A Paisley 3"x6" Card

Did I mention how excited I am that the price of A-size stamp sets DROPPED to only $7.95?!? In this day and age when everything seems to be going up but pay checks, it is terrific to see a price drop without the value lessening. I used my new A Paisley stamp set to create this little 3"x6" card. I love this size! It will fit in a small business envelope that you probably already have on hand.

My card is based on the Wishes "Noteworthy" sketch. To create the large paisley, I first stamped it in Chocolate on the Heavenly Blue B&T (Background & Texture) paper from the Topstitch paper pack. I also stamped it in Baby Pink on Colonial White card stock. I cut out the large Chocolate paisley and adhered a cut-out Baby Pink flower to it, then fastened it all together with a Baby Pink brad. The small paisley was stamped in Vineyard Berry on Baby Pink card stock and then cut out. I embellished the sentiment piece with a Cottage Edge Anchor, mixing the Baby Pink edge anchor with a Colonial White brad, all from the same pack. Isn't it fun to mix and match?

It's back to school today, so wish us all luck! Since hubby doesn't have any jobs pending, he is going to the dump, getting rid of the Christmas tree, splitting wood for the heater, etc., etc., etc. He is going to pick up the girls after school so that they don't have to spend the afternoon at the grocery store. Yeah for them and yuck for me. At least I've got this week's meals planned out and my coupons ready, purged, and organized. :) Never a dull moment...

Flying

My Dad called the other day and asked if the girls and I would like to go flying with him. Well, sure!!!

I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat, though I had no duties. (I'll leave the co-pilot's job to Mom, who got her license when I was tiny, or to my brother, who got his last year.)

The girls LOVED our little joy ride. When asked if they wanted to see anything else before landing, they both replied, "Sure!" They didn't have a specific destination; they just wanted to fly! Macey's favorite part was when we went fast at take off. She'll have to go on a real trip sometime to know what fast is!

Here is our little town, complete with old courthouse on the town square.

Our schools

You can't see our house because of the trees, but the white rectangle to the right of center is our camper. ;)

My sister's house is at the very top right, with my parents' house to the left (with the circular drive). The dock is the green roof at the end of the cove.

We live on a TVA lake, and the levels fluctuate quite a bit. Don't you love the red Georgia clay? People ask if the dropping lake levels bother me, but they don't at all. By the time the lake gets cold, it is too cold to use it! (We did see a few fisherman on the lake, but it is too cold for me! Today it didn't get above freezing.)

Banking over the lake

One of many mountain views

Coming in for a landing

Thanks, Grumps, for a great ride!

New Catalog Artwork

{Scroll down if you're looking for the January stamp of the month blog hop!}

Enjoy a slide show of some great projects made with new 2010 Close To My Heart products: stamp sets, paper packs, embellishments, oh my!

Thank you to the following consultants who contributed to this artwork: Anne Beck, Debi Barber, Teri Baxter, Michelle Bourlet, Diane Buzzell, Neely Dean, Haley Dyer, Francene Ferrante, Judy Faye Garner, Kelly George, Marianne Hancock, Cherri Hardcastle, Carol Harris, Carolyn Lincoln, Carol Loftus, Tambur McDonald, Stacy Park, Melissa Robinson, Pam Thorn, Xellina Wieland, and Sheila Wilkerson.

January Stamp of the Month BLOG HOP!

We're ringing in the New Year with a Close To My Heart January stamp of the month blog hop! (If you've come from Melissa's blog, welcome! If you're starting here, thanks for visiting and get hopping~ the link to the next participant is at the bottom of this post.)

The stamp of the month, True Friends, features four frames, three brackets, and four friendly sentiments. (Vist my website 1/1/10 for more info!)

My card is based on sketch #146 at Card Positioning Systems. (They're also offering a challenge right now to use ANY of their sketches, so go check them out.) I used the incredibly beautiful new Veranda paper pack (also available 1/1!). My card base and sentiment square are Colonial White, the center strip is Juniper card stock, and the rest are pieces of my Veranda sampler, so no two are exactly alike. The Veranda colors are Vanilla Cream, Creme Brulee, Juniper, Garden Green, and Cocoa. I would have never put these colors together, but aren't they lovely? Techniques on this card are pulled from the distressing kit: black stubble tool distressing, masking, and sponging.

My embellishments include using the ends of two of the bracket stamps to create the "flourishes" on my sentiment piece. (Not sure that really worked out, but I tried!) I also used an Antique Copper brad and some Olive felt circles from the Heartfelt Wonder collection.

Before you hop on to Terrie's blog, I'd love to know what you think of my set of cards. Thanks for hopping by! Enjoy the rest of the hop, and Happy 2010!!!!!!

HAPPY 2010!

{Scroll down if you're looking for- or are interested in- the blog hop!)

We wish you the very best in 2010!!!!

Do you make resolutions? If so, what are yours this year? I plan to work harder to organize our home. As we grow and change, what used to work doesn't any more, and some things never worked at all! LOL (We WILL get Macey moved into her own room this year!) I also want to find better balance while focusing more on my health and wellness (without short-changing my family). Whew. What are your goals or resolutions?

Also, I hope you enjoy this virtual Happy New Year card. It mixes a bit of old with some new. The old is the January Word Puzzle (now retired) and the Friendship Alphabet (for '10), which was a special last September. The new is this fun and funky You Rock paper (Sunflower, Olive, and Outdoor Denim inks). Check out the detail of my bling: ten tiny sparkles! Happy 2010!!!

The Pink Elephant Challenge #47 and a Sneak Peek!

Over at the Pink Elephant, they are hosting a sketch challenge this week.

I couldn't resist playing along with some scraps I have leftover from a "secret" project (a new catalog swap- more on that to come!).

For my card, I used the new Topstitch paper pack and A Paisley stamp set (both available 1/1/10). (At left is a peek at the adorable A Paisley stamp set, which now sports the price of only $7.95!).

The colors of the Topstitch paper pack are Vineyard Berry, Baby Pink, Heavenly Blue, Chocolate, and Colonial White. I had fun "stitching" with my Vineyard Berry marker. I may have gone a little overboard, but it was fun to do. I embellished my card with a Baby Pink brad, Heavenly Blue designer ribbon, and a Heavenly Blue button. BTW, to get the Vineyard Berry flower in the middle of the Heavenly Blue large paisley, I just stamped the center of the paisley on scrap paper in Vineyard Berry, cut it out, and adhered it to the card front. Also, the colors match much better IRL!

If you haven't gotten your advance copy of the Spring 2010 Close To My Heart Idea Book, let me hook you up! You do NOT want to miss out. Each time I ask how can they get any better? But they do! Local gals, let's get together soon.

Finally, be sure to stop back by on January 1 for a rockin' New Year's blog hop featuring the Close To My Heart January stamp of the month, True Friends. (My creation uses the gorgeous new Veranda papers you can see on the cover of the new catalog. Hop on by!)

Christmas 2009 Recap

Christmas Eve:
Children's Pageant at Church (the angel Gabriel and Mary)


Christmas Eve dinner and opening presents (at Aunt Amy's instead of Grammie & Grumps' since they were just getting in from their South American cruise)

We went back to church for the 11:00 service because Ansley sang a solo! She sang the first verse of the processional (Once in royal David's city...) a capella, and as Father Yeary said, it was the voice of an angel.

Christmas Day after the Santa presents had been opened

Daddy's favorite movie



Christmas evening at Uncle Reid's for dinner and MORE presents

Avid Reader

You may have noticed in my profile that I claim to be an avid reader, yet have never posted anything here about reading (except for my reading endorsement class). I truly LOVE to read! I read for pleasure; it is one of the ways that I decompress and destress. I love how a book can take me places I've never been or would never go.

I just finished reading the 6th Women's Murder Mystery (The 6th Target) by James Patterson. I like this series because the main character, Lindsay Boxer, is a "chick in charge." Because she is a San Francisco police officer, each book has several cases in them. These are not all "happily ever after" and seem pretty real.

Mystery is just one genre that I like to read, but it's what I seem to be reading the most of lately. I have read several of Patterson's Alex Cross series, but I had to take a break. They just weren't working for me. I recently read my first Stuart Wood on my brother's recommendation; when the library reopens next week I'll go back for more. I could not finish Martha Grimes' Stargazey. It was just too boring, and life is too short. (I used to have to finish any book that I started, but seriously, life is too short and I have way too much to do.) I have an M.C. Beaton waiting for me that my 11-year-old read from our church's lending library. She liked it and said I would too. (She's currently re-reading Twilight that she got for Christmas.)

Who is your favorite author? I really need some new stuff to read!

The Bug Strikes Again!

My little one is sick w/the stomach bug now. :( Thankfully no one was sick on Christmas though! I don't feel great, but I think it's just from taking care of her.

Hope you had a lovely Christmas! I hope to post a recap later. Ours was wonderful.

Merry Christmas!

Warmest wishes for a very merry Christmas! We hope that all of our online friends have a beautiful holiday surrounded by family and friends. Take time to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

We say a special prayer for members of our Armed Forces who are not with their families this holiday season. Their service does not go unnoticed nor unappreciated!

May God watch over and bless you all. Merry Christmas!

A Scrapper's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas,
I'm glued to the tree.
I’m wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be cardstock or inkpads or lace?
Or some stamps, I said, with a smile on my face.
And that's when I heard him.....
"Hi Santa," I said.
He replied, "You know, good girls should be in their beds."
"I know I should Santa, and now I've been caught.
But I was just so excited to see what you brought."
"Well, let's take a look in this room where you work."
He shook his head quickly, and left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear:
"You've got enough crap,
I'll see you next year!"

Maybe Santa will be good to YOU this year! ;)

Quick Update

We're all feeling well now! Hopefully we haven't sent the bug anywhere and have just squashed it here. I'm still praying that none of us manifest any more symptoms! Thanks to everyone for your well wishes!