Biggest news EVER!!!!!

I am still on complete shock right now but I got an email saying....get this...

I am in the Paper Crafts Gallery Idol top 20!!!!!!!

I cannot believe this! I got an email (which went to my bulk folder) saying 'Congrats to all of you who made the top 20....and so on' but it didn't have names on it of who won. I got those butterflies in my stomach and read the title again. I figured it was just an email sent to everyone on the mailing list (which I just joined) so I decided to check out the web site.

There is was. My card. My simple scrap card that I probably would have never normally entered. My card was in the top 20 chosen from 1100 entries. I can't believe this is happening!
I'll be back with more later but right now I have a few calls to make. Now that I am done screaming and jumping up and down that is!

Here is the link.

More felt and thanks

First of all, I want to say thanks to those of you who quickly offered to help me with my Bella dilemma! It's so nice to have friends! I really appreciate all of you guys!

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I played around with some more felt. This is one of those 'it looks great in my head' cards that doesn't turn out quite like I wanted. I think it might be that the felt is too bright. I can't decide. I picked up this Rhonna Farrer Swirls set at Wal-Mart for less than $9. I'm really really liking have more 'swirly' options. I have the Flourishes set but it's a nice compliment to this one.

• Swirls (Rhonna Rarrer)
• Hello (JoAnn's $1 set)
• Cuttlebug Asterics die
• Certainly Celery, white CS
• Marvy Giga scallop circle
• Versamagic Aloe Vera chalk ink
• felt, rhinestone, ribbon, pop dots, push pin
  

With this one I wanted to imitate the look of the American Crafts rub ons. I'm kind of on the fence about this card too. I should have stamped the images higher on the card. Oh well, can't make everything perfect can we?

• Happy Harmony, Small Script stamp sets (SU)
• Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise dye ink
• aqua painter
• ribbon

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I wanted to mention that if you have made any cards for the troops from Dawn's site you need to get them sent out so they get to her in time!

Ahoy Matey, and a request

It's kind of hard to see the boat on this card. I stamped it in Versamark and then stamped 'ahoy, matey' with black on top of it. I hand cut the waves but thought they needed a little something more so I added some glitter glue to them.

• Ahoy Matey stamp set
• Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, white CS
• re-inkers
• aqua painters
• Stazon black dye, Versamark inks
• edge distresser, glitter glue, pop dots
  

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Okay, now for the request! I need some Bella images! Badly! I have a few sentiment stamps that would go so well with Grumpabella! So, here is my proposition. I would like these images...
*Beachabella
*Cosmobella
*Diplomabella
*Grumpabella
*Javabellas
*Pmsabella
*Staceyfishabella
*Tinkerbella

I know, I know, that's a lot of Bellas! But this is what I could offer in return.
*Marvy Giga scallop circle pieces
*Marvy Mega scallop circle pieces
*Marvy Mega scallop oval pieces
*Marvy Mega scallop square pieces
*Gardenbella
*Cakeabella
*Lots of other sets!

For each image I will punch one scallop piece in whatever color you want (as long as I have that color). I need a whole sheet of each of the Bellas. Can ya help a buddy out? {insert puppy dog eyes} Either leave a message on this post or email me. Thank you ladies!!!

Lookie what I got!

I had to go take movies back to Blockbuster yesterday (such a good excuse to go to Hobby Lobby across the street!) and wanted to go and find some felt. Well, I found some felt! Now I just need to find out if any of it will cut with my Cuttlebug dies! I think some pieces might be a little too thick. I'll just have to cut those out by hand.

I found some paper in HL but was proud of myself for the level of resistance I had with the paper. Putting me in an isle full of paper is like handing a beer to an alcoholic. It's soooooo hard not to want it! But, I made it through that store with only some felt and a few sheets of paper. Oh, and I bought a card pack and some stickers for my niece. Her birthday is this week and I wanted to send her a little gift. Before I packaged it up I also threw in some ribbon, brads, stamped images, and some scallop punches. I think she'll be happy!

Now, onto Target. It is becoming more difficult to not spend forever in their scrapbook isle! Look, look, pretty colors! {drool} Anyway, I got a $5 gift card the other day for buying batteries so I knew exactly where I wanted to use it. I ended up getting blue Primas because Jolee said blue was my favorite color. True, very true.

Next was JoAnn's. I finally found some clear sets that everyone was talking about!!! I got 6 different ones and a few of the ink pads. Word of Caution *DON"T GET THE LITTLE INK PADS* Waste of money with a capital W! Which means I probably send them to my nieces. {grin} Oh well, we live and we learn huh? I also got a few of the other regular $1 stamps, more felt, and glitter glue (they had no stickles). All in all, I spent less than $20.

So, here is my $20 card. {giggle}

• JoAnn's clear $1 stamp sets
• Stazon black ink, Certainly Celery ink
• blue Primas
• white brads

I think I have been on a super simple kick lately. I actually really like it though! I think I might keep it up for a while.

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I wanted to show you an awesome tutorial from Jen Carter. I have the scallop punches but I'm even gonna try this one! Check it out! I really like the look!

Hope you all have a fantabulous day! It's rainy and yucky here but I'm gonna make the most of it!

Playing around with felt

I never thought I would be able to use felt in such a cute way! I am loving seeing what everyone is doing with it! It inspired me to run it through my Sizzix with the Cuttlebug Asteriks die. I did find out though that not all felt will work with the cuttlebug dies. This felt was pretty thin and somewhat stiff. It did work great though! I like the red flowers but wish I had another color on hand to work with. I'll pick some more colors up when I am out next.

• Happy Everything (SU), Flourishes (Rhonna Farrer) stamp sets
• Aloe Vera Versamagic chalk ink, Real Red classic ink
• Cuttlebug Asteriks die
• red felt
• rhinestones
  

Now this card came out of absolutely nowhere. I threw it together in about 10 minutes. I like how it turned out though. Nothing too bold. I thought about using ribbon where the paper piercing is but thought that might make it over done. I did pop another dress up on top of the one underneath that I had already colored.

• Diva Dresses (TAC), Paper Tray (PaperTrey) stamp sets
• Regal Rose re-inker
• Black Stazon ink
• push pin, rhinestones, pop dots

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Allison tagged me to tell 7 things about myself and then tag 7 people to do the same. So, here goes.

*I have never smoked a cigarette even though both of my parents were smokers (I think that's why!).

*When I get scared while watching a movie I wiggle my toes.

*If I ever came into some money, the first thing I would do is get my teeth fixed. They have never been straight.

*I am a cat person and grew up with all kinds of animals as a kid. However within the last 3 years have developed allergies to pet dander and pretty much sneeze my head off any time I get near any. That includes our Guinea Pig Franklin.

*I belch quite often. And usually quite loudly! But don't worry, I always say excuse me!

*I love to fish! Hubby is teaching me the in and outs of bass fishing though and hopefully we get to plan a day to go together.

*Lately my absolute favorite indulgence is Ferro Rocher chocolates!!! Good gracious they are yummy!

Alright, now I will tag the following....

Amy S.

Meli Mitchell

Amy Westerman

Jovi

Rose Ann

Stephanie

Julie Masse

Can't wait to hear what you ladies have to say!

I've been tagged!

Woo-Hoo! Jovita tagged me! I am in someones top 5 fave blogs to read! Go me! Go me! Now the hard part is choosing my top 5! This will be rough! I'm sure all of those that I will pick have already been tagged by someone so be prepared for repeats from other blogs.

Ana Wohlfahrt's Ink a Stamp

Amy Westerman's Heartfelt Greetings

Debbie Olson's Thinking Inking

Tracy Durcan's Durcan Designs

Kendra Giles' Inkin' it Up

There are so many more! I am thinking about picking one blog a week to feature. Maybe putting a permanent link on the side or something. Everyone is just getting better and better that I can't keep up with all of them!

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I know this card looks familiar! I made one just like it for Amy's scrap paper challenge last Saturday. I also liked it enough to re-make it and submit it to the Paper Crafts Gallery Idol contest. Still used scrap paper so I guess it works for todays challenge on her site too!

You had to make a hello card for the contest (the other one said 'smile') so I just changed the colors and sentiment but everything else is the same.

• MME patterned paper
• Pumpkin Pie CS and dye ink
• Delight in Life (SU), Paper Tray (PaperTrey) stamp sets
• Marvy Mega scalloped circle punch
• Prismacolors and Gamsol, push pin, pop dots

I also had to make a sympathy card for a friend of my mother. I printed out the verse and just used my Mega scallop punch on it.

• BasicGrey LillyKate patterned paper
• Flourishes (Rhonna Farrer), Fanciful Flowers (TAC) stamp sets
• Chocolate Chip dye ink
• Marvy Mega scallop oval punch
• brown velvet ribbon
  

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Thank you to all of you who left a comment yesterday! It means so much to know that I can share those kinds of things with people I have never even met but get such a positive and wonderful response! God bless you all!

Rembering Dad

I just wanted to take a minute today to tell everyone a little bit about my dad. He passed away a year ago today. He had emphysema and CODP along with several other things that just eventually became too much for his body to handle. He was in and out of the hospital for about 5 years but the last year he was there more than at home.

I remember getting the call from my sister saying that he was so bad that they couldn't even get his blood pressure and that I should come down. I dropped what I was doing, got the kids in the car, and drove an hour to be with him. My sisters and I were there gathered around his bed at my sisters house holding his hands, his legs, feet, whatever we could (there are 7 of us).

Dad always loved it when we would sing even though only one of us can really carry a tune. So, for the last time, we all sang him his favorite song 'Dreamchaser'. It was a wonderful moment that I will never forget. We all kissed him goodbye and held onto eachother and just cried. We knew from then on our lives would be different.

Now my family and I are Christians and we know that my father is in heaven. We can get through things like this because we know. I could never imagine not having Jesus or my family to lean on. Even though I know this, it still hurts. It hurts less now, but the pain will always be there. But when I think of him, I don't think of a hospital bed with oxygen tubes in his nose, I think of playing 'Name that Tune' with my sisters and dad giving us a nickel or dime for getting an answer right. I remember going into his workshop and watching him build the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I remember him making me play Super Mario Brothers with him for hours on end. I remember him dancing with me at my wedding. I remember him holding my girls when they were just tiny babies. I remember all of the good times. Thank you Jesus for all of the good times I remember!

I'm not trying to make you guys cry or feel bad for me because I don't feel bad for me. I got 23 wonderful years with him! I was blessed every day he was in my life. And I do thank him now for all those times he said "No, but trust me, you'll thank me later!" Thanks dad! Just hold your family close. Don't wait for a reason to give your sister or brother a call. Send your mom or dad some flowers out of the blue. Just let everyone know how much you love them! Thank God for the blessings in your life! I do!

That is a picture of my dad when he was around 18 I think. He loved the guitar and he was so good at it! I have so many memories of him with that guitar!

I love you daddy!

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I have been tagged by Jovi and I also have a few cards to share but I'll be back later for that!

Some cards and a giggle

Good morning! I hope everyone is having a lovely morning so far! If not, I have a joke to hopefully make you smile, and wonder what the world is coming to, all in the same breath!

A mother was reading a book about animals to her 3 year old daughter.

Mother: "What does the cow say?"

Child: "Moo!"

Mother: "Great! What does the cat say?"

Child: "Meow."

Mother: "Oh, you're so smart! What does the frog say?"

And this wide-eyed little 3 year-old looked up at her mother and in her deepest voice replied, "Bud."

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I did another Super Sunday Sketch challenge over at Amy Wetserman's blog. The friend panel and the top flower are popped up but you can't tell in the pic. I am really loving her challenges! I rarely ever do any of the SCS challenges so these are nice for me.

• MME Magnolia line paper
• Chocolate Chip CS
• Delight in Life, Lexicon of Love stamp sets (SU)
• scallop scissors
• prismacolor pencils and gamsol
• pop dots

I want to start doing a simple card along with any more detailed card that I do. That way I am getting two done at once and I don't feel I have spent a whole hour working on one card! This is what I came up with this morning. Card is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 (my new favorite size). I tried to use the Love you Latte set a little differently. The 'steam' stamp almost reminds me of wings beside the hearts.

• Love you Latte (SU), Hey there (TAC), stamp sets
• Black Stazon, Pixie Pink die ink
• pop dots

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I have to go out and about today to pick some things up. The high is 62 degrees so today is a good day to do it. I just hope we don't have the wind we had yesterday, whew! It blew everything around in our yard and off our porch. Then again that's a pretty normal thing around here. We are in the middle of wind central! We are on a hill with only a few trees around. So in that case, I guess we're kind of asking for it!

I'm going to pick up some new sand for the kids' sandbox. Hopefully we won't keep having 40 degree weather anymore. The kids are just dying to go out and I feel bad to keep having to tell them no.

I don't think there are any other mind numbing things I have to say. Oh, we didn't win the lottery last night, so that was a bummer. Better luck next time, right?

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My stuff is still for sale! Check it out here.

Scrap paper card

I took a cue from Amy Westerman to use those scraps to make your cards. Granted, there aren't many scraps on here, but I would have to say that this is a card I probably would have never came up with if I hadn't looked at the scraps in my pile. The only thing that wasn't a scrap was the flower (it was even stamped, just not colored). I actually really enjoy this card! It was super quick and easy! Final size is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4. I am really liking the perfect square sizes lately!

• MME patterned paper
• DCWV cardstock
• Delight in Life (SU), Smile (Hampton Art) stamps
• Marvy Mega scallop circle
• Prismacolors and gamsol
• glitter glue, pop dots, push pin
  

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I'll be posting my sale/trade list a little bit later today. I'll also be doing some blog candy once I get 10,000 hits! Keep an eye out!

Want my goodies?

No! I do not mean it that way! Get your minds out of the gutter! I am in need of getting rid of some of my things so I can buy more. There are still so many things i keep finding that I want soooo much! Therefore, to get that money, I have to make it! And for me to make it, you have to buy it! Get it? Got it? Good! So, get your Paypal account ready and get busy! Please. {wink}

Cling mounted Angel set (set of 4) unknown maker- $4.00, shipping included


Collage Alpha (set of 28, current $26.95) - slight staining on rubber $25, shipping included


Quirky Uppers, Lowers, and Numbers (set of 68 altogether, retired) - slight staining on rubber and wood $50, shipping included


Good Times (set of 28, retired) - slight staining on rubber, heavy staining on wood of 2 stamps (see below) $16, shipping included




Watercolor Minis (set of 12, current $17.95) slight staining on rubber and wood - $16 shipping included


Looks like Spring and matching punch (set of 6, current $28.95-punch current $13.95) - Both $40 shipping included


Quickutz $4 each, shipping included or both for $7.00 SNOWFLAKE IS SOLD


Cardstock dog sticker sheets $1 each shipping NOT included, buy all 3 and shipping is on me!


If you have any questions or want to buy any of it, just email me at pea_pods_mom@yahoo.com