Little Duckie ATC

Another stamp set that I bought *just* so that I could join the ATC swap...he he

It's a duckie set by Darcies called Just Ducky. So many cute little ducks and sayings in that set. I couldn't pass it up!

Cardstock is SU! and Bazzill Bling. Ribbon is Offray and American Crafts (thank you SS!). The duck is colored with Copic Markers and I used Spica Glitter pens to add a little bling, as well as a white gel pen in the flower center. Brad is Making Memories. Rectangle Nestabilities used for orange mat.

Swimwear Round 2

The other day while at the lake, I hoped out of the boat to help pull it closer to shore (we were avoiding the boat dock). Not only was the water deeper than I thought it would be, but when I landed I found the one small area of rocks to land in. Ouch! And my BFF's husband was getting aggravated that we weren't moving fast enough so I didn't even get to whine about it...lol!

So I went in search of some swim shoes. And although the price of the cheaper ones appealed to me, they looked kind of dorky.

But I ran into these, and like the swimsuit and the life vest, I couldn't get them out of my head. And I'm pretty sure the pinks will match perfectly :)

They are both waiting for me down at the rental office to pick up as I'm headed to work. But you can bet that first thing in the morning when I get home, I'm trying them both on to see just how goofy I look! lol

3-D Beach Chair

Isn't this just about the cutest thing you've ever seen!?!?

Sherry, owner of The Stamp Shack and fellow blogger (Stampin Spot) is a genius when it comes to creating templates! She made this cute little 3-D Beach Chair template and since my BFF's birthday party is at the beach this weekend, I made this for her.

Sherry's templates are free for Stamp Shack members, but if you follow the link above, it'll take you to her blog where you can purchase the template, and many others!

Assembly is so incredibly simple, I couldn't believe it! The hardest part was cutting it out.

I wasn't feeling all that creative, so I kind of copied her sample. The birthday banner has a little wave in it for some extra dimension.

SU! Creamy Caramel cardstock, CTMH stamps, Happy Birthday stamp also by Sherry, Prima flowers, MM rhinestone brads.

Engagement Shoot

Aren't they a cute couple!?!

This is my BFF's sister (who's also my friend and co-worker) and her fiance'.

They are getting married at this beautiful place called Tazer Valley Farm in September.

It's going to be so pretty! I love the country setting and the barn is sooooo neat!

She wanted some pictures to use as engagement photos, so I went with them to the farm

and did a few shots. It was pretty out that day. Nice and warm, but a few overcast clouds making picture taking a breeze since we didn't need to worry about shadows. I just love how they turned out!

I had a great 4th, how about you?

No pictures to share, because I went to my BFF's sister's house out in the middle of nowhere, where they lit off a few fireworks. I barely had my camera out, especially once it got dark, I just wasn't that interested in the picture taking and all the work of lugging out the huge camera!

But I had a great time with their family. I'm lucky to have found a best friend that has a family that loves to welcome new members. I seem to fit right in, and nobody ever makes me feel like an outsider. :)

After cooking out, having a couple of Mike's, a round of Corn Hole, and a few fireworks, my BFF, her family, and I headed back to her house and went to bed. I slept a whole 2 hours. Apparently I've started a bout of insomnia. The next day we got up and putzed around for awhile, then we headed over to Lake Goodwin (not our picture) with their boat, a wake board, and a 3 person tube. My BFF's brother did the wake board. I was too chicken! He then jumped on the tube with my BFF and I. I've never been tubing before so it was a new, fun, and frightening experience! I was the only one without a life preserver on (I'm a good swimmer!!), and I thought I'd be fine because I love the water. But a few rounds on the tube crashing into the two foot waves the boat was making and I called it quits. I just kept picturing myself being tossed from the tube and going under and not being able to get up because of the waves. So the kids jumped on and went a few rounds before the weather started to turn and the water got too choppy. We headed back home where I ended up spending the night again. Why? My BFF convinced me that I should stay and help her out in her yard. Thinking it'd be some lawn mowing, a little weed pulling, and maybe some flower planting, I said "SURE!" Wrong, was I. We were out there for 5 hours, the weather was PERFECT!, and pulled 5 trailer fulls of weeds! They have A LOT of land! And that was just focusing around the foundation of the house, and quickly going thru some other areas of the front yard. I thought I wouldnt be able to move today, but it's not too bad. Just incase though, I lazed around all day ;)

Then I started thinking about tubing. And started looking at life vests. That got me thinking about my swimsuit (that I've had for 7 years) and how I *need* a new one! (not really). Looking around online and I found this cute one that got rave reviews......

So I bought it. :D Followed by this....

I liked that the suit said it has "thigh tamers" because I definately need something to tame these things...LOL! And on the life vest, I liked that the front dips down a bit so I won't feel choked by the vest while wearing it.

Now hopefully it gets here by the weekend! My BFF's birthday is on Thursday and Sunday they are having a party at the beach on Lake Goodwin. No more tubing for me unless the life vest comes!!

Hmmm....maybe now I need to look for some matching swim shoes....lol

I promise, eventually I'll have some cards to post here. I need to find my PS disk to download the program again so I dont have to work so hard to get pictures uploaded.

Busy creating, but Photoshop is being a snot!

I have to find my copy of PS and re-upload it because it's not allowing me to import pictures. I have to go the long way around getting them onto the computer, and it's really too much work :P

But I've been working on cards, swaps (ATC's), circle journals, bridal shower announcements, and shower favors. Very crafty this past week and only one photo to show for it!

This is the large announcement I made to put up at work. My BFF's sister, and one of my good friends, is getting married in September. I've been helping her with wedding stuff since the beginning of the year, and now we're getting to the real fun stuff.....the parties!!!

My BFF found the poem on the internet some where. We used it in a smaller version on the set of cards that we mailed out. I still need to take a picture of that card. Another post, another day :)

Believe it or not, that pink striped paper in the background is still left over from my niece's birth announcements. I split half the scraps with my aunt and brought back the rest. We used up some on the 35 shower announcements we made last weekend. I used 4 strips on this sign, and I still have a stack left! Talk about your money's worth! :D

Have a great weekend. I'm signed up for 3 twelve hour shifts. I've had 5 nights off and it's been heavenly. Anyone know a single, cute, kind, rich bachelor that wants a wife who makes cards for a living? ;)

Just Because

In my last SU! order I finally ordered the dog tag punch. Fits this sentiment from Verve Visual perfectly. Another punch behind the white for a shadow affect.

And my latest love is Fun Flock. I just ordered a bunch from Ellen Hutson's store. She's got a GREAT price on them!

Paper is SEI Black Orchid. I used my Zig glue pen to color in the flower and then pressed the Fun Flock on. Butterfly is colored with Copic Tender Pink (RV13) and the some sparkle added with a clear Spica glitter pen.

Feela Bella

I bought a bunch of "new" Bella's from a Shackie and decided before they got put into the vault that I would try them out.

I copied the layout of this card from a card that I received from a Shackie in a swap. Her's is MUCH cuter but I loved the way the card is situated.

Papers are Bazzill Basics Bling, and Arctic Frog. Stamps are from Stamping Bella. Colored with Copic Markers. I added a little bit of Kleenex coming out of the box for affect. Machine stitched with my Janome Sew Mini.

It's too beautiful to sleep!

I'm really supposed to be sleeping since I have to work tonight. But the sun is shining and right now it says it's 64* here in my room. Don't laugh...this is the best weather we've had in WEEKS! And the forcast says back to our 50's and rainy tomorrow :(

But instead I'm in my stamp room playing with sketches.

And of course, now that I'm settled back home, it's back to Julee's Mojo Monday :)

This is MM42. Papers are SEI Oasis. Cardstock and ribbon is SU! Ink is SU! and Ranger Van Dyke Brown. Stamps are Verve Visual (do you sense a theme here? I couldn't help it....on Julee's last release I bought them ALL!!!!)

Our Creative Corner Challenge #1

I'm a blog addict. I fully admit that. If you could only see my "blogs" folder listed under my favorites folder, you'd agree with me. Part of my daily routine when I get home from work is to log in and check email and then go straight to my blogs to see what everyone has posted for the day. If you check further down my own blog on the right, you'll see a listing of just some of them.

And this weekend I weeded through and deleted about 20 blogs that were either inactive, or I just didn't check in much. It' still leaves me with a list that I have to scroll about 3 pages to visit all. With that kind of list, you'd think I'd have creativity pouring out of me and my own blog would be going crazy. But....NOPE! I drool at the amazing talent, find a website to buy the products, wait for them to get here, play with whatever I've bought once, and then it goes into the vault with all the other things that I forget I have ;)
So I've been trying to find more sketch challenges to get me going. And I found one that is off to a great start!
Our Creative Corner is created and run by a couple of bloggers already in my list, and a few more that will soon be added!
So when I saw their very first challenge posted on Saturday, I hopped right on board. (And then got lazy and didn't photograph the cards). Until now.

Late on all accounts.....

* Late posting the card I made on Saturday
* Late taking the photograph and getting it up here on my blog.
* Late on getting my Father's Day gift in the mail to my dad! Sorry Dad!
But at least he has a great card using a neat sketch on his way to him. And truth be told....he didn't even know when Father's Day was, and really doesn't care if he gets a gift either. He's easy that way.

Papers are Basic Grey Recess. Cardstock and ink is SU! Stamps are Verve Visual. Brads are Making Memories.

Then I couldn't stop there. My friend needed a card for her dad too, so I grabbed the same sketch, the same products and turned it into a square card that I liked just as well as the first one.

Finally, some crafty sharing

ATC love! That's all I can say.

About a year ago Thanh and I had a discussion about ATC's

and if I remember correctly, I stated "What's the point!?!"

I truly didn't see the point in spending your time and materials trading these

little things. Then she convinced me to join an ATC swap.

Where, I admit, I had fun working on something so small that I was able to get done

so quickly. And then I forgot about swaps for awhile.
Until this spring.

Now I find myself not only joining ATC swaps, but hosting them!

These are the 3 that I have due currently.

ATC #1 is for a swap that Im hosting....a girlie girl them.

Papers are Prima, girl stamps are TAC (I think), saying stamp is Verve Visual,

gems are Offray (from Walmart), ribbon is Offray.

I also used my Spica glitter pen to color her shirt,

and paper pieced her pants with the Prima Paper.

ATC #2 is going ALLLLL the way to the United Kingdom!

She's on her way there now!

She's for a Little Ladies ATC swap.

Last month while on the plane to Chicago I was looking thru

some card magazines and spotted

this ribbon weave on a card.

I knew I wanted to do it,

and as soon as I saw the cute little dress on this stamp set,

I knew that's what I needed to do.

The stamps were sent to me by my previous Secret Sister.

Aren't they adorable!

SU! cardstock. Ribbon is SU! and May Arts.

Image colored with Copic Markers (a gift from my current Secret Sister :) ).

Finally, ATC #3 was done for a swap that Thanh is hosting.

Under the Water is the theme.

I dug into my SU! sets that I haven't used in awhile and came up with

this fishy :) I made the hook,

and used the "grass" from a Verve Visual set to make the seaweed.

I colored the fishy with Spica Glitter Pens and then pop dotted him for dimension.

Next swap due is a little duckie ATC swap (waiting for supplies now) that's going to the Netherlands! :o Followed by a ribbon swap...Yummy!

Then, I'm caught up till August :-)

Grrrr...stupid computer parts!

I've finally been working on some stuff to post here...woo hoo! I've joined about 20 ATC swaps at The Shack, and have been working to try and get those done way before their due dates, as some of them need to travel over seas.
Get on the computer to upload the pics (and some engagement photos I took) and my computer wont recognize my card reader :( Last time I used it (like the 3rd time I used this brand new one, as my old one broke while in CA) it got SO hot that the underside of the reader melted and bubbled a little. It was still working when it was like that, but since I haven't used it in a week or so, now it wont work.
So today it looks like I get to go back to radio shack and see if they'll replace it. Grrrrr!
Hopefully later today I'll have a new reader and get something up here! I have the most adorable ATC to show off using some stamps sent to me from the U.K. and ribbon weaving that I tried out :)

Back home

I probably don't have any readers now that this place has gone blank for a month, but just incase there are a few of you hanging out there, I thought I'd tell you I am home. I left Modesto at around 7:30am yesterday and didn't get home until 10pm. That's the longest it has EVER taken me to drive home. I usually make it home in a little over 12 hours. I guess the 15 minute stop in Walmart (waiting for Sonic to open, since we don't have them around here) set me back a bit. Then there were the MULTIPLE potty trips I had to keep taking, which is unusual for me too. I tried not to drink much on Tuesday, but I guess it didn't help.
Anyway, the trip was WAYYYY too long and boring. I was tired of driving by the time I hit Sacramento (90 min into the trip). Usually that doesn't happen until I hit Portland (2.5 hours from home).
My cat was a TOTAL pain the butt last night from me being gone for a month. Before I came home I stopped and picked up some Orange Chicken from Panda Express. And hour after eating it, I was in the bathroom throwing it up. Don't know if it was the chicken or just the days travelling/eating catching up with me. Anyway, needless to say, I wasn't up to the task of cuddling and entertaining the cat. Which he most definately wanted to happen. He walked around meowing constantly and bringing every toy he owns and dropping it by the bed. When he'd finally get into the bed and I'd think he was going to sleep, he'd sit purring loudly and "massaging" my head with his paws. His paws with 1 month of nail growth that becomes razor sharp. So I spent all night yelling at him to either lay down or get away from my head or move his feet....lol Of course, now that I'm awake, he's sleeping soundly next to me, with his cute little face resting on his paw. Brat!
I can't wait to get back to card making! I made 10 cards while in CA, for a swap Im hosting that ends this weekend. I should have something for you on Monday or Tuesday. I'm back to work tonight for the next 4 nights. Any extra time I have this weekend will probably be spent playing with my Wii Fit that is sitting down in the rental office right now :)
Have a great weekend, if there are any readers out there. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon. My niece was born the day after my 30th bday (but made my bday by 3 min here on the west coast!). Her mommy doesnt want her pictures on the internet, but I have to sneak one on here to show off, right? She's absolutely beautiful! And pulled all the Italian blood that her daddy could give her. She's only got mommy's blue eyes and her pouty lips!

Today's the day!

Sorry to have been so quiet lately. All my spare time has been spent wrapping up loose ends, packing and cleaning.
I have a meeting at work tonight, then back home for a quick nap (yeah right, that'll never happen!) and I'm on the road headed for CA! WOO HOO!
A wonderful, beautiful surprise out of our weather today too! Predicted forcast.....mid 50's and rain. I delightfully sit infront of my open sliding glass doors with a beautiful warm breeze and full sunshine. That cat's outside getting his last lounge in the sun on the deck before he's bottled up for a looooong time :( Good thing he can't tell time....he might die of lonliness before I get back!
Today's weather in Modesto, CA.....85*! Tomorrows.....73*.....but I'll take it :D
Next time I update it'll either because my brother's baby was born (pray for labor vibes tomorrow, so she's born on Wednesday! I'll be 30 on April 30 and I want Miss Hannah Katherine for my birthday!!!) or because we've done something fun in CA. I'm wanting to go to Monterey (maybe do the Aquarium) and/or Yellowstone National Park.
Have a great week everyone!

Cute new stamps from See D's!

While at my LSS a week or so ago, I was checking out and glance down at a bucket of things on the counter (they are notorious for putting these little things at the counter that add on to your total...lol). The little bird stamp was on top and called my name. Isn't she cute!?!?!?!?!
So I flipped thru the rest of the sets and ended up with these other 2 also.
They are foam mounted rubber stamps. They are pre-cut but the neat thing is that it's a block of foam/rubber in the package so you can store them right back in the square you punch them out of.
They are very light which I'm thinking might make them good travel stamps :)

Busy busy busy!

That's been me the last couple of days.

Countdown to vacation is less than a week away! WOO HOOO!

The last couple of days I've spent cleaning, packing, shopping, and working on baby announcements and a blanket that I've been knitting for 3 months. And none of it is done!

The kitchen, the stamp room, and the living room/dining room still need a good cleaning, I've still got some toiletries and gifts to pack into my suitcase (that needs to be rearranged once I get it all together), shopping is done except for a few snacks for the road, baby announcements are *almost* done- just a couple of more stamped items and a bow to go!, and the blanket has about a dozen more rows and it should be finished.

Friday and Saturday are going to be spent finishing up...eek! Not enough time! Plus the March of Dimes walk is on Saturday morning so there's a few more hours gone.

But, I took some time out this morning to make a card for the Secret Sister Reveal over at the Shack. I combined it with Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch # 34.

MY SS sent me all these papers and the ribbon. The circle stamp was the perfect fit for the sketch, dontcha think!? It's hard to tell, but the strips of white are embossed with an embossing template that has a checkerboard pattern on it (I forget the maker).

I'll be slipping this card in the mail in the next couple of days, so if my SS reads my blog, you should be receiving it soon :)

9 days and counting!

My vacation can't come fast enough!
I've developed a case of "vacationitis" and the only cure is for April 28 to get here very quickly!
The weather is really bumming me out lately. I'm ready for summer! And the fact that I get to go to "summer" in a few days is making it worse. Couple that with the fact that we have a snow storm blowing through and I'm ready to pack my bags and move!
Yesterday afternoon, about 4pm, I woke up to what sounded like someone throwing little stones at my bedroom window. When I looked out it was hailing. The snow (yes, there was a light dusting on the ground) had turned to pea-sized hail. It hailed for a good 20 minutes and then turned to full out snow. By the time I left the house 50 minutes later we were in blizzard conditions. White out stage. In that time we had about an inch drop. I stopped at the grocery store for dinner and by the time I came out we had about another half an inch. We're talking 20 minutes in the store TOPS, people!
Around 8pm I heard that we were supposed to get up to 7 inches by 5am. Shortly after that it stopped snowing here at work. I also heard that my neighborhood had 5 inches by 7pm, so I can pretty much bet that I'm going home to at least that in a couple of hours.
BLECH!
To top it off, on my way to work I was talking to my dad (in IL) and he was out on his deck. It was 72* there!!! I've had no desire to move back to IL until last night....lol

Need your opinions please!

Click image for larger view

I'm almost done with Baby Girl's birth announcements!

However, I can't decide on this final thing.

So I'm asking for your help in deciding how to set up the rest of the card.

Option #1: Uses a smaller Nestabilities rectangle with a couple of stamps. If this

option is chosen, a wallet sized picture (probably black and white) will be placed inside the card.

*Regardless of where the picture is placed, Baby Girl's birth stats will be on the photo itself.*

Option #2: The wallet sized photo on the front of the card. I'm partial to this option myself,

but then I'm unsure of what to do inside since the birth stats will already be on the photo.

(Something my brother wants, as he doesn't want to hand write all the stats.

There are 80 announcements!)

I *think* I may have a stamp still that says something about "Babies are cuddles, and

tickles on toes....."

You can leave a comment here, or I'm going to (try to) put a poll in the bar to the right.

Thanks for your help!!!! :)

Itching for a camping trip

Last summer my friend and I packed up our Fords (my Escape, her Expedition) with lots coolers, tents, chairs, firewood, and kids and headed about 20 miles north of where we live to Wenberg State Park for 5 nights of camping. I hadn't been camping in a VERRRRY long time and she hadn't been in awhile also, so it was going to be an experience. I am happy to report we had a BLAST! Although I spent most of my down time studying for a Anatomy and Physiology mid-term during that trip, it was still quite relaxing.
Mega girls only trip here too! Me and my friend and 3 of her 4 girls went along. My best friend lives near the park also so she showed up a couple of the days with one or both of her girls in tow. And my friend's daughters had friends arrive too for a day of swimming in the lake.
Summers in the PNW are pretty mild compared to other areas of the country. We are generally happy to make it into the mid 70's. The entire time we were camping it was soooo warm. Into the upper 80's most days and full sunshine. We had one day of cooler 70* temps, but it was at the end of time there.
The unpacking and setting up was a blast! The packing away was depressing as we would have loved to stay for another week :(
And now that the weather is attempting to get nicer, and I've been reorganizing my storage closet on my deck with my Christmas/camping stuff....I'm itching to get out there and do it again!
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner made on a campfire.....does it really get better than that!?!
This view here is heading down the path towards the lake. The great thing about camping in Western Washington is the tons of trees that create beautiful scenery, protection from direct sun rays, and a feeling of security by being tucked in tight between each big trunk.
This summer will probably bring us travelling a bit farther to central Washington for warmer weather and new scenery.

Baby girl gets new clothes

Not the best of picture at all. Neither outfits had hangers, so I was left

to try and figure a way to "hang" them.

Ignore all the junk in the background on those wire racks. Hopefully those will

be gone soon :)

Anyway, while returning some clothes I bought for myself at Lane Bryant on

Saturday at the mall, I decided to duck into The Disney Store real quick.

It's been a looooong time since I've been in there!

Not so much anymore, but several years ago I had this fascination and extreme love

for dalmatians. I collected anything that I could find with those cute little spotted dogs.

Some of it (like collector plates and cute figurines) are still displayed around

my apartment. Most of it is packed away in a big box in one of my closets.

So when I ran into this cute little T-shirt, I picked it up. It was on clearance!

I decided instantly that it shall become "baby girls' ". Then....

I saw the little skirt. And again decided that she must have that too. No matter the price!!

And luckily for me, it too was on clearance!

The skirt has this cute little pair of red underwear/diaper cover that go with it too.

LOVE IT!

Then I walked down a little further and came across Gap Kids.

I went in to see how small their sizes go and was greated by a woman who would later

continue to follow me around the store "making sure I was ok".

Ummm...I have clothes in my hand, nice lady, I think I've got this figured out!

Anyway, back in the baby section I found a rack of clearance stuff and found this second

little outfit.

I'm sooooo in love with the little pink eyelet lace pants. I can't wait to see her (in pictures) in them! They are a 6-9 months so unless I head back to IL for Christmas, I'll only see them in pictures. The little sweater is so soft and pretty too.

Auntie Kelly is going to keep this girl ALWAYS looking her cutest if she has her way! LOL