Should I do it?

Look out, I'm in a mood to organize!! Must be due to the new year coming.

My question for all you stampers out there in blogland is:

I'm thinking of reorganizing my stamps and sorting them according to themes. For example, put all of the thank you stamps together, etc. I bought a bunch of jumbo stamp storage boxes to consolidate many of my stamp sets that go together well.

What do you think. Am I crazy? I know that to resell them later, I'll have to put them back into their original boxes. Also, as a demo, I keep the more recent and new sets in their original boxes. I'm just wanting to consolidate my old favorite stamps mostly the sentiment stamps.

I'd love to hear what you all think about this plan.

Happy Sunday!
Vera

Embrace Life!

Embrace Life! Sounds like a good New Year's Resolution, doesn't it?

My resolutions are simply a continuation of current resolutions. All of them center around getting organized, prioritizing, and simplifying. General, I know, but let me share a few rules I try to live by:

1. Clear out clutter every day. I don't even bring junk mail into the house. I throw it out immediately unless it needs to be shredded. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by clutter or chores, I just walk into a room and find 10 things that need to be thrown out or given away. I keep a bag by the back door or in my car that goes to Goodwill.

2. When overwhelmed, just get up and do something! Usually there is laundry to be done, or at least a random dish that never made it to the dishwasher thanks to the kids!

3. Reevaluate my purchases. Do I really need more ribbon? (don't answer that) Do I need more Basic Grey Christmas paper? I try to use what I have before I place another online order!

So how does "Embrace Life" fit these resolutions? If I'm organized and on top of things around here, I have more time to be with my family and friends and I'm more relaxed! It's that simple!

So, how will you Embrace Life in '08?

By the way, this card uses the Embrace Life stamps from SU as well as River Rock, Really Rust, Choc Chip cardstock and Ginger Blossom DP. All supplies and ribbon by SU!

A Very Merry Christmas

Well, the presents have been opened, and I'm exhausted, but happy! My children are very happy too! We were able to give them some great gifts that they really love, and we also received some very thoughtful gifts from friends and family.

Most importantly, Chris was home this Christmas. Santa could have brought me coal and I still would be happy.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I'm really looking forward to church on Sunday when we can sing my favorite Christmas hymns!

This week, I've got to complete and mail out my swaps! I'm also hoping to start to tackle a painting job in my home. I'm getting plantation shutters and before I can pick out the exact color, I've got to start repainting the moulding in my home. We've got crown moulding and chair rail moulding in a number of rooms on the first floor and that means I'll be painting until I'm blue in the face!

See you soon!

Taking a Break

Hi everyone. I've decided that I must take a break from blogging. I have many other things in life that I'd like to accomplish, and the blog must go for now.

As much as I love to hear myself chat, I need to put more time into my kids growing list of activities and crazy schedules.

Thanks for reading and leaving such nice comments. I'll still read your blogs and comment as much as I can!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Vera

Feeling overwhelmed

Ugh. I just made my to-do list and it's huge! It's actually the fifth to-do list I've made this week, and it keeps getting bigger! And, More Expensive! Argggh!! I'm totally overwhelmed by my list and I don't know where to start.

Sometimes when I get overwhelmed like this I have to say to myself, "Get up and just do something!"

So, I thought I'd type it in addition to saying it out loud. Maybe that will motivate me.

I really would like to just sit and stamp for fun without a to-do list. Send some motivational thoughts my way!

Be back later....

A quick tag time!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to check in and say hi! Kittie tagged me also, so I wanted to say a virtual HI to her and respond to her tag.

This tag is another round of "7 Random Facts About Me" so I'll add a few more random facts about me that are holiday related.

1. I used to be so obsessive/compulsive about my holiday decorating. Everything had to match and coordinate. Now, I let the kids have at it and decorate however they want. Nothing matches and we have both white and colored lights on the tree. I think it looks great!

2. I am not at all creative at the holidays. I'm in too much of a hurry. I just use techniques and templates that I'm comfortable with and get it done fast! I always go back to my favorite stamp sets, City of David and Cold Play. Sorry, my holiday posts and photos will not be that creative!

3. Both my parents and my in-laws live within one hour of me! No traveling on the holidays!!! woo hoo!!!

4. I bought my own Christmas presents this year and last year. Last year, my hubby was in Iraq, and this year, he travels almost constantly, even on weekends sometimes. So, this year, I let him off the hook and I bought myself a coat and I'm getting plantation shutters. Works for me!

5. I did ask my husband to take me out on a real date for a Christmas present. He had to plan it all. None of this, 'where do you want to go?' 'I don't know, where do YOU want to go?' He has to do all of the planning and take me out like the good old days before we had kids.

6. I have red snowflake flannel pj's that I bought for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. I wanted to look festive on the holiday video! (pathetic, huh?) I also buy my children cute pj's to wear on Christmas Eve so we all look festive on the Christmas morning video. I'm never sure what my husband will put on. He's the wild card in the family.

7. I would really like to have a Christmas where I don't hear about anyone else who has a tumor, or any type of cancer scare. I just hear the words tumor and cancer too many times these days. I just visited a friend today who had a HUGE tumor growing around her ovary. They removed it as well as her ovary and some other fibroid tumors. She's doing well fortunately, and another aquaintance of mine also had a recent scare, and she's recovering well. I'm praying for them both as well as their families that they both heal quickly and have a Merry Christmas!

I'm not sure who to tag at this point. I'll blog hop and see who has not been tagged. It's time for bedtime stories with the kids here. Night night!

Offline for a bit...

Hi everyone. I'm packing tonight for a scrapbooking retreat with the girls. I always love these retreats, but I hate packing for them! Choosing which accessories and supplies to pack is like Sophie's Choice. So, I end up packing EVERYTHING! My minivan is stuffed with supplies. If I got into a wreck, I can only imagine the looks on the first responders' faces at the contents of my car.

Still nursing a sinus infection. Hopefully the meds will kick in and not compromise my creativity this weekend!

See you next week!

Ugh...too sick to stamp

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. I was a bit feverish last night, and my head is splitting. Ugh.

I have a stamp retreat this weekend, so cross your fingers that I'm feeling better soon so I can stamp with my friends this weekend!!!!

Kerry, I read your comment about cutting for cards. I totally agree. My stamp space is just too messy to pull out that side thingy!

Have a great everyone. Stay healthy!

Cutting for Cards

Hi everyone! I'm cleaning house and prepping for upcoming stamp classes, but I want to quickly answer a question that a reader asked.

Marty asked why I cut my cards vertically. Frankly, I don't have a good answer for that other than I just like to shake things up a bit sometimes. I do vertical and horizontal cards and I turn them up and sideways depending on my mood.

What can I say? I'm just quirky like that! : )

I've got to get back to cleaning, then I wanna stamp tonight and watch TV. Tune in later for more cards!

Sketch Challenge Correction

Ok, here's my sketch challenge correction. In my previous post, I altered the sketch a bit, so on this one, I got it right!

Supplies: Baroque Motifs, Star Studded Season, and Sanded BG stamps; Baroque Burgundy, River Rock inks; SU Burgundy grosgrain and True Thyme (retired) ribbon; Burgundy, River Rock and Vanilla cardstock.

By the way, I discovered that True Thyme is a nice compliment to River Rock!

Ok, now I'm really gettin' off this computer!

Card Buffet Sketch

This morning is a glorious morning! I woke up and had no where to go!!!! No school, no errands (except a quick supermarket run later) and no phone calls! So, I stamped!

I've got a Card Buffet coming up on Monday night, so I combined today's sketch challenge with my Card Buffet supplies and came up with this card.

Details: (all Stampin' Up!) City of David and Star Studded Season stamp sets, Baroque Burgundy, Vanilla, and Dashing paper. Baroque ribbon, punches and dimensionals.

Easy peasy card, beautiful results. This is definitely a candidate for my Christmas card this year! Now, I'm signing off so I can go stamp and enjoy my day off!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Featured Stamper Papermoon04!

Good morning everyone! I woke up early today and immediately logged on to Splitcoaststampers.com to see who the Featured Stamper is! It's papermoon04 AKA Shelly and her gallery is here.

She always comments in my gallery and is super sweet! Here's my tribute to her fabulous gallery! I cased this card. I changed a few things like the shade of pink and I used Chocolate Chip and Au Chocolate SU paper (retired). I also lowered the scalloped element.

First, I stamped Tres Chic in Pixie Pink on a Pink Passion card base. I then markered the round stamp from In the Spotlight with Pink Passion and Chocolate Chip markers on Very Vanilla paper. I punched it out with the SU scallop punch, and then punched out a scallop mat with my Marvy punch on Chocolate Chip cardstock.

The strip of paper is Chocolate Chip and Au Chocolate DP. I wrapped some ribbon around that strip and knotted it. Then I tied some more ribbon around the knot and hung a charm from one of the local craft stores around here (can't remember which one) from the ribbon.

I am extremely pleased with the final result, and these challenges on splitcoast are helping me find my mojo! Go try one for yourself!

Have a great day!

Quick Gift and some cards!

My MIL is cooking on Thanksgiving Day so I thought I'd give her a little something to show my appreciation. I have a TON of Christmas paper lying around from past Michaels Slabs so I covered a Michaels wooden frame and had some leftovers to make 3x3's for future gifts.

I'm not particularly fond of Mod Podge, but this project was fairly quick and painless.

1. Measure your paper to fit on the frame. I work in thirds, so I picked a piece of paper for the top two thirds, and a piece for the bottom third. Trace out the center opening and trim the paper.

2. Paint the back and sides of the frame to match the paper if you'd like. I took my paper to Michaels to find a matching acryllic paint.

3. When the paint is dry apply a thin coat of modpodge to the frame and place your patterned paper onto the frame. When the mod podge is dry, use a sanding block to sand off any rough edges and to give a nice smooth edge. My favorite sanding block is one you get at a home improvement store.

4. Touch up with paint if you got a little crazy with the sanding. : )

5. Optional: add a top coat of mod podge if you'd like. I've done it with and without the top coat, and I prefer it without, but in my house, things get dirty and little fingers touch everything, so I'll top coat anything that goes in my house.

Click on the photo to see a closer look at the details if you'd like. I kept this frame pretty simple. I wanted the photo to be the star of the show on this frame.

Thanks for checking it out!

Adapt and Recycle!

Sometimes I have leftovers from classes or workshops that I want to use up before I cut more cardstock. So, this week, I took some pink and green cardstock leftovers (see back card) and adapted them to make a winter card. I'm really pleased with the results, and I hope you are inspired to do the same!

The card in the back uses Bud Basics stamps from SU along with Sincere Salutations. The card in the front uses a newer SU set called Snowfall. I added a little rhinestone brad to the center of the snowflake, and the Ticket Corner Punch adds a bit of interest as well.

Both cards have a Pretty in Pink base, a Certainly Celery panel behind the white stamped panel. I used Classic Black ink to stamp the sentiment and the snowflakes are stamped in Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery.

Today, I've got to start my Christmas shopping list! In years past, I've made my big ticket list for electronics, etc and I shop online in my pj's early Black Friday morning. I usually find the cameras or electronics that I want at Sears online. I have no idea what everyone in my family wants this year. I think I'll be making more homemade gifts this year!

Have a great day everyone!

SC150 Beautiful Season sketch!

Hi everyone! Here's a quick post before work!

Today's card is for sketch challenge 150 on splitcoaststampers.com. I used some retired stamps from SU called Beautiful Season. I love that set, but the detail intimidates me. I used my SU markers to color each section of the stamp. Then I realized that I should have stamped on Vanilla instead of white cardstock, so I sponged Close to Cocoa all over to tone down the white.

The card base is Always Artichke with some old Holiday Slab patterned DP from Michaels over it. The card is 5 1/4 square. That pretty much does it for the details. I tied some pretty chocolate ribbon to finish it off. The ribbon is also from Michaels. It comes in several colors. I love the picot edge!

Gotta go to work! See you later this week!

Featuring Stampowl!

This morning, I took a few moments and participated in splitcoast's Featured Stamper Challenge. Today, we were challenged to case a card by Stampowl. Her card is here.

On my card, I used Bundle Up stamp set on whisper white cardstock. I inked up the sweater in Rose Red and used a Basic Black marker to accent the sweater collar and trim. I stamped snowflakes with Rose Red as well. The card base is Basic Black and I used a Rose Red Designer Print panel on the card base. Very simple card.

I also used my SU ticket corner punch as well as the Word Window punch for the sentiment. The sentiment is from the newer Snowfall stamp set by SU. I added a strip of basic black under the gingham ribbon so the ribbon would pop a bit more.

I'm off to run errands and spend time with the family before my husband travels for the week. He travels a lot, so our weekends are precious!

Have a great day everyone!

Quick Sketch

Here's a quick card for today's Sketch Challenge on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/. This was an easy card to make and didn't take much time at all. I am not the best at coloring in images, but I learned on Nicole Heady's blog how easy it is to color in without streaks on Stampin' Up's kraft cardstock. I just used my Stampin' Up! Many Marvelous Markers as well as the SU white gel pen and I'm pleased with the results!

I stamped the Dotted BG stamp on Real Red Cardstock with Ruby Red ink. Then, I used a scrap from an old Christmas slab of paper for the green strip along with a black mat. The diamonds are made with an SU punch and I trimmed the one inch kraft squares. The Santa and the snowflake are from my favorite set, Holiday Tag Team by Stampin' Up! The ribbon is misc grosgrain. I also used Stampin' Up's ticket corner punch on the Santa panel.

Thanks for stopping by!
Vera

Sketch Challenge

Hi again! Here is my card for the splitcoast sketch challenge today. This card is a five minute card and I made it before I went to work this morning. I used a scrap of Brilliant Blue DP from SU and a Wild Wasabi card base.

That's it for today. DH needs some office space here at the house, so I'm clearing the desk for him. We'll be sharing an office for a while. So, I promised him that I'd keep the stamp stuff off the desk for him!

Supplies:
Stamps: Simple Stripe, Season of Joy and non SU sentiment
Paper: Brilliant blue DP, wild wasabi, real red and white
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Black
Accessories: non SU ribbon, Marvy punch

Party Favors

Here are the completed party favors. I really enjoyed making these. My favorite part is the felt flowers. I had a lot of fun picking out felt colors and running them through my Big Shot die cutter.

At the top, you'll see the pink notebook in the cello bag. I used a gussetted cello bag with shredded paper, a bit of candy and the notebook. I'll bag all of the notebooks and put them in a basket.

Gotta go finish prepping for the party. We're going to Dish it Out, a paint-your-own-pottery place for the party. I'm bringing the favors, food, and a cookie cake. They do the rest!

Have a great Sunday!

The Elusive Family Photo

Yesterday, we took a day trip into Blowing Rock, NC. The weather was beautiful, and we saw amazing Fall color on the trees. I thought I'd take the opportunity to get the Perfect Family Photo. Maybe I'd get lucky and get my photo Christmas cards done early!

Every year, I get everyone dressed up for the dreaded Family Photo. Lots of weeping and gnashing of teeth. DH has no patience, my children make funny faces to antagonize me, and I resort to threatening and bribing everyone to participate!

This photo was taken by my mom, and it's ok. I'm hoping that her camera has some good shots too. I didn't realize that the sun was in my face, but otherwise, the colors are really pretty.

I guess I'll dress up the kids later this month in their holiday attire and try again. Not sure if DH will go for it, but I'll keep trying to get the Perfect Family Photo!