Our Newest Family member!

Yesterday at 7:10pm, little Braelyn Rae Zagel made her appearance into this ol' world. Mommy, Leah, was induced 17 days early due to cholestatis problems. Little Braelyn surely doesn't look 17 days early though. She weighed in at 7 lbs 11oz and was 19.5" long. Nice bit of hair and cute little baby rolls. Mommy and Baby (Daddy too) are all doing great. I thank them for letting me be there to experience this miracle! It was a wonderful experience! Here are a few pictures for you!!

Her first minutes of life 

 The Happy Zagel Family

 Me - the Happy Grandma

 Look at all the hair!

Braelyn Rae chillin' in the warmer!

TODAY is your 'guest designer' chance!!!!!!

The Technique Junkie newsletter has had a 10th anniversary bash all month long!!  Today is a special blog hop where Pat (TJ's owner), is giving away THE best gift of all the days........A CHANCE TO WIN A 'guest designer'  SPOT FOR AN ISSUE!!!

This blog hop starts HERE.  Make sure you start at the beginning so you don't miss any of the inspiration on each blog!

To be eligible for the chance, you need to comment on all the blogs on the hop. 

So.............if you arrived here from Beth's blog, you are in the right place!!  Didn't she share a great technique?!!

My technique is called Popped Blooms from the August 2011 issue of Technique Junkie.  I can't believe that I waited so long to try this technique!!  So easy with such an elegant impact!!  I hope that you enjoy!!

Make sure you comment on my blog, then hop on over to Holly's blog HERE.  I hear that there is going to be something glittery there!

Good luck!

Faux Chinese Fern

I had a card in my "love it" file that had a cool fern with a chinese/japanese symbol in the upper corner.  Well.......I didn't have a stamp like that so I created something similar, then redesigned the layout of the card as well.  I used a solid stamp with a light golden pad edged in the dark green.  Stamped the fern and then added the small leaf in the upper right corner to replicate the look of the symbol on the other card.  I'm happy with the outcome.  The original card had the three images beside each other.  Since my image was wider, they wouldn't fit the way I wanted so I overlapped them instead.    Enjoy!

Feel Better butterfly

This thinking of you card was inspired by a card I had saved on my computer WAY back when.  The original card was made by Linda Bullard, whose work on Splitcoaststampers was on my "Love" list!  I made this into a get well card.  Counting down to the sale...only 5 productive days left.

Well....I really wanted my day to be card productive but it turned into a dog productive day instead.  I decided that instead of waiting until the last minute to bathe my standard poodle, Gabby, for my sale, I would do it today instead.  While soaping her down, I noticed some odd looking skin problems on her tail and back.  When I told my mom about it (she lives with us), she mentioned that she just saw a bug on her mini poodle.  Augh!!!   I checked Yoyo (mom's poodle) and he was covered in fleas.  How could this happen so fast?????   So........I had barely gotten Gabby dried from her bath to turn around and bathe Yoyo as well.  We saw a lot of fleas wash down the drain!   So....once Yoyo was dry, I ran Gabby to the vet.  Sebaceous cyst was the diagnosis.    A number of real tiny ones on her tail.  the skin problem on her back?  The vet just thought it was aging skin.  Hmmmmm.......think I'll just watch it in case.  While I was there.....got some Advantage for Yoyo.  Got to nip these fleas in the bud!!

Layered Goosebumps

This card uses a lovely collage stamp from I brake for Stamps.  It also uses the Layered Goosebumps technique from the Oct 12 TJ newsletter.  I should have probably used colors that were slightly different.   That Goosebumps spray is really weird.  Dries with kind of a rubbery feeling.....smells rubbery too!  You MUST remember to clean anything that it touches right away.  (Not your card, just your tools).  I speak from experience as I have one ruler that is covered with the spray and it does NOT come off. 

Another layered masked collage

This is another Layered Masked Collage card.  Technique from the Oct 2012 TJ newsletter.  The cool fish image is from I Brake for Stamps.  If you are a TJ subscriber, you get a discount from her site!  She has great customer service, ships quick and is easy to work with. 

Another Copic Airbrush Direct

Here is another Copic Airbrush Direct technique card using another of my Stamp Camp background stamps.  I just love the way this technique makes it look so watercolory!  Getting lots done for my sale......it is coming up is a few short weeks!  Augh!!!!!!!!

Layered Goosebumps Cross

The cross stamp on this card is from Heartfelt Creations.    I used the Layered Goosebumps technique from the Oct 12 TJ newsletter.  I'm not sure why but the color photo'd really strange on this card.  Maybe the rubbery smell from the Goosebumps, threw the camera off....hahahahahahha.

Copic Airbrush Direct

The background stamp is from Stamp Camp......I have a ton of their background.  They are a sponsor the the TJ newsletter and their stamps were perfect for the new Copic Airbrush Direct technique.  I also got to use one of my newer Spellbinders dies.  Enjoy!

A sad, sad day.

Yesterday we lost a member of the family.  Our shepherd mix, Willie, succumbed to his Cushings disease and left for that doggie heaven where he can chase all the kitties he wants.  He was a pound puppy that we inherited from some friends.  He was 130 lbs of love and kindness.  He was part Husky and had the hair to prove it.  Our hearts are heavy.  It was sad to see him die yesterday.  It was also somewhat unexpected as he was walking around several times like normal.  He hadn't eaten for several days and yesterday he even refused his treat.  We knew he wasn't doing well.  We noticed that he was laying in the entry flower bed where he often does but was laying kind of funny.  We went over to him and found him breathing really heavy.  His eyes were dialated and gums were black.  We were pretty sure he wouldn't last long, and he didn't.  I was happy that we could be there with him in his last minutes.  We will miss him a bunch.  Here is a nice picture of him taken a couple of years ago.  If you have doggies, give them a big hug for me!

Just poppin by to say hello!

This cute card is made with a pop n cut die from Sizzix that has flowers on it.  It is teamed up with the corresponding "Hello" sizzlets set.  Lovin' these new dies so much!  Got four of these done for my sale.  Hope you enjoy!! 

Today we are hoping to have our car lift installed!  Woo Hoo!  No more crawling on the cold concrete to do oil changes and car repair.  Maybe we should rent it out to help pay for it~!!

Fun to Die For!

I recently ordered a number of the Sizzix pop n cut dies. Boy are they a lot of fun.  I wish the housework would disappear and I could just play all day!!  This card was made with the "love" pop n cut die.  Unfortunately, the carrier for the die is on backorder but I made it work anyway.  Had to create a unique sandwich to do it. 
Big Shot sandwich:
1.  black pad (the one I use for embossing)
2.  clear cutting pad
3.  Pop N Cut die
4.  Paper
5.  Clear cutting pad

The stamp set is from Sweet N Sassy and it is a wonderful Paris set with words and this awesome collage stamp.  I've always had issues with coloring in collage stamps (don't know why, just do), so I just LOVE using the Technique Junkie technique called Colored Circle collage.  Easy, peasy!!

The countdown has begun for the card sale.  I never feel totally ready!

Layered Masked Collage dragonfly

The October Technique Junkie newsletter is just full of fun/cool techniques.  This one is layered masked collage.  It is sooooo much prettier in real life.  The dragonfly has glitter and really pops off the page.  He is a stamp from Artneko.com.  Although I think they have another business name now.  Think I'll have to make a few more of this one for my sale...........it was very fun to make!

Four the same but different

I needed a few more sympathy cards for my sale.  The band of color on this card was created on a separate piece of watercolor paper.  I included all four cards (I usually make four) because each scene was a little different.  I just used my Distress Pads directly to the watercolor paper, spritzed with water, dried with my heat gun and stamped.    I stamped the cardstock with the silhouette leaves, then mounted the watercolor panel and restamped it again.  I'm off a little on one of the cards but you don't really notice much.  Fast, easy and lots of eye candy bang for the buck (time).    I love the way the 'scene's have 'clouds' and some faux mountains.  Sorry the third one is a little blurry.......I think I hit a button I shouldn't have one my camera!

 

Simon's Dies.

The Meadow Rue and the Daisy dies for this card are from Simon Says.  This card was also inspired by kwerner on her blog.  I thank her for the inspiration when I needed it.  Sometimes when the mojo is hiding in the craft room, you just have to CASE a card to get it flowing again.  Really lovin' these dies.  They are popped up with foam tape. 

I taught two classes on Saturday in Springfield.  One copic class and one class on a cute little circle box that I make.  One of the gals in my copic class knew Marianne Walker (they were members of the same church).  Sheesh!  She could have learned MUCH more from Marianne!  I hope that she actually learned something in the class.  Hope she gives a good report to Marianne too!!  I had prepped 20 circle box kits for the class and there were only 10 people for it BUT they purchased all the extra kits that I had so I was really tickled.  More mulah for craft stuff!!

I'm scheduled to teach there again on Dec 8th for my Pyramid class.  Hoping to through another class along with it so make it worth the trip!!

Simple Sympathy

This is just a really simple sympathy card for my upcoming sale.  Sometimes I get all involved in a card and it takes a ton of time to complete.  Then there are times when I just want to do something simple and those cards are just as pleasing.  The photo made the ribbon look way different in color than the paper but it isn't!

Colorwash alcohol

This card was inspired by a similar one on the kwerner blog.  She is the biggest reason I purchased the rue and daisies dies from Simon Says!!  I also used two TJ techniques on this card.  The first is Colorwash ....that's the background behind the flowers.  It is from the August 2012 issue.  The other technique is Framed Nesties Window from the Aug 2011 issue.  Did you know that you can purchase the CD's for each year of the TJ newsletter.  They aren't that expensive and you get a TON of techniques (75 - 90) on each CD.  You can purchase the special CD's from the dropdown on my sidebar.  The yearly CD's can be purchased from www.patstamps.com! 

Silhouette Sympathy

Sometimes a black flower silhouette can say volumes!  I decided that this would be a sympathy card and there is a sentiment inside about sympathy.  The panel that the flower is on is watercolor paper that I rubbed Distress Inks over, spritzed, dried, then stamped.  I made four of these and each panel is different and reminds you of a miniature watercolor.    I really love working with the distress pads.  They are pretty versatile!!  I loved the way this panel looked like clouds in the sky. 

Inky Bands and Loopy Flowers

I've had the ribbon on this card for absolutely ages.  Every time I wanted to use it on a card (because the colors are so pretty), it was just too big for what I wanted.  Well.....while I was surfing around on Splitcoaststampers the other day, I ran across their tutorial on making loopy felt flowers.  I thought I would make the technique work for my wide ribbon.  It worked pretty good!  To set the colors of the flower off, the Inky Bands technique from the most recently TJ newsletter was just perfect!  I used Distress Inks for the band.  After I was done, the panel looked just a little too bare for me so I added some wavy lines.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.    I did think that it was kind of ironic that the technique helps you make a flat card that is great for mailing.......then I put a fat pearl brad on it.  HA!

In the Middle Sympathy

 This card uses a technique from TJ called In the Middle. I changed it up a little by using a border stamp instead of drawing a line. I think it jazzes is up a little.

Sometimes your mistakes make something even better! I originally punched the bottom of the panel but my punching wasn't much to be desired so I cut it off. After punching a better scallop edge on a separate piece of paper, I cut it narrow and mounted below the original panel. I like it better this way! In retrospect I could have put little pearls on each scallop for some bling. There is some glitter on it here and there as well.  Hope you enjoy.

The green swirl is from Prickly Pear stamps. I really love that swirl!! The purple flowers and blue butterflies are from an Inkadinkado set....same with the border. The words (there are some on the inside that go with the outside sentiment are unknown. I got them at a Rubber Stamp Convention ages ago. I know this because they have the hook and loop on the back of them. That was the first type of unmounteds that I did. Now I just use Tack N Peel with bare rubber. Much easier!

 

Scrappy Cross

Earlier this year, I filmed a technique for Technique Junkies called Scrap Rubber Stamping.  I had originally made the cross with this technique and had saved it on the block.  The corner embellishments are from one of the newer Spellbinders dies.  They are a number of squares that you can mix and match to create different looks.  I just used one of the smallest which gave me four of the corners.  Love being able to cut four at a time!  The sentiment is a set that I got at the last rubber Stamp convention from Stamp Camp. 

Happy Bird-day

While cruising through the Splitcoaststampers galleries, I found the inspiration for this card.   I just got this set from a lady on Yardsellr.com.  It is a fun website where the seller pays no fees to list or sell (just the regular PayPal fee).  The buyer pays a low fee.  They often gift points (equals money for items) and I had $6.00 in points so I got this little set.  I paid only $6 for it including postage and the buyer fee.  Cool, huh?  I'm hoping to make a few more cards for my sale with this set since it is pretty good for guys.

Best Wishes Silhouette

I have made about three cards now with my Simon Says dies.  They are made through Memory Box.  I really love this daisy one.  To show off the daisy silhouette, I used a TJ technique called Framed Nesties Window.  I had found this patterned piece of paper that I had been hoarding and really loved the color.  I should have done a few more layers but just hated to cover up the paper I loved so I just left it alone.  Enjoy!

Happy World Card making day!

Well, for the first time in World Card making day history.....I actually got a card made that day!  Hahahahaha......   I actually made a number of cards the last couple of days but will post only one a day to wet your creative appetite.

Todays card  was made for a lady at Ray's work that wanted a pretty Birthday card for her mother.  I used the rose embossing folder from Stampin Up.  I used the Cuttlebug Smooch technique from the TJ Oct/Nov 2007 newsletter.  I wanted to glitz up the raised area so after lightly rubbing my Versamark pad on the raised areas, I embossed with stamp & bond.  Pouring on the glitter resulted in NOTHING sticking.  Really?  So I resorted to putting glue on the raised area and then glittering.  Sheesh!  It is really glittery in real life.  Photos and scans just don't seem to have that glitter button that I want. 

I'm IN! I'm IN! I'm IN!!!!!!!!!

Sooooooooo  excited!!!   I received confirmation today that I will be one of just a few vendors for the University Club Ladies Core Christmas Luncheon.  The University Club in Portland is over 100 years old.  They own their own building in downtown Portland.  The Ladies Core meet monthly (I think) and in December they have a Christmas Luncheon.  I believe there are 150 or more ladies that come to the luncheon.  In the past they have had vendors (5 or 6) for the Ladies to enjoy.  I get to be one!!  I'm very excited and now have even more work to do to get ready!!  I'll take mostly 3-D items there along with my cards.  Excited, excited, excited!!

Can you tell I'm excited!  ;-)

Win the Great Gifts CD!!!!!

Below is a message from my fearless leader, Pat Huntoon, owner of Technique Junkie newsletter.  Last week you saw my pyramid box that was made from the Great Gifts CD.  Well.....Now you have a chance to WIN this cd.   Follow Pat's Instructions below!!
You must enter from HER blog NOT MY blog!!
************************************************

To enter the giveaway and see this post, you must enter on my blog here:
http://patstamps.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-birthday-technique-junkies.html
Comments sent to my email cannot be counted in the giveaway.

Well, we did it! TEN YEARS. I started the Newsletter in October 2002 and here we are 10 years later! Ten year of newsletters under our belts. Lots of techniques, lots of fun! So, what better way to celebrate our birthday month -- let's do a giveaway every day during the month of October! And what better to give away than the GREAT GIFTS CD. The Candy Nugget Layer Cake shown above is one of the 40 Gift tutorials on the CD. Isn't this a fun gift to bring to a friend for their birthday (who doesn't love chocolate!)? Kids love it too, and think how cute this is Halloween themed. So much fun! The CD is $14.95, and can be ordered on my side bar or from HERE. The Great Gifts page has an picture index of each of the gift items that are in the CD, too, so you can see exactly what is on there. Now, one lucky person will win the CD! If you order the CD today and win, or if you have already ordered it, you can receive your money back OR get another CD in it's place. Your choice! To enter, simply leave a comment on my blog, and make sure to include your email address. I will be posting the winner tomorrow morning at 10am -- so I can make way for tomorrow's giveaway! Happy Birthday to us!