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Monday, November 8, 2010

Halloween Crafting Party

This year I decided to have a Halloween Crafting time with my family. I sent out invitations a couple weeks in advance and invited my niece and nephews as well as my own kids to a party. A Craft Party :) I thought that crafting is what I really enjoy, so why not do something for a holiday and invite the family to participate in what I know how to do. :) I've wanted to do it for years, and this year, I planned ahead and got 'er done :)









My nephews weren't able to make it, but my niece was able and my sister, brother-in-law, and mom were able to participate as well. We had a blast. First we made individual pizzas with homemade dough. Next we made mummy containers that held candies, popcorn and candy corn :) After that we did greeting cards, and decorated brownie bites. :) Everyone had a great time :)
As you can see...we started getting creative with the frosting for the brownies....it ended up as mustaches, etc. lol We had a blast. I've been asked to do it again. :) I think Christmas will be calling :)



Saturday, October 16, 2010

Homecoming 2010 - "Forever Young" :)

My daughter Caitlyn and her boyfriend Spencer at their first Homecoming. :) Around here, the schools pick a theme. This year it was "Forever Young" The kids were supposed to be something that makes them think of kids. :) They chose Mickey & Minnie at my suggestion :) I LOVE IT!!!! I hope that they have a wonderful night. :) 
 
Sunday, October 10, 2010

My Pink Stamper's Saturday Challenge

Still doing well with my challenges. :) I've been able to craft quite a bit lately. I've been making time for it, and it's so relaxing for me. Well yesterday I was out and about doing things, and I looked at the posts on facebook. My Pink Stamper made a post about a Saturday challenge, and at first I thought I would not have any time to make something, but alas, I was able to work on one last night. 


My mom often wants me to make a card for a special occassion, so this year I thought I would make her several cards to put with her Christmas present. :) I was viewing other blogs, and I found this great card holder. :) You can view it over at Capadia Designs. Diane did a great picture tutorial. I could follow it easily. :) It's the perfect holder for cards for my mom for Christmas. :)

Something else very exciting this week. :) I used some of the cricut points that I had and got this super cute apron, and also the "Tie the Knot" shirt. The shirt is so fitting because I'm getting married next year and I just love the cartridge. I was so excited the day these came in the mail. :) I was also really excited because they both fit.lol. 

Saturday, October 2, 2010

World Card Making Day Challenge #1 with Creations with Christina

So here on World Card Making Day I started out by following a blog hop. :) I think I started out of order because I started at My Pink Stamper :). I still followed around to all the blogs. They did a blog hop called "Little Hop of Horrors" It was so much fun. I've never done a blog hop before, and I sure got to see a lot of new sites and get some great ideas.

I then looked at all the sites that I'm following. One of the sites I came across was Creations with Christina. I was already a follower of that site, but hadn't been there in awhile. I decided to participate in her Challenge #1 for the day :)  Here's what I came up with. The good thing is that I got to use the card as an invitation for a Halloween treat and craft party I'm having for the kids in our family.  :) The sentiment on the card came from one of the blogs that I found during the blog hop :) Madison over at Funky Cards had some really cute ideas...so I used one.

I really wish that I would have had more time to participate in more challenges. I'll try and do some over the next couple of days if they are still open. :)
Friday, October 1, 2010

Diva Coffee Break Designs Color Challenge #196

This challenge is from Diva Coffee Break Designs. I've never tried a color challenge, but I did this week. It seemed kinda hard to match the colors, but I did my best. :) Two friends had birthday's this week, so I used the challenges to make them. I had better get going on some Halloween projects. :) It is October for goodness sake.lol

MOJO 158

This is the first round card that I have ever made. :) I loved it!!! I really love how it turned out. I made it for a friend for her birthday. I'll definitely have to make more. :)
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A couple blog hops this AM

Well now that I've got my house cleaned up, I'm showered, I've delivered some cough drops to my 15 year old, got a smoothie with some extra vitamins, I think I'm ready to sit down and craft a little. I have several projects to work on, but as I was getting started, I first had to view some blogs. One led me to another and I came across a new blog. :) It's Disney Dreamer Designs and she is also some blog candy. I'm very excited to check that site out some more. The other was from my bestie...and so I had to repost what she had. It sure made me laugh out loud, and I'm home alone...so that must mean it was funny.lol. Do you ever notice that it is not quite as fun to laugh alone?lol Anyways...keep reading and hopefully you'll smile too. :)


01. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
02. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
03. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
04. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

05. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
06. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
07. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
08. Bad decisions make good stories.
09. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
10. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection ... again.
11. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of WORD and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
12. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
13. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
14. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
15. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
16. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
17. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
18. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
19. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
20. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey -but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
21. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.
Ladies ..... Quit Laughing.
Monday, September 27, 2010

Giveaway over at Papercraft Star

I've just started following a new blog and they are having a giveaway. Too fun :) I've really been taking part in more challenges and it's so much fun. I can't wait to do some with Papercraft Star. I look forward to doing a challenge of theirs, and I'm happy to be a part of their first 1000 followers. :)
Saturday, September 25, 2010

Beginning of Save the Date Cards

It's about time to be getting together those "Save the Date" cards. We have a pretty good idea. I put together a small portion of it today while Ned was out fishing. I think it came out pretty good. I didn't have to redo it to many times, only once. The spacing wasn't quite right the first time.
Today I also got some pictures printed and put onto my scrapbook page that I had done earlier this week. I loved just being able to slap the pics on there. :) Wonder if I'll get in anymore crafting done this evening? Hmmm. I guess we will see. :) 
Friday, September 24, 2010

Another Envelope project :)

Yesterday, as I was able to participate in the My Pink Stamper challenges, I found myself looking at other people's projects and found lots of new blogs that I liked and am now following. One of the blogs Tanyaisis Creations had the most amazing idea to do with envelopes. I did my best to do my rendition. I had a lot of fun doing it. I think I'll do a few more Christmas ones and give them as gifts to a few people :) Crafting has been so fun lately. :)
Thursday, September 23, 2010

My Pink Stamper's 5 Million Celebration Karlee's Challenge


Another challenge, and this one was different than usual. It was so fun. I actually came up with something that I haven't seen at all before. Karlee's challenge was to use an envelope in a project. I made a journal for my daughter. The unique thing is that I used an envelope for the front and back cover. I cut a piece of chipboard and then slid it into an envelope. This really worked perfectly because it covered all sides of the chipboard easily. I really enjoyed doing this project. The pictures below show the idea. :)

Who knew Elmer's had so many great things??

Check this out. I was amazed...:) and it's a great opportunity to win something. :)  Click here to see what Elmer's products can do. :)

My Pink Stamper's 5 Million Celebration Challenge #1


The Pink Stamper has reached another milestone and that means I get to participate in another challenge today. Yeah :) Since I've committed to working more on some scrapbook pages, I've used the challenge to do that. :)  I find that with a digital camera, I'm really bad about printing my pictures, and therefore makes it difficult to scrapbook them. Today for this challenge, I went into Picasa and found some pictures that I've been wanting to scrapbook and that would go along with the challenge of using a bird on the project. I've uploaded them to be printed at Fred Meyer's, so now once they are done, all I have to do is put them on the already completed page.
 
Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Diva Coffee Break Designs Sketch Challenge #195


So here I am still at home coughing. I'm doing a bit better. I think things are starting to break up, so to speak. I've wandered around some other blogs, and have found another challenge site that I'm liking. It's Diva Coffee Break Designs Team site. Simple and sweet, and I enjoyed participating in my first challenge from their site. I used a bunch of scraps that I had in my scrap pile. Makes me think that anytime I do a challenge, that I should use scraps, so that I can decrease the size of that pile.

Another thing I think I need to do is start doing some scrap book pages...I'm years behind. My friend and I used to scrapbook for a day or evening and complete 10 pages, that really makes you feel like you are making a dent in the pages that need to be done.  I'll have to start working on pages occasionally.

Wish me luck.lol
Monday, September 20, 2010

MOJO157

So here is my hand at another Mojo Monday project. 2 in a row....wow...don't worry...I'm still finding time for my family.lol. Truth is...I'm still sick...and I've been off work for over a week now. I'm just now feeling ok enough to do a little play, however...when I do to much...the cough begins.

Anyways...I took this Mojo experience to make my friend a card as she just had some surgery. I hope that this will brighten her day. :)

I hope that I can keep this up. It sure is fun. :)

Hope that you have a blessed day.
Friday, September 17, 2010

MOJO156

I've been sick all week with the flu, and haven't been able to come up with a whole lot of inspiration on my own. I follow the blog Mojo Monday, and view it every week, but I haven't been participating. I decided that I would take part today, as I wanted to craft, I just didn't know exactly what. So here it is. :) I'll have to do this more often. It was really fun. :)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The First day :)

Well...I believe it was a success. :) From beginning to end :) Girls were up on time. They looked fabulous as they headed out to the first day of 4th grade and first day of 10th grade. :) I sure love these girlies. :) It was quite a different day without them.
After the girls were off....Ned and I went to Linda's Dahlia's out in Washougal, WA. She has a beautiful garden there full of dahlia's. Ned photographed for a couple hours. I did a little photography of my own.lol. I try.lol, it's nothing like his...but I enjoy it still. I have a thing for the dahlia's that form little hearts with their petals, as you can see here in the red and white one.  Afterward Ned cut 13 flowers for me and bought them. :) They look so beautiful on the table here at home.

After that we did some grocery shopping, I started some potato soup for dinner, and I made some cupcakes. The girls loved the warm treats to come home to. :) They shared their days over warm chocolate and sprinkles....is their any better way to do so? :)  I think not! Now if my potatos in my potato soup would just get done, we could have some dinner.lol. Until then it's pretty quiet around here. A movie, some Wii, and quiet time. It's been a good day...even if it did rain on the first day of school. Back to work tomorrow, and hopefully some crafting this weekend. 
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

School time tomorrow already

Wow...the summer went fast. It seems as though we have been really busy. We've been to the beach a few times. :) and camping...Caitlyn went to Lakeview on a church missions trip where they did Vacation Bible school for a small town church, and then before coming back they took a detour and went to San Francisco for a night. :) How fun. We played around town, and became huge fans of sushi.

But alas...school starts again tomorrow. School schedules in place, backpacks ready, teachers and classrooms found, one tucked in bed and ready for sleep and the other moving that direction soon. :)

For Sara, my 4th grader, we made a little candy bar purse for her teacher. :) What a fun way to say good morning on that first day. :) I love this little gift card candy bar purse that Cindy designed over at Crazy for Crafting. I've used it several times for little fun gifts for friends. :)

One of the next things I'm going to be working on is "Save the Date" cards for Ned's and my wedding next year. 11-11-11 will come quicker than you think. I have my ideas all together, just need to get some pictures taken...and then get them into a card. :) Hopefully I'll have something to post in the next couple of weeks. :)

Nighty night for now.

P.S. I've made a budget for the girls and I. Lets see if we can stick to it...it would be a goooood thing, and we would be debt free by August 2012...except for a house...but everything else paid...yes that includes the car and student loans....crazyyyy cool. Let's hope we can stick to it.

Summer busyness has meant less craftiness. :(

So...I have crafted since Father's Day.lol  In fact quite a lot right after Father's Day for Sara's 9th Birthday party, just not a whole lot since then. Not only did I make her a card and a board book, but she helped me decorate about 16 goodie bags for her friends. She wanted a different critter on the front of each bag. Sara and I went to work at it. We decided what critter, and then picked out the colors for each, set those aside, and when we had all the colors and critters picked out, we cut them all on the cricut, and then put them all together. Kind of assembly line like. :) We had a good time. She chose a specific critter for each of her guests.


Sara definitely needed a board book for her birthday since everyone else has gotten one as well. lol Around here we all call her Sara Bee....so her book said "Sara" and then had a bee at the end. :) She loved it. I filled it with pictures of her family and memories over the years. :) 

For Sara's birthday, she started out with breakfast in bed, followed by a pedicure with me, her sister, and her grandma. Then it was off to build a bear for some fun, and then out to dinner with friends, followed by a Twilight filled evening to include the midnight showing of  "Eclipse".  What a great birthday she had. :) Not to mention a skating party that followed the weekend after with all her friends and family. :)
Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day

Today was Father's Day. :) Around here...we had a great time. Caitlyn got baptized this morning. I'm so proud of her and the decisions that she is making. At 15 she decides her faith is totally her own...how proud can a parent be. We musta done something right. :) After the baptism, we did some Father's Day stuff with Ned, and then headed to a BBQ with friends. We are doing "Take Shape For Life" so we had just chicken and vegetables, and our friends were so kind as to eat the same thing.lol. We have really good friends. :)

I thought I would share the cards I have made for my family for both of these occassions. First a card for my daughter for encouraging her on her baptism. :) And second a card for Ned for Father's Day. Also I had to show off Sara's card (she's only 8) that she made for Ned. :) Funny...she did a great job...it looks just like him and what he wears. :)


I have been crafting, just not taking pictures of it like I should :( I'll try and be better....I will...lol

I'm glad that school is almost over for my kiddo's...just 2 more 1/2 days, then summmmmmertime. :) Sara will be 9 at the end of the month...so I really need to get going on her birthday present. :) Should be fun. :)
Sunday, April 25, 2010

So Busy....Sorry

I am so behind in my blog. :( Sorry. I have been crafting. I just don't get pictures and then blog about my craftiness fast enough. Between birthdays, and more birthdays, and cards, and upcoming gifts, and my 15 year old driving EEEEK.  It seems every moment of the day holds something for me...and I never get around to blogging.

I wanted to share a gift that I made for a coworker.  I made the Candy Bar purse as designed by Cindy over at Crazy for Crafting. I really love her designs. I can't seem to get enough of them. I had made another one of these with paper that had high heeled shoes on it, but my sister took it for a gift for a friend of hers. I guess that means that she liked it.hehe. One thing I have learned with making all these little boxes and bags is that you need a little more than just the ATG tape sometimes. Denise over at Paper Pastime recommended Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive on one of her videos for items that you really want to stick. I have found it very handy for projects and especially gift boxes or bags that I don't want to pop apart on my friends as they open their gifts.

One other thing I've been doing is purchasing some things off of ebay.  One of things is the Cricut Jukebox.  I am finding it very handy...especially since I purchased about 15 cartridges on Ebay as well. Woops.lol. So at least you know now what I'm doing....crafting and purchasing to support my habit. lol.  Next weekend is my Mom's 60th birthday party...so you know there's gonna be some craftiness there...stay tuned.
Sunday, April 4, 2010

He is Risen....

He is Risen indeed!!! Happy Easter everyone. What a wonderful day today is. What hope we have because of today...because of Him. :)

Well we had to start out the morning with some Easter baskets...right? Of course. One of the things I made was the "Lacy Easter Egg Basket with Ribboned Handle" from Cindy's site Crazy for Crafting. I downloaded the DS file, but then didn't have the Easter cartridge, so I had to make my own rendition from George & Basic Shapes.This is a wonderful sized box with room for several things. :)

I also attempted my hand at some Carrot Boxes from Denise's design over at Paper Pastime. Ohhh...those were fun. They are time consuming with the folding and what not...but still...I stayed up til midnight making them, because I thought the adults at our Easter Brunch today would like a little Easter candy too. :) How I love all the projects these ladies work on. I'm so lucky to get to play with their creations. :)

Well...have a Happy Easter everyone. I know we will. Happy crafting.

P.S. We have a new addition to the My Polar Expressions group....:) Meet Nilla. Our new long haired chihuahua.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Caitlyn's 15th Birthday - muchas crafties

Wow....who knew I'd craft half my daughters gifts. :) We gave her a ticket to SanDiego to vacation with her grandma as well as Drivers Ed. So as you can see...I needed a creative way to give these gifts as they were just pieces of paper that told about what was to come. A plane ticket & a certificate for driving school.

The first thing I made was from a blog that I follow. Denise from Paper Pastime made an adorable purse mini album. I am completely in love with it.  I was going to try and make the same design in DS, but someone else already did it. Karla Campos-Hunt, from the cricut MB designed a DS file, and I used it, and it worked great. Thanks to both of you for all that you do. Denise...I absolutely adore this project and can't wait to make more. I used paper that would be good for sun and surfing and would match my daughter's trip. This way she can put her pictures in here and also journal about her trip. What a great idea. I also noticed that cricut projects are often small due to the 12x12 size...but this project because you do it in pieces and put together...is a wonderful size.


Second thing I made....I designed myself. I designed a word book. It said fif t e e n ....because my daugher was turning 15 of course.lol. I had a different theme for each page. The front a picture of her, next...her name and the meaning, next...her drivers ed certificate and matching pics, next her friends, next her family and things we remember from the last year. :) She loved it!! It was a hit. :)

And last but not least I made her a wall picture board. I've always wanted to make one, but then I saw Karlee from Wannabeascrapper make one step by step, so I followed her instructions...and it worked perfectly. The card on the left I made and the cake card on the right, my 8 year old made by herself using my Cricut.  She choose the design, cut it, glued it...etc...all by herself. She is totally gonna be a crafter like me. :)


Lets see...lol...what else did I do?? Oh yeah....I made cupcake pops for the party. :) Another idea from another site that is AMAZINGGGG!!!  What a fun way to do cake. You have to check out Bakerella !!

So....I think that's about it for now.lol.  I have more crafting to do....it never really stops does it?lol I love doing it. Aside from the birthday earlier this week, it has been Spring Break for my kiddos...and we have had an amazing week. We went to the beach...and today we head to the movies. :) Hope your day of crafting or relaxing or working or whatever you are doing is nice.