This 'n That Catch Up!

Hey! How's it goin'?? The weather has finally cooled off over here! I seriously thought I was going to melt into a pile of goo - it was just that hot, for that long!! Monday it started cooling off, but today the house is feeling it too. It takes a while to heat up this well insulated house, but once it does, it takes a while to cool back down. OH, how I miss air conditioning and central air!!! Even playing the window/blind game and having fans going in every room, it didn't really make much of a dent. The third floor (where the bedrooms and stamping studio are) was basically uninhabitable!! So I haven't done too much of anything for weeks!!

I did make a couple of good dinners...

Chicken Parmesan, with fresh pasta and homemade sauce.

Breaded tilapia with lemon

I also ordered a custom made dress for the military ball, coming up this October. I'm doing this for Thomas, as I really didn't want to go. They are very long (and boring) affairs, and most of the conversation is "shop talk". Some bigwig will be coming to make a (long winded) speech about something or other. It's just really not my thing. And you need a fancy dress. There are no fancy dress shops around here. So you have to order things online. And hope for the best. *sigh* I found a seller on eBay who makes custom dresses to your measurements. Their feedback was stellar, and it was cheap. We.Shall.See.

This is the dress.

It will be made in color #38. I was thinking about a color similar to #805 (there were over 100 colors to choose from!), but it had to be a color that looks good next to Thomas' uniform, which has two blues, that already don't match!!! (Seriously, whoever made up the latest dress uniform needs their eyes tested!!!!) I asked Thomas what he thought and he really didn't care, he was just too happy that I would be going with him. (Misery loves company!) It should be here by the beginning of September......so fingers crossed for me, would ya??

Besides not blogging much for the past two months, you might have noticed that I haven't been doing much crafting either. It's been a rough couple of months, not going to lie, but I'm so hoping that August is the 'turn-around point' of this difficult year!! If I'm not feeling good, physically or emotionally, I just cannot craft. There is zero mojo!! A month ago I ordered some new things from SU, including their new "clay". It's not really clay, but sort of this foam stuff that's easier to use and when dried has some give to it, while still retaining it's finished shape! Unfortunately while the clay was available, the molds they offered were on back-order (and still have not arrived a month later!!!). So I went online and ordered a bunch of Martha Stewart silicone molds from Amazon!! Even when it was too hot to craft, I would go up there and push around some clay for a few minutes.

 Deskful of finished pieces

 The detail is really amazing!

 You can color these with markers, ink pads, Copics, paints, embossing powders...just about anything!! I'm going to be trying out my Perfect Pearls, by turning them into paints by adding water. They will definitely be sparkly!!!

I saw a card online that used these chunky embossing powders and LOVED the look! These will be used on some Magnolia cards in the very near future!

We went to the Euro store (like a dollar store) to pick up party supplies for Bella's birthday a couple of weeks ago, and I found these sequins!!! I've been hankering for some for a while now, but couldn't find any that had multiple colors like this, and didn't want to pay big bucks getting a bunch of individual colors. Score!!!

I'm so addicted to Spellbinders dies!!! (OK, I'm addicted to ALL brands of these thin dies, lol!) They are just so awesome and versatile!!! Making cards with layers, like I do, is just so much easier when you can use a die, instead of trying to measure and cut everything on your own.

We were at the PX last weekend, and I happened to cruise by the magazines. I already subscribe to my favorite card making magazine (because the PX is SO SLOW getting them in!), and I happened to notice this UK magazine!!! European magazines are lovely and come with FREE GIFTS!!! Awesome! I really hope they continue to carry this one too as it's monthly and a really great one.

This thick packet contains gorgeous die cuts and matching papers!!! Squeal! Free goodies!

I got the last guide in the series for the Copic markers. It's really great for helping me get better with my coloring!!! I have all four books, and keep them close by on my desk for reference.

Last, but not least!, my newest stamps! All  of these sets have coordinating dies too!!! So.Much.Fun!

So today I will be finishing the last of my room clean-up, and then I will be CREATING something in there for a change!!! I'm still not feeling 100% yet, but I'm working towards it. Good news yesterday really helped to turn things around, and I'm so grateful for the minor miracle!!!! Baby steps....baby steps...