My Crazy Life!

Ok, so I haven't had time to stamp or create in a few weeks now...and I think I'm gonna explode if I don't get a chance soon!

With my long weekend, my birthday, (yes I did admit I had a birthday, but you'll NEVER get my age!:) And a spattering of kids games, pool, laundry, and constant grocery shopping, I simply haven't had time. That will change!

Today, at some point, I hope to clean up my studio and prep for next weeks challenges! Mojo, OCC, Diva Coffee break, Raspberry Suite, and Stacy's Jewelry challenges WATCH OUT! Cause here I come! (at least that's what I keep telling myself!) Hope to post some new creations soon. I'll post as soon as I get something done!

Winks & Wishes
Christie

The Girls Trip 2009

After much deliberation, rearranging, finagling, worrying, and excitement I finally purchased my ticket for the 1st Annual Girls Trip! And here's how the story goes!

We went to a destination wedding, swam with dolphins, had an all access pass to the set of the New Hannah Montana Movie, had a birds eye view of Hilton Head beach from the most amazing sky deck. As my friends left to catch their flight to Atlanta, I walked along the haunted and historic places in the most beautiful city, Savannah. My friends LOVED Atlanta so much they decided to extend their trip an extra day. And as I left this beautiful place from my cozy aircraft I gently fell asleep and dreamt of my return.

Isn't this the most incredible vacation???!! Ok, so here's the real story :)

There was a wedding on the beach, so pretty-we just happened to be there! Dolphins swam in the distance as we frolicked in the ocean. How cool for us Northern Illinois girls! We went to the same beach, that new movie Hannah Montanan is making, though we only were able to see the heavy equipment, bathrooms, and set. Sorry! No Hannah Montana!:(
We did have a birds eye view of Hilton Head as we climbed the 178 stairs of the oldest, tallest Light House in South Carolina, and it was amazing! Yes! Me who is TERRIFIED of heights made it to the top!

I walked all but 3 of the squares in Historic Savannah and have tons of pictures & blisters on my feet! I'm an architectural junkie so I was so at home there! My friends did leave to catch their flight a few hours before mine, but they are still stuck waiting on a flight! :( Atlanta airport is awful! Nice people though!

My flight was cancelled, so I was sent to Hilton Head Airport 45 minutes before my flight was to leave in this tiny 2 prop plane that road like a 4-wheeler on a washboard road! Luckily, I made it home safe and sound this morning around 2:20. (yes a.m.)

This was a trip I will NEVER forget! I spent time with a hand full of my nearest and dearest friends, relaxed, ate sushi (YEA YELAX), and did one of the things on my bucket list. Returned to Savannah to stroll the streets enjoying one of the things I love most in life, design.

Winks & Wishes

Christie

Sunday, Sunday! And the Sun is Shining!

Today I am combining 2 challenges in one. I use to grumble when "others" would do this. But now I realize it is fun and on days like today, when the sun is shining & it's the day before my 13th Wedding Anniversary, I simply don't have enough hours in the day today!

First, the sketch. This is a wonderful sketch from Jen , http://iheart2stamp.com/. She posts a new sketch challenge every week. I LOVE this one! So much you can do with this and I knew what I'd do the second I saw it!

I've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use the Great Friend stamp set from SU! since I got it. One problem...a lot of people have it and use it A LOT! It is the quintessential perfect set. Great image, cute frame, & words. Simply Perfect! If you don't have it, think about getting it. You will continue to go back to this set for many different occasions!

I hope you enjoy this card, and I had a really fun time using my "new", old set :)

Paper: SU! Basic Black, Mellow Moss, Whisper White

Embellishments: SU! Black Grosgrain, Pearls

Stamp Set: SU! Great Friend

The second challenge comes from Dawn, http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/. If you ever want a really good tip on taking photos, color combos, or want to become a world traveler I'd first check with Dawn!

Dawn has created the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. This week was great as I SO LOVE these colors together, but very few appreciate them together. Yea Dawn for being a courageous leader for the less thought of colors:) lol~

Well, gottago! Making a special dinner for tonight since we are both working tomorrow. Shrimp, oysters ;), steak & baby bellas, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Should be a great night with my beautiful family!

Winks & Wishes

Christie

Make a WISH!

It's a cool rainy day here in NI. Good thing Kristina has pick some Super Summery colors for her Color Inspiration Challenge! Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal, Bashful Blue, Green Galore, and Whisper White are the chosen color for this challenge. And I couldn't LOVE this combo MORE!

Here is my first attempt at on of Kristina's Challenges. With the money crunch on all of us, I have decided to get frugal and attempt making more of my own DSP, embellishments, and utilizing more of the tools I have rather than running out to buy the newest, latest and greatest. Besides! Once upon a day or so ago, my stuff was the newest, latest, and greatest! So why not rekindle the romance that I felt when I first bought some of my basic tools and supplies and fall in love all over again. It's possible right?! YES! And with these color challenges, all the more reason to!

I so LOVE the stamp set She's All That! Even though it reminds me of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" characters, I still so love it! I also used Riveting stamp set. Both are retired by Stampin' Up! You know, I never even noticed the She's All That set until I found a great card on someones blog. (too bad I don't remember who's it was!) Then, I had to have it...but couldn't find it ANYWHERE...

Well, I found it alright. Ebay! But why over pay on Ebay? So I went to another great stamping forum Split Coast Stampers (SCS). If you haven't checked out their site, DONT WALK! RUN! They have EVERYTHING a stamper, paper crafter, scrapbooker could ever dream of! http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ Check it out! You'll be so EXCITED you did!

I found a super nice gal, Denise @ http://geekgirl415.com/ thru SCS's selling/buying/trading forum. She was having a retired sale and I got it at an unbelievable price! (lucky me!)

Hope you enjoy the Color challenge by Kristina. You can find her and tons of tips, tricks, inspiration, and a weekly quick Finally Friday card at http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/.

Winks & Wishes!

Christie

Wanna FREE Big Shot?

I know sounds too good to be true...BUT it's TRUE! Check out this blog and follow the directions! http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/2009/06/blog-candy-anyone-big-giveaway.html

Winks & Wishes!

Christie

Me & Bitty Girl

Quilts are as much a part of me as the blood that runs thru my viens. I can remember my mother filling sacks full of scraps from our clothes to take to my grandmothers for her to quilt. The stories of love, heartache, births, and marriages were just a sprinkling of conversations my mom would have while visiting with my grandmother.

My grandmother would often scold my mother for not quilting. She would say "what a waste all the scraps you have from sewing 5 kids clothes! You otta be a shamed of yourself!" I can still see my grandmother shaking her finger at my mom while my mom rolled her eyes.

It's not that my mom didnt try quilting. It's that when you have 5 kids, you dont have much time for anything other than cooking, cleaning, switching (in todays terms, spaking), and the always present laundry.

My mom passed November 2007. She never truly had the opportunity to quilt and besides, when you have a mother who is by far the worlds best quilter, why do you need to learn? lol~ Sure she gave it a try. But, just like me, my mom always had to pick the most difficult quilt for a first try. She pretty much gave up just after a square or two.

Bitty Girl, my daughter, has been itchin to sew. Sew anything...pj's, pot holders, you name it shes willing to try it just to get her hands on my sewing machine!

My sister is having a baby girl this September. I'd love to surprise her with a quilt, I'll keep you updated on how that goes:)

So I bought a kit with perfectly matching fabrics and INSTRUCTIONS. It seemed easy enough, till my Bitty Girl decided it was the most perfect time to learn to sew. Truly, it was great! She did an awesome job...till we matched up all the squares. It's alittle off, but beautiful for a first try.

Now that I have that one under my belt, I'm ready to give it a real shot. I'll post more pictures later of how it turns out:)

Winks & Wishes,

Christie

Jewelry Color Inspiration & Mojo!

What is this you may ask? Well it's home made DSP! I LOVE color challenges, but always feel like I have to run out and buy some DSP to match the challenge...that is if I'm lucky enough to find some!

Well, I decided not to run out and buy it, but MAKE it! I'm crafty, or so I tell myself~lol. And I love plaid, and the colors in Stacey's Jewelry Color Insp. Challenge. And I have several friends expecting girls this summer and fall so this was the perfect challenge for me to try!

Feel free to visit Stacey's blog to participate in this fun challenge. This is my first, but I can tell I will be checking Stacey's blog often for inspiration, information, and fun too! http://stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com/

Using some of the left over DSP I made, I decided to add a rosette and further embellish it with a punched flower, pretty in pink button, and a pearl. I just love these rosettes! So easy to make too!

I'm falling in love with SU!...AGAIN! Which is great considering the new catty is out next month. I can't wait to get my hands on one of those babies! Feel FREE TO SEND ME SPOILERS!

I used the SU! set I'm Here that retired, oh a few years ago. Love it though and simply can't part with it. As part of the challenge, Stacey picks a piece of Jewelry that has a great color combination and turns it into a challenge for stamping. What an incredible concept! She's so smart that Stacey!

Stacey picked Garden Green, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, and Certainly Celery. I hope you enjoy visiting my blog and Staceys too!
Winks & Wishes!
Christie

Oh Yeah! I nearly forgot! This is also the MoJoMonday Sketch for this week! (and it's only Tuesday and I've got it posted! yea me!)