SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, you probably wonder why THAT would be my title! LOL!! If you haven't seen the Princess Diaries movies you won't understand, but Anne Hathway says "Shut Up!" like some would say "No Way" or Wow!" type of thing. Just rent the movies-they are both adorable!

So now on to why I titled something that is not allowed to be said in my home. Ü I rec'd this AWESOME gift from Rose Kerry today! (this box was designed by Andrea Walford) She felt bad that it was coming late (we were in a gift swap where you send one person that you were assigned a gift type item), but I could have waited a month or more for this!!!!! It is absolutely adorable and I hope the pictures show just how cool this is. I love this sooooo much that I have decided this will be one of the projects we do for my May papercrafting classes. If you live nearby, read my blog and would like more information, just send me an e-mail.

Okay, enough chat. Here is a cardbox holder that Rose made. Inside are five 3" x 5" cards and envelopes. The lid is a flap type lid, doesn't come completely off. Who WOULDN'T love to receive this? I owe two Blog Candies and am thinking this would make AWESOME blog candy. So stay tuned next week for that. I am going to try my hand at this (Rose was kind enough to send the instructions too!) and see what I can come up with. It's raining outside and suppose to turn into 6-9 inches of snow my midnight, so a good day to stay inside and play.

Orange & Turquoise

Not two colors I would normally put together, but love this color combo esp with chocolate!

These were made for a trading card swap I joined. We could use any company paper and stamps, but had to use orange, turqoise and one other color. Can't wait to see what everyone else did.

100% Girl

This is the first project I worked on at my crop. This is for an order and I had to get it finished. I will be delivering it today or tomorrow. I love how it turned out and hope the gal that ordered it does too.

The papers I used are from an 8 x 8 paper pad by Deja Views called The Sharon Ann Little One's Collection. I also used the coordinating rub-ons. The fun little bling things you see is my tip for the day. I have seen these blingy things at Hobby Lobby for $3 - $7 and just haven't been able to justify the cost. Then...I rec'd in the mail THIS. It was a cell phone company trying to get us to buy a phone and they sent these free cell phone blingy things. I was going to throw it away as we don't have a cell phone and the light bulb in my head went off! Use them on my projects!

Last week we are in Kearney and stop at Target and what do I find in the Dollar Spot, but this...they are called "body tattoo's". I am clueless as to why and ask someone and they say brides wear them on their shoulders. Whatever! Looks like I am totally out of the loop there. No way am I going to wear these, but loved the pinks and was pretty sure they would match the paper bag album, they did and I am so excited that there were TWO sheets in each pkg for ONE dollar! Now THAT's a bargain! My 6 yr old niece was at the crop visiting her mom and saw what I was working on. Miss Emma LOVES pink and bling! She was thinking she would love something like that. I told her I was going to Target this week (if the weather holds out and there IS a track meet) and I would get her a pkg if they still had them. She has her own scrapbook and supplies and does a wonderful job! Of course she gets it from me....um, I mean her mom, as she is a very talented artist/scrapbooker.

Okay, on to the album...

The "100% Girl" piece was a punchout in the paper pad. I needed it to *pop* more, so mounted it on SU!'s Gable Green cardstock.

Thank you...

to everyone who sent me e-mails regarding my LONG post before the crop. I appreciate all the advice you gave. We decided that academics are more important than sports and it is more important for Benjamin to be at the induction. After talking with other parents (even those whose child did not make the *cut*), teachers and friends, we learned that this is the highest honor that a student can receive in high school and is very important.
I, too appreciate the comments regarding high speed internet. I know that we have to let the boys go some day and we want to teach them what we feel is *right* and *responsible* when it comes to the internet. Our computer is in the dining room and they are able to be on the internet when we are here.

So for the first five who read all the way thru...
*Michelle
Jean H
*Staci
Gail
Jen B

Please send me your snail addy's (unless there is a star by your name, then I already have it) and I will get a card in the mail to you. Ü

Thank you Michelle!!!!

What a wonderful mail day! AND right when I needed it! (you can read about that in my crop info post)

My new BFF sent me this wonderful pkg! Not only this, BUT goodies for the boys too! Michelle, Aaron is saving up for a computer and is $50 shy of having enough. The *goody* you sent is going for that. Benjamin will love the snacks you sent! I'm sure it will be going in his cooler as soon as he gets home and sees it.

Thank you so much! There is no way you *knew* that I would need this today. HUGZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS, the card is lovely even if you did make it wrong! LOL!! I will definitely be CASE-ing that!

No Housework Day

Really, it says so here (scroll down to today's date). However, I HAVE to do housework since I was gone all weekend. Laundry and putting everything away from the crop for sure!

The crop went well (except for the ending which I will comment on later in this post). I can't ever remember going home from a crop without being in a great deal of pain. I felt great both nights coming hom and I wouldn't have been able to do it without all the help that some gals gave me. Thank you so much ladies! If you read my blog, you know who you are.

I wasn't able to get everything done on my list that I wanted to, but with 68 ladies (including vendors), there was a lot for me to do. I think everyone had a great time. There was lots of laughter, snacks and wonderful door prizes.

I was able to finish a baby paperbag album that was an order and do some cards and a swap, so I will be uploading those throughout this week while I CLEAN and organize my stamp room.

I have a massage therapist who comes and sets up and I usually take the last spot for the weekend. Unfortunately, during that time, I also *lost* over $100 from my purse. When I was getting money from my purse to pay the massage gal, I thought I should take it with me (behind the stage), but then figured that was unnecessary, so put it under the table where I sat. Yesterday, I was really down about it, but there is nothing I can do and life goes on. I am really sad though, because I had been saving up to by some stamps from Whipper Snapper and Paper Trey and was going to put orders in to both this week. Apparently, someone needed it more than me. So, lesson learned.

Here are a few pictures of the crop. Some of them really came out darker than I thought they would.

Here is a picture of the goody bags that a WONDERFUL business provided for the gals (thank you Sonya!!!!!). She owns a fun gift shop/eating place (started out as just gift shop). In each bag was a bottle of water, candy, coupon for the store and menu. PLUS she made fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies for everyone!! Awesome lady!!

THEN, as if that wasn't enough, she came over on Saturday and brought this ADORABLE door prize to be given away.

Misc. Thoughts...

While I am waiting for my messages to upload, so I can read them, while also putting labels on door prizes, my thoughts are blog wondering, so thought I'd post a message. Ü

I am needing some blog help (surprise there! LOL!!) in changing my blog. I would like a fresh spring look and the very FEW templates that blogger offers, don't do much for me. I did a search for "free blog templates", but am not smart enough to figure out how to use them with blogger. Is there anyone out there who could give me a hand? I am NOT a pastel person and yet I LOVE Beate's blue in her blog (can't believe I am saying that, cuz I am not a BLUE person either!!) and I think it would help my pictures that I upload look better. As much as I LOVE "Chocolate" in color and food (*wink*), I am thinking a soft blue or aqua would look better. Kinda like SU!'s Soft Sky or a softer caribbean blue. So shoot me an e-mail or post here, if you have any tips. Thanks in advance!

Now my musings for what is soon to come! I normally get to set up for the crop at 5 pm. However, there is a pancake feed in the auditorium I am using and can't get in until 8 pm. I am imagining little children who have put syrup EVERYWHERE! I will have to make sure the tables are VERY clean before we can even begin setting up. Plus there will be chairs everywhere and I only need two chairs per table, so that means putting them away which I have had to do before and it's a BIG hassle! The chair carts fit in under the stage and cannot be set UP like you would normally do with chairs, but have to be layed down! Imagine with me if you will, that if this is not done properly, chairs go flying everywhere (ask me how I *know* this Ü).

Now I am using the term *me* rather loosely, as I can NOT set up the tables, chairs, or anything. I will just be there to *guide* my helpers. I can walk around, so I will be taping a plastic bag to each end of the tables where the gals will be sitting to use for their trash. I will also be putting goody bags at each spot, so feel good that I can do SOMETHING.

It's raining - rather lightly, but raining none the less. Now, this may not seem so important, but...
1. we are in such a drought, that rain is something we marvel at now. DS says we have to have 10" of rain to equal 1" of water. At the rate it's coming down now, it would have to do this a year probably.
2. The part I'm concerned about, is that I need to pack the car...it is wet outside...a crop involves PAPER, need I say more?

If you have read this far, it is a miracle! LOL!! You probably think my e-mail was up and read a long time ago...NOT!! Have I mentioned how much I do NOT like dial-up? However, for us right now, high speed is not an option. I have had some of you e-mail me when I mention that I dislike dial up that there is an option called high speed. Bless your hearts! Ü I do know that (although there is lots I DON'T know), but to have high speed, means that as soon as you turn on the computer you have internet access. We have two TEENAGE boys and it is very important to us, that this not be available to them. We like to think we have raised them right and they wouldn't go where they shouldn't, but the temptation is SO big esp for boys and we don't want to make it easy for them to see something they shouldn't. I also know that you can get password stuff, but that cost quite abit more and finances are really tight right now. So I deal with dial up. I figure it's God's way of teaching my patience. I am thinking I am probably His worse student in that "class".

I had someone ask me what I do at my crop, so here goes...
I hold it at the Municipal Bldg. and set it up so two tables are butted together the long way. This way a group of four sit at each "setting" and get a 4' space.

The gals bring all their stuff they want to work on and I have vendors they can buy stuff from too. I have home party demos from CTMH, SU!, Creative Memories and I Remember When and two scrapbook store vendors. One store is local and one from a distance so we can see different product.

There are door prizes given through out both days and a grand prize on Saturday. The grand prize used to be Cropper Hoppers, but now I am giving a gift certificate to be used at any or all the vendors.

There are usually several classes taught by me and one or two by some of the vendors, but this year, I'm just not up to it with so much going on. I am not even teaching the ONE class I had planned on! Just a FYI...a 5.5" scallop circle cut on the Expressions Cricut (at the LSS) is NOT the same size as cut on the original cricut!!!!!! Therefore, there won't be a class as I didn't have time to go back to the LSS to cut circles.

Someone also mentioned they couldn't wait to see my pages that I do at the crop. Sorry, but don't hold your breath. I don't crop there. GASP!!! Why? Cuz I am running around alot and when I crop, I need to be able to sit down and concentrate on what I am doing. I have gals coming at all different times on Friday and so checking them in, helping those that need help, giving out door prizes, etc, keeps me from cropping. BUT I do stamp! I don't have to *think* too hard to do this, so I have a ziplock FILLED full with stamped images. I take this, my paper stash, adhesive, and colored pencils and gamsol. I can color and make cards and be interrupted. I am hoping to get LOTS of cards for blog fodder done and then I can upload a card a day next week and CLEAN my stamp room. I would be soooo embarrassed for someone to see it! It looks like a tornado hit it...I am NOT kidding!

I also was asked how Benjamin did at the track meet Monday. They postponed it!!!!! It was the most beautiful day! But I heard that they have water pipe issues, so something must have happened. Now we have a HUGE dilemma. They rescheduled it for Monday at 4 pm. It's about 2-ish hours away and Monday nite is the Nat'l Honor Society induction. The coach wants Benjamin at the meet, Nat'l Honor gal wants him at the induction. I am thinking academics are more important, B wants to go to the meet. What would you do?

If you are still reading, you deserve a prize?! First 5 people to post will get a card from me. Be sure not to be signed in as anonymous cuz I won't know who you are. Think I will have a bunch of gals unsubscribe? You all probably think I'm nuts anyway.

Okay, labels done, messages almost done, so need to go and get everything packed and double ck'd to make sure I'm not forgetting anything. Also need to make the guys some cookies since I won't be here most of the weekend.

Embrace Life

What a wonderful sentiment "Embrace Life"! A great reminder of how we can live each day.

I love this stamp set by SU! This was for a 1-4-1 challenge swap. We were to use, black, white and only ONE other color. Here is what I used:

black: ribbon, ink, cardstock, brad

white: stitching in ribbon and gel pen

One color: groovy guava: ribbon, ink, cardstock

On the large guava panel, I used the Canvas stamp with guava ink and stamped the flower in white. On the second panel, I stamped the Canvas with white and stamped the leaf stamp in guava.

The flower is stamped in black on vellum cardstock. I sponged the back of the image with guava ink and on the front of the image, highlighted areas with the white gel pen.

other supplies used were pop dots

Answering your questions...

I’ve had some people e-mail me and ask me questions about some of my posts and thought that I would go ahead and answer those questions here. Someone else may wonder the same thing. I do want you all to know I read every comment. I try to answer each question e-mailed to me as soon as I can too.

“How did you get the candy to match the paper so perfectly in your criss-cross box?”
I actually take the box with the cello bag in it to the store with me and then look around for items that will fit in it. I had originally planned to fill it with blue and orange jolly ranchers, but when I saw the taffy, it was the perfect color. I have been doing this for a long time. The gals at the grocery store are used to me and always ask what project I am working on now. If you are a demo, this is free advertisement for you! I am not a demo, but have gotten many sales doing this. Over a year ago, when I was first making altered jars, a gal followed me out of a store. It just happened that she owned a gift shop and asked if I would make some jars for her store. So you never know where your next customer might be.

“When are you going to post your items for sale on-line?”
Well, I’m not now and will explain that in a minute, but first, if you see anything I make that I post and would like to purchase it, just e-mail me. Most of what I post can be for sale. Now, as to why I’ve decided not to start an on-line store at this time…First of all, to do so, means to make several items that I like, but that may not sell and then I have LOTS of “gifts” to give. Ü I was ok with this, but then God opened another door of opportunity for me. I had a couple of gals from one town ask me if I would be willing to teach papercraft/stamp classes. They have stamps, accessories, etc and wanted me to give them more ideas of how to use them. I told them I would think about it and didn’t really know where to go with it. I decided I would just put out a sign up sheet at my crop and see if there was any REAL interest. Then last week out of the blue, another gal e-mailed and one called me from a different town and asked if I would do the same thing. So now I am thinking maybe there is some interest and I should really look into this. One of the gals from the second town asked if she could put a sign up sheet at a crop she was doing and I said ok. I didn’t hear from her at the first of the week, so just figured there was no interest. Then I talk to her Friday and find out TWELVE ladies signed up!!!! I was shocked! So we set a date for that town and after my crop this weekend will see if there is interest for the other town and go from there. At this time, I feel this will keep me busy and give me something that I can do to help bring in a little income (gas money if nothing else!)

“How do you make the tic tac purse you showed in your one sheet wonder?”
I did a little tutorial for it here.

Congratulations Benjamin!!!

WE are soooo proud of you! This week has been an awesome week for you! First you were one of ?? sophmores chosen for the National Honor Society. You are going to go far son!!! I don't know of anyone on either side of the family that has received this honor!

Then yesterday you placed 6th in the mile at the track meet and beat your personal best time!!! Way to go!! (and you weren't that far behind "Al"--for those of you reading, "Al" is from Minden and runs like the wind and usually is a lap done ahead of everyone else! Thankfully, he is also a senior Ü) Benjamin, it was sooo cold and windy, just think of what you will be able to do in the heat! (note: Benjamin LOVES heat and running in it does not bother him, he seems to do better then too)

6 x 6 scrapbooking

I am so behind on scrapbooking! Especially Aaron's, since I've been trying to keep up with Benjamin's school/sports stuff.

At the end of 1999, I decided it would be fun to make each of the boys a scrapbook of the millennium, so I wrote out the alphabet and kept track of pictures I took matching them to the appropriate letter. They STILL to this day go thru the albums I made them AND keep asking me when I am going to make them another. That size was 5 x 7, this time I decided to make them a 6 x 6 and make it more a monthly/random theme of the year. Here is one I made for Aaron's Feb page.

I copied a colored picture and made it sepia, then sanded the edges. I really like the look of a sanded picture. I will journal later in the heart with a white pen.

I am going to do a double page spread of each month. The pictures may or may not have been taken that month, just depending on what I come up with. They are going to be simple, yet hopefully fun for the boys when I give the ablums to them at Christmas.



Okay, gotta go get ready for the track meet! Run, Benjamin, Run!! Ü

I am sooo tired!

YAY!!!! We are finally done with the beef! We put up from 330-350 lbs! What was to take one day, took four. We had an old cow we needed to butcher and did it ourselves. Most was made into hamburger, but we were able to can some stew meat. Today was a dreary, drizzly day, so I made beef and noodles and mashed potatoes. Yummy!


I am also sooo busy getting ready for my crop. I am only going to have time to get ready for and teach one class. That's ok, cuz I think the gals just enjoy getting together and working on their own albums. I will try to teach more classes in the fall.


I don't want to spoil it for locals who may read my blog, so I will show you after the crop what I've been working on. Now is the time for all the little finishing details that need to be done. With the super busy week we've had and have coming, I HAVE to be done by Saturday nite!!!!


I am hoping to stop in again before the crop, but if not, here is my crazy schedule...tomorrow-track meet, Saturday-get everything ready for crop!!, Sunday-church and rodeo cowboy thing at nite, Monday-MIL's surgery, Tuesday-track meet, Wed-library and youth group, Thursday-set up for crop, Fri-crop AND Bow Invite for track (so I will be there for the second half of the day) and Saturday-crop...Sunday-get together at mom's for Mar/April bd and anniversaries...come home and DROP!!!!! LOL!!


So, since I've been so busy with crop stuff, here is a card I gave my g'ma last year for her bd. I am pulling this from the "archives" Ü. BTW, I have downloaded all of last years stamped items I did, plus
a few items from before on a CD. If you are interested in purchasing one-send me an e-mail. Cost is $5 including postage.

Have a great weekend!

Easter Egg Box

I LOVE this box idea that QBee on SCS came up with. The gal is amazing!!! She has designed this box as well as other wonderful box ideas that I will make up and show you later AND she shares her patterns!! Search her gallery and the forums for her wonderful ideas. The bunny is cut from my Cricut. I then drew all the doodles and face and "colored" with a damp Q-Tip and watercolor crayon.

I wanted a quick gift to give a friend that has been having a tough time at work as well as putting in long hours. Nothing better than chocolate to get you thru, huh? Ü

I have no idea who makes the soft turquoise embossed cardstock. It was in a trade box at a crop I went to. I've had it for awhile and didn't know why I even picked it up, but now I do. Ü I am loving the soft turquoise with chocolate and then add blush blossom, soft pink, etc for an accent color.

Have you been to Wal-Mart in the Easter candy section? I LOVE what they did this year. They have color sections. There is pink M & M's, pink wrapped chocolates, pink gifts, pink Peeps, etc, then a section of purple, then turquoise, green, etc. So fun to make a coordinating gift basket! I chose turquoise foil wrapped eggs for this project and it was perfect! If you click on the picture you can see where I stamped the blush blossom insert with the Linen stamp.Here is the side view. Brenda (QBee) even thought to design these punched 1/2 circles to make it easier to take off the top lid!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I don't have any stamped items to show you, but here is what we had for lunch. For supper we are having the *American* tradition of Corned Beef, Cabbage, Red Potatoes and for us Lime Pie. Did you know they don't eat this in Ireland? This is totally an American thing.

I didn't eat green eggs, mine were plain. There is just something about them being green that grosses me out. I make them, but I just can't eat them.

Here is a fun St. Pat game for you to play. http://www.apples4theteacher.com/slappad.html

My highest score is 31. Can you beat me? I am going to see if I can get any higher. I've gotten it 3 times and can't seem to get a better score.

I am going to try to post as much as I can in the next three weeks, but wanted to let you know what is going on in case I don't. I host a crop twice a year and the spring crop is April 4 & 5th (if you live in NE or close, I've had gals from KS and CO, I would love to meet you! E-mail me if you are interested in the details). Anyway, I am busy getting ready for that, plus I have some album orders and need to get those done along with a couple of swaps! YIKES!!! Definitely going to be busy! Hopefully, I can get some Easter things posted. I am making the most ADORABLE candy Easter Egg holder/box that QBee shared on SCS.

Oh and along with everything else, we have an auction to go to tomorrow, then meeting tomorrow nite, youth group Wed, track meet (first one of the season) Thursday, Good Friday service Friday, get ready for Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday....you get the idea. Ü BUSY!!!!

Answers to your questions....

I've had some questions regarding my last post for the OSW...
1. there is a tutorial in older posts for the mini tic tac purse here
2. the Hershey nuggets were made by cutting the bunny head from a Cricut cartridge and drew the face on myself. Then I wrapped the nugget with patterned paper and added a pom pom for the tail
3. Do I sell any of my projects. YES! Ü Most of my projects are for sale or I give to friends and family. If you see anything that you would like to buy that I post, just e-mail me. I am working with DH to figure out a way to make a little money as things are pretty tight this year and going to be that way for the next couple of years. I am trying to decide if I should just set up another blog for items for sale or just post them here. I've already come up with a name and by-line. Ü
But for now if you like what you see, just drop me a line.

OSW Challenge

OSW: One Sheet Wonder

I saw this challenge on Embellish-online and wanted to give it a try. This same kind of challenge was issued on SCS earlier and I never got to it, so decided to get it done this time. I had fun making all the projects for this challenge and it's one that I will do again. It is a great way to make coordinating gifts and cards.

Here was the challenge:

Use 1 sheet of designer paper (you must use it all) to create anywhere from 4-12 projects. At least 2 items must be non-card projects and at least 2 items must be cards (any size).

Stamp sets - Limit 2 sets or 1 set and 1 BG + you may add a sentiment not included in your choice of sets

Designer paper - 1 sheet - use it all

CS - any

Ink - any

Embellishments - any

I was able to make 5 cards, 1 altered candle, 3 nugget bunnies, 1 tic tac purse, coaster album and criss cross box.

We were to use ALL of the sheet, so for the scraps I just put them behind one of the panels on the card. Ü I used ALL the scraps!!!!!

Easter Blocks

The LSS had a sales rep leave them a pkg of 9 blocks and rub ons. I don't remember who the blocks are from, but the rub ons are by DCWV (Die Cuts With a View). Anyway, Sally didn't know what could be done with them, so I brought them home with some of the new Two Scoops Basic Grey they had gotten in and came up with this.