"Performs related duties as assigned."

Did you ever have a job description that listed a number of responsibilities and the last one was "Performs related duties as assigned?" My job description as a senior secretary at Kent State University included that description. This was one of my assigned duties.....

WAIT FOR IT!!!

.....turn a bus into a boat.

Gilligan's  Island

This is what happens when your employer knows you can sew.  Under this ship is an ENTIRE BUS!  This boat float was made in the mid 1990's.

I was responsible for:

• Creating the pattern
• Tracing the pattern
• Sewing material to metal frame

Praise the Lord they didn't make me dress up as Gilligan. 

I worked in the Campus Bus Service Department.  Every other year or so, we gutted the inside of a bus that was no longer usable and created a float for the Homecoming Parade. 

Our first float was the magic lamp from the movie Aladdin.  We paper mached a bus that was wrapped in chicken wire - what a mess that was.  We also created space shuttle and diner restaurant.  Phew....glad those days are behind me.

The moral of the story:  Keep your mouth shut!

All Occasion Planner

Amazing Crafters - Sharing Their Talents!

I am often inspired by the many women (mostly women) that share their talents to everyone via the internet. I have created a few tutorials in Adobe PDF and know how much time it takes to create on tutorial. I have not attempted to even make a video to post to YouTube. I use a customized search on YouTube and look every day for videos created with Stampin’ Up! tag lines. I stumbled on these videos this week and I had to create a planner for myself. I decided to make mine an all-occasion planner rather than a Christmas planner.

Check out these two videos by Michelle Suit to see the step-by-step process to make the planner. I did not come up with the planner idea and they are not my videos. Please take the time to “Like” the video and post a comment for Michelle. Videos: Part 1 and Part 2.  Please refer to Michelle's video for an explanation on how to put the planner together.

Stampin’ Up! Products

• Tangerine Tango cardstock
• 2 pieces, each measuring 8 1/2" x 11 (Score at 5 1/4" and 5 3/4" along the 11" length)
• 2 strips each measuring 4" x 1 3/8" (the final measurement after using the Scallop Trim Border punch is 4" x 1")
• Flower on envelope
• So Saffron cardstock
• 2 pieces, each measuring 5" x 4 (Score at 1/4", 1/2", 4 1/2" and 4 3/4" along the 5" length and score at 1/4" and 1/2" on one of the remaining sides (I constructed my pockets differently than Michelle)

• Front panel embellishment - circle
• Old Olive cardstock
• Front panel embellishment - scallop circle
• 1 3/8" circle
• Whisper White cardstock
• 1 1/4" circle
• Haiku Designer Series Paper
• 5" x 8 1/4"  to cover the panels.  (I covered four panels)
• 3/8" x 8 1/4" to cover the spines
• 4" x 1/2" for trim on pockets
• 5" x 2 1/4" to cover the legal pad (Score at 1" and 1 1/4")
• 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" to cover envelope
• 1" x 12" for front panel medallion embellishment
• Tangerine Tango and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
• Broadsheet Alphabet stamp set
• Scallop Trim Border and 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle punches
• Flower Burst Embosslit die
• 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain ribbon
• Sticky Strip
• Multi-purpose Liquid Glue

Other Products

• Envelope - A2 size (5 3/4" x 4 3/8")
• Scallop circle die (3 1/4" diameter)
• Circle die (2 3/4" diameter)
• 3/8" coordinating ribbon (similar to Old Olive)
• Low-temp hot glue
• 5" x 7" legal pad
• Velcro dots (I placed these behind the legal pad instead of adhesive)

Kissed Pretzels

I haven't taste tested these - that is my husband's job.  I found the idea on the internet (of course) - they would look better with pretzels shaped in a circle, but my local Walmart didn't have them.  Rold Gold does make a bagel pretzel that is in the shape of a circle, I might just have to try them.

Preheat your over to 250 degrees.  Place pretzels on a cookie sheet (I am using parchment paper as a liner) and place one Hershey Kiss in the middle of the pretzel.  Bake for three to four minutes - don't leave the room.  I baked mine for 3 1/2 minutes.

Remove from the oven and gently place one M&M in the middle of each kiss.  The kiss will spread out; patience will give you a better looking Kissed Pretzel.

YUM