Valentine Tag

Today snow has blanked Chicago and it is gorgeous.
All this white makes everything look so clean and fresh.
Spoken like a true unemployed gal.
If I had to drive out in this mess, that would be a whole different story.

I've been in a bit of a slump lately.

Got a serious case of the blahs and just not feeling like doing much lately at all.

I've been cooking and cleaning and caring for the family but other than that, I am just blah.

So, in an attempt to get back in my groove, I made a super huge list yesterday of challenges, pub calls and project ideas.

And I put a call out to my 301 friends on Facebook to see if people wanted to swap some stamped images with me and luckily, 4 friends agreed.

Sometimes new stuff is just the push ya need, kwim?

One of the first things that I saw in my blog surfing was my buddy, Louise's tag challenge.

This week was polka dots and stripes.

Her vintage valentine tag is so cute and I thought that attempting to make something Valentine like would really be a challenge since it is my least favorite holiday.

My stripes are a loose interpretation but I had them in my scrap stash so I must get points for that.




I love these colors together.

And that stamp is one of my favorites.

I know just the man who deserves this and about 100 more.

Anyone else making anything Valentine? And who do you make them for?

Card details: PP is Stampin'Up, Stamp is Pink Paislee, Ink is Versacolor embossed, Ribbon is May Arts, Button and Ribbon is Stampin'Up

Hello 2009!

(this is for my buddy Michele who begged me at the beginning of January to update my blog, I finally updated Michele! Can you believe it?)

It has been a crazy few months.
The holidays always throw me for a loop and this year it was even more insane with the store and the crazy snow we have been having, I am amazed I haven't checked myself into the funny farm yet.

Here's a quick recap of the last few months.
We had Thanksgiving with the family and of course there was lots of wine involved.


My sister and her fiance, K-Fred were there.
Did I mention before, she's engaged?
My nephew was showing off his new facial bling.
Nice...real nice.
And of course there was turkey.
And I tried to get a nice photo of me and the kid but I refuse to be shorter than him.
While I was trying to tippy toe my sister was jumping up behind us to try and get in the photo.
This cracks me up.
And now when I say I am the tall sister at 5'3", you will all believe me.
We had originally thought that we would have bought our house well before Thanksgiving and been able to host the major holidays in our new home but that just didn't work out as planned.
This made for an even grumpier holiday season.
I pouted about not having a tree.
I pouted about not getting to bake since all my cookware is in storage.
I pouted just to pout.
It was not a happy time in our house for sure.
And now looking back, I think it was probably for the best.
I didn't need all that hassle this year.
I didn't have the time for the tree or the baking or the decorating.
I did all my Christmas shopping 3 days before Christmas for christ's sake.

So I sat back this year and just went through the motions of the holidays.
We had Christmas at my dad's first, before Christmas.

And while opening presents, my father wouldn't turn off the golf game, so Tiger is in all my photos.

I got some really nice gifts.
And my parents weren't really thrilled that I still haven't opened my expensive cookware from last year.
But they bought me new kitchen goodies to go with them when I do eventually open that box.
My sister was there and I only see her a few times a year.
Nice to see that the kid ruins pictures he takes with everyone, not just me.
Christmas day was spent at my mom's house which is convenient because she lives so close.
Most of my siblings weren't there.
Only these 2 were.
The kid was being himself as usual.


And apparently I was in a totally pouty mood that day too because when I went searching for Christmas photos I only had about 5.

When my brother and his girlfriend came back from her family in Minnesota, we had Christmas for the third time and apparently by then I had had enough because I don't have a single photo!
I have to admit, not having pictures is kinda sad but not having to be the one taking them all the time is kinda nice.
It was good to just sit back and enjoy.
Even if there is no proof.

New Years was low key as usual.
We went to dinner to celebrate my psuedo-SIL's bday.
My little sister was there with her new beau.
Here's my brother and his 'stache.
Oh yeah, that's Katie and the kid too.
That 'stache kinda steals the photo and I forget there are other people in there too.
And this is officially the first photo of 2009 the kid had ruined.
Love my triple chins in this picture.
And am I singing??
WTF?
The kid turned 13 on January 1st too.
And I don't have a single picture of that either.
I think I just freaked out all day.
Pray for me people...pray that I survive these teen years.

My word of the year....TIME.
Make time for my friends.
Cherish time with my family.
Make time for me.
I need more of it and to learn to use it more wisely this year, for sure.

And for all you crafty people, I have made a zillion things in the last few months.
So feast your eyes on these...












(If anyone needs details about any cards, just shoot me an email or check out the CraftFancy gallery.)

I bought a paperwhites kit at Target after Christmas on clearance for $2 and last week they shot up like this...
This week they are gorgeous and smell great...

I am off work for 4 days and I am trying to distance myself and just enjoy being off.
Easier said than done.
I'm heading to the south side later.
I'll probably get lost like I always do.
I am meeting up with my friend Josie tonight to check out her new house.
Then it's off to see the stamping divas.

Tomorrow I am having a complete makeover and I am toying with the idea of an extreme change in hairstyle.
But I am a total chicken when it comes to hair, so we'll see how that goes.
And then out to dinner with my favorite friends and family tomorrow night at one of my favorite restaurants, Friendship.

Have a great weekend.
And enjoy it without your cameras or from the other side of the lens.

Spazzy Love

I don't decorate for all holidays.
I actually don't know many people who jazz up their places for every holiday.
But I do the big ones...Christmas...St. Patrick's day....
I try not to pass along my disdain for certain things on to the kid, so I play along with society.
I send treats to school for holidays I wish would disappear from my calendar.
And I hang a little something on the door for each occasion.

This little number has been in my collection for a few years and I've never really liked it.
I think I bought it because it was $2 at the Michaels.
Each year I put it up and shudder.
Ugh...glitter....Ugh...love....Ugh...cheesy

And then it came to me a couple days ago...
Hello Simone...alter it!

It's not like I don't own just a few supplies that could easily be used to alter this little sign.
I don't really know why I didn't think of it sooner.
So I whipped out my Creative Imagination rubon skulls and such and went to town.
Now, if you have one of these little signs from the craft stores, the paint on them is very slick, so when you are applying the rubons, it requires a lot of patience and care.
But they worked perfectly and now the little sign that used to give me hives just looking at it is the thing that makes me smile when I come home each day.
It's still Valentiney...but in my own special way.

Lesson learned: Just because you don't LOVE something, it can always be altered so that you do!

Somebody's hubby rocks!!

Last week, Cricket requested one of my little cards I posted for her hubby, apparently he rocks.
But I could have none of that.
I had to make a card all special just for this super rockstar man.
And I love it so much, I almost didn't send it.
Truth.
Every think that?
But it was totally made with rocker hubby in mind and so to Cricket it goes!
{should be there tomorrow!!}
The paper is a gift from Connie, DCWV Rockstar line.
The lady knows me.
I knew this little guy and this paper were a match made in heaven.
The stars are cut from some of the patterned paper and that stamp is from A muse.
He's colored with Copic Markers and the chipboard "u" is from Scenic Route.
I used the Sparkly pen on the words already printed on the paper and it worked like a charm!

Hope the rockstar likes it!

Feelin' Squirrely?

I am busy trying to make enough birthday cards to cover the next couple months so that I can stay on top of my Birthday Calendar!
And I am making a few cute lovey cards for that dreadful heart holiday next month to send out to a few friends.
Gave me a great excuse to ink up my new A muse stamps.
And use up some scraps...That's right all made from scraps!!

Love the simple design of these cards and the fact that I made them all in 30 minutes flat!
(not counting the coloring time)
All squirrels colored with the Copic markers.
I had to learn how to use them all over again since I haven't cracked them out in about a month!