Angler

Two weeks ago I attended a wonderful Shoebox Swap in Laurel, MD hosted by ScrapKathy.  It was a fantastic stamping event, all the cards were fabulous and the food was scrumptious!  A great time was had by all!  This is one of the cards for us to make at the swap.   I wasn't able to complete the coloring of the image at the swap (I'm slow!) so I brought it home to color with my Copics.  My son and his buddy are avid fishermen so this card will go to one of them for their birthday this year!  I was pretty pleased with how it turned out, I hope you like it too!

Meade Girls Challenge Card

The latest card challenge for my group of stampers, The Meade Girls, is a sketch challenge given to us by Dawnmarie.   Don't you just love this sketch? 

Here is the card I submitted for the challenge.  It really was a fun sketch to work with!

Card Ingredients

Stamp:  Great Impressions

Paper:  SU Green Galore, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Cool Carribean (retired), GP 110, DP- Basic Grey Lemonade

Accessories:  Flower, Ribbon & Brad from my stash, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Dew Drops, Dimensionals, Copics

Easel Card

I've been seeing so many easel cards on everyone's blogs and I really liked the look of them so I decided to try my hand at making one.  I followed Beate's tutorial on Splitcoast and it was super easy!  With  all the snow and cold weather we've had lately I wanted something that would say Spring!  And since Easter is just around the corner I decided to make an Easter card.   

Card Ingredients 

Stamp:  SU A Flower For All Seasons
Paper:  SU Cool Carribean (retired),  Melon Mambo, Kiwi Kiss, GP 110 White, DP -Basic Grey Lemonade
Accessories:  Ribbon from my stash, Metallic Dew Drops, SU Scallop Border Punch, Dimensionals, Copics, Sakura Stardust Clear Gel Pen

Our New Foster Dog Lizzie

It's been a while since I've posted!  So much has been going on around here the last couple of weeks!  This is our new foster dog Lizzie!  She is part Golden and part Sheltie.  Since I've gotten involved with Golden Retriever rescue I had been wanting to foster a dog in need.  Carol from Almost Heaven GR Rescue in WV asked if I would take Lizzie and of course I was happy to!  Lizzie had been a resident of the sanctuary for over two years and during that time not one person inquired about adopting her.   She had a little anxiety the first day or so since she wasn't used to being in a home for so long but it didn't take her long to settle in and become part of the family.  She is really a sweetheart and we have gotten very attached to her already.  I love how she lays with her paws crossed, apparently that is characteristic of Shelties, according to several friends who have them.  She gets along well with the boys and the cats as well.  More than likely she will become a permanent resident, I don't think I could give her up! 

Snow, snow and more snow!

We got hammered over the weekend by that huge snowstorm that slammed the Mid-Atlantic area on Friday into Saturday!  By the time it finally ended around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday we had 27" on the ground.  We started digging out Saturday evening but today was the major dig-out!  There is so much snow we just don't have anywhere to put it so we piled it up in the front yard! 

Dusty, Sammy and I managed to get a little walk in around the block and Dusty was loving being off-leash where he could run ahead of Sammy and I.  Dusty can be trusted to come right back to me but not Sammy, he will take off in a heartbeat!  They enjoyed their little walk, including knocking Mom down in the snow at one point! 

And now we are under another Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday into Wednesday with the potential for more heavy snow!  I have no idea where we will put it!  Fortunately throughout the storm we didn't lose power but quite a few people in MD did, including some friends.  We hope everyone has power restored very soon! 

Homemade Bath Salts!

I've been wanting to try making some homemade bath salts for birthday gifts for several of my stamping friends and I found a great recipe online at BetterBudgeting.com.  It's a great site for tips on saving money which is especially helpful given today's economy.  I ordered these great jars from My Favorite Things, they are the perfect size for filling with just about anything and they have squared sides which makes for easier altering (at least for me anyway!)  They come in a set of 4 for $13.95. 

The label is also from My Favorite Things, it's called Time for the Bubbly Label.  I stamped it on GP110 White, colored with Copics and cut it out and mounted it with dimensionals onto a strip of DP from my stash.  Ribbon is from my stash as well, I believe it came from the Offray Ribbon Outlet. The Large Scallop Circle was punched out of SU's Cool Carribean (retired).  Flowers are Prima's from my stash along with the large glittery brads.  Flowers are mounted on the scallop with a large dimensional purchased from Texas Jody Lynn.  These were a lot of fun to make and I hope the birhday girls enjoy their gifts!

If you'd like to try making the Homemade Balt Salts yourself, here's the recipe, they are very easy to make:

HOMEMADE BATH SALTS

In a large glass or metal bowl, stir together:  2 cups Epsom Salt or Dead Sea Salt or 1 cup of each (I doubled the recipe so I'd have enough and used both salts.  I found the Dead Sea Salt at my local craft store)  If you use the Dead Sea Salt, be sure to remove any dark pieces that may have slipped through processing.

1-2 teaspoons of baking soda, if desired (makes skin soft) 

10-12 drops of essential oil (I used Green Tea w/cucumber which I also purchased at my local craft store)

Several drops of coloring, which I found at my local craft store as well (I used green)

Next:  Stir together really well, at least two minutes.  The more you stir the more the scent begins to come through.  Pour into whatever containers you are going to use and decorate as desired.  You can use mason jars, baby food jars, or even spaghetti and jelly jars.  I also found some pretty glass containers at Walmart that weren't expensive.

January ShoeBox Swap Card

Amanda from the Meade Girls is hosting a Shoebox Swap this Saturday and I can't wait!  It will be a nice relaxing activity after the rush of the holidays!  Here is the card I created to take to the swap.  I thought a Valentine Card would be nice since Valentine's Day is right around the corner! 

Card Ingredients are all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated: 
 

Stamps:  Love You Much, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Pretty In Pink

Cardstock: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Tart DP, GP110 White

Accessories:  Pretty in Pink Ribbon, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals
Rose Red and Black SU Markers, Sponge

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010 Everyone!  I know it has been quite a while since I've posted anything, so much has happened in the last couple of months and I just haven't had the time to keep up with my blog.  Hopefully, now that the holidays are over I will be able to get back to posting regularly! 

Since my last post we have lost Rusty, our Golden Retriever who was diagnosed with cancer back in September.  He fought a good fight and hung in there as long as he could but sadly passed away at home on Oct. 19, 2009.   Then, not even a month later, on Nov 16, 2009 we lost our 12 1/2 yr. old Yellow Lab Sadie to congestive heart failure.  She and Rusty were buddies and practically grew up together so after he passed away she stopped eating and went downhill rapidly.   She apparently had some heart problems that we weren't aware of and with her not eating, things just got much worse.   She didn't respond to medication and an appetite stimulant and we unfortunately had to have her put to sleep to stop her suffering. 

But there is also good news to share as well.  We recently adopted two Golden Retrievers that desperately needed homes.  Dusty came from Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue in WV, is about 2 years old and is a real sweetheart.  He's also Mama's Boy!  Sammy was adopted from the PG County Animal Shelter.  He was found as a stray so we don't know anything about him at all but we think he is around 7 years old.  He was very thin and has some ear and skin problems but we are working to get him healthy again.  He's a real sweetie too and loves his Daddy especially!  We miss Rusty and Sadie terribly but are happy to be able to give Dusty and Sammy the loving home they both deserve so much. 

Here's some pics of the newest members of our family!

Sammy

                                                                                         Dusty