Hello There!

I am so happy that I can get beautiful BROWN glitter from Stampin' Up! I was so excited when I was reading the colors of the new glitter packs!! The Fine Supernova glitter pack comes with chocolate, olive, orange, pink, and aqua glitter...delicious!! So, the desire to use my new chocolate glitter-and the fact that I also got the new sweet sticky cuts-turned on my motivation for this card!

I started with a chocolate chip card for my base. In my need to play with new toys, I ran my kiwi kiss layer through the Big Shot with one of my new Stampin' Up! backgrounds texture plates! I love the big polka dots and little polka dots...how great to get two textures on one plate!! I love that the plates are such a big size--about 5x7" so it allows you to get all or part of your paper embossed, and I love the ability you have to choose how much of your paper to emboss! I only did the right 1/2 of this kiwi layer. I tied the kiwi layer with some chocolate taffeta ribbon...love. For my flower, I layered one of the sticky cut flowers on chocolate chip cardstock sprinkled it with glitter, then cut the flower out. My kiwi stem is part of the branch from the Cheep Talk stamp set. I did't want the leaves, so I just omitted that part of the stamp when I was inking...one of the great things the SU ink pads allow you to do! I stamped the kiwi kiss branch (stem)on ww cardstock, then determined where I wanted my sentiment-also form the Cheep Talk stamp set-and stamped the sentiment. The last step was to attach my flower with a dimensional.

We've been busy with Grandma and Grandpa--just finished a great lunch downtown Munich--at Hard Rock Cafe. We were talking about where to go, and my 6 yr. old son said, "let's go to Hard Rock Cafe, that is my FAVORITE place to eat Grandpa--it's really rockin'!" It was fun...isn't that such a fun place!? Makes me feel at home...no matter where in the world you are!!

Thanks for stopping by...have a super day!!

Color Challenge 206

I'm SO excited...I just got my first order of new stuff from Stampin' Up! I've got some delicious new treats...isn't that so fun!? I know a lot of you already have a bundle of the new fun, so I'm happy to have finally gotten them!

I decided to start my new catalog fun with one of my FAVORITE new sets! Cheep Talk is such a fun new set! I love the bold images...and I {heart} the birds! The branch of this one is also really wonderful! I decided to try my hand at the color challenge from SCS last week, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, and More Mustard. I started the fun by stamping the branch in Kiwi Kiss ink on WW paper. I then inked the little birdie in Rose Red and placed on the branch. I used my versamarker(another of my FAVORITE things!) to color in the body and tail of the bird, and then sprinkled with clear embossing powder and heat set it with my heat tool. I took the sentiment "thanks so much" from the Trendy Trees stamp set...another one I LOVE! I stamped it with Rose Red in, punched it out with my loarge oval punch and then mounted it on a Rose Red 1" circle that I punched out. I layered those two pieces to a Die Cut Blooms Again Kiwi flower. I mounted my main image on more mustard and then again on Rose Red. My card is More Mustard and covered with a layer of Kiwi Kiss designer paper and then my birdie layer. I mounted my sentiment flower onto the card with dimensionals. The last detail on this birdie was a couple of Flower Fusion felt flowers with mustard brads.

We're getting ready for my parents to arrive tomorrow morning! They are so great, they wanted to "sneak" one more trip in before we move home! We are all SO excited! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great day!!

Quick Birthday Gift

As we were walking into the school today, we met my daughters friend Sophia who walked in with us. As we were saying hello, she mentioned that today was her birthday! We wished her a happy birthday and then she went to her class and Lucy went to hers. I came home and wanted to whip a little something up for her...so I looked through my stash of "alterable" items...and this fun little notebook came alive! I also have a little set of "blendy pens" that I'll attach with ribbon and give her as a little something.
I always keep my eye out of "good" notebooks. By "good" ones that have a good sturdy cover-not necessarily cardstock-but a good cover and a fun size. I grabbed a handful of these notebooks a couple of weeks ago, just to have on hand, and I just finished altering the last one, so I'll look for more today during my shopping.

To alter the notebook, for the front cover I like to line the top, right side and bottom edges with 2 sided sticky tape. I like to put a line of tape down the spine of the notebook, and then for the back cover, down the top, side and bottom again. For these I used the scor-tape from scor-pal.com. It is WONDERFUL tape, holds really well, you can buy different widths and it is a great price!

I love this paper..it's from the Cupid's candy shop line by SEI. These are colors that my daughter really loves...and she'll be so happy to come home and find a notebook just for her! She always asks, "is that for me mom?" I do make her quite a bit of stuff, but she'll be super excited today!

I lined the notebooks with paper, trimed the edges with scissors, then decided to use my American Crafts rub-ons for the names. I pulled out my long rectangle nestabilities for Sophia's name plate, I used the regular and scalloped long rectangles. For Lucy's name plate, I used the labels 1 nestabilities. **I'm so happy that I made the pluge and bought my Big Shot!! I really do use it almost daily...it is SUCH a great tool!**

The flowers from American Crafts and Prima. The photo doesn't show really well, but in the middle of Sophia's flower, there is a little yellow circle with a black "S" in in...from SEI. Lucy's flower just has a fun random button.

Don't you the having the ability to make fun things?! It is so fun to give handmade-personalized gifts..it makes me so happy!

I hope you all have a great day! Today starts of "ski-week" for us, so no school next week, but my parents are coming Tuesday..YEA!! We are all so excited!! Have a great one and thanks for stopping by!!

Simple Circles

Hello Friends! Hope you are all doing great! We've been enjoying some REALLY cold winter weather! Snow, Ice, the whole enchilada! It's been very exciting! My kids were so happy to have enough snow for a snowman!

So, I've kept myself warm and busy...working on fun projects! I've got some assignments that I'm working on...but this card was 100% for fun! I had some of this great paper out on my desk and wanted to make a quick note for my sweet friend that came for a visit yesterday.
The card is a wonky size, but since I won't be mailing it, that's fine by me!:) I started with chocolate chip...of course! I attached a strip of the paper from chatterbox and then used some rubons to make the little white circle lines. I then took a piece of riding hood red ribbon and tied it round! I ran some riding hood red paper through the Big Shot with my swiss dots embossing folder and then punched a 1 3/8" circle with my punch. I then punched a 1 1/4" pink pirouette circle and a 1" chocolate chip circle. I used the white friend rub-on for my sentiment...and then mounted the circles. The one with the "friend" sentiment on it is was mounted with dimensionals. Now I'm trying to decide the perfect little "treat" to go along with it...maybe a good chocolate bar...yum!

I hope you have a great day! Thanks so much for stopping by!!

LAD Sketch

This week's LAD sketch, which you can find in the LAD forum here, is one that I'm sure will be referred to again and again. Stripes of patterned paper make this one a snap! And, it is a good sketch for using up little scraps of the paper you love!
I stared with a white card base, which I know you can't see really well...sorry! The next layer is Baja Breeze. I then cut three coordinating papers (retired SU paper) and taped them to my Baja Breeze layer. I stamped my cute little duck, from the LAD Nursery set and colored it in with an aqua painter and pink pirouette ink. Then I stamped the little sentiment under it. I colored the beak with a saffron marker. I then punched the little image out with my 1 3/8" circle punch and mounted it on a Kiwi Kiss scalloped circle. I attached it to my card with dimensionals and then outlined the duck with diamond stickles. I tied the bottom of the Baja Breeze layer with some pink pirouette ribbon...love that stuff! For the final detail, I attached the Baja Beeze layer with dimensionals to the white card base, for some added dimension!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! We're all so happy...we're FINALLY getting real snow!! It's been snowing all day...yea!! Have a super one!!

OCC Sketch

I am so happy for this Monday...everyone is healthy!! I'm hoping to get a few projects finished up this week...I've missed my paper and stamps! I'm not alone in that am I? Anyway, hope you are all doing well! I got an email from the OCC blog that had this fun sketch to try, so I thought I'd take a few minutes and get aquainted with my paper and such again! I LOVE this raspberry tart paper...it is DELICIOUS! Each design is great...if you don't have it yet, yes, you do need it!
I did something that I am so proud of me for...I used pearles from my pretties kit! I've used the flowers before(and this one if also from the pretties kit) but I'm SO happy to have finally busted out the pearls! It felt really good, and I'm really getting better and using what I have...no more hoarding here!:)

So, I started with a Kiwi Kiss Card. I layerd two pieces of Raspberry Tart paper for the background. I wrapped the card with a piece of kiwi kiss ribbon, just taped it down-no bows or knots today! I cut a piece of rose red cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot with my swiss dots embossing folder(patiently waiting for my new textures from SU!...patiently of course!!) and then mounted that on white cardstock. Then attached that to my card with dimensionals. I used my 1 3/4 and 1 3/8" circle punches with a couple pieces of Raspberry tart paper...attached them to my card and then added a couple of white flowers and a flat bottom pearl from my pretties kit! For the sentiment, I wanted to use the oval punches...but the rub-on from the chit chat rubons was too long, so I just cut it where I wanted and then rubbed it on! I'm really loving rub-ons right now...and they too are no longer being hoarded. The last detail was adding a couple of small flat bottom pearls...three pearls down and a bunch to go!

I hope you all have a wonderful day! Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Just a quickie!

Hello friends! I'm sorry I've been a little less than I want to be this week, but that has to happen sometimes! We are all finally feeling better...thankful for that! We got all the Valentine's Finished, Ruby's 1st B.day party finished up(a few dishes in the sink still...)...so I'm all set to get back at it next week! I just wanted to share a quick fun thing!

If you'd like to get peek at some GREAT valentine items, head on over to the Craft Critique Valentine Carnival, here! I'm excited to share that a few of my valentine projects are linked there too! I've taken a look, lots of fun to be had!!

Thanks for stopping by! Since I'm on my way to bed, I'll wish you a happy Valentine's Day now! I'll be back tomorrow! Have a great one!!

Valentines

Hey friends! Yes, we're getting better but it's slow going!! I've been 'nurse mommy' for almost 2 weeks, but I think we're finally getting there! I thought I'd share what we decided to make for my kids classes for Valentine's Day. Now, I know that Valentines' Day really isn't celebrated here, in Germany, but it is one of my favorite holidays...so you bet we're going to take things in to share with their class! My kids are excited about it!

I found these applesauce cups-I love that they are square cups! My mind got to working, and thought that it would be fun to give the little applesauce (apple strawberry or apple banana:)) cups instead of a sweetie. I had all sorts of ideas coming, but then decided that I wanted these to be something my kids could contribute to. So, I simplified...and here they are! The photo shows my original idea, then the finished products for Myles' class and Lucy's class.
I used pink passion paper(I've missed that one! It's been neglected as of late!) for Lucy's class and Black for Myles' class. I scored the paper to make a perfect little sleeve for the cup, and love how cute they turned out! We (because I had help) used the purple and pink marvy uchida scallop punces and punched real red and ww cardstock out. I stamped the sentiment from the LAD set Love Much...it is one of my favorites...Joslyn did such a great job, in black palette ink. I think this sentiment is perfect for Valentine's day! I wrote the "From" and had the kids each write their names on ALL the stack for their class. (Myles was trying to get me to let him finish up tomorrow...nope, we had to get them all done!) Lucy punched most of the hearts using the new SU heart punch--3 at a time is pefect for little hands! The hearts are pink passion and real red. Then, we attached the hearts with dimensionals! I'm just finishing up wrapping the cups today, and that's the easy part!

Here is my sweet little Lucy's handwriting up close. She is 4...and so happy that she can write her name so well! It was a challenge not to repostion several of her hearts, but I wanted them to be hers, so I left (most) of the hearts just like she left them, even if she did cover some of the words!:)

And here are Myles' little letters. He was just happy to be finished!

I'm excited to have them share this little bit of love with their friends! We'll be moving back to the states(Seattle) in April, and it's going to be hard to leave all the wonderful friends we've made here...that is what will be the hardest thing to leave! So, I'm glad we get a small chance (I'll make a little something before we move too.) to tell our sweet friends how much we love them!! They have made our life in Germany so much more wonderful!!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a fantastic day!

Scrapbooking...oh, it was fun!!

I feel like 2009 is just beginning...I'm finally getting the organized part of me all organized(just in time to start the moving across the world again thoughts...)and put together, and I'm ready to take on a few of my goals. One of my goals is consider myself a "scrapbooker" again. I do love it, but I got out of the mood a while ago, and now, after ordering hundreds of photos, I'm really wanting to use all the products I love and that I hoard...and make a nice place to display and tell my sweet little family memories! Sometimes, it's hard to make it "look" right. I remind myslef, that really, these pages are for my family...so relax Jen! I was reading recently in a Stampin' Success article(a great publication for SU demos.) and was reminded that yes, there are "rules" but my scrapbooks are just that, mine! So, I'm going to enjoy preserving my family memories...and enjoy watching my kids love them too! So, with all that:) here are a few pages I made today, because I LOVE these photos of Ruby! And really, I want that(love of photos) to be my motivation!

I'm working on getting better at photographing the pages, but you get the general idea!:) I was really excited about the ribbon...I've seen similar ways of using ribbon, but hadn't tired it until today...and now, I don't think I'll stop! I ran a strip of adhesive down the seam of the papers, and then just used my finger to make a "loop" and then stuck the next peice down...the last photo of the post shows the ribbon closer. I might be tempted to grab my sewing machine and run a stich or two down the ribbon, but the adhesive is working, so I think I'll hold off on the sewing.

Items used: all SU unless noted

cardstock: Old Olive, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette,

designer paper: Old Olive, (an old retired one I can't remember the name of!)

punches: 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circle punches

rubons: a perfect day, chit chat, greatest moments, the R is american crafts

ribbon: 5/8 regal rose

buttons: SU and misc.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Thank you for all the well wishes we've received...I'm crossing my fingers that we're all getting better...we're all walking around today, so that is a good sign! Hope you have a great day!!

Just a quick hello

Hello firends! Sorry for the delayed posting...I got bitten by the Flu bug Friday! Why does that flippin' bug find me EVERY year!? Now, my little Lucy has it...we've spent many an hour on the bathroom floor the past 2 days...(so thankful for in floor heating!)...

My card is a simple little one. I used In the Nursery again, from LAD. I stuck with Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze for my colors...shocking huh?!
It's hard to see from the photo, but my ducks(all lined up in a row) are embossed with clear embossing powder. They are very shiny irl.

I'm off to save the little one again...but thought I'd pop in and say hello!! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great and healthy weekend!

LAD Sketch

So, how is it Wednesday already!? I don't know how to keep time from going so fast!! I'd really love any advice as to how to slow it down!! I was happy to have chance to get the LAD sketch for the week done! It was a great one(as always) by Joslyn. You can check out the sketch here in the LAD forum. **edited, Lauren, the link was set but not highlighted...thanks for letting me know!**

I started with Kiwi Kiss. I love this color and just can't seem to get enough of it! I'm thinking of a bunch of friends who are going to be giving birth soon, so my stock of baby cards needed to be boosted! The In the Nursery stamp set was just waiting to be inked up, so I thought I'd get to it! The patterned paper is Kiwi Kiss designer paper...and I LOVE it! I used a front and back combo on this card. I stamped the little flower face in Kiwi ink, on WW paper. I used a blender pen and my Kiwi ink and colored her in, then glitified her with dazzling diamonds and a two way glue pen. I punched her out with my 1 3/4" circle punch and then made a little scallop fo her with my nestabilities and big shot. I used the scallop edge punch for my white scallop edge. The sentiment was stamped in kiwi ink, and punched out with my window word punch. I punched a little white 3/4" circle punch as a place to mount my kiwi button...and there you have it folks!

I think my "baby" theme will continue through the week. I made a little scrapbook for my daughters preschool teacher...hopefully I'll share that tomorrow...it's proving to be a pain to photograph!:)

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Have a wonderful day!

I've been working...

I've been working on a HUGE photo project the past several days. We have lived in Germany for just under 2 years. It has been wonderful and we have traveled like CRAZY people! At least that is how people look at us traveling Europe with a 6.5 year old, 4.5 year old and soon to be (Feb. 13th already!) 1 year old. Yes, I love taking photos and have captured some great memories...but it took me almost a year to figure out how to order my prints here! I kept asking my friends, people at the school, but apparently no one felt the drive that I felt to print photos as they happen! I didn't want to have 2 years of European vacation photos waiting to be held and looked at! So, I finally figured out Snapfish.de. I'm so happy that I did it! But, now I'm working hard to get all the photos organized, labeled, printed, into the piles, etc...and it is consuming me! I'm almost done...almost!

So, because I have been looking through a sea of photos today, I wanted to share a couple with you. Sometimes people find it odd or amazing that I have "time" to create and such. It is part of what I do daily, and some people just can't believe I can do that with 3 small kids....or maybe it's just the baby? Anyway, here are a couple of photos of how I do it....

Ruby has become quite the destroying angel. 100% angel, and 100% destroyer! It makes me laugh watching her want to get into these drawers so bad!! She love the reinker bottle, stickles are also a favorite of hers. It makes me cringe to see the mess she makes, but it gives me time to do what I want:).

As I write this post, I'm surrounded by almost a ream of paper she had fun with today...and I'll clean it up and wonder what she'll get into tomorrow...and then just love that she is so delicious! So, there is a little random for you...but thought you'd enjoy these photos!:)

Thanks for stopping by...have a wonderful day!!