Wake me up, before you go go

I've just nearly finished off a 22oz Rockstar (energyyyyy!)

Newest stamps:


Cards (mostly made with hand-carved stamps):



ATCs, again with hand-carved stamps:



(You can see larger versions of these at my Flickr.

And, finally, I tested out some inks on fabric. I heat set them with my heat gun, and then I hand-washed them in cold water with baby shampoo.

StazOn bled badly. VersaFine was light, but printed clearly, and washed well. VersaCraft washed out, but printed clearly (they click to bigger).
This is before washing:

After washing:

I'll Turn This Car Around!

I have some issues with this new hands-free cellphone law. For those of you that are unaware, a law stating that motorists must use a hands-free device to talk on a cellphone went into effect today. Other states that have imposed the hands-free law are: New York, New Jersey, Washington, & Connecticut.

This law is supposed to cut down on accidents caused by people being distracted by the phone.

My issues:
This doesn't mean that people won't be talking on the phone. It only means they will not have a phone in their hand while they are doing it. It is not illegal to drive while smoking, drinking a soda, eating a taco, or applying lipstick. All of these things involve holding something in one hand.

It is not illegal to drive with screaming children in the backseat. Okay, yeah, I know, they can't outlaw the transportation of children (dammit), but you'd be hard-pressed to find a parent that didn't agree that having screaming fighting children in your backseat is immensely distracting. especially when you start waving your hand behind you, trying to reach the fallen toy, the spilled crackers, or the screaming mouths ;)

It is not illegal to text message while driving! Join me now in a collective, "WTF?!" Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington have outlawed text messaging by drivers. How is talking to someone MORE dangerous than typing on a keypad to them, and/or reading? There's a reason cars come with Map Lights. It's dangerous to drive while reading. It can be somewhat dangerous to drive while unable to hear over a sound, but I assure you, my cell is no louder than my stereo, and my stereo falls well within legal limits on noise.

There are actually police that are admitting that this new law is a good thing because it gives them one more reason to stop a car. Did I miss something? I thought we were trying to make the state a safer place to pollute commute?

You can read more surprising crap here: L.A. Times article

You remind me of the babe

I've been inexplicably tired, and as such, irritable, lately. It's really pissing me off, tbh. I don't like having a short fuse *sigh*

Today, I took the kids to McD's for lunch, after they did all of their daytime chores. We came home, and they did their workbooks (I keep schoolwork around in the summers, so they don't get all dumbified between school years). We made melt & pour soap. Ash choose a heart shaped mold, with purple lemon-scented soap. Isaac picked a rocking fleur de lis mold, with green pear-scented soap. [Pics coming in next post] after making soap, I set them up on the easel with some poster paints.

By the time they were done painting, I was done with the arguing, whining, and constant tattling. I sent them to play in their (newly cleaned) bedroom. They played for about half an hour. And then it happened. The funniest thing I have heard in a loooong time.

Out of the mouths of children:
Isaac: "Oh no! Oh, oh! Help! Omigosh, heeeeeelp!"
Ash: Oh no! What's happening to you?!"
Isaac: "All my parts are falling off! I'm breaking!"
Ash: "Oh no you aren't! I'm the robot repair girl, and no robot has ever lost all it's parts in MY office!"
Isaac: "There goes another one! I'm done for!"
Ash: "Hold on, I think I have an idea!"
Isaac: "But my warranty just expired! I'm falling apart! I'm a goner!"
Ash: "Oh, well, you might as well kiss your own butt."

Made my day, and all the bickering worthwhile ;)

Class of 2020

My baby girl graduated Kindergarten today. A bittersweet moment, for sure.

For da birds

I've developed quite a fondness for birds lately. We have some of the most beautiful birds in our backyard. I haven't been able to photograph any of them, because, well, they don't want to come very close to the cats balcony. So, I've been seeking out birdy images, until I can set up the bird feeder this weekend.


My desktop:




Some cards I've made, with hand-carved stamps I've made:

Flight of the Busy Bee

Pictures are always great.


Matchbox with Mini ATCs. Theme was butterfly/dragonfly. Swapped.


May Carving. Someone is asking to buy one of my owl stamps...I haven't decided whether or not I want to do that, though.


A handful of ATCs I've created over the past couple weeks.

By any other name...

Awesome fun little doodad over HERE! This will spell your name out with photos from Flickr




I read somewhere online today that in typography, it is not necessary to put 2 spaces after a period. I'm not sure I like knowing that.