I've been playing with the camera...

I love this girl...

Little Treasure Box

I told ya I'm on a MM kick! I need to figure out a good way to use up all the little scraps I have still, though. This little box was just too cute to pass up. I bought it last week at my LSS. (Speaking of that... Memories in Bloom just started their very own blog! Stop on over, and tell Georgie I sent ya.) Okay, back to the little box... isn't it the cutest little thing. I used up some of my fuzzy rub-ons from Heidi Swapp that I've had forever. They're such a bugger to work with, but I do love the outcome if only I can be patient. I think I'm going to fill this little thing up with all of my favorite MM flowers and buttons, so they'll be at hand when I need them. They're currently in a cello bag right now. That's no fun, but this little treasure chest is. I feel like a little kid with a secret hiding place for my favorite little things. Heehee!

Arts & Craps

My craft space was dubbed the "Arts & Craps" room quite some time ago. I think it was my dad who coined the phrase for my hobby way back in elementary school when I initially began crafting construction paper mosaics and pop-up cards. In fact, my mom still has the first Valentine card I ever designed from way back in 1992. That was second grade. I made a butterfly out of different sized heart shapes and a few doodles. It's pretty lame, but I guess I was feelin' it at the time. Anyhow, I found this 47-cent doorknob hanger at the local craft chain a while back, but just this afternoon it started calling to me. As you can tell, I'm kinda on a Making Memories kick. The other two projects I made today are also from MM. Gotta love it!

Old School

One of my old high school friends just posted a picture on her site of all of us in theatre class. It's hilarious! I think we're freshman in this picture. I just can't stop laughing!

Tagged

Oh, Michelle, is SOOO UBER SWEET! She became an instant friend through blogging since she's apart of the Army family, and she lives in TEXAS! Who doesn't love that? She tagged me on her blog yesterday morning, too. I've been pretty lame on the blog tags lately, but I think I need to start sharing the virtual hugs again, so here goes.... THE RULES!!! 1. Only five people allowed. 2. Four of them have to be dedicated followers of your blog. One has to be new and live in another part of the world. 3. You have to link back to who gave you the award. Number one HAS to be my best friend, Debbie! Estivalia of course has to be on the list too. We both started blogging around the same time, and she's become one of my closest friends although she lives all the way in Chile! Oh, and Lauren! We went to middle school and high school together. I think we even went to the same elementary school. I love this girl!!! Let's not forget Marie! She's a military girl too, so of course she's THE COOLEST! Hmmm... I need one more person whom is new and from a different part of the world... I just spent over an hour searching for someone ANYONE to add to my list, but I'm still drawing a blank. Does anyone out there have a suggestion???

Elephant Card

I'm totally in love with the Animal Crackers collection from Making Memories. I love all this glittered stuff. Whatever kind of thing they did to make the glitter not fall off of the paper is genius. Ironically, Brad is the one who gave it to me for my birthday back in May. I'm just now getting around to it though. I'm always scared to use the stuff I love. I just want to have it forever! I love all the little die cut animals that came in the embellishment kit too. I think I want to do a series around these little animals. The little box came with tons of stuff, but I only have three sheets of cardstock. I need more!

Stampin' Up! Sale

From August 11-September 30, enjoy a 15% discount on select brand-new, die-cut stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog--no additional purchase necessary!

Click here to see a larger flyer.

Click here to see the NEW CATALOG!

Fort Knox

I'm off to Fort Knox again. As usual I'm feeling uber creative right when I have to leave. I'll be back on Thursday though. I have to leave Lilly with Brad. It's too late to change that arrangement. I was supposed to have dinner with him last night and drop off Lilly since I have to leave at the butt crack of dawn, but he texted me at the last minute to say he has a date that might run late, so he'll have to get her in the morning. I guess he's was expecting to break out the "party hats" or something. Ew!!! (I hear you, Debbie!) I'm so angry. I always complain about my horrible dates and being stood up. He calls those guys "jerks" which always makes me feel better, but I think he's the jerk now. I'm only sorry I blow-dried my hair. Anyhow, here's a sneak peek for you...

Van Gogh

I've always loved the Lollipop Shoppe collection from Basic Grey, but I've been hoarding this paper for way too long. I don't think they even make it anymore. Anyhow, as soon as I saw the new Making Memories glittered die cut shapes from the Noteworthy Collection I knew I had to dig it up. I just love all those bright fun colors. I've been on a card kick lately preparing for a craft show, so I decided to make a little altered box. I wanted it to be a place perhaps that a little girl could keep fun little things like notes, jewelry, or other doo-dads. I'm not sure exactly what I'll do with it though.... how about turning it into a coordinating card kit? I do have tons of paper and embellies left, so why not?

Cards

Woo! Hoo! The September issue of Cards is finally out! It seemed to take so long for this book to come out. I submitted my card way back in April. (You can catch up on the previous details here and here.) I haven't received my copy of the book yet, so I'm still anxious about seeing my card in print. I really hope it didn't end up on the cutting room floor. The post office can't work fast enough. Someone hurry up, and find a copy to let me know. Ahh! It's killing me!

Quickutz

I'm just not using my Quickutz the way I used to, so I'm downsizing my collection. My old stamp sets will be the next to go. If you're interested you can check it out here.

Nutrisystem

Okay, so my Nutrisystem came yesterday! That was really fast. I cleaned out my entire cupboard. I threw out everything that was expired (oops!), and put the rest in a box for the food pantry. My pantry is completely stocked now though. I can't spare an extra inch! I do have small cupboards though. It's quite annoying. I only have two skinny drawers in my kitchen too. I hate that! One for silverware and one for towels. The rest of my kitchen utensils are crammed into a jar on the counter. I guess I'll need to take a photo now, huh? Anyhow, the only food I've tried so far was the fudge brownie. The flavor isn't terrible, but it's so stinkin' sticky. It's kinda like eating a wad of peanut butter. It's definitely filling though! :-) I think I'm going to see if the Weight Watchers cakes and cookies are a comparable substitue based on calories and fat sorta stuff. They expire way more quickly than the Nutrisystem, but that just makes me think they're more fresh!

Something New

I ordered this yesterday.

Samantha

Remember Samantha? I introduced her in this post. Well, she's here! She came up to Tennessee for a four-day weekend. Today we went to the Adventure Science Center in Nashville, but first stopped for some BBQ and finished off the day with a stop at an old fashioned ice cream parlor and a souvenir shop. We also did some crafting. Her big sis, Chelsea, is off to college this fall, so we decided to make a picture frame for her dorm room. Samantha picked out all the colors, and I assembled the project out of a broken Goodwill frame. I designed it to be used vertically or horizontally. It didn't have any glass, so instead I attached a clip with a brad so she can change the picture easily as often as she changes boyfriends! Hmmm... maybe I'm thinking of my own dating life. Oh, and that's still as lame as ever if you're wondering. I'm still signed up for four different dating sites with meager results so far. I've had dates here and there, but they seem more self-obligatory. I have to convince myself more and more that I need to keep myself in the game rather than being unrealistic in thinking Mr. Right will just happen to knock on my door because he needed to use a tire iron after his car got a flat in my culdosac while en route to the emergency room where he's a medical intern. He also has a Yorkie and arranges flowers for the elderly on the weekends. Oh, and he loves his scrapbooking mother. Anyway... here's the frame: