I Love a Good Baby Shower!

It is always a good time when the ladies of my family get together to celebrate! We always have a great time and the food is always fantastic! Sandwiches, macaroni salad, veggies & dip, pizza casserole, beer bread & dip, rosa marina salad, cake, cheesecake... I know there were some other things too... YUMMY!

I don't know if you have ever played this game at a shower or not... but we did... We passed around diapers that had melted squished candy bars in them....I kid you not! It was too darn funny, smelling a chocolate "turd" in the diaper and if you were brave enough, sampling it to see if you could guess what the candy bar was. There are some pretty funny pictures of that game that probably will need some serious explanation in somebody's scrapbook!

*******

There was a lot of ohhhhs and awwws at the cute & pretty little girl outfits. Above is the card I made for the parents to be. A tutorial can be found here >>> Onesie Card Tutorial. It is super simple and this gal has a GREAT blog!

*******

Take care!

Just a card today...

Hi! Just a quick post with a card today. I am working six this week, so not getting much crafty done.

*******

Sympathy cards are one of the hardest for me to make. The others are fun and cute and somehow just easier. This card is a little larger than normal for me. It is a 5x7 size. Papers are Creative Memories. Image stamp is SU! It is watercolored and blended with an Aqua painter. I accented it with a Gelly-roll glitter pen. Sentiment is a new one for me, just bought it at Art Tech last week. It is from Verses Rubber Stamps. The inside sentiment is an old one for me, it is from

Ann-ticipations and says

"In the days ahead, may the

memories be your comfort

and may time bring you peace."

My friend Jody and I were talking about how it is hard to find secular sympathy cards. I thought this one fit that bill somewhat.

*******

Take care!

The Crop Report & News!

So, the Camp Harmony Crop was this past weekend. We had a really nice size group of about 40 ladies and one dude! (Hi Aub!) Hopefully a great time was had by all!

*******

I can say that I had a wonderful time of it! This crop was probably one of the best we have had yet. Lots of things were happening! I want to give a special thank you to the wonderful ladies who donated handmade cards to me for the booth at the camp's Heritage Festival. I am feeling so much better that I will not have to spend my summer inside whipping up cards since you all really came through for me. I received about 100 beautiful handmade cards for the booth!

*******

Also I have a really nice pile of stuff to donate the the Children's Aid Home of Somerset. You ladies rock!!! I can't wait to take the stuff to them!

*******

Now for the news! I announced at the crop our fall crop dates.

Plans are coming together for the fall crop. Registration forms are not quite ready but should be available soon. Save the date.... November 20 & 21, 2009! We are going to crop both days this time. I am so happy about expanding the crop! We can accommodate 65 scrapbookers in the cropping room and have sleeping accommodations in Harmony House for 40. We are planning to have several cropping packages to choose from.

*******

Special thanks also go to our vendors, Barb Shaffer, Creative Memories; Staci Shuck, Grove's of Huntington; Brenda Inches, Scrapbooks by Inches; and Sharon's Handmade Cards.

*******

And last but not least, my CREW, Barb, Angie, Brie, Mom, Abby, Chicksa, Nikki, Sharon & Aub! Could not pull this crop off without all of your help!

*******
Take care!

Happy Easter!

Sorry for the long lapse in blogs. I have been busy getting ready for the Camp Crop coming up this weekend. I am so excited for it to finally be here!
I LOVE tulips, so this little $1 stamp from Michael's just jumped into my hands and said "take me home!" so I did. Image is watercolored. Embossing is Cuttlebug. Papers are CM. Ribbon is WM. Super simple!
*******
Big announcement about the fall crop coming up... so check back!
Take care!

Out with the Snowmen, in with the posies!

So it has been a little while since I have posted. Been busy and been sick. That about sums it up!

*******

I can give you a few more details... I have been working. As a matter of fact I go back to work tonight for SEVEN nights in a row. YIKESSSS!!!! That is just craziness!!

*******

I was at a crop this past weekend coordinated by my friend Lori. Her group is called Crop Circles! Pretty nifty name. She had about 45 ladies from PA, MD, VA and I think someone came from as far as Colorado. We were at the Arena in Bedford. I had a wonderful time (Except for the being sick part, which I will get to in just a minute.) I taught two make and takes, a mini-tin accordion album and the Dahlia fold page. As usual the Dahlia fold was a HUGE hit and the mini-tin was pretty good too.

*******

My BS2 joined me there on Saturday and we had a wonderful day of making some cards. I have some to post up later on this week. (Just don't take me to McD's for Cinnamon Melts, cause you will learn more about me than you want to, right Sharon and Aub?)

*******

Now to the sick part... You know, last time I was sick, back in January I was nice and kept it to myself. I didn't share it with anyone. Too bad my DH couldn't do the same for me. He got sick and then I got sick. Apparently it starts in the head/sinuses and moves south... from the looks of it I am at phase 2, congested chest and coughing my darn head nearly off. He is at the don't get too far from the bathroom phase... probably TMI, but oh well... you came here!

*******

More later, glad to be back! Take care!

The Boy Scout Cake Bake

We have alot of talents in my family when it comes to doing some scouting things... my brother Char can build one heck of a Pinewood Derby car and has assisted his nephew in building theirs. My Dad is the best Dutch Oven cook that I know. Cousin Amy is a box oven wiz! I am apparently the Cake Bake assistant. I helped my nephew Nathaniel with his cake this year, no pictures of me... I was still in my Pj's and looking kind of rough! LOL!!!

My nephew Nathaniel working on his cake for his scout troops Blue & Gold Banquet and Cake Bake. The cake idea was one from my most favorite magazine... Family Fun. He got the hang of making stars pretty quickly.
The finished product.

Directions for the Edible Excavator are HERE! He did not win a prize with his cake, but he was very proud of it and it brought $54 at the auction. (Helps when Nana is bidding on it!)

*******
Take care!

Friends on Friday 2/20

Featuring some more of Sharon's creative work today. The basket she did as a make and take t the last crop. The other candy holder was one that she gave me a while back. I love that she surprizes me with candy all the time! I am relatively sure that the patterns/instructions for both of these are on Splitcoast.

Sorry for the week long absence. I haven't been too crafty and quite honestly am in a funk. I am worried about our economy and country. The octuplet mom is making me nuts. I think I need to turn off the news, but it is like a train wreck that you can't help watching. I want the blog to be a happy & fun place and since I don't feel that way right now it has been hard to drag myself to the keyboard. Hope you understand.
*******
My BS1, Babs sent me info about a crop next month and I want to pass it along to you. It is on Saturday, March 28
10 AM to 10PM
Westmont Grove
benefiting
Beginnings, Inc
$25 per person plus a toy donation
(suggested shape sorter, ring stacker, wooden puzzle)
Monies will be used to purchase Boppy's, carpet, and other toys at Beginnings request for babies with disabilities and developmental delays.
Lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks and drinks provided.
Pre-registration required.
255-7488
They are also accepting donations for a scrap supply yard sale to raise more funds.
*******
Take care!

First Friends-day on Friday the 13th!

Sharon, my BS2 is my featured friend today. She sent me many things to share, but I chose this one first since it is so close to Valentine's Day! She will have to post the details in the comments section. I have to say that these little Valentine treats are just so SWEET!

*******

Thanks for sharing with us today!

*******

Take care!

SCS- Wednesday

Hi All!

This Wednesday card feature works well when I am actually off work on Wednesday! LOL! Plus, the card that I made is one that I actually need to use this week, so BONUS!

THIS WEEKS SKETCH LINK ON SCS
THIS WEEKS GALLERY LINK

So, some details on this card... it is going in the mail tomorrow...

All materials are from my immense stash of goodies.

Stamp is from the SU! set Older & Wiser. There is a sentiment stamp that goes with it. It says "did i at least get the month right?

happy belated birthday!"

It was a hostess set from two catalogs ago.

Image is colored with inks and a blending pen. Sparkley accents are from a Gelly-roll pen.

The image panel is a CM Tag Punch! I am loving that new punch!

*******

I am getting about one registration for the crop in the mail each day. It is so much fun to go to the mail box and see who is in there each day! Takes some of the sting away from the bills that come in there!

*******

I have a FRIEND for this FRIDAY!!! Yeah!!! I am so excited to finally have something to post for that feature! I also have a follower! I was so surprised to see that when I logged on, so I wanted to give a shout out to my follower! Hi Jessica! This is her BLOG. I don't know how you found me, but welcome!

*******

Hope you are all doing well. If I am missing over the next few days don't panic, I am back on a six day work stretch.

Take care!

Twos-Day 2/10

For today's Twos-day Feature I have a couple of really cute, fun and EASY Valentine projects!!!

First is the U-Rock I-pod Valentine! Both of these ideas came from Family Fun Magazine, Feb 2009. The little boxes of candy hearts are available everywhere this time of year. The sample in the magazine was pink, but I am thinking that I will give this one to Travis and pink isn't his favorite color. The magazine one used mini-PB cups for the ear buds, but I liked the Hershey Kisses. Now for the best part.... the screen and scroll wheel are available on the website as a PDF download. There are two on the page, one with their choice of songs and one that you can type in your very own list of favorite songs. Get the download HERE.
How super cute are these pencils. They are called "Get to the Point!" I am sure they would be even cuter if they were made with Valentine theme pencils or pens. The font I used is called Scrap Kids and was at one time a free download from ScrapNfonts.com I printed a page of them using a template for return address labels, 30 on one page. Tags were made with the Creative Memories NEW Tag Punch. I will have to feature it in a future post. It is a pretty nifty two step punch. I embellished the tags with a tiny scrap of paper on the end and tied it to the pencil with a pretty ribbon.
*******
I wasn't true to the two projects from one (tool, stamp, paper) but I hope you like the projects anyway! The magazine that they came from is one of my favorites. I have subscribed to it for many years. I get so many fantastic ideas from it for paper crafting and kids craft projects and recipes and cake ideas and Halloween costumes. It isn't expensive either, just $10 a year.
*******
Take care!

Ebay Monday 2/9

Nothing on ebay last week was really wowing me, so I didn't do an Ebay post last week... Hopefully today we will do much better. What do I have today??? You have heard about things going to the dogs, how about if we go to the FROGS???? A few Toad-ally awesome pages! I know, couldn't you just CROAK?? Stop it! Really! I am going to have to HOP out of my seat!!!

*******

Seriously here are some pretty darn cute froggies made by some pretty darn talented ladies!

Toadally Sweet

Three Frogs

Kiss Me Lunchbox Tin

Toadally Cute

*******

Hope you are all well and are enjoying our wonderful weather this week! I know that Punxy-Phil saw his shadow last week, but I have to disagree. I experienced a sure sign of spring on my way to work last night... someone (not me thankfully) hit the first stinky skunk of the season. If that doesn't mean spring is coming, nothing does!

*******

Take care!

Twos-Day 2/3 & a Bunch of other stuff!

Wow! I have been having trouble finding the time to sit and type out a post... so today you are getting it all.... How about a Twos-day project crossed with a Wednesday Sketch Challenge?

Sketch 213 from last week at Splitcoast. I did the card and I also made the Ghirardelli box. Let me say that the box was SUPER EASY and FAST!!!

These two projects came together with the help of a couple of friends. On the card, the flowery border punch was borrowed and the I Love You stamp was also a borrow! All papers are from my stash of scrappy scraps!!!
*******
Sharon, my BS2, and I love to share stamped images. It is one of my favorite things to do when I am at a crop with my friends. If your friends will let you check out the stamps that they brought with them and use them to make some stamped images for use in future projects take advantage of it! My best tip, though, is to use your own stamp pads. When you go to use the images later you can coordinate the ink color better. It helps for matching and also inking the edges, since you may not have the color that you stamped the image with to begin with.
*******
LINK TO SCS SKETCH CHALLENGES

LINK TO GHIRARDELLI BOX TUTORIAL
*******
Take care!

Twos-Day 1/27

I told you I was in Valentine Mode, finally!

Today's projects are brought to you by my most excellent SU! consultant and BS1 Bab's over at Babbie Blogs. I am a saver of scraps. All the pattern paper for these two projects was left over from our treat holders that we made at our last S7 Meeting. It is SU! double sided paper. The stamp is from Michaels $1 holiday stamp bin. Punched with the EK whale of a punch circle. Ribbon is Wal-mart. Corner punches on card are made with an EK stitching punch, left unstitched. There is a Ghiradelli chocolate square in the little package, the base of which is the SU! Top Note die cut. Ink is SU! Riding Hood Red. Hearts in the center of the stamps is stamped on the pattern paper and cut and paper pieced onto the image.

*******

Just a random thought here. This past Sunday, without football, was the LONGEST DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD! I can't believe how darn long the day was, it was like it was NEVER going to end! On a bright note, just a few more days til the SUPER BOWL!

A link for my PITTSBURGH STEELER FANS....

STEELER ADDICTS.com!

*******

Take care!

Monday Ebay

Monday, Jan 26

First things first! Be sure to pop over to The 3 E's blog to wish The Bag Ho a Happy Birthday!

*******

I am a big fan of handmade paper-piecings so you will see lots of those on this feature. That is why I chose this particular Ebay item for today's feature. I just loved it!

BORN TO BE WILD

*******

I have a few bonus Ebay links for you as well though, since Valentine's Day is coming up. A couple of things to say about these. First they are adorable, second, WOW! I wonder who I could get to pay that kind of price for them.

HERSHEY NUGGETS VALENTINE 1

HERSHEY NUGGETS VALENTINE 2

*******

Bear with me this week, I will be working six in a row, which is ALOT for me. I am trying to keep ahead of the features as best as I can, so far so good!

Take care!

Wednesday- SCS Card Sketch Challenge

Yes, It is Sunday, I am a few days late, work with me here... I wanted to give it a try to see how it would work. I had no luck downloading the sketch directly, so I had to print and scan it to post it. Then I had to actually make a card using the sketch. It did finally boot me into Valentine Mode though!!!

The sketch and all other information can be found at Splitcoast Stampers.

LINK TO SKETCH CHALLENGES

LINK TO SUBSCRIBE TO CHALLENGES

LINK TO THIS WEEKS SKETCH GALLERY

My card based on the sketch. I will tell you as much about the materials as I can recall. The base CS is DCWV from a stack. Both pattern papers are from a big pack of coordinating papers that have been in my stash for quite some time. Ribbon is from Wal-mart. Large stamped image is from Michaels $1 bin. Punched with EK whale of a punch. XOXO stamp is from a set of Valentine stamps purchased on clearance at JoAnn's a few years back. Ink is SU! Riding Hood Red, stamped off once to mute the color some. Small ovals were cut with oval & companion Coluzzle. Aren't I just a wealth of helpful information!
*******

I do enjoy the sketch challenge. It is a very good way to help along in the design of your cards. Think of it as a recipe, but you can choose the ingredients. If you decide to make your own card for the challenge please link it in the comments for the rest of us to see! I will upload mine tomorrow, since SCS doesn't do uploads on Sunday's to give the moderators a break.

*******
Take care!

We Have a Winner!

Last evening, before I fell asleep on the couch... yes, I do that most nights... I wrote down each name from Monday's comments. I am old fashioned, what can I say, no random number generators for me. My DH, Ken picked one for me and as you can see below the winner of Monday's goodies is.....

Barb R. from Bedford, I will be sending the goodies your way!!!

*******

Thanks ladies for the comments, I am so glad that you stuck around while I was down!

I am still working out the features for other days of the week, and may need to tweak Friday as well, since I didn't have a friend to showcase this week. I am pretty sure that on Wednesday I want to feature the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge and I think that I am going to have Random Thoughts Thursdays to catch all the other stuff of life.

*******
Take care, Have a good weekend!

Twos-Day

How about Two for Tuesday... one stamp (or sticker or embellishment, paper, whatever...) two cards. I chose the stamp that I am giving away... if you like it let a comment on Sunday's post. I know I should be working on Valentine's Day, but all this darn snow has me stuck here in the winter groove. (For the record, I did not use the actual stamp that I am giving, I bought one for myself, too!)

*******

Today's projects were a notecard and some of Mish's no fold flat front notes. Quick and easy, gotta love it. I did kick it up a notch with some glittery sparkles to accent the snowflakes.

*******

Take care!

Monday is for Ebay!

One of my pass times when I am not blurifng...LOL, I love that word, is to browse around on Ebay to see what beautiful and creative things are being sold by incredibly talented paper crafters. I thought that each Monday I would share one that I really liked. Today's can be found at this link--- Wizard of Oz Tear Bear Pieces. The gal that made these is WOWOWOW talented! They are gorgeous! Oh, to have the time and talent to make them!

*******

Growing up here in the sticks without cable TV, The Wizard of Oz was one of those movies that we watched every year like clock work when it was on TV and it was a BIG DEAL! (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was another one and The Sound of Music was the other one! Fond memories of both!) I have a set of Wizard of Oz Christmas tree ornaments. Every now and then when I am feeling nostalgic I will get out the VHS and watch one of those movies, I own them all. How is that for an interesting bit of info about me.

*******

Just a reminder... comment on yesterdays post to be entered for the blog candy!

Send me something if you want to be my Friend this Friday!

Take Care!

A Shameless Bribe from a BAD BLOGGER!

I am not above bribing... Giving away these stamps and ribbons to my faithful followers. Thanks for sticking around while I recuperated and got some of my creative Mojo back. All you have to do is let a comment on this post to let me know you are still out there. I will draw a winner on Friday, January 23. Thanks for hanging out with me!

*******

Crop registrations are starting to arrive! YEAH!!! Can't wait to see you all there! We will be in the dining hall again this time. I have four great vendors lined up, Grove's of Huntingdon, Scrapbooks by Inches, and Creative Memories and Sharon's Handmade Cards!
*******

My first weekly feature is going to be "Friends on Friday" so if you are a non-blogging friend I would LOVE to SHOWCASE YOUR CREATION on an upcoming Friday. Just email me a scan or photo of card or page that you made and I will post it up. I have some of the most talented friends out there, so I know there will be lots of great things to post!

*******

I am feeling much better, just the tiniest bit of a sore throat remains. One final thought---
GO STEELERS! WE LOVE YA BLACK & GOLD!!!!!

I Feel Like I Missed the Holidays

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the long lapse in posting. I have been pretty darn sick. It started the day after Christmas and got worse from there on. I took a couple vacation days while Trav was here and wound up sleeping pretty much for 48 hours straight. Worked New Year's Eve, sick and at that point could go no further. Called off sick NY Day evening and went to the Dr. the next day. I have strep throat, a sinus infection and an infected lymph node. The side of my neck was swollen and hard like a rock and I could barely turn my head. She put me on a very high dose of a very strong antibiotic with the stipulation that if I could not swallow the pills I was to be admitted for IV antibiotics or if I did not start to feel better by Sunday that I would go to the ER for the IV. Thankfully I am feeling a bit better today and I am able to swallow the pills, so I dodged the hospital stay!

*******

If you have a messy crafty room like mine I suggest heading over to Babbie Blogs.. she is having a messy room contest. Don't be shy... I sent my pic in and it is BAD!!!

*******

I hope your New Year got off to a better start than mine. I am thinking that I would like to do regular features here on EB for 2009. Monday would be this thing, and Tuesday something else... Let me know what you would like to see!

Take care!