At long last....a card!

I finally got into the stamping cave tonight and create a card especially for my readers.  I wanted to try out my new tulip punch from EK Success.  I found it on clearance at Michael's a few weeks ago when Carol and I were at Plover.  It makes a very pretty intricate pattern.  The lace on the card is from one of my thrift store finds.  It adds a nice touch of texture.  The green scallop row is made with a Martha Stewart punch and so is the yellow flower.  The 2 3/8" scalloped circle and decorative label are Stampin' UP!  I used an assortment of different companies DSP's and the verse is from a Fiskar's stamp set.  I did a little bit of distress on the scallop and label with an ink pad to the edges and I also used a sponge dauber on the label.  It was so fun to be back in the stamp room! 

I am going to hip hop off to bed now.....Happy Monday!!!  Elaine

Sweet Dreams Mason...

I just finished this scrapbook page of Mason for the wood stand in my craft room.  Susie Smith's husband Wayne, makes these and sells them.  I have the 6" x 6" page size, and he also makes a 12" x 12" page size.

Jenna and Mason left last night for home.  They were here from Monday till Wednesday.  The house seems really quiet today with out them, but this Grammie took advantage of that and got a lot of much needed rest!  But never the less, I miss them.  Especially since I spent all last week with them.  Little Mason will hold out his arms for me now.  We have really bonded.  It melts this Grammies heart!

My little sunshine!

I had this page done in about 15 minutes because I had the pendant colored, and cut already.  Remember my dollar digi post!?!?   This is the same little pendant.

This picture is So.. Mason.  He is always in these very relaxed, kind of slouched positions.  And he is such a little cuddler.  I love it.
Here is the recipe:  Digital Image from Stretch N' Bubbles, Stamped images are from Fiskar's Sweet baby Sentiments.

You're so Sweet cards

Remember awhile back when I said I was working on a batch of 25 cards!?!?!?  Well here are some of them.  They all have the same lay out, which adds interest to the card while using up decorative papers.

It was a very busy day today.  Zach was home today as he is getting into a hard area of his EMT class, and Sarah and I both worked with him to prep for it.  He had made up flash cards, and while she was napping, I helped him study.  I prepared three meals today, and I had numerous phone calls about Diane.  She is doing okay.  It is a good thing she had the surgery as the gall bladder was mushy and it would have turned into gangrene if it hadn't been removed.  She was in a lot of pain this morning but they got that under control.  She asked to talk with me, and we talked a little bit then then her daughters took the phone away from her as they said she was getting loopy!!!  Ha ha.  It sound to me like she had something in her mouth, but I guess that was the drugs talking.  I don't know when she will be coming home yet.  I hope to see her when I am home this weekend.  I started a "to do" list for the weekend, things to take home, things to bring back, and things I want to try and take care of while I am there.  Jerri from Sarah's work came over tonight to give Sarah a pedicure, and she had supper with us.  Sarah had me make a run to Walgreen's to pick up some things for her and to get a bottle of chocolate brown nail polish.  She is standing up in Deanna Helms wedding next weekend, and the dresses are a Robin's egg blue, with a chocolate brown sash, and shoes.  So Jerri painted her toes a chocolate brown and it sounds like it will be Zach and my job to put a top coat on them every day between now and the wedding to keep them nice..  This Friday is the bacherlette party.  Sarah won't be able to participate in all of it but she wants to try and go to the dinner for a little while.  I hope she can make it through it.  She is making great improvement this week and is getting around so much better.  It is wonderful to see.

Sarah asked me to make some Get well cards for her, and I got three of them made in between other activites.  It should have been called a "limited supplies" challenge (they really do have limited supply challenges).  It was really hard to work with so few supplies......I am definitely spoiled with the amount of stuff that I have at home.  I plan on bringing some stuff back with me on Sunday, as I want to get some samples made for April's event.  I am glad that I got a lot of stuff done this winter as I sure haven't done much here.  I am to buay with other stuff!  I did finish the baby blanket yesterday, and I crocheted a few flowers with some embroidery floss.  They are turning out really cute.

I almost forgot to tell you that Zach did well on the three tests he had tonight.  I am so glad as he was really nervous about it.  He said he felt like an expentant father in a waiting room when he walked into gbd class room tonight.  They also gave "shots" for the first time.  He said that the girl that had to give him a shot was so nervous.  Her hands were shaking, and she kept saying she couldn't do it.  Zach kept reassuring her that he was fine, it would be fine, and that she wouldn't hurt him.  I guess after about six tries, she finally got up the nerve to do it, after Zach and the instructor told her to take deep breaths.  It is so fun to hear about his classes, and fire calls.  They get into some interesting situations and he is so very proud of being a firefighter..
Have a great day!  Elaine

Poor Sarah!

Today's post is going to be short as I have a lot of things to do.  I have some sad news to share with you.  My daughter Sarah fell on the ice today and broke her leg.  It was a bad break and she will be seeing a surgeon tomorrow afternoon.  I am going to be going to Reedsburg to help her.  Please keep Sarah in your prayers, that all goes well with the surgery and that she has a speedy recovery.  Thanks!  Elaine

Batch of 25 #1

I mentioned several weeks ago that I was working on a batch of 25 cards, well here are some of them.  I will be showing you more of them in upcoming posts.

We had a fun time last night at the Rag Bag class.  It was fun to see all the different purses emerge!  Everyone had such different fabrics, that it was a real treat to see them all.  I am hoping that they will bring them in for March's stamping events and that you will get a peek at them.  The group did a fantastic job.  They turned out so cute!

I kind of had a laid back day today.  I went to bed late, and slept late this morning.  Lady Di stopped in for a visit after Community Quilting, and to see my new toys that arrived yesterday.  I had just started playing with them about an hour before she arrived so she got to see some of the die cuts I had made.  She thought what I had done so far was cute too.  After she left, I started assembling stamps and I started working on a card with a canning jar.  It turned out adorable.  I am really happy with it, and I had so much fun playing.  I have a second card in progress, but I quit to make some supper and watch TV.  My back is bothering me again, so I am kind of laying low.

I am going to go finish up some dishes and then head back down.  Have a good one.  Elaine

Friends like quilts give comfort when needed

 I love the scissor back ground that I stamped for this card.  It gives the illusion that it is designer paper but it is not, yet I can make it over and over...what ever color my little heart desires!

Neighbor Debi was over and got 7 post a note for Valentine's gifts this afternoon.  It is very warm here today.  Every thing is melting and huge chunk of icicles are falling off the roof.  Every now and then I hear one crash and it sounds like the sky is falling...lol.

I finished packing up my stamping stuff for tomorrow night so that is already to go.  I also cut out a dozen microwave potato bags out of fabric and batting.  So those are all ready to start sewing on now.  I think I am going to head upstairs to get some barrettes, and felt and finish assembling them.  Always something to do around here.  I always have 80 million projects in progress and have about a zillion more that I want to do.  I probably won't live long enough to make them all but I will die trying.....LOL  I guess it is better to be busy than bored.  Enjoy the warm weather!  Elaine

Hey there, chickadee

I love, love this card.  One of my favorite cards that I have made.  I think it is so cute that the button is the birds body.

You always keep me in stitches.

I was going to write "Good Morning" but I now see that it is afternoon.  How the hours fly when you are monkeying around on the computer.  I have been busy this morning setting up a group page on Face book.  I wasn't quite sure how to do it but found the "starting" point today so I worked on getting it set up.  I was having some trouble getting the blog to import to it, but after several tries, Face Book got their problem fixed.  I sure am glad about that as I wasn't sure I would be able to find that place to do that again.  You know how computers and websites go...sometimes it is like looking for a needle in a haystack!  So now if you are on Face Book, you can access the events page, rsvp, leave comments, etc.  Another way to connect!

Sale-A-Bration is on with Stampin' UP! now which is our biggest sales event of the year.  With a $50.00 order, you can choose your choice of a stamp set or free product in the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  A good time to get all those things on your wish list, and to stock up on paper etc.  There are some really nice things in the catalog.  And the Occasion Mini is to die for!  I want just about everything!!  LOL  You can visit the website at the link below, and click on shop now to see all the new goodies and to order.  Stay warm and safe!  Elaine
http://love2stampsewmuch.stampinup.net

Sew glad we're friends card

I have been working away today on more bind-it-all books.  I got 14 of them put together that are now ready to decorate.  That will probably be tomorrow's project we will see, or I may sew, I don't know for sure.  I love the saying on the inside of the card.  One of my favorites.

Stitched together with Love

I made 10 of these sewing themed cards last night.  I love playing with my sewing stamps!

Inside of the card.

I Dig You....Garden Gloves

Hello peeps!  Another busy day at the ranch.  My first project of the day was making the tags for these garden gloves.  This is a digital image that I purchased about a year ago.  If you have been reading the blog for a long time, you will know that making tags is one of my favorite things to do.  I love to work on little things projects like that.  I made 9 of these tags and after I pick up some more gloves, I will have 9 sets for sale.  A cute gift to give to a friend.  And while I was in the tag making mood...I kept going and going.  I made 20 different tags today besides these.  A very fun play day while watching TV!

Material Girl Line

This is a card I made for Diane's birthday with paper I bought at Archivers last year.  It is Cosmo Cricket's material girl line.  I had seen a bunch of cards made with and fell in love with it.  I was really tickled to find it there.  I love the 50's and 60's ish look to it.  I so love things from that era, and find myself wanting to drag them home when I see them.  My girls will probably strangle me (if I am not already dead) when they have to clean out this house!  LOL  Oh well, alot of my "stuff" should be collectible and worth some money for them.  I bought this paper with some gift money that someone gave me (you know who you are!).  The little lace circle with rosette on top was a thrift store find.  Only 10 of them in that pack and I have already used up 3 of them.  Wish I had more.  They are too cute.  I think I will have to make up my own  version of them.  Hmmmm....maybe a future goody for those that participate in bringing something they have made for show and tell.  I stuck a few pins into it to add some cuteness and to go with the sewing theme.  The button was tied with some baker's twine.  Another thrift store find.  A HUGE roll.  I should shoot a picture so you can see how big it is.  The gals used some on their Valentine this month, and also received a bundle to take home with them.  I can hardly wait to see what they used it on for show and tell next month.  Inside the card I stamped the saying: Friendship is sewn with love and measured with kindness.
I just got back from a bank run (no...I am not robbing bank's these days...just depositing), a trip to the post office to mail off two Tags Your It, and a stop at my local haunt, Practical Cents.  I found a large bag of fusible interfacing, and a pack of half back pearls.  They are revamping the store, and it is half empty and they are moving all the displays around.  Mason raked in as they have children's clothing half price.  I found 4 button down shirts for him in various sizes that I am going to make matching ties for, so that he can wear them to church.  I found a pattern for children ties on line at etsy before Mason was born.  The first size I found was a 6 to 9 months so will have to hop on this project soon as he is in 3 to 6 months now.  That would make a nice Valentine's gift don't you think?  Also found him an adorable green and navy one piece out fit that has a dinosaur on the front and says Noise maker (lol).  I am sure his mother will agree on that one. As yesterday she told me he was "whining".  :-)  Not my angelic grandson!  He would never whine.
You will be proud of me as I did not drag home the red plastic handled silver wear I saw today.  It would look cute on my formica top 50's kitchen table, but I restrained myself and left it there.  Well time to get back to work.  Have a good one!  Elaine

The little firecracker's birthday card!

This is the birthday card I made for the little firecracker aka Susie Smith.  You are probably wondering why I chose to do this card with all of the cards that I could have made.  Well, we both have the Cricut cartridge Create a Critter.  I know that Susie hasn't had time to play with her's yet so I thought I would make one with it for her so that she would have one as an example, and could duplicate it.  And that little bear is just too sweet!  I also told her what settings, etc. I used to make it.  To spiff the bear up a bit, I added a bow around it's neck and used a punched heart to put in it's hand.  I also used one of my favorite retired sets, Hugs and Wishes.  Do you remember this one?  I used to use this sentiment all the time when it was current.  Love it!
This morning I went to bible study and today, Beth Griffith and my mom also came to it.  They really enjoyed it too and plan on coming again.  I think that Sandy Wellumson is going to join us at it next week, which is wonderful!  Speaking of Sandy, we had her stamping party at the church tonight and had a great time as usual.  Susie brought in all the new goodies that she had ordered out of the catalog and everyone oohhhed and ahhhed.  It was fun to see and touch it all.  She also made up some cards for us to see, and used as many of the new products on them that she could so we could see what they looked like on cards.  Wasn't that sweet!  We sure do appreciate it that you showed us all of your new goodies!  Sandy Renner brought a bunch of cards in for show and tell.  She is helping out at summer school with the art class and learned a new technique with chalks.   She share how they did it and had a whole bunch of samples for us to see.  The gals loved them.  She also brought in a card that she used an old book page on so she received an extra little goody for making an item with a current trend, that I talked about last month.  Beth also brought in a bunch of cute show and tell items and one of her projects had twine on it, another current trend, so she received an extra goody also, and so did Susie for bringing in all of  her new stuff to share with the group.  Door prize winners were Sue Bartels, Gerry Fernchuss, and Diane Dilworth.  Di was already gone when I drew names so she will get to pick something out next month.  Everyone received a free bingo card and the challenge is for them to make something with the bingo card on it.  It can be a 3D item, card, or scrapbook page.  If you were not there tonight and would like to participate, stop over and pick up a bingo card.  You can do what every you want to the card, alter it, tear it, whatever, you just have to have part of the card on your project.  Bring it to our next event on Monday, August 9th, starting at 5:30pm.  Nancy Sorensen is the hostess.  I can't wait to see what you all bring in for show and tell!  As usual, everyone is welcome to attend, just let me know so that I know how many packets to prepare, and so that Nancy prepares enough food.  Make it a great day!  Hugs!  Elaine

Jenna's baby shower

I thought you would enjoy seeing a few pictures of Jenna's baby shower.  I was going to upload a picture of Jenna holding the cake but thought it would be more fun for you to see her tummy!  She looks so cute pregnant.  On the left is her friend Brittany, Jenna is in the middle, and her friend Kelly is on the right.  Kelly just had a baby boy.  Jenna and Kelly's boys will be about 5 months apart.  Kelly had her little guy at the shower and this Grandma had much fun making him smile.  Babies are so much fun!
I made the cake for Jenna's shower and used a bunch of stamping things to decorate it.  The baby carriage was made with the Big Shot and the Scalloped Circle Die.  It is my favorite of the three items I put on the cake.  The other two I made with the Cricut.  Jenna just loved the baby.  I attached them to tooth picks so that they would stand up on the cake, and afterwards I took the tooth picks off so that she can use them in her scrapbook.  The cake was a big hit and it disappeared!  Either it was eaten or people wanted to take some home!  I made Devils Food which is always a hit, and my special frosting.  The last picture is of  Jenna holding the baby quilt I made her.  She really likes it.  I asked her what Antonio thought of it and she said that he really liked it too and liked that there was so much to look at on it.
I went up town today to the library and the grocery store.  I finished the rest of the book marks, 24 of them, and got them all packaged up and ready to go.  I also packaged up a bunch of cards, and ironed 3 snowman towels to take down tomorrow.  I am prepping 5 towels that I am going to applique cats on.  So that is what I will be stitching on this weekend.  Stop down and see me....I LOVE COMPANY!!!!!

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart

Hello friends!  As a lot of you know, I did end up staying up for the retirement lists last night.  Colleen, my buddy from Oregon and I stayed up.  She was having trouble getting the lists so I ended up emailing them to her.  I finally went down about 3 am with the retired accessories list and turned off the light about 3:30.  I was back up by 7 and the sleep I did get was not good sleep.  Poor Melissa had to put up with me on the phone today as I sure couldn't think straight today, especially this morning.  It is going to be an early night tonight!  I reinked all of my ink pads today and sorted out the current from the retiring and have them in different sections now in my ink pad holder.  The ribbon order came today, and I need to get that cut yet so everyone can get their share of it.  Breeze mowed my lawn or should I say hay field!  LOL  He didn't want to mow it last week as he felt it was too dry.  He ended up mowing it twice today.  Di stopped over this afternoon and brought me two of the most delicious brownies.  Yum Yum...thank you Di!  I had to go to the bank today and to the library.  I ran into Pat Boyle outside of the library and we had a real nice visit.  It was so good to see her and I can't wait till she comes back to stamping in the fall.  She is such a sweet heart!  While I was up town I decided that I should check out Practical Cents.  Do you remember when I found the box of felt at the flea market this weekend1!?!  Well Debby said I had "lucky" written all over my face.  She will probably be thinking the same thing today!  Actually, the correct word is blessed, and that is why I titled my post the way I did.  It is one of my favorite bible verses and every time I find one of these deals, I know it is not by accident, it is a gift from God.  He puts me in the right place at the right time, to find the "desires of my heart" at a price I can afford.  Now I bet you are just dieing to find out what I found today.  Well, many things and I will tell you those in a minute, but the really great find was a rolling cart with a hanging file folder box.  I have been wanting something like this for a while.  I actually found one a while ago that is a little different so now I have two of them.  But this one is even nicer as it has a hanging folder box and I just put half of my current card stock in it, and I am going to put the other half in the other one, which I will now be able to have in my stamping room right by my desk and not in the bathroom any more.  And you won't believe what I paid for it.  $3.00 !!!!!!  It was marked $6.00 which I would have been thrilled to pay, but everything in the store was half off today!  My total bill today was $10.69 with the rolling cart and here is what I got: a new bottle of baby powder for Mason, a new package of recipe cards, 2 rolls of ribbon, a new bottle of Avon Naturals Raspberry body lotion, a little brown metal pail that I will fix up, a cute piece of fabric that has bears and school stuff on it that I will make something for Mason with, a book "A Woman's High Calling, 10 Essentials of Godly Living ( perhaps Beth and I will use this for our book group), a picture frame, a large basket that I will use for displaying items, 13 plastic cookie cutters, 14 metal cookie cutters, and black round plastic carousel that I plan on storing stamping supplies in.  So I am a happy camper and feeling very thankful!!!   And I am very blessed to have all of you in my life!  Elaine

Happy Memorial Day!

I am so thankful to be living in the Land of the Free, and I would like to take this time to thank our military for protecting and defending our country.  May God Bless you all.
This little chick is glad the holiday weekend is over!  I am pooped!  I came home today, hit the bed with the lap top and in about 10 minutes I was out like a light.  I slept 2 and a half hours so I will probably be up awhile but that is okay as tonight the Retirement lists come out for Stampin' UP! and our new catalog sneak peeks!  I am sure many demonstrators will be staying up late tonight as it is one of the most exciting days of the stamping year!
Speaking of stamper's Sue and Shari were in the stall today with their husbands.  I discovered that where they stay when they are up here is their mother's place which is right down the road from Nancy's house, on 11th Ave. between Cypress and Hwy 21.  They are a part of a group that I sometimes get together with that are stampers from all over the state.  I haven't seen them for awhile and it was good to see them!
Lady Di spent most of the day with me today, and we had a lot of fun.  She bought a bike today from Breeze for her grandson Tanner.  Breeze comes riding over on it and we got quite the laugh at that to see this 70 year old man riding a little banana bike.  He is such a nut!  And later on he walked up behind Di and scared her to death.  I don't know how many times she has about jumped out of her skin as she doesn't hear him coming.  LOL  It is pretty funny to watch, although I worry that one of these days she is going to have a heart attack.  I don't think he was really trying to scare her today, but he walks pretty quietly and doesn't say anything as he comes up.

Super Cool Dad

I promised you yesterday that I would post a picture of the other 2 Father's Day Cards I made last night.  Well here it is.  Kind of a fun cheerful card and a good way to use up some DSP strips.
It was even hotter today and it was pretty miserable to be out in but I am thankful that it wasn't raining.  Di came down and spent the afternoon with me which was really nice.  And, she even watched the stall for me so that I could go down and see Debby and Carol today.  On my way down to see them, I hit the jackpot!!  The crafting jackpot that is.  I saw a big box of felt sitting on the ground at one of the spaces and I bent over to look at it and the minute I touched the felt the gal said I could have the whole box for $5.00!  Wow....that was exciting!  I quickly paid her, and left the box there to pick up on my way back.  I picked up a few stamp sets from Debby after chit chatting a bit.  Melissa Varga and Barb Cook stopped by there while I was visiting too.  Both were surprised that I had escaped from Alcatraz....LOL   The man with the felt woman, carried the box of felt up for me to the stall.
Sarah was down this afternoon and we had a nice visit and Jenna called this afternoon too.  She was on her way to Madison as she had to work the closing shift at Olive Garden.  She has a speaker phone so we talked for most of her trip from Milwaukee to Madison until she started entering the city.  We decided that I am going to have to come to visit her in both June and July.  The first trip we will get Diana moved into her new room and the second trip will be to get the babies room set up, and to buy what ever else she needs.  Fun times, that is for sure!  It is definitely going to be a busy summer.
I watched the Season finale of 24 that I had recorded after I got home today.  Boy that was good.  I am sorry to see that show end.  I made a couple of card samples tonight for Nadine's party with Inspired With Nature.  I think I will go to bed now.  My back has been really tired today, and feel's weak.  Not a good sign, kind of a warning signal for me to cool it so I better hit the hay!  I hope you all had a good holiday weekend!  Elaine


 

Nap time

Just a quick post before I lay down.  I am not feeling very good right now.
I had another doctor's appointment in Mauston today, and I stopped and picked up my new glasses after I was done.  Then I stopped and picked up prescriptions and dropped some things off at the library.  I also put up a flyer at the Administration building for my sister.  She has their house by the lumberyard up to rent.  So if you know of a good renter, let me know.
Since I have been home I have been busy setting up my new Stampin' UP! Demonstrator website.  You will be able to order on line 24/7 from me.  I have put a link on the side of the blog that you can click on to get to the new website.  Their are lots of cool things on the website.  Take a look and let me know what you think.
I just finished a salad a little while ago and I sure am feeling yucky now. It did not set well.  See you tomorrow!  Elaine

Mojo Monday Sketch

I needed to make a birthday card and I decided to use the new birthday set that I bought a month ago when Lady Di and I went to my doctor's appointment at the Spine Clinic.  I had stamped the cake and cut it out and thought, now what am I going to do with it.  I decided that I should find a sketch and follow it.  So I went to the Mojo Monday blog and this is this weeks sketch.  I knew what paper's I wanted to use, the retired SU Parisian Breeze paper's that were still laying on my desk.  This card went together quickly and makes a great masculine card.  I used Teeny Tiny Wishes and the curly label punch on the bottom of the card.

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me.

Hello!  I didn't get a chance to post last night so I will do a quick post right now.  Yesterday, Carol came over in the morning and we made these tags to put on the flower plants that the Board of Education will be giving to the Sunday School teachers for teaching this year as a thank you gift.  Then Carol took me out for lunch to Bar and Bowl and we had a nice lunch and visit.  After I got back I did some work on the computer, took a nap, then went to fibromyalgia support group.  I was only home a few minutes and an old friend from school stopped in for a visit.  Her name is Kim (Hein) Harris.  We went all through school together, and sunday school.  We sat and visited and she was just going out the door when Beth came over to finalize her party.  So we did that, and visited, and after she left I got the stamping order put in, and then Colleen was iming me and I think I finally got to bed around 1.  Today I had an eye doctor appointment in Mauston and Kim rode along with me.  I got my new glasses all picked out and then we went to the new China Buffet for lunch.  We stopped at Better Buys and picked up a few things, a garage sale on the way home (I didn't find anything), and we just got home.  Time for me to hit the bed for awhile.  Have a good one!  Me