About Me

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Paonia, CO, United States
I have discovered that life is a roller coaster and I'm learning to enjoy the ride! I am a married mom of 4. I work part-time outside of the home and, of course, more that full time as a wife and mother! I do classes from my craft room in the basement...which is why we call it the "Craft Cave."

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Really? For me?



Carol in Arizona nominated me for this Award. Isn't she a sweetie? And fantastically talented too! You just have to go and peruse her blog. I "case" her stuff all the time. I think she is the encouraging one, really. But then perhaps we all encourage eachother.

Now on to the business portion of this illustrious award.

The rules for the Encouraged Blogger Award are:

  1. The winner may put the logo on their blog. (check.)
  2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award. (check.)
  3. Nominate 5 blogs. (check - See below.)
  4. Put links to their blogs. (check - Just click on their name.)
  5. Leave a message for your nominees. (check.)

There are blogs I frequent regularly just because these gals are so FABULOUS and creative and encouraging and inspirational and ...okay...you get the idea.

  1. Julie
  2. Heather
  3. Laurie Unger
  4. Lisa
  5. Angela (oops! Carol nominated her too! I didn't catch that till I left my comment. See how encouraging she is!!)
  6. Seleise (this is really my number five...again!)

Now, are you hoppin' on over to their blogs? You should be!!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

'08 Peek #4


Don't have any Christmas stamps? (Not that I would believe that of ANY of you!!) Well, try thinking out of the box and use something non-traditional.
We all have some regular everyday stamps. It's time to start multi purposing our supplies, especially in these days of recession where we all have to watch how we spend our crafting dollar.
This card uses the Welcome Home set. Not really a Christmas set, huh? Well, it's all in how you use it... decorate it... color it... embellish it!!

Monday, November 17, 2008

And now, for something different...

Any Monty Python fans? ...nevermind.

Julie created a really cute Get Well goodie last year, and I thought it was brilliant. ('Course, most of her ideas ARE brilliant.) Now, usually you just can not improve any of Jewel's ideas and they are totally worthy of a "direct case". For this one, I just tweeked her idea a wee bit.

I saw a couple other little gems while blurfing and had a "lightbulb moment" thought of just putting all of it together...
So...I added a bit to the "Get Well Goodie" with the throat lozenges and Emergen-C (or Airborne comes in individual packets now too!) and put it all in a cup holder designed by Lauren that was originally made as a Hot Cocoa set. And, what would be cuter than some tissues in a holder that says "Bless You," of course! Thanks to Dani for sharing the template.
Note: I had to adjust both of these templates a titch to fit the tissue packs & cups I was using, so check your measurments.

DANG!!! Now you all know my BIG secret! I just combine or tweek other fabulous ideas into something almost original.
Really though, big KUDOS to Julie, Lauren and Dani for sharing all that they share on their blogs (and myriads of others, too!). I'm really thankful that I don't have to take the time to make a tutorial or figure out how to share a PDF file for a template. And I certainly wouldn't want to do such a thing and then and pretend it was MINE!! Why re-invent the wheel? I'm ecstatically happy to "give credit where credit is due" and these fabulous truly creative ladies definitely deserve the nod! (Okay, I'm now stepping off my little soap box on blogging manners.)


Say! You know, now that I think about it...wouldn't this be really cute for a Thanksgiving (or Christmas) Hostess Gift with a quart of Apple Cider (or wine) on one side and mulling spices on the other? Yummy!!
Or, you could just give the bottle with a "hang tag pouch" with the same spices.
See...that's just how my mind works...running from one idea to the next...
Or maybe....nevermind! You can figure it out, hey?

'08 Peek #3




Really! It's tougher than it looks!
Heather originally created this card and I just had to share it.
Don't YOU wish we still could get this Merry Wishes paper? Yeah, me too!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

'08 Peek #2


Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus.....

Can you hear it?

Just remember.... you gotta believe if you want to receive!!

More to come in the next few days. I still have a couple spots open, but time is running out!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Christmas S-A-S '08 - Peek #1

The invites have been sent and several have already reserved their spot for the Annual Christmas Stamp-A-Stack at my house on Nov. 22. (I still have a couple spots left, call me now to get on the list!)

Here is a sneak peek at one of the cards we will be creating!

I'm trying different angles for the "peek" photos that will be coming to you over the next several days. I didn't want to give too much away! This card uses Good Timber and Trendy Greetings. You'll find out how I flashed it up and gave it a "touch of frost." Well, if you haven't already figured it out!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Gift giving...



This year I will be focusing on making as many gifts as possible with paper or at least "junked" up and looking fabulous with paper!
I used to be the "baker extraoridinaire" for Christmas time, but, this year it's looking very cost prohibitive. Have any of you checked the price of flour lately!?! WOWZA!!

Out here in the country, we still make ice cream and snow cones out of real snow. (Now for you city folks, crushed or shaved ice works well too.) So, I thought this would be a fun gift for the neighbor kids, that is of course, if mine don't find it first!

I found the bottles at Michaels in the cake decorating section and the recipe came from the internet. (Do a search on "snow cone syrup recipe") The box and bottle are decorated with Holly Flourishes, Mini-bet, and sayings built from the Just-Rite Stamper products.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A card and a treat!

Are you wondering what to give to your office buddies this year? Of course, we can always do a card. But what if we add something else to it? I saw a card on a blog before Halloween featuring this particular layout with the hidden gum treat. (So if it's you let me know so I can add the link.) It was just too clever and cute not to duplicate!!








My rendition is made with ChaCha paper and cardstock and the Winter Tags set. Embellish with some black brads, ribbon and paper floss. The snowmen are colored with Prismacolor pencils to match with the ChaCha colors and Crystal Stickles have been dotted on the snowflakes and the snowbank, not that you can actually see that!
More Holiday items and cards will be posted soon. Sneak peaks of the Stamp-a-Stack cards will be posted too! I already have several reservations...call me to make yours now!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Making up...

...for LOTS of lost time!



The computer is still pretty much "on-the-fritz" but I've found a way to work around my temporary computer handicap. YEA!



So, here is a pic of a little treat we made at October's Stamp Camp. These are mini pizza boxes stuffed with little goodies! The larger box was perfect for holding these cute little magnets made from mounting board. The Always Remember set was perfect for these! I also added a smaller pizza box for holding some 3x3 notes. We made both of these at the Mile Hi Angel Gathering a couple weeks ago.





Here are the treat box-in-a-bags I made for the kids at school. It was a good thing I had these made early because as usual, what tends to happen to me, I ran out of time! So, I didn't really get everything done how I would have liked, but a little bit is better than none.


Don't you think the Caramel Apple Kits would have looked CUTE with bat wings behind the circle "batty for you" saying. Julie had a great idea posted today for a quick way of accomplishing bat wings. I LOVED it! Wish she had posted it sooner! Well, maybe next year, right?


Classes will continue through the end of the year:

Tech Tuesday tomorrow night, Nov 4 will continue to go on as planned....remember to get out & vote before you come to class.
Oops!! Almost forgot to add: December 2 Tech Tues will have to be held on Wed. December 3rd due to a conflict I can not move!! Thanks!!

Stamp Camp on November 12.

Stamp-a-Stack on Saturday, November 22, 5:00. I already have several reserved spots, so if you have not called me yet, pick up the phone!!! Reminder postcards will be going out today and tomorrow!!
As always, remember to let me know you will be coming!!

Don't forget!! If you hostess a party before the end of the year, you will be eligible to attend the Hostess Appreciation Party in January to "stamp out the blues" & receive a coupon book good for the next catalog!! Also, for every $10 you purchased from the current catalog your name has been entered into the Fabulous grand prize to be awarded at the Stamp-a-Stack!


Okay, enough of stamping & business and on to the shameless parent plug:

Here is a photo of my oldest, the Flag Captain for the 2008 Paonia Eagle Marching season. (Isn't she cute?) I'm very proud to announce that the Paonia Eagle Flag-its received the Colorado State 1A division Outstanding Auxiliary Award. FINALLY!!!! Although we have had an absolutely totally AWESOME flag team for 4 years, it's nice to be recognized as THE BEST IN THE STATE. The show was "The Music of Michael Jackson" and the best was part was "Thriller" at the end. (Becca would probably have preferred I used the picture of her with the "death shroud" mask.) Yes, they did do the dance, along with the band at one point, and the crowd went wild! What a great way to end your High School marching career and final season! Go, Becca!!