Happy New Year!! I hope that you are going to have a great time tonight spending time with ones you love. We are staying in tonight, probably going to bed early. We all have fun colds, so we will be boring.

Good luck in the New Year and I hope that you enjoy the creations I have to share in 2008!! I hope to inspire you and that you'll share your creations too!!

On Mondays, I always enjoy Make a Card Monday on Kristina's Blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeCOEzBJdyA

I think it's fun to watch her make it and the music is always groovy. So that is my entry to you today! Hope that she inspires you too!!


Enjoy!!

Thank yous

Howdy!

Here are some more of the Thank yous I made this last week. I don't think I mentioned that we had a Secret Santa visit us this year. For 12 days we got goodies....mostly for the kids excitement. It was fun to wait each night and most times we would be distracted and not be waiting to catch them. Also sometimes there would be goodies left when I went to get the paper. It was fun, and I hope that next year I can remember early enough to shop for a family too.

So this card is for the neighbor kids who were our Secret Santa. I used my Outlaw DP {See sidebar for what that means!!} and I colored my deer from the Moose You set with my new markers. The brads are form CTMH. Super simple lil card really.

This one is for a family who brought us some yummy Cinnamon rolls after Gramma passed. They were nice to have while we opened presents.

I used more Outlaw DP and my set Bronc Buster stamped in Chocolate Chip. Then simply added some brads for accents.

I still need to make a couple more now and get them all mailed out.

{Have you forgot what day it is}

Having a Holiday makes me messed up on days. I'm not supposed to post about forgetting things tho - but I am posting about forgetting what day it is. I didn't realize it was Friday when I posted this morning so I thought I would post another couple cards for the weekend.



These two are made with the Sweet Thing set from SU! I fully cased this first card from HERE and I love it. I used some Green SU CS and then my Glitter Mat Stack. I punched out with my CM square punch and stamped the yellow one and the love you. Then drew the lines, which you can tell was drawn.











This next one was super simple as well. Used the other half of the Green CS and a leftover from the Mat Stack and some scrap yellow. Stamped the Star in Certainly Celery and then the sentiment in Black. The ribbon is TAC.



I am kind of on craft over load and hopefully tomorrow I am going to clean out my craft room. I am feeling a lil overwhelmed with all the new things I have gotten and stuff I don't use anymore. So I may list it here, or pitch it, or just share. I just need to purge a little.

And then I need to get more organized. I am also working on a comforter for McKinley's kid bed so I'll post that pretty lil thing later. I have more cards, but I probably will wait til Sunday to post again.

Enjoy the weekend. Oh and when you tell me not to post something on here, you have to know I just might work it in!! Love ya Friend!!

Bellas and Elzybells

I have emerged from my craft room, just long enough to post! LOL.... so says Greg.

I love Ipodabella and the new funky look that Em created with these Bellas. I used my new Sugarloaf markers {FYI-these came from Ben Franklin Crafts and are awesome!!} I also used my Glitter Mat Stacks paper and this sentiment stamp - it has 12+ sayings and I thought this was perfect for this image huh?

I also needed to make some Thank You's for the goodies we have received. I made this for a friend who has a lil Blond-haired girl McKinley's age. It could be them!! I used my new markers here too and them matted on a punch I received in WISH RAK. The paper is all SU! and the ribbon is May Arts. I also used Liquid Applique to make the puffy snow.

I hope you are enjoying the last weekend of the year.

~having a blast~

LOOK WHAT I GOT!!!!!
I am so excited about the new catalog and new year. It's got me thinking of lots of new things, so you may see some changes this new year. Then again, you may not.

There are some super fun new stamps in here and there are so super cool new toys too. The Bind It All!! We carry that !!! Woo Hoo!!!

Plus soooo much more. I can't wait!!
I did also go down and play this morning. The boys got some new PS2 games so they are entertained. Now to get Mc for a nap and I'll have more time.

From the first time I saw this stamp I wanted to make it into a buckle. So that was the first thing that I tried.

I cut out an oval and used it as a template to emboss the oval shape. I did this twice and while it was still wet I stamped the image. Perfection!!
Then I used some Outlaw DP and Blue Bayou for the *shirt & jeans*.I used Kraft CS for the belt and distressed the edges and punched holes with my Cropa Dile. Then I popped the buckle up on pop dots. To finish I distressed all the edges and the buckle itself. It is super simple and looks awesome.

Here is a more detailed look.


Got to go put a girl to bed now...

{Now back to the Regular Programming}

I have to say I am ready for a few days between holidays here!! I hope to play a little so I have something to share here. I know people {Khristi} don't like it when I take a break! LOL....

Anyway, here is some of my crafting loot Santa brought. Actually Santa brought me some new sets: Boatloads of Love, Sweet Thing and Moose You along with the Cutter Kit. Then the *kids*{aka Greg} got me the sets: Wanted and Bronc Buster along with the Outlaw DP. I have ideas rolling!!! They also got me the Sharpies, I am always needing them, and the Sugarloaf Whispers marker set. I think they are going to be great as well.

My brother and SIL got me some more fun trinkets, a Glitter mat stack (which I was telling Lindsey about the day before) a sentiment stamp and some cool ribbons and bags to alter. And my mom found me some vintage ribbons to use too. I got some other great things as well...lots of chocolate to keep me nourished while I am down crafting.

I thought I would also post a shot of our living room Christmas night. Crazy huh. It's all cleaned up and now back to the regular chores we always have.

Have a great day. Whatever day it is today....

{I survived!!}

We survived the whole Holiday weekend. It was a very long few days, but super fun. It was nice that my brother and his wife were able to come home and the kids loved that. Today I tried to clean up the mess and we went to Greg's niece's house to visit since we missed them on Christmas Eve. So - I have some more things to share but it's late.

I got new stamps, so Greg thinks I may never return from my room....but I have to come share with you all right?
oh yeah, and feed them to keep them quiet!! LOL....

{Happy Holidays}

Happy Holidays!
I have to say I am ready for the next two days. Today is Grammie's visitation and family dinner, then tomorrow morning is the funeral.
Then we leave for Greg's niece's house for Christmas with them, and drive back home to get things ready for Christmas day here. I am tired already and waiting for those days after to unwind.

I had a little time yesterday to play with my new Elzybells images. I love them!! Esp. this one under the mistletoe. She is too cute!! I will give her to Greg on Christmas!!

Ahhh.....mushy huh?

This one I made for our paper delivery gal. She left a card so I thought I would send one back thanking her for delivering the paper.
You can't see it, but I used Crystal Effects on her wings to make them sparkle!

These were fun to make and relax to.


I hope you all have a great Holiday!!

Merry Christmas!!

TGIF

Hi all....this week has been as crazy as planned plus some. Some of you know my Grandma passed away this Wednesday. She has been in poor health for some time and we all knew the day would come. She was 81 and we were fortunate to be able to go see her on Tuesday and then she went down hill fast after that. But that morning, she was chipper and visited with us. That was great.
Here is a picture of her and McKinley from the end of Sept. at my Grandpa's birthday party. So now, the weekend will be full of bustle as well, with family coming and happenings on Sunday and the funeral Monday.

I did want to post tho, and send Holiday Wishes to you all. I've been popping on here and reading my SBS Sisters blog and will take more time for comments next week. I do hope that everyone has safe travels and a joyous time with family and friends.

Monday this week, was our Stampin'Up! Christmas party. We made these cute lil stars - well, they look funny really, b/c they are off kilter, but they are cute on the tree huh? And we used the Prints Designer Series paper, which I hadn't really looked at but I love it now!! Too bad I didn't think about it in Nov. when it was all on sale. :(

We also made some Snowman Poop bags which I gave to RC before I could take a pic. These tho are the cards I got in the swap and then the new Scrapping papers for my exchange gift.
Then Tuesday was a super mail day. I got my Bellas from Em - Thanks Em!! I got Clickabella, Ipodabella, MWAHabella, Hitchedabellafellla and some Doodles for Daniel flowers and the Giggle word. I did go down Wednesday night and color some to relax, but I'll save that for another day.
Then Chris Mott also sent me some fun images of DiplomaBella, and some Elzybells! They are soooo stinkin' cute!! So I can't wait to play more with them!! I also love the little owls!! Fun stuff huh?
Then I needed a Thank You card for a good friend of mine. When I saw Rockabella the wheels starting turning. I used up some Chipboard and DP from WRMemory Keepers. I love it!! And I think Tangii will too!
OK, so a super long post, but it's gotta last you all awhile. I'll see you all after Christmas...have a wonderful day!!

{Paper Piecing Tutorial}

Hi all!! First off, I need to post that this is going to be the last post for a few days...maybe the week. I have a full schedule of things to do before the holidays, so if I can get crafty, I'll share with you. Otherwise I promise to pop in next weekend. I do want to make sure that I can be keeping up with my blogs I visit as well!

So, for the tutorial. I've had some comments on how I do paper piecing and I thought what a fun idea for a tutorial. Esp. since I am in love with this technique on my Bellas. {Lindsey, you can still come and play with me tho!!}

You need to know, you can click on the pics to make them larger and if you have any other questions, please Email me. First I'll gather supplies and most importantly - Cupcakeabella. If you haven't purchased Bellas, you need to know they come only as the Rubber. You can use them as is, with double sided tape on your blocks, however, I have found that with the larger images it's best to have EZ mount. And honestly, since I've used it I won't go back!!
I've also gathered up my Designer Papers (DP) and cardstock (CS) from the Mimi collection from TAC; my trimmer, adhesives, markers, Noir Pallette Black ink and embellishments.
First off, I'll stamp the image twice on the cream CS. I'll trim one, making sure to trim just outside the black lines. I do also cut her legs off b/c they are too flimsy to pop up.
The I'll stamp her three more times, making sure to stamp on the DP at the place I want highlighted on the image. You can see too, that I didn't stamp the whole image and waste paper.
Then I'll trim these out, making sure that I trim just inside the outer black line.
After I have them trimmed up, I'll adhere them to my Bella. I like to use a glue stick here as I can make sure I get glue evenly on the back of the DP.

Then, my other favorite part is coloring Bella, but with piecing all that is left is her face and hair, plus legs and arm. I have gotten Blush Blossom marker from SU! that I love for her body. I also colored the spots on her dress in Chocolate.
Then to make Bella pop, I like to use either Stampin' Up pop dots, or Foam Tape. Either works and normally I only use one or the other, but I wanted to show you here.

Then I pop her up on the previous image. Now, you also need to know, you can skip all this popping up if you want to paper piece right onto the untrimmed image. You would just use the one image of Bella instead of two. I however, really like the popping up! It's fun! :D
Then complete your card like you normally would. I used more of the Mimi DP and ribbon, the sentiment is from Living Large SU! stamp set. And I added a dab of Glitter to the top of the cupcake.

It's super easy, but yes, can see overwhelming to try. If you try this for the first time, leave me a link to your card.
Have a great week and I'll see you back here next weekend!!

SBS3 - RAK LIST & Secret Sister

Hey Bloggin' Sistahz!! I have been thinking about a RAK list and possibly a Secret Sister Club with this new Sisterhood of Blogging Stampers.

ETA - Just an update...I have to hear back from 13 of our Sistahz still. I sent out requests for info and I am sorry of I sent it twice. I got confused!! LOL..

Anyway, I'll leave this at top until Friday now and hope to hear from them!

First off, I want to do the RAK list - if you want to be on the RAK list, send me an email at jstaskif@ttc-cmc.net along with your Full Name, Address and Birthday. I'll compile the list and get it out to you.

For the Secret Sister Swap - How about No Shopping...just a simple card a couple times a month to get to know each other. You could swap images or something like that, but nothing more than the cost to mail it. If you would like that, please mention that in your email. I'll send you a certain Sister to send to for 2 months and then we will re-swap.

I'll leave this at the top of my blog until Wednesday when I'll compile the lists and email them back out. I'll also assign your Sistahz then as well.

This is only for SBS3 sisters too. Just a better way to get to know each other!

Tees...

Emily posted a Tee on her blog and I had to venture over to Palmer Cash. I am totally a T-shirt and Jeans girl and I love Tees that are funny like these.


I used to have one of these bikes...LOVED it!





I thought this was funny!!








Of course, my Girls!! I could watch GG all the time if Greg would let me!!








I thought this was funny since I have the blog. Not really famous, but people know me! LOL..







We love The Christmas Story and usually have it playing all day Christmas Eve. My favorite part is the Fragile part...the way the dad says it!! LOL..







This was the one on Emily's blog that made me laugh the hardest.








This just cracks me up....I love play on words like this!!








I totally grew up with Vanilla Ice being popular. This is too funny!!

Hope you enjoyed!!
There are a few more that crack me up but I prolly shouldn't post 'em.

For You..

Just a fun card post for the weekend for ya!

Today was our Gossip Gals session...it was a lot of fun as always, and now that I am home I'm trying to catch up.

I thought I would post this for the weekend. I am hoping to take it easy b/c next week is booked up and then you know it's already Christmas. Ugh. It's coming too fast. Anyway, I hope you have a great weekend.

This card features presentahbella. I love those lil spots. I used up more of the Just Chillin Paper pack too!! Go figure huh? And the For You is from TAC.

Birthday Lists

More Birthday stuff to share today!!

Tomorrow I am meeting up with some friends for our gab sessions! My mom is calling us Gossip Gals...lol... Anyway, I wanted to make them something for Christmas. Originally I was going to do recipe cards, but I've been seeing these Birthday Calendars all over Blogville. So I tried my hand at them. They took a lil to perfect them...however I am excited about how they turned out.


I started out by covering the Chipboard. First off, I was not thinking right about how the insides would turn out, so the first 2 are longer, and then I figured it out on the third.

They were fun. You can see them each individually below and then the inside pages I made on my computer. I ran out of White CS and didn't have November and December, but fortunately mom had some. Yay!!

Enjoy!!

Happy Birthday to Lindsey!!

Happy Birthday to you!!

It's my SIL Lindsey's birthday today!! I know she reads the blog and I'm rubbing off on her!! (stamping wise) Yay Me!!! You can see the cards I made for her and she's enjoying already here. Hope you have a great day Lindsey!!

Here is some eye candy for you today!!

This card was made for the Color Challenge on the Bella Forum.

I love the way it all turned out. I pieced the cupcake together and colored her dress...Bella needs a lil black dress right? I'm still using the light blue paper from the Just Chillin Pack (CTMH) and I stamped the background stamp on the bottom part (Eclectic Backgrounds, SU!) For the black strip I used my CM cutters and one of the specialty blades. The flower sticker is from SU! also ( from the tin of stickers from last Winters Mini)

I hope you enjoy!! I need to get my gifts done today and I'll try and post them this afternoon.

Nurse Mimi

Happy Hump-day readers. I ventured down to make some cards today and get them all photographed and ready to upload here.

I love this Bella...she is super fun to color. OK, so they all are, but pink scrubs!! Fun!! She's from an image swap or I would have paper pieced her scrubs I am sure! LOL...I've found a new addiction!!

Anyway, I used all TAC products from the Mimi line. I'm so glad I got these papers - they are sooo my colors huh?
I also got a new marker for coloring Bellas skin. I got Blush Blossom from SU!. {Can you believe Ashley the order hoarder brought orders from 2 places 2 days in a row!! Love ya Ash!!}

This second pic is RC's creation from today. He has his craft table and he loves to use the Sizzix Sidekick. But today he was asking for Bellas and wanted a Cowgirl... I had just that!! LOL.. He was asking for a Cowboy too....aaahheeemm...Em, ya hear me?

I hope you enjoy! I started work on presents for some friends that I can't wait to finish and share!! Plus tomorrow is a super fun Color Challenge for the Bella Forum!!

See you then...

Stamp Club Cards

These are the cards I made for our Stampin' UP! Club this month. Tonight was going to be our Christmas party, but we had to move it to next week.

Anyway, I was feeling like I hadn't been putting as much into my swap cards this year. It's been so hard to make more than one. Mostly b/c I never have that much in supplies! LOL...

For these I stamped the cute snowman{from TAC's Heart Sings} on Ultrasmooth White CS, colored him with my Zig makers, then punched with my Oval punch. I got a new Scallop Oval punch this weekend so I was hyped up to use it. I punched the CS that comes with the Just Chillin CTMH paper pack. I used that paper for the backgrounds as well. The main CS is SU! Blue Bayou. I popped the main ovals up over the ribbon. Added the sentiment and then I found these heart brads that work perfect from my Bella Sistah Susan! How fun huh?

So that is my work for now. These are all ready and no where to go...lol..

Have a great day readers!!

{Tagged}

Melanie Tagged me ya'll! She wants me to share 7 things about myself.
ETA-Nancy also tagged me!!

• I had dreams of becoming an architect and our old computer is chalk-full of floor plans including the blueprints for my parent's house.
• I've always wanted to travel to Texas and am reminded of that now that the NFR is on again!
• Speaking of the NFR, I was there 8 years ago...pregnant with David, and had a blast watching from the VERY LAST ROW IN THE BUILDING!!! Seriously!! When I got back from there I accidentally threw our camera in the trash...no pics of me and Elvis! :(
• My DH and I attended the same series of concerts at our State Fair some 5 years before we ever met.
• I used to have nightmares after I closed myself into our old camp trailer's closet while I was playing house. I think it was the bedroom or something, and I shut the door...I screamed and screamed until my parents either heard me or saw the thing a rockin'! That camper was later totalled by the only twister we know came through our lil land. LOL..
• I've been on a few run-away wagon rides. The worst was over the railroad tracks and into the ditch. I'm sure that scared us to death at the time...seems exciting now.

OK, so that is some highlights I guess. Hope that doesn't bore ya!

Now to tag a few more.....

• Kathy
• Heather H.
• Denise
• Tangii
• Lorie
• And you too...if you want to play! Just let me know and I'll visit you!!

Cupcakeabella

G'day everyone.

I finished up my Stamp Club cards and wanted to make one just for fun. I'm sending this to my friend Shannon who is swapping images with me.

I stamped Cupcakeabella on Ultrasmooth White CS twice (well, lots for Shannon!!) and then cut one out. I was going to cut the legs but they are too flimsy. Then I stamped it again 3 times on DP from CTMH Just Chillin pack. Cut those out and pieced them on the white CS. Then I colored her hair, body and the dots on her dress. I used a brass brad for the top of the cupcake and some Glitter Glue for the cupcake frosting. Yummy huh?

I got some foam tape this weekend so I popped her up on that. Then matted on more DP and added some ribbon and a sentiment from TAC.

Today I took the kids shopping for each other and we wrapped some presents. Tonight is going to see Santa...I hope McKinley wants to sit on his lap!!!

Family Christmas Card

Hi everyone. Hope you are enjoying the Sunday.

After a LATE night of stamping Friday, we got up way to darn early yesterday to drive to Havre for some Holiday Shopping, with my mom, aunt and McKinley. It was 20 below when we left my aunts house!! Yeah, we are nuts!! But I feel so much better about Christmas approaching.

I finished up my cards Friday night to send out for the holidays. I had some trouble getting them to print off right but it did work for me and I love it!!

It's simple b.c it had to be mulitplied, but that is OK!! The CS is DCVW from TAC, the brad was a MM I found, some extra ribbon and then the sentiment is from TAC.

I've cleaned up from leaving the 3 boys (yep, Greg) and now I am ready to play some more! I hope you are all staying warm and enjoying the day.

2 More Bellas & FREE Shipping

Here are the link so to SavvyShoppabella & Ipodabella (My fav!!)

Plus Free Shipping ends today!!! Use code 11b49b (CASE SENSITIVE) on all orders over $25

Run, Don't walk!!! LOL...

Here is the first new Bella

MwahBella

YOU ARE GONNA LOVE HER!!!

~The Bella Ball~

ETA - I posted the challenge to dress yourself up like a Bella as the Pre-Challenge at the Ball Friday. Tanya is insisiting I add my pic to my blog!! They wouldn't let us Beauties post pics on the SCS gallery. So here you go...add me to your dart boards, I don't care!!



I hope you are all rushing over to the SCS forums. I hear there is a new Bella already!!

The prechallenge was to dress up like a Bella and post your picture. Well, if you want to see me, you need to go over there and check it out...I am not posting here!! LOL

But this is the card I made to go along with it. It's BillyBootabella...and I have boots like that! LOL...

This paper is all from a CK kit I got over at QVC awhile back. So I just colored Bella and added some Crystal Effects to make the rain. And then added some Primas and some stickles on top of them.

Super cute!!

Now, get your buns over to the ball!!