Hanna Stamps Contest

If you would like to have a chance to win one of the new stamp sets being released tomorrow night. For more information you can check out Kristi Ferro's blog under the April 28th entry. Well, here's my entry...

Stamps: Rain Day by Hanna Stamps; Ink: SU Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red, Pretty
in Pink, Charoal Palette Hybrid; Paper: SU Tempting Turquiose, Textured CS Rose
Red & Pretty in Pink, PP Sandylion; Other Supplies: Aquapainter, Red Stickles, Crystal Effects

He Just Doesn't Understand

So earlier today I called my sister to tell her that I just got a new bed (sidenote: I'm so excited because the bed I have is a hand-me-down from my parents & is about as old as I am. Anyway, I have back problems & lately my back has really been giving me problems. Anyway, I digress).

Abra was in the car with Liam, my nephew, they had just come from registering him for Kindergarten. Liam asked to talk to me which it's not like I was going to tell him no. As soon as he gets on the phone this is how the conversation goes "I went to big boy school but I can't start until I'm 5, I'm not 5 yet, I'm only 4. I have to wait until I'm 5, I'm just 4 now when I'm 5 then I can go to big boy school." Keep in mind during this whole thing there were no breathes taken. It was so cute.

I told him then I don't want him to go to big boy school that I just want him to stay my little boy. Which he tells me "I'll still be your boy" & told him "NO! my little boy!" And that's when I realized he just doesn't understand.

See for the first two years of his life my sister & him lived with me, so for that time period I helped raise him. In a way, I feel like he was my baby, at least for that time. Now I realize that Abra got married & he has a daddy now but he will always be more than a nephew to me. He's my little boy no matter how big he gets.

Swap 2

This is Swap 2 of the ones I told you I had signed up for lately. This one is to make a make a card out of acetate. I have used acetate/transparency as a focal part of a card but not as the main part. This was definately different for me.

Paper: Wild Asparagus PP by My Mind's Eye, SU Textured CS; Ink: Charcoal, Beaux
Arts Blue; Stamps: SU Artfully Asian, Amuse Bird; Other Supplies: Corner Rounder, Stickles Pink & Red, Copics

Robin Hood

I really like series that are on the BBC and the new Robin Hood Series is one of them. The new series premiered tonight. Unfortunately because I don't get the BBC on the four channels that I have on my TV, I either have to go to my parents (who have satellite) or wait until it comes out on DVD. In the meantime I took a quiz on if I was a villian or outlaw. It turns out I'm Lady Marian.

A Couple of Things

Product Review

Ok one thing I wanna tell you about is product I just got and start trying. It's the MM Paper Trimmer. I got it using a 50% coupon for Michael's. I used it last night working on a swap and happened to see where it said it could cut through two sheets of paper. I said ok, well let's see. I was working with PTI's new color match cardstock which is #110. I thought this would be a good test. It cut through it like buttah I tell ya, buttah!!! The cool thing is that it is self sharpening. See I was using a Cutterpede which had an arm that you folded out when you wanted to cut larger than 5". Now don't get me wrong, I loved my Cutterpede...what I didn't like was how flimsy that arm was.

Now the MM Cutter folds in half at 6" & you don't even have to unfold it to cut.

Swaps

I have been on a swap binge lately. Every so often I get on a binge to sign up for a bunch of swaps. Then I get burned out and don't do them for a while. Well, this one is Swap 2 of the ones I've signed up for lately and this is for Papertrey Ink theme.

Stamps: All PTI Green Thumb & Spiral Bouquet; Ink: SU Whisper White & Sahara Sand, PTI Berry Sorbet, Palette Hybrid Viridian Leaf; Paper: PTI Spring Moss & Aqua Mist, SU Very Vanilla; Other Supplies: Stickles, PTI Sweet Blush Swiss Dot Satin Ribbon, Metallic Rubon, Scalloped Punch, Square Nestabilities

Very Busy Weekend

And believe it or not I am still recovering. Yes, I know it's Tuesday.

It all started Friday I ended up taking the day off because I had so much to do. With such much going on this weekend I had to get a lot together. My parents were going out of town for a funeral, I was going to the swap, & then to a friend's baptism. I was going to try to get my haircut & oil changed (that didn't happen). Lots to do.

Being that my parent's were going to a the funeral and that I wasn't going to be able to make it due to the fact my best friend from 7th grade's husband was getting baptized, I made a card to send with my parents.

Stamps: Bella's Rose Tree Border & Gina K Framed Flowers; Paper: PTI Berry Sorbet & Sweet Blush; Other Supplies: Prismas, OMS, Misc Black Ink, PTI Berry Sorbet Saddle Stitch Ribbon, Scalloped Punches, Corner Rounder

Then where I drove to Covington (71 miles away), this is where my sister lives. When I got there after we ate dinner, I helped her finish up her swaps, organize everything, and then write up her directions. This is the first one she had ever been to. By the time we had gotten everything done we it was about 3 a.m. So you can imagine we were falling into the bed or collapsing.

Next morning around 8 a.m. we had to get up again so that we could get ready to go because we had to drive about an hour to get to the get together. HAHAHAHA. You'll understand why I'm laughing in a minute. We got on the road around 9:30 thinking we'd get there around 10:30. Ok, we got to the Woodstock area just fine but here comes the problem. We made a wrong turn and kept making loops, finally we were able to find someone to give us directions. What time did we get there you say? Around noon.

Although, we didn't get there until a lot later then we expected we had a great time. Pam & Maria did a great job organizing everything. Everybody did such a great job making everything.

Here are a few pictures of people.

I'm Going Away

This weekend or more correctly this evening I'm leaving to meet up with some of the SCS girls from Georgia for a Get together. I'm so excited to see some of the girls that I've gotten to know. PLUS this is the first time that my sister has gone with me. This is what I ended up making which is super easy.

Here are the directions:

♦ The base is 3 1/4 x 2, scoring at 1 9/16 & 1 11/16.
♦ Stamp the background with Polka Dots & Paisley with coordinating ink color to cardstock.
♦ Stamp the scalloped square with one of the Tagger’s Dozen in Black ink and set aside.
♦ Fold base at score lines & insert post-it notes.
♦ Punch a 3/16” hole with Crop-a-dile in corner.
♦ Add scalloped square to outside of front.
♦ Run your book ring through the hole that you punched.
♦ Finish off by tying ribbons onto book ring.


I'll be taking pictures and show you the fun we had. Try not to be too jealous.

Honorably Mentioned

I may not have won but I was honorable metioned. For me that was huge. I've really never gone for publication or design teams until last month. So for me this was huge!! I went for Papertrey Ink's design team again. When I saw on Nichole's blog today that I got Honorable Mention I was super excited. Ok, enough gushing for today.

You Are Beautiful

You Are Beautiful! I saw this today on Dani's blog at Rubber Soul. Granted it's dated 1/18 but I just saw it today.

Anyway, I think the campaign itself is pretty cool. And thought I would add my 2 cents to it. I did this today at work. SHHH!!! Don't tell my boss I haven't been that busy.

The purpose of the campaign is:
"the main goal of this project is to spread a positive message throughout the world by any means necessary except through commerical use. we are extremely open and interested with collaborating with individuals and groups. anyone is welcome to participate, there is no age or skill level necessary. the project is as inclusive as the message."

They actually have stickers you can get, which is what Dani used. If you want to check out the actual site, click here.

Credits: Paper: Pink Sherbet - Kim Hill from A Cherry on Tip; Flowers: Rhonna Farrer - April Free Pea from Two Peas in a Bucket; Bird: Rhonna Farrer - Color My World from Two Peas in a Bucket; You font: El Garrett

Me Again!

Yeah, it's me again. I seem to be on a mission tonight, not only am I on a roll on making cards but I'm on a mission to use stamps that I haven't used. This is a good thing because these are ones that I've wanted to use for a while. Although I'm not totally please with all of the results I will show you what I have done.

Stamps: In the Meadow - Lizzie Anne Designs; Ink: VersaMark; Paper: White - GP,
SU Bravo Burgandy; Other Supplies: Golden Terracotta - Tattered Angels (I don't know if you can tell or not from the picture but I used an old BG swirl that I had to make a pattern & then sprayed the Glimmer Mist. When I removed the swirl you can see the the swirl pattern that remained.), clear EP, white grosgrain, Bravo Burgandy, Forest Foliage, Rose Romance markers, Marvy square scalloped punch.

Stamps: Reading Reverie & Perk Me Up Daisy Outline - Stamping Bella; Ink: Charcoal; Paper: White - GP, Crate Paper Baby Bee Collection; Other Supplies:
Prismas, OMS, Stickles, Tim Holtz Distrisser, Metallic Rubon, Marvy Square
Scallop Punch

Stamps: Baboo's Owl & You're Such a Hoot! - Stamping Bella, Forest - Stamp Camp? (got it at a stamping convention); Paper: SU Basic Black, So Saffron, White - GP; Ink: Creamy Caramel, Only Orange, Charcoal; Other Supplies: Prismas, OMS, BG Swirl, Burnt Umbra Acrylic Paint, Circle Punch, Tab Punch

A Story About My Dad

Ok, the story. My dad is not really an animal person. However the poor thing for him is my mom and I are HUGE animal people, in particular dog people. One of my dad's biggest pet peeves is dog hairs all over the place. His chair, his clothes, our clothes, you name...he doesn't like it. Well, last week I "had" to place an order with Viva Las Vegastamps and saw this expression stamp and had to get. What stamp you may be asking at this point? This one...it says "Never trust anyone without dog hair on their clothes." So, I made this card to go with it. I gave it to him today, he got the biggest smile on his face. I love him, bless his heart.

Other supplies I used where: Rubber Romance -Ally & her dog; Prismas, OMS, baubles, Noir Black ink, Red & Green Sakura pens, Pink perfect pearls, corner rounder

I've been playing quite a bit this weekend. Here's some of the other things I've done.

Paper: All PTI except white is GP; Stamps: Boxes, Bags & Tags - PTI; Ink: Blush Blossom, Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss; Other Supplies; Berry Sorbet Grosgrain Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Clear Stickles

Paper: Aqua Mist & Spring Moss - PTI, White - GP; Ink: Aqua Mist & Spring Moss - PTI; Stamps: Boxes, Bags & Tags - PTI, Alphabet - Anna Griffin; Other Supplies: Aqua Mist & Spring Moss - PTI Grosgrain Ribbon, Carl Scallop Punch; Cutterpede Scorer, Mettalic Rubon

Stamps: It's A Celebration - PTI; Ink: Paris Inks, Raw Sienna; Paper: Close to Cocoa, Bordering Blue (textured), So Saffron, Mellow Moss?; Other Supplies: Baubles, Yellow Stitched Grosgrain

Cuttlebug Smoosh

Ok, please be patient with me because this my very first tutorial I've ever written. The reason I'm writting it is because someone asked me the other day about the background on one of the cards I made. Well, I thought about it. I could take the easy way out and point them to someone else's blog that had a write up on how to do this technique or I could actual take the dive and write my first tutuorial. I mean I would have to do something like this eventually, right? Feel free to critique or ask questions.

Here goes:
Ok, 1st off this technique is pretty easy. You first need to ink up your brayer. Graned you don't have to use a brayer. But if you do have one then you only have to use it once to ink up the entire folder.

Second, run your brayer over the recessed part of the Cuttlebug folder. Make sure that it's totally and evenly covered.


Put your Cardstock of your choice in the Embossing folder and load in the Cuttlebug as you normally would and run through.


This is what your finished product should look like. Because you did the ink on the recessed side your exposed cardstock will be the color of your original cardstock color. Now your ready to use it on your project. Have fun!!

Yeah!

YEAH, I'm finally starting to feel like myself again. Yesterday I got the stints (sp?) taken out so I'm even starting to sound normal again. Unfortunately I'm still getting tired very easily.

I did however get one thing crafty done recently. I signed up for one of Joanne's swaps. This one coincided with the release of Gina K's newest stamp sets. Here's what I did...

Stamps: Thinking of You by Rupa Shevde - Gina K; Paper: Baby Bee Collection Crate Paper DP; CS PTI Spring Moss; Ink: Charcoal; L'Amour Red; Other Supplies: SU Black Marker, Silver Gelly Roll Pen, Clear & Silver Spica Pens, Ticket Corner Punch, Round Tab Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Brads, Grosgrain Ribbon, Prismas, OMS, & Jewel

Knocked Out

I have to admit this isn't exactly what I expected when I decided to have this surgery. Granted from what I knew I was really only going to be getting my deviated septum worked on, that & some other things like the whole polyps thing. However what I didn't expect was to be knocked out for the entire week. Granted I was in a lot of pain when I first woke up but I really didn't expect it to span over an entire week. I've been weak, draining, and easily dizzy. I really expected this to only last a couple of days. I guess I doesn't help that I had a visit from my red headed aunt starting a couple of days ago.

So the big plans of getting stuff done while I recuped flew straight out the window. That & playing in my craft room. I've done little more than sleep.

OK, I promise my whine session is over & I should be getting back to normal soon (or at least I hope). I'm going back in to have the stints removed Tuesday. See ya soon.