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!

I DID IT - Finally.

So, I've been following Dave Ramsey's program for almost two years now. It took awhile just to get the idea of doing this get-out-of-debt thing. It took a few months to get a budget and make it work. And granted, DH isn't really on board with the whole plan.
But, the thing is, I want to be debt free. I'm tired of having a huge portion of my paycheck go to someone else. I want to be the one that benefits from working. I want my money!!
So, I've sacrificed, I've sold, I've worked extra, I've quit doing some very stupid things.
And slowly, very slowly, I've been crawling out of this whole that I've dug.
And today?
Today, Dave Ramsey is offering FPU for $89.00! I've been saving money for Christmas, and still have money left...so, I bought myself an early Christmas present! I am so excited! I even got free shipping and did not have to pay tax!!
I cannot wait to receive it.
I cannot wait to continue on this journey.
I cannot wait to be debt free!

Still Plinking Away...

So, here it is just a few short weeks away from Christmas...have you finished your shopping??
I'm almost done. I have a few quick gifts that I need to get...and then I will be done. So far, I am under my budget. Also, I have found some great resources to help me in getting good deals, or at least benefit me in the future.
One site, an all-time favorite, is www.mypoints.com. You simply sign up, and shop online through their site. When you have completed a purchase, you will get points back, which in turn can be used to earn gift cards to various stores. You can also increase your earnings by participating in short surveys, clicking on e-mails, and using their printable coupons.
Another site that I just recently found, www.shopathome.com. You sign up, shop through their site, which offers coupon codes for discounts and free shipping, and when you have completed your transaction, a percentage goes back to you!! You can easily cash out at $20.00, AND, you can earn $5.00 for referring someone once they register and make a purchase. I've already earned a rebate back!
www.ebates.com is similar to shopathome, however, I have found that shopathome gives you a higher percentage back at the stores that I prefer.
Granted, the point of these sites are to shop. Which means, you have to have money. I have budgeted my spending per person for Christmas. I made lists and have looked for great deals. The point is to save as much money as possible so I can throw that back at my debt...which I am struggling to not increase. So, any little bit that comes back to me, is great. Gift cards? Can easily be used at my favorite retailers to buy toiletries, printer ink, dog food, etc. Cash back? Can be thrown into my snowball.
Will be back later with pictures of some cards and projects that I have been working on - see you soon!

Another One...

Well, it's almost 4:00 p.m. Two more hours to go before the mall closes...Michael's and Jo-Ann's close later. I need black yarn, and brown. I'm learning how to make amigurumi...and I need more yarn. But I don't. I need to practice crocheting. I need to use the craft supplies that I already have.

Here is another card I made, in order to stay busy, to keep the shopping bug at bay...lots of glitter, took me awhile to figure this one. I need something easy to whip out, something that I can give to co-workers. Something that I won't mind if it ends up in the trash at the end of the day. Although, I truly do mind if it does end up in the trash. Because I spent my time on these...they are like little children...I picked out the colors, the ink, the paper I cut, the stamps that I cared for...they are all like small children...only they aren't noisy, I don't worry about where their fingers are...what is going in their mouths.

Okay, maybe they aren't like children. They are like great little attention grabbers that keep me from screaming at the boy who once again has his finger up his nose. Which was just digging around in the front yard looking for mud.

Stamps: Big on Christmas

Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Spica Glitter Pen in Red

Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Soft Suede

Accessories: Top Note Die, Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

First Christmas Card of 2009

Oh how I want to go shopping!

I want to run to the mall, buy clothes and makeup, pretzels and a coffee! I want to shop for my family! I want to shop for my friends! I want to walk down the hall swinging bags of fun new stuff. I want to push past other people, all spending money and happy with their family and friends. I want to look at boots and sweaters, search for video games and size tags! I want to shop and shop and shop!

But I can't. I must remain strong in these times, where all the television ads are clawing at my wallet. These times that cause sales to pop into my e-mail and tempt me to spend spend spend. I must remain strong. I must remember my budget. I must remember that I have an ultimate goal.

I must not say "This SUCKS".

In order to remove myself from all of society's temptations, I decided to finally work on some Christmas cards. Okay, really I just made one, in duplicate.

Stamps: Season of Joy

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Old Olive

Ink: Versa Mark, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, and Ruby Red

Accessories: Dimensionals, 1/2" Circle Punch, White Embossing Powder, Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

I must give credit to this card on Splitcoaststampers, it caught my eye as I was looking for inspiration. A true beauty...

For Kathy and Bob

My friend Kathy is stressed. And that is putting it nicely. Not even nicely. That's just the tip of the iceburg for her. She is struggling with family issues, with caring for her parents, with living life...but she manages to put a smile on her face, to help make my bad days shine, and she always is willing to listen.

Or, she pretends to listen and nods at all the right places...

Her husband had a stroke when my little one was out ill. I wasn't able to be there for her the way that she is always there for me. The moment that I returned to work, I ran to her desk and hugged her. Because sometimes, there are no words to convey all that your heart wants to say. Bob is getting better. They hospitalized him and he had numerous strokes while there. Fortunately, there is no permanent damage that the doctors can find. He is slowly coming around to returning to his spitfire self. He has trouble remembering how to do some things, but all in all, he is healing and recovering.

I made this card for them, to let them know that I was thinking and praying for them...

Stamp Set: God's Beauty, Trendy Trees

Paper: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White

Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, White Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals

Still Practicing

Worked on this one...

And made this one...

MDS - My First Attempt

Okay, first off, let me warn you:

I am NOT a scrapbooker. My mom tried to get me started when my daughter was born with pre-made kits, embellishments, all sorts of stuff. But, I never really got it. As time has gone by (ten years +), I have come out of my creative coma and gotten into cardmaking and paper crafting. So, when Stampin' Up! came out with My Digital Studio, I thought "Perfect! Now I can do scrapbook pages that aren't permanent! It's okay to make a mistake!!" And so, when my life finally took a change for the positive, it was the first thing on my list.

Here is my first attempt. Look back, I said "attempt". I will get better.

Online Extravaganza!!

Shhh!!!!!
On Monday (the 23rd!!), SU! is having an online extravaganza! They are going to have massive discounts, up to 50% off on some items! The catch? You have to order online!! So hurry up! Make your wish list and hit up the site Monday! Prices are only good while they last, and I can guarantee that I will be checking the site as soon as the clock strikes 12:01!