Quick Baby Card

Made this last week for a baby shower we ended up not being able to attend. So, I'll scan it quickly and put it back on the gift. It's not fancy ... but it's simple and quick, just what I needed in a rush.

Oh yea, in real life the buttons aren't quite so bright!!!

Awesome Stampin' Kub

You've got to take a look at this blog/website by Stampin Kub ... there are so many tips, tutorials and ideas here ... and to top it all off it's done by a teenage boy. His mom is an SU! demo, so I guess he has naturally fallen into the rubber stamping craze.

In case you haven't noticed the larger than usual type, pay attention!! I decided that larger type would make it appear that I am typing more than I really am. That way, maybe I won't feel so guilty about, and you won't notice my blog absence. What do you think, is it working?

An update on our family situation; my mother-in-law is still in ICU. She's been there close to 10 days; pushing two weeks total in the hospital, and is slowly improving. I know she would appreciate any prayers said for her. It's been a very tough time for her, my husband, his family and everyone.

cool things to look at while I am away

Here is a quick listing of other cool things to browse while I am away. Today, work and trying to get in a visit to the hospital.

Really cute Easter idea from Cambria; found by way of JulieHRR's blog. {Julie rocks, btw}

Loving these new stamps by Nicole Heady -- haven't bought any yet, but I am so, so tempted!!

Stay tuned. I'm hoping to pull an all nighter to get myself organized and back in the creative mood soon!

Lost?

Someone was wondering if I got lost?
Nope.
I wish!
Life is taking over these days;
overwhelmingly taking over.

There is a serious illness in my family and that along with daily needs of the kids, etc is all that I can handle. I'll be back blogging soon, and then you will know all is well!!

ps- maybe I can find something interesting online to share until I get back creating.

heading to college

This fall we will have two official college students in our house! I can't believe how fast time goes by. We're making the final decisions about which college our daughter will attend in the fall. Of course, mom votes for the one closest to home. She's done well on everything and has a couple of choices for schools.



For those of you who don't know us, we homeschooled our children from the start, and I am pleased to say college admission has been a piece of cake for both of them. Only one more child to go, and that won't be for a few more years {Thank you Lord!}. This is the photo she picked for our homeschool group yearbook "fun" page. I'm so glad my kids have a sense of humor!!

spring??

This is what I am waiting on ... I want to see signs of spring! The high today is forecast to be 74 degrees, but tomorrow only 59 degrees! I need some consistency here! I am so ready for warmer weather, but I'm sure that in the middle of summer I will be dreaming of 50 degree mornings!

I am trying to figure out how to make a real banner. You've seen them ... really cute ... nice typography. I don't know how to do it. Does anyone know of a simple tutorial online, or an especially kind person who is compassionate toward those less technologically inclined?? {umm, that would be me, thank you}. So, if you pop in here one day and are totally wowed by a new banner -- you'll know someone answered my pleas!

On another note, this is an exciting week for us. I actually get a girls night out tonight w/ one of my bestest girlfriends, yay! And my son's good friend is flying in from Minnesota for a few days -- so wonderful! It's like spring break, except that it's not spring break for us!!! I should have some photos for ya next week.

Lastly, I just want to encourage you to take a look a Debbie Olson's blog again. This lady does some awesome things with paper and stamps. Truly great. She has a card up today that I just love. Her blog is here. Go take a looksie.

personal notebook

Since my mother began experiencing health problem, I've kept up with all her personal information. I finally sat down Saturday and made a notebook to house all this information that is strewn over my table and counter. In this notebook I am keeping her physician information, prescription information w/ refill numbers, copies of her photo ID, insurance cards, and prescription cards. I will also write in her bank account numbers and anything else that is important like insurance and tax information. Now I have one place to contain all the infomation and keep track of it all.

The papers are Die Cuts with a View, ribbon is K& Co., Michaels and Offray. The buckle was in my stash, and I used matte finish Mod Podge. The notebook is an unlined memory book from Wal-mart that was on clearance. Sorry the picture isn't better!!

Flower Power

Here is one card share from our stamp club last night. We used the negative portion of a chipboard flower to sponge on ink, then cut out. The center is layered with green cardstock, chipboard circle and then stamped. I love the new SU! tab punch on the side. I can forsee lots of uses for tabs. This one reads: Important message.

all images SU! © 1990-2006

Chipboard gone wild

Oh my goodness take a look at Debblie Olson's chipboard creations. SHE is awesome!!! Her blog is HERE.

death by math?

Drawing from the back cover of my college boy's algebra notebook. I think that says it all.

Chipboard is so cool!!

Chipboard is a strong fad in papercrafting. And for good reason, you can do almost anything with it. If the chipboard is thin enough you can even die cut it -- wow!! That's a real big selling point for me. If I can die cut chipboard into the shapes I need over and over again ... I'll save enough money to buy more dies!! {if my husband is reading ... disregard, you know I'm only teasing about buying more ... if my friends are reading, STOP LAUGHING!!}

Chipboard is available in large sheets, 3" & 4" coasters, and precut into various shapes, letters and numbers by many different companies {including one of my favs: Stampin' Up!}.

You can paint, emboss, and distress it. You can cover it with printed papers, decorative tapes, ribbons and fibers. You can ink it, stamp on it, glaze it, Mod Podge it and UTEE it ... oh the things you can do with chipboard!

Here are a few ideas for using your chipboard pieces. If you make any projects with chipboard, email the photo to me and just maybe I'll be able to post it here for you -- or I can link back to your site if you prefer.

The first is a mini book made from 4" chipboard coasters. Punch holes and tie ribbon through for the binding. This one is a girlfriends mini album. I've seen adorable baby albums, vacation albums, almost anything you would make a mini album for.

all images ©SU! 1990-2006

The second idea is an On Board chipboard album with a chipboard monogram that has been inked with the direct to paper {dtp} technique, then distressed, stapled and a flower attached. Too Cute!!!

all images ©SU! 1990-2006

Last, is an ATC album made into an Advice booklet with a chipboard monogram that has been stamped. Some really cute ribbon has been added to the binding, and it appears to be a stamped piece of shrink plastic made into a heart charm. Who wouldn't love to receive this album for a gift??

all images ©SU! 1990-2006

If you read this far - congratulations! - now you will know that I'm offering a sampler gift of blank chipboard coasters to an randomly drawn name from the comments on this post. I'll draw a name first of next week.

ahhh, spring!

all images © SU! 1990-2006 card by Kerry Wheeler

It was warm today.
Really, nice and warm.
So ready for spring weather to arrive. I had to remind myself that this weather is just a teaser. The weekend is shaping up to be cold and rainy. But today was nice, and things are starting to bloom.

This card is so much like today's warm weather. Bright & cheery. I really liked it when I saw it online. I love the colors together, the easter eggs and the large simple stamped alphabet.

I'll be stamping with my peeps Friday. If you are near our area, drop me a line and come on over. It's always fun!! And -- wear green.

are you tired of me yet??

Wait ... don't answer! I have a few more photos to share. One day I'll get back to sharing cards and scrapbooks ... probably.

This is a section of the pastry counter at the Eastern Market. yum-o.

Of course, we had to sample a few items for breakfast.

Lane went on a search for comic books at a local book shop Thursday night. No luck, but I think he enjoyed the ladder.

While we were book shopping, the rest of the family was at The Who concert at Verizon center. They said it was awesome -- ears were still ringing the next morning, however.

{and, this photos is a cheat. I got it from Googling The Who. No cameras were allowed in the concert} I've found that I can make some really neat scrapbook pages by utilizing the Google image search function. Sometimes you don't get the photo you want ... or your memory card fails {grrr} ... or you're not allowed to take photos. So, even though some may consider it cheating, I think it is perfectly fine to fake it w/ photos. And -- let's not even get into the copyright issue. There are many copyright free images available on the web.

one last beauty

My dd ... isn't she lovely? That is the Chesapeake bay in the background.

You're Good!!

So many people guessed correctly w/ the second photo. What does that say?? You know where all the good paper stores are located, maybe? LOL! Actually, I was quite surprised so many recognized the store in Georgetown, just outside of Washington, DC. Great job! I was hoping to publish more photos for a longer guessing game ... now I know to be more savvy in the photos that I post. I'll have to draw a name for the prize, hopefully tonight {or once I figure out what the prize will be!!}

Here is another photo anyway ... you just can't stop me!!

... we were walking to a Saturday market about 4 blocks from my sisters home in DC. My son discovered on the trip that he could take sepia toned photographs ... so guess what color all his photos are from the trip??? Yep. Sepia.

When we arrived, it was COLD and snowy. The COLD was the worst part. We left SC with 65 degree weather and arrived at my sister's in snow. Not good. Thankfully, it was only a little snow. About 2 - 3 inches at the most. By the time we left, the weather had improved to pleasantly chilly.

This is my sister and our youngest son on Wednesday night ... freezing outside. {before the sepia mode was located on the camera}

And finally, here is our sepia artist in his own vacation photo titled, appropriately: self-portrait!

Oh - and if you are wondering why I didn't take any of the photos ... well the brand-spanking new 1 gig memory card I got for Christmas didn't work!!! How's that for frustrating??

TTFN!!

another clue

guess where I am ... {and, yes, there will be a prize}

New game: Guess where I am...

Now, if you already know the answer you can't play! We have to be fair here!!

Can you guess where I am by this photo:

Stamping Super Star

all images ©SU! 1990-2006

Beate Johns is a stamping super star in my book. She has a card on the demo side of Stampin' Up's web site today. All Beate's cards are awesome. This one is especially cool because it is the new paisley stamp set. You can view more of Beate's work in her SCS gallery.

Lovin' the paisley

I love paisley. I remember, way back when {as in, when I was slimmer and actually enjoyed dressing up ... } I had a dress w/ a paisley print. I loved that dress, and my sister who had given it to me thought it looked nice too. But, our pastor at the time thought it was a crazy dress. I remember him remarking, "That is a Susan dress." Now what does that mean??? I'll dig up an old photo of me in the dress {I think I have one} and scan it for you. You all can tell me if it was a fashion faux-pas.


The new SU! spring mini has a cute paisley set. I LOVE it. It makes the cutest cards. Here is one example for you today:

all images © SU! 1990-2006

The sample was made by demo Michealene Redemske. Did you notice the bling? Michealene applied Sticky Strip to Certainly Celery cardstock and applied Dazzling Diamonds to create a glitter strip. Also, applied liquid glue to brads and applied Dazzling Diamonds. Isn't that a cool idea for adding bling?

Take care ... see you soon ... possibly in paisley!