Get Well Card

Here is a card that I created with Thoughts and Prayers for one of DH's co-workers. You must know that this card inspired me.

Last week while he was working on the roof of his house, three "people" attacked him, threw him off the roof and attempted to rob him at gun point. Unfortunately they beat the poor man and he is currently home on bed rest. They have yet to catch his attackers.

Stamp Set: Thoughts and Prayers

Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Chocolate Chip, and Certainly Celery , Candy Cane DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black and Certainly Celery Ink

Embellishments: Certainly Celery Poly-Twill Ribbon, and 3 silver square brads.

Paper Makeup: Penelope Card

Hi there! Yes, I know: Two Posts in One Day!!

I've been a little behind, sorry. Life happens and with two kids, school registration and working my budget to make up for DH's lost hours, I've slacked on my personal "fun" tasks.

I did get my Paper Makeup Stamps quite quickly (you must know they have quick shipping). And yes, I have already broke one pair in.

The stamps I used are Penelope and the sentiment is also by Paper Makeup.

I know it's hard to tell, but I used Basic Black, Rose Red (CS and ink), and Basic Gray. I also used Copic Markers: Skin White, and Copic Glitter Clear and Silver. The embellishments are Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, dimensionals and silver brads. The DP is from The Fall Stack.

I made this card originally for my brother - his girlfriend of three years just broke up with him for issues all Twenty Somethings go through. But still, my little brother's heart is broken and as his big sister, my instincts kicked in. Instead, I sent the card to my dad, who has been going through a very rough patch. I hope he pulls through.

The March Challenge

Well, here it is already, the end of the month. Can you believe how fast this year is going already?


I know that times are tough right now for a lot of people: layoffs, lost hours, burglaries, every one I know has been touched by some negative force recently. I hope you remember to hold on and cherish what you do have. Life will get better.


This month we had a new member in our monthly challenge: Bonnie. I'm looking forward to seeing her work and to being inspired. This month our challenge was flowers. Quite interesting how three different women interpret the challenge.


First off, is my mom, Kathy. She decided to do a book with different techniques on each page.








Here is Bonnie's card:




I submitted two different cards. This one I used Botanical Blooms which I got from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. I used So Saffron, Basic Gray, Basic Black, and the Walk in the Park DSP from the Occasions Mini Catalog.



This one I used the blossom from Heartfelt Thanks. The inks are Only Orange and Glorious Green.

Paper Makeup - Earn a $5.00 Credit!

Today I stayed at home with a sick-o...my son had a fever all night and of course I had stayed up with him to keep him company. By morning, his fever had come and gone and returned again, so I chose to keep him home.

So all day I spent watching Noggin', alternating between Motrin and Children's Tylenol, making small meals and trying to keep him away from the milk, and cruising through Cafe Mom and my favorite blogs. And guess what happend! I was introduced to the cutest line of stamps, ever! Paper Makeup!

You have got to check it out, they have some of the cutest stamps along with some great sentiments.

Plus, you get site credit. If you refer someone, you get the opportunity for both yourself and the other person to earn a $5.00 store credit. That's a great deal, considering that their stamps run anywhere from $6.00 to $8.00.

So, if you check it out and decide to place an order, use my e-mail (ambercerdaathotmaildotcom - sorry for spelling it out but apparently it helps keep my spam down) and help a fellow stamper out! After you get your set, feel free to e-mail me your card, I would love to see what inspires you!

I am now a Demonstrator!

After scraping and saving, stressing and bean counting, I am now a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator! Yahoo!!

It was actually a gift, and so I'm quite surprised. My personal goal has been to become debt free, so I am a little worried about continuing on my journey as well as meeting my obligations as a demonstrator.

But then again, I'm excited. Excited in learning new techniques, meeting new people, and creatively producing.

My first attempt at stamping actually just barely happened in September of last year. I joined a little club of women who got together once a month for about two hours to stamp and make cards and other 3-d crafts.

I had fun. Finally getting together with other women, talking, and creatively expressing myself.

I must admit, I must have seemed pretty pathetic and had a million silly questions, but honestly, I've had a great time. My kids enjoy the projects we made, I enjoyed the time sitting at the kitchen table with them, watching them work out their little thoughts on to paper, beaming with pride, ear to ear smiles - how I will treasure those memories because let us not forget how fast our babies grow.

Now, my first group I joined is over, and I was debating about joining again. With the way the economy is, the constant job loss risk, would it be fair to continue into such a potentially expensive hobby? Per DH, as long as I'm happy, saving money still, paying off my debt, and enjoying myself, go ahead. Just don't go overboard. What??!?!?! What is that supposed to mean?

No, really, I will try to behave myself. But I look forward to learning and sharing with you. Contact me if you would like information on Stampin' Up, or on anything, really. Who's to say your question won't lead to the next greatest idea?

Money-Maker!

So just a few short weeks ago I told you about YouData. If you haven't checked it out yet and signed up yet, you need to get over there. So far I've gotten paid twice, with a third payment pending for tomorrow/Saturday. The money is sent to your PayPal account which of course you can have transferred to your bank within a few short days (usually transfers to mine in two business days).

Blog Hopping

So, going through Cafe Mom I noticed some cute pics posted and decided to click on blogs...check out this one...I am sooo envious of her craft room! She has also posted some cute tutorials, the mini notebook is something I would love to do with the kids...although I may change the fiber binding to binder rings for something quick and easy.

Hope you get some good inspiration today!

March's Paper Craft Challenge

Today is March 1st, at least for the next hour and twenty eight minutes at least. I know, I'm up late for a school night.

But, I've been busy thinking and planning for the challenge that my mom and I put together. And now that there is a third member, Bonnie, and I'm a little nervous. I know that I'm just learning and starting out, however, I want people to be impressed with me (who doesn't?). So, I found this great blog through a fellow Cafe Mom member, Dawn's Stamping Thoughts. She has a bunch of YouTube videos that are great instructionals. And beautiful projects. I also checked out another blog ran by Stacey King. She has got to be the paper punch queen!

Anyway, since this is March, our paper craft theme is Flowers. Anything flowers. Cards, 3-D project, an alterable, a scrapbook layout, whatever the mind comes up with. And there is no limit to the medium: rubber, die cut, ink, whatever is handy at the moment.

I'm half way done with my first project. Mind you, half way means that since there are three of us (Mom, Bonnie, and of course myself), I have finished one complete, and half way finished a second of the first. I also got a great idea from Stacey's blog (Rebel Inker) and am going to try my hand at that. Should be interesting. Hopefully this will be a slow, easy week, and I can get some real work done. But, being that this week is my 10 year (HOLY COW!!) anniversary, I doubt it.

Will post pictures of the challenge as soon as the projects are received, which should be by the last week of the month. Exciting!!

Til Debt Do Us Part

I have recently found a t.v. show that helps me to keep on track with my budget and my financial goal (becoming debt free). That show: Til Debt Do Us Part - a show that my DVR records for me while I am away at work. It seems to be based in Europe, Canada and the northeast. A life planner, Gail Vaz-Oxlade, goes to a couple's residence, takes a look around, checks out their debt and the issues that have led them to it, and gives them a month to learn how to live new lives with three weeks consisting of two financial challenges and one relationship challenge, all the while reducing their debt. If, at the end of a month Gail is happy with the family's progress and they successfuly utilize a budget and take positive steps toward minimizing their debts, Gail gives them a check for no more than $5,000.00, and usually a weekend package away, to help with the relationship.

I enjoy it. Usually there is a spender: someone who is blissfully ignorant and digs the family deeper and deeper in debt. Then there is the person who feels that the whole world rests on their shoulders, however is not able to confront the other about their behavior. Gail helps to bring the two together and usually helps them to get on a game plan using canning jars to help visualize the budget (similar to Dave's Envelope System), and a budget binder, where the couple has to write down their spending to bring accountability to the relationship.

Almost every day I sit here on my couch and watch the show, all the while re-considering my budget and trying to get new ideas about how I can improve my plan and somehow get to my goal faster. It helps me to stay focused, letting me see directly how debt effects families and relationships, reminding me of why I want to become debt free. I see the sadness in the families, the tears the couples shed are real and sometimes heart-broken. While my relationship is no way near being on solid, unshakable ground, I would like to think that we are much stronger than those featured in the show. We have definitely had our problems, and I have recently learned that I coped with our issues by spending money I did not have. Thankfully, through my readings and studying my behavior and feelings, I have realized this. And DH and I have started back, together, on the journey of our life. I do not want to end up like the couples on the show, nearing the end of our marriage and in a horrible spiral out of control.

It's funny, if you think about it. How watching a simple t.v. show can make a difference in your life, such as this one has made in mine. DH even sits and watches it with me, when he's home. And we sit there and watch it, together. Sometimes I catch him stealing glances at me, especially when one of the show's subjects has admitted their sadness is caused by an unrealized behavior of the other. We were doing the same thing, and we have finally realized our wrong-doing, and vocalized it.

We know now what we were doing caused the other pain, and we try hard now to make sure that if even for a fleeting second, we make the other know that we are still there, and we love eachother. A simple grab of the hand, a tight hug, a note on the bathroom mirror or favorite cookies picked up on the way home. Something simple. Even staying up late with eachother to drink tea and laugh about something the kids did earlier that day.

Money is supposed to be the number one cause of divorce. Money issues come from a lack of communication. Lack of communication comes from being insecure - afraid of how the other person would react. But, we must learn to take that fear and have faith in our spouse that they will consider the problem, the pain, and be strong to help pull to you both out of the hole that can lead to debt, and to divorce.

Wow. Not exactly where I planned on going with telling you about one of my favorite shows...but insightful into myself.