That Big Green Tractor was published!

My Short Story, about my struggle after Knox died is summed up in my short story, That Big Green Tractor. I have entered it for publication, and wrote it specifically for a book that is in the early stages of publishing that will be called 'From Lullabies to Goodbyes'. It is directed for families who are dealing with the loss of an infant to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

I was lucky enough to find out that a girlfriend of mine, had lost a brother to SIDS when she was younger. Her mother is the Executive Director of the NW Infant Survial & SIDS Alliance. It's always crazy how those thing come to light after something terrible happens. Her mother asked if I would allow them to post my short story to their website as a resource for other bereaved families. Of course, I said 'yes!'

I wanted to share that it could be viewed on their site www.nwsids.org . If you scroll down the page some, below the masquarade auction information, you will see the title 'That Big Green Tractor'.

I invite you to read it!

Papercraft Star- Challenge #6- Hang in There Card

For Papercraft Star, challenge #6, I used my Cricut with the Wild Card Cartridge.

I used the Argyle Card cuts for the patterns.

There are two layers, and a background shape that I cut by hand.

I did embossing on all the layers, except the bottom (front) later, which I just inked very heavily! I then sanded the paper to add dimension, and inked the embossed imaging to bring it out.





The blue paper is Core'dinations, and all the other paper I used was from the DCWV Mi Casa Textured Stack. Ribbon & brads are from my stash. Embossing was done with swiss dots & d'vine swirls cuttlebug folders.

I need your help!

There is a photo contest coming up. The theme for it is 'give us your best shot'.

The winning entries are those that best reflect the theme. So... I have LOTS of photos... and I need some help on which one to enter. I believe it's only one entry per family so I HAVE to pick just one!

The first three are my favorite, that I think actually really touch on the theme.

Riley sure got a good shot from the ocean when it caught her off guard in the upper photo....

What a cool angle this shot turned out from, watching the boys dive into the seven sacred pools from above them. I know it's almost impossible to see unless you look at this photo full size, but dusty was an absolute crack up when he was cliff jumping.

Below are some other really cool (and/or my favorites) that didn't really hit an 'oh wow!' response from me, but again I'm the one who took the photos, so I'm not sure I'll get that!


I really want to make sure and submit the best photo I can, I could really use the $2500.00 (or $1500/$1000/$500) for some more/new camera equiptment!

Another (I know, right?!) Artful Delight Blog Candy!

This woman is amazing.

She says she loves giving, and she clearly does!

This is another candy by her for all of us!

There are three winners for this giveaway, so make sure you hop over and enter yourself. Her blog is worth following, as she posts all kinds of cute and usable projects!

Make sure you hop down to my last post about her other candy as well!

Enjoy!

Dawn

More Blog Candy, this time from Artful Delight!

Do ya'll remember our blog candy winner, Leeanne? She is the founder/owner/blogger of Artful Delight, she is doing the most amazing blog candy giveaway!

Just look at how much stuff she is generously sharing! I hope you'll hop over and check it out!

In her giveaway, there is product from Pebbles Inc, Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, American Crafts and Practicing Creativity Design. Lots of good stuff, from Stamps, ribbon and brads to paper, stickers and embellishments. Enjoy!

Dawn

Happy Bithday Miss Riley!

My adorable Niece, Riley turned 5 yesterday. Her party is today! Zoe is headed there with her Auntie Ann, since I have a shoot I am doing today.

We went shopping for her presents yesterday, and with a little help from her mom, I think she will like what Zoe picked out!

I was reading over at Lauren's Creative last night, and noticed her adorable, coordinating gift packaging. I didn't have any actual gift bags to use, but an oversized brown paper bag worked fine!

Announcement::: Blog Hop Winners!

Good Morning Everyone!

I know some of you have been awake for a while now, and I mentioned bright and early... which in our house means about 7am, PST. Zoe is still asleep (whooo hooo) and I'm working away before I leave for another job (we get to Muck Stalls today and cuddle with horsies, yay!!!!!!!!!!!)

I was up way too late last night, while the hubbs watched Whale Wars & the Pit Boss. I was cleaning up my house (which I had neglected all weekend because we've been playing outside!) and baking blueberry muffins with the fresh blueberries Zoe and I went and picked yesterday morning for a birthday party. What a fun party, all the little kids got to pick to their hearts content, and chomp them down as well. We got ice cream afterwards which was perfect being that I'm pretty sure it was close to 90 degrees here yesterday.

Onto the winners:

For the first blog candy, you needed to add my button to your blog, and become followers of both my blog and Papercraft Star! The winner is (drumroll please........) Leeanne Ridley. Leeanne, please email me your mailing information and I'll send out the Rusty Pickle Kit as soon as I get your information!

For the second blog candy, all you needed to do was become a follower of Papercraft Star & my blog. The winner for the Quick Card Kit by Dawn is....... Maureen Reiss. It's fun to me that her blog is Mo's Addiction! :-) Mo- send over your mailing information and I will get the Quick Card Kit out as soon as possible!

Congrats Ladies, and I want to take a second to thank EVERYONE who hopped through my blog last weekend. I was honored enough to be a part of the Blog Hop and can't wait for another.

Have a great day, and can't wait to hear you ladies!

Dawn

Papercraft Star- Sneak Peek Challenge #6

Hey Everyone!

Here is your exclusive sneak peek at my entry for Challenge #6 over at Papercraft Star! This challenge is going on right now, and it is to base something from this sketch:


If you haven't yet: take a look at the Papercraft Star Blog. It's a hopin' place to be, and hosts great challenges based on not only sketches, but photos and other topics as well (like Simon Says!).

There is also a Papercraft Star Message Board, where you can talk to the designers and other users to discuss projects, accomplishments and anything else!

At Papercraft Star, the winner is chosen by the public, who can vote for whichever entry (link) they think is the best! We also have a winner, chosen by the judges and a Design Team member also wins based on people's choice as well.

I hope if you can, you will play with us, and if not- at least take a minute to check out the entries and vote!

Dawn

Papercraft Star designer & judge BLOG HOP!

Hey Everyone!!!

I am so excited to be a part of this, and hope you can take a few minutes throughout the weekend to hop along and see what everyone else has created as well for our big Christmas in July blog hop!

For my Christmas in July project, I've created a wall hanging for our house. I just love the more vintage greens and reds, instead of solid & bright colors. I used Wild Card & Storybook for this.

All of us, designers and judges from Papercraft Star have decided to create a project with the theme of Christmas in July, and do a little hop for this weekend where our viewers can follow the links onward to get inspiration, gather ideas and hopefully win some goodies!

So, without further adieu- I want to thank you all soooo much for visiting my blog! I hope you got here from Kristina's World, if not, and you found me through some other site or are a regular follower, you'll want to start at the Papercraft Star Challenge Blog and start from the beginning and hop on from there! Each member of our team has some great blog candy to giveaway, so be sure to visit each stop along the way and enter yourself for their drawings and maybe you will find some more blogs you'd like to follow!

I did mention that there is some candy involved, right? I am glad none of you missed that!

I have TWO candy kits to giveaway, the first being this wonderful packet of scrapbooking goodies from Rusty Pickle for one lucky winner!

It includes:

5 sheets of Rusty Pickle, double sided patterned paper from the Girlfriends line

1 set (two sheets!) of Rusty Pickle Alphabet Stickers in White Chocolate Bunnies

3 Rusty Pickle Mini Manilla Folders

1 Rusty Pickle Alphabet Coupon Book, Girlfriends ABC

10 sheets of coordinating cardstock

Of course, there is a catch... so here are the details!

1. Follow my blog.

2. Add my button to your blog.

3. Leave a comment and let me know you are entered for the first blog candy!

4. That's all! Couldn't be easier, right?! (you can still enter for the second one as well... read further!)

I will pick a random winner to win via Random.org on Monday July 26th & post it here promptly in the morning!

You just need to get in touch with me via email if it is you!

My 2nd Blog Candy is a goodie as well!

Now if you just want to follow my blog, but not add the button, thats okay too, but I can't give you the Rusty Pickle Kit-- so instead I have a pretty cool set I've created filled with all the things you need to make 10 quick and adorable greeting cards. I've also designed an example card, that you could make 10 of with all the goodies you will recieve! Of course, you can make whatever you want with the stuff, it's just worked out for those of you who want or need some cards and don't know where to start. I want to help you get into cardmaking, if you already are or not. If you are; you know how nice it is to have a 'go to stash' that you use to make nice, quick cards for occasions that race by at a record speed (because we NEVER forget a thing.. at least I don't!).

Included in this Quick Card Kit by Dawn is:

10 precut & scored card bases

10 precut patterned paper layers

1 piece of white cardstock

1 spool of coordinating pink ribbon

1 box of adhesive mounting squares

1 silver gel pen

of course, 10 linen paper envelopes

also, one example card, to see one way to make 10 quick and adorable cards from the contents of only this set

To be on the hook for this candy for must:

1. Follow my blog.

2. Follow the Papercraft Star Challenge Blog.

3. Leave me a comment and let me know that you are entered for the 2nd blog candy! (if you are also entered for the 1st blog candy, you'll get to leave 2 comments!)

4. I will pick a winner at the same time as my 1st candy and post it here Monday morning!

ALright, that's all I have for you folks today. You're going to want to hop on over to the next blog in the lineup, my good friend, Beth over at Runs with Scraps. I know she has some delicious candy for you to indulge in as well!

If you get lost, you can always come back here and all the blogs are linked below! Don't forget to come back to let me know you left your comments on the blogs to enter and win the candy!

Now here is the lineup for this whole weekend. We will END THE HOP on Sunday evening. Please pay attention to when each designer/judge will post their winners (if there is candy!)

Your weekend lineup:

1. Tracy
2. Regan
3. Jan
4. Kristina
5. Dawn (that's me!)
6. Beth
7. Christy
8. Liz
9. Caroline
10. Steph D
11. Suzy
12. Stephanie A
13. Catherine

I hope you all have a good time and get to partake in the hop over the weekend, everyone should be able to get themselves into a few drawings!

Cheers & Enjoy!

Dawn

Papercraft Star Challenge #5

Earlier in the week, I did a little sneak peek at my designer entry for Papercraft Star.

Today, I am featured over on Papercraft Star with my 'circle' layout for their challenge #5.

I used some wedding photos of me and my girls. Believe it or not, they are ALL my sisters! lol. I don't actually have any real biological sisters, but Jessica, Ann and Jamie are all my sisters (in law at least!). Nicole, who was also my maid of honor, and one of my best friends and I grew up next door to each other (from when I was 3 months old!) and although she is older than me, we have always been identical in most aspects (looks, likes and dislikes, personalities, etc). She is an amazing big sister to me, and actually has known me longer than any of my more official sisters.

In the photo from the left, we have: Jessica, Nicole, Myself, Ann & Jamie.

The beautiful photo of the speech, is from Nicole during the toast. The photographer, Kathleen Williams did an amazing job on ALL of the wedding photos and made them all look amazing!

For this layout I used LOTS of circles, since the name of the challenge was circles. I did lots of embossing and sanding as well, to distress the page some as well. A little bling added a lot to this layout. Like Paula Dean says 'Butter makes everything better'

I think that Bling makes everything better!

Enjoy!

Dawn

My Design Team Submissions for Lila's Scrapbooking & More

For Lila's Scrapbooking, she is having a design team call (locally of course) and I made my hubbs pick up the 'design team' packet from Lila's last night. The goal of this packet, was to put everyone on even playing fields, as far as what to use on the projects. Ideally, I think the goal was to only use things from this packet, with the exception of adhesive and cutting tools.

She asked we create 1) two page layout. This was tough for me. I am a one page kinda-gal and not having two of the same sheets of patterned paper was even harder! I think it turned out cute, as Adam said last night (thanks for the motivation, ha) it's 'not my best work'. But it looks cute, and does showcase my style. So, it'll do.

In the newsletter she sent out, it asked for 2 cards. A friend of mine, Elisa who I spoke with mentioned 4 cards. Instead of calling and making a stink over two cards, I had MORE than enough stuff to use so I made 4. All the phrases were from rub-on's included in the designer kit.

Of course, the kit contained ribbons, buttons, brads & flowers as well. On the upper card, that reads 'I (heart) you' I embossed and sanded down the red paper, which is also the back side of the striped paper from the first (shoe) card.

I really wanted to use this odd ribbon/mesh/stuff on something, and being that I only had about 13 inches or so of it in the kit, I figured a card would work. I had NO CLUE how I would use it, but this card turned out alright.

I really like how the last card turned out also, I have never been a fan of rub-on's because I always mess them up while transfering them onto the paper. Apparently, I've just been using low quality ones, because these ones were great, and I would totally use them again.

I hope you like!

The dragon is in the cave sleeping at the moment (Zoe is napping, in layman terms) so I'm headed to the kitchen to make some Flufftastic Fudge! Yum! I'm sure I'll have photos and a recipe to share later.

Enjoy!

Dawn

Lila's Scrapbooking Designer Call & Provo Craft Customer Service

I know I've mentioned this a million and a half times, but Lila's Scrapbooking is probably my favorite local store. I am in Marysville, Washington and the store is in Everett (about 15 minutes away) there are some other craft stores closer, but I will gladly drive there whenever I need anything, just to visit and chat with Lila & Elisa. Michelle also works there, although I've only talked with her a few times, she is just adorable!

Elisa let me know over on facebook that I obviously hadn't read the more recent newsletter well enough, because Lila is doing a designer call, and I didn't know about it!

So, after talking with the hubbs... because I do like to at least run things past him, and he reminds me when I have 100 things going, and am trying to add a hundred more that I can... but don't forget this or that (which normally makes me chill out a little!) he swung through and grabbed one for me! I can't wait to get started on it!

Also.... big news!

My brand new Gypsy from Provo Craft showed up today via Fedex. Of course I ripped that box to shreds getting it open (well, actually I was able to re-use it, but that's for another day... we'll just say bird + chimney = bird in my house) and low and behold it turns on, unlike my broken one. I have to say here:

I was absolutely furious with my brand spankin' new hubbs in the airport on an overcast Saturday Morning when my Gypsy & Ipod (and his cellphone which I didn't care much about anywhoo) battled with the Coke, and clearly lost. I tried the whole trip to dry that baby out. Got home, set it in a bag of rice, hoping it would dry out more and maybe start working. Nope.

In the despirate attempt to save my marriage, along with my Gypsy- I called Provo Craft. I was willing to pay to ship it back and pay them to even look at it and say it was toast. I spoke with a few very nice gals in their customer service department, and they did mention it wasn't really a 'warranty' issue since it was my (hubbs) fault, it would be tough to do anything. I totally 100% understand that, and knew (after a few years in Customer Service myself, that it wasn't their fault in the slightest, but I was just praying for a miracle!). They left my information for their Supervisor, Mark. He was great. Once he and I spoke, I explained the whole situation from purchasing my Gypsy the day before, to buying that God-Forsaken soda at the terminal shop, to my brand new husbands one gulp, and the battle between electronics that ensued.

You know what he said? He was going to give my brand new husband a break on this one, save the first year of our marriage and.... send me a BRAND NEW GYPSY (as long as I promised not to hold a grudge towards the new hubbs). He mentioned they would like the old one back, just to make sure they couldn't fix it. He also mentioned that Fedex would swing by my house and bring a prepaid (by provo craft) call tag for my old one, and as soon as they got it, they'd reserialize and ship out the new one, so I didn't need to replace my 20+ cartridges! All at their cost! I didn't need to pay a dime.

So, I've been sooooo stinkin' busy the last few days, I missed the wonderful Fedex woman trying to deliver the call tag. She arrived today with a box much too big for just a piece of paper, and much too heavy. They decided to just send out the new Gypsy! I got it open, and there was no call tag for the old one. Of course, I called to just get the address and I was going to pay to send the old one back. After talking with another gal in Customer Service, they had decided that the Sticky Soda probably killed the Gypsy, and I could just throw it away! AMAZING!

So, now that I am back to regular life again, I will vouch for Provo Craft's Customer Service because at this point I feel they have really saved my sanity! I've heard a few other amazing stories about Provo Craft lately and can say that I wish there were more I could do to thank everyone in Provo Craft's customer service department!

Anywhoo.... off to play with the new Gypsy!

Christmas in July & An Upcoming Blog Hop (with some awesome Candy!)

Over at Papercraft Star all of us (judges & designers) have decided to do a bloghop from July 24th through the 25th! It will be a great chance for some of you (my followers) to check out the other designers blogs as well and see what they are working on.

I also want to mention, that I do believe most of the ladies are doing some sort of Blog Candy! I know I am, and think you all will just love the adorable blog candy kits I've put together. Lots of Rusty Pickle Goodies... I just love their stuff and got a butt load of it at the expo for myself, and blog candy! And I just read (while linking their site) that they are closing down.

:-( Boooooooooo......

I went to the Scrapbook Expo @ Puyallup Fairgrounds Friday and spent the whole day shopping, seeing cool new things and visting a wonderful friend of mine, Lila from Lila's Scrapbooking & More.

Sneak Peek from Papercraft Star Challenge #5

Challenge #5 over at Papercraft Star Challenge Blog is all about circles! For weeks, I've been dwelling on what to do for this challenge.

I wanted to give my followers here a little 'sneak peek' if you will at my entry.

As promised, LOTS of circles!

I am going to be featured on the main page of Papercraft Star, Thursday July 22nd. Check out the whole crew and their projects starting Monday, July 19th. All of my fellow designers are just amazing, and we have a wide range of styles in our gang. Hop on over to Papercraft Star and check it out! Feel free to go over to the Papercraft Star Message Boards to see what everyone is chattering about as well. :-)

At Papercraft Star, the winner is chosen by the public, who can vote for whichever entry (link) they think is the best! We also have a winner, chosen by the judges and a Design Team member also wins based on people's choice as well.

I hope if you can, you will play with us, and if not- at least take a minute to check out the entries and vote!


Enjoy!

Dawn

Pink for Monique!

from My Pink Stamper.com :

As some of you may already know, a friend in the scrapbooking/Cricut community, Monique Griffith was just diagnosed a few weeks ago with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. I cannot even imagine what she is going through. Some of you have been through it or have loved ones going through it right now.

I want to propose a "Cards for Monique" campaign. She could really use our love and support right now by sending her a card. If you have a few minutes to make her a card and send her a card that would be FANTASTIC!! I want to flood her mailbox with PINK!! Let's call it Pink for Monique!

I also part of the Cricut Fairies Group where we make and send cards to people, family and friends who need cheering up. I haven't been a fairy for too long, but long enough that I have been lucky enough to send a card, letter and books to a family who had lost their infant son (who was around Knox's age) all the way across the country, and things like that. Of course, the loss of a child grapped my heart like a steel trap, so that will probably be the hardest fairy job for me to forget.

I've been wanting to make a card for monique- and Crystal from Crystal's Crafty Creations also challenged us to make a card for Monique! So, I made this beauty:

I plan to mail it with something chocolate (I'm not sure what will mail all that well)

:-) I think it will be a fun treat to get in the mail!

Enjoy!

Dawn

Throwback Thursday Over at My Creative Time

It's Thursday again, and with that comes Throwback Thursdays! I have quite a few cartridges that rarely get used, Wild Card being one of them. Over on My Creative Time, Emma is doing the challenge based on Wild Card, and your favorite holiday!

I chose Christmas... because:

I love the snow

cutting down our own tree

christmas music

shopping (duh!)

all of our families gets together

great food and company

fuzzy socks

warm sheets

wood fireplaces (and we have one in our house now!)

the smell of christmas trees

of course there are more... but I won't bore you....

The presents generally kick ass too...

Last Christmas (2009) I got my 1st Cricut, a Create. January 2010 I had to have an Expressions and now I have added over 20 Cartridges and a Gypsy! lol.

Who knows what I'll end up with this Christmas, but knowing my husband: I can't imagine it not topping last year, since he always gets me above and beyond what I acutally want. Silly boys, gotta love em'! :-)

Papercraft Star Challenge #4

Hey Everyone! I'm trying to get caught up with the blogging, and get back into my routine from traveling!

Here is my inspiration for you all!

Today, my project went live on Papercraft Star Challenge Blog as well, so head over there and check it out. Add your project and cross your fingers!

In Seattle, everyone prides themselves on being 'The 12th Man' for the Seattle Seahawks. Since the went to the Superbowl a few years back it seems almost impossible for younger sports fans to be able to afford to go see them play even though they are only mediocre because they are sooooo great.
Honestly, I'm not much of a sports fan anymore, now that I'm older. When I was younger I played and loved Volleyball, Tennis and basically anything else sportwise. Now, meeeehhhhh.

I couldn't seem to find any Seahawks Embellishments so last minute, and honestly thought I'd have SOMETHING around the house I could use. Turns out, nope- so I made the emblem myself! :-) Pretty good I think!

Enjoy!

Dawn

I'm home!!!!

Hello everyone! I know it seems like it's been forever since I've posted. As almost everyone knows, I've been in Maui. HI on our honeymoon.

It was beyond amazing. I took thousands of pictures (literally, not kidding.) I also started another blog, dedicated solely to my photography, so I can spend more of my time focusing this one on my crafts.

That said- I did shoot a wedding (while on my honeymoon, lol) in Maui, and have spent A LOT of my time since I've been home (a whole day and a half) getting those ready for the newly married couple!

I've got some cool projects to get posted, and I think I'll end up with those getting posted tomorrow for ya'll.

Of, and on a less happy, cheerful note- I picked up a new ipod yesterday and have been meaning to call Provo Craft about my brand new Gypsy. That's right... call them- because my Gypsy has been out of commission since roughly 10am Saturday morning when it was violently attacked by an open 20oz of soda (coke to be precise). Between my Gypsy, that I had JUST loaded all my cartridges onto the night before and my ipod (an 8gb, that was totally full of music) it turns out it was a little more expensive for the flight portion of the trip than planned. Bummer dude, right? It's not a HUGE crisis, although I was FURIOUS at my new, dear husband but quickly forgave him as we walked off the plane, 6 hours later to 80 something degree weather and palm trees.

I'll blog to you all tomorrow! Until then, check out some of my photos from Maui over at www.dawnbennettimages.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Dawn

Surprise!!

I got some new goodies on Friday... and as I am trying to give you all a little reading material while i'm gone; I've been staggering my posts!

I have a good friend who gets the best deals EVER on things, and bought this with me in mind- so I purchased all this goodness from her for $160! The Silicone Sleeve Set (sleeve, screen protector, stylus & wrist thingy) was a gift, but what an amazing price for the Gypsy and Create-a-Crittter set up! I will say: it is brand new, sealed in the package (so was CAC).

I'm going to try and shoot some 'getting started' videos on my Gypsy today to post later in the week- except that PC is having sync issues and I can't do my first Sync yet. I'm praying that some lone person is sitting in their network room, working in the problem- since CS is closed now for the holiday weekend... and I leave tomorrow. I NEED to be able to hide contours, that update was what actually put me over the top and made the Gypsy a must have for me. I've recently started using Peachy Keen Stamps and I'm in love- the only problem for me: I want to use them on my princess faces but the cartridge itself, doesn't have a blackout of only the face without hair, so it's difficult to use them. I guess I could do some serious McGuivering, but I'd rather not.

I've got my cartridges (except the newer ones) linked so I can at least play with them. I was up all night (until about 1) playing with them, welding titles for pages and really working away. I think this will help me to scrap whole pages at once! I've already got titles and die cuts set up for a bunch of wedding pages, and if you know me, those normally wouldn't get started until about our 5th anniversary! lol.

On a different note; Zoe has had a little cold and sniffle. She is up to date on all her vaccines, and takes a gummi vitamin each day, so I wasn't too concerned. I was writing it off as a cold, then yesterday she woke up from her nap because of a coughing spell where she actually threw up because she was coughing so hard. Then- she was having a hard time catching her breath after coughing. In our house, we don't even play with breathing issues. No one has Asthma or anything, but who wants to struggle to breath?

Being that she is a late napper, it was about 4:45 when she woke up and took the turn for the worse. So, after a little consultation with my motherly idol, Beth (that woman knows everything, and is so down to earth, caring and smart as well as a great mother and teacher) I was going to wait to see if Zoe got better if Beth's kids were also sick (who Zoe spends A LOT of time with) and they weren't. Being that there is a Pertussis outbreak in California that has already killed something like 5 babies and Beth's daughter is only 5 months-- Zoe is vaccinated I didn't want to risk her passing anything serious to the baby.

After losing a baby to something stupid (seriously, who created SIDS?!) I would probably die if something happened to Beth's daughter. I swear that little girl is giving me back my heart and showing me how amazing babies are (not that I didn't know, but I definetly seperated myself from little babies after Knox died) she also has a chirpy little personality and is a mini Diva which makes me laugh because both her parents and brother are so mellow and go with the flow. I LOVE Beth's kids, and Maddy has really 'saved' me recently. That little girl (and her momma) will never know how much their friendships mean to me!

Anyways, enough rambling- I took Zoe to the walk in clinic because she was getting sicker and they let me know she had double ear infections and post nasal drip (a stuffy, draining nose for those non-parents out there). So, we sat at my moms while I waited for Walgreens to fill her Rx so she could start the anti-biotics before bed last night. Poor girl just wanted to sleep, but we got home about 9:15 or so, and she played with Daddy for a minute, and then hit the hay.

Already, this morning... this is the girl I have!

So far, we've had a dance party, eaten breakfast and I decided to take her photo, so that is her RUNNING from me, because she told me 'NO CAMMA MOMMA!' Silly Girl!

Alright, I'm signing off for the morning...

Enjoy The Ride Card

I have been farting around and thinking about what card I wanted to make for my stepdad for being such an amazing help for my wedding.

He recently had neck surgery and STILL was the first one out and last one in when we were all working on the property to get grass cut and everything 'prettied up' before my wedding.

I can say, he is amazing and did so much work, kept everyone motivated (a little beer goes a LONG way in this family!) and basically was the brawn of the bunch when it came to making sure the place looked perfect for my big day.


I didn't get to spend much time with him or my mom on my wedding day, because I was so busy talking to family and friends, and being in my own wedding.

I've known that I needed to and wanted to make him a cool card, and I get my gypsy and create a critter this afternoon, but I wanted to make sure I could give it to him before we all leave for Maui.

Basically, all of the siblings are going and my mom and step dad since it is my step brothers wedding. I'm not sure what I can put in the card to give him a little gift, since he is another one of those men with everything. If he doesn't have it yet, it is because he doesn't want it... and if he wants it he just buys it!

I was looking to make a more masculine card, and not as whimsical as I normally would. I also knew I wanted to make an Easle Card. You can see a tutorial for an Easle Card over here on Canadian Nickle Scrap'n.

Anywhoo- I love how this turned out, and I'm thinking that we will just have to take him and my mom out on our own while we're in Maui for a special dinner or something to say a big thank you for helping with the wedding. They were so much more amazing and helpful that I could have dreamed of! LOVE YOU MOMMA & NICK!

::Single Stamp:: 5 Projects:: Project #5::

Hey Everyone!

For today's project I had a hard time not repeating something I'd already done using different colors or similar ideas. I've been a little stumped trying to figure out something 'new' to do.

I ended up making a notepad case, and it is made 100% by hand, as I used chipboard as the cover/back of it. As mentioned, I used a 12X12 piece of chipboard. I first cut it down to 12X9 and then scored it at the 5.75" mark and 6.25" mark and folded it into a book shape. I cut patterned 2X12 paper to 12X9 and using UHU Glue, adhered it to the front of the cover.

This is with the paper pad inside.

The inside is patterned as well, but to avoid an unsightly bulge in the paper at the crease, it is acutally 2 pieces of 5.75X9 pieces of paper, adhered to both sides, and leaving the chipboard showing in the center fold. What it looks like without a pad inserted.

To make the spot where the paper pad slid into, I used the leftover of my chipboard. 2.5"X 5.75"piece of chipboard, was covered with the same patterned paper as the cover, and then I cut 2 pieces of chipboard .25"X2.5" to 'lift' both the right and the left side of the small chipboard piece that will hold the notepad.

This is so the back cardboard piece of the note pad can slide nicely into place and be secure there. Using a notepad from the $1 store (it came in a three pack for $1!) I slid it into place.

Because it is made of chipboard, it had the urge to pop open everytime I took my hands off of it, so I used twine to hold it shut. I poked one hole (look at photo 2 &3) to make a spot where it will stay at (and not fall off and get lost) and wrapped that a few times, then tied it into a bow shape.

I think this would make an adorable gift, along with a small pack of golfer's pencils, or twig pencils and didn't take a lot of time, total it was probably about 45 minutes, but that was learning as I was going, it would be much quicker to recreate this now!

I hope you've enjoyed this week of my projects! I'm planning to do another week of this soon! I've found it's nice to see how versatile something can be!

I hope you all have a great next week, and I am going to try to do some photography blogging from Maui!

Mahalo!

Dawn

:: Single Stamp :: 5 Projects :: Project #4 :: Bookmark

For project #4 of this weeks goodie show-- I've made a bookmark. I was actually sitting in my scraproom, cleaning up things and stumbled across the metalic papers that I used in this project, in a sampler pack that I got for free from a company I ordered envelopes and bulk cardstock from. It worked out nicely that everything from this project was essentially a scrap, or doomed for the recycle.

I stamped the flower twice on Curious Metallics Gold Paper (80# I believe) with Staz On Ink in Jet Black and cut it out. I adhered the bottom flower with my ATG Gun, to smooth it against the cotton ribbon, and then pop dotted the upper flower to give it more dimension. The brown layer is Stardream Metallics in Bronze. I embossed it using my Branches A2 Cuttlebug folder.

Even the white 'cardstock' is actually a piece of very sturdy posterboard, left over from making wedding signs. I put this piece on the back, to hide the ribbon backing and the back side of the embossed paper for a more finished look.

I hope you've enjoyed day 4 of my 5 projects, I can't wait to show off what I have done for tomorrow!! :-)