Stamp TV

I've just discovered a neat site (thanks, Jackie!).  It's Stamp TV by Gina K.  It's pretty neat and has some good discussion groups, videos, a gallery and thousands of members.  Click on that "blinkie" on the sidebar and check it out!!

While I'm giving advice, thought I'd share this also.  I recently got the stamp set, Thoughts and Prayers and made this card with it.  The set is one of those double mounted sets from SU (that they are actually going to do away with!!).  Anyway, I also usually cut some of my stamps apart when I am mounting them.  This one was no exception.  Since I didn't have enough wood for all the sayings, etc.  I found a set of dominoes that I wasn't using and mounted the stamp on one of them!!

American Idol Results

Well, my predictions were "spot on" this week. The winners were Kris, Adam and Allison. Guess I could be a judge!! Although, there really weren't a lot of good ones to choose from this week so it was easy! Brooke White, the nanny who was the top 10 last year, sang her new single that was just released on ITtunes this week (Hold Up My Heart). It was really good. Hope she does well - she was really sweet.

Diva Coffee Break Challenge

Well, since I didn't follow all the rules yesterday with this challenge, I thought I'd give it another shot today.  I've had such fun the past couple of days making cards.  Everyone deserves a fun day or two!!

 

Remember - this is the color palette we have to use. 

 

 

 

My card uses Basic Gray for the card base.  I ran the Whisper White piece through my Big Shot with the Polka Dot Texturz plate; then I dabbed green chalk on the dots.  The turquoise paper was stamped with the Polka Dot background stamp (dormant) and embossed with white powder (as was the cupcake).  The green strip of paper is little drops of Crystal Effects with a turquoise ribbon tied around it.  The cupcake is from SU's Sizzix Cupcake die.  It makes it so easy!  I sponged the oval with green galore chalk ink.

American Idol Recap - 2nd Group

OK - just finished watching American Idol. I don't know .... the group last week were sooooo much better!!! I think the 3 who got voted through last week should be breathing a big sign of relief - they had NO competition from tonight's show.

1. Jasmine Murray - Love Song - A little pitchy and I thought she garbled the words in the beginning. I found it hard to understand the words she was singing.
2. Matt Giraud - a Coldplay song - This guy makes his living playing piano at one of those dueling piano places (like Howl At the Moon). He has potential but the song choice was bad.
3. Jeanine Vailes - This Love - That girl pulled out all the stops with her wardrobe - she has some legs and the judges didn't miss them. I think she was over compensating for sure. She sang a Maroon 5 song and I really wanted to like her 'cause I love Maroon 5!
4. Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle (or whatever he's choosing to go by this week!) He sang "Living Without You" from Dreamgirls and he has a decent voice ... if he'd just forget all the theatrics. He is a true showman and perhaps should consider a career in Vegas!! His parents were in the audience and didn't even seem embaressed!
5. Allison Iraheta - Alone (by Heart) Finally .... someone who can "bring it on!" As Randy says, she "blew it out of the box." She's just 16 and still in high school but she got my vote tonight.
6. Kris Allen - Man in the Mirror - Kara (the new judge) was the only one who "dissed" him. I thought he was very good and he got my vote.
7. Megan Joy Corkrey - Put Your Records On - She's a cute with a 2 year old little boy and an arm full of tattoos. She was ok. The judges were split on her with Paula loving her. Simon wants her to get voted through, but I don't know if she will.
8. Matt Breitzke - If You Could Only See - This guy is a welder from Oklahoma who you wouldn't expect to be a singer. He surprises me every time! He's like a big teddy bear! Unfortunately, his performance was a little boring. I thought he chose the wrong song as did the judges.
9. Jesse Langseth - Betty Davis Eyes - one of my favorite songs!! She's another single mom with an 8 year old daughter. I really liked her. I thought Simon was rude when he told her she was unforgettable. I voted for her.
10. Kai Kalama - What Becomes of the Broken Hearted - another favorite song of mine. I was hoping he would rock it but it was just ok. The judges thought the song was too old fashioned, but I think that song stands the test of time. His hair is something else! Sonny said it looks like me when I get up in the morning!!
11. Mishavonna Hensen - Drops of Jupiter - She was cut last year in the Hollywood round and is back again. The song was too old for her. She's just 18 and needs to act a little more "hip."
12. Adam Lambert — Satisfaction by The Stones - Oh yeah. He said it’s his MOTHER’S favorite band - well, yeah, our generation! This guy has talent, but he's a bit uncomfortable to watch. Yes, thank you Simon! “There were some parts that were excruciatingly bad and parts that were brilliant.” That pretty much sums it up for me too. But I can’t see NOT voting him through. He’s definitely got potential. He got my vote, of course.

Both nights they've saved the best for last!

So, my prediction: Adam, Allison and Kris

What do you think????? Leave me a comment!!

Two Card Wednesday!

I have been on a roll today!  I made two cards.  I'm not sure who I will be sending them to, but they were fun to make.

The paper I used for the dress came from the Saleabration catalog (Delicate Dots).  It is adherered to a piece of Pink Pirouette.  Then I stamped the Polka Dot background  on the vellum in white craft ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I used the Eyelet Border punch on the bottom of the dress.  The ribbon is from the Saleabration ribbon collection.

The template for the dress can be found online as online extra for the Paper Crafts Magazine for March/April.

 

The next card is for the Diva Coffee Break Design color challenge and also for the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge today.  I was going to put it on the Diva site but in re-reading the instructions, realized I had to use all SU products.  Oh well ... I did not this time but I like the card anyway!!   These are the colors we were to use.  I really like the combo!

 

I used the stamp set, Cheep Talk.  I stamped the birdies in turquoise craft ink, embossed them and cut them out.  The branch was stamped in Choc Chip and embossed in Copper.  I colored the leaves in with a Green Galore marker.  The flower (isn't it great??) came from my friend, Margaret!  I used a button in the center with embroidery thread.

Christmas in February!

EDITED: I had an inquiry as to where I got this book. It is by BoBunny. Although I purchased it at a convention in Charlotte last summer, here is a link to a website - Shop Till You Crop, that sells them.

When our friends from Texas were here last week, we exchanged Christmas presents ... in February!! We still do Christmas with Margaret and Graham but usually not until January or February because that is usually when they are able to get to NC. It sure makes it easier at Christmas-time - I don't have to worry about having their presents bought, ready and wrapped until a month or two after Christmas. I've been wanting to share this Friends book with everyone that I made for Margaret, but had to wait. I bought this book at the CK Convention last August and put pictures from our July trip to DC in it.

This is the front of the book. I did each letter with different patterns of paper. and tied bows around them and did some stamping.

This is the "I" page. I made a tag and tied it onto one of the binder rings.

This is the "D" page and another tag .... a true one!!

This is the "S" page and a picture of the four of us with another couple that are really good friends. This was taken the weekend of my birthday in October.

This is the back of the book.

Monday Mailer

I've got a couple of Monday Mailers to share with you. This is the card Nikki sent to me. She used the top note die with Candy Lane DSP. The stamp set is Happy Heart Day.

This is the card I mailed today to my Tina, my MM partner. It is an acetate card.

Stamp set: Itty Bitty Buds (hostess set)

Ink: Riding Hood Red; Regal Rose; Garden Green

Paper: Candy Lane DSP; Black; Whisper White; Pink Pirouette; acetate

Access: Photo Corner Punch; Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain; brads

This is the inside of the card.The saying is from Echoes of Kindness, another hostess set.

A Busy Week

It's been a busy few days.  Our friends from Texas, Margaret and Graham, were here for a few days to visit us before heading over to their daughter's home to babysit.  After we picked them up at the airport on Wednesday, Margaret and I convinced the guys to drop us off at a stamp store in Charlotte for a little bit!!  We spent about half an hour just browsing.  Surprisingly, the only thing I bought was a "C" plate for my Cuttlebug which I gave to my daughter last month.  My C plate broke in half and I have been unable to find one to buy anywhere.  Then we headed to Davidson to the Brick House to have dinner, drinks and conversation.  The restaurant was really crowded with Davidson and Clemson fans waiting for the basketball to start. 

Thursday, the guys volunteered for the Red Cross while Margaret and I played in my stamp room.  We had a ball visiting and crafting.  On Friday, we went to Churchill Assisted Living in Mooresville and helped the residents make calendars.  It was so rewarding.  My neighbor, Marilyn's mother is there and she asked me if I would do this for the residents.  My sister, Marianne and friend, Judy came along too to help.  In fact, Judy and I split up the kit making - with Judy making 15 and me making 15 so it wasn't too bad.  We had a really good turn-out after coaxing a few of them to join us and the ladies (and a few gentlemen) were quite pleased with their calendars.  I think we will probably do something similar again next month for Easter.

We took them to Charlotte on Saturday to meet their daughter.  Our visit always ends too soon and there's always a lot of projects we want to do that never get done.  Margaret tells me every visit that she will come back for a week on her own next time but that never happens!!  (Her husband retired as a pilot from American Airlines so it's not a problem to get on a plane and fly here.)  Oh well, we just make the best of the time we get when she is here usually.

Judy, Marianne, Margaret and me at Churchill -

Some of the residents working on their calendars.

Marilyn (in middle) helping two of the ladies make calendars.

100 Things to Do ....

I've seen this before and decided I would finally do it. This list is a questionaire of sorts. You are supposed to bold or color the things you've done. I bet my daughter's list will be longer than mine!! (edited - I missed #42 - thanks Ashley!)

Feel free to play along!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (tambourines - out of tune, I'm sure!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland, (Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving,
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had Chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Monday Mailer from Last Week

 

Another card that's been traveling around in my purse!  I received this from my Monday Mailer buddy, Nikki last week for Valentines.  She used the new heart punch, the die cut envelope and the stamp set, Love You Much.  Isn't it gorgeous!!

Thanks Nikki!!

A forgotten Valentine

 

I just realized I forgot to share this great Valentine I received last week.  That's because it's been in my purse for several days.  Isn't this just yummy???  I just love it.  It is from my friend, Brenda, who owns Stampers Alley in Mooresville.  The green is just beautiful especially with the little green crystals!

American Idol

OK, folks - this is Post #2 for today.  Can't forget about American Idol.  Just thought I'd give you my take on it tonight.

First off, they had us confused with the change-up of the format.  It was hard to pick just 3 from the 12 to go on this time.  What if when you get to another group of 12, they're all bad and you could have picked 5 from another group????  I do believe they are milking the show - 3 nights of 12 performances each!!

1. Little Less Conversation — Jackie Tohn - She just didn't do it for me.  The spandex pants were a little too much!!
2. Ricky Braddy - He got one of my votes.  I liked him and thought it was cute that people had on Braddy Bunch shirts.
3. Never Loved A Man — Alexis Grace  Another vote-getter for me.  I thought she was really good.
4. Hick Town — Brent Keith He was ok, but I don't think country songs are going to make the grade with the judges.
5. You Belong With Me — Stevie Wright  Not good at all!!  She needs to go back to her high school talent show!  I felt sorry for her, but at 16, she didn't cry.
6. Angel of Mine — Anoop Desai  I really like him, but not so impressed with his choice of song.  Think he'll make it through.  Got another of my votes.
7. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic — Casey Carlson  No - she's not going to make it either.  She was a little distracting with making faces.
8. I Don’t Wanna Be — Michael Sarver  I really like this guy but not sure that he'll go through either.
9. Natural Woman — Ann Marie Boschovich Don't think the judges were sold on her plus she put her foot in her mouth at the end talking to the judges! 
10. Stephen Fowler  I felt so sorry for this guy last week during Hollywood week.  He forgot the lyrics and started over; then screwed up again and ended up banging his piano and walking away.  But they gave him another shot.  Unfortunately, the judges didn't like that he picked a Michael Jackson song.  I actually thought he was pretty decent.
11. Saving All My Love For You — Tatiana Del Toro This girl has just about driven me crazy all during the other shows and I figured she would be just full of herself tonight.  She does have a very good voice though.  But tonight, she was very subdued.  She had the judges stumped!!  And she didn't even laugh (she sounds like a hyena!!)  I just don't think she has America on her side though.
12. Hero — Danny Gokey THE BEST!!!  This could be our next American Idol!!  He definitely got my vote!!  This guy has a hard luck story (don't they all?).  He lost his wife last year.  During all the try-outs, his best friend has been competing too.  Unfortunately, his friend got cut last week at Hollywood.  He was sitting in the audience tonight supporting Danny.

Sympathy Card

Sympathy cards are always hard ones.  A girl in my Newcomers Group lost her father last Saturday and I wanted to send her a card.  This is the one I made.  I really like it - simple but elegant.

I have this Crate Paper for a while and I just layered it on a black card.  I used a different pattern to die cut the leaves.  I used my Nestabilities Labels #2 for the words.  The stamp set is from Little Paper Shop.

This Week's Monday Mailer

I went to the movies today and saw "Taken" with Liam Neeson.  It was really good.  I would recommend it to you!

Here is the card I mailed out today to Tina, my Monday Mailer partner.

Recipe:

• Cardstock:  Pink Passion; Pink Pirouette; Black; Whisper White
• Ink:  Black, Pink Passion
• Stamp:  Love You Much
• Accessories:  Big Shot, Texturz Plates, Circle Punches; Markers; Pretties Kit flower; Scallop Punch

My Milk Carton Box and my sister's were on another blog site today.  I got the pattern from Becky Roberts and her site is a really good one.  Check out her blog here.

Birthday card and challenge

I started out the day by having to get rid of most of my African Violets.  I was so sad!  I had about 8 violets and they always look so pretty - one plant I have been able to grow well.  A few weeks ago, I noticed one of them looking a little droopy and had some dirt on the leaves (or so I thought).  A few days ago, I discovered that most of them had this "dirt" on them.  It really looks like little specks of brown dirt.  I researched it but never came up with what it might be.  So, I am figuring it is some type of pest - aphids or something that has spread from one plant to the next.  I had a couple of plants who looked like they were O.K.  So, I tossed the other plants in the garbage.  I took all the pots and soaked them in bleach water.  I repotted and divided the plants I am hoping are ok, so we will see.  Tomorrow I am going to go out and get some spray for them to make sure I get it all.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.  Perhaps, you have some suggestions????

Sonny rode down to the beach with my brother in law to pick up some furniture, so I had a good old lazy day!!  I slept in; ate my leftover BBQ about 2 pm and had scrambled eggs for dinner!!

I made this card for a challenge posted on the NMBS Blog.  The challenge was to use paper piercing in a way that you may not have before.  Here's what I did - I paper pierced the designer paper and around the cupcakes.  I've enlarged the area so maybe you can click on it and see it better.  You, too, can enter this challenge - go to the NMBS blog and see how.  Let me know if you make a card for the challenge & I will post it on my blog (if you e-mail it to me).

This card is for a friend of mine .... who used to be a friend of my son's until he got married.  Funny how that happens, huh?  Anyway, her birthday is Feb. 22nd and I always send her a card.  

Recipe:
Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes & All Year Cheer I (retired)
Paper: Cameo Coral; Orchid Opulence, Whisper White; Rose Red; Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink: Copic Markers; Black & Rose Red stamp pads
Access:  New SU Scallop Punch, Corner Rounder, Ticket Punch, Dimensional Adhesive, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Set

Happy President's Day!!

What I've Learned this Week

Musings of a Housewife sponsored a carnival about What I've Learned This Week.

Well, I don't know if what I learned this week will make President Obama stop and say, wait .... let's see what Sharon has to say, but here goes anyway!

• I learned Blissdom sounds like a lot of fun!!
• I learned that when it comes to blogging, some people (not mentioning names) think it's ok to blog about other people in a derogatory manner. They think it makes them look "cool". I do NOT!! That's rude and crude and probably reflects your up-bringing.
• I learned that you should not believe everything you read .... especially on the Internet. Especially if you don't know the full story!
• I learned that people who are not rational themselves should not call others irrational.
• I learned that it is good to have a lot of friends even if everyone does not approve of said friends.
• I learned that sometimes families can be very dysfunctional and there's not a lot you can do about it .... but wait it out.
• I learned that family members and good friends can come through for you and can be that shoulder to cry on to get you through the tough times.
• I'm trying to learn to keep my mouth shut and not be the bait for others to control.
• I've learned the Serenity Prayer this week BY HEART!!

Chocolate for Valentine's

Giving dark chocolate to your Valentine might be more than sweet; it could help guard your true love against cancer. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that have been shown to combat cell damage that can lead to tumor growth. These antioxidants occur naturally in the cacao beans used to make all chocolate products. People should look for dark chocolate that contains at least 65 percent cacao, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Recommended servings for dark chocolate are seven ounces per week, or about one ounce per day.

Well, I bought a bag of Dove milk chocolates Sunday to use them for Valentine treats. Guess who's eaten more than she's given away???? Dove are my favorites!!! Maybe I'll put a few in Sonny's Valentine tomorrow.

Here's the Valentine my hubby's getting. We probably won't do a lot for Valentines - maybe go to the movies and out to eat. After 38 Valentine's together, we know we love each other every day!! He actually asked me last week if I'd just go upstairs and make a card for him!! He said he had a lot of money invested in my card stuff so it would be better than him going to Hallmark!! Of course, I suggested that I get all the supplies out and let him make his own. Don't think that's gonna happen!! Ashley, where are you when your dad needs you????

HERE are some interesting facts about Valentine's. Did You Know???

Hope your day is SWEET and you get lots of chocolate or whatever will make you happy!!

edited to add - Well, I got a beautiful card for Valentine's - not hand-made, but from Hallmark. I'm so bad - I always check the back to see how much they cost. $5.00!! That's highway robbery!!! Of course, he also gave me the Hallmark bag .... seems they're having a sale where you got 20% off everything you can stuff in the bag!!

Serenity Prayer

I am going through some family trials and have been repeating this Serenity Prayer to myself. It's funny how the mind works. I was checking out my daughter's Facebook last night and discovered that she has been saying the prayer also to get her through the day. Maybe that is why we are so close and love each other so much - we are definitely on the same wave-length. Hopefully, it is true what they say - life doesn't throw more at you than you can handle. And when I look at this sweet face, I know it is all worth it.

I love you, Jayce!

SERENITY PRAYER

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Monday Mailer

I want to share the Monday Mailer that I mailed this week.  I really love how this card turned out - hope Tina does too!! 

I used the Love You Much stamp set and the Candy Lane Designer paper.  I punched a hole through the top layers so you could see the love birds.  And I used the hearts to make leaves. 

This is the card opened.

MAYA ANGELOU'S' BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and  WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming  Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

On A Roll

Sunday I was on a creative roll!  I've not felt too creative lately.  Seems I come upstairs to my craft room and just putter around and end up spending too much time on the computer - reading blogs, playing spades, etc!  But on Sunday, I got up and actually fixed breakfast and read the paper.  Afterwards, Sonny went to the garage to work on our map table that he is redoing and I came upstairs and made a few cards.  I actually should have been downstairs cleaning since my bridge ladies were coming on Monday.  Oh well, they were just here in January and saw a clean house that time!  Actually, we met my family in Mooresville for dinner (Yum - Mexican!) and I straightened up when I got home ... with Sonny's help vacuuming for me!  Ain't he sweet???  Think I'll keep him!

I made this card using the Sale-A-Bration stamp, Polka Dot Punches.  I just love this card!!  I stamped the flowers on Night of Navy, Bashful Blue and Pink Pirouette cardstock in white craft ink and heat embossed.  The middles are stamped on Certainly Celery and the leaves are actually the flower petals cut apart.  The patterned paper is Bashful Blue Patterns paper (p. 159).  The saying is a rub-on from Chit Chat.  The little pink flowers is actually a Sizzix die cut (page 198).

This is the die cut Flower.

This card was for a challenge on NMBS (No More Bad Swaps) group that I am a member.  We had to create a shaped card.  This is a Wordsworth Wild Card template.  The card base is Kraft cardstock with Manchester designer paper.  The little train and giraffe are from Great Impressions (from their Stamp of the Month for this month).  "Hugs & Kisses" is SU's All Holidays.  I used an exacto knife to cut away the triangle.

Here is the card opened.  Isn't this perfect for a little boy???

Love You Much Monday Mailer

This beautiful card was my Monday Mailer this week. It came from my NC SU friend, Nikki.

She used the stamp set, Love You Much with the Candy Lane designer paper. She used the new Heart Punch to punch out the little hearts on the circle. I really love this card!!

I Love A Bargain!

Don't you just love a bargain .... or at least thinking you've gotten a bargain?  I think I got a couple of bargains today!  I taught my class this morning.  I had a full class of 8 ladies and it went a lot smoother than my Thursday night class - they're the guinea pigs!!  After class, Judy and I went to lunch which proved not to be an easy task.  We were trying to come up with something a little different so we decided on Chinese food.  Well, after going to 2 different Chinese restaurants in Mooresville and neither being open, we opted for the Sport Page and had burgers!  After lunch, my Michael's coupons were burning a hole in my pocket, so we headed over there.  Right in the front door, I found the bargains!!  I bought this for $3!  It had been $24.99!  The handle on one of the drawers was not attached, but when I got home, Sonny fixed it for me with pop-rivets.

Then .... I found this for $4.  It had also been about $25.  The middle handle is on upside down (who cares?) and it is a little warped, but for storage purposes, you can't beat $4!!

I'm not sure yet what I'll keep in the top one.  Right now, I have a catalog in the top part and some cards I'm making for a couple of swaps in the lower containers.

But, the 3 drawer container, I have all my Sizzix and Cuttlebug "stuff"  in.  Here's a closer look.

Milk Cartons

This week has been all about making milk cartons and a holder for them!!  Last night I did a class at Stamper's Alley in Mooresville making the milk cartons from Becky Roberts.  (check hers out HERE).  And tomorrow, I'll be doing another class.  Here's the one we are making in class.  It was supposed to be for Valentines, but some of the gals didn't want it to be too "hearts and kisses" so this paper is versatile enough I thought for any occasion.

 

My sister wanted to make one too but since her son has a soccer game tomorrow, I told her to come on over today and we'd make one.  So this morning, she and my friend, Judy, came over.  We had a great time making their boxes, chatting and then enjoying my pasta salad at lunch!  Marianne's company has just scaled them back with a pay cut and 4-day work week, so this was her first Friday off.  We had to celebrate it someway!!  Here are their boxes - although they are not quite finished (they still need ribbon on the handle) but you can admire their handi-work!

This one is Marianne's.  Her favorite color is purple and everything she makes has purple in it!!  She stamped the flower from the retired SU set, Time Well Spent.

This one is Judy's.  She used a circle punch to punch out some of the little circles from the decorative paper - wasn't that clever??  She is also taking my class tomorrow and is making these for her grandchildren.

Pass Out

This picture brought back some funny memories!!

When we were dating - back in the '70's - I had this game.  We were playing it one night with some friends in our apartment complex (we lived in a Singles Only complex in Greensboro).  Per the instructions, you had to take several drinks during the game for various reasons.  When you had to go to the bathroom, there was a little plastic whistle that you had to blow the whole time you were in the bathroom.  Whenever you stopped blowing the whistle, you had to take a drink when you came out of the bathroom.  Well, I had a very shy bladder and trying to "pee" and blow a whistle at the same time was not an easy thing for me to do.  In fact, I could not do it at all!!  When I came out of the bathroom, I had probably stopped blowing about 5-6 times at least and to top it off, I had never been able to go pee!!  In hindsight, all you had to do was just not blow the whistle at all & that would only have counted for only one stopped time!!!  We weren't thinking that straight - we were young, what can I say??!! 

Final January Monday Mailers

As promised .... some cards to share.  These are the last Monday Mailer cards I received from Brenda last week.

This one is my favorite.  I love how she did the foggy moon.

This is an acetate card.  The snowflakes are stamped on the acetate.  I love the blue and red color combo.

This month, it is a "Love Month" theme.  We are making cards with hearts on them OR a red or pink card.  I forgot to take a picture of the card I sent (was in a hurry to go to Pittsburgh).  But, when I receive my card from my Monday Mailer partner, I'll be posting it for your enjoyment!