More Stuff....

This is the FIRST card I made for Dawn's color challenge.I actually like it much better.When I finished I said,"Crud! This card has BLUE on it! Blue wasn't one of the colors!!" sigh.....I love this button stamp set, so fun to use! Cool cloud and sky background stamp is by Hero Arts.

This is a welcome back to work gift for a co-worker who is expecting. I saw this idea over on the Cricut board. The original samples used liter pop bottles. The girls were placing onesies and receiving blankets in them. To get the goodies inside, you cut a u -shaped flap in the side and fill it with goodies. I taped the flap shut and covered it with the label. I used the New Arrival Cricut cartridge to make the pregnant lady, had fun blinging her up! Best part?(other than the chocolate, of course), Amanda can take off the label and lady and use them on a scrapbook page.

A Challenge....

This is my first attempt at one of Dawn's color challenges. I always love the colors she chooses and I adore her work. BUT...these colors gave me FITS!!!! Now, I love purple.It is my favorite color. But, for some reason, paired with the pink and dark red, it was evil. I made three cards. One went straight to the garbage. I shook my head and grumbled throught the entire creative process. I actually preferred the other card but, added another color in . I'm pretty sure that is a no no for this challenge. So, here is the finished product.....

**crickets chirping** Yeah.....it looks better in real life. I had fun with my sewing machine. i love that little heart button. And I love lace.I just kept throwing stuff on this card hoping for wonderfulness......**more crickets chirping**. Check out Dawn's blog HERE.

A Fish Story

Thomas Jack and I headed to my hometown of Muscatine(right on the ole Mississippi River) to see Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Clay and Aunt Shanna. The highlight for Thomas was going fishing with Grandpa and Uncle Clay. My brother caught a 4 pound bass, the biggest he has caught on the river. Thomas also caught a fish. They were gonna pull a fast one and tell everyone Thomas had caught the "big one".


This was the 4 pound fish my brother Clay caught!
Thomas wearing his favorite attire as of late, Iowa Hawkeye shirt, shorts and new Cubs cap.

My brother Clay and his catch of the day! Yes, he is very tall! (6'3")Thomas and his fish.Why isn't his life jacket zipped????

ChooooooChoooooo

We're gearing up for our first ever passenger train ride to Chicago.We'll head out today to Chrys' house, spend the night with her, then get on the train Sunday in Oceola. We're staying with Trichelle and Adam in Chicago.I'm really excited for the boys to see the skyline. They've only been to Des Moines (insert lame whoo hoo here) so this will blow their socks off. Thomas still isn't sure about heading up top of the Sears Tower, but he's GOING!! I want to stand on the new glass observation deck. We're planning on seeing the Harry Potter exhibit at the Museum and heading to the lake front. Not sure what else is in store, but with Chrys leading the charge ...who knows!!! I'll twitter during our escapades, so if ya wanna keep tabs, look up Stretchie88 and follow along. I'll be back later this week with lots of pics!!

Check out the NEW Hero Arts website!!

Hero Arts will be updating their already AWESOME website this week. Check them out HERE. They are a fabulous AMERICAN company which also happens to be CERTIFIED green! All of their products are made in the good ole USA. Not to mention they have the best and cutest stamps ever!! Not only do they have an awesome card making gallery, but also a rockin' scrapbooking gallery...tons of layout ideas. AMY...go check it out!! I also want to give a shout out to their BESTEST EVER designer Jennifer McGuire. I puffy heart LOVE her. Here is her blog. Get going peeps this is fun stuff!!!!

Card Making Frenzy

My birthday card stash is very low, so I've been making cards like crazy
Oh, how I love my Cuttlebug.That little green machine is da bomb!!! I also would marry this Papertrey Ink rustic white cardstock if possible.

This card utilizes some of the million and one paper scraps I have. I love the Papertrey Ink Test Style script stamp. Heck, I love EVERYTHING PTI!!

This is a birthday card for a male coworker. I struggle with male cards.Can't add as much bling or use any PINK! HA!! Trust me, Nic is not a "pink" kind of guy!! I had fun stamping on the cork. I love to try new techniques.

This card is for my coworker, Marlene who is a quilter. The machine stitching is messy on this because I just got a new machine and haven't quite figured it out yet!!

Happy Soggy Fourth of July

Happy 4th of July!! It is cool and rainy in Iowa as you can tell by the pictures. We have no plans for today.The fireworks were last night. If you stood out in the road, by our mailbox, you could see them. Nothing happening in Dodge today to celebrate our great country.Pretty pathetic if you ask me. I grew up in a town where the 4th was a big celebration. HUGE carnival, parade, craft fair, and fireworks over the Mississippi river...beautiful!! It was always hot and sunny too. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty disgusted with our "summer" weather.Our winters are long and cold.I want HOT , HOT, HOT and SUN!!! I will be pleased with the next electric bill though. I'm spending the day baking cookies for church tomorrow and watching the Twilight Zone marathon on the Sci Fi channel. A big Happy Birthday shout out to my sister-in-law Marilyn!! Your card is on the way...I realized Thursday that, "HOLY CRAP!! It's JULY! Luckily, we will ALL have a PEACEFUL holiday thanks to the past and present men and women of our Armed Forces.Thank you, for your bravery and dedication to our great country! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!