I'm working double time!

My house is really shaping up! We have started painting and about 1,000 other projects. In my spare time I am designing projects for SheetLoad, writing articles for Craft Critique and working on some design stuff with Charlotte from gg Designs. Unfortunately, I can't show you that stuff quite yet but soon! I have also been working on a new storage method for ribbon- you'll see it this week- cheap and easy- you'll love it!

Yesterday my husband bought me a set of Derwent Inkredible pencils. And being the wonderful and generous hubby he bought me the blender pencils and 2 REALLY good watercolor brushes. I have never had REALLY good watercolor brushes and it is amazing what a difference good tools make. The pencils themselves are amazing- they have very smooth and intense color plus they are permanent once they dry. This means that if you layer another color on top later (after the first layer has dried) the colors do not muddy. Absolutely amazing! You'll be seeing some artwork with those this week too.

Remember those "I've moved" notes I was designing? Maybe I'll get them done before we move again!

Craft Critique and SheetLoad

Today my review of Paper Transformed by well known artist and entrepreneur Julia Andrus appears on Craft Critique. Julia has some incredible video tutorials on her site. Julia has also made a number of YouTube videos with her friend Suze Weinberg. Julia is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and her assistant Cari has temporarily taken over Julia's MySpace page.


And in other news- this month's Share a SheetLoad of Cards will benefit cardsforheros.org This group was formed to honor our armed forces.
For more info check out this entry on the SheetLoad blog.

Italian Print Thanks

It has been a busy week at my house- furnace cleaned, new locks and deadbolts, recessed lighting in my kitchen, choosing paint- it is no wonder I haven't been online much this week. Then when I did find time to stamp- UGH- stamper's block! I did manage to find this Dollar Store Italian print paper in my stash. I am not a yellow fan but I like the bright blue with the bright yellow.

7 things

I have been tagged twice- from Brenda and then by Tanja.

7 Things Game
The Rules for 7 Things:
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My 7 things:
1) My husband and I have moved 3 times. When we register our cars in a new state we go at the same time so we can get consecutive license plates so they are easier to remember.
2) My mom used to put Vicks Vapor rub on me and gave me St. Joseph's Children's Aspirin when I was sick.
3) I love to peel the labels off of magazines.
4) As a kid I always sorted by box of 6 Crayolas by color.
5) Daisies are one of my 2 favorite colors. I couldn't have them in my wedding bouquet though because my dress was ivory.
6) I wear Crocs around the house because it is more comfortable for my feet. I have 3 pairs of pink and 1 pair of baby blue.
7) I am a diehard Sleuth Noir player. I really like strategy and logic based games.

Tagging:
Tami
Dawn
Danielle
JenMarie
Penny
Misty

My new studio pictures

This is my new studio. I haven't unpacked much because we need to paint and I don't want to have to pack and unpack again. The plan is to be done by mid June

I love the track lighting- I will need to re-aim some of the lights for my worktable. The glass doors have these wonderful fabric shades so if I really need to get away from it all- or need to hide my stuff I can lower them. I lowered one of them partway for you to see.

See that little indentation with the 2 shelves? It was intended to be a closet for the previous owner but they didn't finish it. I plan on putting a plastic shelving unit back there to store some of my larger items like my Xyron and tub of Hot Pot accessories.

I have a cute white cabinet too but it is in the other section of basement. I'll finally be able to store all of my paper and cardstock together (at least that is the plan!)

Thanks for stopping by and I will post more pictures as I update and organize.

Cool Stuff

SheetLoad shows you how: May '08- Curled Flowers

This is very short video to really add some oomph to punched flowers!
I was so inspired by the video that I had to try this. For my take on this I preferred to edge with a marker, I rolled the petals from different edges for a slanted look and I used 2 sided paper (Miss Elizabeth's from Dollar Tree). I am planning on rolling the petals around a pencil or drinking straw for less curl/ something different.

Pazzles: The Creative Cutter Inspiration
Where have I been? Doesn't this look like a neat tool? My friend Cheryl got one and loves it.
I absolutely love this Love Slider Book

I took pictures of my studio and I'll post them later this afternoon.

Winners of Blog Petit Fours

Since y'all had to wait a few extra days- 2 winners! Ladies please e-mail me (improv44 at yahoo dot com) your full name and snail mail address and I'll send you some BEAUTIFUL ribbon. By the way- both have great blogs- so you should check them out.

#3

Mary Dawn said...

pink is my favorite color! but more importantly, great to see you back!!

#16
Jen Marie said:

Ooo, yummy ribbon!!!

Congrats ladies!
and if you didn't win this time-no have no fear- I have more ribbon to give away!
Um...pink, right now anyways! ;)