FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

UPDATE:  The Plum Passion button set has been sold.


Did you see it???

For a few weeks I've been hinting at new products to be arriving in my store and they have finally started to be listed...polymer clay buttons!!

I have been having so much fun playing with the polymer clay! I've got tons more to list and card and right now these are selling for $1.00/set. SUPER cheap but I'm still learning so I don't feel right charging more. Besides, this is a creative outlet for me, not a money maker.

I am still struggling with finding good ways to photograph my products, and this is especially difficult with buttons. Hard to get the proper coloring of them in the photos.

So far this has to be one of my favorite techniques, the stripes and what better than to do the colors of my favorite ice cream, neopolitan! You can see more pictures and purchase these buttons here: Neopolitan Buttons.

And here's the Plum Passion button set. The silver clay is sparkly and looks gorgeous in person! This also is one of my favorite techniques, laying the silver criss-cross strips over the plum clay to create these patterned buttons! I imagine you'll see more of this style in the future.

There are more button sets listed and more to come! Enjoy!

USE YOUR STASH - Border Strips. Rub Ons and Patterned Papers

This layout once again combines many old items - patterned papers from Daisy D's and Prima, old rub ons from Tinkering Ink and a border strip from Crate Paper, all of which are at least a couple years old I believe. The "lamb" is Pink Paislee letter stickers, last year's release, and the cardstock is Bazzill.

See those circles? I used the Heidi Swapp mega circle mask and Ranger Distress Ink to create them. I outlined each with a black marker and then added rub ons before removing the mask. A cool effect don't you think?

Hard to believe that this picture is over 10 years old as well. *sniff, sniff*

Title: Little Lamb

I hope this inspires you to get out your old supplies and use your stash!

SATURDAY SURVEY! - How often do you wash your sheets?

             

FRIDAY FAVES - Folded Paper

This post on Design*Sponge is so beautiful to look at. Who knew folded paper could be such stunning artwork? Artist Francisca Prieto is a master. Check out the full blog post here. You won't want to leave...unless it's to go fold your own masterpiece. ;o)

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Seriously? and a Makeup Survey

Seriously? It has been THREE weeks since my last Thursday Thoughts??? I really can't believe that. The days just fly by don't they??

This week has been very interesting to watch my kids grow and develop.

My son saw me wearing a 3/4 sleeve shirt the other day and looks at me and says, "Mom, that shirt is too small on you!" This is so ironic coming from someone who wears pants 2" too short, holes in the knees and takes a shower without using shampoo in his hair. *sigh* Anyway, I thought it was especially cute to hear the same words we have been saying to him repeated back like that!

Then I made some sugar cookies the other day and when he had one he looks at me and says "Mmmm...is that little bits of lemon peel in there?" with surprise and delight in his voice. I laugh and say "yes, there is lemon zest in the cookies" and wonder whether he will develop an interest in cooking one day. I mean how many 8 year old boys would notice that??

And finally, my preteen daughter who is obsessed with the Twilight books and movie, thinks that Justin Bieber is "sooo cute" and has about 20 posters all over her walls. It is such a delight to experience this with her, and then we have the big period talk last night. She has many questions: will it hurt? will it be a lot? what happens if I get it at school? I answer each question she has and encourage her to keep asking me any questions she has. So far we've been able to maintain that openness with one another and I hope it stays that way.

Since we were having such a grown-up talk I took the opportunity to warn her about some things that might occur in middle school, such as peer pressure, boyfriends, drugs, kissing and even suddenly not being friends with someone who you've called a good friend in the past. I try to prepare her for things that I've had to face in the past and hope she doesn't end up making the same mistakes I did, yet knowing she surely will make many. At this point she has good morals and good friends and a good head on her shoulders. One day though, I know I will find a full-blown teenager on my hands. I don't feel old enough to be a parent to a teenager.

Hubby and I just watched "Couples Retreat" with Vince Vaughn. I felt oddly sad after watching it because many of the issues that the couples faced were issues that we too face or have faced in the past. I would say of the four couples we are most similar to Vince Vaughn's relationship. If you've seen the movie, what couple could you relate to?

I recently splurged on some new makeup from Smashbox and I'm really loving it. Each spring I get the urge to purchase new makeup and have a new look, but this is the first time I've gone with such high quality purchases and so much $ spent at one time. I am adoring the blush and lip glosses especially and got a free sample of their mascara--Lash DNA--which I am totally in love with and plan to purchase a full sized tube once this sample runs out. The most expensive of my purchases was a new makeup brush. I need most of them so I will need to space that out.

I also tend to keep my makeup FOREVER. I have so much that I never use and really, none of it is high quality so what's the point in keeping it? I am thinking about starting fresh with this new collection and getting rid of the rest. Perhaps changing my makeup look twice a year and sticking to what I buy would be a better method. If I purchase higher quality products I may be happier with them day in and day out.

So, here's some questions for you...

1. What is your favorite brand of makeup?
2. Do you use "professional" brushes? If so which ones do you recommend?
3. How often do you purge your makeup?
   

Until next week...

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

UPDATE: The For You card has been sold.

Here are a couple more cards that were listed in my shop. To see them in more detail or to purchase, please click on the links below.

For You Card:

Thank You Very Much Card

USE YOUR STASH - Ribbons, Patterned Paper & Chipboard Alphas

A lot of this paper came from a recent Studio Calico kit, but I had nothing but pieces of it left and I didn't want them to go to waste, so I literally "pieced" some of this together. If you look closely you might be able to see that the pink is actually cut in the middle so I could make my piece fit my layout. I knew that I'd be covering most of it with photos so the seam is ok with me.

By the way, this is the first ever layout I created without having pictures in mind for it. I just found a layout design that I liked that would use up the paper scraps that I had left and later went and found the pics for it. It was surprisingly easy!!

Title: Love Bugs & Hugs

FRIDAY FAVES - Love Struck with Cindy Liebel

I love every little bit about this layout....I guess you could say I am "love struck." This layout was featured on the Making Memories blog a few weeks ago created by Cindy Liebel. You can check out her blog here.

These colors and all of the little details...just heaven for my eyes. :o)

STUDIO CALICO GOODNESS - Quilting Bee

Here are a couple of creations from the latest Studio Calico kit - Quilting Bee. I don't know why but I'm having a very hard time with this kit. Although the layouts came together pretty easily, I am just not feeling them.

I do know that banner stickers are just not my thing. Anyone want the leftover JB banner stickers? Leave me a comment and they are yours!

Title: Four Wheelin Fun

Title: Hi-Ya!

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

Update: SORRY...Truly Madly Deeply has been sold.

A couple new additions to the shop. Please click the link for more details or to purchase.

Sweet 16
Truly Madly Deeply
I've also been experimenting with how I photograph the cards. Do you have any preferences?

USE YOUR STASH - Paper Scraps

This layout uses up some paper scraps from some of the past Studio Calico kits. Orchestra is the main kit I used here. As you can see I utilized several smaller strips of paper in the background, two different patterned papers and a strip of cardstock that was punched with the Fiskars Apron Lace punch. I also tucked in a small cut out swirl at top of the photo.

Title: You Are My Sunshine

The blue/cream patterned paper was actually about a 2" x 4" strip that I had left over. I used my Cricut and Storybook cartridge to create this flower image that I thought would be close enough to a snowflake design for this page. The black cardstock behind it was also from my paper scraps. Also old here are the cardstock flowers, which I believe might have been from KI Memories.
This is a picture taken in 2007. One of my favorites. :o)

FRIDAY FAVES - Piggy Tales

Piggy Tales has been around for several years now and I've never really been fond of it until this latest release. Check out Thumbelina. I love those birds and mushrooms and the lovely full sized sticker sheet. This collection isn't available for purchase yet but I think I'll pick some up once it is.

What do you think? Like or no?

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

Here's a gorgeous kit I posted in my shop - Vintage Findings. You can view it in more detail and purchase by clicking on this link.

USE YOUR STASH - Thickers Accents, Alpha Stickers

This layout uses leftovers from the Studio Calico February kit, Baker's Dozen. I adore this kit! I also added some old, old, old vinyl Thicker accents...see those yellow swirls on the right? And some dots on the lower left? I also used some very old alpha stickers from Creative Imaginations for the title. Mixing old with new is a great way to use your older suplies while still keeping things looking fresh.

Title: 11th Birthday

Also notice a couple of digital elements I added to this layout: stitching on the bottom two photos:
And a glitter frame border on the focal photo.
Both of these digital elements came from a freebie kit. It's how I get all of my digi elements. I can tell you the designers if you wish, just let me know. I don't recall right now.

FRIDAY FAVES - Washi Tape

I adore this Washi tape available here from Tinted Mint. The colors alone make my heart happy, but imagine all of the craft possibilities with these! Or just pretty gift wrapping. I'd love to have some sitting on my desk.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Just Dance

I am sorry I didn't get a Wednesday Words post out yesterday as promised. I had a tough week dealing with depression and then illness.

Sunday I really wanted to just pull the covers over my head and let the world pass me by. I felt so desolate. It is one of the most insidious evils of depression, because it feels like no one cares, even though I've learned they have no clue unless you tell them how you are feeling. I often wonder how it can feel as if your heart is literally being squeezed and stabbed to death and your breath is failing and no one can see it? The pain one can feel inside is just dreadful. And tiring. I started wondering if that was how my sister felt as she took her own life. Did she just get too tired to fight it again and again? Because I have to say dealing with depression is a lifelong battle and even when you are feeling well it can sneak up on you.

I did force myself out of bed to take a shower. I sat in the shower and let the water sprinkle over me as I prayed to God for his grace to fill me up because I didn't know what else to do. It is fortunate that we had company coming and it forced me to get moving. In all honesty, I was feeling ill as well I just didn't know why at that time, but this all turned into a full blown nasty cold later on in the day.

Anyway, my MIL and GMIL came up for lunch with us. We went to the Outback Steakhouse - one of my fave restaurants because I LOVE their Bloomin Onions..yum, yum! I also had a couple of yummy sangrias, prime rib and a baked potato. I felt much better as time went by and even came to enjoy myself in the afternoon with some conversation and a game of Scrabble before our company left.

I was also thrilled to receive a couple of emails on Sunday from friends who I haven't heard from in a long time. I began to feel less alone and more in God's grace in all things. I have to trust that things happen as they are supposed to - even if they are hard or even unimaginable. I also had to praise myself for keeping going and telling myself that things will get better. In this case it only took a few hours until my mood started lifting.

So, no Wednesday Words this week but I have been busy getting on with things as my cold started to fade. I have been working on new creations for my shop...something you haven't seen me create before! Don't worry...I'll show you soon! and catching up on my reading. Right now Richard Bachman's Blaze...sa-weet read. I'm totally getting back into Steven King these days and found out that his son, Joe Hill, wrote Heart Shaped Box, another book that I loved and now just released Horns which I can't wait to get my hands on. I predict Joe to be even more successful than his dad. Quite a prediction, huh?

Work continues to be busy but I am handling it all well and keeping my eyes focused on the quieter days ahead...I know they are there somewhere...and luckily a lot of my super pressing issues haven't been so pressing this past week.

One other find this week is a new Wii game, Just Dance. I am linking a video here...hope it works...of my kids dancing to it. You will never see me dance, because you would not be able to catch your breath you'd be laughing so hard. Honest. But my kids are fun to laugh at cuz' they are super cute. Enjoy!


Now off to watch Project Runway...toodles!

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

Here are a couple of recent additions to the shop. You can click on the title of each card to check them out in greater detail.

A Little Birdie Told Me ... Adoption:

Thinking of You: