So today was...hard.

Hard. That's a good way to describe today. I finally mustered up the courage to talk to Mike last night about my job situation (or lack thereof) since moving here. It's been so frustrating. I knew the work wouldn't be as easy to come by as it was in Portland, but I didn't think it would be this bad. Meanwhile, with the economy getting weaker, his business is getting slower, as well. Both of us being on commission is always hard. We have done it this way for nine years. There are always busy and slow times and we have learned to juggle our finances. But this time, I can just see the writing on the wall. We all know where the economy is heading. And I can see that there isn't alot of work for court reporters here. Plus, we just found out that our insurance premiums doubled.

So Mike and I talked about it last night and today I worked on my resume. He's having a hard time with it...thinks I am jumping the gun and should try and wait it out. I think that's just burying our heads in the sand, and why wait until things are really scary?? That doesn't do any good. I would rather do something about it now, and if things pick up, then great. That will be a good problem to have. We told the kids tonight that I will need to start working a "real" job. Haley burst into tears. ::::sigh:::: Kyle said, "Good. Then maybe next year we will go to Mexico again!" LOL Damon...well, Damon took another bite of his pizza! :)

I have applied for a couple of positions at the hospital here and will apply for a position at the City...keep your fingers crossed for me! :)

My Blog Takes A Twist

Hello Friends!

I wanted to take a moment to jot down some thoughts I've been having about this blog...

As you may have noticed, I haven't been able to blog as much as I would like...and I've been finding that really stressful. And I don't want it to be stressful. There's too many other things in my life that are stressful. Speaking of my life, there are lots of aspects of my life that I want to "chronicle" and blog about...my kids, my thoughts, my other hobbies, my daily life around my home. So if you only come here for rubber stamping inspiration, I hope you will stay with me, but I understand if you won't! I think I will actually post more of my creations when I don't feel so "obligated" about it...know what I mean?

In the meantime, I am looking forward to sharing some of my favorite recipes, my menus for the current week, the funny things that my kids say, the thoughts that are going through my mind about life, how I'm tweaking our family budget with this crazy economy, what I have planned for the summer while my kids are home, etc!

I hope you will join me! :)

Please do me a favor....

Hi Friends!

How have you been? Things have been really busy around here...our new home was completely unlandscaped in the back and we tackled it weekend before last and did everything from fill dirt to all the final touches (except a few flowers that I'm still too scared to plant as it still gets down below freezing here at night) in one weekend. We were exhausted, but it looks so nice and it's nice to have that not hanging over our heads anymore!

On to the project above...as everyone knows, both my MIL and my FIL have cancer. My MIL finished chemo at the end of January and my FIL just started chemo a month ago. He came over last week and asked me to shave his head for him as his hair was coming out in big patches. So when we were finished, I had them pose together for this picture. It is so surreal that they would be going through this together, and I thought that a picture chronicling this stage in their life would be something that they would treasure when this is all over and they have their health back.

I put alot of thought and energy into the whole idea and exactly what I wanted it to look like. I wanted it to have words, but words that were meaningful and not "morbid." I picked the stamp from Lizzie Anne Design's set Say It In Script. It says, "Cherish Yesterday, Dream of Tomorrow & Live for Today." It is one stamp, but I colored each little saying seperately and cut it out so that I could mount one of each of the little sayings in each corner. The other corner has the little bridal flowers from Michael's (colored) and a little pearl added to the middle. I then used red line tape to put the ribbon around the edges and a little pearl in each corner. All of the elements were thought out so that they would be understated but meaningful...the photo was what I wanted to be the focal piece. I was so happy with the way it turned out and my husband was, too. He was so appreciative of my effort and was excited to give it to his mom for Mother's Day.

We had both of our families over for dinner...I prepared a big meal and made sure it would be a nice evening for everyone. After dinner my husband went and got the gift. His mother opened it and very quickly and loudly SHRIEKED, "DARCE....THIS IS HORRID!!" And it didn't stop there...she continued to say it several more times. My heart sunk...I wanted to cry. I felt like a little kid who had created a clay handprint and was told it was awful. I didn't know what to do. No one was saying anything, except for her. I finally just said, "Wow...after all of my hard work." I really regret that statement...really regret it. I should have just walked away and composed myself. But I just felt like such an idiot. I guess she realized that perhaps it was a little harsh so she quickly said, "I mean my picture." I didn't say anything else. I began serving dessert and fought back tears the rest of the night. She tried a couple of times after that to convince me how much she liked it.....ummmm, yeah. I could tell.

I know that not everyone appreciates our love of crafting the way we crafters do. I get that. I know that I don't create the masterpieces of so many others in this crafting world. I get that. But to scream over and over about how "horrid" something is when you can tell that someone made it, regardless if you know how much time or effort went into it...I don't get that.

My night was completely ruined...and most of my Mother's Day. I cry just thinking about it.

So to everyone that is ever given a handmade creation by someone else....whether it be a child's drawing, a true work of art, or just something made from the heart, I beg you to SHRIEK, "OH MY GOD! I LOVE IT!" Even if you don't.


Stamps: Say It In Script (LAD)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: So Saffron, Really Rust, Bravo Burgundy
Other Goodies: Adhesive Pearls (Hero Arts), Bridal Flowers (Michael's), Ribbon, Frame

I'm here...I'm here!

Hi Friends!

Sorry I haven't posted anything new in awhile...things have been busy around here, and I guess I haven't had felt very creative lately. I have, however, pulled enough mojo together to get my bedroom decorated. After moving into our new home in February I quickly got the downstairs decorated but then sort of lost motivation for the upstairs...that changed this weekend, though! It looks great, if I do say so myself! :)

I should be able to carve out some time to stamp in the next couple of days!

Thanks for being patient with me... :)

A Very Special Sale...

I am posting an email that I got from Kim over at My Favorite Things. I am so sad to read her email. I remember when Kim's friend was diagnosed...my mother-in-law was then diagnosed a month later. We are lucky that my mother-in-law is doing so well. My heart just breaks for Tish's family...

Here's Kim's Email...

A few months ago, I posted on my blog about a friend, Tish, who’d been diagnosed with a very rare form of ovarian cancer. Tish battled through 6 rounds of chemo only to discover two additional tumors, one on her spine and one in her stomach. My heart fell when I read her CaringBridge post which broke the news. Since her diagnosis last August, the family has held the motto of DRIVE ON! in dealing with this aggressive cancer and fought a valiant fight.

Tish lost her battle early Tuesday morning, and I found out about it late last night. Tish leaves behind two beautiful, young sons, and a hubby, Todd, who I worked with for several years in my past life. I know Todd much better than I knew Tish, and know just how difficult this has been and will continue to be for the immediate future. Todd was the most compassionate, tender-hearted *boss* I’ve ever had, and I want more than anything to really help this family. So what I’ve decided to do is two-fold: 1) Starting tomorrow, I am offering a 10% discount on ALL stamps on the site. Use the coupon code Tish at checkout to receive 10% off all all the stamps in your shopping cart. (It won’t discount your other merchandise, just stamps.) The coupon code will run from Tuesday, April 15th-Friday, April 18th. 2) I will donate 10% of ALL proceeds (including money spent on other items on the site) to the family at their April 26th benefit. I am making it my goal to personally make the payment the FL College Pre-Paid plan for the boys during an entire year which will be about $1200. Please help me reach this goal.

How kind and generous for Kim to do this for this family. Head on over to MFT and see what goodies you might need...and help Tish's family, too...

A Mini Meltdown

No, this is not stamping related, but I hope someone can help calm my nerves!!

Our PC that the kids use and that also has 3 years of photos on it....just died. The power won't even come on. I have never been able to figure out how to burn my photos...I'm freaking out that I won't get them back!!! I have printed some of the major "events" but it's the day-to-day snapshots that I am just heartsick about. :(

We have a computer guy coming tomorrow...cross your fingers I can at least get my pictures...ugggh. :(

Mojo Monday 32 Simple Stamping

Hi there everyone!

I am gonna post this and then come back and edit it for details...want to get it in in time for the deadline, but the little ones are screaming for dinner!

Okay...I'm back! Did you miss me?? I mean, I already know that you did because it has been FOREVER since I posted on my blog!! SORRY! :( Things have been busy with my dd playing softball and we are trying to get our backyard landscaped! Fun stuff!! :)

Anyway, another gorgeous sketch from Julee...I think her sketches are my favorite of any out there! I found the patterned paper at my LSS last week...love the colors!! It is My Mind's Eye, so of course the backside is the solid color. I love how they do that! :)

Hope you are all well! I will try and post more often this week! :)

Stamps: Sentiment from Penny Black, Flower from A Beautiful Thing (SU!)
Paper: Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, DP My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus "Merry Christmas"
Ink: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Crisp
Other Goodies: Chocolate Tafetta, Adhesive Pearls, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Sizzix Big Kick, Brad

And Now This Week's Mojo Monday...

Woooo-hoooooo! I actually got this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge done on time!!! :) This was an AWESOME layout!! It took me a bit to figure out exactly what I wanted to do, but I was really overthinking it at first! And I'm so proud of myself...I FINALLY cut into my Afternoon Tea DP! I'm LOVING that Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, too! So fun! :)

Thanks for looking! If you played this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge, leave me a link so I can take a peak! :)

Stamps: Live Your Dream, Absolutely Fabulous (SU!)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Papertrey White, Afternoon Tea DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky
Other Goodies: Sizzix Big Kick, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Brads, Marvy Giga Scalloped Circle Punch, Marvy Mega Circle Punch, Spica Glitter Pen

I'm A Week Late...

...and it's not what you're thinking!! LOL




HOOOORAY...Spring Break is over and two of my kids are back at school!!!! YIPPEEE!! Sorry...I'm sure all you mothers can relate!! It would have helped if the weather had been nice enough for my kids to go outside last week! It was like Christmas break instead of Spring Break! LOL


I'm a week late for Julee's Monday Mojo Sketch from LAST week! I kept meaning to do it and then forgot...it was such a nice simple sketch that I had to do it anyway!


I went a little crazy with my Swarovski crystals (which didn't pick up very well in the picture...and my battery just died, so I can't take another one!! ARGGH!) from Walmart! It was my first time to use them as I could NEVER find them at my Walmart until a couple of weeks ago! I love how they look...but the little boogers are kind of a pain in the you-know-what to get ahold of and get glued down!


Thanks for looking and happy Monday! :)


Oh, and Julee has a new Mojo Monday sketch up...check it out! If you play along, link me up so I can see! :)



Stamps: Spiral Bouquet (Papertrey), Starlight Starbright (Verve Visual)
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Au Chocolate DP
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Pretty In Pink, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery
Other Goodies: Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Corner Rounder (for scallops), Ticket Corner Punch, Swarovski Crystals

Taylor's Cupcake Challenge

Hello there! :) How was your weekend? Ours was very nice...except of course that it has been SPRING break and we have had snow eery day!! What the heck?!? My kids go back to school tomorrow, so I'm sure the weather will be nice this week! LOL

This card was made for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge. What a fun layout! I like layouts like these where you can use those small images that are sometimes hard to use! I got this set when it was first released, but this was my first time to use it! I love how all the pieces are seperate...I wish you could buy cupcakes like that. You know, only order a huge mound of frosting! LOL Because I like the frosting the best, I put it up on dimensionals on each cupcake!

Anyway, thanks for looking! :)

Stamps: Hey There Cupcake (Stampendous)
Paper: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Purely Pomegranate, Bashful Blue, Cutie Pie DP
Ink: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Purely Pomegranate, Bashful Blue
Other Goodies: Marvy Square Punches, 1 1/4" circle punch, White Gel Pen, Ribbon

It's Been Too Long...

...and this card took entirely TOO LONG to make!! LOL

I haven't stamped in what seems like ages...and I just couldn't get things going!! I figured the sketch challenge would get my juices flowing...but it was HARD this week...or was it just me?? Tell me it wasn't just me!! LOL


I knew I wanted to use Papertrey's new colors...LOVE them!! So pretty! And I got this backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms awhile back and wanted to use it too. Finally got to use the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, too! Maybe that's the problem...I was trying to use TOOOO MANY new things! Hey, you never know when I will get to stamp again, so I had to pack it all into one challenge!! LOL


This card is going to my friend that was just "surprised" to find out she is pregnant with baby #3...ooops! :)

Stamps: Paisley Bandana Backgrounder (CHF), True Friend (SU!), Starlight Starbright (Verve Visual)
Paper: White, Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Pink Patterns DP (all Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery


Other Goodies: Sakura Glitter Pen, Rhinestone Brad, Ribbon, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, Big Kick, Circle Punches, Paper Piercer, White Gel Pen

A Personal Note...

Just wanted to take a moment and write a personal note...we recently moved back to our "hometown" so that we could be closer to family. My MIL was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in September, and after some health problems of my own and some health problems my mom has had, we just felt it was time to get closer to family. Both of our families now live just a mile away from us. The transition has been harder than I thought it would be, but it's only been 7 weeks.

My MIL finished chemo the week before we moved back and has done amazingly well during the last few months. But the family was struck with another blow this week when my FIL was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is so surreal to see them going through this so soon after my MIL's diagnosis. And for it to be breast cancer...we all think of it as a woman's disease, but it is so very real for men, as well. He will undergo a mastectomy on Thurs and will begin chemotherapy soon therafter. They have so much on their plate. We are so glad that we made the move back...we know now more than ever that we did the right thing!

Please keep them in your thoughts...they need all the strength they can get right now!

Sorry for the brief delay....

Hi there!

I'm so sorry that I haven't posted this week...the migraine "issue" that I mentioned last week has taken its toll on me this week. I did have an MRI done this week, and it was normal, as I assumed it would be. I have been putting it off because I knew it wouldn't show anything and they are s0000000 expensive!! Anyway, I guess now we know for sure. I had malignant melanoma (skin cancer) in late 2006, so it's best to be safe now.

Anyway, I made this card a few weeks ago....I love how it turned out!! It is Papertrey's Out On A Limb set on the main image. Such a great set! The sentiment is one I picked up at my local stamp store and is from Penny Black. And all the little bling the middle of the flowers are little stickers by Stampendous. Very fun! :)

Thanks for stopping by and visiting me!





Stamps: Out On A Limb (Papertrey Ink) Sentiment from Penny Black, Polka Dot Background (SU!)
Paper: Rose Red, Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Groovy Guava
Other Goodies: Satin Chocolate Chip Ribbon (SU!), Adhesive Pearls (Hero Arts), Stampendous Dot Sparklers, Photo Corner Punch

Mojo Sketch 27 and New Verve Stamps!

How is your weekend going? Ours has been nice...it's an absolutely beautiful day here in Central Oregon! Feels like spring is coming! :)

So I ordered this set from Verve Visual when it was released last weekend...isn't it a gorgeous set? Julee has incredible stamps. If you've never checked them out, you must! Go...go...well, wait. Let me tell you about this little beauty, and then you can go! :)

Julee has a sketch challenge every Monday that she calls Mojo Monday. I've never participated, but decided this was the week to give it a shot! Plus, on the first Monday of the month she picks two winners and they get to pick a stamp set of their choice from Verve Visual! What better incentive to try my hand at one of her sketches?!?

I had a HECK of a time getting a good picture of this card, and unfortunately you STILL can't see the sentiment. :( It's from this set and says, "Sending you smiles." So CUTE!

The base of the card is old olive. Then I layered a piece of Ginger Blossom DP on that. The main image is stamped in ruby red onto groovy guava on the base, and then I stamped it onto whisper white and used a blender pen to color it in with groovy guavy. Since this tends to make the color look "flat," I pressed the whole thing into a Versamark pad and then embossed it with clear empossing powder. Did exactly the same thing with the little one in the center. Of course, my white gel pen made its typical appearance!

Thanks for looking! :) Now GO...get to Verve!

Stamps: Thankful Blossoms, Thoughtful Florals (Verve Visual)
Paper: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Groovy Guava (SU!)
Ink: Old Olive, Groovy Guava, Ruby Red (SU!), Versamark
Other Goodies: White gel pen, White Taffeta Ribbon, Brads, Clear Embossing Powder, Corner Rounder Punch (for scallops on the bottom)

Embracing Blue Bayou

Happy Friday! :) What do you have planned this weekend? Nothing much for our family...my husband will probably take my older kids to see 10000 B.C. and I hope to make it to Michael's this weekend, but we'll see! :)I made this card awhile back, but thought I would share it on my blog today. I haven't been able to make anything new the last couple of days. :( Anyway, I LOVE how this card turned out. I just have not liked Blue Bayou since it came out, but paired with Soft Sky and white, I love it! I stole this layout from Lindsey. I used my white gel pen to add little dots in between the diamonds on the Print Pattern background stamp. I stamped the flower from the Embrace Life set in Blue Bayou and then went back over it with a blender pen to soften the color a bit.

Thanks for visiting me...and happy weekend!

PS~Speaking of Lindsey, her new store is open today!!!!! Check it out here! And if you enter the promo code OPENING02, you will get 15% off your entire order all the way through the end of March!

Edited To Add: I see that I've been tagged! I'll be back later to play! :)

Stamps: Print Pattern Background (SU!), Embrace Life (SU!), Short & Sweet (SU!)

Paper: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Whisper White

Ink: Blue Bayou

Other Goodies: White Gel Pen, Word Window Punch, Blender Pen, Ribbon, Brads, Corner Rounder Punch (for scallops)

Today's Color Challenge...Friendship Blooms!

Hi Friends!

Hope you had a wonderful Tuesday! I've been struggling with a really nasty headache for the last several days...I'm starting to lose my patience with it! :(

BUT...I was determined to do today's color challenge on SCS: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate and So Saffron. Isn't it a beautiful combo? I love it! :) For some reason I never use So Saffron...I really need to pull it more. I realized as I was gathering the paper for this card that So Saffron was one of the colors in last year's prints pack that Stampin' Up gave as a gift with purchase, so that is the background paper. The stamp set is from SAB...this was a set I didn't think I liked, but I have seen such pretty cards made with it, and I am happy with how this one turned out! Also got to use my rub-ons again! Those little babies are addicting...the sentiment and the butterfly are rub-ons! Used more Dew Drops....loooooove those! I need more colors, though! I need Lindsey to hurry up and get her store opened back up! :) Had to add little white dots along the edge with my white gel pen...I have to refrain from doing that on every card! I just think it's so CUTE!

Thanks for visiting me! If you played in today's color challenge, send me the link so I can see! :)

Stamps: Friendship Blooms
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White, So Saffron DSP
Ink: So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate
Other Goodies: White Gel Pen, Dew Drops, Ribbon

FS56 Challenge Delightful Live Your Dream

Gosh...sorry I started my blog and then didn't post anything! LOL Life just gets busy and I find it's been another day that I haven't been able to stamp!

This is for today's Featured Stamper challenge over on SCS. The Featured Stamper today was Petal Pusher...such a beautiful gallery! I chose this card of hers to CASE. The rules of the Featured Stamper Challenge are to change at least two features on the card you CASE. I changed the colors and the stamp set, and also flipped the layout around.

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Live Your Dream (SU!), It's All Good (SU!)
Paper: Groovy Guava, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi
Other Goodies: Groovy Guava Double-Stitched Ribbon, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, Paper Piercer

Happy Day!

No card today...but that will change SOON! :) My DH bought me a new laptop today!!! I looooove it!! I was so frustrated with our old desktop, especially since I had started this blog. For some reason I couldn't see any colors or fonts on any websites on the darn thing...made it very hard to know how my blog looked! LOL

Soooooo...this little baby is all mine, so get ready for some posts this weekend! :)

WOW...I'm a blogger!

I can't believe I finally figured this blogging thing out!! LOL I will never tell how many hours it actually took me, though! :)

As I said in my sidebar, we moved back to our hometown three weeks ago. It has been a harder transition than I thought it would be, especially for my daughter and I. :( So this weekend I set out for some retail therapy, and I was soooooooo happy to find a stamp store!! Picked up a few new goodies and I felt better! :)

So I pulled out two of the stamps I bought this weekend for today's color challenge on SCS: Basic Black, Whisper White and River Rock! I loooooove this combination!! The best part, though, is that this card only took me 15 minutes!!! I was so proud! LOL I never create anything worth posting in less than two hours...seriously!

Stamps: I have no idea who makes the pussywillow stamp. It just said "DRS" on it...sorry. :( The sentiment is from Wordsworth
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Apple Cider DSP
Ink: Basic Black, River Rock
Other Goodies: Ribbon, Stickles, Ticket Corner Punch, White Gel Pen