Scrappy Schtuff!!!

Here's a little custom mini-album I did for a friend for her 10th anniversary....I was really pleased at how it came out. Jodi chose the wording for the title, but I designed the rest.... One of my favorite parts is the "K." It's chipboard, which I inked w/ 2 different black inks (Stampin' UP! Classic - black and ColorBox chalk ink - Charcoal) Then, I covered the entire surface w/ Crystal Effects to dress it up! It really looks cool IRL, but it's hard to photograph the effect.

This pulls out from behind the cover page. It's for a photo of them at their
anniversary dinner..... These are for them to document their gifts to each other (which I happen to know Jodi got a blue diamond ring....lucky girl!!) Just wanted to give you a look at the heart embellishment I made. I took black glittered acrylic paint and mixed it with clear glue. Then, I shaped it into a heart and let it dry. And ta da....cool crinkly handmade heart...... outlined w/ Stickles! (my favorite!)


Some pages for Looking Back.....a wedding photo.

and Today.....family photo. And with the years of marriage, came the blessing of their children
(included in the next 3 pages of the album.....) (don't laugh at my stick person!!!) And lastly, Looking to the Future........Best of wishes to you, Jodi and Joe. Congratulations!!

Not a good picture.......(camera phone by 11 year old kid....)

...but, I still think I need some glasses to be cool! What do you think?
(besides that I am a big dork......) I have wanted glasses since I was a little girl! But, I have perfect eyesight.

Now at age 38, I know better than to complain about that, so I won't. But, when my eyes finally decide to fail me....I'll be getting me some wicked cool glasses, sorta like these.....

Symphony Ball

As part of Ike's job, we often need to attend community events. So, we were lucky enough to attend a ball for the symphony in our town. Here we are just when we were preparing to leave. (photography by Logan)
You know, it can be fun to get all dressed up and be something other than a mommy from time to time. And, fun, it was.

They had a silent auction and a live auction to raise money for their events. And it's nice because you know it's going to support the arts, which we all know are so important. It just kills me that the arts have become less and less of a priority in school. I can remember the days of music and art being a regular part of my curriculum. (and I can remember in elementary school when our Music teacher Mrs. McKenzie used to always have her room like and ice box....to keep us awake, she used to always say....but I can remember it just like it was yesterday. Her room was always like 10 degrees colder than the rest of the school! Back then, I didn't know about it, but now I personally think it may have been that way because she was in menopause!!) Anyway, the Arts in school used to be a priority. But, now everyone just wants to "save money," so they cut our funding to our children for these important programs. And its sad, just very, very sad. (man...who gave me a soapbox....?!)

Well, we don't usually take part in these auctions, because really, we need to spend our money on our own children. But, I saw there was a $100 gift certificate for a salon in town, and the bid was at $60. And since I haven't had a haircut since July....I could see that being a good deal. I should be able to cut 2 or 3 haircuts for that. (or I may even splurge on a pedicure!) But, that was a good deal...so I'm glad I won that auction!

I also placed a bid on Family Zoo Passes (which came with a stuffed giraffe and zebra--because it was something we will really use when Spring and Summer come.) We had the high bid on that and it was under the value. And at the last minute someone came in and sniped the bid. (big meanie!)

But, I have to admit there was something that really caught my eye....a 7-diamond "Journey" necklace, valued at $1400. It was breathtaking.
The hostess was wearing the necklace as she worked the room before the auction started. And since the hostess' boss is Big Daddy, I got plenty of opportunity to see this necklace up close.

Now, you see, the last jewelry Ike had purchased for me was over 5 years ago. The gift was diamond earrings. (which I absolutely loved!) I wore them non-stop and barely removed them, except to clean them from time to time. Well, long story short, when we went to the hospital to have Marinne in Savannah, I was wearing my earrings. Well, since they are screwbacks, I didn't really worry about losing one. (after all, screw backs are supposed to keep that from happening!) Well, after I gave birth to Marinne I had been moved to the new room and that night when I was going to sleep, I realized that one of the earrings was missing. So, ask me where I was the night Marinne was born...... Yep, while Marinne was getting checked in the nursery I was down in my birthing suite 10 hours after she was born, on my hands and knees looking for a missing diamond earring. I was just sick about it. Just sick...
Well, I never did find it. So, now I only have one earring, so it isn't worn.
(I decided to take the remaining earring and when Marinne turns 16, we'll have it set into a necklace for her. Won't that be cool?!?!)

So, as Ike was talking to his boss at the side of our table, they started the auction for the "Journey" necklace. The started the bid at $500. And, NOBODY was bidding. NOBODY. So, they dropped it to $400. Still nothing. (remember, this is a $1,400 necklace....) Finally, he dropped it to $300 to start and by then, I was about to have a conniption. When else would you be able to get a deal like that and be able to write it off as a business expense/charity donation?!?!?! So, I got Ike's attention and pointed out what was happening. He was like, do you really like that? I thought you were kidding about liking it.... UH, WHAT?!? It's diamonds and gold....what's not to like?!?! HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!! (although, I will admit I prefer white gold to yellow gold.....the only fault of this necklace.....a fault I was willing to overlook due to the situation!) :D

So, by this time, someone had bid $300 and with $50 increments, it was at $400. So, Ike jumped in on the bidding. I'll have to admit it was sooooo exciting. We just figured it would go higher than we wanted to pay. Well, when the bid hit $600, we were wondering if we should do it. So, the other people bid $650. Well, Ike hesitated.....while the whole room of 200+ people waited to see what he'd do. And at that point, he said to me, "Do you really want it?"

So, how do I respond?!?!

I grab his face and lay a great big kiss on him while the whole room watched. (and yes, they had us on camera on the big projection screen, so everyone could see...!!)

When I released his face, he held up his bid card and yelled, $675!!!

And the entire room errupted in clapping and loud cheers!!!!

$675 going once....

$675 going twice....

Sold to #129 for $675!!!!!!

IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!! And I was so happy!!!!
(and yet, I couldn't believe what we had done........)

So we got this necklace for less than half of it's value. But, the story gets better......

After I got it home, I found that the chain was really too short. It felt like it was choking me. (I still love it, but it was choking me.) So, I called the jeweler to see if I could exchange the chain and pay the cost difference. He was super nice!! He said, "Oh, I think they make those standard to fit a 90lb. woman. Come on in and I'll give you a new chain." Well, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! So, I went in the following day and the owner was busy. So, I was talking to another worker and told her we had won it at the auction, it was too short, and confessed to her that I wished it was white gold, instead of yellow gold. Well, this lady told me, that they could very easily accomplish this by having it dipped to make it white gold. I had never heard of that....but I wasn't wanting to spend more money than we already had.

Well, as we started the chain exchange process, she measured my neck and we determined that a chain 2" longer looked just right. Well, she want to the case and if you can believe it.....they were completely out of yellow gold chains, the length I needed! So, she suggested to the owner that they give me a white gold chain and dip the pendant for FREE and he said YES!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!! I was sooooooo happy!!!!
It worked out perfectly and I got everything that I wanted!!!


So, as soon as I have a chance, I'll photograph the necklace, so you can see how much more beautiful it is in person!

I'm the luckiest girl in the world!!

Thanks a lot, Big Daddy.....even if this is my Valentines, Mother's Day, Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas Present!!!!!!!!!!

BEAUTY SHOP?????

...or little shop of horrors!?!?! OUCH!

I think we can safely say....I was a good sport!! :)

Coming out of the fog.........

....I'm baaaaack!!!!

Finally, feeling better again. But, another 6 days of being sick really stinks and really makes one run behind!!!

So, how are all of you?!?!?!

Been busy this week....

....wishing both my dad and my best friend, Michele Happy Birthday this week (ya know I love ya both!!!)

....enrolling Logan for MIDDLE SCHOOL! (eek!)

....running errands (must be done!)

....doing laundry (never ending!!)

....single momming while Ike works insane-o hours (Bluck!)

....trying to catch up on DT scrap projects (far behind...)

....working on a Mini-Album (custom job for a friend...)

....making dentist appointments for all (they can't get us in until AUGUST....can you believe that?!?!?!)

....got 10 inches of snow on Tuesday night, into Wednesday morning (that's alot of snow...the 15th for this year!)

....shoveling the walk and playing with kids in the snow (not fun when you are sick, sick, sick!!)

....kids have snow day (and drive mommy crazy being wild!!!)

....dealing with issues at school with both older boys (one appears to have forgotten that he's not to talk when the teacher is teaching and the other is being tormented by rotten girls --
anyone have advice on how to keep M from being one
of "those kind" of girls?!?!

Well, that's pretty much it!
But isn't that enough?!?!?!

Too Cute!

So, we are sitting at the table and Marinne says,

"Mommy, when I get big I want to be a bean-a-reena!"

Me: "You want to be a ballerina?"

Marinne: "Yes. A pink ballerina."


Oh...to know she has dreams......what a gift. (and so cute!)

(remember she just turned three at the end of December...)

COME OUT OF LURKDOM AND SAY HI!!!!!!!!

So....here's the thing....

I am sick again (or should I say still, never fully recovered, although I had been feeling better!) I cannot believe it. I hardly ever get sick like this and this is 2 times in less than a month!

ARGH!!!!

Anyway, I have been laying around being completely unproductive yesterday and today. And all I have is my tv and my laptop. And no one leaves me a comment ALL DAY LONG!

(and my site meter tells me as of right now, 46 people have read my blog today, but no one leaves a comment!!! WAH!!!)

So, I have stuff to tell and pics to post, but I am not gonna do it unless at least 10 of you, quit lurking and leave a comment!!

Ha! Ha! Ha!

So....comment away!!!!!!! :)
(and thanks to my faithful commenters...
you guys know who you are!!!)

He belongs to an exclusive club!!!!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Heh....heh...heh....lookie what I found this morning:

It's my day at Scrapbooks 'n Stickers!!!!

(copied from the Scrapbooks 'n Stickers blog: )

January 28, 2008

And Our Next Member

For the next one (and these are not in any particular order), I am proud to introduce to you a very talented girl who I had the pleasure of meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Creating Keepsakes Convention. She had e-mailed wanting to help us in our booth and not only did we have a ball of fire kicking in the booth, but I also made a great new friend. Introducing to you Roxann Walker.

Roxann lives in Kansas with her husband and four children. She is going to do some traveling with us this year, so look for her at a few shows doing make & takes or keeping the booth exciting & happy! This is a photo of a booth display that Roxann made with Fancy Pants' Holly Jolly papers. We have all of the girls making display signs for the paper lines we are carrying and are going to have you vote on the best one throughout the year!! I love hers - all that ribbon is just yummy!

Aww.....that's so nice!! Wasn't expecting that on a Monday...so the week's off to a great start!!!! And Kim!!! You rock!! See ya in a few weeks!!!!!! :)

Some Scrappy Goodness to start the week....

These are my January projects for my Scrapbooks 'n Stickers Design Team (aka the SNS Entourage!) This LO is done for an example of what you could do with a kit we are giving out at one of the crops. So, Kim sent me one of the kits...papers and embellies and wanted us to do a 12x12 2pg LO and a card w/ the scraps. It's Imagination Project Center City Designs - Murray Hill. You can see it here. And based on my love of pink and black together, you know I love these papers.

I tried to use only what was in the kit. Although, I did add the small piece of pink cardstock (Bazzill) and the Making Memories rub-on letters. Everything else was in the kit. And I am really having a hard time keeping myself from breaking out the Stickles for the centers of these flowers! (and I may still end up doing it!!) But, again, I was trying to stick with the basics that were in the kit.


So, here's what I came up with:A 2-page spread and it includes 4-4x6 photos and 2- 3x5 photos of
the CUTEST BABY GIRL.....EVAH!!!!!!


Close up- left side.
Close up - right side. Lots of hand-cutting on this LO. Time consuming, but so worth it!!! And, it makes use of busy (but beautiful) patterned paper, which can so easily overpower the photos when used in full-sheets.

And here's the card I made with the scraps from the kit. (fyi...I still plenty of other scraps to use on other projects, as well.) I just love that Junkitz Twillz with the eyelets in it! You can just tie ribbons in it and it makes the cutest borders, don't ya think?!


And I broke out my favorite white Signo Uni-ball pen from Stampin' Up! for my doodling and writing on this card. Man I love those pens!!!! Yummy!! (if you need one....contact Sherry...SU! demonstrator extraordinaire...and you can order one!) After hand-cutting this flower, I also used the American Crafts Glitter Gels for outlining of the papers and the flower accents (center and around the petals) to add some sparkle to it. Just wanted it to stand out a little more.

And the last project was a booth display plaque for the Fancy Pants lines we carry in the booth! I was assigned the Holly Jolly line! Highlights of what I did were the hand made snowman and all the trimmings.... and the movable "snow." I took a page protector and sewed it to the Fancy Pants paper. Then, I left a small opening, added the snow and continued to sew it shut. Then, I adhered the snow strip to the bottom of the plaque. It adds some great sparkle and interest to the plaque. I really love how it turned out!!!

Weight Watchers Update....

....well, I don't know if you can truly call me a real "Weight Watcher" because I haven't

been to a meeting since October. (ya, I pretty much stopped going when the Holidays hit...starting with Halloween!)

Although, I wasn't attending meetings I continued to use things that I learned at Weight Watchers and mostly ate what I wanted, but attempted to watch my portions. (basically, I'm saying, I ate pie and other goodies during the Holidays, but just ate a little, rather than pigging out!)

I thought I was doomed to gain back the 30lbs. I had lost.

Well, I am happy to report that I weighed myself this morning and I have broken into the 230's.
239.2

A total of 33 pounds.

So, I have maintained my weight loss and now lost a little more....

I'm so happy.

Wow! Check out who left me some comments on my blog!!!

Emilie Ahern said...

OMGOSH! Those are adorable!

I am so jealous of your superior owl making abilities.

January 26, 2008 12:58 PM

Holy Moly! One of my favorite scrapbook designers stopped by my website and left me a scrappy compliment!!!!!!
Oh. My. Gosh!!!!

HAPPY DAY!!! :)


If you want to check out her *awesome* work...
...go here!

Holy crap, have I really not updated since WEDNESDAY?!?!?!

I suck!

I think I kept thinking I would do it....but I just never did. I hate it when that happens!

But, in my defense, I've had a bunch of stuff going on. (when do I not?)
I'm the mother of 4, it's always going to be that way!!

So, the weekend started out with a downer. Jensen's mouse, Bella, died on Friday afternoon. It's was so heartbreaking. I tried to comfort him and I knew I would soon be making another cross out of sticks and some grass to tie it together.

I was going to blog about it, but Big Daddy beat me to it. His post is sweet...so instead of doing it, too....so I'll post his post about it:

"It started with a phone call on Friday afternoon from my wife. "Ike, there's a problem... Bella is dead."

You see Bella was one of the non-human members of our family. He was a mouse. But not just any mouse, a very special mouse.

The story of Bella began in August of 2007 when one of our sons, Jensen, decided he wanted a pet mouse. So I took him to the pet store and let him pick out a cage, accessories and one little white (cute) mouse. While we were there he found out that the store would be holding a critter race for all small animals and Jensen was bound and determined he was going to enter Bella in the race.

Two weekends later we went back to the store with Bella the mouse, a little plastic ball and boy who wanted to win. Bella took second place and Jensen was happy. In the days, weeks and months later Jensen loved that mouse. He kept Bella's ribbon tied to the outside of his cage to show the world what kind of winner Bella was.

And then the call came yesterday. Jensen was devastated.

He sat on the sofa in our living room holding his award winning mouse, sobbing, until his mother finally told him Bella needed to be boxed up.

We held the funeral today. A simple hole in the backyard, two sticks tied together to form a cross and a little boy who was crushed."


Poor Jensen.

Well, we went out on Saturday and eventually ended up at the pet store. As we were wandering about we saw two of the cutest little hamsters we've ever seen. They are called Robovarski Hamsters. They are stinkin' hyper. They run all the time. It's hilarious!

And he's happy....and really, isn't that all that matters??

another Griffin funny....

So, we are having Pasta Frigole' (that fancy soup from O. Garden)
and when Griffin asked what we having for dinner, I told him.

He looked at me disgusted.

And asked for.....

"SLOPPY JONES" for dinner.


(aside from that just being cute....we've only had this once.
And they all hated it and wouldn't eat it. Go figure!)

Gosh...I love this kid!!!

Isn't he hilarious?!?!!? I think so!


I'm dying my grey hair.....and he just said, "What stinks in here?!?!!!" So, I say, "Oh, that would be my hair."

So Griffin says, "Well, it smells like toilet wash!!!"

UMMMMM.....
...thanks a lot!!


I love my JOB!!

Whooooo? Loves these cards!

In the scrapbooking world, OWLS are HOT!!

Everyone is using them, so I've had to try my own version.
So, back in November I made this owl as part of my Thanksgiving perpetual calendar. (click on the link and go to my WWPDT gallery)Remember him?
He's super cute, but he's also only 1 1/2" wide.


So, I wanted to make a bigger version of him.
I decided to make him for my thank you cards to the generous
partner companies of the WorldWin Design Team.
And I had 8 of them to make.


So, to make these OWL Thank Who? cards I could see in my head...first, I decided it would easier to make multiples of them, if I had a template for the bodies to make it go more quickly.So, I used WorldWin Crafty Board to make my template.


And then I used it to make this one: And when it was done...I made all these! But, I had these beautiful Webster's Pages papers that our partner company sent us to use, so I made them a special one
out of their papers. This is the Sweet Charity Line .
This line is designed by Terri Conrad and it's just so pretty!!!!
And I think the owl looks so cute, too...in the Webster's Paper!!

A fun box from Tam!

Check out this really cool stuff Tammy sent me!!!

Most of it is TLC.

Thanks girl!!!!!!!!!!

I AM BETTER!!! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy to be feeling better!!!!!!!

I have done laundry.
Paid the bills.
Cleaned our bedroom.
Cleaned M's bedroom (although she trashed it again 7 minutes later!)
Did menu planning and grocery shopping for 2 weeks.
Etc. boring house stuff!!

I'm just be glad to be moving again.

Thanks for all your sweet inquiries on how I am!!
I have the best friends ever!!!!

Well, I was right....

I have a blazing ear infection.

It's really bad. It hurts all the time.

When I open my mouth, my ear pops.

When I bent over to pick a toy up off the floor, I almost fell over!
(basically....ear infections can mess with your balance! Super fun!!)

I can't sleep well. In fact, I have lortab for my migraines and i took one last night,
and I was still up most of the night, hurting and hurting and hurting.

Let's hope the anti-biotic kicks in by tomorrow! I'm over it.

I'm sick....

Well, I feel like a pre-schooler, because I'm going to the doctor because my ear hurts. I've felt like doodie for about 5 days and my ears have hurt for 3 of them. It's just getting worse. So, I'm breaking down and going to the doctor. It's freezing cold and it's supposed to snow starting around lunchtime. 2-4 inches they say. I have to take the 2 littles with me.
Yep, I'm tired (not sleeping well) and cranky.

Hope everyone is feeling much better than me!



(Look for some new projects from me soon.
I have 4 done on my desk I hope to upload later today!!)

It's a miracle!!

I can't believe it, but not only did I get this email from my *sweet* design team coordinator, Yvonne.....

Yvonne Busdeker to me

1:29 PM (9 minutes ago)

It was a good mail day - I have the card. How stinking cute!!! Great job.

No stressing now!

y



But, she warranted it important enough to give me a phone call to let me know, too! (with a super sweet message about how much she loved it!)

I'm sending the USPS my therapy bill!! :D


PS....It's been 10 days since I mailed it. Priority. (no, I'm not sure how many times I'm going to point that out!)

post office, update....

Well, it appears they have lost it.

Completely and totally lost it!

I talked to my DT coordinator tonight and it did not show up today.

So, guess what I'm gonna be doing in a day or two.
Yep, re-doing it.

That's ok, though,
BECAUSE IT'S STINKIN' CUTE &
I want people to see it!


Darn post office.

ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! I AM M.A.D. at the post office!!!!!

THIS is how I am feeling right now!!!!

So, guess what happened!?!?

Remember last week when I was bustin' my booty working on my "Secret Assignment" for CHA!?!?!

Well, I mailed it to my Design Team coordinator LAST FRIDAY and mailed it PRIORITY MAIL.

IT'S THURSDAY AND IT's STILL NOT THERE!!!!!!

PRIORITY MAIL is supposed to be 2-3 days delivery, versus as many as 4-5 days for regular First Class Mail. Priority Mail costs more than First Class Mail.

They have given me a false sense of security, allowing me to feel that they make my mail their "Priority." Yea, right. At this point, it's taken 5 days and it's still not been delivered. I am just sick about it. I worked hard on that. Blood, sweat and tears. Seriously. My assignment was hard for me, because I was not in love with the papers I was assigned to use. (turns out after working with them, now I love them!!) But, my point is, completing the assignment was a challenge for me and I rose to the occasion and created something adorable, something I was really proud of. And now, it's lost, I guess. There is no way to know, really.

So now, I am left to be disappointed, disgusted and angry. (and adding more stress to my life, because my design was hand sketched, and hand-cut...meaning it's one of a kind.

What else is there to say?

MAYBE it will show up today.

Thanks for NOTHING, US POSTAL SERVICE!!! :(