Growing Pains

There have been some big changes around here the last year or so . . . and some bigger changes still to come. The biggest, most immediate change is that we will be buying and moving into my Mother-in-law's house. There was some debate about this being the right move for us - lots of pros and lots of cons - but in the end, the list of pros was much longer. For me, the biggest con was my emotional attachment to our current house but I've worked through it and am now very excited about the upcoming change.

We have lots to do at the new house before we move in. It was a bit of a 'project house' when my Mother-in-law purchased it and, in the end, she just wasn't happy enough with the location to put the needed TLC into it. She thought she wanted to move closer to her siblings and to her youngest son (my husband) but, once she got here, she realized that she had built her life in another town and that is where she really needed to be. So . . . it is becoming our project house!

Don't get me wrong . . . in this case, a project house is perfect. I would much rather have a house that needs a bit of cosmetic work than a house that is perfectly and tastefully done . . . in someone else's taste! I think it is awesome that there is damage to some of the walls . . . because those walls have a really ugly 'slap brush' texture. If those ugly textured walls were in perfect condition, I really couldn't justify the work it is going to take to change them. So, damaged walls are GOOD news! LOL

Anyway . . . you can expect many blog posts in the coming months to concern our renovations and our move. I can't wait to share!

Guess Where I Went for Christmas?

Do You Ever Lose Your Way?

Wander without purpose? Know that there is something you SHOULD do, but can't figure out quite what that something is?

That is where I've been.

Without going into all the ugly details about why I've been drifting for two-plus years, now is the time to grab the reigns and start living with a bit more purpose. And where that concerns this blog, today seems to be the day!

Really, it is going to be like starting from scratch here, but that is okay. My plan is to simply go with it and post regularly.

BLOG CARNIVAL - My Digital Studio

Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Blog Carnival! We are going to keep this party going all month so you don't need to worry if you can see everything today! If you bookmark my blog, it will be easy to find me again . . . just a suggestion! LOL

I just LOVE Stampin' Up!'s new softward, My Digital Studio! There is SO much you can do with it! One of my favorite discoveries so far is how easy it is to use MDS to create and store sketches! I have been collecting sketches from scrapbook magazines and books for years and I am so excited to find that I can save each sketch as a template in My Digital Studio and use it over and over again! Want to see an example?


For the purposes of this post, I created my own sketch from a scapbook page I saw on page 78 of Stampin' Up!'s current Idea Book and Catalog. I could have also used someone else's sketch to recreate in MDS, but wanted to make sure I didn't violate any copyright laws! Here is a page created with my template:




Cool, huh? Want to see another?



It was SO EASY to create these pages once I had the template created and saved!

So are you convinced that you need your own copy of MDS? LOL If not (or even if you are) you need to check out the following links to see the wonderful creations my fellow blog carnival participants came up with!

DMDezign
Yapha
Willysgirl
Hollylogic
Lyssa
Lilysinkpad
StampinShell
JulieA
lovetostampandscrap
Melina Stamps!
BroncoMom
Britney
S1itcher46
Kelli
Scrapbookmamma



Thanks for stopping by and please visit again!

Starting at noon EST on Saturday, October 3, Stampin' Addicts will be hosting a Blog Party that will be done carnival style (this is new for us!).

The links will be posted here in this post instead of linking in a circle and each blog will have a sidebar button that will link back here to the master list of blogs. Each “Party Blog” will showcase different ideas on how to use MDS. You’ll see how to use MDS to plan traditional stamping projects, how to create hybrid projects (that use both traditional and digital features) and how to create completely digital projects. We have all had such a blast getting ready for this and we can’t wait to show you how incredible My Digital Studio is!

The party starts this weekend and keeps going until November 1st so you can come back as many times as you want during October. Be sure to join us as we celebrate the launch of Stampin’ Up!’s My Digital Studio

Big Event

Well . . . my only kid is a married man. Man? Oh my goodness . . . how did that happen? LOL

A Finished Album!

And not just finished, but converted to video format for the web!

My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up! ROCKS!!!

Heard the Buzz??

Just in case you live in another world (or have been reeeeaaaallllly busy!), Stampin' Up! is introducing a FANTASTIC new product . . . My Digital Studio! Yes - digital scrapbooking!

I must admit, I was skeptical. I thought I would never go digital and I was a bit disappointed that SU! decided to enter that market. But I was wrong! Look what I just did . . .That was my very first attempt at digital scrapping . . . it took less than 30 minutes and I didn't even read a manual. Totally easy! And I imagine it will get easier and faster as I practice. What do you think???

Oh yeah . . . since I splashed their faces across my blog, it is only fair to give y'all a link to Julie's and Holly's blogs! Say hello to Julie at Julie's Stamping Station and give Holly a shout at Ink Paper Stamps! Tell 'em I sent ya!

While you are waiting . . .

I might as well give you some fun stuff to look at!

Check out Paula's instructions for the Faux Alligator Technique. Cool, huh?

Blog? What Blog?

Oh YEAH! I have a BLOG!

What do a 3 weekends out of town + one weekend with house guests + 2 unbelievably busy weeks at my 'day' job + a pending kitchen remodel + the need to start (and finish!) my Convention Swaps equal? If you guessed NO BLOG POSTS, you are absolutely right!

But I have been stamping. Really. Here is the messy desk picture to prove it!

My normal stamping spot is in our sunroom but this time of year, especially a year with record high temps, it is just too hot in there! So I've been picking stuff up and carrying it to a little library table in our living room . . . as you can see, NOT the ideal place to stamp! LOL What a MESS! (And those baseboards really need painting, don't they?!)


The good news is I am making progress on my swaps . . . I have signed up for 8 organized swap and I'm happy to say I'm either done or have a significant start on all but 1 of those. I would LOVE to show you the projects I have done . . . but then that could potentially ruin the surprise for other folks in those swaps.

Once I settle on some 'general' swaps . . . I post some of those so you have something pretty and fun to look at, okay? In the mean time . . . here is a little hint at some cards that might become general swaps! Crappy picture, but I just snapped quick shots of stuff that is propped on my mantle . . . be on the look out for better pics soon!

We Have A Winner!

As determined by Random.Org, the big winner is . . . .


jessgos1313!

for submitting the following quote:

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty" - Maya Angelou

Isn't that a great quote?! I'm going to keep a copy of it to help me remember there are better things to come when I'm going through one of those not-so-pleasant periods of change.

Jessgos1313, please contact me at comekastamps@hotmail.com this week with your contact information so I can arrange to send you your goodies! And I almost forgot . . . as a Follower of my blog, you will receive DOUBLE the goodies, as promised!

Lovin' the Quotes!

I am so glad that I asked for people to post their favorite quotes to be entered for my Blog Candy! It is so much fun to read them! Have YOU posted an entry for my giveaway? If not, CLICK HERE FOR MY BLOG CANDY POST!

BLOG CANDY!

Well . . . I DID promise!

I have a stash of current In-Color cardstock - 30 half sheets pre-cut and ready for you to turn into cards! Want 'em? To enter, simply post your favorite inspirational quote in the comment section of this post. Please include your email address so it will be easy to contact you if you are the winner. Apologies to my international sisters . . . I can only mail blog candy to US addresses at this time.

Want a bonus? If you are a follower of my blog, I'll DOUBLE the number of sheets to 60! (In other words, you ought to sign up to follow my blog! LOL)

Enter before noon on Sunday . . . I'll draw a random entry on Sunday evening and announce the winner on Monday!

Stampin' Addicts Bon Voyage Blog Hop!

Welcome to Stampin' Addicts Bon Voyage Blog Hop!

You have just arrived from The Stampin' Bunny where you enjoyed Rhonda's creations featuring the set Pretty Amazing and are now at Port of Call #24! This stop will give you a quick look at Seeing Spots, one of the most versatile sets Stampin' Up! has every produced!

Seeing Spots (115058) is retiring! Get it while you still can!




















The first two cards use a One Sheet Wonder (OSW) . . . if you are not familiar with the OSW technique, it is a TOTALLY easy way to make a lot of cute and simple cards FAST! In addition to Seeing Spots, these cards feature Curvy Verses & Think Happy Thoughts stamp sets, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, and Chocolate Chip ink, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla paper. I've embossed the kiwi paper with my Big Shot for a little extra texture and added a little 'bling' with some rhinestone brads. Final touch was to add some grosgrain ribbon! Whatcha think?


Next up is my favorite project! I really went out of my comfort zone with the color choices and I'm so glad I did! Who would have thought that Perfect Plum, Really Rust, Certainly Celery, and Sage Shadow would look so great?! This card again features Seeing Spots in the center of the flower. I've added a couple of die cut daisy's from my Big Shot and finished it off with a Filigree brad. The sentiment is from Fast & Fun Notes which is another 'must have' set . . . even if you only use the sentiments!




Finally, I made a cute little gift bag! These are also 'out-of-the-box' colors for me . . . Basic Gray, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, and Sage Shadow. It does have a rhinestone brad and a bit of ribbon but I still think it would be great for a Father's Day gift or other masculine gift, don't you? This bag was sooooooo easy - check back next week for directions and for links to the bag that Lyssa made that inspired this one.






I hope you've enjoyed your visit here at port of call #24. Please come back after the tour is over for more information on these projects (I'll also have some BLOG CANDY!). Your next Port of Call is #25 with Sharon's blog, Trails and SNAILS for a look at Frames with a Flourish. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

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Click here for Port of Call #25
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Miss something?

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Click here to go back to Port of Call #23
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One announcement before disembarking: the tour links are only active through 11:59 pm Tuesday June 16; after that, many hostesses will post more details on projects you see today. Bookmark your favorite stops now--on return visits, you'll bypass customs & immigration and go straight to the fun!




Want to learn more about Stampin' Addicts - the best source on the web for Stampin' Up! ideas and inspiration? Click HERE!

Hop! Hop! Hop!

I am SO excited to be a part of another Stampin’ Addicts blog tour! These are so much fun and feature great projects from extremely talented demonstrator friends of mine. You remember the awesome Parade of Papers tour last month–this new ‘farewell’ tour will feature all retiring sets from the Spring/Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog. I’ll be stop #24 and featuring a super cute stamp set!

The tour will run from noon on Saturday, June 13th to midnight on Tuesday, June 16th. After that, the ship will depart, so be sure to bookmark your favorite sites to return to later for instructions and patterns for the projects. Unlike other blog hops, ours are FREE to view and participate in, and highly professionally organized, with no dropped links and 100% participation. You will not be disappointed! Mark your calendar so you don't miss all the creative fun!

And the Blog Candy WINNER is . . .

Thisisthesouth2!

Please send me your contact information so I can send you your goodies! My email is: ComekaStamps@hotmail.com

Sad you didn't win? I have tons of soon-to-retire paper so I'll be doing another give away soon!

Photo Friday and Last Call for Blog Candy!!

This is my 'baby boy' Rowdy . . . Isn't he a sweetie?

Today is your last chance to be entered into the drawing for my blog candy! I'll be sending one lucky winner an assortment of DSP, cardstock, and hardware . . . see THIS POST for details on how to enter! Don't forget . . . you will get a 'second chance' entry for adding yourself as a Follower of Sparkle Happens!

And two more things before I forget . . .

First, I promised a link to the inspiration for this card feature on the blog hop post . . . Click HERE to see the original on Michelle Sturgeon's Blog. I just LOVE her card, don't you?

While you are there, make sure and check out all her other wonderful creations!





And finally, I promised to explain a One-Sheet-Wonder on my Parade of Paper blog post . . . and it is coming, really, it is! I'll have two great examples to show you in a day or two!

Manchester for Mother's Day

As promised! Another project featuring Manchester DSP . . . this time a Mother's Day card. And yes, I should have posted it BEFORE Mother's Day so it could have inspired you but then my Mom might have seen it before she got it in the mail. You wouldn't have wanted to spoil her surprise, now would you? LOL!

Well . . . I LOVE this card! As soon as I saw folks using the Big Shot Pennant Die to make crisscross pocket cards, I KNEW I had to have that die! Sadly, this is the first one I've made but it will NOT be the last! Whatcha think?

Don't forget the blog candy! See HERE for detail on how to be entered into the drawing!

And some more different . . .

All Supplies from Stampin' Up! Stamps: Wanted. Paper: Sahara Sand, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red DSP. Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bravo Burgundy. Accessories: Top Note die, Jumbo Eyelets.

Yes, I DID promise more projects that feature Manchester DSP . . . tomorrow! I promise! Have you ever fixed a yummy dinner and then had to eat the leftovers for 5 days? Not so yummy after awhile, is it? LOL Tomorrow's post will feature the card I made for my Mom for Mother's Day. Hopefully, you will think it is worth the wait!

For today's card, I really tried to get out of my own 'box' . . . I've had these stamps since I got them free at SU! Convention '07 but I've just not used them much. And this is the FIRST time I've EVER used Pacific Point, aside from the Make & Take projects I did at the SU San Antonio Regionals . . . it is just not my color! To help it become more 'me' and to help give it a bit of an aged western look, I sponged and distressed both the cardstock and the DSP. Well . . . I'm not doing any happy dancin' about this card, but it isn't horrible either! Just wait, you are gonna love the card tomorrow! Promise!

Oh yeah . . . don't forget the blog candy! Leave a comment on THIS post to be entered into the drawing! And for a second entry, sign up to follow my blog! Don't know how to follow? Just click on the 'Follow' button in the right hand column!

And now for something completely different . . .

All Supplies from Stampin' Up! Stamps: Always. Paper: Bella Rose & Raspberry Tart DSP, Pirouette Pink & Riding Hood Red CS. Ink: Riding Hood Red classic. Accessories: Pretties Kit

First of all . . . THANK YOU!

The Parade of Papers was a huge success . . . thanks to all the great folks who took the time out of their busy weekend to visit those of us participating! I am especially thankful for all of you who left such kind comments . . . those comments made me wish for more hours in the day to STAMP! LOL I also owe a big 'Thanks!' to the other 23 participants with a special 'shout out' to Yapha who did such a good job on coordinating the whole shebang!

Now, you might have just looked at the pictures on my last post BUT if you read carefully, you might have noticed that I have a couple more Manchester DSP projects to share . . . but not today! LOL Today, we need something a bit different! What do you think of this card that uses Raspberry Tart & Bella Rose DSP? It was totally simple, aside from dying the flower, but I think it turned out pretty cute!

ANOTHER thing you might have read in my last post was a mention of blog candy! Did you catch that one? LOL SOOOOOO . . . leave me a comment on THIS post and you will be entered into a drawing for some blog candy. Want TWO chances to win? Add yourself as a Follower of Sparkle Happens and I'll put your name in twice! Unfortunately, I will only be able to mail candy to those in the U.S. - maybe someday I'll be able to afford to include the rest of the world but until then, accept my sincere apologies. The picture to the left shows the assortment of DSP, cardstock, chipboard, and hardware I'll be sending to the lucky winner! I'll draw the name on Friday evening and announce the winner on Saturday, so be sure to comment by 5 PM on Friday!