Sep 27, 2007

I challenge YOU

This is a challenge layout that Brandy on my Tennessee Stampers board posted for us to do last week. I have created a couple of these in my version, but I want to see YOUR version of this layout. GO--create one of these and send me a picture of it. I will then pick one of the submissions to win an awesome package of embellishments. I encourage you to enter! I encourage you to tell your friends to enter! Whether I know you or dont know you...please please send me your card pic!

























As most of you know this has been a crazy crazy week for me! I went to the Tennessee Stampers retreat over the weekend and had the most fabulous time! I REALLY REALLY enjoyed the trip. I loved meeting all of the people and I really liked learning the new techniques. It was an awesome whirlwind trip. I met the most fantabulous bunch of ladies. I could spend hours going on and on about each one. I am blessed to have such great friends.


I was struck with a toothache while there (of course) so that hindered me just a bit. But I hung in there. My poor roommate had to deal with me up and down all night long though. I know she suffered from sleep deprovation too.


Had a great trip back, stopping by the Russell Stovers Factory and of course lunch. We dillydallied all the way home trying to stretch out the trip as much as we could. Though upon returning I found little Hannah on the couch with ice on her ankle. They said she had fallen down and twisted her ankle. I seriously thought nothing of it. Being that she was 5 and in Grammee's care she was doing her best to get as much attention as possible. But when I asked to see her foot she litterally screamed! A blood curdleing yell. I loaded her up and took her straight to the ER. My stamp stuff still packed in the back seat and stuff still every where. They Xrayed her foot over and over and only by the grace of God did one of the photos show the bottom of the break. It was further up in her leg. They freaked me out when they said that they were waiting to hear back from the Ortho Surgeon. WHAT?! Surgery??? HUH!? They had decided that she would not be taken in that day for surgery but that she needed to see the surgeon the next day for a follow up. So they put a temp cast on and sent her home.


Of course being a little girl she had to pee before we were able to get home. I took her to Krystals. Screaming the entire way in and out. I know everyone there had to think that we were just torturing her. Our first night was pretty much that way all the way through. She did have pain medication but it just dulled the pain. It was heart wrenching.


Another panic attack the next day when I called the surgeon and they told me they had already been booked solid until Friday. I just knew she couldnt make it until Friday to see the doc. PRAISE GOD they were able to look at her xray and decipher what she needed. Told me if I could be there within an hour theyd get her taken care of. So another drive to Knoxville...me, partially thrown together, and Hannah in a dress (thank goodness once again that she is a girl). They showed me the xrays and she did what they call a twist fracture. Where she pretty much just twisted her leg until it snapped. I am not sure where and when the dog came into the picture. If she twisted her leg and he ran over her or what. But they said it was broken at a diagnal which was a good thing because there was more bone to heal and bond. She indeed did break it all the way through, but no surgery was thought to be needed and she truly should be ok. BUT, 2 weeks of a full leg cast and then switching to a half leg cast for 2 more followed by 2 weeks of still no pressure.


Her first 2 nights were MISERABLE! We barely made it 3 hours between screaming fits. But, last night was a dream! All night! She slept all night! She is slowly regaining her talking and returning back to the real Hannah.


My sister in law came in yesterday and cooked us a fabulous dinner. I was so grateful for her. It was a good distraction for Hannah too. And of course my mother in law has been awesome too.


I, am doing ok. I still have a tooth ache, but by the grace of God it has been manageable. I went to court yesterday for my traffic violation. Got a whopping fine, and have to go to class, but thank goodness that is it. It is wiped from my record. YIKES!


All in all we are hanging in there. I will post more about my retreat in the upcoming days. I truly had a great time and really enjoyed myself. I will start posting more about it as I find myself and my brain. Oh yeah, and unpack my stuff out of the car. Its still out there.
Thank you everyone for your notes, emails, cards and calls. Its soo good to have friends.
Much Love,
B

Adorable

I did it! Another S-I-P! Is it not the most adorable thing? Hop-it has to be one of my favorite House Mouse creations.

I also have a bone to pick with you! How come, none of YOU, my friends, ever told me how fabulous Prisma Color pencils were? I have been skimping by with my cheapo CRAYOLA's and finally got me some PC's. OH MY GOSH!!! They are a dream! So, being the GOOD friend that I am, I am telling you...you MUST have these! GO! RIGHT NOW! Getchya some.

I cheated on this card and used my circle punch to make the 'ticket' corners. I am so dieing for the ticket corner punch, but is this not a great improvise?


Its another crazy day. Both girls are feeling much better today. Both are excited to get to spend the weekend with Grammee. As I am heading out to retreat and Ron is going to Indiana for a trap meet. It is always a dream when both get up in cheerful moods, get breakfast over with and all of their chores are done LONG before the bus is due to arrive. Though in the same breath it makes me wonder who kidnapped them in the night. I notice how remarkable it is that these "look-alikes" resemble my darling children. But as I said...they MUST be look-alikes, after all, MY 11 year old would NEVER offer to let her sister get on the bus before her, not unless the 5 year old had some serious blackmail on her. In any case it was a pleasant morning here.

I am off to get to packing! The true trick to this trip will be getting 3 crazy stampers and all of their supplies into my car. Oh yeah and manage to cram a few changes of clothes for each too. Will this not be a site?? I wonder if I should reserve a U-Haul? And in case you were wondering...I have a big car!


So now, for the thought of the day. No matter how un-perfect your surroundings seem to be, relax, be calm and enjoy yourself. This is Twink, she just now passed her 2 1/2 month Birthday and I do believe her basket is getting a whee bit small for her, she loves it anyways and basks in peace each time shes there.



Sep 26, 2007

A new touch...

It was brought to my attention that you needed a place to add comments to my actual posts. I have activated this feature and hope that it helps you all. Thank you so much for your encouragement and for your tips.

Embossing bliss




Do you ever have days
where everything seems to fall into place when you are creating? Now, mind you this does NOT happen to me often, so if you haven't experienced one of these kinds of days, relax.


This was an experimental card. I first was seeing what I could do with the cuttlebug embossers. This is a plain piece of burgandy paper that I embossed. I then ran a brayer over it with black ink. It instantly looked like leather to me. I loooooved that effect. Later in my searches I found out how to make your own custom push pins. These pins are from my sewing stash. They are the ugly yellow ones. Ya know, the ones that are like 2 bagillion for $2. Using your heat gun and your prong holder (yes the one from your chalks will work), hold the pin under the heat for a few seconds. Open up a bottle of embossing powder. Dip the warmed head into the bottle until it coats then heat again. Repeat this process until you have a nice finish over the entire head. A couple of tips though...1) dont lay your pins down to cool...push them into a bulletin board or pin cushion so that they dont go FLAT on one side. I did my pins before I started puting the card together so that I would be sure they were absolutely dry before I tried to use them. 2) Do not do too many layers of heat and reheat as the embossing liquid will run off. In case you were wondering I did do both of these!


These cards are all done with transparencies. I have been experimenting with them as well. Trying to figure out coloring techniques and other such things. This first one is just the heart. Simple stamped with StaZon and the lightly colored. I popdotted it to keep it up off the paper. The next one is very hard to tell, but I ran the tran under the embosser. It looks soooo cool IRL. The next is through the embosser as well, cept I colored it a bit.
Things are a bit slow here today as I think we are all fighting a bug of some sorts. Lots of sneezes going on. Everyone is off to school and all is well.
Enjoy your day. Take time to create something, even if all it is, is a mess...make it the most creative mess you've ever entailed!

Sep 25, 2007



Is it not amazing how much color plays a role in our creations? The one on the left is more subtle. Maybe a nice "hello" or even a "get well" wish comes to mind with this. The one on the right however is my bouncy! More..."HI" or "Can't wait to see you!". Though both cards are the exact layout and are using the exact same stamp sets. They both create very very different 'feels'. Have you experimented with colors lately? Afterall, would a Cardinal or a Blue Bird be half as beautiful if it weren't for their amazing colors?

Today is crazy. I am packing up packages to ship out. Sending out much needed and way behind cards. Doing the laundry that seems to have made its way to the ceiling and of course a lot of those extra little chores that seem to mount up.

AND--stamping!! How about you? Have you created anything this week?

Sep 24, 2007

Whew!


Good Morning! I trust that all of you had a fantastic weekend! I know that the weather here in Tennessee was unbelievable!
Our annual trip to Fall Creek Falls for the Trap meet was great! Good friends, good food and a lot of fun. I was shocked and completely honored to be awarded this plaque. It was awesome!
I also entered in the Dutch Oven Cook-off. My baked Spaghetti took 1st place in the Entree Division, My Potatoes Agrautin (sp?) took 1st place in the Side Dishes and my apple pie was 2nd in the Desserts. That was also truly another shocking moment because all three of them were experiments on my part. It was a WHOLE lot of fun though. Another great event was when I was elected as Vice President to our Lady Fur Harvesters. WOW! What a weekend! I am not sure my head will ever return back to its normal size!
We are back home, the kids are off to school and I am slowly trying to switch gears back into reality. This coming weekend I am going to a Stamping Retreat and so I have a lot of stuff to do to prepare for all of that.
Have a great Monday and remember to go do something FUN!

Sep 21, 2007

PEACE!


What a glorious day! Though I gotta say I am so busy I don't know my head from hiney right now.
Its the last day of SPIRIT week and Heather finished it up with the best rendition of the 60s we could muster. She tie-dyed her shirt last night. That was pretty fun!
Anyways. Shopping is finished, baking is done. I am frying the sausage to go in my chili and then its a matter of packing up the camper and getting on the road. I am so anxious to see our friends again and so anxious to be outside!
Have a glorious day. Take time to make PEACE in your world today. Sit on your deck. Listen to the birds. Watch leaves fall. Just relax and have PEACE DUDE!

Sep 20, 2007

Have a good weekend!

Its a hectic morning here. I finally got the girls off to school and now I am trying to gather my thoughts. This week is SPIRIT week at Heather's school and today was Orange and Blue day. Great, fine and dandy but somewhere in the midst of spraying her hair with orange and blue stripes I got orange all over my hands! UGH! And of course I have like 5 bagillion things to do today. So I am desperately trying to get that off.


We pull out of here tomorrow and ready for the big weekend at Fall Creek Falls. Since its a Trapping Rendevous I am switched over to Fur. I probly wont make it back to the art room again til next week.


So I thought Id share with you Rachel. She's my latest creation. Shes raccoon.


Have a fantastic weekend!! I am off like a heard of hippos!

Sep 19, 2007

Creations

Legos. Remember them? If you didn't play with them as a child I know as a parent you had to have stepped on a few, or sucked a few up in the vacuum. But did you know that they now have competitions and leagues with them?? Heather is in the school league and so far is having a really good time with all of the challenges there. They are building a robot, in which they will take to competition in December. Its good to see her on a team and even better to see her excited about something. Though, I gotta say I am OVER seeing the little pieces scattered about the floor. The kitten has a grand time batting them from Heather's room clear down to the utility room.

SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL, FAILURE IS NOT FATAL. IT IS THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS. This was a fast card I did. One of our dear friends is in the hospital and it looks like will have a good bit of recovery time. Her husband is hanging on barely and its just a tough time. Wanted to send more than just my prayers. Its very simple. I stamped on a scalloped oval that was RAKed to me awhile back. Got some of my great flowers, mounted them with brads and went along the edges with the gelly roll pen.

Another quick card. The pocket is holding a penny and the inside says: FOUND PENNIES COME FROM HEAVEN, THAT IS WHAT MY GRANDMA TOLD ME. SHE SAID ANGELS TOSS THEM DOWN. OH, HOW I LOVED THAT STORY. SHE SAID WHEN AN ANGEL MISSES YOU, THEY TOSS A PENNY DOWN; SOMETIMES JUST TO CHEER YOU UP, TO MAKE A SMILE OUT OF YOUR FROWN. SO, DON'T PASS BY THAT PENNY FROM HEAVEN THAT AN ANGEL'S TOSSED TO YOU. This is from an email I got awhile back and thought it was a great sentiment for a card. I did stamp on the pink with little flowers and then inside I stamped a single flower image. This is for another friend who also is struggling with life issues.

Remember to be polite and thank God for your blessings today. For it is He that gives you all that you have.

Sep 18, 2007

I learned something new today

I learned how to run my camera! :D Thanks to a little help from one of my dear friends. I have tried to take better pics of my already posted cards. I of course am NOT a photographer still, but maybe you wont go blind by trying to look at each of them. Thanks again for stopping by!

QUALITY




Hannah had a football game last night. I am forever amazed at her coaches for getting all of those kids (4-8 years old) to do the cheers and do them well! They started learning their dance routine last night too and it looks amazing!




She loves being on the squad and loves cheering for the teams. I am not sure but I think it might have something to do with the fact that most of them are boys?? *rolling eyes*



Another day of the same ol same ol around here today. We are of course listing more stuff on ebay, moving more stuff out to the shed and hopefully making a dent in the garage. I am so anxious to get painting in there.






Is this stamp not cute?? I got it off of ebay a couple of weeks ago. I have no idea who its made by or much about it other than I loved it! The tag is attached with ribbons and then I made a little loop closure that I hooked over an awesome black and orange Halloween brad. I used my window punch again at the bottom. Cutting a strip out and exposing the white behind it. I colored little ziggies on it to tie it all in.




Recently I was given the challenge by one of my bestest friends to do an SIP card. S=Stamp I=Ink P=Paper. Do you know how HARD that is for me?? This one is close!! As I only have one little "bling" on the wording. It just needed a LITTLE something more. Why do I feel like my cards are nekkid without ribbon, bling or someother lumpy bumpy? Hmmm I dont know. Anyways. I stamped the mesh stamp in an olive green. 3 of the same flower over the top, mounted those and turned em crooked just to give em a bit of flare. I popdotted the wording as well. It says: TO AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE DAY, THAT IS THE HIGHEST OF ARTS. I love how the colors are peaceful.




And I finally succeeded! SIP!!!! NO BUMPS....well, ok none other than the cuttlebug embossed paper! On the inside this one says. YOUR FRIENDSHIP WARMS MY HEART




Its another glorious and beautiful day here! I hope it is there as well. Take time to listen to the birds today. Listen to the amazing sound of God speaking! Take time to make your art...affect the quality of your day! GO--ENJOY!

Sep 17, 2007

Design




Are these colors not just the funnest? It is so hard to be grumpy or down and out when you are working with the bright colors. I stamped my pickup (yes, from LOADS OF LOVE (STAMPIN UP!) and then masked and set the flowers down in the truck. A little bit of coloring and then set it up on dimensionals because I wanted to add just a little zing! A wave here and a curve there and whala! The inside note says: THOUGHT YOU COULD USE A LITTLE PICK UP. This is my own creation! Ha! See, I CAN create without copying!








A VERY VERY fun stamp to use! And my first ever card using the window punch (SU!). I double punched the window to make it long enough for the tree. I masked and then nestled the tree so that it was on the inside of the card. The rest of the stamp masked the other way was mounted on front. Its says: CHRISTMAS IS HERE- MERRY OLD CHRISTMAS, GIFT BEARING, HEART TOUCHING JOY-BRINGING CHRISTMAS. It was a little tricky lining up the tree to be perfect but I really like the result!






I think the tree just screamed for the window and it kind of gave it a whimsical feel. A simple Merry Christmas on the inside, slap some ribbon on and WHALA! Not sure about mass producing these as it took a lot of brain power to get everything lined up.






And of course, what is a BRIEFCASE without a few things CASED in it. I fell in love with this card when I was doing a gallery search. The person had taken the whole set and made a scene. This is A Tree for Every Season (SU!). I hand sketched the fence behind them to tie em all together. Colored in the grass and then added puffy paint for the snow. It says: TIMES AND SEASONS CHANGE, BUT NOT THE WAYS OF FRIENDSHIP. I printed that off from the computer.





And one more CASED layout. More of those awesome colors! I am having so much fun with my CUTTLEBUG embossers. This too is using masking with the basket and flowers. Yet, another Stampin Up! set. It just simply says THANKS. The butterfly is up on dimensions too so it gave it a little zip!












Most of you know, I am NOT a buggy person. I do NOT like creepy crawlies, I do not like anything of this sort. But this little guy was perched outside my door this morning. And I couldn't help but look at him in sheer awe. (Yeah, ok and you can add the fact that I wasnt going anywhere near it to kill it too!) His web is more detailed and finely done than even our finest fashion designers. He is perfectly formed with little knitting needle legs that allow him to make his web. Yet, more proof that God is the finest designer ever. I know that I often get caught up in designing my own life, when if I would just step back and let God do it it would be so much better.

Have a fantastic day!

Sep 16, 2007

Blessings

A glorious weekend in Tennessee! Yesterday we were able to spend some much needed family time over at Ozone Falls. After the drought we have had, it was a relaxing and peaceful setting to finally see some running water. We ran around on the rocks, splashed in the water and then tredged our way back up to the top. The most awesome part of our view was that the water merely trickled over the edge. It splashed onto the rocks below and the made its way down to a pool of water a few feet away from that. But to the naked eye, that's where it stopped. No further streams, no further creeks. Just a pool. Walking further up the trail of course led to even more pools though. Imagine the water tunnels under ground. Imagine the beauty that only GOD could create. How often are we in a situation where we think we are at the end of the road? Left to wallow in a shallow pool? When God has so much more in store for us.

It was a serene time we spent together. Hearing only the water. Seeing only the nature. We are truly blessed.



One of our (meaning my Mother-in-law and I's) latest projects has been renovating our front porch. I am truly in love with it now and want to spend every waking moment out there. I switch between the swing and my rocking chairs. All just looking out over our property.


I am anxious to get busy with our next project! The garage...er I mean the new recreation room that is just waiting for a face lift!






I then have one more thing to share with you today. Its my most recent CASED idea. These colors I just love! Though, in my awful photography they are NO WHERE near as beautiful and vibrant as they are in real life. The paper is simple cardstock...chalked and embossed with my new Cuttlebug template. And then the stamp of course is from one of the great StampinUp! sets I got this week. The most exciting thing about this card is that underneath of the normal white brads I cut little holes and mounted them! Is that not COOL!? A little tag is attached with 3 different kinds of ribbon and of course all are mounted on black. It says: LET US BE GRATEFUL TO PEOPLE WHO MAKE US HAPPY- THEY ARE THE CHARMING GARDENERS WHO MAKE OUR SOULS BLOSSOM. GREAT FUN! Like I said, the layout design was CASED. I'd like to take full credit. But the only thing I can take credit for is being a really good copier.

Have a fantastic afternoon. Enjoy the sunshine and count your blessings. Go do something that you enjoy!