Another Valentiney!

Usually I dont make this many Valentines, but this year I am having SOOO much fun with them! Especially with this fantastic paper that my dear friend Janet gave me. I picked up these heart shaped buttons the other day while at Hobby Lobby. I think the paper threaded through them gives em a little bit of a different look. TOO FUN!!!

New Poll

Hey guys, I made a poll over there. Check it out on the sidebar!

Its Friday, Its Friday, Im so glad its Friday!

ITS FRIDAY! Isnt everyone else as excited as I am?? My inlaws are coming to visit this weekend, so I am excited for that too. I miss having them close by.


No real spectacular news to share with you today. I am sitting here real close to my little space heater. As our gas is out for the day. We ran out of fuel yesterday *gasp*--I didnt know this til it was late in the day. Since our fuel comes from Crossville, which is like an hour away--they couldnt get to us til today. They came, but now I have another guy coming to clean the units and get them running properly as they have had a slight propane smell....sooooo---but by tonight we will be all cozy again! And yes, I could take my lazy self in there and build a fire in the fireplace but well...now why would I want to do something logical like that??

I hope you have big plans for the weekend! ((HUGS))

Boy! Do I have a lot of catching up to do!

Well how is everyone? Have you missed me? I have missed me too. I have been suffering from a sinus issue, so its left me a little less than amiable. BUT--I am starting to feel pretty good again and I am getting a LOT of those mundane things that one HATES doing crossed off of my TO-DO list! THIS is always a good feeling isn't it?

Anyways...so now onto the things Ive gotta post. First, of course I like to participate in the challenge over at

This week's challenge is for paper piercing. I looove this technique, its not hard, but so often I forget to use it. This is a new mouse I got this past week. SOOOO CUTE!

Hard to tell it but theres three layers of flowers here. 2 plastic ones and then a pretties one. FUN!

Another thing I am trying to do more is finish the INSIDE of my cards. Most everyone knows that I am a LETTER writer and that has always been my excuse for not puting anything INSIDE, but as of lately I have been sending out more and more quick notes, it sure would be nice to have a little extra somethin somethin in there.

So, this one I printed the saying I HOPE EVERYTHING IS COOL WITH YOU on the inside. And pierced the corners again.

The next one is just a fun card I did with a happy hopper. I wanted to make a LONG card. Another thing that I dont do often.

I hand wrote on the outside of this one and then again on the inside.

I also particpated in the MOJO Monday Sketch. I LOVED this sketch today! SOOO FUN!


I had to switch up the ribbon a little bit, cause of the background paper. The coloring on it just didnt look right with the bow right over the top of it. This is another digital image from CC Designs. I sooooo love these images!!! (I think I have said that before havent I?)



Look at those little Twinkles! They are soooo cute! I got em in Taylored Expressions sale last week. LOVE THEM!

Theres an icecream cone in this set, but I was too lazy to print it off so I just hand drew one real fast on the inside.

These are ALSO my submissions for a recent Design Team call for:

I soooooo want to be invited to be a designer for this team because 1)My love for the mouses & bunnies is huge! 2) I looooove this site and the challenge it puts on me to sometimes break out of my box and 3) Cause I kinda think my work is GOOD ENOUGH to inspire others, tho no other design team has ever thought so before. *sniff *sniff* ROFLOL, no, seriously...I strongly believe that my work is pleasureable to look at!

So what are YOU doing with yourself? Are YOU challenging YOURSELF to try something new? How bout cross off some of YOUR to-do things??

Have a great afternoon!

TGIF!! (wasnt it just Monday tho??)

I participated in another challenge this week too.

Want this badge?

So heres the sketch.




And here is my submission!!! I sooooo love this new stamp I got from Bellas. SOOO much fun!!!

Its Friday! I hope you have big plans for the weekend. Enjoy yourselves!

SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Punkin has enlightened me with how to fight my SAD issues.

1). Climb upon your desk.
2) Put your entire body underneath the daylight lamp
3) Sit here for hours, paying no attention to whom else MIGHT need the light coming from said lamp.
4) Repeat steps 1-3 several times per day!

The Holiday is over! (FINALLY!)

The kids have sure enjoyed their time off from school. Monday was a holiday and then we got a freak storm that brought in snow and ice. Everyone is back to school today and all is well. Its a beautiful 47° degrees out and the sky is bright blue! I loooove Tennessee! The snow leaves almost as fast as it came AND its back up to normal temperatures!! Tho I think the kids might argue that this is NOT a good thing.






And once again, this week I have participated in the

Dont forget to click on the logo and go check out the other submissions and stuff for the design team. THEY ARE SOOO COOL!

So what are YOU doing today? Its been so long since I have actually TALKED to you. I am doing well, just trying to get back into my groove. Funny how easily I seem to be able to fall out of it.

I hope you are blessing someone today!

CONGRATULATIONS AMY!!

We have a WINNER!!!!! → AMY WILSON ← is our grand BINGO winner! She is the proud new ownder of a $25 gift certificate to SimonSaysStamp.com courtesy of Heidi over there! I KNOW that you all will love that store as much as me, so go check it out!!! CONGRATS again AMY!

Tuesday! IT IS!

Sorry gang, about yesterday...by the time I got to post last night, my husband had put a whammie on our internet. Its still not 100% but at least I can get on to post this for you all.


Today's technique is Stamp Coloring. I love this, as it gives you the freedom to stamp without everything. Like this stamp says VIOLETS at the bottom, but I chose not to add it to my image. And then I could also add just a single flower on the inside. I think I am just too lazy. Maybe THATS why I dont do it more? *shrug*

I also used, string, hole punch, colored pencils, decorative metal & glitter.

Hope that you are doing well. We got hit with some freak snow and ice yesterday and today its not doing too well at going away either. But we are all warm and inside!

Smore for YOU!

So heres some more BINGO words for you!! I gotta admit its getting tricky to USE these things!!!

A darling friend of mine sent me this old calendar because she knows how much I loves me some mice, so today I FINALLY cut it into envelopes!!

Cute huh? So its happy mail before you even get to the MAIL part!!

Then the next one. I was trying to get away from my cutesy style a little bit. It was a humongous stretch for me. Some people can make elegant cards left and right. For me...it takes every ounce of mojo I can muster and then some.

OK...so I used my sewing machine, prima flowers, silk flowers, pearls, long push pin, beads, lace, ribbon....

AND, I added a little charm with two little heart jump rings (thru a hole punched with a hole punch). Arent they sweet!

OK...so its the weekend. Sunday is my day off as you know! See you all on Monday!

OK, so if you are a polarbear...

If you are a polarbear, today's temperatures do not effect you. But if you are a weenie like me you are freezing yer tail off!! GEESH! Is it cold out there or what? We woke up to a balmy 1 degree temperature this morning. Since I am such a nice mom I went ahead and drove the kids to school today. Yeah yeah I know...I will accept my award later.

So are you ready to cross off some BINGO words today? Thanks sooo much for playing along with me. Though, I have to admit this has been the LONGEST darn bingo game I have ever played!!

I promise, I WILL get over these digi images soon. But they are just sooooo cute and soooo perfect for Valentines Day! I used this cool paper that I got at the Dollar Spot at Target...its all sparkly and everything. SOOO COOL! Lets see...so anyways. He is colored with Copics, his wings and halo have glitter pens and he is mounted on metalic paper (of course both cut out with Nestabilities). Then I used tags, tied up with string to the safety pin and did a little inking around the edges. I then used my Sizzix letters to cut out the X & O.

I looooove these two colors together. Nothing screams happy like these colors!! Here, I have a large button that I hand stitched on top of the felt flower. I colored him with Copics, and glitter pens, I used rickrack and photo corners all up on 3-D tape.

And mouses!!! I am not doing the Monday challenge of House Mouse this week cause it is ATC's and I am just not a big fan of those. So heres my card for my makebelieve challenge. *SMILE* The only thing spectacular on here is that I used Stickles as added dimensional dots and to the frosting.

So anyways. I havent heard too much bingo chatter out there. Is anyone getting CLOSE? Please tell me how far along you are!!!!

I hope that SOMEday I will be back to creating again

For now, I am so hit or miss, that I have to force myself to sit down and create stuff for you all. No, its not cause I am bored with you or dont care. Its just that I am so wrapped up in this organization gig that I hardly come up for air.


So anyways. Here is this weeks Mojo Sketch. Its a fun one!!

And here is my submission! But dont forget to go http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/ and check out everyone elses submissions too!




I once again, used a digi image. Nothing really special about this card, yet anyways. If I can ever find my dang Magic Scraps Confetti I will be puting it on the snow. So I am gonna go ahead and give you credit for this cause as soon as I FIND it I am going to add it. The image is colored with copics, I used the snowflake shaped punch and adhered them with brads and also put some ribbon in there. Oh yeah...used my CM cutting system to cut the circles too.

Heres Hannah's Valentine card.



Hard to tell but I used diamond glaze on the letters of the kitties shirt. The pink terrycloth paper is punched out with the large scalloped punch. I used decorative scissors for the white strip and hand drew the hearts and swags on it and I guess the decorative lettering would count for when I finished her name in my own handwriting. The H is a glittered chipboard letter. The little flower is a rhinestone and of course I added some ribbon.

Here I was stretching for something. Then honestly just wanted to get it DONE so I could post it.






You can mark off colored embossing powders, ribbon, felt flowers, decorative brads & colored glitter.

Hope your day is blessed. ((HUGS))

Stamp Storage

So, many of you are wondering where the sam elliott I have been right?? Well, HELP! I have fallen into a basket of stamps and cant get out. I have been working dillegently on this dang project! But I am happy to report, that my basket is MORE THAN halfway done!!! So, many of you have asked TONS of questions about how to go from THIS:








To THIS:








So I thought I would walk ya through it. OK, maybe I will skip the first step of getting a huge mess of neglected stamps and pile them into a LARGE laundry basket and go on to the next steps.








First of all, I HIGHLY recommend investing in EZ Mount. It usually comes in 8x10 sheets. This is what I mount my rubber to after I have peeled it off of the blocks. SOOOOO awesome stuff. Its not messy, its easy to handle and it works like magic! Just trim down your rubber, trace around it on the paper of the EZ Mount, then cut the shape from the EZ Mount and peel the papers off of your cut shape. One side of the foam is going to be super sticky. This is the side that you will STICK to your rubber. The other side will be smooth but not sticky. And like magic your stamp will now have a good foam backing AND will stick to your acrylic blocks.








Once my foams are mounted, I then stamp them onto an A2 (invitation size) envelope. I also lable where the envelope goes up in the corner. This is also to let me know that everything in that envelope has been cataloged.




After stamping it on the envelope I also stamp it into my book.







I am in the process of making a catalog of all of my stamps. But heres the catch. If, for instance I have a Teddybear holding a heart that says I love you. I stamp the bear in the animals section, but also in the hearts/love and in the words. Making a notation underneath them of where the stamp is filed. This stamp would probably be filed in Hearts/Love. I only file a couple of stamps by their makers....like for instance, House Mouse, Bellas and recently I have done Stamping Up. If I have a stamp set from Stamping Up, it might contain things that can fit into 12 different categories, so yes, I DO stamp the image in all of the categories. Again, making a notation of where the stamp is actually filed. I do it this way, because if I am shopping for a Love stamp, I will of course turn to LOVE, not to animals or to Flowers...but yet, I might have a gorgeous flower stamp that says I LOVE YOU that would work perfectly for what I am using. You can make the files however works for you. You might prefer to stamp them into Brands all the way around. Or maybe you dont give a flying flip WHAT order they are in....its whatever works.



Then after stamping them in my book, I clean the stamps and place them on a piece of acetate that I have cut to 4x5 size. This fits perfectly into the envelope even with the bulk of the stamps and it keeps the envelopes from losing their shapes. The stamps magnetically stick to the acetate so pulling them out is a breeze. And all of those Clear ones work with this too!

Once they are in the envelope I file them in boxes behind tabs the corrdinate with my book tabs. These are ornament boxes that I got a couple of years back. Tho I think only 3 come to a package, you can add more. I just simply took out the cardboard dividers inside and it fits 2 rows of A2 envelopes PERFECTLY. When I want to travel, I simply snap them all together and snap the lid on and I am off!!

Many people asked me lots of questions about unmounted stamps. So I thought Id share a few of those questions and answers with you as a whole.

WHY did you unmount all of them? How could you ruin all of your stamps like that?

The WHY is very simple. STORAGE! I litterally have thousands of stamps and I found that I wasnt using more than half of them because I couldnt GET to them. Also we were moving a lot and I know that my husband said hed rather burn all those __________ boxes of blocks as to move them ONE more time. I personally dont think I have ruined anything. In fact if anything I have made them better, because now I use them!

Do you recommend unmounting to everyone?

I would love to say yes, but I cant. Unmounting is a beast. I had very sore fingers after making my decision to switch. Its a LOT of work. Also, you do lose a few advantages (besides fingertips)....like having a GO BY picture on the block to help with coloring. And I know far too many people that LOOOOVE their blocks. So when I say NO, I cant recommend it, I only mean, that it is a PERSONAL decision that YOU have to make. I know that it works for me.

Would you have done it any differently? Do you have any tips?

The major thing that I would have done differently would be to make note of the makers of the stamps. I love ALL stamp companies and buy what I like. When I first started stamping nobody gave a rats hiney who made what. Now, everyone is so wrapped up in who designs which stamp that I am often at a loss for answers. Make a book of your images from the beginning. I am just now starting mine and its a PAIN to go back over them all again. When I first did this, I stored my stamps in binders. I stuck them down in baseball card holders. DONT DO THIS unless you have a very small amount of stamps. They are extremely bulky and heavy---too heavy for the binder rings, and if you are ANYTHING like me, they will NEVER get put back into the book. AND, they will fall out all over the place.

Invest in EZ Mount. Yes, its expensive, but its not messy and can be used over and over and over again. No more sticky tape stuck all over your blocks. And you get perfect images each and every time. ( TAC sells it and I also got a bulk order from ebay)

Do you seriously unmount ALL of your stamps?

Yes and no. Tho I do have SOME that are unmounted, I do leave my House Mouse stamps mounted, only because I collect these, I have them displayed on a glass shelf and their pictures really DO help with coloring. But all others, yes.

How do you do it? Especially with SU! stamps that are now diecut?

Peel the rubber off of the foam just as you would from a block with the su! images. Get your fingernail in between the rubber and the sticky on the foam. Should just peel right off, though for more stubborn ones, a short zap into the microwave helps to soften the glue.

What do you do with the blocks?

For a long while a friend of mine ran a daycare and I donated all of the unused and nonmarked up blocks to her for play stuff for the kids. If they were damaged -- I have to admit, I just threw them away.

So anyways. For me: Its cheaper cause now I can opt for unmounted stamps from companies...saving money on shipping. Its now confined into a small space, and VERY portable...even if I wanted to take them ALL to a play date its VERY simple to tote along. And cleaning the stamps is simple!! If I get ink way down into the crevices just simply run it under warm water and brush with a toothbrush. I wouldnt go back for ANYTHING!

I hope you will forgive me for missing a post. I promise to have a card up later this afternoon. I know your BINGO cards are burning with anticipation! I hope that I have given some good advice to those of you who are considering this or have been t-totally against it. Again, it works for me. But I understand if it doesnt for you.

AND THANK YOU JESUS---my angel Jeanine is coming to help me on Friday! HAHAHAH! *sucker* Might I add, she is one of those peoples that likes her blocks. *ROFLOL*

Love to all!

Spring Cleaning (smore)

Look at this!! This is a LARGE laundry basket, full of stamps! Yes, I know that it looks like a bunch of other stuff but honest, its all stamps. Some of the sets havent even been opened. How sick am I??? So my mission...is to....




Get all of my stamps organized to look like THIS! See, its not as easy as it sounds really. As I unmount all of my stamps. I am in the process of making a book of all of my images as well as mounting the rubber on E-Z Mount. It will be absolutely FANTASTIC as soon as I ever get it there. So my mission...TO GET IT THERE!!! (Might I also add all of the ones that just so happen to be in their right envelope in the box are not exactly on EZ mount OR in the book).



Since MESS, isnt on any of your BINGO lists, I DID create a card for you today!! Here we are with the CC Bear again. (just wuv him!!!) I hand drew the house like siding and the window. Behind the window I used acetate (transparancy film), and then connected the shutters with hinges & brads. I hand wrote I MISS YOU down at the bottom.

I hope that your weekend was fantastic and that you enjoyed your family. Heres a cheers to Monday!

And one more...

Hey all, officially gonna take tomorrow off from the ole internet, but I didnt wanta leave ya all hanging. So for tonight, here is a thank you card I just made for Grammee & PawPaw for Hannahs new bike. Hope you get to check off quite a few.

I used, silk flowers, ribbon, nestabilities, a photo, rub-ons & a ribbon slotted brad.

Go, and enjoy your families. Be blessed!

JUST DO IT!

So, my friend, Jenn is hosting a new reading challenge! And this is one I am really excited about. I have already started 2 fantastic self help books that should qualify. So I think this is AWESOME!

If you think you might be interested, check out the link (by clicking on the pic) and join up with me!! The gist of it is just to get inspired by a self-improvement book, read it and put it into action! So anyways. I am reading one by Tony Robbins, which he is one of my all time motivational speakers. And I am also reading Cheryl Richardson's Life Makeovers. If you think youd like either of these, you can click over there -----> on my bookshelf and get overviews of them. So heres to 2009!!!!! GOOD LUCK!

Crossing some more off???

I needed a quick card today for a friend. And so I tried to use some of the stuff I needed from the list too. Since I missed yesterday's post, I didnt think youd mind two for today!

So, how bout you cross off: Shaped card, cause I cut the big circle with Sizzix, Nestabilities, Embossing Powder, White stamped on black, Rhinestones, Ribbon & I also used the CM Cutting System to cut a white circle for the inside of the card, ya know...so ya can WRITE in there!

Its still raining...and I have become a puddle

I think I might move to the tropics! At least there its SUNNY! Even in the west, though it snows a bagillion feet every year it still is SUNNY every once in awhile.

Anyways. These are the Valentines that I am working on for Hannah's class. CUTE EH?

So, today you can cross off: Ribbon, Shaped Punches, Candy, Nestabilities, Glitter Pens & Staples.
I hope you are doing well. I have to say that I havent been too inventive these last couple of days. I hope my mojo returns. Happy day friends!

Mojo went haywire with textures today

I gotta admit I am just NOT in the crafting mood. I have been tending to the house today, but I KNEW I needed to post something for you all. And this is as much as I can muster. AND to top that all off....my camera decides to have some fantastic lighting issues today. I apologize, but today-- My give-a-darn is busted!

So anyways. I used: Crayon resist, I then went over the picture with a brayer, and added a picture hangar, fibers, a feather, a paperclip and a twist tie!! Love ya all so much! Its almost TGIF!

Hey all, its me again!

So today I was hoping to help you all get some things crossed off your lists. So I pulled out my Twinkl---

.....er I mean my Twinkling H2Os. And got me a DIGI-image and I tried a new experiment with the Cuttlebug Embossers too. I did two different folders. It just made a cool design. Probly not recommended. I cut the corners with the ticket punch. I also put some little dew drops up there in the corner, and the bottom is scor-palled and of course...RIBBON! Hard to tell, but the bunny is all shimmery!

I wonder if Twinkle sleeping on the card should count as fur. I guess not since she didnt manage to stay GLUED to it this time.

More Digi-images, that I am sooo loving! I computer typed the saying here tho. Used the Nestabilities to cut it out. I also used the Cuttlebug Folder with the Swiss Miss on the brown and then did the bleach effect. Now mind you, when someone else does the bleach it looks gorgeous. When I do it, it just makes everything smell bad. Not one of my favorite techniques at all. The bear is of course colored with Copics and then I added Ribbon and a Metal Charm connected with a Jump Ring!

I also Computer Generated the inside of the card too.

And ohhhhhhmigosh! Dont you just looooove this one?? Rachel over at ALL THAT SCRAPS inspired me to make my own background paper using some of the smaller images! HOW CUTE!!! I thought Id go ahead and give ya credit for Home Made Paper cause--honestly folks, I dont MAKE paper, I buy it! Anyways. I then added ribbon, and shaped eyelets and a shaped brad as the kiss too. Oh and that is a bottle cap! TOO FUN! I also distressed the edges with distressed ink. And without saying it a bagillion more times, the wavey mats are almost always done with Nestabilities.

So, I hope I have helped you a little! And I hope you arent sick of looking at these adorable images! Have a fantastic day!

Stay tuned today!

I just wanted to give you the heads up of some blog candy going on over at SIMONSAYSSTAMP.BLOGSPOT.COM -- ya know, the place that you are playing to get the gift certificate from??? Heidi and gang are giving away $750 worth of prizes over there JUST for commenting! I have a few of their exclusive stamps that I will try to use today to give ya a little taste of what they have. I sooooo know you will love them as much as me!

So be on the look out today for more cards posted. I have my daylight lamps fired up and I am gonna kick some Mojo butt today!

Its hump day!!!

Did I mention that I really liked these images from Cookie Crumb Designs? I am having the most uberific amounts of fun with them!!! Yes, it REALLY is as simple as printing them out on white (or colored) cardstock and coloring them! SOOO fun!

This little sweetie peetie was fun! I cut her out with the Creative Memories oval cutter and the pink out with the Nestabilities. Her pajamas are paperpieced and then I of course colored her in with Copics. (No, the ink really does NOT run.) Then I hand stitched some buttons on at the bottom and I hand wrote the sentiment. Oh yeah, I also popped it all up on 3-D tape and rounded the corners with the corner rounder--that strip down the middle is also using the decorative scissors. Oh and lets not forget that I used my glitter pen to make her wings all sparkly and chalk to make her cheeks rosey!

OK...so I hope that MAYBE you are starting to get some things crossed off. Howd ya like me sneaking that extra post in there yesterday? Wasnt that fun?? So sorry it didnt help you with Bingo. Maybe we should see who can withstand the longest without crossing them all off. HAHAHA, that might be the next game we play!

So, for now...go and be blessed!! Oh yeah and check out the cookie crumbs stamps at ALL THAT SCRAPS, I just knoooooow you will love them too!

I just couldnt wait!

I just couldnt wait (again) ==I know I know...patience is SOOO not one of my strong suits. But I just recently got all of these images from Cookie Crumb Designs and I have been playing my guts out! SOOOO MUCH FUN! So anyways, I wanted to participate in the MojoMonday Sketch Challenge this week: But mostly I wanted to show you these fantastic images. Are they not the cutest??? And they offer them as digi images. So guess what that means? INSTANT GRATIFICATION! Woohoooo! My style of shopping!!



So, I had to change up the sketch a little so that the little saying wouldnt cut off the piggy feet, but I like how it turned out! So for this card I used: Nestabilities to cut out the saying. I guess since its digital images that would be considered computer clipart (kinda). I used 3 little brown eyelets as well. Oh yeah, I also used 3-D tape to make the piggy and sentiment pop up and I used glitter pens to color in the wings and halos.




And since I just love ya all so much and want to start hearing some hoot n hollering that you are getting CLOSE to B-I-N-G-O, here is another card. I just LOOOVE this little bear! Isnt it precious?? On her I again, used digital images, brads and ribbon. Anyone get anything more??

Sweet Tooth Challenge!

HAHAHA! Bet you thought I had forgotten to post today didnt you? *GASP* I almost did! What a morning!

Anyways, recently someone hosted a card challenge, by using a CAKE as inspiration. So I thought I would do the same! This is a cake from CHARM CITY CAKES and I just looooved the colors. Doesnt the design resemble Zentangles?

Anyways. In my card I used a printed transparancy over my basic card, wrapped it with ribbon and then stamped and embossed with more gelly powders (coffee this time--yuuuum) and cut out the THANK YOU with Nestabilities. Then down at the bottom, since I didnt have any large brown brads, I dipped silver brads into the same gelly powder and heated it. I also distressed the edges of the card a bit with distressed ink!

How is YOUR day going today? If you are anywhere near us you are surely drowning in rain. My SAD is completely kicking my tail this week as we havent seen sunshine for days. I do my best to keep the house illuminated and all those precautions, but it still doesnt cure the problem. So I mumble along trying to make myself do stuff.

So many more announcements of people being laid off and companies shutting down. It truly breaks my heart. If you are effected by these economic woes --please know I am praying for you.

Happy MONDAY!

Today is the day...most of our little kidlets return back to their schools and us mom's regain some sense of normalcy (yeah, ok...well it SOUNDED good right?)!!


Dont you just LOOOOVE this Bella? I know...I have said that before. But I am STILL in love with her. Ok, not IN love with her -- cause that is just not right. But I do so think shes da bomb! This little snowflake ornament that I used is one that I found at the dollar store! Its plastic, but is soft and bendy, so it shouldnt have a problem going through the mail box. It came all wrapped in the glittery fiber stuff, so I cant claim THAT as an item used. Well, I could, but not fairly. I once again, used glitter on her cuffs. Then I punched her out with the circle punch & then used decorative scissors on the wavey part. Sooo much fun!

For those of you playing BINGO, I will do my bestest to highlight the words in red. Of course if I miss one er two or three or four...just let me know! Good Luck!

God Prunes His Garden...

As most of you know the New Year is all about NEW beginnings. A new list on life. Ive been going through some changes lately. Some I am rebelling against, others...not so much. But in all this, I cant help but wonder--Lord, whats going on? I thought my life was pretty good. Why is everything changing? I am constantly reminded though, that God must prune a garden to make it grow. Each thing in our life is here for a reason. We have loved ones, friends, jobs, tasks, problems and situations as we need them...and then they too go away. Even those friendships that you pinky-swore would last forever are soon not as important anymore. Does this make me less of a friend? Does it make me a bad person? No, I dont think so. I just think I am moving on to bigger and better things. Kind of scarey though.

I remember a quote from DR. PHIL...YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE, ITS UP TO YOU--ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER? OR FOR THE WORSE? Hmmm.....now, its easy to shoo shoo this off and say yeah yeah yeah. But when I look back over the last year, I am not so sure about myself. I mean...dont get me wrong. My life is great. I have a beautiful family. VERY loving. I have a gorgeous home, a nice car...we are all healthy--blah blah blah. But as a PERSON am I better or worse? Is there any aspect of my life that I can honestly say...YES! I am on top of my game? Staying Status Quo I think is as bad as falling in the toilet all together. So my game plan for the year....TO BETTER MYSELF. Not with my STUFF (ie: house, car, family....), but truly better my being.

I know God has a mission for me (tho I am still clueless as to what this is). He has been working in my garden for several months now. Removing things that distract me from His good. So as I head into 2009 I am in search of something greater.

So what? What makes 2009 any different than 2008 or 1993 or any other year for that matter? After all, doesnt EVERYONE make resolutions? Only to have them fizzle out by oh...lets say February? I guess my outlook on this is that I am not making resoloutions. Yeah I do intend to shed a few pounds and read more and be better with my house work. But truthfully I just want to make some good decisions this year. I want to leave this world (and no, I have no intentions of leaving anytime soon) having impacted it. So people can look back...and say--Wow, what a lady! Im not seeking to win a Nobel Peace Prize (though--wouldnt that be so cool?) or become the next Mother Theresa, but I do want to make a difference.

Since the recent Ash/Sludge spill here in Kingston and I heard that Erin Brockovich was making an appearance here on Monday--I have been surfing around her site. On the very front page it says:

stick-to-it-ive-ness: n. informal- unwavering pertinacity; preserverance

Wow! I like this! Talk about a woman who has made an impact huh? And I think THIS is her personal motto. I like it, I think I might adopt it.

So with any good garden one must also use fertilizer. You cant sit at home watching the soaps all day and think that your life is gonna just magically grow something fruitful. Ya gotta feed it something fantastic. So this week, I thought Id broaden the culture in my life and started reading Jane Austen's Sense and Sensability. *ahem* I didnt know it was possible for your brain to actually HURT after reading just one chapter in a book. WOW! Do they have cliffnotes in ENGLISH for this stuff? Its a challenge, but one I think my brain is liking. As I cant hardly wait to pick it back up again. Then, I jumped to the opposite site of the spectrum and started reading a book in the Diary of Georgia series. Trying to decipher the young Brittish talk is almost as mind boggling as the early English of Ms. Austen. Afterall, do YOU know what the heck SNOGGING is? And did you know that SNOGGING has a scale? And did you know that it is possible for a person to do a FULL FRONTAL SNOG? Its absolutely hilarious tho--true fluff and lots of fun. Then to add some normalcy to my reading--I picked up Ellen. Just loooove her! She is so real. So--call it like it is. Anyone who knows me...knows I am ALL about this. So I wonder...what else can I do to add depth to my being?

Titus 3:14

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

Unproductive lives. Hmmm...lets you and me, seek to avoid this okay? Now go--feed your mind. Encourage your soul and broaden yourself.

Bless someone!

Have a serious case of Summer-itus!

Usually I am the biggest fan of winter time ever, but this year I cant help but long for summer. I want to be able to play outside again. To sit on my deck without my teeth chattering. To not be decieved by the beautiful sunshine billowing in through the windows (its really only 30 degrees...not the 80 it appears). I am ready for bright colors and happiness. Hmmm...I wonder if this is my SAD that is kicking my tail this year. Who knows.

Anyways. On a lighter note! Isnt this little guy just the CUTEST? He is super simple to color and fun! He just screams WARMTH!

Everyone have their lists ready for BINGO. Tomorrow is the big kickoff!

beach anyone?

Once again my photography skills are lacking. But isnt this fairy just the sweetest? Makes me wanta be walkin in the sand right now!

Its Saturday again. How was your week? Ready for the babies to go back to school? Not me, I have gotten used to em being here. I am gonna miss them! Maybe I am just saying that cause I really KNOW that they will go back to school. Hmmm....

SIGNUPS CLOSED!

Here we are. The final count down! Everyone, stay tuned. Monday morning we will start crossing em off!

Brenda K
Karen F
Patty W
Lisa E
DeeDee A
Linsey (Vizsy Tundi)
Chris S
Noemi H
Refelections
Amy W
Deb N
Monica B
Lee S
Denise W
Allison P
Debi N
Karen S
Lori S
Chris W
Susan V
Alicia T
Sabrina S

Be ready to play on on Monday!!! I sooo cant wait!

Lookie what I found!!!

I was blurfing the other day and look what I found! Some other peoples that loooove house mouse as much as me!!! They have way way coool talent and I am uber excited to maybe participate in some of their things.

So anyways. Their challenges arent posted until Monday. And I am not gonna tell you what day I will post mine each week, cause that never seems to work. But I AM going to try to participate. HOW FUN!





Here is my submission for the week.


I soooo love this Hopper. Isnt she a doll?? Anyways. This week's challenge is to EMBOSS. So I stamped the image in black with AMUSE ink...yes it truly DOES NOT run with Copics then I stamped the hearts in versamark and embossed them with Gelly Powder. Whats Gelly Powder you ask?



Its the most gorgeous smelling stuff you have ever smelled in your stamp room! The one I used is DO YOU LILAC IT. And it smells dreamy! Yes, it is very simular to the stuff we all made with koolaid, but this is already mixed and it smells about 500 times better! I also have Coffee and Cherry flavors and my friend has Chocolate, that absolutely smells like a box of Russell Stovers.


***Did you sign up for BINGO? Today's the last day! TRUST ME! You WANT to win this!!!***



OK...bye for now, I am gonna go sniff some more embossing powders!



**Edited to add, that Gelly powders can be purchased at www.gelatinstamps.com (I think that is the only place that carries them, but I could be SOOO wrong)

Ohmigosh! I couldnt wait!

I was gonna save this for a post at a latter date, but I just couldnt wait! I wanted to share this fantastic idea with you! I was blurfing this morning and came across this blog with THIS great NEW IDEA!!!! Forgive me but I cant for the life of me, find the owner's name on it anywhere. I think she is uber talented tho. Go check her out at http://craftinginasmallspace.blogspot.com/

LOOK! I made a book for my images!!! SOOOO much better than my ziplock baggie, dont you think!? I made the title on my computer and then colored it in with my Copics.


This is the inside. On the right side I made the pockets more shallow, so that the little images dont fall all the way to the bottom on the pockets. The left side, however is left the full size so that I have room for the large images that I have.

And then the back.

Hope you are enjoying your holiday! I have gotten to craft all day today. Its 530 PM and I am still in my PJs so I am thinking its a FANTASTIC day!!!

God Bless & Happy New Year!

Brrrrr....

I soooooo love this card! Isnt it awesome! Ever have times when a card just CLICKS? This is Snowbunnybella, and look--her little furry stuff has glitter all over it.

And of course Jolee's snowflakes are like perfect!

Its a new year! What great things are you doing? What is on your BUCKET LIST for the year?
Cant wait to hear!