Friends Make Life Fun!

It's time for another A CRAFTY LITTLE PLACE CHALLENGE!

For this week we are looking to SPOOKY things.  Now my card isn't really that spooky, but I loved those little one-eyed monsters so much that I had to use them.  They coordinate with the papers the Design Team got to use called, Rockets and Rayguns.  Honestly, sticker and chipboard have been my "go to" item lately.  I've been so busy with house prep that I haven't had much time to create. 

The inside of the cards says, " make life fun!"

I am lucky enough to have lots of friends that make my life fun because that's what life should be, right?

Let me tell you about "spooky" now.  Spooky is going to look at a house and having 3 of 4 people not have a good feeling about a bedroom in a 1840 year old home.  OOOoooooooh!

Spooky is having your laptop go on the fritz.  Not being able to make your main computer type.  Then having your clock go back 45 minutes and almost make you late for a party you are hosting.  Then your husband getting really sick so he can't watch the kids while you host the party.  Then your old dog peeing right in the spot where everyone is supposed to be sitting for your party.   I think I brought back the bad heebie jeebies from that old house.  I don't know, but it's been weird here lately.  How's that for spooky?

Not enough?

Then check out my "Hairy Toe."  I'm gearing up to tell that story to my son's class on Friday.

Still not scary enough????  Well, then show us what you've got.  Link your project up at ACLP this week.  I can't wait to see what Spooktacular things you have in store.......Moo HA HA!

Supplies Used:

Paper: Rockets and Rayguns (TPC Studios), textured white, Green Prism 

Other: Rockets and Rayguns sticker pack, Star Punch, Spellbinders tag die, dimensionals, paper piercer

Isn't She Pathetic???

My poor pooch.  I feel so bad for her.  Life is not the same.  I honestly can't wait for her 2 week check up so we can start walking again.  I wrote on Facebook that I was complaining about having to paint and then she walked out, plopped down and looked at me like this.  It was like she was saying," What EVER, dude!  I had my insides removed.  I have to stay in a crate most of the time.  I can't play, jump, run, chase a ball or frisbee and suddenly, my "potty time" isn't even private because YOU have to take me out on a leash so I don't do any of the above.  Not to mention, this lovely blue attire ( referred to in the dog world as "The Cone of Shame") isn't exactly FUN to wear.  So suck it up, will ya?  You've got it easy!"

I got all that from one look.  

Every book I have read states that behavioral problems in dogs usually stem from lack of exercise.  This 2 week, no exercise allowed time, is great evidence of that.  Notice the holes on the blue cape?  That occurred on day 4 of being a crate.  I guess she decided that she needed to alter her E collar to fit in the fashion world.

I feel really bad for her.  She is a spaz, right now.  Not my calm, well behaved puppy, that's for sure.

I wanted to pop in to share another Halloween Project.  This is a Tent Card and you can view the tutorial HERE.  This was sooo easy to make.

Supplies Used:  Stamps: Spooky Tags Our Craft Lounge

Ink: Versafine Black, Versamark

Paper: Bazzill Purple, Black, White, Scrap of Green Prism, Doodlebug Spooky Town,

Other: Bo Bunny Whooligans Rubons, black glitter, diamond glaze, star button, MA Silk Ribbon

Ok, off to paint.  I need to stop trying to avoid it.  UGH!!!!!

Miss You Easel

Tuesdays mean it's time for....

This week our wonderful Design Team member, Sheri Gilson, did a fabulous and oh, so easy tutorial on making an Easel card.  That's the challenge this week at ACLP.... make an EASEL CARD.

Personally, I think these would be great cards to put a picture on and send to loved ones.  I owe my family some pictures so this may be what I do:)

This was one of the quickest cards I've made in awhile.

Can you tell that the bottom is supposed to be an "X" and and "O"?

Please say "YES!"

I used the matching Chipboard for the fabulous Cosmos Cricket Togetherness Collection to make  this card.  I love chipboard, especially since I have been so short on time lately.  The "X" was made by taking the

the brackets included in the chipboard set and putting them together backwards.  I used one of the chipboard flower buttons to create the "O" and then sewed a circle around it to make it more pronounced.  That ribbon was ivory and I colored it with a BG72 Copic to match.

Supplies Used:  

Stamps: Just Rite Stampers Just A Note

Ink: Real Red, Baja Breeze, Antique Linen

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Togetherness Reunion, Red,  Bazzill Off White

Other: Cosmo Cricket Chipboard, rhinestones, Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities, May Arts Ribbon, Copics, Sponge, pinking shears, sewing machine, dimensionals

I hope you can join in this week.  It's my week to pick my most favorite of all the entries.  Hope to see one of yours!

Toodles!

Life is Full of TREATS!

I had to share this picture that I took at my dad's house this weekend.  To me, my dad's home sits on a little piece of Heaven on Earth.  It is my most favorite place in the world.  So peaceful and good for the soul. 

This picture is one of the views of my Sunday morning, just before the sun rose.  It is a completely untouched photo.  The beauty of nature needs no retouching.  Wouldn't you agree?

Oh, we had a very emotional, fun- filled weekend.  It just got better each day.  My husband has officially accepted the position as Fire Chief.  I am soooo proud of him and I think this will be a good fit for us all around.  The people were so nice to us.  The school we are looking at is AWESOME!  The teachers and principal were soooo friendly and it is a small school.  Very similar to where we are now.  My kids are excited.  We are looking for a country home.  This has been our dream for years.  We want land, animals and peace and quiet.  So wish us luck as we look for a place and that we can sell our home.

We got to go to another Notre Dame game and it was THE BEST!  Great weather, great game, great time.  What more do you need in life?

This week we watched our friends' little girl for a few hours. They are big Ohio State fans.  My husband said, "E, do you know what these are?  These are tickets to HEAVEN.  Tell your dad, ' If you want to go to Heaven then you need to go to Notre Dame.'"  This weekend, I would have to agree.

Walking the path to the game.

The Golden Dome

We talked to one of the band members about what she had to do to get into the band.  My daughter plays the clarinet now and she would LOVE to go to ND and play in the band.

We got front row spots to watch the players walk the path from Mass to the game.  The quarterback and coach led the way.  As you can see they were just walking by everyone.

This is the photo where Dayne Crist (QB)

 made eye contact with my son and then extended his hand to slap Dalton's.  I was too close to get a picture of him doing that, but what an awesome thing for my son.

It was a "rockin'" day.....

....FULL OF SMILES!

This is a STAMPING blog, but sometimes life is too full of treats to ignore.   Speaking of treats....

Here is a treat box I made for Simply Scrapbooks.  It is a gable box and I used paper by The Girl's Paperie called, Toil and Trouble.  Oh,how I love this paper.  I have another project I am working on with it.  Hopefully, I can share soon.  I made a pinwheel with  the same paper line and stamped using Our Craft Lounge, Spooky Tags.

You can find a template for the gable box HERE.

I made some more Wrinkle ribbon in orange.  Anyone interested in any?  I keep thinking I'll get an Etsy shop going, but.....hmmm...time.  Still looking for that:D  Let me know if you would like some.  I do have a few extra yards and would sell it for $1 per yard + shipping.

Gotta go get my puppy.  She was spayed this weekend.  I hope she is still my friend when I go get her....

Great News!

  I am loaded with news today.

First, A Crafty Little Place will be having a giveaway this weekend!  The wonderful people at Nikki Sivils has offered up a great little package of goodies!  Make sure you head on over for a chance to win some fabbo stuff!

Second, I had a great day yesterday.  I finally got to color with Beate Johns.  She is so sweet.  Honestly though I didn't even get one image colored.  I'm not very good at talking and crafting at the same time.  Especially when it comes to coloring.  I have to use so many of my brain cells to figure out what colors to use and focus on my highlighting and shading that it leaves no room for doing anything else.  So, I just watched and learned and chatted and laughed.  It was so fun to hang out with someone else who really loves to stamp.  She is such a wealth of information.  I'm so lucky I got to meet up with her.

We tried to get a photo about 6 times and finally got this one.  Then when I uploaded it I noticed that it was really blurry.  Oh well, we may try for a better picture next month when we meet up and I really do color SOMETHING.

Here is one of the projects that I took in to Simply Scrapbooks.  I'm really behind on showing you my projects.  In fact, this is the Mojo Monday sketch from last week.  It has been forever since I really participated in any challenge.  I keep thinking that things are going to slow down, but the days just keep ticking away.  I don't think my stamping time is going to increase any either.  I think I'm going to spend a lot more time prepping my house because....

  MY HUSBAND GOT THE JOB!!!

We leave this morning to check things out one more time before we make a decision.  Then it's off to see my dad and the IRISH play.  Look for us....we will be in the home end zone!  Can't wait!  I'll keep you all posted.  

Now I've got to go get ready.  As usual, I'm behind!

  

Giddy Up!

Yeehaw!  It's Tuesday!  That means it's time for another A Crafty Little Place Challenge.

The Design Team got to work with these really cool, rugged, masculine papers by Cosmo Cricket.

  It's the WANTED COLLECTION.

Do you want to see a really cool project using this paper by my fellow DT member, Joni?

Go HERE.  It's soooo awesome!

So that challenge is a COLOR Challenge.  Use the colors: Blue/ Brown/Rust/Gold

DCRU also just released a few new stamps and I love this little cowboy.

Supplies Used:  

Stamps: Cowboy McCoy

Ink: Memento Black, TH Vintage Photo Distress

Paper: Wanted, Kraft,  Ocean Tide, Gold Specialty,XPress Blending Card

Other: Twill, star punch, Scoreboard, Ek Success Punch, brads,Circle Nestabilities, Copics

Isn't he cute?  Love him.  I also tried the new papers that you can get at DCRU for Copics.  Xpress Blending card and I really liked it.  Oh, it's like butta!  So soft and creamy.  Just follow the links above to buy anything I used on this card.

On a side note:  Isn't it funny how, as crafters, we get so excited over things like paper and glue and other "simple" things?  I was talking to my friend yesterday (who doesn't stamp) and told her that Beate and I were going to get together and color.......She just looked at me...blank stare.  It DOES sound pretty "elementary" doesn't it?  We have a coloring playdate...hee hee.  

Have a goodie!

Just For You!

Here's another CAS card that I made for my friend.  I did make one other, but I didn't like it as well.  I tried to throw in an adult male card and time just got away from me.  I wasn't very a happy with it.  THIS card however makes me tickled pink.  You know how much I love flowers and making my own.  I used some paper by Jillibean Soup ( I smile every time I say that) called, Pasta Fagioli.  My tissue paper flowers are made using the Large Scalloped Circle Nesties.  I spray them with some water and Perfect Pearls for a bit of shimmer.  The leaves are made of twill and I colored my white ric rac to match using my Copics.  I decided to stop hoarding my rub ons and use them up.  I really love rub on sentiments.

I ended up making one more of this card than I needed so I could give it to my son's teacher.  He took it into school and had all the kids sign it secretly.  It was such a "mission" for him.  He told me how he was glad he had his pants with the big, leg pockets on it so he could slide it in there without her seeing as they headed to ART.  I found out he can be sneaky.  Going to have to keep my eye on him as he gets older, I think.

One more cute story about him:

My kids love Grips.  You know, Grips are those prepackaged, smaller version of your favorites like: Oreos, Cheez Its, etc, that cost about twice as much as if you had bought the larger version.  I don't buy them very often unless they are on sale.  Which is what I did a few weeks ago.  Well, I got the variety pack and it had a new kind in it.  They were Cinnamon Graham Cracker bits.  Neither one of my kids liked them.  I hate to waste stuff so I decided to use them for dog treats.

 After walking the dog one day, I empty my pocket of these treats onto the table.  My son said, " Wow Mom, those treats of her's smell good.  I was kind of wishing that I could eat those treats."  

Are you kidding me?!  You would want to eat them as a DOG TREAT, but not when they come in the expensively, packaged version of KID treats?!?!  Seriously, I give up!

We ran out of dog treats this week and until I could get to the store I have been using up all my kid's snacks.  My dog LOVES Cheez Its I found out.  However, now I'm out of Kid snacks.  I went and bought dog treats yesterday.  Do you think my kids would enjoy Cheese and Liver flavored Charlee Bears?  Kidding!

A Crafty Treasure Hunt

Today we have a very special challenge over at A Crafty Little Place.  It's a treasure hunt AND a sketch.  That's right.  There are 2 parts to this challenge.  Please join us for the sketch and then hunt around because each DT member has used DP that Die Cuts R Us carries.  Name each DP and YOU could win a prize.

Head on over to ACLP to find out all the details and see the sketch.

Here's my interpretation of the sketch:

Supplies Used: Stamps Claudia &Co So Random Sentiments

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Antique Linen Distress

Paper: ?????, Textured Off White, Prism Red

Other: Sizzix Die, Prima Flower, velvet ribbon, Circle Nestabilities, EK Success border punch, Kaiser Pearls, MA Wrinkle Ribbon

That's all for me today.  Have a great one!

Hooray! It's Monday

I know, most people hate Mondays.  I look forward to the start of what will hopefully be a better week.  This is the beginning of my start as a volunteer at school.  BOOK FAIR WEEK!  Hooray!  I love book fair.  This year I am determined to get ALL the Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  My son loves these books and we would have to wait forever from the library since there are like 24 requests for them.

This is also the start of "The Popcorn Lady"....ME!  I'm trying to be optimistic about it, but honestly, I don't have things ready.  I've got the week and may take a little trip to town with my husband to get supplies.  It seems like forever since we have shared a day together...alone.

I hope your week starts off well too!

I have a few cards to share.  This first one was my original idea for my friend's card sets.  

It uses this week's Card Patterns Sketch.  It also celebrates birthdays.  Stamp Something is Celebrating Something.

I decided after making it that I should probably go a little more elegant and so I made this using the same colors.

This card uses one of my favorite sets from Verve, "Thankful Accents."  I used Crystal Stickles around the circles.  I also made a grid pattern on both cards using my Martha Stewart Scoring Board.  I got mine from Michaels using a coupon and what a deal.  This scoring system is great because it has a groove every 1/8".  This can be a bit tricky.  My TIP:  Take a Sharpie and color the score line every inch.  Use a different color to mark every half inch.  This really helps to ensure you are lining things up correctly.  The only thing I don't like about this board is the bone folder/scoring tool that comes with it.  OUCH!  It comes to a sharp edge all the way around.  I'm sure this is great for folding the score lines you have made, but it hurts my finger when I score.  I use an embossing tool instead.  So much more comfortable. 

 I'm entering this into the Paper Sundaes Challenge because I have had that dotted ribbon forever and this is the first time I've used it.  Yeah me!

That's All FOLKS!  Be back here tomorrow for an interesting and FUN A Crafty Place Challenge.

See you then!

What's In It?
Stamps: Cling by Memory Box, MCS Birthday Numbers
Ink: Versafine Black,Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, White, prism blue
Other: Black EP, turquoise glitter, dimensionals, ribbon, scoring board, corner rounder, sponge, paper piercer, Pebbles glitter dots 


Stamps: Thankful Accents (verve)
Ink: colorbox aqua, green, kiwi kiss
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, white
Other: ribbon, dimensionals, stickles, circle punch, scoring board, corner rounder

A Case of the CAS

It's Saturday and a busy one at that.  I've already walked the dog and done some laundry.  Now it's time for tutoring and then football.  I'm trying to remember when Saturdays meant doing nothing.  I miss those days.  I'm hoping for "chilly but no rain" weather this weekend.  I've been wanting to go for a hike for a month now.  We've been too sick to do that.  Crossing my fingers that tomorrow we can.  In my area we have a beautiful Metro Park and each year I try to get great pics of my kids with the leaves all around them hiking.  I think this year we may take our new dog too.

I had a very big task of making a ton of projects over the last few weeks.  One project included making a few sets of cards for my friend to use as gifts for a shower she is organizing.  I had to make 3 sets of 5 various cards.  I decided to try and keep them very simple.  Over the next few days I will show you the CAS cards I made.  I'm happy to say that she loved them and I delivered them in the bag I made for my ACLP Inspiration Post.  She was delighted!  Yeah!

Here is the first I'll show you.  

I used up a bunch of scraps from several projects, including this card which was in the set as well.

Gotta go.  Be back with details later.

Hallo -Weenie...

That would be me.... a BIG  Hallo WEENIE. 

 Oai!  I made a big oops yesterday.  I was in charge of the Inspiration Post for A Crafty Little Place yesterday.  A while back I ordered these papers from Die Cuts R Us and after much deliberation decided that my inspiration post would be all about Halloween projects.  When I went to link up my paper...it was GONE!  Yep!  Sold out!  Wow...what a weenie!  The biggest oops!  I'm supposed to intrigue people to buy the stuff I'm using and then it's not even available.  UGH!  What a WEENIE!  So I am asking all of you to first go check out my projects HERE and then make sure you check out all the great papers you could use instead.  I LOVE the Echo Park Co. Halloween papers and you can get it in a sampler pack, as well as, full sheets.  Second, I hope you will peruse the store because Claudia has some amazing stuff.  THE BEST in Designer Papers and some BRAND NEW  Claudia and Co stamp releases.  She will be donating to the SUSAN G KOMEN Foundation for every stamp purchased in October.  Go Claudia!

Here is a small look at one of my projects.

Don't be a weenie like me....go check it out  and see how easy DCRU can make your crafting experience:)