Assembly Required.

I quietly disappeared into my craft room for two hours tonight and used some of the images I've been coloring this week to produce four cards that I am very pleased with. Thanks again to my Image Swap sisters!


First is a card using Farm Fever. The green layers are from the olive collection of paper from SU. I can't remember where I got the card base itself. It was one of those packages of precut and folded cards with envelopes that Michael's or AC Moore carries.


















The next card uses an image from one of SU's Valentine's Day stamps. I got the image in a trade and had great fun with it (Thanks again Sisters!). I haven't added a sentiment yet, I'll do that when I know who I am sending it to. The panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug "You" folder. Paper is from Target. Got to love the $1 Spot!!!



















The crocodile came from the same set as the porcupine. Inside, the sentiment is, "To someone with a very big heart!" Paper is from SU--Christmas collection I think.























This little chick is was an image from Flossie. It is adorable. The striped paper in the background brightens the whole thing up and ties it together nicely. It is a little out of balance but think I like it that way.













And finally, a picture of my cuddle-bug Scully. She is our 8-year-old miniature Schnauzer. She is a great dog and is keeping my lap warm as I type.

A Brief Upadate (1/30/08)

Winter Greetings to One and All,

For those reading from the colder climates, I wish you warmth! The greater-Philadelphia is getting rain and wind today but not much else. I've given up on a snow day!

I am coloring the wonderful images I received in a recent image swap with my new Copic markers so while I've been busy I haven't had much to post lately. I hope to have something to post soon.

FlyLady update...I have kept my sink dish-free every night since I signed on as a FlyLady and have managed to set my clothes out the night before all but one night. The rest is coming slowly but I am happy with each step I take towards living in a clutter-free home.

More soon......

Swapping Motivation

I'm in my first image swap with some of my SBS2 Sisters (Hi Flossie, Carol, Ann Marie and Bonnie!) and as I've stamped out the images I'm sending I've done a few extra for myself. Here are three cards I made today with the images.

First, my favorite using Boat Loads of Love. I colored it first with my new Copics (I have a cheesy grin on my face as I type that--I really like them a lot!) then did the best to find card stock to match. I am very pleased with the results.

Next up is a stamp from Farm Fever. I wish I had card stock that coordinated with the patterned paper a little better but all things considered (the whole thing took 10 minutes) I'm happy with it.

The final card, which took forever, is my least favorite of the three. It is a waterfall card using SU's A Tree for All Seasons. It needs something (suggestions welcome) but I'm not sure what.








In any case, my son conned me into agreeing to another sleepover, which makes two in a row (different friends) so I had better go squalsh the giggling I hear from them.

Breast Cancer Awareness Card

I made this card last week and forgot to post it. My handy dandy SU demonstrator and friend Marge came up with it at her last get together. Usually Marge comes up with all of the cards for the get together but one or twice a year we each take a card to share. She offered the one pictured and I took my All in the Family congratulations card.

I come from a long line of breast cancer survivors and always like to spread the word. So, to all of you female bloggers out there, don't forget your monthly breast exams and yearly mammograms!

I hoping for a few hours of peace, quite, and ink later today. Hopefully I'll have more to share then.

Part Two and Three plus a little snow!

Still progressing. Thanks Becky for the matting suggestions. I added a little pen work around the mat to echo what is around the sentiment. I am much happier with it.







We got about an inch of snow tonight. My son and his friend had a great time before dinner.

Okay, fellow blogsters, this is a mediocre attempt that I think has potential. I like all the individual parts of the card--the shape of the card, layout and so on but I'm not loving the combination. Any suggestions? I was thinking of using this as a Valentine's card for one of my girlfriends so I used the blue heart ribbon on the circle but think I will swap it out for the same ribbon I used at the top.

Not a single flake.

I'm posting from my desk at school. Not a single flake fell last night. I want a job where I can be wrong most of the time and still get paid! LOL!!

Praying for a Snow Day!!

SE Pennsylvania Forecast...For any of you out there that thought teachers don't do the snow dance the night before a storm is due to hit...Yea'h right.  I will wear my jammies inside out tonight and do the dance before bed.  We are only expecting 1-3 inches but a girl can hope.  I would love to have an extra day home to produce something from my craft room.

A FlyLady update...My sink has been clutter-free for a week now and I've put my clothes out the night before and seen a drastic calming of my morning routine.  My blog sister Carol is benefitting from my 15 minutes of de-cluttering a day (she's getting a duplicate die I found during a de-cluttering in my garage).  Next week is Zone 3, Bathrooms and one extra bedroom.  I think I'll tackle the home office, which resides in one of our extra bedrooms.  My desk looks like something blew up on it.

Secret Sister...I have a SBS2 Secret Sister thanks to Tracy's organization efforts (Tracy, you ROCK!!) I have done some stamping this weekend but can't show it 'cause it is for my secret sister.  

New Year's Resolutions...Okay, one has bit the dust.  I kept reading about Copic markers and couldn't resist when my friend Donna told me where I could find them locally. My old Marvy Le Plumes weren't up to the task anymore as most of them were dry (they're at least five years old so I feel as if I got more than my money's worth out of them) so maybe I can rationalize the start of what looks like it could be a very slippery slope...

Oh Bella Mia!

I sort of made a New Year's Resolution to only use what I had in the crafting/stamping/scraping department. Well, in keeping with that I ordered several of the things I had been coveting the week between Christmas and New Year's so that I could have the goodies without breaking my nifty resolution. (I've decided not to delve too deeply into my psyche in fear of how messed up that really sounds LOL!!) So first my new Scor-Pal arrived, then a few things from Lizzie Anne Designs, a few tidbits from My Favorite Things and then my very own Bella arrived! I had ordered teachaBella, a cute little "love" doodle and some em-Bella-shments but when I opened the first of the two envelopes that arrived it was someone else's order. I opened the second envelope and found my order. I called Stamping Bella and explained what was going on to Em, (the Em of Stamping Bella!) and was allowed to keep the Bella's I liked and send back what I didn't want! What a very generous sweetheart Em is! We had a great conversation about stamping, markers, cool blogs to check out, and just stuff. She sounds like a great person. I'll post the cool blogs tomorrow.

Here is the first card I made with my new Cruisabella (Thanks again to Em!). To use the vernacular of my students, I tried to "pimp" her ride with some "bling". The paper is from Memory Makers and the flowers are from an old arrangement I was thinking had seen better days. I have a strong feeling you may be seeing more of those flowers. I used two of the em-Bella-shments to augment the headlights and a Sakura glitter pen to trace the car.

A brief update on FlyLady...

Well, my sink doesn't shine but it is clean. My clothes are ready for tomorrow and yesterday, I spent 15 minutes cleaning out the junk drawer in my kitchen and I did a load of laundry without waiting for the hamper to overflow. I think my husband is worried aliens have abducted his wife and left me in her place. I don't know how long this will last but for now, I feel a little more like I am Queen of my Castle!

FlyLady

I think I am afraid. As I type this, my sink is clean and my clothes are ready for tomorrow. I threw out well over 27 things (I have seven large black Hefty bags sitting at my curb to prove it) today and have the Purple Heart coming on the 15th of the month for a pick-up of books, toys, and other "stuff".

What am I talking about? While reading LadyDoc's blog I noticed a little badge. SCS Flybaby Bloggers. Hmmm...what is this? Curious soul that I am I started clicking and clicking and ended up on FlyLady.net

I like to think I am organized but the truth is I stink at it. I would more accurately call myself a master of reorganizing clutter. My most productive stamping and scrapping sessions are usually after I spend an hour or so cleaning up when the sad fact is if I had put things away after I used them, I wouldn't have such a mess and would be a lot more productive. Add to this my pack-rat tendencies and you get the picture.

Anyway, on FlyLady, there is a wealth of housecleaning and organizing tips. I do alright with the cleaning part (I just reorganize my clutter and clean under, over and around it) but would like to de-clutter in the worst way.

I'm not too sure the sink thing will stick...my husband usually does the dishes but as for the rest, I hope so!

I've been tagged!

My blogging friend LadyDoc over at Tilting at Windmills has tagged me!


The rules of the game:
• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Okay, here goes...

1. I wear a size 12 shoe. The only thing that saves me from looking like I have Bobo the Clown feet is that I am 5'11". Wearing a size 12 isn't horrible--just frustrating when I want a dressy pair of shoes that fits well. Did I mention I have heel spurs and really high arches? My podiatrist loves me. LOL.

2. I graduated from West Covina High School in Southern California. I've attended University of Nevada, Reno, Lock Haven University (BS in Elementary Educaiton), University of Pennsylvania, St. Joseph's University, Temple University (ESOL Certification), The College of New Jersey, California University (in California, PA), and Ball State University (MA in Technology Education). Got to love continuing education.

3. I'm allergic to Blue Cheese (and any other cheese that has mold running through it). Not a big deal in the scheme of things but I happen to like blue cheese and hot wings just aren't the same anymore.

4. My husband doesn't think I've lost my mind when it comes to blogging. I think he actually thought it was interesting when I started telling him about Google's Analytics program and sounded mildly enthused the day someone in Norway visited my blog.

5. I coached a youth soccer team at my church this fall. Considering I had never played the game in my live I was pleased when we entered the playoffs in the third spot.

6. I never would have dreamed of taking on a soccer team or any other team had I not lost over 50 pounds in the past year and a half. I attend weekly Weight Watcher's meeting and feel better than I have in years. I have another 20 lbs. to go and hope to reach it by my birthday in March.

7. I have a morbid liking for Hannah Montana, Corey in the House, and The Suite Life of Zach and Cody. My son would watch Disney channel 24/7 if we allowed it--which we don't but still, when these three shows are on, both my husband and I become strangely mesmerized by them. Maybe the FCC didn't ban subliminal messages after all...


Here are the seven I've tagged...

Alex
Becky
Betsy
Bonnie
Carol
Catherine
Crissy

Not quite healthy but on the mend...

Well, things are settling back into "normal" around here. Your well wishes were deeply appreciated. Son and husband are feeling much better as am I. I had my flu shot a few weeks ago and while the bug did get me, it was nothing like what my husband had. What ever the reason, I'm thankful.

I am still playing with SU's All in the Family. I go to Weight Watchers and wanted a card for a few of my fellow attendees that are at or getting close to their goal. (I'm down 50 with another 20 to go. I hope to make this by my 40th birthday in late March.) The inside of this says "on making your goal!" The paper is from Making Memories, there are three coordinating patterns and one solid that I versa-marked with a soccer ball. The ribbon is from Michael's sale bin and it is stapled on to the tag with a couple of green staples.

Not quite sick but getting there...

I took a half day from work yesterday to care for my son who spent the day running a fever, vomiting and suffering from diarrhea. I was home with him again today, and added my husband to the sick list. It took until mid-afternoon before the little guy seemed to be on the mend while the big guy is still looking green and I am starting to feel that way myself. I checked my temperature a while ago and find I am hovering at the 100 mark.

The bright spot to the day was spending a bit of time finishing up a few scrapbook pages I had started while my son watched Hannah Montana and the rest of the Disney line-up. I added a simple birthday card into the mix. The layout titled "My Son" was bought as a kit but I can't remember when or where. The birthday card was made with SU's All in the Family and the birthday embossing folder for Cuttlebug.

Ahoy, Matey!!

I love this stamp set from SU and wanted to play a bit today. I haven't decided what sentiment to use so I left it blank. You can't tell from the picture but the bird and the ship and sails were stamped twice. The first on the base and the second pop-dotted directly above. The water was created using a Cuttlebug embossing folder them trimmed and dressed up with a little ink. I used my new Crop-o-Dile to punch holes fro the three brads I used.

Calorie-Free Birthday Cake

I saw this on either Splitcoast or the Cricut board...I'm not sure which but decided to give it a try since I had the Cricut cartridge needed for the project...

The cake slices were made using Cricut's Tags, Bags and Boxes. I used a single sheet of SU paper to make the bow. There are 10 "slices" in all. The ribbon holds them in shape. I can fill each "slice" with a small sugar-free treat.