blue skies

i am totally obsessed with this new stamp set from Close To My Heart!!!! love the rainbows, and cloud, and there's a sweet little hot air balloon in this set too. i am loving white cards lately, lots of bright white space and simple simple designs.

this week brings lots of change in our family. the church where my hubby has been serving as pastor for the past two years, is closing. . .after 97 years. today is the last service, and as of right now, we don't have another church to move to. the good news is that this was a part time position, so hubby still has another part time job on staff at a different church. the bad news, we are partially unemployed now! the good news . . ..he'll have a little extra time for our trip to North Carolina coming up. the bad news. . . .ohhh the missing paychecks!!!

but there are blue skies ahead, and although we don't know what the rainbow will be. . .i know there will be one!!!! i hope your skies are bright and sunny today. i think our afternoon will end in the swimming pool, to splash our cares away! XOXO

they'll probably kill me, but i don't care.

(me, Angie, Jenn, AM, and Charity)

Girly Girls.
They totally make me happy.
These pictures just make me SMILE!

And this one makes me giggle. . .and I have no idea what we were laughing about, but apparently it was pretty stinkin' funny.

Two of them are scrapbookers and cardmakers and papercrafters and the other two we have tried to turn into those things. (And they really haven't kicked and screamed at all!) But whether we are at the park or pool with our kiddos, or drinking coffee, or playing with paper, we always have the best time!

I love my friends. And they'll be mad that I posted this, and they'll complain about how they look. But I think they look perfect. I couldn't ask for anything greater than these girls. So take that girls, and shove it. ;)

XOXO

believe (CPS 172)

What a fun time I had with this sketch! I have had this rubbery fun sticker stuck to the side of my desk for AGES. I started to use it once, hated the way my card was going, pulled off the sticker, trashed the card, and there the sticker has patiently waited, stuck to my desk, for the perfect occasion. And here it is!!!! I used Stardust paper from Close To My Heart, lots of foam tape, and some Liquid Glass on the polka dots of the circles. It was really fun to cut out these circles and layer them up. I also inked the edges of my patterned paper, for just a bit more definition between shapes and colors.

We head back to the pool today (I am starting to feel like a broken down record!) And then home to relax in the air conditioning. . ..well, after a quick stop at Walgreens. I haven't rattled on about couponing lately, but did you see there is FREE (yes FREE) men's body wash at Walgreens this week? Gilette and Old Spice - buy it for $4.49, and get $4.49 in Register Rewards. I am able to use those Register Rewards at Publix for my grocery shopping, otherwise you can just apply it to your NEXT purchase at Walgreens. So the body wash ends up being FREE. And you can go in and buy one as often as you'd like this week! (When CVS runs this deal, you can only score it once, but at Walgreens there is no special card necessary.) So - run to Walgreens this week. Hubby started using the Old Spice body wash after the LAST time I got it for free, and he really likes it. (***The only thing to remember, is that you can only get one per transaction. . .that means one Old Spice OR one Gilette per transaction. )

I love FREE stuff!!!!! It is really more fun than it seems it should be, to look in the circulars each week and see what the deals are. It's a bit more difficult to run into CVS and Walgreens, in addition to Publix every week, now that I have both boys home with me, but its worth it when I get FREEEEEEE STUFFFFF!!!!! ;)

Have a terrific Monday! Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO

summery flowers and sanity

Hello weekend! It is definitely feeling like summer vacation now. We are still trying to find our groove - although the days were quite busy this week, they still seemed to drag on, by afternoon time. I hit that afternoon lull, around 1:30-2:00, and all I want to do is TAKE A NAP, (which generally doesn't coordinate with the boys schedules or moods in allownig me a catnap!) I am trying to establish some sort of routine to our days so that things will run a bit more smoothly. And I'm making some cards in the evenings, but I don't have ANYTHING new to show you. . .darn for you, all these publication calls that want "never before seen" work - throws a damper on all 11 of you that visit my blog. Right? :)

But I do have an Apron Strings card to share with you today. And tomorrow or Monday I will be back with a CPS card too!! Today's card features a bit of Scenic Route and a bit of Jillibean Soup paper. Along with some flowers and twill. This card feels super summery to me. And I left it without a sentiment, so I can just add on whatever I need to(or leave it blank!) when I am ready to use it.

We've had a couple days of swimming lessons now, and Mr. B is finally getting more comfortable putting his head in the water. I feel like we just have to get him in the pool as much as possible now, so we don't lose momentum!!! We lured him underwater yesterday by hunting for coins on the steps. $1.63 seemed to do the trick! Nothing like a good old fashioned BRIBE!!!!

We have lots of changes and LIFE going on in our household right now, and crafty business definitely helps my sanity level. . .. I hope your weekend is terrific, and that you are finding lots of sanity and craftiness in your days! XOXO

Friendship is . . . (Apron Strings)

Wednesday, Wednesday - in some ways the week seems to be flying by, and in others I am thinking "Geesh, is it only WEDNESDAY?" It's been a busy week around here though - definitely no 5 year old with the Summertime "I'm bored" Blues, around here! Today we head back to the pool for swimming lessons, so I'll be practicing my pep talk of the century for the drive over there. (Little man LOVES the pool, but is not a huge fan of someone he doesn't know, telling him to put his head in the water!)

You probably didn't come here to listen to me ramble (well, maybe you did) so here is a CARD to share with you!!! I created this using the June Apron Strings card kit. Jillibean Soup papers (love these little trees!!!) and Bazzill cardstock. The sentiment is on vellum, but I wanted a sharper look so I mounted it on white cardstock. This card was based on a sketch from Apron Strings, designed by Gloria Strengel. You can see the sketch, and Gloria's card on her blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!! Think lots of happy splashy thoughts for us as we spend the morning by the pool, (and then eat icecream at 10:30 in the morning to celebrate afterwards. Bribe? Noooo, of course not. ;)

have a great day! (CPS 171)

Home sweet home from our few days away. The boys and I had fun playing while Eric was in his meetings. We caught up with friends, made some new friends, and ate out. . .a LOT. There are lots of veggies in my future this week! Also lots of SWIMMING, as Mr. B starts a round of swimming lessons tomorrow. Last year, I was as big as a whale and 8 months pregnant, while he started learning to swim . . .seems amazing that now I will be wrangling a 9 month old while Bryce continues where he left off!

This is my CPS card for this week . . .a simple sketch with lots of possibilities. You'll agree, when you see how much my card doesn't particularly look like the sketch!!! I created this pinwheel using a 2 inch square of OA patterned paper, and then hand cut some of the same pattern for the two diamonds on either side. The stitched stamp is from Close To My Heart. . .love that stamp. Especially since I don't have a sewing machine - I can at least partially fake it!

I hope your week gets off to a fabulous start!
XOXO

our pretty little church

I was taking some photos of our sweet little church, last weekend, and thought I would share a few with you!!! My hubby is the pastor at this sweet place, filled with lots of dear people (all of which are obsessed with our little boys, since they are just about the only children there!!!)

Right now we are out of town at the big "pastor's meeting" at my little man calls it . . . the yearly conference of pastor's and laypeople who make decisions, vote, and do whatever it is that they do. All I know, is that we get to catch up with sweet friends, eat out, and the boys and I play in the hotel pool and wander around while Eric is in meetings for a few days.

I hope you are ready for a GREAT weekend!!! I'll be back in a few days to share some more cards with you!!!

tooty fruity, you're a cutie!!!!

My Favorite Things is sponsoring the CPS blog this week . . .and when I saw this stamp set, called "Feelin' Fruity?" I HAD to have it! How could you go wrong with smiling fruit, and punny phrases!!!? They just make me smile! I can't wait to play some more with this stamp set!! This week's sketch is #170. Be sure to link up your card to the CPS blog for a chance to win goodies from My Favorite Things. And if you're on Facebook, be sure to post your work on our Facebook page for a chance to be chosen as our Featured Fan, on Fridays!

Snip! Snip! A TSOL challenge!

The {Stamps} of Life design team girls are having another Tuesday challenge! This week, our challenge was to cut out our main image. I cut out my clouds and trimmed around my sentiment. For this card I used the fun puffy clouds from the June set, along with the butterfly and sentiment from GetWell2You (one of last month's special edition sets.) This is one of those cards I whipped up VERY fast . . .sweet and simple, but I really like it. I am sooo into puffy clouds right now!! They are so fun!
Be sure to hop around to the other design team girls who participated this week. And link your card up to one of our blogs if you decide to play along with us!!!

Jeanne
Deb
Joana
Vicki

my star (Apron Strings)

The Apron Strings card kit for June has something for all your summertime cards . . .it's got some Kaisercraft paper just perfect for weddings and graduations, some starry Scenic Route paper terrific for summer holidays and get-togethers, plus some bright cheery Jillibean Soup paper with a darling tree pattern! And of course, about a million embellies, ribbon, and do-dads for dressing up your projects. (I added alphabet stamps from CTMH to this card.)

One of my dearest girly girls is heading into town today, with her sweet LITTLE girly girls. . .the boys and I cannot WAIT to see them! And then we all leave town on Wednesday, so I am scrambling to get everything ready, so we can just PLAY for the next few days, instead of packing and cleaning. (Again.)

I am also on a MISSION to make cards. I have been knocking out at least one or two each night the past few evenings. But. .. sorry, I can't show you yet. So many publication calls are looking for never-before-seen cards - so I must save the cuteness. But not to fear, if they become not-quite-right for the magazines, they will become just-right for my blog!!! (And maybe even some lucky loved one's mailbox!)

And now. . ..I am going to attempt an early morning trip to the grocery store before the hubby leaves for work. I am off to score Yoplait YoPlus 4-packs for 25 cents a pack!!! LOVE IT!!!!
XOXO

I almost forgot!!!!

Saturday slipped by me, and I didn't choose a winner for the kite stamps, from The Stamps of Life!

My lucky winner. . . .my sweet friend, Tami! Wooohoooo!

I'll be back tomorrow with my CPS card!
Enjoy your Sunday afternoon, friends!
XOXO

The Sky's the Limit! (TSOL)

Another cutie-patootie kite card for you today! Love the way these bright colors and white puffy clouds came together! These stamps can be used with patterned paper to paper-piece the kite, or you can use the patterned stamps to create your kite. Lots of options! Be sure to pop on over and check out the whole stamp set. . .I hear they are FLYING off the shelves, so go shop quickly!!! And remember, I have a set to give away . . .I think I'll give you one more day. I'll pick a random winner on Saturday, so be sure to leave a comment on the previous post, or right here. (Or both, and I'll give you two chances to win!)

Here's the inside of my card. Just some simple clouds, and a sentiment. (Don't you love this font!?)

card goodies: patterned paper - My Mind's Eye, cardstock - Bazzill, ink - CTMH

home sweet home

Happy Tuesday! (It feels like Monday, doesn't it?) After being out of town since Wednesday, I have no idea WHAT day it is. We had a wonderful trip to Orlando, and I completely forgot to take pictures of my mom's cute booth at Scrapbook Expo. We'll be spending the day catching up on laundry and going to the grocery store! (If I have an awesome bargain-shopping week, I'll come back later and tell you about my great coupon deals!)

I do have a new card to finally share with you - one of my new favorite cards - and using one of my new favorite stamp sets!!!!! This is the June set from Stephanie Barnard at The {Stamps} of Life. I am excited about this stamp set, because the idea of a kite popped into my head one day, and I thought "Oooh, that would make a cute stamp set!" I told Stephanie, and BAM. . .she made the cutest thing, and it was just how I pictured it would be!!! I LOVE the puffy clouds that come in this set, and I love the different patterns to personalize your kite with!

Stephanie was also sweet enough to give me an extra stamp set, to SHARE with someone!!!!

Would YOU like a shiny new set of kite stamps from The {Stamps} of Life? If you would, leave a comment here and I will pick a random winner in a few days!

And now, I think I should dig up SOMETHING for the kiddos to eat for breakfast, and start our day of CATCHING UP!! I hope you have a terrific day!
XOXO