Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Getting Dotty...

I have been playing with the Miss Dotty Alphabet kit from Unity Stamp Company. This is such a fun set and the absolute perfect size for scrapbooking. It is also REALLY easy to cut out which I love!



This layout was done with some photos that I took while Kara was doing her photo shoot with Kat.


Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Miss Dotty Alphabet kit
*K&Company Amy Butler papers
*Scenic Route paper (grid)
*Making Memories epoxy embellishments
*Prima flowers
*Martha Stewart Border punch (don't you just love that punch!!!)
*buttons



This is a card that I created using the same stamp kit. The little cake comes from the Little Labels 2 kit.
Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Miss Dotty Alphabet kit
*Unity Stamp Company Little Labels 2 kit
*Pink Paislee papers and die cut
*Marth Stewart Zigzag border punch
*CTMH Cocoa inkpad
*ribbon


Junior is home...under house arrest, but home. He and Kat both seem to be doing fine...although I am being very careful to keep them separate. :)


And don't forget...Please come play with my 500th post contest!!!
smiles,
Christi

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Post #500!!!!!!!!!!


When I started this blog, it was actually not an intentional thing. I went to comment on someone else’s blog and ended up with one of my very own. I quickly came to love it, but for purely selfish reasons…it gave me incentive to stay creative. You all know…I LOVE TO CREATE! But even as much as I love it, it can become really easy NOT to do it. This blog became my incentive to stay creative on a regular basis.

A HUGE thing that happened along the way is that I met all of you who then became my wonderful friends and support. The blogging community is a wonderful little world and I cannot thank you enough for adding me into your blogging routine. So as a very small thank you and to celebrate my 500th post as well as my daughter, Kat’s, first birthday, we are going to have a creative contest. (You knew that you were going to have to do a bit of creating here too didn’t you?)

There are three challenges to the contest (one main challenge and two challenges within a challenge):

Challenge 1.....
This is pretty basic…CREATE… using a Creative Prompt. The creative prompt can be from my CP blog, an old post on here, or even a CP that you find on your own. I just want you to create using something else as inspiration. What to create? That is ENTIRELY up to you! Use your imagination, but create something…it can be a gorgeous meal, a beautiful flower arrangement for your spouse, a photo of your kids, or something like the stuff that I create everyday. It simply must be inspired by something else. Try to stretch yourself.

Challenge 2.....
A.) You all know that I like to create (have I said that enough yet? LOL!) But there are times when I want to create something out of the norm for me and a lot of the time, that involves fictional writing. I find that by doing something totally different with the creative side of my brain, it really frees my creative process up when I am feeling a bit blocked creatively.

Recently I started a story and then abandoned it for another storyline, but I think that there is still a good story here. My challenge to you is to finish what I have started here. It can be as long or as short as you want…just play with some creative writing.

She rolled over and felt the tickle of sunlight roll over her eyelashes as it peeked through her polka dot organza curtains. With a groan, Cassie opened one eyelid hoping that it was just a cruel trick, but no, the sun was creeping up over the horizon. The day was going to happen whether she was ready for it or not. Her eyes fell on the black dress that she and her mother had set out the night before and a wave of panic spread through her. How had she gotten here?
It had actually begun on a day that had started a lot like this one just two years before….

or...
B.) A part of this is the fact that Kat is turning one year old on May 15th. Your challenge here is to do something creative with the number one…what to create? Again that is entirely up to how you feel inspired to create.

The details:
I need proof of your entry. You can either send that proof to my email at snowchris_01@yahoo.com or you can post it on your blog and link us up here. I think that photos will work for most instances except for the writing and then I need you to email me what you have written (or post it to your blog.)
Entries are due by midnight Wednesday, May 14th.
Winners will be announced on my blog on Thursday, May 15th.
You can enter as many times as you want to create something. For each entry, you will earn another tag with your name on it in the random drawing.
There will be four winning categories:
A.) random winner from challenge 1…Unity Stamp kit of your choice
B.) random winner from challenge 2…PageMaps book.
C.) my favorite entry… Unity stamp kit of your choice and some other prizes yet to be determined.
D.) family winner…I know that I have lots of family members that lurk around here and I want you all to play too. So I have a special category for you. Just complete one or more of the challenges, and you will be entered in the family random drawing for a $25 gift card to Texas Roadhouse. This means all you guys too…dad included!

smiles,

Christi

Friday, April 25, 2008

Stress begets MORE stress...

You all know the situation with Junior, the cat. He's not doing well. In fact, he may be dying so I am doing everything in my power to keep him happy. One of the things that makes him happy is to sleep with Kat. He doesn't actually sleep with her, he sleeps on the changing table at the end of her bed. There she messes with him, which normally he loves. You all have seen the pictures. He sits there and purrs up until the point where she hurts him and then he will usually give her a warning scratch which is usually the end of it (and let me just state here, that he VERY RARELY actually scratches or hurts her... I would say it's definitely been less than 10 times in the last 11 months of her life.)

Yesterday morning, I had put her in bed. He was asleep on the changing table. She was pretty much asleep when I put her in there so I figured that she would just roll over and go back to sleep. The next thing I knew, she was screaming. He had gotten her...at the time, I didn't know if it was a bite or scratch and quite honestly she was much less dramatic about it then normal so I cleaned it up and didn't worry too much about it.

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon, Junior got up from his nap and seemed to be having difficulty breathing so we rushed him into the Vet where he was hospitalized. His respitory infection still is present and giving him issues.

I showed the Vet Kat's hand and she said that it was definitely a bite and that I needed to get her into the emergency room because it was definitely going to get infected (it sounds like most cat bites do.) So we left there in the late afternoon, made a quick swing home to get bottles and pj's on and headed towards the emergency room with Kat.


By the time we got to see a doctor, Kat's hand was looking pretty vicious so the Vet was absolutely correct. So now Kat is on antibiotics. Her hand is looking better today and quite honestly has NEVER seemed to bother her...she is using it just as much as ever.

Now the newest stress is that while there last night, I had to fill out a form that said I had 24 hours to surrender Junior to the base vet for a 10-day quarantine. Do the words "over my dead body" mean anything? He is completely up on his shots, having his own medical issues, and is entirely an indoor cat and I wrote on the form that it would not be happening. So we will see what happens. Unfortunately, I live on a military base and when you live in the military you don't have rights like the rest of the world. I may have a serious battle on my hands over this one, but we will just have to wait and see if they pursue it. I am thinking that it may be a good idea to leave Junior in the hospital over the weekend just as a precaution... can we say STRESS!


Now onto something more pleasant...want to see another buggy card?

Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Buzzin Around kit
*Making Memories papers (available at Target)
*American Crafts ribbon
*buttons
*colored pencils
*K&Company glitter


Oooops, I almost forgot to tell you guys about this week's Unity Stamp Company gift of the week. Go comment on the blog before Tuesday to be eligible for this week's drawing. Everything goes live next week...it's all very exciting!!! Oh, and go take a look at some fun samples using this set on Laura's and Jimmi's blogs (they should be up by the end of the day.)

This is post #499! #500 should be tomorrow...

smiles,
Christi

Thursday, April 24, 2008

It's getting buggy around here...

Welcome to post #498...don't forget to be on the lookout for post #500...

I have just a quick card to share with you today. Like yesterday's project, this one features those cute little bugs from Unity Stamp Company's Buzzin Around kit.


Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Buzzin Around kit
*Collage Press papers
*Doodlebug alpha stickers
*ribbon
*Prima flowers
*colored pencils
*K&Company glitter
*silver brads
*Ranger Archival black inkpad
I appreciate all the good thoughts that you have been sending Junior. Unfortunately, things don't look very good after the ultrasound. He could have an infection (which is unlikely since he just came off antibiotics...unless it is a really bad infection) or he could be in heart or kidney failure. They have a cardiologist looking at the tests now to see what he thinks. Then we will test his kidneys next week....
I love what Shimelle is planning here...
smiles,

Christi

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Thoughts from Wednesday...

I am so excited. I have been creating my ATC's (altered trading cards) for Amy's ATC swap. I love the design of them, but can't share that with you yet, so I will just give you a glimpse of some of the elements. They were inspired by Creative Prompt #45.



And now a layout to share...


I used the Unity Stamp Company Buzzin Around kit for this project. I was trying to make the cards with the bugs look like little flashcards, but I don't think that I was too successful. ...maybe if I had added letters in the corners...


This is another one of those gorgeous photos that my Sister in Law, Kara, took when we were home.

Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Buzzin Around kit
*Autumn Leaves paper (floral)
*Collage Press paper (pink polka)
*Scenic Route paper (graph
*Prima flowers
*American Crafts ribbon
*K-Ology alpha stickers
*Heidi Swapp bling
*Fiskars Threading water border punch

Junior is at the Vet's right now getting his ultrasound done so cross your fingers...

This is post #497...don't forget, I will have a contest/celebration announcement on post #500.
smiles,
christi

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Housekeeping...

This is post #496 for this blog...that means that I am VERY quickly coming up on post #500. We are also less than a month away from Kat's first birthday...SO that means that we are going to be having a celebration/contest on here. I will announce all the details on my 500th post (I promise you that it will be this week) and then all the winners (yes, I said that in the plural) will be announced on Kat's birthday, May 15th. It's going to be worth your while to play along so keep an eye out here. Oh, and I know that I have lots of family members who lurk on here...I am going to have a special category for you all! :o)


And now a bit of art to share with you. These are some more Unity Stamp Company projects. These use that same Circle of Thanks kit that I used on the layout that I posted yesterday.

Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Circle of Thanks kit
*K& Company paper
*Prima flowers
*American Crafts ribbon
*Marvy Uchida Scallop Punch (the pink one)
*StazOn Timber Brown inkpad

Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Circle of Thanks kit
*Bazzill cardstock
*Making Memories journaling paper
*Prima Flowers
*brads
*StazOn Timber Brown inkpad
In other news, Kat has started dancing...no walking yet, but if she hears any music on tv, she is definitely shaking that groove thing...it's so darn cute!!!

Junior seems to be feeling a bit better this morning. I actually got him to purring and I couldn't get him to do that at all last night. I am still crossing all my fingers and toes there. Either something is seriously wrong with him or he is a bit mental and for those of you with cats, you know that it could easily go either way. :)

Don't forget...be sure that you are around for post #500!!

smiles,
Christi

Monday, April 21, 2008

Giving Thanks....

I just have a quick layout to share with you this evening. This is a layout that I created using Unity Stamp Company's Circle of Thanks kit. The photos were done by my Sister in Law, Kara. When we were home, she took the kids out several times and took photos of them. My order from those wonderful photo shoots came in Saturday and I have been hedging over which one's to scrapbook first. Since I needed to do a layout with these stamps, this just seemed like a natural fit.

Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Circle of Thanks kit
*Bazzill
*Prima flowers
*Making Memories button brads and metal embellishment
*Marvy Uchida Scalloped Circle punch (the pink one)
*Rhonna Farrer shaped paper

The main background paper on this has been created using the stamps and the tip of my Burt's Bee's Lip Balm. :o)

Junior, the cat, came home today. I was feeling rather positive with all of his reports from the hospital, but I am feeling much less so now that he is home. He has some more tests scheduled for Thursday so hopefully those will tell us something.

Don't forget to go over to the Unity Stamp Company blog to register for this week's free stamp kit drawing!!!!

smiles,
christi

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Halloween in April?

What? Don't you create your Halloween crafts this time of the year? :) I know, I know...Halloween is definitely not something that most of you are working on right now (unless you happen to be in the magazine business), but this set from Unity Stamp Company, Oh Spooky Day, was another of the stamp kits that I have gotten to play with this last week.


Supplies Used:
*Unity Stamp Company Oh Spooky Day
*Scenic Route Salem
*Bazzill
*Black StazOn inkpad
*Making Memories flowers
*Fiskars Threading Water Border punch



Supplies Used:
*Unity Stamp Company Oh Spooky Day
*Scenic Route Salem
*Black StazOn inkpad
*buttons
*Marvy Uchida Scalop punch


Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Oh Spooky Day
*Bazzill
*May Arts ribbon
*Queen & Co. flowers/brads
*Sharpie white poster pen
*Black StazOn
*Zig Writers

smiles,
Christi

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Crazy Week...

I apologize once again...it has just been a crazy week that culminated yesterday with hospitalizing Junior the cat. Starting out the day yesterday, I thought that we were going to be putting him to sleep if he didn't die before we got him to the vet.

We have been working on some medical issues with him ever since Ben left. Then when we kenneled him while I went to Texas, he picked up a respiratory infection and that has certainly not helped anything. But after 24 hours on IV and antibiotics, it looks like things are going better. Combine that with the fact that I had a "light-bulb" epiphany this morning after talking to the vet about his other issues, I think that we may have him on the road to recovery and psychological well-being (as well as a cat can get psychologically anyway...)

So now I can get back to concentrating on my business around here that needs to be taken care of...

First things first! Here is this week's giveaway set from Unity Stamp Company:

Isn't that a fun set?!?! I love it! You can see some super-cute samples made using it on Jen's blog. Don't forget to go comment on the Unity blog for your chance to win!!! And while you are there, be sure to order the handles. You can pre-order them now so that you will be all ready to go when the stamps start flowing into the stores.


I have been playing around with my stamps the last few days. Here are some samples using the Blissful Bride and Groom kit. One of the things that I love to do when I am making samples is to create things that you normally wouldn't consider when you look at them... so for this set, I created a couple of non-wedding items.

This is my little daily-list notebook for May/June. I just love that bouquet stamp esp. for this time of the year!
Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Blissful Bride & Groom kit
*Pink Paislee papers
*7gypsies gaffer tape
*Fiskars Threading Water border punch
*Marvy Uchida Scalloped Oval Punch (largest size)
*pink brads



I cannot tell you how long I have been looking for a fun/funky birthday cake stamp and I think that this one is perfect. I love it!
supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Blissful Bride & Groom kit
*Fancy Pants paper
*Rhonna Farrer ribbon
*7gypsies text paper
*American Crafts ribbon
*Bazzill cardstock
*white brads


And of course, I did have to do at least one traditional wedding card.
Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Blissful Bride & Groom kit
*7gypsies papers
*Bazzill cardstock
*May Arts Velvet rickrack
*MME journaling card
*small scallop scissors
I hope that you all are having a good weekend. I have some Halloween goodies to share within the next day or so...
smiles,
Christi

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Where have I been, you ask???

I did mention to you all how much that I have to do, right? Did you notice anywhere on that list was reading? I thought not. But yet, that is what I have been doing. These are my new obsession.


I made the mistake of picking up the first book, Twilight, while we were in Midland, but I have been so good since I have been back. But then last week, I got stressed and needed an escape and books are the perfect refuge, esp. these! If you haven't read them yet, you simply must (unless you have something else that you need to be getting done!) They are written for teens, but you would never guess that when reading them. I give them two huge thumbs up and am anxiously awaiting the release of the 4th book in August. They are also making a movie out of Twilight to be released in December.


But I have been creating too...I just haven't gotten anything new photographed yet. I have been having so much fun playing with my Unity Stamp Company projects. I will be posting some more of them tomorrow, but in the meantime, here is a card that I made while I was in Midland.


Supplies used:

*Hero Arts stamp and card kit

*Making Memories patterned paper

*StazOn Jet Black inkpad

I hope that you all are having a good week. I plan to do a bit of blog catching up in the next day or so since I have become so behind.

smiles, Christi

Monday, April 14, 2008

Having fun with the Wild, Wild West...

...the Wild, Wild West stamp set, that is. This is one of the stamps sets that I have been lucky enough to get to play with this week for Unity Stamp Company. Having just finished a trip to Texas, this is not at all what I had planned on doing with this set, but sometimes you just have to follow where your creative muse takes you.

This first project is a layout of me around the age of 1. I was on my way to the rodeo and it sounds like all my aunts (that's my Aunt Marcia with the supporting hands in the background) were having fun putting together my outfit. Is there any doubt where Kat gets her thighs? LOL!
Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Wild West stamp set
*Making Memories Chelsea's Place paper
*Basic Grey Boxer sticker and paper
*Heidi Grace flowers and label sticker
*Theresa Collins journaling block
*StazOn timber brown inkpad
*Heidi Swapp big flower
*Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch (the pink one)


This was a bare chipboard label-holder. I inked it with my red pigment ink and then stamped the stars from the set on top of it.
And a couple of cards....
Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Wild, Wild West stamp set
*Basic Grey Boxer papers and sticker
*brads
*ruffled trim
*Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch
For this card, I was inspired by this Cosmo Cricket paper. It has a very western look to it, but the pinks in it, tend to lend it to creating a more feminine card which is how I ended up with this interesting mix of supplies.
Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Wild, Wild West stamp set
*Cosmo Cricket paper
*Making Memories journaling block and gem brads
*Prima flowers
*lace trim
*rickrack
*StazOn Timber Brown inkpad
*Bazzill
Don't forget to head over to the Unity Stamp Company blog to be eligible for this week's free stamp set!!!
smiles,
Christi

Friday, April 11, 2008

Now you know...

...my dirty little secret. Kelly had asked what I do with all of my cards...
...that's pretty much it. Isn't that pathetic?!?! You can ask anyone in my family, I am the world's worst at sending cards. The only ones that actually make it out (usually) are the Christmas cards, but otherwise there they sit. Don't judge me. ;) But to prove that I am on my way to reforming... Kelly, email me your address and I will send one out to you (snowchris_01@yahoo.com).


And now to help wipe that ugly image from your mind, here is a bit of something pretty. :)
These were some photos that mom took in the Bury St. Edmunds gardens in England when they visited in 2003. I had to do an English layout with those Tea themed stamps.

Supplies Used:
*Unity Stamp Company A Moment of Tea set
*Scenic Route Laurel paper and alpha stickers
*Jenni Bowlin shaped paper and label
*Fiskars Threading water border punch
*Marvy Uchida Circle Scallop punch (pink one)
*Making Memories velvet flower brads and ribbon

The middle of this Tea for Two stamp is the perfect size to hold the Marvy Uchida Scallop punch (the pink one--second largest).



I hope that you all are having a good weekend. I am sitting here listening to my new washer/dryer running which normally is not something that I relish, but it's actually kind of fun when they are new. I think that I found the key for actually getting my laundry done! Think that Ben will be willing to buy me a new washer/dryer every 6 months just to keep me happy to do my laundry??? :D
smiles,
Christi

More Unity Stamp Company Fun

It is giveaway time over on the USC blog again! ...and look at this fun set that they are giving away this week. LOVE it! Robyn Weatherspoon has made some gorgeous layouts on her blog using this set if you want to see it in action. And as a bonus this week, there is both a US and an international winner so be sure to go comment by 5:00 Tuesday evening!!!


I have been playing with my Unity stamps, specifically A Moment of Tea set. Here are a couple of cards that I made last night.

Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company A Moment of Tea set
*Prima papers
*Making Memories mini alpha stickers and ribbon
*Heidi Grace brown brads
*Bazzill
*StazOn Timber Brown inkpad



Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company A Moment of Tea stamp kit
*KOlogy papers
*Making Memories trim
*buttons
*StazOn Timber Brown inkpad
*Bazzill

Today I am doing a layout using this set. SO MUCH FUN! I cannot tell you guys how awesome these stamps are...they really stamp like a dream which makes them so much fun to play with. I'll be back tomorrow with my layout!

BTW, it's Shake Friday so be sure to treat yourself to a shake today!
smiles,
Christi

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Equal time...

Because she is so photogenic, it's sometimes easy to forget that I have a pretty handsome boy too. I really do "love this kid!"


This layout features the same Unity Stamp Company set, Two People in Love, that I used on Kat's layout from yesterday. These photos were taken in front of my parent's house in Texas.


supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Company Two People in Love stamp kit
*Fancy Pants About a Boy paper
*Creative Cafe tags
*Scenic Route alpha stickers
*StazOn inkpad
*Bazzill
*buttons
smiles,
Christi

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

It worked....

Just by venting a bit on here yesterday, I was able to sort out all the clutter in my head and was actually able to sit down and focus and create yesterday (and get a ton of other little jobs done around the house that needed to get done.) Thank you all so much for listening and for all your wonderful advice!!!

I managed to complete 3 cards and a layout yesterday. I can't share the cards yet as they are for a magazine assignment, but here is the layout.


These are photos of Kat that I actually took yesterday out in front of our azalea bushes in the yard so they are VERY current. ;)


The main goal of this layout was to use this fun Unity stamp set, Two People in Love. Isn't it fun?


There are lots of little details on this layout that have been inspired by the style of Christine Middlecamp. I just love the detail work that she puts into her layouts!! If you haven't ever gone to her blog, you need to go visit this week. She has a wonderful spring tree that she has made using Pink Paislee which is just gorgeous!


Supplies used:
*Unity Stamp Co. Two People in Love Kit
*SEI black polka dot paper
*Autumn Leaves/Rhonna Farrer shaped paper
*Pink Paislee Polka dot paper (pink)
*Heidi Swapp bling
*Prima flowers
*metal flower
*Making Memories flower, butterfly, and mini alpha
*K&Co. Black Glitter alpha and pink glitter
*Zig Writer


I still have 2 more projects to make with this stamp set so you haven't seen the last of it yet.


BTW, can you offer up a little prayer for Junior the cat? He isn't feeling so well and I am really starting to worry about him. Unfortunately, his vet is out of town this week, but we have an appt. next week so I need him to stay strong until then... Thanks!

smiles,
Christi
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