It's been a week?

December 23, 2009

Wow...time just seems to fly when you are super busy!!  Sorry I haven't posted in forever....but like I said, life has been busy!!  I have multiple items to share with you today, which should last me until next week, right?  Because I most likely won't have time to post again until after the holidays, and we get back to our normal life (whatever that might be, right?). 

First up is my card for CPS 147 this week.  LOVE this sketch...love that it made me use this fabulous card cut from the Wild Cards cartridge for the Cricut. 

"Winter Wonderland" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper/Diecuts: My Mind's Eye
Button: Doodlebug Designs
Acrylic: Tattered Angels
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design
Twine: Darice Inc.
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft
Diecut Cartridge: Wild Cards by Provo Craft

Card Instructions:  Cut the scalloped cardbase and the inside from blue cardstock and striped paper at 5 3/4" using the Cricut Expression and Wild Cards cartridge.  Layer them together.  Cut a 5" circle from patterned paper and adhere to the front.  Add a strip of paper and ribbon to the front.  Layer a bow, button and twine on top of a acrylic snowflake accent and adhere to the front.  Add the sentiment diecut to the front, and accent with adhesive pearls.

Up next is a love themed card that I did for the last TCP Tuesday challenge.  You can check it out here...there is a great sketch to play along with!  And I have had these cute TCP stamps for awhile now, and decided it was time to break them out again! 

"I Ruff You" supplies: 
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: American Crafts
Paper Frill: Doodlebug Designs
Jewels: Zva Creative & Kaiser Craft
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Sherry Satin Dot)
Stamps: The Cat's Pajamas (Puppy Love Set)
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment: Brown, Magenta and Chalk: Chestnut Roan)
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Border Punch: Fiskars (Apron Lace)
Circle Cutter: Creative Memories

Card Instructions: Round the corners and ink the edges of a block of heart paper using chestnut roan chalk ink.  Adhere to the middle of the card.  Round the right hand corners and ink the edges of a strip of love patterned paper.  Add red paper frill to the left side, and adhere to the card.  Punch an apron lace edge to striped paper and adhere to a strip of dotted paper.  Ink the edges and adhere to the front.  Cut a circle from cream cardstock and stamp the dog and sentiment to it using pigment ink.  Adhere to the front of the card, and accent with a square of heart paper.  Add ribbon and jewel flourishes to the bottom of the sentiment, and accent the circle with a brown jewel frame. 

I made these next few items for a gift exchange that I went to.  My great aunt Judy had a tea party at her house, and I was able to attend.  My grandma was also there, as was my aunt Shelly....and my aunt ended up with my gift!  That was pretty cool!  Anyways...I made a card set and ornament set for it, and here they are.

Ornament supplies:
Ribbon: Michael's & Renaissance By Design
Chipboard: My Mind's Eye
Jewels: Me & My Big Ideas, Doodlebug Designs
Ornaments: craft supply

And I also included this card set:


Card Set Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: Making Memories
Paper Frill: Doodlebug Designs
Stamps: Renaissance By Design (Season's Best)
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment: cranberry & evergreen)
Jewels/Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Ribbon: Renaissance By Designs (Hunter Green 1/4" Grosgrain)
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Border Punch: Fiskars (Apron Lace)
Embossing Machine: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Embossing Border: With Love set by Provo Craft

So, I spent last Thursday to Sunday at my parents' house in Sheridan.  The main purpose was for this:

The sports banquet was on Thursday night, and Case pretty much cleaned up on awards.  He got the two big awards that stay in the school with his named engraved on them forever, and those are Player Of The Year, and the Justin Ebel Leading Tackler award.  He received 4 team awards which go home with him, and those were: Back Of The Year, Panther Football Award, Defensive MVP, and Big Play Award.  He was also named 1st Team All-Conference for 4 positions: quarterback, Defensive Back, Punter, and kicker.  He is an All-State selection.  He will be playing in the Treasure State game this coming June, where the select seniors from Class C east/south play the west/north .  AND....he made Academic All-State!!!!!  I think we were all SO excited about that one.  In order to be nominated for it, you have to have a 3.5 gpa in the quarter you played most of your games in, and you have to be getting a Varsity letter.  Well....Case has gotten a varsity letter in every sport since he was a freshman....and I think this is the first time he has ever received this award.  Needless to say...we are SO proud of this kid and all his achievements in football.  I can't wait to see what unfolds for him in these coming months....many coaches from the smaller colleges have come to his school to sit down with him and let him know what they can offer him scholarship wise.  So, that is pretty amazing!

And last but not least...here are the two groups from his team.  First photo is All-State selections, and the second photo is All-Conference selections.  Pretty proud of these boys!


  And the sweetest thing in the world....they gave me and Josh a card and gift certificate for dinner at Outback Steakhouse...all because I photographed and gave them football photos.  I love these boys, and would have done it anyways....so getting the card and seeing all their signatures on it brought some tears to my eyes.  I'll treasure that card forever...

Well, I better get going for now.  I have some wrapping and baking to finish, and some baskets to put together.  I hope that you and yours have a wonderful Christmas day....full of love, family, friends, and fun.  ♥

Until later,
~Lea 


A little bit of Heaven in your cup.....

December 15, 2009

I'll get to my title later on.  First I have some cards to share with you!!  I have been starting most of my post's with Chrismas cards these days...so today I am going with a non-Christmas card!  No worries...there are two that are Christmas themed.  And considering it is rainbow themed.....so love it!!  It is based on this week's sketch at Get Sketchy, GS#18.  Such a fun sketch to play with...be sure to check it out!!

"Sky's The Limit" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics (white) & Doodlebug Designs (glittered)
Paper: Doodlebug Designs & Sassafras
Paper Frill/Jewels: Doodlebug Designs
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (White Wide Grosgrain)
Stamps: Hero Arts (Sky's The Limit set)
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment-Black) & Tsukineko (StazOn-Jet Black)
Border Punch: Fiskars (Apron Lace)
Corner Rounder: EK Success

Card Instructions: Cover the front of a white cardbase with red dotted paper and round the bottom corners.  Round the bottom corners of a block of white cardstock and adhere to the middle.  Punch an apron lace border to a strip of yellow dotted paper and adhere to the front.  Cut three rings from glittered cardstock and arrange in the shape of a rainbow to the front.  Adhere a strip of white grosgrain ribbon to the top of the yellow paper and top with a thin strip of red dotted paper.  Stamp the cloud on white glittered cardstock and cut out.  Adhere with foam adhesive to the right side of the rainbow.  Add a bow to the right hand side of the cloud.  Stamp the sentiment below the ribbon using black pigment ink.  Add green paper frill and a thin strip of yellow dotted paper to the top of the card.  Accent the middle of the rainbow with jewels.  

Up next is my card based on Laura's Sketch 41 at the 2 Sketches 4 U blog.  I LOVE this sketch....I had an idea right away for it.  This is what I came up with!

"Christmas Wishes" supplies: 
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper/Rub-on: American Crafts
Stamps: Renaissance By Design (Season's Best)
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment: Cranberry & Evergreen)
Pearls/Jewels: Kaiser Craft
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Embossing Machine: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Embossing Border: Winter by Provo Craft

Card Instructions: Fold kraft cardstock in half to make your cardbase and round the right hand corners.  Add a thin strip of striped paper to the left side.  Using the Cuttlebug and Winter folder, emboss a border right next to the striped paper.  Add the rub-on sentiment to the lower right corner of the card.  Stamp the ornaments in cranberry and evergreen pigment ink above the sentiment.  Accent the card with jewels and pearls.

And last, but definitely not least, is my card for CPS 146 this week!  Fun sketch this week...be sure to come and play along if you have the chance!!

"Makin' His List" supplies:
Cardstock: The Paper Co. & DCVW
Paper/Diecuts: K & Company
Stickers: KI Memories
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Sherry Satin Dot)
Twine: Darice Inc.
Buttons: SEI & Basic Grey
Glitter: Making Memories
Ink: Clearsnap
Decorative Scissors: Provo Craft
Trim/pins: craft supply

Card Instructions:  Cover the front of a white cardbase with pink and striped patterned papers.  Add a block of pink cardstock and a scallop strip to the left hand side.  Add the pink circle trim to the top and bottom of the card.  Cover the top of the house with glitter, and adhere the tag to the front using ribbon and top with a bow.  Accent the bow with buttons, twine, and pins.  Add the stickers to the middle of the tag, and accent the left side with diecut peppermints and jewels.

Alright....so do you want to have a little bit of Heaven in your cup?  Well then, I suggest you find this and get some:

Oh my gosh....it is SO good.  I am almost out of it, so I am going to have to find it as well.  Josh's parents sent us this last Christmas, and I never made any until this year.  So, here is the trick.  Get the cocoa all stirred together when the water is piping hot.  But then let it sit for a few minutes.  This makes the candy cane pieces melt completely.  Then stir it again, and enjoy.  It is so yummy...and letting the candy cane chunks melt make it even more pepperminty!! ♥ it!!

So, I am going to leave you with this video today.  It is SO hilarious!  Love that Taylor Lautner can make fun of the Twilight Saga, and still enjoy being part of it.

Freaking funny, huh?  Well, I better get going for now!  I hope that you have a fantastic Tuesday!!  ♥

Until later,
~Lea

PS: I know you are probably sick of me talking about my new turquoise washer and dryer!  But I have one more thing to say about it.  I put the washer to the test this week...and washed my two white coats: a North Face fleece and down jacket.  I think they are now whiter than when I purchased them.  Love this set!  I totally recommend Electrolux if you are in need of a new set!!  Okay- bye now!

I gotta feeling....

December 14, 2009

....that tonight's gonna be a good night!!!  Anyways, more about that later.  Let me just say that I have a silly little tutorial at the end of this that has nothing to do with crafting, but it is fun!!  Be sure and check it out!

But first, some card business!  :)  I have two cards to share with you today!  They are both based on the past couple of sketches at the Clean & Simple Stamping blog.  First up is my card for last week's sketch FTL71.
"Merry Christmas" supplies: 
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: American Crafts
Paper Frill/Button: Doodlebug Designs
Stamps: Renaissance By Design (Season's Best)
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment: silver & cranberry)
Ribbon: Renaissance By Designs (Sherry Satin Dot)
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Corner Rounder: EK Success

Card Instructions: Fold silver dotted paper in half to make your card and round the bottom corners.  Round the bottom corners of a block of white cardstock and adhere to the front.  Adhere green paper frill to the bottom of a strip of striped paper, and adhere to the top of the card.  Stamp the swirl and sentiment in silver pigment ink, and the ornament in scarlet pigment ink directly to the front of the card.  Add the ribbon to the top of the card, and accent with a bow, button, and twine.  Accent the stamping with green adhesive pearls to finish it. 

And this next card uses this week's sketch at the Clean & Simple blog, FTL72.  And I told you I would be using this stamp set again by RBD very soon!  It is such a fabulous set....so many option in one little stamp set!  Totally digging it! 
 "Merry Christmas" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: American Crafts
Stamps: Renaissance By Design (Season's Best)
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment: Raw Silk & Moss Green)
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Sherry Satin Dot)
Pins: Making Memories
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Border Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts
Embossing Machine: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots by Provo Craft

Card Instructions: Emboss a 5x7 white card front using the Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots folder.  Round the corners of a block of white cardstock and adhere to the front.  Punch a border to two of the three strips of patterned paper.  Layer all three strips to the front, with the borders being on the top and bottom strips.  Stamp the sentiment to the bottom of the white cardstock using Raw Silk pigment ink.  Stamp the tree on a separate piece of white cardstock using Raw Silk & Green Moss pigment ink, and cut out.  Adhere the tree to the front using foam adhesive and accent with adhesive pearls.  Add the ribbon to the front of the card, and accent with a bow and star pins. 

Now onto life stuff. ♥  We had an AMAZING time at the Griz game on Saturday.  It was cold, windy at times, started snowing tiny little ice razors....but it was freaking awesome!!  Can I just say something that I was so thankful for??  That I didn't bring a camera.  I know...that sounds awful coming from a photographer, but there were too many elements for me to deal with.  A camera would have made me miserable.  And without it, I got to be a crazy fan that just had a good time!  Sometimes that is how I need to approach life...not always looking at it from behind the camera.  Anyways...it is too hard to describe the atmosphere at the stadium, so I have a little tutorial for you. ;)  First off, start this song up:
During the first part....just jam a little.  Sing along if you know the words, have some fun, but keep it a little low key.  Remember....its a longer song, and you need to keep your energy.

Okay- are you getting ready to ramp it up a little?  First you need to remember that you have about 1.5 square feet to your name in the stadium.  The people around you probably wouldn't take to kindly to you totally invading there space, so just remember that.  A little invading is okay...we all do it.

Okay- are you ready?  When the song kicks it in gear and changes to a higher tempo, and they start saying "Tonight's the night....let's live it up....."  GO CRAZY!!  Jump up and down, party like its 1999, sing at the top of your lungs, raise the roof, do whatever comes to mind....but remember, once again, that you have about 1.5 sq. ft.  And don't CARE about the fact that you could be on ESPN doing this madness...college football fans totally understand!  Now....imagine that about 24,000 people all around you are doing the same exact thing that you are doing.  Now times that by about 30 because unless you were there, there is no way you can fully imagine right now how it felt.  It was honestly....awesome.  Loud, fun, cold, LOUD, and the Griz won. Can't get any better than that.  They are headed to Chatty this week to play in the National Championship against Villanova.  One day I am going to make it to that game.  You can bet if Casey makes the team and we head to the championship while he is a player....I WILL NOT miss it.  I'll walk if I have to.  Tee hee! :)    

If you want to REALLY feel the experience....go dress up in about 5 layers and have someone dump a little bit of snow on you while doing it.  Is that taking it too far? :)  I jacked this photo from someone's Facebook page....and circled myself.  Looks pretty cold, huh?
Well, I really hope that you enjoyed my fun, and pretty silly post today.  I really do urge you to do it....if anything it is at least FUN!!  But, I dance around my house all the time, singing at the top of my lungs and jumping around.  So, maybe it is just a Lea thing.  Have a great Monday all! ♥

Until later,
~Lea

Red & Green.....who knew.

December 12, 2009

I will admit...I haven't ever been a big red & green fan for Christmas colors.  I know they are traditional and all that...but I have always preferred non-traditional colors that are more winter oriented than Christmasy.  Well, I have a couple of Christmas cards to share today that are of the more traditional variety....and I actually like them.  Like I said...who knew. ;)

They are having a fun challenge over at Our Creative Corner to make holiday themed cards.  So, these are part of that challenge.  My first card is based on Kazan's Sketch 41 at 2 Sketches 4 U this week.  Oh how I LOVED turning this cute little sketch into my own!!  It is a really great one for Christmas cards, so be sure to check it out.  I also used one of the latest stamp releases from Renaissance by Design.  I LOVE this set...there will be more to come with this set very soon.  Here is what I came up with:
"Wishing You Season's Best" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: Making Memories, Scenic Route & American Crafts
Paper Frill: Doodlebug Designs
Flowers/Leaves: Prima
Jewels: Zva Creative
Brad: Creative Imaginations
Stamps: Renaissance By Designs (Season's Best)
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment: Cranberry & Sepia Black) & Ranger Industries (Distress: Antique Linen)
Corner Rounder: EK Success

Card Instructions: Round the bottom corners of a red card base.  Round the bottom corners of a holidays paper block and ink the edges with distress ink.  Adhere to the front of the card.  Distress ink the edges of a strip of glitter dot paper, and add a strip of green paper frill to the bottom.  Adhere to the front of the card.  Round the bottom corners and distress ink the edges of a block of graph patterened paper, and adhere to the front.  Accent the corner of the paper with leaves, flowers and jewels.  Add a green glitter brad to the center of the flowers.  Stamp the sentiment inside the block using cranberry & sepia black pigment ink.  Distress ink a thin strip of striped paper and adhere to the top of the small paper block, and accent with jewels.
I have had this card sketched out since last week, but ran out of time to get it done until now.  It is based on last week's sketch at 2 Sketches 4 U, Laura's Sketch 40.  Can I just say how much I LOVE this window cut from the Christmas Solutions cartridge?  I see myself using it again in the near future....love it!  Here is my card:
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics & Doodlebug Designs
Paper: Making Memories & American Crafts
Rub-on: American Crafts
Felt Sticker: Making Memories
Jewel: Westrim Crafts
Button: Doodlebug Designs
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Kiwi Satin Dot)
Twine: Darice Inc.
Border Punch: Fiskars (Apron Lace)
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft
Diecut Cartridge: Christmas by Provo Craft

Card Instructions:  Round the corners of a block of snowflake flocked paper and distress ink the edges.  Adhere to the middle of the card.  Distress in the edges of a strip of holiday patterned paper.  Punch an apron lace border to striped paper and cut into a thin strip.  Distress ink the entire border strip and adhere to the bottom of the holiday paper.  Adhere to the front of the card.  Accent the bottom of the holiday paper with ribbon, and a bow.  Tie a button around the bow with twine.  Cut the window diecut and its layers at 3 1/4" using the Cricut Expression and Christmas cartridge.  Adhere it to the front of the card.  Accent the window with a felt sticker and green jewel.

So, do I think I will change all my Christmas decorations to red and green in my home?  Well....no.  But, I don't have quite the aversion to it that I once did.  It is actually very pretty on projects, especially Christmas cards!  Now I know....:)

Well, we are headed to the Griz game pretty soon.  So, I better go and get layered up, since it takes a little bit to get dressed for these things.  The temp isn't going to get over 20 degrees....so we need to make sure we stay warm!  Here is hoping the Griz pull out another victory...then we will be on the way to the national championship!!  GO GRIZ! ♥

Until later,
~Lea

Warm Wishes from the Tundra.....

December 11, 2009

It is COLD here!  Like negatives and single digits cold!  Brrrr....not a fan.  But, tomorrow and Saturday are supposed to warm up into the 20's and low 30's....so it is practically going to be balmy! :)  Good thing...we are headed to the Griz game on Saturday.

I have a few cards to share with you tonight!  I saw that American Crafts was doing a holiday card challenge on their blog, and all you had to do was use two of their products.  Perfect time to break out some of the Merrymint line that I have and make some cards!!

First up is this one, which is also based on the bonus sketch at 2 Sketches 4 U this week.  I have plans to use the main sketch too...this one just happened first this week!

"Stay Warm" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper/Rub-ons: American Crafts
Paper Frill: Doodlebug Designs
Jewels: Doodlebug Designs (red) & Westrim Crafts (green)
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Glitter: Ranger Stickles
Embosser: Scor-Pal

Card Instructions: Fold dotted paper in half to make your card base.  Add rub-ons to the lower right corner of a block of white cardstock, and emboss a border around the edges using a Scor-Pal.  Adhere the block to the front of the card.  Add red paper frill to the bottom of a strip of house paper and adhere to the front.  Accent the snow on the house paper with glitter Stickles.  Accent the card with jewels and pearls.

The next card is also winter themed, and based on ICS #46.  Fun little sketch...go check it out if you haven't seen it!

"Warm Wishes" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper/Rub-ons: American Crafts
Jewels/Button: Doodlebug Designs
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Sherry Satin Dot)
Twine: Darice Inc.
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Embossing Machine: Cuttleubug By Provo Craft
Embossing Folder: Snow Dots by Provo Craft

Card Instructions: Round the corners and emboss a block of white cardstock using the Cuttlebug machine and Snow Dots folder.  Adhere the block to the middle of a turquoise card base.  Round the corners of a block of snowflake paper and adhere to the front.  Round the bottom corners of a strip of striped paper and adhere.  Round the top corners of a block of white cardstock and add the rub-ons.  Adhere to the front of the card and accent with jewels.  Wrap ribbon around the striped paper and accent with a bow, button, and twine.

And last but not least, is this cute Christmas card based on Get Sketchy 17

"Christmas Sweets" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzil Basics
Paper: American Crafts
Stickers: Making Memories
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Mineral Ice Satin Dot)
Twine: Darice Inc. 
Button: Doodlebug Designs
Pearl: Kaiser Crafts
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Circle Cutter: Creative Memories

Card Instructions: Round the corners of a block of candy paper and adhere to the front of a red card base.  Round the opposite corners of two blocks of dotted paper and adhere to the front.  Adhere a strip of ribbon across the middle.  Cut a circle from striped paper and adhere to the middle.  Hang a peppermint accent from the middle, and cover with a bow and button.  Add the sentiment around the circle using black letter stickers.

And look at what I found while surfing the net this week:

Eeeeeek!!  YAY!  I want to go see New Moon again while it is still in the theater...with a better seat this time.  I loved it though....very excited to see the next one too!

Well, I better get going for now.  Going to watch Casey play basketball tomorrow afternoon in Drummond, and then they are coming home with us for the night because it is a lot closer than going home.  Casey also has ACT's in the AM here in Missoula, and then another game in Drummond.  We are going to miss that one because we are going to the Griz game!!  Pretty excited about that...saw online today that they were putting up lights for the game.  It starts at 2pm, but the sun sets here around 4:30pm.  So, they had to bring in the lights.  Hope the Griz play like they did last week...they were on fire!

Oh.....my turquoise laundry pair was delivered and installed yesterday!  I LOVE them!!  I did laundry in record time yesterday, and they get everything SO clean!  Love....love....love them! ♥

Until later,
~Lea

Wonderful & Bright!

December 8, 2009

Happy Tuesday everyone!!  Hope that your weekend was fabulous!  I had a nice and busy one, full of football, decorating, and fun!

I have one little card to share with you today, and that is my card for CPS 145 this week.  Be sure to hop on over and check out all the cards...they are fabulous!  I am loving the big star on the sketch this week, and everyone's interpretations of it!  Here is my card-

"Wonderful & Bright" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: K & Company
Paper Frill: Doodlebug Designs
Diecuts: K & Company, My Mind's Eye
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Tropic Taffeta Edge)
Twine: Darice Inc. 
Chipboard: KI Memories
Glitter: Doodlebug Designs & DecoArt
Rub-on: Doodlebug Designs
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft

Card Instructions: Round the corners of a reindeer paper block and adhere to the front of a white card base.  Round the bottom corners of a strip of blue paper and add white paper frill to the top.  Adhere to the front.  Cut the star at 5" using the Cricut Expression and George & Basic Shapes cartridge.  Cover in glitter and adhere to the front of the card. Add the ribbon to the top of the star, and accent with a chipboard button.  Adhere the sentiment tags to the left side.  Cut the reindeer at 4.5" using the Cricut Expression and Winter Woodlands cartridge, and adhere to the front of the card.

We had such a fun Saturday at the Griz game!  It was definitely cold, but us Montanans know what were doing when it comes to layers!!  So, other than my face getting a little cold...I was good!  Here are some photos from the day!

Casey Crippen...future Grizzly.  :)


Me & my little brother....love this kid!


Cute little Griz tattoo with glitter....brings back memories of cheering! :)


Me with my Griz beads!  Best thing about getting these...the Griz just have to score some touchdowns and they come flying through the air for you!  No flashing anything for these beads...tee hee!


The best Griz fans in the whole world!  Well....according to me anyways! :)


And last but not least...just a little collage of random photos from the day.  I just took my tiny little D50 with a 50mm fixed lens so that it would be super portable...I wasn't attending as a professional photog, just a fan.  So- I wanted it to be easy!

I have some music to share with you today!  My little bro share this girl with me when they picked us up this weekend for the game....totally digging her.  I downloaded some of her songs from iTunes...she doesn't have many, but I love 4 of the 6 that are on there. Check them out if you like.  Here is my fave:


Well, I better get going for now!  I should have more to share later on this week! ♥

Until later,
~Lea

Baby, it's cold outside....

December 4, 2009

...it is FREEZING in Montana right now!  So cold...so cold.  I have been holed up most of the day in my house decorating, crafting, drinking hot tea....doing everything possible to avoid going outside.  I did have run a couple errands...but I did them as fast as I could and got right home.  And I am going to sit out in this for three hours on Saturday to watch a football game?!!  I think I might be a little crazy....

Anways, I have a few fruits of my labor to share with you tonight.  (This morning I guess...it is after midnight.) There is a little white on white Christmas challenge going on over at Daring Cardmakers...so I figured I needed to play along.  Considering I love a little white on white action myself...um wow.  That totally doesn't sound right...bare with me, apparently I am a little punchy tonight.  So, here is what I came up with:

"Happy Winter" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics (white), Doodlebug Designs (glittered), & Papertrey Ink (pink)
Jewels/Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Ribbon: Bo Bunny
Stamps: Sweet N Sassy
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment- Dusty Plum, Chalk-Ice Jade)
Border Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Diecut/Embossing Machine: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Embossing Folder: Snowflakes by Provo Craft
Diecut plate: Combo Treetops by Provo Craft

Card Instructions:  Punch a border around the front part of the white card base, and cover the inside with pink cardstock.  Round the corners of a block of white cardstock and emboss with the Cuttlebug and Snowflakes folder.  Adhere to the front.  Round the bottom corners of a non-textured block of cardstock and adhere it to the front.  Cut two skinny trees from glittered cardstock using the Cuttlebug and Treetops diecut plate.  Adhere them to the smaller block of cardstock.  Cut a thicker tree from glittered cardstock and adhere to the front with foam adhesive.  Accent the trees with jewels, pearls, and ribbons.  Stamp the sentiment right below the trees using Ice Jade chalk ink and Dusty Plum pigment ink.  

The other projects I worked on today were some handmade Christmas ornaments for my tree.  Lots of Renaissance by Design ribbon here, jewels, pearls, buttons....I had a lot of fun with my glue gun and tacky tape!!  Here they are:




I think they are going to look pretty fabulous on my tree...which I am going to go do once I am done with this post!!  My tree is already so full of ornaments...but 8 more can't hurt. :)  I think similar items are also going to become Christmas gifts for Josh's colleagues, etc.  Hmmmm.....

For my random thing of the night...I seem to be on a scent kick the past couple days.  So, I figured I would let you know what I am loving right now for myself:

And I don't love it because it has the word Twilight in it...that is just plain silly.  The fragrance actually smells WONDERFUL...and I like how it makes me feel.  I feel pretty when I wear it, because I can subtly smell it almost all day.  I have a thing about liking to smell good...it is probably part of my obsession with my house smelling nice as well....so I am always on the lookout for that next great scent.  And I found it for now!  Yay!

Well, I better get going for now.  It is late...and I think I am blathering on.  So, I hope your Thursday was great, and your Friday even better!♥

Until later,
~Lea

Aqua, and Pink, and Green....

December 2, 2009

...oh my!  **Sigh**  I love this color combo!  Come check out my Christmas tree if you don't believe me...tee hee!  This is the color combo for the Micro Challenge at Caardvarks, so I absolutely had to play along!  Here is my card:


"I *heart* U Mom" supplies: 
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: Basic Grey
Paper Frill: Doodlebug Designs
Rub-ons: American Crafts & Basic Grey
Jewels: Doodlebug Designs & Kaiser Crafts
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Tropic Satin Dot)
Ink: Clearsnap (Chalk- Azurite)
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft
Diecut Cartridge: Accent Essentials by Provo Craft (circles)

Card Instructions: Round the right hand corners of your white card base.  Round the right hand corners and ink the edges of a patterned paper block.  Adhere to the front of the card.  Cut six circles from cardstock at 3/4" using the Cricut Expression and Accent Essentials cartridge.  Adhere the circles to a strip of white cardstock.  Tie ribbon around the left side and accent with jewels.  Add pink paper frill to the top and adhere the entire strip to the front of the card.  Add your sentiment with rub-ons, and accent with small pink jewels.

I also started this card for the challenge, and realized that it didn't have any green in it.  So- it became my 10 minute card of the day to share with you.  Super quick and easy....and pretty cute! (Well, I think so anyways!)

"Some Bunny Loves You" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Sticker/Chipboard: We R Memory Keepers
Jewels: Doodlebug Designs
Pen: American Crafts
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Embossing Machine: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Embossing Folder: Love Language by Provo Craft

Card Instructions: Emboss a white card using the Cuttlebug and Love Language embossing folder, and then round the bottom corners.  Round the bottom corners of a block of non-textured white cardstock and adhere to the front.  Pen the line around the block of cardstock and accent the bottom with three jewels.  Adhere the chipboard bunny to the front, and then adhere the sentiment block with foam adhesive.

So, when we lived in a tiny little apartment forever ago in Salt Lake City...I found out that I don't like to burn candles.  Not even soy based ones.  NO- I didn't burn anything down.  But, upon moving out...I found that candles make your walls VERY dirty.  Thankfully...the rental company had plans to repaint, so we didn't have to pay for how dirty the walls were.  When we moved to our next little tiny apartment in Missoula...I lit candles underneath the kitchen venting.  That worked like a charm, and our apartment was tiny enough that it made the entire place smell good.  It also kept our walls nice and clean.  When we bought our home, I knew that this concept wasn't going to work any longer.  Not long after we moved in, we found these at B&BW, and have been using them ever since:

My favorite oil scents right now are the Spiced Cider, Frosted Cranberry, and Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin.  YUM!  And they make my entire house smell like that, while burning a tiny little tea light!  No dirty walls from a tea light!  During the rest of the year, I use scents like Pineapple Orchid, Apple, and Fresh Linen.  I love these things!  So, the reason I bring them up, is because I am wondering if anyone has tried this thing out yet:


It is called a Scentbug, and works with the same oils and a fan.  No candle at all!  So, if you have any experience with one...let me know! I would love to hear how they work.  Now...I am totally not a candle Nazi.  We do light candles occasionally...but I like my house to smell good all the time, so I use the oils a lot.  And so far....my walls are super clean!  I know...it is a weird obsession.  I can deal.  ♥

Well, I better get going for now.  I hope the rest of your Wednesday is a great one!

Until later,
~Lea

Turquoise....

December 1, 2009

...my latest favorite color!  Tee hee- more about that later.  First off, I have a few cards to share with you!!  First up is my card for CPS this week.  We are being sponsored by Clear & Simple Stamps this week, and I got this cute little set called ABC...123.  If that isn't the cutest name?!...  Anyways...here is what I came up with:

"A Teacher Cares" supplies: 
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics & Prism
Paper/Diecuts: October Afternoon
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Tropic Satin Dot)
Twine: Darice Inc.
Stamps: Clear & Simple Stamps (link above)
Jewels/Ink: Doodlebug Designs
Button: Basic Grey
Diecut Machine (apple): Cricut Expression by Provo Craft
Diecut Cartridge: Home Accents by Provo Craft
Corner Rounder: EK Success

Card Instructions:  Round the corners of a block of apple paper and adhere to the front of a green card base.  Round the corners of a smaller block of striped paper and adhere to the left side.  Cut the apple diecut at 4.5" using a Cricut Expression and the Home Accents cartridge from red & green cardstock.  Adhere the outline and stem to the middle of the card, and the apple insides to the left side.  Stamp the sentiment to a diecut tag and adhere to the front of the card with aqua dotted ribbon.  Add the ruler diecut to the left side, and then accent with a bow, button and twine.  Finish the card off by accenting with limeade colored jewels.

This next card is a fun one!  The latest challenge at "Everything But The Kitchen Sink" is to use toothpicks!  I decided I needed to take that challenge head-on, and this is what I came up with!  The card is also based on last week's ICS Sketch #44, which I am a little late on.  Oh well...better late than never!
 
"You Color My World" supplies: 
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper Frill/Jewels: Doodlebug Designs
Stickers: October Afternoon
Rub-ons: Creative Imaginations
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment- Scarlet, Orange, Canary, Lime, Aqua, Heliotrope)
Embossing Machine: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots by Provo Craft
Corner Rounder: EK Success

Card Instructions: Round the bottom corners and emboss the front of a white card base using a Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots embossing folder.  Round the bottom corners of a block of non-textured white cardstock and adhere to the middle of the card.  Coat the toothpicks with pigment ink of rainbow colors and then adhere to the middle of the white cardstock.  Cover the top with scalloped paper frill, and accent the tip of each toothpick with the same colored jewel.  Add the letter stickers, and finish the sentiment with rub-on letters.  Add three more jewels next to the bottom part of the sentiment.

And last but not least, is this little card in which I took the latest Bitten By The Bug challenge to use the phone cut from the "From My Kitchen" Cricut cartridge.  It is also based on the Mojo Monday 115 Sketch.
 

 "Call Me" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: My Mind's Eye
Ribbon: Michael's brand
Button: Doodlebug Designs
Jewels: Doodlebug Designs, Kaiser Craft, & Westrim Crafts
Stickers: Making Memories
Border Punch: Stampin Up
Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft
Ink: Clearsnap (Chalk- Rouge)

Card Instructions: Ink the edges of a cream colored card base with Rouge chalk ink.  Round the corners and ink the edges of a glittered flourish paper, and adhere to the front of the card.  Cut a 4.5" scalloped circle from black cardstock, and a 4" circle from dotted paper using the Cricut Expression and Accent Essentials cartridge.  Adhere them together, and affix to the card.  Add the strip of ribbon and bow, then accent with a button and black jewel.  Round the corners of a small block of striped paper and add the sentiment to it in black glittered letters.  Punch a scalloped edge to a strip of black cardstock and adhere directly below the sentiment.  Accent three of the scallops with pink jewels.  Cut the phone and it's layers at 2" using the Cricut Expression and From The Kitchen cartridge.  Adhere the layers together and accent with jewels.  Adhere the cut to the front of the card

So, last night our washing machine went kaput.  Well...it would probably still run for a little bit...but it smells like burning band-aids.  Which doesn't make our house smell to wonderful, and probably isn't very safe.  The set was on its last leg anyways and SO freaking loud, and we had been talking about getting new ones for a couple years now.  So- the yucky smell made it pretty easy to decide that we needed to buy a new laundry set.  But, it took us THREE hours to finally decide on these ones:
Now, I have a closet for these...not a nice pretty room that is all painted and everything.  These Electrolux's are the ones I wanted to begin with, but we kept going back and forth on their price.  And we almost went with a red pair of Maytag's, but upon hearing from the delivery driver's what a pain they were to install...we went with these ones.  So, I have turquoise colored washer and dryer...kind-of fun!  I like doing laundry anyways, so maybe this will make it even more enjoyable!  They will be delivered and installed on Wednesday.  Is it weird that I am excited to do a load of laundry in them?  Oh well....:)

Josh pulled up all the boxes of Christmas decorations today, and moved the furniture around for me.  I got the tree mostly decorated today, and will finish the decoration process this week.  I like being able to take time to get the decorating this year....every other year before this I have had to shove it into a weekend somewhere.  Kind-of nice being home more often.

Still listening to Christmas music.  One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Oh Holy Night", but I think "Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel" is quickly taking over that spot.  Or maybe they can just both be my favorites! ♥  What are your favorite Christmas songs?

Well, I better get going for now.  Have a wonderful rest of your night!

Until later,
~Lea 

Monday Cuteness....

November 30, 2009

...well, to me anyways!  I have a couple of cards to share with you today!  For the first one, I used FTL 70 from the Clean & Simple Stamping Blog.  I am so happy I found this cute little blog...the sketches are fabulous, as are the projects!  I didn't do a lot of stamping on this one- just the sentiment because I wanted to focus on this cupcake cut from one of my new Cricut cartridges!!  It is called "Sweet Treats", and it is awesome!!  I can't wait to use it more!

"Happy Birthday To You" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: Doodlebug Designs, Imaginisce, & KI Memories
Paper Frill/Brad/Jewels: Doodlebug Designs
Ribbon: Bo Bunny
Stamps: Renaissance By Design (Everything Birthday)
Ink: Doodlebug Designs (Pigment-Ladybug) & Clearsnap (Chalk- warm red, pink pastel)
Corner Rounder: EK Success
Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft
Diecut Cartridge: Sweet Treats by Provo Craft (cupcake)

Card Instructions: Round the right corners and ink the edges of a block of heart paper with warm red chalk ink.  Adhere to the front of a white card and round those right hand corners.  Ink the edges of a strip of striped paper and adhere to a white cardstock block.  Round the right hand corners of the block and adhere to the front.  Add pink paper frill and aqua dotted ribbon over top of the seam, and accent the top with a bow.  Cut the cupcake layers at 2.5" using the Cricut Expression and Sweet Treats cartridge.  Ink the edges of the frosting and heart cuts.  Layer the cuts together to the white block.  Accent the heart with a glittery brad and the bottom of the cupcake with three jewels.  Stamp the sentiment directly below the cupcake cut with Ladybug pigment ink. 

My next card is made completely from scraps and product that I have been sitting on for awhile!  I think it is always good to focus on using up the scraps in my scrap basket, so I am going to try and make one card per week using only that basket.  My card completes Crazy For Challenges Week 13 to use punches, and it is based, albeit loosely, on Sketch Saturday #79.

"Wishing You A Wonderful Day" supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: Heidi Grace & Sassafras
Jewels: Doodlebug Designs & Glitz Designs
Chipboard: KI Memories
Twine: Darice Inc.
Stamps: Close To My Heart
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment- Canary & Scarlet)
Border Punch: Fiskars (Apron Lace)
Corner Rounder: EK Success

Card Instructions: Punch two Apron Lace borders to yellow dotted paper and adhere to the top & bottom of a kraft card base.  Adhere a block of white cardstock to the front.  Round the corners of a block of green dotted paper and adhere to the left side.  Cut rainbows from patterned paper and adhere to the front.  Round the corners of a block of blue dotted paper and white cardstock, and adhere together.  Affix to the front of the card, and stamp the sentiment to it in Scarlet pigment ink.  Stamp the sun above the rainbow paper using Canary pigment ink and adhere a yellow jewel to the middle of it.  Accent with a chipboard cloud and rainbow colored jewels. 

My hubby and I watched this last night:

It was so funny, and has a really sweet ending.  It is a bit crude though, so just to warn you.  If you can get through the crudeness...it is a really great movie!

Still listening to my Christmas music...loving it!  If you haven't heard the song "Mistletoe" by Colbie Caillet...here it is on youtube.  Loving this song!

Hope you like it....love her voice! ♥

Until later,
~Lea

I will proudly admit.....

November 29, 2009

....that I am completely addicted to jewels, and have been for a long time!  Tee hee! :)  Lots of jewels used on this card, and I love it!  I did this for the Caardvarks "Color It!" challenge, and it is also based on The Sweetest Thing Sketch #46.  I decided to paper piece my stamps rather than color them in...I think these stamps look better that way.

"Holiday Cheer" Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: Bo Bunny
Jewels: Doodlebug Designs, Heidi Swapp, MAMBI, & Prima
Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms (Kim Hughes Collection- Heart Warmers)
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment- Brown & Dusty Plum, Chalk- Pink Pastel)
Ribbon: Michael's brand
Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft
Diecut Cartridge: Storybook by Provo Craft (circle, scalloped circle)
Embossing Machine: Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Embossing Folder: Snow Dots by Provo Craft 

Card Instructions: Round the corners and ink the edges of the pink snowflake paper block with pink pastel chalk ink.  Adhere the block to the middle of a white card base.  Dry emboss a block of white cardstock with the Cuttlebug machine and Snow Dots embossing folder.  Round the corners and adhere to the front.  Cut a 4" scalloped circle, and a 3.5" circle using a Cricut Expression and the Storybook cartridge.  Ink the edges of the scalloped circle, adhere to the front, and add a strip of ribbon to it.  Stamp the tree images to the circle with brown pigment ink.  Stamp the same image to two different patterns and cut the tree tops out.  Adhere them to the circle image.  Stamp the sentiment below the trees using Dusty Plum pigment ink.  Adhere the circle to the scalloped circle using foam adhesive to give it some dimension.  Add a bow to the right side of the circle, and accent the entire card with jewels.

As you can see...I am adding something new to my blog- the instructions to my cards.  Not that I think you can't figure it out for yourself, but it might help to know what size diecuts are, which ink I use, etc...  It is also for my benefit...in case I submit them!  So, even if you don't ever use it....I hopefully will! :)

I downloaded this album from iTunes this weekend:

And I have added all my Christmas albums into my iTunes catalog....and have been listening to them all day!  Christmas is my very favorite holiday.  I can't wait to decorate my house, get some baking done, spend time with family and friends....I just love it.  ♥

What are some of your favorite Christmas albums?  I am really enjoying the one above, and I really like the Wow Christmas compilation albums.  I would love some others to check out, so let me know!

My hubby just got home from work, so I am going to go spend some time with him!  I hope that everyone has a wonderful rest of this Sunday! ♥

Until later,
~Lea