Hello again!

Well, I'm still here, just haven't had much time or energy for blogging since school started again.  I have 3 new students and 4 who were here last year, and in my high school special education classroom that adds up to 9 subjects that I am teaching plus study halls for freshmen, sophomores and juniors.  I frequently have multiple subjects going at a time.  Thankfully the school did give me a paraprofessional this year, which really helps.  I hold down the fort in my classroom and she either follows students into other classes or works with groups in the room across the hall.  She has already proven herself to be wonderful, I don't think I could be effective with so much going on and no para. 

I have a new card today, a sympathy card made on my CAMEO.  The cut file is a freebie from Cards by Bird.  I highly recommend her files!  Unfortunately this is another sympathy card, but I'm happy to say that I'm getting (a little bit) smarter, I made 2, one for today's funeral and one for my stash.

There is no school today and tomorrow, and, hurray! my hubby has to work so we "have" to stay home.  I cannot think of anything nicer right now.  We've been on the go almost every weekend. I am already enjoying time to slow down and get a few home things done, read a book and craft, craft, craft.  I hope...


Have a great week!

SiskiyouSue  (Sis-Q Sue)

Time Flies!!!

Bet you had already noticed that time flies. Silly me, I thought that when my children were grown time would slow down a bit.  Wrong again!  Today is my first day back at school.  Am I ready?  Ha!  Surely you jest??  Seems like I got about half of my projects started, about half of those finished.  Too much to do!  And too much time away from home, though I am not complaining about that.  We purchased a new/used fifth wheel camper and spent as much time as possible in Glacier Park again this year.  It was wonderful.

But enough, card-making is why I am here!  Time for another sympathy card...  Seems like that's all I make sometimes.  This one uses a flower digi from Floppy Latte, some Stickles and ink, not much else.  I used the pre-colored digi in the interest of time and because I love that color.  I will make a couple more like this to keep on hand. Maybe if I have them ready I won't need so many (4 this summer!).

Had to make an envelope, and I love that it has those pretty swirls on it.  I have had that paper for ever, this was the last piece.  I remember that my hubby bought it for me shortly after I fell in love with card making, but I have no idea what brand it was, I'm sorry.  I'd buy more if I ever saw it again!

Now, something totally different to share with you.  Have you ever seen a Yellow Zucchini?  My friend gave me some and I am swooning over the color!  Such a beautiful golden yellow!

They are not Summer Squash, as you can tell from the shape.  I grated them up though I hated to because they looked lovely laying on my kitchen counter.  They are even beautiful grated in the bowl!

I wonder whether they will look that beautiful when I pull them out of the freezer to bake or cook with this winter?  It will be interesting to see!

Thanks for checking my ramblings out.  I'd appreciate any comment you might choose to leave.  Have a lovely day and a wonderful end to your summer!

Siskiyou Sue (Sis-Q-Sue)

World Travel

Hello again.  I'm back with some scrapbooking elements that I've made for my daughter to use in scrapbooking of her recent trip to Turkey.  I used World Travel from SVG Cutting Files for the girl, her extra suitcase and the plane.  They were incredibly fun to work with, using lots of scrap papers.  I cut no new paper in this process.  I was surprised at how easily these cut on my Cameo and how easily I was able to assemble them, considering that the girl is about 4 inches tall, meaning that there were lots of little pieces.  Thank goodness for zipper baggies!  Oh, these are not mounted on the blue paper, only laying on it for photographing.  They will be mailed to her in those zipper baggies...

 For the cat, cup, and both mosques, I found free images online and traced them, then filled with patterns on my Cameo.  Boy, the more I do, the more I love that machine.  I'm so thankful for all the great tutorials posted online to show how to do things.  It really is awesome.  A little inking on the edges and I was done.

Well, this has been a crazy summer.  We leave tomorrow for a long weekend in Glacier Park, our third so far.  We have sold our 25-year old camper and will pick up the new(er) fifth wheel camper tomorrow.  I am very excited!  At the same time, I really miss the time to craft.  I'll take some printed digis to color and cut so that I don't have too much withdrawal.  This camper has enough room to take more than that and my plan is to take the Cameo and enough paper to play with when we are going for longer times, i.e., after retirement in a couple of years.  Hurray!

Hope you're enjoying your summer.  Our heat wave is finally over, but I see that it has moved east from here.  Hope it isn't too awful wherever you are.

SisQ Sue

Challenges Entered:
Make It Monday #149 
 Through the Craft Room Door 

 I just finished this card, an anniversary for good friends of ours.  We were married on the same day 38 years ago today!  I couldn't even imagine being 38 years old at that time, let alone being married 38 years.  I am totally amazed!  And I consider myself one of the luckiest people, being married to my best friend for this long.

The cut file for this card is a freebie  from Darcy's Designs, where I see other interesting things.  I'll be checking them out!

 Next to the card is the envelope, Envelope 2 by Bird, a new freebie in the last 2 weeks.  Her files are always awesome and cut like a dream.  You can see the intricate details below:

I cut this on my Silhouette Cameo with plain cardstock (cheap stuff, no brand on the package).  It cut perfectly, no flaws.  And cleanly so that it was almost no work to weed it.  I fastened it with a white bow and it is ready to go.

Hope the friends like it.  I'm off to our weekly Friday night dinner at the restaurant downtown, so I'll find out in about 25 minutes.

Thanks for looking!  Hope you'll check out the files.

Sis-Q Sue

Challenges entered:
Sister Act Card Challenge #15
Make It Monday #148
2 Sisters Challenge #152

I'm back, I hope...

Well, I will never make any New Year's Resolutions again!  I have failed dismally to meet any of those I made, which all revolved around this blog (i.e., to post a couple of times a month, minimum...).  But honestly, it wasn't my fault (says the little girl inside me).  Although most of my excuses were pretty trivial at first, I was truly derailed by my mother's death even though it was not unexpected at the end of April.  That was followed by the end of school and then a trip to California for the memorial service.  And that was followed by a reunion with my husband's family in Las Vegas, and back to California for some visiting.  It really has been crazy.  So, as the title says, I hope I'm back!

However, I have managed to do some crafting.  The card above is the first step card I have made, but I will be making more, it was so much fun.  Somehow, I thought it might be a lot of work, but with the help of s cutting file and my Silhouette, it was a breeze! I used crystal stickles on the mountain snow.  It really looks nice.  I'm glad to say that my son, who received it for his birthday loved it.  And you know how hard it is to get that kind of response from an older son.

I know the color is awful.  I will be making a box for taking photos next week. Can't this week because I have just returned from all the trips, had one day home to do laundry, and will be off to Helena (a 3 1/2 hour drive) for a meeting tomorrow.  Then I'm up to the school.  We're switching classrooms so have quite a bit of moving to do.  Also haven't finished my paperwork from the school year, though I am almost done (that's an important word in my world). 

If you took the time to read all this, thank you.  I hope I'll be less wordy and more worth reading in my next post.

See you SOON!

SiskiyouSue

Retro!

This in not at all my usual style, but when I saw these cut files at  http://www.svgcuts.com/ I knew it was the perfect birthday card for a friend. It was surprisingly easy to cut and fun to put together. I think it will bring on some good memories and probably a few laughs.

Isn't that little tiny poodle great!  I remember having a poodle skirt, hand-me-down from a cousin, I'm old but not that old...  I loved wearing it, it was so much fun to twirl in!

The glitter paper is some cheap stuff that I picked up when I got my first Cricut.  It did not cut well then (perhaps I didn't know what I was doing), but it cut beautifully on my Cameo today.  I made the envelope also, from a pattern that came with the card.  It came out nicely.  The rest of the papers were other things that I've had laying around for a long time.  I'm trying not to buy more!

Now if I can convince my printer to talk to my computer and therefore my Cameo, I'm hoping to try a print and cut this week.  Wish me luck!

Thanks for looking! Have a nice week.

SiskiyouSue

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Make It Monday
Natalie and Amy's Challenge

Happy St. Pat's Day

Hello from snowy Montana! It was pretty wild here this morning with heavy snow and crazy winds. We didn't get as much storm as everywhere south of us and I understand that this is sliding east to cause others much more trouble. Good luck with it.

I made this car yesterday for a male friend who is in the hospital with pneumonia for the third time since Christmas. I was hoping it would cheer him up a bit. I used my Cameo and some beautiful patterned paper. The paper has a pearlized finish, very special.

I am entering this card in the Cameo Spotlight Challenge, a fun place to find some inspiration.

I hope those of you in the path of another winter storm make it through in good condition. And could the rest of you share a little Spring with us, please?

SiskiyouSue

Back to Card Making

I have a quick card tonight, made from a digi that I had already colored. I am trying to get a supply colored so that I can make cards in a hurry when I need them. Anyway, this is a digi from A Day for Daisies, isn't it cute? I embossed the pink card with a border then added a ribbon to the white card. It needed more so I added some little white flowers that were originally part of a cheap bush I picked up. I added a pink pearl to the center of each. They are pretty and fit the feel of the card nicely!
Thanks for looking!
SiskiyouSue

Challenges entered:  
http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/2013/03/challenge-103-easter.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2013/03/challenge-260-anything-goes.html
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2013/03/spring-is-in-air.html
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2013/03/mim-131-with-nicecrane-designs.html
http://www.craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.com/2013/03/challenge-9-sponsored-by-just-some.html
http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com/2013/03/digi-makeover-challenge-79-easterspring.html

Vacation? And an Award!

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted. I had not intended to neglect my blog for so long, you know how things get away from you sometimes? That has been my life lately. My long slide into lethargy has ended, however, with a bang. I just returned from spending a week with my daughter, an unexpected "vacation" after she fell down a flight of stairs.

On March first my DD was at a friend's house celebrating a friend's birthday. She decided it was time to go, and not having been in this home before, headed to what she thought was the bedroom to get her coat. The door was closed, so she asked the hostess (over shoulder) if this was the bedroom. The hostess, also over her shoulder said yes, DD opened the door and stepped into the stairwell! She landed in a heap at the bottom on the concrete of the basement floor... The hostess and 3 attendees were doctors (lucky, huh?) so she was well looked after. They got her to the hospital where she spent 2 nights. Of course the mommy (me) thought she had to be there to make sure everything was really okay, so my hubby and I jumped in the car and made the 13 hour drive to Portland. Unbelievable, DD had no really awful injuries! She fractured an eye socket and really banged up her forehead and cheeks, both sides. She skinned the top of one shoulder and sprained the wrist on the other side and bruised a knee. That was it! Isn't that truly a blessing? Hubby stayed to be sure she was okay then drove home, I stayed a full week to help out, she had quite a bit of vertigo at first, but she and I are both back at work.

So, a picture of DD right after the accident (notice the classy hospital gown!). Also note that she was able to take the picture herself! I had visions of every murder mystery I have ever read or watched (lots!) and in all of them, of course, the body at the bottom of the stairs was a corpse. Enough to really frighten a mother. So grateful this turned out so much better!

Thanks for visiting me. I promise to post a card in the next couple of days! Have a wonderful Spring week, sans snow if you are lucky...

Long Weekend

Good morning!  Hope all of you are enjoying the weekend.  We had a long weekend here, the smaller school districts in Montana had basketball tournaments, which luckily backed up to President's Day, so 4 days in a row!!!  I stayed inside, playing with my Cameo.  Besides, it's cold out there...   I had really had a nice time.  I love to learn new things, and the new machine is perfect for me because there are so many cool things to learn.
 
I used the trace feature to cut this design.  It's an SVG that I bought several years ago (I don't remember where) when I was using my Cricut Expression and Make the Cut.  You know what happened there, so I have quite a few old files that I never had the chance to try.  Fun!  Somehow I think I should feel badly because I had fun cutting a sympathy card, but...  Well, can't help it, can I?   I used plain white matte presentation paper and gray cardstock.  The sentiment is on a layered tag from letteringdelights.com Delilah set.

One more picture, a little closer up:

On another note, a piece of good news.  My husband just let me know that we will be changing back to Daylight Savings Time on March 10!  That means that Spring really is around the corner, I can hardly wait.  I shouldn't complain, though.  School is going well, very well.  I'm still having fun and my students are doing well.  I have actually seen some big strides from the boys lately, and in special education that is something to celebrate.

Well, back to having fun.  Thanks for looking!

SiskiyouSue

Challenge I am entering this card into:
Make It Monday #128 

One More Valentine

Hello again!  Hope you are recovering from any bad weather you have had this week.  We've been lucky, a winter storm headed our way, but we were on the edge of it.  The temperature dropped suddenly, freezing any moisture on the roads, and then it snowed overnight, but only a couple of inches.  The danger was in the wind which whips our dry snow up to a frenzy and causes terrible driving conditions due to low visibility.  We loaned our pickup to our son because his Mustang isn't meant for winter in Montana.  I really hope he gets a different vehicle before next winter!

Anyway, here's my last Valentine for now.  I just had to use that cute Scottie dog from Lettering Delights once more.  This is the reason I wanted the Silhouette Cameo, because it is so much fun to use these cute files.  Don't you agree?

I put red Stickles on both the hearts on this card, and though you can't tell (I HAVE to get a better camera...) the white ribbon in on top of a strip of red glitter tape, and very pretty.  The button, which says XOXO came from the dollar store.

I haven't had much time for crafting this week, since I've been out of town at a Special Education conference (Montana CEC) in Missoula.  It was fun, but I always miss my crafting.  I'm glad to be home.

Thanks for looking, and hope to see you again soon.

SiskiyouSue

Challenges I am entering this card into:
Make It Monday
2 Sisters Challenge Blog
Pumpkin Spice
Totally Papercrafts Friday Challenges
Daring Cardmakers
Card Makin' Mammas
Card Crafters Circle
Brown Sugar Challenges

A Second Card Today!

Hello, again.  For a person who usually posts something only a couple of times a month, I'm really on a roll!   Here it is, only the 3rd of the month and 2 posts in one day.  I think this is a first for me.  (Although this will be my 114th post...)

Just wanted to share one more card before admitting that the weekend is over.  I have been hoarding this wonderful scrap of paper for a long time.  Don't remember what it is, and it is several years old, but I have really loved the patterns and colors in it.  It is perfect for these sweet  mice, isn't it?  

I haven't added a sentiment because I haven't decided whether to add one now or wait, just in case.  Or maybe leave it as is and write a note inside instead...  Here's a close up of the digi:

Although I really love working with my new Cameo, I think I'll always come back to digis.  I'm a little girl who loves coloring at heart!


Have a nice week!
SiskiyouSue

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Make It Monday
Challenges 4 Everybody
Gingerloft Challenges
Pause, Dream, Enjoy Challenges

   

Happy Valentine's Day

Hello, again!  We've enjoyed a sunny weekend here in Montana, a welcome change.  That should mean that those who live east from Montana should have good weather on the way.  Hope so, anyway.

I have fallen in love with the new Lettering Delights cut its!  They are so cute.  If you aren't familiar with them, check out Under a Cherry Tree for real inspiration.  Jin Yong does some amazing things with them.  I've used a file from Great Scot Its Love for this card, along with Be Mine Dots paper from Reminisce, both sides. And both Stickles and gems.  Love the way it turned out...   I've made a couple more that I'll post later if I have the chance.

Thanks for looking!  Have a lovely week.

SiskiyouSue

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Make It Monday
Hiding in my Craftroom
My Sheri Crafts
One Stop Craft Challenge
Cameo Creations Challenge 
 

This Little Piggy!

I have had the loveliest weekend!  My school district took today off so I had a three day weekend.  My husband and son were both off also, which does not always translate to great for me, but this time it was very nice.  Dan and I went to Great Falls on Saturday and picked out a new reclining love seat to replace the extremely awful recliner that he now has.  (So awful that for the first time in my life I have covered it with a blanket to hide it!)  My very new living room is going to look great when it arrives!  And today I got to spend 5 whole uninterrupted hours in my craft room, whoopee!  Can't complain at all. 

I've started making Valentine's Day cards.  Here's the first, made with die cut from Lettering Delights Hogs and Kisses set:

And here is the second, made with the same file:

I chose to set the first pig slightly off center on the black background to give more contrast, but that wasn't necessary for the second.  I used gems rather than cutting the flowers because I just cannot do without some bling!  I cannot decide which card is my favorite, for once I like them both.  What a nice surprise.

Hope you have a great week!  I'm planning to enjoy mine, with a little more time to craft, hopefully.

Sincerely,
SiskiyouSue

Challenges I am entering these cards into:
Make It Monday #124
Created With Love #24
Lady Anne's Anything Goes Challenge #3

Christmas Card

I have a Christmas Card to share today.  I have promised myself to make at least one more Christmas card every month this year.  Hope I make it!

This was a fun and easy card!  I cut the wreath and deer on my brand new Silhouette Cameo, gift from my sweet hubby.  The rest is cut from a DCWV paper stack.  The borders (including the lacy look border on the front) came this way, perfect for this card.  I chose not to put a sentiment on the front because I liked the look of the papers as they are.

Please notice that this is NOT Rudolph!  No cutsie noses on this one!

Super cold here in northern Montana, actual temperature at or near zero, wind chill about 10 or 15 degrees lower.  Hope you are all warm and toasty wherever you are!

Cheers,
SiskiyouSue

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
ABC Christmas Challenge  (A is for Animal)
Christmas Card Challenges  (Silhouette)
Jingle Belles     (all things new, i.e., my new Cameo)
Christmas Cards All Year Round (anything goes)
Make It Monday (always anything goes)