I Completed A CHALLENGE

Better yet, I completed 2 challenges. I first wanted to sink my fingers into Stacey's Jewelry Color Inspiration #25. Here's the inspriation...

Now the colors for this inspiration uses SU's:

• brilliant blue
• lovely lilac
• kiwi kiss
• whisper white

Now I also found inspiration with the Mojo Monday Week 75 sketch challenge...

And here is my creation... Remember, never throw away anything. I have had this flower stuck to the side of my table for over 6 months. I pulled off of a card I wasnot happy with and figured I would use it one day. Well the perfect color combo came around and I was able to use it.

"TIPS" Thursday

O.K. the past couple of weeks I have given you crafting tips, but crafting is not our whole life. Even though we wish it was. So here are a few household tips that might make your home run a little smoother, or at least keep a few more strands connected to your scalp.

• Wrap celery in aluminum foil before putting it in the refrigerator - it will keep fresher longer.


• Hate foggy car windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than your hand or a rag.
  
  

A Monthly Swap Card

Here is a card I did for one of my monthly swap groups. The kits are mailed each month and we get come up with our own creation. I know I used a sketch for this, I just can't remember from which one. It's amazing to get these cards in the mail. I just love how everyone gets the same paper, ribbons, brads, etc. and each card you get back is so totally different.

Late Valentine Post

I just realized I never shared the quick Valentine treats that my boys worked to take to school. It was real simple and extremely quick. Just cardstock folded like little matchbooks and inside were packages of fruit snacks. I used an assortment of scraps and the stamp from Pun Fun. And of course, since I have boys, I didn't have to worry about a bunch of detail. Easy, peasy!!!

Birthday Card

Whew...these past 2 weeks have been really busy. When I got a chance to really sit in my craft room this past weekend I couldn't believe how much I missed it. This past Friday was my oldest son's birthday. Alex turned 11 years old and by Saturday afternoon I was ready to kill him. Believe me when I say "I am not ready to have a pre-teen in my household". But here is the card he received along with his PSP games. I knew I could be real simple and he wouldn't really care about a lot of layers or wording. One of the advantages of having boys.

Stamp Set: Just Basketball

CS: Rose Red, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White

Embellishments: Antique Brass Brads

Other: CB Embossing Folder-Dots

"TIPS" Thursday

Here are a few more healthful tips for you...

• Are you just a tad bit cheap like me? I found out you can put your Stampin' Scrub pads on the top rack of your dishwasher. TURN OFF THE HEATED DRY, and run it through a wash cycle. It can even be washed with your dishes. I popped mine in the other night and they are nice, clean, and fluffy.

• Have you ever mounted a stamp and realized after you have stamped with it that it is crooked? Yep-I've done it many times. But 10 seconds in the micowave lets you 'unmount' and 'remount' any sets that may need to be re-positioned or trimmed a little more.
  
  

"TIPS" Thursday

Well it's Thursday, and that means it's time for 2 more tips that will keep you happy when you are crafting.

• Use photo corners to secure a "temporary page" inside your cards. This way the receiver can make another temporary page and give it to someone else. Now your beautiful card can be reused for someone else's enjoyment.

• Do you hate getting ink on your fingers each time you have to take off the plastic protective covers on ink pads like the ones that are in Staz-on pads? Then stick a foam pop dot or a pop-up glue dot on top of the plastic cover and adhere it to the inside of the ink pad cover. The plastic cover will now stick to the lid from now on when you take the lid off.

Hope these help. Have a good evening and a Happy FRIDAY!!!!

A Tribute to Brandy

I know this has nothing to do with card-making, stamping, or anything else related to crafting, but I just had to do a little salute to our dog Brandy.
***
We had a slight scare in our household last week. Our precious little doggie, Brandy, woke up one morning not feeling well and looking quite horrible. Now of course me and my husband thought the worse because she is a 12 y/o olde english bulldog which usually has a lifespan between 11 and 13 years. So we were a little prepared to accept the fact that we might have to put her down. So we took her to the vet for a full work-up. She spent the night at the vet and we got the call the next morning that there was no cancer or life-threatening illnesses. But she did have a herniated slipped disc in her neck and an underactive thyroid. Can you believe it? A dog with human ailements. Well she was "discharged" after a 32 hours stay in the "hospital" and we were told the herniated disc will heal in time, she will need to take medication for the rest of her life for the thyroid, and nonetheless she is old and showing every sign of it.

So we were spared, for now. But I can't imagine when that day comes what it will be like. My youngest son, Nicky cried most of the evening that Brandy was away and Alex just kept asking a bunch of questions. We got Brandy a couple of months before Alex was born, so there hasn't been a time they have lived without her.

So here's to you Brandy...

"TIPS" Thursday

Or should I say "Wow-that's a great idea!" Thursday! Every so often I hear or read about a great tip-hence the name "TIPS" Thursday. So I have decided to bring you 2 great tips every Thursday. Now I will try my best to include where I got this tip from, but that may not always be possible since I am forever blog hopping and reading several different sites on stamping, card-making, crafting, etc. Now I hope some of these "TIPS" will be a "Wow-that's a great idea!" moment for you.

Do you have a great tip you would like to share for the "TIPS" Thursday post? Then email me at paperexpressions@att.net with your tip and blog address. I'll include you in a "TIPS" for Thursday post with a link to your blog.

So here's the first 2 tips for "TIPS" Thursday:

• Do you have some used dryer sheets? Love the look of mulberry paper? Well take your used dryer sheet, which can be dyed with a little water mixed with re-inker. Let dry and you're ready to create.
• Have you ever noticed when your paper trimmer blade is getting old it leaves your CS with a ragged edge? Well use a sanding block along the edge of your CS and that will give you a nice, crisp, clean edge.

Have fun with these new tips and check back next week for more "TIPS" Thursday.

Some More Blog Love

This fabulous award came from another fabulous blogger, Felicia. Make sure you click on over to her blog. Now I'm required to list 5 other fabulous bloggers and list 5 addictions of mine. Wow-o.k.-here it goes.









5 Fabulous Bloggers:

* Chrissy
* Melissa
* Dawn
* Catherine
* Leigh

5 Fabulous Addictions:

* Pepsi(non of that diet crap either)
* Breyer's French Vanilla Ice Cream
* Internet Shopping
* DSP
* Ribbon
Or is it Ribbon then DSP? Hmmmm....

Some Blog Love

O.K., it has taken me some time to gather a list together to pass on this lovely award. But I wanted to spread some love to others who have not been recognized yet. I chose blogs that I have visited regularly or have received a great idea from. So here is my list. Stop by and visit them. I also will be sending each one of these ladies a link back to my blog so they can see how special they are. Now remember ladies...you have to pass this award along to some of your inspiring bloggers.


Toni Sacrison

Katrina Gaidanowicz

Makeesha Byl

Karolyn Loncon