Raspberry Suite 13

Wowzers! I am so behind. I have so many things I planned to do this summer and have not gotten around to doing them yet. Where did the summer go?

We've had such a great time though. It has truly been the most amazing summer with my kids. We got to spend so much time together with family. It's just been a blast. Are you ever in the moment of something and realize how special that moment is? That's how I've felt about this whole summer. I know that as my kids continue to get older it will be harder to spend this type of quality time vacationing with them. My son is sooo active in sports that I think even next year may be hard to squeeze in all the stuff we love to do. It's sad really. To think at the young age of 9 our lives may revolve around organized sports. I'm going to do my best to make sure though that summer with my kids is always memorable.

I have a friend who always used to say," You only get 18 summers with your kids." That pretty much says it all. I only have 8 and 10 more with my daughter and son, respectively. Wow! That STINKS!

Make 'em count peeps! That's what I hope to do.

We were so lucky to have my mom come and stay with us for an extended visit this year. Having family around so much this year has been great. We miss them all a bunch.

I made this card for her so she always remembers how much we love her and think of her.

I decided to participate in the Raspberry Suite 13 challenge. My idea came from a picture of Taylor at CHA. You can see that link here.


Here are the colors we were to use:

Here is my card:



I also decided to decorate the inside. I guess the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge for this week has inspired me to try and do that more.





This card started out as a 5 1/2 inch square. Then I decided to scallop the edges. Had to do a bit of cutting it down for it to work. I basically punched a bunch of squares from scrap papers and arranged them on my card. Let's just say this wasn't as simple as it SHOULD have been. Thank goodness for an adhesive eraser and UNDU. They are my new best friends:) I colored some Thickers with a combination of Copics and SU markers to get the right colors for the "U" and "R." Then I dazzled them with dazzling diamonds and 2 way glue. I think the rest is pretty easy to figure out. Let me know if you have questions. Hope you have a great day!

What's In It?
Stamps: So Very retired SU
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Rose Romance
Paper: White, plethora of designer papers;)
Other: Swiss Dots EF, cuttlebug, RHR tafetta ribbon, scallop edge punch, curly label punch, white grosgrain, TPS buttons, glue dots, 2 way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, thickers stickers, paper piercer

Finally!

I have had a super busy, but fun day. I said I would have a post sometime today. It's just really late. I am hoping to sneak in a power nap before football practice tonight. As my son would say...." I'm so tired I could die like the wind." I have no idea what it means really, but somehow it seems very fitting to say right now:) I made this card in the wee hours of the morning for the Weekend Sketch Challenge. I messed up the stitching, but had no time to reprint and cut the paper. Mistakes = Handmade and Handmade= Goodness and Love, right?

I got this really fabulous paper at the Digichick Boutique. I'm addicted I tell ya. LOVE that digital paper option. I don't have all this extra scrap laying around. This was just released last week and I fell in love with it. Wish I had gotten the coordinating paper when it was on sale. This is called Tiny Princess and I love the soft vintage feel to it. Still using that 50 cent yellow ribbon from Joann's. I also used another stamp from my Unity KOTM (June). I have never really liked the color Sage Shadow from SU, but it went perfectly with this paper. I think this card seems very calming and in my hectic life at the moment I welcome that feeling. I made this for my sister. She just bought her very first home. I know it has been fun, as well as, stressful. I hope this calming color will help her too.

I came up with a very quick tutorial on how to make a coordinating layer for my butterfly located in the top right corner of the card. This is also an option just for making a paper butterfly.



FIRST, I am aware that my punch looks ATROCIOUS in this picture. It is one I have let my kids use for many years. I just recently confiscated it back. I'll try to clean it before my next impromptu tutorial.

What you need:

A heart punch of any size that fits your needs

designer paper....heavy cardstock most likely won't work.....too tough to punch through 2 layers

Here are the supplies I used. Now follow the directions on each picture. Remember that you can click on the picture to enlarge it if you like.

Forgot to mention that you should now punch out the paper, hehehe:)

So that's it. Now here's What's In the Rest of the card:

Stamps: Bevy of Butterflies, June KOTM (Unity),

Ink: Sage Shadown, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa, Barely Banana, Mememto Rich Cocoa
Paper: Tiny Princess digital, barely banana, sage shadow, vanilla,
Other: Ribbon, Oval Nesties, 1 inch circle punch, scalloped edge punch, stickles, Janome Sew Mini


Thanks for stopping by today. You will see my blog changing a bit over the next several weeks. I'm bored with it and working on something else. Bear with me through these changes. I hope to have another challenge card for you tomorrow. Have a super day!

I'm Here....

....really, I am. It's just been so busy between a baseball tournament, getting sick, doing laundry, unpacking, cleaning the camper, cleaning the house and appointments. I also started babysitting today. So, 3 more kids makes it tough to stamp too (wink). I do have a card that I started yesterday. Well, I printed the paper and laid it on the table. That's as far as I've gotten. I hope to be able to work on it tonight. Football and a trip to the pool may prevent that though. Well, see.

I really just wanted you to know why I haven't been posting. I'll get back into the swing of things soon. We have one more quick trip to my husband's class reunion this weekend. Then my summer trips will officially be done. Stay tuned. I should have a post tomorrow sometime:)

Inside Out

I'm finally back from vacation. Just in time for my Birthday! Happy Birthday to ME:)

Also, it's time for an INSIDE OUT CHALLENGE at Stamptacular Sunday challenge. Create any project where you decorate the inside, as well as, the outside for a chance to win a Stampin Up stamp set.

My project is a small photo album for my mom. I used some album inserts from Bo Bunny that I got for about $1.50. This was a really inexpensive album to make. I was a bit short on time, so I didn't get to embellish as much as I would have liked.



The front was covered with Heidi Grace paper and stamped using Certainly Celery and a retired SU set called Roses In Winter. The heart is chipboard from the dollar spot at Joann's and is covered with some coordinating paper. I used Rub Ons and ribbon from Hobby Lobby. The pages are held together with book rings.


I am only showing the first pages of the album or it would be a really LONG post. I used several different designer papers and several different stamp companies to create this book. I plan on doing this again. Very fun and full of memories. Thanks for checking in today. Don't forget to look at those Design Team blogs for more inspiration. I will back to checking all of your creations now that I'm home for a week.

Hope you get to play along too!

BONUS FUN AND CHALLENGE FOR JULY

Welcome to Stamptacular's first Build-A-Card event! Hope you ENJOY the fun we have in store for you today! Please remember that you will have until midnight (EST) Sunday July 19th to complete this activity in order to qualify and be included in the drawing for the prize being offered to all participants.

So...are you ready? Let's start building your card...

First you will start off with something from the BLUE color family. Once you've chosen your "BLUE" beginning you will need to go and visit Janneke for your next step.


This is just the beginning so make sure you have FUN! Can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Thanks for stopping by! Now get a move on *wink*

Shape Up!

Do you ever get tired of just making the normal rectangle or square cards? Need a little something different to jazz up your day? Well, then head on over to Stamptacular Sunday Challenge for peek at all the different shapes of cards the design team made. Then join us and make your own card of any shape OTHER THAN a square or rectangle. Link it up to the Stamptacular Sunday blog by midnight next Saturday and you could win a prize.



I have to admit that I really like this card. It is just so FUN! It was very time consuming though. Let me tell you a little about it. I got the idea HERE. There is a link to a tutorial if you would like to learn how to make this SIDE STEP CARD. I also used a template for my clouds HERE. I know that seems silly, but that way I could figure out how long or short I needed them to be. I did end up altering them a bit. I traced the template using a copic marker and then cut them out. That gave a bit of shadowing. I then put stickles around the edges too. My sun was created using a Daisy 2 sizzlet for the "rays" and the largest SU circle punch for the "sun." More stickles:) That cute image was a digital stamp from All That Scraps called Swiss Pixies Gretel. I colored her with Copics and stickled her as well. I made that rainbow using a circle punch and.....you guessed it....STICKLES!

Here are a few close ups...

SIDE VIEW

Now don't forget to get those creative juices flowing. I'm on vacation, but hope to peek in to see what you have made. Make sure you visit the design team. We also have another special challenge today. Super fun!

Have a great Sunday

Quickest Post EVER!

I really have NO time to explain this cute little box I made. I got the original idea from Clean and Simple Stamps. I had to alter it a bit though. Stay tuned for details on this.

Don't forget to stop by here on Sunday for a cute project and some bonus fun at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge.

I will be leaving on Vacation today! I will have a Sunday post and then won't have another for a week. Going to just enjoy my family for a week. See you when I get back!

P.S. I blurred the names on this project...that's not REALLY bad stamping:)

Fairy Wish

Sorry for the late post. I really thought I was ahead of the game for my camping trip. WRONG! Let's just say it's going to be a long night. I still have several things to get done. But, I really wanted to post this card since it's for 2 challenges and one ends tomorrow:) I got a few digital stamps from DigiStamp Boutique. This was a sponsor for our last Stamptacular Sunday Challenge and I REALLY fell in love with the images. Go check them out. So Sweet!


My card combines Jen's SFYTT and Color Throwdown 51. I've been practicing with my Copics. I would really like to get more colors. I think I'll have to wait awhile though. Just got the bill for them and my husband asked if they colored by themselves. Yeah! They are pretty expensive. But, I got one heck of a deal on them at www.oozak.com. Really, it's the cheapest place for them. Anyways, I had fun coloring the little fairy girl in. Her wings have Shimmerz on them. It's hard to see in the photo though. Ok, enough chit chat. I have to finish my packing and baking and shopping and....I'm tired already.

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY ON SUNDAY! SO EXCITED FOR THAT CHALLENGE!

What's In It?
Stamps: digital digistamp boutique, Small Sayings, Short and Sweet, Wishing You the Best (SU), Bevy of Butterflies (Unity)
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Versamark, Gem Metallic Purple
Paper: Garden Green, DCWV purples, So Saffron, White
Other: Star punch, UK Wavy punch, Circle Punch, corner rounder, stickles, dimensionals, So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, Walmart Green ribbon, Rhinestone Brads, label punch, tiny twinkles, Copics E00, E37, BV04, BV02, G07, YG03

My Mistake

This is my original card that I made for the Paper Craft Planet sketch. That was the one layer card. Well, I tried it twice and messed up on both. SOOOOO, I combined the two to cover my mistake on the first card. Therefore, it doesn't qualify as a "one" layer card. I used the same technique as yesterday's card for the sponging. I love black, green and white together. I think they have a soothing elegance to them.

This is the color of my bathroom and I love to take a long, hot bubble bath and RELAX in there. Relaxing is also what I will be doing in a few days as we head out for one of our final trips of the year. Can you tell I'm excited about relaxing?

I'm also excited to share my card for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge with you. Make sure you check in on that day. We are going to have a special BONUS challenge. Priscilla has outdone herself. I'm telling you, it's a pretty cool challenge. So, stay tuned for that. I'll be back tomorrow with another card. Have a great day!

What's In It?
Stamps: Unity June KOTM, Celebrate Today (MCS)
Ink: Cert. Celery, Versamark
Paper: White
Other: Fiskar's personal trimmer, sponge, Labels 4 Nesties, dimensionals, Hobby Lobby ribbon, Black EP

I'm So Blessed

This card could not be closer to the truth. I am very blessed by so many great friends and family. As I prepare for our annual SMOKERFEST camping trip, I am reminded of all the wonderful times I have shared with family. I'm also so grateful for the friends who help out by watching our home and caring for our animals while we are away. I'm counting the days til I see so many of my family members. We always have THE BEST time!

I created this card for the Paper Craft Planet Saturday Sketch. (BTW, I was very honored to have my card featured in the newsletter this week for last week's sketch challenge.) The funny thing is, it's not a sketch at all, really. It's to make a one layer card which proves to be more challenging than ANY sketch I've ever done. This was my third attempt. The problem is that if you make a mistake, there is no covering it up. I make a lot of mistakes. But, I did persevere and except for the blob of chocolate ink on the "O" I'm very happy with this. Again, better IRL.


I added stickles that aren't dry in the pic. I didn't have time to wait. I made this card by scoring 1/2" in on all four sides. I then created a mat. I sponged Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery inside the mat and stamped my images. TIP: I created my mat out of card stock and plan to keep it for future use.

What's In It?
Stamps: Because of You (Verve), Bundle of Bouquets ( MFT)
Paper: White
Ink: Cert. Celery, Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Basic Brown
Other: Fiskar's personal cutter, sponge, stickles

See you tomorrow for a WIGW card!

A SSC Sketch

Good Sunday Morning! Our challenge over at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge blog is a sketch. Woohoo! Love to work with sketches. I have a bit of a nasty habit of altering the sketch a bit. The Design Team had an added challenge of using some beautiful things sent to us by our sponsor this week: Papirloftet. My items were so beautifully package and so fun to receive. I have to admit that this is not my typical style. That's what makes a challenge so fun. It's great to get out of your comfort zone a little sometimes. I really loved how this vintage feeling card came together. I did use a few things not included in my package.

Please join us in this challenge and check out the design team members beautiful creations. Leave them some love too, ok? They are on my left side bar.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Sunday!

Here is the list of supplies. All Papirloftet unless otherwise noted
Stamps: postcard, Ever After (SU)
Cardstock: Textured , Sahara Sand (SU), Pink DP (KC&CO), postcard images
Ink: Choc Chip, Versamark, Sahara sand (ALL SU)
Other: Flowers, vine trim (ALL PAPIRLOFTET), dimensionals, MM lace, Clear EP, MM brad, Cream taffetta and organdy ribbon (SU)

Thrifty Thursday!

Just a quick post today. I'm spending the time with family. This is a card I made for the wedding we are attending. I used the invitation as part of the card. It's a great way to recycle other cards. I have subscribed to a food blog and she does something called Thrifty Thursday. It's a way to show how you saved money that week with food in some way. So I decided to use that as my inspiration for this post today. Lord knows that card making isn't cheap even though we like to use that as the basis for starting this craft...."It'll save me more money to make my own cards." Am I right? Then the truth settles in, but by then you are HOOKED. Back to the card. The center image was cut out from her invitation and I used the cracked glass technique. Then I layered it on vellum and black cardstock. The gate fold card was from Papirloftet, already folded. I just stamped with Versafine Black using Baroque Motifs and added some flowers with rhinestone centers. Super easy!

Off to be with family! Have a good day!

Make Life BIG

I love the sentiment on this card. To me, there are so many little things in my life that make me so happy. Being happy is the BIGGEST thing in life, if you ask me. Little things happen everyday that make my heart feel big and full.

Here's a list of little things that made my life feel pretty great this week.

1. My kids created an entire city in the basement with their toys and played for about 5 hours without fighting.
2. My daughter's cute little nose crinkles when she smiles at me. She promised she would never hate me...even when she is 13. I now have it in writing:)
3. My watermelon was the perfect ripeness. Juicy and sweet!
4. My son had a great day playing tennis on the side of our house. Just like I used to do as a kid.
5. We got pictures at the fire department with my husband in fireman gear. So cute!
6. We got two meals out of one dinner this week and they were both really good!
7. I got to stamp!
8. We have had the perfect weather.
9. My son beamed because he caught 2 balls at baseball practice.
10. I had 6 kids at my house and ALL of them got along:) Amazing!
11. I get to spend the weekend with my MIL:)
12. My husband makes me laugh almost everyday.
13. I got to watch my brother on TV!
14. I have great friends who are so willing to help when we are away!
15. My garden is doing awesome this year. Go Rain:)

Do you ever just count all the little things in your week that are good? They can really add up. Try it! You'll be amazed at how blessed you really are.

BTW, this card is my Work It Girl Wednesday card. It's been a long time since I've made something just for fun. The majority of it is comprised of leftover scraps.

Thanks for checking in today! I hope you have a really BIG day *wink*:)

I Think I Like Pink?

I have never considered myself as someone who likes pink. In fact, after my daughter was born and my mom bought every pink outfit under the sun, I swore that she would never wear pink again. Funny thing, my daughter hates pink. Go figure. I, though, find myself drawn to this "girly girl" color more and more. I blame in on the perfect pink....Stampin Up's Pink Pirouette. Lately, whenever I reach for a color to create with I am drawn to the many designer papers that I have in pink. So, I guess I am having a change of heart. Change is good.

This card was definitely not something simple to create. I just found myself adding more and more. I was inspired by Travelingmamma's Travelers Inspiration challenge. Go check it out. I love the idea of taking pictures of things and then using them as inspiration. We are not world travelers, but I find it intriguing to see the world through an artist's lens and then fit that into my paper crafting. I am also very inspired by the DT and sketches over at Card Patterns. I used their sketch as the starting point of this card.

The image is from my June KOTM from Unity. I experimented with my copics. Still working on that technique. The scalloped edges are lined with seed beads. This card as lots of sparkle...from the butterfly charm to the stickles and then those fabulous Taylor Twinkles. I LOVE those! That leaf was cut using an SU sizzlet on vellum and then sponged with Cert. Celery for a hint of color. When I got done with this card I realized it had no sentiment. So I had to add that to the sketch.

I heading out of town again for a family wedding. I have a few things to share before I go and then I'll be back on Sunday for the Stamptacular Sunday challenge. So hang in there with me and my crazy, busy month of July travels. Maybe I can get a shot worthy of a Traveler's Inspiration Challenge:)

See you tomorrow. I have a Work It Girl Wednesday Card! Can you believe it? It's been so long:)

What's In It
Stamps: Unity June KOTM, Oval All (SU)
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Memento Rich Cocoa, Cert Celery
Paper: White, Simply Scrappin DP, Celery DP, Vellum cardstock
Other: Cuttlebug, scalloped circle nesties, ric rac, charm, Taylor's Twinkles, pink taffetta ribbon, lace flower, seed beads, corner rounder, copics, SU punch (forgot the name...oops), dimensionals

Still Celebrating!

Well, not really. We really didn't do much for the 4th of July. It rained so we ended up just renting a movie...and then the cable went out....so we went to bed. I know....we are lame. I also am not that big into 4th of July cards. So, the challenge to use Red,White and Blue AGAIN was tough. Until I realized that my niece's birthday is coming up. What a great excuse to use the OCC challenge and get her card ready AHEAD of time. SO unlike me. I love this card. I hope she does too.


I got to use some old and new stamps together. I also used the circle scrap from my SSC card that I posted yesterday. That makes me happy. This card had some intricate cutting. It took awhile, but it was worth it. Plus my daughter told me a story while I cut. I used several different sets for this card. I even decorated the inside somewhat.

What's In It?
Stamps: Unity June KOTM, Let's Party, Starring You (SU) Ink: Real Red Craft, Night of Navy Paper: White, Real Red Other: Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots EF, Happy Birthday EF, Scalloped Circle Nesties, MM ribbon, Janome Sew Mini, SU buttons, embroidery floss, glue dots, R29 copic, dimensionals, red glitter, dazzling diamonds, 2 way glue pen

Ok, now it's time for camping pictures!

These people were my neighbors back when I was in Middle School. They were THE best neighbors ever! They have camped at the same campground since 1965. When we were kids we used to camp with them. I always know that I'll see them there. My daughter and my neighbors little girl have become penpals or more modernly known as "E" pals.
They always camped with the their sister and BIL. When I asked about them, my neighbor said,

"Well, RIGHT NOW.......They're dead."

Yeah, just like that. What, huh? I was not expecting that. I was waiting for...

"Right now they're...."

1. ....at the store

2....in Florida

3...heading into town

Definitely didn't expect to hear they're dead. It cracked me up....like next week they may not be? I wanted to laugh, but that is SOOO not appropriate (until later:)


This picture is of our dog Molly. At this campground you are not allowed to walk your dogs. They have to be carried or in a wagon. Molly is very fat so carrying her was NOT an option. Unfortunately she barely fit in our wagon. We felt so sorry for her that we got her an ice cream cone.

While we ate S'mores, Molly did THIS..

She is thirteen years old and fat. She doesn't do much else except....

We found out that if you give her pancakes she will try to bury them. My husband was like, " I've never seen her do that in 13 years of having her." We watched her for a good 15 minutes. It was so funny to see.


My last picture.....

This is my mom and cousin (on the right) and my Aunt and her husband on the left. They came to see us while we camped too. My Aunt is the one that I am most like in the family. "Lucy-like" if you read my post HERE. Funny things happen to us. I just love my family!

Hope your Monday is great!

Merry Christmas?!?!?!

It's Christmas in July. Well, at least that is the challenge over at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. Admittedly, this was a real challenge for me. I can not even wrap my brain around the thought of Christmas when it's in the 80's. However, last year when we camped they had a Christmas in July parade. Imagine seeing all these golf carts decorated with Christmas lights, fake snow, tinsel and Mr and Mrs Claus. I think my kid's thought it was crazy funny. Also, I come from a family of procrastinators. I have learned though, from my hubby's family, to try and plan ahead some. They are the exact opposite. My sweet MIL has taught me to shop ahead. Thanks, Mom! So, hopefully, this challenge will help me to actually start to get my Christmas cards done early. OH MY! Wouldn't that be great?! So moving on to my card.


This is a window card. Can you tell that from the photo? I used a lot of retired SU products for this. This Christmas set is one of my favorites. I am in love with the simple elegance of it. I also used the Riding Hood Red paper and ribbon.

Here are a few TIPS about my card.

1. I make my window holes in this way: I take both my base and my top sheet of cardstock and adhere them on one side in a small area. That way they don't move around. I use 2 way glue or removeable adhesive. Then I use my Creative memories Circle cutter on top of both, cutting at the same time. This way I know those two pieces will line up perfectly. Don't make the mistake of cutting through all three layers...just the top two, ok?

2. Use a Stampamajig for stamping the inside. It just makes sense. Don't go through all the hassle of cutting those 2 holes and then ruining the inside by stamping wrong. How do I know this?...just never mind. Take the time for your friend....the Stampamajig.

3. Did you know you can use a Blender Pen to REMOVE ink from an image? That is how I colored my image on the inside. I stamped the whole thing in Mellow Moss and then took my blender pen to the berries to remove the green color. Make sure to wipe the color off the blender pen every few times or else you really aren't removing any color.

4. Yes, I know, they don't make a RHR marker. So how did I color on the RHR ink? I used a Fantastix stick. Just dab that onto your ink pad and then apply to the rubber. Easy Peasy.

Here is what the inside looks like.

Now, lets see what you can do? I'm back from vacation and ready to check out your inspiration. You have a chance to win some free digi images from Grab -A -Doodle- Do.

Please take the time to check out my fellow Design Team members blogs for more inspiration. They are on my left side bar. Just click on their names and you will be wisked away to their blogs:)

What's In It
Stamps: Peaceful Wishes, Star-Studded Season, Baroque Motifs
Ink: RHR, Mellow Moss, Versamark
Paper: Whisper White, RHR
Other: RHR striped ribbon, acetate sheets, White EP, embossing buddy, scalloped edge punch, swiss dots EF, cuttlebug, glue dots

Happy 4TH!

Good Afternoon! It's a slow going day for us here. My hubby has to work and we have no plans except for fireworks this evening. Everyone is very content to stay home today. We didn't sleep well since the firework festivities started yesterday around our house. REALLY missing that country peace and quiet:) Anyways, I did a card for SEVERAL challenges today. I actually have 2 cards to show. Both use the same color combo from Color Throwdown. I found this old designer paper from SU that I had never even opened. It's beautiful too! Why did I never get it out? I think I may have to use it for a special project I have brewing....in my head. This first card is also for the Saturday Sketch. As usual, I had to alter it a bit.


This is definitely not my typical style. Not sure it will even fit in an envelope it has so much dimension..LOL. I used a Making Memories sentiment plate. I love those things so much I may actually pay full price for them next time. They are a perfect, quick touch to a card.


This card uses a sketch from over at Paper Craft Planet. Again, I altered it a bit. Are you sick of the butterflies yet? It's that free set from Unity. They have so many in there to use that I just feel compelled to try them all out. I'll take a break from them though...soon:) I used one of my favorite product EVER! Iridescent Ice! Yah! ICE ICE BABY! Ok...I can't stand that song. Sorry for the 80's digression. I guess my hubby is rubbing off on me. He loves the 80's.

Speaking of my hubby, I have to tell you about a typical "Nikki" moment that involves him somewhat indirectly. He doesn't even know this happened. I swore my daughter to secrecy. Honestly, I have the craziest things happen to me. I'm kind of "LUCY-like." I blame this on my Aunt...she's the same way. It makes for an interesting life, to say the least.

Here goes.... We were camping on Saturday and my daughter and I were sitting by the fire reading in our "bag chairs." I had our dinner sitting on the tri-pod grilling over the fire. It was very relaxing. Suddenly, my husband's phone starts to ring. It's in the little cup holder part of the chair next to me. I reach over to grab it while yelling to him that he has a phone call. I'm not sure exactly how it happened. Really, I don't understand. Somehow the phone went flying out of my hand and landed....yep, RIGHT IN THE FIRE PIT!!!! AHHHH! Without even thinking, I reached in and rescued it from the hot coals. Luckily, Dave never even heard me say he had a phone call. He was in the camper playing War with my son. I mean, can you believe it?! What are the chances? I try to be nice and take him the phone and it ends up in the FIRE! It was perfectly fine though, except that it was covered in ashes. I calmly proceeded to the camper and asked my son for a paper towel.

"Gee, Mom, your hands all black."

I just calmly replied,"Yeah, whatever. Ok, thanks!"

I then proceeded to get rid of the evidence. Dusting, wiping, blowing every trace of ash. I only received a minor burn. However, that wasn't a very good example for my daughter. It just goes to show that an adrenaline rush really does give you super powers.

So, now the "cat's out of the bag" or the "phone's out of the fire." Whichever you prefer and we'll see how well my hubby reads my blog. If I'm not around for the next few days you'll know he found out. Until then....SHHH! I'm out of time for pictures. I'll have to post next week. Don't forget to stop in tomorrow for the Stamptacular Sunday challenge!

Hope you have a great 4th of July!

What's in It
Stamps: Bevy of Butterflies, Pretty Petals and Linen background (SU)
Ink: Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Choc. Chip, Versamark
Paper: Afternoon Tea DP, Choc Chip, Groovy Guava, White
Other: Taylors's Twinkles, Satin Ribbon, TPS button, Linen Thread, Flowers fromHL, velvet brad, MM sentiment plate, glue dots, dimensionals, distress tool, scalloped edge punch

Stamps: Bevy of Butterflies, Beautiful You (verve),
Ink: Soft Sky, Groovy Guava, Choc Chip, Versamark
Paper: Afternoon Tea, Gr. Guava, Choc. Chip, Soft Sky
Other: Satin Ribbon, Oval nesties, dimensionals, Iridescent Ice, Sponge, Lace punch MS, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder

Are You Ready For This?

Warning: This is a long post FULL of family pictures and stories. There is a card too. But not until the end.Enjoy!

Yesterday, I told you you would not want to miss the picture of my crazy dad.

This is it.

This picture COMPLETELY represents the kind of person I think my dad is...a businessman with a whole lot of country boy underneath. I have to explain this picture though.

I came home from some errand to find him in his "old" dress shirt with his "daisy dukes" (not sure what the male version of those is called....BO dukes maybe?!). Anyways, it cracked me up. I asked him what he was doing. He explained that he was trying to protect his sunburn while working around the yard. Doesn't that make sense? Don't you see this a lot on farmers/gardeners? At least his shoes are better. He used to wear farm boots with his socks rolled down around the top. We always picked on him that they looked like donuts around his ankles. Getting way more stylish dad:)


Speaking of stylish....here he is getting down at my cousins graduation. Looking a little Jack Nicholson-ish

We had so much fun while we were there. This is a direct quote from my daughter....

"It's always an adventure at Poppa's."
That it is. We....

...rode go carts

Danced!

This is my little guy getting down to BON JOVI. They are his favorite group. He listens to them every night while going to sleep.

I got to see my sister for a brief visit. I haven't seen her in almost a year! UGH! My double UGH moment with her.....one of my very old teachers....VERY OLD....asked if she was my daughter. HELLO!!!! People USED to think she was my OLDER sister. Dang! I've got to find some good wrinkle cream. Any suggestions? Yeah that about ruined my whole trip. He thinks my name is "Chris" BTW, so I just chalk it up to him being slightly CRAZY!

My dad took my kids on a paddle boat "adventure" through his marshy area. They looked for frogs, geese and ALLIGATORS:) This pond was almost non existent when I was a kid. Over the years it has really taken on water. He always wanted it to be a real pond. Almost there dad.

This is my daughter AFTER she fell in. Apparently, my dad and son "forgot" she was standing at the back end of the boat when they decided to pull in up onto shore. SPLASH! She had to be hosed down. She was such a good sport.

My daughter caught so many frogs! This is "King." Thank goodness he didn't come home with us. It was like Wild Kingdom at my Dad's. He caught a raccoon and opposum in his live trap. The kids helped him release the raccon. I had visions of it attacking like in the movie, The Great Outdoors. The kids thought it was "COOL."

What about the opposum you say? Well, my son noticed that it wasn't moving. My dad was like, " It's playing opposum....haven't you ever heard that? See...?", as he kicks the cage a bit. Um, no, really dead. So much for the live trap.

We also saw deer everyday. You can sit and watch them in the woods across the street. They also just come up into my dad's yard.

This little guy came right up to the edge of the road as my dad and I were talking on the porch. I NEED a telephoto lens. I had a hard time trying to get a good shot and not move to spook him. Not sure where his momma was.
We also saw turkey, pheasants, crane, geese, rabbits, cows, strange bugs and ....

THIS BIRD!
Why is this bird so special? Well, I was standing there talking on the phone when this bird drops dead RIGHT in front of me...or so I thought it was dead. I guess it had just flown into the house and knocked itself out. Because about 5 minutes later he shook it off and eventually flew away. It was just so weird.

Speaking of WEIRD and BIRDS. I really wanted a picture of my kids with my dad at his house. It was too bright out for a good picture so we pulled a bench up under this tree. This was my practice shot and my dad notices that there is bird poop right next to them. My daughter just cracked up.

And this is right after my dad informs my son he is sitting on bird poop. It wasn't "fresh." We aren't that mean.




My old house is so peaceful. It is the perfect place to go and get away from the city noise and just bask in the presence of nature. I knew that a bit when I lived there as a kid. I appreciate it so much more now. Thanks for hanging in there through all my family pictures. I tool 181 so think of yourself as lucky that I didn't show more....at least not today. *wink* I do want to show a few more tomorrow of our camping trip. I have a typical "NIKKI" incident to share.

Ok! HEEERRRRRREEE'SSSSS.........A Card!

This card is for fun. It is comprised of almost ALL scraps I had laying around.

Stamps: Bevy Butterflies(Unity), Beautiful You (Verve)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Tea Stain, Soft Sky
Paper: Digital Mini Kit, K&C CO., Soft Sky, Vanilla
Other: Scalloped Circle Nesties, TPS Lace, Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder, dazzling diamonds, MS glue pen, Janome Sew mini, distressing tool, sponge, dimensionals