Sweet as Sugar & Cute as Candy

Our Weekly Design Team Dare at ASF this week comes from Wanda................

Here's my dare to you. Make a project that is sweet as sugar & cute as candy. I bought this candy simply because the colors are awesome. I don't even eat it. And check out how Kim's ribbons match my candy! Make a project using this picture as your inspiration:
Come check out this, plus all our other cool challenges at the ASF Blog: http://ascrappinfriendsy.com/dtdares/

Why....

Can't I get on here more regularly??? I guess because no one else reads this much....oh well...at least I have a record!

Any surprise that we had to do MORE car repairs?? This time on dh's car....and she had to have new tires...ouch....hopefully though, that will take us another 2.5 years! And his a/c works GREAT now...brrrrr.....and after the cost of our electric bill and the cost of the car repairs we MIGHT be sleeping in the car! HA...at least there we would have cold air!

Anyway...it is a NEW month....and HE knows everything, so I think I will let HIM handle it all...too big for me!

We are getting stuff done for the wedding...dress is IN THE HOUSE (well, at the cleaners) and after it is cleaned it will STILL be UNDER $100!!! Wooohooooo! That is a HUGE praise! I'm going to start printing the invites today....need to get a fresh printer ink thing....they really won't take long...the envelopes will be here Thursday so they can start getting them addressed....if I have the fronts done and them addressed it will just be a matter of getting the cardstock and cutting them for the back...SUPER easy! After that I don't have a whole lot that I'll have to do...just make sure she is getting everything...and find my dress....

I have managed to hide in my scrappin room some...YEA...that ALWAYS helps!

Here are a few of my latest creations...

My Turn!!!!

Well...we finally made it to the end of the list! LOL...

The girls at QK Designs have been challenging each other for the last few months and it finally made it to my turn! LOL....I challenged the girls to make a GET WELL card!!! You know...we always need those in our stash, but don't really think about sitting down to make them...and I like BRIGHT cards to brighten someone's day! One of my 'goals' this year was to actually SEND out more of the cards I make...(novel idea huh?)
ANYWAY....I made this card with lots of fun bright scraps! AND the Build A Bird Stamp set.... if you don't have this set you NEED it! It is one of the most fun sets! Great for alllll sorts of cards and pages....you do know that BIRDS are so IN!

Anyway....hope you have enjoyed the challenges that the girls have brought you for the last few months! Make sure you check out the rest of the teams creations for this one too!

Tanis
Lindsay
Heidi
Nancy
Penny
Toni

Stash Challenge!

If you wanna play for the chance to win some GREAT gift certificates....right now they are $57 and $38! Check out THIS fun challenge! SUPER EASY, all stuff that you already have and you have 30 days from right now to complete it!

Today is the last day for the Hamiltons to be in the USA! They leave in about 4 hours for 3 years in Japan....I know Adison is sad....and Mason too....they won't see their friends for a bit. Adison has BIG hopes to go over for a visit before they move back....I will do all I can to encourage him! I would LOVE to see him take a trip to Japan! Heck...I'd LOVE to go...don't see it in my future, but then again...who knows! But I'd prefer to make it to Germany first. Anyway...when they come back Adison and Kevin will be Seniors! Now THAT is a scary thought! HA!

Today has been a nice day. I did some big cleaning in my laundry room...took about 30-45 minutes to clean the cabinets in there, wipe down the washer dryer....and do some other cleaning....that room has the tendancy to get neglected....then did some other 'spot' cleaning....after that I got to scrap for most of the day! I did 3 layouts and one card. That was nice!

Here is one of the layouts and the card...the other two layouts, I haven't scanned or taken digis of....think they will need digis because of the dimension. They just look better...

Well....my eyes are getting droopy...think I'm about to call it a night (or should I say morning...lol....)

CALGON!!!

Anyone have some???

Busy is the word for me the last few weeks....had lots of WW meetings to do and then it was VBS week. I didn't help in VBS but getting the kids to and fro and filling it all in with 'life'.....

THEN we are trying to finalize some wedding stuff....I've designed the invites! YEA....very simple...we are making headway on the 'decorating' part....Reva will test the lighting this Thursday evening to 'set' the time (need to see the best photo op for sunset!) So at least there is some progress going on there.

OH and the BIG news, we ARE getting the dress!!! And you wouldn't BELIEVE what God did on the $....we got the dress on ebay, right....about 10 days later the girl said that it had a stain on it and a small rip and she couldn't sell it to me like that....well....I emailed her asking where and how bad was the 'rip' and could the stain be cleaned out? I hadn't heard from her for a few days...then finally she responded...YES the stain could easily be cleaned out...and the rip is only about a 3" rip on the train....we are THINKING it is something that can be fixed or 'disguised'....BUT here is the BIGGEST BEST news...she sold it to us for $40!!!! God is SOOOO good...now, just pray it gets here SOON so we can make sure and have it ready to go....hard to believe that we are now under 2 months! YIKES.....oh...and if you haven't heard me say this before....I don't like weddings! HA!

OH....Mason got his bike! YIKES....I NEVER thought I would be able to help him get the durn thing...it is quite funny that the person MOST opposed is the one that had to help him get it.

Okay....that is a lot of stuff....now....how about a few layouts and cards....yes...I've still managed to do a little creating....I NEED to....

The popsicle card is a lift from
one I saw online...I just loved
it and had to do one...yes, mine
is a bit different, but still it is a
lift! I used one of the Cricut
carts to make it! The other two
layouts are just some fun things...
one to remind us to remember
that God's creation is allll around
us and we need to LOOK and
enjoy what He created! The other
one...Retail therapy...well...let's just
say the kids were having fun at
WalMart one night..Gotta love the kids!

Do you STAMP????

Royal Stamping Maid Call

Do you stamp? Are you addicted to Clear stamps? Then apply now. Queen Kat Designs is looking for two new Royal Stamping Maids to bring some fun and excitement to the Royal Court. You will be responsible for making 4 samples a month.

You will coordinate with the other court members to help with different things that Queen Kat Designs is involved in. We have a newsletter that goes out twice a month and we also run the Queen Kat bloggers club at http://qkdbloggers.blogspot.com/, as well as other fun things from time to time.

You will receive 1 new stamp set each month. You will be responsible for 4 samples per set you receive. This team has a 6 month term beginning July 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2008.

To apply, simply email: rkkapp@katstamps.com

6 cards that use stamps and represent your style of creativity

Name:
Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Blog address:

Why do you want to be a Royal Stamping Maid?

Have you used QKD Clear stamps before?

Are you on any other Design Teams? If so, which ones?

Do you have enough time to participate on an ACTIVE design team?

Please do not send emails to inquire on status of your application. The lucky chosen one will be announced at the Queen Kat Designs Blog on July 1^st. So visit here: http://qkd.blogspot.com/ for updates and more info as it comes available.

Waiting....

We are waiting to hear about Vince's brother, Mark. They were running tests on him for his yearly check up for his hepatitis's III that has been in remission, well, they found something on his one kidney and it is cancer. They are operating this morning, hoping to only have to remove part of his kidney, but he will most likely loose all of it. And also they are seeing how far the cancer has spread. If it is in his pancreas, his prognosis is not good.

Don't like having to wait.....

New Challenge Time!

This time is was Toni's turn to challenge the DT Gals at Queen Kat Designs!

For Challenge #6 it was to do anything EXCEPT a card!

So....how about an ATC! I used the Lucky You Set....I think this is one of my favorite sets...I love the UPC bar code stamp that goes with it! I don't do ATC's that often, but I should, every time I do one I enjoy it so much. I just pick up random stuff I have on my desk and start playing! Make sure you check out the other gals on the DT to see what THEY are up to with this challenge!

Tanis
Lindsay
Heidi
Nancy
Penny
Toni

Here is what we did

Here is where I went today....
Awwwhhh....it is hard to watch your 'little' girl try on dresses that you know will be the start of so much change for her....









It is all a good thing, but yet when you first see her walk out of that dressing room, it will put a lump in your throat, and your heart does a big heart sigh....it is amazing all the things you think about when she is trying them on....you think about the time she was a little child and just beginning to walk, to the time you wanted to ring her neck because of the 'boy' she thought was the 'end all' 'be all'.....when you catch her on the house phone at 11:30 to sneak to talk to him....then you begin to think beyond the day....beyond the dress....what kind of a wife will she be....how many children will she have....will she think of me as a 'good mom' as she ventures down that road with children of her own....yes....it is amazing all the thoughts....then you come back to...oh my goodness...that dress is HOW MUCH! HA!

Just a few....

Just a few new things I've done.....ASF
is down again...sigh...server issues again.....hopefully this time it will be SHORT! Been in a 'boy' scrapping mode....for some reason the colors are 'hitting' me right now. I'd like to get in a 'girl' mode because I have several new papers that are girly...but need to find some pics...guess I could go do that with ASF down huh? Would give me something fun to do...upload pics and order them...hmmm....

So now that I shared the layouts, how about some cards....these 4 all use Queen Kat Designs NEW Grunge 1 stamp! It ROCKS....I'm not normally a big 'background stamp' type person, but I LOVE this one! She is releasing this one and several other background stamps that would be JUST as fun on June 1! Make sure you add at LEAST one to your collection!











That is it for today....I do have the next challenge for QK DT ready to post....need to get it up! I did an ATC!!! Woohooo!

Monday Monday.....

They are not my favorite days of the week.....no real reason but seem kind of down today.....

We did get a LOT of stuff done around here this weekend. Where a lazy weekend was planned that was NOT what was done! Ended up painting the outside of the house! Well...almost all of it....had to get one more gallon of paint that hubby brought home this am, and still paint the garage doors...which Reva is working on now (I think).

I will share a layout I did for a challenge at Tally....it is to scraplift yourself! UGH....not an easy thing to do if I do say so myself! AND I went all out and did a CHRISTMAS layout! You know how much I enjoy doing those! NOT! BUT I love how this one turned out! Was Martina and Reva when we were tree hunting this last year....always love the pictures of them looking through the trees!



THEN I did another layout (actually I did it FIRST) that I'll share with ya....the challenge for this one was a random song lyric....so I just went here to my blog! And the first song that played for me was Big And Rich's song, Lost in this Moment....and I absolutely LOVE how this one turned out! It is a lift from a layout I saw while looking through galleries! Hope you enjoy it!


THEN I have one more BIG announcement to share with you all...BUT it will have to wait until I get a picture....you'll know why when I post it!!! Woohooo!

Husband tag....hmmmm

Well...thanks Sharon....I'll take any chance I can to brag on my guy!

What is his name? Vincent (but you can call him Vince or Vinny...)
How long have you been married? 20 years (he was a blind date)
How long did you date? about 2 years
How old is he? 57
Who eats more? depends upon the day!
Who said I love you first? Ummm...have no idea...think it was a mutual thing...
Who is taller? He is! And ohh yea...that makes me feel so secure in his arms
Who sings better? DEFINITELY HIM! Wish he would use his voice!
Who's temper is worse? Again, depends upon the day and the situation! We both have a 'strong' temper....
Who does the laundry? Me....or we would have pink underwear all the time!
Who does the dishes? Neither! The kids are here to do that!
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed (when you are facing it)? He does...nearest the door...to 'protect us'
Who pays the bills? Me...the bank doesn't know his signature...
Who cooks dinner? Again, isn't that why we have kids????
Who mows the lawn? Tee hee hee...we are going to be lost when all the kids move out aren't we??
Who drives when you are together? He does most of the time...sometimes he wants a rest
Who has more friends? Me...I guess...he knows lots of folks, but none are real close...
Who has more siblings? Me! I have 4 sisters, he has 1 brother
Who wears the pants in the family? HE DOES! And I LIKE it that way! He will listen to my opinions but all the final decisions come from him (if it is a big thing....)

Who the heck can I tag....hmmm....
I'll try JoJ but she never looks at her blog...HA....oh, I know....Amy, Wanda (she can brag on her mighty hunter!), and Ken...yup....that is who!

DT Challenge #5

The DT Gals at QK are still at it with their challenges! This one was issued by Lindsay!

She challenged us to use an actual photograph on our card.....I actually wanted to do this for some time so now I can say that I did it! Very simple card. AND by the way, it is a GREAT way to use some of those extra 'nature' photos you have around the house...come on....I know you have them!

Make sure you check out the other girls
take on this challenge!

Tanis
Lindsay
Heidi
Nancy
Penny
Toni

Wedding

We are home! YEA! Remember I said I didn't like weddings....well....I still don't but we got through it! It was 'interesting' to say the least.....but look past the 'drama' and it was nice. I appreciated the fact that they didn't over spend! Here is one picture....it was taken by my grand daughter who does NOT know how to take pics! HA! Sometime hopefully in the near future I can share the a few of Reva's! She hasn't even begun to edit and upload.

But anyway.....here ya go....



We were teasing Nikki that Chris was having his hair done just like hers....HA...yup...his is just as long as hers! But hey...that is Christopher!

So it's been a few days.....

Yea, sometimes I get side tracked!

Life continues and seems to be okay. Normal issues with kids....loads of laundry....and constant picking up, but that is LIFE right!?

NSD weekend was nice. Went to ASF to crop from Friday morning through Sat afternoon! I did 8 layouts and 3 cards. Pretty good for me....I'll share a few of the layouts here in a second.

This weekend is the wedding. I just don't like weddings...am I weird? I think it is all the hoopla that goes behind it that I just don't like. I see all that $ going into something that is called a 'drain' to me! HA....just think....if everyone would give the couple the same amount of $ that you spend getting ready for the wedding (new clothes, gifts, travel...etc) they could start their lives off with a nice hefty 'jump' in the budget! HA! BUT I do understand the 'elegance' of the day...it is fun to live like a princess, if just for a few hours! So I will go....I will smile and enjoy the day....I will....and to top it off...I do get to be with my MOMMIE for mother's day! THAT alone can be a good thing!

Are any of you doing anything special for your mom??? Think anyone will do something special for YOU???

Here are a few of my favorite layouts from this weekend...and my favorite card!

I'm so DIZZY.....

Oh this was FUN! The DT team at QKDesigns are challenging each other (AND YOU!) every other week with some fun challenges! This time was Nancy's Turn (Inkcicles) and she challenged us to make SPINNER cards! These are so much fun! Of course I had to look up how to make one, and play around with some scraps to get the feel for them, but once I got it figured out it was so much fun and there are going to more of these in my future! There are a few different types that you will see, that the girls all made! Make sure you check ALL of the girls cards for this awesome challenge, THEN we want to see what you do!



Tanis
Lindsay
Heidi
Nancy
Penny
Toni

Have a great one!

Here are the other ones....

Yea...a little late...but here are the other cards!

This kit is awesome to work with!

Woooohoooo!

I LOVE these cards! Run, DON'T walk to get one of the May QK Card kits!!! The stamp set is adorable and the papers are soooo much fun! I'll post a few of them today...and then a few of them tomorrow! Thanks for looking!

Just what I needed to hear!

You know....God is good...no, He is GREAT! Sometimes things will just come to you....naw....they are MEANT for you! As in the case of tonight. Today I tried to make things right, make things better, make someone understand where I was coming from...but instead of an 'I'm sorry' I basically was told that I was wrong again....told the issues that I have are my issues....well, maybe they are....but a simple little 'I'm sorry' would have gone a LONG way....ANY way....I took it surprisingly well.....didn't really surprise me this time....Almost like I expected an answer like I got. Then I get this....my wonderful pastor from when I first became a Christian....he is an amazing man....it is almost like he knows what you are going through. He has no idea how much I needed this....I will SING PRAISES!

It is amazing how small things can accomplish so much. I remember working on a farm as a teenager. I had various duties and often assisted the owner in things that needed four hands to accomplish. One of those things was putting a small metal ring in the nose of the pigs. This little ring would keep them from rooting in the ground and getting out under the fences. One day, a 600 pound sow who had piglets, lost her ring. The owner had a loop around her snout and was on her back while I approached with the ring. I squeezed it shut, but I was about a foot from the pigs nose. A second try was successful but frightening to say the least. But the ring, which was probably less than an ounce, would keep that 600 pound pig's nose out of the ground. When you think about it, there are some amazing things done in the world by that which is small. A small rudder can move a large ship. A horses bit can move a large horse. And, yes, a small ring can keep a sow from rooting in the ground. Now, the tongue, which is also a small thing, is able to do both good and bad. James 3:5 says, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth." Here is something else that is small but can cause a lot of commotion. The tongue often gets us into trouble. How often have you said something and wonder why you said that, or you wish you could get those words back. But, once the tongue is in motion, there is little that can stop it or to recall what has already been said. People often joke and say that God gave us one mouth and two ears so we are to spend more time listening than speaking. So, if you have been in a situation where you have said the wrong thing, you know what the Bible means. The tongue can indeed kindle many fires. But, you can also use it a good way, by offering praise to God for what He has done for us. Use you tongue to speak praises to God for the sending of His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Remember, Jesus Lives! Praise God today just for the fact that we have the ability to praise Him.

Why????

Why is it when you think you are trying to help people, be kind and understanding, it turns out that you are looked at as wrong? That you become the 'evil' person? That you become the 'topic' of the day, week, year? That you now are shunned? Oh, not to your face, they smile at you and treat you in front of others that wouldn't know what is going on as if they have nothing against you. But directly at you, you see the contempt pour from their eyes. Other's say that they want to put things behind them but in all actuality they are still sharing their contempt of you with others while you remain silent? But now you look into the faces of those that they have talked to and see the same contempt...they have held a grudge for the other person against you. It could be something that you say, the way you say it, or who it is said to. They say that the subject is over, but you see the glares and stares from people they have talked to? Why is it that people can't be honest and say what they want to say directly to you?

I have faced this problem in my life for years now. This is not new to me....and I don't want to sound like a martyr...because I know this is not a new thing, and something that I'm sure we have all faced in our lives.

But what I do know is that I can face this head on, I can turn the bad into go with the help of Christ and the Heavenly Father. He will make this right, he will make intercession for me...I will take this time to reflect and see where the fault lies within me.

Yes, I can be a judgmental person, yes I have faults, yes I am wrong, yes I make mistakes, yes I am not perfect. But what I can do is hide...not in the sense that you can't see me, but hide behind my Creator, let HIM be seen. If I present HIM in front of ME then maybe others won't see my faults or shun me for them. I will let Him be my Shield, my Strength, my Shelter. For if they want to shun me then or glare at me with contempt they will be doing the same to the Creator, because He stands before me. I just have to keep Him there.....

Dear Heavenly Father, God, Creator of All,

Hear the cry of my heart and help me. I am but a shameful sinner, saved by grace, Your grace. Help me say on the words that YOU would have me say. Help me think only the thoughts YOU would have me think. Help me even with this grey box to show others that You are in front of me, I will follow you.

Your humble servant,
Juliet

Side note...I went to review my lesson for my small group tomorrow am....and guess what the title is....'How to deal with Rejection'....is that not how our God works! He knew that I would need that as much as those girls!!!! Pray I can get through it without tears and once again be HIDDEN!