Cat Nap

Slept a little to long today so I'm off to rush to get ready for work. I'm kicking myself for signing up for 3 shifts in a row. I really shouldn't complain, they are only 6 hours each and I work so seldomly, not like most of the crew I work with. I can't wait to get home and see what my rubbah creates!

The World According to Rachel

When I went to download the pics for this card, I found that SOMEONE had been using the camera. It was like the world from the perspective of a 3-year-old, a very active 3-year-old. Most people before they meet Rachel think, "What child of 3 isn't active?" Well, Rachel truely takes the prize. Once folks meet her and see her go full force every waking second they always agree. Now, she is extremely affectionate but ya get your lovin' on the run! Anyway, she adores "looking" at Mommy's stamping and scrapbooking supplies (who can blame her) and my wood mounted stamps become her building blocks, so I figure she was hanging out in the craft/homeschool/computer room and she decided to see how the camera worked. The night before last I saw this Hero Arts set, Decorative Birds used on a card. I began looking on-line for them and found them on several sights but I controlled my impulses and was rewarded when they had them (plus Bird with Long Legs) at my LSS (The Rubber Stamp Lady.) Have I mentioned that I am really in to birds right now and anything to do with nature that takes on a quirky, whimsical look is just my style! Well, these birdies were just waiting to be a part of my own creation! The card base is Whisper White (I'm trying to get comfortable with "white space") and the base of the birdies is Sahara Sand (such an awesome neutral.) I used Chatterbox PP and Not Quite Navy ink. The ribbon is SU's navy and the little pearl brad is SEI. The "sun" and the corner swirls are from Quickutz "Sunshine" font and the sentiment is from Bird Notes by Crafy Secrets. I truly had fun making this card and using these HAPPY little birds. I work this evening in the Emergency Room so it's time for me to take a nap. Better say "take care!"

My Challenges

Okay, my challenges this morning include Mary Elizabeth (age 9), our resident drama queen, declares we have "nothing" to eat and how can she possible do her schoolwork when she is starving, Rachel (age 3) wants to "help" Mommy in every way (notice the Whisper White peaking out from behind my card front and she is currently "helping" me put on an earring while I'm typing), and finally, today's Sketch Challenge from SCS. When I started on this card, I had every intention of using my Palette O Prints so that I would have something to display at workshops, the technique club meeting and our May 19th stamp camp. As you can see, POP is nowhere to be seen. The PP made things too busy and just did not work. I'm still not sure what I think of this card but it is startin' to grow on me. If you click on the title of this entry you will see the tutorial from SCS by Beate Johns for making the glitter windows. Not only does Beate make beautiful stamping projects, she writes the most awesome tutorials and I am truly thankful to have access to her talent! All products for the card are SU and include the stamp sets Doodle That and Warm Words. I used Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Apricot Appeal, and Certainly Celery CS and Basic Black and Old Olive ink. The doodled flowers are colored in with some of my Many Marvelous Markers (I love to color, almost as much as I love to cut things out- yes, I probably need therapy!) And I got to break out my new Ribbon Originals in Sweetshop, as well! The scallops I made with my corner rounder- yet, again, another tutorial from Beate! Well, I hear one of my most precious little challenges trying to climb over the gate to the kitchen. Better run. Take care!

Shane's Wish

On a whim, today I checked out the Color Challenge on SCS. I've never participated in a challenge but had admired the work of some really talented stampers (artist, if you will) that had stemmed from the daily Challenges. Today's Color Challenge took on a different hue (yes, pun intended.) A young boy named Shane had a wish. Well, that's really interesting, right? What 7-year-old doesn't have at least 1 wish (usually dozens.) Shane lives in a very special and difficult situation. He has lymphoblastic leukemina; a type of cancer that involves months and months of treatment. Shane was diagnosed at age 5 and he will be turning 8 on May 30th. That means this will be his 3rd birthday he has celebrated while undergoing cancer treatment. His one wish is to break the world's record for the most birthday cards received (some 350 million.) How could I turn my back at that challenge?!? The colors we were to use were Cool Caribbean, Marigold Morning, and Taken with Teal- a great young boy combo if ever there was one! I have always loved using Hip Hip Hooray for kids cards and a plaid (I'm mad for plaid) piece of PP from MME's Magnolia collection tied the colors together beautifully. It's really a very straight forward card that I added a bit of Naturals White and Chocolate Chip to make the colors "pop." All supplies are SU except the mega circle scalloped punch and I used my new Gelly Roll clear Stardust pen (which I love, love, love) to accent the Chocolate Chip ink on the cupcake frosting. A word about the Stardust pen- Ellen Hutson (http://www.ellenhutson.com/) sends a handstamped, personally signed thank-you with each of her orders. I noticed a beautiful shimmer to the image and e-mailed her to find out what she used. Not only did she point me in the direction of the Stardust pen (found at her e-store) but she reiterated that customer service is NOT a thing of the past! Not only is she a very talented designer but seems like a super sweet gal! If you visit her e-store and her blog you will not be disappointed! Now, back to Shane's wish, if you click on the title of this post it will direct you to the Shane's Wish website to give you the address if you too would like to participate in this worthy cause. Well, I'd better wrap it up with a "take care." It's after 11pm CST, and I think I hear furniture moving in Rachel's (age 3) bedroom. I'd better go check this out. Until later.....

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Hello, All! Yes, it has been way too long since the last entry but I have a multitude of excuses. Friday my Girl Scout troop took an overnight visit to the zoo in Nashville, TN. What a wonderful experience for all! Besides a scavenger hunt, crafts and educational activities the girls (and grown-ups) got to touch a corn snake, a hissing cockroach (I passed), and chinchilla, and a terrapin named Emily. The next morning we practically had the zoo to ourselves for the hour before opening and even got to see the Bengal tigers fed! I hope this is an activity the girls will remember for a very long time. Afterwards, once my charges were on the road back to 'bama, my daughter and her friend went along with me to CKC- Nashville. We had a super time. It didn't seem as crowded as last year which made it much easier to keep up with the girls. They really got in to the make-and-takes, creating a 2 page glittery layout, a miniature altered clipboard and a mini Disney album to name a few. The folks at the Scrap Daddy booth were demo.ing Xyron products and my daughter, Mary Elizabeth, fell in love with the Design Runner. The reps. at the booth were super nice. They knew that I already owned a Personal Cutting System and a Xyron 510 and was not in the market for a new product yet they allowed my daughter to "play" with the Design Runner everytime we passed their booth (and did it with a good nature.) By the time 3:30 rolled around we were tired and HUNGRY! I had already promised the girls that we would eat at the Rainforest Cafe in Oprymills so off we went. We got seating super quick and had a wonderful time. Watching my daughter have such a good time made my trip! In honor of our zoo trip, I have posted a picture of a card we did at the last technique club. The theme was Spectacular Spectrums and I used the sets Wild About You and Bodacious Bouquets to give the card a tropical jungle fill while using the Joseph's Coat Technique. A Pumpkin Patch Spectrum pad was used, along with Basic Black, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Old Olive and Real Rust. Cardstock was Cool Carribbean, Whisper White and Glossy White. Hope you enjoy the tutorial from SCS! Just click on the title for this post to be on your way to a fun new technique. Take care!

Just Around the Corner

It dawned on me last night that Mother's Day is 1 week from this Sunday. Time certainly flies! I participated in a Mother's Day swap last month and received many great ideas for cards. This is the card that I contributed to that swap. I used one of my current favorite stamp sets, You Make Me Happy, from the Spring Mini catalog along with the BG stamp Canvas. The ink colors are Real Red, Bashful Blue, More Mustard, and Old Olive. The cardstock is Whisper White, Real Red and Bashful Blue (I love how the Real Red contrasts with the Bashful Blue for a clean look.) To accessorize my card I used Stampin' Dimensionals to make the flower center "pop" and just a touch of blue gingham ribbon (love, love, love ribbon.) The cute scalloped edge was a lot easier to make than to describe in words. A wonderfully talent lady by the name of Beate Johns has a pictured tutorial on her blog http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com using the corner rounder punch (I used the slot punch but it is the same concept.) I check out Beate's blog almost daily for inspiration and ideas.

Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful day!

Saying Goodbye to Dear Friends

When I woke up Tuesday morning, I was on the run! I had my second and final day of ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) ahead of me and I knew that SU had released the retiring list from the '06-07 Idea Book and Catalog and I wanted to get it out to my stampin' friends ASAP. So I logged on to the SU website, downloaded the list and sent off a quick e-mail prior to jumpin' in the shower and beginning my day. ACLS went well and we finished up before noon. Since I had childcare for the rest of the day, I decided to take full advantage of it. Let me tell you, I made the rounds- RSL, Hobby Lobby, Michael's (to feed my new Cuttlebug habit, sorry Martha my heart belongs to someone else), and finally, to OUAS. While I was at OUAS, Delores shared with me the good news that I had been selected for their first ever Design Team. I am so looking forward to creating new layouts with new products to display at the shop! Anyway, I headed home and decide to take a NAP (yeah)! When my darling husband comes home, he surprises me with dinner out (just the 2 of us, thank-goodness for grandparents coming to visit)! We ate dinner at Terranova's and while my manicotti was delish, all I can say is Godiva Chocolate Creme Brulee (nothing more needs to be said.) We ran a couple of errands and returned home to watch a dvd. It was about midnight and I am ready to hop into bed, when I realized- I had NOT looked at the retiring list myself. Well, you know what I had to do.... I couldn't believe it! There were hardly any stamp sets left. Now while I am pumped about new stamp sets coming July 1 (I have no doubt they will be marvelous), I will be sorry to see some of the sets go. It will be like saying good-bye to dear friends! In honor of this, I have chosen to share with you a layout of a pic that was taken the day before my friend Chris and her family moved to Austin. My youngest daughter, Rachel is in the porch swing with Chris' son, Jack. And what better way to tie it all together, the layout is made using the Simply Scrappin' Kit, Friends and Flowers. This is a hostess only set that I have really enjoyed which will be leaving us very soon. Take care to all!