For the Beauty of the Earth

I'm taking a page out of Shannan's book with my music-related title, but just for today. My music repertoire is much too limited to do that every day (prelude, etude, concerto, repeat, ha ha). However, as I look out on the beautiful ice-covered trees and shrubs, it's this hymn that comes into my head. Take a look:







Makes me want to run turn up the heat. Except for the $1800 (!!!!) propane bill that came yesterday. Ouch. That really put a damper on my plans for a big Stampin' Up order today. Other than the pre-order in December, can you believe I haven't even placed an order from the new catty yet?

Enough blab. I do have stamping for you. I made this card a few days ago, but then the Out on a Limb set from Papertrey arrived and butted this one right outta line. The stamp comes from Garden Silhouettes (retired hostess set). I colored it with markers so I could "shorten" it to fit inside the rectangle nestabilities. You won't be able to see it in the pic, but I colored over the blossoms with a clear Spica pen. I stamped the Linen background in River Rock across the image to add a little texture. Other than that, pretty straightforward.



Off to play a little Wii with my oldest son. We were literally sending him out the door to meet the bus this morning when dh got the alert on his blackberry that schools are closed due to the ice. So glad that came when it did. Can I tell you how many times a neighbor has had to call to tell me schools are closed because they see my kid standing out at the end of the driveway? And then I feel like a complete idiot! Doh!

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes, Linen
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, Enchante dp
Ink: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery
Accessories: brown satin ribbon, rectangle regular and scallop nestabilities (Spellbinders)
Size: 4 1/4" square

To the World You May Be ...

"To the world, you may be just one person,
but to one person, you may be the world."
-Josephine Billings

I've always loved this quote that's in the new Out on a Limb set by Papertrey Ink. Add these beautiful "build-a-limb" images, and you're looking at a set I could not resist.

How's this one for clean and simple? The images themselves are just so serene all by themselves, you really don't need to add much of anything.

First I stamped the leaves in celery. On a second piece of white I stamped the branch in chocolate, then added the buds using blush blossom craft ink and clear embossing powder. The branch is trimmed and then popped up on dimensionals.

Stamps: Out on a Limb by Papertrey Ink
Paper: Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink),
Chocolate Chip, River Rock
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Blush Blossom craft inks,
Certainly Celery classic ink
Accessories: clear embossing powder, dimensionals,
velvet ribbon (May Arts), paper piercer, key tag punch

Edited to Add: Whoopsie ... Evidently, I was keeping my eye on the wrong thing (computer screen), and turned to see that my darling little 9-month-old had gotten a hold of this card ... take a look at it now ...



A little extra dimension and some good ol' distressing never hurt anything, right? Sigh. But really, could YOU be provoked by a face like this? (And yes, I'm indulging in a little proud mama moment!)

Tomorrow's the Day ...

... my little girl turns 4! Guess what we did all day? This ...

Crazy, huh? I found a bunch of cool castle cake ideas online and went to Michael's in search of just a few things ... rolled fondant and some sprinkles. But while we were there (you crafters know how this story goes, right?) ... we found some OTHER things ... like this very cool castle cake kit! It was $20, but I had the coupon, so I got it for $12. I figured I couldn't buy a cake that cheap, even after adding in the cake itself and the frosting. And why reinvent the wheel, when here was the very cake I was out to make?

Like so many endeavors, it really wasn't that simple. Three trips later, I finally had everything I needed ... all the decorating tips, the flower cutters and foam mat for the fondant flowers, meringue powder for the royal icing, etc. I don't even want to know what this cake actually cost!

It was reminiscent of my first Stampin' Up party ;) I was supposed to make cards with just stamps, ink, and paper. Yea, right.

As a wise, and honest woman once said (or was it her husband?), "Buying stamps to save money on cards is like buying a yacht to fish to save money on groceries."

Six Months Old!

Wow, my baby was a big six months old yesterday. So hard to believe. Equally hard to believe is how the gifts keep coming in -- he got another on Sunday. Our friends and family are fabulous!

This is one of two different thank-you designs. I do like the card (a lot), but can I tell you how tired I am of looking at it all these months? This design was actually the inspiration for this Halloween card I posted earlier this month.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Wild Things, Canvas, Just Jeans, Riveting
Inks: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Paper: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Whisper White
Accessories: Word Window, scallop, 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle punches, Soft Subtles brads

He wants you to see his cool socks :)

Apparently, I'm Not the Only Adult Who ...

... actually LIKES candy corn! (Note: Has to be Brach's. Off-brands just don't cut it.) I hear there is a caramel candy corn now, too. I think I must find some!