Painful...

Dear Hubby is leaving today for Italy and he's taking BOTH, my camera and laptop!! What in the world will I do without my two little preciousnesses?? Yeah, I just made up that word...

Whatever will I do?? I will have to use the icky camera! And the tiny kids laptop! Oh say it isn't sooooo. my two little preciousnesses will be gone from my side until the 4th of July! So, when I post pictures I cannot be held responsible for the quality, ok? BUT, I am committed to posting at least 3 times a week as I promised before! So, hold on - it could be interesting.

Gotta go and fold laundry to make his packing easier.

Father's Day & Our Anniversary

Okay - I am uncomfortable now. We ate at Ted's Montana Grill. RARELY do I ever go out. So, it was like I told myself I had to eat to make up for the lost time!! WOW, really??  Now, I have to say 'I" cuz hubby goes out all the time with the team while they are on the road. Like, they just got back from France on the 14th and he leaves for Italy tomorrow. So, yeah - he eats out. Me? Not so much so!  Anyway, we (the kids and I) made Father's Day cards and then I made one for our anniversary - wanna see, here it is:

 I had wanted the little brads that look like screws, but I don't have those cuties!

Okay, the card on the left is from my wild man and the right side is my teen. She really is so much more talented than this, she even said so.... I guess we all have those kind of days! =)

I'm gonna roll down the hall and try to pull myself up onto the bed and quilt until the pain stops!! =)

I'm back in the Swap Saddle Again!

After a break in swapping - I am swapping again! It's sad the two sites I hostessed and swapped on closed while I was on hiatus due to my stroke. I have been jones'n to be active again. I found a nice small place on yahoo and I'm back to my over achieving ways! I've signed up for like 15 swaps up into November and I've finished all but 3. I am doing 2 swaps at Splitcoast Stampers. One is due in August - finished and one is due in September - finished.  I created a hold-file box that has monthly tabs. I ready the swap items in zip-lock baggies and "file" them behind the correlating monthly tab. I will pull the waiting swaps out at the 1st of each month and mail them. Well, unless I it drives me crazy at which time I'll mail them. That would be my compulsive nature to have everything "wrapped up".  I was a Financial Controller when I worked in the "real" world so, I don't handle "open" items too well!  BUT, when I finish and mail swaps out so far in advance, three things happen: 1) I am sad I no longer have swaps to work on. 2) I totally forget about the swaps and then worry they are lost in the mail! and then 3) I look at my Swap Log and find the swaps I worried were lost in the mail, aren't even due yet!! HA HA  

Okay! Enough of me yappin!! Here are pics of the cards I've been creatin'!

 Clover Mouse - Stickles Challenge

 Little Birds of Happiness - Glossy Accents

 Just playing with images and using left over goodies.

 Roar - Sketch Card

 Flutterby - Paperclip Embellishment (it's the butterfly! I made his body with a paperclip!)

 Happiness - Card Sketch

 Thank You Card Swap

 Embossing Powder - I did stained glass in a removable bookmark!

 XO - Stencil Embellishment

I have more, but should probably go and do some quilting. I have been working on Grandmother's Flower Garden. It's all English Paper Piecing - all by hand. My 1st hand quilted item and it's rather relaxing, calming and soothing. It's a good "thang", cuzzz it's gonna take me maybe around, oh, FOREVER to complete the whole quilt. Okay, gotta go!

Whoot Whoot - Corsage Pins!!

Oh my gosh! You simply cannot make just one! Well, okay, I could've stopped at one, but where would the fun have been in that?!

I am participating in swaps on the 2 boards I swap on right now. The little fabric pins in the front are called posie pins. I found these while surfing one day and I am sorry I don't remember where I found them. I can tell you BOTH pins are incredibly addictive!! 

I know that tomorrow I have plans to go back downstairs to my studio and make a few more!! I think I have like 24 corsage pins left. I bought a box of 74, I put together 50 pins (only needed 42 pins) and it's killing me that I have 24 UN-ALTERED corsage pins sitting down stairs ALONE in a SAD little box!!!  Enough said, huh?!

I fully understand that there is NO real usage for these little posie pin.... They are just plain sewing pins with the fabric sewn on to look like little flowers. SO, there's not a real need for them. I guess I could use them to un-goop my gooped crystal effects bottles. OOOO! There ya go! Since I now have a legitimate use for these cuties, I MUST go make MANY more!! Oh, I gotta go!! TFSB!

I give up...

Sorry I've been MIA again. It's been a whirl wind.  I've been super busy again and I am making a new pledge to post at minimum 3 times each week. I've gotta start somewhere, right =)

It's my Baa-aa Er-erth Daaaaay

Ha! I am getting older! Found my 1st white hairs on my head a few weeks ago, I creak and pop when I move, I forget everything even sometimes my underwear, I am way slower than I was 5 years ago,  I think young people are stupid and their music sucks and is played WAY to loud, I actually enjoy listening to talk radio, sometimes I find I've left my blinker on for a few blocks, I don't call the 70's and 80's retro, and I need prunes when I never did before. (just joking about the last part!) Is this what it's all about??? I think I want a refund!  All this and I am only 43! Do you remember as a teen how 43 sounded sooooo incredibly old and hell at 60 you were picking out the color of the satin lining you wanted in your coffin? Well, ya know what - 43 ain't old and 60 sounds pretty spry as well!!  =)

Okay - well, it's time to go buy me a b-day present and cake! Happy St. Peggie's day everyone!!

St. Patty's Bear

Okay, here's my holiday bear I made. She's all dressed up for St. Peggie's Day.

Okay, now I must go and shower I have many things to do today =)  More later!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Although I am not Catholic, I find this prayer incredible. It's one day early, however it's a grand comfort. Plus I was born on St. Patrick's Day so that makes me honorary Irish, right?? 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Many who celebrate don’t have much of a clue about the first Christian missionary to Ireland who lived in 5th century.  I thought I would share with you a rather well-known prayer that is attributed to him – “The Shield of St. Patrick.”

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ’s incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!

Jesus Christ is our rock, refuge and shield. Happy St. Peggie's Day - tee hee

It's finally happening

I have found my 1st white hairs! See, I am blond and my hair thankfully will not gray, it'll go white and I am finding more and more white hairs each day! By the way, I'm only 42. Like that should matter, huh?  When do women typically start to gray? Is it all based on genetics or does age play a roll? At least for a while I will look like I have some killer highlights, huh?

I think I will go nurse my wounds down in the hallowed crap room/studio and create something that is young and new ...... apparently, unlike me! HA HA

A little lovie here and there

Hold Cow - another, what, 4 months have blown by? I swear, when I was working a full time job, I updated my old blog everyday! Now, I'm at home and I can't seem to keep my sanity much less find time to update my blog....even though I really enjoy blogging to nobody! tee hee!!

Okay - the holiday of luuuvvv. I have finally been getting into my crap studio somewhat regularly. I go thru spells with what I feel like playing with.  I have been into paper and fabric lately. I adore sewing - creating neat things. I am waiting for the day I can buy my dress makers form to sew clothes to fit my new fluffy, weeble wobble body. =) BUT, for now, I sew home goodies and stuff for the kids. I did this cutie a week or so ago...

The really coool thing about her is I can change her accessories for Valentines, St. Peggie's Day (cute story for another day) and Easter. She's just adorable! I'll post pics of each holiday. AND, she was soooo simple to sew. I glued magnets (E6000 glue, what's not to love??) to the back and she hangs on my front door.

Now, for the wild man stuff. He and his classmates were to create a mailbox for swapping valentine cards. Since penguins seem to be "the thang" with little man, here's what we did...

This was taken the day before he took his mailbox to school, after his bath. He's sharing his bedtime snack, an Oreo cookie, with his new little friend. Ain't he cute? Here's his "pass out" valentine:

I made this with the Stampin Up top note die, tag, medium and small oval punches. I saw this while surfing the net and am sorry, I  don't remember who I cased it from, but it sure is sweet!

Now, for his birthday party, never mind that his actual birthday was in January, here's the invite I sent out. I cut the blue water paper so that it looks like he's standing on an ice burg. The card stock is actually shimmery white which worked super well! We plan on partying at McDonald's. We will close that play ground down I tell ya!! =) I used the Simply Charmed Cricut cartridge and some ready made stickers.

 Now, we have had a few friends to have babies and here's one of the cards I created. It turned out cute, I think. The stamps and hand punches are Stampin Up the paper is whatever I had on hand. =)

NOW - I have saved the best for last! I was surfing Ebay one day and came across this beauty. The lady selling it had simply glued a nice piece of patterned paper on the inside cover and is selling it for 29.99 plus about 12.00 shipping.  I fell in love. I thought of all the space this storage unit could free up! Well, me being me, I knew if I tried hard enough I could find this exact plastic storage tub and I just knew it'd be cheaper. Well, I took down the measurements she gave, grabbed a tape measure and headed to Joann Fabrics. It was almost comical. I was in the storage area for what seemed like hours, measuring almost all the plastic tubs they had.  Well, perseverance does pay off! I got this with a coupon and paid about 12.00 for it! It fits 22 cartridges with the key over lays and the books! I have been so tickled with this.

 Here it is opened...

NOW - the only thing I kinda miss is looking at the images on the back of the original boxes. Well, I created a notebook and printed off screen shots of each cartridge and I keep them filed in alpha order in a notebook I keep right on hand in the crap studio. It's been great cuz if I need a certain image, I just flip thru my notebook to find which cartridge it'll be on. How cool is that?? And to top it all off, I have fantastic boxes with magnetic flaps to alter and re-purpose! Cool Beans I tell ya!  OH YEAH - the box is for storing thread and comes with a removable thread holder where I've put the books. The dimensions of the case are: 15.5" long x 9" deep x 3" tall.  Now you too can get this awesome organizer should you want to!

Well, I have to go and play Domestic Diva as I have heard the laundry piles and dryer buzz beckoning for me. At least I am adore by some....thing? Can a person be adored by a washing machine and dryer?? I think so! Well, at least it keeps me going ; )  Later - thanks for stopping by!

Happy Halloween Ya'll!

Yup, it was a dark year this year! I called her the angel of death (as a joke) and this Darth Vader has the real Darth runnin scared! Only here, he forgot his belt! =)

My oh my - you should've seen these guys in person..... can I tell you it was spooky! Okay, neighbor friends on either side and step son in the middle. Incredible!!

My idea of a costume, tee hee. I painted my nails and laughed cuz I got so many compliments on them! =) You can also see my sweetie lab's boodie here in the pic! She's a doll, luv her! Okay, gotta run. I have a mountain range of clothes to fold! ICKY!! AND, the sooner I fold, the sooner I can pick up my crochet hook!! =)

Almost done...

OOOO, it's so close and so addictive. I cannot put my hook down! Here's the large square.

I have 18 to finish. They are split 'tween yellow and pink.  Then I sew 4 smaller ones together to get the large and then sew all the large square together! I cannot wait and I will say this is the quickest I have EVER put together an afferkin!! Yeppie! More later.