Just a quick note

Sorry I haven't been on for a little while. I did have some additions to my etsy today and I am gearing up for my etsy showcase on Feb 11. The first half of the week was full of tying up loose ends from the previous week and the second half i have been on a mini personal leave. So... this week is over and I am closing up shop til Monday... celebrating with my family; a special achievement. I think I may even watch Avatar tomorrow! I know.... i think I'm the only one in the whole world that hasn't seen it yet.
As for my sweater... not sewn together yet. But the pieces are all finished! Who knew sewing would be just as time consuming?
Here's my latest card for etsy.

Well that's it for now! Have a great weekend!

Yea! No snow!

I had fully expected to have the girls home (at least for the morning...) as the weather had predicted a bit of freezing rain, sleet and snow. But this am I waited and waited for the announcement that never came! So... yes! The kids had to go to school (they were a little shocked as well..).
But that gave me time to put the rest of the face plates up on etsy and make some cute SNAIL baby cards. They are all ready for sale now!
Here's my workspace... messy... i know!
Anyway. I have a couple more hours til they come home... so i think I'm going to see if I can piece together my sweater. Hopefully the arms won't be different lengths and it all comes together ok. We'll see.
Hope you are staying warm and have a really great weekend!

switchplates and outlet covers available NOW on EtSy

I finally listed a bunch of outlet covers and switchplates I made for sale... sometimes you just have to put a chunk of time aside to just do listings...

Can't believe this... but weather is calling for more sleet tonight. with the kids home for the last 6 days... I had been looking forward to today and tomorrow to catch up with my work... but it looks like I may be continuing to catch up with them some more! (fingers are doubly crossed...)

OH... ONE MORE THING... If you love jewelry and handmade art... please check out my friend Stacie's Jewelry Showcase on etsy tomorrow (FRI 22nd) for some great finds! She is really talented and I can tell you first hand that she puts a lot of time and care into each piece she makes!

Have a great day!

RAK from Maddie

Look what I got today!
My friend's daughter, Maddie, made these two beautiful cards...
I just had to share them with you! Very impressive. She got us right on the dot! I love coffee and My hubs loves chocolate!
THANK YOU for your beautiful art Maddie!

Service Project Update

Well. You haven't seen much info on our Building Dreams service project that I started last year. Partly because selling thru the internet hasn't been very productive and we weren't able to collect enough items to sell to make the whole $3000 donation.
In the end we were only able to raise about 10% of the total goal amount for the Benevolent Housing Project in Haiti.
So in light of the recent disaster in Haiti, I have sent the $300 to the organization as every little bit will help with the relief efforts underway.
For more information on this organization, please check out:
http://www.doubleharvest.org/

THANK YOU again to all who donated your art for the building of homes in Haiti and to all who purchased items in support of this effort.

I will be thinking on ways to regroup the efforts and will definitely keep you all posted on future service/charity ideas.

The birdie said so...

This is a new birdie card ready for stores and etsy. I did make several with different designer papers and different sayings.
For now I will put this one up on etsy... and probably a few others tomorrow. (running out of time...)

why does the day have to "fly" by?.....

New additions to etsy... and on the way to stores.

Seems like a few days went right by. I've been hanging with friends knitting (my sweater is almost ready) and crafting cards.
I did add a few cards to the etsy store and all store cards will be delivered by tomorrow afternoon.

See you soon!

Weekend fun!

My cousin, Christina, gave me this awesome Cavallini Stamp set for Christmas! I finally got to sit down and play with it a bit... just for fun!
I made a bunch of these vintage inspired cards... sent some to her as a thank you... and will use these for personal use... I had some Cavallini and Co papers and added some sewing. Really simple to make!
this week I will get back to making cards for the stores. I will have new cards delivered by the end of the week... Thanks for your patience... new baby,birthday and wedding card designs are at the front of the line this time!
Ok. Getting back to my time... until I have to go fold more laundry.
See you soon!

more Easter and Valentine's Day

Just a couple more to share today. I think I will be working on non-Easter/ Valentine's day cards for the rest of the day. Looking forward to baby, bridal and birthday cards!

More cards today...

Well. It seems that I am on a roll! Made many more easter cards featuring our little choc bunny and a few other valentine cards.
Here are a couple. vintage buttons, punched hearts, sewing, satin ribbon, layer and layers! The stamp sets are Papertrey ink and all the card stock/papers are SU. Many are retired (trying to go thru my stash!) and the buttons are vintage finds here and there!







So that's what I have for today. More to come soon! (tomorrow I hope!)

Oh What Fun...!

So today I got everyone off to work and school... and got started right away with paper! The Easter ideas came flooding in... and some Valentines too!
This chocolate bunny card is my favorite. For sale now on etsy! (check out the link on the left).
The bunny layer is first smeared with linen distress inks, then stamped in vintage distressed ink (on glossy card stock). the bunny is new from SU. Then I fed the bunny through an embossing folder (a floral one) and inked over the raised surface for more definition. Layers and layers of gorgeous cardstock and happy easter stamped on raised cardstock layer! I think there are 8 layers in all! The base is a kraft color card stock and inside is blank.

I'm so happy to be papercrafting again! I missed the old inks and paper...
tomorrow will be more of the same. I need more Valentine ideas. Need to dream of hearts tonight.

hope your day was great too! See you soon!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year to all my friends and family! What an interesting start to the year...
first I can't believe it is 2010! Seems like 2009 just flew by and I don't think I got done everything I wanted to... luckily things around here can be carried over nicely to fit into the new year.

My New Years goals...
1) Stop and listen when my family is talking to me. So many times I am multitasking and find myself not fully paying attention to those who are talking to me.
2) Use up supplies that I have hoarded over the years. I find myself saving items because they are too pretty or "nice" to use (and I don't have a stockpile of it...). If it works on a piece - I will use it!
3) Try to laugh at my life... so things don't seem so serious. But when things get too hard... I will rely on my friends. (*wink!)
4) Keep in mind all those around me and keep a giving heart at the forefront of my thoughts.

I know I have many more things I need to improve this year... I know I will be adding to my list daily!


A little business news: Thank you again to all my Stampin Up customers over the years. I am now officially not demonstrating and will not be selling products. I'm sorry, i do not know anyone personally (locally) who sells SU.
I will be reopening my etsy store very soon. as the end of 2009 approached I realized my inventory was very low and I just kept it on the back burner... but now that I will have more time (from not demo-ing), I will be working hard to get that fully stocked and ready to go.

I hope you all had a wonderful NEW YEARs celebration with your loved ones.
Wishing everyone out there a
VERY VERY HAPPY and PROSPEROUS 2010!