Prayers from Priscilla

After returning home from our Christmas in Ohio, I had a day to rest and a day to clean and then on Monday morning it was off to the surgical center for my second endoscopic sinus surgery.

This fall, I began suffering from more frequent and severe migraines, including occular migraines that were causing blurred vision. I went for another MRI and found that I had developed a cyst in my left sinus cavity, along with some more polyps. My ENT Specialist suggested another surgery to remove them.

The recovery this time around has been easier. I'm experiencing some minor headache pain and I'm a bit tired but other than that I feel pretty good. Maybe it's because my husband bought me Lost season 4 on DVD to watch while I recover or maybe it's because my kids have been extra good and quiet. ;) Actually, I think it has a lot to do with the prayers of good friends like Priscilla, Carol, Amy, Susan, Janet and Lydia. (Thanks girls!)

And just look at this pretty card from Priscilla! I love the paper, the coloring with the Copics and the little pearls! It's even better in person...just gorgeous!

It's about time for another Tylenol amped, a couple of stacked pillows and an episode of Lost season 4 before calling it a night. Hoping to find some stamp time at the end of the week...need to catch up on some thank you cards. ;) Until then, take care. Warmly~ Patti

Happy Happy Holidays

Look at that happy little face! That's my nephew Aden! He's looking adoringly at my daughter, Sarah while they are unwrapping gifts at their Great Gram's house on Christmas eve.

It's tradition to go to my Gram's house on Christmas eve and this was Aden's first. My sister and her family live in Alabama and this was their first year up since Aden's birth. He'll be two in April. We so enjoyed sharing in Aden's delight of Christmas, family and gifts. It was a special evening at Gram's, as always.

Christmas eve was followed by a Christmas day drive to Powell, Ohio to spend time with Chris' family. His parents, 3 siblings, their spouses and a total of 11 children, ranging in age from 10 months to 17 years filled Chris' brother's home. It was two days of non-stop fun, including Wii, guitar praise, eucher, talks of politics and religion, family pictures and a birthday party for three!

We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family to share in our celebration of our Savior's birth!

A Cupcake Kind of Day

In the midst of another crazy month, I found a bit of time (and space) to stamp.

Cupcakes stamps are all the rage and I just couldn't resist this one. Found it at one of my favorite little stamping stores, The Cottage Stamper.

A little Basic Grey Euphoria paper and some coloring with my Copic Sketch Markers and it made for a bright birthday greeting for my dear friend, Priscilla.

Priscilla's one amazing lady! Not only did she share her birthday with a house full of holiday guests, but she graciously included my daughter, so she wouldn't have to spend 4 hours with her 3 brothers, while Chris and I went to see Wicked.

Maybe it should have been a "Cosmopolitan Day" or a "Margarita Day" instead of Cupcake Day. ;) Thanks Pris! Hope it's a fantastic year for you!!!

As Time Goes By

I hope this post finds you well and enjoying this wonderful season of Advent. It's been quite some time since we my last post and I'd like to be able to give you some grand excuse, but I haven't one. I've simply been living life...working, caring for and enjoying my family and friends and even stamping from time to time.

Tonight I found some time to blog hop. There are so many beautiful projects out there! It inspired me to share one of my Christmas projects. It's a countdown box from Karen Foster (I purchased mine from Archiver's). I decorated it with Basic Grey Figgy Pudding papers and a variety of embellishments. It's become our Advent calendar and each little box contains either candy, a note or a scripture verse. It's been a nice addition to our advent celebration.

In case I don't make it back in the next few weeks, a very merry Christmas to you and yours! Blessings~ Patti

Month in Review

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I didn't realize it's been over a month! I apologize for the long absence.

My family enjoyed a wonderful vacation. We were blessed to be able to just relax and re-connect. We spent a day just enjoying our rental house...playing pool and Clue, cooking out and watching a movie together. The boys spent a day golfing while Sarah and I stamped, read, baked, chatted and napped. We also went to the beach at the lake, hiked and fished at Apple Canyon state park and visited the shops of downtown Galena. It was just what we needed.

Our last day of vacation was cut short by the news of my father's passing. He'd been ill for some time so it wasn't unexpected, but the emotions that surfaced were. My parents divorced when I was 18 and my father and I haven't had much of a relationship since. His choice.

As his next of kin and leaving no will or wishes behind, it took a couple of weeks to sort things out and a couple more to work through some memories and feelings. In His faithfulness, my Heavenly Father has seen me through by opening doors, offering healing and providing me with wonderful family and friends.

As month end drew near, school began and with it came my return to work. It's been a whirlwind of a week. Registration is up at my school and the office has been hopping. In addition, our 4 children are now at 3 different schools. Sarah in her last year of elementary, Jacob starting middle school and the two oldest in High School, Justin a Sophmore and Josh a Senior. We have something going on for someone every night of the week. We are truly blessed!

Sounds crazy I know, and in another month I may be whining about the chaos, but right now I can think of nothing better than enjoying my family and all their goings on! I hope you're enjoying yours as well! God Bless~ Patti

Sweet Moments

If you were looking for an excuse to go out for your favorite ice cream treat...you've got one. It's National Ice Cream Day!

According to the International Dairy Foods Association, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation's population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."

I'll admit, it's hard to say no to ice cream. ;) My faves...our local Ollie's Strawberry Arctic Blast, DQ Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard and from the grocer's freezer, Fanny Mae Mint Meltaway. Yum!

I'm headed up to Galena territory this week with Chris and the kids. We're looking forward to some serious downtime and the opportunity to reconnect. Our big guys have been very busy so it seems like they haven't been around much. It will be wonderful to enjoy five whole days together! :)

I'll catch up with you when we return. Until then, may you enjoy lots of sweet moments! Smiles~ Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Hero Arts Sweet Moments
Paper: Basic Grey Two Scoops, SU! Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Sage Shadow
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Versamagic Cloud White
Other: May Arts Ribbon, Bling, X-mas Red Stickles, Copics

CP Monarch Butterfly

When I received my Monarch and Swallowtail Butterflies stamp set from Creative Play, my husband asked "Don't you already have butterfly stamps?" I replied, "Um, yes, but these are a totally different design." Fortunately, he let it go at that. Truth is, I think I've developed a thing for butterfly stamps. ;)

Laura's take on the Monarch and Swallowtail are so realistic. They are truly beautiful! I've used the Monarch here with Daisy D Gypsy Harvest Paper. The paper is gorgeous! It looks similar to a scarf that my uncle brought back for me from his trip to Turkey a couple of years ago. Coupled with the black embossing powder it helps make the Monarch come alive.

Thanks for visiting today! Take care~ Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Creative Play Monarch & Swallowtail Butterflies, Thank You
Paper: SU! Basic Black & Whisper White, Daisy D Gypsy Harvest
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, SU! So Saffron & More Mustard
Other: Black embossing powder, Scallop scissors, Ticket punch, black velvet ribbon, amber bling

Inspired by Priscilla

Hello! It feels like ages since my last post. The weather changes here in Northern Illinois have left me dealing with some migraine headaches. I had one Friday which made me miss a stamping get together with friends. (pout) It lingered through Saturday and then I got some relief yesterday.

I found myself anxious to stamp today, but needed a bit of inspiration to get going. I recently recieved this lovely tulip card from my friend Priscilla. Isn't it gorgeous!? The red, white and black combination is so striking, it inspired me to use the same color combination with my new Inkadinkado stamp.

My card is pretty simple but it was the beginnings of a fun afternoon of stamping. I'll stop back later on with another design. Until then, enjoy your day! ~Patti

Project Details

Stamps: Inkadinkado, Verve

Paper: SU! Basic Black, Whisper White, misc

Ink: Versamagic Midnight Black

Other: brads, Queen & Co felt fine, word window punch, photo corner punch, Fiskars treading water punch

Brilliant!

I'm so honored to have been given an award by my blogging friend, Christi Milliken. Christi shares her beautiful work and her beautiful self through her blog Blessings on Paper. Her blog name says it all! It has been a true blessing getting to know her Christi through her blog and our email chats. Thank you Christi, you inspire me in so many ways!

The rules for this award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you've nominated.

I'm sharing this award with the following ladies. The first four, Paula, Amy, Priscilla and Juli are dear friends of mine. I enjoy visiting their blogs not only because they are incredibly creative, but also because it's just one more fun way that we can connect and share life.

Like Christi, Angel and I have become friends through blogging. Angel's so sweet, does lovely design work and I really enjoy the stories she shares about her family. It's through Angel that I found Nancy and Amy's blogs. Be sure to make some time to visit them as their blogs are simply delightful.

1. Paula
2. Amy
3. Priscilla
4. Juli
5. Angel
6. Nancy
7. Amy S

The common thread among these women and myself is that we are all Christians. So ladies, if you haven't seen this, I'm passing it on to you for your blog.

Thanks for the continued stamping and spiritual inspiration that you so freely share! Blessings & Hugs~ Patti

Feeling Glamourous?

This girl definately is! She's all decked out and has been on a major shopping spree. I hope it wasn't in downtown Chicago with those shoes. ;)

My sister, Kenee and I were recently sharing some giggles about feeling glamourous at 40. She called to tell me that Molly Ringwald had also turned 40 this year. Which made me feel a lot better. ;)

I've really been missing Kenee, so this glamour girl is headed for Alabama. Hope she can stand the heat!

Thanks for stopping by today! ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps- Melanie from Rubber Romance, saying from Art Impressions
Paper- SU! Whisper White & Basic Black, Misc DP
Ink- SU! Basic Black, SU! Markers
Other- Bling, Stickles

Wickedly Green

I was so happy that I felt up to stamping this afternoon. I don't know what I'm going to do when I have to go back to working every day. I'll have to attend therapy for stamp withdrawl. ;)

This card is totally inspired by the musical production, Wicked. My mom bought me tickets for my birthday! My daughter Sarah, my mom and I are going to see it in August and Sarah is so excited that she can hardly stand the wait.

My mom loves green, so I'm hoping she enjoys the card. I used my Creative Play Swirl Garden set, this time featuring the large butterfly. This set has quickly become a favorite of mine!

Going to the theatre is such a treat and I'm just thrilled that I can share it with two of my favorite people! Thanks mom, we're looking forward to spending the day with you!

Project Details
Stamps: Creative Play Swirl Garden & Thank You
Paper: SU! Whisper White, Basic Black, Gable Green, Misc DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Lime Stickles, Ribbon, Bling, Marvy Giga Scallop punch

From Amy

Just wanted to show off this gorgeous card that Amy sent me for my birthday. The color combination is lovely isn't it? Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pomegranate...love it! Amy has a real eye for color. And look at those cute little pearls and all that ribbon! This card is a slice of heaven!

Amy is such a sweet friend. She can find the silver lining in just about anything. I enjoy being around her positive spirti! She's also a teriffic mom to three beautiful girls and an amazing stamper and scrapbooker.

If you haven't been to Amy's blog yet, be sure to visit it here.

Thanks again for the beautiful card Amy! :)

Chicago Trip

Made it through the "bug" and I'm feeling a lot better today. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes you sent my way. You are all so very sweet!

I enjoyed spending the day with my family in Chicago. We took the train and then a water taxi to Michigan Avenue. I recommend the water taxi as it gives you chance to take in some of the architecture and it's only $2 a person.

The Magnificent Mile was pretty intense. The pace of things had me feeling kind of rushed. But we did have a fun time at the Lego Store and the Hershey Store and we even stopped in Tiffany's!

After shopping Michigan Avenue, we took a walk to a stamping store called Stamp On In. Let me just say that 20 "city blocks" are NOT the same as 20 blocks in good ole DeKalb. Sarah and I are pretty sure we walked about 5 miles! lol The store was a lot of fun though and I picked up few goodies and even got 10% off because it was my b-day.

From there, we took the bus (again, well worth it as it had AC) back toward Millenium Park. At the park, we took in the Cloud Gate which was amazing and Crown Fountain which we thought would be a nice treat for our feet, but Sarah and I ended up getting drenched by some very obnoxious children who were kicking water. Fortunately, the warm breeze had us dried off in no time.

By then we were all starving and landed at Giordano's Pizza for a very delish stuffed pepperoni pizza Chicago Style! By the time we ate and chatted about our day, it was nearly 8pm and we needed to head back to the train station.

We missed Buckingham Fountain due to the Taste of Chicago and decided to wait on the Sears Skydeck because it was such an overcast day. All in all it was a great day, but I have to admit "there's no place like home", especially when you realize your not a "city girl". ;)

Thanks for stopping by to share in my trip! Smiles~ Patti

Fabulous 40!

Last night I went out with my dear friend Carol. She took me to our favorite Mexican restaraunt for dinner, (mango) margaritas (yum) and chit-chat. As we pulled into the driveway, there was a big Happy Birthday banner in my front yard and a door hanger featuring the Grim Reaper! Shocking!

For a moment I thought I'd pulled into the wrong driveway. lol And then I realized that all the fuss was for me. I turned 40 today! While Carol and I were out to dinner last night, her hubby, Todd came over and decorated the yard and my kitchen. It's just like Carol and Todd to make a girl have a good long laugh on her birthday. It helped put things into perspective.

40 really is fabulous! I am incredibly blessed by a God who is loving, merciful and faithful. I have a husband who adores me, 4 healthy, happy children, and the best of friends and extended family. What more could a girl ask for!?

Well...a trip to Chicago! Despite being born and raised in Illinois, I've only been to the windy city to go to museums, theatre, a Cubs game and the American Girl Store. So, when my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I requested a day in the city with him and our children. We're looking forward to going to Michigan Avenue, Water Tower Place, the Wrigley Building, Millenium Park, Buckingham Fountain and the Sears Tower. I'm hoping for good weather tomorrow. ;) Enjoy your weekend! ~Patti

CP Bear Cub

Hello! Just popping in for a quick post this afternoon. This little Bear Cub and the Wolf (featured below) are on their way to visit friends in Washington. We miss you Macie and Savannah!

My daughter Sarah assured me the Wolf card was perfect for her friend Macie. Macie's sister, Savannah is a girly-girl, so I'm hoping she enjoys my take on Creative Play's Bear Cub. Once again, I pulled my watercolor pencils and blender pen out and had a great time coloring. Coloring is so therapeutic!

When I was little, I used to love to color in coloring books. First tracing along the inside edge of the image and then carefully coloring it in, all in the same direction. Yes friends, even as a youngster, I was completely anal. To this day, my sister and I giggle about my color coordinated sock drawer. ;)

Well, now that I've revealed my secret, I'm off to enjoy the evening with my family. I hope you get to do the same. Warmly~ Patti

PS- Don't forget to enter to win your own Creative Play stamp set here!

Project Details
Stamps: Creative Play Bear Cub & Thinking of You
Paper: SU! DP, So Saffron & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip
Other: May Arts ribbon, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, CTMH paper flower, misc pearl, scallop scisors, SU! oval punches

CP Wolf

Happy Monday! Whew, what a weekend. Chris was working this weekend, so I put in a lot of mileage with the kiddos.

I've decided to take the day off today. I'm going to leave the taxing to my oldest son and I'm going to stamp! :) Although I may have to tidy up my stamping desk, as I think I only have about a 6x6 square left to stamp on.

I've really been enjoying my new Creative Play Stamps. This Wolf image is amazing! His eyes look as though they can see right through a person. I don't usually do a lot of watercoloring, but this one was a joy. I used Memento Tuxedo Black Ink to stamp the Wolf and watercolor pencils and a blender pen for the coloring. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Don't forget to leave a comment on this post for your chance to win your own Creative Play stamp set.

Have a wonderful day today...hope you find some time to stamp too! Smiles~ Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Creative Play Wolf
Paper: SU! Whisper White, Basic Black, Going Grey, Bliss Blue
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Cuttlebug Textured Textile embossing plate, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, MM Brads, SU! Black Gingham ribbon

Sharing Exciting News!

I am simply honored and thrilled to be able to share that I am the newest Design Team Member for Creative Play Stamps!!! :)

Laura and Art Hampton are the owners of this lovely little online shop. Laura's stamps are beautifully detailed, very economical and available in unmounted red rubber for easy storage. In addition to stamps, you'll find lots of other fabulous items at Creative Play, like Stickles, Glimmer Mist, Marvy punches, Cuttlebug accessories, Sakura pens, Grungeboard, Memento ink, Pallette Hybrid ink and much, much more!

To share my excitement, I'm giving away one of my favorite sets from Creative Play, Swirl Garden! I've featured it here in my first card design for them. All you have to do is leave a comment (one per person, please) on this post telling me what your favorite stamping technique is and why.

I'll do a random drawing the morning of Monday, June 30th, to reveal the winner. In the meantime be sure to check back for more designs with Creative Play Stamps!

Thanks for sharing in my news! :) ~Patti

Project Details

Stamps: Creative Play Swirl Garden

Paper: SU! Whisper White, Cool Carribean, Garden Green, Misc

Ink: SU! Blue Bayou, Cool Carribean

Other: May Arts Ribbon, SU! Silver Cording, Patina Stickles, Bling

And The Winner Is...

#3...spatters said...
These look like a nice addition. I never have luck finding things like you do. Your sharing ideas is really nice. SLSP

Thanks for visiting Sherry! I'll have your blog candy for you when I see you next! :)

I'll also be back later this weekend with some very exciting news as well as some new card designs, so be sure to stop back. :) Blessings~ Patti

Sending You Smiles

I can't get enough of this Elzy image. She's just too cute! I'm hoping that she brings a smile to a friend today.

I'm so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful dear friends. You know who you are! You brighten my day just by sending me a quick email, calling to chat for an hour (or two), meeting for margaritas or stamping the day away. You share in my celebrations and sorrows and always have a listening ear and a kind word.

Whatever you're up to today friends, I hope you know how special you are! Hugs~ Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Elzybells, Verve Thoughtful Phrases
Paper: SU! Pixie Pink & Whisper White, Basic Grey Sultry
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Adirondack, Copics
Other: Fiskars Treading Water punch, Primas, Pearl

Austen Heroine Quiz

Being a big fan of Jane Austen movies, I just couldn't resist taking this fun quiz to see which Jane Austin character I would be. I was honored to be likened to the very sensible Elinor Dashwood! Although my husband said that 15 years ago I was much more like Miss Marianne Dashwood. I suppose there's a little Elinor AND Marianne in all of us!

Take the Quiz here!

If your not familiar with any of the movies, you must see them! I recommend Sense & Sensibility first. Followed by Mansfield Park, Emma, Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion and Northanger Abby. I also recommend keeping a box of tissue nearby. ;)

I've decided to add reading the Jane Austen novels to my summer "list". If you're an Austen fan, I'd love to hear which book, movie and character are your favorites.

Thanks for stopping by today! Smiles~ Patti

VVPP03: Tulip

Another beautiful day here in Illinois! I wasn't sure I'd find time to stamp, but as I was blog hopping this morning and I saw that Verve is holding another Project Parade Challenge. I couldn't resist trying it out as the inspiration for it is simply awesome! Not only is the quilt gorgeous, but look at that sparkly picture behind the bed! I can totally picture a big vase of red and yellow tulips in that room! Can't you!?

This Anna Griffin tulip stamp from All Night Media was one of the first stamps I ever purchased. It's been a keeper all these years as I love using my SU! markers on it. I paired it up with some patterned paper from Daisy D, keeping with the red, saffron, white and sand color combo. This was really a fabulous challenge to play with! If you get a chance be sure to join in all the details are HERE. Thanks for the inspiration Verve girls!

Have an awesome evening! ~Patti

Project Details

Stamps: Anna Griffin Tulip, Verve Starlight Starbright

Paper: SU! Real Red, So Saffron, Whisper White, Daisy D

Ink: SU! Real Red, So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa

Other: CTMH Organdy ribbon, X-mas Red Stickles, Crystal Stickles, Fiskars Treading Water punch, SU! Oval punches, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

A Swinging Day!

Happy Monday! I hope your week is getting off to a great start!

I got to stamp this morning! :) I think I mentioned that I was going to try to get back in the swing of some challenges. This morning, I stopped by Julee's blog and she has Mojo Monday #42 up.

I'm late on several birthday cards, so I was thankful for Julee's inspiration. This card is for my aunt. She likes "cute", so Elzy is perfect for her. I colored Elzy with Copics! In fact, she's my first attempt at using Copic markers. :)

My friend, Juli was nice enough to bring her Copics to our little stamping get together last week and I got to play with them. I love how smoothly they blend! I'm afraid I'm going to have to have them...ALL. lol

Enjoy your day! ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Elzybells, Amuse
Ink: SU! Basic Black, Adironack Pitch Black, Copics
Paper: SU! Ballet Blue, Summer Sun, Green Galore & Whisper White, Misc
Other: Green Galore Grossgrain, Bling

Giveaway!

It's time for a little giveaway! The occasion? Just because! :)

I came across these great little stamps at Michaels and paired them up with some double sided black and white satin ribbon and several fun adhesive chipboard shapes.

Just leave a comment here (one per person please) for a chance at these goodies. I'll do a random drawing next Friday morning to select the winner. Thanks for stopping by and have a super day! :) ~Patti

Summer Stamping

Hello Friends! What a wonderful first week of summer break it's been. I've accomplished so much and have had a wonderful time in the process. My house is clean, really clean, for the first time in months. No cobwebs or dust bunnies around here. Just a pile of laundry. ;)

The best part has been reconnecting with friends. I got to meet my dear friend, Carol at Panera on Wednesday morning and we enjoyed a wonderful time of chatting, sharing and laughing over warm toasty bagels. Life is so much better when I can connect with Carol.

Yesterday, my friends Theresa, Paula and Juli came over to stamp. We shared a Shoebox Swap in the morning (my card is above), took a break for lunch and then enjoyed sharing stamps and tools in the afternoon. I was also introduced to Copic Markers and I now understand why everyone loves them so much. They're fabulous! (Thanks for such a fun day girls!)

I'm still in my PJ's today and it's well into the afternoon. I'm being lazy... doing laundry, catching up on phone calls, emails and blog hopping, while the revolving door of our home has my 2 younger children and their friends running in and out enjoying bike rides, ladder golf, a trip to the playground and some Guitar Hero in between. Needless to say, the dog is very tired from trying to keep up with all the activity.

Tomorrow brings the Great Day of Serving at Christ Community Church. Our family will be at Chesebro Elementary School doing a variety of projects including spreading mulch, transplanting bushes and organizing a reading room and storage area. On Sunday we're taking the train to Chicago to go to the Shedd Aquarium. I'm really looking forward to this weekend, there's nothing better than spending time with my family.

Enjoy your weekend as well! Blessings ~Patti

Project Details

Stamps: Inkadinkado Pattern Bugs, PTI Mixed Messages

Paper: SU! Cool Caribbean & Whisper White, Crate Paper Blue Hill

Ink: SU! Cool Caribbean, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel

Other: Spare Parts Flowers, Primas, CTMH Bling, Crystal Stickles, SU! Oval Punches, Cuttlebug Texture Textile Folder, Fiskars Treading Water Punch, Swirl die cut

Star Shine

High School Graduation is such an exciting time in the life of teens.

My two older boys have been celebrating with their graduating friends over the past week and I have made about a dozen grad cards already. As I don't own any stamp sets with graduation caps, etc, I went with stars.

Verve's Starlight Starbright was just perfect paired up with this designer paper from Close to My Heart. I covered chipboard stars with matching paper and lots of Stickles to really make them shine! The inside verse says "Reaching for the stars, we find our greatest self."

The "Your time to Shine" card features the Fiskars Treading Water border punch. Was so excited to find it at Archiver's! The "Headed for Stardom" card features Julee's Mojo Monday 39 sketch. I'm hoping to make more time for participating in her sketch challenges this summer, along with Beate's.

Now that summer break is finally here, I have a whole list of things I want to accomplish and enjoy this summer. Shall I share? OK, I will. ;)

1) Spending time with my family, going to Chicago, vacationing in Galena, visiting with extended family and friends, enjoying Concerts in the Park, bike riding, going to the Theatre, catching some movies, bowling and lots more!

2) Doing a major house cleaning! I know, doesn't sound like fun but it needs to be done. I think there might be something to feng shui because I don't function well in clutter. ;)

3) Working on home improvement projects! We are hoping to put new siding on our house this summer...Slate (a medium grey color) with black shutters and a red front door. Can't wait to see it done!

4) Sorting and organizing my children's school work, projects, pictures and memorabillia. I have several (at least 4) big boxes of their "stuff" that I've collected over the past 12 years. It's time to get it into some kind of order.

5) Walking with Leslie! I'm working on shedding about 30 pounds this summer and my favorite work out is the Leslie Sansone Walk away the pounds series. No matter what the weather outside, I can always walk inside, no excuses.

6) Stamping! I've already spent a couple of days getting my stamping space in order and I'm looking forward to playing more! Even have a few days on the calendar to stamp with friends. :)

7) Relaxing with some downtime! I really enjoy watching movies and like to watch Pride & Predjudice, Sense & Sensibility, Emma and Mansfield Park each summer. In addition, my children and I like to take rainy summer days and watch all of a series of movies in the same day. One rainy day we'll watch all the Harry Potter movies, another the Star Wars series, and so on.

I hope you and your family are able to enjoy some fun and relaxing times this summer too! Thanks for stopping by today! Smiles ~Patti

Sultry Wish

With graduations, birthdays, retirements and people leaving my school to move on to other jobs, I am finding myself in need of a lot of cards!

I found a little time over the past week to make a few, but didn't have time to take photos of all of them before needing to address them.

This one was my favorite though, so I had to share it. It's a best wishes card for a sub that has been on a long term assignment at our school this year. She's fantastic and will no doubt be enjoying teaching her own class in the near future. You'll be missed Lana!

The card features Basic Grey's Sultry paper. The patterns and colors on this paper are so beautiful! I have a confession to make...I can't resist patterned paper! And the paper companies make it so easy for us card makers to purchase it...those little 6x6 pads call my name!

I have much to do this week, so I don't know when I'll get a chance to post again. Until then, take care and have a super week! ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps: SU! Petal Prints, More Petal Prints & Small Script
Paper: SU! Gable Green, Pink Passion & Whisper White; Basic Grey Sultry
Ink: SU! Pixie Pink, Pink Passion & Gable Green
Other: Crystal Stickles, bling, ribbon

Faith and Family

Last Friday, I said I'd be back to share about the baptism of my husband, Chris and our two younger children, Jacob and Sarah. It's been a busy week filled with lots of wonderful things, including track, band and choir banquets, but I do want to take you back to last Saturday because it was a lovely ceremony that filled my heart with sheer joy!

Chris' testimony brought me to tears, as he spoke of his parents and the wonderful Christian home he was raised in. He shared how he turned away from the church during college and made his way back when we married "for the sake of our children". He went on to tell how that turned into a longing for a personal relationship with Christ. Jacob was next, saying that he wanted to be a true follower of Christ and live with Him in heaven someday. And Sarah finished by sharing how she had accepted Christ while talking and praying with Chris and saying how much she loves Jesus.

I praise God for His faithfulness and love and thank Him for the gift of salvation He offers us through His Son, Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to be a child of God. There is nothing better in this life than to be His and I am so overwhelmed with joy that my children call him Father too.

My heart's desire is for my children to grow so deeply rooted in their faith that nothing can move them from their relationships with our Lord. When growing up, my family went to church in spurts and then stopped when I was a teen.

It wasn't until my daugther's death and moving in with my aunt, that I started attending church again and began to realize how much I needed God. When Chris and I married, we agreed that He needed to be an important part of our family. Early on in our marriage, it was challenging getting to church on Sundays. I worked retail, which required me to work every other weekend. Chris was a real trooper, faithfully taking our 2 little guys every Sunday, even when I couldn't go.

Eventually, moving out to DeKalb allowed me the privilege of being a SAHM, which was a good thing because at that point, we had 2 more little ones. After settling in, we found a home at DeKalb Christian Church. Pastor Tom's sermons touched my heart and began to remove the layers of guilt that I had carried with me over past sin. I was baptized at DCC 7 years ago, and through God's word and Spirit, I discoverd that I had worth and that He loves me. I learned how to forgive. I learned how to love. And I learned the value of passing on my love of our Lord to my children.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope it's as beautiful and sunny where you are, as it is here. I'll be back later this weekend to share some projects. In the meantime, enjoy your day! Blessings ~ Patti

Butterfly Trio

My daughter Sarah makes the most beautiful glass bead jewelry! For Mother's Day, she made each of her grandmas a necklace that reflected their personal style using one of their favorite colors.

Because the necklaces were so lovely and Sarah took such care in making them, I wanted her to have something pretty to put each necklace in.

Using recycled candy tins, Sarah and I made a little trinket box for each necklace with the Unity Stamp Co. Butterfly Beauty set, patterned paper from SU! and Basic Grey, Stickles, ribbon and bling. The boxes were super easy to make and the grandmas were simply delighted with their special gifts.

It's been so neat to see how well Sarah's beading and my stamping compliment each other. I think I could even get into doing beading, but I'm trying to resist. ;)

Hope your week has been a good one. I'm sure glad Friday is upon us, it's been a hectic week at work and I'm ready for the weekend again. It's going to be another good one! My husband, Chris and our two little ones, Jacob and Sarah are getting baptized at our Saturday evening church service! Very exciting! I'll definately be back to share the details on Sunday.

Until then, I hope you have a fabulous weekend! ~Patti

Unity Stamp Co

I was so excited to recieve my first order of Unity stamps last week! I host a stamp gathering every other month for some of my friends in which we share projects and it was so fun to be able to share something so new! This set is Butterfly Beauty.

The images in this set are so large and so lovely and come with an assortment of inspirational words. I really like the red rubber Unity uses for their sets, it produces a nice clean image. The one con to the sets is the packaging. Very cute brown organdy drawstring bag, but not real efficient for storage purposes, so I've put mine in a SU! container.

This card was just for fun, but I think I'll send it off to my dear friend Carol. She's an amazing woman, a blessing to my life and her genuine, caring spirit makes her a true beauty.

Thanks for making time to visit today! Hope your week is going well! Blessings~ Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Unity Beautiful Butterflies, SU!
Paper: SU! Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Misc DP
Ink: SU! Basic Brown, Close to Cocoa
Embellishments: Stickles, Prima flower, Bling, SU! Wire Works

Prom 08

As promised, here's a picture of Josh and his friend Amy all decked out for prom. They made such a handsome couple. Amy's dress was the brightest pink I've ever seen and Josh was a little worried he'd have to sport a pink tie, but we found the perfect match...it's got black, burgundy and bright pink stripes. It was great paired up with his black pin-striped suit and light grey shirt.

This year's theme was Hollywood, so when Josh asked Amy to prom he used a director's scene board that he found at Factory Card outlet. He wrote on it, Scene: Prom Take: 1 Cast: You and Me? It was very clever!

I'm told prom was a lot of fun despite the fact that it left Josh feeling very tired the next day. Prom, coupled with Post Prom, didn't get over with until 3:30 in the morning! Although I didn't wait up, Josh woke me when he got home, gave me a hug and we mutually decide to get some sleep and talk about all the details the next day.

It's pretty cool to be the mom of teenagers! Although, there are challenging moments, there are so many awesome things going on that make for great memories.

He Drives!

We fit alot into our busy week, but one of the most fun things was seeing our oldest complete his driving test and take off on his first solo drive! Josh has proven himself a great driver. He did his student driving during some of Illinois' harshest winter weather and even did a lot of night driving. He's really in tune to what's going on around him, making him a good defensive driver. He was definately ready to take off on his own!

For his first solo drive, Josh picked up his friend Amy and went to get his hair cut. Tonight is the DHS Jr.-Sr. Prom, so he wanted a new look. I'll be back later this weekend to share Prom photos.

In the meantime, I'm off to do laundry and clean house. (My mom's coming up tomorrow. ) Josh, Justin and I are taking her to see Les Miserable for Mother's Day! A treat for me too! :)

Be Still

Being still isn't something that comes easily for most of us. Our lives are so full of so many different activities, people and things. I was sure feeling the weight of those things earlier this evening.

Taking a moment to be still and focus on God, to really listen to Him, always puts things back into perpsective. Tonight, He's telling me I need rest. So, I'm going to keep this post brief.

I'm sharing another page for my desk flip book featuring Paper Trey Inc's Everyday Blessings set on Basic Grey Paper with a spritzing of Glimmer Mist. I think this is my favorite page so far. It's so simple, but so lovely.

I hope you have enjoyed your week. So much has been going on here! I hope to find some time to share more tomorrow. Until then, blessings~ Patti

Priceless Day!

This is a quicky, as it's another busy week. With May upon us, I'm sure it will feel busy from now until summer break. It's all good though, so I'm just going to hang on and enjoy the ride. ;)

Today I'm helping to host a luncheon for our school Secretary. She's been at our school for almost 20 years, so she is definately "priceless"! I've learned so much from her this year, not only about my job, but about patience, remaining calm during crisis and resolving conflict.

I love my job! It's such a pleasure working at Chesebro School...each day brings something new! And with it, an opportunity to plant seeds in the hearts of young people and nurture them to grow.

Enjoy your new day! Thanks for stopping by to share it with me! ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps: SU! Priceless
Paper: SU! Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Whisper White & Spring Flowers DSP
Ink: Cameo Coral
Embellishments: Stickles, bling, flowers

For My Sister

As I was putting the last gem on this card, the phone rang and it was my sister...which was perfect because the card is for her.

My sister is 6 years younger than I am. She's been through a lot in her young life and is going through yet another trial. She lives in Grand Bay, Alabama and after several hurricanes, rising insurance premiums and limited employment opportunities, she and her family are losing their home.

I wish I had some great words of comfort for her, but I'm at a loss. Mostly I just listen to her, reminder her that she's not alone in dealing with life's difficulties, tell her she's loved and pray for her. I want her to know that she's an amazing young woman and just the thought of her makes me smile. I'm so very proud of her. Her strength is an inspiration to me.

After all these years, my sister and I still truly enjoy each others company and have spent many an hour chatting, sharing, hanging out and shopping. She's a blondie and I'm a brunette and although I'm a "plain jane", my sister is a beauty. So, when I first came across this image from Rubber Romance at eP, it was a must have because it made me think of us. I sure do miss her right now.

Thanks for visiting today! Blessings ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Rubber Romance Girlfriends on a Bench, other
Paper: All Dressed up Mat Pack, SU! Green Galore & Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Bliss Blue, Gable Green, Taken with Teal, So Saffron
Embellishments: bling, Lime Stickles, Sweet Treats ribbon from Michaels

"Fly Check" in NYC!

Back to share a little bit more about Justin's trip to NYC. This is the DHS guys a cappella group, "Fly Check", in Central Park. Justin is in the front row on the far left. The guys spent most of their first day in Central Park roaming around and playing frisbee. Must be a guy thing. ;)

If you're interested, here's an article from our local paper about the boys http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/04/14/features/learning/learning01.txt , a link to some great photos of their practice and performance at Lincoln Center http://gallery.rossmedia.com/FlyCheck08?page=1 and a very complimentary recap of the competition http://pitchperfect-thebook.blogspot.com/2008/04/icca-finals-now-with-jazz-hands.html.

Can you tell, I'm just a little bit proud of him. Justin has a passion and gift for music. He's been a percussionist for 5 years, has taught himself how to play piano, guitar and a bit of trombone and just this year has discovered how much he enjoys singing. He's in madrigals, guys a cappella and the varsity choir at school.

I love this photo of Justin and his bud, Brett at Lincoln Center. They've been friends since the fifth grade. Brett is an outstanding trombonist and has been the inspiration for our youngest son, Jacob, who started the trombone this year. More importantly, he's a great guy and an awesome friend. I'm so pleased that Brett and Justin got to share in the experience of performing in NYC. Congratulations guys!!!

Get Well Grams

My poor grams has been sick on and off since Easter. She's had a cold and bronchitis and has been on two rounds of antibiotic. Grams is a tough cookie and doesn't like to have to slow down and rest. And she really dislikes going to the doctor, so she hasn't been very happy about the whole situation. I thought a bright, cheery card might lift her spirits.

I'm lovin' this color combo! I keep seeing it everywhere...on clothing and linens and summer fun items. It goes great with the 70 degree weather we are having here. :) Hope you're enjoying some of the same where you are! Take care. ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Bella, Paper Tray
Paper: SU! Gable Green, So Saffron & Whisper White, All Dressed Up Mat Pack
Ink: Basic Black, Gable Green, So Saffron, Taken with Teal, Bliss Blue
Embellishments: Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy, Waterfall Stickles, Primas, bling

Birthday Sparkles

Happy Monday! :) When I started this card I thought I might try Beate's WSC44, but I couldn't bring myself to cut up the patterned paper, so I went with the Verve Inspiration Challenge instead. I loved the colors, swirls and stitching in the paper and was then pleasantly surprised to find out it's Daisy D.

My daughter Sarah loves this color combination too, so it's perfect for her birthday card. As is the Inkadinkado Patterned Butterfly. Sarah is such a social butterfly, always wanting to "go" and "do", and she's transforming into such a beautiful, spirited young lady. It's hard to believe she's 10 already!

The Basic Grey chipboard piece was something new for me, but when I saw the challenge on Verve, it was the first thing that came to mind. I inked up the flourish with my Blue Bayou classic ink pad and then covered it with Crystal Stickles. After I let it dry, I added Primas and bling and then adhered it to the cardfront with glue dots. It was fun to play with brighter colors. I've got a couple more cards that I'll share later in the week using a similar color combo. Until then, enjoy the sunshine!~ Patti

Project Details
Stamps: Inkadinkado Patterned Bugs, Verve Starlight Starbright
Paper: SU! Blue Bayou, River Rock and Whisper White, Daisy D
Ink: Blue Bayou
Embellishments: bling, Primas, Crystal Stickles, Basic Grey chipboard flourishes

Weekend Fun

Whew! What a weekend! It started for us on Thursday morning as my husband and I sent Justin off to New York City to perform at the National a Cappella competition at Lincoln Center. Who knew it could be so exhausting just wondering what your 14 year old was doing each day for 4 days in the Big Apple. Naturally, I made my daily texts and calls to check on him.

Justin made it home safe and sound today and of course, had an amazing time. The guys, "Fly Check", placed 3rd in the nation for best high school a cappella group! Outstanding! While in NY, Justin went to see Spamalot and Young Frankenstein and visited Central Park, Times Square and Ground Zero.

While Justin was away, I was busy entertaining girls. We had a half day of school on Thursday, so I took my daughter Sarah and her friends Macie and Savannah for a girls day out of craft shopping. We had a blast going to Joanne's, Michael's, Archiver's, Hobby Lobby and Target Greatland. We bought, paper, stamps, bling, flowers, chipboard, beads, more beads and even more beads and some girly pedicure goodies. We finally stopped to eat at about 7:45 pm and it was then that I realized how sore my feet were. lol These girls know how to shop!

We didn't have school on Friday either, but I had a couple of hours of conferences with my teens' teachers followed by a lunch date with my oldest son. My big guys are so busy, it's nice to squeeze in a little one-on-one time. I spent Friday afternoon cleaning house in preparation for an evening of entertaining on Saturday. Our guests- six 10 year old girls.

My daughter, Sarah (far left in the photo), spent months trying to decide what she wanted to do for her birthday this year. We don't always have a party, but since she's going double digits, we thought we'd do it up big. After weighing her options, Sarah finally decided on a Build-a-Bear birthday. We spent a couple hours decorating our family room with streamers, balloons and paper lanterns in a variety of bright colors. The girls arrived for a pizza dinner and then we left for the mall. Imagine being in a van with six giggling 10 year old girls singing along to the soundtrack from Wicked for 4o minutes. ;)

At the mall, Build-a-Bear was a big hit, although we didn't build any bears. We brought home 4 dogs, a cat and a bunny with a variety of outfits including soccer, skater, doctor, police officer, jean & t-shirt combo and bathrobe. After BAB, the girls rode the carousel in the middle of the mall and then we returned home for gifts, cake and ice cream, nail painting and a movie with popcorn. The last girl fell asleep at about one. And today, I took an evening nap. ;)

I did find a little time to stamp this weekend, so I'll be back tomorrow to share a card. See you then! ~Patti

Beautiful Christian Sister

Happy Sunday! After several days of dark skies and stormy, chilly weather, the sun is finally peeking out this morning. The birds are twittering about, buds have popped on the trees and the grass is so green. I don't know if it will last all day, but it sure is glorious right now!

I recently received an email of this Maya Angelou writing. Because it's so beautiful I want to share it with you and encourage you to pass it on.

Beautiful Christian Sister
by Maya Angelou

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin'', I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Thanks for visiting. Wishing you a blessed day! ~Patti

With Appreciation for Mark

Is this not the cutest owl out there in stampland right now? I think so! :) He's from Inkadinkado and you can find him and his bird friends at Jacksonbelle Embellishments.

This card is for my son's boss, Mark. Mark has been so kind to Josh. He put Josh to work as his accounting assistant when Josh was having a hard time finding a part-time job. He's not only been a good employer, but a good friend to Josh, offering him advice, encouragement and a listening ear during these somewhat challenging teen years.

Mark is actually much more to us than Josh's boss. He's hubby to my dear friend Priscilla and dad to my daughter Sarah's best friend Macie. He's such a nice guy, with a big heart and a great sense of humor...for an account anyway. ;) He doesn't look at our blogs, does he Priscilla? ;)

Thanks for visiting! ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps- Inkadinkado, Paper Trey Inc
Paper- SU! Basic Black & Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste
Ink- Versamagic Midnight Black
Embellishments- Dew Drops