What ....No ribbon.....

Jeff's brother and wife are celebrating 25 years of marriage. Scotty has always been my buddy. Back when Jeff and I were just courtin, Scotty would pop in to visit. We made salsa together, laugh, listen to music, and have a wonderful time. The poor boy loves music, but he is not able to really sing or play anything, so he conducts the music that comes out of his stereo. One year for his birthday I figured he should have the correct attire for his position as a conductor. Jeff and I got him a batton and a dark suit coat. Now he conducts his Boise stereo in style. He is a very handy guy to know. He built our deck, the screen door for our summer room, and also put together my great craft table with peg board. He fixes things. He pulled my car out of a snowbank on a road I should not have been on. We rode to work together for years. He is one in a million.

This is the card for Scotty and his wife. I love the shimmery white cardstock and the linen vellum, boy do I need vellum pop dots if they have them. I used extra thick platinum embossing powder because I did not have any silver. I was worried that the words would not show clearly as it is pretty heavy duty stuff. My dear hubby bought this stuff for me for my birthday one year. As you can tell from most of my cards I love ribbon, but there is no place for ribbon. So I think this looks a little naked.....

Cha..cha...cha...changes....

Okay, there aren't any card pictures, just me rambling. I think I need to start journalling my thoughts.

I am changing my life, walking down a new pathway towards a healthier me. I am scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery on September 30. This is a huge committment for me. I have been thinking and researching this for more than 5 years...

I was born tiny, underweight. I stayed underweight for years. My dear dad would make me milkshakes and unknown to me until later would put a raw egg in it for extra protein. Then about puberty I started to get heavier, and the diet cycle began. I was able to maintain a respectable 150 pounds for a long time, but as my legs got worse, a sit down job, nervous munching, and low metabolism took over I ballooned and just kept ballooning. Now this did not happen overnight, it was 10 to 15 pounds a year. Pretty soon that 10 to 15 pounds a year added to the original 150 made for a obese me. I have dieted, boy have I dieted. Nothing works for long.... they say now that it is because of genetics... My mom was heavy until she got cancer and then she was thin....not the way to lose weight. My grandmother was a large woman. My uncle was a large man. I guess it is on the Hollander side of the family. My brother is very deligent about weight lifting and eating very healthy. My son is too. They both have to battle the weight issues, but their genetic make up is a little different than mine which gives them a better chance at thin.

Anyhow enough rambling. I am excited to be healthy. I don't care about being "tiny", just healthy. I want to be able to walk with my husband along the beach, through an art gallery, in the forest along a path, and enjoy playing and being with my grandson. I want to watch my son continue to grow in the fine young man and father that he has become. All of this will be possible now, I have a chance to live a longer, healthier life. Sometimes cha...cha...cha...changes are a good thing.

Trying to be Artist?

Sharon Johnson "No Time To Stamp" from the UP of MIchigan (one of my favorite places to go on vacation) has some of the most wonderful designs that I have ever seen for cards. She had one of a Flourish Stamp set that I have and I had to try. Her was much brighter, My is very watercolory. I colored the stamp with my SU markers pretty soft colors and stamped it on canvas cardstock from Hobby Lobby. The result is very pretty up close.

First day of school.

Wow, 5 already. The time sure has flown by. The little one has grown so quick. Dain brought Cayden over for breakfast, cheese omelet and toast, before school with mema and grandpa. He is so excited. He could not wait to get to school.

Wolves from Ely, Minnesota

Actually they are from Michelle from Minnesota. Up in Ely, Minnesota there is a wolve santuary that is awesome. We have not been able to tour the whole thing, but from what we saw, these animals are beautiful. They have soulful eyes. Michelle shares images with us (Inkstainers) each month and then we make cards. I have been playing wih Michelle Zindorf's style of backgrounds. She is starting to give classes. Michelle work on getting Archivers to have her. The classes aren't cheap, but boy I would take it in a heartbeat.

Four cards ready to go to..........

Here are four cards that I finished today to get ready to mail to........(sorry it would ruin the surprise). One card is using a style of stamping that Michelle Zindorf does. She is absolutely fantastic. Her artistic eye is wonderful.

The next one is from the Forever Daisy collection from Gina K. I love the stamps and the verses that came with it. Expect to see more of this set.

River Rock and Ginger Blossom Paper are from Stampin Up and I loved both. Unfortunately they are both done as they were part of the 2007 In-Colors.

Finally this is the Hero Arts set from Archivers. I love this for cheery cards and kid cards. My grandson loves to color and loves to get cards. I am going to start mailing him a card every couple of weeks. I know he will like getting mail.

Last but not least is a picture from the fourth of July parade. I love the Curries float. Shrek is a favorite of my grandson's and me.

More cards coming shortly

I can't believe I made a bunch of cards for our church's annual Rummage Sale along with my friend Joyce, and other Ink-Stainers (only the best bunch of stamping buddies around) and I took no pictures. What was a I thinking.

Well I will have some ready for the blog within the next day or 2. I just became a "senior angel" and will be making cards to send to a "senior" weekly. Also I owe my dear friends tons of cards. Good think I have a stash that makes my hubby's eyes roll to the back of his head.

Anyway I have a new stamp set from Archivers (need to get cards made to send up there for Scrapfest) that I absolutely adore. It is child-like and has cute critters. Also I have 4 sets from Gina K that I need to do some stuff with. One is a great set that is Forever Daisy. The designer made it for a dear friend who battled cancer.

So keep watching, there will be stamping again.

I have been tagged......... Shucks!

Ten years ago....
We bought our very first home. We had rented up until then.

Five things on today's "to do list"
1. Get something out of the freezer for supper.
2. Call Dave's Deck Care to get the deck stained.
3. Work some extra time today to get time made up for tomorrow.
4. Unmount at least 4 more stamp sets.
5. Make a birthday card for a dear friend of my mom's.

Snacks I enjoy...
Chocolate, chip dip (hold the chips), Coke, did I say Chocolate?

Things I would do if I was a millionaire...
Move north to live on one of the great lakes, maybe even buy a lighthouse to live in.
Give my son enough money to pay off his loans for his equipment so he was debt free.
Give a large amount to the Hospice House in our area as they have need of more room.

I am suppose to tag 4 more people.....

Michelle.
Sharon.
Kathleen
Norma

To unmount or not?

I have ponder about this for a long time. I really don't have a lot of room in my office/stamping room plus during spring, summer, and fall people need to be able to walk thru there to get to the deck. Not having used a lot of acrylix stamps up until just recently, I had no experience with unmounted stamps. Wow! I love em. I got hooked with the likes of Flourishes, Kitchen Sink Stamps, Hanna Stamps, High Hopes and Gina K.

Now I started out as a Stampin Up groupie. Still love the paper matchy match with ink and ribbons, but have to admit that there are some pretty cool other companies out there.

I took the plunge started with a set that was not crucial to me......loved it..... did another. I was using double sided tape to stick them to my blocks.... got Tack N Peel.... the addiction continues.... Slowly the stamps are coming off of the blocks. I hope to be done soooooon.

Now the dear hubby is going walk thru and think I got rid of lots and lots and be so proud of me. Little does he know, they take up less and less space.

Of side note..... One of the nicest people I have never met has a blog that is filled with stunning artwork and funny writing. Cindy Motherway or Mothermark on SCS. She is a very active woman on the RAK group in SCS. She sends the most beautiful cards to people and has a heart the size of the US. http://mothermark.blogspot.com/ Give her a look and if you leave a comment tell her Cydstamps from Iowa says Hi!

A quiet moment

Today I had some down time, actually the power went out, and I knew it was time to get this card out of my head. Now granted I have these thoughts in my head about stamping and most of the time they don't work they way I would like them to, but today I think I like this one. It is pretty much as I saw it in my mind.

Father's day with the moose!

I made a card for the dog to give to "dad" for father's day and also one for my grandson to give to his dad. It was fun playing with Riley.

Inkstain sketch and my new addiction

I love Flourishes stamps. I especially love the elegance that they have. Sharon Johnson http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ has a style that I like. She is a member of Flourishes. I also thought it was neat that Sharon Doolittle is originally from Clear Lake. Yea! Anyhow, I made this card because Sharon Johnson had one very similar that inspired me (and made me buy the paper and the stamp set and ribbons.). I was doing it for Karie's sketch which actually does not look like this either. (I am a numpty).

Look No layers, no ribbon, no bauble, just ink!

The challenge on Inkstainers this week was to do a card that had no layers, just ink. After much thinking and scanning the internet I found this cute idea to make a card front, age it, cut it up like a puzzle, ink the edges, and glue it back together. I got to play with my Kitchen Sink Stamps. They are called 3-step stamping, but there are 4 layers of color here. River rock stamped off once, celery stamped off once, celery, and eggplant. for the flower. I have a long way to go to make this as gorgeous as Maria and the others do at Kitchen Sink. http://web.mac.com/degrassicolosimo/iWeb/KitchenSinkStamps/Hydrangea.html

ATC swap on Inkstains

This is something new for me, actually the second one I have been in. I feel sorry for the other girls as they do such awesome stuff and I am just spreading my wings.

Our Michigan trip.

This will be my rambling again. We had a wonderful time on vacation. We both needed an us time. No family worries, just the two of us. No drama, no job worries, no illnesses. We left that all at home. (of course it was waiting at our doorstep when we walked thru the door!)

These are a few pictures from the trip. My brother (boy I missed him) his bike and one of my favorite lighthouse pictures actually taken on the first night.

He is very special to me. I definitely wish we lived closer.

Anyway I will be stamping again soon so there will be cards on here instead of me rambling.

New mommy cards

I am so behind on making some cards. Two of the ladies on InkStains have had baby boys. I still am holding gifts and need to get cards made. Another friend has moved to a new home, but I have her housewarming present almost done. I sat down to make boy cards and what did I come up with but this? Now I think it would be adorable for a girl, but there are 2 new little boys that need cards.

A storm I have always wanted to see.

This a picture of a storm in Canal Park in Duluth, Minnesota. One of my favorite spots to go for vacation. I was looking through old pictures and found this. This was Memorial day weekend about 15 years ago. We were waiting for a special boat that was coming in. It was a mine sweeper. They had to send 2 tugs out to bring the ship in thru the canal. The waves were rolling up over the top of the cement walls of the canal. At times it looked like the boats would come right over the top of the wall. It was so cold. We would keep going back to the car to get warm. The aerial bridge in the canal and I are the same age. In fact we celebrated our 50th birthday together. The bridge had a bigger party than I did. Jeff bought me a stained glass hanging of the bridge that was designed especially for the bridge's 50th birthday. One of the steel owners' wife made the hanging. For me it was the perfect gift.

Hard to stamp right now and that is a shame as I have lots of new stamps..... Go figure. Lots to think about lately. The anniversary of my mom's death, the upcoming anniversary of my parents' marriage, and Mother's Day. My mojo is definitely visiting somebody else. If she is at your house, please send her home.

A lunchbox surprise

My friend Karie had dared me to make a bikini card to put in my hubby's lunch tote. I had actually forgot about it until I recieved a wonderful card from Lori. Both girls are Ink Stain buddies. It has been wonderful fun to get to know these girls from InkStains. I am lucky to call them my friends along with the other wonderful girls from there. Some very talented stampers. Go visit with them if you have time. Tell them I sent you!

Anyway I stashed this card in Jeff's lunch while he was getting dressed for work. He emailed me later to thank me for the smile.

My son is 28.

It is hard to believe that 28 years ago I gave birth to a tiny little boy who has now grown up in to a very nice young man. He has given many gray hairs over the years and also much enjoyment and love. He has been beside me in some of the saddest times in my life but also in some of the most joyous. He has given me a delightful grandchild that is very much like both his mommy and daddy proving the "mother's curse" does work.

I made a birthday card for my grandson to give to his daddy and one for his dad and I to give him. Dain is in the septic business and also has some porta potties. Thus the hambo stamp is perfect. His birthday falls between the Ides of March and St. Patty's day and we have always celebrated with an irish theme. Corned beef, cabbage, boiled potatoes. So the Riley stamp with the irish hat and mug is appropriate also. (Thanks Lori for stamping me an image) Dumb me I got the stein charm and did not get the stamp!

Vacation is planned

Okay I will admit it, I am Great Lakes' junkie. Ever since the first time I saw Lake Superior coming down the hill on Interstate 35, it has been a love affair. We have been talking about vacations a lot this year and hoping to get to go. First we talked about Niagra Falls. That would have been so cool. There are Inkstainers close by. Then we talked about Maine and Vermont. DH is really into wanting to go to Vermont. Finally this weekend we decided on the East Coast of the Lake Michigan and the West Coast of Lake Huron. Actually we will be at Lake Superior too. I have our reservations made. St. Ignace, Days Inn on the shore of Lake Huron with a room looking out at Mackinaw Island and a balcony. DH wants to go to the Soo Locks so we will be driving up to them from St Ignace. Then after a couple of days we are heading down to Traverse City Michigan and staying on the bay at The Beach Condos on the 3 floor looking out on the bay. After that down to Holland (no lake view room or even close) but we will be visiting a dutch village. On the way home we will be going to Genoese, Illinois to see my brother and his fiance and hopefully my niece who is working on her masters. My nephew is in Chicago, so it would be great if he could come down too. Anyway that is our hope. It is also close enough we can be home in a day if necessary.

Anyway this is a card that I made for a challenge on inkstains presented by Robin. Make a card with a photograph in it. This is a rainbow that I saw while in my front yard last summer.

Riley has gone fem fatale

I so CASED this card. I did make Riley a girl, though with pink jammies with pearl buttons and a bow in her hair. I am sending it to a co-worker at the main office who has to leave her home to go to work each day. She is always teasing me about typing in my jammies, drinking coffee, and eating bon-bons. Well this is a cupcake, but pretty good otherwise.

Get well Soon Karie!

One of my Inkstain friends is in the hospital. Poor thing is having gallbladder problems and she is 5 weeks from delivery of her baby. Her hubby has been good about letting all of us know. We sure miss her.

This is a card I made for her with Riley the Moose. He is so cute.

About the card and bag.

The first stamping project is a bag envelope. The directions came off of Splitcoast stampers. Great place for ideas. The second is a pocket card that was inspired by Sharon from Inkstains. She sent a beautiful card for our anniversary.

Two more for Karie's Challenge.

Embrace Life

Today is a quiet day. I just read "The Notebook". I had seen the movie, but the book is so much better. I have 2 more to read. We have started going to the library every 2 weeks for books. Both my husband and I love to read. I am "addicted" reading until the book is done or my eyes will no longer focus. He reads and sleeps. My grandsone likes reading also. He has his books memorized so he will sit with you and tell you the story and turn the pages as you go. Hard to believe he will be 5 this year and of age to go to school

After reading my book I decided to try to make a few more cards. This would be Number 6 Miss Karie, so I am half way there. The stamp set is Embrace Life from Stampin Up.

2 cards for Ms. Karie's Challenge

Karie, a stamping bud from Inkstains, has a challenge on her blog to have us create 12 cards in February. Here are 2 more bringing my total so far up to 5. The one is a catch up for the challenges on Inkstains. We were to use patterned paper, scalloped something, and ribbon. The ribbon is from my flowers I got from hubby for our 16th anniversary. The other card is a quick Valentine's Day Card for my MIL to give to my SIL.

Valentine's Day treat

Tonight I was finishing up my Valentine's Cards. (The only one left to do was for my hubby.) We had a stressful day as his mom ended up in the ER today for some problems related to her cancer. Bless his heart he took me out for supper as it was late and I really did not feel like cooking. Now we aren't doing much for V-day, because we just celebrated our anniversary with a great trip up to Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago, but I will make him homemade eggrolls and lemon meringe pie for his present as those are his all time favorite. Anyway back to my stamping project I wanted to make a folded heart card and had an idea running around in my head, unfortunately it did not meet the paper quite the same as my mind had seen it. Alot of playing with it and it is okay. While I was busy stamping, I noticed my side kick had drug his treat back to my office. Quite a long way from the living room to the back of the house for a 3 lb dog to drag a 1 lb bone, and by the way he did not want to share either.

Should show some cards huh~

Since this is about stamping I should show some cards. On Inkstains, the challenge this week is panel cards. I really like them so here are a couple that I have made.

Trying to Blog again

I am sitting here looking outside at the beautiful winter day, thankful that it is not as nasty as it is in Vermont where my Inkstain buddy lives. She is getting snow, rain, and ice. All in all yuk. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I have not made a Valentine yet for my hubby. I need to do that and get it done.

I have gotten more in to my stamping lately and need to send out tons of raks to my wonderful friends who have taken the time to send them to me. I have them done, now to stick them in the envelope and send them on their way. Before I go I thought I would share a picture of my view from my office/stamping room.