Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Timeless Silhouette

When I first saw this silhouette stamp, I thought it was so reminiscent of Max and I on our wedding day. When Max walked in on me making this card he exclaimed, "Is that us?!"

What I really like about this image is that it's timeless. She could be wearing a bubblegum pink, taffeta dress and he a powder blue, ruffled tux. Or is she donning a scarlet red ball gown and he a classic black tuxedo? Where are they going? Where have they been? Are they kissing hello or kissing goodbye? What year is it, 1942 or 2008? A couple in love or a father kissing his daughter on her wedding day? I cant wait to explore the possibilities!The card front has a solid black base with a smaller pink mat, edges distressed with a stitched border. The silhouette image was stamped on top of the French Script background and adhered on a solid black scalloped mat. Rhinestones, flower, and distressed sentiment complete the look.Thank you for stopping by!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

French Script

I have really been enjoying my large stamp with the French script background. It seems to add just the right touch of shabby-ness to my projects. I designed a focal point for this card and ended up taking it off and replacing it with just the corner flowers instead. I still love the focal point I have, I just need to find a new way to make it work. So what I have here is the French script background, and some die cut flowers. Look closely though, one flower layer as well as the photo corners are cut from fabric. Shabby fabric! Ive been wanting to incorporate fabric on cards for a while now, just not sure how to go about it. Here's my first shot at it:(Sorry for the poor lighting in the photo!)
And a close up of the detail work:
I have neglected my Etsy shop all summer long so I am feeling the urge to get back in it again. So, back to the craft room I go. Let's hope some inspiration follows me!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Birthday Card

We celebrated my nephew's first birthday over the weekend. Mother Nature cooperated and we had a great time at his party on the lake. Here is the quick card I put together for him: The front is cut about an inch short to reveal the patterned paper and buttons underneath. I dug out some birthday rub-ons that I had and added sentiments to the front and inside.

When my Godson Holden was baptised, I stumbled around trying to think of what to give him as a gift. Max had the wonderful idea of giving him a tree...so he could watch it grow just as we would watch him grow. Hauling a seven or eight foot tulip tree out the back of a Jeep for 30 minutes was no easy feat, but we made it there...tree in tact. So we felt that it was only appropriate to give his brother Wade a tree too, for his first birthday. A "Wealthy Apple" tree!Check out the size of those apples already!
Hopefully the trees AND boys will grow to be big and strong!
Happy Birthday Wade!

Let me introduce you!

It has been about a year since I first discovered blogs. When I first heard the term “blog” I thought it was a medical term for some sort of yellowy mucus or an illness of some sort. But when I inadvertently stumbled upon my first blog evah, I was instantly hooked. It didn’t take me long before I was surfin blogs on a daily basis, then soon after, I started one of my own. Im still trying to determine what all my blog is suppose to be about, what its true purpose is, but until I have more time to devote to it and its readers, it is what it is. But aren’t blogs just great? I love ‘em and look forward to checking in each day with some of the worlds most creative and interesting people.

Recently, while checking in on a regular favorite, the writer mentioned having just discovered a particular blog. She claimed it to be awesome, so of course I had to check it out. Check it out I did, and I was instantly 100% hooked, impressed, amazed, and inspired by this woman that I am about to introduce you to. Her website is chock full of stories that will have you in stitches, crying tears of empathy, or shaking your head in amazement (Confessions, Home & Garden). The site boasts amazing photographs (Photography) that she takes herself and recipes that could make even Betty Crocker’s mouth water (Cooking). She calls her husband “Marlboro Man.” Perhaps you’ve already heard of her, perhaps not. Either way, get super comfy because once you start reading about this fabulous lady and her life, you wont want to stop. Simply put, she’s amazing. I hope you will enjoy, as much as I have:
The Pioneer Woman

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Dont miss the boat!

Two weeks from today, we’ll be here:

Hopefully fishing our little hearts out!

For years, my family has gone to Lake Winnibigoshish in Minnesota to camp and fish. I believe it all started with my grandparents many moons ago. Within the past few years, we grandkids and great grandkids have started joining our parents in what has evolved into a fishing tradition. I went back for the first time since I was a kid, two years ago, and was in heaven…even though it took a couple days to get used to being without a cell phone, radio, tv, and my loved ones.

It’s hard to explain or understand how such a massive body of water can evoke peacefulness from within, yet on a dime can become a mighty force to be reckoned with. There are so many wonders to nature aren’t there? I’m looking forward to it, even though there are times when the bugs bite more than the fish!

Stay tuned for some “fish bites” as we prepare for our trip!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Cleaning up and cleaning out

Hello, I thought I would check in so you all wouldn't think I fell into a hole or something. Do you ever get the urge to purge? Not THAT kind of purge! Get rid of things, clean out, spruce up, make it all new? Well, that's exactly what Ive been doing, or at least trying to, and it feels good!

I don't know about you, but as I redo things, or redecorate, I learn a little something new about myself. What I am learning this go around, more of a confirmation really, is that I am very monochromatic. I LOVE color, no problem there, its just that when I find a color I love, everything I pick up is that color! I am no home decorating diva by any stretch of the imagination, though I would love to be, so I have to really work at figuring out how to put things together and incorporate various elements to create an overall style...without it being all the same color. And unfortunately, I always want something to look just like the picture in the magazine and will accept no substitutes. Although...I usually have to! So its no surprise that my next inspiration snippet is just that, monochromatic ivory.

Stay tuned to see how these "snippets" have inspired my latest project(s).

Friday, July 18, 2008

Future Fortune

Another normal day at the office. Doing my work, punching numbers, lots of daydreaming about all things crafty...the usual. Went to lunch, scarfed down some delicious Chinese, then cracked open my fortune cookie.
I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. ~Author Unknown

(I think I'll hang onto this one...just in case.)

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Martha, Martha, Martha!!!

This group of cards and tags started because of a little bird's nest stamp I found and couldn't resist. Ive been challenging myself to use up my scrap paper, since I have plenty of it, and it has really been fun! So away I went...

One tag led to another...

And then came this little card which actually started with the three little scalloped squares...

...except at the time, I didn't have anything to put in the squares. I told you all I had been busy last week, and its all that darn Martha's fault. I went to Walmart for something completely unrelated, just happened to mosey to the craft isle, and wha?! When did Martha Stewart move in to Walmart?! Ye-ah, she has all sorts of fun stuff there now. Granted, she's had products at Michaels for quite some time now, in fact, she's pretty much taken over this whole green earth don't you think? There's just something about those little robbin-egg-blue packages that scream out "Pick me! Pick me!" And its by Martha, so how can it not be good right? So that's where the butterflies came from, good ole Martha. Ive seen some butterflies on this or that, and they were cute, but Ive never been a die-hard fan. *sigh* Until Martha's butterfly punch made its cute little way into my shopping cart. I've completely digressed but what I'm getting at is, how cute are these little fluttery bits of joy?

Notice that the middle but'rfly appears as if its flying off the page. Vellum. Its a good thing. *That's totally something my friend Martha would say!*

Amidst the bird nest stamp, Martha's punch, and these yummy scraps I'm lovin' I somehow caught a French moment. Probably because of last weekend's other big project that I gave you a sneak peak of and am still not ready to unveil to you all just yet. Yeah, I think that's what did it. So, I found myself at the hobby store, and like a broken record this stamp was hollering at me to pick it up. Oui oui!! And the French script begins...

I have had lots of fun with this stamp, although this is the only completed item I have at the moment. Another is in the works but it's being difficult at the moment so I had to put it in time-out until it learns to play nice.

And then somewhere along the way came this card and tag duo...

I turned the button into a flower by adding some freehand leaves that I inked up and scored down the middle to create a vein of sorts.

Some "whoopses" turned into good things with this matching tag...

Gotta love details...


That's all for tonight, I gotta hit the hay. Check back tomorrow, I just might have a Let's Entertain post and another inspiration sneak peak!

Monday, July 14, 2008

A little of this and a lot of that...

Hello my friends! It's been almost two weeks, where have you been?! Oh wait, its me that's been MIA. So sorry about that, things have been busy. Last week I had several homework assignments due so blogging had to wait, which means my report on the Fourth of July had to wait, as well as all subsequent events. *sigh* Such is life huh? So let me rewind 10 days and give you a brief overview of the holiday.

What started as a "picnic" idea, turned into a full fledged cookout...albeit a small one. The invitees received this little e-vitation that I conjured up at the last minute using some freebie digi stuff and Publisher.

Max started the night before with a "secret recipe" for a chicken rub, which was applied and left to marinate over night. He stuck the chickens in the oven at noon and slow cooked them all afternoon long. Then, he smothered them in Sweet Baby Rays and fired up the grill. De-lish! The chicken was accompanied by baked beans, corn muffins, a couple of salads, fresh lemonade, and for dessert...homemade cheesecake (my brother rocks at cheesecakes!!) and my mom's cherry delight. We were all stuffed, no doubt about it.

I wanted to keep things simple so that I could enjoy the company and good food, so I covered the tables in...sheets! Yep, navy blue, twin flat sheets...from Walmart...at a whopping $3!! Sheets are a really great, and inexpensive, way to tie your party scheme all together. When you're done, just throw them in the wash, fold, and they're ready to use for something else (just not your bed!). In the centers of the tables, I added, again, very simple and inexpensive, arrangements that doubled as take-homes for each family. I love the gesture of sending the guests home with a token of the event! In this case, I picked up a simple potted annual, set it in the middle of a red handkerchief, gathered up the sides, and secured with a rubber band and then coordinating ribbon. Really simple, took a whole 5 minutes to do! Wouldn't violets, or another delicate flower, look darling with crisp white vintage hankies tied with satin and lace? Give that idea a try at your next ladies luncheon or shower. If using them at a shower, you could make them small, add a stake with the guest's name, and it doubles as a place marker and a take-away! Now I want to throw a shower...but I digress!! Anywho, here's how they turned out:


I added a few candles to the tables, as well as some cut out stars that I made the night before with my star punch. I also made napkin rings with those stars and ribbon to hold the cutlery but I didn't get a picture of those. But all I did was punch the star, cut two slits in the middle, then thread the ribbon in one side and back through the other so that both ends are in the front. Pull the "loop" away from the back so that you can insert the napkin rolled cutlery, then pull the ends tight and tie. Hello, simple! I also distressed the stars with some gold ink to snazz them up a bit.

So, after dinner we headed to Purdue to watch the fireworks from atop the press box at the football stadium. Hello, VIP, step aside... A different take on watching fireworks but we enjoyed it. They had a raffle...of which I won the GRAND PRIZE (an awning covered lawn chair)!! Sometimes I can be rather lucky...

Lets see, so after all of that, my three nieces who are home to see their dad for the summer, stayed the night with us. The next day I took them to the lake to see my brother and his family and to just hang out. I've learned that it doesn't matter how old you are, digging for seashells is still fun!

(More on these shellies later!)

I guess I was too busy enjoying the sun and failed to take any pictures. Except for these few of my squirly nephew and his dad...this kid is such a stink!!



You really cant tell in the photo, but this sandman was complete with muscles and a *ahem* "package". Niiiice!

So, after that enjoyable day, we headed back home, the girls stayed the night again, then the next day I took them home with plans to redo, "do" is more like it, their bedroom. Again, no pictures, but we painted the very very white room cocoa brown, then I picked up some white and brown polka dot sheets, aqua solid and stripped coverlet, and a coordinating rug. We took the seashells gathered from the lake, cleaned them in bleach water to rid them of any creepy crawlies, and the girls and their dad were going to finish putting them in jars to add as decor. I had some misc. frames and sea decor to give them so the room had an overall beachy theme to it. Dad liked it and so did they. Just took a couple of hours and we had a whole new look!

Okay, so that almost brings me to current with postings. Oh but wait, there is still so much more to share!! Sorry folks, you'll have to stop by tomorrow to see what I was up to alllll weekend long around this joint. What? You want a hint? Okay, here's just a little inspiration snipit to tide you over...

See you soon!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

The Adventures of Max and Jill

Max surprised me (sort of) with a little get away this past weekend for our first anniversary. We had talked about going away a while back but due to work and all of the other things that life throws at us, we just didn't get anything planned. Or so I thought. Max had something up his sleeve but wouldn't tell me what. He just said to pack an overnight bag and get ready to go, 'we're leaving this afternoon!' How on earth does a girl pack for a trip when she doesn't know where she's going? "Very casual" is all I got. I had guessed earlier that we'd be going to an amusement park, just wasn't exactly for sure which one. About three hours into the trip, it turns out I was right. :)

About five hours after we left home, we arrived in Sandusky, OH, roller coaster capital of the world! We visited an amusement park on our honeymoon so it is now our goal to visit a park each year for our anniversary. I personally am looking forward to the day when we've visited all of the ones here in the US and we are "forced" to travel abroad.

So anyway, we're in Sandusky, 5 hours away from home, and uh, we have no reservations to stay anywhere. None. Everything was booked, Max said. Huh. All of the hotels in this dumpy little town were booked. But what the heck, right, lets go anyway! Max would sleep in the car for all he cared, I on the other hand, am a bit more...am way more particular as to where I lay my head. He was content with stopping at the first two hotels we saw. Nuh uh, no way Jose, I'm NOT staying there, keep driving. We tried two other places, both full with the exception of smoking rooms, which Max refused to accept. Max was referred to a resort just a few miles out of town, they might have some openings. This should be good, I thought, based on the looks of everything else around here. We get there...and omg...b-u-t-ful! I crossed my fingers, toes, and eyelashes in hopes that they would have something available...and affordable. Thankfully, they had open rooms, a bit pricey but what the heck, it was our anniversary! Sawmill Creek Resort is where we stayed and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nice getaway or are in the Sandusky, OH area. This place had its own golf course and a spectacular setting right on Lake Erie. The weather was absolutely beautiful when we arrived so it was a great opportunity to head down to the marina and check things out. Here are a few pictures that I was able to snap before the battery in my camera went kaput.




I could have taken in that view all day long!

We went to dinner, then came back to check out "The Saloon" at the resort. Okay, people who live in million dollar condos and drive million dollar boats, do not hang out in saloons...do they? Apparently so and apparently they have a really really good time doing so! This cozy bar (for lack of a better word) was comfortably filled and hosted a Motown cover band, which was a hoot! We had so much fun watching the *ahem!* elderly folks getting their groove on. We busted our moves a few times as well, but I think I had more fun watching everyone else. And the funniest thing of all was when we spotted this guy (please forgive the terrible photo quality, I had to sneakily take the picture with my cell phone):

Who was an absolute dead ringer for this famous bounty hunter:

He had the black pants, white shirt, cowboy boots, necklace, and long blond hair. This guy knew what he was doing, for sure! Hysterical!!

I wont bore you with details of Cedar Point. We had a great time and that's all that matters. Unfortunately, a strong storm headed our way as we were getting ready to ride this:

This coaster launches forward, reaching 120 mph in 4 seconds, racing straight up a 420 foot track then comes down a track that twists 270 degrees. Great balls of fire!! I can take most coasters but this one I was really unsure about. But, mother nature had other plans and the ride was closed due to incliment weather. *wshew!* Maybe next time...


Oh, I almost forgot! On our way home, we stopped in Celina, OH for a bite to eat. We somehow stumbled upon this little dive right on the lake and decided to give it a try. What a spectacular view!

But the interesting thing about this stop were these two little cutie pies:

We saw the white dog trot up the sidewalk then came the black dog. We were commenting on how cute they were and the waitress told us that they follow their owner where ever he goes. He comes in for a beer and they sit across the street and wait for him to finish, then they follow him home. That's exactly what they did too! Their owner peddled up on his bike, came in to have a beer, and the dogs sat and waited for him across the street. They watched and waited until he was done. When they saw him getting ready to leave, their tails started wagging but they didn't move. Once he came out and hopped on his bike, away they all went! What loyalty!

Because this post is now waaaay too long and its past my bedtime, I'll leave you with the last few shots of our adventure: