Because I'm Lazy...

Ok, here's the thing. I have no desire to stamp today. Isn't that awful? In my defense, I feel like I might be coming down with a cold. Henry has a runny nose, Jack seems a little stuffed up, and I think I feel a sore throat coming on. UGH. Not cool! Anyhow, since today is Tuesday it is another CBC Challenge day. This week's challenge is to CASE a favorite card, but change at least two things about it.

Since I didn't actually make a card today, but still wanted to play along, I thought I'd share this card that I made in 2006. I made 100 of them for shower and baby gift thank you cards when my first son was born. It's a very simple design, but that's a plus when you're making 100 at a crack.


And here's the card it was CASE'd from:

The original is by SCS'r albstampin (I linked you to her gallery there, but there are only four cards... it doesn't look like she's had any activity in the last year).

My changes:

1.) Changed Rose Romance paper to Bliss Blue (I loved that color. I'm still sad SU! retired it).
2.) Changed Rose Romance ink to Bliss Blue.
3.) Changed Pink eyelets to Blue.
4.) Didn't use the Canvas background (and honestly, only because I didn't realize until today that she had used it. Doh.)

Like I said, it's a simple card, but that's good when you're in mass production mode. Check the other CBC Chick's creations by clicking the links to their blogs in my sidebar. And don't forget to play along and link your creation on Courtney's blog! Hopefully I'll be feeling more like myself tomorrow and can get back into the swing of things with stamping.

Details:
Stamps: Warm Words (Stampin' Up!), I'm Here (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Bliss Blue
Paper: Whisper White, Barely Banana, Bliss Blue, Vellum
Other: Blue Brads (Making Memories)

Thanks Be For Thee!

A few weeks ago, I saw a post on GinaK's blog where she encouraged her readers to think about Thanksgiving, and take the time to send a thank you card to someone who deserves it, but might not expect it. Those weren't her exact words, but that's what I took away from it. It really made me think, because there are so many people who impact my life and I rarely ever send random thank you cards... and never any at Thanksgiving. So I've done some thinking and thought of some people I'd really like to get thank you's out to this year for Thanksgiving, and this is the first card I came up with.

Isn't that turkey adorable? This is an old, old, OLD (!!) Stampin' Up! set (circa 1998) called Thanks Be For Thee. I bought it a few years ago on eBay. I just love it, but this is the first time I've used it. I used some of the Basic Grey paper my friend Karen sent to me, and the swirly stamp from Baroque Motifs for the background. I also added some stickles to the ground (which, of course, I drew in - you know me and my grounding obsession!). I think I've mentioned it before, but I love using stickles for the ground when it's dirt or sand. It just has a nice gritty look to it.

I also want to share some fun news. I am a member of the Bellaholics yahoo group, and was recently chosen to be one of their four Bellaholics Challenge Queens! Woot! My official title is Sketch Challenge Queen, and I'll be responsible for the monthly sketch challenge for the group. I'll be posting my sketch challenges here too, and I think I'll be offering up a little random prize drawing for those who participate. My first challenge will be posted October 10th, so stay tuned!!



Details:
Stamps: Thanks Be For Thee (Stampin' Up!), Baroque Motifs (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Adirondak Pitch Black, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla, Georgia Pacific White, Basic Grey DP
Other: Brown Grosgrain Ribbon (Unknown), Orange Button (The Paper Studio), Ticket Corner Punch (Stampin' Up!), Copic Markers, Stickles, 1/8" hole punch

My Little Butterball

I haven't posted here in awhile, so I thought I'd better share something! Here is a picture of Jack taken a few weeks ago. He loves to sit on the couch with his big brother. If I prop him up right, he'll be content there quite awhile. Despite the sleeping issues, I really am blessed to have such well behaved and (generally ;o) ) content kiddo's!

Thank Ewe!

I recently placed an order with Sweet n' Sassy Stamps for two Rachelle Anne Miller stamps, and they came the other day. This is the first card I've made with either of them, and I just love the way it turned out. Rachelle's illustrations and stamps are just adorable. Be sure to click on the link to her blog and view them all. Did you know she let's you use her images in your blog banner? I made a header for my family blog with one of them! You can get more details about her requirements here, if you think you might be interested in doing the same.

As I mentioned yesterday, my friend Sara is hosting a card swap, and I am debating whether or not to sign up. The last few times I've signed up I have procrastinated on the cards to the last minute and then feel pressured to get them done and mailed on time. So I decided that if I was going to participate this time, I was going to have all of the cards DONE before the sign-up deadline even passed. The swap is for thank you cards, so this is the first prototype I've worked up. I'm still not sure whether or not I'll sign up, because I *should* be getting started on my halloween, thanksgiving, and Christmas cards... but you never know. I still have time to think about it, so I can waffle a little longer. ;o)

The image is colored with a combination of prismacolors with gamsol, and copic markers. The faces and hooves of the sheep are colored with prismas, as are the hearts. The bodies of the sheep, shading around them, and ground, are all copics. I drew the ground line in by hand. Remember how I need my bellas to be grounded? Same goes for farm animals. The sentiment is hand written.

Isn't this such a cute image by Rachelle? I'm tellin' ya, you NEED to check out her stuff! You won't be sorry! SNSS also has some of Rachelle's new Christmas line on pre-order right now too. There's always something to buy! You know how it goes!

Before I close, I want to also thank my blogger friend Kristine over at Ink Something for giving me this blog award:

I really appreciate it! It makes me happy to know that someone thought of me today. Thanks, Kristine!

Details:
Stamps: Cuddle Up (Rachelle Anne Miller)
Ink: Adirondak Pitch Black
Paper: Pretty In Pink, Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, Grey (Unknown)
Other: Grey Taffeta Ribbon (Stampin Up!), Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Copic Markers, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

So Sweet

It has been a few weeks since I've played with Taylor's Cupcake Challenge. I love her sketches, and have missed participating. I've just been so foggy lately with the sleep thing, I didn't know whether I was coming or going half the time... Not to mention I was so far behind in my reader I didn't even know what the sketches were until well after they were over. Oye. I'm all caught up on the reader now, and am getting there on the sleep as well, so hopefully things will start to get back to normal around here!

Anyhoo... Here is her sketch for this week:

I'm not such a big fan of all the white space on my card. In hindsight, I wish I had filled the space with some kind of background stamp in a muted color, but what's done is done, and it ain't bein' re-done! ;o) Oh, and I was doing the sketch from memory, and forgot to make my bow off center. Schvoops!

I'm just excited that I finally bought some cupcake stamps! I've been looking for some plain cupcake stamps that I LOVE for a long time, and really haven't found any that throw me over the top. If I love the image, the size is too small (see those Unity cupcakes below for an example). If I like the size, I'm not totally in love with the images themselves (such is the case with these... they have bigger stamps, which I like, but am not crazy about the jagged line drawings). These were half off at Hobby Lobby this week though, so I caved and picked them up.

Speaking of picking things up, did you see that there is a sale at Firecracker Designs? You can get 10% off your entire order by using the coupon code "SCS1". I placed a small order today for this German Christmas sentiment set and this Envelope Art set that is just too funny. Now I want to sign up for my friend Sara's swap and purposefully be late just so I can use that stamp. bwa ha ha ha! (Just kidding, Sara! ...sort of... ;o) tee hee) I am also loving this "Bummed Out?" set, but I didn't get it. I've been thinking about it all day though, so I could be placing another order any minute now. Oye. It's not good!!

So, what do you think of the card? Sweet, or sour? And how do you like that shiny new signature I made myself? Fun stuff, eh?

Details:
Stamps: Birthday Cupcakes (Inkadinkado)
Ink: Adirondak Pitch Black, Real Red
Paper: Bashful Blue, Summer Fun DP (Stampin' Up!), Whisper White, Real Red
Other: Stickles, Crystal Effects, Copic Markers, Blue Brads, Red Satin Ribbon

Wonderful Friend

My wonderful friend Lorie has a little blog candy challenge up for grabs over at Live, Laugh, Love, Create. The challenge is to make a card using the CPS sketch of the week. Here is a picture of the sketch:

I used a little creative interpretation, but I'm happy with my card. I think it's pretty darn cute! And really, who doesn't love Snoopy?! It's hard to tell in the photo, but there is piercing down the edges of the black strip. You might be able to see it if you click the image to enlarge it, otherwise you're just going to have to take my word for it. hee hee.

Believe it or not, I don't really have a lot to say today (shocking, I know!). So I'll call it a day and leave you with the details!

Details:
Stamps: Snoopy in car (Stampendous), Sentiment (Stampendous)
Ink: Adirondak Black
Paper: Dark Grey (Unknown), Basic Black, Positively Pink, Georgia Pacific White, Floral Paper by The Paper Studio
Other: Flowers (The Paper Studio), Fire Brad (Stampin' Up!), White Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercing, Copic Markers

Hey There Cupcake

I have A LOT of business to attend to today, so get comfy, mmmk? ;o)

First, the card... What do you think? I'm on the fence. It seems like there's a lot going on, and I'm not sure how I feel about my color combo. The images are all by Unity Stamp Co., and were a gift from my friend Jessica over at Kindred Arts. The cut job on "cupcake" is a little wonky because the words were all part of one image, and were all very close together. Since I don't have the actual stamp, I had to work with what I had and cut it all apart rather than ink each word separately (leaving it together wouldn't have fit in the space). So anyhow, it is what it is... and I'm still on the fence about it.

Next, let's talk BLOG CANDY. I have two things to report.... (1) I WON SOME!!! Woot! I won this beautiful set by Chris Dickinson. How exciting is that? (2) I want to win more!! Therefore, I must direct you to Stamps, Paper, Scissors and Donkey Smiles, where you can win some super cute donkey stamps. And don't go thinking you don't need donkey stamps, because (a) they are super cute and (b) just think of all the snarky cards you could make with donkey images! hee hee.

Third, I want to tell you about my friend Mandy over at Limelight Papercrafts. I got an email from her today saying, "I am e-mailing to let you know that we have BIG plans for World Card Making Day... Games, Deals, and PRIZES! We'll be giving away over $200 in prizes next Saturday, October 4." And in the spirit of enabling, I am passing the info on to you! Some of the prizes are even Unity Stamp Co. stamps, so you just might be able to win these very cupcakes! Who knows? Mandy does! And on October 4, you will too! Be sure to add her blog to your reader so you can find out what you need to do to win.

Finally, I've been tagged. Like, a lot. My blogger friends Debby, Carri, and Cheri (sorry, I can't seem to find the link to that one :( - Cheri, if you're reading, post a comment with the link!) have all tagged me. The gist of it is that I have to share seven random facts about myself, so here goes:

1. My maternal great-grandfather's family immigrated from Yagodnaya Polyana, Russia in 1910. However, my family is German, not Russian. This city was in what was called the "German Volga District" of Russia.
2. I am terrified of grasshoppers. They are ugly, and unpredictable, and I hate them. AND, this past Saturday not only did I accidentally step on one BAREFOOT (*gag*), but one got inside of my van. I wouldn't go near the vehicle until my hubby eliminated the creature. Nasty, nasty, nasty. Hate 'em!
3. I love to sing. I have been singing as long as I've been speaking, and I enjoy performing in front of a crowd. I sing with our city choir, The Oshkosh Choraliers, and also serve as vice-president on the group's board of directors. I sing alto. If you click that link, it will take you to a bunch of pictures. Scroll down to the one where you see the girl in a turquoise dress with a microphone in her hand. That's me, belting my solo rendition of some Abba song... I forget what it was now. In the top right picture, I'm the girl on the far left. We were line dancing to another girl's solo. Fun stuff, eh?
4. I love animals. I would love to work at a zoo, or as an animal trainer.
5. I once needed six stitches for running a knife through my hand between my index finger and thumb while carving a pumpkin.
6. Did I mention I'm blonde? LOL.
7. My boys are both named after my maternal grandfathers. Henry, after (Great) Grandpa Hank (the one from Russia) and Jack Eugene, after my Grandpa (Eugene). Two of the greatest men who ever lived, and both hold huge pieces of my heart to this day, despite their passing.

I'm supposed to tag seven other people, but frankly I'm too lazy to do it. So if you'd like to share a little about yourself and feel like playing along, consider yourself tagged!

There you have it! I'm DONE! Aren't you glad you stuck around to the end? ;)

Card Deets:
Stamps: Unity Stamp Co.
Ink: Unknown
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Eggplant Envy
Other: Tangerine Ribbon (Stamping Bella), Dazzling Diamonds, Copic Markers, Buttons (The Paper Studio), Scalloped Circle Punch (Stampin' Up!), 1 1/2" Circle Punch

Alzheimers Awareness

In case you haven't heard, there is a HUGE blog candy award going on over at My Blog by Cammie. You can go to the link for more details, but in a nutshell it is to help generate awareness for alzheimers and appreciation for those who care for alzheimers patients. I was immediately intrigued because this has long been a cause near and dear to my heart. Alzheimers runs in my family, and I have lost three relatives to it. Part of the entry process for the blog candy is to create a card to send to someone who is or was an alzheimers caregiver, so this is the card I created.

I received this Causabella image as a gift from one of the girls who participated in my bella card swap a few months ago. She only sent one image, so I've been hoarding it for a special card. When I see ribbons like this, I generally think of one of two colors... Pink (breast cancer awareness) or yellow (support our troops). I know there are other colors for other causes, but I wasn't sure what they were, so on a whim I decided to google "alzheimers ribbon color" and learned that the ribbons for alzheimers awareness are purple... hence the color scheme behind this card. I also found a cool site that creates a purple ribbon for your blog and when you do it, the site donates $10 to the Alzheimers Association. You can even have your ribbon dedicated to someone. I created a ribbon in honor of my Aunt Betty and added it to the sidebar on my family blog. I'm planning to send this card to the staff at the care home my Aunt lived at during her illness.

The card is a standard A2 invitation size, and I think this might be one of my new favorite color combos - Elegant Eggplant and Always Artichoke! So pretty! By the way! Did you know today is National Punctuation Day! No lie! Look it up if you don't believe me! Ok, enough of that. ;o)

Ok, now it's your turn! Show your appreciation and make a card for this great cause. And who knows, you might end up winning OVER $1000 WORTH OF MERCHANDISE in the process! Or, just send some good karma my way, because you have to know that there'd be some serious pay-it-forward blog candy going on here if I won that loot!

Details:
Stamps: Causabella (Stamping Bella), Many Thanks (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Black (Unknown)
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke, White (Unknown)
Other: Rub-ons (Stampin' Up!), Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, Purple Brads (The Paper Studio), Copic Markers, White Gel Pen

Never Forget...

I made this card for one of my oldest and dearest friends. We met in middle school. We were not fond of each other at all, and one day we were forced to be partners in math class in 7th grade. Long story short, we became the best of friends almost overnight and were inseparable throughout the rest of middle school. We grew apart a little in high school because our schedules were so different, but we still remained close, standing up in each others weddings, etc. Anyhow, she has been going through some hard times lately, and I just wanted to send a note to let her know I'm thinking of her. Even though we don't see each other or chit chat as often as we once did, she still has a place in my heart. After all, old friends are the best friends, right?!

Isn't this a funky layout? I adapted it from one I found in the current SU! catty. I wish I could remember what page it was on (in case you haven't noticed, my computer and stamp area are not near each other!). I just thought it was different, so I had to try it! The circles are cut with my nesties, and then I used my 1/16" circle punch to hand punch all of the piercings around the edge. That darker circle is Forest Foliage. It looks much darker in my photo than in real life for some reason.

About yesterday's card... I had a few people leave comments saying they'd like more info on the stamps I used. The church is by PSX, and is item #K-1912 from 1999. The sentiment is by Stampendous, and is #H031, titled "Difficult Times" from 1998. Despite the age, I just bought that second one about three months ago at my LSS. The church has been in my collection for quite some time.

Details:
Stamps: Hang in There, Canvas, Print Pattern (all Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Adirondak Pitch Black, Pale Plum, Certainly Celery
Paper: Certainly Celery, Pale Plum, Whisper White, Forest Foliage
Other: Copic Markers, Wide Purple Organdy Ribbon (Unknown), White Gel Pen

A Day On The Farm

We took Henry to A Day On The Farm on Sunday. This was the first time we'd ever been to the event, and we all enjoyed ourselves! I would have liked to have stayed longer, but given Jack's current sleep situation, we wanted to try our best to adhere to our sleep schedules. We'll make up for it next year, I'm sure!

Here are some pictures from our day:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

God's Loving Arms

So, the other day we took the boys to a thingy that was going on outside of town. When we left, we decided to do a little exploring and took a country road we'd never been on before just to see where it took us. When I got home, I was checking my email and saw an article in my local Yahoo News feed about a man who died after a motorcycle accident on that very road the day before. I thought that was an odd coincidence, being that until about 2 hours earlier I didn't even know the road existed. Later that night, I was online again and learned the man's name. I had no idea who he was, but knew some people with the same last name from my church and city choir. It made me wonder if they were related, and today I found out they were. He is the son of our former church president, and family (nephew, grandson) to the folks in my choir. He was 25. The whole thing just blows my mind, and it gives me a heaping dose of perspective on my current issues with Jack.

Speaking of that sleep deal, I want to say thanks to the ladies who left such comforting words about our situation. I know we'll get through it eventually. We actually went through the same thing with our first son (though it was very different at the same time because it didn't make him fussy at all, isn't it funny how that works?) Anyhow, he is fine now and I know Jack will be too. I'm just thankful that I have them both here to hug and love every day.

Anyhow, on to the card. I made this card for Jerry, the young man's father (aforementioned former church president), and his family. I can't even begin to imagine what they are going through right now. I've had this church stamp sitting on my desk for a few weeks now, because it's actually a Christmas stamp and I've been waiting for the muse to strike so I can make some Christmas cards with it. Well, that hasn't happened, but as I sat there wondering what I would do for this card, it hit me to use these two stamps together. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.

So what do you think? Is the church too wintry? I tried to play down the snow around the edges as much as possible. Did it work?

Details:
Stamps: Church (??), Sentiment (??) (I can check on either if you're interested)
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey DP
Other: Tarnished Brads

My Big Boy

Here is a picture of Henry taken yesterday at the playground by the tanks (i.e. Red Arrow Park). He's getting to be such a big boy, and we've had so much fun going on our weekend adventures this summer.

This morning, Darrin and I were getting dressed for the day when we heard a loud crash come from upstairs. I raced up the stairs, only to find Henry there on the floor in front of his crib, holding his head and saying, "OWW!". He's fine, but it just marks the beginning of another era in his life... the big boy bed. Once we were all ready for the day, we went and picked up some breakfast before heading to my Mom's (to pick them up for yet another of our adventures). When we sat down to eat, and tried to get him into his high chair he said no, and pointed to a regular chair. *sigh* So, he sat in a big boy chair (no booster, just him) and ate his breakfast. He didn't squirm or wiggle, he just sat and ate. On one hand it's exciting to watch him develop, on the other it makes me a little sad to think that he is just a little less dependent on me now. But, I guess that's all part of being a parent.

After we finished our breakfast, we headed out to Pickett for A Day On The Farm. Henry had a blast. I have more pictures to share from that later this week. :)

Stressed!

First of all, did you know today is National Women's Friendship Day? Here is a snippet I received in a recent email about the day:

Ask any woman--there' s something special about her friendships with other women. Our female friends know us better than anyone else. They are there to listen, to console, and to encourage. They are our loudest cheerleaders and our most compassionate confidantes. Our women friends come in a wide variety--sister, mother, neighbor, childhood playmate, college roommate. We make connections at the playground, the workplace, the gym, and over the proverbial back fence. From a leisurely Saturday afternoon over coffee to precious moments stolen for a late night phone call, our relationships with other women can sustain us and give life depth. We need to remember the important roles our women friends play in our lives.

And isn't that the truth? Of course the paragraph neglected to mention those women we've all met through our blogs and chatting on Splitcoast! I know I've been lucky enough to meet some wonderful women through both avenues (some even in person!) and I value those friendships as well. One of those friends is going through a rough time right now, and this card is for her. Although I have to say I find it totally ironic that I'm probably more stressed now that I've ever been (meaning, strung out as opposed to wound up) so I think I should have some desserts too. :o) hee hee.

About that... we are still struggling with Jack and his sleep issues. I've been doing some research online and I'm fairly certain we're dealing with a case of silent reflux. But the meds he's on don't really seem to be helping (though they did at first, which is weird), so we're struggling day by day with only brief periods of sleep at night as we think he just can't find a comfortable position with his severe heartburn. Poor little guy. As a result, I've fallen wayyy behind on my blog reading, and even more so on my blog comments. Please bear with me. I haven't forgotten any of you, I just need to put family first for awhile. Well, family is always first, but you know what I mean (hopefully!).

The card is pretty self explanatory, but I just wanted to note that I was working off of the layout of the card on page 80 of the current SU catty. It's a loose translation, but I wanted to give credit where it was due!

So, that's my story for today. And that story is titled, "Stressed!" ;o)

Details:
Stamps: Hang in There (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Adirondak Pitch Black
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink, Whisper White, Summer Fun DP
Other: Copic Markers, Nestabilities, Paper Piercer, White Grosgrain Ribbon

Pool Time

Henry loves to splash in the water. It doesn't matter if it's the tub, the pool, or a tiny little puddle. If he finds it, he'll splash in it! So does it make me a bad mother for not bringing the pool out until Labor Day weekend? LOL! Ok, maybe a little. Here is a quick slideshow of his two swimming weekends this summer - Labor Day weekend, and the weekend after. Hey, at least he got to do it a little bit anyhow! ;)

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

As a point of reference, here is a picture taken one year earlier. Isn't it crazy how much growth can happen in one year?

Into Every Life...

...a little rain must fall. I bought this stamp ages ago. Back when I was collecting House Mouse stamps just for the sport of it. I never really knew what I'd do with it, but I had to have it. Today I received an email from a friend requesting a sympathy card for her sons who lost their great-grandmother recently, and I knew this was the stamp I had to use.

My great-grandmother was easily one of my best friends in this world, as well as one of the greatest women I've ever known. She lived until I was 26. There is a song I have heard on the radio that always reminds me of her (and my other grandparents who have passed, all of whom I had the priviledge of being very close to), called Holes In The Floor Of Heaven by Steve Wariner. If you're interested, you can hear it in the background of a youtube video HERE. And go ahead and get a tissue out while it loads. You'll need it.

Anyhow, this is my official grandparent sympathy card stamp because of that song. I wrote a short note inside, along with part of this story and a few of the lyrics. Hopefully it will help to bring the boys (who are old enough to grasp the concept, not little ones) a little comfort in the same way it does me.

As for the card, I actually stamped the image on Sky Blue paper. I've never done that before, but I think it worked ok. I thought it would be easier than trying to color in all of that sky. The only thing is you have to test your copics before you color with them unless you know the rules of color mixing (i.e. yellow and blue make green, etc.). It made for some pretty fall leaves though, didn't it? This also reminds me of a conversation I had with some online friends today who told me that the locals in the Vermont area refer to tourists as "leaf peepers" when the come for the fall color tours. That just made me giggle, I don't even know why. It still does. lol!

Alright, has everyone regained their composure now? Seeee, this is why I only make fun and cheery cards! *wink* Before you go, be sure to check out Chrissy D's blog candy. She's giving away a beautiful autumn leaf set (how appropriate!) from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps that she designed herself!

Details:
Stamps: House Mouse Stamp of the Month
Ink: Adirondak Pitch Black, Brocade Blue (sponged edges)
Paper: Sky Blue, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red
Other: Wide Gold Organdy Ribbon (SU!), Copic Markers

You Cured Yet?

I was sorting through all of my stamped images that I have received from SCS friends, blog friends, and the WRAK forum, and found I have some images that I have since bought the matching stamps for. This is one of those images. I fell in love with this Farm Fever set when it came out, but did I buy it? Nooooo. Why would I? lol. For the longest time I would talk myself out of stamps until after they were retired and then end up paying more for them on ebay than I would have if I'd just bought them out of the catalog. Doh.

Anyhow, I made this quick card for my Aunt Bev. She broke her hip in late July, and I brought a card to her while she was in the hospital, but I thought I'd send this cute little follow up now since I haven't heard from her in awhile. My Aunt and Uncle are farmers, so I thought she'd (they'd) get a kick out of this.

This also marks the first time I've used my Fiskars threading water punch. It bothers me A LOT that it's threading and not treading. I feel like I have a lisp every time I say it. Yeah, I know, I need to move on.

So let's move on to this... Is there anyone out there like me who loves this stamp set but never bought it? Or maybe it's the first time you've seen it? Either way, I'm cleaning house in the image department, so everything you see below is up for grabs! If one person is interested, I'll send everything to that person. If two are interested, I'll split it between them. The first one or two to post a comment on this thread expressing interest get the goods! OH... take note... I have no idea what kind of paper these are stamped on, but it isn't real good for blending copics. The ink is totally copic safe though if you want to fight with the blending issue. Otherwise you'd have to use another medium for coloring.

Details:
Stamps: Farm Fever (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Unknown
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Brocade Blue
Other: Corner Rounder Punch, Going Grey Stampin' Write Marker (doodling), Threading Water punch (Fiskars), White Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest), Copic Markers

When There Are No Words

You know, sometimes there just are no words that can be said. And when there are no words, a simple "I'm praying for you" will do wonders. I'm sure you've been in situations like this, and know what I'm talking about. Sometimes you just need to turn it over and let Him handle it.

This is the first time I've ever layered background stamps, and I have to say I'm pretty pleased with the result. The Print Pattern and Script backgrounds work so nicely together. I started by inking my Print Pattern stamp with really rust, then I stamped it off onto scratch paper twice before stamping it onto the cardstock so that the image was very (very!) light. Then I inked the Script stamp in the same color and stamped it off once so it was just a little darker.

About that script stamp... Deb P., Jenn S., read the words. ;o) Go ahead, take a minute.

Hee hee. Bring back any memories?

To the rest of my readers, the words are to an Irish blessing that we sang at our high school graduation (though I'm fairly certain none of us are Irish). I'm going by memory, but it basically says, "May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rain fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand." And you have to know I was singing it in my head as I typed that. :o)

ANYHOW!!! Once the two backgrounds were on, I stamped the leaf image with my Versamark pad and added gold embossing powder, followed by a heat set. I also sponged the edges with Really Rust. Now that it's done I wish I'd have stamped the leaf straight up and down instead of at an angle, but seriously... how minor is that? This is how I pick apart my work! Oye.

I missed posting yesterday because my life kind of fell apart. I had a little break down from a lack of sleep and ended up calling the ped's office in tears. They got us in right away and it looks like Jack has reflux, and that is what has been causing all of his night wakings and fussiness. He's been on Zantac for two days now and is like a totally different baby. It's insane (but in a good way). Anyhow, I hope this new increase in sleep for me means an increase in mojo because I have been feeling like my cards have been lacking something lately. Whatever it is, I hope it comes back soon!

I'm also so behind on my blog hopping. I haven't even looked at my reader in two or three days, and have about 50 unanswered emails to work on starting tomorrow. I'll get caught up eventually, right?

Details:
Stamps: Autumn, Print Pattern, Script (all three Stampin' Up!), sentiment (??)
Ink: Really Rust, Versamark
Paper: Very Vanilla, Really Rust, Mellow Moss
Other: Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Ticket Corner Punch, Mellow Moss Grosgrain Ribbon, Copper Cord

Friday's Wedding

This past Friday, September 12th, was the wedding day for my cousin Brandon (second cousin, to be exact) and his bride, Kati. Here are a few pictures from the day. I wasn't able to get many, as Jack started to fuss shortly after the ceremony began and I had to take him to the van (it was an outdoor wedding at a park in Appleton).

This is my favorite picture. Here we have Brandon and his son Gage waiting for Kati to walk down the aisle. Gage was the best man at the wedding, but I think he was a little intimidated by the whole thing. He didn't quite know what to make of everything. This picture just touches my heart because as cheesy as it sounds, I can feel the love...



I photoshop'ed the background of that picture above to get out the big white Lamers bus that was sitting in the parking lot behind them. It's the first time I've ever done that, but I don't think it turned out *too* bad. So what if the tree leaves go all the way to the ground? hee hee. Here we have Kati as she approaches, arm in arm with her Dad. Check out the look on Gage's face. LOL! That made me smile. :)




Brandon and Kati prepare to take their vows...



Aaaand that's when I had to leave. Argh. I took Jack to the van and nursed him quick, then came right back and it was over. I think the whole thing must have lasted all of maybe 15 minutes. It was an insanely short ceremony (though my husband thought it was just perfect - MEN!). I was sad that I missed the good parts, but such are the joys of parenthood I guess.

Here is a quick shot of Henry after the ceremony. He had a tummy ache that day and was being a stinker when I wanted to take a picture of him, so hubby had to help.


Shortly after that picture was taken, the boys headed off to the playground. :)


So, that was our day on Friday. The reception was nice, but we weren't able to stay for much of that either. The boys were both in a mood that day and I was sleep deprived, which didn't help my patience levels at all. We ended up leaving shortly after dinner.

Blue Challenge

Ok, so there are a few things going on today. First of all, it's a CBC Challenge day. But sadly, our fearless leader (Courtney) has been displaced by Hurricane Ike, so please take a minute to wish her and her family well and say a little prayer that they will be able to get back home asap!

Unfortunately, I had absolutely NO time to craft yesterday, so I'm posting a card I received in the Blue Challenge on the Hanna Stamps Yahoo Group instead. The CBC Challenge for this week is to use punches, so this fits the bill. I'm sorry it's not an original, but it's still pretty darn cute, isn't it?! And yes, it is from Kristi Ferro herself! How cool is that?

And look... she even used Flower Soft for snow. I think I need to get me some of that. I was introduced to it on my friend Holly's blog awhile ago, but didn't jump on it because I don't do a lot of floral stuff and wasn't sure where/how I would use it. But snow??? I'm all about the snow!!

Anyhow, I hope you like the card as much as I do. Oh, and in case you're wondering, this is the card I made for the blue challenge!

A Way Of Travel

Some of you may remember me mentioning that my Aunt and Uncle were in town a few weeks ago. They were visiting from Tennessee, and came via their fifth wheel camper. Well, when I saw a card made with these Unity Stamp Co. images on my blogger friend Jessica's blog (click her name for a link to the exact card that caught my eye), I just knew I needed some! I begged and cried a little bit and she sent me some (just to shut me up... ha ha, just kidding! It was a fair trade!).

I don't think I would normally put these colors together, but I had been working on a different project for my Summer Sister with this Summer Fun DP from Stampin' Up!, and all of these colors are used on the DP so I thought, why not?! I'm kind of wishing I'd made the dotted piece long enough so that it was equidistant from all of the card edges, but unfortunately that was an after thought. And like I've said before, gifted images leave no room for afterthoughts!

I do think it's a cute card overall though. How do you like the brads on the jack and tire? Cute, no?

Details:
Stamps: August Kit of the Month (Unity Stamp Co.), Kindness Jumbo Wheel (SU!)
Ink: Unknown Black (but it is copic safe!), Bashful Blue
Paper: White (unknown), Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Fun DP
Other: Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon, Small Silver Brad, Large Silver Brad, Copic Markers, Stampin' Dimensionals

Like Mother, Like Son

I used to love to walk around the house in my grandpa's shoes when I was Henry's age. It made me smile to see him come around the corner in my Crocs the other day. :o) He's such a cheeseball when it comes to taking pictures though. As soon as he sees the camera he gets this crazy look on his face. What a nut! :o)

Anyhow, I promised pictures so that the blog didn't get dragged down with all the NCSS stuff. Here is one, and there are more to come this week!

NCSS: Night -Waking Log

Date: September 11, 2008
Age: 5.5 mos

Six items were logged:

1. Time
2. How baby woke me up
3. How long awake; what we did
4. Time baby fell back to sleep
5. How baby fell back to sleep
6. How long of a sleep stretch since fell asleep

7:40 - Jack fell asleep at the end of our nursing session and I moved him to the crib

8:30 - He woke, crying. Fell asleep again at 8:40 while nursing. Sleep stretch (SS): 50 mins

9:10 - He woke, crying. Fell asleep again at 9:20 while nursing. SS: 40 mins

9:30 - He woke, crying. Fell asleep again at 9:40 while nursing. SS: 20 mins

10:55 - He woke, grunting. Fell asleep on his own a minute or two later. SS: 1 hr 25 mins.

11:20 - He woke, crying. Fell asleep again at 11:30 while nursing. SS: 20 mins

1:15 - He woke, crying. Fell asleep again at 1:30 while nursing. SS: 1 hr 55 mins

4:00 - He woke, crying. Fell asleep again at 4:10 while nursing. SS: 2 hr 45 mins

7:00 - Up for the day. SS: 3 hrs.

Asleep time: 7:40p.m.
Awake time: 7:00 a.m.
Total Number of Awakenings: 7
Longest Sleep Span: 3 hours
Total Hours of Sleep: 11 hrs, 15 mins

Well, there you have it. This was a somewhat rougher night that usual, but not by much. When he falls asleep nursing I try everything I can think of to get him to wake up and nurse longer but nothing works. Yet, when I move him to the crib his sleep doesn't last long.

If I remember correctly, my next logs will be done in ten days (from 9/11/08) to monitor progress. I'm still reading the book though, so there might be other stuff between now and then too. So far the biggest suggestions seem to be that there has to be a set bedtime time and routine. And I knew that, but honestly wasn't using one. We didn't get Henry into a routine until he was older - maybe 9 mos, and yes, I do remember him sleeping better after we did so don't ask me why I didn't do it right away this time. I am also being more aware of sleep cues and taking Jack up to bed as soon as he appears tired. Last night I put him down at 7:00 p.m, and he slept until about 9:30 this morning, but there were TONS of wake ups in between. Like, an ungodly amount. I can handle every 3 hours or so. It's the 30 minute cycles that get me.

So, that's that. Stay tuned for progress reports!

You Look Fabulous!

Can I just take a moment to tell you how much I love this set? Because I do. A lot. And the funny thing is, I didn't even want the dang thing. I had to buy out my quarter last time, and as I was making my selections, I picked a few of the retiring sets that I thought would yield the highest return on ebay, and this happened to be one of them. As soon as I opened the box though, I knew it had to live with me forever. LOL! I am also sooo glad I bought that Baroque Motifs set. Man, what a versatile set that is! That one is still available too, so if you don't own it already there's still time!

Ok, on to the card. I made this tonight for my bff's sister. He tells me she's expecting. Hopefully he's right, or she's going to be totally offended in a couple of days! Ha! I don't know her all that well, but she has always struck me as kind of a trendy girl, so hopefully she will like what I came up with for her.

I found the layout in an old Stamp It! magazine by Paper Crafts, and used that for inspiration. That's where I got the idea to knot the ribbon through an eyelet. Pretty clever, eh? I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't. Speaking of which, does anyone know how often they publish those? I have a subscription to Paper Crafts, but it's a new one. Do I get Stamp It! too with my subscription? Just curious.

And finally, we have the small matter of my card give away. In a very technical manner, I hollered to hubby in the basement:

Me: Hey, pick a number between 1 and 15
H: Why?
Me: Just do it quick.
H: Not until I know why.
Me: Argh. (lengthy explanation)
H: Oh. Ok. One.
Me: One?
H: Yep, the early bird gets the worm.

SOOOOOO, that means SUE, of Sue's Stampin' Stuff is our big winner for today. Sue, email your addy to me at sairabee at yahoo dot com, and I'll get the card out to you asap!

Details:
Stamps: She's All That (Stampin' Up!), Baroque Motifs (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla
Other: Hobby Lobby Ribbon, SU Flower Eyelet, Sticky Pearls (they're ba-ack!)

All You Need Is...

You're totally going to be singing that song in your head all day now, aren't you? hee hee. You're welcome. ;o)

Here we have wedding card #3 of the 4 I need to make. I actually think this is my favorite one so far. I just love the way it all came together. Big thanks to my SCS Toddler Mom friend Merry for sending me some images of this hitchedafellabella stamp! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

The sentiment is from a little clear stamp set (that yellows horribly, btw) at Hobby Lobby, and the ribbon is the old wide organdy from SU!. On one hand I miss not having easy access to all of that organdy, but on the other hand I kind of like the weight of the grosgrain better. Funny how that works.

Anyhow, I'm really pleased with how this turned out and would love to hear your thoughts. And remember, I'm giving the house mouse card below away in a random drawing this weekend, so be sure to leave a comment on that post too if you'd like a little happy mail!

We have a wedding to go to today, so I'm not sure if I'll be home in time to make a card to share tomorrow or not... we'll see. If not, I might take the day off from blogging, OR, I could show you some of the cute swaps and RAK's I've gotten recently. Be sure to check back either way!

Details:
Stamps: Hitchedafellabella (Stamping Bella), Sentiment (Hobby Lobby)
Ink: Memento (bella), Basic Black (sentiment)
Paper: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Paisley Paper (The Paper Studio)
Other: Copic Markers, Sakura Gel Pen (sparkles on shoes and tiara), Journal Writer (doodling), Wide Black Organdy Ribbon

NCSS: Prebedtime Routine Log

Name: Jack
Age: 5.5 mos
Date: 9/11/08

Key (from book):
Activity: active, moderate, or calm
Noise: loud, moderate, or quiet
Light: bright, dim, or dark

I am logging five points:

1. Time
2. What We Did
3. Activity Level
4. Noise Level
5. Light Level

Here are today's results:

5:30 p.m. - Worked puzzles with Henry. Calm activity. Moderate noise (he is a toddler after all!). Bright light.

6:00 p.m. - Misc.... read some books, watched the news, watched Henry play while I did a little baby massage. Moderate activity. Moderate noise. Bright light.
7:00 p.m. - Jack sat in his bouncer while Hubby, Henry, and I ate supper. Moderate noise, Calm activity (for him). Bright light.

7:20 p.m. - Took Jack up to his bedroom to change diaper and nurse. Calm activity. Quiet. Dim light.

Q: Do you have a formal, consistent bedtime routine?
A: Yes, from the time we get into the bedroom we go through the same routine every night. Before that, no.

Q: Is the hour prior to bedtime mostly peaceful, quiet, and dimly lit?
A: Umm, no, is it supposed to be?

Q: Does your bedtime routine help both you and your baby relax and get sleepy?
A: No, it's not really long enough to do that.
Q: Any other observations about your current bedtime routine?
A: It is difficult to get in a routine before we get to the bedroom because often times we are just getting home from my Mom's, etc. It seems every day brings a new adventure. It is also hard to convince a two year old to be (relatively) quiet... though he tries. I always put Jack down first, while Henry plays with his "Pa" . When I come down, if Henry is noisy I will say, "Shhh, honey, we have to be quiet." in a calm voice and he'll say, "Bee?" (his name for Jack - short for baby). So he *kind of* gets it, but not entirely.

I'll log the overnight routine tomorrow. I have some new pictures to post too, so don't get all skeered thinking it's all business from here out (coughChriscough). ;o)

NCSS: Nap Log

Here is the info with guidelines from Pantley's NCSS book for Jack's Nap Log:

Age: 5.5 mos
Date: 9/11/08

I am logging five points...

1. Time Baby Fell Asleep
2. How Baby Fell Asleep
3. Where Baby Fell Asleep
4. Where Baby Slept
5. How Long?

Here are the results for today:

11:20 a.m. - Jack was lulled to sleep by the movement of the stroller as we walked through the zoo. He fell asleep in the car seat (which was in the stroller), and slept there for the duration of his 30 minute nap.

1:25 p.m. - Jack was nursed to sleep on the couch and slept in that position and location for one hour before waking.

2:30 p.m. - Jack was again nursed to sleep on the couch and slept in that position and location for another 1 hr. 40 mins. before waking completely.

Q: How many naps should your baby be getting?
A: 2 (according to chart in book)

Q: How many naps is your baby getting now?
A: 2

Q: How many hours should your baby be napping?
A: 3 - 4 hours (according to chart in book)

Q: How many hours is your baby napping now?
A: Today it was 3 hrs, 10 min total.... yesterday it was 1 hr, 25 mins.

Q: Do you have a formal nap routine?
A: In the morning, no. In the afternoon, yes.

Q: Are your baby's naptimes/lengths consistent every day?
A: The time he goes down for his afternoon nap is consistent every day, but the answer is no for everything else.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution

by Elizabeth Pantley

I am not a big fan of self-help books, but I thought I'd give this one a try. It's not that Jack doesn't sleep, it's more that he doesn't stay asleep for long (or so it seems). He seems to do a lot of cluster feeding in the beginning of his sleep cycle, waking to nurse a number of times between 8-12, and then sleeps in longer stretches from 12-8. He will not go back to sleep unless he is nursed... even if it's only for a few minutes (I let him go as long as he wants/needs too, but he typically falls asleep within 3-10 minutes).

I really don't believe that he is hungry every time he wakes up (and neither does the author), it just seems to be his only mode of comfort. Given what I've read so far, it seems this book will help me to change that so he can more easily soothe himself to sleep when he stirs at night. I've already read interesting info about sleep cycles, and why/when babies wake. One interesting thing Pantley noted was something about how she'd cry too if she woke up in the middle of the night and was laying on the kitchen floor. I didn't get her point at first, but she went on to explain how baby falls asleep all nice and cozy nestled next to mum and nursing, and then wakes alone in a crib. He probably wonders how he got there, and where his mum went (by the way, Henry calls me "Mum" so that's how I refer to myself ;o))!

I have let Jack cry it out a few times, but it never sat well with me, and I always caved long before it worked. The results were just more agitation and an even longer time to settle. Not fun. Pantley quotes another author (Jean Liedloff) and her desciption of a baby waking in the middle of the night:

"He awakes in a mindless terror of the silence, the motionlessness. He screams. He is afire from head to foot with want, with desire, with intolerable impatience. He gasps for breath and screams until his head is filled and throbbing with the sound. He screams until his chest aches, until his throat is sore. He can bear the pain no more and his sobs weaken and subside. He listens. He opens and closes his fists. He rolls his head from side to side. Nothing helps. It is unbearable. He begins to cry again, but it is too much for his strained throat; he soon stops. He waves his hands and kicks his feet. He stops, able to suffer, unable to think, unable to hope. He listens. Then he falls asleep again."

Yeah, so, anyway... pretty sure we'll never be trying the CIO method again. Like, ever. That paragraph almost moved me to tears. I can't even imagine doing that to a baby. I know people have had success with this method, but it is not for me. Just like some of the things I choose to do with my children may not be for them. We all have to find our own way, and this No Cry Sleep Solution is mine.

I've read as far as I can for now. I'm to the "homework" part of the book (this is where the self help books always lose me, but I'm sticking with this one). I have to log his sleep patterns three times. At naptime, before bed, and through the night. I will do separate posts for each of them as I'm planning to use this not only for information to any readers who might drop by, but also for my own reference as I work my way through the program.

From now on, I will refer to the No Cry Sleep Solution as NCSS, and will also make a separate label for these posts in case you'd like to track the progress in one place.

Wish me luck!

Be Yourself

This is one of a handful of House Mouse images I received from my blogger friend Lorraine a few months ago. I think the image is adorable, but I was really at a loss as to what to do with it. I wasn't sure what sentiment to put with it, and was really wishing I had another image so I could cut one (or more) of the mice out and pop them up for a little dimension. I wanted to use my "Hang in There" sentiment from the old SU! set of the same name, but it was too big for the card.

So, given my limitations of only having the one image, and no idea what to do for the sentiment (lol), this is what I came up with! I colored the image (yes, the WHOLE image!) with my copic markers, then added a little zing here and there with my gelly roll pens for highlights. The ribbon is some kind of grosgrain from SU... I don't know, because that was sent to me as a RAK as well (gotta love those Random Acts of Kindness!). It seems to match that blue paper pretty well though, so maybe it's Ballet Blue? Not sure.

What do you think about the card? Cute? How would you like to win it? I figured since it was made up of so many gifts, it would be nice to gift the final product to someone as well. If you'd like to win the card, leave a comment telling me so, and I'll pick a winner at random sometime this weekend, so check back to see if your name is chosen! You don't need to have a blog to leave a comment, and I don't even use word verification so it really couldn't be easier for you!

Details:
Stamps: House Mouse (Unknown), Smarty Pants (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Ballet Blue, Black (Unknown)
Paper: Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Ballet Blue, Creamy Caramel
Other: Copic Markers, 1/8" Circle Punch, Blue Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!), White and Silver Gel Pens

My First Hickey

The Evidence

The Culprit


The Proof


Yep, he does it to himself too. It has only happened these two times though. :)

Swirls and Pearls

Do you remember my Pearlicious card? You know, the one with Clickabella and my obsession with the fact that she has no chair to sit on? Well, on that card I used ten sticky pearls, and I was afraid it was too many. I asked what you thought, and my friend Dani left this pithy comment that totally had me rolling:
I hate to say it, but the pearly flood gates have been opened, and there is no turning back! Example A:

21 PEARLS!!! And that's only counting the ones you can see! There are a few more hidden under the right side of that sentiment! Sorry, Dani! ;)

So this is wedding card 2 of 4. I have two weddings coming up, and am making 1 card for each of them for us to send and another for my Mom to send. The inside of this card will read "A lifetime of happiness is our wish for you," when I'm done with it. Cute, eh? I should write for Hallmark. Sometimes I just impress myself. lol.

Here is the open view of the card. Note the different colored text on the sentiment. This was draft number one. I ended up ripping the sentiment off after taking the photo and replacing it with one stamped in the darker color. I just wish I had a darker/wider/heavier ribbon to go with it, but alas, I do not. Such is life.



So, NOW what do you think? Is 21 pearls too many? I thought they added a nice touch to the Cuttlebug embossing (which, by the way, is on Shimmer white paper - another "nice touch").

Before I go, I have to give a quick shout out to my blogger friend ScrappyDoo2U, who recently awarded me with the "I Love Your Blog" award. Thanks so much!

Details:
Stamps: Sentiment (Rubber Stampede)
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Shimmer White
Other: Light Blue Narrow Organdy Ribbon (SU!), Scallop Edge Punch (SU!), 1/16" Circle Punch, Sticky Pearls, More Sticky Pearls, and yes, a few more Sticky Pearls, oh...and a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Jack-o-Lantern Box

It's Tuesday, and you know what that means! Time for another CBC Challenge! Today's challenge is boxes... make one, alter one, fill one with goodies and mail it to me, whatever works for you! *wink*

For this challenge, I decided to alter a box. I found this cute little take out box at Michael's on Sunday, so I bought it. I think it cost me all of $0.89. I had this challenge in mind, but really had no idea what I was going to do with it.


Here is what I came up with.... A cute little Jack-o-Lantern treat box.

To make the pumpkin, I used my Nestabilities circle die (the second largest one... 3.5", I think) to cut a circle of Pumpkin Pie paper. Then I trimmed the top of the circle by hand to make a little divet where the stem should be. Next, I used the edge of that same nestie, and lined it up with the point of my divet, and sponged along the outside edge with Pumpkin Pie ink. Then I moved it in a little and did it again, repeating this 3-4 times for each side of the pumpkin to give the effect of texture.

I also sponged around the edge of the pumpkin with Close to Cocoa ink, using a generous amount at the top so that there appears to be a little depth around the stem. I cut the eyes and nose triangles freehand, then used the 1 1/2" circle punch for the mouth. To do so, cut one circle, then slide that cut circle back into your punch until you see about 3/4 of it in the open circle (punch should be upside down) and punch. You get a nice cresent shape that way.

Once I had my crescent, I cut the teeth out with my exacto knife. I adhered the face parts to the pumpkin and coated them all with black stickles for some shimmer. I cut the stem freehand from Mellow Moss paper, and sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa ink before adhering to the pumpkin. Once "Jack" was complete, I stuck him to the box with pop dots, making sure to position them low enough that the handle would still be able to swing down so the box could be opened.

I wanted to give the illusion of one pumpkin (front and back), so I didn't add a face to the back side, just the sponging for texture. The only problem I noticed when I realized was that the stems face opposite directions (see first picture). Whoops! Oh well, it's still cute. I also am wishing I would have added some black grosgrain ribbon around the sides of the box, but I didn't think of that until it was too late. Don't you hate it when that happens?!


I covered the handle with Moss Gingham (SU!) ribbon, and then tied alternating pieces of Mellow Moss and Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain (SU!) across the top. Voila!

Now it's your turn! Try your hand at making or altering a box, and post a link to your creating on Courtney's blog for a chance to win a prize! The link for Courtney's blog, as well as all of the other CBC Chicks (which now includes Heidi Michel!) can be found on my side bar at the right of this post.

In other news, I just finished my first lesson on Jessica Sprague's Up and Running With Photoshop class. Woot! I have already learned things I didn't know I didn't know (didja follow that? Total Dr. Philism. lol.) about PSE. I'm so glad I decided to sign up for the class. I'll share my digi-pages as I finish them and give more info as I progress!

Details:
Stamps: None
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss, Basic Black
Other: 1 1/2" Circle Punch, Black Stickles, Nestabilities, Moss Gingham Ribbon (SU!), Mellow Moss Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!), Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!)