Stamp Club January Calendar

I think I should leave a sticky note at the top of my blog saying "sorry - I've been busy."  I have been snowed under (not really snow) and neglected posting to my blog on a regular basis.  I am the photographer for the Newcomers group which means I take pictures all year of events going on and at the end of the year, I put together a memory book for our president.  Well, I've been busy trying to finish up the book.  I finally finished yesterday and sent it to the printer.  Now, hoping it will be back in time to present it at our next meeting but I have my doubts. 

Last week was Stamp Club.  I am doing something a little different this year.  One of the gals from my Club (and my neighbor) gave me a calendar in a shadowbox frame for Christmas.  She bought the frame at Hobby Lobby.  I just love it!

So I decided that each month in Stamp Club, we would do a calendar page.  The gals can use the calendar this year and at the end of the year, they can just add the 2018 months and give it away as a gift to a friend.  This is the page we did this month.  The snowman is not Stampin' Up.  Believe it or not, I do not have a Stampin' Up snowman!!  Everyone had a different background snowflake piece of DSP.  We framed the snowman and calendar with Emerald Envy card stock.

Speaking of calendars, this is one Marianne gave me for Christmas.  It is hard to see in the picture, but she used glitter on the ground beneath the Lovely As A Trees.  It is so sparkly!!

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I'll be at Buffalo Wild Wings later today cheering on the Steelers.  If they win today, we are Super Bowl bound!  Unfortunately, our opponent is the New England Patriots.  I am a little nervous!  We are definitely the underdog in this race.

Suspended Festival of Trees

Whew!  Just finished pulling the Steelers through to a Monday Night win against Houston Texans.  We didn't look so good at the beginning of the game and let Houston score on us twice right off the bat with a touchdown and a field goal.  Even the fans at Heinz Field were booing their team!  But then the Steelers woke up and got three touchdowns and a field goal in less than three minutes at the end of the second quarter to turn a poor start and a 13-0 deficit into a 24-13 halftime lead.  I was whooping and hollering with Sammie trying to sleep on my lap.  She didn't know what was going on!!  We ended up winning with a score of 30-23.

Here is another "suspended" card using the Festival of Trees this time.  You can get the directions for the basics to making the card from yesterday's post.

Don't let my husband tell you he doesn't like cats!  Check this out:

White Christmas - Two Ways

The weekend sure comes and goes fast!  We went to the movies on Saturday and saw The Drop.  Don't waste your money - it wasn't that good.  I didn't think it would be but Sonny wanted to see it since James Gandofino was in it.  I figured they are digging up all his movies that didn't make it to the box office when he was alive and showing them now.  Oh well, it was a nice outing anyway.  We went to a restaurant in Cornelius for breakfast before the movie that we had been wanting to try and it was really good.  We'll be going back for sure.

Sunday of course, we went to Big Al's to see the Steelers LOSE!  Grrrr .... that wasn't supposed to happen - to lose to a team like Tampa Bay who haven't won a game all year!  Seems we win the ones we aren't supposed to and lose the ones I think should be the easy ones.  I knew starting the season that we weren't going to have much to cheer about this year but it's still tough to see them struggle.

I did have time this weekend to make a couple of cards using White Christmas.  First I made a traditional winter card.  It's hard to see how glittery this card is.  I used Dazzling Diamonds in the trees and all over the snow on the ground.  I forgot to mask the circle for the moon so after sponging the sky, I decided to try to make a moon.  I sponged a circle with Craft Whisper White Ink and then embossed it with White embossing powder.  It worked!!  You just never know.

I have seen a few cards made with this set that were fall cards so I decided to give it a try this morning.  I stamped the trees and the deer with Early Espresso.  Then I used a brown marker to color in the trees.  For the leaves, I just used the tip of my markers - Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow and Soft Suede to put dots all over the ground and the trees.  I used the Old Olive Blendabilities to color in the grass.  I masked the circle for the sun (Daffodil) and sponged Soft Sky for the sky.  What do you think?

One thing I really like about the Photopolymer stamps is that you can arrange them on the clear block the way you want to.  Notice in the winter card, the ground that the deer is standing on between the trees is not almost straight.  (I also used a Black Marker to extend the ground.)  On the fall card, I wanted the ground to be more hilly so I arranged the stamp that way before stamping.  The trees and the ground are all one stamp.

What I don't like about the photopolymer stamps is that they are hard for me to see on my desk!!  If I don't clean them right away and put them back in the case, I end up looking everywhere for them because they will stick to things.  I have a tendency to just lay my stamps on my cleaning pad (which I leave open on the side of my desk) until I am completely done and clean everything at once.  Last week I had about 6 stamps laying on the cleaning pad and Bogart decided to check out what I was doing.  He jumped up on my desk, knocking the cleaning pad onto the floor and scattering the stamps.  I had to call Sonny in to help me.  I was missing two of the photopolymer stamps and one clear stamp.  After crawling around on the floor (both of us!), I finally found the two photopolymer ones and had given up on finding the other stamp.  Sonny had the flashlight out and as he was getting up off the floor, he spotted the stamp on the leg of my chair!

Hope you have a good day!  I am headed to the "Y" for a little much needed exercise!

I Missed the Deadline!

Last week I did a scrapbook page for the MDS Monday challenge BUT I forgot to post it to their blog!!  Oh well - guess I didn't stand a chance of winning, huh?  Anyway, here is the MDS page I made.  The challenge was to use white, vanilla or ivory as the main color.  I thought this picture from our Alaska trip fit the bill.  I used the photo of the snowy Mount McKinley as my background.

As promised, here are a few pictures from the Steeler - Panther game that we attended on Sunday night.  It was really hot - still in the 80s when we left the game about midnight.  I had been hoping for some fall weather and had thrown in my sweatshirt thinking I would need it later in the evening but ended up not even carrying it in the stadium.  The Steelers beat the Panthers pretty handily - it was the first loss of the season for the Panthers so I was not so sure about that win in advance.

We went to the Olde Meck Brewery in Charlotte before the game for dinner.

As usual, Sonny made a few Steeler friends!

Great seats

The Panthers started leaving during the 3rd quarter!!  

Our Selfie!

Here are this week's Weekly Deals - good through next Monday.

Steelers MDS Monday Challenge

MDS Monday had a great challenge this week with their weekly sketch.  I just discovered yesterday that my sketch was featured on the MDS Monday blog for the pick of the week a couple of weeks ago.  This week the challenge is to create a page highlighting something you love.  Well, there are a lot of things that I could have picked from - family, life, travelling, etc.  But, I decided since it's now football season, to pick STEELERS FOOTBALL!!  I went through some of my older photographs to pick out a few favorites.  This was good timing since Sonny and I will be going to the Steeler - Panther game in a couple of weeks thanks to a very good friend who is giving me her tickets!!

I used several stamps and elements from MDS.  My favorite tool to use is the Search tool in the bottom right.  I can just put in any word and it finds all stamps, embellishments, punches, etc. that are associated with it.  I used mostly the Game Day stamp set for this layout.  I created my own Subway Style words for the top and the bottom instead of using DSP.  I like the way it turned out.

Embellishments
    _Designer Kits\Downtown Grunge - embellishments\Downtown Grunge - frame5
    _Designer Kits\Downtown Grunge - embellishments\Downtown Grunge - frame2

Stamps
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Decorative Overlays\Decorative Overlays - grid, Color = 0,0,0
    Game Day Football\Game Day Football    
    Sporting\Sporting - score,
    Game Day Football\Game Day Football - 10 yards,
    Designer Kits\Lemonade Stand\Lemonade Stand - i heart this
    Game Day Football\Game Day Football - ball,

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK 19,27,29
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK 19,27,29
    Basics\Oval Punch, Fill Color = BAKED BROWN SUGAR 174,142,94

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Hard to believe it is already football season!!  If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that makes me happy!!  Tonight is the first pre-season game for the Panthers and tomorrow for the Steelers.  Not that pre-season means anything but it was nice to see the Patriots LOSE last night to the Redskins!!  The Panthers will be on tv tonight and the Steelers will be tomorrow night - although at midnight!  Not so sure I'll stay up to watch them.  Guess that will give me something to watch on Sunday.

The sketch challenge for MDS Monday was a template that is pre-loaded on MDS.  You have to have just the right pictures for this one.  I was going to use some of my New Zealand pictures but decided to go with these football pictures instead since it is that time of year.



All the elements for this page came from Game On digital stamp.

This was taken last year at the Panthers-Steelers pre-season game.  We play the Panthers again this year in pre-season on August 28 in Pittsburgh.  But then we play them at the Panther stadium in September for the Monday Night Game.  I've got a possible chance to get tickets to this game.  We'll wait and see!

Pleasant Poppies

Here is a card I made quite some time ago but I don't think I have shared it yet.  The Top Note die is the first Sizzix die that Stampin' Up offered us.  I don't even remember when - probably 3-4 years ago.  I remember thinking I didn't need a Big Shot and dies!  HA!!  Was I wrong!  I don't think many of us make cards anymore without using that great machine!  It has definitely taken card making to another level. 

 

The base of the card is Very Vanilla, run through the Polka Dot embossing folder and adhered to the Marina Mist card.  The Very Vanilla piece is also trimmed at the bottom with Edgelits Finishing Touch.  I cut a little more than half of the Top Note from Marina Mist and another one from Very Vanilla.   I stamped the poppy flowers (Pleasant Poppies) in black and used markers to color the flowers.  I trimmed the Very Vanilla on the dotted lines around the edges, glued it to the Marina Mist Top Note and adhered the whole thing to the top of  my card.  The wide pink grosgrain ribbon is retired but I thought it looked great on this card.  What do you think?

 

 

 

Sonny and I went to the movies Saturday and saw Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks.  If you get a chance, GO see this movie!!  It was so good.  I was crying at the end - and even saw tears in Sonny's eyes which I am sure he would deny.  The movie is based on the true story of the 2009 hijacking of The Alabama (a cargo ship) by Somali pirates.  The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama's commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips, and the Somali pirate captain, Muse, who takes him hostage.  

 

Good news for Sunday ..... my STEELERS won their first game of the season!!  I know it is week 6, but it was good to have a win against the NY Jets.  Our ex-neighbors (in Gig Harbor) weren't very happy since Joe is a big Jets fan, but hey, I was happy!!  Plus, I picked the Steelers to win in the football pool!!

I haven't deserted you!

I haven't run away ... just been super busy lately.  But I am here now and have a few things to share today.  First I want to show off the great My Digital Studio project Ashley made for her Dad for Fathers Day.  I took it to Staples for her and had it printed on a piece of foam board (8 1/2" x 17") for under $10.  We had seen something similar that was on sale at an on line site and she knew she could make it using MDS.  She was so right!!  It really looks great hanging in his room.  Now my mind is going round and round trying to think of other things I can do and have similar things made up for different occasions .... birthdays, new baby, wedding, etc.  So many ideas!

Today I took a great tour with my Newcomer group.  Sixteen of us toured northern Iredell County and viewed quilt blocks painted on barns.  It was a lot of fun and we saw some beautiful country side.  Here are a few of my favorites.  We didn't even scratch the surface.  We were given a brochure with about 50 quilts / barns on it and we probaby went by about 20 of them.  We were told that a new brochure is being printed now and it has 90 quilts on it!  I want to go back in my own car so I can stop and get out and take more pictures.  Some of these I had to take the pictures through the glass in the bus and a few of them we actually got to stop and get out to get our pictures.

This was an actual fabric quilt hung on the side of this neat looking antique shop that unfortunately was not open.  I want to go back when it is!!

Happy 2013

Well, I watched the last Steeler game of the season today.  They won't be going to the play offs this year - the first time in a long time!  Hopefully, they will do some major rebuilding during the off season and come back stronger than ever next year.  It always amazes me how fast football season goes - seems like it just got started.  Since the game was a "no-count" game today, it was not on tv here so Ashley & I went to Buffalo Wild Wings and watched it there.  The past two Sundays, Ashley and I have been on our own watching the Steelers since Sonny went shooting with our brother-in-law.  After the game, she and I visited Michael's, Kohl's, Bed & Bath, and the mall (which was crazy!!) to do some returns and also to check out the After Christmas Sales.  We got some good deals today and yesterday when we went over to her base and picked up a few things at the PX. 

Last night we went over to Ashley's friends house, Lisa & Danny for dinner.  Danny is the cook in the family and he cooked us a delicious meal.  After dinner and visiting with them for a bit, we headed off to a local club, Martini's which was a popular hang out for Ashley and her friends in medical school.  Ashley had told some of her friends about the place recently and they wanted to check it out so we met them there.   We always enjoyed going to Martini's when we visited Ashley and listening to the owner, Wayne, perform.   He puts on an amazing show doing a Vegas style act and covers songs by Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson, the Beach Boys, all the greats.  His voice imitates these singers remarkedly.  He has a full band backing him up and he often switches instruments from guitar, banjo, saxophone, and trumpet.   If you ever visit San Antonio, you need to check this place out!  Their martinis aren't bad either (just a tad expensive)!!

Hope you have big plans for New Year's.  What will you be doing to welcome in 2013?  Sonny and I are going to a movie while Ashley goes out with her girlfriends.  Be safe and have a wonderful New Year!!

I made this card using MDS2 but it would be super easy to recreate using paper and stamps.

Supplies Used with MDS2:

Oh What Fun Overlays\Oh What Fun Overlays - new year
    _Designer Kits\Happy Hour\Happy Hour - glass 3
    _Designer Kits\Happy Hour\Happy Hour - glass 4
    _Designer Kits\Happy Hour\Happy Hour - glass 1
    _Designer Kits\Happy Hour\Happy Hour - olive
    _Designer Kits\Happy Hour\Happy Hour - umbrella
    _Designer Kits\Happy Hour\Happy Hour - orange

Paper:

Black Cardstock, Designer Series Paper \Glimmer - gold
    Card Stock\Whisper White

 

Perfectly Preserved in Water

Hope your weekend was a good one.  Mine was.  Friday night Sonny & I went out to eat at a new-ish pizza restaurant in Mooresville, Salty Caper.  I just love that name!  Saturday Marianne and I went to a Follk Art Festival in Sherrills Ford.  It was fun and there was some neat things there although folk art is really not our style.  But I got an early birthday present out of the outing!  The last booth we visited had flowers - about 5 feet tall - that were made out of metal.  They were so cool and priced to sell.  There were a lot of people milling around and buying them.  So Marianne bought me one and we brought it home and "planted" it in my yard - a bright yellow sunflower. 

Saturday was National Card Making Day and I had all intentions of making some cards.  Unfortunately, I have been a bit under the weather this weekend.  I thinkit  is sinus stuff.  My throat has been real sore.  Saturday night before I went to bed, I took a decongestant tablet.  It helped but I had a hard time sleeping and looked at the clock by my  bed every hour!  I'm not taking one tonight that is for sure!  I took it this morning instead.  But I'm still feeling rather achy and yucky.  I'm scheduled to play bridge tomorrow and I have a dr. appointment for another issue so hopefully, I'll feel better.

Here is a card I made a few weeks ago using Perfectly Preserved.  There is so much you can do with this set.  I really like it and I haven't even touched the surface.  I stamped the jar on card stock and using a mask, sponged Turqoise on the bottom to look like water.  Then I stamped the flowers using markers.  I stamped one set with Daffodil Delight and overstamped it with Tangerine.  The DSP is from the Festival Prints in the holiday mini catalog.

close up of "water"

It was a nail biter game today with the Steelers which seems to be their favorite way to play!  They pulled it off in the last few seconds against Philadelphia.  But, the Panthers didn't fare so well.  Marianne had tickets to the game and I told her she better pull off the win for them.  But, she didn't listen!

Are You Ready for Some Football?

I made this 12x12 page on MDS2 today.  It is part of my "homework" from the MDS class I am taking.  Don't you love it???!!!  It's that time again.  Tomorrow is the first game and I remembered to bring my Steelers Jersey so I am ready for some football!!  Love this time of year.

This picture was taken in the grocery store the day of the Super Bowl.  It was an awesome sight.  The pictures of the food on the side are some of the good eating we do when we are in Pittsburgh.  The top two pictures of the fries and hot dog are from the "O" (Original Hot Dog) stand which is located right beside the Pitt campus.  It has been there for more than 50 years so you know it's good.  We always have to make a visit there for fries and a hot dog.  My first visit there is still a joke to us.  I had gone home with Sonny from NC to meet his parents.  We went to Pittsburgh for some sightseeing and stopped off at the "O".  Being a Carolina gal, I ate my hot dogs with chilli and mustard usually.  So, that's the way I ordered it at the "O".  Little did I know, they did not know what hot dog chilli was and served my hot dog with their type of chilli - with beans.  Sonny's dad looked at me pretty strangely as I was picking out the beans from my hot dog.  30+ years later and we are still laughing about it when we go to Pittsburgh.

The next picture is of my favorite food!!  It is an Italian Hoagie from Danny's.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  Danny's is another institution in Pittsburgh - been there at least 50 years probably.  There used to be a drive in theatre behind the restaurant and Sonny said they would come over from the drive in and get sandwiches and go back & watch the movie.  Our kids grew up eating there whenever we would visit.  Although there were a few times when Sonny & I would sneak out, leaving the kids at home with grandma and head over to Danny's for a quick hoagie.  (Although it is probably 30 minutes from Sonny's home!)  When Marianne went with us to Pittsburgh, we got her hooked on the hoagie too.  We usually get a "to go" box to take back with us.  They layer the meat, onions, tomatoes, etc. in a pizza box and give us the bread and signature Italian dressing so we can make them when we get home.  I've just never found a sandwich as good as Danny's anywhere else and we are constantly looking.

The final picture is funnel cake!  So yummy!  But truthfully, it's the same funnel cake you can get other places.  I don't even know where that picture was taken.  Once when Marianne and Harrison went with us to Pittsburgh to a game, we ate at an Italian restaurant close to our hotel and ordered funnel cake for dessert.  We still talk about that dessert.  It was like funnel cake on steroids!  It was huge and fed all of us.

Well, time for this gal to "hit the hay."  Hope you enjoyed my culinary page about Pittsburgh AND you will be cheering on the Steelers tomorrow like I will be!

Getting Organized is a Messy Business!

 Well, today was not such a great day for us Steeler fans.  Our football season is over.  We played Denver today (think, Tim Tebow praying) for the wildcard playoff game and lost in overtime.  The Steelers really didn't deserve to win considering the way they played today.  I really didn't think we'd go very far in the playoffs this season but was sure hoping we'd get at least one more game.  So, I have packed up all my Steeler gear until next year.  Now I will have to cheer on another team I suppose.

I guess now I will have more time to clean out my stamp room instead of watching football.  I started yesterday and it is so over-whelming, I find myself standing in the room and scratching my head!  Sonny keeps poking his head in and laughing at me.  He has offered to get his shovel for me so I can shovel a path (or maybe shovel some stuff in the garbage!)  I have filled up 2 garbage bags though!  It's hard to tell but I have made a little progress.  But I have a long way to go!  I can't even see my desk it is so covered with stuff.  Here are a few pictures I took tonight.  Hopefully, next week this time, I can post some pictures that look much better!

This is my desk!

I even have things stacked in the hall!

I can barely get to my chair much less find the tv controller!

I do have a card to share with you that I did last week before I started the reorganizing!  It uses goodies from the Occasions Mini Catalog - the stamp, Take It to Heart, pleated satin ribbon, some Twitterpated DSP and the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder (pg 7).

I stamped the heart with White ink and embossed it.  I love this stamp!

Hope your week is a good one!

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!!

Where Does Time Go?

No excuses .... life just gets in the way of my stamping sometimes.  I hate it when that happens!!   But also, I have gotten addicted to an internet game and it's eating up my time!!!  It's an old game - Jewel Quest but I keep telling myself, I'll just play for 15 minutes .... next thing I know, it's an hour later!  Just got to stop it.  I did play Mahjongg last Friday and lost all my money ($2)!!!  I hadn't played in a couple of months and I think I was just rusty - just couldn't get anything going.  The one time I thought I had won a game, I ended up with an extra tile in my hand so got disqualified!  

Saturday I did face painting at the Sherrills Ford Library.  The Friends of the Library put on a little fall festival for the children - face painting, games, pumpkin painting, decorating cookies, etc.  It is all free and great fun for the little ones.  My specialty was bats and spiders.  I think every little boy there wanted a bat on his cheek!  Sonny and I went out to dinner later that night and there was a family sitting behind us in the restaurant with 3 children.  They each had their faces painted .... by moi - a bat, ghost and candy corn!

Today we went to Big Al's to watch the Steelers play.  They were flying high at the half with the score 17-3.  I think they got a little cocky because it was sure a different game the second half.  We won but I was chewing my nails up until the last few seconds.

We stopped by to visit Mom after the game.  She seems to be doing much better.  She has quit taking the Oxycotin and is taking the Hydrocodein at night.  That seems to be the worst time for her.  She said she is real restless at night.  I'm sure a lot of it is because she is doing nothing during the day to make her tired.  Plus, she probably naps during the day.  She has narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and takes meds during the day to keep her awake.   But since she has been on the pain meds, she has not been taking her sleep meds.  She was sitting outside enjoying the beautiful day when we got to the house.   She is still using the walker and going slow but I did not see her wince as she was walking.  She will be getting the nerve root block on Tuesday.  We have an appt. on Thursday to talk to the surgeon.

I got 2 Monday Mailer cards this week from Brenda Tapp.  They are great!  I don't have the Sizzix Leaf die but I sure wish I did after seeing the card.

Isn't this pretty?  She used faux tearing - it looks like two pieces of paper but it's not.

 

 

Another great card using my favorite .... Spice Cake DSP

I have Stamp Club next week so I will be sharing those projects with you soon.

Techniques for You

Did you miss me?

Things have been pretty crazy here lately.  My mom has been sick all week.  We think it is her sciatica nerve tht is getting the best of her.  She is bothered periodically with back problems.   She was on hydrocodien for pain as needed but this week, it was not doing the job.  So, I took her to the doctor on Wednesday for a pain shot and x-rays.  My sister called me on Thursday and said the shot didn't ease the pain either.  So, the doctor gave her a prescription of oxycotin.  It also isn't working like I think it should. The x-rays just show arthritis.  Thursday night Marianne and I went to a Pampered Chef party.  After it was over, we got a call from Angela (my sister) that Mom was in a lot of pain.  So my friend, Kathy who was a nurse, went with me to mom's.  We were able to get her up and into an office chair so we could wheel her into the bathroom and then put her in bed.  We girls have been taking turns staying with mom and getting her to the doctor.  Angela lives with her so she has night duty.  Marianne stayed with her this weekend while Angela was working.  Mom is going in for an MRI on Tuesday.  Once we get the results, we'll decide what to do - continue going to her dr. who is great but is just an family practice doc or try a chiropractor.  I would like to get her off all those meds.  They are not fixing the problem - only masking it.  I'm hoping we can convine her to do some good back stretches and exercises to prevent future outbreaks.  I have had sciatica pain before and I know how bad it hurts.  Luckily, I can tell when my I have sat too long without good support and make an effort to get a step ahead before the pain hits me by doing stretching, exercises, and stand to do my work instead of sitting.

I was happy today that our Steelers played so well and got the win!  I thought the Panthers were going to pull a win off as well, but it wasn't meant to be.  Cam Newton has been a good pick for Carolina but if you live here, you might be getting sick of hearing his name!

I have some techniques to share with you today.  I did a technique swap at Quarterly last week and got some good ones.  Everyone put their techniques - examples and "how to" - on a 6x6 card.

Bleach/Chalk Technique

Embossed Embedded Image

Markers on a Roll

Faux Mother of Pearl

Top Note Square

Iris Folding

Butterfly Pansy

Emerging Color