I'm dreaming of a WHITE Valentine's Day...?!

Us "transplanted" Northerner's are laughing like crazy right now as our little island/beach communities are just panicked over the prediction of 1-3 INCHES of snow! I grew up in Ohio, not too far from the shores of Lake Erie---where 1-3 FEET was a LIGHT snowfall! Lol. Anyway, I have been in and out today completing my errands lest I get stuck out there with the "natives" who don't know how to drive in snow and ice... !
A co-worker of my husband called and asked me to do a Valentine for his wife...he wanted "happy Valentine's Day" and "I love you"---"whatever you do will be fine...!" Lol. Men. Gotta love 'em. I covered all bases-she's getting a cherub, flower, hearts and sappy sentiments (sorry-I have a headache and am cranky right now! Feel like Mo's 2 year old Tasha pic (the little ballerina having a temper tantrum...?!) Here are the pics of what I spent the morning doing in-between my MUCH-NEEDED haircut. Tomorrow, Scarlet, I will work on my hubby's card! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

DP is My Mind's Eye; ink Close to My Heart Cranberry; stamped images all Close to My Heart (Vintage Valentine and Soul Mates); punch by Martha Stewart (that almost went in the garbage-why can't she make punches that PUNCH?!) ribbon & flower-not sure! and of course, POP DOTS!

It was a BLAST---and no bears...!

Good Wed. morning all! First, let me clarify some of my "ranting and raving" from yesterday. I had poor Sarah of the UK confused when I mentioned Pella Windows. I am house sitting and doing some bookkeeping for a friend who is wintering in FL. She had a window that needed some repair. Pella Windows is the company I was -note WAS--dealing with. It took at least 15 phone calls for them to understand I work in the morning and could not meet a repairman until afternoon. We finally established a date and time (last Thurs.). My good friend Theresa came with me as there are no neighbors real close to this gal's house and I didn't want to be alone with a strange repairman. We waited, in an ice cold house for 2 hours. No show. I called the company. For whatever reason, when they didn't reach me at home (how could I be home and at my friend's waiting on him to show up--that's the lack of logic I was dealing with--!), they called the other person that is a contact for my friend and she informed them that they didn't need to come out until spring! Meantime, here I sit wasting my afternoon freezing to death. Needless to say I was not very nice towards the end of that call and I won't be dealing with them. My friend can handle it when she comes home as its not an urgent matter! So-that was my Pella Window experience! If you want repairs done should you need them, you are in for lots of stress. I broke out and my fibromyalgia kicked up as a result of the stress. Not a fun week-end in that regard.

Now--on to the BEAR story! Last month "Buzz" told us that she was headed to her daughter and son-in-laws house when all of a sudden this HUGE thing was in the middle of the road in front of her. Turned out it was a bear! No one was hurt but she was a bit shook up (even locked the car door!) We got a good laugh over it as the fright had worn off by then. Theresa was not at that meeting but when I told her Buzz's story, she started leaving little white trash bags out for her husband at night. He asked what was going on. Turns out that Theresa's lives next to an empty lot and their trash can is on the edge of it. Not wanting to meet up with a BEAR, she would set the trash outside the door for her husband to take over there. She had me laughing so hard over this I had tears streaming for a half hour or better! So---I was going to buy them each their own bottle of bear repellant. Until I found out they were like $ 50-60 each! So---I made them their own Bear REPELLANT KITS...I included the glasses with the fake eyebrows and moustache --because, as the TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC song says, if you're going into the woods today, you'd better go in disguise...! I also included a printout on BEAR SAFETY TIPS that I suggested they memorized. If that didn't help, they had a TRAVEL CUP, A BOTTLE OF WATER, A SMALL BOTTLE OF RUM, AND A SMALL PACKAGE OF PAT O'BRIEN'S HURRICANE COCKTAIL MIX. They were told to put it all in the cup, shake it well (as if they wouldn't be doing that already!) and drink it quickly. They wouldn't care if there was a bear there after that! But, just in case that didn't work, they should be prepared to THROW the cup at the bear and run like h-e-double hockey sticks!! They are really good sports and got lots of laughs out of this! That's Buzz on the right, Theresa on the left modeling their "disguises"! On the bags, I used CTMH yellow cardstock and punched it with Martha's Drippy Goo Punch. I then covered the parts of the border that showed with Liquid Effects to make it look like sticky honey dripping down. A Shout Out to JULIE for letting me borrow her CTMH bear stamp set to mask and stamp the border-the background is the words to the song "TEDDY BEARS PICNIC. The quilled bee's have been in my stash forever---and the paw print was perfect to stamp the bags! The ribbon was from Wal-Mart.

I had been planning this since our last meeting in early January and was about to POP if I couldn't have shared it with them last night! I love these gals--ALL the gals in our group. We have a great time stamping and laughing and being girls! Thanks Ladies for being such good sports and letting us laugh with you!

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

I haven't deserted you, oh my faithful followers...

Hi all. I really, really did stamp and create some more this week-end and I am just DYING and ITCHING (literally itching-don't ever buy PELLA WINDOWS-long story...) to show it to you...but it would spoil a surprise I have for my friends. I PROMISE--I will take photos of it and share tomorrow afternoon. I did...get the table cleaned up--and then promptly trashed it again. Oh well. The project is worth it. I am thinking...of making a t-shirt with Mo's digital image of the cute little ballerina stomping her foot with the "there can only be one queen" quote-and she has an ADORABLE image today of a porcupine in love with a pin cushion! What a cute card that would make for my sewing/quilting friends! Also, check out Amazing Mae's blog-she has directions for a cute little trinket bag for kids to put all their treasures in-but heck, I would like a dozen or so for myself! What great stocking stuffers these would make!

Inky's eye isn't healing too quickly so another week of not one but two different kinds of drops and a 4th trip to the vet next week. Sigh. Momma had an allergic/itching reaction from stress (again, don't ever buy Pella Windows!) and the fibro kicked in for the same reason-not to mention the rain coming. Double sigh. At least tonight is scrapbooking nite and Theresa is teaching so I know it will be great. That and the Close to My Heart orders are in so fun things to play with. My new Bind It All is on its way. An e-bay seller took time to give me a heads up that, due to the snow they had already gotten, plus the 12-18" on its way, she may not be able to mail my stamp for a few days. Told her to be safe and not to worry---no rush for the stamp! As if I don't have any others to play with! Thought it kind of her to let me know though. Well, its that time. The real job becons. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

cHaOs in the Kingdom...!

Good Saturday morning! Just thought I would show you what happens in my "magic kingdom" when the "Queen" decides to create! I started out to clean this up for the gazillionth time yesterday (I must confess-this is the DINING ROOM table and its been like this for-well, never mind!) Anyway, first I got sidetracked making the tag for the new Big Shot Bag...got that done...and then decided that this little lady would make a cute plaque, too-so had to try that-why not-I had all the stuff out anyway...I did manage to get the dishwasher unloaded and loaded-my whole housework agenda for the day! As I said yesterday, this is an image from Mo's Digital stamp site (see link on sidebar) and, some days, I just really feel like her...2 years old (even though my inner child is 4!) and cranky! I took some pink sheer ribbon and ran a gathering stitch through one side and then hot glued it down just high enough under her arm and tummy that it doesn't show. Then colored, cut and layered her upper body on top of it with pop dots (of course). I popped up her little foot she's ready to stomp, too but it's kinda hidden under the skirt. I did add a little glitter to the skirt--a Queen must have glitter! The flower had just happened to have fallen on the floor and I thought "hmmm...that will work!" Then I used the big shot and a new swirly embellishment for the corner.

Well, my mini cooper fund took a hit last night. You see, there's a scrapbook store in Myrtle Beach that has allowed us crafters to bring in our "I love it, gotta have it but never used it" supplies and put them up for sale in exchange for store and class credit. I've got a Rubicoil machine...and have drooled over the bind it all. This store is having the above mentioned sale again. So last night I was perusing e-bay and found the beginner kit (incl. machine), coils, pages and case...for one of the best prices I have ever seen. Did I mention free shipping? So...I bit the bullet and hit the buy it now button. I will pack up my Rubicoil and coils and take to the sale. Ya never know--it may sell, it may not. As my husband says, I spent $ to save $! I will be doing another tag for that bag (which is pink) -- and I think I will use "Two Jill" from Mo's site. And then, hmm, maybe "Stepsisters" for the regular tool bag. I am on another kick, can you tell?!

We had such wind and rain here last night it reminded me of the year "Hurricane No Name" came through! We were rocking and rolling, that's for sure. Theresa took exception to not having a cat pick...so here's PC just for her...he's not been feeling to great the last day or so...not sure what's up but he got a hairball remedy treat just for the heck of it. Well, I need to get that table cleared and who knows-maybe Theresa and I will get to play together today-or tomorrow. Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

"Yes, your HiGhness...I am at your service!"

yeah, right-first, it's a CAT...and then it's a

MALE cat at that! lol!

I TAGGED my new BAG!

Ok-so I am embellishing everything with the robin's egg blue w/brown polka dot ribbon! (better run, cats! Lol!)--But the best part of this tag, by far, is Mo's Digital stamp 2 Tasha! This little prima ballerina is just having a fit--and my stamp from Michael's dollar bin (!) is a PERFECT match! I printed out the image, embossed the sentiment, layered it onto a round, hard plastic luggage tag from Wal-Mart. On the backside, I attached another circle with my name and contact information. Stamped a crown in pink as well. Then I covered both sides with clear contact paper, added the glitter and crystals, then tied it all onto the bag. Oh-added a metal tag "S" as well. Too darn cute if I do say so myself! I LOVE Mo's digital images-you cannot resize a rubber stamp to fit exactly what you need!

On another note--Theresa liked the bag post yesterday but asked where the cats were. So-Here's Bad Cat in the box with Inky (aka kitten...) waiting his turn--and then gets it! Lol. Cats. Too funny. Until next time, stay warm and dry-happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

NEW STUFF!

Maybe I should say "new person" too--she is hardly "stuff" after all! Remember the baby card I posted a few days back? Well! This is the SWEET ANGEL I made it for! She is the daughter of one of my husband's co-workers and I got to hold her last evening when we went to deliver the card and the gifts I got for her 2 big brothers (I always try to take a little something for siblings when there's a new baby--it makes them feel important, too! She slept through the 4 of talking around her. Seeing the pictures-and getting NEW (craft) STUFF has made today almost bearable! (Theresa-God bless her-and I spent the better part of our afternoon freezing to death at a friends house waiting for a repairman to show up-who never showed--that's the short version of a long(er) story!)

When she came...she brought with her my new BIG SHOT DOCTOR'S BAG! She hadn't even tore it open to look at it like I told her to! Such restraint I don't have! Lol! I have looked at this for month's now-and finally with their spring sale (it goes until the end of March---so you've not missed out yet!) I splurged and got it. I have to confess---I thought it was over priced. Until I've laid eyes on it! It appears to be very well made. It has the handles as well as the shoulder strap-two outside pockets-one inside full-sized pocket and then smaller pockets along the other side. It also has a metal frame that "pops" the bag open and keeps it that way. It is black, white and pink plaid on the outside (my photo doesn't show that well-that fine white line that appears to be glowing is actually the pink pinstripe in the plaid...). The inside...is pink with white, black and brown polka dots! As you can see, it holds the big shot, the cutting plates as well as the folder with PLENTY of room left over for embossing folders, etc. If I were to change one thing, I think I would add 1" in the width of it but it fits snugly as it is and that's fine. I will probably add some blue bling/ribbon/something to tie it in with my craft tote bag. I have invested in some great tools lately and if I ever find the binding for the handles hope to make a brown and robin's egg blue bag to hold my 12"x12" Tonic Cutter along with my Score Pal and Cutting Pad. I also got a bottle of Crystal Effects (I like it much better for giving a glossy finish to embellishments than Liquid Glass) and a set of stamps for free as part of the spring sale promo. These are the new unmounted to be used with the clear blocks. I like the sentiments and can't wait to use the "the bigger the candles, the bigger the wishes" stamp with the Candlelight and Piece of Cake sets from Close to My Heart!

Time to go find a good book, a warm blankie and a CAT to curl up with--they enjoyed the box the doctor's bag came in so everyone has something new to play with...! Don't forget to e-mail Theresa with your Sale-a-bration order! Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon