How Old Would You Be...

you didn't know how old you are? Satchel Page. That's what the words in the background say. (Stamp by Penny Black)

I finally finished this card whose components have been sitting on my desk for a week or so.

I'm still organizing. Is it just me or is organizing never ending?

Here is the second card I did. I was just about to put this card together when I realized the purple card needed a background design. I love that these DesignBlock stamps totally fill an A2 size card because it only took me a few second to add this image to the card.

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The images are digital downloads (Sarah Kay) colored with Prismacolor pencils.

Busy, but productive week. I'm taking classes at the Apple Store. I just haven't taken the time to really figure out how to use my computer beyond basic stuff. You can't tell this ( I don't think) but this is the first post I've done totally on the mac. Until today, I was uploading the photos on the PC because I didn't know how to edit the photos on here. A small victory that no one would notice if I didn't tell them :)

My oldest daughter has been here from MI just for the week. She's in between Spring and Summer sessions at college. She'll be back sometime in June for the rest of the summer.

Daughter number 2 moved back home for the summer today. The third one is knee deep in Spring musical practices( and shopping for the performance). Needless to say, we've been busy. We're always busy, but I was very productive this week too. Besides watching movies (Monday and Tuesday) with my girl ( our favorite thing to do) I spent a lot of time on the computer. I managed to get my Flicker account organized and tagged with cards I'd like to sell. I'm tagging them as I actually have my hands on them and I know exactly where they are.

Wednesday, I went back to the dermatologist. I hadn't been in 6 or 8 weeks. You know, it doesn't matter how many times I've had it done, having tiny little needles injected into my face is something I'll never get used to.

I've been to malls more times this week than I normally go in a month. Almost everybody has new sneakers and upgraded cell phones.

Speaking of digital images and coloring, did I mention that I've done a lot of coloring too? ( I color while I watch movies.)

Hambo Stamps has begun offering digital images in this Etsy store. It's actually pretty exciting if you're a fan of Tim's artwork. He's created images that they weren't going to use for stamps for various reasons. Some are backgrounds that go with the stamp images already available. Follow this link to the Talk to the Ham blog where you'll be able to read what they say about the images and get a free digital download. I'm working on a card with the Cool Cat( the free image). I'm not saying when I'll post it and I'm not even going to think it too loud near the computer--because that automatically means it won't happen, but just know that a Cool Cat card or two is coming.

This particular one, Cupcake Rain, is not a card yet. As soon as I find it, it will become a card. :)

I guess I'll go to bed now. I hope your weekend is blessed! I'm feeling pretty content right now. The Lord had reminded me over and over again of how blessed I am this week.

It's May 1st and I will be updating the prayer post tomorrow. Please email me if you have a request.

Choosing JOY!!! Jacki. :)

I am Somebody!

If you're old like me, you might remember that "I am Somebody", was one of Jesse Jackson's civil rights slogans in the early 70's. There was a poem too. You can google it if you want to read it. I don't mean to take away from his cause which meant to empower, but I've noticed that I've been borrowing his phrase a lot. In my case, it's not an empowering phrase, instead it's more like a resignation.

Let me give you an example. You know what it feels like when you walk into the kitchen and you can't help but be amazed at the mess that "Not Me" and company have left behind. You think(or say) to yourself, "Somebody needs to clean up this mess!" Or as you walk down the hardwood steps and all the dog hair arrives at the bottom before you do. You know you just spent the afternoon yesterday sweeping said steps, you might think to yourself "I wish somebody would sweep these steps this afternoon." Just this morning, I told Dawn that " "Somebody needs to clean this basement."

Other times I've said things like;

"Somebody needs to put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher and not in the sink"

"Somebody needs to fold these clothes!"

"Somebody needs to take the dog out!"

"Somebody needs to wash out this tub."

Oh, and my favorite, "I wish somebody would follow me around and clean up the mess I make in the Card Castle"

While I'm waiting for Somebody to show up, I assign jobs to the kids who live here. They do that assigned job-- good enough-- but not as good as if Somebody where here would do it. Maybe my standards are too high, or more likely their standards are too low, but I'm never satisfied.

So, do you think it's time I've resigned myself to the fact that I am Somebody?

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Here is what has kept me busy for the last week or so. This is my desk area just before I finished stamping 250 wedding programs. (I'll show you the actual design after the wedding is over out of respect for the bride and her family.) It wasn't as bad as it sounds. I only stamped one image on the cover of each program. Dawn came by to help me by rounding the corners and punching holes for the ribbon. The ribbon is in transit as we speak, on schedule to be delivered tomorrow. Then I'll pop in a movie or two, or three and sit down and put the ribbon in all of them before I ship them out.

Another thing I did this week was orchestrate a Flower Soft share. There are many samples in the galleries over at SplitCoastStampers if you want to see how it's used. I can't wait to play with it, I just haven't had time just yet.

Anyway, think glitter or flocking, only it's dimensional and can look like tiny flowers. It comes in several -(like 25+) colors and mixes and each jar probably has enough to last several lifetimes. I gathered a group of interested ladies and we each chipped in enough to purchase two jars. I split contents of the jars
into 1/4 so that we could have 8 different colors. Sounds like fun, right?

It was, but the actual dividing and bagging took a few hours, maybe. I didn't keep track of time. I do know that I made it thru a couple of movies while I did it.

I thought it was really cool that it was so compressed into the jar that it stayed together when I dumped it out on my tray so I took a picture.

Once I got them all bagged up, I decided to take a picture of the colorful pile. All in all it was a very rewarding experience. I can't wait to play with the Flower Soft.

I had a card ready to show you, but I think I've decided that I don't like it. I may change my mind about it, and then again, I may post it anyway.

Either way, I'll be back sooner than later with something!

Be blessed and choose JOY! And before you forget, leave me a comment with something you think Somebody should be doing.:)