Love Getting Cards In The Mail!

Received three cards today. All from Lisa. Great job! Taking it easy today. I may tackle my stamp room and clean it up a bit, after the stamping frenzy I've been doing this week.




I picked up a cold and haven't been feeling myself since Saturday. Dear daughter Sarah had a cold on Christmas so I guess she passed it along to me. Made some great chili today. It was hot and spicy! I'm hoping it will help clear my sinuses!

Wishing everyone a wonderful, and Happy New Year!!!!

Love Card

Now this card I really had fun with! Base card is 5 x 5 Creamy Caramel cardstock stamped with Floral background stamp. The heart is a Sugarloaf See-D's stamp set called Hearts and Love. This was stamped on Whisper White with Jet Black StazOn then colored with aqua painter using Real Red, Creamy Caramel, Night of Navy, and Old Olive. I layered the cut out heart on a white crocheted doily. The edges of the doily I shaded with the aqua paint and Creamy Caramel ink. This was then mounted on a 2 inch strip of Real Red and a strip of Old Olive. Love was stamped with Whisper White ink. I'm so glad I had time to go through my stamp stuff and found a bunch of doilies. Planning to use more of them on upcoming cards.


So here it is just a two days before the New Year. Time to stop and think about the year that is over. Where any goals met? Accomplishments? Sad times? Happy Times? I answered yes to all those questions. Will I set any New Year Resolutions? NO! I never ever keep them. I always start out with good intentions but never follow though. I work better without restrictions. There are plenty of guidelines, and rules to follow at my day job. My time off work should be free time. Time to relax, and enjoy myself. If I want to call my friends I will. If I decide not to make dinner I won't. If I want to clean the house fine, but if I'd rather use that time to stamp, play my guitar, or read a book...I will do just that. Time doesn't stand still for anyone. Looking back over the year I know I made myself crazy trying to join to many groups, doing to many swaps, and giving my time away for things I really didn't need to. Time my dear friends and readers is way to short. I think my reasoning is stemming from my brother's death earlier in the year. It's been a long painful and difficult year for me, and my family. I have tears forming just from thinking about it. And now that I'm reading what I just typed, my hand is really trying to reach the delete button. Words keep coming back to me from my dad..."Take care of yourself....cause no one else will do it for you" I agree with some part of this dad. You do have to take care of yourself, but I learned with this passing year that your friends and family will also take care of you when you really need them to. I can't count the number of phones calls made to my friends this year when I needed someone to talk to about my brother, or my mom who also had a very hard year. I do truly feel blessed to have such a good support system. So is any of this leading somewhere you ask? Yes. I do plan to take better care of myself this year. Not really going to stick to a diet, but will watch what I eat, and exercise more. I'll enjoy doing the things I take pleasure in. Music, reading, stamping, crafting, talking on the phone. So what if I have a less than clean house........so if you plan to come over please give me a call first as I might need to throw some things in the closet, or put the dishes in the dish washer!

Happy Stamping! May you have a blessed New Year!!!!

Target 1.00 Find

I was out shopping with my son last evening and found some great stuff in the dollar bins. They have some great tins! The tall ones have mini domino pieces, and the square tins have different travel games. Not really interested in the the games but these will make some awesome altered tins!



I JUST LOVE MY BEATLES STAMPS!!!!! Two of my friends went in together to get me these great stamps for Christmas. I'm so lucky to have friends that love me so much!!! I'll be playing with these this weekend.



I've been busy today completing my Home Decor project for the design team I'm on. It's a stationary box with matching stationary and envelopes. If you want to check out some awesome work by very talented artists please visit:

www.RubberRoadAdventures.com



Here is a sneak peek of the outside box. I used a paper mache box that is in the shape a book. I'm very pleased with it.

Till tomorrow.....Happy Stamping!

Enjoying My Time Off

I spent some time last night stamping. This card was made using the scoring blade on the Fisker cutter. I scored every one inch on each side to make a diamond pattern. Next I sponged over it with ink. Makes it look like a tile.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Over the next few days I'll be sharing some of the great presents I received this year. None of my family really wanted to talk about it, but I think they really went out of there way to give me a nice Christmas.






Hubby really surprised me with a ROCK! Glad he also got the matching pendant and earrings. WOW I was floored when I opened them. They are white opals set in 14 ct gold.






Sarah wrapped them for me and of course she didn't make it easy. She did the large box in a box, in another box thing. I had to open 5 boxes before I got to them.

Till tomorrow. Happy Stamping!

Last Minute Stamping

Did some very last minute stamping yesterday. The top of the magazine shows a page marker. This was made with the tag punch and Snow Play stamp set. I folded my cardstock and inserted it in the tag punch, but not all the way. The top of the cardstock on the fold line was not punched. On the inside of both tags I added magnets. The little tag on the side was also made using the tag punch and Cold Play. I needed a tag for my sis-in-law's Christmas gift. You can see the magazine is the latest from Paper Crafts. I don't know about my readers but I'm looking forward to making some Valentine stuff!! I love Christmas time, but it's time to move on stamping wise.



My co-worker Karen made these cute soup jars and gave to us last week. She was so sweet and customized them for each of us. I got the snowman cause Karen knows how much I love them. She used textured snow to cover the Styrofoam head. I'm looking forward to making a big pot of soup this week while I'm enjoying my vacation!

Well it's Christmas Eve day. All my packages are wrapped, cookies are baked, the wash is done, but the house still needs some more cleaning. I'm done though. I'm going to sit back and enjoy the holiday. Today we will be heading over to church. My nephew Corbet is singing this afternoon. Then we will have dinner with my family at Cheryl's house. (sis-in-law) I do need to make broccoli casserole to take there, and may need to call my best friend Lisa if I can't find my recipe for it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, and can just take the time to enjoy your families, and remember why we are celebrating this season.

Merry Christmas!

Time for Hearts

With Christmas winding down it's time to start thinking about the next holiday around the corner. Just took some time this morning to play. I don't normally use these colors but wanted to use different colors other than red.

Barely Banana, Green Galore, Bashful Blue, Summer Sun,and Close to Cocoa colors used.

Can't share more now. I'm in the middle of cleaning the house and baking more cookies!!!

I Couldn't Get To The Computer!

So sorry I've been neglecting you! My hubby has been working day shift since the schools are out for the holiday, and he has been on the computer non stop! I think I'm going to have to start setting the timer and when it goes off.....he signs off!!! LOL

I worked on some last minute Christmas gifts. I found these get post it note holders at Pat Catan. Back during the summer they were having a clearance. You could fill up a check out bag up to the top for 5 dollars! I got some great stuff. Anyway I stocked up on the post it notes. I knew I could decorate the cover and use them for gifts.







The inside of these holders have post it notes and the post it flags. Of course I made one for me!!!

On Friday my Supervisor gave me this Christmas card. He drew it himself. I thought it was pretty darn cute so I wanted to post it on the blog. He drew different cards for all of us. Mine was the stamp cause he knows how much I love to rubber stamp.



Today it was 52 degrees out so me and hubby went out to the lake and did some walking. It was really a treat to be able to get some air and exercise at the end of December. Of course the temps are dropping tonight, but they are not expecting a White Christmas here in Ohio.

Made a ton of cookies. I just finished up at 10:30 pm. Still have some more batches to do, but they are going to have to wait till tomorrow.

I also got a star named after my brother Tony. His star is in the constellation Draco. (the dragon) I have a great dragon rubber stamp so I'm planning to do some stamping on the document then frame it. I'm going to give it to my nephews for Christmas. It's going to be a few days late, that's okay.

Well I need to sign off as it's getting late. Hoping I'll be able to squeeze my computer time in. Have a great weekend!

Oh Santa!!!

Had a good visit with mom this evening. The nursing home had there Christmas party tonight, and Santa was there!!!! He passed out presents to the residents,and there was plenty of punch, cookies and good cheer all around.

So my daughter talked to Santa about how Australia banned Santa from saying "Ho Ho Ho" as the phrase is considered to be a put down for women. Santa said he had heard about that. So Sarah says "Santa I'm all for diversity but they really need to leave Santa alone! Of course Santa told her Ho Ho Ho! He agreed with her! I advised Santa I have been extra good this year and I was hoping to find diamonds under the tree. LOL Well.....he didn't say I wasn't going to get any. So that's a good sign.


Card was made with See-D's stamp set Whimsical Santa. Just a basic design, background papers by Basic Grey "Fruitcake". The Ho Ho Ho stamp is from Michael's dollar bin.

Happy Stamping!
Only 3 more working days!!!

New Stamp Set, New Punch?

This is just the coolest thing...I had to share. Not my idea. I found it on SCS. I went back to try to find it again to give credit for the idea, but now I can't find it. It's not a new punch, but the scallop punch used in a different way.

First punch the cardstock with scallop punch. I used Old Olive. Next use removable tape on the back of the punched out shaped and adhere to a piece of computer paper. The paper has to be thin in order to go into the punch again. Next insert the cardstock piece back into the scallop punch. Move the scallops so they are off center, then punch again. You will end up with points instead of the scallops. Just too darn cool! The person who thought this up is just way to smart!


Now the card is made using a new Level 2 stamp set from the Spring/Summer Catalog. It's called Infinite Goodness. Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla, ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Brocade Blue, and Jet Black StazOn, other: Canvas background, Stitches template, twine, 1 3/8 circle punch, aqua painer, scallop punch, and pop dots. You can see that I used the above technique with the scallop punch to make the points. Just love it when you can find new ways to use the things you already have. Oh and I haven't tried it yet but I'm sure you can use the same punch method for the large Marvy punches.

Happy Stamping
Only 4 more working days till I have a week off!

Time for Thank You's/Computer Issues/SNOW

So the Christmas cards are written. The gifts are wrapped and under the tree. Time to start thinking about making Thank You cards for all the wonderful gifts you'll receive! The card was made using a Z fold. Cut 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of cardstock in half the long way. Score at 2 3/4 then again at 5 1/2. I used Musical Score background stamp (retired), and Canvas for the background. The Bird on a Branch is a See-D's stamp set. Image was colored in with classic dye ink, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Regal Rose, Rose Red, So Saffron, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy. Image was stamped using Jet Black Stazon on Very Vanilla cardstock. Added twill tape using a hammered gold brad. Love this! They look like the tacks using for upholstery. Used the photo punch to make the top corner then added a half pearl bead from the Pretties kit.

I haven't posted for the last two days due to computer issues. I have high speed but let me tell you it was slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww speed! The previous post took me 45 minutes to post! Hubby worked on the computer yesterday and it's working fine now.....of course after he fixed it he was on it all day playing Age of Empires III. So I didn't get a chance to go near it. Hopefully today he'll be watching football games and away from the computer!!!! I still have 290 emails to read!

Went to visit mom yesterday morning. It started snowing as I was leaving the post office. It was clear then it took 20 minutes to get through the post office. When I came out everything was covered in white just that fast. We were to get 12 inches by this morning. I haven't stuck my head out the window to see just how much. Maybe later when I'm more awake and have had my morning coffee. Not planning on going anywhere today. I'm going to start working on holiday baking. Lots of cookies to make!

Happy Stamping!

Hubby's Christmas Card

I'm laughing at this card now. I just looked at it again and the background of Glorious Green cardstock and the white hash stitch lines sort of reminds me of a football field. LOL So hubby is getting this one.



The stamps came in a set from See-D's. My new favorite stamps. These were on sale at Pat Catan's for 1.97. And am I ever bad....I have about 60 of them now. I've been steadily buying them now since before summer. So I have a large collection.



I also found this great template by Paper Pizazz. It's great for adding faux stitches to cards or scrapbook pages. I ended up getting two of these by mistake so keep reading as I will be giving one away as blog candy real soon

Happy Stamping

Snowflake Man

Isn't this card just too cute? I made him last last year but thought I'd share. I have not had anytime to stamp this week. The kids have been keeping me busy with Christmas shopping and wrapping. I think I'm almost done with the holiday shopping. Going to wait till the weekend before Christmas to start with the holiday baking. Only 7 more working days till I'll have my week off! YAY. Then watch out.....I'll be stamping everything in sight!!!!


I received this cute card from Kathy. Did you know there is a National Ice Cream Day? Neither did I, but what a good time to have it....in the middle of December. Now that's one way to promote ice cream when it's cold and snowy outside! Don't think the picture shows up well enough, but the ice cream bowl is made from vellum that was run through the Cuttlebug. Very cute Kat!

Okay I'm off to work. Happy Stamping!

Simple Masking

I haven't made anything with just with using simple masking. Brought out some retired sets I haven't used for a long time and created this card. I still like to stamp my image on a post it note, cut out just inside the lines and use that for the mask. You won't get a clear spot going around the image if you cut the mask inside the lines.


Okay now I have to tattle. One of my closest friends (no names here but you know who you are) decided not to wait to open her Christmas gifts from me. I was at the nursing home having breakfast with my mom when I got the call......"Am I forgiven" asked my friend LOL of course you are! You should have waited to open your gift! But read on I'm glad you did open early. Now mom has not spoke sentences since her stroke in April. I told her what my friend did and she looked at me and said "that's wrong...when I was young you didn't look before Christmas" I almost fell out of my chair when she said that. After that mom just laughed and went back to her normal words here and there that you can't really understand. So thanks to my friend for giving me an early Christmas gift. I really think just for a minute mom was with me again.

Shabby Chic Poinsettia

This is a stamp set I that I paid 1.97 for at my favorite craft store. It's made by See-D's. Just love the large poinsettia. I wanted to make it look more vintage so I used browns, and gold. Image was watercolored with Rose Red, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Close to Cocoa, and Marigold Morning classic ink. Base is shimmery white cardstock. Background paper by Basic Grey~Perhaps.

I got a great recipe for Potato Soup from Yahoo Group I'm on. I have it simmering in the crock pot now. I'll be going to see mom later today so I'm going to bring her and her friend June some soup. I've had Christmas music on all day trying to stay in the holiday mood.

Wonderful mail day. I receive some Christmas cards, a very large.....did I say LARGE box from my friend Kat. I wonder what's inside all those boxes? One really LARGE box has my interest perked but I'm being good this year I put everything under the tree. I can't believe Christmas is right around the corner!!!

Happy Stamping!!!

Kitty Under the Tree

"T'was the night before Friday when all through the house..
My daughter was busy wrapping presents (and no there was no mouse)
The kitty was nestled all snug in it's tissue paper bed
with visions of cat nip and that mouse dancing in it's head".

LOL Okay, okay I'm not a poet, but it was so cute that our kitty Burbank decided to fall asleep on the tissue paper Sarah was trying to use to wrap presents up in.

No time for stamping as I took the kids out for dinner and we did a little Christmas shopping. Didn't really accomplish much but we had fun. It's been a long while since all three of us "bummed" around together.

Tonight I've been very busy getting the house clean. YUCK! What a mess. I haven't cleaned for some time and it really needs it. Hope to stamp over the weekend.

TGIF!!!

I Got To Stamp

YAY! Finally got some time to stamp. I needed it to....been stressed this week. First card I made with MerryBella stamp. I made her a little funky with the Green Galore boots. The trim on her boots, and hat was done with textured snow paint. Then before it dried I sprinkled it with a little bit of glitter. And yes you might recognize the background image was done using Tres Chic stamp. I thought it fit the Christmas season with some the leaf prints on the stamp. This card was a breakaway from my usual color schemes. Not sure if I like it yet....but I did have fun with making it!



Next card was also fun to make. I used the photo corner punch to make the tree. I punched the bottom layer with Always Artichoke, and the top layer with Mellow Moss. Each of the punches were stamped with Sanded background using the same color ink as the cardstock. The top layer was adhered using pop dots. I was trying to give the tree as much dimension as possible. With the color scheme used it would make a great guy card.

Happy Thursday!!!!!, and Happy Stamping.

Pancake breakfast for Christmas

Once again I didn't have time to stamp. The conclusion of Tin Man was on last night so I watched that instead. Now you know why I don't watch TV much in the evening. Since I work all day the evening is the only time I have to stamp.

My friend Lisa sent me a big Christmas box yesterday. I'm being very good this year and put all the presents under the tree. The pancake mix was not wrapped so I got to see it. The back of the tag has these instructions:

Christmas Morning Gingerbread Pancakes
Add one cup of water to mix, pour batter onto hot griddle, when done top with whip cream, powdered sugar and pecans.
YUM!!! The pecans in the package are roasted. The handle on the spatula is stamped with mini snowflakes using white StazOn. The cello bag is also stamped with snowflakes using StazOn. How fun!!!! Can't wait for Christmas morning so I can eat pancakes! Thanks Lisa!!!

My car broke down yesterday morning on my way to work. It didn't stop running but the engine light came on. I didn't want to chance taking it to work so I drove it home as I didn't get very far before this happened. I woke dear hubby up, and he took me to work. I was an hour late, but he was able to get the car fixed so I can drive it this morning. Nothing planned for this evening so I'm hoping to get in some stamping time!!!

Happy hump day.

Strange Holidays/Pork Chops

I went outside yesterday morning to go to work and there was SNOW!!!! I had to drive to work in that YUCK!! I always allow myself plenty of time to drive slow if I have to. Wish more people did that. You have the ones that are always in a hurry and drive to fast in bad weather. They must be mad when they get behind me as I'll go 25 if I have to. I'm in no hurry and I'd rather do that than have an accident.

I received two strange holiday cards yesterday. Lisa's card was for Playing Card Day, and Kathy's was Mitten Tree Day. Nice work gals!!!

Didn't have time to stamp last night. I made dinner then settled down to watch Tin Man from 7 to 11. I enjoyed it. It's a mini series on Sci Fi about the Wizard of Oz, with a large re-write of course, but I'm amazed at how the story really does follow the original story line in an off sort of way.

Tried a new recipe for the pork chops. Breaded them with Italian bread crumbs then browned in skillet. Place them in a 13 x 9 x 2 pan and topped with a mixture of sliced mushrooms, chopped onions, and two cans of mushroom soup. The recipe said to use Golden mushroom soup by Campbell's. Since I have to watch my sodium I used reduced sodium mushroom soup. It's a good recipe the pork chops were nice and tender.

Happy Stamping!!

Acetate/Cardstock Box

Happy Monday!!! The countdown continues.....only 15 more work days till I get a week off. I know I'm being silly but I just can't wait!!!!!!

Today I want to share with you a acetate and cardstock box. If would like to make one visit this blog
http://iheart2stamp.com/2007/10/21/acetate-box-tutorial/
for the template and how to's. Jen del Muro is just wonderful to share this on her blog. I think it's a great template.



I used Flaky Friends stamp set. This set is now retired. I'm going to miss it! Cardstock, Shimmery White, Sage Shadow,Bordering Blue and More Mustard. Snow friends were stamped with Jet Black StazOn on Shimmery white, the colored in with classic dye ink and aqua painter.

Gift Card Holder

Seeing how the "kids" are older and I have not a clue what to get them this year.....I think I'll be giving them gift cards. I made this one for Sarah. It's an Altoid tin. Worked good with the Dashing designer paper. I didn't have to paint the tin at all. There is red border going around it so I just cut the paper to fit so the red border on the tin would show. Sarah likes distressed things. So I roughed up the edges of the paper, crumpled it up and added some Close to Cocoa ink to make it look aged. The ribbon handles were added to make it look like a purse. The flower was inked with Real Red. I think she'll like it.

This Christmas Cactus is 13 years old. It was so small when I bought it in 94. We bought our house in November of 94 and I got the cactus at the same time.





It's been transplanted once. I think this spring I'll do it again. I like to see it get just a bit bigger.