I know, Valentine's Day is long over (well, a week long, anyway).  I didn't want to post these until they had arrived at their intended destinations.  I really had a great time making them, lots of fun!  The card above is made with Valentine's Subway Art instead of a sentiment, a look that I enjoy, and a free digi from Elizabeth O. Dulemba.  If you aren't familiar with her blog, you should check it out.  It's a great mix of things, always fun to read.  Every Tuesday she has a free coloring page which is where the chickens came from. 

I actually made two of these great "hogs and kisses" cards.  This was my second best, but I didn't take a pic. of the first before mailing it off.  Sorry, because I really thought it turned out best.    I cut it with Make the Cut and my Silhouette SD.

Which reminds me, I'm taking a class on how to use my Silhouette from My Creative Classroom, Silhouette 101.  If you are new to the Silhouette this would be a great place to begin.  Classes are videos that can be watched on your own schedule with pdf files to print out that go with the videos.  I like to save the pdf's for reference.  I just cannot remember everything at the same time.  Anyway, this particular class is taught by Jennifer Priest who does a very nice job and although she said that we wouldn't actually do any cutting after the first lesson, I was able to write out a caption and weld it, make a shadow and cut both yesterday.  I'll post that later on, because the card I made turned out very well, or at least I like it.

My husband just told me that it's snowing, a nice surprise.  We've had lovely weather, about 20 degrees above normal, but it is SO dry...  Can't help but worry about the summer.  I like long and hot, but I do not enjoy water rationing!  See, I'm never happy!

Have a great day!

Something Different Today

The virtual run will be on Saturday, February 11 at 9 a.m. MST.

Today I am deviating from my usual post to spread the word (I hope) about an event that is happening tomorrow.  Sherry Arnold, the woman for whom the event is being held, was a teacher in Sidney, Montana where I taught for several years back in the 80's.  I didn't know Sherry, but as a teacher and as an ex-resident of Sidney I can certainly feel for her and her family.  For those who are unaware of what has happened, in January Sherry went for a morning run as she usually did, and disappeared.  Sidney is right in the heart of the "Bakken" oil boom area.  When we lived the the area it was a wonderful place to live and raise children.  Now there are strangers everywhere (no, I do not have anything against strangers in general, just in large masses like this).  The oil companies have brought in workers from everywhere and have told them  not to bring their families because this boom won't last more than a few years.  Consequently every motel is full, every apartment is full and renting for $1000 or more (compared to $350 in 1984 for a 3 bedroom townhouse), and every bare spot of land is covered by what they euphemistically call "man camps."  That's nothing more than a collection of small trailers that house as many men as there are beds, and are set within 10 or 15 feet of each other to maximize the body count per acre.  I cannot imagine how anyone feels safe any more.  Last year, in Watford City, North Dakota (just 50 miles away from Sidney), there was ( and still may be) a man camp on the perimeter of the elementary school and park.  Yup, you can easily guess; a paroled pedophile was living in one of the trailers.  Now, I have nothing against that man earning a living, but to house him anywhere near a school is immoral and also unfair to him.  If he is trying to stay clean, the proximity to children cannot be anything less than a major temptation.  This is no way for anyone to exist, and the oil companies should be ashamed!  They feel no responsibility for the effect they have on people but are only interested in the profit they can take out of an area.

So, I'll quit ranting and I hope you will forgive me.  You can see that I feel strongly about this. I would invite you to read the following excerpt about the Saturday event, and if you can to stop and give some thought to all those who endure terrifying things, and for the families that are left behind.  Thank you for bearing with me.


The website for the run is:  Shut Up + Run

The virtual run will be on Saturday, February 11 at 9 a.m. MST.

• Mark your calendars
• Print out a running bib and pin it to your shirt
• Gather your friends, your running club members, your families
• If it’s wet where you are, “laminate” your bib with postage tape and punch holes in it
• If that time doesn’t work, go when you can
• GO. Run as far and as long as you want. Walk, hike, cycle, rollerblade if you don’t want to or can’t run.

My goal is to get the MOST love, momentum and energy moving in honor of Sherry. This run symbolizes the beginning if healing and honors a woman who was courageous, strong and loved by so many.
For those of us in the Denver/Boulder/Longmont area I will be organizing a group run at the Boulder Reservoir that morning. I hope we can get a huge clan together and make the earth MOVE!! Stay tuned.


 SiskiyouSue

I made this shaped card using my Silhouette and Make the Cut.  It was so easy to cut!  Wow!  It's for my husband, I think he'll love it.  Hope so, anyway.  He told me not too long ago that if someone gave him a pink car he'd learn to love it, so...

I'm sorry to say that I do not know where I got the car file.  I spent about a half hour searching the internet, but did not find it.  It's one of the easiest files I've made, cut as cleanly as anything I've tried.  You cannot see it, but I glittered the space around the white heart headlights and in person it looks pretty cute.  I have to look for some glossy accents to try next.

I hope to have more cards to show off in another couple of days.  Thanks for looking!

I have entered this card into a couple of challenges:  Die Cutting Divas, and  Little Red Wagon.

Hello, again.  This card was made for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz.  It's a little different than they intended, but I just couldn't resist using this digi.  I'm sorry to say that I don't know where I got it, but I think it's just darling.  I used digi papers (freebies that I've picked up).  I think this would make a cute hello or thank you card, but I chose not to add the sentiment so that I could use it later when I need it. 

Here in northern Montana the high temperature today was 17 below zero.  Not much snow yet, but they say that's coming tomorrow.  You know, I'm thinking that we need to remember to be careful what we ask for.  Or that we have just been too spoiled by the weather this last several months.  Anyway, I hope that makes you all feel a little bit warmer than you did a few minutes ago!

Have a nice week.
SiskiyouSue

Hello!  Gosh, it's the middle of January already.  If the rest of the year moves as quickly as the past couple of weeks, I think I'd better get my new Christmas cards going fast!  Which isn't really why I made this card.  I saw this digi on A Day for Daisies and just had to color it.  I think it'll stay one of my favorites.  Hope you like it.  All the paper is DCWV, and the dark blue is their new glitter paper, which is really pretty!  I punched it (Martha Stewart's snowflake), but have not cut it with my machines yet.  I'm guessing it will cut well.

Thanks for looking!
SiskiyouSue

December Birthdays

Hello and Merry Christmas!  Can you believe it's less than a week away?  What a rush we've had lately.  I've had a good time crafting, but haven't actually finished much.  And it looks like that trend will continue for a couple of more weeks, at least.  We're leaving as quickly as possible after school gets out tomorrow to spend a week with our daughter in Portland, Oregon.  I'm a little excited!  Unfortunately our son is unable to go but we'll visit him on the way out (tomorrow night) and again on the way back.  Now if the weather will only cooperate...

This family was not content with having Christmas in December, but we decided to add three birthdays also.  If we did it over, well...  Two of the birthdays are on the 22nd, my niece and my daughter.  They're exactly a year apart, which was really exciting in the beginning, but doesn't seem so important now.  The niece lives in New Jersey, so we don't get to see her.  This is where I have learned to appreciate Facebook.  She keeps us supplied with pictures of her so cute kids, what a treat! 

The first card is the first cut I've made off my newest cartridge, All Wrapped Up. 

 Isn't that a good card for a guy?  It's for my brother-in-law, the new English/Writing teacher.

 And here are the cards for the girls.  The digis are from Karber stamps.  When I saw them last week I knew that I had to have them; they are just perfect for for these birthdays.

Now aren't I right?  These are perfect!  My daughter is quite a shopper, my niece is quite a knitter. 

Well, I should get busy and get my clothes packed.  Or maybe I should plan on doing a lot of shopping when I get there.  NOT!  Have a wonderfully blessed holiday.

SiskiyouSue

December FEEL THE LOVE Project

Wow, I didn't realize I had been missing for so long.  I apologize, things have just been crazy between school and home.  Seems like I used to handle the fall and Christmas season better than I am this year.

My students and I have created cards again for Madison's Feel the Love project (http://funkycards.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-feel-love-novemberdecember.html).  We have had a good time.  You might notice that the girls have improved their design skills and their cards are a bit more complicated today.  I hope they will continue to show improvement.  Our small school has no art program (typical of schools with so few students), so this is a chance to provide something they wouldn't get to experience otherwise.   

 The first card was made by Katie, using Create-a-Critter.  Katie really enjoyed turning her favorite animals into Santas!

 I did this one.  I tried paper piecing with a digi from A Day for Daisies.  I love their designs, always special.  I think I enjoy coloring more than paper piecing, but I do like the look...  The background paper is from Create with TLC.  I use Paulette's papers often.

Jesse made this card, also with Create-a-Critter.  She had become very independent at using the Cricut and even bought her own (original) to use after she graduates next year!

Thank you for visiting us.  I will try to get some other things posted that I've been working on.  I really haven't done much.  I broke my glasses (oops!) about 6 weeks ago and have been wearing an old pair.  My eyes are so tired at night that I just can't do much close work.  I really miss it!  Hopefully my new glasses will arrive in a day or two and I can get back to normal.  I can't even read my new book!

Have a great time preparing for your holidays.  I love this season!

SiskiyouSue

I Feel the Love Project

Today I have something a little different to share.  Two of the three cards below were made by students in my class.  One had never made a card before, the other bought the stickers herself to make the card.  Both girls were excited to have the opportunity to reach out and share with someone else.  

If you are not familiar with I Feel the Love you can read all about it at www.funkycards.blogspot.com.  The creator of the project is herself a high school student who should be commended for putting the project together and maintaining it while she is also completing high school classes.  That sounds like a big job to me!

My students plan to participate in I Feel the Love every month this year.  What a great way to gain small motor and art skills while having fun!

Maybe I'm overdoing it??

I'm sorry the pictures haven't been cropped.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong tonight, but I just couldn't save my cropped pictures.  Must be tired!  The "Eye of Newt" is from Dustin Pike, another source I love and the little wizard is from Bugaboo. 

Today was an awesome day.  I took one of my students, a high school senior to Great Falls, a much larger town, on a shopping trip.  It was such a joy to watch her operate as an adult in a non-school environment.  We had a great time together.  That's one of the wonderful things about my job.  Along with reading, writing, and math, I am responsible for teaching life skills.  I always say that I'm never bored because you can never tell what I might be doing tomorrow!  What a great way to finish out my career (in a few years, not yet).

No more Halloween cards so I want to say thank you to all you who have shared freebies and inspiration with everyone.  I can hardly wait to see what you all come up with for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Oh, by the way, we had SNOW today...

SiskiyouSue

Still Halloween!

One more card,this one made with graphics from Lettering Delights. I just couldn't resist it because I loved this song when I was (much) younger.  It still makes me laugh.  The background paper is digital, from Create with TLC's September Club.  Hope my friend will like it as much as I do!

Happy Halloween!

Hello fellow crafters and friends.  Hope you're having as much fun with Halloween as I have been!

This is one of those darling Bugaboo images.  I colored with pencils AND a black marker, and I paper pieced the cauldron.  Don't know why I used so many things, but I just couldn't make it look right otherwise...  I do love the background paper, from my scrap box.  The ribbon came from there also.  The sentiment is from Joy's Life Halloween puns.  Those are so great!  Thanks for looking!

Halloween Fun

This was so much fun to make!  I used lots of stickles, though they do not really show here.  If anybody has a tip on how to photograph them, please share!  Anyway, we don't have kids at home any more (my son has finally moved out...  maybe for good?  We're praying for him to find a job SOON!) but I really enjoy this holiday.  It's such a great excuse to pretend to be a little kid again, so I'm just having fun and hope you are too!

 

LINK UP FOR PINK

If you haven't already had your mammogram this year, this is your reminder!  Please get one as soon as you can.  They really do make a difference.

This sentiment came from a fantastic site:  Create with TLC.  If you haven't checked it out, you should! 

SiskiyouSue

I do not have anything to post today (have to confess that I mailed several things off without taking pictures)!  School has started and I haven't had a lot of crafting time.  Boy, have I missed it!  It has been a busy month in other ways, also, including a celebration of my 60th birthday.  I guess it was good to have a celebration because I had not realized how many friends I actually have!  It is almost overwhelming.  I am the luckiest woman I know.

The main reason I am posting right now is that I want to be sure everyone knows about the Link Up for Pink affair that begins Oct. 1.  Click the button on the right to find out more.  This is a cause that we can all support!  Hope to see you there!

SiskiyouSue