Texture Boutique is mine now

More fun! I have been enjoying my new find - the Sizzix Texture Boutique. It looks like a pretty blue purse and is too adorable. I hadn't been ready for the Big Shot, even though I thought I really wanted one. But when I came across this deal I decided to go for it. For cutting I still have my Cricut anyway.

My friend brought over her collection of folders and DD and I had a fun time playing. I made one card so far using a leaf folder on a patterned green. I used the embossed piece as background for the new doe and fawn stamp I found at the same shop.
I'm playing around with adding ink to the embossed pieces. I have come up with a nice idea for an old house but haven't turned it into a card yet. I love the big rose one and want to work with it more. So far I haven't decided on a spot in my scrapbooking layouts yet, but I'm sure I will find a way. I'm open for suggestions, btw! lol

So here is a pic my DD took of me with my new toy.

Beautiful new rose bush

Is there a more difficult rose to paint or one more difficult to forget?
We popped into a nursery and spotted this unusual rose. I had never seen such variegation so beautifully displayed especially in a rose. Had to have one.  I don't have it in the ground yet but think I have a place picked out. Here are two photos of the beauty - one earlier in the day and the other is after this blossom had fully opened the next evening.

Wanted to share this quote with you -
"There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted." ~Henri Matisse

Lot's going on these past few days.
Saw the trail in the sky from the space shuttle going up from the Space Center on its way to the International Space station. Reading the NASA log is so cool, right up my alley since I love anything to do with space travel and Star Wars, only this is for real - not sci fi.

I was fortunate to capture with my camera a small alligator (4 ft.). We think the large one has moved on since DS and friends haven't see her in a couple weeks now. Just this little one is left.

I've been making cards lately too, and since one from my Etsy store sold yesterday I uploaded two more today.

 What's with all the 'love bugs'?! We have been overrun with them today.

I spent a fun afternoon with friends stamping cards and getting to make our own ice cream sundae yesterday at Ree's Stamping Oasis. It's always good with the combination of friends, crafting and ice cream!

I made a bunch of these adorable punch art owls from the instructions found on Kay's blog.

 Hoping to mail them to Charity Preschool for this year's graduates.
When I worked in the office at the church I was always delighted to see the kids pass by my office window and I miss that. I really loved when the teachers brought them in to sing me a few songs.

Nine Pages Done This Weekend

I had a blast doing the challenges at ScrapAttackScrapbooking this weekend. Fun and games to keep me up late and tethered to my scrap room. I managed to complete 9 of the 10 layout challenges before the deadline.

Please check out my gallery to see all my scrapbook pages and learn why I did what I did. Doing the challenges really stretches me and I love that.

New setup for stamping and scrapbooking

This may still be a work in progress but it is so much more efficient now. Pulling the table out from the wall allowed me to put another pegboard up for handy storage. Now all my punches are up where I can get to them. Also I now have seating for four. It is a small room so having to walk to any of the storage locations will not count as exercise by any fitness expert.

          




Here is a view inside the closet, easily accessible storage drawers.   I rearranged the larger type embellishments in the drawers under the 12 x 12 scrapbooking papers.  My ink pads are right by my side now, but it can't hurt me to get up for them either. I have a DVD case on the wall for the new style of Stampin Up stamp sets and have ordered more empty cases for some other unmounted rubber and clear stamps I have to put up there also. Not sure yet what I will really do with the two hanging baskets over the ink stand, for now it seems to be holding plastic bags I might need so can't throw away just yet. The ink cleaning pad is in the top one for now.

     I wasn't able to hang the pegboard with the table back against the wall - couldn't reach. Now that the table is out I can utilize the space. More options available there, but for now I can access things better than before.  I like that all my punches are within reach. I took my ribbons out of drawers and put them in bags according to color family. The hang from a pole, easily unclipped so I can take the bag down and rummage through it. The patterned paper covered buckets were punched with the Big Bite Crop-a-dial and hold things once stuffed randomly in drawers. -so much easier to grab. I actually have room for 4 to sit.

      In the left corner I have my container of Stampin Up 8.5 x 11 card stock separated into the color families - which is changing in July - so I can easily find the colors I want. Some of my spools of ribbon hang next to the punches. I found a hanging tray for the board for the re-inkers. From under the pegboard I am hanging things like the mixing pallet, rulers, Fiskars work surface, and cutting templates. I have a Pampered Chef tool caddy on the table next to 3 little drawers organized where I can find frequently used items. The bookcase to the right of the table hold a container of my pens and pencils, and sharpener; 2nd shelf has 8.5 x 11 card stock; bottom shelf has 12 in.

     The original bookcase units are better organize and I actually have room for more. The catalogs and Take Ten magazines are accessible now. My two different sizes of envelops are there. My 8.5 x 14 and 11 x 17 papers are out when I need them. All the scrapbook albums being worked on are in a row. More bins for things that have been sorted are available when needed. I have the Cricut in its box with the 4 cartridges I have right there so I can lift it out and use it anytime I want. Under that is a paper box of more 8.5 x 11 card stock.
    I'm pretty happy so far.

Messy crafting space has to go

When I moved in I through the crafting room together quickly so I could have my place to escape and scrap. After all everyone needs their creative outlet to get through the daily routine of life.
I'm not done yet but have a real good start.
The closet wasn't being utilized. I didn't even have a place for everything, let alone everything in it's place. There were still boxes to go through, and sorting to accomplish.
The table up against the wall with compartments on the top really cut back on our work surface.
Here are the first pictures of how we were existing in there for first 4 months or so.