Ellie turns 7 months old...

As I promised here are some new pictures of Ellie. She is getting so big...well, maybe not...she weighs just a little over 5 lbs. I think it's her personality that is getting bigger...she is pretty sure that she is the princess of the house. Silly puppy!


Bailee went as Dorothy for Halloween, and of course Ellie was Toto. (but she was also a ladybug :))


And in case you are wondering...yes,she does wear clothes everyday. Sometimes I think she has more clothes than me!! Wait til it snows here, then I'll post a picture with her winter boots on...now that is funny :)

Time to get back on track with posting.

The puppy is getting older, (I'll post new pictures of her in the next few days), the kids are settled into their school routine, and I think I am caught up on all my mommy & household things that I let go during the summer months. All caught up...just in time for the holidays! Being that I am all caught up...I have actually had some time to stamp. Yay!!

Here are some of the projects I have been working on:




Colors: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Bashful blue
Stamps: Season of joy
Accessories: bling, snowflake cuttlebug embossing folder, circle punches, bashful blue taffeta ribbon



Stamps: peaceful wishes, paper trey holiday wishes
Paper: White
Ink: always artichoke, close to cocoa
Accessories: Martha Stewart brown glitter, quickie glue pen



Stamps: peaceful wishes, itty bitty backgrounds
Paper: White
Ink: artichoke, close to cocoa, ruby red
Accessories: Martha Stewart brown glitter, quickie glue pen



Stamps: holy triptych
Ink: black craft
Accessories: tissue paper, candles, metallic rub ons, make up applicators, gold gel pen, heat gun

who has time to stamp with a puppy running around!?!?!?

I guess I forgot how much work puppies can be. It's like having a baby crawling around constantly getting into things, always hungry...and going potty every 30 minutes!!!

Here is our new little bundle of joy...

Her name is Ella (but we call her Ellie) she is a 12 week old Yorkie.



Yes that is a dress she has on ;) She has about 15 different outfits...she is one fashionable pup!!


Could she *be* any cuter!?!?!

That is her big sister Morgan...they are best friends!!



I promise to get my butt downstairs and get some stamping done! With the kids home for the summer and the puppy---stamping has gone to the wayside :(

Happy camper!?!?

Well, let's not go that far . My idea of camping is the 2nd floor of the hilton...but some how I got talked into going *real* camping! We had fun...and we got to spend some quality time with Jamie's parents. Here are a few pictures from our trip---


This is the cabin that we stayed in. It was cute and cozy...I'll take this over a tent anyday!

Me and the hubby in the backyard of our cabin. (Don't we look all *campy* and comfortable!?!?)

Ty caught this frog on the beach, it was his new best friend for the afternoon. But the mean mom that I am, I made him leave Kermit at the lake. I know, what a meanie!!

First some cards...and then some other stuff.

On Monday I received my Pick a Petal set from SU! (it'll will be in the new fall/winter SU! catty). I am in LOOOOVE with this set! I just wish I had more time to play with it.

There I was laying in bed Tuesday (stalling...because 6:30 comes too early) and the idea for this first card popped into my head....finally I had a reason to get. (Stampin' is one of my favorite reasons actually ;)) I really like how it all came together! (Although it drives me crazy that one of the dots fell off before I took the picture...and that black empty spot above the ribbon bugs me!!!...but I am too lazy to retake the pics, so pretend there is a dot there...K?)

A few details about the card:

1/4" circle punch used to punch the polka dots out of WW, and then adhered to the black.

Corner rounder used to make the scalloped edge

Bubble cuttlebug folder used for the center of the flower.


Another card...


Certainly not my favorite *but* I am in charge of making the invites for our family 4th of July pool party...this is one of contenders.








Some other bits of info...

I am preparing to sell *lots* of my stamp set and supplies...cuz let's be honest...I have WAY too much! So be watching for that...lots of deals. And some blog candy too..who doesn't love candy, right??

Playing catch up....

I just can't seem to get caught up lately!!! Well, Stamp Fest 2007 has come and gone...it was a total blast!! The cards that everyone made were fabulous! I made so many new stamping friends, and I got to meet friends that I have been chatting with for over a year on SCS (Hi Deb and Sarah!!) I can't wait til next year!!

I won't go into the details but I recently went through a really rough time. Things are getting better each day, but it really made me take a good hard look at my life and make some decisions about what was important and what I wanted out of my life. The first thing I decided is that it's time for me to stop putting off going to school to be a nurse. It's something I've always wanted, but with 3 kids there were always a million excuses why I shouldn't. Secondly, I decided that being overweight just simply isn't who I am...so I joined Weight Watchers two weeks ago. I had been watching what I ate before then, and as of today I am down 12 pounds. YAY!

Ok, enough about me. Let's get to some stampin'!!!

Here is the Father's Day card that my club members are going to make this month.



Stamps: Classic Pick ups
Paper: Kraft CS, vanilla conffetti, Recollections paper
Ink: Chocolate chip craft, bucky blue, ditressing ink in walnut
Accessories: aquapainters, textile CB embossing folder, large oval punch, sponges, sanding block


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Here is a card I just did for fun...(I just had to play with my new fun flock)



stamps: Stamps by Judith, fancy flexible phrases,
paper: close to cocoa, choco chip, palette o'prints, sage shadow, vanilla confetti
ink: choco chip craft, rose red, close to cocoa
accessories: martha stewardt mini circle scallop punch, brown fun flock, CB embossing folder, heat and stick powder.

It's been awhile...

Since I have stamped or posted here. :( Life has been super hectic!

On the 28th I am hosting the 2nd annual NE WI Stamp Fest. I am REALLY excited, I can't wait to meet everyone! There are 51 stampers registered...we are going to have a BLAST!! Until the 28th, you probably won't see too many updates here. I really need to buckle down and get things organized. However....in May I plan to have some awesome blog candy and a few other fun things happening.

Here is one of the cards I am thinking about doing for the swap.



RECIPE:

Card stock: kraft, cool caribbean, cameo coral, ivory naturals, close to cocoa
Stamps: Crab & Co., rough around the edges wheel, small sayings, sandy shells wheel
Accessories: linen thread, brads from Joann's, ticket corner punch, aqua painters, mini glue dots

Can you believe it!?!?!?

I never thought I would stamp a card using Orchid Opulence that I would actually like. Well, I did it. I have *never* liked this color. I own all of the Stampin' Up ink pads...but I refuse to buy that one. Today, it just seemed to work with this card.



Card details-

Stamps: Stamping Bella (www.stampingbella.com) Doodle this (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Orchid opulence, close to cocoa, Whisper white, Designer Paper (from Hobby Lobby)
Embellishments: Velvet ribbon (Michaels') Prismacolor pencils, Wavy scissors

Just some cards---

I really don't have much to blab about today...lucky you! However, I did get some stamping done today! Whoo hoo!! :)

This first card was part of the "Featured Stamper" challenge on SCS. We had to pick a card out of Scrapstampdiva's gallery to CASE...except change a few elements on our card. Picking a card from her gallery was tough...cuz they are all fabulous! This one really caught my eye:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=448641&cat=500&ppuser=77392

I changed the color combo, and the stamp set...but I kept the elements and layout the same.
The dots on the flower were done with a white galaxy marker. The flower center is a white button with a 1/4" cool caribbean circle in the middle, then covered with stickles.




The second card is just a super simple Bella card. The DP is from Target (my Target recently expanded their scrapbook section and they now carry lots of super cool things!!!) I added the doodles to the DP with the Stampin' Up Just Doodles set. Bella is colored with prismacolor pencils.

If you haven't already....

You really should order yourself some Bella stamps! They are so fun to stamp with, and if you like to color as much as I do...then you'll love 'em for sure!

www.stampingbella.com

I also have to add a little bit about customer service. Em (owner of stampingbella.com)is incredible! I recently placed an order, and being the dork that I am, I ordered the wrong size shopping bellas. I e-mailed her and she fixed my order...and upgraded me to the big Bellas, and didn't charge me the extra $$$!!!!! I was blown away!! I was just so happy that she was willing to make the change for me, but to do it and not charge me. Well, that is just going above and beyond if you ask me!

Ok, on to todays card...

DP is by Making memories
Image is colored with Prismacolor pencils
Primas with bling for centers
The mat is cut with my ancient scallop edge scissors. I had to dig deep in my stash to find those bad boys ;)
Stamps are:
Giftabella from www.stampingbella.com
Riveting from Stampin' Up!

I've got issues!

I may have many addictions...(stamps, ribbon, embellishments, ribbon, Target and did I say ribbon!?!?) but I have realized that when it comes to stamps...I *CAN'T* pass up a cute critters! What's my deal!?!? I know there are lots of great stamps out in the world, but my eyes always gravitate to the cute critters :)

Yesterday I needed some retail therapy. I jumped in the van and took myself to the nearest stamp store...and that is where I found the cutest bunny stamp!!! It is made by Great impressions, and is part of their "stamp of the month" series.

Here is the card I created at 1 am this morning...(don't ask!)using the sketch from the SCS challenge. I used the swirls cuttlebug embossing folder, and my prismacolor pencils to color with. The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up Bunny Hugs set, (it's in the Spring mini catalog)

I've gotta know....

who else has issues with procastinating??? Or is it just me??? I swear this has got to be my worse personality trait!! I drive myself crazy.

So, today I tell myself...Self, you have stamp club on Sunday, you should really design the projects today, so Saturday won't be a mad rush. I go down to my stamp room...and hour later...guess what I come out with---I Bella birthday card!!!! I can't use that for my Stampin' Up stamp club.

Now, in my defense I stamped this card for a friend who has a birthday coming up very soon, and I didn't want her card to be late...that's a good excuse, right!?!?! LOL--I know, I know, nice try!!!

Seeing how I got the card done, I guess I should share it, huh!?!? Then hopefully tomorrow I will have club projects to share...oh who am I kidding...I'll post them saturday night!!

Well, here is the card I stamped. The color combo is from SCS #105, I really love this combo. Really Rust, Cool Caribbean, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and So Saffron. The backgroud was created with sponge daubers and the bella was watercolored with reinkers. If you want to get yourself some Bellas, here is the link:

http://www.stampingbella.com/products.php

Who knew...

After playing around a little bit last night, I was able to figure out how to make my own banner. It's my first one...whatcha think???

So.....I got brave.

I figured if I can make a banner, I should be able to make one of those super cute digital scrapbook pages, right!?!?! Sure enough...amazingly it was pretty easy. (I feel a new addiction coming on) Now I want to share my page here, but I am so worried that I won't give the correct credit. I will try my best, but please if I leave something out--let me know!!

The page kit I used for both my page and my banner is a freebie from www.shabbyprincess.com and the sketch is from www.pencillines.com. Whew! I hope that covers the details.

If anyone has any tips, tricks, or fun digi websites I should check out...let me know!

Where have I been??

...That's a great question. Shame on me, I haven't updated my blog since 12/10/06. All the hustle and bustle of the holidays kept me away from my computer and my stamp room....but I'm back!

So here are a few things I have done in the past month, I hope you like them. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.