Weekend Sketch Challenge #50

Here's my card for Beate's Challenge. Just love this girl, she is so creative! You can find her Blog HERE. I love her weekend challenges. They force me to create something of my own, instead of casing(copying) someone else's idea.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Pun Fun, Sweet Stars

Paper: Vintage Violet, Cranberry Crisp, Marigold Morning (all retired), Whisper White

Ink: Black Staz-On, Cranberry Crisp(retired), Vintage Violet(retired), Marigold Morning(retired)

Accessories: Vintage Violet Stitched Ribbon(retired)

Memorial Day Fun

Monday was a great day! In the morning we went to the Cemetery to visit my Grandma and my Mom's friend Isabell's(Aurora was named after her) Grave. Then we came home and got some Home Improvement projects finished. Sage was finally able to convince Grandma to get on the Trampoline with him. I didn't get any pictures of her actually jumping. Sage kept making her fall and he would just jump on and over her. It was fun to watch them having so much fun together. Next to Lydia, Grandma is Sage's favorite person to be with. Robert & I are chopped liver when they are around. Then we had some really GREAT steaks from Sam's Club that Robert grilled. He really has become quite the expert at grilling and making home repairs. He really takes joy in learning all he can about grilling and home repair from my Grandpa Bigler. I am so lucky and very proud to call him my Husband!

Indiana Jones

Today, Robert and I went and saw Indiana Jones. While it wasn't like the other movies, it was still very good. Granted that could just be because I love Harrison Ford! It was great to see him back in the Fedora cracking that whip! Even after all these years he is still just as good looking as ever. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband but Harrison Ford makes me go weak in the knees.

Weekend Sketch Challlenge #49

Here's my card for Beate's Challenge. Her Sketch can be found HERE. I just love the Tart and Tangy and the One Smart Cookie Stamp Sets from SU!.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, One Smart Cookie

Paper: Whisper White CS, Die-Cut Blooms, Summer Picnic DSP

Ink: Basic Black and Only Orange

Accessories: 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Baby Shower Favors

I've finally had time to finish the favors for the Baby Shower tomorrow night. It just love the Swell News set it is so versatile, I wish that I would have bought it before it was discontinued it. I had to borrow it from Jenn. If anyone has it and wants to get rid of it, I will gladly take it off your hands. I like the way they turned out. I hope the guest of honor is pleased too.

You Grow Girl 2

When the ladies at Robert's office saw the baby shower invitations, they all fawned over them and one insisted that I make her 50 Baby Shower Invitations for her sister who is having a little girl. She wanted a pink and brown color scheme, so I settled in Pretty In Pink and Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa. These are the samples I gave her to pick from.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: You Grow Girl

Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White,

Pretty In Pink DSP

Ink:Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Stampin Dimensional's

Technique: Paper Piecing and Water coloring

Card Recipe:

Stamps: You Grow Girl, Hot to Dot

Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White

Ink: Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill Ribbon

Technique: Masking and Water coloring

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Baby Talk

Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White Craft

Accessories: Pretty In Pink Grosgrain Ribbon

Technique: Tearing, Water coloring, Sponging

You Grow Girl!

A woman at my husbands office is having a baby and of couple of us wives are throwing her a baby shower this Friday. I made the invitations, and I'll be making the favors. I'll post those as soon as I'm done with them.

Tart & Tangy...

June 30th is the Tart & Tangy Stamp Camp. Come and make 5 projects with this adorable set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. The cost of the stamp camp includes the Tart & Tangy Stamp Set Cost: $25 (Club Members)$30 (Customers) Already own the set? $15 Class Fee. R.S.V.P. by June 13th. You must be pre-paid to attend this event.

Weekend Challenge #48

I just love Beate's Blog! She always has just the inspiration I'm looking for. I thought I'd get in some stamping for myself before my crazy weekend begins. Tonight I've got the weigh-in for the powder puff derby. Tomorrow i have the Powder Puff Derby, then a Family Party, then my Explosion Box Stamp Camp.I've been doing a lot of stamping the past few days(baby shower invites, I'll post them later) and still have more to do(50 more shower invites,and Church YW Auction Items). If I can just get through this weekend, I'll be fine.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Live Your Dream

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Recollections DSP(retired)

Ink: Mellow Moss, Cranberry Crisp(retired)

Accessories: Stampin' Dimensional's, Cranberry Crisp Stitched Ribbon(retired)

Sea World...

I was listening to the radio yesterday while I was out running errands, and they were in the process of giving away 2 Sea World Fun Cards. I never enter radio contests because I usually never win anything, but I thought, what the heck, and dialed the radio stations number and next thing I knew I had won the Fun Cards! Hooray! So, we decided that we would go ahead and renew Sage's Annual Passport so we could still keep the free parking. I'm so excited for another Summer filled with beautiful sea animals, the new play area for kids, and most importantly, FUN!!! So, if anyone out there has passes, lets go and have some fun! Our family practically lives at Sea World in the Summer.

Personalized Mug...

I saw a personalized Mug a few months ago, and I finally got around to making one of my own. I would really like to offer a class for these, so let me know if your interested in learning how to do this.

Drum Roll Please....

And the winner is... Amber! Congratulations! E-mail your information to me at culaparker@yahoo.com and I'll get your punch in the mail to you tomorrow morning. Thank you to all who entered. Keep your eye's peeled for more Yummy Blog Candy in the future!

Boho Swirls...

I was browsing Beate's Blog this morning and found her card for this weeks Be Inspired Challenge and just had to case it. I didn't have any of the stamps she used, so I looked through my drawers and this is what I came up with. You can find Beate's card HERE.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Priceless, One of a Kind, Friendly Flowers

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue

Accessories: Vintage Brads, 1/16" circle punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Scallop Punch, Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill Ribbon.

New Technique...

Okay, so it's not really new, but it is new to me. I've always been afraid of it. Now that I've done it, I don't know why I was so afraid of it. Here's the Tutorial on SCS. The one on the card was made with the 1 1/4" circle punch.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: One of a Kind

Card Stock: Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip, Berry Bliss DSP

Ink: Purely Pomegranate

Accessories: 1 1/4" circle punch, Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon

1" circle punch
3/4" circle punch

Blog Candy...

Wow! I didn't think we'd hit 1,000 before the end of the day. I guess more people look at my blog than I thought. Time for some Blog Candy!!! Okay, this time I'm giving away the Stampin' Up! Photo Corner Punch pg. 180(Spring-Summer 2008 Catalog). Look HERE to view a picture of the punch. Everyone is welcome to enter. To win leave a comment telling me about your favorite SU! Color Combination. The drawing will close on Wednesday at Noon. The winner will be chosen by random.org.

1,000 Hits!

Wow, I can't believe that we're nearing 1,000 hits on this Blog! When this happens there will be another Blog Candy Drawing. I accidentally ordered two of one specific SU! Item that I only need one of, so I'll be giving it away soon, Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! I am so lucky so have such a wonderful Mom and Grandma! If I accomplish half the things she had then I will count my self as a success. Here is my Mom's Mother's Day Present.

Card Organizer

Each page has a spot for each day of the month and a pocket to held the cards

Some of the cards I made to go in the Organizer

Family Fun Day...

Today was Family Fum Day! I am sad to say that we haven't had one in a long time. First we did some shopping and then went and got lunch and looked for a place to eat. We found this really fun park up in La Jolla near the Temple University Town Center Mall. We will definitely be going again! You will notice that there are no pictures of me, I was a little self-conscious today.

Robert, Sage & Aurora on the tire swing

Aurora in the Rocking Turtle

Sage steering the Pirate Ship

Sage on the Rocking Motorcycle

Robert on the Rocking Horse

Weekend Sketch #47

I woke up early this morning and couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to try Beate's Sketch. I'm still working on mastering the Coluzzle, put I'm somewhat pleased with how it came out. If you look closely the wings are 3-D. To do this you stamp your image on the Cardstock and then again on a scrap, Cut out the image on the scrap paper and mount it on top of the other stamped image. It's really very easy.

Card Recipe: CS: Gable Green, Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue Stamps: Bugs and Kisses, Linen Ink:Gable Green, Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue Accessories: Coluzzle, Mini Glue Dots, Whisper White 1/4 in. Grosgrain Ribbon

Blast from the Past...

Last night as I watched Sage sleep(one of my favorite things) My mind was flooded with images of him as a baby. I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures of him from his first year of life.

Sage(2 months)

This is my favorite picture of Robert & Sage 5 months, taking a nap after church.
Sage (10 months) and Anjolie(old daycare kid) she

would always sit in the Hippo and Sage would push her around the house Sage(8 months) in his highchair. He's always been my little nudist.
Sage(11 1/2 Months) and his cousins:

Jacob, Sidney & Trever playing Uncle Joey's X-Box

Sage(11 1/2 Months), on the Fourth of July in Kentucky
These are the Slave Walls in Kentucky. They were built by the Slaves. They didn't use mortar but the way they are stacked they are nearly indestructible. Many cars have crashed into them and they still stand. Cool Huh?

Yummy!

I was at Target this morning and was in the baby food/sippycup aisle buying a new sippy cups for Aurora(she bit holes in the soft silicone lids and so they were leaking). I put her new cups in the cart and turned around and saw these. They looked interesting and come in Strawberry, Mixed Berry and Peach. I bought one of each flavor. Aurora loves yogurt and I thought this would be a mess free way for her enjoy it more. I cam home and opened them and to my surprise they are REALLY good! Aurora loves them!

Convention, Here I Come!

HOORAY!!!!! Two things. It's my 100th post and Convention.Registration opened at 4:00am and I was up at 3:45 just to make sure I wouldn't miss it. It's Official! I'm all registered and I am excited just thinking about it! When I went to the Anaheim Regional's and saw all those Stampin' Up Ladies, I thought they were crazy to be so excited, it was just Stamps after all. Now that I'm a Demo I am now proud to say that I am one of those Crazy Stampin' Up! Ladies! Okay, back to bed, that is if I can sleep with all the excitement!

The Winner is....

Congratulations to... Marissa!!! Thanks to all that commented. Keep your eyes peeled for more Blog Candy in the future!

Enjoy Every Moment...

I just love Beate's Challenges. This what I came up with for this week. I didn't realize that I totally copied Beate's card. I didn't see it until after I created it. Oops! Great minds think alike I guess. I do admit though that I use this set A LOT maybe too much!

Banner's & Frames...

Here are my newest creations. The banner is for my Cousin Liz's son Nicholas. His Daddy is really into Golf, Baseball & Football. The frame is for my friend Marissa's Brother-in-Law for his wedding gift.

Flower Quiz...

I found this quiz on a friends blog and thought I'd give it a try. I love Snapdragons, and really enjoyed them as a child. I still remember helping my Grandma Bigler plant them every year and then teaching me how make them "snap"(when you pinch the base of the flower it opens and closes)just like a dragon. I always thought it was the coolest thing! Our yard has always had Snapdragons and will continue to, so I can teach my children and grandchildren how to make them "snap".

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

Blog Candy...

In celebration of 6 Months of Blogging I am offering some Blog Candy! Actually some SU! Candy(even better)!!! The Prize is a Stampin' Around Standard Handle and Standard Wheel of your choice from either the Occasions Mini or Spring-Summer 2008 Catalog. To win leave me a comment telling me about your favorite SU! product. The winner will be determined using random.org on Monday at Noon.

Where have all the toys gone?

This morning Sage came into the Kitchen and said.."Mommy, where are my toys? Do you see them?" Well.... after cleaning and sanitizing everything in my house including the toys, I decided to only leave out the favorite toys, some of which are not in this picture. The LEGO'S, the Cowboy hat and the Little Einstein Dolls are a must as well as Sage's doggy and Aurora's piggy, baby doll, purse and cell phone. You may ask... "Why in the heck is she doing this???" The answer is that I'm just trying to keep the germs from Aurora's HFMD to a manageable limit.

Good Girl...

My little girl is such a trooper. She is SO sick and yet she is SO happy(as long as I keep her medicated). Her little body is covered in little blisters but it doesn't stop her from running around the house chasing her brother and laughing and giggling up a storm. She is such a good girl. I don't know what I would do if she was a grumpy girl. She has spent the week in the nightgowns that her Grandma made for her. She won't let me take them off. She's SO cute, she swings her hips and the nightgown twirls around her. It is so sweet. I truly am blessed to have such a wonderful daughter!

1...2...3...Go!

Whenever Sage is getting ready to do a seat drop he screams.."1...2...3...Go!" He's also learning to do flips. We love to spend time as a family out on the Trampoline. Both of the kids love it would spend every second out there if we let them.

Perfect...

Finally, after 6 long months of saving and hard work; the outside of our house finally looks the way we want it to. It all started in November with painting the house then in December we painted the Garage. In January we planned it all out and got the deck looking like we want it to and in February and March we pulled weeds and pulled even more weeds and tore down the old patio covering and set up our new toy. We finally got those nasty weeds under control and laid down this fabric stuff that keeps them from growing back(HOORAY!!!). In April we planted VERY low-maintenance Lily of the Nile Plants (I am nothing like my Grandpa and have a very black thumb) and Pebbles and now we are done.

The Front Porch

Our grass is still nasty, but the flowers are blooming and look fabulous! Grass is next on our list.

Our deck that turned out to be a 2 year project

May Events and Promotions...

May, 17th, 7pm - Explosion Box Stamp Camp Cost: $20(club members), $25(customers). R.S.V.P. by May 9th. Not a member of a club? Contact me today for more information.

May, 30th, 7pm - Scrap Night Looking for an excuse to have fun? Do you need to catch up on your scrapbooking? I know I do. Bring your paper, pictures and adhesive. You'll have access to all of my stamps, ink, and punches. Come enjoy fun, food, and scrapping. R.S.V.P. by May 29th

Get On Board with Chipboard!--For the month of May, when you spend $35 on any Stampin’ Up! ® products, you’ll get 25% off all On Board chipboard products on pages 178-179 of the Spring-Summer Collection 2008!

Cutting Combo Pack Special Offer--During the month of May, buy a Cutting Mat and get a Hobby Blade for FREE! The Hobby Blade and Cutting Mat are perfect for cutting Designer Series paper and card stock to layer over Stampin’ Up!’s On Board products!

Expand Your Toolbox--Stampin’ Up!’s helping you expand your toolbox! For the entire month of May, join Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator and get 20 percent off the Starter Kit, plus a FREE tin of qualifying Hodgepodge Hardware® (a $27.95 value!).

For more information on any or all of these events or promotions cantact me today!