Too Tired to Be So Clever

I'm just way too tired to be so clever today.

The only reason that I even got out of bed that early today is that a dog growled at me with a stuffed animal in his mouth while wiggling his body all over the bedroom and hallway. Chance thinks he knows when it is time for everyone to get up.

At least this week he doesn't think that that time is 5:30 a.m.! (That's why he still lives.)

It rained all day yesterday. This is a very unusual occurrence in Arizona. The landscapers stopped playing fetch in the mud with Chance long enough to decide to pack it in for the day. After I got as much mud off my dog as I could, I went out for a nice lunch with my friend, Karen, at Gordon Biersch over by the new stadium. That Cardinals stadium is proving to be handy enough that it just might make up for the traffic inconveniences it has introduced to the area. I'd say neighborhood, but it is just beyond my neighborhood.

Later, we went out to Taylor's birthday party at Xtapa Joe's up in North Phoenix. That was fun and I got totally wasted on endless pitchers of Margaritas. I really would be astonished to hear that someone didn't like the Ushers. They are truly nice people and gracious hosts. Dan likes working with and for them.

After we got home, we watched The Producers that Dan had Tivo'ed. You gotta love Tivo. And how can you not love Nathan Lane and Mel Brooks? Uma Thurman is so gorgeous and so talented.

OK, you want photos? I got your photos right here!

First up, the big pile of charms for the AU Charm Swap. None of the individual photos I took was clear, they're all too blurry. Have I mentioned that I hate my camera? I tried to leave the house wearing a charm bracelet I'd made with all my charms on it and one of these fell off and shattered on the tile. It came off the jump ring. I really am struggling with those. Time to Google it as Belinda suggests and get better ideas for how to close them securely.


Here's a photo of some paint scraping papers I did on 90 lb. cold press watercolor paper with acrylics (tube and fluid) for the Paint Scraping and Inchies swap on arttechniques. That one is ready to mail with these Inchies.









Next, we have my February pages for BookArtz' monthly page swap for 2007. This swap is based on the book True Colors so each month we are doing the color themes used in the book. I didn't get my blue and ochre pages done for the swap but I think I'll do them anyway and post them on the leftovers database and see if I can swap for any others. I still have to print the backs and add the ribbon embellishment on the edge. I'm pleased with the results.

This is paint scraping on the above-mentioned 90 lb, cold press watercolor paper using big dots (that you can't see on this sample) of Adirondack's Daubers in Pool and Clover (the darker color). Then I drizzled Golden Acrylic Glaze in Patina Green and Cobalt Green over the top and scraped it all into the paper with one of those fake credit cards you get in the mail. They're more flexible than real credit cards.

Next, I used the heat gun to dry it a bit and used Imprintz white ink to stamp the texture in the corner. Another shot with the heat gun because I'm impatient and I was ready to stamp the Judy Kins dragonfly stamp with Staz-On Vibrant Violet. One more shot with the heat gun. Finally, I outlined the dragonfly's wings and torso with Aqua Stickles and the head and antennae with Black Diamond Stickles. My black Stickles clogged up on me and I made the mistake of using any pin to unclog it. The pin was too fat and enlarged the opening. Use really skinny pins or a fine wire to unclog these! It also would be a good idea to save any empties you have and wash them out in case you do ruin a nozzle. I'm thinking that you could probably mix the colors too if you wanted a shade they don't come in.

Next up on the work table are some RR Decos from the abc_decos group and the Goddesses and Pastels Chunky Book pages from that group and Chubbyville.

I guess I'm awake. OK, maybe now I'll do some work!