Ramblings

Ok, I charged the battery for my camera....and now I'm not sure where the camera is! LOL, isn't that always the way. I'll find it soon enough. I have a sneaking suspicion its hiding out downstairs in our basement! There are some pictures on that camera I'd like to share with you.

Until then, I think I'm going to look through my older pics and see if there is something fun I could post. Maybe!

This weekend I got a couple things done I've been wanting to. I reorganized my stamp sets on the bookshelf they live on. I took out all the letter and sentiment sets so they are now in their own spot. I think I'll use more of my sentiment sets more often by having them all in one spot, at least that's my hope. Its so hard for me to organize my sets by theme or style. I started doing this, but failed miserably. There is something in me that just has to have the same size stamp set bozes all together!!! Maybe I'm a little perfectionistic or somethin' *ponders* Well...the non-sentiment sets remained organized by box size.

Battery dead..

Ok...I so want to post a new card I finished last night. But my camera battery needs recharging *pouty face* and I'm going to have to wait till it charges. harumpgh!!! I guess that just means that I really should start working on my swap cards. I'm in a Bella swap and I need to figure out a design for the shoebox swap for the WA/OR get together the end of March. I'm also doing a shoebox swap with my upline group soon. Ahh!!! time to get a move on *smiles*

Valentine Cards

I know, I know...it's after Valentine's Day. What am I doing posting these? Well, I'm extremely late at getting things done this year! These cards were done before the actual day though. *smiles* The top card I made for my husband, Jeff. We had a great Valentine's day (more about that soon). The other card I made for my mom. I got this crazy idea to make the cards using only red, black & white. I'm pretty happy with them.

Nitty Gritty Details:

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card #1

• Love Matters stamp set by SU!
• black, white & red CS by SU!
• Pallete Hybrid ink in Black Noir
• Ticket Corner punch by SU!
• Giga scalloped oval punch
• Horizontal Slot punch by SU!
• Black gingham ribbon
• sponge

card #2

• Love Matters stamp set by SU!
• black, white & red CS by SU!
• Pallete Hybrid ink in black noir
• red classic ink, white craft ink
• Horizontal Slot punch
• black gingham ribbon, red narrow organdy

Now for my Valentine's evening, which was also my first anniversary! We had dinner at Maggiano's...a wonderful Italian restaraunt...YUMMY! If you ever get a chance to dine there, do it! The portions are huge! We brought home eggplant parmesan and their lasagna (which really does taste like homemade!). During dinner he brought me a dozen deep pink roses...my favorite! For Valentine's day he gave me a really pretty bracelet watch. It's in the style of the silver link bracelets and necklaces that *I think* first came from Tiffany's. And for our anniversary he made me a framed picture of the wedding vows he spoke during the wedding!!! We each wrote our own vows, and I love that he framed his. Behind the written words he put a picture of us during the ceremony. *gushy smiley* He is so creative...a definite keeper!!! Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's day!

A new favorite color combo...

Card Recipe:

• CC100 colors (blush blossom, chocolate chip, cool caribbean)
• blush blossom, chocolate chip ink by SU!
• Textile embossing folder by Cuttlebug
• giga scalloped circle punch
• mega circle punch
• brads (by Doodlebug)
• Word Window punch by SU!
• white gel pen by SU!
• paper punching tool

So I decided to use CC100 as the combo for the anniversary card I made for DH. Ever since I saw Emily post this challenge, I have been in love with this color combo! I don't know what it is, but there is something so soft and elegant, maybe soothing, about these colors together.
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I'll admit...for a long while I wasn't too fond of Blush Blossom. But now I am growing more and more fond of it. I absolutely love it here! I think Blush Blossom would be really pretty for spring and Easter cards.

Big news!!!

I'm so excited!!! I have to share with everyone...I'm pregnant!!!! DH and I are so excited. He was jumping off the walls when I told him. According to the doctors office, my due date is around the end of October...I really hope I don't have a Halloween baby. *insert beaming smile*

A mess of ribbon!

This is how my ribbon is currently being stored...I'm not sure if you could call it organized. Well I would call it more of a mess! I had to take a pic of this and post it. I was just in the middle of making a card for my secret sister and I decided that the card needed a little bit of white grosgrain. Now, it should be easy to find. Right? WRONG!!! I have to pull this little box out of where its stored and have numerous ribbons come flying out to say hello! Then just to find the color of ribbon I want, I have to rummage through everything else. Basically, I have ribbon unrolling from the spools, ribbon on the floor, ribbon everywhere!!! *insert frazzled look here*

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I'm determined to find a better way to organize my ribbon. This is seriously detracting from my use of ribbon.

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I've seen so many good ways to store it...I'm just not sure what would work best for me. Amy R posted her ribbon solution at her blog www.prairiepaperandink.typepad.com She uses Closetmaid storage racks found at Home Depot. Another neat idea has been posted by many...the 3x3 Cropper Hopper drawers. I've also seen rain gutters used for ribbon storage. What to choose, what to choose...

Tooth Fairy Tins

These tooth fairy tins were made for a craft show last year. It was my first time making them and I must say, I was quite pleased with the end result. The tin is an altoid tin. I purchased mine through www.specialtybottle.com They are listed under Tin Containers (specialty). I haven't found a better price online for them, if you do let me know! I always love a good deal.

I covered the tin with colored cardstock, in this case I used pink. The fairy images are from the Fairy Nice set. I was fortunate enough to get these images from the wonderful gals who are part of the WRAK group on Splitcoast. Without them I would not have been able to make these!

I printed the poem out on cardstock from my computer. After that was adhered, then I added the prima flowers. I think they add a really nice, cute look to the inside. If I really wanted to go all out, I think I would have put more on, but I was making them for sale.

The 'tooth fairy' is made using SU! Alphabits and a 1/4" round circle punch. That took a lot of work, probably the most on the whole tin. I had to stamp out 3 (I think) sets of the alphabet and then punch out each letter individually. The worst was trying to glue them on! I'm sure there was a better way than what I did....

Around the top of the tin I wrapped pink gingham ribbon and tied it in a bow. It makes it look a little more finished on the outside and also adds a cute touch.

Down to business...

Well at least I'd like to think I can get down to business and accomplish some things today...I guess its really afternoon. I need to get my goodies for my secret Valentine completed and then sent out.

I'm also quite behind on my prepping for the craft show I have coming up the end of March. Its what I call procrastination! Last night though, I actually started on a couple lunchboxes for the show. I have 12 lunchboxes to make up for the show. I've decided that I'm going to paint the tops of them instead of cutting and adhering the patterened paper to it. It just seems to be easier that way.

Hmm...I also need to make a card and send it to my new secret sister. A new round has started and before I know it the month will be over and I won't have sent a card out yet!

Cuttlebug fun

I am in love with the new Cuttlebug embossing folders! They are so fun and can be used in other die cut machines as well as the Cuttlebug. I have the BigShot from Ellison Designs. In my limited use of it so far, it has been a spectacular.

This card was really quite easy. The base is Sage Shadow with a layer of Lavendar Lace on top of that. This layer is the one I embossed. The two layers on top of that are Sage Shadow again with a layer of very vanilla cs. On this layer I stamped a random smattering of the flower and heart stamp from the Sweet on You set from Stampin' Up! The 'I heart...' stamp is stamped on Lavendar Lace and cut out. I wrapped purple grosgrain ribbon around the top two layers.

I Thirst For You!

I am so excited...tonight I'm going to the I Thirst For You encounter at my churchhttp://www.cedarpark.org/northshore/. This is a women's encounter/conference that is so powerful! This is my 3rd year going and each time my life is so touched and changed by the movement of God.
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I know that I will meet with God tonight and He is going to speak great things to me during this time. I'm dedicating this next 24 hours (not even) to spend with Him and allow Him to mold me to His purposes. I feel that a great freedom is going to pass over this time...freeing people from things that have been holding them back from the great love of the Father, holding back from that which He's called you to, freeing them into the love only He can shower upon us.
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"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" John 8:36
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A really neat song by Jason Upton:
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Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom
Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom
If you're tired and you are, there is freedom
If you're tired and you are, there is freedom
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Jesus reings in this place
Showers of mercy and grace
Falling on every face
There is freedom
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Freedom Reings in this place
Showers of mercy and grace
Falling on every face
There is freedom
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Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom
Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom
So we lift our eyes to Jesus, there is freedom
So we lift our eyes to Jesus, there is freedom