Creative Chaos

It's a rerun kind of day........

 

Or, as I like to say, bring back the classics.  Whatever, you want to call it, it's with good reason.  The last week was spent simultaneously working with Carlos' 4th grade class on the end of the year Gala Auction art piece and substitute teaching 3rd graders.  

I'm exhausted. 

 

But in a good way.

 

Before I leave you to look at all my repeat pictures, I wanted to impart some wisdom should you unwittingly and unknowingly find yourself in a classroom with a bunch of 3rd and 4th graders.....

 

Do not, I repeat, do not, ask a general question out loud expecting one little person to walk up to you and calmly give you the answer.  If you do accidentally ask, "who wants to take the spelling binders to the next classroom?" to no one in particular, brace yourself for a hurricane like event of twenty two children racing up to you simultaneously while wildly raising their hands and shouting "I will...I want to...please pick me" at the top of their lungs offering to do the job.  

I was unprepared for this response as my requests for "who want to take out the recycling?" at home are usually met with silence and crickets chirping.

When handing out the little colored 4"x4" squares of paper in a variety of colors for the Gala Auction project, do not, and I can't repeat this enough, do not let them choose the colors they want.  It's all fun and games in the beginning.  However, no matter what three colors are left in the end, it will never, and I repeat, never be the colors the last three children want.  Never.  Ever.

 

When picking out the waving hands of 3rd graders during  a Q & A about Alaskan Husky sledding dogs, please understand that his and/or her opinions and thoughts will only relate back to maybe 2% of what the original topic is.  Because there is always someone who "has a neighbor who knows someone who lives down the street from her brother's best friend who has a cat who chased a dog that may or may not have been a Husky....or maybe it was a German Shepard...or, maybe they never even had a dog....whose mom once had a baked Alaska for dessert at a restaurant........"  

So,as you can see, I'm exhausted.....but, can't wait to do it all again.....ok, time to take a nap!   Talk to you soon!  Karin 

 

I'm a regular MacGyver......

I was browsing around Etsy the other evening when I stumbled upon a store that was selling items that looked just like another manufacturer......

 

Huh...what the...just hold on there a second, Faker MacFakerson, that's a Tree by Kerri Lee design.......

 
I would know that design anywhere!  Why the nerve of some people....

After putting on my Sherlock Holmes hat and grabbing a magnifying glass, I went on to investigate this n'er do well who thinks she can just steal someone's design and then sell it on Etsy.   Hrmph.   Not on my clock! 

Despite having loads of laundry to clean, dishes to be washed, floors to mop and children and husband's needing to be fed, I put that all aside for the greater good of the art community to see this investigation to the end......

 

So after taking time out to pat myself on the back and thanks goodness that I'm around to take care of business like this in order to keep Etsy a safe place for everyone, I immediately shot off an email to Kerri Lee informing her of my thorough investigation that resulted in fraudulent designing behind her back.....

 

I then took it a step further emailing the perpetrator with a simple yet very accusatory question...."Are you in any way affiliated with Tree by Kerri Lee?"  HA!  That will show her I'm hot on her trail. She is going to be shaking in her fake little boot..... There's no hiding from my CSI investigative skills.....

 

All I needed was Scooby Doo and the Mystery Van.....

 

 
I just sat back waiting to see how this was going to go down.  I was thinking that quite possibly there could be a parade in my name.....maybe Kerri Lee would name a block after me....I might just end up as People's most beautiful person of the year.....

While dreaming of how I was going to field all requests from 20/20 and Primetime Live for my investigative journalism skills, I noticed that I got an email back from the perpetrator herself...HA!  I was getting closer to closing the case.....

 

 

"Why yes, Kerri is my sister and I also design products for her company. Have you bought one of our products before?"

::Stacy::

 

Rut Roo....

 

and shortly thereafter.....

 
 

   

Hi Karin,

Thank you for your email -- I appreciate it very much!  Thankfully it's not a knockoff, though - Stacy is my sister, and we make and market some products together.  I checked out your blog - very funny and your designs are beautiful!

Thanks again,

Kerri

 

Thank God she didn't add.....and you're an idiot.  Oh well.  My days of playing detective are over.  I know have to get back to ten loads of laundry.   However, just let it be known that if anyone out there even thinks of knocking another artist off, I'm hot on the trail.......

Me and Scooby Doo.......

 

 

 

 

Easter went off without a hitch.....

 

Well, other than being questioned by a six year old as to why the same plastic eggs that the Easter bunny used for his trail to his Easter basket were sitting in a Target bag on the counter next to the bananas, it went great  A little fast and fancy footwork on my part provided an explanation that was on par with the Kennedy conspiracy theory.   Actually, I told him that because of federal budget cuts in the Easter Bunny Subsidies Program all households had to provide their own Easter eggs and K-12 education.   

 

Within moments he tuned out my political ranting, forgot about the plastic eggs and moved on to chocolate malt balls.

As you can see, only the best foot wear was worn to Easter dinner.....

 

In other news, I made my way to Paper Tales yesterday to pick up paper so that I can finally do this crown tutorial.....

 

 

Everyday Beauty......

 

Yay! Andrea from Everyday Beauty had her beautiful bookmarks featured in Country Living this month.  I adore these bookmarks.   It's like simplicity meets grandeur......

 

It's always fun telling people that I know someone who is in a magazine and then explaining to them how I "know" them. 

 

It usually starts off with me exclaiming, "Yay!  My friend Andrea is in Country Living"

Person, who may or may not be my husband, who unfortunately happens to be closest to me when I yell this out, "Who's Andrea?"

Me trying to figure out how to explain complicated, but yet oh so simple relationship equation, "oh,I know her through blogging. She's is the sweetest person ever...."

Person who is growing suspicious of said friendship, "Have I ever met her?"

Me, again, trying to explain to a basic layman on how the intricacies of blogging relationships work, "Well, I never met her in person. But we email each other.  And I just know she is the sweetest person ever. Even though I've never really spoken to her.  But look.... she is amazingly talented....." 

 

 


Person, who may or may not be my husband, is growing bored by the second, "I don't get."



Me, in exasperation, once again realizing how clueless non bloggers are on blogging friendships, "Forget it.  I'm going to go tell my real friends who understand!"  

So here I am telling you all to go say Hi to Andrea at Everyday Beauty!  She's amazing....I just know it!  Talk to you later! Karin

The progress in my craft room.....

Before:

 

After:

 

Now....to the untrained eye it would seem as though nothing has happened.  However, if you look very closely in the upper right hand corner you will see that not only did I shuffle a bunch of ribbons in a pile....but I found a pair of scissors that has been missing for weeks.  Anytime I find lost items, it's a successful cleaning expedition no matter how little gets put away.  

Ok....I need to get kits ready for this class at Paper Tales this Saturday.......

 

 

I'm using the new Crate paper for this minibook....

 

Plus some reproductions of vintage wall paper....
 

Plus mixing it up with other papers I had on hand....

 

After I'm done with it for class, I'm giving it to a friend....she doesn't know. 

 

Ok.....I need to pick up a couple of boys from school....Talk to you later!  Karin

 

Because I have been wandering around aimlessly.....

 

in my craft room muttering things to the effect of "I need to clean this room.....why doesn't anybody put anything away and where is my maid,"  I haven't had any time to work on Easter projects.......

 

Most of my energy has been spent walking in circles in my studio moving piles of papers from one area to another, endlessly checking my Facebook fan page for any newcomers, and tirelessly complaining to whomever will listen about how I need to clean my craft room, thereby, making me tired.

Due to that demading schedule, I present to you a picture of a cute bird taken two years ago......

 

and some tags.......

 

and a cute little Easter collage.....

 

Ok....I need to finish moving piles craft supplies around.   Talk to you soon!  Karin

Now, I really have to clean my space.....

 

Because I spent all day yesterday finishing this......

 

and starting this......

 

 
I have to get some more paper to do the tutorial. So I was thinking probably next week some time. 

Ok....I have to clean and organize today.....Talk to you later!  Karin 

 

What's on my desk right now.....besides a mess.....

 

While the boys were at the beach with Cosme, I was supposed to be cleaning my craft room.......

Then I found the bag of new Melissa Frances paper.....

 

As you can see from the pictures above, there was not much cleaning involved.  However, in the upcoming days there will be a crown tutorial involved.

 

Oh well...There's always another day to clean.  Talk to you soon!  Karin

Using my new deal of the century paper.....

 

 

 

I went back and got another pack.  I did leave one though.  I didn't want to be selfish.  Well, actually I did want to be selfish and take it.  But I didn't.  Talk to you later!  Karin

Put all your differences with Michael's aside........

 

and run over there to get the deal of the century.  I found these two paper packs by K & Company for....get this....$5.00.  And, the best part, I used my 40% off coupon on one of them.   I thought it was illegal to use a coupon for sale items.  But then I thought what the heck.  Let's live a little and see if it goes through.  And, it did!  I was shocked.  Then, I thought, maybe it was their way of making up for the "form one line here" fiasco of 2009.   I'll never really know.  However, what I do know is this paper is a great deal.

 

Now, the thing is I'm really not a paper pack kind of gal.  I normally don't like the quality or designs.

 

The whole reason I was even looking at paper packs was for a class I'm doing at the boys' school.   So while walking through the aisle toward the checkout armed with a 40% off coupon and a mediocre $19.99 pack of paper, I stumbled across this little gem of a deal. 

 

I just love the color combos.....

 

I took out all my favorite papers and the rest I can use for the class. 

 

Yay!   I love a great deal.   Maybe I can be on Extreme Couponing.......Talk to you later!  Karin