A Preemie Hat

My boss' sister recently had a baby - very early at 27 weeks due to severe complications. Thank goodness both mother and son are doing well right now.
Having a little extra time on my hands, I whipped up this hat I found here.





- Posted away from my chair

Gift Card Holders

The holidays are right around the corner. Really. Just a small handful of Days away.



I've been busy making gift card holders.


This gift card template is courtesy of Dawn's Stamping Thoughts.

Filled with Love Bundle Promo

Starting December 17, 2010 through January 24, 2011, you can get a FREE pack of Bitty Buttons (a $4.95 value) when you purchase a Filled with Love Bundle.

Included in this bundle is this stamp set (wood or clear mount):
and this pack of Designer Series Paper:
You can get more information from this flyer.

Contact me soon to get your Filled with Love Bundle, or to schedule your next paper crafting party!

For a Wedding

My girlfriend asked that I make a card for a wedding - about two days before the wedding!! Augh!!
Lucky for me i keep photos of almost all my cards so I quickly scrolled through and remembered this one.
And so, this one here was created.
Since the idea was already formed, I was able to get this card cut, embossed, tied, and stamped in about half an hour. Not too bad!!

Stamps: Lovely Letters Alphabet, Always Elegant
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Old Olive
Accessories: Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Brads, 1 3/4 Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, Ticket Corner Small Punch, Dimensionals

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Buttons!

Buttons are great!
Here I used buttons as ornaments, taking a simple card up one level. I tied linen thread into a bow for a nice little accent which I think really pulled the card together.
Hope you like it!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla
Accessories: Big Designer Buttons in Deck the Halls, Linen Thread

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Mojo Monday 168 - Because I Care

My girlfriend found out today that she's getting laid off.
In an attempt to let her know I will be here for her, I made her this card.
I flipped the sketch a little to work with my image, but I think it works.

Stamps: Tote-ally Tess, Best Yet
Ink: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom
Paper: Walk in the Park DSP, So Saffron, Whisper White, Cameo Coral and Baja Breeze
Accessories: Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Winter Craft Buttons from CTMH, Decorative Label Punch, Large Oval Punch

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Making a Change!

So, in order to get some new thoughts off the ground (and before the new year, too!!), I'm making some changes!! Please be patient, I promise some good things!!

Mojo Monday 166

Another card made for the Holiday Bazaar...

• Stamps: The More The Merrier, Punch Pals
• Paper: Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White
• Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Moonlight Smooch
• Accessories: Linen Thread, Scallop Oval Extra Large Punch, 1 3/4" Oval Large Punch, Perfect Polka Dots

Mojo Monday 166

Another card made for the Holiday Bazaar...

• Stamps: The More The Merrier, Punch Pals
• Paper: Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White
• Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Moonlight Smooch
• Accessories: Linen Thread, Scallop Oval Extra Large Punch, 1 3/4" Oval Large Punch, Perfect Polka Dots

Clean and Simple 118

I'm preparing for a Christmas Bazaar, where, for the first time ever, I will attempt to sell my paper crafts.

A little nervous, ha! An understatement!

So I searched all of my favorite template sites and decided to play along!

Stamps: Punch Pals, Holidays & Wishes
Paper: Bashful Blue CS, Bashful Blue DSP, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Red Satin Ribbbon, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Northern Frost Decorative Strip

Clean and Simple 118

I'm preparing for a Christmas Bazaar, where, for the first time ever, I will attempt to sell my paper crafts.

A little nervous, ha! An understatement!

So I searched all of my favorite template sites and decided to play along!

Stamps: Punch Pals, Holidays & Wishes

Paper: Bashful Blue CS, Bashful Blue DSP, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Red Satin Ribbbon, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Northern Frost Decorative Strip

"He who has the most tools..."

My dad's birthday is tomorrow.

For the past few months he's been living with me. Re-evaluating his life, thinking, setting his sights on new goals. I'm hoping that he's found what he's been searching for, or, if nothing else, I've allowed him to see that family, true family, help eachother, and forgive eachother.

Happy Birthday Dad.

Ingredients:

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (DSP Unknown - retired)

Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, and Summer Sun

Stamps: Totally Tool, All Holidays

Accessories: Top Note Die, Dimensionals

New Budget Notebook

I lost my Budget Notebook.

It acted as my check register, my budget holder, my accountability partner, my reminder of where I was - and where I'm going.

I felt violated and lost without my notebook. Payday came and went and I felt as if I could not possibly make any decisions without my book.

I made a new Budget Notebook! See?

And, I've already started filling it up with my budgets and my spending.

I'm almost starting over - like alot of other things in my life - a fresh start!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Funky Four and Apple Blossoms

Ink: Taken with Teal, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, and So Saffron

Paper: Taken with Teal, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Welcome Neighbors DSP and Whisper White

Accessories: Corner Small Punch, Scallop Trim Punch, Decorative Label Punch, and Large Oval

Took Some Time

I know I haven't posted in forever.

I have been going through some rough patches in my life. I believe that I may have made it through - although I hesitate to tempt fate too much on that thought.

Here is a project that i have been working on for a little while. The "rough patches" forced me to put some of my hobbies away until I could "see" a little clearer.

It's a little rough - a paper drawer/suitcase. Prett cute for the first time back. The card was a template from MojoMonday.

If I remember correctly, I found the template on Splitcoaststampers (have to love that site!) And everything else just tumbled out as I went.

SUPPLIES:

Paper: Rose Red, So Saffron, Old Olive, Basic Gray and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, So Saffron Craft

Stamps: Favorite Thoughts (box), Always Elegant (card)

Accesories: Two Step Bird Punch (box), Fancy Flower Extra Large Punch (box), Top Note Die (box), Silver brads, Clear embossing powder (box), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (card), 1/2 inch circle punch (card), 1 3/8 circle punch (card), 1 1/4 circle punch (card), Elegant Lines embossing Folder (card and box), and eyelet border punch (whew!!)

Blossoms

Okay I had worked up a great post when blogger forced close on my phone!! Augh!! So okay...starting over...

Hubby helped me to build a garden box for some fruits and vegetables that I started from seeds.

I've been very busy trying to keep everything growing and thriving.

Lets just say I'm still learning!

Another Hat

After making a hat for my daughter, my son decided he wanted a hat.  He was begging for a sock monkey hat. So we looked and looked. All over the internet, all over Etsy, everywhere. When he finally picked what he wanted, it was a standard DC beanie with a sock monkey face stitched on it.

I finished the beanie in one day. I used the "magic" ring, perfected the DC stitch, learned how to finish a row and move up, switched hooks to make the bottom of the hat come in just a tad, and of course - now my hands are sore!

*sigh*

But, he loves his hat. He slept with it on, he washed his face and pulled it back on this morning, and has been asking me when I will put on the face.

*sigh*

Just as soon as mommy's hands uncurl and I can feel my fingers dear son.

A Hat

This hat?

I made it myself. For my daughter.

I found a pattern online that was similar to those boutique hats for little girls but when I started to work it up, it wasnt what I was hoping for.

So I ripped out more than half of the hat. Found a book I had bought with other patterns, and slowly worked it out. I actually worked this hat in a weekend...because I started on Thursday, ripped it all apart and started over three times on Saturday, keeping only half of it by Saturday night. I realized it was too big on Sunday so I pulled a little bit out. And finished it on Sunday.

And that is why my hands are cramped and curled this morning. Because I have this thing where I need to see the finished project RIGHT NOW.

But its worth it. She's off to school with her hat. And a reminder that I still need to make some flowers for it.

Love her.

A Co-Worker's Birthday

Tomorrow is Nancy's birthday.

She got mad at me last year because I forgot...so this year I made sure to set a few reminders out for myself...

I took the Mojo Monday sketch and worked off of that...plus my current goal to use up all of my current InColors...not too bad I think. I used the thumping technique on the sentiment to add a little bit more POP to the card...

Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

For the New House

My sister-in-law, and her soon to be husband, just bought a house.

I knew right away that I had to make them a card, and the Good Neighbors stamp set would fit my message perfectly. Plus, there is a new challenge on Stamping 411 that I wanted to participate in...so here you go...

Since the new SU! catalog will be coming out in just a few short months, I decided to incorporate as many of the new InColors as possible, to get the most out of what I have and to make room for the potential new product!

Stamps: Good Neighbors (Sentiment from an incentive set)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Welcome Neighbor DSP (Crushed Curry)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Melon Mambo Grosgrain Ribbon, Hemp Twine, Button

Hope you enjoy!

Work in Progress

Is that a joke? Because really, what isn't a work in progress? As long as I'm breathing, everything I do is "a work in progress".

Just wanted to let you know that I am finally educating myself on how to use MyDigitalStudio (MDS) that I bought for myself...finally, after months of having it.

I found this great, genious, patient, wonderfully inciteful blog (http://www.debbisdesign.com/) while prowling SCS and she has a wonderful tutorial on how to implement MDS into your blog.

I highly recommend visiting her...especially if you are like me...non-techno-that's-why-I-like-my-paper-and-rubber stamper...

For My Brother

Thursday is my brother's birthday. He will be 28 years old.

This year has brought him a new experience - one that he will have to learn to deal with for the rest of his life. This new thing he can learn many things from - or he can allow it to scar him and draw a shadow across his path. I hope he is strong enough to learn from it. This is his opportunity to see new paths that have been before him.

To another year down. To life experience. To taking each moment, learning from it, and remembering to find happiness in the little things.

Happy Birthday!

Breakfast

See these?

Supposed to be the best bread-machine cinnamon rolls around, at least according to www.moneysavingmom.com.

I have had the recipe for a few weeks and I have been waiting for some free time to work it out.

Let me tell you somethings that I learned while putting them together:

* Don't triple the filling;
* Add about a 1/4 cup more flour.

Will let you know later how they taste...I'm making lasagna for dinner and trying to save the rolls for breakfast!

Eleven

Tomorrow is my anniversary.

We have been married 11 years.

It's almost unbelievable, thinking about it right now. How can that be??? That would mean I'm old right, because I was young when we got married. Can it really be that long?

Uh, yes. We do have a child in 5th grade...

It's been a journey, that's for sure. I'm really not sure how we've made it this far. It's really quite amazing, now that I'm sitting here, thinking about it.

We've been through a lot together. We've experienced a lot of pain and heartbreak...but, we have had some good times, some great moments.

I often read the little blurbs that AOL and MSN post - how to know if you're man is really interested, secrets to a great marriage...you know...those relationship posts from professional journalists. The ones that many of us read hoping for something new, something that will really rock us and make us say "I'm going to start doing that today!" so that we don't fall into the number game of what the odds are we will get divorced.

But really, if someone asked me what my secret is, what would I say?

What would I say?

Be patient, but don't be a door mat.

Be firm, but not unbreakable.

Yes, they will change, it's called evolution. It's called "growing up". Deal with it.

Remember that your relationships need nurturing. Like a plant, it needs food and water, and the sun. For so many of us, this is the number one thing we forget, expecting that our spouse will always be there. But, like lots learn, sometimes that spouse gets tired of waiting for attention...and leaves.

Honestly, for me, it's the little things that keep me here...waiting the long wait while my husband is off working. It's the little things that kept me here while we battled through our wars that were threatening to rip our marriage apart.

Little things, like the way he plays with my hair when we are sitting on the couch. Little things like notes on Post-Its left in my make up box or in the center console of the truck. Chocolate hidden in my underwear drawer, because truly that is the only place the kids won't look. Framing our results at the May Fair Shoot Out, where I totally kicked his butt, despite the fact that he shot better than I did when we were in the military. Cutting my steak, because without him I'd have to become a vegetarian. Little things, like knowing exactly how to make me laugh, even though I'm trying my hardest to be an unemotional rock. Little things, like when I overhear him on the phone telling his buddy that he needs to talk to his "girl"...because, before becoming his wife, the mother of his children, I was just that, his "girl".

Life can be short, with all my heart I hope it's long. We might not have some grand adventure at some exotic beach, traveling the streets of some far away town...but, we have our memories. Memories of working on our cars together, laughing at burnt beans. Remembering when we were absolutely broke and first married, where our fun came from playing video games and researching baseball cards. Remembering how we felt when we moved into our house, our first house, and freaking out because Thanksgiving was two days away, and I couldn't remember which box the pots were in. The birth of our children, both traumatic for him.

I hope I do get to spend more time with my husband. I have learned to cherish our moments together because I've learned that life is way too short, and can be snatched from us in a second. I hope we have another decade, plus more, God willing, with him and our family.

To another day!

Happy Heart Day! (A Little Late...)

Ah...

I have finally managed to get ahold of my camera and my computer at one time!

Finally I can update you on my life...

First, let me ask you...

What would you do if you saw this after a really horrible day at work?



Well, I will tell you what I did...

I fell to my knees, grabbed up my little Valentine, and gave him a million kisses...


which he quickly wiped off! Oh well.

It was a nice moment, however brief.

Here are the valentines that I whipped up for the kids to take to their teachers...

This one my daughter took to her 5th grade teacher:


Stamps: Hello Again
Paper: Taken With Teal, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun DSP, Old Olive
Ink: Rose Red
Accessories: Pinking Hearts Border, Extra Large Two-Step Bird, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals,

This one I made for my son to take to his Kindergarten teacher. The plan was to have him help me...but instead he ran off to play with his Hot Wheels...

At least I got the cards done!

Stamps: None!

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Basic Black and Real Red

Ink: None!

Accessories: Big Shot, SU! Bear, Beary Essentials and Pinking Hearts Border

Cover Me

I finally figured out how to blog from my phone. Lately I rarely have time to get to my blog from my laptop due to "life" happenings. Actually, I feel like I haven't had time to do much of anything for me, due to "life".

Take for example this week (month) so far. I've had a killer migraine since Monday afternoon. I finally called my old primary to try to get an appointment today, only to find out he no longer takes my insurance. So off to the insurance website. I found another physician with a good reputation among my co-workers and called to schedule an appointment. No luck! They can't see me until Thursday next week. Surely by then I will have gone mad with this pain!! A few more calls and I decided to have DH take me to Urgent Care.

After 3 hours of waiting, two injections and 1/2 a pad of prescriptions, I went home and crashed until the kids came crashing through the door.

I am feeling better. The sensitivity to light and sound is very minimal. I am a little dizzy and my head still aches, just not so extreme. I feel completely dehydrated and spent. But, I am a lot better than before!

To prove it, I am up past my kids, working on a cover for my budget notebook. See?

It's been a little while since I've really gotten into my paper crafts and I've really missed my projects! I do have more to show you, but, it will have to wait until I get a chance to sit at my computer...and not just rely on my phone.

Migraines

So...

I'm laying in bed an hour and a half before I have to wake up, wondering if my head will explode this afternoon.

Monday I had a terrible migraine and was reduced to a useless blob laying in the bathtub, begging for the pain to go away.

Tuesday I came home early, worrying DH since I only leave work in case of emergency. I tried to make a list of potential triggers and new foods - nothing! We have a weekly menu and very rarely do we fall off track. Children tend to run rampant when there is a small deviation in their program, something I try to avoid at all costs! The only change in my life are some new staff members in the office...something that is actually a small relief in my life.

I am taking an over-the-counter medication and will attempt to make my mark on the day...if I can just go back to sleep!

Boredom + No Restraint = TROUBLE

"Idle hands are the Devil's workshop"

Heard that one, right?

I am a firm believer that you should always be busy with something. As a mother, there is always something to do. Cleaning. Laundry (that's cleaning). Cooking (leads to cleaning). Planning. Budgeting. Ironing. Reading (mostly recipes and ads). Chasing. Driving. Learning (Fractions??? Googled.) Working. Reading (David Gets in Trouble is great!!). Building (Do you remember your Legos coming with instructions?? I don't!).

But in the meantime, I may find a few minutes to myself. Not much. But a couple of minutes, sometimes more.

I took up card making and rubber stamping to branch out socially. I need friends to fall back on. Other women, other moms, who know what it's like to get so frustrated you can't sleep anymore. Someone else who cries at sock commercials. Someone else who knows what it's like to step on Legos at o'dark thirty and not being able to scream because you don't want to wake them up. But, card making is expensive. Not really good for something trying to get Financial Peace.

I started crocheting because it's quiet. It's productive. And it's something I can do on my own. Plus, you only have to buy a few hooks, a bag of stitch markers, and a ball of yarn a week. As long as you aren't buying hand painted, beautifully soft yarn, it's fairly economical. But, like card making, it's bad for your arms, wrists, and fingers. In other words, "It's PAINFUL for Hand/Arm Gimps." Which, I am a reluctant member of...

So while on a trip to my local craft shop for the Kids Make It Free project, I saw the most beautiful necklace hanging from a hook. "What is that?" I can feel my brain tingling with anticipation. "I want that." The sleek satin ribbon. The shiny silver wire. The smooth, cool, dark gray pearls. The shiny black acrylic rose with the pearl in the center. The soft organza flowers with the crystals in the center. All hand-made. Which means I could make it mine with a simple color change here, a twist in the charms there. My brain screamed "I can DO this!"

I went crazy. I grabbed some chains. I grabbed some charms. I grabbed some claws. I grabbed a magazine. I threw it all on the counter, the girl rang it up, and I slid the remainder of my gift card and a chunk of my blow money, and LEFT.

I did not feel Buyer's Remorse until this morning. I went through my receipt and groaned. As soon as my husband comes home from work, I will be taking the stuff back. I did note, from the ad for that same store, that some of the stuff I bought is on sale. But, once again, I'm making excuses for myself.

Not good.

I do budget for myself. Not very much. But more than some other people that I know. A lot less than most people I know. So, I'm not denying myself all fun. Just trying to remember my goals.

And how much less stress I will feel once I have no debt.

So, I'm straightening myself out. And will get back on my path.

Wish me luck!

I'm Here, Really...

Life gets stressful. And that stress manifests itself in many ways.

For me, my face breaks out like a teenager, my stomach gets upset, and I get really bad headaches. So, one tube of zit cream, a Costco sized bottle of Antacids, and some Aleve, and I'm almost better.

Raising children is the hardest thing I've done, and I've only truly just begun. I know I will be raising them for the rest of my life. I knew from the minute I realized they were growing in me that they were going to be stubborn. C'mon, they are their mother's children!

My daughter, who is 10, is driving me nuts. Seriously.

She is my first born, and she is my only girl. I try my hardest to do right by her. I want her to be tough and strong, like me, without having the life experiences I've had to harden her. I want her to be self-confident, independent, happy, sassy, classy, a little princess-y, and proud. Truly, what mother wouldn't want their daughter to be all those things? I've taught her how to change the oil on the truck, I've taught her how to make a chocolate souffle. She knows my secret ingredient in my pancakes, she knows that chapstick is a quick fix for many things, and that girls are lucky because we can get away with doing girly things, and do things that boys do, and still be a girl. And a girl that does "boy" things is still a girl, just called a tomboy. I show her the fun things we can do, like wearing high heels and makeup, and how to throw a good curve ball. I've shown her how to do the two-step, how to really move to the beat, and I've also shown her how to fix a broken sprinkler head.

I try to make sure that she is well-groomed, she has a "stylish" hair cut, her clothes are stylish, yet not overly trendy.

She used to be this sweet, generous, dangerously caring little girl. Until just recently. And then she became a "Mean Girl" that back-talks, says hurtful things, refuses to turn in classwork, and has been someone I have no idea who she is.

These last few weeks have been trying times. Tears have been shed, voices have gone hoarse, hearts have been broken. I think I am lost, I think I have found my way, and then she throws another curveball at me, and I'm lost in amazement at how she can change in a blink of an eye.

My little girl is no longer just a little girl. I know she is growing, changing, evolving. I know what this all means, THE CURSE is coming! Hormones are playing with her little body, she is once again testing me the way she did when she was 2, pushing me to see what my limits are, trying to rediscover her limits in a world where she believes she is already grown. Only this time, she is not about two feet tall, with two long pig tails and these huge pouty lips and lashes that I swear must be fake if I didn't know better. This time she does not curl up in my lap with her little Ojo Bear, this time she shoots daggers from her eyes and I can almost see curse words forming at her lips.

My precious little girl, my princess, my forever child, I LOVE YOU. And that is the reason why you are writing essays this weekend, why I make you read stories about children who have nothing. I LOVE YOU. And that is the reason why, when all my senses scream to shake you and call for an exorcism, I pull you into me, and I hug you. That is why I bend my head and whisper the Serenity Prayer into your hair. I hug you tightly. And when I finally feel that I can safely let go, I kiss your head, and I tell you again, I LOVE YOU. YOU are MY life. And I will sacrifice EVERYTHING for YOU.

One day, one day not too far from today, we will once again be best friends. And you will be glad that I held on to you. And you will know that I TRULY LOVE YOU. And you will, I hope, have a daughter, that you can hold on to.

I LOVE YOU.

A New Hobby

First - YES. I know. It's been almost a month! But, I have been busy. VERY BUSY. Tied up in knots busy. Almost literally.

See that lovely picture??? It's of the mountains just to the east of my house. Right after it rained for a week. Long enough, and hard enough, that we didn't see the sun for almost that whole time. But, it washed away all the muck, cleansed the air, and left us with a beautiful Saturday morning view that makes you remember to be greatful for Heaven's Grace. Do you see the snow? The fresh green grass growing, the purple and blue of the depths of the mountains...the clouds, just passing through, scrubbing the air as they float on. Beautiful. Breathe deeply...

And, I finally started a new hobby. (Like I don't have enough already, right???) Crocheting is something I probably should not be doing. It hurts! My hands cramp, my arm hurts, but like all of my other projects, I get to see the outcome from all of my labor.


They are called Best Bunnies and the pattern is a free one found on the Lion Brand website. My son wanted an orange and green one, so I made his first. My first attempt at anything crochet! The little bugger took me two whole weeks to make, and on the 2nd week, I realized I was forgetting part of a stitch, so I unraveled it all and started over. And my daughter's quickly followed, I got it all done in a day and then took another day to stitch it together. I can tell the difference and that practice does lead to improvement. I have one more to make and then I'm off to make arm warmers and a scarf for my daughter. I have a list of patterns that I want to complete...should be interesting.

Also, I am half way through Financial Peace! I have paid off two credit cards and have been barreling into my third! I'm hoping that we do get our taxes done soon, and that we get money back. I'm not counting on anything right now, just trying to remain positive. I keep trying to tell myself not to count my chicks before they hatch, but I also remind myself that a person without goals achieves nothing. Good points to remember.

Well, off to make Get Well Soon and Valentine's cards! See you soon!

A New Year - A Fresh Start

Happy New Year!!

Did you enjoy the holidays? Did you enjoy the family and the food? I did!

That's my baby right there...with the scarf, in the green. He's rockin' out at the Christmas Pagaent, so darn cute!! I love how animated he is...he loves to sing and perform!

Here is his Gingerbread House that he made in school, he was so proud of it! He told a story about a little elf that lived in this house...and he refused to let anyone eat off of it. Mysteriously, it started to "disappear", first just doors and windows, and then whole pieces of roof and walls disappeared, until all that was left was the milk carton base.


Okay - now truly...did you make any resolutions this year??

I did!

• Pay off Store Credit Card #1 by January 16th
• Pay off Store Credit Card #2 by April 5th
• Pay off Bank Credit Card #1 by the end of the year
• Turn hobby into business
• Make an extra $20 a month

And I have some great news! I already accomplished the first one!! At the end of the year, my employer cashes out whatever remaining sick leave you have and pays you!! I totally forgot about this policy...I've learned to never count on something until it sits in your hand...so, my sick leave was paid out, I've managed to pay off Store Credit Card #1, and put the remainder towards Store Credit Card #2. Now, I need to re-do my budget before payday!! I am so excited! (Yes, I'm learning to revel in the little things!!)

Oh, did you see the last goal? Make an extra $20 a month? Well, I'm nearly there for January! I sold a stamp set that was gathering dust on my shelves to a girlfriend, and then a co-worker paid me to make three Thank You cards! Now, I just have to get myself out there and really work on my last two goals!!

Here are some pictures of the Thank You cards. I came up with the layouts by going through the Stampin'Up! IB&C and looking at the examples - no wonder why they call it the "idea book"!


Stamps: For All You Do
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White, Cottage Wall DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Orchid Opulence
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Dimensionals


Stamps: Very Thankful
Paper: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Crushed Curry DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Dimensionals

Stamps: Define Your Life, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Washington Apple DSP
Ink: Versa Mark, Basic Black
Accessories: Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Stamps: Sweet Stems, Teeny Tiny Wishes Paper: Rose Red, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Tart DS Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Cameo Coral Accessories: Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Hodgepodge Hardware

Okay, this next card is a birthday card for one of the guys at work, our PR guy. He does a lot of stuff for all of us in the office, and even though he seems to have a lot of fun doing what he does, his efforts often go unnoticed. So, a birthday card he gets.

This card was a lot of fun to make. I love making shaker cards, and everyone is usually very impressed with them. So, how do you make a shaker card with more than just beads??

SHRINKY DINKS!!

Yes, I said it! SHRINKY DINKS!

Remember those things from back in the day? They came in a little plastic sheet that you colored with markers and then threw them in the oven, with the light on, so you could watch your artwork shrink and harden. I never got to play with them when I was little, but I always wanted them.

I bought some for my daughter a year or two ago, and she was not that impressed. But, it had stuck in my mind, and I had gone to my local craft shop and bought a package of blank sheets...to sit on my craft shelves and collect dust, until this week!



Stamps: The More the Merrier, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Ink: Staz-On Black, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware, Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Ribbon, Micro Beads, Dimensionals, Crystal Glaze, Shrinky Dinks

And of course to ring in the new year, a thought: We cannot progress from today to tomorrow, unless we remember yesterday. So, here's to the new year, positive thoughts on all that I learned last year. May you make progress in your own goals, whatever they may be.

Stamps: Sense of Time

Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Brads, Top Note Die


Do you know what that is?? Can you guess?

It is not just a piece of plywood with nails in it...nope...it's better.

It's a BOWMAKER!!

Yes! So creative! So frugal!!!!!!

I have been asking and asking for the Ultimate Crafter's Companion, you know, the one with the bow pegs, the embossing, the box and envelope maker, that thing???

Well, I can't get it, not just yet.

So while on Splitcoaststampers the other day, while staring at the bowmaking post in the tutorials, I got this crazy idea...hubby can make that for me!!! And so, he did.

He loves me. (Or, he just wanted me to shut up about bows...)

Happy New Year!