I have been busy.....

I really have been busy!

I was in a shoebox swap on CMB, which was a lot of fun! I had the opportunity to make a new friend through the swap, and look forward to meeting her in person! The swap included a few altered and handmade items, so here are a few of the things I got to make for Margorie...

...these are my absolute favorite items out of everything I made! I had the opportunity to be "sneaky" and upload a pic of her pups from SparkPeople and was able to use it to make these adorable PUP-fairy flies!


This is a couple of tin boxes I altered with alcohol inks. I did need some directions on this, and Nancy/FortheLoveofTim helped me through the learning process. YAY for people who love to share their knowledge of their crafts!






After learning to etch for the Shoebox Swap, I just kept etching....
I made this for Karrilee for the BFF Valentine's Swap on SparkPeople because the little Elfster guy drew her name as my partner!


Funny, the Elfster guy drew my name for her....here are all the cool things she sent my way for the Valentine's Swap. She ROCKS!


Here I am smooching my SMOOCH!


I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day and was able to spend the day being with those you love, doing what you love! We spent the day traveling to our parents houses, having heart-shaped meatloaf, and chocolate fondue....yep, you guessed it... all the people and things I love!

BROKEN

After my youngest son broke his arm in September he had to have x-rays and a new cast put on every couple of weeks, not only did he love the attention, but he loved getting everyone to sign his cast. I would ask him if I could sign his cast and he would say "NO!" because he knew I would sign it with a heart for the O, and he thought it would be embarassing to have a heart on his cast. After a while it became a game for me to try to get him to let me write my name...but he never let me.

This LO is the closest that my name ever got to his cast! LOL!


I stapled the word BROKEN by using my new Tiny Attacher that I rec'd from Marjorie in Round 7....WooHoo...what a fun tool!

Mr. Toad @ Bell-Graham

If you know me, you know I have a silly sense of humor and I ALWAYS laugh at my own jokes, I usually find the oddest things humorous and laugh uncontrollably at them. I laughed the entire time I made this PBA because there are so many inside jokes in it...I just know the girls at work are going to love this!

Here is the story of Mr. Toad...

If someone at work comes up with a good idea that can be used through out the company we are rewarded with a statue of a toad that says "OLD TOAD COOKING" and are required to proudly display it in our kitchens for a month. Yes, we won in December and had the toad delivered, along with a camera that had a note attached that said, "Have fun!"

A couple random thoughts about that last paragraph:
1. A toad statue is a reward?
2. These perks make you want to apply w/ my company doesn't it? (Yes, there are openings!)

Anyhow, you just can't give a scrapbooker a camera and say "Have fun" without expecting something in return....





"Pssst....are you wearing UP DOG?"
"Whatz UP DOG?"



"Hey Denice, I'm getting hungry. Could you make us something to eat?"
"No problem Kay, I've got the perfect thing in mind."



"Are these chicken sticks?"
"No, but they sure are good!"
"Toad-a-lly!!"


Did you notice the little frog/toad tabs? I received a lot of them from some inchie swaps I was in last summer...they are just too cute! It was great having those in my stash, waiting for the perfect little "something" to use them on!

Sadly, Mr. Toad is being returned tomorrow. I hope he can come back soon for another play date and lunch! LOL!

Pagoda Cart for Valentine's Day

I feel like I haven't posted for sooooooo long, and it looks that way too! I was overly busy making gifts for Christmas, and now that the holidays have passed....maybe it's a little too late to post pics?!!

My dd loves anime and manga, so when the Pagoda cart was released I couldn't wait to get it. This is a simple card I made for her for Valentine's Day using the Kenja feature on the cart, along with a stamped image of cherry blossoms that I received from one of my sissers. I think she's going to love it!

Be Yourself

Here's a new set from CTMH that I picked up at a local craft fair, it's called BE YOURSELF...it's fun and sassy, just like my teenage daughter! It also perfect for any female, of any age, who has attitude!

I'm giving the set of cards to a co-worker and needed to find something to put the cards in, so I made this quick folder for them. I've never made one before, it was really easy thanks to my trustworthy Scor-Pal! Gotta love it!



Stay safe during the Holidays, and don't get too caught up in the details...what needs to get done will get done, and the rest will be waiting for you after we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Countdown to Christmas

I found this really cute Christmas Countdown project at Christmas with the Cricut, and thought I'd made a couple of them for my co-workers. Here's a link to see the directions. The site has some great how-to Christmas projects, all are made with your bug!

I used some shapes that I had got in a Christmas Shape Swap last year on SP, I love the reindeer!

Sweet 16

It's my niece's Sweet 16 birthday party tomorrow, I can't believe she's 16 AND she's going to be driving in a couple of months! We all know "they" grow up too fast!!!

Last year, I was in a creative slump and that felt that no one really cared if I made them a card or not, so I gave my niece a store bought card *gasp* for her birthday...well, the disappointment on her face was very apparent! She ran upstairs and brought down a pile of all the handmade cards I have ever made for her and she said, "I keep them all!" YES!!!! VALIDATION!!!

I put a little extra time and love into this! Happy Sweet 16, Michele!












I love, love, love texture! The more the better, and this flower from the Paper Studio has loads of layers on it...soooooo dreamy!

SP Fall Shape Swap

I just loved every shape that I rec'd in the Fall Shape Swap and wanted to use them all, but didn't want to give them away! LOL! So what I decided to do with them was to make place cards for Thanksgiving, and because we usually have the same people over every year, I should be able to keep them for a couple of years! I also made a few blanks cards, just in case we invite some new people to join us.

I just know in 3 or 4 years when I go to set the table for our family feast on Thanksgiving, I'll think of all the wonderful ladies who participated in this swap and will be thankful for all them and their bountiful creativity!