Monday, May 30, 2011

A ton of projects!

ok, well maybe not a *ton,* but a lot.  Since my last post, we have had more adventures in health care--Nina had strep, so started on penicillin.  She's never been on an antibiotic before, and it turns out she is allergic to penicillin.  Also, it turns out I don't have asthma--just had a bad bronchial infection that has cleared up with antibiotics  Thank Goodness!

Enough about that!  Now on to the fun!  We have two new babies to celebrate.  My friend Loretta had a baby boy, so he needed this:


I used my gypsy to cut out the triangles on DCWV white core.  Ran them through the Textured Impressions with a Cuttlebug Paisley folder, then sanded them.  They look just like bandanas, don't you think?  Then I hole-punched and threaded them with strips of real bandana, which I tied in the middle of each triangle.  I used Plantin Schoolbook for the letters, along with a little white gelly roll faux stitching.  Then I cut the horse, badge, and horseshoe from Create a Critter and embellished them. Finally, I freehand cut the pocket, and to make it an actual pocket, I put it together with brads, then tucked a little square of bandana in there!  <3<3


The banner below was made for my DH's new granddaughter, Kimber Rose, who is actually expected around the first of July.  I cut this banner from some pretty patterned paper that my cousin, Scrappy Java Girl Beth, gave me in a goodie box a few months ago.  I cut the letters with Gypsy Font Monogrammed Tag on the gypsy, then added the embellishments, ribbon roses (from my stash), bows (with ribbon leftover from a friend's wedding invitations), and buttons (from the stash).  I threaded the whole thing with wide white organza ribbon that I had leftover from Loretta's (the aforementioned mama of Max) wedding invitations.


The next project is a congratulatory card for a friend who is getting married tomorrow.  I am not loving it, but I want to show off my not so great work, too...it's all part of the crafting game.  I used the bride and groom cut from the Wild Card cartridge.  I used the hide feature on the gypsy to make the background cut solid, then added the original cut.  I cut the cake and flowers from Paper Doll Dress Up. The stamp is a sentiment I have in the stash, and I am not sure where it is from.  The flower is from the SU pretties kit, and colored with pastels, as are the cake and the flowers.  I also added a little stickles and glass microbeading.  Like I said...I'm not loving it, and I probably won't give it to her, but here it is anyway.  ;0)


Finally, here's one for the foodies...My son and I made cherry filled chocolate cupcakes topped with buttercream and more cherries.  I never really liked making cakes from scratch, because I live at 8,000 feet elevation, and, well--stuff doesn't always turn out too great here.  But, when my mom passed, I inherited her trusty Kitchen Aid mixer...and I have been experimenting.  I am proud to say that I have mastered high altitude baking...really.  The trick is to increase the flour, just a little bit; decrease the sugar and leavenings, just a little bit; and add a little more liquid.  Seriously, that's it.  These are the moistest, most delectable cupcakes I have ever made...truth!


My birthday is coming up June 4...maybe I will be able to come up with a fun and entertaining challenge for y'all in order to celebrate.  Love to all of you!



Jen

Sunday, May 29, 2011

test

Trying to see if I can blog from my phone  :)

Sunday, May 8, 2011

I AM alive!

So, today, I feel like Mark Twain when he said, "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!"  LOL.  It has been a long month for me.  We enjoyed our vacation immensely, but my little man picked up influenza while we were gone (despite having had a flu shot).  He gave it to his sister (also had a flu shot), who gave it to Daddy, who gave it to me (also had a flu shot).  Well, mine decided to linger...and linger...and linger....three trips to the doctor later, we have a tentative diagnosis....asthma.  Caused by the flu.  Now using an albuterol inhaler four times a day...feeling better.  However, sadly, I had to give up all my design team spots because I couldn't make the deadlines for the teams, and I was letting everyone down.  I haven't made anything fun in over a month, since before we went on our vaycay.  I'm feeling the withdrawl.  Furthermore, a crafting day is not looking like a prospect in the near future, as when I was sick, I got very far behind on my grading (ugh!) and the last few weeks of school are a nightmare of busy-ness.  PLUS, I'm looking for a new job, so that is a timeconsuming piece as well.  So, please be patient with me for a few more weeks, while I get myself together....:)

And Happy Mother's Day  to all you mamas out there....you make a difference every day!

Love,

Jen