Monday, July 27, 2009

He is home safe and sound!!!!

Friday night was one of the sweetest nights of my life. :) Our missionary returned from his two year mission to Porto Alegre Brazil. Sorry about this first shot, we had a glass window in front of us. The handsome missionary on the right is ours! His flight ended up being 3 and half hours late which drove this Mom crazy. Haa haa. It was way funny because we have a small airport and smaller planes land here, so there weren't many people on the plane. The other passengers said Elders, you get off and go see your families. They had to go to the restroom which was upstairs so the passengers would come through the doors and tell us they were in the bathroom. Hee hee. It was cute. I can't even begin to describe how good it was to see him after two years. The second I saw him coming down, I was in tears. I was first in line for the hugs.


Finally my hugs after two years. Emails were once a week and 4 phone calls, one each at Christmas and Mothers Day.

Meeting his new Niece Makiya for the first time and seeing his first Niece, Mykl for the first time. She was two when he left. She was so excited to have him home and there was absolutely no shyness. :)

Finally getting that hug from his Father. Tender sweet moments.

Meeting his one year old nephew for the first time. Eastton was a little shy but warmed up to him fast. :)
Sweet Sister hug.

I love this pic cause it shows his name badge and airplane pin close up. It was anther tender sweet moment when he removed that name badge. Tears were flowing.


I had decided long ago that he and Mykl would be the ones to put the last sticker on our chart. Here they are getting ready to put it on. They are wearing matching soccer shirts that he brought home. She is in heaven. :)

The sticker is on and the chart is complete. Mykl had to spend the night and sleep on his small bed with him. Haa haa she didn't want to go to sleep and they weren't in bed until 2 am.

Getting to know Makiya after everyone else left. I think he is in love. It is so good to have him home. He hasn't changed in his humor one bit. He has grown and is a man though and those changes were evident from the very first minute we saw him. Welcome home Jacob! It is so good to have you home with your family. Our plans now are to spend lots of quality family time with him. He is ready to hunt and fish. We have family dinners every other Sunday and our first one will be this coming Sunday. Sweet memories lie ahead.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Spellbinders CHA Summer 2009 Release

Spellbinders Introduces:

Sneak Peeks on CHA Summer Trade Show Release Dies!

July 9 – July 22, 2009

Commenting on this post is welcome but does not enter you into the contest. This contest is sponsored directly by Spellbinders Paper Arts. Please read the post to find directions for entering. If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us.

Welcome to the 11th day of Spellbinders CHA Sneak Peek Blog Frenzy!

Spellbinders is revealing 17 new die templates to be released at the Craft and Hobby Trade Show on July 28, 2009, with some of their greatest fans…YOU! From July 9 – 22, 2009, you will have the opportunity to be a part of these world wide sneak peeks through visiting the Spellbinders designer blogs listed below and trying your luck at winning spectacular die templates! You will have a chance to win the die I’m introducing AND the dies previously revealed in this CHA Blog Frenzy by entering the contest at the end of this post. This is a progressive prize, each day the daily prize grows! Be sure to read all the rules before entering! You still have until July 19th at 11:59 pm EST to enter Debbie Seyer’s Blog at: A Peek Into My Stamping Room and until July 20th, 11:59 pm EST to enter mine.

To see previous reveals, or to go to any of the blogs of future reveals, feel free to visit the following:

7/9 Debbie Olson

7/10 Michelle Wooderson

7/11 Karen Hunsaker

7//12 Kazan Clark

7/13 Linda Duke

7/14 Heidi Blankenship

7/15 Kimberly Crawford

7/16 Julie Overby

7/17 Sherry Cheever

7/18 Debbie Seyer

7/19 Lesa Rapp

7/20 Becca Feeken

7/21 Jennifer Davis

7/22 Keri Lee Sereika

After the entry deadline is reached, Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each Blog Frenzy reveal as stated in the “Rules”. Winner will be contacted by e-mail within 24 hours of the contest deadline. Winner will have 72 hours to reply to that e-mail to claim the prize. If Winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new name will be drawn for said prize. Winner will receive the new die templates being revealed on the specific daily blog post they are entering.

Entrants visiting all 14 Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy Reveals and correctly entering their information into the separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a full set of the CHA Summer 2009 die templates and Impressabilities releases, 29 products, with a retail value of $561.71.

I am thrilled to be able to be a part of Summer's 2009 CHA Blog Frenzy! I am introducing S4-230 Labels Six!

My first layout uses the S4-230 Labels Six die templates, I2-1004 Impressabilities Flowers, and L-203 Whimsy Alphabet. The page measures 12” x 12”.

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Supplies:

Spellbinders: S4-230 Labels Six, I2-1004 Impressabilities Flowers Paper: My Minds Eye ~ PennyLane Feeling Groovy, “Uniquely You” Special Swirls, Crafty Secrets ~ Earthy Paper Designs, Core'dinations ~ Super Assortment Inks: Clearsnap ~ Colorbox chalk ink, Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roan, Copic ~ E31 wide Other: 3L ~ foam squares and adhesives, PaperTrey Ink ~ cream cardstock, Janome Sew Mini, tan thread, corner rounder, Tim Holtz ruler, paper piercer and mat, glass beads, Ranger Glossy Accents

I started by using chalk ink to distress my “Uniquely You” Special Swirls paper . I wanted the Earthy Paper Designs piece to look aged and used a trick using Copic markers. Use an E31 wide marker and go over your paper; It is wide enough that it covers your paper in no time...

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After I was done using the marker, I wiped some Chestnut Roan chalk ink across in spots to further distress the paper.

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The next step was to zig zag around it with my sewing machine and then attach it with adhesive. I stamped the spoon and lace with Clearsnap Chestnut roan chalk ink next. The lace was then scrunched and chalked with Clearsnap Colorbox Creamy Brown to look crumpled and worn. To make the strawberries, I cut 3 red and 6 green die cuts using Core'dinations cardstock, from S4-230 Labels Six, dies number 2 and 3. You will want to cut/emboss one each of die number 5 and 6 using the cream cardstock. When I nest my die set, the smallest is number 1, the largest is number 6.

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I embossed them in the Wizard with I2-1004 Impressabilities Flowers, using this sandwich: White Master Mat, Impressabilities, Die Template with cut side up and paper in die template, Tan Embossing Pad, White Master Mat.

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This is what it will look like when you are done with that step. The next step is to sand the embossed areas of the Core'dinations paper. I used a nail sanding block, but fine sand paper will also work.

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This Core'dinations paper is like magic. When you are finished it will look like this:

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Take your embossed, sanded pieces and scrunch them up! Go ahead take out your frustration. Keep scrunching and scrunching until they look crumpled and worn. At this point you can also use your Colorbox Creamy Brown chalk ink to distress them more and give them a vintage look.

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lace - lesarapp

Now attach the green leaves to the "top" of the strawberry. I used a tiny dot of liquid adhesive to attach a black bead seed as shown. Allow to dry.

The next step is to do the paper piercing.

I used my ruler with piercing holes, and aligned the cut edge of the die cut with a measurement that was 1/8" away from the line of piercing holes in the ruler. Using this ruler helps me keep the holes equidistant apart.

step number2-lesarapp copy

To make a line of holes along the curved edge of the die cut, rotate the ruler while the piercing tool is in the ruler. The ruler pivots but the paper doesn’t move. Keep moving along the edges until you have pierced all the way around. You may want to practice this technique first!

step number 3-lesarapp copy

stemp number 5-lesarapp

All that is left to do is assemble your page. Put the elements where you would like them using foam squares to pop up the pieces that you desire.

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My next project uses S4-230 Labels Six, S4-203 Contemporary Hearts Pendant, and I2-1001 Impressabilities Paisley. The metal pieces were cut using copper flashing from a home improvement store. I cut/embossed with the S4230 Labels Six and I2-1001 Impressabilities Paisley as shown in the previous project. I airbrushed with Copic E49 and sanded after that for a really cool effect.

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The die template that I have shown you today is S4-230 Labels Six MSRP $24.99

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The measurements for these die templates are as follows:

Die template # 1 (smallest) ~ 9/16” x 3/8”

#2 ~ 1 3/8” x 15/16”

#3 ~ 2 1/8” x 1 7/16”

#4 ~ 3” x 2”

#5 ~ 3 15/16” x 2 11/16”

#6 ~ 4 7/8” x 3 3/8”

Make sure you read all the rules carefully to qualify for the loot!

Rules
Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy give-away must adhere to all of the following rules. We are happy to welcome US and international blog guests for this Frenzy.

To enter each drawing on sneak peeks between July 9 and July 22, visit the reveal blog and click on the contest link to reveal an e-mail window. In the subject line of the e-mail, enter the die template name being revealed. Each blog reveal will remain open for 48 hours. Only 1 entry per blog is allowed and participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry, no exceptions. Please consider whether you will have access to the same e-mail address from July 9th through July 22nd and plan accordingly.

Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.

Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the CHA Blog Frenzy Grand Prize must enter all 14 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.

Please note:

*Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.

*Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.

*Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements or communications

other than to contact the winner.

*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their homepage SpellbindersPaperArts.com and sign up for their newsletter.

Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy drawing

Click on the following link to enter my contest: ContestDay11@spellbinders.us

For more Spellbinders new product release information go to: http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/new

If you have any questions regarding the contest, send an e-mail to ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us Thanks for looking and good luck!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Playing with Emma!


Christine asked me to play with our cute lil Emma dressed as a cow. This is the result. Isn't she the cutest? You can buy her among a ton of other stamps here <-- I am off to play with the kids at the zoo. Have a great day and enjoy the possibilities!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Surprise release!





I am so lucky to be able to show you these adorable new Emma and Trevor stamps from All That Scraps! How cute are these. I am a fall girl all the way, so these were easy for me to play with. Also if you look closely you will see that I got to use the new S4-228 Nesting Maple Leaf die templates from Spellbinders! Heidi Blankenship showed these gorgeous die templates on her blog last night! Now these new stamps are only available for a short time, so you need to go get yours now. :)
This is what Christine had to say about them:
"Our Autumn stamp kit is available for a limited time only. You will receive 8 Sugarplum kids (5 Emma and 3 Trevors), 6 accessory stamps, and one set of Autumn Sentiments.
The kit will be available from July 15th-July 28th only. Order will start shipping quickly after purchase.
These images will not be available again until our September release and at that time they will only be available as individual stamps. The stamps come attached to thin black foam like all our other stamps."
You can purchase this set now at ATS <----
I slept crummy last night, so I am off to bed. I will come back in the morning with details about what I used on all the samples. Have a great night and have fun shopping.


Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Wednesday challenge ~ Triangle box

I challenged the team to make a triangle box today. I have been so busy with other deadlines that I almost forgot to play along. When my husbands phone went off this morning at 5 am. (just plain rude), I was awake, so I jumped out of bed and got to work. It was just a quick one, but it was actually kinda fun to just play. :) I got to use my new BasicGrey lemonade paper and my new Fleur de Lis pendant die. I will be back later to add some details. Until then, enjoy and have a great day!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Spellbinders CHA Summer 2009 Blog Frenzy

I am so excited!!!! From July 9-22 Spellbinders is having a huge blog frenzy! You can win big time girls. You don't want to miss this as there will be previews everyday with new dies! I have seen them and am even playing with some of them. Trust me they are to "die" for. Hee hee Check out the Spellbinders blog <--- now for more information! Have a great day and enjoy the possibilities. Only 17 more days til my boy is home! This is such a happy month!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Melaleuca Freedom Celebration 2009





We are so blessed to live in Idaho where Melaleuca puts on our firework celebration each year. It is the most amazing fireworks display! This year it lasted for 45 minutes straight and included over 15,000 fireworks. It is synchronized to music by a local radio station. We have had the blessing of having an amazing man narrate the show each year. He passed away in September while on vacation with his family in Hawaii. We were so sad because it isn't the same without his voice. They did a tribute at the beginning to him. It was so amazing to hear his voice again. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. I was taking still shots at the beginning of the finale so I only got video of the last 30 seconds. I am including some of the still shots I took as well. My two month old granddaughter sat in her Mom's lap with her ears covered the whole time. Her eyes were as big as saucers. When the fireworks would slow between songs she would get mad and start to fuss. As soon as it was going again her eyes were wide. I think we have another patriotic girl on our hands! :)
Meet Diane's Bumble B. Bear. This stamp set is just to cute! I had a blast playing with these colors. Yummy! Head on over to the ATS blog for a chance to win this adorable set and see what the other team members have been up to.

Supplies:
Paper: Chocolate chip, Groovy guava, PTI white
Spellbinders:
Petite Ovals Large (S4-138), Petite Scalloped Ovals Large (S4-139), Impressabilities Flowers (I2-1004), Double Ended Tags (S3-149)
Copics: E70, E71, E74, E77, E79, C1, C3, C5, C7, YR61, YR65, YR68, W1, airbrush system
paper piercer, Tim Holtz ruler, SU ribbon, various buttons, brads, Inkssentials opaque white pen, crochet thread, SU wireworks, sewing machine, brown thread.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Underwater Emma

I love all the sets this month, but Emma mermaid just speaks to me. You can make her cutesey or dress her up. :) Isn't she just the sweetest for your summer projects? The other team members did some fabulous stuff with her so check out the ATS blog. Also you may find more samples on the sidebar here under the ATS team. Christine will be giving a set away on the blog as well, so head on over for your chance to win her.

Supplies:
Paper: Soft Sky SU, BasicGrey Marrakech, PTI white
Spellbinders:
Classic Lace Border Grand (S7-014), Peony (S4-193), Labels One (S4-161)
Copics: E00, E11, E27, E29, BG72, BG75, BG78, YG91, YG93, YG95, E30, E31, BG10, airbrush system

swarovsky crystals, dew drops, sewing machine, tan thread, randome lace, memento tuxedo black ink, Heidi Swapp edge distresser.

Have a safe and fabulous 4th of July! I have heard that lot's of smaller towns have cancelled their fireworks because of lack of money. That makes me so sad. The freedoms we enjoy are so priceless. I really look up to the service men and women and their families for all the sacrifice they put forth in our behalf. Thank you!
Fireworks Flags


Friday, July 3, 2009

Today is day 3 but...


My plate is to full and I didn't have time to do another sample with this set. My big one will be tomorrow and today you just get to see the sentiment because after all that was what we were supposed to show you today! ;) I love both of these sets and here is underwater sentiments. It has tons of sentiments to use with Christine's new Underwater Emma. Supah adorable if you ask me, but of course you didn't. If you want to see what some of the other team members did with it go to the ATS blog. You can't win the set if you don't enter. Get over there and comment.
I have a gazillion things to get done today and I didn't sleep well, so I am off to get to work. Not that anyone is counting but me, but my missionary will be home in 21 days! 3 weeks I can do. It was the whole two years that seemed daunting to me. It is going to be a good month. :)

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Preview day 2


Amy designed this gorgeous butterfly set for this release! I am in love. It speaks elegance. You can see some of the other team members samples on the ATS blog. Also I have links for their blogs on the sidebar to see even more. I think the card is pretty self explanatory, but I wanted to mention that the butterflies were covered in stardust stickles after they were colored. They are so pretty! Also I got to use my new pendant die! Is this thing not the most elegant die cut you have ever seen? It is called Fleur De Lis and is available now. * Edited to add that All That Scraps now has these in stock as well! :)
Supplies:
Stamps: Amy R Butterfly
Paper: PTI white, chocolate chip
Spellbinders: Fleur de Lis Pendant (S4-204)
Copics: Y19, YR16, YR61, E74, airbrush system
Adirondack Expresso
Stardust Stickles
dew drops
Cuttlebug pindot folder
SU retired ribbon

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wednesday challenge and a new preview



This week (month and next month to) are proving to be very busy ones for me. I am excited to show you what I can share. Some of it I can't but I am excited about all that to. Fun things are coming to our future! Smile. Here is the new Chasing Butterflies set that will be released at All That Scraps on Monday. Diem Pascarella is designing some stamps for Christine now. If the name sounds familiar it is because she designs the adorable Beautiful Day Fairies for Paper Makeup Stamps. This set she created is just too cute. I had a blast playing with it and also with my new Spellbinders Eyelets Pendant die. This gorgeous die is available now! If you head on over to the ATS blog you can see more peeks and have a chance to win this cute stamp set.

Here is my challenge for today. I challenged the team to use patriotic colors. I didn't limit which patriotic colors so anyone can play and use what is patriotic to them. The 4th of July will always be my favorite. I love the warm feeling I get when I think of all the servicemen and women who have given their all for my freedom. The pride just swells in my heart. I appreciate all of these people and their families for the sacrifice that they have made and make on a daily basis.

Christine came out with a new digital image last week. There is a short hair version and this one. Her name is Kiki! Isn't she the cutest? I had so much fun coloring her. I think I had a big ole grin on my face the whole time I was creating this card.

Supplies for Chasing Butterflies:
Paper: Brocade blue, random dp, vellum, PTI white
Spellbinders: Labels 4 (S4-190) Tags Trio (S3-148) Eyelets Pendant (S4-205)
Copics: E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, C1, C3, B91, B93, W1, R20, R21

airbrush system, Atyou spica clear and sand
prima flowers and ribbon available at ATS

Supplies for Kiki
Paper: PTI white, Bravo burgundy, Buckaroo blue
Spellbinders: Petite Ovals large(S4-138) Petite Scalloped Ovals large (S4-139) Stars Five (S4-092)
Copics: airbrush system, E00, E11, R46, R89, E25, E27, B91, B93, B95, B97, R20, C1, W1, Atyou Spica baby blue and clear
Stamps: Priceless SU, Beach Sentiments, Kiki
Inks, Memento tuxedo black, Chocolate chip, Buckaroo blue
stickles stardust
Heidi Swapp edge distresser
paper piercer, Tim Holtz ruler
Inkssentials opaque white pen

Have a great day and enjoy the possibilities! I am off to create and look at my new SU catalog.

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