Road Trip!

My daughter, Angel, and I are leaving Wednesday morning on a road trip.  We are going to Alabama to visit my Grandmother and then we will shoot over to New Orleans and sight-see for a day or so and then back to Colorado.  I am really looking forward to this adventure...so stay tuned for lots of silly pictures and updates on driving to Alabama! 

Challenge Cards....

So Cris, Michelle and I do weekly challenges that are due on Fridays.  Last week the challenge was a black and white or white on white card with a splash of 1 color.  This is the first card I made...

Then I thought about it and I remembered Cris saying the color should be like 10% of the card so I thought this one had too much color.  So I made this version...

This was also the first time I inked both of these stamps so I get extra credit for using my stuff! 

Happy Birthday Honey!

So my husband's birthday was yesterday and I made him this MINION card.....

The minions were made using the SU owl punch.  And I love the fact that the one with one eye, there is a spring so the eye moves!  Paper and alphabet stickers from my incredible stash!

And this is the inside.....

Please note that I finally used my washi tape and I inked this stamp for the first time!! 

Spank!

So last Friday, I won tickets to see "Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody."

 I took my daughter, Angel and we had a blast!  This is a picture of us with the cast...

Book Review

I just finished reading Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson and I cannot recommend this book enough.  If you are easily offended, you shouldn't be reading my blog in the first place and this is not a book for you.  If, on the other hand, you want to read a book that will make you laugh OUT LOUD....even if you are reading at lunch in a restaurant and people are looking at you like you are insane!...then this book is for you. 

I actually checked this out from the library but I am ordering my own copy from Amazon because it was so very funny!  It also made me want to buy taxidermied animals in clothes....something I NEVER dreamed might be on my radar.  Jenny writes in a very conversational style and you feel like she is talking to you and sharing these stories with you personally.  The stories from her childhood are hysterical...maybe because I didn't live them! 

Mini Album...the beginning

Archiver's had some paper packs for $4.99 and I bought two of them.  (Even knowing that I do not need another piece of paper!!)  I took half of one of them and cut the pages into 6x12 pieces.  I then glued the pieces into pockets.  I put them together and punched holes for rings.  Then VOILA!  I had a mini album.  I have done a minimal amount to decorate but plan on fleshing it out.  In the meantime, here are some pics of the base.

Front Cover

A Saturated Canary digi and a Creat with TLC sentiment.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the hexagon paper!!!

I've had this tag in my stash forever....so finally found a use for it!

This little card was sent to me ages and ages ago but I just used it here....you can lift the top and write inside...easy journaling spot. 

 Saturated Canary digi used to make a tag/bookmark!

Rub-on from Michael's Hot Spot! 

St Patrick's Day Project

Since my last name is MONAGHAN and my husband and I both have ancestors from Ireland, we tend to celebrate St Patrick's Day.  I found this adorable project on The Dating Divas website to make an "I'm lucky to have You!" project.  You can see that here!  I used their printable and then added my own card.  I thought it turned out cute and I didn't embellish too much since it is for my husband and not me! 

This is the front piece...you can pull out each numbered tag and it has a reason why I am Lucky to have Michael as a husband. 

This is the back.....where the card is tucked into a little pocket.

This is the card front.....I cannot honestly remember where this image came from as it was something I had printed and thrown in the "To Be Colored Box."

This is the inside of the card.  I saw this saying on a T-shirt and thought it would be a GREAT sentiment for St Patty's Day!  I didn't have this kiss stamp but my friend, Cris, has two of them that she let me borrow.  I will have to be on the look out to add this stamp to my collection. 

So there you have it.....my St Patrick's Day card for my husband.  February hasn't even ended and I already have one St Patty's day card done!  WOO HOO.....I am ahead of the game!!!

Deadlines.....

So I am in a card swap and I was feeling a little anxious because the cards are due on Feb 28th and I still need to mail them and they weren't finished.  Well I finally buckled down today and got the cards finished.  So here is my "Love" card....

 

I also made a card for Breast Cancer Awareness........

 

 

 

 

I have a hard time making a lot of duplicate cards....but I do love making cards!  I am trying to buckle down and actually use each of the stamps or digi's that I own.  I was looking at some cute Wizard of Oz digi's and called my friend, Cris, to talk me out of it and she suggested that I use each of the digi's that I already have before buying some more.  Imagine that.....what a novel concept.  I didn't buy the digi's but I did print out a bunch to color and try to use.  Of course, I then shot myself in the foot by going to a local sctapping supply store and buying a BUNCH of rubber stamps that she had on sale for 50% off.  I didn't need another stamp but she had some I simply couldn't resist.  Most of them were word stamps to use in SMASHing or mixed media projects but I still really didn't need to buy anything else. OH WELL.....baby steps, right????

Something to Check Out.....

In my blog wanderings, I somehow stumbled across The Dating Divas website and I was hooked.  They had some REALLY awesome ideas on fun things you can do to keep your marriage interesting and fun and playful.  My printer has had a real workout this afternoon while I printed out a bunch of stuff that I want to try.  My husband and I are coming up on our 10 year anniversary on May 17th and I am so thankful that our relationship has developed to where it is but the reality of life is that you can lose focus if you aren't careful.  There isn't anything "wrong" with our marriage but sometimes I am not as grateful as I should be or I don't tell him how much I appreciate him.  I don't think either of us would complain about our marriage but there is really no reason why we can't make it more fun, or more exciting or more interesting.  There is just no real down side to MORE!  So anyway, the link to their site is HERE.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I have so far!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

I hate the crowds and chaos on Valentine's Day so my husband and I went out to dinner last night instead.  We went to MY favorite restaurant, Joe's Crab Shack.

I had the Clasic Steam Pot and he tried the Third Coast Platter...

And then he gave me these beautiful roses.....

I bought him the new SKYFALL DVD and Good Will Hunting. 

We will exchange cards tonight and I will also give him the coupon book I made him....

We also bought my daughter the new edition of Avatar with all the "nerdy" extras!  She will be so thrilled!!  Oh and I bought her a mini heart shaped cheesecake!!!

All in all, a SPECTACULAR celebration of love!!!

 

I can't help myself....

When we adopted two kittens last May, I had no idea that less than a year later, I would be madly in love with Dante.  He was cute and adorable and so exactly the opposite of the cat I would normally be attracted to but I saw his little face and I was lost.  I had no idea that over the next few months, he would make me laugh until I actually cried (!) and that I would fall in love with this bundle of fluff!

Here are two pictures of Dante when he was "stuck" in a plastic bag over the weekend.

Then last night he climbed up beside me and begged to be petted....Here is his cute face:

Finally, I held him in my arms like a baby and rubbed his belly until he was ready to get down.  Here he is lying in my arms, looking adorable! 

Dante is fairly independent and only requires humans for their skills with the can opener.  I am always surprised when he wants to be cuddled and loved on but I can never resist!

Craft Bomb Challenge

My friend, Cris, and I were talking about not being able to craft more often and she threw down a Craft Bomb Challenge.  Go into your craft room for one hour and make something.  This particular challenge was ABAC (Anything but a Card!) and you had to use only supplies on hand.  Of course, my night was super busy and I didn't get home until after 8pm but I still made an effort to get into my craft room and create SOMETHING.  I ended up making a bookmark...I used a digi from Saturated Canary (because I LOVE her digis!) along with a journaling card as the base, some fiber and some tattered angel spray.  All in all, I loved the result.  Oh....and I used glossy accents to make her glasses!  You can't see it very well in the picture but it was a cute touch.  When I took it to work to show Cris, it was promptly confiscated so I will have to make another one for myself! 

As a footnote...my friend made an entire album!  Yes, an entire album.  Of course, she also went over the time limit but still.....an entire album!  When she puts up her youtube video, I will link to it so you can see!  Crafty Beeyotch!

Second footnote: Saturated Canary is currently offering a discount code on her blog.  20% off means you can buy more digis!!!  You can find her blog HERE!

Christmas Card I made for a swap

I made this card for a swap I am in and I just loved the result.  The image is a digi from Mo Manning called Winter Fairy Talva and you can buy her here.  I have had her for a while but finally got down to coloring her for this swap.  Since I had to make 8 cards, this was probably not the right digi to choose since they took a while to color and cut out but everyone really seemed to love her!  The sentiment is from Create with TLC and I honestly can't remember where the little tickets came from.  (If you know, I am happy to give them credit!)

Valentine's Day Cards

I made a card for my Godaughter and her sister for Valentine's Day....

Amigurumi Project

I have a friend who crochets and knits...neither of which do I have a talent for but yesterday, she mentioned crocheting an Amigurumi ground hog for her daughter for Ground Hog Day.  I'm thinking to myself that surely I could also create these small wonders so today I googled for a free beginner's pattern.  I found this website which offers quite a few free patterns:


http://craftyiscool.blogspot.com/2012/12/doctor-who-collection-completion.html?showComment=1358440574018#c4099287745392633621

But when I went to her current entry, I was BLOWN AWAY by this set of Dr. Who dolls that she created along with their TARDIS.  I have never watched Dr. Who but I must tell you that seeing these remarkable dolls made me wish I was receiving them.  So much talent!  You should definitely pay her blog a visit!

Happy 2013!

So a new year has started and I am really struggling to get back into a routine.  I feel like my brain is still on holiday!   

I am trying to challenge myself to eat ALL of the food out of my freezer and pantry since I seem to have become something of a food hoarder!  And this challenge will also help with the second part of my New Year's goal which is to eat out less! 

I am also trying to discard some of the "stuff" I have accumulated over the years and give us some space.  We just have so much STUFF. 

To help keep myself a little organized, I created a notebook to hold all of my Home Improvement project information.  So when I find something I like in a magazine or a paint card or even just an idea I can write down....everything will be in one place.  I am currently hoping to do some work in four (yes, FOUR) areas in our house and none of them are really small projects.  I want to replace the floor in my kitchen, I want to replace the carpet and furniture in the living room, I want to redo our bedroom and I want to redo my office/guest room.  Now I just have to figure out where the money is coming from and exactly what I want for each project!  Wish me luck!!

Kimber

Happy Birthday To ME!!!

My friend, Beverly, made me a birthday crown!  It is PURPLE and sparkly and awesome!!  Everyone should have a BIRTHDAY CROWN!!!!

Digital Stamp Addiction

I am really bad about purchasing digital stamps because they are cheaper than rubber or cling stamps.  There is also an INSTANT gratification factor that just can't be beat!  Here are a few of my favorite sites:

Saturated Canary: This site is relatively new to my madness but I love her images.  Krista draws girls with tons of layers in the clothing and usually a lot of long flowing hair to color...and she definitely has a sense of humor!  (Check out her Fifty Shades inspired digi!)  I am so addicted to her images...I wish I had more disposable income and then I would own ALL of them!  http://saturated-canary.myshopify.com/

Tiddly Inks: I have been buying from here for a while...and I have the digis to prove it!  (wink, wink)  Christy draws the most adorable images and they are so much fun to color.  Lots of talent and fun can be found here...   http://www.tiddlyinks.com/categories/Digital-Stamps/Victorian-Gothic%7B47%7DSteampunk/

Dilly Beans: A relative newcomer to my addiction but a very talented lady!  Check out all of her awesome digital stamps here:  http://sillydillybeans.blogspot.com/ or her creations in her Etsy shop here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/mycreativebliss?ref=em

and if you are not familiar with Paulette at Create with TLC, I highly recommend that you go for a visit.  She offers some of the best sentiments around and TONS of Freebies!  I cannot tell you how many great sentiments, papers and images she has shared.  She also has a store where you can buy her great stuff and the prices are very reasonable.  Definitely stop by for a visit. http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/tlc4lo

These are just the first few.....I will share more soon!

Thanksgiving Card

So, I made this Thanksgiving card for a swap I am in.....I absolutely LOVE House Mouse so I couldn't resist this little guy!

My fabulous Bat Nails!

So, I stopped getting acrylic nails about 5 years ago.  There were a number of reasons but mostly because I like to do papercrafts and it is not conducive to a pretty nail job!  So I decided to forgo the nails and focus on my crafting.  But every once in a while, I see someone with really cute nails and I am so jealous.  Last week I was shopping and found some adorable Halloween nails for less than $3.  I bought two packs and scurried home.  Last night I finally got around to trying them out and I love, love, love them.  They are just glued onto my real nails and they probably won't lst long but I have already received a bunch of compliments and today is just Day 1!  So, ignore the cuticles (because they are a mess!) and take a look at my fabulous bat nails!