Speaking of Ho's...LOL!

Yes, I am a ribbon ho... there I said it. I know it, I love it, I embrace it. I can't stay away from the $1 ribbon bins, the cut by the yard displays or the spools of holiday themed satins and grosgrain. I am not looking for a twelve set program to quit, but if anyone has a great twelve step program to organize it all put me in contact! Seriously, I do love the ribbon, but a lot of what I bought this round is for card crop goodie bags! (WINK! WINK!)
Some other irresistibles... those darn $1 acrylic stamps. They just keep jumping into my shopping basket and coming home with me. Pesky little things!

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On the home front, there is hot water at the Homestead as of yesterday morning. Thank goodness! There is also a mountain of dishes to wash.... I haven't yet trained them to wash themselves.

Take care!

Something that I actually made!

I thought I would show you something that I actually made today instead of something that I bought to feed my crazy addiction! I put this in the mail today, with a stamp and a quarter and a note to my mail carrier, since I never seem to get enough postage on my lumpy handmade cards. He is a very nice guy, and usually the next day there is a U.O. Me envelope in my mailbox with the amount of extra postage it required. The other reason for sharing something that I made is because my DH reads the blog and he is probably having heart failure over my shopping spree from my weekend in Washington, PA!

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I sent this out today to some very dear friends of ours from Florida. They are an older couple and he is starting his radiation/chemo treatments today. We are keeping them in our thoughts and prayer and hoping for the best!

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The image is Stampin' Up from the Spring mini catty, I think the name of the set is For Father. Image is stamped with brown StazOn and then colored with watercolor pencils and blended with an aqua painter. Papers are most likely DCWV card stock stack, they were pulled from my scrap folder, so I can't be sure. Eyelets are Dollar tree and twine is Wal-mart hardware dept.

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Saying Hi to Babs and Becky! Since you gals are keeping blogs now I am having to do better with posting regularly, so thanks for the kick in the pants!

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Also saying Hi! to the Bedford Ladies (yes I know, I use "ladies" loosely!) I hear that there is a bag ho amongst you, but hey, I am not here to judge... (says the self proclaimed Ribbon Ho!) LOL! You ladies are soooo much fun and I can't wait to see you all again!

Take care!

New Sizzix

Even though I did become quite proficient with the Cricut the other weekend at Jody's house, I do still love my Sizzix and my Cuttlebug! These are some of the new dies I purchased recently. I am really LOVING the swirls and flourishes, can ya tell?

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I am so glad that you all are liking the new look! I was so ready for a change!

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It was a normal crazy Monday at Wallywork. On the home front we do have water again, but only cold, so we are still trekking to Mom's next door for showers. Hopefully by tomorrow afternoon the hot water will be back in business. The pipe burst just ABOVE the shut off valve and sprayed all over the breaker box for the hot water heater so we have to let it dry out super good before we can turn it back on. Thankfully it woke me and we turned the water off to the whole house and shut down the breaker. It is always something around here.

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I am also searching for some summer sandals, so if anyone has any recommendations send them my way~ I tossed my old favorite sandals after 3 summers of wear, they weren't going to make it for a fourth summer.

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I am also going to be at Wallywork on Saturday. We are having another Speaking of Women's Health event. I will have a table set up to do some card making. I am actually going to do a make and take Mother's Day card. Stop in and see me from 11 to 2! I also get to promote my Camp Harmony events!

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Take care!

So I got a make-over!

How do you like the new colors and Swirlies???

There are also a few new Blogs I Love! on the list to the right.

Take care!

Have you checked out Heart & Home??

This great magazine used to be called Homegrown Hospitality, but it got a make-over. It is full of cute and fun paper and crafty projects. It took me forever to find a copy of it, finally got it at JoAnn's in Greensburg. There are ideas for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, reunions and other special events. You can get the inside info on the next issue due to hit the stands in a few weeks at Homegrown Hospitality, Stephanie is the inspiration behind the magazine.
Above are some of the bargains I got over the weekend at Michael's in Washington, PA. Journals for altering for 50 cents a piece and note cards for 50 cents as well. The note cards were purchased primarily for the pretty colored envelopes. The note cards I may use as card bases, just because the envies are about 1/4 inch smaller than a standard invitation envelope so I would have to remember to make the cards smaller anyway and I hate to just throw them away. So 10 card bases with envelopes for 50 cents was a deal I couldn't pass up.

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The latest crisis at the Holbrook Homestead is a leaking pipe above the hot water heater. Not the best or most fun thing to have happen. Hopefully we will be back in business by tomorrow. Dad, DH and baby Brother will be hard at work fixing it right up.

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Just one other little detail... today was the start of Chicken BBQ season for us. The Hooversville 4-H club had theirs today. Next week is the Central City Boy Scout troop. I have to say that my Dad and Brother make some of the BEST chicken you will find in these parts. So if you want to give it a try just drop me a line and I will get you fixed up with some tickets. I am kind of bummed myself. I usually don't buy a ticket because there are usually extras available. Well, long story short, they sold out, so no chicken for me!
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Until later, Take care!

Sometimes it is all about the food...

Today I am sharing with you the recipe for the Baked Oatmeal that we serve for breakfast at the Camp Harmony Crop.

Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup applesauce

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 pkg instant vanilla pudding (dry)

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. allspice

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 cup milk

3 cups old fashioned oatmeal (not instant or quick)

Mix applesauce, brown sugar, eggs and pudding mix. Combine with other ingredients and put into an eight or nine inch baking dish. We usually spray the dish with some PAM. Top with sliced apple, raisins or nuts. My mom also says that she does pour some extra milk on it since it is kind of dry, sorry I can't be specific about how much, just mess with it and see what works for you! Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve hot with milk and brown sugar.

Now a couple of thoughts that I had... I wonder how it would be with banana pudding or butterscotch? Maybe some maple syrup in place of the brown sugar. I really like to take a recipe and play with it!

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It was all about the food and the scrapbooking this past weekend. I spent the weekend helping my Chicksa Jody work on her daughter's scrapbook. We got a ton accomplished and we ate the entire time we worked on it. Some of my favorite scrapbooking goodies are cookies from The Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown . Specifically lady locks and fudge filled chocolate chip cookies. I also got my Krispie Kreme fix, had some delicious veggie lasagna, waffles and sausage with real homemade maple syrup, sweet tea... you get the idea right?

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We also shopped our way from Somerset to Washington. We hit the WOW Outlet, Ollie's, Art Tech, JoAnn's, Crop Shop, and Michaels. I will have to post some pictures of some of my new purchases when I get a minute to photograph them. The added bonus of scrapping at Jody's is that we get to use the hot tub as well. I like scrapping at Chicksa's as much as any crop I have ever been to!

That is all for today! Take care!

My Friends are the BEST!

I think I have finally recovered from the Camp Crop. We had a great turnout, 54 Women came to scrap with us and it was sooo much fun! We ate food all day, did some really cute make and takes, played games,shopped for new stuff, drank sweet tea that *might* be as good as McDonald's, and hopefully got lots of scrapbook pages done! Thank you ladies for making the event a success. I am not sure yet what our project is going to be for the money we made. Camp has several needs and we will have to check with them about what is most urgent.

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Of course some of the door prize items we had ordered arrived UPS on Monday... so we have a head start on the Fall crop door prizes.

Now about my friends being sooooo wonderful.... these lovely items were given to me by my BS2, Sharon and my Chicksa, Jody. Sharon's (above) is a tent with HERSHEY KISSES in it! How cool is that! I just wonder how everyone knows about my chocolate addiction??? I think that they would make the most adorable favors for graduation or wedding or baby or Mother's day or Father's day or... are you getting my idea here??? LOL! Sharon did a make and take for the crop as well. She made her tea bag holder cards and her class filled up and overflowed! Thanks again Sharon!
Jody, my chicksa... she is my friend AND she introduced me to my DH, Ken. She altered this gift journal for me in my most favorite color of course! The inside is so neat too, there is a page for each person. You can list their birthdays, other special dates, things they like and dislike, sizes, gift ideas, and then on the opposite page you list the date, occasion and the gift that you gave to them. I just love it!

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So now that I am recovered from the crop weekend, we are moving full speed ahead to this weekend. I am going to Jody's for the weekend to work on her daughter Jessie's scrapbook. The goal is to scrapbook like CRAZY and get her book done (birth to graduation) in time for her graduation party. Jody worked her butt off for me at the crop on Saturday. She was the sweet tea maker and the brownie baker this time! I am just happy to be able to return the favor!

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Until next time, Take care!

Busy, busy, busy!

What I *really* would like is to sit and relax with some coffee or tea... however that ain't happening this week! Things are moving full speed ahead for the Spring Camp Crop! Registrations are in (about 60 of them!) and we have groceries to buy, food to cook, tables to set up, seating charts to work.... need I say more!

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Can't wait to see you all there! Since I have been seriously slacking here, let me send you to my BS1's blog, she has been posting some really cute projects. Check her out here at Babbie Blogs.

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Take care, see you at the crop!

Easter Preparations...

Getting ready for Easter here at the Holbrook Homestead. The kiddos arrived yesterday morning on the train. That was a first for all of us and we may use it again since it may cost less to do that than what it costs us in gasoline to drive to pick them up. I have to admit though that I was a bit nervous about it, but all was well in the end. We picked them up in the morning and stopped for breakfast together. I love those first couple of hours with them when we are getting caught up on all the things that are going on in their lives.

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I am not sure if we are going to color eggs this year or not. We usually use my cake decorating air brush to do them, so if Trav wants to we will but if not I will just make pickled eggs. Last year my eggs looked like they were camo colored after he was done with them. LOL!

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I will be making Country Pineapple Casserole to take to my Mom's for dinner tomorrow. It is so yummy, like sweet dressing for ham. You can find the recipe for it here. It is one of those delicious Taste of Home recipes! (Speaking of Taste of Home, my sister and I are going to the ToH Cooking School on April 3rd... More info here.)

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The card pictured above is one I made quite some time ago. The cardstock is all Bazzill. Easter eggs are done with Dreamweaver white embossing paste and a Dreamweaver brass stencil. After the paste dried I sponge stenciled with pigment inks, just blending them as I worked across the image.

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Hope the bunny lets a sweet treat in your basket!

Take care!

Been to the Dollar Tree again!

When I was there I found these very pretty packs of tri-fold card bases. They come four in the package, perforated, scored and they have very pretty patterns printed on them. Envelopes are also included, all for a BUCK! There were several different patterns to choose from some pastels and some neutrals. The package also says that you can run them through the printer.

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It seems that everyone has realized that Sunday is Easter and they have descended upon Wal-mart to buy their ham and candy. We have been crazy busy the past two days.

Take care.

HEYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! It has been a little while since I last blogged... we were having some issues with the computer, but that is all taken care of now, so hopefully I will be more on top of the blogging around here!

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Just because I have been away from the keyboard doesn't mean I haven't been crafting though! How about this cute little bright ray of sunshine! The stamps are Studio G from Michael's (surprise! LOL!) I used a sweet little button over the sun and some teensy tiny googly eyes on top of the button... it is a bit on the lumpy side, but sooooo stinkin' cute! The verse and the sunshine are water colored.

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It was a busy month for such a short month. It took me and my Mom working hours and hours and days and days and weeks and weeks to close out my Grandmothers apartment. I have no idea how she got alllllllll of the stuff that we hauled out of there into that little apartment. It was down to the wire on it, finished the day before we had to turn in the keys.

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I have also been busy with preparations for the crop which is just around the corner!

April 12 at Camp Harmony

9 AM to 9PM

$35

Drop me a comment or email if you need more info!

We have about 21 confirmed registrations and I know that at least that many more people have said they are coming but haven't sent their registrations in yet.

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So hey, hopefully you are all still out there and thanks for hanging around waiting for me to come back. Drop me a comment and tell me what you have been up to so I know you all are still there!

Take care!

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you all are doing well. All is crazy here as usual. I have had a bit of a cold the past few days, so I have been trying to take care of that. This weather has made for an enjoyable week as well!
I have also been trying to help my Mom get my Gram's apartment packed up and taken care of by the end of the month.

Just a quick post to let you all know my Grandma has passed away. Today would have been her 75th birthday. She went quietly in her sleep after a very difficult 5 months trying to recover from a hip replacement that became infected.

Take care.

Murphy's Law...

Yes we have been having one of those kind of weeks. I am blogging to you from my parents computer while simultaneously honing my wringer washer machine skills and babysitting my four year old nephew and Morgan the puppy. Well, I am not quite doing it ALL at the same time, but you get the idea. Clothes are washing, babysitting and blogging are occuring. We are having vehicular issues at the moment.. always a JOY. We are also having computer issues So if you don't hear from me regularly, just know that I am busy working on projects to post and will post like a mad woman once we get everything back to normal!

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Some things to look forward to...

• Last night I made 40 nugget wrappers for a 15th Anniversary Dinner for all of us crazy Wal-mart people that I work with! Hard to believe I have worked there that long. Pictures will be posted. Thanks BS2 for the pattern/sample!
• I am participating in a Trash to Treasure challenge hosted by my BS1. I have three items to alter/re purpose/bling-out. I have a few ideas swirling in my head. I would work on them at St. Andrews School Crop, but that would ruin the surprise!
• I made a cute little spinner card for our Crafternoon Crew gathering make and take. Valentine themed with super cute little stamps!
• I have make and take pages to work on for SASC for my CMC Barb Shaffer. I will be doing pages with the new snowflake/swirl punch.

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Until we meet again, take care!

An Old One, but a Favorite!

Just checking in to see if everyone is still warm and cozy, inspite of the weather. I have spent the past couple of days pretty much chained to the house, keeping after the coal furnace to keep my house toasty. Looks like some snow is coming this evening, I guess that is okay, since it had to warm up some for it to snow.

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This is one of my most favorite cards I have ever made, but man did it take some time to make it! It is stamped 3 times, watercolored, cut apart and layered with foam tape. The scan just doesn't do it justice. It is the only card like this that I have made.

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I am getting anxious for the St. Andrew School Crop coming up in about two weeks! I am planning some projects and hoping to minimize the amount of CRAP that I have to tote along with me. Can't wait to visit with gals from CPS, too! St. Andrew School crop is also well known for their fantastic meals! All of that uninterrupted cropping time is wonderful and when you add the good food, it doesn't get any better!

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Someone needs to kick my rear in gear too! I got my Cricut for Christmas and would you believe I have not used it yet???
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Take care!

What a CHILLY DAY!

Just a couple more cards made using my page-a-day calendar from last year.
This one with the three hearts is probably my most favorite. It is just so simple!

Wondering who all out there is planning to go to the St. Andrews School crop on Feb 1 & 2? Hope to see you there.

Insomnia....

2:05 AM....

Can't sleep....

Up surfing the SCS galleries....

The card in this post is mine from this weeks Sketch Challenge.... Search the gallery using SC159 to see hundreds of cards based on the design!

Some more of those addicting little stamps!!!!

These little cuties came from AC Moore. I have actually already used the Valentine ones, so I don't feel so guilty about buying them! I am kinda excited to use the St. Pat's ones as well, I have some fun papers to go with them! Since Easter is right on the heels of St. Pat's I will have to be on top of things. It is strange, it was New Years 2 weeks ago, Valentine's is in a month, and then right into St. Pat's and then BAM it is Easter. Seriously, St. Pat's is Monday and the following Sunday is Easter. I really am not trying to RUSH the year, but geez... could we get some time between the holidays!

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There was a question about the Carding Bee... I kinda named it that, like a quilting bee, but for Card crafters. I am planning a day at camp just for card makers. I hope to have some stamping companies to vendor and some neat make and takes to do. Alot of scrappers make cards, but not all cardmakers are into scrapbooking, so I wanted to host a day just for card makers. Originally I had this Christmas Cards in July thing planning in my head, but July was just too full on the Camp schedule. Hopefully next year I can get a July date!

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So what has everyone been doing with this hibernating weather we are having? I have been loading card pics up to Splitcoast. I am Lizzyscrapsnstamps over there. Hopefully this afternoon I will get my Sketch challenge card posted. I have never tried one before and I am loving it. It seems a bit easier to work with a sketch and just pick the papers to go with it!

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Keep warm and take care!

Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE my Cuttlebug?

These two were made using the "YOU" embossing folder for the Cuttlebug. So FAST, so EASY!!

Just zip the white sheet through, zip the red scrap through, ink it up, pop dot the red one on top and to quote my 4 year old nephew Tyler "VIOLA!" Love it!

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Been rearranging some furniture here at home. I have alot of mis-match, came with the house pieces that I am working with to make them more functional. I moved the antique sewing machine table behind the sofa and it works perfectly back there! It is just the right height and size. We also moved a quilt chest, quite rustic in style to the kitchen door area. It will be for seating and storage in our coat hanging area. This house is full of furniture and it has been very challenging trying to make it all fit and work together and be functional all at the same time. It is coming together a little bit at a time. I have quite a sentimental connection to the things in this house since they belonged to my grandparents. Bless my DH for putting up with my need to hang onto it all, since we have a rather small two bed, one bath house.

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Stopped in at Camp Harmony today as well. I wanted to firm up some calendar dates for some upcoming events. Mark your calendar ladies, we are planning a "Carding Bee" for June 14 and the Fall Camp Crop is on the calendar for November 8. I had really hoped to do "Christmas (Cards) in July", but July is just tooooo full of family reunions and other events, so we went to June for the Card event.

Take care!

I Can't Resist these Stamps!

Really, I can't go into a Michaels or AC Moore or Joann's without buying a couple of them! It was six on this particular day at Michaels. They are so cute and only a dollar!!

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I have been busy working on a make and take for my card club for this Friday and also on my recipe tags for the swap. We are doing a Red/white/blue BBQ theme tag book this time around. I will post pics when I have some to share!

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I have to confess that I didn't even get out of my PJ's today (Monday) I just showered before bed and put on clean jammies... I am such a BUM!

Take Care!