Vacation sure takes a lot out of you

Ok, my blog is now an entire year old....and for the first time ever I have let it lapse more than a day. I'm not sure what has been wrong with me lately, but I just haven't been able to get it together. Maybe it is the 14" of snow that have fallen since I returned from the cruise. Well, I am happy to report, that I think I may have found some of my MoJo this weekend. I'm still working on a few things, but I definitely have some projects to post. In order to give me a little time to complete what is in my head, I'm going to show you some projects made by my sideline and upline over the next couple of days. Remember the calendar pages I showed you a while back? Well, we finally got together and exchanged them. Not everyone was present, but I got a few and they are awesome!!! This first one I am going to show you is the one for July. I wish I could remember who made what, but I can't.....so, all I can tell you is these were created by the Stupid Hour Inkers group. I hope you enjoy. Oh, for some weird reason some of you have been asking to see some pictures of my vacation....so for the next few days ( or month... I took a ton of pictures) I'll post one or two at the end of each of my posts. If you don't want to see them, or if you just don't care, stop reading after the project picture :) Ok, I'll see you tomorrow....I promise this time!

This was our ship...the Norweigan Jade. It was an awesome boat....but really really really big
And this is hubby and I all geared up for our lifeboat drill. The US Coastguard (what do they have to do with anything? We left from Barcelona, Spain!!) wouldn't let us leave port until we had a lifeboat drill. Orange is my favorite color, but even I had to grimace when I saw this picture!!!

Jay's Valentines

WooHoo!!! I finally got some stamping done. My son wanted to give his little kindergarten pals a treat with their Valentine, so we decided on a piece of gum. I used the Who's your Valentine stamp set to make these cute little trains. They took a little while, especially with all the coloring and cutting, but I love the way they turned out! What do you think?

Ooops......

I forgot to post yesterday.....Oh well, I'll blame it on the sunburn. Unfortunately I don't have anything new to show you, I've spent the past 2 days unpacking. But I promise, I will have something absolutely wonderful (ok, maybe not wonderful, but at least tolerable) coming soon. In the meantime I'll give you a sneak peek of what is coming up in February for my Valentine class.....Don't forget to contact me to sign up!

February 6th- Adult Valentine Class
We will be making this adorable train and four cards.

Also coming soon:

February 7th- Kids Only Workshop (K.O.W.) Valentine Class

Ages 5-10 Valentine Card and Treat Holder

Ages 11-16 Chinese Valentine

Hope to see you there!

Bummer, My Cruise is almost over

Well, today is the day we are back. I'm sure after nine days of sunshine and warmth, Germany won't seem quite so inviting. Speaking of invites though, It's a good thing I'm coming back. I have 100 wedding invitations to make for a co-worker. Want to see a sample of what will be keeping me busy the next few weeks? I hope I'm super relaxed, cause it's almost time to get to WORK!!!

Cute little Valentine Mailbox

If you've been stamping long, you have to have seen the cute little altered mailboxes from Target. I even made some last year. But this year, since target isn't just around the corner and is instead across the ocean, I had to be a little more inventive. Here is my paper version. The stamp set I used on the Two Tags die cutout is Animal Crackers. I have been saving this little squirrel for almost six months now...just waiting for Valentine's Day. Isn't he adorable?

Another Funky Friday Challenge from CCS

Yep, that's right....it's time for another Funky Friday with the Cornwall Crafty Stampers. This week I actually like my card (I know, there is a first time for everything isn't there!). I made this before we left for our cruise, otherwise there would be no way that I could have gotten in the snow spirit. What a great idea to use for inspiration. The day I made this we were housebound because of the 6" of snow we had gotten the night before. I also spent most of the afternoon outside sledding with the kids before I made this, so I was truly inspired. (Unfortunately none of the neighbors felt the same type of inspiration....me on a sled is a truly scary thing!). Anyway, I got to use one of my all time favorite stamp sets. The Tree for All Seasons. Even though it is retired in the states, It isn't in the UK. Being an honorary Brit does have it's advantages :) Don't forget to play along with us this week on our challenge blog. You can grab Mr. Blinky here. Hope you enjoy!

LNS Inspiration Challenge

This week on LNS, the demo team was challenged to make a card inspired by this cake. I looked and looked, but all I could see were the little flowers. I loved the color combo.....I translated it to be rose red, regal rose and barely banana. I really wanted to recreate the bow from the side of the cake, but I didn't have the right color ribbon. So, I made my own! I ran my white taffeta ribbon through the barely banana ink. I ended up with banana colored fingers, but I think it looks pretty cool. The color is still pretty dark, but I'm hoping that once it dries it will be closer to the cardstock color. Don't forget you can join us in this challenge. Just look at the picture below and then create a card and upload it on the LNS group. If you haven't joined yet (what are you waiting for?) click the owl in the right side bar. Hope to see you soon!

Valentine Treats for Jay's Kindergarten Class

If I haven't mentioned it before, making treats for Valentine's Day is a tradition that Katie and I started when she was in Pre-K. I was a stay at home mom, she was my only child, and it seemed like a great idea to create homemade Valentine's for her to give out. We always did it together and it was always interesting. Well, a word from the wise....don't start something with your first born that you don't plan on continuing until your youngest goes to college. No amount of whining or crying (on my part!) can get me out of this tradition. So, Jay and I sat down to come up with something he could help with. I saw this cute little stamp set, Whoo's your Valentine, way back when the new catalog came out, and I thought this would be perfect. He wraps the DSP around the stick of gum, and I color and cut out the choo choo train. I will say that I wouldn't want to make 50 of these, but for a class of 16 they are perfect! Now hopefully the other mothers from his class don't call to yell at me for giving their 5 year olds chewing gum :)

USTAMP Sneak Peek!

Well, I told you I would give you a sneek peak at my Ustamp with Love project. It's a 3 compartment box and magnets for an amazing Stuck on You Valentine project. If you haven't signed up for Ustamp with Love, It's not too late. Just click on the banner in the upper right hand corner of my blog and join. You can't ask for more tutorials and project ideas for such a low price. It's one of the best things I have ever done! And don't forget...If you want to make this project, the only way to get the tutorial is to sign up today!

What? No Valentine?

Well then take that card I showed you yesterday, use all the same stamps (I did change out the Sweet Pea Felt Flower and switched the colors) and use it for a Birthday card. It works just as well either way! Oh, for those of you interested in my travels....today we are in Marrakesh. We are planning on staying off the boat for two full days and enjoying everything that Marrakesh has to offer (which of course means the Market)! Hopefully by now my toes have stopped being frozen! Make sure you check back tomorrow for a sneek peak at my USTAMP with Love project. You won't want to miss it......

Speaking of LNS Challenges

This weeks challenge was to make a Valentine Card. Couldn't be easier right? And you still have time to join us.....If you STILL haven't checked out the Late Night Stampers group what are you waiting for? Click on the cute little Owl over on the right hand side and sign up. So, my card this week features the Sweet Pea Felt Pieces. Have you seen these in the Occasions Mini (if not click the picture of it on the left side of my blog)? They are even more adorable in Real Life than they are in the catalog. I loved them so much I even used them on my project for USTAMP with Love. I'll give you a quick peek at that project in a couple of days. Anyway, This card was super simple and looks great. It just takes some Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, and Whisper White Card stock and Chocolate Chip and Regal Rose ink. I also used the NEW Vintage Vogue and Well Scripted stamp sets from the mini and the FREE scalloped Edge punch from the Sale-a-bration catalog as well. I really loved the way it turned out. What? You don't have a Valentine? well check back tomorrow and I'll show you a slight variation that makes it a perfect card for another occasion!

I can't believe I forgot to show you ......

this card I made for the Late Night Stampers Ribbon Challenge. I cased it...almost completely from someone's blog that I visited for Blog Finds of the Day. Unfortunately, they didn't put a watermark on their card, and I can't figure out whose it is....so please claim your idea if it was you I CASEd. I did change the colors on this one....using the Color Wheel, but I'm not completely sold on it. Let me know what you think of the color combo!



Oh, and before I forget to let you all know.....I'm not in Germany this week. Yep, that's right....the winter has gotten too much for me! My loving hubby decided to take me away for our anniversary to someplace warm......like Barcelona, Morocco, and the Grand Canary Islands......I'm on a cruise and I'm sure I'm loving life....but I have no internet connection. So, the stuff you see for the next 9 days I made before I left...don't worry, they are still all great projects......I'll see you when I get back (Hopefully with a tan!)

Funky Friday Challenge for CCS

Ok, I really think Abi has it in for me. She keeps giving us these challenges that cause my brain to hurt. For example....todays challenge was a color challenge. Can you believe these colors? I couldn't wrap my brain around them at all. Oh well, the best I could come up with was a flower. At least I got to use my Pick a Petal stamp set. Maybe you can do a bit better? Check out our challenge blog and play along!

Congratulations Stephanie Zeto

Congrats Steph, you were the winner of the USTAMP pass. Enjoy it! It's an amazing experience. Thanks everyone who left me a comment, and just because you didn't win the free pass doesn't mean you have to miss the experience. Just click on the USTAMP blinky on the top right. I'll see you soon at USTAMP with LOVE!!!!!

Another FREE Ustamp Pass

Ustamp starts tomorrow.....can you believe it? I'm so excited. I wanted as many of my friends to join me as possible, so I'm giving away yet another Ustamp pass. The amount of time you have is limited though. A winner will be picked tonight, Jan. 14th, at 5pm EST. So, leave a comment and you could be the lucky winner! (Don't worry if you have already joined, Dawn will be happy to give you a refund if you win!).

Featuring my Sideline Emily

Remember how I told you it was so crappy last weekend and a couple of my friends came over to stamp all weekend.....well one of them was my Side Line Emily. She made a desktop calendar and a Cut out Tin for her mom as well as a couple more tins. I think they turned out superbly and I told her I would feature them on my blog. If you want to let her know what a great job she did.....leave her a comment. I'll be happy to share them with her.

Cool thing to do with the Movers and Shakers Die!!!

Mary Brown was kind enough to share with me how to use the Movers and Shakers Die to cut shapes out of tins. She had a square gift tin that she used....well I still have a million and one Altoid tins, so I decided to give it a try. I had to use a coaster to sandwich between the die and the bottom plate to get it to cut all the way through, but it worked awesomely. Now, I know these papers and some of the ribbon are retired (as of Jan. 4th....how sad!) and the metal flower on one isn't from SU! but I still thought you ought to see how wonderful these turned out. I'm super excited about this....can you tell? If you want to give it a try yourself, check out this post for the tutorial Mary did. I only filled one of the tins (with mini toblerone) but my plan is to have my daughter make tons more of these for Valentines for her class. Do you think 5th graders will appreciate them?

Gotta Love the Winter Weather!

This past weekend was cold....I mean really really cold.....snow was blowing all over and there just wasn't a good enough reason to leave the house.....so I stamped. Luckily two of my favorite stamping friends live right next door, so we got to hang out and stamp all weekend! The first thing we did was make a few more of those Desk Top calendar and note centers that I've showed you before. This first one is one that I made for Ella's husband, my favorite IT guy from work. Because I had to make it manly, and I wanted it to be relevant to him, I used the Lots of Bots stamp set and put binary code all over it. He got a kick out of it, and I think Ella liked it too. What do you think, is it manly enough?

Ok, I know Christmas is over.....

But sometimes Christmas gifts take a while to deliver. This cute little Christmas Cracker is from my wonderful new friend Abi. I met Abi and her friend Lisa (this is them here) while I was at the European SU! Convention. While we were there, I lamented the fact that I was really missing some of the wonderful food I had grown accustomed to when I lived in England. Well Abi and Lisa went above and beyond and sent me an amazing care package!!! I got Steak and Kidney Pie, Cadbury Drinking Chocolate, Custard Powder, Crunchies and this cute little Christmas Cracker. Needless to say I was absolutely overjoyed!!! Since I was too busy eating my package, I didn't get a chance to create anything for you today, so you get to see this Christmas Cracker. I promise, I'll quit eating, wipe my face and create something for you tomorrow!

It's January....Time for Calendars

You all saw the little Coaster Calendar that I made for my class, but I still had a bunch of mini calendars left over......then I saw this card on Marisol's blog. I thought it was such a great idea, I was going to give it a try. I actually made this on accident. I meant to make one the exact same dimensions as Marisol's, but I (as usual) managed to cut the paper wrong....so, as I was looking at the extra trying to figure out what to do, I remembered that I had some plain white notebooks. Voila! Inspiration was born and now these cute little desktop calendars are a note station as well. I made the first one for a friend for New Years, and it was so easy, that I made another one for another friend. Now I just need to take the time and make one for me!

January's Calendar Page

Ok, while yesterdays October page was super cute (if I do say so myself) I definitely saved the best for last. Ellen Kemper designed this (as usual) and used it on her Christmas Cards. I saw him and absolutely fell in love! I will say that the cardinals were a bit tricky. I'm glad I only had to make 6 of these!

Calendar Downline Meeting

One of my Yahoo group friends was telling us that her downline got together and made a calendar....with every one of them making a month. I thought it was such a great idea that I told my Upline about it, and she agreed with me....so this Friday we will be getting together and putting together a calendar. Since it was my idea, I got first choice at the months I wanted to do so I picked October and January. I'll be honest, the only reason I picked them was because I had found some cool punch art on Ellen Kempers Blog that I really needed a reason to CASE :) That poor woman must think I'm stalking her....I"m ALWAYS over there looking at her punch art....but it's just because its so darn amazing, I promise! Anyway, Here is the October page. Ellen has a whole ton of these scary eyeballs on her blog, but these were my favorite. I decided to leave the majority of the page open for a picture if they want to put one on there. I really liked the way it turned out...hopefully my side lines will too!