A Place for Ink

Seafair Hydro Races

2011-09-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

We had absolutely PERFECT weather for the hydro races...and I'm finally uploading the pics....many weeks later...

The kid and I got to check out the hydros up close! What fun to be up close and see all the action and all the work as it's happening! Look at the spectator on the very right edge of the picture....lol We don't know who this is, but he took pics...creepy or funny or both?

You know I like to share the message when there's blog candy involved, right?

2010-12-21T20:59:00.000-08:00

Well, since I never got any decent pictures of the Making Memories Vintage Groove jewelry, I'm sharing this for now instead:

http://suchins.blogspot.com/2010/12/studio-3-solutions-christmas-wish.html

It's a link to a Color Cubbie Blog Candy Giveaway on Wee Memories (a terrific blog full of fun & inspiration!) You can win it if you go to the link and enter! :)

Many hugs - hope you all are having a wonderful Holiday Season!

♥Elaine

New jewelry :) -- SO excited!!!!

2010-10-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

I'll have a post and a new 'creation' for you all later today!

Did you all have a great WCMD? I was out of town at the Jack Johnson concert at the Gorge in Quincy, WA....BEAUTIMOUS!! I took my 15 year old daughter (it was her first real concert!) Quite a lot of fun to travel with such a cute and fun kid with a great sense of humor!

Great music, awesome scenery, and now I'm craving more Jack Johnson tunes....this is our favorite song....sadly, he's so much better LIVE and in person! This clip just doesn't do justice to the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXyiyc4_gRg

Hope you all are having a FABULOUS day! Be sure to check back later so you can see the new jewelry! :)

hugs,
E

What's this? A brand NEW Game??

2010-09-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

That's right!

There's a new MAIN SQUEEZE in my life now. :)

I've been off enjoying life without scrappy necessities for many months now. During that time, I found a new LOVE that I think you'll enjoy as much as I do and I want to introduce you! Check it out: Making Memories Vintage Groove CUSTOM jewelry by Jill Schwartz! http://www.makingmemoriesjewelry.com/#/strand-combos/5
The BEST part of all this is that it's available at 20 Michael's locations across the country including.....the one RIGHT HERE in MY neck of the woods at the Factoria Michael's Store! How totally COOL is that??

It's a sunny morning in Seattle (and in September that's a big deal), so I'm heading over as soon as they open to pick up a little somethin' something and will be back later to share! We'll also be looking for a homecoming dress for my daughter. Teenage girls can be SOOOO picky!?

Then we have plans to join our neighbors this evening for dinner at a nice French Restaurant in downtown Seattle :) ...who knows - maybe I'll even remember to snap some pictures and share on here later! Can't wait to show you all the fabby cool things from Making Memories Vintage Groove Jewelery!! It's so hip and fits perfectly with all the accessorizing that we're seeing right now in fashion! Go check it out at the Factoria Michael's if you're in the area and let me know what YOU think about the line!

Thanks for stopping by - hope you have an awesome, amazing day where ever you are! :)

Hugs,
Elaine

2010-06-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

I think we need to add a new family member...keep your fingers crossed that we get Louie!!

Want a chance to win your own Color Cubbie?

2010-06-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

Isn't this a fabulous storage system for markers? You can win one on Cindy Coutt's blog~ Go enter now!
Enter at Cindy Coutts Blog : http://cindycoutts.com/?p=4483

I use mine specifically for Copics and I don't have quite this many (Mine fill only ONE storage unit)

My plan is to order a 2nd and 3rd one for my SU Markers and Marvy markers, and Prismacolor pencils! I can't wait!

The units are very well made and sturdy. They clean up easily and have a nice narrow profile with a flat surface on top. The pens are held mostly horizontal but with a slight angle so the pens don't come whipping out when you pull a pen out. It's totally worth the 16.99 for me!

I might have some other pics to share tomorrow....It's been such crummy weather around here and I only like to take pics when it's sunny/warm out which explains why I haven't been around posting on my almost extinct blog!!

Today I met one of my online friends that I have known for more than 10 years!!! Renee Kurtz and her hubby from Gingerwood were in town for a Mariner's game this evening (all the way from Great Falls, ID)! Now the team's been doing great, but that's not the only reason they came to town...they're leaving for a cruise tomorrow! How lucky, huh? Today before the game, Renee and I went over to the A-Muse store in Greenwood and had some fun there~ It was a short visit but definitely FUN! I can't wait for her to come back again so we can spend more time shopping and playing~

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Elaine

Tweeting at night...

2010-02-06T02:02:00.000-08:00

and my photo of the tweets leave much to be desired. However I wanted to get this posted before going to bed. It's from a challenge I saw on Nichole Heady's blog and it looked soooo easy and so cool! I was having a lot of fun and made this one super quick (under 10 minutes I think!). Normally copying a card takes me longer than coming up with my own idea.

I changed out her images and just replaced with some other stamps and colors. The birdies are so sweet, aren't they?

I adored this until I saw my card photographed - blech. It's boring, the colors are off, it looks crooked (but it's not) and it's really lacking something. But in real life I rather like it! :) In fact it might be the card that I make lots of to send off to friends on Valentine's Day!

My work week was most excellent....I hope next week is just as great as this week! I work with some pretty fun people and they help make my job wonderful most of the time!

I have a girl's day of fun planned on Saturday. It's been a long time since we've gotten together and I'm really looking forward to it! My friend Janell is THE Martha Stewart of our little group. You know the type...perfect clean house, cute but not too cute furniture, charming, great cook and bartender and she is the hostess with the mostess if you you know what I mean! It should be lots of fun!

Happy card-making, everyone! I hope you all have a great weekend too! :)

hugs,
Elaine

A new and different blog candy (one that you might not expect to see!)

2010-01-22T00:43:00.001-08:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Check it out:
http://www.scrapcandy.com/2010/01/platinum-titanium-and-diamonds-oh-my.html

I'm working on Valentines....but they're slow goin....no mojo these days and still getting over the flu bug! :(

Ever wish you had a light box for better pics?

2010-01-12T23:30:00.000-08:00

Well now's your chance to get one!

check out this supah cool blog candy opportunity! Winnie is giving one as blog candy! The drawing is on the 18th...so hurry over and enter your chance to win!

http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/

I've slowed down on finding cute and fun new things to buy....last time it was the new Martha punches...and then a couple embellishments at Impress....but other than that, nothing new. I did make a prototype for something totally OUT THERE that I will share when it's finished...I can't wait...it's fun, whimsical and I hope you get a laugh out of it!!

Until then, adios, Amigos!

That light box sure would come in handy when I finish the project....hmmmm....

More THz tags!

2009-12-31T19:44:00.000-08:00

I was going to try to finish up the last tags this evening but came down with a nasty cold bug. Came home from work early yesterday and just felt like poop! So tonight even though I've taken some cold medication, I'm not quite moving as swiftly as I'd like, and have another few tags to tackle. I know it won't happen before midnight, but at least it was fun trying!

I do want to say how fun Grungepaper is!! I didn't think it was going to be a big deal, but I just LOVE working with it!

The orange green and turquoise tag have the metal corners that match the Distress embossing powder but the color got washed out by the flash :(
I was able to track down an I-top brad maker but it was 34.99 at Michaels (used a coupon though) - and I got it for 40% off...Dying to play with, but it'll have to wait until after I feel better.

For the most part they turned out pretty neat. I have the last 4 that I've finished but still need to get some pictures of. One has a Grungepaper rose...it's sooo cool!! :)

Well, I hope you all have had a wonderful year in 2009. I've met some really fabulous people and have enjoyed surfing all of your blogs! Here's to lots of cheer and love and health for 2010! Happy New Year , everyone!

xoxo
Elaine

The 12 Days of Christmas Tim Holtz style!

2009-12-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

Well I'm not finished, in fact I've only done ONE day's worth of the THz 12 Days of Christmas tags. I loved all of his creativity, but am disappointed that I didn't get to use the stuff that I bought....and on top of that, the ONE set of Christmas stamps that I bought which are his, I lost!!! My husband needed to do some tuning on his big piano so I had to clear space for him to take the top apart and set them down...that meant I had to move my scrap & stamping stuff off the chairs and move my boxes out of his way! Now I can't figure out where I've put that one box with the Tim Holtz stamp set - darn, darn, darn!

Anyway, I had a lot of fun with the tag and wanted to share. The stamps that I used on the purple/pink/green/blue tag are from an unmounted vintage set that I got last year.

I'm showing one picture in the sepia tones because it looked cool :) The plaid is the part of the tag that I got from Tim Holtz' day #3. He shared how to make those icicle looking things too. Behind it, the paper is pearlized with one of the plumy colors of alcohol ink. There's also stream, lettuce, and meadow alcohol ink in there.

The green/red tag uses an old PSX stamp and Tim's roman numeral clock, there's also a smattering of the SU itty bitty background on there, and a swirly stamp from Tim too.

The trinket pin has tiny writing on it-- they say, 'memories' 'trinkets' and stuff like that...really cute! There's also a metal clip of some sort from WeRMemory keepers. I tied the sheer red bow on it and added a snowflake rub on & Amuse red bling across the bottom. If my red metallic dresden had come, I'd have added that too. In fact I left some room for it at the bottom - hope it gets here soon! :)

Happy Holidays everyone! Stay warm!

hugs,
Elaine

There's a new blinkie over on the right....

2009-12-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

Check it out - from 7 Gypsies. If you're a fan, you can click on the link, go to their blog and pick up the blinkie for YOUR OWN blog; after you link it up, then post on their blog and be entered to win a fabby 7GYPSIES prize-a-rooni!

Here's the blog link:
http://sevengypsies.blogspot.com/

Give Thanks...

2009-11-26T22:35:00.000-08:00

We have so much to be thankful for....not just this year, but every year. Most everyone in my family is doing well (health wise) and is happy. I can't begin to list everything that I'm thankful for - from family, to my job, to friends (especially the friends that I've met online/through blogging), and being able to find time to create! We are blessed and I am very thankful. (Even when my internet is out for a week at a time -- I know that Bruce will come home and be able to fix it...and in the meanwhile, I get to spend time with the kids who go through withdrawal from not being online as much as I do!)

I hope you have many things to be thankful for as well.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Here are some cards that will arrive late at their destinations but nevertheless I actually got them into envelopes this year rather than having them sit half finished on the kitchen table!

Thanks for taking time to visit! :)

Hugs,
Elaine

CK Convention in Seattle at the Meydenbauer!

2009-11-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

You know it's that time again! The Creating Keepsakes Convention in Seattle/Bellevue! This year I didn't sign up for any classes - instead I got to help work at the booth of one of my absolute favorite companies ever....Crafty Secrets! Spending time with Sandy Redburn the owner, and Jessie, a shop owner from B.C. was just about the highlight of my year! LOL These ladies are sweet, funny, amazing, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time with them! They have the neatest accent but it isn't that harsh british-y, "EH?!" sounding accent! Didn't get to shop quite as much as I would have liked, but that's probably for the better.

And gosh darn, I forgot to get pics right after we set everything up- but at least I got a few snapshots of some samples right before we tore down the booth. There were so many more pictures that I wish I could have taken.... but there will definitely be a next time so stay tuned!

At the bottom, it's the three of us...in the middle is Sandy, then Jessie- They are so awesome! I ♥ them!!

Neglected blog?

2009-10-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

Well maybe, but it's not as if I wasn't stamping. I just wasn't having any luck with pictures! The icky wet, dark weather means terrible pictures and little no posting for me.

I persevered though and came up with these photos of my cards...I love the knobbly gnome set! I got it on the aftermarket but didn't realize it was cling mounted until after it arrived...I have no case for the darn set! WAHH!!!

The top two are my Halloween cards - I didn't get nearly as many done as I had hoped! :(

Then those gnomes colored in copics. I'm so proud of that coloring! lol...I kept showing my son...and he was saying yeah, yeah, without even looking! :P Then he saw the strawberry one and was intrigued...but we found out coloring is NOT his thing...so off he went back to the video games :(

Also got this little "Over the top" tidbit of fun from the Lovely Ms. Tsuruta at Tsuruta Designs:

I need to pass this award onto 5 peeps, post on their blog to let them know I left this award, and then I need to answer a list of questions in ONE word.

Fun!

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? shiny

3. Your mother? generous

4. Your father? funny

5. Your favorite food? Bruschetta

6. Your dream last night? not

7. Your favorite drink? DiSaronno

8. Your dream/goal? Happiness

9. What room are you in? Media

10. Your hobby? Collecting (you thought it was going to be stampin or cardmaking, huh?)

11. Your fear? slugs!!!!

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here!

13. Where were you last night? bed

14. Something you aren't? Singer

15. Muffins? Pumpkinberrystruedel

16. Wish list item? Copics

17. Where did you grow up? Seattle

18. Last thing you did? Mail

19. What are you wearing? Bling (see the sweater/picture from when I was at AMuse last November - wore that same outfit today - hadn't worn it in almost a year!)

20. Your TV? off

21. Your pets? Westie

22. Friends? Entertaining

23. Your life?Busy

24. Your mood? Achey

25. Missing someone? grandparents

26. vehicle? Sophie

27. Something your not wearing?underwear (just kidding!) bracelet is the real answer!!

28. Your favorite store? Fran's (it's a chocolate store - google Fran's chocolates if you must)

29. Your favorite color?green or magenta (watermelon)

30. When was the last time you laughed? earlier

31. Last time you cried? reading

32. Your best friend?lots

33. One place that I go to over and over? work

34. Facebook? YEAH

35. Favorite place to eat? Cutters or Piatti's

yummmmmm...

2009-10-10T19:28:00.001-07:00

Do you like Thickers as much as I do? Look what came from American Crafts! Heaven....I am in it... right now.

From left to right:
Soft felt varsity "LETTERMAN" letters

Glittery "GLASS SLIPPER" puffy letters

"MIRROR MIRROR" puffy glitter letters

"NUTMEG" glossy chipboard letters
Reflective
"CINNAMON" foil letters and
Trendy colored "ROCKATEER" letters.... you'd be in heaven too if you were in my shoes today :)

Last minute WCMD

2009-10-05T23:10:00.000-07:00

From Ellen Hutson's blog, the CLASSroom, there were several challenges that I wanted to try. I would have done more if we hadn't gone out to dinner with the neighbors on Sunday evening. As much as I love a nice Italian restaurant with our friends, it tends to cut into my weekend stampin time! :( Oh the sacrifices.....

I'm going to try to do one or two more challenges before midnight! :) We'll see. I don't think they'll get posted, but at least I'll get to play and make cards!! :)

#1 - Color Challenge - use Aqua/water blue, chocolate and cream
#2 - Glitz it up - a holiday card with glitz (YEAH!)
#3 - a Halloween item - mine isn't nearly as cute at I THOUGHT it would be - but maybe I'll work on it some more. ETA: I took the photo out and will replace with a before and after :)

Most of the items are from Ellen Hutson's store, but I think you can find similar items if you look - we're surrounded by so many options for crafting these days, aren't we? On a side note - see the buttons in the picture? I got my order from Papertrey today and in two packages of pink buttons there is not ONE flower!! :( I'm so disappointed because that is why I bought pink...thinking I'd get at least a couple flowers...but not even one! Geesh! If anyone has pink flowers and wold like to trade them for some of my plain janes, please let me know! :)

The blue buttons are from my local scrap store - see all the pretty flower shapes? LOL I bought that package specifically for the flower buttons!!

Ok, I'm back to crafting now...and by the way, I hope you are all well....I'm not. Came down with a terrible sore throat today and I may stay home tomorrow. I hope I didn't get my co-worker sick today because we had to team call even though I felt like crap! :(

Card making makes me feel better (kind of)....

Take care everyone!

hugs,
Elaine

Crafty Secrets WCMD Challenge at Splitcoast

2009-10-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

I LOVE WCMD! (WCMD=World Card Making Day). Over at Splitcoast Stampers in the Forums area there are challenges all day (and maybe even all weekend long)! One of my very favorite companies there is called Crafty Secrets. They're a sponsoring member company at Splitcoast Stampers....and they make the very BEST Vintage image stamps! I am IN LOVE, I tell ya! :)

So today their challenge was to make a card with Dimension. I chose the Craft Secrets set called Christmas Joy because I love layering the beautiful ornament images. They are designed to work together for multiple looks and can be 'decorated' in soooo many ways! There are just enough 'supporting' images in the set like a holly sprig, pine branch, and great sentiments too....see why I like it so much!? It's versatile, fun, and EASY to use!

Here's the card (you'll have to excuse the color and the warped panel image I so kindly shared in the picture -- it's not sunny here in Seattle so the grey skies make it hard to photograph things with any accuracy). Can you see where I layered the ornament? It's even got a little ornament loop at the top where I tied the sheer ribbon on (and the ribbon matches perfectly - not all dark and yucky like in the picture). The ornament is heat embossed in silver - look at the detail...it's lovely! Then I watercolored with SU inks on the ornament in Mambo Melon and my old Bliss Blue inks. Even the blue snowflakes are from the Crafty Secrets set! Great images, huh?

I hope if you're a stamper you do something fun today! I'll be visiting friends for stampin happiness later today!! But for now I'm off to make more cards! :)

hugs,
Elaine

A little this, a little that....

2009-09-29T19:56:00.000-07:00

It's been a cool, wet, and windy day in Seattle. But over the weekend I made some cards. Then I managed to get some pics while it was still sunny, warm (75 degrees) and gorgeous. Summer's gone now. I'd woo it back with stamps if I could!

Top card is made with bats and a greeting from SU; the row of tombstones is from Lizzie Anne Designs (unmounted stamps - love em!)

It has a fun little metal ghostie charm from Making Memories that says "Boo!" and it's tied up with black / white 1/4" gingham, crinkle satin orange ribbon and black WEBBY ribbon... inside is a skull and crossbones from the Lizzie Anne set and an outline of white gel pen (the Stampin Up gel pen - cuz they work the very best for me!)

Second card is hopefully at it's intended recipient's home by now!!? It has some of the corduroy in orange, some splattery glimmer mist (that's what's making it look dingy - close up click shows the shimmer!) and a leaf die cut from K & Co. (The entire package of leaves were clearanced at Tar-jay for a buck!) The background paper is from SEI's Dill collection (bought last year at the Shop hop festival).

At the bottom, you see two of my oldest and dearest friends: (oldest as in old time friends - obviously they're not old women!)

First on the right, is Kim who I grew up with (she had a pool and I learned to swim at her house) and then my hairdresser/old neighbor, Camille in the middle (who was pinching my butt or something which explains my hand behind the back trying to shoo her away)...she also grew up in our neighborhood! We sure used to have fun back in the old days!!!

Kim was in town for a business meeting with her colleague Helen so we decided to go out for a night on the town at the new dreamy shops at the Bravern
in Bellevue. We drank and dined at Wild Ginger Restaurant (mmmmmm!!!) Camille and Jill both know how to flirt big time and got us some extra goodies and nicey-nice treats! After spending four hours and countless howls of laughter there, we wandered around to WINDOW shop (Thank God those places were closed - shoes at 2400 and purses at 3000 - I'd never be able to explain that)...then over to the new John Howie Steak house at the other end of the 'mall' and there we had a little apertif in the lounge.

There was a wonderful pianist - we almost had the entire place to ourselves...until the Bananas Foster show...I had no idea what it was but didn't think I'd like it because I hate bananas.
The showy preparation for the dessert drew a number of people in - so we didn't have the whole place to act silly and goofy but we still had fun and a most MEMORABLE evening! Next up is a trip to L.A. with the girls...Kim and her co-worker Helen are both from L.A. Apparently Helen's place is a beautiful "O.C." place where she said we can live it up!! Wooohooo! I can't wait!

Au revoir~

Ribbon makes my world go round!

2009-09-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Do you like ribbon as much as I do? Hopefully not because my husband says it is a sickness.
I could sit and look at ribbon all day long - it's like a whole bunch of pretty little rainbows inside the house!

I think they're too pretty not to share! You should click on the pictures and see the TEXTURES on each of the rolls...it is amazing!

The BIG ric rac has a ribbed texture and is very soft and pliable. The pom-pom edged ribbons have little fluffy poms on the edges - soft and cute! The webby stuff (in orange and black) is amazing when layered with a solid ribbon underneath!

Then there's the velvet corduroy ribbon - just like the fabric...ribbed, soft, and velvety!

The white edge stitched Grosgrain is deeply saturated with color - and it is a nice WIDE 1" in width!

Ruffled edged suede has been on my list for a long time - but after seeing it at the scrapbook store for $.75 a foot, I decided to wait, save my money and buy it this way instead... it came out to less than a dollar a YARD...not a foot! :) Oh happy day for me, sad day for hubby...there is ribbon everywhere!

Each roll has between 10 and 30 yards. That's a lot even if you like ribbon a lot, isn't it? I do need to sell some of it...the good news is that I will sell it at very, very good prices! I know of two people that were interested so far....if anyone else would like some, please email me at eyp963@msn.com and I will give you prices or do you think it's better to post it here?

Later I might get to post the cards I made yesterday... :)

The RIBBON ORDER is here!! :)

2009-09-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

OMG!! Things are looking pretty today!! Not only is our weather beautiful and sunny (well it was this afternoon), but the May Arts ribbon order arrived!!

I am thrilled beyond belief with the selections!! I will post this weekend in case anyone needs a ribbon "fix" - a lot of the colors are perfect for fall crafting...all pretty close to the cost that I paid (I do add the shipping cost in). If you need larger quantities, like a full roll please let me know - I can get full rolls for you all the time now!)

Until later, sweet dreams, all!

Hugs,
Elaine

Want a sneaky peeky? Here you go....the wrappers are still on, I know...but there's lots more, so stay tuned! I'll be crafting this weekend FOR SURE!

Papertrey MOJO!

2009-09-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

Well finally....it's been forever since I've had a card that's been decent enough to share. The week off for vacation was put to good use (tanning!) :) Got a few things to share....all from Papertrey Ink!

All of the backgrounds were stamped with Versamark and clear embossed. It makes such a beautiful texture on the background papers!

Even better, I used EVERY single stamp in the Retro Background Basics set....now I'm in love with it! And it justifies getting more Papertrey stamps, right? That's a whole lotta cards for me...but I'm still playing! :)

I also had to show off my card from Ms. Amy of Tsuruta Designs - isn't that the coolest? She of course gave me a mondo-gargantuan button on my card...threaded and knotted, no less! Thank you, Amy!! I love it!

Happy End of Summer, everyone! I hope it's not really over - I'm still out in the sun, tanning...even today! 75 degrees? We'll see...

The beginning of the week is supposed to get WARM again! Woohoo...I need more vacation time! :)

hugs,
elaine

Katrina's Blogiversary...she's a favorite of mine!

2009-09-16T09:44:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post to share one of my favorite bloggers that is celebrating her Blogiversary! :)
Check out her blog here - I bet you'll fall in love too!

http://whimsicalwishes.blogspot.com/

Hope you are all enjoying the end of summer - it came all too soon, didn't it? I'm on vacation this week and starting to feel better after a bug or something that hit me toward the end of last week. Wiped me out! My mojo is still OUT but I hope to find it this week....

The story of 3 amigos

2009-09-07T15:12:00.001-07:00

Sometime back in August 3 amigos met up at Piatti's at University Village for drinks. Senorita Lesli had just had a birthday the week before. Senorita Umbinetti treated the amigos to a fine afternoon of cucumber gimlets, pizza, and fire roasted asparagus with goat cheese. I think there may also have been a salad of some kind involved. The amigos were happy. At the end of the visit, Senor Oliver the waiter took their picture and somehow it landed here on this layout.

supply list:
black cardstock from SU
coral cardstock from PTI

purple patterned paper from KI Memories

Thickers are from American Crafts; Corner flourish is a rub-on from American Crafts Remarks; Yellow felt flower is from American Crafts; and the ruffle edge is made of ribbon from American Crafts!

Gingham center on flower is a fabric brad from Hot off the press

'Nuff said.

NO MOJO....

2009-09-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

Things just are not very productive these days. HOWEVER, there is a new ribbon share in the works!! Think of the 5th month of the year and a student who takes a painting or drawing class... ;-) Think you know what I'm talking about? Let's see who knows!.....post in your comments if you can make a guess.
And then stay tuned! :)

About time for a new card?

2009-08-11T22:23:00.001-07:00

Don't think I'm spoiling the surprise but I have not heard if the recipient has received this yet...hopefully it's there!! :) This was made with the Maya Road birthday chipboard from the Lasting Memories big sale about a month ago. It was soooo much fun! I thought I'd never use the stuff, but hey - lookie lookie...I'm using it! Not only the chipboard, but also my Crate Paper ribbon embellishments, Tim Holtz crackle paints, alcohol inks, glitter, etc etc.... lots of fun stuff! The cherry is glazed and glittered too! It was so much fun, but it was a little on the warm side using the heat gun when it was toasty outside!

August is here and so is the cold wet rain. I think I liked the warm weather better.... what do you like better unseasonably WARM weather (in the 80-100 range) or a typical Seattle summer with drizzle and clouds?

I'd also like to get some help with an anniversary gift idea....I'm drawing a complete blank! I want something that is romantic and not necessarily something that we need. Any ideas? Those of you that know my hubby know that he's very private, reads a ton, prefers to be away from people and crowds, likes old cars (let's not go there though), and he's a great cook (fabulous I mean - really creative, he makes delicious treats and is awesome!). Have any of you been on a hot air balloon ride? Is it scary? I saw one this evening and thought that might be fun....

My friend Michele K & the boys

2009-07-29T18:52:00.001-07:00

I'm copy-catting today...

2009-07-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

The blog candy here looks so good I couldn't resist!
mom of three addicted to paper blog and mushis creative inspirations

and THIS smoking blog candy opp that isn't a copy-cat from Amy Tsuruta's blog:
Creative Antics Blog
Embellishments galore!!
3 Awesome PACKAGES of Thickers!
Cosmo Cricket paper pad!!
Stampin Up stamp sets!! (Plural because there are two sets!!)

Look at ALL that stuff!!!

Go check them out and enter if you're so inclined! :)

A challenge - do you recognize it?

2009-06-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

ETA: A couple of you have asked about why comments don't show up. All I can guess at this point, is that the 2nd step wasn't completed. It's a quick fix...after you enter your comment, another step is involved where you type in the letters shown on the screen...and hit enter. I'll be watching for a few more comments when those people who couldn't see their message, are able to finally comment :)

I am terrible with challenges because I'll see one that I want to do, and then after I've made it, I can't remember whose challenge it is!! :( This happens to be 'one of those'.... I loved playing with the Tim Holtz Crackle paint and alcohol inks that have been in my stash for years!!! Isn't that crackle effect cool?? I did get some close up pics - hopefully they show up well...click on them to see the crackly parts on the star. I love it!

The background paper is from K & Co's Wild Saffron line (part of the pad that was on clearance for only 4.97). I went back today and EVERY single pad was gone - I should have bought some of the other ones that I was thinking about getting...maybe for the best though...as you can see they last a long, long time because there's so much paper in them!

If you happen to know whose challenge this was from, please post and tell me- I'd like to let the person know that I played and I liked the layout!!

We had more fabulous weather today - can you see the beautiful blue sky in the background? It's perfect!! 73 degrees and a little breeze...it means you can work outside and not get hot! You can run/walk or exercise and it's comfortable! I on the other hand picked raspberries from our neighbor's house with my hubby. We were there a short 10 minutes and gathered almost 6 pounds - there were berries EVERYWHERE! Afterward, my left forearm came out looking like the untreated arm from the OFF commercial!! 8 bites on 10" of arm...less than 10 minutes...unreal. However the raspberry coffee cake this morning was soooo worth it!

I got the recipe from Cindy at Imagine Dream Create. Hers were made with strawberries, mine with raspberries. I added Madagascar infused whipped cream made fresh this morning, and topped it with julienned basil fresh from the herb garden. DEEEEELISH!!
In case Cindy's link doesn't work, here's the url: http://imagine-dream-create.blogspot.com/2009/06/strawberry-coffee-cake-minis.html
It was SUPER easy too!! Even the kids could make it (they will next time).

Have a great Sunday evening bloggie readers...and enjoy the week if I don't get to post again... I'm back to work for a week then off while we head to Santa Barbara over the 4th of July! :)

The Butterflies - I'm so proud of this one!!

2009-06-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

I finally made something that I really like a LOT! It uses the patterned paper by K & Co. paper called Wild Saffron (which by the way was on sale for only $4.97 at Michaels - marked way down!) yay! The dark aqua is PaperTrey's Ocean Tides (ribbon and cardstock). I colored my own velvet ric-rack from May Arts using Glimmer Mist in a brown shade -it's sparkly! The little velvet flowers were also made from ric-rack and that's what I'm so happy about! They turned out just how I wanted!! That hardly ever happens! :) The centers are a glue dot with brown seed beads lined in silver - which makes them stand out and shimmer!

What fun it was workin on this one! Stamps are from Stampin Up - I broke out a 'new' set called Great Friend (bought months ago). I only wish I could find my linen thread to tie up those sad little naked buttons!

Oh wait...there's more~ I even dressed up the inside of the card! That's my other proud accomplishment. I hardly ever do the inside to match the front!

The hydrangea blossoms were spritzed with Glimmer Mist in Turquoise, Aspen Yellow and edged with the brown called Autumn Leaves.

I tried my best to show the sparkley shimmer from the Glimmer Mist, but that just didn't happen. Maybe clicking to make it bigger will help show off the lustre!?

Anyway, I had a lot of fun being inspired by so many creative people - from those on the Gingerwood Bulletin board to all the blogs that I scour from day to day - ones that show you how to use Glimmer Mist, Distress ink techniques, make their own flowers, add buttons (which I'm not so fond of but they're definitely growing on me), distressing paper, dressing the INSIDES of the card, and overall just providing me with lots of eye candy....Thanks so much for the inspiration!

p.s. that bright turquoise flower isn't quite that brilliant...it photographed in a different color for some reason!? It's not as dark as the other two, but this looks off....

Birds, Birds, Birds!

2009-06-26T01:27:00.000-07:00

They're everywhere - so are butterflies!

This little glittery bird will be flying over to send some get well wishes to my friend Sue. (I used the new teeny tiny wishes set from Stampin up - isn't that font cute?) The owl is one of the K & Co. glitter embellishments. I went overboard and bought too many so now I'm trying to use them up before they're passe'

The photo makes it look like the colors don't match but they should they're all apricot appeal and pink passion...and then some new SU background paper - the Raspberry Lemonade! (Yum!) The ribbon is from Michael's $1 bin (last year).

I'm working on my butterfly card and will post it soon (hopefully tomorrow)...the last day of my furlough...it's been a wonderful week off. I went shopping almost every day....two new pairs of shoes today! :) Yippee!! And a single indulgent piece of caramel from Fran's...with smoked salt on top. I didn't even buy an extra to share with hubby. He doesn't know I went there....(heheheh)...

The lazy photographer shares a card or two

2009-06-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

I love making cards...I hate photographing them. I hate my photography 'skills' (or lack of).

I like to share, and I like to make cards....why can't photography be easier??

Most of these use the NEW Stampin Up "In-Colors" for 2009-2010! Aren't they pretty? I know that one picture is really out of focus...it just didn't want to cooperate. Maybe I should start paying my son to take the pictures and be done with it!

The Owl on the "Hi" card is a little embelli from Michaels - .99 cents! Letters in gray are from Sassafrass Lass stamps :)

The big tweet is my new ON BOARD chipboard set from SU...I don't know why I waited so long to get it...I like it lots!! The papers are from the new Raspberry Lemonade Line that will be available July 1st - great colors and they are more like BasicGrey papers now! YAY!

Be Happy Floral is a mix of the "Enjoy" set (RETIRED NOW), and Circle Circus (another new item in July). The ribbon is from American Crafts though - isn't it a nice matchy match?

And finally the out of focus purply card paired with the Razzleberry Cardstock from Stampin Up. Fun color but excuse the photo please!

I was up early this morning so I'm staring to feel the need for a nap.... have a great day everyone! I'll be enjoying my mid-week furlough time...Who knows what tomorrow will hold!

xxoo
Elaine

Another Blog Candy opp?

2009-06-20T00:40:00.000-07:00

I love finding blog candy stuff and want to share another really great one with you all...I just entered it and you should too!

http://carlzcardz.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-30000-hits-candy-please-scroll-down.html

Look what I found!!

2009-06-18T22:31:00.001-07:00

These are from the A-Muse cupcake social back in 2008!!

I guess I saved these pictures to the wrong place and couldn't find them....

It's Amy Tsuruta (THE Best blogger around!), Julie HRR Ebersol (infamous designer of AMuse single layer cards), and Novell Eckstrom (scrap teacher extraordinaire!)

There is another great event coming up called AMuse-a-Palooza...I think that's what it's called....
and sign up's are going on now...did you sign up? I want to!! It's only $15 if you pre-register! Just do it....you'll be glad you did!

The Scrapmaster's Blog & her sweet candy!

2009-06-18T22:00:00.000-07:00

Time to get busy entering for this yummy blog candy at Samantha's place, Scrapmaster's Paradise!! WOW! :)

http://thescrapmaster.blogspot.com/2009/06/june-blog-candy-giveaway.html

I'll hopefully get my new cards up tomorrow - I made them last week but haven't been motivated to photograph them. I'm horrible at photography! Thinking about taking a class...Have any of you taken a class or do you have a recommendation? I messed up the pictures from my son's commencement last weekend and since then I've been discouraged to take any photos! Good luck to everyone on the blog candy! :)

365 sketch

2009-06-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

-

I guess one would expect a card made from all the new Stampin Up supplies that were received earlier this week. However that's not the case...I'm sharing a card that's for the 365 cards blog for Sketchy Sunday! My darling buddy Amy (from Tsuruta Designs) had such a great card (I fell in love with her sweet pennant design) I had to do it!

Here's the post at 365 with details on the sketch:
http://365cards.blogspot.com/2009/06/day-99-super-sketchy-sunday.html

Notice the cute little dragonflies? That's part of the sketch challenge. Mine came from a blog candy win at www.katycards.co.uk - I was thrilled to have won some really fun embellishments that I'd never seen before. The shipping is free, so when I run out, I'll be ordering more - the prices are very reasonable and you all know how much I love little pearly things on my cards, right? ;-)

The background is an old Stampin up image - once I stamped it, I sanded the ink off slightly to make the linen texture peek through. Some of the centers of the background designs have a tiny dot of metallic (you can see them if you look closely - I photographed at night so the flash would reflect off the metallic dots...that's the only way I could think of to make them pop).

The triangle is some fabulous, heavy metallic cardstock that my dad got a while back. Can't believe I haven't used more of it! There's copper, and the scalloped circle is a navy metallic. Later on I'll use the hunter green, purple and dark anthracite colors...they're gorgeous!

Lots going on today so I better run. Have a wonderful day! We're still languishing in the sunshine in Seattle!! :) Oh, and Trophy Cupcake FINALLY opens today at University Village - FINALLY!! I've been waiting more than a month for them to open! :) Fat City, here I come!

Is it just me or does it feel like Easter?

2009-06-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

...Especially when you see Easter Egg colors like these!.... It could even be Valentine's Day again with all these hearts! Oh, and check out the owl's eye....whoops! lol

The card that has "for you" as the sentiment on the front also has some tone-on-tone stamping on the pink panel - it doesn't show up well in the picture though.

The background papers are from a Stampin Up series called Tea Party.

Our weather is much cooler this weekend....I prefer the warmer temps that we had last weekend.

p.s. I just posted a side link to Whoopsie Daisy's Blog candy...check it out! The little animal stamps are pretty darn cute! Donkey smiles also has a sweet chance to win blog candy here: http://donkeysmiles.blogspot.com/2009/06/celebrating-75000-hits-with-some-big.html Good luck!

A little fun...

2009-06-05T20:44:00.000-07:00

8 Things I Look Forward To
1. Hanging out with my friends and family
2. Laughing with friends and family - this is probably my favorite thing to do
3. Stamping time!
4. The WEEKENDS -especially if it's a 3-day, holiday weekend!
5. Summertime
6. A great Stamp or scrapping sale
7. Dinner out at a favorite restaurant
8. Warming up after being out in the snow; or cooling off after a long workout

8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Made a presentation at work
2. Laughed with colleagues and my boss
3. Had barbequed chicken for dinner
4. Walked for an hour on the warmest record breaking day of the year (in Seattle)
5. Opened my new Stampin Up Shipment!!! :)
6. Drove down the freeway with the top down
7. Hugged and kissed my kids and my hubby
8. Watched housewives of New Jersey (it's a goofy show!)

8 Things I Wish I Could Do
1. Sing
2. Travel more
3. Be more organized
4. Wear cute strappy sandals
5. Find a cure for diabetes
6. Take better pictures
7. Teach my kids how to pick up after themselves
8. Convince my husband we should stay in the house we're at, in the city we're at!

8 Things or Shows I Have Watched Lately
1. The sunrise on a hot summer day
2. Housewives of New Jersey
3. A firetruck with it's siren on, trying to get through traffic in Seattle
4. Oprah (the episode with the father who authored the book, Beautiful Boy)
5. My daughter's science project growing on our deck
6. HGTV
7. the 11:00 news (channel 5/Kingtv)
8. A youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF6lF_jLBNg

It's been a great weekend in Seattle!

2009-05-31T16:34:00.001-07:00

I could not ask for any better weather or weekend lineup of activities! Friday night I spent time with Jill, Donna, and Linda and we feasted on the best carmelized onion and feta tart thingies (from Trader Joes), some great mozarrella cheese sticks and tiny little pizzas (white cheese & no red sauce = very good pizza). There was a fabulous cheese plate (I wish I could remember the name of the cheese!), and then some great mini chocolate oatmeal cookies and Starbuck's new ice creams: Java Chip and Caramel Machiatto...Even Jill liked the ice cream and she's NOT an ice cream kinda gal!

After the wine, drinks and feasting, we crafted until LATE - 2:45 a.m.? (Sorry about that, Jill!) But once I got started on these cards I was so happy to be actually making something and couldn't stop! Even Jill got busy! :) I should have brought my camera that night because the interior of her house is a dream if you like SU colors! The walls were recently repainted - I believe there's Kiwi Kiss, Tangering Tango, So Saffron, and a gorgeous deep red in the kitchen area. It's all open so you can see all the color from the dining area where we sit....love it!

Saturday I spent time with my girlfriends who used to work at the Seattle Times. We're all somewhat spread out (and live far from each other) aside from having busy lives, so it was great to spend time hanging out together. We met at Anthony's on the waterfront in Des Moines. The afternoon was filled with fun, laughter, great drinks, good food, and the best company! I did remember to bring a camera -- and here we are :) (SAY CHEESE!) Too bad I didn't remember to take pictures until the end of our visiting!

(l-r Krista - she teaches at Edmonds Community, me, Lori - Marketing Director at Brookdale Senior Living in Tacoma, and Jill - Special Ed teacher/Real Estate agent extrodinaire).

Sunday is time to work in the garden, go plant shopping, and tidy up! Well, maybe I'll skip tidying up - that's not a strong point for me anyway - it's going to end up messy by tomorrow morning anyway, right? At least I did laundry and dishes! lol

I hope you all had a great weekend and that summer is knocking at your door where ever you may live!

hugs,
Elaine

Toodles & Binks, Dilly Dally Dingle, and Limelight? Huh?

2009-05-27T09:18:00.001-07:00

Toodles and Binks is a new company that I ran across today - they've got a release and blog candy. It's worth checking out if you play with cute images as much as I do! This card was the reason I clicked that link in the first place....it's so darn cute even though I hate snails! I didn't make it but I sure like it!

This link takes you to the blog, Life and Craft of Dilly Dally Dingle:
http://dillydallydingle.blogspot.com/2009/05/copic-colour-challenge-meets-toodle.html

This link takes you to Toodles and Binks where the stamps are available through their blog:
http://toodlesandbinks.blogspot.com/2009/05/sah-015-swalk-and-blog-candy.html

And while you're out and about, check out Limelight's Celebration! Nearly a year old now :)
http://limelightpapercrafts.blogspot.com/2009/05/limelights-anniversary-celebration.html
You'll be glad you poked your head in over there just to see what it's all about!

Pretty and new...

2009-05-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

well, it's probably not what you thought it'd be, but I just ran across these and wanted to share because I totally am in LOVE with Prima flowers! These are so darn pretty I'm going to either have to find a way to add money to the budget for all of them, or just quit eating so I can use lunch money on them!

In any case, check these out:
http://prima.typepad.com/prima/2009/05/announcing-new-products.html

Aren't they cool?? Please let me know where you find them at if you buy some for yourself. I'll be on the lookout during one of my very limited trips to the craft/scrapbook stores in the next few weeks!

Hope everyone is enjoying the long holiday weekend! The Pacific Northwest is having some fabulous weather!! Wooohooo!

'nother card from the other day!

2009-05-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

Here's the pink and chocolate card that I tried to load the other day. Things are still a little on the busy side in our household....and at work.

The stamp is from SU, rub ons are SU too. The paper old Sandy Lion / Kelly Panicci or something like that from our local scrapbook store (it's old though). Ribbon is May Arts. The brown base is Papertrey and I love it! Almost more than SU's chocolate chip!

I had to buy a new dress tonight - because I couldn't fit my old ones! ACK! That's not good! Gotta keep dieting and exercising! :( No more lunchtime splurges...I work with a bunch of enablers!

Have a great weekend everyone!

hugs,
Elaine

Finally a card or two to share....

2009-05-13T19:06:00.000-07:00

April and May are busy months for Friends' Birthdays! I bet if your birthday falls in the month of April or May, I'm likely to get along with you real well and be buddies!

Out of more than a dozen cards, I only managed to take a picture of these three - the others were given away and sit in someone's desk drawer or worse yet, in the trash (they better not after they know how much time I put into these cards!) lol

Anyhow, here are the latest funtastic cards....

Actually the third one isn't wanting to load, so I'll post it later...

The Blue card with stars and circles is my BASIC GREY Lime Rickey pad - love the colors and fun patterns! The light blue background is swiss dots cuttlebugged, and there is a Stampin Up Birthday Sentiment on there embossed in white. The button has a little bow of periwinkle ribbon, and the green sashes are ribbon from May Arts.

The "it's a boy!" card is mostly PaperTrey Inc. (Patterned paper and the Ocean tides cardstock - I just love that dusky blue-green color!) Sentiment "Happy for you" is an SU rub on, and the ribbon is actually SU twill layered onto Papertrey twill! The sailboat image is from SU and it was clear embossed on patterned paper and cut out, then applied to the oval on pop dots...it's cute in person! :)

There's been a lot going on in our family the past few weeks...from funerals to weddings to birthdays...it's all happening here! I hope you all are having a nice Spring!! I'm enjoy Seattle's liquid sunshine today...and lots of it!

hugs,
Elaine

May's Here...

2009-05-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

and finally I remembered to photog some cards before mailing them off.

My best friend and maid of honor, Susan, will be 46 on Monday. I wish her hugs and love and many more happy birthdays!!!!
Here's the card she's getting - it's pretty, bright and kinda fun (just like her)...if I knew how to make a smart, kind and generous card I'd have done that too.

I also made a Thank You for my neighbor who brought a May Day tradition on the 1st. The card is a challenge for Ellen Hutson's CLASSroom - there's always fun stuff and techniques to learn there. My neighbor, Jean, gave me a Lily of the Valley plant in an earth-friendly organic bamboo planter. In time if the planter is put into the ground, it will decompose and add nutrients back into the earth. It's way cool and I would never have known if it weren't for the sticker! Anyway, this is the little thank you that I did for her - she had a nice letter telling me how she was introduced to the French May Day tradition when they lived in France a couple years ago. We have the best neighbors!! :)

Have a great week everyone, I'm off to go buy a new washing machine...it figures something would go wrong when Bruce left town! GRrrrr!!!
I'd also love to hear comments on whether you've got a front loader (with steam cycle?) and/or do you have an HE top loaded (No more agitators)...I can't decide which one to get!

Tomorrow I take my friend out for her birthday and another friend who went to my high school that has the same birthday as Sue - small world, huh?

Lots of sickies out and about

2009-04-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

Since there have been so many people getting sick late in the season, I have been making some get well cards. I love the cheery colors on the Scenic Route paper and was thrilled to find tags that coordinated the other day. What I like most is that I can find lots of extras to coordinate with this line of paper!

Hope you are all well....if not, then here's a get well wish from me to you!

hugs,
Elaine

Moralia's Blog today...

2009-04-15T21:18:00.001-07:00

is gorgeous. She shows a fabulous orange and blue kit of the month and I'm loving the color combo! I always love orange and blue. I have an orange and blue card in fact...but the sunny weather got the best of me today and I didn't get a picture of the card...but maybe tomorrow@! In it's place, go check out Moralia's candy here: http://moralia.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/lil-scrappers-mini-kit-reveal-some-blog-candy/
It's a bunch of pearls and I love pearls on projects! Yay! I hope she picks me! LOL Have a great evening and enjoy our sun tomorrow Seattleites! hugs, Elaine

2009-04-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

I made an Anniversary card for my friend Sue and her hubby Robert. They were married on Tax day 15 years ago. On their honeymoon they came to visit me in Santa Barbara. It was a nice treat to have an old friend stop by -especially when we were still somewhat new to the area.

Anyhow, I hope she likes the card. I wish this were a real flower - I think she'd like a REAL bouquet like this! It's a new Savvy stamp from the event that I went to this weekend at the local stamp store. I smothered the flowers with glitter - just because I could...

I'm off to bed early - hoping the pinched nerve in my neck feels better tomorrow. It's been a real pain in the neck (literally!)...

ttfn~
E

Easter Blessings

2009-04-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

We are not terribly religious even though my husband was raised Catholic. We didn't go to church today. I did however think about the real meaning behind Easter. Then made Easter dinner for my mom, dad, and my brother. My aunt was going to join us but called this morning to say she wasn't feeling that great so she declined at the last minute.

I finished home-made scalloped potatoes (and one pan was made super spicy with cayenne pepper for my hubby who likes it HOT!), a fresh strawberry pie (lots of whipping cream ready for this when it's time to serve), a cute loaf of bread in the shape of a bunny (made by a la Francaise bakeries- delicious!), and some asparagus and a big old honey baked ham...yummy!

It sounds like a lot but it was easy - so I had time to make a card....it had to photographed outside because it's such a gray day...well outside on the covered deck, the rain still got to my card :( so there are some 'blops' of swollen paper showing...don't look closely. I DO want you to notice the textured blue paper on the right side though - it's Core d'inations...you sand the blue paper and lighter core inside shows through where the linen texture is...I love it!!
The image is from A-Muse (isn't that little weiner doggie and bunny a cute one!?) the background flower stamp is from the Papertrey Anniversary set that I had to BUY off someone for $30 - yikes...not sure if that was worth it, but I intend to use it a lot, so I guess it's a good deal. Oh, notice those tiny blingies around the scalloped edge? They are the NEW Memory Box blings...150 of them come in a package! Sweet deal, especially since I got them at a discount yesterday during Monkey Love's Birthday Celebration! Monkey Love is a local rubber stamp store that I've been shopping at for at least 10 years now...wow...they're still just as great as ever and the owner Sandy carries a great selection of stamps...check them out on Lower Queen Anne if you're ever in the area!

Have a wonderful day everyone - even if it's pouring outside your windows like it is here in Seattle...blech....

In addition to the earlier post

2009-04-05T10:56:00.001-07:00

these are the other cards that I finished (and I'm so proud of myself for using up some stuff)...not a lot and I probably bought 10x more last night to replenish what I used, but whatever...that's what hobbies are for, right? I got to use one of my newer Nesties...it's the pinked edge circles. I can't remember which size I bought though. I wish they'd mark the actual dies with the size/name!!

Also, a slight correction on paper that was used on the whale, owl & heart sticker cards...it's not actually We R Memory Keepers paper. The bright orange, green, pink and yellow floral patterns are from another mfr... whose name escapes me at the moment and the little strip that tells the pattern name is long gone.

Just the stamped green monkey and pink alligator are We R Memory Keepers paper. My daughter made a blue alligator card last night and I'm going to try to get it back to share too because I think she does a great job and the card is CUTE! :)

Happy Sunday afternoon~
E

In order to justify.....

2009-04-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

all of the things that I bought during the Northwest Paper Chase, I decided I better get busy making cards - and not just singles, but sets. I'm planning to give the sets to those who ask to have cards made regularly. (Maybe I didn't buy enough stuff now that I think about it!)

The stamps are a super cute Sandylion set that I found at Michael's. There's a 'girl set' too (I bought only the boy set), so if there's a coupon today, I'm going to get the girl set next!

Anyhow, here are a few from the other day - it was dark and hard to photograph so I only took a few pictures. These use my new stash of We R Memory Keepers papers and the super cute dimensional stickers from K & Co's Berry Sweet Line. The colors are so vivid and remind me of 2nd grade when I had wild printed jeans in these same colors...OY!!

The sun's been out this weekend, so I've been stamping at night -- I hope the weather holds through the week. I hope your weekend has been as wonderful as mine!

I'll post the rest of the cards later today....It's a flurry of cards (at least for me!)

Ciao

Memory Box Woodland stamp

2009-03-28T22:48:00.000-07:00

Some of the stamps that I had to order during the NW Paper Chase finally came today. :)
I've been dying to ink them up and color! They're fabulous for Copic coloring and Prismacolor pencils! The card is simple, but I needed it flat so I could mail it w/o all the hassle that I've been going through lately with my cards and the post office.

The papers are from Memory Box too. I adore the rich colors and they're as much fun as Basic Grey!

I'll be working on some others this evening...hope you all are having a great weekend!

Hugs,
Elaine

I know some of you adore these stamps....

2009-03-26T09:56:00.001-07:00

so why not head over for a chance to WIN them? (Debbie, I think this contest has your name all over it!)

Enter to win the blog candy at Claudia's blog, Pretty Pressings! I've been a fan of Claudia's for quite a while now - I am always impressed. She never fails to create some of the most stunning cards colored with COPIC markers and the perfect amount of embellishing! (Carrie, you MUST check out Claudia's Copic coloring...and you'll see why you need to get copic markers for your projects - Brady would love them too!)

Here's her blog, Pretty Pressings:
http://www.rosaswelt.blogspot.com/

Here's link to see the entry for blog candy:
http://rosaswelt.blogspot.com/2009/03/hudge-magnolia-blog-candy-give-away.html

That's it for now...maybe I'll get to stamp tonight before Grey's Anatomy is on!

Updatin the blog...

2009-03-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

Oy - it's been a long, long time, hasn't it? No excuses...just busy. Part of the 'busy' was an event for crafters called "the Great NW Paper Chase"! It started last week on Friday - Of course we mapped out the course and hit 11 stores from Bellingham to Issaquah the first day! The Second day (Saturday) we hit the south end stores and the ones on the Peninsula. And finally on Sunday we hit a couple more right here in town (closest to where we live!). Notice the back of the trunk of the new car...I thought the trunk was pretty deep and pretty big but we managed to fill it up. The rest of the packages ended up in the back seat. :-/

I tend to really get caught up in paper lines and the embellishments when I'm shopping. We did the same event last year and I spent wayyyyy too much. So this year I tried to make a budget for each place and a list of things I 'needed' and tried stick to it. That worked out ok until the 5th store (the really good stores don't count, of course...we allowed ourselves more time, money, and no budget at the really good stores). What a total blast! Here are some pictures of stamps that were picked up along the way, and the three of us out and about (Debbie my friend from the Seattle PI who is now at the Seattle Times, Candy my aunt, and me - in that darn green jacket again)....how does that always happen?? LOL

Each store has a make n take and you get special discounts (which just means they're enabling you)....trust me on that one. I have more stamps on order because some of the stores were out of AMuse and Memory Box (the new line of woodland animals is fabulous), and then a Karen Lockhart stamp here and there should be mailed this week (I hope)..... and some clear stamps - which you'll probably be seeing later when I make cards! :)

I made a card for my dad, one for my son, and one for hubby. For once I used my stuff right away! Yay! It felt so good to use rather than hoard! LOL

Have a great day - it turned out SUNNY here in Seattle today! (though it was wet and miserable this morning)....I told hubby to send some of the sunshine from CA where he's at right now, and as always, he obliged. What a guy.

Take care~
Elaine

Getting Caught Up on the Week that just passed

2009-03-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

The week passed quickly.... I'm still doing the 365 Cards Blog Challenges! But I really didn't get to do much crafting at all during the week, so I'm getting caught up while it's pouring outside.

Here's what happened THIS WEEK...

Our kids wear braces...neither of them wears their headgear as much as they should...you know what that means when they go for a check up, right? They (we) get in trouble....this time it looks bad enough that their treatment plans will be altered :(

The next day The Seattle Times had more layoffs (they were in my department - in fact it affected our team, though somewhat indirectly). The P.I. is shutting it's print publication (which isn't THAT big of a deal, but it's been a part of the Seattle Times for so long...it's hard to see the change move forward). I think today was the first day they did not print the P.I.

The next evening I attended an event for my boss at the Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue - he had other commitments but really wanted the Seattle Times to have a presence, and I'm a great person for that kind of stuff! It was the Bellevue Downtown Association Awards Ceremony & Dinner with an intriguing Mountaineer guest speaker named Ed Viesturs (even my hubby knew about him).....After cocktails they served a divine dinner with a to-die for french apple dessert!!

My aunt had a birthday, and I even got her card in the mail on time!

We had a funeral for my great Aunty Mary of Mary Pang's frozen foods. There was a nice write up in the newspaper the day before the funeral. One of my many cousins officiated at the funeral and did an awesome, amazing job (it was a very difficult one because of some of the circumstances involved).

Then, the same evening as the funeral, one of my good friends turned 40 and we surprised her at a wonderful party in Wallingford at Tutta Bella (mouth-watering pizza and other italian fare). I'm not much of a pizza person, but I'd go back for the eggplant pizza...i know....Eggplant (yuck) but I guarantee you'll love it!~ We had too much wine (thus had to stay a LONG time) and a lot of Tiramisu too.

And then I got to make cards for the challenge. This one is to use 5 patterned papers (these are all from Basic Grey's Mellow line), and use 5 embellishments. It was harder than I thought!

Anyway off to craft more...enjoy the afternoon - hope you have decent weather where you're at!

Elaine :)

365 Cards Challenge Sketch #2

2009-03-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

Yippee...I am rockin and rollin with my stampin and card making! Thanks to 365 Cards and Gingerwood!

The 365 Cards sketch is here:

and my card tries to follow the sketch pretty closely.

The Gingerwood ladies have been posting challenges about using your OLD stamps, papers, and other products that have been neglected...

On this particular card I used old RAFFIA (there's more where this came from, and they're all still in their wrappers), Making Memories' Red Label Frame (was new in the package), Tim Holtz' Grungeboard Square (that wasn't SOOO old, but in a way it was because I hadn't even taken it out of the bag yet). I also used some pearlized powdered pigments (like Pearl Ex) but it must be at least 8-10 years old...and get this...it had not been taken out of the wrapper yet (big surprise, I know). The rest of the colors in the pallete might make another card very soon.... lol

The cardstock is from the DCWV paper pad called the Green line - it's so cute! The red printed cardstock has gold dots of pearlized pigment on it. Underneath is a wood print background paper that came from a garage sale a couple weeks ago.

Hope you all get to check out the challenges this week over on 365 cards :) They're a lot of fun!

OMG - the weather in Seattle is a TRIP right now. BIG, soft pellets of snow are falling like crazy! I can't even see the lake it's so dense! They're hitting the windows outside of where I type and it sounds like little rubber peas pelting against the glass!

Final 365 Cards Challenge for the week - It's Circular!

2009-03-07T20:40:00.001-08:00

I did it! Even made dinner for the kids in between stamping....

This is another kind of card that's out of my comfort zone. But it is pretty straightforward and simple.

Not only does it fit the 365 Cards Blog Challenge, but it's also for the anything but a traditional card shape challenge that was on Gingerwood! I love that bulletin board...

Stamps are by Inkadinkado (the flowers that make up the background paper). Thank you sentiment is Stampin Up. The bling is from a share/buy that I saw on a blog last year.

Have a great night and stay warm if you've got snow where you're at!

A huge Thank You to Amy Tsuruta, at Tsuruta Designs, for originally posting this new blog telling about the challenges, and inspiring me with her great cards. Everyone that has put cards on the 365 cards this week has done a fabulous job!

'nite everyone :)

Bling top to bottom for 365

2009-03-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

I'm on a roll...and since a circle card is the next challenge, that's a good thing, isn't it?

Right now I have a card with BLING from top to bottom for the 365 card challenge. It uses handmade paper from Paper Zone that has glitter dotted centers. Today Paper Zone had a nice sale - 20% off anything you could fit into their bag. Amy, my enabler, told me about it...but remember how good I've been? I didn't go! That's because I think my Stampin Up order is going to be a doozie...(shhhhhh!) Anyway, the card was super simple and uses a BIG mama bling on the light blue flower that came in a bucket from Michael's bridal supplies...I've got a lot of them to use up, so you may be seeing them on a lot of other cards! Actually this could also qualify as one of the EASY cards from the last challenge. I think it took maybe 10 minutes from start to finish? It took me more than 5 minutes to find that darn BIG Mama bling...otherwise this one would have been finished in less than 5 minutes.

Weather update at 4:55 p.m. - Hailing like crazy now in my back yard and my fingers are COLD...so I better go and create my last card for the challenge for this week!

An EZ Thank you....for 365

2009-03-07T16:24:00.000-08:00

Fast cards are good. Cards that use scraps are good. This fast card that used up my scraps is good. It was almost too easy.

Choosing the colors to put together was the hardest thing on this one. I'm glad it was an easy challenge.... I might add a little black rhinestone on the center of the flower that makes up the "o" in YOU

Inspired by an ad - 365

2009-03-07T15:43:00.001-08:00

Next up is the card inspired by an ad - from the Garnet Hill catalog, an ad for the sweetest jammies ever. Aren't they pretty? I'd like to be where-ever they photographed the shot too...it looks tropical (a lot warmer than Seattle, where it's snowing again!).

If I had that new stamp set by Stampin up it would have been even better, but I've been GOOD and not ordering lately! That may change soon - I'm giving in I think and planning to get a few boxes of goodies!

365 Cards is so much fun - I think I'll get them all finished this week (easy to reproduce Thank yous are up next!)

Button Flower Ribbon - 365 challenge

2009-03-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

Since the week got kind of busy, I'm hoping to catch up with the rest of the 365 cards challenges today. Here's my Button, Flower, Ribbon card for the challenge.
I've seen some great cards over there - hope you have time to take a peek at some of them - just follow the "365 cards" link above!

Crafting Haven: This is my first.......

2009-03-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

something weird happened here... I was leaving a comment for Viv and then I was switched over to this....hmmmm... I took the comment off but if you got it, I'm not sure why or how it happened....sorry!

365 Cards Day 2 Challenge - Less is More

2009-03-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

Today the 365 Cards Blog has a challenge to use ONLY 2 Embellishments on your card. That can be a toughie....I did my best with my Sugar Nellie stamp. I don't think she's ever been inked up before....but she's not a virgin anymore!

The edge of the card has a little bit of linear embossing mixed in with my new "swiss cheese" punch from EK Success (that's a great name for the punch, isn't it?).

Scalloped panel is from a K & Co Mat pad called, "Seaglass". The die cuts mats are colorful, with decoratively cut edges, and boy are they fun and easy to use!

Nellie is colored with Copics and the two little flower embellishments in the upper left hand corner are merely trims from the fabric store. I cut off one tiny little flower from each length of trim and glue dotted it on. The "Sweet Pea" saying is from one of the clear stamp sets at Joanns/Michaels. It's an easy, straightforward kind of card...and that's what I always end up making....easy cards! lol

Bachelor's on tonight...who do YOU think he'll choose? As long as my eye cooperates, I'll be able to watch. I got more eye drops (steroids again) blech... I only have to use them for a short while thank goodness. I couldn't stand it before - what nasty things steroids are! Not sure if my headache is related to my eye thing or if it was from my lack of caffeine today...I know how to remedy the latter though....Off to Starbucks!

hugs,
e

365 Cards Challenge

2009-03-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

I saw the cute card that Amy did (her blog is Tsuruta Designs) and wanted to play too. It's a little more vivid in real life, but our cold, rainy weather made it hard to photograph today.

Here's my version of the card for 365 Cards March 1st challenge and the sketch:

Just about all of the stuff on this card I won from Lisa Beeson's blog, Papercutting Kind of Day when she had blog candy! She was super generous and sent a pad of Paper Salon Papers, Pink shaped tag cards, embellishment trims to coordinate, and two great inspiration magazines that I wanted! The flower was x-acto cut from one of the sheets of cardstock, the 4 patterns that make the center square show the nice variety of prints (and they're double sided as well!) Greeting was punched out with the SU word punch on one of the papers, and the circle center of the flower is the same paper that's shown on the right panel. Fun, huh? I'd never bought Paper Salon's paper products before (only their stamps), but I will definitelybe looking for them now!

My eye is still not doing well, so I'm going back to the opthamologist tomorrow. blech.

Have a nice evening...and remember to watch Desparate Housewives tonight! I missed seeing it last week with the awards show on :(

e

I did the Gingerwood Challenge today!

2009-02-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

Ha! For once I was able to get something done the same day the challenge came out! YAY! It's been far too long since I've had time to sit down and craft WHEN I want, and WHAT I want. The challenge required using one of my old stamps. I know the Shamrock Fairy Bear is old, but I don't know how old. It's by Darcie's....and had never ever been inked. Can't say I don't make use of old stuff now! (So there, B Phillips!)
I used a Glorious Green base, then layered a panel of Green Galore that was edged with one of my new EK Success punches (I love them - they work SOOOOO well on cardstock!), then tied some green grosgrain on the panel. On the panel there's a Nesties Oval and scalloped oval with some Martha Stewart Glitter dots around the edges. On the white oval I used a bunch of the latest $1 stamps from M's...stamped randomly to make my own bg paper! Colored the bear with Copics, and then used a strip of scrap paper to stamp the shamrocks and it fit just right! The shamrocks are also old ...maybe as old as 15 years or more...and I bought them unmounted back then...and kept it for this long (again, I don't think it had ever been used!)

My kid is out washing my car today...maybe I'll put some green inside the card and tell her she did a good job (even though I will need to go out and re-do it...my kids are NOT good at washing cars). They grew up in their younger years in Santa Barbara and down there, you pretty much do not wash the car at home because the water is hard and it leaves terrible spots! So now they always ask why don't I take it to the car wash? That's how we USED TO do it, isn't it?! Um, no, we only did that because the water was crappy...and besides, I can't afford to do that up here! There are no decent cheapy car wash places in Seattle!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

E

Card Share 02.26.09

2009-02-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

I'm on a stamping roll! I made this for a friend whose wife just had their first baby boy. The initial newborn photos look JUST like his daddy! I hope they enjoy these first few weeks of new baby life and savor his baby changes.

The base cardstock is SU's old Marigold Morning, then some purplish Bazzill that was run through the cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder is layered on in a strip behind the main image.

Stamp set is from Inkadinkado (from Ebay). Isn't that lion cute? THe rest of the animals are adorable too! I may have to make some extra cards just because! The greeting, "hooray! it's a boy!" came from a set by Rubber Soul. Nesties make the pretty scalloped frame, and an accent dot of the swiss dots in a bazzill green this time is on the upper left corner. The background paper is the DCWV baby boy stack, and the ribbon is SEI's Chickadoo line (last year). Spread some sparkly glitter over the lion's mane, and the card is done. Very easy, and very basic.

We got a beautiful layer of fresh snow EARLY this morning (I heard it started last night in many of the surrounding areas though). NOW the roads are almost clear - just a little slushy in my neighborhood, and the sun is out. It's gorgeous! I love the brightness and the way white makes everything look so fresh!

Take care everyone! I'm meeting up with a friend to buy passports for the Great Northwest Paper Chase...coming up on March 20th through April 4th I think...Is anyone else planning to go?

hugs,
Elaine

Ann's Oval Challenge

2009-02-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

Ann's Creative Nook has a weekly challenge and try as I might, I rarely get to make anything. Well this week I pushed myself to do SOMETHING and did an oval card. The challenge is for anything with an oval as it's central focus. Not a particularly special card, but the scalloped oval nestie is cut out of the cover. Inside is where the white oval is placed so it shows through the oval window on the front. The stamp is one from the really cute Stampendous bee series. I couldn't find the rest of my st. patty's day stamps, so this is what I could do with what was on hand with ovals....and green. The green wasn't part of the challenge, but my son loves green and he's the one that cut the oval shape from the green cardstock so that's what we end up with! Mom & son produced card. (I did force him to make the card with me, but sometimes that's good for a 17 y/o kid.)lol

PTI Challenge card

2009-02-23T12:22:00.001-08:00

Made this last night for the challenge. It's out of my comfort zone to use this color combo and it just feels kind of wild....anyway, I did it, and it's growing on me! Only the background was stamped...using PaperTrey's circle set. The chicken is a Sizzix die and the Thank you is a rub-on from Making Memories. I hope to find more of those soon...they've been out of the stores for a while now. Has anyone seen them?

I think I am giving it to the neighbors. They took us out for a lovely dinner (again...) We think they might like us a little bit or maybe we're just spoiled or they're going to bribe us somehow to do something....

Anyway, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant in Bothell's Canyon Park at a place called Grazie. We ordered mouth watering appetizers: Manilla clams, Dungeness Crab & Artichoke dip on garlic infused toast, and Tender Coconut shrimp with a lime-aioli dipping sauce; then for dinner, our choices came completely off of the "Daily Specials menu" and we ended up trying New Zealand Lamb, Prawns with Pasta, and Halibut with Risotto. Sides of asparagus, and rustic red mashed potatoes ....mmmmmmm......
It was truly decadent and probably the BEST risotto I've ever had. Pair that with lots of red wine, a Kir Royale, live Jazz music, and we ended up closing the place down at 11:00. Not before we had Canneloni with cinnamon scented whipped cream and spicy chocolate drizzles all over the place...OMG - HEAVEN I tell you! AND, very affordable...well we didn't pay, but I saw the prices. Compared to the last place they took us, this was a value meal! LOL We SOOOOO owe them a nice meal! I hope France is this nice because I think we are going to France with them...I hope.... ;-)

Have a great evening. I'm going to see who Jason picks on the Bachelor...I'm thinking he's going to be a loozer and pick Deanna. :(

Oh yea, there's a great new release of ELZYBELLS stamps - they are wayyyyyy too cute and you should go check it out because I think you might likey them...especially the food ones...I mean you're probably kinda hungry now after I posted about that fab dinner, right?

Check out this link to start with:
Elzybells FOOD

Night everyone!

Card Share on a Sunny Saturday!

2009-02-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

YAY! Finally some pretty spring-like weather in Seattle! Actually it's been nice for a few days!
I went to Michael's this morning after hitting a scrapbook retreat garage sale (lots of deals!) While there I saw some great new punches by EK Success. I managed to maintain my composure (mostly because I had no coupons left) and got just TWO of the dozen or more new styles! I will be adding to my collection but only with a coupon....

Here are the ones I picked up today

The card is made with a base from the $1 bin at Michaels. They are orange floral textured square cards with envelopes - 6/1.00!

Spreading some card share love

2009-02-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

Did everyone have a nice weekend? Hopefully you have some time off, today, for President's day too! I am off but not crafting much. I've got a case of "pink eye" (blech). I had an eyelash in my eye the other day and kept rubbing to try to get it out (I was on the road driving), but all I did was irritate the inside and outside corners of my eye. When I got home and could see it in the mirror it was easy to get out...but by then my eye was tender and probably already a problem.

I've been hanging out doing some cooking with hubby (perfect vision not required for that!). Normally he's the one that makes all of the fabulous meals but we did a lot of it together this weekend. On Valentine's Day we normally stay home for a nice meal with the kids, but decided to head out this year. We had Pho...one of my favorite asian noodle soups at Than Brothers in Lynnwood. They serve a delectable cream puff with the meal it was just perfect. (I don't even like cream puffs, but theirs are just soooo good I eat em up!)

I also made some cards that I wanted to share but with the eye thing going on, hadn't felt like trying to take pictures. I have a hard enough time doing it when my eyes are feeling good...but today I was able to take pics (and it's gorgeous outside though still cold) so here are the Valentine cards - late but at least I got some made!

The pink/black LOVE card uses a big canvas heart from Quick Quotes (I inked it up with some chalk ink to coordinate with the card). The black letters are nice and glittery Thickers and they're soooo easy to use! That little flower ribbon slider is from Maya Road...I got a BUNCH of them from their clearance sale - not sure what or where else to use them, but can't say I'm hoarding it if I really used it, right?

The aqua/red mini card was inspired by something that Kristina Werner did here: http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/2009/01/kwernerdesign-cards-on-etsy/
Hers are simply sweet...mine not so sure about how simple they are, but I like the colors a lot!

And finally the brown/pink card - it has the yummy BasicGrey cardstock and some new ribbon from the recent Making Memories collection at Michaels. Which reminds me I need to head out there and get more! It coordinates with so many other pink and black color schemes! ;-)

Enjoy the week everyone...I hope it's starting to warm up where you are. If not, hopefully it's at least a little bit sunny! Those of you in the warm 80 degree climates, I don't want to hear it....I'm just jealous.

Adios~
Elaine

Smitten by a little fox...

2009-02-06T17:56:00.000-08:00

...from Imaginisce! I fell in love with the paper at my scrapbook store. The stamps are from Lizzie Ann and a $1 stamp from Michaels or Joanns. There are actually glossy/lacquered parts of the printed background paper, but my camera has a hard time picking it up.

Anyhow, it's my card for the sketch challenge at Lizzie Ann Designs. :)

Happy Friday, everyone!

hugs,
Elaine

Saturday Stampin

2009-01-31T11:19:00.000-08:00

It was a busy week at our house...

Monday night I met up with one of my best friends who came up for work from the Costco in L.A. We grew up right across the street from each other, and she was an only child who sort of became the sister that I always wanted but never had. We FEASTED at Chinook's Restaurant - I mean we really feasted...afterward I felt like I had eaten enough to last all week long. It's truly one of the best casual seafood places in Seattle!

Wednesday I met up with my friend for dinner again but this time at Palomino Restaurant in Bellevue. All of the other Marketing gals from Seattle, and a group of their peeps from the Costco group in Canada was there too. We took pics but they were sort of silly and crazy, so they will never end up here!

Friday my daughter went to work with me for a 'work shadow' assignment. We went to lunch with my boss and she did some work for me too. It was a fun day with some extra treats that she normally wouldn't have had if she were at home (they had the day off from school, so she was bummed that she had to get up early on her day off - I figured some treats would make her feel better!) I know.... I'm a good mom, huh? :)

I decided to post these cards even though I had a hard time with getting a close up of the sparkles on one, and had glare issues with the other.

The mod Tulips are an old Technique Tuesday set that I got at a CK Convention. Pink Pirouette and basic black on ivory are the colors. The close up shows the outline which is a black copic spica (which I love!). Got it from Ellen Hutson's store in a multi-color set - it's fabulous!

The second card is from a line by K&CO that I picked up at Joanns. The only stamping is the background 'chart' that says, "Thinking of You" and then has a bunch of things that you can choose/check off for the appropriate occasion: because your special, on your birthday, for your graduation, while you're down, on your anniversary, etc. What a versatile stamp! I like that kind!

Well that's all for now. I'm going to enjoy the sun today - it's gorgeous outside but a tad chilly...

hugs,
Elaine
p.s. check out the blog candy on the right for Happy Daisy - it's super super cute!

Saturday's Cards shared on Sunday

2009-01-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

Edit: sorry about the blurry pics...it was cold outside and I was shaking a little bit!

I have not been making cards for a while. These aren't my style...I don't know what is...Just have not been feeling very creative lately. But when I met up with my friend Debbie at the Scrapbook store Saturday afternoon that old feeling, "gotta have it!" hit. I was pretty good, but couldn't walk out empty handed. At least I used one of the items that I bought on these cards!

The paper on the bird card has my favorite color combo: red with aqua. The paper is by Chatterbox and I love it! Bird stamp is from the $1 bin at Joanns or Michaels. The Valentine card uses a bunch of sayings stamped on the heart and a Making Memories metal word, "always"....The hearts were bumped up on dimensional dots and nestied, then glittered. Anyhow they're the latest, but not the greatest...heheheh.

More snow last night and it's snowing again right now! :)

TTFN.
E

Live Feed from CHA for SLICE DEMO (Sunday)

2009-01-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

I made cards last night, but it's so cold I don't want to go outside to get a decent picture...so I'm watching a live feed from the CHA on Making Memories' Slice!
www.ustream.tv/makingmemories

They are doing live demos and it's quite fun to watch even though it blips in and out...good conversation, and it is interactive so they can see what we are asking/saying! Cool, huh?

There is also a giveaway on the blog right now:
http://makingmemories.typepad.com/makingmemories/ So maybe you can win something!

I'll post tonight after I've warmed up a bit...

Take care!

Found a fun new blog today....

2009-01-18T01:18:00.000-08:00

It's all about FABRIC! I hate to admit it, but I think I'm starting to creep back into quilting and sewing more than scrapping and card-making! That's bad since I have so much already 'in stock' in 'my store'.....but good because I won't be wanting to buy as much new stuff...well not scrapping stuff at least - just fabric!

Anyway, here's the link to the blog - if you like fabric you must check it out! There's a drawing going on too - so all the more reason to visit!
http://fabricfamilyfun.wordpress.com/

Have a great Sunday! We're starting to get a little chilly again, but no sign of anything cold enough to make snow!

So what do you think?

2009-01-13T18:41:00.001-08:00

I'm tempted to try Shimmerz....they are releasing 4 new colors that are great for Valentine's projects! Not only is there a new release but there is also a chance to win the 4 new colors! Since I don't own any yet, I might just have to take the dip. Do you have them? What do you like about them? Convince me someone, please!

Then check out the giveaway:
http://shimmerzpaints.blogspot.com/2009/01/announcing-new-blingz.html Good luck, Everyone!

If I win I'll have to post back with a project...

P.S. did anyone watch the Bachelor last night? I was out sick so I missed it and wondered who he went out with, and who was sent home!

Womens Words...

2009-01-13T09:52:00.000-08:00

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE
(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').
(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying you're an idiot!
(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.
* Send this to the men you know, to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology.

A New Card to share too...

2009-01-08T21:21:00.001-08:00

I made this earlier tonight for the Verve Challenge on Splitcoast:

You have to use Riding Hood Red, Blush Blossom, and Kraft (or sub similar colors). I was going to use my new Verve stamps but then ended up with this instead....simple and straightforward...and easy to mail!

Here's the link to SCS if you want to play along:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=408513

2009-01-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

Thank you, to Mrs. C. whose blog is Ruby Slippers. She sent me an email about this blog award.
I'm normally really terrible at trying to get these things up - adding pictures and stuff like that takes me a while to figure out. But I'm going to give it a shot today.... Mrs. C. teaches kids who are my son's age but seems to dig up time to post a card nearly every day - no wonder she got the award! I'm not sure how she thought of me, but I thank her. Go visit her blog and check out all the cuteness! Ruby Slippers Blog - go now to check it out!

And now I am supposed to list 5 obsessions:

1-jewelry

2-really good food (Fran's Chocolates, Cutter's Bayhouse open faced crab sandwich, Anything from the Flying Fish restaurant, etc)

3-shoes & clothes

4-my papercrafting hobbies: stamps & scrapbooking

5-blog surfin -probably nothing new for any of you that know me! lol

I've had a headache all day today and am not feeling so great - I will watch Grey's tonight and then head off to bed. We've got a work party tomorrow and I made some treats earlier - I hope they don't have to cancel this party because of weather conditions! The last was cancelled because of all the snow that we got that week.

Oh, and I will be passing along the blog award to Amy at Tsuruta Desgins - she is super awesome and always has time to post a fab new creation (just about every day!) plus her comments always make me smile! Visit Amy at http://tsurutadesigns.blogspot.com/

Have a great evening!
hugs,
Elaine

I may be turning the corner....

2009-01-05T17:24:00.000-08:00

and doing scrapping more than stamping/card-making! I was lucky enough to spend the weekend with my cousin and aunt (who were also at the CK convention with me) at a Quick Quotes Event held at the Great Wolf Water Park Resort in Grand Mound, WA. It was a super cool, fun event that I would highly recommend. I think we ended up making 12 layouts/projects? Actually it was more...closer to 20 I think. I had sooo much fun but did not remember a camera :( Carrie (my cousin) brought her camera though and so I hope she will send me a picture so I can start scrapping ON TIME this year!

Oh, and btw, for those of you who ARE scrapbookers, there's a cool giveaway on this blog:
http://happydaisyaz.blogspot.com/2009/01/project-365-giveaway.html
So go and check it out if you scrap! Then come back here and tell me that the snow has got to stop. Last night our power was out. Today, my first day back to work, I had to get a ride in again! It's getting old. I think I can make it on my own tomorrow, but it's just getting old....know what I mean?

These pictures are my favorite projects - love those blue and orange scrapbook papers and using canvas boards for the wall hanging PLUS Vellum for the page layouts - so much fun!

New Year's Eve, my friend Jill and I spent the ENTIRE day out shopping (Impress, Michaels, Ikea, Paper Zone, Target, etc) From one flippin outrageous sale to the next...wayyyyyy past a respectable hour that one should be out shopping on New Year's Eve....then we had the best Thai food at SouthCenter's "Simply Thai" - OMG it was sooooo tasty! You gotta check it out if you like Thai food!

Then on New Year's Day, I had my aunt Linda come and visit us. On the way to take her home, we stopped at a couple of the Target stores (to look for a new video game that my son wanted) and I scored the Target mailboxes for a buck! Lots of them! :) HoHoHo it feels like Christmas again!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2008-12-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Looks like we're in for more snow today. I'm on vacation this week and it's a good thing. There's no way I'd ever get out of our driveway let alone out of this terribly steep and winding neighborhood where there are cliffs that drop off 50'-60' to houses below. (There's "Black Betty", my baby, underneath at least 15" of snow).

We've been watching the Christmas ships on Lake Washington the past few nights and I should have snapped a picture but missed the opportunity. It's a beautiful display against the darkness of a winter's night and a really special treat at this time of year to not only see the ships with their pretty lights, but also to hear the choir singing on the ships also!

On the down side, with all of this cold weather, one of our faucets in the backyard side of the house started spewing water a couple days ago (it was the first time we've gotten above freezing in more than a week). When I called the plumber, we were at least a day or two out because of so many other emergencies. Since our emergency was outside and not 'waterfalling' INSIDE the house, we figured we could wait. He gave me some advice though, and I FIXED IT MYSELF! (He told me what to try, and after about an hour, it worked! So, not only did we save the $350 service call, but we have water again!) Running water is something it's easy to take for granted...now we know better!

Even better, hubby is actually going to make it back into town on Christmas day! Earlier this week we weren't counting on it because of all the cancellations at the airport. Things are supposed to be on schedule again, but, he had already grabbed the last room on Amtrak and is due in on Christmas afternoon! YAY!! I don't think he has a clue how much I miss him when he's gone. This time was especially trying with the bad weather and the faucet issue...

Nevertheless, we have much to be thankful for and many friends, family and neighbors that love us. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and the very BEST wishes for the New Year as well.

Hugs,
Elaine

GUESS where I went today!?

2008-12-08T17:03:00.000-08:00

Ellen Hutson's Place!! THE Ellen from Simple Dreams blog! OMG I was in heaven! TONS of new Tim Holtz stuff, loads of CHF, A-Muse, Claudine Helmuth, BasicGrey, Copics, Versamark Dazzle pads, MayArts and more....what a way to make my Monday! I met Ellen's staff - they are all very nice ladies, but Beth is especially great! And the lady who gave us the tour is incredible (OMG I did not get her name!) We got to go into her studio and see a little sneaky peeky of something she was working on! :) (my lips are sealed) and I saw how organized she is. Wow! No wonder she can create masterpieces!

I had a grand time and share the surprise visit with my friend from work. We are going to plan another outing there soon! I just love their special customer service attention! ;-) I'll share later and show what I got! :) Happy Clam dancin today! :) And yes, I did manage to work too, in spite of my computer being out all day (again!)

Card share 12.07.08

2008-12-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

There was soooo much going on this week! On top of all that, my car decided it didn't want to start after I was already out in the field...in a parking garage in Bellevue (on Wednesday). I had to park down several levels in the garage...where your cell phone does not work. Hours later AAA got me going again (they still can hot-wire a car if needed, ask me how I know)....

Anyway, the car is back home happy now!

Maybe you've got a favorite car - if so, tell me what it is. I need some sort of fuel economy (though nothing can be worse than the 5.51/gallon that I was paying just a couple months ago)....and I want heated seats + all wheel drive...everything else is just icing...I should have been out shopping for a car this weekend but it just didn't happen.

About the cards...I start a lot of things but always seem to get distracted so finishing things is a problem around here.

Inside the blue card is a dollar stamp - I like that little topiary! Might have to use it on other cards too soon! On the front is an Elzybells image from A-Muse. But I don't actually own the stamp - it was an image that I traded for...wish I had bought that stamp now! Pretend you don't see the message that I wrote too. I should've shot the picture before I wrote the message, but did it backwards...oops.

The other card uses K & Co.'s Swell Noel. I love, love, love that line! The colors are so perfect for card making, and I just love the old-fashioned images! On the front is an A-Muse image with glitter all around. Have a great evening everyone!

hugs,
Elaine

p.s. I was tagged a few times, but I am not good at getting those up. I will really try to do it later tonight!

Tim Holtz

2008-12-03T01:27:00.000-08:00

The 12 days of tags is back .... I won yesterday and got the prize that I wanted! :)

Go - enter now...you can win too if I did!

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/12/12-tags-of-ch-1.html

His work is absolutely amazing. I hope this doesn't start another obsession with me...maybe too late already.

Christmas Card Making Time!

2008-11-28T13:02:00.001-08:00

I was able to play a bit last night after going shopping at Michael's from 6-8pm! (No tellin hubby that I was out - he's back from Santa Barbara soon, and as long as I can put things away I think all will be ok!)

I love the chunky glitter from Martha Stewart. I got the BIG fat hefty jar - so it seems that jar of glitter may be here long after I'm dead! LOL Anyway, it reminds me of retro holiday stuff from the 50's, and that's what I am using for cards today! The entire sheet of about 36 images was on one 12x12 sheet of paper -- for 1.29 at the scrapbook store. What a great deal! The Bazzill coordinates go very nicely with it, so I may go back for more...I'm already out of the brown and red.

Anyway, I hope you had a great turkey day and enjoy the sales! There are a LOT of them going on!

Oh, tell me what YOU'd use the chunky glitter for besides cards...I need some help using this up! LOL

Happy Black Friday, everyone!
Elaine

Happy Thanksgiving 11-27-08

2008-11-27T12:51:00.001-08:00

We have so much to be thankful for.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving Day. May we all appreciate what we have and make the most of it.

Hugs,
Elaine

P.S. The little glass votive candles were on sale at Michael's - a set of 6 for only 1.99 - so I bought them for our 'long white table in the entryway - great deal, huh? Now I wish I had bought the green and red ones for Christmas too! The saying, "Bushels of Blessings" came from one of those $1 stamp sets at Paper Zone - I've used it a lot lately! :)

The stamped pieces were super simple and fun with the Stampin Up Curvy Label Punch Bundle (on sale for 30% off RIGHT NOW, but in limited quantities. I think you should get one...have you seen all the neat things that you can do with it?) The ribbons are American Crafts, Ben Franklin sheers, and some rolls from Micheal's.

Fun Day in Bellevue at Meydenbauer

2008-11-15T17:42:00.000-08:00

ETA: Look at last year's picture at the Crafty Secrets booth with SANDY... Yep, it's the same green jacket. In another picture, even earlier, in 2005, I have the same green amber necklace on! What is up with THAT? LOL

I was lucky enough to go to the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Bellevue today. After feeling pretty cruddy yesterday and worrying about the house in Santa Barbara because of wildfires, I felt like it would be a nice getaway and take my mind off feeling bad and worrying. I was right.

Check out the fun!

Vicki Chrisman: Crafter/inventor of cool things from This Art that Makes Me Happy! She designs for Crafty Secrets and this was the first time that I actually met Vicki - WOW! I can see why everyone loves her! She is immediately lovable and soooo cute! Thank you for the very cute make n take, Vicki, at the Crafty Secrets booth! I had fun chatting with you, Sandi and Sandi's husband, Scott, too :)

Some adorable cards from the DeNami Booth, and where I bought LOTS of stamps! I could have bought more if I didn't have a budget..dang!

Next is Nami from DeNami Designs. 2 of her daughters were also at the show - they are just beautiful and are sooooo pretty! Nice work on stamps and the kids, Nami! ;-)

Then there's a picture of a great stamped scrapbook page by Technique Tuesday - love it! Would you believe up to 75% off at their booth? Wowzers!

And finally my cousin, Carrie, and aunt, Candy, who are also scrapbookers, on our way out of the show.

My aunt who is on the right, is alot of fun - she emails me regularly - my boss at work enjoys reading the emails when he covers for me....once he sees her picture he'll probably have a crush on her - she's cute!

Cousin Carrie (on the left) has three little boys who are all killer cute and soo smart! WOWZA! She entered a page but didn't tell me about it until after it was too late to take a photo or I'd share it here.

I've got some pictures of THINGS that I made that I will be sharing soon too :)

I met up with lots of old friends today and also made several new friends!

Happy Saturday everyone....say a little prayer for the Tea Fire in Santa Barbara...we don't want that thing spreading any closer to "las tunas"!!!! (Our home down there)...

2008-11-13T00:27:00.000-08:00

Got a minute? Go and read this blogger's story on the quilt that she is giving away. It is amazing and really it made me tear up when I looked at the quilt. That doesn't normally happen to me. I could feel and see the love that was poured into this one! Go check it out...and enter - it's just too beautiful to not enter! I may have to keep going back to this blog now...darn...I did not want to get hooked on another craft - and this makes me want to quilt!

http://sewingwithabbie.blogspot.com/

My oh my!

2008-11-11T00:41:00.000-08:00

A quilt giveaway...something I am hoping to win...and that's the only reason why I'm posting on my blog - it gives me 3 extra chances to win these dog- gone sweet quilts! It's not that I don't want you to win (I do), but I want to win first! LOL

Ok, so go, check it out, and enter if you must...
http://camilleroskelley.typepad.com/simplify/

And if you win well, let's say you owe me for telling you! ;-)

A-Muse(d) on a Friday Night!

2008-11-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

Friday night I WAS able to go to the A-Muse Cupcake Social at their new location in Greenwood! At first I thought work was going to interfere and I wouldn't be able to go :( But everything turned out and I had soooo much fun!

I was able to meet the adorable Amy Tsuruta of Tsuruta Designs, (she's holding our Make n Take)...we were naughty and tried to CUT (unintentionally) in the line...and got caught by the stamp patrol...LOL and Novell Eckstrom from Splitcoast, and Julie HRR too! Talk about a fun bunch of crazy women! If you only could have been there......

It was nice to see some familiar faces as well....Kandi, Donna, and of course, Linda, the owner of A Muse Art Stamps! And Jen D too...who says most people do not remember her last name...and she's right - I didn't remember it :( (I'm a loozer!) The place was like wall to wall A Muse Addicts and A Muse Designers and Instructors! One could not wish to be in a better place....it was like Stamp Heaven I tell you!

There were delicious BIG Cupcakes with little stamped images of the A-Muse cupcakes on the picks, and some tasty red beverages served in tiny little martini glasses. (I'd like another, please!)

Our Goodie Bags were packed up sweetly with the brand new Cupcake set, Pink AND Red Dotted Notecards, An Assortment of Pretty Little Paper Gift Card Enclosures, some Creative Candy Rhinestones (multi colored package), a yummy "Hey Cupcake" stamp and Reversible PINK striped Ribbon!! It's the best Party Favor Bag ever!

I filled a little shopping basket up but was able to stop myself before my credit card declined! :) I want to post a photo shortly of the goodies, but for now I'm sharing the pics of the PEOPLE! (somehow not all of my pics are on my memory card .... boohoo...) At least some of them are ok! Maybe the batteries going dead had something to do with it? Novell and Amy, I don't have the pics we took together :( If you took one, could you email it to me please?)

Stop by the A-Muse Store if you get a chance. Linda and her posse did an incredible job renovating it into it's current blissful state!

Adios!

Halloween....

2008-11-04T23:00:00.000-08:00

Here we've got the most 'creepy/scary costume', then George "Dub-Yuh" (not THAT George, the other one!), my associate, Phil, who is dressed as one of the guys from "Men at Work" - we thought he was going to do YMCA on the stage, but I think he did a strip show?? ACK! Just kidding... and then finally the Peanuts Gang! Deb who was "Woodstock" came back early after surgery - that crazy woman! She was supposed to stay home at least another week if not two! What a trooper!

BOO! More pics!

2008-10-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the first picutre -- Isn't this web baby the BEST costume? Soooo creative! (Inspired by Martha Stewart)....

Megan works in our Marketing Unit. That's her new baby, Finn (3 months old)...he's a little sweetie pie!

I'll add more pictures as I get them -- we don't seem to have a way to load them into the computers at work..hmmm.....

Another one...this time I asked one of the guys (Aaron) who won for 'most creative costume' with his "ISLAND GETAWAY" costume to take the picture with me. He had a ghetto blaster and a ball and chain around his ankle earlier...somehow they were dropped under the desk at lunch time - but at least he kept the palm tree for the picture!

The rest of the pictures from my department will have to be loaded up later on - they came out really cute....

Happy Halloween!

Ready for more Blog candy opps?

2008-10-30T22:42:00.000-07:00

I finished my costume a little early (yay!) so I've been surfing.

Here's what sounds like some pretty cool candy:

http://shimmerzpaints.blogspot.com/2008/10/colors-and-candy.html

Go check it out! And good luck! :)

Michelle at Twisted Chcik has blog candy!

2008-10-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

Go check it out at her blog!

BLOG CANDY ALERT!! Michelle has a bunch of Goodies from Paper Addiction to give away...at her blog Twisted Chick. Designer paper from Imaginisce & Basic Grey, rub-ons, brads, stamps and ribbon. A stuffed goodie bag of all your favorite things!! All you need to do is leave a comment on the post. Email her at michelle@paperaddiction.com with your blog address OR use the create a link option at the bottom of her blog post (I'm not sure how it works 'cause I haven't used it yet!?!?) Either way there are 2 goodie bags to give away to some lucky winners!

She makes some of the cutest stuff out there :)

My costume is almost done....screwed up the cutting a couple times, so it will be very interesting to see how it all turns out!

My Mind's Eye - Snowed In

2008-10-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Snow in yesterday's post - I forgot that I wanted to share a card from this cool paper line by My Mind's Eye. I won it from my local Scrapbook store, Lasting Memories, in Lynnwood , WA . They are THE BEST! They've got the greatest staff, fun ideas, and a superb selection! :)

Anyway, I wanted to send a Thank you to Lee who is the owner's husband. I think he helps her write the newsletter sometimes and picked me :) The papers are soooo festive and will be alot of fun to play with!

Here's the Thank you card.

Have a great day, everyone! I'm going to be working on my darn Halloween costume between now and Friday...if the pictures come out of our group, I'll post them! :)

1:30 again..did I say I was going to be early? I lied.

Couldn't resist....an SU Demo joke

2008-10-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

This is from Splitcoast.....

SU Demo Joke:
A married couple went to the hospital to have their baby delivered. Upon their arrival, the doctor said that the hospital was testing an amazing new high-tech machine that would transfer a portion of the mother's labor pain to the baby's father. He asked if they were willing to try it out.
Both said they were very much in favor of it.
The doctor set the pain transfer to 10 percent for starters, explaining that even 10 percent was probably more pain than the father had ever experienced
before. But as the labor progressed, the husband felt fine and asked the doctor to go ahead and kick it up a notch.
The doctor then adjusted the machine to 20 percent pain transfer.
The husband was still feeling fine. The doctor then checked the husband's blood pressure and was amazed at how well he was doing.
At this point they decided to try for 50 percent. The husband continued to feel quite well. Since the pain transfer was obviously helping the wife considerably, the husband encouraged the doctor to transfer ALL the pain to him.
The wife delivered a healthy baby with virtually no pain, and the husband had experienced none. She and her husband were ecstatic.
When they got home they found the UPS man dead on the porch.

Bookmark Challenge

2008-10-27T23:13:00.000-07:00

So Angel has a bookmark project as the challenge today. I think this is such a cute idea (making a custom bookmarker) and will be adding it to the Tailgate Recipe book that I'm doing for my co-worker friend for their annual fundraiser auction. Not this particular bookmark, but something similar. That's a ways down the road though.

For now I'm posting so I can enter Angel's challenge! I like the colors sort of 'fall like' and how the Copic markers show up nicely even on Kraft colored cardstock! The stamps are from Kim Hughes' line at Cornish Heritage Farms. I couldn't find my tiny star stamp so I drew them with a copic multi-liner pen....it's means it's a 5-star recipe! Kim has some of THE cutest stamp stuff around!

Our weather was so nice today that my dad came over and offered to detail my car! Yay! I tried washing/waxing it myself yesterday but it was a slow go and I'm NOT good at it! I gave up. My car is 25 years old but I LOVE it and hate to give it up for a new one. I might have to if this winter has a lot of snow. I don't have front wheel drive :( and Bruce has to take me to work if we have very much snow.

Hope you like the little bookmark - I'm going to bed early tonight. Too much staying up late and feeling tired the next day....

ttfn~
e

Scrappy Makins...

2008-10-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

Today Angel's challenge was to use scraps to make a card project.
I've got lots of scraps and made some cards...lots of cards. Here's just the start.
They're quite random, I know, but that's how it goes when you're working with scraps!

It's late and I've got a meeting tomorrow so I'm only posting these. Tomorrow evening I'll try to get more up!

G'nite and see you later!

e

A day in my life...

2008-10-24T00:22:00.000-07:00

Edit: the challenge for a red card was at Angelosity!! UGH! Sorry, Angel!

Well at least my mornings are this way. Every day I come to the intersection at Fairview and Mercer. It's total congestion every day, and all hours of the day. This is what I see:

Today I drove out to the new Snoqualmie Casino just off of the I-90 highway. It was so massive - and has been built so quickly! I was taken aback just a little.

Then later in the day I drive home and get to stamp (if I'm lucky).... and make stuff. Like this card for Allison's RED challenge the other day. It's a woven ribbon card under the star cut out. Layered on top of that is an acetate sheet stamped with Congratulations on it. Cuttlebug, brads, and a little mini shadow box - it was too much work for my taste - but that's because there was no pattern and I didn't really know what I was doing. Hopefully this weekend will be nice and I'll get to stamp and play outside too!

Happy almost Friday - oh wait - it is Friday! It's 12:28 a.m.! Time for bed~

Hugs,
Elaine

Angelosity Challenges are back!

2008-10-23T01:38:00.000-07:00

I started making the cards in between sorting and forgot to load them...

Here's one where the colors you need to use are red, baby pink, olive green and sky/light blue. I will put some 'card candy' greetings together so the person who gets this can make the greeting for a birthday, Christmas, or just a hello card. Can you tell the pink background uses the Snowflake Cuttlebug folder?

Anyway, that's it for now. I better get to bed- it's late!

hugs,
Elaine

One of "THOSE" emails....

2008-10-19T20:55:00.001-07:00

I thought, not another one when I opened this, but I read it and I like it!

I Believe...A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died.
Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to
hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...That heroes are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and
have the best time.

I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be
angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe...That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others; sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world
doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent
human being.

I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in, I just did.

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.'

Happy Day to you all~

Wasn't that a nice thing to get from a friend?
I'm still working on sorting and clearing things out of my scrapbooking/stampin spaces - plural - because there are 4 areas where I work - one is a dedicated stamp room, but there's no tv in there - so I stamp in the media room - only it's too warm in the summertime, so I head to the kitchen and sometimes the dining room....now things are spread out all over... thus the major undertaking/clean up! It will take weeks at this rate, but at least I'm being thorough!

I can't believe how much I've bought over the last two years and not even touched!!!! Ok, maybe it's been more like 4 years...agh...don't tell or I will never get to buy another craft item!

E