Baby Shower gift

Baby Shower gift for Irina - Bo Bunny word "Baby" I used up stash for this with an older LRS kit filled with Making Memories product... I loved the Pink and Green combination as she is supposed to be having a girl.. random flowers and brads, I used a Jillibean soup

stamp for the butterfly and a BG rub on. I found some of my little Maya Road heart pins leftover from Valentines day and stuck them on too.

Until next time!

Missing You - Vacation

Duchess, I can hardly believe yesterday was 2 years since you went to puppy heaven! I miss you every single day! The joy and happiness you brought to my life will last my lifetime. I miss seeing you everywhere but mostly I miss you by my side and sitting on the chair like this while I craft or taking you for ice cream. No other dog was as loved as you were my puppie.. You definately left your pawprints on my heart... love and miss you puppie! RIP 9-13-1996 4-2-2009

Duchess

Now this little birdie Sparkie takes up most of my free time... she is always around wanting to be out of her cage and loved... But alas a bit too much loving and she thinks its fun to lay eggs for me.. arrrrrrrrrrgh enough already... This was her hunt the day she laid her last clutch. Looking into the pantry... oh no you don't

Really thinking looks good back here mom! No dearie you head up to your cage where she promplty started her latest clutch... where they belong.. Now to break her of this cycle... 4 clutchs of eggs since Thanksgiving is not good!!! hard to not love her so much but we are shaking up her cage and routine to break her out of the Nesting mode...

February came and went, not sure If I posted this little batch of valentine pillow pockets or not.

Peeps at work loved them.! Now to make some Easter ones, finding this is the best way to make alot of things, uses up stash!! wooot wooot... and can put together quickly.. Ok, so while on vacation I spent alot of time by myself during the day while peeps at work. So I went on a photo shoot... hehehe here is one of the better self shots I really need to get myself more into my books and stop being so hyper critical of how my photos come out.. I me afterall this is what my family and friends see when they look at me and LOVE me just the way I am so need to do some self loving myself..

Westminster Massachusetts, The Old Mill is now a Restaurant, but in a previous life it was a grist mill.... love this shot taken thru the old granite wheel...

New England is full of covered bridges like this one.. got to love the simplicity of it.

With the amount of snow they recieved this year, the brooks are really ragin with water.

Not to be left out is this not the cutest thing ever, my sister's Bunnie Bunnie on a leash!!! hahaha he loves being outside and OMG my sister is just to darn cute talking and walkin him..

Off to work on a baby scrapbook using the BoBunny word book "Baby" and a stash of LRS kit.

Got to love using up stash... have to as I completely fell in love with some newer lines and NEED them... Work later, but hope to photo some of my layouts from the Aquarium I have made

Peace Out.

Until next time!

One of the few photos from my recent Boston trip to see Mary Poppins and Family.My son Josh just turned 22 and I got to spend time with him chatting and eating. Got to say it is a weird feeling the first time you have a drink out with one of your kids! Also have to say he was pretty much the only family member who WILLINGLY let me take a few photos... love love love that he did.. was pretty much grumpy icky faces all around except him. Thanks son!

Trip to Boston to see Mary Poppins, the Boston Opera House was great! Loved the architecture and the show was good... Random Boston photos and one or two from the subway... Enjoy

Jennifer and Sarah with forced smiles :-(

Mural on wall at State Street Subway station

View of city sidewalks

Dusk, lights coming on

Really wished I could have taken photos of performance... but this will be scrapable :-)

Sarah with her new shirt...

Crafty Creation for my Sister Cindy! I had so much fun doing this, I NEED to make one for myself now.. Used a wooden birdhouse from Joann's and adhered paper to front, paint and sparkles with a bow on top!! walaaaaaahhha

Paper from the LYB Twig Line, ribbon random from my stash, paints were old stash making memories (remember all those fun little bottles?) and Sparkle Mod Podge to finish it off.

Front

Back

Ready to be wrapped!

Until next time!

TGIF

How come the first couple days after a vacation you feel refreshed and rarin to go, and wham day 3 knocks you on your butt!?!?! lol Had a wonderful time with family on vacation and work has wiped me out this week, thank goodness I have this weekend off trying to recuperate.

I was not able to get as many photos as I wanted to (family were all grumpies) sigh... but my dear son stood and just let me take his.. OH how I love this young man and miss him so much. We did get to spend time together and I am so hapy for it.
I will get photos loaded up and possibly posted tomorrow. I also have been scrapping my latest trip to the Aquarium and making some cards... so I have been busy even if not here..
I do appreciate those that stop in and check out my random chatter... Thanks and I look forward to catching up on my blog friends
Until next time!

Short Vacation

Don't worry, I'll be baaaaaaaaaack..... lol
Taking a trip east to visit family and see Mary Poppins!!! woooohoooo
Will update with photos on my return... Have a great 10 days ladies



Until next time!

Orchids!

Yesterday, my friend Nina and I went to an Open House for Orchids! I have never seen so many Orchids in one place ~ well maybe the Flower show... but hey that's they way they are.
I fell in love all over again with Flowers.. I could not believe how many different varieties and color combonations there were. Simply Breathtaking, then we had lunch after at Bucca de beppo, another fun place. There is no order for the following photos, I just selected 5 of them to show here, with the last one the type Nina purchased for me.

This is the color and type I have, now to find the perfect spot in my craft room.

It was a great way to spend a gloomy yucky day! Today, I am working on some layouts and cards, I have been busy just not posting them here no reason why, just havent... lol

I do want a trip to Archiver's 30% off coupon burning a hole in my wallet I tell ya!

Did recieve happy mail on Friday - order from Unity came.... I love getting things in the mail, so I guess I will be making some layouts and cards with new stamps soon. I think I am going to start a collection of gifts with homemade cards, and perhaps a fun box for storage.. thinking ahead for birthdays and Christmas. I have been trying to use up stash, but lets face it I NEVER EVER EVER will be able to use all the stuff I have.. Time to weed out some I guess, but how to part with something you loved but now seriously have not even used.. I honestly think I could win the contest for most unused patterned paper. Tell me blog readers what do you own way to much of??
Until next time!

a bit o progress

So, onward with the Unity story. I placed another where is my order calltoday. Got ahold of Andrea who says she will reprint my invoice and check into it. Verified my phone number and let me go. I waited for about 10-15 mins max for the call back. She did not dissapoint this time. Called back, apologized and told me they shipped out yesterday. :-) Good news for me.. Hopefully they will arrive tomorrow if not then maybe Saturday.
Probably a good think not today. I have felt crummy all day, eyes want to shut, and I never feel this way unless overtired. so possibly a nap instore for me? Hoping to seperate my Aquarium photos and get them ready to scrap.
Until next time!

Shedd Aquarium

What to do at 4am? Upload photos of Aquarium visit? write on long neglected blog? Think about your recent order at Unity Stamp and have to call and complain about lack of Customer Service? oh yes, the things we think about when we should be sleeping!!!

Last week my good friend Nina and I went downtown Chicago to the Shedd. Love this Aquarium, besides the fabulous view of the Skyline off Lake Michigan, we have a great aquarium filled with lots of fun things, got my photos developed and can't wait to scrap them.
1. Sponge fish

Seahorses, forgot to copy this one so it will mean another few minutes at the photo lab on friday!

Snake fish

Don't remember the name of this one, however it was striking and I love how it came out.

and quite possibly my favorite one, the Starfish

We had an amazing time and best of all it was totally FREE, as part of Target Corporate days!

gotta love free admissions....

Now my deal with Unity. I realize it is a new company and starting to expand however I really expect good, no let me say Great Customer Service everywhere... (so many years of my being in Customer Service)... I love the product they have great stamps for the price and the fact that they are co branding with major paper lines that I use and love. However an email or phone call goes a long way in resolving a problem... I placed an order back in Jan. for some of the new stamps to come out (CHA stuff) expected them not to ship till after the 7th of Feb as they stated when ordering... NOT to mention everytime I try placing an order I have to struggle with the order process... UGH. I paitently waited till the 21st to see if they arrived, nothing yet so I place a call to them on that day. Got in contact with them and was told they were having a snow storm again.. and should get an email later that day or the next.. ok, i'll be paitent a bit longer... it's now Thursday and no response so I will have to call them later again.. In the meantime I did recieve my kit of the month, questioning wether to continue with it or not now, Service goes along way with me. sorry to my few feaders, but I am tired remember I said it was 4am... lol and really just want my stamps... hehehe....

I did pick up some small 4 x 6 paper pads from the new Stella Rose line by My Minds Eye... oh they are so pretty... these smaller versions have the smaller prints, great for Cardmaking makes me think of Kristii and her amazing cards...

Until next time!

Long Time NO Blog!

Hello Blogland~ Happy 2011~ I have been reading everyones blogs, but just found it easier to post on FB ~ I truly have missed blogging here though and figured I would post tonite. I have been crafting, not sure If I posted these two layouts before I got lost.. lol

This was created with the Jillibean Soup Christmas line this year, I loved how it came out, now just really need a photo to put on it. :-) Huge hint to my sister to send a couple along...

I created this one for my Niece Sarah's album when my dad visited. I jsut love the Unity Stamps.... so much I joined their Kit of the Month.... Yikes...... but so worth it so far. I got my January set and love it, looking forward to the new releases too, I ordered them all up! lol

the Banner is Unity and the Owl and trees are from the Bella Blvd. Honey I'm home set.. If you have not gotten any of these stamps I strongly suggest you check them out... they are great.

Now on to Snowmageddon 2011 as we were calling it in the Windy City. Actually when all was said and done and the sun was shining I was in heaven... Love this photo of the front of the house. But longing to forget the 45/50 mph wind gusts while trying to shovel... snow drifts 3 / 4 feet high, and of course on to -negative degree temperatures....

This was our street the very first time I had to ever call off work and had a real "snow day" was because the STREET was not Plowed... lol our neighbor took his snowblower and created a snow maze in the street to get across.... gotta love it.

I loved this little Owl flag I picked up at Michaels, it really brightens the front yard with all this snow.. Just barely can see it now :-)

This past fall and on into winter has been amazing for my Bird watching hobby. I have finally lured a few Blue Jays to our feeders Up to 3 at once... lol

Also a White Breasted nuthatch, they are now coming in pairs, I have the Red Breasted ones also but no photos of them yet

Oh MY! and yes I even have a Red Tailed Hawk that comes from time to time lookin for a snack or two.

This was pretty amazing to see, last month I had a huge flock of Robins at the waterfall in yard.. they were so excited to stop and visit. Also the day after the snowstorm they were eating the berries off front yard tree!

Until next time!

Life goes back to NORMAL~

Christmas has come once again~ I hope all my family and friends had a wonderful time. Kerry and I went to inlaws Christmas Eve and spent our Christmas day relaxing.

I got this wonderful metal trash can all decorated/painted up by my sister in law! I love it, it is to hold some of my bird seed. I can't wait to use it, but wanted to photograph for friends to see.

rotating around the can

another rotation

one last rotation

The top cover.

I also found my envelope templates at the last minute and made a couple "pillow boxes" for treats, will have to remember these for Valentines day and Next Christmas, so easy, so fun, sooooo many compliments! lol

Papers are LYB Christmas Delight! Free hand bird, MM ribbons, random brown twine

stamp = not sure who to credit, have had it for a few years now and label is worn off.

Same papers, stamp, ribbons totally different look! I see so much versatility with Valentines Halloween, Next Christmas!!! etc.. I used a smaller template and made a tiny note card to insert inside for a coworker (no photo) and used the box as the envelope She LOVED it.

Possibly the whole worlds favorite Christmas/Winter paper line. Snow Day by Crate paper, I'm in love with it. I made a ton of cards using it, for thank yous and various occasions - maybe photograph some later.. But this little box was picked up at Walmart, painted and decorated the top. I spy something cute and little going inside? Or just looks cute sitting on my shelf. :-)

We had snow for Christmas Eve.. it was so pretty this morning too. I have been watching the birds at the feeders all day, BlueJays, Cardinals, Downey Woodpeckers, Juncos, Mourning Doves, Ginches, Sparrows, and I now Have White Breasted Nuthatches (a couple weeks back I had spotted Red Breasted ones too) I'm trying to attract some Tufted Titmouses.. we shall see....

Aglimpse of my tree this morning.. Kerry and I really didn't get much for each other, we both tend to get stuff all year, but since I LOVE Christmas so much (kerry not so much!) lol we do a few trinket things..

Prime rib has been cooking allllllll day, smells so yummie I think its about time for dinner. Looking forward to blog hopping this week to see photos from my friends and there festivities. I am anxiously awaiting some photos from my sister Cindy of Christmas Eve with family at my Dad's last nite. So sad that I work retail and have not spent a Holiday with my family in 8 years... breaks my heart, but I will go on. Hoping 2011 allows me to go home for the Holidays. I really miss it. Love and Peace to all!

Until next time!