Life is good.

Mmmmmmmmmm. Seriously. Fancy Pants paper is so yummy. I love all the florals and the bright and cheerful colors. In my Eclectic Paperieorder I had tried a few pages. The scrapbook/stamping stores around here do not carry anything fun so I almost always have to internet shop for any major goodies.

This Fancy Pants Paper is from the Floral Chic Collection and called Merriment. When I saw this paper, I immediately thought Rose Red and Ballet Blue. They match perfectly. I decided to use SU!’s  Heartfelt Thanks.

I stamped the flowers in Craft ink in Rose Red and Regal Rose and the stems in Old Olive. I stamped one flower over the next to capture a look that shows dozens of flowers planted in one place. I layered Rose Red and Ballet Blue and distressed their edges with my Heidi Swap Distresser (best $0.99 I ever spent). I stamped the sentiment from SU!’s Warm Words in Ballet Blue Craft ink.

The paper piercing was a last minute “what does this card need?” moment, as was the non SU! stitched green Ribbon. I like the punch of color it gives this project.

Now for my weekend getaway! My family has a little house in Delaware in Dewey Beach. We spend a lot of time there in the summer. Next weekend Mr. LOL and I are going there for Easter *giddies* We haven’t been away together in almost 2 years and it is high time for a 5 day weekend!

Last summer was a bust because of the blood clots I had, so I never got to go away. My vacation was spent for 2 weeks in and out of Holy Spirit Hospital. It was awful!!! I know that the beach won’t hold any “laying out weather” for me or anything, but just the idea of going away for a few days sounds like such a treat!

 I will be making us an Easter Ham and all the yummy sides to go with it and we will hit church down in Rehoboth Beach (the beauty of being Catholic- you can always find a mass anywhere, LOL!). Gracie will get to walk on the beach everyday and I will be because I am with my dogger and Mr. LOL.

I can only hope our internet access is up and working down there by then, because you know that is the one thing that will make me miserable!

 Stay tuned this weekend for some pretty flippin’ awesome Blog Candy… here’s a hint, I ended up ordering an extra SU! punch from the Spring Mini… but which one??? Hmm, any holes in this plot?

I have had the worst night! On top of a horrible headache, I spilled an entire cup of coffee all over my new paper by My Minds Eye. In the process I also ruined a new On Board SU! book, it was all over the wall and carpet and ruined my Bind-It-All booklet. It was all very tragic indeed.

Also, the SCS blogs have been having problems with comments going through on the blogs with customizable formats. I thought maybe my “fan base” wasn’t very big, but now I am wondering if perhaps I could be a new blogging sensation and none of my peeps can comment!!! I am totally kidding… I am not that conceited!

But seriously, I am going to switch back to my old template to see if I have a better run of things… not that I had a bad run before!

If you are reading and even if you aren’t usually a “commenter”, could you please leave one so I can see if there was a problem on my other template?

Thanks a million!

 Peace out!

~A

Don’t kill me, but you HAVE to get these. Not tomorrow. Now. Right now. I received a small *rolleyes* order from the Eclectic Paperie yesterday with these little treasures enclosed. Some of you know how I feel about craft ink and it’s coverage, I love it. But obviosly the drying time is a pain.

Enter: Chalk inks. The look of craft without the drying time. VersaMagic Dew Drops are AMAZING. The color range is so fantastic, that I can’t even stand it. I get all giddy looking at them. Plus they are super cute to boot!

When I smooshed these little beauties on to my stamp last night I was in heaven. This card came together so beautiful that I am not sure it will be going postal!

Bodacious Bouquet is perfect for these inks! The sentiment is A Muse and the background, although faint is the Paisley stamped in Mango Madness over Apricot Appeal.  The cardstock for this is Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral and Shimmer white. I then used my VersaMagic Dew Drops in Mango Madness, Pixie Dust, Key Lime, Pink Grapefruit, Turquoise Gem, and Aquatic Spalsh. I used some non-SU! ribbon to complete the look in a rosy and turquoise-ish grosgrain, and a sheer white organdy.

The matte look they give is so rich and intense. It is really a pleasure to work with them. As usual the lovely Joy and Daisy over at Eclectic Paperie have put my wallet on a weightloss plan, but I love them never the less!

Stay tuned for next weeks Gotta Have It… It’s a real DREAM!

 Peace out!

~A

I am running out the door here in a sec, but I wanted to post a card I made last night for our nephew, Rocco. He is getting baptised today. If you are Catholic, you know what a big deal that is. Pete’s brother Andy has chosen him to be the God father and we couldn’t be happier. This is a card I made for Rocco. I kept it more simple because Andy and Jenna aren’t into showy type things. They like earth tones with a bit of funkiness to them. This is what I came up with:

The colors are Cool Caribbean, Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery. I pierced the holes and faux stitched them with a white gel pen. The sentiment is from SU! That’s nice. I colored the stamp with markers to get the multicolor effect. I distressed the layers edges and used Queen & Co. Brads for a little fun.

 Happy Sunday! As always, thank you for reading and supporting me through my blogging journey!

Peace out!
~A

TOOT! TOOT! I am really proud of myself…. I am evolving as blogger. Did you check out the fancy new banner? I made that. Yep. Me. Little ol’ me! I woke up this morning and decided to try making a header… it took about 3 hours or so, but I did it.

I had my Hyen peeps take a look at it… they all approved! Jami was curious how I did it and I told her that I had used a digi kit. She decided to try it out too. Check her banner out! I am so proud!

 As for today, I spent this 2nd dreary day indoors. I watched my nephew Scott this morning. We made pancakes. He is so, so funny! I have never met a 7 year-old with such a dry wit and can engage you in the most clever conversation. Plus, he’s flippin’ adorable!

 I am so fortunate. I have 17 nieces and nephews with one on the way. I adore children. They are all so different and special. There are 10 on my side, and 6 and one on the way on Mr. LOL’s side. 

I am the youngest of 4, I have one brother, and two sisters whom are identical twins. They are fantastic people and amazing parents. I know when we start our family that I will learn a lot from all of them. Mr. LOL is third in a family with 7, yes 7 kids. 5 boys, 2 girls. They are all super close too. With in the past 5 years, they went from 0 nieces and nephew’s, to 6, soon to be 7. It’s amazing and we love it.

It’s so ugly out today! It’s pouring. This card makes me feel so much better! The colors are so fresh and vibrant- this was really fun to make. I used Craft ink for this project. I really enjoy working with craft. I like that I can blend colors and the coverage is great. I just heat set it and I am usually good to go.

Card Recipe: 

Ink: All Craft- Pixie Pink, Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery

Accessories: SU! Grosgrain Rose, Sheer Green Polka dot Organdy, Crystal Clear EB powder

Stamps: Bodacious Bouquet, Paisley BG, and an A Muse sentiment

Paper: Pixie Pink, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla

Give me some love and comment on this in my SCS Gallery !

On another topic, we are going to Benihana tonight! Whoohoo!!!! I am going to have hibachi steak and shrimp. *drool* They also have fab mixed drinks… so you know I’ll be fun! We are having dinner with my cousin (who is only 4 months older than me, we spent a lot of time together growing up) and her husband. I am so excited to get together with them- plus they have never been to Benihana.

Have a wonderful evening!! TGIF baby!!!

Peace out!

~A

I have spring fever- like you wouldn’t believe! I need sunshine, warm days, and windows open. Freshness. That’s what I need. My stamping is taking that direction this week. I want things to be bright and happy.

I have found that since I started blogging a couple weeks ago, I feel compelled to stamp so I have something to post. It’s been really good for me. I want to go beyond my norm and try just a little harder. SCS has made me a much better stamper. I am more likely to venture out of my comfort zone and try something new and different. I am inspired by the gallery and all the amazing artists. My girlfriends on SCS encourage me and make me feel so good about what I do! I am in a place where I feel it is time for me to begin pushing my limits as a stamper. I am not sure how this journey will turn out, but I can only hope to be 1/2 the stamper that some of my friends are.

I *heart* red. It’s passionate, fun, sexy and bold. Who doesn’t like a true, bright red? This card was sort of hard for me. The Doodle This set has really thrown me for a loop. I love the set, but it doesn’t love me back. Everything I do with seems to just be so messy looking. I pulled my Real Red and Cool Caribbean out. They are fabulous together.

When you take Real Red cardstock and stamp the Paisley BG stamp on it in red again, it is so hot! I stamped the flowers on Shimmer White cs in Versa Fine ink. I watercolored them with the Watercolor Wonder Crayons and then covered the centers in Stickles. *drool* For more details, please visit My SCS Gallery

Polka Dots and Petals is really growing on me. It has a lot of potential. Kelly says this card make her feel like a Flight Attendant with the navy and red. Again, Real Red ink and paper, with some Night of Navy ink and paper (which I thought I didn’t have, but it turns out I did) and a hint of Certainly Celery. Oh and we can’t forget the Cuttlebug Swirls! Classic. Chic. Sophisticated. Please take a look at all the details in  My SCS Gallery

 As always, I appreciate each and everyone of you for checking out my blog and making me feel special!!

Peace out!

~A

As previously promised, today is Gotta Have It Tuesday. Todays featured product is something that I am pretty confident most paper crafter’s have, but if you don’t get one!

The Paper Piercer

I *heart* my paper piercer. I use it for so many things. There are few projects I work on without it. It is obviously good for putting holes in things, faux stitching, and things of that nature. I like to use mine to pick up glue dots, press paper (now mind you gently) into crevices on projects, carefully run it under paper I have positioned incorrectly, pushing ribbon through stubborn holes, picking up tiny scraps and even distressing paper by curling it or scratching it.  I would love to hear some of the “unusual” ways you may be using it.

Paper piercers are good for all paper crafters and you can get one fairly inexpensive. The awesome Daisy and Joy have them at the Eclectic Paperie, so run over there and get one!

This card is inspired by Debbie Olsen. I wasn’t sure I really was “feeling” the whole Polka Dots and Petals movement, but it’s growing on me. I really like how Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive compliment each other. Plus that little bit of bling adds some fun to this. Obviously the paper piercing is featured on this card. I just love how that turned out. It gives it just that “something” that a blah card needs to be great!
 for more details. Have a wonderful Tuesday and make some holes!!

As always, you can check out all the details in My Gallery

Continuing on our chocolate theme…

Doesn’t this card make you feel chubby just looking at it?? LOL It makes me feel that way!

Chocolate Chip is the new black. It is rich, dark and it is just gorgeous to look at. Perfect for any occasion, any person. I used the Au Chocolate papers, along with the That’s Nice set. Simple, simple card.

You can check out all the details in my gallery!

I hope everyone is have a wonderful weekend and it is full of chocolaty goodness. We are digging out from the huge amount of snow we got yesterday and last night. Is spring here yet?

Goodbye and goodnight!!!

Re 

Seriously, who doesn’t like peanut butter and chocolate? It’s insane if you don’t. They are delicious and totally compliment each other. Coming from the candy capital of the world, I have always been exposed to a delicious and sometimes disappointing (during test market time) array of chocolate treats, courtesy of the Hershey and Reeses factories. But one thing NEVER fails- Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs. They are so good! But there is only one thing that even rivals the Reeses version- Homemade or Nana-made Peanut Butter Eggs. PURE HEAVEN.

But why stop at Peanut Butter Eggs? We are also exposed to the Coconut Eggs, Coconut Cream Eggs and Butter-cream Eggs- all of which are not near as good, but I guess someone eats them or they wouldn’t be made. Churches in our area take orders for them. You can buy them single, by the 1/2 dozen, by the dozen and more. Egg preorders start a couple of weeks before Ash Wednesday.

Last night, Jess (SCS’s NewtNewt) called me and some how we got to talking about Peanut Butter Eggs. To my surprise, the churches in her area do not do Lent/Easter Peanut Butter Egg Sales. I was appalled! So I posted this question on SCS, and another of my SCS pals, Bunny, also had no idea! Jami even ventured as far to ask if I was Amish (Um, yeah). This whole this is just too much!

Growing up, my Nana (the sweetest and BEST Grandma in the whole world), would make up very LARGE batches of this wonderful treat and give them to us during the Lenten season. They were too good to wait until Easter for and she would drop several over at my mom’s in wax paper bags. We would fight over them! Pure heaven! I think I just drooled a little thinking about them!

I don’t think that Nana has made them for awhile- but I *know* she would if I asked her to. She is so sweet like that. She now makes up divine batches of the most decadant peanut butter fudge in the whole world! We like peanut butter in this family, just sayin’.

The other day, I came home to find 4 little gold foiled treats on my counter- Nana and my Mom had left Mr. LOL and I some eggs from Nana’s church. They were soooooooooo good! Almost as good as Nana’s and way better than a Reeses!

Jess and Mom, without futher ado, here are Nana’s Peanut Butter Eggs:

Nana’s Peanut Butter Eggs 

Makes Approximately 75 eggs

2 sticks and 2 tablespoons of Margarine or Butter
1/4 pound cream cheese
1 1/4 pounds Confectioners Sugar
1 pound Peanut butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla 
2.5 pounds Chocolate wafers
2 tablespoons paraffin wax

1. Cream together butter & cream cheese
2. Add peanut butter & vanilla & mix until well blended
3. Add Confectioners Sugar in small amounts & mix until no longer sticky
4. Chill 2 hours
5. Shape into eggs
6. Re-chill 1-2 hours (minimum)
7. Melt chocolate in double broiler
8. Add paraffin& mix well
9. Dip eggs into chocolate & put on cookie sheet in fridge till hardened

Okay, so I know I already spoke to you about the Bind It All. Go get one. NOW. You won’t regret it! I swear! You can get them through the fabulous Joy and Daisy at Eclectic Paperie.

The first notebook I am featuring today is a 5×5 book. This one is for me *grin* I plan on using it to skectch out layouts and whatnot. I am terrible at great layouts, so this will help me keep a “file” of them and maybe get me thinking a little more creativly.

To make this book, I used the following: 2 5×5 pieces of chipboard, SU! 2-sided designer paper, Petals and Paisleys, SU! Little Reminders, and various ribbon scraps. I covered the chipboard using Mod Podge and filled the inside with Certainly Celery Paper. I pierced the corner with my Paper Piercer and added 2 shimmer brads from MM. The result, a delicous, book of beauty!

This book, is pretty straight forward- 4×4 chipboard coaster, SU! 2 sided Designer paper, Petals and Paisleys, SU! Round tab punch, Doodle This and Fancy Flexible Pharases stamp sets, colored with markers and the Aqua painter, Queen & Co. brads, various ribbon scraps.

I am finding that I *seem* to stamp better under pressure. I have to come up with an idea and go. That may sound funny, but for me it’s so true. I need to set goals and deadlines to get the best out of myself for my work.

Since I didn’t blog yesterday, I want to send a shout out to Debra and Kathi Ann from SCS. My friends both had birthday’s yesterday. Girls, I hope they were, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!!

 Peace out!

~A

Gotta have it. I felt I needed a theme. Maybe I don’t… but let’s give it a try. Our new Tuesday ritual, named by my sweet, sweet friend, Debra, will be featuring items that are essential to my paper crafting world.

 I have to say that tonight, I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too tired to give a big ol’ write up, but starting next week we will begin! I hope my 10 whole readers aren’t too disappointed (BTW, I adore that people are reading this and I am just being a smarty pants).

In the meantime, what are your favorite tools? What is the number one crafting item you can’t live without? *** Debra, watch your mailbox!!! *smooches*

Okay, so don’t hate me.  I broke down and bought a BindIt All. It ROCKS! This fabulous little machine is so much fun to use! While book binding/making isn’t new to the stamping community, it is new to me. This little book is made from the 3×3 chipboard coasters. Aren’t they flippin’ adorable???

 I covered the coasters with the Stampin’ Up! Spring Mini Designer paper, Petals and Paisleys. I used Mod Podge to adhere the paper to the coasters and ribbon the front of the chipboard.  Then I used SU!’s On Board shapes for the “friend” piece on the front which is stamped with Karen Foster’s Snap Stamps in Tempting Turquoise. The ribbon is SU! Grosgrain in Turquoise and the pink ribbon is SU! Flirty from the Winter Mini. The inside is filled with Certainly Celery paper. Punch some holes with the Bind It All and voila! an awesome little gift!!!

I am going to try out something for Tuesdays,  where I will feature something that I think every paper crafter should have. I am at a loss as to what I should name this theme, so please post your thoughts… I will choose one at random tomorrow and you will win one of these great little books!!!

ETA: It will be a book like this one, so it may be a little different, just an FYI!

Daylight Savings Time throws me. I always feel like my whole world is turned upside down for a week or two after turning the clocks. I don’t know why. An hour change shouldn’t be a big deal but it makes all the difference in the world. Dinner was late. Or was it early? Gracie’s asleep in bed already, but that’s pretty normal. Mr. LOL is hungry again. Wait that didn’t change either.

I love the spring! *duh* Who doesn’t? I cannot wait to have the windows open and get that breezy freshness running through the house. I love the super green grass and those days that there isn’t even a cloud in the sky. Today, Kelly, her kids and I took all the dogs for a walk- it was great! About 50 degrees, a light wind. It was rejuvinating! Check out these bundles of furriness:

   These are Gracie’s best friends. Bonus is the white American Bulldog and Jasper is a Boxer (as a side note, Kelly got totally ripped off with him- he has be 1/2 Mastiff. He is flippin’ huge! And looks like part Mastiff. Also, he is a BIG chicken. If you scold him he pees! It’s pathetic! He is such a sweet boy though!)

Speaking of “saving time”… here is a super simple card I recently did for a friends birthday I totally missed. It was easy and turned out pretty darn cute if I do say so myself! The idea of buckle type cards is new to me, but the are visually appealing. I also like that I got to use one of my huge Queen & Co. brads that I have been hoarding forevah!

You can look at all the creative details in my SCS Gallery!

I hope everyone had a fantabulous weekend and even better upcomming week!

Peace out!!

~A

I don’t have kids. I have a dog. The BEST dog ever. Gracie. How do you explain Gracie? She is wonderful! She is a two faced, back talking, bundle of energy! She is hysterical!! If I scold her she talks back at me.

My family is full of animal lovers- especially dogs. I don’t ever remember not having a dog. All of us love them- especially my sister Kelly. Kelly is like the dog wisperer. She can make any dog, and pretty much any animal for that matter turn to complete mush for her- It’s amazing!!!

For those of you who know me, you know that Gracie is my little piece of sunshine. She goes everywhere I can take her, including work. She runs around all day from office to office and waits for the Fedex guy and the mailman to bring her a cookie.

When I got sick this past summer I had to leave her with my Mom while Mr. LOL was with me at the hospital. When I finally got out, she was very clingy to me and has since become my shadow. 9 months later she still doesn’t let me out of her sight. Unconditional love… isn’t that the best?

I adore Fridays… Friday is my day. Mr. LOL (that’s my husband for those of you who don’t know) goes out and plays cards with his brothers and some friends and I stay home and clean and then stamp. They stay out until 2 am or so. I know it doesn’t sound like a “fun” Friday night, but for me it’s all good!
Tonight, I am going to my best friends for a get together. I don’t see her as much as I used to so I am very excited- but when I get home, I am stamping! Whoohoo! Stamping is all I really want to do most evenings. It helps me decompress.

Todays card, I am especially *in love* with. I finally tore into my stash of Au Chocolate desinger paper from SU! That paper is simply devine. Delicous. Yummy. Enough said.

You can check out all the creative elements here.

So, I will leave you all with this, what is your perfect Friday night? It is date night? Is it vegging out with the husbands and kids? Is it all for you?

Have a wonderful weekend!

 Peace out!

~A

I seriously love a good swap- There is NOTHING like getting a whole bunch of fresh creativity via your postal serivce.  I am however, known to complain while I am in the creative process. I know what you are thinking: “You signed up, what did you expect?”

I know… but it always goes something like this:

I am never doing this again. Next time I say I’m gonna swap, kick me!!

What was I thinking? This color combo sucks. I suck. Everyone is going to think this is so lame!!

Yadda, yadda, yadda. You get the picture. It always winds up being worth it though. AND I always get sucked in (especially by Jami, LOL). 

Here is one of my most recent swaps- it has what feels like a bazillion layers, I used the SU! ticket punch a million times. I was really proud of it though! I hope you enjoy… you can check out all the creative elements that went into this in my SCS gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=491209&cat=500&ppuser=25584

Peace out!

 ~A

I promised myself I wouldn’t do it… but I did. Here is my dim attempt at maintaining a blog. I am not sure if I have anything terribly interesting to contribute, but one thing is certain, I am a wealth of useless knowledge!