My Day Off

I took today off--off from work, off from scrapping and stamping, off from family and housework. I ran away to play with my girlfriend and we headed out to our favorite thrift store in West Dundee. It's the size of a KMart, and I can find items there ranging from 22 cents to $20. I hadn't been in over a year, and we stayed for four hours!!
Besides some cute, cute shirts, pants, sleepers and bumper pads for my Bella, I also got her The Big Piano from FAO Schwartz--you know, the one Tom Hanks plays in the movie "Big". Hubby is this moment opening up the battery box to see if it works. I figured for $3 it was worth the chance.
I got a few books and four nice sweaters that I can wear at work. I also found a beautiful 12x12 scrapbook album for under $2. I brought home two large trash bags and a smaller bag of kitchen items, craft materials, clothing for me and Bella, books and toys--all for under $40!
But most of all I had fun on the hunt! I love going to rummage sales and thrift stores. I try to keep an open mind and a sharp eye out for anything, but today I was in fact looking for a microwave bacon tray. I found it, paid less than $2. I just love a good bargain!!!

48 Snowflake Favors for Work

So I got to use my craft at work today. I just finished making 48 (!) snowflake favors for a catechist meeting this Wednesday night.

After printing in black the "Legend of the Snowflake" on off-white cardstock, I cut and hole-punched each card. I then stamped snowflakes with assorted SU snowflake stamps using CTMH "Ocean" ink and Anna Griffin 19ABlue pigment ink. I drew a border around the card in a coordinating color, and then inked the edges with the Blue pigment ink. The snowflakes are from Oriental Trading Company, on clearance for about 50 cents each. Here's the Legend of the Snowflake:

Long ago, a gleaming star led the way to a child born in a manger. Today it is believed that snowflakes are little pieces of that special star that leads us to the Light of the World, Jesus. God thinks you are unique, just like a snowflake.

Not the most poignant saying, but it works in the dead of winter at a Catholic school meeting!

New Tilda Card

When I first saw the Tilda images, I didn't really like them. But now that I've renewed my stamping and coloring, she's growing on me!

I received a couple of these images from a scrapping stamping buddy and decided she would be great on this card. I don't like how the Liquid Glass parts of her photographed, too shiny, but the card in person looks nice.

It's one of my first designs using part of an embossed card front, too. So this is number 40 out of my goal of 365 new creations to make in 2009. I also did not purchase new materials to make it, so it counts toward my Stash Bash Challenge.

I can't wait until Heidi's crop. I'm bringing layouts to work on, and card kits to work on, and maybe even some page kits as well. I've been asked to bring my Limitless Limbs stamp set from Pink Cat Studios, too.

New Whiff of Joy card

My bestest bud, Sandi, RAKd me a few stamped images from Whiff of Joy. I have got to get me a few of their stamps--I'm loving them all.
This is the "Molly Celebrating Sheep" stamp; the sentiment is from Stamping Bella. I colored the image with (of course) Copics, and used Liquid Glass (as usual) to make parts of it pop. The confetti is leftover from a pack of 3D birthday stamps I bought at Joann's.
I used a sewn card front I receieved from my good friend Linda, and an embossed card front from her, too. I cut the image and sentiment out with scallop scissors, and attached them to the front with dimensional dots. The ribbon was a rummage sale find, no idea whose it is.
The card is for a Yahoo group challenge to make and send someone a card to brighten their day. I don't know where y'all live but in Chicago it is definitely gloomy and gray. Temps are supposed to drop like a rock in the next few days and stay there-brrr!
Besides stamping images for a couple of PIFs and a few swaps, I'm about ready to start on my card kits for another swap. (Sleep is highly overrated)

A Surprise for Me

So I decorated and put all the photos in the BELLA word album (see previous post for pic) that I made last weekend. I made it for my mom so she could slip it in her purse and show her friends at bowling, etc.
I just put the final touches on the album and in walks my hubby, whose birthday was yesterday. He looks at the album and says that it's too big for a purse, but it would look just right on a desk, say his desk! Maybe there's hope for him (and me) yet! I mean, he doesn't often comment on the work I do, and I get very little support from him (especially when it comes to purchases). So this is a supreme compliment!

Wedding Card

The photo is a little fuzzy, but I like how it came together. I had a Black & WHite ATC from a previous swap, and kept the color combo white, black and silver. A diecut swirl and a rubon sentiment finished it off, and I just happened to have a square silver envie!

After making all the invitations to BElla's first birthday square, and then finding out it takes extra postage, I've decided to only make square cards when I can hand them to the recipient, not for mailing--ugh!

Next up is a card for a birthday couple--they're both turning 50 and the party is Saturday.

My Bella

Look at those teefers!! After over a year of waiting and they're finally here. Man, I hope she's not like her daddy. His baby teeth finally came in, and when it was time for them to fall out, they weren't moving for anything or anybody! He had to have about 8 teeth pulled to let the adult teeth in, and then they grew in crooked, so braces for four years!!
This is the newest phot of our darling granddaughter. And now I have a few pics with which to make her newest page in her second year album. I am so on top of scrapping her!!!

Boys Book plus Embellies Bag

Now remember, I tweaked the album and it looks much nicer! LOL Anyway, the winner of the album and embellies is...
Sharyn
Can you please email me with your address and I'll get the package off to you soonest. Thanks everyone for your guesses and your help in trying to improve my work.

Tweaked the WORD Album a Bit

I got some excellent advice about making these albums and so added the letters to make them pop more. So here's my second album, and I tweaked the first album to improve it. After all, it's going out in the mail to some lucky person, along with a baggie stuffed with embellies!
The one here is for my mom, and it will be filled with pics of her darling great granddaughter, Isabella, or Bella for short. I have a million extra photos that didn't get into her 12x12 albums, so I'm always on the lookout to use the extras up. This way my mom can put the album in her purse and whip it out as needed when bowling, shopping, playing cards or other social events.

If you check on the right, I've posted my New Year's Resolution to make 365 items by end of year. I really don't think I'll have a problem with that goal. Maybe I should have gone for more, or made certain stipulations, like 200 pages, 165 items. Oh well, whatever work I get done is for the good! Okay, back to the crafting table!

Need to get to Work

I really need to get off the computer and get some work done. You know, in the real world, like laundry, dishes, defrost dinner, shop, etc, It's just so cold out. This is the view from my front door, at least when the snow was pristine. Now it's kinda ugly and dirty and frozen like Titanic Ice caps.

Oh, yeah, and scrap!! I'm just having so much fun playing with my blog that I get lost in the techno toy stores.

Meanwhile, regarding my BOYS album, I'm closing the contest down at 6 pm CDST today and randomly choosing a comment to win. Being my first offering, I had forgotten to report how long the contest runs. I'll do better next time!

Random Facts ABout Me

Caught this from a few other blogs. Try it yourself, it's fun! The lines in color are things that I have done throughout my long, lovely life:
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain -
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Germany)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (just not fluently)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (is this a trick question?)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - (teaching CPR)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check -
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy-my chimp, Zippy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job – (my first, I was 15)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life – (neighbor was choking, did the Heimlich).
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous-Steve Sanderson, WGN News
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Made a New Album

This is my first attempt at making one of those albums that spell out a word. If you can make out the word, leave me a comment on what it is and if there are more than one comments, I'll randomly choose one to receive this album with a baggie of related embellies. Just testing the waters here as far as Blog Candy and such goes. PLUS, I've always wanted to make a word album and I think it's good but if no one lese agrees, I'm shutting my mouth and just purchasing them from now on. So let me know...

New Cards

Finally got enough time alone and at home to clean a space off my table and do some creating. After packaging up some PIFs and a giftie for my Bella Sistah, I sat me down with a stamped image of (I think) LuckyBella. I colored with Copics, glammed it up a bit with Liquid Glass and Stickles, and layered onto some colred chipboard and patterned paper. I used a decorative scissors and a corner punch, and finally layered a few primas and flowers.

I have more LuckyBellas, and St. Pat's Day is on its way, so I think I'll play around with the design and come up with a few more cards.

My girlfriend and her family came over for their New Year's Dinner at our house. We made BBQ ribs and garlic bread and corn on the cobs and had a wonderful supper.

Their son is one year older and a foot taller than my daughter (who is no pipsqueak herself). They used to play like cousins who see a good deal of each other, but that was when they were so much younger. Now they're 13 and 14 and shy and awkward with each other. I was concerned that Michael would feel left out since Wendy had a friend over for a sleepover. Not to worry, between the Wii and the computer, it took all of 15 minutes for them to be exchanging cell phone numbers!!

My bff, Janie, gave me back the stamping supplies I tried to start her out on. She just never got into it (can't understand that!!!). One of the items was the Kanji set from SU. There were two of the four stamps not even mounted yet! So in appreciation to her returning said items, I made a small note card set for her, using the stamps.

That's five more items made in 2009, and no new supplies used, just the stash I had on hand. I'm also getting projects ready to scrap at the end of the month. Got pics for three new pages ready along with paper and embellies. I also need to work on a card kit swap while I'm there. I'm glad I work at a school, I have tomorrow off! Maybe I'll clean off my desk from the work I did today!

More Blog Candy Alerts

at: http://www.imcarrid.blogspot.com/

It's all about the Sock Monkey!! go check it out and leave a comment!

Here's some more, and her work inspires!
http://www.donkeysmiles.blogspot.com/

Bella's Second Year Album

I had so many pics of my beautiful Bella that I just had to do a page with all the extras to start her Second Year Album off.

I used leftover alpha stickers, and some flourish diecuts I had made last year from the QUikKutz Revolution, in keeping with the stash bash rules.







Her album really starts with her First Birthday party. The large-ish photo in the right corner of the first page is actually the invitation I sent to guests, with the caption "I'll Be Looking for You...at my first birthday party. I have so many more pics of the party, at least four more of her eating her bday cake. I might have to re-do the page and put the two pics of her and her cake onto a folder mat, so that I can open it and place the other photos hidden inside.


I was so busy this Christmas I ended up not taking as many pics as I usually do of all the Christmas festivities! But these pics show her off the best, and now her album is up-to-date and ready for her next visit (hopefully soon).

More Bellas

Here are more ATCs for a Bella ATC swap I'm in. I have two more to make to complete this swap. I really like how the Chocolate Mountain ATC turned out.

The TinkerBella ATCs all have just a slight difference in each, from an outline color to some background mulberry. I don't have any of these three Bella stamps myself, I've just been lucky enough to receive stamped images of them from my Bella friends.

New Bellas

I worked all day long making ATCs for a swap on Yahoo LuckyBug Group, and then rediscovered that they had to be Bellas!!
SO I continued to work hard all day and here are a couple ATCs that I made.
The first is I think PresentaBella. The full stamped image is of her on top of a tall present. I colored her with copics, outlined her, gave her shine with CTMH Liquid Glass and my glitter gel pen, then cut the present out from under her!! Oopsie!!
The chocolate bars I cut from a 12x12 piece of patterned paper. To give the ATC dimension, I used pop dots at the top of the chocolate mountain, as well as Bella, too. Of course I had to add just a little more bling with the jewel in the corner!

Here's a couple ATCs of TinkerBella. Again, I colored her with copics, used Liquid Glass and the tiniest of clear jewels on her skirt.

I need to make ten Bella ATCs, and I already have four more cut, colored and ready to put together.

The ATCs I made earlier that weren't Bella? I'm in a Mini-Card Swap, so I'll just make them into cards and use them. I'll put them on the blog later.

I was just surfing blogs and screeched to a halt at Dannie's. She has some serious blog candy up for grabs, lots of cute Valentine stuff--yum, yum. The link is to the right--go check it out!

More Pages

Here's my Thansgiving page in Bella's album. I had already finished a Christmas page and a two-page layout of her welcome home party and her very first pics from the hospital, all ready to just pop in the photos.

The turkey was a paper piecing I received in a PIF, but it had primary colors. To match the colors of my paper, I removed each "feather" and traced them onto coordinating cardstock, so it fit on the page very well.

P.S. That's my gram with my son, otherwise referred to as Daddy and Great-great-grandma!!

More First Year pages

I remember our camera was on the fritz in January and I deleted more than half the photos I had taken of Bella. So my stock was low, which forced me to do what I still have a difficult time doing--putting very few pics on one page. At least it gave me plenty of room to journal.
You won't find much more "white space" than what this page offers. I truly have a problem with leaving a page with any open spaces.










Here's my lovebug in February, starting to show off her personality!
I've often cut my photos with a "frame" around it, using part of the white photo paper to frame it. But I still like to mat it with another layer of cardstock.

My plans for the weekend got cancelled. I was supposed to have another family over for dinner to celebrate the New Year, but she cancelled for the second time. That just means more time for me to scrap and craft!!

I finished this layout with another five pages, making my New Year's goal of making 365 new things in 2009 even closer. 14 down, 351 to go. I'm in a few swaps, so that will help me reach my goal, too.

Here are another three pages from my granddaughter's First Year album. I bought a pack of "month" papers at a crop a few months back and finally found a use for them. I love the way Bella is "tasting" her Daddy in the middle shot.


















This page was easier becuase April didn't have many photos. My fave photo on this page is how my daughter and her gorlfriends are hovering over the baby like three fairy godmothers.

Now her smiles are coming in fast and furious. I loved her cute dress with the headband.

everything LifeHouse the video

If you haven't seen this, you're in for a surprise. Click to stop the music from my PlayList before you start the video. This one's for you, Sandi!

2009 Crafting Resolution Well on its Way

I was supposed to go to an all day crop on Saturday but got stuck at home dealing with family issues. So I dug my feet in and planted myself in my craft room on Sunday to make up for lost time.
It was hard not to buy new paper and

embellishments for my pages, but it was easy in a way not to by being surrounded by the mounds of STUFF I already had! The only purchase made was photo paper, and boy did I land a deal--Staples was actually clearancing out the large packages of Gloss Premium Photo paper (their
own brand) and I got 4 boxes of 100 sheets each for almost the same price as one box of 50!!

Anyway, my goal was to scrap my granddaughter, since she is 14 months and I didn't have to go that far back.

WRONG!! I have about a bazillion photos of her in her short 14 months, and it took me as long to pickand choose and print as it did to actually scrap them!

Blogger is really acting weird tonight so I'm only going to post these three pages. Altogether I scrapped NINE pages, not including the pages I had done and ready to pop in the photos.

Volume I is finished and takes Bella through her first year on earth. Next time I can scrap, I've got the photos to start up Volume II with her First Birthday party through New Year's Eve.

These are actually the last three pages in her album. I used card candy I had made last year, journaling blocks I received from my Bella Sistah and my secret Mrs. Claus, I even received adhesive in the LuckyBug Sweetheart Swap!

I cleaned out my alpha drawer and now my alphas are stored by color--it was so easy to place titles on my page and not spend precious minutes looking for the right letters and colors!!

How would you like to start the New Year with this scrumptious tidbit? That's my granddaughter Bella, the love of my life. She spent the night here while Mommy went out to ring in the new Year at Navy Pier downtown Chicago. She must have known something was special, that girl did NOT want to go to sleep last night!
But now she's rested and ready for a new year. Her fave Christmsa present was the fold-out Disney Princess Couch/Bed. She runs to it and sits and lies in it. I must say it is the coolest thing I've seen in a while!
I'm ready to get to Michael's today--20% off coupon in hand. I have no more adhesive left in the house except a couple tubes of Glue Sticks. So I'm in a sticky situation (har har). Enjoy all the blessings that come your way this year!!