New stuff coming.. promise! and an update

Thank you ALL for the well wishes. It's been a crazy week. I've been trying to fight off a bug- maybe what Nate has. Nate is doing better but still running a low grade fever and being very whiny/moody. He is sleeping better- the night after the ER visit he slept for 4 hrs in a 24 hr period, no lie. I've missed a lot of work this week which worries me but Sam and I are both sleep deprived and worried. In addition to an EEG and GI Dr. Visit this week, Nate has an MRI coming up. We're checking for something called Chiari Malformation. It's very rare but my niece actually had it. I saw a video on GMA about a little boy who had severe sleeping problems and developmental delays and after 3 yrs, they found this malformation where basically the brain gets squished. After surgery, he is fine. I'm torn. Not that you want your child to have a defect and need serious surgery, but we've had so many diagnoses and treatments that haven't helped. Sometimes I just want to get the one fixable diagnosis and treatment.. it's been an emotional week!

Anyway, there is some good paper crafting stuff coming your way :) I have something really fun to share tomorrow!! I also got my SU starter kit so I should theoretically be able to create.. but my craft room is a mess so I need to clean first! :)
Here's to great, relaxing weekend for all! HUGS!

Scary Night!

Well, we were off today because of ice/freezing rain which was great because Nate had an awful night. Anyway, he was lethargic off and on all day.. lots of little naps. Around 4:00 we were laying on the floor near the fire. I realized that he felt warm.. but fever warm, which he never has. Then, I realized that his heart was beating extremely fast- I counted 65 beats in 30 seconds. We rushed to the drs and they couldn't count it was so fast. They thought it might be super ventricular tachycardia, which means the brain was sending the wrong signals. Anyway, to make a long story short, we ended up in the ER, consulting with a pediatric cardiologist. Nate had a fever of 102.5. We finally got the fever down and his heart rate went back down from 160 to 110 which is okay. Nate is feeling a lot better but has a virus. Wow. Thank you God for answering our prayers!

ATS DT Challenge #33- Snow Friends

Once again, had to use another one of Diane Zeckman's beautiful Stamp Sets made exclusively for CC Designs. Snow Friends is definitely another of my favorite sets.. all these beautiful snowman images.. ooh.. just makes it hard not love it!

The DT challenge was to use Faux Stitching. I love Faux Stitching- esp since I can't really sew. Anyway, here is my contribution:

Snow Bunny Buddy

Supplies- Stamps: Snow Friends by Cookie Crumbs for CC Designs; Ink- Palette Noir and Burnt Umber; Coloring Medium- Copics and Prismas; CS- Wassau Neutrals and Bazzill Blue; DP- Figgy Pudding by Basic Grey; Other- MS Snowflake Punch, stickles, 1 1/2" circle punch, Labels 1 nestabilities.

This was a fun card to make...I can't wait to see what else Diane has in store for us!

Amy R's Sketch #46 (and 45!)

Sorry it's taken me so long to post some creative posts. But, expect a lot more once I get my HUGE SU order in mid-Feb as well as some goodies from my starter kit! I was able to pull out some stamps this weekend and catch up on my fave challenges!



Amy R's sketch challenge is always a must do- she does some really cute but sometimes some really different types of sketch that truly challenge you. This sketch, #46, is fairly simple but made a gorgeous card!

So Sweet LadyCake

Supplies: Stamps- Cupcake Occassions by Cookie Crumbs for CC Designs; Ink- Palette Black; Coloring Medium- Copics/Prismas; CS- Bazzill Pink; DP- Brenda Walton Love Notes; Ribbon- From Em Giovanni ribbon share; Other- AC Felt Flowers, 7 Gypsies Tags, MM Brads.

I just love how this turned out! Very simple yet gorgeous. I knew immediately from seeing the sketch I had to use Diane's Cupcake stamp set. So many cute cupcakes to choose from!

I also never got to post my card from Amy R's sketch #45. This cutie uses one of my fave sets, GingerSnaps Hey Cupid by CC Designs. If you haven't noticed by now, CC Designs is up there with TAC, SU, and CTMH for me.

Love is in the Air
Supplies: Stamps- Hey Cupid by CC Designs; CS- Bazzill Red, U/S White; DP- Retired SU (polka dots), MME (valentines); Ink- Palette Noir, SU Real Red; Coloring Medium- Copics; Other- CB Heart EF. buttons, target velvet

ribbon, MS Heart border punch.

I will be back shortly with my post for the CC Designs DT Challenge!

Technical Difficulties called LIFE!

Hey all-
I've been neglecting my blog :( Last weekend was the freezing weekend that made it took cold to work downstairs! I did get Amy R's sketch challenge, but never got to post it. I will do that this weekend. I've got a ton of new supplies to use so I WILL get some creative postings this weekend- promise!
I also have left TAC and joined SU. I just wasn't happy with the sudden decisions TAC kept making. Plus SU still has the amazing cardstock and colors. I still love TAC stamps but I just couldn't keep justifying buying just for me!
We went to the doctor's for Nate yesterday. We are not set on the colonoscopy- we will talk to the GI specialist first. However, she wants to check for headaches and inflammation in the joints as possible reasons for night waking. Also, she wants an EEG to check for silent seizures that could be affecting speech. It's just been a long week and actually, we had Monday off!
Well hope to have some positive and creative postings asap!
Hugs,
Kelley

Quick Update

Nothing crafty yet.. my craft room is in the basement (which IS finished) but still is cold as all get out! Therefore, I am not going to be down there because we're actually in the negatives here. They cancelled school today because of the chill (us southerners aren't used to it I suppose :). I'm also off Monday for MLK Jr. Day- yay for impromtu 4 day weekends!
On the Nate front, he started a new med to help with sleep- it is helping. Not thrilled but we're desparate! Doc suspects stomach issues causing him to wake so he may have to have an endoscopy (go down the throat and into stomach) and colonoscopy. Scary. We will speak with the GI dr on Feb 4 about this.
Keep us in your prayers! I will get some crafting done as soon as it's warm

Wonderful Day and an Award!

This was supposed to be posted Monday night but due to technical difficulties, here it is now :)

Well after a not so wonderful night (Nate was up from 1 AM to 7 AM.. really!), I had a wonderful day! I received a couple of awesome emails and also got a blog award from Rachel at My Cardstock Creations! Rachel is also the ATS Guest Designer for January- how cool is that?

This award is given to a blog that invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!"The rule of the award is to now pass it on to another 8 people who demonstrate this spirit.

So, here are some of my fave, truly real people to visit. I would definitely be friends with these people in everyday life! Oh and did I mention they're really talented, too? :)

Vickie

Ikki

Kathryn

Traci

Amy R

Cambria

Shannon- is my RL friend :)

Diane

Will try and get something creative up before Friday- I will definitely be doing the ATSDT challenge tomorrow like I always do!

Weekend Wrap Up

I also wanted to share with you some creations I made this weekend just for fun. It was a very relaxed, not busy weekend which was a change from the last.. month or so. Of course, tomorrow I am propelled back into a busy week filled with meetings, etc.

Anyways, as I said, I got some new rubbah from CC Designs in on Friday. YAY! Love it. This set is one of my fave snowmen sets eva- right up there with the other snowman sets CC Designs released this season. This set is by Diane, creator of Cookie Crumbs Designs. She is a new stamp designer and just amazing, as is evident by this set.

Flaky Snow Friends

Supplies: CS- SU Whisper White, Bazzill Blue; DP- SU retired Petals and Paisley Paper, DCWV Winter Mat Stack; Stamps- Cookie Crumbs from CC Designs; Coloring Medium- Copic Markers; Ink- Palette Noir; Other- Snowflake Border Punch, MS Snowflake Punch, Nestabilities Label one.

I love how this card turned out. I just wanted to use this image and it just came together with some scraps I had laying out. I love this image- I am a huge polar bear fan and snowman fan so this is the best of both worlds! This set is $20 and has 3 huge, adorable snowman images and a ton of sentiments and some snowflakes. It is a super great deal!

I also made this Valentine's Card using an inkadinkado stamp I picked up for a $1.00 at Big Lots.

Supplies: Stamps- Chocolates from Inkadinkado, Sentiment from SU Like it a Latte (ret.); Ink: Palette Noir and Burnt Umber; Paper- SU whisper white and chocolate chip; DP- Retired Berry DP from SU. Coloring medium- Copics and prisma markers; Other- Labels 1 nestabilities, pink ribbon.
This is not my favorite card but take an up close look at my coloring- it turned out pretty dang well! I'm getting better.. sometimes.

And, what weekend would be complete without a picture of Nate? Here is Nate, again being puzzled by the camera, in his sock monkey pjs. Here's to a great week. ENJOY!

AMYRS 53 and ATSDT31- Oldies and some new Rubbah!!

Hi all! I received some new rubbah this weekend from All That Scraps/CC Designs. Here's my problem. I am going on a budget of $75 a month for stamping. This is all companies. Well, I am part of a CTMH Hostess Club at $25 a month and a SU club for $25 a month.. this leaves $25 and CC Designs keeps releasing amazing stamp sets.. I need them all which means that $25 is NOT enough... oh the dilemma.

Anyway, I decided to use an oldie but goodie on Amy R's Sketch Challenge for this week.

Cat's Meow

Supplies: Stamps- CC Designs; Card Stock- SU Whisper White, Bazzill Watermelon; DP- My Mind's Eye Irresistible (from CC Designs; Ink- Palette Noir; Coloring Medium- Kohrinor Pencils and OMS, Copic Ciao Markers; Other- CB EP, American Crafts Plastic Flowers, Target Ric Rak, Stickles in silver, nestabilities label one, corner rounder.

This was an easy card and I think it turned out cute. I have had the hardest time making Valentine's Day cards. It's been insane. I'm pretty happy with this one. Love the paper- I got another sheet with flying hearts that will be perfect for the new Gingersnaps Set Hey Cupid!

Next, ATS DT31- A color challenge to use Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion, and Kraft

XOXO

Supplies: Stamps- CC Designs Gingersnaps Hey Cupid!; CS- Bazzil Kraft and Lavendar; SU Whisper White, Watercolor paper; DP- K and Company; Coloring Medium- Faux Watercoloring with SU Markers, Copics used on wings, skin and hair; Other- MS Border Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, nestabilities label one

I absolutely LOVE this set- GingerSnaps are almost replacing my love of Sugarplums.. ALMOST :) Psst.. Christine.. More Sugarplums please!! Anyway, I will be doing many more with this set. It's gorgeous. Stay tuned for another post with more new rubbah!

AMYRS 52- Mane Squeeze and ATS DT Special Challenge

Okay, this is definitely not my favorite card in the world but hopefully I will have a chance to make another. I used Amy R's sketch for this week which is a neat sketch. I hadn't used this old CC Designs' Valentine's stamp set in awhile so I pulled it out too.

AMYRS52- Mane Squeeze

Supplies: DP- Sweet Stack by DCWV; Paper: Stampin Up whisper white, bazzill; Stamps: CC Designs; Ribbon: MS; Coloring: Kohrinor and OMS, copics; Ink: Palette Noir; Other: Stapler, heart brads, corner rounder, cuttlebug and embossing folder.

ATS DT Challenge: Snowy Olivia

Christine issued a special design challenge for her team to use snowflakes without Winter/Christmas paper. I decided to play along. This was my chance to use my new Snowflake Die complete with some MS Mica Chip Glitter. I also used my new Olivia which I colored with copics!

Supplies: DP: SU Petals and Paisley (retired); CS: Bazzill, SU whisper white; Ink: Palette Noir and Burnt Umber; Stamps: CC Designs; Coloring: Copics; Other: Nestabilities Labels 1, embossing folder; sizzix snowflakes die, MS Mica Chip Glitter

Hope you enjoy!!

Moxie Fab World Challenge 5- All Dressed up and Fabulous!

Cath over at Moxie Fab World has posted Challenge 5 which was to make a card inspired by 4 beautiful party dresses. I came up with the following card after being inspired by the square neck of one dress, the silver of the first sequined dress, and the flowers from the floral overlay cocktail gown.

All Dressed Up and Fabulous

Supplies: Paper: Stampin Up Whisper White and Bazzill Bling!; Stamps: Fabulous Flowers by Stampin Up; Ink: Versamark and Palette Noir; Other: Martha Stewart Border Punch, Black EP, American Crafts Silver Ribbon. Finished Size: 5 x 5

Because all the dresses were elegant yet simple, I kept the card simple. As soon as I saw these dresses, this stamp set came to mind and voila, this card was born!

I hope you enjoy it!!

Starving Artists/Doodle Factory Valentines' Stamps

I needed to share this blog candy:

http://starvingartistamps.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-releases-and-some-blog-candy.html

I LOVE their stamps! They are so different- cute yet weird. Just my style sometimes :)

Check it out to enter!