Four Years Later...

I might be back blog world! The last few years have been a struggle...to say the least. Now that I have my perfect job, the family is somewhat under control, and I am slowly making my way back into my craft room, it is time to start blogging again. Why? I want a place where I can use writing and crafting as a way of therapy. Having a blog, and making it public, helps keep me in check.  So, this post is kinda like a "mic check" - Just to see if I remembered my password and how to post.



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Finally an update....and MAJOR BLOG CANDY!!

**Edited to add:  Blog Candy will end Sunday July, 18th 2010. 

Winner will be announced Monday the 19th.**

I have bragged so much about my Cozy and how much I LOVE it.  Now Kathy has generously offered up a Cozy for someone to win.  The Cozy pictured is exactly what you will win if chosen by random.org (Fits Cricut Expression).  All you have to do is:

1.  Become a follower of my blog (if you aren't already) and of Kathy's blog.

2.  Leave a comment, anything will do, and your contact information (please spell out contact information example: your.name AT yahoo DOT com.)  This helps avoid junk emailers.

My Mother in Law has the Mickey Mouse Cozy and my Sister has 2, one for her baby bug and one for her Expression.  I can't say enough about how wonderful these are!!!  We don't even "know" Kathy.  My Mother in Law was lucky enough to come accross her on the Internet...and boy what a find!!

I know I have not posted anything in a while.  I am trying to get back into the swing of things.  I actually made a card, first time in 2 months!!!  Wouldn't you know, I forgot to take a stinking picture!!  Hopefully life will let up a little and I can start posting more often.

Hope everyone is staying cool and having a great summer!

Carrie

HAPPY MU-D-D-ERS DAY!!

I hope everyone is having a great day, weekend, month, year!!  I just wanted to show you my card that I made for my mom.

It's almost copied exactly from Robyn at MyPinkStamper.  I cut my little cow at 3.25 from Create A Critter.  My ribbon is from Hobby Lobby, and the paper is from JoAnn's "Flower Shop" stack....I LOVE THAT STACK!! 

I am so blessed.  My boys got me a new Flip Video, so hopefully now I will get around to posting.  LOL!!  On the inside of my mom's card, I put "Get out and enjoy the sunshine, you are going to be treated to a day of getting your hoof's cleaned."  Meaning, she is going to get a pedicure.  I know she will like it and it will give me a reason to get my "hoofs" done too.

Have a great weekend!!
Carrie

NSD Challeng #12 - Critter-Licious"

This challenge was to use a critter to make a project, card or scrapbook page.  I thought I would use EVERYONE'S favorite right now, Create A Crittter.  I LOVE THIS CARTRIDGE!!!
**Edited to add: I used Mickey Font for the title.**

I have needed to start this jungle themed baby album for weeks now.  What a perfect excuse!!  Every critter on this cartridge is ADORABLE!!!  The orange that is hard to see says "to our"  Making the title "Welcome to our Jungle".  I even added a little bow to the girl monkey and a blue bow tie to the little boy monkey.

I really like how this turned out!!!
Carrie

NSD Challeng #6 - Make Something WITH a Child or For a Child

If you know me, you know that I do scrap with my boys.  I knew I did not want to get them out here while I was trying to complete challenges.  I would have never gotten rid of them.  So, I am posting the "art work" I made for Blake.  He mad "Star of the Week" at daycare.  When that happens, the parents bring in stuff to fill up a poster board...here is mine....

It has a picture of the boys and a little explanation of Blake's favorite things like "hi-hop" which is really IHOP.  I cut the motorcycle from Going Places.  I bought that cartridge, just for this baby!!!

Hope you enjoy,
Carrie

NSD Challenge #4 - I like you the least

You will notice that I skipped #3.  There are a couple that I decided to skip.  Not enough time in the day.  This challenge was to use that cartridge you got because you thought it was all the rave and now you haven't used it.  My first Cricut came with George Basic Shapes.  That was almost 2 years ago.  There are so many cartridges with those shapes on it now, it just seems like a waste.  I have seen it going on Ebay for some crazy $$, I just don't get it.  Here is my entry.  

I embossed the white cardstock with a QuickKutz embossing folder and added flowers that I cut from George Basic Shapes.  I went so crazy for the flowers on this cartridge that I ruined a brand new Cricut mat cutting HUNDREDS of these flowers with. You might be able to see it here...

Crazy huh!! The silly things we go CRAZY over!!
Hugs,
Carrie

NSD Challenge #2 - Getting Scrappy

This challenge from My Pink Stamper is to use any scraps laying around to make something.

Literally scraps I had.  You can see the bags (that's how I keep most things).  There are bags of the paper clips and of the pink / red paper I had around.

I hope you like it.
Carrie

NSD - Challenge #1 "Mother Dear, I Love You So"

MULTIPLE POST ALERT!!  I am starting to post my entries for The Pink Stamper's National Scrapbooking Day Challenges.

Challenge #1- "Make a scrapbook layout, card or other item with your mother or someone dear to you in mind".

 The paper is from DCWV, sorry I can't find the name of the paper.  My area is like tornado alley right now.  The stamp is from Verve, and it is a Plain Jane.  The circle is from George Basic Shapes and I just can't remember where the scallop is from right now.  I will have to edit later.  Sorry for the lack of information, I am POOPED!!

Have a great evening!
Carrie

Now it's Cozy near Seattle...

Here is the picture I promised of my MIL's Cricut Expression Cover. How stinking cute!! I am telling you, these things are so nicley made. You should hop on over to Kathy's blog here.

She has plenty already made up. She is so super sweet!! Did I tell you she spends her day training monkeys?!! (Not really, but close..she is an elementary school teacher). If it's anything like here in Texas, the kiddos just finished their testing and I bet the teachers could use a nice crafting break.

Feel free to email her, she answers promptly and our "Cozies" turned out so wonderful.

Carrie

Finally!! A card!!

I know the picture is horrible. This card literally took me less than 5 mins. to make. I used my Gypsy and cut the airplane at 3 inches from Mickey and Friends cartridge. I CASED (Copied And Stole Everthing) this card from the Occasions Gallery on Splitcoaststampers. Luckily the sun was shining on Sunday, unfortunately it made the card too bright for the picture. I stamped my own clouds using a 1 1/4 scallop circle and sponging around the edges.

Forgot to add: The paper is retired SU!, the "happy birthday" is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!).

I am going to make tons of these. It's not too often you find easy boy cards to make just to have on hand.

Thanks for looking,

Carrie

It's pretty cozy in here...

I got an early birthday present. My MIL got me this GORGEOUS cover for my Cricut. You can find more of these quilted covers at Kathyscozies.

I will tell you, many years ago I bought a cover for my Wishblade. It is thin, cheap and only does one thing good...keep the dust out.

Kathy's cover matches my pink and green room and is thick and quilted all over the place. She was even able to custom make a Mickey Mouse one for my MIL. I will have to get a pic to share with you guys.

They are so reasonably priced. She does excellent work. And she is a 3rd/4th grade teacher (??), so let's support her in any way we can!!! This is her therapy, who the heck wouldn't need therapy after dealing with that age!!

I can't tell you how happy I am with my cozy!!!

Carrie

MY PEN HOLDERS ARE HERE!! MY PEN HOLDERS ARE HERE!!

Once again my husband has spoiled me rotten. I am a follower of Amy Chomas for a little while now. She is having an inventory reduction sale on her pen holders for the Cricut and I was lucky enough to make a deal with the hubby to get them. Woo Hooo. Okay, so no lie I have only had them out of the package for 5 mins. I started getting my mini sharpies out and my scrap paper, I totally thought I would know what to do, Duuuuh, I have only watched her youtube video at least 100 times. Nope, I had a brain toot and had to stop and watch again. Here is what I came up with after ripping open my package and watching the video....


The smaller circle with the butterfly is my attempt using just the Cricut, the sharpie holder, and the cartridge the regular way. Obviously it is supposed to be able to fit...I know it was operator error. The larger circle with the bird is using my Gypsy. It worked perfect!! First I placed the bird on my mat screen and loaded the pen holder according to the directions, then a message comes up on the Gypsy asking if you want to "Go back to design" or "Add to design". I just added to design, it prompts you to save at this point, which I think you have to do in order to know the original position of the bird. When I went back to the design the bird was in Gray, so it did not cut. I just added the scallop circle and POOF!!! BAM!! BOOM!! WAAAAA ZOOOOO!!!

I wish you all could see my excitement. I am CRAZY GIDDY right now. With the pen holders and the power of my Gypsy....NOTHING CAN STOP ME!!! MuuuaaaaHAHAHAHHAAHA!!!

Okay, so stay tuned for more....I am still working on the nerves to make a video...maybe this is my sign.

Big Hugs!!!

Getting there...just a little sidetracked...

Hi All!

So I am working on a baby album and went looking for some paper. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE paper stacks. I have them all lined up on top of one table. I had a problem because I didn't know where one stack started and one ended. It was a huge problem, not because I would damage any paper, but because all of that pretty paper would distract me.

A very long time ago I bought these divider thingy's to organize my stamped images. Well, that really went out of the window, so I dug out my thingy's and this is what I came up with.

Here is the line of stacks all together...

I kinda have them color coded. The purple are My Minds Eye and the Green are DCWV and the Blue are random stacks that go within a "subject"...for example I have Nana's Kitchen by DCWV, but I also have I Love Baking by Paper Studio, so I put them together. I have all of the kids, baby and then Spring, Summer and Flowers together. I like it, it has worked for me. It's just now I can cut down on the paper cuts, and distractions....Yaaaay me!!!

I love seeing how people organize their stuff. I hope this helps someone else out.

Big Hugs,
Carrie

I finally fit into a medium!!!

Okay, so it's not the size of my clothes...yet...but someday. My hubby got me a prezzie today. I like to think it's because of the color and he just wanted to be nice. I am sure it is a little of that and so that I don't like another "Dude" when I am riding with him on the back of his bike. I am sure with me in a black jacket and black helmet and on a bright yellow motorcycle we could surely be thought of in a totally different way...haha!! Now I look like an actual hot babe riding on the back of the "booty launcher"...that is my new name for his bike. Since I haven't been very creative lately, I thought I would share this with you all.

I hope everyone is well,

Carrie

I am a total copy cat!!

I am a copy cat and I don't care. I have had a couple of new stamps from Kraftin Kimmies Stamps and are just getting around to getting some ink on them. I used the sample from their website and noticed that I had the same paper. So off I went to make the same thing. I started stamping using Stamping Bella's about 4 years ago and used to have to color images all of the time. Then I fell in love with Stampin' Up! and don't have to color so many images, it's a nice break. Coloring images is good therapy, I have to admit. After taking almost an hour with two little interruptions (named Goose and Blake), I finally finished this card. The paper is Basic Grey.

Thanks for looking,

Carrie

Finally a clean scrap room...

I know it has been a while. Most of you can relate when I say sometimes you just get into a slump and just don't wanna do anything. So last week I spent most of my time staring at my scrap room and just tired of how I had just crammed things into spots. So I have spent the last 2 days cleaning and reorganizing. Not only for me, but for my SU! order that was just waiting on me to play. Ami and I both have been saving our "allowance" and finally placed our SU! orders during Sale-A-Bration....what a RUSH!!! I LOVE getting free stuff. Click on my website on my sidebar to check it out. HURRY, the Sale-A-Bration ends the 31st of March.

My MIL will be here on Friday and I hooked her into scrapping and stamping the last time she was here, so I plan on playing with her a lot. I wanted to be able to move around and find things. Of course my playroom is the garage (I hate saying that, it's really nice). The weather yesterday was beautiful so the door was open and Ami and I got to play all day. I was still moving around and organizing while she did most of the playing. I did get a thank you card done for the Veterinary office that sent us the sweetest card after Molly left us.

I have to show you pics of what the boys do when mom makes room in the garage. My hubby grilled on the BBQ last night and with the beautiful weather they put up the tent. Well, it was still too chilly to actually sleep outside so we moved it inside. Of course nobody actually slept in it, so it just stayed in my playroom. My Blakey loves to hang out with me in here and watch T.V. while I play...it's makes for some really cute company. After a great breakfast it got really quiet, so I looked around...here is what I found....Blakey sleeping with his "snuggie" that Olivia made for him. HE LOVES THAT THING!!

Here is what my nice clean room looks like now...
My pics are horrible, but you get the idea....a BIG 'OL TENT!! Right in the middle.
I had to share, since I haven't created anything in a while. Maybe it will kick in.

Big Hugs
Carrie

Hey, Hey, Hey...IT'S A SNOW DAY!!!

Howdy from North Texas Y'all!!!!

Yesterday the Dallas area set an all time record for the most snow accumalation in one day. This Cali girl still gets soooo giddy when the snow comes!!! These are the pics from yesterday (Feb. 11) My two boys and my neice Kaily (visiting from California)

Our front yard and the house..

The sidewalk to show how thick the snow was yesterday...
This morning when I woke up school was cancelled..wooo hoo! That means work is cancelled for me!!! Here is what I woke up to outside my front door... The same sidewalk...just some more snow on it...

Our backyard fence.....

Our cars.... The first one is my van that has all of the snow from yesterday and today.

Finally, my big boy Carrots running through the back yard playing in the snow.I know this is probably nothing to what some people are experiencing. In true Texas fashion, tomorrow is calling for sunny skies and a high of 57....Seriously? Yep!! Thanks mother nature for a nice day off!!!

Hugs,

Carrie

In Loving Memory of Molly May Hajnal....

On Wednesday night Molly left us to go play in Heaven's backyard. David got Molly when he was at a gas station and a guy pulled up to him and asked if he wanted a dog. If not, he would just take her to the pound. So David took her home...this was about 1998-1999. I moved here in 2000 from California and she bacame part of my life too. When I was pregnant with Goose, she layed with me while I was on bed rest. When I...yes, I decided to propose to David I put the ring on her collar and asked David to marry me. Below is a picture of Molly Mae with a friend at our wedding. She was in it.

She has become Blakey's puppy recently. I am almost glad he doesn't understand. Before Blakey, she was Goose's sidekick. Here she is locked up in timeout....
Rest in peace little mama may may, life will never be the same without you. I hope you have all of the hotdogs and tennis balls that you could ever want up in Heaven. We will think of you every single day. We will miss your love and our days will be empty without being able to see your little wiggle.
Probably the saddest thing of all is how much Carrots will miss his mama...thats what we call her. People can understand the loss of a pet and most likely get over it. What happens to the furry bestfriend who has lost the love of his life? How do you explain to him that no matter how long he waits, she wont come back to him.

Our hearts are filled with loss and sadness right now.....Molly we will miss you!!!!

A little weekend mojo...

Lately it seems that I can only get stuff done on the weekends. This weekend was no different. The weather was nicer that it sure has been so I was able to open the garage and play while the boys ran off some energy. Since I..uhhh emmm...WE are on a severe money restriction I am using more stuff that I already had. So I FINALLY pulled out this stencil that I just HAD to have after last years Scrapbook Convention in Arlington. I would NEVER pay $10 for a stencil, but I saw this one demonstrated and it was just gorgeous. I am really happy with the way my cards turned out, although they are not as beautiful as the demonstration I saw. I also used buttons. I love buttons, but it seems that I always forget to use them. So today I pulled them out. I am in LOVE with the DCWV Recycled Stack. I used it with SU! kraft cardstock and the SU! In Colors Inks and cardstock...they match this stack perfectly!!! Here is the group all together with the silver stencil in the middle.
**Edited to add*** I forgot to mention I used Old Olive Ink for the tree and all of the sentiments are from Teeny Tiny Wishes.



I made the top two without embellishments so that they could be mailed a little easier. Here is a closer view...
The next two are may favs with the buttons and a spiral clip. I have bought tons of these kinds of embellishments and never use them. Shame on me!!!

This tree fits so many occasions. I used it for Sympathy, Thank You, Thinking of You, and for a Masculine Birthday. The buttons were embellished with some basic twine.

Back to laundry and chores.

I hope you all are having a great weekend!!

Carrie

Taaa Daaa!!!

I got something finished!! I am sooo excited. There is a long standing joke between my boys, my nephews and my two older brothers (their uncles), they say "Hey pink panty head", or "Are you wearing your pink panties?" and then call each other sissy laa laa. It's hilarious!!! So one of my brothers has a birthday next weekend and my other brother has one next month, so they are getting the same birthday card....here it is. I AM SOOOOO GIDDY!! IT'S PERFECT!!!

Above is the inside of the card. I am so excited!!! I can't wait until they get their cards. I hope you like them.

Love,

Carrie