Obsessed!

"OBSESSION IS MORE THAN A PERFUME!"
- Moby Dick: The Musical


Good morning, everyone!  It's Sunday.  But still Sunday MORNING- so the late Sunday afternoon depression hasn't kicked in, yet.  I'm still happy, hopeful and OBSESSING.

What it it that I'm obsessing over right now?

Yesterday, I managed to drag myself off of the sofa and out into the 350 degree oven that we call Oklahoma City.  With remnants of Friday evening's wild activities still clanging and banging inside my head, it was quite a struggle.  I was able to last about an hour before I ran back home to the safety of air conditioning.  But in that hour, I was able to run up to PAPER CROWN for a papercraft fix.  And I mean 'fix' in all it's druggy ways.  Paper Crown is one of my favorite pushers in town.

I straggled into Paper Crown, hoping that BasicGrey's outstanding new line, CLIPPINGS, would be in stock.  It wasn't- but the owner said it should be there by Tuesday.  (!)  I bought a few papers, obsessed over a couple of stamp sets- but put them down.  Don't know if I've told you, but I'm trying to lay off the stamps for the time being.  I just have way too many and barely use the ones I have- so, I'm trying to 'rediscover' the stamps I already own before I go on another stamp binge.  So I decided to allow my washi tape collection to grow again.  Yeah, I'll probably have to lay off tape soon- maybe that's when I'll go back on the stamps.   Anyways- here's my big purchase from yesterday's trip to Paper Crown:

photo from Cavillini & Co.

Have any of you heard of CAVALLINI & CO.?  I never had- until I began shopping at Paper Crown.  Aside from their kickass paper tapes, they also have some wowful rubber stamps and some too cool to use papers.  Scrapbook.com doesn't carry anything, but Two Peas does-  so if you're not in OKC, you can order them.  But if you're in OKC, run up to Paper Crown and tell them Kory sent you and you're there for the Cavallini.

Alright- back to the tape.  I think they made this just for me.  I love anything vintage office supply inspired.  It goes back to my childhood love of 'playing office.'  I didn't like to play ball or dolls- I liked to play office.  My Dad built a desk for me, and I setup my typewriter (remember those?!) and some IN & OUT boxes and I was in bidness.

So, Cavallini's Vintage Office paper tape set.  Comes in a great metal tin, too.  So when you've used up all the tape, you can reuse the metal tin.  That's if you'll use the tape.  Right now, all I can do is stare at it and stroke it and promise it that I'll never hurt it...

Now: Before we continue to my next obsession, run over to the bar and freshen your cocktail.  Take a couple of deep breaths, then continue reading.  It's amazing.  If you've already seen it because you, I don't know- READ BLOGS, never-mind.  Freshen your drink anyways.

Do any of you keep up with The Gentleman Crafter?  You should.  It's very much like my blog- but run by a much classier guy, well written, with good photographs of amazing projects.  Like the Graphic 45 LIGHTHOUSE.  If I would've been working the same amount of time that I've spent staring at this project, I would've accomplished something.  But I've just been staring.  You will, too.  Cuz just when you think it can't be any more heart-stopping amazement:  IT OPENS UP.  Just go- look- NOW!

Alright, my last obsession of the week- or since the last time I posted about my obsessions- is this journal in a handmade felt pocket, from my wonderful friend Frank, over at HAUS OF W.  Frank, or Franklin, as I've inexplicably decided I must call him, is so talented that my eyes burn with jealousy and at the same time, intense admiration.  And on top of being so damn talented- HE'S NICE!  For realz, Franklin is the best.  One day, we'll be neighbors and he'll teach me how to make flowers.  Or get a restraining order.

Anyways- check out his journal in a pocket.  I love felt.  And I love that he COLORED his own felt.  When I first looked at it, I thought that's just the fabric he found.  No, he COLORED the piece of white felt!  And embossed on it!  So cool.  Go look at it- HERE.

Before I go-  will someone explain to me WHY everyone is making the game pieces?  You know, the bingo game lookin' pieces, round wood with the number on them?  Just when I thought I'd thought it would be the end of them- I see Crate Paper's Wood Bingo Chips.  And they all look EXACTLY the same.  How many more companies are going to pack up some bingo pieces and sell them?  And how can they sell them without some text on the packaging saying, "We know, this isn't original- hell, you surely bought Mr. Holtz's first, and maybe added to your bingo chip collection with Maya Road's pieces- but just in case you didn't have enough- here ya go!"

Anybody else obsessed with anything this week?  I'd love to hear what it is!

-kory

Okay,

Tuesday With A Vengeance

Yeahp.  Tuesday damn near killed me.  I don't want to complain.  But I will.  I am cursed with a face that looks younger than my age.  It's definitely catching up, the hard life I've lived is starting to show through the cracks- but still, I don't really look my age.  Believe me, it was much worse.  When I was sixteen, I looked maybe ELEVEN.  My younger brother, who had a freakin' BEARD and a foot-tall mohawk when he was FOURTEEN used to have to go up to the box office to buy tickets for rated-R movies because they wouldn't sell them to me.  To ME, the person who DROVE us to the movie theatre.  I had to hid around the corner, behind the bush, while he bought the tickets for The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Saturday night at midnight.  Anybody else remember doing that?  Not hiding behind bushes while your younger brother bought the tickets, but going to Rocky Horror at Midnight?  I digress.  What I was getting to is that because I look/sound younger- it can be a struggle to get people to take me seriously.  I can't tell you how many times I am talked down to at work by people who don't know me/are unaware of my awesome work skills.  As I was TODAY.  Which put me in a bad mood.   DISCLAIMER:  When I say something like 'my awesome work skillz,' or talk about 'how cool I am,'  -trust me, I am just being funny.  I am not some crazed conceited d-bag.  Alright- with that disclaimer out there, let's get down to bidness, before I send more people running for the 'back' button, screaming 'I CAME HERE TO SEE SOME PAPERCRAFTING GENIUS NOT TO BE THIS GUY'S THERAPIST!'

With a tough day at work, what am I to do but use my lunch hour to run up to PAPER CROWN and see what was in the new shipments she mentioned on her blog yesterday?  No new Tim Holtz, but I did find a few things- a set of Prima stamps that I bought because one was a little bug.  A bee, I think.  Or is it a fly?

photo from scrapbook.com - click to buy!

What is THAT?  As soon as I want to say it's a fly, its butt makes me want to say it's a bee.   I think I like every one of these tiny stamps.  Yes, they are tiny.  And perfect for fitting into little spaces that need a little bee.  Or a fly.  And they cost two bucks.  Well, I love all of them except for the the 'love' on the little stamp.  It would've been perfect if it didn't say 'love!'  By the way- have I ever expressed my distaste for those 'Live Laugh Love' signs?  They do to home decor as Thomas Kinkade does to art.  Oh I hate the LIVE LAUGH LOVE signs.  Don't get me started.  And my sincerest apologies to all of you that have a LIVE LAUGH LOVE sign hanging in your living room.  I mean no more offense than that sign.  

;-)

So there I am, staggering around Paper Crown, trying to decide if should hurry back to work or if I should fake a flat tire so I can go home and play, I get distracted by paper.  Being distracted by paper is a wonderful thing, isn't it?  I grabbed some new My Mind's Eye, and some of the 'Boys Life' papers from Echo Park.  Wow, dat's some purty paper.

I also got these nifty stamps from OCTOBER AFTERNOON:

These caught my eye because of the doily shapes.  Ever since watching the great DREW SCOTT's live Prima class last week, I've wanted some doily stamps.  I loved the way they looked, stamped with brown ink, on that layout he did... and now, I've got some doily stamps!  I also love the 'this book belongs to' stamp AND the two silhouettes.  They key isn't bad, but I have more key stamps than I have vintage typewriter stamps.  How about a round of applause for OCTOBER AFTERNOON, ladies and gentlemen?!  I love you, OA.  

I also got these very cool retro travel inspired cards, from GLITZ's 'Happy Travels' collection!  I love anything having to do with travel - did you know that I was a travel agent for a little over six years?  Remember.  There might be a test, one day.

I can't wait to find a way to use these cards!

The rest of the day at work, I was planning on coming home to scrap a layout using my favorite old photo of my parents.  But when I got home, I YET AGAIN felt too lazy/technologically challenged to attempt messing with the printer... so I decided it was time to make another card.  

I forget WHERE I saw (in person) one of the 'Tri-Fold Shutter Cards.'  And that 'A Boy's Life' paper was sitting on table, winkin' at me and showin' a little leg...DAAAAMN!  I had to put that paper to work!  

I used some postage stamp lookin' paper tape from 7 Gypsies and more of my beloved die cuts from K & COMPANY, that I picked up while, um, grocery shopping at Wal-Mart.  It's a big bag of very cool looking vintage cards and bits- I need another bag!  That little 'Howdy' card, with the horse, is almost cooler than I am, for Gawd's sake!

See what I mean about that little 'Howdy' card?!  Coolness.

This is a close up of another one of the K&CO die cut cards- I thought it would be cool to circle the date and write the month and year info when I give this card to someone.  Those are the tiny staples from Mr. Holtz's tiny attacher, there, too.  Any excuse to use that damn treasure!

Well, making cards can wear a fella out.  I'm done for...

I hope everyone had a great creative day!  I'm working on some exciting things for my blog, so I hope y'all keep coming back.  What exciting things?  Some PRIZES and some VIDEO!  Don't get too excited about the prizes- this ain't no big classy blog.  But I can promise it'll be somethin' cool- cuz I'm cool like dat.  And video?  Yeahp.  I've been practicing a big opening number every time I jump into my truck to drive somewhere.  

-kory

Gray Monday

What a horrible Monday! It was dark and gray outside, a bit of a storm in the afternoon.  And my mood fit the weather.  I was ... DEPRESSED!  Yes, all capital letters.  The worst part of Monday?  It lasted for twenty four hours.  I hate Mondays- how original is that?!

With all that doom and depression surrounding me, I 'proceeded to push all sharp objects aside*' and use my lunch hour to drive up to Paper Crown.

This is such a great store.  If you're in OKC, go check it out.  If you're not in OKC, go check out their blog.  There's lots of great photos.  The store looks great- the way she places product is amazing.  Definitely a lesson for other shop owners!  I usually find lots of new and/or hard to find stuff, such as Crate, October Afternoon, Graphic45, 7Gypsies...and on and on- I even see cool stuff that I didn't even know about before-

Here's a picture of the store- I tried finding one that really shows the inside of the store, but this is the best I could come up with-  I should've asked if I could take a photo! 

Photo from PAPER CROWN:

Check that out- even the lighting is good.

I picked up a few more pieces from one of the best collections out there- KRAFT FUNDAY from My Mind's Eye.  I happened to be at the store right around the time the stuff first went out.  I bought two stamp sets, a pack of borders and some papers.  The more I look at the papers, the more I feel like I have to buy more and more.

http://mymindseye.typepad.com/blog/

http://mymindseye.typepad.com/blog/

Aren't those nice?!  My only complaint is that the text on the 'oh happy day' banner doesn't come out when you stamp it- and I've tried everything, from light pressure to quick and light pressure to different ink, to blowing on the ink before I stamp- I've even tried it on the full moon and stone cold sober.  Is it me or just the stamp?  If anybody else has it, and it works- let me know the secret!  (The stamp I'm talking about is n the first photo, under the two star stamps.)

Now, the papers!  I love Kraft.  It just looks nice.  It's sexy.  You can use it with nearly anything.  And My Mind's Eye has made Kraft even sexier with these great colors and patterns.  

I think my favorite is the paper in the bottom right corner- the one with the black chevron pattern.  Whoa. It's nice.   

While at the store- I also picked up a package of clear buttons from 7Gypsies.  I think I bought them for the cool metal container they came in, more than for the buttons.  And I finally picked up a box of those nifty bingo/game number pieces.  Love those.

If you're in OKC, go to Paper Crown.  It's at Penn and Britton Rd, and she told me there's going to be lots of new stuff coming in within the week- whoooo, I can't wait for the new Tim Holtz products to start coming in!!! 

If you're not in OKC- go check out Paper Crown's blog.  It's still worth looking at, even if you're not able to drive on over!  

Alright- Monday is gone.  The rest of the week best look better!

-kory