FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

A couple of new cards for you this week.

More photos and details of this Happy Birthday card can be found here.

And my SMILE card can be viewed or purchased here.

Both cards have my handmade polymer clay buttons on them and on my Happy Birthday card, a new item that is being listed in my shop...delicate die cut butterflies that were hand stamped and punched. 

USE YOUR STASH - Buttons

Need I explain this one?  We got a package of buttons in our Studio Calico kit last month and I found great ways to use them.  Sorry the scan of this is not great and colors not as vibrant, but it was very lumpy with all the buttons.  :o)

Title:  Show Off

FRIDAY FAVES - Space

I have no explanation why but I have never been a space follower.  However, the Hubble Telescope turned 20 back in April and I came across some gorgeous photos of space and I was awestruck.  Does it really look like that?  All of those colors are so beautiful!  It looks like something from my imagination.  Definitely worth celebrating and sharing.  Enjoy!

Make sure you check out the full photo gallery here.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Father's Day and Eminem

HAPPINESS - We spent this past weekend celebrating our fathers.  We stayed with Hubby's dad overnight, went out for Chinese (actually WALKED to the restaurant...I really love small towns!) and then watched Matilda and A Fish Called Wanda.  My daughter and I snuggled up under a quilt in a recliner while eating a huge bowl of yummy popcorn. Bliss!

The next morning I woke up at 5:30 AM with a bad headache.  I let the dog out and laid on the couch for a bit but I could hear the kids starting to stir on the air mattress in the next room and soon they were fighting over the covers, i.e., my daughter was hogging them.  I went in to intercede and she told me she didn't have all the covers even though I was tugging at them to get them from her and had trouble doing so.  I could tell it was going to be a long day with the two of them so I decided to head back to bed.  Luckily I fell back asleep and woke up to a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon and chocolate doughnuts.  Unfortunately the dads made the meal, but I was thankful for the extra rest and being able to get rid of the headache.

We talked and watched a little more TV before heading over to my parents' house.  It was nice to visit my whole family including the new baby and my niece's surprise visit from college!  My mom, hubby, myself and my niece played a game of Scrabble.  It was so unlike my mom to actually sit and relax that I did a double take and was so happy to spend that fun time with her.  (Found out she's a good Scrabble player too.)  We had an early dinner - steak, sugar snap peas, corn on the cob, watermelon, potato salad, cucumber salad and German chocolate cupcakes for dessert.  It was a great day!

Tuesday my son had his first soccer practice and had a great time.  It has been storming for over a week and his first one got rained out and this one was close to being rained out as well.  Luckily the clouds parted long enough for him to get one practice in.

SADNESS - It has been a very difficult week for me for some reason.  Stress has taken a front seat even though I've tried to shake it.  I sometimes feel as though I am my own worst enemy.  If someone feels socially awkward and avoids being put in those situations ends up feeling isolated and lonely, whose fault is it?  Do you control your personality or does it control you?  As I walked to work this morning I was wondering why hurt comes so easily to me yet joy and happiness feel so far off even when I have every reason to feel them fully.  I once again wished I could turn my feelings into words on a page.  My passion to write somehow feels trapped.  Maybe I'm afraid of my own feelings.

THOUGHTS - I've been anticipating the release of the new Eminem album - Recovery - for a long time and Monday the wait was finally over!!!  The rhyming and depth of emotion are phenomenal.  I'm still working to digest it all.  This man is truly a genius who struggles to fight his own demons despite his successes.  My favorite tracks so far..."Going Through Changes", "Space Bound" and "25 to Life".  All of them are so full of thought and emotion.  Fantastic!  I believe I'm addicted to Eminem...I just don't think I'll tire of his music no matter how much he releases.

CONFESSION - Three words...Billy the Exterminator!  What a character!  For someone who hates bugs, I sure have seen a lot of them this week!  Thank goodness they were only on TV.

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

This week I have some new cards to share that would be perfect for 4th of July greetings.

You can see more details on these cards and purchase them here and here.

USE YOUR STASH - Patterned Paper

This page uses nothing but patterned paper scraps!  In fact, five different pieces.  I used one as a background for the layout, one to mat the photos, one to stamp and hand cut the title word "hair," one to create the punch strip at the bottom and the last to cut the flowers that I used as accents on this layout.

Title:  Colorful Hair

FRIDAY FAVES - Keisha Campbell

I have just recently discovered Keisha Campbell and by the looks of things I'm really out of the loop!  I love her elegant touches and use of everyday products.  Clearly she was made to design for Jenni Bowlin!  She rocks that stuff!  Here are a few of her recent projects that I just adore (and plan to adapt for my own pages).

Don't take my picks for it though, just go check out her blog.  You won't regret it!

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Turning Cant's Into Can's

HAPPINESS:  This week was the start of summer break for my kids.  They were both sad to see school end but I know they will enjoy their summer break too!  This summer is a big change for them and for us as they will be spending parts of some days home alone.  They can play wonderfully together some days and other days, well, they do nothing but get on each other's nerves.  Hopefully they can play nice while we're not around to referee.

This past weekend went quite well for me as evidenced by my desire to bake.  It's always a good sign of my general well being.  I made a lemon tart which tasted yummy but not much different than traditional lemon bars which are much easier to prepare so that recipe is not a keeper.  I also made some soft pretzels using this 90 Minute Soft Pretzel recipe which were FANTASTIC.  My daughter helped me shape the pretzels and sprinkled them with salt before baking.  We each had two warm from the oven when their outsides were just crisp and the insides were soft and fluffy.  YUM!!  This recipe is a definite keeper.

SADNESS: Nothing!

THOUGHTS: 

Thought this was a great saying I found on my friend Tina's blog a couple of months ago.

CONFESSION:  I splurged on some Papertrey Ink products this week.  It was my first time ordering from them and I can't wait to use them. 

I purchased this Up, Up & Away stamp set.  Aren't they sweet?  I also got their Retro Background Stamp, cloud dies, Dotty Biscotti patterned paper, vintage cream satin ribbon and some kraft cardstock.  Look for these in my upcoming projects!!

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

UPDATE:  The butterfly buttons have sold!  If you are interested in more...let me know...these were very fun to create!

I have some new buttons for you.

This first one features stamped and then hand colored butterflies.  Sweet!

Go here for more photos, information or to purchase.

And a lovely blue green combo.

See more on these buttons here.

USE YOUR STASH - Punches and Inks

This was such a fun layout to create because I just played around and did a ton of distressing as I went along.  I used a couple of my favorite punches on this layout.  I used my Crop a Dile to create two sizes of circle punches directly on my photo and used the extra cardstrock to punch flowers.  I also used Ranger Alcohol Inks to distress the faux metal (silver foil) hinge at the bottom of my photo and a lot of anger Distress Ink to distress all of the edges in this layout and on the photo directly.  

Title:  Enjoy This Moment

FRIDAY FAVES - Package Design

A few of the blogs I visit concentrate on package design  There are concepts, patterns and colors that can be translated into cards or scrapbook pages.  This is one that I'd love to reproduce - a redesign of Penelope facial products by Erin Dameron. 

The designs could be reproduced with some tone-on-tone cutwork, and the patterns could be included as part of the designs.  Sweet for wedding cards right?

You can see more of Erin's work here.

FOUR EYES DESIGNS - Shop Update

I listed a new card with one of my most favorite Prima flowers ever!  Don't you just love this newsprint look? 

Called "Happy Birthday Newsprint Rose."  Click here for all of the details or to purchase.

And this one called "Sympathy Butterfly."  Here are all the deets for this one!  Hope you like!

FRIDAY FAVES - Akiane Kramarik

This is a video about Akiane Kramarik, a 12 year old child prodigy who creates amazing artwork.  A large part of interest comes from her claim to be shown the ideas and images for many of her paintings through God.  Putting religious beliefs aside, I am amazed at her talent and that is why I am sharing this video with you.  I hope you are amazed as I am.


I checked out Akiane's website and read a bit about her background.  Painting isn't her only strong point, she can also speak 4 languages fluently.  Clearly this girl is something special.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - So much goodness!

HAPPINESS - My brother and his wife had their first child on Tuesday!  Her name is Bella and she's so adorable, with a sweet disposition and little squeaks when she sleeps.  I can't wait to see her grow up and see my little brother being a Dad. 

On our drive home from visiting with Bella last night we had a lovely conversation with my daughter.  She told me that they had to give a speech in class that day and she was one of the first but was able to get up and give it and got over being fearful quite easily.  We were so proud of her (especially since she's leaned more toward the shy side)!  Then she told me she had written an essay about me for one of her earlier assignments.  She read it out loud to me and it was the most precious things a mom could ask for from a child.  she wrote about me being nice, loving M&M's, being crafty, playing games together, making buttons with polymer clay and her helping me, etc.  I asked her to give it to me so that I can save it.  Really special.

I also got together with my friend, D, on Monday.  It was so nice to have girl time.  I forgot how much it rejuvenates me.  As usual, D and I have some wonderful crafty conversations and I end up just wanting to spend more time together.  Our creative ideas seem to inspire us both.  So...tomorrow we are getting together for a clay date.  Can't wait!

SADNESS - My kitty, Allison, suddenly stopped being able to use her back legs on Tuesday.  We took her to the vet and after $450 worth of examinations, blood tests and xrays, we still aren't positive what is wrong.  She has some slight narrowing of a lumbar vertebrae and has degenerative arthritis which is very unusual for a 3 year old cat.  The worse news is that we have to keep her confined in a crate for at least 4 weeks to allow her time to recover.  Allison hates being locked up, or even held for that matter, so this is not fun for us.  So far she's been fairly good about it, although she does meow in spurts through the night and day.  I can't imagine 4 weeks of this. 

THOUGHTS - This week I've been missing my sister a lot.  Especially with my new niece just being born, I can imagine all of the conversations we'd be having right now.  It is sad that she's missing out on being here for that (and so many other things as well).  Although I have two great brothers we will just never have the same relationship that is shared between sisters.  She was always so giving and supportive and I really miss that.

CONFESSION - I've finally perfected my recipe for an awesome mojito.  Yum!  I've had hamburgers for dinner three or four times in the past week.  I know, bad, but oh so yummy!

FOUR EYES DESIGNS- Shop Update

UPDATE:  These kits have been sold. 

I posted two new scrapbooking kits.  Lots of brand new goodies in these!

This first one is called English Lace.  Love the new Studio Calico "English" lace paper and the new Jenni Bowlin banner stickers.  Click here for more pics or to purchase.

This one is called Lizzy's Favorites because it has a bunch of brand new American Crafts Dear Lizzy line in it.  So romantic!  Click here for more pics or to purchase.