Our Newest Addition .... Meet Bogart!

We have a new addition to our family! Bogart!! Ashley adopted a 6 month old kitten Wednesday from a local No Kill Shelter.  He is soooo cute!  We got home with him around 5 p.m. and he has been exploring the house ever since - only taking a couple of short cat naps.  We thought a new kitten would be pretty hesitant and we would need to put him in a room alone until he got used to us and the new home.  But, he is not shy at all and very lovable.  Right now, he is curled up right next to Sonny .... who doesn't care for cats!  How is it that cats always know who in the crowd doesn't like them?  Although, we think Sonny protests too much.  Ashley's last cat, Taco, always curled up in Sonny's lap and we caught him petting the cat and talking to him!  

Bogart playing with my shoelace

Isn't he pretty?

A happy girl and her cat!

Sketch Challenge and stuff!

Today is Wednesday .... I think!  So, it is time for the Stamping Queens Sketch Challenge.  I took time on Sunday while we were watching football to log onto My Digital Studio and create a card for the sketch.  It's a fun birthday card.  Which reminds me .... my baby brother turns 50 (!!) next week and I need to make a card for him.  Ok - back to the subject .... Stamping Queens Sketch.  Check out the other Queens take on the sketch this week HERE and to see the sketch this week.

Isn't it funny how when you're on vacation, you just lose all track of the days and the time!  Ashley has been working half days this week (she was off last Friday and Monday) and I have been taking her to work so we could have her car.  Yesterday, she told me she would probably work until 1 or 2:00.  When I came back after dropping her off, I got back in bed for about 30 minutes.  Then I got up and ate breakfast and got on the computer - how I can waste time!  When she called me to pick her up, I said "I thought you were working late today" to which she replied, Mom, it's 1:00!  I had not even gotten dressed!!  How time flies when you're doing nothing!!!  When we picked her up, we went inside the hospital to see her office.  Sonny had never even been on the base before and neither of us had been in the hospital.  It is really nice.  A new portion was added on while she was deployed and that is where her office and the pediatric clinic is.  Then we went over to the PX and to a Medical Museum on base. 

I have not made any cards or done any of my calendars while I have been here.  We have been on the go since we got here.  The day after we arrived, our good friends, Don and Sharon, who live in Dallas arrived.  One of Sharon's best friends and a college roommate lost her battle with cancer and they were in town for the funeral.  So, we met them at their hotel and had dinner and drinks.  It was great to see then even under the circumstances. 

I hope your holidays are continuing to be merry and you are getting ready to welcome 2012!!

Merry Christmas!

Hope you are enjoying a great Christmas and that Santa was good to you!!

Happy Christmas Eve

I'm in San Antonio now enjoying the holidays with Ashley.  We have been on the go ever since we got here Tuesday night.  Our first stop after dropping our luggage off was a Mexican restaurant .... of course!   On Wednesday, Ashley and I got our hair cut and then did a little shopping.  Some of our best friends from Dallas were in town for a funeral so we met them at their hotel for dinner.  It was great to see then - just too bad about the circumstances.  Ashley had to work on Thursday so I took her in and then went out to buy her Christmas presents.  I waited until I got here to buy her stuff so I wouldn't have to bring everything down in my suitcase.  Thursday was her birthday so we took her out for dinner when she got off work.  She was off Friday and will be off on Monday too.  On Friday, we took turns shopping - Sonny went with her in the morning so she could help him get things for me and she and I went out after lunch.  The traffic was horrendous at all the stores but what should you expect????

I think I already mentioned that we had the family Christmas before we left.  Marianne made us all the cutest thing!  It's a Redneck Wine Glass!

Aren't they cute?  The bottom is a candle holder and she hot glued the Mason Jars to them!  She made them for the whole family.

Today has been spent watching football and doing a little baking for tomorrow.  A friend of Ashley's who is in the Air Force came over for the day.  I was making the egg casserole for tomorrow and couldn't find the eggs!  We had gone to the grocery store yesterday and I know we had bought them and that they were in the car .... somewhere!!  Ashley and I looked everywhere.   For some reason, I decided to check the closet in the bedroom because I had brought some packages in along with the groceries that I was hiding in the closet.  Well, guess where the eggs were!!  Doesn't everyone store their eggs on the floor of their bedroom closet????  Crazy, huh??

We'll be going to church later tonight and then awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus!!  I hope you have a safe and wonderful Christmas.

We had our family Christmas early - last Saturday night at Marianne's home.  As you are reading this, I am in Texas which is why we celebrated early.  These are some of the family pictures that I took.



Mom and Derek, Marianne's oldest son



Harrison - Marianne's youngest son

Jacob and Lexi - my brother, Lee's kids

My brother, Lee and his wife, Dina

Marianne's husband, Greg

My sweetie

Harrison - isn't she /he cute????

The 3 sisters - as seen through the smoke!  We were outside sitting around the fire pit eating smores!!

Christmas Tags ... Two Tags Die

These are some Christmas tags and gift cards that I made when I was trying to decide the projects for my club to make. 



This tag uses the Stitched Stocking stamp set and punch.



This uses the stocking die and the Big Shot.  I used Very Vanilla cardstock and brayered Crumb Cake onto my Snowflake Embossing Folder before running it through the Big Shot.  I love the vintage look of the stocking!



This started out to be an ice skate.  But since I've never even gone skating, I changed it to a vintage shoe.



A Top Note gift card holder just uses retired DSP, corduroy button (retired) and retired DSP.

This was actually my favorite!  I stamped the Crumb Cake Tag with the tree from Season of Friendship and added the little birds, snowflakes and snow on the bottom.

This tag uses the folded Christmas tree using glitter paper.  I don't remember which blog I got the template from but it has been on a lot of sites.

This tag uses the metal flashing for the oval.  I ran it through the Big Shot using an embossing folder.  The white to/from piece is punched with the large Oval Punch and glued in.

Both of my clubs met last week for a little tag making party. It was my gift to my club members - they didn't have to order anything and I made Christmas tag and gift card samples for them. They had fun making the projects. We are going to start making Christmas tags earlier next year - maybe do one each month so when it's time for Christmas, we'll have enough. Of course, if they were procrastinators like me, they wouldn't have their presents wrapped early and doing the tags a couple of weeks before Christmas would work!

Aren't these little guys cute?  Made with the Owl Punch!

This little Angel Ornament is made using the Pennant Die and the Big Shot and LOTS of glitter!

This is mhy favorite!  I didn't kiss it either - it's a lips stamp!

You can use the pull out part for a greeting or adhere a coffee gift card inside .... or even a tea bag!

This is a gift card holder.  It swings open with the glitter brad at the top and there is a pocket inside for the gift card.

Clearance Rack Blitz Begins Today

	From December 15, 2011, through January 5, 2012, nearly 200 products are being added to the Clearance Rack in the Online Store--with some discounted up to 80 percent!  Visit the Online Store to take part in the savings! (Within the Online Store, in the Clearance Rack Blitz category, there will be some identical punches that have two different item numbers; this is because SU is using inventory from both their American and  European warehouses. We will indicate which punches this affects in the product description.

Wednesday Stamp Queen's Sketch Challenge

Doesn't that little box up in the corner scare you????  11 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!  I'm not ready!!

As usual, I am late in posting this sketch challenge for the Stamping Queens Challenge.  But My Digital Studio rescued me once again!  The sketch this week was fairly simple so I kept the card pretty simple also.

I used elements for several sets for this card.  Sometimes I think simple is best!

Check out the other Queens take on the challenge HERE.  If you get a chance, try out the sketch for yourself!

We are making progress with getting the whole house painted!  Sonny has moved upstairs and has finished painting our bedroom and bathroom (blue).  He still has some trim work to do in the bathroom but will do that after Christmas.  Today he is doing our guest bathroom (Lemongrass - a pale green).  He will finish up in 2012 and paint both our guest bedrooms in pink.  What's so great is he also vacuums the rooms and baseboards when he's finished before putting all the furniture back!!  He's a keeper for sure!

Peekaboo Tags

I finally had a little bit of time yesterday to play with my new Peekaboo Frames die.  I know a lot of people ordered this die to make Advent Calendars but that was not my intent.  I wanted to make tags and cards with it with hidden messages.  So yesterday, I set out to make a bunch of tags.  My Stamp Clubs are meeting this week on Tuesday and Thursday and we are making tags and gift cards.  Here are my samples using the Peekaboo Tag Die which is on sale now in the Winter Mini Catalog!

Tags - closed view

Tags - open view

Aren't they cute?  I used Real Red and Glorious Green (retired) cardstock and various Christmas stamps that I had.

Penguin Babies

While Ashley was visiting over Thanksgiving, a good friend of hers from DC had twins!  They were very early - not due until March and weighed about a pound each.  But they are doing ok I believe.  So she made a cute baby card to send.  The babies room theme is penguins.  I didn't think I had any penguin stamps but then we found this cute penguin in a retired SU Christmas set, Cold & Cuddly.  I thought the card turned out really cute!!

So, you need to look at your stamps and use them for all occasions .... you never know!!

I have super busy as I imagine everyone is at this time of the year.  Every year, I tell myself to start doing things earlier so I won't get so behind, but do you think I listen to myself????  Nooooo!  I had one free day this week.  I had 3 parties to go to during the day that I had to take food - bridge, mahjong and Newcomers.  And tonight is our couples Newcomers Christmas party.  Luckily, it is one where they will serve me!  That is a real party to me!  We are having it at Queens Landing (but not on the boat).  I do have today free (unless I've forgotten to go somewhere!) so I plan to making use of the time and finishing my Christmas cards and work on some of my projects.  Because next week is just as bad - I think I have one free day next week too.  So, if I don't blog too much, you will know why!!

Last night we had to go to Big Als in Mooresville to watch the Steeler game.  They were on the NFL network and we don't get that channel at home.  They were playing the Cleveland Browns in what should have been an easy game.  Well, don't count your chickens before they hatch!  It was a nail biter.  In one play during the second quarter, Cleveland fumbled the ball, we picked it up and got to the 5 yard line with it when we fumbled.  Cleveland recovered and a few seconds later, we intercepted their pass!  Right before the half, Ben (quarterback) got injured and was taken away to the locker room.  That is never a good sign.  He had a high ankle sprain but he thought at first his leg was broken.  There is no doubt - he is one tough guy.  He ended up coming back the second half with his leg taped.  He didn't have any mobility but he was determined to finish what he had started.  And he did!  They won 14-3!

Tomorrow Marianne and I are driving to Blowing Rock to do some shopping.  Hope to see some snow but not get stuck in it!!

Stamping Queens Sketch 16

I JUST DISCOVERED THIS IN MY DRAFTS!  GUESS I NEVER POSTED IT.  I AM POSTING IT NOW SO YOU CAN SEE THE CUTE CHRISTMAS CARDS MADE WITH MDS.


It's time for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  Today's sketch is pretty easy.  I ended up doing two cards because I couldn't decide!!  I think the second one is my favorite though.  I did the cards on My Digital Studio (of course!!)

Why not make a card and try the sketch for yourself???  Check out the other sketch cards HERE.

Are you having trouble pulling up my blog?  I have heard from a friend that she has had problems.  Her grandson checked it out for her and sent me an e-mail.  He found out this:  There is a problem with blogspot.com and internet explorer. You can add my blog URL to the restricted sites in internet explorer. To do this, you go to tools, internet options, security tab, restricted zone and hit the sites button.  Add my blog url to the sites and then press ok. There is a javascript that runs by default on blogspot.com.  By putting my blog url in the restricted zones area, it disables the script from running and allows my site to display as it should. Also, you could just useFfirefox which is not affected by the issue.

I have Firefox on my main computer and have not had any problems.  BUT, I have Internet Explorer on my laptop and I am having problems.  I can get my blog to come up but my Christmas background is not there and a few other sidebar items are missing.  I will play around with it when I get time and send a message to Blogger to see if there is a permanent fix and to let them be aware of the problem.

Sorry!!



Magic Birthday Card

I made this card last week for a friend's birthday.  I don't know what the technique is called and I can't find the website that I got the directions!!

This is the front of the card.  I used Creative Elements stamp set (one of my favorites!!).  The colors I used are Pink Pirouette and Regal Rose.  So you can see the flower through the circle when the card is closed.

Here is the card open - now you see "Birthday Greetings" through the hole.  It's magic!!

Here is what it looks like as you are opening the card.  The "birthday greetings" slides into place over the flower!

You make two folded cards and adhere them together.  The dimensions of the two are:  5 1/2" x 11" (scored at 3 1/2" and 7") and #2 is 6 1/8" x 5 1/2" (scored at 4 1/4".)  If I can find the video that I watched to make it, I'll post it later.  I first saw the card on Splitcoast and followed a link.  I thought it was on Dawn's blog but I can't find it now!

EDITED TO ADD:   (I FOUND THE LINK!! - Check  HERE)

I really liked how the card turned out and I hope Brenda does too.

Today was a good day for football!  My Steelers and the Panthers both won today.  Marianne joined us at Big Al's to watch the game.  It was pretty much a blow out - Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 35-7!  Ashley was pretty bummed out today.  She is taking a two week Army career course and thought they would be done by noon so she could get home and watch the game.  Several of her friends were coming over who are in town taking the course also.  She had already told them that her big TV would be on the Steeler game but that she had a couple of other tv's in the bedrooms they were welcome to watch other games on.  Well, she called me about 11 am and was still in class and it looked like she was going to be there until 3:00.  She has Direct TV and I was able to go on the internet and log into her account and set the Record button for her!  Isn't modern technology great??!!!  Well, when she got home to watch the game, she was able to watch it until the middle of the 3rd quarter. The score was such a blow out that the station changed the game to another one!!  Glad that didn't happen at our house - afraid Sonny would throw a brick through the tv.  On second thought, maybe that would be a good thing since I have been bugging him for a while to get a new tv!!  Hmmmm ....

Thanksgiving pictures

Thought I'd share some of the pictures I took last week.  I didn't take as many as I wanted to - seems I kept forgetting to take my camera with me when we went out!!

Taken Thanksgiving Day on my deck of us gals!  Ashley, me, Sharon (Girlfriend), Angela, Marianne and Mom.

My dining room table all set and waiting for the hungry family!

We finished painting the dining room and it looks great!!  This is one side of my family pictures.

This is the other side of the room.  I have old pictures of my family hung on both sides. 

Harrison and Derek - Marianne's boys on Thanksgiving.

Mom and Ashley taken at the Waffle House Tuesday morning before she headed to airport.

Ashley and Angela (who hates having her picture taken!)

Last Saturday night Sonny, Ashley and I took a Haunted tour of downtown Charlotte.  It was great fun!  I had bought the tickets several months ago on Groupon to use when Ashley came to visit.  We learned a lot of history about Charlotte that I didn't know.  Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it was very informative.  So, if you live in this area, I would highly recommend Carolina History and Haunts tours.

On Monday, we drove to Kannapolis to the North Carolina Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Everyone I have mentioned this to has said, I didn't know there was such a place.  I had read about it a couple of years ago in the Charlotte newspaper and kept the clipping for "some day."  It was free which is always a good thing but it is very well done.  I was surprised by the number of artists which have roots in North Carolina.  Museum exhibits include Charlie Daniels, Nina Simone, Chairman of the Board, Clyde McPhatter, Donna Fargo, Thelonius Monk, and Victoria Livengood.  Another good place to visit and take your guests to.