Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Presents


Presents
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Man o' man, it's only T-2 till Xmas. Can you believe it? It's super crazy that last time I was at Walgreens that they started to roll out the Valentine's day stuff. Seriously?! Let me enjoy Xmas to its fullest, then enjoy the after Xmas sale and the year-end clarence sales before Valentine's day happens. The retailers are hurting so much that they are constantly having sales, and they blur the lines of seasons for clothing, and now they practically did away w/ the clarence sales because they're at a constant sales state. It is as though they are speeding up time.

I remember what a mom used to tell me she'd do. She would buy the M&M candies in bulk, and keep the extras, then pick off the red ones for Valentines day and the green ones for St. Patrick day. While, I thought it's clever, I also thought, who would want chocolate that's 3 months old. And more importantly, who would have chocolate that lasts 3 months at their home, especially M&Ms. Everyone loves M&Ms, they are the first candy that goes, are you kidding me? That's crazy.

Anyway, I'm going to try to stamp some since I'm taking Xmas Eve off. I haven't taken that day off but like 2 times prior to this year. Mainly because it's a slow day, people thinks that we're closed so no one calls us. Then, on top of that, it's a 1/2 day for the stock market, yet work will consider that a full day if you take off. So, might as well save that day for a rainy... well, you know what I mean. BUT! I am taking off Xmas Eve and hope to get some crafting done. We'll see how much I actually get done.

Supplies:
Card and patterned paper by Joanns Essentials
Blue patterned paper by DCWV
Stamp by Cats Pajamas

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Cheers


Cheers
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Apologies for the fussy picture, but I was in a hurry to post this for you. That'll teach me!

Anyway, a girl can always use a drink during this crazy season. I was at the mall last night at 8:30p, it was pleasant not having to rush because the mall is about to close. They were all opened till at least 10p. One store is opened till midnight. Wow... I'd be in bed by then. I know it's partly on the economic downturn, blah, blah. On the other hand, it is truly a convenience for the procrastinators we all know and love. Lucky for them, there are people who are willing to accommodate.

It was funny because one of the clerk was like, stay with us, we'll give you a discount. I'm like, no thanks. I've been there. I worked the crazy holiday shift when I was in high school. The life-ers who actually does retail fulltime were very aggressive and competitive to open store credit accounts and get the next sales. Frankly, I just care that I get a discount and some spending money. Don't really care for commission... I do remember the horrendous sight of moms fighting over kids clothing, which inevitably made the display looks like Tazmainan Devil had passed thru it. I remember my dept manager was a super nice guy, good looking in a gentle way. Also thought how did a great guy like him ended up being a manager of childrens dept of a department store. ANYWAY, I digress.

So, as I was saying, a girl can use a drink during this crazy time. I made this card for a friend who mentioned that she never seen reindeer cards anywhere. You say what? Well, let me show you!

Supplies:
Card & glitter cardstock by DCWV
Stamp by All That Scrap

Monday, December 21, 2009

Classic Father Xmas


Classic Father Xmas
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
I just love the classic Father Christmas. I don't even know what or how I ended up w/ the rubon, but it was sitting in my pile that I call my craft room. Somehow the class look is just one of the nicest thing about Xmas you can always admire. Just like the Coke Classic Santa. As a matter of fact, you're just waiting for this Santa to pull out a bottle of Coke, and you know it.

Actually, come to think of it, I seem to like anything Classic/ Retro. Hmm...

Nothing interesting to report, just working away.

Supplies:
Card & Patterend Paper by Joann's Essential
Father Xmas Rub on

Friday, December 18, 2009

Wassailing


Wassailing
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Have you ever heard of people bring back the word 'Wassailing'? I heard it recently, and I've always thought that has something to do w/ drinknig Wassail. Wassail, the drink, it's nothing more than mulled spiced cider. I've always associated that as part of the English tradition, because when I go have high tea during the holiday months, I can always rely on those shops to get some decent wassail.

As opposed to Wassailing, the act of, that is really caroling. They did use to sing to the apple orchards so they will have good harvest the following year. And the Middle English, that's when they would go door-to-door and wish each other health, even people they are feuding with. So... that's a nice story to tell.

I did this because a co-worker in Atlanta and I were just talking about the Christmas Story. How they all went out to the Chinese place and the guys were singing Fra-ra-ra-ra. And doesn't matter what you're doing and what your knowledge or feeling about that movie, that scene just makes you laugh. So... thus the singing.

Supplies:
Card & Patterned paper by Joann's Essentials
Stamp by Paper Salon
Stickers by ???

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Getting ready


Getting ready
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
I just love this time of year, even though it was tremendously busy, I just love it... everyone seems to be in better mood even though you have tons to do.

This one is exactly that, you have little girls getting ready for setting up the tree and pulling presents together. I actually sent it to my friend and her 2 daughters. They're the cutest things ever!

I did 'frosted' the card with Liquid Applique. I have to say, I like liquid Applique way more than Snow Writer, even though I don't have to heat the Snow Writer. I saw at Michaels that there's a glitter snow writer, maybe that'll be better. But truly, you can tell that the Snow Writer is really for harder services than paper or cards.

In other news: I made VP at my work. This is a great honor and I've been working towards it for a few years now, so it's awesome to be on the other side. Yay me!

Supplies:
Card and patterned paper by Joann's Essentials
Ribbon by K&Co.
Stamps by Elyzbell

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

pretty deer


pretty deer
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Amid all the birthdays and the memorial service, I did make Xmas/Holiday cards. I've always tried to be very PC when it comes to stuff like that. I think what got me was my first year at my work where the guy I work closely with in NY is Jewish, and when I said Merry Christmas, he paused and responded Happy Holidays. Ooops... Now in my defense, even though I work closely w/ him and talk to him daily, I've never met the guy. Even now, I've been with the firm for 7 years, and I still haven't met him.

Anyway, so I tried to make pretty decent amount of Holiday cards to accommodate the non-Christian or agnostic friends. I suppose, I have to respect theirs as others expected them to respect ours. It's only fair.

Ok, this card: this stamp you've seen everywhere... everyone has it, it seems like. I have to admit, it is a very pretty design, and the prop is definitely well deserved. I've seen some very pretty scenes made w/ it, I've seen tags, and other ways to incorporate this image to the scene.

I just prefered it to be simipler way, just a stand alone, and though you can't see it, I did dotted the little flair w/ a glitter pen. It's makes it more 'magical' in a small way. Hopes whoever gets it sees it that way.

Supplies:
Card by Joann's Essentials
Patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket
Stamp by SU

Monday, December 14, 2009

We interrupt this program...

... for an important message.

L Letterpress (click here) is doing a giveaway.

Go there now and enter. Good luck!!!

Everyone knows...


Everyone knows...
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Amid all the Holiday hub-bub, there are a few bdays happening amongst my friends. My mom's was Thursday, a friend celebrated his 40th and another friend celebrated his 5Xth. We'll have couple more friends coming up...

I would say that I like celebrating bday as much as I like Christmas. Christmas has meanings in so many levels; I appreciate people's traditions, the religion traditions that I have personally, and just all around a great joyous thing. Birthdays on the other hand, it's special because it's celebrating the day that person (your friends or family members), it's your day; without which you wouldn't be there... ok, that was a tad exaggeration, but I always treasured that Bday is yours and yours alone (and however many billion of people who shares it), but it's special.

Anyway, this card my mom requested for her friend's bday. It said, Everyone Knows on the front, but the inside said, birthday cake calories don't count. Seems appropriate since both her and my mom are known for driving around town for food and shopping.

Supplies:
Cardstock by SU
Patterned paper by DCWV
word stamp by Stampendous
lady stamp by Crafty Secrets

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Sympathy & Friendship


Sympathy & Friendship
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
I had to do another sympathy card, this time is for a co-worker's dog. She doesn't have any children, so her pets are her kids. Don't worry, she's not one of those crazy lady with 100 cats or something. She has more like a zoo. She has couple of dogs, couple of cats, a parrot and something else.

It seemed silly to cry over a dog when our boss just passed away. But she has this dog since it was a pup, and this dog has been w/ them for 11 years. So, it's really family to her. She even said she felt awful crying so hard about her dog when our boss passed. I was telling her, it's not like she's closed to the boss, but she's definitely close to her dog, so that makes tons of sense.

The sad part is that there's another pup in that litter that she adopted and the surviving brother is always looking around the corner for his older brother. I think lucky for them they have short term memory, but I'm sure he still wonders.

I made this one for her, and there's a very nice saying also from Verve Visual, that said: Life is not measured by the breathe we take, but by the moments that takes our breathe away. I find that very appropriate for her and her loss.

Supplies:
Card by Michaels
Word stamps by My Sentiment Exactly
Flower stamp by Verve Visual

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Prayer card


Prayer card
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Well, I hate to blog about a Sympathy card because that usually means something bad happened to someone and their family. It's a very emotionally charged event.

This time is my boss' passing. He's been diagnosed w/ brain cancer July 4th of last year. He's been ill for 16 months. Even then, he's outlived the statistic of 6 months. The whole thing is very scary and very sad. The illness grew so quickly that you really see him deterioate before your eyes. He had gone from not being able to move his left side of his body, to a wheelchair, to essentially dead weight, to losing his sight, and losing control to even open his eyelids. That said, his mind was sharp till the very end. We've visited him and while he would repeat himself here and there, he still was quick to return wits. I think what kept him going for so long was because of his positive energy. That's what the people he led needed, that's what his family needed, and that's what he needed.

He finally lost his battle after Thanksgiving. We went to his Memorial Service this past Saturday. The service was upbeat, but that's very true to his characteristics. The tributing words from his friends were also very candid and very him. The place was packed, and you realized not only is he influential in the city, because most of the guests were the Who's Who of Houston Businessmen, but also he had touched alot of people's lives. There were some standing room only.

I made the card and sent it to his family because I knew I wouldn't be at their house to pay my respect to the family. First of all, I'm terrible at situations like that. Second of all, I never know what to say. So, a card seems very appropriate.

Supplies:
Cardstock by SU
Background stamp by Martha Stewart
Cross & word stamps by Verve Visual

Friday, December 4, 2009


This is one last project we did at the SU Demo's home.

It's a DSP folder transformed into a legal pad holder.

The whole process was very nifty, and I have to give props to the ladies who are clever enough to come up with it.

Basically, you open up the folder, re-fold the lines and then tape down the bottom, insert the legal pad, and put a velcro, and voila. I know, that's not helping you with squat, but here's an instructions I found -> Click here.

I know there's another one out there that has a step-by-step photo on there, but will keep searching for ya.

Otherwise, it's snowing down here in Houston. That doesn't happen very often. Last year they snowed outside of Houston, and people were alarmed. This time, it snowed and I do mean snowed downtown. It hasn't stuck on the streets, but snowcapped several buildings. So, it's a sight to see. Of course, the city is shut down because people don't know how to handle this type of weather down here. Last time it snowed like this was about 6 years ago and it lasted for couple of hours. This time lasted almost all day... so that'll be interesting.

Supplies:
All by SU

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Goodie pouch


Goodie pouch
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Well, this week is slowly going back to the 'normal' mode. People stop asking about how Thanksgiving was, instead the topic of conversation around the office has been Xmas presents and Tiger Woods. Oy!

So, this is a neat little pouch that you make with 2 die cut tags. You fold the tags and the form the bottom when you glue the 2 bottom parts together. What I love about it is that it is easy to make and I can just get a bunch of tags done at one time. My favorite part is that you can put a candy in the middle. Perfect for a little gifty for students and what nots. Quick & easy!

Gotta keep it short today... got some stuff to catch up on...

Supplies:
All by SU