First layout of the YEAR!

I've made a few cards, but this is my very first layout of the year! I created it by following the Mojo Master Challenge at Scrappin' Mojo. We are given new steps weekly and have no idea what the layout will look like until it's complete. I really like how this one came out!

Card Share...

I won, I won, I won! I won the March Mojo Challenge! The prize was a $5 gift certificate from PTI, where I picked up this rockin' grunge stamp set. It's just perfect for those BOY cards! Beth also sent me some cute little embellies. My favorites were SUPER CUTE clay cupcakes made by her daughter! I got inspired and made up a card right away! Isn't that cupcake GREAT?


Another bit of news is that the old fashion rose bush that I got from my friend Mary in Ohio is finally blooming! I can't remember how many years it has been three? four? The flower isn't open all the way, but I couldn't wait to post the photo! WHOOHOO!!! Look Mary! It's blooming! And there are lots more buds.

Happy Monday, everyone! Have a great week!

Easter Fun

We started our Easter with a visit to church that my SIL's family attends, the Saint John Vianney. The church was set fire on the Friday before Easter week. It's just terrible... over 8 million dollars in damage! It didn't stop Easter services. They setup a temporary tent to keep the rain off the worshipers... and service went on as scheduled.

It also didn't stop the bunnies from making their rounds. Here's a little bunny caught in the act!

Oh, look I see a BIG BUNNY! LOL!

Another pretty bunny with bling!

Pretty yellow chicks for my cute chickie... Notice how Cheryl is joining the ranks of bunnies and leaving the finding to the kids. {sniff} Where did my little girl go?

Here they are all ready to go! I always seem to miss the posed group photo op... Well, at least I got the candid of the kids starting out to hunt for those elusive eggs!

Doesn't Mima have a GORGEOUS garden! Perfect for an egg hunt!

Here are some more of Mima's flowers. You can see that she grows some very SPECIAL flowers!




Now the TRADING begins! Everyone ended up getting what they wanted...

We ended the day with the most PERFECT chocolate bundt cake that I have ever seen! My little niece made it all by herself. And it tasted even better than it looks! YUM!

I hope everyone had a GREAT Easter! Thanks for visiting!

Totally Random Saturday

This photo makes me smile and lol! This is a picture of BJ. I can't take credit for it... Chris took it with his new camera. My blog share today is all Chris's work. I haven't done anything this week except work... some really loooooong hours... In the meantime Chris was on Spring break, being crafty with his camera and photoshop.

Look at this! Isn't it cool? If you have some 3D glasses, but them on! Chris made a 3D image! He tried using Jena as part of the picture, but Jena wouldn't hold still for the two photos that he needed to make this.

Well, that's it for now. Have a great weekend everyone!

Kitchen - DONE!

I can just imagine Uncle George rolling his eyes... Yep, more kitchen photos! Last ones I promise! Colin came back and put in our last cabinet. I put up our few kitchen nicknacks, and I think it looks great! My best friend, Mary, requested a 360 deg. view... so here goes:







I don't think I've ever posted this view, out from the kitchen to the family room.

Here's our nicknaks... We must have our clock, and the picture that Jim's mom made for us.

We setup a whole coffee station on the small side of the sink.

Here are a couple of things I really LOVE! The pull out drawers in the pantry...

And the pull out shelf. I have to admit that I didn't think I would like it. The shelves are only 4" wide. So Jim and I had no idea of what we were going to fit in there.

Well, I put the canisters in here... coffee, sugar and flour. I can lift the lids off the canisters and scoop. I don't even have to take the canisters our of the drawer! It's convenient because now it's right under the coffee pot. I really really really wanted a spice organizer, and this was perfect! I can see all my spices!

As Jim's mom's picture says the kitchen is the heart of the home... We {heart} our new kitchen!

Joy Captured - Hail.

What a NIGHT! Thunder, lightning, and HAIL! What fun is HAIL? It falls from the sky, first at BB sized balls, and then as pea sized balls. It turns the ground white. It makes a lot of racket! AND they make great snowballs!

Add to that lightning, thunder, three dogs barking, and lots of laughter! It was a fun, WILD night!

Card share...

I broke out my flower stamps, using the pretty PP from SEI as inspiration. The SEI paper has a sheen to it, so I also broke out my embossing powders to give my stamped images that extra shine!

This is a gift card holder. I have no idea where the flower stamps are from; I've had them forever! The wonderful saying is from the PTI Signature Greetings stamp set.

Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Four dogs!

If three dogs weren't enough fun, Jammer came over to visit for a little while today. She was a little overwhelmed, understandably...

Jena is telling Jammer not to worry.

After a rousing play date, it's time for a rest.

After six days... LOOK! They're sleeping!!! HALLELUJAH!!!

More dogs...

Buddy is on the left. He's 3 years old. BJ is on the right. He's more like 1.5 years. I was hoping to get a cute photo of them curled up sleeping together, but I don't think they sleep. No one knows that better than Jim! They keep coming over to Jim's side of the bed and waking him up. They definitely respond better to men. They like Jim and Chris better than they like me and Cheryl.

Here's Chris giving Jena a little break from Buddy. BJ and Jena chase each other and play a lot, but Buddy is the alpha dog. He likes to "assert his dominance" over the other two. I'm sure glad that they are all fixed!

Doesn't Jena look happy? I think that she really enjoys having company over!

More visitors!

No sooner than Flat Stanley left to go home to North Carolina, we have new house guests! Meet Buddy and BJ, two 65-pound golden retrievers.

And I thought Jena was BIG! Look at the SIZE of those guys!

That is definitely a LOT of DOG! They get along great with Jena... Jena especially loves the younger one, BJ. They've been chasing each other all over the house and yard.

BJ and Buddy play rough. Jena hangs back when they really get into it. I'm sure glad that Chris's birthday was last weekend and not this weekend! lol!

Buddy and BJ will be here for a week. Stay tuned!... more Buddy, BJ and Jena photos to come!

More jewelry projects

Chris is really rocking the jewelry! Look at this gorgeous ring that he made for Cheryl! The stone is turquoise. The setting is brass and nickel, with fine silver accents. I love the wire band, it's so delicate looking. He got extra credit points on this ring. It came out GREAT, and Cheryl LOVES it! Here's another new project... chain maille! He spent days weaving this chain maille bracelet!

Here's a close up...

He found the perfect clasp for the back! He started another bracelet in European chain maille, and he has an etched cuff in the works. He is having a great time making jewelry!