The Queen Mom

Cards for the Birthday Girls

2008-02-18T20:23:00.003-06:00

Last week we had birthdays for my youngest (6 on Valentine's Day) and my oldest (21 on Saturday). Tomorrow is my ex-mother-in-law's birthday, but they had a surprise party for her on Saturday - so I made a card to send along with my ex-husband (I couldn't go because I had to be home for my oldest daughter's birthday).

So, I thought I'd share the cards that I made for my older daughter using the Paper Pretties set Snowflake Kisses, and the card for my ex-MIL using SU's Embrace Life set.

Have a GREAT night!!

Forever We Are Together

2008-02-18T20:12:00.004-06:00

So here's the story, my 5 year old wanted to copy a card I had done. So we put some things together and she was very excited and put it all together and colored it. Then she got to pick a word out of the set, she had me repeat each word several times until she decided that she wanted the word Forever. Forever Mom, because I want my card to say Mom Forever We Are Together. If that doesn't melt your heart I don't know what will. ;)) Then the funny part, I was helping her spell out we are together...We - W - E, Are - UH-OH not "R" the word "are" is spelled... - okay you just fix it however you want....;)) We avoided a near hysterical melt down over that, but when I assured her that it was just perfect we were able to move on.

Thanks for stopping by...

I'd pick you for chocolate...

2008-01-23T20:06:00.000-06:00

This is one of my few accomplishments from last weekends VSN over at Splitcoast. My folks were out of town, so I had the kiddos home all weekend - made committing to all of the challenges impossible. The kids were great, though, so I got to play along with a few, my concentration wasn't strong enough to do as many as I could have with them running around so much.

Funny enough there is no stamping on the box. I pulled out the K & Company Wild Saffron paper stack and carefully measured to make sure the butterfly was predominately on the front of the box, based on the basic measurements, that didn't leave a whole lot of room for stamping. There was just enough room for the ribbon with a pretty little slide, and the metal tag I dug out of my stash. Stamped or not, I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out.

Tomorrow night, I will share a card by my 5 year old. It loosely copied one that I had done - and the rest of the story that goes with it is one of those melt your mommy heart stories. ;)

Until tomorrow....

A Beautiful Thing makes it out of the box...finally

2008-01-17T16:53:00.001-06:00

Hello, hello, hello...

I have another card to share. This one uses the new SU! set A Beautiful Thing. Funny, I had to have this set. Then it got here. I've stared at this set over and over and just come up blank on what to do with it. This card is NOTHING like it was intended to be. One of those days that you start playing and then just keep on going...adding a little here and a little there...

I was pleased when all was said and done, I hope you like it.

I ran the Cranberry Crisp cardstock through the cuttlebug, then added a little gold gel pen on some of the flowers. I decided on Cranberry Crisp and Marigold Morning, both retired colors that I just loved. I grabbed a square of Poison Ivory paper and just started adding bits and pieces here and there. When I was happy with the images I took a stipple brush and added cranberry to the edges...then pounced it here and there for a little texture. (Okay I really need to tackle the how to take a decent photo lessons next - so those pretty little details might be visible) I grabbed Sahara Sand for the card base and my stipple brush and added some color, then the sentiment, scribbled a couple little lines and assembled the card as you see it.

I think I have mentioned that one of this years goals is to begin sending RAK cards. I am proud to say that yesterday 2 went out! It felt good just to drop them in the mail! I hope the girls that get them enjoy them.

We are getting quite the snowstorm here today, so I'm keeping the kids home from dance and we are just going to enjoy a quiet night at home for a change. Well, at least as quiet as an 8 year old and his almost 6 year old sister can be. :))

Have a wonderful night folks...and don't forget to check out VSN over at Splitcoast this weekend!
Until tomorrow...

Faux leather Adorable Family

2008-01-15T21:03:00.000-06:00

Hello again!

So, I am not so great at doing the post every day thing. But, I did get a chance to play with a new (to me) technique. Faux leather. I've done faux leather in the past with masking tape and dye inks, but this time I took my kraft card stock and ran it over the edge of the table and peeled it apart. It provided a nice rough suede type texture. I took some Tim Holtz (Do you not just love that man?) distressing inks and played with ink and sponge daubers until I got a look that I liked.

On a trip to Archiver's I found this DMD clear stamp set (Pets), and fell in love. That was about 2 months ago and I just now inked it for the first time!!! The cat and dog just speak to me. And yes, my fat cats are BIG, though not bigger than the German Shepherd, but bigger than some dogs ;)

The cat and dog are stamped on poison ivory card stock, the words are from SU! Fancy Flexible Phrases and Everday Flexible Phrases. The card base is elegant eggplant and the ribbon is of unknown origin from my awesome secret sister!

Thanks for looking and have a GREAT night!

I Got to STAMP!!

2008-01-07T20:58:00.000-06:00

Good Evening!!

It's been so long since I've had time to stamp, I just got around to cutting and mounting my preorder that arrived December 12th!! I actually had time to mount them and ink some up...
And that also led me to play with a Christmas present, a handful of Copic Sketch markers... I was so determined to not like them. DANG, if I don't love the darn things. Easy to use and beautiful color! I need to stop reading the blogs of stamping goddesses such as Lauren Meader, Debbie Olson, Jeanne Streiff, and Julie Ebersole (to name only a few of my daily reads that do amazing things with these markers. I'm going to attempt to post my first creations, but please bear with me, as I am really not sure how this works...

Okay, I have them in here, but I really cannot figure out how to place them properly, UGH!

Okay, anyway, I played with the new Stampin' Up! sets Embrace Life, and Infinite Goodness. I have been in such a household, work, kids activities rut that I have had no time to stamp, but I am relatively happy with them, though.

Well, I really just wanted to share something. Since I was so excited to get to play with some new toys, I thought I would show off what I did.

With the new year I have made some resolutions (also known as setting myself up for failure, LOL). I have started walking at work with a friend. She's a trooper - she walks super slow with me. We set a site just a little further every day. It's been nice. (Except for my blister - ouch!) Having a partner is great, when one of us wants to bail the other says "Let's go!" Today it was raining, but we went anyway, and it stopped until we got back - someone is on our side ;)

While I am realistic enough to not set goals that are too specific, my resolutions in generalities are to improve life in general. Not to lose an amount of weight, but to exercise more, and watch what I eat. To spend more settled time on my hobby, time for myself to relax. And the big one, to quit smoking. UGH! That one is going to be the worst. I expect that it will be a year long struggle. I'll take baby steps though.

Well thanks for reading...Tomorrow starts the return to the whirlwind of kids activities, 5 dance classes, Tae Kwon Do, bowling...Better get some rest for that...

Wow, lots to learn...

2008-01-04T20:19:00.000-06:00

Well, it's my second day, and I clearly have a lot to learn. A great friend hooked me up with this site to make the signature. How cool is that??!! Thanks Mel!

Day One ---

2008-01-03T20:26:00.000-06:00

Well, a first post to check out how things look so far. I'm just learning how to do this blog thing...
I promise that if you are reading this that you landed here in error :O) And thanks for reading this far!

I can't promise that future posts will be too much more exciting than this one. I will be sharing stories about my kids (they could be their own sitcom), and maybe share some of my stamping projects...

I hope (in the form of New Year's Resolutions) to accomplish a lot this year. My big goal is to RAK lots of people this year, just 'cuz I can. To take something I've made and send it out to a random soul just to make them smile. You just never know when that one little thing will make a really rotten day okay.

So, as you can see if I haven't lost you yet, I am a bit of a rambler....

Have a GREAT night!!!!