Night Owl and a Special Promotion!

I have a bunch of Halloween ideas in my head but getting them put to cardstock is much easier said than done. But here's one that did make it to paper. It's not exactly how I envisioned it, perhaps I need to sponge some more color around the moon to make it look like it's a night sky. I debated for a couple of days whether or not to post this card. Believe me when I say there are plenty of cards and projects that don't make the cut to get up here. This one was right on the border, but in the end I decided that I would post it. It's certainly not my favorite card but I certainly don't hate it either. I love the idea of the owl's shadow at night in the moon. It could use a lot of improvement but I'll just do that on the next one :)

So what do you think? Needs some more color I think and the ribbon just looks wonky down along the bottom. I'm very pleased with the sponging I did on the moon, darker on the top and lighter on the bottom, that looks great in my opinion.

I think my stamping mojo has taken a vacation this week, or maybe it's just because I'm so tired. I spent all afternoon today getting ready for my Christmas Card Stamp a Stack. I'm making huge progress on it but it's wearing me out. When I was pregnant with Logan I didn't work at all, certainly not this far along in the pregnancy. My business wasn't as established as it is now. And now prepping for a class or workshop just wipes out all my energy, or is it the baby that's stealing my energy? Thankfully I had the good sense to start prepping for this class a couple weeks in advance!

One more thing before I go...my birthday is this weekend so I'm giving away presents!!! This sale will last through September 11, and is only available through me, but I'm really excited about it!

When you place an order and spend $50 before tax and shipping you'll get your choice of either the Adhesive Rhinestones or Pearls for FREE!!!! Spend $100 and pick 2, you see where this is going right? For those of you that are attending my Christmas Card Stamp a Stack on September 11, you'll have to opportunity to get them free with your order there too!!

You must call or email me your order to take get the free pearls or rhinestones. Remember this offer is good for the next 11 days!

NOW is a great time to start thinking about your Christmas cards and gifts!!

If you have questions let me know!!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: All Holidays
Ink: So Saffron, More Mustard, Basic Black
Cardstock: So Saffron, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Owl Punch, Circle Punch, 2 Step Bird Punch, Sponges, Black Satin Ribbon

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!

Birds, Turtles and Birds

Well somehow I've managed to come down with a cold. GREAT! Just something else to add to the fantastic time I'm having being pregnant! Oh well. I think it's almost gone but it's been a challenge to keep my coughing under control. If I start to cough too much it sometimes leads to throwing up-YUCK! So I've been drinking water and hot tea like NO ONES business for the past few days and Friday I was literally going to the bathroom every hour if not more often! Thank goodness we didn't go anywhere or I would have spent the whole day looking for bathrooms! I have 2 appointments this week. Today I meet with the nutritionist again, and Wednesday I meet with my OB.

I did get to meet the doula's at the hospital on Saturday and found out some pretty shocking news. There are only 6-7 hospitals in the ENTIRE country that have an on staff doula program! Can you believe that? It's so important to have an doula's on staff at the hospital too because they have great relationships with the nurses and doctors and are allowed in places that other doula's aren't. For example if we hired an outside doula and then need a c-section for any reason the doula wouldn't be able to go with you, however if you have an on staff doula that doula is allowed to go to the c-section with you, recovery and more. Plus at the hospital you're allowed 4 people in the room with you (not that that will happen-Dan will be the only one-no one else needs to be there!) but the doula isn't counted in the 4 because she's staff. So if you wanted your entire family there, or at least 4 of them, you could still do it. But I was shocked that more hospitals don't have a doula program, it's crazy!! Last year the hospital almost got rid of the doula program for budget cuts. The doulas were told 1/1/09 that by 7/1/09 they would be gone and that over the next 6 months they would start to be 'phased out' well there was an uproar from Dr's, patients, and nurses begging them to keep the program but it wasn't until the c-section rate shot up in those 6 months that the hospital changed their minds. Apparently as the doula's were being phased out, the c-section rate was going way up and most of the people getting c-sections couldn't pay for them so the hospital was stuck with those bills anyway. So they looked at the numbers again and realized it was soooo much cheaper to keep the doula's on staff then it was to keep paying for c-sections. So fortunately for us the hospital still has the doula's! Yay! We had a a doula with Logan and it was the best money we spent for the pregnancy! We're expecting this to be money well spent as well!! If you're also expecting I highly recommend looking into getting a doula they're soooooo worth it!!

Ok, that's probably way more info than you stopped by for today! So let's get to some cards, ok! I have 3 cards to show you. One that I made and 2 that Logan made. He's been working on some Thank You cards for those that gave him birthday gifts in the last few weeks. So first I'll show you mine.

I used the Aviary stamp set and the little owl-I JUST LOVE HIM!! He's so cute!!
This is a pretty simple self explanatory card. I stamped the owl 5 times, punched them out and stuck them to the card. I'm really liking the ribbon on this card too! I just think it makes it a little more girly! But you could always leave the ribbon off, change the colors and make it a masculine card.


Here's Logan's first card.

He wanted the turtle from the Fox and Friends set and he even used the markers to color the turtle. He started with Certainly Celery and then added some Old Olive. He colored over the Celery with the Old Olive so instead of a 2 toned turtle he still ended up with an Old Olive turtle. But he was happy with it and I was happy that my markers didn't get ruined and so it was a good time all around!

Here's his second card. He's really been asking to use the striped ribbon-he loves it for some reason so I let him stick it to this card and my thought was that he would stick the birdcage on top of the ribbon but instead he put it next to the ribbon. It's his card. It's not how I would have done it but I've learned to let Logan stick things where he wants to put them and keep my mouth shut. He used the color spritzer on this one too. He did a good job. I sometime have trouble getting it to spray nicely but he just kept squeezing it until he got the look he wanted. He asked me to help him line up the stand on the bird cage but that's pretty much all I helped with. He even tore the cardstock himself! I love this card. I think I'm going to get Logan the Make a Monster Stamp set with my next order. I think he'll love that! Plus then I can 'borrow' it!!! :)

No supply list today, since there are sooo many and I really need to get off the computer :) If you have questions about anything used leave a comment or send me an email and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Meeting Highlights!

It was another great meeting last night. I'm so blessed to be able to do what I love and spend time with people who love it too!! Somehow though, I've caught a cold complete with sore throat and coughing! So because I need to go rest and try to get rid of this thing this will be a quick post. We'll jump right into the meeting highlights.

We'll start with the make and takes:

This is super pretty. I love the colors!! We used a new stamp set from the mini (can't remember the name right now). We did the baby wipe technique and stamped them on glossy. It's looks awesome doesn't it!!



This was our other make and take. Pretty and simple. LOVE it!!


Now for the swaps!

This was Mindy's. I love the colors. She said she had a hard time gluing all the letters on them because she was having a little bit of help from her 1 year old! Too cute!


This one is Carmelita's. I love the torn edge and the scallop border!

This one is Corrina's. I love this stamp set and don't use it nearly as often as I should!

This one was Michelle's. I'm not really a fan of Poppy Parade but that adorable DSP may just make me a fan!

This was one of Amber's. That's new DSP in the mini, it has glitter on it. LOVE it!!

This is Amber's second one. Isn't it great!!? AND it was designed and thought up by her 13 year old daughter! Great Job!!! I love it!!

This was Joanna's first one. I love the DSP in the back. It's the DSP that you can make any color you need, the words and design resists the ink. I really need to use mine more!!

This is Joanna's second one. I SOOOOO NEED that stamp set!!!!! And she used Poppy Parade too. I just might be a fan!

Last but not least is Kay's card. She used one of the embossing folders on the card and it looks lovely! I love that DSP. I really need to buy some! :)

Alright I'm off to rest. I so need to kick this cold out of me ASAP!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!

More Paisleys.....

I will have new stuff to show you soon that doesn't include the new Paisley Prints stamp set :) I hope you're not getting too tired of seeing them. Tomorrow (hopefully) I can get the swaps and demos from the meeting last night up. Next week, I'll have a few Halloween samples to show you (assuming they get made), the ideas there now I just need to stick it to paper!

This little box is sooooo stinkin' CUTE!!!!! And so easy!!!! I had a completely different 3 minute demo all planned for last night but then on Wednesday I saw this box on Angie Kennedy Juda's blog and I had to show this box to everyone last night! The box is made with one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock. I'm not going to go into details about how to make it. I really encourage you to stop by Angie's blog and see her video. It will make sooooo much more sense than me trying to explain it to you :)

Isn't it adorable though!!!?? I used some of the new Candy Cane Christmas DSP for the box too. This paper is so pretty and some of the sheets have glitter on them! I love these colors for Christmas too. I seem to be drawn to the 'non traditional' colors lately.

Of course there's a rhinestone on the top of the tree! Really did you expect anything else from me :)

Here's the side, it's just the most cleaver thing I've seen and I Love it!!! Remember to check out Angie's blog if you want to make this box too. Warning though, these boxes are so easy and fun to make you won't be able to make just one!

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Paisley Prints, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Real Red, Whisper White, Candy Cane Christmas DSP

Ink: Blushing Bride, Real Red

Accessories: Red Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Rhinestones, Word Window Punch, Crop a Dial

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Merry and Bright!

Tonight is our demo meeting-one of my favorite nights of the month. There's something so comforting about being a room of ladies that share your passion for stamps! It's probably comforting to know that you're not the only one who gets excited about a new roll of ribbon or a package of cardstock :) Though I'm assuming if you're visiting my blog today you probably share a little of that same passion so WELCOME!!

This is my card swap for the meeting tonight and I have to say that I love it!! I REALLY didn't think I liked the Paisley Prints stamp set at all in the new mini, but the more I use it the more I LOVE IT!! You may have noticed on all my cards with this set that I'm really loving using a darker marker and highlighting some of the paisleys. I think it just makes the image POP!
This card is loaded with new stuff from the mini, lets start from the top down. The Snowflake embossing folder is in the new mini. Unfortunately this card covers a bunch of it up but trust me the snowflake embossing folder is soooo pretty!!! The Paisley Prints stamp set is new and so is that greeting, it's from the Merry and Bright set.

I also used the 2 tags die on this card, and of course no Christmas tree is complete without a little sparkle so I added a rhinestone to the top of the tree!

I made this card a few days ago and decided to use it for my swap but I modified it just a little.

I love them both!! What about you, which one is your favorite number 1 or 2?

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Paisley Prints, Merry and Bright, Christmas Greetings

Cardstock: Pear Pizazz, Garden Green, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizazz, Garden Green

Accessories: Big Shot, 2 Tags Die, Snowflake embossing folder, Corner Rounder Punch, Pear Pizazz Ribbon, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, sponges, Rhinestones

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Aviary Friends

It's been a while since I've posted. Truth be told, I'm exhausted!!! Logan's birthday weekend was a lot of fun but took sooo much of my energy. We went to the zoo on Saturday and rode the zoo train, when we got home there was only enough time for a quick nap--and not for me :( Then it was off to my parents house for a BBQ, cake and presents. Sunday we went to the baseball game and got home really late. So I was really tired by Monday. But Monday morning, bright and early was Logan's 4 year well child check up complete with 3 shots. The rest of Monday we spent resting. Thank goodness. Tuesday Logan was back in school I had an ultrasound and errands to get to. Today I need to finish my swaps for the meeting tomorrow and get my 3 minute demo together and most important--start preparing for my Christmas Card Stamp a Stack. It's not for a couple of weeks but I've had great turn out for this class and so I really need to prep early!

I have to apologize first for the not so great pictures. I think there's something wrong with my camera. Lately I haven't been getting as great of pictures as I should be. I'm looking into the problem though. This card is so cute and I really didn't like this set too much in the catalog. But once I started seeing samples with it I was sold-isn't that always the case! I really love the colors on this card too.

I love the little owl bird- I think he's my favorite! Doesn't that ribbon there add just the cutest touch to this card!?! I love our taffeta ribbon, it's so easy to tie into bows and knots. But I love all our ribbon!!

These little birds are so cute. I'm not sure why I thought I didn't need this set-clearly I was mistaken!!

Wish me happy thoughts for a super productive day!

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Aviary, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, White, Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Staz On, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Ribbon, 1 1/4 inch Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Sponges, Dimensionals

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Thank You and a Winner!

Thanks soooo much to those who left comments on my blog. I read each and every one of them and I so appreciate your kind words. There was lots of requests for more 3 D stuff, more punch creations and more Halloween stuff. So you'll all be please to know that I'm working on all of that! There also was a question asking if I'm having a boy or girl. I'm having a girl. Now for the winner, I used random.org to draw the winner and it's........

Karen Wedding who wrote:

• Hi Ruth, I would love to see more 3-D projects, but I love your cards too. I love doing those for gifts. I am always making things for gifts at Christmas, Mother's Day, etc.

Thanks Karen, and please email me your mailing address and I'll get your gifts out to you ASAP. Thanks again to everyone who commented!

For today's card I wanted to use more of my new mini catalog stuff. When I first saw the mini catalog I wasn't really drawn to the Paisley Prints stamp set and didn't even have it on my wishlist but after seeing so many wonderful things done with it from Convention how could I NOT get it!?? Isn't this card super pretty!? I love those greens together!! And I have a confession to make I NEVER use Garden Green, ever!!! Can't even think of the last time I used it! But with the Pear Pizazz I LOVE IT!! I'm defiantly ordering a bunch more Garden Green!!

I stamped the heart in Pear Pizazz and then used my Garden Green marker to highlight some of the stamp. Look at that sparkly Pear Pizazz brad too!!! They're in the mini catalog and they're so pretty!!! I used my big shot movers and shapers die to get the larger heart in the Garden Green. I just thought it should be layered.

I'm loving the ribbon on this card too!! I ran a line of sticky strip along the card and crumpled and ruffled and scrunched up my ribbon and stuck it to the sticky strip. I LOVE IT!!

Thanks again for the comments! I am working on a bunch of stuff. I have my Christmas Card stamp a stack that I need to start cutting for and a class next weekend but I'll still find time to post. I can't wait to show you what I've been working on! Tomorrow is Logan's 4th birthday so we'll be busy celebrating all weekend!

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Paisley Prints, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Pear Pizazz, Garden Green, White, Woodland Walk DSP

Ink: Pear Pizazz, Garden Green

Accessories: Full Heart Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Big Shot, Movers and Shapers Die, Sponges, Pear Pizazz Ribbon, In Color Glimmer Brads, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Happy Halloween Owl....Oh Yeah Some Blog Candy Too!

You came on a great day to my blog! In honor of my blog hitting 50,000 views I'm giving 3 of my favorite things away! Stamps, punches and Rhinestones!! I'll draw a winner for the blog candy on Friday at noon, MT time so make sure you get your entries in by then!!! You can enter 2 ways leave a comment on this post or email me. I've been told by a couple of people that they can't leave comments on my blog so if you find that's the case just send me an email then, stamperrdn@Q.com If you do enter via email please put Blog Candy is the subject line so that I don't accidentally delete it :) Please only one entry per person. To enter please tell me what you would like to see more of on my blog. I'm a card maker first and foremost but if you'd like to see more 3-D or scrapbook projects let me know and I'll make every attempt to get those up for you :) Or if there's a special technique you'd like to see please let me know. So do you want to know what you might win??? For the Stamps, the Picture This Stamp set in wood mount. It was a hostess stamp set in the Spring Mini Catalog, it's super cute and I LOVE it!! The punch is one of my all time favorite punches-the Scallop Border Punch, I know it's not the new punch design, I'm sorry but it's an awesome punch and I use mine tons!!! And last but certainly not least my FAVORITE new accessory. The adhesive Rhinestones! They're just so awesome! Once you use them, you'll LOVE and use them FOREVER!!!! So you have until Friday to enter! Good Luck!!


I do have a project to show you today too. I've been playing with my Owl Punch again and he's just so cute! You can't get enough of him!!!

I stuck him to a little Halloween card. I don't own any Halloween stamp sets. I don't do a lot of stamping for Halloween and last year I did invest in 2 Halloween stamp sets and then SU retired both of them :( So since it's not a holiday I stamp regularly for I'm not sure if I'll invest in more. But with the owl who needs a stamp set?!

There's not a lot to explain on the card. Yes I brought out my color spritzer for this card. I wanted to spritz the background in black but my black marker is having major issues. So I switched to an Old Olive marker and that seems to work ok. My vision was in black but that may have to wait until I get a new black marker.

I love the BIG eyes on him! And his vest or chest, is stamped with a new stamp set from the Holiday Mini catalog. It's actually a pumpkin but I just wanted the pattern and it's super cute!!

Stamp Sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Paisley Prints

Ink: Basic Black, Pear Pizazz, Old Olive

Accessories: 2 Step Bird and Owl Punches, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Pear Pizazz Ribbon, Color Spritzer, 2 way glue, Dimensionals, Rhinestones

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Halloween Treats!

So was I little negative yesterday? Yeah a lot negative, but I'm just so frustrated with this pregnancy. Poor Dan gets to deal with all my mood swings and craziness after he gets home from work every night. He's probably exhausted too. He got transferred to a different part of the company a couple weeks ago and while we're excited about the promotion the transition has been a little more difficult than we thought. He's having trouble figuring out the new computer programs and there's only 2 or 3 people that work in this department and about 3 days after he got the job the girl that was supposed to train him and who is in charge of that department went on vacation. So he's been going in early and staying way late to get caught up on everything and figure it all out. But hopefully he's finally getting caught up on everything and can start keeping regular business hours again.

Logan started school today. He's still in pre school and goes 2 times a week but it was the first day of the fall semester. So that meant I got my mornings back to stamp, except today when I got a hair cut and next week when I have an ultrasound, but in 3 weeks I'll have my Tuesday mornings back to stamp :) He was excited to go back to school (he was only off a week between the summer program and the fall semester) but he was still ready! He didn't even say bye to me today-as other parents dropping kids off for the first time were snapping pictures and shedding tears I couldn't get a single 'good-bye'! Can you believe it!?! Oh well, I guess that's good and means he's not as dependant on me as he used to be.

Ok onto the project!! This is super cute and a major Holiday Mini Sneak Peak! I just love this and I can't wait to make Christmas ones like this-well maybe without the spider web!

Isn't it cute!! I used the candy wrapper die that I showed you a few days ago here. But instead of twisting the top and bottom I sealed the bottom and folded the top flat. Tied a ribbon around and TA DA! Super cute! Well before I did that I did run it through the new Spider Web Embossing Folder and lightly sponge White Craft ink on the web to highlight it. Then I put the box together.

I did learn, and I'm not sure it it would work better to do it differently, but next time before I emboss it I'm going to pre fold all the score lines from the die. I didn't do that on this one and with the web embossing it was a little tricky to find the right line to fold. But it all worked out and I still think it's stinkin' cute!

It's hard to tell on the tag but I ruffled up some black grosgrain ribbon and stuck it to the bottom of the tag. In person it's super cute and just adds so much extra fun dimension to the box. I also added some rhinestones to the tag--LOVE THEM!!!

And here's the sides of the box, isn't it just awesome with that spider web on there!?!!

****Make sure you check back tomorrow! I'll be posting some pretty nice blog candy for my blog hitting 50,000 hits! As I'm typing this I'm only about 50 hits away so I'm sure by tomorrow I'll be over 50,000 and that's thanks to you! So make sure to check back for your chance to win!!!****

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Basic Black, Pear Pizazz

Ink: Basic Black Classic and White Craft

Accessories: Pear Pizazz and Basic Black Ribbon, Sponges, Word Window and Modern Label Punches, Big Shot, Candy Wrapper Die, Spider Web Embossing Folder, Rhinestones, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!

An Elephant Never Forgets

Well I know I've been avoiding the big question that some of you may have and some have asked me about it, which is super sweet and I can't tell you how much that means to me! How did the dreaded Dr appointment go last week? Well it was just as expected confrontational, uncomfortable and in the end I lost. I did do the 3 hour glucose test on Friday which was horrible and difficult to get through. I took lots of stuff to work on but was feeling so sick and tired that I couldn't focus on any of it, even though the Dr gave me stronger anti nausea meds to get me through the test. The workers at the lab kept asking me if I was ok, if I was feeling ok, how I was doing so I'm guessing I didn't look too good. I did find a lab that opened at 6am, which was much better than the one that opened at 8am so that was at least a little helpful. Unfortunately those numbers also came back high. I met with a nutritionist today, who didn't tell me anything I didn't already know or wasn't already doing. She put me on a special diet that has me snacking and eating more frequently with lots more protein and fiber. And I'll have to check my blood sugar 4 times a day. As far as I'm concerned this pregnancy can't end soon enough. I've even considered asking the Dr to induce me early as soon as it's safe for baby to come out. This has been the worst year that I can even remember. I have another ultrasound next week to check baby's size AGAIN! The week after I have another appointment with my Dr and another appointment with the nutritionist. So as far as I'm concerned October can't come soon enough and I'm so ready for this to be over. I'm done being poked and tested by doctors, I'm just done!! But on the upside, baby's room is ready to go all we need to do is stock up on diapers and wipes. Alright enough with the negativity, this is supposed to be a happy stamping blog!

But for the real reason you came-to see a project! I didn't think I would like this hostess set as much as I do, but once I got it and started playing with it, it was just so much fun I wanted to do tons of stuff with it! It's the level 2, Long Fellows Hostess Set. This card is so cute it just makes me smile! This is a 3x6 card, I don't make many of this size but this stamp set just screams for a long card!

Isn't that elephant just the cutest??! I stamped him on Bashful Blue then cut him out and stuck him to the white cardstock. I used my Bashful Blue marker to highlight some of him. Like his ears and tummy. Once he was stuck to the card I got out my color spritzer and went crazy!

I think this card is super cute, I hope you do too!! Thanks for hanging in there with me through this pregnancy. I really do appreciate all my blog land friends and am truly touched when you post or email me that you've been thinking about me and how my pregnancy is going. I'm expecting the next few weeks to be really, really tough on me and my family so if you can hang in there for a few more weeks through my complaining and venting I'll be ever so grateful!!! And once that baby comes I'm sure I'll be a much more positive, though tired, stamper!

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Long Fellows

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Basic Gray, Bashful Blue, White

Ink: Staz On, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Color Spritzer tool, Dimensionals, Silver Brads, Paper Piercer

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Baja Candy Wrapper

I promised you I'd be back today with a super cute project! Before we get to the project though I want to let you know I'll be doing some fun blog candy in the next day or two. My blog has had almost 50,000 views. That's amazing and I certainly appreciate all your comments and visits to my blog. Especially in the last few months where my posting has been all over the place. I do hope someday to get back to posting normally everyday but for now we still need to play it by ear :) But check back for the blog candy in the next few days. It's a great prize and you don't want to miss it!!

I've been playing with my new Holiday Mini catalog stuff way too much in the last few days. One of the things I was MOST excited about was this new die. The Candy Wrapper Die. It's so stinkin' adorable. I LOVE IT!!!

The only problem with this box is that it's hard to photograph. It's such a cute box though. I love it and will be making tons and tons of these boxes!! This one I decided to break out my Baja Breeze cardstock-have I mentioned how happy I am that SU brought it back as a core color!!!

I also used the new Level 1 hostess set Silhouette Sentiments for the tag. It's such a pretty set!! You can earn it free with a workshop of only $150!!! That little scallop rectangle is also a new die too in the IB&C. I just love it. I initially thought I didn't need it-what was I thinking? Then I saw it used tons and tons on my upline Amber's swaps from convention and I was sold. It's adorable and I love it!

Here's a side view of the box and shows the box a little better. This box is so cute and so easy to put together!! I used some of the Elegant Soiree DSP on it. I LOVE THIS BOX!!!

Make sure to check back this week for some awesome blog candy and thanks again for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Silhouette Sentiments

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Elegant Soiree DSP

Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Big Shot, Scallop Rectangle sizzlet, Candy Wrapper Die, Sponges, Sticky Strip

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

New projects are coming

I had every intention today of posting a new project today but when I went to look at the pictures on the computer they really were horrible. I have to retake them and then I'll get them up. Unfortunately now I've run out of time with Logan up from his nap and other stuff to be done before tonight, so the super cute box will have to wait :( But I do want to do a quick puppy update.

Chase is a ball of energy!!! He's been to the vet and the vet said he's a terrier mix, half terrier, half Schnauzer. Logan and Chase love to play together though and often go into his room and play. I don't know what they're doing in there, since I'm not invited to play, but as long as no toys are eaten up then I'm ok with it. He does have super sharp teeth and chews everything. He's going through about 2 chew toys a week. It's crazy! We got him a nice cozy bed but he's chewed a hole in it twice. So until we're done with the puppy chewing stage he may just have to live with sleeping on the floor. Logan love to feed him too and we've had to explain that chase doesn't need to eat 8 times a day. He's not a big fan of treats, he doesn't like milk bones-I've never known a dog not to like milk bones but he doesn't. He's very appreciative to get the treat and will carry it around all day in his mouth and hid it in special places but he'll never eat them. It's cute but strange. The cats still are not pleased with our new addition but they're just going to have to get used to it.

Here's a couple pictures from when we were at my parents house watering their garden when they were on vacation last week. Their cats were also not happy with the new visitor :)

Isn't he cute though, he loves being on the couch, he's such a little lap dog!

It is exhausting to water plants! Poor guy was so tired he feel asleep on the couch while we finished the watering :)

I'll have a new project, hopefully tomorrow.

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

It's a Zoo In Here!

I have a doctors appointment today which I'm dreading. I felt like my doctor wasn't giving me proper or all the information she should have been and so I got a second opinion from a friend who's also a midwife that attends our church. Sure enough I wasn't being told the whole story and now I need to talk to my Doctor about everything. I am NOT looking forward to it. Worst case scenario is that we end up switch doctors this late in the pregnancy. As unhappy as we are with her we really DON'T want to have to switch doctors at this point. So hopefully she'll listen to what we have to say and we can come to some kind of agreement about my care for the next 9 weeks.

On another note, a happy note. Logan will be 4 this month, in about a week and a half in fact. We've always done just family celebrations and never a big birthday party and so we decided to do that again this year with everything else going on. We are doing something special for him that he's been asking to do so we're pretty excited. Every time we go to the zoo he wants to ride the train that goes through the zoo. Well we never plan for it and so we either never have the time or bring money for tickets (we have memberships so we never really bring money anyway). So this year on his birthday, we're taking the entire day to go to the zoo and ride the train. Then it will be back to my parents house for a BBQ. I'm sure Logan will have a great time! But in keeping with the zoo theme, I made his birthday card with a zoo theme, his cake will also have a zoo train on it and some zoo animals (I'm hoping to enlist the help of my Mom in making it).

Isn't it cute. I did lots of bright 'boy' colors on this card and just choose a few animals from the Fox and Friends set (I really cheated and choose the 3 that looked to be the easiest to cut out-sneaky I know).

It's pretty straight forward and doesn't really need much explanation. I did use cardstock inside the button though. I cut a sliver of cardstock and fed it through the button. Looks like thread but matches the rest of the card perfectly!!

So on the calendar today Dr appointment-Boo!! But then I get to come home and wait for UPS to bring me my wonderful box of preorder stuff, so at least I'll be able to stamp the afternoon away!!

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Fox and Friends, On Your Birthday

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Ink: Marina Mist, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Brights Buttons, Word Window, Modern Label, and Scallop Square Punches, Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Peachy Christmas

Surely it's not too early to think about Christmas, it is only 5 months away!!! It's funny how I say it's ONLY 5 months away and when people ask how much longer I have in my pregnancy I stay 'I STILL have 9 1/2 weeks'. The baby will be here long before Christmas arrives but the way this pregnancy is going I don't think it will EVER end. I already feel like I've been pregnant for years. I can't even remember what it's like NOT to be sick all day long. I can't wait for the morning I wake up not feeling sick. But I STILL have over 9 weeks to go, maybe baby will come early-I can hope right!!??!

Today's card uses really non traditional Christmas colors but I really wanted to use the Peach Parfait ribbon. My upline brought me back some SU Salt Water Taffy from Convention and the bag was tied with this ribbon. Well I'm not going to just throw it away! So it's been sitting on my desk waiting for me to use it. I also had a package of the Brights buttons on my desk and Logan really wanted to use one on the card, so I let him pick the button. So the card was built around the ribbon and button sitting on my desk. This card is similar to one of the cards we'll be making at my Christmas Card Stamp a Stack next month. I have 2 spots left and they're going quick so if you want to join me on September 11 for some Christmas Card making let me know and I'll send you the details!

I'm actually really pleased with the colors on this card. I haven't used Peach Parfait too much, but I really like Daffodil Delight. It's not as bright of a yellow that Yoyo Yellow was but it's also not as soft as So Saffron. It's a great in between yellow! It's really hard to see in the picture but the ornament and the White embossed cardstock are sprayed with Shimmer Paint spray so it's sparkly!

I love the shimmer paint spray. I haven't used it in a while but you can bet this Christmas season I'll be using it all the time! Just like last year!!! Who doesn't love a little sparkle though!?!

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Sparkly and Bright

Cardstock: Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Versa Mark

Accessories: Brights Buttons, Linen Thread, Ornament Punch, Shimmer Paint Spray, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Peach Parfait Ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Simple Circles

Earlier today I couldn't think of anything creative to do. I was a couple days late in putting in my mini catalog order so it's still going to be a couple more days until it gets here. It did finally ship, so I'm hoping it gets here by Wednesday. I'm so impatient when it comes to brand new stuff!! And I don't know what going on here, if it's nesting or if I'm just tired of the house being so cluttered, but I've done a lot of cleaning the last few days. Every time I have a 'free' moment I feel like I should be doing something. I've done really all I can in the baby's room and until the bookcase gets put together I can't do anything else in there. And I've been told I'm not allowed to put it together by myself after the 'crib incident'. Yesterday I cleaned and sterilized all the bottles and made room for them in the kitchen cabinets so there's really not much more I can do. So I really need that box of stamps to get here fast!! But in my lack of creativity I turned to the vast blogland of stampers out there. I came across a bunch of cards and blogs that had used this sketch on their cards. I thought it was super duper cute and made my own.

I'm so pleased with this one. I LOVE that new DSP Elegant Soiree. It's so pretty and it uses my all time favorite in color, now a core color, Baja Breeze!!! Yea for Baja Breeze!!!

I made the little flowers with one of the punches from the punch pack and added a little pearl to it. I just love it! So pretty and super quick!

Here's another one I was able to whip up super fast.

I like this one but not as much as I LOVE the Elegant Soiree one. I think I just prefer the colors in the other one better but this DSP, Lap of Luxury, is so pretty too. The hardest part of this card was trying to choose which DSP to use.

It's made the exact same way and the pearls are just so pretty. And they're under $5, if you haven't bought them to play with I strongly suggest it. They're A-MA-ZING!!! I love them!!

Well I guess it's back to my cleaning frenzy. In the last few days I've done so much, not major cleaning. The floors could really stand a good vacuum and mop but I don't have that kind of motivation :)

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Three Little Words

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Elegant Soiree DSP and Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush, Very Vanilla, Lap of Luxury DSP

Ink: Soft Suede and Concord Crush

Accessories: Punch Pack, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 inch Circle Punches, Paper Piercer and Pad, Adhesive Pearls, Dimensionals, Tombow Glue

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!