another of my nicest thoughts.. . .

sort of funny that i scheduled that last post, "One of My Nicest Thoughts" for friday. . . .because one of my nicest thoughts DID arrive on Friday!!

Tanner was born bright and early Friday morning. He is big and has lots of hair, and is doing great. We just got home from the hospital, but I will post some pictures when I can. (There are some up on Facebook already though, with many thanks to my aunt!!! :)

XOXOX

Follow your heart. . .follow the hip hop trail!

Happy Hip Hop! I hope you are enjoying lots of beautiful inspiration along the way, today. (Who am I kidding? I KNOW you are enjoying lots of inspiration!) I have a card using the August Kit to share with you today. The paper and card base are from Jillibean Soup, and the ink and fibers are from Close To My Heart.

We are getting closer and closer to Baby Day around this house. My mom arrived last night, and she is going to help me knock out some of the items on my giant to-do list (most of which really DON'T need to be done before Tanner arrives. . .but for some reason, they are on the list anyway!) I won't be here for Hip Hop next week, just in case we're in the midst of having a baby, but I am going to get some posts prescheduled, so don't be a stranger. . .I have some projects saved up to share - and as soon as I have baby news, I will share that too!!!

And now hop on to my sweet friend, ***CHRISTI***

(I just love that girl!)

XOXO

PS - ooh, and don't forget to check out my previous blog post - I have a card kit from Apron Strings Designs to giveaway tomorrow, that would work beautifully with your Unity Stamps!!!

monkeyin' around, and using up some scraps

In my never-ending quest to use up a giant stash of paper, here is a card that I must say, I am quite happy with!! This Daisy D's paper screamed at me a year or two ago when it came out, and I HAD to have it. But then. . . .I hardly used it! It's so stinkin' cute though, and I love these sock monkeys!

Tomorrow I head to the doctors, and start my every-week appointments! YIKES! I am hoping they will have SOMETHING interesting to say, other than "Baby looks good. You're measuring a little big. You're looking a little swollen. See you in a week." Last appointment, I swear the doctor was practically handing me my file and saying "See you in two weeks" as he walked IN the exam room door. Don 't they realize, us pregnant women survive from visit to visit, hoping for SOMETHING interesting to share with everyone who says, "So, how was your doctor's appointment?" (Something other than, "I gained 8 pounds!")

(card goodies: patterned paper - Daisy D's, cardstock, ink - CTMH, stamp - Kitchen Sink Stamps)

CPS 127 . . .DRS Designs

This week's CPS sponsor is DRS Designs. I had fun with these cute candles! I colored them with colored pencils, and then added dimensional glaze over top, and Stickles to the candle flames. (If you click on the photo, maybe you can see it. . . I'm not sure!)
So, I had a BLAST at CHA on Friday. I know the show was a lot smaller than most, but that was good for me and my feet!!! I made it through the whole show, and sat down whenever I had a chance! I met a bunch of the Unity Stamp girls, and some other wonderful people I have met online through the past few years. I drooled over a lot of beautiful new papers and products, some of my faves were My Mind's Eye, Jillybean Soup and Crate Paper.

Lots of FUN FUN new stamp releases at Unity too!! I was so lucky to COME HOME with a bunch of stamps. . . I have been busy at work the last few days I've been home, so I'll have lots to share soon!!! I am trying to get AHEAD and knock out lots of projects before the little man arrives. It's also getting hard to sit at my desk for long, because my feet and ankles are getting PUFFY PUFFY PUFFY, and sitting still is not good for them!!!!

We have a week full of swimming lessons, doctor's appts, and gymnastics this week, plus my growing to-do list. . .but I will be back with more goodies to share soon!!!

Have a GREAT week!

XOXO

CPS 124 and the baby shower

Happy Sunday! Sorry I've been neglecting my poor little blog all weekend, but my parents have been in town, and we've been busy playing and shopping and celebrating at a baby shower at our church, yesterday.
First, I'd like to share a simple card I did, using more (yes, more) Cosmo Cricket paper. I can't get enough of it! The colors, and patterns are so bright and retro and fun. I just love it. This card is based on Tami's CPS sketch, number 124 for this week. It's a sponsor free week, which means we all get to use whatever product we want - so look for lots of variety on the CPS blog this week! :)

And here's a quick picture of me, and my boys (my little man, my husband, and there's my dad in the background!) opening presents at the shower yesterday. We received a lot of nice gifts, played some fun games, and ate lots of yummy food!

Here's hoping for a great big NAP this afternoon! Have a great Sunday!!!

another new month? already!?

ACK! The days are flying. . .which means the weeks and months are too!!! In some ways, this is a VERY good thing (because at most moments of the day, I am totally OVER this whole pregnancy thing!) But at the same time, once each day is gone - it's GONE, so we all need to be making the most of it. Plus the days are rolling much closer to my little man starting preschool, which at this moment, is sounding a little traumatic! Perhaps that has something to do though, with the impending birth of a baby AND a child starting preschool all within two weeks of each other. (Talk about giving this poor mama a heart attack!!!)

Because the month of September is going to be. . .well, JUST a little bit busy, the sweet ladies at Apron Strings let me rearrange my designing schedule, and I got the lucky opportunity to design last month as scheduled, plus THIS month in place of September. Two months in a row - man, I am SPOILED!!! So today, as it is the FIRST OF JULY. . . . I hope you like this card I made with the July Apron Strings All Year Cheer Card Kit. This is one of my favorites this month. This card features some Chatterbox and BasicGrey papers, the SUPER CUTE chipboard birdie, and some amazingly beautiful ribbon. Check back soon for my Apron Strings GIVEAWAY too - the ladies gave me some goodies to SHARE!!!!! (Be sure to hit the Apron Strings blog too. . .lots of cute inspiration over there!)

And the FIRST OF THE MONTH also means, its time to catch a full glimpse at the July Kit of the Month at Unity Stamp Company!!!! I am so anxious to find this baby in my mailbox!!!! (Wait till you see the cloud stamps!) Bop on over to Angela's blog today, and I am sure you will find all the info you need to know!!! :)

Man, I had lots to share today. . .I hope you'll head over and visit Apron Strings and Unity today. And be back here tomorrow - for I have my NEW FAVORITE Unity card to share during Hip Hop Thursday!!!

Have a great day chickies!!!
XOXO

enough already!

Okay, okay, I heard you. . . my joke of a pregnancy photo did NOT go over very well ;) My cousin took some sweet pictures of Bryce and I (and Tanner too!) so here you go, my friends.

I am getting quite swollen, quite uncomfortable, and QUITE disappointed as I realize there is just NO way I am going to make it to CHA this year. It's only two hours away, in Orlando, but all that walking and being on my feet would not be a good thing!!! Little Mr. Tanner is doing well though, and getting BIG (and measuring BIG according to the doctor. . . GREAT.) The summer is getting hotter and hotter, and we are getting more and more excited to meet the newest addition! Only 10 or so weeks to go. UGH! ;)

Have a super weekend!!!

XOXO

this is for keri

Keri told me that the world needed a new picture of pregnant me. . . .WELL, miss keri. . .here you go, my dear! See that mass of polkadots in the bottom of this picture? There it is. The Belly. (taken while Bryce covers my slowly swelling feet in the sand.) We are spending some days back and forth to a nearby beach house, where a bunch of eric's family are visiting/staying this week. One of the perks of living near the beach, I suppose. . .you don't have to drive far to get to a beach house!!! (And I get to come home and sleep in my own bed at night!) Bryce LOVES the beach - and we hardly ever go. So this is quite a treat for him! So I'm braving the heat, and the giant polkadot bathing suit, and we've been hitting the beach.

Tomorrow I will come back and share my CPS card for this week, okay?! For now, I need to go do some dishes, get life organized, and head to my dr. appt, before we head back out to the beach this afternoon.

Have a wonderful day!!!
XOXO

hello, hello . . .it's saturday!

Happy Saturday, my friends!!!! I had such a hard time deciding WHICH card to post for Thursday's Mother's Day blog hop - this one might have been a better fit, rather than the other black and ivory card I shared. . .but here it is TODAY!

I stamped these images (from Unity's April Kit of the Month, of course!) in black Staz-On ink. I colored it (VERRRY carefully) with a gold Sharpie paint pen, (whose tip was really too thick for what I was doing, but thankfully I didn't screw it up too much!!!) I thought the gold details would be a neat touch! I hope you like it!!

I can't think of anything else interesting to share with you today . . .life is delightfully a-okay right now (aside from a four-year-old with some serious tantrum issues all the sudden) and the usual aches and irritations of pregnancy. But all in all, we are doing just fine. We got Mario Kart for our Wii last week, so we've been race-car driving QUITE a bit lately!!! (That game is SUCH fun, even though I am SUCH a bad driver!!) I THINK we've decided on a name for the baby . . .but I will wait until we decide 100% before I share it!!! I am also trying to find a nice quilt for the new baby/guest room. I need a color scheme!! Any ideas???

Have a TERRIFIC weekend!!!

baby cakes

Thanks for all the happy wishes on the baby news yesterday! We still have to figure out the perfect boy's name. . .but I'm sure we'll think of something!!!

Kim Hughes made the cutest little cupcake stamp, as part of her Tag, You're It set (from Cornish Heritage Farms) It SO cute (and SO tiny! I'm always afraid I am going to lose this stamp!) This card didn't make it into the May/June issue of PaperCrafts, but they did use it for one of their bonus online projects. I just thought I'd share the link!

edited: i don't know why the first link i posted doesn't work, but if you go to THIS link, scroll down to the Online Bonus Projects - mine is called "Baby Cakes Card."

http://www.papercraftsmag.com/issues/index.html?current_issue

It's a. . . .

BOY!!!

we're really excited, and after all this excitement. . .I need a NAP. just wanted to share the news!!!!

XOXOX

Cutie patooties!!!

(card goodies: stamps - Cornish Heritage Farms, cardstock - WorldWin, ink (Close To My Heart)

Happy Sunday! This week's CPS sketch is sponsor-free. . .which was nice, since I had some new stamps I was anxious to ink up!!! Love these sea animals from Kim Hughes at Cornish Heritage Farms!!!

So tomorrow is the day. . .we'll find out if we're having a boy or a girl. We are really anxious to find out, although we still don't have a boy name picked out. Hmmm. . . . I'll be sure to pop in tomorrow and share my news!!!

Have a great week!!!
XOXO

As promised . . .

Here it is - another CPS card for this week! This is another little card, based on Tami's sketch for the week, and using up a little more of my TAC goodies. I added the ivory cardstock, and the brads (from CTMH) This little birdie is such fun to paper-piece. I know, I know, you are completely sick of me talking about paper-piecing. I can't help myself!!!

Gonna make this short and sweet today. . .my parents are coming into town tonight, for a QUICK visit. I can't wait! Bryce has been asking for DAYS when they would be here, so THANK GOODNESS, the day is finally here!

And we're all counting the days till Monday, because we will find out whether our newest little addition is a girl or a boy!!!! Then the planning can REALLY begin!!! Woohooo! Don't worry, I'll be SURE to keep you posted, and share the news on Monday!

Oh - one more thing! Be sure to join in tomorrow for Unity Stamp Company's HUGE, GIANT, unbelievably big BLOG HOP. . .customers, design team members, and lovers of Unity all over the globe, all joining in to share inspiration. The hopping will start at Angela's blog at 11:00CST. It'll be a blast!!! Okay - I am really outta here. So much for my SHORT post today!!

XOXO

Saturday's card. . .and swimwear?!

Happy Saturday! I have a little card to share with you today. I played with this card for quite a long time . . .still not totally sure how I feel about it, but I was trying to take a risk and use a different color scheme from what I might normally use. Purple, is NOT one of my go-to colors, but I really like this paper, and I wanted to make this card work. Every once in a while, it's good to take a risk!! I used some GCD Studios paper (have you been by to see their new blog?) and stamps from Unity's March Kit of the Month.

In other non-crafty news, . . . I spent a wonderful day yesterday with my family, and my hubby's family. I had the YUMMIEST club sandwich for lunch, that I am still thinking about. (tee hee!) Also did some online maternity shopping with my mother-in-law. Have you ever shopped for a maternity bathing suit?Oh DEAR, there are some HORRIFYING ones out there!!! Here's what I ordered. In regular (non-maternity) life I always get swimsuits that have the cute little skirt attached, because the bottom half of me does not care to be exposed!!! But it is REALLY tough to find cute MATERNITY bathing suits with a skirt. I love these polka dots though, and I like that it doesn't have a huge plunging neckline (definitely not in need of extra cleavage-creating swimwear right now!) I have NEVER ordered a bathing suit. . .or any other article of clothing, online before though. I am so particular (just ask anyone who has ever shopped with me before!) so I don't know what the chances are of this actually FITTING. . .but I'll keep my fingers crossed until it arrives next week!

And now, the cartoons are on, and naptime is CALLING my name. Have a wonderful afternoon, and I will be back tomorrow with a new CPS card to share!!! :) Hugs everyone!! XOXO

Happy Saturday!!!

Hey friends! How are you on this lovely Saturday? There's nothing like feeling sick for two months, to give you a great appreciation for feeling HUMAN AGAIN! I'm certainly not feeling perfect, but GOSH, I feel better than I did! It is SO nice. I'm slowly catching up on . . .EVERYTHING. Life in general. And it feels good. And I am even typing to you, from my brand new computer armoire. . .I'll have to take a picture when I get it all set up - its beautiful!! Since the office, is becoming the baby's room, we had to do some rearranging, and make some more organized space around here!

This is a card using Unity's You + Me = Happy set. Love this mushroom. I did a combo of paper-piecing, and colored pencil to color it, and popped it, along with the turtle, up on foam tape. I stamped the flowers (from the November (?) Kit of the Month, and then traced over them in colored pencil. It just needed a little extra something in the background. All the patterned paper is from Scenic Route.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a GREAT day!!

XOXOX

Simple and sweet. . .Sweet as sugar!

Another sweeet cupcake from Starving Artistamps for you today. It's tough to see, but I added some pink Stickles to the sprinkles on this cupcake, and I just love it! I love how bold the lines are on these stamps - it makes it so fun to color and paper-piece them. I used some super bright and happy Doodlebug Designs papers, and a ColorBok sticker for the sentiment.

And remember. . .I've promised you a Starving Artistamp giveaway later this week!

And speaking of SWEET, how SWEET are all of you with your happy thoughts and congratulations on my baby-news. What a fun surprise it was to see so many comments on Sunday's post. I should share big news more often. . .I got lots of comments!! Tee hee! Have a great week, and I'll be back on Thursday for the Unity Stamp Hip Hop!!! I have BRAND NEW not-yet-released stamps on the way, and I am crossing my fingers that they will get here in time, so I can whip up some projects to show you NEW GOODIES for the blog hop!

Hugs!

XOXO

Sweet! A new week, new CPS sponsors, and NEWS!

Hello, hello friends! I have been WAITING to share this card . . . .it's my card for CPS this week. Remember, we have another week FULL of sponsors and giveaways!!! The sponsor I worked with this week is Starving Artistamps. Their line of DoodleFactory stamps is one of the most fun stamp lines I have worked with. The lines are bold (great for paper-piecing and coloring!) and images are cute and quirky. The sentiments are cheeky and fun, and Starving Artistamps was INCREDIBLY generous to us, loading us up on Valentine stamps!! I have a few more cards to share throughout the week, using these stamps, and I might just have a few stamps to giveaway too later this week!!! (One of the giveaway prizes at CPS this week is from SA as well!!!)

So, in other news. . .if it hasn't made it through the grapevine to you, I have one other MAJOR excuse for my lack of cards, and posting throughout the month of January. It's because in addition to my computer being out-of-commision, I was also (and still am) feeling incredibly crummy because I'M PREGNANT!!!!! I have had a MAJOR case of the yucks since shortly after Christmas, but I am trying to convince myself that I will be feeling better soon. With my last pregnancy, the yucks lasted MUCH longer than the "normal" first 12 weeks - but I am going to do my best to think positively!!!!

OKAY. I really have to try and make some breakfast for my little man, and get us out to church. Mornings are definitely a struggle these days! (Come to think of it, so are the afternoons and evenings! UGH!!!)

Have a GREAT week, and check back soon for more cute DoodleFactory cards!! :)
XOXO