Showing posts with label Rambling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rambling. Show all posts

Monday, April 23, 2007

If a dog was your teacher.....

If a dog was the teacher...

My dear friend Gina Pacheco sent me this adorable email and I thought instead of email forwarding it all over the place that I would post it here and share it with you. I am not much of a fan for email forwards because it seems that once you get started it can be extremely overwhelming to keep up but Gina always has the best! Thanks for sharing Gina!! Rubber Hugs dear friend. This is our beloved Kita, we have had her for almost 6 years and I cannot imagine life without her.

You would learn stuff like:

*When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
*Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
*When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.! Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
*Take naps.
*Stretch before rising.
*Run, romp, and play daily.
*Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
*Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
*On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.
*On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
*When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
*No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout..run right back and make friends.
*Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
*Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
*Stop when you have had enough.
*Be loyal.
*Never pretend to be something you're not.
*If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
*When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

New Toys!!

First and foremost a few updates.... I have not been stamping much as you already know, I had a bad fall recently and hurt my thumb pretty bad, it hurts to do most things so stamping has been very limited. With SLC Regionals coming up I decided I better do only what I needed to for the next couple of days in hopes that it will heal quickly. I have my swaps to finish and that has been about all I have been working on.... sadly enough I have several deadlines that could use some attention, but hopefully in a few days my hand will be better.

So, badly hurt hand, doesn't keep a girl from shopping!! I visited several of my favorite eBay stores today and purchased a new Cuttlebug and some embossing folders... I cannot wait for them to get here so I can play!!

If you are attending SLC Regionals, post, I would love to meet up with you!! I am attending the Saturday session!! I can't wait to share a few good secrets with you.... you will see what I mean soon enough! Fun projects to share on Sunday, I have been holding onto these for several weeks, be sure to check back!

Hope everyone had a fabulous Easter!!

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

She's Back!!

Howdy everyone... I am so excited to announce that I am finally done with my projects for this deadline... I have been stamping my little fingers to the bone trying to get everything done and ready to send off. And today I can say that I am finally finished!! I need to spend a few minutes cleaning my office (all this stamping has created a huge mess LOL), and I have to take these projects to the post office to be mailed and then I am coming home to play!

I was reading on SCS this morning and I cannot believe that the last 2 weeks have just flown by, I haven't played with any of the card sketches, technique and colors challenges etc... I am looking forward to some fun stamping time without the worries and stress of deadlines etc. Be sure to check back later today for some fun and finally some stamping!!

So what have I been working on...... I have been completing my project submissions for the Artisian Award from Stampin' Up! I am unfortunately unable to share my projects, but I am hopeful that Stampin' Up! will be sharing some of the projects... I would love to see the projects everyone created, I am sure they will be absolutely amazing!!

Just a reminder....Blog Sweets: be sure you have signed up for the blog candy this week. I cannot believe how many new subscribers there are and was absolutely amazed to discover how many of you are linking here. Remember, if you haven't done so already, be sure to get yourself in the drawing for this week's candy! I have enjoyed visiting all of your blogs, you are all so amazingly talented... I plan to check back in with each of your blogs as often as I can. There were several of you that forgot to list a link to your blog (please remember I must be able to find your site and verify the link for you to be considered for this week's drawing). I also visited a few of your sites and was unable to see the links, to keep this week's drawing as fair as possible please know I must be able to see the links in your blog rolls for your site to count for this week's drawing. Best of luck to you all!!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

More Bunny Hugs..... Tomorrow!!

Today I finished up a few of my projects (sorry, unable to post at this time). I also spent several hours cleaning up my office... I am in serious need of someone who will clean for stamps LOL. I do have a very fun Easter project to share tomorrow... featuring the Frayed Ribbon Technique and one of my favorite stamp sets... Bunny Hugs! Check back tomorrow for more great project ideas.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

It's a Stamping Day Today!!! (includes tips about Frayed Ribbon Technique)

I wanted to pop in and tell all my morning blog stalkers to check back throughout the day, today is a big stamping day! I am preparing swaps for a down line meeting I am attending on Saturday in UT. I also have a hockey themed card to create for my son's coach.. and if time allows I also have some ATC cards to create for a swap on SCS. Also to come very soon.... more Doodle That!!
Frayed Ribbon Tips: At a class I hosted last night we made a variation of Tuesday's Frayed Ribbon bunny card.... and I found a few tips that may help you in getting the look you want when using this technique. The best visual I can come up with refers back to childhood days of playing with play dough and various other mediums.... when I created the bunny's tail I took the frayed pieces of ribbon and rolled them in my hand as you would if you were going to make a ball with play dough.... continuing this process until I had just the perfect size (I trimmed several times to remove excess stands and kept rolling). To get a tighter ball with lots of density try creating the ball as mentioned in the last step, then take the same ball and pinch it between your thumb and pointer finger and roll it back and forth this way. Using a combination of these two steps will help you in achieving a very flattering bunny tail.

Another fun tip.... try applying chalk to the ribbon to add additional color, this also allows you the ability to create all 48 exclusive Stampin' Up!® colors of grosgrain ribbon.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Catching Up....

This week has been so crazy!! In fact I look back and think where has the time gone. It is hard to believe that I haven't stamped in a few days (I know gasp!! Where are my stalkers and their nudges LOL?) . Just thought I would pop in and let you all know what I am up to! I got an email from Selma Galloway last night about SLC Regionals Workshop Wow's... just thinking about the idea of presenting an idea sounds like fun so I need to come up with a few samples to submit before the deadline for that. I have a class this week on Wednesday and I also have a swaps due for an up-line's meeting (next weekend, have no idea what I am going to make).... so there are definitely going to be some new posts this week. Thanks to all who have taken the time to post their replies (yes, I read them all!!) Have a fabulous weekend everyone!!

~Kyla Maestas

P.S. For those who said they are planning to attend Regionals.... be sure to send me an email, I would love to meet!! kylamaestas@msn.com

Monday, January 22, 2007

I've Been Tagged!! (This is new to me)

I had to do a little clicking to find out what this tagging thing was all about. I was tagged by Jen70 from Stamping Therapy! So here goes my best attempt at the ABC games, you are sure to get to know more about me by the time we reach the bottom of the list LOL! Then the best part... who should I tag?

A-Available or Taken: Married for 8 wonderful years!
B-Best Friend: My husband
C-Cake or Pie: French Silk Pie
D-Drink of Choice: Pepsi
E-Essential Item You Use Everyday: Without a doubt the computer and Internet... I'd go nuts without them.
F-Favorite Color: Pink
G-Gummy Bears or Worms: Definitely worms!! I even like the sour ones!
H-Hometown: Rock Springs WY
I-Indulgence: Reeses Peanut Butter cups (Jen and I share this passion LOL)
J-January or February: February (love Valentines as you can tell by my gallery, lots of pink)
K-Kids and Names: Keenan and Tayllar
L-Life is Incomplete Without: All my rubber stamps, a Pepsi, fun family and friends
M-Marriage Date: October 19th 1998
N-Number of Siblings: two (I'm the oldest and the only girl)
O-Oranges or Apples: Oranges (as long as someone else will peal them for me)
P-Phobias or Fears: SpIdErS (Creep me out, even the baby ones)
R-Reason to Smile: I have a wonderful, healthy and happy family
S-Season: Fall (love the colors)
T-Tag 3 or 4 people: Hmm lets see... Linda Schmitt Rachel Stelzer Aimee from Relaxin While Stamping This was hard for me, I do not track a lot of blogs and found that most of the bloggers I know have already been tagged. Jen of course had already been tagged and Kendra from Inkin It Up had already been tagged too.
U-Unknown fact about me: I had lunch with Spencer at Convention last summer!! It was very exciting, we reviewed samples from my technique book. (I had a huge 6x6 technique book and card display at the Stampin Share during 2nd session).
V-Vegetable you don't like: Love them All!! (yes spinach)
W-Worst Habit: Fidgeting, I am the wiggle worm queen, can't sit still for 5 seconds lol. My husband would say that my worst habit is that I do not roll up the tooth paste. He likes to keep it all neat and tidy, I am so mean I deliberately squeeze from the middle and slop it on the lid just to let him know how much I love him LOL.
X-Xrays: I have had a few done on one of my knee, hurt it playing softball as a teen but other than that nothing... no broken bones here, ever (knock on wood).
Y-Your fave food: Chocolate Anything
Z-Zodiac: Cancer

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Because of You... American Idol Night

Because of You...

I was hoping to post my cards last night but absolutely could not miss a minute of the American Idol premier. I have never laughed so hard... Simon's facial expressions last night were absolutely priceless. I about fell out of my chair in laughter when the Lion from the Wizard of Oz auditioned... I thought Simon was going to lose it all together. Anyone else a fan of the show? If so, be sure to post and mention your favorite singer from last season.

I stamped 2 cards using the Because of You stamp set last night during the commercial breaks. When I think of this stamp set I always think of Kelly Clarkson and then I end up with that song in my head lol.
Card Details- Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Certainly Celery and Sarah Designer Series Paper.
Ink: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery,Barely Banana, Apricot Appeal
Other: Apricot Grosgrain Ribbon, White Narrow Organdy Ribbon, Silver Cording.


This card has some faux paper piercing along the Apricot strip. The background was stamped from the Because of You set in bashful blue ink, then the centers of the flowers were colored in with a white gel pen. The main flower images were outlined first with Stampin Write markers using the fine tip and then water colored in with an aqua painter using the same color of ink and the puddle method. The centers of the flowers were colored on a scrap piece of paper, cut out and popped up in the centers for a little extra detail. The happier because of you tag was outlined with bashful blue ink. The tag was created using the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle hole punches from Stampin Up!




Happier Because of You

The second card was created using a similar supply list from above with the addition of the bashful blue brads. These were used on the Apricot Word Window tabs on the side of the card. There is a 1/4" brad mat in certainly celery under each of them. I got this idea from the patterns in the paper used for this card. I drew hash lines around each of the brads just as it is done in the designer paper. This same effect is also done on the right hand side of the main focal image.


There is a half ribbon under the main image (I have never done this before) but it seemed to pull everything together. The images and tag were created just as the first one. This card was inspired using this last week's Card Sketch challenge from SplitCoastStampers. You can find more information about sketch challenge 106 by clicking here.

What do you think? Be sure to post your comments, I take the time to read each and everyone one of them and love hearing from you! Be sure to check back later today, I am hoping to play with the new sketch challenge#107.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

What's on the Calendar for Tomorrow???

No new fun images today... I spent most of the day doing all of my cleaning and what not around the house. I know.... totally boring. However, the good news is I will be stamping all day tomorrow. I have a Valentines class coming up on Friday morning and need to finish putting my samples together. I am also going to be working toward completing next week's class samples using Stampin Pastels. I am hoping to share some fabulous techniques with the girls using the pastels... if anyone would like to share a technique I would love to know more. I am planning to upload more fun images tomorrow so be sure to check back!!

SHARE- If you would like to share a pastels technique please post a reply to this message, then we will have them all together so everyone can use them. I will also be awarding a prize for 2 of my top picks for Pastel Techniques so feel free to list as many as you like. If you have a link to show a card or project created witht this technique please include that in your comments. I look forward to hearing from you! Winners to be announced on Friday so be sure to post your techniques before noon!

Monday, January 1, 2007

Happy New Year!!

Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a Happy New Year!! I am looking forward to spending the night with my family, my dh goes back to work tomorrow and the kids go back to school on Wednesday. It is always tricky to get back into the swing of things, especially a normal bed time LOL, but tomorrow I have penciled in some time for stamping. Check back soon for more fun and stamping.

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2007!
Kyla

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Creativity

The following card was created using bits and pieces from the Simply Scrappin' Kit Just Delightful.

The card features Antique Copper brad, celery and rose grosgrain ribbon and dazzling diamonds glitter.

The scrolling around the edges of the card was hand drawn in using Always Artichoke.

I am looking forward to sharing some fun projects with you in the upcoming weeks. I have put together my January calendar and am offering classes with the following themes: (I will of course be uploading images to my blog as the samples are created for classes.)

Pastels- showcasing 1,2, and 3 step poppin' pastels as well as the chalkboard technique and pullin' pastels

Be Mine- Cards and 3D items to celebrate Valentines day. I have some fun card samples, amazing box patterns as well as some cute lollipop covers put together for a fun valentines themed class.

Embossed Foreground Technique- My last class for this month is a technique class, my customers come and create a 6x6 technique page and 2 cards using this technique. I am very excited about this class (the samples have already been created) and I love the way they turned out. I will be uploading these on the 1st so be sure to check back!

As we venture into the new year I would like to offer a friendly reminder to my blog subscribers and friends that the artwork posted on my site is strictly for personal inspirational purposes and is not to be used for publication purposes (this includes the web/on-0line art galleries/etc). My work may not be copied and submitted for contests, or used for monetary gain of any kind without my consent. I hate to put this reminder out there as it is already posted on my blog but I have recently had some issues with this and appreciate your help in protecting my artwork and ensuring the continuation of my blog. Want to know more, click here.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Blog to go Private... Please Read

I have decided to let my blog go private for a while in hopes of curing some issues that I am currently having. If you would like to continue your subscription to this blog please email me at kylamaestas@msn.com so I can add you to the safe list. Please do not respond to this message, please email me directly instead. My apologies for any frustration this may cause but it is necessary at this point. Thank You and Happy Holidays!

Kyla Maestas

P.S. In your email please include your Name (no log ins the real thing please) and your email address.

Christmas Parties Today!

Just wanted to check in and wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I am not sure how many posts you can expect between now and Christmas, I am hoping to post a little something today after the kid's Christmas parties.... but the next post will most likely be after Wednesday next week... so until then..

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!

~Kyla Maestas
P.S. Here is a delicious fudge recipe shared by my good friend Jana!

Super Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
7 oz jar peanut butter or 12 oz chocolate chips
7 oz jar marshmello fluffoptional: 1 cup walnuts

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Love Matters

When I pre-ordered sets from the Winter Mini catalog this was one of the first ones to make my list. The other stamp sets from the mini catalog have amazing images and definitely portray my personality best, however I loved the words that were featured in this set and the hearts were absolutely adorable (I was a huge fan of the Smitten stamp sets, and the hearts have been hard to find replacements for).

Today is absolutely freezing in Wyoming for the 3rd day in a row, our temperatures this morning were -4 degrees. We have no wind and the sun is shining bright but it is so cold LOL, I couldn't imagine doing anything but stamping today.... I dropped the kids off at school and stopped by Starbucks for a hot chocolate and then home to stamp. The reason I mention the hot chocolate today is you are sure to see it's effects on my color choices today.

Creating this card originally started with a sketch, I did go a little off but for the most part I think I kept the basic elements of Sketch Challenge #10. You can view complete details about this sketch by clicking here. Colors for this card are Chocolate Chip, Close to Hot Cocoa, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. The hearts are stamped in layers, colored with Stampin Write Markers, cut out and layered on the card. The ribbons used include Flirty Ribbon Originals, organdy ribbon in white, and rose grosgrain ribbon. The decorative lines around the card were freehand sketched doodles drawn in close to cocoa. The sentiment at the bottom of the card is stamped in close to cocoa and reads "is such a big word it really should have more letters".
Well... if it doesn't warm up soon I may be stamping cards in Florida with the Aloha set LOL!
Happy Holidays!

Stamping Today...

My grandma is traveling to visit today and we plan to do some stamping. She is planning on finishing up some family scrapbooks that she has been working on for Christmas gifts and I am hoping to cut into this beautiful SAB simply scrappin kit. It has been laying on my desk for weeks just waiting to come out of the packaging and today is the day. I am also planning to create some cards using stamp sets from the Winter Mini Catalog in hopes of planning some of my classes for January! I am very excited about the sets from the winter mini catalog and have already created several samples but I have not done much with the Love Matters and Tagger's Dozen stamp sets. Traditionally I try to do one 5 for $5 class using sets from the current mini catalog quarterly... it seems to do very well for me and everyone loves to come and sample the buffet of mini catalog sets!

I will of course be uploading images later on today and throughout the rest of the week so be sure to check back!

Happy Holidays

Monday, December 18, 2006

Size Matters....Blog Update

I have been experiencing some difficulty with the sizing of the photos, I am sure many of you noticed if you clicked on anyone of the photos on my blog. I have gone back and repaired most of them, any that I have missed will be checked and repaired after the holidays.

Wishing you the best this Holiday Season!

Kyla Maestas

The Stamping Divas!!

I also manage a small group of demonstrators on-line.... the Stamping Divas. We have a great time stamping together, share business ideas/techniques/class ideas/product info etc. These girls have been my best stamping friends for as long as I can remember.
Recently there has been a trend of blogs coming together from the divas. I am so excited to see them blogging!! I wanted to share some of their blogs with you. I will be adding links to the blogs I visit to the blog. I hope you will visit them often.

If you are a demo and are looking for a fun group to help you with your business, please contact me for details.. kylamaestas@msn.com

The best part about divas is definitely our swaps!
The card sample above is one that I submitted for a recent swap, our theme was the Winter Mini Catalog. The card is created using the new designer paper, soft subtle brads, and one of my favorite stamp sets... Like it a Latte! enjoy~

Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 11, 2006

Crackin' Me Up!

I was tickled this morning as I logged in and moderated comments.... it is good to know that you are looking every day. I will try to post something new everyday knowing I have an audience, the holidays have been crazy but hopefully I will get a few things up during December but look for January because I will be stamping up a storm! I do have some stuff to upload this week, so check back!

What's Coming This week?
*Sellabration Samples
*Demonstrator Training- Creative Meeting
*Winter Mini samples
*A gift for the bride and groom (You've seen their invitation, now it is time to show you their card and gift)
*2006 Christmas Cards

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!! Anyone doing any baking? I have tons of cookies to make and cards to finish up.

Wishing you the very best this holiday season!
Kyla Maestas

P.S. I am so disappointed, I just checked out the January Stampin' Success and once again my card did not win..... but it was a fun card anyway!! Thanks to those who have been crossing their fingers.

Friday, December 8, 2006

They will be here today!!

It has been a while since my last post, I am very excited at the anticipated delivery to my house today. I just received notice that my Sellabration stamp sets will be here from Stampin Up! I have been dying for them to get here and I am very excited to play. I will of course be uploading photos as I prepare samples for workshops, classes, and demonstrator training.

I have also been working on my Christmas cards and getting the rest of my holiday shopping done. I have not been doing much in the way of stamping but I am excited to play with these new sets.

Happy Holidays
~Kyla Maestas