New Year's Resolutions???

Well, honestly I'm not making any. I think when you put New Year's in front of Resolutions you might as write FAIL!!! I am though a big believer in goals! I make them all year long. I have big goals such as getting the basement completely organized and clean and small goals like getting an A on a test. It keeps me focused on the task at hand. You should always have long term and short term goals. I also don't beat myself up if my goals are not accomplished. Life gets in the way and sometimes it has another plan for you and the goal is just not one of them. So my goals right now are both big and small. Some goals I'm working now are long term and big such as becoming a nurse. Some are small term and small goals such as getting the house completely organized before the next semester starts. I don't want to waste this valuable time I have off of school. I have a full load of classes next semester which will not give me the time to do much with my home except general cleaning.

So this year nix the New Year's Resolutions and just make goals! Goals you know that you can handle and that you won't be disappointed if they are not fulfilled.

Have a wonderful New Year's. Stay safe and please if you are going out and drinking have a designated driver!!

Blessing for the New Year,
Jessica

It is all about Him.

I wish you a Merry Christmas. God Bless you all.

Leads: Giveaway for Pearls.....Ow..la..la..

Okay, I am off of school for until January 18 so most of my time is now in front of my computer and guess what I'm doing. Reading Blogs!! I should be crafting but the inspiration is worth sitting here. Anyway, when I see a lead, I will share! Plus it puts me in an for another entry sometimes. So without further ado: the giveaway lead

The French Charming- $100 g.c. to PearlNecklaceSource.com. Wow, what an giveaway!! Go and read up on what you need to do in order to be part of the giveaway. Real easy!

Good Luck to all. If I find more I'll post it!!

Lead: Free Digi Images!

Good Morning All!!
So 2 days before the big day. Christmas Day that is! A wonderful friend of mine, Heather is a digital image designer and owner of Fresh Brewed Designs and makes digi images for papercrafters. Today she is giving out 3 free digi images. Please check out all her digi images for sale too.

Lead: A Lovely Robin's Egg Blue and Vintage Muse Giveaway!

Please check out Robin's Egg Blue. She is having a giveaway.


Please go and check out My Vintage Muse. This birthday girl is sharing her birthday with all of us bloggers by having a giveaway. Sweet!

Good Luck to all!!

Giveaway!

Check out this giveaway!

Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas....

Today I am sharing with you some of my home during Christmastime. During the holidays my family and I put out of decorations. I just love this time of year, you can put out all different pieces and it all comes together to make a festive home. It is such a change from the everyday decor that is out 10 months out of the year. So please enjoy this picture show of what makes me happy.


Welcome to the enterance way of my home. I have a small buffet cabinet that I purchased last year and it doesn't store dishes or linens but instead it holds all my school books.

I was so proud of myself with this bookcase. I opened my mind and thought of how I would like it to be and then executed it. The 3 metal stars were used this summer in screen porch and now are being used as Christmas decor.



I truly adore vintage decor! In the past few years I have been picking up little pieces here and there.There is a store in my town that carries all cute vintage ornaments and sorts. I just love it. Last year after Christmas I picked up the cutest little statues of vintage children. Aren't they adorable?

The mantle.....
















Would you believe....

that I found this Santa cookie jar at a yard sale? I couldn't believe it myself. He is just so cute. On the list in his hand has the names of the children that probably owned this cookie jar. Too bad they didn't keep it in the family and put it out in a yard sale. I guess there trash is now my treasure. You never know, one day I might just paint over the names and put my childrens names in its place.




Please check out other blogs in the tour!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Your friend in blogging world,
Jessica

Another Giveaway!!

Go to Serenity Now for a great giveaway!!

Giveaway at the Feathered Nest

Please stop by at Dawn's blog The Feathered Nest. She is having a giveaway. I love her blog and stop by daily. She is truly inspiring. She makes the cutiest crafts and has tutorials to follow or to purchse. Go further down into her blog and see the cute snowman and little birdy she made. I just adore them.

Friday Sketchers-Card Sketch Challenge Entry.

I made this card to be entered into Friday Sketchers Card Challenge. This is going to my best friend Heather this year for Christmas. This is a digi image and I am not sure of where I had got it. Complete Brain Fart Moment!! Hope you like it. Hope I win. Fingers crossed.

A day of giveaway leads!

Today I will post giveaway lead to all the wonderful blogs that are doing giveaways. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I win some. Please show your love and enter. You never know, you may just win!

First, a beautiful apron giveaway from http://reluctantentertainer.com/. Today she made me stop for a moment and think of my favorite moments with my family. Just love that.

A wonderful women named Dawn at The Feathered Nest has a list of giveaways also and while your there check out her cute little Snowman "Pudge". He is just so cute. If you scroll down futher you can see her cute little birdie she made out of paper clay. She has tutorials on some cute projects as well.

Want something to keep those little toesies warm this winter. The Inspired Room is having a giveaway. They are giving away a pair of cozy white bunny slippers. My daughter would just love them.

Lastly over at Fiona and Twig, she is offering her own giveaway but also posted some great giveaway leads.

Hey, I entered them. If I win, I win. So have fun entering and roaming around blogworld. Best of Luck to all.

Oh found another!
Sue's Rubber Stamping Adventure

Alert: Great Giveaway from a Great Friend!

Please jump over to my wonderful friend Lisabee at This and That. She is having a giveway for her 20,0000 visit and her up and coming 30th Birthday. Please run quick and post for a chance to win some great giveaways.

~New~ Fifteen Minute Fridays!!

I love visiting blogs and getting great advice from everything from scrapping, stamping, crafting, cooking, decorating and more. I have decided that it would be nice if I can give out some advice of my own. So I have come up with Fifteen Minute Fridays! Please stop by or follow my blog to get some cool ideas and advice on Fridays. Fifteen Minute Fridays will contain projects or things you can do in fifteen minutes!! It will be on different things every week. You never know what you can do in fifteen minutes or less! So lets begin.

This week's Fifteen Minute Friday is: drum roll please.....

Planning out your week ahead.

So now that Thanksgiving is over and the December Holidays are fast approaching I feel that my time is really being taken by shopping, cooking, family time and everyday life.

So here is what to do to make sure your time isn't wasted but is being used wisely.

1. Sit down with your calendar and a pen, paper and a nice cup of hot cocoa. Chocolate makes everything less stressful. :)
2.Write down everything that has to be done this coming week. Put down the amount of time you think this will take.
3. Take that list and now put it in a list of most important (Tasks that must be done) to least important (Tasks that are not really important but you would like to see done). Do you see where I am going with this?
4. Time to chop the list! If it is least important scratch it off the list, delegate it to someone else or write it down for the next week. This will help to make your list shorter and your week less daunting.

I hope this helps! Thanks for visiting and please visit often!

Jessica

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I don't know about you but this economy truly sucks. No matter what I do to save I don't seem to be getting ahead. I have a family of 5, two of which are teens. We create so much laundry. I am constantly complaining about the cost of detergent and the fact that I have to buy so much. While blog hopping one day I came across a blog called Little Birdie Secrets. Fabulous crafty blog run by a group of friends. The blog is so good I have read every blog that they have written. When I like a blog, I really read almost all of it. Well, one post was about Homemade Laundry Detergent. I was so happy to see this post. Non other do they give the directions but they show how to do it step by step. Today I went out and got the ingrediants and tonight hubby and I will be making our own Laundry Detergent. I can tell you now that this $13 investment is going to save me over $100. Go me! Thanks so much to the ladies over at the Little Birdie Secrets Blog.



So if you are interested in saving some bucks and making your own laundry detergent go here!!

P.S. I'm using Japanese Cherry Blossom essential oil. You can change the scent to your favorite scent. I found it in the craft section in Walmart. The ingrediants I found at the supermarket. Walmart only sells the Borax.

Good Luck!

Jessica~

I love Giveaways!

So, non other do I love paper crafting but I love home design and other crafty things such as sewing. I also love to blog hop. When I blog hop all over the place I do find giveaways along the way. Well, I thought only fair that I share them with you too. I'll post them when I find them. Good luck to all. Fingers crossed!

Blog Candy from Sparkle Creations, btw, love her cards. They are just so beautiful.
http://sparklecreations.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-candy.html

Beautiful Santa Statues Giveaway over at the lettered cottage.
http://www.theletteredcottage.net/2009/11/hudson-goods-three-wise-santas-giveaway.html

Beautiful Blue Cake plate and knife
http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-bluemosaic-monday-with-giveaway.html?showComment=1258553797732_AIe9_BFvCwlKXUkMIo3KbvioP09mjEm5lYrrx_MT75IjaKoZX2rEAX8aky3kmAMlQGAbmyPnT9B33N2UzJsyoWMDoLAY8VTqXM8kSt2cmcngk4H1lGkQMd-gQTFmNaqUZRbeVWrkQMbz_5Y1tW1GFNCQbDgpiwjlxa3S4jx4RYKIhWtErY3RqZ23AJt5n7w9bqzK4h5vVevt67PJCJhCCtmRplkZEawNcmI9KXJp0RdfUSjgXsrONSva14JL5n9OtjlW4zsie9Hp#c2435167246970787408

Just want everyone to know:

Okay, I just love stampingbella.com. So today over at their blog they are having a blog hop. Hurry, get over there and get hopping. These women are just so creative. So go over to www.stampingbella.com/blog/. Good Luck!! Fingers crossed.

Happy Halloween!!

Hey everyone, I want to wish everyone a wonderful Halloween. Be safe, check the candy before eating it and have a great time out there! I just wanted to share a few pics of pumpkins I found around the net. Enjoy!


I just love this pumpkin. - www.allaboutpumpkins.com

Cute family of Pumpkins- http://www.ehow.com/

Mario Pumpkin - http://www.blog.j.j.games.com/

Boo to U!

Today I made some very much needed important crafting time for myself. With school, the kids, the house and the hubs I can't seem to get to my craft table. It also doesn't help that I am obsessed with the computer. As I blog hop everyday, I have been getting inspired. Today instead of cardmaking or scrapping I thought it would be fun to make a decoration for my home for Halloween. I don't have anything handmade and this was fun to make. I used the Cricut for all the shapes and letters, even the little spider. I glitzed it up with stickles (glitter glue), added some pumpkin brads to the B, ric rak to the 1st O and a die cut spider to the 2nd O. In a sticker stash that I have I found a cat and ghost sticker from Jolee's that just fit perfect. It was so nice to be able to make something. So the pic is horrible. I am not the best photographer and I hate my camera. Now back to reality for me. Study, cook, sleep.

Feel yourself up!

Hey everyone!! While I have not been effected personally by breast cancer I still feel Breast Cancer Awareness is very important. So ladies, check the your breasts at least once a month, usually at the start of your menstration. If you should feel any abnormalities go get checked out by your doctor. Early detection is the key for a cure. This month you will see plenty of organizations asking for donations to for breast cancer research, please if you can give what you can.

Enter today for a Custom Designed Stamp from Christy Croll

Hey, go over to Christy Crolls blog and enter yourself in the custom design website. She is the creator of the Huggabuggs stamps found at www.stampingbella.com. Hurry, rush, go and good luck!

Will I make it in on time?

I not sure if I will make it in on time for last week's Friday's Sketchers. I really liked the sketch so I wanted to do it. Well, even if I don't make it at least I made a card right? I am hoping to get started on Christmas cards. I ran into the problem of not having enough last year. I just didn't have the time with school. This year I have a little bit more time. I don't want to wait until November to make them though. I got this stamp years ago. He is so cute. He stamps well too. My only problem is that I am bad with bic markers and copics and make the ink bleed. I'm not sure what ink I am supposed to be using. I'll have to investigate. My hopes is to one day be able to have more copics and know how to use them properly. Guess that is going to have to go on the Christmas list!

Will I ever find my MOJO?

Okay, so today I had some time for cardmaking. I really feel that when I go down in my basement to make cards that I totally lost my mojo for making cards. :( I hope to be able get it back within the next few weeks due to the fact that my son is having his Halloween Party and I just love to decorate for it.

For this weeks Stampingbella Sketch I chose to do a Halloween themed card. I love my little Johnny Depster stamp and find myself using him more then others. The pic is so bad. I hate my camera. I don't really know if it is the camera or if it is me using the camera? I did notice today that I use to much Stickles and need to stop being lazy and start matting more. Embellishments scare me for some reason. I think that they will make everything look tacky. I have to get over that fear.

Check out this new blog!!

My wonderful and creative friends Heather and Cassie have made there own blog. Doodle Street! I can't wait to see all the wonderful things these ladies come up with. So please go right now and check it out!! http://doodlestreetdesigns.blogspot.com/

Wow! It has been forever since I blogged!

Well it sure has been forever since I have last blogged on here. I have been in school and studying so I really don't get the time to create anything. I am so addicted to Facebook and still hanging around Cafemom though. This summer I am taking a very intense 6 week course in Anatomy and it is hard as hell. Today I gave myself the day off from class and from studying. So guess what I did! Got a pedicure!! Heee-hee. It was great. I wasn't though crazy about the price. $30. Yeah, I could have did it myself for around $5. I was kind of shocked at the price. I haven't had a pedi in a few years. I have been doing them myself for a while. A friend of mine asked me if I would like to join her so I said okay. Well, when we got there I saw the price and really didn't want to cause a scene so like a dummy, I paid $30. I am orginally from NY and they have a nail salon on every corner. A pedi, a good one too can run you about $15 to $25. So I got the pedi and wished afterwards that I didn't. I could have just done it myself and went out and bought pretty sandals to show my toes off with. Oh well, what is done is done.

I did though get to go down in my dungeon of a basement where I have my scrap table set up and make two cards. I needed a thank you card and a birthday card. Over in the Cute Critters Club on Cafemom there was a challenge to make a card using green, blue and orange. I found a piece of scrap paper leftover in a pile that was perfect for this. I wish I could say that I love this card but I don't. I rushed it. I'm missing my mojo right now and I am searching for it.

The other card is made for my step father for his birthday. I hope it gets to him by Monday. I used a rub on for the trees. Wow, rub on's are great, they are fast, easy and look great. I really should use them again. I left this card very plain but just love the contrast of colors together. My father will truly love it. Well, I am hoping to have more time this weekend between studying to make more cards and possibly do something interesting with my family. Till the next time! God Bless!

I got a new doggie.. Introducing Matteo!!

Last week, my husband brought home a beautiful dog from the shelter. He is a 2 year old Bullboxer. Part bulldog, part boxer. He is adorable. I wasn't crazy about his name, it was Lewis. So I changed it to Matteo. It totally fits him. We are just in love with him. He is our second dog. Our first dog Midnight is 3 years old Black Lab. He is just the most precious dog you would ever meet. He is such a mush. Luckly, Matteo is the same way. My husband and Matteo
Matteo instantly was attached to us. My husband seems to be his favorite person in the house. We are all okay with that because we still have Midnight. I never knew that I could love another dog like I love my Midnight, but like children you just make your heart bigger. God led my husband to the shelter and Matteo was meant to be ours. I am so thankful.

Amazing, I did it.

So this past weekend, my son's Cub Scout Den went on a hike. I joined them. It was my very first hike. I was so nervous due to the fact that I am out of shape and have a bad knee. Everyone, I must tell you, it was hard but so satisfying. We hiked for 4 hours and a total of 5.2 miles. Yup, 5.2 miles. Half of the hike was up a mountain that just so happens to be on the side of my house. I always look at the mountain too and wonder how you would get up there, well now I know. We hiked all the way to the top and then came back down. I truly believe the down part of the hike was the hardest and scariest. It was very rocky coming down and some part where so steep. I must admit though that it was worth it. The mountain has many secrets that you do not see from just looking up at the mountain. A small section was part of a stagecoach trail, we hiked along a stream that brought water to 3 old reseviors, the water was so clear and cold. We went through a part that seemed like the jungle. I could go on and on. I can't wait to go hiking again. I felt so energized at the end. My body felt great. I just thought that I would share my experience with you all.

Lovin this Sunday

Well, today I must say is going great. I woke up this morning cheerfully, in my newly painted room that was painted a beautiful shade of yellow. The yellow makes my room so much brighter and also makes it look so much bigger too. I still have more work to do before my bedroom is done but so far so good. On most Sunday's I hear the grunts of my family not wanting to go to chruch or to Sunday school. Not this morning!!! Everyone got up and not one complaint. We went to church as a family together. It has been a couple of months since we have all gone together. I was so pleased. My son Sean, who is 8 years old usually becomes antsy and cannot last through the entire service without becoming annoying but not today. God was shining down on my family today. You could give me a bag full of money but I would not be as happy as I was this morning with my family in church. Some might find that crazy but I really do enjoy the simple things in life and I am thankful for them. The one thing I wanted to do today, I have decided not to do. My town has a St. Patricks day parade every year. I have not attended this parade since I have moved to Pa. I had planned on going with my family this year being that it is such a beautiful day out and I like to be out with my community but due to a few foolish people I have choosen to keep my family home. To many people feel that they can get drunk at the bars and come out and act like total asses. The parade is at 1pm in the afternoon. How are these people drunk this early in the afternoon? I'm still drinking coffee. So due to the behavior of these people I feel it is safer to keep my family home. I do feel bad for the business owners that put the parade on. With the economy being the way it is I'm sure that contributing to the parade is not easy and with drunk people running around ruining the parade for the people that are there to enjoy it must be very frustrating for them.
Well, enough on the parade. I will not let that damper my day. I have decided that my family and I will just relax and enjoy ourselves today. No cleaning and running around. I didn't hear any complaints from my family so I am going down to my basement to my craft area and I'm going to sew today. I might even sneak in a card or two.
Have a great day today.

So I have been busy..

I'm saddened that I don't get to blog as much as the bloggers I love to read. I recently had surgery to have my gallbladder removed. The surgery went great and I'm pretty much healed and feeling great. I also have been behind in my studies due to the surgery. I am caught up and happy to say that I am also on Spring Break this week. I would love to say that I am down in my crafting area crafting my little heart away but I'm not. Instead of crafting I am painting my bedroom and my living room this week. I also have to spring clean this house. Gladly, the garage was done this weekend with the help of my family. It was bad!!!

Crafting News
Onto crafting news... my sister is preggers and is due in July. She is having a baby boy. We think his name will be Jake. So I have been thinking of different things to make for the baby's room and for her baby shower. Her baby shower theme will be Nursery Rhymes. I am finding it really hard to find anything with the nursery rhyme theme. If anyone knows of a website that they can lead me too for ideas I would greatly appreicate it.

New Releases of Stamps
So lately I have seen a lot of new releases of stamp sets and such from all different companies. As much as I like some of the designs I must say that I am not totally impressed with most. I feel the images are to cartoonish and look like coloring book images. I don't like that these companies are making such crappy stamps and charging a fortune for them. I won't name names because I don't want to bash companies. I understand that they have to come up with new designs to keep up with other companies but why crap? Some images look like they are drawn by a 5 year old. So yes, since I don't like them I will not buy them. Enough of that.

Well, I'm hoping this week to get in on some challenges. I'll post what I do if I find time.

Thanks for reading!

The Calm before the Storm~ sort of to me.

Well this past weekend I was able to sit down and make a layout and complete a card challenge. Wow, I must say. I first started off making a layout of my hubby and I with our wonderful son Sean. We call him "Mad Bubs". Since we vie for his love so much I decided to do this layout to show him that we love him so much. He tells us that we are both #1. It was really a simple and fast layout. Nothing to fancy. I used chip board and stickles (of course). I simply matted the photos and added some journaling. I think it came out cute. Hope you enjoy it.

My second project was a card challenge offered up in the Stampingbella forum on SCS. Sadfully, I didn't get to post it on time. I'll try to do the next one. I used the TeddyBella image that I got from a swap. My sister is preggers so she is going to get this card from me on her shower, mind you it won't be until July. I love how colorful this card is. I used stickes again of course. I love stickles. Everything just looks so much better with a bit of glitter.

So I'm sure your wondering what I meant by the phrase, "The calm before the storm." Well, this weekend it was very calm and peaceful at my home and having that opportunity I took advantage of it by scrappin and making a card. I organized my craft space too. As of today though, my week is doing a 180. I went to school this morning and this afternoon too. Both classes were my Biology classes. Well, lets just say, I'm going to be praying that I could play with my stamps and paper. I have less then 2 weeks to get to know all 206 bones in the body and where they are located. Now just imagine me pulling my hair out. This will be no easy task. To top that all off. I will be going into surgery to have my gallbladder removed on Monday. I am praying that I will be able to make it to class on Tuesday. I just feel missing any material is a bad thing to do right now. So wish me luck that somehow I can get through it all in the next 2 weeks.

I should be studying..

So today I should be studying but my friend Brandi has a birthday coming up next week and it has been on my mind that I had not made her a birthday card. Yes, I could have just sent her one from my stash but it would not have been what I want to send her. For Christmas I got Lottie and Gussie Gabalot from stampingbella.com. I just love these girls. They are cute. I used an embossed Happy Birthday cardstock that I recieved in a RAK and the Lottie and Gussie image. Inside I used a sentiment from stampinup.com. I colored in the image with my Bic markers and used a copic for skin color. I had to add some stickle glitter because without glitter it just wouldn't be a card to me. And of course I added ribbon. I love ribbon and seem to have to add ribbon to every project I do. Well, I can't wait to get the opportunity to make a card again.

Oh and for all that don't know, you must go to http://www.stampingbella.com/. They had a new release and I'm lovin it. I can't wait for payday. Have a wonderful week!!

I haven't fogot about my blog, I have just been a little busy. I found out on Monday that my gallbladder has to be taken out. Mine has decided it doesn't want to work anymore. Oh well. I am meeting with the surgeon tomorrow to set a date. I have also been very busy with school. I feel guilty going down and creating when I know that I should be studying, so school always wins. I will though have to make some cards this weekend for V-day for the kids and my honey. I really enjoy looking at everyone's blogs and try to check on them daily. Today I would love if you all would go over and read a blog from a women that creates beautiful art, the shabby chic way but her post for Feb 3, is inspirational. Please go to her blog. http://shabbyscraps.typepad.com/shabbyscraps/. Thank you all so much. Well, off to study.

I have been so busy.

I feel like I am neglecting my blog and my blogging time (the time I spend reading everyone's blogs.). I have been so busy with school and I have been sick at the same time. I am having trouble with my right side of my abdomen. I went to the er and went through tons of tests and so far NOTHING! This is so depressing because it is scary not knowing what is wrong and I just don't have the time right now to go back and forth to dr.'s and radiologists. I have one more test to take to rule out the gallbladder. After that I have no idea what it could be. We have ruled out the liver and appendix so far. Well, I slept all day and now have to spend the night studying for a quiz in the morning. Joy!

Thank you so much Beate

My wonderful friend Beate has given me an award. Whoo-hoo!! Thanks so much girl. By the way, Beate owns an awesome advanced scrapbooking group on Cafemom. She is so creative too. You must check out her blog. http://creativepaperprincess.blogspot.com/

So Beate chose 5 friends to give this award to and I will do the same. I wish I could give it to Beate again! I will also try not to give it to anyone that I know has it already so that I can spread the award around.

1. Lizzie, check out her blog and see why I think it is great!

http://mommalizzie.blogspot.com/

2. Celina- a great scrapbooker!

http://celinascraps.blogspot.com/

3. My BFF DEE, of course we both have the same blog backround!! he-he!!

http://sprytebyrd.blogspot.com/

4. Kimmie, she is a serious cardmaker, truly awesome.

http://craftingforsanity.blogspot.com/

5. Kathy, the Queen of Altering!

http://kathysscrapchat.blogspot.com/

Please check out these really creative ladies and again thank you so much Beate, you also Rock!

BRRRRRR......

To all my friends in the Northwest and thoughout the US that are suffering through this awful weather.

A girl can dream can't she? Keep warm!

Blog Candy!!

http://qkd.blogspot.com/. Go to this website, leave a comment, become a follower and make your own announcement on your blog for a chance to win a stamp set from Queen Kat Designs. Whoo-hoo, wish me luck!

Got in the mood...

Well I have been so lazy lately and really have not wanted to go down to the basement where my craft space is located because of the cold. So last night I got off my fat ass and put the space heater on near my desk and went to town on making 3 cards and an altered address book. I made the 3 cards for challenges in various groups and the address book I had and decided that I wanted to alter something.

Enjoy and have a great day!

This card was made for the sketch challenge over at PCP. I was so happy that I finally got to use my new stamp. This stamp is "Rumor Has It." from stampingbella.com. They are so cute.

This was a sketch challenge in the Addicted to Bellas group on Cafemom. Thanks so much Dee for a great sketch. I love ribbon, so when I saw the stripes, I instantly thought ribbon. I also used my new cuttlebug for the scallop and for the embossed pink cardstock. I truly love that cuttlebug. The image is Cupcakeabella from Stampingbella.com. I got the image in a swap and couldn't wait to use it. I know your seeing a trend. I love Bellas and the other great stamps at stampingbella.

The dragonfly card was made for a challenge for the Cute Critters Club at Cafemom. The sketch was really easy and took me no time at all to do. I used a dragonfly image that was sent to me. I believe it is an SU stamp.

Well, I was at my mothers during Thanksgiving and was cleaning up all of her junk. She is a shopaholic and buys things that she will never use. Why? I don't know. So anyway she had this address book and it was kinda ugly. I asked her why she wasn't using it. She told me that she bought another one instead. So I took the address book home with the intention of altering it and making it mine. I so desperately need a new one anyway. I didn't want to over do it with this book. I wanted a beautiful book but still simple. I didn't use many materials to do this either. I used 2 sheets of patterned paper from Basic Grey. Sorry don't know the name of it. I really don't read the names of the paper. After carefully cutting out the paper to fit the cover I cut the leftover flower and leaves. I cut and pasted the paper on and then proceeded to add the flower. I wanted it to have dimension so I added pop dots underneath and cut around the petals with a craft knife. I added some ribbon on the spine and a safety pin with a pewter heart charm to give it just a little bit more prettiness. I added a rhinestone for the center of the big flower on top and outlined the leaves and the bottom flower with Stickles. I love Stickles. Don't they just make everything just a little bit more pretty. I sure think so.

99 things to do before you die..

Okay, so Dee copied this off of Callie and I am coping this off of Dee. You are more than welcome to copy it off of me.
So the thing is to bold the things you have done. Just copy and paste it into your own blog.

Happy Reading.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world -DisneyWorld several times and can't wait to go back.
8. Climbed a mountain- live all around them, I drive up and down them all the time.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - lucky I can speak English correctly.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied- I am satisfied with whatever God feels I should have at the time.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39.Went Rock Climing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I'll take a busy day with a cherry on top.

Hey there!! Well I've had a busy day and I'm so glad that it is slowing down and almost over. So today I went to get my hair cut and colored. I hated the color it was before and I'm so glad to have a new color that is more me. I also took off about 8 inches. I took a pic of how it came but I have been fussing with it and now it is messy. Plus I look bad with no makeup on but what the hell here's the pic.

So after I came home, I helped the kids deliver their newspapers because hubby was making an awesome beef soup. My husband doesn't cook often but when he does it comes out great. Wasted talent. He should have been a chef. Anyways...after I got back the door bell rang and guessy who was there? My wonderful UPS lady Peggy Sue. She had a package for me. It was my Bellas that my son had bought me for my birthday! Whoo-hoo. I can't wait to play with them tonight. My sister is having a baby and I don't have any baby stamps to make cards with. I just love the baby stamps at http://www.stampingbella.com/. I can't wait to find out what she is having so that I can make it more personal. I'm giving her a baby shower probably in May. I am siked to make the invites. I'll also make the cake too. I couldn't wait to get Lottie and Gussie. I have wanted that stamp for so long. I also got the Rumor Has It stamp. They are too cute. The sentiment stamp says: "If friends were flowers, I'd pick you". Isn't that so cute. It goes with many of my stamps. I thought I could also use it with the Daisy tea cup stamp I got. Well enough about stamps.

My daughter Samantha and I were playing around taking pics of my hair and then we started taking pics together. We don't get along often due to the fact that she is a teenager and has a big mouth so it was nice that we were able to spend sometime goofing around instead of fighting and arguing. I know that I am her mother but isn't she so beautiful. I can't get over that I made someone so beautiful as her. I wish I was a beautiful as her when I was her age. She's a knock out. The boys are nuts for her. Too bad they don't really know about her attitude. They would all run. LOL. Someone once wrote on their thought bubble on Cafemom, "Only a teenager can love another teenager." Isn't that the truth. I love her but the love from her friends right now is more important than mine and so is their opinions. I can't wait until she is older so that we can have a relationship that is meaningful.

Well off to go put the little boogers to bed and then to make some cards! I'll keep yah posted!

Who would have thunk?

Life is so funny sometimes. Yesterday I wrote that I wanted the cuttlebug but refused to pay full price for it. This morning I open the newspaper and grab the Michaels ad and guess what is right on the front page? Of course, the cuttlebug!! It was on sale for 50% off. I was so excited. I knew it would go on sale soon but didn't expect it this week. Any who, after a busy day with church and a cub scout event hubby and I went into Allentown to Michaels and picked my Cuttlebug! Whoo-hoo! This really has been the best birthday. I picked up one folder and 2 die sets. I'm hoping to pick up some Nesties soon. I need to stop spending for a few weeks and I'm hoping one day to catch a sale on Nesties too.

Well, I'm hoping to get some use out of it tomorrow when the kids go back to school. I'm so happy for school. The kids are driving me crazy and really need to go back. I hope everyone had a great weekend and I wish you all a great week too!

Happy Birthday to me!!

Well today is my 32nd birthday. It was not an eventful day but not a bad one either. I enjoyed a big part of my day with my hubby Bill at the supermarket and Walmart. After we got home my daughters boyfriend and his friend came over to hang out with all of us nuts. My daughter baked my cake (lemon cake with raspberry filling)and my hubby made me Chicken Marsala for dinner. Yum, Yum. After ll of that food I must say that my belly is quite content.

It was definitely so sweet of them to make me dinner and a cake.

I must also share with you some of my gifts that I got for my birthday too. My son Frankie gave me $50.00 to spend on stamps. I went right on over to http://www.stampingbella.com/. It has been so long since I have gotten Bellas. I was so excited. I bought 7 stamps altogether and one copic. My hubby also bought me some Riley Moose stamps at http://www.hannastamps.com/ but the last gift was so great. I must show this to all of you. I just love it. My favorite symbol is the fleur de lis. I did pick this out but was so shocked that he wanted to buy me jewelery since I break all of my jewelery. He is so sweet. I love him. He is full of surprises. He was going to orginally get me the Cuttlebug but I refuse to buy it for full price. I know that if I pay full price the next week or month it will be on sale. So I am going to wait for a good sale before I buy the Cuttlebug.

Well, as you can see and read, I did have a pretty great birthday. I am so thankful to God to be living another year and for all the wonderful things he does for me and my family. God Bless everyone!

Blog hoppin and Blog Candy for the New Year!

Hey everyone! First off, I want to wish everyone a healthy and happy new year. Anyway, one of my favorite stamping sites is having a blog hop for blog candy for the celebration for their new releases and new design team. Check it out here http://sweetnsassystamps.blogspot.com/.

Well I'm off to the mall to go find the cuttlebug! Whoo-hoo! My hubby has agreed to buy me it for my birthday this Saturday. I'm going to be 23. He-Hee.

Again have a wonderful New Year. Hope it is the best!