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.

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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!

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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!

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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

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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

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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!
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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.

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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!!!

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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.

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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!)

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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!
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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!

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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!

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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!!!

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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!

obviously taking a break...

I wish I cpuld say I planned it this way, but I am SICK, SICK, SICK! It would totally figure that I would take a couple of vacation days only to spend them sleeping in between doses of nyquil, chicken and stars soup and hot tea. My throat feels like it has been sanded with coarse grit sandpaper and I swing between fever and chills... Hoping you are all better than me! Take care and I will see you when I am feeling better...

The Christmas Story

The Christmas Story

Even though it is very familiar, read this story slowly and just imagine...

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

(Luke 2:1-20)

Beautiful Card from my BS2!

A beautiful card in my mailbox today! This one was handmade by my BS2, Sharon (and I'm sure Aub had something in it as well!) The scan doesn't do it justice, the little berries on the holly are sparkly and the image on the front is so pretty!

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Busy with work and things. I will tell you my favorite Christmas traditions though. Every year since my junior year of high school (20 years ago, OMG!) my mother has hidden jewelry on the Christmas tree for me and my sisters and Melanie to find. The other tradition I like is going to Red's on Christmas Eve. All of the great big family of cousins and kids are there and it is just nice to visit and have a good time with them!

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My husband's favorite tradition is to drive me crazy with hints about my present from him and what lengths he has gone to hide it from me. Drives me absolutely nuts, I tell ya!!!

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Take care!

A Mighty Long Post!

Babs sent me this a few days ago. Thought it would be fun to share with all of you, since I haven't been my usual ranting self since my change of jobs at Wally-work! This is the getting to know your friends Christmas Edition 2008....
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1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? Both, depends on the item!
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2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial – I’m married to the original Grinch...LOL!
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3. When do you put up the tree? When the kids are here to help do it, one year it didn't go up until December 26th. We do our Christmas when the kids are here. After our first Christmas together, we decided it was too much for the kids to do both homes on Christmas day, so we pick a day, usually the morning after the first day they get here on Christmas vacation to have Christmas morning with them. Less stress and a fun and relaxing day for us. Many of the ornaments for the tree belong to the kids, they pick a new one each year, so I like for them to be here when we put the tree up to put on their ornaments.
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4. When do you take the tree down? After Russian Christmas
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5. Do you like eggnog? Not really, but Grinch drinks enough of it for both of us! I am more of a cocoa kind of gal!
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6. Favorite gift received as a child? As a child I got a Cabbage Patch Kid the year that they were super hard to get and I really wanted one!
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7. Hardest person to buy for? My Mom and Dad
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8. Easiest person to buy for? DH
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9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, and it goes in a stable that my Dad made out of split twigs for me several years ago. I also have a Christmas village that DH painted for me when way back when we first were dating.
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10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, if I ever get them finished!
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11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Clothing that didn't fit (the person who bought it for me wears the same size, so she had to know they wouldn't fit.)
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12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Not really movies, but I love Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon specials)
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13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year long, I keep a tote of stuff that I buy throughout the year, but we LOVE to shop on Black Friday!
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14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
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15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's Pineapple Filled Cookies
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16. Lights on the tree? Yes, only white ones, no blinking or chasing it makes me ill!
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17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night. On a side note I would like to shoot the person who wrote that awful Shoes for Mama song... I would rather listen to Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer NON-STOP from Thanksgiving to New Years than hear that darn shoes song once!
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18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Stay at home
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19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Curly, Larry, Moe, Schleppy, Gus, Hardrock, Coco, & Joe, right?
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20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
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21. Open the presents in the morning? DH likes to open them Christmas eve. We do Christmas at our house when the kids are here, so that could be any day between Christmas and New Years. (see question # 3 for the LONG answer...LOL!)
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22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I work at Wal-mart, need I say more???
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23. What theme or color are you using? None in particular, just an eclectic collection of stuff from through out the years.
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24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nothing really, but some peace and quiet and family here, but those two don't usually go hand in hand! LOL!
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Now my question for you all… What is your favorite Christmas Tradition? (or you could answer all of the above questions!) I will tell you my favorite tradition tomorrow!

Let it snow, Let it snow... NO NOT REALLY!!!!

Just doing my part out here in blog-land to keep things going while Babs is away! I hope all goes well for her and her big event!

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How about a little RESIST today???

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This page border was the make and take for my CMC's crop this past Friday. The snowflake squares are stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. After they set you sponge on your ink and then wipe away with paper towel. Where you embossed the ink will not set in, that my friends is the RESIST part!

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The squares were punched with the CM Square maker and matted with the largest. Card stock is CM Caribbean Blue. Ink is Delta, Royal Blue, available at Michaels.

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Behind the squares I randomly stamped a snowflake cluster stamp from my extensive collection of snowflake stamps. TA DA!!! A quick and easy border for a scrapbook page!

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I did something today that I have not done for a very long time. (No not that!) I printed pictures, about 50 of them. I have not been a very good scrapbooker lately. I do not print my pictures often and it has really made me get really behind on my scrapping. I even printed some in different sizes! I am usually a standard 4 x 6 printer and I don't edit often either.. just too darn lazy I guess!

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So I am thinking of some New Years Resolutions.... I have thousands of pictures on the computer and on my memory cards, so my plan is to print ten to twenty a week AND actually get them on to pages! But I have time to make my resolutions... at least a few weeks!

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I am still plugging away on my Christmas cards too... little by little they are coming along!

Take care!

How Do You Like the New Look?

Just popping in quick to say hi! What do you think of the new look? I decided to go "winter" instead of Christmas, because I don't want to have to update again in a few weeks... LOL... Lazy, I know!

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I got a pretty good start on the Christmas shopping this past Friday and I am working on gathering my recipes for the cookies I plan to bake this year.

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DH got a deer today, a rather LARGE doe, and he still has several days of his hunting vacation to go, so there may be a buck in the future here too. He was pointing to where his second shot hit in this picture. How about your hunters? What tales from the forest are they telling this year? Sorry to anyone who is squeamish about game pics. I am just happy he got a deer this year!

Take care!

First Christmas Card of the Season!!

I love opening the mail box this time of year and seeing Christmas cards in there! It makes up for the rest of the year when all I get in that box is bills and junk! This one is from my friend Angie and her family. I just love it... Those litte hedgehogs are too cute!

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So, it has been a busy couple of days at Wally-work. Hope all your holiday plans are coming together and you are finding all the things you want for in your stockings and under your tree!

I am still working at my Christmas cards, but at least I got started!

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Take care!

Thankful

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am full of turkey and stuffing and ready for a triptophan induced nap! After a nap, then some dessert and coffee and pouring over the Black Friday Ads... nothing much has flipped my lid this year on the ads so far. Got the cute little poem below from two of my gal pals today... thought it was cute and wanted to share it with you!

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May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

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Also a little Thanksgiving freebie for you all.... Check out this free E-book from Living on a Dime. Just click for the link to the Gifts in Jar download. It doesn't take long at all! (Trust me, I have dial up and if I didn't think it took long, it really didn't take long!)

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Take care, maybe I will see you bright and early with the crowds shopping!!!

Counting Down til Turkey Time!!!

Starting tomorrow morning my DH is on vacation for twelve... yes, twelve days... I see a "Honey-Do" List in his future... of course he has his own list in mind.. something about hunting a BIG BUCK???

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Seriously, I hope he gets his big buck and I told him he could hang it anywhere he wants in his shed! LOL!

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My favorite part of the day on Thanksgiving is in the evening sitting around with a cup of coffee and a piece of pie and ALL OF THE BLACK FRIDAY SALE PAPERS trying to get a game plan as to what we really want and where we are going shopping! As strange as it seems, after fifteen years in retail... I LOVE TO SHOP ON BLACK FRIDAY!!! We usually have a big crew and we like to hit Wally-work first and then head out from there. I seriously crack my Mom and her friend Betty up... I am like... "Come on let's get moving... No time for coffee... If you drink it now you will just have to pee later!" Typically I do not like crowds or noisy places, but there is just something about the energy on that day that appeals to me, go figure!

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We have a secret weapon too, my baby brother (only brother) Char. He goes with us every year... even though he has to explain to his boss that he needs the day off to go shopping with the girls! LOL!!! We have to feed him through out the day, Shmuffins & coffee to start with and then a bigger breakfast later in the day. He is our go-to guy, fighting the crowds to get the things we really want. We pretty much get a cart and go hang out in ladies wear and let him bring the loot to us. Then he hauls it all home in the truck while we go for more! Gotta love that!!!

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After a day of crazy shopping we then come home, relax for a bit and then head out to our second day after Thanksgiving Tradition... Barb's Crop! She always has one on that day and she makes the WORLD'S BEST Homemade Vegetable Soup!!! (It is so good and the perfect thing for those of us who are all turkey-ed out!)

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In honor of the pumpkin card, here is a recipe for Crock Pot Pumpkin Pie Pudding. I have not made it or tasted it, but I have on good authority from several trusted cooks that it is to die for, like warm pumpkin pie without the crust, yummy goodness.

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Take care!

Nothing says fall like apple picking!

This is one of my favorite SU! sets, For Father. It was in the last mini catalog I believe. It has Three image stamps and one sentiment. The other images are a puppy with an old work boot and an old wooden tool box. I don't have alot of "masculine" stamps so this one is my go to set for all things guy!

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I don't know if it is like this for you all, but for me, getting started is the hardest part of doing my Christmas cards. I have the idea in my head, I pulled the card stock from my stash, but darn am I having a rough time putting the stamps to paper. I actually have gone with a MUCH more traditional look this year... Red, White and Silver. I also have been using the same sentiment in my cards from year to year as well. It is one the I like and it says what I want to say, so I just print the insides of the cards on the computer. Last year my cards were pastel and the year before that I was ALL PURPLE! I got a great little acrylic stamp set from Wally-work for $2.96. It has an angel, a flourish with a star and "Joy to the World" sentiment. Now I just have to get the motivation to get moving on them. I really cut down my card list this year as well, mostly because I want a much more simple holiday and sending out 50+ handmade cards is not simple at all!
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Take care!

Anybody out there????

Watercoloring is one of my favorite stamping techniques. I taught myself, like I learn alot of things, by trial and error, mostly error! The stamped image is from Art Impressions and is not one that I own. It belongs to a friend. I love swapping stampies with my pals! It is so much fun to share your stamps, since they can be an investment. Since coloring this fella, though, I have decided that I do need a scarecrow in my collection of stamps.

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Back to the original question.... is anyone out there? I catch all kinds of heck for not blogging for a couple weeks and now that I am back where did you all go? I am sure that everyone is just busy getting ready for Turkey Day!
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Take care!

A Few More Fall Cards for the next few days....

because once I have these all posted to the blog I am going to surrender to the snow and winter and get on with the Christmas ones....

This stamp is one of the first ones I think I ever bought, what seems like a lifetime ago! It is from Inkadinkado (6207P), not that I think it is still available. I pull it out every year and use it though! I colored the image with watercolor pencils and an aqua painter. The oak leaf pattern paper is from my immense stash of paper. It was either not marked or I cut that off and it is glued down on a card already. I do wish that I had about 10 more sheets of it since it goes so well with the stamp! Ribbon is Michael's $1 Bin.

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Things are slowly coming back together here at the Holbrook Homestead. DH almost has the top layer of sub floor in the bathroom done so I can start tiling it. We also nearly have the furnace woes taken care of. We got an updated replacement part for the broken mercury switch, which is no longer being manufactured. The (very) young kid behind the counter at the heating and plumbing store didn't even know what it was when Ken handed it to him. The older guy working next to him, chuckled and said he knew what is was and what to replace it with. Tomorrow will be a new belt on the motor and all will be back in business!

Ken is furiously working to get all these things done before his 12 day hunting vacation. It is funny, I thought I packed Murphy's bags and sent him packing, but apparently one night while we were both at work he sneaked back in.

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Any big Thanksgiving plans? I am really looking forward to the turkey!!! Thanksgiving is a pretty great holiday... almost as good as the 4th of July according to Linnie! (Linnie likes the 4th since you don't have to buy gifts, clean the house and you can throw away the dishes!)

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Take care!