1.02.2008

Chilla Bella


Colors : Ocean, Amethyst, Heavenly Blue, White Daisy, Cocoa

Papers : Cocoa Cafe

Stamps : Snowbunnybella, Typewriter, Music of Winter

Accents : Ice stickles crystal, rhinestones, ribbon

I thought of this paper right away when I got this bella out to play. Blues and pale purple always remind me of snow and the white distressing on the pp really just screamed winter at me :D. Since the paper is a little messy looking I wanted to make the card reflect that and tried for a more modge podge look. The ice stickles didn't like the ocean ink though. So I might have to redo those 2 letters. Other than that, I really like how this one came together.


Guess what came today?!!

My Bellas!!!


Colors : Black, Col White, Crystal Blue

Paper : Creative Basics Silhouette ('08)

Stamps : Bubblebella

Accents : Ribbon, Big Bloom, Button (doodlebug), Ice Stickles crystal, rhinestones, col white brads

My first card using my bellas!! Also uses SCS's card sketch for this week SC157. My card isn't showing up in any of the galleries though... I'm still trying to figure out why. I used the cuttlebug for the embossed swirls and colored the bella in with colored pencils. Stickles and rhinestones are in her bubbles. The CB paper is actually 2 pieces that were left over from my swap cards. I've been waiting for the bellas to show up because I knew I wanted to use them with this paper!! The crystal blue was an after thought. At first I wasn't sure if it would go with these papers but I am loving the outcome! Well, off to feed the kiddos and then play with my bellas!!

100th post and a Hanna Card!!


Papers : Cosmo Cricket storytime kit; hollyhock, orange, white, and smokey plum CS by CTMH

Stamps : Hanna Rain

Accents : Purple waxy flax, flowers (prima & heidi swapp), button (tres jolie), eyelets (MM), pink rhinestones, ice stickles crystal, liquid glass

This card turned out very different than I had it in my head. I wanted the colors on the Hanna to not come out so bright, mainly just the yellow in the umbrella, but it seems to have worked out alright. Liquid glass covering the umbrella and her boots though you can't really tell in the pick, it's very fun looking in RL. Glitter on her dress, the umbrella, rain, and puddle. I'm still debating whether or not to stick the little worm someplace. He is just too cute!! Lots of glitz on her image, I adore her outfit! I was going to try to do the DCM challenge that I saw on a SBS4 sister's site: The last DCM challenge of the year is a team challenge : Hi All. Today we have decided to revisit your most favourite dares of 2007. The four top dares, decided by the number of comments you made on them are (in no particular order): 'buttons', 'ribbons', ...'and cut' and 'frames'. We would like you to use this week as many of those dares as you like to make your card in any theme and any style. I got the cut part and I had a bunch of ribbons and buttons out to use but I just wasn't feeling it. I went back and forth then decided to just do this and try the challenge on another card :D There was already so much going on in the image that I didn't want to take away from that.

On another note, this is my 100th post!! I can't believe I've actually made a hundred posts so far! I just started this blog at the very end of August. I looked back at my first card posts and shuddered, lol. I've come a long way in just four months!! If you want to see what I'm talking about check my archives on the bottom right for August and Sept. I wasn't much of a card maker before, in fact I dreaded having to make cards up until this last October!! But now I love to make them! Amazing what browsing galleries and posting can do :D I'm hoping my Bellas come soon. I ordered them on the 9th but they ship from Canada so it may still take a little while to get here what with Christmas and all. I've been so anxious to play with them!!!

1.01.2008

Life is so sweet...



Papers : Storytime kit papers and die cuts by Cosmo Cricket; Smokey Plum, Hollyhock, and textured white CS by CTMH

Stamps : Delightful, Believe, and Precious alphas

Accents : Flowers (Prima, CTMH, Heidi Swapp), rhinestones, buttons

The first layout of the year (2006 pics). It's been a while since I just did my own thing on a layout. I think it turned out alright for not using a sketch or anything. I've gotten so used to using sketches and predesigned layouts that I was afraid I couldn't scrap without them anymore. All the die cuts came with the storytime kit that I got on clearance for 50% off :D. I actually did the left page yesterday but knew I wanted it to be a 2 page layout. I love these big flowers, I just wish my LSS had more than just a couple colors :P. I like being able to use my 40% coupons on stuff!

Happy New Year!

2007 in review. I actually had to look at the pictures I took to remember some of what happened earilier in the year, lol.

January Paul started his second year of college for the spring semester. I went through a huge purging bug where I got rid of so much stuff!! Mostly old baby stuff since Audrey was now 15 months old. I sent a lot of hand me downs to my sister in law who was due with a baby girl the beginning of Jan.

In March, Paul's grandfather had a stroke and passed away. We traveled up to SLC for his funeral. His grandpa had alzhiemer's pretty badly. When Paul last visited which was just six months before, grandpa didn't even know who he was. It was both sad and a good thing when he passed. While there we got to see our niece Laurielee for the first time, she was so tiny! And grandma got to see Audrey for the first time. She was amazed at how big Caitlyn had gotten. Paul ended up having a small relapse (I don't remember if I ever posted this but my hubby has Multiple Sclerosis.) near the end of the semester but made it through with a really good GPA, over a 3.5 if I remember correctly.

We only went swimming a few times this summer since Caitie was afraid of 'sharks in the water' this year. She wouldn't get in the pool at all every time we went. Paul had classes just part time during the summer but it seemed just like when he went full time since the classes were only 10 weeks long. We ended up having to fix a lot on the car during the summer but thankfully had the money in savings so we didn't have to go into debt. I also started having terrible migraines in May. My sister who I hadn't seen in years visited as well. It was nice to see her though I felt we had a hard time connecting. It didn't help that I wasn't feeling well at all during the summer because of all those headaches.

August rolled around and I scrapped with some friends which I hadn't done in months. After not creating since March I finally made a layout in mid August and that started my scrapping bug again :D. I peeked into the CTMH forum and was hooked to the artwork posts, then started this blog. Paul hit the big 3-0 this year ;D and started the fall semester.

In September, Paul and I celebrated our 6th anniversary. I went to the doctor and they said they could put me on meds for the migraines. I opted for no medication and just watching for triggers and avoiding them since I seemed to be having them less and less as fall came around. I also found out about SCS and many other fun scrapbooking sites.

October Audrey turned 2, and boy is she a cute little 2 year old! I signed up for my first swaps. We found out Caitlyn is extremely afraid of people in black and any masks. Ninjas, pirates, skeletons, Star Wars, spiderman, etc. She was so terrified that she was even shaking uncontrollably and we had to leave the church Halloween party early and didn't go trick or treating.

November we started having Caitlyn tested for development issues and discovered she's far behind in her speech and cognitive development. She also has many mild autism symptoms, one of those symptoms being her intense fear of certain things. Caitie also started successfully potty training this month, at last!! For the last year and a half we'd been trying to get her to just even try to no avail. Thanksgiving was quieter this year since less family visited and one of Paul's sisters moved to Texas where her hubby was being stationed.

December Caitie started preschool. She turned four though she looks a bit older (she's a tall little girl!). We were introduced to Heroes by a friend and got hooked! Paul's sister also got us started on that 70s show. Paul and I haven't watched cable in years but it looks like that might change if they kept enticing us with these neat shows! Paul finished another semester and bumped his GPA up some more, I think he's at a 3.7 now. My birthday was really nice. I turned 26 this year. Paul took me out to dinner and I got a digital camera :D. We found out Caitie has an allergy to something (still trying to figure out what). She got hives the week before Christmas. By Christmas eve the antihistamine she was prescribed had gotten rid of the hives which were all over her face, neck, and arms. She was breathing and acting like nothing was wrong and the doc said it was just a mild reaction, but it certainly looked bad! Christmas was a blast this year. Audrey was funny and just let Caitie open both their presents because she just wanted what was inside. Both girls have liked having Daddy around so much since he's off for Christmas break.

Last night we let the girls stay up but they were getting pretty grumpy around 10 so we put them to bed. We had a nice casual New Year's Eve. Just some family and a friend came over to have dinner and watch a movie and some season discs. Our big celebration was watching that 70s show and then when the new year hit we just said 'Happy New Year' all casual like and went back to watching the show lol. None of us are much for big parties :P All in all 2007 was actually one of our smoother years, lol! And despite a few stressful times throughout the year, 2007 ended on a very good note. May next year be even more wonderful than the last! I hope everyone had a Happy New Year!

12.29.2007

Love Variety Swap Card Round 2


Colors : Black, Bamboo, Col White, Garden Green, Desert Sand

Paper : Creative Basics Silhouette ('08)

Stamps : Soul Mates

Accents : Liquid Glass, black and ivory organdy, black ribbon, cuttlebug swirl embossing, pewter triangle paper clip

My second card for the swap in round two. Liquid glass was added to the love. This card was much quicker than the first one since I wasn't cutting out so many letters and hearts lol. Card size is 6 x 4.25. Kind of an odd size but then most of my cards are :D My favorite part is the stamping inside the scallop circle. I wanted to do something a little more artsy and I think it turned out pretty. I've only made the one so far to get the design out since I didn't sketch this one like I did with the other, but I'm pretty sure these cards will get done quickly.