Lots to share!

Wow! What a busy weekend! It seems like I have been here there and everywhere (including JoAnn's) {wink}! Thursday afternoon I went to visit Joe's aunt (my other mom!) because she and hubby got a new house. She used to live right next door to me but now she lives next door to her daughter Amy (my other sister!) about 40 minutes away from me. The move was bittersweet because I loved having her next door but I am so happy she can be right next to her daughter and grandkids!!!! And don't worry, she's one of those moms that you wouldn't mind living next door to!
After I visited a little Joe's cousin Tiffany and I went off to JoAnn's to shop a little. She had never been in a Super JoAnn's before! Well, poor girl I cured her of that! I'm sure I'll be getting a letter of complaint for her husband!!!! Uh Oh! We then took the kids to McDonald's and they had a great time! If I could only bottle all of those giggles!!!

Saturday morning was the community yard sales where my MIL lives. Bought not one thing for myself but I ended up getting Jolee about 39 pieces of clothes (mostly GAP and Children's Place) for $25! After that I had $5 left and ended up getting them each a little folding camp chair for when we go fishing. Man I love yard sales!!!! I also had a birthday party to go to and ended up staying there for about 2 1/2 hours. After that I was super tired! I came home and slept a little till Joe got home.

Sunday totally threw me off. Joe worked this weekend (the first in a while) so I kept feeling like it was Monday. It was a really good card day though! Got 5 done! And they are all in their envelopes with stamps ready to go to my mailbox! Now that is an accomplishment! To actually get them sent out on time! One of them really a week late though but we won't count that one! {wink}

So here they are!! All 5! I have to say I really like this batch!

The first one is for my sister. She swears she will never find another man (she's divorced) so I had to make her a card to remind her why doesn't doesn't need one! {giggle} The color of the paper is off a bit in this pic. It's really more of a light sage-y green.

• Colorbok patterned paper
• Close to Cocoa CS
• Marvy Giga and Mega scalloped circle punches
• Cosmobella stamp (Stamping Bella), Men's faults stamp (RiverCityRubberWorks)
• sewing machine
• aquapainter
• Copic gray marker (for shadows)
• eyelets, pop dots, ribbon

This next one is for a blogging friend who shall remain nameless so they don't know this card is coming to them. I think kraft is my new obsession. I just love how clean it looks!

• BasicGrey Lilly Kate paper
• kraft CS
• Cuttlebug flowers die
• Paper Studio big brad (LOVE these!)
• For my Friend stamp (Studio G)

This card is the one that is a week late! Shame on me too! It's for my niece. I picked up this paper at JoAnn's when I was there the other day. I LOVE it! Especially these two together. I glued a piece of the polka dot paper onto a coaster I snuck from Outback, ran it through my Sizzix and viola! Super easy accent!

• Flower paper (Sandyloin), polka dot paper (Hot off the Press)
• Paper Tray stamp set (PaperTreyInk)
• Cuttlebug flowers die
• Chipboard frame (painted with black acrylic paint)
• eyelets
• ribbon, stickles

This is for a relative of a blogger friend who is ill. Just wanted to send well wishes to her. I did Lisa's card challenge on this one again. I just love this layout. So quick and easy to put together! And just for the record this card looks better IRL!

• Happy Harmony (SU), Thoughts of You (Michael's $1 bin)
• Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip CS
• Mega scalloped circle punch
• ZIG markers
• sheer ribbon
• corner rounder
• pop dots

This is my favorite of them all. I found this cool paper at JoAnn's too. It's by Colorbok and it's called "Little People". It has a bunch of different little cute scenes all over it. I decided to punch out the people with the umbrellas. My sis's hubby just got laid off and she is stressing right now. Been there! Done that! Just wanted her to know I was thinking of her. I used my sewing machine to make the holes. And I swear I could not live without my snap stamps!
*outside reads "sometimes when it rains"
*inside reads "it pours"

• BasicGrey Lilly Kate paper, Colorbok "Little People" paper
• kraft, red CS
• Karen Foster 1/8 inch snap stamps
• Mega scalloped circle punch
• Super Jumbo circle punch (finally invested, Wow! Love it!)
• Sewing machine
• pop dots

Whew! I think I'm done now! I am going to make blog candy post today! So check for it!!!! Thanks for stopping by!

Have a safe weekend!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to pop in and say that I hope everyone has a fun and safe Memorial day weekend! I plan on lazing around the house with hubby and kids!

This is the card I made for my niece. I was trying to think 'Amy Westerman' style with the different patterns of papers. She is so good at that!!!

• Cakeabella (Stamping Bella)
• Paper Tray (Paper Trey Ink)
• MME, MAMBI patterned paper
• Slit punch
• aqua painters and re-inkers

See ya next week!

Opinions please

I have been a bit random with my entries lately but I have been working on some things for my photography blog and have also been trying to think of themes for a few days of the week that could be re-occurring. I was thinking of 'Fun Friday' where each Friday I pick a theme like polka dots or butterflies and you guys can see if you can come up with something to make for it. I know there are a few blogs (okay, more than a few) that already do some weekly/daily challenges so I guess what I'd like to know is if anyone would be game to play along? My feelings won't be hurt in the least if everyone would rather just keep up with the challenges that they are already involved in. I know sometimes it's hard for me to keep up with Amy's challenges on her blog Heartfelt Greetings!

So, give me some suggestions! Are there other things you would like to see on here? Or should I change something to make it easier? Let me know! I want to make this blog as enjoyable to view as possible!

And speaking of challenges, this is my Super Sunday Sketch challenge of Amy's. These are the same papers that I used on her challenge last week. I am trying to also use the paper that I have already cut into before I use something else. Although, that is much easier said than done!!

I had trouble with the 'cheers' part. I like the rest of the card really well but just seemed to get stuck with that. I might change it later.

• Cosmobella (stamping bella), 1/8 in. snap stamps (Karen Foster), and Hampton Art stamps
• The Paper Studio DP; Certainly Celery, Positively Pink, black CS
• Cuttlebug flowers die
• Stazon black
• ZIG markers and aqua painter
• ribbon

*****
I just wanted to let you guys know about something I saw (and bought) yesterday. A compant called Tensor makes natural light light bulbs. They aren't like the OTT light bulbs where you can only use them in the OTT light lamps (in other words, they don't screw in), they screw in to any light that takes a regular bulb! They are $16.99 each at Staples, BUT if you already have a table lamp or even an over head if you wanted to buy 3 of them, you're still saving lots of money and space! The OTT lights run $59.00 and up each. Yesterday I got the bulb for $16.99 and bought a gooseneck lamp (didn't have one) for $9.99. So, for $27 I have my own natural light lamp so I can work on my stuff at night without wondering what it might look like in the morning!

I hope that info might help some of you guys out! I had no clue about it so next time you are out see if any other places sell them too. You might find them cheaper than that!

My journey has ended

Well, I got news yesterday that I didn't make it to the top 10 for the Paper Crafts Gallery Idol contest. I can't say I'm not bummed but I am still happy to have gotten to do a few rounds!

I want to thank all of you again who voted for me and took the time to leave such sweet comments wishing me luck! You're all great!

Here was my final card. The category was shaped Mother's Day cards.


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I also finally got a chance to use a bella image that Juile sent me! I had to try out the sand like she had on her card. I just love the look of the real sand!

• Beachabella (Stamping Bella), 1/8 inch snap stamps (Karen Foster)
• Positively Pink, Cool Caribbean CS
• DCWV Pocket full of Posies Mat stack
• Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder
• ZIG markers and aqua painter
• stickles, sand, ribbon, needle, pop dots

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I am still having a blast with my camera! I think I have decided to start a photography blog so I don't picture overkill on here! When I do I'll be sure to post the link!

My baby is 5!

Okay, I can't believe that my baby, my first born, my princess is 5! Yesterday was almost like a smack in the face! {smack} Hey mom, I'm, growing up! {smack} But {smack} you're {smack} my {smack} baby! {smack} Alright, I might have gone a tad overboard with the smacking thing but that's just the way it feels. And let me tell you she's 5 going on 15! Sometimes the attitude that comes out of her mouth is scary! Where did THAT come from!? I swear she didn't get it from me! {wink}

She does crack me up though too. A few days ago she had me laughing so hard I was crying! She and Joe were on the couch being silly with eachother and he said "Go get me a Tea". She gave me a weird look and a minute later she shows up with the magnetic letter 'T' from the fridge. Joe and I cracked up! It was so funny. So I called Ava over and said, "Could you go get daddy a tea please?" She goes and gets a bottle of tea out of the fridge and brings it in. Jolee then had a 'duh' moment and started laughing with us. I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

Here is the birthday card I made her. She, like Ava, loves the Bellas so I knew that's what I had to use for hers too.

• Cakeabella stamp (stampingbella)
• The Paper Studio patterned paper
• Lavender Lace, DCWV pink, white paper
• Cuttlebug Swirls EF
• Prismacolors and Gamsol
• scallop scissors, flowers, rhinestones

***
This is one I made a few days ago. I'm not too much of a 'scenery' stamper. I pretty much just like to stamp one or two images and leave it at that. I got this stamp from Eat Cake Graphics though (and it has me wanting more) and you kinda have to add to it. It doesn't have to stamped images that you add, but it does need something extra. I really enjoyed coloring it in and all but lesson #1 (and I know I am yelling when I say this) ALWAYS STAMP YOUR SENTIMENT BEFORE YOU COLOR AN ENTIRE IMAGE LIKE THIS!!!!!!!! It took me about 20-25 minutes to color this and get it just how I want and then I mess up the sentiment! It looks pretty bad but I'm hoping that the images will distract the viewer from how bad the words look! Let me know!!

I used a marker on the Happy Harmony stamp because I wanted to leave out the word 'big'. I thought it was too scripty and might not look right with the image. Looking back, I should have just left it. Instead though, I used an alphabet set from TAC to stamp 'big'.

• Trust stamp (ECG), Happy Harmony (SU), Simple Alphabet (TAC)
• Prismacolors and Gamsol
• white cardstock
• pop dots (I popped up the sun)
  

I hope everyone enjoys the weather today cause the rest of the week we have a chance of snow! At least in Ohio. Can you believe that??? High of 78 today but nothing higher than 40 degrees the rest of the week! It's madness I tell ya! So much for an outside Easter egg hunt!

They're done!

Thank goodness! I just finished up the invitations for my daughters' combined birthday party (their birthdays are a month apart) on the 17th. I had to do 18 of them. Have I mentioned on here yet how much I *despise* doing repetitive cards? I Loathe it!!! With a capital L! But now I am done so I won't keep complaining! To you, anyway! {grin}

• Cakeabella stamp (www.stampingbella.com)
• Paper Tray stamp set (PaperTrey)
• Paper from a Slab from Michael's (not sure which slab)
• blender pen
• re-inkers and ink pads
• glitter

So, for some reason I woke up grumpy this morning (a real rarity for me) and the day seemed to get gloomier when I realized that my big box 'o' stamps were not going to get here today. {insert sad face} So, now I am sitting here with no new rubbah to play with. But I am thankful that I will be getting rubbah soon. Just OBVIOUSLY not today! Okay, done with that one too!

However! I do have something to be happy about! I get to go see Daughtry in 5 days!!! Woo-Hoo! And the weatherman says it's supposed to be 60 on Friday so I am hoping it will be close to that on Saturday so I don't freeze my patootie off standing in line! Even if I do Chris (Daughtry, that is) will warm me up real quick like once he starts singing!

A little of this, a little of that

Okay, first off I want to address the winners from my Monday blog candy. The winners are YM, Allison, Stephanie, and Cindy Keery. However, for some reason my computer won't let me access your emails. So, I need all of you to respond to this post with your email in the post (or you can privately email me) so I can get in touch with you for your snail mail address.



This is the card I made for my sweet Ava. She is turning 3 tomorrow and she adores this stamp! I know it's a little wild but I think she'll like the flowers. Both my daughters asked me to stamp this image out several times so they could color it and make their own cards with her!

• Me and My Big Ideas paper
• Cakeabella stamp (www.stampingbella.com)
• Pumpkin Pie CS (SU)
• ribbon
• pop dots
• rhinestones

I got to place a SU order about 3 days ago and I am sooo excited to get it! It should be here by Monday (but hopefully Saturday!) and I plan on being a hermit all next week! I ended up getting 4 SAB sets out of it and couldn't be more thrilled! Hopefully I'll create some real masterpieces! Or at the very least, a few simple cards! {smile}

On another note my sister found out she was going to have another baby girl! She was really expecting the doc to say boy but it was pink for sure! I can't wait! She is due at the end of July so I have a while to wait but I need to make her a congrats it's a girl card soon. Girls tend to be spoiled in our family. Who am I kidding? The boys are spoiled too! They all get lovin' and attention from all of us Aunts. So basically when they are mad at their moms one of us can come to the rescue! I guess that's what we're here for! God bless all of you out there who are awesome Aunts to your nieces and nephews! Keep up the good work! (by the way, I know that's corny!)

My first Cakeabella!

I really like how the colors ended up with this one! And the rhinestones are a personal fave of mine! I used a blender pen and ink pads to color her in. She is also on watercolor paper to make coloring her run smoother. Thanks for looking!

• Cakeabella stamp (http://www2.blogger.com/www.stampingbella.com)
• Paisley Rockz stamp set (TAC)
• Tempting Turquoise, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, and watercolor paper
• rhinestones
• pop dots
• scallop edge scissors
• push pin for piercing paper

P.S. I'm waiting for my 1/8 snap stamps to get here before I put a sentiment on the front. If you don't have any yet you should get them from Anna Wights Ebay store!