summer sister

Yay...it is Saturday! I truly cannot believe how fast the week has gone!

I decided I needed to show you what my summer sister Sarah sent me for my final package. She was so creative and generous! I love it all! So...see the fun cards? Yep, the moose is definitely a Packers fan, don't ya think? See the You're The Berry Best package? Yeah...it has Chicklets in it! Have I ever told you guys how much I liked Chicklets as a kid? Yep, loved them! The "wonderful friend" card that Sarah made was featured on her blog HERE. Go check it out! Oh, and the stamps...yeah...one of them is featured on my very first Page Plans Sketch card tomorrow. Stop back to see it! You can probably also see just the top of the black polka dotted bucket that the stamps came in and the tippy top of the family shaped chipboard album. It looks like THIS. I can't wait to decorate it!

So tomorrow is my first official Page Plans sketch for ya. I'm SO excited as it is such a pretty card yet it looks so impressive! Okay, at least I think so! Oh, and you know what else? We are starting to make acutal plans for Hawaii! Yep, we may actually get to go! (I'm a little nervous that God has other plans for us again! LOL!) Do you see the fun ticker on my blog...I just couldn't help myself!

Sooooo, you guys...what fun things are you doing this weekend? I'm going to try and get ahead on my challenges and stamping so that I don't have to worry about things while in Hawaii as the hotel charges $10 a day for internet connection..yikes! Okay, okay...I'm going now!

summer sister

Lookie what I got! My summer sister Sarah sent me this very cool card, stamp, and ribbon! Yay! This is the very first time in all my crafting that I've wanted to frame something and I just might do it. I think it would be SO cute to find a frame to put this card in and place it on the wall in my stamp room (when I have one!). I think the colors are Basic Grey and Groovy Guava...correct me if I'm wrong please Sarah. The ribbon is a super cute chocolate with teal...can't wait to use it! How are the rest of you "sisters" doing? Sending and receiving stuff?

I'll show you my latest little envelope to Sarah on Thursday as tomorrow is the Belli challenge that I've yet to prepare for. I had wanted to have them done on Monday but honestly...I didn't do much yesterday so...no crafting... AND... I need to finish up my recipe swaps. I have a design in mind so that is good!

So...what are you guys doing? Making something fun? Come on...do share! I hope you all have a super day today!

stampin' up! and summer sister!

I hope you all had a fantastic Tuesday and got lots of stuff done at your house! I didn't get a whole bunch of stamping done due to my light being out (and I do most of my stamping at night) but I have some fun things to show you today! I hope Staples delivers early!

First is my very first Sock Monkey card. This is made with the brand new SU! set Sock Monkey and I just have to tell you that when I saw this set I knew I had to have it. When I was a child my great grandmother made these monkey's for all the kiddos. I still remember the west wing of the house and that we couldn't go in there around Christmas time! Anyway, I used the Mojo Monday layout from this week on Julee's blog (oh, did you see that my friend Sarah Anderson won the July challenge? Go see it HERE!). I do love this layout this week! I used the new Bella Rose design paper from SU! with Sock Monkey as it reminded me of some velvet wallpaper in my grandparents house. The circles are cut with my Nestibilities and the monkey colored with COPICS (although not a nicely as I'd like). No glitter on this one. The red is the new SU! In Color called Riding Hood Red and the pink is the new pink called Pirouette Pink. And, finally the brown strip is 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. The whole card is just a blast back to my childhood. Doesn't this just make you want to have a sock monkey!?

Also, I was excited that I was able to play in the summer sister swap. My sister is the above mentioned, very talented Miss Sarah and I got a package yesterday! Woohoo! She made me this super cute card and sent me some, sentiments, embellishments and a book mark. I can never find my bookmarks when I actually have time to read so this one has come in very handy. I also just realized the picture is very dark...make no mistake this is a beautiful, very colorful card that Sarah made for me! Thank you so much Sarah! Hopefully you will get your envelope soon!

Anywho...if you have a summer sister you should probably have a card/package out by now and be thinking about sending the second one for the month.

I hope that you all have a super day today! I'll be stamping with some Sweet N Sassy Stamps today!

post it note holder

I belong to the Sweet N Sassy Stamps Yahoo Group and each month the moderator, Sandy, puts out a challenge for us. In the month of July it is Post It note holders. I had vaguely remembered seeing, on a blog, a post it note holder that I liked a lot so I Googled a couple of key words and didn't find it. What I did find was this neat idea using chipboard coasters and patterned paper. It was on Cami's blog in April of 2007. Can't believe I found it! I had to change it up size wise as I don't have any 3x3 post it notes but this still works I think! My motivation to make this? The winner gets a new SNSS's set called My Little Chickadee. Ummm...yeah...free rubbah...I'll make a post it note holder for a chance to win that!

So, to make the holder you take two coasters and cut them to the size that you need (mine are 1/2" bigger than the post it note). Cover with paper of your choice (mine is from PTI). The inside strip of paper for this holder is 2 3/8" x 7 " and then scored at 3 1/4" from each end. I then used Bee Happy for my image. The bee (even though you can't tell) is cut out, colored with COPICs, and placed on the petal. I used a Clear Star Gelly Roll pen for the wings on the bee which just adds sparkle, not color. The little square with the sentiment was cut out with my Nestibilities and ties with a black piece of Grosgrain. Even though you can't see it the edges of the image paper is sponged with the Lemon Tart (PTI) and with the black frame around it the whole thing looks much like a picture frame in real life. So, what do you think? Personally...I love it!

Today, you should receive your Summer Sister e-mail. I had two people that never responded to my repeated requests for information so...we'll go without them. Please let me know if you have any questions. Remember, you are required to send your sister two things (cards/packages) this month and two in August. Please comment back to this post when you receive something. You will see a link in the categories that I have on the left hand side to get back to this post.

Today, we'll be heading back to the farmer's market for a couple of things...more cherries...yeah! And, then...laundry.... I hope that you have a much more excitingthan I will!

another cute owl

And here she is again...Miss Olivia! I almost think I like this card better than yesterday's. What do you think? This card layout is from Julee's Mojo Monday for this week. Yes, I know...it is Friday but I did it at least! All the items on this card are, once again, from my 3 Little DReaMs kit. I used my square and circle Nestibilities to kick it up a little. Even the cute light blue ric-rac came from my kit. The sentiment is from the Bee Happy stamp set from SNSS but I thought thinkin' about someone would be appropriate for an owl...right?

Today is the last day to sign up for the Summer Sister Swap. I got a comment yesterday (I think) from Lori but no way to get a hold of you. So please Lori, go to my profile, get my e-mail address, and e-mail me so that I can get the questionnaire out to you today. If you'd like to join us HERE is the post with the info!

I hope that all of my readers in the US have a super 4th of July today! We will be
today...if it stops raining. Please take time to thank our troops whether it be if you see one someone stopping to shake their hand or just saying a prayer of thanks...just do it! Everyone else...you have a super day too!

eclectic post today

Okay, it is going to be an eclectic post kind of day! Remember the pull-out scrapbook I made HERE? Well, I got the photo's that I ordered from the trip and placed them in the album. I'm actually quite thrilled with how it turned out. I'm not sure how the pictures will show up on the actual post but the side with Kyler on the horse is the right side. There is also a picture of my grandpa, his wife Fern, and Marvin and Jean. Then I left one of the squares blank so that I could write them a thank you note. The other picture then is the left side and shows the horse with the wagon. Marvin allowed Kyler to take the reigns and showed him how to lead the horse. He tried with me too but we almost crashed so I gave it up. I'm a dork I know! I just wasn't sure what to do with the pictures because they needed to be the size they are so I hope cutting them in half like that looks okay. I love the little frames with the die cuts that I made though. It really makes each picture look like its own little masterpiece! Marvin and Jean should have received the album by now so I really hope they are enjoying it!

***Susanna picked this little scrapbook as one of her favorites for this week! You can see it HERE!***

The final picture is a picture of the 6x6 scrapbook that I just got from SU! the other day. I decided I needed an album to put all the recipes in that I've been getting from Courtney's recipe swap. I've been able to participate three times and in those three times I've gotten 40 (yes 40!) recipes! I'm signed up for the one I linked you too as well. The recipes look great and overall...the scrapbooking is good! If you want to join her swap Courtney is accepting sign ups until July 5th!

I'm still taking sign ups for my Summer Sister Swap so if you'd like to participate check out the details HERE, make sure I have your e-mail and sign up!

We are supposed to get some t-storms today but they've said that for several days now. But, if we do...I'm so stamping! I have signed up for lots of things that I need to get started on! Oh, and the wind is already howling...fun...not!

Have a great Thursday!

another bikahbabeabella

Okay, I'm nervous to show you guys this one. At first, while making it, I didn't like it...not one bit but now...after looking at it for awhile...I really like it! Maybe I should have used this one for the bling contest, huh?

Everything on this card (minus the bling and sentiment) is, again, from my 3 Little DReaMs kit. The layout is from a sketch challenge this weekend on I {heart} to stamp. I love the "Live Your Bliss" sentiment as many of the bikers I know just really love the experience of riding their bikes, fixing their bikes, and so on. It really is their bliss. The card size is 3"X6". I haven't made a card that size in some time so it was fun to do and who knew that you could fit Bikahbabeabella in such a small card? LOL! So, what do you guys think?

Alright...so we are on for the summer sister swap! I have about six ladies signed up so far so if you'd like to join us you can refer to THIS post and comment either here or there and I'll send you the questionnaire (which I got and modified from Tangii on the Bellaholics group...thank you Tangii!!!). Please e-mail me with any questions you may have!

Oh, and girls...I have seen the Stampin' Up! preview stamps/accessories. There are quite a few things that I like and can you say Scalloped Edge Punch for $15.95?! Oh, yeah baby! And the new In Colors...do you want to know? They are...Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Pink Pirourette, Riding Hood Red, and Tangerine Tango. They are lovely colors!

I'm putting together a little catalog show for Pampered Chef so if you need anything let me know and I'll add you to my guest list and send you the website. Your order will be shipped directly to you and I get the credit towards my show. I only need a little more to get to the next hostess level. How's this...if you place an order for my catalog show I'll put your name in a drawing for a SU! Level 1 hostess Print Pack. Does that entice you into "needing" something from PC? LOL!

Alright...that is my excitement for you guys for today! Have a terrific Tuesday and I'll see you tomorrow!

bikahbabeabella

I did actually get some stamping in yesterday, which is good as I have something new to show you! I actually started this card as an entry for a bling card contest but after looking at the other entries...I don't think I'll enter. Such is life.

Everything on this card except the base of Basic Grey card stock and the little rhinestones is from my June 3 Little DReaMs kit. I just think Katie does a great job picking out the papers to match the stamp. I mean who doesn't love a little sass with Bikahbabeabella?

Speaking of 3 Little DReaMs. Today is the last day to get your entry in for the design team. You can go HERE to see what the guidelines are for entry.

I've been thinking it would be fun to have a summer sister so I thought I'd propose it to you. Here is how it would work. If you'd like to participate you would leave me a comment. I would close the sign up on July 4th and send out questionnaires to fill out and then match you up. Now...this time instead of being secret sisters you would know who your sister is and she would know who you are so that we don't have any of the flaking that I had at Christmas time. Requirement would be at least 2 cards/packages each month to your sister in the months of July and August. Should you sign up and then choose to flake I will put you on a list here at my home and not allow you to participate in future swaps. I will not be playing mediator on this swap as honestly, I don't think it will be necessary due to the fact that you will know who is your sister. Please let me know if you are interested and if we have enough...I'll make it official tomorrow.

I had plans to be to work early today as my office is a loft and VERY hot in the afternoon's with the temps up in the 100's but I'm having tummy troubles today. It is taking all I have to just type up this post so with that said...I think I'm going to call work and lay down for a little while.

Have a great Monday everyone!