almost home

Hey there!  I wanted to get this put up before I got home because I know once I get home I won't get it done.  I'm sure my house will be in order but I'm going to be pooped. 

The Hubs has actually been cooking while I've been gone.  Well, they've all been cooking from what I understand.  When I asked him about it he said, "I don't know what you're talking about."  Funny guy. 

Anyway, this is the last sample I have of the Reason to Smile set.  Its only $5 with a $50 order and you can only get it until the 31st.  So don't wait!  It's too cute of a set to pass up. 

Reason to Smile and Fabulous Phrases.  Whisper white and crumb cake cardstock.  Whisper white craft, Versamark and black Stazon inks.  White embossing powder, big shot, jewelry tag punch, baja breeze seam binding, simply scoring tool, Window Frames collection framelits (Holiday Catalog), linen thread.

See that new shape?  That is the new Window Frames Collection Framelits.  I couldn't help it.  I had to get them.  They will be in the Holiday Catalog.  If you didn't get your Holiday Catalog in the mail just let me know.  I have bunches.  There are some great new stamps that match the shape too.  You're going to love it!

I used Versamark to ink up the stems.  Punched a couple of holes and tied a cute little bow.  Easy.

When I was making this card I felt like it needed something.  Something on the white base.  Hmmm..........Simply Scoring Tool to the rescue.  It is so easy to add just that little extra something subtle to finish it off. 

I can't wait to play with this shape some more. 

Alrighty then, luckily we've had no more excitement around here. We've been watching the Olympics.  They said it was only 55 degrees.  That sounds nice.  I also found out that Airsofting is an Olympic sport.  HUH?  Let's get rid of baseball and softball but keep Airsofting?  Yeah, I think the heat is getting to me.   The weather is getting hotter and no more rain in sight.  Means it time to go home! 

We did figure out how to Skype.  Talk about awesome!  18 even took the computer out so I could see my veggies. 

Okay, I'm really done now.  I'll be checking in again when I get home.  Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings, b.

creepy crawly

I meant to post yesterday but things didn't go as planned.........as usual.  Today I have a card and a story.  I'll do the card first.

 I can hear you thanking me now. 

Reason to Smile and A Word for You set.  Baja breeze, whisper white and crumb cake cardstock.  Whisper white craft ink and Black Stazon.  Woodgrain embossing folder (YES!), big shot, white taffeta, vintage clear buttons, label framelits, white embossing powder, white bakers twine. 

This was the card I made for my MIL's birthday.  "85 and still alive" is her rhyme this year.  She makes up a new one every year.   

I used the Reason to Smile set.  It will only be available for 3 1/2 more days.  For only $5 you don't want to miss out. 

See this button?  That is from the new catalog.  They remind me of my gramma's door handles.  Love them!  But they are plastic, not glass. 

Also see that blue twine?  I just used my ink pad.  I smooshed the lid and then added a few drops of water.  Then put some white baker's twine in there and let it dry. 

Now my favorite part.  See that way cool embossing folder?  That is in the new Holiday Catalog.  I so love this!  I've been waiting for something like this to come out.  You'll be seeing alot more of it from me. 



Okay, now for my story:

On Wednesday, Grace and I went to Target.  We went to get my dad some pants and shirts.  While I was deciding which ones to get, Grace was running her hands up and down the pants hanging on the rack. 

All of a sudden she jerks her hand back saying "Ouch! Something poked me!"  I looked at her hand and it had just a drop of blood coming out. 

Of course I start thinking someone put a needle full of something in there so I tell her to keep squeezing it to keep it bleeding.  I took the pants and was pressing on them looking for something sharp and didn't feel anything. 

Then I shook them (they are still on the hanger) and I see something on the leg.  Want to see? 

My phone takes cruddy pics. 

This guy was about 2 inches long and TOTALLY freaked Grace out!  She starts crying and I put ice on it.  Then run out to the aisle looking for help.  We were in the very back corner of the store.  I flag down a guy and lets just say 20 min. later we were at the hospital.........with our little friend.

She is actually laughing here.  She was on a jittery high because she was so relieved.  The dr. had already seen her and decided that she was going to be okay.  It was apparently similar to a bee sting.  Had the scorpion really meant to sting her it would have been much worse. 

The hospital released the scorpion.  They aren't kidding about that Hippocratic Oath. 

Anyway we are extremely thankful that she is okay.  God was and is truly watching over us.  Plus she has the best "What I Did Over Summer" essay story ever! 

Alrighty then, we are kind of watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics.  My dad keeps switching the channel. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking in. 

Blessings, b.

I made it!

Good morning!  ( afternoon and evening....and morning and afternoon......its taken me 2 days to write this).

 Well, I survived the train.  I was really concerned that I would get all crazy claustrophobic but it was ok. In fact we decided to keep our reservation and take the train back.

We reserved a "roomette".  Very small.  Here she is on the top bunk but she didn't sleep there.  No, she slept with me on the bottom.  Well, I didn't really sleep.  Especially with us both on a bed smaller than a twin size.  Can you say cozy?

Food was pretty good.  Walking to and from the dining car was hilarious!  The train was very, um........shall we say turbulant?  I know thats not the right word but I can't think of another way to describe it.  There's a good reason why there is a harness on the top bunk.

 Anyway, we got here safe and sound. 

It was a busy day for my dad because right before we arrived my cousin came by plane.  So happy she was coming. 

Why they both got up to stand behind me I'll never know. 

You all know Grace but this is my cousin Jeni from Iowa.  She is so sweet and wanted to spend some time with my dad.  I'm so glad I got to spend some time with her.  She went home today.  Already miss her. 

Oh, for those of you in the ABQ area, you probably recognize the restuarant, El Pinto.  I had to take her there.  The food is good but I really wanted her to have the experience.  She had her very first sopapilla and green chili.  She loved it!  Maybe I can get her to come to New Mexico again eh?  Although we'll go to Little Anita's next time. I like Little Anita's. 

Okay, thats the last family pic for now. 

I did do some stamping before I left home.  I've been using the new Reason to Smile set.  Check out the flyer here.  For only $5 bucks its a great bargain.  Tuesday is the last day you can get it.  So don't wait! 

I'm going to drag it out a little and show you just one today. 

See this shirt that Grace is wearing?  This was the inspiration for this card I'm going to show you.  The colors are more of a Rose Red/Cajun Craze, River Rock, Baja Breeze and Early Espresso. 

Ready?

Reason to Smile and Fabulous Phrases.  Crumb cake, very vanilla, early espresso and watercolor paper.  Rose red and summer sun (retired) watercolor crayons, early espresso, baja breeze, daffodil delight, river rock and crumb cake inks.  Big shot, finishing touches edgelits, lattice square embossing folder, jewelry tag punch, dazzling diamonds, 2 way glue pen, vanilla seam binding, linen thread, aquapainter. 

What do you think?  I've  been thinking about my watercolor crayons lately and I wanted to try them with this set.  I first colored the background stamp with the rose red and then layered summer sun on the edges.  Squirt with water and I let the water set on the stamp about 5-7 seconds so it would sink into the grooves and then stamped, letting it sit on the paper for about 5-7 seconds before lifting it off. 

After it was dry I stamped the line image in early espresso and stamped the smaller flowers in crumb cake.  Then I watercolored the flowers, the centers and the background.  I love coloring and miss doing it.  Good thing they are a bunch of awesome sets in the new catalog that are line images just waiting to be colored.

 Check out that groovy border.  That is one of the new Finishing Touches Edgelits.  Love it!  Another trick on this card is that the word friend does not fit in the jewelry tag punch.  So I cut a piece of cardstock to 3/8" and stamped my word then stuck it in the punch from underneath to punch the round part.  Is that clear as mud?  Let me know if you have questions.

Alrighty then, I'm done for today.  It only took me 2 days to write this.  Geez!  We've gotten an afternoon storm and its really cooling things off.  Super happy about that.  I probably should get off in case the lightning does something crazy to the computer. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and hanging out.

Blessings, b.

Mrs. Green Jeans

Remember Mr. Green Jeans from Captain Kangaroo?  Am I showing my age? 

Hello hello.  How is everyone today?  Try as I might I can't seem to post as much as I want.  But I'm always trying. 

Convention is going on right now.  As we speak.  I'm not there.  I hope to go next year.  It will be my 10th year with Stampin' Up! and their 25th anniversary and I'm planning on REALLY TRYING for the Artisan Award.  So next year I hope to go. 

So today I have a TON of pics for you.  I mean BUNCHES.  I mean ALOT.  Not stampy stuff but garden stuff.  I'll have stampy stuff in a day or so. 

So if you're interested, put on your thinking cap because I have questions for you.  Grab a cup of something good to drink, sit back, relax and check out my garden.

I only started it a few weeks ago so its still in its baby stages. 

A volunteer sunflower that the birds planted.  Its died off now and the birds are enjoying it.

The neighbor behind us has a tree that hangs over our fence.  It has these on it that fall into my yard every year.  They don't bother me at all.  Sometimes the birds eat them.  I have a question though: what are they? 

Now I know you're thinking: why not just ask your neighbor?  Well, the owners rent the house out and we seem to get new people every year or so and they never know anything.  So, any ideas?

This is the inside.  They are crunchy but taste almost bitter.  Crabapples maybe?

I spotted this guy in my yard last week.  I've never seen a woodpecker in our area before.  I haven't seen him again though.  I wish he would come back.

Remember the sunflower I just showed you?  Here it is now.  What a difference a few weeks makes huh?  The birds love it!

This is the first year I've seen Goldfinches.  I've seen 2.  I'm assuming they are a couple.  The lady next door had cut down ALL of her trees and I was afraid these guys would be gone for sure.  So happy they are here.

Then there is this guy.  What is he?  Its hard to see but the whole top of his head and face down his belly is red.  Any ideas? 

Box #1. 

carrots.  When they get a little bigger I'll have to thin them.  You can see all the apple/cherry things that fall in here.

broccoli.  I know its not the right time for carrots or broccoli but I'm trying it anyway.  Such a rebel!

Watermelon.  These are actually outside the box so they can roam.  They are Bush Baby Watermelon and supposed to have shorter vines.  I know, kinda late to plant watermelon but we'll see.  I'm always harvesting things well into November. 

strawberries.  I got these as starter plants.

Box #2

This is another volunteer the birds planted.  It is a Mammoth Sunflower and it is sure holding up to its name.  Last year the sunflowers were wimpy compared this year.  And I didn't even plant them!

I just wanted to show you how thick the trunk of this thing is.  Talk about Jack and the Beanstalk........only with sunflowers.

Celebrity tomato starter plant. 

See my little pine tree?  My neighbor next door had pine trees all along her back fence.  Well of course pinecones and needles blow into my yard and I ended up with 7 baby pine tree volunteers!  I'm hoping they continue to grow. 

Valencia Onions.  I've never grown onions from seed so I'm excited to see what I get.

Yellow Pear Tomato.  I started these from seeds and they almost died several times for various reasons.  I'm hoping it keeps growing.  Right now it seems shocked. 

Box #3  I left the trellis up from the cucumbers last year just because I may plant them in there again next year. 

yellow squash.  I thought I had bought zucchini seeds this year too but I can't find them and I can't find any in the stores either.  I did find zucchini starter plants but they were full of ants and I didn't want to bring that home!  So no zucs for me this year  :(

The other half of the box is empty right now.  I may plant beets. 

Box #4 

Anaheim Chili.  I had planted this last year and just cut it back in Jan. for new growth.  I have already harvested 2 HUGE bowls of chilis.  Some branches broke off (not sure why....cat? birds? wind?).  I put a cage around it now for support.  But now about 50% of them have are turning black.  Not because they are changing from green to red.  Not sure what is going on.  Any ideas?  This plant also had lots of these little white flies.  And white spirals on some of the leaves.  Any ideas?

Tenderbush Green Bean.  These are coming up strangely.  Not all at the same time and some not at all.  I may plant more.   Right now I have an upside down tomato cage on them.  I'm hoping The Hubs can bring home some wood so I can make a tee pee for them to climb. 

Bush Champion cucmbers.  These guys popped right up.  I think I have some volunteer sunflowers coming up with them.  I've tried growing cucumbers the last 2 years and have only had 1 that was edible.  Hoping for lots more this year. 

pumpkin.  Oh my but these are happy plants!  I know its late for Halloween pumpkins but I don't care.  I can still make pumpkin bread. 

Red Seedless Grapes!  I planted these 3 years ago and this year it is producing.  I only have 3 bunches but I'm so excited to try them.  I'll pick them when I get back from my dad's.  My Thompson plant isn't producing yet.  Hopefully next year. 

This year I used a combination of Kellog's Ammend and Garden Soil.  I also put a line of diatomaceous earth around each box.  Toward Aug. and Sept. last year I had ants take over Box #4.  I'm hoping to avoid that this year. I also put it around the pear tree so hopefully the ants don't get to the hummingbird feeder.  So far so good.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

Alrighty then.  I told you it was alot of pics.  If you have any advice or suggestions please send them my way.  I really have no clue as to what I'm doing and need any help I can get.  

In other news, tomorrow Grace and I are going on the train to stay with my dad for a week.  We've never taken the train.  Its an overnight trip and Grace got so excited when she saw the sleeping rooms on the website.  So I got one.  Problem is, my claustrophobia has gotten worse as I've gotten older and I really don't know how I'm going to handle it.  I'm afraid it will be like sleeping in a coffin.  Not that I'll actually sleep.   Any advice? 

I plan on blogging while I'm there.  I do have some stampy posts all ready to go.  Now I just have all my chores to get done.  Wish me luck! 

Blessings, b.

they keep getting older

Howdy!  Busy busy busy, that's what I've been.  I have been trying to play catch up with Project Life and I finally finished Week In The Life from April.  All those extra spots for decoration are a pain.  I may think of another plan for next time.  I didn't bother taking pics of the finished week.  I figured it was old news. 

But in current news, 17 turned 18.  {big siiiiiiiggghhhh}  and in a few weeks she'll be moving out to go to school. 

I'll think about that another day though. 

We seem to decorate a little more every year. 

A Word for You, Up Up and Away, classic numbers (retired).  Crumb cake, pool party, whisper white and pacific point cardstock.  Pacific point, whisper white craft and black stazon inks.  Brights patterns DSP, big shot, label framelits, white embossing powder, polka dot embossing folder, 3/4" circle punch, 2 way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, white bakers twine.


I amost didn't post this because it is by far not my favorite birthday card I ever made.  BUT, I figured maybe it would inspire you to make something.  Sometimes we can see a card and take away a part of it to create something new. 

I need some new white embossing powder.  This stuff is really grainy.  You can see where I swiped the 2 way glue pen on the edges of the label to catch the dazzling diamonds.

See those polka dots there?  I inked up the pokey side of the polka dot embossing folder with white ink and used it as a stamp.  Its very subtle but broke up the empty space just enough. 

Our family (mainly The Hubs) has gotten obsessed with disc golf.  18 got a new bag and a few new discs for her birthday and so after dinner we walked over to the park to play. 

She also a Henna Kit.  So now all us girls are tatted.   This is mine.

18's

Grace's

So there ya go.  Also this week, my kitchen has been rebeling. 

It hasn't even been a year and the igniter went out again.  What the heck!  Its back together now.  We are becoming experts. 

Alrighty then.  I have other stampiness to show you soon.  AND a garden update.  You are on the edge of your seat aren't you? 

Thanks so much for stopping by and hanging out. 

Blessings, b.