Springs is on the way! (I hope)

Time is just flying by; I can't believe it's been 3 months since my last post.

You would think I'd have a lot to say...hum, not really.

I have been busy finishing up some older needlework projects I started sometime ago.
I wonder why I never finished them in the first place? I do that a lot it seems, start a project, then something else grabs my attention and well, you know what happens...nothing yep nothing get finished.
This is something I should work on changing... start something...and finish it.

Let's see,
So far I finished 4 needle-work projects, started and finished yes, FINISHED another.
I also purchased 2 more patterns and lots of new threads... Yippee!!
That is a minor personality trait I suffer with, I can't seem to start something without getting all excited about the hobby and drawn deeper in... I don't think I could change that even if I wanted to (which I don't). I believe that little trait is deeply embedded in my DNA. Probably comes from my mom's side. LOL

Here are pictures of the finished projects:  

Now all I have to do is figure out how I am going frame them or something for display.

The new projects and threads, (I am planning a starting one of these tonight).

I manage to reorganize all the jet cube storage boxes in my "playroom". I even labeled the drawers. I thought maybe if I labeled them it would be easier for me to find stuff, it helps a little. I will say it has helped me when I do clean off my work space, I don't just "stuff" things away.

Then the boys and made 44 of these little gift bags for valentines days.

this is just 1 I think we had about 5 or 6 different designs.
It was nice having my "playroom" organized and clean while it lasted. Which wasn't very long.
oh well...

Okay now.. what else have I been doing... let me think...

Reading - I just started reading Fiery Cross book 5 of 8 of Diane Gabaldon's Outlander series. Book 8 isn't due out until early 2013. I love this series, except parts tend to drag, and I lose interest. I will put the book down, only to pick it back up a week or so later to be drawn back into Jamie and Clare's lives once again. Not putting it down until it is finished, forgetting all about my daily duties like the kids, laundry, supper... I don't know about you, but, when I get into a series like this, the characters almost become part of the family. When talking to friends that have read or are reading the series, if you didn't know better, it even sounds (to an outsider) like Jamie and Clare are real...

And speaking of family brings me to the silly little Sims family that lives happily in my laptop.
The boys and I (mostly me) have created a super cool town. We have a Fire department, Police department, library, church, cemetery, bowling alley with joint restaurant and dance hall, daycare center, trailer park, inner city slum, laundry mat, water-park and pet store. I am in process of making a theater. This is consuming way to much of my time. I love to build and decorate the houses and business. I go online to find some of the special furnishings that aren't included in the game, that other obsessed Sims fans have created. Some of theses things are so cool, like the mini movie poster, rugs... you wouldn't believe it. I don't know how they create them, but, I'm glad they do. It's like shopping without spending any money! I LOVE it. If you play Sims then you know what I'm talking about. I downloaded a mini box of milk-duds last night for my concession stand, and it is so real looking...
I spend most of the time not playing the game but just building stuff. Curt on the other hand likes to make the people, and he makes some funny ones that for sure. He has one guy that walks around with a snorkel on his head. Levi on the other hand spends his time trying to figure out how "those people" got in my laptop. He's so funny.
The other day I purchased one of those HMDI cables, so I can hook my laptop up to my big TV. Now I can see my Sims BIG -- this is way cool.

I think that covers most of what I've been up to for the past couple of months, other than work, school, you know the usual daily grind.
Enough of my ramblings...

Thanks for stopping by, who knows when my next post will be.

So until next time...remember - - it's the small things that matter.

testing post

I just got the new fire kindle and just had to see how easy it would be to post
well its okay ..but it is hard to type. I doubt if I post much from it anyway.
it is nice to know I can.

better get back to work..my boss is standing here..

Bathroom Update

Here you go Vik, as promised the picture.

I finally got around to adding some more wall art to the boys' bathroom.
Now, maybe they will find the towel rack.

I just love wall vinyl. This green I bought is for the Silhouette. I think it is much better than the vinyl I was using. This stuff is really thin and looks like it is painted on. (you can click on the picture to see it better) The other stuff I have is thicker and I don't think it looks as smooth on the wall. I am going to have to get some more colors..
I hope I can find a bright orange.

I haven't been doing much playing with paper lately. I found tucked away in my craft room closet a couple of needlework projects I started awhile back and decided to finish them up. I got one finished and hope to have the other done in a day or so.

So check back, I will probably post some pictures.

Got Color? --

Isn't it great how a little color can completely change the look of a room. The boys and I decided their bathroom could use a little pick me up. Figuring painting would be the easiest and quickest way,
The three of us Curt, Levi & me head off to Menard's. Silly me not thinking that color was an issue, only because we love lime green, and as Curt said "it's the best color ever!" sure, right, what was I thinking....anyway 3hrs later we're finally back home, (sparing you the details) with one three colors, new towels, a waste basket.

I seen Larry cringe when I pulled the paint and other goodies out of the bags.
But, like a good  smart man he never said a word. I'm thinking after 27+ yrs of marriage he knows when to keep quite.

As far as the colors -- here, take a look,  and you decide...

here's the boring bathroom before:

drum roll please........

a few coats of lime green paint later...
the bathroom now:

Levi had to have his "best color of all time"
yellow:

and Curt, well, he really just had to have...
blue:

Then I saw those bright orange mini buckets, orange bath towels and did you notice the colorful wash cloths in the picture above? How could I not get them?

Four walls and three colors. Oh, we used the blue to paint the ceiling too.
Over all, I think it turned out great, the boys love it, and I didn't even have to buy a new shower curtain.
Now, all that's left is deciding on wall art.
With a good imagination and some removable wall vinyl the possibilities are endless...

So, tell me what do you think?

Boss's Day Card

Happy Wednesday everybody! I hope you are enjoying your day. I'm at work, it's raining and cold out... other than that my day is going pretty good.

I thought I'd post this card I made for my boss. She's new in the department, and I thought it would be nice to let her know we do appreciate her and I truly like her.
She is a fellow crafter, she makes quilts, sews cute bags, and does needlework. The best part is she is easily distracted too.

Then while blogging on my lunch hour, I seen that because of the 2 flowers this card would work for the Stampin Sisters in Christ - Challenge 111 - Matt. 11:28-30.  The challenge is Sharing: use 2 of everything.

Anyway on to the card.

I made the box using my Cricut and the George cart.

I put four doily coaster inside the box.
The doilies were made by my wonderful sister Vikki. She makes some of the prettiest doilies.
She had left them at my house a few years ago, after a craft show we did.  I found them when I was making the card for Catherine (my boss)! and figured they were just the right size to fit in my little box card. Not to mention yellow is Catherine's favorite color.

I knew Vik wouldn't mind, knowing they were going to such a wonderful person...

Thanks for stopping in... I have to get back to work..

Pirate Party - with a Treasure Chest Cake

Levi turned 3 on Sept 30th!

With Levi turning 3, and knowing how much he is "into" pirates (right now), I thought it would be fun to have a pirate themed party. He was so excited about the idea that every time we would watch Disney's Jake and the Never-Land Pirates he would remind me about his party. Did I mention that is probably the only show he watches... 3 or 4 times a day....

I need to remember not to say anything too far in advance.

"Party Day" finally arrived. The weather was just super, the sun was shining, hamburgers on the grill, Curt and Levi dressed in their best pirate clothes. I couldn't have asked for a better day.

We had a treasure hunt. Larry told the boys a story about a hidden treasure, and how it was their job to find all the treasures, and gave them the first clue.

Each clue had a picture of something hidden in the yard and a riddle leading the boys to the next treasure and clue. The final clue would lead them to a treasure to be shared by all.
The Cake:

A few weeks before Levi's birthday I was looking online for different party ideas and found a really cool website with all types of fun cakes. You can check it out here FamilyFun.go.com .
The cake wasn't as hard to make as I thought it would be. Only because Larry made the cake and I got to do the fun part - decorate it. Larry made a chocolate pound cake from scratch. He didn't think a regular box cake mix would hold up.  Seeing as I'm not much for cooking, I just took his word for it, I'm glad I did. Because it turned out so cute. I stuffed the cake full of sweet treats and to make it look as if it were sitting in sand I rolled graham crackers into a fine sand-like powder and spread it around the base.  Most importantly - Levi loved it.

All in all it was a great day with family and friends

I'm not sure, but I think Curt is already planning his birthday party!
And it's not until JUNE!!

What have I started?!!!!

I've been a bad blogger!!

I've been told I need to post something... anything. I had no idea it's been more than 2 months since my last post. Time slips by. I really don't have any good excuses for not posting, I haven't gone anywhere, my computer works, maybe just lazy.. no not lazy either.. The only excuse I came up with is I haven't made any new cards, and I usually post cards for challenges. I was told that was not a good excuse either. My sister Vikki (check out her site just click here) said to me "you don't  need a challenge to post, you should just post anything at least once a week, or just talk - everybody knows you can talk,  just tell people what you've been doing."  LOL funny funny sister.
Okay - a typical weekend for me is June 24th  & 25th
To begin with, I should tell you it was the Rodeo weekend, and Levi just loves to watch the Rodeos on RFDTv keep in mind he is only two. He talks nonstop about how he can ride bulls and horses. He runs around the house riding one of those horse heads on a stick. We even put a horse made out of old tires on the swing set, and that is about how close he has been to a real horse or bull. So anyway, when he found out the rodeo was coming to town, that's all he talked about for a whole week, "he can stay on, he can ride, on and on and on. Friday night finally rolls around. We are off to the rodeo. Levi talked (I call it talking trash) to anybody that would listen about how he can ride, stay on, and was the best cowboy ever. But he didn't want to get to close to the animals.
Saturday is the big day, a parade, and the day Levi is going to ride a "real" horse .
Larry and Curt choose to stay home. It looks like it's just Levi and me, so excited as we head out, with temperatures well over 100, to sit in the sun to watch a parade. As the horses go by, I hear Levi talking "trash" to an elderly gentleman seated next to him.  I have to say for a little guy he's very convincing. We have been sitting in the hot sun for an over hour, it's time to eat hot dogs.. Yippee!! Oh and free ice cream bars that some clown just happens to be handing out. Now, I have a little "trash" talking cowboy with ice cream melting all over him not to mention me, getting his face painted. It's time for us to get in the long, long line to ride a horse in a circle... you know, the same as the horse rides at the fair. Levi is so excited, he can hardly sit still. He is still talking the talk. I wish I was as excited as he was, I was hot I was very hot, sweat is rolling off of me and Levi's wonderful face paint is smearing off his face and onto mine from all the hugs as we stand in line. The sun is baking my brains(or what is left of them) for more than 45 minutes. I forgot to tell you... whoever organized this grand event thought it was a good idea to have  the horse rides on an old, black parking lot, with no shade in sight.
Anyway, finally  -
Levi's turn...................
and......................................
you guessed it.
The little @#$t wouldn't get near the horse. In fact, he let out a scream that would wake the dead!  Yes, the best cowboy ever, just had the biggest meltdown on record. Every head within 5 miles turned to see what had happen. The horse backed away, people backed away.... all eyes were on us. My shirt was being torn from my body. My glasses fell to the ground. All the contents of my purse was lying around me on the ground. A half-eaten lollipop is stuck to the side of my head. I tried to gather our belongings from the ground as calmly as possible, comfort a totally terrified 2yr old boy without attracting any more unneeded attention.
The quiet came as suddenly as the screaming..not a sound or a word all the way to the car. After the seat belts were buckled, the car started, and most importantly the air conditioner cooling...
A little voice said "That was a big horse".

I turned around, smiled, and said there's always next year.....

Later that evening, after the boys were in bed, I wasn't up to playing with paper.
Instead, I picked up my Kindle to read a few more chapters of Diana Gabaldon's Dragonfly in Amber. (Book number 2 in her Outlander Series).

I have been working on getting my scrap-book projects up to date. I have almost completed 2007!
Maybe tomorrow I will post one of my layouts... who knows..

Thanks for stopping in.
My Kindle is calling........

Opus - Challenge #100 - Matchbox Swap

Happy Friday!
I see a have a couple of new followers.. How cool is that!
Welcome to my blog and thank- you!

I made these matchboxes for the Opus-Gluei. challenge #100-matchbox-made-in-heaven. They are also doing a matchbox swap. This will be the 1st swap I have participated in. I made 4 of these and can't wait to swap with any of the other girls that may have made a few extra. It was really hard for me to decide just what to put inside them. I ended up making little matching books, that can used for notes, pictures or just whatever. They are also filled with a few other little goodies. I can't show you everything in them or it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it? I will say I can't believe how much can be stuffed into such a small box.

There's still plenty of time if you want to play along.
Just click on the link above, it will take you to the Opus blog.



Thanks for stopping in.. and have a super weekend!

The Crown Jewels

I can't believe it, I am posting for three more challenges.
The first is Opus - Challenge #99 - THE CROWN JEWELS. Jana and Rosemary requested us to make something in jewel-tones, with lots of lovely blingy-ness...whatever my heart and mind take from this theme..... I love those girls.. they never have any rules, or if they do, they aren't very strict, you just have to share it with the rest of them.
The second is Whimsical Wednesdays - Challenge #4 - It's A Royal Celebration. Follow the Royal Theme
The third is Bitten by the Bug2 - Home Decor - the Crown
This is my first time play in WW and BB2, when I seen there was no really must haves I said cool..
Here it is:
THE CROWN has been emblazoned upon the royal entrance to the Queens "playroom".

I really love this gold Holographic adhesive paper, I bought sometime back, and never really new what I was going to do with it, I just knew I had to have it. I didn't realize it was super thin stuff I don't think it's really paper more like a really thin foil. (Whatever it is it sure is pretty) I had to cut the crown (Home Decor cart)  on the gold paper and some removable wall vinyl, then stick the gold on top of the vinyl.

I do a happy dance whenever my crazier creations fit with challenges.

Simple Mother's Day card

Can you believe it's the last day of April already! Where did the month go?
It seems time just flies by so quickly. I remember my grandma telling me "the older you get the faster time passes".  I didn't understand what she meant by that, then,  I understand now
.
In between playing with the boys and laundry I manage to get a card made. Yippee!
This is just a simple mothers day card. That also works for three different Challenges:
First -  Cricut Cardz Challenge #72 use any cartridge with a card feature for Mother's Day and include a flower. Wild Card was the cartridge used.  The flower and ribbon I recycled from a box of Godiva Chocolates my DH gave to me. The ribbon lasted way longer than the chocolates - LOL
Second - Celebrate the Occasion (CTO) challenge #11 - The theme - Mother's Day.
Third  -Sisters in Christ challenge #86 Create a round card.

I have a couple other little projects I'd like to finish up tonight and maybe even get them posted.
But right now two little ones are waving Wii controllers at me.. looks like we are going to play a little baseball LOL gotta go I'm up to bat....

Thanks for stopping in.