No wedding and I gave away the "friends" I made

My hubby and I had a date all planned this morning. We had a wedding to attend just outside of Boston at 10am this morning. We left plenty early with the babysitter at home with the kids. But since we were only going 35 to 40 miles an hour with the snow, we decided to turn around. It was not safe and we were not sure we would even make it on time! I was pretty bummed but happy to be home safe and out of the storm.

The bonus is I have time to blog. This is my second semi-paper craft project. Go ahead and copy, it is not my original idea but leave yourself plenty of time as each step has some drying time involved and letters are not always available. I used scrap 2x4 and cut them to size using my hubby's chop saw. It makes me nervous and I did not worry about being exact - good thing I like the uneven look! Then I stained the block (let them dry), painted letters (let them dry), Martha Stewart modgepodged them (let them dry and I love that stuff!) and then glued it all together, then they dry some more!!! Not the fastest gift but I loved the way they came out so much I made some with our name. Ummm, no those pics will have to be later. BUT that is the new SU designer paper coming in the January catty! Almost like Christmas waiting for that. Only 18 more days. Best part is I don't have to shop or wrap!I think my friend liked them even if they were after Christmas. And I have ideas for more words as soon as I see the new designer papers!

I'm headed out to watch the boys snowboard! Have a great day!

I'm not a pure paper crafting kind of gal

Christmas is over but I am still finishing a few crafts. Not to mention I saw some new ones over the holiday that I had to try!!
Back in June I asked my hubby for a soldering kit from Simply Swank for my birthday. He wanted to get me something heavy duty from HD but I really wanted the kit with all the supplies. Well, not a whole lot of the perishable supplies came with the kit. I had to order more copper tape at the least. I did get the solder from HD for a better price and since Gregg is in the optic industry with glass, he was able to get me some with minor scratches that are not noticable to me but not good enough for them. Now I am all stocked on supplies and smokin' - literally, you should see the fumes! I have not revealed this new hobby before because I was keeping it a secret from some friends. We do a homemade ornament swap and I knew back in June I wanted to use it for that. And here is the ornament I made.

I have done a few other things to. For all the guys in my family, I made monogram keychains like this one. It is a long story but one got screwed up and now I have an extra with MT. Are those your initials? I need to give it to a good home. Leave a comment and let me know. I will send it to the first MT that responds. Guess that is pretty specific blog candy. :)

This final one is for a dear friend who is very kind to my little girl and I thought the stamp would remind her of Mak.

I'll be back tomorrow with another craft using paper, kinda. I love cards but I like projects better and using paper to do them. This one involves a 2x4 from HD, my husbands chop saw and sander and a little Martha Stewart. Curious? Welll I hope the recipient loves it!

Have you counted your blessing?

I got up early this morning and actually enjoyed my time on the treadmill rockin' out to my tunes and thinking about all the things I am grateful for. I am sure lots of you are counting your blessing as well. I won't bore you with the entire list but I will share a few pics from our summer vacation which is one of my most cherished times this summer. Being with my family, camping and being at the ocean. Does not get much more perfect for us! Today we have both my parents and Gregg's parents. What a great treat!

Yuck! Chocolate milk?

I might have mentioned before that I dislike chocolate. I think it smells like stinky feet. But... I love the color! I made this very cool milk carton holder after I got the pattern from Inkling Idaho. LOVE IT! That would be so fun to fill with little things like chapstick, candy, jewelry, gift card, hand lotion and lots of other Target dollar spot stuff, and if you get the tutorial from her, there is a fun little trick she teaches you so you do not have to disturb the bow on top to open it.

Oh and I wanted to give credit for that adorable little turkey. This blog is where I found the original that I CASED.

I'm here.

I did mention I would never be a faithful blogger but some of you gals are sweeter than candy about sending notes of support. You just rock! So this post is for you! And maybe a few more, let's not get too crazy!

I had my last club workshop of the year last night. **Sigh** December is just too crazy so we will start fresh after the holidays and if you are interested in joining us, let me know - as long as you like to eat and laugh, oh, and stamp of course!!!


I started by making thank you gifts for my gals. They are so much fun to be with. I made the box using the scallop envelope die with the Big Shot (waiting for Santa to get mine, yipee skippeeeeee!) and then used overhead projector sheets to make a simple top. I stamped them, sponged them, made matching cards and even put chocolate wrapped in ribbon on the bottom. I was very happy with the way they turned out and I think the gals liked them too.

Next, if they agreed to sign up for our club starting in Janurary, they got another gift! Yea, love presents! I made them all zipper pulls. See my previous post for the original. All of them were different ribbons. Then I used overhead projector sheets again to make clear pillow boxes with the BS (happy little thing!) so they could see the color. I closed the box using the same ribbon as the pull. I think the gals liked those too and they could make more themselves as gifts.

I don't have pics of the projects we made as I gave my samples away but I will make more and post those later. I also showed lots of samples I made with the pillow boxes and we thought of lots of things you could put in them - candy, chapstick, jewelry, money, USB stick and more!!!

The last sample I shared was this cute little mini pizza box (thanks Avril for the dimensions!) and the MOST adorable turkey I CASED from another blog. Still looking for where I found that - will get back to you on that one. But I thought I would make them for my parents and in-laws since they are the only ones coming for Thanksgiving this year.

Ok, that was a lot. Try for more tomorrow but don't hold your breath!

Twas the night before Halloween...

and all through the house, the kids were running and screaming and bouncing off walls!!! Nope, no excitement here. We have a Ninja, Indiana Jones and a princess.


Tonight we made little treats for their classmates. I found my inspiration here http://danniesdesigns.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/10/halloween-peppe.html

but we totally simplified so they could be done almost completely (I just cut the paper strips) by the boys for their classmates. For Mak we did strips of Halloween paper around mini playdough since that was a non-sweet treat.

The boys were pretty proud of their creations and I am always happy when they do it themselves, I think they learn so much more.

Oh, my bed is calling! Let me go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So much to make, so little time!

Seems I am always finding new stuff to CASE and thought these two were too cute not to copy and share with everyone! They use the Top Note die. I have the die, just not the machine - YET! :)

This little cute jacket pull IS an original idea. Imagine that! Used a clasp from Michael's, a ribbon end tab from M's too and then one of our cute filigree brads. How happy! Yes, I know the ribbon is retired, but I still love it and think it adds a nice little touch to my black fleece.

I have a workshop tonight and a ton of fun things to share with them. I will share with you later in the week. Just not tomorrow. I have a ton to do including all three kids going to the dentist and a wonderful college roommate of mine is swinging through and I have not seen her in 12 years! So excited to spend time with her!!! Today I have been up since 3AM today and still I can't find enough time to get everything done! I am not moving slowly either - I am a zippy little chicky but won't be if I go much longer!

Have a great day, even IF there is snow!

I'll never be faithful.

Amy asked if my blogging fingers were broken. Umm, no. But let me tell you how I work. Have you read the book, "If you give a mouse a cookie."? I FINALLY get to stamp and make something I REALLY like enough to post. Can't find the camera. Search for camera, end up doing the dishes and getting food for a child. Find the camera, it's too dark for a picture, wait until morning. Do laundry, bathe a child and feed the other two again. Daylight, take picture, sit at computer, "M-O-M!!!!" Go feed child, help with potty and do dishes. Forget where I put the camera again to hide from little fingers. Search and decide to clean the office. FINALLY, wake up at 4AM and find time to post. Ahhh.
I have to say that I do love to stamp and find it an incredibly wonderful stress reliver and LOVE all the fun stuff. But when it comes to finding time to blog. I will never be faithful and regular. Unless I blogged everytime my children ate! OH MY!!!


Hope you enjoyed the cupcakes, I am a bit obsessed!!!!!

Do you want anything?

I have the nicest friends. They call me from Achievers (happy scrapbook and paper crafting store that I would love to wonder around all day) in Salt Lake and asked if I wanted anything. Ummmm, everything! My mind went blank. All that potential and I could think of nothing.


On a happier note, I have eye candy for you. How cute are these little guys? I saw them on Splitcoast in the gallery http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1083818?si=file%20punch is the apple idea and http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1054178?si=scallop%20square%20bat is the bat I copied. The apple and orange are super easy. I punched ten round tab punches, folded them in half and adhered one on top of the next and then the last two together. The bat is the scallop square punch cut in half and then little slits to fold back for the ears.





Have a great day.

Ewe are sooooooo cute!

I know, that was way too punny! I'll stop now. :)

Is this not the cutest? I admit I stole the idea from another card I saw but now I can not find the site, will have to backtrack and let you know. I am really punch happy lately. Tune in tomorrow for another instalment of the punches.

That is one funny looking pumpkin!

Happy Monday! No stamping for me over the weekend. It was World Card Making Day on Saturday but at our house, it was paint the house day! We got it done and it is a huge relief. But I did manage to stamp a little today, with a sick little three year old. Just a little cold but NEEDY! Do you know how hard it is to stamp with someone in your lap and you can not see your workspace?

I started out making a simple card with the halloween rub ons, while on the phone with a friend. I told her it was the new punch. She said, "Oh, the big oval?" Umm, no, the big circle. But I could use the big oval. I made one and it looked funny, kinda like a pineapple. BINGO! See, no mistakes, just new ideas.

My work could be better but not on a day with an attatchment with big blue eyes, blonde hair and a runny nose.

Evil conspiracy!

Ever say you did not like a stamp set and then... you HAVE to have it? I did not like the tree set in the new holiday mini. My sister tried to convince me that I needed it. I resisted. Then I went to a demo class with the cutests projects including this one using the tree. It is a conspiracy to force me to buy the tree because I like what they make and then when I get it, I won't know what to do with it. EVIL!!!

I love this box. It is CD cases that interlock to form the sides. You could put pictures in there or stamped images like the tree everyone is making me think I need.

Here is the website for the ink pad holder in my previous post. http://rebelinker.blogspot.com/2007/10/inkpad-holder-for-6.html

Let me know if you make one.

stamping related

Yesterday was a total whirlwind with a crazy "to do" list! So no stamping but other stuff to share.

On Tuesday a kind friend called and said M's was selling their 8 1/2 x11 wire paper racks for $5!!! So I ran and got one while she held them. Soooooooo nice! Since then I have been filling and labeling. I really like it, just wishing I had two. I know, I should be grateful for what I have!

Then the other thing I need to finish is an ink pad holder. This is a VERY rough one! My sister gave me a blog that she found. I promise to share it later today when I find it again. You make it from foam core and use hot glue and since I had some I gave it a whirl. I need to try that again though! Not as easy as I thought it would be. But love the concept! It will do until one day I can justify a wood one in a finished room.

Thanks for the love!

Hey there! A BIG HONKIN' thank you to the three people who read my blog and told me you missed me. It's nice to be missed. :)

Nothing dramatic or catastrophic, just LIFE with 3 kids, a hubby and a few little things that keep me busy too. I did not think many would notice if I did not blog, there are plenty of great ones out there to find. BIG kudos to those fab gals who do post everyday. They are the bomb!

I actually have been cleaning out my stamp area and moving things around. No, still no lights. :) Getting really creative though! My desk is piled high with stuff I am sorting through. My sister even commented, "How can you stamp?" I don't. So today I cleared a tiny little hole and decided I could only use current stuff I found on my desk. My favorite way to stamp is stuff from the scrap pile.

This little black plastic bracelet was in a two pack at the dollar spot at M's. Thought I would do up a little Halloween motif. Best part is if do not like it, I can scrape it off and do another since it is just rub ons.

Thanks again for stopping by. I just may try to post again tomorrow. Wouldn't want to become an overachiever. :)

Stamping for boys?

I don't have a lot of masculine stamps. I do have tool stamps but that does not work for 10 and 15 year old boys. So I went basic and kind of a wallet theme since they wanted money. These were super easy and I even made the envelopes. That is one large open end envelope cut in half and designer paper used to top and close it. I did not want too much work since I don't think these will be kept, but they had to have a little cool factor. Hope it goes over well with my sweet nephews! Such good boys!

What is my thing with birds?

I am actually not a bird fan. They freak me out. BUT, look at my two projects from last month's workshop. Geez, I did not even realize it until after. Even I can admit they are way cute. And maybe I do like owls a little. Just not in person.

I have my projects finished for the Halloween class coming up and I REALLY love them! No, I am not just saying it so you will sign up. But if you do want to come, see the post below and sign up ASAP.