Happy NEW YEAR! And my Baby's birthday :)

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Today also happens to be my older daughter's birthday!! I can't believe she is 5 years old today! She was born at 9:32 pm on New Year's Eve. We got into our room, and settled just before the ball came down - we ushered in the New Year as a new family :). So much time has passed, I can hardly believe it! I put together a quick smilebox of Shannon from day 1 until today -

Make a Smilebox slideshow

So there she is...my girl...that's the song I've always sang to her...now I sing it to the other one too :) onto her card...


These stamps are from Technique Tuesday, the set is called My Litte Princess. TOO cute. There is a ballerina stamp as well. Check 'em out if you get the chance...it's perfect if you have little girls!

It's kind of hard to see, but there is a castle image stamped in Aqua Mist ink right above the chipboard 5...The ink REALLY matches the cardstock well - a little too well maybe ;)

So the princess was colored with my copics, and I've added a bit of bling to her dress and crown. The image was cut with my circle nesties, as well as it's mat.

The sentiment was stamped in Brilliance Chocolate Ink.

The Chipboard 5 is from SU! and was smooshed into my pretty in pink craft pad, and then I 'painted' it with Stardust stickles...real nice sparkle to it...

Hope you all have a safe and happy new year's eve...we're hanging out at home tonight for cake and chinese food...the birthday girl's choice.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: My Little Princess - Technique Tuesday
Ink: Memento Black, Brilliance Chocolate, PTI Aqua Mist, AU! Pretty in Pink Craft
Paper: PTI Aqua Mist, SU! Whisper White, SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: AMuse Creative Candy, copics, nesties, SU Chipboard, stardust stickles

WHEW!!!

Wow - what a busy week it's been!!! We're on gift OVERLOAD here - sooo many things - we're truly blessed, and thankful for everything, but WOW - where will I put it all?!?!?! :)

I wanted to pop in and share a few things I made for 2 of my nephews and one of my nieces. Have you all seen Lauren Meader's Timeless Templates??? If you haven't, you really should check them out! There are 2 FREE templates on the PTI Website - and lots and lots of ideas on Lauren's blog - plus there are lots of great ideas in the brochures that come with the downloads...so don't be shy - go on and TRY them!!

So - on to my projects...for my two oldest nephews, they are kind of hard to buy for, so I like to get them something I know they can use. The oldest just LOVES his iPod, and goes nowhere without it...and the younger one got an iPod this year from my Mom & Dad...so I got them both iTunes cards. trying to think of a nice way to package them, and then I thought of music...figured Lauren's Music Makeover template would be perfect! The iTunes cards came in a folder, larger than the usual gift card folders, and it fit great inside the box. These two were made using the Twinkle Twinkle series of papers from Piggy Tales. I cut the guitars out from one of the large print papers, and mounted it on a glitter star cut with my Star Nestabilities. The flap is tucked behind the star, helping to hold it closed on the bottom, and the tops are held closed by the ribbon.


This other holder was made using Ba Ba Black Sheep paper from Piggy Tales (hmmm, do you think I like their papers?? ;0) ) I used a Gingerbread Man image from A Chemistry With Paper, since the gift card inside had a gingerbread man on it...thought it would be cute to make it match.

Back to my early start to my New Year's Resolution...getting my house in order. I'm off all this week with my girls - so I'm taking the time to be with them, but also to get things straightened out here - too much stuff, and no place to put it...can we say PURGE??? That's where I'm at. Already making lots of progress, but can't WAIT for the cardboard pickup on Wednesday!!

Hope you all have a terrific day - thanks for stopping by!!!

Mmmmmm.....Coffee....

Hi there all! It's been a while, but I'm still here. Busy getting ready for Santa on Thursday. How are your holiday plans coming along??

I saw this great tutorial on SCS the other day for a K-Cup box. What's a K-Cup?? *shock* You mean, you DON'T know??

I have a Keurig single cup coffee brewer, thanks to my friend Paulette, and some additional, enabling, ahem, I mean gentle prodding, I broke down and bought one. Well - I LOVE my KEURIG!!! It makes a fabulous cup of coffee, and there's no more arguing who has to clean the pot, etc. etc. One cup at a time, means I can have a flavor, when my husband wants regular...no more throwing out a half a pot of nasty old coffee...

Now - I can tell you until I'm blue in the face about how awesome these babies are, but did you know, there's even a thread on SCS dedicated to them?? I dare you to count the number of new machines purchased since the start of that thread...

ok - sorry - back to the whole reason I am here!! A friend at work was very sweet and gave me a gift certificate to Green Mountain Coffee Roasters...mmmm. So I figured I'd make her a cute thank you - since she has a Keurig too. I put this adorable little box together, all design credit goes to Bevmom on SCS, I can't thank her enough!! This is perfect!

I am able to share some different flavors with her - and display it in an oh so super cute way!

The box is made from Real red CS, the lid is layered with Ripe Avocado from PTI, and their holiday collection papers. The sentiment and mug of coffee is from Gina K's set, My Cuppa Joe,
I think this may be my new favorite Coffee Set! The mug was colored in with my Copics, and the froth was done with white liquid applique.

Here's a view of the inside of the box - a layer with holes cut out to hold the K-Cups in place, then another insert with an acetate window tops it off. All secured closed with some Ripa Avacado satin ribbon.

Do you have a favorite flavor or kind of coffee??? Or how about a coffee drink? I've been enjoying an occasional Peppermint mocha from Starbucks, but if I'm home, lately I've been enjoying a plain nutty roast...mmmmm.

Tagged...and a Christmas Gift

Holly tagged me today with this great award

Thanks so much Holly! I think you are super creative too! :)

I'm going to pass it along to some more great bloggers out there:

MollyB
Melissa at Pink Cat Studio
Cindy (Mothermark)
Dawn McVey
Rebecca Grohall

Be sure to check them out though I'm sure you probably know of them already...Super creative ladies here!!

Onto a little project. Here's a card I made for a co-worker.

Today was our annual holiday party in the office. We had a DELICIOUS lunch. We do a little Kris Kringle gift exchange every year. So for my friend Sheryl, I got her a gift card from Bath & Body works.

So I put a little 'holder' on the inside cover of the card to hold the gift card. Worked out perfect.

Since the gift card had red writing on it, I wanted to incorporate that somehow, so I figured I'd bring it in in the sentiment on the front, and then use it inside as well.

This card uses all Stampin' Up! products, except the card base, which is PTI Select White, and the bling, which is from Doodlebug. The snowflakes are from the Winter mini, and are OH so delicious, aren't they??


I apologize for my photos...it was 2 am when I took these last night - and only today, after I had given it to it's recipient, did I realize they could have been a bit better...

I don't have too much shopping left to do for Christmas, but a few gifts still to make, and then lots and LOTS of wrapping...what about you? How is your holiday preparation going??

Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Angel? Or...

Remember my post from the other night?? Well...here's what happened the next morning...

yep - see those little things all over the floor??? Cheerios. I left her sitting nicely in the bean bag chair...with the cup of cereal on the stool...and WHAMO - I'm in the kitchen for 10 minutes packing the kids' lunches, and she does this...

Nice.

Tonight - she somehow got a hold of a small bowl of tomato sauce that was on my older daughter's plate, and dropped it on the floor (after thoroughly covering herself, of course) And after dinner, she made sure we were all still awake, by pulling an empty plate off the table, and sending it crashing to the floor...hmmmm....me thinks my hair will be completely white by the time we get through the terrible twos, and horrific threes with this one *wink*... but she sure is cute anyway - isn't she?

I never did get those projects photgraphed, but I *did* get batteries for the camera at least!

Hoping everyone is having a great weekend!! We actually have no plans for once! I can hardly believe it!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

So much for that...

So I had some things to photograph to post here, plus a follow up photo to my little darling...but...my camera batteries are TOAST, and I can't believe it, but I actually do not have another single solitary double a battery in the house! So, I guess it will have to wait.

I do have some news though -- I submitted an application to be on the DT for Pink Cat Studio, I just love Melissa's stuff, she's got some great images, as well as great interaction with her customers. I didn't make the team, but Melissa has given me the opportunity for a guest designer spot later in 2009! So, while I'm not a permanent member of the team, I'm still honored that Melissa thought my stuff worthy enough for a guest spot, so THANK YOU MELISSA!

A big congrats to those who made the team!!

Well - I guess I'll be off then...should be back tomorrow with photos (once I get back from the store with batteries, ha ha ha)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Perfect...

So my little one was protesting sleep tonight...she fought, and fought hard, she sat in my husband's lap, then mine...then his - then she got down on the floor...she laid down with her bottle...and not too much later...she looked like this...

Just makes my heart melt. She looks so darn cute, especially all sprawled out in front of the Christmas Tree...

Have a great night all...sweet dreams :)

De-stressing to ENJOY the holiday season...

Well, I did it.

Though I've always taken pride in sending out handmade Christmas cards...I just knew that this year, it WASN'T going to happen.

So - I've ordered some photo cards of my girls, and that will be that. One less thing to stress about, so I can focus on the gifts that I want to make for some special people. Time is limited, with most of the focus on my family - then work - so stamping, well, though it is my creative outlet, it often takes a back seat to cuddle time with my girls :).

The tree is set up - the house is in good shape, and shopping is just about there. I'm determined to ENJOY the REASON for the season, and soak in all of the happiness and joy.

One of my favorite people made a suggestion in a recent blog post to start a journal - write in the morning when you wake - no matter what it is - get it out - and start the day fresh. I think I might do this. My friend Paulette made me an AWESOME Gratitude journal last year, and it's so pretty, I haven't actually USED it...so I'm going to break that baby out, and get writing...may be a little bit easier than trying Yoga with the girls jumping on me *wink*

*sigh* I feel happier already...

How about you? What are you doing this year to ensure that you can enjoy the upcoming holidays, no matter what you celebrate?????

More from Squigglefly...

I've got another card with an image from Squigglefly today. Have I mentioned how much FUN I've had coloring??

This is a card intended for my SIL. Her name is Catherine - we call her Cat, and she's the musical director for our fife and drum corps, so really, could I have happened upon a more perfect image??? I think not.

This card will be given to her at our annual dinner, along with a token of appreciation from the corps.

I kept my color palette simple, but added a bit of bling and dazzle. The pretty in pink layer is coated with stardust stickles...There is a small pink heart rhinestone at the tail of the sentiment.

The background on the base layer was made using Lizzie Anne Designs 'So Swirly' Set, and the sentiment is theirs too.

The cat image was colored using my copics (of course!) I can't wait to try out the new paper from GinaK, I hear it's FABULOUS for using with your copics...ahhh... *happy sigh*

So tell me, have you been to Squigglefly yet? And if so, what caught your eye??

Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly digital download - Flute Kitty, Lizzie Anne Designs So Swirly, sentiment
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Brilliance Graphite Black, Going Gray
Paper: PTI Select White, SU! going gray, basic gray, pretty in pink
Accessories: SU! Pink grosgrain, stardust stickles, copics, rectangle nesties, AMuse creative candy

I've Been Bitten...

By a fly...Squigglefly, that is! Have YOU checked it out yet? I saw this on Lauren Meader's blog yesterday, and immediately headed over to their site. I got a few downloads yesterday, they've got some really cute stuff!

These are in that new category of 'downloadable stamps'. You print them out on CS, and cut and color away! It's great, as, in the downloads, you get a smaller image and a large one that you can re-size to what YOU want! Lauren Meader gave a great example of this on her blog yesterday...she uses the same image in two different sizes.Go check them out - you won't be disappointed!

I'm sharing one of my cards with you today, and I have another to share tomorrow...I LOVE to color, and have since I was little...every time I got a new box of crayolas, I dumped them out and put them all in color order...they HAD to be this way (BTW...shhhhh...I still do this, but my DD isn't nearly as AR as me ;) )

This girl was WAY to sassy NOT to buy! She's a diva, for sure! The sentiment is from a set by Missy B Designs. Let's take a closer look, shall we???

I put a little bit of red in her hair, to pick up on the pomegranate in the paper and the CS. The star beind the sentiment was made by using the negative of the SU Large star punch and I sponged on silver ink, and the paper is from Piggy Tales, one of my favorites!

Thanks for stopping by - I'll have more to share tomorrow, hope you have a spectacular day!!