Sunday, September 30, 2007

Ribbon Swapping.


I love doing ribbon swaps. Getting snippets of ribbons to play with without having to buy the whole roll. It allows me the chance to touch & see the ribbon & then decide which ones I have to have! For me, it's nearly ALL the taffeta! Love them.
Doesn't it look so yummy!!! I only have a few more spools to cut up & divide :)

Saturday, September 29, 2007

BRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

After soccer games today I think I'm numb! WOW was it ever cold! BABY! I even had my winter coat on! Guess it's time to put hats & mitts in the soccer bag (did I say that out loud?) Bye Summer... *sigh*. My hubby always uses these moments to CONVINCE me we really ought to be living in Arizona!

Well two more sleeps until he's home & I'm so excited! Excited at the thought of actually moving into our new place, excited that I don't have to make all the decisions without him, excited that he can now deal with the tradesmen in fixing the water damage, excited that he can take kids to soccer on wet days and I can stay in a cozy house..... ahhhhhh.....not to mention just having him here. :) It's amazing what 'presence' does isn't it? Just knowing they're home... love it!

When I was at the mall getting birthday gifts for kids' birthday parties this weekend (is there such a thing as a "quiet weekend at home?!") I bought him some high-quality chocolate. He loves chocolate (addicted actually - I think he's almost ready to admit it himself! LOL). So I made him this card that inside says "I love coming home to you." :) I thought I'd leave it on his pillow :)

I used the "Right At Home" stamp set by stampin' up! I colored with primsacolor pencils & stampin' write markers. I also cut out the center house so I could pop it up so there was a little depth (and hey!... no sewing on this one!) haha.

As the birthday party ends a sleepover here begins so I best get somewhat organized for that. I thought I'd do some packing tonight (2 days to pack the house? don't think so)... but .... I'm hoping my Mom comes for Thanksgiving. She just emailed me & I'd so love her & her hubby & even my brother (yahooooo) to come!! They are awesome with moving & I know she'd be #1 to help my unfinished house with water damage & no flooring feel like a home.... how do mom's do that?! :)

Friday, September 28, 2007

2 birthday cards: check!


So my son has a double-birthday party tomorrow (after we manage to get to 3 soccer games!!) and my creative juices were missing! LOL. M.I.A.
So I looked around my stamping area, found some cardstock that was there & pieced a couple cards together. Not my favorite, unusual color combos... BUT.... they are 8 year old boys. You & I both know -- they're going for the gift, they open the card only because MOM is watching! LOL.

The sun shone all day so after I dropped the kids off at school, I painted until it was time to pick them up & then painted some more. :) We built a fire & cooked dinner out there & had a great day! Only thing missing was Daddy!!! :(

Now everyone has showered to rid ourselves of smoke-smell & headed off to bed. Ahhhh.... hello weekend!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

CrispyBaked Bananas

Weekend is almost here. Looking for a little snack for you kids? Well, I found this and though Mmmmmmmmmmm.... bet my kids would have fun both in making it AND eating it!!

Crispy Baked Bananas
Prep: 10 min Ready In: 20 min Serves: 4
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups POST HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS Cereal with Almonds, crushed
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. honey
4 small ripe bananas, cut crosswise in half
1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
Directions
1 PREHEAT oven to 375ºF. Line 15x10x3/4-inch baking pan with foil; set aside. Mix crushed cereal and the cinnamon on large plate. Pour honey onto second plate.
2 ROLL each banana piece in honey, then in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Place in prepared baking pan.
3 BAKE 15 min. or until bananas are soft. Place two banana halves in each serving dish. Top evenly with the whipped topping.
Jazz It Up
Mix 1/4 cup shredded coconut with the crushed cereal and cinnamon before using as directed.

My son has a birthday party this weekend for a set of twins in his class so I'll post those cards soon.... just finishing them up. Nothing exciting (well I like one of them maybe, LOL). When I know it's an 8yr old boy who will probably just throw it away IF he looks at it - lol - seems to dull my creative juices.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Tea Time


A full day of painting -- well, a full SCHOOL day :) I work from 8:30 - 3 PM... LOL. Then I get to rush home, shower, help kids with homework, snack & rush off to soccer practice -- tonight two kids' had practice & then straight to the school for a meeting ---------- AAAAAAHHHHHH ------- 5 MORE DAYS 'TIL DADDY IS HOME. So yes, dinner was eaten in the truck (gotta like wraps! easy to make & transport *smiles*)

I made this card on my same little stamping day (I hear it's suppose to rain again tomorrow... hmmmmm?). I finally pulled out my pocket notecards. Shesh, how long have those SAT in my drawer. It was a fun little size to work with. And yes, I used my sewing machine again. Next cards -- no machine.... anyone want to challenge me to use something different? :) I used a stamp set from My Favorite Things. I also ordered a few new stamps that will hopefully be arriving soon.... when I was having a sad, grumpy day -- buying stamps helped :) LOL. Anyways, back to the card yes... used one of my fav. ways to color - watercolor crayons & aquapen (you just can't get easier than that!!) I actually had a few of these images colored & cut out on my desk and thought it went well with the Basic Grey paper I had so used it up. Love that! And isn't a nice cup of tea perfect on these chilly fall nights!? I thought these cards would be cute for gifts with some teas or yummy coffee :)

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

A SHOE DAY!

It's Tuesday and I'm already tired -- oh dear, looks like it may be a loooooong week. Hopefully, I might then find time to pack. You'd think it would be no problem for me as we've moved something like 10 times (crazy I know!), but it doesn't. I need to start tackling one room at a time. K, I'll tell myself that a few more times and maybe in a few days I'll start ;-)
The other day as I was HUNTING for my daughters cleats & having NO LUCK, I dropped my older daughter off at a friends. I mentioned I was off to check in storage for the shoes. (it's ugly, we have stuff out of storage now in the new house garage, stuff at my inlaws, stuff here..... UGH!). Well... my older daughter's friend's mother (still with me? LOL!) said "OH I HAVE CLEATS SHE CAN HAVE!" Sarah being a shoe fanatic was thrilled. WELL... did SHE HAVE SHOES. She pulled out one box, then another & another of all these shoes her daughter had outgrown. Sarah was in shoe heaven. Then those few words "do you like shoes honey? you can have as many as you want!" OH MY GOODNESS.... I bet you we have about 2 DOZEN pairs of shoes -- everything from runners, to party shoes, to flip flops & water shoes.... and of course the cleats! :) So I thought we better make this mommy and thank-you shoe card! LOL.

sorry the photo isn't that great. I need a new camera -- honey? can you hear me? I neeeeeeeeed a new camera! :)))))

Monday, September 24, 2007

Updated House photos.

Here are a few new pics of the house.... move in day is 10 days away! Guess I should almost think about packing? Naaaaa......

Here's the front view. The boards across the front porch are just there to protect the deck from sun/rain until hubby gets it done (yes, he's back in Alberta *sigh*)

This is still from the front "yard", but showing you more of the garage view (got lots of this painted yesterday.... should of done an before/after shot! LOL)

This is the back view -- still needs some more siding (hubby will be BIZZZY when he gets home!) This will have deck all along the back & so part of it will be covered which will be nice -- sit outside with a cup of tea & a blanket on a rainy day! :)

front yard is all lined with "forest" as the kids call it. Great play area -- we need a dog though -- too many bears & the odd cougar.

This is the dining room ceiling. David loves detail so the dining room is one of his favorite rooms to design. I think the ceiling turned out awesome!

This is the spare room so everyone can visit :)!!! We're going to do it up in a cottage theme -- it's got a great view out the front.

Here is a shot from the living room looking up. Yes, we need railing!! They come next week :) and no... we won't have our flooring done yet. Just the tile is in. We are making our own hardwood floors from trees off the land... very cool.

The laundry room. :)


We're nearly there...

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Procrastination = Stamp Time!

I realize that completely avoiding the empty boxes around me allows me to have some great stamping time. Now of course in a couple weeks I'll be whining about how I have no time to pack & get out of here, but somehow I am able to push that out of my mind for now and enjoy my inks & paper! I posted my one nephews card the other day for Marie's sketch challenge & last night I got my other nephews card done too. Feels good to be somewhat on top of things & not racing in there to find a card or stuff to QUICKLY make a card :) I've been playing with Loads of Love lately and decided to stack it full of gifts for the card. Seeing as I still had my sewing machine out, I decided to continue with it and stitch away :) I actually got a couple other cards done too that I will try to share with you over the next few days. Today the sun is shining beautifully, so I think after church I will load up the kids & head to the new house to work on that exterior painting. Doesn't look like a great week ahead of us so I think I should grab this time. Kids will be tired as we had sleepovers last night, so hopefully they'll be able to entertain themselves for a few hours there. I'll take my camera too & try to snap some progress photos too! :)

I used watercolor crayons to color in the image & then used black stazon on a transparency for the "happy birthday" greeting. It's looking a little blurry in the photo because it was hard to get a good shot of it this morning. I stapled it on -- love how quick & easy a stapler is! LOL. Then I balanced it with 3 silver eyelets on the top & bottom "corners".
hope he'll like it -- who am I kidding, he's 6! LOL.
-.j.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

When life gets you down.... STAMP! :)

Well, thanks to Marie and her card sketch challenge I was motivated to stamp something tonight. :) I needed a card for my nephew this coming week so I decided to take a break from my stress & stamp :) Felt marvelous to pull out the paper & sewing machine (extra points in the prize for that one! haha) and ink & play. Marie is an awesome stamper and has HEAPS of knowledge (make sure you bookmark her blog! You'll want to visit regularly!).

So here's my card for her sketch challenge. I used some SU DS Paper, along with Night of Navy, Kraft, Bashful Blue & a wee bit of watercolor paper. I painted with my favorite Wonder Crayons (those lovely COPIC markers are on my LIST!) & an aqua pen. I thought if I could lug out the sewing machine I could easily play with my cuttlebug. So I embossed the Navy & cut out the funky circles with a die. Fun, fun, fun.... oh, and I used Toy Box Stampin' Up! set :)


You'll have to excuse the photo quality. I took the pic in the evening without natural light.... blek. That OTT light? also on my list. Does the list ever get shorter? It seems when I stroke one thing off, I've added two more :)

-.j.

Friday, September 21, 2007

so, so sad....

With only two weeks before MOVING into the new house we hit a road block, or shall I say a river!!! Our plummer arrived to hooked up all our facets & toilets. YEAHOOOO - one would THINK, right?! Well.... when he turned the water on in the house he didn't check to see if anything was leaking and the water line in the cabinet in the main bathroom upstairs was either open or had a failure & several gallons of water leaked out onto our floor. We didn't realize how extensive the damage was until later in the day when we saw water dripping from an electrical outlet in the garage ceiling!!! {INSERT WEEPING & WAILING HERE!!} David cut a number of holes in the floor Thursday evening and vacuumed out standing water in the joist cavities. The drywall tape is pulling away in the garage ceiling and there is a little bit of damage to the bathroom cabinet. Also, quite a bit of water got to the underlay under the linoleum. Right now I have fans drying the cavities out & I guess once everything is completely dry I will have the drywaller come out and see if any sheets need to be replaced or if he can just retape the joints. Hopefully the cabinet is fine and the lino won't peel up or swell. We'll keep our eye on it over the next week or two and see what happens. Deep breath... we'll get it cleaned up good as new. So Friday I took hubby to the airport {insert sad tears} and headed back home. Checked in at the house, made sure the fans were going and locked up. Today I got the kids off to school & picked up the remaining lights for the house & got back to the house to put the lights in each room.... WAIT A SECOND??? Is that water on the floor in the ENSUITE?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! I open the cabinet & sure enough, the valve is open slightly. So for the last 48 hours, water has been leaking out, into the cabinet, out the back, up the drywall.... {INSERT WEEPING, WAILING, and complete FRUSTRATION!}. I couldn't believe it. I called my hubby (who is now in Alberta!) and chatted with him as I was cleaning up the mess. I told him I was ready to bail my eyes out, he informed me that wouldn't be a great idea, there was already enough water in the house... LOL. He made me smile -- that guy has a gift! So I'm sad... so, so sad. Feeling very unmotivated to do anything now. So I might just stamp tonight -- kinda think I deserve it. Think the plummer needs ANOTHER phone call! :(

Thankfully, it's only water. A house in town had an electrical fire, so it could always be worse. It's coming through the ceiling, but in the garage, not the main living area.... wish my hubby was home though.
.j.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Creating With Jen - Using A Hot Knife

Question #1 - can you have too many stamps?
Answer: Of course not!

Question #2 - can you run out of room to store your stamps?
Answer #2 - Apparently, you can.

Question #3 - what can you do about that dilemma?
Answer #3 - go to unmounted/acrylic. *GASP!*

After much searching (yes I should be packing!!) I found EZ-Mount. Where can you buy it here on the island? You can find it at The Old Island Stamp Company. Then of course you need a hot knife, and then you need... isn't that how it goes? Anyway, check out this video clip -- looks cool. And WAY LESS space to store. I'm pretty sure I'm not ready to UN-mount my SU sets, but... I do have rubber here that I'm looking forward to USING easier! :)

-.j.

I am an idiot, but excited to be moving in two weeks... but still an idiot!

Just took hubby to the airport *sigh*. The worst day is day one of 12 :( *double sigh*. While he's away I will need to finish painting the exterior of the house & pack up the rental so we can MOVE IN when he returns -- Oct 2nd! WOOHOO!! Now, can I get all that done in 12 days ???? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Will sitting on the computer typing on my blog help? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! LOL. But, here I am anyway. I've also proved my INSANITY once again and signed up all three kids for soccer this year including an advanced program for my son -- SO.. soccer EVERY NIGHT but Sunday. I AM AN IDIOT. You see, this is a fine example of idiot-thinking.... aka SUPER HERO MOM. I'm thinking hubby is gone.... no problem. I can paint, pack, drive kids to/from school, take kids to/from soccer each night, make home-cooked meals, throw in some packed lunches, snacks, the laundry, the cleaning... you see, I am an idoit. You're nodding your head right now saying "Jennifer, yes, you are an idiot!". You see what is criminal about all this is that after the 12 days I will be exhausted... and while we go to pick Daddy up from the airport HE WILL BE THE HERO. Isn't that SO how it goes! :) Do you think I can SQUEEZE stamping time in there???? I'm scared to pack that room.... you would too if you saw it -- yikes!
-.j.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Christmas is "ONLY" 14 weeks away - gasp!

OK, I thought I'd quickly post a Christmas card I made (two years ago I think....) It was quick & simple -- perfect for a large amount of cards going out. I used More mustard as a base. Embossed my word along the bottom & used blender pens to color in my trees :) Haven't thought about this year.... yet.

The painting continues...

As you can guess with my lack of posts this week (A) hubby is home (*smiles*) & (B) I'm painting again. Or should I say still! At least now I'm outside working on the exterior & sweatin' like crazy in the heat & sunshine. Feels good to be in the sun & I'm hoping that the extra sweat will lead to weight loss! Snicker, snicker. One can hope! Painting isn't all that "active", but I sweat like it is! HA! It's smokin' hot these days. SO... that's where I've been. I hope to take some "recent" pics of the house tomorrow to share. Thought I'd TRY to get a wee bit more painting so it looked a little better for the photo. ;) Need to get the nerve to get up into those peeks! EEK! BUT... the plummer is there installing the sinks & toilets, cabinet maker is putting on the doors, electrician is hanging lights & fixtures, insulators are blowing in the attic... there was a LOT of activity going on today -- LOVE IT! The thought of having a toilet is.... WONDERFUL! :)))))

Friday, September 07, 2007

My brother's Card


I was able to get my brother's card finished yesterday :). I was happy with how it turned out (even lugged out the sewing machine). I thought "stitching" would be appropriate! LOL. We are so thankful he survived the accident with only scrapes & bruising. I just wanted him to know, although we're sad he lost his brand new truck, HE is our treasure & we're so thankful he's alive :)

Uncle Ben & Joshua enjoyin' some chill time on the beach!

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Dilly-Dally Party


I found a little window of stamping time last night! :) I had started this card a couple of days ago & put it aside, so I pulled it out last night & finished it. It's using the new jumbo wheel "dilly-dally party". I think this is a great wheel. Opportunity for a little coloring (I used prismacolor pencils) and I think it would make great wrapping paper too! Very cute! I wheeled it out again so I could cut out one of the little cupcakes & use my stampin' dimensionals to make it pop. A little two-way glue pen & dazzling diamonds for a little *bling* :) I love my cuttlebug, so I tore the edges for a little texture & then ran it through the birthday folder i have. I then started another card for my brother (just colored in the image). He got into a vehicle accident last week (hit a deer) and we are so thankful he walked away from it. His BRAND new truck was totalled, but for some cuts & bruising he's OK. Praise GOD! So I thought I'd make him a card & mail it up to him. Maybe I can get it finished up & post it tomorrow. :)

Another quiet day here with the kids in school. The school is completely disorganized and they still don't know who will be in their class or who their teacher will be. Poor things, it's so hard on them. They make friends one day and the next they are with different kids :(. I'm actually checking out the private schools in town.... so tempted to pull them out. *sigh* This parenting thing is TOUGH! :)

-.j.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Smile!

I know this is a retired set, but it's a LOVED set around here :) It's great for birthdays of any gender & my kids love to play with this one too & all of Mr. Smiles hats! :) I made this card a long time ago, but I thought it was high time I share SOMETHING with you! LOL. Been packing & cleaning all day so stamping time is still hiding somewhere. Maybe tonight!

This is a bright card & makes me smile. I used polyshrink & my Retro Alphabet set to create the S-M-I-L-E along the bottom & attached using jumprings. My kids also LOVE polyshrink. Anytime they hear me "start-up" my heat tool they ask if I'm using that cool shrinking stuff! Always remember that your HOLE shrinks too, so make sure not to use that little 1/16" punch. Someone once told me to make a ruler out of polyshrink & then shrink it so I'd always know what size to cut things. Make sense?

Well, off to meet the kids for the bus stop. Sure hoping my little Sarah (gr.1) made it! She was pretty nervous about catching it, but when I offered to pick her up at school I got the nah-uh! :)

Hope you all enjoyed your first full day with the kids in school :)!
-.j.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

First day of school.....


Megan, Grade 6 -- so beautiful inside & out!
(skipping grade 4 has sure made *elementary school* go by too quickly!)

Joshua, Grade 3 -- being his silly 'ol adorable self!

Sarah, Grade 1 -- who took the longest to pick out that *perfect* first day outfit!

FALL Frenzy.

OK... I think I will let the fruit flies lay to rest (at least for now). And let you know about Stampin' Up!'s special for SEPTEMBER!!! WOOOHOOO -- I love specials!


Fall Frenzy Promotion

September 1-September 30, 2007
Spend $40 in regular priced merchandise and qualify to purchase one of each of the eight promotional stamp sets at 30 percent off!

Item Page # Description Discounted Price
105355 26 Bitty Boos Too $17.47
109284 29 Haunting Halloween $18.17

110211 29 Halloween Hantee $18.17
107383 30 Thoroughly Thankful $22.37
109373 108 Autumn Fest $23.07
109421 91 Elementary Essentials $27.27
110366 17 Stem Silhouettes* $30.77
110388 17 A la Tige* $30.77

*Holiday Mini Collection 2007

Monday, September 03, 2007

FAILURE!

Complete & utter failure. NOT ONE FLY in that funnel contraption!

SEE HOW UGLY THESE GUYS ARE UP CLOSE!!! I think tonight.... I'll have to pull out my final trick:

1. CLEAN the ENTIRE kitchen (all dishes cleaned, all food put away or at least in a ziplock bag!)
2. OPEN my oven door & put a piece of fruit inside.
3. WALK away!
4. Go to bed.
5. In the morning, tip-toe to the oven, close the door & TURN IT ON for 10-15 minutes.
6. THOROUGHLY clean the oven.

*sigh*

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Fruit Flies aren't intelligent are they?

OK... I obviously got overly excited to see my infestation of fruit flies IN A JAR when I was telling you all (or perhaps just one -- Hi Kelly!!) about the fruit fly remedy (rotten banana in jar). Well... still have some fruit flies I tried it again with no luck! How could it work SO WELL the first time & not at all the second time... Hmmmm.... those little creatures aren't THAT smart -- are they? After searching again, I found the following & have set the trap out tonight....
Make a funnel trap:
1. Make a cone out of the sheet of paper (like a funnel). Tape the outside of the cone so that it stays in place.
2. Check that the cone fits snugly into a glass or cup.
3. Cut off the tip of the cone so that you now have a funnel.
4. Pour a small amount of cider vinegar into the glass or cup. (Rum mixed with orange juice also works very well - additionally, a half teaspoon of baker's yeast in water can also suffice)
5. Insert the funnel into the glass or cup, but don't let the bottom of the funnel touch the liquid. Tape the funnel in two or three places from the outside so that there is no gap between the glass and the cone.
6. Place your newly created trap on a flat surface. The flies will be attracted by the smell of the fruity vinegar and fly into the cone. The flies will slip down the cone and will either land in the vinegar and drown or will be trapped and not able to get back out. If you leave the trap overnight, the trapped fruit flies will eventually fall into the vinegar and drown.
I know -- DROWN. Even my daughter is now OK with killing the fruit flies. I'll let you know tomorrow how the funnel test goes.

Now you can see why I have little time to stamp! I'm fighting a war in my own home! LOL. On the stamping end of things, I did cut out my new sets while I watched Cold Case :) Yeah.... I'll honestly get back to stamping as I'm sure SOME of you could care less about fruit flies! :p
-.j.