Good morning (or night), depending when you pop on here. Either way, thanks for visiting me here 😀

Its absolutely FREEZING here in New Hampshire. We have gotten slammed with snow the last few weeks. Could that be why I’m so in a SPRING mode?

Anyway, I made the following card for my friend’s daughter. It was her birthday the other day. She just turned 4! I think she looks like this image 😀

This image is Miniwagonbella . I bought her at my LSS—>HERE.

It had to be VERY girly, so I used my favorite colors, and SEI paper Ally’s Wonderland. My dilemma came when it was time for WHERE to put the sentiment. Read on.

 Yes, my card is going to be LATE! Big shock right? I’m over getting upset about sending a card too late. Its much better than not at all right? Besides, Amber has been ill , so I have not left the house. It will go postal Saturday when Jay is home, along with a few little Target Treats 😀 I’m sure Shannon won’t mind.

I wanted to share something with you that “I” find extremely helpful to use/do when I stamp.

I like to get alot of mileage out of my products, and this is one I’m sure most of you HAVE, but DON’T ever USE!

Its called a Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Now when I type, for some reason I always think people KNOW what I’m talking about. I tend to forget that some of you are new! I realize this when I get questions about the products. Please don’t EVER hesitate to ask me anything-OK! No questions is a bad/stupid question. How else do you learn? So ask away if you need too.

If you clicked the link (I just Googled one for a photo), it describes that it is a stamp positioner, and yadayadayada. I find it very helpful to line up images when I stamp-especially 2-step stamping. I am pretty OK with doing it on my own, but I do have some blocks that are mounted crooked or the image is really to tiny to figure where it lies on the block, and so on. Plus with the rise in acrylic images, you may not find you use yours much anymore.

Well I am going to change that! Here comes MY cool new use for it! It will save many cards for you I’m sure. Or it will save the after thought of “Oh I shoulda………”

Do you ever wonder if a card NEEDS something more? Or if a particular sentiment will fit in a certain spot? If it does, how will it look? Will it ruin it, orclutter the card all together? Will it be better in another spot? And the thinking goes on and on, right?

NOW here is the solution that helps me! After MANY ruined cards, I FINALLY figured it out (a while ago).

Not only will it show you HOW it will look, but it can help you place it, and get it right! It can also help you decide to NOT use it, before your masterpiece is ruined.

Click the following thumbnails for a larger view!

I use my stamp-a-ma-jig, line it up, and stamp my image/sentiment, on the plastic layer that comes with it.

You may also use a window sheet for this. DONT use StazOn!!!!

I then take the layer, with my image, and place in in different places on my card.

   place 1   place 2   place 3-a winner!

This helps me see if it will look good where I THOUGHT I wanted it, which was originally place 1, or better elsewhere.

 Sometimes I change what I originally thought, and go with something else-or nothing at all.

Now by lining it up on the Stamp-a-ma-jig, I can ensure that my image will end up exactly where I want. In this case, with the “girl” word at the edge of the corner.

So as you can see by my finished card above, it is exactly as I wanted it, but not where it was suppose to go. My card was saved, and all is good.

I hope you found this helpful and use it in the future! You can even do it with colored ink if you are undecided what may be better! So go for it!

Till tomorrow.

I have some Papertrey samples, MFT sneak peek’s, Lizzie Anne and more Bella’s to come! Not to mention our Saturday Sketch!

Thank God it’s Wednesday. Only 2 more days till the weekend.

Today was the first day the kids went back to school. Oh boy! Was it ever rough getting back in the swing of things. You should have seen me running around. Then Daisy is getting all excited, grabbing the kids socks, and pant legs. YIKES! I think she will have to get in the routine of being in the crate while I take the 1/2 hour getting the kids dressed and out the door for school. It’s all about routine, so that will start tomorrow! Poor Daisy.

My Keurig (coffee machine) is going to be in constant use today. Have I told you how much I LOVE it? Its one of the best thing’s I ever got.  Me being a huge coffee person and all.

So despite the 10 inches of snow, and ALL the surrounding towns having a 2 hour delay (except us), I am in a spring mood! Go figure. We only have 2 months of snow left! LOL!

I have made enough winter stuff for now. Although I did get 2 Bella’s that are winter themed I will HAVE to ink up! But not today. They will be calling my name soon though.

So I have an idea for a great kids valentine project. I would LOVE to share with you. My version came by way of a card, but it can be switched up for the kids!

Make your own bumble bee’s! Now I know it’s not revolutionary, but as I made this card, I thought it would be a super kids project.

Now this is obviously for kids, I would say 4 and up (if YOU cut the wings!). You know your child’s abilities so give it a go!

I would not have them do an entire card, but I think creating these bee’s and putting them on a clothes pin, to hold a photo, or a magnet for the fridge, or adding it to Valentine message would be really cute!

I think I will try this with my tribe 😀

You will need:

 *yellow and black card-stock.

* A oval punch, and smaller circle punch. I used my coluzzle oval, and 3/4 SU punch for this card. For my kids, my bee’s would be a little smaller. You could also use a heart PUNCH for the wings instead.

*black fun flock

*Double sided tape-like Terrific Tape, and glue dots.

*googly eyes

Here is what I did. Using by stamps for the wings.

I love the hearts from Lizzie Anne’s Heart to Heart set. I like to make that type of set more useful, so for this I used the detailed heart for the bumble bee WINGS!

{this card also uses High Hello’s, and my new bkgd stamp by CHF called Dotted Diamond-LOVE IT!}

 Look close!

See the pattern? And the black stripes are flocked! Pretty cute huh?

I stamped the hearts with white craft ink, onto vellum, near each other, then cut out, leaving a strip in between to mount onto my bee image. I attached mine with the Terrific Tape.

For the kids-use a punch!

To start my bee, I used barely banana card-stock. I would apply the terrific tape across the cardstock first. Creating the stripes.

 Then punch your oval shapes. Remove protective layer off adhesive, then dip into container of back flock. Tap off excess.

Apply wings to back.

Pop out a circle from black card-stock. Stick on eyes with glue dots!

The rest is up to you!

Hope you like! You have plenty of time for your kids to get started for Valentines Day.

Now today is also the fist day of Sneak Peek’s for the up and coming Release from Lizzie Anne! You will need them all 😀 Its a really fabulous release to kick off the New Year!

I have ALL of them coming to me this week! I cannot wait to get inking with them 😀

Where is my mailman?

Till tomorrow!

 View Lizzie Anne’s Sneak Peek—-HERE

In like a lion, out like a lamb. OK I know that saying is in regards to Spring, but I can make it work where I see fit can’t I?

I want to start the year off in high gear (hence the fierce lion), and always have it end on a sweet note-happy to start a new one (the sweet lamb part).

That being said-Happy 2008 everyone!

Hope you had a safe New Year.

I am so happy to be in a new year, despite how fast they pass.

A new year, new beginning 😀 New goals. FRESH.

A great mark in time to see where you were, and where you are today, in the now.

How have you changed, and grown?

What has happened to shape these events?

Are you happy about these changes?

What can you do to get where you want/need to be?

A time of reflection. Some years will be better than others. Focus on the good things you have, and try not to dwell on what you don’t. Focus on moving forward. Become the best you can little by little each year.

Looking back, I have accomplished so much in the year past.

Things I never thought possible came ot be, and some that are to come to be. Its always a work in progress.

 I have worked hard for them. Hard work pays off sometimes.

Sometimes it’s all about timing. IS IT YOUR TIME?

The saying goes “If you want something ask for it. Sometimes God’s answer is yes, other times its no, and sometimes its wait.” (not the perfect interpretation but you get the idea right?). So be patient. Its not always easy, but you have to know there is a plan for you. Sometimes we have to wait and see what it is. We may never get the WHY answered. I know I have many of those questions. But I have Faith.

One of my dreams was being part of the Dirty Dozen. It came to be,and I never REALLY expected that. It was really just the beginning.

Following that my blog . I never ever planned on doing one. Imagine that? Now look at me blabbering away to the whole world.

The many amazing design opportunities I have been given, where I continue to grow as an artist. I take NONE for granted, and love each company I represent whole heartedly. Never thought people would know who I even am. Or cared! I want to continue to grow and learn from each day.

I have been successful with publications. I had to put it out there to have it happen. That means rejection. Everyone gets rejected. Heck, some of the most amazing people (famous and otherwise) get turned down! So I sucked it up, and  sometimes succeeded!

I am truly blessed. There is no “secret” I have. Many of you ask. I really don’t know the answer to most of it. Just confidence, faith, and hard work. I also truly LOVE what I do, and am true to myself. What you see is what you get-period. If I say I love it, you know I do.

I have also enjoyed developing relationships with people I never met. Touching lives, and making small differences in other people. Who said you have to dream BIG to make an impact right? One tiny step at a time.

The creation of Alexa’s Set was a huge accomplishment to me as well. Maybe even my number one! Using what I LOVE, to help make a difference. AMAZING!!!!

Its was one of the very first stamp sets created, in a trend, used to raise money and awareness for a cause. How can I not be proud of that idea? All proceeds from Alexa’s set benefit pediatric Leukemia and Lymphoma research! I am SO proud of that. I used what I had, to do what I could.

I think the thing I want, is to continue on the way I have-full steam ahead. Never losing site of my aspirations, hope’s and dreams. Always being aware and helping other’s as well.

THIS is what I LOVE to do. It makes me whole.

I love that I can be wife, mom, housekeeper, and many other things, and still fit in some of the “MY TIME”. I’m not ashamed to say I NEED it. We all do. Its all about balance. Find your balance and it will all just work.

Speaking of “work”………………………I am getting ready for Valentine’s Day. I love making items for this occasion-since most themes are cutesy and whimsical. That is so my style 😀

 Mane Squeeze

This is my first post for the New Year!

So here is my “In like a lion” themed card. Not very fierce is it? But he is so cute just the same 😀 Kept clean and simple. But I hope you like it just the same.

This is from one of the yet to be released sets by C.C. Designs . It will be available on-the 4th.

I just love this image. Colored it with Copic’s. The paper is by SEI-Ally’s Wonderland. The brads are a Target $1 find. The mane is liquid applique, sprinkled with pink glitter by Making Memories, then heat set.

So that is it for tonight.

Amber has pneumonia. She saw the doctor today. Fevers of up to 104.6!!! So I’m really on mommy duty.

The other 2 go back to school tomorrow-provided we have school. We got 8-10 inches of snow today. I have some cute photos of Christmas, and Daisy on TOP of a HUGE snow bank-which I hope to share soon.

I wish you all the BEST this new year.

Thank YOU for the love, comment’s, sharing and support. Its beyond appreciated 😀

Till tomorrow.