I will be MIA for awhile

Hi Ladies! Just a quick note to let everyone know that I will be MIA from my blog & craftroom for a few days. I am having a lumpectomy/surgery this evening for some on going breast issues I've been having, and the dr does not want to wait any longer. Keep me in your prayers and send good thoughts our way that the pathology results come back ok. I will post again as soon as I feel ok and am able to type.

Happy Scrapping!
Suzanne

Grillin'

Happy Weekend everyone! Hope your holiday is going great! We're enjoying the most beautiful weather here in VA--hope it stays around for awhile. We're just hanging out at home and chillin'. We went to see the new "Indiana Jones" movie last nite, and I loved it. I loved that they brought Karen Allen (Marion) back as Indy's love interest and not some new, young, hot chick like they do in all the other movies. It made it more believable & fun! The next movie for me will be "Sex & the City" with a few of my friends (becuz hubby is not interested)--I was a faithful viewer of that show & still watch it in reruns occasionally--always good for a laugh!!

On to my card for today--I bought a bunch of new stamps from Gina K the other nite at her release party (some are brand new, others are older that I've been wanting). You should really check them out--and if you order 3 sets you get a "free" set that is summery & beachy & so cute (but only until May 31st & you could win free stuff)! Anyway, I bought enough sets to get 2 free sets :) I'll be using them over the next week, including one with my zebra--yippee! This stamp set is called "King of the Grill" and its all masculine stamps (golfin,grillin,fishin,fixin) which I have been lacking. I am going to give this to my dad for Father's Day, because he really thinks he is the "king of the grill"-maybe sometimes, lol! I used the Saturday sketch from Lauren Meader's blog again (I love sketches). The paper is all from SU, ribbon is American crafts and colored with copics. I added Diamond Glaze to the utensils and grill for some shine. I really like the cheerfulness of it all!

Alright, I gotta get out of my craft room and take the dogs down to the creek for some playtime. Both of my kids are going to sleepovers tonite, so me & hubby are all alone....we'll probably watch tv & go to bed and read (so exciting are we)-LOL!

Take care--

Suzanne

Wishful Thinking....

Good TGIF to everyone! Hope everyone is planning on a wonderful holiday weekend--some of you will be traveling I know. We never travel on Memorial Day wkend, I hate sitting in traffic & I'd rather hang out and bbq in the backyard with friends. That's what we're doing & planning on seeing the new Indiana Jones movie & going to the pool (which luckily is heated) & it's supposed to be sunny & 80 degrees (yipee)!!

I made another Stamping Bella (kinibella) card today--this is the way I wished I looked when going to the beach/pool, but sadly it isn't (only wishful thinking)!! I had to get bathing suits with skirts this year to cover up those 12 lbs that won't go away!! No bikinis in site for me--No Way!! I really like how this card turned out & the colors are very summery & tropical. This new paper is from Sassafrass Lass (Secret Garden) & I just love it! I'm not sure where I got it from--I order so much that sometimes I don't keep track. I have a paper addiction to go along with my stamp addiction, soda addiction, etc.--I have so much paper and I constantly want more!!! The flowers are Primas and the center is a puffy brad from Making Memories that I got in a pack at Michaels (they're so cute)! Michaels is even carrying Primas now--they're really stepping up their inventory, thank goodness!! And of course I've added some stickles for sparkle & bling! I have a ton (and I really mean that) of new stamps that I am looking forward to inking up this weekend--be on the lookout! It seems that my new stamps are taking over in my craft room--it's nutsy! I didn't add a sentiment because I didn't think it really needed one--it would make it too busy for my taste! **New**Stamping Bella just added a "weightwatchabella" on her site and I ordered it to contrast with kinibella (maybe they can be friends)-lol! Maybe it will be included in the blog candy...we'll see....

I hope everyone has a great & safe weekend ahead of them & hope the weather is nice where you are too!! Don't forget:
***Blog Candy Alert*** Once I get past 2,000 hits I'm giving away blog candy of some of my favorite items. If you read regularly you'll know what some of them might be (stamps, stickles, cuttlebug embossing folders, dp & more)--You won't want to miss it :)
Suzanne

My Craft Room Pics

Here's my album of my craft room like I promised. Hope you likee!

Sun,Sun,Fun!

Good sunny day to all! It's finally stopped raining & being dreary here. I love the sun and having my windows wide open-there's nothing better than fresh air floating thru the house. Its actually supposed to be in the 80's and rain free this Memorial Day weekend--that never happens. It has rained every Memorial Day that I can ever remember! We have plans to see the new Indiana Jones movie (love those) and go to our club's pool (which is heated) & just hang out. No big plans for us this weekend, we're keeping it low-key!

In the spirit of the sun coming out to play, I made this fun, summer card with some new stamps I got from Alota Stamps (I just discovered them & they have some really cute stamps). These are their little alota bugs--I just love em'! The dp is from Memory Box "beach collection" I just got from Ellen Hutson's store. Then sentiment is from Hanna's stamps and I used my new Nestabilities "shapeabilities" 3 pack to cut out the sentiment on my cuttlebug. I just found out that Overstock.com sells all the nestabilities and I completed my set finally, so now I have them all -- yippee. Overstock has them for 1/2 the price of any other store, so check it out if you want to add some to your stash!!

The second card is one of a set of notecards I made for a friend of mine who wanted notecards with her house's name on them, "Habitat Landing". She lives down the street from me near Goose Creek and we have tons of deer in our woods, along with other woodland critters. She wanted the notecards to reflect that. The stamps are from The Stampin' Place, they have lots of animal stamps to choose from--I found them thru Google--ya just never know what kind of new stuff you'll find--that Google button can be dangerous :) The paper is from SU.

I am also posting in my next post a photo album of my craft room, for all those who are curious about where I spend most of my time. I tried to clean up some, but it's still a little disorganized and needs dusting--just pretend you don't see that part, ok! I really love my room--I am in love with french country & most of my home reflects that. Toile is just my absolute favorite and I got to put alot in my room along with my zebra accessories (on my hutch). Hope you like the room too!

***Blog Candy Alert*** When I get over 2,000 hits I'm giving away some awesome blog candy that you'll want for sure of all my favorite things (incl. bellas, stickles, cuttlebug folder & more)! So help me get to that goal, it shouldn't be long--keep on the look out!!

Suzanne

(Just a note--I stamp all my images on PTI white cardstock, it works great with inks & Copics & is nice & sturdy)

Summer card--Alota stamps, Hanna stamps sentiment, Nestabilities, cuttlebug folder, Memory Box Beach collection dp, SU cs, Copics, Stickles, American Craft ribbon

Deer notecards--SU dp & cs & inks, nestabilities, brads

$1 Bins

Good afternoon! I just have a quick post today, since I'm trying to finish up a couple of card sets--I will share when they are finished up. I made this Stamping Bella card and matching notebook for a friend's bday to go along with a gift card I got her. This bella's name is "Imeldabella" & I love her because we (and my friend) share a great liking for shoes!! I won't even tell you how many pairs I have because that might be embarassing for me and overwhelming for you--lol! Just know that I ordered 3 new pairs of sandals from Zappos the other day to add to my collection :) Anyway, getting on with things--this notebook was grabbed from the Michael's $1 bin and the last picture shows you what it looks like in the package before altering. I grabbed a bunch and they also had little notecard sets in a box which I grabbed too (show you that later in the week after I alter them). I always buy a ton of things from the dollar spot in hopes of getting to them, but never seem to, so I made myself do what I actually had set out to do!! I like to alter things, but it always seems to take me so long to make a template and then get to the actual project! The dp is from DCWV "all dressed up" stack, which I adore because it has zebra paper in it. I love my zebra print (I have shoes, purses, pillows & etc. w/ it)! And don't forget to check out Gina K's new stamps tonight at her release party (7pm central, 8pm eastern)over on SCS forum--she has zebra products this time (so getting them) & lots of other new sets too! Maybe I'll see you tonight over at the party on SCS.

See ya--Suzanne

PS--I get most of my DCWV stacks from Joanns website, they have bunches if you're interested.

Stamping Bella stamps, DCWV dp, SU solid cs & punches, rhinestone brad, stickles & Michaels ribbon, colorbok notebook

Clutter!

Hi everyone! My craft room is a gigantic mess--so not conducive for finding things--lol!! Anyone that knows me well, knows that I hate clutter & mess--it seriously stresses me out! No lie, I have been known to have a major "adult" temper tantrum when things start piling up--it just freaks me out. And as most of you know, crafting for a good part of the day creates alot of mess--you'll laugh, but I try to clean up after every project so I can start a new one in a clean room (I told ya I was crazy). This of course seriously cuts down on my productivity, but that's just me. I have been swamped today trying to catch up with all my projects, so I'm posting really late. I just had to participate in Lauren Meader's challenge for Pink Cat Studio over on her blog--I love her sketches and projects, always so creative & fun. This one called for using Pink Cat stamps (of course) and the colors navy, pale yellow, olive, cool caribbean & white. Now I don't know if I'd ever combined those colors, but I really like them together--very classy. I decided my Asian Kitty stamp would work best with the paper I had chosen. The dp is new from K&Company called Blue Awning--just so pretty & elegant--I got my stash from Paper Addict. I thought this particular pattern from that set looked a little asian in design and I finally got to use my new Prima flowers (Urban Essentials 4)--they were just waiting for the right project. My little Kitty is dressed up w/ my Copics, stickles & my Inkssentials opaque pen. I just love how it turned out--hope you do too.

I will be posting a couple of things tomorrow, including another Bella card! And hopefully I will make a bigger dent in my projects that I need to finish. Lots of cherry coke in store for me--and a BIG shout out to my friend Sally for bringing me a frozen coke the other day, it was just what I needed. Literally, I planned our days at the Disney parks around the stations that sold frozen coke--I love those things! I'm just a big soda addict and can't stop--oh well! I will also post pictures in the next day or so of my craftroom (when its clean) that I love so much. I just got the new Stamping Bella--stamping sistahood's wall decal and I have to get it up before I take pictures. Have a great sleep!

PS--Don't forget to stop by Gina K's release party tomorrow nite 7-10 pm over on SCS forum--she has some really cute stamps coming out that I'm gonna have to get :)

Suzanne

Pink Cat Studio stamps, Copics, Prima flowers-Essentials 4, stickles, K&Company dp, rubons, & jewels, PTI Lemon Tart solid cs, Inkssentials opaque pen, dimensionals

Birthdays!!

Happy Sunday Scrappers! Thought I'd make a quick post today, since I've been gone so long. Lucky for me, we had nowhere to go today so I've spent it in my craft room, scrappin' away!! I've had lots of requests from friends for boy's/masculine birthday cards or invites. So I worked on one today that I think would make a great card for a younger girl or boy, or even a really cute circus themed invitation! These stamps are from High Hopes and I just love em'--if you haven't checked out their stamps yet, get on over there--cute,cute!! I think I bought all of the animals the last time I visited--oh boy! I got the inspiration for this card from Lauren Meader's blog (an incredibly talented girl) and it made me want to do my own version of a pop-up card. This of course can be transformed into any kind of card you want it to be, and I just love the dimensional feel of it. I decided to make the base of this card a circus tent to go with my happy elephant. Not a hard job, but definitely tedious to cut out all the tent's stripes and line them up. Everything is colored with my fabulous Copics and the nuts and sentiment are popped with dimensionals. Hope you likee!

I'll be using this card soon, because it seems spring is the time of many birthdays--including my own which I celebrated in Disney last week on May 3rd! I won't mention numbers, but let's just say I'm thirty something--lol! My dear hubby & kids surprised me with a spa package at The Grand Floridian Spa for a whole day, but I ended up cancelling it (I know...gasp),but I didn't want to spend a whole day in the spa--I'm too type A and antsy to sit that long & anyhow I was on vacation to spend time with my family not my own crazy self--ha ha! I just asked for the equivalent in $$ so I can spend it how I'd like--I know not that inventive, but I like to spend $$$, ya know!!(especially on craft supplies, as if I need more--yes, yes, more, more)

Ok, gotta go finish more projects that I'm behind on--catch up with everyone tomorrow.

Happy Scrappin',

Suzanne

High Hopes stamps (elephant, peanuts), SU sentiment from Spectacular Bday set, Copics, dimensionals, SU solid cs, michaels ribbon & button, Adirondack ink

Our Disney Album

Our Disney Pictures as promised--check them out. You can click on the album to go to Picasa's site and see it full screen!

Suzanne

I'm Back--Finally

Hello scrappy people! I am finally back--it feels like its been forevah!!! We got back from our Disney trip this past Sunday and it has taken me all week to recover--lol!! We had a fabulous time, the weather was in the 80's and perfect the entire 10 days (no rain). I love Disney so much, but boy can it wear a body out--we were gone everyday from 9 am until midnite most days. The Magic Kingdom was even open until 2 am one night--we only made it until 12:30 am, but you wouldn't believe the crazies that were still there with their kids (like I'm not crazy, huh). My body is still recovering! Flying down to FL was uneventful if not nerve wracking for me, because you know I hate flying w/ a passion. But the trip back was SCARY!!! We flew on Mother's Day (what a non-treat for me) and flew thru all those horrible storms up & down the East Coast--what a hellish trip. I cried and hyperventilated the whole 2 hours (not kiddin') as we lost altitude, banged around and luggage was flying out of the overhead compartments--I thought we surely were going to crash--it was terrifying. The stewardesses never even got up from their seats, that's how bad it was. It was literally the worst Mother's Day of my life!! I don't think I'll be flying again for quite awhile. And then it proceeded to be cold & rainy here all week--I wish I was still in Florida :)

Anyhoo...enough about my time in sunny Florida! I had to finish laundry and the kids had tons of activities and schoolwork to make up this week, and now I am finally back in my scraproom and back to work! I made 2 cards today--yippee! The first card is a Bella card (bellarina to be exact) and I made this for my daughter who is having her ballet recital next month. She has been doing ballet since she was 3 and was recently asked to join the Ballet Company at her ballet school to perform in professional productions. She has been on pointe for 2 & half years and her feet are gettin' ugly (good in the ballet world, bad for the cute sandal world)! The stamp is of course from Stamping Bella, the SU black cardstock was stamped in versamark with SU's Baroque Motifs and then embossed in white. The pink cardstock & ribbon is from PTI. The quote is actually off of a ballet poster I had seen in Florida. I think she'll like, especially since it will hold a gift card to the mall--lol!

The second card is for my Pink Cat Studio challenge group--it was to use Pink Cat stamps that we hadn't inked up yet. I had gotten these "Beach" stamps before I left and since I'm still dreaming of the sunny Florida weather, I thought this card was appropriate. The dp is from Bo Bunny--I just loved the madra's kinda print and the colors of the paper. I had to paper piece these cute flip-flops w/ it, and stickles are involved of course. I had to color that "itsy,bitsy, teeney-weeney" bikini yellow--although you won't be seeing me in a bikini anytime soon. My bathings suits all have skirts this year--lol!! One of these days I'll lose these 10 lbs--wishful thinking! This sketch is from Taylor's Taylored Expressions blog from awhile ago, I really liked it and had printed it out waiting for me in my sketch notebook. She has a great blog too--go check it out!

I will posting a "smilebox" of pictures from our vacation soon--make sure to check it out. I promise I will be posting regularly for those of you who visit me. Hope your day is spring--y!!

Happy Scrappin--Suzanne

Ballerina card--Stamping Bella stamp, PTI pink ribbon & cardstock, SU black cardstock, SU Baroque Motifs,nestabilities

Beach Card--Pink Cat Studio stamps, Bo Bunny dp, SU solid cs, stickles, brads

We're Off...

Hi everybody! This is my last post before we leave for Disney--yipee!!!!!! I am crazed and running around like a chicken w/ it's head cut off. Most of my packing is done, just last minute things to do--we'll see if anyone gets sleep tonight. The kids are super excited & I will be once the plane touches down in sunny Florida. I am a very nervous & anxious flyer--I just hate it and I can totally go bonkers if I let myself. I just pray we land safely and I make it the whole 2 hrs w/o hyperventilating (it has happened before, I kid you not)!! But anyway, I will be posting some pictures of us in Disney a few times on my blog if you're interested in seeing/hearing what we're up to. I will have email up the whazoo and a to-do list a mile long when we get back for sure. Have a happy 10 days & talk with you soon!! (please say a little prayer for our plane ride-I will surely need it--lol)
Suzanne