Home Again, Home Again...

I hope you've missed me this week as much as I've missed you. I also hope that you've had the best ever holiday season! I went to Ohio for the week, and MAN am I glad to be home with my stamping stuff again! I went to spend time with my 81 year old grandmother and was concerend taht I wasn't going to have the time/inclination to stamp while I was there. Man was I wrong! So lesson learned. Next time the stamping stuff goes with me, even if it means taking an additional bag!

Anyway, just before I left I finished up my ATC's for Vanessa's swap. I set out trying to come up with something WOW, and different. But I guess I ended up shy of wow, and not so different. I did try the ghosting technique, which was fun. And I finally used my Blue Frost Kalidescope pad, which is cool. So all is not lost. I did look at the list of participants though, and MAN am I in for a treat when this stuff comes back! There are some TALENTED ladies on that list. *sigh* I will endevor to be better for the next swap!

We did have a great time in Ohio though I worried about my ATC's the entire time. We got to see my Uncle Clyde and Aunt Sue, my Great Aunt Sissy and her children Frank and Beth. We stayed with my Uncle Willie at his cute little house in Columbus! I also got to see my cousin Lara. (She's the cutie on the right!) Along with her friend Molly, who David just adored! This pic was taken our last day there. Lara, Molly and I took Dave to the park at the end of the street. I swear those girls had as much - if not more - fun on the jungle gym and swings as David! I occupied my time taking over 60 pictures. This is my favorite one though. Arne't they cute?!

So anyway, time to get dressed and put the war paint on! I've got to get some errans run. Rest assured though that I'll post again soon. (As soon as I make something!)

- Merr

Arrrg

It's really be a great day. It started with a mad dash around the house to make it presentable enough for company! My Visiting Teachers were coming! YAY!! I was so excited when they got here *JUST* as I was putting our breakfast bowls in the sink. (Got to put that chore off for an hour or so! Yay again!) It was really great to see them, but lo and behold, it got better...

My husband called! Yay Tim!

So half the Visiting Teaching time was taken up with me on the phone with Tim, and them hollering things at me to tell him! It was of course a ton of fun, and it helped that Tim was in a good mood. I guess things are going OK "over there" where ever "over there" is! lol. He doesn't talk much about things there, and keeps changing the subject to home matters. Excape comes in many forms I suppose! Anyway we are all so VERY proud of him. He's a one of a kind guy and just as sweet as can be. (Though he'd probably cringe if he could read this right now! lol!!)

Anywhoo...

I was so stinkin' excited for them to get their gifts I couldn't stand it. I handed them over just as soon as their butts hit leather! lol. They really liked them! YAY ME! Of course at this point they wanna know how I made them, and I just *HAD* to show them my new toy in my newly organized craft room! lol. After we ooooh'ed and ahhhhh'ed over the Cricut we went back in the other room and got to talking and all that fun stuff! What a great lesson we had this morning too! I really do love these sisters. They bring the warmth of the spirit into my home and that's a treasure beyond price!

Anyway, Angie liked hers well enough I'm going to make one for her mother's birthday! Yay! How cool is that?! Since I'm going to do the exact same thing I did for theirs I won't post my exaples again! Not to worry though. I do have a card sample that I made tonight!

I have been trying to get a bunch of mechanics cards made to take into the local stamping/scrapbooking store. We've been in negotiations about my maybe teaching there. I'm trying not to talk about it because I don't wanna jinx myself, just keep everything crossed for me! I plan on going in tomorrow afternoon.

So tonight my mechanical card was the Revolving Door Card. If you want instructions on this one you'll have to email me and I'll share, but I don't feel like typing that much more tonight.

Here's the recipe for the card:

Stamps: Ahoy Matey, Matey's Map, Rough Edges Alphabet
Paper: Ballet Blue, More Mustard, Whisper White
Ink: Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, White Craft
Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Prisma Colored Pencils, Gamasol

I tried something new tonight, in that I used Prisma Colored Pencils and Gamasol to do my watercoloring. I'm not too hot at it yet, but I managed to get things colored in, which is more than I expected to be able to do! For a tutorial on using Prisma Colored Pencils and Gamasol click here.

Gamasol is a brand name of odorless mineral spirits. It can be found at HL, Mike's, and WMart to name a few. Look around! Lots of fun! I'm going to keep practicing, and eventually will be boasting about it here! lol!

So I guess I'd better get off here. I want to make a waterfall card for tomorrow. I think I'll start it to night (the mechanics and all that) then stamp it up tomorrow. More than likely I'll get involved though and just do it all tonight!

Remember to keep your digits crossed for me! I could stand to start teaching again!

Feel Compelled to Share

For some time now I've been playing around with making a book of me. I scrap Tim and the kiddo and the dog all the time. I even scrapbook my nephew, my parents and other family members, but have not done any GOOD scrapbooking about myself in over a year now. Here's today's challenge to myself: GET SOME DONE!

The major part I have complete so far is a page that says: "What I'd Tell a 13 Year Old Me." And here's my list. I'd love to know what you would tell yourself at 13 if you could! Post them incase I need to tell myself that too!

1. Being tall with curly hair are assets.
2. Boobs are NOT an asset, stop praying for them!
3. Be PROUD of the things that make you different, its those very things that you'll be most grateful for when you're 26
4. Everyone is just as uncomfortable with themselves as you are this very second.
5. Acne isn't a death sentence
6. Boys are fine in small doses. You don't have to have a boyfriend to feel pretty or be cared about.
7. Love will find you! There REALLY is someone who was meant just for you! Your marriage will be strong enough to survive the stress of wars and stinky feet; and will be a happy refuge from the rest of the world.
8. Great metabolism doesn't last forever! Prepare yourself for size 22/24! Its not the end of the world, and it will pass, but be prepared to say good bye to 130 lbs forever!
9. Don't take yourself so seriously! So what if you get in trouble? You'll be able to say you did something foolish once...
10. Living is made a life by the little things.
11. Stay away from After Shock! Cinnamon will NEVER taste or smell good again!!!
12. Home is where ever you make it.
13. You will never have the same type of relationship with your mother that your sister has. You will have your own type of relationship with her, and it will be beautiful!
14. You may never get along with your sister, but will always be there for each other in times of need and chocolate withdrawals.
15. You are so much stronger and smarter than you give yourself credit for!
16. There are many forms of beauty in this world - seek beauty in all its varieties.

Now I guess the trick is to get my 13 year old self to LISTEN and BELIEVE my list - right?!

What would YOU tell yourself? Please share!!

Pop Up Polka Dots & Paisley

Go ahead, say that ten times fast!!

LOL, its late, so forgive my horrible humor. I stayed up to make another card with the scraps from the Visiting Teaching gifts (see the post below this one!) All the colors are the same. I'm really enjoying this color combo! I used the Polka Dots & Paisley stamp set. To get the dots all lined up correctly I used the Stamp-a-ma-Jig. I really don't know what I would do without that silly thing! I use it all the time - and it has earned its place on my favorite things list!
If you want directions for the pop up card then email me, and I'll send them to you. I don't know where my upline got the origional instructions from, but like any good stamper I tweak this and change that. If you know where the origional instructions came from, please feel free to let me know so I can give credit where credit is due!!

In addition to all that cardstock I used jute twine and a buckle from the Hodgepodge Hardware. It's actually the first piece of hardware I've used since I bought the kit; my new resolution (as of right this second) is to stop hording all my goodies! So be prepared to see more metals on my cards!

Alright. That's it for me tonight. I really do have to go to bed. I get to give away my goodies first thing in the morning! (Keep your fingers crossed that they like them!!)

Visiting Teaching Gifts

Today I spent the day doing Visitng Teaching. That's where my compainion and I go to the homes of a few ladies in our church. It's meant as a time to reach out to our sisters and grow a stronger bond within each other and with Heavenly Father. It really was a special time today, and I have to admit, there were times that I cried. The women I visit teach are some of the most beautiful souls I've ever had the pleasure to meet, and I know that I am truely blessed by having them a part of my life.

So tonight I set to making Christmas gifts for my Visiting Teachers. They're a couple of really great ladies, and I so enjoy the time I spend with them every month and at church on Sundays! My hope was to make something that would show a portion of my love for them. That being said I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they enjoy these gifts!

I started off making monogramed cards with their first initials on them. I used Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla and Rose Red. I cut the letter oval with my cricut using the Jasmine font! I used Bravo Burgundy ink and the Paisley Background stamp on the Rose Red cardstock.

Then, after I made the cards I made beaded pens. If you need instructions on these, go to Splitcoast Stampers (the link is at the very bottom of the page under my mug.)

The last thing I did was make a card pouch to hold all the loot! For this I used 9"x9" page protectors. Cut off the holes and sew it on to a piece of 11.5"x9.5" Creamy Caramel cardstock, leaving the top edge un-sewn. Score and fold the cardstock just above the pocket to make a flap. Decorate the flap. I used velcro dots as a closure.

I really really really hope that they like these. They didn't take too long, and really I think that they turned out rather well. The hardest part is going to be giving them away... OR maybe I should make a set for myself?!