Unity World Record Inspirational Blog Hop

I'm so happy you could join us on this awesome hop!
If you haven't already, make sure you start at the AWESOME Unity Blog!!

"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. It is a choice based on the knowledge that we belong to God and have found in God our refuge and our safety and that nothing, not even death, can take God away from us. Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing--sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death--can take that love away."--Henri Nouwen

Today, I took my cue from the stamp I chose to use,
"Live Simply," and I kept it very simple.

SU! cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip and Kraft.
SU! markers: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green
Hunter grosgrain ribbon

Next, go see the super sweet and talented
AJ at her blog: The Willow Garden.

Daily Dose of Baby

He's been hanging out in just his diaper lots lately . . . he dances around the living room!! Yesterday he needed to wear his coat too, and did a couple of fashion poses for the camera.


Still fighting our head colds... :-(

Sickies . . .

I was away for the weekend, and now my little guy and I are both sick . . . so I have done little to no stamping (just one thing, and I have to save it for the big Unity blog hop on Saturday.) Once we are feeling better, I will get some stamping done for you! Please don't give up on me!!! I know I've said it before, and I'm sorry, but I love you guys and I WILL get back to regular posting soon...

Take care!

WOW!

So I finally used my Manhattan Flowers Impressions folder... WOW, WOW, WOW!! It leaves SUCH a deep impression. I am amazed at how quick and easy it was to whip these cards out, and they are gorgeous!!!


Seriously couldn't be quicker... maybe 10 minutes (but possibly not even that long??) for BOTH of these cards!!!


To purchase this fabulous folder (similar to CB folders, and can definitely be used in the CB as well as the Big Shot) or any other Stampin' Up! products, please drop me an email at stampmaniac at gmail dot com or visit my website!!! Sale-a-bration is almost over, so take advantage of the freebies with $50 purchase!!!

Feel the Joy

I used the SCS color challenge to get me going today. I wasn't loving it when I read the combo: Riding Hood Red, Kraft and Summer Sun. Turns out it is a FABULOUS, bright, cheerful combo!!! What do you think?


Not sure what is up with the baby lately, but this is the third day in a row of him cutting his nap, which is normally 90 minutes, down to less than an hour. Today it was 44 minutes. He is up there fussing right now, not really crying hard, but I haven't gone to get him yet because I'm really hoping he'll go back to sleep!! Anyone every experience this before? What could be causing him to wake up early? It is so frustrating! First I went from having two 90 minute naps a day to myself . . . so I was napping sometimes, working out, showering, doing dishes, stamping, computing . . . down to only one 90 minute nap, and now I'm getting less than an hour!!! Oh man!!! Regardless, here he is as cute as ever:


He is loving climbing on things and getting up into all the chairs and couches by himself. Super cute and learning like crazy!!! Yesterday I started counting, said "one" and then he suprised me by saying "two"!!

Have a great day, and

Oval All and Mojo Monday

I have a sneak peak of a set that is coming in the next SU! mini catalog... starting April 1st!! This first picture is of the "bonus project" my gals at class got to make on Saturday. We did this fabulous cupcake project using Crazy for Cupcakes, and then I whipped the supplies out to create this cute little Easter basket!


Today I wanted to stamp during nap time (still now as we speak, knock on wood!), but I could not think of anything to do! So when I lose my Mojo, so to speak . . . I have to turn to something to help me get started . . . a sketch, a color challenge, a new technique... since today is Monday, I relied on Julee's fabulous Mojo Monday sketch. I haven't done one in a while, and I am so glad I did it, because I love how this card turned out!!



I used the Regal Rose prints from the Level 1 Hostess paper pack, and that gorgeous stamp is from the Oval All set coming in April!! I used Shimmery White Paper and added Dazzling Diamonds to the flower.

And finally, for your daily dose of baby (who by the way, is awake now, but happy, so I'm going to finish my post) please enjoy the following picture. Being the good mommy that I am, when my son got trapped under the table while trying to pick up the cereal he dropped, rather than rescue him, I ran for my camera! :-)


I did get him out after I snapped a few pictures. I promise. :-)

Animal Sounds

Just wanted to see if this works:



Just having a little fun with my baby today... :-)

Jess

Tool Time

This is one of the cards we've done at my last couple of workshops. I hardly ever do a masculine card, but I really like how this one turned out. Those Big Shot Texturz plates are SOOOO cool!!! I was terribly embarrassed as my spiral edge punch totally broke after only about three stampers used it at my weekend workshop. I got on the phone with Demo Support on Monday and they have already shipped out a replacement! I love great customer service!! Obviously, it would have been better if the punch hadn't broken, but they're replacing it, so I'll get over it!!



Totally Tool is such a fantastic set for masculine cards. Check it out:

Click HERE to order Totally Tool or any other Stampin' Up! supplies and stamps you may NEED. :-)

Here is a picture of my little 16 month old and me before church last week. I can't believe how big he is getting! He's learning things so fast right now. It is really exciting!! We ask him what sounds different animals make, and he says them on demand (unless he's had enough!) . . . tiger, dog, cat, lion, bee, bear, snake, monkey, cow . . . it is soo cute! I'm going to try to get a video of that to share with you tomorrow.

I WILL BE BACK, SOON!!!

I have been on a sort of "vacation".... my parents were visiting here, and then we were visiting them in Michigan... we got back last night, so I've got some sorting out to do, and I am REALLY hoping to find some stamping time this week!!! Please come back and visit me!!! I really miss the habit of stamping and posting to my blog, so I'm going to try to get back into it. :-) Thanks for your patience!!

Dance, Sing, Live!

Okay, here is the last of my Verve February Sketch challenges. The twist on this Verve sketch was NOT to use patterned paper . . . I went YEARS without using ANY, and boy was it tough not to reach for any today . . . I really have come to depend on it!! I ran all of my colored cardstock through the SU! Big Shot texturz plates, to get me over my patterned paper withdrawal!! :-)


Love these colors together... I sure will be sad when Baja and Pirouette "retire."
Have a great day!

Yummy Elzybells!!

Oh my gosh--have you seen the February Elzybells release!!!??? The stamps were made JUST for me--cupcakes, coffee, tea, chocolate, desserts, funny sayings (my favorites: "I'm not fat, I'm just a nutritional overachiever!" and "there are only two kinds of foods: if it's not chocolate, it's a vegetable.") Go check it out!!

Not that you need MORE enabling... I know I don't. I've been on a steady spending freeze, but a girl can dream, right?

Insert Witty Post Title Here

I never know quite what to title my posts... so you get this today!

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend. We did--we had friends over on Saturday for Jambalaya (which the hubby made) and Bad Movie Night. FUN!

I had to try a couple more of the Verve sketch challenges for February. You can click on them if you want to see them bigger. Here they are:


Not loving the second one, which was supposed to be monochromatic. I wish that I had NOT distressed the edges. I think it would look better that way. Oh well. Next time.

Here is your daily dose of baby . . . a trio of adorable baby on daddy's shoulders pics . . . in the first, he is drumming on Daddy's head, in the second he is trying to give a kiss, and in the third, he is trying to reach for the camera. Enjoy!


Take care and--

Flowers and Friday Fill-in

Good morning!! Happy Friday!! Hip HOP Thursday was so much fun yesterday!!! I made a box earlier in the week that got picked to win a stamp. (It was random, but I LOVE the box!!) Here it is:


I found some leftover caramel apple kisses from this fall, that were perfect for this box, since they were wrapped in orange and red foil!! This next picture shows a close up of the butterfly. I
glued the body down to the box, and popped the wings up on dimensionals--oooh, so pretty! Yes, I love myself. :-)


No baby pics today, sorry. He's waaaaaaay too cranky. Three molars are trying to pop through, and the pressure and swelling are causing him to be a little, whiny grump!!! :-( Poor thing. Here are my Friday fill-ins, though:

1. Give me chocolate and I'll be a happy, happy girl.

2. Whenever I get grumpy, I want chocolate (see #1).

3. I wish I could eat some chocolate.

4. Chocolate was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.

5. To live in this world one must have chocolate.

6. Other than this one, http://brookelien.blogspot.com/ is the last blog I commented on. (DANG! I thought I could keep the chocolate theme going!!)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to stamping with the ladies at a Stampin' Up! workshop, tomorrow my plans include Bad Movie Night and Jambalaya with friends, and Sunday, I want to enjoy the music at church!

Time to Stamp!!

I am so excited!! I made time to stamp today! It certainly helped that out of nowhere, the baby decided to take two naps today, which hasn't happened in awhile...

I used Amber's Viva La Verve sketch for the first week of February. I decided to be a rebel (ha ha!) and flip the sketch sideways. I know Father's Day is a ways off, but I think I am going to add some Mother's and Father's Day cards to my etsy shop to see if they will sell.


I did something new for me too . . . I "did" the inside of the card too. What do you think?


Here's your daily dose of baby:


Today was a rainy day, and along with two naps, he grabbed a blanket and hopped onto the couch and covered up. (He's never done that before, so I had to snap some pics!) I also caught him in a VERY rare moment--being NICE to the cat!!! I think the cat might have been more surprised than I was.


Could he be ANY cuter? (yeah, probably by tomorrow!!!)

Wednesday Unity Challenge

Good morning!! Amy picked a beautiful picture of yellow tulips as inspiration for us this week. I went with a slightly paler shade of yellow, but I really like how this card turned out. I don't really have any bold flower stamps, so I felt that my bright yellow paper was just too overpowering.

Make sure you check out all the other Unity addicts' cards today. The links are over on the right side of my blog.