Hello again from sunny (NOT) Montana.  We have about half an inch of snow on the ground again, another spring storm.  Our senior class planned to take their senior trip (in my day called a "sneak day") last Thursday.  They headed north into Canada to spend the day at the mall in Edmonton, about an 8 hour trip (each way).  The storm was so bad that they only made it a couple of hours before they had to turn around because of the icy roads.  Talk about a bunch of unhappy kids!  Hope the school board will let them try again.

Meanwhile, I've been having lots of fun making cards.  Here are a few...

The first card, colored with pencils, is made with the ballerinas from A Day For Daisies.  I think I'll use them a lot.  The actual card is made with 2-sided paper and the front is cut in a scallop so that the ballerinas overlap the inside paper.  It has a simple sentiment inside.

The second card, also colored with pencils, is less than the best... I really wish I had made it less square.  There is way too much blank space on the left side.  All in all I'd have to say that I need to try this again, because I am not satisfied with it this way.

This last card is a one layer digital I made for my hubby's birthday.  I arranged 3 digital papers, a digital sentiment (just with it had been a .png, not a .jpeg) and the Bugaboo cowboy the way I wanted them.  After printing, I colored the cowboy with markers, added twine for his lariat and three tiny copper brads.  For his 65th birthday I think it made a good statement!

Hope this finds you enjoying better weather and enjoying life.  Happy SPRING to everyone and thanks for looking.

SiskiyouSue

 Hello, hope you are enjoying lovely weather, not too hot, not too rainy.  Looks like most of the country is one or the other!  I am very late in posting this card, and I'm not very happy with the color, or lack of it in the picture.  This card was made for the CDAC freebies challenge #13, but I may be too late in getting it posted, sorry to say.

Both the girl and the flower were among the freebies provided for the challenge.  I think they look very "spring-y" together, and in person the pinks and greens are very pretty.  The three papers are Bazzill Basics Brights (5x7n pack), Deja Views "Little Ones," and a Martha Stewart mat pad.  They all make me think of Spring!

I have been away for a week, attending a special education conference in Seattle, which means that I spent most of another week getting ready to go, lesson plans and so forth at work.  I hope to be back to normal starting tomorrow, since things seem to be pretty much okay again.

Thanks for looking!
SiskiyouSue

Passing the Torch

Hello again.  I've really been getting a lot done lately.  Wish I could be this productive all the time!  This is a digi from A Day for Daisies that was another freebie for the CDAC Challenge #12.  Honestly, this is so much fun!  I love seeing what everyone does with the digis that are provided.  There is so much variety and so much talent out there!  It's overwhelming.  So here's my take on the challenge:

I am very pleased with the coloring.  I had in mind that crisp fabric that is somewhat irridescent but wanted to capture it in colored pencil without stickles or other embellishments to give it that sheen.  I really like the way it moves from one color to the next and back.  Anyway, I had a LOT of fun with this card.  I just happened to have the flourish and green roses in my stash, how perfect! 

I am also entering this card in the challenge at Always Crafting.

Have a great day!
SiskiyouSue

Hello again.  I'm really excited about the card I'm showing off today.  I don't do flowery very often, so that was the first challenge here.  It's a gatefold that I cut on my Silhouette, intended to be a standard center fold, but I turned and folded it so that it would open as a surprise onto a center panel.

This is an anniversary card that I made after the first lesson in a class called Silhouette 101 from My Creative Classroom.  This was the first time that I typed out my caption, changed the size and font and then welded it.  I did make a shadow but decided not to use it. 

This beautiful paper is from a DCWV 12x12 stack that I picked up at Ross Dress for Less for about five dollars.  You really can't lose at that price. 

Now, when i gave this card to my friends yesterday, I told them that the outside was for her, but the inside was for him... 

Stella and Gus are from Bugaboo and the sentiment came with them.  When you've been married as long as we all have a sense of humor about marriage is mandatory.  The pretty paper here is a free digi from Create with TLC.  I actually printed Stella, Gus, and the sentiment right on the paper, then colored them.  First time I've done it right this, but I think I'll be doing it again.  It really makes a difference in the bulkiness and weight of the card.  Much easier to mail this way...

I'm sorry my pictures are blurry.  Can't decide whether it's the camera or the photographer (me).  I really do not see well, so I'm betting on me!

Have a great day,
SiskiyouSue

What Little Boys Are Made Of

I have a card for you today using a digi provided by Fred She Said for the CDAC Progressive Challenges.  If you haven't checked them out, you should.  Easy to join and participate in, and the digis are fantastic.  This is the first of the cards I have made for this round of the challenge, will post the second in a couple of days.

Isn't he darling?  Who could resist a smile like that!  I used colored pencils to color him. The kite is a wooden pre-painted shape from Michael's.  The designer paper is a scrap from my stash, I'm sorry I don't remember who it's from.  The slider (strung on a waste piece of cardstock) was part of a great package I received for Christmas, all sorts of embellishments from the dollar store!  That was probably the most fun of the gifts I received at Christmas.

Hope you're enjoying a lovely day, and maybe even a hint of Spring?  I need to know that there is green out there slowly creeping our way!

SiskiyouSue

 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