Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island

Last Sunday, we hit Misquamicut Beach in RI. Emma LOVES the beach! If I looked this cute in a swimsuit, I would love it, too. LOL

Emma and Papa enjoyed splashing in the waves.

Emma wanted to collect seashells, but couldn't find any. So she decided that rocks were the next best thing.

She built her first sandcastle, too! Uncle Brennan had as much fun as she did.

Yeah, life is good!

Stella Digs It

This is for CCBJ19, in which Janet challenged us to make a summer-themed card. That's hard to imagine since I live in New England and it has been gray and rainy for about five weeks. But this weekend should be gorgeous, so maybe I'll get outside to do some weeding.

Stella, however, is enjoying her garden. This is Stella Digs It by Stamping Bella. She reminds me of the purple-haired, little old ladies I see around town! (Supplies.)

Sorry for the fuzzy photo. I'd retake it, but I already mailed it off to somebody.

Hope your weekend is full of sunshine!

Mystic Seaport, CT

Here are a few scenic shots of Mystic Seaport, CT. It's a lovely, quaint little town. I'd be quite happy to live there, especially since there's a needlepoint store right off of main street.

This is the only photo we got of me~that's what I get for hogging the camera! LOL I took this one because Emma was so proud of her polished nails!

A Sparkly Attitude

For this week's Bellariffic Friday challenge, Em gave us another wonderful sketch. I flipped it on its side. I used the stamp called Addy Tude Loves to Sparkle (by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella), as well as the new SU Razleberry Lemonade paper. I LOVE this paper! (Supplies.)

Happy Friday!

Never Too Old for Recess

While we were in Mystic Seaport, CT, we searched for a park so that Emma could have some play time. Seems like the big kids had just as much fun!

Emma begged to go "higher and faster" on the swing. A girl after my own heart!

Rick mastered the four-foot-tall rock climbing wall.

Brennan flew a kite.

Brittany played on the whatever-it-is.

Keaton called his girlfriend from the top of the jungle gym, then played on a swing.

And I was the photographer.

Recess isn't just for kids, you know!

A Little Less Hard Time, A Little More Bliss

Welcome to my second Bella's Show and Tell Challenge!

Monday, hard to wake up

Fill my coffee cup, I'm out the door

Yeah, the freeway's standing still today

It's gonna make me late, and that's for sure

I'm running out of gas and out of time

Never gonna make it there by nine

There's gotta be something more

Gotta be more than this

I need a little less hard time

I need a little more bliss...

(written and copyrighted by Sugarland)

Does this sound familiar? If you are a fan of country music, then you surely recognize these lyrics. And who hasn't had a day like this? My challenge for you this month is to make a card showing what you do when you need a little less hard time and a little more bliss. Do you garden? Do you listen to music? Read a book? Take a bath? Go shopping? Stamp? Whatever it is, I want to see it! So peruse your collection of Stamping Bella stamps, and make a card that shows what you do (or would like to do) for a little more bliss!

For my own card, I used Alexis' Bad Hair Day (by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella). When I have a rough day, I love to put on my favorite worn-out, funky jammies (Nick & Nora flannels), my robe, and my slippers. I curl up in my chair with my dogs and watch one of my favorite TV shows (the Red Sox, Law & Order, or The Closer), read one of my favorite books (anything by Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, or James Michener), or watch one of my favorite chick flicks (You've Got Mail, Sweet Home Alabama, or Miss Potter). So this stamp is perfect for me! The glitter is a very luscious purple, even though it looks blue here. (Click here to see my supply list.)

At 9:00 PM EST on July 15th, I will randomly draw a winner from among the challenge participants. The prize is a $15 gift voucher to Stamping Bella! To be eligible, you must post your card in the SCS BSAT2 gallery by 9:00 PM EST on July 15th. I will randomly draw a winner at that time, and will post the winner here and in the challenge thread on the morning of Thursday, June 16th. Click here to participate in this challenge.

P.S. I apologize in advance if this tune gets stuck in your head, but happy humming while you stamp!

Baby Beluga...

I can still hear that Raffi song playing in my head! LOL All six of us went to Mystic Seaport, CT for July 4th weekend. Our first stop was the Mystic Aquarium, home of the only beluga whales in North America. Emma had so much fun playing with one at the tank window. This whale was hilarious! He would swim by nonchalantly, then bounce with his mouth opened wide at the kids. All of the kids screamed, except for Emma. She laughed hysterically! The whale did this five or six times. It was quite entertaining!

Emma was convinced that the whale was kissing her. He also kept blowing bubbles at her.

This is Emma demonstrating what the whale looked like when he kissed her. LOL

She loved the whale so much that Mommy bought her a little stuffed beluga whale. She named him Bubbles.

Emma loving on her Mommy.

Emma also liked the sea lions. Listen closely to the video: Emma thinks the seals are burping! LOL

More tomorrow! Thanks for visiting!

A Beautiful Kimono

I love the Japanese Ketto stamps from Stamping Bella! It's so much fun to paper piece their kimonos. This is Ginger Ketto, paper pieced from Basic Grey's Euphoria. (Click here to see my supplies.)

Thanks for visiting!

CASEing Tracy

Congratulations to Tracy Cornhill for being selected as this months' Bella's Favorite Stamnper! (Tracy has an incredible gallery, which you can view here.) To celebrate Tracy, we were asked to CASE a card from her SCS gallery~this means to copy her card, changing at least two things. I chose this card from her gallery. Here is my CASEd copy:

I used the same stamp (Maisy Ketto by Stamping Bella), the same black grosgrain ribbon, and the same layout. I changed the paper and colors, I colored with Copics instead of with Prismacolor pencils, I changed the embellishments, and I added a sentiment. (Click here to see my supplies.)

Congrats, Tracy! It is an honor well deserved!

CCC (Coffee and Chit Chat)

This is for this week's Bellariffic Friday Challenge. The image is Javabuggs by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella. I used the new SU paper called Razzleberry Lemonade. I love this paper! Thank you, Hope! (Supply list.)

Have a great weekend and Happy 4th of July!

Beyond Ready for Summer!

This week, Sparkle challenge us to make a Stamping Bella card with a summer theme. I live in New England, and it has rained almost every day for the last month. I am so beyond ready for summer! (Click here to see my list of supplies.)

Thanks for a fun challenge, Sparkle!

Welcome, Camryn!

In May, my younger brother, Mark, and his lovely wife, Nicole, welcomed a baby girl! Her name is Camryn Taylor. She is beautiful! Her room is decorated in pink and brown, and Nicole loves daisies. So I made this card to welcome her. (I used Jamie's BSC78 for this card. See my supply list here.)

I asked my dear and mega-talented friend, Christy Croll (aka Tiddly Inks), to make a special nameplate for Camryn's room. I love what she did! She painted this with watercolors.

Thank you Christy!

Welcome, Camryn! I can't wait to meet you in August!

Macaroni Eyebrows

While we were eating dinner, Emma held up two pieces of bow-tie pasta and exclaimed, "Look! I have eyebrows!"

Yes, ANOTHER Ladybug!

By now you know that I love daisies and ladybugs because they adorn my precious grand-daughter's bedroom. I am always on the lookout for anything with daisies and ladybugs. So when I came across a tutorial for this pocket card, I knew it would be adorable with a daisy and a ladybug! (You can view Stephanie Luman's tutorial here.)

I just got a Cricut, and I decided to make this card as my first project! This is also for CCBJ17, which required a card with a unique fold. The base of this card has three folds to form the pot. (See my supply list here.)

The piece with the flowers pulls out and has space to write a note.

I LOVE my Cricut!

Have an awesome weekend!

Me and My BFF, Robyn!

Pinky is hosting a fabulous new challenge in the SCS Stamping Bella Forum. It's called Bella's Scrapbook Challenge, which you can see here. The inaugural challenge was to make a scrapbook page featuring your BFF, using at least one photo, one title, one journaling piece, and one Stamping Bella image. Mine turned out to be a four-page spread, and I am "Tickled Pink" with it! (I used the CTMH Tickled Pink Scrapbooking Kit. The image is Best Friends Forevah by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella. Click here to see my supply list.)

I met Robyn in Colorado in 1999 when I was her son's 3rd grade teacher. Two years later, she became a 3rd grade teacher at the same school. We've been BFF ever since! I was devastated when I had to move from CO to MA. I miss her soooooooooo much!

The first photo is of me and Robyn in Robyn's classroom a few days before I moved. Robyn came to visit me two months later. In the second photo, we are in Cheers in Boston.

That summer, we planned our family vacations together. We went to Maui! The first photo shows us poolside. In the second photo, we are at The Plantation House to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary with Rick. Robyn's parents were also there, as was my brother, Bill, and my SIL/BFF Lori (whom you know as scrapinglori on SCS).

I went to CO for Robyn's 40th birthday. We hit our favorite restaurant and then spent a few days in Beaver Creek with Robyn's mom. In the bottom photo, we are on Maui again. And yes, I get really dark in the sun! (Robyn, we MUST go back to Maui! Busy tomorrow? LOL)

This is such a sentimental photo for me. Here Robyn and her husband, Justin, met my grand-daughter, Emma Grace, when Emma was one day old. How sweet is that? The blank spot is for a new photo I plan to take when Robyn comes to visit me in two weeks! We haven't seen each other in two years, so this visit is long overdue.

Pinky, thanks for such a fabulous challenge!

Robyn, I'm counting the days!

Bella Birthday Bash Challenges

In honor of Em's (Stamping Bella's) Birthday, we enjoyed a huge Bella Birthday Bash last night on SCS! As part of the fun, we were issued two challenges.

Sparkle gave us such a fun challenge: in honor of Em's 37th birthday, we were to use 3 embellishments (I used three types of embellishments, not just 3 pieces) and 7 layers. I had so much fun with this! And I LOVE this stamp. She reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. Guess that's why she's called Elizabella! I paper pieced her dress. (See my supply list here.)

Shannan gave us a wonderful sketch. Tutuface by Tiddly Inks is one of my favorite stamps. She seemed perfect for this challenge! (See my supply list here.)

Hope you a delightful birthday, Em!

Bella Birthday Blog Skip, Hop, and Dance!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EM!

In honor of Em's birthday, we are having an awesome Bella Birthday Blog Skip, Hop, and Dance! If you've just happened upon my blog, click here to start from the beginning.

During our Ketto Blog Hop, some ladies mentioned that they'd like to see a simple, fast, and inexpensive project. So I've got one for you! I found a large Nicole Crafts Takeout Box at AC Moore for 99 cents! They stock several colors. Michael's and Hobby Lobby have them, too. They are available on the internet as well.

I wrapped black grosgrain ribbon around the edges. I used Stamping Bella's Cuppacakeabella and cut her out with a "silhouette" shape. I added some Prima flowers and Bella's Dots. I made a thick layer of frosting using Cotton Candy Stickles. Then I wrote a message with a Sharpie. This literally took 15 minutes! It's definitely simple, fast, and inexpensive! Of course, you can add as much flair as you'd like: some DP, more embellishments, etc. It's a great project for any level stamper. The best part is that you can fill it with fun surprises!

Now for the REALLY exciting news: there is a prize hidden somewhere along this Blog Hop! One pre-selected and secret blogger will draw a random winner from the comments on her post, and the winner will receive a $40 gift voucher to Stamping Bella! Be sure to leave a comment on every blog so that you have a chance to win!

Now skip, hop, or dance (or all three!) over to Michelle's blog. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Em!

Christy Croll (aka Tiddly Inks) created this fabulous digi-image in honor of Em's (Stamping Bella's) birthday. This image is soooooo Em! Some of the Splitcoast Sistahbellas used this image to make cards for Em. Of course, I wanted mine to be funky and sparkly! Em's signature colors are black and pink. My favorite color is purple. And we both LOVE bling! (See my supply list here.)

Happy Birthday, dear Em!

Pretty in Purple

Sorry for the blurry photo! I'd retake it, but the card has already been sent. Not too sure about the skin color. It's Copic's Orientale, but it looks a bit too dark. Hmm... (See my supply list here.)

You Color My World

I needed a fast and simple card, and this fit the bill. She is so cheery, isn't she? (See my supply list here.)

A Perfect 10!

Emma is taking gymnastics lessons. It's hard to get any good photos because of the gym lighting, but I had to try. Emma's the cutest little gymnast EVER! I love the leotard!

Emma LOVES the trampoline. She is convinced that her crib mattress is one. LOL

Miss Carly is trying to teach her to do a forward roll.

Emma loves to climb anything! This photo is out of focus, but I am a grandma so I think it's perfect! LOL

GO EMMA!

Happy Father's Day, Rick!

Emma gave Papa lots of hugs and kisses.

Emma shared her Finding Nemo fruitsnacks with Papa. That was a gift in and of itself!

Emma, Rick, Brittany, Keaton, and Brennan

Me and my sweetheart!

I told Rick that this photo proves that we NEED to go to Hawaii to get some sun! LOL

Life is Sweet!

Emma adores her uncles! Here she is with Uncle Brennan. Does life get any better than this?

Me Treasure Box

This is for CCBJ16. I flipped the sketch to accommodate the image.

This stamp is too cute! It's Little Johnny Deppster by Tiddly Inks. I made this for a girlfriend who likes pirates. Can you guess who she is? (See my supply list here.)

Little Lady and Her Ladybug

This feels so bright and cheery to me. And you know how I am about ladybugs and daisies! (See my supply list here.)

Have a great weekend!

Monstah Bash

This is for BSC78 on SCS. I love Jamie's sketches! I flipped this sketch on its side to accommodate the image (Monstah Bash by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella). To get the distressed look on the blue panel, I used CTMH cardstock (which has a white core), embossed it with a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, then lightly sanded the surface. (Click here to see my supply list.)

Hmm...what's up with Blogger? This photo looked fine until I uploaded it. :(

Wishing you a happy day!

Tricycle Built for One

Emma is learning to ride a tricycle!

She is extremely independent and she wanted to do it by herself, until she ALMOST tipped over. She didn't actually fall, but she was still scared. Poor baby!

But her adventurous spirit took hold, and she got right back on and insisted on riding it solo.

You go, girl!

Hangin' Out

Emma loves to "hang out" (her words) with her Papa and her Uncles. The fact that they adore her is probably why! Here she is riding the carousel with Papa at our local mall.

Here she is reading with Uncle Brennan.

Here she's cuddling Uncle Keaton as they watch The Lion King.

Here she is riding the carousel again, this time with Uncle Brennan. She kept waving to me and saying, "Hi, Giffy Giff!"

Life just keeps getting sweeter!

Have a Fabby Day!

I've been busy making cards to send to our troops. I am mostly making cards for our soldiers to send to their children. The little girl in me absolutely loves this stamp (Fabby by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella). What little girl wouldn't love her? I used last week's Stamping Bella Bellariffic Friday sketch. (Click here to see my supply list.)

May you have a Fabby Monday!

Beach Babe Betty

This is for BTC6 on SCS. Hope challenged us to use a Bella Sketch by Jamie Morris (BSC70) and to use red, white, and blue in honor of Flag Day. Sorry for the poor photo quality. It's dark and dreary, and I cannot get a photo of this. Ironically, the sentiment reads, "Have a sunshiney day." (Click here to see my supply list.)

Thanks for another fun challenge, Hope! Now I'm ready to hit the beach!

Miss Maisy

In anticipation of the recent Stamping Bella Ketto Blog Hop, I couldn't decide which Ketto stamp to use. So I made a card using each of my stamps (the sign of a true addict!). Then the idea for the Wasabi pen caddy came to mind (see a few posts below). I was so pleased with the final project that I used it for the blog hop. It is now sitting on  my crafting table (aka dining room), and is filled with markers. It does, indeed, bring me much happiness (the sentiment I used on it).

Here is one of the cards I made in anticipation of the blog hop. This is Phoebe Ketto. I had so much fun making this card. It was the first time I had embossed! The embossing didn't show up very well in the photo~it's on the pink sparkles on the blue panel. (Click here to see my supply list.)

Hope you have a great week!

Cherry Blossoms

This is for CCBJ14. Janet's challenge was to make a sympathy card. The timing was perfect~or not so perfect~since I needed to make a sympathy card. I used SU's Soft Summer stamp set. I just love these cherry blossoms! (These trees are all over Boston, and they are breathtaking!) I was excited to use my first 2-step stamp, until I realized that Copic markers don't work well with this technique because the ink dries too quickly. So I ended up stamping just the second layer and colored it in with my Copics. The embossing lost its glossy sheen where it was touched by the markers, but it's not too noticeable. (Click here to see my list of supplies.)

I can't take any credit whatsoever for this card! My sweet friend, Christy, sent me the following card for Mother's Day. I totally fell in love with it, which is why I ordered the stamp set. I begged her for a step-by-step tutorial, as I had never done any 2-step stamping or embossing. She kindly explained it all to me. Thanks, Christy! And what did I do in return? I stole your card idea! LOL At least you know I really love the card you made for me!

Bella's Favorite Stamper for June

I am so excited that Angie Williams (aka Renski on SCS) is this month's Bella's Favorite Stamper! It is a well deserved honor. You can view Angie's gallery here or her blog here.

To celebrate Angie, Laura has challenged us to CASE (copy, changing at least two things) one of Angie's cards. Angie has so many fabulous cards in her gallery, it was hard for me to choose one! I finally selected this one because I really like the sketch.

Here is my take on it:

I used the same paper, sentiment, and sketch. I used a different Bella (Rockabella), altered the sentiment placement, and used different ribbon. (Click here to see my supply list.)

Congratulations, Angie! I had so much fun CASEing you!

A Magical Birthday

For this week's Bellariffic Friday Challenge, Em gave us this sketch:

Here's my take on it. (Click here to see my supply list.)

Don't you just love the Chichiboulie Fairies? They are so dainty and sweet! 

I like these bright, springy colors, especially since it takes quite a long time for spring to arrive here in New England.

Happy Friday!

Who Are You?

I am quite excited! I am honored to be a member of the brand spankin' new and totally cool team of Splitcoast Sistahbellas! (Stamping Bella's new forum team on SCS.) We've been shakin' things up on the forum. In addition to this fabulous and talented team of ladies, we've got new challenges and monthly events. We also have an exciting new twist for the weekly challenges: there will be a winner for each weekly challenge, and the prize is a $15 Gift Voucher to Stamping Bella! So come hang out with the Splitcoast Sistahbellas, have some FUN, and earn a chance to go shopping at Stamping Bella!

Each month, I will host a thematic challenge called Bella's Show and Tell Challenge. Each challenge will have two parts. First, you will make a card based on a specific theme. Second, you will briefly explain your interpretation of the challenge. Here's the first Bella's Show and Tell Challenge:

Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

'Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

(written and copyrighted by The Who)

If you are a fan of CSI or of the rock band The Who, then you surely recognize these lyrics This month's challenge is to make a card showing who you are~as a woman, a wife, a daughter, a mother, a sister, a friend, a dreamer, a career woman, etc.~anything that defines you. After you upload your card to this SCS BSAT1 gallery, go back to this thread and briefly describe your card, specifically how it represents you. Thus, you will show and tell!

It's time to look through your stash of Stamping Bella stamps and select the perfect stamp that answers the questions, "Who Are You? Who, who, who, who?" 'cause I really wanna know! 

For my own card, I used Bookwormabella. I love to read. I have a BA in English. I taught the 2nd and 3rd grades emphasizing literacy. Since I was 8 years old, it has been my life's dream to be a children's author, and now I am. Books are as important to me as breathing, or at least pretty close, so this stamp is perfect for me! (Click here to see my supply list.)

At 9:00 PM EST on June 10th, I will randomly draw a winner from the challenge participants. To be eligible, you must post your card in the SCS BSAT1 gallery by 9:00 PM EST on June 10th. I will randomly draw a winner at that time, and will post the winner here and in the challenge thread on the morning of Thursday, June 11th. Click here to participate in this challenge. 

P.S. I apologize in advance if this tune gets stuck in your head, but happy humming while you stamp!

I NEED YOUR CARDS!

A dear friend is serving in Iraq on his third tour of duty. He and his fellow servicemen and servicewomen would LOVE to have our handmade cards to send to their sweethearts, children, parents, siblings, etc. PLEASE HELP ME by making cards or sending some from your stash. All cards are welcome! For every card you send, please send an envelope, too.

I will provide the postage for them to mail the cards home. On June 22nd, I will mail all of the cards and the stamps. Please have your cards to me NO LATER THAN JUNE 20TH!

PLEASE ink up your favorite stamps or raid your stash and help me! This one small act of kindness will make a huge difference to someone else.

If you'd like to participate, please email me at giffysk8s@mac.com so I can send you my address.

Thank you in advance!

Phoebe's in Love

This is Phoebe Ketto by Stamping Bella. I like the colors and the non-rectangular shape. And I really love the Kanji Phrase (by CTMH) at the bottom. It suits her perfectly!

(Click here to see my supply list.) 

Happy Wednesday and TFL!

You Bring Me Much Happiness

Now that the recipient of this card has received it, I can post it here. I didn't want to spoil the surprise!

Suzette was one of my first Kettos and she's still one of my favorites. She is so much fun to color! I really enjoy using the CTMH Kanji Phrases. They add a different touch, and seem to go so well with the Kettos. (Click here to see my supply list.)

Happy Tuesday!

Workin' at the Car Wash...

Emma helped Brittany wash her car. What most of us think of as a chore, Emma thought was a special treat!

Here are my two favorite photos of Emma washing her car!

Ahh...life is sweet!

Ketto Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog! 

This is the Stampng Bella Ketto Blog Hop. If this is your first stop, click here to begin your journey on the Stamping Bella Blog. If you started at Stamping Bella, you should have come to me from Paula. If not, click here to begin.

If you're like me, your crafting table is overflowing with things that need to be at hand just in case you need them! I have a desk caddy that holds pens, scissors, adhesives, etc. I needed a bit more tabletop storage, but I wanted something cute and me. So for this blog hop, I made my own caddy using my favorite Ketto, Wasabi:

I used a pail from Stampendous. I stamped Wasabi Ketto's Flowers on the background with Versamark, then embossed them with CTMH's Pansy Purple Embossing Powder. I added Lilac Shimmerz to the flower petals. I colored Wasabi Ketto with Copics and Copic Spicas. I added some bling to her kimono with Lilac Shimmerz, dabbed some Pearlescent Black chalk along the edges, then triple-matted her with CTMH Petal, Pansy Purple, and Black. On the back, I added a sentiment from CTMH's Kanji Phrases. I chose this particular phrase because stamping does, indeed, bring me much happiness! I adhered it all to the inside of the pail. Here's a view of the back:

On the outside, I added Prima Daisy Doodles, with Bella's Solid Black Dots as their centers. I tied a triple-layered bow of black, amethyst, and lavender silk ribbon. And just when I thought I was done, my sweet Bella Sistah, Janie, sent me some Lavender Colorbox Rhinestones. (Thank you, Janie!) They added the perfect final touch as the centers of my embossed flowers. 

So, can you tell that I love purple and bling, especially blingy purple? LOL

Now for some fun news! There's a prize hidden somewhere along the hop: a $40 gift voucher to Stamping Bella! One of the blogs along the hop has been chosen as the "prize" blog. The owner of this blog will randomly choose a winner from those who leave comments on her blog. So be sure to comment on every blog so that you have a chance to win! The winner will be announced on Monday. Good luck and Happy Hopping!

Click here to move on to Emily's blog, which is the next stop along the Ketto Blog Hop. Enjoy!

Lady Owlie Has News

This is Lady Owlie and Her Sign by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella. I love the versatility of this stamp~you can put anything on her sign. She's fun to color, too! I made this for this week's Bellariffic Friday Sketch Challenge, which you can see here. (Click here to see my supply list.)

Happy Friday!

Such a Hoot!

This week, Hope's Bella's Twisted Challenge challenge (BTC5 on SCS) was to use brown and orange, and to make a non-rectangular card. I taught 3rd grade, so I do know that a square in technically a rectangle. But I don't teach 3rd grade anymore, so I can pretend that my square card is, indeed, non-rectangular. LOL I used Branching Out Owlies by Tiddly Inks. Isn't this stamp adorable? I also played with embossing, which is a new technique for me. I tend to be really messy with glitter and embossing powder~messy as in I look like a 3rd grader when I'm done because the glitter and embossing powder are literally everywhere, like in my hair, my eyebrows, my nose, my floors and walls, etc. (So the title can refer to the card, or to the visual image you now have of me using glitter and embossing powder.) Alas, my friends Hope and Christy have inspired me to break out of my rectangular comfort zone and try new things! So I've been practicing, but I am still a 3rd grader at heart. :) 

(Click here to see my supply list.)

Thanks for another fun challenge, Hope! 

Kickin' Back

This week's Corrosive Challenge by Janet was to use black, red, and either kraft or white. I used Daydreamabella by Stamping Bella. Thanks, Janet~this was a great color combo! (Click here to see my supply list.)

These Shoes Were Made for Dancin'

In case you don't already know, we are having a Ketto Blog Hop in the SCS Stamping Bella forum this Saturday, May 30th, 10 AM central time. The only requirement is that you make something using a stamp from Stamping Bella's Ketto line. Come join the fun!

In anticipation, I have been playing with my Kettos, trying to decide which one to use for the blog hop. It was a tough decision! I'll be posting the "extras" here throughout the week. Here's Flamenca Ketto. I love the fringe across the top!

(You can see my supply list here.)

Can you tell that I've been practicing with the glitter? This time, I managed to use it like a grown-up instead of like an 8-year-old. I only had a teensy bit stuck to my face and hair! LOL

Thanks again for the glitter, Hope~I am having so much fun with it! Flamenca thanks you, too. 

So So Much!

When I ask Emma (my two-year-old grand-daughter) how much she loves me, she raises her hands above her head and squeals, "SO SO MUCH!" Yes, I ask her about a dozen times a day!

I asked my sweet and mega-talented friend, Christy Croll (aka Tiddly Inks) to make a stamp for me of Emma playing the "So So Much!" game. I am so delighted with the results! I LOVE IT! (You can view my supply list here.)

The words are separate, so I can move them around or put something else, or nothing at all, in her hands. Is this not the cutest stamp ever? Check out Christy's Tiddly Inks store here. She has so many fabulous things that you won't be able to resist! 

Thank you, Christy~you made this old grandma do the happy dance So So Much! LOL

Dollywood

Dollywood, as in Japanese kokeshi dolls made from wood~not the Dolly Parton theme park! My sweet friend, Christy, lives on Okinawa. A few months ago, Christy surprised me with the gift of a kokeshi doll and keychain. Those girls needed friends! I sent her a "kokeshi slush fund," and asked her to be my personal shopper. Thankfully, kokeshi dolls are relatively inexpensive, so my fund went a long, long way! On Thursday, I received my second group of dolls. (Click here to see the first group.) I am so delighted with them! I told Christy that I can't pick a favorite! I took photos of them, but I'm having some camera/computer issues (sigh). Christy kindly let me use the photos she took of them before she mailed them. (Thanks, Christy!)

This was the first one I opened. The moon and the cranes are hand carved. In Japan, the crane is considered a national treasure. She is a beautiful cherry-wood red, which matches my office furniture. I love the tiny little details in the carvings, right down to the teeny tiny eyes on the cranes. Isn't she pretty? Her hair is exquisitely shiny! 

Next, I opened these precious ones. I asked Christy to buy a little girl with daisies if she ever came across one. Emma's room is decorated with daisies and ladybugs, so I wanted one that would always remind me of Emma. She found these at the same time, and couldn't decide between them~so she bought both. I love the bow and umbrella on the first one. She has painted daisies and even has red tones in her hair. And the expression on her face is so sweet! But I love the carved daisies and the white hair on the other one. I haven't seen many with white hair~it's very unique and very pretty. I am so glad she bought both of them. I wouldn't have been able to choose, either.

This one was next. She immediately took my breath away! She has maple leaves, which will always remind me of living in New England. Her leaves are painted but have a 3-D effect. The main color is a very pretty orange, so representative of the autumn colors. Christy, you and Lee need to come visit me some October so that you can see these leaves IRL!

Then I opened this one. She is gorgeous! Apparently purple is a color rarely used on kokeshi dolls. (So of course that has to be favorite color.) When you look closely at her flowers, they look like hydrangeas, which I love! Her hair is really pretty and hangs down her back. And get this: she's musical! She twirls around as the music plays. No wonder she has such a delighful look on her face~she's a dancing kokeshi doll! 

Finally, I opened the grandma and grandpa dolls, which I had also asked Christy to find for me. They are so cute, they make me giggle! The goatee on Grandpa is so apropos~it looks just like Rick's! Hey, I figure that we should celebrate our roles as grandparents. That means I needed these dolls! LOL 

Christy also sent along this beautiful card for me. Of course, all of her cards are beautiful, but this one gets to be mine. :)

So here are all of my kokeshi girls, hangin' out and havin' fun, especially when the musical one gets the party going! 

Now, I couldn't ask Christy to be my personal shopper without thanking her in a special way. She gave me my very first koskehi doll, and it will always remind me of her. So I asked her to choose one for herself as a gift from me. This is the one she chose. Isn't she pretty? I like her shape and her bobbed hair.

Christy, thank you for doing such a wonderful job shopping for me! I truly love them all! Did you notice that I moved my Red Sox stuff? That should tell you how much I love them! 

Uptown Girl

Janet issued an awesome challenge this week: her theme was "Rock Music." Well, I have been a Billy Joel fan for 30 years. (Yes, I really am THAT old! LOL) My first Billy Joel concert was when I was seven months pregnant with Brittany. Yes, our seats were in the very top row. Yes, I had to use the ladies room every twenty minutes. Yes, I finally gave up and just sat on the bottom stair. And yes, Brittany is now a Billy Joel fan, too! A few years ago, the kids bought Rick two tickets to see Billy Joel. Thankfully, Rick chose to take me. :) Let me tell you, Billy Joel can still rock and roll! It was the best concert we have ever attended!

Anyway, I knew I had to make a card for this challenge based on a Billy Joel song. Is this Bella (ipodabella) not the perfect "Uptown Girl?" (Click here to se my supply list.

Janet, thanks for a fun challenge!

Classy and Fabulous

Em provided a great sketch for this week's Bellariffic Friday Challenge. Here's my interpretation of it:

(Click here to see my supply list.) 

This stamp (Peekaboobella by Stamping Bella) totally reminds me of my mother. I well remember her silk stockings~the kind that required garters. Although I never saw her in it, I know she had a corset (or the 50's version called a girdle). In fact, there's some funny story about a small-claims lawsuit and my father parading her defective corset through the courtroom. Yes, she's gonna kill me. But she won't see me until August, and maybe she'll forgive by then, right Mom? I love you!

Anyway, my mother really is classy and fabulous. This is one of my favorite old photos of my parents and my dad's mom, taken in the mid-1950s. I am sure she was wearing those silk stockings, but I doubt she needed a corset. Look at her!

She is still beautiful, still classy, still fabulous!

Love you, Mom~see you soon!

Show Us Your Stuff!

That's the title of this week's Bella's Twisted Challenge by Hope. Her challenge was to decorate the inside of the card to match the outside of the card. I had so much fun doing this, but please don't ask how many tries it took!  It was one of those stamping days. I kept flubbing the sentiments. Still asking? Okay, I'll tell you~I stamped them 13 times! Wearing my glasses may have helped. I finally thought of that after flubbing 12 times. Yup, grandma brain~that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! LOL So here is the card front:

It flips open from bottom to top. Here's the inside:

I made a larger version of the butterfly from the card front, and I stamped the English translation of the Japanese Kanji phrase. I like that you can still see the Kanji phrase and the small flowers when you flip it open. The sentiments are the CTMH Kanji Phrases. The images are Wasabi Ketto and Papillon Ketto by Stamping Bella. I used CTMH's Pansy Purple and Sweet Leaf cardstock.

Thanks for a fun challenge, Hope!

Tea for Two and Two for Tea...

For Mother's Day, Brittany made this beautiful card and invitation for a traditional afternoon tea. She used JavaBuggs (by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella).

The Teapot Cafe in Boxborough, MA shares a building with a the cutest quilting shop! We went early so I could browse. The shop sells some of the prettiest quilt kits for wall banners. Brittany chose one that I am going to make for her birthday, and I found a pretty one with tulips for my bedroom. I'll post those when I make them. 

And then there was the tea. And the finger sandwiches. And the mini pastries. And the scones with clotted cream. I don't know how many Weight Watchers points it all cost me, but it was worth every one of them! 

Thank you, Brittany~I had a delightful time! I love you, and I am so blessed to be your mother. You bring so much joy to my life!

And yes, I really do have dimples. My father always liked them, so when I see a photo of myself with my dimples showing, I always think of him. Love and miss you, Daddy!

Best Buggs Forever

You know how much I love the HuggABuggs by Tiddly Inks! Here's one of her new ones. Isn't this simply the cutest? Hey, Christy~maybe they can be you and me! Can you guess which one I am? LOL (Click here to see the supply list.)

This card if for CCBJ11. Thanks for a fun sketch, Janet!

Daisies and Ladybugs, Ladybugs and Daisies...

Yup, I've got a thing for them. Before Brittany knew that she was having a girl, she asked me if I would design and make a custom crib quilt. If it was girl, she wanted daisies and ladybugs. If it was a boy, she wanted a Red Sox theme. You know how much I LOVE the Red Sox, but I must admit that I was thrilled to get to play with daisies and ladybugs! This is what I came up with for Emma's room. The quilt background is actually cut from one of her crib sheets. It's light green with white polka dots. I designed it (and bought extra fabric) so that it can become the centerpiece for a twin or full-sized bed quilt when she graduates from her crib. I also made some extra little pieces to hang on the wall above her crib.

So imagine my squealing-like-a-little-girl delight when I saw this new spring Tilda! She hit my cart in record time! I made this card front to match Emma's room. I think I'll hang it on Emma's matching ribbon board.

I can't wait to color her with different colors. So if you all start getting ladybug Tilda cards from me, you'll know why! LOL

Have an awesome weekend!

Sittin' on Top of the World...

For this week's Bellariffic Friday challenge (www.stampingbella.com), Emily asked us to use gold and bling~what fun! I used this delightful new Tiddly Inks stamp called Altee'tude. The paper is CTMH's Key to My Heart. 

I love her shimmery sleeves and her hat! They remind me of my favorite movie, Hello Dolly. What can I say? My parents instilled in me a love for those old time musicals! I love the old Judy Garland musicals, too: The Harvey Girls, Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, etc. And how can a girl not love those beautiful dresses and hats? Though I am thankful that I don't have to wear those heavy dresses or feathers and fake fruit on my head. LOL

Simple Pleasures

For this week's Bella's Twisted Challenge (BTC3), Hope asked us to use any blue and any yellow. The twist was that we couldn't use designer paper. That was truly a challenge for me, as I love DP! This was another fun challenge, Hope~thank you!

The CTMH cardstock has a white core. After I ran the blue through the Cuttlebug in embossing folders, I lightly sanded the embossed surface. This exposed the white core beneath the color. I like the effect. Of course, I had to add some bling! I went for two different colors of Stickles and some Bella's dots. (For a list of supplies, click here.)

As I strolled through The Boston Garden last weekend (see the following post), I was reminded of the pleasure to be found in simple things: duck families, cherry blossom trees, the sounds of birds singing and of children laughing, the joy that the scent of a single flower can bring, the simplicity of the startling beauty of a tulip. May you take a moment or two today to enjoy one of life's simpler things. 

Come Tiptoe Through The Tulips With Me...

The Boston Garden is one of my favorite places. Did you know that it was the first public garden in the country? That's one of the cool things about Boston~it hosts many of this country's "firsts." Everyone knows how beautiful the famed New England autumns are. Springtime is almost as gorgeous, especially in The Boston Garden. That's where Rick, Brittany, Emma, and I spent Saturday afternoon. 

I don't know why I have a thing for taking photos through tree branches, but I do. It must be  because I like the lighting effects and cool angles I can find. This one is of the Customs Tower in downtown Boston. It was my favorite branch shot of the day.

The cherry trees, pansies, and tulips in The Boston Garden were in full bloom~a palette for the eyes and soul!

Emma loved walking on the "special sidewalks."

Make Way for Ducklings is a famous children's book written by Robert McCloskey in 1941. It won the Caldecott Medal in 1942, and has sold over 2 million copies! It tells the story of a pair of Mallard ducks who raise their family on an island in The Boston Garden's lagoon. If you have ever been to Boston, it really is a must read! Here is the island feautured in the book, inhabited my numerous ducks and their families.

Emma enjoyed pointing out the mama ducks and their ducklings.

The city added bronze statues of Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, depicting an illustration from the book. Every child who walks through the garden feels compelled to sit on the statues. Some of the adults do, too~but I played nicely and let the real kids enjoy them. :)

The infamous Swan Boats give you a short ride across the lagoon, circling the tiny island. They were closed when we got there, so we definitely have to go back!

 This is my favorite photo~the three girls and the purple tulips!

I love the expressions in this photo! Emma is having the time of her life, and Rick is thinking, "You're STILL taking photos?" This was literally my 137th photo of the day! LOL

We didn't actually tiptoe through any tulips~though at one point Emma did fall into one of the tulip beds, so does that count? Either way, Tiny Tim's rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" is gonna be playing in my mind for days!

This Girl's Best Friends...

...of the canine variety, that is! In honor of National Pet Week (which was last week), Hope started a fun thread in the SCS Bella forum: Furry Friends. She asked us to talk about our beloved pets and to make a card using one of Stamping Bella's stamps which include a pet. This stamp is called Parisbella. 

A shout out to my Bella Sistah, Janie, for the lovely purple flowers and metallic hearts. They add the perfect touch and are so me. Thank you, Janie!

I have two male ShihTzus: Indy (Indiana Bones) and Wylie. Yes, they have top knots. No, they don't wear bows. No, I haven't carried them in a pet purse, but never say never!

Here's Indy's puppy picture (next to an Indian Jones hat~get it?!):

Here's Wylie's puppy picture (next to fall decorations since that is when we got him):

Here are they as adults (Indy is 6 and is on the right, Wylie is almost 4 and is on the left). This photo is actually a few years old. Wylie is now full-coated.

And yes, my boys do get birthday parties, complete with hats, presents, and dog cookies.

TMI? LOL

A Memorable Mother's Day

A few weeks ago, Brittany and I took Emma to Build A Bear for the first time. Emma made a dog named Haley. When I asked Emma what she wanted to give Mommy for Mother's Day, she said, "Make kitty at Build A Bear." So the weekend before Mother's Day, Rick and I took her to make her special kitty. She helped stuff it...

...kissed not one but three hearts because she loves Mommy "so so much..."

...tucked the hearts inside the kitty...

and dressed the kitty in a sundress and pink Crocs to match hers! She named the kitty Bella, which is the name of her real kitty.

All week, she kept saying, "Emma made kitty at Build A Bear." Brittany kept relying, "No, Emma, you made a dog at Build A Bear." Emma was so excited to give Bella to Mommy on Mother's Day~and she was proud to prove that she did, in fact, make a kitty at Build A Bear. 

Brennan and Keaton made the sweetest gesture~they gave Brittany a really sweet card for Mother's Day. It was one of those special moments that make a mom feel quite proud. 

Rick and the boys surprised me with a very girlie purse! I love it! 

Brittany made a beautiful card for me. She used the Tiddly Inks Javabuggs stamp, with a matching invitation to a formal tea this Saturday afternoon. We used to have tea parties when she was a little girl, and went out for a formal tea a few times when she was little. I am so excited!

And then Little Miss Emma surprised me with a very special gift: her first painting! She told me that "Emma painted special flowers for Giffy." Yup, I was teary-eyed. Aren't they beautiful? 

She gave me a special kiss, too.

Emma's favorite gift of the day was the ribbon, which she wore like a necklace. I love this photo of her profile.

And here we are, the proud Mom and her three awesome kids (Brittany, Brennan, me, and Keaton). This will probably be the last Mother's Day with all of three of my kids at home, at least for quite awhile. I love you guys more than I can say, and thank you for a wonderful, delightful, memorable day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I made this for my mom for Mother's Day. I used BRC02 on SCS. Shannan's challenge was to use coral, green, any neutral, and black. I couldn't quite make the black work, so I just stamped my sentiment in black. The stamp is Chichiboulie's Patricia Birthdaycake (for Stamping Bella). I just adore Gretchen's Chichiboulie fairies! I masked out the birthday cake so that Patricia could smell a flower instead. The paper is Boom Di Ada by CTMH.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I imagine this fairy breathing in the sweet scent of your beautiful rose garden. I really do love you! I can't wait to see you in August!

Happy Mother's Day to all of my mommy friends. Enjoy your day!

Hey There, Girlie Girl!

This is for BTC2 on SCS. This week, Hope challenged us to use one of Jamie's awesome sketches (I chose BSC24) and to paper piece. (Note to self: don't use polka dotted paper for a girl's shirt~it's very difficult to avoid getting the polka dots in the wrong places LOL). I wonder if my backside will ever look this good in a skirt. Doubtful!

(Supplies are listed in my SCS Gallery. Click on the link to the right.)

Happy Saturday!

Happy Birthday Squared

I made two cards using the same DP pack and layout. That's what happens when you need two cards in a hurry! These aren't fancy~just quick and easy. Sometimes those are the best kind to make! This one is for this week's Bellariffic Friday Challenge (www.stampingbella.com). The challenge was to make a birthday card since it was King Bella's (aka Ryan, Emily's DH) birthday on Monday,.

Stamp: Spabella by Stamping Bella

I needed a second card and hadn't used this stamp for awhile, so I inked her up and voila!

Stamp: Teddybella by Stamping Bella

(To se the supply list in my SCS gallery, cick on the link to the right.)

Pitty Pink Toesies

Yesterday was a BIG day in our house: Mommy painted Emma's toenails for the first time! Emma LOVES them! It's a good thing it was warm today because she was going to wear sandals no matter what! She loves to show them to me and say, "Emma has pitty pink toesies." Aww...LIFE IS GOOD!

A Case for CASEing

Woo hoo! My sweet friend, Christy S., is Bella's Featured Stamper for May! The BSF7 challenge was to CASE (copy, changing at least two things) a card made by Christy. I needed three cards, so I CASEd her three times. I hope that doesn't mean I was stalking her! LOL

First, I needed two graduation cards for sisters: one graduating from high school, one from college. I don't have any "graduation" stamps, so I had to improvise. I thought a cheerleader would be good for the high school girl. Click here to see Christy's Pompomabella card that I CASEd. I changed the sentiment, used a pink stone instead of a rhinestone, and used Copics instead of Prima pencils.

I rememeber feeling "on top of the world" and ready for life's grand adventure when I graduated from college, so I thought that Cruiseabella would make a great card for the college girl. Click here to see the card I CASEd. I changed the background a bit. I don't have the stamps she used for the background, so I inked a Cuttlebug embossing folder to get a similar effect. I changed the sentiment and used Copics instead of Prima pencils.

I can't show you the third card yet~the person for whom I made it will surely see it here, and I want it to be a surprise! I'll post it after I give it to her.

Christy, CONGRATS on being this month's BFS~and thanks for the inspiration!

Please Don't Eat the Daisies

Last week, I enjoyed another awesome Bella Bash on SCS! If you haven't been to one, you should join us next time around. It's an evening filled with fun, chatting, and some great challenges! This is for BRC01. Hope challenged us to use something "new" from our stamping stashes. Yup, we're all collectors and have stuff that we haven't cracked open yet! I used a few new Copic markers, new flowers, and new Nestabilities. (I acutally had used the Nestabilities a few times already, but I've only owned them for a few weeks, and they still have have that "new car" smell, so I figured they would count! LOL)

This turned out quite bright and cheery, which was my goal. My sweet SIL just turned 40, is due to have her first baby any day, and is graduating from college this weekend! YOU GO GIRL!

Of course, she is feeling fat (but we all know she is GORGEOUS and GLOWING!) and overwhelmed. Daisies are her favorite flower, so I went to town!

Stamp: Daisy Bittybloom by Chichiboulie for Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Clover Meadow and Sunny Yellow

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart's Daisy Vine and Dimensional Daisy Stickers, CTMH Corner Rounder, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Bella's Peridot Hot Fix Bling

Happy Monday!

My Alter Ego

I spend most of my "free" time working on my computer (I'm an author). I wish I looked this good while I write. I am usually in sweats, no make-up, and a Red Sox hat. LOL

I just loved this challenge! This was the first ever Bella Twisted Challenge on SCS. Hope challenged us to revisit Jamie's sketch BSC16, and to use the sketch with our favorite DP. Thanks for a fun challenge, Hope!

Stamp: Clickabella by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Magic Moments

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Bella's Dots in Glitter Dark Cocoa, SU Taffeta Ribbon in Chocolate Chip, SU Ticket Corner Punch, Shimmerz in Pixie Dust, SU Dimensionals

Give Me a K-R-I-S-T-Y!

What's not to love about these Turtle Tots? I made this for a special friend's birthday. She used to have a little turtle like this as a pet. Her turtle was pretty cute, and may have even had a little bow on her head~though I'm not sure she had any pompoms. :)

Stamps: Turtle Tots Three Cheers for Your Birthday by Elena's Easel for Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Cutie Pie, Rose Red, and So Saffron

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Prima flowers, SU Circle Punch, SU Build A Brad, Nestabilities

Hope you had a "cheery" birthday, Kristy!

Happy Admin's Day

I made this for my husband's admin to celebrate Administrative Assistant's Day. I love the cucumbers on her eyes! We also gave her some spa products so that she could enjoy some R&R at home. Can you tell that I am loving this SU paper pack? I definitely need to order more! Pink and brown is my favorite color combination. Now if only I could sneak away to a spa...

Stamps: Spabella and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Candy Lane, Close to Cocoa, and Pirouette Pink

Accessories: SU Ticket Corner Punch, SU Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Nestabilties, SU Dimensionals, Bella's Dots in Glitter Dark Cocoa

Bella Sistah Surprise!

WOO HOO! I received the most delightful surprise from my Bella Sistah, Jane Bracht! Some luscious ribbon, stamped images, sparkly flowers and hearts (purple of course!), two BEAUTIFUL cards, and a Starbucks gift card! How sweet and generous is she? Thank you, Janie! I am so delighted!

Hooray for Spring!

It has been gorgeous here in New England! The weather has been lovely, the flowers are starting to bloom, and our swing-set is finally snow free! Last year, we had to carry Emma into the clubhouse, slide down with her or hold her hand, and put her in the baby swing. This year, Little Miss Independent wasted no time in telling us "Emma do it!" Check out her face~she was so excited!

This one cracks me up~as if she is saying, "Giffy, don't even think about helping me!." LOL

Here she is, pleased as could be with herself!

And there she goes! Her favorite part is being launched off the end of the slide onto the grass. Don't worry, Mom~she only flies about four feet! (Just kidding~about 6 inches!)

Gliding with Mommy...

And no more baby swing! She kept telling saying, "Faster, Papa!"

You go, girl!

I Heart Mommy

This is a double-whammy card: for this weeks' Bellariffic Challenge (the sketch) on Stamping Bella and for BCC77 (use blue and a punch) on SCS. I kept it pretty simple. That seems to be by MO lately since it's more manageable with my limited crafting time. Or maybe I am just too busy!

The glitter looks funky in the picture. I think it was too wet when I photographed it. It is much calmer now! I actually made this for Emma to give to her mommy for Mother's Day (shh...don't tell!). Emma loves seeing her name on things, so that's why I stamped her name instead of "Happy Mother's Day." We'll write that on the inside. Emma loves this stamp because she and Brittany have a little gray cat named Bella. And this is Brittany's favorite paper pack~it's called Maine Blueberry.

Stamps: Cuddlycat by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Maine Blueberry

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Stickles in Diamond, SU Scalloped Oval Punch, Nestabilities

Girl Just Wanna Give Hugs...

This is for BSC77 on SCS. This was Jamie's last challenge for us. Life is calling her in a different direction for now. Just want to say thank you, Jamie~you have definitely blessed my life, have made me a better card-maker, and have become a dear friend. I can't wait to see that lies ahead for you!  

Stamps: Huggybellas by Stamping Bella; sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: CTMH Unforgettable

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Oval Punch, SU Scallop Oval Punch, Bella's Tulle

La La La La Elmo's World

That's right~Elmo's World! The Burns girls took a stroll down to Sesame Street (aka Boston University) to see Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music. It may not have been a Broadway show, but it sure was fun~especially for Miss Emma! Even though the show wasn't until 5:30, she repeatedly announced that "Emma's ready to go!" right after lunch. When it was time to go, she grabbed Abby Cadabby (Sesame Street's resident fairy) because, as Emma stated, "Emma needs Abby." 

Check out her little sandals! Aren't they the cutest? I love this photo of her touching the butterflies and saying "So, so pretty!"

Brittany, Emma, and Abby rocked along to the alphabet song!

And here is Emma enjoying her favorite moment of the show~the cotton candy! Her Uncle Keaton got her started on cotton candy last summer at the zoo. The minute we walked into the arena, she spotted it. She informed us, "Emma need that candy!" I can't really blame her, though. I remember my mom indulging in it every time we went to Disneyland when I was a little girl, and she got me hooked on the stuff. And I remember Brittany falling in love with it when we took her to the circus when she was two. Perhaps it's genetic. So maybe Emma really does "need" it! LOL

Mommy bought her an Elmo balloon. There were literally hundreds of these in the arena! What is it about Elmo that makes little kids go nuts? You should have heard them screaming Elmo's name when he appeared onstage! 

And that, my friends, was our visit to Elmo's World! And now I've got to run~Emma needs to watch Sesame Street, and Giffy needs her coffee!

Warm Hugs

This one's really bright and cheery! Wish I had those slippers...

Stamps: Alexis' Bad Hair Day by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: Divine Collection DP; SU Pink Passion and Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, Bella's Dots in Glitter Pink Orchid, SU Ticket Corner Punch, Taylored Expressions Ribbon, Stickles in Frosted Lace, Blingz in Flashee Fuscia

Happy Monday!

Let's Do Lunch!

Way back in 1974, I met Mark Ranieri in the 7th grade. Two years later, Rick joined our school, and the three of us became good friends. A few months after our 1983 wedding, Mark and Cheri were married. Our daughters were born 8 months apart. Brittany and Audrey have literally been friends since they were born! Life moved us away from the Ranieri's, but we have remained close friends for all of these years. A few years ago, Audrey moved to Boston. Cheri is here visiting, so of course the girls had to do lunch! Here are Audrey, Emma (wearing the scarf Cheri made for her) and Brittany.

After lunch, we walked to the Boston  Public Garden. Did you know that it was the first public garden in the U.S.? Everything is just now starting to bloom. In a few weeks, the cherry blossom trees and tulips will be stunning! Here is Emma dancing her way through the garden.

Here, she is trying to catch the wind.

Here I am with Emma and Cheri.

Here are the Burns girls!

What a fun afternoon!

Build A Bear (or in this case, Build a Dog)

Yesterday was one of those days that, as Giffy (aka grandma), I adored! Some dear friends, the Dawson family, gave Emma a mall gift card for her birthday. Emma loves stuffed animals, so Brittany has been saving the gift card  to use for Emma's first trip to Build A Bear. Yesterday was the big day!

At first, she was a bit overwhelmed by how many different animals she could choose. Emma adores dogs, and it didn't take her long to zero in on the most adorable puppy! She immediately named her Haley. She chose a heart and a barking music box to go inside of Haley. 

Emma helped push the pedal on the stuffing machine and watched with big eyes as Haley came to life!

Then she kissed the heart she had chosen for Haley and tucked it inside of her.

She dressed Haley in a Princess T-shirt, a denim skirt, and sparkly pink shoes! What a girlie girl!

She was so pleased with Hayley's new outfit!

She also brought home a beach set (a bikini, beach towel, goggles, sunglasses, and beach ball) and a grooming set (a brush and blo-dryer like I use on Indy and Wylie). Of course, I had to get Haley a pink Red Sox T-shirt! LOL

Emma carried Haley around the mall for awhile. When we stopped for a rest, she admired Haley's sparkly shoes.

Here's a tired little girl totally in love with her stuffed puppy!

What a fun day! I had at least as much fun as Emma did. And to the Dawson family~Emma LOVED her gift, and you made this old grandma's heart smile. Thank you! Now I can't wait to scrapbook these photos!

Off I go to play with Emma and Haley!

Sittin' Pretty

Hmm...this photo is rather blurry, but it's too late to take another! She's must prettier in real life!

Stamps: Content-to-be-abella by Stamping Bella; sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: SU Candy Lane, Pirouette Pink, and Red Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Ticket Corner Punch, SU Fleurettes, Bella's Dots in Glitter Poppy, Nestabilities, misc. brad

A Simple Thank You Will Do

This is another quick and easy card! I love this Bella~you can put any sentiment on the tray, which makes her so versatile. And can you tell that I love this paper pack? I think I have used it on 5 or 6 cards already!

Stamps: I-deserve-a-tip-abella by Stamping Bella; SU sentiment

Paper: SU Candy Lane, Close to Cocoa, and Pirouette Pink

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Nestabilities

Flower Power

I love these colors~they make me yearn for summer! For now, I'll settle for spring. It was a harsh winter here in New England. Now the flowers are beginning to bloom, it's in the mid-60s today, and it might hit 80 on Saturday! Yay for the sunshine and flowers!

Stamp: Daisybella by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Let's Get Together

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Bella's Baubles, Stickles

And They Call It Puppy Love...

For Emma's birthday, one of Brittany's friends gave a her a stuffed yellow lab puppy. Emma adores it! She named him "Little Jack." I'm not sure why, other than the fact that she loves the mice--Gus and Jack--in Cinderella. As you might recall, Gus is a rather stout mouse, and Jack is quite little in comparison. I think that's where she got the puppy's name. In any case, Little Jack accompanies Emma everywhere. This stamp definitely reminds me of Emma and Little Jack! 

Stamps: Tilda with Puppy by Magnolia; sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: SU Candy Lane, Pink Pirouette, and Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Bella's Dots in Glitter Dark Cocoa, SU Dimensionals, SU Oval Punh, SU Scalloped Oval Punch

Kokeshi Kraze!

About a month ago, I posted a photo of the Kokeshi doll and keychain that my sweet friend, Christy, sent me from Okinawa. Well, I decided that my dolls needed a circle of friends. I cleaned out some of my stamping supplies (I'll give you a minute to recover from that! LOL!) and sold some stamps that I don't use. I then sent the proceeds of that sale to Christy as my "Kokeshi slush fund." Believe me, I didn't have to beg her to go shopping for me. It's always fun to go shopping with someone else's money, isn't it? Well, she bought four more for me. They just arrived. I am absolutely delighted with them!

This is the one that I saw on Christy's blog in January, the one that made me fall in love with kokeshi dolls. As you might expect, she is purple! I have no idea what the sign says, but I like it. Aren't the colors fabulous? Her hair is really pretty. It hangs all the way down her back.

Christy liked this doll so much that she splurged and got one for herself. The flowers are carved, not painted. So pretty!

Christy wanted to get this one, too~but they only had one of them. Bless her heart, she got it for ME. I told you that she is a sweetheart! LOVE the pigtails, the morning glories, and the bright turquoise!

Last, but not least, is this one with the beautiful flowers! 

To top it all off, Christy made this beautiful card for me~in purple, of course!

So here is my collection, displayed on a shelf in my office. I really like the fact that they are all different shapes and sizes~just like real women. 

When I told you in my first koksehi post that the dolls share an honored spot with my autographed Red Sox balls (David Ortiz and Luis Tiant) and a brick from Fenway Park (where the Green Monster now stands), I wasn't kidding!

THANK YOU, Christy! You are a fabulous personal shopper!

Have a nice weekend!

Bubbly Bliss

Although I enjoy spending time making creative cards, sometimes quick and simple is the order of the day! That's the case with this one. Still, I am pleased with the result. How fun would it be to play with all of those bubbles?!

Stamps: Bubblebella and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Let's Get Together

Accessories: SU So Saffron Ribbon; CTMH buttons; Bella's Baubles; Blingz in Under the Sea and Pixie Dust

A Flower for a Friend

I think this is one of my favorite stamps from the Ketto line. She goes so well with so many different papers! The flower looks a bit too bright in this photo~it actually looks much better than this.

Stamps: Suzette Ketto and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Haiku, Really Rust, and Apricot Appeal

Accessories: Copics, Copics Spicas, Taylored Expressions Ribbon, Prima flower, Bella's Dot in Glitter Sage, Nestabilities

Dance Like No One's Watching

There's something about this stamp that makes me smile. It reminds me of our wonderful vacations to Mexico. Ahh...Mexico. A warm, sandy beach beach sounds like the perfect way to end the long, harsh winter we had  here in New England! If only...

Stamps: Flamenca Ketto and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Groovy Guava and Soft Sky, Sweater Weather by October Afternoon

Accessories: Copics and Copic Spicas; Prima flowers; Bella's Solid Dots; SU Paper Shaper Punch; SU Scallop Edge Punch; SU Dimensionals;  misc. ribbon; Stickles in Gold, Aqua, and Diamond; Nestabilities

 TFL!

All Cracked Up

Awhile ago, I had given my son's girlfriend a box of cards that I had made. He just asked me if I have more that I can send her. I am all over that! So I looked through my stash, and I do have some on hand to send her. But if you are into making cards, you understand that it's more fun to make new ones! So I have been in a card-making frenzy since Saturday. After all, my son wants me to make them. He needs me to make them. He is my baby, and I'll do anything for him, no matter how big the sacrifice. LOL Since it was Easter weekend, I had to use this stamp.

Stamp: You Crack Me Up HuggABugg by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Paper Flowers and Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Copics; Copic Spicas; Nestabilities; SU ribbon; SU flower brad; Blingz in Pixie Dust, Flashee Fuscia, Poinsettia Pink, and Mello Yello

Flower Power

This week's  Bellariffic Friday challenge (Stamping Bella) was to use Em's "inspiration photo" (a vase full of brightly colored roses) to create a card using any combination of the colors and to add some flowers to your card. This card makes me anxious to see the flowers 

blooming here in the Northeast!

Stamps: Turtle Tots Picking Posies by Elena's Easel

for Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Paper Flowers, Lavender Lace, and Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, Prima Flowers, Bella's Dots in Crackle Green, SU Dimensionals, paper piercer

Happy Monday! 

My Cup of Tea

This could also be called "Pretty in Pink!" Hope's challenge this week (BCC75 on SCS) was two-fold: use pink as the focal color and to use circles. It was such a fun challenge! Thank you, Hope!

Stamp: Javabuggs by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Baby Pink and Buttercup; Sugared Luscious by Basic Grey

Accessories: Copics; Copic Spicas; Prima flowers; misc. ribbon; Bella's Dots in Glitter Light Cocoa; SU Dimensionals; Nestabilities; Blingz in Pixie Dust, Flashee Fuschia, Mello Yellow, and Poinsettia pink

TFL!

Add a Little Pixie Dust...

...for a fairy happy birthday! Yup, this is a birthday card for my SIL. I haven't used this stamp in quite awhile. I don't know why, since I really like her! This is for BSC75 on SCS. 

Stamps: Tinkerbella and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Floral Tapestry
Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Blingz in Pixie Dust, Taylored Expresions ribbon, Prima flower, Bella's Dots in Glitter Sage

Hearts A' Bloomin'

Hope issued a great challenge this week (BCC74 on SCS): use black as the main color, with the twist of adding ribbon, and with a bonus twist of adding polka dotted ribbon. What fun!

Stamps: Phoebe by Ketto for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Daisy White and Black; Black Tie Optional by Imaginesce

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Bella's Ribbon, Iridescent Chalk, Blingz in Flashee Fuscia

Thanks for a fun challenge, Hope!

A Flower for You...

This is for BSC74 on SCS. I don't know how Jamie keeps coming up with such great sketches. My brain would have run out of ideas long ago, so I am very thankful for Jamie's creative efforts and her willingness to share them!

Stamps: Suzette by Ketto for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Elena's Easel for Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Boom Di Ada

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Greenhouse silk flower, SU Build A Brad, SU Circle Punch

TFL, and have a great weekend!

Dare to Be Different

This week's Bellariffic Friday challenge was to use a beautiful palette of bright colors: pink, yellow, green, and orange. I didn't have much time, so it had to be a quick card. And I just couldn't make the orange work with this. Still, she turned out kind of cute~not too bad for 15 minutes, huh?

I like this stamp~especially her mismatched tights and shoes. She reminds me of Emma playing dress-up!

Stamps: Missmatch by Ketto for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Stamping Bella

Paper: Misc. DP; CTMH Watermelon, Clover Meadow, and Sunny Yellow

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, SU Clip, SU Dimensionals, ric rac

Kokeshi Cards

A few posts ago, I told you about the beautiful kokeshi dolls and stamped images that Christy sent to me. I had so much fun with those images and am sooooo in love with my dolls, that I decided to buy the stamp set. Here are two cards I made yesterday. IRL, I love the shiny, lacquered hair on the kokeshi dolls. That's why I keep giving them such sparkly hair on my cards. For this one, I colored one of those clear, plastic flowers with a Copic marker to match the paper. Then I attached it with ribbon and a corduroy brad from SU.

I love the edge on this one! I trimmed the top (red) layer then used the SU Scallop Edge Punch so that you can see the flowers on the right edge. I really like it because when you open it, you can still see the pretty edge.

Stamps: Four Dolls by Hero Arts; sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: Cherry Blossoms by My Mind's Eye; misc. yellow

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, plastic flower, SU Corduroy Button, SU Ribbon, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, SU Scallop Edge Punch, CTM Paper Piercer, Nestabilities

That's it. No funny stories because I didn't use glitter! LOL

Cherry Blossom Beauties

I made two cards using the same stamp: Wasabi Ketto (Stamping Bella). The first one is for BCC73 on SCS. Hope's challenge was to use red, with the optional twist of using an edge distresser. Well, the edge distresser didn't work well with this paper, so I decided to skip the twist this week. Instead, I played with some more of the glitter that Hope sent me! Speaking of glitter, I still had some burning questions about glitter as I sat down to make this card. Now I have the answers: 1) How much glue should be used? Answer: not this much! I still glue like an 8-year-old. 2) How much glitter should you put on top of the glue? Answer: not this much! Apparently, I glitter like an 8-year-old. 3) How long does does it take for the glue/glitter mound to dry? Answer: WAY longer than I gave it! Seems that I have the patience of an 8-year-old, too.  LOL

Paper: Cherry Blossoms by My Mind's Eye

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, Blingz in Mello Yello and Pixie Dust, Stampendous Jewel Glitter in Red, CTMH Buttons, SU Ribbon

Here's a just-for-fun card using the same stamp. 

Paper: SU Haiku

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Nestabilities, Misc. Ribbon, Bella's Dots in Glitter Coal

TFL!

Little Miss Emma

Here's the lovely Miss Emma, 2 years old. Now tell me~how could I possibly not adore this precious little angel? I am telling you~being a grandma ROCKS!

Emma loves her two uncles! Here, she is playing with Uncle Brennan. She begs him to chase her around the kitchen island. Boy, you should hear her squeal! In fact, you can~click on the video.

This is the "silly face" she's been making since she was about 9 months old. 

Here's to another delightful day with little Miss Emma! I can't describe the joy that she brings to our lives. We are very blessed, indeed.

Everything's Coming Up Tulips

The Boton Public Garden was the first public garden in the United States. It's one of the many fascinating historical sites in Boston. The garden is absolutely stunning in the Spring when the tulips are in full bloom. They are just now sprouting, but here is a photo I took last Spring.

Last fall, I talked my sweet husband into planting a ton of tulip bulbs in our yard. They are just beginning to sprout as well. I can't wait to see them!

Naturally, I fell in love with this stamp. Now I can have tulips year round. Of course, the first ones had to be colored purple!

Stamps: Tilda with Tulips and Basket by Magnolia; sentiment by AMuse Artstamps

Paper: SU Paper Garden, Barely Banana, and Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Bella's Ribbon

Now if only the real tulips would start blooming. I am so ready for Spring!

Purple Haze

I couldn't wait to play with more glitter! (See post below.) This time, I went straight for the lavender. I discovered that with glitter, less is more. Picture the old Pillsbury Cresent Rolls commercial: the one where the woman flecks flour onto her face so that she looks like she was baking. Now imagine that the flour was actually lavender glitter, and you'll get a good mental picture of how I looked after I failed to coax the excess glitter back into its teeny, tiny little bottle. LOL 

I am not sure about the handwritten sentiment. I have horrible penmanship. Still, I am pleased with the outcome!

Stamp: Phoebe Ketto by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Paper Flowers, Lavender Lace, and Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Bella's Bazzill Tulle in white, Nestabilities, Stampendous Crystalescent Glitter in Lavender, SU Ribbon Slot Punch, Pearlescent Chalk

TFL!

Conquering My Glittery Fears

My dear friend, Hope, and I are both former 3rd grade teachers. We have jokingly reminisced about the fascination that 8-year-olds have with glitter. We've also not-so-fondly reminisced about the amazing properties of glitter~how it needs glue to stick to paper but can somehow cling to everything else within a five-mile radius; how it actually becomes one with the carpet fibers, refusing to separate even after ten rounds of vacuuming; and how it manages to stick in your eyes, hair, eyebrows, nostrils, etc, even after you have showered for days. LOL Our students LOVED glitter. Mine begged to use it every time we made any type of art project. It was a huge mess, but of course I always said yes.

I have been on the glitter wagon since I quit teaching 6 years ago. Since I began making cards a year ago, I have been using Stickles simply because they aren't messy. I have looked at glitter several times because I always like what other stampers do with it. To be honest, I have been chicken to try it myself. I have very limited use of my right (dominant) hand, and I usually make a mess doing the simplest things. Adding glitter to the equation just didn't seem like a good idea. I like my dining room (aka craft room) the way it is. Technicolor sparkles clinging to my walls and floor just aren't the artistic nuances I have in mind for that room.

Well, Hope knows how much I love to add bling to my cards, and she knows that purple is my favorite color. She told me that when she saw a bottle of purple glitter, it was a "no brainer" to get it for me. Bless her heart~she surprised me with a lovely rainbow of glitter! Now, I couldn't let my dear friend see me be a glitter chicken. So I stepped up to the plate and made my first attempt to use glitter on a card. I started with the purple, of course! It looked so pretty that I decided to add some gold.

The flower is also from Hope. I've got to find out where she got it. It's so cool! I used a Build-A-Brad (from SU) to make the flower center from the DP. 

So there you have it~my first glitter card! Surprisingly, my dining room is glitter-free. I must admit that I finally discovered why 8-year-olds like it so much: it's pretty and glittah is wicked fun to use (that's how I am supposed to say it here in Boston)! It made feel like I was 8 years old. Anything that makes this old grandma feel young again is a good thing, so expect to see glitter on many cards to come. Thank you again, Hope! 

And They Call It Puppy Love...

I have two male Shih Tzus, Wylie on the left and Indy (Indiana Bones) on the right. 

When I saw a card that Sparkle made with this stamp, I knew I had to have her!  My "boys" are are like my kids. I let them sleep on my bed. I give them birthday presents. I fill their stockings at Christmas. Yup, I am one of THOSE dog people!

Stamp: Tilda with Puppy and Bow by Magnolia, sentiment by A Muse Artstamps

Paper: Pretty Pink Petals and Polka Dots by Papertrey Ink, SU Groovy Guava and Sage Shadow

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, white pen

TFL!

Cracked Up

Aren't the Tiddly Inks stamps just the sweetest? This one makes me giggle! This card is for BSC72 on SCS. I painted Liquid Pearls onto the eggshells to give them an opal sheen. Thanks for another great sketch, Jamie!

Stamps: You Crack Me Up and sentiment by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Sweet Always and Regal Rose

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, SU Ticket Corner Punch, SU Flower Brad, SU Dimensionals, Bella's Dots in Glitter Pumpkin, Taylored Expressions Ribbon, Stickles in yellow, Liquid Pearls

Boy, does this card make me yearn for Spring. I assume it will arrive eventually here in MA!

Give Me a H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y!

I just love this little stamp! She is so cheery (which is good since she's a cheerleader) and fun to color! She is for BCC72 on SCS. This week, Hope challenged us to use the colors of our favorite team. That was easy: red and blue for my Boston Red Sox! 

Stamps: Turtle Tots~3 Cheers for Your Birthday and sentiment by Elena's Easel for Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Cutie Pie, CTMH Moonstruck

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, misc. ribbon

Hope your favorite team has a great season. Thanks, Hope, for another fun challenge!

GO SOX!!!

A Special Cyber Friend and Not-So-Cyber Dolls

Okay, so people (and by "people" I mean my kids) are quite amused that I have "cyber" friends as they call them: friends all over the world that I have never met. In my defense, I have met some of the sweetest, kindest, friendliest women through Splitcoastsampers. And yes, I have become good friends with a few of them. And yes, they are real people. And yes, we have real relationships. And yes, the fact that they haven't actually met me may be working in my favor. And no, I don't hear cyber voices. LOL

One of these friends~Christy~lives on Okinawa, one of the Japanese islands. Her pot-of-gold husband is in the USAF. My dad served in the USAF (though it wasn't called that yet) during WWII and the Korean War. Whenever he was on leave, he would visit Tokyo or Osaka. When I realized where Christy lives and about her ties to the USAF, I was immediately drawn to her. So began our friendship. 

I quickly became addicted to Christy's blog. (You can see her blog here.) She always posts the most beautiful pictures of her adventures on Okinawa. One of her passions is collecting kokeshi dolls. Well, I fell totally heads-over-heels in love with them when I saw her photos! They are just so sweet and charming and make me think of my dad. When Christy posted a card or two that she had made with kokeshi doll stamps, I was totally hooked! So imagine my delight (complete with little girl squeals and jumps and clapping hands) when I opened this box from her! (Yes, she knows how much I love to ice skate~isn't the card she made for me just perfect?)

Not only did Christy stamp some images for me, but she sent me TWO kokeshi dolls! I am still squealing! Aren't they just the prettiest things you've ever seen? I'm talkin' the cat's pajamas!

My new dolls are in a treasured place in my office, right next to my baseballs autographed by David Otrtiz and Luis Tiant (Red Sox players). If you know how much I love the Red Sox, you'll understand what a place of honor this is!

Once the dolls were situated, I wasted no time making a card with some of the stamped images. The sentiment says, "Forever Friends." (The Paper is SU's Haiku.) 

So, yes~my "cyber" friends are real, and they are awesome. Thank you, Christy~you REALLY made my heart smile! I truly enjoy and treasure your friendship. And I think you've started a new addiction for me. LOL

Hmm...now the author in me is thinking that I could turn these dolls into a children's book...

It's My Baby's Birthday!

Happy birthday, Keaton! Yes, today is my baby's 19th birthday! Where has the time gone? Here, he was just four days old. How has he grown from this into a 6'2" man?

He is actually in CA enjoying his Spring break, so we celebrated last weekend. We went out for dinner and ordered some "Mile High Chocolate Cake." Seven layers of oh-my-word chocolate decadence with toasted marshmallows on top! Yum! Since we weren't doing a cake at home, I made him pose for the obligatory birthday-cake-photo.

Here's one of my favorite photos of the kids when they were little. Keaton was 9 months old, Brennan was 2 1/2, and Brittany was 6.

Here are my two handsome boys now.

And here is Keaton with Brittany and Emma.

Emma was so pleased with the "Finding Nemo" card she chose for Uncle Keaton!

Here's the birthday boy with his parents. Kind of a weird shot with my hand stuck on Rick's shoulder, I know~but it doesn't bend at the wrist and I had no where to hide it. Oops!

Happy birthday, Keaton! I hope you have an awesome day!

I love you...forever and for always...Mom

My Famous Sister-in-Law

My SIL, Mary Burns Loomas, is a gourmet chocolatier. She owns Saratoga Chocolates, a gourmet chocolate store in Saratoga, CA. Her chocolates are unlike any others. She uses fresh ingredients and has created the most delicious and unusual recipes. My favorites are her pumpkin truffles, Earl Grey truffles, Chai Tea truffles, and salted caramels. Mary has been in the press before, but today she was on TV! Click here to see her TV segment. Click here to go to her website.

Now I am craving some chocolate! 

Bellariffic Friday Challenge

Every Monday, Emily (Stamping Bella) posts a challenge for that week's Bellariffic Friday. This week, she posted this photo to be used as the inspiration for a card.

My Bella order arrived today, so I just couldn't resist using one of my new stamps! This stamp is from Stamping Bella's new line called Ketto. Although the photo isn't great, here's my interpretation for the challenge:

Stamp: Suzette Ketto by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Haiku, More Mustard, Garden Green, and Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Copics, Copic Spicas, Bella's Dots in Glitter Sage, Taylored Expressions Ribbon, SU Ticket Corner Punch

TFL!

The Luck o' the Irish

This is for two SCS challenges: BCC69 and BSC70. I thought they worked so well together for this card!

The "dots" in the corners didn't photograph well. They are a very pretty, glittery green.

Stamp: Goodluckabella by Stamping Bella

Paper: CTMH Honey and New England Ivy; misc. DP

Accessories: Bella's Dots in Glitter Spruce, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, SU Ticket Corner Punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, misc. ribbon

Showers of Blessings for Nicole!

This is for my sweet SIL, Nicole. She is having her first baby in May! I really wish I could attend the baby shower today (it's in CA and I'm in MA). She knows that she is having a girl, and her room is decorated in pink and brown. My favorite parts of the card are the popped up belly (I used a 3-D dot) and the rattle charm hanging from the ribbon. The "dots" in the corners didn't photograph well. They are actually a very pretty, glittery brown.

Stamp: Teddybella by Stamping Bella

Paper: SU Berry Bliss, Close to Cocoa, and Pretty in Pink

Accesories: Bella's Polka Dot Ribbon in Cotton Candy with Chocolate Chips, Bella's Dots in Glitter Dark Cocoa, Bella's Charm Rattle, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, SU Ticket Corner Punch, SU Ribbon Slot Punch

To a Wonderful Pair

I usually don't combine challenges into one card, but sometimes the challenges are a perfect match for what I need. Such is the case with this card. The sketch challenge (BSC71 on SCS) was perfect for the stamp and occasion (the anniversary of some dear friends who love dogs like I do), and the purple color challenge (BCC71 on SCS) is my friend's favorite color. Thanks for great challenges, Jamie and Hope! Also, thanks for the shadowing info, Jamie. I like how it turned out! Oh, and thank you again, Sparkle, for the pretty flowers!

Stamps: Butch and Mimi by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella; sentiment by Stamping Bella

Accessories: Satin flowers, Bella's Dots in Glitter Coal, Nestabilities

Happy anniversary Vic and Mo!

I Love You Even More...

Emma tells me she loves me "so so much!" What she doesn't know is that I love her even more.

Nothing in Between

I wrote these lyrics a few years ago. In light of the events I described in the post below, they seem even more relevant to me now.

Nothing in Between

Vicki Burns

The streets were his religion

Violence was his only mission

His life hung in the balance day to day

With a gun pressed to a head

He remembered words his brother said

About the One who died to bear his sin and shame

And he found Jesus in that alley

Hate no longer his reality

He saw the truth that hate had not let him see:

It's light or darkness--there is nothing in between

Drugs became her secret passion

Once taboo but now the fashion

A masquerade for what was hidden deep within

With a tube forced down her throat

She remembered words her daddy spoke

About the One Who paid the price for all her sin

And she met Jesus on that gurney

Fear no longer was her journey

She saw the truth that fear had not let her see:

It's light or darkness--there is nothing in between

We start out in the darkness

From the moment we begin

We've got to choose to let Light pierce us

We've got to choose to let Light in

We've got to choose to let Him in

My son's last breath upon my face

A nightmare time could not erase

A broken heart and an empty soul took hold of me

Cryin' at that tiny grave

I remembered words the preacher prayed

About the One Who holds my son and grieves with me

And I met Jesus in that graveyard

Pain no longer lord of my heart

I saw the truth that pain had not let me see:

It's light or darkness--there is nothing in between

It's light or darkness--there is nothing in between

Copyright © 2004-2009 by Bibleshareware.org, Inc. 

All rights reserved. www.Bibleshareware.org

Real People, Changed Lives

Every once in awhile, you experience something profound, a moment that literally takes your breath away. I was blessed with one of those moments on Sunday.

First, a little background. Twenty-two years ago, my second child, Kyle, was born with a coarctation (a pinched section) of his aorta. He underwent surgery, and the doctors told me that he'd come home in two weeks. Eighteen hours later, Kyle died in my arms. I literally felt his last breath upon my face. Needless to say, I dove into a spiritual and emotional tailspin. Kyle's life and death seemed so senseless to me, and I simply couldn't accept the fact that it had happened without reason. So I embarked upon a journey to try and make sense of it all. The journey wasn't easy. I was filled with anger, hopelessness, and brokenness, all of which I kept well hidden from everyone except Rick. Twenty years ago, after a series of events very well orchestrated by God, I became a born-again Christian. Although that did not change the reality of my situation, it absolutely changed my perception of it. Where I once stood angry, I now stand joyful. Where I once stood hopeless, I now stand in hope for all eternity. Where I once stood broken, I now stand redeemed. The transformation is not complete, and will not be until I am welcomed home to heaven; but the transformation is real and continues to fill my life with purpose and joy.

Yet during the first week of March--the week of Kyle's birthday and the anniversary of his death--I am reminded of the harsh reality of my loss. This year was no different. Memories from twenty-two years ago flooded my mind and heart. On Sunday morning