I love being around artistic people!

I promise, before the end of this post, I will try to find some way- however weak it may be, to associate this post with something papercrafty or scrap-related. 

I love being around artistic people.  When I'm around creative people, I create more-

I'm lucky to work with lots of creative people.  Check out this quilt that one of the most creative people I work with, is making, as a backdrop for her segment at a floral industry show.  Yes, she quilted her own backdrop, for her show about the COLOR WHEEL.  How amazing is this?!

And it is HUGE. 

I was totally inspired.  Use more color.  That's what I'm inspired to do- continue exploring COLOR in my work.

Okay- I guess that makes it scrap related.  How else?  Hmmm.  I got it!  The woman who made this quilt has also appeared on the same home shopping channel as TIM HOLTZ.  What a link!

-kory

Smash!

No, I'm not talking about the new TV show.  I don't watch TV.  I have trouble sitting still and devoting attention to it- unless it's a new episode of THE WALKING DEAD.  And even then I will browse websites or magazines or talk on the phone if it goes too long between zombie fights.

I'm talking about K&CO's SMASH BOOKS!  (Or is it SMASHbook?)  I LOVE THESE THINGS!  Do you?  First of all- they're extremely nice looking.  And I love the pen and glue-stick combo.  But then: there are the accessories.  Have you bought the SMASHstamp?  Freakin' adorable.  And handy!

So what is it that has Mr. K in such a frenzy, tonight?

The new SMASH books and accessories, that's what...

I was reading one of my favorite blogs- THE SCRAPPY JEDI, and saw the photos from CHA.  And there is was- the new SMASH tape.  And the new giant sized SMASH books.

What's up with the tape?  The first one, called SWATCH- I'm going to need at least two rolls of this, just to start with-  looks like random swatches of fabric or paper, could be torn in small pieces as an accent to a layout, and would even look great in a long strip, as a border.

The second roll of tape is called CALENDAR.

The third thing that caught my eye?  The label-maker.  Why would I need this?  I have a perfect, vintage DYMO label-maker.  I found it at thrift store, in its own plastic case with rolls of original wood-veneer looking tape!  But, dangit- I do, truly, love all things SMASH!

Well, definitely go over to The Scrappy Jedi and check out her photos, fresh from CHA.

Show Bidness!

If you're keeping up with me, here, you'll know that I'm a stage manager.  For live shows.  You know- theatre.  Mostly for plays.  Musicals are much more work.  I stage managed a long run of the rock musical, HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH and it so many cues that I nearly lost my mind.  Well, what's left of my mind.  Non-musicals are so much easier to work on!  

As I move from show to show, I like to keep things that remind me of them- photos, cards from actors, ticket stubs, playbills, maybe even a prop or two that I manage to run off with...anything!  I've been working at building a nice album, full of my 'Show Bidness Memories.' 

The play I'm working on right now, opened last Friday night.  I loved the advertising postcards/flyers for the show.  The day I got them, I sat down at my worktable and got to work.  One more page for my album! 

The bright colors of the flyers really seemed to set me free from the stark and/or monochromatic style that I'm usually attracted to- 

I sat down in my pile of papers and found this bright pink paper from CRATE.  I love CRATE, lately.  The backside of this pink paper was a dark brown with a cool minimal design on it- I guess that is why I bought it, but I love that I've ended up using the unexpected (to me) side!

I also have a love for the shape of a postage stamp.  I cut the large photo mat, with my Black Friday Cricut Expression 2 and my latest cartridge, 'Elegant Edges.'  What a great cartridge.  I also used my Cricut to cut the rolodex card shape behind the photo on the left.  I found this great shape on the 'Graphically Speaking' cartridge.  Another great cartridge to have!  I love these kinds of shapes.  Anything that reminds me of office supply gives me a thrill.  Why?  I don't know.  I'll explore that with a therapist.

The part of this page that I had the most fun with?  The borders.  I lined them up all in a row.  They're from a pack of borders from K & CO.  EVERY border in this set is terrific.  The set is called CUT N PASTE.  Check them out: 

Photo from K&CO: http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/kandcompany

See the one that looks like a big film strip?  You gotta see it in person.  I've got to go back to MICHAELS and pick up another package of these...or another two package of these...

I love this 'New Vintage' look that has really taken off.  Will it replace my love for the beautiful grunge from Mr. Holtz?  No.  But, clean, modern retro is really winning over my heart.

There ya go, a page from my 'Shows' album!  If you wanna come to OKC and catch a show, let me know.  I'll take you to the Hobby Lobby outlet in the morning.  ;-)

Later!

-kory

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  I truly hope you get to hear that from someone special, and not a crafty, rambling drunk. 

How did I celebrate Valentine's Eve?  I made cards, that's what!   I made the above card a few weeks ago, actually.   I made it during a fit of craftcitement, when I bought a new set of LABELS dies from SPELLBINDERS.   I think that is a new embossing folder used, up there, too.  It must've been a shopping binge and cardmaking day.  But it's all in blackout, now.  All I can do is make a wild guess that the day involved a binge at the HobLobs and a purging cardmaking session.

Here is a card that I made last night:

The base of the card is from a pack of 1.00 tag cards that I found in the Dollar Bins at MICHAELS.  I've had them for ages, but never used them- but now that I did, it's one of those 'where you been all my life, yo?!' moments.  Aren't they cute?!   I just covered it with a piece of paper from CRATE and a heart with arrow from the TIM HOLTZ Valentine's die.  Mr. Holtz even makes the best shaped hearts.  How's he do that?!

Alright, CoWorker Beverly just handed TWO Valentine's NERDS ROPES.  My favorite candy.  I gotta go, but HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  I'll be back later in the day with a layout from my SHOW BIDNESS album!

-kory

Couponathon!

This week's sale highlights:
50% off coupon at Michaels!
The regular 40% off at da HobLobs.
40% one regular item at JOANN, plus some random sewing coupons- however, if you are in the OKC area, the new location has 50% coupons for each day of the Grand Opening, this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as well as a 10.00 gift card to the first 100 people each day. Arrive early, first come, best dressed, all that...


As much as I want to complain about Mondays, they can have their light and bright moments.  One of my favorite 'Monday Moments?'  (And can I ever stop thinking up little catchy names for things? No.  Probably not.  Sorry.)

My favorite 'Monday Moment' happens before 8am.  Every Monday.  I settle into my cubicle with a cup of coffee and moments later, my boss walks through the door.  Most people might not like to see their boss walk through the door.  But I love her.  She looks a bit like Joan Collins in her Dynasty days, with the withering glare to back the look up.  She's also hysterically funny and both gets and enjoys my sense of humor.  I can't ever think about quitting because I can't leave my boss.  So, what happens when she walks in the door?  She throws the HOBBY LOBBY and MICHAELS newspaper ads/circulars onto my desk.

And then I clip out my coupons.

Yes, I do have all the apps on my phone.  The Michaels app.  The Joann's app.  And I have the Hobby Lobby coupon webpage saved as a bookmark on my phone's screen.  But they tend to be a bit slow- especially the Michaels app.  I have to start loading it about the time I reach fourth in line to the cashier.  There's never a short line at Michael's. 

But I love my paper coupons.  They're convenient.  I like having a wallet full of them.  I also like having extras.  If the app is working, I use it and give the paper coupon to whoever looks the nicest in line behind me.  And by 'looks the nicest,' I don't mean 'the most attractive.'  I mean the one that looks to be, or is, the most polite.  That means someone who isn't yapping into their cell phone or complaining about one thing or another or or or....

Because if I make life better by sharing my coupons, maybe that will assuage my guilt over not recycling my wine bottles.  I do try to remember the recycling bin, I really do.

-kory

Product Obsession Hotline

photo from Studio Calico: http://www.studiocalico.com/

Hello, thank you for calling the  Product Obsession Hotline, how may I help you?

Hi, my name is Kory.  I need some help.  I've been seeing these Studio Calico Misty Huey's Color Mists EVERYwhere I look- all over Scrapbook.com and all over people's projects and I don't have ANY of them... I've never even seen them in stores.  And I'm starting to get the shakes.  You know, the kind of shakes that you get when you've run out of, um, nerve medication. 

First of all, the bottles are beautiful.  Whoever said, 'don't judge a book by its cover,' did NOT understand the way my mind works.  I love packaging.  I will buy anything with a pretty box.  I might even buy two. 

Second of all- have you seen the effect these mists when sprayed on paper?!   It is just beautiful, just amazing- and if I don't get my hands on some, soon, I might die. 

I definitely need the 'Memoir' collection, featured above.  The 'Clay' and 'Heirloom Blue' look amazing.  But I need the 'Calico White,' too! 

Decisions!

Weekend Recap!

Hi everyone! 

I am so sorry to tell you all that it's Monday.

When I woke up this morning, I was confused by how bright it was- DID I OVERSLEEP AGAIN?  I overslept TWICE last week.  TWICE.   Which was a tremendous shock to me.  I am so rarely EVER late getting anywhere.  Even work.  But last week, I overslept TWICE- not even waking up until two to five minutes AFTER I was supposed to be at work.  This morning, I woke up to a blinding light.  No, it wasn't later than I thought- it had snowed!  I fought a battle with my conscience.  Do I call in 'snowed in' to work?  No.  I drive a giant four-wheel drive truck and too proudly boasted about my ability to smash through giant snowbanks to get to a bar during the last blizzard.  Dangit!  

So: No staying home and making things and hooking up the microphone to the stereo and perfoming my lounge act in the living room.  I went to work.

The ScrapShopping Weekend.  OR:  Saturday Morning at Tuesday Morning.

If you saw my previous SALE ALERT posts, you know that I was looking forward to hitting up the local TUESDAY MORNING shops to see what Tim Holtz products they had- more specifically the 'Texture Hammer.'

I woke up bright and early on Saturday morning and headed North to the nearest Tuesday Morning.  I should've checked their hours- they don't open until 10am.  It was 9:46am.  I sat in the parking lot until I saw a woman with a big bouffant bun stagger up to the front of the store and turn on the OPEN sign.  Surely that's the cue that the store is open, right?  Surely she wouldn't turn on the OPEN sign and not yet be open, right?  Wrong.  I walked up to find a locked door.  She gives me a frown and walks to the door, unlocked it- and let me in, but not before berating me about it not being 10:00, yet.   I was in a pretty good mood, so I didn't 'tell her about herself,' as my friend LaKenda would say...  Instead, I tried to be nice. 

"I'm sorry, I saw the OPEN light turn on and I thought it would be okay to try to come in..."

"No," the beast snarled.

Really?  What's wrong with YOU, lady?  It didn't get better from there, either!  They didn't have ANY of the Tim Holtz product advertised in the paper except for the RETRO GRUNGE paper pads.  I bought one,  just so I wouldn't have to leave empty-handed.  While paying, I thought I'd try to ask the Beast With A Bun if they even got the hammer or anything else in the paper-

"If it's not out there, we either didn't or it sold out!"

I seriously considered, again, 'telling her about herself.'  But I thought, 'out with anger in with love and go to another Tuesday Morning.' 

*For anyone interested in which Tuesday Morning this evil thing works at- it is this location:
9446 North May Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73120-2712
Avoid it at all costs.

I had much better luck at the next Tuesday Morning!  WhooooHOO!  I found my Texture Hammer!  For 4.99!  I also found some great American Crafts stamp sets (1.99ea), a nice, huge rotary paper trimmer (also American Crafts and for 14.99).

So, the weekend turned out to not be so bad!

Coming Soon:  More sketches !  I was hard at work, laying in bed last night.  No, perv, not that kind of 'work.'   I was hard at work on the iPad, coming up with more sketches and ideas...while watching The Walking Dead.  Glad that's back on TV!

More fun to come!

-kory