Workin' away

My day today started out with picking up and cleaning, as today was annual inspection day for the apartments.  The inspection ended up being no big deal, it was mainly an appliance and smoke alarm  check.   I also priced some of my stamping supplies that I cleaned out and plan on taking to the flea market.

Diane stopped over today while Bernie was getting his haircut.  We decided that I should come out and play.  She picked up Bernie and ran an errand, and I packed my stuff up to go and then made a quick stop at Practical Cents.  I found a Cuisinart blender which I was tickled about as I have missed having smoothies.  My timing just happened to be right, it was sitting on a cart waiting to be put out on the floor.  My good fortune and another blessing from God. 
I worked on cutting flowers with the Big Shot with some designer paper scraps.  If you watched the Papertrey Ink video that I put the link on the blog a couple of days ago, you saw how that gal organizes her designer paper scraps.  I started my own bin a couple of days ago, and cut more scraps down tonight.  It is so nice to have them all organized by color, and I also have one section of large prints/holiday.  I am going to love using this, and it will cut down on waste as when you are rifling through them, you bend up the corners, and end up having to cut them off.  It is great to be getting the scraps die cut, cut down and manageable.  It is so nice to have things all ready when you want to make a card.

Isn't this little owl just adorable!?!?!  He is a digital image that I colored with my copic markers.  I have a whole big file of images colored that I need to get made into cards.

Today we will end with some pictures of Valentina.  Our sweet little princess!

 Mason giving Valentina a kiss.  Mommy was holding Valentina, and Grammie was holding Mason.  Such a precious moment!!!

Grammie and Valentina on Easter Sunday.  She was one week old in this picture.

Valentina all dolled up to go to church last Sunday.  Aunt Edith had lots of fun buying Valentina pretty dresses!

Scrap Happy!

Just finished scrapping these pages of Mason's baptism.  I wish the pictures that Jenna ordered would get here.  It is only one week till his birthday party.  I have a few more pictures here and then I will be as far as I can go.
I went to Practical Cents today for Sarah.  She is crafting again.  I picked her up a bunch of silky type shirts.  Last night she made a headband using parts of my wedding dress.  She will be posting this on her blog soon.  Watch the link on the side of my blog to see when she adds it to her blog.  You can click the link for her blog from mine.  I found some very pretty variegated baby yarn today.  It has white, pink, blue, and yellow in it for colors.  It should make up a very pretty baby set.  I am thinking a sweater, hat, and bootie set.  I am working on another little sweater for Mason.  I almost have one side of it done.  I work on it at the flea market and when I am watching TV.  No rush as winter isn't here yet!  I should have it done for the birthday celebration we are having in September for both Mom's and Mason's birthdays here in town.

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.

Stretch N' Bubbles Dollar Digi Stamp

Purchase your digital image and download it to your computer.  If you are new to this, I would suggest downloading it to your desktop so it is easy to find.  Most digital images come in a compressed zip file so you will need to right click on it and extract it.  Then open up Microsoft Word, select insert, picture, from file, desk top, then open the file with your digital image in it, and select (or click on the image) to open it and the image will pop up in Microsoft Word.  I then right click on it to copy, press the enter key so that the cursor goes down a row, and then I clicked on paste.  I repeated this until my sheet is full of images.  For this image, I put 6 on a sheet.  I printed it out twice, once on white card stock, and again on designer paper.  Then I saved this sheet that I had made up in Word to my digital stamp folder on my desktop so that the next time I want to use it, all I have to do  is to open it and print it out   Once you do the work of setting it up on a full sheet the first time, you can use it over and over.  And of course, you don't have to use it with WORD, you can use it with other printing programs too.  I used WORD today as most people have that program.            

The end of the chair cards....for now!

Hello-  I am a tired girl tonight so I think I will write this and then head to bed.  I have been on a night owl kick again...and last night was the worst night of it, I didn't go to sleep till 3 am!  My thoughts were last night that pretty soon I would be staying up till morning...at this rate!  And then I got woke up at 9:45 and I stayed up so didn't get enough sleep.  But that is okay, maybe I will get back on track tonight, and keep more normal sleep hours.  I have been sleeping about 10 to 12 hours a night/day.  I think between taking care of Sarah, and the LEG (Grrrrr....), I require a lot more sleep.  Pain can be exhausting.

Today I met Mom down at the flea market and we talked about where I was going to be putting my stuff in her stall, and I took a little box of stuff with me and got it hung up on the pegboard.  I decided to stop at Practical Cents on the way home (which was a mistake) and I walked through part of the store.  I was happy to find a packet of old Artex transfers, of Hanna Barbara cartoon characters that made their way home with me.  They are adorable, and could be used in crafting so many different ways.  The first one I opened it up to was Yogi Bear....which won my heart immediately, then I saw the Jetson's, Flintstones, and Scooby Doo, and I knew that after opening up two sheets I didn't need to even look at the rest of the sheets in the package as I knew they were going home with me.  Ahhh...the little things that bring such joy.  The cheap thrills I get for $1.06!!!

I had to hit the bed after I got home, then packaged up and priced a few things for the flea market.  Susie stopped over and we had a nice visit and she showed me the pens Wayne has been making.  He does such beautiful work.  I finished 8 cards tonight with the stamp set Plane and Simple. I did what I had to do at the stamping desk, then took all the parts and esembled them in bed.  They turned out so nice.  I am so happy that they put this masculine set in the Occasion Mini, I really like it and we have so few that are really masculine.  

I am chit chatting with Colleen on the IM, we are trying to decide what stamp set we want to choose for free based on our Sale A Bration sales.  Time to go....nighty nite!  Elaine

Four more chair cards

Just finished four more cards so I am now half way done with this project.  I think I will hip hop...or I should say, hobble....off to bed!  Elaine

I chair-ish my blog readers....

Here is a close up of the Stampin' UP! Bitty Button that I used to make the pillow look like it was "tuffed"

Catchy title for today's post don't you think!?!?  Hee Hee.  I have to find something to amuse myself with.  I just finished these four cards and have 12 more started.  The chair is a digital image that I purchased on line.  I printed it out on designer paper, then cut it out.  I also printed an extra one on copy paper so that I could chop the pillow out of it and use it as a pattern.  Then I traced around my pillow pattern, and cut them out and glued them down on top of the pillow.  This is called paper piecing.  I then decided to use one of  Stampin' UP! Bitty Buttons in the middle of each pillow to look like the pillow is "tufted" with a button.  It was just the finishing touch that it needed.  Oh so cute!!!!  I threaded the bitty buttons with some green crochet cotton I had in my bin.  Some of my thrift store collecting.  With the small amounts that it takes to thread a button, I am probably going to have to live a couple thousand years to use it up!
I decided on a striped pattern for the "floor" of the house.  I typed up my own verses on the computer and printed them out.  I would say this style card is out of my normal style, but I like it a lot.  It is clean and simple.  Sometimes I like to do things that are a little bit out of the box for me.  My mom tells me that I don't always need all the bells and whistles on a card, that simple is cute too.  When I had my store, people would tell me that I had a certain style to my work.  That if they saw it some where, they could pick it out.  I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but it is what it is.
I would love to hear what you think of these cards.  Are they cute....!?!?!  Too simple....!?!?!  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!  Elaine

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

Coloring day

Stamp Set : Party Hearty

Bird is from Stamp set: Friends 24/7


Hello!  Yesterday I posted information about sending cards and packages to the troops.  I heard from Lynnette this morning, and this is what she had to say:
If anyone wants to send a surprise in the mail to any of the soldiers, Meghan said they would love to receive used paperback books, used magazines, word search, crossword puzzles, and ... apparently Turkey Jerky is high on the wish list! Thanks Thanks Thanks!!!  I plan on sending out a box to Meghan next week.  This is such a good way to support our troops, to show them we appreciate them and to let them know we are thinking about them.  Lynnette also sent a second message that I felt I should share with you:  Just looked at your blog! Thanks again!!! Meghan is a crafter so I know she will be delighted to see any creative cards that might arrive for her platoon!!!! 

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

Grocery List Pads #2

More grocery list pads.  Well, yesterday ended up being quite productive as I ended up getting a total of 21 towels ready to be stitched.  Today has not been quite as productive, in that sense, although I have been busy working on things on my "to do" list.  I am working on stitching some towels for an order also.  I have an order for 3 snowball towels, another for a chicken towel, and another for a grocery list pad.  I have one snowball done and another started.  I am watching TV while stitching.  I caught most of the movie The Legend of the Fall, which I saw years ago, it is such a good movie.  Beautiful scenery.  Makes me long for Montana.  And sap that I am....I cried during most of it.  There must be free Encore this weekend as this was on Encore love channel.  Now I am watching the Uninteresting Life of Ernest.  I think that is what it is called.  I started watching it, needed to take a bathroom break, so I have it recording.  So far it is kind of a weird movie.  Hopefully it will get better!!!  Keep warm!  Me

Wake me up when the warm weather is back!

Hello from freezin' Mayberry!  It was a cold one at the flea market today.  I didn't even go down there until after ten o'clock when it finally hit 51 degrees.  My stall faces the north and is usually about 10 degrees cooler than the out doors.  Wonderful in hot weather....not so good on days like today.  I stood out in the sun as much as I could and bundled up in my rag quilt the rest of the time.  I am ice cold and am going to go turn on the electric mattress pad and camp under the covers.  But before I do that, I have a little goody to show you!  This is the Mother's Day card that I made for my mom.  She thought it was very pretty.  The Happy Mother's Day and leaves are a digital image that I printed and colored with colored pencils and did some blending with an Aqua Painter.  The flowers were made with the Big Shot and the Birds and Blooms die.  The center is punched out of scraps with a 1/4" hole punch.  I keep a little drawer full of punched circles and use them like crazy for flower centers.  It just finishes them off.  I love the Birds and Bloom's die, and love the shape of those flowers.  It is so fun to mix and match colors and use up scraps.  "Love you" was stamped with the Stampin' Up stamp set Short and Sweet in Regal Rose and punched out with the small oval punch.  The pretty in pink buttons were embossed, and I am not sure if you can see it real well unless you click on the picture and enlarge it, but I made a strip of grass along the bottom of the flower.  The DSP is some retired paper out of my scrap bin and is mounted on Tempting Turquoise Card Stock, and the flower panel is mounted on Certainly Celery.  I used another border punch with a DSP scrap for the strip above the flower, and then a So Saffron strip I mounted underneath the card panel.  I really struggled making this card last night and haven't felt that way for along time.  It really took a lot of fiddling to make it look good.  Oh...and I almost forgot to tell you that the flower panel was sponged with several different colors, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, and Certainly Celery.  And I did paper piercing along the stem and sewed it with some green crochet cotton.  One last look....yep....that covers everything!  Off to my nice warm bed!  Elaine

Filling the magnet rack

You have probably been asking yourself the question why does she keep making magnets?!?  Di had said to me earlier in the week, you have made enough of those, go on to the 100 cards you want to make with the birthday cake set.  She is exaggerating of course, about the 100, she learned that from me....lol.  When she was down to the flea market with me on Friday and saw the magnets in the card rack, she said "Wow! Those fit in there perfectly."  And she said she now could see why I had to keep making  them as the rack is so large, it would look to empty.  But I think this will be the last batch for a little while.  I have other things I want to get done before we open on Saturday.  I made something cute and new today....you will love it!
Oh!  And I have good news.  Mike in Michigan and his friend Mike are working on the hard drive that I thought had crashed (in Michigan) and he called and it works.  We don't know WHY it is working...but we are happy about it.  It may be the USB port that I had it plugged into went out.  They are doing some checks, and clean up on it while they have it.  Mike also said that he will do a transfer of all my files onto one of his external hard drives before sending my hard drive back to me.  Just in case something would happen in the mail, there will be a back up copy!  I am thrilled that it is working as I had a ton of digital stamps on there that I had either bought or downloaded for free, plus classes, special projects, cards, photo's and movies.  About 4 years worth of saving stuff!  I called Lady Di up and was singing Zippitey-Do-Da and she sang with me and then wanted to know what made me happy that I was Zippitey!  So I told her about the hard drive and she laughed!  I also told her that Kramer had said that he had tried to sell pictures of me and her that were on there on the internet and he couldn't get any money for them.  He told me to tell Di that it was because she was a democrat...that people don't want pictures of democrats!  LOL  We both got a laugh out of that!