{ Life is too short... }

And so are the days! I can not believe it has been almost a week since I posted. Again...sorry. I am thinking this is gonna be the norm. Just seems like there is no time for stamping, or when there is...I am just too tired and not feeling creative...at all!! And we aren't as busy as some families, but busier than what is normal for us. And just lots of stresses right now. Or shall I say...I am stressing about lots of things. Not that they are stress, just that I am a little worry wort. ;0)

Anyway here is another creation from last week. This one was for a sketch challenge, but for the life of me I can not remember which one. I looked through my usual sketches, but can't find it. If anyone knows what this one was from, please let me know!

For this one, I used a colored image...from my stash. It came out alright. Nothing spectaular, but a nice card just the same. :0)

Hope you all have a great weekend. And thanks for stoppin by.

{ Anni-verve-sary Sketch Challenge 1 }

Okay, so if you have not already heard...go on over to SCS and check out Julee's Anni-verve-sary Sketch Challenge. It is 12 days of Sketch Challenges. If you complete all 12 and upload onto the correct daily sketch, you will be in the running to win the entire new August release!! I just found out about it yesterday, so I have a few to catch up on as today is day 4. GO! NOW!!

So here is my take on AVS01...I decided...since I have a ton of colored images, I really should start using them. And since I really need to get some Christmas cards started...well you get the picture. ;0) I have another 6 or seven of these Snowbunny Bellas colored in all different colors. I should do a group of these ones. Although some are not 'typical' Christmas colors, but they will still be pretty cards.

Okay, I am off to beat my children...just kidding...but I better find something to do before they either kill eachother or I do it for them!! I am really hoping today is a better day outside for some pool/sprinkler fun!! And I want to sit outside and read my new book! I picked up Breaking Dawn yesterday at Costco. I read the first 2 chapters quickly last night...oh my oh my!! ;0)

Later!

{ Welcome Summer! }

That's right! Tomorrow is the official start of summer and only 4 more days of school left for the girls. Woohoo! I am soooo ready for summer to begin. We have 3 out of 4 camping trips booked and I am ready to go! Well...not really ready. We still need to pop open the trailer and test everything, charge the battery, clean and air out the sleeping bags...so lots to do before we start, but I can almost taste it!

Last week was our Calgal gathering for the month of June and it was my challenge this month. I chose 'Surf and Sand'. Of course I was a little behind on the challenge and did it the morning of our get together! So I kinda took it literally. ;0) Here is my 'Surf and Sand'...

This was an old image that I had colored eons ago. The background paper is sandpaper that I sponged until it was the color I wanted. I quite like it. Simple but a good masculine card to have on hand.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!! Hoping to get a fire in or two.

{ This is tough! }

I have been working all night and all morning trying to change up my blog template. Man it is tough!! I have seen lots of great looking blogs lately with the 3 panels, but mine just looks silly...or at least I have not found one I like. I wish I could make one myself...just not that computer savy to figure it all out. I did manage to make my own banner though. Nothing special, but I like it. I just need to figure out how to make my blog a big wider. But this one is good for now. What do you think?



Okay, a quick post today. I had to clean up my stampin' desk the other day and found a few cards that I had set aside to make. So here is one I did the other night...mainly just to clean up. ;0)



Pretty simple really. And one more to add to my Christmas pile. I think that makes 2 thus far...I need to get busy on those!!

Have a great Thursday! :0)

p.s. Em is doing much better today. The dentist did an xray lastnight and the tooth looks really good. The gums are most likely just bruising. But she did have swelling and a fever, so she put her on some antibiotics just to be on the safe side. She woke up this morning much better. Although, she was crying a lot lastnight in her sleep...not sure why.

{ MIA...but I have some good reasons! }

I know, I know...I apologize. I can not believe it has been a whole week since my last post! It has been a very busy week here in our household. We have had El's bday, Valentines Day, work, El's bday party, work, Family Day(holiday Monday) and then we also booked and paid for our Disneyland trip and got our passports! Yup, that's right...we are going to Disneyland, baby!! But...sssshhhhh...it's a secret...we are planning on not telling the girls until we are on our way to the airport! That's the plan...we will see if Daddy and I can stick with the plan. We have almost let it slip soooo many times. Must bite my tongue!

We are staying at the Fairfield Inn in Anaheim. So if anyone has any review of their own, I would love to hear them. We were last in Disneyland in 1996...OMG!...so the motel we stayed in is actually no longer there! A lot has changed since then. ;0) I will apologized now...you are gonna be sick of hearing about Disneyland by the time we actually go. 10 weeks today we leave!!!

Okay back to stampin' stuffs...

I want to share this awesome RAK I received from Alexandra last week. I had commented on Alexandra's blog about how I wish we had a Target Dollar Spot up here in Canada. Then a few weeks later, lookie what I recieved in the mail!

Not only did I receive this awesome card, but two of those adorable mailboxes! Thank you again, Alexandra! I can not wait to alter these babies. Although, it will probably take sometime to decide on the perfect DP. ;0)

Also, this week I was tagged with a few awards. First up was being nominated by Allison for the 'Bitch' award. At first, I was not too sure what to think about this one, but you need to check out Allison's blog for the details. Thanks, Allison...I feel kinda proud after reading your explaination. :0) I am so far behind on bloggin' this week that I know that most of you out there have already been tagged. So to all my bloggin' friends...and you know who you are...consider yourself a 'bitch'. ;0)

Next I was tagged by my friend Kim for the E for Excellent award. Thank you so much, Kim...it really means a lot! Especially since I feel as though I have been neglecting my blog lately. ;0) Again, I see that many of my bloggin' friends out there have been award with this honor already...so if you stop by and have not been tagged...consider yourself tagged...I know that was lame...sue me! ;0)

I really do have something to share though...here is a card I did up last week. Not 100% sold on this one...seems to be missing that something. I am thinkin' it is just missing some bling...what do you think?

Well, I think I will call it a night. It has been a pretty crazy day. I actually ended up posting this on another blog by accident today...duh!! Then the girls and I were at the dentist today. This was a first for my girls...I know we are a bit behind on that one. All went pretty well. Elizabeth was good and no cavities...yahoo...but Emily has got a mouth full of teeth and no room at the Inn, plus 3 cavities...boohoo :0( So we will be back 3 more times for the fillings/caps and then looks like she will be looking at some molars being pulled and braces in the future. Then I am back a few more times over the next month too. This dentist is gonna love us over the next few months!! Oh well...gotta be done.

I promise this week to be a better blogger...honest. ;0)

{ More Bella ATC conversions }

Since I was going down to stamp and I need more Bingo numbers...why not make another Bella card? So here is another conversion of one of my ATC Bella Swaps.

This lovely ATC was done by Karen. I just added one more layer of black onto it and then I did the rest. I saw todays sketch challenge on SCS and thought I would give it a try. I am actually happy with this one. Although, is it just me or am I the biggest ribbon loser there is? I don't know what it is with me and ribbon, but I just can never seem to get it looking the way I want. I see all these great cards with beautiful ribbon and when I sit down to make a card...well there is usually pieces of ribbon everywhere and then I just end up chucking it because it looks so bad. I really need a ribbon lesson. ;0)

I got two more cards made today...that makes 10 so far. 2008 is looking to be a great year for creating!! :0)

{ Bingo Round 2 }

Barb's Round 2 has begun and this round we are to make Bella creations. So I started thinking of what to make? One of my goals for this year is to actually use what I have and not buy more stuff. So that being said, I remembered that I have a stack of ATC's (Artist Trading Cards)from swaps that I was a part of lastyear. One such swap was a Bella ATC swap hosted by Laura. So I looked through them and picked out this great ATC by none other than Kendra Giles! I think I am happy with the way this one turned out. And guess what? this is my 8th creation this year. I am on a roll!! ;0)

Look at what I picked up at Michaels yesterday?!

I love this thing! I have been wanting something to organize all my tools that I use on a regular basis. All my pens, adhesive and whatnot are always on the other side of the room. Now they are right in front of me!! Very cool. :0)

And look at what else I did this weekend!! I organized all of my unmounted stamps!! I have 2 dozen CD cases full. The one on top is holding all my High Hopes and I have a few more loose ones...so I guess I will need to pick up a few more. But I am very happy with this storage system. It almost makes me want to unmount all my SU stamps...almost! ;0)

{ Mojo, slowly returning...}

I actually managed to get down to my stamp room lastnight. And man...did it feel good to creat again. It seems like sooooo long. Hopefully I can do some more today since the kids have no school. I managed to get about 3 more cards done. And I played with my new TAC stamps. I am lovin' them!! I will share tomorrow.

But for today I have a card that I made for my friend Maria for the BRAK she sent me last month. This paper is part of the pack she sent me! Thanks again, Maria. I also used buttons! I have yet to use any buttons. These are some buttons that I received from my friend Dottie as a BRAK too. Yes...that would be the Dottie with no blog yet!!!! Thanks for getting me to finally use buttons Dottie. I will be using more now!

Looks like another cold one here in Calgary today. I had to go out and buy a new winter coat since mine kicked it the other day! I wanted a new one this year anyway, but I was hope to wait until after Christmas...oh well. I bought a nice brown wool peacoat style. I actually kinda feel like a grown up ;0) Have a great Friday!!

Oh...and the girls finally got their school pics back. I might take digital of them and post them for ya to see...just so I can show them off. ;0)

{ Calgon...take me away! }

Man...could I use a nice loooonnnggg hot one! What a day. Thanks to everyone for their comments regarding my DD. I ended up taking her to the ER at the Children's Hospital. And what good timing we had. No one was there and we got in right away. Although, we still spent almost 6 hours there. Turns out DD just has a nasty stomach bug. But she was really dehydrated, so they hooked her up to an IV for about 3.5hrs. She was a brave little girl. She has yet to have any blood taken, so this was her first time. They ended up having to do it twice...once in each hand. She did very well considering. It was a long afternoon, but I think she is better. She will be staying home again tomorrow and we will try and get some more fluids in her and start getting some food into her. There is no school on Friday, so hopefully by the end of the weekend she should be good to go...I hope!! Poor thing.

Thought I would share another Bella creation with you all. This one was made for a special blogging friend of mine, Charlene who is taking a bit of a blogging/stamping break right now. Big hugs Charlene! I finally got to use my Basic Grey cs on this one. I must say I love this color! It really works well with all the pastel colors.

Well...I am exhausted. Back later with some more Bellas...

{ The Weather Outside is Frightful! }

Winter has definitely arrived! I so do not like this weather...it is cold and snowy...yuck! Oh well, guess it had to come eventually and we have had a pretty nice fall thus far. But I don't have to like it!!

So in light of this cold weather, I thought I would share a Snowbunnybella creation with you. I really like this bella. She is so quick and easy to color, but so fun too! You can't tell by the pic, but I added lots of sparkle to her with my Clear Glitter Pen.

Well, DD is home yet again today. I took her back to the dr yesterday and they are gonna send her for a ultrasound to make sure that her appendix is okay. They tried to book us in for an URGENT ultrasound, but of course in this city...well our appointment is for next Wednesday!! In the meantime if it gets worse we are to take her to the Childrens Hospital. I am thinkin' that I might anyway. She has been home for 3 days now...we keep thinkin' that it isn't that bad, but everytime she is up for more than 5-10 mins she wants to lay down again. We tried to get her up for school today, but she won't eat and starts crying again. Not sure what else to do. See how she is this morning. I might venture over to the Children's Hospital with her later on today. She is not worse, but not better either. Just not sure what to do...ya know?

Lastnight I had planned on doing up some Christmas cards, but right after we put the girls down for bed our little one got sick! She's okay...just needed to clear out the chest a little. But we just can't seem to win around here! Sorry for venting. ;0)

{ Great mail day! }

Yes, I am still alive! We just can not win in this house lately. My DD is doing better with the ear infection...or so it seems. But she awoke at 3 AM this morning with a tummy ache...came into our bed at 4 AM...then proceeded to vomit on mommy and all over our bed at 5AM. So she stayed home today...again...and proceeded to vomit every 2 hours until noon. So far this afternoon she has been okay, but she has only had water, a popsicle and a few saltine crackers...cross your fingers!!

But it was a very good mail day for me on Friday. I received a huge box of TAC stamps from my freind Kim...can not wait to play. Received my FREE SU set that was a gift to all demos from Shelli...I even gave myself a blister from mounting all those stamps!! I also recieved my 'Pay it Forward' win from Kathy. Check this out!!

Thank you again, Kathy!!

I also thought I would share another Presentabella card I made. My DD was invited to yet another bday party, so mommy had to create! ;0)

I am starting to panic a bit...regarding my Christmas cards. I am still only about 12 into about 50 or so that I need to make!! And I have not started any Christmas shopping yet. I really need to have some healthy kids in this house!! Everyone...please send me some healthy vibes ;0)

{ New Bella in Da House!! }

My friend Nancy was able to have her sister pick up some Bellas last week. So I was able to get Snowbunnybella and Presentabella. Here is my first creation with Presentabella...

This is a fun one to color! I did this one for a friend of my DD. Hope she liked it! I will be back with some Snowbunnybellas...I colored about 12-14 of them at work this week!!

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for their well wishes for my DD. She is still suffering with the ear infection. She has had bleeding all weekend. We were told that if it continues for more than 2 days to get her checked out again. So we will see how she is after school...we maybe heading to the clinic again tonight. :0( I am really hoping that the meds kick in soon! I just wish we could get back to a healthy household around here. My little one is still sick with a cold and now I have it too! We were so much more healthy before the girls started school!! grrrrrr ;0)

{ My first Halloween card! }

Yes, you read that correctly. See up here in Canada, Halloween is not as big a Holiday as down in the US. I would not normally send a Halloween card. But this one was my October Aloha RAK. I think it turned out pretty good.

I am hoping to get some stampin' done this week...I am going through withdrawl!! I need to stamp!! ;0)

{ Happy 6th Bday Em! }

Today is my DD 6th bday! Of course I am a bad Mommy and waited until today...while she is at school...to make her a bday card!! She loves my Bella's, so I think she will like it. :0) Oh and also this was this weeks Mojo Monday Challenge.

This pic was only taken at Thanksgiving, but she already looks so much older...could be she had all her hair cut off this past week too!! :0)

{ Bella Bday Invites }

Today has been a good day creatively. I have been working on some design items and it has really helped to get the creative juices flowing after not stamping in a week. Just can't share them with you yet ;0)

But here is the bday invites that I made for my oldest, who is turning 6 this week. We are having a PJ party...kind of a 'faux sleepover'. We are doing all the sleepover stuff, just not actually sleeping over. Pizza, painting fingernails, doing some crafts and a movie and popcorn to end the evening. Should be fun! So of course I thought Jammybella would be perfect for the invites!! And Em's favorite color is Purple. These were done as a postcard with all the party details printed on the back.

Thanks for stoppin' by. Have a great weekend and remember you still have a few days to get your entry in for this months Challenge!!

{ Belated...Happy Thanksgiving! }

What a weekend! Where did it go? Just a quick belated Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians out there.

Got spoiled for my bday! ;0) Hubby had a theme for my bday this year...electric fleece blanket, slippers, last case of Starbucks Tazo Chai from Costco, and Season 1 Heroes DVD!! What could be better!?!?

Spent all weekend workn' but did get to spend some time with my family on Saturday and the inlaws yesterday. Hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving!

Just thought I would share my entry for this months Bella Babe. If you love Bellas and are not a member of the Bellaholicsanonymous yahoo group...come on over and join us!!

{ Fun with Sara's Sketch Challenge }

Have you been checkin' out Sara's Sketch Challenge's? What? No? Go...do it now! This is so fun. She is doing 27 Sketches in 27 days. This is for Sketch #7...

It's not perfect, but it was still fun to make! :0)

I was also playin' with my 'High Hopes' images that Allison let me stamp off the other night!! I made my first card and I can't wait to show you!! I am in love with these images...too cute!! But you have to wait until tomorrow...teehee... ;0)

{ Oh no!! }

Today was to be an exciting yet anxious day in our household. It was to be the first day that El(my youngest) was to take the school bus to school by herself for the first time. Except for the fact that she woke up sick today! She is now asleep on the couch with a sore throat and a temp of 38+( that's a little over 100 for you Americans).

:0(

So we are into the second week of school and we are already sick!! I was hoping to at least get through the first month? Maybe? But no...oh well...hopefully she can sleep it off the rest of the day and be better for tomorrow.

So here is yet another Bella creation... I told you I had lots of colored images needing to be used up!! This one is Javabella that I received from my friend Kim...quite awhile back! This is what I wish I could be doing with all of you today! :0)

Have a great Monday!

{ Here's to you! }

Just thought I would do a quick post tonight. Feeling kinda lousy tonight...maybe this week has just caught up to me? Here is yet again another bella...Cosmobella. These were some images that my friend Nancy had given me awhile back and the DP was from a swap that Nancy I were recently in together as well! Thanks Nancy! This image was in my pile of colored images waiting to be created into a masterpiece!! ;0) Hope you are all having a great weekend!

{ Week one is finally over!! }

Sorry for not being around much this week! First week of school is now over and man am I exhausted!! The little one is still crying when I leave her at school but the teacher is convinced that it won't go on for too much longer...she was better today. She has found herself a buddy that is a constant companion...they hold hands all day long! I just pray she is never sick or moves away!! ;0)


I am thinkin' I should start calling my blog Bellarama from now on. Yup, here is another bella for you. I have been busy sending off a bunch of image RAK's to some of my fellow Bellaholics. This is one of the cards that I sent out this past week. I really like Elegant Eggplant and don't use it enough. I found this paper in the bottom of my pile of DP and thought it was high time I used some of my Elegant Eggplant. Hope you like it!