Birthday Snack

Well, hey there!  I hope you all had a fantabulous Christmas. Ours was pretty good. Crazy busy all weekend, and lots of fun, but I'm so glad it's over. I'm gonna need the year to recover and be ready for the next one!  Let's see...what all happened?  Well, on Christmas Eve, we made our cookies for Santa.  They look forward to that one every year.  Then later that night, we had a stubborn Krista who insisted on waiting up as late as humanly possible so she could catch a glimpse of Santa.  Ok, I'm gonna be as discreet as I can here since I don't know who's gonna read this (children over your shoulders, maybe?), but, really?! She's 12.  We know what she was trying to do and better luck next year sister, cuz I set my alarm!  First for 3:00, but when I heard movement responding to my movement, I tried 4:30.  hahaha.  I never saw this coming when we decided to have kids!  Christmas strategizing...wow.  So then we had a regular ol' chaotic Christmas day, with a wee nap thrown in so mom didn't go completely bonkers.  Plus, I had to rest up for our ginormous family brunch in the city on Saturday. Shawn has a really big family and they have these crazy get togethers on holidays.  It's a lot of fun, but even after 18 years, I have a hard time keeping everyone straight.  And then, to top off our weekend, we went to the 49ers game on Sunday.  The Christmas game has sort of become a family tradition.  And even tho the weather surrounding the game was crappy (it rained for some people on the way), it was near perfect the whole time we were there.  Phew!  We've been busy.  So busy that I made this totally unrelated card over a week ago (at like, 2 a.m. - don't ask!) and am just now finding the time to photograph it & throw it up on the old blog.  And to think, I was looking forward to all my "down time" this holiday break so I could sit & craft. You'd think by now I would know better!

Stamps:  Polka Dot Basics (PTI), Smells Like Cake (The Cat's Pajamas), Image: Birthday Hamster (Mo's Digital Pencil), Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Antique Linen (Ranger), Fresh Snow (PTI), Paper: white & Aqua Mist (PTI), Accessories: corner punch, Copics:

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! I wasn't sure if I'd have any cards made by today, so I went to JibJab the other day and started playing around, just in case. Have a great holiday!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

No Stamps Used *gasp!*

It's a(nother) digital image.  Not very Christmassy, I know.  But it's what I was in the mood to make.  I won't be making any more Christmas cards for about 9 months.  I got this image and just adore it, but once again, wasn't sure what to do with it.  So I used this patterned paper that I got a while ago and pulled some colors from it to make this card.  It's different for me, but I like it.

So, I've completely finished all my shopping & everything's all wrapped, so I'm hoping that I just get to relax while the girls are out of school.  I'm really hoping that I get to sit & make some cards now that I don't have all that running around to do.  I've got some great images that I want to color and, of course, I'm sure I'll be getting some fun new toys for Christmas. Ha! Ask me how I know...

Anyway, I hope you all have a fabulous holiday. I'll try to get back here just as soon as I can.

Image: Little Girl in Kimono (Mo's Digital Pencil), Paper: black & white (PTI), Black Orchid patterned paper (SEI), Accessories: copics:

Just Because

I know, I know. It's been awhile. Here's the thing. You know how I had my Christmas cards done early, and then finished my boxes to give out to everyone? I was so proud of myself! Well, I don't plan everything quite so well.  Now I'm in the middle of finishing up geting presents for everyone, wrapping, school parties and delivering/mailing things. Plus, I've still got those 3 girls to deal with...blahblahblah. Who's not busy this time of year?  So, I didn't plan on having pretty things made to blog about.  I did have a spare minute combined with the energy to make something and this is it.  And I'm actually sending it to somebody!  Woohoo.  I sent my dad (and stepmom and sisters) our Christmas card with our family picture in it.  Well, being the super proud dad & grandpa that he is, he wanted another copy to take to work with him. Awww. Yeah, plus, I totally forgot to include the picture of just the girls, so I'm sending him the card with lots of pictures in it.  Hopefully this will tide him over until we get to see each other again, which is never soon enough for me!

Stamps: Simple Little Things (PTI), Image: End of the Summer (Mo's Digital Pencil), Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Bashful Blue (SU!), Paper: kraft & white (PTI), Raspberry Tart DSP (SU!), Accessories: Copics:

It's A Girl

No, not for me. I've already got 3! Okie dokie. This one's gonna be quick. As usual, things around here have been crazy busy and I'm not even close to being finished with anything. I did, however, mangage to finish this card, but only cuz I had a deadline.  If it looks familiar, then, why yes, I did copy myself.  But I think this version is better than my original.  Tiara has had a student teacher this year and today is his last day.  Also, last week, his wife had their first baby.  Awwww. Don't we all remember that? When it was new & exciting...before the first messy poop, first cold, first temper tantrum.  Ahh, good times, good times.  Anyway, this card may look like just a baby card (which, ok, it is), but it's also a good bye & good luck card for him.  Tia's really gonna miss him.  Good luck, Mr. DJ.

Stamps: Oh Baby (Hampton Art), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Paper: white, Sweet Blush & Hibiscus Burst (PTI), Accessories: Sweet Blush ribbon, cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, Copics:

Holiday Boxes 2009

So here's this year's Christmas loot.  I've done tins the past 2 years, which were wildly popular and pretty easy to do.  But this year, I saw these boxes and just wanted to do them.  Not sure if I really thought cutting out 30-ish of them was gonna be a big party or what, but I got it done.  I just did little bits at a time and then it didn't seem so bad.  I don't plan on doing a bunch of gifts next year, because right now good chunk of them is for teachers at the elementary school and this is my last year there.  Some of them who have become my friends will still be getting stuff, but whatever I do, I will probably be going back to tins.  Just not sure what I was thinking.  Looking back now, I can't believe I did all that work.  Gonna have to have my head checked out.

K, just so my mom doesn't think I went through 20 million steps for these boxes, lemme just break it down.  The box itself is one piece, with the cutest little tucked in flap.  I traced them (cuz i didn't want printer lines on the inside - picky picky, i know), cut them out, scored them & put them together. The decorative paper is just cut out and slapped on the box (the shape for this is included with the template).  I added the eyelets on the sides, pulled the ribbon through them, then made little tags for the front of the boxes.  That's it.  Hmm, ok, reading that over, it does sound a little tedious, but I did it over a couple of weeks, so really not bad.  Gee, I can't tell if I'm encouraging you or discouraging you to try it.  Yeah, I'm scattered. It must be close to Christmas.  Don't even get me started on shopping for the girls!  No, I'm not ready.

Alright, now we've arrived at the good part.  Yes, friends, it's the chocolate.  This is the chocolatey center everyone waits for.  K, so it's just kisses and not some fancy European truffles, but let me just say that this stuff gets people excited!  And here's hoping that the packaging isn't so attractive to people this time that they don't wanna eat the chocolate.  Come on, people. Go nuts. Eat the candy!

Stamps: Ornamental Christmas (Verve), Ink: Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Scarlet Jewel, Pure Poppy (PTI), Versafine Onyx Black, Paper: Vintage Cream, Rustic Vintage Cream, Kraft, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Scarlet Jewel, Pure Poppy (PTI), Merry Moments DSP (SU!), Accessories: oval punches (SU!), eyelets (Making Memories), Tucked Away template & ribbons (PTI)

For My Friend

A little over 22 years ago, I began my sophomore year of high school in San Francisco. Days before school started, I was in the office being registered, since I was coming from a high school in Detroit.  I was sitting there waiting for my mom to be done filling out paperwork when I looked over and saw a blonde girl, also sitting and waiting.  I smiled and said hi, then she smiled and said hi.  Then my mom was finally done and we were off.  On the first day of school, I was wandering around the hallway at lunch wondering what to do with myself. People just scattered in all different directions, with almost no one heading for the cafeteria.  I turned and there was that blonde girl from the office.  Man, I was so glad to see a familiar face, even if I didn't know her.  She saw me and appeared to be experiencing the same sense of relief.  Her name was Rachel and she was a freshman, newly planted from Fresno.  We decided to go explore this high school's lunchtime and see what kind of trouble we could get into.  Nah, we just tried to find something to eat.  I threw that last part in to see if my mom was paying attention. Anyway, we were instant best friends, and had no idea of the dances, cookie dough slumber parties, boys (ok, we saw that coming), ice cream orgies (cleaner than it sounds, i swear!), MUNI rides, McDonald's visits, NKOTB caused embarrassing moment, missed Madonna concert, years of laughter, tears, marriage and motherhood yet to come.  Phew.  So now we've come to one of those times when one of us needs a shoulder to lean on.  A little cheering up with happy thoughts & wishes.  So this was my little effort to bring a smile to her and her daughters in this very moment.  I won't put her business all out there (cuz i think all that above was plenty!) but I will say I'm thinking about her and her girls and I know everything will be fine, cuz they deserve it. Love ya girl!

Stamps: Birthday Surprise (Verve), Scattered Showers & Fancy Flourishes (PTI), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Aqua Mist (PTI), Paper: white & Aqua Mist (PTI), Melon Mambo (SU!), Accessories: Copics: