I should be skinnier

Cuz today, 16 years ago, I had my little girl! Well, now she's still little but almost as tall as her mom! She's 5'1" and I'm 5'2"! Here's a pic of her...

AND, she's super smart!! I am sooo proud! Actually, this was Nerd Day at her high school. She looked so dang cute! Well, I just thought I'd share my joy.

As for the skinnier me; well, I like to say I am carrying my 2 babies......pudge! My little ones are 16 and almost 8! LOL I'd rather be a pudgy little mom than no mom at all!

Cuteness

I love puppy breath. Too bad it won't last forever! I guess it stops as soon as they start to lick their own butts!! LOL  Dear hubby called and then brought her home.

1st week of school

Wow, it kicked our butts!! My oldest is in high school and her ride comes at 6:20 in the morning! And since she's a girl, she feels she must be up at 4:45 to start getting ready!! SO, I'm up and down from 5:00. That may not be much to some of you but to me, holy crap, it's killing me!

I didn't do much last week, including house work. I have such a loving husband. BUT, today I must do some cleaning before I can go play. (bummer)

I'll leave you with this: We got my youngest a Beta fish. We've had such a hard time with his water. It gets super cloudy no matter what we do, so here he is in a "change out" container having a visit from a new friend...

Cute, isn't? It's really a snack container. At 1st I made it like the goldfish was gonna eat Lighting, but then they became fast friends! So sweet!

Yeppie Goodwill!

Oh my - check out my awesome Goodwill find! The bears were mine already. I use to be a really active collector of Boyds. Now it's only if I can find them at Goodwill and yes, I have found a few there!!

The chairs and ottomans! They were sold as a set of two for $10.91 each. They retailed for $45.00 for the set. They are so cute. BUT, I must admit, when I saw them the 1st thing that popped into my head was....

Now I must find the matching sofa and I have to build some little tables and paint them a distressed red!!! Too adorable!! The hat pins are from two earlier swaps that I will get back over the next month I think.

I have some more goodies that I bought and have BIG plans for. I will post as the projects unfold! Smiles!

Old Victorian

Funny, it's 2011 and I am trying to recreate the Victorian age! Here's my very 1st ATC card for a SSSD swap. I like the way it turned out. We were to use red, black and cream. It's fabric and lace on card stock.

 

This was fun and more challenging than I thought it would be. It's hard to stay within the 2.5x3.5 size! I will keep swapping these - I like them!

There's a chill outside

Here's my winter card. It's for a swap....

I made 6 of them, not 12 or 8 but 6 of them.  A funny you tube joke... Maybe I will 'splain it one day later. =)

House and Home

I adore my house. It's beautiful and I like the bones. BUT, after my stroke, I needed to change everything. Do not ask me why, I don't know. Now, my hubby was more than willing to aid me in this endeavor. See here:

Here's a picture of my kitchen after we pulled all the doors off the cabinets and primed the walls.

This is from the other entry to the kitchen. We pulled all of the decor out and either put it in a yard sale or gave it to Goodwill.

Here's a picture of my living room:

Here we decided that neither of us liked the marble surround. So, down it came! Mantle and all! We had already removed all the decor items and sold them or gave them away.

Now, the funny thing is.... only after we tore everything apart did we find out just how expensive it is to replace kitchen cabinets, how much money it costs to have them resurfaced and just how hard it is to repaint cabinets that are NOT real wood, have begun to fray and separate and are just this side of old. 

Here's a picture of my front entry stairs:

You can kinda see how all the carpet had been removed. Well the stairs going down have been removed and replaced with solid stained wood. They are BEAUTIFUL. However, the stairs coming up... well, we realized after the carpet was removed that to replace all the stair treads, we'd have to remove all of the spindles and hand rails!! Can I explain that one or two spindles are crazy cheap - but 700,000 (the number of spindles we needed tee hee) are soooo not crazy cheap!!

I will not add anymore pics to save face for my dear hubby. We have many, many more projects that have not been completed. He has a disorder. Its call PDD... it's a very sad disorder. It's full name is "Project Deficit Disorder".  Have you heard of this?? It's when a man has a hard time finishing the projects he starts!!  So, wanna give a guess at just how long ago these pictures were taken??  

August 2009!!! 

SHUT UP - I am NOT kidding!! 

So, I know we have no money.... I can't work since the stroke. Pooo Pe-pole!! I have been compiling a list of pics and tutorials of things I wanna do. It's hard living in a house that's all busted up with ZERO personality!! Here's one thing I really like...

Hubby has promised to make me one. He says we already have some of the needed wood in the shop.  I really like these mirrors when they are really large and leaned against the wall. So, he promised to make me one to lean against a wall downstairs and one to hang here in the dining room. =)

I will continue to post here as we re-create our entire home from scratch and on a budget thinner than a dime!!

Ooo, more cards??

Here are some cards I've been able to create. Some are duplicates of a swap or two and some are not. These are not swaps.

This is a duplicate of a swap card.

This is also a duplicate of a card I made for a swap. See, I always make duplicates of any swap I create. That way I am not giving away my only creation! =)

Thanks for stopping by =)

Hubby turns 46!

A little late, but that's just how my weekend has gone...  We eate a nice dinner on Thursday for his b-day dinner.  We had ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans and I can't remember the rest. But here's what he's been craving....

I can't wait for it to cool off a little bit so we can have a tiny little slice! So pretty!!

Button, Button - Who's got the Button?

Here are some of my button charms for my SSSD swap. We have up to 10 ladies swapping and we are creating 3 charms per person. I've added these to the other two types (see below).  I really wanna do bottle cap charms.... since I have a good bit of time before these are due, I may have to do 10 and add them to the swap just cuz. =)

I will say these little guys are just adorable in person. My whole family thinks these are too cute, even the hubby!

These charms were labor intensive and really kinda hurt my wittle fingers! Opening and closing all those jump rings!! Even with my baby pliers, my hands & fingers still hurt! They are worth the pain to me. I sure do hope the other swappers feel the same as me!

Charming, aren't I?

I was able to spend time in my studio today. First I had to lay down for a bone density scan. My 1st ever. Whoot, whoot. No, but I did get to work on my charms for a swap. 

My 1st charms were the single strand charms.  My daughter tells me they really are pretty, but I wasn't really super happy once I finished. So, I moved up to double stand at the bottom attached to a single. Those were much better. I am afraid mine might be longer than most. Then, today I started working on loose button charms. It takes waaaay more time cuz I am attaching each button with a jump ring. The average # of button, you ask?? Between 20 and 24! I decided to tie little ribbons on the charms here and there cuz the buttons looked lonely! I will finish up ALL my charms tomorrow and post pics here! I know the waiting will be agonizing!

I should be stop swapping so much and work on more of the cool things I have on my sewing bucket list! LOL  It's just swaps are soooo much fun and so addictive. I've even signed up to swap ATC's now!! I've never created ATC (knowingly that is). But, I am super excited to give this a whirl and I have some great ideas.  Okay, gotta run. I have a casserole in the oven that needs me. Isn't nice to be needed?? I say "Yes!"

Flowers Obsession!

Oh my, this started with a SCS swap for hand made flowers. I couldn't stop! There are so may tutorials on line I've wanted to make forever. So, it was the perfect time. I even took 3 spots in the actual swap!

Okay, the tissue looking flowers are made from an old sewing pattern that I cannot find the directions for. They were super easy and way fun! I made yo-yo flowers by stacking different sized yo-yos. I made burnt edge flowers gathered flowers, wrapped flowers and I even hand wrapped a flower of of muslin, sewed it together using my doll needled and then mounted it on canvas! I gave those flowers a little spritz of home made glimmer mist! I still haven't even broken the surface of all the lovely hand made flower tutorials out on the great wide web. So, this flower obsession is far from over.....

So, I have more than I needed for the swap. I will use some for another swap I am in. That one you make special gifts for a fellow swapper. It's addictive and so much fun!

Happy 4th of July

We are the land of the free because of the brave who fight for us each day. I send a HUGE thank you to all those who have served, are serving or will serve for our country!

Happy Pumpkin Day!

It's still Halloween here at my house! Well, at least in my studio! I finished another swap for SSSD today. This one is a sketch swap for September. Yes, we've already discussed how severe my OCD / Over Achiever problem is...

Aren't the stamped images just the cutest?? Now, pardon my image quality, remember my beloved camera is in Italy right now!! "major frowny face: BUT, yeppie it comes home tomorrow!!! Oh yeah, so does my hubby.... LOL   He's been gone pretty much for the whole much of June (France from the last week of May, mid-month he moved over to Italy). Okay, now I must take my little wild man up to Burger King for the indoor play ground! He's been such a good kid the past few days. We have coupons!! :sing song voice:

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

I finished a swap today and I colored 14 large pumpkins. Who knew I could use all the color in the Copic nib?! I have to see now if I used all the ink and need to replace it?? How?? Guess I'll find out, huh? Anyhoo, here are the cards:

I'd never made an easel card before and decided to use the Stampin Up scalloped circle die. I had never worked with mulberry paper before either and used it under the stamped image. I even sprayed it with glimmer mist, although it is a little hard to tell. Of course I used my Copics to color the image. I also used some Queen & Co. charm brads I've had forever as the place to tuck the card front into to hold it up. I think they turned out so cute! 14 cards in all, and I am tired of coloring! LOL

I also made a cute little 4th of July box for a friend. She's having me and wild man up for dinner tonight. I have to go and get chocolate squares to put inside. I used the SU scalloped envelope die for this little box and some left over patterned paper. Making hte box was fun, but I killed my embossing mat! Cut slap thru it!! Guess I don't really know how to use it! LOL

I know, I feel like I just didn't do this little box justice! I could've decorated it much better, but after coloring 14 pumpkins, I just wasn't feelin' it. Sorry, next time I'll make a little gift and it WILL rock I tell you!! Now, it's off to eat cereal. I've been up crafting since 6am this morning. For me that is ridiculously early!! I will pay a high price for being crafty this early! I'll fall asleep before dinner, I just know I will.

Happy July 1st

Wow!!  Half of summer break is over. Can you believe that? I can't. 

Here's my project for today! I am learning to machine quilt. I am hand piecing a hexagon quilt now. The design is called Grandmother's Flower Garden. I am crazy enough to think that when I finally finish this baby, I will hand quilt the top! But anyhooo,  I made this Cricut Cover for my Expression 2. 

I know I was a little over  zealous in my meandering of quilting. But it was my 1st real machine quilting. I am still tickled pink with my results.

 

I will have to take pictures of my flower garden and post them here. It's pretty and very relaxing. I'll post this weekend. =)

What my kids see...

HA HA You need to know my nickname is Boo. Hubby gave it to me, of course, it really didn't come from this Disney character. But, it's turned into it. SO, this is what my kids see... I thought it was funny anyway =)

Happy Halloween

It's a candy corn Halloween! Yes, another swap for SSSD. I hand cut all the cards. I stamped then colored with my Copics. I enjoy learning how to work with blending - it's a blast!  The bat was embossed. It's hard to tell the white was embossed with circles, the orange was left plain, the yellow with squares and the black stripes were embossed with squares before I cut them into strips. I saw this card while looking thru the gallery at Splitcoast Stampers. Can't remember who, I'm sorry.

I adore Halloween!! I cannot wait for fall, it's just so much better than summer!!

Square punches!!

I love doing swaps when I am ahead of schedule! This is when I can get creative and try new things. I like trying to do things I've not done, but have had on my little list. Here's a card I've done for a swap where we were to use square punches:

I learned how to make a faux pinwheel! It was neat and I enjoyed learning a new trick! I used paper I'd used in a swap like 3 years ago!! Nothing like using up what cha got! But, I think it turned out nicely. Now, I am off to create some more! =)

Oil Cloth Love

I have always like oil cloth. I finally bought some almost a year ago. O would fondle it from time to time but never could figure out exactly what I would do with it. Ya know, it had to be the perfect project!!  Well, I am still not sure what I will do with the bulk of the 3 cuts I did buy, BUT, I did make this:

It's a coupon wallet!! BUT, it's for special coupons. I will keep it in the van and this will hold restaurant coupons!! It's Murphy's Law to be out somewhere and decide to eat on the fly and not have coupons!! Well, now THAT won't happen again!!

Now, lemme tell you just how hard it was to turn oil cloth right side out after sewing together!! Pain my my thumb! =) That's okay though cuz I love this little cutie!

She's waiting in Italy....

Here's the other woman. The woman my hubby is going to meet up with....

Here DH is "working" his magic on his "woman".

He's the tire changer - I have to admit, they make a great couple!! =) When he's not over the wall he's one of the 2 lead mechanics in charge of this little lady.  I like this lady cuz she undoubtedly weighs more than I do!! HA HA  Ok - now I HAVE to go do laundry, she is waiting for his arrival. They have a race this coming weekend to prepare for.

Painful...

Dear Hubby is leaving today for Italy and he's taking BOTH, my camera and laptop!! What in the world will I do without my two little preciousnesses?? Yeah, I just made up that word...

Whatever will I do?? I will have to use the icky camera! And the tiny kids laptop! Oh say it isn't sooooo. my two little preciousnesses will be gone from my side until the 4th of July! So, when I post pictures I cannot be held responsible for the quality, ok? BUT, I am committed to posting at least 3 times a week as I promised before! So, hold on - it could be interesting.

Gotta go and fold laundry to make his packing easier.

Father's Day & Our Anniversary

Okay - I am uncomfortable now. We ate at Ted's Montana Grill. RARELY do I ever go out. So, it was like I told myself I had to eat to make up for the lost time!! WOW, really??  Now, I have to say 'I" cuz hubby goes out all the time with the team while they are on the road. Like, they just got back from France on the 14th and he leaves for Italy tomorrow. So, yeah - he eats out. Me? Not so much so!  Anyway, we (the kids and I) made Father's Day cards and then I made one for our anniversary - wanna see, here it is:

 I had wanted the little brads that look like screws, but I don't have those cuties!

Okay, the card on the left is from my wild man and the right side is my teen. She really is so much more talented than this, she even said so.... I guess we all have those kind of days! =)

I'm gonna roll down the hall and try to pull myself up onto the bed and quilt until the pain stops!! =)

I'm back in the Swap Saddle Again!

After a break in swapping - I am swapping again! It's sad the two sites I hostessed and swapped on closed while I was on hiatus due to my stroke. I have been jones'n to be active again. I found a nice small place on yahoo and I'm back to my over achieving ways! I've signed up for like 15 swaps up into November and I've finished all but 3. I am doing 2 swaps at Splitcoast Stampers. One is due in August - finished and one is due in September - finished.  I created a hold-file box that has monthly tabs. I ready the swap items in zip-lock baggies and "file" them behind the correlating monthly tab. I will pull the waiting swaps out at the 1st of each month and mail them. Well, unless I it drives me crazy at which time I'll mail them. That would be my compulsive nature to have everything "wrapped up".  I was a Financial Controller when I worked in the "real" world so, I don't handle "open" items too well!  BUT, when I finish and mail swaps out so far in advance, three things happen: 1) I am sad I no longer have swaps to work on. 2) I totally forget about the swaps and then worry they are lost in the mail! and then 3) I look at my Swap Log and find the swaps I worried were lost in the mail, aren't even due yet!! HA HA  

Okay! Enough of me yappin!! Here are pics of the cards I've been creatin'!

 Clover Mouse - Stickles Challenge

 Little Birds of Happiness - Glossy Accents

 Just playing with images and using left over goodies.

 Roar - Sketch Card

 Flutterby - Paperclip Embellishment (it's the butterfly! I made his body with a paperclip!)

 Happiness - Card Sketch

 Thank You Card Swap

 Embossing Powder - I did stained glass in a removable bookmark!

 XO - Stencil Embellishment

I have more, but should probably go and do some quilting. I have been working on Grandmother's Flower Garden. It's all English Paper Piecing - all by hand. My 1st hand quilted item and it's rather relaxing, calming and soothing. It's a good "thang", cuzzz it's gonna take me maybe around, oh, FOREVER to complete the whole quilt. Okay, gotta go!

Whoot Whoot - Corsage Pins!!

Oh my gosh! You simply cannot make just one! Well, okay, I could've stopped at one, but where would the fun have been in that?!

I am participating in swaps on the 2 boards I swap on right now. The little fabric pins in the front are called posie pins. I found these while surfing one day and I am sorry I don't remember where I found them. I can tell you BOTH pins are incredibly addictive!! 

I know that tomorrow I have plans to go back downstairs to my studio and make a few more!! I think I have like 24 corsage pins left. I bought a box of 74, I put together 50 pins (only needed 42 pins) and it's killing me that I have 24 UN-ALTERED corsage pins sitting down stairs ALONE in a SAD little box!!!  Enough said, huh?!

I fully understand that there is NO real usage for these little posie pin.... They are just plain sewing pins with the fabric sewn on to look like little flowers. SO, there's not a real need for them. I guess I could use them to un-goop my gooped crystal effects bottles. OOOO! There ya go! Since I now have a legitimate use for these cuties, I MUST go make MANY more!! Oh, I gotta go!! TFSB!