Wednesday, April 30, 2008

save the date...

It is Wednesday, and you know what that means? The weekend is almost here!!!!!


today I am going into work late...I have several emails to respond to, thank you notes to write and a few things to do around the house...hopefully organizing a few of the kitchen cabinets. I don't know about you, but the stuff inside mine seems to breed when I am not looking, then I cannot find anything. Do I really need 2 big cans of hot chocolate each half full? Time to organize!!!

Now that I know our family received their save the date announcements, it is safe to post on my blog. I was really happy with how they came out and was able to use some of my new skills from my digi class

Once they were done, I just uploaded them to Shutterfly and had them back in less than a week.
I used the kit called Love Shack by Shabby Miss Jen and the Date stamp by Janet Philips in her April Grab Bag.

Enjoy your day and thanks for visiting!!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

my new PTI goodies...

Happy Tuesday...

Can you believe that yesterday at work, I had another Quickbooks issue? This time with the payroll updates...I was again on the phone with tech support (somewhere in India), for about an hour. After un-installing and re-installing again...I hope it is okay! I am really starting to dislike the new 2008 version!


On to stamping! At least when I got home yesterday, I had a few moments to make some cards with my new stamp set by PTI called Women of Life (I needed some stamping therapy!). This one uses some of PTI's perfect match collection. I really like this lemon tart and aqua mist together. And check out the ribbon!!! LOVE IT!!!! (polka dotted silk matching ribbon...I am going to try not to hoard it, lol!). It is hard to see in the picture, but I added some polka dots in the center of the flowers with my white gel pen.


Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!


supplies used: Women of Life stamp set (PTI); Lemon Tart/Aqua mist (PTI)/ Whisper White (SU!) cardstock; Lemon Tart/Aqua mist (PTI)/Certainly Celery (SU!) ink; Satin Polka Dot ribbon (PTI); white gel pen (SU!)

Monday, April 28, 2008

it's monday already...

Hi all!
I don't know about you, but my weekends seem to fly by!!! One minute it is Friday...then boom! Monday.

I was able to get some stamping therapy in on Sunday afternoon, while the family watched a movie. I needed several thank you cards. I made these for my bosses. They were so nice to us for Administrative Professionals Day. I have the hardest time making guy cards. I showed Mike and he approved, so I guess I didn't girl it up too much.

I also finished my last layout for my Digi: In Deep class. I was kind of bummed that it has come to an end. What a ride...It was intense and I learned a lot! I will post my final class layout this week. It highlighted photo extraction (which was way cool).

I hope your week is off to a great start! Thanks for visiting!!!

Supplies used (SU! unless noted): Stamp of Authenticity/Rough Edge Alpha/Polkadot Bkgrd/Papertrey (Words) stamps; Chocolate Chip/Antique Ivory/Taken with Teal cardstock; Chocolate Chip/Taken with Teal/White (craft) ink; Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon

Friday, April 25, 2008

quotes part 2...

Well, Yesterday was a day from you know where!!!!

It started off great, just a regular day, we even had a special lunch at work in honor of Administrative Professional Day, presents, cake, flowers and balloons (we are so spoiled). Then I decided to install the new 2008 version of Quickbooks on my work computer, since the 2005 version was no longer going to work with the payroll updates. Usually this is about a 20 min task...right? WRONG! I went through the installation process and was unable to open up the new version and couldn't find the old version anywhere...after a brief panic set in, I called tech support...3.75 hours later, it was up and working. I am so glad Mike called to order pizza, because I was in no condition to cook dinner, especially when I walked in the door to find all of Ashley's apartment stuff scattered throughout the house (she is moving back home). I don't handle that kind of stress very well!

So that story brings me to the fact that I did not have anything new to post, since I am way behind on my week 4 layout. So I thought I would post the second part of my quote journal (part 1 is here). I hope you enjoy it.

I did get my order from Papertrey yesterday, so I hope I have time for some stamping therapy...I really need it!

Have a super Weekend!!! Thanks for visiting.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

birthday fishes...

Hi all...

Todays (gel) card is totally copied from Nichole Heady ...once I saw it I had to recreate if for my step dad who is celebrating his birthday on 4/30 (I hope he doesn't read my blog!)...of course her card featured the new stamp set Pond Life (PTI). Since I didn't have that set I dug through my stamps and used this little fish image from the Very Punny set (I think it was a SAB set last year). I was happy with the end result...I think he will like it, since he is quite the fisherman. It is hard to see from the photo but the little tag reads Birthday Fishes (ha ha!). I had to mask off my stamp and just use the word fishes, then I grabbed my Papertrey (word set), and easily lined (since they are acrylic) up the word Birthday in front of it.


I am so behind in my digi class, I am starting to get a little stressed! I am hopeful to have my layout done by Friday/Saturday. I watched all my videos Tuesday night, so I am ready to go back and take it one step at a time. I am really sad that this is the last week of the class, but Jessica hinted in her daily email post that she may have something up her sleeve...I hope so!!!!


Thanks so much for stopping by today! Enjoy your day!!!!

Supplies used (all SU! unless noted): Very Punny/Papertrey word (PTI) stamps; Blue Bayou/Whisper White/Summer Sun cardstock; White craft ink; Basic Black/Pumpkin Pie ink; Summer Sun/Pumpkin Pie SU! Markers; Tab/Word Window punch; Circle Cutter (Fiskars); Pumpkin Striped Ribbon; yellow brad (non-SU!).

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

for a friend

Hi all!
I hope your Wednesday is off to a great start! I have been playing the car shuffle again...Mike's car is back in the shop (again!), sometimes I just feel like "Enough Already!" I am hoping it is finished today, I don't like having to shuffle cars around...such a hassle!

Here is a card I made using the hostess set from SU! (For A Friend). I have had it sitting on my craft table for months, unmounted and collecting dust, so I chose one of the images and was determined to make a card with it. I decided to use my flower punch to add some dimension to the card. It was a pretty simple card, just one ink color and one stamp. Of course I had to jazz it up with a scallop border using my corner rounder punch and some ribbon, lol.

I hope you have a super day, thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies Used: (all SU!): For a Friend stamp set (hostess); Whisper White/Chocolate Chip/Ruby Red/River Rock cardstock; Fall Flowers designer paper; Chocolate Chip ink; Flower/Corner rounder punches; Chocolate Chip 5/8 grosgrain ribbon; white brad (non SU!)

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Butterfly Birthday...


Happy Tuesday! I am back up and running (my computer that is).

We have been having some issues with our router (ARGHHH! I hate being without the Internet!!!! I feel so disconnected). Anyway, I hope you had a terrific weekend.

I had some time to finish up my class assignment, so now I am ready for this weeks assignment (I am really bummed that this is the final week of the class). This week we are learning how to extract a picture from it's background...sounds kinda complicated, but I am up for the task! I was supposed to take some photos for my Saturday assignment (which I will need for my layout this week),but no one in my family wanted to be the subject of my photo shoot...I wonder why? Probably because I have to take lots of pic's before I get one I like, lol!

I did get some stamping in...I needed to make a few birthday cards and a thank you. Today's card is for my step mom, her birthday is next week. I used the set Butterfly Kisses by Papertrey. I haven't used this set in quite a while, so it was kind of fun re-discovering it. I cut out a butterfly image and popped it up with a dimensional, so it looks like it is ready to fly off the card. I am also really loving the new Papertrey Perfect Match Collection, the Berry Sorbet is such a yummy color. I just ordered the new colors that debuted on 4/15 (but don't tell Mike! lol!).

supplies used (SU! unless noted): Butterfly Kisses (PTI); Berry Sorbet(PTI)/Chocolate Chip/Whisper White cardstock; Berry Sorbet (PTI)/Chocolate Chip ink/Berry Sorbet (PTI) grosgrain ribbon; Stardust Stickles

Monday, April 21, 2008

Monday

Happy Monday...My Internet is not working (piggybacking on someone's wireless from my laptop), so I am unable to post today...sorry!  I do have some stuff to show you, so hopefully tomorrow...have a super day!

sorry for the weird post if you are on my mailing list...Peter my cat walked across my laptop and apparently it published.

Friday, April 18, 2008

This is me...


All I can say is YIPPEE!!!! It's Friday...I love the weekend! It is so nice to have a blank slate in front of you!!!

Here is my layout from week 3 Digi In Deep. This one was a lot of fun to make...I usually don't scrap about myself....so that was neat! I used my new camera (which I realized I have lots to learn!). We had to take our photo in the mirror and focus on our fingertip, and blur out the rest. I am definitely going to practice that more!
I have a few Birthday and Thank You cards that I need to make over the weekend...so I should have some new stamped projects for you next week.

okay...remember my post a few days ago about the blog award? Well here are the rules that go along with it:

Here are the rules to the award:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity,design,interesting material,and also contributes to the blogging community,no matter what language. (see my picks below)
2. Each award has to give the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4. Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte y Pico blog,so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules. :)

so here are my blog picks:


1. Kristina Werner http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/ I love her cards and scrapbook pages, as well as her non stamping stuff
2. Janet Phillips http://phillipsfamily.typepad.com/janet/ makes awesome scrapbook templates and digi pages
3. Jessica Sprague http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/ what can I say...I love her!!! she does AWESOME work
4. Nichole Heady http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/ another fantastic inspiration!
5. Kimberly Geswin http://gesweinfamily.com/ Love her China adventures and daily life

Enjoy your weekend! Thanks for visiting!!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Party Time...

Happy Thursday!

Like I posted yesterday...I am still busy, busy, busy with my class. I was able to kick Mike off his computer game last night to finally finish my week 3a lesson (whoo hoo!). I will post my layout tomorrow, I was happy with the end result! I am learning so much...I hope this 40 year old brain will retain most of it, lol!


Since I have not been stamping, I wanted to post this invitation I received from my friend (and up-line), Lori. She had a stamping day at her house a few weeks ago and sent out these cute invites...she makes such great cards! Unfortunately I was unable to attend, since I had lots of wedding stuff to do with Ashley on that day.


I got Ashley & Nate's save the date cards in the mail today...I sent them out for printing. I liked how they turned out...so cute!!! I will post a pic of it once Ashley gets them mailed out (don't want to spoil the surprise for the family).


I hope your Thursday is Terrific! Thanks for visiting!!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

birdie thanks...

Hi all!

Well we made it to the half way point....Wednesday!

Lately I have been feeling like I am taking 3 steps forward and 10 steps back...I just cannot seem to get caught up on stuff!

I haven't stamped in a while, since I am busy with my digi class. I am so glad that I made a bunch of thank you cards a few weeks ago. This one uses the stamp set "a little bird told me" I think it is such a cute set! I like to paper piece the bird in colorful designer paper! I also pieced the hat...which makes it so much easier to get it in the right spot.


Jamie Sears nominated me for this blog award...Thanks Jamie! I am flattered!!! There are a few rules that go along with this award...but I will post those tomorrow.


I hope you have a fabulous day! Thanks for stopping by!


Supplies Used (all SU!): a little bird told me/lots of thoughts stamp sets; Taken with Teal/Pumpkin Pie/Whisper White cardstock; Bali Breeze designer paper; Basic Black/Taken with Teal ink; Circle/Scallop punches; Orange striped ribbon

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

look mom...no stamps!

Hi all!

I hope you are having a great Tuesday! Today's card uses NO stamps...can you believe it? I have been hoarding my SU! rub ons for a while now and decided to break them out...I even used the big flower. These are from Sale-a-Bration, aren't they cute? This card literally took me less than 5 minutes to make! The longest part was waiting for the glue to dry on the button.


If you haven't been over the the Papertrey Ink website today...it is that time of the month! the 15th!!! New releases!!! check them out here.


Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!

Supplies used (all SU!): Love and Happiness Rub-on's (retired); Old Olive/Whisper White/Chocolate Chip cardstock; Choclolate 5/8 grosgrain ribbon; Olive Button.

Monday, April 14, 2008

guess what today is?

Today is my brother's birthday...so here is a big birthday shout out to my little brother...So if you are reading today...Happy 37th Birthday Tim! Here is the card I made him (and forgot to mail it so you are getting it late...sorry!). I tried not to girl it up too much, but I had to use some ribbon and a scalloped border.


I cannot believe that April is half over....wow! I hope you all have your taxes done, because tomorrow is tax day! luckily we got a refund this year (whew!).

I am on week 3 of my digi class and the layout for this week is so cool! I have to take a picture of myself in the mirror...(not an easy task). Hopefully I will have an ok photo. I will post my layout later in the week.

I hope you have a super Monday! Thanks for visiting!!


My hubby has a video clip of NickVujicic on his blog this week...he was featured on 20/20 a few weeks ago, he has an awesome testimony. If you are interested check it out Mike's blog

supplies used: Lots of Thoughts/Little Lady (PTI) stamps; Sage Shadow/Very Vanilla/Chocolate Chip cardstock; Outlaw designer paper; Chocolate Chip ink; Chocolate 5/8 grosgrain ribbon; Square/Corner Rounder punches

Friday, April 11, 2008

my week 2 layout...

TGIF!
I am so happy it is Friday! I am ready for the weekend *happy face* I finished my 2nd assignment in my digi class and wanted to post it...this is my son Josh, isn't he a cutie?


A while back I sent in all my photos to http://www.scanmyphotos.com/ to have them put on disk. I started going through the files on Wednesday evening to look for a vertical photo of Josh...before I knew it, the whole family was hunched around the computer going down memory lane and laughing with me at some of the 80's hairstyles Mike and I were sporting (I hope the perm never comes back!). I also couldn't believe how young Mike looked, I was so glad I hadn't aged any...LOL! I could just look at pictures all day! Needless to say I got a little distracted. I was glad to get my layout completed last night and posted to our class gallery.


I hope you have a wonderful weekend...it is supposed to be in the mid 9o's here in Phoenix on Saturday (perfect, since it is a dry heat).


Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

cupcake card...

It is Thursday...we are in the home stretch friends!

This is the card I sent to my SIL, Dawn for her birthday last week. I used my SU! set Cause for Celebration. I love the cupcake image from this set...so fun!
I stamped the image on watercolor paper and colored it in with my SU! markers (I don't have Copic's). I then used my gel pen to add some sprinkles to the top.

Random ramblings...yesterday after work I drove to Paradise Vally Mall in North Phoenix (I think it was N Phoenix...I am direction challenged) to pick up a Tuxedo jacket for Josh. He is going to the prom with his girlfriend this Saturday. He went shopping for one and got the wrong size...a short...He is 6 feet tall, definitely needs a regular not a short. Unfortunately our local store did not have one in his size, so after calling around I found one far, far away (lol) and went to pick it up for him, so he will look pretty snazzy on Saturday (I will post pic's next week).

Thanks for visiting! Enjoy your day!!

supplies used: (all SU!) Cause for Celebration/Polka Dot Bkgrd stamps; Cameo Coral/So Saffron cardstock; Watercolor paper; Black Staz-on/White Craft ink; Cameo Coral/So Saffron SU! Markers; Saffron/Coral Ribbon (non SU!); White Gel pen

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

berry sorbet...yummy!

Hi all!
I hope you are having a super week! I am thrilled that we are already to Wednesday...boy the week goes fast when you don't work on Monday, ha ha!


I just got my most recent Papertrey order on Saturday, so I was excited to try out some of my new paper/ink/ribbon from their Perfect Match collection...I really like this new color from the March Release, Berry Sorbet (doesn't it sound yummy?). I grabbed my Spiral Bouquet stamp set to make a quick card for Mike's Nana who's birthday is 4/20 (April is our birthday month). I think she will like it.


I am still really busy with my digi class (although I am having a blast!), I had to put my final project from lesson 1 (Saturday Challenge) on the back burner and dig into Lesson 2. We are learning how to make our own digi patterned paper and create our own brushes (these are kind of like rubber stamps in PSE). I hope my brain can retain all this!


Enjoy your Wednesday...thanks for checking out my blog!


supplies used: Spiral Bouquet/Mixed Messages stamp sets (PTI); Whisper White/Certainly Celery cardstock (SU!); Berry Sorbet cardstock/ink/grosgrain ribbon (PTI); Certainly Celery/Old Olive ink (SU)

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

quotes...

Wow...why is it when you have a Monday off the day just flies by...when I am at work it drags on?

Mike and I had a full day yesterday. He did a lot at the church and I finished my Cre8tive Journal for my digi class. I have to say, this assignment really made me think. We had to make an 8 page (6in x 6in) journal with only quotes. I didn't have any quotes! So over the weekend I Googled "famous quotes" and did find some that I thought were "Journal Worthy". I thought I would post my first 4 pages today. It was hard for me not to add pictures...but I was happy with the end result. I think I may print it off and put it in my craft room...Now I have quotes *happy face* (you can click on the image to make it larger).

I went grocery shopping yesterday afternoon and my battery light had come on (it actually came on Sunday after church), Mike had planned to take a look at it when I got back from shopping...well, after I loaded everything into the Expedition...I jumped in and tried to start her up...NOTHING! I guess it was a good thing we didn't go to the conference yesterday and I was thankful Mike was home to come and rescue me. Luckily it was only the alternator, which Mike replaced and it is running as good as new! Never a dull moment!

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Template by Jessica Sprague; Kit by Shabby Miss Jen (Love Shack)

Monday, April 7, 2008

happy new week!

Does that title make Monday feel any better?

I have today off and so does my hubby. We were supposed to attend a Creative Pastor's conference today put on by Ed Young and his staff, but Mike got an email on Saturday evening that one of the staff members had a medical emergency, so it was cancelled. I know Mike felt bad since he was really looking forward to it, hopefully they will reschedule it soon...On the positive side, we get to spend the day together. It is always nice to have Monday off *smile*

My weekend was crammed packed with stuff, and I still did not finish my homework from my digital class...hopefully today I will have time to do it and get to the grocery store, which I didn't get to either.



Here is a card I made last week (when I was on my Thank you kick). I haven't used this set in a while, so it was kind of fun dusting it off and inking it up.

Have a terrific day and thanks for visiting!



Supplies Used: True Friend/Polka Dot stamps; Groovy Guava/Chocolate Chip/Whisper White cardstock; Groovy Guava/Old Olive/Chocolate Chip/White Craft ink; Chocolate wide 5/8 ribbon; Rhinestone brad

Friday, April 4, 2008

I finished it!

Happy Friday Everyone!
I was so happy to complete my first assignment in my Digi class! Now I have a few more waiting for me to start (hopefully they will go much quicker, since I am just practicing my new skills). I decided to do a page about my milestone birthday (the big 4-0). I am usually the one behind the camera, so I didn't really have a lot of photo's to choose from, lol!



I have another busy weekend in store...taking photos of Ashley and Nate for their save the date announcements, promised to go shopping with my hubby for some new spring clothes and shoes, the usual stuff...groceries/cleaning/laundry, and hopefully finishing lesson 1 B and my Cre8tive album in time for my next set of lessons on Monday. I hope I can fit it all in!

And a big shout out to my SIL Dawn...her birthday is Saturday (4/5) Have a super day!



Thanks for visiting today and have an Awesome weekend!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

rock and roll...

It is Thursday...this week is moving along pretty quickly!


Today's card uses one of my favorite color combo's chocolate chip and soft sky. Ashley's wedding colors are black and white and she is debating on the third accent color (one choice is close to this soft sky color, which I think would be really pretty).


I used the rock and roll technique on my image to bring in a little bit of the brown. If you are not familiar with the rock and roll technique it is pretty easy...stamp your image in the lightest ink then rock and roll the stamp in a darker ink color...stamp and viola!


I have been plugging away at my digi layout...I have one more task to complete (I am really learning so much, I like to challenge myself), so maybe I will be done tonight and post it tomorrow. I hate to fall behind, so I was pretty much at the computer all night on Wednesday. I still have another project to compete that I haven't even looked at yet...luckily I can go at my own pace.

Thanks for visiting! Have a wonderful Thursday!!


Supplies used (all SU!): Oh So Lovely/Absolutely Fabulous stamps; Chocolate Chip/Soft Sky/Whisper White cardstock; Chocolate Chip/Soft Sky ink; Chocolate 5/8 grosgrain ribbon.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Merci!

Hi friends!
Today's card uses SU!'s Die Cut Blooms (available in the Occasion's Mini Catalog). I love the fact that you just punch them out and they are ready to go...no cutting! I paired them with the Summer Picnic Designer Paper (also available in the mini catty). This card is not my usual color scheme, but I think it is kind of fun.


Ashley asked me to make her wedding invites and save the date announcements...hope to start those real soon (6 months until the wedding, that just hit me yesterday.) She is planning an October 4, 2008 wedding, and now that we have the golf course reserved, it is moving right along. I will have lots of stuff to show you along the way...since I am making the favors too! (hopefully this will all be done early, so I don't have to much stress!).


I am moving right along in my digi class and will hopefully post my page soon!


Have a wonderful day!
Thanks for visiting!


Supplies used (all SU! unless noted): Lots of Thoughts/Mixed Messages (PTI); Real Red/Only Orange/Whisper White/Wild Wasabi cardstock; Real Red/Only Orange ink; Summer Picnic designer paper; Die cut blooms; Circle Punch/Flower Punch (for the leaves); Orange Stripped Ribbon

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

don't forget what today is...

April 1st (otherwise known as April Fool's Day), I will definitely be on guard today, lol!

Yesterday was my first day of Digi: In Deep online class with Jessica Sprague...I think I will be challenged! But I am really excited to start digging in! Hopefully I will finish my two layouts to post this week! (I have my fingers crossed). I have plenty of photos (since I just got my new Cannon Rebel).



Here is another thank you card...this one is pretty simple. Can you tell I love my corner rounder punch, lol!




I have included a link to a tutorial from Amy Rysavy's blog on how to use the corner rounder punch to create a scallop boarder (*note: It is about half way down the page).

Have a Marvelous day! Thanks for visiting!

Supplies Used (all SU!): Lots of Thoughts stamp set; Old Olive/Whisper White cardstock; Bali Breeze designer paper; Old Olive ink; Square/Corner Rounder punches; Olive Ribbon 5/8 wide grosgrain