simply_fabulous

under the weather...

No posts for a while! I have been sick with a cold/flu for over a week. Just now starting to feel better.

That said I only have one card to post today. I am working on a few others and will try to get back on later this week to post.  {jill b}

Sketches and Contests...

So, its been a few days huh? Well, life gets busy sometimes!! I cleaned my scrap room (big undertaking - HUGE) and have been working on some projects that I hope to share later this week.

I just have to share the fun part about this card!!! Okay, so some of you might already know this, but I just discovered it myself today...you can put felt through your Cuttlebug!!! Yay!!! I took some cream felt and ran it through the Cuttlebug with a postage stamp die to get the zig zag edge effect, then when that worked (yay) I decided to try to emboss it! Yay again!!! So I see some new projects in the future using felt and my Cuttlebug!

This card uses Bazzill cream colored card stock, Basic Grey patterned papers from the Ambrosia collection, brads, prima and little tag stamped with the word "hope" (which we all need a little of these days...sigh) using a stamp from SU, finished off with a little button and hemp twine.

 

And here is the close up of the embossing - not sure if you can see it too well, so you might have to just try it!!!

In other news, the parents meeting is tonight to discuss the future of our varsity football coach. Wish me luck! My son hurt his knee again so he probably won't play the last two games anyway. My DD has hives, from who-knows-what! Little DS lost his playoff game last Saturday and was pretty bummed. But he is doing okay now. Parent/teacher conferences tomorrow night and football Friday!

Thanks for stopping by! {jill b}

Homecoming 2008

Wow...I had 3 kids going to Homecoming this year!!! This is Lauran's last homecoming and I have to say she looked beautiful! All the kids looked fantastic! Here she is with her boyfriend Marcus...he is in college at Ashland and came up for the dance. Don't they look cute together?  He is a good boyfriend.

 

We went down to Lakeshore Park right on Lake Erie to take these. The bridge is pretty well used for any type of photo op. There was a group already there when we got there.

They had dinner at Casa Capelli, a fabulous restaurant that my good friend Alex owns.

They are still at the dance..can't wait to hear all about which is tradition around here...they all end up back at my house with lots to tell and tons of giggling and laughter.

Great group of kids I have to say, I am very proud of all of them.

Oh they took Dakota to dinner because he went to the dance with a group. I have no idea why he didn't just get a date! All the girls just love him, in fact the other group that was there taking pictures all knew him and where all "ooh and ahh" when they saw him! Too funny.

Here he is posing on top of the bridge.

 

I hope he is having a good time. He is only 15 and technically not allowed to date, but I know he has his eye on girl in particular. He loves to dance though and will probably get a few dances in with her I am sure!

And here is Ryan and his ultra cute girlfriend, Rachel. I just adore this girl. She is so sweet and just a really good girl.

I know, its a LONG pic! But I wanted to get all of Rachel's dress in and Ryan happens to be 6'3" so it looks super long! LOL!

They too were eating at Casa Capelli. Both of them were a little bummed still because of the loss last night at the game, but they looked to me like they were going to have a great time anyways.

Sigh... so, now all I have to do is sit and wait for them all to get home in one piece.

Oh I almost forgot about a funny story...

I was at my 12 year old son's playoff football game (they lost...really sad) and here comes my son Ryan and Rachel's brother Joe trotting across the field with their ties in hand... they came to have me tie their ties... too funny! I guess I am the only one that knows how! At least I know I am good for something! ;)

2 Sketches 4 You

Today's card is one that I created for a sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You. This week the layout is Laura's Sketch 10.

Here is my take on the sketch! I used all of Graphics 45 paper from the Bontanicabella collection. I cut out the butterflies and glued down just the middles so the wings would be dimensional.

Great sketch and a lot of fun to work with!!! Thanks 2 Sketches 4 You!!!!

The Shaker Box Halloween Cards

I think I mentioned in another post about a wonderful lady that I met by accident, who happens to own an online scrapbooking store.. The Shaker Box! I was looking for some Reminisce paper and on their website they had her store listed as a supplier. Well I looked at the address and it turns out that she lives only 10 minutes from me! At first I thought she was a brick and mortar store and almost peed my pants because where I live the closest store is like an hour away in any direction. But I called her and she did have the paper! Anyways, she sells kits at her online store and let me tell you...she puts A TON of stuff in these kits! They are worth every penny - and more! I received the Boo To You! kit - which is just FILLED with wonderful patterned paper by Imaginisce, chipboard stickers, little plastic (cutie) spiders, flowers, brads, ribbon and a stamp!! Great stuff! So I sat down last night and made a few cards which I think came out so very awesome! AND...the great part is...I STILL have enough of the kit left over to make even more cards and some layouts too!!! Yippee!!! If you are looking to purchase a kit or even join a kit club I encourage you to check out her kits here. Her kit for this month is positively YUMMY with tons of Graphic 45 paper and lots of extra goodies!! All of these cards took less than 15 minutes to complete!

On a family note...my oldest son is STILL sick and he didn't get to play in Friday's football game (well...at least until the very end - when the coach "used" him for a last minute reception that he missed because he stood on the sidelines and froze through the entire game!!!). I am so mad! Then he finds out today that he isn't playing offense now because the coach put another kid in his spot because he was sick. I don't even want to say what I think of that coach but I can say this... the seniors on the team walked off of the field at practice last Thursday because they are sick of his demeaning attitude. In fact, 90% of the parents are banding together and calling a meeting with the superintendent and the boys to convince him not to renew his contract next year. They are all fed up. Oh well! On a happier note my other son's team is tied in 2nd place and will be having a playoff game this weekend. Which is also homecoming weekend and I have 3 kids going to homecoming! Yikes!!!! Oh and I finished up my ad this weekend and it is at the magazine and ready to go! Yeah! I think I also am getting another website job out of that one...fingers crossed! I know for

sure I have another magazine ad for December and stud sheet which is a two-sided flyer that advertises the stallion and his pedigree for potential buyers. Things are definitely looking better in the work arena. I have several bids out and should hear back this week. And last but not least, I got a fantastic email this weekend that not only had I won a cash prize in the Scrap N Win contest, but I also received a $20 gift certificate to MyKI online!!! They sell really super-cute-adorable handbags, cosmetic bags, jewelry and pet stuff!!! Check it out! Very cute!!! I was so excited!!!! Great prize!!! Thanks for stopping by and listening to me ramble on!!! {jill b}

 

CPS 84 and some news!

I am so excited!!! I found this website a few weeks ago called ScrapN Win. The site, as far as I know is the first of its kind where you upload photos of your creations for a small fee and you are entered into a monthly drawing for prizes. There are 3 categories Traditional Layouts, Digital Layouts and Paper Cards. I decided to give it a try and I entered three of my cards. And guess what??? I WON in the card category!!! I actually won first place!! I am so happy!!! Check them out if you get a chance. There is a winner (actually 3 per category - 1st, 2nd 3rd place) every month and then if you win you are put into another drawing for a Grand Prize! The Grand Prize for September is a Cricut!!! Cool huh?? The cost of the uploads in small and they had a special in September - buy 1 get 1. I think it is a good way to get your creations out there and you get to try for some neat stuff!!!! Thank you to ScrapN Win and their judges Aly Dosdall, Charity Hassel and Katie Stowell for choosing my card this month! Want to see my winning card? Go to their website and click on "winners"!! There are some totally cute page layouts there as well.

I love the sketches over at Card Positioning Systems and this weeks sketch was so cute and their designers give such wonderful, inspirational examples that you just HAVE to give the sketch a shot!!! 

I had a lot of fun creating this weeks sketch, in fact as soon as I saw it I knew almost immediately what I was going to do. Of course, after I got started things changed a bit here and there, but overall I am pleased with how this little cutie came out.

 

I paper pieced the owl from a pattern I found on the internet and the little envelope is made from a brown paper lunch bag! I sewed on the envelope which meant many lunch bag envelopes...my sewing machine is not so great and it took many tries to get good stitches! This was a fun card to make and so I am going to make some more in different colors for our Etsy store this weekend. This was probably my fav sketch so far that have had since I found their site...can't wait to see what they have next week. Their DT does such a fabulous job!!!

Well, off to work for today. I have to go in and I am also working on a magazine ad for my cowboy client that is due today and not done yet. Yikes! All I really have left is the ad copy but it is a spread so that could take a while. We do this ad every year for the NRHA Futurity (National Reining Horse Association) and we are always down to the wire because Craig (my cowboy client) is so busy showing this time of year. In fact they are packing up horse trailers and headed this way to Ohio in Columbus for Quarter Horse Congress next week. I am trying to find the time to go down and watch him compete and to see his wife Lyn whom I adore. I haven't been to QH Congress in a few years and so it would be a nice break. Tonight is football, hopefully we win tonight! We haven't done so great this year but the boys keep trying their hearts out. They deserve a win tonight! Hope everyone has a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!!! {jill b}

I have been keeping a secret!!!!!

I was chosen along with Kimmy from Dallas, to design using stamps from our most wonderful sponsor Firecracker Designs by Pamela.I was given the Mahalo stamp set and let me tell you...I was a little worried at first! I NEVER go on vacation or go anywhere exotic so I had to really get creative with these stamps! The stamp set was very easy to work with and they stamp a nice, clean image. They also clean up very well too! I ended up making two cards and a little mini matchbook "vacation" album. 

All of the patterned paper is by Reminisce and the solid paper is Stampin' Up. 

I just want to say THANK YOU to Firecracker Designs by Pamela for this fabulous opportunity!!!! And thanks to Mindy for putting such a super wonderful Ezine!!! She does a really great job and works very hard!!!

I'll have another card coming tonight...need to handle "mom" things around here first! Thanks for looking!!