Love Blooms In Me

Monday Morning Rush

The weekend flew by and now I'm trying to get all the chores done so I can flew over to Frisco and have some stamping fun time with my friend Kimberly. I've got new Riley stamps to share. Being Monday there is always things to do. Trash, wash, and mailing out of all the cards I sold over the weekend. Yea!! Since Friday afternoon, I've been having a super time. Barry has his phone interview and it went well. Now they'll have a face-to-face hopefully tomorrow. Sure would be nice if he didn't have anymore down time except the rest of this week. Then I had wonderful emails with the owner of Hanna Stamps, Kristi, and she wanted some of my cards as samples for her booth at CHA in July! I am very excited about that. I've been doing design work for some time now, but this is really special. My little ole Riley guys are going to be in the big show! They went postal on Saturday. I got stamp in peace on Saturday afternoon. Barry was busy finishing up reports for Lions and getting ready for last night installation dinner. It was really, really nice. I got to see several of the wives that I don't see often enough and have a great chat with them. Now today, I really must rush off. I have one card that I'm going to show you. It's one of those "little different" cards for me. No stamping, just wonderful die cuts and flowers. The chipboard die cuts are from K & CO. I got them at Michael's with my 40% coupon last week. I found the papers while we were in Florida. I just love the softness of this card.

Well, I'm off and running. If anything good happens today, I'll be back!!

Finally Friday

I don't know I get so excited about it being Friday. It's not like I work outside my home anymore. I work in the house, in my PJ's anytime I want to work, but Friday just always seems special. Like it's going to bring some magical days upon us. Something fun and new! So much hope!

I made a few new cards yesterday using some of my Riley stamps from Hanna Stamps. No, I don't work for this company. I had several folks email me yesterday and ask. I just like the nice simple lines of the Moose's. Besides, they are just so darn cute! Please notice that not every card has a flower on it. You know how much I love Prima Flowers and I use them alot, but it really kills me when I see cards clearly meant as a more "guy" type of card---one that could be sent to either sex, covered in flowers! Does Mr. Riley Pirate need flowers---NO---but he's still cute. I used a wonderful pirate map stamp from Inky Antics for the back round. I stamped, inked, and then mashed it to death. Finally I took out the last of my demons and torn the edges! I had the sword eyelets since last years Scrapbook Show and used them. Love the way this card turned out.

Mr Cowboy Riley is next. He's a keeper! I had an idea for a fence for him to rest his elbow on, but didn't have any stamps for that, so I just cut some small pieces of cs and inked them, added a brad, and then glued them down. The star, cactus, and howdy came from a MFT set of stamps. Never get rid of those small pieces of CB papers you have. The blue piece was leftover from another project and with some white ink made a perfect back round!

Finally a Moose with flowers. It's very tropical and on this card flowers made sense! I wish that was me just hanging out in the sand, with drink in hand, and smelling like suntan oil! Aren't those sunglass brads the cutest thing! I got them at this years Scrapbook Show.

So now it's time to get my butt moving and do something. I started working on the cards I need to submit for the design team call last night. I don't want to rush. I just want them perfect and perfection takes time. Look at me. I'm always a work in progress!

Hugs to you all!

Did you know it's Take Your Dog to Work Day? NO WAY! Oh yea, I don't have a dog, or a cat, or anything besides Barry to take care of! And soon enough, if he doesn't get another job, I'll be having him at my work! His contract is up on Monday and he's actively looking for another job. He knows the score on that, so even if he's home again, I think he'll stay out of my way this time! I've made it as clear as I can, in a nice way, of course, that the daytime is my time at home and not his! I am not ready for him to retire. Maybe I'll never be ready for that!! Unless we win the Lotto and since I didn't have an extra dollar last night, another week goes by that we didn't win or play!

Below is a card last week while looking for my MOJO. It was lurking somewhere. I have friend who just loves the cards with this Stampin Up set. I don't use it as often as I used to. Now my little Moose, Monkey's, and Bee's come out to play more often. I might have gotten carried away with the flowers and buttons, but I have to use them somehow otherwise I'm afraid they'll go bad!!

So what's up for you today? I need to work on my cards to submit for the design team I'm trying out for. Yesterday was going to be the day, but I got lost going to the stamp store. I don't go very often since it's gas or bread, but I was missing the company of friends so off I went. I needed to get a large block for my unmounted stamps and of course I picked up some of those cute little $ sets from Inque Boutique. They have some of cutest little bitty sets. Other then work on cards, I really don't have much to do. Cleaning is always an out there, but what fun is that!

Hugs to all!

Half A Week Away

I can't believe it's Wednesday already. I had high hopes for getting so much done this week, and now here I sit at the computer doing what I always do, blog surfing! I did manage to get several cards done yesterday. One for a friend who is back in Chemo for a second round, one to sell, and one to send to my bestest big sister in Florida. This one is for Deb. She has always called me Pussycat and when I finally starting using this set of stamps, I knew this would be perfect for her. She's a cat person as well. I stamped the TV out first and then kitty again. Not a great picture of the card, I guess, but it's really cute in person!

This card is made using a new Memory Box set of stamps. I saw a card done on someone's blog. Note to self---mark where you see the pictures so you can give credit! Well, anyway, thanks for the idea and I love the stamps. I always make an idea into a PAULA card. I added more printed paper, the cute little bee and even the saying is different. I used lots of SU crystal effects and some dazzling diamonds to really make the card shine. I love how it turned out. Maybe I'm on some kind of roll. Then again, maybe not!

Speaking of rolls, no that the kind that hangs out of your underwear, but the kind you eat! I made Sloppy Joe's for dinner last night and even had rolls to go with it. It's been awhile since I've made them and they tasted just as good as they used to when I need a quick, cheap meal. It seemed like I could never fill up the boys when they were living at home. They always seemed to have a hollow leg! When they would say they were full, we'd tell them to shake it down that hollow leg!! Maybe you had to be there to think it was funny! They are still good eaters and never leave a piece of meat on the table when they all come to eat!

Gotta go and do something. Maybe a second cuppa would be good, you know, maybe read the paper, clean up the studio---maybe that wouldn't be a good idea. It's suppose to be another killer hot day and you don't want to overdo on a day like that!!!!!!!

Hugs to you all!

Just Pictures Today

Come Fly With Me

Isn't he the cutest little flier you've seen today? Riley is the Man! It's hard to tell in this photo (never take a picture before you have coffee) but the image was first stamped on white card stock and then I put it into the Cuttlebug with my Dotted Swiss Folder to give it texture. Then I stamped the image again on scrap paper, colored it and then cut it out. MORE pop dots. I think there is a very hungry marshmellow that comes into my studio at night and eat these pops! I seem to run through them very quickly. I added some crystal effects and stickles glitter to the clouds for some more fun. I found this Moose Verse in my collection of small stamps, but the "you" part didn't find in the box, so I just used a "U" from an ABC set. The stars are from Verve Visuals. I love their stamps and they are coming out with some new one's this week. I bet they would be fun to work for! The strip paper is from the new Basic Grey 6X6 pad.

I guess I was able to find some of the MOJO that was missing from last week. I just didn't put any pressure on myself to create. I just let whatever happen, happen. I think sometimes I get so caught up in the creating for money thing, that I forget the pure joy of the creating. I sure we all tend to forget why we started this darn hobby so long ago. I'm know it was to "save" us some money. You know, so we didn't have to spend $5 on each card we bought. WOW was I going to save Barry money! So far, instead of each card costing me $5, each card now cost $62.00! Paper and ink are not free, and you do need to keep up with the lastest things that come out EVERY week. Oh well, in my dream last night I was thinking about Crab cards! I need better dreams!

Have a wonderful day and hurry back. I think I'm on a roll. One card done and so many more to go!!

Will The Winner Come On Down

Do you remember that saying from a game show? The Price Is Right! Well, we do have a winner and she is Colleen. She said

Paula - is it possible that your mojo and my mojo ran off together to the beach for a vacation? Mine's been missing, too.
Love your cards - you are an inspiration!

So Collen, send me your address and I'll mail your package out first thing Monday morning. Thank you all for playing along. I was able to find a bit of the MOJO this week. Some I'm sure is still at the beach with Colleen's, but I got a card or two done.

I love the dancing Frogs. I saw a card, of course, while surfing the blogs that had one dancer frog sitting on a flower. Well, never one to do anything in a small way, I made my card with a bunch of dancing frogs. The frog set of stamps is being retired from Stampin Up. I'm still going to be using this set for years to come! I used some of the new Basic Grey papers and my Martha punch. The flowers are from Prima Flowers that are growning in my studio!

Just one more picture to share. I can't seem to get enough animals right now. My Cornish Hertiage Frogs are getting a real ink workout. They are ready to party! I used some paper by Scenic Route that I got in Florida for the back round. Don't you like the new Prima flowers? Those are among the several new jars I got at Michael's this week. Thank goodness for those 40% off coupons!

We don't have a lot of plans for the weekend-yet! I need to work on the submission for the design team I applied for . I got the new rubber this week in the mail. It's on the list to "to do's" for Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

DD/DDA June Challenge- Inside & Out!

The Challenge for this month over at SCS for the Dirty Girls and Dirty Girl Alumni!

Let's create some happy mail! I want the recipients of your cards to smile as soon as they see it in their mailbox.  I LOVE to see decorated envelopes (and the inside of cards too) but I rarely take the time to stamp them. I would like to see how creative we all can be decorating the "inside" and "out" to coordinate with our card front.


Challenge Focus: "Inside & Out"......stamp and decorate both the inside of your card AND the outside of the envelope. (any card size is ok) Please upload two photos.


Required Element: Patriotic element - interpret this any way you like (ex. color scheme, sentiment, image, whatever)

Restricted Element: No ribbon

This is my card for this month. I just love the Tilda girls and now I've used Brother Edwin for this card! I colored him with copic markers and mounted him on an oval using my Spellbinder die cuts. The paper is from Scenic Route. The verse is from Verve Visuals and mounted using SU circle punches. The stars are also made using my SU Star Punch.

 

Ribbon Blog Candy Giveaway-MORE GOODIES

UPDATED WEDNESDAY JUNE 18, 2008

While looking in my studio this morning under piles of "stuff" to see if I could find my lost MOJO, I found lots of other goodies to share with the winner! I have a garden of Prima Flowers growing in my studio and trees of ribbon, so I'm going to add some 1/4" grosgrain ribbon to the mix that goes wonderfully with SU card stock, and a nice big handful of Prima Flowers. I have a few images to stamp out for swaps with the Riley line of Hanna Stamps, so I'll be adding some of those too! I think my MOJO may have run away with my pop dots, since they seem to be missing too!

Isn't it funny how one minute you can have all the creative juices flowing and the next minute you're looking under the table to see if your MO JO is in hiding! I started off the week with a bang and then today is GONE! I stamped badly, I've colored worse and I've eve glued a whole card together only to notice that is wasn't straight! Tell me, has this happened to you? Do you know where the MO is hiding? Let me know with a comment and I'm going to have some nice Blog Candy on Friday night for you. Leave a note before 8 PM Central time.  I just got some new ribbons from ROBOM. I love that store and they have some new 5/8" River Rock grosgrain I got. I love to share some. I also have black, red, and green to share. Green, like Old Olive Green. I'm giving away a yard of each of five colors. Then you'll have some new  ribbon to play with too! Hey, don't tell your friends, be the only one to leave a comment....you'll be the only one to get ribbon! I'm going to add some images from the card below so you can have fun making one too!

This is a card I made with some fun papers and ribbon before the MO JO left town. I used two different pieces of paper one from a K & CO pad I found at M's some time ago and a small piece of Bo Bunny polka dot paper.The stamp is the Stamping Bella Flower Pots. I think this image is just so nice and clean looking!

 

Well, that's it for today. Everyone have a wonderful evening. Maybe you can get some craftin' done!

Sunday Fun

Do you like this card? I am so happy with the way it turned out. I'm happy with the way so many of my cards have turned out these past weeks. Things have just been coming together for me since we came back from the beach. Must have been the fresh air or something like that! The Verve Visual stamps are so easy to use and take to ink like a dream so I keep them out on desk and try to use them alot. I made several cards using these sets. The card is made using two different ones, but they all work together to create a pretty card. I'm still using my dragonfly brads that I've had for several years. They just seem to give the "right" touch.

Yesterday was a great day. We slept a little later, or I should say, I slept a little later. Barry always sleeps late on Sunday. We talked to his Dad and wished him a happy day. Then we met with the boys and family to have a really pleasant lunch at Red Lobster. Nobody was rushed and we enjoyed all the gifts that were given out. Barry & I gave Larry a gift certificate to Olive Garden and then Barry thought we should honor Evan too even though he isn't a Dad or anything. He's just a very good son, so he got a certificate as well. Larry & his family gave Barry Disney stuff. He's so easy to shop for. He loves anything Disney. Madelyn made her Grandpa a Lion sun catcher. Evan gave Dad a pretty book with animal pictures and nice little sayings.

After lunch we headed over to Gretchen and Fred's house. They have a very nice pool and it was so fun to visit with them. It was hard to leave the pool since yesterday was near 100 in Dallas, but since it was Sunday night, we headed home.

Today I've been busy doing all the household chores that must be done at some time. You know, wash, clean, and some more cleaning. I don't get carried away with the cleaning part. I also found time to finish the order of cards for my MIL's friend, make a few cards to sell, and I even found time to make a few cards that I own to friends. Not a bad day, but since I've been up for so long, I can feel the need for a nap coming on soon! It's funny how we nap when we're young and then nap again when we get older. Ok, so not so funny since I've always loved to nap in the afternoon. I made sure the boys did too. Barry is always willing to do his fair share of naps too!

Take care friends and have a wonderful day!