Babsarella's Pocketful of Sunshine

Happy Halloween!!!

Hope you have a delightful Halloween!!! Things here are pretty windy and rainy because of Noel, so we are not expecting lots of kiddos...more candy for me (he he he)!!!

More Halloween cards...

I had so much fun using Christmas stamps for Halloween, that I decided to try it again. This time I stamped the car (usually carrying a Christmas tree) from Character Constructions 3 times, and then proceeded to just experiment. I punched the small pumpkins in the bottom right corner, but decided they were a bit small for the top of the car, so I went with the larger sized pumpkin from A Stamp in the Hand. The tree and bird are also from Character Constructions. It was kind of hard to tell, but I added some color to the background using watercolor crayons. Also, the car is attached with foam tape.

I decided that the sky was a bit plain, and I really wanted it to look a bit more like evening, so I added some pigment ink using a stencil, then dusted with perfect pearls for some shimmer. Then a few stars for good measure.

Last, but not least, same sky, but this time I added a moon rather than the bird. You can't really tell, but the moon was stamped on acetate, then I added some adhesive , then multi-toned gold leaf, so it is really shiny. I am not so sure I like the multi-tone leafing...I would try to keep the inside more of the true gold.

I am already off and working on another card. It is almost done...maybe tonight. I don't know about you, but I just can't rush while I am working out the details!!!

Sorry for the delays in posting. Things have been hectic lately. On Thursday the handle broke off the kitchen faucet, so I had no water in the kitchen. No cooking...no way to easily wash dishes...not a good thing. I was hoping to get one of those nice goose neck faucets, but when we got to the plumbing store on Saturday morning, I was forced to take what they had in stock (because there was no way I was waiting any time for something else...2 days of dishes in the sink was already too much), which was similar to what I had before, but works really nice. Since Mark had his day cut out for him (because waiting for a plumber would have taken another week) putting in the sink on Saturday with the assistance of a friend, I was in charge of taking Miss B to her dance practice. Bummer for me because that meant my hair appointment had to be rescheduled...2 weeks later. yuck. Plus, I was really excited that a new rubber stamp store opended on Saturday...owned by the original owner of the one which closed about a year ago. I was planning to run by, but ran out of time...hope to get there this weekend. We also had a nice visit from my Brother-in-law, Dave, who came in late Saturday. Had some nice dinners out, visited Mark's Mom, took a drive, and relaxed on the patio since it was not too too hot. It was great to spend time with him.

So, now you are pretty-much all caught up. Hope you had a fun weekend and you will have a safe and happy Halloween!!!

Maroon 5 Concert...

Sorry I have been "missing in action", but the nasty cold going around my house finally caught me on Sunday morning. Started with that funny feeling behind my nose, then proceeded to annoy me the rest of that day and into Monday when my nose finally started running. Ended up staying home yesterday. Today is better, but still on the mend and having to keep the kleenex close by. thought I'd share a few photos from the concert on Saturday. Luckily, the timing was great, so we all were in good health for that!!!

Mark is not much of a concert-goer. We kinda twisted his arm, but he told us after that he really enjoyed it. I tried to get him to listen to the CDs before going, to remind him of all the songs they would be playing. I think he listened one time through, then gave them back. Dontcha know, he was asking for them back after the concert. Silly boy!

Lots of cool light effects!!!

It was quite a challenge to try and get a decent photo. I found that I had to put the camera up as high as I could reach, and then try to be super still while I snapped the photo. The concert was really good. All the songs we wanted to hear, and everyone was on their feet the whole time! Mark and I were conversing before the concert started, wondering if they still did the lighter thing (you know hold the lit lighter up during a song). I told him they probably did something else...ha ha...I was right....now everyone just holds up their cell phone!!! TOO FUNNY!!!

Here we are at the end of the evening. Tired, but Miss B is ready to go to another concert! Now I have to tell you the funniest thing. It seems that the first Ikea in Florida opened in this area on Wednesday. Just a mile or so down the same street as the arena where the concert was. The Ikea has a huge parking garage, but when we went into the arena area to find parking, they were also doing parking for Ikea and running busses. I could not believe amount of people getting on and off the busses for Ikea!!! They even had people waiting in line for days to be first to enter the store. I am interested in going, but after seeing all the madness, I probably won't be going there until after the first of the year.

In addition to the concert, I also went to an antique show on Saturday morning. I had never been to this one, held at the senior center, but thought I would check it out before I had to cart Miss B up to her dance class. I only allowed a little over an hour...and that was not really enough!!! I found lots of cool things and met the owner of my favorite stall in the antique mall I frequent. She really worked with me on prices, so I was happy with all my treasures. I ended up having to race through the last half of the vendors to make it home in time. I will definitely be going to the next show they have there!!! On Sunday afternoon, Blair and I traveled up to Boca to a Williams-Sonoma to see a pie making technique demo. It was really good and I think we are now ready to give pie-making (including the crust) a go. I even got some cute little fall shaped cutters to make the pie look pretty!!! Of course I won't be attempting this til the cold is completely gone.

Hope you are having a terrific week, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed I will get back in the creative groove in the next day or so.

One Stamp...Several projects...

Hope you are not feeling too much overload with all my Halloween posts, but I got this idea to use a Character Constructions Christmas stamp in a Halloween project, and wanted to share. It is always a challenge to try and think outside the box, but I really like being able to use a stamp in a new or unexpected way. I originally added color with my Prisma pencils, but then I remembered my twinkling H2Os, and that really added a nice extra pop.

As you can see, I actually created 2 versions of this same collage. I frequently stamp multiples of the same image when I have a stamp all inked up, that way I can create several of the same or similar cards to play with ideas and techinques. Anyhow, I thought it would be fun to make one with a crepe paper skirt, and one without. Once I had finished the first collage, it was easy enough to whip out another, especially since the sparkly at the bottom is an old earring, and I had 2 of them.

Here you can get a better view of the bottom...black velvet leaves (I do so love velvet leaves) and the earring.

Here is a closer view of the image. You can get a better feel for the depth of color from the twinkling H2Os and see the little bat punch (Martha Stewart at Michael's, marked down) sprinkled with some fine black glitter. I really MUST remember to use the twinkling H2Os more often...they are so pretty!!!  Here is another view of the non-skirted version. Loved the fun hangers ...just the perfect size to hang the bingo card! They can also be purchased at Character Constructions.

Now, don't be thinking you can only use this Christmas stamp to make holiday cards and collages...no, no, no...It is most versatile...here are a few more everyday type cards I made using this same stamp...

So, I challenge you to find a stamp you love, and use it in a different way...You never know what interesting ideas you might come up with!!!

Had a fun day today with Miss B and her friend who were off school today for a teacher workday. My boss gave me the day off since I worked hard last weekend on the release. (I love that my boss does that!!! VERY COOL). Took the girls to see Across the Universe. This movie is set in the 60's and uses all Beatles music. It reminded me of a play, and although there were a few strange scenes, it was a fun watch. Evan Rachel Wood stars and has a most beautiful voice. There were also several cameos by Salma Hayek, Joe Cocker, and Bono. After the movie, we hit the mall to use some coupons ($10 at Victoria Secret, and free chocolate biscuits at Godiva). And I was SO NOT going to miss out on free chocolate anything from Godiva!!! Since the sky opened up, we spent a little more time there than we planned, but no use getting all wet when we can enjoy ourselves in the mall!!!

Tomorrow is the big night...we are going to see Maroon 5!!! I haven't been to a concert in FOREVER, and Miss B has never been. Even talked Mark into going!!! Best of all, everyone is feeling much better...still some coughing, but well enough to attend the concert.

Hope you have a super fun weekend, and I'll catch ya real soon!!!

The Witch Is IN...

I mentioned last week or so that I had been working on some witch collages, so thought I'd share one with you. The stamps and papers are from Character Constructions. This is done on a flat canvas which measures 11 x 14, a bigger size for me. The skirt on the witch is made from crepe paper, and the word 'IN' has a magnet on the back, so it can be changed for the word 'OUT'.

It has been a week of sickness here...Miss B is just getting over her cold, but still coughing. Then Tuesday evening Mark started to feel sick. Unfortunately, his Mom called about 4:30am yesterday with pains on her left side, so he had to take her to the emergency room. Luckily they were able to get her squared away quickly and released her later in the morning. Happy to report it was nothing major. Anyway, I have been popping my Airborne frequently, hoping that the nasty bug floating around the house does not come my way.

Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying all beautiful things Fall has to offer (cooler temps if you are not living in FL and more breezes if you do, pumpkin stands, candy corn, hearty recipes, and lots of decorations in the stores (including Christmas, he he he))!! Til next time...

A few cards....

I dragged out my Paper Whimsy images and have been playing around and creating a few cards. Made this first one for a friend who has a birthday this month. Since I just mailed it yesterday, she has not received it yet, so I will keep the recipient a secret. Hope she will enjoy the card. I thought the face on this little girl looked a bit annoyed, so I wanted to add a fun sentiment that fit the photo. In case you are wondering, the flowers on the bottom of the card are rub-ons. I don't normally have a lot of colorful rub-ons (I tend to get just black or white ones), but I really liked these!!

This one was made with another Paper Whimsy image and then I just started using all the scraps and a little frame I've had around for a while. (The little danglie clock is not crooked, just the way I scanned it). The sentiment on the top is a rub-on.

Here is another card using the same image as the first, but this one was in black and white, so I added a little color to the dress, face, and hands. I just tried to use up some more scraps of papers and other odds and ends I had around.

Hope your week is going well. Miss B is suffering with a cold, so she is a bit under the weather, but unfortunately having to take her quarter finals. She ended up missing all her dance classes last night, but she was able to get a nap in the afternoon, so she felt a little better while she was studying in the evening. Today is the last day of quarter finals, then tomorrow is the PSAT. I think she is really looking forward to Friday, because it is a teacher workday, thus no school. That means a little extra sleep for me too...YEAH!!!

Halloween Decorations...

Here are a few more photos of the Halloween decorations we have around the house. First is the mantle...

These cute things are on a table...

A little something else at the food of the mantle...

Raggety Ann (Halloween version) sits in the wing chair...

  A few new cuties right inside the front door...The first time Miss 4 legged B saw them, she started growling...too funny.

Not exactly scary, but kinda fun and festive.

Hope you are having a great weekend. Friday we saw the play The Wedding Singer. Much better than I expected, but the guy and his wife who were sitting behind us had to comment on EVERYTHING that happened, and do a bit of singing. I was so annoyed that MANY times I wanted to turn around and tell him to shut the %$@# up, but I figured that would only cause more of a problem, so I suffered in silence. I find it sad that people are so incredibley rude as to not realize there are many other people don't want to know they are there and what they think. Saturday I spent monitoring my work systems and doing a bunch of odds and ends around the house. I did manage to get to Michael's to use my last 40% coupon.  We also went out to the movies and saw The Kingdom. It was interesting and fast paced. Sometimes a bit hard to understand all the dialog in the beginning, but overall, I thought it was a very good movie. Really makes you think, and makes me really sad to realize how some people have such little regard for life. Sunday was spent doing more odds and ends, fixing a work problem, grocery shopping, Target, then friends over to watch the Dolphins loose yet another game. I grilled hamburgers and we shared some nice conversations. I am hoping I can maybe get something creative done with the few hours I have left...So that's about all for now...See ya soon...