Diary of a Grandma

It has been a while....quite a while but that doesn't mean life has stopped...

It is time to bring some new perspective to this 'blog' thing....question is can I keep it up?  SURE I can!

With 2012 fast approaching it is time to gear up and bring more than just scrapbooking/stamping to this blog...it is time to keep up with family, with life, with weight loss journey, with GRAND CHILDREN!  Yes...we have even added a new member to our family!  I am now the grandma to Bailie (age 13) and Ian who was born 12/24/11. 

How about a few little pics....here is my sweet grand daughter:

At 13 she is going on 21, she is beautiful!

And here he is....Ian William, born 12/24/11 weighing in at 9lbs 4 oz and almost 21 inches long...

Not only is he here but I had the honor to be IN THE ROOM with mom and dad as he came into this world.  That alone was no small feat. Mom's labor wasn't the easiest, and believe it or not, even at 9lbs plus he was 3 weeks and 1 day early!  He currently is in the NICU but has already come far and hopefully will be home with mom and dad SOON!  Here are a few more pics of his little journey so far:
                                          Day 1 and 2, December 25, 26

                                          December 27

                                         Mom with Ian December 27

AND today he came off the heating blanket and now just to work his way off the oxygen!

My thoughts through all this are simple...it is worth it!  I am anxiously awaiting the day to hold him and coo properly over and with the sweet little one.  Hopefully you will soon see those pictures here, until then....just know that I LOVE being GRANDMA!

It's been a while....

Lots of things happen....but that is beside the point...think I'll share a few of my latest creations...how's that???

My wonderful man....and he IS a good man!!!

Ashley,Lance and Bailie!

Chris and Nicki

Martina and John....(by the way....Martina is expecting!!!!)

Mason....need I say more???

Reva....we miss this beautiful girl...long story.... pray for her!

Sweet....sweet...handsome guy!  Adison!

Ahhh....Lydia....what a wonderful daughter!

And I sure love this boy (ummm....young man!) Ahhh...Noah!

Then...just a little bit of life....

Okay, that is it...promise.....but thought I should share something!  How about some cards tomorrow???

Happy Birthday Vicky!!!

Happy birthday to our fearless leader and QUEEN Vicky!!!  Hope you are having an AWESOME day and most wonderful birthday!

As you know if you are hopping along the DT is surprising V with a special hop....if you are on track you should have hopped here by way of Jan's place!  If you just happened to stop by (thank you!) you will want to start at the top of this one to check out alll the awesome members and see what they are surprising Vicky with!  Go to the top at the official Queen Kat Designs blog and start there!

Here is the card that I made for V....it is using one of the awesome Artemiss Creations Zodiac stamps!  They are more than just a zodiac stamp...they are cute too!

I colored the stamp using my copics and cut it out!  I cut a circle and then free handed the background out of yellow cardstock....cut a few clouds and a fence and went to town!  So fun!

Hope you have an awesome day V and hope you all enjoyed the hop!  Now it is time to go check out Linda's Blog to see how she is surprising V!

Triple Time!

 

It is once again that time of the month for me!  Time for another awesome edition of Triple Tiara Tuesday for me!

The Deets:


- Each week 3 Royal Court Members host a challenge on their blog. (the same challenge)

- You start at the QKD blog and visit the 3 challenge hosts on their personal blogs. (Leave us some love and a link to your project so we can return the favor. *wink*)

- QKD will offer up a $25 stamp gift certificate for you to compete for each month. So if you enter each week, you have 4 chances to win the monthly prize of $25

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Hi guys!  It has been a rough couple of weeks for me....BUT I do have a goodie to show you!  I'm so sorry I'm late!

Today we were challenged to share anything BUT a card...so I did what comes natural to me and that is a layout!

I used one of the stamps from the March Get Ink Kit!!  This is an awesome picture of my oldest dd and her sweet family.  She and her hubby are both Air Guard, Lance is currently stationed in Iraq and Ashley is in the field handling what she does best for one of the flood sites along the Mississippi River!  They both LOVE their country and love serving!  Ashley is also set to be deployed again in 2012.  Never ending cycle in the life of a Military Family. 


Make sure you check out the two other awesome QK DT blogs for this week for their take on this wonderful technique! Jan's and Chris' blogs 

Have a super week!

Introducing Mitzi Wiuff!

Oh how excited I am to be part of this release!  What an AMAZING artist!

Okay....gotta settle down a bit and get the 'business' part of this release done...first, WELCOME to a fantastic blog hop brought to you by Queen Kat Stamps to introduce a new stamp designer Mitzi Wiuff!  You should have stopped here by the way of the official Queen Kat Designs Blog, if not, go back and make sure you get the full list of blogs for today, and to find out more about Mitzi!

Now....I got the honor to design with Dreaming on Aquamarine Tides stamp!  She is beautiful and unlike any stamp I've designed with!


Here are two cards I made with this amazing stamp:

 

 I decided I wanted to just use my inks and do some 'smudging' with them! (with the aid of some Tim Holtz tools/inks of course!)  I simply inked my blending tool with several different colors of ink...with circular motions....I worked from the inside colors to the outside...I LOVED the effect....so much that I did it on this card also!

Both of these cards are so easy, yet the look is priceless!

Now, don't you want to see more of the new stamps?  I know I'm ready to see them!  So let's hop on over to Chris' place and see what awesome design she got to play with!  Then after the hop you HAVE to stop by the store and pick up some of these stamps...but I warn you...you will want them ALL!!

See you all soon!

Triple Tiara Tuesday Time!!!

 

 

It is once again that time of the month for me!  Time for another awesome edition of Triple Tiara Tuesday for me!

The Deets:


- Each week 3 Royal Court Members host a challenge on their blog. (the same challenge)

- You start at the QKD blog and visit the 3 challenge hosts on their personal blogs. (Leave us some love and a link to your project so we can return the favor. *wink*)

- QKD will offer up a $25 stamp gift certificate for you to compete for each month. So if you enter each week, you have 4 chances to win the monthly prize of $25
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This week we were challenged to try the Brick Wall Technique!  If you have not seen this it is awesome!  I don't think I did it justice! But here it is:

I used Street Lamp I stamp from our Eclectic Reasons line!  One of my absolute favorite lines!  


This is such an awesome technique to try!  Do a google search and watch some videos!  You'll be hooked!


Make sure you check out the two other awesome QK DT blogs for this week for their take on this wonderful technique! Jan's and Chris' blogs 

See you every Tuesday!  Have a super week!

Life!

Hope everyone had a great Easter! 

We had a blast as a family!  Got the 'boat' running and decided that we would take it out one time before we put it up for sale (we have one awesome boat for sale!  Let me know if you are interested! 9 passenger ski boat, rebuilt engine that runs GREAT!!!!  We will make you a great deal! 

Anyway...how about a few photos from our day....

Boys had a lot of fun!  (Girls did too...but we were not as 'adventurous'! HA!)

BUT the highlight of the day was when dad decided he wanted to go tubing!  YUP, even at 60 and with one leg it didn't stop him!  Here he is!  He LOVED it!

Then...last but so not least...coming in for the evening...it was simply BEAUTIFUL!

Hope you had a great one! Many blessings!

Triple Tiara Tuesday Time!!!

Welcome to another week of Triple Tiara Tuesdays! It starts at the Official Queen Kat Designs Blog as well as the blogs of our very special Royal Court members.

Here's how it goes:

- Each week 3 Royal Court Members host a challenge on their blog. (the same challenge)

- You start at the QKD blog and visit the 3 challenge hosts on their personal blogs. (Leave us some love and a link to your project so we can return the favor. *wink*)

- QKD will offer up a $25 stamp gift certificate for you to compete for each month. So if you enter each week, you have 4 chances to win the monthly prize of $25! 
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This week we were given a color challenge....check this out...

Okay....so I thought to myself...can I make this a 'guy' card...and yup!  I could!

 

All I did was add just a hint of blue and it worked!  I needed to make some cards for my sons when we were on our mission trip...to let them know how proud I was of them and this stamp was PERFECT for them!  Noah was so excited to get handmade cards from mom!  Samantha Nowak's The Poserz Collection, Max.

Make sure you check out Jan's and Chris' blogs to see how they inspired us with the color combo! 

See you in a few weeks and make sure you check the official blog every Tuesday for more inspiration!

Introducing Sue Miller!!!

Yup...you heard it RIGHT!  Queen Kat Designs has added to the already fantastic list of stamp designers with the wonderful SUE MILLER!  If you have not seen any of her work here is a link to her blog....but I warn you, you will spend some time on there!  Wonderful stuff!!!  SUE MILLER ART 

And to celebrate we are show casing some of the stamps through a hop!  You should have stopped here by way of Jan's blog....if not, start at the top at the official Queen Kat Designs blog so you can get on track and not miss a single stop along this hop!

I designed with Keeper of the Forest.  She is beautiful...and I will be getting every stamp in her line! 

And this one...

Isn't her work amazing!  Keep on going because there is a LOT more to see!  Hop on over to Chris' place to see what she is working on! 

Triple Tuesday and I'm on!

Welcome to another week of Triple Tiara Tuesdays! It starts at the Official Queen Kat Designs Blog as well as the blogs of our very special Royal Court members.

Here's how it goes:

- Each week 3 Royal Court Members host a challenge on their blog. (the same challenge)

- You start at the QKD blog and visit the 3 challenge hosts on their personal blogs. (Leave us some love and a link to your project so we can return the favor. *wink*)

- QKD will offer up a $25 stamp gift certificate for you to compete for each month. So if you enter each week, you have 4 chances to win the monthly prize of $25! 
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This week we were challenged and we challenge YOU with this sketch!

This month I got an awesome stamp from Valarie Wade's collection called Cloud bunnies...they are the cutest!  I made this card to give a friend of mine who is having a little boy....(I actually gave it to her Saturday and she loved the card!)

 

 

I actually stamped the image right on the patterned paper and then colored it from there! Cut it out with one of my dies, pop dotted it on top of a bit more of the patterned paper, added the sticker and a bit of ribbon and there ya go! 

Make sure you visit the other two DT's that are inspiring us this week!  It is

Morag    and....
Jeanie! 

And check back on the official blog EVERY TUESDAY for more challenges!  AWESOME prize up there!  I sure wish I could win because I'd be playing away!

Welcome Samantha Nowak !!!

YES!  Another new artist for Queen Kat Stamps!  It is the AMAZING Samantha Nowak!!!  Her designs are simply beautiful!

I'm guessing you stopped by because you are hopping along with us today! If you are on track you came here by way of Wynneth's Blog!  In case you are not and just happened to stop on my blog, first THANK YOU, and second you will WANT to go back to the TOP and check out all the awesome creations, as I'm the last stop!  If you have hopped along you will want to keep going and check out all her releases in the store! I'm certain you will want to pick up a few!

I  was given Egyptian Princess to design with!  She is beautiful!

I had so much fun creating with her!  Again....now, hop on over to the store and check out all the stamps by this amazing artist! 

Wanna see....

Some of the layouts I did while I was in Massachusetts! 

Lydia is the proud owner of her own cello!  She named 'him' (told her that it was supposed to be a 'her' but she said no way...) Allegretto. She is just simply a beautiful girl!

I miss this girl....praying for her daily and just know some day she will come home....and I am waiting!

His smile is only part of what makes this young man AMAZING!  His heart is just as awesome!  And if you look into his eyes you simply MELT!

And of course one of hubby....sigh....I love this man!

That is just 4 of the 17 layouts I did!  Wooohoooo!  Some of them are using the February Petite and the February Elite kits from ScrapbookHeavenga.com!  If you have not seen her kits you need to!!!  They are HUGE and Packed!  Check her blog out on the 1st for the full reveals there!

That is it for tonight!  Check back in the am for a HOP for another new artist release for Queen Kat Stamps!  SHE ROCKS!

NEW DESIGNER NEW DESIGNER!!!

Oh I so love when Queen Kat Stamps has the privilege to pick up a new artist and today is the day to show off the awesome work of Heather Valentin!

What makes it even better is we get to show off some of her fantastic work through a hop!  So...if you are hopping along you should have stopped here by way of Valerie's blog!  If you just happened here you will want to start at the top to check out every creation so go back to the top at the Queen Kat Official Blog to start at the top (or to help you get back on track!)

Now....let me show off (to the best of my humble ability) one of the awesome stamps from Heather's creations!
I was honored to design with Hope...

She is simply STUNNING!  I know that I did not do her the justice that was due to her but I sure loved trying!

Now...keep on hopping to see more!  Hop on over to see what Loretta has for us! See you soon...we have more new artists coming!  Wooohooo!!!

Triple Tuesday!

For the New Year, we'd like to introduce Triple Tiara Tuesdays! It starts at the Official Queen Kat Designs Blog as well as the blogs of our very special Royal Court members.

Here's how it goes:

- Each week 3 Royal Court Members host a challenge on their blog. (the same challenge)

- You start at the QKD blog and visit the 3 challenge hosts on their personal blogs. (Leave us some love and a link to your project so we can return the favor. *wink*)

- QKD will offer up a $25 stamp gift certificate for you to compete for each month. So if you enter each week, you have 4 chances to win the monthly prize of $25! 
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So...welcome to my blog and my week for Triple Tiara Tuesday!  I'm so excited about our challenge this week (remember it is NOT too late to enter with last week's challenge!!!)!


It is a COLOR challenge...or really this one is the LACK OF COLOR!  Because we were challenged to use WHITE! Keep most of the project white and add only a little color with the stamp or minimal others!


Here is my card:

I'm so excited how this turned out!  I used Winter Greetings Set...such a cute one and a MUST for your collections!  (we love penguins around here!)


Make sure you check out all the blogs for today's challenge for some awesome inspiration!  And then I'm going to be watching for your card/project for more inspiration!