RAK Challenge #69 & other goodies

I just got done making my cards for the RAK Challenge #69. Here was the challenge......you had to answer the questions and use the first letter of your answer to find someone on the RAK list whose name (first, last or SCS) also begins with that letter. You had to pick at least two.

The company of car you drive Dodge

Your favorite color Purple

Is it "d"ay or "n"ight at the moment you are reading this Day

Coffee or tea Tea

Do you have a blog, yes or no Yes

Your sign of the zodiac Aries

Are you a cat or dog person (or maybe both) Dog

Name of the school you graduated from (high school or college) EKHS

Best friend's first name Kristi

House, Condo, Townhouse or Apartment House

So, with those questions, I went with "D"odge and "A"ries. For the "D", I sent it to Jill Dunn in Auburn, Alabama. I also chose her because we have friends that live in Alabama and are HUGE Auburn fans. I also picked Monica Ackerman in Rockford, Illinois for my "A" and also because she lives in the same named city as I do, Rockford. Cheesy, I know, but there is always a method to my madness. Since I can't post the cards yet because they haven't received them, I'll post something else tonight.

Here is a coaster box that I made for my friend and neighbor. I met her when we lived in our old neighborhood and recently we both moved and built houses one house away from each other! How great is it to pick your neighbors! It was supposed to be for her birthday (which is in November), but I am one of those people who just can't keep something once I have it. So I gave it to her last week! Terrible...I know. That just means that I'll have to make something else for her birthday......and try to hold off until her actual birthday!

About the box.....I used the tutorial from Laura Judd at Inky Dinky Doo (you've gotta check out her blog....she got great ideas!) I made some changes to fit what I wanted. I've had the paper for a while and couldn't tell you who is from or where I got it. I used my CAD (Crop-A-Dile) to punch the holes and tied ribbon on the corners. I modpodged the paper onto the coasters and used E6000 to hold the coasters together. For my first coaster box, I was pleased! TFL!

Happy Day at the Beach

Last night we had family pictures at the beach with my extended family. Unfortunately it was really windy and Camryn wasn't having any of it! We snapped our few quick pictures and then had to leave. I'm not sure I had ever heard Camryn cry like that! Anyway, my sister-in-law was the photographer and this is an adorable picture she got of Emerson. To be young and carefree again...........TFL.

Thanks for your Support

I was checking out Kirstens's blog (Confessions of a Naptime Stamper) and she mentioned Monica's 40th birthday and the sale that she was having over at Hambo Stamps. I've been admiring Kirsten's work on her blog and had been wanting to try some of the stamps at Hambo, and figured with 40% off for Monica's 40th, I couldn't pass up the opportunity....and ordered 12 stamps!!!

I absolutely could not pass up the Brassiere stamp along with the sentiment! I thought it was so cute! Can't quite remember where I got the patterned paper (I'm sure it was a stack that I got 1/2 off somewhere...maybe DCWV 8 x 8 stack). I layered it with Blush Blossom and then stamped the brassiere stamp with Blue Bayou and colored it in with the Blender pen. I'm really into the new In colors, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky. Blue Bayou matched this paper perfectly.

Stamps: Brassiere and Thanks for your Support (Hambo Stamps) Paper: Whisper White, Blush Blossom, DCWV 8x8 Stack Ink: Blue Bayou Accessories: Giga Round Scalloped Punch, Mega Round Punch, Paper Piercer, Blender Pens

Winobella

As promised, I did my first bella card last night. It's not as fancy as I would like...I didn't get started on it until after 11pm last night. We had major thunderstorms here last night and we kept losing our power. Of course, it was just me and the girls last night and Emerson was getting scared when the power kept going on and off. Anyway, you'd think I'd be full of energy after receiving my Bella's in the mail, but by 11pm I was running on "E".

Here's what I came up with for my Winobella. I used So Saffron for the card base and layered it with some of the Glitter paper from the DCWV stack as well as Regal Rose and Whisper White. Since I am just a hobby demonstrator, I don't have the income coming in to get the latest and greatest markers. I used my SU! markers, stamp pads and blender pens. It turned out okay, but doesn't look as cool as some of the other cards out there. Someday that darn money tree we planted outside will start growing and I can get new markers! Thanks for stopping by.

My first Bella order arrived!!!

I'm so excited!! My first bella order arrived today! I've never looked so forward to the mail before! I'm bummed though.....my husband has his Fantasy Football draft tonight....yes, it's that time of year again.....but he usually wins money and bought me some diamond earrings last year with his winnings :) Anyway, so there will be no time to play tonight until after the girls go down. I don't care if I'm up 'til midnight.....I'm gonna play with my bellas tonight!! I'm post my creation later! TFL.

Christmas Already???

Yes! I've been making Christmas gifts already! With two kids and especially a new little one, I never know when time will allow for me to get into my room & play, so I figured I better get a head start! Both of my brother-in-laws just got married this past summer, so now I finally have some ladies to make girly things for.

I just discovered this great craft store near my house called Arnies Arts-N-Crafts. Some of the scrapbook stores around here are sooooo intimidating. They just have rows and rows and rows of stuff and I don't know where to start! So I usually browse and then end up leaving empty handed because it's just too much for my brain to handle! This store has a little bit of everything and even the new Bind-It-All that I have been eyeing for quite sometime. Maybe Santa will bring it to me :)

The first project I made today is a hanging Post-It notes and calendar holder. I used two heavy-weight chipboard coasters and covered them with SU!'s designer series double-sided paper in Au Chocolat. (I've had the paper for awhile and just finally took the plastic off! Pathetic, I know! Well, I was on bedrest for 4 months and then was busy with a new baby, so I guess I'll cut myself some slack.) I used double-sided sticky tape to adhere the paper to the coasters and then sanded the edges to give it a distressed look. The letter "n" is from an alphabet assortment package I got on clearance at JoAnn's (gotta love those clearance sections!) I covered the "n" with Au Chocolat paper and also sanded it. I used Rough Edges Alphabet stamps to make the "otes" on Very Vanilla cardstock and punched it out with the 1" punch and layered it on top of 1 1/4" inch chocolate chip cardstock circle. The ribbon is SU!'s Chocolate Chip and the ribbon used to hang it is from Creative Accents (Sheer Brown) probably from Hobby Lobby or Michael's. Then just attached the Post-It notes and mini calendar. This was fun and pretty easy to make.....maybe I'll even make one for myself! Thanks for looking!

No Camera!

Well, since it's just me and Camryn home this weekend, I've been able to have some playtime in the craft room......but I can't take any pictures to show you until they get back from camping. Apparently camping memories are more important than my craft obsession!

Can you say "goodbye luscious locks"? Yes, you heard me right. Hormones do crazy things when you get pregnant...some good and some bad. During the pregnancy my hair grew really fast and was very full (not that you could tell since my naturally curly hair was straight from lying in bed 24-7) Now it's that time where your hormones turn on you and your hair starts to fall out in droves! I'm in the shower and I am holding handfuls of my hair! Every time I am holding Camryn, I have to pull my hair out of her hands and off of her clothes. It's EVERYWHERE, except on my head! Once my hormones settle down, I just hope I have some hair left! Okay, enough ranting for tonight...time to get some more crafting in before Camryn's next feeding. Good night!

Acrylic Post-It Note Holder

Here is another goody for Christmas. When my brother-in-law got married, they used these acrylic picture frames at their reception to hold the names of the reception tables in them. They were generous enough to give them to me afterwards....little do they know I am returning some back to them!

My sister-in-law loves Daisies so I couldn't resist this paper from DCWV The Stack III, from JoAnn's. I put a 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 square of yellow checks on top of the 6 x 4 1/4 daisy paper inside the frame. I punched out a tab with the Rounded Tab punch in Certainly Celery and stamped "notes" on it with the Rough Edges Alphabet set in Chocolate Chip. The "S" is from an alphabet assortment from JoAnn's and covered with SU!'s POP paper in Certainly Celery and then roughed up the edges. Attached the Post-It notes and calendar and VIOLA! Merry Christmas Stacey! (good thing she doesn't read my blog or her Christmas present would be ruined!) Thanks for looking!

Kids say the darnest things.....

Emerson has just been on roll lately with her personality! I have 3 quick stories for you....

First, Emerson was outside yesterday riding her bike with our good friends' two boys (11 & 8). We live in a neighborhood with only 8 houses and the streets are shaped like a "t" and are all cul-de-sacs. The boys are old enough where they ride in the street and with Emerson not quite 3, she still has to stay on the sidewalk. She went out into the street for a moment, and I had to remind her to ride on the sidewalk. She pouts, rides her bike onto the driveway and says "You're driving me nuts, Mom." The proceeds to ride down the sidewalk. I had to turn around because I was laughing so hard. She shouldn't be talking that way, but what else could I do but laugh at that moment!

Second, we were eating pizza the other night and some of her pizza topping fell onto her chair and she says "what the heck are you doing?" (as if the pizza topping is going to reply?????) Obviously these are things that we say and she quickly picks up on. I suppose it could be worse....at least we aren't swearing!

And then there was tonight. Rich and Emerson we packing this evening to go camping tomorrow and needless to say she is a little excited. She was in bed and quite for about 20 minutes or so and starts calling "Daddy.......Daddy." Rich goes in there and she says "I was sleeping, but now I'm awake. I'm ready to get up and go camping!" How cute is that? He explained that the moon was just coming out (that's how she knows it bed time....the moon vs. the sun) and that it was time to go to bed. When the sun comes up in the morning she can get up and they can go camping. She replies "okay, goodnight Daddy." And then goes to sleep. I suppose all these cute moments make up for when she's being a stinker! We love you Emerson and all the cute things you say!

Gotta love those rolls!

We comment on Camryn's rolls that she has daily. We just can't get over how many she has! Especially since our first daughter never had a single roll on her. She was always in the less than 5% for her weight and doesn't even weigh 23 pounds yet! Then there's Camryn! I think rolls on babies are so darn cute! And then there's those cheeks! Who can resist them?

Camryn just found her voice yesterday. It's been so neat to listen to hear make noises and talk. If they could only stay at this stage....nothing like a 3 year old who has a mind of her own and loves the word "no"!

No new cards to post lately. I haven't had time to get into the craft room and play. Rich is taking Emerson camping this weekend with some friends of his so it's just Camryn & I. That means plenty of time for me to play and make cards....I mean bond with Camryn :) I can do both, right???

RAK to Oodabug Alley (a.k.a. Charmaine)

Now that Charmaine received her card, I can post it for you all to see. I first discovered the blogging world while I was on bedrest with our last daughter. We moved into our new house while on bedrest and since I didn't have much to do, I knew that we would need broadband internet.....no more of that dial-up stuff! Needless to say, I spent many hours "surfing" the net and checking out the blogs. I am addicted to Oodabug Alley! I love the ideas and creations that Charmaine comes up with. I needed some help setting up my blog, and decided to email Charmaine to get some help. She was so nice and helped me with my many questions. She was my own "genie in the bottle"! She knew the answer to everything I asked :)

So, to thank her, I wanted to send her a "thank you". I had just received my new square envelopes in the mail so I couldn't wait to make a square card. The card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 of Soft Sky cardstock stamped with the Canvas background stamp. It's layered with River Rock cardstock and then I punched out (3) 1/2" circles in True Thyme and put the green rhinestone brads through the circles. I used the flower from the Doodle This stamp set and stamped it with Brown Staz-on onto Purely Pomegranate and then layered it with another flower on Whisper White. I used my blender pens to color in the flower and used another green rhinestone brad. It's not as fancy as I would like it to be, but with two girls, you take your 15 minutes whenever you can get it!! Thanks for looking!

Wedding Notebook

I made this wedding notebook for my cousin who is getting married in June of '08. We were meeting tonight to talk about her shower and it dawned on me that I should give her a notebook to help her keep track of her information, contacts, notes, etc. I thought it was a perfect size to throw in an oversize purse or bag. I only had about 30 minutes to do this while both girls were napping, so it's nothing fancy, just something I quickly put together. Next time I do one of these, I'll "jazz" it up a little bit more.

I got the paper notebook at the Dollar Tree. It was originally from Hallmark for $4.95 with the purchase of 3 cards. See, you wait long enough and it will end up at the dollar store! My cousin's colors for her wedding are silver and teal. So the closest color I had was SU!'s Taken With Teal. I covered the front and back with the cardstock. I stamped the front with the Big Blossom stamp in Versa Mark and embossed it with rainbow glitter embossing powder. Inside the hardware, I stamped "i do * i do" with Taken With Teal, and tied ribbon in the spiral rings. I used the round tab punch to make different tabbed categories (church, reception, cake, flowers, etc.) and stapled them on the inside pages.

So Very Sweet

Here is another card that I made for my mom's "order". Many people think this Zoofari set is weird, but I actually like it. I think the animals are cute! This card was pretty simple to make. I used So Saffron for the card base and stamped it with Versa Mark and the Canvas background stamp. I punched out Certain Celery with the oval scalloped giga punch, pierced the celery cardstock with my handy dandy piercer and then tapped over the holes with the white gel pen. I stamped the Zoofari zebra with Brown Staz-On and used blender pens to color in the zebra. Threw on some gingham ribbon and stamped the saying on with Brown Staz-On from the So Very stamp set.

All supplies SU!, except for the punches.

Camryn Ruby

Here is a little project I made for our newest family member. I saw these at a local craft show last fall and they were charging over $35! I couldn't believe it! I thought, "I can do that". I already had the canvas board and borrowed some paint from my mom. I picked my colors for this by picking my ribbon first. I used acrylic paint and sponged it on with a paper towel. I printed the writing on the computer onto Cameo Coral SU! cardstock and used Basic Brown to stamp her feet onto the canvas. I purchased the white metal tags from Michael's and used my circle punch to punch out the birth date, weight and length. The metal tag with her name in it was purchased from JoAnn's. I think I made this for less than $1.50!

Tent Topper Card - SC134

I actually made (cased) this card from a friend of mine (Keri). I loved the layout and made of few cards for myself. Then, lone and behold it was a sketch challenge this past week on SCS. I made a few different ones with different designed paper and colors. I had fun making these, but after a while my fingers weren't enjoying cutting out the flowers so much. These are cute and fun cards and I plan on making more......you know....Christmas is just around the corner and I'm going to need gifts....these would be perfect!

Supplies: SU cardstock-green galore, orchid opulence, pattern paper (don't remember where I got it), Ink-green galore, orchid opulence, tempting turquoise, basic black, Accessories-ribbon from Michael's.

Supplies: SU cardstock-green galore, pixie pink, pattern paper (don't remember where I got it), Ink-marigold morning, green galore, pixie pink, basic black, Accessories- ribbon from Michael's

Supplies: SU cardstock-orchid opulence, green galore (pattern paper-don't remember where I got it), Ink-green galore, tempting turquoise, orchid opulence, basic black