Monday, May 30, 2011

groovy squares

Oy!  Another week gone by.......sorry.  I really had good intentions.........really I did.

I have so much I'd like to chat about but, I won't tonight.  Because tonight I'm posting for Shelli. 

You know Shelli?  Of course you do.  She is the genius that is Stampin' Up!.  She is a wonderfully warm person that makes you feel happy just chatting with her.  I like you Shelli.

She also has a contest on her blog each month.  I've entered twice and won once.  Its so much fun to win.  Why don't I enter more often?  You can enter too.  Come on everybody, let's stamp!

This month is scrapbooking.  May is National Scrapbooking month.  I still haven't finished the page we talked about last week but, I will. 

Here is today's page:



NO STAMPS!  Whisper white craft ink.  Crumb cake, whisper white and melon mambo cardstock.  Brights Patterned DSP, big shot, polka dot embossing folder, butterfly punch, white thread, 1.25" square punch, corner rounder, Simple letters die, subtles buttons and corner rounder. 

I asked 16 if I could take her pic and she said, "O.K."  I couldn't get my camera fast enough.  She never says yes.  We had a blast.  Here is the journaling:

This is what I want to remember
---RIGHT NOW---
being silly and funny
making me laugh
making you laugh
being with you
sharing your life
watching you grow
thanking God for
giving me the opportunity
to know you
This is what I want to remember
---YOU RIGHT NOW---



I knew I wanted to use these groovy squares.  They've been floating around the web lately and they are easy to do.  Just punch a square and round opposite corners.  Groovy baby!

You can't really see it too well but I rubbed some white ink on the raised dots here.  I wanted them to show up just a little bit more. 



I wanted to continue the groovy square thing over here.  Just to balance things out. 


So there ya go.  Before I go I wanted to say a Happy Memorial Day to all our families that have or are serving in the military.  God Bless all the mommas and daddies that have had to raise their babies on their own because their spouse has passed.  God Bless all the mommas and daddies that are sacrificing for our freedom.  Thank you. 

Alrighty then, thanks so much for stopping by and keeping the blog warm. 

Blessings, b.

Monday, May 23, 2011

we're still here!

Hey!  Well the world didn't end.  We're still here. 

Did you do the scrap page that we talked about in the last post?  I didn't get mine done yet.  I've been busier than a squirrel gathering nuts for winter.  I forgot about having someone take my pic.  So I'll just have to set up a little photo shoot here.  It. will. get. done. 

Here is what I did this weekend:


The boy had his last concert.  His last concert with his class.  His last concert with his friends.  His last concert in high school.  His last................(sob)..........time telling me to get lost with the camera while in his tux.......(SOB!)



His hair is doing a little fly away thing here.  The wind was really blowing.  The concert was good.  He got to play the bongos which he loves. 


Why can't I take good pics?  Especially when it really counts?  These are 2 of his best buds.  See how they will smile and actually look at my camera?  Turkey!


Sunday I made some banana muffins.  I don't like bananas.  They don't like me.  They make me barf.  TMI? 



More backyard work.  The hubs was never too crazy about my veggie boxes.  Now that the yard is flat and sprinklers are going in, he doesn't want them on the grass.  Sooooooooo, he has decided to put them on the hill.  Whatever!  I told him I need them ready for me to prep and plant by the middle of June.  I know that sounds late to plant for alot of you but it never gets consistently warm enough until then.  Last year I was still harvesting zucchini in November.




Goofy kid!

Today was just busy busy busy and tomorrow will be the same.  So, Wednesday looks like a good scrapping day.  If you got your page done, link it here in the comments or send it to me in an email.  I would love to see it. 

Thanks so much for coming by.

Blessings, b.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

end of the world?

Howdy! 

There has been a rumor going around that today is the last day of the world.  Now usually I ignore these things.  If the Bible doesn't point out the exact day the world is ending then I doubt Joe Schmoe can tell me. 

But this morning when I was checking emails I came across one from Noell Hyman.  She was talking about the last day of the world and suggested we scrap what the last things we did were.  Here is the link Paperclipping

Now I'm a big supporter of scrapbooking about yourself.  Which is the opposite of what we women ususally do.  Even though I love the idea I've only done it once (I think) but then again I hardly ever scrap.  Which is weird because I love it.  And I make such a big deal about getting your story down.  Do as I say, not as I do.

Anyway, she had a list of questions for us.  I'm going to do this.  Not as a last day of the world thing but just a "me" thing.  Join me won't you?    edited to say that somehow my numbers got messed up.  Ignore that please.

  1. What was the last song you listened to?
  Bye Bye Bye, NSYNC  I also sang and danced to it too, much to my children's chagrin.
  1. Who was the last person you kissed?

    my daughter
  2. What was the last book you finished?

    Farenheit 451.  16 just got done annotating it and so I thought I'd give it a read.  I guess I'm not that deep of a person or maybe just not that in tune with society because I had a hard time following certain parts. 
  3. Who was the last person you apologized to?

    I'm usually in trouble with someone so, I apologize alot.  But right now I can't think of the last time.
  4. What was the last television show you watched?

    Big Bang Theory last Thursday.  Love that show!
  5. What was the last thing you ate?

    Breakfast was fried potatoes with peppers and onions, crumbled bacon and a poached egg on top.  Really not healthy but so good!  But of course I got carried away with the cayenne and made it a little too spicy.
  6. What was the last thing you drank?

    Diet Coke. 
  7. Who was the last friend you spent time with?

    People at work.  I know I work with them but I think of them as my friends.  Otherwise I would say Trisha and that sweet baby. 
  8. When was the last time you hugged your mom and dad?

    Thanksgiving.  But we'll be there again in a few weeks.
  9. Who was the last person you called?

    Michele.  We are very good at phone tag.  The last person I texted though was Marilee.  Last person I talked to on the phone was the hubs.
  10. What was the last thoughtful thing you did for somebody?

    My boss hurt her back and I've been staying late at work (for free) to help out with a deadline. 
  11. What was the last thing you did that was brave?

    Hmm....  I really can't think of anything except maybe entering a card/stamping contest.  I didn't win.  Does that count as brave? I have a secret dream and it won't happen unless I start putting myself "out there".  That is such a scary thing for me.  So yes, I think its brave.

So there ya go.  I have a ton of things to do today and won't get this scrap page completed until tomorrow.  Tonight is the last concert for the year.  Music Under the Stars.  Its at a local park.  Apart from marching season its my favorite concert of the year.  I'm looking forward to it and then again not because its just one more reminder that my boy is done with high school. 

Alrighty then, get your cameras out because this scrap page should have a pic of you on it.  I'll have someone take one of me tonight for my page.  So get scrapping!

Blessings, b.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Awards and a Springy card

Hey there!  I've got another Springtime card to show you.  I was inspired by some itty bitty notecards I saw in the monthly magazine we demos get.  I'm not always so inspired by stuff in there but, this month was very inspiring. 



Pocket Silhouettes, A Word for You and Flight of the Butterfly sets.  Wild wasabi, rose red and early espresso inks.  So saffron, early espresso and whisper white cardstock.  Scallop border punch, linen thread and dimensionals.

I stamped the plants using the Wild Wasabi, stamping each one 2 times.  So you get a darker one and a lighter one.  Gives it some depth. 

The card in the magazine used the Beautiful Wings Embosslit for the little butterfly but I don't own that......yet.  So I used what I do have.  The cute little butterfly in the Flight of the Butterfly set. 

Still cute.


I got the color combo from the color coach.  LOVE THAT THING!  Truly, at $14.95 its worth it. 



See that Creative Combination?  There ya go. 

Then I got to thinking.............my friend has that embosslit.  Could I borrow it?  Lucky for me, she said yes.



So what do you think?  I really like them both but I think I like this one just a little bit better.  Because the butterfly is a solid color it doesn't make the card too busy. 

The finished size is 3.25" x 5.5". 

Other news:  (you knew I had other news right?)   The boy is graduating this year.  I can hardly believe it. 

Tonight were the award announcements at school.  He got an invitation to attend.  Meaning that he was getting an award.  But they never tell you in the invite what the award is for. 

Was he interested in going?  That would be a big fat NO!  Nope, no way, he wasn't going. 

So I told the little poopyhead that he could go down to the school before the ceremony started and get his mother a program so I could see what his award was for.

He was announced as a Honor Graduate because of his GPA.  How great is that?  I'm not sure if he gets to wear something special or sit in a special section and of course he has no intention of finding out.  So I'll have to wait until graduation I guess. 

I'm so proud of him.  Seems like he was just 14 months old and getting kicked out of daycare for biting. 

He has turned out to be a wonderful young man and I love him so much.  Good thing he's going to live at home his first year of college.  I don't know how I'm going to let him go.  But thats my job and I will when the time comes.........I think.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'm going to go wallow in some baby pics now. 

Blessings, b.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

another week gone by

Geez!  I really do have every good intention of posting every other day at least.  I might have something wonderful to show you, and I feel a desire to talk to you about it (and other things) but, it gets late and I get tired. And then I'm not very chatty.

Now, I understand that you might like that better but, where's the fun in that? 

I sometimes visit blogs where people just post a pic of their project and maybe list the supplies used but, I really enjoy the blogs where people talk about why they made that project or the story behind it.  I enjoy when they talk about their family or their friends.  I like feeling like I have a connection with them.  Even though I don't know them at all.  I've probably never even emailed or commented on their blog.  But I still enjoy reading what they have to say and I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say here.  Even if I don't know you ever visited. 

With all that being said, I do have 2 projects to show you tonight.  And I'm hoping to get it done before Survivor starts.  I can't  believe the finale is already here!  In fact all the finales are happening this week.  Seems like they just started. 

Anyway here is one of the cards we made a few weeks ago at my friend's workshop.



NO STAMPS!  Whisper white, melon mambo, daffodil delight, tempting turquoise and old olive cardstock.  NO INKS!  Butterfly punch, Brights Patterned DSP, sticky rhinestones, polka dot embossing folder, big shot, white taffeta.

I was inspired by a package I saw in the monthly magazine we demos get.  This is a funky sized card, 5.5" x 3.25".  Its so fun and springtimey!  It could be for any occasion.  Just put your sentiment on the inside.



I used glue dots to stick the ribbon where I wanted it.  The butterflies are stuck on with dimensionals.  Cute card eh?

Then for the ladies orders, I made some thank you bag tags using the same idea.





Thank you kindly set.  Crumb cake, rose red, pear pizzaz, peach parfait and early espresso cardstock.  Early espresso ink.  Sticky rhinestones, NEW BLOSSOM BOUQUET TRIPLE LAYER PUNCH, early espresso bakers twine, polka dot embossing foler, big shot, Neutrals patterned DSP and hemp. 


Strange color combo, I know.  I started going one way and ended up another.  You know how it is. 

I'm having a blast using the NEW BLOSSOM BOUQUET TRIPLE LAYER PUNCH.  I'll take some more pics of the differnent layers to show you.  Its quite nifty.  And I'm digging the baker's twine.  Its so soft! 



Can you see where I used the polka dot embossing folder?  Just to give it a little more dimension.  This is the paper that has the Shakespear sonnet on it.  Sonnet on it.  HA! I made a rhyme ;)

These tags would make a great bookmark too.  I surprised myself using the peach parfait.  I really dislike that color!  My wedding color was peach and ever since then I can't stand it.  Peach overload I guess. 

Alrighty then.  I do have even more goodies to show you.  May is National Scrapbooking month and I plan on doing some scrapping.  You should do some too.  Get your story down! 

Thanks for stopping on by.  You give me the warm fuzzies. 

Blessings, b.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

Did you have a good day?  Get to sleep in?  Breakfast in bed?  Phone calls?  Texts? 

I got to sleep in.  I didn't get out of bed until 8:30!  Unheard of!  I sleep with my windows open a little (I like the cool air) and the birds usually wake me if the alarm doesn't.  But this morning, all the animals were cooperating.  The birds were quiet and the dogs didn't bark.  No lawnmowers.  Nothing.  It was wonderful. 

Breakfast?  Mind you, my husband doesn't cook.  Well, he can cook grilled cheese, spaghetti, eggs and toast.  Thats about it.  So McDonald's was breakfast.  I love their biscuits.  If I had to wait for the kiddos to get up I would have been waiting until 10:00. 

I knew I wanted to try a new adobo sauce recipe for tonight so I threw a roast in the crock pot and planned to finish reading a book. 

You know how one thing leads to another and I didn't get to the book until 1:00. 

Grace and I made cake balls.  My hubby laughs at that name.  "Is that like ham balls?"  Ha......no.  I've been wanting to try making them.  They are just cake pops without the "pop" part.  I figure, its just us.  Why waste money on lollipop sticks?  Our fingers work just as well.




Have you ever made them?  Me neither.  BUT one of the teachers at work was talking and talking about them last week and my curiosity got the better of me.  I'm not really big on cake but these sounded good. 

Anyhow, you bake a cake like the box says.  Let it cool and then crumble it into a big bowl.  Add a container of frosting and mix.  Then make little balls and put them on a cookie sheet.  Put the cookie sheet into the frig for a few hours so they are easier to handle. 



Then melt some chocolate.  I used milk chocolate chips.  Dip and if you're smart and thinking ahead place on wax paper.  Don't be like me.  I also drizzled some white chocolate chips on there.  Then refrig again. 

We had them after my wet burritos dinner experiment.  Which came out okay.  I need to tweak the sauce recipe a little and then I'll post it for you to try. 

The texture was not what I expected.  They were good but different.  SUPER chocolately.  Too chocolately for me.  The kids will eat them up. 

The guys worked on the final wall details today.  It is complete and ready to be back filled.  When is the tractor coming?  Maybe next weekend? 



The backyard is  s  l   o   w   l   y  getting done.  Its been halfway done for 5 years.  Time to light a fire under that guy.  Poor Codie!  Supervising these guys is hard work!




I picked some roses Friday afternoon from my next door neighbor.  Actually the house is empty now but the roses are still blooming.  Anyway, when my neighbor lived there she said I could pick roses anytime I wanted.  They smell so good! 

These are my Mother's Day cards from the kids.  Grace made 2.  I've always told the kids, "You don't need to give me a present but, you better darn well make me a card with some kind of love letter inside."  The boy usually waits until the day of.  His is the card with the cartoon showing me holding a vaccum and a mop with a pot on my head.  What?  Have I ever done that?  I don't think so. My kids are funny. 

When I was uploading the pics from my camera tonight I found pics from last week.  Last Saturday was the golf tournament for the HS band. 



The hubs is in charge of organizing this event and one of my jobs is to make up the goodie bags. 



  They had a great time.  The weather was perfect and the food was good. 





Here is a random pic of a little note 16 left for me one day.  I think she has a future with Hallmark. 


A Flower for all Seasons set.  Cajun craze, real red, more mustard, old olive, soft suede and sahara sand inks.  Watercolor paper, cajun craze and early espresso cardstock.  Aquapainter. 

Last but not least, a little stamping goodness for you. 

I had a workshop last Thursday.  This was the hostess gift I made.  Several years ago the $spot at Target had these little metal frame magnets.  I had picked up a whole bunch thinking I would do a stamp camp project but never did. 

They are the perfect size for this cute set.  I was going to put words on there but nothing I had would fit.



I think I need to make some for my frig.  I still need to take pics of the cards we made.  I'll get that done this week. 

Other stuff:

The boy had his english placement test at the college yesterday.  Took forever!  We got his graduation announcements the other day.  Makes it all the more real.  I decided not to make them.  I wanted him to have ones with the school logo and everything on them. 

16 is studying like crazy for her AP Biology test tomorrow.  I swear she is studying for a doctorate.  Its all Latin to me but she understands (most of) it.   I've never seen anyone have so much homework!

Grace starts her state testing this week.  Only a few more weeks of school left.  We are so ready. 

Boy!  I'm reading over what I've written and its a whole lot of rambling!  See what happens when I only get on here once a week?  I need to fix that don't I? 

Well, if you've actually read all of this, God Bless You.   I mean, God bless you anyway but you deserve extra for hanging with me.  Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings, b.

ps.  Oh yeah, the book I finished reading today?   Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer  The boy has to read it for class and annotate it.  It was an interesting read.  Makes a person think.  I could go on and on but you've been subjected to enough for one night.  Maybe we can open this discussion another day.  If you have any thoughts about it please let me know. 

Monday, May 2, 2011

fun flowers x 2

Monday already. 

Who watched the wedding?  I DID!  Kate's dress was so pretty and she looked comfortable with what she was getting into.  I mean she's had 9 years to think about it. 

I loved the trees in the chapel. 

I thought it was interesting that Will doesn't have to wear a ring.  Hmm.......

I kept thinking Diana would be so proud. 

I'm supposed to be stamping tonight.  I have a class on Thursday and of course I'm not ready.  I had an idea.  I tried it.  It didn't work.  I give up for tonight. 

Besides, Dancing with the Stars is on.  Kirstie is my fave this time around.  I know she won't win but she cracks me up.  I also really like Ralph.  He is such a nice guy!

Tonight I thought I'd show you a couple more cards I've made lately using the Fun Flowers Die.  I know its not in the Summer Mini Catalog but you can still order it.  At least until June 30.  But, I think it will be in the next big catalog.  I hope so anyway.


Woodgrain and So Happy for You (SAB).  Crumb cake and early espresso inks.  Not quite navy, Crumb cake and very vanilla cardstock.  Springtime vintage DSP (occasions mini), Fun flowers die, big shot, neutrals buttons, hemp, crumb cake seam binding, sponges, cutter kit, corner rounder.

Okay, so the DSP and the words aren't available anymore.  You can improvise right?  I really liked this card.


Woodgrain and A Word for You sets.  Crumb cake, not quite navy, pear pizzaz and very vanilla cardstock.  Early espresso and crumb cake inks.  Fun Flowers die, big shot, hemp, dotted ribbon punch, corner rounder.

Geez!  Almost all the same colors.  I'm telling you, I have an addiction to Crumb Cake. 

Alrighty then, we start state testing tomorrow and I'm going to need extra rest.  I get to do the 6th graders. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Blessings, b.