Always a Silver Lining

For those of you who don't know.....Yesterday was the last day of my "real" job. To make a long story short, my company no longer has the contract. It was a wonderful three years......and I am going to miss it. While there are plenty of downfalls to being out of work (not being able to buy as many stamping supplies as I want to!!! being only one of them) there is always a silver lining as well.....First, I have more time to stamp! Second, I already have a wonderful job with Stampin' Up! Third, for the first time in 3 years I have no laundry piled up waiting to be washed or folded. Another wonderful benefit of not having to go to work every day is I am able to be here for my kids. For example, Jay's first grade teacher is finally coming back to school after having a beautiful baby girl. I was planning a baby shower for a friend of mine, and Jay wanted to know if he could plan one for his teacher. I spoke to the substitute, and she has agreed to let me come into the class a couple of times over the next few weeks so the kids can make baby shower invitations, and decorations. When Mrs. Culp finally returns, the kids will be throwing her a very small.....first grade baby shower. If I was working, I wouldn't have been able to do this. Today I'm going to school and we are making the invites.

I made 3 x 3 cards as these will just be going home with the kids. I used the cutest little baby build a bear stamp and will let the kids color each of their's in while I'm at the class. I prestamped the words and stuck the ovals together so all they have to do is peel the dimensional and put it on their card. The information is on the inside and was done with My Digital Studio. I hope the kids like them.

Operation Hero Watch Complete

We Made it! As of yesterday we received a card from Alabama....the last state we needed to make our goal of receiving a card from every state complete. This has been an emotional roller coaster. I can't thank each and every one of you enough. Some of you sent cards, told friends, got family in other places to mail cards to us, and some of you even drove across state lines to make sure my kids got a card from every state. Thank you Thank you Thank you again. My children will never again doubt that what their Daddy does is appreciated. The best part of this entire operation is that we are now in the home stretch. Dad should be home in about 8 weeks. This has made the deployment go by quickly. And I don't know if each of you knows how much I have appreciated, and needed, your words of encouragement along the way. I wouldn't have made it without you!

Update: oops, I was just told that I forgot to put Hawaii on the map....but we did get a card from there as well!

More Halloween Treats

Ok, I'm finally working on something that I should be working on.....my Halloween treats. I got tired of the vampire and the red, so I moved on to Rich Razzleberry and a spider. I had several people ask me what was inside of these. It's cute little antibactieral Hand Sanitizer from Bath and Body Works. They are Halloween scents and names...there is bat's blood in the Vampire holder and this one holds spiderweb, which smells like licorice. I still haven't figured out what to do to make these pop a bit more....but I love the black lace idea. Unfortunately I don't have any. I may have to call my friend Kathrin and see if she will let me steal some out of her stash. As soon as I get them completed, I'll let you know what I did. And of course I'll show them off. You don't make 55 of anything and not brag about it!!!!!

Oh something else I have to get done......

When I was listing all the stamping things I have to get done yesterday, I forgot a major one. I have to make Make N Takes and a Shoe Box Swap for the EUROPEAN STAMPIN' UP! CONVENTION!!!! Yes folks, that's right. They are letting us crazy American's back in. This year it will only be Sara and I since Emily has moved back to the states, but I know we will have a blast as usual. Last year I only made 50 swaps, and I spent one late late evening making more with Sara, so this year we decided to do 80-100. So far I have 24 done (Sara I might add is completely finished!). But this is my first swap. I got this adorable idea from Tana Conley who got it from Kim of Paper Punch Addiction. I just thought it was too cute not to use. I hope they like it, cause these birds took forever to make! Ok, only 76 more to go! How many different cards do you think I should make?

Christmas in September Again?

I have so many projects to make things for.......I have open houses, and Jay's birthday invites to make. I have Baby Shower invites and diaper cakes to make. I have Halloween treats (forgot about those didn't you? well I haven't.....still have 33 to go!) to make. So why, oh why, am I focusing on making Christmas gifts for teachers? Who know. But I saw these adorable candles and boxes on the Southern Stamper's 12 weeks of Christmas. (If you haven't signed up for this yet, jump on over to her blog. She has some awesome projects!). Anyway, they were too cute not to make. So, I made seven of them for Katie's teachers. I'm sure that I will appreciate in December the fact that they are already done....but for now, I wish I could focus on the tasks at hand! Oh well, Happy Holidays everyone :)

Here's my tasty Yellow Ribbon for my hubby

Being military, we know the true meaning of yellow ribbons. We tie them on everything. As a matter of fact, my next door neighbor used to have them tied to the handles of her trash cans! We keep those yellow ribbons tied until our loved ones come home safe and sound. It's our way of remembering them. Well, this quick and easy little project is my yellow ribbon. I made these for a workshop, and my kids wanted one too. I have explained to them that these M&M's can't be eaten until Daddy comes home. They each have one in their room, next to their bed to remind them of daddy. Now Jay doesn't count down the days until Daddy comes home, he counts the days until he can eat his candy! He already has plans to share it with Daddy. "Mom, Dad can have the brown ones, cause I don't like those!" Oh well, it's the thought that counts right? Another great idea for using these would be during the month of October for Breast Cancer awareness month. All you would have to do would be to substitute pirouette pink for the daffodil delight. Instant Breast Cancer reminders as well!

Funky Friday Challenge.....Buttons!

This week our Funky Friday challenge was a theme....Buttons! I originally saw this cool idea on Patty Bennett's blog, and then my upline, Sara, suggested we give it a shot. I love the way this turned out. And I was able to put my favorite color, Orange, in my bracelet. What color buttons would you pick? With all of Stampin' Up!'s choices it will be hard to decide.

Missing You!

Nothing like celebrating birthdays while your hubby is downrange. This time around he not only missed mine and Katie's, but he also missed his own and will miss Jay's next month. This has really been a rough deployment on us. It was one of those Murphy's Law deployments......everything that can go wrong will! Things are starting to getting better, or maybe I am getting stronger.....but sometimes you just have to acknowledge how much you miss them. Today is one of those days. Matt, this card is for you because Doggone It! I miss you!

Happy Birthday Again!

Ok, this time it isn't my birthday, but Katie's. We held her party last Saturday, but her actual birthday is today. Yes, I spent my entire birthday in labor with her....but let's not talk about that! So, in order to celebrate my daughter's birth....I am posting this baby elephant. Isn't he cute? I can't believe she is 12. Where did that cute little girl in the picture below go?? Oh well, now she is a beautiful young lady. I'm so proud of you Katie! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Yes, for absolute real (as my daughter would say) today is my birthday! How old am I? Well I'm celebrating the 9th anniversary of my 29th birthday! Usually I make a big deal out of my birthday.....I start reminding my hubby two months out. I drop hints about parties, or romantic dinners, or something. This year though, I don't have a hubby close by to drop hints to. I tried to get my children to do something, but my son Jay informed me that he couldn't buy me a present "Cause I can't Drive Mom!". So, this year, in order to celebrate, I am holding my technique Tuesday class. No party? No problem! I'll just stamp. This time we are using the Plaid technique. This isn't my favorite card for tonight, but it does demonstrate how this technique can be used to create different looks. My favorite card was the rocker one. Missed it? You can see it here. Ok, well off to prep for my class. Hope you all enjoy my birthday :) I will!

Punch Art Popcorn

If you visited my blog yesterday, you saw the treat containers I made using the adorable Popcorn holder. I know I've seen punch art popcorn somewhere, but of course when I needed it I couldn't find it, so I went ahead and made my own. If you have any need for punch art popcorn, here are the directions :)

These are the punch pieces you need

You can use any colors you want...Red and White would be cute too. Katie's Party was all Melon Mambo and Basic Black though.

To trim the edges, just cut from the top corner to the first place that the two color word window punches meet. Was that clear as mud? Hopefully the picture helps.

I sponged the edges of the popcorn with So Saffron Ink.

All Done!

Katie's Birthday Party

Ok, We survived. Katie had her 12th birthday party yesterday. Everything seemed to go well, although it never goes exactly like you think it will. I made some treats for her friends. Since we had a whole movie theme, I went with a punch art Popcorn bag. I also used a retired stamp set to make some matching popcorn bags. If you like, I'll show you how I did the popcorn punch art tomorrow. For now.......here is the water bottle drink mix holder/ the treat topper/ and the popcorn bags. Enjoy!

We Had a K.O.W.

Every month I host a Kids Only Workshop aka KOW at my house. This month we made some Owl treat holders and a bookmark to help us get ready for school. I promised the kids I would make them "famous" by putting them on my blog. Make sure you leave a comment letting them know what a great job they did!

Funky Friday Color Challenge AGAIN!!!

I admit it, I absolutely hate color challenges. Give me a good theme or sketch any day. Well this weeks challenge was to create a card using Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise and White. Your kidding me right? Well, I figured I might as well go all out, and use a retiring stamp set in the UK as well. So.....Here is my super bright, would look better on a beach towel, Christmas Card. What do you think?

Rocking with Plaid

Next week, in order to celebrate my birthday, I am holding a technique Tuesday class. (What else can you do when your birthday is on a Tuesday?). Anyway, I've decided to do the plaid technique. I have seen this on so many cards, that I just had to give it a shot. This is my third try actually, but I love the way it turned out. I especially like the colors (Thanks Sara for the combo!). What do you think?

It's Baby Time!!!

Don't you just love babies....they are so cute, and they are even extra special when someone else has to change the diapers and do the midnight feedings! :) I'm so glad my baby days are over. I guess I do miss the tiny things a little though, so when I was contacted about a baby shower for a friend of mine, I jumped up and volunteered for the invites. When Tiffany Bauer posted these adorable invites on her blog, I knew I had to use them. Who can resist the little ruffles on the butt? I sure couldn't! Now I just have to put the information on them using MDS, and get them in the mail. They are absolutely perfect!!!!

It's a crazy Christmas

Or Maybe it is a Stupid one....Stupid Hour Inkers that is. Sara and I, the last remaining demos from the Stupid Hour Inkers here in Germany, had pretty much a crafting weekend. We spent time Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday doing nothing but hanging out and crafting. While I will show you the awesome stuff we made later on this week, I just had to show you this card. This was the absolute last thing I crafted during our marathon craft session, and I think the Stupid Hour came early, it was only 7pm! We couldn't help but laugh. And this all came about because I really thought the vintage buttons would be super cute on a snowman. Oh well........at least it makes me smile! Don't forget to check back later this week to see our other more normal cards!