Pity Party!

I know...I miss me too...we're sick...still. I can't believe that it's been about 6ish weeks since we've all been healthy. It's killin' me. Seriously. The Coxsackie virus...in February??? C'mon now!!! I spray and scrub and coat my kids in Purell wherever we go but we still managed to pick this up somehow. So we're running on no sleep...my kids are in pain...I'm in pain...my poor husband is chugging Airborne every 3 hours or so to hopefully keep this virus at bay!! He's the last gasp of healthiness around here.

My poor studio is just collecting dust. I'm working on orders for which I have deadlines for within the next 2 weeks but other than that I'm down and out for the count...for now anyways.

I really just feel like sitting down and having a good cry...

*sigh*

Valentine's Day!

Here's just a smattering of things I've made for Valentine's Day!! I've got some cello bags with treats (hershey's kisses and green M&M's *wink* - those are for my hubby) along with corresponding Valentine's Day treat toppers (these things are SO easy and so fun to make!).

I've got some cards and some mini-cards that I'll be using as lollypop holders for a few of my daughter's friends. Her school does not allow gifts to be sent in so I've only made a few for her closest little girlfriends.

I don't have the time to post about the details now but I'll try to later!

Happy Creative Valentine's Day!!

Baby Boy

I've said it many times - I'm blessed to have so many and such great girlfriends. My darling friend Jen is going to have a baby boy in just a few short weeks!! She has a little girl who is 6 months younger than my daughter and they are the best of friends. It's so sweet. They talk about each other when they are not together and luckily they see each other a few times a week...oh and they go to school together!! And we live 2 minutes apart. It's all lovely.

I'm throwing a teeny, tiny little shower for Jen. She's having a boy and I'm a firm believer that just because you already have a child doesn't mean you don't deserve to have a shower for any and all subsequent babies. It's not about getting "stuff" (although that is part of the fun) but it's about celebrating Mommy-hood, pregnancy, life and love. The fact that she's having a boy when she already has a girl just makes the rationalization to have a shower that much more obvious! (as if I needed to rationalize it ;)

So I put together these super fun invitations!!


Jen's style is not fussy and very preppie. I pulled together these designer papers (can't remember the brand off hand) and paired them with SU! old olive, soft sky and chocolate chip. I used the hippo from the new 'pun' set (can't remember the name of that right now either - i'm not in my office). I trimmed the sentiments off of the pun set - I'm not really 'into' puns but I loved the images so I stuck the sentiments on the side of the wooden blocks should I choose to use them at another time. I shaded the hippo with my blender pens using a tiny bit of gray ink from the top of my SU! ink pad. I then used my Sakura sparkly gel pen to color in the toe-nails and bow of the hippo and I used my 2 way glue pen to have some sparkle stick to the little balloon.

I split the DP in half and flipped one piece over so that I'd have a contrasting solid and pattern. I hid the 'seam' where the 2 pieces meet with some chocolate brown with white polka dots American Crafts ribbon.

I used my word punch to punch out the "time to" (stamped in chocolate chip) and adhered it to the front. (i can't remember the set name...i'm spacing today!)

Inside, the sentiment reads "CELEBRATE". Since there are only about 10 women invited and I wanted to do something a little different. So I created a 'tag' with the information about the shower. Where, when, rsvp, etc. I used my chocolate ribbon and some of the silver sparkly elastic cord from the holiday mini. That way the guests can put the tag in their wallet, day-timer, etc. as a reminder!!

I've left the card totally blank with the exception of the word CELEBRATE inside so if any of the attendees has an extra envelope laying around, they'll be able to use this card for something else!! To give with a gift or to send to another friend who has had a baby...etc. Get it? The card doubles as not only the invitation but because the party info is removable, the card can be reused and recycled...which I'm very pleased about!!




I hope that everyone is having a very creative week so far!

Tag! I'm It!

In honor of Valentine's Day coming next week my darling friend Melissa just tagged me to do a marriage meme!! I love Valentine's Day. Not because it's so "hallmarky" but I just love all things girly, frilly, red, pink, spicy, fun and pretty!! I also love to have any reason to eat seasonally colored M&M's and Hershey's Kisses. *wink*

Ok...here goes!!

1. Where / how did you meet?

I met my husband the summer that I had graduated from High School (1991). He had just finished his freshman year of college. I was working at Mass Army and Navy Store on Boylston Street in Boston and he was working a few doors down at The Bank Of Boston as a summer teller. I didn't even own a car yet...my father worked in Government Center so he'd drive me in, drop me off and pick me up on his way home...every night. So...I'd go into the bank to do my banking or deposits for the store and what have you and my husband thought I was cute. He had mentioned so to one of his fellow tellers who then - on a bet - dared him to ask me out. For a whopping $10. So, my husband, on his way back from the pizza joint next door came into the store and just asked me out to dinner. Now mind you...I was all of 18 and had never really gone on a 'grown up' date. I was fresh out of HS where you just kind of went out in groups or met up at parties. So I was floored. And he was wearing khakis and the traditional private school blue blazer...and red tie. I was in navy blue champion shorts, matching t-shirt, giant puffy white socks and white leather Keds. I was SHOCKED. And I didn't even know his name. LOL. So we had pleasant conversation...exchanged numbers and that was that. When my Dad came to pick me up that night, I told him what happened and the first thing he said was "if he's over 21...you're not going out with him!". HA! So that night when my husband called that was one of the first questions I asked him. Thankfully he was only 19...so that made life easy. =) We went out the next night and saw Terminator 2 and then the night after that we had our first real date to J.C. Hillary's Restaurant in Wayland, MA. And the rest is history!!!

2. How long have you known each other?
This coming summer will be 17 years.

3. How long after you met did you start dating?

Immediately.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?

about 4- almost 5 years - we got engaged in the spring of 1995.

5. How long was your engagement?

18 months.

6. How long have you been married?

This past October was 11 years.

7. What is your anniversary?

10/12/96

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?

210

9. What kind of cake did you serve?

It was a standard, tiered vanilla cake with raspberry filling. The top part of the cake was carrot cake. It was decorated beautifully...relatively traditionally with real sunflowers around the base.

10. Where was your wedding?

I wanted something big and traditional and just stunning. So here's where we got married!! These photos seem a little bleak...but they are OLD photos (obviously scanned in) and were taken during the off-season as there is no foliage to speak of. We had gorgeous light and foliage as it was early October.

The Lyman Estate, also known as The Vale, was built in 1793 by wealthy shipping magnate Theodore Lyman. Originally used as a summer home, the Federal-style mansion was designed by renowned Salem architect Samuel McIntire. The Estate remained in the Lyman family until 1952, when the five Lyman heirs donated it to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, now known as Historic New England. The property is now a National Historic Landmark and is available for rental for weddings and private parties.

11. What did you serve for the meal?

The house itself is huge but is broken up into many rooms. So with the number of people we invited we had to have stations set up all throughout the house. We had steak and swordfish skewers with roasted peppers, a pasta station with multiple different kinds of pasta and sauces, a gorgeous salad station, roasted veggies, an entire station with rolls, breads and toasts of different kinds, a good friend of mine made traditional Persian wedding rice (for all 210 guests). I honestly think there was more but for the life of me I cannot remember!! My husband and I didn't get to eat due to the immense number of people there. We just shmoozed all night long. Thankfully the awesome caterers packed us up a whole picnic late night dinner for us to enjoy at the hotel. We had the wedding cake but also a whole room dedicated to chocolate fondue with all kind of fresh and dried fruits for dessert.

12. How many people were in your bridal party?

6 on my side, 4 on my hubby's side. I had 3 of my sorority sisters, my sister in law, my oldest friend from elementary school, and a friend from high school. My husband had 3 friends from college plus my little brother...who was all of 14 at the time...and SO cute.

13. Are you still friends with them all?

On my side - yes. On his side...sadly...no. (with the obvious exception of my brother) One of his friends from college married a woman who none of us clicked with (and that's putting it mildly) but despite all of our efforts to bring her into our 'group' she was resistant and it eventually led to a long and drawn out dissolving of the friendship. Kind of the same with one of the other friends...he moved back to upstate NY and we just all lost touch. His friend Mike is a vet on Long Island and while we aren't in touch as often as we'd like we are still friends.

14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?

No...it's just not his style.

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?

The entire day was very special. I can't say that any one is 'the' one. It was magical and wonderful and everything that I planned it to be!!

16. Any funny moments?

Nothing of real note. But my half-sister was very cute (she was 4 or 5 at the time) as our flower girl. She didn't quite get the concept of sprinkling the rose petals on the aisle and instead took giant handfuls out of the basket that she had and was throwing them in the laps of guests sitting in the aisle seats. Everyone cracked up.

17. Any big disasters?

Thankfully...no.

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

We went on a Caribbean cruise. It was amazing. St. Maarten, Martinique, Barbados, St. Thomas and Antigua.

19. How long were you gone?

One week.

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?

I don't think I would change anything...back then. But I was 23 and I had an idea of what a wedding should be. My image of what a wedding should be now is different. So if I were planning my wedding today...I would do something more intimate, less fussy and more serene. But don't get me wrong, I loved my wedding.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

If you're in the bed...I'm on the left.

22. What size is your bed?

It's a California King - dark mahogany sleigh bed with chocolate brown leather headboard and footboard. My mattress is from Bloomingdales. I LOVE MY BED. And every night as I lay down I say "i love this bed".

23. Greatest strength as a couple?

Being able to communicate.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?

Finances.

25. Who literally pays the bills?

NOT ME!!!

26. What is your song?

A good friend of ours wrote a song for us and played it at our wedding. It's called 'Nobody'.

There ain't nobody looks like you. 
Your hair and your eyes and the curve of your thighs. 
I know every inch like a mile. 
I know every crack in your smile, 
and every nuance of your style, yeah it's true. 
There ain't nobody looks like you.  
 
There ain't nobody has your taste. 
Even from under the shroud I could pick you from a crowd.  
And just one drop upon my tongue, 
like an elixir, keeps me young, 
and breeds inside of me a hunger that never never fades. 
There ain't nobody has your taste.  
 
Hard lines, steep roads, troubled times, heavy loads. 
These are the things that can make your heart cold. 
These are the things that can make you feel older 
and leave you with nothing left to hold... 
 but I'll remember,
   yeah I'll remember.  ...   
 
There ain't nobody smells the same way. 
Like flowers from a brook on a crisp autumn day.  
A scent from which no righteous hound would ever stray. 
It's true, through and through, 
that of the many and the few,
there ain't nobody like you. 

27. What did you dance your first dance to?

See #26.

28. Describe your wedding dress.

Very much like the dress that Kimberly Williams wore in Father Of The Bride. Except not quite so...fussy. It was very early-mid 90's. No one was wearing strapless or halters or anything like that. I wish strapless had been in...I love strapless wedding gowns.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?

Sunflower topiaries with tiger lilies and other fall colored flowers. They were GORGEOUS!!

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?

My husband's ring is engraved with the date. My bands are dotted with small diamonds so there is no room for engraving.


Thanks Melissa!! This was SO fun!!

Now - I am going to tag - Nita, Kristyn and Joanne!!! Feel free to play along and if you don't want to that's ok!!!

I hope that everyone is having a creative Friday!!!

XOXOXO

Girlfriends...They Make My World A Better Place To Be In...

I'm very blessed to have AMAZING girlfriend relationships in my life. I've forged through and fought hard to find them, keep them, nurture them and foster their development and growth.

My mother has unfortunately not been present for the last 20ish years of my life and she passed away 2 years ago. It wasn't her choice not to be there for me. But not having her created a HUGE void in my life that I've filled with the most amazing women. I've mentioned them before and you all know who you are. Before we all had kids we'd throw each other parties, throw ourselves parties, go out on giant party buses into the city to bars to celebrate each other's birthdays, etc...you get the picture.

But now, we all have kids and there's no time for any fun...really. We try, try, try to see each other as much as we can but it's few and far between. I know it'll get easier as the years go on but I miss celebrating my girlfriends.

I made this card for 2 of my very special girlfriends. It wasn't out of laziness that I made the same card for both. I normally wouldn't do that but I loved it so much and the colors and overall design really felt like it belonged to both of them!!

Kristin - happy almost birthday tomorrow!!! and Nita - happy birthday again!!!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXXXXXXXXXXXXXX




I used SU! Cool Caribbean, Groovy Guava and Bravo Burgundy. I also used the SU! Designer Prints paper in Old Olive. The other paper is Love, Elsie that I purchased from EP. I'm obsessed with that line. It just screams me!!! The sentiment is from the new SU! L1 Hostess set...which I love! I used SU! taffeta ribbon in chocolate, the double stitch ribbon in Guava and the blue ribbon is from American Crafts. I used the SU! photo corner punch to add a little extra detail and added 2 tiny square brads for a nice finishing touch.

I hope they love this card as much as I do!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLFRIENDS!! ;)

Recycled Products - GREAT FINDS!

YAY! check it out...

http://www.actionenvelope.com/ae/control/recycledShop

if SU! won't give me something recycled in the way of cardstock and envelopes...i may have to start buying some of my stuff elsewhere...

Foot? Phone?

hahahha...so my son is getting to the age where he LOVES to play with the phone. it started out as the actual phone...meaning he'd only use the real phone to play. and then he'd take things like the remote and use it as a phone, or anything that was kind of shaped like the phone. but as he gets a bit older his imagination is just taking off so he'll now use just about anything as a phone. it doesnt even have to be remotely resembling a phone...

so after naps yesterday i desperately needed to put away 4 baskets...yes...i said 4 baskets of laundry from the aftermath of sickness from the last 2 weeks. so i brought snacks and drinks up and let my 2 watch a show in my bed while i put the laundry away in various rooms. while I was in my daughter's room i heard my son saying:

"hi...daddy? blah, blah, blah, (insert baby babble here), blah, blah, blah. i love you daddy!! bye-bye!"

so i knew he was playing with something as the phone...

here's what i came into find him using as the phone:

seriously? is that not hysterical?

that kid man...he's seriously awesome..

only 3 players??

So my Pay It Forward post wasn't as popular as I'd expected it to be!! Oh well...it made my job of picking 3 people to pay it forward to very easy!!

• Colleen
• Kristyn
• Nita

I have all of your addresses so I'll be sending along a little nifty gifty soon!! Your job will then be to Pay It Forward to 3 other blogging people!!!

Thanks for playing!!

I hope that everyone is having a very creative rainy Tuesday!

Boo Hoo!

There's not much to say about the Pats except:

WHAT A HUGE, EMBARASSING, HORRIFIC DISAPPOINTMENT!! FOR SHAME!!! FOR SHAME!!!

18-0...and it all means nothing without the Superbowl title...

sigh...maybe next year!!

Girly Birthday

My darling friend Kristin's daughter is about to turn 4. 4!! I don't even know how that happened. "Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future..."(ya I know it's only February...but a girl can dream of summer time Steve Miller Band concerts!!)

She is a darling little girl. Sweet, sassy, spunky, and girly beyond girly!! She loves any and all princess costumes and all things Disney. She refuses to wear anything but tights and skirts/dresses, regardless of the season. She is beautiful inside and out. She's sweet and lovely to her older brother as well as her younger. My friend is blessed to have 3 wonderful children. But right now I'm wishing a very happy (and very early) birthday to her *almost* 4 year old daughter. YAY!!

I wanted something in pink, purples with sparkles. I chose Taken with Teal as my base, matted with 3 subsequent, 1/4" smaller mattes. The first one is a pink polka dot that I've had from an old jumbo pack of 12x12 paper from scrapbooking, the next down is Lovely Lilac followed by Regal Rose.

I used 2 different princessy ribbons purchased during a ribbon spree at Michael's a long time ago and sandwiched in between is a piece of 5/8" grosgrain ribbon in light pink.

I then used Shimmery White to create the double scallop effect - to which I punched a tiny hole in each scallop and then inserted the tiny brads from Making Memories. It uses about 18 brads but it's just so cute and reminded me of button candy so I just couldn't help myself!! Not sure if button candy is just a NE thing...but I think they're made by NECCO...which is Boston based...hmmm.....?

Irrellevent...and I digress.

I used a 1 - 1/2" strip of the LL to stamp this perfect cupcake stamp on! I stamped in classic Basic Black SU! ink. I then used my Sakura stardust pens in pink, purple, white and teal to color in the cupcake image details. I then went over any areas that were not colored in and I used my 2-way glue pen to coat the rest of the image. I used my Dazzling Diamonds sparkle dust to really make the cupcakes pop.

The 'Hugs and Kisses' sentiment is from the last catalog. It's a hostess set...level 1. I just can't remember the name of it right now and I'm being too lazy to walk upstairs to my studio to get it. Oh and I'm watching the Patriots beat the Giants right now so I'm a little busy *wink*. I punched it out with my word punch and then adhered it to a piece of Shimmery White and trimmed it around just a little bit so it had a little more dimension to it.

I used a piece of SU! Whisper White on the inside for the Happy Birthday (Warmest Regards) sentiment and I roughed up the edges a little bit with my Regal Rose inkpad.

I hope that she has a tremendous birthday and another wonderful year!!!

SPRIG

now THIS is the website i've been looking for!!!

SPRIG

check it out...