tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85889124997509118332024-03-18T23:34:50.380-04:00All In A Day's WorkMy life as a mom, wife, friend, chef, mediator, maid... and oh yeah - a stamper, scrapbooker, and crafter.Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-46197036960780605962009-08-31T14:30:00.004-04:002009-08-31T14:44:26.595-04:00To Move On...Well, I just wanted to say that I will be taking an "official" break from blogging. I can't find the time to craft, or even upload photos these days, so that leaves nothing to post :). We are officially moving. To where you ask? I do not know. But we have three weeks to be out of our house of the last 8 years. Although I am sad to leave this house behind, being the house that both of my children came home to from the hospital, the house of many, many firsts; it is time to leave. Hopefully in time we will be moving closer to family, something we have desperately missed as they are all so far away. But in the mean time we will likely be renting for a few months until my husband finds a job up North or we decide to buy something here. Given the current economic situation, we aren't making any rash decisions either way. We just knew it was time to sell our house and not have anything anchoring us here in case we were able to leave. Our house sold in two months, which is pretty darn good for the current housing market. We were a bit shocked, but happy at the same time. Lots of work ahead of us, and lots more stress. As soon as life regains any sense of normalcy perhaps I will find time to start posting again. For now, it's time to move on.Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-91060812524850546232009-08-02T22:15:00.023-04:002009-08-02T23:01:24.134-04:00Summer Fun with the Kids...<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">I am now breathing a sigh of relief; I took my final yesterday and aced it! Yeah me!!! And then I came home and took a nap, ahhh... that was the best part of the <em>day</em>.<br /><br />Now the best part of my <em>weekend</em> was our day out with the kids today. My husband has also been studying a lot and taking quite a few tests for his job, so we really wanted to make a special day for the kids today. This is a post for all the grands who haven't seen the kids in many months. This will certainly be a picture heavy post, so for everyone else... just enjoy the smiles :)<br /><br />We took the kids to the Children's Museum of Richmond today and they loved it! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">Inside, it's all about imagination...</span><br /><br /><table border="1" width="150"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCQRtq9ZNAVXE4q8JzB7Go1QybYltKPbYQzazgHl74ne2-DkDWWM6381-plA2l56Z4s_ANzqgIIk-PgLoQVvz25SWZdTg8nxcQ8DNEPqOy3J08h2DSBPPX2is99W-FU5qSt0CWIlhhxKV/s1600-h/groceries+CMOR.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365557846483651506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCQRtq9ZNAVXE4q8JzB7Go1QybYltKPbYQzazgHl74ne2-DkDWWM6381-plA2l56Z4s_ANzqgIIk-PgLoQVvz25SWZdTg8nxcQ8DNEPqOy3J08h2DSBPPX2is99W-FU5qSt0CWIlhhxKV/s320/groceries+CMOR.jpg" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFpsTetp5QAE0VntKHqWVxTnnnWw4xPB9kjB2-UcnWvGFCrb2iHYpHsGcBv7zpcOcWyNP8dkOUPAzSwoSZmNx-DV9ChERWJYwC4LPwJkuK8CgOuT4LLvcrr4-p-e0RhksH1OyUGsaPjQm/s1600-h/Kenna+CMOR+water.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365557716846432690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFpsTetp5QAE0VntKHqWVxTnnnWw4xPB9kjB2-UcnWvGFCrb2iHYpHsGcBv7zpcOcWyNP8dkOUPAzSwoSZmNx-DV9ChERWJYwC4LPwJkuK8CgOuT4LLvcrr4-p-e0RhksH1OyUGsaPjQm/s320/Kenna+CMOR+water.jpg" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">The grocery store is complete with registers, groceries, and carts. Our daughter spent a great deal of time at the water table (thankfully they have plastic aprons to keep them somewhat dry, she needed it!)<br /></span><br /><br /><table border="1" width="150"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM9nm6a_bTHmdlvQTvgcG5A-rX3E8wPD20A4sVCrYLaeQxfDY-ZxWgcagXDUfe4Ho8QFHOCwEj0Ok3L4wzYTozSEA0OJY_lgthBbei6yKhy6-dpfYZ-W9QOpxoco7ckSA7MthOnCwqvN-/s1600-h/Crafts+at+CMOR.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365556644828690450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM9nm6a_bTHmdlvQTvgcG5A-rX3E8wPD20A4sVCrYLaeQxfDY-ZxWgcagXDUfe4Ho8QFHOCwEj0Ok3L4wzYTozSEA0OJY_lgthBbei6yKhy6-dpfYZ-W9QOpxoco7ckSA7MthOnCwqvN-/s320/Crafts+at+CMOR.jpg" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZmQRYC_GRtRJNK6xsYuVx1wGe-5U8tTPWiQJg-yygj33Xc5DiUWcV28oJmorUuCjeMygn-MiReG-tH1EhJ29jMpa89UPTmgGcsvNyKCdFGOeARzHSsMe9EwBmSH8GCeE-ulriC82KxCr/s1600-h/painters+CMOR.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365557310376305698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZmQRYC_GRtRJNK6xsYuVx1wGe-5U8tTPWiQJg-yygj33Xc5DiUWcV28oJmorUuCjeMygn-MiReG-tH1EhJ29jMpa89UPTmgGcsvNyKCdFGOeARzHSsMe9EwBmSH8GCeE-ulriC82KxCr/s320/painters+CMOR.jpg" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">They have a full craft room - HEAVEN!<br /></span><br /><br /><table border="1" width="150"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy0_KY-EBYfN_nzVlu0341ldoTrdGNO9DpUdWBM-LAPzTPIeu3VZZ5yVchchgUp0LQ2vpy9cVayyxj-OBwzFmFvcfvB6OmHz1J2bvq7MRmnLwWLXvr0Em9xNhK_5ZKUBVpFecMhPUVjej/s1600-h/Kenna+CMOR2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365558443454485234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy0_KY-EBYfN_nzVlu0341ldoTrdGNO9DpUdWBM-LAPzTPIeu3VZZ5yVchchgUp0LQ2vpy9cVayyxj-OBwzFmFvcfvB6OmHz1J2bvq7MRmnLwWLXvr0Em9xNhK_5ZKUBVpFecMhPUVjej/s320/Kenna+CMOR2.jpg" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4zqv9md-Eo2zwA4XizwOb1QUQEz4GyS9F3no9LmEuMpsuc1Bt6Iu2wAurjkSMEpQW-VStTuwsDbmupu_7XwN94ryu0lP1KSTPsmeNFy9fHRXekeJY6iM-4noVrA9GnFuvdowN4Kb1l3e/s1600-h/Kids+CMOR.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365557583942656178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4zqv9md-Eo2zwA4XizwOb1QUQEz4GyS9F3no9LmEuMpsuc1Bt6Iu2wAurjkSMEpQW-VStTuwsDbmupu_7XwN94ryu0lP1KSTPsmeNFy9fHRXekeJY6iM-4noVrA9GnFuvdowN4Kb1l3e/s320/Kids+CMOR.jpg" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">Cute little places to hide, and even a car to work on which makes glug-glug noises when they put pretend fluids in it - so cute!</span><br /><br /><br /><table border="1" width="150"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rEWbzNxUMlb6eurhl54znvs6OQibkyXkmAxhyw8P7rQ5FsIr9S0H7F2a8VaW3ypX7LwVwPTXvMeyUuz3f2A8ljUkEwbLki2lEn-v1IQvkL0BShLdze0a4KpnSPFM-N74ajIqREGibNk7/s1600-h/Riley+CMOR.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365557494309735298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rEWbzNxUMlb6eurhl54znvs6OQibkyXkmAxhyw8P7rQ5FsIr9S0H7F2a8VaW3ypX7LwVwPTXvMeyUuz3f2A8ljUkEwbLki2lEn-v1IQvkL0BShLdze0a4KpnSPFM-N74ajIqREGibNk7/s320/Riley+CMOR.jpg" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuyhu5l5qTZkl32n6tobRDwMRK56mpjLWfD-rtf-VF1jkamZk1-lfQiYSYrh22jWoxmLOlu2hYfH7e7UeqS6g93pU6-35ULM6sNAzKiNcpeycInb5ZOztnLGpYT4ynXln78GpOUOkbO3J/s1600-h/tv+kids+CMOR.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365558585685703170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuyhu5l5qTZkl32n6tobRDwMRK56mpjLWfD-rtf-VF1jkamZk1-lfQiYSYrh22jWoxmLOlu2hYfH7e7UeqS6g93pU6-35ULM6sNAzKiNcpeycInb5ZOztnLGpYT4ynXln78GpOUOkbO3J/s320/tv+kids+CMOR.jpg" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">They even have a news room where the kids can be on TV. Of course our daughter danced around in front of the camera so she could see herself and all her moves on TV :)<br /></span><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebhuC1BqI0TjgkxxNEjzw4oc6ds-Ztb_of2XTqeIzeXf7c2OU_n0_MYPOv8lP5ueWD54MA3iBks2D1kIdDkrFUu8w0xI5my9sOCT5-56T4-RCJK9FxGdHNRIJfCZT7XOu3eHdaKQRBZN4/s1600-h/drummers+CMOR.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365558122440227250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebhuC1BqI0TjgkxxNEjzw4oc6ds-Ztb_of2XTqeIzeXf7c2OU_n0_MYPOv8lP5ueWD54MA3iBks2D1kIdDkrFUu8w0xI5my9sOCT5-56T4-RCJK9FxGdHNRIJfCZT7XOu3eHdaKQRBZN4/s320/drummers+CMOR.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">Then we headed outside and found the drums, chimes, and of course the Hula-hoops!</span></p><table border="1" width="150" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUnVHr_R61tdG8HRkCzsq21UisQBfvChXWc9uHf3SnPX1Jnq8p9QaTVAVJfBFLfSqphvwY7khw3sRpm6S7ww8OzXvPgbtCpbiZ8MXrL-YWTB7D5fd18UsfGhcGTR4fcFfEKIlBM08XQch/s1600-h/Kace+Hoola2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365558919512499314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUnVHr_R61tdG8HRkCzsq21UisQBfvChXWc9uHf3SnPX1Jnq8p9QaTVAVJfBFLfSqphvwY7khw3sRpm6S7ww8OzXvPgbtCpbiZ8MXrL-YWTB7D5fd18UsfGhcGTR4fcFfEKIlBM08XQch/s320/Kace+Hoola2.jpg" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenkY2p9i8mco1c8JBzcw0aSTvDoWeVXqrIBbT534SV5JtCnmg8QquSkf-nZZeekRYBraciS1Cni307ZToVYzhqqzAD7HkHWpLwGtFjLnIZYNcK3gk8wKymI0PgWnnn2KRXMGXoswHG8QZ/s1600-h/Doug+hoola.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365559016297575826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenkY2p9i8mco1c8JBzcw0aSTvDoWeVXqrIBbT534SV5JtCnmg8QquSkf-nZZeekRYBraciS1Cni307ZToVYzhqqzAD7HkHWpLwGtFjLnIZYNcK3gk8wKymI0PgWnnn2KRXMGXoswHG8QZ/s320/Doug+hoola.jpg" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">So my husband spied the hula-hoops from inside the museum and bet me I couldn't hula anymore (not sure what he was implying here :). So I said I'd take that bet! (I should have bet something really good on this one because I was confident I could do it). But instead I bet him that if I did it he had to do it too. That brings us to the second photo, my dear sweet hubby hula-hooping! I love it when I'm right!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">What a fabulous way to spend the day! Hope you all had a great weekend too!</span></p><p><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a></p>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-3633843168113629902009-07-25T17:57:00.020-04:002009-07-25T19:07:32.666-04:00Papertrey Blog Hop - Fun With Text!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBqxrSmBYm4IajQMpxWC0r-1BmxtIs74SZ42vIn9ExxTQJ1suTss7_28iTHbeYaxcHSHMCmYdtimFbw8PVCwbJGoLgYJxz8ZbY743WBD5hKHBAbWLzgmSPLU4RsfiZVw3BSFO0fNEGEpI/s1600-h/bloghoplogo.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362524002928079778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBqxrSmBYm4IajQMpxWC0r-1BmxtIs74SZ42vIn9ExxTQJ1suTss7_28iTHbeYaxcHSHMCmYdtimFbw8PVCwbJGoLgYJxz8ZbY743WBD5hKHBAbWLzgmSPLU4RsfiZVw3BSFO0fNEGEpI/s320/bloghoplogo.gif" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">Well to say summer has been busy is an understatement! My class is finally coming to an end, so I am hoping that after this week I will have more time to devote to me - does that ever really happen? (You moms out there know what I mean!) It's funny though, even when you think you couldn't handle another thing on your plate, you add more and somehow it all gets done, but then when you take something away and you still feel like you are sooooo busy! Ahhh, go figure!</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">Since it has been some time, I needed something to get me started again, so why not participate in the PTI Blog Hop this month? I haven't done one in quite some time, even though I usually try to at least lurk :)<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">I had a lot of fun with this one and had sketched out five ideas, but of course not enough time to do all of them. So these are the two I finished...</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tnm9TSfxF4XYYWhHXdFiO49nI_3W4_cpA6bIuEMmKoB0PcnHO-Y-tLlY2qJmdtbPbOH6-CU6x8BYwFEwNgwUyslTK7u5jemqE8Q_325K9991Z1uiG-W3gb0EV2BWbBp2AoNxe4TlBaFw/s1600-h/smiles+Blog+Hop+July09.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362524392990206146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tnm9TSfxF4XYYWhHXdFiO49nI_3W4_cpA6bIuEMmKoB0PcnHO-Y-tLlY2qJmdtbPbOH6-CU6x8BYwFEwNgwUyslTK7u5jemqE8Q_325K9991Z1uiG-W3gb0EV2BWbBp2AoNxe4TlBaFw/s320/smiles+Blog+Hop+July09.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#000000;">This card measures 4 1/4 square. It was my very first attempt at using Copics, and as you can see I obviously need some practice. I have had them for about two weeks, but I am honestly a little intimidated by them :) Other than the coloring, it's a pretty simple card. I used a sentiment from </span><a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_everydaybuttonbits.html"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Everyday Button Bits</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">. I cut a square using the largest of the square Nestabilities, and used the frame from that to create the border. I added some cinnamon Stickles to the center to add some dazzle. The flower and leaves were then popped up on dimensionals, and it was complete. Aside from my Copic attempt, it was put together in a jif!<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw9Iim1YgE9QZ3S1vhvsi_KxKhg0PRUF0p95pfKCtovpXjJbVZhrw97Ik0dsc0_xik2XUxXIbnzMlWomq9bEkRdG1usdyRmt8q5_l_uWado4M0PlSint3030rpbe-S4iA1N32WuXP8ru5/s1600-h/Text+HB+Blog+Hop+July09.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362524638741978722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw9Iim1YgE9QZ3S1vhvsi_KxKhg0PRUF0p95pfKCtovpXjJbVZhrw97Ik0dsc0_xik2XUxXIbnzMlWomq9bEkRdG1usdyRmt8q5_l_uWado4M0PlSint3030rpbe-S4iA1N32WuXP8ru5/s320/Text+HB+Blog+Hop+July09.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#000000;"> This one was even easier! The card measures 5 x 5. I used my Labels One Nestabilities to create the focal piece, and the Happy Birthday sentiment from </span><a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_birthdaybasics.html"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Birthday Basics</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">. I added an embossed border it using a larger Lables One die and a stylus to get just the right size. Add some MM flowers, buttons and a little splash of ribbon and done!<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">I hope you enjoy the Blog Hop - I for one can not wait to see what everyone comes up with for this challenge!</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"><br /><br />Have a great night hopping! I will be hopping and writing a paper at the same time - how successful do you think I will be with that paper??? *wink*</span></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">What I Used:</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Smile Flower Card</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">Stamps: </span><span style="color:#000000;">PTI Everyday</span><span style="color:#000000;"> Button Basics and Friends 'til The End</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">Paper: </span><span style="color:#000000;">PTI Vintage Cream and New Leaf </span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">Ink: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Dark Chocolate</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">Miscellaneous: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Copics, Cinnamon Stickles, Dimensionals, Large Square Nestabilities, Cuttlebug</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"><br />Happy Birthday Text</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">Stamps: </span><span style="color:#000000;">PTI Birthday Basics</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">Paper: </span><span style="color:#000000;">PTI SS White and Raspberry Fizz</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">Ink: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Pallette Noir</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;">Miscellaneous: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Labels One Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Stylus, flowers are Prima and MM, black embroidery floss, glue dots, buttons and ribbon from my stash</span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#00cccc;"></span></div>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-41313921422922483172009-07-02T21:24:00.015-04:002009-07-02T23:19:32.158-04:00Father's Day Full of Stars...I seriously never thought I would be so crazy busy this summer. Having our house up for sale, going to school, keeping kids entertained for the summer, and volunteering, not to mention taking on more than I can handle in the cardmaking "business," is seriously making me re-think how much I can truly handle. I haven't seen my bed before 1 am for about two weeks now. Enough complaining!<br /><br /><br />But before the holiday weekend hits I wanted to post some of the Father's Day cards I made for my dad and my Fathers-in law (I have two and consider myself lucky!). I also made a card for my brother, but I will post that one next time; it doesn't exactly go with the theme here :P<br /><br />For all of these cards I used the Papertrey set <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_starprints.html">Star Prints </a>. I really like this set for masculine cards, but I almost didn't buy it. I kept going back and looking at it because I really liked the font used in the set and the variety of stars. Now I am so happy I purchased it! I made a scrap page with it too, but I am saving that for another post too since I am thinking of submitting that one.<br /><br />So, onto the cards... I have the hardest time doing masculine, so I figured staying clean and simple was the way to go.<br /><br /><br /><p>This was for my dad...<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggD53zlE7YP5eTxYjW9Fj8-FIxCEENpOjQrv3xNZiqg7-xcy_TJ65Y83H_x1rjn0Bxsjr3VHRq-jlIJFKmXhU4ukAyzVKPAzj2hEoyWAEGBZkLscJgguYbHLY_FI2AAyX_Amd68hMWKTE/s1600-h/Fathers+day+2009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354061554179184498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggD53zlE7YP5eTxYjW9Fj8-FIxCEENpOjQrv3xNZiqg7-xcy_TJ65Y83H_x1rjn0Bxsjr3VHRq-jlIJFKmXhU4ukAyzVKPAzj2hEoyWAEGBZkLscJgguYbHLY_FI2AAyX_Amd68hMWKTE/s320/Fathers+day+2009.jpg" /></a> I really liked the green with the Smokey Shadow, it's actually a dark gray, or light black depending on if you are a half-full or half-empty kind of gal! The main panel is popped up on dimensionals while the green is glued directly to the Smokey Shadow. The sentiment is embossed with detail white. All the supplies used on this card are <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/">Papertrey</a> with the exception of the white ink.<br /></p><p>These two were for my Fathers-in-law.</p><p>The Cowboy...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOCgUifmSoh_TgNA1kLeQ1OXDiRnc16ctjuTMVd7CT68ZQHEl3LqwMtYE5Q38GAztpNuYP50hSUyOvRSyXVaUIcl28lQ5xpFejaHEttyj3Fl-Op74QHJS2-dlHw97fPqsgumPjz5WRoQI/s1600-h/FatherIL+day+2009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354061473000898690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOCgUifmSoh_TgNA1kLeQ1OXDiRnc16ctjuTMVd7CT68ZQHEl3LqwMtYE5Q38GAztpNuYP50hSUyOvRSyXVaUIcl28lQ5xpFejaHEttyj3Fl-Op74QHJS2-dlHw97fPqsgumPjz5WRoQI/s320/FatherIL+day+2009.jpg" /></a> The Retired Navy Official...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkEbU5SF0_PL9Ty9qxUBREwzF_0RWwbb-li7LgSxjhzMIC-Z-Z-hTkjuH9MxCiwi1WMrwRrIrdTxS8O1tZNt4ZNVP7dWq5RxSfT8dFeRj_GCV_zJp3NlZ_A2aSh3gMzyOtJR5MjBguIRS/s1600-h/FIL+day+card+2009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354061337783176946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkEbU5SF0_PL9Ty9qxUBREwzF_0RWwbb-li7LgSxjhzMIC-Z-Z-hTkjuH9MxCiwi1WMrwRrIrdTxS8O1tZNt4ZNVP7dWq5RxSfT8dFeRj_GCV_zJp3NlZ_A2aSh3gMzyOtJR5MjBguIRS/s320/FIL+day+card+2009.jpg" /></a>Appropriate colors right? :) The squares are popped up on dimensionals for that added depth. Although sometimes it can be a challenge to line the squares up with dimensionals between them, I really like the shadowy effect it creates. Again the sentiments are embossed.</p><p>Well that's about it for me. It is now after 11, and I still have to finish a paper by tomorrow and finish some invitations. I am soooooo tired!</p><p>I hope you have a very Happy 4th of July! Enjoy spending time with your families and friends, but most of all enjoy the freedom you have to do so and remember those who fight for that freedom every day.</p><p>Stay safe!</p><p>Thanks for visiting,</p><p></p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-68454113963613064412009-06-25T14:11:00.004-04:002009-06-25T15:00:13.904-04:00Free Things To Do & A Simple Birthday Card...WOW! Who invented the phrase "lazy days of summer?" Where are those lazy days? I need one or two of them! Life hasn't slowed down a bit, which I guess is a good thing, but I am absolutely exhausted and see a nap in my very near future *wink*. The heat always puts me in the mood to sleep, and today it is a whopping 93 degrees - way too hot for me! So we went to the free movie to see <em>Barnyard</em> this morning - cute!<br /><br />Speaking of free movie... I have made it my mission this summer to find lots of things to do for free. My friends and family always laugh, it's become quite a joke that not only am I always looking for a bargain, but I almost always use a coupon. Perhaps you can benefit from my bargain hunting. Here are some of the things I have found that don't have to cost a dime: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.kidsbowlfree.com">bowling</a>, the <a href="http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx">movies</a>, playdates at the park, hikes, picnics, <a href="http://www.scavengerhuntsforkids.com/index.html">scavenger hunts</a>, <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/">geocaching</a>, the pool. The possibilities are endless with a little imagination. Some days we just spend the morning on our back deck fingerpainting (no mess that can't be hosed down!). In the end, what it comes down to is spending time with family and having fun! I hope you found something here that you may not have thought of, now go have some fun!<br /><br />On a more crafty note, I was going through my pictures trying to organize them a bit, and found some cards I made over the last few months that I never shared on my blog and wished I had. Here is one such card...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBUk9VIo7Eo-QldKTprU-SQeVu6aU4Jyvm9sGm4_J0JPvIbKH5E7CN4IGlhnHbqGSnQVWQv8aGWP97Qyg3rUZjhJCArqjrZ4c8wfn3ILY1geEeDF22InH94pzdigp2sqlvPPtNzJv5puR/s1600-h/Happy+Birthday+Aunts.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351333982201582802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBUk9VIo7Eo-QldKTprU-SQeVu6aU4Jyvm9sGm4_J0JPvIbKH5E7CN4IGlhnHbqGSnQVWQv8aGWP97Qyg3rUZjhJCArqjrZ4c8wfn3ILY1geEeDF22InH94pzdigp2sqlvPPtNzJv5puR/s320/Happy+Birthday+Aunts.jpg" /></a><br />I plan to do this card again with different colors, I really like the layout. I used a variety of stamps here, Technique Tuesday, See D's, Cornish Heritage Farms - I think I was trying to use things I had never used before. I even sewed! That takes some effort for me 'cause I hate lugging the machine out and setting it up. It really does add something to a card though. I wish you could see the <a href="http://www.cornishheritagefarms.com/product_info.php/cPath/376_430_289/products_id/7449">CHF background stamp </a>more, but the ink I used, <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/pm_ink.html">PTI Aqua Mist</a>, never comes up very dark in pics. Everything else on the card is pretty self-explanatory.<br /><br />Well, I really think that nap is calling me, matter of fact it is screaming my name! I will wrap it up with my supply list and call it a day! Tomorrow is volunteer day, so perhaps I will get a chance to post this weekend.<br /><br />Have a fabulous weekend!<br /><br />As always, thanks for stopping by!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">What I Used:</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Stamps: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Technique Tuesday sentiment, See D's flowers, Pretty Pattern Backgrounder CHF</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Paper: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate and Vintage Cream</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Ink: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Paperrey Ink Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink<br /></span><span style="color:#cc0000;">Accessories:</span> Pearls from Michaels, Scotch dimensional tape, EK Success flower punch, whole punch, SU! Taffeta ribbon, sewing machine, Fiskars Threading Water border punchKacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-76170108107358441092009-06-22T15:24:00.012-04:002009-06-22T17:24:02.566-04:00Pretty Circles...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz5XprPgdxGa9oT4lk2w_ekyLdutKjMt0Kk_dvP95-ovq-nFHL6AsFWzwgWYTJXufZiO5HhJYwYdHlck7m_2PERnOMyeVLNin9Bvl-DoIaLLXoN3DmyAzZ72fcGPWwmlp6pepCChiaVZO/s1600-h/Pretty+Circles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 297px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350253919937442818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz5XprPgdxGa9oT4lk2w_ekyLdutKjMt0Kk_dvP95-ovq-nFHL6AsFWzwgWYTJXufZiO5HhJYwYdHlck7m_2PERnOMyeVLNin9Bvl-DoIaLLXoN3DmyAzZ72fcGPWwmlp6pepCChiaVZO/s320/Pretty+Circles.jpg" /></a> I was looking through some of the projects I have worked on over the last few months of my "Blog Hiatus" and I knew I had to share this one. This was one of my favorite cards, so simple yet so pretty. I actually made this one for my mom with some of the first stamp sets I ever purchased outside of Stampin Up! (cause you know we all started there.) Each circle/flower is an individual stamp, most are from Art Warehouse, but the curly circle is <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_bccircle.html">Papertrey Ink</a>.<br /><br />I cut the center flower out and the hexagonal shape and propped each up with Scotch dimensional tape. I like this tape better than the SU! or MM dimensionals because it isn't as thick; it doesn't make things stand up as high so it makes it easier to mail cards without any extra postage. But of course I added pearls to the center and the "scrolly" circle, so added postage was necessary anyway :D! Here is a close-up of the pearls...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnN1L7DTcsFFKu4-h1Ae7PJ3WLjNQBI7xfxFXor12bqXlaXCE-aNbES4sC5j9FY0MWuh_llFoGXk0bocx1dKoeaRiJpHYxnI8RaHEp34hhDBfN8Rsl2zlgkNYxlDMjZJQ97MwDfAx_aez/s1600-h/pretty+circles+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350253833715769250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnN1L7DTcsFFKu4-h1Ae7PJ3WLjNQBI7xfxFXor12bqXlaXCE-aNbES4sC5j9FY0MWuh_llFoGXk0bocx1dKoeaRiJpHYxnI8RaHEp34hhDBfN8Rsl2zlgkNYxlDMjZJQ97MwDfAx_aez/s320/pretty+circles+2.jpg" /></a>Like I said, one of my favorite cards. I hope you enjoyed it too!<br /><br />I'm going to try to be short and sweet with my posts, perhaps that will make it easier for me to keep posting on a more regular basis, and most of you probably don't enjoy me blabbering on anyway - LOL! My hope is that when you come visit my blog you will find some inspiration and will enjoy visiting with someone who is enjoying the blessings that life has to offer.<br /><br />Hope you enjoyed your visit today! As always, thanks for stopping by!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;">What I Used:</span><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;">Paper:</span><span style="color:#000000;"> </span><span style="color:#ff0000;">Kraft and SS White (Papertrey Ink)</span><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;">Stamps: </span><span style="color:#ff0000;">Graphic Flowers (Art Warehouse), Interactive Circles Small (Art Warehouse), and Borders & Corners {Circle} (Papertrey Ink)</span><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;">Ink:</span><span style="color:#ff0000;"> Craft White (SU!)</span><br /><span style="color:#00cccc;">Accessories:</span><span style="color:#ff0000;"> Pearls from Michaels, ribbon Spring Moss (Papertrey), dimensional tape (Scotch), Large Scallop Scissors (from the dollar store and they work pretty well :) )</span>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-9837075006145105902009-06-16T17:44:00.005-04:002009-06-16T18:08:13.665-04:00I Am Still Here!I just wanted to check in to say I am still here!<br /><br />I have had several emails asking if I am still using my blog, or still crafting for that matter. Yes, I am and have been crafting off and on. I needed a little break, and I needed to feel like I was making a difference somewhere. Life got monotonous, and that is NEVER good for me! So I have been volunteering in various capacities to kind of fill that void. It's been nice and I will continue to do it, just not as often since summer is here and I want to devote more time to my family. <br /><br />We have also had A LOT going on here at the ole' homestead. Our house is finally on the market, my son finished pre-school, I am teaching myself how to crochet, I am going back to school, and spending lots of family time together. <br /><br />I want to desperately give the Ole' Blog a makeover too, just haven't found the time to do it. <br /><br />With that said, I will have some pics edited and posted by this weekend, both things I have made and places we have been.<br /><br />I hope you will hang in there with me!<br /><br />Have a fabulous day!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-88575951878037864832009-03-29T20:20:00.001-04:002009-03-29T20:21:16.688-04:00Oh How I Missed Scrapbooking!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky4ZnkN1miKLuKShyqlLkFmzOQdLcdMYdkGORuR1jh-ijXj79n_n6ZR-JtTz8t_P6_G7RrUfqsc-p25snR6iQ19CXaMz9-1p3gQpv7cDHeAJTcJq7W2glMMipYN4p89YQzf6v4Z0h0ITr/s1600-h/Makenna+scrap+page+2006_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318760982718697746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky4ZnkN1miKLuKShyqlLkFmzOQdLcdMYdkGORuR1jh-ijXj79n_n6ZR-JtTz8t_P6_G7RrUfqsc-p25snR6iQ19CXaMz9-1p3gQpv7cDHeAJTcJq7W2glMMipYN4p89YQzf6v4Z0h0ITr/s320/Makenna+scrap+page+2006_1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>My scrap pages have been on a bit of a hiatus - ok a pretty long hiatus, four years to be exact. I have so many pictures I just felt overwhelmed at where to start. But I LOVE these pictures of our daughter and wanted to get them scrapped before they were forgotten about. </div><br /><div>Last month I ordered some colors of cardstock that I was a little unsure of until I actually got them in my hands. I knew they were perfect. Her pics were done in color and black & white, and I really liked the B&W the best, but I wanted the rest of the page to have that WOW factor, and these colors were perfect!</div><br /><div>After finishing this page, I was REALLY happy with it! I entered it into the <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/guest_star_stamper.html">PTI Guest Star Stamper contest</a>. Although I didn't win (insert sigh) I did get an Honorable Mention from Nichole Heady, which is huge in the paper crafting world! I haven't entered in quite some time, so it felt really good to be recognized.</div><div> </div><br />Here are some of the details, lots of glitter on the flourishes and on the flowers. I cut the flowers, the flourishes, and the letters for the title with my Making Memories Slice, which my hubby bought me for Christmas - LOVE that thing!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1zBBNq10DBlRfJx6FN05ahHsJoG8aFtKF_6xSCDQoM3_rNEb9d3BX2tzhUDD6xZ9F8RijVX3KoKWgEZM2AIHmzMPnl0phpFkAUrG1cQaEN4CMT2A_-kfMN8IeIsmrQFFLD4Xw-q1IuSs/s1600-h/Makenna+scrap+page+2006+glitter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318761868719484066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1zBBNq10DBlRfJx6FN05ahHsJoG8aFtKF_6xSCDQoM3_rNEb9d3BX2tzhUDD6xZ9F8RijVX3KoKWgEZM2AIHmzMPnl0phpFkAUrG1cQaEN4CMT2A_-kfMN8IeIsmrQFFLD4Xw-q1IuSs/s320/Makenna+scrap+page+2006+glitter.jpg" border="0" /></a> The journaling tag is hidden behind the main picture... <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9J7-rciN9clj0r-pWH_EkcqPOfzzvzKEirsUD1dGRfGNtp94qs01JrbFJCkFaE77MiX7wOpsBc-YMvcPCLPxMoae6PH9hzlGsiIuU1MMuRaXbrYcax4h_14K4NkjzyQ1zCeFfG_Ai7EOd/s1600-h/Makenna+scrap+page+2006+Journal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318761673824233362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9J7-rciN9clj0r-pWH_EkcqPOfzzvzKEirsUD1dGRfGNtp94qs01JrbFJCkFaE77MiX7wOpsBc-YMvcPCLPxMoae6PH9hzlGsiIuU1MMuRaXbrYcax4h_14K4NkjzyQ1zCeFfG_Ai7EOd/s320/Makenna+scrap+page+2006+Journal.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Damask patterns are embossed with white EP. I really like doing the little ribbon effect with the sewing machine. I need to do that more on my cards too.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E1RlAAmCho9bo37nTfEcc2abZAQCblBp_7UMy6S7KnWnzTTwnJ-82WCLrGYdDWbUnPryH28Q0666-SC5tI5u910vx-nQjrZp7ewMfTdWAEne9m2CE6lQWG9OPdyiYaCAoH3OwZhd9Hzz/s1600-h/Makenna+scrap+page+2006+embossing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318761431093886226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E1RlAAmCho9bo37nTfEcc2abZAQCblBp_7UMy6S7KnWnzTTwnJ-82WCLrGYdDWbUnPryH28Q0666-SC5tI5u910vx-nQjrZp7ewMfTdWAEne9m2CE6lQWG9OPdyiYaCAoH3OwZhd9Hzz/s320/Makenna+scrap+page+2006+embossing.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sadly, I have had to pack a lot of my craft supplies, well mostly paper and miscellaneous things that don't get a whole lot of use - but even that was hard. My husband looked at the space yesterday and laughed because he could actually see the top of my desk :D. You just never know what your gonna need - KWIM? I couldn't pack any of my stamps away, I tried, just wasn't gonna happen!</div><div> <br /></div><div>Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the detail from my scrap page. I had so much fun putting it together. This was the first project in a long time that I didn't even have to ask my husband for his opinion. He came home from work, saw the page and said "WOW, that looks AWESOME!" That makes a girl happy!</div><div> </div><div>Well, I am off to start <em>New M</em>oon. I finished <em>Twilight</em> last night and read it in three days, which is so not like me. It is seriously as good as everyone said it was.</div><div><br /> </div><div>Have a great night and as always thanks for stopping by!</div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-82328729413254248052009-03-25T19:00:00.001-04:002009-03-25T16:36:23.968-04:00Time Is Flying!!!I can't believe I haven't updated my blog since it snowed. Although we have been having mixed weather around here (one day 60, next day 30), I don't expect anymore of that fluffy white stuff - So SAD :(<br /><br />Well, I have a few things to share today to participate in the <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/bloghop.html">Papertrey Blog Hop </a>once again! It always helps get me out of a creative funk. I have been so busy packing and volunteering that I haven't made time for my craft therapy :D! One fun thing (quite honestly there are many) that comes out of volunteering is that the ladies at the home are teaching me how to knit; now I just can't wait to actually complete something - LOL!<br /><br />So, the challenge for the <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/bloghop.html">PTI Blog Hop </a>was to create a background with stamps. I made a few cards to showcase some of my favorite stamp sets for backgrounds.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUdR-qZuz0V4fjSaROS7W1gG_umewWiYApJLJYjVbSiHaAnLtpciEN0NPZA-EIWp-EVRpte-6mvPqMhu6Ke2ujU1rmllgDXex1kwv6rFmGomL4rDgAb8MnUDCU5cCh9G2m8DjzC3X2CQF/s1600-h/PTi+Blog+Hop+March+09-02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317220254425262178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUdR-qZuz0V4fjSaROS7W1gG_umewWiYApJLJYjVbSiHaAnLtpciEN0NPZA-EIWp-EVRpte-6mvPqMhu6Ke2ujU1rmllgDXex1kwv6rFmGomL4rDgAb8MnUDCU5cCh9G2m8DjzC3X2CQF/s320/PTi+Blog+Hop+March+09-02.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The first one is one I made for one of my fathers-in-law (technically, I have two) for his 70th birthday. I love these colors together! This card was actually inspired by <a href="http://nikiestes.typepad.com/my_paper_creations/2009/01/fabulous-favorites.html">this card </a>that Niki Estes made a few months back. I LOVE NIki's backgrounds! For this one, I used <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_guidelines.html">PTI's Guide Lines </a>, and added little white dots with a Ranger Inkssentials pen. The Kraft paper was scored with a Scor-pal at 1/4" intervals. Then I sponged the edges with Dark Chocolate ink. Easy peasy!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitChj7GT3RtO_ACvmrI2J15Ok51AjES9LfdUyE5VKxRTSNKjb9OQk5WHRNZpjbnZp2DlyGxdFBXdEUK2HT3Y-U-sFdsf5SbCKpt9q0kOgF424bWQXy3H1kTXg3sXE62O23Mm3EyxY3RwFZ/s1600-h/PTI+blog+hop+March+09-01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317218234103905266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitChj7GT3RtO_ACvmrI2J15Ok51AjES9LfdUyE5VKxRTSNKjb9OQk5WHRNZpjbnZp2DlyGxdFBXdEUK2HT3Y-U-sFdsf5SbCKpt9q0kOgF424bWQXy3H1kTXg3sXE62O23Mm3EyxY3RwFZ/s320/PTI+blog+hop+March+09-01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The second card I made last week for a friend whose husband just got laid-off (seems to be an epidemic these days :( ). I hope it brought a little glimmer of joy to her life. I used both Guide Lines and the PTI 2007 Anniversary Set Simple Little Things for this one, and again added the little white accents with the Ranger pen. I love that little accent! The sentiment is from a new set I picked up at our new Jo-ann Superstore (YIPPEE!) from the Paper Company Studio called Faith Greetings (great set!). The butterflies are of course a Martha Stewart punch, I think they complimented this design well. I popped the white piece with the sentiment up on dimensionals. Oh and one more thing, with the ribbon I did that crinkly thing with the heat gun - so pretty! I think this may have been the first time I didn't scorch it - LOL!<br /><br />Well that's all I have for now. I have a crazy toy room that is screaming to be packed up (can't wait to put those toys in storage!).<br /><br />Have fun on the Hop! As always thanks for stopping by!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">***One more thing... How could I have forgotten this, I was chosen as one of the Honorable Mentions on Nichole Heady's Blog, <a href="http://http//nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2009/03/march-honorable-mentions.html">Capture the Moment </a>for the March Guest Star Stamper!</span> Please go and read all about the other designers she chose! It's always so inspiring to see what everyone creates! I will share my project in depth tomorrow - PROMISE!</span> <span style="color:#cc33cc;">***<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">What I used: {Masculine card}</span> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Stamps:</span> Papertrey Guide Lines</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Paper:</span> Papertrey Kraft, Ocean Tides</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Ink:</span> Papertrey Dark Chocolate</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Accessories:</span> Scor-pal, PI Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Cuttlebug and Tag Dies, Ranger white EP, Ranger White Inkssentials pen, twine, sponge, dimensional (under tag)</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">What I used: {Pink card}</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Stamps:</span> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Papertrey Guide Lines, 2007 Anniversary Set Simple Little Things, Paper Company Studio Faith Greetings</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Paper:</span> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">PTI Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, SS White</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ink:</span> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">PTI Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Fizz</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Accessories:</span> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Provocraft Mini Scallop Scissors, Organza ribbon Jo-ann, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch, Pearls Michaels, Ranger White Inkssentials pen, dmensionals</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-82458266406184393452009-03-04T13:59:00.021-05:002009-03-04T16:07:00.254-05:00Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhxX9xmlLPI_YoQ1HQDuMXR0-7cGP5hPhXPPhbqAWI-731tTY0az8Odwcf4sR8-OZVV7XnGns7Pwh7fC1cuRAF7KrBgnTnRCNv6maBZRvUkrwDTPZQ9bL2wNOr7ymNDC6Hi9tx9NLKmJb/s1600-h/Snow_09_06.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhxX9xmlLPI_YoQ1HQDuMXR0-7cGP5hPhXPPhbqAWI-731tTY0az8Odwcf4sR8-OZVV7XnGns7Pwh7fC1cuRAF7KrBgnTnRCNv6maBZRvUkrwDTPZQ9bL2wNOr7ymNDC6Hi9tx9NLKmJb/s320/Snow_09_06.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309441971571212418" /></a><br />Ahhhhhhh, we finally got what I have always dreamed of, SNOW!!! Well it's at least what I have dreamed of since I moved to the land of no snow. We got about 8-10 inches of snow Sunday night (depending on who you talk to), which is completely unheard of here in this part of Virginia. I have been here for almost 9 years, and the only other snow I remember having that stuck for more than one day came the year I moved here. My kids have loved it; it's no secret I have too. We spent two hours outside yesterday morning in the bitter cold making a snowman and mini "forts" (more like walls :) so we could have snowball fights. So fun!<br /><br />I wanted to share some pics of the kids having fun so the grandparents could see them. I will miss it when it melts, which will happen very soon since we are supposed to hit 70 this weekend - go figure!<br /><br /><table width="150" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NFy-Jz-VKoQLSagnpvT1AUsR9j5YIEvh_22XM33bzwtESuXGNR0wPPDw09pIUIqPv18POvwDIDTt_Omd7kgDILUo92h8ogRxKkUHPvAA8PLD3guReJaQ7f-H1uGq4GEfY0tC0Sf8UXo3/s1600-h/snow_09_05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309426242967613586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NFy-Jz-VKoQLSagnpvT1AUsR9j5YIEvh_22XM33bzwtESuXGNR0wPPDw09pIUIqPv18POvwDIDTt_Omd7kgDILUo92h8ogRxKkUHPvAA8PLD3guReJaQ7f-H1uGq4GEfY0tC0Sf8UXo3/s320/snow_09_05.jpg" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k0pAkh3UAh6o9KfhEox_9fez0LgYJEx1ZfAkJUZipOs1SAs1hMhLw3lXqHz1hLkmUVvx6H-WsR7FLM7YP2FDcH-LPJMPp7Mz7XFaT0vaBxze1_0qnfKUqgbws2go04rSEtVlzbcTd2bI/s1600-h/Snow_09_04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309426167783777298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k0pAkh3UAh6o9KfhEox_9fez0LgYJEx1ZfAkJUZipOs1SAs1hMhLw3lXqHz1hLkmUVvx6H-WsR7FLM7YP2FDcH-LPJMPp7Mz7XFaT0vaBxze1_0qnfKUqgbws2go04rSEtVlzbcTd2bI/s320/Snow_09_04.jpg" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table style="WIDTH: 658px; HEIGHT: 287px" width="658" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnMU2P6XgIrRqBeI50Hyv3QYvuhuZXY2aPO3yLfYUC9RMXHpWjMeu8F_Fm6i2-K9M_i0y8LdEyzEniIRGeA0O9mepyp-pUos9hIisNM6BRx6JyeHbdlzsGva20gDsI4ya64n9YHoUSO9y/s1600-h/Snow_09_03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309426087900679266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnMU2P6XgIrRqBeI50Hyv3QYvuhuZXY2aPO3yLfYUC9RMXHpWjMeu8F_Fm6i2-K9M_i0y8LdEyzEniIRGeA0O9mepyp-pUos9hIisNM6BRx6JyeHbdlzsGva20gDsI4ya64n9YHoUSO9y/s320/Snow_09_03.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuQuSRGJFJBKoj9pyxCEyLF-Zin_doucorE5JYuL7FgQMX0xBro9l4iiokO1lTeB9fIAxdesOogzp-BcxbUxZhKoeYhZqWtGek81A7ya1x1bNSgz-n4bPneN7v682lHFOs4e4Vq6nieYq/s1600-h/Snow_09_02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309425988561492642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuQuSRGJFJBKoj9pyxCEyLF-Zin_doucorE5JYuL7FgQMX0xBro9l4iiokO1lTeB9fIAxdesOogzp-BcxbUxZhKoeYhZqWtGek81A7ya1x1bNSgz-n4bPneN7v682lHFOs4e4Vq6nieYq/s320/Snow_09_02.jpg" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table width="150" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06JplxmIlIoCGyEsVg1evJB0pNE93lBGSlWU-dburGCpNuPwkRpC1AZSb58RzlQF9tT7rKd7n7Ncjko42Hln0nby5NSVnijbXAbjq9_1t7IVvmckRPLlgFjtzAHPswnrDOi3vYa64pah7/s1600-h/snow_09_01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309425882409812050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06JplxmIlIoCGyEsVg1evJB0pNE93lBGSlWU-dburGCpNuPwkRpC1AZSb58RzlQF9tT7rKd7n7Ncjko42Hln0nby5NSVnijbXAbjq9_1t7IVvmckRPLlgFjtzAHPswnrDOi3vYa64pah7/s320/snow_09_01.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p></p></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv03Bqo1BRSHyFoXW2kDfhzOrXf0fxm5DF1_gZrz22wjlV5wTTNymcsaNjUE02wAhzOrTqzaXdD70xD0z0ZlLAzAZyriSs_kkWGH_UVGzvKL_H8XfDPNdUsXBGcpn1RAEyB7PwHxLarH4_/s1600-h/Snow_09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309425790282544866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv03Bqo1BRSHyFoXW2kDfhzOrXf0fxm5DF1_gZrz22wjlV5wTTNymcsaNjUE02wAhzOrTqzaXdD70xD0z0ZlLAzAZyriSs_kkWGH_UVGzvKL_H8XfDPNdUsXBGcpn1RAEyB7PwHxLarH4_/s320/Snow_09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxlwnWkQev8qt9lL-jtQxTKgTEh2gZHeNYUZmEAvkcqgMLT1expEmYYZsZNvG1WN2fffp4oUhI3JSkiIhAU21XU8kqJO5sU0jK_-ctmOKn6uxkhFW9SDG-HQF2qgj-LGZMLqQxSt5-jMw/s1600-h/snow+angel+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309425659252237346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxlwnWkQev8qt9lL-jtQxTKgTEh2gZHeNYUZmEAvkcqgMLT1expEmYYZsZNvG1WN2fffp4oUhI3JSkiIhAU21XU8kqJO5sU0jK_-ctmOKn6uxkhFW9SDG-HQF2qgj-LGZMLqQxSt5-jMw/s320/snow+angel+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I assure you she is no Angel! :D<br /><br />Have a blessed day!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-49656804139297062332009-02-25T18:30:00.014-05:002009-02-25T21:31:55.962-05:00Read Any Good Books Lately???Before I get to my latest creations, have you read a good book lately? I have! You would think I would say some great novel, well at least I aspire to that again one day :D. But actually, the “good book” I am referring to is a book my cousin gave to my daughter for Christmas and it really got me thinking. The title of the book is… <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Have-You-Filled-Bucket-Today/dp/0978507517">Have You Filled a Bucket Today</a>?</em> by Carol McCloud and David Messing. The basic theme of the story is to remind us that by doing nice things for others we in essence do something nice for ourselves. Fill someone else’s bucket with kindness and you fill your own emotional bucket with positive feelings.<br /><br />My son has really enjoyed this story and honestly the few times I read it with him I just went through the motions. But Monday I read it with him and for some reason it really hit home. Doing nice things for people really does make me happier. Sometimes it is hard to figure out what someone might <em>need</em>, and other times a simple hello or thank you can bring a smile to another’s face. We talked at length about ways we could fill someone’s bucket and my son is actually having so much fun with it that his three year old sister is finding ways to help too. When I drive my son to preschool I usually tell him to “Make good choices” as he gets out of the car. Today I decided to change it around a little and I said “Fill Someone’s Bucket” and he just turned around with the biggest smile and the brightest eyes and said “You got it Mom!” Gotta love that!<br /><br />Now on to something crafty..<br /><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9irmaMDbzZLt8MAQIzw-XYEh-ZrNXYzuSLE4eSa2FKFu0LZu1URtQoLLvAAN_tr8Y8XgUKw2qFG8IRQ5zBAkEmI5NkfYstMOswc98rBz75LIy0Zxv-gpvTg6F14n7WPuEVMI5vw618IQ/s1600-h/masculine_BDay.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306812873429707794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9irmaMDbzZLt8MAQIzw-XYEh-ZrNXYzuSLE4eSa2FKFu0LZu1URtQoLLvAAN_tr8Y8XgUKw2qFG8IRQ5zBAkEmI5NkfYstMOswc98rBz75LIy0Zxv-gpvTg6F14n7WPuEVMI5vw618IQ/s320/masculine_BDay.jpg" border="0" /></a>I made this card for the <a href="http://www.cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/">Card Positioning Systems </a>card sketch challenge this week. Of course the prize has to do with Papertrey so I had to participate! I had a really hard time with this sketch, everything turned out so plain looking. But I needed a birthday card for one of my fathers-in-law and this was my favorite of the three cards I made.<br /><br />I used my new <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_damaskdesigns.html">Damask Designs </a>stamps from PTI, and really love this set. It is so versatile and has the most beautiful damask shapes. It’s a pretty simple card actually, but men are fairly simple (well most men) so I think it will suit him just fine.<br /><br />Well, I have lots of house stuff to do tonight. I can’t wait until this "To Do" list is behind us and our house is finally on the market!<br /><br />Have a fabulous night/day!<br /><br />And ask yourself, have you filled a bucket today?<br /><br />*hugs* </p><p> </p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-24462712897002667122009-02-14T21:59:00.006-05:002009-02-14T22:32:08.196-05:00Dawn McVey's Color Challenge...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7E9_uBGqZppqNXE4JXLpxrhO-OGln8ovJwgqVNASJn9aJ4NYokgdo8HAIxlgLdbaNuFemz957j4WLJKebKrUOF9UmOgQ5O8858e_cynBwW4Hw-cCfD4Cc_7ljyE-fsMssP8o4rWE3qs0/s1600-h/dawn+color+challenge2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302857784802215746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7E9_uBGqZppqNXE4JXLpxrhO-OGln8ovJwgqVNASJn9aJ4NYokgdo8HAIxlgLdbaNuFemz957j4WLJKebKrUOF9UmOgQ5O8858e_cynBwW4Hw-cCfD4Cc_7ljyE-fsMssP8o4rWE3qs0/s320/dawn+color+challenge2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I am on a role... my second post of the day! I had a little time this afternoon to make a card. I know, I know, I should have been napping along with the rest of the family, but I was <em>excited</em> about <a href="http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2009/02/day-14-introducing-damask-designs.html">Dawn's Favorite Color Challenge that PTI </a>is hosting so I had to make something. Dawn's use of color is amazing; she often puts colors together that I would never have dared to use. I really envy her sense of color adventure!<br /><br />This is one of my <em>favorite</em> color combos from Dawn's cards over the past week. I used <a href="http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/these_are_a_few_of_my_fav/2009/02/introducing-damask-designs.html">this card </a>as my guide, and can't tell you how much I love this color combo. The colors I used are Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, and since I don't have Raspberry Fizz or New Leaf I found some comparable colors in my stash with some pink paper and Martha Stewart Ribbon from last year. I love green, so that New Leaf is definitely on my list!<br /><br />The flowers and buttons are all from various Making Memories collections, green from 5th Avenue, the pink button from the Lemonade Collection, cream flower from Noteworthy - I was grabbing stuff from everywhere! This is why I love Papertrey's newest additions, it all matches perfectly - hence the name "Perect Match." :-)<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed another creation today. Now I need to go clean my desk, what a mess!!! I hope to check out the PTI forum release party for a little while before heading off to bed.<br /><br />I hope you had a fabulous day!<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by...<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">What I used:<br /></span><span style="color:#990000;">Stamps:</span> PTI Polka Dot Basics, Birthday Basics<br /><span style="color:#990000;">Paper:</span> PTI Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, Kraft; Pink from my stash<br /><span style="color:#990000;">Ink:</span> PTI Dark Chocolate<br /><span style="color:#990000;">Accessories:</span> Martha Stewart Ribbon, Buttons Making Memories, Flowers Making Memories, DMC Embroidery Floss, Dimensionals, MM Slice (small pink flower)Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-45921231902184225342009-02-14T15:28:00.019-05:002009-02-14T16:29:01.315-05:00Happy Valentine's Day!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2QEXSdIbIfKmR_uiyNUD4N_bVc5p8VJTiGO7i47vUCBF9E6UD8BH74ItZk14UbHkFNghl6Fx9vxMhyOUmAqlQBKtzpLsUrgY8fEvW_waNs_XyB0s-loLBDjDcHpIhtWJBq9PDVCrOrN7/s1600-h/doug+Valentine+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302760989617436354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2QEXSdIbIfKmR_uiyNUD4N_bVc5p8VJTiGO7i47vUCBF9E6UD8BH74ItZk14UbHkFNghl6Fx9vxMhyOUmAqlQBKtzpLsUrgY8fEvW_waNs_XyB0s-loLBDjDcHpIhtWJBq9PDVCrOrN7/s320/doug+Valentine+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Hope you are all having a fabulous Valentine's Day!<br /><br />Ours has been quite relaxing actually, which is a definite change of pace for us. I just took a long bath, with bubbles no less, and listened to... silence...ahhhhhhhhhhh. My kids and my husband were/are napping, I should have been, but decided to relax in a nice hot bubble bath instead. My daughter decided to grace us with her presence at 4:40 this morning, so it has been a very LONG day, but such is the life of a parent *smile*.<br /><br />I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day before I missed yet another holiday here on the blog :-)! I also wanted to share the Valentine I made for my husband this year. </p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlsOVz98TuVx_klauzLL-bOmnC_p9yPALiv0bLoUsEihupZHA1vaeMdRR0nqogOvVNtsx3BZjTa6gQ38P97qwFRnf2K6EbRMmSw9G2Z52K43nxRdSxzvpxJYkZL9QgFrGM1jqv1LjLN6u/s1600-h/Doug+Valentine+09_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302762359558682626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlsOVz98TuVx_klauzLL-bOmnC_p9yPALiv0bLoUsEihupZHA1vaeMdRR0nqogOvVNtsx3BZjTa6gQ38P97qwFRnf2K6EbRMmSw9G2Z52K43nxRdSxzvpxJYkZL9QgFrGM1jqv1LjLN6u/s320/Doug+Valentine+09_2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We don't usually celebrate with much more than him making dinner (a change from the norm believe me) and exchanging cards. I never expect anything to be quite honest with you, safer that way :-) But then these beautiful flowers showed up on our front porch. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57DtjfTIz4pzNKuzvw8v3I5ved4Tst4QQIChPaxYX4r30bpIjBhap7ycuE5tD_DQohrbguiiJqDgryBgAPhMQY0p4Esi-noTN7o3U7CfBalBlK9vzKJm-V5hJh7j6MRPB95Qrznyc9q78/s1600-h/flowers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302761396338364498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57DtjfTIz4pzNKuzvw8v3I5ved4Tst4QQIChPaxYX4r30bpIjBhap7ycuE5tD_DQohrbguiiJqDgryBgAPhMQY0p4Esi-noTN7o3U7CfBalBlK9vzKJm-V5hJh7j6MRPB95Qrznyc9q78/s320/flowers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I LOVE those orangey ones! He told me he picked the colors out specifically; I was intrigued. He actually did his homework? What they mean, according to my husband: white rose is for loyalty and honor; orange rose is for desire; and lavender rose for enchantment and love at first sight. Then he added, "Plus I thought the colors all went well together," which if you knew my husband you would find comical since he could care less if things match :-) What a sweet gesture - what's not to love!<br /><br />Happy Valentine's Day! I hope it was a memorable one.<br /><br />So happy you visited :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">What I Used:</span></p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Paper: </span><span style="color:#000000;">PTI White, Ocean Tides and Pink from my stash?</span></p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Stamps: </span><span style="color:#000000;">PTI Wise Owl, Owl Bellies, Heart Prints, Polka Dot Basics, and Studio G letters</span></p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Ink: </span><span style="color:#000000;">PTI Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Ocean Tides, Summer Sunrise, Sweet Blush and Memento Rose Bud</span></p><span style="color:#cc0000;">Accessories: <span style="color:#000000;">Cinnamon Stickles (owl eyes), dimensionals</span> </span></p><p></p>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-30232665055109590592009-02-06T21:58:00.015-05:002009-02-06T22:29:34.716-05:00An Over The Rainbow Color Challenge...Another one-day challenge from PTI...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYOdgP_28cmtLWYFbnJBaBg6v7hfQiPFNAXWyKogIzR6Wkvlop_a-osCb9Sg5-0giaqWGY2TGFxjildbV45JjlFOxll_LeV_aLCM-7UPnEhzJ_9A_XyuJbeykI8zJGk0zvGmyVlSAOWG-/s1600-h/over+the+rainbow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299885003734632370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYOdgP_28cmtLWYFbnJBaBg6v7hfQiPFNAXWyKogIzR6Wkvlop_a-osCb9Sg5-0giaqWGY2TGFxjildbV45JjlFOxll_LeV_aLCM-7UPnEhzJ_9A_XyuJbeykI8zJGk0zvGmyVlSAOWG-/s320/over+the+rainbow.jpg" border="0" /></a>When I first saw these colors this morning, I was seriously intimidated! I make it a rule to pretty much never use more than three colors, so when Nichole posted these four and possibly more, I was stumped. Good thing I had all day to think about it. I even dreamed about color this afternoon during my nap - he-he!<br /><br />Anyone else feeling that dreaded cold coming on? My kids were so sweet, they came down from their nap and went back to their rooms to play to let me sleep, I guess they knew I needed it. Could have been the mommy rage prior to their naps that clued them in!<br /><br />Well by this evening I had quite a few ideas, but not a whole lot of time. This made me think out of my comfort zone - that is precisely what a challenge is for right!<br /><br />I wrote out this sketch many months ago, when <a href="http://allistamps.blogspot.com/">Alli Miles </a>made a similar card. Can't seem to find that card at the moment, like I said it was many months ago, but I will try tomorrow when I have more time. I thought it would be perfect for these colors.<br /><br />Super easy card, almost no stamping at all, but all the colors are there! Ribbon, buttons, embroidery floss and a sewing machine and you have yourself a card! If I could crank out cards as fast as this one, I would be a very happy stamper!<br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSnttsGQfj0kjQlirBIBqwstsA8_cx8WPs9reaOxN8pF81ZjBju9n5X0Famp0XLeZwMi1WpJqmr8VFcPdgVZhDlk64w40AjBccExzyVR0uuKcnL6j4qvYQQQnDUATOJloIgQo4z3__JF4/s1600-h/PTI+Color+Challenge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299889733291669330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSnttsGQfj0kjQlirBIBqwstsA8_cx8WPs9reaOxN8pF81ZjBju9n5X0Famp0XLeZwMi1WpJqmr8VFcPdgVZhDlk64w40AjBccExzyVR0uuKcnL6j4qvYQQQnDUATOJloIgQo4z3__JF4/s320/PTI+Color+Challenge.jpg" border="0" /></a> I hope you are enjoying these challenges as much as I am. It's getting me out of my creative funk!</p><p>I am inspired to use these colors again and my kids are fast asleep...</p>Have a fabulous night!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">What I Used...</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">Stamps: <span style="color:#339999;">PTI Quilter's Sampler Sentiments</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">Paper: <span style="color:#339999;">PTI Stampers Select White, Acetate</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">Ink: <span style="color:#339999;">Black Staz-On</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Accesories: </span><span style="color:#339999;">All PTI ribbon (Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Ocean Tides), sewing machine, buttons all Foof-A-Lah, Black DMC Floss, corner rounder EK Success<br /></span></span>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-77752808031580351152009-02-05T22:44:00.014-05:002009-02-05T23:16:22.034-05:00More Bags...I found some more bags that I never posted. I have no idea why I never posted them! I was so proud of these bags, how could I have forgotten them??? Gee - I don't know! Well, in the spirit of PTI and bags, I wanted to post them on my blog. I must say they get quite a bit of use. I would like to find some bigger canvas bags so I could actually use them for groceries too. These are a bit smaller, so they don't fit a whole lot in them, but they are great for my trips to Michaels :-)!<br /><br />I used some canvas bags I purchased at Wal-mart, 3/$5, not a bad price. For the first one I wanted to use the recyle symbol, so I cut arrows out of the muslin and folded them before stamping on them. Then I cut some brown fabric to outline the arrows to make them stand out from the canvas bag. I stamped the flowers from <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_beautifulblooms.html">Beautiful Blooms </a>in various shades of PTI ink before sewing the two arrows together. Then I glued them onto the bag with Fabri-Tac (best fabric glue EVER!). After gluing the arrows I stamped the words around the triangle and added the flowers for balance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUHBJTRXD9kXNcIdJRMfJKzid_GHtvgQHWyYTed6W1tnGAG9zsrGNhwpUnUz5mqbZj5KsvcyN0nXJaw9qJOBuMelnczXhQnQs4KSy-oYppqk0MkCEyflqU6vG1S1Rdvho-PquaYP30eKk/s1600-h/PTI+August+GSS+-+recycle+bag2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299530226125154866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUHBJTRXD9kXNcIdJRMfJKzid_GHtvgQHWyYTed6W1tnGAG9zsrGNhwpUnUz5mqbZj5KsvcyN0nXJaw9qJOBuMelnczXhQnQs4KSy-oYppqk0MkCEyflqU6vG1S1Rdvho-PquaYP30eKk/s320/PTI+August+GSS+-+recycle+bag2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmQfRbF9qcx0qAYbT2jxdUhaAObWIjoCPuZiIpwNrm4dycYnHX2mDcXTsahM3QamrWLZMcoBJDAetX3I14tvsBpR_lEgF8Ltyfuw2TWOuw3ZyzeYji_nJ9N8XPDhukZGWz9anf8FERA-g/s1600-h/PTI+August+GSS+-+recycle+bag.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299530056152515794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmQfRbF9qcx0qAYbT2jxdUhaAObWIjoCPuZiIpwNrm4dycYnHX2mDcXTsahM3QamrWLZMcoBJDAetX3I14tvsBpR_lEgF8Ltyfuw2TWOuw3ZyzeYji_nJ9N8XPDhukZGWz9anf8FERA-g/s320/PTI+August+GSS+-+recycle+bag.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For the second one, I cut flowers using my Cuttlebug with the Flower Dies and stamped flowers from <a href="hthttp://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_beautifulblooms.html">Beautiful Blooms </a>in PTI ink. I glued the brown rick-rack with Fabri-tac again, then sewed the buttons and flowers onto the bag. Easy-peasy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5jb4hD7UngFYXjr06tHFlvJ0sug49Z-GOmZzuH6FPsGMPyaodzNG6kogZ8o5yMZpWFZn5zkxhBOgc9pSFt2_UBiS0s-WCDlVVsWyWfGql5skRo7vPsdxHWUi7gInoZLkp-3Y0GBMWMsU/s1600-h/PTI+GSS+August+Flower+Border.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299529750079576418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5jb4hD7UngFYXjr06tHFlvJ0sug49Z-GOmZzuH6FPsGMPyaodzNG6kogZ8o5yMZpWFZn5zkxhBOgc9pSFt2_UBiS0s-WCDlVVsWyWfGql5skRo7vPsdxHWUi7gInoZLkp-3Y0GBMWMsU/s320/PTI+GSS+August+Flower+Border.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32IRnzXCXavSJ9mQulwERPxw_4ose69NwWvnHg1GzTGeKhUhOtifiAmUyo0UW67gqxBINAoijOoEhpq_1x9BS8Zlg5p-qHCRdXs1eGs9_6EZ6ay4fVecP7MdcEQ0qAebZtehVc-f-PX8S/s1600-h/PTI+Gss+August+Flower+Border2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299529594258728610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32IRnzXCXavSJ9mQulwERPxw_4ose69NwWvnHg1GzTGeKhUhOtifiAmUyo0UW67gqxBINAoijOoEhpq_1x9BS8Zlg5p-qHCRdXs1eGs9_6EZ6ay4fVecP7MdcEQ0qAebZtehVc-f-PX8S/s320/PTI+Gss+August+Flower+Border2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Going green can be easy and fashionable!<br /><br />Hope you enjoyed seeing more of my bag creations!<br /><br />See you soon!<br />Thanks again for stopping by!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">What I Used: </span><br /><span style="color:#993300;">Stamps:</span> Beautiful Booms PTI, Formal Upper Letters My Sentiments Exactly<br /><span style="color:#993300;">Ink:</span> PTI Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist<br /><span style="color:#993300;">Accessories:</span> Buttons American Crafts, Muslin, Brown Fabric, Canvas Bags, Cuttlebug, Flower Die Cuts, Chocolate Rick-Rack Wrights, Dark Chocolate ribbon PTI, Fabri-Tac, Sewing MachineKacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-6600383122064863652009-02-05T16:48:00.007-05:002009-02-05T17:15:42.792-05:00Be Mine *Heart*...One of my <span style="color:#339999;"><strong>FAVORITE</strong></span> stamp companies, <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/"><span style="color:#339999;">Papertrey Ink</span></a>, is having a countdown for their Two Year Anniversary. They have been giving away prizes since Sunday and will continue to do so until their release party on February 14th. For all the PTI "groupies" :-) (including myself) this is a big deal. It is so exciting to see everything that is in store for the coming year, and to see all of the fabulous inspiration.<br /><br />Since I have been spending more time getting our house ready for sale, I haven't had much time to do anything fun. It has been really hard to stay away from my desk, but will be worth it in the end I hope. So, I thought I would participate in today's challenge called <em>It's In The Bag.</em> I was planning on making a few little bags to fill with candy, so why not start now? :-D<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKq-TqT_KoMt7k1UoX6Tgecp0QtUhmrwsqx9ASxd8iw8JXrbnz67_KnjJgVdUAbg6iVu9SHUV63PD0FENuZuHXY6C8T_tQb_4C8QkM8w0QOiHTp5WiR0gmLAGM35ORel79cJ2KkUW56iH/s1600-h/PTI+Bag.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299434614414283202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKq-TqT_KoMt7k1UoX6Tgecp0QtUhmrwsqx9ASxd8iw8JXrbnz67_KnjJgVdUAbg6iVu9SHUV63PD0FENuZuHXY6C8T_tQb_4C8QkM8w0QOiHTp5WiR0gmLAGM35ORel79cJ2KkUW56iH/s320/PTI+Bag.jpg" border="0" /></a> I am embarrassed to say this took me a little over an hour. First off I can't find anything on my desk. Second, since it has been so long, I had <strong>NO</strong> idea what to do. So I used my trusty Polka Dot Basics to start me off. Maybe this will spur some other ideas, and I can start those Valentine's cards too *wink*!<br /><br />If you are visiting from PTI, hope you enjoy the inspiration that everyone is sharing. There are some fabulous bags already posted! Can't wait to try some of them myself!<br /><br />Have a great night! As always, thanks for visiting!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">What I Used:</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Stamps: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Polka Dot Basics, Heart Prints, Sweet Love (little heart)</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Paper: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Kraft, Vintage Cream</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Ink: </span><span style="color:#000000;">Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Accessories: </span><span style="color:#000000;">MS Scallop Punch, Twine SU!, Ribbon Michaels, Scor-Pal, MS Glitter in Garnet</span>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-89610627923569902522009-02-03T15:16:00.011-05:002009-02-03T15:42:33.590-05:00Something A Little Different...Although I still love papercrafting, I needed to take a little break. One of the things I haven't quite finished organizing is my craft area, so I am finding it hard to get in there to be creative. Not to mention that some of my favorite shows - like <em>LOST - </em>have started up again, and I have been using my "free" time to fit my shows in and to pack up and clean my house to get it ready to put it on the market - FINALLY! It's been kind of nice purging "things." But in the process I have been thinking about how much my tastes have changed and what I want for our new house. I haven't painted in a while, so I thought I would work on a little project for our half bath downstairs. After painting the walls I felt it needed something new and understated. Not to mention that I can paint and watch TV at the same time :-). So here is what I came up with...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J1nXwN8EHh1JHCUd-lu-H_4NnYU0d1Bp2gEQqXRU1gol8OHhm0kD9d1gmg7jpZEGr13UdOrNHyzw8VvWhOz1V0wR93RPZSJ8z_8nfvILEeHmD6A3t4GngIUGmEPoh_0GqQryxSMCUrR6/s1600-h/paintings.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298671366140433138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J1nXwN8EHh1JHCUd-lu-H_4NnYU0d1Bp2gEQqXRU1gol8OHhm0kD9d1gmg7jpZEGr13UdOrNHyzw8VvWhOz1V0wR93RPZSJ8z_8nfvILEeHmD6A3t4GngIUGmEPoh_0GqQryxSMCUrR6/s320/paintings.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>I saw some really nice paintings at Target about a month ago, they were with the new patio furniture (can't find an image on-line to show you) but they were $30 plus depending on the size. Of course they weren't brown either, more Springy colors, so I took a similar idea and made it my own. The dandelion, although not a flower, can still be pretty in it's own way. </div><div> <br /></div><div>This whole project, all three canvases, paint and ribbon probably cost me about $8 to make, if that. Since I bought the cheap canvases, the ones with the staples showing on the sides, I just covered them with some PTI Chocolate ribbon and made, like a frame. Here is a side view... </div><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcVd2VmdOiUOwPzBpG87EyLYXeBKdO3mf10gNH2ZaYNHXv9KDYMWfvXUxRzdPfxB-ofoDf0ywc1Bn2jJLwF6MLXmffa35WgrdLT-byKKWJjhFuZS-6Z4J_4mQBW0BM7TBhaVCdXPWK5k9/s1600-h/paintings1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298671696330634770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcVd2VmdOiUOwPzBpG87EyLYXeBKdO3mf10gNH2ZaYNHXv9KDYMWfvXUxRzdPfxB-ofoDf0ywc1Bn2jJLwF6MLXmffa35WgrdLT-byKKWJjhFuZS-6Z4J_4mQBW0BM7TBhaVCdXPWK5k9/s320/paintings1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>My husband actually said, "They look nice!" and he usually doesn't even notice when I change something. </p><p>Well, I have other things, just not the time to download today. I need to start working on my Valentine's Cards - UGH! Where is the time going???!!!</p><p>Have a fabulous week! As always thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed something a little different :-)</p><p> </p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-6718696353450098792009-01-22T14:35:00.030-05:002009-01-22T16:10:47.556-05:00A New Year, an Organized ME!What a busy week this has been!!! Busy is good, busy makes me focus. I don't usually talk about my New Years resolutions because they are more like goals for me, not really resolutions. This way I keep them; goals make me work harder, and they seem more attainable to me. I have learned over 36 years that if I make resolutions per se, I just forget 'em! :-) So, one of my goals this year is to get me and my family more organized. I bought one of those "Mommy Calendars" with columns for each person and a block for each day of the month - LOVE IT! I organized my kitchen drawers this week, called Habitat for Humanity to come pick up some furniture we were planning to get rid of in the future (the future is now!), and cleaned out my bathroom cabinets (it is amazing how much make-up and hair stuff I buy and never use). The good news is that today I learned more about a free-market place that might actually take these toiletries that I don't use and give them (yes give them!) to people who would love to have them. How great is that!!! I know what I'll be doing next week :-)<br /><br />Well, in a long, round-about way that leads me to finally sharing the teacher gifts that I made for my sons teachers at Christmas. The reason I am linking the two... I just hope they don't throw these away or give them to the free-market :-)<br /><br />I think I mentioned before that my son has a total of seven teachers in preschool, the kids actually rotate from room to room for each "subject." My son loves it, he really enjoys the variety, and of course each teacher has a different style and personality, which is good for the kids to be exposed to. But boy, when it comes to gift-giving, it sure made for a lot of work!<br /><br /><table width="150" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C1fJVrmlXXo2xIv0yYz9npVZYu0MBLi1PYpTckCUH3l4k0uce1nLzFr5lnL-_eKwbim4xJpzqpQsXNPBZAUwJdQMIFthNukOPuxbsREYvtMPhlM7pjfpCb23aGl-lGcIi7oFsLADZTZN/s1600-h/Teacher+frame1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294222683687349762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C1fJVrmlXXo2xIv0yYz9npVZYu0MBLi1PYpTckCUH3l4k0uce1nLzFr5lnL-_eKwbim4xJpzqpQsXNPBZAUwJdQMIFthNukOPuxbsREYvtMPhlM7pjfpCb23aGl-lGcIi7oFsLADZTZN/s320/Teacher+frame1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx6CqXqIYHBXWEN3h25VqJN-IRoDClxRAIV_kKWrjBwLaX1v0jYuaspzUwNr4lXU2E2eIGhaGuMn6d2lRBvPhq8I6e95vUEuuyJtTXavvQVLHLkutbJogEE2kL2vmhFGmfzJFRxBXV9hQ/s1600-h/Teacher+frame2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294222583866555586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx6CqXqIYHBXWEN3h25VqJN-IRoDClxRAIV_kKWrjBwLaX1v0jYuaspzUwNr4lXU2E2eIGhaGuMn6d2lRBvPhq8I6e95vUEuuyJtTXavvQVLHLkutbJogEE2kL2vmhFGmfzJFRxBXV9hQ/s320/Teacher+frame2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Anyway, they were fairly easy once I figured out a design. For simplicity, I kept them pretty much the same, just different papers and colors. The quote is the same on each and it reads:<br /><em></em><br /><div align="center"><em> Kind words from a teacher can be short and easy to speak, </em><em>but their echoes are endless.</em></div><em></em><br /><br /><br /><table width="150" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7FcrfVqzRGBnVG-r1VJeRkGe7ahJp6ZNG8ZkGqyhYdohJ9R1nD-_nyqp3RhsDvXzdNzz12TNSyqfO9FMXWsi6A7pM-m8FiJuaLSdGXBv4j0YfVNOxM0HJAupY8eSOvWlbvSIUZyn4IL5/s1600-h/teacher+frame3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294222464132277906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7FcrfVqzRGBnVG-r1VJeRkGe7ahJp6ZNG8ZkGqyhYdohJ9R1nD-_nyqp3RhsDvXzdNzz12TNSyqfO9FMXWsi6A7pM-m8FiJuaLSdGXBv4j0YfVNOxM0HJAupY8eSOvWlbvSIUZyn4IL5/s320/teacher+frame3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGlXT1cyxbT2f0Z3kptix42rQas9DZxo3rn494gTn5CyCBMQleJvy7-iZ_DVDdiTfsGTSvxDwo80eWSLj9SMQ_KvsRBrvuzUoNERNrq3k1p4UxVxOx34MgnzxyO0St-C5YjJwIKa2YKL-/s1600-h/teacher+frame4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294222363195390706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGlXT1cyxbT2f0Z3kptix42rQas9DZxo3rn494gTn5CyCBMQleJvy7-iZ_DVDdiTfsGTSvxDwo80eWSLj9SMQ_KvsRBrvuzUoNERNrq3k1p4UxVxOx34MgnzxyO0St-C5YjJwIKa2YKL-/s320/teacher+frame4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNFfw3kAHW6NeoVSMwCxVzJ6bkQ6nDHNSDffZWtyNTAjkhUS7vuXuj4QG5OJ7ip778BgrFtU_99Jd-qJ0iK66uyqXkb_vkK-xctC9L43mNe8Nx1LuQveiJDkJVkg-qr65Flv8msksJmAI/s1600-h/teacher+frame5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294222141181649810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 252px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNFfw3kAHW6NeoVSMwCxVzJ6bkQ6nDHNSDffZWtyNTAjkhUS7vuXuj4QG5OJ7ip778BgrFtU_99Jd-qJ0iK66uyqXkb_vkK-xctC9L43mNe8Nx1LuQveiJDkJVkg-qr65Flv8msksJmAI/s320/teacher+frame5.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em></em><br /><br /><div>Sorry for the dark pics; I took them at about 2-3 AM the morning of their Christmas party. Now do you see why I am trying to get myself more organized???!!!<br /><br /><div>First I painted each frame to match the paper choice. After adhering the paper (with Mod Podge) I sprayed them with Plaid Acrylic Sealer. I used Spcriptina font for the quote and printed them on vellum which I then cut using my Labels 1 dies. I stamped another sheet of vellum with white ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder. For the butterflies, I did a base butterfly in a solid color and a vellum butterfly in the same shape and used versamark and Pebbles Chalk Inks to shimmer them up. Added some bling, dew drops and flowers here and there and wallah! My full list of supplies is below.<br /><br />I have some fun cards to share in a few days. We are off tomorrow for a trip to visit the family (I hope!). My dad had his final surgery today, so if he is feeling up to it I really want to get up there to see him and the rest of the family.<br /><br />Hope you all have fabulous weekend! As always, thanks for visiting!<br /><br />*HUGS*<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><em><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></em></a><em><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">Supplies Used: </span></em></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#990000;">Stamps: <span style="color:#339999;">Fancy Pants Pollen Dust (flowers), Autumn Leaves Elegant Flourishes, Inkadinkado</span> </span><span style="color:#339999;">Floral Flourishes</span></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#990000;">Paper: </span><span style="color:#339999;">Vellum, variety of My Mind's Eye Patterns and DCWV</span></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#990000;">Ink: </span><span style="color:#339999;">White Craft SU!, Versamark</span></em></span></div><div><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Miscellaneous: </em></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#339999;"><em>White EP, heat tool, various ribbons, Mod Podge, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels 1, Martha Stewart Butterfly punches, Pebbles Inc. Shimmer Chalks, Acrylic Sealant, Dew Drops, Acrylic paints in various colors, wood frames from Michaels, flowers Prima, and rhinestone brads are MM.<br /></em></span></div></span></div>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-59773016210477072302009-01-11T22:03:00.029-05:002009-01-15T15:06:21.668-05:00Hello 2009!I am extremely happy that 2009 has finally arrived! From the start it felt like 2008 was jinxed for us and it seemed to be neverending. My husband and I have decided that 2009 has got to be a better year and we are looking forward to so many wonderful experiences for our family. We have some family resolutions that we are excited about and I hope we look back on 2009 with fondness and not a sense of relief as we did this past year.<br /><br />Although I did not share many of my projects the last few months of the year, I was still creating. I just couldn't find the time to blog as much as I would have liked. I spent a great deal of the end of November and early December making over 70 Christmas cards, and that was after I cut the list down! I vow to make it even shorter next year! On top of that I made some all occasion card sets and a thank you card set for another friend. And I also made my son's prechool teachers each a special frame (there were seven of them) which I will share a little later.<br /><br />Now I know that Christmas is long gone, but I thought I would share the Christmas cards I made with the hope that they might inspire someone out there.<br /><br />This was the first card I made. I sent out about 50 of these to family and friends, until I ran out of that fabulous ribbon. I was so excited to use something up from my stash, but now I am sad that it is gone. I bought that Martha Stewart ribbon at Michaels end of season clearance sale after Christmas 2007 for something crazy like $1.50 for 7 yds. What a steal!<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidelUs4xGv8ogy22HLl59QKycVHNPTtveYWUpfcWWd0Ye42J1EAWpsGpxV1XXu2INOKXQumHfML68XPx0RjJEFoOI7jI882UST-0ZOTwe8ra6uQIq9ZFiXTMw46a9oGdyURGqU503DYpsS/s1600-h/Christmas+08_01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291608791586040322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidelUs4xGv8ogy22HLl59QKycVHNPTtveYWUpfcWWd0Ye42J1EAWpsGpxV1XXu2INOKXQumHfML68XPx0RjJEFoOI7jI882UST-0ZOTwe8ra6uQIq9ZFiXTMw46a9oGdyURGqU503DYpsS/s320/Christmas+08_01.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is a close-up of the glitter. I outlined the entire card with white glitter, like snow. LOVE it! <em>(Now if we could just get some snow here - I would be so happy!)</em> The snowflakes also had glitter on them for that added sparkle. Of course it is hard to capture that in the picture, but they were way more sparkly in real life!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDAoMahlPrHHQuHxqFVEQ7RFtI80_kN__b8IuxflrcSWr9EgpHVwmKTHlRoMfNGvUUNVWZIjyZZ7yYtr7RqUAPLuab8gavrVzAXiv5L8zmaNri0Drhs88NDSXGsVFsGw72OfSEgtkaGqy/s1600-h/Christmas+08_02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291608650434953490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDAoMahlPrHHQuHxqFVEQ7RFtI80_kN__b8IuxflrcSWr9EgpHVwmKTHlRoMfNGvUUNVWZIjyZZ7yYtr7RqUAPLuab8gavrVzAXiv5L8zmaNri0Drhs88NDSXGsVFsGw72OfSEgtkaGqy/s320/Christmas+08_02.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the second card I designed. I wanted to use a less traditional color scheme on this one because quite frankly I was sick of red! This one also had glitter on the medium sized snowflakes for a little extra glitz.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_q0UbxxG1XyE5OTFYaSk9u88OUagTQaZm0kySqN2M4ZKdXu4Cj4KmeXYsnlvDSBGDNcvmWGcMGWi9eaExXwTq_RYeIZ9RFCNXibhl6jJ59Ovqe2zm5-SXYVDYZP18ps2fB7inLjBbp-W/s1600-h/christmas+08+_03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291611061101216866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_q0UbxxG1XyE5OTFYaSk9u88OUagTQaZm0kySqN2M4ZKdXu4Cj4KmeXYsnlvDSBGDNcvmWGcMGWi9eaExXwTq_RYeIZ9RFCNXibhl6jJ59Ovqe2zm5-SXYVDYZP18ps2fB7inLjBbp-W/s320/christmas+08+_03.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Although I was pleased with both cards, I have to say the red one was my favorite.<br /></p><p>I need to leave you with a little note... After re-reading my last post I felt like I may have left you with the notion that I was a complainer or a whiner of sorts. I really do try not to be that way in life. I was just a little disheartened. I believe that after 2008, I have a stronger sense of purpose and even more of what is most important in my life - my family! It doesn't matter how much money you have, what car you drive, or how big your house is - what matters is the love and support of your family and cherishing every moment with them. I have a stronger appreciation for my husband, my children, my friends, my family, and most of all for good health. Sometimes it is important to find that silver lining...<br /><br />Thank you for visiting! I hope to be here more often!<br /></p><p></p><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-25412190277362689942008-12-22T14:44:00.011-05:002008-12-22T15:44:19.350-05:00A Christmas Wish...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5s1jiwgjC8MtQtRXHmtSBmZ2eOo1ZxwhRqO1UGM-4k8Zwew5ZTIiLHpmP3i1M7loqZ5DFR_cjfNvLi5eTPjZiQCwG68W05dyKg0Lny8SpFeb5uW18G76KziVNgBkYGGwOOih_eqxdAE-/s1600-h/Christmas+2008_01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282703279115469954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5s1jiwgjC8MtQtRXHmtSBmZ2eOo1ZxwhRqO1UGM-4k8Zwew5ZTIiLHpmP3i1M7loqZ5DFR_cjfNvLi5eTPjZiQCwG68W05dyKg0Lny8SpFeb5uW18G76KziVNgBkYGGwOOih_eqxdAE-/s320/Christmas+2008_01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>This has truly been the craziest month of my life; I have no idea where the last four weeks have gone. It doesn't feel like a month since I last posted here. I am sorry for that, but sometimes life (or should I say God?) has a way of putting things into perspective for you since we are sometimes too slow to see it for ourselves.</p><p>Here is my month in a nutshell...We spent some time at doctors offices for my son, which turned out to be an issue with his heart. The problem, according to the cardiologist, is actually quite normal, and it is his heart's way of saying to him "Hey slow down buddy, I can't keep up!" So when he goes through a major growth spurt (almost 2 inches in three months) his heart doesn't keep up. So we are treating it as such, and now we know the warning signs.</p><p>About two weeks ago, my brother-in-law was admitted to the hospital with a strange illness. <strong>FOUR</strong> days after being admitted, they diagnosed him with Toxic Shock Syndrome, which apparently can be contracted from someone carrying Streptococcus (yes, that is the same bacteria that causes Strep throat). He has no idea how he got it, but after being misdiagnosed a few times his kidneys and liver were in failure and his lungs and heart were also in danger. This being my husband's only brother, he was with him for much of his hospital stay.</p><p>Finally, my father had surgery last week and will again next week, so no visits from the grands as expected, and it wasn't feeling like much of a Merry Christmas around here. The holidays aren't the same without any family around.</p><p>Add to all of this the current state of our economy, pending unmeployment for friends, the sadness of others as they lose loved ones, and still others who find themselves amidst a bitter divorce - the world is not looking very "glee"ful and that Norman Rockwell Christmas picture seems very different from the one I am actually experiencing. Now wonder there is do much depression in this country!</p><p>Now don't get me wrong, there were many good things about this past month too, like my son's optimistic diagnosis, craft night with the girls, Christmas decorations and music, my kids with their very own tree and hanging their "special" ornaments, my son's Christmas pageant, and of course the yumminess of Christmas cookies. And you know what I realized today, it is what we (I) make it! If I want to wallow, well my holiday will be less than memorable. But if I make the decision to rejoice in everything I have and relish the joy on my children's faces when Rudolph plays for the 300th time on the radio, then my children will see how we can come through tough times with smiling faces. </p><p>So, I don't know about you, but I am ready to say Goodbye 2008! Hello 2009; may you be a better year for EVERYONE!</p><p>Merry Christmas! I wish you all a fabulous holiday, and most of all good health in 2009!</p><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-71740023815270640932008-11-25T17:21:00.035-05:002008-11-25T18:27:58.312-05:00Another Papertrey Blog Hop...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCF0RTzwCOg1rSymq5SEP2H3FlAO2izMRBqYrKLbvOpsW7SmFkpMLlySHpvWtNJ_Fvg3yrd4kEHiw3rI49jRVlGPU0dWnFhDV-gZF4dE_DAZa7-c3Br_BpyIoxmT-3CPJEcP5S75YS1uv/s1600-h/bloghoplogo.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272731359201111058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCF0RTzwCOg1rSymq5SEP2H3FlAO2izMRBqYrKLbvOpsW7SmFkpMLlySHpvWtNJ_Fvg3yrd4kEHiw3rI49jRVlGPU0dWnFhDV-gZF4dE_DAZa7-c3Br_BpyIoxmT-3CPJEcP5S75YS1uv/s320/bloghoplogo.gif" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are for another PTI Blog Hop. Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you enjoy!<br /><br />This month's theme is "Floral Frenzy." Flowers I love flowers!!! If you look back at many of the projects I have on my blog, there is a VERY good chance that there is a flower of some sort on it, in it, or the project is it! I am so excited to be able to play along this month! I have missed it, and so needed something to exercise my mind - not to mention get it off of other things (see previous post!).<br /><br />However, I am afraid that what I came up with wasn't anything too exciting. I just didn't sit down until this afternoon to do it, and by then there just wasn't enough time to execute all my ideas!<br /><br />So here they are... The first one is a flower made of ribbon. PTI's very own Berry Sorbet ribbon to be exact!<br /><br /><table width="150" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LNC35iEhOQokQxNyBksb-HJv764RMHdWjfsOhi6Mmdwlq8sPQS-DFibgCrTyMS4jpGv_RJTnoT7O3rRHA3TIVLxwjaIMH25lzKQecngMFU2Q9V5wa8o9SRzJUrPG9QWCp25ybleta55l/s1600-h/Blog+Hop+Nov08_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272730810448563698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LNC35iEhOQokQxNyBksb-HJv764RMHdWjfsOhi6Mmdwlq8sPQS-DFibgCrTyMS4jpGv_RJTnoT7O3rRHA3TIVLxwjaIMH25lzKQecngMFU2Q9V5wa8o9SRzJUrPG9QWCp25ybleta55l/s320/Blog+Hop+Nov08_1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VZKuHDi2CFA6z4JGIWjcvQmFKHkpG6kBd-kvUgUQe6d01WoG1mwFPDVOtx9TsEOz45W8TsIbPFc-ShO6fdCoANnNg1qofTkKJ1oeRxOF2FwitR9uyWEcZ0pb4nnaBeAzWf3u000TRUF6/s1600-h/Blog+Hop+Nov08_2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272730345553808242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VZKuHDi2CFA6z4JGIWjcvQmFKHkpG6kBd-kvUgUQe6d01WoG1mwFPDVOtx9TsEOz45W8TsIbPFc-ShO6fdCoANnNg1qofTkKJ1oeRxOF2FwitR9uyWEcZ0pb4nnaBeAzWf3u000TRUF6/s320/Blog+Hop+Nov08_2.jpg" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTwRZotfhUZ_2kcNpH3Y3Gh0EPBcR2jjHb85qr16TtNonuRxNJEV7jojw9eilnI8i8oLC0S3-ado9Lw5V4SCgi92mAJw88YF58VhHKlKdUsbnaVdk0QtlSVrMDdJbIt_7pyL8oRWW_gEQ/s1600-h/Blog+Hop+Nov08_3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272730018170631138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTwRZotfhUZ_2kcNpH3Y3Gh0EPBcR2jjHb85qr16TtNonuRxNJEV7jojw9eilnI8i8oLC0S3-ado9Lw5V4SCgi92mAJw88YF58VhHKlKdUsbnaVdk0QtlSVrMDdJbIt_7pyL8oRWW_gEQ/s320/Blog+Hop+Nov08_3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Just keep looping the end over until you get something you like. I pinched the edges before putting a stitch or two in each "petal." The I added a button from Basic Grey (compliments of <a href="http://preciousscraps.blogspot.com/">Beverly</a> :-)!) to finish off the center of the flower. Pretty easy and I don't think I used more than 10 inches of ribbon. Not bad!</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the second project, I used one of my favorite background stamps from SU! - Script. This is the one that has the Irish blessing on it. LOVE it! I stamped it in Versamagic Pearlescent Beige onto cream cardstock. I did not use PTI cream because it is too thick (a good thing!) to "bend," it creases more easily and I wanted it to be softer without cracking, so I used some cream from the Paper Company, much thinner, cheap paper for small projects like this. </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDXOEfZ-qFqJnJwQvbJ3Zq2FC-K-HHj14b-nOFuOfqTQ4se2Yl5WyoChDWw-FDgJRbn-bb5nF1eEIAp-HavLCDXg1Omo3Sm8iSYyxMbMjmx_RfKjcHtRYZBxcnCSK6UyTXGYGN3ap_AHv/s1600-h/blog+hop+nov08_4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272727944252840386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDXOEfZ-qFqJnJwQvbJ3Zq2FC-K-HHj14b-nOFuOfqTQ4se2Yl5WyoChDWw-FDgJRbn-bb5nF1eEIAp-HavLCDXg1Omo3Sm8iSYyxMbMjmx_RfKjcHtRYZBxcnCSK6UyTXGYGN3ap_AHv/s320/blog+hop+nov08_4.jpg" border="0" /></a> After stamping the paper, I let it dry and then ran it through my Cuttlebug with the four sized flowers from Flower #1 set. Then I inked them with PTI's Dark Chocolate and curled the edges with between my fingertips.<br /><br /><table width="150" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnMWHS9ROVjOLRvTnzkd-VOmjB4NrklrAIcomPG6VCNbkxVDfowPT3YzDo_eFkx3TMDnnJLDDSOj4X8mq7fyARtlLqD71EErhVeg-xFHVQ5RVjUIvIVG2Hw5eGyhUUn3-0SuqyygB9mbq/s1600-h/blog+hop+nov08_5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272728046048668050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnMWHS9ROVjOLRvTnzkd-VOmjB4NrklrAIcomPG6VCNbkxVDfowPT3YzDo_eFkx3TMDnnJLDDSOj4X8mq7fyARtlLqD71EErhVeg-xFHVQ5RVjUIvIVG2Hw5eGyhUUn3-0SuqyygB9mbq/s320/blog+hop+nov08_5.jpg" border="0" /></a></td><td><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80zUqeXqx_WlniXEGsAlQQ-95lo-TfB4M6aNMhpqyLagLTk_1GzvJH4X_PdBhGiSQsLBxR5EY75HBRwspWeimlDKBSbPga7lrIlw3nj1BvKxzM0Kzz4Y5tMtTbdeH7IZXjsqyCCsouX0S/s1600-h/blog+hop+nov08_6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272727736738943042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80zUqeXqx_WlniXEGsAlQQ-95lo-TfB4M6aNMhpqyLagLTk_1GzvJH4X_PdBhGiSQsLBxR5EY75HBRwspWeimlDKBSbPga7lrIlw3nj1BvKxzM0Kzz4Y5tMtTbdeH7IZXjsqyCCsouX0S/s320/blog+hop+nov08_6.jpg" border="0" /></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table>Finally, I put a little glue between each flower die for stability since I knew I would mess with the petals again, and I added a copper brad to finish it off.<br /><table width="150" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiShJcv7IEIJITH_Y7sQiNVqouV9Mj-RF71XLy5dDbghUfwY4wB5iHo07S1L9RfyTQ5x6IDpeKMEOUjEe30kIgWxlc7m33rrvW8yyDO_vT7Xscy72gS0QKGp5SS9H6nJLPt4cwufAxrrm/s1600-h/blog+hop+nov08_7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272727619902497922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiShJcv7IEIJITH_Y7sQiNVqouV9Mj-RF71XLy5dDbghUfwY4wB5iHo07S1L9RfyTQ5x6IDpeKMEOUjEe30kIgWxlc7m33rrvW8yyDO_vT7Xscy72gS0QKGp5SS9H6nJLPt4cwufAxrrm/s320/blog+hop+nov08_7.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p></p></td><td><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX1debWXL3mG-uSyaR0JWIlfWYKFQOHMaphioN3lhcgHLo4mhYjvph9aDru99RHflG6Fl-DeiQsIVhl7cUqsyqQqoP4KSzniXzdKgL-2iM3KZ8MhNbayI9bwyMIJaktgeB5IHeOUcRx6i/s1600-h/blog+hop+nov08_8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272725560618916930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX1debWXL3mG-uSyaR0JWIlfWYKFQOHMaphioN3lhcgHLo4mhYjvph9aDru99RHflG6Fl-DeiQsIVhl7cUqsyqQqoP4KSzniXzdKgL-2iM3KZ8MhNbayI9bwyMIJaktgeB5IHeOUcRx6i/s320/blog+hop+nov08_8.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Wallah! Two different flowers in about an hour!<br /><br />I can not wait to see what everyone creates tonight! I am so excited about all the new flowers I will undoubtedly learn! Have fun at the blog hop ladies!<br /><br />Have a great evening! And as always, thanks for stopping by!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br />P.S. Sorry about the cutt off pics on the right side. If you click on the pics, you will get the actual picture. I am still learning about HTML. I will fix it later after I feed my kids :-)Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-29368714206072694212008-11-17T22:18:00.007-05:002008-11-22T07:50:30.085-05:00Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q42PLrkM8Ollas9nmxwh5yvkmxkYilitlbqj_SAlqB-wQMyBHoUrBzyX-h_w9mGkURt8rt8F1t1zXNrU3DFtA6pqx2xZ3cRXYYy7d4lyf3ewLcjpc0VxKY8xFnGxDfd2umFPzeFb1dvE/s1600-h/Sammy+2nd+bday+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269832120110417314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q42PLrkM8Ollas9nmxwh5yvkmxkYilitlbqj_SAlqB-wQMyBHoUrBzyX-h_w9mGkURt8rt8F1t1zXNrU3DFtA6pqx2xZ3cRXYYy7d4lyf3ewLcjpc0VxKY8xFnGxDfd2umFPzeFb1dvE/s320/Sammy+2nd+bday+08.jpg" border="0" /></a> Well, at least that's what I think it should say. What is a snip anyway??? Anyone know?<br /><br />This was a really fun and easy card that I did for my nephew who recently turned two. He is the other twin from Pennsylvania who celebrated his birthday the beginning of this month.<br /><br />I sketched this layout out a while back and never made anything with it. I thought it was an unusual sketch, and it required just the right image. This little guy is a .99 stamp from Imaginisce that I picked up at Michaels a few weeks back - I am so loving our new store here...ahhhhhhh...I get lost in there.<br /><br />It's all pretty self explanatory really. He is colored with Prismacolor Pencils and OMS and I added some Cinnamon Stickles to his eyes. I think he is downright cute!<br /><br />I have been working on some Christmas cards for someone else, which I am almost done - YIPPEE! I haven't really started my own yet, just a few here and there that I will share in my next post. I am still trying to decide on something easy, yet elegant; after all I have about 60 to make - I need easy!<br /><br />On another note, if you are a person who prays, please mention my son in your prayers. He has been having some fainting spells, which we originally attributed to Hypoglycemia when he had them about a year ago. However, his doctor has recommended that we see a Pediatric Cardiologist just to rule out anything more than that. Our appointment isn't until Dec. 1st, but a few prayers would be most appreciated.<br /><br />Enjoy your weekend, and as always thanks so much for stopping by!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-47706242541305989512008-11-14T14:49:00.022-05:002008-11-14T15:58:53.090-05:00Before They Grow Too Old...I love making my kid's costumes for Halloween. I hope to do it every year (well at least while they let me), because I know there will come a day when they will only wear store bought costumes, and then that dreadful day when there will be no more trick-or-treating.<br /><br />So I figured I better get the pictures posted from Halloween at least before Thanksgiving rolls around :-P<br /><br />Here are some photos of past years costumes...<br /><br />My son as a chicken in 2004; he was almost 1 here...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEn7aHQxGwhPYDAdv_HFJxmzJFKBD5sk20Zn27WyithO-FH-KUtfg7ZuhZ6WZcYhykTNTUzUDU_b6QiUlNHKqqgTeCGQDVwSGa92c3hxpq-5bbqAhdjwOwa4kkyRAG7IV6hvSaLbzeejD/s1600-h/halloween0006_r1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268604867915500578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEn7aHQxGwhPYDAdv_HFJxmzJFKBD5sk20Zn27WyithO-FH-KUtfg7ZuhZ6WZcYhykTNTUzUDU_b6QiUlNHKqqgTeCGQDVwSGa92c3hxpq-5bbqAhdjwOwa4kkyRAG7IV6hvSaLbzeejD/s320/halloween0006_r1.jpg" border="0" /></a> My daughter as a flower in 2005, at 2 months old...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRASmDErnpqVRWczDd1TjGcV341SV7j672XYqIFPPuI_7AZeismhAg88nKXvtOg9iRei2LzHFLtHaKuK_471qs9Lo0H4KIqye9IJqIjxiiDLP1xEHBrZ6PyuKNCNWqKIARKnwcqw-E_WKm/s1600-h/Halloween+2005_54.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268605656864135586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRASmDErnpqVRWczDd1TjGcV341SV7j672XYqIFPPuI_7AZeismhAg88nKXvtOg9iRei2LzHFLtHaKuK_471qs9Lo0H4KIqye9IJqIjxiiDLP1xEHBrZ6PyuKNCNWqKIARKnwcqw-E_WKm/s320/Halloween+2005_54.jpg" border="0" /></a> My son as a Deviled Egg in 2005, he was almost 3...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIARvBtqtkhGAfLIVwxEZv_doG3r5DQxtSDNbrwT-d5m17JKvpg2k6qnFd0V8LJvBcfY85V862Y5SyRKclS7dYG-viP2lpE3F4I599YuT2o1HT_4N1AvwZwiWzDWOnoRXOceHhPngCk_zP/s1600-h/Halloween+2005_51.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268605484156337698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIARvBtqtkhGAfLIVwxEZv_doG3r5DQxtSDNbrwT-d5m17JKvpg2k6qnFd0V8LJvBcfY85V862Y5SyRKclS7dYG-viP2lpE3F4I599YuT2o1HT_4N1AvwZwiWzDWOnoRXOceHhPngCk_zP/s320/Halloween+2005_51.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Both kids as Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat In The Hat in 2006... (I painted the pumpkin too :-)<br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F_J1JVdH-NyZCI34-TSw63pWtdB1CicQwA10mvwKSbHX9QBLkC_ZNrZMlU3X0skk4enCeDPC9-wXsKDgfWVFn9erD2YRJnXKDCVIFz0AhOrVM_k16Fx1FlSZorkM0oDu-5HF8HRO9Psn/s1600-h/IMG_0199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268606802360462690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F_J1JVdH-NyZCI34-TSw63pWtdB1CicQwA10mvwKSbHX9QBLkC_ZNrZMlU3X0skk4enCeDPC9-wXsKDgfWVFn9erD2YRJnXKDCVIFz0AhOrVM_k16Fx1FlSZorkM0oDu-5HF8HRO9Psn/s320/IMG_0199.JPG" border="0" /></a> My son wanted to be a pirate in 2007, so his sister had to follow suit (her choice, not mine!)...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoWZhny5Vp3zwAf3squJ_DAynIgPYdrjAwRfrmQJpy4hk-c5g7piefNSZ0veDJf8H4ULGd20Aan1kHUSMvi532UR_z1Z4kA0n2H2ndcQ4L5asiXHMy3Jijzthu6G4ucsVHWcRfva24Ky5/s1600-h/Elliott's100_3498rev_075+rev.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268609097527748690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoWZhny5Vp3zwAf3squJ_DAynIgPYdrjAwRfrmQJpy4hk-c5g7piefNSZ0veDJf8H4ULGd20Aan1kHUSMvi532UR_z1Z4kA0n2H2ndcQ4L5asiXHMy3Jijzthu6G4ucsVHWcRfva24Ky5/s320/Elliott's100_3498rev_075+rev.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here we have this years winners - WALL-E...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvKwHA9fUpsnxOajQJXtIBWVvNcZJX4WjEX_cxdq_-JlY9QLMgtyjglIUKrgikwVloOb8l6x3igUpkbkisfBce0kVAJ0WjsoKpwswbi2bl2XflAfjxh18mjtQUI9yd3EVt7f5b923YVMe/s1600-h/11+02_2775.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268611181488224258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvKwHA9fUpsnxOajQJXtIBWVvNcZJX4WjEX_cxdq_-JlY9QLMgtyjglIUKrgikwVloOb8l6x3igUpkbkisfBce0kVAJ0WjsoKpwswbi2bl2XflAfjxh18mjtQUI9yd3EVt7f5b923YVMe/s320/11+02_2775.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And Fancy Nancy (if you have a girl you know who Fancy Nancy is :-)...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFEILMjYPbmMxMMoi5_d3MX954zV_gk8nnRBfWhtdJhfu7_oJMK1MXT_cMURtFjHQflAdKGtji5tSMYels8I8xqq8nbIhDTTTzQSyyBKXZSkLB7v2Tz-PkeFRHNprnkE0R_raMfj9nsD_/s1600-h/10+31_2893.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268610719613403266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFEILMjYPbmMxMMoi5_d3MX954zV_gk8nnRBfWhtdJhfu7_oJMK1MXT_cMURtFjHQflAdKGtji5tSMYels8I8xqq8nbIhDTTTzQSyyBKXZSkLB7v2Tz-PkeFRHNprnkE0R_raMfj9nsD_/s320/10+31_2893.JPG" border="0" /></a>Up until three weeks before Halloween my daughter had her heart set on being Eve from WALL-E, however one trip to the library changed everything. She read Fancy Nancy and fell in love; here was no turning back! </div><div> <br /></div><div>My son and daughter won first and second prize at our community Fall Festival. One of the judges said that he had to win first prize because somebody (insert mommy here!) put a lot of work into his costume. My daughter won second because even though they didn't know who she was supposed to be, she was just "so darn cute!" Our kids can be real charmers! </div><div> <br /></div><div>I hope you enjoyed the pictures! <br /></div><div>Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!</div><div> </div><div><br /> </div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" style="border: none; background: transparent;"/></a>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-62907503306691838802008-11-11T12:34:00.000-05:002008-11-11T12:36:25.350-05:00Tagged and Yes, A Card!Hi There!<br /><br />I am so sorry that my posts have been so few and far between. My husband has been working long-long-long hours lately, and to be quite honest, many days/weeks I feel like a single mom - I really have a true appreciation for what they do, I can't even imgine throwing a full-time job on top of this! My husband is out of town this week, and of course we (the kids and I) are all sick. Bowling anyone? I'll offer you my head...<br /><br />Anyway, my dear friend <a href="http://preciousscraps.blogspot.com/">Beverly</a> tagged me (three weeks ago! - eeeeeeek!) so I thought I would play along since I don't usually share much about me! So here goes:<br /><br />The Rules:<br />1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.<br />2. Share seven facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.<br />3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.<br />4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.<br />Since it has been so long, I will just share my facts and not tag anyone at this point, as everyone has probably already been tagged :-)<br /><br />So here are my little facts:<br /><br />1. I have a bachelor's degree in English and a Masters in Counselor Education.<br /><br />2. I hate the telephone! I would so much rather email, write a letter, or talk with someone in person than to ever pick up the phone. No I wasn't always this way, I could talk for hours with my friends and boyfriends in high school!<br /><br />3. I went to Catholic school all my life until college. Now I am not sure if I should be Catholic anymore??? Hmmm...<br /><br />4. I used to work for TV Guide magazine, however, I only made about $21K a year, so that job only lasted a year!<br /><br />5. I do not like to swim in water that is also home to fish - it FREAKS me out! It's pool water only for me!<br /><br />6. I love the outdoors, which if you really knew me would come as a shock to most because many people think I am too girly to like camping in a tent! My husband was amazed the first time we went and made sure to tell everyone how I did.<br /><br />7. When I first met my husband he was casually dating another girl. He told me he believed in the "three date rule." If by the third date there were no feelings then he at least gave it adequate time to determine it wasn't meant to be. A few months later we had our first date (didn't go too well - he is a loud laugher, I am more reserved), then our second (also not great...met the friends and they were pretty over the top strange). Why this is important... If he never told me about his three date rule there never would have been one! It was on our third date that I saw him in a different light, and here we are ten years later!<br /><br />Well, there you go, "fun" facts about me... Now for a card...<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31WjMsuFrQvzShcz0nwlGqi9zvZeVS5OFb3kanW87AypBlfkUK8JqM530jWaNI-7AFrrT1c-O7ufNSa3-WRgGupBuTu72Z93P1YFFlcJ7THIihfJG6vqh0WQihRWQ95hLSxs3PeboKpEm/s1600-h/Emily+2nd+bday08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267448463047766770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 277px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31WjMsuFrQvzShcz0nwlGqi9zvZeVS5OFb3kanW87AypBlfkUK8JqM530jWaNI-7AFrrT1c-O7ufNSa3-WRgGupBuTu72Z93P1YFFlcJ7THIihfJG6vqh0WQihRWQ95hLSxs3PeboKpEm/s320/Emily+2nd+bday08.jpg" border="0" /></a> I made this one for my Goddaughter/neice for her 2nd birthday. I thought a "little" glitter might be in order :-) The <em>only</em> down side to glitter is it literally gets on everything, but boy is it pretty. I'm sure she enjoyed the sparkle though. Sadly, we did not get to the party (they live in Pennsylvania), which I just visited a few weeks ago for my Godson's 5th birthday. That 5+ hour trip is not fun with my "hates to travel" 3-yr old! But we do miss our family terribly and wish we could be there for every event.<br /><br />On the up side, I really liked how this turned out. I used a lot of things that are so not usually my style: glitter, a gold paint pen, rub-ons, and lace. But it was a lot of fun to make something out of the ordinary! I also got to use my new curvy rectangle nestabilities - LOVE THEM!<br /><br />Let's see, what's not obvious about this, well I made the flower base and inside flower with a corner rounder. I colored the curvy rectangle directly with a dew drop. Lastly, I outlined the white flower with a gold pen. Everything else should be pretty self-explanatory I think.<br /><br />I now have to feed my sick kids lunch. I hope you enjoyed visiting and I so appreciate anyone who is still visiting my forgotten blog.<br /><br />Have a fabulous day!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><span style="color:#990000;">What I Used:</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>Paper: </strong>White and Plum Pudding PTI, lavender is Paper Company, Vellum<br /><strong>Ink:</strong> White Craft SU!, Versamagic Dew Drop Spring Pansy<br /><strong>Stamps:</strong> Polka Dot Basics PTI<br /><strong>Accessories:</strong> Corner Rounder Punch (with guard off), lace, American Crafts rub-ons, Gold paint pen, flowers all Prima, Gold Brads MM, Gem is from Michaels $ bin, Tiny Rhinestones $ Store, Mega Curved Rectangle nestabilities and Cuttlebug, Glitter Glue and Glitter Martha Stewart, Butterfly punch Martha Stewart</span></p>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588912499750911833.post-73989194575944569462008-10-09T08:49:00.009-04:002008-10-09T16:34:51.971-04:00Happy Birthday GG!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm54jUiEuJgFoP3Dft2eewq-BDSRhx0duSmLofoNcoYdtUpDAMxplnDRwlxMBaTWfPuUlTi4YHbC3uCZA-hkxQAtDHNbktLmC8UYwm9WYCI5Zko13wKoIRZcP8UBpqdeVTxR7PIrDOnmc/s1600-h/GG+bday+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255135647074483490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm54jUiEuJgFoP3Dft2eewq-BDSRhx0duSmLofoNcoYdtUpDAMxplnDRwlxMBaTWfPuUlTi4YHbC3uCZA-hkxQAtDHNbktLmC8UYwm9WYCI5Zko13wKoIRZcP8UBpqdeVTxR7PIrDOnmc/s320/GG+bday+08.jpg" border="0" /></a> Sorry for the dark picture (if you click on it it looks better), brown on brown is hard to photograph especially with a little cream in it. I really had fun making this card. It was actually quite easy to do, and I loved every minute of it. It was so fun to sit among my crafty stuff if even for just an hour. Now I have some serious organizing to do in there, and well, to be quite honest, I am avoiding it :-P<br /><br />Until I find the time to clean, this is all I have. I made this card for my grandmother (my kids call her GG for Great Grandmom) for her 84th birthday. She lives in Philadelphia so we don't see her much, but miss her terribly. She is a pretty old-fashioned woman, never drove, never remarried after my grandfather passed when he was very young. She thinks that we each get one great love and the rest is just to pass the time until we find him :-) She had her great love, no need to look for more she says. About as high-tech as she gets is her remote for her TV, so she will not likely ever see this. Nevertheless, we love you GG! <br /><br />I traced the bird onto the brown CS from some chipboard I have had forever; the chipboard seemed too heavy for this card. I added a little MS glitter around the bird to dress it up a bit, and fashioned it with a flower brad with a little more glitter in the center. The vine is actually a swirly photo corner from Boss Kut. I am loving the new MAMBI paper stack I got at Michaels a few weeks ago, so my colors!<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;">**ASIDE**</span>Speaking of Michaels, I don't know what yours is doing, but my Michaels (yes, it's all mine!) is doing a complete overhaul. Their papercrafts department and stamps have at least quadrupled. I love it! They are now carrying more 12x12 papers by some big names, including Bazzill, Basic Grey and American Crafts. I hadn't been in there for two weeks (a record for me!), so I was super excited when I walked in there last week!<br /><br />We are off for some family fun this weekend of apple picking, folk music, and lots of great food at the apple festival at Graves Mountain. At least we'll get one day of fun before my husband heads back to work Sunday to start off another six-day week. Sometimes I wish we lived in Europe or somewhere where people actually get to enjoy time off and they can take a holiday without being tied to their Blackberry or computer...ahhhhhhhh... one can dream right?<br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#339999;">Since I haven't done a kid's funny story in a while, I wanted to make note of something my son taught me the other day. Do you watch Sesame Street? If not their is a little stint that Bert and Ernie do where they rub their tummies and pat their heads at the same time. Now, I have NEVER been able to do this, I have tried many times (I remember trying this as a kid too!) without success. So, we are eating lunch the other day and my son is doing it without even thinking about it, and I am struggling. I say "I give up!" It's just not something I am meant to do. My son says "You can never just give up mom, you can do anything you put your mind to!" (mom's words now coming back to haunt her :-) So, he teaches me that first you must rub your belly and then add the tapping of your head because if you try them both at the same time you won't be able to do it. Within seconds, WE were patting our heads and rubbing our bellies like nobody's business. Isn't it amazing what your kids can teach you?!</span><br /><span style="color:#339999;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Take a lesson from your kids today, sometimes it is just about the fun, not about the task!</span><br /><br />Have a super weekend!<br />*Hugs*<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/101/960ED8C675ED90E333D9D6EA058DEAAF.png" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><span style="color:#990000;">What I Used:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">Stamps: PTI Anniversary set Simple Little Things</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss and Vintage Cream, PP is MAMBI</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">Ink: PTI Spring Moss</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">Accessories: MS Glitter in Brownstone, Flower brad MM sanded and painted with MM paint in Fir Tree, Cuttlebug, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Boss Cut Corner Scrollie Leaves, Ribbon is Martha Stewart</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span>Kacey Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05777340379110744613noreply@blogger.com3