Happy Valentine's Day To Me!

Early Valentine's Day for me! Yay!!
I found this ring at the jewelers that I just loved, because it has 2 garnets, and since both Emily & Bradley are born in January, their birthstones are both Garnet! So, it has one garnet for each of them, along with 6 little diamonds!
I showed it to Hubby, because it was on sale and told him it would be perfect for Valentine's Day (hint, hint!)
Well, the sale only goes through the end of January and every time I checked back in at the jewelers, they were sold out! Finally, I went ahead and had them order one for me and I told Iain to just go pick it up!!
So, tonight he comes home from work, and hands me a little black bag! Yay! I guess since I told him to go get it for me, I can have it early! Leave it to me to spoil the surprise!

Thanks, Hubby! I Love You!

(Now, off to find YOUR present!!)

Ooooh, Oooh - more blog candy!

Blog Candy - Oh how I love thee...

Thanks, Callie for hooking me up with these blogs!

Enchanted Stamping: It's a birthday celebration! Heather's birthday is tomorrow (Happiest of days to you, Heather!!) and her son's birthday is the 4th of Feb so she is giving presents! Isn't she the sweetest? You have until the 4th to enter - leave a comment, post on your blog and for an extra chance to win - become a follower or subscribe to her blog (which is wonderful, by the way!) and you could win - Edwin and Tilda stamps and Cuttlebug folders! Yay Yay Yay! Here's a photo:

Glitter Me Silly: Caryn is in a giving mood! She has a prize for you scrappers and you stampers, or both! Yes, you can enter for both prizes! Can you believe she's had 4000 hits in only 4 months? Wow! My blog has been here for 2 years, and I've haven't gotten near 4000 hits! I need to meet more people! Way to go, Caryn! You're a bloggin' fool! Anywooo... go check out her blog (I love those cards!), leave her some love, post on your blog and cross your fingers!
I'm just entering for the card candy as I do more of that, so here's a photo!

3 Cards = 5 Challenges!

I did it! I dropped Emily off at school, put Bradley in his pack & play and I made a mess of my craft room! But just look what I have to show for it!

This first card is what I am calling a "Double Challenge" card (don't know if anyone has coined that term, yet, so I did!) This is a sketch from Mercy's blog, Lord Have Mercy and it is also a special card for a special someone for the Love Is In The Air challenge at A Spoon Full Of Sugar. (UPDATE!) This card also fits into the Pink Cat Studios L.O.V.E challenge (PCSDTC1) at PaperCraftPlanet! I used Lily & Billy, Old Lace, Valentine and Embellishments!

I have always loved cards that use multiple patterned papers, but I have always been afraid to try it myself. So I am quite proud of this card! I used my new Lily & Billy Sweethearts stamp from Pink Cat Studio and I colored them with my Bic markers and my Skin White Copic. I used Smitten patterned paper and die cut tab from My Mind's Eye. The lace is from my scrap ribbon pile. The eyelets I found in my eyelet caddy with the metal tag and letter u - I don't know who makes them or where they came from! The solid cardstocks are by Coredinations.

This second card is a sketch from Friday Sketchers, I've never done a sketch from them before, but this one called to me! I used my new Foxy stamp from Imaginisce, along with the coordinating Twitterpated paper. I love this paper because parts of it are glossy! Like the fox and the mushrooms. So very cute! My cardstock is Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie. I colored Foxy with Pumpkin Pie and Blush Blossom. The hardware is Stylized Silver by Stampin' Up! and the ribbon is Chocolate Chip from Stampin' Up! I also used my Word Window Punch from Stampin' Up! and the sentiment is from the Small Sayings stamp set.

And this last one is a sketch that I found while surfing Marie's blog, From Combat Boots to Rubber Stamps. She found a new sketch blog called Card Patterns. This was the sketch they posted for Design Team applicants. Since I am too late (and not nearly good enough) to apply for the design team, I did this sketch just for fun! And, because I needed a birthday card for my Best Friend, Kim! I hope she doesn't see this before I mail it! :o) So, here I used my all Stampin' Up! supplies. I used my Crazy For Cupcakes and one of my Happy Birthday stamp sets. I also used Riding Hood Red and Close to Cocoa cardstock and Candy Lane Designer Series paper. My Stampin' Write markers, blender pens, some dimensionals and silver brads added to a few Prima flowers and viola! A cupcake lover's birthday card!

I hope you like my cards! I stepped out of my box a little bit and I am pleased with I came up with!

Thanks for looking, as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, so leave me some love!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Maybe... just maybe!

If I post it here, then maybe I will actually get it done!

I am hoping to drop Emily off at preschool at noon, grab some milk at the store on the way home, plop Bradley in his pack & play - so that I can PLAY!!

I have so many challenge cards that I want to make!! My best friends birthday is (ack!) tomorrow and I haven't made a card yet! (Sorry, Kim!) So, I've got a busy day planned - and only 3 hours to get it done!

So, wish me luck and check in on me to make sure I met at least some of my goals for today!

Photo of the week: 1-25-09 - 1-31-09

Here's the story:

Iain's working late.

I don't feel good.

Still have to make dinner and feed the kiddums.

Iain calls and says go ahead and make what you had planned, I'll be home at 7pm.

Great.... into the kitchen I go.

Bradley screams - "Feed Me!" he must be saying.

Sigh. How do I feed Bradley and make dinner at the same time?

"I'll help you, Mommy!" Emily to the rescue!

With just a little bit of supervision - big sister feeds little brother his dinner.

Thanks, Emily! Sometimes, you're a doll!

(Sorry, Bradley - not the most flattering photo of you!)

Some Yummy Blog Candy!

Go lookie here! I found yet another AMAZING blogger with some Beee-utiful projects today, and just our luck, she's got blog candy until tomorrow!

Meet Crafty Coo - I don't think I've seen so many blog awards before! My favorite card, I think is the Penny Black card posted on January 11, 2009. I love the colors! But that's so far! And it's hard to choose!

So - go here and take a looksie - leave some comments, share the love, post on your blog and viola! You're entered!



And then there's candy as well here! This is Kim and she is celebrating life! Another AMAZING blogger with wonderful projects! I particularly like her Friendship card from January 26th. But I haven't gone much farther in her blog - will have to later tonight when I have more free time!


Thanks, ladies for your wonderful blogs, for sharing your amazing talent, and for offering up delicious candies!

One more! Found this one in my most current copy of PaperCrafts magazine. Moxie Fab World - oooh, sneak peaks from CHA! (I wanna go, I wanna go!) Sooo, she is introducing new products that we can all drool over every day for 3 days - go check the blog every day, post a comment every day and be entered to win a fabulous prize! I, personally, am loving the patterned paper with the small images - the owls, the birds, the martians, the houses.. etc.. And I can't wait to get my hands on some of those new flowers! I can't wait to see what she has to show us tomorrow!!

Have Fun!

My card won! Yay Me!

My bunnies card (posted below) won the challenge in the Cute Critters Club! Yay Me! Just thought I'd share! Thanks, girls!

Crafting for Sanity!

Ok, so it was a craaaazy day today... sigh.. you don't want the details - trust me! So, in order to maintain some sanity, I put together a few stamping projects.

The first is for a challenge at CafeMom in the Cute Critters Club. The challenge was to use 3 images and mask one of them. So, I stamped the bunnies, masked them, then stamped the grass behind them twice. I then popped the center bunny for dimension. I was going to pop all 3 bunnies, but then you wouldn't be able to see where I had masked them. I also wrapped silver cording around the blue cardstock... but I don't think I like that, after all... I'm not thrilled with the card overall... but it's not terrible.

The second is for another challenge at CafeMom in the Addicted 2 Bellas group. This challenge was to make a triangle box and use a Stamping Bella image. So, I used my Valentini stamp, and 3, yes 3!, different Stickles - Diamond, Cotton Candy and Glitz Ruby Slippers. This was fun! I like how it turned out... but it seems to be missing something... hmmm.. ah, yes! Chocolate! Must fill box with chocolate!

Thanks for looking - have a wonderful day!

An Award! Thanks, Callie!

Wow - two of my wonderful friends love me so much to give me a wonderful award! Aren't they just the sweeeeeetest?? Thank you, Jess (my BFF & she copied my background! hehee!) and Callie (the sweetest most wonderfulest friend EVA!) Your blogs ROCK and I'm glad you like mine! This certainly cheered me up after waking up sick yesterday and sneezing and sniffling all morning today!

So, to share the love, I will pass this award on to....

Laura

Ivy

Jackie

Diane

There are so many blogs that I love, these are just a few! As always, thank you, ladies for your wonderful ideas and inspiration!

Amazing Blog Candy!

So, while I was blog hopping this evening, I found a link to this blog - Tales From Pollycraft - Wow, these are some cute cute stamps! Anywooo... she's releasing a new stamp set and she is giving it away to 1 very very lucky winner! Oh, and a cute box to store them in! So, go go go! What are you waiting for? You only have until February 1st to enter, so hurry! Spread the word and if you win - I'll be your best friend!!

Just a couple of cards for ya!

Hi there! I got a few minutes to myself while Bradley was snoozing and Emily was at school - Yay!

So, I "whipped" up a few cards!

There is a Cake-Inspired challenge going on over at CafeMom and I really liked this idea!
Here's a photo of the cake that was to inspire us:

Gotta love those Martha Stewart cakes, huh? Anywooo... the challenge stated that we were to "bake" a white card. Everything had to be white, except embellishments and, of course, the image.. I used my Cuttlebug with the Happy Birthday embossing folder, my new Pinking Circles Nestabilities (both the small and the large sets) and Stampin' Up! retired Riveting stamp set. The blue is Stampin' Up In-Color Pacific Point.

So, here's my card:

I also was asked about ideas for wedding invites today, so while I was playing and because I liked this idea so much, I did this card as well - (I again used my Cuttlebug with the Swirls folder, Oval Nestablities, Bazzil Bling blue cardstock, Stampin' Up! Tiny Talk stamp set and Martha Stewart pearls). I think that the blue oval is too large... but I don't have the small ovals set... yet... so this will have to do!

Hope you enjoyed my cards! Now, go bake a cake and make a card to match!

Emily's 4th Birthday!

Oh what a busy, busy day!
We had an appointment to get Emily's portraits done at 11am this morning. I scheduled the appointment for 11am, so that we would have time to go get her hair trimmed and styled before the pictures, but I didn't realize that the salons in the mall didn't open until 11! What silly mall doesn't open until 11? The photo place opened at 10... sigh.. So, we didn't get her hair done, but we found a super cute headband to keep her hair from falling in her face! The portraits turned out perfect and we couldn't be happier!
After that we had to go pick up the cake that we ordered, then come home to meet a few friends who were stopping by to wish her a happy birthday!
We had to rush to get the decorations up! Then sing happy birthday, serve the cake, chat with friends!
After all that, we had to open presents, lots and lots of presents! She got a lot of Hannah Montana stuff! She got new clothes from Nana & Grandpa in England! She got a microphone and a ballet dancing mat! She was so excited!
But, we're not done yet! After the presents were done, we all went out to Red Robin for dinner! Emily loved that the waiters all came to sing to her and gave her a sundae! She was all smiles!
So, I put together a slideshow of some photos that we took today - we were just snapping away! So, I hope you enjoy the slideshow!

Sock Monkey Loves You!

I just love my Sock Monkey stamp set from Stampin' Up!
I got this sketch idea from Mercy's blog
She has incredible creations and if you have some time to go blog hopping, you should hop over to hers and check it out! Be sure to compliment her on her wonderful cards!
Anywoo.. she posted an adorable card and the layout just called to me. So, of course, I cased it! Here's hers (it's the third card pictured) and here's mine:

A2B Challenge #2

Again my challenge for the Addicted 2 Bellas group. This week I chose a sketch challenge. I had a totally different card in mind when I chose the sketch. I was thinking of making a Valentine card... but when I got down to my craft room and pulled out my patterned paper, this one kind of called to me. I'm bummed that you can't see the small purple flowers that inspired the orchid opulence paper and purple ribbon. Not one of my best in my opinion, but not terrible, either. I used Content-to-be-a-Bella, and my Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder.

A2B Challenge #1

I'm an group admin in the Addicted 2 Bellas group over at CafeMom and my "job" is to come up with weekly challenges! So fun! So, this was the challenge that I found for the first week in January. I found this technique at Splitcoaststampers and could think of quite a few Bellas that would work! It's called the Tilt card, and basically, one piece of the card tilts or swings. I love cards with motion! I posted the challenge in the group and the girls came up with some great ideas! Anywoo.. here is my take (it's her balloons that tilt):
I'm a little bummed that I smudged her "lipstick" when I was attaching the balloons, but I'm just thinking she just got a big birthday kiss!

Stamp Something

I found this blog Stamp Something Challenge that also offers weekly challenges. Again, this is my first entry into this blogs challenges, but I've always loved looking at all the entries and thought, I should try sometime too!
So this weeks challenge is to Stamp Nothing! Ok, I'm confused, are you? The Stamp Something blog wants me to Stamp Nothing? Well... Ok, if you say so!
So, I dug out my rub-ons folder and went to work! I used Stampin' Up! rub-ons. This is what I came up with:

House Mouse Monday Challenge #20

This is my first entry in the House Mouse Monday challenge. I'm excited that I finally have a few House Mouse stamps, so when I can find the time, I can make a card for the challenge! The challenges give me me inspiration and motivation, not to mention a deadline! So, this week the challenge is to make at ATC, Artist Trading Card. This is kind of like a baseball card, except, obviously stamped, scrapped and/or altered. This was a bit difficult for me, as I've never worked on something quite this small! An ATC is only 3.5 x 2.5 inches. It's suprisingly difficult to fit everything that you want onto a piece of paper that small! But I did it! I used the Happy Hoppers Relaxing Bubbles stamp. Here's my entry:
Also, using this idea, the Cute Critters Club over at CafeMom had a challenge to make an ATC using a Cute Critter and then turn it into a card! Now that I can do! Here is my card, using this ATC:

99 Random

Copied this from my dear friend Callie - Love that Callie! This is a cool way to learn a little bit more about the authors of those blogs that you visit! Callie - rock climbing, deep sea fishing, marathons, home runs? I never woulda guessed!
Anywooo.... copy and paste this into your blog - bold the items that you've done! That's all there is to it!
Have Fun!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band - Highschool, and I played with both the Army and Air Force bands!
4. Visited Hawaii - Not yet
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world -Disneyland, just me & hubby!
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - adopted 2 dogs!
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon - no, but I rode Seattle to Portland on a bicycle!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise - it was just a dinner cruise, but still a cruise!
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - not Niagara, but I honeymooned at Snoqualmie Falls!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - well, I wouldn't exactly say taught myself.. but I learned German once upon a time..
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (DUH! Of course!) - Cyndi Lauper, Time after Time (what was I thinking??)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - if buying a stranger coffee at Starbucks counts...
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - caricature count?
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - grrr.. the rest of the tour didn't want to go!
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - does Stampin' Up! count?
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt - well.. a pillow?
73. Stood in Times Square - I've stood in Picadilly Circus!
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House - nope, but I've visited the WA state capital building
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - Vaclav Nelhybel (internationally renowned composer & conductor) I met him when he conducted for the Air Force band when I was selected to play in concert with them - 1991
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Thanks, Callie! Looks like I've got some stuff to do!

My baby turns 1!

Well, here it is... Bradley's 1st birthday! It seems like the year has gone by sooo fast! Our little tiny baby boy has grown into a little handsome man! It almost seems like he's grown up even more in just the last few days! He's almost balanced enough to stand up on his own, he'll be walking any time now, and his Dr. says his teeth will probably all come in at the same time, since he's yet to get any!
We had quite the exciting weekend! We went out yesterday to get his 1st birthday portraits done. Those are fabulous! We stuck with his party theme and dressed him in his pirate overalls that Nana Rosie & Grandpa Jock sent over from England. I took a pirate ship centerpiece to set up for the photos, and his pirate hat, too! We had such a hard time choosing photos because they all turned out so well!
This morning we all went out for breakfast at our favorite breakfast place called Cousins in Pasco. We mentioned that it was his 1st birthday, and our waitress said "Oh, a celebration, I'll be right back!" Then she showed up tableside with all her friends, a cupcake with a candle and a camera! They sang Happy Birthday and helped him blow out his candle, then they took his picture! They even gave us a folder with the photo in it and they signed it "Happy Birthday Cousin, from all your friends at Cousins!" It was so sweet!! Here's a photo of him blowing out his candle.
And a slideshow of photos that I took during his Pirate Party at home.
I think he really enjoyed his birthday! I hope you all enjoy the photos!

Found more candy!

I'm on a blog hunt! I have found soooo many amazing blogs this morning! I'm going to start working on adding them all to my "Blogs I Love" list, so check back for them!
Anywooo.. I found this awesome blog that has.. well.. WOW candy! Look at this!!

So, go check it out - leave a comment - link back on your blog - and good luck! While you're there, though - be sure to take a look around, let her know how much you love her creations! She's got such beautiful cards!!
Here's the link - have fun! http://papercraftsbyrach.blogspot.com/

Photo of the week: 1-4-09 - 1-10-09

OK, it's supposed to be a photo of the kids together for my P.O.T.W. (Photo Of The Week) - but who can resist when Daddy is there and everyone is smiling? Not to mention, I was having a really hard time getting the two of them to stay together and smiling this week!

Found some blog candy!

Hey - Go Here! Queen Kat Designs All you have to do is.... become a follower of the blog, leave a comment on the candy post, and advertise the candy on your blog and you could win stamps! Free stamps! Who doesn't love free stamps? It's a surprise which stamps you'll win if you are the lucky winner... but hey, Free Stamps!

As if I don't have enough on my "plate"

So, I figure, If everyone else is doing it, I will, too!! Hehehee! My good friends Lisa & Callie added recipe blogs to their blog list and I thought it was such a great idea! And since I am having so much fun trying out my new "Shop once... eat all week" recipes, I thought I'd do it too! We all love a good recipe, right? I especially love it if it comes from a friend with a good review! Anyone got tips on meals that my picky daughter might enjoy that doesn't involve a cheesy hamburger? :o)

So, I've opened Spryte's Kitchen for you all to enjoy! I've already posted a recipe that I want to try! And as soon as I try my last "Shop once..." recipe, I'll post it there, instead of here.

As always, have fun! I'll see you in the kitchen (if I'm not in the craft room!)

Shop once... eat all week #3 & #4

I also missed one of my meals this week... well, not entirely true! I made the meal - it was Petite Sirloin Steak with Fruity Cole Slaw... but none of us were hungry that night, so it was instantly relegated to the refrigerator for leftovers... Sorry, no picture, but the steaks were yummy! I used the left over lemon pie filling from the Lemon Chicken in the cole slaw and that made it a bit too sweet for us, though. So far, that is the only recipe we won't be trying again! The steaks were super easy, especially in the George Foreman!

Last night we had Cobb Salad Sandwiches! Now, these were really, really good, I thought! The dressing is mayo, horseradish and basil. And you pile (the leftover) ham (from the Ham & Cheese Pasta), lettuce, boiled eggs, bacon and tomato on a slice croissant, and yum! Tasty tasty! I had the extra sandwich for lunch at work today!

So here's my photo! There are no tomatoes on my sandwich, because I don't like tomatoes, but Iain said they were good!

Emily & Bradley's 365 project!

So, I'm a little late, and I missed a day with Emily, and a few days with Bradley! I'm going to blame that on work!! It was quite a hectic weekend at the hospital and I am dreaming of those days when I could take my stamping projects to work with me and stamp through my shift! I think those days are gone for a while! Things are picking up, and we're getting really busy!

Anyway! I wanted to point you to my flickr photostream, so that you can check out the daily photos I will take of the kids! I Will do better from here on through the year and if I'm not here, I'll make Iain take the photos!

So, the website is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosiesnosey - so, go, lookie and have fun! I'm excited to watch how they grow through the year!

Now, I am off to try to get a photo of them together for my "Photo of the week"! Wish me luck!