Frothy Coffee....

Every now and then I get myself one of those fancy after dinner drinks.  You know what I am talking about right? The coffee with a little Kahlua or Baily's or something? 

So this shaped card was inspired by my apparent love for alcohol!  

I created this awhile back when I was on the Splitcoast Dirty Dozen team.  I used my Cricut, but can not remember for the life of me which cartridge I used.  I have since converted to a Silhouette gal! 

I used lots and lots of liquid applique for the froth. 

While it was still warm I sprinkled it with glitter. 

I added a bit of ribbon, a paper flower, and a sentiment from My Craft Spot.   (Shop website seems to be down)

I gotta confess that lately I am a lazy, lazy blogger!  If someone could just come here and take the pictures of my cards and write my blog posts, that would be great!

;)

I have no shortage of cards, I create them and pile them up in my craft room.

What the heck is wrong with me? 

L.A.Z.Y

yep. 

You're So Sweet!

 Maybe you were expecting a Thanksgiving post?  I should have some Thanksgiving cards prepared, but......I don't.  I could give you a bunch of excuses why I don't. Like life is really busy lately. Life isn't allowing me to craft as much as I'd like. But I won't bore you with the details. So instead of turkeys and cornucopias, you get a doughnut. Let's call it my Thanksgiving doughnut shall we? ;) 

I had created this card almost two years ago when I was part of Splitcoast Stamper's Dirty Dozen team. I had used my Cricut to cut the shaped card.

I cut an extra layer of the "frosting" and added a thick coat of glossy accents to it.  While it was wet, I strategically placed all of my "sprinkles."  

I added a little satin bow, a sentiment from My Craft Spot, and a little ball gem thingy. 

In just a bit I will be knee deep in cleaning and cooking for tomorrow.

Cort has school, but Kyle is home. He insists on going out to lunch with me.

I told him I don't really have time. You know, with all the cooking and cleaning I have to do. 

His reply to me was, "This may be the last time, Mom. Next year I will be away at college and you are going to miss me."

Good point kid.

Guess my house won't pass the white glove test.

;)

Have a wonderful blessed holiday my crafty friends!

Hugs to you all!

You Make Me Happy!

Good morning! I haven't had much time in the craft room lately.  I am still getting a lot of messages and e-mails regarding Cortney.  Her page has been shared over 120,000 times....which as I said is a bit unexpected, overwhelming, and dare I say, a bit scary.  I want to make sure that whatever we select is a good fit for her and that the company is reputable. So needless to say it is taking up a bit of my time! ;) 

I've connected with a couple of companies that specialize in apparel and shoes for handicapped children and adults and that is definitely more in our comfort zone. So we will see what comes of all this. :) 

I have a happy card to share today that I created while on the Dirty Dozen DT over at Splitcoast. 

It was created using a darling cut from Silhouette.  I had to add lots of glitter to the rainbow portion...to make it extra happy! 

The sentiment is from My Craft Spot and was a perfect size for my sun! I added fluffy Flower Soft to my clouds and a bit of twine to "tie" it all together.  (No pun intended.....okay pun was totally intended!) 

Cort has prom on Friday night, so tonight she and her friend Patty are going for manicures and pedicures. So the next few days are busy ones!  Mother's Day is Sunday too.....so that means I have gifts to buy and some plans to be made.  

Life is busy. Life is good. 

:)

Thanks for being a part of it!

Well.......I did it....

Because of your support,

your kindness,

your votes.....

I WON the Favecrafts contest!

I am so excited and thankful!

I feel so blessed!

I can't thank you all enough. This past week has made me feel so good.....and this was definitely the icing on the cake! Please pop over to Favecrafts if you get a chance!

I also wanted to share one of my favorite projects that I created during my time as a Dirty Dozen gal over at Splitcoast Stampers.

It is a picnic basket shaped card cut from my Silhouette.

Each individual rectangle was colored using Copic markers.  Each one was adhered to the basket with dimensional foam circles.  I love the depth that it gave the basket!

The flowers are also from Silhouette.  I layered them and added Flower Soft to their centers. 

The sentiment is from My Craft Spot stamps.  

I added a few leaves, rustic ribbon, and a bit of twine. 

I used a piece of fabric to lay over the side of the basket. 

The ants were given a healthy dose of glossy accents and adhered to the basket. 

I 

I have a weekend ahead of me full of wine tasting, good food, crafting, and good friends!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you for stopping by!

Pastel Christmas

I am up bright and early today. Want to know why? Because I haven't finished my shopping! I am so behind with everything this year that I will have to fight the crowds, keep my patience, and hope I find everything I'm looking for.  

So before I head out the door, I wanted to share a card that was published in last years December Cricut Cards Magazine.  I used the Creative Memories, Tis' the Season cartridge to cut the card and the tree.

I added a bit of lace to the bottom of the tree, and glitter. Lot's of glitter.  The sentiment is from My Craft Spot. I added a bit of texture paste to the "hills" and sprinkled them with glitter as well. 

I added silver glitter to the star and adhered a rhinestone to the center.  

Wish me luck at the mall......I think I'm gonna need it! ;)

Happy Everything!

I have a card to share today that I created over the summer with some left over pieces from my Silhouette.  I have quite a collection of "extra" pieces, and I don't have the heart to throw them away!  

So everything you so here was from the Silhouette.  I  used a sentiment from Kimberly's  My Craft Spot stamps .  

I added a bit of black Flower Soft to the center of the daisy.  

The human heart is strange. It is amazing how you can feel happy and sad all at the same time.

This weekend, for the first time in 18 years, my gal spent the night away from us.

We have had her on a list for a place in Illinois called Misericordia.  It is a home for disabled adults and children.  Now if you don't live in Illinois, you might think that it is a typical state funded group home.  

Let me assure you it is not.

It is the Cadillac of group homes. 

It is beautiful, well run, and has the most loving staff I have ever known!

With that said, it still tore my heart out to leave my baby girl there.

I absolutely know she is in good hands.

I know this is going to be the best place for her someday.

To be independent, engaged, happy.......

But as her mama, it was difficult. 

I can't imagine what I will feel when it is more than just a weekend someday.

This was just a chance for her to get to know them.

For them to get to know her.

And for them to fall in love with this happy,

sweet, loving little girl.

As we have....... 

It is always hard to let your children grow up and become independent, but even harder for us moms who have special children.

But I know that it will be the best thing for her. 

She is social, active, and loves making new friends. Her world needs more than me to be happy.

*sigh*

Being a parent is tough.

Thank you for your kind e-mails and such....

IT truly helps!

An Unusual Coffin....

When you think of Halloween and coffins, I bet you often don't think of mice too....do you? ; ) I thought I'd shake things up a bit....be different and create a cute little box to hold those sweet Halloween treats! You guessed it....with a mouse! Why not? In this gal's crafting world, anything goes! I used Happy Hauntings and my trusty Cricut to create the box and the mouse. I used traditional Halloween colors here, with a heavy dose of glitter.  (Thankfully, the candy will be wrapped!) 

I added a satin bow, rhinestone, some fringy grass....

 ...and a cute sentiment from My Craft Spot.

You can find my box in this month's issue of Cricut Magazine....along with a few other projects I've created!

Tomorrow is Halloween and let me just say....my 5th graders are WELL aware that tomorrow is Halloween!  Holy moly are they excited!  Makes trying to teach a bit challenging, when all they can think about is their costumes, trick or treating etc....

Just wait until you see the teacher's costumes! The students have nothing on us! ; ) Ha Ha!

Have a great day my friends!

Spider Web Box

Well...it's officially fall in my house.  The clothes from summer are put away. Sweaters, corduroys, and boots are all ready for the cooler weather, and we had a good rain last night.  I woke up to the colors of the trees vibrant, and the front grass begging to be raked.! Fall is definitely my favorite time of year.  There is something cozy...homey.....and gets me in the "nesting" mood.  So in between my "chores" I've been puttering around my craft room.  I've had a bit of time to play around with the Silhouette.  I found this cute spider box cut for Halloween and knew I had to make one! 

Of course black glitter was totally necessary.....as well as the glittery orange ribbon, and cute lil' spider.  (The only spider, in my book, that is cute!) The sentiment is from My Craft Spot.   

Today is "Catch up on laundry and craft in-between" day!  So I'd better get going so I can get everything done! ; ) 

Have a great Sunday!

Using Distress Markers to Color Flowers

Halloween yesterday and almost a spring like card today. A bit crazy right? ; )I actually made this card awhile back and forgot to post it.  It uses watercolor paper and the Flower Shoppe cartridge from Cricut.  I cut an entire sheet of flowers in various sizes and then colored them lightly with my Tim Holtz Distress markers.  After I finished coloring it, I spritzed them with water and let the colors blend into each other.  You have to let the flowers completely dry before assembling them. 

I love the variations in color and the depth it gives the flowers.  I did the same thing with the leaves.  The sentiment is by My Craft Spot. The ribbon is from Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply store.  

I am hoping to share a bit more news with you later this week concerning Cortney.  More exciting steps on her new journey........

Have a great day my friends!

Happy Fall....

Good morning to you!  This is going to be a bit of a shoddy post due to the fact that I am sitting here desperately trying to remember what cartridges I used for this fall inspired card I created for the Cricut Circle last fall.  So if you happen to know, please leave a response here! This gal would really appreciate it! ; )   I do happen to know that the tag was cut from the Sentimental's cartridge and the stamp is by My Craft Spot.  

Other than that, I got nothin'.  My mind is completely blank.  I'll blame it on the fact that it's Monday?  

On a brighter note, I do have some pretty exciting news to share with you soon!  And it isn't craft related either! ; )  So stay tuned!

Have a great Monday!

What a Difference Colors Can Make!

Have you ever tried to cram a zillion things into one week? That's what I am trying to do before I head back to work on Monday. Finishing up my kids' doctor appointments, setting up my class room, getting my house organized, and buying some last minute items for my kid's school supply lists. I am certainly not complaining.....just explaining. ; ) It has been quite a whirlwind....and every errand I run I have my lil' side kick with me!  (Cort doesn't start school until next Thursday) : ) 

Remember Monday's card?  With its soft pink, grey, and cream color scheme?  I loved the cut so much I decided to create another card with some bolder, more retro inspired colors.  It is exactly the same minus the silver spatula, which I replaced with a sentiment from My Craft Spot stamps.  

I love making those lumpy bumpy cards....so I use a lot of dimensional squares in my projects.  It is such an easy way to add depth. 

So which do you prefer? The softer color scheme from Monday? Or today's more bold color scheme?

On some creative happy news, THIS card got picked up by Papercraft Inspirations from the UK.  The card will be featured in their October issue.  : )

Gotta run to my school and get some lesson planning done!

Have a great day my friends!!!

Sweet Fudgsicle....

It is hard to believe that June is already coming to an end! This summer really needs to slow down just a bit! I've been trying to enjoy each and every day. I've been crafting a bit more, spending more time with the family, slowing down a bit to enjoy this way too short season. Nothing says summer to me more than ice cream, Popsicles, and Fudgsicles! There is nothing more refreshing than one of these cool summer treats!  I created my own version of a Fudgsicle using CCR (Cricut Craft Room) and the Sweet Shop Cartridge. It was cut at 5" and welded together.  I applied glossy accents over the entire dark brown layer to give it that chocolaty appearance.

I added flowers and leaves cut from the Flower Shoppe Cartridge. The tag was cut using the Sentimental's cartridge and the sentiment is by My Craft Spot. 

I even included some drip marks using the glossy accents.......you know....for "realism." ; )

I took about 6 more pictures of Myla yesterday.......um can you say "obsessed?" But I thought if I posted more here, people might unsubscribe to my blog! LOL! I do have a little photo album of her on Facebook, if you really, really want to see 'em! 

My older dog is finally coming around and they are "hanging out" a bit more together. This makes my heart happy!

Off to lunch with a few friends today and going to visit our local scrapbook store. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday! Thank you for stopping and allowing me to share those photos of my little pup!

Thinking of You....

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and Father's Day! I have been so busy with family, kids, swimming,acting as chauffeur....that I haven't crafted in 3 days! eeek! I have lots to catch up on for CHA! So today I will bury myself in my room and check a few things off the list! I have a card to share with you that uses my absolute favorite cartridge, Flower Shoppe!  This orange and black flower was left over from something else and I couldn't bare to waste it.  So it found itself on this card, along with a few leaves, seam binding and a stamped sentiment from My Craft Spot.  ( I ADORE Kimberly's sentiment stamps!!!) 

I did a bit of embossing with my Cuttlebug and added a ruffled doily for a subtle texture. 

Be sure to check back tomorrow for a vintage inspired giveaway!  Lots of fun stuff to give to a lucky winner!

Enjoy your day and thank you for stopping by for a visit!  I know how crazy busy summers can be.....so I truly appreciate it!

Mother's Day is Around the Corner!

Yesterday was a good day. Cort asked her cute boyfriend to prom AND she passed her hearing test! She had failed it at school and I took her for a private screening. I was worried that this would be one more thing to add to our plates.....but thankfully, her hearing is normal! 

 I have a Mother's Day Card to share with you today that uses my Cricut, the Flower Shoppe Cartridge, and a fabulous sentiment stamp by My Craft Spot. Be sure to check out her store....she has such a fabulous variety of sentiment stamps! I also used some gorgeous silk ribbon from Stamp Simply by Sharon Johnson. I tend to make lumpy cards and this would be a bit more difficult to mail, but it's okay because some cards go with my gifts and are hand delivered to the recipient.  This is one of those cards! ; ) 

It was so heart warming to read your comments and e-mails.  I am so glad that I can share the lives of my family with you.  It means a lot to me! It is so great to be connected with you in a more personal way.  Sometimes you gals make me cry because you touch me so.....and other times you crack me up! ; ) Thank you for all of it!

HUGS!