Jungle Watch

Well the second Im done posting thing I PRAY I get to actually stamp!

Well I think its time for some MYTIME MAIL? How about you? I have so loved and appreciated all your support, thoughts, and well wishes, its time to give you a chance at a big THANK YOU gift!

Who NEEDS to win Its a Jungle Out There?  You do?! Well here is your chance!

MYTIME MAIL WILL INCLUDE: Its a Jungle Out There-This set retails at $15.95. Plus I will include the recent issue of Paper Crafts Magazine-November 2007 value $4.99, and the recent issue of Crafts n’Things October 2007 also $4.99.

I am featured in both, and have 2 projects inCrafts n’Things using the MFT set Fright Night!

All you have to do is tell me what your favorite WILD animal is! Id also like to hear what your  favorite   MFT new release set is.

My favorite wild animal is a Giraffe. I dont know what it is but I just LOVE them. My son Noah has had a baby stuffed giraffe named “Raffey” since birth! He still sleeps with it every night.

I love their gracefulness despite their awkward long neck. They also have the softness eyes. Im weird I know.

My favorite new release set was Meet me at the cafe.

I will have the computer randomly pick a winner on Oct 6th-for World Card Making day!

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Card Details 

cardstock-PT White, pumpkin, river rock, soft sky, apricot by SU!

Ink-brilliance graphite black, Copic Markers, assorted versamagic ink

ribbon- Strano Designs in Moxie

On this card I used this (its a jungle out there) set, and some liquid applique added texture to the lions mane. I was pretty happy with my jungle “scene” as this is not a typical style for me. These stamps made this really easy to accomplish.

I love how Kim made the womans face hidden by using her Safari hat! Thats genius!!

Thanks for reading! I cant wait to hear what you have to say.

Come back tomorrow cause its out Bloggers Challenge! I will post last weeks, and this weeks since I missed one!

Then Saturday is the Saturday Sketch and World Card making Day! Plus the announcement of the winner for this Mytime Mail!

OK Im seriously wiped out! Alexa had Chemo, my mouth is killing me, I have like the Flu, and Im now terrified to go back to the dentist after some of the things I think can happen! Oh yeah and I have no choice as to the provider as our insurance only covers this place, unless I want to travel an hour elsewhere-which I dont! I am definitely calling about paying to get knocked out! Seriously! My life is stressful enough and this is totally taking its toll! I cant eat Tweizzlers (LOL! Pathetic right but its my stress candy) and I cant really chew much of anything unless it can get soggy in your mouth-GROSS I know! Sorry!

So Alexa was at the MD’s-She still has a bunch of gunk in her lungs and they werent impressed with that! Her O2 levels were only 92-and being up and going thats not a happy number. But she looks awesome! Its all sterile junk cause she is on antibiotics, BUT if it doesnt clear abefore the antibiotics STOP then its a breeding ground in her lungs for more bacteria-leading to another pneumonia, and you guessed it HOSPITALIZATION! Lets PRAY that it clears up!

Upon my suggestion we have placed her on Mucinex! Ya know those nasty green guys in the commercials! YUCK! Here to hoping it works!

So that being said, my post is super short today! I made these a while ago and can now share with you! Jason and I have a date tomorrow! We are going to see So You Think You Can Dance-at the verizon center in Manchester! if you are a going Id love to know!

Also I really NEED to stamp tomorrow! So lets hope that actually happens.

Both these cards are using MFT- How Sweet It Is! I love chocolate, and thought this set was super cute!!! These are pretty simple designs. Nothing earth shattering.

The bottom one uses some cuttlebug stuff. If you really need specifics please reply here and Ill answer your questions. Sorry I just dont have another bit of energy today.

Thanks for understanding. Enjoy the eye “candy” lol!

 Its a Circus in here! (Ok so the set is called Its a Jungle Out There) but I loved using this elephant as a cutesy birthday invite. I love taking images and using them is a not so common way-not that this is revolutionary-but it can be difficult to view a JUNGLE set for other uses. Hope you get inspired by it.

The top flap holds the invite closed. Inside reveals the info. I love the buttons on the top too.

I also used So Inviting. Its for the inside-the you’re invited and party sentiment.

I made my own stand for the elephant, and the head is 3D. Pretty cute huh?

I cant remember which paper that is, and am still ill so dont feel much like tracking it down!

Thanks for looking!

Id love to hear what YOUR favorite part of going to the circus was.

Amber has a field trip to go to the Circus on the 18th! I cant wait!!

 Brick Cafe

I wasn’t going to post this one today-sorry its late but I had a super busy day! Alexa had a physical today in the morning, and I had yet another dentist appointment for a part 2 cleaning and a filling! So having the 2 girls drinking wine on this card really suits my mood right now!

If you are petrified of the dentist-like myself then dont read this cause I am NOT going to be so upbeat and encouraging, Im actually FREAKIN out!

If you want all the details on the card I will post those below the dotted line so you can skip my blah blah blah if you choose!

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OK First off to refresh the memory I finally went to the dentist after a whole decade of neglect-the news wasn’t purty-11 cavities and about $2,500 worth of work out of pocket over time/after insurance! RIP OFF!!!!

So I had part 1 cleaning a few weeks ago-not too bad!

Well today I thought I would climb through the roof!

I went to have my part 2 cleaning, and my worst most expensive cavity filled. Upon exam they decided to work on the one NEXT to that area for some reason I dont remember anymore! Upon drilling I began to feel shooting pain in my jaw and neck. Procedure stopped and more Novocaine given. This happened 5 times!!!!!

So to add to my fabulous day after drilling she stops and says “You need a route canal” “I am going to have to put in a temp. one, and you will have to come back”

I was like what?! I thought that one wasnt bad blah blah blah.

Then my cleaning-OMG! She was scrapping like a fiend! I asked for the water gun thingy and she used that instead. It was so painful! My gums were so sensitive my mouth is so violated! LOL! I was clenching onto the chair so tight I began to shake! A true nightmare. THAT is exactly what I remember the dentist being like.

So I get to the desk to schedule my route canal. I guess you then need a crown and some other fancy thing I dont remember due to the sticker shock of all 3 procedures- over $800 out of my pocket, then MAXING my dental insurance for the year!

I almost cried. I cannot afford that much money-especially before Christmas and with Alexa having alarge possibility of future hospitalizations this winter!

I was like “Why do I need the crown?”-thats the most expensive part. She said after a route canal the tooth is fragile. You dont want to lose your tooth or have it crack.

I said “Its WAY in the back I could care less if it falls out! How much is it to get it pulled?” Get this-$24!~

I said well there ya go! Pull that sucker! Why didnt they tell me that option when I was in the chair I would have saved myself the additional time of an appointment!

So Im getting it pulled.

Wanna know whats even worse! Now the the Novocaine is wearing off Im having shooting pain in my gums and jaw, where before I had NO PROBLEM!

They want to dope me up on meds-but tomorrow Alexa has Chemo! Thanks ALOT!

I HATE THE DENTIST!

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Now onto my beautiful card! As I said before-this set ROCKS! Its called Meet me at the Cafe.

Dont you LOVE the Brick front cafe? I do! I used my Fiskars texture plates to create the brick bkgd, and swiped my white craft pad gently across it. The layer is a frame and is on dimensionals, so the girls are layered behind it.

To use the Fiskars plates in the Cuttlebug I use the A plate, fiskars plate, cardstock. the Wizard mat, and the B plate.

I colored the girls-with my Copic markers, and use a gelly glaze pen on the wine glasses, and boots.

Cut my Awning, and added the tag. The wide polka dot ribbon is attached with diamond brads!

Thanks for reading, and let me know if you plan on getting this set, cause id LOVE to see your samples with it

 Whimscial Style Dream

I LOVE butterflies!!

Here are 2 cards I made a little while ago using Green Grass stamps. Both cards use the same butterfly flourish from Femme Royale. Both also use Dream Today Always. Both also use the Martha Stewart butterfly punches.

How cool is it to get 2 totally different looks from the 2 sets! You got whimsical and elegant! LOVE versatility.

 Elegant Style Wedding

So what do you think? Cool huh?

Whimsical-Sofy sky cardstock/ink. Paper is by Autumn leaves, and inspired my design. Heidi Swapp Ghost Shapes, K & co bling, Stampin Up silver cord.

Elegant-CM decoritive corner punch, horizontal slit punch. Brilliance ink in Beige. Prima flower, K & co bling. Butterfly embossed shimmery vellum. May Arts ribbon.

Check in everyday this week for a sample with the NEW! MFT Stamps Release.

 Meet me at the Cafe

Oh I LOVE Cafe themed stuff and this set ROCKS!! Loving it to pieces. I especially love the items you can put on the table, and the AWNING! HOW COOL! Its about time someone did that. So easy to cut out too.

I had to share this card with you, as I have been dying to post it for a few weeks now! Its hard when you create stuff and have to wait to share it, when you just want to post it on a billboard! LOL! This is my favorite set from the new release I think!

It was a color scheme inspired by my Strano Ribbon ribbon in Hazel. Love that stuff.

I made my “window box” to complete the look. Used my flower punch, and liquid pearls. The “grass” is the paper frills by Doodlebug. I just snipped it in funky ways to make look more realistic as a cartoony card can

Of course it is colored using my Copic Markers!

The bottom panel is done using the Behind the Scenes set also by MFT.

I hope you like it!

Now I MUST run and get some stuff done for my husbands birthday.

Thanks again for checkin in  and reading Enjoy the cool fall day.

 Here is my card in Paper Crafts magazine page 16!

Good morning everyone. I haven’t stamped much this week-still in a little FUNK of emotions-but since Football is on later you can bet I will be in my stamp room! Ill be looking around my world for inspiration. We are going Apple picking as a family, so I hope I have energy later!

Alot of you have asked for my recipe for the Vanilla Bean Chiller Kahlua-

Well I wish there was a secret but its really JUST a drink mixer from Tastefully Simple! Unfourtunately it was a seasonal item and they dont carry it now! Yes bummer!

I would just use the mix, milk, and Kahlua blended with ice for a smoothie.

But I have another thing I LOVE that is just as yummy

TGIFridays Mudslide mix-with a packet of Mocha Blended iced coffee mix (by Archer Farms found at Target in coffee isle), Put in blender with milk, and ice-and YUMMMY!!!

I have one every weekend these days! JUST ONE!! Im a lightwieght and no one wants a hangover with 3 kids.

SO-Yesterday was an awesome mail day! I got the box from Mary Jo-thank you! She sent Alexa some cards, and her medal for the walk she participated in. How truly awesome of her!

I also got my issue of Craft’s n’ Things October 2007, and I have 2 Halloween themed items in there using Fright Night! Ill give a small peek!

On page 25- Bug Potion #9-

Click thumbnails for larger view. The #9 is by Green Grass -essentials monograms

Im not going into all the details as they are in the magazine.

How cute is that??? In the magazine they filled it with jelly beans. Now the Bug Potion #9 is the actual recipe for SLIME!

All you need is

 3/4 cup of cornstarch

1/3 cup of water

and 5-7 drops of food coloring

 add plastic or slimy bugs if you wish

 mix together, let stand 3 minutes. Its a wakcy slime recipe! Let me know if you make it!

I mixed up the directions for the theme of bug potion.

So its sounded cool.

My other project is Bag of Spiders page 13

 Another cute Halloween treat. See details in magazine. I hope to post them later this month-when its OK!

Ok Im off for the day! Enjoy.

 Click Sketch to view larger image. This is a real “rough” version so you can get creative an add whatever you wish. I thought a sentiment block would be nice in the upper left corner-but for my card didnt have one that suited the “cause” GASP! Is it possible that I NEED more stamps? Maybe I didnt look hard enough? NO! I need more sentiments-for sure! Feel free to share some of your faves with me here today!

Well as you all read Tuesday was a tough day for me. Really tough. Put me in quite the FUNK! Alexa STILL has her cold-but is STILL hangin in there! Thanks for the prayers!

Amongst my many emails I found one asking for help. I do my best to participate in things for good causes as much as possible!

So, Bee  , knowing about Alexa, sent me an email a few days ago about a girl Victoria. Victoria is in high school, and has Cancer-what a tough age to get Cancer! Not that its OK at any age, but as a girl, remember all the drama in High School? Having no hair amongst the many other challenges of CANCER AND TEENHOOD has to be so tough!

HELLO remember puberty and all the crazy changes and hormones up and down-add Cancer to that.

The goal her teacher has set out to achieve is to get her (Victoria) cards from EVERY STATE in the US! Well here is one from New Hampshire!

More info on her story can be read here- and there is some blog candy involved-Blog Candy for Victoria

Victoria’s Address

Victoria Enmon
1205 Red Bud Circle
Orange, TX 77632

So for my Saturday Sketch I challenge YOU to represent YOUR state and make Victoria a card! We all make cards for NO REASON! Why not brighten a teen girls day? I realize this info was also on SCS for the color challenge. BUT some people dont read the challenges! So now you can see it here!

It doesnt have to be with my sketch although that would be kinda cool! LOL! Just send one if you can.

 Feela Bella from New Hampshire!

OK I think TEEN cards are difficult! You dont want them to be like-”Um, like yeah, How old does she think I am three?!”

So my Bella’s to the rescue! See her bandanna? Cute huh? Made using the 1/4 ” circle punch. Only punched a quarter of the way.

Julie Masse read of my Bella plight and sent me a bunch of images! Isnt that sweet? Thanks Julie! I may be ordering SOON cause some of the newest ones are pretty irresistible.

I have been using my Bella’s alot these days. And boy was I ever greatful this one arrived when it did! I think she is TEENISH dont you? In all honesty if I had this stamp I would have omitted the curls. Oh well. Maybe Ill put her in my cart.

This is jammybella I believe. Julie also stamped the sentiment for me. It was perfect.

Ya know I colored this with my Copic’s! The ink did run a bit-not sure what type ot was stamped with but its ALL GOOD!

I hope she likes it! Patterned paper is SU!

Thanks for reading.

If you try the sketch link it here! Id LOVE to visit you, and see your take! As Im sure would the readers.

See ya back here tomorrow. I swear I have the cutest Smilebox of Amber. Such a proud Mommy Moment! I have lots of stamping to do. I got a project accepted by Paper Crafts that they need me to re-do! LOL! I guess they liked the idea but it wouldn’t fit their color scheme. So I was given the colors that it needs to be remade in.

Now you know how the pages all REALLY flow! No matter- Im extatic. It was the only thing I sent it. Plus their magazine all flowing like it does adds to the entire look.

I was also told by Lisa S. that I have a card in the newest Paper Crafts on page 18! I dont have my copy yet, so I will have to check it out!

Thanks Lisa for letting me know!!!

OK Im off!

YEAH Its Friday! That means Vanilla Bean Chiller and Kahlua for me tonight!

Sorry its been a rough week, and I deserve it .

Thanks for all the wonderful comments on Alexa’s Dress. She loves when I read them to her. I cant tell you HOW MANY times she has made me sit and show her that video already.

The RSVP’s are rolling in-and Im freaking out! I have such high expectations for this party-I hope I can meet my own ideals. I think cause Alexa didnt get the party of her dreams last year the pressure is ON! LOL!

I also got alot of emails asking WHERE in MA I am from originally. Well we moved ALOT-but mainly Lowell, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury area! LOL!

Now to the post!

This week’s challenge was EMBOSSING! You dont realize all the method’s/types of embossing there really are!  

In case you want to keep up with what I do for these, I added a Blogger’s Challenge to my categories. Every week we are given a challenge to do. We all TRY to post them on Fridays! You can easily play along-just link your creation here, or any of the others Blogger’s Challenge members (see sidebar).

So it seems like EVERYONE is having a baby. Maybe cause Im DONE having mine? So I really need some baby cards for the next few months. This challenge is perfect!

I have had this idea for quite some time. The execution of what was in my head, fell into place perfectly!

NO BABY THEMED STAMP SET? NO PROBLEM!

I decided to do dry embossing-FREE HAND! WAHOOOO!

 Baby Bottles!

Are these not the cutest EVAH?! OMG! I LOVE THEM! And ya know what-the took about 12 minutes to make ALL THREE!!! HELLO! Holy awesome mass produced baby of any gender idea!

Here is a pic of each one-just click to view closer

The blue was the very first one I did. I did NOT like how I had the bottle lines go down to the bottom. So I put a stop to that on the next 2.

I got this way cute ribbon from American Crafts at Michaels. Sentiments are from So Many Sayings by SU.

I know you want to hear HOW I made these dont you?

EASY GIRLS!

Card fold is at top- bottle is 3 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches tall. This is from White cardstock

Use a ruler, and your embossing style to emboss (from the back) in straight and even lines. EASY!

Cut the banana cardstock 3 x 1 1/2. Round the corners

Use KEYTAG punch to pop out a “nipple” Cut it in 1/2 then you get 2!

If you used the Playtex bottles as I did then this is what a bottle looks like to you too!

Adhere the nipple behind the rounded corner end and adhere to top of card.

Cut a colored bottle “rim” 3 1/4 x 3/4.  Use your embossing stylus to make the ridges. Just trace the top and bottom, and then make the lines.

Attach to bottom of nipple piece.

Wrap around ribbon, stamp sentiment of choice. DONE!

What do you think?

Now if I can only bring myself to actually mail these out instead of making a whole new card for my friends when their bundles arrive.

My good freind Tracey is due to POP any day. We dont know what she is having. Once she names the baby I told her I will make her a collage name frame for the new addition! So since I’ll be workin hard figured I could most likely get away with sending this one to her Whatever she has! My guess is a boy!

We shall see.

Come back later cause its Saturday Sketch time! I made a card for a little girl who is also battling Cancer! So, you will see the sketch ,and get linked to her story. This card helped me get out of my FUNKY mood. What better way to recharge the mo-jo than to make a card for someone in need!

I really want to thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers for Alexa. She is a little junky with her cold, but no fevers, or progression of the cold so far. She is so enjoying school. Her reading/writing are coming along great. I hope she can remain living a “normal” life as possible this year.

Also, thanks for sharing your stories with me as well. Ido read EVERY comment and email that gets sent my way! I love hearing form you out there in blog/stamp land! I love the personal emails as well. Dont ever feel like you are bothering me! LOL! I get alot of that wording. It may take time to get back to you but its not bothersome.

Im in a much better mood today, and *may* get some MYTIME! Lets hope! I just need the ambition!

Amber and I went on a fieldtrip Apple Picking this morning, so you can expect the CUTEST Smilebox later! Plus some awesome Nana’s Apple cake from Tastefully Simple is going to be on the dessert menu! Its my favorite! And Im not a huge apple flavored anything fan! I swear-its just the best. I just tried the Old Fashioned Bread Pudding-with banana and nuts added-OMG! To die for! Ok Im going off on another direction again-sorry!

So-Another Smilebox will also be posted of Alexa! My friend Tracey found her the most perfect Cinderella dress for her Princess party (still no RSVP’s) next weekend with matching shoes that light up! Im going to catch her reaction on video! So stay tuned! Thanks Tracey-I had to peek real quick first! She’s gonna be so excited!

Noah had a great soccer game yesterday! Im so proud of him. His team has been working so hard, and each time it really shows. Im just happy he loves it!

Now for a card-

I made this card a little while ago, and forgot ALL about it! LOL! I was inspired by a skirt I saw that had black satin fabric, with white/gray tulips. It sounds gross but really is pretty.

I thought “How can I recreate that into a card?”

 Well, here it is!

The shimmer in the main tulip is from Lumiere, that I painted onto the stamp, then stamped onto the cardstock.

I thought it was a different take on the “spotlight” technique. Being that THIS tulip POPS out at you. The other tulips are soft in the bkgd.

Tulips are my most favorite flower and I loved using them in this way. By that I mean colorless! LOL!

What a fabulous sympathycard dont you think? Or thinking of you?

I love the tone on tone. Gray, Black, White, and vellum. LOVE IT! And that ribbon-to die for!

If you dont know this set is Garden Whimsy by Stampin Up! I LOVE that set, and didnt get to crazy over much this catalog so want to put what I did get to use.

Im just in awe of this one. I just really like it.

OK Im off to stamp-I hope.

Check in later, as I HOPE to post my Smilebox stuff.

Hope YOU get some MYTIME!