Back in business, just in a stamping slump

It's been brought to my attention that I've been a little neglectful here :p

I think I have the computer issues worked out. Nothing that a brand new $80 version of Photoshop couldn't handle. I couldn't find my PSE 4.0 disc to repair the program on here, so in a fit of anger, I went to Circuit City and bought a new one...lol And let me tell you, PSE 6.0 looks very high tech! Haven't figured out if it does anything different yet, but I've only used it a couple of times to do the same old stuff.

I needed some cards this morning to send out in some packages today, so I quickly made these up. And as much as I'm pretty happy with the results, for some reason I just wasn't having fun making them. SAD!

This first card is made for my cutie pie little niece. I bought her a little toy and an outfit the other day and plan on getting it in the mail today. I was trying to match the colors to the outfit, but once it was finished I realized the card is in pinks and the outfit is more of a peachy color. I have no explaination for the color mix up....lol

Then this is the card for my Secret Sister reveal. The flower and tinsy tiny brads are from MY last SS package. I used my Coluzzle to cut a circle card and smaller circles inside. The ribbon this card also makes the leaves. Its green but because its up against the pink cardstock its showing pink in this picture. This is also going in the mail today (finally!) and I hope my SS likes it! :)

More computer problems

Im having more computer problems....apparently, according to Norton I have a worm, that Im not exactly sure how to get rid of :( I found by googling the instructions on how to do it, but they make NO sense to me and Im not about to screw up my computer further! The weird thing is that I have McAfee too (thru Comcast) and its not showing any problems whatsoever. I dont really know who to believe...lol Apparently I picked it up thru a game that I downloaded off Comcast's website. I've since deleted it, but its still showing up attached to that game *shrug*
It's preventing me from posting pictures though because its messing with windows ability to allow pop ups. It also has something against my Upromise toolbar :p
That, coupled with the fact that Im signed up to work the next 7 1/2 out of the next 9 days means that you probably wont see much action on this blog for a bit. I know, what's new right? lol

Who likes blog candy?

You do???

Well then head on over to a fellow Shackie's blog, Sunflowers and Dragonflies, and sign yourself up for some pretty neat goodies! Rub on's, stamps, and flowers....couldn't ask for anything more :)

(Photo courtesy of Beth, owner of Sunflowers and Dragonflies blog)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stop by tomorrow to see what I've been up to lately. Waiting for the Stickles to dry before photographing. Like Purple? Keep watching my blog this week to see some things done in purple. My very cool Secret Sis sent me a whole package of purple stuff! Once upon a time it was my favorite color, lately I haven't done much with it. I think she noticed ;)

26 years old. I can't believe it!

Today is my little brother's 26th birthday.

I can't believe it!

I don't even feel 26, so how can he be that old?!?!?
This photo was taken of him in May with his brand new baby girl.

I'm so incredibly proud of the man that he has become. When many guys his age would have walked away from the "unwed daddy" thing, my brother stepped up to the plate and took care of business. You can truly tell that he loves his little family, and that baby Hannah has him wrapped around her little finger. Watching him with her brought tears to my eyes. My brother has never been one to handle babies. If he got handed one, he had that ackward, stiff appearance and wasn't sure what to do. What a transformation to see him hold his daughter with confidence. He talks to her in a soft, sincere, loving voice.

I lost contact with him for several years. The lack of communication between my mother and I also distanced Vince and me. He's a momma's boy through and through, so when I made the decision to cut my mom out of my life (we reconnected in May, don't worry) I also lost my brother.

Little Miss Hannah has brought so much to the family already and she doesn't even know it.

I'm glad that my brother is back in my life. Even if it is hard to get ahold of him!

And because of that, I decided to start sending cards again.

This one was done with SEI papers, MM brads, and a $1 stamp from Michaels.

I stamped the image on vellum and then flipped it over and colored the opposite side with my Copics. Flipped it over again and colored in the candle with a clear Spica Glitter Pen.

Ticket punched the corners, then layered the vellum over top and used my paper piercer to pierce the edges.

Although fairly flat except for the brads, and (I thought) protected from the mail system by an extra sheet of paper in the envelope, my brother said it was mangled by the time it got there :( But he appreciated the thought....lol

Happy Birthday Vince! I hope you're able to do something special today :)

My baby niece starts daycare this week :(

Hannah was 6 days old when I met her and the conversation came up almost immediately....who was going to watch her when mommy went back to work? Last I knew they were going to put her in a chain daycare program (they have a friend that is manager there I guess).

I was really hoping that they'd decide that mommy needed to stay home until Hannah was older. Then I was wishing that I lived closer so she could come to Camp Auntie Kelly instead of daycare...lol But that's not likely to happen.

I just hope and pray that whoever handles this cute little thing is very good to her or they will find a very upset daddy and Auntie Kelly on their doorstep!!

Gosh I love that face!!

More goodies from my Secret Sister!

The last package I got from my Secret Sister had these cute little flower doodads in them. The second I saw them I thought "SHAKER CARD!" and promptly got to work.
She also sent me the cute little cupcake/birthday stamp set, and the ribbon. The stamps are one of the $1 sets, but I can't remember which brand right now. Paper is SEI bought in a stack at Michaels. Brads are MM. SU! ink, dog tag punch, and dimensionals used. Marvvy Giga square punch used to punch center. Cupcake colored with Copic markers. Paper edges distressed with a Heidi Swap edger.

Just Wanted to Say Hi

My Secret Sister (Round 2) sent me this book of K&Co tags. Admittedly, I am tag challenged! LOL! I don't know why, but placement and tags never work on my cards. But they are too pretty not to use, and well, I'm sure my SS didn't want me to just keep flipping thru them admiring them ;)

Paper is SU! Ribbon from eFavormart

House Mouse image was sent to me from a sweet Shackie. I don't remember who, but hopefully she sees this!

Colored with Copics. Brads are MM.

Cuttlebug embossing folder and Fiskars scallop scissors.

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!