Countdown to Valentine's Day Project #1

Welcome and Happy Monday everyone, in case this is your first time here, I'm Amy, a working mom to 2 boys who enjoys coffee and scrapbooking. I've been visiting Lain's blog for a while and participating in her challenges. So when she got so busy with LOAD over at BPS I offered to host/sponsor her Monday countdown projects. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. If you complete a project inspired by this one, in even the smallest tiniest way, link to it in my comments and on Sunday I will do a random drawing for someone to recieve some scrappy goodness from me!

I am all about spreading some love this Valentine's Day. I want to send cards like you do for christmas, give gifts and have some Lovey Fun!

Here goes:

Too Cute For Words (TCFW) Hot Tamale Bottle of Love

What you need:

1. glass bottle left over from the beverage of your choice

I used a bottle of Honest Tea

2. Hot Tamales or your candy of choice

3. Scraps in some Valentiney colors (enough to fit around your bottle) I used Fancy Pants Patterned paper and Cardstock by CTMH

4. Adhesive- I used my Xyron Cheetah

5.Ribbon - I used odds and ends from my stash

6. Paper Trimmer

7. Metal Rimmed Tag

8. Circle Punch

9. Stamps - I used Image Tree by Ek Success and CTMH Sweet Love my Acrylix
Ready, set, go
1. First clean out and remove label from your glass bottle. If the label leaves that sticky stuff behind, you could spend a day or two trying to scrub it off like I did. OR you could just leave it there because your going to cover it up anyway.

2. Once the inside is dry, all the way dry, trust me on this one add your candy.

ok I know if you look close you'll see that there are Now and Laters in there too, that's because I misjudged the amount of Hot Tamales it would take to fill the bottle. It's hard, I know, but Please try not to let this bother your perfectionist nature.

3. Measure your pattern paper around the bottle, I didn't use a ruler, I can never seem to get it perfect, I just let my edges overlap a little in the back. Trim to your Desire

4. Do the same with your cardstock cutting the width by about an inch so the pattern paper shows behind it.

5. Use your adhesive to stick your cardstock to the pattern paper. This is your label.

6. Use your circle punch to punch a circle to cover the label on the lid. I did one small and one large so I could mat it to match the label. Then use adhesive to stick it on. I also punched a circle to put on the metal rimmed tag. You can do this too or you can just stamp on your tag or you don't have to use a tag.

7. Stamp your message onto the cardstock. I just kind of eyeballed where the center would be and went to it. I stamped "You are one Hot Tamale" and I also stamped little hearts randomly on the cardstock. I also used 3 rub on hearts I had in my stash I think they are DCWV, but I've had them so long I can't remember.

8. Take a coffee break to admire what you've accomplished so far...Your almost there!

9. Put adhesive all over the back of your pattern paper/cardstock combo and stick to the bottle. I stuck the middle first, and then smoothed the side out.

10. Stamp on your tag, or write or whatever makes you happy. I stamped on the punched circle "just for you" and then tied red, white and pink ribbon around the top and let it hang there all cute.

PRESTO!!! You're done!

Hope you liked it! Take care and have a great day!

On Gratitude

Well, this little doodle for one. You can find it and many more like it at Homegrown Hospitality, if you haven't gone to this blog before you should, Stephanie has so many things to inspire you there. Including a whole gallery of RAK doodles.

2. I stayed in my pajamas today until 3pm at which time I took a shower to put on clean ones...I love Lazy Sundays...

3.During this time I was able to get a lot of creating done, which is always good for the soul

4. Leftovers, as in spaghetti, which I cooked last night as lean as I could make it with enough left over for today!

5. All the laundry is done, the house is clean, homework is done and we're ready for a new week

Here's a couple of the things I made today

This is the front and back of my first card for the "Deck of Me" challenge that Dianna is hosting at Flickr. The First weeks prompt was "Goals for 2008"

and here is my LOAD #6 for Lain's challenge at BPS

I got the Monday project done that I'm hosting for Lain but you'll have to come back to see it tomorrow.

If your old enough to be computer literate kids are driving you nuts, send them to Lego where there's all kinds of fun stuff to do. Including making their own digital Lego creations.

If you haven't heard of this yet check it out: Sheetload of Cards

This is too cool- an ezine that is basically a card recipe for multiple cards. I so can't wait to have some time to play with this...maybe tonight...

Like fun little bits of useful projects and information? Head on over to the Tipjunkie

I feel like I should maybe clarify my Random Fact #7, lest you think I walk about in a Ghostbuster suit with a metal detector. LOL. I find the paranormal very interesting, I don't necessarily believe in all of it, ( a lot I know is trickery), but I still think it's interesting- in a Harry Potter kind of way. I do though, believe that there are angels among us. I just do.

I start a new job tomorrow, I'm not quitting the old one so this makes 3 jobs for me. None of them are full time though, Rob has a really screwy schedule so I have to pick my hours around the kids schedules. So I work per diem, which means as needed. Basically I fill in schedule gaps. Make sense? So sometimes there's lots of hours available and sometimes none, so that's why I need backups, someone always has hours.

I ordered some Scallop punches today from Joann's, thanks for the tip Christi. Which puts me at the end of my scrap budget for the month already and it's only the 6th. I'm really going to have to learn how to stretch it out. I have several things on their way to me though, and I can't wait until they get here so I can show them to you!

That's all I've got for tonight, stop back tomorrow for the Monday Project!! There will be a prize!!

Art is in the perspective...

and here it is...Day 5 of Lain's LOAD Challenge at BPS...!! I'm enjoying this so much!

I've joined another challenge as well hosted by Dianna at A Place For Me...it's a "Deck of Me" challenge 1 card a week for 1 year..don't have my first card done yet, I should be able to show it to you tomorrow...anyone can join so if you're interested go check her out...

If anyone knows of a place that you can pick up the scalloped punches for a deal please let me know...I've got to get me some of those...

So Britain brought home a Mosaic tile piece he did in art class

He brought it to me and said " Here mom, I made this for you"

of course I stopped to look at it and said "Thank you" and right away displayed it in my scrap space...

Britain "Mom, it's upside down"

Me " um, oh. well " turning it over

Britain "still upside down, Mom, can't you see the face?"

Me " sorry honey, of course I can, I mean I think"

Britain "It goes this way"

see above...um can you see the face? Britain started laughing at me and said "it's ok, Mom"at which time he admitted that he just wanted to see if he could "get" me while he continued laughing so hard he got the hiccups. I think something went over my head. That happens a lot around here.

Even though she is a furry little ball of evil, wreaking havoc on my shoes , you have to admit she's pretty cute....

Today I'm grateful for

Having the willpower to not eat even a bite of the Burger King I picked up for the boys today

Getting to spend time with my soccer mom friends this am who I haven't seen in a while

One of my friends Tonia, arranging for a group of us

to get to take a self defense class together next Sat am

My hubby cleaning up the house while I've been scrapping!!

Britain hanging out with me watching tv while I've been scrapping and Landon helping his Dad

and this

they always look so sweet when they're sleeping...

see you tomorrow...

This is probably going to be too long...

First my gratitude of the day...


First I'm thankful for a nice day at work


then, it was really cool that when we all went to get haircuts today, we didn't have to wait at all



3.at our "super swank" grocery store where I had to stop to pick up a few things and usually get trapped into spending way more money then I want to because they have all those really cool yummy special things...lots of organic and diet, health friendly stuff was on sale for way good deals and I feel like my money was well spent

4. Lain at Scraphappy is going to let me host/sponsor her Monday Challenges for the next few weeks while she is busy with her LOAD at BPS and I'm so honored and excited..stay tuned for details...Project up on Monday!!!
and 5..

I've been scrapping for the past few hours, I've even had some company












I'll have to share some pages from his scrapbook sometime soon, they are tcfw...



Next I (FINALLY) got tagged for the 7 Random Things about me thingie that's been going around forever...I mean I was begginning to feel like no one cared to hear about my 7 random facts and was ready to just beg someone to tag me....but my friend Leslie came through....so oh wait a minute.............Dirks Bentley is on my MP3 telling me to "come a little closer, baby " and he's making me lose my train of thought...I need a moment................................ok sorry here they are...


1. I was in the Air Force for just short of 4 years. ( I got out a little early on a maternity discharge by choice) I never went anywhere but where I was stationed which was Luke AFB, AZ. My job was basically secretarial and it's where I met my husband, Rob. Yes, he outranked me, (he's ten years older), no I wasn't his secretary...lol :-)



2. I have a small tattoo just below my right shoulder which is the Japanese symbol that means "to be different". However, I got the tattoo in Biloxi, MS and often joke that there was no one Japanese in the tattoo shop so for all I know I could be walking around with "kick me" tattooed on my shoulder. I also really want another one, but I have a commitment problem with what exactly I want.


3. If I could go back in time and meet someone it would be Abe Lincoln. I would just want to sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and talk about what he would think of the state of the world today. I'd also tell him I think he's sooo cool and that it sucks that no one appreciated what he did until long after he was gone. I have this fascination with him since we've lived here in Illinois, because there's just so much history here. We went to Springfield to visit the museum and the Library. A lot of the documents he actually wrote are there. When we visited his home, the only thing they let you touch is the stairwell bannister....and I swore it gave me chills to put my hand on something he touched. It was like touching history....Who would you want to meet...??



4. I am originally from Canton, Ohio- I have lived in Biloxi, MS; Phoenix, AZ; San Antonio, Tx; Panama City, FL; and now Belleville, IL...and I have considered all of them "home".


5. When it comes to food, real food not like scary fear factor stuff, I will try almost anything. I love trying new foods from different countries and all the different flavors they represent. The bad thing about this is, that my taste buds are not that discerning because I like most things I try.




6. I live in a constant state of organized chaos. I am always just about one cup of coffee shy of being elected the mayor of Crazyopolis. On the surface, I think people look and think I'm organized, but I can never seem to be organized in more than one area of my life at a time. I constantly add things to my plate so I seem more organized to myself.


7. I am fascinated with the paranormal. I know some, ok most of it is probably hoaxy. But I really love some of those Haunting shows on TV right now, and that Lisa I can't think of her name right now but she has her own show on Fridays on Lifetime she talks to people who have passed....I think she might be for real. It's just so interesting to me, whether or not you believe it. When I worked as a Hospice nurse so many of us nurses, (because we dealt so much with people in their final moments) had experiences that spoke to the afterlife, and what I guess we would perceive as angels and their connections to us, that I just can't discount the possibility of their existence.


I'm tagging Diana, Carolyn, Kylie, Maria, and Stephanie (Steph you better read your blog)


whew
told ya this would be long


so here is my layout for Day 4 of the LOAD which did double duty as Lain's 30 minute Thursday challenge being hosted in January by Jen


The Challenge was to use a themed paper for other than it's theme. I used Christmas paper for a layout about our trip to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and confirmed to myself once again that I suck at using rub ons...I am apparently rub on impaired. They never do what I want them to. and I have too many so when I host the Monday projects, I'll be giving some away.


















Here is Pencil Lines Sketch #64










and finally Christi's Creative Prompt #19




I'm sure by now you've had enough Amy for one day...hope you have a nice night!

Back to the Grind...

The boys went back to school today..ahhhh...the bliss ...notice he's wearing the super smokin tshirt that his cool mom made for him yesterday...

today I am hugely, immensely, amazingly grateful for:

No one being hurt in the house fire next door last night (see below)

the kids going back to school

Having the strength to work a full day on no sleep

Tyson Chicken Nuggets (which made the job of dinner for the kids a no brainer)

Jen McGuire (not the famous one LOL) for taking over Lain's 30 minute Thursdays for the month

About Last Night....Our next door neighbor's house caught on fire! Everyone is ok, even their doggies and cat, but wow how scary. It happened at about 10:30pm and can I just say how awesome firemen are? Our fire departments in this area are primarily volunteers. Their response time, and their care for this family was awesome. Anyway, because we're the closest neighbor, we harbored everyone while the fire department was doing their thing. So all of us are a little, ok a lot sleepy. It's 5:45pm and I haven't been to bed yet because I had to go straight to work when everyone left this morning. So if this post is all over the place it's because the committee that lives in my brain clocked out about 8 hours ago. Anyways, the damage is bad but at least contained to one large area, they still have power...but will probably be in a hotel for a few days. A minor inconvenience when you consider how bad things could have been, so thank God for everyone getting out ok.

There's really nothing I can follow that with so how about a picture of my layout for

Day 3 of Lain's LOAD Challenge at BPS.

This is the first time I've ever done a layout without pictures. Since I've been a member of Goodreads.com, I've been trying to make a list of all the books I want to read. It's getting really big, I might have to quit my job and become a professional reader... Who knew there would be so much out there I'd be interested in? I'm kind of a read in my comfort zone kind of girl at times, so it's fun to try different genres out there....

I work tomorrow, but then am off for the weekend so I hope to get caught up on some of the other challenges I want to work on.... because it makes me happy...

oh and in case anyone is wondering...I am still starving, but water is starting to taste good, so I guess that's something.

Thanks for stopping by!

Day Two...

Day Two and still going strong with the LOAD challenge at BPS.

I am not good at being hungry, it sucks and it's making me kind of grumpy.

Leslie tells me that this feeling of starvation and deprivation will go away in a week or two so I'm hoping I can hang in there because right now all I want to do is make that box of brownie mix in my cupboard so I can eat it with a spoon.

Today was the last day of winter break for the kids so we spent the whole day in our pajamas. We (yes even me for a little while) played video games, and watched TV and played on our computers. It was only about 8 degrees outside.

I also made the boys some tshirts with the Avery Iron-On Transfer paper and Star Wars images they picked out online.

Here's some pictures of my very happy boys with their very cool mom creations

The long sleeve tshirts I got at walmart for $4- so pretty economical considering what I would have spent on actual "star wars" wearables. I think I've created a monster though, LOL, because they have found about a million or so other images they want me to make tshirts out of .

For dinner I made Chicken Paella (the Weight Watcher's version) which surprisingly got good reviews from everyone. Here's the recipe

Chicken Paella

made in a slow cooker

Ingredients
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thigh(s), four thighs
2 medium tomato(es), chopped
1 medium onion(s), chopped
1 medium bell pepper(s), chopped
1/2 cup canned chicken broth
3 medium garlic clove(s), chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/3 cup frozen green peas
2 cup cooked white rice
Instructions
Place chicken, tomatoes, onion, pepper, broth, garlic, oregano and turmeric in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker (crock pot). Cover and cook on low setting for 5 hours.
Add peas and rice; cook, uncovered, until peas are tender, about 15 minutes. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving (includes 1 chicken thigh per serving

In other news, Rob saw and read my blog for the first time today, apparently he had some time to kill at work because he said he read it in it's entirety. ummmm ok.

Rob " Wow, I feel like I don't know you as well as I should know you."

Me (there is nothing I don't vocalize, but he has a habit of tuning me out) "Do you live here?"

Rob "huh?"

I rest my case.

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to be more grateful so

today I am grateful for

sleeping in until 9:15 (that hasn't happened in forever)

having time to hang out with my boys

spending the day in my pj's

the boys thinking I'm the coolest because of the tshirts I made them

a new healthy recipe that everyone liked

night everyone

It's 2008!!!!

Two hours into the New Year and here I am... Rob and the boys are watching a boy movie, and I couldn't wait to get my first layout done and uploaded to the LOAD Challenge hosted by BPS and Lain at Scraphappy...!!

Here's a picture

I took some pictures of the four of us holding up our written down New Years Resoutions, and decided to start the Challenge with a page about them. Maybe, just maybe this will inspire me to stay with it for more than a week. Last year I began wanting to lose 15 pounds, I even got an elliptical machine for Christmas, but then I sprained my ankle and decided I'd rather use it to hang laundry on while I ate chocolate chip cookies .... this year it's more like 20....must have been all that napping and pie...

Rob challenged me to lose the ok well 17 pounds...I'm going to say how much I weigh...maybe that will help me be more accountable...here goes

137

I want to be 120

I also want to be healthier and for all of us to eat better so I'm going for a whole lifestyle change

could one of you remind me of this in about 3 or 4 days when I'm grumpy and going through sugar withdrawl?

Anyway....ok Rob's challenge...he said if I made it to my goal by the end of May he would give me money...since I like to spend it so much this is a pretty good motivator for me...so I have high hopes

so I joined Weight Watchers Online today which you can do right now for free for 7 days at this link

and found out that I get a pathetic 19 points a day....I still need to watch the video and figure it all out. If anyone else who visits me here is trying to lose weight also, leave me a comment so we can link to and support each other...I'll need support when chocolate is taunting me with it's happy little brown chocolateyness

Of course I needed something cute to keep track of my points and keep handy in my purse so I used Lain's idea to make this

she has very good instructions, with witty "Lain" commentary on her blog.

I have cleaned up my scrap area and I'm ready for the New Year!!

Well that's all I've got, I'm getting sleepy...see you well, probably later today...