Check out this ADORABLE Santa!!!

I am going to have to research the lovely woman who posted this on Beate's list serve...but I CASE-d this....because it is SO STINKIN" CUTE!! It uses the Big Shot (available from Stampin' Up!) and the Top Note die ... It consists of 3 die cuts in Whisper White, Real Red, and Blush Blossom. I used the small 1/2" round punch for the holly berries, used the small oval punch on Handsome Hunter paper and then trimmed them up to look like holly leaves, the 1" round punch for his nose and the 3/4 punch for his mouth, and 1/4" round punch for his hat pom pom...I sponged pink cheeks and edged his nose with Pretty In Pink ink...and lastly, used some googlie eyes from the craft store...I kept the Santa on the candy cane stick but cutting a strip of whisper white 1 3/4 X 5 1/5, scored the piece at approximately 1 1/2 inches from both ends and then used the 1" round punch on both ends, and attached the middle portion of the white strip to the back of Santa. Then I was able to slip the candy cane stick through the two circles to hold it in place. The candy cane stick was one of those fabulous finds at the Dollar Tree, where they are 2 for $1....Put the whole thing in a clear gift bag and tied it off with Real Red grosgrain ribbon... DONE!!!! I am making them for my students and for my grand kids....they are so very quick and easy!!!! Try 'em, you'll like 'em!!! LOL

Shannon's 2nd birthday card...a lil bit of a mix...

So Shannon, the youngest grandchild, turns 2 this month and we celebrated her birthday this past weekend. She, as many children do, loves Dora...so I tried my best to give her a Dora card...so I used my Sock Monkey set from Stampin' Up! and a few odds and ends stamps I have collected over the years....Unfortunately, I did not pay enough attention to the BOOTS on the monkey in the invitation - whose name is BOOTS - duh! - I should have free handed a set of boots and put them on my purple monkey! Oh well...tomorrow's another day!! I used SU paper (of course - its the best!!!), Yoyo Yellow, Pink Passion, Confetti White and Whisper White. The hat, the monkey and the cupcake are all cut out after I stamped them in black Stazon ink and colored them with markers and watercolor crayons in the following colors: yoyo yellow, pink passion, creamy caramel, barely banana, real red, pumpkin pie, lovely lilac, pale plum, certainly celery, bravo burgundy, and real rust. Then I threw in a set of booglie eyes for good measure. Not 100% pleased with the results but Shannon liked it -that's all that matters!

I'm back...

I cannot believe how sick I have been...I had to leave school early on Wednesday, the 26th (and we had a 1/2 day to boot, dang it!)...and I was sick all through Thanksgiving, and the subsequent shopping days...and I had to take off sick days from school through Wednesday December 3rd...and I was STILL sick when I went back Thursday...ey yi yi!!! So then you have to fight back that lethargy that comes from being wiped out with illness...I would get home and go right back to bed...and I slept a lot this past weekend...and I have SO many things to do...I really didn't need to be sick right now...not that any time is good, but this was really really bad timing...AND I totally missed Thanksgiving dinner with my family (and by the time I could eat - I missed ALL the dinner - really bites, 'scuse my french)....not something to make me feel any better about the holidays, I must say.....so, anyway - I am finally back....and trying to get a bazillion things done all at once...but believe me....I am so GLAD to be back!

Guess what my Christmas card is going to consist of this year!!!???!!!

Check out this former Christmas card I sent - way back like '97 to '99 ... At that time I didn't have Scruffy's ears cut close, so all the hair was too heavy for his delicate ears to have them pop up like a normal Yorkie....and look at him...he is always saying, "Mom - get this crazy stuff off me!!" Why? Cuz he has coats, boots, costumes, shirts, sweaters....I think you get a little MORE nutty when you go from BIG dogs to SMALL dogs....Anyway....NEXT check out the stamp I just found in Michael's.....How PERFECT is THAT??!?!?!?!?!?!?

WAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY too cute!! ROFLMAO

Now - this is all you get until those Christmas cards are done....but how stinkin' cute, eh? I mean, now, really!!!!???

The October Stamp-a-Stack at Girl's Night Out!

Thankfully - our Stampin' Up! family shares their ideas and creations with us....and as I always say...I can recognize beauty when I see it!! So - with the dissertation process in FULL SWING...my brain is only focused on that and I have a hard time just keeping my brain from leaking out my ears, let alone come up with my own card ideas these days....So I CASE'd away again for the Novemeber Stamp-a-Stack...So check out what y'all missed!!!

This card was CASEd from a talented male demo, Kevin Theesen.

Recipe:

Stamps: Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Season of Friendship

Paper: Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Whisper White, DSP (either Haiku or Hawaii Papaya), Chocolate Chip

Ink: Versa Mark, Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Red Riding Hood Red

Access: Chocolate taffetta ribbon, glue dot

This card was CASEd from XXXX

Recipe:

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, French Script BG
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Kraft
Ink: Brown Stazon, Old Olive, Cameo Coral, Really Rust, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa (pad and marker)
Access: distressing tool, Spritzer tool, Tombo multi glue, dazzling diamonds, wide olive ribbon

And as always...a CASE from THE Patty Bennett!! She is "da bomb" - I tell ya'!! I love purses (who doesn't?!?!?!) so how stinkin' cute is this?!?!?!?!

Recipe:

Stamps: On Your Birthday, Priceless
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, So Saffron, Brocade Blue
Ink: Basic Black, Blue Brocade, Pink Pirouette
Access: Many Punches: small and large oval, 3/4 cirlce, 3/4 square, word window, round tab, 1/16 hand held, matching color, gold or silver brad

Soooooo - since you don't want to miss any more fabulous creations, make sure you come to my next Girls' Night Out!!!! Black Friday!!!!

Alright, I know this isn't a card, but how cute, eh?

Since Stephanie was born on October 25th - she was always lookin' good on Halloween...and this year at age 2 (just) - she took the cake!! She was Lil' Red....and big ol' shepherd Spike (shepherd and lab mix - a FABULOUS loving and protective dog- just hairy, hairy, hairy...) was of course The Big Bad Wolf dressed as Grandma...Everyone loved it!!! Stephanie also went as this at age one - but I can't put my hands on those pictures yet...and if you can believe it - are even cuter than these!!! So - since I just found these and have been posting personal and past pics on my "About you" page...I thought I HAVE to put this front and center!! LOL I hope you enjoy it too!! I love looking at 'em!!!

Spike was so good to keep that get--up on until I took it off him...

Two cards not used in September SAS

The following two cards were originally planned for the October Stamp-a-stack...however, I always show my DH my cards, and he always gives me the "great!" comment...and then I go on my merry way, since I LOVE positive feedback (who doesn't?)....and he saw these two and said, "....Oh...." "whaddya mean, '...oh'?" "...well - they're not like what you usually do..." "Like how?" "I don't know...not as fancy or something...." "GREAT!!! SAS is tomorrow night!!!!!! And you don't think these are good!!??! whaaa!!!" "No, no they're good, but...." "Don't but me mister!!! Harrumph.....Thanks a lot!!!" (yes I am often sarcastic!!) So - I was freaked out and self-doubting - and so Friday I came home from work and made two more cards and THEN cut all the paper for the event....Thankfully - I got it all done by 6:30 - but holy smokes, man! But - now that I look at the cards (and after the girls yelled at me because they liked them!!) - I realized the cards just aren't my normal STYLE...not that they were BAD....kwim? And unfortunately, my DH the silent one (for good reason!!! LOL), couldn't express quite what he meant...at least, I guess, I should be happy he could tell that I HAVE a certain style....

So this first card was CASEd from two cards I saw and mixed together...one was from Michelle Zindorf and one from Lee Conrey....

This next cutey, patootie was cased from Jen Peel, but I changed up the colors...

So enjoy the cards....and yes - NOW I know they were fine!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! (yessss...a Shirley Temple quote!)

WOW!

After visiting my SBS9 Sistah Sue's blog - I see she has linked an unbelievable blog candy from a fantastic crafter/stamper....so here is the link and good luck to you..and to me....I think I really want copics, darn it!!!!

Debbie's blog candy

Remember I told you I would share the individual cards from the September SAS? Here they are!! Finally!

Well - I blew it! I was supposed to save that Bob posting for tomorrow but hit post too soon!! Anyway...here are the three cards with recipes that I used for the September Stamp-a-Stack...This first one was CASE'd from Sally, a member of my sister SU group...

This next card is my version of the famous Patty Bennett (of Advisory Board fame!!)

This card was CASE'd from my dear friend and sideline Rhonda Morgan from AZ, who I desparately want to go visit!! LOL Still working on DH to let me vacation without him again!!

Anyway - the girls loved the cards and we all (as always) had a great time!!!

Two little shares...

Here is my version of what everyone was doing...Frankie!!! Too fun!! And how can you not LOVE the Big Shot!

This is the card that my "lil monkey" gave me for my birthday. She did this all on her own...AND she got me a wee little sock monkey...too cute...now where on earth did I put it? hmmmm

Our birthday cards to Bob...

These are the two cards that Stephanie and I gave to my DH Bob for his birthday - which was the 28th...In the pictures it is hard to see that I used Crystal Effects on the balloon - which is cut out and popped up with dimensionals- I also put CE on the cupcake sprinkles to make them stand out all shiny...the cupcake is cut out too - although NOT popped up...I used piecing for the cupcake holder thing...you people who cook out there- what do you call those things anyway? LOL

This is Stef's card for Bob...and the weird thing is that the DSP paper is the same DSP paper I used - the picture just came out strange...anyway...she embossed the "b" - this is plain but looks really nice IRL...she did this one all by herself too!! {sniff sniff} one proud mama!! LOL

Check out my birthday card to my twinnies!!

Listen, my brain may be mush from concentrating so hard on my dissertation, but I know a beautiful card when I see one (and case one, LOL). This beauty is a CASE from the famous Beate Johns...I just love the colors and everything...And my girlfriends who stamp HAVE to have fabulous cards...hence, the CASE!!! (rememeber, Copy And Share Everything)

Sorry I have been MIA...

I am sorry I have been missing in action these days...but the dissertation is taking way more out of me than I thought, and I can't give up...so close but sooooooooo far!!! Anyway...I have made some posts ahead of time that are pre-timed, so I have some other things to show you....I miss you all and to my SBS9 sistahs, I will be back again soon!!! Just not enough time in a day...kwim? If only we didn't have to sleep......{sigh}......

ok - TTFN
(ta ta for now!!)
LOL - yes its still me!! crazy as always!! LOL

...tick tock...doc...tick tock...OMG

Thanks to many of you for being faithful and visiting...I have been stamping, but have not had an opportunity to post...or take pics...I have actually been carrying around a handful of things to photograph, but have been so dang busy...and CRAZY!! ...LOL ...because as the post title suggests, my clock is ticking down....NO, NOT MY BIOLOGICAL CLOCK!!! {thank God!} - it's my doctoral clock...I have to be done {or I AM finished!} by Thanksgiving {that's the OMG part}...I can register for next term, because in order to defend your dissertation, you have to be registered - but my writing and research have to be DONE...and then there's the publishing and all the other paperwork "stuff" that has to be finished...I do still stamp in between though, 'cuz you know it is therapy for my poor, tired brain...

Anyway - the schedule has been: up at 5 for school (to teach) - home between 3 and 5pm (if I am carpooling- its late) - maybe a short cat nap - dinner clean-up (you know I don't ever cook) and then off to Barnes & Noble, which is not even 5 minutes from my house...I plug in my laptop, put in my earphones, and work my butt off til mostly 10 pm when they close M-TH... Fri and Sat open to 11 - woo hoo! All that while drinking several Caramel Macchiatos ...and no...by the time I get home and fall into bed...I go RIGHT to sleep...no caffeine problems here! So - in the area? Stop by and give me a little happy break and say hi!! My sore butt will thank you! LOL

This has been a LONG time coming, and I am so ready to be done. I had to stop out in early 2000 right after I took my comprehensive exam due to Bob's cancer # 2 (we just finished #4 a couple of months ago)...and I went through a series of what is referred to as survivor's depression - and then when I finally got myself re-instated back in school, I found myself facing a brick-wall block...which I am thankfully busting through as we speak...even though its still there...I just keep on smilin' and workin'!!! So - after that long blathering, would ya do me a favor? Keep me in your thoughts and prayers that I get this DONE...you will have no idea what it will mean to me...so leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! Please...I can use it!

Oh - and by the way...Girls' Night Out tonight!!! 6:30 pm - be there or be square!!! LOL So you see - I WILL have lots of cards to post after tonight!!! TTFN!!

All those October bithdays again!

So...I told you - 7 birthdays for us in October...mine being on the 5th is great because I get cards at every birthday party in October!! Love it! Anyway - Saturday was Stephanie's 23rd birthday....23...WOW....wasn't she just going off to kindergarten? Crap - it means I am old...well, as the saying goes, "Growing old is mandatory, growing up isn't!!" So - since my favorite past time is coloring....I won't grow up!! LOL So - tomorrow is Bob's and Halloween is Dad's so dinner out tomorrow and Wednesday, school celebrates all October birthdays after school Thursday (I feel a Lemon Drop coming on!) - and Halloween celebrations on Friday! Jam packed FUN!! Yippee!!

So - since my darling is a demo too, the card had to be "boo-ful" - so this lil gem from page 89 of the catty was perfect...since my brain stopped functioning without enough sleep, I had to CASE - but I can still color!!

Recipe:
Stamps: Eastern Influences
Ink: Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Close to Cocoa, Stazon black
Paper: tangerine tango, very vanilla, watercolor paper, DSP Haiku
Access: 5/8 old olive grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, aqua painter, distressing tool

Here is Stephanie with her ice cream cake - Bob made sure we had a cake for her on Sunday when she decided she wanted us to take her out...since her Dad went AWAY for her birthday with his wife to the shore house - AFTER asking her to go with him on a father /daughter weekend ....IDIOT! And he wonders why she has issues with him...DUH! My DH bought her the cake, made sure he called her on her birthday, and sang (badly) to her when we lit the candles....arghhh...it's NOT rocket science....see that cheesey smile....she is HAPPY! Of course, it's really just cause she's with her mama....

The Civil Union card...

Oh my! I had to think on this creation...I wanted it just right and I wanted it classy and appropriate...and look at this gem!! I made origami tuxedo shirts and when I started the folding, I accidentally scored a line down the middle - at first I thought it was a mistake but then I realized it looked like Bob's tuxedo shirt - so I ran upstairs to drag out his tux and shirt - and then I thought...hmmmm...cummerbund and bow tie...so, like, totally, like, what I wanted man....

I used Going Gray as the base with the shirts double mounted on black and the darker basic gray...used my ticket corner punch for emphasis, and I embossed the saying in black so it would stand out and be shiny (like the patent leather shoes of course!!) The saying is from the set....uh oh...I am going to have to look that up...and....OMG -its 1/4 after 1 am - ok - since I get up at 5!!! (idiot!) I will need to come back and post the name of the dang set!! Thanks for looking!!!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG....

OK - did you think there was lil earthquake this mornin'? Well - NOPE! It was me fallin' off the friggin' chair!!!!!!!!

I was chosen as a winner in Queen Shelli's Creative Challenge for October!!!

I almost didn't make the entries as I put it in on the 15th...the last second.....of course....(you know me!) Check out my Halloween card a few posts down...ITS A WINNER!!!!

YIPEE!!

OMG OMG OMG

You have no idea what this has done for me....I was so happy and excited I didn't know whether to cry or throw up...so I did both!!! (thanks Mom for your temperamental stomach!) This is the second occurrence of a most awesome thing to happen since my birthday....

ok - gotta go and spread the news....I am going to be black and blue all over from pinching myself!!! OMG!!!!!

Tease of Our Last Girls' Night Out!!

Here is a quick peek at the three cards we did on October 3rd for my Girls' Night Out event...I will post these lovely beauts one at a time later...I am too tired right now and who knows WHAT I might write!! And - 5 am comes awfully early for humans....YIKES!! (at least THIS human!! LOL)

Also just a quick share...I found a kindred spirit who is "da bomb!" that I would love to be friends with.....I saw her today for a few minutes while I got some new frames {sniff sniff - no contacts - except for play when I go out ...drat!!!} Anywho ...her name is Gail Pelosi and she is my new eye doctor....I highly recommend her if you're in the area...email me if you want the deets! Unfortunately, we have met a few (DOZENS) of doctors in the last 15 years - and when you find a gem you gotta grab 'em and keep 'em!! They are few and far between....

More Non Su Front & Center!!!

Thank goodness this is my blog and I can make exceptions when I want!! TEE HEE! AND since I am still celebrating....here are four more birthday cards I received from my SBS9 sistahs!! Are they not gorgeous and ain't I lucky!!??!! Yes I know I am lucky...So - share with me my happiness...Many Thanks Sistahs!!! ENJOY!

From Katie (L) and Manna (R) ...and this IS SU!

From Gina (L) and Louise as in LuLu (R)

ooooooohhhhhhhhh- spooky!!!!

Halloween's a comin!!!!!

I will post the recipe later...but I wanted to share with you my first Halloween card.....using a lil Zindorf brayer style...

Edited to add: THIS IS THE SO SHELLI WINNER!!! Holy Smokes!!!

and the winner IS......

Random Sequence Generator (from random.org)
Here is your sequence:
15 ; 5; 13 ; 25 ; 38 ...

So the winner at place number 15 is:

ribenaruby


Here is her post:

Congratulations on the double celebrations! Thanks for the opportunity to win these fabulous stamps. Stamping is what I enjoy best as you can use several techniques on to the image after.Link and post is on my blog.
9/26/2008 3:41 AM

CONGRATULATIONS!!

sorry about the delay in posting - my birthday yesterday was chock full of fun and I wasn't home most of the day...and it wasn't until now that I had an extra minute during my break at work...Thanks everyone for playing and for helping me celebrate both my birthday and my 5k hits...

Heeeeerrrrrreeeeee's Candy!!!! (Think Johnny Carson!)

This post will stay at the top until October 5th (my birthday) when I will pick the winner using a random number generator! You have until October 5th, 2008, NOON Eastern Standard Time US.

Celebration Time, Come on!!!! Yessiree Bob, past the 5k mark thanks to all of you! SO- on to candyland!!! Check out the picture of the blog candy I am offering y'all!

The candy is a set of 12 Studio G, Clear Stamps of the 12 calendar months Jan to Dec, plus a scrapbooking set and one clear block. They are so dang cute and adorable - and it took me 7 stores to get a complete set to offer them to you... So what do you have to do to win these?

1. leave a comment on this post about why you love stamping or scrapping - OR what your favorite technique is.
2. if you have a blog - please post and let everyone know about my candy offer - and leave me a link so I can see your blog!!
3. only one entry per person
4. this is not restricted to US (which is why I don't have SU stuff - afraid to somehow break the demo rules about mailing stuff out of the US)
5. Have a GREAT October month (and enjoy the rest of Sept too!! LOL)

Thanks for visiting! And KEEP ON STAMPIN'!!!!!