you know how some people just can't pull off elegance?

I consider myself in that category. Not that I wouldn't want to, mind. I mean, it's a lovely thing to have people walk in to your home and say, "My what an elegant foy-yay and such a fabulous patina on that armoire!" but these people are not going to be swinging by my apartment any time soon. I mean, first of all, apartment. Not exactly Auntie Mame, either. No, I find myself in a place that has white walls and beige carpet, again, with miniblinds, again. At least this one has a few fun details that make it distinct from my last place. Like stairs. But I do not own. I do not even rent to own. I just rent. And that means I know, with absolute certainty, that at some point all of my belongings will be packed up and moved out, and I'll need the place to return to its white and beige self.

People say I could repaint, but who wants to do that when they are moving out? I could put up curtains, but with the exception of my kitchen there are drywall issues involved. No carpets yet, but I know one day I'll be able to tie the room together. Until then, I'll just have to find other ways of adding a bit of color. Like this:It's amazing what you can do with temporary spray mount and old betty crocker recipe cards. And I can look at things like chicken salad in melon rings every day! Inspirational!

No, I haven't been just goofing off...

I had a shower to go to. I made a duck with matching hat. It also got wrapped nicely with a little hand stamped card. Now, I have to go to work.

See, this is what happens when you mess around

Detail from one of our homemade holiday cards. Limited editions, anyone want to buy a set?

Too soon?

I decided that we're going to make our holiday cards this year. By "we" I mean, I get to do all the fun stuff, and then he gets to write something clever. Considering the kind of project it is, I consider this a fair distribution of labor.

I got some paper, and some stamps, and some notecards and stuff - man there is a lot out there as far as papercraft is concerned. I mean like, whoa. I don't usually do any of this type of craft soyeah, these cards will, in fact, cost more than our card usually do, but hey! Snowflake glitter!

Any of you scrapbooking types have any suggestions for websites, ideas, glues, that kind of thing?

I still have some modge podge.....

(also hey, if you want one, send me an email with an address, unless you know I've got it already.)

Maybe it is a found object thing

I really like making collages. Something about putting together other people's stuff in another way appeals to me. It started in the way back era of the mix tape, I would make a collage for a cassette cover. I still do, sometimes, with CDs I make . I have tried doing similar things with photoshop, but it just isn't the same. Maybe it's just an excuse to play with glue. I don't know.

Anyway, i saw this ugly box while my sister was around. It was a dollar. It needed buying, and fixing. So far, I've done about half. The grapefruit on top makes me happier than you can believe.The other thing I like about collaging? Sometimes you find pictures like this:
I just need to figure out what to do with it. Awesomeness.

I suppose it was inevitable

Yes, I know, newsprint + origami = high potential for fail.

I was at this for 30 minutes before I gave up because I have a bajillion more things to take care of before bed.


I figure that it's sort of positive in a way--sets the bar lower for tomorrow.