Inchie Tin

Today's project is to create a tin to store my SaddleBrooke Inchies in....... As you might remember - here is my inchie for February......

And here is what the inside of my Inchie Tin is looking like (after this picture was taken, I added a piece of cream color felt to the inside top and bottom of my Inchie Tin). AND........Taaaaaaa-Daaaaaa.....the finished front of my Inchie Box. You can't tell - but I added Crystal Effects to the center of each circle that is spelling out my name - and I added a fun piece of double stitched ribbon around my Inchie Tin. Think this project turned out SUPER CUTE - especially since I didn't have a plan and I just started pulling things out of my cabinets until I had this created. Don't you just LOVE IT when a plan comes together! Thanks for stopping by and just couldn't close out this post without wishing my mom a very Happy Birthday (she would be 89 today). Happy Birthday Mom-I MISS YOU big time!

Remember to keep LIVING YOUR DREAM.

SU Order Received

I FINALLY recieved my SU order - and I want to share some of the goodies I received with you. The first picture is the new SU Big Shot Milk Carton Die. It will die cut out a mini milk cartons - which I plan to use for my grandkids school holiday treats. But the first thing I'm hoping to make with it is a Valentine's Train for Steven (he LOVES Thomas the Train).

Here's some pictures of the new YUMMY SU Designer Series Paper........ I just had to get the Stitched Felt Sweet Pea embellishments along with the Heart embosslit die..... SOOOOO glad I ordered these Exopy BRAD.....they are bright - shiny and BEAUTIFUL (even though you can't tell in the photo): Here's the FREE STAMPS I qualified for........... And some of SU new un-mounted stamps: And of course, I saved the BEST for last! Here's the new SU punches and the NEW YUMMY Satin Ribbon: Well.......that's it! Plenty of new product to get me creating and busy in my studio.

I've been working on some fun projects for my Secret Sister (Erica in Maryland) and I can't wait to share those projects with you. I mailed Erica's package out yesterday and she should receive her package on Monday. (I'm not sure if Erica will be stopping by my blog - So I won't be sharing the projects I made until Tuesday.......I want Erica to be SURPRISED when she receives her package.)........By the way Erica......I've packed a special Valentine's Day gift for you in the package too.

Thanks for stoppin by and remember........Keep Living Your Dream!

Some Valentine's Day Cards

As some of you know, I'm a member of the SaddleBrooke Stampers. - and each month, we make 15 "Inchies" and exchange them with the other members in our group. For the month of February, we have been asked to make a card using our inchie - SO - here are the two cards I created using my inchie:

Just in case you weren't sure what my inchie is......(in the first card)-It's the little 1"x1" red square in the red heart and (in the second card)-I've lined a row of the 1"x1" red squares across the bottom of my card. My inchies have a pink ribbon around the upper portion and I've stamped the word "Love" at the bottom corner.

Pretty sure my Stampin Buddies will like both of these. Thanks for stoppin by - and remember - Keep living your dream.

SweetHeart Treat Boxes

Making some sweetheart heart boxes for my grandkids for Valentine's Day - and wanted to share the pattern and actual creation with you........HERE GOES!

This is what the box will look like when the kids PULL THE TOP OF THE RIBBON to slide their sweetheart box out of the container.........

(NOTE TO CHERYL AND JENNI: ALL the kids will need to do to get to their sweetheart treats is to pull UP on the center knot of the ribbon.....This will slide the Sweetheart treat up and out of the box. It's NOT necessary to unwrap the ribbon in order for the kids to get to their treats.....JUST HAVE THEM PULL UP AT THE CENTER OF THE KNOTED RIBBON)

Here's what they look like with a sample of one of the boxes slide up!

And here's a picture of all the treat boxes that are going back to the Grandkids in Wisconsin. I think they are really going to like these.

Thanks for stoppin by and remember to......Keep Living Your Dream!

Cabinets Are Done

Our remodel project has been COMPLETED..........YIPPIEEEE! Since I talked enough about the project, I want to share with you the final results. So, here goes....... This is the completed laundry room - Miguel did a fabulous job turning our old "blonde" colored cabinets into this beautiful cherry mission color. And here is where it all started. Jack HATED the way the "Wet Bar" area stuck out like a sore thumb when you walked into our living room area. Now when you walk into our living room the wetbar coordinates with all our living room and dining room furniture. As you can tell - we didn't have Miguel re-finish the wine rack area. We are having Hector design custom doors to cover the wine rack area. Hector should be installing the doors this coming weekend. And here are a couple pictures of the master bathroom. The first is of the linen closet doors - didn't they turn out so BEAUTIFUL? And here's our master bath vanity area......... I LOVE waking up and heading into our master bathroom now. I really questioned Jack for wanting to spend all that money to change the cabinets from the blonde color to this....but, have to say.......YOU WERE RIGHT HONEY.....this looks SO MUCH BETTER.

Thanks for stoppin in.

Stampin Up! Box received

I received my first Stampin Up! Sale-A-Bration order from Mr UPS Man and check out the box that my order came in. Isn't it HILARIOUS! The message on the top of the box says....Caution: Opening box may cause extreme excitement This totally cracked me up. Isn't it just like Stampin Up! to put a little something extra in each of their shipments. Might have to cut this message out and frame it....too fun! Want to wish my BFF Jan a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. It's her birthday today! Jan is still in Colorado visiting her new Granddaughter Emma - so we won't be getting together (insert SAD FACE here). Happy Birthday Jan - Miss you and hope your back in SaddleBrooke real soon. Thanks for stoppin by and.....Continue living your dream! (I am!)

What's in the Box? - SURPRISE!

Here's a sweet little box that was made at this months SU Regional in Phoenix. It's a little box that you can create to be fully constructed......or......create to collaspe down on itself (mine is created to fold down on itself)

I decorated the top of the box with the new SU Sweet Pea Felt pieces - and I filled the box with lots of candy. I plan to give this sweet little box to my great neighbor friend Ginny.

Ginny has quit smoking (I know Ginny it's hard......) and has found candy to be a great substitute for ciagrettes. I'm SO PROUD of Ginny for STICKING WITH IT, that I want to treat her to a little surprise - I plan to give this to Ginny this week......Know she's going to LOVE IT. Thanks for stoppin in.....and....see you tomorrow.

My Little People

Here's a STINKIN CUTE idea that I found while out shopping with my friend Nancy last week. Thought these picture frames would be adorable with my grandkids pictures inserted into the head. And the only thing that would make them better........ If they were proudly displayed in my studio........

Here is their new home....on the bookcase in my new studio.

New Artwork for my Studio

Each of the Grandkids in Wisconsin sent to me an amazing Christmas gift this year.....and I just had to share those gifts with you. Each of them created a hand drawn piece of artwork and what made it extra special.........each of those pieces of artwork were made especially for me. I decided that I wanted to frame their artwork and proudly displayed those pieces of art on the upper portion of my studio cabinets. So....here we go with a tour of the new artwork in my studio........... This picture is of Jared's (left) and Brooke's (right) artwork.

Here is Hailey's (left) and Steven's (right) artwork.

Now when I come into my studio I am greeted by their smiling artwork and it inspires me to create. Many thanks to Jared, Hailey, Steven and Brooke for my AMAZING Christmas gift.

Happy 77 Jack!

Happy Birthday Pop Pop! Tuesday was Jack's 77th Birthday and his grandkids sent him some hand-made birthday cards. Just had to share what they made with you. Don't you think they are young card makers in the making? This first one is from Jared, Hailey and Steven. Each one of them took a spot on the card and designed a special message for their Pop Pop....LOVE IT!

This last one is from Brooke (aka-Doll Baby).....The heart, flowers and star are all Fun Foam .... so it really turned out to be a 3-D card for Pop Pop......Truly Beautiful.

Thanks Kids for making Pop Pop smile BIG....he really enjoy each of your cards and HE proudly displayed them on the refig and his office desk.

Here's wishing Pop Pop another 77 happy birthdays! Love You Bunches!

Great Grandma Jenny

My daughter Jenni called me Monday night to tell me that Great Grandma Jenny Schmelzer passed away at the age of 85. Grandma Jenny is my son-in-law Michael's grandmother who lived a FULL ACTIVE life until her fall on Christmas night in Madison, Wisconsin. Grandma Jenny LOVED her family with a firey passion and she was a SPUNKY old gal who always greeted you with some kind of Zinger and a SMILE........Everyone LOVED Grandma Jenny. Great Grandma Jenny was married to Rupert and when he passed away several years ago - she would mention there wasn't a day that went by she didn't miss him with all her heart. I am sure that Grandma Jenny is rejoicing in her reunion with her loving Rupert. My heart goes out to Lyn and Jim, Lyndsey, Michael, Jenni and Brook for your loss. May you find comfort in knowing that Great Grandma Jenny is now able to rest in peace.

Happy Birthday

It's Jack's birthday today....Happy Birthday to the birthday boy. We are keeping our fingers crossed that his new grandbaby will be born today. Wouldn't that be the coolest birthday gift EVER? We'll keep you posted. Lucky for us.....she'll be living in the San Diego area - so we will be able to run over and see her and her older brother and sister often. On a different note......the workers came and finished staining all our cabinets on Saturday and Sunday - and even though they covered everything and worked smart.....they still left behind PLENTY of dust. SO...today I will spend the greater part of the day cleaning up dust and getting our dream home back into order. They still need to install the doors on to the front of the cabinets, but hopefully the worse is over. Today also brings the completion of my studio.....the craftroom drop down table has been refinished and they will be installing it today. That will complete the studio and it will be .... FULL STEAM AHEAD on creating and getting my hand inky again. Hopefully, I will have some photos to share with you soon. Thanks for hanging in there with me and checking back..........I'm hoping to do a better job of bloggin in 2010......FINGERS CROSSED. Keep checking back.