I Got New Stamps!!!

I thought I would start this evening with my little sweetie. Nine times out of ten, when I go to check on her, this is what I find. Bottom's up, friends! :oP And, given her propensity to strip, I now check to make sure said bottom is properly covered...


Sleepy girl with the hair in her face. She has been quite the two year old the past few days, screaming and crying and WOO, can she be sassy! She was fussing about napping today, doing everything she could to avoid it, even though we knew she was exhausted. I went upstairs so many times I lost count, but on my last trip up, she was sitting up in bed. Frustrated I said, "Lily, lay DOWN." She quickly laid down and replied, "I AM laying down!!" Oh, my...

We went to Tropical Smoothie for dinner (thank you so very much to all my sweet and amazing students and their parents for the bounty of gift cards I received as end of the year gifts) and upon returning to the car realized the keys were no where to be found. :Insert panicked Rachael here: Brien, true to form, remained calm and cool and called his parents who stopped by our house, picked up the spare key, picked up the van and drove it to us where we were shopping at Target. I have amazingly wonderful in-laws, I really do. Thanks guys, for everything! :o)

Yesterday I had a girls' night out with Lola and Lisa. Lola desperately wanted to see "Sex and the City" and Lisa and I were game. Big confession here, folks, I have NEVER watched an episode of the series and was afraid I would be a little lost. However, being a (former) avid reader of gossip rags, I had a very basic understanding of what was going to occur. I think Lisa and I may have been the only two women in the theater who hadn't seen the show. ;o) In spite of that, I did enjoy the movie and didn't realize 2 1/2 hours had passed until we left the theater. I had a rough moment during the previews, though.

A preview for a new movie, "Mama Mia" came on, and of course, the music as Abba. I was a little weepy and then, they played "Dancing Queen". I totally lost it and began sobbing right in the middle of a very funny trailer. I'm okay if I know it's coming, it's the unexpected that gets me every time. This crying jag set my emotions all askew and I found myself rather weepy throughout the movie--although, knowing me, this may have occurred if I was emotionally level as well. I'm such a feeler...

I came home very much appreciative of Brien and our relationship.

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We went to the "Gymber" outlet this morning to get some summer clothing that will actually fit Lil (sorry, Jessie, the 2T stuff just swallows her...) and Carter's to get some jim jams (or, "jamas" (rhymes with "mamas") as Lil calls them).

I also spent today tackling Mt. St. Laudry-us and got a decent start. I made cards between loads and trekking upstairs to talk to Miss Bit about her lack of napping. :oP Here are the results of today's efforts.



First we have my EXTREMELY messy work station/dining room. B and I are talking about turning a corner of the playroom into a studio for me and I KNOW I've got to get this stuff up and out of Ella's reach when she visits. This is some mighty fun stuff, as it and Lil can attest to... If Lil can wreak such havoc solo, I dread what she and her cousin can do as a duo. Somehow I think it would be more than twice the damage...

My latest order from Stampin' Up! arrived Friday (I LOVE getting packages in the mail!) and inside was one of the new stamp sets I ordered, "Pick A Petal". I had put off purchasing it as it is a little more pricey than some of the others. Every time I opened the catalog, my eye was drawn to it and I figured if I was still that interested I should just buy it. I'm so happy I did!


I had purchased some 5 1/2"x5 1/2" envelopes and hadn't made any cards to go in them. I decided today was the day to remedy that. This card uses the "Pick A Petal" stamp set, and colors from the Soft Subtles family.



I loved this card so much I made it in three different colors. ;o) The card measures 5 /14"x5 1/4" so it will fit in the square envelopes. The ink is Real Red and is one of the richest colors I use, I swear. The only "problem" I have with Real Red is even though it may be dry, it still rubs off on my fingers and leaves red smudges on things I would rather remain white. Hee hee.


So Saffron is quickly becoming one of my favorite colors. :o)


I decided to make a monochromatic card for my last two. I love the combination of Soft Sky paired with Blue Bayou.

Here they are all together.



Who knew you could use "Pick A Petal" to make these adorable little guys? These are simple little 3"x3" cards that came together likethat. :o) I think the sunniness of the Wild Wasabi paper sets off the Real Red ladybugs beautifully.

I wasn't as pleased with these last two cards. They are "okay", but nothing I would write home about.



I have to say the glitter embossing powder I found the other day is fabulously fun! I want to glitterize everything! Hannah would be SO proud, LOL!


These next few guys were made the last weekend Lissie was here. I made six more boxes of 3"x3" cards and fell in love all over again with the simplicity of those little cards and the cuteness of the boxes. The stamp set was yet another new one, "Life's a Breeze". I had to have the flip flops and sunglasses in the set. The other items were just added bonuses...;oP





Ah, I got creative with this set. I was being silly and decided to stamp sunglasses on the sun. How cute is he??? Loving him as much as I did, I quickly set Lissie to the task of making 18 of them, making sure to only emboss the sunglasses. What a task master I am! ;o)

My goal was to make four cards to go in each box with the sunny sun as the theme. Here are the results:


Whew. I'm so glad I finally got them posted! Oh, and thank you, Lissie, for all your hard work on the sunny suns. :o)

If any of you crafty-types out there have any hints on how you organize your paper scraps, I'd LOVE to hear them. I've GOT to get my scraps put in some semblance of order!!

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Weekend Sparklies:

1. Lily and her funny little self. She selected the table for dinner this evening, pulled out a chair, plopped bear in it (sitting up, of course!) and pushed him in. Only then would she seat herself. :o)
2. I have found a way to keep Lil from running from me into parking lots, thank goodness. Since she likes to "betend" she's a doggy, I told her she needed to give me her leash to hold on to so I could keep my sweet puppy safe. She quickly complied and then, of course began barking and whining. At least she's safe. :o)
3. The dent I've made in the laundry. Whew.
4. Card making whilst sitting in the room with my sweetie. We don't have to talk to each other, just sitting together in the same room, sharing an occasional story is enough some days. :o)
5. Clean, 600 thread count sheets on my bed. That is truly one of life's finer pleasures. :o)
6. Girls' Night Out!
7. Friends who come to visit--even if I miss them. :sigh: The photos B took of Jemma, James and Lily playing are too precious.
8. Making cards! Yay!!
9. Only four days of school left!!!


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I'm nodding off at my keyboard--Brien just told me so, LOL! G'Night, all! :o)