Link to South Park Characters

I am soooooooooooooo behind on my blog reading, I may never catch up - but I did sneak in a few minutes of drooling last night.  I found some cute little guys from South Park.  Not a show I watch often but boy, did Clare nail these. Even if you don't need these characters you might get some ideas of ways to punch kids in coats and hats.  Check them out HERE at Crafty Cow Creations.  Very very cute!

Ask me now before I again become sane...

"You can't! It's impossible! I'm far too busy, so ask me now before I again become sane." 

--Edna Mode in the Incredibles.

Raise your hand if this quote is applicable to you.

I knew it!  I knew I'd get some of you "volunteer types" to relate.

I'm back working in my scrapbooks and I'll use Edna's quote as I scrap about my over volunteering days. 

Not that I was a fashion designer for superheroes (puh-lease, the seams would come undone before the the first villain showed his face!)  But  "I'll do it" was my theme song for many years - accompanied by a raised hand and an eager grin.  (I assure you, those days are gone) 

Now I offer free seminars where I have ladies stand in front of the mirror and practice saying "No, I can't help you this time".   I have an entire pep talk ready to roll at a moments notice.  I'm pretty sure it has brought a few ladies back from the edge of insanity.

Of course with Edna's quote - we MUST have the darling lady herself...

Just like the fashion designers in movies (and maybe real life, who knows?) Edna is dressed in all black - which might make seeing her "parts" a little difficult.  Sorry.  Hopefully between the picture and the parts list you can figure it out.

Head - ornament - rounded the chin just a little bit with scissors

Hair - wide oval parts and word window for bangs - if part of your oval sticks out above the bangs just trim it off straight

Nose - circle itty bitty punch pack

Eyes - circle itty bitty punch pack trimmed on bottom, marker for black parts

Glasses - 3/4 inch circle around 1/2 inch circle hole - make a spare and use just a tiny snip for the nose bridge

Lips - circle itty bitty punch pact at the end of a modern label HOLE  - I did her lips in perfect plum and used my finger to apply just a little perfect plum ink on her check

Neck - word window

Body - large oval snipped with a circle at neckline

Skirt - word windows  - 1 full size -3 progressively shortened by re-punching

Pink part - narrow heart to heart next to same hole

Arms - word window folded over at elbow

Legs - modern label trimmed from middle bump on an angle (both sides) - folded over at ankle to make feet
Hands - small heart cut in half - then I cut a little notch to distinguish her thumbs

You could emboss black on the black of her dress to make it more "visible".  The Disney character Edna has lots of texture on her sleeves - I left that off since I think her "face" makes the character and the clothes are secondary (plus I'm a bit on the lazy side)



I am Thanksgiving

This poem was written by The Richards Group for Thanks-Giving Square in Dallas.  I read it this morning in the Dallas Morning News and felt it was the perfect thing to share with you today.  Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans and Happy Thursday to everyone else.

I am Thanksgiving.

A respite from worries.
A recognition of well-being.
A reflection on what's truly important in life.

I am Thanksgiving.

I am a proud history remembered.
The courage of our founders.
The foresight of our fathers.
The spirit of our families.
I am a reminder that we owe our present to our past.
And I am a commitment to repay that debt with gratitude.

I am Thanksgiving.

I am more than a holiday.
I am a gathering of memories.
A reunion of reasons to celebrate.
I am stories passed around a table.
Extra helpings of contentment.
A feast for the soul.

I am Thanksgiving.

I am perspective.
A moment to take stock.
To look back with genuine appreciation.
And look forward with bountiful optimism.
I am trouble forgotten.
Blessings counted.
Life cherished.
I am freedom celebrated.
I am love shared.
I am thanks given.

I am Thanksgiving.

Midway Rides

Is anyone still out there?

I THINK I am finally off the berserk Roller Coaster of Emotion I have been riding.

Currently I'm waiting in line for the Ferris Wheel of "Time to Get Over Yourself".

If I'm lucky, I will soon be back on my usual ride - the Monorail of "Pretty Darn Happy". It may not be the wildest most thrilling ride, but I like it best- far away from the drama of the other choices.

While on the roller coaster I thought it was going to stop at the Tunnel of Depression a couple of times - whoa, I got a tiny peek into that and it is one ride I don't want to go on. Just the little bit I saw made my heart a lot more tender for those that walk into that darkness. Maybe that is the lesson I can take away from all this - a lot more empathy for those in a dark place.

Thank you for all the supportive, touching, and sweet emails that you sent. They did touch my heart - the sheer number of them and the honest words that you shared about your own losses and recovery.  I haven't responded to every one of you individually yet but I will try to answer you all.

Now let's set grief and grumbling off to the side and get back to having some fun -'cause that is what the blink blog is about - entertainment.

To clarify:
I cannot/will not do research before I put a few shapes together  (this is not a textbook- it is a silly blog)

I cannot/will not get everything right. (I'm lucky if I get anything right)

I cannot/will not worry that someone may dislike what I share. (that is sure to happen again sometime)

And now I will:
1) Don thicker skin so I can weather negative feedback better
2) Attempt to locate the Inspiration Fairy.  I must have scared her away with my emotional extremes - poor little thing.  I will leave out some chocolate and see if I can lure her back to the punch drawer. 

If the chocolate works and the I Fairy returns, I'll be back after Thanksgiving with something new to share.

I am so sorry to offend

Yesterday's post has been removed because I have been informed that several found it offensive.

My sincere apologies to anyone it offended.  It never crossed my mind that what I thought was a cute punch character would cause someone to be hurt.

I am so sorry.

I am so emotionally fragile right now - I have fallen to pieces because I offended someone. I hope to be back someday but right now I can't handle worrying about offending people if I design an item incorrectly or get a cultural detail incorrect.


I will leave the blog up for you to find past posts but I will not be posting for awhile. Thank you for understanding.

Daddy's Little Girl

Thank you for you kind words of support and love.  Daddy died Tuesday morning.  His struggles are over.

My dad was a suit-wearing banker and he loved to buy me red dresses so....

Thoughts and memories and ideas that spring to mind as Daddy's little girl deals with the loss of his physical presence will be recorded and kept in the pocket on this page.

There may be other men who love their families as much as Dad loved us, but there is not one that loves them more - because that is just not possible. 

The following words are from an article sent by one of his friends to Dad in 1978 with the comment "This sounds like you" and he was so right - it is the way my daddy lived.

One Minute’s Time May Mean Much

It only takes a minute to stop and say a few words to the newcomer you have been passing by with a quick “Hello.” To turn and draw a person who is obviously feeling like an outsider into a chattering group. To make the introduction, that may not be necessary but is a mark of friendliness. To approach public servants as human beings, and not just machines placed there for your convenience. To slow down when you are driving to give a pedestrian a chance to get across the street without scurrying. To write a note to a person who is ill or who has lost a member of the family. To give another person a lift when you have means of transportation and he doesn’t, even though it means going a few blocks out of your way. To send a clipping to someone you know would enjoy seeing it but might have missed it. To turn away a discouraged looking door to door salesman with a kindly refusal rather than a curt “No.” To really listen to what a child is earnestly telling you. To answer a letter from a friend soon after you receive it, instead of putting it off for months. To take the trouble to pass along the good things that you know about others. To build up the person who is feeling low or seems worried or discouraged. To let other finish talking about themselves instead of hurriedly interrupting – so that you can talk about yourself. It only takes a minute to do the kind, the gracious, the friendly things that may mean more than you will ever know.

I love you Daddy.   You live on in my heart.

Excused Absence

I have been missing in action for awhile and I can't get my mind into punching.

My dad was in the hospital all last week and now he is under hospice care at a nursing home so I've been on the road - to and fro - across Dallas once or twice a day.  And this will continue for awhile - who knows how long?

Daddy has been lucid a few times and one night told me that all you could ask is to live a live filled with love and that he had certainly had that - he felt he had been very blessed.  Good thing he can't see well anymore cause the tears were rolling down my face.  He knows we love him and leaving that dear old worn out body will be a good thing but it is hard to watch him struggle as he leaves us.  We are very grateful that the wonderful folks from Hospice will help ease any pain.

Thanks for waiting for me.  I'm hoping the Inspiration Fairy will be back - but right now I have no interest in listening for her.  I know you will understand.  Thanks for all your kind words and positive thoughts.

Baseball

World Series here we come!

Woo Hoo

Go Rangers!

Owl and Butterfly

I had a flashback and remembered a post from about this time last year when I gave y'all a lesson on eyes.  I remembered one of them screamed "owl eyes" so I wanted to test it to see if it would work on the owl from SU's owl punch.

It worked.

So I did another.

And one more just for fun.

I love the butterfly punch AND the owl punch so you know I love being able to use them together!

Yawning again

Another late night at the ER...  I'm just getting home at 2:30 AM and am exhausted but too wound up to fall asleep.  Different "oldie" this time.  And we don't have a diagnosis yet.  

Let me repeat a line my FIL loves to say...  "Growing old is not for wimps"

On the plus side there was a TV (no sound) in the room in the ER.  No sound required - I got to see most of the game as the Rangers whooped up on the Yankees EIGHT to nada.  That was the only bright spot of the evening but it was a very bright spot - it kept us distracted as we sat FOREVER waiting on test results and FOREVER again waiting for a room when they decided to admit him. 

I have some new stuff punched but not photographed or documented.  Give me a day or two to get the old folks under control again and I'll be back.

Mad Scientist

For today I made a Mad Scientist.

NOT mad as in angry, you broke an expensive test tube.

This is a MAD (as in crazy, about to create a monster with a head even bigger his own) Scientist!

Head - 1.25 inch circle, small oval

Eyes - small Heart to Heart and 1/8 hole punch (retired - use a black marker)

Nose - small circle (don't remember which one) trimmed flat on sides

Moustache - modern label punched at end of modern label hole to get just a bumpy sliver

Eyebrows - same as moustache - just snipped off the ends of the sliver to get two small parts

Hair - scrap cut like grass

Body - modern label - trimmed flat at "feet" - drew dots all the way down

Feet - small Heart to Heart

Sleeves - ends of word window

Hands - small circle from itty bitty punch pack at ends of modern label

Test tube - part of word window in vellum - retired slot for end (use a tiny scrap and try to round the ends)

Total Height - 3.5 inches of crazy!

The Ballpark in Arlington in OCTOBER

Friday night - my first time to be at THE BALLPARK IN ARLINGTON IN OCTOBER!!!!

We lost that night after having the lead for seven innings- so sad.  But we beat the Yankees on Saturday afternoon.  The first time our Texas Rangers have won a playoff game at home.  Long time coming.  I hope to one day be at one of the home victories!  The young guys we had drinks with after the game are from Houston and said if the Rangers make it to the World Series they will be at the game even if it means listening to it on the radio from the parking lot. 

Not really the Ranger uniform but I just HAD to make something baseball related today to celebrate.

I'll be glued to the games this week.  GO RANGERS!!!!

Petal Punch Ideas

Liam Pucher has some great ideas using the Petal Card Punch (which I have neglected)

Look HERE and scroll down a few days.

 

Ebenezer

Someone (can't remember who) did a great Scrooge last year but since I can't remember who - I also can't link you to it (amazing how that works).  But this is my Scrooge using tag punches which I rarely grab (need to work on that).

EDIT:  Thanks to Ruby (who is evidently WAY more organized than I can imagine) - THIS is the link to the "other" Scrooge which was created by Carrie Gaskin.

Here's the details in case you NEED to make this Ebenezer

Hat – 1.25 circle trimmed on each side, modern label on edge of paper so you just get one bump width

Face – small oval

Chin – circle itty bitty punch pack

Nose – wing from two step bird

Eye white – small heart

Eye black – tiny owl or marker

Hair – large oval – cut in like grass

Coat – small tag, tag, ½ small oval for pocket, modern label trimmed for sleeve

Pants – modern label stamped with solid stripes stamp – trim flat at bottom

Shoes – narrow heart to heart cut in half to get 2 shoes

Draw on mouth and cleft in chin

Add ribbon for scarf

What is it with me and old men lately?

Darling Halloween Owls

The owl punch is so much fun - even if you don't use it for really weird stuff.  Just dressing him(her) up is a blast. 

Today I'm sending you to see what Barbara Diane has done for Halloween.  This is her blog - you need to check out all this week (and maybe a whole lot more) cause she does such great stuff (in addition to being a super sweet lady)!   The owl has so many Halloween costumes on her blog I've lost count.

Super cute so don't miss them.

Seasonal Recipe Cards

Yesterday I shared my Cheeseball Season recipe.  Today you get to see what I got from my Upline, Sidelines, and Downline friends.  These are all recipes they make during the Holiday Season.

This is a jello salad that Jenifer's mom made - the cherries are the 3/4 inch circle and the stems are the branch from the Two Step Bird punch.

Eileen swears that EVEN I can make these squares.  I'll let you know when I do.  The lesson here is in the border.

Not a Stampin' Up! punch but this idea may come in handy for you - she had us punch the border - then punch the leaves and put them back in the leaf holes - but we left the acorns spots empty so the brown would show through - and if the leaf didn't get "fit" into the hole perfectly - you get a great shadow effect.

Here is Becky's Pumpkin Roll - I've never made one of these either.  I used to have a neighbor who made me one each year.  Gosh I hate it when the good cooks move away....

This is Samantha's stuffing recipe - it sounds yum.  Notice how she mixed different stamp sets on this page - looks great huh?

This recipes sounds fabulous too.  I love Madeline's idea with the YUM tags.  I wish I had threaded the cord through the buttons instead of "tying" behind.  I think I can use this idea many times for different recipes - way to go Madeline!

Football? No, it's CHEESEBALL Season...

There is baseball season, football season, basketball season and CHEESEBALL season. 

I have a cheeseball recipe that we make EVERY year for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We limit it to that time for 2 reasons

1) to keep it "special"
2) the Roka cheese it called for was only in the local grocery store seasonally.

Last Fall there was a CRISIS!  Kraft totally quit making Roka blue in the little jar. 

OH NO! 

I had a kid coming home from school expecting her favorite cheeseball and I really didn't want to disappoint.  I emailed Kraft and they suggested a substitute recipe to replace the Roka so I cut it in half and merged it into the original cheeseball recipe.  Four ingredients to replace one little jar of cheese - but you do what you gotta do for TRADITION and for your kids.

And now, I can make the cheeseball in the "off season" since I don't have to hunt down the jar of Roka.  Which makes this little story another example of "every dark cloud has a silver lining...."

Cheeseball - So Saffron 1.25 circle repunched with small circle punches - sponged edges with so saffron ink
Baseball - Whisper White 1.25 circle - use "hole" as a template to draw the curved lines - add tiny dashes
Basketball -Whisper white paper, pumpkin pie ink, retired Just Basketball stamp - you could punch a pumpkin pie circle and add white lines with gel pen - sponge edges with pumpkin pie ink
Football - soft suede 1.75 circle repunched with same - sponge edges with chocolate chip ink - draw laces with white gel pen.

Easy Shark

Inspiration is everywhere!

This idea was from a t-shirt one of my sidelines had on. 

Body – wide oval cut in half

Teeth – large oval punched over and over with retired small star (you can nip in with scissors)

Eyes – standard hole punch, white gel pen highlight

Lower fins – small oval cut in half

Top Fin – 1.25 inch circle next to same hole (to get curves on both sides)

Tail – Full heart – repunched on both sides with a large oval. (put on a post it note so you can hold on to it)

Mixed Up Holiday

I know, I know... I'm supposed to be working on Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas punch art but you know how fickle the Inspiration Fairy can be - she gives what she gives...

And she showed me ground hog clip art. 

So this is either really early or really late. 

You decide.

Owl Pizza

No - this is not some weird recipe page for pizza using owl meat.

Remember "Man of Mystery"?

When I made the little detective using nothing but the Owl Punch?

Oops, I did it again

(sing along with me and Britney now)

This time I did a little chef makin' his pizza pie.

This is the title element for a page on our favorite family pizza - (not Mom's fave but the one the family has eaten for a zillion years)
Seriously, the ONLY punch needed to make this chef is the Stampin' Up! Owl punch. 
 
You'll also need a black marker, a post it note and scissors to make a couple of snips. (And adhesive, of course)

Hat - breast turned upside down - drew on the scallops and colored above them with a black marker (no trimming required)  The little "v" notch will be covered by his "hair"

Hair - feet  - three of them - two are 'toes down' on each side - then the middle one is 'toes up' to hide the notch

Head - breast

Nose - small circle

Eyes - tiny circles

Moustache - large circle punched around small circle hole - cut in half to get both sides of his moustache

Coat/Shirt/whatever you call it - breast - draw line and buttons

Pants - breast upside down (you will need to trim a little at the fattest part or it will stick out past his coat

Shoes - heart  (1 for each shoe)

Arm - heart

Pizza - breast - put on sticky part of post it note and repunch with breast

Pepperoni - tiny circles

Here are the "in process" photos for you visual ladies:

Punch parts shown here

 Now assembly in process - when I outlined the nose I didn't go all the way around - I left the top flesh toned

 On the next photo you can see that I slimmed his waistline to fit under his coat and started the pizza - this is the owl breast on a post it note

 This shows the owl breast (on post it) reinserted in the punch to get the pizza

 Here he is again

******

Thank you for your kind thoughts and words about our health situation.  FIL is out of CCU and possibly going home today.  He has minimal damage to his heart and is in great shape for 89 years old.  Of course if he lived in a rural area and hadn't gotten such fast response from 911, the situation might have been very different.  Cities have their downside but they have their advantages too. 

Hubby is thinking our retirement home should be on some secluded golf course in the Texas Hill Country and I'm thinking it should be next door to a major hospital.  (I bet we could learn to sleep through ambulance sirens)