Hello!

I just wanted to update everyone.  I have been in Kentucky since the beginning of February.  I am working part-time at the school that my children attend and was offered a full-time teaching position there beginning the 2012-2013 school year with the stipulation that I attend AMI Montessori training (in Cleveland, OH) during the 2011-2012 school year.

Our house that we are building is DONE and we close THIS FRIDAY!!!  I will try to share a few more pictures in the near future (once the sod is put in - it has been rainy, rainy, and some more rainy - with tornado warnings mixed in - over the last several weeks, so they can't grade the lot and put the sod down) when the house really looks pretty.  The picture above is of one of my favorite parts of the house - my tub.  The picture was taken back on the 4th of March when the drywall wasn't even up yet.  You will be amazed at how quickly they built the house, and I am so happy with how it looks!!!  :)  The picture below is one of the house in progress from across the pond (which is the view out the front of the house). 

I really hope to do some stamping sometime after school lets out in May and I'm able to get most of the house unpacked.

My husband has been off at training in two different states since February, we've seen him for about 10 days since he left then, and he will deploy as soon as he finishes up there sometime (we think - weather dependent) in May for 6-9 months.  I've done everything in relation to the house by myself, and now get to move us all the way across town into it by myself.  So, can you tell that things are a bit crazy?!?!  This isn't even everything that has happened - I didn't even tell you that I had some of my husband's family here to visit and they stayed in our tiny 2-bedroom (the third is completely filled with storage) house that is meant for a couple with no children!!!  Or maybe I did just tell you, but there has still been so much more that has been going on ;)

Some ways I am grateful for having moved to Kentucky are that my three children LOVE their school, I'm close to family, I get to live in my hometown - a place I love and am comfortable.  I just am not the type to ask for help, so I know it's partly my fault if I am super-stressed.

Life is hard, but it is good.  I thank each of you that follows my blog - it means a lot to know that some of you care enough to want to know when I get back to blogging.  I will also try to be a better blog-visitor myself once school is out.

Take care!!!!  :)

More Friends....

This is the second card that I told you about in THIS post.  It's for the other gal that I wanted to leave a note with when I leave her behind after we move.  I am truly grateful for the friends that I have and hope that we will be able to see each other again some day!

This will be my last post for a while.  We are currently in the process of loading our trailer of our household goods to move to Kentucky.  When I'm settled in there I will try to post again!

 
Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Daffodil Delight and Cajun Craze classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze and Whisper White Card Stock
Accessories: Pear Pizzaz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Jewels - Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals

A Great Teacher

My eldest daughter had a fabulous teacher last year in the 1st grade, and then my middle daughter has the same teacher this year for the 1st grade as well.  We will miss her terribly, and as a small token of our appreciation I got her a Willow Tree figurine that's for teachers and made this CAS card to go with the gift.  It's always such a gift to have a good teacher!  Short on time, so no recipe - sorry!  I'll try to fix it later when I'm settled in.

Friends...

I made this card and one you'll see in a few days that has just a small color variation for two of my dear friends here in Dover.  Shelly, to answer your question, I'm moving to my hometown - Lexington, KY.  As most of you all are aware I am leaving Dover for there on January 31st, and while I hate goodbyes I am grateful to be able to say them.  It would be sad to leave somewhere and not have those special friends in your life that you have to say goodbye to.  Some people look at us military folk and say (to my face - literally, I've had someone say this), "you're ONLY going to be here for four years?  That's not long enough to bother getting to know you."  Seriously.  How sad.  While it's no fun to have to say goodbye to friends, those years, months, or even DAYS that you got to know someone and become a part of each other's lives is worth the pain of a goodbye to me.  So....this card is for my friend Jen, and I'll show you Debbie's in a few days ;)  This card is based off of THIS card I showed you previously.  Have a great week!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Daffodil Delight and Concord Crush classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush and Whisper White Card Stock
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Jewels - Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals

Last of my SIM Cards

This final card from my last round of SIM is also a CASE from the Idea Book & Catalog.  You can find the original card on page 98.  It was a fun one to CASE because it got my customers coloring the image using their markers, and there's just something about coloring that even a grown woman (or man) can enjoy like a kid!  I think it's kind of magical to see the stamped image after you've done all that hard work coloring and not letting the markers bleed, and huffing before finally pressing it down on the card stock.  Almost like a surprise - seeing how your coloring turned out.  It was a pain folding that Daffodil Delight DSP though - I couldn't get it straight for anything, and don't like that it's not more parallel to the layer of Real Red CS.  Oh well, my OCD will have to just be quiet!!! ;)

Anyway, enjoy, and have a great weekend!  My final 3 cards (everything stamping-related is packed up and ready for our move now, so it will again be a while before I can post - FOLLOW ME so that you'll get updates without having to constantly check in!!) will be posted next week.  Have a GREAT weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your visits and your comments so much!  If you have any questions about what I used to make the card simply leave me a comment and I'll get back with you.

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Just Believe
Inks: Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Real Red and Pear Pizazz Stampin' Write Marker, Pumpkin Pie classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz Textured CS, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, 2-1/2" Circle Punch

Another favorite

This card is an Idea Book & Catalog CASE as well (see my last post for another). You can find the cute little giraffe inspiration card on page 94 of the IB&C.  I really love the use of vellum as an overlay on top of Designer Series Paper to create a more subtle, soft look. What do you think? I hope you're having a great week!!! Questions about the items used, just leave me a comment!!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Tiny Tags
Inks: Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers, Early Espresso classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP, Card Stock Vellum
Accessories: Jewelry Tag Medium punch, Scallop Edge punch, white thread, Stampin Dimensionals, mini glue dots

Catalog CASE

The card below is a CASE of the one found on page 98 of the Idea Book & Catalog.  I LOVE this card.  I have always enjoyed pocket cards, and especially ones where the pocket is vellum.  Adding in some sewing and it's just perfect!  Eventually I will get around to the cards I made last week, that are a play off of this card.  Anyway, enjoy, and again, sorry for no recipe but if you leave a comment with a question I will get back with you ASAP!  Have a lovely weekend!!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Baja Breeze and Cajun Craze classic ink
Papers: Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze and Whisper White CS, Card Stock Vellum
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Jewels - Basic Pearls, Janome Sew Mini, Stampin Dimensionals, 1-1/4" Circle Punch

Wow - Pigs are Flying!!!

I can't promise that I will post anything even remotely resembling regularly, but here is one post of several I hope to get done over the next couple of weeks.

An update on us, first.  We are packing up our house (family of 5, 2 cats, a dog and a VERY filled garage (tools, bikes, camping gear, etc.)) to move to Kentucky on February 1st.  My husband will be going to 3-4 months of training in Georgia and Mississippi followed by a 6 month (perhaps longer) deployment to Afghanistan.  I thought with him gone nearly a year it is a good time to take advantage of being able to move "home", where there are no Air Force bases and we have very little hope of ever living there while he is Active Duty in the Air Force.  Anyway....since we are choosing to move, the move is on us, so all I have been doing is packing and trying to clean a little in-between.  I'm also trying to be a good mom for once and give my kids some fun memories with friends so we've started making a point of having them over to play and spend the night.  Five kids running around hasn't been too helpful on the packing front, but I want my kids to remember the fun times.

I actually stamped yesterday because I pulled out some CS for the girls to make cards with their friends - it was a miracle!!!  I made 3 cards.  One for a beloved teacher we will be leaving behind, and 2 for my dear friends that I will also be leaving.  The two friend's cards are based on one I did for my last round of SIM (Stamps in the Mail) and so I will begin there with sharing with you one of the cards I made for SIM.  I apologize, but no recipes. If you have any questions, just leave a comment and I'll answer them.  If I get a chance, I will try to add the recipe later.  In looking at the photo - should have scooted that button and sentiment over to the right a little.  Oh well.  I made this card back in October.  :)  Have a GREAT day, and thanks for stopping by - if anyone even still checks in!

Stamps: Friends Never Fade
Inks: Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers, Basic Black classic ink
Papers: Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red and Whisper White CS, Subtles (Baja Breeze) Designer Series Paper Stack
Accessories: Real Red Designer Button, Whisper White 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, mini glue dots