Gnome is Where the Heart Is.

Challenges:

• Fusion Card Challenge - I used the sketch (rotated), not the photo inspiration. I decided to try the spot-lighting technique for the partial circle element. 

Products:

• Stamps: Stamping Bella: gnome in house; Unity: outside sentiment & inside gnome;  MorningStar: inside sentiment

Here's a look at the inside:

I'll be sending these (I made 4) to a few relatives that recently moved. 

That's all folks. Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look. Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

at Home - Get well Soon

By now you've heard of, and been impacted by the Coronavirus.  I live in Suffolk County NY - one of the areas that have been hit somewhat hard.  Like many of you, we have voluntarily (or involuntarily) limiting our outside exposures.  

So I created this art journal page to reflect today's life.  I don't think too much explanation is needed as to my meaning.  Stamping and creating and journaling are helping me to stay sane.  I can't say I'm always smiling.  But I try.

Here are some close ups so you can read my journaling. 

And if you'd like to read more of my thoughts, check out yesterday's blog post - here is a snapshot:

This is going into the following challenges:

Stamplorations March Stencil Challenge

Happy Little Stampers -

 

Creative Artiste Challenge Blog  

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- Stencil Fun

Products used:

Stencils: Tim Holtz (sun rays & cobblestone), TCW (bricks), Hero Arts ? (clouds)
Stamps: Paper Smooches (virus), Dylusions (house: I inked the 4 corners, then extended the house), Inky Antics (stamping girl), Technique Tuesday (HOME)
Dies:  Lawn Fawn (virus), ??  Get well soon sentiment
Other products used:  acrylic painted background

Thanks for looking.  
Until next time.  Stay well!

at HOME

No card or journal page . . . yet.  I am working on a journal page.   This edition of my blog is just about the last week and life.

The Vessel -- NYC 3-11-20

We went to Manhattan last Wednesday via LIRR to see a matinee performance of Come From Away (great musical, by the way).  Then continued to walk around NYC and saw the Vessel.  You can actually get tickets (free or $10) to walk or take elevator up and down this structure.  Really cool.  Hopefully the world will return to normal and people will get to enjoy this.  

Closures due to Covid 19 were not a thing in this area . . . Yet!  It was starting to become "a thing" but social distancing was  barely being suggested.  And groups were not yet limited.  I was nervous sitting in the theater -- we wiped down our seats, and the seats around us.  Didn't touch handrails.  And everyone in the bathrooms were thoroughly washing their hands.  

Then the world as I knew it began to change.  All NYC plays were suspended starting on Thursday 3-12-20.   We got to see one of the last plays for this time.  

Thursday 3-12-20- We needed to go to Costco to pick up my new eyeglasses. And figured we'd pick up a few things.  Wrong

I'm sure you've had your experiences with this.

Today, Wednesday 3-18-2020 

These are weird times.  I just read this post by Cat Luvs Paper.  She starts by sharing her thoughts on the world we are living in at this time.

• coronavirus pandemic
• social distancing
• shelter in place (this is also a type of drill in schools in the US)
• restaurants, bars, gyms, and now stores closed - 
• news consumed with COVID19

Just like Cat, I love to stay home.  Usually.  My husband and I retired in June from teaching careers.  So home, with a relaxed schedule, is what we are slowly getting used to.

But to be told (or suggested) that I can't / shouldn't go out can be anxiety-provoking - at least for me.  

Not there is any place we could really go anyway -- movies are closed.  Some stores and malls are closed 

Do I really need more craft supplies ?!?  🤪🤪    Did you see that Hero Arts is temporarily closed? 😞See their note HERE.

Our local grocery store has hours for seniors (6 -7:30 AM ).  Nice.  But, ummm, I'm retired.  I've gotten used to sleeping until 7 am!!  :).  😃.  Oh well, we'll adapt to this too I'm sure.  

I wonder what groceries will be available.  The stories we hear - one friend's son works in the deli department of a local grocery store - He says there are few cold cuts (deli meat and cheese) available.  Little regular meat, eggs, milk, bread, etc.  I tried to do an online order, but none was available through March 30 - they didn't offer anything after that.

Soon we'll be low on supplies and will have to venture out for ourselves and see.  Plus we shop for my hubby's almost 90 year old mother.  

10 AM - just came back from my walk with my very good friend and neighbor, Virginia and her hubby Bob.   

 Here's our new walking distance:

Luckily we live in a nice residential area with little traffic, so we can stay away from each other, and still talk up a storm.  Virginia and I can see each other every day, and still have lots to talk about!!

I'll leave you for now.  It's a bright sunny, getting warmer day.  My garden could use a bit of a refresher from the winter.  I also need to uncover my carnivorous plants and see how they made out through the winter.  

I'll leave with you this little cartoon.  Hopefully it makes you smile.  Be safe.  Stay healthy.  Thanks for taking a look. 

TheAkwardYeti

Chester's Home sweet Home

When my son and daughter-in-law bought their first house this year, I wimped out in the card department -- and gave them one from my stash.  It has weighed a bit on me that I did not create a just-for-them creation.  So I've been trying to think of what to do.  

Here is my thought process:  the outside of the house is made of brick painted an off-white.  So I created the brick panel with a stencil -- first stamped the Home sweet Home onto the stencil.  Then I used translucent embossing paste.  This gave a really nice texture while letting the words show through.  Next distress ink filled in the "cement" area.   So I made a whole panel of that and then  . . . . time went by again.. . .. 

what to do with this brick wall???  Until I found this dog-on-a-charir stamp (in my stash)--- a NBUS stamp, I think from Whipper Snapper.   

And I knew I had to create it into Chester on his favorite chair.  So again I looked through my stash, and found this pattern paper.  I colored Chester with copic markers; and cut him out and put him onto the paper-pieced chair. I flocked his ear -- so cool.

I am using this sketch from Deconstructing Jen

And this week at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog - it is Anything Goes,

Perfect card for them -- One of a Kind!

Work has kept me very busy -- my crafting time comes in just minutes here and there.  So I've not done much card-making (which makes me sad), but I am also not buying as much (which makes me a bit happy).

As always, thanks for looking.