Home again.

I'm home!  We got back late Wednesday night.  Sammie was sure glad to see us when we got home ... she didn't have any water or food left so we got home just in time.  She didn't want to leave my side and even slept right next to me all night which she doesn't normally do.  All day today, she has stayed close and even now, she is curled up in the chair next to me. 

Thought I'd share a few pictures I took while I was in Texas.  We got to meet my nephew, Jack and his wife, Katrina with their cutie pie baby, Jack IV.  They call the baby IV ... I called him Jack!!  Just don't know that I would want my son to grow being called IV (like "ivy"), would you?  But he is a doll baby with the biggest eyes.



He loved drinking from the straw!

  On Saturday, Ashley's best friends came over with their twins (Alec and Julia) who are so cute.  They were born when Ashley was deployed and will be 2 in January.  We played in the pool with them and they were little fishes.



Bogart's favorite way to drink is straight from the faucet!!



Paper Craft Crew Challenge

For today's Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge (whew - that's a mouthful!) I decided to go with a Halloween card.  It won't be long.  I've noticed the stores already are stocking Christmas .... what's wrong with waiting till Halloween is over????  Too early in my opinion.

I am still in Texas .... leaving to fly home this afternoon.  It's been a great working visit and I'm always sad to leave but it won't be long until Thankgiving when we'll be together again.  Ashley took off work all last week and we did a LOT of work in the yard and got a lot done.  Monday when she went back to work, I decided to tackle the front yard.  I put down black plastic on one side of her shrub bed and Sonny poured 10 bags of mulch over it; dug up about 10 small nandina bushes and moved them; planted a few other plants that she had bought at Lowe's on Sunday; and trimmed up some of the larger shrubs that are already established.  It looks pretty good but boy was I hot, sore and tired Monday night!  It was nice to jump in the pool when I finished.  Yesterday I worked inside making slipcovers for one of her window seats and pillows and hanging a few pictures.

We had a little extra bonus last night.  One of Jeff's best friends from high school was in town doing some work.  Scott came over and we visited a little while before going out to dinner.  It was really great to see him.  Sonny had not seen him since his wedding and it had been 3 years since Ashley and I had seen him in College Station shortly after his first child was born.  We had a great visit.

OK - on to the card I made.  Here is the sketch that I had to work with:

Here is my card:

How do you like that folded corner?  It took a bit of maneuvering but I finally got it!  The stamp is a single stamp in the Holiday Mini Catalog (I think!) 

Happy Birthday card

Before we came to Texas, I had to get caught up on a few birthdays.  Here is one of the cards I made:

I just love the colors in this card.  The stamp set I used was Raining Flowers.  It is a set I got last year at SU Convention and I haven't really used it much.  But I really like it in this card.  I stamped each flower three times and raised each layer up with dimensionals.  Then I put a pearl in the center of each flower.  I embossed the white layers of the card with the Dotted Embossing Folder  So, how do you like it?

Here are a few pictures I've taken since I've been in Texas.

I snapped this in a hurry from the backseat of the car as we were driving to dinner -  a beautiful Texas sunset.

Ashley and Sonny at dinner ... Mexican of course!  We convinced Sonny to sit outside in the courtyard.

We toured the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory last Wednesday. Yum!!

Bogart is at the door watching us in the back yard.  He likes to keep his eye on us - either at the door or sitting in the window.

Bogart's favorite way to drink his water!

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!

Back to Spool time

It's Back to "Spool" Time!   Kids are going back to school and that means it's also the time of year that crafters get back to card making, scrapbooking, and creating special holiday gifts!

In September, you'll receive a FREE package of the gorgeous 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon with every $40 purchase. You can choose from any of the new 2012-2014 In Colors - or spend $200 and get all five colors! Of course, you'll find lots of new favorites to shop for in the new Holiday Catalog, but it is also a great time to stock up on adhesives so you'll have just what you need for your holiday crafting. If you buy 1 each of our 8 most popular adhesives, you'll qualify for that free spool of ribbon!

Oh, and before I forget, by popular request, the 31% off Digital sale has been extended until September 14th, so dive into some digital crafting, too!

Just a quick post to share with you my Paper Crew Challenge card this week.  I used MDS2 (as usual) and had fun with these hexagons.

We worked out in the yard most of the day Tuesday pulling weeds and cleaning up some of the mess that the contractors left in Ashley's yard.  There are a lot of issues with the work that was done and Ashley called the contractor to come by today and look at things - fence, concrete work, sprinkler system not working, trash and planks from original fence just left laying in the yard, etc.  He was not happy when he saw some of the shoddy work that was done and told Ashley he would make it right.  We've got the irrigation people coming on Thursday and hopefully, some of the other workmen to fix things.  We went to the movies Tuesday night to see Bourne Legacy.  It was pretty good.  We are going to Brenham on Wednesday to take a tour of the best ice cream company in the world .... Blue Bell!  I have been there before but it was on a weekend and the tours are not offered on the weekend. 

I lost a good friend and fellow Stampin' Up demonstrator this weekend.  I just learned of her death today.  I knew she was close to the end but was still shocked and saddened.  Becky was such a great gal and always so upbeat even while she was fighting for her life for the past year.  She will be missed by a lot of people.

Subway Art

I forgot how hot it is in Texas!!  When we arrived on Thursday afternoon (at 5:30) it was still 100 degrees!  The forcast for this week is 99, 99, 99, 98, 98, 98 ..... get the picture?  Pretty boring, huh??  We've gotten a lot done at Ashley's though.  She's about worn out her credit card though!  Friday I think she spent about $400 at Home Depot and today was another $100 at Garden Ridge!  But hey ... the labor is free!  Sonny has been working on putting two ceiling fans up on her patio.  He should have them done tomorrow.  Saturday I spent most of the day planting plants and flowers in big pots in the back yard.  We planted Texas sage, lantana, pampas grass, potato vine, basil and rosemary.  Plus, I dug up some morning glory from the back that had pretty much overgrown the alley and stuck it in one of the pots.  Today, we went shopping and bought a couple more pots at Garden Ridge plus got some material so I can cover some pillows and do some other home decor,  We've hung pictures in the house and bought a couple more today that we'll have to hang tomorrow.  Sunday we took a break.  My brother and his wife, daughter and three grandchildren came over plus my brother in law who helped Sonny do some work that he was having problems with.  We had a nce visit, swim and cooked some yummy fajitas on the grill (plus made some margaritas that hit th spot.)

Subway art seems to be all the rage right now.  So, I thought I'd try it with MDS2.  What do you think?  It was fun!

Scrapbook Challenge #1

Well, I am in Texas and it's hot!  We left Charlotte at 12:45 with an hour's layover in Atlanta.  No hitches - until were on the plane in Atlanta to go to San Antonio.  After we were all boarded, they announced that there was a mechanical problem and the technicians were working on it.  If it couldn't be fixed, we would have to get off the plane until they could get another plane for us.  Thankfully, it was able to be fixed but we were about an hour late in leaving Atlanta.  We ended up arriving in San Antonio about 5:30 instead of 4:30.  But it was still hot - 100 degrees at the time we landed!  It was still 91 at 11:00 pm while watching the news!!  We had our first (of many I'm sure) Mexican dinner tonight.  Yum - guacamole, enchiladas, tamales, sangria, chips, salsa and sopapillas!!   It's good to be back!

The Paper Craft Crew is having it's first scrapbook challenge.  I made mine on the plane coming here yesterday..  I used pictures from our recent trip to the Outer Banks.  Here is my take on the sketch we were to use:

Here is the project list that was used:

Background

Color = POOL PARTY

Embellishments

_Designer Kits\Sunny Day - elements\Sunny Day - cloud 1
_Designer Kits\Sunny Day - elements\Sunny Day - cloud 1

Stamps

Epic Overlays\Epic Overlays - ink splatter 1, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131
Epic Overlays\Epic Overlays - ink splatter 1, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131
Splatters\Ink Splatters\Ink Splatter 6, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131
Epic Overlays\Epic Overlays - ink splatter 1, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131
Splatters\Ink Splatters\Ink Splatter 6, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131
Splatters\Ink Splatters\Ink Splatter 6, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131
Splatters\Ink Splatters\Ink Splatter 6, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131
Designer Kits\Day in the Life\Day in the Life - 3 frame, Color = SUMMER SUN
Splatters\Ink Splatters\Ink Splatter 6, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131A
Splatters\Ink Splatters\Ink Splatter 6, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131

Circle Flowers

This is a very simple card I made using punches.  I just punched circles to make the flowers and placed them randomly on the card.  The leaves are also punched and for the stems, I just cut a few strips of cardstock.  The DSP I used is the SaleABration paper which I have hoarded!

I am all packed and ready to go. I got my hair cut today as well as a manicure and pedicure so I am all "spruced up."  We leave tomorrow for Texas and are excited to be going again.  I have not been there since last March but it has been since Christmas for Sonny.  I can't wait to see the remodeling that Ashley has done on her back patio and yard.  I think Sammie (cat) is tired of seeing me get out my suitcase.  She knows she's going to be left alone again.  But this time, my mom and sister are going to come over and stay at our house for several days.  They will be attending the state Association for the Blind convention next week and it is being held here in Sherrills Ford.  It will make it an easier commute for them to stay at our house.  (Plus, they both want to use my whirlpool tub which I never use!!)  This is a good time for us to be leaving since the Democratic Convention is going to be in Charlotte next week.  I don't want to be anywhere near that!!  I hope Charlotte pulls it off but I really don't think they are a big enough city for this type of event.

Paper Crew Sketch Challenge

Please say a little prayer for my computer!  I'm worried it is on it's last legs.  I spent yesterday working on trying to speed it up and think it helped a bit.  But it's getting old in computer years I guess - about 5 years old (I think) so looks like I'll be shopping for a new one in the near future.  Hoping it can hold on until Christmas when there will be some sales.  I also worked diligently yesterday on my MDS2 Alaska album.  The deadline for the 31% off sale has been extended to mid September so I'm hoping to get it finished and off to the printer by then.  We leave tomorrow for Texas for a couple of weeks so I'll be working on the album on the airplane as well as at Ashley's (while Sonny does his handy man jobs!!)  That is another thing I like about MDS - I don't have to be hooked up to the internet and can work on it in the car, plane, etc.

(Well, my computer must have know I was talking about her .... the power went out as I was typing this for about 30 minutes!  Luckily, this was saved!)

So, I didn't get to post my Paper Crew Sketch Challenge last night as my computer was "defragging" whatever that means.  It was actually still in the process this morning so I don't know if it really did anything or not but I turned it off.  I had things to do, people to see ......!!!!

I once again did my sketch using MDS2 and I love it.  This card also was for a color challenge from Heather where I am taking her MDS2 classes.  The colors are:  Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay and Whisper White.  Go ahead .... create something with those colors.  They are probably colors you wouldn't usually use, isn't that right?  And I know my good friend, Margaret has lots of Crushed Curry cards stock!!!   That is my challenge to you today.

Again this would be a very easy card to duplicate using good old card stock and ink! 

POSTING END TIME:  If you'd like to be considered as one of our spotlight cards, please be sure to link your project by Monday 7 AM EST and  link your post over to here too


VOTING: Starting on Monday, August 20th at 7 AM EST, you can start voting on the entries.  The voting will end on Tuesday, September 4th at 10 AM EST.