5th Year Blogiversary!

Wow, 5th Year Blogiversary!   Other than my 17-year relationship with my husband, I'm not sure I've had that kind of continuity with anything, LOL!  And I certainly have not been a consistent, craft blogger, but I do take pause to look back over the past 5 years and see my evolution as a papercrafter and food & beverage impresario.
I'm stealing these few moments away from my studies and grueling school schedule.  Despite my family being supportive of my largely full-time career as a Domestic Goddess, I decided to go back to school and become a medical assistant.  SAHM becomes less credible when the children are out of the home for the majority of the day....so, I need new people to take care of.  I won't lie though, the curriculum is intense....a far cry from many moons ago spent as a journalism major in easy A elective classes like Greek Mythology.  Latin Medical Terminology is kicking my Dionysian ass! 
A New Year, a new start, a blogging milestone and a little bit of a heavy heart as these days coincide with the birthday of a dear friend I recently lost to uterine cancer.  It is more than losing my mojo...I feel like my core has been compromised.   I was thinking to myself that I wanted to make her the most beautiful birthday card EVA, but...there is no address to send it to because now she only lives in my heart. I could hear her telling me in her gravelly, put-your-big-girl-panties-on voice that I should stop feeling sorry for myself and just go out and do it the hard way....so with tribute to my beautiful, intelligent and talented friend, I'm going to find a way to celebrate ALL that is GOOD in this life. What a better way than a little Old Hollywood and wedding cards? Salud!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I'm JADED and Limeade-ED!

My attempt to get a jump on Valentine's Day just went....horribly AWRY?  I really do set out with good intentions, MOST OF THE TIME...but hey, I'm a little jaded.  I really love this Berry Blossom DSP and I think it is just an extension of my love of pink and green....well, now Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade.  Limeade is my 2nd favorite beverage after wine and COKE....which really makes it my 3rd, right?  Any who.  It is always an adventure to pull out my many sentiment stamps from Hambo, Vivalasvegastamps, Rivercityrubberworks, and Sweet Grass stamps! 

Any Objections?
Love the new stamp set, YOU RULE!  That crown is soooo ADORBS and it works for cards and scrapbooking...if...by...some...miracle...I ever get back to scrapbooking.  My youngest is 9 and I've captured his infancy and that's about it, lol.

 

Supplies:  Stampin' UP! Spice Cake DSP, Very Vanilla card stock, Framelits:  Floral Frames, Spellbinders Circles die, Early Espresso card stock, Pool Party textured card stock, Calypso Coral card stock, Whisper White card stock, Lucky Limeade card stock, Long Notes, Berry Blossom DSP, Patio Party DSP, Clockworks stamps, Stazon Timber Brown, More Mustard craft ink, Sense of Time stamps, Versamark, Pool Party embossing powder, Recollections Antique Mini Brads, Framelits:  Apothecary Accents, Honeycomb textured impressions, Edgelits:  Adorning Accents, Vintage Wallpaper textured impressions, Basic Black card stock, Tart & Tangy stamps, Stampin' Write Markers, spiral notebook punch, Crystal Effects, Stickles, Mouthwatering stamps, Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon, Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, Raspberry Ripple stitched satin ribbon, SweetShop jelly bean brads, printed designer brads, brights collection buttons, Aviary stamps, Rivercityrubberworks sentiment stamp, Accents & Elements Fleurette's, scalloped border punch, heat & stick powder, Recollections Signature fine glitter, You Rule stamps, Glubers, Vivalasvegastamps sentiment stamp, basic pearls, designer label punch, silver hodgepodge, 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, Summer Starfruit classic ink, Baja Breeze classic ink, Primrose Petals classic ink, scalloped circle punch.

 

BITE ME BITE ME BITE ME

I've been stuck in the library with the Breakfast Club since the 80's and I'm not ready to leave.  The melons from this stamp set look so AWESOME glitzed and shined out with Crystal Effects and Stickles...you want to lick the card.  Well, at least I DO!

 

 

A Warning or an Invitation?

I always see this as SUCH an INVITATION....I mean the possibilities are limitless, right?

 

 

 

I'm NOT a gossip....I'm a purveyor of truths!

 



 

Why DID I BUY THESE STAMPS, AGAIN?

Yeah, uhm...Clockworks and Sense of Time are going up on the auction block.  I don't know what I was thinking, but they don't fit into my type of cardmaking.  It is just too much work to try and express time passing, regret, and seize the day type of sentiments.  I bet if I went through my over 200 stamps sets, I'd find quite a few that are just not my thing.  Cést la vie....

 

 

Thank you for stopping by and ENJOY!

 

More to STASH...

It never ceases to amaze me the people that crafting brings into the same circle. Especially if you visit some of the boards on the more popular paper crafting sites and see the caliber of conversations about everything from religion and politics to grief and weight loss. It is very life-affirming to find yourself enjoying a conversation with someone whose beliefs couldn't be more fundamentally in opposition to your own, but the glue of card making put you in the same place at the same time. I'm grateful for the support from my crafting sisterhood....Thank you ALL! I'm still plugging away at replenishing my stash and feeling a little Valentine's Day crunch too! I have a Stampin' UP! order arriving on Friday and hopefully, I'll get to play with and post some goodies. I know I have a few old favorites in there, but I also have the new Father's Day and Valentine's Day stamps, papers, and accessories. I'm crossing my fingers that my MOJO lasts. Some days, it is touch and go.

Just For You
I made this one for my girl that I "ANGEL"....her favorite color is yellow and she is such a positive and upbeat person.  I wish her nothing but the best in 2013.  To her renewed health and prosperity!

 

Supplies:  Stampin' UP!  Greenhouse Gala DSP, Baja Breeze card stock, Daffodil Delight card stock, Early Espresso card stock, Real Red card stock, Whisper White card stock, Chevron Textured Impressions, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions, Adorning Accents folders, Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, Spellbinders Labels die, eyelet trim punch, Perfectly Preserved stamps, Affection Collection stamps, designer naturals buttons, Early Espresso satin ribbon, linen thread, basic jewels, liquid pearls, Pool Party embossing powder, Tangerine Tango embossing powder, Versamark.

 

Love Always

I think this Affection Collection stamp set is so UBER cute!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and ENJOY!!

 

 

Bootiful Blushing Pizzazz

I knew I hadn't really worked out the passion I'm obviously having for the Bootiful Occasions stamp set.  I'm also temporarily, a little bit obsessed with this ONE sheet of DSP from Letters to Santa.  Me and pink and green go way back to Duran Duran and wearing ivy league sweaters to school.  I used to love to see the golfers on campus with their dandy hats and seersucker golf pants and pink and green was a thing!  At some point, I wanted a pink prom dress and green hair, but it wasn't to be....  I'm all types of proud of myself for making 4 cards and each one has something that will be a predictably repeated thing every time I use the boot stamps.  I loved embossing the cowgirl boots in gold....it just came out so pretty and shiny (but, my photography skills have dropped off). 

Heard That BS Before?

 

Supplies:  Stampin' UP! Letters to Santa DSP, Kraft card stock, Early Espresso card stock, Blushing Bride card stock, Whisper White card stock, Very Vanilla card stock, Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock, argyle textured impressions, houndstooth embossing folder, Swiss dots embossing folder, chevron textured impressions, honeycomb textured impressions, Carry On stamps, Fabulous You stamps, Wanted stamps, Bootiful Occasions stamps, Spellbinders dies (square, wonky rectangles), Artisan Embellishment Kit, Distressed Dots stamp, quilted satin ribbon, scalloped polka dot ribbon, Stampin' Write Markers, Embosslits Beautiful Wings, linen thread, Buttons #5 die, Crystal Effects, Liquid Pearls, pleated satin ribbon, gold brads, gold embossing powder, Versamark, basic pearls, basic jewels, Twitterpated designer buttons, taffeta ribbon, 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, vivalasvegastamps sentiment, Stazon Timber Brown.

 

 

Keep Calm and Carry ON in your fashionable wellies!

 

I slicked out the boots with Crystal Effects!

 

 

 

 

Fabulous You!

 

Blinged out boots seemed apropos!  However, I'm loving the sentiment from the Fabulous You set WAY more than that weird, nature inspired pump/stiletto looking thing.  Maybe it will grow on me?

 

 

Happy Bootday!

 

It was fun to add little touches to each boot.  A button in place of puffs, some dimensional clouds using liquid pearls, and some ribbon and sparkly interest for the witch boot.  Who says you have to wait until Halloween to channel your inner witch?

 

 

Thanks for stopping by....ENJOY!!

 

 

The YEAR in REVIEW...

Wow! It would seem that I have not done nearly as much stamping as I would have liked to and not NEARLY as much as I've done in the past...but I did keep up on my card angeling duties. Lately, I've completed a project like 7.5 minutes before it needs to be in the post and never bothered to photograph it...it's too bad because there were some real cuties in there!  I can't recap the whole year, but in a short hand version of the last month....I quit my job and I'm going back to school next week after the break!  A career change in my twilight years (LOL) wasn't exactly the plan, but I couldn't pass up an extraordinary opportunity.  I look at it as an extension of my card angeling, except I will be directly involved in patient care.  Wish me luck and warm wishes or prayers, please.

I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone....

That little rain boot from BOOTIFUL OCCASIONS is now one of my favorite stamps!  I love the sentiment and I love WELLIES with whimsical designs on the outside.

 

 

Supplies:  Cherry Cobbler card stock, Blushing Bride card stock, honeycomb textured impressions, Framelits: Labels Collection, Embosslits: Beautiful Wings, Buttons #5 die, Bootiful Occasions stamps, pleated satin ribbon, linen thread, basic jewels, UNKNOWN DSP, natural compositions dsp, liquid pearls.

 





 

Coffee, Tea, or ME?

 

This whole idea of women bonding over a cup of tea is not completely sitting well with me.  Me and my friends drink moscato and live more by the concept of what happens in drunk oblivion, stays in drunk oblivion!  I'll give this whole tea time and paragon of propriety thing a whirl, but it is not a good look on me.  The charms that are in the Spring Catalog are ADORBS!

 

 

Supplies:  Long notes, Timeless Treasures stamps, honeycomb textured impressions, Always Artichoke seam binding, Tea For Two DSP, Tea Time Trinkets, Primrose Petals Core'dinations card stock, Affection Collection stamps, Favorite Thoughts stamps, scalloped border punch.

 

Hello, Doll Face! 

 

Just trying to keep up the spirits of the girl that I card angel.  She is a very sweet person and corresponding with her has been a pleasure.  She takes the time to write me back (which is not the norm and is not required) and it just means the world to me. 

 

 

Supplies:  Cherry Cobbler card stock, Blushing Bride card stock, Timeless Portrait DSP, honeycomb textured impressions, Charbon DSP, Champagne glimmer paper, beveled frames, Cherry Cobbler polka dot scalloped grosgrain ribbon, Framelits:  Labels Collection, Elementary Elegance stamps, Established Elegance stamps, Gossamer Lace stamps.

 

So HOT, SEXY BOOTS are in?

 

I love this stamp because of course it is cute that you can mask, layer, and paper piece with it....but really nice to have something for those Winter birthdays!

 

 

Supplies:  Cherry Cobbler card stock, Timeless Portrait DSP, Bootiful Occasions stamps, Charbon DSP, Spellbinders labels die, quilted satin ribbon, liquid pearls, basic jewels, Dazzling Details.

 

So to recap the year....I didn't get a whole lot accomplished artistically and I'm not even making promises or resolutions to do better in 2013....so why do you visit, again?  LOL

 

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY and BE DIVALICIOUS in 2013!

 

 

Perfectly Preserved Cynicism....

Be a vessel...with A LID, please?

 

 

Supplies: Stampin' UP! Simply Scrappin' Kit Country Club, Comfort Cafe DSP, Whisper White card stock, Cajun Craze classic ink, linen thread, Perfectly Preserved stamps, Framelits: Cannery Set, Stampin' Write Markers. Ranger Stickles, Stazon Jet Black, sentiment stamp from Sweet Grass/Christian Rubber Stamps.

Call it a weird mood or some type of Post-Hurricane Sandy, authentic New Jerseyan attitude....but aren't there more important things to do than pummel people who are down with insanely, redundant, apocalyptic rhetoric? How much inter cranial aptitude did it require to make the connection that Hurricane Sandy was the 2nd worst storm in recorded history, therefore; IT MUST BE THE END OF THE WORLD? Since I accept that there was a beginning or CREATION of the world...it is safe to assume that we are perpetually in the final days of something along the continuum of this crappy existence! I just decided that I would much rather see humanity shine "spiritually" from within than to constantly hear how some are destined for some Utopia that all their hard work proselytizing and speculating on the misfortune of others, will only be enjoyed in the uncertainty of certain death. You would think this kind of dedication and fervor to that which cannot be tangibly proven or disproved, would result in some kind of Utopia right here and now, where we are all a little bit more tolerant and a little more compassionate toward each other?  It is going to be real interesting seeing how that pans out, but my God given talents are at work here and now.

I'm not doing such a great job of making HARVEST/THANKSGIVING cards...and I'm thinking, it shows? We fared just fine down here in LSD (Lower Slower Delaware), but my friends and family in NJ and NYC can't say the same. Most of my family is just inconvenienced by the days of cold and darkness, but there are some very special friends in NY that I cannot contact or confirm their conditions. It is torture and I question why I am even making cards? Not because I am not THANKFUL, but because I can't find the energy to celebrate when there is so much loss and devastation.  I'm sure this was just the uplifting kind of thing the world needed today....I wish I had done something differently on the edges of this card.  The layout is kinda sobering, lol.  Wish me MOJO, wish for world peace, hope for word from my friends, soon.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to the rant!

 

Glitzy GHOULS and Googly Jewels!

The W-EBB and FLOW...

Stickles and googlies and jewels, OH MY! Sometimes there is no plan except to sit down and do something. That is sort of the direction I was going here and after about 2.5 days, EUREKA...I made it! I made them myself and I'm all sorts of proud of me because I was beginning to think that I was more in love with the concept of stamping than the actual work of it. Phew! Good to know!  I don't have any fancy techniques here, but I had an abundance of Ranger STICKLES in every hue, googly eyes coming out of my sockets, jewels, ribbons and HALLOWEEN STAMP sets! I feel blessed to have it and super accomplished to have used some of it. In a show of pride only a CROADER (craft hoarder) can recognize, I still have plenty of everything used which fuels the notion that I SHALL NEVER RUN OUT OF SHIMMERY CRAP and I rule the world!!

The USUAL SUSPECTS...

I love 5x5 cards!  Booglie Eyes is a hit on my list of ALL-TIME FAVE stamp sets.

 

 

What's NORMAL?

Sizzix dies and embossing folders give you so many options of shape and texture, but Perfect Pearls or Smooch just give that extra OOOMPH!



  





 

 

It's ALWAYS about the SHOES, OK?

Crystal Effects is a MIRACLE and STICKLES are the 8th wonder of the world!

 

 

Happy BOO to you!

 

 

EEK!  You're SWEET!

 



 

Spooky Bingo Postage

I really love postage stamp templates.  I think it is one more step in the direction of 'mini art' that I gladly take!

 

 

 

Happy Fright Night!

These old outline stamps lend themselves nicely to what used to be my most hated chore turned happy task....COLORING!  And I did it with Stampin' Write Markers because I'm not ready to own COPICS and I'm too old to take a class to learn new tricks.  I don't ever want to buy anything in life that requires more formal education just to use it....lol...it just isn't worth it to me!

 



 

Dieter DIGS!

OH MUH GAWD!  Is that new fad diet working out for her, or what?

 

 

FLAKES:  They're not just for breakfast anymore!

I wake up feeling like this and by the end of the day, I look the part too!

 

 

Creepy Postage

Spooky Bingo Bits is such an awesome set!  Perfect little bits of all things Halloween and great for tags!

 

 

Supplies:  Stampin' Write Markers (River Rock, Sahara Sand, Going Grey, Bordering Blue, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Peach Parfait, Gumball Green, Pear Pizzazz, Certainly Celery, Summer Starfruit, Baja Breeze, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Almost Amethyst, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Basic Black, Regal Rose, Tangerine Tango)  Nite Owl DSP, Frightful Sight DSP, Pick Your Poison DSP, Pick Your Poison Accents, Old Olive card stock, Perfect Plum card stock, Pumpkin Pie classic ink, Whisper White card stock, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1 5/8" square punch, Spellbinders dies, IN COLOR glimmer brads, Crystal Effects, Ranger Stickles, Cast-A-Spell DSP, Humor in High Heels stamps, Primrose Petals card stock, Raspberry Ripple card stock, Holiday Frame embossing folder, Designer Frames embossing folder basic jewels, Raspberry Ripple stitched satin ribbon, Island Indigo textured card stock, Basic Black card stock, Tangerine Tango POM POM trim, black lace trim, googlies, liquid pearls, Summer Starfruit card stock, Midnight Muse card stock, Chevron embossing folder, Framelits: Labels Collection, Perfect Pearls Mists, Midnight Muse stitched satin ribbon, Cuttlebug Chevron embossing folder, Melissa Frances Vintage Attic Treasures jewels, Egelits: Finishing Touches, Basic Grey satin ribbon, Basic Black grosgrain ribbon, Basic Black Taffeta ribbon, Stazon Jet Black, Booglie Eyes stamps, Holiday Best stamps, Piece of Poison stamps, Spooky Bingo Bits stamps, Best Fiends stamps, Sweet Centers stamps, vlvs stamps, rivercityrubberworks stamps.

 

I had to take a moment to jazz up my LENOX ornament tree with something as simple as ribbon, because OH MY APPARITIONS!  Spooky doesn't quite translate into bone china.  JUST FYI and TMI....I HATE CANDY CORN!!

 

 

HAPPY BOO TO U AND THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!