originally started by Papercraft's magazine to kick off the holiday card making, it is a day to celebrate handmade cards along with other cardmakers around the world.

I'm normally not a cardmaker, in fact, I think I've actually seen pigs fly when I've made one. But with the holiday season slowly creeping closer, this is a good a time as any to start making (or at least designing) this year's card. It might be a collection of cards since I have lots of bits and pieces leftover from previous years as well as from last year's ill-fated December Daily (which I may or may not revive in the not so distant future). Hopefully this weekend, instead of thinking, there will be a lot of doing.

still hanging around

I'm finally tackling the beast I've been avoiding for months: weaving in the ends of the baby blanket for Miss H. I'm not allowing myself to cast-on for this, which is also for her, until I finish this blanket.  So if I want to have the jumper done in time for Christmas (crossing my fingers and toes) I need to start, like yesterday.

Truth be told, I finished knitting the blanket about a month after she was born, but I felt like I needed a break. From the monster that it became in my life. I should have know that it was trouble when it initially took me three attempts to cast-on.  Of course, my problems didn't end there. Early on in I knit a row twice instead of going on to the next row and flipped the pattern. Although it set me back timewise, I ripped back to the problem area and started again. Then I also managed to knit the rows wrong, not once, but several times. As if I couldn't make matters worse, I left my pattern in the plane pocket (luckily it was easily re-printable).

It truly was a huge undertaking for a second project. And as you can see, it was a long and arduous road. However, despite the challenges I came out of if a much better one, though quite tortured.

tempting...

Studio Calico has done it again with another kit to tempt even the strongest of wills. And this kit is truly testing me, especially since I have a 10% off coupon in my hot little hand which Studio Calico generously included in last month's kit. As if the kit isn't enough, April has also filled the shop with a great collection of stamps, punches and embellies. The kit goes on sale tonight for non-subscribers at midnight (ET) or 9 pm (PT). I think I may have to leave my knitting group early again tonight to get home in time to order.

Over the weekend I decided I needed to get in tune with Fall, but when I went to look for decorations I found that I really didn't have any. I must be confusing this life for my other life. Right? Not. Anyhow, I did some shopping on Saturday and found some pumpkins, but I still need a couple more things to tie it all together. I'll share pictures when I get everything in place.

By the way, can someone give Mother Nature the 411? Last time I checked the calendar said Fall, not summer!

hello first day of fall

Getting excited for October which is right around the corner. Looking forward to a drive up to Sonoma to pick up our wine club selections at Imagery Winery. I’m hoping that the weather will turn more Fall-like soon, perfect wine tasting weather

Spent some time in the scrap room over the weekend again, made a layout and a card for a very special cousin. Played with an SC Add-on Patterned Paper kit from earlier this year (I’m not certain which month, maybe January).

The layout is my take on the Sunday Sketch at Studio Calico from the previous week while the card is inspired by the same sketch. I had so much fun playing with this kit because the papers coordinated so well. Kudos to Studio Calico again for having the best kits around.

toffee mocha

Over the weekend I had my first, of what will probably be many this fall, at Starbucks. At least until they start serving mint mochas (my deference to Pete's notwithstanding). I wanted so bad not to like them, especially after my first sip, but after a couple more sips, it turned out to be very delicious! Now if only the weather would cooperate; humidity and a hot mocha just do not make a great pair! And unfortunately, it looks like we may be getting an Indian summer after all.

I'm super excited about premiere week! Seems like forever since I last watched some TV and not just clicking through the schedule. All my favorite shows start this week: Chuck, Glee, Supernatural, Criminal Minds and Smallville. And kicking it off tonight is Chuck! Can't wait to see how they weave Mama Bartowski into the storyline. All I can say is our DVR is going to be working overtime. Happy Monday!

love a great burger

The stars finally aligned yesterday and blessed me (and everyone else) with clear, blue skies in the morning so I could finally take a picture of my layout! This layout is based on the Studio Calico Sunday Sketch from two weeks ago.

And here's my take. 



If you're curious, it's the Whiskey River Burger at Red Robin. YUM! Yes, it has barbecue sauce. It's pretty daren good and pretty much the only burger I eat.

Super excited about the weekend even though I don't have any fun plans and it may rain tomorrow. It's been overcast and gloomy with some misting and light raindrops, almost, dare I say it, Fall-like for this part of the country. I don't have a lot in the way of chores and errands so I foresee a weekend full of paper and glue!

Have a great weekend!

labor day weekend pictures

I promised I'd share pictures of our Labor Day weekend. Looking back, the three-day weekend turned out to be an excuse to eat! I'm seriously still recovering!

Saturday BBQ at the in-laws.

(You've already seen my Red Robin burger from Saturday.)

Monday BBQ at our house, just us.

In scrappy news, I have a layout to share, but I haven't had any opportunities to take a picture; it's either been overcast in the morning or too dark by the time I get home after work. Hopefully, I'll have better luck in the next couple days. Happy Wednesday!

hunger games

I have been reading good things about "The Hunger Games" for quite while now, but resisted picking it up because I don't normally read young adult novels. I finally succumb to the hype a couple weeks ago and wondered what took me so long to come around. It didn't disappoint!

The protagonist is Katniss Everdeen who has been providing for her mother and sister since her father was killed in a mining accident by hunting. When her younger sister, Prim, whom she has tried to protect, is selected for the annual Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place and thereby completely altering her own life. I won't give away too much, but I can say that it is a very good read. (Not as good as the Harry Potter series, but still entertaining and a worthy read.)

I highly recommend this book to everyone, but most especially to tweens and teenage girls. I don't remember a lot of characters like Katniss when I was that age and I think I would have loved this over 25 years ago. I can't wait to read Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Right now I have both on hold at the library, but I think it will be months until I get my hands on them.

Otherwise I'm patiently waiting for my Back 40, Open Pasture and other littles goodies coming in that brown Studio Calico box! Tomorrow can't come soon enough!

weekend bliss

What an awesome long weekend! I couldn't have imagined anything better. The weather cooperated for once in the past couple weeks and gave us something akin to absolute perfection. Everyday was amazingly beautiful: clear and blue (no clouds that needed to burn off)!

The plan was not to do anything remotely related to housecleaning. And I pretty much stuck by said plan until Monday when out of necessity I did a couple loads of laundry. Otherwise, the weekend consisted of food+drink, relaxing and scrapping (unfortunately I didn't pick up my needles at all)! I'll have food pictures later this week.

And I actually finished a layout! Again I used a sketch from the August PageMaps to jumpstart my scrapping.

All supplies are from the November 2009 Studio Calico Marketplace kit. I love this kit!

I'm glad it's a short week, but I'm already looking forward to the weekend!

happy labor day!

Hope all you readers in blogland are enjoying this gorgeous three-day weekend (at least it is here in Northern California! I for one am not complaining!

Red Robin birthday burger. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Enough said!

Have a great Monday!

style crush: shopruche.com

Obviously I've been living under a rock since I only recently discovered this swoon worthy website when I was making my daily stroll through her fabulous style blog. I instantly fell in love with their version of modern vintage and the fact that they are absolutely affordable. LOVE! These are just some of my favorites from the Fall Lookbook.

1. dewy lanes navy dress  2. cinnmon sparkles beaded bracelets  3. junnet peep toe wedges  4. sabina indie flower ring  5. silhouette flower purse

If you're like me and have never checked Ruche out, I recommend you should, like NOW, because things are already sold out! Happy Thursday!