Katie's Niche

Celebrating Mom

2011-02-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthentine's Day to my MOM!!

She is...dare I say it....she won't know...she's 74 today!

I'm so thankful to the Lord that she is still with us, making memories with us, and telling us all the stories of our family.

I haven't made a card since Father's Day...GASP!

Don't really know why, just didn't make it into my craft room to do more then play on the computer. I always have intentions to, but life gets in the way.

I went hunting for inspiration to get me back into the swing of things and found this card over at SCS that caught my eye. Maybe because I could do it without stamping...I don't know.

I added a layer of cardstock behind the hearts to make them pop a bit.

And aren't those glitter brads beautiful!!!!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope everyone enjoys their Valentine's day with someone they love.

Accessories: [Everything SU unless stated] Designer Paper Razzleberry Lemonade, Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry. Heart Punch, Glimmer Brads, Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain, Rich Razzleberry Taffeta and a Cuttlebug Folder.

When it's been too long

2011-02-08T21:38:00.001-05:00

So, I was in my craft room today, actually working on a card....
...and you know it's been too long when you feel like you are in someone else's craft room. I was feeling so lost. When SU changed around their colors with the new catalog last summer, I moved all my colors around, and today I was so lost. I didn't know where things were...never mind what I had, lol. Guess it will be like new discoveries for me :)

A whole new year...

2011-01-18T16:40:00.009-05:00

Hello everyone.

I'm sure you are all shocked to see that I am finally posting, after about 5 months. Crazy isn't it, how life just moves you in different directions. As this blog had mostly always been about paper crafting, I haven't inked up since May/June. Coming into my craft room today, I didn't know where things were. I also use this same room for my computer so it's not like I haven't been in here, but I didn't have any creative feelings in my soul, so I would just do my computer work, pay bills, email, facebook etc....and pretend that all those beautiful stamps, ribbons, paper etc weren't calling my name.

Since I last posted, my husband came back from a deployment, we went up to Maine for a visit, started homeschooling my teen, hubby went on another deployment for only 6 weeks, we celebrated our little one's second birthday,

enjoyed the holidays here and also went back to Maine to celebrate our Lord's birth there as well.

We had such a blessed Christmas, the Lord was so good to us. I just know that this new year will bring wonderful things to our family.

My husband is now on shore duty after what seemed like forever on sea duty. Even when we were overseas, he was always gone, so really it's been about 6 years since we've all just been home together. Now, he has an instructor position, so he'll be home regularly....later I'm sure you'll hear me post about how he's home too much.

Our teen is enjoying homeschooling. She is also enjoying the new laptop she received for Christmas. The PC she had been using went kaput......sorta like mine had over the summer, so we are both sporting new laptops. We can find her schooling in the dining room....in her room....in the living room.....on the road....it's nice to be so flexible. She is doing Switched On Schoolhouse 10th grade curriculum. It's working pretty well so far, yet we are undecided on which plan we will use for 11th grade.

Our two year old is in speech, has been since September, and doing well. He has many ways of getting his point across, from sounds, gestures, actual words and sign language. He's just behind in his speech articulation, so I believe by this time next year he'll be caught up and talking my ears off. He's such a happy tyke.

For Christmas he got a train table, and that has become his favorite place to hang out. Really anything .... planes, trains, automobiles ... that's his idea of fun.

The twins...our Maine Coons...are just as wonderful as ever. They hide quite often from the terror, I mean joy of our lives....our two year old. As he finds it funny to run after them just to do it. He doesn't hurt them, just loves to chase them around the house.

As for me. I'm adjusting to my teen being home all the time. Enjoying our playgroup for little ones my sons age. Loving our church family. Missing our families back home. And finally feeling like life isn't moving as quickly. I think this is why you are seeing me here today. I am working hard at slowing down. Spending more time in the Word, praying, reading etc. and I feel that is doing what I've been needing for quite some time. He knows what I need. He knows when I need it. It's always amazing to me how He just has it all planned out. I thought I would start back gently....beading pens :)

When I was home, I noticed that the ones I had previously made for my Mom were coming to the end of their ink supply, so time for a treat in the mail :) And I think I'll make some more and add them to my store. Something to start a spark at my Etsy store and in the core of my creativity. Maybe it's still there. Have a wonderful week.

My wonderful birthday RAKs

2010-08-16T14:50:00.002-04:00

My birthday was back in July, but I've been so consumed with my Navy hubby returning home on August 1st....I haven't stamped in forever, I feel like I've neglected all my wonderful rubber. I think ... finally, things are coming back to a normal routine and I hope to get a bit inky this week if at all possible.

For now, I wanted to share with you all, the wonderful cards that I received from friends on SCS. One is even from one of the lovely gals in the Ocean's 11 blogger group.

This one is beautiful and from 'marinemom01' over at SCS

What a lovely pocket card from 'Brad's Mom' over at SCS

This one makes me want to take out my crimper and make lovely note cards. This one is from 'Mad Muffin' over at SCS.

And last but certainly not lease is the one from fellow Ocean's 11....Adventures from the Monkey Hut....she did a wonderful job with this card. Love the butterflies. Dying to know if they were Jollees or if she somehow made them. So very pretty!

I had a wonderful birthday...even the card from my Mom was butterflies, it must've been the year of the butterfly! So lovely, I felt so loved. Thank you all so much for thinking of me.

Praying for you

2010-06-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

I don't make these cards too often, but since I had out my Thoughts and Prayers set I made a few to tide me over :) I even sent one off to my mom, I'm always thinking about her.

Made use of some buttons, I don't do that too often. But, lately they've been calling out to me. And the eyelet border punch was a perfect touch for this card. Softly sponged the edges and tied some ribbon.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Blue Bayou and Whisper White cardstocks, sponge, eyelet border punch, blue bayou ribbon, white organdy, and buttons.

Always be remembered

2010-06-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

My wonderful aunt passed away recently. This is the card that I sent off
to my uncle. They are a very dear couple and she will be greatly missed.

I am loving this set, as it's new to me :) Getting lots of use out of it already. Sponged over the tree to give it that spring/summer look. It's been embossed and the sponging goes over it very easily.

Pretty basic card, yet I really love it.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Wild Wasabi, River Rock and Whisper White cardstock. River Rock ribbon, EP, Oval Punches, paper piercing and brads.

Happy Father's Day Honey

2010-06-20T07:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband!
He's a great father and step-dad and we all love him so much.

He is a getting a new grill for Father's Day this year
and this card certainly will be received as a BTUtiful thing!
He'll be in our back yard with all the birds flying around for sure!

And always thinking of my own father who went home to be with our Heavenly Father. He was a wonderful father to us. I love and miss you Dad. Thinking of you today and always.

Set: King of the Grill
Accessories: Maine Blueberry DP, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue and Whisper White cardstocks, CB Folder, Punch, Old Olive Ribbon, Jolee

A friend makes it easy

2010-06-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

I missed my good friends birthday, so after all this time passed I felt I just wanted to get a card off to her anyway, so here it is:

I love these pinks and greens together, so pretty! I used markers to color the image so that I could use two colors. I embossed the sentiment. Layered the ribbons and used the CuttleBug for the background.

Set: Thoughts and Prayers
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White cardstocks. Pink Pirouette and Regal Rose ribbons, SS Brads and SU buttons.

What a blessing

2010-06-17T17:12:00.002-04:00

My lovely daughter is 15 today.
Again...where does the time go? She's such a lovely lady.
I'm so very proud of the woman she is becoming.
She is talented, kind, funny, smart, thoughtful, caring...the
list goes on and on.
I am so very proud that she is mine and so very blessed that
God gave her to me.

I've been wanting this set for so long, and I've seen so many wonderful
cards made with it. I raised the flowers to make them stand out and even
added crystal effects to the cap. And I used new colors!!!! How fun!

Also, I took out my trusty brayer to make the background, goodness I love
that tool!!

Thanks for coming by!

Set: Inspired by Nature, Hugs & Wishes
Accessories: Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Not Quite Navy & Whisper White cardstocks, Old Olive ribbon (really close to the pear), Scallop edge punch, Crystal Effects, brads, brayer.

Comfort

2010-06-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

I've had the need for a couple of sympathy cards lately. This is one of the ones I made. I just love this set. The tree can be used for so many things.

I used my new Smooch Spritz on this card, it's going to take a bit to get used to it. Sometimes it comes out a lot other times a little, I need to figure out the strength in my finger :) I sponged some blue into the sky and green for grass, just to add a little something more.

I pulled out my Copper paper that I haven't used in forever and found some eyelets that matched. I think they go great with the Spritz!

Set: Thoughts & Prayers
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Wile Wasabi, Brushed Copper & Whisper White cardstocks. Blue Bayou ribbon and Copper cord. EP.

Here we go...again

2010-06-08T07:00:00.003-04:00

More fun with my grilling guy!
He really is a lot of fun to color. And I always find
that I need more masculine cards, so I went to town.

I found these brads that I believe I got from GinaK
a while back and never used. I have more product that
seems to hide on me amongst all that wonderful stamping
stuff....and once in a while it surfaces.

Set: King of the Grill
Accessories: Western Sky DP, Ruby Red, Sky Blue, River Rock and Whisper White cardstock, Blue Bayou Ribbon, Hardware Brads, Circle Cutter, Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch

King of the Grill

2010-06-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

As promised, here is another of my fun guy.
He's out playing on the grill and a big ol' dragon fly
is trying to steal his steak!

I used the crimper to add some texture to the
background, and it seemed masculine. Almost like
the texture on the grill itself.

Striped are better suited for a man's card then flowers,
huh? But, on the last one, I figured that they were at
least not pink, HA!

Set: King of the Grill
Accessories: Treehouse DP, True Thyme, More Mustard, Buckaroo Blue & Whisper White cardstocks, Cranberry Crisp Ribbon, So Saffron Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Button

One of a few...

2010-05-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

I've been playing with a new set from the Summer Mini.
I think he's kinda cute :)
My hubby is getting a new grill this summer and this set
will suit him :)

I pulled out some designer papers that didn't look
completely feminine, it's so hard to make masculine
cards.

I used some retired HodgePodge to add some heartiness
to the card. I also used my old cloud stencil for the sky. That is not something that should ever have retired.
There will be more of these to come :)

Set:King of the Grill
Accessories: Razzleberry Lemonade DP, Whisper White, Crushed Curry & Pumpkin Pie cardstocks, Oval Punch, Crushed Curr Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, Pewter HP, Circle Cutter

Time flies when you are having fun!

2010-05-26T23:24:00.002-04:00

My little guy turned 18 months today!
One and a half, I can't believe it!
Time sure does fly when you are having fun!
And that is exactly what I'm having with this one.
He's such a joy...full of hugs and smiles.
He's so smart and funny!
I'm so blessed that my Lord gave this bundle to me.

This was taken in April, his first time at the beach this year.
He just loved walking on the sand and feeling it in his fingers.
It's going to be a fun summer! I love the beach.

And this is him in the back yard. He has a love
for water, so a water table was perfect for him.
Splash away my son!

And with 18 months comes curiosity! He found the
water/ice machine on the fridge. And I found a good use
for the extra rubber that comes on a set! I put three pieces
together and stuffed them under the levers. I don't use
them and we dont have a switch to turn it off, so these are
a great fix! Well...that is until he figures out how to pull
them out, lol.

Thanks for visiting today! Have a great night!

Greatest Gift

2010-05-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

I think family is such a great gift.

I sent this card to my sister-in-law for her birthday this month. Every birthday should be special for everyone. Another year blessed!

Holding the card in my hand that buckle didn't look so overpowering, but now in the picture it does. I love purples and greens together. I had been wanting the Upsy Daisy set so that I could do the background like I did here....now I get to do it with this set instead :)

Set: Of the Earth (SU)
Accessories: Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery and Whisper White cardstocks, inks & markers, cutter kit, Certainly Celery twill, Eggplant Grosgrain, Circle cutter, HodgePodge.

What?

2010-05-07T14:57:00.003-04:00

Hi friends!

It's been so long since I've visited all of you.

Life has been really busy with hubby's deployment, my teen's school activities and of course the extra time that I get to spend daily with my toddler. I wouldn't give up that time for anything.

So, inking it up has gone on the sidebar for a while...and now it seems things are settling in and I feel like getting inky again ;) I think some of Stampin' UP's changes have even inspired me to get back to it. Lots of things coming up for the July catalog....and new colors always get me in the mood!

Anyway, to get the ball rolling, I have this card that I sent to my hubby for Easter. It's very very past Easter, but it's still a cute card. You'll have to forgive me, I didn't write down what I used and it's been so long I don't have all the info...but I'll tell you what I remember. I've seen this joke around the net for years and then when this stamp came out it was all over SCS as well. He got a kick out of it.

I used a Martha Stewart grass punch, a Stampendous egg punch and the talking bubbles I created on the computer. The bunny is "Chocolate Bunny" from Stampin' UP! which I embossed to make it shine like a real chocolate bunny, YUM!

And I used the scallop circle punch from SU to take a 'bite' out of one bunny's bum and the other bunny's ears. That was mighty tastey ;)

I hope you are all having a wonderful spring! Here in VA the weather has been just magnificent this week. We've been outside daily, soaking in those rays!

Also, I want to thank my blogger group on SCS "Oceans 11" for not giving up on me!

For someone special

2010-02-26T15:46:00.003-05:00

With my hubby deployed, we have been sending him out care packages, and what's more exciting then to receive a package with a little love in it?

Of course this was his Valentine/February package, so instead of me making a card, I got my little guy (who is 15 months old today!) to work his magic....ok, I helped :)

Do you know how hard it is to get a one year old to hold his hand flat to make a print? It's crazy. These took a few attempts but I'm happy with the prints we got. I used the Heart to Heart punch...perfect! And I found a large heart on line that I printed onto Whisper White so that I could write inside it.

Inside the card I attached a couple pics of our little guy, so that Daddy would have them to place near his computer on the ship.

We've been busy around here....and even a bit sick. My teen has the tummy flu, I've had a chest cold....baby is teething, we achieved our first molar this past month. So much getting in the way of my ink and rubber. Enjoy your weekend and thank you for coming by!

Our Birthentine

2010-02-15T15:11:00.002-05:00

I was hoping to get this posted yesterday, but I guess the day got away from me....anywho....

Happy Birthentine's Day to my Mom! She's a Valentine baby, so she's always our Valentine.

She really enjoyed this card...maybe it was the chocolate ;)

It was fun to make. However, if you want to do the treat cup anywhere but an edge, be prepared to do some cutting with your knife. I ended up punching out the heart from my Full Heart punch and then tracing it and cutting it...so that I could have it where I wanted it. Where there's a will....

I used Rose Red, Certainly Celery and Whisper White for this card. And the sentiment was just from Word and printed on cardstock. The grass is a Martha punch and I used the Sweetheart set from SU.

Thanks for taking a peek today! Have a great day!

Fabulous Bella

2010-02-04T15:40:00.003-05:00

What a week...still stampin' and everything! I love this!

I pulled out a stack of images I received in an image swap and found this one. I have never done a Bella card, she's kinda cool. She's like Barbie, she can do anything.

This gal seems a bit country with her flower pot, so I decided that I would bling her up just a bit. I added the rhinestones and a bit of Iridescent Ice on her lashes, dress hem and shoes. Just enough to feel pretty as she goes to her friends house to present her with these flowers. What a fabulous friend she is.

Set: Bella, Oval All
Accessories: Perfect Plum, Regal Rose and white cardstocks, Slumber Party DP, Various inks with Aqua Painter, Iridescent Ice, rhinestones, Eyelet Edge Punch, Regal Rose & Eggplant Ribbons, Large & XL Oval Punches, sponge

I'm Stampin' I'm Stampin'!!

2010-02-02T16:47:00.003-05:00

It's been such a long time since I've been stamping!! It feels so good, my fingers are full of Melon Mambo ink! I made a huge mess of my workspace and loved it! I had to pick it up to take the pictures...and I do try to when I finish something anyway....but oh what a mess I made ;)

I had no idea where I wanted to begin or go with my new toys. I got a couple sets in that were Valentine-y and I have my new punches and the Embosslit etc that I wanted to play with, so with it all laying in front of me...I was a bit overwhelmed and feeling like I had no mojo whatsoever...but in the end I'm pretty happy with my project to day.

When I had the colors all laid out in front of me, my teenage daughter came in the room ....they have had no school yet this week, all that snow from the weekend has kept them home. 8" would never have stopped school in Maine! anyway....she was shocked at how bright my selection was. I just felt like I needed something bright. It's begun raining...after all that snow, and should go into tomorrow....bright was called for!

I've used a bit of dimension here as well as much needed bling, the rhinestones were the best little touch to the card. I put my edge punch, my two heart punches, my embosslit and a new set to use...talk about getting it all in. Did I over-do it?

Thank you for taking a peek at my blog today :)

Set: Sweetheart
Accessories: Razzelberry Lemonade DP, Whisper white, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Green Galore cardstocks, Inks, Crushed Curry & White ribbons, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Small Heart Punch, Full Heart Punch, Rhinestone, Embosslit Scalloped Heart of Hearts & sponge.

Definitely Decorative

2010-01-30T13:51:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!
I know it's been a long long time since I posted. I really don't know where this month has gone.

I am starting to miss my inks and hope to get them out this weekend! With this snow storm that is belting us, I really have the time...no place to go! So far we have 6 inches, but it's knocking at the windows now, so the sleet is hitting, I don't know how much more accumulation we'll get, but it's still coming down.

I took my little guy out in the sled earlier, but the wind was blowing too much, he didn't enjoy it as much as he did when we visited Maine at Christmas.

It's quite something to see folks out in whatever they could find to keep warm. Shoveling with dirt shovels instead of snow shovels. Wearing bags over their feet to keep them dry, it's really funny. I have all the gear, so I take it for granted.

My daughter has been loving the snow! She and her friends were out playing in it earlier today. You are never too old to have fun in the snow...even in high school, it's still fun :)

This past week I got in an order. I've been debating on the definitely decorative things from Stampin' UP!, but only because we are renting. However, for our anniversary hubby got me this clock. He looked on-line and for year 6 it's iron, so he found this...pretty isn't it??

Well, it looked so lonely on the wall above the TV nook, so I thought some flair would spice it up. It's pretty. Now that it's up, I think I could've turned them a different way, but I still like it. It's a great idea to just add that touch to a plain wall. I've even seen some stores using this technique now.

Well, thanks for visiting today! Keep warm! I'm going to go watch a good movie...then maybe come back to ink, while baby sleeps :)

Snow Slopes

2009-12-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hello again!
Here is my third card.
This set, Patterned Pines, was actually sent to me from my wonderful friend Katrina!
Thank you so much, it really makes beautiful trees.

I didn't know what I wanted to do with this card, but I knew I wanted to use Real Red this time. After doing the other two in other shades, I wanted the true color for my third card. So, along with that came the Glorious Green, so bold and beautiful, perfect for Christmas.

This was a pretty basic card, in that it's clean and crisp without too much going on. I really like that about it. And the red polka dot ribbon was a perfect match for the embossing folder I used.

When you make the snow slope, if you do it just right, you'll get two cards from one piece of white cardstock. Another time savor when you are doing an assembly line of cards for Christmas.

Set: Patterned Pines & Holiday Best
Accessories: Real Red, Glorious Green & Whisper White cardstocks, Scallop Punch, CB Folder, White EP, Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon, Real Red & Glorious Green inks.

New Years is around the corner. Not sure what we might have planned (as I am typing this early and setting it to post later...) but I don't think I will be awake at midnight, with my little guy, I can't do those late nights anymore, unless he is the one keeping me awake. To all my wonderful friends and family, have a wonderful and safe New Year! Enjoy and may you have a great 2010!

Delightful Ornaments

2009-12-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

I hope you are all having a wonderful week.
This week is usually so busy for many, between traveling and of course visiting with loved ones.
Stay safe!

Here is my second card of the year.
I love these ornaments. And that ornament punch is genius! Not only a time savor, but a mind savor, it saved me from cutting all those out. I think it's one of my favorite punches!

It's great to hold onto some of the older sets, you never know when you'll need something...like the pine stamp for my tree. I could just smell the pine as I was stamping away, felt like I was in the tree ;)

You can't really see it in the picture, but I added white to the centers of the embossed flowers. I originally planned to use my white gel pen, but neither of them wanted to work, so I used a white Koh-i-nor pencil, it rubbed on easily.

For fun I added a little rhinestone in the middle of Joy.

I also like having my old "In Colors" on hand. The last card I posted sported the Cranberry Crisp from our first year of In Colors, and this one has the Purely Pomegranate. It's always hard to part with the colors when the book ends, but you see...I don't really part, they stay on for a while. Nice to have so many shades of red.

Set: Delightful Decorations & Pines
Accessories: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi & Whisper White cardstocks, Purely Pomegranate & Wild Wasabi ink, Petals A Plenty folder, white pencil, rhinestone, silver cord, Purely Pomegranate satin ribbon, White taffeta, ornament punch

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family!

I have, once again, made three different Christmas cards this year.
Hopefully by now, they are in the hands of all my loved ones.
I will post one today....this one was voted as both my husbands and my daughters favorite of the three I made.

When I saw this set in the mini catalog, I just fell in love with it.
That polar bear is just ... well, cuddly! I could give him a big ol' hug.
But, I'll just enjoy some hot cocoa with him instead.

I think we are all getting spoiled. It used to be that we used background stamps for everything and now these embossing folders make life so easy and there is more texture to make our cards pop. I love it!

And again, you can see that I got out my brayer, I think it made a wonderful background for our bear friend.

Set: Cold & Cuddly
Accessories: Cranberry Crisp, Bordering Blue, Whisper White cardstocks & Holiday Thyme DP. Brayer, Dazzeling Diamonds, White EP, Scallop Oval Punch, Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Taffeta White Ribbon, Cranberry Crisp Stitched Ribbon, Sponge and Snowflakes CB folder.

Cold and Cuddly Birthday

2009-12-16T15:55:00.005-05:00

Hello all, I'm still around, just becoming a bit consumed with the whole holiday season. I love this time of the year. We have our tree up, we've been to a couple Christmas gatherings, tonight we are even going caroling, which I haven't done in years! I'm so excited. Only if we could have a bit of snow...but I will have to just dream of a White Christmas instead. I love that movie. And now that I'm almost done with my Christmas cards, I'll be able to sit down and watch it along with a bunch of others that I've been wanting to see.

Anyway....

Today is my favorite sister's birthday (Happy Birthday!!)....yup, you guessed it, I have just the one. However, I do have a couple great sister-in-laws :). It's not snowing in Maine today, but they do have snow, and with a winter birthday, I thought I would have fun with this set. I hope she likes it. Her favorite color is purple, so I try to use it in her birthday cards, this year was Almost Amethyst, since it reminds me of a cold snowy color.

On SCS I saw a couple cards with stacked penguins and I thought it was just too cute, so here they are. There are four of us in our family, so we are all sending her celebrations on her birthday!!

I used last years Felt Flurries and added a bit of glitter to the snow. I just hope it doesn't melt too much, or these guys will all tumble down.

Set: Cold & Cuddly, Wonderful Words
Accessories: Almost Amethyst Ink and Paper, Whisper White cardstock, StazOn Black in, Markers, Felt Flurry, Sticker Dots, Eyelet Edge Punch

I don't know about you all....but I like to settle down and enjoy the holidays as much as I can. I've been baking, card making and running around, so I've put my Etsy store on Vacation mode so I won't have to run to the post office after I mail my cards....I've just about finished shopping, so I will be making some hot cocoa, getting the wrapping paper out and putting on one of my many movies to enjoy.

Merry Christmas everyone. Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Elmo, Cake and Mommy's Big Boy

2009-12-02T14:14:00.011-05:00

Hello again everyone!

Now I am a whole year old! Mommy cried. She said that the year went by too fast. She said that even though she’s thrilled with each moment, she can’t believe that it was a year ago that I was placed into her arms for the first time. I remember that too, I knew that very moment that I was the luckiest kid alive.

She said I’m her turkey. Since my birthday was on Thanksgiving, she even got me a special bib. It had a turkey on it and a 1, so I must be her #1 turkey. I think it looked rather good on me.

I had fun on my birthday. I got to try some new foods… I haven’t decided what I like to eat. I sometimes let her get it into my mouth, but quite often it comes right back out…sometimes I even reach Mommy with it, it’s funny. She says she doesn’t like to wear my lunch. And now that I’m one, I even get milk and that stuff is yummy, but not nearly as yummy as EGG NOG, that stuff rocks!!

And chocolate…where have they been hiding this. My cake was chocolate with my buddy Elmo on the top (and yes...Mommy made my cake). I tried to get him off the cake so that he could celebrate with me, but I smudged him instead and well, at that point I thought I’d just lick him off my fingers, that seemed to work.

So, the secret is, all you have to do to get some fun new toys is have a birthday. That seems easy enough. And everyone around seems to have done it plenty of times, so I think I like how this works. And Mommy even made me a cool Elmo card.

(images taken from online, Elmo flocked, cake/1 glittered)

After I finished my cake…I started in on my hat. That was really yummy!!

Over the past six months I grew so much! I am walking all over the place now and the house looks like a zoo, really it does! Not that I’m an animal or that we have lions or anything…but there are cages everywhere! There must be some really great stuff beyond those gates, I’m going to find out soon, but the plan is still in the works. For now, when she is in the other room, I will just stand there and yell at her to come back. She seems to like this.

I also have 8 whole teeth! I have a really handsome smile! Yup, I use it all the time and it really helps me to get what I want. But, when it doesn’t work, I use the old standby, crocodile tears! Those things are awesome!! And they really come in handy. Mom says that although I don’t talk yet, she usually knows what I want, she's right.

Well, that is all for now, I’ll be back, just you wait and see.
~Garrett

Thanksgiving Blessings

2009-11-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

There are countless blessings that I am thankful for today.

All the blessings that my Lord bestows on me daily, many I don't even recognize. He is so good.

I am so thankful for my little boy who is ONE today, yes, he's my special Thanksgiving treat. A year ago I was in the hospital with him in my arms. He's such a joy!

I am thankful for my daughter, so bright and beautiful. She has such a big heart. She came home with Honor Roll this week, her first quarter of her first year in high school. We are so proud.

I am thankful for my husband, he's always so loving and caring to all of us. Thankful for his back surgery he had a month ago and that he is doing so well.

I am thankful for my family back home. They are missed daily and thought of all the time.

As we approach another year, I pray we count our blessings.

A Happy Place

2009-11-22T16:20:00.003-05:00

Hello all, life has a way of getting away from me, I have still yet to start my Christmas cards! Yikes. Better get a start on those....plus, for some reason the computer wasn't allowing me to upload cards/pictures, so that is fixed now.

Anyway, my hubby had back surgery on his birthday at the end of October and this is the card I made him. I figured that he could use a happy place while in all that discomfort. Inside has the birthday wishes, of course.

I found a bit of inspiration on SCS for this card. I just love this set. JeanneS had one that was pretty similar with the two-toned trees, that I liked.

I used the Zindorf way of brayering my background, goodness I like that....and added the rhinestones for those precious diamonds in the sky.

Yesterday was our anniversary and no, I didn't make him a card for that. Just no time. I need time to stop for a while, so that I can catch up. But, before I start on Christmas cards, my little guy turns one ON Thanksgiving, so I have to make him a special card to celebrate that day.

Have a great week!!

Stamps: Cute Converse, Happy Camper
Accessories: Brocade Blue, Whisper White, Night of Navy and Going Grey cardstocks. Rhinestones, brayer.

From the heart

2009-11-02T11:19:00.002-05:00

I made a card for my Mom, my parents anniversary was in October and since Dad's passing, each year we try to make it special for her just the same. And this card really was 'from the heart'. Their marriage is what brought all of us here.....

Anyway, I found the idea for this card over at Michelle Zindorf's blog, she's a true artist. I really love pulling out my brayer now. I never used to use it at all. It's such a wonderful tool!

I have different stamps then she used, but it still worked. I love pulling out my Artfully Asian set anyway :)

Set: Artfully Asian, F3345 Large Grass (The Happy Stamper), Shore Thing, Holidays and Wishes.
Accessories: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay & Basic Gray cardstocks, Stamp A Majig, Brayer, Sponge, White Gel pen, Various SU Inks, Light Pink Organdy (retired) and Light Pink Grosgrain.

A True Golden Oldie

2009-10-28T14:18:00.004-04:00

My older brother hit 50 this past week! I'm stunned that one of us is half way to triple digits!!
I'm out of town, but his wife put on a grand party for him, I'm told I'll get to see the video :)

He's always been a funny one in the family, both in humor and looking so I thought this would be the perfect set to use!

I tried to find an old man type paper to use and this seemed to fit. Not to pink, not too floral. It's from the Razzleberry Lemonade DP. I paper pieced his shorts with the DP.

He doesn't look a day over 49, but he'll now have to claim the big 5-0!!

Set: Golden Oldies, Whimsical Numbers
Accessories: Razzleberry Lemonade DP, Crushed Curry & Whisper White cardstock, Crushed Curry ink & ribbon, Jumbo Brads, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop oval and med oval punches

Voila it's a sweet treat!

2009-10-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

These sweet treats out of the Holiday Mini catalog are brilliant! I haven't used my Voila chef in quite some time, but when pondering which set to use for these cups, his little platter came to mind. Perfect fit!

Today is my brother's birthday and since I had made some fun cards for his kids birthdays, last month, I thought I'd make him something fun too!

I paper pieced the chef's outfit and added some brads for his buttons. Then I sponged around for some color. I wanted him to be able to get the candy without tearing the card, so I followed the instructional video over on FroggieStamps, very easy to follow. Now, I know he'll give in and his kiddos will end up with the sweet treat.

Set: Voila
Accessories: Main Blueberry DP, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive & Whisper White cardstocks, Sweet Treat cups, Brads, Circle Punch, Sponge

Shenandoah National Park

2009-10-16T21:15:00.003-04:00

I have always wanted to get over to the Shenandoah National Park. I lived here in Virginia years ago, when my daughter was small, and never made it that far in-land. I always seem to stay by the coast, now that we are back....it was time for a drive. It's about a 4 hour drive from the beach, but well worth it. We finally went this past Sunday and what a wonderful day we had. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it smelled so crisp and fresh with the fall air! I loved it!!

The views were spectacular. Very breathtaking. I actually felt like I was back in New England. Just about each year, when I'm there, we go into the White Mountains to drive up the Kangamangus Highway...so I felt like I was home :)

One thing that really caught my eye, was all the rock walls that lined the street. A lot of time went into those, but WOW! So much better then any metal guard rail, that's for sure.

We stopped at one spot to stretch our legs. My little guy is just about ready to run any day, he has taken as many as 9 steps on his own. His big sister is enjoying her little brother.

And a little time for leaf play.

And just as we got back into the car to start driving again, there were two does on the side of the road. They didn't run off, but stayed put while many cars stopped to take their portraits.

Nothing like getting back into nature for the day. I hope you all get out to enjoy a piece of fall if you can.

Courage

2009-10-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

I love it when SU gets a new military stamp set in. I knew I had to have this one. Even though it's taken me a while to get it inked, I really like how this came out. Even hubby liked it.

We have yet another birthday over on Ocean's 11. This one is being sent to another military wife, I'm sure she'll enjoy it! The inspiration for this card came from JackieB over at SCS.

I brayered Ruby Red and Not Quite Navy from the edges, I think it gave a wonderful effect over the Soft Suede cardstock. The soldier has been bleached. I haven't done that in ages. What a great image it makes.

I didn't feel it needed much else in the line of colors, the image says it all. Just a bit of the red and blue here and there.

Being military, as this set shows, brings you closer to God. Well, if nothing else will do it, it's great that this will. Our men and women need someone to lean on and know that someone is watching out for them. It's great when they go to God for that comfort that they need. And even for those of us at home. Knowing God is in control makes their deployments more bearable.

Set: Courage
Accessories: Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy & Sahara Sand cardstocks, Various Inks, Bleach, Black EP, Photo Corner Punch, Cutter Kit, Brads, Brayer, White Gel Pen

A Little Witchy

2009-10-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

It's October and fall is in the air, I'm loving it!!

I'm not a big Halloween gal, but I really love my retired Best Fiends set, they are ghouly.

There are a couple birthdays this week on the Oceans 11 blog roll and this is for one of the gals. She's been really into Halloween lately, so I took it as my opportunity to dig out my set and put it to use. Not the traditional Happy Birthday kinda card, but I'm sure it will be enjoyed nonetheless.

I used this retired DP since it reminds me of the Wizard of Oz.....Follow the Yellow Brick Road! It's not yellow, but you get the idea. The idea/inspiration of the card came from wendybell over on SCS. I've been using my brayer a lot more lately, so I put it to use here as well.

I embossed the image, then colored it in with various inks and my aqua painter. And my circle cutter came out as well!

Set: Just Between Fiends, Best Fiends, Arachnophobia Wheel
Accessories: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie & Whisper White cardstocks, Creepy Crawly DP, Retired More Mustard Grosgrain, Brayer, Black EP, Various SU Inks
Edit to fix my spelling of ghouly, lol.

Decoder Card

2009-09-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

Today is my nephew's 3rd birthday, and in the attempt to find a cool card to make I came across the decoder card tutorial on SCS, I thought this would be the perfect 'cool' card for a little boy! You can see the tutorial here.

Also, I had just started to play around with Michelle Zindorf's style of backgrounds and this is my very first card using her style....it isn't the same piece of artwork that she does, but I hope to get better at it. I think the brayer with different color layers really make wonderful backgrounds. Check out her blog here.

For the decoder bags I used a marker to color in the bags so that I could leave out the ties that was binding them together, this left me room to write my message.

Lots of cutting and popping up to give dimension. And I tied the decoder window on the corner so that it can be tucked into the card for mailing.

It's hard to see, took me a while to get a picture that would show anything, but in real life, it comes out pretty well.

I used the googlie eyes for the critters, I thought it would be more fun, and it's all about fun!!

Sets: Under the Stars, Pines, Canvas
Accessories: Buckaroo Blue, Soft Suede, Confetti White, Old Olive, True Thyme & Whisper White cardstocks, Various Inks, Googlie Eyes (3 & 4 mm), French Blue Ribbon (retired), Aqua Painter, Brayer, Sponge, Square Punch & cutter, Red Cellophane.

First day of High School

2009-09-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

Can you remember your first day of high school?
I do, I remember what I was wearing (picture mid-80s, yikes....not sure if the styles are any better today) and how we all sat in the gymnasium for much of the day. I remember seeing all my friends and acting silly while we pretended to listen to what was being said. It was the start of 4 great years!!

Well, my daughter is starting her adventures in high school today. I can't believe my baby is going into high school. Am I really old enough to have a high school student for a child?? I have an infant too, so that makes it all really surreal.

I noticed these adorable backpacks on SCS and knew it would be the perfect first day of school type card. I've loaded it with candy and $$$$$$$. Yup, lunch money and special money. When we did the freshman orientation, we stopped by the school store and she eyed the sweatshirts. So, we figured that it would be a nice first day of high school type gift to give her the $$ to go in and pick one out. I know it's something that will get lots of wear over the next 4 years.

I used Textured Eggplant for the pack, I thought it looked more like the actual fabric of a backpack. Then I had to go onto my computer to print out the extra layer on the top flap for her school info. 2013, what a year to graduate!!

I also pulled out a retired wheel that I have which is perfect for those lion paw tracks!!! Maybe I'll get more use out of that wheel over the next 4 years as well.

Happy High School to my little girl. Praying for you as you go along this journey. I know it will be a wonderful time in your life. We are all so very proud of you and will be here for you every step of the way.

Stamp: Paw Tracks Wheel, Initial Stamp
Accessories: Textured Eggplant cardstock, So Saffron cardstock, Eggplant ink, Apricot Grosgrain, Eyelets, Velcro, Sticky Strip, Paw Brad

Everyday is a gift

2009-09-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is the first time I've used this set. I've admired so many of the cards made from it. Very classy/traditional styling. I really liked how so many stamped the sentiment right over the cross, so I had to give that a try too.

Another one of our Ocean's 11 bloggies has a birthday this year, so this is for her, Happy Birthday Karen/Saved By Grace. I hope she had a great birthday!

I used my CuttleBug on the Designer Paper...doesn't look much like DP, but it really is, just a more solid color. You have to be careful when using an embossing folder on DP, it's not as thick as cardstock and can tear.

Set: Refuge & Strength
Accessories: DP Patterns Pack, Blue Bayou, Whisper White cardstocks, Blue Bayou, Black StazOn and Creamy Caramel inks, Primas, Stickles, CutterKit, Sponge, CuttleBug, Blue Bayou Ribbon

Remember Your Childhood View Master ?

2009-09-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

I think it was one of my favorite toys when I was a kid. I had one set of wheels that were Winnie the Pooh and they came in a green can that held them and the view master itself and I'm sure I looked at them a billion kazillion times ;)

Over on SCS they have a tutorial for this technique and it's so fun and easy!! Take a look when you get a chance, I'd love to see what you come up with.

My niece's birthday is today and I wanted to send her a 'cool' card, she's 7 this year and I figured it was a great year for something like this. I pulled out my Loads of Love with the Accessories along with my retired Boatloads of Love. The wheel has presents, dogs, flowers and hearts. I hope she has fun turning it to see what comes up next.

Happy Birthday Madison, enjoy your day!!! We love you!

Set: Boatloads of Love, Loads of Love & Accessories
Accessories: Prints Pack DP, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Gable Green & Confetti White cardstocks, White Taffeta, Anchor Punch (Martha Stewart), Silver Cord, Black EP, Inks w/Aqua Painter

Remembering

2009-08-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today marks the second anniversary of my Dad going home to be with the Lord. My Mom and my siblings are in Maine today visiting him and then they will all go to lunch together...so nice to be together. I was there last year, but circumstances had me travel earlier in the summer, so I'm not with them this year. He's in my thoughts, remembered and loved...always.

I made this card for my Mom. My favorite lighthouse in all the world...the Portland Headlight. It's so classic and beautiful with the red roof. I'm sure she'll love it and notice my tie to home.

I stamped the image with StazOn and then watercolored it. I cut out around the image a bit on both the top and the bottom to make it pop a bit. Added the Riding Hood Red red ribbon and the flower to really enhance the roof. And I put the slightest layer of the Riding Hood Red underneath the first DP layer to just grab the color a bit more. I love RED!!!

Set: Portland Head stamp (non-SU), Warmest Regards
Accessories: BellaBirds DP, Whisper White, Bordering Blue & Riding Hood Red cardstocks, Prima, Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Various SU Ink Pads w/Aqua Painter, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch & Sponge

Tropical Birthday

2009-08-28T16:36:00.003-04:00

Thinking about all the kids going back to school and the fact that fall is right around the corner, I thought I would make my latest birthday card more tropical. One of the gals in my blogger group is celebrating her birthday this week, and hoping that she has it in hand now, or soon...I thought I would post it up for you. Happy Birthday Kim:Ozziepuddles.

This is one of SUs retired sets that I just love and don't use often enough. I pulled out some retired colors to go with it, why not, right? I stamped the flowers and the leaf in the color I wanted and then restamped (using my ol' Stamp A Ma Jig) in Versamark so that I could clear emboss them. I know I could've done the easier route and just put the Versmark all over the image but then it would have embossed all the white spots and I wanted those clear. And then I popped them up. I also embossed the tree.

I stamped the sentiment right on the twill and sponged some color around the tree.

Set: Do The Hula, Warmest Regards
Accessories: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Cool Caribbean cardstocks/inks, Pink Pirouette ribbon, Certainly Celery Twill, Clear EP, Ticket Corner Punch, Markers and Sponges.

Time to Organize

2009-08-24T11:46:00.002-04:00

Hello again! What a busy summer we have been having. I'm almost glad it is coming to an end. My daughter is starting high school this fall, and unlike many schools that have already started or will start very soon, she will not start until the Tuesday after Labor Day...I think that is 9/8....too far off, lol. She's been enjoying her summer, though, so I guess an extra week or two is good for her.

I have felt very displaced this summer. With all that has been going on, I just cannot get my head straight, but I think I am starting to unwind....and I have been organizing, so that always makes me feel better. Hubby calls me Monica from FRIENDS all the time. I take it as a compliment.

If you look back in the archives to last year...I posted some pics of my craft room. When we were in Japan I got a couple of metal shelving units that I never really liked, but it is what I was able to get at the time....we have now relocated them to the shed, and hubby has done his own bit of organizing in there.

Anyway, I searched Craigslist and found this Billy Bookcase from IKEA for a steal. It's great with the glass doors that will keep things dust-free. And my daughter got a new bookcase for her room so I took her white ones and stacked them. I feel much more together now! I even sorted through my stamp sets and found a couple I might be able to part with...it isn't easy you know. But, I'll put those on my sales page when I can.

On my trip to Maine, a couple weeks back, I was finally able to bring back my second paper rack and now I have them stacked and my papers have their own slot instead of being doubled up!! Yippee!!! I have a spot under each color family for a container that I put my scrap pieces in. I have one of those for each family and am searching to get some for my neutrals to. I do keep my In-Colors separate, but that's ok.

And lastly...I don't think I posted this before, but I rigged up a sticker rack as well. This I did a couple months ago and it is so nice to have my stickers out where I can see them. When things are hidden, I don't use them.

Now that I'm decluttered...I'm off to get inky!!
Have a great day and a wonderful week!!!

Warm Appreciation

2009-08-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

My birthday was last month and during the month of July I was fortunate enough to receive a few RAKs from friends on SCS....so here they are, with warm appreciation.

The first comes from my wonderful friend Katrina (tiki.nz on SCS), we are actually in-person friends :) I haven't been lucky enough to meet any of the others I'll list. Look at all the detail work on this explosion box, it's beautiful!!

This next one comes from Judi (Stamparooni on SCS), the more I see this set, I wish I had it! Love the colors.

This next one was from Karen (Brad's Mom on SCS) I just love how she added the dimension with the extra swirls on the tree!

And many of you know this next person....she is on our Ocean's 11 blog roll....known as Adventures from the Monkey Hut. I love the shimmery white paper and the embossed image, so very pretty and classy.

Thank you to all. I'm very touched. I hope to be back stamping next week....until then, enjoy your summer!!

Summer Time Thinking

2009-07-26T12:21:00.003-04:00

In the heat of summer I think of being out at the lake. Any lake. I love waking up hearing the Loons....listening to the water crash against the rocks. It's so calming and cool....for those of us dealing with 90* and higher!

I know my hubby likes to get out fishing. So, I pulled out one of my favorite retired sets, Angler...and got it inky.

I took the idea of the circles from franb63 on SCS, you can see her card here, then I made it my own. I used my Water Color Crayons, as Fran did...she gave me that idea too ;) I really love using the Watercolor Paper when I use my Aqua Painters. It doesn't always work, since it's a Very Vanilla color, but it really makes whatever water medium that you are using, just flow across the paper with no piling.

I couldn't find any designer paper, in my enormous stash, that would work for fishing, so I used some textured paper and also made my own background paper with one of the Angler stamps.

Enjoy!!

Set: Angler, Warmest Regards
Accessories: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive (Textured)& Very Vanilla cardstocks, Watercolor paper, Watercolor Crayons, Aqua Painter, 1 3/4" circle punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Sponge, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive and Staz On Black inks, Jumbo Eyelets (Antique Brass) and my trusty cutter kit.

Feeling the love--twice over

2009-07-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

I was so excited to see that I was presented with not one but two blog awards! Kathy sent me the first one while I was MIA and then I just noticed that Siobhan had one listed for me as well. I'm very touched that I have bloggie friends out there that are enjoying my blog.

Now to pass them along...I've tried to find bloggies that didn't already have these on their blogs, so that new people can be as excited to receive the awards as I was....if you already have one and I missed it....you are just blessed again ;)

Thank you so much for thinking of me Kathy, Stampinmn

Now...pass on this Blog Award to appreciate the following bloggers.

There a couple of fun "rules" (well, more like guidelines) to this award:

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

My 15 awards go to:

1. Dell @ DaDoodleDiva

2. Ramona @ Inkpressed

3. Mary @ on Life and Creating

4. Kim @ OzziePuddles

5. Stephanie @ Paper Crafter Thoughts

6. Katrina @ kats' kreations

7. Melissa @ In Samping Mode

8. Amy @ Not just another stamping blog

9. Holly @ Create Something Everyday

10. Val @ Stampin' and Scrappin' Val

11. Shanna @ The Stamping Banana

12. Jennifer @ Jennifer's Stampin Pad

13. Sarah @ Stampin' with Sarah

14. Robin @ Stamping Country

15. Michelle @ Inspiration Blooms

The Lemonade Stand: "Choose seven ladies who according to this award show an attitude of gratitude"

Thank you so much, Siobhan at the Monkey Hut !

I would like, in turn, to give this award to:

1. Diane @ Diane's Designes

2. Elizabeth @ Life as I know it

3. Karen @ Saved by grace

4. Leslie @ Creative Crafting

5. Rebekka @ A Diamond in the Rough

6. Dawn @ Rubber Room

7. Mary @ My Stampin' Hide-away

Enjoy!!!

You Float My Boat

2009-07-18T12:01:00.004-04:00

Ahhhhhhh, what a feeling. It feels to good to get back into my stamp room and getting inky once again! I've been away from it for so long, feels like forever!! My mother-in-law visited for 3 weeks (our guest room is my office/craft room) and then I spent the last week getting my daughter ready to go visit with her dad for a couple weeks....so now I finally had some ME time and it felt great. Not only that, but it's MY BIRTHDAY today! Yup, another year older...am I wiser? Not sure, lol. But, it's my first birthday with my little baby boy in my arms, so that is special!

Anyway...off to the reason that you are visiting...I got the set Boatloads of Love to go with all my other Loads of Love goodies. It had been on my wish list for quite some time and I finally bought it when it hit the retired list in June. So now it's been christened and ready for launching...did I use Champagne? Nope, but StazOn ink works just as well.

Now in the new catalog they've added yet another coordinating set for the Loads of Love series, this one is Loads of Fun and with a trailer, snow mobile etc, it will certainly be on my list too!!

I had fun with this card. I marked the buoys with eyelets, cut out and added dimension to the puffs of smoke and the dingy...and placed the big 'ol heart in the dingy. My sailor hubby is making me a cake for my birthday and so I guess he Floats My Boat :) All I care is that it's chocolate.

I used my retired cloud stencil and even stippled some Saffron in there to make it appear as though the sun is shining through a bit.

Set: Boatloads of Love
Accessories: Bella Birds DP, Watercolor Paper, Brocade Blue & Confetti White cardstock, Rich Regals eyelets, hemp twine, ticket corner punch, Pink Pirouette 1 1/4" grosgrain, StazOn, SU Inks: Bordering Blue, Going Gray, Basic Gray, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, Bravo Burgundy, Aqua Painter, Stipple brush, cloud stencil

For those keeping up on my little guy...he's now 7 1/2 months old. He's able to get into and out of a sitting position and is doing the army crawl. He's always up on his hands/toes and looks like he could just pop into a walking position, but he's just not ready yet. He wants to so badly. He's starting on finger foods and is still my absolute joy.

My daughter is, as I said, visiting with her dad...so we are praying for a good visit. She's been having a nice summer, we've been to the beach and waterparks. I still can't believe she is going into high school in the fall! She's a great daughter....I love to sing praises of her.

8th Grade Graduation

2009-06-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

...and now it's off to high school in the fall.....I can't believe it! My little girl is so grown up!! They aren't having any ceremony at school for them, when I graduated from the 8th grade we dressed up and went on the stage like a high schooler, but not this school. Oh well. I still wanted to make it special for my little girl....she's been begging for a second hole in her head...I mean ears, so we are going to have that done for her, she'll be excited and always remember when and why she had them done.

I don't have any graduation stamp sets, but I found this cap in the Jolee's section and it was perfect! And unknown to me until I started looking, I had the All Year Cheer III (now retired) and it had the "Congrats, Graduate" sentiment! Yippee!!!

Her school colors are a blue-ish turquoise and yellow, so I went with it....and the star is for my shooting star. She can shoot for the stars and do whatever she wants to do in life. She has ideas of what she wants to do...things can certainly change in the next 4 years or the 4 following that, but I support her in whatever she wants to do.

She also received the Presidential Award for Excellence for having honors throughout middle school!! She's so much smarter then I ever was, she'll go far. Can you tell how proud I am of my daughter?? Very!!!

Set: All Year Cheer III, Free & The Brave (star)
Accessories: Jolee's, Tempting Turquoise, YoYo Yellow & Whisper White cardstocks, Traffic Jam CB Folder, StazOn Black Ink, Star Punches, Markers, Turquoise & Maize Ribbons.

Happy Birthday to my not so little girl

2009-06-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

Well, I thought last year was hard...turning into a teen, now the first full year of a teenager is over, and she's going into high school in the fall....she's wearing makeup full time, cut her hair, babysitting her little brother when needed, just all around turning into such a young woman. I'm so proud of her. I still see that little one that I brought home from the hospital so long ago...feels like yesterday, though...doesn't it always? I can't stand the thought that in four more short years she'll be going out into the world as an adult, gasp! (Love you honey)

I've been spying these shutter cards (tutorial here) since they came out and knew I was going to use it for her birthday card. Her favorite color is green and she doesn't like pink, so I even went as far as to keep the girls dress green.

I kept it simple, yet complete. I love that eyelet punch! Perfect for so many things. And I pulled out my circle scissors for this one. You really have to tape down your paper to the glass mat to keep it from shifting, but when you do it comes out great!!

Set: God's Blessings, Summer By The Sea
Accessories: Maine Blueberry DP, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White & Confetti White cardstocks, Eyelet Punch, Blue Bayou Double Stitch Ribbon, Old Olive Grosgrain, Primas...oh and when I was done I added Stickles to the Primas...I forgot before I photoed it and didn't want to start all over ;)

Zoo Time

2009-06-06T22:32:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone. I'm finally back, feels like it's been forever ;) My hubby returned from deployment last weekend so I've been MIA from my inky world since then, and before due to preparation. Gotta get everything in order before he returns, even though our men never really notice that the house is clean and in order etc. They do care, however, that the fridge and cupboards are stocked. After months of ship food....he was thrilled for real home cooking.

A couple weeks ago I found this stamp set at Target, yup, I went into Target...I'm a Walmart girl, but I was looking for something and I end up there sometimes. Well, this set has monkeys in it and they were too cute....my little guy is a monkey, he is always grabbing hold of things with his toes, so I thought the set would be fun...however, I didn't use a single monkey in this card. Next time.

I used Mojo Mondy sketch #87 for this card. I dug out some old retired DP and started to color. I love this palm tree! Our zoo has giraffes so I wanted to use them, I find them so fascinating. You should see how hard it is for them to sit down on the ground. They get up pretty quickly though, you wonder if it's worth all the effort.

I used Crystal Effects on all their spots/noses and on the coconuts. And lots of dimension with all the cut out pieces. I love to color and cut, so this was fun for me. I wanted it to be sorta free and I guess that's what it is. They hang over edges, it's just fun.

Set: Mindy's Zoo-Autumn Leaves
Accessories: Petals & Paisleys DP, Cool Caribbean, Taken w/Teal, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Old Olive & Confetti White cardstocks, Scallop border punch, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" square punches, Black StazOn, Various SU Inkpads, Aqua Painter, CB Folder, Crystal Effects, Buttons, Certainly Celery Grosgrain & sponges.

For those of you keeping up....Garrett had his 6 month doctors appointment this past week and he is now 19.4 pounds and 29" !! He's my ever growing weed ;) He loves to eat and sleep and is just always happy. He also cut 2 bottom teeth yesterday!! Yup, both in one day, my poor baby. It's been a rough couple of days, but they are through. I cried. Every milestone makes me tear up. I wasn't like this with my daughter, maybe it's my 'old' age, lol....but I just want to slow down time and get him to not grow up so fast. I'm enjoying every minute with him.

Have a great weekend!!!

It's My Half Birthday!!

2009-05-26T19:38:00.005-04:00

Hello everyone~

Well today I am 6 months old!
Yup, it's my Half Birthday!
Mommy says she can't believe I am 6 months old now.
She keeps saying I'm growing too fast.

Last week I moved up to my own room....she cried.
I had been next to her in the cradle that my Papa made when she was born, but it was getting too small, so I'm now in my big boy crib and loving it.
Besides, my Daddy is coming home this week and I think he would keep me awake. (He's been gone for a long time on a big ship!)

Mommy found me once in the middle of the night giggling...
I was awake and watching my aquarium in my crib, it's like my own TV I tell ya! It plays music, lights up, bubbles and the fish move....and I know how to turn it on!!
She came up and turned me around...and turned it off.
I went back to sleep. But each morning, when I wake up and she's in the shower, I turn it on and babble away.

I'm rolling all over the place now. Mommy says I need bumpers.
Sometimes I end up half under the couch! and I even take my toys with me. They end up all over the place.

Since I'm 6 months old, she even started feeding me in my highchair! I'm not too sure about this event, but I'm catching on. The food tends to come out easier...out of my mouth that is. I think its something called gravity, but Mommy scoops it back in so that I can grow to be big and strong some day.

I've been eating fruit and cereal for a while but she gave me juice yesterday for the first time and WOWZA! that stuff is good. I can even hold my juice bottle all by myself, if I'm laying down.
Where has she been hiding this???

But, I wanted to let you all celebrate with me. I'm decked out in my Red Sox gear today....the outfit is a 12 month and I'm only 6 months, but it won't fit for too much longer...I'm already growing so big! Must be the bananas! The hat fits just right, aren't I adorable? Go ahead, you can admit it :)

Love to all,
Garrett

Gratefully Remembered

2009-05-25T10:49:00.003-04:00

Memorial Day

A day set aside each year in remembrance of all those that died for the freedom we enjoy. Never forget.

My hubby is currently in the USNavy and deployed on a ship (coming home soon!!), both our fathers served in the Navy as well, and of course there were Uncles/Cousins that served. My two nephews are in the military now...one in the Marines and one in the National Guard. I'm proud of all of them.

I made this card this morning using a January sketch from Mojo Monday (see the blinkie on my sidebar), I love having some place to go to get a sketch to get me started. SCS does sketches too, it's great!!

The yellow ribbon is a retired color from SU, I had colored the stamped ribbon coming down from the flag, and it got me thinking about this placing the ribbon there, to go along with the sketch.

This DSP is also retired, but it has stars all over it, so I thought it would be a perfect touch.

I stamped the image twice, then I water colored the image of the soldier and cut him out so that I could layer him over the whole image and make it pop. I was temped to use the new Navy cami colors, they are shades of blue, but I went traditional instead....maybe next time.

Set: The Free & The Brave, Small Script
Accessories: Western Sky DSP, Whisper White, Ruby Red & Not Quite Navy cardstocks, Aqua Painters w/Ink Pads, Maize Grosgrain, Rain Dots, Cutter Kit, Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Sponge

Hubby sent me an email this morning with a few comics on it, I thought you might enjoy these two. With all the Idol stuff from this past week, the first one really caught my eye.

Strength

2009-05-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

One of the blog rolls that I belong to, Ocean's 11, does a challenge...just about weekly. Well, this past week the challenge was to make a card with either scripture or a quote on it. And while these aren't Stampin' UP! stamps that I used, they seemed to jump out at me for this one.

My mom has been through a lot over the past 21 months, since my dad passed, and I know that she wouldn't have been able to get through this hard time without the strength of our Lord. She also leans on us, which I'm so happy that she does, but God is really her strength.

So, I thought of her while making this card and I will send it off to her this week.

This card is crisp and clean....I usually sponge my edges and I had a hard time holding back, but I really felt like it needed to stay crisp instead of that shabby chic look.

I searched through some sketches over at SCS and chose this one #SC215, I really thought the layout would be great for what I had in mind for the card.

This was my third take on the lion. I just couldn't seem to get the colors right, but I think I hit it on the head with this one. He's a beauty!! I'm a cat lover, large and small....and he's really something.

I received an order this past week, and while most of it was supply things (paper, glue dots etc) I did get a few fun things in as well, and these buttons were one of them. These are the Buttons Latte, I also got the Button Bouquet in as well....might as well get both while I was at it. I love the design and variety with these. And when I pulled out this DP, it went so well together! I believe this was paper from SAB this year.

Have a great week!!

Stamps: Lion:D-410 PSX, Verse: 343G Biblical Impressions
Accessories: Delicate Dots DP, Sahara Sand, So Saffron, Certainly Celery & Whisper White cardstock, StazOn, SU Inks w/Aqua Painter & Water, Button Latte, Tag Corner Punch, Paper Piercer, Certainly Celery Twill

Baby Jars...not just for baby anymore

2009-05-17T11:08:00.003-04:00

Now that my little guy is eating fruits, I thought I would take advantage of it and use the jars for my own personal crafting use. I remember my dad using the jars in his workshop. There are still countless jars in his workshop to this day.

These are the smallest of the jars, so I didn't have much room to work with and decided to keep it simple. You know all those things that you buy at the craft stores that come in bags instead of containers?? Well, this is perfect for storing them!!

I hadn't even thought of decorating a jar since the Starbuck jar rage a couple years ago!!

I used some retired DP, my punches and some ribbon. I think they are kinda cute! And just see how much easier these rhinestones will be to access!!

I am displaying these, along with my Primas and Stickles on a shelf that my dad made my mom many moons ago. She had a collection of glass ornaments, that I only vaguely remember...which ended up broken over the years, so the shelf became mine. At first I was displaying cards etc on it, but this is a much better use. I'm always reorganizing my craft space :)

Accessories: Sarah DP, Apricot Appeal, Brocade Blue & Certainly Celery cardstock, Apricot, Celery & Bluebird (retired) grosgrain ribbon, Primas, Stickles, Eyelet Border Punch and 1 3/8" circle punch.

Prison Break

2009-05-16T21:58:00.004-04:00

Any other fans out there?

It never fails. I get into a series and it ends.

I was only introduced to Prison Break 2 seasons ago when I was back home after my Dad passed. It was one of the shows Mom was watching, so I started watching it with her and I was hooked. I've yet to go back to season 1 & 2 to see how it all began, but I have plans to do that.

Anyway, I watched the 2 hour finale last night and it was all going so well. I knew it was ending, so that wasn't a surprise....and when they all were exonerated and went off to their lives, I was happy...then they show 4 years later....they should've warned me that I'd need Kleenex! Yes, seeing Michael's nose bleed on the beach and Sarah start crying, I knew it wasn't a good sign. But, seeing the dates....I don't think he even saw his son being born. How sad. Yup, I was crying like a baby...and actually holding my baby at the same time. He must've thought I lost it. But, luckily a baby won't remember that his mother was crying like one, lol.

I guess I don't have much else to say about it, but I've felt the nagging feeling to post about it all day. So, if you're a fan....give a shout out.

And for all my stamping buddies....I'm working on a couple things and I hope to post them in the very near future :)

Mother's Day Continued.....

2009-05-11T07:00:00.002-04:00

So, I went to church yesterday...as I normally do :) and of course our pastor talked about Mother's Day and one thing I couldn't believe was that he showed this over the screens, lol.

I have seen this before and it's classic, if you haven't viewed this (by Anita Renfroe) then you have to click and watch.

Then he talked about a Mother's Garden.

In this garden we plant 4 rows of P's......Peace of mind, Peace of heart and Peace of soul.

Then we'll need squash....squash criticism, squash gossip and squash indifference.

Lettuce is good to have too.....lettuce be faithful, lettuce be kind, lettuce be patient and lettuce love one another.

And no garden is complete without turnips......turnip for church, turnip with a smile and turnip to help out.

And to finish off the garden we need Thyme.....Thyme for each other, Thyme for family and Thyme for friends.

Water with patience and cultivate with love. There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow. ~Unknown

He also read off a list of questions/answers of 2nd graders....(no Pastor isn't all jokes, but he is a fun guy) and one that caught our ear was:
Q: Is your mother perfect?
A: Well, she's perfect on the inside, but the outside needs something called plastic surgery.
LOL

And finally....you can have a house....but is it a home???

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T07:00:00.004-04:00

Happy Mother's Day

I am such a lucky girl. My mother is currently here visiting with me. I don't know if she knows how much I miss her when she's back home, I am so enjoying her company right now. Being a military family, we are often months apart from family, so when the time comes for connection, it's time to soak it all in.

She's such a wonderful, strong, loving godly woman. She is who I've always looked up to. I can't ask for a better woman to be my mother. I'm so blessed. She is so loved.

And also....thinking of my mother-in-law, for without her I wouldn't have my wonderful husband.

For Mother's Day I thought I would tackle the flower pot cards that we've been seeing all over the blog world lately. I followed the link provided by SCS over on Stephanie Luman's blog for the directions on making these cards. They are actually pretty simple to make, it's the flower details that can take you longer to put together. You can make them as simple or accessorized as you'd like.

These first two are the ones that my mother and mother-in-law will receive.

Along with those two are a couple others that I made...before I decided which were for them and which ended up on my Etsy store ;) I had my daughter help me in that decision.

I pulled out some DP that I hadn't used in a while. What better way to get it out of the package! I also realized that I didn't have a decent flower punch. So, not wanting to wait for an order to come in from SU, I headed to the local craft store and bought one that worked beautifully, I also picked up a fern punch. Then I added SU buttons/ribbon to the card.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Mother's Day....if you are a mother, I hope they all spoil you today. And if you can give your own mom a huge hug.

Entering adulthood

2009-04-27T22:09:00.004-04:00

I've always felt that I didn't enter adulthood until I hit 30.
For some reason I was always the youngest at any job I held, always felt like a kid...I guess it's good to be a kid at heart, right? Well, when I turned 30 I went out and got a new hair cut...I told the hair dresser that I wanted something to make me look older...I don't know if it worked, but 6+ years later I want something to make me look 29 again, lol (secretly, I want my big permed hair from the 80s!!).

Well, for me and my 3 siblings.....we are all married and my younger brother's wife is finally crossing over into her 30s!! She's the last of us, we've all crossed over....some are well beyond ;) ... I won't go into ages, in case any decide to take a peak at my blog ... te he he. I don't know if any do, well I think my sister does, but for the rest of them, I don't think they do, so posting this before my sister-in-laws birthday wont spoil what she'll get in the mail.

I've been wanting to use my new "Golden Oldies" set and I thought this would be the perfect time. Welcoming her to the ripe-not so old-age of 30.

While visiting blogs this past weekend, I found this layout over at "In Stamping Mode" and I even told her that I'd be using it for this. The card came together so easily. She got it from somewhere else...the cirlce/life of a sketch I guess.

You know what? I read on another blog this weekend a great tip!! I don't know why I hadn't thought of it, but apparently she was on the same page as me and since she found the way off...she helped me as well. So many times I will take an image....stamp it and then color....then try to find papers to go with my beautifully colored image. DUH, she put a light on for me...(I wish I could remember who it was, she's one on my blog rolls, I know that much)...pick your designer paper first and then work from there. You are sure to have a wonderfully matched image every time!! I did this with Old Bessie here.....so she matches my paper!! Yippee!

Gotta love other people's blogs....that's why they are all out there, to give us such great tips as this one.....something so simple even!

Set: Golden Oldies
Accessories: Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery & Confetti White cardstocks, Sarah Designer Paper, Aqua Painter w/Ink pads, So Saffron Grosgrain, Rich Regal Brads, Oval Punches, Eyelet Border Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Sponge, Primas, Stickles

Note Card Box

2009-04-23T20:50:00.006-04:00

I had been admiring the 3x3 Note Card boxes that have been on SCS, so I decided to check out the tutorial and give it a try. It really goes together very smoothly.

I really love the Maine Blueberry DP and wish it was still around....but since I still have my stash, I can make use of it :)

I used the Scallop Edge punch around the lid of the box, if I made another I might use my Eyelet Boarder edge, I think that would make a classy looking edge.

Along with the box, I had to make the 3x3 note cards to go with it ;) I used the Cute & Curly set along with the So Many Scallops set, this makes a note card set with lots of variety. Would make a nice gift for someone since they would have a card for just about any occasion!

Set: Cute & Curly, So Many Scallops

Accessories: Maine Blueberry DP, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive & Whisper White cardstocks, Bashful blue & Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, punches, ink/sponges and brads.

**I want to say thank you to Lauren (Lollies on SCS) for my cool new siggy!

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

He is Risen!!

A couple weeks ago I snapped these shots of my little guy so that I could add a picture to the newsletter that goes out to my husbands ship at the start of the month.

He had fun with the poster....would you say he's shy, lol.

Have fun with all your egg hunts, family dinners and church services today.

Sweets for the Sweet

2009-04-11T19:03:00.002-04:00

Samantha over at Scrapmaster's Paradise (she headed up our Blog #5 group) has some terrific blog candy that she is giving away. SU stuff!! You really should go on over and check it out. It looks like this:

But, she has all the details listed out.....I wanna win...don't you?? The blog candy is open until April 30th. It's like Easter Candy....delayed ;)

How do I look??

2009-04-09T14:44:00.003-04:00

I am feeling all....I guess the word is....professional today!

I've been wanting to add a second page to my blog for a while, so that I could list my items that I have to sell.....and look at me now! I not only added one page, but two more!! And it was sooooo easy! I can't believe that I'm always letting that darn technology intimidate me.

First it was over the whole three column thing...which I'd like wider, but can't figure that one out, but I at least have three columns, lol. And now, I have three pages!!

Look out world, nothing can stop me now......ok, sure things could try to stop me, but I might keep trying again and again and succeed!! I couldn't have done this today without guidance from Debi (Motherof6) over on SCS, she's brilliant when it comes to blogger!!!

Rejoice!

2009-04-07T11:49:00.003-04:00

Rejoice for He is Risen!

This is the card that I made for my Mom for Easter. It's also my Ocean's 11 Challenge card for the week--which was a layout sketch (SSS08) that you can see over at On Life and Creating. (She also has blog candy connected to her sketches...so I'd check it out if you have time) I can't believe it's only Tuesday and I have it done....but I had to get the card finished so I could get it into the mail. I loved this layout. Really got me into the card and I was able to get it made quicker then just staring at the cardstock wondering which direction to take.

I used the Bella Birds paper and it reminded me of the Carte Postale bird, so I dug out that set...I have the Enchante paper that came out when that stamp set did...but I thought it was also a good match for this DP as well.

You can see the bird on the DP...and then of course the embossed one that I did. This card is completely Stampin' UP! I usually add flowers etc, that are from elsewhere, but today I used my Pretties Kit and made a hat pin instead.

I am loving that Eyelet Border Punch!! It really softens up the edge of the card.

Set: Carte Postale, Graceful Words
Accessories: Bella Birds DP, So Saffron, Almost Amethyst & Very Vanilla cardstock, Pretties Kit, Sponge w/So Saffron Ink, Corner Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Lavendar EP, Very Vanilla Taffetta.

Oval All Note Cards

2009-04-05T20:53:00.003-04:00

Happy Weekend....I know, it's coming to a close, where did it go?? It was beautiful! A bit chilly, but the sun was out all weekend and I got the yard mowed....oh I love the smell of fresh cut grass.

My Oceans 11 Blog roll does a challenge just about every week, and this week the challenge was CAS= Clean and Simple. This is certainly a challenge for me since I love to add flowers, embellishments and bling :)

I used the new Oval All stamp set from the Occasions mini...I can't wait to get the new oval scallop punch, but in the mean time...keeping it CAS, I used the Eyelet punch which I think added just what I needed to make it pretty.

The certainly celery that you see hanging out of the bottom is actually an inside (front) layer of the card, it hides the inside of the ribbon as well. I didn't want to create a bow on the front...that wouldn't be CAS...lots of thought has to go into a CAS card...oh the pressure!

The cards are 3x3 which is perfect since I have little envelopes for them to go into. I made one of each of the stamps so I have: "Thank You", "Best Wishes", "Fabulous Friend" & "Just For You".

Set: Oval All

Accessories: Certainly Celery & Whisper White cardstocks, Eyelet Border Punch, Large Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Certainly Celery Twill, Certainly Celery Ink.

Long Time Gardening

2009-04-01T21:37:00.002-04:00

I was browsing through my Paper Crafts magazine looking for inspiration and I found a card recipe with a partial circle (I wish I could post their recipe here, but I can't find it on-line), so I was able to get out my Circle Scissors Plus yet again! And using my Scene In A Garden still.....I'm enjoying this set. I hope you don't tire of my cards, lol.

So, I used their card recipe and altered it only a bit...my sentiment isn't arched. I love finding inspiration through other's ideas. It's so much easier then searching my own head at times ;).

Anyway, I stamped/colored/cut out the images from the stamp set and kinda placed them haphazardly in my scene, to make it like the gardener was working hard and lost in his craft as we--as stampers often do. I know that my desk usually is a disaster when I'm in the midst of a project...I clean up after each project is completed to keep myself sane.

Set: Scene In A Garden, Long-Time Friend, Linen Background
Accessories: So Saffron, Confetti Cream, Garden Green & Really Rust cardstocks, Prints Sampler DP, Creamy Caramel & StazOn Black inks, Pencils w/OMS, So Saffron Grosgrain, Rich Regal Brad, Primas, Rhinestone, Sponge, Cutter Kit, Circle Scissor Plus

For anyone that is keeping track....my hubby emailed me today and told me that he finally received his St. Patrick's Day box! He loved the card and all the goodies...even the St. Pat's specific stuff....I guess they'll have fun with it even though the day is past.

Celebrations

2009-03-26T21:10:00.003-04:00

Not many things are on my celebration list for March....but today hits two of them.

Today is Katrina's...birthday!!! (she's my lovely upline)
Happy Birthday Girl!!
She's also on the SCS Blog #5 list of mine....so all you Blog #5 ladies....wish her a happy birthday when you visit her. She moved lately, so her blog is a bit on the quiet side, but I'm sure she'll be up and running again soon. We miss her!!

Anyway...I got my preorder in a couple weeks ago and I finally got a chance to sit down and use my goodies...on her birthday card, nonetheless :)

I think the 'Scene In A Garden' is too sweet. And the Wellies are great!! I used my Circle Scissors Plus...since my back order of my glass mat came in :) Happy girl here!

This card also has the new MEGA hugs brads on it. These are great! I'm not huge into my buttons, so they don't get used as often, but these have the same effect and they fill my need to brad something.

Set: Scene In A Garden, Oval All, Linen Background
Accessories: Bella Birds DP, Bordering Blue, Garden Green, Pink Pirouette & Confetti Cream cardstocks. Bordering Blue, Creamy Caramel and StazOn Black inks. Pencils/OMS, Primas, Pearl, Stylized Vanilla HP, Neutral 5/8" brad, Pink Pirouette Ribbon, Circle Scissor Plus, Sponging, Corner Rounder & Designer Label Punches.

And then also today is my little guys 4 month mark!! I can't believe he's 4 months!! He had his doctors appointment today and he's 17.4 pounds (that's 90%) and he's 26.5" long!!! (that's 95%) I think he's aiming for NBA....lol. He did so well, smiled at the doc and the nurses. He's my joy.

Have a great day/night!!

Lucky Me

2009-03-24T18:09:00.005-04:00

I know it's a week past St. Pat's day...but I have my reasons....
Hubby is deployed currently and I had sent off his 'March' care package and he's still yet to receive it. I didn't post the card last week, because I was hoping that he'd get the package in time...but since he's still without it, and I know he checks my blog once in a while, I thought I'd give him a glimpse of the card that I sent to him. But, I won't tell him what else is in the box ;)

I love the "Pinch Proof" set and I hope it sticks around for a while. It's very versatile and fun!

I still think that the retired In-Color Wild Wasabi is the best color...besides Kelly green, which we have in our Glorious Green, but when I'm not wanting it to be shocking...the Wild Wasabi calls my name. And of course River Rock goes great with it....hmmmm missing my old colors.

I trimmed the different pieces with Celery Glitter and I used a couple of scallop punches to place behind the sentiment.

Thanks for looking!

Set: Pinch Proof (SU), Leaf (Kodomo)
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Wild Wasabi & River Rock cardstocks, River Rock Ribbon, Celery Glitter, Scallop Circle Punch and Scallop Edge Punch, Wild Wasabi Ink w/sponge, Basic Black Ink, Large Oval Punch

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T14:05:00.003-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my Irish Lasses and Lads....even if you only 'claim' it this one day a year....it counts.

This is my little guys first St. Patrick's Day...so he had to get all decked out for it :)

I was fortunate enough to host my Mommy and Me group today at my house, so I went out and got the shamrock plates/napkins, green cups...and I even found some Hershey Kisses that are in green foil and mint flavor. Everyone brought something to share...all green! It was so much fun. All the babies were in green and the mommies too! A whole sea of green. Speaking of sea...don't they dye the river in Chicago or something today?? I know I've heard of that before.

Anyway, I hope you are wearing your green...if not consider yourself pinched! (And for all my Stampin' Up! friends...that's Glorious Green to you!)

Magnolia Love

2009-03-12T18:44:00.003-04:00

I've been admiring Magnolia images for a while now and decided it was time to dive in. When I saw these two sailor images, I knew that was where I had to start. With my hubby in the USNavy and all....it was the ideal beginning. I also love how they have coordinating pieces, such as the boat and the lifebuoy that I have here.

I made this a 5x5 card since it felt like it needed more room. Their little hands are ready to grab hold of something, so with him I was just going to have him holding the boat, then I decided he'd hold out his love for Tilda on the pier. She's on the ribbon which I was using as the dock and she's got the lifebuoy for him, in case he falls overboard, lol.

Then I had the heart raindots just staring at me, they were in front of my other things since Valentine's Day, so I thought I'd add them just floating up into the sky. And I tore some cardstock for the water.

The card needed something more, so I sponged a bit of summer sun around the edges to give that warm glow.

This card is my Ocean's 11 challenge for this week. We had to do something with 'sky'...I was going to use my cloud stencil, then I came across this DP and the white on the blue reminded me of dandelions blowing in the wind, so I used this instead.

Set: Riveting (SU), sailor, Sailor Tilda, Rowboat & Lifebuoy (all Magnolia)

Accessories: Petal Patch DP, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point & Whisper White cardstocks, Summer Sun ink, Whisper White Craft Ink, Black StazOn, Pencils w/OMS, Raindots, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain.

Dahlia Fold

2009-03-08T21:58:00.005-04:00

'A day late and a dollar short'' ...have you ever heard that saying? Well, that's how I'm feeling tonight, like I am playing catch up. It's all good, though...the reason is that it's been so beautiful here the past couple days, that I've been outside!! Today we went to the beach!! I didn't go in the water or anything, it's still way too cold for that, but the ocean breeze was heavenly!!

This week (or past week...ending yesterday) my blog group-Surfin' Ocean's 11-had a challenge to do a Spring 3-D card...and it's taken me until today to get it done. I didn't want to surf their blogs until I got mine posted, so tonight I'll be making my rounds on their blogs for my last weeks quota ;) I'm sure they won't mind that Ill visit again later this week.

Coming up with a 3-D card wasn't all that easy for me. I can think of 3-D items, but cards?? That was a harder job for me. Well, I went to my best source for ideas....SCS and they had a challenge of the Dahlia Fold card a year ago: TLC153, so I thought I'd give that a try.

They had a great/easy website to follow, so that's what I used as my tool. I thought it would be easier then it was...punching out the circles...easy....folding them in quarters...easy, then comes the more tricky parts...folding up the edges, that didn't always work for me, which lead to an uneven next step...so I had to redo the edges....anyway, finally we had to lay it all out like a medallion and for some reason mine isn't exact, I guess with more practice I could get it to be better...so this one will probably be just for me to admire. When I get more time to play, I might try this again.

So, here are my spring colors. Funny, when I think of spring, I think of this Designer Paper, it's so cheerful! Yes, it's retired, I can't help myself, but I had to use it anyway.

And you can see the 3-D dimension here in the second picture with all my folds.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Set: Time Well Spent (SU)
Accessories: Petals & Paisleys DP, Pretty In Pink, Cool Caribbean, So Saffron & Whisper White cardstocks, Prima flower, Rhinestone brad-Fire, Light Pink Grosgrain, Sponge, markers, 1 3/8" circle punch.

What do you do when you are 100....

2009-03-06T17:14:00.003-05:00

....days old that is? Well, you go to the jungle of course!!

Yup, my little dude is 100 days old! Where has the time gone?? Exactly 100 days ago, and about 10 min....I was holding him in my arms for the first time. I'm so very lucky and blessed. I thank God every day for my two blessings, He's so good to me.

I've been really enjoying being a mom to a newborn again...well now that he's sleeping better. I'm keeping a journal and snapping pics all the time. I haven't started the scrapbook yet, but that will start as soon as I can find time to get the pictures developed! He keeps me on my toes that's for sure. Each and every day I wake up just wondering what that day will bring.

A Friend for the Heart

2009-03-02T21:05:00.003-05:00

I really love this set. The bunny is so precious. I'm always admiring others 5x5 cards and I really don't make enough myself, so I decided to go that route today.

The sentiment is sweet "A friend is what the heart needs all the time. ~Henry Van Dyke" I really like that. I've read it before but it didn't really catch until tonight. I guess I'm missing my hubby :)

Pulled out some of my retired In-Colors from last year, this River Rock is really a favorite neutral of mine.

I also pulled out my pencils (Koh-I-Nor) that I haven't used in a while and dipped them into some OMS to color this image. They really blend so well.

Set: Serene Spring (SU)
Accessories: Porcelain Prints DP, Blue Bayou, River Rock & Very Vanilla cardstock, Sponge with River Rock Ink, Black StazOn, Pencils w/OMS, Blue Bayou Ribbon, Primas, Rhinestones, White EP and Scallop Edge

Happy Place

2009-02-25T22:08:00.004-05:00

I don't know what's come over me...this is three for three...SCS challenges that is, in a row. Today is 'Sketch' day, where they give us the layout and we take it from there. This card seems pretty basic to me, but I like it. I haven't used this set it a long time, and they are kinda cute. I used blender pens and ink pads to color and I took the River Rock and shaded around the images and the sentiment, then sponged around the edges as well, just to give it something.

I'm having fun this week, though...using my supplies and keeping busy during little one's nap times. I can only do so much house work, right?? LOL With this card I pulled out In-Colors from all three years...and even my Vanilla HP which I had never used. I had a piece on another card I posted here, but it was a piece that was given to me.

Set: Very Punny & Cute Converse (both SU)
Accessories: Baja Breeze, River Rock, True Thyme cardstocks, Sentimental Journey DP, Vanilla HP, River Rock Ribbon, Square Scallop Punch, Sponge, Blender Pens w/Inks.

Circle of Friends

2009-02-24T16:11:00.003-05:00

Today I thought I'd try another of the SCS challenges. For Tuesday it's always a color challenge and today's colors are: Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun and Kiwi Kiss. So, after taking a look at the colors I was thinking of what I'd like to do...then I spied my new Circle Scissors Plus that I hadn't used yet, so that made up my mind...circles it is!!

All these circles and I thought of the saying "Circles of Friendship"! I had this sentiment in my God's Blessings set from SU and it's a perfect fit for this card. Hardly any stamping, but it was fun to make.

Set: God's Blessings (SU)
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sum, Kiwi Kiss and Very Vanilla cardstocks, Jumbo Eyelet, Vintage Brads, Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Swiss Dots CuttleBug folder, and I sponged some Pumpkin Pie around the sentiment.

For those that sent their kind thoughts yesterday....Mom's total snowfall was 17" and she was without power from Monday afternoon until breakfast Tuesday. Luckily she has a wood stove and she slept through the night :) God is good.

Hen Scratches

2009-02-23T20:46:00.004-05:00

Today I thought I'd take on one of the challenges that SCS puts out. The challenge today was Rubber Band Stamping.

First I was to take a block and wrap rubber bands around it. Then take that banded block and using VersaMark, stamp a piece of cardstock. From there I took embossing powder in orange and embossed my banded image. After that we were to take sponges and sponge over the embossed image.

This made my background layer and we could do anything we wanted with it. Well, once I had it done all I could think of was hen scratches. So, that's where my creativity lay today...in the hen house :)

Since I was in the hen house I needed to use some 'chicken' wire accents on my card as well.

Set: Best of Cluck

Accessories: Acrylic Block, Rubber Bands, VersaMark, Orange Embossing Powder, Cutter Kit, Sponges, Only Orange, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White, So Saffron and Gable Green cardstocks, Orange Grosgrain, black wire, beads, StazOn Black ink, Only Orange, So Saffron, Gable Green & Close to Cocoa inks, Blender Pens, Prima flower, Rhinestone Brad, Filigree Brad

Thinking of my family up in Maine today, they were hit hard with snow. Mom told me this morning it was about 15" and this evening she is one of many without power. Prayers going out to them that power is restored soon.

Have you heard of Blurfing??

2009-02-21T22:16:00.004-05:00

Well, I've joined my second Bloggers group, so I spend lots of time Blog Surfing...Blurfing! It's fun and you get to see so many wonderful inspirational bloggers! We all check out each others blog each week, which helps to keep me motivated to keep my blog updated weekly.

You really should check out my rolls on the left column. First I joined Blog group #5 and I've had so much fun with the ladies on those blogs that last night I joined "Surfin' Oceans 11" and checking out their blogs over the past 24 hours has not been boring, they have so many great projects and cards, scrapbook pages and interesting tales about their lives.

Off to do more Blurfing!!

Check it out...

2009-02-20T19:54:00.004-05:00

Not that I want to send you away from my blog, but you should really check out the great blog candy on Blogging Jen's blog! What's blog candy you ask?? Well, every so often bloggers decide that they'd like to just give away some really great goodies! And no...it's not actual candy, well not in a stamper's case...it's goodies for stampin'!! That's the best kind of candy to a stamper!! This one is no exception. So, head on over, give her a comment...and start wishin' and hopin' :)

Oh...and leave me a comment while you are at it, so that we will know who sent you :)

Honey of a Day

2009-02-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Another card with my bee loving friends! They are just too cute! Dancing in the flowers enjoying their honey.

Again (like the last bee card) I have dimension on this card. I stamped/colored and cut out my bees and flowers before putting them on the card with dimensionals. They are justa buzzin' around happily.

The Cuttlebug folder that I used reminded me of honey comb, so I used that for the back ground. I sponged a bit of Garden Green around the top layer to give it that 'garden' feel.

Set: Just Buzzin' By (SU)
Accessories: Really Rust, More Mustard, Summer Sun & Whisper White cardstocks, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Primas, Stickles, Clear EP, Ticket Corner punch, Cuttlebug Folder, Spong with Garden Green Ink, Dazzling Diamonds, Water Color Crayons w/Blender Pens

Phenomenal Woman

2009-02-18T22:02:00.004-05:00

My daughter was part of a Black History month concert at school tonight. She's in the chorus and they sang a few songs and did an excellent job. I love how they are able to sing hymn type songs on nights like this...in a school....where the Word of God is usually kept quiet.

Anyway, they sang then later the drama teacher read a poem which I'll post here. I've always liked Maya Angelou and this poem is great! And then to end the night was the schools STEP team. I view it as a combo of cheering and the group STOMP, lol. They are excellent.

For those that don't know what STEP teams are, here is a YouTube link from previous years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDejCEb8rdw the group we saw tonight had way more energy then this group, but it's all fun.

Here's the poem....to all my girlfriends out there :)

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
~Maya Angelou

Buzzin' By

2009-02-18T11:23:00.004-05:00

I finally got time to sit with my new Buzzin' By stamp set! It's been sitting on my craft table just calling out to me and I've had to keep saying "I haven't forgotten you....I'll get to you soon" I really felt like I was a bad stamp parent, lol.

Anyway, I had this retired designer paper that looked just like honey comb! And it went along with the color that I wanted to use, so voila!

This card has lots of dimension. I even dug out my Stamp-A-Majig for this one. Since my flowers and bees went beyond just one layer, I had to Majig it to make sure that it would all line up. I didn't wan their little legs to be all crooked :)

I saw that someone else had cut out the door to the hive on their card so I did that too, it looks like our little bee friends could really fly inside.

I used gold Stickles on the flowers and black Stickles on the bees antennae. Their wings have Dazzling Diamonds while the hive and the flowers are embossed with clear EP. I had just purchased these large colorful Primas, so they were used here too!! This card was a lot of fun!!

Set: Just Buzzin' By (SU)
Accessories: More Mustard & Whisper White cardstock, Garden Green Textured cardstock, Designer Paper, Primas, Stickles, Scallop Edge Punch, Clear EP, Water Color Crayons w/Blender Pens, Dazzling Diamonds.

Happy President's Day

2009-02-16T08:47:00.004-05:00

When I was a kid in school, we had two days off this time of the year. One for President Lincoln and one for President Washington. I guess I must be so OLD that they figured there were so many more Presidents that they would just all have to share one day, HA!

Today was supposed to be a day off from school for my daughter, but back in January they had a snow day. Yup, here in coastal Virginia, a snow day....however that day it never snowed. They were certainly expecting it to, it came up through North Carolina, but went out to sea before it came to us. So, they had a day off from school with no snow. Back home, we would never have missed a day 'in case of snow'....there would've had to actually been snow on the ground. And not just an inch...I mean a real snow!

Funny enough, we woke today to a dusting on the ground!! But, today being their 'make up day' for the day missed in January, they didn't cancel the school day over the dusting. I was shocked. People around here can't drive in even a dusting, there are always tons of accidents reported. But, I thought for sure this would be a big funny....the make up day needs to be made up, but no....off she went. I thought I just had to snap a couple pictures to share.

Being from Maine, this is nothing, but I still think it's pretty.

Too bad the birds flew off when I went outside to snap this picture:

And here the snow is just sitting on the tops of the fence:

And this is a path in the back yard, I love how the snow doesn't cling to the stones.

Happy President's Day! Remember how hard those men work. Whether we voted for them or not, I wouldn't want their job. Pray for our President, he has a hard job ahead of him.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day is always a special day in our family. It's also my Mom's birthday! So this year when I was thinking of her birthday card...my Mommy and Me group solved that for me. We went and stamped our babies feet into the shape of a heart. It was so much fun. Of course always an event when trying to do something like that with squirmy babies, but I think way more precious then anything I could've stamped with rubber!

I came home with my card that only had the feet on it and finished it off with some Primas and heart RainDots and of course a SU sentiment.

I'm sure that Mom wasn't disappointed not to get a handmade card from me this year for her birthday, this tops any that I could do.

Also, a couple weeks ago when our little bundle approached the 2 month mark, my daughter and I took him to have his picture taken. We had so much fun! He's our STAR! He enjoyed it very much. He had 3 different outfits and he just smiled though the whole thing. I'm in love with my blue bundle. All his pictures came out great, it was hard to narrow it down to the dozen I got :)

Here is his Valentine picture to everyone! Isn't he just the cutest!! Enjoy!

Unfrogettable Valentine

2009-02-13T17:42:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine asked the question recently: "What was your first Valentine's day with your husband?" This was something I hadn't thought about in a long time. It was so nice to dig back in my memories to that special time.

He made the plans and we headed up to a ski resort for the weekend. I don't ski, but instead we went snowshoeing, which I really love. It gets you out into nature and it's great exercise! Anyway, we had so much fun. The resort had special things going on for the weekend, so we were able to take part in the festivities and enjoy our time together. And we had a romantic dinner at the lodge!

This year, my sailor is off in the middle of the ocean, so our Valentine's Day is long distance. Luckily with the modern technology, we are able to email just about daily. And I sent him a Valentine's care package which arrived to him earlier this week. And here is the card I made him this year.

I didn't have the right sentiment to use, so instead I printed this off the computer in a fun font. I do love these frogs, as you can tell. I seem to go back to them often.

I sponged the primas to give them a two-tone color effect. And I found that I had the perfect 'RainDots' for the occasion, and used a heart on my Prince's chest :)

Set: Unfrogettable (SU)
Accessories: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Brocade Blue Classic Inks and cardstocks, Confetti White cardstock, Black Stazon, Computer Generated Sentiment, White Gel Pen, Sponge, Primas, Rhinestones, RainDots, Ziggy, SU Markers, Bluebird Grosgrain

Sale~A~Bration

2009-02-01T22:47:00.004-05:00

It's that time of year again! The time that we all look forward to, save our wish lists for...the time where our purchases let us earn more goodies!! FREE stuff is always a bonus!! This year is no exception. Stampin' UP has expanded the goodie line! Where it used to be just stamps, then they added designer paper, this year there is also a ribbon bundle!! I know that will be the first one I'm aiming to earn. I have a soft spot for ribbon!!

For every $50 of product you purchase, you are able to choose from the great SAB products. Click here to see the full brochure! Contact me if something catches your eye!! This special runs from February 1st-March 31st 2009.

Baby Thank Yous

2009-01-29T10:58:00.003-05:00

My little guy is 2 months old this week! How time has flown. Yes, I've been very sleep deprived and I have my own set of luggage that resides under my eyes, but every minute has been a blessing. He's such a joy and fills our days with so much laughter and love.

I decided that it was finally time to post the Thank Yous that I made for any baby gifts that I had received. I figured by now I've received them all....so here it is :)

My son's nursery is done in a nautical theme, so I wanted the Thank Yous to be as well. I found a card by annieht on SCS that was similar and it gave me the inspiration I needed for this card.

I love sailboats! They just have a fun summer feel to them. I used one of my favorite designer papers (Maine Blueberry) for the background and I even put my scallop edge punch to use!

The bottom of the sailboat is coated in Crystal Effects to make it shine like it's in the water and I felt that the use of the designer papers was like the sky and the ocean. The white dots along the edge of the scallop are done in white gel pen to coordinate with the designer paper and the CuttleBug backgrounds.

I used the markers to ink the stamp, so each time I stamped the sailboat, I had to reapply the marker colors individually. It takes time, but it certainly makes the image pop!

Sets: By Sea, Much Appreciated (both SU)
Accessories: Maine Blueberry DP, Old Olive, Whisper White & Bashful Blue cardstocks, Scallop Edge Punch, Coluzzle, Cutter Kit, Sponge, Not Quite Navy ink, Many Marvelous Markers, Striped Bashful Blue Grosgrain, White Gel Pen, Crystal Effects & CuddleBug

New Catalog Excitement!!

2009-01-20T08:10:00.003-05:00

The new Spring~Summer catalog is out!! Mine arrived over the weekend and I received my box of customer catalogs yesterday! It's a beautiful catalog filled with so many new stamp sets (all of which are now die cut for easy assembly) and the accessories are fabulous!!!

Click on the catalog icon on my sidebar and you can view the catalog on-line.

I have extra catalogs on hand, let me know if you are in need of one!

Things I'm spying:

One thing I really love about our updated catalogs (the past couple) is that after/before each section there are techniques right there in the catalog! Step by step instructions to help make amazing projects!!

I already have "Just Buzzin' By" (page 57) in my hands and I hope to make a card or two this week to show you...it's too cute!

So many new designer papers, these are a temptation of mine, I can never have enough!!

And new Jumbo brads and even Corduroy Buttons!! And who can pass us hand-made Fleurettes! They are so delicate!

On my first order will be the new Circle Scissor Plus. I saw one similar on a craft show and thought it was brilliant and I was pleasantly pleased to see it in our new catalog. Perfect circles in all sorts of sizes!!

For the first time you can even view the Sizzix Big Shot and the Decor Elements right in the catalog!!

As you can see, I'm excited and I'm sure...if you're a stamper....you will be too!

Mitten Shirt

2009-01-06T16:59:00.005-05:00

Just a plug for my sister-in-law....

She works with autistic children and designed this awesome shirt where the mittens are part of the shirt so the child won't loose them, or complain that they had to wear the mittens. The shirts are made of fleece and come in a variety of colors/sizes.

My niece and nephew both have one and love them and I'm sure that I'll have one on my little guy when he gets older.

If you have little ones, take a peek. You can put water-proof mittens over them if you need to.

Her Etsy store: mitten08
Let me know what you think!!!

Edit:
Question: Do the mittens come off if you want them to?
Answer: No they are all part of the shirt, it's one piece...no seam at the wrist.

Unfrogettable cards

2009-01-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple cards I made for family's birthdays recently.
When I need to make a card for a kids birthday, the Unfrogettable set comes to my mind quite often. It's so fun and whimsical!

I pulled out my old cloud stencil and used some retired DP too! I love when I can put my retired things to use!!

Set: Unfrogettable, Daisy Field Wheel
Accessories: Soft Sky & Whisper White cardstock, Soft Sky DP, Black StazOn, Garden Green/Summer Sun/Soft Sky inks and SU markers, Stickles, Eyes, Dimensionals and Soft Sky Ribbon

This card had to be purple for the recipient. She is a purple lover. I used a stamp from Baroque Motifs and used the Enchante DP.

Home for Christmas

2008-12-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!! I hope that you are all enjoying the holidays and remembering the reason for the season!!

Here is my third and final card for Christmas 2008. I just love that I have had the time each year to make my own cards, it thrills me to send out my creations to all my friends and family to enjoy.

Home for Christmas really has the warm cozy feel to it. Being a military family, we really do cherish whenever we are able to go home and spend time with our families.

When I got this set, I surfed SCS to see what others were doing with it and I came across one by Kharmagirl and used her's as an idea when making mine. You can view her's here. I then surfed through her gallery and found that I really like her style!!

Anyway, I used Shimmery White cardstock for the main image to give it that glistening snow look. And I added Crystal Effects to some of the image to make it stand out.

Set: Home for Christmas
Accessories: Holiday Treasures DP, Ruby Rd, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White & Shimmery White cardstocks, StazOn Black ink, Various SU Ink Pads, Aqua Painter, Crystal Effects, Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon.

A thank you to our military

2008-12-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

My husband is a sailor in the US Navy, and although he's home with us this year, it's not the case for many families around the globe. So, whether sailor, airmen, marine or soldier...Merry Christmas and thank you for all you do.

The Sailor's Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming,
Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming.

They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small,
In a 80-man berthing, cramped one and all.

I had come down the stack with presents to give,
And to see inside just who might perhaps live.

I looked all about, a strange sight did I see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stockings were hung, shined boots close at hand,
On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land.

They had medals and badges and awards of all kind,
And a sober thought came into my mind.

For this place was different, so dark and so dreary,
I had found the house of a Sailor, at once I saw clearly.

A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone,
Curled up in a rack and dreaming of home.

The face was so gentle, the room squared away,
This was the United States Sailor today.

This was the hero I saw on TV,
Defending our country so we could be free.

I realized the families that I would visit this night,
Owed their lives to these Sailors lay willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year,
Because of the Sailor, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice."

"Defending the seas all days of the year,
So others may live and be free with no fear."

I thought for a moment, what a difficult road,
To live a life guided by honor and code.

After all it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway!
But freedom isn't free and it's sailors who pay.

Vintage Ruddy

2008-12-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

Here is another of my Christmas cards for this year. This one actually has three different faces. I couldn't use just one of the line-up, I had to make use of all three poses.

I really wanted to go for the vintage look. I have been in love with the striped ribbon and just wanted to stick with the Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla for this card. I felt it was pretty traditional.

I used stickles on a couple focal points of these cards, like Ruddy's nose or hat pom-poms. And the CuttleBug folder was perfect yet again! I also sponged the edges to give it an even more aged look.

Set: Holiday Lineup
Accessories: Very Vanilla & Riding Hood Red cardstock, Timber Brown StazOn, Close to Cocoa & Riding Hood Red Inks, CuddleBug, Ticket Corner Punch, Sponge, Stickles, Felt Flurries, Riding Hood Red 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain ribbon

A Cardinal Christmas

2008-12-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

Time to get my Christmas cards posted :) I mailed them out earlier in the week and I hope that I don't spoil it for anyone...but here goes.

This is card #1...the others will be posted in coming days.

My parents always had a family of cardinals that would frequent their feeders, and now, for us, moving to VA has proved to be a high population of cardinals...it is our state bird and all, they are so vibrant and you can always tell when they are around by their quick chirp.

I found a card on SCS by MakeTime2Stamp that I just loved and I cased the idea and embellished on it. You can see her card here. The in-colors of Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red were a cool combo for this card.

I just love using the CuddleBug for the background, it really gives it some dimension! Like real snow!!! And I really love this stamp set. The cardinal is so majestic, he was fun to color! Red is my favorite color too!

I water colored a bit of blue around the bird to make him pop off the page a bit.

Set: A Cardinal Christmas
Accessories: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss & Riding Hood Red cardstocks, Kiwi Kiss ink, Cutter Kit, Coluzzle, Black StazOn, Riding Hood Red Taffeta, Large Oval Punch, White ET, CB Folder

Baby Announcement

2008-12-11T18:32:00.002-05:00

This is the announcement I sent out letting everyone know of my blue bundles arrival. I actually found one like this on-line somewhere, but I can't remember where. They used a B&W photo, where we chose to use the color photo. Yes, that's my muchkins piggie-toes under the vellum paper. Isn't it just too sweet???

Accessories: Bashful Blue cardstock, Bashful Blue Taffets & SS brads

Our new arrival!!

2008-12-01T13:37:00.003-05:00

Well after much delay and anticipation I am pleased to announce that our new bundle Garrett William, has arrived into the world!

They had it arranged for me to arrive at the hospital on Wednesday, November 26th to be induced on the 27th, but he decided to come on his own. He arrived on November 26th under his own timing and in all his glory. He's beautiful!

He weighed in at 9 pounds 12 ounces and 22 1/2 inches long. No wonder I was having a hard time breathing, lol. He was up under my ribcage for about the past month. And he was 6 days over due!

We are so thrilled to have him home and everyone healthy! Thank you for all your love and support!

Baby Update

2008-11-21T15:17:00.002-05:00

Well, I had my appointment today....this kid does NOT want out. They told me that if I don't go before Wednesday then I'm to report to the hospital to be induced that night....and it looks like I'll really be delivering a Thanksgiving Turkey. So, enjoy your turkeys...eat some for me :) We'll probably have our big meal the Sunday following Thanksgiving.

Our Anniversary

2008-11-21T07:00:00.002-05:00

Today is our anniversary!!

My husband is a weatherman (Aerographer) in the US Navy and loves anything to do with weather and the sky, so coming across this technique on SCS was perfect. It's called the Striped Wipe and you can find the whole How To right here on SCS.

I also love the ocean, so this SU stamp set is one of my favorites and I've used it for friends and family anniversaries over the years.

We've been married 5 years now!! How time flies. We've been all over the world and now will be adding a baby to our lives to share with my teenage daughter and twin Maine Coon cats :) I'm so very blessed by all that God has given to me and my marriage is no exception.
Set: SU Summer By The Sea, Small Script, Sanded Bkgd
Accessories: More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Really Rust, Glossy White & Whisper White cardstocks, Olive & Mustard Grosgrain Ribbons, SU Markers, SU Reinkers (Earth Element colors), Primas, Stickles, Timber & Black StazOn Inks, CB Folder

Could today be the day???

2008-11-20T11:29:00.003-05:00

Well today is my official due date, as listed by my OB. First is was the 21st, but they changed it to the 20th and I never updated my tickers on the bottom of the blog. The ultra sound tech said the 17th, but the OB said she didn't want to change the date...I guess she knew something the tech didn't know, lol.

He has been measuring big and ahead of schedule...but even that doesn't change anything.....

Here I sit...still pregnant. I have an OB appointment tomorrow that I really don't want to go to. My hubby, daughter and mother keep trying to coach this little one on to convince him that arriving is ok...that it's really not that cold (today is the warmest day of the week) and that coming out will be a good thing. He doesn't seem to want to listen.

Well, I guess patience is something I must put to work right now. I can't wait to hold my little one, but God has a plan that doesn't involve this baby coming on time. When I said I was baking a turkey, I guess I was more correct then I thought.

I'll keep you posted......

Are Your Friends Flaky??

2008-11-18T19:39:00.004-05:00

This is an older retired SU set, but I just think they are too cute! It's called Flaky Friends and whenever I see them I just think Twinkle H2os and Shimmery White paper :)

This was a quick card, just for fun. I've made my Christmas cards to mail out, but I can't be posting them until after the holidays...because I never know who is watching my blog and I just don't want to spoil what folks will get in the mail. So, until then I will just have to make other cards to fill the time.

I also put my Felt Flurries to use and touched them up with a bit of Stickles. This whole card is just sparkly. I'm really in love with this striped ribbon, it's so traditional. Reminds me of something along the lines of Norman Rockwell.

Sets: Flaky Friends

Accessories: Baja Breez & Shimmer White cardstock, Riding Hood Red 1 1/4" striped ribbon, Twinkle H2os, Felt Flurries, Stickles

And for those of you that are keeping track....I'm still pregnant.

Facelift!

2008-11-12T10:40:00.004-05:00

I didn't know it could be so easy and FREE!!!

Viewing another's blog today I clicked on the link to The Cutest Blog on the Block and checked them out. Now I have a whole new look and it was so easy!!!

So, this isn't a real post....but I just wanted to share my glee in changing my blog's appearance!! I've been wanting to do this for a while now. I hope that you all enjoy it. I am a deep red kind of gal, so this fits me perfectly!! (For now, seeing how easy it is, I might have to update it by season/holiday, lol)

Enjoy!!

Oh...and the baby still isn't here....but tomorrow is the full moon and they say that might trigger it. We'll see. I still have another week until my due date, but I'm very anxious to have him in my arms!!!

Wine Anyone???

2008-11-05T12:53:00.006-05:00

I'm not a wine drinker, but there's always sparkling drinks that are pretty to give...however, for my pictures I asked hubby to go out and get me a bottle of wine...he spent $5, lol, so it's not too wasted and it will just sit in my craft room for the next time I need a bottle for pictures :)

Anyway, the gift giving season is coming upon us. From Thanksgiving to Christmas and even New Years and everything in between, we will all be going from dinner party to dinner party and when you can't think of something else to bring, and you don't want to go empty handed, bring something to wet the hostess' whistle!!

I saw some wine bottle tags at a store in New Hampshire when I was there in August and they've been sitting in the back of my head as an idea of something else I could do to my ever growing list of things I want/need to do before the baby arrives.

The tags I saw were single layer, but I hardly ever do anything without layers, so why should tags be any different. So, here they are. It took me all day yesterday and half of today to get them all designed and completed. I made 14 in all and have listed them in my store...so now I can start working on my Christmas cards!!

My daughter has been playing Christmas music lately, I usually wait until Thanksgiving, but she just couldn't wait, so we are getting into the spirit early this year!

The first tag is made with one of my new sets this year...wait, they are all from my new sets...I just couldn't stand it anymore and had to put them to use. On all of the tags I used the scallop edged circle punch with the designer paper to make a ring around the bottle opening. It needed something there.

Set: SU Home For Christmas & Hugs & Wishes

Accessories: Holiday Thyme DP, Cranberry Crisp, Whisper White & Confetti White cardstocks, Olive Organdy ribbon, Silver cord, Black StazOn, White Gel Pen, Pencils w/OMS, White EP, Scallop Punch, 1 3/8" punch, corner rounder punch, tearing edge, sponge and Creamy Caramel Ink.

Set: SU Holiday Line Up, Flaky Friends

Accessories: Holiday Treasures DP, Ruby Red & Confetti White cardstock, Scallop Circle & Square punches, SU markers, Silver cord, Hunter grosgrain, Stickles, White Craft Ink, Ruby Red Classic Ink, 1 3/8" circle punch, corner rounder punch.

Set: SU A Cardinal Christmas, Holidays & Wishes

Accessories: Holiday Thyme DP, Bashful Blue & Confetti White cardstock. True Thyme Ink, Silver EP, True Thyme Ribbon, Coluzzle, Cutter Kit, Pencils w/OMS, sponge, corner rounder punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop punch.

Set: SU Holiday Line Up, Flaky Friends
Accessories: Holiday Treasures DP, Ruby Red & Confetti White cardstock, Scallop Circle & Square punches, SU markers,Silver cord, Hunter grosgrain, Stickles, White Craft Ink, Ruby Red Classic Ink, 1 3/8" circle punch, corner rounder punch.

These were fun to put together and I hope that they'll bring a smile to someone's face this holiday season!

Happy Happy Birthday Honey

2008-10-28T19:12:00.004-04:00

Today my husband turns 30!!! Does that make him an official adult? I always feel that we are still so young when we are in our 20s and that hitting 30 is really a crossing point into adult life. And within a couple weeks he'll be welcoming his first born! Here's to another decade, may it be filled with wise choices, great experiences and happy memories!

He's from Texas, so I try to give him a taste of home when his birthday hits. I like to pull out these sets....this one telling him that he's "GENUINE" The One & Only. I thought it suiting for his special day.

I roughed up the edges to make it look like the whole 'Genuine' bit was laying around for a while in someone's ledger book. I attached a lasso with a little library clip and added the jumbo eyelets for that aged look.

Sets: Wanted, Bronco Buster
Accessories:Western Sky DP, Ruby Red, River Rock & Blue Bayou cardstocks, Dk Brown EP, Rhinestone Brad, Library Clip, Hemp Twine, Jumbo Eyelet, Cutter Kit, Spiral Punch, Pencil w/OMS, Close to Cocoa Ink with Sponge

And for his birthday he is now the proud owner of his very first cowboy hat. How did he grow up in Texas without a hat?? He picked it out himself, so he knew that he was getting it, but now that he's 30 I'm sure he could handle the fact that he wasn't surprised :)

Our daughter even made a card for his birthday, she's pretty good. She used the pastels which I haven't pulled out in some time. That's what I need is reminding, I'm sure I'll have them out for one of my next cards now that I've seen them in use recently. She wanted to go with the Halloween theme, since his birthday is so close to the spook-tacular day.

She used the SU Home is Where the Haunt is set. She chalked the whole front and made it like cloud/fog haze around the moon. This was her own creation, as I was working on hubby's dinner at the time.

Note: Our daughter is 13 and she loves to craft. Right now her thing is beading necklaces and bracelets. I plan to have her share my Christmas craft fair table next year (not doing one this year with the baby coming). And yes, hubby loved his card. He's proud of what I do and always puts them on display :)