Can I GETTA....Hip HOOOOP!!!

Crank up your speakers girlfriends! It's time for some F U N!!


Hello my funny little friends...do you know what time it is?? It's Hip Hop Thursday at Unity Stamp Company and Splitcoast...hope if you get some time you will join us! The fun starts at 10am!! I have a few things to share today! no I'm not part of their "official" blog hop..lol I'm not on the DT and they don't pay me for advertising...I'm just a groupie...LOL...I just LOVE THEM!

First I have this card whose inspiration came from a sketch by Amber. Every week on the Unity forum at splitcoast Amber gives us a sketch to play with. I used my nesties for the ovals, and paper pieced the cupcakes. The stamps are Unity Cupcakes a la Yummy. I did this one while I was at Christi's...just being around her gives me Mojo.

Next we have the Wednesday Challenge. Several Unity addicts got together to start a weekly challenge as an appetizer for Hip Hop Thursday. This weeks challenge was H.o.P.e. because it's Breast Cancer Awareness month. H-a sentiment with hope O-ribbon On your card..(think pink) P- Moe pink is Moe betta' (ok I added that part) but pink E- embellishment that starts with an"m" I um forgot this part...how about a little Mo JOOOO!! You have until Sunday to play and link up at Splitcoast.

Can you tell I've been playing with my Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks? I'm not exactly sure what to do wtih these...BUT I sure like em'...For this one I used Basic Grey pattern paper...(I have a serious Basic Grey problem lately), Heidi Swapp Ghost Letters, the rest of the Acrylic I cut from packaging...seriously I did....The stamps are UNITY..Tiny Trinity, and Sept KOM (the trees and journaling block)....

Still playing with my Alcohol inks here but this time I also used the blending solution...again I have no idea if this is what you're supposed to do..."Hey Tim, maybe you could add a manual to the packaging for those of us that are a little directionally challenged"..Thanks guy...but again I just love the way these colors blend together to create different effects..affects..whatever...anyway...love this stuff....this is Cosmo Cricket pattern paper, and some other pattern paper scraps, the bird stamp is Hampton Art and the Sentiment is Unity Simply Said.

oOoOKay...so if that hasn't been long enough for you...here's the deets on the deals at Unity today

1. New customers get 2 free stamps with their order

2. the rest of us get one free sentiment stamp with our order (YAY!)

3. There are 3 bundle packs...this is where Angela and Chris combine several stamps for one looooow low low price..trust me it's worth it it's usually new releases

4. Just for today they are moving some stamps into a $2 bin...um yeah so I'm there....

I will be gone for a few days..I work the next three...I'll try to be back on Monday, but Rob is having hernia surgery so we'll see. BUT...I hope that when you come back my new blog stylings will be revealed...and I have some plans to do some things to celebrate that!! Just so you don't think you're in the wrong place...here's a hint...there will be monkeys involved.... and I might be giving some stuff away...!

So Love ya..Thanks for stopping by and hope you all have a Happy Halloween and get totally high on SUGAR!!

Gratitudes:

1. I've had a great several days off and gotten a lot done

2. My blog is almost done!

3. ginger snaps...yummy

4. Last night the kids and I had a blast watching spanish soap operas and making up our own dialogue...what can I say there wasn't anything else on

5. waking up in the morning...I love that first cup of coffee...

I'm a groupie...

Supplies used: Basic Grey Pattern Paper, Bazzill cardstock

Unity Stamp Company Stamps: August KOM, Princess Branch

A Christi groupie...

Since she moved up here it's gotten worse

I first "online" met Christi a little over a year ago when I first started blogging. (We both started one of Rhonna Farrer's 21 day challenges.) She was my first regular visitor and blog buddy. I even gave her a title "PBH" (Personal Blog Helper) because I was always asking her an endless amount of questions and she has always been incredibly gracious and patient. (You can read more about that here.)

Anyhoo...She is an incredibly sweet person who has taught me so much in the short time that I've known her. We've been getting together about every other week or so to "get stampy". So without further ado I would like to show you just a few of the things she has taught me with the help of my model.

1. When it comes to adhesive this bad boy is the way to go. The ATG 714 by scotch- available here for approximately $42. This sucker holds 36 YARDS OF ADHESIVE...and here's another thing the refills are 2.99. You want the ATG Gold 1/4 inch. Can you even imagine the money you'll save on adhesive alone?? Think of all the stamps you could buy! This is NOT to be confused with the Glue Glider which is slightly more expensive and the refills are about 3 times as much with about half the adhesive. Plus the tape is about an inch thick.

2. STOP BEING A CARDSTOCK SNOB!! Right now! There is nothing wrong, (especially when you're making cards) with buying cardstock in bulk or at office max or walmart...WTH have I been paying 69 cents a sheet and cutting it down? The world will never know...as I've demonstrated several times, I can be a little s l o w...








3. This is a biggie...Buy Small...Pattern Paper...if you're like me and you have a $87,435 worth of paper in your scrap bin then you've been cutting bits and pieces out of 12 x 12 squares that at best probably cost you 99 cents a piece...or you horde such paper without ever using it because you simply can't bear to cut into it. Buy 8x8, 6x6, 4x6 and you get way more bang for your buck.

4. You can never, ever, ever, ever, ever have too many stamps. There will always be a stamp you need, want or have to have. Give it up, you'll will never "catch up"

No teenagers were harmed during the posting of this blog.

Thanks Christi!!!

I have another card to share...

Supplies used: Pattern Paper: Pink Paislee Stamps: Unity Stamp Company Oct KOM, Flirty Flowers

That's it! Thanks for stopping by!

Gratitude:

1. Stampy time today

2. Meeting Christi's Mom (she is so cool)

3. Still a couple more days before I have to go back to work

4. My model

5. coffee

Just Another Manic Monday

This photo was taken at Forest Park on Sunday.

I have a few things to share today...

First it's Unity week over at CPS. I've been playing with their sketches for awhile now (they're good inspiration for scrapbook pages too) and I enjoyed working with this one.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: CTMH
Pattern Paper: Basic Grey

stamp: Unity Stamp Company "So and So Loves"

You've got all week so if you get time stop by and play along!

Next, Inspired Blueprints ( a new sketch blog that launched Oct 1st) had a bonus sketch so I decided to play along with that as well...

I sort of flipped it upside down and used less photos.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: WorldWinn

Pattern Paper: Doodlebug, Making Memories

Stamps: Unity " Wish" ,"Wish Sticks", "Small Elegance" and "Sept KOM"

I took a couple of close-ups because it's hard to see the bling

If anyone has Christmas craftiness on the brain Hobby Lobby has some really great sales already. Christmas crafts and scrapbooking are 40% off this week. Plus there's a 40% off any one item coupon you can print out here.

One of the things I love about living in this area besides beautiful, crisp fall days is Forest Park. The park encompasses The St Louis Zoo, The St Louis Art Museum, and the St Louis Science Center just to name a few. All of which are FREE FREE FREE. Yesterday the weather was perfect so we headed out and made a day of it.

Don't worry I didn't give birth to another 10 year old.. LOL..that's our neighbor, Landon's buddy.

Did I mention it was

"Boo at the Zoo"

this weekend?

Want to hear about something else that's free?

I signed up today...I'm really excited about this because she offers lots of other classes too. Wanna play???

That's it for tonight. Thanks for stopping by!

Gratitudes:

1. Knocked a few more off my Christmas list

2. Rob made us fajitas for dinner

3. Jessica's class

4. Such a perfect, perfect day yesterday

5. I got a lot done around the house today!

Sometimes...

We remember to take the time to witness what God is up to...

And sometimes...

you realize how incredibly fleeting the moments that really count can be

After spending a good hour and a half cursing traffic Thursday afternoon because of the rain...I pulled into the driveway to the kids all excited about the rainbow in the backyard. I can't remember ever seeing the whole arch like this, it completely took my breath away. We had just enough time to snap a few pictures before it was gone.

Sometimes it's worth the rain.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around once in a while, it can pass you by."

-Ferris Bueller

That's all for tonight. I've been working on some things to show you tomorrow. I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!

IRL

Bear with me for the cheesey choice in music today...it's a bit of a tribute

I've been gone a couple days because of work and then yesterday....GUESS WHAT??

In REAL LIFE!!!





Do you recognize them there hotties on either side of me???


Yeppers! That's Kelly on the left and Dianna on the right...It was one of those last minute things where everything came together at just the right time kind of moments...Dianna was coming up to spend a girls weekend with Kelly and a few other friends in Chicago to go see NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK...(no I'm not kidding--Hence the musical tribute)...But she flew in to St Louis because Kelly lives in Quincy...ANYWAY...I get this email from Kelly late on Wed night asking if I want to meet them in St Louis somewhere for lunch before they head back up to Quincy....UM YEAH!!! (after some scrambling to figure out if Rob could pick up the boys from school, he did..God love that man)

We met up at St Louis Mills (a mall on their way back out of town that happens to have an Archiver's) and ate lunch and shopped.

Yes, they're gorgeous...both of them...it's a little overwheming being in their presence I gotta tell you....and seriously you could put both of them together and it probably still wouldn't add up to a whole me....(thinking Cornelia Brown from Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos here) and I really really want Dianna's bag...They are just as fun in real life as they are in blogland!! I should add that I wore 3 inch heeled boots that's why we all look the same height...It was a whirlwind and over way too fast..but it was so cool to get to meet them! I'm so glad I was able to..I hope you girls have a great weekend and I can't wait to see the pics when you come back!!!


I'm working on Christmas gifts...homemade all the way this year...(except for the boys of course...can't wait to share their lists with you)...today I made this







I'm really happy with how this turned out.


Supplies Used:


Pattern Paper Making Memories


Stamps: Unity Stamp Company


Frame Walmart

I also just had to show you this litte journal I picked up on the 2$ table at Barnes and Noble

It just makes me laugh everytime I open it up!!

One more thing...I have a reputation around the house as being a bit of cranky screaming banshee when I come home from work at 7pm after 12 hours on my feet and nothing has been done...I don't know what they are talking about... BUT...Wed night I came home and this is the first thing I see



sometimes I might be a little bit spoiled...

That's it..sorry so long and thanks for stopping by!!
Gratitude:
1. see above
2. I am Number ONE on Veronica's waiting list...
3. Loving the cooler weather with sunshine
4. Lunch with Rob today
5.Getting to meet Dianna and Kelly

The Coolest Thing I've Made So Far

With my own hands.

Okay, technically probably my kids are the coolest thing I ever made...but I had some help there...so ok...this would be the coolest thing I ever made by myself, with my own hands...whew...sometimes I swear even I don't have any idea what I'm talking about...

So..here it is...

First, I went into the forest and gathered lots of small branches...

NO I DIDN'T!! Had you for a sec though, huh? I found the empty branch thing at GoodWill...I love it when I find stuff like that and my brain already has a plan, because this so rarely happens.

The photos are all mounted on chipboard which came from a mini book kit by Fancy Pants. The Pattern Paper is by Cosmo Crickett and Memory Makers. To add to the aged distressed feel, I used some rusty screen I bought at Red Lead Paperworks. The sticker is We R Memory Keepers. Buttons are Rhonna Farrer. The crocheted lace was another thrift store find. Then I added some do-dads from my stash to pick it up a little. Here's a closer look

I don't tend to do a lot of anything I can hang on my walls-mostly because my past attempts at it have sucked so bad. BUT- I am so happy about how this turned out!

I have to say that a certain amount of the credit goes to Christi, because I never would have tried it if I hadn't been in her house and seen pieces of her artwork hanging everywhere. This woman pretty much has the corner on that "shabby chic" look that I'm constantly trying to get- but not quite getting it right.

This was probably purely kismet...I doubt I'll ever make anything this perfect again.

Speaking of Christi...I'll need to dedicate a whole post to her soon, just to talk about all the things she's been teaching me...but go here to see a stinkin' cute picture of me holding Kat, who is totally in love with me by the way. We're girlfriends. It's probably because I bring her cinnamon crunch bagels from Panera Bread.

I work for the next two days, but will be back on Thursday.

Thanks for stopping by!

Gratitudes:

1. That I didn't get a ticket for my burned out brake light...got it fixed!

2. lunch with Rob today

3. My crazy boys making me laugh all the time

4. Michael's catalina coupons...seriously these things are killing me

5. Sweet Red Wine (St James)

A Quickie...

Just a quick post because it's Landon's birthday and I'm already supposed to be watching Indiana Jones...



First let me say (and believe me I know I say this alot lately, but seriously you've got to go check it out) You still have a few hours to go place an order at Unity and still get in on the Hip Hop Thursday smokin' deals. Today use the code HIP25 for 25% off your order + you get the Hey Chic stamp set for 2 bucks if you place and order over 25$. There's also a bundle package of the new releases. Shipping is always 5 bucks.



Which brings me to one of my best scrappy days EVA EVA EVA...I was over at Christy's playing with stamps when she opens her email and says "Did you know you're on the Unity Blog?" ...

"WHA WHA HUH?" (me)

"Come Look." Christy

Oh Holy Honey Bunches of Oates!!! Go look here. By the way I used the "Hey Chic" stamp set for that card.



ok..running out of time here...so here's my card for the Unity Hip Hop Challenge today which was to use flowers on a card.



Supplies
Pattern Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Fancy pants
Unity Stamps: Distress Dots, Sept KOM, Oct KOM
some tiny flowers and bling...

ok really got to go now
grateful for
a great bday with Landon
fun time with Christy
St Louis bread company
Unity's great deals
Angela (Unity owner) featuring lil ole me on her blog...THANKS!
Thanks for stopping by

Blue Dog and The Unity Wednesday Challenge

The other night I get home from work to find my family room carpet looking like this




This is just a small sampling- there is blue everywhere and little blue pawprints all over the house. I can't imagine who could have done such a thing....





Can you?

At least it was a crayola marker so it's water soluble. I have not found any pieces of it though so she must have eaten the whole thing. That's what Cocoa does. She eats things. Nothing is safe. She's eaten holes in our comforters, all of my flip flops (my fault I know), see that couch she's sitting on? She's even been eating the frame underneath- and before you tell me to buy her a toy, trust me we have, they work for about a day or two until she eats them.








Here is my card for the Unity Wednesday Challenge at Splitcoast. The challenge today was to create a masculine card. I have trouble with boy cards so this WAS a challenge.






Supplies Used: Pattern Paper; Memory Box

Stamps: Unity Stamp Company; Tiny Trinity, Simply Said

Hemp, eyelets




I also did this layout inspired by the new sketch site Inspired Blueprints.

Supplies Used:

Pattern Paper: Basic Grey

Bazzill cardstock with an Edge

Unity Stamp Company: Oh what a beautiful morning, Sept KOM, Oct KOM, Owl always love you, Simply Said

That's me and my Sister in Spirit, Stephanie at her going away party in the summer of 2007. She moved to Japan, and I miss her so much. She was here this past June and stayed with us for a week and we had so much fun. She's my person. Meredith has Christina (Grey's anatomy reference here) and I have Steph. If you get a chance stop by her blog and tell her I said to get her non-bloggy butt blogging again. She has some pretty cool pictures there too.

That's it for today! Thanks for stopping by!

Gratitude:

1. Rain (hopefully it will cool down)

2. Jimmy John's subs (have you had these they are yummy)

3. Landon's bday is tomorrow

4. Yesterday was our 14th anniversary...(that's another post)

5. Goofy assed dogs

Hello Monday...

The boys had a five day weekend and the weather has been so nice. I wanted to do something nice and take them to the zoo, the fall colors are absolutely beautiful there this time of year...plus with cooler weather the animals seem to be more fun to look at...(hey if I had to lay in the 90 degree sun licking my butt while people stared at me all day, I'd probably be in a bad mood too)

BUT..my kids didn't want to go the zoo...they weren't really "in the mood"...ok whatever...so instead I took them school clothes shopping...for some strange reason incomprehensible to me they LOVE the mall...I hate the mall. I could take a week here telling you all the reasons I hate they mall...but really I wanted them to actually wear the clothes I bought which means letting them pick them out...so I cowboy-ed up...and we went to JC Penney...which I must say has some pretty awesome bargains right now...

They also hate the camera right now...I pull it out-they get obnoxious..it's sort of an autonomic response...so here's a couple picture of the boys at the food court...

that's Landon behind the bag

and Britain

I've also made a few things...on Friday I made this chalkboard...I had been wanting one of these for the kitchen for a while and I finally found the size I was looking for.

I made this a little hastily...I'm still not sure how much I like it... it only took like 20 minutes not include drying time

I also made this little card...I just love this stamp Christi let me borrow it. It's by Rubber Stamped.

Today, I did two layouts. I don't usually stamp on layouts, I don't know why I never have. So I've been practicing. Unity Stamp Company makes it so easy to do so because their stamps are so versatile.

This first one is based on Pencil Lines sketch of the week #106

Ever since the kids were babies I've sung this song to them...of course now I get eye rolls and exasperated "Maa-ooms!"

Supplies Uses: American Crafts paper

Unity Stamp Company: Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Sept KOM

This is a second interpretation of the same sketch I just turned it and chaged up the elements a little.

Supplies used:

Pattern Paper: Memory Makers, Dreamstreat, We R Memory Keepers

Unity Stamp Company Sept KOM, Oct KOM

Letters: Memory Makers

I spent some time at my neighbor Pat's today...Look what she gave me!

She found these at an Estate Sale! I just love them! Thanks Pat! She also gave me a bunch of these...

Aren't they fun?! Go see what she's doing with them here.

That's all!

Thanks for stopping by!

Gratitude:

1. HBO

2. My cool neighbor

3. The long weekend (even though it's over ;-( )

4. beautiful weather

5. krispy kreme pumpkin spice donuts...heaven

After searching High and Low...

I found it...and let me tell you this little bugger wasn't easy to find ...I've been calling all the stores and stalking newstands since Tuesday...It's reported debut...Mary Englebreit makes me smile...and this little magazine is full of Mary (and merry) inspiration good enough to eat...I found it at Barnes and Noble...the lady there got so sick of me calling and asking for it she called me and told me to come get it as soon as she unpacked it.

We had a lovely day off around here, the boys were off school and no one wanted to go anywhere or do anything but watch movies and hang out...so after watching a movie with the boys I got my craft on and joined the Hip Hop Hoopla over at Splitcoast with Unity. They are still going strong over there, if you never have I encourage you to join...this is the coolest company and they give tons of stuff away...it's nuts...NUTS I'm telling you!...

So here's some cards I've made...don't ask me whats got me going all cardcrazy lately...that's just where inspiration has been lately...

Challenge #1 was to sew on a card...sewing is sooo not my thing but I'm trying...so I used my Bazill In Stitchz to create the birdie

Stamps are Unity Hey Chick set

Pattern Paper is Fancy Pants

and that arrow is Scenic Route

Challenge #2 was to make a masculine card

this was more difficult than I would have thought

stamps are Unity Grandfather clock single (this is a really big stamp this card is 5 1/2 x 8 1/2)

and sentiment from their Simply Said set

This one was just to make me happy...do you not love those little jailbirds...I got this stamp at Mike's with my 40% off coupon it's inkadinkado...pattern paper is memory box. Sorry the lighting isn't as good in this picture.

Soooo...I've created a cracklatte addict...now everytime I go to Starbuck's Britain has to have a Mocha Frappaccino...

right now the boys are watching Gremlins...I still cringe when they feed them after midnight

and here's a picture of why I love living here

Our Backyard...

we are faced with the possbility of moving again ....sigh....

tomorrow the boys and I are off still so we're thinking of going to the zoo...

OH...and I am 6th in line for a new blog design by Veronica....you have to go look at her work...she is lighting up blogger all over the place!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Gratititudes:

1. Finding ME's new book

2. Fall

3. I was inspired today!

4. New Grey's in 30 minutes

5. end of season sales

It's Wednesday!

I really enjoyed creating these cards today for the Wednesday Challenge at Unity. Today's challenge was to make a non-A2 card...so any size but the standard...

Well that's okay I never do anything the standard way anyway...

so first I made a 4 1/2 x 8

For this one I used Bazzil cardstock

Pattern paper by Cosmo Cricket

and The Unity Set Flirty Flowers

The next 2 are 5 1/2 x 8 1/2

For this one I used K and Company pattern paper and tag

Bazzil Cardstock

and the Wish Sticks stamp by Unity

and last..

This one is Bazill cardstock

Pattern paper by Memory box

Stamps are all Unity the tree is from the Sept KOM

The "Thanks" is from flirty flowers and the flourished

circle was a single

I really enjoyed this today so Thanks for the challenge!

In other news...I made another jolting discovery today...

Britain, my just turned 13 year old

has "guys"

you know what I mean...

"mom, I'm going to go hang out and play football with the guys" , guys

As soon as he got into the car from school today it started...

and then as I dropped him off it hit me right in the chest

I have a teenager

he has "guys"

Thanks for stopping by!

Gratitudes:

1. Wednesday Challenge

2. Got my ATG gun today in the mail

3. Got a Unity order today in the mail also...

4. I had a Dr. apt today (this is a story for another day) and the Dr. I saw was incredibly nice and actually took the time to listen to me (a total rarity)

5. The kids have a five day weekend and I'm off for most of it!