Love Birds

This card was one I made for a CHF swap I'm in along with my sweet friend Lori and a few others on the CHF forums. It had been SO long since I had participated in a swap, I felt like I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I don't know that I was happy with the result, but ran out of time to make any changes.
I started with a quilted looking piece of flocked paper by Heidi Grace Designs. All of the birds, hearts and corner punches were unique as all of the squares on my 12x12 DP were different. I love this paper and am tickled pink that I still have about 1/3 of the sheet left.

Card Recipe:
Stamps~ CHF "Pretty Birds", SU Paisley, CTMH "All My Love"
Ink~ Choc Chip, So Saffron
Paper~ Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Banana, So Saffron, Choc Chip, textured Soft Sky
Accessories~ Cricut LOVE heart (THANK YOU, PEGGY!), Paper Piercer, Distresser, heart punch, Photo Corner Punch

Inside reads "Happy Anniversary, Love Birds"
Hope you are all having a great day. I am off to make 70 wedding invitations.
Blessings~
Angel

Fact #7

Seven is my favorite number. I was born on the 7th, so that is the main reason I've chosen the "lucky" number 7 as my favorite.
My hubby has played softball for years and years and I love the fact that when he has a choice, he'll choose the #7 softball jersey every time!

Fact #6

My hubby calls me "Butterfly" and has ever since I got my butterfly tattoo several years ago. My BFF Peggy and I went and got our tattoos together for her birthday. I think it was 1994? Hers is a heart and yellow rose in memory of her mom and mine is a very unusual butterfly with a face that is not noticed at first. Really.

Hawaiian Sign

I recently began a new Bible study entitled "Stepping Up". It's a new study by Beth Moore and is based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). Our large Thursday morning group is broken down into smaller groups and each group has been assigned a destination as we are on a journey. Our group is "Hawaii". I was asked to make a sign for our group and I have been working on it for the last few days.
Here is what I have come up with:

I have a question for you though. I'm trying to decide if I need more flowers on my sign's border. Is it "More is More" or "Less is More"? Don't answer that, Jami. Hehehe
I've got lots more flowers already die cut and ready to go.
I am going to add a survey in the right sidebar so if you have a quick second, please vote and tell me what you think!
Thanks so much~
Angel

Recipe: Poster size is 14" x 22"
Stamps~ Ferns and Tropical Blossoms; Fresh Fillers, Petite Patterns
Ink and Cardstock Colors~ Green Galore, Tempt. Turquoise, Pink Passion, Only Orange, Summer Sun
Also Black and White
Accessories~ Cuttlebug "Flowers" Diecuts, Computer generated scripture and Hawaii lettering

Sketch Winner

There were only a few who tried my Valentine sketch. But, that's okay! There are so many more sketches floating around out there than there is the time to stamp them. So I can't say that I wonder why! But I did forget to draw a name yesterday and announce the winner. I did that today and Suzanne wins the paper cutter, Studio G stamp set and embellishments. I've decided to only do sketches around each holiday so I'll have another sketch for St. Patrick's Day. I hope more of you can play!

Fact-a-Day #5

I've got FOUR of the greatest kids EVER!
Really, truly. They are super kids. My preacher boys- Jake and Brian are in Bible College in Manhattan, Kansas along with Jake's wife, Megan. (I hope Karla doesn't mind that I claim Megan too!) And then there's Katie who is here in Georgia with us. She's sweet 16 right now, but someday will be a teacher! I don't mean to brag (yes, I do), but even though my kids were not completely perfect children, they were so very close! My heart swells with pride.
(I will just have to ask for forgiveness later.)

Taggy Valentine

I know I have mentioned that I LOVE Valentines. Well, this is one I made a couple of years ago for my hubby. I also made one for my best friend and told her to feel free to recycle it -cut it up and use it on a scrapbook page! And she did.
This card was lots of fun to make, but I used too many products to list. If you want to know something specific, just ask~ I'd be happy to tell ya.
{I believe my tag card idea originally came from Splitcoast.}
Have a great week!
~Angel

ETA- So many of you asked how I made this card that I decided to add the "instructions" here. I started with a piece of white cardstock of 12" x 5". This takes the guesswork out of scoring. To make the 4 panels I scored every 3 inches. Once you have the panels scored fold it accordion style and cut into a tag shape. An easy way to make sure the sides are even is to cut off one corner, flip the "cut off piece" over and use it as a template to cut the other side. Voila.... sides are even. If this doesn't make sense I can try and take a picture. Let me know! Thank you all for liking my card! Makes me happy!

Fact #4

I got married on New Year's Eve!
It's been a little over 22 years ago.
My wonderful, loving husband, Kevin has never forgotten our anniversary!

Fact #3

I'm a believer.... a born again Bible-believing Christian.

I was baptised and began my walk on February 10, 2002.

I Love Jesus!

Jesus answered, "I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."

John 14:6

Fact #2

I blush, turn red, scarlet..... from my cheeks and down onto my chest. Sometimes it looks like hives. This happens ALL of the time and sometimes for no apparent reason. But, usually it's because I'm angry, embarrassed, nervous, excited, sad or happy. Yes, it doesn't matter what emotion.... they all cause me to be RED.

Fact a Day!

My BFF, Peggy recently posted 100 facts about herself. It was a long post and she encouraged her friends to do the same thing. I've seen similar ideas with scrapbook pages and I've always wanted to do that! SO..... for the next 100 days I am going to post a random fact about myself and at the end of the 100 days, I will make a scrapbook page with these facts. My kids, grandkids and great grandkids will learn more about me than they ever wanted to know! And this may just be the launching pad I need to start my scrapbooking!

Fact #1:
Angel is my nickname, but I've went by that all my life. I tried to go by my real name- Angela in school, but when my friends heard my brother call me Angel they did too. So, I dropped the a for good. :-)

What about you? ONE fact a day for 100 days and then a scrapbook page? I dare ya!

Only You

I had some time to stamp and so I made my hubby's valentine using my sketch posted earlier this morning:

I know pink is a girly color, but that's what color my chipboard letters were and so I went with it. He IS secure in his masculinity, after all. I hope he'll like it.

Card Recipe~
Stamps: Soft Swirls
Ink: Craft White

Paper: Black, Real Red; DP- K&Co (Light Pink Swirl) and The Paper Studio (Bright Pink Swirl; Pink, Red, & Black Stripe and Valentine Words)
Accessories: Scalloped Circle Punch and CM Circle Cutting system; Chipboard Letters- Target $ Spot; Love- Dress it Up Valentine Asst; heart Sticker- Michael's $ bin; ribbons and silver heart brads from my stash; UHU glue

I used a new glue I received in the mail as a free sample. It's called the UHU Creativ Scrapbooker's Pen. It's a "super fast paper glue" and indeed it did dry quickly. I think they are still giving out samples, so be sure to check them out!

A Valentine Sketch

Good Morning! It seems almost like afternoon to me since I have been up since 3:00, but it's actually just getting light out. It also seems like a Monday since yesterday was a holiday here in the US. But, everyone is back to work/school today. I thought it would be fun to come up with a sketch for today. Hopefully I will have time to play.

Like I have mentioned before, my favorite cards to make are Valentines. So if you use my sketch and make a Valentine, come back here and comment with a link to your card. I'll put your name into a drawing and a random winner will be chosen to receive a 12 inch special edition "Breast Cancer Awareness" Fiskars paper cutter. I will also include a few Valentine themed embellishments and a Studio G stamp set. Let's draw a winner next Monday (1/28) to give the weekend stampers a chance.
Speaking of weekends, this last weekend Kevin, Katie and I did a little babysitting. We had 7 kiddos here (from 2 families) on Friday evening. Kevin was in heaven. He just adores kids. We would have had a dozen if we had been able! Here is a pic of me and Katie with the 3 youngest ones. Aren't they cute?

I'm babysitting today as well. She'll be here any minute so I will close this for now. Have a great Tuesday, my friends!!!
Hugs~
Angel

Triple Challenged

I was triple challenged here with this card.

I made this card with Nancy's Challenge in mind.... but I am a day late and a dollar short here! But, she challenged our cards to use pink, black and white!
I also combined it with Beate's Weekend Sketch!

And the third challenge came from Taylor and it was to make a card using a cupcake or another sweet treat. So, that is what I did... ALL three.
The Chargers (hubby's team) are going to defy logic and beat the Patriots today. And then my Packers are going to tromp the Giants. THAT would make our house a happy home. (Until the Superbowl!)
I'll be back later with the details!
Have a great Sunday, friends!

Aunt Ellen

My best friend's aunt passed away yesterday. Aunt Ellen was such a warm, sweet lady. I met her years ago before she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I am glad I got the chance to meet and get to know her.
Ellen fought a long and very difficult battle with the disease that eventually spread and could not be stopped. She loved the outdoors and she and her husband Rocky spent many weekends and vacations in their little cabin in the woods which I remember was way off the beaten track.
For the first time in years, Ellen is free from pain.

I Was Inspired!

I made this VERY easy card yesterday after stumbling onto the new feature- "Be Inspired" from Beate.

Her inspirational piece:

I love challenges such as these as you can just use the colors or only the layout or stamp however you're inspired to. In this case, I was very inspired by the layout AND the colors. I had just bought this piece of paper from "The Paper Studio" called Eye Candy Pink Paisley. So, I had to make the card. I didn't have anything in my stash that event remotely resembled the orange polka-dotted piece so I made my own! I bet you were wondering why there is a pencil in the pic! Well....
One of my favorite rubber stamps in my collection is a brand new pencil eraser! I keep one in my pencil cup on my desk and clean it after every use so it's ready for a new color the next go round.
In this case, I used Craft White ink and randomly "stamped" my polka dots on the orange panel.
Card Recipe:
Stamps~ #2 Pencil
Ink~ Craft White
Paper~ SU Choc Chip, DP: The Paper Studio (pink) and K&I Memories (orange)
Accessories~ Brown Ruffled Ribbon and White Ric Rac- SU, Chipboard from K & Co (Brenda Walton)

Have a great weekend!
Blessings~
Angel

My Favorite Scrapbooking Kit

Can I just tell you that there are HUNDREDS of Scrapbooking Kits to choose from out there? By FAR the most popular kits were from Club Scrap and I can see why. They've been around for 8 years and offer a lot of options for every kind of paper enthusiast. They support both the traditional AND the digital scrapbooker (somewhere I am starting to get my feet wet!). They have an on-line store for those who want more. AND Club Scrap features an on-line gallery. There are a lot of perks there!
But, having said all that, my favorite company suggested was The Scrap Room. Recommended by Rachel of Sitting on My Back Porch, The Scrap Room just tickled my fancy. Their prices were right and I loved their product. I used a five star rating system when perusing the sites and The Scrap Room got my only 5 star rating!

Thanks for a great endorsement, Rachel. Email me your snail mail address and I'll get your goodies out to ya!
I have started a list and review of the companies submitted which offer Scrap Kits (a great suggestion from Janet). I am including some of their best features and whether they are subscription based or not along with their rates. I should have that post up sometime next week. If you have another you'd like me to list, be sure to comment on this post and let me know.
I have a project to post today too, So "I'LL Be BAUCK!"
Blessings~
Angel

All You Need Is LOVE

My favorite cards to make are most definitely Valentines! Maybe it's because my favorite color is pink or maybe it's because I love swirls and hearts and lace and everything that's associated with the holiday. I just love making Valentines! One year my friend Tracy and I decided to have a few friends over to make Valentines. Tracy (who is having a baby boy tomorrow!) and I were going to create a few cards for everyone to make. We put all of the supplies in a shoebox and the girls passed them around and made one of each. Tracy and I had so much fun getting ready for the Valentine party that we couldn't quit designing cards. I think we had a dozen or more cards for everyone to make! THAT was what I call F-U-N!
I was tickled pink when my best friend, Peggy recently sent me some Valentine diecuts made with her new Cricut! I'll be making lots of projects with them. And I have one to show you today!
I started out this project with the LOVE diecut in pink and the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge for the week. Here is what I came up with to show you.



















SC159 Card Recipe: (I turned the sketch on it's side for my design.)

Stamps~ SU By Definition, Paisley; CTMH All My Love (YUMMY Blog Candy from Cindy)
Ink~ Real Red
Paper~ Real Red, Pretty in Pink, White; Flocked Red DP- Paper Bouquet @ Target
Accessories~ Cricut LOVE diecut, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, Distresser, Paper Piercer, DD Glitter, Pink Organdy Ribbon (Michaels)

I feel my stamping mojo may be coming back. I am really not sure where it's been, but I have not been stamping much at all. What do you do when the mojo goes missing?
Have a great day, friends!
~Angel

Asking For Assistance.... (HELP!)

I REALLY want to start scrapbooking again and am looking into a monthly scrapbooking kit subscription. I would ask hubby for this for a Valentine gift perhaps. I think the concept is outstanding! And I've seen some fabulous kits in the past. But, now that I am possibly in the market I thought I might call on my blogging friends for some ideas of where to start looking. Do you have a favorite Scrap Kit Designer? I stumbled onto one today by Studio Calico. Are there any others I should know about?

Okay.... You've twisted my arm! I'll give away some sweet treats (or as I like to call them....Butterfly Kisses)for your assistance! I'll choose my favorite Scrap Kit from the comments section on this post on Friday, January 18.
The winner will receive a Heidi Swapp Edge Distresser, a Studio G stamp set and a few of my favorite punches in some Valentine colors. Sound good?

I'm off to stamp, so hopefully I'll be back to share something creative with you!
~Angel

ETA~ Please leave a comment even if someone else has already recommended the kit you would endorse! If I choose your kit's company as my favorite I'll put the names of everyone who recommended it into a random drawing and choose the winner that way.

And On We Go!

Check it Out!

A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible!

The Prize:
The winner will receive a brand new Hamilton Beach 4.5-qt. Eclectrics Stand Mixer, Pineapple Yellow!!

About the mixer:

From Hamilton Beach’s “Eclectrics” line, this all-metal stand mixer comes with a host of accessories - a Flat Beater for cakes and cookies, a Dough Hook for bread and a Wire Whisk for whipped cream or pudding. The 4.5-qt. stainless steel bowl comes with a Pouring Shield that helps prevent splattering while in operation. The pouring shield has a built-in chute for adding ingredients. Powered by 400 watts, the stand mixer has a two-way mixing action to ensure all ingredients are incorporated into the mix. The quick-release, tilt-up head assists when removing the bowl. 9 x 14 x 14-in. When you’re ready for a kitchen re-do, don’t call in the carpenters! Instead, “counterscape” your kitchen with Hamilton Beach’s retro-designed, affordably priced electrics in happy, sun-saturated colors. Their “Eclectrics” line includes updates to those classic appliances from the 1950s. All of their “Eclectrics” are available in six colors: Apple Green, Moroccan Red, Pineapple Yellow, Intrigue Blue, Sugar White and Licorice Black.

Isn't this COOL? It would match my kitchen perfectly!

Blog Candy Winner

Using Random.Org I drew the winner for my LOVE candy.
Number 22 is Peggy.

Peggy said...
I love the little notebook! So personal and cute. My word of the year is: Motivation. I need to be motivated to do so many things I want to do! Lose weight and go back to church are my top 2!

Congratulations, Peggy! I'll get your blog candy out in the mail to you right away!
I've got more candy planned so stay tuned!
Have a great weekend!
~Angel

Scripture Chicks

If you see a Bible that is falling apart, it probably belongs to someone who isn't.

~Vance Havner

Not long ago my friend Lori called me and asked if I would mind doing a little monthly challenge with her and a few others. I said "Of course" because I love my friend Lori and will do anything she wants me to do whenever she wants me to do it! And this sounded like a GREAT idea (which she happens to have ALL of the time). Now, when I found out who else was in this small group I felt incredibly honored to have been asked! These "Scripture Chicks" include Nancy at Paper Smiles, Jami of More is More ,Taylor at Taylored Expressions and of course Lori of Make a Difference.
The challenge (BVC08 on Splitcoast) is to complete a monthly project based on scripture. At the end of the year the monthly pieces will be combined into one complete project. Each designer will have their own spin on the challenge and I am sure there will be some amazing designs within this group! Me? I'm putting together a book- completing a page or two each month.
I knew I wanted my first page to include a scripture that would define God's word in itself. There are SO many good scriptures for this.... it was hard to pick just one!
I love Isaiah 55:11 that says, "It is the same way with my word. I send it out and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." And then 2 Timothy 3:16- "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right."
But I settled on a verse in the longest chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119 verse 105.

I grew up reading the King James Bible and all those thees, thys, and thous just didn't make much sense to me. But, when I discovered the New Living Translation of the Bible (along with Beth Moore Bible studies) my life was forever changed! I encourage you to delve into it yourself. It's a love letter from God Himself.
Back to the project:

I had a very hard time photographing my page! So, please excuse the bad photo. The book and pages will be 6x6. I based my colors on Daisy D's "Beacon Hill" collection, the papers of which I have been hoarding!

Recipe~
Stamps: Label Classics and Canvas (SU), Simply Stated (Fancy Pants)
Ink: Blue Bayou, Palette Noir Black, So Saffron

Paper: Black, Blue Bayou, Real Red, So Saffron, DP- Beacon Hill by Daisy D's
Accessories: Distresser, Stampamajig, Signo White gel pen, vintage lace, sponge, pop dots, white brads, printer (font is Pegsanna by Hallmark)

Tip: I printed the verse directly onto the DP after printing it on scrap paper until I had the size I wanted to fit into the frame. My stampamajig helped me stamp the frame around the verse perfectly!

Be sure to check out the other girls' projects by clicking on their links above or in my sidebar. And please feel free to play along. If you play, please come back and let me know so I can see your creations!
Have a Blessed Day!
~Angel

Other books were given for our information; the Bible was given for our transformation.

~Anonymous

FOCUS

Today I am home alone... for the first time since Christmas. DD is back to school and hubby is back to work and it's just me. And so, I have had some time for thought and reflection. I've been thinking about 2008 and what this new year may bring. I've been reflecting on my new year's resolutions AND I've been thinking about my "word for the year" - something I decided to do when I read Trudee's post here.
My new year's resolution? To spend more time on the important things and less on what's not! And my word for 2008, after MUCH thought, is FOCUS.
I think they go hand in hand!


Focus (fō'kəs)
1. To cause to converge on or toward a central point; concentrate.
2. To adjust one's vision or an optical device so as to render a clear, distinct image.
To adjust to produce a clear image.
3. To direct toward a particular point or purpose: focused all their attention on finding a solution to the problem.
4. To concentrate attention or energy: a campaign that focused on economic issues.

Focus is exactly what I have lacked of late. Some days I just kind of wander around my house and do a lot of what a dear friend of mine calls piddling. But no more. I am determined to have focus!
Here is a little something I made today for my friend. These little notebooks come 2 in a pack from Target and are so easy to alter. This took me only a few minutes.

Stamps: Autumn Leaves Swirls, sentiment by Hampton Art
Ink: Palette Black
Paper: Basic Grey "Perhaps", Black

Did you see? My counter went over 25,000? WOWSERS! I want to say thank you for continuing to visit my little blog. How about a little LOVE candy? I'm planning to add some ribbon as well, but already had the picture taken.

Here it is:

Leave me a comment here telling me what your word for 2008 would be OR tell me your new year's resolution(s). I'll randomly draw a winner on Friday the 11th!
Have a great day, friends!
~Angel

Enabler Alert

Have you seen the new Hero Arts catalog? It is simply stunning. Lots of swirls and FUN stuff! Check it out HERE.

Happy New Year!!