Just playing around with my Stampin' Up order that just arrived from the workshop I went to a few weeks ago.

Wooohoooo... I actually paper crafted today!

and the insides:

I got my Stampin' Up order today and love it! :) I went to a SU workshop a couple weeks ago and she made a similar masculine card. I used different papers and she didn't use ribbon, so I can't take credit for the design, but I thought they turned out cute.... (in a guy kinda way!) lol

What I know for certain

Just a digi layout about my family. This is the second to final lesson in the Type + Writer 2 class.

One of my fav photos of Ashlea and Alex

This just didn't come together like I had pictured. Not sure if it's my choice of papers or what... I will probably redo it, but I need to walk away for a bit and look at it tomorrow.. maybe I'll like it more (or less) tomorrow.

Just a funny story

I was journaling today and this memory flashed in my mind. I wanted to document it because I still get teased about it. Someday, I hope my kids will read these things and remember that I was more than just "MOM".

Type + WRiter 2, Another lesson completed

I had fun with this one. I struggled trying to think of a topic, my daily journaling didn't have anything to do with our "concert nights", but it was about Doug, so I guess it did inspire the journaling I ended up using.

Just some simple cards

Just wanted to try out the preserves cartridge. It's really got some cute images.

Ashlea and I went to a Stampin' Up Workshop last night. This is her very first card!!! Woohoo... Way to go Ashlea. The demo had us all make a version of the same card the only variation being the sentiment and the pattern paper.

Here's the one I made:

Type + Writer 2, Lesson Completed

Another Jessica Class Lesson completed.

Type + Writer 2, Lesson 1

I finished my first class in Type + Writer 2. I didn't follow exact instructions, but pretty close. I see a couple typos, but I put this together this morning before work and I had to hurry, I'll fix it and repost. What happened to "Slow down, Lorrie?"... I tell ya!

Happy Dyngus Day Everyone!

Ok... so I know that not everywhere celebrates Dyngus Day, but it's very big here. It's the Monday after Easter. It's a polish holiday (no, I'm not polish) and it's celebrated with Polish Sausage, or a Pierogi, drinks and it's generally a light-hearted holiday. Around here all the restaurants observe it. So... Happy Dyngus Day Everyone! :) Another day of eating... UGH! (Think Polish Cinco de Mayo or a Polish St Patty's Day....that type of holiday).

The nicest Email

Hi there. I wanted to share this lovely email I received from the lady that prints my 12 x 12 layouts. I always send my prints to be printed for whatever I've worked on during the week on Saturdays and pick them up on Sundays. Look at this email I got yesterday.

I picked them up on Sat since today was a holiday and I got to meet the lady that wrote this. She told me that she gets so excited to see what I'm going to send and told me how my layouts have brought her to tears (not sure that's a good thing)... but I was very, very touched by her kind words. Normally when I pick them up on Sundays she is not there, but she said she always prints them on Saturday so they will be ready for me when they open on Sunday.

Another class project

I started this Jessica class quite a while ago and just remembered that I never finished it. It's a rainy, dreary day here today, so I finished. This is using the pen tablet class... harder than it looks is all I've got to say!! LOL

Final Class Project

This is my final class project for the class. We had to write a "fairy tale" about an object that we have a personal connection with. I don't think my layout is quite what Jessica had in mind (I imagine she thought light, uplifting fairy tale), but it fit my situation. ........and yes, I saw the typo. :(

Almost done with my Jessica class

This is the second to last class in the Type + Writer series. One more to go. The journaling assignments get increasingly more challenging. I almost gave up on this class. I've got my final class journaling finished, but I've not had a chance to complete the layout.

Golden Grilled Ham Steaks

This is just the best ever recipe for ham steaks on the grill. We're doing it for Easter. Doug's sister cooked this for us a couple years ago and the kids (and I) went wild for it. It's the best ham I've ever had.. and I'm not even exaggerating! When you buy a ham, take it to the meat counter and ask the butcher to cut it into 1" steaks. Yes, I said 1". I bought a 1/2 a ham and he cut it into about 7 steaks.... it takes about 3 steaks to feed my family of 5 (if Doug and Rich are here). So I just freeze the rest and use them in the same way later.

Golden Grilled Ham Steaks:

Mix in a gallon ziplock bag:
1/2 Ham cut into 1" steaks.  (Note:  3 1" steaks feeds 4-5 people)

1 Cup Ginger Ale

1 Cup Orange Juice

1/2 C Firmly packed brown sugar.. (I use dark, but you can use either)

3 TBS Vegetable Oil

1 tsp White Wine Vinegar

2 tsp dry mustard

3/4 tsp ground ginger (I use fresh, but you can use powdered and it's just as good)

1/2 tsp ground cloves

Now add your ham steaks to the bag and marinate for up to 24 hours, but not less than 2 hours... (we usually marinate about 1/2 a day or so)

When you're ready to grill, reserve about 1 cup of the marinade and simmer on the stove until warm (we just throw it on the grill in a pan).

Grill ham steaks over slow coals about 10-15 minutes on each side just to heat the steak through.. drizzle with the warmed marinade... now eat up... it's SOOOOOOO YUMMY!!!

Another class project

I almost didn't do this assignment. I struggled very much with the journaling assignment. You were supposed to interview someone and use a direct quote... my teenagers are not willing interviewees, so I used a memory instead. Anyway... Here it is. The papers I used are from my Stampin' Up Software instead of the the class kit. The layout as planned was a bit girly, so I had to toughen it up a bit for my Alex.

Hippy Chic!

I USED MY CRICUT and not only that, I took the Easter Cart out of the clamshell wrapping that it has been nestled in now for a few months...WOOOHOOO.. I SO ROCK! lol Now I'm out of practice.. the chic should've been much smaller, who knew 3.3/4 would be that big, right?!?!?!? Anywho... did I say.. I USED MY CRICUT!?!?!!!!!!!

I had no idea where I was going on this one. I picked papers, put the first mat on...looked around found another that matched. Made a tag, then thought "now What?"... saw my SU bird punch.. ok, that's quick and easy... that'll work... hmmmm that corner is still empty... hey, let's just cut off a corner of cardstock and stick it on... there all done! Seriously, that's how that one went together. Sometimes I want to craft, but I sit down and have "creators block".. that ever happen to you?

Jessica Sprague Type + Writer Class Assignment

Here is today's assignment. This class is turning into be one of my favorites.

Using my scrap drawer

Once in awhile I go into my scraproom and just open my scrap drawer and see what I come up with... this is one of those cards. I spent about 20 minutes on each card. LOL At some point I'm going to have to just toss all those scraps because I seem to keep going back to the same ones. I am not a stamper and I'm worse at coloring, but I have fun! Not quite sure what occasion the duck card would be, but I just love the goose! lol He looks like I feel most mornings! lol

Type + Writer 1 Lesson #2

Here's my latest attempt at the Jessica Sprague Type + Writer class on journaling. She suggested a photo in the mirror, which I did... but you can see the flash on the right side of the photo... I'll tweak that later.

A simple card

Just a simple card I made for my friend who just had surgery on her shoulder.

My JS Typewriter Class Assignment

Here is my layout for the Jessica Sprague Type + writer class. The only changes I made to her preplanned layout were fonts and I burned the edges a bit for a grungier look to the background paper.

"Hi"

Everything looks Better in PINK..

This looked much better in my head! LOL

Messing around with Sweet Treats Cartridge

Well I've seen so many cupcake cards and believe it or not, I've never made one... so here it is... Taaadaaaaa! :) I cut the "Sprinkled with Fun" at 1-1/2", I think it's too small, kinda hard to read.

And she scores!!!

Having fun with the camera and Katie. I took her out and tossed the ball, then tried to shoot on continuous photos really quick. I got several of her just getting ready to catch the ball. I know, I know enough of the dog pictures... but I get so excited!! LOL And don't look at the messy yard.. remember a week ago we had snow the ground, then rain all weekend. This weekend is yard cleanup.. although the weatherman is saying the S-Word for Sunday!! I refuse to believe it!

I"ve forgotten how to paper scrap

I've been doing so much digi work that I've forgotten how to scrap with real paper! I struggled with this and I don't like it, it's super busy for my style and my colors seem washed out when put together. I think I need to paper scrap some more and brush up.. my mind is digitized!

Thinking of you.... still! :)

Thinking of you.... again! :)

Thinking of you cards... I'm in a brown phase I think! LOL

Easter Wishes

For those of you who follow my 365 blog, I apologize for posting this in both places. I like to keep all of my cards on this blog.. but this card was definitely part of my evening!! Whew! Struggled with this one, still not happy, but not changing it anymore.. sometimes it's best to move on and let go.. they can't all be your favorites!

Thinking of you

And the inside:

Spring Card

My friend, Lori, made the cutest little Valentine kits for Jodie and I. She took a heart shaped candy box and covered it with cute Valentines paper and instead of chocolates on the inside, she filled it with all sorts of Valentines embellishments, I wanted to use some of it on a card, so here's the end result. She actually cut the pink felt flower and sewed the button on, the pink felt ric rac was also part of the kit, it was just the cutest kit. I didn't use all of the items obviously.

I made this card from ribbon. I am really excited how it turned out. Hope you like it.

Best of Friends

Just a "quickie" tonight! :)

Just a Lorrie Story

So... I have one of those nifty eyebrow trimmers, I use it on my daughter all the time who tends to grow a unibrow if left unattended. Well I am of the age that I have a few strays once in awhile to pluck, but other than that, that's about it. So you'd think I'd grab tweezers and shape up those one or two stray eyebrows every now and then...right? Oh, no.. I'm in too big of a hurry to do that so I get the turbo eyebrow thingy and think I'll just get them real quick. Now.. refer back to me letting you all know that I now need reading glasses.. (hence I can't see up close). So.. there I am, face in the mirror attempting to get the three little hairs that appeared in the arch of my eyebrow. I'm satisfied I got them... I step back.. put the gadget away and proceed to look in the mirror... I SHAVED OFF HALF MY EYEBROW!!! SERIOUSLY!! OMG! Well, it was over a week ago that I did that (it took me this long to share it with you because I was moritified). They are starting to grow back in already, but I have to tell you something funny... I went to the drugstore and bought ROGAINE for women and have been using a cotton swab to put it on my browless eyebrow every morning and night, then I Googled "how to make your eyebrows grow faster" and read about castor oil... so I put that on my eyebrow every night too! lol Why does this stuff always happen to me. It's growing in, but it's very sparse, I do not have those thin little eyebrows (well, right now I have one and a half). So, ladies... no this will not be a POD on my 365 blog, but heed the warning... slow down, take your time or you, too, could end up with only 1.5 eyebrows!

Another Jessica project

Just another quick project from a Jessica Sprague class. The subject is from my last November when my girlfriends and I (from High School) meet once a year for a Girls Night Out Weekend. We have an all weekend slumber party at my house. This year we took one day and went to Chicago. This summer we're having our 2010 GNO weekend and this time we're going to go camping (sort of)... Should be fun!

Digi in Deep Class - Lesson 2

This was lesson two in Digi In Deep. I started it about two weeks ago and never finished it, so today I did the second half of the class. I like this layout. I absolutely followed her guidelines (with the exception of using landscape photos in lieu of portrait). Isn't Alex cute as a T-ball player... gosh I miss those little cheeks!

Owl/tree Card

Made this one this morning. No particular reason. :)

Thanks So Much

A few more cards from my Stampin'Up Card Kit by SNOWMANLOVER. I think I'm done now, but I've still got more paper left. This card kit goes a long way!