Congratulations card - Baby girl

I made this congratulations card for my step-sister who is expecting her first child, a baby girl. I used a dingbat font for the image on this card and made it pink in MS Word.

A dream comes true.

This coming week we will be visiting California, specifically to the Bay Area.  We are driving there, which is a 30 hour drive each way for us, but it is going to be so worth it!  I have wanted to visit San Francisco since I was a junior or senior in high school (so for 14 or 15 years now!), so this is a dream come true.  I could not be more excited.

Since we will be on a roadtrip to and from California, blog posts may be to a minimum.  I do plan to do my best to post pictures this week; however, it will depend upon internet connection availability.  Regardless, I will make sure at some point, to post pictures from our roadtrip.

Christmas 2010

Comments

Commenting has been fixed.  Comment away!  *smile*

Reindeer!

This too is a card using a tag. I love this card.

Warm winter wishes

I used Christmas dingbat fonts I found online to make this and other cards. A nice, free alternative to stamps and no chance of smeared ink! I hope to start using digital stamps in the future, again to avoid smeared ink (drives me crazy!), but until we are a consistently two-income household I will use as many neat dingbat fonts as I can find.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top ten favorite holiday activities and such:

1. Baking!
2. Christmas music.
3. Christmas shopping.
4. Driving around and looking at Christmas lights (though not this year so far).
5. Hot apple cider, warmed on the stove.
6. Making Christmas cards.
7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
8. Roaring fires in our fireplace (now that we have a fireplace!).
9. Wrapping gifts.
10. Yummy smelling candles lit.

(As usual: In no specific order).

Liinking to the Oh Amanda Top Ten Tuesday link party.

Santa!

A lovely Santa Claus card. Also made with a tag.

Stocking card

I made this card with a tag too and then hand-dotted (not a real word, I know!) the white of the card.

Another lovely card sent out.

Here is another card I made & sent out this year:


I used a tag for this card too. What a great idea, huh?

Fonts!

I am a font geek. I am very picky about fonts and often change from one font favorite to another. I add and delete fonts often. I have decided to share some of my current dingbat fonts. The secret when using dingbat fonts in place of stamps? Make the point size HUGE, like 150 point).

Dingbat fonts:

• Pea Jillybean's Doodles - Some cute seasonal images and other images too.
  
• Pea Deva McQueen - Absolutely adorable images.
• Pea Stacy's NEW Doodles - This set has one that I used for the congrats card.
• Pea Stacy's Doodles - Some birthday and flower images and other cute ones.
• WM Christmas - I really love some of the images but some not so much.
• Tombots - Robot-type images. Yay for robots!
  
• Eller - Cute pet images amongst others.

Christmas cards sent!

I have been working lately and trying to get Christmas cards made & sent and gifts ordered online. Christmas cards have been sent for those I have addresses for. Unfortunately I have spent three or four fruitless evenings with no luck finding gifts for my guy's family, so we will be trying some local shops tomorrow and hope for the best.

In the coming days before Christmas I will post some photos of the cards I have made for family & friends. I hope to embellish next year's holiday cards more.

Here is one card I made for this year's holiday card collection. I used tags sold in variety packs at Sam's Club (?) on the front. Thus, the embellishments are already included for the card fronts! Nice, right? I got the idea (and the tags) from my guy's mom.






As a side note: Any others out there use Blogger? Have you figured out how to stop pictures you upload for posts from showing up at the top instead of where you want them to appear in the posts? I have to cut and paste the photos every time in the posts after uploading them and never had to do that with the former versions.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Thrifty Resources I’ve Found Online:

1. Shanty2Chic
2. The Thrifty Home
   
3. Thrifty Decor Chick
   
4. Centsational Girl
   
5. Get Rich Slowly
   
6. Brilliant Trips - Travel Deals
   
7. Money Ning - Personal Finance Blog
   
8. Mint.com
   
9. Wise Bread
   
10. Retail Me Not (coupon codes and discounts)
    

Friday Favorites (Late again!)

Top Ten Tuesday fell to the wayside this week, alas. I did not want to let that happen with Friday Favorites too, so I give you belated Friday Favorites (again).

1. My favorite font site at present. I love fonts. I love these fonts.
2. A great, retro style holiday card I found on Etsy.
3. Love the green and teal layout in this post!
4. Best kept secret to a clean home. I try my best to follow this "secret."
5. 47 skills you need to survive homeownership.

I hope to be more on top of Top Ten Tuesdays and these fab Friday Favorites posts in coming weeks. *smile*

Friday Favorites

Some favorite Flickr photos I found recently.

1. An absolutely touching photo of a (homeless?) man and his dogs.
2. One of the most beautiful animal shots I have ever seen.
3. This pup is all ready for the cold weather!
4. Santa Paws?
5. A fantastic Christmas shot, a lucky and perfect capture.
6. I would love to get a creative shot like this for our Christmas card someday.
   

If you still have not explored Flickr (and checked out others' work on the site), you really need to do that. Many, many incredible photographers' work is on Flickr.

Top Ten Tuesday

My Top Ten Favorite Comfort Foods*

(In no particular order)

1. Baked goods.
2. Chocolate chips (straight from the bag).
3. Grilled cheese (with ketchup).
4. Ice cream (especially Ben & Jerry’s).
5. Kraft Macaroni n Cheese.
6. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
7. Pizza Hut pizza.
8. Ramen.
9. Tater tot casserole.
10. Tuna casserole.

*Comfort foods = Foods I enjoy on cold or sad or sick days.

Christmas decor is up!

Our home does not have much in the way of Christmas decor at present, since we had to leave so much behind when we moved to Texas this spring. Tonight, I decorated with what Christmas items that we do have in our possession. I really, really love the ornaments you see on the mantle.

I bought the beautiful ornaments on the mantle a couple of weeks ago at Marshalls. That store has some great deals! Their Christmas items are hit or miss in terms of prettiness and elegance, but it is well worth the time to browse the Marshalls selection.

Here are photos of our Christmas decor set up:

A monster card to share

Another monster card that can be used next year for Halloween:

Update!

I have completed an updated "More About Me" page. Even if we've known each other for awhile, I doubt you know everything on my list. *smile*

Christmas Card Organizer

I saw this post on making a project holder that Marisa of Make Happy made for her son and I got an idea of my own! I created a Christmas card organizer using a Ritz cardboard box, scrapbook paper, and tape.

Marisa said to wrap it as you would a gift, but it was more difficult than giftwrapping for me. The strange shape and weird angles to wrap made it quite challenging. It was also challenging for me to cut it in such a shape as she did and as I did here. I do not have a craft knife, so maybe that would make it easier and more precise? Marisa didn't mention what she used to cut the box into the correct shape, so I don't know how she got her box cut so nicely. If anyone has tips, I would love to hear them.

Here is the Christmas card organizer I made:

(Apologies for the poor lighting!)

Friday Favorites (Late!)

A long weekend, even while unemployed, tends to be distracting. As such, I am just getting to my Friday Favorites post for the week!

1. Cord storage that reuses CD/DVD spindles!
   
2. Pretty and quick holiday candles. I can't wait to get some pillar candles!
3. Cutest kid backpacks ever. I love the robot backpack!
4. Pretty homemade Christmas cards to send family and friends. Lovely idea.
5. Know any nerds? Your guy a geek? This is the card for him.

Some new robot cards!

Here are four robot-theme cards I made recently:







I think I may start to sell cards on Etsy soon. What do you think? Should I?

A relaxing Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope that your Thanksgiving was a good one.

Our Thanksgiving was spent without family. With no family in town and no funds to travel, we spent the holiday instead relaxing. I enjoyed television and organized computer files to save to the new external hard drive my guy gave me for my birthday. My guy spent the day on his computer, his favorite way to relax. Jasper napped, per usual. Scout spent much of the day battling for attention.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things On My Xmas Wish List

I have decided to join in the Top Ten Tuesday fun. Why not join another link party involving lists? I am a list fiend after all!

(In no specific order of want)

1. 18-pixel or more Canon SLR camera.
2. A red Kitchen-Aid mixer. (I have wanted one for 10 years now).
3. Laptop with all the best bells and whistles.
4. Pretty bedding, including this, this, and these.
5. Seasons 12 and higher of the Simpsons on DVD.
6. The four Absolute Sandman volumes (a graphic novel series).
7. The fine-tip washable chalk marker I just found out about.
8. The newest version of Adobe Photoshop Elements (PC).
9. The Verbatim Acclaim 1 TB USB 2.0 portable external hard drive (black).
10. Well-rated laptop speakers, ideally wireless (black).

I can't believe December's almost here!

I am not a fan of doing anything Christmas-oriented until after Thanksgiving. I am one of those people who complains when I see Christmas things in stores and Christmas decor around the city just after Halloween or anytime before Thanksgiving. With that said, I am feeling the pressure to get holiday cards started and to have enough holiday cards for all of my friends and family.

Shutterfly may be the saving grace for me and for many of you, though! Shutterfly is giving 50 free cards to bloggers who share info on this fab holiday promotion. Fill out a form and you too can receive 50 free cards and save some time with holiday cards this year!

Shutterfly doesn't just have holiday cards, though! Shutterly has invitations, thank you cards, and much more!

Here are some of my favorite holiday products and other products too that they offer:

Elegant Black Damask


Hanukkah Dreidel Fun

Design Ornaments Invitation


Movie Night!


Little Birthday Girl Invitation

Which Shutterfly products do you like best?

Joining in the party!

320 Sycamore is hosting a lovely blog party, "My Favorite Things", and I have decided to join in the fun. Without further adieu, I give you a few of my favorite things:

1. Pretty gift wrapping:

via Meadow Girl (Flickr)

2.Squirrels. I smile every time I see one. They're so cute to watch!

via Pyttroll (Flickr)

3. Fires in a fireplace. One of the best things in the fall and winter.

via Stephdanie2 (Flickr)

4.Organization and labels. I especially love what this blogger did:

Write Click Scrapbook

35 today. Huh.

I turn 35 today (officially at 7:30 p.m., the actual time of my birth). While I am not thrilled at the prospect of being either at or very nearby middle age now I have decided to at least try to put a positive spin on the whole birthday thing. I got this post's specific idea from this Might & Main blog post. Here it is (drum roll, please)...

36 things to do before I am 36

1. Accomplish some of the craft & decor projects in my store-up of ideas.
2. Attend Burning Man 2011 with my guy.
3. Be more girly (pamper myself more, dress more feminine, etc).
4. Be more present in my brother’s life.
5. Become a more positive person.
6. Continue on with writing gratitude lists regularly.
7. Buy a pair of cute cowgirl boots and wear them!
8. Call Grandma weekly.
9. Continue cooking and meal planning regularly.
10. Create a beautiful and lasting landscape in our front & back yards.
11. Develop more by-choice structure & routine in my life.
12. Find a way to earn an income that is satisfying and pays the bills effortlessly.
13. Find healthy outlets and utilize them regularly.
14. Find the -right- ADHD med for me.
15. Read regularly, once the right ADHD med is found.
16. Finish my childhood scrapbook finally!
17. Finish my dad’s memorial scrapbook finally!
18. Get my driver’s license AND become a much more confident driver!
19. Go horseback riding. More than once!
20. Go to my friends Jim & Mattie’s wedding in May.
21. Join and participate in a photo meetup group.
22. Journal consistently.
23. Lose ten pounds and keep it off.
24. Make more effort, less excuses, to connect with family & friends.
25. Make time & effort to learn about something new regularly.
26. Properly, successfully train Scout.
27. Respond to e-mail more quickly, within a week at latest.
28. Sell my work on Etsy.
29. Send birthday cards consistently and regularly.
30. Set up a photo blog (by the day of my 36th birthday).
31. Shoot pics daily, without it feeling like a chore because it -is- a daily thing.
32. Spend time outdoors, including with this Scout’s daily walks & fetch time.
33. Take a photography course.
34. Take cardmaking and scrapbooking classes (again, once I have my license).
35. Visit my grandma in Iowa.
36. Volunteer with an animal organization regularly, once I get my license.

(And 1 bonus accomplishment “to do”: Join and participate in a book club).

(Not in order of importance or otherwise).

Friday Favorites

Here are some of my favorite finds this week:

• Free postcard blanks to download! - All you do is download, print on cardstock, and adhere to your favorite photos. Then you have quick and personal postcards to send out, or even better: you have quick Christmas cards to mail out and for less postage! Sweet!
• Love Your Neighbor - This blogger has decided to do one act of kindness every day for a year. She posts about these kindness experiences. Imagine if we all did the same thing. Imagine what a world that would be!
  
• Lace Tape - This blogger shares a great tip on turning lace into pretty tape.
• Tips for a Tidy Home - I try to live by the same "rules." Now to get the entire family involved - a challenge for many, I have noticed on many blogs.
  
• An autumn decorating project - Utilizing Mod Podge, this blogger decorated a jar with leaves and made it into a cute candle holder.

Look for more fun favorites next week!

A belated Halloween card

Since I was preoccupied around Halloween I created this post-Halloween. It will be of fine use next year.


Stamps: Recollections

A new member of our family!

Meet Miss Scout! She is named after a character in my favorite book. She is the second dog I have named after a character in the book. Perhaps a theme has begun?

Autumn Decor - Check!

Thanks to a blog post I came across and a nice little printable the mantle is completed. What do you think of my autumn themed mantle? What do you think?




A close-up of the pumpkin's decor:

Friday Favorites

I keep noticing favorite blogs listing links as a weekly “favorites” feature. I am joining on the band wagon. It’s hard not to do it, with so much great inspiration out there.

1. 34 Random {ish} Acts of Kindness Birthday - Absolutely inspiring.
   
2. The Wish Tree - Two friends got together and put tags on a tree in the park.
   
3. Magnetic boards - These look like they'd be fun and easy to make at home.
4. A dream craft studio! - It's so organized! Exactly how I want my own one day.
5. Vacation keepsakes in jars - I love jars, so am a big fan of this jar project.

Master Bathroom: Organized.

I have always claimed to be an organized person. I never took the time to seek out ideas and inspiration on the web, though, until now. Since moving to our new home this September I have searched through the many blogs I read and sought out ideas and inspiration for organizing our home. I found so many great ideas. I have bookmarked and saved images of my favorite ideas out there and in time intend to put much more of the inspiration into action at home.

Here are some pics of the organization systems I have put in place since we moved in this September:

Bathroom vanity cupboard #1



Bathroom vanity cupboard #2


Towel cupboard (above toilet)

The vanity has baskets of the same style on my guy's and my sides for our daily items.

I will share in coming posts more pics of other organized spaces in our home.

Halloween is almost here.

This year I have decorated for Halloween very little. With me unemployed, we have no money for any extra decor-related items. Next year I will hopefully be able to purchase cute baskets, lots of pumpkins, and various other things at thrift stores and sales and such. This year I used two skulls and some creepy candlesticks my guy had in his collection and then two orange candles I had on hand.

Ta da!

Another peek inside.

Eventually I will return to posting on a regular basis. For now I will give you another peek into our new home!

One corner of our living room:


A photo of our dining room in the evening and now featuring our lucky bamboo plant. It has grown quite a lot, thanks to my constant care of it.


I need to take photos of the somewhat organized/cleaned up craft space and of the attempt at a Halloween mantle I created recently. Then I will post pics of these as well.

All domestic and stuff!

I have been finding great recipes online for ages, but I never took the time or made the effort to cook them. I bookmarked them, pasted them into word docs, and sometimes printed them, but that's it. I decided to change this after I recently came to a few blog posts people had written about weekly menu planning.

I found and printed recipes that were easy and that we had most ingredients for and then shaped our weekly grocery list around the remainder of the ingredients. I intend to continue to create weekly meal plans and grocery lists. Of course, I may not plan five meals/recipes for the week. Cooking every meal is not our usual way here and I can use his contribution. He doesn't mind our sharing the cooking duties and I don't mind letting him. *smile*

I have so far made the fab taco salad below, a mac and cheese recipe, and garlic chicken with sauteed mushrooms and a side of parmesan asparagus. I give a thumbs up to two out of three of the new recipes I tried. My guy? He gives a thumbs up to all three of the new recipes, he says.

A new phase.

I had little to write about in terms of décor or gardening since I created this blog some time ago. I focused instead on cards, layouts, and my photography (on rare occasions). We are renting a house now, though. You can anticipate a number of posts throughout this lovely blog on our new home, our big yard, and, in time, décor and gardening.

In the coming posts you will see pictures and thoughts on our new home and a couple of our big backyard as well. Here are just a few pictures of our new home.

Kitchen

Dining Room

Living Room Bookcase

The kitchen has only one wall to hang a picture. I hung up an 8x10 frame of a photo print done by a local St. Louis photographer. We had one additional framed piece I wanted to hang above the stove, but the space above the stove is covered in some sort of splatter-proof material. I would imagine it would be a bad idea to put a nail through it. I hope to bring some color and personality, but am mulling on what I could do to make that happen.

The dining room is rather minimalist and modern: an IKEA dining room table & chairs and two bar chairs we bought off of Craigslist (purchased for the previous space).

Once I get a job I intend to invest in frames & mats and make some prints of my work. I would like to put two to three framed prints across the larger wall in the dining room. I am not sure what photographs I want to put in the frames, yet. I wish I had made the effort to shoot more of the beautiful brick buildings and houses in St. Louis when I lived there. I would love to frame some photographs of them. When I have the time I will be sure to make the time to do it.

We have more books than what you see on the bookcase in the above picture. I wanted to leave some shelf spaces free for art and framed photographs. I had several framed photographs on our fireplace mantle, but it was too cluttered for me. So I took the framed photographs off of the mantle, but one on an empty shelf and four on top of stacks of books. The rest are put away until I find a better place for them.

More pictures to come soon!