Hey Girl!

Don't you love a rub-on that says "HEY GIRL!"?! It's from the new A Perfect Day rub-ons in the SU Occasional Mini Catalog, and it seemed appropriately sassy for this girly, little pink owl. The layout is based on Beate's Weekend Sketch #WSC41, go check it out and play if you haven't yet! I colored the owl with the Pure Color Pencils, still one of my favorite coloring tools.

My lazy weekend flew by too fast! I took pictures from Stamp Club yesterday so that I can post a tutorial for this project I posted the other day. Hopefully I'll have it up in a few days. After Stamp Club, I had to get busy and finish all the "schoolwork" I had put off the rest of the weekend. Doh!

Oh, almost forgot, yesterday's funny from dh after stamp club:
Dh: You have some glitter right here on your chin.
Me: That's weird, we didn't even use glitter on the stamp club projects today.
Dh: Well, if you walk in your stamp room, there's a good chance you're gonna come out with glitter on.
Me: {busting out laughing}

Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Monday!

Recipe Stamps: Just Celebrate, Dotted background. Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Berry Bliss & Wild Wasabi Prints DSP. Ink: Chocolate Chip classic, Pretty in Pink Craft. Accessories: Pure Color Pencils, Vintage Silver Brads, Slit Punch (for scallop), Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon, A Perfect Day rub-ons, Dimensionals, Pink Flirty Ribbon (retired), Library Clip (retired), Stapler.

Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #169

Happy Saturday! Or I should say Lazy Saturday! I have been a total lump, feeling too tired to do anything and then hating myself for not doing anything. Ugh! Anyone else ever have this problem? (Please say yes!)

Finally around 4:30 I decided to checkout the weekly sketch challenge at Splitcoast and found this one: #169. It called for a long, narrow panel, 4" x 1 1/2", and I couldn't find any of my SU images that would really work (and I felt too lazy to get creative with the ones I did have), so I found this "Writing" stamp (I call her Pencil Fairy) I had bought a long time ago and never used. It is by Karen Stolper for American Art Stamp. (Dang, I just googled her to find that link, there are some cute stamps! Noooooo!) I always thought it would be cute for something for school, ya know. I added the "due" and the checkmark from the SU Mark the Date set.

After that little card-making bout of activity, I decided to cook dinner even! If ya know me, ya know that's rare! I forgot to mention earlier that I did cook, 3 times, over spring break. (When I do cook, I make large quantities so that it lasts for 3 days at least.) I don't know how some of y'all do that regularly. It makes such a mess. I mean I had to load and run and unload the dishwasher EVERY day! So, my hats off to you cookers out there!

Have a good Saturday evening! Order out for a pizza! ;-)

Recipe Stamps: Mark the Date & All in a Row by SU, Writing by Karen Stolper for American Art Stamp. Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Blue Bayou, Confetti White, Soft Sky DSP, Summer Picnic DSP. Ink: Chocolate Chip, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky. Accessories: Watercolor Crayons, Blender Pens, Build a Brad, Vintage Brads, Tag Corner Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Spiral Punch, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals.

Studio Inspiration

Happy Thursday! Had a great time with the girls at stamp club last night! It was most special because Margaret moved back to Dallas and came in and surprised us all!! Yay Margaret!! We're so glad to have you back!

I didn't have a card to share today (the horror!), so I thought I would share this picture from my "studio." Jenni Bowlin always has a Studio Inspiration section on her website every month, and I always love seeing her ideas. I've had this old pink screen window on my wall as a decoration for a long time, and over Christmas break during a clean and organize phase, I decided to hang cards on it (mostly because I have cards coming out the wahzooo and need more storage space!). I just ran some string across it and used clothes pins. I like the way it turned out, it's always bright and cheery and inspires me to get stamping when I enter the room!


So what could you hang cards on at your house?! If you have any great ideas, post the link in your comments for us to see! Have a great Thursday! It's almost Friday! Hooray!

Sad Attempt...

...at Beate's Be Inspired Challenge #6, you can see it here. I tried to give myself another 30 minutes last night to make a card and do this challenge. Let's just say it was NOT happening! Ever have those times, when the mojo just isn't flowing?! Arghhh! I finally gave up trying to get the "feel" of the inspiration piece (see the REJECTS pictured below!) and just used the colors, so there you have it, 2 1/2 hours later! Arghhhh again!

On a side note, I've been getting 6 hours of sleep the last few nights, and I told dh last night it's amazing how much better the kids act when I get 6 hours of sleep! It's like they know if I get enough sleep and act so good, and they know if I didn't get enough sleep and act all irritating and loud! He said that's an "interesting theory" I have, but he's very smart and didn't say anything else! lol!

Happy Wednesday! Can't wait to see my "peeps" at Stamp Club tonight!

Recipe Stamps: Spring Solitude (hostess). Cardstock: Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Whisper White, Ginger Blossom DSP. Ink: Staz-On Black. Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Crop-o-Dile, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, photo Corner Punch, 2-Way Glue Pen, Chunky Black Glitter, Dimensionals.

Take A Number birthday

Happy Tuesday! I had lots to do last night, but gave myself 30 minutes to make a card. I used Beate's Weekend Sketch #40, although I changed it from rectangular to square. I'm not sure I got the placement of the circle exactly right by the sketch, but mine needed to go there because of the paper lines. Not sure if I'm crazy about this...decided to wheel the Take A Number over the patterned paper...seemed like a good idea at the time, but not sure of the results. The "4 you" is from the retired SU set Play on Words (never could bring myself to get rid of that set).

Below here is the inside of the card. I saw this idea on Nichole Heady's blog where she stamped the inside greeting and cut it apart in strips (I just took the picture this morning, sorry it's not too good). I like the effect a lot. I did it on my niece Emma's card (posted last week), but forgot to take a picture of it.


Gotta dash...early morning tutoring again. I swore after the reading TAKS test I was going to cut back, but I'm back to tutoring 5 times a week again! Argh! Now I have to help the kids who failed the Reading TAKS for their next try on April 30 as well as help all the struggling math students for the Math TAKS on April 29. Wish me strength! lol! Have a great Tuesday!

Recipe Stamps: Take A Number wheel, It's Your Birthday, Play on Words (retired). Cardstock: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Real Red, Summer Picnic DSP. Ink: Staz-On Black. Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Crop-o-Dile, Dimensionals.

March Stamp Club Projects

Happy Monday! (Yes, that's me trying to be positive again!) Thought I would share my projects for Stamp Club this month, coming up on Wednesday night and next Sunday afternoon. I actually made the projects back on Spring Break, but just got around to photographing them last evening. As you can see, I waited too long and the sunlight was coming in, casting shadows and turning the photos yelllow, grrr (mad at myself here!).

This first project I actually pulled off the SU Demonstrator website. It's under the section where they introduced the new Bulk Buy program. I love this new program which allows me to have enough silver ribbon slides and rub-ons and die cut flowers for all my guests! Whoo! Hoo!

This project I was so excited about because I thought it up myself and made a template and everything! The cover design I also copied from the SU Bulk Buy program samples (they used the design on a long card without the "friendship".) Inside are little chipboard coasters that pull out and you can add photos to. I will share the template and tutorial next weekend.




Gotta dash! Have a wonderful Monday!

Easter Trio

Happy Easter! I think this is about the last of my Easter cards, so I grouped them together in a little trio. Again, I was using the Paper Salon Blossoms paper (I think I accidentally called it Bloom paper in some posts, sorry!). The little chicky is punched out of this peep paper.

Wishing you and your family many Easter blessings!

Happy Birthday, Jackson!

Hope your Saturday is going well! It's my nephew Jackson's birthday today, so this is the card he is receiving! (It will be late, alas, my family has become used to this!) I used Jen's Sketch For You To Try for this week. My first version I made "jtr" with the Jumbo Outline Alphabet on 1 1/4" squares, but it was too large for the card. I turned it landscape, but it still didn't work, because I had also made the cake from Just Celebrate too large. So I gave up and restamped the letters using the retired Typeset Alphabet Lower on 1" square, layered on 1 1/8" squares. I do like these colors, pulled from the Jersey Shore DSP. They make for a great masculine card. Anyone need some spare parts?!




I ran up to the school and worked for a couple of hours, makes me feel better about being ready for Monday. I'm determined to get more sleep next week. My laptop computer almost paid the price for my lack of sleep last week. How you ask? Well, I was shaking my Slim Fast can and proceeded to open it when a fellow teacher walked in to ask me a question. I then decided to shake the can some more, forgetting I had already opened it...oh, yes, I did! Chocolate Slim Fast flew all over my desk, mostly on my computer. Yikes! That got me awake and moving fast! It's been working okay, thank goodness, as it's the school's computer really!

Well, off to finish grading papers tonight and get them entered into the computer. Another three weeks have passed, so time for grades to go out again! Dh is keeping me company and we've been watching John Adams and next up is some of The Tudors that we've recorded and saved on the dvr. It's like we're immersing ourselves in history I told him. (He thinks I'm a nerd! lol) Have a good Saturday night!


Recipe Stamps: Just Celebrate, Typeset Alphabet Lower (retired). Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Jersey Shore DSP. Ink: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, Staz-On Jet Black. Accessories: 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Bashful Blue Brads, Paper Piercer, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals.

Just Celebrate...new baby!

Ahhhh, how nice to have a Friday off! I'm trying to stay positive and not to think that this is it for the rest of the year...as long as I get more sleep, it should be fine! Remember I mentioned my lack of sleep...well I slept from twelve midnight to twelve noon today! Ahhhh, heavenly!

Unfortunately I left my camera at school, so no pictures of the rest of my Easter cards. (I'll probably go to work for awhile tomorrow and get it in then...or I may just sleep another 12 hours! lol!). Anyway, I have this baby card I made recently for a friend to share. I used the Just Celebrate in the new SU Occasions Mini Catalog, really love this set!

I had some leftover Basic Grey Two Scoops paper (from the card down below), and some SU Basic Gray cardstock where I had trimmed off an edge that didn't work out, so I put them together. I have only the Marvy Giga Scallop Oval punch, so nothing to layer with it...so I tried to make the one layer work...life is hard when you don't own everything! lol! I painted a Pretties Kit flower, but it was kind of "blah"...bling to the rescue! First I tried Dazzling Diamonds, but still too blah, so I broke out the big chunky glitter...yes, that did the trick!

Well, guess I better get showered before dh gets home from work. *wink* He's stopping to get me a coffee, so guess that's the least I can do! lol! Oh, if you're not too easily offended, go see the new movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall when it comes out (it was a wee bit racy at times). I had free screening passes (thanks, Lori!), so my friend Robert and I went last night. Between the laughing at the movie and the guy next to us (he was "scream" laughing and shouting out and talking back to the movie the entire time), my ribs are sore this morning! Good times, good times...!

Recipe Stamps: Just Celebrate. Cardstock: Basic Gray, Going Gray textured, Two Scoops patterned paper from Basic Grey. Ink: Staz-On Black, Pretty in Pink marker. Accessories: Prettie Flower, Aquapainters, 2-Way Glue Pen, Gray & Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Marvy Giga Oval Scallop Punch.

Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #167

Well, you get a little reprieve from Easter cards...I forgot to photograph the rest last night! With the longer daylight I even had time, getting home at 5:45, but after eating I promptly fell asleep for an hour. (I've been trying so hard to keep "caught up" with everything this week which has resulted in only 4 to 5 hours of sleep each night, and I'm afraid that's just not going to cut it for me! Guess I have to "get beind" again!)

Anywhoooo, I hadn't posted this card that I made for my niece Emma's birthday using Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #167 from last week. I wasn't sure I liked the sketch at first, but then I really liked how the card turned out. The chipboard letters are from one of those huge packs from Joann's that I got with a coupon, and the yummy printed paper is Two Scoops from Basic Gray. The rest is from Stampin' Up!, including the fabulous pink chunky glitter from the new Occasions Mini Catalog. I tried punching random holes using my 1/16" punch around the pink/green background pieces because they looked kind of boring, and I really liked how it turned out!

Okay, gotta dash. Hope your Thursday is wonderful! Luckily we get Good Friday off because we never had to use any bad weather days this winter. Whoo! Hoo!

Recipe Stamps: So Many Scallops. Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, So Saffron. Ink: Versamark, Pretty In Pink, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi. Accessories: SU Glitter, Heat & Stick Powder, Heat Gun, Ticket Corner Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Scallop Punch, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Cirlce Punch, Soft Subtles Brads.

More Easter...

...getting tired of it yet? Don't worry, I only have 4 more cards to go after this one! lol! I told you I loved this Paper Salon Bloom paper, it really inspired me apparently!



This time I used the cute little birdie from A Little Birdie Told me. I've had it for awhile but hadn't cut it out, and that's not like me! I stamped the bird on the polka dot paper with Versamark then embossed with Winter White embossing powder. The "Easter" stamps I mentioned before are Vintage Typewriter by Stampabilities...you can see what I mean about them being cheaper where I caught the ink on the edges that need to be trimmed better, but hey, for $2.99 can't complain too much. I was proud of myself for using some of my *precious* SU ribbon (Fairytale).



We are having some serious rain here, I hope everyone in the Dallas area is okay! Have a great Wednesday!




Recipe Stamps: A Little Birdie Told Me, Vintage Typewriter by Stampabilities. Cardstock: Pixie Pink, Paper Salon Bloom. Ink: Versamark, Pixie Pink, Certainly Celery. Accessories: Winter White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Fairytale Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals, Stapler.

Easter Bunny and Tulips

Happy Tuesday! Here's another little bunny with more Paper Salon Blooms paper, love these stylized tulips! I stamped the bunny in Versamark, then used Heat & Stick powder with Embossing Gun to apply glitter (a retired SU color). Card size is 5 1/4" square, love the square cards, just hate that extra postage to mail...but what am I saying, I rarely mail them, as discussed yesterday!

Gotta dash, running late from my work out, but just couldn't get moving fast enough. Survived yesterday...all was okay when the kids arrived and I saw their bright, shining faces. Awwwww! They were actually sleepy little faces, much like mine!

Lastly, a shout out to the newest member of my stampin' family...hooray to Lori! She's a bestest friend and I've been working on her for like 6 years! We're going to Convention, whoo hoo!

Have a good stampin' day!

Recipe Stamps: bunny by PSX. Cardstock: Pixie Pink, Whisper White, Paper Salon Blooms paper. Ink: Versamark. Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop Punch, Ribbon by SU, Brads by SU, Dimensionals, Foo-fa-la Button, stapler.

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #39

This is the way we go to work, go to work, go to work...so early in the morning! This is me putting on a brave face! ha! But first had to post my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch #39. I was in an overwhelming Easter mood last weekend (as you'll be seeing in the coming days!), and this is my first attempt with my happy new Bloom Paper Salon papers.

For some reason, I don't really have any Easter stamps. I'm not sure how this happened. Maybe it's because I don't like really "cutesy" stamps or I think I won't use them enough to justify spending the money, not sure. I did look at 4 stores on Friday and could not find even ONE Easter stamp to buy...either they had none (maybe I'm running a little late?!) or I didn't like them. I did find one or two online I like, but it was a little too late for ordering online, so I had to wing it.

I had this one bunny stamp that a co-worker gave me years ago (he was always giving me things, then I caught him stealing and he was fired, bless his heart), and I really do like it. I used the "happy" from the retired SU set Quick Thinking, and the "Easter" letter stamps are Vintage Typewriter by Stampabilities (they're not great, need to be trimmed better as I caught some inky rubber edges, but they were $5.99--less 50% made them $2.99--from Hobby Lobby, so they were practically giving them to me, and I hated to hurt their feelings, you know!).

So, as I went to photograph some of my "precious" Easter cards, I showed them to dh and after the appropriate amount of praise (God love him!), he asked, "So, are you going to actually send any of these out or just save them for posterity?" Humph! The nerve! I would like to be offended, but dang, he knows me good! Therefore, I shall be mailing lots of cards out this week! Hmmm, it does make me wonder, how much of what I do is done to prove that maybe dh isn't always right about me?! Scary! Surely I'm not the first married person to think of this?!

Okay, now that I've given you so much to think about (ha!), I must go face the music...wish me luck...I'm going to need it...I'm pretty sure I'm going to regret only getting 4 hours of sleep last night! Doh!

Recipe Stamps: SU Quick Thinking, Vintage Typewriter by Stampabilities, rabbit by PSX. Cardstock: Old Olive, Pixie Pink, Whisper White, Paper Salon Bloom DSP. Ink: Pixie Pink, Old Olive. Accessories: Slit Punch, Olive Twill Ribbon.

Scrapbook Sunday #12

Hi stampers, it's me, Angie! (Dh never should have started that, it stays in my head EVERY time I make a post!) So I went to my Friday night crop...what a weird night...the moon was not in alignment or something...I almost got up and left several times! Yes, I made one stinkin' page, not even a good one, I'll post the picture at the end here. I'm not even going to try and scrapbook at crops anymore, I'm sticking with cards and challenges.

And speaking of challenges, I did have one challenge for the girls at 11:30 p.m. I bought the cutest felt flowers at the Joann's $1 Spot after leaving the CPA's office on Friday morning (after driving 45 minutes to Frisco, you bet I was going to stop at the nearby Hobby Lobby, Joann's, and Michael's!), because I knew they would be perfect for a challenge. Then the scrapbook store had this cutest paper from Paper Salon, so I added some SU Pixie Pink to it and set the girls off on their challenge: to make Easter cards for me to send to my family! Here are our results:





Pretty cute, huh?! I hope you like this paper too, because I've made several more cards with it that will be showing up this week! lol! I bought the last three 12x12 sheets of the Peep paper they had, plus a 6x6 pad of the assorted sheets. You know, with the 10% crop discount, how could I resist, it was practically free! lol!

Lastly, here's the 12x12 page I made of my cousin Kelly and his beautiful wife Mardi. After living in Dallas for years, they moved to Los Angeles last year and I really miss them. He's a musician, you can check him out here. (I lifted a photo of him so you can see how cool he is, lol! He's actually the nicest, sweetest, kindest guy you'd ever meet. He is the drummer in the Rihanna Umbrella video that won the 2007 MTV Video of the Year.) Anyway, I love the face he made in this main picture and how Mardi is looking at him, cracks me up! There's no stamping, used supplies from various past Jenni Bowlin kits. (Someone please help me quit this club, I just can't stop!)

Photo by: Leanna Bates

Guess that's it for today...only a few precious hours left before returning to school tomorrow! {imagine loud sobbing noise here} Hope your weekend has been great!

Jen's Sketch For You To Try

Happy Friday! Here's a quick card I made this afternoon (when I should have been packing up my stuff for tonight's crop!) using Jen's Del Muro's Sketch For You to Try. I really like long cards, so I couldn't resist trying this one.

After I had most of it assembled, those lines running vertically were making the card look tooooo long and plain, so I went back and stamped the stylized dot leaf in chocolate chip craft ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. The heart from Always has several costs of Glassy Glaze on top of it...I think it's catching a shadow in the picture because it looks kind of weird in the picture, but not that way in real life.

I did use one Contraband Oval Scallop punch, but it's the only one I have, so I couldn't layer any pieces to get dimension. That's why I ended up off-centering the oval scallop and layering the heart on top. I just wish, wish, wish and hope, hope, hope that SU starts carrying more of the big punches and scallop punches. I'm *this* close to ordering those Nestabilities things, but there are so many choices and sizes, it looks kind of overwhelming. Any recommendations?

Okay, gotta run and pack fast for tonight's crop! Thanks for visiting and hope you have a great night!

Recipe Stamps: Always. Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Groovy Guava, Afternoon Tea DSP. Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft, Versamark. Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Glassy Glaze, Heat Gun, Vintage Brads, Pretties Kit flower, Aquapainters (for flower), Chocolate Twill Ribbon, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals, Slit Punch, Marvy Giga Oval Scallop Punch.

Just Celebrate...who, me?

Here's a little number I whipped up for sketchthis: cards 44. I loved this sketch immediately and finally got to use this precious little owl from Just Celebrate...he's the main reason I bought this set! Isn't he precious?

If you know me, you know I'm not much of a "colorer" (that's an understatement), but I gave it my best shot. The first one I tried with Aquapainters, but it ended up too washed out and faded and dull. So I tried again with the Creamy Caramel marker (I had tried Close to Cocoa on a scrap paper, so dark!), but it was too light. So I just colored right over top with the Close to Cocoa marker anyways. It's looking a little sloppy by this point, but I'm not going for a 3rd try...there's always the next card! I used Blush Blossom on his face, wow, it got dark fast, then Soft Sky with a blender pen for his chest feathers. (Why can't we have In Color markers, SU?!!) The stitched border I did randomly by hand.

Can I get a "Hooray" for finishing my taxes yesterday?! Hooray! I had more work than I realized, including sorting through 3 gallon-size ziplock bags and 3 purses filled with old receipts. The bad news, I still can't find any meal and taxi receipts from SU Convention last year, but the good news, I found the SU Memphis Leadership receipts from January 2006. Ouch, too late for those!

One last random question, do you call 911 if you hear gun shots? Or what's your proximity test before you call? I woke dh up at 12:45 because I heard two, followed by one, that sounded really close, like on our street. You get used to hearing them living in Dallas city limits, but these were much closer than normal. He said don't worry about it. Then I heard four more, followed by one, so decided to go outside to see if I could hear anything else (this is when dh got up and I got in trouble), but it's a good thing I did because dh had not locked the front door when he came home from work that afternoon! Yikes! Oh well, no more gunfire, finished watching my movie and adding up my expenses quietly until 2 a.m.

Hope you have a wonderful, peaceful day with time for a little stamping squeezed in!

Recipe Stamps: Just Celebrate. Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Confetti White, Afternoon Tea DSP. Ink: Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Soft Sky. Accessories: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Punch, Copper Brads (retired), Paper Piercer, Dimensionals, Love & Happiness Rub-Ons, needle and thread.

Color Challenge 157

Schwooo! This color challenge was a toughy! It's Color Challenge 157 over at Splitcoast using Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Purely Pomegranate. I struggled with it all during American Idol last night and finally just glued it down and added some glitter! On the bright side, I finally used Hi & Hello...it's about time since it was on my very first new catalog order in January! Again, with the glitter, I know, but it really needed it!

At about 10:30 last night I decided to start working on my taxes! I figured why not stay up all not Tuesday night, instead of Thursday night, so dh wouldn't be totally right (I would be up all night, true, but not the night before the tax appointment!). I worked until 1:30 and a little bit today, and I'm about 80% done. I've also been attempting to sort out and organize a stack of papers about one foot high next to my computer. Ugh! Please, Angie, don't do that again, take the time to put the papers in the right place the first time! (Do you talk to yourself this way? I'm not sure it helps but I can't seem to stop it!)

Hope you're having a terrific week! We had a little rain Monday, but Tuesday started clearing up and today is gorgeous! Happy stamping!

Recipe Stamps: Hi & Hello, Just Celebrate. Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Purely Pomegranate. Ink: Staz-On Jet Black. Accessories: Scallop Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Rose Pink Fine Cosmo Glitter, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals.

Do I have a glitter problem?

I can't seem to stop using glitter! Even though it wreaks great havoc in the stamp room, on my clothes, throughout the house, etc.! I made this card for one of my yahoo stamping groups for a flower challenge. And it was a challenge. Since I haven't been stamping as much during school, it's hard to get that mojo flowing again. I sit and look at my "stuff" much longer than I actually stamp. If I wanted to be truthful with myself (and I don't), I have to turn the tv off to be able to concentrate anymore. I actually made this card pretty quickly once the tv went off and the music came on. Doh!

Thank you for your nice comments all the time, I really appreciate it! Thanks especially for the nice ones about my sister's wedding photo, which wasn't the best photo as I explained. I meant to post the other day, but I forgot, about the "2 Funny Wedding Weekend Quotes" that had me laughing hysterically.

The first one was from the dress rehearsal. I had to scold dh, my sister Gala, and her son Dru for being TOO loud during the rehearsal at the church. In their defense, they said, "We're just having fun!" to which I replied, "You're not supposed to have fun, this is a wedding!" That just struck me so funny after I said it! I'm not quite sure what the groom's family thought of us, they were a much smaller, quieter group. It didn't help that dh kept "suggesting" things for Dru to do, like "Go see if that microphone on the pulpit works." Now do you see why it's probably for the best that we don't have our own children?!

The second thing happened at the rehearsal dinner, a very nice Italian restaurant. My Aunt Marilyn was eating at our table, she came with my parents and had stayed at their house the day before. My Mom is describing and recommending something they buy at the store and asking my dad "What's it called?" when my normally quiet and delicate Aunt Marilyn says, "You can't remember shit, Carrie!" I was laughing so hard I was crying. I'm afraid the dinner probably didn't make Steve's family any more reassured about our family, but c'est la vie!

Okay, it's almost time for my soaps. It's always fun to catch up on breaks...you never know which Forrester man Brooke will be with...the Dad, the older brother, the younger brother, the new half-brother (thank goodness they brought in a new brother to give her a little variety!). I'm afraid I must start working on my taxes. Ugh! I made the appointment for Friday morning, and dh responded, "So, I guess you'll be up all night Thursday starting on those." Darn, he knows me too well! I thought I *might* try and prove him wrong, wish me luck!

Recipe Stamps: So Many Scallops. Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP, Hostess Print Patterns Pack. Ink: Red Marker (for flower center), Wild Wasabi. Accessories: Die-Cut Blooms, A Perfect Day Rub-Ons, Light Blue & Celery Cosmo Glitter, Chunky Red Glitter, 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Paper Piercer, Wild Wasabi Striped Ribbon, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals, Glue Dots.

Beate's Weekend Sketch 38

Happy Monday! I was a big, lazy lump yesterday, but this morning I got up early and made this card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge 38. I'm a little late, as usual, but hey, I'm on vacation! lol! I made this flower shaker the weekend before, but I had punched it out so crookedly, I threw it aside in disgust. Oh well, what the heck, perfection is over-rated, right?!
I still had scraps of Jersey Shore laying around that matched it, so it worked out pretty easily. Here's a close-up of the shaker part:

If you've never made a shaker before, Splitcoast has a good tutorial by Beate here. I used the Scallop Circle Punch, a clear transparency, the edges of the Stampin' Dimensionals sheet, and some discontinued SU beads. Very easy!

Guess I better go take a shower (ewwww!) before dh gets home from work! Nothing like stamping the day away in your jammies! Did anyone catch the series finale of The Wire last night? It was so good, but I'm so sad it's over (don't leave me McNulty, waaaaahhhh!) It has been one of the best series ever made, in my humble opinion, go rent the old seasons if you get a chance! Happy stamping!

Recipe Stamps: All Holidays, So Many Scallops (SAB). Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, and Jersey Shore DSP. Ink: Brilliant Blue. Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/8" Circle Punch, Slit Punch (to make scallop border), Dimensionals, retired beads, transparency film, Making Memories white brads.

Happy Spring Break!

Finally...Spring Break and a new post! This is the other Father's Day card I made last weekend for Splitcoast Color Challenge 155, but just got a chance to take a picture of it. I love this combination of River Rock, Basic Black, and Whisper White. Very simple, but I liked the way it turned out. Both of these recent Father's Day cards...along with the type and the star punch...remind me of "fighter pilot" cards for some reason.

Now for a quick personal note, dh and I flew to St. Louis on Friday for my sister Karen's wedding! It was a quick trip, we flew back on Saturday night (by the way, the airports were EMPTY...this is the time to fly!). My photos turned out very badly, bummer! I tried to find the best one I could to show here, doesn't she look beautiful? She waited a long time to find Mr. Right, and he waited a long time for Ms. Right also, so I'm very happy for them. (I don't think you find many 33 and 39 year olds at the altar for the first time!)

Now, I'm afraid I may have to move to St. Louis because I LOVE this neighborhood where they were married...Lafayette Square. I haven't been around St. Louis much (always been more of a Kansas City girl), and I was in awe of the beautiful, historic (although much of it run-down and needing restoration, sadly) architecture. Here are some photos I took of the 160 year-old church, Lafayette Park United Methodist Church, where the ceremony took place. Karen's aunt Sharon is the pastor there, and she delivered one of the best wedding "messages" I've ever heard. She was spot-on with eveything she said.

I'm so excited to be starting spring break now...just got some new stamps and now time to play, hooray!! I hope to have lots of naps and lots of good stuff to show this week!!

My Glittery Valentine

Happy TAKS day! So glad it's here and will be over soon! Will just have to settle in and wait for the results, arghhh! I made the mistake of saying I wasn't this worried and stressed last year, but dh reminded me otherwise, so I guess it's normal...for me anyways. Did I mention I think I think I'm moving to 2nd grade next year? lol!

Thought I would share the super *quick* Valentine card I made dh this year. He surprised me with a card at 5 a.m. on Valentine's Day, so I had to think quickly ..."Ummm, let's open them tonight after work so we have more time to spend." After dinner, when he fell asleep, I quickly ran to the stamp room and whipped this up. Schwooo! Close one! I colored the chipboard heart pink with a marker, then did the Versamark pad, Heat & Stick powder, then the new clear Chunky Glitter on top. I think you can tell by now how much I love all the new glitters! I have the new ones from the new Occasional Mini Catalog coming soon.

I also have to share quickly that yesterday was my precious niece Emma's 5th birthday! I so wish I could have been in Missouri to celebrate with her! Here we are from some time back...don't you love her voguing for the camera? And for fun, the bottom page is when she was much younger. That photo is one of my first attempts to manipulate photos in Photoshop. I made that page for an entry to be a Convention Display Stamper 3 or 4 years ago (and I know that page is what got me chosen, lol!), and I was so happy to hear from my upline that the page was shown on the Cruise sample boards that year. I saw it posted on a number of websites under Cruise photos, what a happy feeling!


Okay, need to shower and get moving. I did manage my treadmill walk, just barely. Made it about 4 times last week, not great, but it's a start. Still need to make better eating choices at time, but I'm trying!

Oh, and about The Other Boleyn Girl, I did like the movie. I'm a sucker for those historical dramas, loved the costumes. It was a little slow the first half, then felt too rushed at the end. And I don't agree with some of it from what I've read...how they consummated the relationship, the incest bit (yes, she was charged with that, but most historians say it was trumped up by those trying to oust her because she was too influential on Henry and the politics.) At first I thought Natalie Portman was terribly miscast, but she actually did a really good job. If you're interested, they are showing The Tudors season one for free on a DirectTv station, so I've been recording those, haven't had a chance to watch them much yet.

Okay, have a great Wednesday!

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #37

Hooray! I finally had time (more like MADE time) to do a little stamping this weekend! I spent Saturday looking at the supplies, then finally put some ink to paper on Sunday. I made this card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #37. What a great sketch, simple but with a lot of possibilities. I had a lot of scraps of Jersey Shore paper laying around from this Stamp Club project, so it seemed like a good place to start. I ended up using the "Happy Father's Day" stamp from All Holidays twice today, not sure why, guess I'm just drawn to its clean, bold words. Now, if I just remember I have these cards ready...and can find them...come June!

I ran across this quote yesterday, which describes my weekend to a T: "How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterward!" Ahhhhh, yes. Yesterday was the first Saturday I haven't worked at school since Christmas break. I planned to work from home, but then that didn't even happen. I just said no! I'm pretty sure I'll regret it later this week, but not now...since I'm off to the the movies with friends to see The Other Boleyn Girl, then to Harry's, yummy!

Hope your weekend has been as relaxing as mine! Hooray!

Recipe Stamps: All Holidays. Cardstock: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Wild Wasabi, and Jersey Shore DSP. Ink: Pumpkin Pie & Brilliant Blue marker, Wild Wasabi classic pad. Accessories: Brilliant Blue & White Brads, Crafter's Tool Kit hammer and paper piercer (to flatten brads), Star Punch, Dimensionals.