I've been to Hell

to be exact, Cania, the icy eighth of the nine hells of Baator..and back! To be really exact, I've just finished playing Hordes of the Underdark, a computer role-playing game. Here's a Wikipedia definition for CRPG that'd put you through at least two levels of the nine should you choose to read the whole entry. After a near total immersion in the game as an epic² monk, travelling through tortuous freezing climes (fairly approximated by sitting at my computer during these cold days and nights), helping the wretched and battling evil with my bare fists³, on completion of those adventures, I am now suffering decompression.

I am sure many of you would have gone through this condition - it comes upon you lightly when you have watched a wonderfully absorbing movie or hits you like a freight train (or, for RPGers, a Heavy Flail + 10 wielded by a weapons master wearing a Belt of Storm Giant Strength) when you've finished reading the final instalment of a much loved fantasy series. It is particularly heart-wrenching if you've fallen in love with one of the characters. Twilight readers - you know what I'm talking about! Real life suddenly seems like just an opportunity to seek out ways to prolong the experience ... Google the characters, discuss the story to the nth degree with other passionate fans, relive moments in the adventure and, quite possibly, dream about the one that you are most attached too. In other words, do anything to defer the sadness that comes from the end of something that strangely felt special even though it existed only in our imaginations.

I guess it will take a little time for me to mentally pack away by my magical bags of holding and say farewell to my preferred One True Love after I ended up with two from alternate scenarios. Luckily, I had Hubby asking me to leave the computer to keep him company last night - an important reminder of the reality that was worth surfacing for.

Speaking of Hell, I designed the following card for a INKlings Card in a Box training session. A few of the team found making this card rather hellish since a standard wheel can be tough to control at times⁴. The card is deceptively difficult since there are no OFFERs (Opportunities-For-Further-Embellishment Recovery) - there are no layers or embellishments with which to hide a mistake! As the card featured my Marker Over technique, I made copies of it for Convention swaps *wave to Megan*

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Certainly Celery
Chocolate Chip

Stamp sets:
Funky Forest wheel
Occasional Greetings

Cardstock:
Whisper White

Accessories:
Earth Elements Markers
Mat Pack

---

1. Hordes of the Underdark^TM is an expansion pack for Neverwinter Nights.
2. Epic - a character that has reached the 21st level for those of you with some RPG interest.
3. Supplemented by the odd pair of magical gloves ... who am I kidding? Make it supplemented continually as soon as I got hold of the first pair...
4. Just like Valen suppressing his demonic taint while in Cania - I couldn't help slipping that in for anyone who has played Hordes of the Underdark.

Embossing's a beach!

I've been doing a bucket load of embossing recently as I've been preparing for various embossing technique classes including Cracked Glass and Faux Metal. Until Stampin' Up! Australia introduces Glassy Glaze, I have to stick with its clear embossing powder (EP) for demonstrating the Cracked Glass technique - which means six to eight layers of embossing to achieve the same thickness as a couple of layers of UTEE.

This really isn't a problem - after all, it is kinda fun applying the powder and watching in wonder when it melts under the roar of my heat tool. After the novelty of the first four embosses though, one's mind starts to wander. *apply VersaMark* What should I have for lunch today? *pour EP over project* Had leftovers yesterday...got leftovers today... *tap tap off excess EP* *return excess to container* *fire up heat tool* When this is done, shall I play drums or guitar on Guitar Hero World Tour? This t-shirt I'm wearing REALLY needs washing! Hmmm...wonder what's on TV? Is this the fifth or the sixth layer? *apply heat to project* Oooooh! Shiny! Gah! Hot! Quick! *point heat tool away while simultaneously pouring EP on project* And so it goes...and goes. ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz...

Until the moment that I get completely complacent (or comatose - not sure which comes first) and forget to point the heat tool away while attempting to cover the project with a new layer of EP. An instantaneous cloud of EP billows over my workspace, transforming it into a sandy paper beach - even my right arm is encrusted with EP like I had been spending the afternoon making EPcastles. *sigh*

So, the moral of the story is ... nope ... there's none to be had. Bring on Glassy Glaze, Stampin' Up! Australia!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Brown
VersaMark

Stamp sets:
For Father

Cardstock:
Naturals Ivory
Not Quite Navy
Old Olive Textured

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Clear Embossing Powder
Gold Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Hodgepodge Hardware in Antique Brass
Mat Pack
Theatre Ribbon Originals
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Earth Elements, Neutrals

The ocean commotion

(To the tune of Locomotion)

Everybody's checkin' out the brand new mini
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
I know you'll get to like it
If you give it a chance now
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
My little baby nephew could do it with ease
It's easier than drawing creatures from the seas
So come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me

You gotta ink your stamps now
Come on baby, stamp it, hmmm lift back
Oh well I think you got the knack

Now that you can do it
Let's make a card now
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
Stamp-a stamp-a seahorse and an angel fish now
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
Do it nice and easy now don't lose control
Use a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and a firmer hold
So come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me
You gotta ink your stamps now
Come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me
Yeah

Stamp stamp (sampling)

Add shells to the sea floor in an ocean commotion
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
Do it with your hands if you got the notion
(C'mon baby do the ocean commotion)
There's never been a stamp set that's so easy to use
It even makes you happy
When you're Bordering Blue
So come on come on do the ocean commotion with me
You gotta ink your stamps now

Come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me
Yeah
Come on, come on,
Do the ocean commotion with me
You gotta ink your stamps now

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Not Quite Navy
Old Olive
Pumpkin Pie
Ruby Red
Sahara Sand

Stamps:
Curvy Verses set
Ocean Commotion set

Paper:
Whisper White CS

Accessories:
1 1/8” Circle Punch
Glorious Green Marker
Sponge Dauber
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Boxing Week

Did you know that Boxing Week follows Easter just like Boxing Day follows Christmas? No? That's completely understandable since I've just made it up. BUT I'm declaring it Boxing Week on this blog. I've had a ball making these tiny boxes and when I received the Beautifully Boxed Cuttlebug Tag Team combo yesterday, I used one of the tags to top the following bitty box off:

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Cameo Coral

Stamps:
Scatter Sunshine wheel

Cardstock:
Cameo Coral
Whisper White

Non-SU!:
Cuttlebug Beautifully Boxed Tag Team
Diamantes/Rhinestones







The inset is of the back view so that you can see the embossed stripes (if the JPEG compression allows it).

Only 5 more days to the new SU! catalogue launch. Belle, a very talented friend of mine, posted a gorgeous beauty shot incorporating the new catalogue. Have a peek!