Projects and Candy Winners

Here are the projects that we made at my first class Friday night. #1 was a lunch sack gift bag. Here is the side view. #2 was the peppermint patty box that Cambria Turnbow designed.#3 was the one sheet origami box that Beate did a tutorial for on SCS.#4 was the criss cross box that Nichole Heady designed.#5 was a card and coordinating envelope The items missing in #2 & 4 was candy.

Melissa Cash wins each of the items posted above and Melissas wins a goody package from me. Ladies please e-mail me your addresses and I will get these out in the mail to you.

Thanks for playing!

SWC Trackmeet news

We went to Gothenburg Saturday for SWC (Southwest Conference). It rained the whole time the trackmeet was going. When the last kid ran across the finish line in the LAST event, the sun came thru the clouds and it stopped raining!!
It was so cold and the rain and being wet made it even colder. I was wrapped in two blankets, two coats, gloves etc and was wet and cold. I can't even imagine how the kids felt in tank tops and shorts! One of our girls even beat her PBR in one of the races. Several commented it was hard to see running in the rain.
But even with miserable conditions, the 4 x 8 relay team (4 kids run the 800) got 3rd!! This is Benjamin's first 3rd medal! Last year they got 5th. This is pretty good, since the team is made up of 3 sophmores and one freshman. It will be fun to see what they do in the next two years.
He didn't do so well in the 1600 (mile). His time was 5:16. He said not only was it hard to see in the rain, but then the kids ahead of him kick up water/rain too.
We have a trackmeet in Cozad Friday and then District's in Lexington next Thursday. Hopefully, we will have nice days for both.
I will keep you posted on how Benjamin does.

Blog Candy guessing game...

I still owe 5 people a card (will be getting on that as soon as I get this album order for graduation done) AND I owe two blog candy give-a-ways (due to my 2008 resolution). So, for blog candy #1 give-a-way, you have to do some guessing. Below are 5 pictures of the kits I cut for my classes tonight. Numbering one thru five, guess what each class is. The person with the most correct guesses will win all 5 projects. If there is a tie, I will draw a name and that person will win. Because of the busy weekend we have, I will draw on Monday.

project #1

project #2

project #3

project #4

project #5 Projects 2 & 4 are missing something for the finished project. Can you guess what it is? If you guess correctly, you will be put in a drawing for my second blog candy give-a-way.

more about Ayden

I miss understood Gloria when she told me about Ayden. I thought he had to have surgery immediately after being born. He does have to have surgery and will probably have to have several, but the first one will be next week to put a shunt in his heart. He has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). I know that the family would still appreciate your prayers. He was born C-section and was over 9 lbs, so that is definitely in his favor.

Trackmeet notes & a prayer request

Updates for interested family members (and any others Ü). We have been busy go-going.
Gibbon's trackmeet was cancelled last week due to rain. They must have gotten lots more than us, cuz it was just light rain here and then quit by the time the trackmeet would have started.
Monday, we went to Minden-BRRR cold and windy...VERY windy. I felt so sorry for the kids running! And the high jump kids had to run and jump against the wind. The wind wore me out and I didn't do anything! LOL!! I really thought Benjamin would do good as he has been running 7 miles over hills and thought that would help him, but he said the wind is really a different element and really affected his time. He did get 6th in the 4 x 8, so still medalled.
Tuesday (yesterday) he had a meet at home, so that was good. It was a beautiful day and very warm with a slight breeze.
"Short-sleeve weather" all day. He beat his PBR (personal best record) in the mile and was very excited. He placed 5th in that race. So, I have more to scrapbook!
I am getting behind as I am working on a book for someone else. I have 14 pages done. It will be a board book and I am really liking how it is turning out. I showed it to the client yesterday and she loves it, so I know I'm on the right path. It is for graduation (May 10) and I am determined that it WILL be done this week! I will post pictures of it when I am done.
I will be finishing all the kits for my Friday class tomorrow-my final count is 13!
Saturday, we head to Gothenburg for SWC (South West Conference). So far they are saying high 60's to low 70's, so hopefully will be another beautiful day. I will post how Benjamin does next week.

Prayer request:
I don't know all the detail yet but...my friend is a g'ma again (Congratulations Dean & Gloria and Adam & Erin-parents) of a sweet baby boy. Ayden had to be born at Children's hospital so that as soon as they delivered him, he could be taken into surgery for his heart. Please pray for recovery for Ayden and for his parents and family. I can't imagine what they are all going through.

Birthday Hugs

and wishes...

I had a great time at the Crop for a Cure in Boelus Saturday. I left at 6:30 and drove an hour to attend a birthday party (Happy Birthday Teri! Ü)

Jeni did not let me down. Ü Last year she taught a card class and I was counting on her to teach another one this year and hopefully have a birthday sentiment, so I would have a card to take to Teri.

I changed a little of Jeni's design to make this mine. We used SU!'s 3 flower punch kit, Bayou Blue and Celery. I love how this turned out. I wish I would have thought to take a picture of the envelope too! I stamped the solid flower on the flap in celery as well as a border flower image along the bottom on the front of the envelope. I took one of the punched flowers, sponged it, drew a dot in the center and then adhered it to the center bottom back of the card and signed my name and date.

Benjamin forgot to load his album when he helped me load stuff and I didn't double check. But that's a good thing, because I took pictures and stuff for an order I am working on for graduation. I got 9 pages done, so am pretty excited. I will take some pictures of it when I am done and post them here.

Yesterday, was a very windy trackmeet. Benjamin's times weren't so good as he had to run in a lot of wind. He ran back to back the 3200 and the 800! He also ran the 4 x 8 (3200 relay) and the team got a medal for 6th place.

Another track meet today. Ü

No Stamping...

I don't have anything new to show you, but do have a few things to share. I have been busy cutting kits for my first papercrafting class that I will be teaching next Friday. We have a trackmeet today (looks like it will be a wet one) and then I am going to be getting things organized and ready to go to a crop Saturday where all the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Here are a couple of blogs to visit for blog candy:
http://mistylynnwhat.blogspot.com/2008/04/sweet-pea-and-finally-blog-booty.html

http://lim-thevoicesinmyheadlimblog.blogspot.com/

For those of you who believe in the power of prayer, I would like to ask you to pray for my friend Bethany's mom Barb. Barb has been having back pain for some time and had been trying to treat it naturally. She had an MRI and it showed cancer in the spine. I met Barb a couple of times and she is such a delight. Please remember these families in prayer. Thank you.

Tired of Turtles?

Here is another turtle card I made yesterday. It was a beautiful day outside and springy colors were on my mind. The embossed background was one I had done at my crop. I thouht it went with the flower theme in the turtle's shell. The brown Prima flower is kind of bold, but there was brown in the turtle that I wanted to bring out. I still like it though. The layout is very simple, but fun.

Pink & Green Turtle

I love this turtle image! Sent by my new BFF Michelle Ü thanks Michelle!!). It only seemed right that she receive this card. Ü She also sent some standing turtle images that I need to play with today. The birds are chirping, the weather is gorgeous, I'm making cinnamon rolls, it's a good day! Ü

I used my new dots Cuttlebug embossing folder on several pieces of 1/2 sheets cs while at my crop. I love doing several at a time and then have them in a box when I need to whip up some cards! A friend I sat with had some embossing templates I didn't have, so I embossed several using hers. In fact I embossed SIXTY FIVE 1/4 sheets!!!! Now I am ready for some serious card making! Ü

Pink Turtle

This is for a little girl who has been battling cancer for two years. If you would like to send Sydney a card, please e-mail me and I will send you the address.

This turtle is an Inky Antics images that a friend sent me two years ago. I think I have one left. I have made this turtle many colors and have gotten lots of use out of the images she sent me.

I have been notified that the "e-mail me" option is not working. I will see if I can get that fixed.

Strawberry Mouse

I do NOT like mice, but this House Mouse image is just too cute! I don't even remember where who got the image from, but rec'd it a long time ago. The gal sent me several images. Inside it say "berry much". My g'ma loved House Mouse and this reminds me of her. She would have loved seeing and even coloring this guy. I hope I give this image justice with my coloring.

Snow in April

We ended up with a snow storm on Thursday, power outage and blizzard. Friday the sun came out and started melting the snow. Here is a picture of what it looked like early Friday afternoon while still snowing. (Ryan, this picture is for you as proof it really snowed here Ü)

This picture is taken standing outside the door. You can't even see the circular drive.

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.