Creative Chaos

Sharing some Polka Dot Pixie fun........

Not to be confused with the Polish Polka "Who stole the kishka."  Nope, no accordions here....just pure perfect paperclay fun from Jenny at Polka Dot Pixie.    I'm so excited because she is coming to Paper Tales to teach on March 20th.   We had been blog friends for quite some time when I finally got a chance to meet her in person the first time she taught at Paper Tales.  She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and not to mention incredibly talented.  I mean just look at what she does..... 

1. Bluebird of Happiness- Happy New Year!, 2. Mr. Edgar Rodger Rabbit, 3. Humpty Dumpty Fell..... in love?????, 4. Ahhhh.. valentines day, 5. Little Red Riding Hood, 6. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum!, 7. A Froggy Would a Wooing Go Profile, 8. Happy Happy Love, 9. Little Miss Muffet

Ok....I have no idea why heads and other parts of bodies were cut off in the mosaic.   I'm way too tired to figure it out.  But I really wanted to share with you her talent and inspiration......in the meantime, just click on the link and it will take you to her flickr page.  You can also check out her blog with all her work at The Polka Dot Pixie.  

I'm finally feeling better and hopefully will have some new stuff to share.  I kind of feel like getting my paper clay out to practice for Jenny's class!  Talk to you soon......Karin

Home Made Sick.....

Ugg.....I thought I could out run the sickness that has invaded this house.  But no such luck.  However, I shall return.   As soon as I get out of bed.

I'll just leave this for you to ponder.  I posted it yesterday on my Facebook......

Just when I thought all the possible drivel had been squeezed out of reality tv, in walks the show of my snarky dreams.   I watched it last night....and let me tell you it did not disappoint. Note to parents on the show: She's not a perfectionist, she's a brat. And, it's all your fault.

Outragous Kid Parties

 

Home Made Simple....Home Made Mexican.....

Home Made Fun......

 

Well, it aired.  And, you know what, I'm really happy with it.   I was going to come on here with this convuleted excuse about forgetting that it was on....not remembering to post it.....completely slipping my mind....blah, blah, blah.....but, the truth of the matter was....I didn't want anyone to see it until I watched it.   And now that I've seen it I wish that I posted it!   I thought it aired online; but it doesn't look like it.  However, it will air again  on TLC next Friday at 7:00 am so you can watch (or record it) if you like. 

It was so funny to watch ourselves on tv.  And, for once in my life, I didn't completely hate my voice on tape.   I don't know what what they did in editing; but somehow they managed to take some of my midwestern nasal twang and work their magic.    Of course, there are other looming questions and comments after watching the show.  Such as:

Why does a person need 2000 Popsicle sticks?

Although it appears my husband just crossed the border from living in his grandmother's house into this country, he's actually been living here for the past 30 years.....

How much stock do they have in plastic box companies?

Not only is there a back story to why there is a miniture totebag, small pillow and Proteaus train picture on my wall, it actually makes sense......

Was that a Beth Quinn necklace she was wearing?  Indeed it was!

My kitchen never looked so good..... 

I always look that put together when I'm cooking........ha ha ha.....um, just kidding.  

They left out my favorite saying when asked to describe my house....."early american boy with touches of mid century clutter."    It was hysterical.  You had to be there.

Was that Sonia Gonzales' cute little basket in the background of the sewing project?  Yep...it sure was!

Well that's it for now.....It was so much fun doing the show.  I'm off to the store to get the ingredients for the enchiladas.  Watching it made me hungry for them all over again!  Talk to you soon.....Karin

While I've been busy creating.........

 

Someone in this family has been running up a tab at his neighborhood school.    I'm not going to name names.  However.......

 

He's five years old, goes by the alias CEO of Chaos and loves Thomas the Trains.  

  

While perusing facebook last night, I got a call around 5:00 pm by an automated voice from the school district that a "certain someone" has an outstanding bill from the cafeteria.  Of course, my mind immediately goes back to the first week of school when that "someone" would come home with a full lunch box of uneaten food.  Apparently, he was just following the kindergarten herd to the feeding trough that is the cafeteria and helping himself to a hamburger.  That ended when Cosme stopped by at lunch time to investigate and showed him where to sit to eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that his mother slaved over a hot stove making.   

So in between checking status updates, telling children to stop bouncing balloons in my craft room and waiting for the pasta to cook on the stove, I distractedly listened to a rambling message that said things like..... your son...blah, blah, blah.....unpaid balance....blah, blah, blah.....school district office.....blah, blah.......negative eighty one dollar balance.......blah......Huh?! Wha!?  You have got to be flippin' kidding me!   Eighty-one dollars!   Holy mackerel.......Omg.....do they have a cash bar serving Appletini's and chocolate milk?!   I make him lunch everyday....how in the world can this be?  Does he think as CEO of Chaos Industries he has an open expense account in the lunch room? 

So, of course his father and I tried to get to the bottom of it with probing questions like...."exactly where do you go when you head to lunch?" ..... "Have you ever found yourself in the lunch line with a hamburger in your hand asking how you get there?....."Why isn't mommy's peanut butter and jelly sandwiches enough for you????!!!" 

It was at that point he asked for his attorney.

 

So, the next morning I go into the office to settle my bar tab with the cafeteria and to ask why they didn't think to call me earlier......like in October.    As I'm speaking to the office secretary, as well as the head lunch lady, we determine there is only one way to solve this mystery of the wayward lunch tab...... A cafeteria lineup.   I told her that in order to be fair we need to get at least four other kids the same height and hair color and have them all holding trays while looking hungry.  And, I want my lawyer present.    She said just bring him down to the kitchen.  Despite not having my due process, I went and pulled him out of class (in the middle of the chicken dance no less) and marched him down to judgement day.   

 

Although I tried not to coach him in what to say, I did remind him that he had the right to remain silent.      

 

As we approached the kitchen she took one look at him and said "That's not him."   Yay!!   I could cancel my call to the Innocence Project and Channel 8 news.  We were free to go.....well at least I was free to go catch up with my friends for coffee, "someone"on the other hand had to head back up to his kinder class and the chicken dance.
 

There is justice after all.......

 

Talk to you soon!  Karin
 

Challenge: Using Thickers.........

 
 
 

Once again, I was given the challenge of using these "Thicker" letters.   Michelle said "I need to move them on out."   Which, I in turn, loosely translated to "You are a genius....work your magic,"  or something thereabouts.  Anyhow, this is what I came up with.......

 

I wrote "love" in the heart but you really can't see it.  I should have just left well enough alone......

 

So far so good.  I'm having fun with these Thicker thingamajig letters......

I used them on the banner from yesterday.  I just put some glitter on it......

 

Made a little pen holder cup.   Hmmmm......it needs something more.  Glitter, perhaps?

 

Nah.....just put some flowers on it.......It makes everything better.

 

Let's see....this card already has flowers on it.  Maybe some glitter? 

Oh, I know........

 

 

I'll just put a bird on it........

 

Now, I'm really having fun....... ;0)

 

Talk to you soon!  Karin

I love a good challenge........

 

The other day when I was at Paper Tales, Michelle threw some of these Prima flowers at me and said "see if you can do something with these.  I need to make room for all the CHA stuff."    I, on the otherhand, translated that mere sentence a bit differently.  What she really meant was.... "please create something beautiful with these.  You're the only one that can do it.  Don't stop until you have something made.  Even if that means not cooking dinner or talking to your family for an entire day!"     And, of course, as the founding member and, quite frankly, the only member of the Paper Tales design team (Randi and Helle refuse to be on my team citing unnecessary use of glitter.  And Michelle doesn't even know it exists)  I hopped right on it.

I made a little trinket box.......

 

A "Home Sweet Home" banner......

 

 

 

And some gift tags.......

 

 

 Next challenge using Thickers......Talk to you tomorrow!  Karin

Be My Valentine.......

 

1. Heart for you, 2. Valentine Rhinestone Tussie Mussie, 3. I Love You to Pieces card, 4. Love is...Dish and Spoon, 5. Vintage Valentine: Carnival Love!, 6. Vintage inspired Valentine's cupcake nutcups, 7. Vintage Theme Valentine Ornaments, 8. Love Notes Soldered Valentines Heart Charm, 9. Vintage Sweetheart Posy Pocket

So many plans.......

 

So little time.....

 

Unfinished hearts.    On the upside I have a little discovery to share.  I found these papers at Michael's in the Recollections Value Pack.  They ar 8 1/2 x 11 in a haevy card stock.....

 

 

 

Talk to you soon...K

 

First page is finished......

for Project: Get off your Butt...blah..blah..blah....(this is the shorter version of the name)

 

Not only an I really happy with it, but I'm convinced it would have never happened if I thought I was really working on a real scrapbook project.  

 

Again, I can't reiterate it enough........delusion is your friend.

 

Alrighty, I need unpacking.  Yesterday I managed to convince myself that I was too busy to unpack.  

 

Talk to you soon.....

Spent the weekend at Paper Tales.....

 
working and teaching.  I finally remembered my camera so I could take a few shots of what's new.  Like some vintage earrings that Diane found on her travels.......

 

A banner class that Helle taught on Saturday......

 

Some new paper that I love.  The design is printed on craft stock......

 

An embellished heart box.....

 

A round robin book that Helle made for Somerset.   I adore this book.......

 

A hanging banner that Michelle whipped up......

 

along with this card......

 

A cute little bird in the window.  He's staying in his cage until the whole "bird" controversy dies down.   There is no way he wants to get caught up in any hub bub about copyright infringement...... 

 

Ok....I have to unpack from last week.   I've been living out of my suitcase for the last seven days pretending I'm still having fun at CHA.  Talk to you later!   Karin