Wednesday, July 30, 2008

I'VE BEEN RAKed - TWICE!!

Who doesnt' love to recieve goodies in the mail. And how fun when it is unexpected and you just can't wait to tear open the envelope or package to see what someone made for you....


This is the reveal package sent to me by my BIG DSS Annapurna. It has been a fun round of Divine Secret Sisters, and I have enjoyed getting to know Anna. She sent me a box full of wonderful things like, Unity Stamps, TLC scrapbooking paper, ribbon, bling and accessories and a beautiful handmade card. I just adore it! Thanks Anna!



Another fun surprise was a RAK card from a fellow SCSer and Virginian... Teresa Kline aka Va.Sunshine on scs sent me this lovely card with an invitation to get together and stamp.. she also included some postage stamps that I really, really needed! Thanks Teresa! This card is gorgeous!! We will have to plan some sort of get together!



FOR CAROL...


This card is made for Carol. Carol is the MIL of my close friend Lauren. Here is her story...


It all started with a cold and feeling tired all of the time, then never really being able to get well. Carol has Mantle Cell Lymphoma, which is a very rare cancer. Because of its rarity, her doctor recommended she go to NIH (National Institute of Health) in Bethesda, MD, and be seen. This is one of the top research hospitals in the nation. NIH has a team of doctors there who specialize in this type of cancer. She started chemo. on the 25th of July, and is due to lose her hair in about a week and a half. Carol is very optimistic and loves the care she is receiving at NIH.

Any card you could make to brighten her day would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thank you in advance for the love and kindness that I know you will show to Carol by sending her a card. I am certain that she will be deeply moved and comforted.

SCSers please PM me on SCS for her address..

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

TUESDAY DOUBLE DOG DARE CHALLENGE

Well, it is my turn to post the challenge for the Dare Challenge today.
Here is the challenge:

1. use today's SCS color challenge

2. use this sketch challenge



Sunday, July 27, 2008

CONGRATS TO JULIA, SATURDAY SHOEBOX SWAP & PICTURES OF CHICOTEAGUE...

I am totally thrilled that my friend and fellow SCSer was chosen as today's featured stamper. Julia aka Artystamper has a God-given talent for creating... Be sure to check out her blog for some inspiration. Here is the card that I made for the Featured Stamper challenge for today.



Well... last Saturday I spent the entire day with my SU! upline and sidelines. We are know as the "Little Debbies"... I think I am the nutty bar.. anyhoo... Our upline, Debbie, organized a showbox swap along with yummy food and a gift swap. We had sooo much fun. Here are some of the creations I made from the shoeboxes... awesome layouts and cards designed by my fellow demos.

Last but not least.. the kids and I went to Chincoteague Island with my folks for a fun get-away. We stayed in a super-cute cottage owned by Carl & Barbie, friend of my folks. It was so relaxing and fun. We went to Assateague Island National Wildlife Refuge and Seashore every day. I love that it is NOT commercial. The weather was perfect and the water refreshing. There was that hurricane off of the coast which made for some strong undertow, so we had to hold on to the kids so that they wouldn't get swept away. The loved feeling the force of the water. What a fabulous place. Allison loved the ponies, Sarah love the shopping, and Andrew loved the sand. I think I brought back at least 5lbs of sand in my van... my wonderful hubby has already vacuumed it out! Enjoy these photos....





...this is a real oyster bar... cool huh!




Friday, July 18, 2008

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Today is my anniversary. David and I have been married for 16 years. Almost seems like yesterday....


Here is the card that I made for him.







...cased this card by strappystamper
Additional Info
Stamps: kind thoughts
Paper: gp white, elegant eggplant, almost amytyst, certainly celery
Ink: elegant eggplant (craft & classic)
Accessories: SU! markers, brads, rub-ons, stardust ep, circle punch, paper piercer
Techniques: embossing

And some other projects I've been working on...

This is for Cindy aka Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge.



I made this for Cindy's (mothermark) Teapot Tuesday challenge. I love that pretty little teapot (tho' we (true Southerners) only drink iced cold sweet tea)... I use my one and only teapot to boil water for hot chocolate in the winter - tee hee!Thanks for another pretty challenge Cindy! This card is a case of rascal's.

Additional Info
Stamps: freshcuts
Paper: whisper white, not quite navy, certainly celery
Ink: not quite navy
Accessories: ribbon, siral punch, circle punch, brad, SU! marker, scor-pal
Techniques: grid

And this is just something I've been wanting to try...



I've seen these little bag-in-a-boxes all over the gallery, and just had to try one. They are super easy. HERE is the tutorial I followed by Inking Addict.

Additional Info
Stamps: define life
Paper: tempting turquoise dsp, basic black, whisper white
Ink: tempting turquoise
Accessories: round tab punch, circle punch, ribbon, corner rounder (for scalloped edge)

Thursday, July 17, 2008

...AND YOU THOUGHT I FORGOT!


I am SO behind on birthdays.. How did this happen?Trying to catch up and having fun playing with my pencils and goo gone! Here are some different variations of coloring this image using colored pencils and goo gone.


Additional Info
Stamps: birthday group by art impressions
Paper: gp white, basic black, orchid opulence
Ink: stazon
Accessories: colored pencils, ribbon, double circle punch, blending stumps, goo gone



COOTIES....

...that is what we call germs around here. I know in some parts folks refer to head lice as cooties; however, this is not the kind of cooties that my DS, Andrew, shared with me (thank goodness). He shared his coughing, aching, stuffy-head, runny-nose cooties with me before heading off to Grandma and Papa's for the week. I am starting to feel better now. The coughing has subsided and made way for the constant sneezing and nose that drips like a leaky faucet (imagine me going around the house with a tissue stuck up my nose). Disgusting right, but I gotta plug it up some kinda way so that I can get "stuff" done! At least my headache is gone.

So, that explains where I have been.. now onto the good stuff..... cards!!!! Yipee!!



My wonderful friend and neighbor Edith let me borrow this cootie stamp.. Isn't it so fun! I made this get well card to give to anyone who came to my class Monday night and caught my cooties (that DS shared with me before leaving for a week with my parents)... I sure do hope none of those ladies left with my germs... and how appropriate that Edith brought this stamp with her that night! hahaha! I used goo gone instead of mineral spirits or gamsol for blending the colors of my pencils.. works great and has a nice citrus smell!

Additional Info
Stamps: cooties by Michel & Company ALL NIGHT MEDIA
Paper: gp white, basic black, almost amythyst, so saffron, summer picnic dsp
Ink: stazon
Accessories: SU! watercolor pencils, blending stump, goo gone, brads, paper piercer, SU! marker
Techniques: paper piercing, faux stiching




B is for Beestamper! I finally took my DIY JustRite Monogramer out of timeout! I played with it when I first got it and wasn't pleased with the results.. Lo and behold, Michelle challened the DDC to make an alphabet card. Out comes the monogramer. This time it stamped a clear image! Hooray! I think it has to do with the type of paper maybe and perhaps my heavy-handedness (is that a word?)... Now that I am feeling human again, I decided to catch up on this weeks challenges..Thanks for looking...

You can see the other cards by the Dare Challenge Girls HERE.

Additional Info

Stamps: canvas, JustRite Monogramer
Paper: gp white, SU! white (for monogram), non-SU! dp, basic black, so saffron, almost amethyst Ink: stazon, almost amythyst
Accessories: ribbon, circle cutter, scor-pal, rhinestone stickers
Techniques: grid

Saturday, July 12, 2008

SUMMER FRUIT GINA K SKETCH CHALLENGE

Who doesn't like a challenge? Better yet, who doesn't like a challenge with a *prize*!

Well, as you may or may not know, I love the card challenges on SCS, as well as those issued by various other stamp companies (especially when it includes a *free* anything). I know, I know... I come by it naturally - both of my parents are bargin-shopping, coupon-toting, dumpster-diving, flea market-goin', gotta get it for free or cheap or dang near close kinda shoppers. I love that about them, and find that I am cut from the same mold. (Explains my Target $1 spot obsession - sssshh, don't tell DH).

Anyway, Gina K has a sketch challenge going on her BLOG. So, if you have some Gina K stamps, come on and play along! It is always fun to see what other folks come up with using the same sketch, I am amazed at the talent of others and their ability to see "it" from a different point of view. (Which is why I am so glad when God had the idea of giving us the Bible, he used Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to write about the same events - called the Gospel or the Epistles. They all have an amazing point of view, given their occupations and backgrounds.

I digress... here is my entry for the challenge.
Additional Info
Stamps: Friendship Blooms by Gina K
Paper: whisper white, garden green, basic black, non SU! dp
Ink: stazon
Accessories: SU! markers, ribbon, brads, cuttlebug
Techniques: paper tole


Now, my Mom and Dad came up to get the kids and took them for a week - yes, you read write, a whole, entire week - acutally more like 8 days, but who is counting (arm waving) - that would be me, yep, I'm counting them! I have a lot on my "To Do" list... I have a class on Mon night to prepare for, and an "Open House" to start making stuff for, get a project ready for a Saturday shoe box swap, figure out what to do for a workshop in 2 weeks, and clean out ALL closets, go through the kids clothes and toys and cull as much as possible, and this week DH and I celebrate our 16 year anniversary - woo hoo!!! When I go to pick up the dear children, we will be heading over to the Eastern Shore for a couple of days with kids and my parents. My horse lover, Allison, is so excited that we will be staying in Chincoteague. Not to mention we will be only an hour away from Salisbury so we will get to shop at The Country House - looooooooooooove that place! Can't wait to go there! Can't wait to eat some fresh seafood! Can't wait to fix my Dad a big ol' heaping bowl of my gar-licky shrimp and pasta alfredo dish that he drools over! Can't wait to hear the ocean and feel the sand between my toes! Can't wait to feel the ocean breeze! Can't wait to see those ponies! Can't wait!

If you are interested.. here is the recipe for the Shrimp Yum-Yum (as my kids call it) that comes out of Southern Living's Easy Weeknight Favorites Cookbook, p.15

Herbed Shrimp & Pasta (real title)
8 oz dried angle hair pasta, uncooked
1 c oleo (what we call butter, and NOT margerine *spew*)
1.5 lbs peeled, medium-sized *fresh* shrimp (I have used frozen, still good, but not the same)
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 c. half-n-half
1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley (I have used dried, again - still good, but not the same)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. chopped fresh dillweed or 3/4 tsp. dried dillweek (again - it's all about the fresh for me)

Cook pasta, drain & set aside (keep warm - duh) I usually cook this as the end - it only takes 2 minutes once your H2O is boiling.

Meanwhile, melt oleo (butter) in a large heavy skillet* over med-high heat; add shrimp and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, 3-5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Remove shrimp, set aside** Reserve garlic and butter in skillet.

Add half-n-half to skillet; bring to a boil, stirring gently. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes*** or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp, parsley, salt, pepper; and if desired, chopped dillweed; stir until blended. Serve over pasta. Goes great with a big ole fresh garden salad and crunchy, hot garlic bread. Yum -o - la!

*I use cast iron, 'cause y'all know, that's how we cook here in the South *wink*
**I have a wooden spoon handy at this point for anyone (DH) who tries to come and steal the shrimp! - BAM!
***By now my kids are usually having a major melt-down 'cause the entire house smells so yummy and their bellies are growling; not to mention DH's knuckles are bruised. So, I speed this process up and thicken it with a little bit of cornstarch mixed with cold water.. add to the sauce and it will thicken up in no time flat!
Please let me know if you try it or if you have a favorite shrimp recipe... 'cause we love the shrimp, and blue Jimmy crabs, and small Cherrystone crabs, and soft-shelled crabs, and flounder, and croaker, and spot, and..............

MORE BIRDHOUSES!


Guess what my Mom brought me - did ya guess? Yes, that's right! A big box of bird houses and a bag of tiny bird houses for my painting pleasure! Now some of these are wren houses and some are blue bird houses.... and the tiny ones are to go on dowels and are just for decoration. LOL - now I really have to find all of my acryllic paints. I'm still trying to figure out how to stamp on them with a nice clean image.... These fabulous birdhouses came from a friend of my folks who just loves to make things.. Isn't he so talented! He even put on a coat of primer for me - FABULOUS! No sanding and no priming.. just decorative painting....


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