Vacation!!

We are leaving this morning for our vacation!! The boys are soooooo excited!! We're going to Jellystone for a week. We went there last year and had a BLAST!! They have indoor and outdoor water parks, huge skate park, paddle boats, fishing, mini golf, play parks, huge game room, kids craft room and all kinds of activities going on. They also have a theme each week and this week is chocolate lovers-gotta love that!! At night they play movies and also sometimes have a band. There is so much to do at Jellystone maybe we will be lucky and not have to hear "I'm board" for a whole week-lol! *wink*

Since we will be gone I won't be posting anything for a few days. Sorry I haven't been able to post much lately, life has just been busy. I have been working on my ATC's for this month--what a challenge!! This month our theme was to make an ATC all about yourself. I have to say I spent some time thinking about this one! I have never done any SB LO's or anything like that where it's all about me so this was really a challenge for sure!! But I think I'm happy with the outcome.
I used a picture that I took of myself and desaturated it (made it B&W) and then used a filter called photocopy which made it into like an outline. Then I colored it in with chalks. The top piece is transparency and I wrote different words on it (with a sharpie marker) about me and then on the back side I added glitter around the edges. I also stamped, chalked, glittered and cut out a fairy (CTMH) and two butterflies (stamp craft) and glued them on the front of the transparency and then put crystal effects over them.

Coming Home!!

I was going to post this on Friday and and then I realized the batteries in the camera were dead and I wasn't able to get any of the pictures off of it!! I have added a picture, it's one from the morning when they left and I will post more about the trip with some other pictures very soon.

This picture was taken about 5 minutes before they left to head out to the Pine Ridge, SD. It was a very beautiful morning with the sun shinning and we all gathered in a huge circle holding hands. We were singing and then Father Jim said a wonderful prayer. We took a few pictures and then they headed out.

Our oldest son is coming home today!! He has been a mission trip this past week with our church. This is the 1st time he has ever been on a mission trip. Last Sunday 25 Adults and Teenagers left to go to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in SD. I have missed him sooooooo much!!!!! He has been to Boy Scout camp and for that they are gone for about a week and I am used to him doing that every year but this is so different!! I hope and pray that he had a good time. They say it is a very good but yet very long and hard week. The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is the 2nd largest one in the US and it is also the 2nd poorest place in the nation. Part of the week while they are there they give back to the community and the paint houses, do small home repairs and stuff like that. Then the other part of the week they spend with the kids doing all kinds of activities- crafts, singing and just having fun being a kid. Everyone that went last year said it was truly a life changing experience. I am so very proud of him and I can't wait to give him a HUG and hear all about the mission trip!!! He should be home between 7-8 tonight!! Here are some pictures of them speaking in front of the church about a fund raiser that we did. I was so excited about the fund raiser!! I was in charge of a fund raiser that we did to try and help out with expenses for the mission trip. We had about 25 of the adults and teenagers (most who were going on the trip)get together for two weekends and do a ton of stamping!! We made 400 cards and packaged them up and about 80 stationary kits. We gave the sets of cards and stationary kits as a Thank You for the donations and I must say people were very generous!! We raise about $2600.00!!! Here are some pictures from the morning they left. I am hoping he took a bunch of pictures over the past week so I can post some of the things he did!! I also want to say thank you to our family and friends for all of your support and prayers!!!

I am only posting one picture this time and will post more soon. *wink*

8 x 8 Birthday Book

This is a Birthday Book that I made for my Mom and gave it to her this past Christmas. I took and 8 x 8 album and altered the front of it. On the inside there are two pages for each month, one has the month and a place to write birthdays and the other page is actually a pocket. The pocket can be used to hold all of your cards that you would need for the month. Most of the pictures are of the pockets for each month. I also made 30 some cards to go along with the birthday book. Hope you enjoy & thanks for looking!!

Going From Printed Paper to a Card

There are soooo many different kinds of PP (printed paper) for all of us card makers, scrap bookers, and paper crafters to choose from that it can really make your head start to spin!

I like to take the PP and make a card using a large portion of the printed paper but changing it up a bit. I think it can be a fun and a bit of a challenge to see how much of the 12 x 12 PP I can add to the card.

This is the piece of 12 x 12 PP that I started with.
This is the card that I designed using most of the PP. This was a graduation card for my friend Kelli's Daughter. There is no stamping on the outside of this card, but instead painting. I used twinkling H2o's to do the painting. The water was done by painting with the twinkling H2o's and then crystal effects and then adding little micro beads. I also added lime green stickles (Ranger) to give it so added sparkle and some colored acrylic flat beads (The Robin's Nest) to add some dimension.
Hope you have a great day and thanks for looking!!

Little Lady in the Roses

I had a lot of fun making this card! I was playing around with the new SU On Board Blossoms & Basics and thought I'd create a little Lady(bug). I think it turned out so cute and of coarse I had to add a touch of glitter!! I also love the SU Wild Rose stamp set. It's a great set to be able to make the three-dimensional roses. The little ladybug was made using the 1-3/8" circle punch and On Board Blossoms & Basics and Daz. Diamond Glitter.
Stamps: Wild Rose, Baroque Motifs Paper: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black Ink: Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Groovy Guava, Purely Pomegranate, Real Red Accessories: On Board Blossoms & Basics, Ticket Corner Punch, Daz. Diamond Glitter, 2-way Glue, Dimensionals

Really Quick Post!

Just wanted to show you a couple of cards I have been working on. These are two of the New Stampin' Up! 2007 Fall & Winter Collection Stamp Sets, Baroque Motifs and Pick a Petal. I LOVE both of these sets!! There is so much you can do with them!! I will come back and post all the info later, gotta go for now!


Ok here is all the info on both cards~

Vanilla Gold Cherish Card~
Stamps: Baroque Motifs Paper: Very Vanilla, Brocade Background Ink: Whisper White Craft Accessories: Gold EP, 2-way Glue, Daz. Diamonds Glitter, Lg Oval Punch, Spring Flower Bouquet Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Dimensionals, Vanilla Ribbon

Pick a Petal Dragonfly~
The dragonfly was created using Vellum for the wings and On Board Blossoms & Basics for the body.
Stamps: Pick a Petal, Baroque Motifs, Warm Words Paper: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Vellum Ink: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi Accessories: On Board Blossoms & Basics, 2-way Glue, Daz. Diamond Glitter, Signo Gel Pen

A few days off

I took a few days off from the computer! *gasp!* The 4th of July is a busy time. For several years now our town has celebrated the 4th of July a day early with having the parade on the 3rd of July. We are known for having a great parade and they are able to bring in so many more floats and bands with doing it a day early. This year Mother Nature just wasn't on our side!!! About 10 minutes into the parade the Tornado Warnings were sounded!! This is a first!! A lot of people thought at first that it was coming from the fire trucks and was part of the parade. Then when they realized what it was I think a lot of people were thinking now what and where do I go! The police came out and started telling people to clear out and that the parade was canceled. So everyone was picking up and taking off not really knowing what was going on. We had the radio on and found out that most of the storm was north of us but because of the new laws they have to sound the warnings if anything is happening in that county. We took all the food inside and then hung out outside for about 20 minutes and then came the rain! We were very lucky that we only had rain and strong winds. But one second it was sprinkling and the next it was a total downpour!! By the time we grabbed a few things and got inside the house we were soaked all the way through!! Mom and I were just laughing because we were both soaked!! Standing there with water just running off of us!! What a mess, but what can you do.
Then the power went out! I put up everything that needed to go into the frig and once it calmed down outside we went out to pick everything up. The table and chairs were all flipped over, the only thing still standing was the grill. I guess this will be one for the history books of our town!! But we really did need the rain and thank goodness we didn't have a tornado!!
For the 4th we enjoyed the awesome display of fireworks!! We went down to the lake with Mom and Dad and we had ordered a pizza ahead of time so we hung out, had pizza, watched all the boats and a beautiful sunset and then to top off the night the fireworks!! Hope you enjoy all the pictures!!

A day at the beach

Just wanted to share some fun pictures. We went to the beach yesterday and the kids had a blast!! However I wasn't able to stay out very long, bummer! The sun and I just don't get along all that great. :(
I thought this one looked kind of neat in B&W.

Catchin' some air--as the boys would say. This is Eric and my stepson Chase, he gets to come and spend the summers with us.Evan and Daddy

Dusty, our oldest, is out on another adventure. He's at boy scout camp. His summer is sooooo full, I'm jealous! Oh to be a kid again...

Hope you all have a wonderful night!

Stamping Classes for the month of June.

I know June is over but I wanted to post the cards that we made in class this last month. I always have so much fun doing the classes and I love seeing the out come of all the design work. I also love seeing all of the ladies in the class and their reaction to the cards we make each month. Here is the 1st cards we made. I am posting a few different pictures so you can see the different outcomes. Depending on what kind of leaves you use and the amount of colorwash you use you will get a different look every time. I love these shades of green! It just seems so fresh and crisp to me. For these two cards I used leaves from a flowering phlox.~
This is also using phlox.~
Here is another one using ferns.~
This is the 2nd card we made. I had posted a card not too long ago that I designed for an order and I liked it so much I wanted to doing something similar but on a smaller scale. Here is the 3rd card. This is another technique using a colorwash. I really enjoy working with the colorwashes, it is always a different outcome each time.
There are several different brands of colorwash out on the market but if you would like to have some fun mixing your own special blend here is a very easy recipe for colorwash.

Supplies:
Small fine mist spray bottle (you can even use a small bottle from hairspray or a body spray.)
Rubbing Alcohol
Reinkers (dye inks)

Fill your bottle about 1/2 inch from the top with the rubbing alcohol and then add anywhere from 50 to 75 drops of ink. It might be more or less ink depending on how vibrant of a colorwash you would like. If you want to check the color just put the pump on and spray a few times onto white paper. Tips**Don't forget to label your bottle and how many drops of ink you used. Also give it a little shake if it sits for awhile in between uses.

And the WINNER is...

Before I announce who the Winner of the Blog Candy is I just want to say THANK YOU so very much for coming and checking out my blog!! This has been a lot of fun and I have enjoyed reading all of the wonderful comments!! I hope that you will stick around and keep coming back!!
Again THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Ok, I know enough rambling-just get to the drawing, right! LOL!

Check out this basket full of names!

The drawing... (my DH)

and the WINNER IS~~~~~
Amie said...

Wow, really great cards! I love it!

June 27, 2007 3:46 PM

CONGRATULATIONS AMIE!!!!!

I will be sending you an email to get your postal address and get your package sent out asap!

Once again thanks so much for all of the great comments!!

Our Little Man!

Where does the time go...
When your a mom and you look at your children sometimes it is all to fast and you wish you could make it stand still, if only for a moment to keep them little.

Our little guy just had his 5th Birthday this past week. He is becoming such a little man. He will be going to kindergarten this fall and he is soooo excited!! He keeps asking if it is time yet.

Here are a couple of pictures from his birthday.

I'M 5 YEARS OLD TODAY!!!!WOO-HOO!! A NEW BIKE!!!
Happy Birthday Evan!!! I hope you have a wonderful year full of blessings and many new, fun and exciting adventures!! I love you!!
Love,
Mommy XOXOXOXO