XL What?

So it all started with my friend BJ's planned trip to Phoenix from NY with her daughter this month. . . Airfare? $2000+ per ticket. She could fly to Vegas for less than $300. . . then I'm on the freeway going to a listing appointment and I drive by. . . oh, yeah, its a little thing called the SUPER BOWL!!! Well that explains the air fare. . . I don't care much, other than that. THEN, dear hubby brings home VIP tickets for our family to attend the NFL Experience. Okay, 2 days until the big event and off we go. Sadly when we arrive I discover that my camera battery is dead and we have my cell phone to capture this momentous once in a life-time -- errr-- (I guess twice as this is the 2nd time the SB has been in Phoenix in recent years) event.

Here are the highlights (or the low lights if you prefer!)

Parking $10. . . Walk to event, 1/2 Mile
Wait in Line. . . for us minutes. We had VIP Tickets. For the masses waiting in line for tickets when we arrived 1.5+ hours. PLUS 30 minutes to get through the ticket gates. (Hawkers wanting to buy tickets? Many until the cops arrived and they all ran). I really wanted DH to see what they were offering, but he wouldn't! They were asking $25.

Wait in line for wristbands to participate (you have to sign a liability waiver), 30 Minutes.
Wait in line for super huge ferris wheel . . .30 minutes

Wait in line for bathroom . . . 15 minutes
Wait in line for NERF event . . . 1 hour plus the time we waited while the Patriot coaches' son cut in line for his turn. (I will say that W&W Rocked at this event! Wyatt go every football in the target without missing in less than 30 seconds - they had 45! Walker missed 2, but got them all in under 30 seconds as well. Their age group was under 8, but the "Nerf" people told us that if there was a 5 and under catergory they most likely would have won. The Nerf people had to take their picture before we left.)



Wait in line for other miscellaneous children's NFL Experience events. . . hours plus time while some other famous player's children had to pretend to have a good time participating in these events on camera.




Time spent while children had temper tantrums over wanting to eat . . . at least an hour.
Price for the 4 poofs of cotton candy conveniently packages with 2 blue and 2 pink poofs, $6. Time bought without whining? 30 minutes.
Price for a hot dog, $9 (it would have cost our family of 6 $100 for 6 hot dogs and 6 drinks.)
Times we were on the NFL Channel while in line for the super huge ferris wheel for the 2nd time? 9

Length of line for tickets when we left the NFL Experience 5 hours later? 1/4 Mile. . . Approximately 3 hour wait just for the privilege to get IN to the over-priced, under delivering affair!

What I wish? That I could figure out a less useless way for people to line up for hours and willingly hand me money hand over fist!

Overall thought? We enjoyed dinner at our favorite Mexican Food Restaurant, left stuffed for less than $60! Wish BJ was coming instead of the Super Bowl!

So What Does "Published" Get you?

I suppose it depends on where/when you get published, but for me it meant this fun goody box:



Someday I'd love to get "paid" for design work. . . not that I expect to ever make it "big", but for this paper craft junkie this goody box was HUGE!!!

Recipe Swap Due - Postmarked???!!??

Whew! I met the deadline! You would think a swap that was signed up for in November and not due until January 31st wouldn't be that hard to complete! I really didn't mean to wait until the last minute, but it went out on time, by the hair of my chiny, chin, chin!


This swap is a crockpot recipe swap. I have 2, almost 3 full 6X6 albums of recipes. I just love them! I hope to get all of my favorite recipes done this way, SOMEDAY! That is why I sign up for the swaps because at least they give me a deadline! Just for fun, here are some of the others I've done for swaps in the past:

It's Here!!! I'm Published!

I just about fell off my chair when my hubby walked in tonight with this!!!





To see my other set of Be Blocks they published, see THIS!

Sadly, President Hinckley Passed away on Sunday which makes this all the more poignant for me. You can read more on my Gratitude Blog if you are interested.

Anyone want to celebrate with me?

Envelope Trick

You've asked, I've promised and now I'll finally deliver! Here is the envie trick for my All My Love Valentine Card. So easy you'll be amazed!

The Cat's Meow

Pajama Party was a huge success! Here is how our cat chow turned out:




And of course our cat themed party cake:

11 Things I Love About You at 11

1. I love that you are still my Sunny Sunshine, my Sweet Pea and my Stinky Stinkerton.
2. I love that you give far more than you ever expect to receive.
3. I love that you don't have an I want list.
4. I love that you choose to create and make the world a better place.
5. I love that you live happy.
6. I love that you expect yourself to do well in life.
7. I love that you are willing to help me and others with just about anything.
8. I love that you desire to not only choose the right, but do the right.
9. I love that you sincerely, deeply, love your brothers and sister.
10. I love that you are completely you; wonderfully amazing, sweet, charming, smart, funny, cheerful, happy, diligent, talented, kind and beautiful.
11. I love that you made me a mother and without you our family wouldn't be.

Happy Birthday my precious Mikensee!

I LOVE

how this card turned out!



Of course something always gets lost in the digitizing of a photo, but I still love it! This is not a new color combo for me, I've used it a few times, but I really like how the dry embossing pops!

S.W.A.K.

Yet another Valentine Treat. I will post a template and I promise to also give a quick tutorial for the envelope folds on my previous 2 posts by many requests. Ü. Can you tell it's Card Class time again??!!??



The original creator of this project is Nicole Heady (a most talented and amazing artist.) I did have to create my own template so I could reproduce them and that is the one I'll post!

Love You Sweetie!

Another quick envelope valentine. . . Like Love Ewe, it's just perfect for a gift card or small valentine treats!

Love Ewe

In Dreams and In Love

there are no impossibilities.

Design Team Challenge #3: Brayered Spots with Love as the Theme.

I wish I could photograph so that you can see the details. The brayered CS shimmers and there is dimension. . .It's just impossible to tell in my crummy photo! I am also not a technique junkie so essentially, brayered spots is using 2 inks and staining CS using the brayer. I used Palette Hybrid (you're supposed to use pigment ink, but I only have 3 colors) in Boudoir Pink and Charcoal. I sprayed my sheet with tattered angels to make it shimmer, but you can't tell in the picture.

Standard Card; Stamps CTMH, Paper by Crafty Secrets, CS CTMH, Ribbon May Arts and CTMH, The Robin's Nest-Silver Bells, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist-Iridescent Gold

What you Wanted to Know:

Over my past few posts I've had several questions:

1. Where did I get my tins and pails? www.just4funcrafts.com. Use FUNK5 as your discount code and get 5% off your order! Today and every day. This code DOES NOT Expire!
2. What is on my clear tins? Queen and Company Self Adhesive Felt Ribbon. I got mine as a gift from my secret sister. Thanks, Sis!
3. Where did I get the clear pebbles for the magnet tin? I got them from a dead plant. LOL!!! You can get them in the floral department of your local craft store!
4. What is Paper Candy? Nummy little paper goodies to dress up your cards, pages and paper projects!
5. How did I make the folio for my Thank You Card Gift Set?
Here is a picture of my template:


Those coming to my card class can bring a piece of 12X12 paper and copy it if they want to. To see the template LARGER, click on the photo!

Hope this answers all of your questions! If not, please feel free to post a comment or shoot me an email!

Make it a great day!

Thank You Note Card Gift Set

I'm getting ready for my January Card Class. . . What started out as a few simple thank you cards turned into this:



I can't take credit for the notecard idea as I saw them on another post and thought I could replicate it for my class and give them a few more simple cards along with some Valentine's project this month -- if only I could remember where I saw it so I could give credit where credit is due. . . but instead, I'll say THANK YOU!

Paper Candy - Inchie Swap

I wasn't going to get into the paper candy craze, but somehow I found myself signed up for this inchie swap and now I have to say - these are stinking fun! It is a little tedious cutting the paper, and these teeny tiny brads are a bit rough, but look at the results! Now I just can't wait to see the other 9 inchies I'll be getting back.

Over all dimesion? 1" X 1". . . yep, that's it!

It's Birthday Time Again

Mikensee is turning 11. . . already. I just can't believe it! She's been planning her party for about 6 months. In October we saw a kitty litter cake for Halloween and the theme for her party was born.

So here are the invites we made today getting ready for the big event!