Definition of a Friend

I love the colors featured in this card.

I found this patterned paper in a stack that I recently purchased at Mikes. If it was here (its at Lena's house) I would tell you what it was called. I love it! I wish I could hoard this paper forever, but it doesnt look like I can. Because I have decided. If I tear out a 12x12 piece of paper... I must try to use 3/4th of it! I cant just use a little piece.

I made this card for OWH. I hope someone enjoys it... because I really dont want to give it up!!!

Call Me

I love this Mini Set from MFT :) I figured it would be nice for OWH too. Good Missing You card. Something!!! Why not start off the new year, with a stamp set you've never used? This would be it!

She is colored with Prismacolor and SU! Paper is actually Taylored Expressions. Wow I havent pulled them out in a long while!

I cant believe I forgot to color the phone!!!! Ugh what is wrong with me!?

I need to make more of these cards. They were sooooo much fun!

I hope a loved one of soldier enjoy's this card!

I am THINKING OF YOU and I am MISSING YOU

I NEVER thought this card would pull off! Most people who know me, know that I:

#1) I am a huge Texas Longhorns fan... okay so that is a given.
#2) I Always okay, NEVER match.
#3) I am addicted to Bombshell Stamps and lastly
#4) I RARELY ever give my cards "themes" or "sentiments". This is true! So when Jan asked me to make a "Thinking of You" card. I was like "yay, I was asked to make a card for OWH Stars and Stamps!! Oh man, I have to actually use a sentiment!!!" Oh man!!!

This card OBVIOUSLY does not match. But I love it. :) Now that I look at it, I like the effect the turquoise and the pink have for one another.

I used Recollections paper (Butterfly Wings Collection for the PINK and Cape Cod for the Turquoise.) Just in case you wanted to know.

Stamps... well STAMP used is the mini flower from Bombshell Stamps "Bombshell" set. I never have used it as the main focus of anything, and I felt it would be perfect for "Thinking of You". I used Versafine Onyx Black ink, and Bic Mark-its for the detail work of the inside of each flower, and detail around the computer generated sentiment.

Missing You.... Kid's Edition:

Lena is borrowing my Big Shot as her's needs to be fixed. I got these Sizzix die cuts from the Mike's clearance bins one day this past fall. I have never used them... I figured I NEED to try something new for the new year, so this is what I did. I made TWO Missing You Easel Cards :)

Paper is all Recollections except for the patterned paper, and the dresses, shoes, and head bands as the come from the Latte Collection of I cant remember the brand right now. But I got them in a little pad on sale, (it comes in several different sizes!)  at Jo-Ann's!

I need to get the Sizzix rub on faces for when I make the paper dolls... I am AWFUL at drawing faces. And my handwriting is even worse.... check out the HANDWRITTEN sentiment.

I am addicted to these little paper doll girls. I see more of them in my future! I hope they find a GREAT home.

More 10 things I love about you.

This is one of the other purchases I did with my gift certificate from my Secret Pal. I have seen this stamp set around, and I have been meaning to get it... and now I have it! I figured I should make a few of this image. How perfect for OWH!!! :) And I like how well it goes with my image from my last post (10 Things I Love About You).

She is stamped in Versafine, and colored with Prismacolor, and Stampin up markers. Paper is from Recollections. I hope someone enjoys these little ladies as much as I do!

10 Things I Love About You

I got this stamp set from my bestie Lena. She and I always pick up goodies for each other. :) She sent this to me while I was living in Arizona this past year.

I made these as non traditional Valentines Day Cards, OR Love cards. I made them "interactive". Soldiers can fill them in to their loved ones. Neat idea right? I thought so. I would love to know the 10 reasons why someone loves me! :)

Paper comes from my stash, and recollections, I used some random embellishments from my container that I keep my brads in. And I also used a MS punch. I love these little note cards! I hope someone else does too!

Friends are the chocolate chips in the cookies of life

So my secret pal on Paper Craft Planet sent a $25 gift certificate to a online scrapbooking store. I dont know why... but I immediately looked at the stamps first! I did look at some other scrapbooking stuff.. but nothing really caught my eye. I found two stamps I wanted, and this was one I knew I had to have. The sentiment was perfect!! "Friends are the chocolate chips in the cookies of life." Is that not soooo true?

I made these 5 cards for OWH. I colored the little critters with SU Markers. Paper is from my stash of random paper from Big Lots, and Recollections Cape Cod collection. Ribbon is Offray, and held with two staples :)

Thinking of You

I was asked to make some Thinking of You cards for OWH. This is one of them. There were two others made.

This card is made with the Bombshell Stamps-- Retro Cowgirl. She is one of the first two stamps I ever purchased from the company. I love everything about her... even the little lines in her armpits that make it look like hair. Ugh. Lena why did you point that out!!

I colored her skin with colored pencil to lighten up the tan paper I stamped her on. She is colored also with SU Peach Parfait, and Soft Suede, Blushing Bride and Prismacolor Sand.

I used {ippity}'s Now and Always set for the sentiment... I actually only used HALF of the sentiment.

Paper and Brads are Recollections... except the orange polka dot paper, and that just came out my random stash that came from a kit at Big Lots a while back.

Simple Man Card

Now what guy wouldnt want to receive this card as a just because card or a Valentines Day card? I know if I was a guy I wouldnt mind receiving it. I made her for my stash of OWH cards to soon be shipped out this week!!

This is Sandy, from Sassy Studio Designs. I havent used any of my Sassy images in such a long time!! I figured I needed to break some out for a few cards. I have a stash of printed digi images, and I needed to use them before I print out anymore!!

Sandy, has been colored with Prismacolor (light beige) and she is also colored with SU Riding Hood Red, and Soft Suede. I love how the colors go so well together. I like my fair skinned girls. Probably because I am pretty fairskinned myself. Plus I wish I had a knock out body like her. Why are all digis so good looking?! I would like to see some "fluffy" girl images!!!

All paper, and embellishments are Recollections.

I think I need to make more of her... maybe do some paper piecing with her?

Oh yeah! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Ah, Pony Love

I love this image from Karen's Doodles. My little sis from SCS-DSS Round 1 Chris (<-- Go check out her blog) got me addicted to these adorable images. I have had this image for over a year now.. and I think I have only used it ONCE! (Thats bad! That is digi stamp neglect!!!!) I think that card is on this blog too! :)

This little girl, or as Diem calls her "JESSIE" (side note: if you don't know who Jessie is... please watch the Toy Story trilogy... mainly 2 and 3) and her horse "BULLSEYE" (yes, another Toy Story reference) have been colored with a slew of products... Bic Mark its, Stampin Up Write markers and..... Prismacolor. I love her little outfit. I am a sucker for a little cowgirl image. :)

I made this card as a KID card for OWH. I hope some little girl really enjoys this card. I think I might go print off some more of this image and make more!! :)

Pink Bombshell

I am a sucker for this image, duh, you see her pretty much all over my blog.

I LOVE wait.. HATE pink. So why not make a pink themed card. I participated in the mini challenge #9 I think where it is ANYTHING BUT PINK. I think that was the number.. So why not do... ONLY PINK (with a few minor accents of other color).

All paper is DCWV Brights white cored paper. Embellishments are Recollections, but the Ribbon is American Crafts. Embossing folder is CB Stars.

 Maybe all this pink will get out of my system for 2011!

Cardmaker's Bill of Rights

Cardmaker's Bill of Rights

(I found this featured in the Homefront Blog today)


A cardmaker delivers the most welcome kind of unannounced visitor: A HANDMADE CARD.



A card touches us – somehow, a small folded piece of paper can comfort, celebrate, reach out or just say hello. Creating a handmade card is an honourable and important task.



As a cardmaker, you are entitled (but not limited) to the following rights:



•You have the right to take as long as you want to complete one handmade card. This may be five minutes or two weeks.

•You have the right to send a card for no other reason than to show off your new stamp, embellishment or technique.

•You have the right to create a fabulous card for your husband, partner or roommate – just because you know it will stay in your house.

•You have the right to spread your cardmaking things out all over, just to admire them.

•You have the right to purchase a certain cardmaking item for no other reason than because a) you like it; b) you think it's cute; c) you'll never find it again, or; d) you know you'll use it someday.

•You have the right to reserve using your most precious supplies on cards only for recipients who will truly appreciate them.

•You have the right to a workspace of your own. This may be the basement, your college student's old bedroom or the kitchen table.

•You have the right to make cards when inspiration strikes – whether the dishes are done or not.

•You have the right to request peaceful, kid-free, stress-less cardmaking time - guilt-free.

•You have the right to let the handmade card be the gift, too.

•You have the right to value your personal style.

•You are creating a treasure - and part of that treasure is you.



~Author Unknown

You're FINtastic!!!

So today, my bestie, Lena over at Scrapbutterfly, and I were sharing ideas with each other on Facebook, and I told her I need to try to make different styles of cards, or techniques. So with this card, I did the Vertical Easel Card.

To make a Vertical Easel card, you need to start out with a 4 1/4" by 11" piece of cardstock, and score at 5 1/2" and 8 1/4". Your card front piece will measure at 4 1/4" by 5 1/2"

Paper is from Recollections Cape Cod collection. There are bubbles that hand drawn are from a page of used pop dots. :) Creative eh? I just move the sheet in random places all over the page. I used the {ippity} fish stampset again!! duh right? But I used the sentiment FINtastic... I just handwrote the You're part. :) You cant really see them, but near the fish's mouth there are some recollections bubble stickers :) The ground is from a MS punch, that I used tan paper, and took 3 shades of Bic Markits to make the "sand".

I made this card for OWH mini challenge.... ANYTHING BUT PINK. I like this challenge because I DONT like pink at all.... But I was looking at my cards, and I use PINK a lot. hmmm.

Hope you enjoy! :)

THINspiration Thursday, on a Wednesday.

Happy THINspiration Thursday... on a Wednesday! I figured since I forgot last weeks... Due to Diem's departure, I would do this weeks, a little earlier.

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL holiday! I heard on the radio today that the average American will gain atleast 1 pound over the holidays. ONE POUND!!! I thought it would be higher than that, but I will go with the one pound statistic.

This picture, is of me on Christmas Day. I went to dinner at my Uncle Dave's and Aunt Sue's house. My Grandma Rosa was able to leave her facility to join us for dinner. Christmas Eve, Dave, Sue, Gram and I spent it at Gram's "place". We had soup and salad. Christmas day we... well they had a the typical turkey dinner. I had, a roll, some mashed 'tatos, olives (black and green) and some gross green bean dish. Trust me, I walked away hungry. I barely ate any of that crap. 'Tatos, were good except they were full of butter!!!! Thank goodness I noticed that, as I typically put a little bit of butter on there as I dont eat gravy. I spent more time helping Gram out  than eating. I did eat 3 SMALL pieces of pie. I mean If you put all 3 together, it wasnt even a 3 inches across in size of these pieces. I had chocolate, coconut cream and pumpkin. They werent that great.

Basketball was cancelled this week due to the holiday weekend. Lets see if we have practice this weekend.

Due to all the holiday festivities, I thought I would have gained like 10 pounds... Nope just a pound and a half. So thats not too bad. Considering I havent weighed myself in 2 weeks-ish, and the lack of PA!!!

Well I have a lunch date tomorrow with my friend Becky, maybe she can motivate me a little!! She is amazing!!!

Until next Thursday.

Something is a little fishy here...

This was one of the first sets I saw through {ippity}. I love this set, and yet I havent really used it. I had no ideas on what I could do with it. I saw in this month's issue of Cardmaker Magazine, an example that used this set that inspired me. You can buy this set along with a dozens of other sets through me. This set, sells for MSRP of $24.00 (not including s&h).

The fish are colored with the following SU colors (who you can purchase from my bestie Lena Lou): So Saffron, More Mustard, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Certainly Celery, and Wild Wasabi. The sea plants are colored with Always Artichoke, and Old Olive. The sentiment is colored with Night of Navy. Fish are also accented with Pop Dots. ;) All paper is from Recollections Cape Cod Collection.

I made two of these cards for OWH, and I plan to make more of these Fishy cards too! I hope you enjoy! I am also using this for the Mini Challenge on the Stars and Stamps blog! :)

Birthday Girls

I made a bunch of the same image themed cards for OWH. I colored a bunch of these girls one night, while sitting in bed watching TV. They may all be the same image, but none of the cards, or colors and papers to be exact are the same. All cards are prefolded, and all the papers were given to me some where along the line. All the girls were colored with Prismacolor and Bic Mark its with some SU. :) The image comes from Some Odd Girl, as a freebie.

These cards are in the next package for Sandy over at OWH. I hope to get more birthday themed cards out for her! She needs any kind of card you can get to her right now.

Dont forget, the Deadline for cards to be sent to your shippers for VALENTINES DAY is January 7th!!

Man Card

I dont think I have posted this card yet. It is Jogger from Mo Manning. I need more images that are more manish. I love this image. I love it that he is running with a SMALL dog.

Paper comes from a paper pad that was all School themed, and I got it on clearance for 50 cents at Joann's. I figured it would look nice with this card, except for the bright green jersey top on my runner! Maybe he is wearing it so he is safe on the roads for cards that pass.

This is one of my few man cards for OWH. I hope it makes its way to a nice home!

Mini Challenge #4 {kids cards}

Yes, you may have seen this card in a previous post, but it fits perfectly with the Mini Challenge number 4 of Kids themed cards.

I believe I hijacked this image from Lena. Its from The Greeting Farm. I made this card for a 2 year old little princess named Havily. Her dad at the time was in Iraq, and I was making him cards, I figured I should make her a card, send it to him, to send to her! I made a few cards for him to do that with during his last tour.

I am 0-4 in the challenges so far this week.  Oh well.. MORE CARDS FOR OWH!!!

I better get ready for bed. Diem and I have flights to catch tomorrow.

Christmas Cards!!!

Here is my mother load of all Christmas cards.

I featured one on the Mini Challenge #2 for OWH. I made 30 + Christmas cards of this style, and I didnt have enough!!! Who would have thought I would know so many people?!

New Year's Resolution for next year!!! START CARDS EARLIER!! Maybe every 25th of each month, I will need to make one card! ;) Or!! Designate ONE day of each week to be my CHRISTMAS card day. I saw this being done on one of the blogs I subscribe to. I believe it is Kathy, at Will Stamp for Wine that does it. :) I think it is an amazing idea. Or maybe I will challenge Lena and Jammie (up for the challenge ladies?) to make Christmas cards. :) I have a lot of Christmas papers to use up!!!!!

These cards are stamped with Who's that Girl, Santa Baby from My Favorite Things. Colored with watercolor pencil and SU blender pen, some Old Olive SU paper, DCWV Christmas Stack paper from Joann's, MS Snowflake Border punch, Recollections solid paper (Seasonal packs) and Offray ribbon.

I will be posting between now, and Christmas, but if I do not....

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We say Merry Christmas in this family! :)

MINI CHALLENGE #3 {bling}

I know its not really BLINGish, but I added some silver sparkle puff paint over my rose, from SU's Fifth Avenue Floral. I like the dimension to it.  and how simple it turned out. Now if I can only retie that bow the same way everytime, we would be set!!

Paper comes from American Crafts. I got it .25 cents a sheet at Mikes one day. If I remembered correctly I got every last sheet! Its double sided, and the inside is a solid green color that matches the Rose.

I am using this card as my submission for Mini Challenge #3 at OWH Stars and Stamps blog. It has been fun participating in all the challenges. I haven't won. Doubt I will, but its worth the shot of trying, and having fun. A lot of the ladies have been commenting here, emailing me or on the FB fan page.

Just looking at this card makes me want to use this set over and over again. Maybe I should get to it? Maybe if Diem lets me :)

Santa came to our house last night for a special trip! She just finished opening her gifts, and now she is eating breakfast and we plan to make peanut butter cookies today!!! :) Wish us luck. Last night we made Chocolate Chunk cookies, Sugar cookies, and Brownies. :)

Mini Challenge #2 (Again)

This is probably one of my favorites!! It really makes me want a Pumpkin Spice Latte, or a Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks. Actually theres this coffee place in my town (The Coffee Lady, on South State Street in Ukiah, California) that does a even better job! You can pay $3.75 for peppermint mocha thats bigger than Starbucks "Venti" and I think its WAAAAY better and they give you a little punch card too!

This set comes from Fiskars, the name of it skips my mind right now. But its totally AMAZING! has like 15 different pieces to it! I have used it before on a card for Diems grandparents in Arizona. Its adorable, annnnnnd! I need to use it more often!

You cant really tell but the "steam" or whatever you want to call it is actually has pop dots helping it "rise".

All paper comes from DCWV and Recollections. It may look familiar because I used the same paper with like 4 other cards I made! I loved the paper that much!

OWH Mini Challenge #2

More winter themed cards is the trend for today's challenge. Here is another one of my submissions! :)

I love Stamping Bella's hockeymomabella! She is probably one of my favorites!!! She is colored with Prismacolor and Bic Mark its :) I used my DCWV christmas stack of paper I got last year. I swear I buy more and more stacks of Christmas paper when ever it goes on sale!!!! I need to use that stuff up!!!!

I have a Hockey friend who will LOVE this!!!

Christmas Cards and OWH Mini Challenge #2

I love this Santa Baby set from My Favorite Things. The sentiment says, "Santa I have been a good girl". I stamped this image on watercolor paper, colored with watercolor pencils and a SU blender pen. Old Olive is the background paper of the image. Recollections primary paper, and DCWV patterned paper finish it out. Offray ribbon with a MS snowflake border punch. I hope all my receipents love their card!

I also used this card as one of my submissions for OWH Mini Challenge! Wish me luck!! :)

Holiday Vacation Challenge #1: Catch up on a Technique

As the OWH Stars and Stamps blog says, many of their crafters have sometime off this week and next, and so they came up with some mini challenges. I cannot wait to participate! I hope to be apart of each one! Let's see if Diem lets me!



Today's challenge - go pick one of their tutorials you haven't done before, and try out a technique! . Some are simple, some are more complex, but there are so many great ideas to stretch your creativity. The card shown here takes a spin on the Brick Wall Technique, I always love the way they turn out. I need to use this one more often!
 

I made this card for my friend Janess. She is a SAHM now and former Army :) She will LOVE this!

Thinspiration Thursday on a Wednesday

I need to get this post done today, as I wont be able to post Thursday. Diem is coming to town tomorrow, and I will be picking her up early in the morning. :) Also! Grandma Phelps will be released from the Rehab Care Facility where she has been since October for the treatment of her stroke, (also on Thursday). She will be back to Ukiah. So no more commuting to Sebastopol.

I have lost 3.4 pounds in the past week. Yay!

So things to work on in the next week to come, as its the week before Christmas, and I usually eat 20x more crappier when Diem is here... Get extra PA outside if possible. (It is supposed to rain all week, so it may be more difficult to get Diem and I out for our typical 60 minutes of PA). I need to cut back on my sodium intake again. I am eating more salt items, and foods that are high in sodium due to my stress level and lack of motivation to make something, or all the traveling to Sebastopol. I also need to cut back on my coffee intake as it is full of fats/oils alone, and when I add my Peppermint Mocha Coffeemate, there is unwanted sugars in it that isnt helping my case.

I am no longer drinking soda. My fluid intake has been 1/3 Gatorade or Powerade Zero and 2/3 water. Both products have sugars in them. I have also been drinking more water, I drink atleast 3 liters a day. That is just a few things.

Got to keep trucking, and stay motivated! Here is one of a few pictures I used as my Christmas card. Have to use some humor with our cards especially in light of everything that has happened to our friends and family this year.

I havent lost it probably in the best ways, due to stress and lack of eating correctly 6 times a day, (3 meals, and 3 snacks). My PA is back on track, I play basketball now on Sundays for two hours, and then I will be playing two times a week starting January 6th. I just got picked up for this team last week and we had our first practice last Sunday. I am super excited for this up coming Sunday at 5:30, we are going to be scrimmaging a 5th and 6th grade girls basketball team. I wouldnt be surprised if they worked us, but it is a good work out anyway!

Peekaboo Bellas

Here are two cards that I made this evening. The first one is for OWH, and since I liked the way it turned out, I made a second one for my childhood friend Terri. She is getting married June 11th 2011. I needed to make her a engagement card and so I figured I would go Non Traditional for my PINK loving friend, and make a Bella card. I also decided that I should challenge my bestie Lena over at Scrapbutterfly. Feel free to join in the fun. Here is your challenge

Either one will work but it needs to have one of the following elements: A) NEON or BRIGHT colors OR B) Make your own animal print or use animal print as one of the main elements on your card. Please let me know if you play along with us! We are always looking for people to play! :) Right now it is just her and I to inspire each other. Occassionally her cousin Jammie plays with us too!

Here is my card for the challenge (#1)

And here is my card for my friend Terri (#2):

I have known Terri since the 4th grade. Still to this day we still call each other "adopted sisters" or by our nickname "E.T" (Emily and Terri) oh and I should mention we both have the same last name!!!! It is going to be sad not being able to call ourselves E.T anymore!!!! We've been doing it for almost 16 years!!! Wow, that is a long time.

Both cards are made with cardstock from Recollections, image is Stamping Bella's Peekaboo. I did stamp my bella's on 3x5 note cards again!! :) I am so smart in doing that. I am not wasting near as much paper this way!! Gotta think logical here! Zebra print inch stamp came from the dollar bin at Mikes. I LOVE THAT STAMP. I thought I lost it in the move back from Arizona. I just found it in my "laundry soap bucket". For real it was in my OLD plastic laundry soap bucket. It is the Costco size and I knew it would be good for something so I used it for hold my stamps and stuff when I went to Arizona. I still use it when I go places to haul my stamps or ink pads. Right now it has a bunch of embellishments, stamps, and ribbons in there.

Let me know if you want to join in on our challenges. Comment here, or email me with suggestions. The more the merrier!! :)

Happy Birthday Becky Carter!

Its that time of year again, its Becky's (Bubbles) Birthday. I met Becky a few years ago, over 5 years ago actually. She is probably one of my favorite blonde haired ladies. She is pretty amazing. She wakeboards too! She is one of the most amazing people I have ever met, so I figured, I needed to take a break from my Operation Write Home cards, and make her birthday card before her birthday passes and I forget!

This image is from Stamping Bella. I haven't used my bellas in a while so I figured I should get on that. Becky rides her bike to work in the spring and summer time. Its part of her cardio, plus cheaper than buying gas! She does have a dog, Chuey, but he doesn't look anything like the one in this picture. I colored my bella with Prismacolor, and SU markers. I just got the big set of markers for my birthday with all the current colors in it... HOW COULD I HAVE LIVED WITH OUT ALL THESE COLORS!!!! I may have to retire my Bic Mark its. I dont think I could do that. But they are on a break right now.  Her name is spelled out in a set from Hero Arts that I found on clearance once at Beverly's. (In SU Bermuda Bay-- FYI) and all the paper came from a stash that I have inherited from other card making friends. I actually stamped this image on a 3x5 notecard's backside. Is that cheating?

I hope she really enjoy's this card. I didnt want to give it up, but atleast its going to a nice home!

Mo Manning: Hanging the Star

I love this little image. This was a * 24 hour freebie* on Mo Manning's Facebook Fan Page a few days ago. I snagged it up really quick because this little guy/ girl (I like to think its a girl) reminded me of Diem when she was about 1-2 years old. I could resist the footie PJs either! How stinking adoreable right? 

I made 4 different styles of this image, but this my FAVORITE. I think its the Red PJs. I love the whispy hair too. :) Look at those cheeks! A-DORE-ABLE!

Houndstooth paper is DCWV from a scrapbook stack, Red is left over from my Christmas cards. The little girl is colored with Prismacolors, and SU Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz and Soft Suede if I remember correctly. The star is Crushed Curry. One of my favorite colors (besides Dusty Durango, and Pumpkin Pie).

I am including this card in with my OWH cards, I know it looks Christmas-y but I figure my shipper could put it to good use in a other "theme".

Bombshell Valentine

The Lovely Bombshell strikes again! I adore her. I think ADORE is an understatement here. But she pairs up so nicely for a Valentines Day theme. I love her.

I colored her with Prismacolor and SU Poppy Parade. The base is scrapbook paper that I got out of the Beverly's Fabric's .10 cent bin several years ago. My mom says "Fabric needs to age before you use it..." Does this work for paper too? I think I got this paper like right after Diem was born. She will be 4 this month! SO. It is definitely time to use it. Rest of the paper came out of scraps from other cards. But the red paper right behind her I stamped the SU Medallion with Riding Hood Red, and then "Rock N' Roll" Black Versafine before I stamped it on the paper. I have never used this stamp before. So Lena over at Scrapbutterfly would be so proud of me for using one of my "new" stamps. Once I did the red and black, I figured I should accent my lovely Bombshell with the same colors. She seems to stand out a little bit more now. :) The tag is stamped with a Penny Black sentiment in Versafine accented with the Riding Hood Red. It reads : "I love that you love me..." I feel like this is a great sentiment for a soldier sending home a Valentine to their loved ones. I received this great tag from WRAK, and the embellishments came from my stash. I think I got the polka-dotted flowers from Big Lots, and the silver flower from Mike's.

I adore this card, and I really do not want to part with it. But it is for a great organization! If you haven't done so, you should really check out Operation Write Home. Sandy (The West Coast shipper) is in dire need of cards right now! So every little bit helps!

Thinspiration Thursday!!

!!!Happy Thinspiration Thursday!!!

It is another Thursday, and yes, I still do not feel THIN yet.

As of the day I said I would actually religiously weigh myself so I can meet my 50lbs goal by my birthday next year.... I have lost 3.2 pounds. Yay me. I dont know where I have lost it. I just hope it doesnt find me either. Knowing my luck, it will find me again. I am trying to run from it as quickly as I can!

I need to find out some better PA because soccer season is officially over, and I know I am not going to be as active as I would like. I have to find something new and fun to take up my time on Sunday mornings.

With the holidays coming I know I am going to need to step up my game here a little bit, hopefully I will stay positive and can overcome the weight gain. Im sure I wont have a problem!

Anyway enough of this short post for today! I am getting distracted by the gloominess that is outside. I hate this cold weather. It really makes me super unmotivated to do anything!

Bombshell Blog is Having a CONTEST!!!

Everyone who knows me, or has seen my blog knows that I am totally addicted to Bombshell Stamps. I love how unique and versatile they are. I have been using them lately for my OWH valentines.... They are real head turners!


So, Bombshell Stamps, now has a Blog. On their blog, they are having a "Follow This Blog" CONTEST! to celebrate this fun new adventure!!! So, you should follow their blog, and enter their contest!! It is super easy to enter and the winner will have their choice of 2 stamp sets. One rubber and 1 digi.

The contest rules are as follows:
1. Sign up to follow the blog by December 20th, 2010
2. Provide a post on their personal blog promoting the contest (current followers just need to add a post to their blog)

Rise and Shine

I made this card for Operation Write Home. Seems like now a days that is all I make cards for. I love this girl with the red white and blue. She is colored with Prismacolor and Bic Mark its. I really like the punched stars with the red star brads to match :) I think it was a nice touch.

Gifts: Flower Pots

I love these little terracotta flower pots. They are 4 or 5" pots. I dont remember. In these pots (above) I used the half disc styrofoam for the "soil" in the pots. Hill side up. (The one on the left is hill side up, the one on the right was hillside down.)

I took the smaller scallop punch from SU for the flower petal part, punched TWO holes overlapping each other to get the desired opening for the treat to go through. To keep the petal on, I used floral tape to create a "stem" Start at the top and worked my way down. The tape does turn your fingers a little bit green. It washes off!

Starting with the top center I alternated my colors to make a colorful arrangement. They go in super easy. You dont need a whole lot of force because if you push too far, they sink later on.

I loved these! I made these again for my grandma and her roommate at her care facility she is in after her stroke. They loved them!!! Of course I used See's lollipops in theirs. If I knew my gram only wanted the chocolate ones, I would have only gotten chocolate. Now everytime I come to see her I always make sure to have REFILLS for her flower pot ;)

These flower pots are the ones I made for my grandma and her roomie :) I did get a little help from Diem on these. She kept trying to eat the Butterscotch ones!

Iron Paddock Ladies Strike Again!

Since I have been on this kick with the Bombshells for my OWH cards, I realized... I havent made my favorite Drewper a card in a long while. He even noticed it too! So shoot I better get my rear in gear!

I made him this card in his favorite colors! Black and Orange, which are also his business colors! I used a little gold a la mode pigment ink on the black surrounding the lovely lady. She is colored in Pismacolors, for her skin and hair. Her shirt is Paperpieced with some scrap orange paper I have. I used CB Stars embossing folder, rubbed SU Dusty Durango over it to give some bold and some faded orange color. Ribbon came from my secret sis from the Divine Secret Siblings on SCS.

I love this card! I almost didnt want to part with it! Luckily Drew keeps some up in his shop. Especially the ones that feature his business! :)

If It werent for the brave, there'd be no land of the free

I have totally been slacking. I was more prioritized to have my OWH blog hop post up for Veteran's day, that I completely forgot to post my ACTUAL Veteran's Day Cards!!! What the heck was wrong with me!!!!

I made a total of 20 Vets cards. All very simple, and they were all colored with Prismacolor AND watercolor pencil.... and a little SU marker here and there to help out some detail. I had a lot of thank you's for these cards. Some even said that not even their own family members told them Happy Veteran's Day! I guess people do not appreciate what they have! My favorite and heartfelt thank you came from my mom's "kissing cousin". I dont know how we are related, but we are some how. He was a POW in WWII. He was impressed that I cared so much to remember him on that special day.


The caption is right... If it werent for the brave, there'd be no land of the free

Bella time!

Feels like it has been forever since I have used a bella in a card. I received this bella in a WRAK on SCS. I had never seen it before. I knew I had *HAD* to have her. This card is one of my many for OWH. All the random paper is out of my stash... if I remember correctly. She is colored with... Prisma color, and SU. Butterfly punch is Martha. I love making this convertible look classic and retro!! Kind of like my Bombshell style!

I know its not Thursday!!

Okay, so I know its not Thursday, but I missed last weeks post due to family stuff. But anyway... Over the weekend. I celebrated my 25th birthday. I treated my self to a new top, and new shoes. You cant see the new shoes but... I will totally have to take a picture and post a picture of them.

My PA has been low, especially with the lack of time and the bad weather. I need to change that. And with that note. I am going to start allllllll over on this Thinspiration stuff. I made this pledge on.... Sunday. My real life birthday. I am going to lose 50 pounds by November 21st 2011. :) I have a notepad next to my scale in the bathroom ready to count down the pounds. Wish me luck, and hopefully I can stick with it!

OWH Veterans Day Bloghop!

Happy Veteran's Day weekend everyone! :) Veteran's Day has to be one of my favorite holidays! So I figured why not participate in this blog hop!

And on that note: I am participating in my very first bloghop! I am so happy that OWH is having a special blog hop on Veterans Day Weekend!!! :) The theme is VALENTINES! Awww how sweet right?

Before we get to all the fun stuff, lets take care of business. If you have the time, please vote at Joanns - http://www.joann.com/CraftForaCause for OWH. :) It helps with much needed shipping costs. We all know it gets rather expensive! Currently the deadline for Christmas cards has passed, so lets get to moving on to the upcoming holiday of VALENTINES DAY!!! The deadline for Valentines Day cards to be sent to the shippers is NO LATER THAN January 7th of 2011! So get to crackin!

If you are following along in the OWH Blog hop, you should have followed me from Patti at

what are you inking?, If not, you can start from the beginning of this wonderful bloghop at : Homefront at Homefront Blog . So now on to the fun stuff!! :)


Here is one of my MANY Valentine's Day cards:

If you are a first time reader of my blog, then you must know about me that I am a HUGE Bombshell Stamps fan. :) My SU demo Lena makes fun of me because I typically use my bombshells on pretty much every single card I make. They also make PERFECT Valentine's Day cards... Especially for men.

She is stamped on watercolor paper, and colored with Prismacolor (light peach), and SU Poppy Parade, and accented with Black Bic Mark-its. The Gold Ribbon I hijacked out of my SU Demo's random stash of ribbon.

Thanks for joining in on the fun. Next lovely cardmaker on the blog hop is Velda at 

Old Stamper. She has some fun things in store for you! Enjoy your Veteran's Day Weekend, and thank a former or current military member. Tell them how thankful you are for your freedom :)



Back to the Grind: Thinspiration Thursday

So I have been totally MIA for the past few weeks. Long story short. My Grandma had a stroke, and I have been super busy with taking care of her along side a few other family members. We were commuting every other day down to Sebastapol, but we recently changed that to we go two days, someone else takes two days, and then we get another two days. It has really taken a toll on my body, and we eat like crap, or we dont eat enough. But surprisingly, I have not gained or lost and weight. My PA has changed. With the massive amounts of rain, we had two rain outs for soccer, we had a game last weekend. We won 5-0, and we are tied for 4th place. We need to win this game to make it to play offs. Last Wednesday, Julie and I walked around Redwood Valley. We walked from her house, on School Way, up West Road, and down East Road (which I live on) and back to her house... THATS 8.3 MILES! And its not all flat land either!! We were soooooo sore from that walk. But we are planning our next adventure before we get bombarded with rain!

Here is the last picure of Diem and I before she went to Arizona. Of course we had to take a silly one as she and I are silly girls. Grandma Linda found us matching shirts. It was like heck to get Diem to put that shirt on.

I need to get back in gear on this posting nonsense. I need to reevaluate my goals. Oh well... Until next week.

Another 5th avenue floral!

I made this halloween card using Witchy Woman from Ward Digi's where I am a DT member.  I made one other card with this same image but I dont have a picture of it--- but there is one on the site. This card was made for the release of this image.

THINspiration Thursday!

It is that time of the week where Lena and I let you into our weightloss worlds. :)

CONGRATULATIONS! to LENA! She has lost 10 pounds since she has started her journey only a few short weeks ago! I think its from all those laughs we have had. :) I brought her some treats to work over the past few days. I made her a "plant", which I will eventually post on here, and today I brought her a tall pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. She has never had one. It was just a little treat. :) Congratulations Bestest, pretty soon the pounds are going to just melt off... I promise no more fatty coffee for a while ;)

I on the other hand--- Had soccer this past sunday. We won, 5-1, well it should have been more than that because we played our sloppiest game to date. We are 3-1 for the season, and we have a game this next sunday. Hopefully we win!! :) :) But I got the Sh----- stuffing kicked out of me this game. I got knocked around a few times which was not my idea of a good time. My whole body has been super sore since. I think I crunched my back.

I have been eating LESS processed foods, and buying TONS and TONS of fresh vegetables. I love it because Broccoli is on sale right now. I think I just bought literally 5 pounds of broccoli in the past two days. I LOVE IT and its only 97 cents a pound right now at Raleys :) My friend Enrique works there so he always comments about how much broccoli I buy. He always jokes about it because broccoli makes you gassy! True story!

I am having some really bad knee pains and I have been walking a lot, and running on crummy fields for soccer. That does some nasty wear and tear on my already messed up knee.

I have been looking for A) healthy receipes B) things that Diem will eat. As everyone knows she is the pickiest eater! I mean she is THE WORST! I love this blog Ma Whats 4 Dinner. Alex is a hoot, and I have found some really cute ideas on her blog. Diem still wont eat it, but theres cute ideas!

On that note!!!

Have a wonderful weekend. Now, I need to get my rear in gear to get my cards on here!

I love this image! Yes, and I love the color orange apparently!  Here is cocktail emily again from sparkle creations. I LOVE HER. She is colored with SU markers, bic mark its and prismacolors!

Features!

Shiela from homefurnituredepot.net. is featuring my blog on hers! Lazy Boy Recliners

Here is part of my email! Enjoy!

We stumbled on your blog page and found it interesting! We operate the largest Home Furniture & Office Furniture website featuring more than 30,000+ blogs. Our site averages 200,000+ unique visitors per month. As a kind note We have featured your blog at http://homefurnituredepot.net/blog_awards/index.php?id=31740
Looking forward for your confirmation.
 Thanks
 Shiela

Cocktail Emily

I made this GREEN card for my friend Jenna.  Her name is Cocktail Emily from Sparkle Creations. I love her. I used SU kiwi kiss, and colored her with Bic mark its, and prismacolors. Add some silver puffy paint to her lime, glass rim, and her head band.

Happy Thinspiration Thursday.

Happy THINspirsation Thursday! Its overcast and not warm at all here in my neck of the woods. Totally didnt want to get up and get ready but I did. This picture is of Julie, Diem and I at our High School homecoming. We havent been since we graduated in 2003 and it was nice to see some former teachers, and well some of my former daycampers that are now in high school. One of my former campers babysits D for me :)  Anyway!!! So I must be losing some weight or clothes are getting bigger. I bought myself a new Carhartt denim jacket yesterday. It fits me nicely. Cant button it all the way... the chest gets in the way of that... But I love this jacket! :) :) I am currently wearing it now!  So!!! Yeah, I had a weekend off of soccer so my PA hasnt been that amazing. I have been trying to get out more, but thats not working... As I say every week is I need to eat better... And consistently! Diem has school pictures next THURSDAY!!!! I think that is the 14th. Yep One week from today the little girl has her school pictures. We will see how that goes! Good news... Lena comes over tonight... Bad news... I have two coffees this week! RARE!! but the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at starbucks. I couldnt resist!

Instyle Stamps September Sketch Challenge.

So my bestie Lena, convinced me that I am creative enough to start submitting my cards to challenges. She told me to do the same one she was doing as at the time there were only 4 people doing it. Finally I got the courage to participate. Here is the sketch for SEPTEMBER and today, October 5th was the last day to do the challenge. So Here is their sketch (ABOVE).  And here is my final product below. You can participate until 11:59 PM tonight!!!!   Instyle Stamps Here is their link :) GOOD LUCK

Happy Thinspiration FRIDAY!

Sorry I didnt post yesterday. Rather busy. Take Diem to her dermatology appointment, take her to school, run home to meet up with someone. Leave the house by 11:40, get to Diem's school by noon.  The next place I need to go to is closed from 12-1, We had a date set up to meet up with a friend, we were there for like two hours, go home afterwards. so I go back home, just to come back into town, run by the place I needed to go to, then to Diem's Parent Meeting... Were I am stupid yet grateful--- I volunteered to be a representative and board member for Diem's school. I also volunteered myself to be on book patrol where I help pick out books for the kids to choose from and take home. THEN! Run by Chase after my meeting, to see the ATM is closed, so.... I then have to run to US Bank, which is inside safeway... I needed to go there anyway.. Make a deposit, got a few groceries for dinner night with Julie, and off we went to Julies. I think we were finally home by 10?  UGHHHHHHHHH! So tired. After all of that you would think I wouldnt want to go anywhere for a while right? NO! I am going to town later to pick up some secret supplies for World Card Making Day! Then tonight, Julie and I are going to take Diem to the Highschool football game. Its homecoming, and we havent been to a game, let alone HOMECOMING since we graduated in 2003. Makes me want to go to my college Homecoming at Iowa Wesleyan. ANYWAY.

Here is a picture of Diem, baby Dylan (Chopper), and me. Yes in my defense the angle sucks, but I love the moment I had with Dylan and Diem. For a split second there.... I wanted another baby.. hahah moment passed. :) Look at my chin/neck region... Those cheeks! Fatty arm. Oh well it wasnt a fashion show that day. Just makes you think on what you look like.

My PA for the week, I played soccer last sunday. We won! We are 2-1 right now. We have a bye game this weekend. A lot of us got beat up pretty bad last weekend so its nice that we get a break. My soda intake has cut down... but so has my eating. My rear needs to get back in gear. I am considering of only... ONLY eating FRESH fruits and veggies for a few days. I love them, but lets just see if I actually do it... because that means I have to give up my sunflower seeds!!!! yikes!!!

Okay, so I have a new goal. I know what I weigh, but I am on a mission to find pants that I wore PRE DIEM! My mission is to fit into those jeans. Maybe I still have a few pairs! haha I doubt it. But its worth a shot to find them.

I promise to get better at posting! I got to get my rear in gear!