More From the Weekend and Next Weekend's Plans

So you know, I was thinking on the way home today and it suddenly hit me (insert light bulb here): I am going to be home alone this weekend! Dh is taking ds to see my MIL in Chattanooga, then on the way home early next week, they plan to stop in to visit ds's college for next year. Next week is spring break so the timing is perfect for the guys. But due to poor planning on my part, I have to work next week.

And as I pondered a weekend alone, I suddenly realized that my scrapping girlfriends might be around. And even if they have some plans, surely they may have a few hours to spend relaxing and scrapping!!! So I plan to make the most of my bad planning/unfortunate timing!

Now, on to last weekend. I gave you a sneak peek at three cards, so here are 3 more. I still have to photograph my layouts or I would have posted those. And by the way, if you know our mothers, please DO NOT mention that their cards are posted here....!!! Thanks!

Hello Who, Bunny???

It's Bitten by the Bug Monday and you know what that means.... Time to post this week's challenge. Regina asked the team to use the bunny head from Doodlecharms and create any type of project we would like. If you have not been by BBTB, you are missing some AMAZING projects... They're all cute, cute, cute!


What did I do? I decapitated Hello Kitty!! Really, I did! I used the Hello Kitty cartridge along with Doodlecharms and made "April Showers Bunny". I cut the umbrella Kitty, removed Kitty's head and replaced it with the Bunny head. I had to cut an outline of Bunny so that it could blend with the kitty outline. I did this by layering two bunnies, one slightly smaller and inside the other and cutting it with the same paper as I used for Kitty.


I love the yellow swirl umbrella and Bunny's boots and rain coat. She is all set to splash around in some spring mud puddles!!!

Scrapping and Card Making Weekend at the Lake

I spent the weekend with some of my scrapping BFF's at my friends Beth's and Sally's lake house. We had wickedly horrid weather on Saturday, but somehow that did not impact the fun or the creative Karma flowing through the lake house. And today we had a great lunch out on the dock as it was sunny and upper sixties!

I did not have my most industrious weekend ever... In fact, it is safe to say that this was my least productive trip ever. It was, however, relaxing and fun.


I managed to create my weekly Bitten by the Bug project... it will be posted tomorrow... along with 10 cards and a few layouts. I thought I would tease you tonight with a few card sneak peeks.


Thank you Beth & Sally - the weekend was great.

Sorry to be MIA

Missing in action.... in scenic Aiken, SC....? Yep, that's me. I have not been creating and posting, due the interference of life/fun. I did not complete this weeks Bitten by the Bug challenge as I was busy having too much fun over the weekend!! But you should go by and check out the SPRING projects!

(Mary, my dd Bethany, and Allison)

Last Saturday was my birthday... I was 49. And I must admit we did a nice job of ringing in my final pre-50s year! Saturday also was the second leg in the Aiken Triple Crown, THE spring event here equestrian land... It was the Aiken Steeplechase. My dd came home from college with two friends and celebrated not only my birthday, but also the Steeplechase. And I have to admit, we has SO MUCH FUN with those three girls!!!! My dh was calling them his triplets by the end of the weekend. We both miss them now that they have returned to college.

The weekend was one long celebration, but the best was the dinner at the country club with our "girls", our son, and our friends the Garlands! I also am enjoying the new bicycle that I asked for. I sold my expensive road bike and got a nice around town hybrid.... Much more comfortable now that I am an OLD GIRL! LOL.

Wedding Pillow Gift Box - Special Gift for the Bride?

Happy (rainy here in Aiken) Bitten by the Bug Monday! This week Regina challenged the design team to use the Pillow Box cut from the Wedding Solutions cartridge. If you have not been by BBTB to see the AMAZING projects, you are missing some truly amazing works of art!! The designers out did themselves....AGAIN! :-)

For my project, I printed my own paper, added bazzill card stock to the front window area, and embellished with Prima flowers, beautiful french ribbon, and silk butterflies. This would be a perfect gift box for a special bridal gift: a piece of jewelry, a special note, or a personal gift card!!


I hope your Monday is wonderful... and that you too get BBTB!!!!

Ring, Ring... It's Your Birthday

Today is a co-workers birthday and last week we decided to celebrate her birthday on Monday. I volunteered to make her a birthday card and I called upon Wild Card to bail me out.
I made not only the telephone card, but also the matching envelope. I went for fresh spring colors of green and pink, embellishing with pink rick-rack and checked ribbon.

I really hope that Brenda likes the card and that her birthday was happy and special.

Ga Aquarium Layout

My older son, a secondary teacher, spent a fun weekend in Atlanta last month visiting college friends and taking in the local sites. One of his more enviable stops was at the Georgia Aquarium. His photos were so nice, it was really difficult to pick just a few for scrapping. I used George, Paper Dolls, and Graphically Speaking to cut the page elements, including the scalloped and rectangular printed background pieces. I liked the "gold fish" with the layout.

Aaron's fish face:

Friday Night Fun

I have had such a fun Friday night! My friends Kathy & Peggy came over to scrap, stamp, or whatever. Kathy & Peggy ended up working on invitations for Peggy's dd's wedding while I worked on cards. I had so much fun.

Dh picked up amazingly good veggie pizza for us, then he baked brownies for our dessert! What a great man (and Peggy was worried that we would bug him!). I probably should not mention the red wine and pear wine (truly, pear wine), so I won't. ;-)


I really am fortunate to have such great friends!!! And Kathy, this post was for you!!! ;-)

Watercolor Stamping and Printing My Own Paper!

I did it, I really did it - I printed my own paper for this card! Okay, I did not print the white cardstock or the blue cardstock... But I did print the crimson swirls and negative crimson swirls papers. I found the printable paper at the Pink Petticoat site. The downloadable paper packs are about $3.00 each. For example, my crimson swirls come in about 15-20 colors, all included in one download set for about $3. Cool, huh?

I had to find something to use on these pretty papers, so I revisited watercolor stamping and the nesties. I used Stampin' Up Botanical stamps again, with Red Riding Hood Red ink. You can order your set here.

I finished the card off with red brads, plaid multi-colored ribbon, and a beautiful red rose from Prima flowers.
And guess what? I printed additional colors of paper for later in the week!!!

Ho, Ho, Ho.... Christmas Card in March

Christmas cards in March?? No, I have not completely lost it, well not anymore than normal, it is just my resolution to complete six Christmas cards each month. The March cards, as I now think of them, features an embossed Stampin' Up Christmas Tree, background green on green swirly stamping, a fiskars border punch, and sassy red ribbon. The front of the card has a subtle Season's Greetings, while the inside is sporting a sincere Christmas message.

BBTB Interstate Sign - New Driver Set

Have you been by Bitten by the Bug today? The designers were challenged to use the Interstate sign from the Going Places Cartridge. All I can say is AMAZING!

My design is called New Driver. It includes a gift box and a matching card. The box was cut using the 12 x 24 cutting mat and includes a peek-a-boo window. The card is embellished with the car front cut from Graphically Speaking.

The paper is from Darci's and Bazzill aqua and brown card stock.

Water Coloring with Stamps

This afternoon I attended the March meeting of Stamp Club. Our Stampin' Up demonstrator, Steph, always has the nicest projects for us at stamp club. This month we did a card exchange (see cup cake card in previous post) and I received some truly amazing cards from the other club members.

Stampin' Up has a current special called Sale-a-bration. Check the flyer on Steph's website for more details. Basically if you spend $50 on a stampin' up order (in person or on-line), you get to select from the sale-a-bration free products. Last month I ordered several ink pads from Steph's website.... and I chose to receive the botanical stamp set for free.

At today's meeting I noticed the sale brochure had a demo on water coloring with stamps. I asked Steph about the technique, then tried it out this evening. I WILL do this again... It was fun, easy and creative. Sadly, I ran out of red ribbon and could not finish the cards tonight. I went ahead and photographed the unfinished cards just so I could share.


I used my nesties to cut out the water colored/stamped image, then I used the scalloped nesties to make frames.


I tried a little "after the fact" water coloring of the background on this card. It adds color, but I think there must be a better way.


This little guy was cut with the circle sets, again, just to add interest. Also because I wanted to see what a different shape would look like.


I can't wait to finish these cards.... They really were fun!

Beautiful Saturday in SC

We had the most perfectly beautiful day here in SC. The temp was around 75-80 degrees, the sun was out and it was just beautiful. Around noon I went outside and just sat enjoying the sun and breeze.

This morning my friend Peggy and her sweet daughter Megan came over. We were brainstorming ideas for Megan's wedding invitations. Megan is going to be an adorable bride... She is so sweet and such a pretty person, inside and out.... Just like her mom!!

After Peggy and Megan left, I worked on some cards for a card swap at stamp club tomorrow afternoon. I made chickies, which I was not feeling the love for. So I moved on and played with my new stamp set and my new bird shapabilities. I cut, embossed and chalked the birds, then made this cute card.

My new stamp set is by Darcie's and I have been waiting since CHA for the release of this awesome set. It finally arrived in the mail this week. I made an over size three cupcake card and loved it.

We went to dinner with our great friends and neighbors, Andrea and Paul, and their children. When we came home I decided I disliked the dreadful little chickies even more, so I made new cards for stamp club. I used the new stamp set and the sweet stack paper. Now these cards I do love.


I will let you all know how stamp club goes tomorrow... I have to go pick out a stamp set to order (yikes!)

Laugh Often - It's Good For You!

It's Bitten by the Bug Monday, where we are reminded to LAUGH OFTEN. Laughter is good for the soul, good for our mental health, good for lengthening our lifespans, and is far preferable to "crank often"!

This week Regina challenged the design team to use the Laugh Often cut from the Beyond Birthdays cricut cartridge. I will just be honest and tell you that I was not thrilled with this challenge. But you know, after "acting like myself" and over thinking - in the end I liked this cut a lot. Laughter should be an important part of every one's life. If you can laugh, you can get through most anything.

I spent time this weekend cleaning and organizing in my scrap room. I organized my scraps of paper and found the pretty print paper used on the front of this card. I liked it so well, I decided to make this entire card from my scraps stash. Not too bad, huh?

I hope that you too "over think" Laugh Often and realize the importance, the value, of laughter to your life!!!

A Sweet Pooh Bear

Today was another wet, soggy day in SC.... And tonight there is ICE! How wrong is that? Ice in SC on March first!!!

I spend another day indoors cleaning my scrap room, doing laundry, etc. I also made two Pooh Bear cards. Some months ago I borrowed my friend Suzanne's Pooh and Friends cartridge for a BBTB challenge. While I had it, I cut out some Pooh Bear parts for later use.

I think the cards are so cute, and dd, who is home for Spring Break, thought they were adorable.