A new Mini Album for Richie

Yes, I must confess... another Jessica Sprague/Heidi Swapp project.  This was supposed to be a Father's Day book, but I changed it up, and it was supposed to be made using really cute file folders with the tabs, but for whatever reason, when my pages printed they printed the wrong size, so I just improvized and changed it up a little.

The Front Cover

There's a story here. Last year I bought Richie a store-bought Birthday Card (GASP) ! He has never ever let me forget it. This year I decided I am going to buy him another one... and then give him this. Hopefully I redeemed myself. His mother and I have been secretly passing pictures back and forth. I think he will like it and be very surprised.

My Favorite pages

Lotto Tickets and a Fun Pocket Covered with Words that make me think of Richie

The pocket contains more photos that swivel out.  There's about 5 more pics in there.

The back cover is duct-tape.. and if you know Richie, you know why this is perfect!!!

Bad Blogger

I've been a bad blogger.  Spring has sprung (FINALLY).  In Indiana when you come out of the long cold snowy winter and the weather changes, you want to be outside and there's so much to do.  We have to replant the flowers, clean up the yard from all the gunk that was under the snow, get the porch furniture out of storage, plant the gardens and well, just enjoy being outside.  So, that's what I've been doing.  I took this week off work just as a staycation and the weather has been gorgeous, Dahling.. :)

We had a cookout over Memorial Day.  Doug cooked pork tenderloins on the grill and we had his family over, it was a great day.

The Weightloss is going ok.  I haven't gained a pound, but am mostly maintaining.  I am ok with that.  Would still like to lose about 5--10 more pounds, but it seems everytime I set a goal and reach it, I still say that, so I'm trying to learn to be proud of the weightloss and enjoy summer grilling.  I can eat grilled veggies every day.  YUMMO!

Hope you enjoyed a few of the photos from the yard.  We filled in the pond this year (sorry Daisy, no more spontaneous fish baths this summer!) and made it a big planter full of flowers to attract more hummingbirds.  I've already seen a ton, but haven't managed to catch a photo yet.  I am determined and one will be coming soon! :)

Friends till the End

this card was inspired by one in Cards Magazine.  I liked how it turned out.  The color looks a bit off in the photo, its all Stampin' Up cardstock and Patterned Paper.  I took the photo in direct sunlight, I probably should have changed my settings a bit.

Congrats to the Grad

Yet another graduation party and another card.  This is simple, simple, simple.

Graduation Card #1

Tis the season of graduations!  I have a lot of grad party invitations covering my refrigerator right now.  I thought I'd better start getting some cards together.  So though, I am not finished, I got three done this rainy afternoon.   Here's the first one and probably my favorite of the three.  This one is for a high school graduate.  I made all the cards in the theme colors of each person's school.

This one came from another blog I came across this morning.  I only changed the colors and added the diploma, plus she had something that I believe was supposed to be cape, but I thought it looked like angel wings, so I didn't add those.  I also used a different sentiment. It's a cute folded card that makes a diagonal pocket on the inside.  Perfect for those cash/gift card gifts.

Graduation Card #2

 

This is a graduation card for a college graduate.  I think I should have reversed the red and white matting and made the base of the owl white... but I think it turned out ok.  I found a similar card on the internet this morning.  Not exactly the same, but the idea came from there.

Graduation Card #3

Last, but not least, one more graduation card for yet another high school.  This one is a little bit plain for my taste, but I wanted it to look like a cap.  I made a pocket on the inside.

My Tribute to Mom Book

If you regularly follow my blog, you may recall not to long ago I joined the Mouse Paper Scissors Mom class over at Jessica Sprague. We made the base of this book in that class, but since my mom has passed away, I didn't have a deadline to finish the book by Mother's Day, so today... I finished it. It's a tribute to my beautiful mother. I think I'm going to give this book to my brother, as I am the one with all the photos and I think he will love it as much as I enjoyed making it.

On the left is a postcard with a letter I wrote to my mother today.  On the right is a pocket with a mini file folder.  I have enclosed in the file a letter I wrote about my mom which was read at her funeral.  It's very personal, so I decided not to share that here.  It's between mom and me.  :)

This is my least favorite page.  It just doesn't have the same vibe as the other pages, which I felt were elegant.  I may still try and redo this page, if I can remove the items without ruining the base. 

I wanted to write something on the right hand side of the picture, but I think I may just leave it blank.

Love you mom.  I miss you each and every day.  You were such a beautiful woman....inside and out.    I wish the kids and  I could share our days with you.  I hope I make you proud.  You were such an inspiration and wonderful role model.   I know you are watching over me.   Mom, You are my angel today and always.  You are loved and missed.  XOXO

WOW your friends. Shrimp Pasta in Foil - FUN and Delicious!

Not your average presentation, eh??   How fun would this be to have this all ready and already bundled up in foil, so no one knows what's inside, pop it on the grill (instead of baking in the oven) for the last stage and voila... you unveil tonight's dinner in front of your guests. 

I made this last night, it's really good! It is a recipe from The Pioneer Woman.  The only change I made was the addition of mushrooms and red pepper.  You could easily add green onion, zuchinni or whatever your family's favorites are.

Here's a cute recipe card for you if you'd like

Pasta Carbonara

I made this recipe the other night and let me tell you... it is AMAZING!!  If you like pasta dishes, you will love this.  The only change I made was I didn't have Pecorinio cheese on hand, so I just used all parmesan.  The recipe came from the Food Network magazine.   I didn't take a picture, I was too excited to EAT!  LOL

For an easy printable copy of the recipe click here, or if you'd like this cute 4 x 6 recipe card, right click and print on the image below.

Flower-Button Card

This card could be used for any occasion.  I made it for Ashlea and Richie to give to his mother.  She has a birthday and Mother's Day this weekend.  :)

Mother's Day

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother's Day.  I am planning a cookout with the kids.  Alex is home from school for the summer and Ashlea and Richie will be coming over later, so Doug and I will have a nice relaxing day ahead with family.  I can't think of a better way to spend the day.

I made this card for his mother. 

Hybrid Cards... for the sailor in your life

I made this card with the Stampin'Up Digital Downloads.  I printed all of the elements out on white cardstock and then cut and pasted it together.  I really love the sailboat stamp.

Thank You

I made a quick thank you for Doug's family for the Easter goodies.  I made this from the templates that we had from a class, it's very similar to one I made earlier, I just changed the direction

Mouse Paper Scissors - MOM

This picture shows the color more true to life

Well you guessed it.. I'm in another class!  Heidi Swapp and Jessica Sprague teamed up again for an amazing 2 week Mouse Paper Scissors - Mom class.  This is our first project!  I love, love, love it.  I will post more photos once I finish up the inside... the picture really doesn't begin to do it justice..that ruffle is all glittery as is the cover... I'll have to try some other shots in different light and see if I can catch it.   The papers are gorgeous (all digital, of course) by Bo Bunny.

You are SEW nice

This card was a lot of fun!! I don't know if you can tell or not, but the background paper is from Stampin'Up and it actually looks like a pattern. 

Thinking of You

I thought this was just a fun, bright card.  The original layout isn't mine, it's from a card class, I just flipped it around a little.

Thank You

A simple thank you card.  I very RARELY use primas..... they just never look right on my stuff.  I am still not so sure about this one!  LOL

Happy Easter

 
This is one of the dress cards using the Stampin' Up large scallop circle tutorial.  I used a Nestability instead, but it worked out.  I also didn't use the tab punch for my purse, instead I used the curly label.

A card for any occasion

Another card like the one below, just different papers and no sentiment.

I love being spoiled

Just a fun thank you card using my new Stampin'up owl stamp and punch. Love that set.

Weightloss...... update

Well I haven't posted about the weightloss for awhile. I weighed myself a couple of times and weighed the exact same, even though my clothes were/are continuing to fit differently each day. So I layed off weighing for awhile and you know what... as of yesterday I'm down 14 pounds! Yay! The beauty of it for me is it's been more of a life style change rather than a diet. I have changed my breakfast routine and lunch routine and still eat what I want for dinner. On the weekend I usually bake something fun and I eat it when I want. I really believe it's all about the portion control and not depriving your body of this or that.

Trying to find my Mojo!!!

It's been awhile since I just sat down and made cards and I had such a hard time getting started when I didn't have any "objective". Anyway... these are very simple.