A few cards

I was able to stamp a couple of cards over the last few days. My daughter has been busy playing Guitar Hero World Tour (to which she is grounded from that today because she didn't want to get up this morning but that is a different story), and my husband has been busy building more ink storage units (more on that later). So I was able to stamp. I looked in my birthday card box and saw that I hadn't made one for my father-in-law yet. His birthday is in a little over a week now, not to mention that they are coming to visit in a couple of days so having it for him when he gets here would be a good thing. So I went through my sets and found my favorite chef, Voila! Since my father-in-law likes to cook (dutch oven mostly, which his dutch oven is yummy! but that is off the point) I thought this would be perfect. I really had no clue what I was going for but I'm pretty sure this wasn't it.

Although I do still like it, it just wasn't quite what I had in mind. Maybe it's the cake colors that are throwing me off. I don't know. I paper pierced the zig zag pattern and the faux stitched using my BB marker from SU because I couldn't find a thread that matched. Stamp set: Voila (SU); Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Basic Gray (SU) PTI White; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Copic Markers, Crafter's Tool Kit, Bravo Burgundy Marker



Next came my Nephew David's card. He will be 5 next month and I wanted to do something different then what I have done for all the other nephews (I try to do an original card for each one if you couldn't tell, that's the joys of stamping.) I have done, frogs, pirates, cupcakes, fish, birds, etc. so I was kind of stumped. Then I looked at my Crazy for Cupcakes set (which the cupcake card that I did was for a nephew on my side of the family so technically I could have done a cupcake card for David). I saw the balloons and decided those would be perfect. Well, like I said, he will be 5, so I had to do 5 balloons.

The colors are off in this (sorry, still trying to get used to the new camera, oh, ya, I got a new camera!!, more on that later too) so the lighting is bad. I couldn't find my post-it-notes so I couldn't do actual masking so instead I stamped my 5 balloons and then colored 3 of them, then stamped the other two on another peice of CS and then colored and cut the balloon part out of each and peiced them over the original balloons. I know, it would have been easier to just find the post-it notes. (I have since found them, I cleaned my craft room yesterday). The ribbon is actually artichoke not black like in the picture. Stamps: Crazy for cupcakes, On Your Birthday (SU); Cardstock: Tempting Turqiouse, Only Orange (SU), PTI White; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Copic Markers, Ribbon

This last one (like so many of my cards) looked so much better in my head. But it still turned out o.k. I wanted to do faux framing cause I haven't done that technique in ages. So I cut out my template, laid it over the white card, sponged my ink and then stamped with my stamps. I did get a little of the ink from the stamps on the top of the card so I just covered up those oopsies by DTPing the top edge and added some ribbon. I also added a few brads and a sentiment as well.

Stamps: A Rose Is A Rose (SU); Cardstock: White (SU); Ink: Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Black (SU); Accessories: Ribbon, brads (SU)

I did make a recipe tin but I forgot to get a picture of that, I also did a scrapbook page but the pictures of that turned out not so good so I will retake that and take a picture of the tin and I will post those another day.

Now for the new camera news. Can't beleive I didn't mention this sooner. My sweet hubby knows I have been wanting a new camera. As you know a couple of months ago I went to Utah to see my family (most particularly my daughter who lives there with her dad). At the end of the visit I went down to Cedar City to visit most of my husband's family (his oldest brother and his family weren't there but everyone else was). My husband met me there and then we came back to NM together. Well while we were there another of my husband's brother's had his camera out and was taking family pictures of each of the individual families as a present for my mother-in-law. I got to use his camera to take some pictures of him and his wife together. It was so fun! It had the continuous shooting feature and was just a blast to use. The problem was, his camera (since he is a photography major) is expensive. Well, after much discussion and research we decided that a Canon Rebel Xsi was the way to go. It is a step up from what my brother-in-law has so yes, it was more expensive (it's actually the same camera he will be upgrading to very soon, and he is the one who recommended it). We found a great deal on Ebay for the camera and a bunch of accessories (to include lens, filters, tripods, etc.) for a little more then the retail price of the camera itself. The problem is, I hate spending money, ecspecially on myself. Well, my sweet husband decided to buy it for me. When I told him that we had already gotten our Christmas presents he said that it wasn't for Christmas, it was an early Valentine's Day gift to make up for all the occassions he has been gone for over the last 5 years (since he has been in the Army). Sweet huh? I love my new camera. I am still getting used to it and some of my pictures aren't the best lighting wise. But I'm getting the hang of it. *grin* Yes, I do have the best husband in the world! Speaking of him, I will post more on the additional ink storage units later. For now, I have to go bug my daughter more. She still hasn't gotten up. Ya, grounding her from the Wii for the day really worked....

Merry Christmas!

It has been a great Christmas. As my husband pointed out this morning at 10 a.m. when our daughter was still sleeping, this was the first Christmas in years where we were all together just the 3 of us. In fact, the last time was the 2nd year we were married. (We have been married for over 7 years now). Someone has always been gone on Christmas, whether it was my husband with a deployment, or my daughter being at her dad's (we share her on the holiday's normally). So it was great having all 3 of us here. Yesterday we had our Christmas dinner and then were getting ready to play a game. The neighbors came over so we had to postpone the game temporarily. While Jacob and I were talking to them Tammy decided that she was bored so she turned on Jeff Dunham's Christmas special (we DVR'ed it a few weeks ago). I walked in and this is what I saw, I just had to chuckle. In the background, our pretty tree, filled with family ornaments to include several nativity ornaments. In the foreground, Achmed. Nothing says Merry Christmas like Achmed The Dead Terrorist:

After we finished laughing our butts off we settled down to play a game. Clue Mysteries


The dog decided he needed to join us (he cracks me up!)




We also enjoyed the glow of our tree
I took this picture just for fun. It took forever for my daughter to decide to wake up, in fact we ended up waking her up at 10:15. (She fell asleep with her santa hat on for some reason, she's a teenager, I don't pretend to understand her)

Before we woke her up we made our Christmas breakfast of Cinnamon rolls. (we like things to be relaxed and easy on Christmas so it's Cinnamon rolls for Breakfast and leftovers throughout the day)

After everyone was awake and fed we opened presents.

Of course we started out with stockings. Speaking of which, Tammy loved her new one:



She kept rubbing it and commenting on how long it must have taken. I told her she was worth it. We decided to get the family a Wii this year and we each got a few other things as well. The only one that didn't know about the Wii is Tammy, so to start out the excitement we wrapped one of the controllers and put it in her stocking.

We spent the rest of the day playing games and napping. We also got to talk to some our loved ones on the phone. It really was a good day. I hope everyone else had a fabulous day.

For now, it is bedtime so A Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

150+hours, 2 months of work, an it's finally done!

If you are a regular reader of my blog you know that I have been working on a stocking for my daughter. The stocking is cross-stitched and very detailed. It took over 150+ hours, and 2 months. But I am finally done! YAY! Just wanted to share some quick pictures of it.

I have posted this before but thought I would again. The pattern came from this book that I got at Hobby Lobby. It has 15 of the most gorgeous cross-stitched stocking patterns I have ever seen.

And now for my daughter's stocking. (I used the font pattern from another of the stockings because I used my daughter's actual name and not her nickname so if I had used the font that was for this stocking it wouldn't have fit in the area allowed (it was a scroll type font) I am going to use the font for all of our stockings actually.

And a detailed shot

And a pic of the back (so it's not the whole back but a detailed shot. Gonna use this same fabric for all of our stockings)

I am going to take some time out of cross-stiching and then in a month or so I will start on my hubby's stocking. Not bad for my first stocking though.

ETA: I had a question about the stocking so I figured I would answer here so if anyone else was curious they could see the answer too. The question was whether I used a premade pattern and if they sell those. I actually bought a book that has patterns and then cross-stitched it. Then I cut around the finished pattern and sewed it from there. It is fully lined as well. It was actually easier then I thought. However you can find some stocking kits with all the peices. They are about $30 normally and can be found at most craft stores. I couldn't find any this year so that is why I bought the book.
Thanks for the sweet comments everyone. My daughter actually hasn't seen it yet. I am going to wrap it and put in her old stocking for Christmas. Get it? Her new stocking is a stocking stuffer. LOL I crack myself up!

Been awhile since I posted a cake

So it has been a while since I have posted a cake that I have done. It has actually been a while since I have done a cake at all. O.k. not totally true. I made a couple of cakes for a Christmas party at church a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't take pictures of them.

But tonight is the Christmas party for my husbands company. A bunch of drunken soldiers. What a fabulous time it will be! *rolling my eyes*

Anyhow, I signed up to bring a cake and when the 1SG (First Sergeant) found out I was bringing one and that my husband had signed up to bring something as well he said that no matter what, I had to bring the cake. *blush* He has apparently heard about my cakes and he is anxious to try it.


A couple of weeks ago I bought some disposable cake pans and one of them had a picture of this cute snowman cake. So I used that as my inspiration. The "snow" is covered with edible cake glitter sprinkles. Because of the sunken cake pan I couldn't use my letter press set for the writting so this was done freehand.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Look what my honey made me!!

So a few weeks ago I posted the new ink storage that my husband made me. It was not completely finished at the time. He still had to build the drawers for the bottom. In the meantime I was looking for marker storage for my SU markers and my Copics. Well, the one thing that I found that I would like the best were these Xcubes from Office Depot. I know several people who have them and they work really well, not to mention look nice. My problem was that I wanted something to match my ink storage. Reason being, when we buy a house next year I want to be able to over time build my dream craft room. The cabinetry in that room will be white, which is why my ink storage is white. So I wanted my marker storage to be white. I guess clear cubes would be close enough, but I still wasn't satisfied. So I showed my husband the Xcubes. On my birthday last week he surprised me with this:

They are very similar to the Xcubes but are made out of wood and painted white to match my ink storage. There are 8 cubes in all, 4 on each side of the storage. The great thing about this is that I can put them in any configuration that I want because they are 8 seperate peices. I don't have enough to fill all 8. I told my husband that, and his response was, he planned it that way. That way I have room to put new markers as I get them. What a husband!

As if that wasn't enough, this last weekend my honey had time to make the drawers for the ink storage unit.

As you can see the ink refills just nestle nicely in there. There are 4 drawers in all, one for each SU color family. Perfect!

So what does the entire unit, refill storage, ink storage and marker storage look like?

Seriously! How awesome is that? I am so completely thrilled! Don't you love it?! I know I do!! It turned out so much better then I imagined! Thank you honey!!

ETA: (August 8, 2009) Because we are getting ready to move in a few weeks and have to get our new home ready for our ammended home study for our adoption (nope, haven't been chosen yet, just trying to get the word out, hopefully soon though!) we have decided to temp. stop selling these units. If you would like to be put on a list to be contacted when we do start selling them again, or if you would like pricing information, contact us: crownscreations at yahoo dot com.

A card, a Stocking, a Ball, and a tree

A few months ago my husband went to my daughter and told her that he wanted to give me a hand made card for my birthday but asked her if she could make it (since she loves to do that kind of thing and he really doesn't.). She excitedly said o.k. The other day my hubby handed me the card. I love it! She is becoming quite the stamper! She used the Grumpabella from Stampin Bella along with some Gable Green and Orchid Opulence CS (cause purple and green are my favorite colors) and colored the bella (the robe is turqiouse which is her favorite color. hehe) and she added some light green brads. The sentiment is from It's Your Birthday (SU).

I had absolutely no clue, which is saying something because neither of them can keep a secret. It was a pleseant surprise and I love it!

Speaking of my daughter, as you know I have been working on Cross-Stitching Christmas Stockings for the last little while. I haven't made a huge amount of progress on T's, but it's getting there. I haven't been able to work on it as much as I would like but that should change soon. I would really like to have her's done by this Christmas.

And a shot of the details so you can see what it is taking me so long!

So anyhow, last night was the 8th Anniversary of my first date with my hubby (he actually remembered that, not me. I knew that our first date was on the 5th of Dec. but yesterday for whatever reason it didn't click that yesterday was the day. I know, I'm brilliant, aren't I?) So anyhow, where we live does a Holiday Ball every year for those that live here and since our unit just got here we were included. J got dressed up in his dress greens (similar to Class A's but instead of the green shirt and tie it is a white shirt and bow tie) and I did my hair and makeup and put on a nice gown and we went to a ball. It was a lot of fun and a great way to spend the anniversary of our first date. On our first date we went to dinner and played miniature golf afterwards. We doubles with his brother and his brothers wife (who also happens to be my friend, she is how hubby and I met). This picture was taken at our house just before the ball last night. We did get a professional photo taken there but we won't get those for several weeks.

And just for kickers, I thought I would post a pic of our Christmas tree this year. It doesn't look as good as what it has in years past, but still not bad. That and we got a new tree this year, not sure we like it. We'll see.

One Layer Christmas Cards

On SCS there is a thread about Easily Mass Produced, Flat, Wow Factor Christmas cards. I was reading it and came across this link posted by AmyR. Her cards are GORGEOUS! Just screaming to be CASE'd. Who am I to ignore the call so here is my version.

Even though I have the Snowflakes set (it is one of my all time favs. and always will be), I wanted to use Snow Swirled. I started off by stamping the larger of the snowflakes in Elegant Eggplant (stamped off on Scratch paper once) onto my Whisper White CS. Then I stamped the snowflake just smaller in Elegant Eggplant as well. (This time not stamped off.) Next I stamped the sentiment in the lower right hand corner using Versamark and poored my Silver Embossing Powder and heat set that. For the inside I stamped the sentiment using Elegant Eggplant, next stamped the snowflake (stamped off twice) and then the smaller snowflakes (stamped off once). I love how these turned out. Thank you Amy for the inspiration!

I had so much fun creating those that I couldn't stop stamping. So I looked at my sets and my eyes fell on Riley. Riley needed to be used on a card. I stamped Carrying Tree Riley (from Hanna Stamps) onto the Whisper White CS using black ink. Then I colored him with my Copic Markers. Stamped the sentiment on the bottom (sentiment from SU hostess set Best Yet) I'm not sure how mass produceable these are unless you really like coloring, but I made 5 in about an hour, with a phone call and a visitor at the door in that hour. So not too bad. I'm still getting the hang of my copics, but I think I'm getting there. I did have to put a peice of cardstock on the back of the fronts because of the seep through that you get with Copics. I haven't gotten any of the Gina K paper yet, but I will. Then I won't have the seep through issue. Until then, cardstock on the back works.

All of these cards are so much better in person. Sorry for the bad pictures. We really need a new camera.....

The BIG 3-0!

A couple of months ago my friend Shelly posted on her blog saying that according to her kids she is now officially old because she had just turned the BIG 3-0! I told her that must mean I wasn't old yet because I hadn't turned 30 yet. hehehe

Well, I can no longer brag that I am not old, because today I turned the BIG 3-0! That's right, at 12:12 this morning I officially turned 3o! And you know what? So far I love being 30!

I spent the morning shopping. I had to find a new tree topper for our Christmas tree because the one we had is broken. I also bought some cute ornaments. I was tempted to buy a bunch of Green and Purple ornaments because they had some gorgeous ones there. Purple with gold swirly patterns on them. Gorgeous! And of course if I get Purple I have to get Green too. So I almost ended up with a Purple and Green Tree. But I opted not to go completely off my rocker and just bought some other cute ones to add to our already large ornament collection.

I then went to Hobby Lobby to look around and would you beleive, I didn't find a thing! O.k. so I did buy some Gum Paste for cake decorating, but other then that I didn't get anything. *shock*

I went to the mall too to try to find a wrap for my dress that I am wearing to the ball on Friday night but I couldn't find anything that wasn't gaudy and horrible, or would have made me look like I was way older them I am. (Explain to me why retailers think that plus size women want to look like they are 60 years old?)

I then came home after getting Subway for lunch and after a couple of hours of resting (cause I was worn out after all the mall walking, seriously, I walked everywhere in that dang mall, some of the stores I searched twice)

When I was rested I decided to try to break this stampers block I have had. After all, it's Dec. and I haven't done my Christmas cards yet. Can you say, procrastination?

I figure if you are still with me I should treat you to some cards right? So, here are the fruits of my labors today. I got the Snow Swirled set when I got my large order of goodies a couple of months ago. I haven't been able to figure this set out. I keep running into road blocks where the cards that I make look o.k. but not good enough. I think.... I think I broke through that road block today. What do you think?

This first one I did for the Color Challenge on SCS today. The colors are Sahara Sand, Basic Black and Very Vanilla. I looked through the gallery of samples of cards that had already been done and noticed that some of the ladies did Christmas cards. I was really struck by how elegant these were using this color combo. So I decided to give it a try. First I stamped the different snowflakes randomly onto the Sahara Sand using Black ink. Then I punched the bottom of the peice using the Scallop Edge Punch. I mounted it onto a Basic Black card base. Then it was onto the main image. I stamped the tree using black ink onto the Very Vanilla cardstock and then mounted it to more Basic Black. It needed something so I paper pierced around the edge using my crafter's tool kit. Sadly I don't have any black ribbon so I needed to improvise. I used a peice of black cardstock and paper pierced the edges and mounted that. Then before placing the main image I stamped the sentiment on a peice of Very Vanilla and mounted that. I added the main image with dimensionals. I am so pleased with how this one turned out. I am going to create more and this will be one of my cards for this year.

The other design I came up with was a headache and a half. I have been wanting to do a white and gold card with an embossed gold tree. After 4 dismal attempts I came up with this one. My hubby doesn't like it. He thinks it's too busy. I like it. I embossed part of the card base using my cuttlebug. The main image is embossed with gold powder on Shimmery white cardstock and mounted on gold. Gold ribbon was added. The colors are off in this picture. The gold embossed tree and the gold cardstock don't look as gray in real life.

I will share my daughters stocking tomorrow. It's not done, but coming along nicely. For now it's time to go to the store with my hubby who is going to make me a nice dinner tonight. We are going to eat and decorate the tree while we watch a Christmas movie. *grin*

Favorites and facts

A couple of weeks ago my friend Shelly did this on her blog, it was meant to be a tag but seeing as how she had just done the random facts tag she decided to make it a fun post. I thought it looked like so much fun I wanted to do it too.

So here we go......

Favorite Vacation- When we went home right after my husband came home from Iraq (in between Iraq and Afghanistan deployments). We went to visit for 3 weeks and we got to see so many of our friends and family. Not everyone we would have liked to, but most everyone. While we were there we also went and stayed in the same room at the same bed & breakfast where we spent our honeymoon. It was a great vacation. We haven't been to any places like Disney or anything, but hopefully next year after we get out of the Army.

Favorite color(s)- If you know me at all, you know my favorite colors are Purple and Green. Our wedding colors were purple and green (with white thrown in), most of the rooms in my house are purple and green. Love the combo!

Favorite Treat- I would have to say anything with peanut butter and chocolate combined. I am allergic to most nuts, but I can have peanuts (cause they aren't actually a nut) and thank goodness, cause I love me some peanut butter and chocolate.

Favorite Fruit- Granny Smith Apples

Little Known fact about me- I love antiques, I actually have a lot, and would love to collect more. Oh, and I collect Antique colord glass pitchers, and vases. My favorite peice is a purple vase that my mom gave me for Mother's day a few years ago.

Traveling- I would love to go to Ireland. I don't know why, I have just always wanted to. What's funny is that my husband has always wanted to go to Ireland as well. We are thinking of saving up our money and going when my daughter gets out of high school as a graduation gift to her. We'll see.

Where I grew up- Most of my growing up was done in Maryland and Utah. I was born in Texas, lived for a little while in California, then it was on to Germany, then to Maryland until I was 13 when my parents divorced and we moved to Utah.

Where I live now- New Mexico, for the next hopefully less then a year and then my hubby will have completed his Army service and we can move back home to Utah.

Middle name- It starts with an M. That's all you're getting, sorry!

First Name- Sharon

Biggest Pet Peeve- There are so many to choose from. Right now it would have to be people who get angry at someone and then won't tell that person why they are angry, they just hold a grudge for forevah! But yet, they will tell me why they are angry.

Favorite Animal- Of course my dog! Although while I was growing up we had a miniture Lassie dog named Dusty who comes as a close second, but my favorite is of course my Sirius.

Past Love- I was watching my DVD's of Charmed (favorite TV show btw) the other day and I watched the series finale'. In it, there is a line that perfectly sums up my answer to this one. "While I had loved before, I had never really known love until I met" my hubby of course! I had boyfriends before I met my husband, and yes, some of them I even had a love for, but my first and only real love is my husband.

My greatest wish- Is that we can get our van paid off by the time we buy a house so that our only debt will be the house.

I've been tagged.... twice!

I was tagged a couple of weeks ago by my friend Shelly. I have known Shelly for years and years. Wow, that makes us sound old. We met while we were in Jr. High about 16+ years ago. Crazy how time flies.
Anyhow, Shelly's tag was to list 8 random facts about myself.
I was also tagged the other day by Robyn. Robyn and I met at church back in Kansas a couple of years ago. Robyn's tag was to list 6 random facts about myself.
I'm not sure if I can come up with 14 total random facts, so I am just going to combine the two. I'm not going to tag anyone back, just do this if you want to k!

1. I'm double jointed, in fact my pinky on my right hand can bend at the first knuckle without bending the rest of the finger. It's kind of gross.

2. I played the flute for a year and a half in elementary school. (In fact, that's how I learned about the pinky thing, I went to go play the last note at the end of the flute and my pinky wouldn't bend except at that first knuckle.

3. I have never read the Twilight books, and don't really plan to. I may see the movie someday but I'm not in any hurry.

4. Speaking of books made into movies, I didn't start reading the Harry Potter books until I saw the 1st movie. My SIL and Aunt took me to go see it on opening night and kept teasing me before the movie started about being a muggle. I loved the movie so much that I went home and told my hubby that we had to get the books. Both hubby and I have been hooked ever since. Thanks Andrea and Lisa!

5. I love to cook, but my husband loves to cook more, so he does most of the cooking in our house.

6. I haven't made a cake since my friends Chelsea had me do her daughter's 1st birthday cake and that was many months ago. I really need to make one again. Gotta keep the skills up.

7. I hate large crowds, I get panic attacks when I am around a lot of people that I don't know. To include traffic, when I am in heavy traffic I get panic attacks so bad that I hyperventilate.

8. I love looking at houses for sale online. Even though it is still at least 9 months before we move back home and buy a house but I love to look and see what's out there and dream about our future home.

O.k. so there are those two tags, combined. That was harder then I thought! Like I said I am not going to tag anyone else. Just do this if you want.

New Ink Pad Storage

I have been looking and looking for ink pad storage for my SU ink pads. I haven't been able to find what I wanted anywhere. I have found things that were close, but nothing that was exactly what I wanted. So my hubby and I sat down a couple of weeks ago and I told him what it was that I was wanting, he came up with a proto-type, that sort of worked but not quite, it needed to be tweaked, so we tweaked the design and came up with something else. He can only spend a couple of hours here and there so it took him a couple of weeks. Not to mention that it is a lot, LOT of repeatitive cutting. It's not finished yet, he is going to add drawers to the bottom that will fit my ink refills, but other then that it is perfect!

This beauty will hold 60 ink pads, and once finished will have room for 48 ink refills in the drawers (the drawers could be used for other things of course, but I want to use them for my ink refills). I am so happy with the finished product. I asked for it to be white because when we buy a house and get to put together my dream craft room, all the cabinetry in there will be white so I wanted it to fit right in. I am going to have him build marker storage for my SU markers and Copic markers as well, but those will wait. He is going to the drawers for this unit next (I will post pictures of the final product then), and then he will build a few other peices he has been wanting to do for other parts of the house. I was just so excited about my ink storage that I had to share.

What I have been working on

I have been mentioning that I have been working on a project for a couple of weeks now. Well, I still am, every chance I get pretty much, but I'm still not finished. I was going to wait till I was done to post a picture, but I figured I would go ahead and post anyway and show the progress so far. For any of you who have ever cross-stitched you know how time consuming and teadious it can be. Well, this is no exception but with it slowly taking shape, I am so excited and can't wait to finish it.


For a couple of years now I have been wanting to make cross-stitched Christmas stockings for my family. I have been looking and looking for patterns, I have found some that were so so, and some that were not so, well... so so. And some that were pretty, and some not so pretty. But none that really spoke to me as being just right for my loved ones. That was until I was at Hobby Lobby with my sweetie one day and I came across this book of patterns by Donna Kooler:

Seriously, it is worth every penny! All of the stockings are just stunning, and there are patterns that are perfect fits for us all. In fact, there are 3 that I like and I am having a hard time choosing which one I want. I decided to start on my daughter's stocking first. She loves cats! Always has, always will I'm sure. She is only 13 but has already decided that she is never going to get married or have kids. She is going to grow up, buy a house "on the corner" and will have tons of cats. And she will be the "old bitty cat lady" that all the kids in the neighborhood are afraid of. Bahahahaha! She told me this a few years ago and it still makes me laugh.

Anyhow, I saw this adorable pattern in the book for a stocking of cats. There is a stair case wrapped all in ribbons and garland, with cats sitting on the bannister, and step. There are even a few Christmas Presents sitting on the floor by the bannister and there are cats sitting on the boxes as well. It's too fun, and my daughter loves the pattern! So here you can see the right side of the stocking. (I'm about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way done with the stocking now) You can see a few steps, the bottom part of the bannister, some Christmas garland, a couple cats and a blanket on the floor. What do you think? This is of course with no backstitching yet, I will do all of the backstitching at the same time when I am completely done with everything else.

I definately won't have all three done by this Christmas, possibly will have this one done, but as for mine and my hubby's, those definately won't be done, but I will have them all done by next year which will be nice since hopefully by then we will be back in Utah, and hopefully will have just bought a new house!

A quick post

Just wanted to quickly share a card that I did late last night when I couldn't sleep. I have been sick lately so I slept till almost noon yesterday. So needless to say I couldn't sleep last night. What better to do when you can't sleep? I worked a little on a project I am doing (eventually I will get it done and will be able to show you all) and I also made this card to send to a friend for Thanksgiving. I used the Voila set again cause the last Thanksgiving card done with this set turned out so cute. I also wanted a chance to use my Copic markers again. I apologize for the bad picture. This card is so cute in person.

Supplies: Stamps- Voila, Voila To Go, Holidays & Wishes; Cardstock- Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, White; Ink- Black; Accessories- Copics, Gingham Ribbon.

Oh, and the project I have been working on is cross-stitched stockings. I have been wanting to make them for years and just this year found the perfect patterns for my loved ones. So right now I am working on my daughters stocking. She loves cats and this stocking has cats all over it. It's turning out nicely. It's very detailed though so it is taking me awhile. Hopefully I will be done in the next couple of weeks and can show you before I start my hubby's stocking. I won't have all three of ours done before this Christmas, but I will have them for next Christmas when we are all together in our own house back home.

A couple of challenges... card challenges that is!

I did a couple more the of the challenges on SCS this week. I did the WT challenge on Thursday where the item we were challenged to use was watercolor paper. Seriously, this is no challenge for me as I love to watercolor. (as if you couldn't tell right?) So for this one I decided to make a Thanksgiving card. Actually it started out with me turning around to look at my stamp sets, seeing the Voila set, realizing I hadn't used that one in ages and deciding to go with that. So I pulled out Voila, and Voila to Go. I saw that Voila to Go has a Turkey that you can put on the chef's tray from Voila. Hence, Thanksgiving card.

So for this card I watercolored the image using watercolor pencils and my aquapainter. Then I mounted it onto Black CS. I decided to machine zigzag sew around it cause I didn't want to hand sew it. I messed up on one side so I just cut that side off and mounted the peice on the edge of the card. But not until I sewed the card base. I used a flower just cause it needed something. And there you have it!

Supplies: Stamps- Voila, Voila To Go, Holidays and Wishes; Cardstock; Really Rust, More Mustard, Basic Black, Watercolor Paper; Ink- Staz-On Black; Accessories- Watercolor Pencils, Aquapainter, Sewing Machine, Black Thread, Flower, Brad

I also decided to try my hand at the LSC challenge for Friday. The Limits we were given on this challenge was that we couldn't use and rubber stamps. We had to use Acrylic. Well, I just received some fabulous orders of Acrylic stamps this week of course, so this one was easy for me. I decided to go with the Who's That E-Girl set from MFT. I also received my Copic Marker order yesterday so I used those as well. This was my first time using Copics by myself. My only other time was at Jody's house with her teaching me what to do, which it's been a while since then. I still have some learning to do, but it's not bad. I love to paper peice this particular stamp. This time I paper peiced the skirt. The paper I chose for the skirt was the gorgeous Porcelian Prints from SU. The colors just happen to be Blue and Green. In fact, Not Quite Navy and Certainly Celery which just happen to be two of the colors for the Color Challenge on Splitcoast that I did a card for earlier in the week. So this card happened to fit in that challenge too. I realized this halfway through. Although I did color the laptop red so I added a red flower behind the image (a trick I learned from Jody) just for pops of color. So it isn't completely within the color challenge, but close enough. I made this card with a particular friend in mind. I hope she likes it.

Supplies: Stamps- Who's That E-Girl (MFT); Cardstock- Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy, Basic Gray, White; Ink- Momento Cocoa Ink; Accessories- Copic Markers, Flower, Brad

Who's That E Girl?

So yesterday I told you about my fabulous mail day in which I received my Hanna order, AND my MFT order! The only thing that would have made it better would be if I received my Copic order too. But that is on it's way. (The Copics are my early birthday present. *grin*)


Anywho, yesterday I posted my Hanna creations but couldn't post my MFT creations because I ran out of time. My hubby called about the upcoming ball so I had to find a dress. Well, as you all know I am in the process of losing weight and I didn't want to pay a lot for a dress that was going to be too big for me soon. After 3 hours of hunting online for a modest, plus size ball gown, that wouldn't break the bank, I was frustrated and wanted to give up. I was talking to my mom and she suggested that I try on the dress that my friend Jenn gave me for a ball a few years ago (Jenn lost a bunch of weight and the dress didn't fit her anymore). So I tried that on thinking it wouldn't fit because I have gained a little weight (read 20 lbs.)since then. Well, guess what? It fits! The zipper needs to be fixed (it's an invisible zipper and don't those always need to be fixed?) so I sent the dress off to my mom today to be fixed and she will send it back and then I will have that to wear to the ball. Hey, it's a new state, new unit, I can wear the same dress right?


Anyhow, sorry, got sidetracked there. So on to my MFT cards. Several weeks ago when I went to my friend Jody's house I got to stamp with some of her stuff. I was immediately hooked on MFT (My Favorite Things) stamps. Well, last week MFT released the cutest stamp set and when I showed my hubby he insisted that I had to get it. (O.k. so all the sets released are adorable, but this particular one is my favorite) The set is called Who's That E Girl? Adorable right? So who am I to argue with my hubby? I bought it immediately after it was released. Here is what I made with it:
The Yummy ribbon on this first card is from Jody. If you haven't done one of her ribbon shares yet you have to.

Supplies: Stamps- Who's The E Girl (MFT); Cardstock- Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, White, Ski Slope DP; Ink- Black; Accessories- Markers, Brads, Ribbon

This second card looked better in my head then it actually does as a card. I hate it when that happens.

Supplies: Stamps-Who's That E Girl (MFT); Cardstock- Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, White, Bali Breeze DP; Ink- Black; Accessories- Crafter's Tool Kit, Ribbon

Seriously, this set is a must have for any stamper who frequents online.

Off to go create some more. *grin*

Fabulous Mail Day!

Today was a fabulous Mail day! I received my very first Hanna Stamps order, AND my very first My Favorite Things order. I am so excited! From Hanna I ordered the new B Is For Baby set. I have been looking everywhere for a cute baby set, but every set I have seen has only had a couple of images that I liked and I didn't want to buy the sets for 1 or 2 images. Well, when I saw this one I knew I had to have it because each and every one of the images is just that perfect. I also order my very first Riley stamp. My friend Amanda is on the design team for Hanna Stamps and she always does just adorable Riley cards. So I decided that it was time to get a Riley of my very own. I got the Carrying Tree Riley. Here are my very first Hanna cards:

This first card I did for today's Sketch challenge on SCS. I had a hard time with this sketch, but it didn't turn out too badly I guess.

Supplies: Stamps- B Is For Baby (Hanna Stamps); Cardstock- Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Certainly Celery DSP, White; Ink- Black; Accessories- Markers, Crafter's Tool Kit, Needle, Thread, Ribbon

Carrying Tree Riley is just too cute for words. I had a good time with this card. The sentiment on this card is from the Winter Cheer set from TAC.

Supplies: Stamps- Carrying Tree Riley (Hanna Stamps), Winter Cheer (TAC); Cardstock- Old Olive, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Dashing DP; Ink- Black; Colored Pencils, Ribbon, Brads

I will share my MFT creations (I love how they turned out!) with you tomorrow. For now, my hubby just called and said we have a military ball coming up in a few weeks so I have to find a dress. Till tomorrow!

Playin' with my new stuff

I have been sick off and on since returning from vacation and last night was the first that I actually felt o.k. I still have a stuffy nose and I have been coughing a lot, but other then that I'm good. So last night I decided to play with some of my new goodies. (I put in a large SU order just before leaving for SL so it was waiting for me when I got home.) So here is what I created with just some of what I got.

I got a couple of Christmas sets, and, well, it's that time of year. The time of year where we stampers start getting Christmas cards made. So I decided last night I would make some Christmas cards to see if I liked them enough to semi mass produce them. For those of you who don't know, I don't make just 1 type of card each year. I get bored making the same card 40+ times. So I normally make 4 or 5 designs with up to 10 of each design. Here is the products of last nights stamping:

This first one I did using Snow Swirled. I have had this idea in my head for several days now. I have to say it looked better in my head then it does in actual card form. *sigh*

Supplies: Stamps- Snow Swirled; Cardstock- Dashing DP, Garden Green, Real Red, White; Ink- Black, Stampin Write Markers (Garden Green & Real Red); Crafters Tool Kit, Sewing Machine, Red ribbon, brads

This one wasn't done using a Christmas Set. It was done using Window Dressing which is a level 3 hostess set in the current catty. When I started this card I had no clue what it would end up looking like. It's not half bad actually. I used a gray watercolor pencil and an aquapainter around the outside of each of the snowmen to give them a shaded effect.

Supplies: Stamps- Very Best, Window Dressing; Cardstock- Glorious Green, Real Red, White; Ink- Black; Accessories- Watercolor Pencils, Aquapainter, ribbon, scallop edge punch

Now this one, this one is my favorite. I used the Big On Christmas set which I have been wanting for a while now. I just love how it turned out. I don't know how well you can see it, but I used the Snowflakes embossing folder and my cuttlebug on the Real Red peice and I paper pierced around the focal image on the Bashful Blue peice. If I did mass produce 40+ cards of 1 design, this would be the one for this Christmas.
Supplies: Stamps- Big On Christmas; Cardstock- Bashful Blue, Real Red, White; Ink- Black, Accessories- Markers, Aquapainter, Crafters Tool Kit, Ribbon, Brads, Cuttlebug and EF.

I also looked through my birthday card box and realized that my nephew Jacen has a birthday coming up. I never made him a card because I didn't have a set that fit him in my opinion. Well, in my box of goodies that I ordered I got the SU set Crazy for Cupcakes. So I decided to make Jacen a cupcake birthday card. I brushed stickles on the icing just for fun.

Supplies: Stamps- Crazy For Cupcakes; Cardstock- Tempting Turqiouse, Pumpkin Pie, DP from Party Peices SS kit, White; Ink- Black; Access.- Crafter's Tool Kit, Needle, Thread, Stickles, Brush, Colored Pencils.

In making this birthday card for Jacen I ended up squeezing too much of the stickles out so rather then wasting it I decided to whip up some more Christmas Cards. This time I used Frosty, which I got just before the end of the last catalog season. I used some blank window cards that I was sent in a package a while ago. I ended up making several of these. You can't tell in the pic but frosty is completely covered in stickles as is the ground.

Supplies: Stamps- Frosty; Cardstock- premade blank Window cards; Ink- Black, Brilliant Blue; Accessories- stickles, brush, colored pencils