Color Combo Challenge 1

If you are a paper crafter (or into paper craft blogs) at all, you are familiar with the proverbial color combo challenges. . . well have I got one for you! Today's color combo challenge is courtesy of my DD, Jessica. Jessica thinks if her shirt has something pink in it and she wears all pink; she matches (this theory is also displayed in the photo below.) She frequently asks me if her outfit choice coordinates because I have given her numerous lessons on how to pick outfits and that matching isn't the goal, coordinating is! If Jessica had her way today, this is what she would have worn and thus the color challenge. . .


Oh Jessica, this is one big Color Combo Challenge!

I did it!

I made my blog signature!

Taking a Trip . . .

Tonight I was looking at some stamps. . . Particularly this one:

Don't you just love her?

I was trying to explain to Mikensee why I like this stamp so much (and actually all the stamps by this artist) and it hit me. . . Vintage Holly Hobby! So I started to try and show her who Holly Hobby was and the paper piecing pop art of Holly Hobby I made for my room (oh these were the coolest!). I so desperately wanted a Holly Hobby Bedroom complete with bed canopy! While I was showing her Holly Hobby I somehow turned to telling her about Strawberry Shortcake! Remember her? This is what I was lucky enough to own:





I actually had the very first issue Strawberry Shortcake doll and Blueberry Muffin (with the hard plastic hat!) Telling her about this I could actually smell them. I can still feel the plastic smooth hair and how I felt making those little strawberry shortcakes in my very own Strawberry Bake Shop! There was so much that came later but as I told her, I was 9 in '79 and by 1984 when she hit her prime I was 14 and on to bigger and better things! (Probably Punky Brewster!) So funny actually how something so simple could bring back such a flood of memories! We went from Strawberry Shortcake to Care Bears and then on to Rainbow Brite. I gave her Rainbow Brite PJ's for Christmas and she adores them, but it was fun to hunt the story of Rainbow Brite down and read it with her! (Remember Twink and Starlite?) I'm probably actually really dating myself, but I was amazed to discover that I was the first generation to actually have these really cool icons and the flood of what has come since. So, I'm going to encourage you today to spend a little time on a trip down memory lane and dig up some of your childhood joys to share with someone special in you life. I am going to bed with a smile on my face and the smell of semi-yummy plastic strawberries and blueberries wafting in the air.

My Nose is Melting

And other "W" isms keep me laughing every day.

"My Nose is Melting" is the answer Mikensee received to her inquiry as to why Walker was snorting through the dinner prayer.

"No, No, NO! I don't want to get married!" is what he was shouting as I asked him why he was dressed like pink cotton candy! This face says it all:


But what do these faces mean?





Wyatt is famous for asking "Do you want to help me eat?" This he asks when he's hungry and wants someone to make him something.

"We just kissed ourselves." Made famous by Wyatt and Walker after giving each other a love.

"Mom, come see! We found a machine!" They both exclaimed in complete amazement when our carpet cleaner was found mysteriously located in the living room.

We frequently have these comments when one or the other has exclaimed anger or displeasure with my rules: "Mom, you are my best friend." "Mom, I love you, but Wyatt don't." or "Mom, I love you, but Walker didn't." "Mom, I just love your cheeks and elbows. Don't you want some tasty neck?"

"I slept 3 times!" This they say when they come to get in bed with us and it's still dark outside. . . this because I tell them they have to sleep in their own bed for 30 minutes before they can get up - Yes, I'll use this as long as possible! It still works on Jessica!

It's a Boy!

Have you ever looked at something so long that it just doesn't make sense anymore? It's a Boy just seems weird! It should be He's a Boy! or A Baby Boy! But "It's a Boy!" just doesn't make sense to me anymore! Maybe because I just finished these 65 invitations to my friend Dawn's Baby Shower and I've stamped 40 more for the favors which aren't done yet!

Like Fish To Water

Friday Night Funk Family Fun. . . the first time that Wyatt, Walker and Jessica have ever ice-skated and they looked like pros. I tried really hard to capture the joy they all felt stepping out onto the ice, but it is really hard to skate, take pictures and see in the dark! I had no idea that our skate would be in almost pitch black, but it was. Didn't matter to the boys or Jessica though. They stepped onto the ice and skated as if they were born to do it. It was so much fun to watch Wyatt as he built up confidence speed and just grinned from ear to ear. Our little joy boy just couldn't contain himself and he never quit grinning. He discovered the cones and had a blast going through and over them. Jessica made herself a big girl friend and they were both quite enamored with each other. Jessica liked Bailey because she was a real skater (wore a skate skirt) and Bailey Jessica because she can be just so stinking sweet!!! They kids skated for 2 solid hours with one small Zamboni break and the boys were mad, mad, mad when it was time to go. At one point after the boys had been separated for a while they met back up, hugged each other and never separated again for the entire night. We shared the rink with a high school group and it was so much fun to hear them ooh and aah over how cute they were and also talk about how great they skated. Mikensee has ice-skated once before, but she didn't remember at all and wasn't fond of the high school "group" or the dark, but she is ready to go again. Several of the "pros" told us we ought to sign the boys up for hockey. . . so much talent, so little time, (so little money. . . sigh).

You Are My SuNsHINnE

I have no idea why anyone would make a headband that looks like a sunshine or a flower (especially when it's the size of a basketball), but apparently someone, somewhere, thought there might be a market for these lovely items of apparel. . . I'd just like to say "THANK YOU" to whomever, wherever it was because they really brightened my shopping trip today!










Did you catch the price tag? $6.99 Yeah, Right!

An Apology

To the winners of my blog candy. I haven't forgotten, nor will I, but I just haven't gotten the packages out yet! I hope you haven't lost faith or confidence in me and just know they are coming!!!

A Tradition is a Tradition and don't your forget it!

If you are a long time blog reader or if you've perused back through some of my posts you've no doubt seen my Conference Cinnamon Rolls or at least the recipe. Conference was this weekend and due to many circumstances beyond my control I did not get cinnamon rolls made on Friday night. I instead (thinking ahead at my busy week) bought Costco Blueberry Muffins. Usually my kids BEG, if not WAIL for me to buy them and I usually don't. Can you imagine, then, my shock when instead of being pleased with their Conference breakfast they were mad? You should have seen the absolute look of disgust of blueberry muffins and fresh strawberries on their plates where conference cinnamon rolls should be! They pouted, they complained, they were really disappointed. Lesson learned. . . a tradition is a tradition and I dare not forget it! So, here they are on Sunday morning with Cinnamon Rolls and FRESH Smoothies (instead of just OJ). I did my best to make it up to them. . .I think they appreciate it. W & W each ate 3 and then Walker complained that his tummy hurt. . . imagine!



P.S. The Strawberries and Fresh Smoothies are my get out of guilt ticket for serving a cinnamon roll sugar fest to my kids 2 days in a row 2 times a year! Try it! It works for me.

A Little Late

I made about 20 of these little guys for Easter Treats and meant to post and link up the directions, but didn't get it done. . . I used her tutorial here for the small ones, but then decided I could make them larger so I did! Here is a sample of a couple. I made about 20 all together. They are so easy my DD (11) made a bunch too. Aren't they cute??!!??

Cards, Cards, Cards 2007-2008 is Done ;(

My first Season of Cards, Cards, Cards if officially over. My new class schedule and calendar is posted and registration has begun. I'm sad to see it end, but excited about my 2008-2009 endeavors and I think my class participants are too. Cards, Cards, Cards is still an offering, so don't despair. You'll see the results posted 6 times this year, but in addition to cards there will be a recipe card club, an artful scrapbooking class, some get it done pages and more. To end the last season, here are the cards we made on Friday. I tried to get the class to choose a favorite, but I guess I really pleased them this time because they just couldn't pick one!
Celebrate Flap Card Open

Celebrate Flap Card Closed

Monochromatic Happy Card

Yeah For Today (just love these colors!!!)

Masculine Happy Birthday (still had to use ribbon!)

For You Shaker Card

For You (Summer must be on my mind!)

Enjoy!

Blogaversary Blog Candy Winner. . .

er. . . Winners I should say! Trying have 2 twins pick 1 number didn't work, so I have 2 lucky winners!


Number 13 (Picked by Walker 2nd)
Hilmarose said...
HAPPY blogaversary!!! I love all the inspiration I find on your blog.
I sub thru bloglines so I get to read every post you make! Thank you for the chance to win!


Number 20 (Picked by Wyatt 1st):
Anita said...
Happy Blogaversary! I have already copied down the instructions for the Clippy Boards - can't wait to make them!

http://stampinwithanita.com/


Congratulations Ladies! Please email me privately with your address and I will get your blog candy right out to you! If you feel inclined, post your goodies on your blog and link back for fun! I hope you love it!

Oh and since the 11th (when I posted my blogaversary) I've had over 800 more direct views. Just blows me away! Have a great day!

How Could I Go Wrong

With a Photo Like this???



I did this one completely on my own starting with just the required white paper background. I was supposed to use more than 1 photo, but I just had to use this one and couldn't bear to muck it up with a 2nd photo. I also had to use a stamp (digi-brush) from a set provided. You can see it on the photo in white. The rest was all up to me. I'm pretty proud of the flower "frame" as it was a 4" journaling block with lines. I erased the lines and re-sized the frame and we haven't even covered these tools yet! Just love this beautiful girl.

On a Roll

Lesson 2 at the Spragueground and here is my class assignment completed. I like this, but again, it's pretty hard to mess up when you are essentially copying! LOL! We did learn about digital brushes or "stamps and ink" and that perked me up a little bit. I just love stamps and ink!



Still not thinking I'm likely to become a digital diva, but it has some usefulness. . . really loving the stamps! LOL!!!

Forever on the Hips

"A Moment on the Lips" Refrigerator Magnet


My answer to my Design Team Challenge for the month of March.

Here is the sketch:


How'd I do?


6" Canvas, K & Co. Hannah Line, CTMH Nursery Bash and Legendary Moment Stamps, Liquid Glass, Ink and Brad, Lyra Watercolor Crayons, Ric Rac from unknown source.

9-1-1 Firemen in our Front Yard!

That got your attention, didn't it??!!?? I'm sure you haven't forgotten that the twins started their bedroom on fire with a pair of underwear (or did I blog about that??!!??) Today, we didn't call them, but who'd have thunk that I could get a field trip from the fire department delivered right to my own front yard. . .

Hard to believe, but this is our 3rd home and the 3rd home we've lived in with a fire hydrant in the front yard. Could be that we like corner lots, but it is a strange coincydink (coincidence), don't you think? Today our friendly neighborhood fire department paid our hydrant a visit. This isn't the first time, but it's the first time that we've gone outside to see them. Could be that we had fantabulous 80' weather today so my boys spent the entire day outside, or the fact that we happened to be in the school room with a window that we could see them from, but either way, my kids HAD to go outside to watch. 2 seconds after the boys got out there, they turned and ran back in the house. Now when I tell you that I had NO idea where they were off too as they hadn't said a word, you probably won't believe me. My husband asked me 3 times. But seriously, they just took off without a word and when they came back they had their Halloween costumes on. I tell you they have twin-twin telepathy. For the first time ever, Wyatt was a little disappointed he hadn't opted for the fireman costume. From there, the firemen just took the show. My kids got their own personal fire-truck tour and even got to light the lights, play the sirens and blow the horn. They were in heaven. What a great day to be a kid! Thank you BVFD. . . You guys rock!

To see the picture more clearly, just click anywhere on the collage:

Can You Believe I Missed my Blogaversary? Blog Candy!

Yup, I did. . . It was March 9th, 2007. Happy Blogaversary to me!



In just over a year, I've had over 12,000 views, 141 Entries, 129 (known)Subscribers - through Feedblitz (I don't have stats on readers and such) and Loads and Loads of Fun!

And just because I want to, I'm going to give someone a gift. . .

Just post here something, anything, you like or have liked about my blog over the past year (or today if this is your first view) and on March 19th, I'll pick at least 1 winner for a very fun Blog Goody Package. It will surely include some of my newest favorite embellishments, some gingham ribbon, something you can stamp with, something sweet and a thing or two more. . . Don't you just love surprises??!!??

Please make sure you include in your post someway to get in touch with you. . . I'd hate for someone to win and me not to be able to get them their goods.

Clippy Board Tutorial

I'm trying this again, for the 3rd time. Hopefully this time Blogger will cooperate with the upload. For some reason this tutorial has been a challenge. First I watermarked all of the photos with the instructions, but somehow didn't save them properly. Then I posted all the photos with the instructions typed and Blogger timed out and wouldn't accept the post. . . THEN, I did it again and it wouldn't accept my photos. . . tried 3 times and gave up! So, here I try again! I'm saving as I go this time, so hopefully I'll make it to the end! Wish me luck.

Supplies:

For 4-Clippy Boards: 1-12X12 Sheet BT or RSC, 4-4" Coasters, 4-Large Binder Clips, Adhesive, Ink, Sanding Block, Trimmer, 4-Standard Post-It Notes and Embellishments and stamp set of your choice!


Cut your 12X12 Sheet of BT or RSC to 4" squares. Cover both sides of your coasters with good adhesive and squares of paper, sand edges, ink to hide imperfections.


Using your last 4" square of BT, you will measure your binder clips. Mine were about 1" wide and almost 2" from front to back edge. To measure this, I measured the front, the top and the back and added these together. Cut and adhere with good adhesive. It is easier to put the adhesive on the paper rather than the clip. I found these white ones in the clearance section of Office Max, they came in a clear top magnetic tin. . . SCORE!


Here is what they look like finished! Embellish as desired. I used a small piece of ribbon, flower and brad.


Using STRONG adhesive, adhere the back of the post-it to your covered coaster about 1/2" from the top. You want your clip to reach. I stamped most of the pages of the pad to coordinate. I just flipped and stamped. It took a few minutes, but the look is worth it!

If you make one, please post a link back. I'd love to see what you create!

Technical Difficulties

I've tried posting both the very late "Clippy Board" tutorial and my digi pages, but due to blogging errors I'm giving up and will try and repost tomorrow. Sorry!

Am I A Digital Diva?

The jury is still out on this! I decided to try my hand about a year ago and bought the necessary PSE 5.0. I messed around with it for a couple of days and set it aside. I've watched in awe as many of my friends have jumped in so I enrolled in Jessica Sprague's Up and Running. This was class week 1 and probably bad timing with Walker's neediness, but on the other hand I had lots of lap time, so we worked on it together. I desperately need to upgrade my RAM and these digi layouts took me by far more time to create than any single paper layout I've ever done, with less than impressive results. . . so. . . I can't say if I will become a digital diva, but I do know that I will not give up being a paper craft addict!!! Here are my first digi pages:

First Ever Page, followed step by step instructions:


This is a template provided to which I only had to add journaling and a clipped quote:

Template only

AIGA Design Archives Challenge

For this one I had to pick a design and mimic it in a digital page. My page mimics Safeway Soda Pop. You can view the packaging at the AIGA web-site. I did this page from the ground up. . . found the paper, colored it to mimic the ad, found and added the ribbon, created my own title, added their names. . . Like I said, nothing exciting, but I did do it all myself!

Digital Diva???? We'll see. . .

Surviving

We are making it! Walker finally did not require Tylenol with Codeine to get out of bed. His breath (although horrid for a few days) is finally tolerable. He tried really hard and was a very brave boy, but it was a LOOOOONG week. A few things to remember if you ever have a child go through this:

1. Just keep them medicated.
2. Don't plan anything and don't try and go anywhere. Good luck on sleeping.
3. No Ketchup (2 hour melt-down)
4. No lemonade (even Crystal Light) - (You don't want to know what this was like!)
5. Beware of other selective "food" items. There is sometimes no rhyme nor reason.
6. The Doctor probably can't remember what it was like if he had his tonsils out and probably hasn't. . . don't listen to them, they have no idea.

Thanks for the well wishes. We really appreciate you!

Cat Chow Revisited

I've been asked what is Cat Chow?
Well, truthfully it's Chex Muddy Buddies. . . I've used this recipe a lot over the years. I've made it as Puppy Chow and given it in a dog bowl for some one under the weather with a tag that said;

"Are you dog-gone tired of lying around and feeling like a tired ole hound? Want to feel better but don't know how? Have a bowl of Puppy Chow!"

For the Cat's Meow Pajama Party posted previously I made cat chow goodie bags for all the girls.

Cat Chow, Dog Chow, Puppy Chow, Muddy Buddies:



9 cups Chex® cereal (any variety)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar


Preparation Directions:

Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside. In 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. It doesn't have to be refrigerated if you eat it within a few days.

His Tonsils and Adenoids were RiPpEd from His Head

And all they gave him was this lousy sticker:

Bravely and Innocently He Trustingly Goes; my little lamb to the slaughter:


Today was a tough day for me and in fact it's been a tough week. If you've never had the experience of having a child needing some type of surgery or advanced medical care, count yourself blessed. Our experience today was a lot like going to McDonald's. Talk about a "drive-through" surgery!

It would be nice if people who work in this type of position would treat their jobs as if they are treating people and not like a routine. Our Doctor, Admit Nurse and Anesthesiologist were all very nice, but outside of that, I felt like I was just another number in a fast food line. I realize that they do this job day in and day out, but this was my little boy and this was big for us. I'm not looking forward to doing this again when Wyatt goes in sometime in the coming months -- as soon as I feel ready to do it again.

My little Walker-man, so brave, so trusting. You can see he's nervous but being very brave. He comes out hysterical. He cried for over an hour. He was inconsolable. The discharge nurse just keeps frantically working to get us out as if her pay was going to be docked if she didn't beat the 90 second drive through timer. "You don't like the green pop-sickle? Hear have some apple juice." "I'm going to take out your IV." "I'll wrap it up so it doesn't bleed all over." "Okay, let's take that off, mom, you can change his clothes." "Do you want a Scooby-do band-aid?" "NO?" "Here, have a sticker."

When we get home and I'm tucking him in bed, he still has the sticker crumpled in his little fist. I'd forgotten all about it and yet there it was. . .a pathetic token of a trying day. . . battered and little old. Would you like a side of fry's with that?