Promise I'll Post Artwork Tomorrow But For Now...

Do you have a sister?

You know what? I don't have a sister but I have truly always wanted someone that I feel that close to. I was thinking that I had so much fun with the Secret Angel swap and I know others did too so why not try a short term (for now) secret sister swap?

The idea is that you sign up, fill out a questionnaire (and send it back to me), I'll assign you a secret sister, I'll send you a sister (with questionnaire) and you get to spoil your sis for a full 6 weeks! The requirement each week would be at least one card a week with a little "something" for your sis to be excited about. It could be stamped images that they don't have and want, the little Studio G stamp sets (if they are okay with that), or maybe something yummy that they like to eat. During the final week you will send something with around a $15 maximum value and reveal who you are! I've been asked about international sisters and I personally think that will be fine. If you'd prefer to not have an international sister please let me know. I know I have some Canadian friends that visit my blog and one lovely young lady from Sweden. Yes, shipping will be slightly more and it will take a little more work but it will be worth it!!!

I will provide you with your sister, a link to a thank you/excitement post to comment on when you receive something (and I'll explain how to get e-mail updates on those comments), and reminder posts once a week.

So, my friends...what do you think? I think this will be soooo much fun and I hope that lots of you will want to participate. Please, though...if you have something coming up in the next month or so that will keep you from full participating, don't sign up this time around.

Because I want to get this going as soon as possible I'll need you to sign up by December 31st. I'll get your secret sis out to you on January 1st. You'll be able to spoil your secret sis until the reveal week of February 11th, which also happens to be Valentine's Day week!!!!
Won't that be fun?!

Go ahead and post here that you'd like to join and ALSO you must e-mail me (mom2kjs at yahoo dot com) your interest so that I can send you a questionnaire...just commenting your interest on this post will not work!

This will stay at the top until the 31st. Please check below for new posts!

Now go! Sign up!!!

A New Hanna Set!

Did you know that there is a new Hanna set out? Yep, Kristi releases a new set on the 15th of each month and this months set is called Perfect Present and it just has a ton of great images! I made this card with some of the new Bali Breeze designer paper from SU!. It is very basic and simple 'cuz it was for Todd. There is a story behind that bow but I think I'll not get into it here on my blog!

The other thing I keep forgetting to show you (although I'm sure you've seen it already) is the cover of the Spring/Summer Collection 2008 catalog. I LOVE the colors that they used for this catalog and the layout is wonderful! I can't say that I have a favorite stamp set as of yet but I do love the Designer Papers, Simply Scrappin' Kits, and the accessories. There is some fun looking glitter combinations in there, too! I definitely see one or two hostess sets that I'd like to own too! If you need a copy of the catalog just let me know!

Have a great Saturday everyone!



Card Recipe:
Stamps: Hanna Stamps Perfect Present
Ink: Pumpkin Pie and Adirondack Pitch Black
Card stock: Taken with Teal, Bali Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, PaperTrey Ink White
Accessories: Heart Brads, Copic Markers, and Dimensionals

Me? Nah!

The Recipe For Lorie

3 parts Wisdom 2 parts Fun 1 part Craftiness Splash of Dignity Finish off with a squeeze of lime juice

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

I made an RAK and received an RAK!!!

A couple of times a month there are calls on the yahoo groups that I belong to for special RAK's to be sent out. Most often it is when a family member or friend is having a hard time of things and the person would like to support them. Sometimes I send a card and sometimes I don't. Well, this last time I decided to send a card. The call came out through my Bellaholicsanonymous group but I decided to use one of th Happy Hopper images that I had gotten while ago. The top card is what I came up with. I have to say that I'm totally in love with the card. You can see the recipe for this card HERE. There is just something about this card that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy...uh, duh Lorie! It could be that the fuzzy bunny is in a hot tub of its own therefore the warm and fuzzy feeling!!!

The RAK I received is from Keri Lee over at the blog Pink Lemonade. She is also a major player at Cornish Heritage Farms. Keri writes the technique tutorials for CHF among other things. Have you been to CHF recently? Not to long ago they had a new release night and the fantastic broad stripe background you see on the card in the picture is one of the new stamps! You should definitely go check them out! Thank you, Keri! I have already looked at the magazine and found a ton of things I'd like to try...including your creations! Make sure you all go check out Keri's blog and CHF as I know you'll love both!!!

Have a great Friday everyone!

Gift Sets

I'm excited to show you some gifts sets that I made for my friends this year. While they are the same in content they are different in design. Each of the gift sets include a Coaster Calendar, an Altered Binder Clip, and an Envelope Album. All three of these items are so easy to make and are so impressive to give! I also LOVE how they are the same but look so different. I think you could tell me which one is for each age group as three age groups are represented by these gifts.

So...why don't you guys guess! The first one to get it correct will get a little something in the mail from me. What could it be? You'll just have to wait and see if you are the winner! To help just a little I will say that the three age groups are 50's, 30's, and 20's.

Please leave a comment on this post. As I said...first one to guess correctly...wins! Good luck!

The first post was a winner! Holy Cow! Mathstamp...please e-mail me your information so that I can get a little something out to you! 20's is Trista's Memories...how fun is that set in the Cutie Pie paper! 30's is the Celebrate. The friend I made this for is very no nonsense and loved the colors! And, 50's is the family set. It was for the mom of the 30's gift. I don't really know her all that well but she really liked it so I picked the colors quite well. That one is made with an old Simply Scrappin' Kit called At Home...very nice, huh? I honestly thought the 30's and 50's would mess you guys up but I guess not! Should Mathstamp not reply to me within 36 hours I will choose a random winner from everyone else who responds!

Back to it!

While I am not going to show you a stamping project today I wanted to show you all 12 Days of Christmas that I received from Todd. It was hard to get a picture of all 12 boxes and their contents I think you get the idea! Try to ignore the messy counter behind the boxes...it did not come as a 12 Days gift! LOL!!

Also, Todd got me a stamping tool box for Christmas! We had seen it at a new scrap booking store in a neighboring town and he got it for me! I'm just thrilled and have already filled it to the brim with my stuff! I keep talking about when I get my stamp room it will be so nice but I guess I need to stop doing that as it is at least two years away! Funny thing is...I've already got the room all set up in my head! LOL!

I was just wondering...I have about 120 people that click onto my blog each day and on average only on or two comments each day (thank you Diane!). I was wondering what prompts you to leave a comment when you do? Just thinking a little (scary thought, huh?).

Anyway, enjoy your day after Christmas and go grab those deals!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Day 11! Woohoo!

On the 11th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me...12 (oops...he miss counted but that is good for me!) Studio G stamp sets! Oh, my gosh...you guys have no idea how exciting it was to open that box! I love these little stamp sets that you get for $1 from Craft Warehouse or Michael's. They apparently have a new series of these every now and then because I've never seen any of them! My two favorite I took a separate picture of. Unfortunately you can't see them well because of the shine but they are "We Are Family" that has 7 family members and little family designations with it like uncle, aunt, sister...you get the idea. SO CUTE! The other is "Chat*im*text" and it has a stamp that says chat*im*text and has a purse, pair of shoes, flowers, and a stamp that says call me! Now...if you know me at all you know those two sets are perfect for me! Other sets are "Thinking of You" (with a cute owl!), Birthday, Congrats, Thank You, Friends, Love, and Miss you. See? Just call me spoiled!!

And for the card today is a super easy card I made with some of the new Kim Hughes images from Cornish Heritage Farms. I wanted a simple way to say thank you to Todd for all the time and effort he's gone to with the fun 12 Days of Christmas this year. This is just a 3x3 card and was perfect for a short note. The designer paper is from the retired SU! paper pack called Love Me from last year. I thought the saying was appropriate because the fact that Todd will take the time to do this for me is so amazing. I so appreciate him and the things he does not only for me but for the kiddos too. I love ya lots, Todd! Here...how about a smoochy?

So...I hope you all have a great Christmas Eve! We have plans to go to church then to a friends house for a game night. What do you plan on doing? Leave me a message...I'd love to know!

I will probably post tomorrow but not until later in the day. Have a most amazing Joyful Jesus Birthday!

Dare to be fabulous!

I made this card yesterday with no one special in mind and it is interesting how it kind of took on a life of its own as it was being created. I absolutely adore this card. You can see what, exactly, it was made with HERE. It was fun using some of the things that Todd has gotten me for the 12 Days of Christmas. The Color Box inks are beautiful and oh so easy to use. Although they are more wet then I thought they would be going on. It dries VERY fast though! I think the thing I like the most though is the ribbon. I used White Taffeta ribbon and dyed it with the Warm Red Chalk ink. It matches the other card stock perfectly!

I have a pretty busy morning in store for me. I would also REALLY like to get the cookies made that I've been jonesin' for. Hopefully this afternoon. I have all the stuff just need to get the gumption to do it. You see...I don't really bake well so the cookies need to be almost idiot proof for them to work out for me. For example...I can ruin chocolate chip cookies...crazy aren't I? Oh, well...I'm going to try!

I hope you all have a super Sunday!

Happy Mail!

I got happy mail today that I just had to show you guys! For the last couple of months I have participated in Courtney's RAK club. I get a name of a person to send a card to and then someone gets my name. The only requirement is to send a card but the last two months my very sweet RAKers have sent me wonderful packages of fun stuff! Today I got an envelope from Sweden...how cool is that? It is from Sari who got my name in Courtney's RAK club this month! Included is the very cute House Mouse card that you see on the right, a couple of gorgeous die cut cards, some Prima's, ribbon, bottle caps, and most fun looking a bottle of Platinum Liquid Pearls. I have Liquid Pearls in Petal Pink and White Opal so this Platinum will be an excellent addition. I can SO see using it with the Basic Gray Card Stock from SU!

so much Sari for making me smile today! I was really needing it right when it came! I have linked Sari's blog to her name above. Make sure you all go check it out!!!

Days 9 and 10!

9th Day of Christmas...Oh, my goodness...aren't those penguins cute? Can you imagine the patience that Todd had to have to cut out the two penguins and snowflakes to decorate the top? What a guy, huh? The 9th day was 6 super cute little rolls of ribbon and 3 Starburst candies (not in the picture 'cuz I'd already ate them!).

On the 10th Day of Christmas (today) are some really cute bugs to use as embellishments on my cards. I rarely buy bugs but these are CUTE!!! Isn't that paper amazing? I wish I had a full sheet of it as it would make some very nice cards! See the happy holidays on the left side? That is a sticky die cut that he placed on a paper clip to close the top of the bag...smart, huh?

And then...my art for you to see is a very simple card made for Kyler's teacher. I just used PaperTrey Ink's White Card Stock (110 lb, super white and only $6 for 40 sheets!). This card stock is my preferred white for things such as no layer cards and water coloring. Anyway, I used the Merry Christmas from the set Many Merry Messages and stamped it in Night of Navy in the middle of the card. Then I used Snow Burst with its different sized snowflakes for the images. I added some bling (which you can't see in the picture) in the form of my Spica Glitter Pen and that was that. Easy but still a nice looking card.

Is everyone all set for Christmas now? Only a couple of shopping days left if not so...get to it! LOL! We are supposed to get 2-3 inches of snow today so I should have plenty of time to stamp today!

Have a very nice Saturday!

And the winner is....

#8
It has been a rough year for our family with unemployment, illness, miscarriage, etc. So we are just getting together and Santa will come and fill stockings. We are only exchanging one gift that has to be handmade.
Darlene

Congratulations Darlene! At the end I decided to have my husband (who, after all is a husband and has the biggest heart of anyone I kknow) choose a winner. As I told Darlene in an e-mail...handmade gifts are the best and I know that my husband totally appreciates those things I make him.

Darlene - I'll e-mail you but if you see this first please give me your snail mail address so I can put the set in the mail to you tomorrow!

NOW, to everyone else. I just want you to know how warmed I was by the warm thoughts and love that you all have for your husbands. God has gifted each of you with a person who loves you more than anything else, the person for whom we were created, and for that we are ALL very blessed.

I wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas!

#31

I just had to share with you all that I'm #31 on the Top 50 Stamping Sites list! There is a link for it on the left side of my blog...go check it out! I'm excited because I didn't think I was listed at all! Yay!

I thought I'd show you a Snowbunnybella card that I made last week. I think this is my favorite Bella stamp. For some reason I just have lots of fun coloring and making her all cozy in her coat. It could be that she reminds me of my neighbor who moved here from Arizona and wears a big fluffy coat like that in the winter, too! Anyway, I used some of the Basic Grey Figgy Pudding paper, Soft Sky and Bravo Burgundy card stock, and some bling for accents. I also made her "fur" parts fluffy by using some white flocking on them. The flocking also went on her tights too 'cuz I thought they would look like cotton or wool tights then. I have a couple of more Bella's coming my way so maybe you'll see something new soon!

Don't forget you have until 5:00 p.m. (west coast time) to enter in for my blog candy. Go HERE for the deets. Oh, and PLEASE leave me some way to get a hold of you!

More Days of Christmas!

Good Morning everyone! I have two days of the 12 Days of Christmas to show you today! Day 7 is the one with the striped paper with the bling. It is gorgeous bling too but I couldn't figure out what made it work for day 7 and Todd explained it to me last night. There are 7 rows of bling on each card! The card on the front has squares, circles, and hearts and the back card has colored circles in different sizes. VERY cool!




Today is day 8 and although Todd wasn't thrilled with what he got for me for today I sure am! It is a package of mini blossoms from making memories (like prima's) with brads for attaching. I love them because they are kinda Rose Red and Pretty In Pink colors...again...gorgeous! I am so stinkin' blessed!





The last picture is a picture of the little gift set that I made for Kyler's teacher. As is typically of a 9 year old boy he had no clue her favorite color or anything like that. I don't think she is a girlie girl so I went with making her a calendar and binder clip with the new Bali Breeze designer paper. The colors are Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, and Taken with Teal. In addition to these she will also receive in her bag 3 flavors of hot chocolate (Kyler did know that she doesn't drink coffee which is good to know 'cuz I would've bought a Starbuck's card!) and some candy cane Hershey's Kisses. I really hope she likes them! I was lying in bed last night, though, thinking about the fact that I hadn't made a card to go with the bag so guess what I'm going to do when I'm done here? LOL!

Today is the last day of school for my kids before winter break so I also have a cheese plate to make up for Kyler's party this afternoon and a couple of errands to run. Did you know the movie Underdog came out yesterday? I'm going to try and rent that today for our weekend movie. Wish me luck!

Have a thankful Thursday all!

Don't forget about the blog candy HERE!

Spoiled...

The definition of spoiled:

to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.: to spoil Lorie by pampering her. Really...it said just that!

It has been quite the last few weeks of spoiling me! First, my secret angel was soooo good to me. Now, Todd is spoiling me with the 12 Days of Christmas, my friend Courtney sent me a fabulous Christmas package and now yesterday, yesterday I got spoiled again!

In the mail was a package from my friend Jennifer who lives in Colorado Springs. If you didn't know Jennifer is a friend that I met on SCS. We became fast friends and we had dinner when I was in Colorado visiting Todd a couple of years ago. Then, the coolest thing ever...she came out here to visit me! It was such a fun time and I'm so thankful for Jennifer and her friendship! Love ya girlie! Now...back to my spoiling package! The top picture is a picture of the entire gift right out of the package. Isn't it fun? Do you see that cute jewelry looking box? Well, look to the right and you'll see what is inside...12 Hershey's Nuggets...besides being yummy and a cute box and all...5 of the nuggets have snowmen stamped on them and then the names of all 5 of my family members! Isn't that just so stinkin' cute? Oh, did I mention that like all of my fabulous friends Jennifer is UBER talented?!

I also want to show you the fabulous card that was in the Christmas package! Isn't this just the most amazing, gorgeous card? I'll link you HERE to Jennifer's directions of how she made it on SCS but you'll just have to drool at a picture as it is a one of a kind Jennifer creation and it is MINE!!! I would love to link you to Jennifer's blog but she is yet to have one of those but what about her SCS gallery? Would you like to see that? Oh, okay...HERE it is!!! Oh, and you know what Jennifer told me? She told me that I have to wait until Christmas to open my packages. I told her I was stamping my foot and didn't want to wait! (See what I mean by I'm spoiled?) But, alas I will wait although I do think I have some idea of what it is!

Thank you so much Jennifer! My life is better because of you and the other other friends that I've made through this wonderful craft called card making!

Side note...today is the 7th Day of Christmas but...no box yet so we'll all have to wait and see what happens! Don't forget to sign up for my blog candy HERE!

Oh, and see the new comment "thingy" I put on the posts? If you'd like to tell me how you feel about a post but don't want to actually comment you can just click on one of the pictures! Just scroll over the top of the pictures for a definition of what each picture means. Have fun!

On the 6th Day of Christmas

Everyone now...On the 6th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me....6 colors of Color box Fluid Chalk Ink (Alabaster, Rose Coral, Creamy Brown, Warm Red, Azurite, and Charcoal...great colors, huh?). I have looked at these inks a million times but I have never bought them before. So guess what I'll be doing today? Trying out my new inks! If you have any tips or hints on using them please let me know! Don't you love the presentation on this box? The ribbon with the rhinestone brad? WAY cool!






I had an amazing mail day yesterday! We got something like 6 Christmas cards in the mail (a record so far!) and I got a very cool looking wrapped box from my friend Courtney. What was in that box you may ask? A Christmas gift for me! I was so excited I just ripped the box open. She made me ornaments! I LOVE the clear bulb ornaments that Courtney has been making. She makes them with the Holy Triptych set and just colors them so brightly and beautifully. Oh, and I got some little treats wrapped in Dashing paper with cute Do Not Open until Christmas decoration on them (like I'm going to wait!). They are Weight Watchers little cakes to enjoy and not feel guilty about eating! SO cool! Thank you so much Courtney! You simply must go visit Courtney's blog at Created By Courtney! Along with her awesome stamping you will find some really funny Corbin-ism's (funny things her son says)!

Don't forget to check out my blog candy in THIS post!

Have a terrific Tuesday everyone!

Five Golden Rings

While it is not 5 golden rings (and I am more than okay with that) it is "Five colors to frame, two ways to do it, and some love". The little frames in the package are glossy! What a fun accessory to get to try! I can totally see myself using these with my Bella and Hanna stamps! I do have a little card for Todd that I'd like to show you guys but I do know he looks at the blogs and I haven't given it to him yet so please just wait...'cuz it is cute!

The next picture is of some super easy thank you notes that I made yesterday. You see, I am in charge of the nursery at my church and the paid person that works for us is currently on winter break with her family so for basically the entire month of December the nursery needs to be run by volunteers. Seems easy enough right? Well, sometimes (most of the time) volunteers are hard to come by and since I can't literally do two things at one time when I'm at church I want to make sure that those who help out with the nursery this month know that I appreciate it immensely! The thank you's on the inside of the star are from the new Hostess level 2 set called Thanks Tons. I just found a star shape on Google Pictures cut it out and then made a template with some card stock. Then I sponged the So Saffron for the star, stamped the Thank You stamp in Pumpkin Pie, added some Pumpkin Pie ribbon, sponged the edges with Pumpkin Pie, and done! On the inside is a stamped thank you sentiment and then a personal note.

For all you wives out there I will be posting something on my personal blog that I think will bless you. Please give me a little while to post it and then go see!

Oh, and a side note...I'm giving away some blog candy! I've been trying to wait for 50,000 hits but I'm just not patient enough SO comment on this post about a special something you are doing for your husband (or significant other) this Christmas. If you don't have a husband than tell me about something special you are doing for someone in your life. Your blog candy will be the retired set...Small Script. I don't have a picture of the set but it is new and unmounted and you can see some samples with it HERE. You have until Friday December 21st at 5:00 p.m. west coast time to post your comment. I'll have my husband choose his favorite and put the set in the mail to you on Saturday so please leave me some way to contact you so that I can do it right away and please number your comment (for example #1...then add your comment)!

Let There Be Peas On Earth

Since my 12 Days avenger hasn't shown up yet...I have a funny for you guys today! My UBER talented cyber friend Dawn Griffith made the super cute card on the right with the SU! Level 1 Hostess Set called Event Full (I don't have it but I think that is what it is called.). Isn't it just the cutest thing? I so have to figure out a way to make one like that!

Well, while shopping last night we were walking through the ladies department and what did my eye spy? This incredibly cute t-shirt that says the same thing! I immediately thought of Dawn and her super cute card and had to have the shirt. Thankfully it was on sale and that made it a little easier to talk Todd into buying it. I mean, really, how do you tell your husband you must have a shirt because it reminds you of a card that Dawn made? LOL! So, just know Dawn, that every time I wear my shirt...I'll be thinking of you! Oh, and another thing? It is a good thing both the shirt and the card are so cute 'cuz I really don't like peas!

I hope my story gives you a little chuckle this Sunday morning to get you started on a super fantastic day!

***Edited***

On the 4th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me...4 rolls of ribbon and did you notice that designer paper today? It is soooo pretty! The poinsettia's are all embossed with glitter! On the top flap Todd cut a poinsettia and holly and used them as decoration. What a guy, huh?

3rd Day of Christmas

On the 3rd Day of Christmas my true love gave to me...fun, epoxy stickers! Todd and I saw these at Michael's and I bought some for my Secret Angel but none for myself. He's so good to me...isn't he? Instead of three french hens I get circles of love!!!








My stamping project for you to see today are these neat mini photo albums. They are made with the cardboard from a cereal box, On Board Mini Album page protectors, and the Creative License and Round Up Simply Scrappin' Kits. I made these for little Christmas gifts for a couple of friends. I think they match their personalities perfectly! They are 3 5/8" x 4 1/2" so you can tell they would be perfect for a purse sized brag book!

Please note: I will not be e-mailing people individually with directions so please check out the website I purchased the CD from. HERE is a direct link to the CD. I hope you understand.

I hope you all have a super Saturday!