Sonja's Scene

I'm Finished with Card Candy

2008-08-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

OK, this is the last card candy I'm making for a really long time. I finally have enough to send to my stamping friends as promised.

I've had a lot of questions about what backing I use to adhere the items in the package. I just use a clear plastic card envelope and I put a tiny piece of double stick tape on the back of the card candy and stick it to the inside of the clear envelope. That's it really.

Busy with Card Candy

2008-08-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Today I was busy most of the morning making these packages of card candy. I promised some of my SBS16 friends that I would send them, so figured I should get as many done this weeekend as I could.

25 Swap Cards

2008-08-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

I made this card using a great new stamp set from The Angel Company, I think it's called Linear Sentiments. I combined two of the stamps from the set and stamped the black background on the red card stock. There are 25 girls in this swap so I'm really glad that it was only card fronts and not an actual card.

My SBS Secret Swap Sister--Stacey!

2008-07-30T14:24:00.001-07:00

First, I have to apologize to Stacey for not getting these photos posted sooner. Stacey is super talented and I just LOVE her work. I was lucky enough to get her as my SBS16 Secret Swap Sister. Here is just a small part of the goodies she sent me...I already used some of the fun stuff.

I saw this card on Stacey's blog and just raved about it...you can see why...isn't it great? I love the way she used colors and shading to make this so wonderful. And it looks even better in person!

Here is a photo of most of the neat stuff she got me. There is a big package (I don't think you can see it in the photo) of printed papers that are perfect for Halloween. She sent me some really cool British stamping magazines. What's so neat about that is I can't get those here, so it was fun seeing other types of designs. Along with the magazines were templates, more patterned paper and die cuts. She also sent me five (yes FIVE) rolls of American Crafts Elements ribbon in really great colors of yellow, pink, green and brown...love them! I got a package of eyelets, pink and blue rhinestone stickys, a Studio G stamp set that celebrates Friends...how great is that? She also sent a package of purple fabric (that's right, not paper, but the good stuff...fabric) flowers. But that's not all. She made me some really great projects. First is the door hanger that reads "Do not disturub. Stampin' in Progress." I love it! She make a booklet that holds about 20 stamped images (lots of Bellas and Rubber Romance! Yippee!) I got some giant altered paper clips with an "S" on them, along with matching clamps. Let's see what else. A beautiful bookmark...or, since the bookmark is made with a flat wooden stick, I could even put it in my indoor plant container...oh wait, I kill plants...that's why I don't have any...bookmark it is! There was a notepad holder and last, but finally not least she made a really cool stationary set. The box opens up and has cards, tags, small note cards, a place for stamps (which she place some embossed "stamps"...love those too!) and a matching pencil and note book. Wow!!! How awesome is Stacey! Thanks girl!

I'm going back to work!

That's right. I've been away for too long. I thought I would be OK going to school full time again, but I really miss being in the work environment. I know, sounds crazy. I am going back to Real Estate. I'll be working in asset management. Only problem is that my new job is about 20 miles from my house. That means a long drive across the river to the other side of town. Ah well. And oh, I start tomorrow! I'm still going to try to keep going to school full time. Yeah, I think I'm superwoman and can do it all (don't we all think that?). Speaking of school...I just got my grades...I kept my 4.0 GPA. woo hoo.

Better go...I have swaps to finish and I want to get them posted here before the weekend is over.

Blog Candy

2008-07-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'm finding out that there are some folks that don't have their own blogs. So I'll change the requirements for the blog candy below. All you need to do is leave a comment. If you do have a blog and you reference my blog candy there, you will get a second chance to win. Again, you don't need to have a blog, just leave a note on the entry below. Good Luck

A Little Something to Give Away

2008-07-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I got my finals done this week...still waiting for my grades, but I think I did better than I originally expected. No classes for two weeks...yippee! With the extra time I had, I spent a little bit of time in my stamping room. But first, let me share with you a funny story...well it was funny when it happened. If you follow my blog or know me, you know that I'm always saving containers and such to use in my projects (I know you do it too!). This week, as I emptied the plastic CoffeeMate container, I said "I wonder what I could make with this?" My husband, who was pouring coffee, said with enthusiasm, "Wait, I know!" He grabbed the container from my hand, walked across the kitchen and dropped it into the trash can. "There, that's perfect," he replied. I took that to mean that I have way to many "treasures" sitting around waiting to be crafted. So, I went into the closet in my stamp room to see what I could put to use.

I came across this Crystal Light container that I saved. I also had the smarts to save the little cups inside the container. You know, they hold the drink powder and you peel off the little foil cover.

I used one of my punches and cut circles to cover the little cups. The punch was the perfect size. I filled the cups with some baubles. But I only had five color baubles, so I filled the sixth cup with some mini die cut flowers. Then I used adhesive to put the paper circles over the cups.

I decorated the paper circles with Prisma flowers, buttons, and stickles.

I covered the container with paper and ribbon. I used a stamp from the new The Angel Company set called Sweet Goodies to make the tag. I love that new set, and plan on using it a lot this year for the holidays.

I used a scalloped punch, flower, button, and stickles for the lid of the container. As you can see, all of the cups stack inside the container.

Now, what to do with this? I noticed that my blog will be reaching 100,000 hits in the near future. So as a little pre-celebration, I think I will give this away. Yes, this is my first blog candy! All you have to do to have a chance to win this is to comment to this post. If you list me on your blogroll, you will get two chances to win. I will be drawing a name on August 15th.

For a Friend

2008-07-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I have so much going on. My wonderful daughter just moved back home with us. It's an adjustment having a 22 yr old come back to the nest, but I love her so much, and I'm actually enjoying her more this time around. She has matured so much, and we talk and laugh so much more that we ever did before. But I must say, it's just hard for me to quit mothering her. The other day she, my husband and I were out eating breakfast and we were getting ready to take a fairly long trip in the car. As we were getting ready to leave, I asked her "Do you need to use the restroom before we leave." Can you believe that? She just looked at me, smiled, hugged me and said "Mom. I'm a big girl now." And we all just cut up laughing. She'll always be my baby!

One of my very best friends has a birthday this week. I hope this card makes it to her in time. Her father is having some medical issues right now, I know it's been weighing on her more and more. I keep praying for a positive outcome and letting her know I care. Hopefully, this card will make her smile.

I don't know what Bella image this is. I got the image from my SBS16 sister, Stacey. She was my secret sis and sent me the greatest package this week. In true Sonja fashion, I couldn't wait to take photos of the entire package before I started using up the great stuff she got me. But I will pull most of it together and post a picture soon. Umm, of course, the yummy candy she sent me is already gone...go figure.

This is another of my weekly cards for C. The image is from CTMH and was sent to me by another great SBS16 friend, Melanie.

Well, I need to go. I have final exams this week, so I probably won't be posting much till that is over.

Pink and Green Card Candy

2008-07-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

Just a really quick post with some more card candy. Oh, I just love making these. They are so quick to do and come out so cute. If you have any questions about what I used to make any of these, just ask.

Card Candy

2008-07-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July. We just stayed home and relaxed. It was great! I spent a little time in my stamping room last night and made this package of card candy. For those who don't know what card candy is...it is just some pre-made mini embellishments that are ready to stick onto a card. If you are in a pinch for time, card candy really comes in handy, because you can just throw it on a card and there you go. I think I will make a few more and send to some of my favorite stamping friends and SBS16 Sisters.

I'm back with more SS Swap goodies and a Scholarship

2008-07-01T05:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back from a quick vacation down to Texas. We spent a couple of days in Austin and San Antonio (of course) and then a week at my parent's house in Abilene. While I was home, I worked for my brother in his restaurant/bar. I haven't waited tables since I was 18. I forgot just how hard that can be. My bones ached at night. But I made some really good tips! My mom, who also helps my brother out, said that the customers have been asking where I've gone. I guess I was a better waitress than I thought. My mom is the daytime bartender, and it's really funny that she has this cult following. Really. They come in to see her and only want her to make their drinks. They all hug her and call her Grandma. She loves it. Before my brother opened the restaurant, she was volunteering at the senior center ever since she retired. But she said those "old" people sucked the life out of her. She loves being behind the bar.

While I was on vacation, I got a call from my advisor at the university. She told me I was awarded a $2,500 scholarship for this fall! Yippee! That's 15 credit hours FREE! I was so thrilled, because I had given up on the idea of getting any type of scholarship. Yay for me!

I finished my Secret Sister Swap that I'm participating in for the SBS16 group I belong to.

I made a few more items, like this notebook and pencil holder. Inside the package I included 12 dollar stamp sets from Michaels. They had a series of monthy stamp sets, so I got each month. I also included two mini stamping blocks, some Stickles, colored staples, scrapper' floss, 4 spools of ribbon and a pencil/marker box. I had a lot of cards left over from various seminar swaps, so I put about 25 cards in the package too. You can see the entire package below and other items included in the package are in previous posts here.

Going Green

2008-06-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

Everyone is going green these days, so I recycled this Schwan's ice cream box (plus it gave me a reason to finish off the last of the ice cream). I spray painted the box and lid with black paint. Before I did that, I sprayed primer on it, because the trim on the lid is plastic, so in order for the paint to stick, it needed primer. Then I used some ribbon, flowers, and buttons. I think I will use this box to put all of the secret sister swap gifts in.

During our phone conversation today, my daughter asked me to make her a new calendar for her purse. Each year, when Michael's has those $1 pocketbook calendars, I buy a few of them and personalize them for my family and friends. Well, I guess she uses her so much it fell apart this year. So luckily, I had another left. The paper is a retired line from TAC.

Yummy, Ice Cream

2008-06-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

My new stamp is from Stamps Happen, Inc. and is called Ice Cream Cones (what else?). I just LOVE it. Aren't those ice cream cones fun and yummy? This project is another one for my SBS16 Secret Sister Swap. Everyone got the name of their "girl" yesterday, so I need to get busy and finish my package.

I colored the stamped ice cream cones with Prismacolor pencils and highlighted with markers. The cork is just a piece of pre-cut cork that is sold at places like Hobby Lobby (and probably Wal-mart). The thin ribbon is attached through two eyelets in the top fold of the cardstock that I folded over the cork board and secured with adhesive. For the push pins I took two Adhesive Tags (made by EKSuccess) and colored them the same as the ice cream cones, then I put the plastic Tag Tile (the little plastic piece) on top of that. I then attached it to a plain old thumb tack.

OK, enough fun for today, I need to study.

Quick Cards

2008-06-16T08:25:00.001-07:00

Here are two quick, simple cards I made. The first is my weekly encouragement for "C." The dog stamp is from TAC and I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background.

The next card is for a good friend of mine. She just has a lot going on right now and I wanted her to know how much I care about her. The fruit stamp is Stampin Up and the sentiment is one I picked up from HL. The paper is some old Scenic Route stuff from last year.

Where has the time gone?

2008-06-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

Gosh, it's been a while since I've done any stamping or posting to my blog. I thought I would have all kinds of time while I was out of school, but it turns out that I just didn't do much stamping at all. I'm back in class again and taking an economics course (yuk!).

I m in a secret sister swap and this booklet is one of my hand stamped items to go in my package. It's made from two CD folders. It's been a while since I've made any of these, so it was fun. I used a variety of TAC stamps and the paper is from a pack I got at Michael's.

This card I made for a woman who has cancer. I joined a group called ChemoAngels, in which I was matched to a cancer patient to send her weekly cards of encouragement. If you are interested in doing something like this you can visit them at http://www.chemoangels.net/. I just came across this website somehow and I guess God just spoke to my heart to do this.

I cased a card that my good friend, Joy sent me last year. I love this flower stamp from TAC, and I thought the Basic Grey paper would look nice with it.

Happy Anniversary

2008-05-23T04:58:00.000-07:00

It was our anniversary this week, the 6th! Hubby brought home some flowers and a card and we went out to dinner. We always have a Friday night date night, so it was sort of weird going out to eat on a Thursday instead...I woke up today thinking it was Saturday instead of Friday. This is the card I made for him. All paper and stamps are from the Angel Company. The center piece of raised chipboard (covered with the stripe paper) is from Basic Grey. Inside I wrote a quote I found that says "Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worth while." Then I wrote, "Thanks for the ride."

This weekend is the RiverFest, which I guess is Arkansas' biggest event of the year. We bought tickets that will get us in all weekend, so we'll see. I'm trying not to compare it to San Antonio's Fiesta, which takes place every April and lasts 10 days...best city celebration ever, hands down. Anyway, back to the RiverFest. They have some bands scheduled to play that were popular in the 80's. I'm really not into that. I would rather see local, current/relevant bands than some 20 year old stuff...just my opinion. There is one thing I'm pretty excited to see; they are having some dog show events like the agility course and the diving/retrieving jump. I just love dogs and enjoy watching that type of thing.

Big Damn Bridge...really, that's what it's called

2008-05-16T05:56:00.001-07:00

Those of you who know me, know that I'm a Texas girl. However, the Air Force has given me an opportunity to live all over the world. We've had some really great overseas assignments, and we always try to make the best of where ever we are stationed. Right now we are in Arkansas. This was a tough move because we just came from San Antonio TX(which we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE), but we are determined to get the most out of what Little Rock has to offer. One of our favorite things about this place is the Big Damn Bridge that connects Burns Park in North Little Rock to Murray Park in Little Rock. The bridge stretches about a mile across the river and is the largest pedestrian bridge in the US. The bridge does not just sit on top of the damn, but is an important part of its structure. Anyway, my husband and I go out to Burns park a few times a week and run/walk about 6 miles on the trail on either side of the bridge and crossing over it. It is really a beautiful park and they did a wonderful job on the River Trail (what they call the 24 mile trail that runs on both sides of the river connected by the bridge). I'm new to running, so I can't go as far as my husband (who likes to run marathons), but I'm working on it. We went yesterday and ran/walked for 1 hour and 45 minutes. My goal is to run the entire length of the bridge (including the steep up-hill part of it). Here are a few photos of the bridge that I found on the internet.

What are you wearing?

2008-05-15T11:20:00.001-07:00

Haha, OK, so some of you may not think that is funny, given this card. But my DH always jokes around when he calls from a deployment or TDY and asks what I'm wearing. Sometimes I play along, other times I'll say sweats and a T-shirt! DH will likely deploy again towards the end of this year, so I'm starting to get make some cards so I can have a nice stock of them to send once he is gone. I love this stamp from Rubber Romance, but had not used it before (it's so large, this card is 5x7). The little circle stamp that says "sending my Love" is from Stampin Up.

Got some new stamps

2008-05-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I finished up another term last week. Pulled out A's again!! Yippee!!! Even though I'm holding a 4.0 GPA, I haven't been able to bag a scholarship...what's a girl gotta do? Next term starts the 2nd of June, so I'm going to do as much stamping as I can for now. What perfect timing for my new stamps to come in. I ordered some stamps from my friend Melanie and they arrived today. CTMH has some new military stamps, yea!, so I just had to have them. Now I have no excuse to not work on the deployment album for my DH. I've been asked about the deployment album I made for his previous deployment, so I'm going to try to post some pictures of that soon. Anyway, for those of you who are always searching for new and really great military stamps, hop over to Melanie's blog and click on her CTMH link to get these. Oh, one more thing, I've never ordered stamps from CTMH, and I was pleasantly surprised when they came in these really nice plastic envelopes...now I don't have to put them in a CD case. How great is that?

Father's Day Card...already?

2008-05-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, Mother's Day just passed. But if I don't get my cards done early, I run the risk of not getting them done at all. So here is a Father's Day card I made that, unless I come up with a better card, I will send this to my wonderful Dad.

I used a Texas background stamp (don't remember where I got it). The windmill stamp and the Happy Father's Day stamp are both from The Angel Company (unfortunately they are retired stamps). I used Palette Burnt Umber and Charcol ink, and I also used some twine to embellish the card.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

My post today honors the most wonderful woman I know, my mom. I can't even begin to explain how much I love, like, respect, and adore her. It wasn't until I had a daughter myself in my early 20's that I fully understood how amazing a mother-daughter relationship is. I remember always hearing Mama talk about how much she adored my grandmother (her mother). Yes, I loved my grandma, but I just didn't get "it." That was, until I had my own daughter. Then all of a sudden, my love and respect for my mom grew immensely. I began to understand why she always talked of love for her mother, for now I feel that same boundless love for her. In recent years, I found myself doing something or catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I think to myself, "Gosh, I am my mother," and that's OK, because there is no other woman I would rather be like. I feel so blessed and fortunate to be not only a daughter to a wonderful mother, but also a mother to a wonderful daughter. Mama, if you are reading this, Happy Mother's Day. Please know that I am so proud to have you as my mother and I'm so thankful for all you have taught me in life.

The photos in my project are two that are so special to me. The photo on the left is Mama and Daddy's wedding photo. They were married in 1958, that means they will celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. I think my parents were such a beautiful couple. The photo on the right was taken sometime around 2000 or so. I have such deep respect and love for my father and mother, that mere words don't convey the love that is my heart for them. I am who I am because of them, their love, and their support. The wording on the metal plate says "It doesn't matter where you go, it's who's beside you that counts." I think that is so fitting for these photos of my parents together. Life has taken them so many places, and they have been beside each other the entire way.

I wanted the photo stand to be somewhat old fashioned and romantic looking. I used three pages from a children's chipboard book to make the stand. The paper is from Anna Griffin. I used the Bind It All machine to punch the holes, but I didn't use the metal binding because it just didn't look right with this; instead I used ribbon to hold the pages together. Then I just added some embellishments.

Peppermint Patty Matchbox

2008-05-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

Here is my Peppermint Patty Matchbox that I made for a swap group I'm meeting with in a few weeks. I used two-sided cardstock from K&Company. The flower stamp is from Stampin Up and the white paper flower is from the wedding section at Michaels. I added the ribbon so it would be easy to pull open the matchbox. I'll post a template and directions later this weekend.

Now, I just need to make 14 more boxes for my group.

Card Folder

2008-04-30T11:03:00.001-07:00

This card holder was made from a school folder. I cut the front top half off, cut a half oval on the edge, and scored the back cover to fold over. The stamps are from The Angel Company (Blossom Builders and an alphabet). On the insert cards (8 x 5 1/2 inches) I used a rounded tab punch and I wrote the words on the tabs since they were so small. I'm giving this folder to my mom. I know the three type of cards she sends most are Birthday, Thank you, and sympathy, so I made those tabs and an other tab. The envelopes will go on the left side. I was going to make an insert for my mom to write down all the birthdays, but she wouldn't use it. She's one of those people that writes birthdays and anniversaries down on the calendar as soon as she buys a new one each year.

Now all I need to do is make some cards to go in it.

Creative Slump

2008-04-27T15:33:00.000-07:00

Lately I just don't feel like I have anything creative going on in my head. I've sat in my stamping room a few times over the weekend, but nothing comes to me. Maybe I need to clean my stamp room...it's a bit messy right now and I have a hard time thinking clearly in any kind of a messy environment. So instead of stamping stuff today, I'll share some other things.

A friend of mine told me about this website for a company called E.L.F. (eyes, lips, face). The company just got bought out by Nordstrom's and are selling off their items really cheap. I haven't purchased anything just yet, but I plan to. Most items were only a $1. The most expensive item I saw was $15.00. I haven't used these products before, but hey, you can't go wrong for a buck, right?

Yesterday the weather was really nice and my husband and I went over to an Earth Day event that was happening on the grounds of the Clinton Presidential Library. If you have never seen it, it looks like a giant mobile home...really. We just stretched out on the grass and enjoyed the music and sunshine.

Across the way, we spotted a bunch of kids having a ball with some cardboard on a steep hill. I remember doing that sort of thing as a kid too...what fun...so much better than video games.

Bubbling Over

2008-04-24T13:35:00.001-07:00

This Mother's Day card is made with The Angel Company's Bubbling Over stamp set and the background swirl is Stampin Up. I spray painted the chipboard frame with metallic paint. I also used some Crystal Lacquer on the bubbles in the stamped image. Not sure if I'm thrilled with the card, so I will probably try to make a better card, but with Mother's Day right around the corner, I may not have time.

Amanda's Visit

2008-04-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

Havent' done any stamping this week. My lovely daughter, Amanda, came into town for a quick visit. I've missed her so much...it was great to see her again. The weather has been beautiful today, so we got out and took a few photos. This is a picture of us at the lake on the base.

I hope to get some stamping done this week.

Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampsers

2008-04-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

Found this fun website that brings lots of stamping bloggers together, and I just had to jump in. I'm in the SBS 16 group. Check out all the great blogs of my stamping sisters listed in the SBS16 blogroll on the right.

Chocolate Fixes Everything

2008-04-14T12:11:00.001-07:00

I joined a new swap group that is made up of mostly Air Force wives. I really like participating in swaps because I like to see every one's great ideas.

This is my card for the group. The main stamp is from Rubber Romance, the background swirl stamp is The Angel Company. The saying I made up and printed on my computer. I colored the image using Prismacolor watercolor pencils.

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-04-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday. It wasn't a big day of celebration because I was working on a mid-term paper. My DH was surprised when I turned down offers to go out to breakfast, then lunch and then even turned down an offer to go out to dinner. I was just seriously behind and had to catch up. I got several nice cards and some phone calls from my mom and daughter, which made the day special. I love my mom and daughter sooo much. Another person I just love is my friend Joy. She sent me this beautiful card on my special day. Joy is so talented, be sure to stop by her blog and check out what she's up to.

Twizzlers Triangle Treat Box

2008-04-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

Trying to stay away form the chocolate, so I came up with this idea for Twizzlers. For this project, I cut the Twizzlers in half. The paper is from K&Company, the stamps are The Angel Company and some clear set (the triangle frame) I picked up at HL.

Here is the template. It's two pages, each posted separately.

Cupcake Birthday Card

2008-03-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my Marketing class homework today (I know it seems like that is all I do) and thought it would be a good time to make a birthday card for my dad. He will be celebrating his 70th this year, and I really wish I was home with my folks in Texas for this special day.

I used some old Basic Grey papers I had lying around (I think it is Lollipop shoppe and Lucky). The candles and flames are colored with glaze pens to give them a waxy look. The cupcake stamp is from Stampabilities and the Happy Birthday set is from The Angel Company. On the inside of the card I wrote "Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." That is not my original saying I read it somewhere, but don't recall where.

Pawprints on Our Hearts

2008-03-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

My very special friend, Joy, sent me this beautiful card. Joy has a cute little dog of her own, and knows how important Cocos was to me. Joy also knows how loving Cocos was; whenever Joy would come into town and stay with me, Cocos was the first one to meet her at the door! Joy, thank you so much for your friendship and thank you for being there for me in my time of need.

Cocos' Photo Album

2008-03-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

I started this scrapbook last summer, but never finished it. Now, with the passing of Cocos, I needed to complete it to honor her wonderful existence. The paper, tags, and labels are from Cloud 9.

I love the photo of Cocos rolled up on her pillow. She used to just lay there and watch us, her eyes shifting from me and my husband.

We loved it when Cocos would just run, she was incredibly fast and looked so sleek.

These pages document when we got Cocos and the tag on the right side pocket holds our handwritten notes to Cocos saying our good-byes.

This page has her final dog tag. The photo on the right is one that I just love. It is Cocos sitting on the edge of a cliff at Tarague Overlook on Guam. It was an incredible view and you can see that Cocos was just mesmerized by it.

So many beautiful Notes...Thank You

2008-03-22T06:03:00.001-07:00

Again, I'm just amazed and touched that so many people have posted here and emailed me privately to extend heartfelt condolences. The reality of Cocos fate really set in this morning when I woke up and realized that if I called out the usual "Come on Cocos, let's go outside." I wouldn't be greeted with an excited wag of the tail and circle dance that Cocos always did before going out. I cried a river, no, an ocean of tears yesterday. Today I have vowed to no longer cry (at least I'm going to try not to cry anymore) and to keep the joy in my heart that was put there by Cocos. My husband and I will continue to talk about the wonderful, funny things she did to make us smile, laugh, and just feel good. I'm not sure if I will get another dog, but at this point I just can't. It would almost seem to disrespect the memory of Cocos, for no dog can ever replace her. I'll know when the time is right to move on to another dog. Again, thanks so much for all the kind words, it has helped ease my pain. I am going to take Christie's advice and finish the scrapbook I started last year for Cocos...so keep an eye out for that. Also, here is a beautiful poem that Judy sent me. Thank you all.

The Rainbow Bridge; inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
© 1998 Steve and Diane Bodofsky. All Rights Reserved.

Cocos Update

2008-03-21T10:29:00.001-07:00

It is with the heaviest heart that I make this post. My beloved Cocos is gone. Her condition never improved. Today at 10am she was put to sleep. I never imagined that I would feel such grief and pain for the passing of my dog, but the tears won't stop. I loved Cocos to a degree that I wasn't even aware of until this morning. My husband and I will miss her greatly. For the last seven years she has brought immense joy, love, stability and security to my life. Good bye Coco-Puff; I love you.

Special Delivery Cards

2008-03-20T12:37:00.001-07:00

My older brother, James, and his wife, Raylene, are having another baby. This makes number 6 for my brother (two of them are grown already). They know it is going to be a boy. Raylene usually makes her own announcements. Knowing that she already has a full plate with the kids and her teaching job, I thought I would give her some help this time around. So I made these two cards. The center square opens up so she can write her notes there. I need to make about 25 more, but I'm not sure which I should do, the one with the swirls or the ribbon. Send me a note and let me know what you think.

Thanks

2008-03-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

I want to say thank you to those of you who have emailed me and left messages here wishing me the best with my dog, Cocos. Most of you have dogs yourself and know how much they touch our hearts and fill our homes with unconditional love (who doesn't need some extra unconditional love?). I took her back to the vet today for more fluid treatments, some antibiotics and B12. The B12 is supposed to make her feel better so she will eat. She hasn't eaten a bite in over a week. I also ordered a product call Tripsy from an internet alternative pet medicine site. I'm still hopeful.

My Dog, Cocos

2008-03-19T13:46:00.001-07:00

It's been a bit since I've posted anything. There's an unfortunate reason. It's not often I post very personal things. I'm just not the kind of person to put my life out there...but here it goes. Last week my dog, Cocos ,became very ill. I just found out today that she has kidney failure, and the vet isn't sure at this point if she will make it. By next week, we will know whether she is responding appropriately to the treatment. I'm very worried. Cocos has been with us for seven years. My husband and I adopted her from a shelter when we were stationed on Guam. We wanted to give her a name that reflected our tour there. So we came up with Cocos...it's a tiny island a mile or so off the southern coast of Guam. My husband and I used to kayak out to the island.

This is a photo of Cocos just the week before she got sick, being the playful pup that she's always been. It's hard to watch her go from being energetic and playful to listless and vacant. When I was going through some difficult times a few years ago, she was right by my side to make me feel better. I always feel safe with her around. Anyone who has ever met Cocos will say that she is just the sweetest dog. Her fur is sooo soft, petting her is like therapy in itself. Anyone who has a dog understands what I'm feeling, those that don't I'm guessing are trying to figure out why I'm so upset. A dog (especially a house dog) truly become part of your family. I just hope and pray that she will be better and be around for a few more years.

cookie sheet calendar

2008-03-12T05:26:00.001-07:00

I belong to a spouses club here at Little Rock Air Force Base and Friday we are having our annual Pot O' Gold Auction. Since we are new to this base, I have not attended this event in the past. I have been told it is the largest fundraiser the club has each year and the money goes to support local education...good cause. Anyway, I heard from my friend Jennifer that last year some women made a few crafts for the auction and they sold quickly. Also Jennifer is giving a basket of Stampin Up stuff. So I figured that I would give this calendar I made and I would also make another Starbuck's Coin Holder. The paper for this calendar is K&Company, isn't it beautiful. I cut the tags using Sizzlits dies. I don't remember the name of the stamp set, it's a clear set I got at HL. I wish I could say the idea for the baking sheet calendar was mine, but it was not. I saw it on SCS. If you make one of these calendars remember to spray primer on the sheetbefore you spray paint it. Otherwise, the paint will chip off very easily.

April Swap

2008-03-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

My April swap is due soon, so today I made 18 of these cards. The stamps are from The Angel Company. The bug is from Bitty Bugs and the saying is from The Buzz set. The patterned paper is from Die Cuts with A View, Retro Prints.

Easter Baskets

2008-03-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

Here are two more baskets. I've had a lot of people ask about where to get these. So, I dug through my stuff and found the wood blocks that they were once mounted on. Printed on the side is Limited Edition Rubberstamps (650) 594-4242. I Googled that company and really couldn't find much, so you may need to call that phone number. Or you might want to call Stamp Antonio in San Antonio, TX where I bought them and see if they still have any. I bought these back in 2005. Also, there were about 5 different basket stamps, I bought the three shown here on my blog.

Templates

2008-03-07T06:09:00.001-08:00

If you have problems printing your template, leave a comment on the post, along with your email addy and I will email it to you. If you have left comments previously, but did not include you email addy, please go back and leave another msg. I'm not sure what is causing only some people to have problems printing, I guess I need to check into that. Until then, I'll be happy to email it to you. Thanks so much to everyone who has visited my blog and left nice comments. Like many of you, I just wanted to share my creations with people that appreciate them.

Thank You Bars

2008-03-06T05:34:00.000-08:00

I finally finished my term paper last week. I was using my husband's squadron as the subject for my paper and I interviewed a few of his folks. So I wanted to make them a simple little thank you note. I came up with this, in which I modified an idea from SCS.

It's very simple really, and I've provided a template below. What you can't see very well on the photos is the background stamp on the brown pieces of cardstock. The stamps are from Stampin Up. If you make this project, you should know that the candy bar needs to very very slim, like the one shown. This slider is a very snug fit. To print the template, right click and save it to your computer then print.

Tisket a Tasket, A Green and Yellow Basket

2008-03-03T09:35:00.001-08:00

OK, so the basket is greeen and brown...I don't even know if that is how that song goes, it's been so long since my daughter played that game...like 18 years or so. It's raining like crazy outside, so with low natural light; the colors aren't as nice.

With Easter coming, I wanted to get time to do at least one little basket. This is such a great stamp, and I don't use it often enough. I can't even remember who made it because I took it off the wood block so I could use with an acrylic block. I bought it at Stamp Antonio years ago.

The cardstock is that new green color from PTI. The inks are Palette and the swirl stamp is TAC. Those neat little champagne colored pearls I got at Ellen Hutson.

Jeweled Toned Beveled Box

2008-02-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

So, I wasn't that thrilled with my last project, so I had to make a quick box that I liked. I used The Angel Company Amelia Paper for this box. Aren't the beautiful jewel tones great? I also used cardstock and ribbon from The Angel Company's Mimi line. The stamp is an old TAC stamp. On this box I lined the bottom of the box with the same Amelia paper that I made the sleeve from.

Don't judge a candy by its cover

2008-02-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

I spotted these pretty blue Hershey Kisses while I was at the commissary this week. They were in the Easter Candy section. I was just drawn to the pretty blue colors. So I grabbed them. Once I got home I noticed they are coconut kisses...???...coconut? Well, I like coconut. I tried one. Blech! This is the worst candy I've ever tasted, and I love anything chocolate. So, I'm not sure what I'll do with them, other than send them with my husband to the office. Maybe they'll eat them. But before I did that, I couldn't let that pretty blue go without some sort of box.

This really isn't my best effort, but I'm really pressed for time. I have a 10 page research paper that is due Sunday, and I have hardly worked on it. So I had to rush to do this little box. I hope to have some time after finals next week to get the templates up that I promised. I also plan on using that time to do more stamping (without guilt of knowing I have other work to do).

Beveled Box

2008-02-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

This little box turned out so great. I wanted to do something that had a little more "depth." So I came up with this design. I used Papertrey's new aqua mist paper and their new stamp set. I even stamped the tissue paper inside the box.

The template is below. To print it, right click and "save as" to your computer and then print. If you have any trouble with it, email me.

First Easter Card

2008-02-20T06:02:00.000-08:00

Yikes! I just looked at the calender and noticed Easter is just around the corner. I better my Easter cards done and out soon. On this card, I used TAC stamps and paper (I think the paper is retired), dimensional foam tape and Robin's Nest baubles that I got from Ellen Hutson. I know you can get these at other on-line stores too, but Ellen's come with 3 different colors per jar, so you don't have to spend as much money to get a larger variety.

Starbuck's Coin Holder

2008-02-18T06:54:00.000-08:00

Mid-terms are over (and I made 100's on all of them--yipee!) so I thought I would take a minute and make this coin holder for my daughter. She always saves change to do her laundry, make a Sonic run, buy a Starbucks, etc. I had made one of these about two years ago, and it is still on my kitchen counter. Hubby and I throw our change into it at the end of the day.

This set is from Stampin Up. I've never used Stampin Up before, in fact this is my first set and I got it from my new friend, Jennifer Green. Now, don't worry, my TAC angels, I'm not jumping ship. It's just that a girl's gotta have variety, you know. I'm not a stamp snob, and I like what I like. And I love this paper too, I think it is called Berry Bliss or something like that.

I spray painted the Starbuck's container, inside and out. Spray painting is the way to go. It's so much easier than painting with a brush or covering entirely with paper. Usually, I spray on a layer of primer, but this brown is dark enough that I didn't need to. I printed the words out on my computer since I couldn't find an alphabet stamp set that would work for this. Oh yeah, and I used lots of stickles (pink)...love those stickles.

March Swap

2008-02-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

I belong to a really great swap group, and I just received my swaps for this month. To look at all of them, you can to to Joy's blog. She posted them in a slide show. I figured that I should try to get a little bit ahead and finish my swaps for this next month. So here it is. I used stamps from the Angel Company. I had to make 18 cards for the swap. That's a lot of circle and square punches (you do the math!). I just realized that this is my second post this month using this color combination. Maybe it's the dreary weather; it has me yearning for something bright and cheerful.

Texas Desk Calendar

2008-02-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

My husband and I don't really "do" Valentine's Day. I am probably one of the very few women that wish Valentine's Day would disappear from the calendar. I know, my stand is not very popular, but it's such an awful day, really. People get such high expectations (especially women) and then when their significant other doesn't respond in concert with said expectations, everyone is left disenchanted. And forget about going out to dinner or buying flowers on that day...Good Grief, save me the pain. Instead, I'm of the thought of treat me with love, respect, and adoration each day of the year instead. Having said all that, this desk calendar was something I'd been thinking about making for a while, it just happens to that I finished it today.

My husband and I are both from Texas (native Texans, not transplants). Being that we now live in Arkansas (thanks Air Force), we do little things to keep us connected. Like the huge Texas flag hanging on our front door step. I know my husband will really like this Texas photo calendar for his desk at work.

The calendar is about 6 1/2 inches tall. I cut two adjoining pages from a children's chipboard book (bought at the $$ store). I used a sanding block to rough out the inner and outer crease (otherwise, the glossy finish of the book won't hold ink.). I inked the creases with blue ink. The stamp is from Stampabilities, I think. I bought it at Stamp Antonio (don't you love the clever play on words...San Antonio...Stamp Antonio). It is colored with Prismacolor pencils. The swirl stamp near the photos is from The Angel Company.

I printed the monthly calendars on my computer. I wanted the calendar to be used for more than one year, so I made these little plastic pockets for each calendar. I used a 2x2 plastic zip lock bag (bought at HL) and cut the ziplock off the top and cut one side off. I wish I could say that was my idea, but I got it from my BSFF, Joy. That's pretty much it, really.

Acetate Candy Tube

2008-02-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

Well, here's my new creation. I have two mid-terms this week, that I should be busy with, but I just can't seem to pull myself to my desk to study. My stamp room seems so much more inviting.

I will put together a template tomorrow and post. I always make my projects first without a template, so then I have to go back and measure and everything. That's why I rarely have the template up when I have the photo up. Oh well, just be patient with me, OK?

One more 3x3 Box

2008-02-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

Here is my last window box (for a while at least). I ran out of M&Ms so this has baubles in it. I used a double-sided Scenic Route paper (I love that brand). Here is the template. Speaking of 3x3 Boxes. I gave my husband one of the Valentine M&M Boxes shown in an earlier post. Shortly after, I asked him if he had any M&Ms left. He said, no, he had eaten them all. So I asked where the empty box was. He said he threw it in the trash. GASP!!! Of course, you know I raced to trash can only to find a coffee soaked yucky box. He now knows not to toss anything I give him, even if HE is done with it, I'm probably not! I know you all have been there.

New Blog Header

2008-02-04T12:22:00.000-08:00

So, how do you like the new blog header? I love Plumeria trees, they have these beautiful, fragrant flowers on them. This photo reminds me of the time I spent living in the Pacific, specifically, Guam and Okinawa. In fact, on Guam, there was a huge Plumeria tree just outside the entrance of our Condo. So the smell and sight of this beautiful flower takes me back to a wonderful time.

Peppermint Patty Duo Question

2008-02-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

First, I just want to say thanks to those who have linked to my Peppermint Patty Duo. I'm so glad that others are enjoying the little project. I've had a couple of questions regarding the size of the box and patties. I made it to fit two York Peppermint Patties. I know, it's a tight fit, that's the way I designed it. I didn't want my patties jiggling around in the box. For those of you that want a less snug fit, you can buy a different brand pattie (like Brach's) or adjust the box by 1/4 inch.

3x3 Window Box Template

2008-02-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

Here it is , the template for those M&M boxes posted earlier this week.

Shiny Red M&M Box

2008-02-01T13:39:00.001-08:00

Here is a different version of the M&M box I posted earlier today. This one is made with Red Metallic card stock, TAC You Are Mine stamp, and some little embellishments.

M&M Valentine Box

2008-02-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

I'm making a package of Valentine goodies to send to my daughter. This is one of the things I made so far. I designed this box to have a larger window than what I've seen around. I also wanted the box to be a flip-top type. I just like that better, it seems like a "real" box to me when you can tuck the tabs in and close the box.

All the stamps are from The Angel Company. On white cardstock, using Palette Hybrid Ink (Claret) and a stamp from the Curls & Swirls set I stamped a background. I used the heart from the Mini Sampler set, the circle border is from Circle Sampler set and the word Kisses is from the set Little Things. I used dimensional tape for the layered circle/heart and I embellished it with those great little baubles.

I will attempt to post the template later this weekend. I know, I know, a few of you have emailed me reminding me that I still need to get the template for the patty wagon posted. I'm really behind on those things, because my studies are keeping me so much busier than I expected. But I will do my best to get them up while Hubby is busy with that little thing called Superbowl.

A Little Sassy Thank You

2008-01-27T06:37:00.001-08:00

Here is my other Thank You card for my one of my stamping friends. This is way over due, I should have sent it a month ago, but, well, I forgot.

The stamp is one of my favorites, in fact it was the first set I bought from The Angel Company about 3 years ago. It's called a Little Sassy. I still like this set as much today as when I bought it, even though the set is retired now.

Happy Day Thank You

2008-01-26T14:26:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm really behind on my stamping. This is a card for one of my good friends. The stamp is All Occasion Icons from The Angel Company, and the adhesive pearl is from K&Company, the flowers are Prima and Close to My Heart. The ribbon I used is from Michael's from the Mix It Up Ribbon Collection.

I have some really great stamping girlfriends. Unfortunately, we all live in different states. When I used to live in San Antonio, TX, there were all kinds of great stamping and scraping stores. I was always able to get whatever I wanted. Well, now that we've moved to Little Rock, AR (courtesy of the Air Force), I can't always get what I need (OK, want). So I'm really lucky that my friends Joy and Becky are always ready and willing to send me things. Thanks chicas! In fact, I owe both of them Thank You Cards, so I still need to make one more.

It's the Patty Wagon...Peppermint Patty that is

2008-01-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

What do you do with a big bag of peppermint patties (besides eat them)? You use thm in stamping of course. I actually go this idea when I showed my husband the Peppermint Patty Duo. He removed one of the patties from the box and said, "This looks like a wheel." Well, that got the wheels in my head turning. This is what I came up with. I used basic grey paper, a TAC stamp, and some dew drops on the wheels. I was going to load it with peppermint patties, but then I thought these m&m's would look so cute instead.

Valentine Gift Card and Holder

2008-01-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

This is a gift card holder I made today with my great Walmart find. I had a few errands to run. One was to go to Walmart and get some things for my husband's Mobility Bag (that's a military duffel bag that has to be loaded with stuff like uniforms and toiletries and be ready in case he's called on deployment). Anyway, I thought I'd browse the Valentine Isle and I found these really neat Valentines. They're plastic and look like gift cards. You get 4 for a $1.50. They are attached and you just snap them apart. On the back there is a place to sign it just like a credit card. I saw two different sets.

I used Basic Grey paper and two stamp sets, one from The Angel Company, the other I don't recall who made it.

So if you're looking for a neat (and cheap) Valentine's gift for your loved one, get thee to a Walmart.

Another Peppermint Duo

2008-01-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

Here is the Peppermint Duo I made to go along with the black/white/pink Valentine's Card posted below. I've posted the template if you're interested.

Hot Cocoa Card

2008-01-07T09:08:00.001-08:00

This is a card I made last week when it was soooo cold outside. The simmering cups of cocoa warmed me up right away. The paper and stamps are both from The Angel Company.

Black and White Valentine

2008-01-07T08:57:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is coming (haven't even finished off the Christmas chocolate yet!) and here is my first Valentine Card. I wanted to do something all black and white, but then as I went along I realized I needed to add a little color, so in went the pink. The paper is from One Heart-One Mind and is called Formality. I don't recall the name of the stamp set. About 1 1/2 years ago, one of my BSFF, Becky, got me this set from Archeiver's. I tossed the packing along ago. Maybe she remember's the name.

I'm Back with Peppermint Patties

2008-01-07T08:40:00.001-08:00

Well, as I look at my last post, I see it's been almost 3 weeks. I didn't think I'd be one of those people that got "caught up" in the holidays, but I guess I was. We went down to Texas to spend Christmas with family. I'm back now and have a few things to share.

First is my Peppermint Patty Duo. I noticed a lot of people we doing the patties, using anywhere from 4-12 of them. I wanted to do something with just one or two, so here it is.

This box holds two peppermint patties, side by side.

I used some Scenic Route paper that I bought a ton of last year. I love Scenic Route because it's double sided and their designs are fun. The stamps are from The Angel Company.

Here is the template. Just email me if you have questions.

Nestles' Crunch Box

2007-12-13T12:00:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves to make Nugget tins and boxes. So, I've been looking for the next cool candy to wrap. Here's what I found. Look at this Nestles Crunch Dark squares. They are perfectly square and so easy to embellish, and so yummy to munch on too. I used a colorful double-sided cardstock (American Crafts Basket) and made a 3 3/4 inch square box bottom. The cute little Love charm I found at Michaels in the Wedding section. I used an extra heavy acetate to make the slide-on cover and used a heart embossing punch to line the edges with embossed heartrs (if you look closely, you can see them). Enjoy!

Joy's Calendar

2007-12-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

My three BSFF (Best Stamping Friends Forever), Joy, Becky, and Misty, recently met in Orlando, FL for a weekend of stamping. I was supposed to join them but my husband was returning from deployment from the Middle East and I hadn't seen him in 8 months. So, of course, being the great friends that they are, they forgave me for not making our little gathering. Knowing how much I hate being left out, Joy sent me a kit for her project for the weekend. I finally got around to putting it together. I love it as much as I love my BSFF! You all are the best!

Quick Birthday Card

2007-12-09T20:56:00.001-08:00

Each year, while I'm busy making tons of Christmas Stuff, I almost forget that my brother has a birthday in January. So this evening I took a minute to do a quick and simple birthday card for him. In doing so, I realized I have very few stamps that are appropriate for men's cards. I guess I should keep that in consideration next time I buy new stamps.

Hot Chocolate Template

2007-12-09T20:53:00.001-08:00

Oookaaay, so I forgot the template. Here it is. Feel free to email me if you have any questions on the template.

Hot Chocolate

2007-12-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to get chilly here. I'm used to moderate San Antonio winters, and this is my first winter "up north." OK, so Arkansas isn't exactly the North Pole, but it's a lot further north than south Texas. My daughter in Kansas City, MO has had snow and ice for days, so I shouldn't complain.

So for these nippy nights, what is better than a little Hot Cocoa. Here is another Hot Chocolate Folder. The Stamp is The Angel Company Winter Greetings. I thought the little snowman roasting marshmallows was perfect for the hot cocoa inside.

Recipe Book

2007-12-07T20:46:00.000-08:00

My wonderful daughter, Amanda, has been calling home a lot lately and asking how to cook things that she ate growing up at home. So I decided that it would be neat to give her a starter recipe book. I used the Basic Grey Blush papers and my Bind it All (how did I manage without this before?) to make this book. In addition to the individual pull out recipes for some of her favorite stuff (like 7 layer mexican dip), I made a card with basic measurements and also I made up a recipe for Life. At the end of the book I used a clear plastic CD sleeve for any recipes she may collect along the way. YumO!

Nugget Candy Box Template

2007-12-07T20:08:00.000-08:00

Here it is as promised. The template for the Nugget Candy Box. This box holds 12 nuggets. The photos on this post show boxes made from metallic card stock for the top and plain white cardstock for the bottom. I cut a sheet of acetate for the window.

On the template, cut on the solid lines and score on the dotted lines. Use adhesive on the corners. The acetate window should be approx 2 1/2 x 5 inches, use adhesive along the edges of the acetate and attach to the underside of the box top covering the 2x4 1/2 opening.

More Swap Goodies

2007-12-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

This is an altoids tin that I covered with TAC Vintage Holiday Paper (I so wish it wasn't discontinued, I'll miss it.) I thought about embellishing the top, but I didn't want to cover the pretty paper, so I kept it simple. Inside are some simple holiday tags the Believe Stamp is from The Angel Company's Whimsical Greetings.

I made another set of tags, these are mini, about 2x2. I had these red polka dot mini envelopes and thought I would never have a chance to use them, but they were perfect for these little cards. The present stamp is from The Angel Company For All Seasons set.

Here is a note book that I used The Angel Company Buggie Christmas stamp. I love these little guys. They are so cute. I covered a generic plan notebook with patterened paper. I used a thing ribbon for a book mark, attaching it under the paper along the binding.

This little bag I made after seeing Lauren's cute candy bag. I used a clear page protector to form the bag. I covered the front with stickle dots. The Christmas tree stamp is from The Angel Company's For All Seasons set. The candy is Ghirardelli's Peppermint Bark (Yummy).

I covered the top of a jewerly box with The Angel Company Vintage Holiday paper and inked the edges and added some ribbon. Inside I made some mini (2 inch) irrdescent glass ornaments. I cut the Vintage Holiday paper into thin strips and tightly rolled them up and filled the ornaments with the paper rolls.

Hot Chocolate Box

2007-12-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

I love hot drinks this time of year. I really like these little individual packs of coco. Here I've designed a box to present them in a fun way. I used a double sided paper (sorry, don't remember the name, but I got it at HL). All stamps are The Angel Company stamps. The tree is from the For All Seasons set, the circle outline is from the Circle Sampler set, and the JOY is from the Whimsical Greetings (which I Love, Love, Love). I used Palette Inks and stickles on the tree (which does't show in the photo) I will post a template later, so check back for it.

TAC Swappers Secret Swap

2007-12-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

This is the first year that I've particiapted in this swap group's secret swap.

This is the entire package I sent.

The goodie box included The Angel Company's Catelynne paper pack. I love that paper! The green and white tin pictured contains my secret swaper's favorite candy (which I won't mention here, since I don't want it to be too obvious to my swaper in case she hasn't already received her package.) This is a chinese takeout box filled with ribbon. We can never have enough ribbon, right girls?

The rest of the goodies, I'll post individually since they are stamped items.

Nugget Template

2007-12-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

Well, It's been a while since i've posted, but it doesn't mean that I haven't been busy stamping. I've just finished several projects which I will post here. This is another candy box, but a very simple one. I love the blue and green combination. Later today, I will post the template for these boxes.

More Christmas Cards

2007-11-24T10:03:00.000-08:00

Well, here is a start on my Christmas Cards. All images are The Angel Company as is the paper.

I've heard from friends and family. It's split, half went and braved the shopping crowds yesterday and the other half stayed home. I'm with the half that stayed home. I can't stand shopping in crowds. There is nothing in the world that I want bad enough to wait in line with pushy masses of people just to save a few bucks. I'll pay full price before I subject myself to that. I'm a big fan of online shopping and right now there are so many sites offering Free Shipping. Yippee.

Hershey Nugget Candy Box

2007-11-24T08:06:00.000-08:00

OK, it's official, I'm hooked on making these Hershey Nugget boxes. I love the way this one turned out. I used Winworld metallic red cardstock for the top, acetate for the window, and plain white cardstock for the bottom. I used my Cricut and cut the scallops out of the red metallic and a brown cardstock. I used the Papertrey Ink, Holiday Treats stamp set and Palette Inks (L'Amore Red and Burnt Umber). Look at my Gallery for more pictures.

I'm in the middle of making 450 Christmas Cards. I have about 80 made so far. I'm using my favorite Christamas Paper, The Angel Company's Vintage Holiday (which unfortunately is retired now). Photos to come soon.

Holiday Treats

2007-11-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

This week I made a tin full of mini treat bags, abut 50 in all. The coloring on my photos is a bit off, although the ribbon looks blue, it was actually purple, and the shade of purple in my photos isn't true color either. Guess I need to work a little more with the camera and Photoshop. Anyway, I used the Papertrey Ink Holiday Treats stamp set and the acorn is from a retired set from The Angel Company. The bags are 3x3 ziplock bags that you can get at HL.

Calendar

2007-11-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

I totally loved Heather Scott's Cookie Sheet Calendar and just had to try my hand at it. So here it is...I know, I know, November only has 30 days. Thanks, Heather, for the inspiration; your ideas are always great.

Veteran's Day

2007-11-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Veteran's Day, although I'm a little late, I want to express my gratitude for all the men and women who selflessly serve in our military so that we may enjoy the great gift of being Americans. I come from a long, proud list of men in the military. My dad served 22 yrs in the Air Force, his father was a Marine who fought in the Pacific during WWII, both of my uncles were in the Army, my little brother also served in the Air Force, and, of course, my husband is in the Air Force. I am proud of them all.

My husband recently returned from his second tour in Afghanistan. This photo shows the US Flag flying from the remains of the roof of his building on base.

My photo

2007-11-11T22:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I don't have a good photo of me to post just yet. So I asked my husband what cartoon character would I be if I was a cartoon. He said a cross between Lucy (from Peanuts), Jessica Rabbit and Dagwood's wife, Blondie. So you might guess why I'd rather be Jessica Rabbit instead of Lucy.

Candy Box

2007-11-11T21:53:00.000-08:00

I just LOVE the Holiday Treats stamp set from Papertrey Ink. As much as I like the metal tins they show on their website, if I make more than a couple, the price really adds up. So I made my own box. I used a shiny metallic card stock and acetate for the window. One down, 449 to go...umm, maybe they'll just get a card this year.

Here I am!

2007-11-11T21:39:00.001-08:00

Yes, I'm blogging. Almost everyone I know blogs now, and I don't like being left out! So, here I go...

I'm in the middle of making Christmas Cards. A few years ago, I made cards and bags of treats for the people that work for my husband. At that time it was only 46 people. Now my husband has 450 people in his squadron!! Yikes, I'm not sure how I will ever get this done. He doesn't expect it, but I know he would be pleasantly surprised and pleased if I did. Here is one of the cards I've made so far. I love the paper from The Angel Company (TAC) and also this cute Snowman Nativity Set also from TAC. I recently saw a similar card on another blog, but failed to make note of it.