How to wile away the day...

First ask you mom {sweetly} if you can 'boil' some crayons. Mom will think it's cute that you said boil instead of bake and let you...

Then break them into bits {being sure to scatter hundreds of crayons on dining room floor} and place into muffin cups...

Eat a real cupcake with sprinkles while you wait for the crayons to boil

Take the crayons out when they look like this...

Wait for them to dry completely and pop them out of the muffin cups. Voila!

So then when D woke up he took over parenting duties and I got to scrap!

I have wanted to make a cream/white/monochromatic card for a while now and when I saw this week's Mojo Monday #93 sketch I thought it would work perfectly with all those layers.


I pulled various shades of cream out and started working. A couple of years ago, when my brother and his new bride were on their honeymoon, I went to their house and dropped off a few groceries and I think a casserole if I remember correctly. Anyway, wouldn't this card have been fun to leave there?

Thanks y'all for stopping by today!

Details: CTMH unless noted

Paper: vanilla cream cs, colonial white cs, ivory (stash)

Ink: creme brulee (first and second generation)

Stamps: Solo W, Bon Appetit, cursive alphas (Clear Stamps), grape leaves (Rubber Stampede)

Other: cream ribbon (Hobby Lobby), buttons (stash), foam squares, cuttlebug embossing folder

Jewelry Inspiration Challenge #43

I think this week's challenge at Stacey's Stamping Stage was the hardest I've seen. That bright yellow absolutely threw me. I was so tempted to wimp out and use Buttercup instead of Sunny Yellow. But no, I stuck with it. And in the end I am mostly happy with the turnout.

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: sweet leaf cs, sunny yellow cs, baby pink cs, white daisy cs

Ink: baby pink, versamark

Stamps: Butterfly Wings, Fringed Phrases

Other: Hobby Lobby ribbon, white daisy embossing powder, cuttlebug embossing plate

CPS#122

If I remember correctly the Card Positioning Sketch challenge is one of the very first challenges I ever did. This week I really liked the simplicity of the design. I thought I needed to use a paper that could stand on its own. One with a strong design. Here's what I chose. This is a heavy weight shiny paper.

Remember those kraft photo corners? Well I knew that color wouldn't work with this paper, so I colored them with a chocolate marker and then I got the bright idea to emboss them with clear powder. So they would shine like the paper. I love the way they turned out. Now I am thinking if I could find them in white I could make any custom CTMH color I wanted! I also used glossy cs for the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details:

Paper: Sweet Leaf cs (CTMH) floral (Me and My Big Ideas) white glossy (Kodak photo paper)

Ink: Hollyhock (CTMH) Chocolate marker (CTMH)

Stamps: Thank You (CTMH)

Other: kraft photo corners (3L) clear detail ep (CTMH) embossing pen (CTMH)

My prize stamp...

A few weeks ago when I won Stacey's Jewelry Inspiration Challenge I received a beautiful card and stamp set from her in the mail. Here is her adorable card and the Best Yet stamp set from Stampin Up.

I was a little nervous to use it as I have never assembled my own stamps before and I just knew I would get it crooked or sideways or something. (Remember that for later.) Yesterday I braved it and assembled the set. Whew! No problems, even with two little monkeys hanging on me and trying to grab the label stickers out from under me. Today I sat down during Little m's nap to work out a card.

As you can tell, I had to use that yummy ribbon from Hobby Lobby again. Sadly, I realized that this particular roll only has three yards! Whatever will I do when it runs out??

Anyway, are you ready for the irony? If you haven't already guessed it. That flower stamp from CTMH...I stuck it on sideways. That's funny, right? Maybe later I'll fix it. Maybe not.

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: Sorbet cs, Chocolate cs, Vanilla Cream cs

Ink: chocolate

Stamps: Best Yet (SU!) Blossom Blocks (CTMH-ret'd)

Other: Hobby Lobby ribbon, edge distressor, foam squares

Crocheted Flowers

A couple of you asked about the pattern for the flower my mom made for this card. I don't have her pattern yet, but I just ran across this tutorial from Nichole Heady's blog. Click HERE for the link.

I hope you all find this useful...I think she does a wonderful job of teaching these cute little flowers!!

Christmas Card Prototype {and one more card}

Is it only scrapbookers that think of Christmas all year, especially mid-summer? I really went overboard with my cards last year. I mean I made a card that looked like a stained glass window and well, it nearly drove me crazy. So I vowed not again! I would start earlier and go simpler! I found a sheet of postage stamp paper in my non-CTMH stash while organizing the other day and thought it would look pretty on a Christmas card.

I added the gold trim and hand wrote 'noel' (as if that wasn't obvious). I will practice that writing before cranking them out, but guess what? I don't have to buy a single thing! I already have enough supplies to make 25 of these cards. How cool is that? So I think this will be my card this year--try not to act too shocked--no stamping!

I really have been loving all that new ribbon I bought the other day--in fact this ribbon I got on a second Hobby Lobby run!! And, why yes, that is a Cuttlebug-embossed piece of kraft paper on this card.

Details:

Card 1: all from stash, gold paint pen from Zig

Card 2: stamp-Buttoned Together (CTMH) desert sand ink (CTMH) kraft-stash, ribbon HL

9V Battery

I'm going to do you a favor. You'll thank me later.

Go RIGHT NOW and write down on your grocery list 9 volt batteries. I'll wait until you come back...

Now when your smoke alarms go off at 12:48 am (and then again 15 minutes later) you won't have to worry that you won't have some batteries to replace the old ones. Because trust me on this one...that's a pain in the booty.

You're welcome!

Color Throwdown #48

I haven't played along with this challenge in a while. And to be honest when I saw the colors I thought...hmmm...nah. But then I remembered my brand new pink gingham ribbon and thought it would look really good with kraft and I have been wanting to do a baby card for a while now.

So this what I came up with:

That crocheted flower is one my mom made for me. I remember her teaching me to crochet, like, seven times before it took. I wanted to learn so bad. {Much the same way Little d begs to scrapbook with me everyday.} I was left-handed and mom was right-handed and while she was a patient teacher I was NOT a patient learner, so I would continually get frustrated and give up. Eventually it took and now I love to crochet. I really love working with big chunky yarns, sometimes using three strands at a time. My mom hates using big yarn but loves crocheting with that teeny cotton thread that I hate to use. So in summary, she makes these for me...

Details:

Paper: juniper B&T from 'Unforgettable' (CTMH), kraft (Paper Reflections-HL)

Ink: juniper (CTMH)

Stamps: Solo W and Solo B (CTMH)

Other: pink gingham (Robert Stanley Collection-HL), button-stash, twine-stash, crocheted flower (my awesome Mom)

Goody goody gumdrops!

Okay I took my cash and my 40% off coupon and did it. I finally bought one. Here's the proof:

Then, because I was feeling particularly saucy, I took a stroll down the 50% off ribbon aisle and these jumped in my cart:

Yummy aren't they? I can not wait to tear into that zebra ribbon with the black fur trim--rroowwll!

In other news...Here's a card I made for my bro in law. He's having a tough time with the impending divorce and trying to find a house. We are not close now, but I have a feeling over time we may get closer. I am struggling to write the inside. I can't say the truth which is 'you are sooooo much better off without the cold heartless wench.' I guess just write from the heart, right? Let him know that we will help any way we can and that we are praying for him.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details: all CTMH unless noted.

Paper: chocolate cs, sweet leaf cs, colonial white cs

Ink: sweet leaf

Stamps: leaf, unknown source?

Rainbow Bright

So I was bored. And had like ten minutes in the scrap room. I was sitting at my clean scrap table and I glanced down at my embellishment tackle box {that's right I bought a tacklebox at Walmart to house my little embellishments} and thought...what am I going to do with all those eyelets? I mean I hardly ever use them on a card. So I started playing around with them and ended up with this...

And then, because I had rainbow on the brain, I did this one...

Ok. Now don't adjust your moniters, here's a regular card. I make this the other day when I wanted to do a teapot card. I have something like a million of those kraft-colored photo corners, so you'll be seeing those alot, now that I've discovered them hidden in the back of a drawer.

Thanks for stopping by! And thanks for all the sweet comments you all leave here. It is so special to me that you all take time out of your day to let me know when you like something I've made or that I've made you smile. Thanks again!

Card 1: all from stash. Stamp is Fringed Phrases (CTMH)

Card 2: all from stash. Sentiment is Fringed Phrases (CTMH) and I stamped the squares in Buttercup on the yellow stripe from Solo A (CTMH). Black bitty brad (CTMH)

Card 3: all from stash. Sentiment is Say It In Style (CTMH) and teapot is Tea Party (CTMH) stamped in Tulip.

Raspberry Suite #10

When the page loaded on Dawn McVey's blog I actually gasped when I saw these colors and my husband said, "What is it?" I then had to embarrassingly explain that I really like the colors on this page. You should have seen his face. Although, God bless him, I don't think it shocked him at all that I would get excited over some colors. But I mean, come on, look at them:

So I once again had to find a melon/salmon color in my CTMH arsenal. Huh. We really need to get more colors in this family. So I opted to use first and second generation Sorbet. I hope it qualifies. I really wanted simple and elegant.

I absolutely love the look of a sentiment stamped over a light image. I just don't have that many verses that look good over an image. PS I am loving that Vanilla Cream cardstock!

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: chocolate cs, sorbet cs, vanilla cream cs

Ink: Sorbet (first and second generation)

Stamps: Joy Forever, flower from Anna Griffin

Other: chocolate organdy ribbon

Dad

Yesterday I gave my dad a card with the definition of genuine on the front. That sums up the type of person he is. I have learned so much from my dad, not only from what he told me about life, but also by watching him.


He is incredibly hard working. Still he puts his family before his job. He will drop whatever he is doing to help someone in need. He will loan what he has to give and not expect payment back. In fact he has said to me on many occassions that when he loans someone something, he forgets about it. He thinks of it as a gift to them, not a loan to be repaid. Yet, when he borrows something from some one he never forgets that he owes them and even if it takes him years, he will repay the debt.


He has instilled in me an incredible faith in God. 'Always put your faith first', is a favorite saying of his. He truly believes that we are only on this earth to earn our heaven--yes a true Catholic. He really does pray for people in need. And I know he has prayed for me many times!


After Little d was born and we let the grandparents in the room, my dad was completely taken with his first grandchild. He leaned over to me and said in a whisper "now you know why I never wanted you to be a cop." I get tears in my eyes just typing that. It is true. There is nothing like the love for your child to make you realize the love your parents have for you. Even though it must have been heartbreaking to worry about me on patrol, like my mom, my dad completely supported my choice to go into law enforcement.


He was a big proponent of 'get a college degree'. He used his own GED as an example. He said having a degree opens many doors for you and he is absolutely right. Even now, if I want to become a licensed counselor, I only need to go for my Master's since my Bachelor's is out of the way. My parents worked hard so that I never had to hold a job in college, only study and get good grades. I hope to someday do the same for my kids.


There are a couple of Dad-isms that I like to fall back on. One, every cloud has a silver lining. Yes it's been used before, but Dad explains it as this: God has a plan for you, even if you can't see it now. Everything happens for a reason and in His time.


And two, if it doesn't fit-don't force it. He used this to explain mechanical stuff like keys in locks and whatnot, but I think it is a great metaphor for life as well. If a relationship doesn't work, don't force it to. I hear that phrase often in my head...If it doesn't fit, don't force it. And it always seems to make me pause, take a breath and calm down.


I am truly lucky to be blessed with both of my parents. I thank God all the time that not only did they love me and raise me with faith, but they love each other and are a great example of what a happy home looks like.

A card and the most beautifully sweet girls...

Boy did I need some stamping time today! After cleaning house all day yesterday and standing to cook dinner (wrong week of the month for standing up alot)--turns out I spent my Father's day much like I spent my Mother's day right down to the PMS. Then Little m choose to party during the night. Which of course led to Little m being CRANKY and fighting with Little d all morning...



Little d and I decided to relax to some Twilight soundtrack and scrap to our little hearts content while the monkey slept! What better than Stacey's Jewelry Inspiration #42 to work on? I struggled a little to match the orange color. CTMH doesn't have a deep salmon color, so I chose Sorbet.





Here's my card. Don't look too close at the white embossing, I worked on getting the stray particles off with three different paint brushes and then gave up. The flowers are stamped on vellum and then clear embossed. I bent them a little to give some dimension. I really loved this color combo!

A few days ago D worked on our sprinkler system and I let the girls go play in the water...

What a beautiful family I have!

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: Sorbet cs, White Daisy cs, Chocolate Textured cs, vellum

Ink: Sorbet, Versamark, Ocean, Chocolate

Stamps: Spot On Backgrounds, Playful Flourishes, Inspiration (flowers), Caring Thoughts (Hero Arts)

Other: chocolate brads, clear ep, white daisy ep

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #37

A few weeks ago I played along with this challenge when they had Twilight as their theme. This week I guessed correctly from the sneak peeks that the movie was High School Musical, so I figured I better play along again!!



The requirements were to use school lettering and of course be inspired by the movie (any of the three HSMs). I immediately think of Sharpay, the diva of the show, who is always seen in pink.

Argyle print always makes me think of preppy school wear, and the fact that I had some in pink was like a neon sign screaming...pick me! I had to add bling somewhere for Sharpay and of course the sentiment is because of her diva attitude. I don't know if you can tell, but the dress is covered in Prisma glitter. Spar-kle!

Details:

Paper: pink/black print (Paper Studio), blk cs (stash) white cs (stash)

Ink: black, baby pink (CTMH)

Stamps: Be yourself (CTMH)

Other: rhinestones (Hobby Lobby), font from computer, Prisma glitter (CTMH), foam squares

Werner #55 and Mojo #91

Because I'm efficient...or is it lazy? I combined two challenges. Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #55 is so fabulous I couldn't wait to use them. I mean look they even match my blog background! And the inspiration shoes? I want to buy them and an entire wardrobe to match so I can wear them everyday!


In fact, I made this card specifically for those shoes. You hear me shoes? Call me! Seriously, let's do lunch shoes!


And here is the cute little sketch from Mojo Monday. I little stretch for me as I hardly ever do this size card.

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: Autumn Terra Cotta cs, Honey cs, Vanilla Cream cs, grey (from stash) pattern-on the little square (The Paper Studio)

Ink: Grey Wool, Autumn Terra Cotta, Honey

Stamps: telephone (Wild Frog Creations), Tiny Typewriter, Intrinsic Backgrounds

Other: watercolor pencils and water brush, Dimensional Elements, sponge daubers, edge distressor, finishing files

This post is brought to you by a fabulous headache!

I should be resting in a dark room, but why do that when I can stare at a computer monitor, right? Anyway, it's not like it's a migraine--I don't get those thank God. Okay so this post is political. I'm warning you now. If you came here for a little dose of 'she thinks she's so funny' or she thinks she's so creative', just come back tomorrow--'kay?

Here it is. I decided that I was FED UP with all the crazy ridiculousness going on in Washington. They actually hired a speed reader to read a bill? Give me a break! Now they want to treat health care with the same panic and urgency that they handled the economy. Pretending that they don't have time to read or analyze cost of the measures...just implement them NOW already. I don't buy it. I don't buy that our health care is so bad it can't wait until they figure out how much this bill will cost or how to pay for it. (That's so laughable I can hardly type it. I mean obviously they can pay for it right? They'll just raise taxes on the rich folks, duh! Rich folks obviously have a bottomless pit of money. Whew, problem solved.)

The other day I decided to find out why so many people are without insurance. I decided to see how hard it would be to qualify for Medicaid. On my gosh, go to that website if you want to be bored out of your mind. It was so bad it totally killed my Tylenol Sinus buzz. Anyway, I couldn't find out what the qualifications were for benefits. There is no chart that says...you make less than this...you are covered. Well, why should they make it easy right? I guess I could have called the Dallas office--closest one to me. I did learn though that it's actually handled through the states. I thought it was a federal thing, but apparently it is completely mixed all to hell between state and fed. Brilliant.

I do understand that insurance companies have been the ruination of many an industry. I mean you pay premiums for years and years and then after thirty years you try to get the roof replaced on your house due to hurricane damage only to find out that you weren't actually paying for coverage for a new roof. (True story, happened to my grandparents.) Or your new car that was damaged in a wreck they have deemed it 'totalled' rather than fix it. (Happened to brother in law.)

Or with us...this is a good one...We took Little m to the doc for a 15 month well baby check up. Even though she had no symptoms, when he checked her throat, he said it was red and irritated and he needed to do a strep test (it was negative). Now he said, because of insurance, he was not allowed to give her the vaccines she was due to have. Not because it would bother her, he said, insurance would not pay for a visit with a diagnosis and the shots in the same visit. We could return the next day for her shots. Well folks, I am loathe to take a healthy baby to a crawling-with-germs-doctor office any more than I have to so I asked how much the vaccinations would cost. $90. Okay, I shot D a look and he nodded. Here's where it gets interesting folks. I asked the doc if we could just pay for the shot ourselves. No he said. That's right, due to his contract with the insurance, we could not pay to have our child vaccinated that day. Insanity. He was not allowed to take a payment from us. Someone explain that to me and how it makes any kind of sense.

So yes, I think insurance is a mess. Health care is a mess. But I really think this government needs to slow down! Stop the spending madness!!

Here's what I did. Because it seems like I needed to do something. I signed this petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/an-open-letter-to-our-nations-leadership

And then I forwarded this information to everyone in my email list. Democrats and Republicans. Because I think this is something we can all find common ground on. Check out the site and see if you feel moved to sign also.

Thanks for reading!

Bright Much??

So what happens when I don't have a carefully selected color challenge to guide my crazy crafting ways? In a word--this:







My aunt, who is also my Godmother, who is also my BFF's mom is having a birthday in a few days. And look at me getting the card done early! All joking aside I did really want a bright fun card for her and I think this one is...you know...bright. She also used to collect owls, so I pulled that tidbit out of my memory and used it to make this card. I made this card in about 20 minutes which is some kind of record for me.



Hope you all are having a bright day!



Details: all CTMH unless noted
Paper watermelon, ocean, white daisy, black cs
Ink: watermelon, ocean, hydrangea, citrus leaf, black
Stamps: Happy Birthday, Dream Big
Other: black bitty brads, polka dot ribbon (Hobby Lobby), google eyes (Hobby Lobby)

Just cute.

Sometimes you catch a picture that really needs no explaination. A picture that shows you were at the right place at the right time...

Color Chef #11

Kelly Jo's Color Chef #11 challenge took me by surprise. Believe it or not, last night as I lay stuffed up and half watching the horrendous 'movie' Notorious, I thought about making a cream and white card. Well bamboo and white are a great practice!

Here's my card. I got inspiration from Dawn McVey's peach card of tone on tone background with white flourishes. Not that mine is anywhere near as cute as hers--but I can aspire.

And I really wanted to add embellishments, but I don't have bamboo stuff and white brads just didn't look very cute. I couldn't make buttons work, so I used a gold paint pen to edge the bamboo cardstock.

It's doesn't jump out at you, but I know it's there. ;) Oh yes and I am still loving that macro setting. I need to practice with my lighting though...

I stamped those flourishes with white ink, but it would not show up, so I traced it with a white paint pen.

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: bamboo and white daisy cs

Ink: white daisy, bamboo

Stamps: Playful Flourishes, Gracious Greetings, Intrinsic Backgrounds

Other: gold and white paint pen from Zig, foam squares

What in the world is the stamp you use for a pre-teen boy's birthday card?

Well I know my BFF's son is into four wheelin', computer games, and music so this is what I came up with:

I did this detail shot, not because it was such a cool aspect of card-making that warranted a closeup, but because I just found out I have a macro setting on this camera. I LOVE my new camera did I mention!?! {Canon T1I}

He turns 11 today and I am just now making the card. Of course I won't give it to him until I am snot free. Uhg.

Yes we have all caught the "allergies" here. The girls are doing so much better. Me and the mister...not so much. He actually went to the doctor today because he keeps running fever. Poor guy. He got a prescription for a throat infection. I need to do a post about his weird illnesses. He never just gets whatever we have. It always turns into a sinus infection or something.

Alright I am out of here...maybe I'll make chicken noodle soup for us.

Details: all CTMH

Paper: olive, bamboo cs

Ink: olive, chocolate, desert sand, black

Stamps: Rock Star, Happy Birthday

Other: clear embossing powder, chocolate brads, stipple tool, twine (from stash) foam squares

How cute are teeny tiny traffic cones?

Pretty stinkin' cute!

Stacey has inspired us once again with her Jewelry Color Inspiration #41. Here are the colors:

And here's my card:

I have had this cute little construction stamp since before I was a consultant and never (gasp) used it. Hmmm, that seems to be a theme here lately. Anyway, the colors fit perfectly for the stamp set!



Here's a traffic cone story for free. When I was a cop we were issued traffic cones to keep in the trunk of the patrol cars for use at wrecks, holes in the street, etc. They used to threaten us that if we lost one, or left one somewhere and it was stolen, we would have to pay for the replacement cones ourselves. Know how much they were worth? Fifty bucks a piece. We were pretty careful about keeping track of our cones. {snicker snicker I said cones...} May I blame that tasteless joke on the Tylenol Sinus?



Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: crystal blue, star spangled blue, white daisy cs

Ink: orange, honey, star spangled blue

Stamps: Little Builder, Happy Birthday

Other: orange and blue brads from stash and foam squares

Awarded!

I would like to thank the academy...no wait, wrong award! Just kidding. I am so honored that two people chose me for this award; Lindsay at Southern Girl Florals and Leslie at Pandascrapper.

Now as I understand it--and keep in mind I am not good at math--I am to pass this on to 15 other blogs that I have newly discovered. So I was awarded it twice, and that means 2 times 15 equals 30 divide by how many brain cells I have on Tylenol Sinus equals 1 times hours of sleep I got this weekend equals 5 subtract how many healthy kids I now have (2) equals grand total....THREE! Okay, sounds do-able.

Here are three new blogs I have added to my ever growing list of inspiration/witty/beautiful/downright LOVELY:

This Little Blog of Mine She is just too cute y'all!

Stamp and Stitches Someone I think I would like to hang out with!

Scraps by M Doesn't know me from adam, but makes really pretty cards!!

Now off to comment on their blogs and let them know about the award...you know, if blogger will let me. ;)

They Eloped!

My husband's cousin J, and his long time girlfriend, K eloped a few weeks ago in Central Park. Isn't that so romantic! I just got the announcement in the mail last week and settled down today to make a card for them. Here is the picture they sent out {minus the identifying heads!}

How fabulous are those shoes!?! And what a classy look all together! So I used that as my inspiration for the card...

I wanted to add some bling (did you notice the buckles on her shoes) but in the end I didn't. I only had square rhinestones and I really thought it called for round ones.

On a completely unrelated note...look what's been visiting out backyard the last few days:

He's fast. This is the only clear picture I got with the telephoto lens.

On another unrelated note. Blogger is irritating me right now. I can't seem to drag photos in my post and I can't comment on some blogs. Uhg! I guess I should be a little more tolerant...it is a completely free service after all!

Card Details: CTMH unless noted

Paper: black, bamboo cs, (Paper Studio) Blk/cream print

Ink: black

Stamps: Soul Mates

Other: ribbon from stash