Goodies!

Last weekend, my girls spent the night at their Aunt Kristine's house. They do this every once in a while, and they call it their "day of fun with Aunt Kristine"! This time, among other things, they went to a pottery place, and painted figurines!


Emily painted the adorable elephant, and Jessica painted the cute frog! Aunt Kristine made a garden gnome (but I forgot my camera when we went to pick them up!) These are so CUTE, and the girls love them!


Here's a close up of Jessica's frog. Look at those eyes! He's so cute!


Here is Emily's elephant. He's so sweet! Aunt Kristine is the BEST!


Now, here are my goodies that I got at the rubber stamp flea market. I spent $80. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be spending, but sometimes, you just have to forget about that, and loosen up a little when good deals are to be had! I think we can all agree that SEVEN Stampin' Up sets AND some loose stamps for $80 is a GREAT deal!! I got: Fun Faces, Lots of Thoughts, Sassy Sayings I, So Many Scallops, Office Accoutrement, All About U, and Be Happy. I also picked up a loose Mustang car stamp.


I picked up some loose stamps for the girls. They have quite a few Halloween foam stamps, so I got them three that they don't already have (bat, cat, and tombstone). I also got Jessica two french horn stamps (I was thrilled to find these since Jessica plays the french horn!), plus since I knew she had painted a frog ceramic piece, I got her a frog stamp! I got Emily a little chick stamp and a stamp that looks like a petroglyph. I wanted to get them more stamps, but nothing else really struck me as "them".

So, needless to say, I'm thrilled with my purchases! The girls were thrilled with their stamps too! I also met some super nice Stampin' Up ladies! The only stamp set I wanted that I didn't find was Stamp of Authenticity, and I just purchased that from someone on SplitCoast! Yeah!

We still have more birthday celebrating to do today, we have my nephew's graduation party to go to, and the girls are marching in a parade tomorrow. Unfortunately, it's going to be very HOT tomorrow, so the parade will not be fun. Hopefully, it's not too bad. I hope you're having a great long weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Dave!

It's my husband's birthday, so Happy Birthday Dave! I love you!


Here he is with the two most beautiful girls in the entire world! What a lucky Dad, and what lucky girls!


Here's us, and can I just say that I should look in a mirror before I agree to getting my picture taken!! Can you say totally shiny and totally messy hair?! Oh well! This morning I shopped at the rubber stamp flea market (got tons of stamps, I'll show you those later!), and it was so HOT! I just want to add that my youngest told me NOT to wear a black t-shirt. I should have listened to her! Anyway, here we are!

If any Stampin' Up demonstrators visit my site, I'm on the lookout for a GREAT price on Stamp of Authenticity. If you have it and are looking to get rid of it, let me know!! I hope you have a great long weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Vacation Fund Jar

A friend of mine recently asked me to make a "vacation fund" jar for her boyfriend. Their dream destination is Ireland. This is what I came up with.


Since this jar was for a man, I really needed to keep it as masculine as possible. I found a map of Ireland on the Internet, and I printed it on cardstock. I ripped it and inked the edges before applying it to the jar front. To label it as an "Ireland Vacation Fund" jar, I printed on a 7 Gypsies journaling card, set a travel eyelet, and I tied it around the jar with black twill. I have some awesome Making Memories word fetti travel stickers, and I used them all over the jar.


Here is the top of the jar. I cut the circle with my Coluzzle. I stamped an arrow, used some alphabet stickers, and added more word fetti stickers.


I decorated all four sides, but I'll just show you the back. The tag and label are both Making Memories. This is a BIG jar. In its previous life, it held cocktail peanuts! My friend assured me that her boyfriend loved the jar. Yeah!

Well, I have running around to do for my husband's birthday tomorrow. Before I get down to celebrating his birthday with him and the girls tomorrow, I'll be going to a rubber stamp flea market! I'm meeting my girlfriend Kathy there, and I just can't wait! I'll be sure to show you my purchases!! Have a great day, a fantastic long weekend, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Card Sketch #59 - The LAST One!

It's card sketch day at Sketches! {by Tamara}, and this is my card for Card Sketch #59. Be sure to check out what all of the other card designers created, because they're fantastic! Also, if you create a card using Tamara's sketch, be sure to link it back to her site. You could be her next featured guest designer! Plus, she also posts the linked back creations! Sadly, this is my last card for Tamara! I've really enjoyed being a part of the card team! Happily, I will be staying with the site, and I will be creating layouts for her Recipe Challenges! I'm thrilled!


I received the patterned paper on this card as a RAK, and I totally let it inspire me to create this card. I wanted to use the foam thickers. I got them from Chris as a RAK/prize for a 4 Scrappy Sisters challenge that I won. The four black squares are Cuttlebug swiss dot embossed. I added two stacked Prima Sprites, and used a black Making Memories brad in the center. Last, I added some dotted ribbon from Michael's. I chalked ink distressed the card front. I really love this color combination!

Well, it's my husband's birthday on Saturday, and I really don't have it together for that, so I need to run out and see if I can pick up a couple of presents. The girls and I are also having the hardest time with this EARLY school schedule! We're all still so tired when we get up! I also need to do a lot of cleaning around the house and grocery shop. So, off I go! Have a GREAT day, and thanks for stopping by!

Hi

This is a card that I made a while ago. I made it, as well as some other projects, for a design team submission. I did not make the design team, but that's OK! You can't win them all! I just realized today that I never posted it, so here it is!


I'm pretty sure this patterned paper is by Scenic Route. I got it as a RAK, it's double-sided, and absolutely gorgeous! On my card base, I used my threading water punch along the front edge. I tied a ribbon around the inked card front, sewed on a Prima with a button, and added a couple of glitter chipboard letters. Easy as can be, and I love this color combination!

I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

BBTB - Cake Box Challenge & Big News & Goodies!

This is going to be a long post today! First off, our challenge this week at Bitten By The Bug was to use the Cake Box on the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More cartridge. You really need to go see what everyone else made, because the creations are amazing! Also, there is a contest going on at BBTB, so be sure to check it out! The prizes are FANTASTIC!

Here is my cake box. This is one time where the photograph really doesn't do this project justice, because this turned out so pretty, but I had the hardest time photographing it! The paper is Basic Grey, and I added a white Bazzill threading water punch scallop around the top of the box. I then added some dark pink ric rac, and then I wrapped the box with tulle. I inked a Prima, added a gorgeous crocheted flower (which my daughter Emily makes for me -- they're BEAUTIFUL!), sewed it all together with a button, and then added a decorative pin. The cake boxes can hold a small gift or some yummy candy. Very pretty, and I love the way it turned out! You can click on the photograph to see it larger!

NOW FOR THE BIG NEWS!! I wanted to let you know that my Card Design Team time at Sketches! {by Tamara} is unfortunately coming to an end. I will post my last sketch card on Thursday. Luckily though, Tamara is going to revive her Recipe Challenges, and I am going to be on her Recipe Layout Team! Yippee! The Recipe Challenges will list three items that must be used on a layout or a card. There is a layout and card team, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the layout team! Check out the Sketches! site for the full announcement!


Goodies Time! I mentioned a while back that a blogging friend gave away some blog candy to the person who had left the most comments on her blog. It turns out that person was ME! Liz then sent me a $20 Hobby Lobby gift card! I've been waiting for Hobby Lobby to put their paper on sale, and yesterday I finally got a chance to spend my gift card! This is a photo of EVERYTHING that I got, and it was all HALF OFF!

Unfortunately, the area with Hobby Lobby's single sheets was completely empty! It was really kinda strange that they had a big sale, and they didn't have any loose paper to sell! Luckily, their packaged papers were also on sale. I wanted to get some new Basic Grey or Cosmo Cricket packs, but they didn't have new paper. However, they DID have these awesome Creative Imagination packs! The papers are all die cut, and they're just gorgeous! I'm loving these!


Then, stickers were half off! I got a package of vinyl thickers, two awesome Cosmo Cricket cardstock sticker sheets, and two adorable Halloween stamps! EVERYTHING I purchased was half off! If you have a Hobby Lobby near you, you might want to shop this week! Thank you so much Liz! I had a lot of fun spending my gift card!! Thank you if you've read this far! Sorry for the LONG post! Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Home Sweet Home

I put together a layout that features the homes that we have lived in. I really love the way this turned out, and I have to thank my husband for the idea to create page!


I used Love, Elsie papers and embellishments. Under each photo, I listed the address of the home. It seems like an awful lot of information to post on my blog, so I edited the photo of the layout, and I painted over the addresses. I just want you to know that under the red blotches, there is journaling! I love the Love, Elsie chipboard buttons. I sewed a couple on the layout, and I also sewed one on top of the layered Prima flower stack. You can click on the photo to see the layout larger.

Well, I have some running around to do, and then I have to cut the grass. It's my least favorite thing to do, and it takes me so long to get it done! Oh well! At least it's much cooler outside. I hope you had a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Hello - photo card

There was a challenge at 4 Scrappy Sisters to create a card with a photo on it. I've definitely done this before, in fact, I used photos of the girls on my Dad's Father's Day card. So, here is another photo card.


This is a photo that I took of a flowering bush outside our front door. I used the entire photo as my card front. I wrapped some ribbon around the photo, added a stamped sentiment in the corner, and added three dew drops. That's it. It doesn't get much easier than that!

Not sure what's going on for us today. Have a great Sunday, and thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Cards Already?

Don't think I'm too crazy, but I created a couple of Christmas cards the other day! I got the 2nd shipment of a QVC Today's Special Value kit that featured Cosmo Cricket. The Christmas kit is just wonderful, and I wanted to dig in and create a couple of cards right away. This is what I came up with.


Everything on this card was in the kit, except for the brads. The kit came with brads, but they are quite large, and I wanted smaller ones to use with the little die cut shapes that I attached to the ribbon. The scallop card is so pretty! I used six precut squares on the card front, and then I attached the diecut sentiment on top. I used a lot of chalk ink distressing on everything. Easy as can be!


Another scallop card, and once again, I swapped out the brads. The only thing not in the kit is the chipboard swirl. I painted it, and then added it to the card front. Again, I did a lot of chalk ink distressing. The ribbon on this card is just gorgeous!

I'm really pleased with the Cosmo Cricket kits that I got from QVC. It's A LOT for the money! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

NO!

The girls both came home from school with big smiles on their faces, so the first short day of school went well. Today is going to be a much longer day. They got on the band bus before 6:30 a.m. They'll be tired when they get home today!


Yes, of course, Princess had to be in the photo. She's such a silly dog! My girls are the BEST!


This is a page I recently created. Princess does NOT like baths. We take her to a place where WE give her the bath. The tubs are up on a platform, and we wash her ourselves. We normally don't all go, but this time we did, so I snapped some photos. The papers are Basic Grey. I stamped some dog stamps, and I also used vinyl thickers used for the title.

Well, I'm off to run some errands. I need to grocery shop and clean the house! I hope you all have a great Friday, and thanks for stopping by!

Card Sketch #58 & Back to School

This is my card for Card Sketch #58 at Sketches! {by Tamara}. If you make a card using the sketch, be sure to link it back to the site, because Tamara will display it on her blog, AND you could be her next guest designer! Also, be sure to check out her Card Design Team Call. I think you have a few days left.


This card also works for a ScrapCity Blog challenge where we were to use orange, turquoise, pink, and lime green for a card. I love those summery colors, so I had no problem using them! I used awesome textured patterned paper that I just got from Andrea as a prize for a photo challenge that I did at 4 Scrappy Sisters. The dimensional flower on top of my blue Prima also came from Andrea. I used my threading water punch on the patterned paper. The chipboard is Autumn Leaves French Twist, and I punched two holes in it with my Mr. Big Bite Cropadile, and I threaded the pink ribbon through it. I added a glitter heart by ScrapWorks and my flower stack to the chipboard piece. Last, I stamped the Autumn Leaves stamp and cut it with my Coluzzle. Everything has chalk ink distressing on it. I really love the way this card turned out!


Here are Jessica and Emily waiting for the bus this morning. The first day of school always makes me sad. Where did the summer go? Both girls are in Junior High this year. Jessica is in 6th grade, and Emily is in 7th grade. Tomorrow, marching band starts, so we'll be out even earlier catching the band bus!

Yes, of course Princess needs to get in a couple of photos! She seriously loves posing for photos!

And of course, the girls just love her! What a cute photo!

Well, the girls have a very short day today, but tomorrow is a full day. I'm still stunned it's back-to-school time! Have a great day everyone, and thanks for stopping by!

ScrapCity is back up and running!

ScrapCity was down for some site upgrades, but it is now back up and running. There's still time to do the August Challenges! Check out the ScrapCity's blog too!

Sleeping Beauty

I mentioned yesterday that I created a layout using the same paper that I used on my "Smile" card. Here is my layout.


ScrapCity has a bunch of August challenges, and one of them was to create a layout featuring someone sleeping. The minute I read the challenge, I thought of this photo of my youngest. This is Jessica at 3 1/2 years old (she's 11 now!) I can remember finding her like this in her little chair. She was totally sound asleep! I used My Mind's Eye patterned paper, a transparency over the photo, Making Memories rub on letters for the title, and I journaled on the computer. I added some Primas too. Isn't that photo the BEST?

Today's the last day before school starts. Both of my girls have a marching band performance at the school for the faculty and staff. After that, I'm not sure what we'll be doing on their last free day. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Smile

This is just a quick card that I made after I made a layout using this My Mind's Eye paper. I'll show you the layout tomorrow.


I used the patterned paper as my card front, and I added another strip of My Mind's Eye to the bottom. I stamped a Heidi Swapp "smile" stamp directly on the patterned paper. I added some ribbon, a Prima, and some buttons. I also did a lot of chalk ink distressing. I love the way this card turned out!

I have lots of things to do today, so I will catch up with all of you tomorrow! Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

BBTB - Indie Art - Strawberry Challenge

Our challenge this week at Bitten By The Bug was so use the strawberry on the Indie Art cartridge. Once again, I don't have that cartridge, and once again, DeeDee came to my rescue, and she sent me the cut. Thanks DeeDee! Be sure to check out what the other designers created! They're all fantastic!


I really struggled with this challenge, because I couldn't think of a project to use a strawberry on! I thought of "berry sweet" and "thank you berry much", but that just didn't work for me. In the end, I pulled out my So Very Stampin' Up set, and created a "sweet" card. I used my swiss dots Cuttlebug embossing folder on the black card front. I created a threading water punch red border for the bottom of my card front. The "Announcing" journaling card is by 7 Gypsies. I tied it on with beautiful red sheer ribbon. The "you are" alphabet stickers are by Making Memories. I added a chalk inked red flower, a tag that I cut with my QuicKutz stamped with the word "sweet", and I sewed on a button. I then mounted the inked strawberry and added 3 red rhinestones as a finishing touch. I love the way this card turned out, but I still think the strawberry looks like an afterthought. This color combination is so appealing to me!

We have a busy Monday. The girls have marching band camp, marching band uniform fittings, and then they both have an eye doctor appointment. We'll be running around quite a bit. I hope you had a great weekend! Have a good Monday, and thanks for stopping by!

Locker Magnets

For the few years, I've been making little locket magnets for my girls. This is what I made so far this year. I love making magnets, so I'll probably make some more!

Both sets are on chipboard pieces. I used a big circle punch for one, and then cut a 3x3 piece for the other. The round one is backed with a magnet, and I added a Christina Cole Standout sticker. That one was easy! Those round stickers are so cute, they don't need anything else. For the 3x3 piece, I added a couple of Slab papers, a Christina Cole Standout border, Making Memories alphabet stickers for personalization, and another round sticker. I also inked around the edges with chalk ink. I LOVE the "I can do anything" . . . YES! Girl power!


These are Jessica's! Once again, I just LOVE the "I am what I am"!!

There were so fun to make, and so easy! They just took me a few minutes!

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday, and thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

I was challenged to create a layout using pink, lime green, and brown. No problem! I love that color combination!


This is my fashionable Jessica. My daughters create a sisters' newspaper called the "New News", and my youngest is the fashion editor, Fiona Fashionista. This is what Fiona looks like when she's being very fashionable! Her photo appears above her column in the newspaper!

I used Scenic Route papers and alphabet stickers, and I did a lot of detail cutting for the various flowers on the page. I used my threading water punch on the border at the top. I also journaled on a sheet of Making Memories Noteworthy notebook journaling papers. I LOVE this layout!

I love that my girls thought to create a newspaper! It really helps them with their computer skills, writing, editing, and typing! They have huge imaginations, and they're always working on something! I just love that!

Have a wonderful Saturday, and a fantastic weekend. This is our last weekend before school starts. That makes me a little sad, because I love having my girls at home! Thanks for stopping by!

Coffee Mug

I've been working on challenges at a couple of sites, and creating this scrapbook page worked for two challenges.


At 4 Scrappy Sisters, we've had a weekly photo challenge. One week, we were to post a photo of something (not someone) that we loved. I love my coffee mug! My husband and daughters bought it for me a long time ago, and it just makes me smile. So, one of this month's challenges was to scrapbook one of our weekly photos, and this is the layout I created. This layout also worked for a challenge on ScrapCity, where we were supposed to scraplift a layout. I chose to scraplift one of Karen's layout. It really worked well for this page.

The papers are Kimberly Hodges. I used my threading water punch, lots of chalk ink distressing, vinyl thickers, a couple of Primas, and a Making Memories brad. The chipboard swirl was white, and I painted it blue. I journaled on the computer, and cut it out using my Coluzzle. I love the way this layout turned out. It was fun to scrap about an object!

I hope you all have a great Friday! Thanks for stopping by!

Card Sketch #57

It's card sketch day at Sketches! {by Tamara}, and this is my card for Card Sketch #57. Be sure to look at all of the wonderful cards that the design team made. Also, don't forget that Tamara is having a card design team call right now!


The card front is Cosmo Cricket. The "smile" stamp is an Autumn Leaves Stampology stamp. The butterfly is from a Stampin' Up set, the flowers are Primas, and the ribbon is from Michael's. I detail cut the butterflies and adhered them so they would pop off the card front. I love the color combination on this card!

I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Live It Up - Celebrate

I FINALLY got around to using one of the fantastic sketches over at the wonderful 2 Sketches 4 You site!


This is not for the current sketch, it is for a past sketch. At 4 Scrappy Sisters, one of the monthly challenges for August is to use Laura's Sketch #5. I turned the sketch on its side. I used Cosmo Cricket Halfway Cafe papers. I love these papers! The "live it up" stamp is one of the $1 acrylic stamps. Then I used Twistel on my card. Remember Twistel? It's from Making Memories, and I've had it for such a long time, but it really works on this card. Last touch is a western brad and lots of chalk ink distressing. I love the way this turned out!

Well, my girls start marching band boot camp today. It's from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. They have it for five days in a row. Thanks goodness it's only going to be in the upper 70's today. At least they won't be overwhelmed by the heat.

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Halloween 2005

I worked on this Halloween layout last night, and I LOVE the way it turned out! This is from Halloween 2005. My pirate and hippie were totally adorable!


I used Bazzill orange textured cardstock and Rusty Pickle patterned papers. I took a gorgeous green patterned sheet, and then I detail cut it like crazy! I mounted one side on the far left side of the left page, and then I mounted the other side on the far right side of the right page. I also detail cut a small portion and mounted it on the center of the right page. (You can click on the layout to see a larger view.) I added lots of tiny black rhinestones on the patterned paper. Then I broke out Making Memories Halloween foam stamps and paint. I love foam stamps and paint! I stamped the title, the bat, the word "BOO!", another bat, and "trick or treat". I then used black paint all around the edges of both pages. I love that effect. I also used a green paint that coordinates with the patterned paper, and I painted around the edge of all of the photo mats. I'm THRILLED with the way this two-page layout turned out!


I also created a card with the leftover papers and stamped images. To create a card with papers that I had just used for a layout was a challenge at 4 Scrappy Sisters. To use paint on a layout was a challenge at ScrapCity. I'm so glad when I can combine challenges!

My girls and I just got back from the Junior High. We were able to get their lockers all set up today. My youngest is starting 6th grade, and this is her first year in the Junior High, so setting up the BIG locker was huge excitement for her today. My oldest is going into 7th grade, so she's "been there, done that" already! It will be so great having them on the same schedule this year. I cannot believe both of my girls are in Junior High!

I hope you have a GREAT day, and thanks for stopping by!

BBTB - Christmas Cheer - Stocking Challenge

Our challenge at the Bitten by the Bug site this week was to use this stocking on the Christmas Cheer cartridge, but we were not to use red for the stocking. I decided to create a baby boy stocking, and I love the way it turned out. Be sure to see the other designers creations, because they are FANTASTIC!


Here is the stocking I created for this challenge. I made it for my husband's cousin's first baby. He will be celebrating his first Christmas this year!


I used Tres Jolie papers by My Mind's Eye. I love these papers! I created the sentiment on my computer, and then I used my Nestabilities to cut it. The border sticker on the stocking cuff is also Tres Jolie. I did a lot of chalk inking around all of the pieces. Easy as can be, but so cute! Now that I have my Expression, it's so much fun making larger pieces! I made this stocking 9" long!

I'm off for an early morning walk! I'm trying to get back on a diet. Wish me luck, because I really need it! I hope you had a great weekend! Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by!

Sketches! Card Design Team Call

Tamara posted the Sketches! Card Design Team Call today. Be sure to check it out! I love creating with her card sketches! Good luck!

Forever Friends

This is a card I created for a design team entry. I'm sad to say, I did not make the design team.


The card base is white, the card front is black Cuttlebug embossed, and the pink layer was cut on my Cricut. The "forever friends" stamp is an Autumn Leaves circular sentiment. I cut both the circle and the circle mat with my Coluzzle. I added a couple of Primas with a Making Memories brad. The pink clip is Making Memories, and the last touch was white sheer ribbon. I really love this card!

I hope you're having a wonderful Saturday! Thanks for stopping by!

Love Chipboard Banner

Since I had my Cosmo Cricket QVC kit out to make my sketch card that I posted yesterday, I decided to create and hang this "Love" chipboard banner. I backed the pieces in red Cosmo Cricket paper, and then I laced all the pieces together. I added long pieces of ribbon to the ends so that I could hang it below my mantle.


On each circle, I added small photos of us. I really like the way this turned out! If you click on the photo, you can see it larger.


The "L" features Emily, myself, and Jessica. I also added the word "smile".


The "O" features Dave and a small photo of Princess. Above Dave, I added the word "love".


The "V" features my beautiful girls Emily and Jessica. Above Emily I added "all smiles", and under Jessica, I added "sweet". I also added small die cut flowers with rhinestone centers.


The "E" features Princess. I added small letter stickers that say "family", and I added "2007".


This is how it looks suspended under our mantle. I "love" it!

Happy Friday! Enjoy your day, have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Card Sketch #56

This is my card for Card Sketch #56 at Sketches {by Tamara!}. Take a look at what the other card design team members created. If you create a card using the sketch, be sure to link it back to Tamara's site. You could be a future guest designer!


For my card, I used my Cosmo Cricket QVC Today's Special Value kit that I got a while back. The card base, the sentiment, the photo corners, the red matting paper, and the chipboard flower are all from the kit. I added some ribbon, a brad, and DCWV rub-on border stitches. This card isn't really my style, but it's fun to create something that you normally wouldn't create once in a while!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Pajama Party & Breaking Dawn

Here is a fun page I recently created! My girls and I had a pajama party one cold January evening. It was so much fun!!


The papers are Basic Grey. I detail cut some flowers from one of the patterned paper sheets. I then added rhinestones for the flower centers. I did my journaling on the computer. The title and subtitles are letter stickers that I've had for quite some time. Gotta love using something up that you've had for a while!! Just a simple, fun page.


Well, I finished this last night. Oh my, it was so good! I LOVED it! I was a little obsessed with it. It was so hot and humid the last few days, that sitting and reading in the air-conditioned house was a GREAT activity!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!