Stamp & Scrap Arts

Ooo! I'm on a roll! I just got an email from Stamp & Scrap Arts magazine asking for a short bio and head shot for a feature in their magazine. Does anyone subscribe or read that publication? I admit I just happened to pick it up at our local Walmart one day while Vince was looking at woodworking and handyman type magazines. I figured it was a wild shot since I'm not really a "stamper". I know, I know... I'm the "Stampin' Soldier", but I just don't stamp much these days. I really don't know what my handle should be any more. I'm not going to be a Soldier much longer anyhow either, so then my blog name really won't represent me. It's weird thinking that I'm getting closer and closer to the edge of feeling like I don't know who I'm supposed to be in this world. I don't know how to explain the upheaval that's going through me right now. It's like grieving the loss of a loved one, only the one I'm loosing is me.

XOXO Design Team

Did you notice my new "blinkie" over on the left-hand sidebar?! It's true! I've been invited to be a Lipstick Chick for the XOXO challenge blog. Go on over, check it out, and let me know what you think! The first challenge I'll be participating in will be posted here and of course on their blog along with all the other design team members' projects on the 7th of November. I hope you'll play along with me!

Little Cutie

Snowflake Cards

 

Today is a Gift

I won quite a bit of Christmas paper not too long ago, so I thought I'd better start using it. I also threw some in a couple of the boxes for the winners of my last blog candy. Have you started on your holiday card making yet?

Pumpkin Patch

Well, we went to the pumpkin patch yesterday. It was a disappointment really. It was a true testament to great advertising. They got our money, but the place was really just a big dust bowl. I didn't capture too many photos, but here are a few...

Flower Mini

Well, here's the last card I made using the one piece of 12x12 double sided card stock. It's not a full size card since I didn't have too much left over. It's a little 3x3 mini. I really like all the cards that came out this past week. They're all so fun and cheery! It was great to use up one whole piece of paper like that. I think I'll put myself up to that challenge again soon. Have you ever used up an entire sheet of paper?

Early Bird

I love the saying on this American Crafts sticker, but I'm not really sure I get it. For some reason I just think of morning breath, and how I would rather not be the early bird if that's what it really means.

Happy Birthday Card

Yep, I'm still making cards with the same piece of paper. I punched out some of the flowers on the cards with the little scraps 'n bits. There are still two more to go!



Hey Card

I'm really diggin' this card for some reason. Do you ever make a card that you're just really into, or do you always love/hate what ends up coming out? Strangely, the stuff I really love always ends up being the stuff no one else does! :-)

Hello Beautiful

This die cut title made making this card way too easy. Maybe it needs a little bling though...

A Little Birdie

Well, I tried to enjoy a free day off from work yesterday, but not too much. I tried to clean up a bit around here because my grandparents are visiting from Texas! They haven't seen Ethan yet, so I'm really excited. Oh, here's just another card I made with that one piece of double sided patterned paper I picked up the other day. I have three or four more that I'm going to schedule for posting this week, so not to leave you empty-handed while I entertain. I just hate to sit here on the computer while I have visitors. :-)

Two Months

At two months he...
can hold his own bobble head up.
smiles and laughs at funny noises and faces.
ends up on the other side of the crib after naps.

pushes up onto his elbows when on his tummy.

gets fussy if he's not propped into a sitting position.

really likes to stand up with support.

slept through the night once about a week ago.

eats up to 6 ounces at one time.

loves bath time.

hates having his shirts pulled over his face.

still makes tons of hilarious faces.

Friend Always

I finally got to stop by my dear friend, Beverly's scrapbook store recently. She and her husband built it from scratch while I was deployed to Afghanistan this past year. It's about 40 minutes away from my house, so the trip there has been on delay especially since having the baby. I picked up tons of yummy stuff, and I'm already ready to go back. Anyway, Beverly and I met at a local scrapbook store years ago just down the street from my house, but it closed just recently along with a handful of other craft stores in the immediate area. (So sad!) Anyway, I'd like to share with you what I picked up and what I made with it. The first thing I picked up was a double sided sheet of My Mind's Eye card stock. It's just so cute with the floral on one side and polka dot on the other! Double sided card stock is the greatest invention ever. I ended up making four cards out of it right away, and I still have a good amount left over that I'll keep working with until I run out. I'm determined to use up what I have before I move on to the next thing. Oh, I also got the little die cut journaling piece too. I ended up cutting in in half though to make it go further. I stitched around the border too. That part took me way too long. I think I'll leave the other half as is on the next card. Whew! :-) Anyway, why don't you swing on over to Beverly's blog, leave her some bloggy lovin' and don't forget to tell her I sent you!

ACAP

Well, I've officially started the ACAP (Army Career & Alumni Program) process. You can start it as soon as a year out from the end of your service term. Mine is next August, but as you know I've spent that past two months practicing my new mommy skills. The first day I went was just registration and orientation to the services available throughout the process. The first workshop I signed up for was a three-day seminar about going back into the workforce. It focused on interviews, job skills, pay scales, interviews, and resumes. I don't feel like I've been out of the "real" world that long, but I guess it has been about 8 years now. Sheesh! The guy giving the course started off making me feel optimistic and excited about everything, but as the next two days passed I now feel scared and super worried about what's out there. I just feel like I'm worth anything or prepared for the outside world. He also stressed how bad the job market was. Have you ever seen the movie The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith? If you haven't you really should, and you have you should really watch it again. It really expresses how this course made me feel. Below is the movie trailer.

Best Friends Forever Card

(Look for this card in the April 2011 issue of CARDS magazine!)

Happy World Card Making Day!!!

Winner Day!!!

Well, going to back to work was no fun at all! I left Ethan with Amber again. (Thank you! Thank you!) I'm getting used to him being right next door with someone I know and trust.  It's such a stress-reliever.  My biggest issue with the child care places has been the smoking policy.  Everyone seems to think that going outside to smoke and just washing your hands afterwards is okay.  It's NOT!  Can't you still smell the smoke in your clothes after you've put out your cigarette?  Yes? Then it's still there!  I don't want anyone holding my baby who's skin, hair and clothes are smoldering with toxins. Can you blame me? Ethan can be cured from a cold and immunized against a plethora of respiratory illnesses, but second and third hand smoke effects are not something you can cure or take back. Grrr!  Okay. On to what I really meant to blog about...

And the WINNERS are.....

Wednesday:

 april said...

wow, this card is amazing!

Thursday:

Marie said...

A fun and happy card! Love it, Laura!

Friday:

Cindi said...

love this card! those clouds are so cute!! is it a stamp or paper? :)

Saturday:

Keva said...

Pretty colors! Lovely.

Sunday:

Jennifer E. said...

Beautiful Thank you card! I love that ribbon and the yummy flower treatment you added!

Monday:

Sheri said...

Sugar and Spice - cute! You've got snips and snails and puppy dog tails, though, right? {grin}

Tuesday:

Joanne Gilch said...

Laura, the wee notes are so cute and wonderful. You really need to update us on the "who's watching Ethan?" saga. Seems we all want to know.

Wednesday:

Mamma has spoken said...

Well....I came to your blog because you were in Afganistan around the same time my son was. I enjoyed the pictures you took of the base because even though he wasn't at your base, it still made me feel like I knew where he was. Sounds goofy I know but that year of my life was hard. He couldn't share pictures of where he was due to security (he was at one of those way out there out posts) I stay and follow you because it now seems like I know you but not in a 'stalker' type way ;o)

I feel your pain on childcare. When I had the sons, I had family members who were willing to watch them up. But then they started new jobs, went back to school and I was left not knowing who to call. I ended up with a parent of a student and was totally happy with them. I hope you can find someone soon who makes it to where you're not worried while you are at work.

And the Google Reader winner is...

Barbara DeBose

Congrats, Ladies!!! Just send me an email with your mailing address, and just wait for the goodies to come!