lots to say, lots to say

Hey there!  I miss you guys! 

Although its funny I say that, I was talking to a friend today about the garden and she says, " Yeah, I saw the pictures of the garden."

I'm like, "what pictures?"

"The ones on the blog."

Holy crap!  People actually read this!  I feel like I'm writing to myself most of the time.  Or people that I haven't met yet.  So anyway, thank you, because now I feel a little bit special. 

I did stamp today.  I haven't stamped in a week!  Just one thing after another.  So I promised myself I was going to make time today, and to make that happen, I put a frozen lasagne in the oven, I plugged in a movie to my little DVD player on my desk, put in my earbud thingys and tuned out the world.

Today I watched August Rush.  I love that movie.  I love the music.  Especially the end, I get goosebumps everytime, when everything starts falling into place.  And then at the very very end, it looks like he looks up to Heaven to say, thank you.  I love it.

So here is my card:  I'm a little rusty so...................be gentle.

Season of Friendship and Trendy Trees.  More mustard, garden green, bashful blue, soft suede and WILD WASABI.  Whisper white, DAFFODIL DELIGHT.  2 step bird punch, stampamajig and paper piercer.

I have no reason for this design or layout or whatever you want to call it.  For some reason I just wanted to make this happen.  Its certainly not my favoritist card I ever made.  But for today, its okay.  

I have to share what my hubby had to say about it though.  I asked him if it needed a sentiment on the front.  He looked at it and said, "Is you bird drunk?  Why is it climbing the tree?"

"What?"

                                            

"Turn it around, its a branch."  said I.

"That is the ugliest looking branch!  Its a tree!  An ugly tree!  Why did you buy this stamp?"  said he.

"WHATEVER!"  said I.

I also have something to tell you all:  Stampin' Up!  is changing the color families!  Now, at first I was not happy about this, but then I saw the new colors and WOW!  You're gonna love them too!  Check this out:

Notice my little birdie?  That is a new color coming out in July!  Its called Daffodil Delight.  I love it!  I sponged the edges with More Mustard because I don't have the ink yet.  SU! is so awesome that they sent us each an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of each new color. 

I know alot of you that trip the internet regularly have already seen the new colors and I know that I'm slower than molasses in January, so I apologize for being late with this news. 

I also used an old "In Color", Wild Wasabi.  That is a color that is coming back! 

Here is the link to see the new color families.  

Here is the link to see which colors are being retired June 30th. 

I can't get the document to show up here so check out the links.  I'll also be getting a color comparison up this weekend so you can better see what the new colors look like. 

Okay, I'm sure I'm forgetting about 50 things to tell you.  But this old lady has got to hit the hay. 

Oh yeah, tomorrow is the last day to order from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  So let me know if there is anything in there you'd like to have.  Did you get your Summer Mini Catalog yet?  Let me know if you'd like a hardcopy. 

Okay, now I'm really going to bed.  Thanks so much for being patient with me.  You guys rock!

Blessings, b.

GEEZ!!!

Hey eveyone!

 I'm just popping on here real quick this morning to let you know that my internet connection has been down for the past week or so.  I'm finally back up and running!  My email is still on the fritz but I hope to get that taken care of today......hopefully.  My wonderful neighbor Mike has been doing his best to fix all my problems.  Well okay, not all my problems.........you know what I mean. 

I'll have new stuff to show you later today.  Thanks for hanging with me.

Blessings, b.

ha ha.....kayaking......

eta:  This was scheduled to come out while I was gone.  Oops!  So I'll throw it out here now.  Enjoy!

what a joke! 

Here is another scrap page for last years Artisan Award.  We had borrowed a kayak that year and though it would be fun.   It was fun......well, for everyone except my dear hubby.  He's not really a water kinda guy and well,.......he fell in.   The rest of us thought it was great though! 

Inspired by Nature.  Kiwi kiss, pacific point and kraft cardstock.  Versamark, and pacific point inks.  Last years DSP (don't remember the name), clear buttons, cutter kit, various circle punches.

I used the scissor from the cutter kit to make the waves.  I really like this page.  Its 8 1/2 x 11. 

Okie dokie, I'm scheduled to come home tonight.  Can't wait to snuggle with my family! 

Give me a few days to get some new things up here, okay?  Big hugs to all of you!

Blessings, b.

veggies for everyone!

Howdy peeps!

Sorry the blog has been a cold and lonely place the last few days.  Being gone all the week before last and then trying to jump right into life again with no down time didn't work too well for me. 

So this past weekend was spent hanging with the family (even the hubs was home!) and getting things done and having fun together.

Nothing like an unposed pic to realize that I really do need to go on a diet and get healthy.

UGH!!

We finally got the vegetable boxes up and filled and ready for veggies!  Nobody in my family sees how much fun this is going to be!  I can't wait to say, " go outside and get me a tomato, will ya?" 

These 3 boxes are temporary.  Once Grace outgrows the playset, then I'll be able to devote more room to a bigger vegetable patch. 

My question to everyone is:  how do I keep the cat out? 

I have lots more to share with you guys.  The changes coming up for SU! and insights about my trip. I'm getting back in the groove of things here. 

Thanks for stopping by and being patient with me. 

Blessings, b.

p.s.  guess what one of the things are that we'll be planting?

Happy Birthday Pop!

Today is my father-in-law's birthday.  He is 86 years young.  I know, he is only 4 years younger than my Grandma.  My husband was a later in life "surprise baby". 

Here is my most recent pic of him, opening his Snuggie at Christmas. Doesn't everyone need a Snuggie?

I love my father-in-law.  He is the epitomy of a "grouchy old man" "crumudgeon" "grumpy old fart".  But I say all this with love.  Underneath that crusty layer he is so loving.  He has no problem telling you he loves you and is proud of you..........after he just got done yelling at you to, "GET TO THE TABLE!" 

He is a Christian man and made peace with God many years ago.  He loves to talk about the Word, although you better not disagree with him on anything.  

So I made him a card. 

Angler (retired), Lovely as a Tree, Woodgrain background and Vintage Labels (Occasions mini).  Kraft, soft suede, very vanilla and basic black cardstock.  Soft suede and basic black inks.  Lrg. oval punch, hemp, cutter kit, brads and dimensionals. 

I used a really old fishing set.  He used to love to fish.  He taught my husband when he was just a baby.  In fact he still holds the family record for the largest brown trout caught to date. 

Now my hubby looked at this and said, "So you're making him a card about something he can't do anymore?"

Whatever!!  I figure he'll still like it. 

I used the Soft Suede to make a sepia tone on tone color.  I know, its alot of brown.  BUT he really likes brown.  I have a story about brown I could share about him............but I won't.  He might not like it.  Hold on while I giggle here a minute..................

I stamped off the fly 3 times before I stamped the tag.  Just so it would look very subtle.  I think he'll like it.

Happy Birthday Pop!  We love you!


Okay peeps, I'm still trying to get things in order here.  If only I had another week off...................yeah, right.

There were some exciting Stampin' Up! announcements last week while I was gone.  So I'll update you on that tomorrow.  Plus I wanted to share a few insights I gained while away last week. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings, b.

world's longest post.......with pics

Hey everybody!  I baaaaaack!

I'm trying to get back in the groove of normal life here.  I don't have any new stamping to show today, so if you don't want to stick around, I guess I understand (said with a pouty face). 

As some of you know, I was really dreading this trip to Iowa.  Not because I didn't want to see my Grandma but because I had to leave my family and get on many planes.  Lets just say, my dad packed some Valium (2 mg. Grandma dose) and I was A-Okay. 

Without hyperventilating, I left on Easter and landed in Phoenix (because you can NOT get a straight flight anywhere) to the news of a HUGE earthquake in So. Cal.  I called the hubs and he said everything was alright, although his mother almost lost the huge gilt mirror that hangs over the couch.  Us Californians are built ready for earthquakes. 

I got to Albuquerque just fine. 

Spent the night at dad's and left again in the morning for Iowa.  You know, the Albuquerque airport is really very nice. 

My dad can't travel alone ( I'll discuss this at a later time) and needs a wheelchair to walk farther than 10 feet.

I needed to tell you that so I can tell you this:

We landed in Denver and the lady that brought us the wheelchair was either a line backer for the Denver Broncos or was training for a 10K because she was hoofing it all over that airport to get us to the next gate.  Its a huge airport!  Dad was afraid she was going to take out a few people if they didn't get out of her way.    I was like, "Dude, I'll catch ya down there."  Yeah, I was sweating by the time we sat down again. 

Dad and I on one of the many planes.  I had to take the aisle seat. 

Anyhow, we made it to West Des Moines, Iowa in one piece without me having a claustrophobic induced panic attack.  Dad was very grateful. 

 

 Jeni and her mom Twyla

My sweet cousin Jeni picked us up.  I had never met Jeni.  She wasn't born the last time I was there.  But she is absolutely adorable.  I also love her mom.  She is the same age my mother would have been. 

Anyhow, we got to Grandma's.  

                                             

She was so happy to see us.  I know she doesn't look too happy right here but trust me.....she had been looking forward to us coming for awhile. 

My brother showed up on Tuesday.  We had to share a hotel room.  It went much better than I thought,  EXCEPT he wants to sleep until noon everyday!  I was forever telling him to GET UP!   I'm sure he was so happy to get back home and away from me. :)  Its always amazed me how 2 kids can be brought up in the same house with the same parents and turn out so different.

We visited 3 different cemetaries.  I thought this was kind of a cool pic.  This is my Grandpa's headstone with space for my Grandma.  Thats her shadow across it. 

We were also able to visit the houses where my Grandpa grew up, my Grandma grew up, both houses that my Dad grew up in, the cemetery where they used to play, the high school and elementary school.  Time seems to stand still in certain parts of town. It was really kinda neat.  I wish we could have gone in one of the houses.

You can't really see it too well, maybe if you click on the pic, but there are these water towers everywhere.  My Grandpa worked for the water works company. 

Isn't she pretty?  Thursday was Grandma's birthday.  She is 90 years young.  This is champagne cake.  I'd never heard of it before.  Being someone who doesn't really care for sweets, I thought it was okay.  But everyone else seemed to love it! 

Me, Paul, John, Jeni, Grandma and David

I didn't ask my cousins permission to post this pic so I hope I don't get in trouble.  These are all the grandkids.  Not very many huh?  Grandma has lots of great-grandkids though. 

This is one of those kids.  Olivia is 19 months old and a pistol!  Heaven help them when they have another baby.  She is so cute and smart!


I also experienced ham balls for the first time.  "We're having what?"  Yeah, these had to be explained to me. 

There is a dining room upstairs from Grandma's apartment and she got to dictate the menu for the week, since we were coming and all.  And so we had ham balls on our last night there.  Too bad I didn't get a pic.  I'm assuming this is a midwest kinda thing because I've never heard of them before. 

They are like meatballs but made with ground ham.  I looked at Twyla and said, "So you can go in the store and just buy a pound of ground ham?" 

She looked at me like I was nuts.  "Yeah, no problem."

They had a sweet ketchupy sauce on them.  They were good but unusual.  I couldn't wait to call home and tell the hubs that I had ham balls for dinner.  He thought it was hilarious!  We are easily entertained, remember?

                                                                  Dad and Grandma

Anyhow, it was a super long day getting home.  I spent over 12 hours in airports, got on 4 planes and visited the Denver airport twice in one day.  No straight flights, remember?  I'm so glad to be home. 

They seem to miss me too.  They were sure happy to have the cook back. 

Now I have some stamping to catch up on.  I certainly have alot of scrapping to do.  I just need to get my groove back. 

Thanks so much for checking in and keeping the blog warm while I was gone.  I'll get some new stuff up ASAP.

Blessings, b.

get well soon

Good day everyone! If I'm scheduling these right, I think its Friday now.  One more day until I get to hug and squeeze my family. 

Here is another Artisan Award entry from last year.

Sincere Salutations.  Choc. chip, and whisper white cardstock.  Choc. chip ink.  Last years DSP (I forget the name), red wide grosgrain ribbon, old olive wide grosgrain ribbon, flower fusion flower, button from button latte.

I wanted this to look like a worn comfy quilt.  I scored the DSP and then sanded it all over.  Then I tried to get my cheapo sewing machine to stitch the edges.  I threw that sucker away after I was done. 

The flower is really easy to do.  Take 12 inches or so of ribbon and make a running stitch along one side.  Then pull it tight and stitch the ends together.  I covered the hole in the middle with the flower fusion flower and a button.  I used a pop up glue dot to stick it on there. 

I'm so glad you keep coming back.  Thanks.

Blessings, b.

just moved!

Hey there!  Yep, still in Iowa.  Today is my grandmother's birthday.  She'll be 91, I think.

Here is another Artisan Award entry from last year. 

Polka dot and sanded backgrounds and Loads of Love Accessories.  Kiwi kiss, old olive, bashful blue and whisper white cardstock.  Watercolor paper.  Black Stazon, Kiwi kiss, old olive, more mustard, real red, choc. chip, brocade blue and pretty in pink inks.  Aquapainter, cutter kit, Welcome Neighbor jumbo wheel and dimensionals.


I love this card!  I think it was 4 x 9.  It would fit in a business size envelope. 

I rolled the jumbo wheel in black stazon on watercolor paper and painted the houses.  When it dried I cut them up and popped them on dimensionals.  Groovy huh?    I just freehanded the cloud. 

Thanks for coming by. 

Blessings, b.

I love my boy!

Howdy!  Things going well for everyone?  I'm still in Iowa.  My brother should be arriving today.  Not sure if that will be a good thing or bad.  It'll keep things interesting anyway. 

Okay, here is another Artisan Award entry.  I just love this page.

Sanded background.  Sahara sand, basic black, whisper white and not quite navy cardstock.  Sahara sand and not quite navy inks.  Round tab punch, mini library clips, corner rounder, staples, hemp and dimensionals. 

I love this picture of my boy.  This was a great scrapbook page.  It was 8 1/2 x 8 1/2.  Same size I used for the Dec. Daily album. 

Thanks for keeping the blog warm while I'm gone. 

Blessings, b.

happy mother's day?

I should be in Iowa by now.  My grandmother lives in West Des Moines.  I haven't been there in over 30 years.  I think I might have been 11 or 12 the last time.  Anybody live nearby?

Here is one of the scrap pages I made for the Artisan Award contest last year. 

NO STAMPS!  Basic black, whisper white, going gray and basic gray cardstock.  Basic black ink. So swirly jumbo wheel, naturally serif die, top note die and dimensionals.

This is a 12x12 page.  I love taking a million pics and then scrap them all.  Kinda like the Dec. Daily page here. 

See those brackets on the sides?  I made those using the Top Note Die.  If you're interested I'll make a tutorial when I get home.

Thanks for stopping by.


Blessings, b.

thanks so much

Howdy peeps!  By the time this posts I will be on my way to Iowa with my dad.  Its so funny, he is so excited to go on this trip and I'm just dreading the planes.  2 planes to Albuquerque on Easter and then 2 more to Iowa on Monday.  YUCK!!  Send good thoughts, remember? 

Anyhow, I wanted to show you last years Artisan Award entries.  They got there late, because I'm such a procrastinator, thats why. 

Flight of the Butterfly, polka dot background and Sincere Salutations.  Kraft, choc. chip, whisper white and one of last years "In Colors", I don't remember the name.  Choc. chip, whisper white and that same "in color" ink.  Textured DSP (don't remember the name) White organza ribbon, button latte button, scallop edge punch, birds and blooms die. 


I really liked this card.  I don't remember the name of the DSP but I really liked it.  I think this was the beginning of my love affair with kraft cardstock. 

Have a great day.  Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings, b.

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone has some wonderful plans for today.  I will pretty much be running around like a chicken with my head cut off. 

My dear husband will NOT go to church on Easter or Christmas.  Way too crowded for him.  So we will watch the Easter Story movie that we have and read about the resurrection in the Bible right after breakfast. 

THEN, I will get in the shower and run around like a crazy person trying to get everything packed and ready to go.  I know, I should be halfway packed already but I've been working on the Artisan Award projects.  Well, inbetween planning meals, laundry, and making sure they have everything they need here while I'm gone. 

All 10 projects are done and ready to go.  Some I really love and some are just okay.  My 3D projects are awesome!  I hate to send them off. 

So I don't plan on winning but being a finalist would be nice too.  Either way, I really enjoyed myself doing them.  Especially scrapping.  I really should do it more often.  I can show you all the projects when the winners are announced in June. 

But while I'm gone I'm going to set up some blog posts showing last years Artisan Award projects.  My projects got there a day late so they weren't considered.  I think the things I'm sending in this year are better than last year, but the talent out there is amazing. 

Anyhow, here is an Easter card I made the other day but never got around to showing you. 

Well Scripted (Occasions Mini), Refuge and Strength and Woodgrain background set.  Kraft, choc. chip, whisper white and so saffron cardstock.  Choc. chip craft ink, Whisper white craft ink, so saffron and choc. chip inks. Scallop edge punch, 1/8 circle punch, clear embossing powder, crimper, coluzzle and dimensionals. 

I brought out the crimper!  Remember that tool?  Here is what I did:  take a strip of cardstock (so saffron) about 1" wide and 11" long.  Punch it out with the scallop edge punch and then punch circles on each scallop and then crimp the heck out of it.  I'm not kidding.  Do it like, 6 or 7 times, to really break down the fibers in the cardstock. 

Then, ( I know, I should have taken pics) take your oval or circle or square or whatever and put sticky strip on the back.  Regular tape won't be strong enough.  Then just put the crimped cardstock along the edge folding and ruffling it along the way. 

I'll try to remember to get a tutorial together when I get back.  Just in case you don't understand. 

I also did a little kissing!  Remember that?  I inked up the woodgrain stamp with choc. chip and inked up the cross with so saffron and then they kissed!  Cool huh? 

I stamped the greeting in craft ink and embossed with clear. 

Okay, thats it for tonight.  God Bless you all!  Thanks for taking the time to visit and see whats new.  I will be back late on Sat. night.  I am so dreading leaving everyone and getting on that claustrophobic plane.  Lord help me!  Any good thoughts or prayers you can send my way will be much appreciated. 

Blessings, b.