OH where oh where have I been??

OK, by the list on Karen's blog.. I haven't posted for a while.. YUP, that is right.. nothing too special going on.. I got a "flush" email from the U of M.. just so you are up to speed, I thought I had "nailed" the interview... and the best part??.. well.. they misspelled words too!! Made me feel really great. Now, they informed me that they were only interviewing 5 people for the job.. I guess maybe that is suppose to make me feel better! NOT!!


OK, so where have I been?? Nothing too special.. we went to the MN Zoo I think last weekend.. I really love the seahorses.. I can drive Hannah nuts by just watching them forever.. but you have to admit.. they are cute!!!
Hannah did inform me that they are putting in Sea Dragons soon too.. that will be fun to watch too...


Now some time ago... Jeannie from Dragonfly Journeys had a blog candy thing.. and it was basically for 5 people who post win a card set...


well... here is my winnings..!!! She is so talented!! OMG..
So to be fair...
The first five people to respond to this post will get a card set made by me!

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I hope you like and can use what I make, but no guarantees.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done within the next month.(more or less)
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. I have tons of ideas, but who knows what it will be?
5. The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same!

Basically, the first (or only) 5 people to leave a comment will win a card set by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it and my blog name!


Then there is my little munchie.. She decided she wanted to get her hair cut.. Sort of like Alice from Twilight.. And I am one of those Mom's who believes it's just hair...


Very cute.. I have to admit.. Kathy who cuts her hair just loves it when she will go wild.. She said that she added a couple years with the new hair cut!!

So anyway.. that is what I have been up to.. nothing special.. nothing too exciting.. just sort of blah!!


And nothing to note about this picture, but, Sasha was really being cute.. and I had to share!

I have been making cards.. really!!!

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So I did do some stamping.. this is a birthday card for one of my co-workers. Her Birthday is on Monday. I hope that she likes this card. It was pretty easy to make!


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And for Valentine's day.. I made this little 4x4 card. Just a quickie really...






Now this one I found on Inkin With Dink's blog.
It looked quick and fun, so I thought I would try it.. This was my 1st attempt.. I liked it.. think I will try some more soon!!

Well, thanks for looking..
shawn

Happy Turkey Day....

AS Promised!! 2 cards today.. because I am not sure if I will be able to post something tomorrow or not.. and I am really trying to post a card a day.. so I hope that if I don't post tomorrow.. that this will still be OK...

The first card does say "give thanks" in the corner. I used a brayer on regular paper and 2 colors of ink.. It is stunning in person.. my pictures lately just haven't been doing the job...

And this card looks better in person too... it is actually chocolate chip paper and certainly celery.. Nothing too special..

We are headed down to Iowa.. to eat with my Sister in her new house today.. then we are headed to Marshalltown and will be staying in a hotel. Hannah is excited to be able to swim in the pool...

ON Friday... Hannah and I will be meeting my BFF Dawn to shop until we drop!! That and going to Messy Missy's!

Home on Saturday! Which I am sure will be a long time until we are able to see Gretel and Sasha Blu! I hope that Gretel survives the boys!! I am sure my friend that is watching her, will spoil her rotten!! She is looking forward to having a dog to walk... Gretel will surly be a great walker with her!!

Gobble Gobble!!!

shawn

Christmas Birthday Cards....

Last night I got a call from my BFF, Dawn... She needs 2 birthday cards for Christmas Birthdays.. One for an adult, one for a 7 year old.. AND, can I have them done and bring them with me when I am down in Marshalltown for Thanksgiving... AND, gee, she would like a preview too!!!

So.. I worked my fingers to the bone and got them done last night.. The problem is that there is no natural light for pictures.. so the pictures aren't very good..

For the adult card.. I did a suspension card.. because I like these cards... They are fun.. Old Olive, Real Red, Black... Christmas colors.. check, birthday theme, check.. HOPE she likes it... check...






AND, then the 7 year old is a boy.. Karen knows that I don't have a ton of boy birthday stamp sets.. She knows this because every time she comes over to stamp birthday cards.. she comments on this.. Hey.. I have Hannah.. I don't do a lot of boy birthday cards.. I am trying to get better at it.. but looking at my stamp sets... I am not doing so well..
But I did come up with this.. It is from the retired set Penguin Pleasantries.. some Designer Paper from last year... Real Red and Old Olive again.. I "colored" some of the areas with Pearl Ex..





So there you go... 2 cards today..
Have a great Tuesday!
shawn

Friday...

It's Friday.. You know what that means?? Well, for one, I don't have to work.. Which is good.. it was a long week.. and for two.. another card.. ok, well, to be honest.. this is actually a project. This is a triangle box. I think that the directions for this came from splitcoast.. not positive.. It was suppose to be easier than what it was.

Dawn is doing a Secret Santa at her Bath and Body and asked me for some cards for her person.. I think that she will be getting this little box as well.. maybe some M&M put inside.

This isn't my card.. but was the inspiration for Tuesday's card.. I thought that I would show it to you, so you knew how I did.. or at least see what I was trying for.. I still want to rework my Tuesday card with some different colors.. I do like the idea..

Like I mentioned yesterday, Hannah and I were able to get our hair cut last night.. I knew that it had been awhile, but when Kathy told me that it had been 12 weeks, I about fainted!! 12 weeks!! NO WONDER!!!

Next Friday there is a lot going on.. for one.. Twilight opens. Karen and I are going to a show in the morning... NOT the 12:01 show, but a morning show and then out for lunch... to discuss what we liked and didn't like of the movie and compare it to the books. Then I have a workshop! Yup, I know.. I don't do many of them.. but this is my "for sure" workshop. Hannah will be going with me.. and I like to do 2 projects.. but the kicker is they have to WOW and not be too hard. (there is always that one person.. I know you all can relate!!) I am doing the Saturday Nov 1st snowflake card for sure.. but for the other one, will.. not sure yet.. And I am not sure how many to plan for. You see, I would love to show the suspension card.. but I KNOW this one lady just won't get it.. (part of the reason Hannah goes.. she ends up helping this person out A LOT).. I guess I will have to think about it.. BUT, if anyone out there has any suggestions.. feel free to let me know!!

shawn

Saturday Card

Well, another suspension card.. This one, I really like. Not that I didn't like the other one, but I love the color combo of this one. The handsome hunter and black, it is so rich looking.

I tried to get the "other" side of the middle piece.. it is the penguin.. but couldn't, so I just settled for this..






Not snowing here yet..
Hannah and I will be going to Let' Dish today.. so that is my fun..
Have a great Saturday!!

shawn

Thursday Card

Happy Friday Eve everyone.. That is what Jeannie calls Thursday!! I think it sounds fun!!

So here it is.. My Thursday card.. OK! I admit.. I cheated.. It's only a 3x3 card.. But.. still a card.
I used the Smackin' Acetate Technique for this one! Not too bad for my 1st attempt!! I will keep trying with this.. It was fun.. If I can get it down.. I might use it for my workshop later this month.. Who knows.. Will have to see how Hannah likes doing this as well.. Since she helps me at this workshop.. (if I don't take her, I get a lot of grief!)

And since it was "only" a 3x3 card, I thought I would do a Party Favor as well.. A lot easier than I thought it would be.. but I could still use some work with it.. There is nothing in mine.. but it is rather cute!

shawn

Monday Card

OK, another dryer sheet card... This one is in old olive and the set is organic grace.. I used the green fine glitter on this one.

The cute dragonfly is for Jeannie...

Have a great Monday..

shawn

Suspension Card

Well, I tried my hand at a Suspension card.. I used Kiwi Kiss and the Tangerine Tango along with some of the new holiday paper.. Then I used the Deer Friends set for the images that was suspended.. again with the Kiwi Kiss and Tangerine Tango ink.. I thought for my 1st attempt, it turned out pretty cute...

I am going to try to stamp a bit more, and post here.. will see how well I do..

Thanks for looking..

shawn

I'm DONE!!!!

What do you get when you put Perfectly Plum, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Riding Hood Red paper together with some ribbon and some embossing powder?? Well.. in my case.. 50 finished Christmas cards!! They are DONE!! Sorry the picture isn't that good.. but it's 9pm..

YEAH.. I am done!!!

shawn

Saturday Cards X 2

OK, I know.. I know.. 2 more cards this week?? What has gotten into me??.. Well.. I was starting to clean my stamping room a little.. and well... I got to a point where it was clean enough to stamp.. so.. not to let an opportunity pass.. I did just that..
This top card is one that I am going to do for an upcoming workshop.. EASY and quick.. Just what I like.. and showing some new product!! The felt flurries.. And the new colors too!! What a bonus!!

This is Crazy for Cupcakes.. Which I had gotten, and had not put together, until this morning.. Used the heat and stick and the fine glitter on the cupcake papers, and chunky glitter on the frosting!! I also brayered the bottom layer!! So I was happy with myself.. and thought I should share too!!

Suppose to be nice here again today.. I know I need to finish cleaning the stamping room.. so don't be too surprised if I show up with more creations!!

shawn

Pumpkin carving and Christmas card

Happy Halloween everyone.. Last night Hannah and I carved the pumpkin.. OK, truth be told.. Hannah cleaned the pumpkin "guts" out, and I actually had to carve the pumpkin.. NOW.. I haven't carved a pumpkin in forever.. you will notice that there are no pictures of the finished product.. It wasn't that bad.. but I didn't want to show my lack of talent...

Anyway.. Hannah was having a blast!! Even getting "guts" all over herself!!

And today I actually stamped!! Yes, I know.. pick yourselves up off the floor!! Anyway... back to the card.. I had been wanting to try the dryer sheet technique and thought that "Home for Christmas" set would work great. I loved the set.. and got it.. but then I got scared of it!! That's a lot to have to color in!! But then I thought that if I used the dryer sheet technique and just highlighted a few areas.. well.. as you see.. I used Kraft, Handsome Hunter and Whisper White paper, Chocolate Chip ink, and Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Always Artichoke, Old Olive markers. Then it has Dazzling Diamonds on top! It really does look much better in person..

I really enjoyed doing this... except now I have adhesive on my fingers!!

I also did clean a whee bit in the stamping room.. I really need about 2 hours alone in there.. Not tonight.. waiting for the Trick or Treaters to come by...

shawn

Quarterly Meeting stuff.. and cards...

So, Like I posted earlier.. I had my quarterly meeting on Saturday.. and we made fun stuff.. This is the Christmas tree we made using the Big Shot and the pennant die.. VERY cute... and really easy.. OOPS.. I just realized that my picture doesn't have the little "rug" under it.. we made a "rug" for the tree to stand on as well.. you will just have to imagine it..







And I wondered what the heck would I do with the Felt Flurries.. well.. here we took 3 of them and added a brad to the middle. We actually added the silver cord on it as well.. but as you can see, mine is gone.. didn't like the cord on it.. but thought I could add this to a card.. very cute idea..

And then this is the card we made.. We used the new scallop edge punch.. I am glad that we used it. I was scared of getting it.. but after using it.. well.. I now HAVE to get it. I love the idea of the scallop on the edge with the color coming up.

Then I get a call from my friend Dawn.. "I am putting in my order for some cards!".. I need a birthday card for a guy... and 2 thank you cards... Yeah.. right, get right on that...
Well this first card is a rip off from Mish's site.. I thought it was cute.. so well.. it's my version.. but still a "CASE"..

While we at the meeting, one of the other demonstrators showed us the brayer but not on glossy paper like we were all "taught". This is on plain card stock!! The colors are great!! and not nearly as messy!!! I had this ribbon, and thought that the colors actually matched

the dots!! so.. well.. I liked it.. hope that Dawn does too!! (And.. too bad if she doesn't... hee hee)

As I have said before, I do have a hard time making masculine cards. I guess it is because I have Hannah.. I mean I don't have to make many.. But I found some old patterned paper and like the colors, thought that it looked manly... and well.. this is what I came up with. Actually I sort of liked it.. Not too flashy.. but nice..

That's all I got right now.. Have a great night!!

shawn

What I have been working on...

I really have been doing some cards.. I just don't always post them.. I needed a thank you card today.. so I did this one really fast! It's old paper.. don't even know how old.. and just some scraps of paper..

This is from the new set... Holiday Lineup! I LOVE this set.. When I saw it in the catalog.. I knew I HAD to have it!! The background paper is from the new mini.. and I used the new orange paper!! Lots of coloring!!

Another one from Holiday Line up!! I think they turned out cute.. AGAIN.. A LOT of coloring..

Yesterday when I got home.. I found these!! Pat, my wonderful husband, got me flowers! He knows that work has been tough lately.. and thought this would be a nice thing to do!! He use to bring me flowers every week.. Since I haven't gotten flowers in forever.. it was very nice to get these!! I am so lucky to have him!!

That is what I have been doing.. that and driving Hannah to dance and clarinet lessons! I guess that is what I get!

shawn

Accordion Card??

I have been stamping!! Really I have.. OK, not much, but a little here and there!! I did these little "accordion cards".. One for Halloween, and then one using the new Deck The Halls set from the winter mini.. I am not sure if you call them accordion cards or what.. but I think that they are pretty cute..

This is what they look like stretched out. I did make belly bands for them too.. just no picture of those.. oops!!

Thanks for looking!

shawn

What's Happening In My Life.... (OH wait.. I think I have heard that somewhere before)

My Mom's Birthday was September 11th.. so I did do well and make a card for her. This is what I made. I totally cased it from Kevin's blog. I thought it was great! Loved the colors and all.. She said that she liked it when I called to wish her a Happy Birthday!!

These are 2 of the projects I did at my open house last night! I had a request for the sock monkey... I liked using the new colors for him. It was pretty fun to make. And then the other one is a gift card holder. I used the bulk rub-on with it! Thought that since Christmas is around the corner, well, they might have a use for this.

The other project I did was votive holders. I got them at IKEA and we did rub-on's on those too! I didn't get a picture of the finished product.. hm..

Not a great turn out for the open house, but I did get a couple orders and a couple bookings! So not a total loss!

This morning Hannah had auditions for the Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker. This was her 4th year! She has been a snowflake 2 times and last year she was a party guest and a Russian variation.

This is her with the 70 other girls and boys waiting to go in for the audition.



Anastasia has been in the ballet with Hannah for the last 3 years as well. They love seeing each other each year. It amazes me the friendships that form within this 3 month period.

After having the parents wait in the hallway for 1 1/2 hours, the announcements were made as to what parts each child get.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.. Hannah was giving the part of Butterfly! She will be dancing on pointe this year! This is HUGE!! She just started pointe in January! The other 3 girls have been on pointe much longer! As you can see, she is the littlest butterfly! But not sure if you can tell the SMILE she has!! This is the part she really wanted!

Can't say how proud we are of her!!

And can't wait to see her in the ballet this year! She will be in 3 performances at the Orpheum Theater in December!




This is Hannah's cupcake that she made when we were in Iowa to visit a couple weeks ago. We just received it in the mail today! It turned out WAY cute.. Better than the one at the shop!!

Well, that is what I have been up to lately! Sorry that I haven't posted a lot lately! I will try to do better!

Hannah wants to stamp, and last I heard Karen wants to come over too.. So I will have some new stuff to post soon!

shawn