Funday Favorites!

I have lots of favorite things! I know I've mentioned some of them before on my blog! But, I thought maybe I'd share some of my favorite things in a weekly feature. Now, if you've been a reader of mine for a while, you'll know I don't always follow through on my weekly features. We'll see if I can keep up with this one!
Today's favorite thing I want to share with you is a website called Crosscards.com. The reason I love this website? Every month I change my computer's background to one of their offered free wallpapers. I usually always choose one that has a calendar. It comes in SO handy to have a calendar on my desktop!
Here is this month's wallpaper:

I love having a scripture to focus on as well.
This site is also where I find a lot of my Wacky Holidays!
Let me know what you think of this favorite!
Blessings~
Angel

Winner

I am so sorry I forgot to announce my winner yesterday. Hubby had the day off and we went in search of a kitchen table. We're having the hardest time finding one that we like and that is small enough for our breakfast nook!
I did "draw" a winner using random.org and the goodies go to:

Denise ~ Paper Ponderings who said...
My crafting area is a mess! The only tip I can think of is that I use a 5-row pant hanger to store my ribbon rolls.

Denise, please email me your snail mail address and I'll get the goods out to you! Here is what you can expect:

~Bitty Scrap Pad of Faux Finishes
~Monday's Metal Word Strips
~set of 3 Paper Scuffers
~Assorted Buttons
~Whimsical Blossom Wheel (new)

Thank you all for your tips and inspiration!
~Angel

Pink Set

Some of my fellow ODBD design team gals have made some gorgeous gift sets with the new Our Daily Bread "Hope" stamp set. You can check out their sets by clicking on their name: Angie, Nancy, Becca and I think soon to come from Kim. I was so inspired that I had to make my own pink gift set.
I began with an ordinary white 2 pocket folder (no inside clasps).
I decorated the outside using the SCS weekly sketch!
Here you can see the inside:

I cut the folder in the middle down to the halfway point and scored the fold. I then measured to the center of each side and cut to that center point after tracing the cut line. That gave me a stationary folder. I was delighted to discover that the little notebook (from the Hope pack seen here) fits nicely into one side so I decorated the cover. I made a set of simple thank you cards, a paper clip bookmark and post-it note holder (post-its are also in the Hope Pack) to go into the other side.

This was a lot of fun to make. But you should see my desk! Yikes!
Kevin is home for the day and we are planning on getting a lot of unpacking done this weekend. Having boxes surrounding me is driving me crazy!
I will try to add the recipe info later!
Oh and I will also draw a winner for the candy later too. Scroll down to enter!
Have a Blessed day!
~Angel

An Angel from ODBD

Finally! I am stamping! YEAH!
I was so excited to be stamping yesterday that I have several uncompleted projects on my desk. My mind was going in many different directions.

I did take a peek at the tutorial on Splitcoast yesterday. It was a free standing pop-up card. I've actually done one of these, but it had been years ago. I followed the instructions Mary Jo gave and found it to be much easier than I remembered. Great instructions!
Here is the card "closed"~

And open~

My card also encompasses this week's Color Challenge "Krafty Black Roses" using Rose Red, Black and Kraft. And of course I used a new ODBD set called "Angel".
Here is a close-up of the angel which I embossed with Black powder and colored in with my aqua painter and SU pad lids.

It's so much easier to create when you have all of your supplies at hand!
~Angel

Our Weekend

It's so quiet here in my house. I'm all by my lonesome. Kevin's at work and Katie's at school. I really should be working in my stamp room, but I just had to show you what we did this weekend. After church yesterday (the same one we went to last week) we went shopping in search of a salt lick. I haven't seen a deer yet and am so anxious to see one. Well, NOTHING opens in this town on Sunday afternoon until 1:30 IF it opens on Sunday at all. Even WalMart ropes off everything but their food. The farmer's supply/feed store was closed on Sunday. We'll be going back there another day. We grabbed a bite to eat and waited for 1:30 so we could stop in to Lowe's. They didn't have the salt lick, but we did get a hummingbird feeder. We've been seeing these little birds off and on in our yard. Kevin hung it right outside our picture window. The feeder and nectarine were only around $10.00. (Cheaper than a movie and lots more entertaining!) Our first visitor wasn't a hummingbird, but a little lizard who appeared trapped. Kevin went out to rescue him. He crawled out onto Kevin's hand and then up his arm and onto his back. I ran and grabbed my camera to take these pics. Isn't he cute?
After the lizard left, we had tons of hummingbirds and all different colors and kinds! I was able to get one good pic. They are just SO fast.
I am afraid Kevin is going to have to move the feeder. It drips onto the deck and attracts lots of other little creatures I am afraid.
Well, I'm off to get some work done. Thanks for stopping by!
~Angel

Happy Kiss & Make Up Day!

That's my kind of Kiss!
~Angel

Organizing! (And Candy!)

If you've arrived here looking for something stamped or papercrafted, I got nothing. But, I have made progress in my stamp room! See?

It doesn't look like much in the way of progress, but all of my cabinets and organizers are in place and all I have to do is unpack and organize. I am most definitely going to be purging as I go. And I am contemplating a different way to arrange my things. While visiting a friend and fellow crafter recently, I noticed she had categorized her embellishments by color group...i.e. all the little red doodads together, all blue, green, etc. Mine were separated by type.... i.e. all eyelets, flowers, brads together.

I'd love to be more simplified. What do YOU suggest? What has worked for you?
For your assistance, I am going to offer candy! I haven't done that in a while. But remember I said I am purging? I've got duplicates and just plain too many of this and that. Please comment here with your organizational tips and tricks. I'll draw a winner on Friday (8-29). And I'll try to get a pic posted of the treats between now and then! I think you'll like!
Have a great week!
~Angel

Happy "Be an Angel" Day!

According to Holidays on the Net today is "Be an Angel" Day!
Sounds like a plan to me!

~Angel

Checkin In...

WARNING.... some rambling.... read only the bold unless you have time to kill.....
Well... I still can't get into my stamp room. I've been so busy trying to keep unloading boxes and making phone calls and all of the lovely moving tasks.
I wanted to take a quick moment to thank you for your thoughts and prayers for Katie as she started her senior year yesterday at a new school. I am happy to report that she had a great first day! She said she made more friends her first day here than she did the year and a half we spent in Georgia! Most people thought she was a freshman. Probably because she was new and she has a baby face too. I took her to school and was surprised to find myself crying as I drove out of the parking lot. I was so nervous for her. It reminded me of when I took her to kindergarten and cried on the way home from there as well. She IS my baby. And I must admit I am a big baby. I picked her up from school as well. But from now on she'll be riding the bus most of the time.
Let me tell you something really awful that happened last night. Kevin decided to hook up our washer and dryer. It seems like every time we move the dryer outlet is different and he has to end up changing the cord and plug. He did that just fine, Peg. (I know how you worry about electricity so I hope I didn't scare you there.) Then he proceeded to hook up the washer. After he had it all hooked up he started it and the water started backing up and gushed out all over. He turned it off and we started to clean up the mess. THEN we started smelling the worst smell. I walk into the kitchen to find sewage had backed up into and filled the kitchen sink. Ugh... it smelled horrible. Kevin went outside and took the cap off this outlet pipe and water flowed out. He had to plunge the kitchen sink and you should have seen the junk that came out of that pipe. Disgusting. We have someone coming out today to fix it. The property manager said that when a house has been vacant for some time there is a vent on the roof that sometimes scabs over and doesn't allow air out and causes backage like that. Hmmmm... weird! We also have to have someone out to fix our front door as it won't open. The phone is so staticky you can hardly hear so someone is coming to fix that. And then there are bugs. I found a pest control service that was quite reasonable and will have someone out as soon as I get paths cleared in all of the rooms.
Boxes and boxes and boxes.... I'm waiting for my local FreeCycle membership to come off pending status so I can donate them to someone who needs them. If you haven't heard of FreeCycle, it's a great way to unload things you no longer want/need. You simply post your items and someone responds who wants it and they come pick it up. Easy as pie. I've gotten rid of lots of things and when I was packing things up to put in storage I was able to get free moving boxes from someone in my last group.
On a more light and happy note, I have gotten 3 gorgeous "Thinking of You" cards in the mail this week. Thank you, Kelley, Deb and Kim! What a bright spot you have been in my week! I'll post those pics as soon as I can get more light (boxes in the way). And last night we found a great Italian restaurant called Sambino's that is just a couple of miles away! We ordered it and went and picked it up. The servings were so large that I'll be eating ziti for days! Yummy!
I better get some unpacking done. I hope to be in my stamp room by the beginning of next week and have projects to share!
Have a great week! And thanks for stopping by.....
~Angel

Happy Potato Day!

The Potato....
informally tattie, tater, spud, tato, pota, spudzie, papa or tate!

And WHO doesn't like potatoes? Baked potatoes are something I've been eating a lot since I have been having stomach problems.
Doing a little bit of research, I have discovered that the average American eats 126 pounds of potatoes a year. Wow!
Did you know.....
~You should never bake a potato in aluminum foil because it traps the steam and actually boils not bakes your potato?
~Prolonged exposure to light will cause potatoes to turn green?
~Storing potatoes near onions will cause them to rot faster due to the interaction of gases that both of the vegetables produce?
~Washing potatoes can shorten their life? You should wash them only right before you use them and not before storing them.
~You shouldn't store your potatoes in the refrigerator because it converts the starch into sugar creating a sweet taste and causing the potato to darken prematurely when fried.
~A new potato peeler will become easier to use
with time. The starch in potatoes reacts with
the blade, making it sharper with each potato
peeled.

And here is a great recipe using potatoes!!

Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

4 medium russet potatoes
8 ounces 90%-lean ground beef
1 cup broccoli florets, finely chopped
1 cup water
1 cup reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 scallions, sliced

1. Pierce potatoes all over with a fork. Place in the microwave and cook at 50% power, turning once or twice, until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. (Or, use the "potato setting" on your microwave and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.)
2. Meanwhile, brown meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Increase heat to high, add broccoli and water to the skillet, cover, and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain the broccoli; add to the meat.
3. Carefully cut off the top third of the cooked potatoes; reserve the tops for another use. Scoop the insides out into a medium bowl. Place the potato shells in a small baking dish. Add 1/2 cup Cheddar, sour cream, salt and pepper to the potato insides and mash with a fork or potato masher. Add scallions and the potato mixture to the broccoli and meat; stir to combine.
4. Evenly divide the potato mixture among the potato shells and top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Microwave on high until the filling is hot and the cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
Yield: 4 servings

More great info on potatoes here! And here!

Happy Potato Day!!
~Angel

Final Scrap Addict Sketch

I just realized that I had not posted my Scrap Addict sketch design for August 15th!
Here is the sketch:

I have had the pleasure of being on Deanne's first sketch design team since March, but, today I post my last card for this commitment.

I made my cards several weeks ago when I still had access to a stamp room. *sigh*
I used my "Sing to the Lord" ODBD stamp set and a SCS color challenge at the time of Real Red, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky! {I sure will miss Soft Sky when I run out.}
Have a blessed day!
I'll be unpacking. Ugh!
~Angel

Our Daily Bread Designs

I feel so bad that I have not been able to stamp at all. I have some gorgeous new stamps just begging for ink. Moving just isn't compatible with creating.
This last week, Kelley introduced 3 new sets for sale. I've had them with me for 2 weeks now and am dying to stamp. I sure hope I can this week!

But, even if I can't stamp, I have to show you these new ODBD sets!

First of all is a set named after me.

No, I am kidding. But it is named Angel. Once again, the scripture choices are ones I think I will use again and again!

Kelley also offers an individual "Guardian Angel Prayer" stamp to go along with the Angel set.

Then there is "Peace on Earth". This gorgeous lion and lamb image is perfectly sized and the "Peace on Earth" sentiment perfect for Christmas cards. If you don't have a dove in your image collection, this one is just perfect! And I know you'll use it for many occasions!

And I saved the best for last! I expect that I will get LOTS of mileage from this set appropriately titled "Hope". I picture it being used for many an uplifting card. The scriptures are fabulous and the ribbon can be any color you want it to be. (Check out this chart for color meanings!)

This set does arrive just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness month and Kelley is offering a free "Hope Pack" valued at over $10 with purchase (while supplies last). Check out these goodies!

These fabulous ODBD design team members have been creating fabulous designs with these sets. If you've got the time, check them out!
Amy
Angie
Becca
Jane
Judy
Kim
Laurie
Nancy

Have a fabulous week!
~Angel

Updating Again..

Hello!

Yep, I am still alive.

Buried in boxes, but still breathing.

I wish I had some projects to share, but can only get a couple of feet into my stamp room before it's wall to wall cardboard.
See? And for some reason my family thinks it is more important that we have access to our kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms.

I've went through more Lysol wipes and Mr Clean erasers than you would believe! And the trips to Wal Mart for this and that.....oh my!

What have I been up to?
Well, our things were actually delivered on Thursday. I've been suffering from off and on migraines which have been a bit distracting from the cleaning and unpacking. My stomach problems are lingering as well although far better from what they once were!
We were able to get Katie enrolled in school on Friday. She will officially start her senior year this coming Tuesday at Crestwood High. I pray that she will feel comfortable immediately and make friends easily. She doesn't seem at all worried.
So, Tuesday will be my first day alone as Kevin will start a full schedule this week even working 12 hour shifts since they'll be starting some sort of inspection. Yuck!

Upon an invitation from our realtor, we visited a very nice church this morning. It's called Alice Drive Baptist Church. We felt comfortable there so may have found our church home. But, we may visit a few other area churches before settling there.

That's about all the news I have. Hopefully, I'll have some projects to share SOON. I'll tell you why in my next post!

Blessings~
Angel

Home

We've been busy here in South Carolina looking for a place to live. And I'm happy to report we've found a place! We signed a lease today. Our new home is located outside of town and off the beaten path. There is a wooded area back behind and we are told deer will come right up into the yard. I can't wait to photograph that site!
Here are a couple of pics I found online. The home was for sale and we just happened to be in the right place at the right time and were able to rent it!

This is the front of the house.

Here is the kitchen with a big picture window (for viewing deer!)
This is the current owner's table. We are going to look for a small table tomorrow. We have a dining room as well, so will need something in here.
Katie is excited about her room. She'll be in a huge room above the garage. And yes, I have a stamping room. I was starting to worry about that as we were looking at places that didn't necessarily have that bonus room. Whew!
We'll be moving in over the next few days so I'll be busy. I hope to have some stamping time tonight before I have to pack up my things. It's a crazy time in our lives.
We still haven't sold our home in Georgia, but it has shown a few times since we've been gone so we are hopeful it will sell soon!
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!
Blessings~
Angel

A Tardy Divine Design

It's Divine Design time!
I am only 24+ hours late with my design. Not bad considering I lost 4 days along the way. LOL
You'll have to excuse my lighting. I just couldn't get enough light here in our room.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

I am really having a great time being a part of the Our Daily Bread design team. I now have so many amazing scriptures in rubber! I chose this Romans verse because it is just the reminder I needed at this point of my journey! It comes from a new set "Hope" to be released on the 15th of the month. You'll surely see more from me with this set!
AND you know I just had to play with my Scor-Pal which ODBD will soon be carrying. I love the little touch those 2 scored lines added!

You can see more great designs from my fellow Scripture Chicks- Taylor, Nancy, Lori and Jami. We all would love for you to join us! Post your scripture project to your blog and/or share in the Splitcoast gallery using keyword: BVC08. Be sure to use a scripture of your choice! They're all so good!
Please comment and let me know if you've got a Divine Design project to share! I want to see!

Blessings to you!
~Angel

Recipe:
Stamps~ Hope, Sing to the Lord
Ink~ Palette Black, Basic Grey, White, Versamark
Paper~ Black, ? lavendar, daisy D's DP
Accessories~ Scor Pal, sponge, paper piercing tool, Cuttlebug Butterfly, Primas, Paper Studios brad

OLYMPICS!

Anyone else watching the Olympics? OF COURSE you are. We especially like the swimming and gymnastics events. Track and field and volleyball are good too!
Oh, we like all of the events.

I've added a medal count ticker to my sidebar so I can keep up on our medal count!
GO USA!

Blessings~
ANGEL

Flood Relief

Just a quick note from me with some stamping!

No, I've not been feeling like stamping so I am showing you a design I haven't shown

you yet. This was another page I did for the Flood Relief "Not a Raffle". I think yesterday closed the raffle. Tomorrow the winners will be announced! I hope whoever gets this book of scriptures from the Divine Design girls will be blessed!
On a personal note, I am feeling a bit better today. We were able to look at a couple of houses for rent and may have even found "the" one. We hope to look a little bit more tomorrow.
I'll keep you posted!
Blessings~
Angel

The Latest....

Oh WOW! It's been such a whirlwind of a few days. We arrived in Sumter, South Carolina late Friday evening and checked into temporary housing. I sent out a bulk email to let most everyone in my email address book know we made it here. We got up on Saturday and toured the area just driving around. Then we stopped by the commissary to pick up some food items. I wasn't feeling particularly well at that point and so we only bought a few items. By 6:30 I had a full case of what I THOUGHT was the flu or food poisoning. But, by 10:00 I knew I needed some medical attention. I won't get into too much detail here on my blog, but things were not normal even by "flu" standards. A nurse line advised me to call 911 or at least get a ride to the ER. If I had to do it over again, I would call 911. We did not know where exactly the hospital was AND it was storming like the dickens! Not even my GPS wanted to help. We had passed the hospital earlier in the day so we knew the general vicinity it was in so hubby headed that way and we followed the blue "H" signs there. We waited SO long to be seen. It seemed like forever. I was admitted to the hospital at 5:30 Sunday morning. A CAT scan and a Sigmoidoscopy (a smaller version of a colonoscopy) confirmed Ischemic Colitus. They even gave me a "pretty" picture of my colon. Ewwww!
So, in a hospital room is where I spent my first days in Sumter. I'm "home" now.... well back to Temporary Lodging.
My sweet 17 year old updated my blog for me. There was a little confusion since right after she posted, one of my scheduled posts popped up. {I have the "Wacky Holidays" set up ahead of time.}
I have a ton of emails to sift through, but wanted to let everyone know where I was and to thank you all for your prayers and well wishes!
This has got to be one of the hardest parts of the military life, not having friends or family around when something like this happens.
I am going to try and sift through some more emails before I call it a night. If you've emailed me and haven't heard from me, you may have gotten lost in my spam folder so email me again! (I usually clean out my spam at least twice a day so it's gotten out of control!)
Thanks so much!
~Angel

New Info on my Mom

I just got a call from the Dr. he said that she should be able to come home as soon as she can eat and gets some meds. He said she has acute colitis and it will go away on its own. Thanks for the prayers.

Katie

Happy Twins Day!

It's Twins Day!
And I just so happen to have THE cutest one year old twin godbabies!
Aren't they adorable??

~Angel

Prayer needed

Hi everyone this is Katie. Yesterday my mom started to feel really sick. About 10:30 we went to the ER. They were not sure what was wrong so they admitted her to the hospital. She is doing better but she still needs prayer. (the symptoms were like thhe flu only 10 times worse she said)

Thank you all for being friends to my mom.

Katie

Happy Watermelon Day!

Another wacky holiday.
Gives me practice in my Photo Shop program.
And aren't they fun?
If I had my stamps, I would make someone a watermelon card!
Let me know if you indulge in a juicy piece of melon!
~Angel

Happy Ice Cream Sandwich Day

This one I WILL celebrate for sure.

Especially since I have discovered Skinny Cows!
YUMMY!

~Angel

August 1 Scrap Addict Sketch

August 1st means it is time for an "Am I a Scrap Addict" Sketch. I made my simple card before my supplies were packed up and back when Kraft, Soft Sky and Black were a Color Challenge (CC171) on Splitcoast. These lovely little birds are Verve stamps from an Anniversary set I couldn't refuse!
Have a LOVELY day!

~Angel