The Last Three

Since there was five cards in the swap I just decided to show you the last three today. Besides, this makes me have to sit down and create today!

This most adorable I Want It All Hanna was made by Lena Tacker. I didn't find a blog for her but her gallery on SCS is HERE.

This card was made by the fabulous TexasGrammy a.k.a Bev Gerard. Bev has been nice enough to share some tips for stamping and mothering with me. Her encouragement and kind words have really just touched my heart. She is truly a sweetie and an AWESOME stamper! Her blog is HERE. Oh, yes...she is on the design team for Hanna Stamps along with Scor-Pal so her blog is a must see. I also have a link in my side bar if you ever need it!

And lastly but certainly not least is another I Want It All Hanna . This one is signed by JoAnn but I can't find anything else about her so I hope that she sees this post someday and knows that I love her card!

I have to share with you something that Kyler told me today. In the state of Washington we have something called the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) . It is a big, huge test and in fact, in high school you have to pass it in order to graduate (DO NOT get me started on that though!). Anyway, 4th graders also have to take it to see not only where they are at in their learning but also how the school is doing teaching them. Kyler and his clownies ( a term of endearment at our house) will be taking part of the test later this month. During the WASL parents volunteer to bring snack that week so the kids have something (it is an entire morning of testing M-Th) and I volunteered to bring cheese and crackers for the class. When discussing this with Kyler this morning he told me that his classmates were hoping that I'd bring pickles because they always want one of Kyler's when he brings them for snack. How funny is that? Pickles. So, I'll do both...cheese/cracker and pickles. Pickles...that just tickled my funny bone!

Speaking of Kyler...they have changed the appointment for his root canals from Tuesday morning to Monday morning. He was so excited about the change because that should mean that he will be feeling well enough to go to his birthday breakfast with grandma Nancy and papa Al on Wednesday. It is all about the stomach you know!

I hope you all have a super fantastic Saturday and get lots of stamping done!

A Hanna Swap

Remember awhile back when I showed you the card I made for the Hanna Stamps swap on SCS? Well, I got the cards back and they are absolutely adorable! I will post a couple everyday over the next couple of days. I must say I've gotten into some great swaps recently 'cuz I haven't been disappointed at all with the quality. Love that!

So, this first card was made by Karen (Lazorkay on SCS). Is that grass paper just so cute? Karen's coloring is lots of fun on this one too!

This card is by Rachelle (3frog-mom) and is just adorable! I just love how realistic she made Riley with his bike on the road. And, the arrow brad thingy (so technical...I know) is just so cute!

I am just so thrilled that today is Friday! Not really because I have lots of things planned today but more because the weekend is in sight...yay! Today, though, Kyler has a taste of Washington planned for the entire 4th grade. They will each be bringing in something that was made with a Washington product and sharing it with the other 4th graders. Being that it is Friday (which is lunch buddies which means I take him out to lunch) I'm going to put chicken nuggets and fries in the oven at home and we'll eat here. After he is done eating we'll put together the dip he is taking...separate it into 10-12 servings (as asked for)...and then he can take it back with him after it is all done. Starbucks was very nice to give me some of their little plastic sample cups so we'll put the dip in there and then at school he'll put in some of those club cracker stick thingies (another technical term) and that is how it will be presented. Pretty neato, huh?

So, that is it for today! I hope you all have a super fantastic Friday!

Oops...forgot!

I was working on a card yesterday but I didn't get it done so I think I forgot to show you the card I made for Todd for Valentine's Day. It wasn't very fancy and not as "man-ish" as I would have liked but sometimes that just happens. I used Valentini from Stamping Bella, some paper from the $1 spot at Target and a cute brad I got from my LSS. I think I would have liked it better had it been colored with markers but I used watercolors. Guess I know better now, huh?

My friend, Diane, sent me this You Cheer Up Me Up award the other day and it was such perfect timing! First of all...I love I Love Lucy. This particular episode is so stinkin' funny! Next...with Kyler's stuff going on I've been feeling a bit down so this just made me laugh! Now...I'm supposed to pick 15 people for this award but...I'm not gonna do it. You know why? Because you ALL cheer me up. Hearing from you when you comment or when you participate in something that is going on here just makes me happy! So you ALL truly deserve the You Cheer Me Up award. Please come back and let me know when you've put this on your blog so that I can see too!

Do you like history? If so go check this out. When we tour Israel we are going to a place called Megiddo. Megiddo has much Biblical significance and even up to WWI has been used as a place of battle it is SO interesting to me and I can't wait to see it! (yeah...so the battles probably weren't light saber but it was the best I could find...lol!)

I hope you all make today a great Thursday and, woohoo, tomorrow is Friday!

Scallops Galore

For some time now I've been checking out Julie Tilman's blog, Poetic Artistry...especially on Monday's as she has what she calls Mojo Monday. On Mondays she posts a sketch for everyone to try. I always want to try it but this is the first time I've actually taken the sketch and make it work for my card. Anyway, I have a friend who just found out that she is pregnant and I want to send her a card of congratulations so this is what I've come up with. It is certainly a unique card with several different elements going on...maybe to many? Anyway, I'm in love with my Nestibilities. I'm totally getting down how to use them in my Cuttlebug and they are SO easy to use and cut so cleanly and precisely. I also used my Cuttlebug with the Baby embossing folder and highlighted the word "precious". I had to use the sentiment "Absolutely Fabulous" from PTI's Mixed Messages set, too. Tell me now...what do you guys think of this? Too many colors? Too many scallops? Just right? Hmmm...

So, Diane LaPointe was the only one to share a link back to her blog with a card that she created yesterday. I'll be getting the very cute push pins and cat's eye out to her by Friday. Thanks for playing along Diane...your card is adorable!

I have lots on my plate again today so I'm off to get a couple of things done before Kyler gets up. Have a great Wednesday!

It's An RAK Day!

I've gotten a couple of really neat RAK's over the last couple of days and wanted to show them to you. First...Bev from Country Frog Creations sent Kyler an envelope when she read about his accident. It arrived yesterday and he was SO excited about it! Kyler has a shelf on the bookshelf in his room where he puts the cards that people send to him so as soon as he read the card, drooled over the candy, and let me take a picture he took the card right in and put it in a place of honor. Bev...thank you so much. It was great to see my son so excited!

Just a quick update about his teeth. We went back to the dentist yesterday, they took another x-ray and determined that his roots have indeed died. It was quite the trauma to his mouth and the roots really didn't have a chance. So...we are going back on Tuesday next week to have root canals in those teeth. You know what is worse though? It is the day before his 10th birthday. The dentist has promised me that he will be feeling 90% better for his family party on Wednesday and should have no problem at his party with friends on Saturday. Kyler is none to happy with the prospects of the root canals BUT he is a trooper and it will be okay...at least that is what I keep telling myself!So, here he is with the RAK. Isn't that the cutest smile? If you look really close you can see the wire that is on his teeth and has to stay there until next week.

This card is from my friend Courtney at Created by Courtney. If we lived closer I think that people would probably guess we are sisters by how much we have in common. Anyway, she was thinking of me so she sent me a card. Isn't it just cute? And that verse...perfect. Thanks Courtney!

And, this card is from Andi at Crafts on a Whim. It was thanking me for being a featured crafter on her blog. Thanking me? All I did was say yes. :o) How cute and thank you so much, Andi!

So, I hope everyone had a fantastic Monday. What did you all do? Did you craft anything? I'm feeling like some Glory from Lorie. How about if you link me up to something you made yesterday so that everyone can see it I'll put you into a chance for some push pin (got them in a swap at Regionals so you know they are cute!) and a Charcoal Colorbox Chalk cat's eye ink pad. Is anyone interested? You have until I post tomorrow morning to link us up to something.

Have a super fantastic Tuesday everyone!

Eclectic Day

This post is going to be a bit eclectic as I have some odds and ends to share with you. First, I got a new tool for my stamping desk. It is a Fiskars Rotary Cutter. I have been looking for the perfect trimmer for some time when I was looking around at Costco and bam! There it was! I decided for $28 I could take it home, try it, and then return it if I didn't like it. Well, yeah...I'm not returning it...you can't make me! The blade is nice and sharp, both the paper and the blade don't move when cutting so as long as the paper is where it is supposed to be...no crooked cuts! Woohoo! Although this takes up a bit of room it is so worth it and I'm so happy with the cutter and its price as I searched for it online when I got home and the average price for one of these was about $50. What a bargain hunter I am, huh? If you are looking for a new cutter you should definitely consider one of these!

Next...HERE is the link to the directions on how to make the envelope albums that I shared yesterday. I had posted a comment on the blog to make sure it would be okay to post a link but I haven't heard from her. I can't see how it will be a problem so just make sure you give her proper credit when you make and post your own.

And finally...I was given an award yesterday! My friend Bev over at Country Frog Creations has give me the Arte Y Pico award. The award is given to bloggers who share their art creations through blogging. Here are the rules...

1. You have to pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and the link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself

4. Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

Now, I don't like lists like this all that much because I don't want to hurt any one's feelings so please...if I don't list you know that I love your blog and artwork too, k?!

1. Courtney at Created by Courtney.

2. Diane at ddnjoys2stamp.

3. Dawn at Dawn's Stamping Thoughts.

4. Kristine at Cafe Ink.

5. Andi at Crafts on a Whim.

So, there you go...my eclectic post! Today I take Kyler back to the dentist to see how those teeth are doing. Hopefully it will be clear sailing and no more problems...doubtful but I can be full of hope, right? Got lots to do for work today too so I'll be busy as is usual for a Monday.

Hope you all make today a fantastic day!

Envelope Albums

Remember this cutie? Well, I had a couple of pictures of her so I decided to make her mom a little envelope album to keep the pictures in. Other than the designer paper I have used all PaperTrey Ink products including the super cute and versatile set called Shapes By Design. Okay, and the large eyelets...those are Stampin' Up! When I gave it to her I think that she really liked it and Sammy..."that's me!" What a cutie!

Then I decided that grandma needs a little album of Kyler's activities while we were at the indoor water park. This one is made with SU! papers, ribbon, and eyelets. The stamps are also from the set Shapes by Design. I thought the smile and hello would be fun accents on this too.

***Edited to add...see THIS post for a link to directions on how to make these albums.***

I've also noticed I've gotten a couple of new visitors to my blog over the last couple of days. Welcome! Please feel free to leave comments whenever you'd like and join in on the fun for Glory From Lorie when the chance comes up!

Have a super Sunday!