The answer....

The Secret of Staying Young is....

to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. Lucille Ball


Got my tooth fixed. I now have a temporary crown and a $900 bill. Joy!

Bella, Bella....

Now that the pressure is off and I don't feel like I have to post, I want to post! I had a nice lazy day. It's rainy out so I made it an easy one. I did a little bit of laundry, read, etc.

I just finished making two cards. I made the first one for my aunt's birthday but I had two images left. I tend to stamp it twice or three times in case I mess up. I didn't mess up and I thought it would be good to have one of these on hand.

The paper is SU Rose Red, So Saffron, Bashful Blue and Cutie Pie dp. I used Purely Pomegranate ribbon, nesties, primas that were painted with Shimmerz in Sky Blue, Celery and Royal Red. The sentiment is CTMH. Oh, and I LOVE my new EK punch (2nd card - wavy dotted line). I bought it with a 50% off coupon the other day.

Thanks for looking! Hope your weekend was like mine - nice and easy! (oops, forgot that I broke a tooth! There's still a piece attached to my gums so I can't chew on that side. Hopefully the dentist will see me tomorrow and fix it. It's getting sore.) Just what I need, another crown in my mouth! I wish I had decent dental ins.!








p.s. Do you know what the secret is to staying young?

Oh deer.....

My poor son hit a deer last night! Dh and I had just gone up to bed and it was much later than usual. We heard a car and then ds coming up the stairs. He knocked and I was so surprised because he never does that (we are always asleep when he gets home anyway).

He was so upset because he was coming up the hill into our neighborhood when suddenly a deer jumped out in front of him. He said it was down on the pavement and then it got up and went around in circles and ran off to the side and laid down. Then it got up and ran into the woods. He said there were a bunch, maybe 10-12.

He just got new tires yesterday and it's a good thing. He never would have been able to slam on his breaks and avoid having the deer go through his windshield. I guess he has a guardian angel on his shoulder!

He drove back around the circle after it happened, just to see if the deer was still there. He wanted to call Animal Control to put it out of it's misery if it was suffering. I felt bad for him. He was really shaken. I know that neither of my boys would never be able to hunt!!

Blah, blah, blah....

It's been a long, busy week, especially at work. I'm so happy it's almost over in some respects. My mom comes back from her trip after the weekend so I'm not rushing the weekend away. I've enjoyed getting home at night and maybe cooking or NOT. It's been very nice.

I've been contemplating giving up the blog. I don't get a lot of comments (not that I'm out for a contest or anything). I just feel like it takes up a lot of time and I can't say half of what I want to just in case anyone I know sees it. I'll keep thinking on it.

Anyhoo, have a wonderful weekend if I decide not to post!!

Quick baby card....

An online friend just had a baby boy so I made this quick card last night. I hope she doesn't read my blog! I used my SAB dp again!! I guess it's a good thing that it's not sitting in my stash like the rest.

I used SU cs in Bashful Blue and So Saffron and colored in with Prismas and Gamsol. I colored over the yellow with Butter Cream Shimmerz and the blanket with Sky Blue. You can't see it too well. I tried shooting from the side like Kristen suggested but it didn't work. It must be my lousy lighting in the basement. You can definitely see the shimmerzy blankie if you double click. Just don't look too closely for any mistakes!! LOL

I'm so excited that the ponds are finally melting which means spring has finally sprung!! It's still cool here but it's supposed to warm up by the weekend.

Good friends....

I just love this stamp set by My Favorite Things. My friend lent me her stamp set so I was making up a bunch of images in what little time I had today. I ended up making this card so I felt like I got something accomplished.

It was my day off but I ended up doing lots of things (banking with my son, laundry, looking at houses, baking banana bread).

Anyway, no sense in whining, right?!!

I used SU Groovy Guava and Old Olive for this. It's an odd combo but I think it worked with this Heidi Grace paper. I got a little carried away with the pearls. I thought I'd add a few tiny ones to the hat.

I colored in with SU inks (close to cocoa, certainly celery and old olive). I'm anxious to try it with prismas. I think it'll look much better.

More candy.....

I hate to post two in a row but I absolutely adore the bunny stamps at:

Artfully Ila

Whiff of Joy candy....

Check out what Bev is offering for candy at:

All the Things I Love

A Mousy birthday....

I got this image from my friend, Paula. I just love House Mouse stamps. They are so adorable!! Unfortunately you can't see the shimmery frosting. I painted it with pink Shimmerz after coloring with Prismas & Gamsol. This is for my future DIL who loves little mice.

I used SU Wild Wasabi and So Saffron cs & WW ribbon. The pp is from my stash. The lines are textured and shimmery. It's so hard to see in the photo. I forget who makes it. If you double click, you can just barely see the shimmery effects. Just don't look too closely at the circle stamp (SU Riveting). I colored the present with pink shimmerz too but the yellow isn't the best job ever.

Thanks for looking!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!!

I have nothing to post today. I was busy last night making homemade mac & cheese for the band guys for tonight.

I just wanted to say that green is my favorite color. I love lime, celery, olive, chartreuse, sage, moss, kelly, etc., but I do NOT like Christmas green. I guess Pine green is ok but I really hate Emerald green. I have an olivey color on today because that's all that fit.

Hope you're wearing your green - whatever shade you choose, and I hope you find your pot of gold.

Three Clovers Thursday Challenge #4

I knew I had to play along when I saw this photo. I have seriously been trying to use up ten years worth of stash!! I thought of this flowery paper when I looked at the gorgeous cake.

I made this for my niece who LOVES orange. She has a big furry orange chair in her room and all kinds of orange decor. I wish she lived closer to her Godmom/Aunt. She loves crafts and her mom doesn't. I could keep her busy!!

Don't laugh -- her birthday isn't until August but I made this with her in mind. I used SU Regal Rose cs and also Marigold Morning (I think?) and some Bazzill Bling in a celery color. The cupcake & flower bling are Hero Arts and sentiment is Amuse. I painted over the Pumpkin Pie marker with Shimmerz on the cupcake.





Go and check out Kerry's blog and see how the talented ladies over there got inspired by this cake.

Cool beans......

My friend Paula and I did an image swap and I got this cute little guy and a bunch more. I couldn't wait to use this one! Paula, I hope you really didn't mind me posting this one!

I used the C'ordinations cs and put it through the Swiss Dot Cuttlebug folder and then sanded it. I used SU green galore with it. I colored in the image with my usual gamsol & prismas. I guess that's what I'm comfortable with at this point. Thanks for looking!

Nothing much accomplished...

I ended up having to run to the mall last night to return something and cash my son's check (he was working up there).

By the time I got home, there wasn't much time before my shows. I pulled out one of the adorable images I got from my friend, Paula (thanks a bunch!!!), and I colored it in with my prismas & gamsol. I was hoping to use some of my new C'ordinations paper to make an Easter card but I didn't get that far. I did color a couple of the jelly beans in purple so that I can use the black/purple paper.

Don't know if I'll have time to finish over the weekend. My dh is still talking about going snowmobiling and I have a feeling it'll be the last weekend this year. I really like to plan and hate last minute trips though! I also have mixed emotions...I'd like to go one last time but I also want to stay home.

The boys in the band (oldest son & friends) will be over to record and I haven't seen them in a long time. They are supposed to be going on a tour soon. I was thinking back to when he went on his first one. He was only 16 or 17. I cried as I watched the van & trailer pull away. I was so scared the entire time he was gone that something bad would happen. It ended up getting cut short which was fine with me!

Anyway, enough rambling for today. Hopefully I'll have photos to post (either snowmobiling or cards) over the weekend. Have a good one!

Great cause....

Check out this blog to see the details on a fundraiser for the victims of the Victorian Brush Fires. What a great cause!! The fundraiser is live on Splitcoast Stampers.

Also, if you post a link to spread the word, you can possibly win blog candy at The Craft's Meow. So go on and check it out to donate or for a chance to win!

The Craft's Meow

Why now? ....

It's been nuts at my house. Suddenly I have several showings scheduled out of the blue. I have a feeling it will be a busy weekend too.

Anyway, after I cleaned like a wild woman last night, I sat down to organize my desk and ended up making this little guy. I had the SU So Saffron card already cut and the striped dp sitting on top of it. What a better way to clean than to just USE it. Do you do that? I cut papers, put them with my images, don't like them and put them to the side for later. Later doesn't always come. LOL So I added SU certainly celery and bashful blue and the ribbon is bashful blue. I added MM brads too. That sentiment is CTMH. Oh, and I used my new EK zigzag punch. Thanks for looking!

All is quiet....

Ok, what is going on? It's way too quiet in bloggy land! My usual stops are all "already read" posts on Google Reader!

I admit, I have nothing to blog about today either. I made a quick male teen card last night that is not post worthy in my opinion. I find it really difficult to make it manly enough, yet still on the childish side. I think he's turning 16. I used a white card, SU Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive combo. I had a star stamp that I stamped onto those three cs' and then cut out. There was also a piece of blue plaid dp involved and a Happy Birthday from Cheery Chat. I need to get an opinion from my 19 yo as to whether it's too primary-ish.

So what's happening out there? Is everyone just plain busy?!! I need some reading material, people! LOL

Bridal shower card....

Someone at work asked me to make her a shower card that matched the invitation somewhat. This is what I came up with. I used SU Pixie Pink & Certainly Celery and Bazzill Tutu pink. I put that through the CB. It's a close match to Pink Pirouette which I forgot to order last time. The stamp set is SU Blooming with Happiness. I used pink Shimmerz on the dress and primas & plopped a pearl in the middle. Thanks for looking!



















p.s. Got my free Inkadinkado stamps today!! (see their newsletter - send in up to three cards and get a free stamp back for each card you send in). They're cute!

Made a bunch of cards....

Not only did I make 3 St. Patty's Day cards this weekend, but I also finished the rose one, made a bridal shower card, and I also scrapped two pages!

Now I need an opinion on what should go on the outside of a bridal shower card for a sentiment. I used the Blooming with Happiness set (SU). Can I use "May Your Day Bloom with Happiness"? I used the wedding dress stamp. My other options are Congratulations, Best Wishes, Something for You. I'm going to ask my friend who is giving the card, but I just wanted to know what you thought so I can give her my opinion.


Here's the finished rose card. Thanks for the suggestions on the sentiment. This one just seemed to fit to me.

Second try at Three Clovers Thursday Challenge #3

I had so much fun with the green the first time, I just had to try Kerry's challenge one more time. I made this for my mom. I od'ed on the Wild Wasabi! LOL I used WW ribbon & cs. I made the shamrocks with hearts (bad attempt, I know). I used some Bazzill Blingz paper that I got on sale at Mike's. It's almost the same as Certainly Celery which I think could be my favorite SU color. It's hard to choose just one.

I used my MS punch and also got to use my circle nesties for the first time, I think!

Thanks for looking!

I have a real sweet tooth...

Can you tell I love sweets, especially blog candy?!! LOL Here's another for you to check out. Heidi is giving away a really nice package. Go check it out!

Three Clovers Thursday Challenge #3

This is for Kerry D-C's challenge over at Three Clovers Designs. This week's challenge was to use mostly green and three embellishments on your card. I used Icons green rhinestones, SU ribbon and some glittery shamrocks I bought at Mike's.

I didn't have any St. Patty's stamps and couldn't find any at Mike's yesterday. I had these images of penguins sitting on my desk. I was stamping some for a friend (wink, wink, you know who you are) and some weren't the greatest. I hate to throw things away so I kept this because the flipper was not inked right. I fixed that by sticking a shamrock on top. I ended up just printing out the sentiment and adhering to cs before cutting with my Nesties. That was the cheap way! LOL After all, I'm supposed to be on a spending freeze.

I made this for my bff in Michigan. She's pretty Irish with a name like O'Betts!

So go and check out the amazing cards Kerry and "the girls" made! Also, Kerry has some yummy candy you can win by a simple guess!

p.s. Used SU cs & ribbon, Memory Box stamp, Karen Foster paper (old - from my stash!).

Got some candy....

I opened an envelope yesterday and found my prize from Kristen's blog from Limelight Paper Crafts . You really should check out Kristen's latest candy as mentioned below! Wow!! And check out Limelights great deals!!

Oh, I forgot to tell you what I got! LOL I got a package of Kaiser clear rhinestones which I can always use! Thanks, Kristen, and thanks to Limelight!

Oooooh, some nice candy here....

Go to my friend Kristen's blog, Scrap-Creations and check out the delicious candy she has for a lucky winner! I have been dying to get my hands on one of those punches and I love, love, love those Pink Cat Studio stamps. Kristen does an amazing job with them!!

Books...

I know you non-stampers must be sick to death of seeing cards (and probably the stampers too! LOL). Last night was my t.v. night so I didn't have time to stamp anyway. I decided to post about the books I've recently read.

The one I finished yesterday was The Faraday Girls by Monica McInerney. I thought it was going to be just so-so, maybe too much on the silly side (like Janet Evanovich). I just don't understand what people see in her books. It's not funny to me, it's pretty goofy (sorry if I'm offending anyone here).

Anyway, the more I got into The Faraday Girls, the more I was intrigued. I had a hard time putting it down toward the end. It's a good read in my book, pardon the pun! Ok, now I'm sounding like Janet E. Sorry!












I am now reading Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian. He also wrote another book I loved called, The Double Bind. I'm hoping this will be a good one!











If you're a big reader, do you know about www.Goodreads.com? I keep track of the books I read there and also get book recommendations from friends.

Have a good weekend!

Sans sentiment....

I made this card last night because the image has been sitting on my desk for at least a week. Do you do that? I stamp and color an image and leave it there because my paper doesn't work or I'm not nuts about it. Anyway, I wanted to clear up some of the mess.

My problem is I wasn't sure what sentiment would work for this one. I was going to stamp something in black in the lower right corner. I think I could get away with Get Well, Thinking of You, Have a Great Day/Bday, etc. What I was wondering is what you would use it for. I don't think it would work for sympathy which is what I really need more of. Let me know what you think. Looking at it, I also think I need some Dew Drops or something either below the image or to the right on the image. Thanks for your opinions and for looking!

p.s. I have to stop reaching for my Rectangle Nesties! I'm getting sick of them.

Used: SU cs in Riding Hood Red & Kiwi Kiss, SU Bella dp, SU RR ribbon, Inkadinkado Doodle Flower stamp, Shimmerz Royal Red & Celery (I colored in with Prismas & Gamsol under the shimmerz).

Two more for Inkadinkado...

I copied the one for my son in red and made another. I think I like the red better than the teal. I sent off my package of three to Inkadinkado. I'm hoping for some cute new stamps!! Thanks for looking.

Inkadinkado...

Well, my friend, Paula convinced me to send a card or two to Inkadinkado to get free stamps. I would never submit my cards to anything but this is not a contest. They just want to see your projects using only their stamps.

I started using the cool guitar/rock star set I bought with my oldest in mind. I have three musicians in my family so I knew it wouldn't go to waste. I made a drum card for my drummer son and a guitar card for my hubby on Father's Day. When I finished this one, I decided I better make another to send out. This one is for my oldest's birthday in April. It's the right color for his guitar. I don't have enough of these eyelets so I'll have to do red for the submission.

Three Clovers Thursday Challenge

Kerry at Three Clovers Designs has a challenge to use Blue, Brown and Buttons this week. Here's mine. I don't use a lot of blue so it wasn't that easy. The colors are a bit off in the photo. The middle button is brown and the outer buttons are blue. The ink on the Make a Wish (by Scrappy Cat) is brown. The mouse is Whipper Snapper (most of you have seen him a few times!!). The CS is Bazzill and no name and the brown is SU Choc. Chip. I used Primas & Gamsol to color. Thanks for looking! Go on over to Three Clovers and check out all the amazing cards!

Late snow....

Well, we could have stayed in Maine overnight after all. The storm was supposed to start at 4 a.m. Sun. It started snowing around 10, I think. Oh well....

We did have fun riding but it was a long day. We left the house around 6:30 and drove up to Maine (2:45). We went for a decent ride. It was sort of the conditions you get in the spring, only much more covered. There were some slushy puddly spots but the rest was great! There weren't any bare spots which we were expecting. They got rain on Fri. night and it continued all night. We were very lucky!

My son's fiance was on the back (she's never been before). Her bad knee was killing her so the girls were brought back to the house and the boys went out for another ride. They could clearly see Mt. Washington.

The two dogs got along pretty well. Reese was sinking into snow much deeper than she is tall!

Here are a couple of pix.