Week 39 - safetysuit

TGIF!!

It's been a super long week here, so happy it's the weekend!! I fell off the wagon with the SITS Girls blogging challenge but with good reason.  Our sweet Amber was quite sick and I had some long sleepless nights with her.  We took her to the vet yesterday and she is now on the mend thankfully. Hoping for a full night of sleep tonight!!

I made this layout tonight for the 52 Week challenge, I'm amazed that I'm still in this challenge. I may not share my pages each week (lazy blogger that I am sometimes) but I'm still scrapping at least one page each and every week. 

I pulled out this pictures last week and decided to use them tonight.  They aren't the best as they are zoomed in cell pics but it was such a fun night that I wanted to document it for our scrapbook.  We went to Mohegan Sun on Good Friday and as we were strolling around after dinner, we came upon this awesome band.  I'm hoping we can see them again and actually sit in the Wolf Den so we can see them a bit better (the lead singer was so cute! LOL!!)

My layout was created using this week's Classy Sketch.  Papers are by Echo Park and from the Note to Self Collection. Added some tape from Bella Blvd, stickers and brads from my stash.  I like how it turned out!

TFL!

Fall into Blogging - Day 3

If you are here to see my Flutter By Wednesdays post, please scroll down :-)

Today's prompt from SITS is: Share one of your favorite fall memories with us, or something you look forward to each fall.

What I look forward to each fall~

• Wearing hoodies and jeans 

 

 (in Newport on Saturday, the first day of fall, in 70 something degree weather LOL!)

• Eating soups and stews

• Fairs and the yummy food that goes along with them

 

(Fried Dough at the Guilford Fair this past Sunday)

• Thanksgiving - I usually take the whole week off

• Decorating for the season - got all the Disney awesomeness at CVS last week!

• Celebrating the adoption anniversary of our pup Amber  :-) - it will be 2 years on October 30th!

Thanks for stopping by!

Flutter By Wednesdays #207

It's Flutter By Day!

Today's Flutter By Wednesdays challenge is the popular Anything Goes - just remember to include a butterfly or fairy on your project. Link up HERE and check out all the DT Inspiration!

I found a cool sketch at iClassygirl.com and rolled with that and some of the same supplies I used on last week's card - still loving the washi tape! Cardstock is PTI and patterned paper is Authentique Delightful.  Sentiment is from a Scrappy Moms stamp set and the butterfly punch is from Martha Stewart.

Here's the sketch~

I'll be back in a few hours with the SITS Girls Fall into Blogging Day 3 post!

Fall Back into Blogging - Day 2

Good morning!

Today's prompt for the SITS Girls Fall Back into Blogging Challenge is a photo prompt - a picture of what fall looks like in your neck of the woods or a picture that means "fall" to you.

Here are some photos I wanted to share of Kent Falls State Park from last fall.

We go every year and every year we manage to go either too early or too late and miss seeing a lot of color all at once LOL. One of these years we will get the timing right :)  We've been checking the Foliage Network and it's still low color right now. So hopefully we can pick the right day to go this year!

Thanks for visiting!

Bushel and a Peck

I finally spent a little time playing with my Daydream Designs digi stamps & papers tonight.  I was a bit burned out after the 30 days of Christmas cards last month and have really slacked on getting much done this month - I can't believe it's the end of the 24th already!!

I printed the image from the Bushel and a Peck Colorized set, it's great to have some pre-colored images on hand for quick cards! I also printed the two designer papers from the Fall Papers pack.  I used this week's Critter Sketch Challenge for the card layout and incorporated the Pink Elephant's Chevron/Hexagon challenge by using chevron paper.  To add a little sparkle to the card, I used the Gold Spica pen on the leaves.  The edges of the image were inked with Amber Clay chalk ink and in place of the 3 stars in each corner, I added leaf brads from my stash.

Here's the sketch~

TFL!

Fall Back into Blogging Challenge - Day 1

The SITS Girls are challenging their readers to "fall" back into blogging now that summer is sadly over...sigh...

So I thought this would be a fun thing to join in on to get back into the blogging groove myself!  You can check out today's prompt about sharing your best school memory HERE and see who else is participating.

It's been quite awhile since I've been in high school and I don't mind admitting that either LOL!  I really enjoy being an adult in the real world, despite all the not so fun responsibilities.  Even though I was a great student, I can't say that I truly enjoyed school all that much.

I thought I would share a memory about one of my favorite teachers and her impact on my life that's still present in me today.  I LOVE to read!  I always have but in high school as a freshman, I was transitioning from young adult books to more adult reading.  My English teacher, Mrs. Petuch, had a small library in the back of the classroom where she encouraged students to "check out" books.

This is the first "grown up" book that I remember reading~

This started a lifelong love of Danielle Steel for me - I've read almost all of her books. I own every single one of them, however I haven't read the newer ones from the last several years yet.  I am always afraid the next book will be her last and then I won't have anything new to read LOL! Silly I know!!

Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be back tonight with something scrappy to share and tomorrow with a new prompt from the SITS Girls!

friend...

Happy Saturday!

I'm finally trying to catch up with my blogging. I've got several projects from the last few months that never ended up getting posted.  This is one that I found in the draft folder - it's a card I  made for a challenge back in July (and never entered! oops!)

 

and here is the sketch that the card is based on~

TFL!


Supplies~
Stamps: Text Objects (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Paper Cottage (Basic Grey)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Mocha Mama (Quick Quotes)
Other: Limitless Layers 2 1/4 " oval die (Papertrey Ink), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), pop dots

{Book Review} Severe Clear by Stuart Woods - spoilers included

{This is my 2nd post for today ~ Please scroll down or click HERE to read the first one}

It's been a while since I've blogged about books - I got lazy about posting but I haven't stopped reading! I log everything into my Goodreads profile, if you'd like to follow me there!



Stuart Woods released his latest book on Tuesday and I could NOT wait to start reading it! I held off on Tuesday since it was my anniversary but once I hit lunchtime on Wednesday, I just had to start reading!  It took me about 5 hours total over the last 3 days to read this fabulous installment in the Stone Barrington series.

Here is what Goodreads says about the book:

Stone Barrington is called to Bel-Air to oversee an exclusive event that will gather the top echelons of the beau monde: Hollywood starlets, socialites, politicos, billionaires from overseas. It’s a task in which Stone has a personal stake, and one that is made all the more pleasurable—though somewhat more complicated—with the arrivals of two beautiful women with whom he’s intimately acquainted.

But the grand occasion has also attracted a dangerous criminal group with sinister plans. The hunt to find them leads Stone into a complex web of deceit and misdirection, in a world where the intrigues of government intelligence collide with the clandestine machinations of the upper crust. As he draws nearer to his quarry, he realizes that the stakes are higher than anybody could ever imagine . . . and that the enemies he’s seeking might just be hiding in plain sight.

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Scroll down for spoilers...............







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   Are we clear now??   Okay so I typically tend not to write my thoughts on books just because I like to include spoilers - not on purpose but I haven't figured out how to discuss a book without including juicy details!! 

 Like I said above, this installment is fabulous! Lots of mystery and intrigue and I will admit that I was shocked to the twists and turns.  I tendn to fall in that la di di category when it comes to figuring things out. Mostly because I enjoy reading and don't want to wrack my brain trying to figure out who-dun-it.     I was very surprised to learn that Hamish was a double agent!! I really didn't see that one coming - here's what I'm wondering, did Dick Stone know that before he died (a few books ago?)  Also did Hamish & Mo REALLY die in the van - I wonder if Lance Cabot really knew what they looked like and if the guys in the van could have been decoys.  I'm also wondering just how Lance knew that Dr. Khaul was involved.  Maybe he already had a lead on this guy? It didn't seem like Holly had given him that info. I also read very quickly and may have missed something!   


I am also surprised that Hamish told Kelli Keane to get off the premises - did he really want her to meet him in London or did he have a change of heart and not want to blow up 1+ million people?  I really thought the place was going to get blown to smithereens and that would be the end to the series.  I am obviously thrilled that didn't happen as I love this series but I also realize that 20 something books into a series that someday it may end....    


Anxiously awaiting details of the next book! 

{Recap} 2 Year Wedding Anniversary

TGIF!

Mike and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary this past Tuesday! We took the day off to go to Newport, RI but Mother Nature had other ideas {yet again, after spoiling us trying to go their for my bday last month}.

We made the best of our day still since all that matters is that we were together {cue cheesy music} :)

We started our day at the Rave Cinemas to see Finding Nemo in 3d. I saw it once before when it was first out on video and am trying to introduce Mike to all of the Disney movies so this was a good choice for a date. The movie was super cute - my favorite is still Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres).

Then we went and had lunch at Pepe's Pizza.  It's been years since either of us has been to the New Haven location and we've never been together. 

We had a pizza with pepperoni, onions and garlic - super yummy!

Our next stop was Sugar Bakery {winner of Food Network's Cupcake Wars a few years ago}.  My sister introduced us to this bakery for our wedding cupcakes and now it's a favorite place to go.  My sister even works there now! She was there on Tuesday and was sweet to add the "Happy Anniversary" to one of our cupcakes.

And finally - our anniversary dinner. Made at home by dear hubby since the weather was a bit rough to be out driving around.  I had seen a recipe for Chicken Ranch Pasta that morning on the Plain Chicken blog, so we stopped at the store after the bakery and picked up the ingredients.  Overall it was tasty but I think next time we make this we won't take shortcuts.  We used Perdue Shortcuts chicken and well it tasted like it came from a bag lol.  We also used pre-cooked bacon and I think it would take a bit better with freshly cooked crisp bacon.

Sunday marks 5 years since our first date. I had Mike meet me at a fair on a Sunday afternoon and this year the fair falls on the same exact date/day it did 5 years ago so we are going to go back there and reminisce. :)

A Sketchy Flutter By Wednesdays

Happy Wednesday!

Time for another FBW challenge! This week we have a fun sketch by our very own, Kathy!  Just remember to include a butterfly or fairy on your card.  You can enter it HERE.

Here is the sketch~

And here is my take on it~

I challenged myself not to take the sketch so literal (by using scalloped pieces) and used washi tape for my background. I LOVE how it looks!  Different and fun!  I must get more LOL!  The patterned paper is from Authentique Delightful and I used some PTI ribbon along with two different Martha Stewart butterfly punches.  The pretty quote is from the Verve Kind Words stamp set. 

TFL!

Daydream Designs Blog Hop!

Daydream Designs is hosting a blog hop today with some of the DT! They have some wonderful fall and owl projects to share with you! You have until tomorrow evening to hop along.

Here's all the info you need if you'd like to hop along to win some wonderful prizes from the Daydream Designs store:

OUR SPONSOR: 

THE PRIZES: (Winners will be announced on Thursday, September 20.)

1. Leave a comment on each of the blogs below. 

One random winner will be selected to win one FREE set of choice
(including digi paper packs) from Daydream Designs. 

Diane

MariLynn

Miesje

Amy

Helen

Michelle

Traci

Beth

Peggysue

Jerusha

Vicki

2. Leave a comment on each blog above AND create your own 
fall-themed project to link on the last blog of the blog hop,  
Vicki's Pink Posh Cards.  

If you participate in both of these ways your name will be entered 

for random selection to win THREE FREE sets of your choice (including paper packs). 

And for this blog hop EVERYONE CAN WIN!

Pick up the FREE digi at the end of the first blog in the hop:

Diane's Daydream Designs.  

Happy Hopping!

Cut it Up Challenge #1

Hi friends!

Here is a double page layout that I created at a crop on Saturday for the first challenge at Cut It Up Challenges. The challenge is Anything Goes - just include a die cut. I used circle die-namics and the new flower medley die-namics from MFT. 

(click to view bigger version)

The layout uses Week #228 sketch from Nuts About Sketches. This was my birthday celebration just a few weeks after we closed on our house in 2009 - before we officially moved in. It was fun to look at these pictures and see how far our house has come since then!  Patterned papers are Imaginisce - All Kinds of Happy and Bazzill cardstock. 

TFL!

FBW #205 ~ Favorite color!

Happy Flutter By Day!

Today's Flutter By Wednesdays challenge is to use your favorite color along with a butterfly or fairy.  This week we have a sponsor ~ Paper Makeup Stamps! One lucky winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to use on PMS digi images.  Enter your creation {HERE} and check out all the wonderful DT samples too!

PMS was kind enough to provide the team with images to use, however I chose to use something from my vast collection of PMS.  I chose to use a WordArt for my card - Sing, Love, Dance, Live.

And some long time followers might be wondering when my favorite color changed from pink lol.  Last winter I fell in LOVE with some butterfly material at Joann's.  It's black with white, yellow and grey butterflies.  It has yet to be turned into curtains for my scrap room but I'm hoping my mom will be able to make them soon.  I plan to repaint my pink craft room grey in the next few months and add black/white accents and pops of color.  This Authentique paper is some of my favorite - its from the Blissful line.

My card was made using this week's Feeling Sketchy sketch ~ it was the perfect starting point for my WordArt!

Thanks for fluttering by today!

More Celebrate Cake ~ FBW #204

Happy Wednesday!

Just a few more days til the weekend, yes I'm already counting down LOL!

Today I'm sharing my card for this week's Flutter By Wednesdays challenge. This week we have a birthday themed challenge - just remember to include a butterfly or fairy on your project!  You can enter HERE and check out all the DTs card on the FBW blog too!

For my card I used another from the large pile of SCACD stamps I cut apart on Monday ~ More Celebrate Cake, isn't it cool? I love it!

'
I used the JUGS sketch for my card layout~

TFL!

Supplies~
Stamps: More Celebrate Cake (Susana Loves Stamps), Hooray for Birthdays (Scrappy Moms Stamps)
Paper: Copic xpress cardstock, Glitz Yours Truly 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: mini flag die-namic (not sure which set it came from), Smooch Gold, brad & ribbon from stash, Martha Stewart butterfly punch 

Sweet Christmas Wishes

As promised, I am back with my DT post for Daydream Designs!

For today's card, I am using the Sweet Christmas Wishes set, it comes with the cupcake and the sweet sentiment.  I just {love} cupcakes and this one is especially yummy.  I had a great time coloring it (except for discovering my R24 marker is bone dry!!) I added cut apart a second cupcake to add the holly leaves by themselves as an embellishment.

I started with today's Feeling Sketchy sketch and incorporated the following challenges as well:

Created with Love Challenges #7 - Christmas plus a die cut (circles were cut with MFT Die-namics)
The Pink Elephant #164 - Use patterned paper
Christmas Card Challenges #40 - Use 3 of something (2 sets of 3 rhinestones for the holly berries)

And with that, pj day is officially over!  I have to go get cleaned up and then clean up the kitchen before we head to my parents for an outdoor dinner. It's so beautiful here today!  I really enjoyed having some time in my craft room during daylight hours!

Mariposa Stamped Images Holder

Happy Monday! 

Today I'm sharing the first project I created for September.  Yesterday I started cutting apart all of my rubber stamp sheets from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design.  While I've used several stamps I bought from there, most of the stamps I bought on sheets just stacked up (I know shame on me!!)  The ones I cut apart so far have been stamped and then filed into a 3 ring binder (my new method of stamp storage).  I had a pile of stamped images on my desk this morning and decided to make a holder for them using the Slip Cover template from My Time Made Easy.  I made one a few years ago and it's starting to show its age from being toted to crops. 

First I stamped Mariposa from the Eyes of Beauty and Dreams Collections on a piece of Copic Xpress cardstock.  I then stamped the flowers from the Fall Flora Fairies and Spring Flora Fairies collections.  Next I stamped the butterfly (not sure which collection this came with).  I colored all the images and made the grass with my copic markers.  I finished off the images with Crystal Stickles. I added ribbon and buttons from PTI along with some brads in the button holes from my stash.

Below is a view of the open box~

I'm entering my holder into this challenges:

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #38 - Lots of Bling

Amusing Challenges - markers

Anything But a Card #1 - must use a stamp

Tammy's Scrapin Corner #26 - Anything with Wings

Totally Stamplicious - Anything But a Card

Crafty Cardmakers #74 - Winged Things

Stamps + Fun = Creativity #115 - Anything but a Card

Thanks for looking! I'll be back later with a DT Post for Daydream Designs!