Chippie HI

More scraps. Plain blue card-use textured if you want. Measure a scrap of striped paper and tear the bottom about an inch and a half up from the edge. Ink in blue. Trio tape to the card front. Take a square of card stock and distress the edges. Ink. Take a bigger square of card stock and do the same. Make sure that whatever chippies you chose will fit inside the middle square. Use a Sizzix alphabet and cut out chip board H and I and do the same with matching card stock (preferably textured). Pop dot in the square and tape on left of card.

Add two or three small brads at the bottom right. Then take a lenghth of ribbon and tie or use a Trio to lay across the top. If you use the Trio, then use another scrap to fake tie a bow and snot dot it on the right. Ta da! Easy as pie.

Get Well To The Masses

For everyone who over spent, who over indulged, who over argued, who over spazzed-this is for you and your wallet or credit card, for you and your stomach (and the scale), for you and your crazy relatives, and for you and your frazzled psyche. I hope 2008 is much better for you.

A textured card base was lined with three pieces of patterned card stock. All the edges were inked. The bottom was scalloped using a corner rounder (use whatever size you have-I have three different ones). Butt the pieces on the front. Add a paper posey and a leaf or two to the left side. Stamp out a get well phrase of choice and cut to fit-edge with ink and pop dot to the right of the flower.

Heads Up On HUGE Toy Sale

Target was marking down toys tonight from 50-75% off. I got a Lego Airport normally $80 for only $20. They were moving all the sale stuff to one section and this wasn't junk toys. Barbie houses, electronic cars, honestly, I think it was all the higher ended non video game stuff from what I could discern. Either stock up for next year-Lego's never go out of style-or let the kids use their gift cards or stocking cash.

I was there to buy eye solution and bought cool toys-for who? I won't tell until I get some grand kids, Benjamin! (You think them being married only 6 months is too much pressure?)

Enough of This Crap!

Watch the Video-then look at the card. Which do you prefer??

Gorgeous Xmas Album

You have to see this beautiful and breathtaking album made by one of the most talented ladies on Blog World. Go look and tell her so!

Lorraine's Album

I Am Lisa.

Moved to here-- It just was too "white" on this blog.

Star Flakes

I wasn't really thrilled with this one. My ink bled on the sides of the ribbon and I smeared ink on a couple of circles. It was 3 Am-and I was not in a good mood. The dog ate my tree! And my gnomes! And anything not made of cement.

Fold card. Ink sides. Place scrap along bottom. Trio a ribbon piece across the seam. Punch out several sizes of circles. Ink edges. Pop dot some and glue others. Place some acrylic snowflakes from Cloud 9 randomly. Again, fake snow I like. Real stuff-not.

Christmas Photo Holder

I made this a few weeks ago and thought I had published it. I have made several since-and you are not limited to Christmas motifs. Make sure you have two squares of chipboard (this was from the back of a stack of paper, so don't worry if it's not pretty chipboard-you are gonna cover it). Cover both of them on one side using a scrap of paper that is about an inch larger all around. Fold those edges over and cut diagonally on the corners to fold in nicely.Tape or glue down. Then cut another piece of matching or not-and make just a tad smaller than the square. Just a tad! (what exactly is a tad anyway?) Glue that down on the back of each square. Ink the edges.

Mark evenly your spots to be punched for holes on the inside or each square. You will be lacing ribbon thru this, so make two sets at top and middle and only one set at the bottom (your bow will tie here). Use a Cropidile or your fav hole puncher.

Cut two strips of pretties-and edge with ink- Glue these not too close to the middle but between the first two sets of holes. Cut photo mats of a solid color and ink the edges and distress up a bit. Dig out some stickers and place them on some scrap white paper for stability and then cut them out. Pop dot them where ever they look good. Now take a length of ribbon and lace from the top down and from the back to front. If done right, the two ends will be in front and just tie in a knot. Just don't lace too tight. Stand on end and when you get those photos printed, just pop a couple on the easels.

Remember, you can do this with any size chipboard and any holiday or occasion. Use up those scraps and these are about 30 minute or less giveaways to have tucked in your bag for whatever. If you make one of these, please post to your blog and let me see! It's always fun to see what others make with scraps and insomnia.

Back to seeing that cutie patootie Steve Nash! Yum!

It must be the hair!

Not a Creature Was Stirring....

Christmas -----

What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?

I Be Tagged----

Kim Hughes tagged me as did Wanda . Since it's Christmas Eve in Michigan, I decided to make all my random facts be about Christmas past. The rules are to tag a bunch of people and post at their blogs that I tagged them. I am setting this up that if you haven't been tagged this month of December, you are it. So if you are reading this and want to participate, please do so. I read over 800 blogs and have no idea who HASN'T been tagged to the current line. I kinda wonder how I got this far and haven't been tagged since last spring! And I am still waiting on the answers back from that one! Make sure you link back to me if you participate and have your selections do the same.

1. I lived with my grandparents next door my entire life and often if it weren't for them, we as kids would have had no Christmas gifts at all. My dad was laid off for up to three years once ( truck driver) and it was often bleak.
2. Our house caught fire one Christmas Eve. The local store owner's son (my gramma lived above the shop next door to us), who was about 12, was what was then called an incorrigible. He was upset and he had a book of matches. He saw our basement window was open and he threw lit ones in and it ignited the clothing my mom has separated on the floor before washing. I think this is part of my phobia about dark basements to this day. We moved to the house in front of this one in January and I spent a week with my sister and brother at Gramma's-a treat for me! (but I lost my favorite Jammie's in the fire). I think this boy was just lonely as his mom was gone.
3. One year, I wrapped a small token in a box for my dad and re-wrapped it at least a dozen times to make it look bigger and bigger. I got yelled at for wasting wrapping paper. My grampa thought it was funny and folded the papers for later use but it still made me sad. I only had a small amount of money to myself and we bought all our stuff at the dime store.
4. I did the same thing for my brother one year. I wrapped a package of batteries in a box all nice and elegant. When he unwrapped it, he pitched a fit. Like why did I give him such a crappy gift. I then sent him to the garage to get a box for the scraps of paper and he found his real gift-a boom box. Guess I wasn't so bad at gifting after all.
5. The first year we were in our own house, my hubby dressed up as Santa in 1973. My niece was almost two then and she just gaped and giggled. Now he has a real Santa belly. All those cookies will do it to you. I didn't make any this year-YET!
6. One year my mom gave me a lottery ticket for my birthday a week before Christmas and I won 50 bucks! I went to Joann's and bought fabric and patterns and made an entire school wardrobe for my niece. I think I was able to make her 5 jumpers, 4 pants, a winter coat, leggings, underwear and a bunch of blouses. I sewed it all by hand. Her parents were in a divorce and I wanted to give her something special.
7. I don't participate in Christmas in the traditional sense anymore. 10 years ago a lot of things happened. My mom was sick, her house caught fire, I hurt my back trying to clean it up (with only my daughter for help), then I got extremely sick. I tried to keep up and do it all and I couldn't. So I stopped all the dinner stuff, the shopping stuff and the greed in my life. I give gifts when I want to not because I have to. I will always hurt over the things that were said to me that Christmas. I also found that giving anonymously is a better way because no one knows who I am or why I did it. It just works for me that way-that maybe Christmas isn't one day but all year. Just few seem to know that much these days.

As I look forward to a new year and warmer days, I hope the joy you see on your childrens' faces will always be there. Just don't take it for granted.

Peace.

Take My Candy, Please!

Twice I have drawn and still no claimers. I guess no one wants this. How many of you entered this contest and never came back? I am not chasing you down. I am redrawing this today and this is it. Email me under my profile.

The newest winner is SmilynStef.

Free Glue!

Click Here!

12 days of Christmas-With Cats

Anyone with cats will like this . Anyone who doesn't have cats knows why they don't........

Thanks JenBen (moving at Christmas with three kids-and cats)

• On the first day of Christmas when I brought home my tree my 12 cats were laughing at me.
• On the second day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the third day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the fourth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the fifth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 5 shredded gifts 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the sixth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 6 fallen angels 5 shredded gifts 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the seventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 7 half dead rodents 6 fallen angels 5 shredded gifts 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the eighth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 8 shattered ornaments 7 half dead rodents 6 fallen angels 5 shredded gifts 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the ninth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 9 chewed through light strings 8 shattered ornaments 7 half dead rodents 6 fallen angels 5 shredded gifts 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the tenth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 10 tinsel hairballs 9 chewed through light strings 8 shattered ornaments 7 half dead rodents 6 fallen angels 5 shredded gifts 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me
• On the eleventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree 11 broken branches 10 tinsel hairballs 9 chewed through light strings 8 shattered ornaments 7 half dead rodents 6 fallen angels 5 shredded gifts 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.
• On the twelfth day of Christmas I looked at my poor tree 12 cats a-climbing 11 broken branches 10 tinsel hairballs 9 chewed through light strings 8 shattered ornaments 7 half dead rodents 6 fallen angels 5 shredded gifts 4 males a-spraying 3 missing Wise Men 2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.

One Official Hour into Winter 2007/2008....

Are we done yet???????????

I am having the winter uglies and need to scream now.

Go buy something Ugly here.

Portfolio Holder for Christmas Cards

I constructed this holder after a lot of cussing. I used several sheets of 8 x 11 paper, only to cut wrong (good thing paper is cheap!). So when I finally thought I had it right, it was still off a bit but I worked around it. I just don't have a workable template until I try to do this again. I used a Scor-it to make the folds.

To start, find the center of your paper along the long side and mark it. Then score in from there on both sides about half an inch. Take a finished card and lay it on the paper near the top to measure how much you need to fold up on the bottom and still leave a tiny bit of clearance at the top. Score along the line and fold up-and make another score about a half inch or so below this. Then cut a notch on each side to make a "shelf" inside the portfolio at the bottom folds. Then slice the center line from the bottom up to the fold.You will trim this slice a bit on each side to make a nice fold line and then round the ends. Ink all the edges if you like. The sides of the portfolio are folded in and then in on itself again on score lines you made to match the notches on the sides.Practice with scrap paper and this can be adjusted to any size finished card.

Cover the insides of the portfolio pockets about 2/3rds of the way up with scrap papers and cover the seams with long stickers or even ribbon will work. The front was layered with a textured and distressed scrap of card stock and another remnent of patterned paper. Again, use a long sticker or piece of ribbon across the front. I took stickers and placed them on scrap white paper and then cut to conform to the shape-this gives them some thickness. I layered them using pop dots and with Scrappy Glue, added my snowflake glitter on the gifts and ribbon sticker.

I made a small slit on the side on the foldline of the front and back pockets for ribbon to slip thru and tie the portfolio shut. I used a thin scrap but I think later I will use a wider gauze or organdy type for a more robust ribbon tie.

Here is the portfolio filled with the cards along with their matching envelopes and inside cellophane protectors. The envelopes below were made with an Ellison die and the patterned paper is the INSIDE liner, with the flaps folded out so you could see them better. Just flip it folded the other way and it's on the inside.

ETA-see portfolio cards here, here, here, and here.

Check your local scrap store to see if they have a die for envelopes. If you buy the paper, you usually can use the die cut machine free. If not-and I see some stores are now charging 25 cents a cut-skip this and just fold them yourself. There are lots of templates for envelopes free on line. Make your liner about a 1/4 inch smaller and slip inside the completed envelope and only glue the top edge before folding over.

I now am working on wine bottle holders-and am tempted to drink the wine myself. I bought a couple bottles of Halloween wine and still have them corked. Anybody want to bring some cheese and share? It's Michigan wine-and whine.

Naughty or Nice?

Card 4 of the set was not my favorite as it didn't photograph well. It needs something else to show up more vividly, I guess. A plain card was covered in paper scraps after being edged in Distress Denim and the "seam" of the papers was covered in a sticker ribbon from the ONE sheet I used. The stickers, from Creative Imagination are an older line (2 years or more old) but available if you poke around.

The center sticker is on a red scrap that is distressed in blue and pop dotted to the middle. I placed a small circle clip on the top and used Scrappy Glue for flakes on the top and bottom. Tomorrow I will have the card holder and envelopes.

What Holiday Character I Am.

One big sigh.

Snow Head

Stuffed head is more like it. I have effectively dried up my entire body--except the one small river coming down the nostrils. My eyes are the Sahara (so no contacts today). My mouth is like cotton balls so nothing tastes good. And the more I drink water, the drier I get-because it's running right out of me in several places. Fun stuff. I managed to find some Vaseline (maybe 28 years old since I had kids in diapers) for my lips-that was medicated-and it stung! I know-ewwwww!

Card three. This time I used a red base card (edged in blue) that I layered with a striped piece covering 2/3rds of the upper front. Using a small white scrap to span the seam, I edged it in blue Distress ink and used a Trio tape runner to layer it on. The sticker was stuck to a piece of white scrap and cut to match the curves. This was pop dotted on the right overlapping the white fake ribbon. I took three small buttons, and tied them with floss and pop dotted them evenly on the left. Again using the Trio, I taped a long piece of gingham ribbon across the top. I then tied another scrap into a knot and trimmed the ends before snot dotting it in place to "fake" a tied ribbon. Use the Scrappy Glue to add some snowflakes to the snowman sticker head.

Query? Anyone Order From WeRMemoryKeepers?

Recently, We R Memory Keepers had a humongous sale of buy one get one free on their metal hardware sets which normally retail for about 29.99. I got my order today and am confused. If you ordered and received the box from them, was something weird? If so, contact me thru my profile page and let me know. I saw another blog recently that had a post about their weird shipment and now I can't find it. Curiouser and curiouser.

Redraw-Blog Candy-New Winner.

I guess Sandy doesn't want the gifties and I only have one person who sent me an address for the paper scraps and ribbons. What is up with this? I see all over the blog continent that a lot of people aren't contacting the giver's so they can be givee's. I am trying again but there is no way I will get this out this week, so you will have a wait. Please look back and see if you were a winner of papers here!

The new winner is Tammy and here is a photo of her and her bebe!

Send me your address thru the link under my profile.

Yoga! Yoga! Yoga!

Happy Holidays

I went to Target tonight to see if they made a nasal spray that would make the drip stop. I don't need to medicate my whole body for a nose faucet run amok. I saw all sorts of stuff but no drip fixer. So I bought some paper bags on clearance and a lint trap. I needed a snot trap but if I ever dry my nose out, it will be like lint maybe?

Here is the second card in my set of 4. I used generic white card and edged it in denim and folded it in half. Cutting up some pieces of scraps, I edged those in blue too and centered them nicely on the card front so a seam of white would show around all the edges. The Happy Holidays sticker is placed on white card stock and then I cut around the sticker leaving a small area showing. Pop dot it to the lower left. Another white scrap has an ornament sticker centered-well almost centered- and then edged in blue ink and distressed a bit. This bit of embellishment was layered on a red scrap that was distressed and then pop dotted in the center of the card. I took a scrap of gingham ribbon and folded it in half then tied some other small scraps of red satin ribbon around the bottom and used tiny dots to attach this to the ornament like a hanger.

As with the previous card, I used Scrappy Glue with my glitter on top of the sticker to look like piled snowflakes.

My New Catty Is AWOL

All the blog posts and I have no clue where mine is but I know where it isn't. It isn't in my sweating little hands. Bah Humbug!

An Ouchie-But It Shimmers Pretty.

Cutting paper and ribbon. Ribbon has wire and glitter on it. Then used red ink. No idea that I have sliced my finger on the wire. Went to take shower and it HURT! Looked at hand. Slice on middle knuckle. Bleeds when I bend finger. Scrub to clean. Filled with glitter still. At least I have had a tetanus shot (several in fact).

No photos-gross.

Where is Sandy?

You have til midnight to claim your prize or I draw again.. I was hoping to go to the PO today but the nose be running and the lungs are coughing. BTW-the contest is over, so please don't enter this one anymore. I have received several entries since it ended. I will have another to participate in---after the 1st--- the dredges of winter. So stay tuned.

Fridge Candy

"""Ummmm the blog candy isn't comin outta that fridge, is it? lol!Here's mine:1. a bottle of 3yr old mayo (I found it so it's now tossed, ewww. and I dont even eat mayo.)2. an awful lot of fudge, peanut butter truffles, and oreo truffles. 3. a can of peaches. Why? I have no idea.4. Two 12packs of kids juice drinks. And I got no kids.5. a jar of an unknown fruit jam from Honduras. I haven't been brave enough to try it."""

Maybe Sandy tried that Honduran fruit Jam and decided to fly to get more?

Santa Was Here

Over the next few days I will have a set of 4 cards and the envelopes that match them that were made with one large sticker sheet, scraps of card stick and print paper, Distress Ink and plain old cheapie textured card stock from the winter stack of 2005 from DCWV. The only thing new I purchased was the weird glitter as this was more like snow than the fine stuff most of us use.

I tore a piece of snowflake paper and inked the edges and placed it on the right of my folded card which I had also inked in red instead of blue. I backed the sticker with some plain white paper to make it stronger and then placed it on a red scrap which I then tore around the sticker to fit and inked those edges too. The was then pop dotted on the card. Using a scrap ribbon, I made a hand tied bow and snot dotted it in the lower right corner. Using Scrappy Glue (I didn't trust anything else to dry clear enough) I edged the top right sticker and under a bit with the glue and then pressed the glittery flakes into the glue and let sit until dry. This glitter has a blueish white tinge so the light picks up on it in different ways. I got it on clearance at Micheal's in the ornament aisle for 99 cents.

Santa Beard

This is a cut out from a piece of wrapping paper. I deliberately went looking for some to cut up. I edged in burgundy ink and added the Santa to a scrap of red textured card stock which I distressed and inked. This was placed on the top of a green lined card. On the bottom, I used another piece of the red and placed it crosswise after inking the edges. Then I stamped my greeting and used my Cropidile to place eyelets on the ends and tied some jute thru and used my last two pop dots to place the sign. You could make a bazillion of these in a couple hours and would cost about 2 bucks for the paper roll. And scraps for the rest.

ETA-I forgot to add I used some punchies for the holly and two tiny brads on the hat.

Juliann, Cathy and Flossie-you were the only three that wanted some of the Debbie Mumm scraps, so get me the info for sending it to you by clicking my profile and my email is there. I will get the pieces and some other goodies to you as soon as possible. I assume y'all like paper and card stock and ribbon? Bed-assuming the dog lets me in.

Candy Winner---Now Can I Hibernate?

Well, I thought I had 50 posts to the candy question but it turns out there were a few double posters. So there will only be one prize for this round. I will save the other goodies for later in the winter when it's really sucky (like today wasn't bad enough?) Sadly, I have no one to share a snow day with as my kids are all growed up. I used to love snow days (and flood days too).

So the winner of my 1 year anny fun package is-----#49 Sandy

Please contact me by emailing me from my profile page. If I get no answer by Tuesday, I will draw again. I am so sad I didn't get to give away Kevin Bacon.

PS-the weirdest things I ever truly had in my fridge were dead kitties. My daughter worked for a vet in High School and he gave her some dead kitty fetuses to take to science class. I had to warn anyone not to go poking too much and that they were not some new appetizers. Some of you didn't even answer my poser and next giveaway, you gotta answer or not entry. I am must too nosy to stand pat with ha ha funny funny. You are being warned! Ha Ha Funny Funny.

Don't Forget-Free Music Today!

HERE DETAILS BE!

Photo of Grand Prize Candy-Last Chance!

ETA-You MUST enter the contest at the actual post of the contest. That place is HERE ! If you post anywhere else, it will not count!! If you commented to any other post on my blog, you have to go and repost to the above link. And only one per person please!

Less than a day to enter this contest. This is the grand prize along with some other incidentals I will put in the envy. Prima's, stamps, Lil' Davis color paints and Mrs. Field's candy. Go enter ! If I pass 50 entries, I will have a 2nd drawing and that one is a goodie, too. Maybe even better than prize one (can we say Kevin Bacon?). And if we get to 75, I will have a third prize. Go-now.

I tried to be cute and photograph in the fridge but the stuff kept falling out-so I tried the microwave (I hid the dog's bone in there because his gnawing was driving me nuts) and then it got dark. So here on the stove top it went. It's not like I am entering Peterson's Best, right?

close up of paints

What's In Your Fridge? Blog Food!

ETA-This will stay at the top until late Friday night. New stuff below.

Let's get this show on the road, shall we? I have had this blog a year ago October...and let that pass. I have had 10,000 + visitors....and let that pass. I also have made over 350 actual posts...and let that pass. So to keep you on your toes, lets have a fun to-do here and give away a nice fat prize. While I gather the goodies together over the next few days (and if you are lucky, I will post the photo too) here is what I want to know about you.

WHAT ARE THE TOP 5 WEIRDEST THINGS IN YOUR FRIDGE?

DISCLAIMER-THIS IS NOT MY FRIDGE!!!! THIS IS GROSS!!!!

To start it off, I will list mine--

• Tzatziki-Greek yogurt-cooling with spicy food.
• Pickled asparagus-very garlicky
• Unsweetened soy milk-hate the flavored ones
• Roasted Mole-not sure why I bought this yet
• A moldy baby watermelon-I forgot I bought it.
  

Rules-post here only and one per person-do not email me your list. If you post anonymously, you need to check back on Dec 15, because too many people are not leaving me a way to contact them-and stuff goes unclaimed. DO NOT POST YOUR EMAIL HERE-spammers troll the blogs for just that thing. If you want to post a photo of your fridge, email it to me or a link to a photo of it. Either way is fine. I will try to get a photo of my innard cooler if I have time.

BTW-if you say katsup and mustard for this, so not acceptable! Please tell me you are more adventuresome than that!

This will stay at the top until December 14, so if you are looking for other stuff, look on the side bar for posts. I will draw at Midnite Dec 15-pay day!

Christmas Music Lover? Free Music Dec 15

Go to this link on December 15 and get your freebies.

• 1 - Barenaked Ladies - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
• 2 - The Weepies - All That I Want
• 3 - Sarah McLachlan - Silent Night
• 4 - Matt Wertz - What Child Is This
• 5 - Liily Frost - Skating On The River
• 6 - Oh Susanna - Go Tell It On The Mountain
• 7 - Medieval Baebes - The Holly & The Ivy
• 8 - The Be Good Tanyas - Rudy
• 9 - Barenaked Ladies - Elf's Lament
• 10 - Melissa McClelland - O-Holy Night-MST
• 11 - Jars Of Clay - Hibernation Day
• 12 - Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong
• 13 - Martha Wainwright - Merry Christmas And Happy New Year
• 14 - Kyle Andrews - Under The Misteltoe
• 15 - Leigh Nash - The First Noel
• 16 - Sarah McLachlan - The First Noel_Mary Mary (DJ Shah Remix)

Tags-Not Tagged.

I was gonna put up the photo of the blog candy tonight. I have such a headache. Hubby took me to Costco and my teeth hurt from the music blaring-3 different Christmas songs at once?-how does that happen? We went to Buddy's for my birthday pizza. I am signed up for so many freebie food thingies, I don't think I will buy anything for myself all month. I still haven't heard from Red Robin tho. Hmmm. Maybe because last year I didn't let them sing to me? Egads! Friggin' annoying it was.

I took this photo quick the other night. It's from Stacey's line of stamps and we made these (I have more I am not finished with) at her open house. I know it's a lousy photo but it's been so ugly with no sun. I took this in front of the fridge using the lights in the kitchen. I think Stacey has about 5 of these tag stamps-you can look at the PDF of the catty on the site. We colored them and used Spica markers. You NEED to get these. The tags are nicer than they look, really.

On Sunday I will put up the photos of the cool card thing I am working on. I don't like the ribbon on it. But I am too lazy to change it and rephotograph it. But I want to get this contest out of the way by then. If you still haven't entered, you need to. Cool box of goodies-maybe even two or three. Then I will blog out for a while, I think.

Greetings of the Season

See what you can do with some scrap decorative ribbon and an old greeting card? These were misprinted cards for a local business and Stacey snatched them up and we used them for a make and take recently.

How many of you save the fronts (and sometimes the insides) of cards you receive? Recycle!

I even used the greeting on the inside and then just had a piece of torn edge card on the bottom that I placed behind the greeting cut. I even saved the glossy back piece of the card for later. Along with the weird junk mail hubby got today for his World Points frequent flyer brochure-that will be another card later.

And A Little Nip Will Get Them Thru

Puffy Pine

I was supposed to go to Costco today in Bloomfield. I knew it would be bad when the dogs refused to go out to pee. One even ran upstairs and got under the blankets and now I have huge paw prints on the sheets. It didn't get quite as bad as the middle of the US but it was enough for me to wait and try to go another day. Hubby took me to Meijer's but the pb was out of stock, so I got a bag of Ruffles with ridges. Way too salty but still yummy. I needed some sort of fix!

This card is a Stacey idea. I went to her winter open house a couple of weeks ago and it was a blast as usual. Using a circle punch on shimmer paper behind a plain punched circle, I made the base for my stamped image to come. Fiskars has all sorts of circle punches and edges I like but they are expensive. I wish they had one with running shoes. This tree stamp is from Stacey's own stamp line called Sweet Impressions Stamps. (did you notice the initials of her store and stamps are the same? SIS!) If you visit her website and see any you like, ring her up and order some. She also had grab bags that she takes to conventions. Better yet, if you are within an hour or so, go to the store a hop skip and skip off I96 east of Lansing. I might even meet ya there! And we can go to the Bloated Goat after! (um, they don't have a website but the same name site is porn, so don't go there-unless you like XXX of course. Fowlerville is a so small town, I wonder if they know what XXX is?)

So on the stamp image, we used scented powder! It was pine and oh so wonderful and long lasting! Just some clear embossing ink and covered with powder and heat set. I then used puffy paint and sprinkled it with micro glitter from Great Impressions , Let it sit for about 30 seconds and heat set it until puffy making sure not to burn it. Use a lower heat setting on your embossing gun.

I then stamped a phrase on the lower part under my layered tree and covered it with a sheer piece of ribbon that I taped on the back. Pretty simply and very elegant.

Two Views of My Fridge

So see, mine isn't as nasty as that other one on the contest, right? All my food is covered and no moldy stuff as I threw the watermelon into the compost. I have little single serving smoothies from Costco, home made veggie patties on the bottom in container. My soy milk on the left top, Ron's individual apple juice bottles (one serving each-as he just doesn't get the concept of serving sizes-I do this for his oreo's too). And some over roasted hot peppers for my pasta salad later this week. I am all out of garlic and that shredded cheese is gross-but hubby likes it.

On the door, I have all my delish condiments. Roasted pepper gourmet sauce, Wasabi the same type (hot!), bunches of salad dressings (all vinegar based as I don't like thick ones), lots of mustards, and soy based mayo. I recently threw out the Hooters Hot sauce my son had in here-like from 10 years ago. I asked him if he wanted it but no answer.

I keep my tofu and some veggies in the bottom as its particularly cold in the crisper's. I never put lettuce there tho because it freezes it. I do think I have some limp celery in there too-I can crisp it up in ice water later. So now that I am hungry, I am gonna make a peanut butter and horseradish pita Sammy-don't laugh as it's very good. Add some crispy lettuce for fiber too.

I forgot to photograph the blog candy for my giveaway, so maybe tomorrow. It will be worth it, so make sure you enter here .

I of the Sisterhood.

I am honored to be part of such a unique sorority. The Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers has honored me with an admission into their group.

Thanks to all of my group 4 who have visited and please come back again. I will be adding your blogs to my Google Reader and visiting as I can.

Another Local Scrap Store Is Closing.This Is Getting Really Old

Scrappin' And Stampin' Paradise

I have never been to this one-it's really out of the way and hard to find. If you are in lower eastern Michigan (the thumb and below), give them a call and go get some bargains.

So so sad.

Daisy 2

Since I didn't get to photograph my new made cards (I sorta stamped some of them ) from this weekend, I have one from the archives. This was one of my submissions for a contest earlier this year. None of them won. I wasn't really thrilled with the right side of this card to begin with but I do love the little vellum pocket with tag I made.

I did the scalloping on the bottom of the card and tag with my corner puncher. Then the Cropidile was used for the holes inside the scallops. I did use a subtle ink to stamp on the vellum and also stamped the tag inside and edged with the same ink too. And of course, Stickles! This was the DCWV spring pad of cardstock, which in not as nice as Bling but way cheaper!
I took these photos the day before Halloween. We put our lawn furniture away right after that. It was a strange fall as it stayed so nice in October here in Michigan. We are making up for it now. The snow and cold this month alone are much more than the last 4 -5 years. I cannot remember the last time we had to shovel snow this early-meaning more than an inch or two. I also don't remember my flowers staying in bloom this long either. I have other photos I took two days before Thanksgiving on my front porch that have flowers in bloom but it was sheltered from the elements.

Anyway-a touch of spring on a cold overcast day. Nasty stuff coming tonight!

ETA-we have enough crap weather to make up for this pretty photo since Thanksgiving's ice storm. If the sun ever shines, I will go take photos of my potted plants to show you the diff. Other than the pots the new dog ate! I got my heat bill today and it's twice as much as November and half the rooms are shut off in the house. I think come February, it will be tripled what it is now. I have my heat in the house when I am home alone at 62F and still can't keep the bills low. Consumers Energy is such a wanker!

Cell Phone Spam

As if emails weren't enough, now the spammers are taking on the wireless world. I got a spam text message tonight from an email account to my cell phone. I don't have my number advertised or used by anyone but close family. 5 people have my cell phone number. I am paranoid about my privacy.

If you receive one of these messages, contact your cell phone provider and file a complaint. Contact the FCC and file a complaint. Put your cell phone on the Do Not Call list (your home phone should already be listed-unless you are crazy and like that sort of crap). Enough of this garbage into our lives!

The Secret Code

I just wanted to let you know I took off the verification number to post to my blog. I will still approve the posts but it's just one less step for now. Someone was having trouble seeing the verification or it didn't show up at all, so they couldn't post to the contest. If spam starts showing up, I will turn that feature back on because spam bots cant do that. So you wont see this box at the bottom for now.Apparently it's another broken issue with Blogger along with the edit posts page for the writers.

I Must Be Scrooge-

I received this questionnaire via email asking me to post my answers and send it to everyone I know. Oh, and I have to try not to be Scrooge. I think I flunk, cause my answers were not even close to what was sent to me. I am sorry, but I don't like Christmas or really participate. I love the songs, the colors, the lights but so dislike the shopping, the greed, the insanity that now starts in August. I prefer to celebrate birthdays, anny's and "just because" days. That way it's special to each person. So anyone got a WII as daughter just had a BD and I cant find one for her :(

Here are my answers and if it makes me a Scrooge, well I have many reasons why. But I am very generous in ways others don't know or see. I just like to do it privately.

• 1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? How about garbage bags? Donation bags really.
• 2. Real tree or Artificial? No tree-I have cats! Trees belong outside.
• 3. When do you put up the tree? When I plant one in the spring in my yard.
• 4. When do you take the tree down? When hubby runs over one with the mower.
• 5. Do you like eggnog? Eeeewwwww! Raw eggs??? Eeeewwwww!
• 6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie Dreamhouse-made from cardboard. $3.00 at Kmart
• 7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes-giving it to son and his wife for their new house-its' very old.
• 8. Hardest person to buy for? George Bush-you can't buy brains.
• 9. Easiest person to buy for? Myself-but I don't like to shop much.
• 10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? Padded toilet seat
• 11. Mail or e-mail Christmas card? checks or Paypal-for my donations.
• 12. Favorite Christmas Movie? (alas, no dvd yet)The Gathering
• 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? What-August dog days isn't early enough?
• 14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? my Barbie Dream House-it made good garden mulch
• 15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Rutabagas and Tofurkey
• 16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I love golden topaz on anything
• 17. Favorite Christmas song? Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters
• 18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home and watch A Christmas Story over and over on TBS
• 19. Can you name Santa's reindeers? yup-and all the characters on the Rudolf cartoon too.
• 20. Do you have an Angel on top or a star? I mostly had a cat or two-but the tree was always spread all over the family room floor .
• 21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Um-I sleep in until the NBA game comes on at 1PM
• 22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People have forgotten the real reasons for the winter holidays-a season of hope for all religions.

Speaking of Food...

Check out this site for recipes by ethnicity or type. What a mother load!

Debbie Mumm Scraps

Are you a fan of Debbie Mumm and would like to have some stuff to play with? I am in the middle of a project and am cutting up wrapping paper of her designs. I am going to run the paper for my project thru a Xyron sticker machine and then alter the pieces for my card fronts. I have done something similar before with Penny Black stickers but this is much cheaper.

I just over cut the amount of pieces for my project and have a bunch left. Would anyone like some cut snowmen and Santa pieces from the rolls that you can use on scrap items, or card fronts? If so, post here. I have five envies to give away with enough to make at least a dozen cards fronts. You will have to use your own adhesive on the backs-I am depleted. Or add to card stock etc with your fav tape runner. But it's definitely got that rustic look all of us love from Debbie. And it fits in a regular letter envie.

I will draw 5 names on Sunday.

You're Too Kind.

I got new contacts today---honestly, I think I see better with my cheapie reading glasses from Costco. I can see long distances with the contacts but close is way blurrier (is that a word?) but I can't wear bi-focals as my eyes are both way off from each other and it makes me nauseous otherwise. Good thing this is a trial pair. Back to the horn rims.

So how about another of my infamous sticker cards? I do stamp but have to actually sit down and color the images. Just not in the mood lately. So this one is easy if you have lots of scraps and like serendipity squares. I double layered under each of the word stickers and single layered under each punchie flower.

Just place the squares evenly on the top part of the card and leave some room at the bottom for ribbon or ric rac to be stapled. Use scraps here too. And mini punchies are touched with Stickles as an afterthought. Depending on the stickers you use, you can really play around with this one.

ETA-Looks like the the Blogger photo enlargement prob is fixed-so I noticed a large white whisker across this card. I am betting it's a Loki stray.

Overstock.Com Discount Code

Enter the code 73994 on the order review page before Jan.31,2008. This will take off another 5% from their already low prices! Go shopping here

And shipping is only $2.95 for your entire order!

Doggie Video

If you are interested, I put up a video of my dogs tonight at my other blog. I just got a Flip camcorder and was testing it out. For some reason, I cant add my own MP3, so there is stock music.click here for the video.

Joy Part 2

Here are the rest of the pages of the paper bag book...see here for part one.

I really liked how my ribbon on the right came out so nicely here. Since I am ribbon impaired, whenever I have a good one, I celebrate it. Yeah!!!

A close up of the pull out from the pocket. While only one side is decorated, you could do both-I just had limited paper.

The last two pages of the book-there are tons of possibilities to add photos and ephemera to this book. The back was covered with one printed piece of matching paper. I guess I should try and make some more with a little more eclectic look to it. I have tons of scraps and other oddities. I might actually need some photos too.

Joy Part One

Remember when lunch bag books were all the rage? Here is the first one I made about 2 years ago at least. I thought it was kinda cool then but not sure now. Part of the problem was the thin Bo Bunny paper I used. If I were to do it again, I would use thicker card stock for a lot of it.

The cover used paper, some alphabet stickers and a metal edged tag with some dotty ribbon. You can fold your bags and sew them up the middle or like I did-two punched holes and a ribbon tied thru it.Two inside pages--each bag was reversed so one side had a pocket and the next on that side was the other way. Inside each pocket was a piece of decorated paper with a tab on the end. The tabs were attached with brads after being folded over a plain piece you could write on or add stickers to.
I see how badly I cut my paper in this one to make the pocket on the side with the two tags with ribbons. Most of the pieces are inked on the edges.
Lengths of ribbon were staples in places-some to cover seams. Please come back to the next posting with more photos.

Rosie Gets Crafty!

My Kitchen Desk

For Maria's Blog Challenge