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!!!