"NOEL" Christmas Banner

I really can't get enough of the banner craze.  I eat, sleep and Pinterest banners. 

At a local shop, My Heart's Fancy, I've had the damn fun chance to participate in two banner 'swaps.'

For anyone who is not 'in the life,'  a swap is when a group of people all make a series (or collection of) of things and then send them all to one person, who re-distibutes the things back to the people who submitted things.  Did I explain that well?  Maybe someone, someone more into the swap-world, will jump in and give a better description.  They're always happening around on the online scrap-sites.  And they often come with a fair amount of drama- someone always seems to be 'flaking,' about to 'flake', or has 'flaked' in the past.  'Flaking' is when you don't do what you promised to do in the swap- whether it's not sending in your stuf or if you're the one in charge of the swap, absconding with either all the stuff or the postage, or whatever.  It's its own whole thing, let me tell you. 

I've never participated in an online swap, because I hate going to post office more than I hate doing laundry.  Seriously.  I've had the same DVD from Netflix since I opened my account because I don't know where my outgoing mail slot is at and I don't want to go to the post office. 

But I will do a swap at My Heart's Fancy- because, well, it's more personal-feeling to me AND I don't have to go to the post office- I just gotta MAKE the things and then drive them up to the shop.  I did have to get over my fear of people getting a piece of mine, holding it up, and exclaiming, "I MADE SUCH AND SUCH AND SUCH AND *THIS* IS THE KIND OF THING I GET IN RETURN?!" 

Okay- to make a long story short- here are some of my results from the 2012 My Heart's Fancy Christmas Banner Swap!

I used Prima's 'LEDGER' stack for my most of my pennant bases.  I love that stack.  I made a huge (if you consider that huge) rosette from kraft cardstock and layered on a 'Lacy Oval'  cut from a Spellbinders die.  On top of that, I placed a 'Styled Label' cut from thick chipboard with the Tim Holtz die that I 'painted' with the amazing BRUSHED PEWTER Distress Stain.  Do you have the new metallic Distress Stains?  They're too cool for words.  Trust me.  They'll make anything look like metal and, well, just plain incredible. Aaaaand on top is a chipboard letter that I covered with silver glitter.  At this point, my aim was to stay away from traditional Christmas colors and try to make something that appeared more timeless, yet still Christmas-sy.  Christmassy?  Christmas-y?

Aaaand then I just had to have something RED, so there went my first intention for something pale pink and silver and cream.  Besides, nobody is getting the entire banner, so I figured to just make each one independent of each other.  Excuses, excuses.  But dangit, I suddenly had the urge for a red glitter reindeer.  I love Mr. Holtz's Reindeer Flight die.  I love those precious damn deer. 

And here's where I thought I needed to use green.

And here's where I completely abandoned my original idea and: more red AND a 'Santa' Bingo card.  The kraft 'ornate' frame was cut from the 'Happy Hauntings' Cricut Cartridge... and I had a plan to use it front and center on another pennant, until I noticed that there were bats in the design motif on the sides.  I thought I had been so so clever to cut off the majorly Halloween-y part at the top- and then SURPRISE!  Bats!  So.. it ended up there- hidden enough to cover the bats.  I guess I could've glittered the entire thing and claimed it was a foreign Christmas tradition of 'The Christmas Bats,' but I thought, no, not with all the Wikipedia and smartasses around the internets.

As part of the swap's directions, I also made another set of N-O-E-L pennants.  But for some reason, I didn't photograph them all- I can't remember if it was because I was in a hurry or if it was because I didn't like them- but now I am thinking there were others I liked more than the ones above.  My life is one complicated moment after another, I tell you, and this is just the crafts. 

My FAVORITE part of the banner swap were the instructions to create three 'decorative' banners- no letters.  Just whatever I wanted to die cut, cut, glue and glitter.  Oh, that would be a good craft rap song.  Die CUT, CUT, GLUE AND GLITTER.  Yo.  Crafts.  Let's tip over a cop car.

I made the pleated ruffle with a piece of vintage dictionary paper.  Where do I get all of my classy vintage dictionaries that I can cut up without a shred of guilt?  At the Friends of the Library Booksale.  Every February.  1.00 each.  I used a strip of seam binding over the edge of the pleated dictionary ruffle.  Some metal photo corners (Hobby Lobby brand), a piece of embossed white letterpress paper, another red glitter reindeer, and a tag cut from a piece of some brands (sorry) Christmas paper from last year.  I am now obsessed with pleated dictionary ruffles.  Look for more of that, ladies and gentlemen.

On top of this pennant, I used a pre-made sheet music ruffle from Bazzill.  Which is where I got (stole?) the idea to make my own paper ruffles.  Theirs are not made from actual sheet music/newspapers- but appear to be printed on near-cardstock.  They're very thick and sturdy.  I'm now confused as to why I used an uncolored piece of kraft 'greenery' (kraftery?) there under the rosette.  That just looks....bad. 


And now, for my favorite piece of my NOEL banner:

I made the 3-D ornament with a Tim Holtz Carved Ornaments die and (yeah, more) dictionary paper.  I cut a stack of dictionary with a piece of thick chipboard.  I folded each piece in half and (very carefully) glued them together side of back to side of back (now THAT makes sense, doesnt it?!) until they fanned out when glued to the chipboard backing.  I love how it looks and I want to make more... the only trouble is that it's hard to find a spare 90 minutes to MAKE EACH ONE.  Who knows, maybe I'd get faster with each one.  But I love this one and it was hard to part with...

I couldn't resist but to share another angle.

Okay.  I've got work to do and it doesn't have anything to do with Glossy Accents.  I'll see y'all later when I'm back with some CARDS! 

-kory

Encaustic Tag Book Class with DINA WAKLEY!

For anyone who didn't sign up for this freakin' great class: I'm sorry you're such a loser. So what if it would've involved a drive on the interstate or connecting flights? What else did you have to do today? And I would've taken you out for a wild night on the town afterwards, too. So it would've been doubly worth the time.

So what did I learn? I learned that I am in love with Dina Wakley and will join her cult and buy all her stamps. Hell, I would drink her Kool-Aid spray inks if she had some. I also learned that some beeswax, tissue paper and a hot iron can make some amazing shit. Also: A hot iron can burn you. Who knew?!

While I'm here, I've gotta thank Maura at My Heart's Fancy, for hosting the class, and of course- Darla, who signed me up for the class!  Oh yeah!  Don't miss KORY & DARLA hosting CRAFT WARS Commentary LIVE on the Scrapbook.com forum this Tuesday!  Bring your smarts comments over and join us!

First up:  My inky hands.  That's the sign of a successful class. 

Here's my book- the one you're kindly humoring me by pretending to be exciting to see:

Tied up with an ink-stained ribbon.  I love dyeing ribbon with ink and/or stains.

Untie the ribbons, why don't ya?  There, now you can see the cover.  I cut the wings from a stamped image of a bumblebee to glue on the crowned lady.  The two fellas were from a book page I found in Miss Dina's giant bag of collage papers.  Wasn't that nice of her to not only bring things, but let us take anything from the bag that caught our eye?!  The kraft tissue paper with words all over it was donated to me by the kind (and fun) Texan ladies who were sitting at my table.  See how I called it MY table?  I'm full of myself, aren't?  It was THEIR table, and they were so cool to shout at me that I could join them, when I found I that every seat at Darla's table was taken!

Here's the inside of my book- six tags.  Each one carefully (that means quickly and without thought) designed, colored, painted, waxed- all by ME.  We were given a printed out page of inspirational quotes.  They were all very nice and thoughtful- but you know me, I had to cut them up and reassemble the quotes until they barely made sense and weren't as thoughtful.  Yeahp, I'm the crafty William S. Burroughs.  But I like them.  And they're now ME instead of 'quotes.'  Which, seems very 'me, to me.'  Does that make sense?  Hmm.  Does to me.

The last tag, up there on the right, was made in about three frantic minutes.  When we began to assemble the book, I found that I was one tag short.  I got a spare tag, rubbed some paint on it, sprayed some ink on it, grabbed a couple of pieces of stamped tissue paper, and ran over to the wax and HOT iron table to melt it all together.  And you know what?  I think it's my favorite one.

Aaaaand- here it is, all opened up and standing up, as proud a pimp at 1st and Main:

One more shot of my book, in all it's colorful glory:

Alright, that's it from me.  I've got a wild party tonight.  I need to attempt to scrub the rest of the ink from my hands and try to look presentable.  I shouldn't look like THIS until 2:30am.  

Have a great day, everyone!  Go make something!  Here's a picture of me 'n Dina Wakley, herself!  This just might be my Christmas card.  Don't we look like such a happy couple?  We'd only been together for three short hours.  Looks like years, doesn't it?  

Happy Saturday night, people!  First round is on me!

-kory

making cards

I had a great time last night, at the 'Man Card Class' at My Heart's Fancy.   First of all- I love this store.  So many cool things. 

I've been interested in many of their classes- but due to my busy busy schedule-  I haven't been able to go to any!  I kind of 'happened into' this class.  How?   Well, I saw the card samples on the shop's blog and commented about how I should go to the class.  So they signed me up!  This turned out to be the way to make me show up!  I got an email telling me I was going - so I went!  (It also helped that I had the night free!)

I learned an important lesson not related to papercrafting.  What is it?  It's that I should never expect to drive North on the Hefner Parkway at rush hour.  It was a living hell.  I managed to amuse myself for about twenty of my forty minutes stuck in traffic by talking on the phone. 

But I'm sure you'd much rather see the cards than hear my phone conversation recaps- so here they are!

If you're in OKC, you should take a class!  They're fun!  Buy lots of stuff!  Go home with your fingers covered in ink!  For reals, I looked like I'd fought a battle with an ink pen.

-kory

Embossing Diffusers, or: The Most Exciting Day of My Life

Have you ever had one of those moments, when you realize that your life hasn't been lived in vain?  That moment has happened to me a few times.  The first time, it was while stage managing the rock musical, HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH.  The second time was today, when I discovered the EMBOSSING DIFFUSERS from Sizzix/Tim Holtz/Alterations.

You should know right away that if Mr. Holtz has allowed his should-be sainted name to be placed on a product that it's worthwhile.  Yeah, I'm a little drunk on boxes wine, so I might be going overboard.  But really.  You know true love when you see it...  whether it's in the broad sober daylight or in the dark of a nasty smoke-filled bar.  Or in your local scrap/art store.

Today was DEMO DAY at My Heart's Fancy- one of my most favorites spots in town.  I went with the lovely Darla/Chocklit Dee from Scrapbook.com.  They were demo-ing (is that a word? no, it would just be 'demonstrating,' I guess- that's another thing that can get on my nerves-  I mean, as much as I love to invent new words, I dislike it when they're co-opted by the masses, such as 'demo' for 'demolishing' thanks to HGTV).   I'm sorry, I tend to ramble a bit when I'm on the Jesus Juice (thank you, Mr. Jackson).

What the hell was I talking about?

DIFFUSERS.  EMBOSSING DIFFUSERS.

Just go out and buy them, ladies and gentlemen.

Here's mine!

See?

Now, do you get it?

If not- here's a brief and the best explanation that I can do in such circumstances.

You use the diffuser to emboss all but a part of the card.  You can emboss all but a circle, oval, or small wide oval, of the the card.  OR- you can use the inset shapes to just emboss a circle of the card.  Or an oval or a small oval.

Do you get what I'm trying to say?

Yes.  You have just multiplied all of your embossing folders by six.

This product will change the way you look at every embossing folder that you own!

Promise.   Go buy it.

Here's the card that I made at DEMO DAY.  This might give you a better idea:

And here's one that I just made, at home.  Pretty much ripping off that demo design- but using a different diffuser:

I LOVE THESE!!  

I can't wait to play with these more.  And more.  If you're into card making, it really makes a world of new ideas.

-kory

Saturday Tornado Pennant Party!

Wow, did April 14 come fast or what?!

My fun scrappy friend, Darla- or, 'Chocklit D,' and I went supply shopping nearly a month ago.  Our first stop was the spectacular art shop, My Heart's Fancy.  It was DEMO DAY- so not only could we buy kickass stamps and supplies you CAN'T find anywhere else in town, but we also got to make a cute Easter card.  While we were there, Darla talked me into doing the Spring Pennant Art Swap.  Because I am the model for the dangers of peer pressure, I said SURE!   I didn't have to have my ten pennants made for nearly a month!  April 14th was AGES away- I could make one every day or so...or I could spend time coming up with a design I like and setup a supply line and crank the bastards out- or whatever... doesn't matter... cuz April 14 is YEARS away..

I do have to give myself a hand.  I did start on them a few weeks ago- but, remember, my early prototype was destroyed in a freak wine glass explosion.  After cleaning up the mess, I was too 'tired' to continue.  So I sat back down and got drunk.

When last Saturday came and passed, I realized I had officially less than a week before I had to turn my pennants in-

and you totally know that I waited until running home from work on Friday, April 13, to get myself in gear.

I managed to get six completed (by raiding an undamaged bit from the wine-soaked pennant and cutting apart a Spring tag I'd just made) before I got too sleepy/distracted by a zombie movie.

I woke up bright and early and finished the rest, before I ran up North to deliver my bag o' pennants!   And I bought a few new things, that maybe I'll show you later-  but NOW-  ladies and gentlemen, I give you:

KORY K'S SPRING PENNANTS 2012!

Well, I'm tired.  Too tired to even offer any commentary on each tag.  I even considered posting just a couple of tags each day-  but screw it... there they are- enjoy.  Or don't.

We're supposed to have wild weather and tornados tonight.  You know what that means- I've gotta get to the liquor store and stock up in style.  I'll be damned if I'm gonna risk a bad storm and loss of power and do it SOBER.

Crafting Under The Influence

What a weekend.

I'm saying that because of how fast it went by- not because of how great it was...

I did make it out for some shopping-  picked up this great new Daniel Torrente stamp, while at My Heart's Fancy on Saturday:

Isn't that cool?!  I love these stamps!!!  I already know which one I'll get next time.

Also, while at the store, I 'entered' their Spring Pennant Swap.  I've never done any kind of swap before- and I'm always one to get caught up in the moment, so I picked up the 'starter bag.'  I've gotta come up with ten pennants by April 14 with a Spring or Easter theme.  Now I'm really wishing I bought the Tim Holtz BUNNY die when I saw it that first time at Paper Arts.  No, actually I'm glad I didn't- that seems a big too obvious and it would be like showing up on the first day of school, in the same shirt and sweater as someone more popular.

Because I'm such a famous procrastinator, I decided that I should start on the pennants IMMEDIATELY, instead of on April 13th.  I'm glad I did- because my first attempt took most of the day and ended in tragedy.  Hence the title of this blog post.

I wasn't drunk.  It was Sunday morning, dammit.  I was simply having a pre-craft aperitif or two, of my favorite box wine.

Now, this is where you will say, "No, Kory you were drunk."

But I wasn't!  I swear- A GHOST DID IT.

My wine glass exploded.

I always drink my wine out of a small juice glass.

Except for today.  It was dirty.  So I used a regular wineglass. (Is that one word? I'm saying it is, since a squiggly red line didn't appear underneath.)

I'm working away on my first pennant, when BANG-SPLASH, wine was everywhere.  I may have set it down in just the right way that it fell sideways (loved that movie) and broke- but I'm still saying that a ghost did it- it was just that fast.

See?!  IT EXPLODED.  

Ruined pennant, shot number one.

Ruined pennant, shot number two.

Wine was everywhere- took nearly twenty minutes to get everything cleaned off and dried-  but the pennant-in-progress took the brunt of the storm.  It didn't survive.  Oh well, maybe attempt number two will look lots better.

Has anyone else made any pennants lately or would you care to come over and make some with me?  I promise to retreat to higher ground to drink.

I'll be back tomorrow with MORE CARDS!

-kory

P.S.  To the person who, according to Google Analytics, found my blog by searching Google with the keywords "HOOKER HOT SPOTS OKLAHOMA CITY,"  the part of town you're looking for is SW 44th and Robinson and/or NW 16th and Blackwelder.  Good luck, fella.

Demo Day at My Heart's Fancy

Forgive me for a moment, I'm going to whine and feel sorry for myself. 

I don't understand why I can't stay home, waist deep in kraft cardstock and happier than a crackhead who's just sold a pint of blood. 

Do y'all even have places like that?  Not DONATE blood, but the places you can SELL it?  There's a place here in OKC, where you can get about forty bucks for your first visit- and every morning, there's a line of OKC's finest crackheads, hobos and hookers, lining up with blood in their veins and dollar signs in their eyes.  I used to live near the place, because I'm cool like that and enjoy living in areas where it looks like DAWN OF THE DEAD outside your apartment.  I would drive past the place on the way to work and say, every morning, "If I ever need a blood transfusion, just kiss me goodbye.  I don't want it- I've seen where it came from."

It's almost St. Patrick's Day- maybe when I get home, I'll make a card tonight with a shamrock or a leprechaun on it- that sounds fun, doesn't it?  Ms. Aw-Yes just announced there's something downtown this weekend "WITH RIVERDANCERS!"  I won't be there- know why?

Cuz it's DEMO DAY at My Heart's Fancy!  I don't know what they're doing yet- but I'll be there.  So- if you're in Oklahoma, you should go too!  It'll be fun.   

Yeah, I know- nothing to show you, but wanted to let you know about what's up on Saturday.   Maybe next time, I'll tell you about the time that Monica Lewinski bitched me out. 

-kory

Wine! A Stamp! A Prize!

So, have you seen these commercials for boner pills?  You know, Cialis, Viagra, Needagoodtime-a?  Well, you know how they say, if you have an erection lasting longer than 4 hours, to call your doctor?  A friend of mind put her phone number in the phone book under the name 'Your Doctor.'

How'd I spend my day?  I didn't spend it at my desk at work, I'm tellin' you that!

I started off the morning, bright and early, with the infamous Holly.  Just wait 'til you see what we did!  Okay, I'm not gonna lie to you and build it up- cuz we didn't do anything but buy crap.

But speaking of building things up-  remember when I told you about a stamp that I had my eye on for a week?  Thinkin' and thinkin' about it until I went back to pick it up and claim it as my own?

Well, here it is- feast your eyes on this little beauty!

Another stamp from those geniuses over at Catslife Press- and if you're in the Oklahoma City area, you can pick up one of your own, over at My Heart's Fancy.  The owner is beautiful and on the freakin' ball, and has the sweetest dog.  Come ON!  How much more enticing do you need?

I had planned to make something with it, before I just showed the stamp.  But I got all busy in mini-book land, and haven't made anything.

So there it is!  What to do with this guy?  Give me an idea!  I'm lazy and not too ashamed to admit it- so give me an idea of something to make with this classy, serious guy.  If I pick your idea, I'll send you a prize!   Yes!  The wine I am drinking at 4pm in the afternoon (Central Standard Time) has encouraged the very first prize at the SCRAPiVERSE!   What is the prize?  I don't know, yet.  But it won't be nice, so don't get your hopes up.

-kory

Saturday Happ'nins

I had a ton of trouble waking up, today.  I had crazy dreams of wake up and being fully functional before 9AM.

Well, that didn't happen...

I did wake up for a few moments at 8AM, to a phone call from Holly, who told me that she was already up and awake and at ACE Hardware, to get her free quart of paint, to paint a dresser she'd found at Goodwill a few days ago.  I guess it was free quart of paint day. I think I said something like, "Momma.  Get paint for Daddy."  And then I hung up and went back to sleep.

I eventually made it to consciousness.  And showered-ness.  AND THEN IT WAS TIME TO BUY STAMPS.

I don't know what it is- but I can't get enough stamps.  Not only are they fun, but they look good.  Don't stamps look good sitting on a shelf?  Or hell, don't stamps look good jumbled up in a box?

I went to My Hearts Fancy, the home of the coolest stamps in town.  I had my eye on a stamp I saw last week.  And I bought that stamp.  But it's not the stamp I'm showing you, tonight.  I'm saving it for tomorrow.  Tonight, I'm showing you a different stamp.  But it's just as cool.

I don't know what the stamp is called, I'm lazy and a little drunk and not in the mood to even research it- but here it is, people, feast your eyes on this damn beauty: ((Before clicking PUBLISH, I decided to look it up and he's called "SMILE". You can find out more about him HERE.))

Isn't he cute?  He reminds me of myself, as a child.  Yeah, cute.

While the very classy owner of the shop was ringing up a very random selection of items, she told me of something she'd seen done with another one of these stamps-  the head cut in two and positioned so that it looked like it was 'talking' or spitting out words.  Well, this sounded so cool and fun that I ran home and tried it out!

I used Mr. Holtz's 'Gridlock' Texture Fade with my Sizzix BigKick to emboss a 5X5 piece of kraft cardstock from the classy Jo-Ann, and my Magnetic Poetry Word Stamps.  I found them at HALF PRICE BOOKS.  Nearly 100 word stamps for six bucks.  Check your local Half Price Books, or look online- they have several sets, and they are very worth it- I love these!  I  rubbed the embossed card with some Tea Dye and Walnut Stain- and I colored the little guy with one of my BRAND NEW DISTRESS MARKERS and also some regular Scattered Straw Distress Ink, using a Tsukineko Fantastix Coloring Tool Brush Point.  I pushed it on the ink pad, pushed it on a water droplet that I'd sprayed on my Craft Sheet.  You can't tell from the photo, or maybe you can, but some of the words are 'flat' and some I attached with some foam tape.

Alright- I'm off to drink another classy glass of wine fresh from its classy box that it's calling from and then, I'm gonna play with my stamps.  Yes, the nightclubs are calling, too.  I might be back with more fun, but then again- I might end up at a bar.  Who can say?

-kory

Book Sales & Rubber Stamps

I'm going to be totally honest- this last week sucked a zombie's butt.  It was horrible.  Work was stressful. To a sickening degree.  And why am I talking about zombie butt?  Because, as I was trying to think of something disgusting to compare my week with, I looked up and saw a zombie on TV.  Have I told you how much I like zombie movies?  Even bad, cheap zombie moves on the Chiller Channel.  Have you watched any movies on the Chiller Channel?  They are worse than the 'movies' I made with friends when I was eleven and my Dad bought a video camera.  We had bigger budgets than these things.

So yeah, bad week.  But the weekend started off well enough- leaving the office early on Friday for one of my favorite annual traditions.  The Friend of the Metropolitan Library Booksale!  We go early, around one, and line up with the other die hard booksale fans.  The sale doesn't open until 5- so it's a long wait.  What blows my mind is that when we arrive at about 1, there are already about fifty people ahead of us in line!  In the picture below, taken about an hour before the sale is to open you can see all the people who are BEHIND us!

I've been going to this book sale for as long as I can remember.  My Mom used to take me.  It's a tradition, dammit.

But now, the tradition is to go, with Holly, to 'the presale,' which is the night before the sale opens to the general public.  For a ten dollar donation to join 'The Friends,' you can get into the presale and find even more books to hoard.  You do know that I'm a hoarder, right?  Well, because of that show- Hoarders- I've become more aware of my habits.  So I limited myself to books, this year.  Instead of buying so many books that a nice volunteer has to find a dolly and help me load the books into my truck, I only allowed myself to buy what I could carry.  What I could carry in a big bag looped around my neck, that is...

I always walk/run directly to the 'Fine Arts' section, to look for any scripts/plays/theatre books- and I gotta hit the table FAST.  There always seems to be another group that heads right to this table first, believe it or not, who are trying to beat me to the scripts!  I LOVE reading plays.  I found a couple of good theatre history books, this year.

There are so many books EVERYWHERE that my head gets a little spin-y, and my eyes glaze over.  My next stop is the Hobbies and Crafts table.  This is where things start to get a little violent.

The library sale is very popular with what seems to be an entire compound full of some religious sect.  I'm not sure what they are and I definitely don't want to offend anybody- I'm not making fun of them, I'm just saying- if you're going to grab a book out of my hands, I'm going to make fun of your sideburns, lady.  So yeah, I battled a squadron of long-jean-skirted women with sideburns for a couple of craft books.  I'm not a proud person.  As I reached for a book about lettering- I saw Holly's head bob up out of a writhing mass of jean-skirts, waving a book- she tosses it to me, which gets me about ten evil glares.  It's 'The Joy of Scrapbooking.'  It's outdated but fun!  I think I have mentioned it- but I'm gonna mention it again- I LOVE outdated or vintage craft and/or cooking books.   "Here's a recipe that's just PERFECT after an energetic evening of folk dancing!" is one of my favorite lines from one of my old cookbooks.  HIGH-larious.

Here's a shot of my 'craft book haul.'

I grabbed another old dictionary to use- it's full of those great old line drawings and beautiful pages, that, for a dollar, you don't mind using for art.  One of the old dictionaries that I bought last year (I bought more than one, last year!) was already a bit of an art piece on its own.  Its previous owner had cut out articles from newspapers and bits of old bills and pasted them inside the covers.  Bunch of random stuff- clips from articles about when daylight savings time begins, birthstone lists, part of a water bill- and it's beautiful.  I can't bear to cut it up- I feel it was so special to the lady who owned it and glued this stuff in, and because I FOUND it, I feel that I was meant to be its guardian.  You can go 'awwww' right now, if you understand what I mean.  If not, you can make fun of me.  Go ahead.  I'm tough and can beat you up. AND- check that out- SCRAPBOOKING FOR DUMMIES!  Isn't that hilarious?  I don't know why I think it's so funny.  I just do.  Sue me.  The big pinky purple book is the book about lettering- it has some great examples of fonts to write by hand- and not just calligraphy- great looking handwriting examples.  I love to write by hand.  It's a dying art, people.  I must keep it alive.

Saturday:  I woke up, bright and early, with one goal.  To visit a new(ish) rubber stamping store.  How lucky is OKC?  We have a good number of stores- everything from the big holy trinity of Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Jo-Ann, to the perfectly perfect small local-owned stores (Hobby Lobby is technically locally owned- yes- it is 'Oklahoma owned and operated, as we're always told).  Our local art stores are great.  Paper Crown, Paper Arts, and Whole Lotta Scrap- and now- My Heart's Fancy.  That's the rubber stamping store that I went to, today.

I'd recently heard of My Heart's Fancy from a coworker, Miss Chris.  She's the scrappy lady I work with who gave me her little Cricut when she upgraded to the Expression.  Was that a blessing or a curse?  She told me about this shop and gave me the link to their website- and I was finally able to make it out there, this afternoon.  They're only open until 6, weekdays- so I can't go after work.  And they're closed on Sundays.  And too far to make it there and back on my lunch hours during the week- so Saturday it has to be!

I'd been checking out on their blog- here, for the last two weeks, so even thought I had a good idea of the stuff they carry- I was still awed upon walking in, wow- you know that feeling- when you're walking into a store that is filled with stuff you don't see at other stores?  Stuff  you might've only seen online, and wanted to see up close, to touch and hold?  I'm a stroke and tap shopper.  I must run my fingers across items and/or tap them.  Why?  I don't know.  We'll explore that.

I told myself I wouldn't spend more then thirty bucks.  I only went over a dollar.  It could've easily been in the hundreds.  And with all the items that I put on the little next time list in my head,  the next trip could do lots of damage.

I ended up with the 'dot matrix/gridlock' embossing folder from Tim Holtz.  I'd had my eyes on that one for a long time!   But I'd never seen it in a store.  And I needed to run my fingers over it before buying!  I also picked up some more 7 Gypsies paper tape- the one that looks like stamps, a ruler and something else?  Yeah, that one.  I also bought three dominos AND the coolest wood-mounted stamp I've ever laid hands on-  wanna see it?   Hell yes, you say?  Okay!  Here it is!

It's from Catslife Press.  I've never heard of this company before- but I just went to their website, to find out the name of this AAAMAZING stamp.  As far as I can find, it's known as nothing else besides 594F. Isn't this a wonderful stamp?!?!  It's cool.  It's strange.  It's fun.  It's classy in a cool, strange, fun way.  It's everything that makes my blood pump.  Catslife Press is now my favorite stamp company.  Sorry, Mr. Holtz, but you'll still always have a special place in my little black heart.  I can't wait to get a few more of the Catslife Press stamps as soon as I go back to this store!  I hope I didn't frighten the owner and she hasn't banned me from the premises!  Just kidding, I was on my quietest, best, most polite behavior.  I do have manners, no matter what you might've heard.

Alright, I'm off to play with my stamps.  I'll be back soon with a special post about the United States Postal Service and the joy they provide.  In the meantime, why don't you check out My Heart's Fancy, and if you're in OKC, give them a visit and tell them Kory sent you.  They won't have the slightest clue who you're talking about, so that'll make it fun.

-kory