When Do We Leave...

Sophie are you ready yet?! Mom told you to pack your bag for Mimi's... were you really thinking you could sneak out the door without me?! *wink*

If you missed the post "Adding To Our Family" you can read all about it here. Last night our lil' Manx kitten opted to plant herself in Sophie's art bag and play with some supplies... literally! Well who could resist taken a photo or two.

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Scrapbook VS Stamp...

I designed this little card yesterday in between loads of laundry, cooking and cleaning... not to mention caring for a sick child. By nature a stamper at heart... yet not one stamp or bit of ink was used in the design of this card?! *shock* This scrapbook style card has simplicity all over it yet splashes of color, glitz and dimension.

My little design shows that whether your a scrapbooker or stamper you can always come-up with a card for that someone special in your life... even with "limited supplies!" *wink*

If your inspired to create a non-stamped card of your own, I'd love it if you came back and posted a link in comments so that I can take a peek at your creation! *wink*

Supplies List: Cuttlebug A2 "Happy Birthday" embossing folder, Bazzill Rum Raisin & Parakeet cardstock, Deja Views "Fresh Print" Plum Stripes, Barbara Trombley's Ultrafine "Angel Dust" Art Glitter and Queen & Co. "Big Brads & Sprinkles" brads.

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Blog Candy GIVE-A-WAY Alert...

I usually start my mornings off with a mug of coffee and my blogging buddy and friend, Asela of Hop Art Studios... Asela's offering this incredible tag punch and other great give-a-way items on her blog until Monday; February 26th 9 AM Pacific Time!

Asela's only requirement is to post a comment of... your idea of what a cute stamp would be, what type of stamps are you attracted to and/or what makes you say "I've GOT to HAVE that STAMP!!!!" *wink*

Take a stroll over to Asela's blog and be sure to take a good look around at all the talent this wonderful lady possess'. *smooches*

More blog candy give-a-way offers here & here! They might not last long...

Good Luck!

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Postmark From New Hampshire...

This card was created for Tyler's second grade postmark contest. Tyler needs to collect postmarks from all fifty states and Puerto Rico dated February 2007. One could choose to send a note, postcard or plain 3 X 5 index card. I was going to do this as a postcard, but wouldn't have been able to add any dimension or make the door open to reveal hell0.

If you'd like to help Tyler with his postmark collection... then just go over to SCS to see if he's collected any postmarks from your state! Good Luck Tyler! *wink*

Supplies List: Hero Arts "Hello" Pattern, Stampin' Up! DD Cabin, Destination Stamps, Stampin' Up! mellow moss & kraft cardstock, Stampin' Up! vellum, Stampin' Up! chocolate chip and garden green classic ink and brad accessories.

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Blog Candy GIVE-A-WAY Alert...

My blogging buddy and friend, Mary of It's All About The Journey is offering the pictured kit... as a blog give-a-way until Monday; February 19th 8pm EST. Mary's allowing you to post a comment ANYWHERE on her blog once daily to enter... so you stand a better chance of winning her great give-a-way the more comments you post!

Take a stroll over to Mary's blog to enter in her give-a-way! While there... be sure to look at all her lovely creations. *wink*

More blog candy give-a-ways can be found here, here, here... not to mention here ... so you better hurry, as some of these might be ending soon! Who doesn't love a give-a-way! *wink*

Good Luck!

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Adding To Our Family...

Not sure where to start my little story...

This past fall we lost our eighteen year old kittie Cotty (Cotton, Dave's cat) to old age. Two years previous... the day before Thanksgiving her sister, Patches (Verbal, my cat) passed away. We had our cats for almost as long as we had been together. We referred to our home as the "Cotton Patch!"

After the devastation of our loss... I told my Mom that the next kitten had to be a Manx! A Manx cat can have less than a three inch tail or no tail at all. Now mind you... these are rare to find and very expensive. Sort of like finding a needle in a haystack... what were our odds?! We realized our daughter Sophie needed another pet, but one that would be around for quite awhile. I just don't deal well with the loss of animals. Your talking about a woman that had our hamster (snowflake) euthanized to the tune of thirty dollars and left the vet's in tears! *wink* Anywho... Mimi (my Mom) was like a woman on a mission. The next thing I knew my Mom (aka the bloodhound) was calling me letting me know that she was in the supermarket this morning doing her shopping when she came across a woman, that knew another woman that had two female cats that were pregnant by Manx males. Don't ask... it's just too complicated to explain... *rolling eyes*

The first litter that was born, held only one Manx kitten, which was spoken for by a woman in Maine. We had the pick of any and all Manx kittens in the next litter to be born December 28th... well this is the little female you see in the photograph! *wink* My Mom and I snapped this photograph while visiting yesterday. Ms. Spencer informed us that the kittens would be ready for their new homes this Thursday... I was told not until March 1st?! Mom and I raced from Warren to the Capital City to Pet Smart for all the things that a kitten might need... let's just say it was an incredibly expensive trip! *wink* We don't have any names in mind, so if you don't mind leaving a comment to this post with any and all name suggestions for us to consider... would be greatly welcomed! Our kitten is a grey tiger female, only brown patch is on her nose and she literally has only a fur blob as her tail! I forgot to mention that she is double pawed in the front. I'm writing this post in secret as our daughter has no idea that she is about to receive a new kitty next Saturday! *wink* I'm truly bouncin' with excitement and can't wait to see our daughter's face light-up when she meets our new family member!

*please be sure to post us a name comment... I wouldn't ask if we didn't really need your help... our new family member requires a special name!

Thank-you Ms. Spencer for generously giving our daughter Sophie this lovely lil' kitten in lieu of our loss. To learn more about the Manx breed click here. *wink*

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

'Sweet Talkin'...

Okay... so Valentine's Day is officially over, but who could resist sharing this with you! Everyday is a day for LOVE! You can get your sweet talkin' heart here.

Have a day as special as yourself!

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Nor'Easter Took A Wrong Turn...

Were there no signs letting this Nor' Easter know that it had somehow taking a wrong turn a mile or two back down the road a piece?! Now I ask you... does New Hampshire look like Oswego, New York... *rolling eyes*

Yesterday WMUR News 9 was warning New Hampshire of an impending Nor'Easter that would leave us with anywhere from 12 to 24 inches of snow starting after midnight. Well... who really knew... they've certainly been wrong before! *wink* I decided that stockpiling the pantry with a few groceries wouldn't be fool hardy, finishing up Valentine's shopping... just in case and of course a trip to visit my friends Betty and Liz over at Stamping Memories... after all one must get their priorities right if one is to be snowed in for a day! *wink*

When we awoke at 5 AM this morning we had been upgraded to a Blizzard Watch and were now expecting 15 to 30 inches in our area with 30 mile per hr winds by noontime. Dave decided that he could use a day off from work. All of New Hampshire's school's were closed!

We started our day off with French toast in the shape of hearts, slathered in butter and a generous portion of REAL maple syrup... YUM, YUM! *wink* Then I started working on printing and cutting the names for our blog candy give-a-way. I thought I'd snap a photo of Sophie drawing the winning names, but the camera batteries were deader than a doornail... UGH!!!! Didn't something like this happen around New Year's day?! Oh, well... I'll just have to wait until later to update my blog, if we don't experience a power outage! Those were my thoughts. The camera batteries were finally charged and it was starting to get dark when I snapped this photo of the severe weather to share with all of you. Well, wouldn't you know along came a state plow truck and do you think he'd slow down to pose for you? The snow wouldn't cooperate either... the nerve...

Due to the weather... Valentine's has been officially postponed until Saturday for our household! I will still be sharing Valentine's AFTER the fact... hope you won't mind?

Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine's Day! This sure won't be one we'll be forgetting anytime soon...

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Valentine Blog Candy Winners...

I was pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful comments, FeedBlitz sign-ups for Paper Ink-Pressions updates and incredible blogger's posting links and support of my blog to theirs. Hands down... my readers are the bestest group of ladies! *wink* I was amazed by the 245 hits my lil' ole blog received in just one day!

My family and I enjoyed reading all the comments. Amazing that some of you are from as far away as Argentina, Belgium, China, Japan and of course our own USA... just to name a few! It was a unanimous decision that we choose one more name from the hat! *wink* However, the second place winner will not receive the same blog candy, but just as good... surprise of my choice.

The first lucky winner is kindredesprit aka Cristina and the second winner is jeanna! Ladies please contact me via e-mail (under my profile) with your mailing addresses so that I can mail out your blog candy. This was so much fun that I will be giving away more blog candy in the near future. Thank-you for making my first blog candy give-a-way such a success! *wink*

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Valentine Blog Candy...

I'm just bursting to share some free goodies with all my readers... even the non-commenting types. *wink*

This is my first blog candy give-a-way that you can enter by simply posting a comment to this thread and telling a friend or two by 9PM Eastern time Tuesday, February 13th, but do it QUICKLY! *wink*

Our daughter, Sophie will be the one to draw the lucky winner from the hat and the winner will be announced Valentine's Day morning EST time! I'll even throw in a bonus or two just for signing up to receive Paper Ink-Pressions updates with my FeedBlitz link to the right... so help me out... spread the word!

Remember to post a comment to this thread to qualify for the stamps and sign-up to FeedBlitz for the bonus of my choice along with the stamps should you be the lucky pick! *wink*

*Anonymous comments will be disqualified. Do NOT post your e-mail address with your comments to protect you from automated nuisances.
I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Be Mine...

This isn't what I envisioned when I started out with my design. Just sort of evolved as I went along. *rolling eyes* Anywho...

It all began with my Stampin' Up! large oval punch and this gorgeous "Sweetheart" 12 x 12 Diecuts With A View paper coming together to form flower petals. Stampin' Up! baroque burgundy cardstock for the card base, Stampin' Up! pretty in pink cardstock run through the Ellison Big Shot using the Cuttlebug A2 heart blocks embossing folder. Flower center embossed using Stampin' Up! Silver Detail EP, VersaMark and Kolette Hall Circle of Love stamp (Michael's dollar spot) on Stampin' Up! baroque burgundy, rose romance & pretty in pink cardstock. Layers were cut using a Coluzzle. Flower stem was cut freehand from Stampin' Up! certainly celery, stamped with Stampin' Up! Paisley background in Stampin' Up! old olive ink. Be Mine sentiment was punched using Stampin' Up! Word Window and a silver heart brad was added. Layers were added accordingly using dimensionals. Voila!

I like the results... however, you be the judge... simply post a comment. When designing a card, I never start with any particular method or same starting point. My designs could be inspired by ribbon, paper, color combination, layout or tool... such as my large oval punch in this instance.
I look forward to our next visit. Until then...

Heartfelt 'Thanks'...

This was the only creation I was able to accomplish this weekend that was even remotely Valentine related. Life's been just a tad busier lately with trips to and fro with my Dad to Hanover the past couple of weeks, volunteering with AES winter program at our daughter's school... not to mention all my regular duties. Stamping is my time to de-stress... unfortunately a little lack luster. I have a few things rolling around and ready to be played out on paper. *grin*

You will notice that I've been manipulating my copyright signature on my photos. I really like the watermarks that I've seen around 'bloggyland' of late. I even thought of purchasing one of my own... being a NON-tech genius... I didn't think I'd be able to apply it to my photos. *wink* Without further a do...

Stamp images are Hero Arts 2007 Flourish Flowers, Stampin' Up! Like It A Latte and Stampin' Up! Fancy Flexible Phrases. Images were stamped in real red, certainly celery and old olive. Corners were notched using Stampin' Up! ticket punch. Cuttlebug 'thanks' embossing folder was applied using the Ellison Big Shot. Before adhering any layers down the May Arts stitched ribbon and brown brads were applied. Dimensionals were used on a heart bud.

I have a truly supportive family when it comes to my stamping, but sometimes... It's enough already mum... *sheepish grin*

I look forward to our next visit. Until then...