Smile!

Smile! Saycheeseabella is all set to take your picture! When Em (the queen Bella) revealed this bella some time ago I knew I had to have it. I love to take pictures...even though I'm not that good at it most of the time. Isn't this an interesting color combination? This color combo (the Purely Pomegranate and Pale Plum) is on the list of color combinations that SU! supplied us with for the 07/08 In Colors. For some reason I didn't order the sentiment that goes with this Bella so I used my PTI Paper Trey set and came up with this sentiment. I used my Pearl Baubles in the corners of the Pale Plum card stock and my Mega and Giga circle punches for my Bella image. The Pale Plum patterned paper came from a pack of Adhesive Mats that I got from Target. Really...this entire pack of 40 mats in 5 patterns has adhesive on the back side! Best part is that the pack was under $5.00! Very cool!

Was anyone else at the PJ party last night on the Bella forum at SCS? I was there! It is always interesting to try and participate in those things as most of the time the threads move very quickly and it is hard to keep up. The thing I like the most...besides the new stamps that were revealed...is that 3 challenges where put up during this partay! There is a color challenge, sketch challenge, and an inspiration challenge. You can go HERE to get to the forum and then just look for the challenges. If you decide to take part in them you have until Sunday to post them to the thread and you may just WIN some of the new stamps that were released last night! Please link me to them through the comments section here so I can see too!

AND, not to mix up stamp companies but guess who else released their new stamps last night? Yep, that is right...Hanna Stamps! Kristi released the new set called Domestic Goddess for purchase. It is absolutely adorable! I love the saying with this set. It is "A clean house is the sign of a lazy stamper." How funny is that? She also released some of her Riley Moose stamps which are so cute too! Coffee Riley is my favorite followed closely by Plane Riley. She has Riley both mounted on wood and unmounted so perfect for everyone! HERE is Hanna Stamps SCS forum. Kristi just had her birthday last Friday and she had a fun birthday party! There were some challenges there too that you can try.

Okay, so...have I given you enough things to click on and go see today? Can you tell I love these stamp companies?

I hope you all have a great Thursday!

Two Yummies!

Just when I decide to be really good with my calorie intake what does my husband bring me home? These incredibly yummy looking Chocolate Skittles! Have you guys seen these yet? The flavors are Smores, Vanilla, Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Pudding, and Brownie Batter. I know...decadent! Can you believe I haven't eaten them yet? Soon though...very soon!

Look at this super cute RAK that I got from Tanya the other day! Say hello to Clickabella (that is the name right?). My favorite part is the sparkly top! Isn't it just adorable. I know I sit on my computer with a sparkly top on! Oh, if you could only see me in my pink robe and pink slippers...not nearly as cute as Bella I can assure you! Tanya...you have totally made my week! Thank you so much! I may have to frame her (and buy one of these Bella's for myself!)! Oh, and just a reminder...I did NOT make this card. I used my bella watermark so that it was watermarked...that is it!

I hope you all have a happy hump day! See ya tomorrow!

A cute little mouse...

Here is another card that we made on Saturday (notice my watermark is not on it...still can't figure out why it won't work). This is a very basic card with a little twist as the card opening is the white piece of card stock and opens on the right side. We used fun flock on the brown mouse areas and baubles for our accent on the ribbon. Simple but cute I must say. Oh, and the card size is 4x4 on the white. The red is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 which still fits into a regular envelope and doesn't cost extra to send...that is always a bonus, huh?

I've got another busy day ahead but thankfully not as busy as Sunday was! I'm facilitating a new evening woman's study at church and we are going to go through the Max Lucado book Facing Your Giants. I love Max's style of writing. It is fun and easy to read. If you'd like to participate I'd be happy to set up a chat room to discuss what we go over every week. Just let me know!

I hope you all have a super Tuesday! We are getting a little snow but nothing any huge deal right now although we are supposed to get 2"-4". It is definitely still winter in Washington!

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Courtney...here goes!

Five things I was doing 10 years ago
1. Dealing with my mom's cancer and death.
2. Changing jobs.
3. Being pregnant and all that comes with it.
4. Living in a little duplex with 2 bedrooms for 4 people (plus the little one to come).
5. If you can believe it that time of my life was actually very good!

Five things on my to do list today
1. Stamp at least two cards. Working on it!
2. Send off some stuff for work. Done!
3. Compliment my boys on their new haircuts. Soon!
4. Go to a church meeting tonight.
5. Play Sorry with my boys.

Five things I will do when I’m a millionaire
1. Pay off all debt.
2. Travel
3. Invest for the future
4. Invest in my boys future.
5. Give a substantial portion to my church.

Five things I’ll never wear again
1. A bikini.
2. Glasses
3. A ring on each finger (no offense to anyone here)
4. A short skirt.
5. Tons of eye makeup. Remember that in the 80's?

Five of my favorite toys
1. My computer
2. My stamp area
3. My cell phone
4. My Pampered Chef cookware.
5.

Five banes of my existence
1. The I'm just kidding about everything experience in the teen years.
2. Waiting for my stamping "paycheck"
3. When my boys argue about stupid things.
4. Some past things that keep coming up in my life today.
5. Honestly...my thighs!

I'm supposed to tag some other people but I'll have to get back to you guys on that. In the meantime if you like to do these things...feel free! Just make sure you link here so I can read your responses!

I love this box!

This was one of the projects from the Sweet Treats stamp camp on Saturday. It is called a criss-cross box. I found the template on Nichole Heady's blog (PaperTrey Ink) some time ago and just now decided to put it into action. After I printed out the template I looked at it like it was a foreign object as it looked more difficult that I had thought. Well...it isn't! Because I'm not very good with projecting how something will look after it is done (think furniture in an empty room...can't do that) I went ahead and scored and cut my box out first then I went back and stamped at the edges of the two flaps and the front flat section. I used the XOXO stamp from the SU! set Sealed With A Kiss. Then for the front I used one of the sentiments from the brand new SU! Level 1 hostess set called For A Friend. Like on Nichole's box I used the SU! Tab Punch for a way to easily pull the candy out of the box. VERY FUN! The picture doesn't show the detail very well but I hope you like it anyway!

Well, I have decided on a winner for the renaming of my blog candy. Ready?

Linda SS said...

Your card is lovely, but I am so saddened for that family. How about some Glory from Lorie. You can put something in from of it like heavenly glory from Lorie, glittery glory from Lorie, etc.

I love the Glory from Lorie. Doesn't it feel like that when you get "candy" in the mail? Glorious? So, Linda...I hope you will see this and e-mail me your address so I can get you some Glory from Lorie out to you! :o)

Have a great Monday everyone!

A Good Time

And a good time was had by all at my Sweet Treats stamp camp. Okay, I had a good time! Hopefully Debby and Janel did too! This is just a little goodie bag that we put together yesterday. Easy schmesy and a great bag for your kids to give to friend for Valentine's Day. Inside that cello bag is my favorite Valentine's candy...Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts...they are heaven on earth! I have a couple of other projects to show you to but like yesterday I still am unable to figure out while my watermark isn't working in PSE 6. I'm still asking for help if anyone knows!

I have quite a busy morning this morning as I'm teaching children's church, adult Sunday school, and then facilitating a nursery family get together at the church too. Then this evening we have an all church meeting and Jon's mission trip fund raising dinner. The good news is that we are all healthy and the boys don't have school tomorrow so we'll all be able to sleep in...yay!

I'm going to leave the blog candy renaming open for today too. I think I've picked a favorite but I'll give some more people a chance to try. Go HERE to the original post to place your comment!

Also, while searching on the Internet I found this poem that I like. What do you think? It is almost what I'm looking for and will work if I don't find the exact one. I'd really like to find something that is from a daughter. This is from a family so it will work but I'm still on the hunt.

In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; For part of us went with you, the day God called you home. You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide; And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side. Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same, but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

Nothing?

So I don't do a give away today? Weird! You know how ya get into habits and can't stop, right? Okay, one more! I want to re-name my blog candy. My blogging friends have things like JoAnna's Jems and Naptime Nuggets. How about you guys help me pick out a new name. The person that comes up with the one that I like the best will get a little something from me. So...Lorie's ????

My card today is a sympathy card that I made for a family here in town whose 4 year old son died in a sledding accident last week. I do not know the family but Todd works with the mom. Todd's department provided some traffic control for the funeral procession and he said there were many people there as I imagined there would be. Having been through losses of my own I can sympathize with the grieving process they have entered in to. I have not had a child die though and cannot imagine that in any way, shape or form. All I can do is pray a lot for that family. If you'd like to see what I used to make this card just click HERE.

Talking about all of this reminds me I need to ask for your help with something. Next month marks the 10th anniversary of my mom's death. The thought of this just amazes me and greatly saddens me as well. I would like to put a poem or something like that in the paper as a memorial type of thing but just don't know what to use. If you have something that has touched you in the past will you please pass it along to me? Just e-mail me or if it is short place it in the comments section. I really appreciate your help!

One more plea for help. I was going along just fine with my new Photo Shop Elements and my watermarks when all of a sudden it doesn't work the same way. I can't get them onto my pictures like I did yesterday morning with today's card. I was starting to like the program but that feeling is quickly going away! Please let me know if you can help! Thanks!

Have a super fabulous Saturday!

Final Days Winner(s)

Alright, the final day of give aways is over. Thank you so much for playing along with me and I hope you continue to check out what my blog has to offer! I decided that since I don't have to spend the postage on yesterday's winner (yay! Debby lives in town with me and will be at my house tomorrow!) I would pick TWO winners for today...are ya excited? Okay...the winners are...

Sara said...

Nov. 12, 2006! Congratulations!
Sara

AND

Melissas said...

Sunday, November 12, 2006 was your first post. thanks for sharing with us for so long!

Sara will receive the now retired but new and unmounted Noteworthy stamp set and Melissas will receive the new retired but new and unmounted Burst Into Bloom stamp set! I just need Sara and Melissa to e-mail me with their snail mail addresses so I can get these out to them!

The final day

First, a card. I've been playing with my Happy Heart Day bundle all week and I saw this layout on another blog only as a bag topper. I liked it enough to turn it into a smaller note card. I love the nice clean layout of this card and the smaller size makes it perfect for your child to write a note in to his/her teacher for Valentine's day.


Now for the last candy of the week. I would like for you to tell me the month, day, and year that I started my blog after all that is what my excitement is about! I'm not completely sure what the prize will be today but you know you'll like it! Now, don't just guess what everyone else is guessing. Take some time to look for it on my blog and maybe you'll just find something new about my blog that you didn't know! Today's fun ends at 8:00 p.m.

Have a super wonderful Friday and I'll see you all back here at 8 tonight!

Day 4 Winner!

It is that time again...time for a winner! My birthday is Oct 9 and I was born in 1969. I am a very proud 38 year old and I'm looking forward to being 40! Jon picked a number between 1 and 12 and it was 3. Number 3 is...

Anonymous said...

You were born on Thursday, Oct 9,1969 in Burlington Iowa :o) to Cheryl and (can't remember your dad's name sorry) Brookhiser (sp)
Debby

So...do you think Debby knows me? And, no it is not rigged! Congratulations Debby! I'll get your goodies to you on Saturday. Just remind me if I forget...you know how I am!

See you tomorrow for the last day of goodies!

Day 4

Whew! Yesterday was a weird day for me! I woke up just feeling awful! I had a horrible headache and a tummy that did not like food sitting in it. I felt much better around 8:00 p.m. which was nice because I was NOT looking forward to going to bed and I was TIRED! I'm feeling much better now though! Still tired and will take it easy today but much better.

I just thought I'd show you a Valentine's Card. Isn't it cute? I wish I could take credit for it but it was a card that a fellow SU! demo sent to SU! and they put it on their Demo website. So it is (almost) a total CASE. I used my Spica glitter pen on the butterfly and elephants heart to jazz it up a little and the butterfly's wings are cut out and popped up a little. Anyway, super cute, super easy!

Hmmm...did you come back to see about Day 4's give away? Okay, okay...here is your question and this one is easy! When is my birthday? I would like you to give me the month, day, and since I am not ashamed of my age...the year. . From all of the correct answers ('cuz I know you guys know this answer) I'll have Jon pick a number and if you are the winner you'll receive 3 sentiment wood mounted stamps. These are VERY cute, ladies! I may even throw in some embellies so...go to it...when is my birthday?

I hope you all have a super Thursday...check back after 8:00 p.m. for today's winner!

Day 3 Winner

Wow you guys are good...almost! Seems that most everyone thinks that Jon is 16 when in fact he is 15 with his learner's permit and will be 16 at the end of February! The correct ages are:

Scott - 20
Jon - 15
Kyler - 9
Todd - 41

Today's winner is....

Kathy H said...

Hi! It's so neat that you son is into stamping. My little 5 year old son loves it to. Thanks for the chance for your awesome candy. Kathy... jellychick@yahoo.com

Here is my guess:
Kyler 9
Jon 15
Scott 20
Husband Todd 41

Congrats Kathy! You even got Todd's age correct! You have 48 hours to get back to me with your address!

Thanks for playing everyone and come back tomorrow for day 4!

Day 3

Before we get into the blog candy for the day I thought I'd show you my son Jon doing some stamping and his finished card. He is going on a mission trip over spring break this year and we both felt it is important to send thank you notes to those that contribute monetarily to the trip. Of course, that meant he thought I was going to stamp some but it really meant that he was going to stamp some! Together we chose this simple card and I showed him how to stamp them (which is easy schmesy 'cuz these are wonderful clear stamps from Papertrey Ink called Out on a Limb...nice, huh?). He chose the Real Red for the flowers and I talked him into the wide grosgrain by telling him it finishes the card and I would tie them...LOL! Anyway, don't you think he's done a great job?!

Speaking of my boys...wanna win some candy today? Alright! Just comment and tell me how old each of my boys is. Easy! It is up to you whether or not you add Todd into the mix of my boys! Tee Hee! All answers that have all three ages correct will go into the hat for a new, unmounted Around The Block stamp set. You can click on the set name to go to the SCS gallery for that set. The cut off for today's candy will be 8:00 p.m. again. Good luck!

If anyone has any general tips about Photo Shop Elements 6 would you please e-mail me. Just tips that you find really helpful would be nice! The photos here are cropped and re sized in my new program but I know it can do more than that...just don't know what! Thanks! Have a super fantastic Wednesday everyone!

And the winner is...

Alright ladies...the correct anniversary date is July 27, 2001. Todd and I will be married for 7 years this July. I have put my husband through hell from time to time but he loves me anyway and I'm so grateful that I have him!

There were nine correct answers and I had Jon pick a number...he chose #4...the 4th correct answer is...

Annelies said...

I also think 27th July 2001!

Congratulations Annelies - you have 48 hours to get back to me and claim your prize! Stay tuned tomorrow for prize #3!!!

Day 2

Good morning! Today is day two of my celebration. Today you will win one of my Stampin' Round wheels. I have several sitting here (hence my not listing as several is a lot!) that I don't use a lot. The winner for todays little contest will receive the wheel of their choice from my pile! There are both Jumbo and Standard sized wheels and your selection will be good I assure you!

So...how do you win today? All you have to do is be the person that guesses closest to my anniversary date. I would like Month, Day, and Year Todd and I were married. If two (or more) people guess correctly I'll assign numbers to ya and then pull one from a hat. Fair? Good! Now...what is your guess? Oh, and this round will end this evening at 8:00 p.m. Pacific time.

I won't have a picture for you today BUT I am going to purchase Photoshop Elements today from Costco soooo I should be back to regularly posting pictures starting tomorrow! Yay! Don't forget to go to my post below to check out Quilt Nut Creations blog give away!

Do you like to quilt?

Do you like to quilt? Would you like to try quilting? If you do or would like to try hop on over to Quilt Nut Creations to win this great Quilted Table Runner Pattern and CUTE fabric! I asked if I could get a personal lesson included in the win! LOL! Now, go! Enter!

I know...I know...

I said I wasn't going to post this type of stuff anymore but my results have never been so good before either so I had to post it! LOL!

Your IQ Is 100

Your Logical Intelligence is Exceptional Your Verbal Intelligence is Above Average Your Mathematical Intelligence is Above Average Your General Knowledge is Average

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

Winner...Already!

Holy cow you guys! I already have a winner for today's blog candy! It is...

Cathy M said...

I just think your card is just to cute! Congrats on 50,000 hits.
Count me in on this sweet SU candy.
Thanks for a chance.

Cathy - Just e-mail me your snail mail info and I'll get the set out to you!

Everyone else...check back all week for more candy!

Sad and Glad!

I am SO sad the Packers lost last night in the NFC Championship game. They so totally should have won but alas...it didn't happen.

On the glad side...I made a Bella card for the birthday swap that I'm in. I'm not sure I'm totally in love with this and may make a couple of changes but I like the overall card and the layout. I used Cakeabella along with a happy birthday sentiment from Bella. The designer paper is the new Berry Bliss from SU! and it is just to die for! The colors are Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa but for some reason my PP Copic isn't even close to the color of the paper. I'm going to have to check the numbers again. What I do like is how the ribbon is under the sentiment this time. I think that is different. I so love that PP satin ribbon and truly wish SU! would have kept it current especially with paper like this! Anyway, I think she is a good start towards the card I will send.

For now I have to put Bella away though and concentrate on making some great stuff for my Sweet Treats stamp camp this weekend. I have the bonus project all set to go but I'm lacking on oh, I don't know...everything else. I'm sure it will all come together just fine though.

Did you notice my hit counter? Only 78 more hits til 50,000. How about a little blog candy? The person who posts a comment with the hit counter number closest to 50,000 will get the first bit of blog candy I'm going to give away this week. They will receive a Small Script stamp set...brand new, unmounted! Even if you already have this set I'm sure you know someone who doesn't and you could gift it to them. I'll be giving away more blog candy each day through Friday!

RAK from Katie

Okay, is this not an amazing Bella card? YEAH!!! This is the RAK I got from Katie Skiff (click her name to go to her blog) who is the moderator of the Bellaholics Anonymous group. Katie does a fantastic job and I think I can speak for everyone on that group that Katie is just the nicest, most encouraging person. I think when I opened this up and put it on my stamp table that I accidentally marked the wonderful main image. I hope she will forgive me...both Bella and Katie...LOL!

Thanks for making my day and welcoming to the moderator group Katie!

Oh, and I just noticed I'm nearing 50,000 hits on my blog...wow! When I get there be ready for some blog candy give aways!

I'm here!

Just a little note to let you know that I haven't fallen off the earth. Yesterday just got away from me and I didn't get a chance to edit any pictures. I will be editing two pictures this afternoon so I will be back later. Only two more days until I get my new software...woohoo!

Oh, and GO PACK!!!!

New Feature To My Blog

Morning ladies! I do not have artwork for you yet today...no matter how many times I willed it to happen...I wasn't getting a vibe from the paper and stamp I'm trying to work for! Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I've added a Category feature to the blog. If you are looking for a specific card or would like to search by company you can just click on that company in the Category area on the left side of my blog. I've gone back and labeled my posts from December on and while it doesn't really take that long I think that will be as far as I go. I really hope you enjoy this new feature!

Hopefully I'll be back later today with artwork. If not...I'll see you tomorrow!

A card and some news...

The card and the news have to do with each other so I can have a cohesive post. But, if you know me...that won't happen. Anyway...I signed up to participate in a Bella Birthday Swap. I make 5 bella or fella birthday cards and get 5 back. Good idea, right? I thought so too! LOL! Anyway, I decided to take two spots and use one fella and one bella. The card today is what I came up with for Golfafella. I thought it would be good to use that stamp so then I'll have Jon's birthday card already for next month! Double duty stampin...gotta love it! Anyway, I used Golfafella and the birthday saying that accompanies it and the Bella sketch for the week which can be found HERE. I didn't use much for accessories because guys don't like that kind of thing. Jon will think I'm stretching it with the ribbon but the gifts will take his thoughts away from that anyway! I used the Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon sort of as grass on the main image. What do you think? Good or silly?

The news is...I am going to be a moderator on the Bellaholics Anonymous yahoo group that I belong to! I'll be answering questions about the group when they come up. It will be so fun to be more involved with the group. I belong to several yahoo groups and I have to honestly say that the Bellaholics group is the best one. There has never been any sort of the in group fighting that sometimes happens. Only encouragement, excitement, and Bella! So, that is kinda cool, right? I know that I'm excited and hope that I will do a good job!

Well, you all have a fantastic Thursday!

Awww...isn't this cute?

So, my blogging friend, Dawn, had a little contest on her blog to win this super cute card. You see, her husband had bought her something for her birthday that she had never dreamed of owning and we were to guess what it was. We...knowing her husband the way I do (which is only through the blog...LOL!) I guessed that he had gotten her a Cricut (pronounced cricket) and guess what...He did! The card's main image is from Happy Heart Day, the set we'll be using in my stamp camp on the 26th. Dawn used her Cricut to makes the hearts next to the mouse. So, so cute isn't it? If you have not already checked out Dawn's blog it is a must for daily viewing. I have linked you to it at the beginning of the paragraph.

Speaking of the stamp camp on the 26th...as soon as my order comes on Thursday expect to see some glimpses of what we'll be making. It is going to be a fun time!

I hope you have a great Wednesday!

Oh, yaaahhh...woohoo!

We've got photos! I finally went in and cropped a couple of photos so I could share a couple of cards that I've gotten recently. This super cute card made with the SU! Level 3 hostess set called Time Well Spent is from one of my Canadian friends, Diane. See the cute images? I love them! I'm not sure who the stamp is from but I'm sure when Diane gets back from Jamaica she will tell us! She made sure she told me she would be there when I was reading the card, too! Stinker! She did tell me that she'd have a non-alcoholic drink for me while there though and I soooo appreciate that! This was just such a pleasure to receive in the mail and I really hope she and her husband are having a great time! Her niece, Shannon, sometimes visits my blog too so maybe if she sees this she will let us know if she has heard from Diane. Well...Shannon? Thanks so much Diane!

I hope you enjoy this card and I'm so glad to have something to share with you! Have a fantastic Tuesday everyone!

If you give a girl a stamp...

While I don't have a picture for you today I thought all my blogging friends would enjoy and identify with this story. It is written by Tracy Harp. Just click on her name to go to her blog...you'll love it!

If You Give a Girl a Stamp
By Tracy Harp

If you give a girl a stamp she‘ll want to make a card…she’ll need an ink pad to go with it. She will spend hours pouring over colors trying to decide just the right one to buy. In the end she’ll decide she just can’t choose so she’ll buy them all.
Then she’ll remember she’ll need card stock to match the ink so she’ll quickly add four packs of assorted paper to her list, oh and white, vanilla, black and kraft!
Thinking about certainly celery, purely pomegranate, pale plum and pumpkin pie will make her hungry so she’ll go to the kitchen for a snack. While munching on cookies she’ll realize she needs ideas of what to do with the stamp. She’ll go to her computer and Google rubber stamping.
She’ll find a site called Splitcoaststampers. Wow!! So many techniques and ideas and a gallery that never ends. She’ll spend hours gazing at beautiful cards and projects. Her eyes will become dry from staring at the computer screen. She’ll go to the bathroom for some eye drops.
On the way, she’ll pass her family sitting at the kitchen table waiting for dinner. She’ll quickly heat up some leftovers and try to pretend she hadn’t forgotten. While talking about the days events, her son will bring out the school pictures he had gotten that day.
That will remind her she wanted a digital camera to take pictures of her cards so she can start her own SCS gallery. She’ll convince hubby of all the reasons the “family” needs a new camera. He will finally agree and she’ll head to the store to buy one.
On her way home she’ll pass by Joanns and remember she needs an Ott-Lite to go with the camera she just bought. While shopping for a light she’ll see aisles of paper, punches, embellishments and ribbon. She’ll pick out a cart full of items but realize they don’t carry THE punch she saw used on a card she saved to her favorites. She’ll return home and go back to Splitcoaststampers to find out where to get THE punch.
Her search will lead her to someone’s blog where she’ll see a Starbucks bottle made into a cute candy container. That will remind her she has some bottles in the recycling bin so she’ll go to the garage to rescue them from the trash.
While in the garage she’ll see her son’s bike which will remind her she needs to buy a new helmet for his birthday. Thinking about birthdays will remind her she wanted to bake some cupcakes for him to take to school.
As she walks to the kitchen she’ll pass by the table and see the stamp. The stamp will remind her that she wanted to make a card and she’ll probably want some…

Woohoo!

I need your help!

Well, my new computer is up and running but, unfortunately, the PC to PC transfer did not work the way Dell said it would and my Outlook Express contacts did not transfer. If you have my CHARTER e-mail address (not my yahoo address, please) will you please e-mail me at that Charter e-mail address so that I can add you into my contacts again. Also, if you know anything about PC to PC transfer from Dell please let me know as I'm very frustrated at this point.

Also, I don't have any photo editing software on the new computer yet (waiting for the $30 coupon from Costco to go into effect on the 21st of this month) so please be patient with my photos as I'll have to hook up the other computer in another room so that I can edit photos, save them on a memory stick and then bring them to my new computer.

Thanks so much for your help and patience everyone!

Look what I got!

Look what my blogging friend, Sari, gave me...a "you made my day award". How fun is that! Sari's blog is in my Google reader so I get to keep up with her whenever she posts. She lives in Sweden and does her blog in 3 (I think) languages so all her friends are able to read what is going on in her life...neat, huh? With this award I get to list 10 bloggers that make my day so here they are...

1. Courtney 2. Sari 3. Heidi 4. Beate 5. Dawn
6. Lisa 7. JoAnna 8. Lysa 9. Lauren 10.Kimberly

Some of these wonderful ladies are my friends and some are blogs that I visit daily and so appreciate their creativity, thoughtfulness, inspiration, and faith. Please take a couple of minutes to visit each of the blogs and I'm sure you'll understand why I picked them.

My card today is a card that my Jon asked me to make for his littlest brother who lives in Wisconsin. His brother is in kindergarten and just had surgery yesterday. This card is made with Beate's sketch challenge for this weekend (you can link to it above) and the retired Simply Scrappin' Kit Creative License. The sentiment is from my PaperTrey set. I think this card is just perfect...not to babyish, not to big...just right!

Just a reminder that my new computer comes today and that may mean that I'm off line until I can set it up and transfer some of the information over. It shouldn't affect my blog but I'm just not sure. Please forgive me if I'm not back for a couple of days.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Hanna is back!

I think I told you a couple of days ago that I was going to be getting a new Hanna Stamps set soon. Well, she arrived and she is looking fine! I just so love these stamps. The latest set is called Sweet Celebrations because it can be used for so many things. It looks like a Valentine set at first glance but with the teddy bear (baby), champagne glasses (birthday, anniversary, promotion), and roses (again birthday, anniversary) you can really make just about any type of card with this set! Also, different this time is the fact that Hanna has short hair. While I love her long hair in the other sets I think this short hair is VERY cute and VERY chic!

I got the designer paper and the i love you ribbon at my "local" craft warehouse while shopping yesterday. The dress is paper pieced with Soft Sky card stock and then I used my Clear Spica Glitter Pen on it to give it lots of shimmer. The "you're invited" is from my PaperTrey set and the lips are in the Sweet Celebrations set as wel Oh, and the lips are all sparkly too! I have to say that these stamps are some of the best clear stamps that I use. They ink up really well and give a great crisp, clear image. And, the fact that the entire set (14 pieces) is only $15.50 isn't too shabby either!

I hope you like Miss Hanna today and that you have a super fantastic Friday!

Nuts!

I got this super cute new stamp set from PaperTrey Ink the other day called My Punny Valentine. It has several fun images plus very cute sayings! There is a companion set that goes with it that has other sentiments for different occasions. For example this squirrel image also has these sayings...Nuttin' Better than a true friend and Go Nuts! It's your day. How fun, huh? HERE is the recipe.

We have gotten MORE snow today. The boys are out shoveling right now and I must say they are getting tired of it and I don't blame them! Here is a picture of our dog, Tara, out playing in the snow. She goes outside and shoves her snout in the snow then comes inside a drips water all over the place. Nice, huh? It is funny to watch though! Our other dog, Mitzi, is so low to the ground that she comes in with clods of snow stuck to her and she won't let us clean her off so she has to go into her kennel until she is all dry. She HATES it! Can't say I blame her though.

Anyway, have a great Thursday!

Embrace Life

Here is a card that I made recently that I wasn't going to show you 'cuz I don't like it very much. I love the layout itself but I just couldn't make the main images work for me. Anyway, I love the color combo of the Ginger Blossom DP that is new from SU! in the Spring/Summer collection. Ruby Red, Groovy Guava, River Rock, and Cameo Coral...beautiful!

Wanna hear my exciting news? Nope...I'm not pregnant!! LOL! I am getting a new computer on Saturday! Woohoo! While I'm VERY excited I do know that the migration process from one computer to the other can be a pain in the butt so if I am not online Sunday and Monday...you'll know why!

***Secret Sister Message***

Just a reminder that this is your first full week of being a secret sister! If you have not sent anything out yet you may want to do that soon. If you have received a card or package from your secret sis please post it to our thank you thread HERE. Please let me know if you have any questions!

You Float My Boat

I threw this card together last night with Beate's sketch challenge in mind. I detoured from the sketch a bit but I still like the card. You can see what I used to make this card HERE. I used non-traditional colors as I had this card in mind for Todd. There is a super cute heart in this set that I may go ahead and stamp, cut out, and add to the back of the boat as I think it will make much more sense then. If you see a picture of it with the heart and not plain it is just because I replaced the picture.

We have gotten lots of snow last night...at least 3" and the boys are out shoveling right now. It is still snowing and the forecast is that it is to snow the rest of the day with a total of 5"-8" today. It seems to be the light, fluffy snow but snow is snow and a pain to shovel. Now doesn't that make you want to live here?

I hope you all have a great Tuesday! See you tomorrow!

'Cuz I Feel Bad

You know...when I don't post first thing in the morning...I forget to do it at all. Especially on Mondays! Sorry about that! So here is a birthday card that I made for a friend with one of the Studio G sets that Todd got me on the 11th Day of Christmas. I am super happy with the simplicity of this card yet it is still cute! Colors are: Groovy Guava, Blue Bayou, Soft Skye, and Whisper White (although I should have used Shimmery White). You can see the accessories I used except maybe for the Spica glitter pen. You know...I have to say that pen is one of the best investments I've ever made!

I hope you all had a fantastic Monday and I'll "see" ya tomorrow!

Winobella

On the Bellaholics Anonymous Yahoo group each month there is something called the Bella Babe contest. It starts out with the reigning Babe posts a challenge of some sort for us to make a card with. We post our cards and then she chooses the card she likes the most and that person is the Bella Babe for the next month. Those of us that didn't win send the new Babe an RAK (something I have not been good at recently) during her reigning month. Although it is a neat idea I have never participated until this month. The challenge this month was Red, Black, and White (gray if needed). All of the cards that have been made so far are amazing so I'm sure mine won't win but you know what? I really like this card! It is clean, and it all matches so well. It doesn't have a sentiment so you could use it for birthday, thank you, anniversary...really for just about anything. The picture isn't the best so you can't see the Crystal Effects on the wine glasses and bottle or the glitter pen on the lace of the dress and the bow of the shoes...those effects make it all come together so nicely!

I have also been working on a card for a swap on one of my other Yahoo groups called SUAngels. It is a demo only group for business ideas and such. I decided to participate in the new catalog swap that has been posted. I bought the Nursery Necessities set on pre-order but haven't had a chance to use it so...I've chosen that one to use for the swap. I don't want to show the card yet but hopefully soon. Was that a tease enough? LOL!

Hope you all have a great Sunday! See you tomorrow!

Birthday Bella

Geeze...I'm having such a hard time getting good picture of my cards recently! Frustrating! I made this birthday card for a blogging friend of mine. Her birthday is today but I don't think she'll have received it on time. Since her favorite color is purple I went with a Lovely Lilac and Almost Amethyst color theme with a little sage shadow thrown in for extra pizazz. I used my never before inked Cakeabella and colored her in with my Copic markers. The lines around the Bella and under her feet are an idea I got from my friend Jennifer and I think it grounds her very well. The sentiment is from the Hanna set called Things Hanna Would Say which is a collection of 28 sentiments that all fit into the SU! word window punch...how cool is that? While you are at the Hanna Store make sure you check out the new set called Celebrations. WAY cute! Anyway, back to Cakeabella. I used my Spica glitter pen in clear to give this some sparkle. This is one card that I think will be well liked!

What have you accomplished in your stamping recently? Go ahead...link me to it! I'd love to see!

Hey, Cupcake!

While blufing (blog surfing) yesterday I stopped at one of my normal stops and saw that she had used a sketch from Stampin' Kub's blog. I thought it was worth a look see so I went to Kurtis's blog and website. Love it by the way...check it out. Anyway, he used a really simple sketch that I thought...no way...I can't do nice card with such a simple sketch. Or, at least I hadn't in the past. Well, taadaa! All the stamps on this card are from the Kim Hughes set called Hugs and Kisses and can be found at CHF. My supplies are listed HERE. My favorite part of this card is the cake part of the cupcake as I used brown flocking on it and it is SO cute in real life! There is a strange phenomenon in our house. If I make a card that I don't like and then show it to Todd and he really likes it...typically it is very well liked on SCS. When I love a card but Todd doesn't like it all that much and place it on SCS then it isn't very well liked. Frustrating! Anyway, I love this card, Todd isn't in love with it, it doesn't have many comments on SCS BUT both Kurtis and Keri Lee like it...what do you think? Am I right on this one or is Todd? It is okay to be honest just not mean, k?

***Enabler Alert...Enabler Alert!***

Oh, and I must tell you about this place I found for good buys on crafting stuff. It is called Scrapbook Pal. I placed an order through them on Wednesday and received it TODAY!! Free Priority shipping with orders over $25, too! All of their Stickles glitter glue are on sale for $1.75 each. I got Platinum, Baby Blue, Cotton Candy, and Yellow! I also got a couple of more Color Box Chalk Cat Eyes. And, my very first Ranger Distressing Inks. I have NO idea how to use them but I'm excited to try them. I picked out antique linen and tattered rose colors. If you know how to use them please leave me a comments so I can have some fun with them, too! Oh, and one more thing about Scrapbook Pal. I used their online customer service for a question and it was GREAT! I quickly got an operator and she answered my question and suggested an alternative for me. Overall...I say...type quickly to get to this store and buy LOTS!!! LOL!

Have a fantastic Friday everyone...Todd and I are going on a date tonight so I'm excited!!!

Thanks So Much

I made this fun card on Tuesday and believe it or not it came together so easily. I hadn't stamped in a couple of days and it usually takes me a little bit to get back into the groove. Anyway, Lorraine put up this layout as her first sketch challenge on her blog. I thought it would be fun to make a bright, happy card and I was right...it really put me back in the mood to stamp again! The recipe for this card is HERE.

I want to also share with you a link to Michelle's blog where she has a great organizational idea. She calls it her Inspiration Station. What she does is gathers all her materials to a specific area of her stamp room that have to do with the subject she will be stamping. In this case it is Valentine's Day but this idea would be so helpful at Christmas or just any time of the year. I am totally planning on doing this when I have my own stamp area...someday...in a couple of years...maybe. LOL!

I hope your Thursday is just great now go create! (Yes, that was lame!)

More Christmas Cards

And here are the other three handmade cards that I received this season.

The first, made with Lovely As A Tree, came from Todd's sister and her husband. I have to be honest here and say that I didn't know that she stamped so it was really neat to receive a handmade card from her. I love the direct to paper with the white craft pad on the edges...it makes it look like a picture window I think.

The second card is from a blog reader, Shannon. I love those penguins! Shannon was my Secret Angel from our swap awhile ago and is just the sweetest person! This card made me smile when I got it!

The third card is from a friend and co-worker Stephanie. She got the neat designer paper from a scrap booking show in the Seattle area and made this very pretty card with it. Both the greeting and the cardinal are heat embossed. A very pretty card!

I hope your New Years Day was quiet and relaxing! Remember that the New Spring/Summer '08 catalog is effective starting today. If you need a copy of it let me know!

Christmas Cards...

I received a couple of handmade Christmas cards this year that I thought I'd share with you. The top card is from my co-worker and friend Debby Tillman. She is also on one of the same Yahoo groups as I am so you may recognize her name from that. It is a super cute card made with Sockafellabella. Besides the cute image and paper she also made this card with a very unique fold (wish I would have taken pictures...sorry!). When you open up the image from the right side you are greeted with a Merry Christmas sentiment and then when you open that flap from the left side it says...from our home to yours. Very cute! Debby sure has made me love the Sockafellabella image!

The other card is from my friend Pammella. She used to live here in my town and stamp with me but the Army moved them back to Hawaii where she enjoys a perpetual summer...lucky girl! Again, I'm sorry the picture is so poor but her tree is made by Origami folding some beautiful designer paper and then she added the dove, presents, and pineapple stamped accents. Do you not love the star at the top of the tree? PERFECT!!

I'll show you the other 3 tomorrow and that will give me some time to get some stamping done of my own!

Have a great New Years Day!

Excited or want to say thank you to your secret sis??

Are you so excited or want to say thank you to your secret sis? Here is the post for you to do so! I will be placing a link to this in the left column of the blog. You can go there to post as often as you'd like! You should ask for e-mail updates when you comment the first time on this thread so that you know when someone else comments (does that make sense? LOL!). All you have to do when you post your first comment here is to check the little box that says...Email follow-up comments to. When you do that each time someone comments you will receive an automatic update! Cool, huh?

Here is a reminder of how being a secret sis works...

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 (week of Valentine's Day) you will send something with around a $15 maximum value and reveal who you are!

As always...if you have any questions at all please contact me!

Now GO...may the spoiling begin!

Did you sign up?

Did you sign up to be a secret sister through my blog? If so...you should have gotten an e-mail with your sisters information from me today! Please let me know if you have any questions at all! Also, please see my next post which will be the thank you/excitement post that will be used for those two things...thank yous...and excitement!